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Runaan had a routine. Every good assassin should abide by a strict routine. Strengthen their mind. Become an unshakeable force in every situation. Every day when there was no official training, Runaan went deep into the forest and trained among nature. Using his surroundings to hone his skills. He's typically alone. Sometimes he's joined by Lain and Tiadrin. But today he was alone with his thoughts and the space was his to bend.
"Wow. You really are impressive!" A smooth, jovial voice came from behind Runaan, shifting his attention and breaking him from his concentration. He halted his movements rather than trying to do any more acrobatics with half of his focus.
Twisting his lips in irritation, he half heartedly glared towards the source. The glare was short lived once he laid his eyes on the blacksmith apprentice. He'd never seen him this close before. Never heard his voice this closely either. But Runaan has certainly noticed him.
Turning his body to face him, he smoothed down the front of his shirt, looking off to the side. "I...Thank you." He said stiffly. Apparently he hadn't managed to rid his sour expression because the apprentice gave an apologetic look.
"Ah. Sorry. Did I distract you?" A soft smile paired with the mildly regretful eyes.
Yes.
Runaan folded his arms behind his back. Poised and proper. "No. I was winding down anyway." He glanced off to the side as he lied. Only making eye contact when he'd finished. "Did you have need of anything?"
The blacksmiths are a vital position in Moonshadow culture. It's a position of honour that is highly regarded and respected. Only the most skilled craftsmen can not only create the intricate weapons and items for the warriors but also enchant them. Ingraining the moons magic into the metal itself, empowering the weapon and it's user. It's imperative that the enchanters are given any and all assistance they may require. Whether that's fetching resources for them, or making yourself available to help them quality test their creations.
Even though he's only an apprentice, he's still on the road to taking up that prestigious position. Runaan only feels its necessary to treat him with the proper respect. And no other reason...
Ethari just smiled and shook his head. "No, no, nothing like that. I was out foraging. Got curious. Wanted to watch." He smiled in a way that seemed simply sincere at first, but had an edge of playfulness that caught the assassin off guard.
Runaan froze, staring forward. "To...watch?"
"Yep." He met the assassins eyes with a brazen confidence, calmly, casually tucking his basket under his arm, against this hip.
The cogs in Runaan's brain were turning. "...Watch what?"
"You."
"Oh."
You could definitely argue that Runaan is some kind of oblivious. He tends to be of a singular focus on his training and his duties and prioritizes them above all else. It's often the social aspect of his life that got left in the dust. Lain and Tiadrin were the only ones he spent any amount of time with. Due to the fact that they were "immune to his scowl" as Tiadrin put it.
He doesn't scowl. This is just his face. He doesn't see a reason to smile for the sake of being polite. Why would someone assume he's in a bad mood simply because he isn't smiling?
While others kept their distance. Feeling Runaan was too difficult to get close to. It didn't deter the apprentice. Whenever Runaan looked at him with a glare or an unimpressed stare, or simply his usual vacant expression that teetered on a scowl. The apprentice would just chuckle, completely endeared.
It was... Odd to get used to. Runaan occasionally had people try to get converse with him, but they'd quickly note that Runaan wasn't much for idle chatter. He came off as rude or irritable due to his lack of social graces. Nor did he pick up on any level of subtle flirtation. Instead growing annoyed at a confusing, pointless conversation.
Ethari was not subtle.
Runaan felt like he was hit in the face with the realization. A part of the assassin liked the straight forwardness. No dancing around the point expecting Runaan to keep up, to understand the subtext, instead of just saying what they mean. Ethari is an honest man.
Despite how obvious the other man was, Runaan didn't know how to respond. Maybe the honesty was what added to Runaan's hesitation. He would just stare, vaguely acknowledge what was said and find an excuse to leave, to change the subject.
And that's exactly what he did.
They kept having interactions like that. Ethari approached. Brazenly flirts. Runaan makes an excuse and leaves.
Runaan couldn't tell you why. Ethari is...very handsome. Strong. Kind...
...bold.
All things that Runaan certainly doesn't dislike. Certainly things he has taken notice of. Perhaps Runaan's biggest problem was that he was stuck in his own head. His particular ways. He has his routine. His daily train of thought that Ethari disrupts with his presence. His perfectly balanced mindset was shaken by the inclusion of this man. He found himself trying to fit Ethari into his routine. What would come of reciprocating? How would he then have to further change his routine? What if this is a fleeting interest for the apprentice? Then he'd just have to adapt again.
He's dedicated to his duties as an assassin. Is it responsible to have such a relationship? He supposed he wouldn't be the only one. Lain and Tiadrin have been together for over a year. They were the first he approached with his dilemma.
Tiadrin had blinked. Once, twice, three times, before raising a single pointed finger.
"You have a crush."
It wasn't a question. It was a statement. A conclusion she had just now drawn for herself. Runaan pressed his lips into a thin line, brow furrowed.
"Where did you get that idea from?" He glowered, only growing sterner when the pair grinned wider. As if his reaction was all the confirmation they needed.
"My gods, you do. Our stoic lil Runaan has a crush. Never thought I'd see the day."
"I simply asked a hypothetical question." Runaan stubbornly retorted, calmly folding his arms.
Lain waved dismissively. "Of course! A hypothetical question about the sexy blacksmith apprentice with the distracting biceps and a preference for crop tops."
No amount of training to conceal his emotions was going to save him in this moment as the heat rushed to his ears at the incessant teasing. He hadn't even acknowledged it himself. How was he supposed to entertain these feelings when he didn't have a clear plan of action? When there were so many uncertainties?
"But what..." He paused and reorganized his thoughts. "Is it wise?" Despite the vagueness of his words, the other two were on the same page. They'd had the same concerns of course. Every Moonshadow Assassin who's started a family has had the same thoughts. Many choose to not make permanent ties. Others feel what's to gain is worth the risk.
"Life is short mate. Assassin or not. You gotta take each day as they're offered to you." Lain had quipped, casting a soft gaze over to Tiadrin.
The other elf smiled, from her boyfriend to her friend. "You can't meticulously plan for everything. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith. See where you land."
Runaan sighed, slight frustration in his voice. "But... What purpose does this serve an assassin?"
"Sometimes a things only purpose, can just be that it makes you happy." Hands intertwined and something clicked for the assassin.
Runaan stood outside of the blacksmiths, fidgeting with the fabric delicately folded over it's contents.
It's traditional to offer a gift of some sort to officially express your interest in courting another Moonshadow Elf. Something personal. Heartfelt. Admittedly Runaan knew very little about Ethari, other than surface details. But he wanted to know more.
Bracing himself, he knocked on the large doorway frame. He knew it was only Ethari inside because he had waited until the Master Blacksmith had left.
"Come in!" The voice from inside called out and Runaan stepped beyond the threshold.
"I..." He started, before a wave of nerves unlike anything Runaan has ever felt overcame him. His assassin training worked for calming his nerves under threat of death. But not so much in this context. Turns out telling himself that he's already dead, doesn't make confessing his romantic feelings any easier.
Whipping his head around to the sound of his voice, Ethari smiled, setting the dagger he was working on down on the desk. "Runaan!" He remarked with a bit of surprise. "What brings you here?"
Swallowing down the lump in his throat, Runaan took a breath, stepping forward, down the few steps and crossing the workspace towards Ethari, holding the gift in front of his stomach.
He paused momentarily, just standing there, locking eyes with Ethari, who was patiently waiting for a response. Before holding out the gift to him.
"This is for you." He nodded for Ethari to hold out his hands. He did so and Runaan placed the gift in his open palms. Then took a step back, waiting with anticipation.
Ethari was visibly noting the...loose nature of the gift, as it felt like a series of items lightly wrapped in fabric. Because that's exactly what it was.
Ethari raised an eyebrow as he unwrapped the gift to reveal a chunk of iron ore, a small lunar tulip, no stem, just the flower. And the unmistakable soft colourful fur of an adoraburr, tied together with a thin string.
Runaan watched closely, examining the other elves face with a scrutinizing stare. Ethari bit back a wide grin, chewing down on his bottom lip as he stared down at the gift. Runaan waited expectantly, tapping his fingers from where they were, folded behind his back. Something in Runaan's chest flipped when Ethari shifted the contents to one palm and used his other hand to poke at the items in a gesture you could definitely read as lovingly.
"Is this how you feel?" Ethari was failing to hide how delighted and enamoured he was, meeting his gaze, eyes bright with anticipation, awaiting Runaan's response.
The assassin nodded firmly. "It is." He resisted the urge to look away, choosing to hold Ethari's gaze. "Is...that alright?" He mentally chastised his lack of grace. Though if the blacksmith minded, he didn't show it.
Ethari beamed and gently bundled the contents of the fabric in his hands, closer to his chest. "More than alright. I accept. Thank you Runaan."
Managing to force away a smile that would have been close to delirious, Runaan cleared his throat into his fist and let out a subtle sigh of relief. "Alright then. I mean, thank you. I mean-..." He grunted to himself at his verbal stumbling and Ethari giggled.
They stood for a few moments, simply looking at each other until Ethari slowly directed his thumb over his shoulder towards his workbench.
"I have to get back to work but... I'll see you later?" He said gently, still grinning, not wanting Runaan to think he was kicking him out unnecessarily.
Runaan twitched like he'd been knocked out of a trance. "Yes. You will." He faltered before leaving, as if he was forgetting to do something. How do you finalise this sort of thing? The thought occurred to him if he was supposed to shake his hand, not that would be strange wouldn't it. A hug? No that's too much. Leave, just leave.
Runaan retreated without another word, eyes pinned on him until walked out of sight
The next day, as Runaan rather proudly retold the events of the confession, the reactions from his companions was not what he had expected. He thought they'd make a huge fuss like they do about everything but they were just puzzled. They stared at each other then back at Runaan, eyebrows raised, then furrowed. Like they thought maybe he was joking or had gone mad.
There was a long pause after Runaan described his gift. Lain spoke up first. "Sounds like you handed him some trash to throw out." He spoke slowly, completely unphased by the mildly murderous look he received.
Runaan bristled. "How was it trash?! Iron is strong and durable, lunar tulips are resilient and adaptable and adoraburrs are... adorable..." Runaan murmmered the last line, the defensiveness dwindling as he said it out loud. He hadn't intended for anyone but Ethari to know about it but his apparent excitement lead him to revealing a personal detail about himself which he may just have to kill them both over.
"They're symbolic of how I see him." He huffed. "Also each item can be used in his crafts. It's far from trash."
"And that worked?" Tiadrin looked dumbfounded, matching Lain's bemused expression.
Runaan looked between them, irritation steadily growing. "Yes. Why are you looking at me like that?"
Tiadrin shook her head. "He must be smitten. Congratulations." She gave him a nod of approval and a thumbs up. Runaan couldn't help but feel like he was being made fun of, his face growing sterner.
"You seem stunned." Runaan noted a little bitterly.
"Not for the reason you think." Lain planted a hand on Runaan's shoulder. "If Ethari saw that and immediately figured out that you were courting him. You two are meant to be. Only your soulmate could decipher that nonsense."
Runaan only responded with a glare, triggering an uproar of laughter from the other two. They were so caught up in it that they didn't notice the man himself approach.
"Sorry to interrupt." Ethari cut in with his usual smile. The laughing stopped instantly, the two others elbowing each other. "Do you have a moment Runaan?"
Runaan stepped away with the Blacksmith, pointedly ignoring the four thumbs up and kept his full attention on Ethari. The blacksmith reached into his bag and pulled out a small trinket, it fit neatly in the middle of his palm. A small copper moon lotus. Runaan gently took it in a hand he made an effort to keep steady.
The blacksmith was watching him closely, attempting to read his reaction. "Forgive me if it looks rushed. I didn't want to leave you waiting." Ethari rubbed the back of his neck and Runaan only thought of how wonderful it was. A perfect little lotus, made entirely out of copper. So delicate looking but sturdy.
"It's... lovely..." Runaan's chest swelled the longer he looked down at it. Sitting perfectly in his palm. Ethari raised his hand to sit under Runaan's, holding it and bringing his other hand up to gesture at the lotus with his finger.
"Do you wanna know what it means?" He spoke soft and low, his hand warm on Runaan's, their eyes meeting, sending a slight jolt of a shiver up the assassins back. Runaan managed a nod. His free hand hovering uselessly between them.
Ethari's eyes cast down into the lotus, finger gently poking one of the intricately shaped petals. "Copper is tough and flexible." He began, taking a small step forward. Close enough that the hair from his fringe brushed Runaan's forehead. "...And moon lotuses are beautiful."
The assassin felt his face erupt in heat, enough that he swore he felt dizzy for a second. The only thing stopping him from feeling embarrassed was that the blacksmith was also flushed with colour. His thumb gently passed over Runaan's skin, gazing down at his simple creation.
"The symbolism ends there unfortunately. Sorry there's no practical use for it." Ethari looked a little bothered, like he just now wished he'd put more thought into it. Runaan unconsciously let his hovering hand grab Ethari's free one.
"I don't mind! I... suppose not everything needs a use...it can just be pretty." His brain seemed to catch up with his body, acknowledging how very close they were standing, keeping his eyes downcast at the lotus, not feeling brave enough to meet his eyes again.
"I'm glad." Ethari squeezed his hands ever so gently and Runaan closed his fist around the lotus. Leaning forward to let his forehead rest against the others.
"As am I."