Chapter Text
Panthanaea sat in the Exarch’s quarters, anxiously watching the sleeping Miqo. The healers had said that he would recover but his wounds had been pretty severe and they had put him into a healing sleep.
Her eyes wandered his crystalline body, wondering why he had kept himself a secret. Realistically she knew but she refused to believe that he would have let something like that stand between them. Thinking about it made her heart ache.
She traced her fingers across his crystal arm, marveling at the oddity of transposed flesh. The muscles flexed under her touch and she jerked back, gaze flying to his face.
He groaned and blearily opened his eyes. He blinked heavily and looked at her, confusion and a tinge of panic creeping across his features.
“You’re safe in the Crystarium.” She said calmingly, shifting to show him the room.
He heaved a large sigh and laid back on the pillow, covering his eyes with his crystal hand. “It’s finally over then?” She murmured an affirmation, suddenly feeling nervous. She played with the hem of her tunic searching for words.
“Panth,” his voice pulled her out of her thoughts, “I…know there’s nothing I can say that will change what I did.” His piercing red eyes held her spellbound. “I”m sorry that I misled you. I could say that I was trying to protect you and save this world but in truth….I couldn’t face you knowing what I was going to have to do.” He looked away.
Her heart ached as she processed what he’d said. “You were never going to tell me were you?” He frowned and shook his head. “It didn’t have to be this way. We could have figured something out.”
He shook his head. “There was only one way Panth. I could find no other way to save you from the Light.”
“You still should have told me.” She huffed. She suddenly threw herself into him, catching him off guard and forcing the breath out of his lungs. She hugged him tightly, rubbing her teary eyes into his tunic. “I’m glad you’re safe.”
Catching his breath he managed, “Ha, um, yes. I'm glad I am too.” He hesitantly returned her hug, rubbing his hand on her back.
“I thought you were lost to me forever.” She mumbled through his clothes. “I’ve missed you.” Emotions and feelings long forgotten flooded through her, catching her off guard.
His arms gripped her tighter and his hand moved to run through her hair. “I’ve waited centuries for you Naea. You have been my inspiration.” He took a deep shuddering breath. “I never thought I’d be able to touch you again.” He burrowed his face in her hair.
She clenched her fists in his clothing, whispering, “It’s been so long.” Half spoken to him and half to herself.
He nodded, combing his fingers through her hair. A knock on the door startled them and she awkwardly pulled herself off of him, calling out a welcome. A healer opened the door and Panthanaea vacated her place to allow them to work. She called out a goodbye and slipped out of the room.
She stood in the hallway, placing her hand on her racing heart. What was she doing? Why did her heart still flutter after all these years? She’d moved on hadn’t she? Given up on the love she’d once had because it was too painful to hope it could be real again.
Butterflies rattled her stomach, slamming home the realization that this was real. He was really alive. Really here. Really still in love with her. She gasped for breath, trying desperately to slow her racing mind, but it refused and instead pulled her along. Emotions flooded and overwhelmed her and she pushed herself off the wall and took off at a run.
Clearing the building she summoned her chocobo and flew. She didn’t know where she was going, she let the chocobo choose, but the cool bite of the wind and the prickly feathers of her companion gave her peace.
The sun was setting when the two returned. Her stalwart companion squawked and raced to the stables, hungry for dinner. She chuckled and called a friendly greeting to the innkeeper. They relayed the messages she’d gotten and she thanked them, moving to her quarters.
She flopped on the bed and rolled to stare at the ceiling. The Exar- no, G’raha, had been busy in the short time he’d been awake. He’d already started working on the problem of sending everyone home. The Scions had been talking for days about whether white auracite could feasibly store their souls and it seemed that new information was soon to be revealed. But that could wait until tomorrow’s meeting. She turned and looked out the window to the night sky and sleep quickly overcame her.
The next week or so was a whirlwind. She hardly had time to think, let alone process her feelings. Every interaction with G’raha felt strange and confusing. He was polite as ever but she could sense the longing and desire he was holding back. Every accidental touch, every time their eyes locked, every barely concealed look of concern when she returned from battle.
Her own feelings longed to be free as well. It felt like there was a war within her head. Part of her felt that she was the luckiest woman on the star. Her lover had come back to life! But it almost felt like she was betraying the memory of G’raha. Opening up to him again after she’d mourned him felt so wrong and terrifying. And for someone who had faced down gods that was saying something.
The auracite was a failure. As the only one who could travel home it fell to Panthanaea to deliver the troubling news to Krile. Returning to Mor Dhona intensified the struggles in her chest. She spent far too long staring at the Crystal Tower, almost hoping it would give her answers, before finally moving to the Rising Stones to report.
Estinian barging in was not even remotely expected, and the news he delivered was grim. Zenos. Of course it was Zenos.
Fear bloomed in her chest. Would she be able to fight him this time? She’d already lost to him twice. Granted one had not been her fault, but the scar it etched into her soul remained nonetheless.
The impromptu meeting wrapped up and she readied herself to return to the First, the others needed to know asap. She caught herself longing for G’raha’s calming touch. Her subconscious daydream of him holding her and stroking her hair while quietly reading aloud the book he was studying stopped her in her tracks. He’d been her rock when things had taken a poor turn with the Crystal Tower. She’d forgotten how much she’d missed it in the times since.
Her mind worked quickly, coming to a conclusion that made her bubble up with excitement. Life was short and uncertain. Fate was unkind in ways but was kind enough to give two lovers another chance. All she had to do was take it.
Closing her eyes she concentrated and within moments was standing at the aetheryte in the Crystarium. She ran across the courtyard and up the steps to the Ocular, throwing a questioning glance to the guard who merely nodded and smiled. She burst through the doors, racing up the stairs fast enough to become breathless.
The doors slamming open startled G’raha and he whirled from his mirror, halfway through a spell when a smile split his face. “Panth! Good timing! I have good news abou-MMPPHH”
She closed the distance and threw herself into a kiss before he could finish speaking. He stumbled backwards a step but she stubbornly did not break away. His staff clattered to the ground as he wrapped his arms around her. Timidly he kissed back, but soon the intensity of his longing and lust proved itself to be too strong. He broke away for them both to take a panting breath before hungrily devouring her mouth again.
She did not know how long they had been locked in love’s embrace nor did she care. All she was aware of was how right it was to be back in his arms. He was just as strong and passionate as he had been before, albeit changed in other ways.
When they finally did break apart he cradled her head in his hand and searched her eyes. He was nervous. She could see it in his gaze. “Is everything okay Panth?” He whispered, rubbing her arm with his thumb.
She nodded, tears threatening to spill over her cheeks. “I’ve missed you.” She whispered back.
He smiled fondly and gently pulled her in for a hug. She melted. Years of hardship fell off like they’d been borrowed and finally returned. She sighed and buried her face into his chest. He maneuvered them until they were sitting, him against the wall and her tucked up against his chest.
“I’ve missed you too.” He kissed the tip of her ear, chuckling as it swatted against his face.
“I’m sorry I have been so distant. It was…a lot.” She explained, telling him everything that she’d been fighting with. He listened intently and nodded, hugging her tighter.
When she had finished he kissed the top of her head and then tipped her chin up to kiss her lips. “I understand. My love, I have waited centuries with no guarantee I’d see you again. I will wait for you forever if that’s what it takes.” She smiled and sighed, nuzzling into his tunic and curling her tail around him.