#oathboundknight

Prompt #23: Soul

Dual WoL AU, Thanatos (and Hero’s mentor Percival) are property of @oathboundknight and have been lovingly borrowed for this ficlet with permission.

Hades stared intently at the Miqo’te before him, the color of his soul so familiar and yet so faded. Inwardly he sighed in relief. The younger Azem had always been easier to handle than the elder. He recalled the day they met with upsetting clarity. “Hades!” Chimed Thanatos, forgetting to use titles as he carted a young man in tow. “I would like to introduce you to Hermes! The next Azem.” Back then the news had shocked him. Usually Convocation members were chosen by- well- the rest of the Convocation.

However, declaring his own successor was such an Azem thing to do that Hades had a million other arguments running through his mind before settling on the one. “Excuse me? For starters, my title-”

“Ah, of course, my mistake.” The other leaned in with a wicked smile and kissed his cheek, causing his small self-declared protege to snicker, “Hermes, meet the most Esteemed Emet-Selch. I promise, once you figure out how to work the stick out of his backside, he is a far better conversation partner.”

“Do not.” His argument died on his lips as he processed the information, “When were you planning to tell me you wanted to retire?”

Thanatos stopped and looked at him before turning to the young Hermes, “I’ll introduce you to the others in a moment. Mind giving us some time? Just for a while.”

How little things changed, this youth before him held no malice or even concern in his gaze. Only curiosity. Hermes had always wanted to know why. Why something worked, why they weren’t allowed to take direct action, why couldn’t he bring his giant angry bird creation into the lobby, why Hades took his coffee black when cream and sugar existed.

Why he seemed to be the only one willing to get involved in the problems of others.

He cut off the questions before they came, because once that floodgate opened there’d be no stopping it. Hermes’ smile would worm it’s way into his cold black heart, he’d find some way to charm and even seduce Hades into friendship if it was the last thing he did. The longer Hermes spoke, the more likely he’d be to listen, and that was a threat to the entire plan.

Unless.

Unless he befriended Hermes first. Charmed him into complacency and shattered him once his trust was assured. That would be the only way. So long as he only had to deal with Hermes’ sundered remains, he could control the situation and turn it to his advantage. “Well met, hero. I must say, I was not expecting you here hale and whole.”

“Hero.”

“I- that’s what I said.” Hades frowned, taken aback by the interjection.

“No, you said hero. Lower-case H, I can honestly hear the difference now. Everyone gets to do it once, the second time I’ll punch you where I can reach.” He gave Hades a long suffering smile, “My actual given name is Hero. Hero Hikara, Tia of the H-Tribe.”

“Oh you poor soul. No wonder you can hear the difference.” Despite himself, Hades laughed a little. Literally named hero- of course. It was so quintessentially Azem it hurt. “My apologies, Hero, I did not want to get off on the wrong foot. You may know me as Solus zos Galvus, but my true title is Emet-Selch. Ascian. At your service.”

Prompt #15: Thunderous

AU: Imperial-Born

Premise: Hiro mal Felix was found and raised by Gaius van Baelsar. Introduced to Zenos at a young age as his royal playmate, Hero’s high energy and genuine attitude slowly endeared the young prince to him. Hero was separated from Zenos shortly before the fall of Dalamud, and was on the battlefield that fateful day. He lost his memories in the process, but survived thanks to his echo and some luck.

Also @oathboundknight‘s Ser Percival is here as the actual WoL, Hero’s just one of his companions.

Hero’s memories had slowly been resurfacing since he and Percival confronted and defeated the Black Wolf. Gaius van Baelsar, who not only seemed to recognize Hero from his murky past, but had been disappointed his memory loss led to them being enemies. He’d used several keywords to trigger what Dalamud’s fall had hidden during the fight. After Gaius, things had been murky. Here, in the Sea of Clouds? They were suddenly crystal clear.

“Hiro? No, you were reported dead.” Alphinaud had helpfully pointed out the man before them was the current Emperor, Varis zos Galvus. That wasn’t what awoke Hero’s slumbering memories. Not the name, not his face, not even his armor. What awoke them? The way the man’s voice switched from quiet concern to the booming bass of an angry father. “Hiro mal Felix!”

Every hair on his tail and neck stood on end, his ears folded back, he could feel his slit pupils dilating, and every single ilm of his focus suddenly shifted from protecting the Vanu Vanu to figuring out if he could summon his chocobo and leap off the side of the island before anyone caught him.

An instinct firmly stopped by the grip of a clawed hand on his shoulder, “Well Hero?” Percy’s voice wasn’t near as tense as Hero’s body felt, oddly calm for a man who’s fiance was tempered, and even his face was sporting a strangely serene smile. “Mind introducing us to the handsome man?”

Ah.

Of course.

Ser Percival, despite struggling to fire a bow thanks to his injuries, was still a Bard at heart. He was planning to handle his emotional turmoil through the power of bedding a man he probably shouldn’t. From the look of Varis’ face, being called handsome like this had already thrown him off his guard.

So Hero took the shot, “Pardon me, your Radiance but- two things. One? These Vanu Vanu are not the summoners of the white whale. In fact, they helped us fight the Primal and I believe deserve better than to be rounded up and shot for the crimes of another tribe. Secondly, you have me at a disadvantage. You seem to recognize me, but I lost my memories to the fall of the red moon. Do I know you?”

Alphinaud was oddly silent, and it wasn’t until later Hero found out it was because Percy was actively covering the young diplomat’s mouth to keep him from making the situation worse or asking about Hero’s status within the Empire. Luckily Varis was all too willing to listen, treating him with all the fondness of a man greeting his long lost child.

“I’m sorry did you say son in-law?” They were on the Garlean’s airship, discussing the situation with Thordan over coffee as well as Hero’s amnesia. “What do you mean I’m married?”

“You were engaged to be married, my son’s last act before your departure to Eorzea was gifting you the ring you’re wearing around your neck. You two grew up together, you were always a calming influence for my son. Without you he- well- he has not handled your supposed death very well.”

“That would explain what I heard from the Domans about their failed rebellion.” He frowned, “Is it too much to ask that you ignore the crimes against the Empire I and my friends have committed in order to help us slay the Primal that tempered Percy’s fiance?”

“The same Elezen man who called me handsome in front of my husband? He is an Elezen, right? The horns are throwing me off.”

“Long story, I’ll write a report on it later, but yes. Also? You having a husband wouldn’t change shit about what he said, actually, it might just make him more interested. He’s had a lot of threesomes.”

“I’ll keep that in mind before I leave for Garlemald. You will be coming home with me, right?” Varis sounded genuinely concerned, and for a moment Hero wavered. A whole family he barely remembered, it sounded too good to be true after everything he’d gone through as an adventurer. Except…

“I can’t, not yet. It’s not because Eorzea needs me, but I owe Percy a lot. He trusted me when few would. I want to repay that trust, but- can we radio Zenos? If he mourned me this long, I want to at least give him hope.”

Various Starters | Accepting

It was quiet aside from the crackling of a campfire. Hero knew exactly who Percy wanted fighting for him as well. Percival had told him countless tales of his long distance love, Charibert. A fiery man full of passion. He didn’t know what an Inquisitor was until their brief visit to Coerthas while trying to find Cid’s airship, but now that he had a better grasp of Ishgardian culture? The man sounded perfect for Percy.

Able to discern lies as easily as Percy’s echo, someone to balance Percy’s more disasterous qualities, someone who loved like fire. The miqo’te let silence hang between them for a moment as he considered the injuries Percy had sustained after fighting Ultima Weapon and how personally he was taking tracking down Lady Iceheart and her heretics. “You could leave. Let me take over. I’m only a scion in training but if you say I’m ready they won’t be able to stop you. Ser Aymeric said this would be enough to clear your family name, right? So just go back to Ishgard, and I can be the Warrior of Light. Charibert seems like the type to fight for you.”

Let me Rate Your Muse | Accepting

“Zenos, honestly. I know I’ve told you what I love about you before.”

Looks: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10Personality: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10Attraction: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10Would they date them: yes | noFavorite thing about them: Being yours means knowing you’ve got my back, always. You’ll fight for me. You’d fight me too, but you’ll fight for me.Least favorite thing about them: Can we discuss how stabby you are, babe?

“Percy, Percy, Percy. I’m the one who keeps correcting you when you say you’re not hot. You know how I feel.” @oathboundknight

Looks: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10Personality: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10Attraction: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10Would they date them: yes | noFavorite thing about them: Your sass. Gods it feels good to have someone be the bad cop to my good cop.Least favorite thing about them: When you’re in the room I never know who’s job it is to be the biggest disaster.

“Wait, do you want an ego boost or are you actually asking if I see the Sun in your eyes again? Because last time you told me I was a raging storm and I’m not over it yet, Magnai.” @oldersun

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