Chapter Text
< Reth POV >
It isn’t like being judged isn’t the usual for Reth. Having eyes watching him. Villagers giving him dirty looks, or the few that only glance at him like he’s some pitiful creature that could break at any moment.
All because he didn’t want to be a carpenter.
The only reason he even moved to this village is for Tish. His little sister who he’d give his life for without a second thought.
He’s only here so he can work under Zeki and get the medication to keep her alive. Other than that, he has no real reason to be here. To be alive for that.
It’s not like it can get worse at least.
CRASH
Okay… the Gods have got to be fucking with him right now.
Well, he should have been paying attention anyways. If he had been, he probably wouldn’t have bumped into the very inconveniently placed rack of pots and pans- which are now scattered all over the freshly swept floor of the kitchen.
And just his luck too, because while he’s scrambling to pick everything up, he hears someone clearing their throat behind him.
Turning around, he spots the stoic, brooding hunter. Hassian.
“I- uh… what ‘er you doing here?”
Reth stammers out, trying to casually block Hassian’s view of the very messy room behind him.
“It’s Monday.”
Is all Hassian replies with, as indifferent as ever.
Oh-
Ofcourse
It’s drop off day. When Hassian sells the quality meat to the Inn that he hunted so the kitchen isn’t stuck with Reth’s infamous Lettuce Soup.
It doesn’t exactly help his situation that Hassian is staring at him dead in the eyes with that ever so blank expression. Like he’s better than everyone else or something.
I mean… I guess he kinda is. Technically better than Reth right now, but that’s not a high bar. He’s failed his path as a Majiri. That’s what he’s known for in this village.
“Hello?”
Hassian’s voice pulls him out of his thoughts again, only for Reth to realize he’s been staring at Hassian for like a minute now, even though the hunter has already unpacked all the fresh and pre-cut meats.
“Oh- yeah.”
———
God that was so awkward.
Is all Reth can think of as he stores the meats into coolers. He’s always off his game for some reason when Hassian is around.
Unlike how he is usually able to stay all flirty and unaffected by other’s in the village, atleast on the outside. For some reason he just stumbles when it comes to Hassian.
Maybe it’s just the fact that Hassian is so much better than he is.
He’s a hunter for fucks sake.
He keeps the village safe, provides hunted meat so no one else has to really get their hands dirty out there, and he’s an absolute hunk of a dude. Have you seen those muscles? How long has he even been hunting for? Since he was five? How do you even acquire that build at such a young age?
But still, he’s all silent and judgy. He always looks like you’re a piece of chewed gum on the bottom of his shoe.
How did Auni even become friends with the guy? The kid’s gotta be mind controlling him or some shit.
By the end of his shift, Reth is exhausted, ready to rest before his other job in the Underground.
How much longer until he retires? Or will he just die living like this? Who knows.
———
< Hassian POV >
Oh god, oh fuck, oh god, oh fuuuuuuck
That was so fucking awkward!
Was he judging me? I feel like he was judging me. Why was he even staring at me for so long? Did I have something on my face? Did I come at a bad time. Fuck he hates me, doesn’t he?
Hassian’s mind races a 100 miles a minute despite his blank expression as he walks down to the valley between Chappa Crossing and Kilima Village. The large field connecting the paths with the big windmills.
Auni is already there per usual, waving to him as Hassian passes by. Hassian waves back, luckily Auni doesn’t pick up on his busy mind. The kid doesn’t need that type of worry in his life, yet at least.
He doesn’t know why he can’t just talk to people normally, or why he thinks so much about what others think of him.
And at least he doesn’t show his wild mind’s panic… well, he thinks he keeps a straight face. He hopes.
By the time Hassian gains a sense of consciousness of where he’s going, he’s already halfway to his grove from the entrance to Bahari Bay. By now Tau has appeared by his side from wherever the pup goes without him every once in a while.
It’s not like Hassian wants to be alone most of the time. It’s just hard to trust people with your heart, mind, and all that shit inbetween. Auni is fun to talk to and play cards with, but he’s also still a kid, so he doesn’t even know much about Hassian’s anxious brain. And Hassian doesn’t plan on telling him anytime soon either.
With all honesty, Hassian kind of does want to have a group to hang out with, maybe to know what it feels like.
But at the same time, that’s the last thing he wants.
Maybe it’s the act of actually going up to someone, or getting to know them on a deeper level without them falling apart.
His mom obviously tries to get him to socialize. But she tries to get him to talk to Reth.
Reth isn’t bad… it’s just awkward. Partly because of Hassian’s own morals about following your path and shit, and partly because Hassian gets the impression that Reth hates him for some reason.
He really does wonder why.