Chapter Text
As the city of Mondstadt came into view, Freminet found himself regretting his decision to accompany his brother.
Some time ago while at the dinner table, Lyney announced that he’d be making a trip to Mondstadt. The declaration came as a surprise to him and his sister judging by the momentary widening of her eyes.
If Lyney planned to visit another nation it had something to do with work and required no announcing. They were siblings but they didn’t share every detail of their missions with one another especially if they weren’t being sent together. That’s why this announcement was odd. Lyney going out of his way to inform them meant this trip had nothing to do with work.
Neither he nor Lynette spoke, simply waiting for the most extroverted of them to continue on—to explain this sudden trip to Mondstadt. Apparently, their dear elder brother had been exchanging letters with Aether for quite some time and visiting Mondstadt had come up on more than one occasion and Lyney’s schedule happened to allow a trip to the Nation of Freedom for about two weeks.
Freminet exchanged a knowing look with Lynette simply deciding not to ask the other questions on their minds. They figured they knew the answer to those questions anyway. Instead, they each told Lyney to enjoy the time off but remember to bring back souvenirs. Neither of them had been to Mondstadt, after all.
That was meant to be the end of the conversation. Lyney would be away for two weeks and upon returning would be dragged into a room and interrogated (mostly by Lynette) about the status of his relationship with Aether. Because although Lyney believed he was hiding it, anyone could tell he had a crush on The Traveler.
However, the conversation didn’t end there. Much to their surprise Lyney suggested they come with if there weren’t busy. Freminet assumed their brother would prefer to travel alone and spend time with Aether by himself but he supposed it was just in Lyney’s nature to include them.
Lynette immediately declined the offer. Unlike Lyney, her schedule wasn’t clear for the next two weeks. She had work to take care of. As for Freminet, it just so happened that his schedule was also clear but that didn’t mean he wanted to visit Mondstadt. There were a number of reasons he wished to remain home so he also declined.
Unfortunately for him, it seemed that Lyney wasn’t taking no for an answer. At the dinner table, he encouraged Freminet to come along only to be met with refusal each time. That day, he managed to escape by fleeing to his room after dinner and claiming to turn in early for the night.
Sadly, that escape was only temporary because it became very clear that Lyney had zero intention of dropping the matter. The next day, Freminet found himself being followed by Lyney who threw reason after reason for him to come along his way. Lyney said it would be good for him to leave Fontaine and see someplace new. Lyney said it’d be a good opportunity for him to meet new people and make friends. Lyney said he needed to get some fresh air instead of staying cooped up in his room or underwater.
Freminet found none of those reasons convincing enough to change his answer. See someplace new? That box was already checked. He saw plenty of new places when dispatched on missions especially if they were in another nation. An opportunity to make friends? It was an opportunity, yes, but nothing would come of it. After all, he’d been in Fontaine for most of his life and had yet to make a single friend despite his attempts in the past. An attempt in Mondstadt wouldn’t be any different. He was fine on his own. He was used to it. He even preferred solitude. Fresh air? Being cooped up? The air in Fontaine was fresh enough and he wasn’t cooped up. He left his room often to venture underwater but it wasn’t as if he spent all of his time beneath the water. He just… spent most of his time in the sea but what was so wrong with that?
A leisurely trip to Mondstadt wasn’t in his future. Freminet had made up his mind. At least, he liked to believe he did but it was difficult for him to hold his ground against someone as insistent as Lyney. It was even harder since he was family. He didn’t enjoy rejecting Lyney’s offers especially when he could tell it came from a good place. Each excuse only weakened his determination to reject the offer so when Lyney reached the end of his rope and earnestly pleaded for him to come along how could he continue to reject him at that point? He couldn’t. With a small sigh, he reluctantly agreed to join Lyney which led to him immediately being pulled into a big hug.
Freminet could only weakly wrap his arms around his brother and listen as he continued to chatter on. Lyney promised he wouldn’t regret it, said he just *knew* this trip would be good for him. Then he even went as far as saying he didn’t have to stay for the full two weeks. All he wanted was for Freminet to give it a shot. Seven days. Lyney said that after seven days if he wasn’t enjoying himself he could return home and in the future he would never push him outside of his comfort zone again.
Seven days.
At the time that seemed doable but as the city grew closer his option changed. Suddenly, seven days seemed far too long. He felt his stomach twist and anxiety pool deep in his gut. Mondstadt was smaller than Fontaine but the thought of all the unfamiliar people inside made his chest tight. He swallowed thickly and forced himself to take a breath. Perhaps looking out the window was a bad idea. Instead, he decided to look down at his lap at Pers. He clutched the mechanical penguin as if it were the only thing keeping him alive. As he gazed into those blue eyes, it was as if reality warped and suddenly he could speak and move freely.
“Don’t be afraid, Freminet. You have me by your side. It will be okay. Everything will be okay.” Pers spoke, putting a flipper to his chest to express his sincerity.
Freminet found himself smiling faintly, the tightness in his chest easing if only slightly. He rubbed his thumb across Pers’ beak. “You’re right, Pers. As long as you’re here. I’ll be okay. Thank you.”
Pers would’ve smiled if his beak allowed it. Instead, he patted Freminet’s hand gently. “You’re welcome. I’ll al-–”
“Freminet!” A voice called, immediately snapping him out of his head and starling Pers into still silence. He raised his head, meeting the concerned eyes of his brother. Purple irises carefully searched blue ones. “We’re here. Are you alright?”
Freminet dipped his head slowly, nodding. “I’m alright.” In his mind, he had only begun to speak with Pers but he must’ve been zoned out for quite some time since Lyney wore such a concerned expression. He must’ve called his name a few times to no avail. He began to move, climbing out of the wagon. “Sorry for worrying you, Lyney,” He apologized while safely storing Pers away.
There was light pressure and warmth on top of his head. A hand. When he raised his eyes to meet Lyney’s he found a smile on his brother’s face. “Mnn, don’t worry about it. As long as you’re alright.” He brushed his fingers through Freminet’s hair, smoothing the parts mussed up by him sleeping with his head resting against the wall. “Let’s go.” He tipped his head in the direction of the gate, leading the way.
Freminet was quick to follow after Lyney, purposely staying a few feet behind his brother instead of walking side by side. He preferred it that way. He felt safer knowing Lyney was the one to face everything before he did. If Lyney continued on without issue then there was nothing for him to worry about and he could move forward as well.
“Lyney! Freminet!”
A familiar voice rang through the air. In a nation neither of them had visited before, it could only belong to one person. The Traveler. He stayed back as Lyney rushed forward to hug Aether and greet him, feeling a bit envious. The Traveler was so unlike him, almost the complete opposite of himself. It was incredibly easy for Aether to mingle with others and make friends no matter the location. After all, The Traveler had been to seven nations and ended up loved by most of the people residing there. Aether had so many friends it made his head spin. Yet here he was without even one person he could call a close friend.
He wondered why he couldn’t be as bright as Aether. If he were even half as outgoing as The Traveler he’d have a small group of friends to spend time with by now. If his siblings weren’t around his only company consisted of Pers along with the plants and animals in the sea. Despite these feelings, Freminet harbored no resentment towards Aether. Their personality differences weren’t his fault. This was his own problem and one he needed to fix by himself.
Suddenly, all eyes were on him. They must’ve been talking to him, but he hadn’t really been paying attention. He gnawed on the inside of his cheek, trying his hardest to recall what’s been said. “…Ah, it’s good to see you too, Aether. It’s been a while.” He responded in just enough time to avoid causing concern, breathing a small sigh of relief when the focus shifted away from him and back to Lyney. It seemed the answer he’d given was the correct one.
“I’m glad you two made it safely. How was the journey over? Not too bad, I hope?”
As they walked, Freminet tuned out most of the conversation, letting the words go in one ear and out of the other unless he believed they may turn to ask him a question. For the most part, he left Lyney in charge of making conversation with Aether. It was what he was good at, after all. Personally, he was more interested in the city of Mondstadt itself. He wasn’t eager to travel but he was interested in seeing new sights. Only, he was finding it incredibly hard to focus with all of the people around. It was normal for visitors from afar to draw attention but he disliked it. There were so many eyes on them it made him uncomfortable. He swallowed thickly and took a step closer to Lyney in a feeble attempt to hide himself. It hardly did anything when there were people in every direction but it made him feel slightly better. Even still, he wanted to hurry to their lodging and lock himself in his room. He wasn’t sure how much more of this he could take.
A wave of relief washed through his body when they finally reached their lodging. They’d be staying at the Goth Grand Hotel. It was reserved for Fatui delegation which caused no issue due to their identities. Not that there would’ve been an issue if they were allied with another faction. Aether had enough sway in Mondstadt to earn them rooms in the hotel regardless of their identities but he was glad they didn’t need to take that route. Aether had reserved their rooms in advance so the check in process flew by which Freminet greatly appreciated. He uttered a soft ‘thank you’ while taking his room key, following his brother and Aether down to their respective rooms, turning the key in his palm impatiently.
Upon reaching his room he pushed the key into the lock and opened the door, heading inside as calmly as possible to avoid causing concern. Just before he could comely shut the door behind himself, a foot in the threshold prevented him from doing so. He gasped and immediately pulled the door open, a frown set on his face as he looked at the culprit which just so happened to be his brother.
“Why… Why would you do that? Your foot could’ve gotten slammed in the door if I didn’t stop in time,” He huffed softly, making his displeasure clear.
A guilty expression took over Lyney’s face. “Sorry, sorry! The door was closing so quickly that I rushed to put my foot there.”
The frown on Freminet’s face only grew deeper. He thought that was stupid. Even if the door closed Lyney could simply knock and he’d open right back up, but he didn’t voice these thoughts. He only shot his elder brother a look he knew he’d understand.
Lyney forced an awkward laugh and rubbed at the back of his neck. He wouldn’t be doing that again. “Right, right, uhm, Aether’s going to give me a tour of the city. Do you want to come along?”
Freminet had to fight to keep a neutral expression on his face. He paused for a few seconds to give the impression that he was considering the idea despite already having his answer. “…No. I’m okay. I can get a tour another time. I think I’m going to stay here and settle in.” There wasn’t much for him to unpack but that was besides the point. The journey to Mondstadt had been long and exhausting. He was in desperate need of a break. If he headed back into the sea of people for a tour of the city the chances of him ending up overwhelmed and running away were high. It was best if he stayed here. He closed the door slightly. “You two should go. Enjoy your time with Aether.”
Apparently those were words he shouldn’t have said because Lyney’s expression took a turn for the worse. “Freminet… You know that’s—”
“I know, I know.” He quickly cut in, waving his hand dismissively. “I didn’t… I didn’t mean it like that.” And he truly didn’t. He really just wanted Lyney to have fun. As always, he was bad with words. “I’ll be here. See you when you get back, okay?”
“Alright,” Lyney sighed out, gaze lingering on his younger brother for a moment before he disappeared into his own room just one door over. Freminet was quick to close the door once Lyney was gone and immediately sank down to the floor, shrugging off the large bag on his back that held his belongings. He pulled out Pers and hugged the mechanical penguin to his chest, closing his eyes. Settling in could wait. It wasn’t as if he had much luggage to begin with. He’d only brought along two weeks worth of clothes, essentials, a few books, mechanical items in need of fixing and the parts required to complete the repair. It’d take less than thirty minutes to unpack once he got around to it.
He took a few deep breaths as he attempted to calm down, brushing his fingers across the cold metal of Pers’ body. It wasn’t helping. He was alone but he just couldn’t relax in this unfamiliar place. He longed to be underwater. He’d be much more at ease there even if it wasn’t Fontaine’s waters, but he couldn’t leave while Lyney and Aether were still next door. There was a window but he’d die of embarrassment if someone caught him sneaking out so that option was off the table. All he could do was wait, so he did. The walls weren’t thin enough to hear what was happening in Lyney’s room but since he was right there he should be able to hear the door close as they left out. Despite that, he cracked his door just slightly to make sure he couldn’t miss the sound of the pair leaving, then settled down and closed his eyes while keeping Pers close to his chest.
Soon enough, he heard a click from the room over and the sound of retreating footsteps. They were leaving. He quickly peeked through the crack of the door just to confirm before quietly pushing it shut. It was best to wait before leaving just in case they circled back to the room to pick up something accidentally left behind. He’d give it twenty minutes before he deemed it safe to leave. Well, that was the plan but he began feeling antsy after ten short minutes. Ten minutes would have to do. “Let’s go, Pers,” He whispered, storing him away in his inventory before slipping out of the room.
He carefully crept down the hallway, checking around the corner before making his way down the next hall and repeating the process until he made it to the lobby. He wanted to head right for the door and out of the city but he didn’t know his way around. The odds of him getting lost were quite high. It was best if he asked someone for directions even though he wanted to avoid social interaction. He took a deep breath to steel his nerves. He could do this. The conversation would be quick. It’d be over before he knew it.
His eyes were stuck on the front door but he forced himself to walk in the direction of the receptionist. There was no one else in the lobby at the moment which should make this interaction even easier. He could do this. “Excuse me…” He started softly before remembering what Lyney had told him many times in the past. When speaking, his voice was so soft it was difficult for others to hear him. In other words, he had a volume issue but he really didn’t want to repeat himself. “Do you mind helping me with something?” He asked, louder now.
The receptionist, Gloria, Freminet learned after reading her name tag, smiled. “Of course. What can I help you with?”
Okay, so far so good. He swallowed. “Can you point me in the direction of the closest body of water?”
“Cider Lake would be the closest. It surrounds the entire city of Mondstadt. Once you leave the hotel take a right and follow the stairs down. After the second flight of stairs, take a left and follow those stairs all the way down as well. It’ll lead you to the side exit of Mondstadt and right to Cider Lake. It’s a popular spot for fishing, bird feeding, boat rides and other such activities.”
Freminet bit the inside of his cheek. Cider Lake sounded a bit too crowded for his liking. The point was to be alone but by the sounds of it the lake may be pretty busy. It was just around noon and the weather was fairly nice so he wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of citizens were spending time at the lake. He fidgeted with his fingers. “Uhm… what about the uhm… next closest body of water? Something… somewhere less crowded if possible…?”
This time he failed to receive an immediate answer. Gloria was silent. Perhaps she was simply taking time to recall the second closest body of water but he had no way of knowing for sure. The silence made his stomach twist in nervousness. Maybe that was a strange question to ask. He should’ve phrased it differently. What if she thought he was strange for asking such a thing? He dug his nails into the palm of his hands, exhaling slowly. “Or… Ah, do you have a map…?” He asked, changing the question. A map would be much better. He should’ve just asked for that from the start. With it he could find his own way around and even venture to other places without needing to ask another person for directions. Why hadn’t he asked that first?
“As a matter of fact, I do. One moment.”
Freminet was silent as he watched Gloria leave her seat and disappear into the room behind the desk. He sucked in a shaky breath and rocked on balls of his feet while he waited, eyes darting around the lobby. Still empty, for now.
Once Gloria returned, he was quick to take the map the moment it was offered. “Thank you.” He bowed his head slightly before turning on his heels and heading for the door as quickly as he could without actually running. He thought he heard Gloria say ‘You’re welcome’ or something to that effect but he didn’t dare turn back.
Somehow, being outside the hotel was worse than being trapped in the lobby with the receptionist. It was the best time to have lunch so there were plenty of people around. In reality, everyone was likely minding their own business and going about their day as per usual but he couldn’t help feeling as if all eyes were on him. He wished he could put on his diving helmet and drown out all outside sounds but wouldn’t that draw more attention? Cause people to stare even more? He was already getting looks as a visitor from another nation. Putting on his diving helmet now would be equivalent to drawing a bright red target on his back and would ruin its intended effect.
He needed to get out of the town. For now, he tucked the map into his pocket and headed for the gate of Mondstadt. Once he reached the bridge, he made sure to stick to the far left to avoid Timmie and his pigeons. Although he hadn’t been paying much attention to Aether’s conversation with his brother on the way to the hotel he did remember him mentioning the pigeons on the bridge. It was something about making sure not to scare them away unless you wanted to face Timmie’s wrath and Freminet wasn’t looking to face anyone’s wrath.
Now that Freminet was out of the city he took the time to unroll the map and take a good look at it. Aside from Cider Lake, the closest body of water was at Falcon Coast just past Windrise. He had no way of knowing how busy that area was but he could only hope it was relatively empty since Cider Lake was seemingly the more popular spot. As he followed the path to Windrise he didn’t spot another person which was relieving. He had his hopes up. His destination was the coast but he couldn’t help pausing momentarily upon reaching Windrise. He’d never seen a tree so thick and large. Its roots spread far throughout the ground, lots of them protruding from the soil. The branches were equally as widespread, stretching out far from the trunk of the tree. He wondered just how long this tree had been standing. It was a sight worthy of a photograph but Freminet wasn’t in the mood for picture taking. When he felt better, he could circle back to Windrise, marvel at the tree’s beauty, and take all the pictures he wanted.
After taking another quick glance at the map to ensure he was still on the right the track, he continued on, following the small trail of water out to the coast. Fortunately, the coast was as empty as he hoped it’d be but not without reason. There was plenty of sand but many huge rocks littering it which ruined the beauty and made it difficult to find a clear area to set up for a relaxing time by the water. In addition to that, there were even a few groups of hilichurls around which meant this was an area frequented by the monsters. If you ignored the rocks and monsters the view of the water was actually quite nice, but no normal person would travel so far from the city to see this. It’d take a lot of renovation to turn the coast into a place worthy of relaxation and fun similar to Cider Lake.
But Freminet didn't need any of that. All he needed was the water. The only issue were the groups of hilichurls around but they were hardly a problem. A few swings of his claymore was enough to clear the area and leave it almost completely silent just how he liked it. He glanced around the area in search of the perfect spot to enter the water, eyes landing on a large flat rock already protruding the water. That would be perfect. He was careful as he stepped onto the rock to avoid slipping, taking a seat right in the middle of it.
Before undressing, he took a glance around to make sure he was truly alone because even though he wore his wetsuit beneath his clothes he’d feel embarrassed getting ‘undressed’ with others around. He removed his beret then tugged off his top and folded it up, leaving the two items stacked together on the rock. Lastly, he removed his boots and his thigh strap along with the little bag attached to it which left him solely in his wetsuit. Now he was ready to get in the water. Almost.
Freminet glanced around one final time, eyes carefully scanning the area. It was empty. There were sand and rocks before him on the coast with the only sign of life besides himself being the crabs that skittered around in the sand. No other humans in sight. Feeling relieved, he turned his attention back to the sea and hung his legs over the edge of the rocks, letting his feet dip in first. Goosebumps immediately formed at his ankles and spread up his legs, taking over the rest of his body. He shivered involuntarily from the coolness of the water but paid it no mind while slowly lowering himself deeper into the water. A little cold was to be expected when diving. His body would adjust to the temperature soon enough.
He sank down until his shoulders were beneath the water, teeth lightly chattering as he worked on adjusting to the temperature. Kicking his feet to remain in place, he ran his hands up and down his arms, rubbing in an attempt to generate warmth. Slowly, but surely he felt his body growing used to the temperature of the water, his shoulders slumping as he relaxed. That was better. Finally adjusted, he ventured further out into the water and leaned the top half of his body backwards while raising his legs until he was left floating on his back.
Water filled his ears and muffled the sounds of the outside world which only made it easier to focus on the sight before him. It truly was a beautiful day. The sky was clear, almost cloudless with only a few drifting in and out of his sight while the sun shone bright in the sky, its rays warming everything. However, he thought the view was even prettier from beneath the surface of the water. He took a deep breath, holding the air in his mouth as he relaxed his chest and lowered his head, letting his body slowly sink until it became completely engulfed by the water. The seawater stung his eyes but he didn’t dare close them, only blinking when necessary to ease the faint pain. A trail of bubbles rose to the surface as Freminet periodically released the air he’d been holding within his lungs.
Thump…. Thump…. Thump….Thump… Thump… Thump…
The sound of his own rapid heartbeat filled his ears, its pace only quickening as he fell deeper and no oxygen filled his lungs. A burning sensation began to surface in his chest, growing more and more prominent due to the lack of oxygen but it was of no concern to Freminet. There was no panic, only calmness as he hit the sandy ocean floor. The burning was a sensation he’d long grown used to and one he strangely enjoyed. He didn’t need to experience this. Thanks to his vision and nature as a Fontanian he could breathe underwater perfectly fine yet this had become a habit of his since long ago. Sinking to the bottom of the ocean while holding his breath until he physically couldn’t anymore. He couldn’t decipher why he did such a thing or where the idea had even come from. All he knew was that it helped him relax.
Ah, the view from beneath the water was truly the best. The water seemed even more blue and the sun somehow appeared to shine brighter. It was as if he could see the rays of the sun stretching out towards him. How pretty. He raised a hand ‘touching’ at those rays of sunshine that were so close yet so far away at the same time. If this were a fairytale world he’d be able to grasp the rays in the palm of his hand and store them away for safekeeping… but it wasn’t. For now, he could only pretend he could capture that warmth.
Thump Thump Thump… Thump Thump Thump…
The burning was back. No, it was always there only now he was unable to ignore it. He let his arm fall to his side, his hands trembling against the sand. He squeezed his eyes shut and dug his fingers into the sand, squirming in place against the ground as he struggled to hold on. He really needed to breathe but… not yet. Just a little longer.
ThumpThumpThumpThump
That burning sensation spread throughout the entirety of his chest. The feeling was unbearable, pain swelling in his chest until he could no longer deprive himself of what he needed. He involuntarily inhaled through his nose, his body forcing him to take in oxygen—to breathe. He exhaled shakily through his mouth then immediately sucked in another deep breath of air, repeating the process. He threw an arm across his chest, feeling for his own heartbeat which was now steadily slowing. He blinked his eyes open halfway and stared ahead thoughtlessly. He felt weak and his head was all fuzzy but it wasn’t a bad thing to feel. Overall, he was relaxed, not one bit of tension left in his body.
On any other day, he’d take this opportunity to explore the new waters and experience everything new it had to offer but that would have to wait. Right now, all he wanted to do was lie at the bottom of the ocean and just be.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
Freminet wasn’t exactly certain how much time had passed since he sank beneath the water but the fact that he was getting sleepy told him it’d been long enough. Despite being able to breathe in water it wasn’t good to stay under for too long lest he get sick on what was meant to be a vacation. He narrowed his eyes, focusing on the position of the sun. It wasn’t as high in the sky, now slightly skewed to the right. If he had to guess a little more than two hours had passed, which actually wasn’t too bad. He’d spent much longer exploring underwater but it was probably best if he got out now that he was feeling better. The next time he came back to Falcon Coast, it’d be to properly explore the waters. Perhaps it was an activity for tomorrow.
Pushing off the ground, he swam back towards the rock he’d left his clothes on which wasn’t very far away. It took less than a minute for him to get back to his starting location, swimming towards the surface. He should quickly dry off, get dressed and head back to his hotel room. Two hours was longer than he planned to be out. What if Lyney and Aether had already returned and were now looking for him? Then he’d have some explaining to do. He had to hope Lyney’s outing with Aether ran longer than planned. He just needed to be quick.
Freminet pressed through the surface of the water, ready to climb back onto his rock only for him to come face to face with another person. A scream didn’t even find it’s out of his mouth, his breath catching in his throat and heart stuttering. He immediately dove back underwater, clutching at his chest with a shaky sigh. There was someone else here. Why? He wasn’t naive enough to believe no other Mondstadter would come to Falcon Coast. He wouldn’t be surprised if there were a few people around when he resurfaced but there shouldn’t be someone at the very same rock he entered the water. Anyone approaching would be able to see the clothes and boots placed on top which meant someone was using the space for one reason or another. The logical thing to do was leave it be and find another rock or space to sit and enjoy the ocean so why was someone occupying his space? It had to be intentional, right?
Could this person be looking for him? But why? He didn’t know anyone here besides The Traveler… unless this person was a friend of Aether’s. He didn’t know but he had no way of finding out unless he resurfaced again. From his position below the water he could see the shadow of the other person. They were still in the same position as before and seemed to have no intention of leaving or entering the water for the matter. He could swim away, exit the water further down the coast, then walk back to his rock and confront this person but he immediately did away with that idea. Confrontation wasn’t his strong suit. He could hardly talk to strangers in general so confronting a stranger seemed even more impossible. Besides, he felt most comfortable in the water. In his mind, the water was safe. Should this person attempt to attack he could easily retreat further into the water and swim away. Mind made up, Freminet began to slowly swim back to the surface.
Durin peered into the water, squinting in an attempt to see below the surface but no matter how hard he looked he couldn’t see the person who disappeared mere moments ago. He squeezed the end of his tail, feeling extremely guilty at the moment. After spotting the clothes neatly laying nearby he had a feeling the person he was looking for, Freminet, had to be near that area. Before he began to search, Lyney told him that his brother enjoyed being underwater and provided him with a brief description so he had an idea of what he looked like. The clothes nearby certainly seemed to match the description so he’d wandered over to see if he could spot Freminet. He had no way of knowing he’d emerge the exact moment he leaned over the water, scaring both of them in the process.
Now, Freminet had disappeared and he wasn’t sure if he’d even come up. If it was him he definitely wouldn’t come up after finding a stranger waiting for him. He fidgeted with the end of his tail. “Oh dear, what to do…” Just as he began to run through his options the water moved and a pair or periwinkle blue eyes emerged. For a second, he could do nothing but stare. *Pretty* He thought. He knew Freminet shared no blood relation to Lyney but he wasn’t expecting his brother to be a mermaid. He didn’t even know mermaids were real until now. “Ah…!” He gasped softly, forcing that line of thought out of his mind for the time being. He had to say something quickly before Freminet disappeared again! “I’m… I’m sorry for starling you…! It was an accident. I mean no harm, really. I was looking for you but I didn’t expect you to come up at that moment.”
But Freminet was too enamored to even think about forming a response. Now that he was getting a good look at his visitor he noticed something he hadn’t before. This person wasn’t human. Slit pupils, horns, and a tail. He failed to notice any wings but lack of wings aside one thing was for certain. This person was a dragon. A real dragon. Or so he thought. Usually parts of his fantasy world only manifested before his eyes when he had his diving helmet on and shortly after taking it off but he wasn't wearing it now. In fact, he hadn’t even put it on today at all. Even still he had to blink rapidly to make sure he wasn’t imagining the inhuman features. He blinked and blinked but the features were still there. Horns didn’t fade, slit pupils didn’t turn round, and the tail didn't end up being a piece of clothing that he’d been mistakenly seeing as something else. His eyes went wide. This was real.
The silence was really worrying to Durin. A frown stretched across his lips as he studied Freminet’s face. He couldn’t see anything besides his eyes but that told him enough. They were wide and his pupils were dilated which could only mean he was afraid. He should’ve known. Many people found dragons frightening. Even the people of Mondstadt were at the very least wary of him when he appeared, but that was okay! He’d simply have had to earn his trust first just as he did with everyone here.
“No, no, don't be afraid! I’m friends with Lyney and Aether!” Durin lowered himself to the ground as much as possible by lying flat on his stomach in an attempt to appear less threatening. “I’m not a bad dragon. I’m a good dragon, I promise! I promise!”
Now Freminet was stunned for another reason. Something about the entire display was incredibly funny. He felt laughter bubbling up in his chest and it came spilling out before he could stop it. “Ah… ha… ahaha!” He laughed softly, the sound hardly audible due to his mouth still being underwater. He felt the tension slowly rolling off his body. Didn’t this dragon realize that promising he was a good person and claiming to be a friend of his brother and The Traveler didn’t make him less suspicious? Despite that, he felt it was okay to drop his guard a little. He truly didn’t seem to mean any harm. He emerged from the water just enough to reveal his mouth. “I’m not… afraid of dragons.” He swam over to Durin and peered up at him with big eyes, resting his hands on the edge of the rock. “I like dragons. It’s just… this is my first time seeing one in person,”
A semi-surprised look took over Durin’s face, his tail starting to wag behind his body. “Really? You’re not afraid?”
“Really,” He whispered, voice earnest.
Durin beamed, his tail thumping against the rock happily. This was a first. When it came to people in Mondstadt everyone was at least wary of him at first. None ever said they liked him right off the bat. “Well, I like mermaids! This is my first time seeing one of your kind. I didn’t know mermaids were actually real.” But he supposed if any place would have mermaids it was Fontaine.
Mermaid? Him? Freminet felt heat rise to his face. “I-I’m… But I’m not a mermaid…” He sank deeper into the water to hide his cheeks.
“You’re not?” During asked in genuine confusion, tipping his head as his eyes roamed Freminet’s face. He looked like a mermaid to him.
Freminet shook his head slowly and rose out of the water enough to brush his hair aside and reveal his round ears. “No fins, see?” He tipped his head to the side to expose his neck. “And no gills. I have legs too…” Although he’d only see those once he got out of the water. “Why… Why did you think that?”
Now it was Durin’s turn to be embarrassed. “Oh uhm…” He dipped his hand into the water, drawing circles with his fingers as a means of distracting himself from his embarrassment. “In the stories I read not all mermaids have fins and gills. Most of them look completely human until you reach their waist. Your brother told me you really liked water, then I found you here in the sea and you seem so at ease there, and you’re pretty so I thought…”
Freminet’s breath caught in his throat. Pretty? That wasn’t right. He grabbed the ends of his hair, using it to cover his face as much as he could to hide the color spreading across his cheeks. “Oh, no, no… I’m not… not…” He shook his head rapidly, feeling strangely flustered. Usually, compliments didn’t bother him this much. He didn’t receive many but when he did they normally made him feel uncomfortable if they weren’t related to his diving or mechanical skills. Because those were the only two activities he was good at. If he were being complimented on anything else the other person had to have some ulterior motive, didn’t they?
The same went for his appearance. He wouldn’t call himself ugly but he definitely wasn’t anything to gawk at. Average was the best word to describe him. Pretty was definitely an exaggeration but somehow he didn’t feel uncomfortable. Maybe it was because as he searched Durin’s face he failed to pick up on any signs of deception. He was so easy to read that he was essentially an open book. But knowing the compliment was genuine left him at a loss for words. He cleared his throat. “Any—Anyway you… you said you were looking for me? Why?” In the end, he decided to flee by changing the subject.
Durin perked up, turning to look at Freminet. “Oh! A few days ago Aether told me we’d be having visitors from another nation and told me a bit about you… But when I ran into him and your brother earlier you weren’t there. So I went to the hotel but you weren’t there either! Then I began to ask around, a few people pointed me in the right direction until my search led me here!” To him it became an exciting game of hide and seek but the look on Freminet’s face made him wonder if that was wrong of him to do.
“Oh, uhm, sorry was that not okay to do…?” He scratched his cheek, feeling a bit awkward. “Should I have waited for you to come back instead of looking for you? I haven’t been ‘human’ for very long so I’m still learning what is and isn’t acceptable and uhm, how to socialize…” He hoped he’d be given some grace.
Freminet smiled a little. He felt more at ease knowing they were similar in that regard. He wasn’t very good at socializing either, although he supposed he didn’t have much of an excuse for his lack of progress. He’d been human all his life unlike the dragon before him. “No, no, that’s okay… I don’t mind…” Many strangers sought him out in Fontaine to request his services so he couldn’t fault him for doing the same. “So you wanted me to fix something of yours, make something for you, go diving for something or…?”
“No! I was hoping we could be friends!” Both Aether and Lyney said they’d get along well and he was always looking to make new friends.
“Oh,” he breathed.
Durin visibly deflated, slumping against the rock. “Is… that a no?”
“Ah, no, no….! It’s not a no,” Freminet quickly hurried to say. He couldn’t mess this up. “It’s just…” He was having a bit of trouble processing. Was making friends this easy? After eighteen years of struggling it was as simple as this? All he had to do was take a trip to Mondstadt? In the past Lyney told him making friends was all about finding the right person. At the time he didn’t believe that but now it seemed he owed him an apology “Just… how can we be friends if I don’t know your name? You know mine but I don’t know yours…”
“Oh, silly me!” He was bright again as if he were always that way. “My name is Durin! It’s nice to meet you, Freminet!” He chirped, extending a hand.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Durin.” He raised a hand, hesitant to shake the one offered to him due to his own being wet. But before he could even attempt to dry his hand, Durin grasped his hand without a care in the world, shaking it eagerly before placing his other hand over Freminet’s. “So we’re friends now?”
Pale fingers twitched faintly in Durin’s grip as those shining, hopeful eyes bored into him. “Mm… yeah. Friends.” A pleasant warmth spread through his chest and slowly to the rest of his body. Just like that he had a friend. Ah, he felt giddy all of a sudden, his heart hammering away in his chest. He sank into the water to hide his face, peering at Durin with just his eyes. His first real friend.
Durin tipped his head as he watched Freminet almost completely disappear under the water, a smile on his face. “You know, I’m starting to think you actually are a mermaid!”
Embarrassment crawled through Freminet’s body. All he could do was shake his head as he popped his head out of the water, struggling to find the right words. “I’m… I’m really not.” He gently tugged his hand out of the other’s hold. “…I’m getting out now.” He’d stayed in even longer than he planned due to the unexpected visit.
“Mm, okay!” Durin was quick to sit up and move back so the diver had enough space to climb onto the rock with him. Narrowed eyes carefully watched Freminet pull himself out of the water with ease and settle down beside him, focusing in on the lower half of his body. Turns out he really did have legs. “So you really are human!”
A faint blush took over his face. “I-I told you that I was…!” He huffed softly. Socializing may not be his strong suit but even he could tell when he was being teased. Two could play that game. He looked Durin up and down with a scrutinizing gaze. “I’m starting to think that you aren’t really a dragon!”
“But I am! See?” Durin pointed to the horns on his head then pulled his tail to the front of his body, waving with the end of it.
Freminet crossed his arms over his chest, feigning disbelief. “Well… yeah but those could be fake! Besides, you don’t even have wings!”
“Huh? Yes, I do!”
“You do?” He tipped his head to the side as he looked at Durin. No matter how many times he looked he saw no wings and he was looking at him dead on. “Where…?”
He pointed to his sides. “Here!”
Despite following the pointing he still failed to see any wings. Before he could express his confusion, what he thought was part of Durin’s coat began to move. He gasped as his ‘coat’ spread out to reveal a pair of large wings. “I thought… I thought that was part of your coat.” Periwinkle eyes shone as he leaned in to get a better look.
“Most-—Most people think that. They don’t really notice unless I point them out,” Durin stammered and leaned back slightly, his heart flipping in his chest. Fremient was close. “Did you want to touch them?”
Excitement bubbled up in Freminet’s chest, causing him to lean in even further. Temporarily, his gaze shifted from Durin’s wings to his face. “Can I?! Can I really?”
The end of his tail thumped against the ground rapidly, color staining his cheeks. The diver was so close he could count each individual freckle on his face. He couldn’t help looking away, scratching at his cheek in an attempt to stave off the embarrassment he felt. “I don’t mind…” He couldn’t deny him, especially when he looked so excited.
A wide smile took over his face. This was like a dream come true. “I’ll be gentle! I promise! Promise!” In an instant he was behind Durin, eyes roaming every inch of his wings with wonder. The ridge was black but the membrane was a beautiful blend of pink and purple just like Durin’s eyes. He couldn’t believe he was actually allowed to feel them. Slender fingers trembled as they hovered in the air, giving a small, verbal warning before he actually allowed himself to touch.
As expected, the black part of Durin’s wings were firm. Not quite as hard as he imagined but close enough. He gently ran his fingers along the ridge, following the natural shape all the way down before starting to run them back to the top. A visible shudder caused him to pause halfway, worried he’d been too rough. “Durin? Is this okay?”
“I’m alright! It’s just… new.” Before now, Durin hadn’t actually allowed anyone to touch his wings. The sensation was new but not unpleasant. It was an almost ticklish feeling that made him want to squirm but he tried his hardest to hold still. When he came in search of the diver he didn’t expect their conversation to take this kind of turn but the offer to touch simply slipped out when he saw the wonder-filled expression the other wore.
Reassured, Freminet continued on without worry, moving on to touch the membrane now. “Ah, soft…” Visually, the membrane appeared leathery but it didn’t feel that way at all. It was surprisingly soft and even seemed stretchy. Thinking about it now he should’ve expected that since they were designed with flying in mind.
Unable to bear the silence and desperately in need of a distraction from the touching on his back, he couldn’t help asking. “You… You really like dragons, huh?”
Freminet placed his palm in the center of Durin’s wing, once again following the shape of his wings all the way down. Unlike the ridge, this part of Durin’s wings were also strangely warm. It was like placing his hand on a mini heater. “I do. I’ve heard lots of stories about dragons. We even have a legend about a hydro dragon in Fontaine but despite it all I’ve never seen one.” There was silence as he leaned over his shoulder to look at him with a smile. “Until I met you today!”
Somehow, it felt like he’d gotten the chance to witness something incredibly rare. How pretty Freminet looked when he smiled.
“Dragons are like fairy tail creatures come to life.” If dragons were real along with other creatures such as oni and youkai then surely the world in fairy tails were real too. Maybe one day he could enter Penguin Town without needing to use his diving helmet.
It was funny that Freminet should say that especially considering how he’d come into being. How would he react upon finding out he was originally from a fairy tail? “I actually cam—”
“Achoo!” Freminet sneezed, covering his nose with his arm. “Ah, I’m sorry.” He hadn’t meant to cut him off. “You were say—achoo! achoo!” But the sneezes kept coming on after another.
Turning around, Durin immediately realized the problem. “You’re still soaked! You should dry off quickly!”
Sniffling, he backed away just to be safe. “Oh, yeah… I meant to but I got distracted.” All thoughts vanished the moment he was given the opportunity to touch Durin’s wings. Opening up his inventory, he searched for a towel only to come up empty. Realization mixed with dread struck him seconds later. He hadn’t brought a towel. In his rush to reach the sea he’d left the hotel without bringing anything. How stupid of him. Suddenly, he realized how cold it was. He shivered and wrapped his arms around his body, rubbing his arms in an attempt to warm and soothe himself.
He gnawed on his bottom lip anxiously. He couldn’t go back to town like this. Even if he put his clothes back on people would definitely notice that he was dripping wet. The thought alone made his heart squeeze in his chest. Staying outside wasn’t much better either. Getting a cold was almost guaranteed if he didn’t dry off but maybe that was better than public humiliation. It certainly— The feeling of something being draped over his body snapped him right out of his thoughts. He glanced up, locking eyes with a concerned looking dragon.
“Don’t worry, it’s okay. I have a few towels,” Durin assured him, voice soft as he tugged the towel closed around Freminet’s soaked body. Pulling out another towel, this one was draped over the diver’s head to take care of his hair. “It’s okay, see?” He used the ends to gently rub away the water on his cheeks then focused on drying his hair. For a moment, the expression on Freminet’s face had taken a turn for the worse. He had no way of knowing what was going on in his head but he hoped to lift his mood if only a little.
A wave of relief crashed through his body, filling him with the urge to cry but he wouldn’t. Never above the surface. He dipped his head and buried his face into his knees, sniffling. “…Thank you.” Now that the relief had passed he was left feeling incredibly embarrassed. Never again would he forget to bring a towel. From now on he’d always carry one with him. This was a lesson well learned.
“Mm, you’re welcome.”
Raising a hand, he felt around until he found Durin’s wrist and lightly took hold of it. “I can… I can do it myself…” It was something he should do on his own. Being tended to in this manner was… embarrassing. But the hold he had on Durin’s wrist was only shaken away. “It’s alright. I don’t mind.” Came the dragon's response and all he could do was let his hand fall uselessly to his side. There was no fight in him anyway. “Okay…”
After a few more moments, the towel was pulled away. “There, all done.” But there was no reaction, prompting him to lightly tap the diver on the shoulder until he peeked at him from behind his knees. The expression on his face still wasn’t great. It was probably best to get him home. “Hey… do you want to go back now? To the city?”
The thought of going back to the city made his stomach twist but it was the only way he could reach the hotel. “Yes, I… I need to go back. Ah, I was supposed to head back already. I told Lyney that I’d be in my room but I snuck out.” Remembering that had Freminet up and moving. He quickly dried his body then pulled his clothes back on. The feelings of clothes against his still damp wetsuit made him grimace but it was impossible to get completely dry without stripping naked first. He glanced at the towel in his hands then decided to stuff it into his inventory. “I’ll return your towel another day. Let me wash it for you.” Spotting the other towel, he was quick to pluck it from Durin’s hands and store it away as well. “This one too.”
“You don’t ha—”
“Please,” Freminet cut in. “It’s the least I can do.” To make up for his embarrassing display.
Seeing no room for argument, Durin could only give in. “Okay, but at least let me walk you back? I’m heading for the city too anyway.”
Denial was the first response that surfaced in his mind but since Durin was heading back as well it shouldn’t be too much trouble. “…Alright.” He let Durin take the lead since he knew Mondstadt better then followed slightly behind him. He fidgeted with his fingers, the urge to apologize welling up in his chest. Washing the towels simply wasn’t enough. “Sorry about that. I—”
“It’s okay.” He cut in, slowing to match Freminet’s pace. “It’s alright. I forget things sometimes too! One time I…” A pause as he thought for a moment. “Uhm, I was running late for…. something so I rushed out of the house in my pajamas, completely forgetting to properly get dressed!”
Freminet cocked his head to the side, carefully eyeing the dragon before him. “You… You’re lying, aren’t you?”
Nervous laughter filled the air. “Ah, uhm, no? That story is completely true!” He attempted to hold strong but the unconvinced look on Freminet’s face made him give it up. He raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, you got me. I just wanted to make you feel better,” he admitted, scratching at his cheek. “But I messed it up.”
A lie to make him feel better. For some reason, that warmed his heart. He walked a little closer to Durin, lightly bumping their shoulders together. “That’s not true. It helped, really. I was just… embarrassed but I’m okay now so thank you.” It was sweet.
Durin beamed when he was shoulder bumped, mistaking the gesture as the human version of dragons clashing horns with one another to express friendship. He was quick to shoulder bump Freminet in return, tail waving happily. “Should we be hurrying back? You said you snuck out, right?”
Rushing had crossed his mind but in the end he decided it wouldn’t make a difference. “No, let’s just walk. It’ll *probably* be okay. It wasn’t really sneaking out. He’s just expecting me to be there.” It wasn’t as if he needed permission to leave his room.
“As long as you’re sure.” Durin hummed, a spring in his step as they walked along. “You haven’t had a tour of the city yet, have you?”
Ah, the tour. Until now Freminet had forgotten about that. “No, not yet, but I have a map to find my way around.” Although he still needed to mark it up with his own notes.
“Then why don’t I give you a tour of the city? I know my way around pretty well now!” He offered, excited. Now that he wasn’t the newest addition to Mondstadt he could be the one showing others around.
“Oh, ah…” Freminet didn’t want to ruin the dragon’s mood but he really wasn’t up for a tour. He kneaded his hands together, trying to think of a way to let him down easy. “Maybe… Maybe another day? I—right now I just want to go home.” It’d been a long day for him already.
Disappointment simmered in his chest but he didn’t dare let it show. After all, it wasn’t a complete rejection. “Another day then. Before you leave for Fontaine, promise?” He extended a hand, wiggling his pinky.
The growing anxiety in Freminet’s chest immediately dissipated when he failed to see any upset on Durin’s face. Nodding, he locked his pinky with Durin’s firmly. “Promise.”
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
The rest of the walk to Mondstadt had been incredibly peaceful. They didn't talk but the silence between them was comfortable instead of awkward like what he was used to. Upon reaching his hotel room, he felt a bit sad that they were parting so soon. All they’d done was talk a bit and walk around but he enjoyed Durin’s company. Something about him was calming. It was nice to not be anxious in the presence of someone other than his siblings.
Surprisingly, there was no sign of Lyney or any indication that he’d returned to the hotel in the time that he’d been gone. That was good. It meant he was in the clear. Stopping at the end of the hall, he turned to face Durin. “This is me. Thank you for walking me back. You didn’t have to.” But he appreciated it, truly.
“You’re welcome. It was no trouble at all.” Durin stood in place, watching Freminet fumble with the door before getting it to open. “Uhm, will I see you again today?”
Freminet wanted to say ‘yes’ but that’d be a lie. “Probably not. I’m kind of exhausted… socially.” He didn’t want to interact with more people today. When he got hungry he’d probably ask Lyney if he could bring him something to eat. He shuffled halfway behind the door, partially hiding. “But… Do you maybe want to come in? I—I still have to unpack if you want to help?” It was a poor excuse to get Durin to stay but it was the only one that’d come to mind.
“I’ll help!” The dragon immediately agreed, much to Freminet’s relief. He’d be mortified if his offer was turned down. “Come on in.” He stepped to let Durin in then shut the door behind him. “I don’t have much. Just this.” He gestured to the large travel backpack lying just a few feet away before going ahead and opening it up. The main compartment was filled with two week’s worth of clothes. “I’ll take care of my clothes.” He scooped up an armful of his clothing and began to fill the dresser with it. “Anything other than the necessities can go anywhere in the room. Just… let me know where you decide to place it.” He wasn’t picky. This room was only temporary.
“Got it!” Abiding by Freminet’s wishes, Durin skipped past the main compartment and opened the secondary one instead. This one was filled with the necessities that typically went in the bathroom. He grabbed as much as he could with his arms then used his tail to grab a few other items before hurried off to the bathroom. Toothbrush and toothpaste went on the counter beside the sink along with the face wash, body soap, shampoo and conditioner each went on the edge of the tub, towels and rags went into the bathroom closet along with other skincare items. The hotel already came stocked with the majority of these items so it really wasn’t necessary for Freminet to bring his own, but he assumed the diver preferred to use what he was already familiar with.
Returning to the backpack to grab another couple of items, the dragon found himself stumbling upon something interesting. At the bottom of the compartment there was a large black bag filled with an unknown number of small objects by the looks of it. There was also an odd mechanical cube with something different on each side next to it. He poked at the bag curiously with his tail while picking up the cube. “Hey, Freminet? What are these?”
Freminet carefully placed the last of his clothes on the drawer then headed over, taking a seat next to Durin. “Oh, this. It’s just a puzzle cube and that—” He picked up the black bag a tail was prodding at. “—is just filled with various mechanical parts.” He needed it to fix up a couple of items he’d brought along for the sake of entertainment.
“Puzzle cube?” Durin echoed, attention fully captured by the object, no, toy(?).
“Mhm. Each side is a little puzzle. Once you solve each side you win and the cube opens up. There’s something inside.” The prize was meant to be the managing to open the cube itself but he decided to stick something inside at the last minute. A sweet treat was always nice.
The puzzle cube has completely distracted Durin by this point. He turned the cube around to get a good look at each side then shook it a few times, the sound of rattling filling his ears. “What’s inside?”
He waved a finger disapprovingly. “I can’t tell you that. It’d ruin the surprise.” Although he hoped Durin wouldn’t set his expectations too high. There was only so much he could fit inside the cube which was why he decided to go with small candies.
A pout took over Durin’s face. “I suppose you’re right. Then I’ll just have to open it to find out!” Turning the cube a few more times he eventually settled on the easiest looking puzzle. The side had several squares that could be slid around and each had part of a picture on it. He was silent as he began to slide the squares around, wearing a focused expression on his face.
Not wanting to ruin the puzzle for Durin, Freminet stayed silent and simply watched him fidget around with the cube. No matter how much he wanted to give hints he forced himself to stay silent. Unless asked, he wouldn’t give any assistance.
After around ten minutes Durin got the feeling that this puzzle was deceptive. It seemed easy (at least this side did) but it was actually very difficult. “This is harder than I thought.” He said sheepishly, rolling the cube around in his hands. “Do you mind if I borrow this? I promise I’ll return it before you have to leave.” He just needed more time to solve it.
“You can keep it if you want. I made it… so there’s really no need for me to have it.” There was no puzzle to the puzzle maker.
“You made this?” Wonder filled Durin’s expression as he looked between the cube and Freminet several times. “That’s amazing! How long did this take to put together? How’d you put it together? How’d you even come up with all of the puzzles?”
All of the attention left Freminet feeling embarrassed and his cheeks hot. How he wished he could put on his diving helmet. He raised his hands slightly, waving them dismissively. “It’s not anything that amazing really and—and it didn’t take very long to make and it wasn’t very difficult. I’ve been tinkering with mechanical objects since I was young so I have a lot of experience, that’s all—ah?!” He gasped, sucking in a sharp breath when Durin suddenly took hold of his hands and squeezed.
Durin huffed, displeased. “You’re not giving yourself enough credit.” He noticed that Freminet had a habit of putting himself down. He didn’t like it. “Even if one dedicates their entire life to a craft it doesn’t mean they’ll be good at it, so don’t say it’s just because of your experience. You’re talented, Freminet,” he insisted.
Fremient was at a loss for words, unsure of how he should respond. Really, he was unused to such praise, especially so much of it at once. He looked away from Durin in an attempt to hide his reddening face, his fingers twitching uselessly in the other’s hold. “Uhm… thank you. I, ah…” He swallowed thickly as he searched for the right words. “I have a blueprint for the puzzle if—if you want to see…” he said weakly, using the earlier question as a means of escape. “But it might not be as interesting as you’d imagine…”
Durin frowned at the last comment but quickly replaced it with a smile, squeezing Freminet’s hands again before letting them go. “Well, I think I’ll find it very interesting. I’d like to see.”
“Okay…” He searched through his suitcase, getting to his feet once he found the notebook he was looking for. The ground was too rough on his knees. Instead, he moved to the bed and laid there, patting the space beside him as he opened his notebook. “Over here.”
The bed dipped as Durin joined, shuffling closer until his shoulder pressed Freminet’s, which made the diver blush faintly. There was interest in his eyes as he looked over the open notebook page. It was filled with different drawings of the cube and notes he couldn’t quite understand but trusted Freminet to explain.
Those expectant eyes entirely focused on him made Freminet feel a little anxious. Never had he sat down and explained his work in detail to another. He wasn’t sure how well he’d be able to break this down but he supposed there was a first for everything. He tapped on the page to draw attention back to the notebook. “…These drawings are of the cube, of each individual side and the puzzle that goes with it.” He moved his finger across the page to one of the puzzles. “This one is the sliding puzzle that you tried. It’s the simplest of them all. All you really need to make it are equally sized squares to fit in the designated space but you have to leave one empty square or else you won’t be able to move the pieces around.”
So far, the explanation wasn’t difficult to grasp in the slightest. He’d like to believe that was due to him being smart but then again Freminet did say this was the simplest puzzle which meant it was mechanically simple as well. “But how do you get the pieces to stay in?” He turned the cube upside down. “Even if I do this the squares don’t fall out.”
“They’re magnetically attached. See?” For a moment, he temporarily took the cube from Durin and pulled out one of the squares. “Technically you can cheat the puzzle this way but you’re not supposed to do that.” Placing the square back in place he returned the cube to Durin. “That’s pretty much it for this puzzle.”
“Wait, but what’s the ending picture supposed to be?” That question made Freminet realize he had a drawing of the end result on the very same page. He quickly covered it with his hand. “You have to solve the puzzle to figure it out.”
“Awh…” Saddened, he laid his head on the bed, still fidgeting with the cube. “Can’t you give me a hint? A little one?” He pleaded, putting on his best puppy eyes. In his experience, they were very effective on most people.
Giving away the answer wasn’t allowed but it was okay to offer a hint. It may help Durin solve the puzzle… and he couldn’t say no when he was being looked at that way. He was weak at the heart. “Alright. Then it’s an animal. A sea animal.”
“A seal?” He tried, rolling onto his back while holding the cube up in the air.
“No.”
He narrowed his eyes at the broken up images, moving a few cubes around in an attempt to match some pieces for a more put together image. “A dolphin?”
“No.”
A pause for thought. “Hmm… what about an octopus?”
“No. Durin…” Was he really going to sit here and gues until he stumbled upon the right answer? “Even… Even if you guess I’m not going to tell you what it is.”
He pouted. “Darn.”
Laughter welled up in his chest. “Pfft… Durin. Did you really think that was going to work?”
Durin shrugged his shoulders, a cheeky grin stretching across his lips. “Well, It was worth a shot.” Especially since his antics managed to pull a smile out of Freminet. Turning his attention back to the notebook he searched for the next interesting picture, tapping one that looked like a safe with multiple dials. “What about this one? How’s it work?”
“This one…”
Over the next hour, Freminet went through each drawing on the page in an order determined by Durin, describing how each side of the puzzle cube worked and how it was put together. Occasionally, he’d pause just to make sure he wasn’t boring the dragon but he quickly learned it wasn’t necessary. Each time he checked, the expression on Durin’s face hadn't changed. He looked just as interested as before and even asked frequent questions. It was nice to have someone other than his siblings listen to his silly ramblings.
Finally finished, he closed the notebook. “That was the last one. Maybe some of that will help you solve the puzzle?”
“I think so! But… is it okay to get hints sometimes?” Durin asked sheepishly. He’d been listening but he hadn’t written any notes. He wasn’t good enough at writing for that yet so he may forget some things.
Freminet nodded gently. “Of course.” It was the least he could do after Durin listened to him ramble but he felt like that wasn’t quite enough. He hopped off the bed and searched through his bag until he found exactly what he was looking for. A few pieces of candy, chocolate, he’d taken with him from Fontaine. They were his favorite. Hiding them in his hand, he sat next to Durin again. “Can I have your hand?”
Durin obediently held out his hand, tipping his head in confusion when three wrapped pieces of candy were placed in his palm. “Candy? What’s this for?” Upon sniffing it though the wrapped he realized it was chocolate.
“Just… I don’t have much to give so I’m giving those as a thank you.” He glanced down at his hands, feeling embarrassed. “For listening to me talk and… and for being my friend…” he murmured, voice growing soft at the end.
“You don’t have to give me these.” He paused for a moment before quickly rephrasing. “I mean—I appreciate it but I don’t want you to believe you owe me anything or think you have to give me gifts to hang out with you.” He placed his hands on top of Freminet’s, prompting the diver to meet his gaze. “I like hanging out with you. I had fun today.”
“Oh…” Freminet breathed an odd feeling spreading through his chest. His face felt hot again. He found himself smiling, heart beating quickly. “I… I had fun too.” He was quiet for a moment, thinking. “Then can—” Before he could finish a strange noise cut him off.
♪Dodo dodo dodoco! Dodo dodo dodoco!♪
The sound made both of them jump. “Sorry, sorry, that’s me.” He quickly swiped through his inventory, pulling out the dodocommunication device. The moment he placed it on the bed a high pitched voice came through it.
“Big brother Durin! Where are you? Did you forget it’s playtime with Klee?” Klee whined. “You promised you’d play! Klee even finished all of her homework!”
Color drained from Durin’s face. He had completely forgotten that was today. “Uhm, uh… no, no of course not! I was just out getting presents for you and Dodoco that’s why I’m a little late.” He lied, quickly getting off the bed. Klee would be upset if she knew he was late because he’d forgotten about their playtime. “I’ll be there soon, okay?”
“Mm, you’d better! Or else I’m telling big brother Albedo!” Klee giggled before ending the call.
Durin sighed in relief. Crisis averted. He turned to Freminet but he already knew what he was going to say. “You have to go?” He asked and Durin could only nod apologetically. “Yeah, I'm sorry.”
He shook his head. “Don’t be, I understand. Besides, I’ve taken up a lot of your time already.” They had spent a good couple of hours together. Following Durin to the door, he only wished their time today didn’t end so abruptly. “Have fun with your sister.”
“I will!” He smiled and waved before hurrying out of the room. He was already late.
Seeing Durin go, made his heart squeeze in his chest. Today had been fun. If possible, he’d like to spend time with him again tomorrow. After a moment of hesitation he stepped out of the room before the dragon could get too far away. “Wait!” He called, sighing in relief when Durin paused and turned back.
“Can we…” He glanced down at the ground, unable to maintain eye contact. “Can I see you again tomorrow, maybe…?” Refusing to look up, he failed to see the bright smile on Durin’s face. “Of course you can! I’ll be sure to stop by, okay? See you tomorrow!”
A relieved sigh slipped from his lips. “Mm, tomorrow.” Freminet echoed, raising his head just in time to give a little wave goodbye that was quickly returned. He watched Durin run down the hall, only closing the door once he disappeared around the corner. He immediately slid down to the floor and slumped against the wall, closing his eyes. He was exhausted. He’d really overdone it today but despite that and everything else that’d happened he had fun. That was probably the most fun he’d had in a long time.
Today was a good day… and maybe tomorrow would be even better.