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Nahida strolled through the serene gardens of Sumeru City, her hands clasped behind her back and a small hum escaping her lips. The mid-afternoon sun filtered through the towering trees, dappling the ground with warm patches of light. Sounds of voices, laughing, some scholars arguing something she couldn't make out over the distance... She paused by a flower bed, her green eyes softening as she leaned down to inspect a cluster of blooming flowers.
Behind her, Wanderer followed, his arms crossed and his steps deliberately slow, as though reluctant to be there at all.
“Is this going to take much longer?” he drawled. “If you wanted to stare at plants, couldn’t you do it on your own?”
“Hmm.” Nahida hummed before she straightened her back, brushing a stray leaf off her dress. “I could, but I thought you’d enjoy some fresh air. You’ve been cooped up in the Sanctuary for days.”
“I don’t need fresh air,” he shot back. “Unlike you, I don’t get tired or sick from staying indoors.” She turned to him with a playful smile.
“Well. just because you don’t need to, but that doesn’t mean you should not. Besides-” she added, gesturing to the vibrant garden around them, “isn’t it beautiful? Even you must appreciate this view.”
Wanderer glanced around with a reluctant sigh. The garden was… fine, he supposed. The bursts of color from the flowers, the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze-it wasn’t unpleasant. But he wasn’t about to admit that out loud.
“It’s just plants,” he muttered. “I’ve seen plenty before.”
“You sound like a grumpy old man.” Nahida giggled.
“Because I am one,” he shot back, though there was no real bite in his tone. He looked away, scowling at the path ahead. As they continued walking, they passed a fountain where a small bird was perched on the edge, preening its feathers. Nahida stopped, tilting her head curiously.
“Oh, look. It’s a sparrow! They’re not usually seen this close to the city.” Wanderer rolled his eyes.
“It’s just a bird.”
“Do you ever stop to appreciate the small things?” Nahida asked, placing her hands on her hips. Wanderer gave a noncommittal grunt, but before he could offer a snarky retort, the sparrow hopped closer to him, chirping brightly. He froze, glaring at the bird like it had personally offended him. Nahida stifled a laugh. “It likes you.”
“It’s a bird.” Wanderer said flatly. “It doesn’t ‘like’ anything.” The bird hopped even closer, tilting its head at him. Its bright eyes seemed to sparkle with curiosity, and Wanderer narrowed his own in suspicion. When the bird fluttered onto his shoulder, he stiffened, staring at it like it was a ticking bomb. “Why-is this thing on me?” Nahida clapped her hands together, beaming.
“Oh, how wonderful! It must sense something in you ! Something calm and steady.” she giggled and Wanderer turned his glare on her.
“Calm? Steady? Have you met me?” The bird chirped again, flapping its wings lightly but not leaving its perch. Nahida stepped closer, her gaze warm.
“Maybe it sees a part of you that you try to hide.” He scowled but didn’t shake the bird off. Instead, he let out a long sigh and turned back toward the path.
“If you’re done with your philosophical nonsense, can we go now?” As they left the fountain behind, the bird finally flew off and Nahida walked beside Wanderer in comfortable silence for a while, her pace matching his. Eventually, she spoke, her voice softer now.
“You know,” she said, “you don’t have to keep your walls up all the time.” He didn’t respond immediately. When he did, his voice was quieter than usual.
“It’s not about walls. It’s about… keeping things simple. If I don’t let anyone in, I don’t.. It’s just easier.” Nahida glanced at him, her expression gentle.
“But is it easy??” He stopped walking, his eyes fixed on the ground
“I don’t need-”
“Everyone needs something,” she interrupted, her tone kind but firm. “Even you, Wanderer.”
“You’re relentless, you know that?”
“Only because I care.” She smiled.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Wanderer sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“You’re impossible.”
“And yet,” she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes, “you’re still here.”
He huffed but didn’t deny it. As they reached the edge of the garden, the sparrow swooped down from a nearby tree, chirping as it darted around Wanderer’s head. He groaned.
“Oh, for the love of-” he groaned and Nahida laughed
“Maybe it’s trying to tell you something.”
“Like what? That I’m cursed to be followed by annoying creatures?”
“Or,” she said, tilting her head, “that you’re not as alone as you think.”
Wanderer stared at her, then at the bird, which landed briefly on his shoulder before flying off again. His scowl softened-just a little-and he shook his head.
“You really don’t give up, do you?”
“Nope,” Nahida said cheerfully, skipping ahead on the path. “Now come on! Let’s get some candied nuts to bring back to the Sanctuary. You can grumble all you want, but I know you like them.”
He sighed but followed, muttering under his breath about nosy Archons and meddlesome birds. Still, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he walked.