Chapter Text
The war had taken its toll on all of them, despite what the victory feast may suggest.
Every tribe had lost people, his own tribe was practically in ruins, needing to be rebuilt, and Chasca had even lost Chuychu. However, it was easy to ignore every pressing issue for the time being and celebrate.
Kinich himself had been running around the entirety of Natlan delivering battle reports to fights, and was in desperate need of the break the party would give him.
He was away in the corner, talking to Iansan, when she spoke up. “Hey, you look pretty pale. You okay?”
He glanced down at the smaller girl. “Yeah, I’m okay.”
He was not okay. He was exhausted, and probably sick, too. All that running around had him feeling less than stellar, and the fighting on top of it made everything so much worse. However, this opportunity for celebration was rare these days and he didn’t want to ruin it for everyone.
He pushed himself away from the wall he hadn’t realized he was leaning on, Ajaw too focused on gobbling down his grapes to give him the time of day. “I think I’m going to go grab some water.”
Iansan nodded. “Alright..”
Kinich steadied himself as discreetly as he could before heading over to the bar, grabbing himself a stool to sit on and ordering his water. He was really starting to feel horrible, adrenaline wearing off and body starting to shake.
Tensing his muscles to stop the shaking, he took a sip of water. The resulting nausea he had to fight down was a bit alarming.
It was then that Xilonen made her presence known. “Kinich.”
He almost jumped, but managed to steel himself in time. Still, her eyes narrowed at his reaction.
He took another sip of his water, ignoring the nausea best he could. “Xilonen.”
She shook her head and sighed. “Iansan told me she’s worried about you, and now I can clearly see why. Go rest.”
He opened his mouth to object but she beat him to the punch. “Now. No arguing or I’ll tell Mualani you’re injured.”
That shut him up real quick. Mualani was always smothering in her affection, a bit overwhelming for someone who had never experienced that kind of thing. Not even his mother had been as affectionate, being the kind of person to be gentle and sparse with her affections.
He slowly got up from where he was sitting and nodded. “Alright. I’ll be going now.”
He didn’t hear her response as he walked away to go pay for a room at the inn, his own house too far away for him to get to without collapsing.
The minute he got into a room with a bed and closed the door behind him he was out like a light.
*****
When he awoke again it was to Mualani poking his cheek.
“Kinich? You dead?”
He groaned in response, turning his face away from her.
He didn’t even have to look at her to know she was beaming. “See, Chasca! I told you he wasn’t dead!”
Chasca, who he presumed was also in the room (he couldn’t tell when his face was buried in his pillow) grumbled, “Yeah, yeah, just get him up. We have a meeting to get to.”
He turned over so he was no longer on his stomach. “Meeting..?”
Mualani nodded. “Mhm! Mavuika wanted to see us, probably to talk about the war.”
He yawned as he sat up, revealing his face to the two women. Mualani’s smile dropped and Chasca’s brow creased.
“Holy archons you don’t look good.” Chasca strides forward and placed a hand on his forehead, one he immediately swatted away.
“I’m fine, what time’s the meeting?”
“Well, she said that now would be preferable..” Mualani reluctantly mentioned.
He stood up from the bed, adjusting his headband. “Well, let’s go.”
He didn’t know how long he had slept for, but it clearly wasn’t enough because he still felt just as horrible as before. However, illness meant weakness, and the last thing he was is weak.
*****
The walk from his room to the speaker’s chamber wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be. He only had to hide his dizziness twice.
He stood amongst the other six heroes of Natlan, arms crossed and gaze unfocused. Finally, after what felt like an eternity to him, Mavuika stood before them. Her watchful eyes scanned them, pausing for a moment too long on Kinich before moving on. The rest of the heroes were giving him concerned looks. Did he really look that bad?
Mavuika cleared her throat. “Heroes, I stand before you today to offer my sincerest thanks. Without you, this nation would have fallen, just like Khaenri’ah long ago. Now, as I stand before you, I would ask for one more thing.”
They glanced between each other, curiously apprehensive about what Mavuika was about to say.
“I ask that you get to know each other, to fight together always, and to never give up hope for Natlan and its people.”
A new fire was struck within the six of them, one of passion and hope.
“Now,” she started, “you must be tired.” She aimed a pointed look at Kinich. “Go now and rest, for though we have won today, our journey is not yet complete.”
One by one they all left, Kinich trailing behind. He was almost startled when Mavuika spoke.
“Kinich, a word if you will.”
He turned around and faced his archon. He was tense, ready for anything she might throw his way.
He wasn’t expecting her to place a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Good work today. Out of all my heroes, you were worked the hardest between delivering battle reports and fighting on the front lines. Take care of yourself, okay?”
He nodded, eyes downcast, not meeting his archon’s. She frowned, but let him go.
He moved quick out of the chamber, an unknown feeling stirring in his chest.
*****
When he got home, it occurred to him that he left Ajaw behind at the venue. Clicking a button on his bracelet, he called through the now open bond for Ajaw to come to him.
Soon enough Ajaw appeared. “And what has this mortal servant called upon me for? I have other things to do with my time, you know!”
Kinich shook his head. “Look, my house was the least affected out of the tribe. I just need you to go let Chief Wayna know for me while I gather my camping equipment.”
Ajaw scoffed. “And why would we, the almighty dragon lord K’hul Ajaw, listen to the whims of a mere servant?”
Kinich raised his hand, “Time out it is.”
Ajaw turned beet red with anger. “Uhhggg, FINE!” He then flew off in the direction of the tribe’s main village.
Kinich turned to his mostly untouched house and walked inside, moving his personal belongings to a pack and making space for any newcomers.
*****
Camping out in the wilderness is a lot less fun when you can barely stand without feeling faint. He wasn’t very far from his house, just far enough that he could barely hear the sounds of people, but he was secluded enough to have some illusion of privacy.
He had changed from his dirty, bloody, torn clothes and out on fresh ones some time ago. The fire was going strong in front of him, warmth slowly luring him to sleep. He curled up right there and fell asleep, uncaring of the fact that he was so open and vulnerable as he was.
*****
Waking up again wasn’t a pleasant experience. He felt hot all over, the chilled night air not doing much to help the overwhelming heat in his body. The fire had long since gone out, leaving behind the charred remains of his firewood and a circle of stone and dirt.
What shocked him most was that he wasn’t alone. Across from him, sitting on a log, were Mualani and Xilonen. They were quietly chatting to each other, Mualani’s hands waving excitedly. Chasca was close by them, a dark look in her eyes as she gazed down at something small in her hand. Ororon was on the other side of the chattering two, messing around with a feather in his hands. Iansan was presumably nearby as well, though he couldn’t see her.
He ignored the heat in his body and fell back asleep with a smile.