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It wasn't like they had a date in mind when they set out.
Yet, with Blitz idly helping herself to fresh grass and both of them struggling at making flower crowns, it really did feel like a date. The weather was nice, with the afternoon sun warmly shining down and the gentle breezes kissing their skin, and the prairie was wide without prying eyes. It was ideal, so he wouldn't care less if it was intentional or not - though the latter was more likely, considering his partner's spontaneity.
He had been braiding wildflowers for fifteen minutes now, taking his time since it was his first try. Next to him, he could hear Valt's frustrated groans every few seconds as his kept coming apart. He chuckled. So impatient, but that is just like you.
Slowly, his flower crown took shape. It was a little too small for his liking, but everything could be perfected through trial and error. He set it down, preparing to weave another, better version to gift his partner with, and, for good measures, took a not-so-subtle look at him to get the size right.
His crimson eyes couldn't help but linger. Valt Aoi had always been a sight for sore eyes. Shu knew that Rusalki were naturally beautiful, but he hadn't been able to quite grasp what that implied until the blue-haired merman got his heart beating out of his chest. Unlike common misconceptions, he didn't grow up drop-dead gorgeous, but instead with most his childish features still intact, radiating with innocence despite the many woes he had been through. His eyes were of a soft brown, so unlike Nika's coral, Tokonatsu's deep green, and Chiharu's dusty violet, so insignificant a color that they were actually easy to look at, to help people feel at peace putting faith in him. And so full of wonder they still were, round and lively just like the day he brandished the practice sword he just received to brag before him, even with years of pain and responsibility weighing on his shoulders, that the sword resting in that sheath was no longer blunt and wooden, but the sharpest Rusalka Sword ever forged. Sometimes, Shu had to wonder how he did it, staying afloat on such stormy seas. Perhaps he had forgotten there being a sea at all.
No, he didn't forget. Shu couldn't never forget the days following Valt's defeat against Rashad. His own disciple had gravely injured him in the stomach and he had to stay under supervision for a month, yet the source of his frustration had been somewhere else. It was how he worried about his own perpetrator heading down the path of no return more than his own feeling of betrayal, not even for the first time. There were many instances like that before, some left him with a heavier heart than others, and caught up in it all, it seemed that he had forgotten to cry.
No, Valt Aoi had never forgotten the sea nor the storm, but he looked at the heavens and dared to challenge it. He stayed afloat because he was just that strong.
Then crimson eyes traveled down. The trip they were on had been lengthy to the point that it took Blitz, one of the most resilient steeds he knew, three stops to even reach their destination, and the way back was just as long. It was understandable that Valt chose to abandon his garments. With the helm gone, his dark blue hair flowed freely, some long strands of his bangs obscuring his vision, but he made no move, completely fixated on his flower crown; while he never kept his hair long, it was either the helm or a headband securing the bangs, so it was a rare sight. Not to mention, Valt often wore hooded capes and gloves, not to hide his Rusalka features, but simply because he thought they were cool and convenient for his swordfight. Shu never thought much about it, either, so it caught him off guard, seeing his exposed neck.
Deep blue scales shone on the sides of his neck and the back of his hands, that was something he had known since their childhood days. Back then, Valkyrie had yet to awaken, so the Aoi family had to rely entirely on Kento and Kvasir to change between forms, resulting in his Rusalka features being much more prominent. And without capes or gloves or pieces of armor to conceal, one had to be blind to not notice his legacy. Now, almost ten years since Valt met Valkyrie, the two had honed their transformation to the point that it felt like, left less scales, and took less than a blink of an eye. However, the scales never disappeared completely - not that the blue-haired boy ever wanted them to.
His breath hitched. That was not the patch of scales he remembered. In his mind's eyes, they shone like sapphires, untouched, not with swelling blotches that seemed so out of place where scales should be. His brain provided: Valt had been missing scales.
How had he never noticed before? Shu prided himself on his observation skills, thanks to which he had risen through countless battles and emerged victorious. Observation helped him perfect his stance and tactics, be versatile on the field, and even play the role of the coach to the Beigoma team, to the Bulls, and even to Fubuki. It had written his name in history as one of the strongest, no doubt, but it was not fool-proof. Then again, his observation always seemed to fail him at the most important of moments - when he said his goodbyes before leaving Beigoma on a path of no return, what had those familiar brown eyes seen that they had looked at him with doubt despite years of complete trust? Why had he still gazed at him with sadness instead of anger when he pointedly tore their friendship apart? And the desperation in his voice during the final confrontation - empowered by his Rusalka bloodline, why had it been accompanied by such resolved strikes? He wished he noticed the signs sooner. Time and again, why did he keep failing him when that observation was needed the most?
Having tutored Fubuki, who was a Ningyo, he picked up a lot of knowledge on merfolk that Valt had never cared to mention, that unlike hair, scales were permanent. Only under harsh conditions did they shed, and if well cared for could there be a chance of them growing back. Valt's did not.
"Just in case you got brain damage as well, don't you ever think about blaming yourself for the outcome of this battle. Valt had decided by himself and has no regrets. You better give him and yourself some respect."
"What do I even have to respect in myself?"
The half-titan had froze, not believing in his ears - certainly, it was not every day that he saw his stoic, prideful childhood friend looking down on himself, but he quickly recovered and grinned, sharp teeth and all.
"Let's start by learning that your friends still got your back, yeah?" Xhaka gave him a hearty smack on the back, though mindful of his injuries, "You're a great guy, you'll bounce back in no time!"
Looking back, he now fully understood what Xhaka meant by 'the outcome of this battle'. Red Eye had been the first one to inflict permanent injuries - he had been the first of many to come to leave scars on a person who never wished for bloodshed, who would look at his opponent in the eyes and attempt to heed the call of their heart, uncaring if it hurt him in the process.
Xhaka knew and had tried to console him in advance. Valt knew and never let it show on his face.
Shu tried to refocus on his second flower crown but found his hands uncompliant, the stems of little white and yellow flowers couldn't seem to stay still in the braid.
"Shu! I finished my flower crown!" Valt exclaimed, snapping him out of his jumbled thoughts. The blue-haired boy showcased his handiwork. Unlike Shu, who meticulously chose the flowers for his crown by length and color, Valt simply put together whatever caught his eyes, resulting in quite a messy crown of whites, yellows, reds, and pinks, with stems protruding from random spots, but he smiled so brightly as he signaled him to lower his head, so who was he to object?
Tenderly - how surprising, compared to the way he carried himself on the battlefield - Valt placed the messy flower crown on his head, then made some distance to admire his own work, nodding to himself.
"You look amazing with a flower crown, Shu! Have you done yours? Can I see?"
Hesitantly, Shu discarded the unfinished second crown and pulled out his first one. Predictably, the other boy showered him with praises with stars in his eyes and promptly bent down so he, too, could give him his flower crown.
"So, how do I look?"
"Pretty," he couldn't help but smile, and that sent Valt into a giggling fit.
"Look who's blushing~ I didn't know you're a romantic guy, Shu!" he teased light-heartedly, making him want to smack him over the head and kiss him at the same time.
"Would you take a look at yourself, then!" he retorted.
"Too bad, there aren't any mirrors here~"
Stupid Valt and his silly demeanor. Have you got any idea how people wish to be as carefree as you, growing up?
"Even Spriggan says that you're beet-red!" Valt continued. Shu shot a betrayed look at the space behind him where Spriggan should be. At times like this, he felt a little envious with those who were born seeing spirits. Seeing them in person must've been interesting. Instead, he channeled his energy into something he hoped would be a smack on the shoulder for his guardian spirit.
He could tell that Spriggan was laughing at him, and Valkyrie was no better. Despite not born seeing spirits, he could generally tell their states of being. It was a tactical advantage, if anything.
Rage, overwhelming rage that consumed everything. Red Eye staggered back, battle axe suddenly felt extra heavy in his arms as the blue-haired swordsman advanced, his presence strangely heavy, and that had nothing to do with the desperate fierceness in those eyes or the arcane charm behind his voice or the way that sword cut silently through air like nothing. It came from something way beyond his reach. It was Valkyrie's anger directed right at him, for he had hurt her dearest. After pending up for days and months, the benevolent spirit had had enough, her sword had been swiftly driven through Requiem and Shu himself alike.
He was sure that if he had been able to see spirits, the face Valkyrie had made would haunt him forever.
"...!!!“
"...u!!“
"Hey! Earth to Shu!! Are you with me?"
He blinked. He wasn't facing a fierce, desperate Valt accompanied by a furious Valkyrie. It was just them, relaxing in a prairie with flower crowns, and Valkyrie was in a good mood.
"You keep zoning out. Are you tired? Oh, I know! Since this trip is super long, we should take a nap so we won't fall of on the way! Blitz needs her rest, too!" Valt claimed, excitement spread over his formerly concerned expression at the assumption, "Blitz, be good and don't wander off, okay?" he affectionately hugged the pegasus, who neighed in response and tried to lick him.
Valt quickly made himself comfortable on the grass, with his cape folded as a makeshift pillow, he curled up and was ready to doze off. However, Shu couldn't share the same sentiment. He was weary, that much was true, but he was wide awake with thoughts he would rather shove into a corner in his mind for it to either disappear eventually or come crashing down on him some time later. In any case, he would rather not dwell on it.
Strong arms wrapped him in a loose hug, but they felt weightless. Valkyrie had crossed the space between them, as if she had read his mind. Perhaps she actually had. For a soul reborn from an era long gone, she was strikingly perceptive but also kind to a fault, not unlike her master. Just like how she hadn't held a grudge for long all those years ago. Just like right now, how she was encouraging him to not ignore his own feelings.
If you have something to say, say it. He could feel her urging him despite not being able to hear her voice. Tentatively, he reached out a hand and brushed over the patch of blue scales on his partner's neck.
"Shu? Aren't you going to sleep?" the other boy said with a stifled yawn. He rubbed the sleepiness away, sitting up, then widened his eyes at the sight, "Valkyrie? Shu, what's going on? Why do you look so sad?"
"Your scales..." Shu began. Suddenly, he found it hard to keep looking at those pure brown eyes, but he willed himself to, "They're missing. Does it hurt?"
"Huh? No," Valt shrugged, confused, his hand subconsciously touching his neck, "It was a bit itchy at first, but Chris and Nika helped me, so now it just look bad."
Of course. I should've expected this answer. He probably lost those scales in midst of a battle, so the pain from other injuries would simply overwhelm it. He sighed bitterly.
"I'm sorry."
"Eh? What are you apologizing for? It's not like it's your—"
"It is my fault!" he cut in, "I was the first one to cause you to lose those scales, I know. Everything else just follows. I had lost my mind, my way, because of something as childish as a lost I'm too prideful to accept, then you got hurt trying to bring me back! How can you say it doesn't hurt when it's swelling so badly?"
"Just listen!" Valt shouted back, his face void of his usual smile and his eyes dead-serious, "You once told me to learn to pick myself up after a defeat because it's no use crying over what's done. You told me to be proud of battle scars because it's a sign of courage. You always show the scar Lui left on you after each victory, so what's up with mine?"
"I—"
"I love the thrill of battle, Shu, but you've shown me how it can be more than that and helped me along the way. I am here because of you. I can't even thank you enough, so stop apologizing! We're way past that."
Well said, Valt. Valkyrie complimented.
Shu sat in a daze. The raw emotions projected in the half-Rusalka's words never failed to amaze him. He smiled.
"Then I guess I should thank you, too. For showing me a new perspective on everything."
"Hehe, I'll say it's my secret talent!" Valt joked.
It is. You bring change whenever you go. The good kind of change. He couldn't imagine what this world would be like without a person as passionate as Valt. He was easily the most influential hero of this era without even realizing how great an impact he could leave.
Under the warm afternoon sun, the breezes caressed the sleeping forms of two heroes, scarred and exhausted, hand in hand, but had learnt to keep looking forward, for they knew they had got each other's back.