Chapter Text
Gregor has drug Zalvetta through the city of Xincala all day. After getting beaten at the Punch Dome, the two went to find brunch in the market. Now, as midday approaches, Gregor leads Zalvetta by the hand in one of the city’s not-destroyed parks. Gregor carries a bag with fruit and bread in his other hand.
Gregor stops abruptly, surveying the flowery field in front of them. Zalvetta stutters to a stop behind him only to be tugged down as Gregor dives into the flowers. Zalvetta blinks up at the handful of wispy clouds drifting overhead before looking to Gregor.
Gregor has both of them sprawled out on the grass and flowers, hands still clasped. Grinning, Gregor grabs an apple from the bag, pressing it into Zalvetta’s empty hand and then grabbing one for himself. Zalvetta absently bites into the apple as he watches Gregor contentedly lounge in the tangle of grass dotted with pink and purple flowers.
It is remarkably calm. The only sounds are the two of them eating and breathing and the the wind rustling softly through the field. The absence of battle and bloodlust is unfamiliar and new after the wars of the past few weeks. For Gregor, the peace is a welcome respite from the periodic bloodshed he has experienced; for Zalvetta, this scene is entirely foreign and surprisingly pleasant.
The quiet becomes more pronounced as the two warrior’s finish eating. They remain relaxing in the grass, both closing their eyes as the calm coaxes them toward sleep. The safety of the park and the comfort of the company are forcibly calming. Gregor’s eyes slide open when he hears a soft sigh next to him.
Zalvetta is more relaxed than Gegor has ever seen him, which isn’t hard considering the time in which they met. Zalvetta is dozing amongst the flowers, hand curled gently in Gregor’s. His long blonde hair is falling loose from his braid and a few strands of his bangs flutter in the breeze. Gregor feels his free hand reach for one of Zalvetta’s floating locks, rolling onto his side to reach where Zalvetta lies. Tucking the strand back amongst the rest, Gregor unthinkingly strokes the hair at Zalvetta’s temple with his thumb. Zalvetta cracks his eyes open and turns slightly, rustling the grass, to look at Gregor with sleepy warmth. On an impulse Gregor wiggles closer to Zalvetta, bringing his arm around Zalvetta’s shoulders and keeping their hands clasped between them.
Zalvetta smiles, resting his forehead against Gregor’s. They lie tangled for a long stretch, until Zalvetta rouses some, twisting on to his back under Gregor’s arm. Zalvetta frees his hand from Gregor’s and pulls a few strands of Gregor’s hair into his grasp. Zalvetta twists the strands into a thin braid and reaches for more to repeat the action.
Gregor adjusts to the new position, sliding his newly freed hand under Zalvetta’s shoulders. His other hand moves to play with Zalvetta’s loosening braid.
After a few minutes of their amused attentions, Gregor’s and Zalvetta’s hair are in utter disarray. Zalvetta has untied Gregor’s ponytail and now the long thin braids Zalvetta placed in its stead twirl loose without ties. Gregor has helped Zalvetta’s braid in its loosening and now runs his fingers through the long locks.
Gregor hums quietly, enjoying every moment, until a fit of thoughtfulness hits him. Why does he love this moment so much? Why does he enjoy any of this stuff? It would never occur to him to cuddle and tangle like this with Kyr or Markus or Don’t, and yet with Zalvetta he knows of little else that he would prefer to do.
Without answers to his wonderings, Gregor’s thoughtful fit becomes more of a nervous fit. He stops humming abruptly. Gregor’s hand in Zalvetta’s hair stills. Gregor’s brow furrows. Zalvetta freezes in response. He glances at Gregor, whose face is only inches from his.
“Eh…” Zalvetta hesitates unsure of breaking the silence. “What’s wrong? Did I do something?”
Gregor just looks at Zalvetta intently. Gregor’s mind rushes through thoughts half understood. Don't is cute, Kyr has nice hair, and Markus is pretty. Zalvetta is beautiful. Why would Gregor think that? He doesn’t know.
Gregor’s helped manage other people’s hair before; the outriders couldn't have it getting in their way. This moment is different though. Cuddling up and playing with someone’s hair is quite different then helping a battle-buddy with unruly hair.
Zalvetta stares at Gregor worriedly, and Gregor stares frozen back.
“Gregor?”
Why does Gregor think of Zalvetta so differently from all the others? Why doesn’t he understand? What is he missing?
“Gregor!” Zalvetta yells.
Gregor blinks twice.
“You’re beautiful,” Gregor blurts out.
Zalvetta blinks twice.
“Um…Thank you? Is that a problem?”
“I…don’t know. I’ve never thought that about anyone. Why do I think your beautiful?”
Zalvetta coughs out a surprised laugh. Leaning towards Gregor, he rests his forehead against Gregor’s for a second and then tucks his hysteric smile into Gregor’s shoulder.
“You really think I anymore of an idea than you do? I don’t know why you think anything good about me. I don’t know why I think you’re wonderful, other than it what you are to me. I have no idea what you are or how you make me so… soft and… cuddly,” Zalvetta sighs, half exasperated, half amused.
“I don’t know whether to be relieved that you’re as lost as I am or terrified that we’re plunging on so blind,” Zalvetta says, sliding his eyes closed and turning his face into Gregor’s neck. Gregor wraps his arms tightly around Zalvetta.
“At least, wherever we’re going, we’re going together,” Gregor replies relaxing slightly.
The wind slips through the park and it and the flowers watch as the two young, bloodstained souls decide to trust the unknown wilds that stretch out ahead as their joined future.