Furina's state of shock continues as she lets her gloved finger choose between Neuvillette and Wriothesley as her mouth opens and closes desperate to form a word as she stutters nervously fumbling to find the right words.
Wriothesley hasn't yet decided whether he should be proud or not contributing to making Furina speechless. He himself had to take a moment to take a sharp inhale of breath steading his heart rate as his hand let out a silent tremor.
Neuvillette can't help but feel regret creeping up his spine forcing the hairs on his neck to arise in momentary fear.
Was it disgust on their faces? Were they mad? Sad maybe? That look plastered on both Wriothesley and Furina wore even for just a moment before banishing it. Their eyes widened, drowning their pupils in the sea of pure white, for just a moment their lips parted, jaw loosened it lay hanging, their eyebrows rose gazing at the sky as their bodies spoke in their own ways.
Furina allowed her body to fall loose allowing her limbs to rest as she allowed gravity to drag her arms to her side as did she allow her feet to hit the ground with a barely noticeable thump. While Wriothesley accumulates pressure in his hand as he clings onto Neuvillettes own hand with strength unnoticed by Wriothesley, blind to his own effect.
Each novel that has encountered Neuvillette has left him with the same diagnosis: he was blind to emotions, to melusines, to humans and to himself. Each page entailed thrilling adventures meant to please the human senses yet Neuvillette could not help but be confused.
He couldn't help but be full of questions unsure of the protagonist's motive. Why cry over something so simple? Even if he thought back to himself, he was no stranger to tear shed, he can't help the tears flowing free when it becomes too much yet even then his shared experiences fail to satisfy his curiosity. The answer remains out of reach. Neuvillette doesn't understand why they cried. What bothers him more is that he also can't understand why he cries?
Why would they yell?
Why would they pout? Is that not such a childish reaction?
Neuvillette was well acquainted with all written in the pages, he has lived eternally to that of a human lifespan, he has smiled, he has laughed and he has cried but not once has he understood why.
It frustrated Neuvillette to no end being blind to the foundation that has created life. Furina only stands here today for her humanity, her human emotion makes her perfect and her ability to blind others with emotions impresses Neuvillette to say he envies her is an understatement.
Neuvillette sometimes, when the sun has gone down, the bustling outside his office is absent, leaving just him and his thoughts to allows himself to earn for Furina's humanity just as Foclors once did but in the end he'll snap his head side to side refusing to succumb to this nagging feeling that tugs in his chest regardless of the frustration it causes him.
The feeling of being weak, of being vulnerable haunts Neuvillette. Being oblivious to how others feel, neglecting to attend to the signs he was blind to his faults, his weakness leading the downfall of those around him, his lack of knowledge condemning them to suffer in his consistent presence.
Neuvillette has long since condemned himself guilty of his crimes, his punishment delivered by the Iudex himself is to keep distance from humans, no matter what nonsense yearnings his heart weeps he must stay strong in the decision decided by the symbol of justice itself in fontaine.
Neuvillette has held the title of Chief of Justice for centuries he is the foundation of Justice in fontaine he is the condemner of judgment lead by truth, he is the Iudex of Fontaine, he is a 'goodie toe shoes' as some may say and he is the man who has broken the oath that bounded him to the law.
For someone as apathetic as Neuvillette to bind himself and a human together in friendship is nothing less than cruelty, Neuvillette may be an amateur in emotions but he is painfully aware of the fundamental role of emotional interdependence in a human's life.
Humans build relations between one another solely on emotions, Neuvillette has noticed over the years. Friends are made from mutual love for a topic. Friends are made from mutual hatred for a topic. Friends are made from their laughter they share. Friends are made from the smile of happiness they share.
Friends are not made from a man who can't understand smiling. Friends aren't made from a man who neglects his feelings until a point of breaking left silently weeping. Friends aren't made from a man who needs clarification on why. Why are you sad? Why are you happy? He simply doesn't know. How can a man experience happiness if he himself does not know what happiness is?
If a friend can't be made out of that man, what deluded Neuvillette into believing that man could be a husband?
Neuvillettes face burns with the shame of it every time he lets his mind rest from the rush that has been his morning. He burns with shame knowing he was the one who suggested such a scandalous notion such as marriage. He burns with shame knowing he has broken the laws he holds dear, the laws he enforces.
He burns knowing he is nothing but a fool too cowardly to do what's right. To free Wriothesley from his captivity is what he should do but it is not what he wants to do. He wants to hold onto Wriothesley, never let him go, hold him tight, ensuring he won't depart.
Neuvillette prefers playing the part of the heartless chief of justice; it hurts less. Neuvillette believed his heart to have long sense suffocated on the leash that tugs it back unfamiliar with the term mercy as it pulls and pulls until his heart has no choice but to lay silent.
Now his heart is drunk on freedom. The taste remains embedded into his tongue intertwining with his taste buds ensuring a lasting impression as it introduces itself with a sweet aroma lasting only until it's fangs are set with the confidence to reveal the true bittersweet taste knowing Neuvillette will not reject itl. Its too late and he knows it.
He is a fool to deny it.
The feeling of releasing his tense shoulders, loosening his tight kept lips, releasing huffs of laughter is too great of a temptation to deny. Neuvillette scowls upon showing such vulnerability it's embarrassing in his mind, a man of his age and status indulging in such needs such as romantic love, the thought presenting itself is absurd to him but in practise his mind is lost the distance of sanity long sense exceeded to just let go leave his heart in Wriothesley's hands knowing it'll be protected.
Knowing that is an option, knowing now there is an option to choose to love Wriothesley is dangerous in Neuvillettes hands. Now that Neuvillette knows the feeling, he has lived through loving Wriothesley, the night shared between the pair stays highlighted among the thousands of days Neuvillette has lived through.
This foreign feeling has claimed its territory inside Neuvillettes heart providing warmth nurturing life back into his frozen heart. Only a day has this feeling appeared and not a day more will Neuvillette be able to survive without it.
Neuvillette fears if he holds on it'll consume him, controlling him but in that fear lies the endearment of the unfamiliarity of it all curiosity holding his hands down forcing him to cling on to keep Wriothesley close to not push him away.
Neuvillette knows he'll regret this.
Neuvillette has known from the moment he opened his eyes feeling the thumping of Wriothesleys wild human heart through the warmth of his skin that this is wrong.
Neuvillette can't help but build up a facade of confidence, internally succumbing to his hearts desires is one sin but to present himself stripped of everything, his confidence, his values, his lies leaving behind the core of Neuvillette is a sin he fears he is too fragile to commit.
The wall that once stood baring its broad shoulders staring hauntingly down at Neuvillette as if daring him to make the first move knowing he'll never get the advantage, that wall now stands on shaking legs as it slowly crumbles Neuvillette can't help but hope Wriothesley will demolish the wall save himself from the civil war raging in his head, making the choice he is too cowardly to pick.
"OK I NEED SOME CONTEXT AND FAST" Furina seems to have gained her ability to demand answers once again dragging Neuvillette backup from sinking into a self-deprecating state, he said what he said there's nothing that can change that owning the words his heart once chosen to be right is the only thing he can do now.
"Please refrain from raising your voice lady Furina" Neuvillette says as he mindlessly allows his thumb to graze over Wriothesley's knuckles lulling him into a false sense of calmness. He can't help but feel a pit of disappointment form in his stomach when all he feels is leather, he wants to feel the rough exterior he believes a man who is no stranger to fist on fist frightening to obtain.
"Oh my, what seems to have gotten into you, sweetness?" Charlotte wasted no time bustling over after the sound of ceramic smashed on the pavement reached her ears following Furinas shrieks of shock "is everything alright?"
Furinas opened her mouth as she felt her heart collapsing in on itself if she didn't allow the huge bomb that was just dropped on her the freedom to speech but she felt the words caught on her tongue when her eyes locked onto Neuvillette.
Furina is more than aware of how distant Neuvillette can be. Furina always felt shrouded with nervousness even fear when the man was nothing but the chief of Fontaine to her but with that boundary crossed she's able to see another side to the man.
As co-workers he is a man to fear but as friends he is a man to cherish.
Furina was surprised at first seeing Neuvillette who she labeled vacant of emotions being what she can only describe as sensitive. It was a gift she was unaware filled his cold exterior.
After learning of the man's true interior Furina couldn't help but be intrigued by the man. Her being nothing less than stubborn set out on her mission to squeeze herself past Neuvillettes barriers to see the man as nothing but himself, a beauty she longs to see.
Her efforts were not in vain, even if she has not yet accomplished her mission, she still aspires to conquer Neuvilletes bubble that encases his heart but Furina can stay content where she stands with Neuvillette, all she can do now is await outside the door coaxing the man to creak the door open allowing her inside his personal domain.
Furina can't help but have a nagging feeling that Wriothesley will send all her efforts tumbling down the drain strolling effortlessly into Neuvillette's domain with a personal invitation in hand not even a knock needed for Neuvillette to open the door in greeting.
Even if Furina herself can not breach Neuvillettes walls she'll cheer for Wriothesley waiting for him to accomplish the impossible.
Furina shuts her mouth before she even attempts to speak for a man such as Neuvillette to share such sacred knowledge as his own personal relations is a blessing betraying that trust is a sin Furina could never forgive herself for she'll keep his secrets close to her heart until her mortal life withers away if that is what he wishes.
"I am deeply sorry for the the disruptions" Neuvillette bows his head slightly in sincerity "we'll pay for all damages"
"Nonsense accidents happen" Charlotte waves him off as she sweeps the last of the shard into her hand with care "as long as all of you are alright. I'll get you another cup dear in just a moment"
As Charlotte leaves to retrieve the cup promised a silence befalls the three as they all share silent glances unsure of what matter to attend to first. The silence remains looming over until Charlotte shines her light on the clouds that hover silently.
"Here we go another cup for you" Charlotte refills the cup with elegance "be careful with this cup now sweetie, enjoy!"
When the clicks of Charlotte's heels no longer reach her ears Furina begins to address the knowledge that has shifted her view on the dynamic shared between Wriothesley and Neuvillette. "So how did this happen" she makes a fumbled gesture with her hand.
Wriothesley tongue felt like the deserts of sumeru as all moisture seems to have evaporated leaving his tongue to shift uncomfortably in his mouth lost of word because the fact remains he is still piecing together the mystery himself.
Only glimpses of the night before grace his inward eye trying to conjure the visions himself summoned only an intense piercing pain throughout his brain.
Wriothesley settles on staying silently glazing over to Neuvillette expectantly as does Furina.
"As I said before I courted Wriothesley just yesterday and was met with acceptance therefore we eloped" Neuvillette said matter of factly.
Furina let it slip her mind the Iudex's obliviousness to human social cues with a sigh she turns to Wriothesley with hope of a more informative answer.
Wriothesley forfeits his silence reluctantly admitting with a light hearted tune; "As much as i would love to tell you the fairy tale story of our wedding i myself was indeed piss drunk, the cooldown for my memories to return has yet to be met"
Wriothesley can't help but feel mad knowing he married this absolutely gorgeous man, he kissed this beautiful Iudex to finalize their elopement and he doesn't even remember it. It's infuriating.
"I believe a fairy tale wedding is an exaggeration of my office" Neuvillette states and it just intensifies Wriothesleys frustration knowing he married this man in his own office, a measly dusty office he already spent all his time in.
If Neuvillette were to allow him to renew his vows he'd wed the man wherever he pleases, hidden between the broad mountains, by the glistening waters of fontaine he'd take the man to the cherry blossoms of inazuma if that is what he asked for not his office.
Furina sips her tea before letting out a quick bark of laughter, "you can never bore me can you? You got married in your office, can't say it surprises me.."
"The location does not matter. Whether it was in my office or a grand cathedral nothing shall change, will it not? My vows will be the equivalent of my love and dedication regardless of the shelves that decorate the background. The man beside me does not change. My feelings do not change in the confinement of my office nor in the heart of nature's beauty. If the setting carries value, why is love seen as eternally to humans if miniscule things affect its course?"
Wriothesley felt his heart hop until it has umped too high trapping itself in his throat, in an attempt to free the clot preventing words of gratitude, love, happiness of anything he gulped Neuvillette must feel Wriothesleys hand fasten their grip trembling in the grasp.
How did Wriothesley get so lucky?
What archon has taken pity on him and granted him this miracle?
How did this all begin with an encounter in the rain?
Wriothesely knows now.
Wriothesley knows where this all began, an coincidental encounter triggered a destined bond.
That evening Wriothesley was prepared to be met with a small animal as he was led by soft whimpers barely audible over the torrential rain that leads on relentlessly banging on Wriothesley's back, dragging down his clothes, softening the volume of his unruly hair strands.
The rain showed no care for Wriothesleys weekend as it persistently haunts his saturday from noon to eve. Emerging from the cold damp depths of the underground the cold damp weather of the surface dampens his mood significantly but even so the cry from a small animal is all it takes to sway Wriothesley's heart to sacrifice the nearing warmth of his bed for a detour.
Wriothesley has always harbored a fondness for animals even if he himself can never attain a pet due to his circumstances, cursing an animal to accompany him with his lifestyle is cruelty but aiding any creature in difficulty is perfectly attainable.
Wriothesley quickened his steps allowing the soft whimpers to lead him left and right, forward and left once again into a back alley. His steps once full of confidence halt, forcing him to experience the whiplash as his feet dig into the ground with force, his mouth opening and closing and his eyes blown wide.
No animal sits soggy and injured in the alley to Wriothesleys shock there Neuvillette sits legs outstretched opposing his usually dignified crossed legs, his hands lay messily by his side, his hand unable to entirely embrace the bottle nestled loseley between Neuvillettes elegant ungloved fingers a sight Wriothesley never imaginged he'd encounter such a situation
They were only stepping stones as Wriothesleys eyes scan Neuvillettes body to his outstretched legs to his clumsy arm until finally falling upon Neuvilletes face.
Neuvillette's face is in ruins compared to his usually composed beauty. Wriothesley can only compare Neuvillette to a painting descended from a time of the Renaissance, his face never changing forever young with features adorning a expression of conversion, still and never changing until the paint is smudged smeared across the painting.
Even with the paint unrightly smeared across the canvas, who is he to deny its birth right of beauty? Here lay Neuvillette face drenched from the rain as if a fountain the water gathers traveling down his face, some droplets are stopped captured by his lashes that flutter unbothered by the liquid seeping in, other droplets race down his face desperate to escape dripping from the rigid of his nose into the cavity of his upper lip or they seek escape dripping from his chin or maybe his cheeks.
Wriothesley would nearly be fooled by the rain working as camouflage to the tears he knows race down his cheeks claiming to be tears from the sky but the red patches that adorn Neuvillette's cheeks reveals the truth.
Neuvillette seemed in a daze, eyes barely creaking open hidden beneath the shade of his eyelashes that reached out to cover the man's eyes from the assaulting rain.
A mess Neuvillette was withering beneath the rain oblivious to the audience he has attained if he had noticed he surely would've shielded himself from his view maybe even scream and yell afraid of what will become of the mighty Iudex if he was revealed to be such a mess beneath the professional face.
A beautiful mess that Wriothesley can't help but feel his heart choke itself at the sight, before his body could request permission from his brain his knees hit the concrete beside Neuvillette, hand cradling Neuvillettes sunken face.
Wriothesley knows now.
Wriothesley knows this is where this blessing Neuvillette had presented him with began.
...
I'm so sorry this chapter wasn't uploaded sooner!! I kid you not my internet wire was knocked over and I haven't had WiFi for the past week and my mobile data decided to act up but here we go 3285 words.