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“ Is that really necessary ?” His voice trembled. The warm luminous glow of the candles enlightening the silence they both stood between. His flickering eyes fell upon her lips being bitten. Her once vibrant eyes just fell to his side, refusing to look up to him. The silence was deafening. Even without the usage of words he clearly knew the answer. That it was necessary.
It was never about him all along.
Numbness engulfed his body, he shouldn't feel like this, not in this dire moment. He didn't want to be vulnerable yet again. Not in front of her. No no no—
“ I'm sorry “ She finally spoke , her voice held low, accountable for the dagger she had stuck in his chest just now. He tsked out of bitterness, out of agony which tore him from the insides.
“ Then let it be. Save it “ His hands tightened into a fist as he spat those words just before turning around. Never looking back. He heard his name being called countless times behind him. And yet- he didn't have the courage to ask what he wanted. He couldn't demand the only happiness he had ever wanted. His tears threatened to fall down as he lifted his mask to close away his pathetic emotions into the void.
And yet again they resurfaced; 500 years after he had his heart broken he didn't even know ever existed. The Tsaritsa stood before him with undeniable power as she eyed him. He sat on one knee unmoving feeling her gaze. “Capitano, it's time. Natlan is going to face the same calamity which took away the previous Pyro archon 500 years ago.” He found his breath hitch as he heard those words. Again— not again.
“ I order you to present me with the Pyro gnosis as I don't find any more worthy of carrying out this daunting task than my first harbinger” Her cold voice carried along a tinge of pride over him.
“As you desire, Your Majesty. It is my utmost responsibility to present you with the Pyro gnosis” He spoke with determination and calmness but those old feelings jumbled across his mind simultaneously. She dismissed him thereafter; His motives led him to set foot on the soil of Natlan in the next three days. He shoved away the thoughts of seeing her again, the only thing plaguing his mind was the gnosis and his loyalty to the Tsaritsa.
But his heart betrayed him. Those bastard emotions arose again as his eyes saw her again. The same fierce eyes he had admired through numerous days and nights. The same way her vibrant hair swayed in the humid wind.
“ You wanna look at something cool ?” She had flashed him with the brightest smile. He hummed in response, intrigued by her sudden expulsion. He could only stare with wonder how her hair burst into actual flames. “You look beautiful” He had said in a moment of adoration. Yet.. she still looked gorgeous when the air across her blazed along with her as she descended on the battlefield; pointing her weapon of choice at him in a direct declaration of a fight.
“Your plan has reached an impasse and now it falls to me to create new rules for Natlan“ He saw her cheeks twitching showing her reaction to his proposal. There it was. She was still determined to use the methodology she had used 500 years to avert the crisis. Heated words were exchanged amongst one another before their weapons crashed with each other. He shouldn't feel like this. Suddenly the rage, the anger came up to him in a moment of weakness. He wanted to fight. He wanted to fight just to let out what she had done to him centuries ago.
Both of their moves grew more violent, with him launching ice blocks in the air to repel her flames. He didn't want to hold on any longer. Both of their weapons broke in a collision with each other but they both countered immediately. They turned around in a blink with their fists enriched with their respective powers. He looked upon her eyes one last time before the whole stadium was thrown into a tornado of flames. There it was again. His weakness. He couldn't bring himself to hurt her.
The smoke from the explosion cleared a bit before he got a better look at her. The right side of his chest ached…just where the wound rested burnt through his clothes. His wandering eyes fell upon her gasping figure , trying to calm down her breathing. Their eyes connected for a second, he could sense her worry but it was not the time. Just before she took a step towards him , he retreated in the blue veil of dust, he had just released in the air.
His staggering steps lead him to the temporary quarters near the outskirts of Natlan. His subordinates rushed to him for medical care but he shook his head. He was raging. For her. He fastened towards his own room along with the first aid box and disappeared behind that door. He let his mind rest finally as he slumped in the comfort of the side of his bedrest.
His rough fingers touched the sides of his mask before fully peeling it off. His chest still hurt from the battle but it wasn't much of a time before it could fully heal. Nonetheless it was essential to clean the wound. He disposed of his shirt and accessories before tending to his wound. His head slumped further… his mind going back to her. What a bittersome story.. he had thought. The first time he had got to see her after that ended up with both delivering blows on each other. He was in denial all along on how much he had missed her.
Heavens.. it was beyond his own understanding of his emotions. For how many years he had suppressed them? His chest hurt.. his throat hurt. To think that the most powerful harbinger was clutching onto his wound while mopping over his feelings for his once lover was beyond what counts as mockery. It was pathetic in his terms. He tries to close his eyes in order to let himself calm, his breathing slowing down back to normal.
Just before he could slip into the realm of numbness , his senses felt a presence. He felt his eyes jerk open before he could fully comprehend it. Then came the soft clicking sounds off the floor at a distance , no it couldn't be.
He saw for himself as she came walking into his room with a soft expression while he himself frowned. She stopped walking and stood at a distance from him who was still sitting on his bed alert.
“Mavuika” He rasped out bitterly as he uttered the name he came to despise in these 500 years but once loved.
He clutched his own wound further, forcing a wince out of himself. He saw her own hand moving towards him to reach out for the wound.
“ Don't. “ He spit annoyed. He could see her eyebrows furrowed clearly concerned.
“ Let me.” She insisted. Deep down he wanted her, so desperate that he wanted her back. He wanted to forgive her for what she had done to him. He wanted to reach out as well though it will stand against the Tsaritsa and her goals. He was a weak weak man.
“ Don't.” He replied instantaneously , throwing the cloth away from the wound and standing face to face with her. He towered over her figure staring into her eyes— Wait. His own eyes softened as he took her whole face in. She looked hurt. Desperation flickering in the orbs of her eyes
“ Mavuika. Why are you here?” He inquired.
“I wanted to check on you.” She replied back and this time directly staring at him.
“Lies” She inhaled sharply as she heard him say that word.
“It isn't”
“Obviously it is. How much of an idiot do you think of me huh?! You have the audacity to show me your face after what you have done 500 years ago and then sympathize with the burnt wound you have given me.” He spat those words with venom as her expression grew hurt even more.
“I had a nation to save!” She cried out.
“And what about me?” He felt himself stop in his tracks. He had revealed himself. He has turned vulnerable with his tears unable to hold back themselves any longer as they slipped over his cheeks grazing over his scars.
“You sacrificed yourself and you didn't even look back. Do you even realize what it left me after you went away… You never even talked about the whole matter with me. You finalized your decision and just before your next step, you told me. You didn't even ask what I wanted.”
“ What did you want then? How was I supposed to save my nation from that doom??” Her voice started to crack.
“I wanted you. I wanted you with me. We could have had another way, we could have thought of another possible way out of that danger instead of you just sacrificing yourself without having a second thought. I was ready to lend my help to my best.” And just like that he had lost himself, centuries of past grudge blooming into the present word by word.
“Do you know what pisses me off more ? You! You are going to do the same thing you did before.” Capitano’s voice grew slower and he turned his face away from her.
“I will not do that again.” She had declared but all she got was a snicker in response.
“Tell me honestly, Mavuika. If the state of Natlan falls under the exact conditions it did 500 years ago. Will you again go and reenact the same method?” She grew silent.
“Your silence says it all.” He huffed as caught his shirt, wearing it to hide his wound away from her.
“It took a toll on me too. But you have to understand, whatever I did , it was for my betterment for the future of Natlan. I was just holding the time back before everything would collapse again and trust me I don't want to repeat that again. And about you? I wanted you too, Captain. Did you think it didn't break me into fragments before leaving you? It didn't break me to engage in battle today after seeing each other after 500 years ?? It does hurt Captain. After all, I have lent my heart to you centuries ago and well I can't seem to take it back no matter how hard I try. It was always about you.”
“Do you truly mean that?” Capitano faced her once again, eyes full of tenderness; hands wanting to embrace her.
“ Yes, after that when I had my old consciousness back, I convinced myself to speak to you but never could. I was too afraid. I know I have wronged you, very horribly. And there's no forgiveness for that. I had thought you wouldn't want to see my face ever again. I have suffered internally all these years, Captain. The guilt that I had lost you forever gnawed at me from every side. ” Her words came to a halt as she inhaled sharply trying to calm her nerves.
“Well you are wrong at that. At first, I didn't want anything to do with you but accordingly I had to face you today.” His hands trembled but finally embraced her in his arms, her hands reciprocating the hug immediately.
“ It was so hard not to look at you , admire you like the early times. I had a realization that I had never stopped loving you either. I have loved you, still do and will always do.”
Mavuika’s arms tightened around him. He wanted to never let go again. He would never let her make the same harsh decision as before. This time he wanted to stay by her. This time he wanted to be with her.
“Will you let me help you this time?” He spoke quietly in her neck.
“Sure.” He could feel her little smile across his chest. He finally felt complete with her, his beloved sun in his arms.