Chapter Text
From the moment Emet-Selch took note of that colour—that unmistakable chroma of threaded silvern essence—’twas but a jest that this parade would end in any other manner than ruin, be it hers or his. He had watched her from the shadows, flitting amongst the fairies of Lydha Lran. All svelte lines and frosted white skin, the likeness of gossamer swimming through a sea of flowers. Sweeps of flaxen gold hair lifted to the westerly breeze and that was when he saw it and recognized it for what it was.
Crippled and broken though she was, every pulse of this Ascian’s unsundered soul screamed that he would have her and in every sense of the word. She was his. No question, he would lay his claim.
Thus did he introduce himself to the Source’s Champion of Light and her merry band of stalwart playfellows. Not as villain nor brother, but to reach a parley of sorts. He found himself thrown by the very words slipping from his vessel’s lips, hints of truth lacing through all the same. Every one of her underlings seemed less than enthused by his proposal but she.
No, she had been curious from the start. Her pale eyes met his own, too much mettle for her own good. And she appraised him, head to toe—with all the air of nonchalance that he could read through as a pane of the clearest glass.
It had been quite the bothersome task of finding her alone, at first. If not in the company of her most needy comrades, she was off helping some poor sap or another. Gathering random sundries or slaying witless beasts. Not until he bestowed that dreadful act of mercy upon her, weeding the mage’s soul from the churn of the Lifestream, did he at last fall on the opportunity to have her removed and within his grasp. Everyone had traipsed off, no turning of heads to see that their hero would follow.
All was quiet while she looked upon him from afar, slowly blinking in the dappled shade of trees the size of small mountains. The more Emet-Selch gazed back at her, he could note how heavy her lashes fell and how flushed her pretty skin was in the damp heat against the horizon of dark green.
“I do thank you, Emet-Selch. Though…” She began walking into his space, the long stretch of her thin robes falling against the feeble grass of the forest floor. Her arms were crossed, eyes dragging over his form before settling to his. “I cannot help but wonder why someone such as you would have performed such a feat. Saving a spare Miqo’te’s soul? That seems rather… untoward for a fiendish being bent on destruction and havoc or whatever have you.”
Her gloved fingertips swiped at the air with her words, her sense of moxie flaring in his face. She seemed unabashed by his presence, wholly unaware of whom she spoke to. Moreover, something in her stance spoke volumes of recalcitrance, mayhap for the sheer fun of it.
The Ascian smiled crooked in response, bruised dark lips curling against sharp white teeth. “So it is, hero. Though I would dare to say that you know little of what we Ascians toil for in our fiendish path. You truly do know so little, don’t you?” He enunciated the last sentence carefully, drawing out the syllables all while leaning over her form and wedging the cool leather of his fingers over her chin.
The warrior’s breath became caught in her throat, nonplussed by his move of touching her. Really, could she have been so foolhardy? But her hands remained free at her sides, no show of reaching for a weapon to ward him off. She looked back at him, breath heavy and the blush that dusted along her cheekbones was crossing into a full bloom. She was but clay in his hands, as he snaked his other hand around her waist and pressed fingers against the small of her back. Her eyes searched over his, and he could see more need there than what she likely would have wanted to reveal.
“Perhaps. Though I do know if you do not lift your hands from me, I will promptly kick you in the arse.”
With that, she grabbed his hand at her chin, wrenching it away and pulling herself from his hold on her. He chuckled from behind as she stomped away, deep frown smeared at her lips.
He would have other such opportunities to play, to be sure.