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(I come here out of habit.)
Furina thought. She had just shaken off a bad dream, so, in an attempt to distract herself, she found herself on Erinnyes Island. The night was pleasant, offering a respite.
Noticing the quietude at the Opera House, she decided to venture inside. Naturally, no one stopped her – after all, as far as the people know, she was the one who had built the place. Taking her time, she strolled towards the stage, where the remnants of the Oratrice lay in the center.
During the aftermath of the day of the prophecy, Neuvillette's revelation about her divine self who ended up sacrificing herself, leaving Furina weary. Uncertain about how she truly felt, she found herself grappling with the complexities of emotions stirred within her.
"Mirror-me, would it be selfish to wish for one last meeting?" Furina murmured, her fingertips gently brushing against the machine.
Stepping away, she knelt before the Oratrice, offering silent prayers to a part of herself forever beyond reach. In the quiet reverence of that moment, the weight of her desires and the bittersweet reality of what was lost converged, creating a poignant scene of longing and acceptance.
Exiting the opera house, she found solace by the Fountain of Lucine, humming an old tune that inexplicably soothed her troubled mind. She is unsure where she learnt the song but it does help her. Lost in the melody, her gaze absentmindedly fixated on the expansive sky in Teyvat.
"Furina," a familiar voice, akin to a soft whisper, gently called her name. Startled, she turned to find the Chief of Justice standing before her, his gaze piercing through the shadows.
"N-Neuvillette. I didn't expect to meet you here," Furina stammered, her attempt at casualness overshadowed by the awkward memories of her trial that lingered between them. Despite her efforts to maintain a semblance of normalcy, the weight of the past made each interaction tense. It is also for this reason she tried to avoid hanging around near Palais Mermonia.
"I'm... just taking a night stroll," Neuvillette replied, his words carrying a subtle concern that betrayed the lie. He had sensed her departure from the Court of Fontaine, and in the midst of the night, worry had driven him to seek her out.
"How about you?" he inquired, his concern veiled beneath a casual facade, though his eyes betrayed the sincerity of his worry.
After that day, she rarely ventured outside. The last time she sought him out was to book the opera house for "The Little Oceanid" play. He remembered the elation he felt then, a fleeting moment of connection. Yet, after the curtains closed, they retreated back into the silence that defined their uneasy dance. He understood the delicate balance, the need to give her space, but the desire to talk to her as they were in the past persisted.
"Same reason, I guess," she replied, her meek smile a fragile shield. Then, her gaze returned to the vast expanse of the sky, the same absent look in her jeweled eyes.
(It's that look again.)
Neuvillette disliked that look; it unsettled him. Just like on that day, her eyes mirrored the fragility of a broken doll, a haunting reflection of the scars left by the trial he had forced her to endure. Even if all was according to Focalors' plan, looking back, he still felt the weight of guilt pressing upon him.
The echoes of her pain lingered, and no amount of apologies could truly make amends for the turmoil he had played a part in. Not to mention, spending 500 years together with her, he couldn't even notice her silent suffering. The guilt, a shadow that clung to him, served as a constant reminder of the heavy toll that fate had exacted on her, and in turn, on his own conscience.
"Then how about we take a walk together?" he suggested, his voice a gentle invitation, an attempt to bridge the chasm that had grown between them.
Furina, momentarily stunned by the unexpected gesture, hesitated before accepting. Despite her facade, she couldn't deny the sincerity that emanated from Neuvillette's gaze.
The two of them walked along the paveway, bathed in the lingering fragrance of rainbow roses. It was a calm and silent walk, the air heavy with the weight of unspoken emotions. Furina broke the quietude, her words hanging in the stillness.
"Honestly, I didn't expect you'd want to see me though," she admitted, her gaze fixed ahead.
"Pardon?" Neuvillette responded, momentarily taken aback by her unexpected confession.
"I was expecting you to get rid of me, though. I deceived everyone, including you, all this time," Furina confessed, her words hanging in the night air like the gentle rustling of leaves in the area. "Once all the layers had been undone, there's nothing divine about me in the end."
The truth of her admission resonated in the stillness around them. The moonlight seemed to soften, casting a gentle glow on Furina's face as she bared her vulnerabilities, and Neuvillette, though surprised, listened to her word intently before saying anything.
There are many things he doesn't understand about humans, yet at this moment, he knew what he should tell her—the words he had failed to say in the past.
"You are wrong. The reason why Fontaine survived the prophecy in the first place is because of you," Neuvillette countered, his words cutting through the self-deprecating shadows that cloaked Furina's spirit.
(The human you, who endured all those 500 years of torture, yet until the final curtain call, still did your best.)
"This is not pity, nor am I trying to console you. This is the truth and only the truth," he continued as he held her hand.
(I doubted you a few times before, yet you consistently surprised me with your strength to the point that it became so endearing I couldn't take my eyes off you.)
"Furina, it was your love for the people of Fontaine and your indomitable willpower that saved this nation." His gaze unwavering stared into her deep mismatched coloured eyes.
She felt the heat rising to her face, emotions stirring within. As a skilled actress, she managed to rein in her feelings, but the words Neuvillette spoke reached deep into her heart.
"Neuvillette... thanks. For trusting me all those centuries," she uttered, the gratitude in her words tinged with a hint of disbelief. Trust had always been a fragile concept for her, but his unwavering faith in her warmed the corners of her long-guarded heart.
Though unspoken, Neuvillette sensed the complexity of emotions in her response. Nevertheless, he offered her a genuine smile, one that radiated from the depths of his heart.
They stood together, words hanging in the air like fragile threads, knowing that healing would take time, and trust, once shattered, required patience to rebuild. That is fine. No matter how long it takes, he would always be by her side.
After walking a bit more, they both sat on the bench, nestled in the comforting embrace of the tranquil night. The soft murmur of the fountain nearby created a gentle backdrop to their shared silence.
After a while, a subtle weight leaned against Neuvillette's right side. Furina, overcome by the serenity of the night, had quietly drifted into sleep, finding an unexpected anchor in the Chief of Justice. The few people passing by couldn't help but cast glances toward the scene, a curious blend of tenderness and vulnerability playing out on the park bench.
Neuvillette, ever vigilant, noticed the onlookers and responded with a discreet "keep quiet" sign, a silent plea for privacy in this unexpected moment of intimacy. He then turned his attention back to the sleeping lady resting against his side, a fond smile playing on his lips as he observed her in the peaceful embrace of slumber.
Seeing that Furina showed no sign of waking up, Neuvillette decided to sweep her off her feet, quite literally. He princess-carried her through the tranquil night all the way back to the Court of Fontaine. As they reached the grand halls, he deliberated whether to take her to her own residence. However, the prospect of navigating through questions deterred him, leading him to opt for a more intimate solution – his own room in Palais Mermonia. Besides, just a bit longer in her presence wouldn't hurt.
Upon reaching his room, he laid her down with the utmost care on his bed. Contemplating whether to join her, Neuvillette, respectful of boundaries, opted for the couch. Before doing so, he couldn't resist placing a gentle kiss on her forehead, a silent expression of the emotions that lingered between them. As he settled on the couch, he observed her peaceful sleeping face, captivated by the melody of her gentle snores.
The next day, Furina awoke, the soft morning light casting a warm glow on her face. As the events of the previous night gradually dawned on her, her cheeks flushed a delicate shade of crimson. Blinking in realization, she took in her surroundings, noticing that she was in a man's room – Neuvillette's room. A momentary panic flickered in her eyes.
Neuvillette, seated nearby, found immense amusement in her flushed demeanor, a genuine laugh escaping his lips. Whether it was a peculiar aftereffect of not conversing with her for a long time, Neuvillette himself didn't know. What he did know was that an inexplicable warmth had filled the room, and in that moment, it felt like something within him had been completely recharged.
Seeing her embarrassment, he reassured her with a warm smile. "Good morning, Furina. I hope you have a restful sleep."
"Ah... Um... Well..." Furina stammered, searching for the right words.
(I didn't say anything weird, right? What in the world was I thinking?)
Internally lamenting, Furina tried to compose herself.
"Don't worry, nothing happened. I didn't do anything to you," Neuvillette said, reading the relief on Furina's face.
(Except for a little kiss on the forehead, that is.)
He silently added with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Neuvillette then stood up from his couch and approached her, gently touching her face.
"But I do hope that this only happened when you were with me, milady," Neuvillette said, proceeding to give her cheek a playful pinch.
Furina, confused by his sudden change of attitude, nodded profusely. "I get it, I get it."
(Did this dragon drink something weird or something??)
Furina silently pondered, trying to make sense of Neuvillette's playfulness. As she observed this unexpected side of him, an unconscious smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
Meanwhile, Neuvillette found himself appreciating the pinchable softness of her cheek and couldn't help but think she looked particularly cute in that moment. Since it is only the two of them here, he too should start to be honest with his own desire.
The playful gesture and eventually the shared laughter that followed marked a small yet significant step in mending their relationship. It was a gentle bridge, a connection that held the promise of understanding and acceptance. As they stood in that moment, the air between them lightened, and the tension of the past began to dissipate.
It was just a small step, yet it was the beginning of something more profound. Their relationship, undefined but rich with potential, lay before them like an unwritten story. Both Neuvillette and Furina couldn't articulate what it was exactly, but there was a shared hope that, with time and mutual wishes, it would bloom into something beautiful. In that simple exchange, the seeds of a deeper connection were sown, and the warmth of understanding began to envelop them, promising a future where their hearts could unfold and intertwine.