Chapter Text
“What does it mean when you and Estinien press your faces to one another?” Zero’s question startles Hachu and she nearly chokes on the ale she’s drinking. Hachu had invited Zero out to dinner with her, hoping to show her new foods to try other than apples and buuz, but quickly the evening had turned quiet while they waited for their orders. Neither of the two are one to strike up idle conversation to fill air, so usually unless Zero has questions for her about the source their evenings are quiet and comfortable. Hachu deeply appreciates her presence in ways that are hard to articulate, but sometimes she manages to catch Hachu completely off guard with questions like these.
“You… What do you mean?” Hachu asks once she manages to catch her breath from the coughing fit. She’s trying to even remember anytime her and Estinien have kissed in her presence.
“Like the time after we returned from Mount Ordeals.” Zero says. “I assumed at first it was a strange way of exchanging aether, since yours was deplenished after the battle with Rubicante. But then this morning in the market I saw another couple perform the same act, and I cannot fathom the reasoning for why.”
Hachu feels her face flush red. It had not been since Ultima Thule that Hachu had fought a foe without Estinien by her side. When reunited after the battle against Rubicante he pulled her into a quick kiss after ensuring she was alright. She hadn’t even noticed the others were around to witness it. In truth the two were doing their best to keep the relationship under wraps, to avoid any incessant teasing from the rest of The Scions. But she supposes that was never a realistic goal to have.
“It is not for exchanging aether, no. It’s a kiss. It is a display of affection one does with someone they care for, and they return such affections as well.” Hachu explains.
Zero ponders the information for a moment. “It is an act between friends then?”
“You could say that. But it can mean different things based on the context. A mother might kiss their child with familial affection, or in the case of myself and Estinien…” She trails off realizing she’s never really spoken of her relationship with Estinien to someone else before. “We are significant others. Lovers one might say.”
“Ah. So it is a symbol of mating?” Zero inquires further and Hachu’s face goes an even deeper shade of red and she buries her face in her hands. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No! It’s… A very funny way of putting it.” Hachu says, her voice muffled a bit by her hands. “It is not inaccurate though…” She breathes deeply, regaining her composure before feeling ready to continue the conversation. “It’s not so much symbolic… but it is something we do because we care for one another in that way, if that makes more sense.”
Zero pulls the brim of her hat down with her fingers, an act Hachu has come to find incredibly endearing, as she digests the information. “You are compelled to act by your feelings for one another then.” She says.
“That might be the best way to put it, yes.” Hachu finds it strange Zero knows of mating but not of small acts like kissing. “It’s the same reason we prefer to absorb our aether via eating rather than any other despite there potentially being more efficient ways to absorb it. Here, we do things because they bring us joy.”
As she says this their food arrives from Mehyrde, and with Zero’s questions seemingly thoroughly answered, Hachu observes her reactions to all the different meals they ordered together. The awkwardness is thoroughly in the past and they enjoy the rest of their quaint evening together.
Zero stews on the information provided by the Warrior of Light for a few days. She had not expected when she asked Hachu to have gotten such a confounding answer. It is yet another act these mortals perform simply because they wish to. No function does it serve other than that.
And the more she thinks on it the more she feels that fire burns within her chest yet again. The one she had felt in Garlemald at Hachu’s side. The one that bid her to act for herself, because she wanted to and for no other reason.
The fire burns now, as she has joined Estinien and Hachu in their joint apartment together for another dinner. Estinien is cooking this time, and he continuously shoos Hachu out of their tiny kitchenette. Apparently the last time she had tried to help ended in all of the food being burnt. So the two sit side by side at the table as Estinien grills something over flames.
Zero has noticed ever since their return to Garlemald now Hachu invites her for food every night, which is an offer Zero is not one to deny. Aether is aether and she will take it in any form. However there’s something about the way Hachu watches her eat that makes her wish to hide behind her hat. Her usually scowling face lights up whenever Zero reacts to the food in any way, positive or negative.
Zero isn’t sure why, but it makes Zero’s cheeks burn. It’s not an unpleasant feeling, but it has caused her to hide away or avert her gaze on multiple occasions. Which only makes Estinien laugh in amusement at her whenever it happens.
And now they sit together, the sun having long since set and the apartment is lit by golden lanterns and candles. All three of them are rid of their armor in favor of more comfortable clothes. And it’s strange to Zero, how in this world one can simply exist without the fear of their existence being cut short by one looking to devour you at the first sign of weakness.
“Is there anything in particular you want, Zero?” Estinien asks from over his shoulder, breaking the relatively quiet evening together.
Zero is startled by the question. It is one that the two often ask her to be accommodating. Zero once thought it was to gain favors but she’s realized no, this is another thing they do because they wish to. But this time it catches her off guard, for usually she has no wants to voice. But today she does.
“A kiss.” Zero says bluntly.
Estinien nearly drops the pan he’s holding and has to maneuver awkwardly to make sure to not spill what he is cooking. “I… meant for dinner, or to drink.” He clears his throat as he clarifies.
“Ah. My apologies for the misunderstanding-“
“Did you have someone in particular in mind? That you would like to kiss? Or is this just a general wish?” Hachu interrupts with a question. Her head is turned to the side so she is not looking at Zero directly but she can tell her face has turned a bright shade of red.
Zero had not thought about that. In her mind she had only been picturing the moment she witnessed between Hachu and Estinien. “Either of you. But I recognize that you share them between one another due to being mates-“ Zero says, her statement causes Estinien to make a choking sound in surprise, and it suddenly makes her wish to hide away. She pulls her hat down to be out of view of either of them. “If my request cannot be completed due to that I understand.”
The room falls silent, just the quiet sounds of meat being cooked over the flames of the kitchenette. Perhaps she had overstepped by making this request…
Zero doesn’t get much time to stew in her worries. A hand guides her chin to be facing up and she finds herself looking into Hachu’s mismatched golden and white eyes. Her face is still a bright pink from a few moments ago and she leans slightly in. She laughs softly when she notices Zero’s shocked expression. “I can’t kiss you if you’re hiding like that.” She says, before closing the distance between them.
Her lips are soft and warm against hers, her calloused hands hold Zero in place. It is not an unpleasant feeling, her body is beginning to feel warm all over, but she is unsure of what she should be doing. Hachu’s lips begin to move and she mimics the motion. Soon the stiffness in Zero’s body melts, her hands find a comfortable spot to rest on Hachu’s hips.
It is enjoyable, Zero decides. The warmth is pleasant, as is the feeling of Hachu against her. She feels Hachu’s hands move from cupping her face to tangling in her hair and shivers run along Zero’s body.
Eventually Hachu pulls away, just enough for the two to catch their breath. Her eyes search Zero’s face, watching her expression. “What are your thoughts?” Hachu asks, the same way she would after Zero would try a new food placed before her.
“…Good.” Zero says after a pause, her gray eyes flicking to look away from Hachu’s face. She’s still so close, and her hands still remain in a way that she feels she can’t duck and hide.
“I’m glad then. I liked getting to kiss you.” Hachu responds, and even though Zero is avoiding looking at her directly she can tell she’s smiling from her tone.
The moment is ruined by the once appetizing smell of cooking meat that has turned to burning. From the other side of the room Estinien swears under his breath. “Seven hells-“
“Estinien, really? And you say I’m a bad cook?” Hachu says with a huff, pulling back entirely from Zero to go inspect Estinien’s work.
“You two were… distracting…” Estinien replies, clearing his throat as he does. He removes the pan from the fire with a sigh. “What a waste.”
“It still looks edible to me…” Hachu notes leaning over to look.
“Then you can eat it while I start on something new. We’re not feeding our guest burnt fish.” Estinien grumbles handing the pan to Hachu who pouts before she begins to pick at it.
He turns to look at Zero, and she notes his face is slightly pink as well as his ears. “If Hachu’s actions have not made it clear… She enjoys your presence very much. As do I as a matter of fact, hence why I don’t wish to let bad cooking drive you back off to the void. Requests such as those we are both more than happy to fulfill.”
Zero’s eyes flick between the two, before averting her gaze entirely. She had enjoyed the kiss of course, but it had not been enough to quell the desire in her chest. The feeling of wanting more. When Hachu had touched her hair it made her want to pull the Warrior closer, and she had only stopped because of her own unsuredness. And now she still is left wondering what Estinien would feel like as well.
She’s never felt like this. This desire of a person. She craves it almost the way she craves aether. But, even with the words from Estinien she feels she has taken far too much from the two with naught to offer in return. So she tips her hat down once again. “I will keep that in mind. Thank you again for the experience.” Is all Zero murmurs.