#;reunion

Immediately upon hearing his name being called the keyblade wielder turned from where he had been standing by the shore.

How long had it been since he last heard that voice? Blue eyes widened as they settled upon the figure up ahead.

The guest room Wei Yukai stood in was splendid in color and lavish in design. Deep green tapestry hung from the high ceilings framed with dark gold trimmings. A gigantic circular symbol was embroidered on the carpet, a proud display of the clan’s lineage. Two paintings hung prominently on the wall; on the left was the mighty clan leader and on the right, the dignified Lady Nie. Yukai stood in the middle of the room, admiring the likeliness of the paintings to their real-life counterparts. For all the times Yukai had visited the Nie Sect, this was one the most opulent rooms in his memories and conversely one that he never stepped into in childhood. Ironically, it seemed that nowadays Yukai spent more and more time in this room while visiting the other parts of the estate less and less.

A servant girl entered the guest room carrying a tray. On the tray was a porcelain teapot and a couple of ornate cups. The girl had her head lowered and curtsied to Yukai before settling the tray onto the table. The servant seemed young and the way she trembled slightly gave away her nervousness. Witnessing this scene, Yukai approached the girl with leisurely strides.  

“Xiao meimei (小妹妹), I don’t remember seeing you before,” Yukai began, an easy-going grin on his face and his arms folded behind his back. “What’s your name?”

The girl peeked up at him with wide eyes as if stunned, before giving a small bow. “Wei-gongzi, this lowly servant’s name is xiao-yan; please forgive me if I’ve carried my duties unsatisfactorily; I only began working here less than three months ago...”

Three months... Yukai gave a chuckle under his breath. “Jeez, what kind of reputation have the other servants given me? If you’ve only been here for three months, you’re doing a fine job. No need to be so nervous, I don’t bite, I promise.”

The girl chanced a glance up, only to see a mischievous glint in Yukai’s eyes. “By the way, this is tea you’ve brought, isn’t it?” He began. “Very good, very good. Truly befitting for a visiting guest. But... what do you say we fetch some wine, too? I’m in an exceptionally good mood since I’m finally home and I’m thinking of celebrating with your master.” The girl’s eyes widened and Yukai instantly saw through her worries. “If you’re scared of the guards outside, don’t worry. I’ll let you in on a little secret... they know the drill. From what I was told, Jiu-ge will be here soon. We want to give him a warm greeting, don’t we? Do you think you can get back here by the time he arrives?”

The girl’s mouth fell open before she gave a wide-eyed nod.

“That’s a good girl. Now off you go.”  

That was one of the youngest and most timid servants Yukai ever encountered at the Nie residence. Yukai thought of his childhood friend and began to snigger. Just imagining that girl serving the next Nie clan leader... if not his fear-inducing reputation (which, Yukai discovered time and time again made even the toughest tavern-owner's knees tremble and buckle), then it was definitely his perpetually long face that frightened all the kids away!

Speaking of Jiuli, the man would be here any moment now. Yukai thought about what sort of warm welcome he would bestow his dear brother this time before his eyes landed on the couch before him. Yukai’s mischievous smile stretched across his face. Perfect.  

A few moments later, Yukai heard familiar steps approaching. The Wei cultivator greeted his old friend with an open, seductive pose on the couch. “Jiu-ge, I’m finally back to see you,” he drawled in a playful tone. “It’s been too long, did you miss me?” 

Gods how Jack missed his best friend. He knew she needed some time away to be with Rhys but it was still hard. He missed their evening drinks and cuddles on that shitty couch. It was a miracle how the captain hadn’t gone crazy and go to their flat to ask her to come back to work.

Her hugs were the best. Somehow she completely enveloped him in a soothing way. He buried his face against her shoulder with a deep sigh. “Welcome back Gwennie.”

"I thought you were dead!"

Afton grabs the young man by the collar, pushing him up against the wall. Renji doesn't fight back - how could he? He deserves every punch, every kick from Afton that he gets. But... There's nothing. No angry yelling. No cursing, no violence. But there is movement - shuddering, almost. Renji opens his eyes, seeing something he has never seen before.

Afton was crying.

His shoulders were slumped, grip loosened on Renji's collar, head hanging low.

"... I thought you were dead, Renji. I thought - ... I thought I lost you. I thought I failed you."

Distraught midnight eyes glance up to meet those of emerald, tears welling up.

"Do you know what that's like?! You were all I had! I was supposed to protect you! To take care of you! And for what?! Some petty grudge match?! I'm sorry!"

Another part of Afton Ren never thought he'd see.

"... I'm so sorry, Renji... I couldn't - I didn't know how to tell you... I swear, on my life, I never knew until all those years ago what my father did to your parents. I'm so fucking sorry, Ren...! If I could go back in time and stop it, if I could go back in time and save your life and make sure you had a normal life away from me - I would! In a heartbeat! Even if it killed me!"

His hands finally let go of his collar, falling to his sides. Renji felt a warmness in his eyes, as well, tears slowly starting to form as he continued to listen to his elder cousin's apologies.

"... Renji, I'm so - ... I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, Ren, I-"

Renji quickly reached out, pulling his cousin - his brother into a comforting embrace - holding him tight. Never letting go. Not again.

apostateslegacy

The mention of a face lost to time had amused her to begin with. It struck her as a jest, well thought out, if a little cruel. Further thought spent on it made it clear, however, that such a statement could not be made out of the blue. There was no way Anders would have been able to merely guess the existence of a sibling that was considered long lost to the Circle. When the healer first told her, she remembered snorting, waving him off and calling it a bluff. Mere seconds had to pass until she noticed a surprisingly serious and sincere expression behind the matter.

Garrett had escaped the Circle, so the healer had told, and lived on his own for a while. Eventually, he made it to Kirkwall, and 'resided' in Darktown, if one could call it the such. A day or two after having been informed of his presence so close to her, she began to wander about her estate, thinking about possibilities, risks, wishes. He had been young when they were separated, but she remembered him vaguely. All memories she could dig up filled her with warms, even if images seemed to lack at times. It didn't take her too long to decide on her action.

The day was an ordinary one for the mage. She had put aside what requests people had made and told all of her companions to take a day off from her shenanigans. Darktown lacked charmed as it always did; the air felt hot and stuffy, the people looked miserable and never failed to repel her. Perhaps it was because she had been at the bottom that she didn't enjoy the view of it. 

There were many new additions coming into the community recently. The man had lost count of them along with many of the other guards that stood at his side. But Antonio always made the effort to welcome newcomers and make them feel at home and like part of the family. But today he never knew that he would meet a newcomer that would change his life.