Chapter Text
Amelie huffed irritably as she leaned against a wall of the ruins a bit away from camp. She could faintly see Hikari and Alphinaud huddled together near the fire, fast asleep. Her eyes then narrowed in on Ysayle, deeply glaring at her sleeping form.
“Stupid woman.” She grumbled as she turned away to look into the dark land beyond. She tried to forget the Elezen’s words as she yet again chided (better word) Estinien for his want to kill the beast that has caused so much destruction for his family and so many others. How could she begrudge him for said desire? Did she not lose her parents too? Could she not understand the pain and misery they had gone through all because of Nidhogg and her so called heretics.
“Glare any harder and the ruins may spontaneously combust.” She jumped at the voice, her head whipping around at the jest coming from the most unexpected person.
“Perhaps that’s for the best, otherwise it may turn to its desired target.” She said through gritted teeth as she crossed her arms, fighting the urge to huff again.
“You must learn to contain your rage better.” Estinien said with a small sigh as he came closer and leaned against the wall next to her.
“What would—!” She began to snap but cut herself off as she realized that he did, in fact, know something about it. She shut her eyes as she breathed in a slow breath, Urianger’s soothing voice floating across her mind as his words of encouragement and guidance tried to calm her.
“I know how easy it is to snap, especially at the likes of her.” He too glanced over at the sleeping woman with narrowed eyes. “Doing so only gives her what she wants.”
“I care not, I still plan to murder the beast no matter how much she may whine and cry about it.” Amelie growled and Estinien lifted his hands for peace.
“I do not disagree, but now is not the time.” He murmured and she glared at him.
“When is the time?! I have been waiting for long enough, I tire of this prattling on, trying to parlay when even Hikari can see it will be for naught! We are losing time! We—!” Estinien abruptly grabbed her by the shoulders, cutting off her frenzy. Her jaw snapped shut and her eyes widened as she realized that he was once more without his helmet. Hypnotic blue eyes stared back at her, fierce and concerned as his grip tightened on her shoulders.
“Estinien—.” Her tone was biting as her face lit up and he could not help himself as he pulled her closer. His lips crashed into hers and a noise of shock was muffled between their lips as her shoulders tensed before she relaxed against him.
Just as he started to pull away, shocked at himself for what he had done, Amelie surged against him. Her lips met his again and his arms involuntarily tightened around her, pulling her even closer than before. A small moan escaped her lips this time as her fingers buried into his hair. The kiss was everything and too much at once, the burning anger they shared eating away at her as her back slammed against the wall of the ruin. She had never imagined she could feel such a way (?) from a single kiss.
Estinien ended it just as abruptly as he started it. His forehead pressed against hers for a moment as their heavy breaths mingled in the chilled night air, small white puffs and bruised lips the only evidence of what had just happened. He said nothing as stepped away from her, she said nothing either, unsure when she went from hating the Elezen to, apparently, lusting after him. He opened his mouth for a moment then closed it with a shake of his head before stalking off.
She watched him leave, her breaths still coming heavy, as she tried to make heads or tails of what just happened. Was it his eyes? So easily she was lost in them with just one glance. Was it the surly attitude? Perhaps she had come to feel more fondly about it then she first thought. Or perhaps it was their shared misery that attracted her so. She couldn’t say for certain as she watched the man who just thoroughly swept her off her feet walk away.