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Foulques felt like he couldn’t breathe. There were guards and armed men running all around Ul’dah and the sound of the aqueducts collapsing echoed in his mind. It had been some political event, a meeting of the heads of the city states, he hadn’t even thought to worry about the damn Warrior of Light. Why would he? The stupid man had held his own against the whole Garlean empire, against primals, and against horrors that Foulques could only dream of. The security for those stupid political events was enough that he didn’t even feel comfortable lurking around the city, not when there were Adders, Maelstrom, Brass Blades, and even Ishgardian knights roaming the city. It didn’t make sense then why somehow the Scions and the fucking Warrior of Light seemed to be enemy number one based on the shouts and cries of the Brass Blades.
He was sure he’d be able to learn more if he paid attention to what else they were saying, but the moment he heard them shouting to find that damn duskwight everything else turned to static. All he could hear was the blood pumping in his ears and the rage and the true, genuine fear building up in him.
He needed to find the warrior, he needed the man to be alive.
Celestaux let out a shaky breath as he stared down into his hot chocolate. He and Alphinaud had made it out alive, Tataru had made it to them, and Urianger was alive… He could only hope the other Scions would make it back, that they’d be alive.
Alphinaud shivered beside him and Celestaux couldn’t stop himself moving to wrap his arm around the boy and giving him a light squeeze. He was too young for all of this, too young to have been leading his own Grand Company. He’d thought that from the start, but kept his mouth shut because what did he really know? He barely felt qualified to be the Warrior of Light.
He should’ve said something, but it was too late now. Now all he could do was provide comfort to the poor boy. Alphinaud would be alright, they both would, it would just take some time.
A knock on the door made him look up, a small seed of hope in his chest that maybe it was one of the other Scions, maybe they’d made it out alive.
Haurchefant rose from his seat, giving Celestaux a reassuring smile as he passed, and opened the door to the bitter cold.
“Ser,” the knight at the door sounded nervous, which had Celestaux sitting up a little straighter. “There’s someone here looking for the Warrior of Light,” he said, and Celestaux couldn’t help the dejected laugh that slipped out. Of course he couldn’t catch a break.
“If it’s a member of the Brass Blades or the Crystal Braves, you can tell them–” Haurchefant started but Celestaux could see the knight quickly shaking his head.
“Neither, Ser. At least, not that I can tell. I don’t believe he’s affiliated with any of the Grand Companies, he’s just… some duskwight lancer? No one was able to get a name out of him, he’s just been making threats of what he’ll do if he doesn’t–”
“Foulques is here?” Celestaux asked, cutting off the knight and slowly getting to his feet. All eyes were on him, but he was already moving towards the door. “White hair, bright, pink eyes?” he asked the knight, watching as he blinked at him for a moment before nodding.
“Yes, sir. Is he… can we tell him you’re here? He was about ready to draw his lance if we didn’t,” the poor knight said and Celesaux could only nod.
“He’s not a threat,” Celestaux said, watching as Haurchefant’s shoulders relaxed.
“Bring him here so he doesn’t hurt anyone,” Haurchefant said and they both watched as the knight nearly ran back to the main building before the door fell shut.
With everything Celestaux was feeling, he didn’t know what to make of Foulques showing up… He knew Foulques had been tailing him for a while, lurking on the outskirts of cities and camps, showing up when there was a fight to be won or when he was in danger. Celestaux hadn’t minded, honestly, he’d even started to look forward to seeing Foulques pop up, even after the confusing moment they had after Celestaux had killed Rhitahtyn, but… for him to be threatening Temple Knights to find his location?
“Are you alright, my friend? Are you sure this man isn’t a threat?” Haurchefant asked, and Celestaux could only shake his head.
“He’s–” he started to say, but didn’t know how to even finish that thought. He couldn’t say Foulques was his friend because were they? They didn’t really talk, even when Foulques showed up. Celestaux knew next to nothing about him, other than his past with the lancers guild. Whatever they were to each other, there wasn’t a word for it in Eorzea – nor was there in Gelmorran, that Celestaux knew of. “He’s not a threat,” he just confirmed instead.
Haurchefant hummed and gave him a curious look, but Celestaux ignored it. He didn’t have the energy to try and figure out what he was thinking – or worse, to figure out how to explain the situation to any of them.
Instead he stood there, just… waiting and trying to ignore the feeling of all eyes on him.
Thankfully, he didn’t have to wait long before the door was wrenched open again. Celestaux shivered, but he wasn’t sure if it was because of the gust of frigid air that rushed in or the intensity of the wild look in Foulques eyes fully fixed on him.
His stomach was flipping wildly as he watched the manic energy drain from Foulques’ whole body in an instant and he just looked… relieved. He had no idea what to make of it. Celestaux wouldn’t even consider them friends, but here Foulques was looking more relieved than ever at just seeing him.
“You’re alive,” Foulques whispered and Celestaux felt himself melt just a little.
“I’m alive,” he confirmed, unable to look away from Foulques. The tips of the other man’s ears were as red as they could get, he seemed out of breath, and snow was dusting all the grooves of his armor – which only made Celestaux wonder if he’d run all the way there…
Foulques had made it out like he’d only been tailing Celestaux for months because of the life debt he owed, simply wanting to find a way to pay Celestaux back for saving him from falling to his death and then offering him a place to stay while he figured out his next steps. But now… This wasn’t just the fear of being unable to repay a debt. And Celestaux had enjoyed seeing him appear as if out of nowhere, looking forward to their little meetings. Maybe he’d have considered Foulques a friend, if the other would’ve let him, but now with the look he was being given…
The butterflies gathered in his stomach and all he could think about was the look of relief on Foulques’ face and how just a few months ago Foulques had been mere ilms away from leaning in and kissing Celestaux and–
Celestaux could feel the flush spread across his cheeks, but he said nothing as he continued to look up at Foulques. He was alive and Foulques had been terrified thinking that might not have been the case.
He’d nearly forgotten that there were others in the room, but Haurchefant was thankfully the one who broke the tension, clearing his throat and making them both turn to look at him. “Any friend of Celestaux’s is welcome here. Please, come in out of the cold and warm yourself by the fires,” he said with a smile before turning to the others in the room. “Miss Tataru, Master Alphinaud, may I show you two to the rooms we have prepared for the both of you? I think our friend may want some time to speak with our newest guest,” he continued and Celestaux couldn’t have been any more grateful to him than he already was.
He spared a glance behind him and saw the confused and questioning looks Alphinaud and Tataru were giving him, but he just tried to give them a reassuring smile. He’d have to explain them tomorrow, once he figured out what was going on himself.
Thankfully, they didn’t protest Haurchefant’s offer and made their way towards the door – Alphinaud giving Celestaux a quick hug as he passed while they both warily glanced at Foulques who had at least stepped inside the door.
Haurchefant gave him another curious look, but no one said anything more as they stepped out into the cold and the door closed gently behind them. And that left Celestaux alone with Foulques…
Celestaux took a deep breath and turned to Foulques, trying to gather the questions he wanted to ask, but looking at him for even a moment made it clear that their conversation would need to wait. Foulques was trying desperately to not make it obvious how much he was shivering, instead still laser focused on watching every move Celestaux made as if he was constantly reassuring himself that Celestaux was alive.
He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat and instead glanced up to meet Foulques’ gaze and nodded his head towards the fire off to the side of the room. “Come, let’s warm you up before… Let’s just get you warm again,” he said, quickly dropping his gaze again.
Foulques said nothing, but Celestaux could still feel his eyes watching his every move, as if scanning every ilm of his body for any sign of injury. And he let him. Celestaux understood that fear, he’d done the same the moment Alphinaud had joined him, desperate to make sure there were no hidden injuries and he truly was alright.
So Celestaux didn’t comment a word, instead leading the way over to the fireplace and moving the chairs around so that they could sit. He was about to gesture to Foulques to sit once he walked over, but one look at his still-shivering form and the metal armor leeching the warmth from him had him stopping himself.
“You need to take your armor off, you’re freezing,” Celestaux said quietly. .
Foulques just nodded, but Celestaux could see his hands shaking as he tried undoing the clasps, making him sigh.
“Let me help.”
Celestaux stepped forward and his hand covered Foulques’ still armored one, gently tugging at clasps and ties to pull the first of his armguards off. They were close enough that their breaths mingled, perhaps too close, and Celestaux had to stop himself from looking to meet Foulques’ gaze. He could feel the heat across his cheeks and all he could think about was the last time they were this close after Celestaux had killed Rhitahtyn. Only this time there wouldn’t be a linkpearl call to scare either of them off.
He directed all his focus into pulling the second armguard off, but his breath caught in his throat when Foulques’ hand took his own, stopping him from moving to the clasps of his chest piece.
“What are you-” he started to ask, but Foulques’ hand moved up Celestaux’s own and rested over his pulse point and answered the question before Celestaux could even finish it.
Celestaux let out a slow breath and didn’t dare look up at Foulques’ face, just letting him feel the steady beat of Celestaux’s pulse – and perhaps hoping he didn’t notice how Celestaux’s heartbeat sped up at his touch.
“I’m sorry,” Foulques murmured and Celestaux couldn’t bring himself to look up. He didn’t want a repeat of some confusing moment that neither of them fully understood, not before they talked – or maybe he was just a coward.
No matter what it was, Celestaux just shook his head and waited until Foulques let go of his wrist. “It’s fine,” he whispered. “‘m alive,” he repeated, hearing the breath Foulques blew out at that.
“You’re alive,” he replied softly, letting his hand fall back to his side.
Celestaux swallowed hard and refocused on the task at hand, loosening the final clasps that held Foulques’ chest piece on. The moment he was done, he took two steps back – so he could give Foulques the space to take off his greaves, his mind supplied poor excuses.
“There,” he whispered, glancing up for a moment and immediately being hit with the intensity of Foulques’ full attention.
Foulques said nothing as he reached up and removed his chest piece. The look in his eyes had even more butterflies flooding Celestaux’s stomach and finally he dropped his gaze first, glancing back down into the fire while Foulques removed his boots.
You could cut the tension with a knife in the silent moments, but Foulques didn’t seem to want to be the first one to say something and Celestaux didn’t even know what to say. There were dozens of questions rushing through his mind, but he didn’t know which one to start with. Part of him wanted to jump straight to asking about the lingering looks and try and understand if he was reading the signals right, but the other part of him knew he had questions that needed to be answered. It wasn’t just his own safety that was at stake if it was public knowledge where they were, he wouldn’t put Tataru and Alphinaud at risk – or put Haurchefant in a sticky situation if the Brass Blades or the Crystal Braves showed up knocking.
And that, unfortunately, pointed him right to which question he needed to ask first.
“How did you know where to find me?” Celestaux eventually asked softly, braving a glance at Foulques and getting trapped in his gaze this time, completely unable to look away.
Foulques was good enough at hiding his emotions, putting up a mask of a scowl and hiding whatever he was truly feeling. Celestaux saw it break twice, once in the moments before he nearly fell into the abyss where it fractured and Celestaux could see the true fear on his face, and then once again when he came to Celestaux’s aid before he left to storm the Castrum but then it was emotions Celestaux couldn’t place.
Now that mask wasn’t even cracked, it was completely gone and Celestaux could read every emotion across his face. The exhaustion mixed with true relief mixed with… something Celestaux didn’t know if he wanted to name. Not before Foulques did.
It left Celestaux trying to remember how to breathe.
“I didn’t–” Foulques started, looking over Celestaux’s whole face before he finally looked away, turning his intense emotions towards the fire instead. “I didn’t know for sure if you’d be here,” he said quietly, his voice rough and scratchy. “I knew you’d left Ul’dah, the Blades were all in a tizzy looking for you and I… I was trying not to assume the worst, so I caught a carriage to Mor Dhona. You weren’t there and those Braves were like circling vultures,” he spat. “One of them, or an ex one of them, that hyur with the eyepatch saw me… looking for you and told me where he’d seen the lalafell going. So I took off running and… here I am,” he finished, letting his eyes slip shut.
Celestaux let out a breath, but he nodded. Riol was on their side, he wouldn’t sell them out, they were safe… And with that confirmed, he could watch the mix of emotions cross Foulques’ face. Even if he didn’t hear from the knight what Foulques was like when he got there, he knew that Foulques was terrified and desperate to find him. But…
“Why?” Celestaux asked before he could think about it. He didn’t want to make assumptions, he didn’t want to assume incorrectly, he needed to know for sure.
That made Foulques look back up at him and Celestaux stood up a little straighter, refusing to give into his instinct and look away.
“I needed–” Foulques started, cutting himself off to let out a small, broken laugh. Foulques looked up at the ceiling for a moment, taking a deep breath before he looked back down at Celestaux.
Celestaux’s stomach flipped again, every emotion in Foulques’ eyes was laid bare for Celestaux to see and it made everything click for him. He didn’t need Foulques to answer the question for him to know the answer.
“I needed to see you alive. I needed to know you were alright and alive and… I felt like I couldn’t breathe until I did. Just thinking that you were–” he cut himself off, but Celestaux could hear the hitch in his voice before he did. Foulques didn’t bother to finish that train of thought, instead taking one step forward and then another until he was close enough that they were nearly touching. “I wouldn’t have been able to handle it if I had learned that you weren’t alright,” he whispered.
Celestaux shivered and he forgot how to function as he watched Foulques’ gaze flick down to Celestaux’s lips before back up to meet his eyes.
“Because you owe me a life debt?” Celestaux breathed out shakily. He needed to be sure, he needed to make sure he wasn’t reading everything completely wrong. He needed to hear it right from Foulques himself.
Foulques laughed again, this time, though, a flicker of true amusement crossed his face. “I thought that was it, but…” he started, trailing off and instead reaching up to cup Celestaux’s cheek. “But somehow you’ve wormed your way into every part of my damn mind, Cel. The life debt isn’t what’s driving me to do anything, not anymore,” he said so quietly, so softly like he was going to scare Celestaux off.
Celestaux couldn’t breathe, didn’t know what to say, so he did the only thing he could think of and closed the gap between them and kissed Foulques.
Foulques didn’t waste a second when Cel’s lips connected with his own, his free hand wrapping around Cel’s waist and pulling him close. He was exhausted and freezing and still terrified of everything that was happening, but he could push all of that down. His lips moved against Cel’s, doing his best to pour every emotion he’d felt into the kiss. He was never good at talking about his emotions, at saying how he was feeling especially when the emotions were this intense, so he hoped Cel understood.
He felt Cel’s hand come up to the back of his neck and couldn’t help the smile into the kiss.
The knot of fear deep in his gut was slowly loosening and he could breathe again, that was enough. His aching, freezing body would be dealt with eventually, for now he didn’t want to leave Cel’s side.
He pulled back from the kiss, chuckling quietly when Cel tried to chase the kiss. The flush that spread all the way to the tips of the warrior’s ears was something so endearing, it made him want to find ways to make him do it constantly for the rest of his days – a thought that was so sudden and terrifying that he immediately boxed it up to think about another day. Instead he let his forehead fall forward to rest against Cel’s and allowed himself a rare smile.
Cel was alive. He was safe and alive and… and somehow Cel was his.