Chapter Text
“…And that’s how the game concluded.” Aruna finished his tale. He was lying in bed on his right side, arm tucked under his head, a shy smile playing on his lips. And right across from him, mirroring his position…
Sunna.
She had been listening to the tale with rapt attention, her light-green eyes shy and full of wonder, at times widening, at times shining with happiness and joy. It was encouraging - he knew his One well, they’ve been together for their entire lives, save for the separations forced onto them by his duty to the Jungle and later to the Star itself.
In fact, he was pretty sure that his earliest coherent memory was of her - crawling and giggling and tumbling, pulling on each other’s ears and biting in clumsy play of toddlers. But he couldn’t know for sure what she would think of his encounters with Thancred and G’raha Tia in the years he was away from her.
She didn’t say anything just yet, perhaps still processing the tale, perhaps unsure how to articulate her feelings on the matter. Aruna didn’t rush her, he knew it was a lot to take in. In the meantime, he let his gaze wander her naked form. Her golden hair rumpled by his hands in the throes of passion… her long graceful ears always so immaculately groomed… her body honed by the smith’s trade, yet lush and curvy to fit perfectly against his…
By the Green, she was so beautiful… He always knew that, but now that he’s been in the Outside and seen all kinds of different shapes and body types, he appreciated her beauty even more. He could spend hours delighting in every perfect detail of her, and never grow bored.
And her scent, oh, that scent… Ever since they presented, becoming capable of feeling arousal, opening and appreciating all the subtleties of one another’s scent, she has smelled irresistible. Sun-warmed tree bark and sweet, ripe peaches. Blending perfectly well with his own rich earth and sugar melted over fire, just on the verge of burning. That harmony now permeated the room, giving the feeling of home and love and peace… Though funnily enough, now he also associated that smell with peach cobbler.
The silence was getting long, and Aruna felt the need to breach it: “I hope you’re not irate with me…” he said in a quiet voice, averting his gaze, ears drooping in nervousness. “I… It just happened, you know? One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was…”
“Aruna.” Sunna said firmly. “Look at me.”
Hesitantly, he looked back into her eyes. There was no hesitation, her eyes were warm.
“I’m glad that happened to you. All of it.” She said with certainty and conviction in her voice. “While I never took anyone into my bed after giving birth to Runna, I was never alone, unlike you. I had the support of our village, of our friends, and most especially our family, yours and mine both. Oh, I have so much to tell you, so many stories about them all…” She put a hand on his shoulder reassuringly. “You may be a Traitor by the Green Word, and so am I now that I’ve left, but we knew you never betrayed it in your heart. Like you said, it was a duty greater than the Green.”
She slid her hand down his arm to take his hand and entwine their fingers. The Mark of Bonding on her right hand was a perfect mirror to the one on his left. Their names, and his Veena Rune-name. “I’m happy you found help and support out here.” Her voice was tender, overflowing with love. “Friends, comrades, and yes, even mates. I don’t mind, really. In fact, I only benefit.” After all, it was his unusual newfound skill that clued her in that something had occurred over the years.
“And…” Her confident smile suddenly turned shy as a blush colored her cheeks. “Is it strange to say that I’m curious about Thancred too? O-only if you don’t mind, that is, I… t-the way you speak of him, well…”
Aruna laughed softly in happiness and relief. That stuttering blush… She was always so shy as a kit, blushing at the slightest thing. She’s learned to be bold and assertive over the years, but once in a while, that shyness still reared its head.
“I don’t mind,” he said warmly. “In fact, I’m pretty sure he’d be delighted to have us both. But not today, not tomorrow, and not the day after,” he said with determination and a measure of possessiveness. “Gotta save the world first.”
He had taken this brief respite after securing the talismans for the Ilsabard Contingent, and missed out on a quality dinner with Alphinaud, Alisaie, G’raha and Krile at the Baldesion Annex after his daughter - by the Green, it was so hard to believe he had a daughter - nearly collided with him at the bazaar. The bitter note in her scent told him that they were related - and he chased her across half of Radz-at-Han before finally catching up to her and talking. So strange to know that she only recognized him because he mentioned Sunna’s scent… Runna smelled of tree bark and honey, so similar…
And oh, how happy he was when Sunna told him Runna picked up adventuring as her craft, running all over Yedhlimad and then Radz-at-Han, helping people and making friends before even learning to speak the language properly… Runna was the one who found the names for herself and her mother in Thavnairian - Hasya and Surya, Laughter and Sun…
Giving in to the urge to express his feelings, he pulled his beloved wife into an embrace, cradling her against his chest. “I’m so happy, Sunna…” he said in a thin voice, overcome by emotions. “So much has happened over the years… You have no idea.”
Indeed, the last three years alone held more danger and world-threatening events than the rest of his life combined. The most prominent one being his foray into the First, where he nearly lost himself and the world to the Light. Traces of that corruption lingered to this day - tips of his hair and ears forever stained pure white, and a fragment of his right eye gleaming an unnatural gold, reminding him just how close of a call it had been…
Sunna smiled, leaned into him and let her hands roam over his back in soothing, reassuring caresses, bringing him back to the present. “I’m happy too… I love you, Aruna. And I want to know everything about your life and your adventures. Everything that happened.”
“Everything,” Aruna promised. “I’ll tell you everything. About Thancred, and Raha, and all of the adventures in the meantime… I’ll share it all with you.”
Wordlessly, Sunna leaned up and sealed the vow with a kiss. Aruna responded, kissing her back, and a moan escaped his lips as the embrace grew more and more possessive. One thought, one word kept pounding in his mind: ‘Finally.’
Finally, he had a family. Finally, he had a home, here by Sunna’s side. Finally, he had a chance to see his loved ones, all of his loved ones, always, anytime, not shackled by the Green Word.
And he, Aruna Rehw-Dvre Saethuwesfv, Warrior of Light, known in the Outside as Aron Devraix, would do his damndest to protect the world his loved ones lived in. Come hell or high water, he will give it his all.