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The rain was unrelenting today. Neuvillette wasn’t sure why the latest trial has moved him this badly. He usually only “cried” like this for half an hour, or a full hour if he really regretted it. It had been three hours since the trial now, and he still couldn’t stop the rain.
Standing outside of the Palais Mermonia, Neuvillette watched the rain fall. His expression never wavered from the calm look he always maintained. He wanted it to stop— he loved the rain almost as much as he loved his people but he wanted, or needed, it to stop now. Challenging himself with his eyes alone, Neuvillette started and waited.
“Are you done just standing there?!” Furina’s voice snapped from behind him.
The speed of the rain spiked for only a moment, but he turned to face the Hydro Archon behind him. She was standing there with a luxurious dark blue umbrella over her and adjusting her hat with her free hand. She was almost too clumsy and uncoordinated to hold the umbrella herself, always knocking into someone or her hat off her head. Neuvillette reached out and took the umbrella, raising it over them both. Furina let him, stepping closer.
“Good!” Furina smiled. “Now, I know a fantastic cake shop I know you’ll love this time.”
“Dry foods aren’t necessarily a favorite of mine.” Neuvillette replied. “If you’re trying to make me feel better, maybe we should go for a warm soup place instead. I heard that with Inazuma’s borders opening, some humans have looked for business elsewhere.”
Furina thought to herself for a moment, and Neuvillette was surprised to actually see her taking what he said into consideration. “That’s true, but sweet treats always make people happier. Buuuut I’ll concede this time, Monsieur. Do you know where this Inazuman soup place is?”
Neuvillette felt the rain pour down for another moment. It had completely slipped his mind to look for it. He’d only heard about it in passing and was far too busy with back to back trials. He could’ve asked the Melusines to look for it for him. He could’ve done something else…
“Neuvillette!” Furina hissed, flailing at her coat. Furina had gotten a little wet from the outburst. That outburst became consistent.
“I’m terribly sorry, Lady Furina.” Neuvillette said.
Furina looked up at him, and it was like Neuvillette was looking at twin seas of emotion. He knew enough about emotions to name the ones people had, humans were usually consistent in feeling one emotion at a time and shifting between them rather quickly in heated moments, but Furina always seemed to be feeling so much at all times. He could never quite figure out how she felt or what she was thinking.
“It’s okay, Neuvillette,” Furina finally spoke, and she was willing her voice to be calmer. Trying deliberately to be calming. “It’s okay, we can just look for it or ask a melusine to make a delivery.”
“I should find it,” Neuvillette decided quickly. “It would be unfair of me to ask a melusine to brave this storm just for food they won’t get to eat with us.”
“Who said they can’t eat with us?” Furina folded her arms. “As the Hydro Archon, I must be as benevolent as I am illusive, after all! If a Melusine wishes to have lunch with you and I after a harrowing journey within our own capital, then I see no issue in allowing her shelter, food, and Mora for her efforts.”
Neuvillette couldn’t help but chuckle, “You are very kind indeed— and very mindful of the law— but nevertheless this is my storm and I wish to brave it so our melusine friends don’t have to.”
Furina nodded in agreement and turned on her heel. “Then we shall not delay any longer! Come along! And if you’re still hungry, I do know where to find a cake shop with more moist cakes.”
“Icing doesn’t count, Furina.”
“I meant the cakes themselves!”
The aimless search was gruesome. It was hard to see in this stormy weather and the only people out now were those that were working or didn’t have a home. Neuvillette hated it, seeing humans huddled in alleyways under the smallest of coverings, shivering and wet and cold.
Neuvillette always had the privilege of the rain not affecting him, but humans weren’t so lucky. How much more of this rain could they endure before they got sick?
“I think I see it,” Furina snapped Neuvillette out of his head once again. She pointed to a sign that had the common language written on it, as well as unfamiliar characters that no doubt were Inazuman.
“You have my thanks, Furina.” Neuvillette said, but the Archon turned sharply to face him.
He watched Furina study him, assess what he was thinking now, and decide accordingly, “Maybe we should try eating alone?”
“We might not have that option,” Neuvillette pointed out, hearing the conversations of the humans inside.
Furina sighed, “Well then if we must sit with others, then you may leave the conversations to me. The people love and adore me! They won’t pay you any mind.”
Neuvillette hated hearing that. He knew it was true, and he knew Furina knew it was true. But he knew, just as she did, that love and adoration never meant respect.
Furina went to the door and Neuvillette hurried after her, reaching out to stop her from opening the door at the last minute. She swung open the door quicker than he could move and stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips and her head held high.
The voices inside the restaurant became silent. Neuvillette gripped the umbrella tightly, a wave of anxiety washing over him. How did Furina pretend this didn’t bother her? All eyes were on them, and they started to whisper as Furina entered and Neuvillette followed her. Furina asked for a table for two and they were pointed to a table surrounded by other humans. Neuvillette let Furina go ahead, handling the matter of her umbrella first. The rain was almost a wall now.
When Neuvillette turned back towards the crowd; he saw they had turned back to their tables but that they were still watching him. Side eyeing and whispering, trying to understand why the Iudex himself was here. Neuvillette steeled himself for a moment, to brave this storm that was foreign to him. Furina left him an open seat and was already looking through the menu, so Neuvillette quietly sat down across from her.
“I quite enjoy noodles in my soup but I’m stumped on what kind I should get. I didn’t know Inazuma had such diversity in noodle types.” Furina said, mostly just to get them talking.
Neuvillette nodded, looking over his menu in turn.
“Are you simply going to ignore me, Monsieur?” Furina rested her head on her chin before abruptly standing up.
“I didn’t mean any offense-“ Neuvillette started to apologize, but Furina shook her head and placed a hand on her stomach.
“Uh… I’m… I’ll be right back, Monsieur.” With that, Furina rushed off to find the bathroom.
Neuvillette sighed, the poor girl. He had heard in passing that the sound of flowing water seemed to affect the bladder, and now that he and Furina were only listening to the rain from within a comfortable restaurant, it must’ve clicked now that she needed the bathroom. Neuvillette could only go back to scanning the menu for what he wanted to eat.
“See?” Neuvillette heard someone whisper from the other table. “Furina even does it to the Iudex.”
“Must be annoying,” a second voice whispered.
Neuvillette gripped the menu. Ignore them, he tried to tell himself. Ignore their careless observations, it’s not their fault they know nothing. From how they dress, these two were just fishermen— far off from people Furina and him would interact with for business.
“I can’t believe they’re here together.”
“She must’ve latched herself onto him like a lost puppy.” The two of them laughed at that, trying and failing to keep themselves quiet about it.
Ignore them, Neuvillette thought. Just ignore them. It’s not their fault they don’t understand Furina. It’s not their fault they don’t understand our relationship. It isn’t their fault. Ignore them.
“I would be pretty tired after dealing with her all day, and then having to go out and eat with her? Alone?!”
“I bet she really did just throw herself at him. How could someone as great as him ever care for someone like her?”
That was enough. Neuvillette turned to face them, his voice ready to boom out like a clap of thunder, but before he could even open his mouth he watched as Furina slammed her hands on their table with such force that their bowls of soup tipped over and spilled.
Furina gasped and stepped back, feigning concern. “Oh! My dear citizens, you have my sincerest apologies!” Furina hurriedly waved over the closest worker and asked them. “Could you package them a new order to go? They were just about to leave but they hadn’t finished their food.”
“Wait, we-“ one of the humans tried to interject.
“I’ll pay for the whole mess, I promise. Just repeat their order in to-go packages, please.” Furina insisted.
With no other choice, the worker left and the two humans Furina had terrorized tried to turn away from her in shame. Yet, it was apparent that she wasn’t done.
Furina leaned over the table to get napkins and clean up the mess, but Neuvillette watched her as she leaned over the table and whispered, “Don’t ever say that about our revered Chief Justice again.”
“We didn’t-!” the second human tried to defend himself.
“No fighting!” Furina insisted. “I don’t want to hear your excuses. As the God of Justice, I’m being very polite in not dragging you two to court for defamation. You don’t want that, hm?”
“You lost your last court case.” One of the humans hissed.
“But I have the Iudex right here as a witness.” Furina countered. “So heed the warning: never dare to speak about the Chief Justice Neuvillette like that ever again.”
The two humans looked at each other, and soon nodded to Furina. With that, Furina left their table and sat back down at the one she shared with Neuvillette. Neuvillette watched as the waiter came back with their meals to go, and watched Furina pay for the expenses, before finally getting to order as the two humans left.
After the meal, Neuvillette guided Furina to a bakery as she talked on and on about her day and her honored guests of her tea party. She hadn’t even realized they were at the cake shop until Neuvillette opened the doors, the rain behind them being nothing more than a drizzle now.
Furina gasped with excitement. “This is my favorite shop! Monsieur, I thought we were going home!”
“We will,” Neuvillette said, “but I think you’ve earned your cake for today.”
Furina smiled proudly and quickly went to order while Neuvillette once again handled the umbrella. He was soon found by the staff and escorted into a room that was just off the side of the kitchen, allowing them to smell the aromas of the baked goods. There was only one table and a large blue couch for them to share. Furina was already sat happily, finishing up her order of the many desserts she wanted.
Neuvillette slid into the couch, not stopping until he was next to her. “Why is this a room the shop has?”
“I come here so often that they made a dedicated room for me.” Furina smiled. “You should be thankful, now we don’t have to listen to the nonsensical drama of people.”
“Don’t speak of them like that,” Neuvillette reminded.
Furina sighed and leaned on Neuvillette’s shoulder, “You are far too polite for your own good, Monsieur. Someone’s gonna hurt you some day for it.”
“I doubt anyone could have such an effect on me.” Neuvillette stated.
“You aren’t nearly as cold as the people say you are, so don’t pretend with me!” Furina demanded. “And I’m serious. I worry about my dear Iudex. Your heart is so soft.”
“And what’s in your heart, Furina?” Neuvillette asked.
Furina decidedly didn’t answer him, not even looking up to meet his eyes. Neuvillette sighed and leaned his head down into her’s.
“Thank you.” Neuvillette said. “While your actions were childish, I… I found myself thankful that you handled that situation rather than I.”
“Of course,” Furina smiled. “You’re not the best at social interactions, so social confrontation is probably your nightmare.”
“I wouldn’t say that, but yes.” Neuvillette felt his lips curl into a smile. It was a very special type of bond that made him smile like this. “Do you ever think I hate you, Lady Furina?”
“No,” Furina said. Neuvillette could tell that was a lie, but she turned to face him finally and he knew her next words were the truth. “You’re hard to read, even for me, so I fear you dislike me sometimes, but that’s just fear talking.”
Neuvillette nodded, “I don’t hate you, Furina.”
Furina’s smile strained. “Thank you.”
Neuvillette nodded, and felt that same ball of emotions well up again. He could now hear the rain from outside. Furina could hear it too, her eyes glancing up at the ceiling.
“May I hug you, Lady Furina?” Neuvillette asked. “I want to show you I don’t hate you. I want you to believe it.”
Furina looked at him and sighed. “You should be saving such pleasantries for your boyfriend.”
Neuvillette watched Furina get up from her side of the couch and walk over to him. He had feared, only for a moment, that she would leave him. But he watched her walk around and was reassured. She wouldn’t leave him, not now. He scooted back to the edge of the couch and felt Furina’s arms pull him into a hug. She let him bury his face in her chest and shoulder, let him reach up and hold her too. He couldn’t cry physically, but he could hear the rain spike again outside.
Yet, despite that he knew the sun was shining. In this moment, in Furina’s arms— the arms of the one person he could call his best friend— he felt safe.