--Crystal--

[eyesofaproxy]

[Wise and Belle are not quite of the First Brood but they are two of the older dragons on Eorzea (they've long since abandoned their original draconic names, because they like these better). They're just a few eons younger than Vrtra, and thus are closest to their cousin. Helped, of course, by the fact that like Vrtra the two of them spend a lot of time in a humanoid avatar. They'd heard about Vrtra doing it, thought it sounded fun, and after a few mortal centuries of trying on avatars and figuring out things like "gender", they eventually settled on their avatars of choice. Belle spends most of her time in the guise of a cute Au Ra lady and Wise as a slightly customized Viera man.

(Scales. He needed scales somewhere, it felt weird being entirely flesh. His hips and thighs have a lovely pattern of scales that are easy to hide.)

They've settled in, of all places, the Dravanian forelands for a time. They heard that there was someone interesting, someone interesting enough to urge Midgardsormr to wake up for a moment. They're settled in Tailfeather, their draconic bodies tucked safely away in Anyx Trine for now. Belle's taken to being a chocobo tender while Wise has set up as a alchemist and scribe for people who want to write letters but can't.

Hopefully this interesting person will show up.]

Comments

[fuegor]

I'll help you keep your upper half up while you focus on the lower half. Just keep looking at me.

[Just look at the hot guy Wise everything will be fine.]

[eyesofaproxy]

[Everything was not fine, as Wise ate so much shit and drank so much saltwater it was actually concerning. He's fine now, at least, and dinner was excellent.

But the day is coming to a close, and that means it is time for a bath. Wise heads into their private bathing spring first, soaking in the quiet and the cool water and the night sky.]

[fuegor]

[Yeah, it was a little embarrassing but if Wise ever started to feel frustrated Lighter would help him out of the funk. Even if there were a few internal scares he had about Wise drowning.

But it's fine, night was falling and they ought to wind down anyway. The bathing spring was private for the whole home so he thought he'd also have a chill bath. At the very least he came into the common area for the spring in a towel.]

Want some company?

[eyesofaproxy]

[Wise looks over with a smile...and rather shamelessly ogles a little. Yep, he is attracted to the human.]

Sure, if it's you.

[fuegor]

Lucky me.

[Saying Lighter wasn't used to being leered at and ogled would be a lie, but something about Wise doing it made his heart beat a fair bit faster. Either way he stepped into the bath, only removing the towel when the water would cover him well enough.]

We can take swimming lessons slow while we're here. You can't always learn something overnight.

[eyesofaproxy]

That's hard to remember, at my age. You get used to just being good at what you're good at, you forget that you can, you know, learn.

[...oh.]

Your eyes...

[fuegor]

[Ah, shit.]

Yeah, they're not what you'd expect from a Seeker of the Sun like me. One of my parents was Hyuran so I got the height and the eyes.

[He's being evasive on purpose.]

[eyesofaproxy]

Oh, I knew that. You're way too built for a Miqo'te. But your eyes, they're red.

[fuegor]

...

[Dammit, he could only evade for so long it seems.

But... he knew Wise was a good person. Someone who kept to his word, kept people and dragons alike safe. He leaned backwards against the wall of the bath, eyes closed to avoid looking into the dim lights strung above.]

It's an old injury from when I used to fight in Ul'dah's gladiator ring. When there's too much light, it hurts my eyes. It's why I wear those dark glasses all the time.

[And the mild hemophobia, but would that hold much water by now given Lighter was the one to slay Nidhogg? He knew why Wise was asking about his eyes anyway. From the way Lighter spoke of it, it seemed to be a time in his life as dark as those shades he hid behind.]

[eyesofaproxy]

[Wise can tell it's a hard memory.]

I see. Would you mind letting me look at your eyes, later? I don't think I repair them, not after so long, but maybe I can make something to help with any lingering pain from the injury.

[fuegor]

[He shook his head.]

You don't need to worry about it. Like you said, it was a long time ago and I've got a way to keep my eyes shielded. As long as I have that, it doesn't hurt at all. And besides, I think they look pretty cool, don't you?

[Lighter was just glad to have his life. He wouldn't if not for his Free Company.

He didn't want to seem unappreciative of the offer, though.]

... But. If it'll make you feel better, I'll still let you have a look. I don't mind that if it's you.

[eyesofaproxy]

They do look cool. [He smiles a little.] But if there's something I can do, I want to try. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to make a more durable pair of shaded glasses.

[fuegor]

Heh, well then I'll have to wear those all the time. I'll need to find something else to do with my old pair. Maybe I'll let you wear them, they won't get in the way of your proxy, will it?

[Lighter laid a hand on Wise's shoulder with a soft laugh. He was just kidding around, but he also did know these were powered by their eyes and how important a dragon's eyes were so.]

[eyesofaproxy]

[Wise smiles and leans in a little closer.]

No, it won't. These eyes don't affect anything, just the one that's in this body, and no glasses could block that out.

[fuegor]

Then I guess I don't have to worry. But if you ask me, I think your eyes look best when they aren't covered up by the shades I need to wear.

[LIGHTER.]

[eyesofaproxy]

...you do?

[Is this attraction...mutual?]

[fuegor]

[...why's he feel so bashful all of a sudden?]

Of course.

[eyesofaproxy]

...tell me if I'm misunderstanding this. Humans are...confusing, to a dragon.

[He leans up and presses a kiss to Lighter's cheek.]

[fuegor]

Hm?

[Oh. OH. Oh, oh by the gods, Lighter's face went completely red on being given something as simple as a cheek kiss. His tail was sticking up high out of the water and his Miqo'te ears shot all the way up.]

Uh, I. You... Huh??

[Heavens was his heartbeat loud right now. But he had to find his words.]

N-No, you're... that is something humans do. Usually when, well... when they really like someone.

... Romantically.

[eyesofaproxy]

Yes, I'm aware of that.

[Oh no, so cute...]

So did I misread...?

[fuegor]

[He's not supposed to be cute!! Meanwhile the way his ears shyly flopped back down to blend with his hair as well as the gentle purr that began to escape from him.

He looked to the side, rubbing at the back of his neck. Was this smart of him, he wondered? No, this was incredibly stupid. With his track record of getting people killed, this was one of the stupidest things he could ever pursue.

But the heart wanted what it wanted, didn't it? Saint Shiva's real story proved that.]

No, you didn't.

[eyesofaproxy]

Oh, good. I've heard of this, but I was born after Shiva and...well, Hraesvelgr never had a human body.

[Another cheek kiss.]

But you're very objectively handsome, even from my perspective, and very kind.

[fuegor]

You can't say that about be while being the prettiest thing I've seen during this entire journey, you know.

[It was tentative, but Lighter wrapped one of his arms around Wise's center under the water.]

... Are you sure you want this? I won't lie to you. At any point something might draw me away again. And I... I don't have a great track record when it comes to people surviving around me.

[There's a deep rooted pain in his tone that he choked back as much as he could. But Wise could surely pick up on it as ancient as he was.]

[eyesofaproxy]

[He can, and he melts a little in Lighter's hold when he hears it.]

This body is more durable than a regular Viera's, and nothing short of the Azure Dragoon himself could destroy my eye.

[fuegor]

And those days are long past him.

[Lighter caught Estinien taking his leave from the city and just waved him off. There was a quiet agreement between drifters they had to keep where he went quiet in the process.

There's a slight release of tension in Lighter's body when Wise relaxed in his hold. And that purr that surfaced got a little louder.]