(no subject)

[mostheavenly]

The night after the battle for Ala Mhigo is mostly one spent quietly. The dead have to be taken care of, the living looked after. Everyone is exhausted and dirty along with triumphant. So it is only the next night that things start to get... a little bit loud.

It's nothing particularly formal, when the parties do start happening. The different nations have different ways of celebrating their victories and there are many who are already turning their minds to the next trouble, the next battle. But someone finds an Imperial store of alcohol in one of the cellars of the palace and well... soldiers will be soldiers.

Even Aymeric has had a few glasses of wine by the middle of the evening, when things are getting into full swing, but he's still more than sober enough to make his own rounds through the camps. Soldiers will be soldiers, after all, and with battle tensions still high, he doesn't trust everyone to remain calm and rational while they're drinking. Better to catch someone a bit more aggressively in their cups early rather than late.

What he's not expecting is to run into the Warrior of Light on one of his patrols and alone at that. He, himself, has wandered up into the higher reaches of the palace, seeking some calmer air for a moment, so it's no surprise to find Mikka might have been looking for the same solace. It's more that he's surprised there's anyone who might have let him alone to do so.

"I hope I am not interrupting," he says, softly, coming closer, "But say the word and I will leave you to your thoughts."

Comments

[darlingdatura]

Mikka wasn't one to stick around for the celebrations usually. More often than not he'd already noticed some other problem that needed solving, or noticed someone in need of aid in the aftermath. It was just a quirk of the little Keeper, as far as anyone was aware. But this time someone managed to catch him before he'd hustled off, a mug of something spiced and strong pushed into his hands as he was nudged towards the revelries rather than to go find some other task.

It took some time for him to be able to shyly beg off with the excuse of needing to rest, and by then his mug had been refilled more than once, leaving him feeling more than a little tipsy. Not tired yet though, but he did want to find somewhere a bit less boisterous to sit and enjoy the cool of the evening. He'd perched himself up on one of the ledges, feet swinging idly, mug set aside for the moment.

"A-Aymeric!" Mikka chirped in soft surprise. If he realized how he flushed at the sight of the man he might be grateful that the alcohol already left him a bit red in the face to hide it. "No, you're not interrupting. You're more than welcome to join me."

[mostheavenly]

Aymeric himself is perhaps a bit freer than normal as well, though it hardly took alcohol to have him so around Mikka. He holds himself so aloof that to anyone who knows him the difference is quite obvious, but he, himself, isn't always entirely aware of it. He likely would make up excuses if it were anyone else, but he finds himself crossing the distance, instead, sitting down with his own feet hanging off the ledge, though he is perhaps a bit further back on it, the back of his knees pressed against the stone. He still has his own wineglass and a bottle he'd liberated from a drunkard earlier who didn't need to have any more. He ignores both for the moment, sitting back on his hands to look up at the night sky,

"Tis full strange to be here," he comments, "and to see the stars from a different vantage. Though it was what I have always labored for, I still find myself incredulous that it has come to pass. Even more incredible, the manner in which it did."

[darlingdatura]

Mikka couldn't hope to hide how enamored he was with Aymeric- not that he realized anyone else noticed, and thankfully the man himself seemed so busy in general that it hadn't occurred to him. Smiling in a cheery manner as the Elezen settled to join him, tail flicking in reflection of his delight.

And if he let his gaze linger over Aymeric a moment, admiring the man's profile in starlight, well he was just making sure that his friend didn't look too tired or troubled.

"I didn't think I'd ever see anything past Ul'dah," Mikka admitted in a wry tone, tearing his gaze from Aymeric to admire the stars instead for a moment. "Let alone help bring everyone together so we could accomplish so much."

[mostheavenly]

"None of us can help what we were born to do," he muses, solemnly, though he looks over at Mikka with a small smile a moment later, "Though perhaps we can have some small say in it, yet. The future looks set only to grow stranger, but I cannot help but be grateful that it is these times I live in. To live to see the end of more than a single war is a privilege afforded only to a few."

He arches an eyebrow, a sure sign that he's teasing a bit, though his tone is no different,

"Perhaps it is something I should grow used to, so long as you are here to solve the world's problems. You've earned an incredible victory. You should be proud of it."

[darlingdatura]

"After how much everyone's been through, I'm just... happy to see them hopeful," Mikka murmured, gaze flicking down towards his hands. "It's not my victory though. I helped sure, but the hardest job wasn't mine. Others risked more, hurt more for this than I ever could imagine."

He knew he was privileged. Had been incredibly sheltered, raised in luxury, hadn't known the hardships that others had in their lives for all he was the lonely, unwanted son. Which left him incredibly uncomfortable accepting credit, when others had done so much more.

[mostheavenly]

"And none could have done this without you, myself included. Take your accolades, my friend," it's an admonishment, but it's gentle, warm, "If there is one thing I learned as Lord Commander, it is to not dissuade those you fight for from praising you, lest you be thought churlish for rejecting their admiration."

He lets that sit for a moment, but he does finally shift a moment later to sip almost delicately from his glass,

"But I did not come up here to barge in on your company and berate you, I assure you. However you may feel about it, you are the hero of the hour. Everyone who raises a glass down there does so because of you," there's that slight hint of mischief to his tone again, so subtle it would be easy to miss it entirely even sober, "And full glad am I to be up here with you rather than down there with them."

[darlingdatura]

"You're... right of course," Gentle or not, Mikka still flushed a bit more at it, ears flicking slightly to the sides in sheepish recognition of the admonishment, head ducking briefly. "Forgive me I just have never been the best at having attention on me and now well... it can be rather overwhelming at times, I suppose."

But then Aymeric was shifting subjects, and the Keeper was happy to follow suit with a small smile for the Elezen.

"I can safely say I'm glad to have you here with me as well," Mikka hummed, leaning slightly with the intent to nudge Aymeric with his elbow, but tipsy as he was, he slipped, shoulder bumping against his elbow as he caught himself against the man with a giggle, fingers curling in his jacket to keep himself steady. "Goodness I'm in more of a state than I thought, it seems!"

[mostheavenly]

"Ah, here, are you alright?" Aymeric doesn't quite laugh, but there's one riding in his voice all the same and he sort of half-catches him, arm winding reflexively around the smaller man to help rebalance them both, reflexes still battle-sharp even with several glasses of wine in him.

It does make him slow to regain his space, though, reacting to closeness and warmth more lazily than normal. He doesn't touch people often, nor allow them to touch him, and bridging that gap is more typically a source of no small amount of awkwardness on his part, which is why he rarely does so. Finding it suddenly bridged throws him and it is that reaction the wine slows.

"Careful. It would be a sorry end to your tale, if you fell."

[darlingdatura]

"I don't often drink much," Mikka admitted, chuckling still as he stayed leaning against Aymeric for the moment, letting the man steady them both. "As you can see why, my being a ridiculous lightweight."

He should straighten up. Surely he looked silly like this. But the sudden solid warmth of the arm steadying around him, the fact that this was Aymeric he was leaning against was definitely more compelling than any potential embarrassment to be had. Surely it would be fine if he just stayed there a moment. Basked in how nice the contact was, fingers still tangled in fabric.

"Then it's a good thing I've you here with me to keep me from such an unfortunate fate."

[mostheavenly]

He... really should regain some space. This is dangerously close to something he's not even so much as given himself full permission to want, much less act on. But there's no real way to push away like this and he is a little bit worried about Mikka falling off the edge if he does. Better to stay right here, even if it feels suspiciously close to treachery, like he's taking advantage of the situation.

"If it means you get to enjoy yourself a bit for a change, then it's my pleasure," he keeps his tone even, polite, though sheer force of will, but his eyes can't help but crinkle a bit at the corners.

"Stay as long as you like, then. I'll make sure you don't fall," his traitor mouth adds a moment later, still polite and distantly amused, but really, he shouldn't have said that at all.

[darlingdatura]

Mikka normally kept these feelings to himself. Tried not to dwell on them. Surely Aymeric had better options, surely he could be with anyone he wanted, especially now. But with the alcohol bolstering his nerve, he didn't seem nearly as concerned, quite content to stay put, close enough that the Elezen would likely catch the whiff of spices and walnut oil that always seemed to follow the Miqo'te at his side.

"You're a gem," The Miqo'te hummed, squirming a bit closer, getting his knees under him to settle in a bit more of a comfortable position at Aymeric's side. "No wonder I've such a fondness for you."

[mostheavenly]

He is not thinking about how Mikka smells, not thinking about good his weight feels against his side, he's not thinking anything at all inappropriate to think about a friend and also the savior of Ishgard and half the world besides. He isn't even thinking about thinking about those things. It's a simple matter, all of it. He's so deep in denial about anything else that it's second nature to dismiss such things before they even fully form in his mind. He just shifts a bit to compensate for Mikka's weight as he shifts and tightens the hold just a bit to make sure he doesn't fall off the edge and sets down his glass before he can know if his hands shake at all. Easy.

And then Mikka says fondness like that and he can feel the heat in his own face and every single warm place they're touching.

It isn't quite thinking about it. It skips straight through his rational brain and just settles into an ache in his ribs, inexplicable.

"It's the least I can do," he manages and he manages to keep his voice light, neutral, but it comes out softer than he planned, maybe a little fonder, himself.

[darlingdatura]

Oh but that soft edge to Aymeric's tone doesn't half set Mikka's heart to pounding, pricked ears catching that fonder edge that the Elezen was trying to mask with neutrality. Normally it would work, the Miqo'te so wary to express anything beyond friendship that obvious cues were dismissed often, but tucked in against the man's side, keenly aware of the warmth of him made him highly aware of those little signs.

"The least?" Mikka murmurs, his tone soft in kind as he was shifting up on his knees a bit so he could prop his chin against Aymeric's shoulder, gaze tracing his dear friend's face. "I suppose then the least I could do in kind was express that fondness of mine, hm?"

It was definitely flirting, if delivered more with the sort of sweet earnestness that the Keeper was known for rather than any smooth suave sort of thing, and if Aymeric were to look his way? He'd find himself caught in a kiss, gentle but no less wanting because of it.

[mostheavenly]

Aymeric can feel him shifting against him, shifts as well to compensate somewhat, keeping them balanced. He's aware he's probably overstepped, at least potentially, but his thoughts are moving too slow for him to think about what to do about that, how to extricate himself before he further embarrasses himself. He does, indeed, turn towards Mikka to try to salvage this, not even sure what, precisely, he's protesting at this point, just knowing he ought to.

"You don't have to do an-" the rest of the sentence is muffled softly into Mikka's mouth, forgotten utterly after the first moment. He's too shocked to really kiss back but it's impossible to hide the shiver that runs down his spine, fingers clenching slightly on Mikka's side, the soft gasp of his breath.

[darlingdatura]

As close as Mikka was, leaning against Aymeric for support with that strong arm around him, there was no way to miss that shiver. Not that it would be hard to notice the little quiver that zipped through him in kind as he realized that this was actually the first time he'd ever kissed someone.

A soft sigh slipping from him as their lips parted after a moment, the Miqo'te quite breathless but bright-eyed as he only drew back enough to meet Aymeric's gaze, a hand unlatching from the Elezen's heavy coat to trace light fingers along the side of his cheek in a shy little offer of affection.

"But what if I wanted to?"

[mostheavenly]

It's a good thing that Aymeric won't find out about that being Mikka's first kiss until later, because he might seriously consider jumping off and hoping he could find something to grab on the way down just to escape if he knew he'd taken something so precious with his complete inability to resist egging this on.

As it is, he's moving without thought, reaching up the opposite hand to the one around Mikka's back and tilting his face gently back into a second kiss, deeper and warmer than the first. It's still light, even so, but there's a banked intensity behind it, something that wouldn't be there from a simple surprise kiss. For all his ability to keep distant, to not show people anything but what he wanted to show them, there's no way to hide that that kiss has been wanted.

"I've learned not to reject admiration," he echoes his words from a few minutes before, though there's a more teasing lilt to them. "I suppose I would need allow you to express it, lest I be thought a hypocrite." The words are still a bit more formal, reserved than typical lover's talk, but they're also warm and low and he's closing the distance for the third kiss, too.

[darlingdatura]

Mikka wouldn't think to say as much just yet Not with the distraction of Aymeric right there. Not with the feel of that sword-calloused hand against his face that just made him utterly melt into the second kiss with a low, needy little sound.

And he did feel like he needed it, the gentle feel of lips against his, the warmth and the hand against his face. The Miqo'te was so terribly weak to affection and touch- always seemed to crave it, and this was shown in the slow sway that followed Aymeric's draw back to speak, Mikka blinking slowly as he processed the words past just watching the Elezen's lips move, his own quirking on a breathless grin of his own.

"I suppose you're correct in that estimate, ser." The tone was so very full of indulgent affection, the Miqo'te more than willing to meet him halfway for that next kiss, sighing gently against his lips as he happily returned the kiss, arms slipping around the Elezen so he could tuck in even closer, heart pounding with excitement.

[mostheavenly]

What in the seven hells does he think he's doing? He needs to put a stop to this before it gets out of hand. They've both been drinking and he has no idea if Mikka would be doing this if he hadn't been and he would be the lowest of the low to take advantage like that. But that needy little noise goes straight past every single bit of logic he's trying to bring to bear on the situation and he deepens the kiss immediately, chasing it, pursuing another one.

He hasn't let himself even fully understand that this was something he wanted, but now that he has it, he finds he's a man starved for it. The hand on Mikka's face slides back into his hair and he's tipping him up a little more firmly into the next kiss. He's nearly silent, though his breathing has gone heavier, but there's a deep hunger in the way he leans more into the kiss, the way he tugs Mikka closer even as he's moving there already.

[darlingdatura]

Mikka might not be the sort to be this forward when sober, but it wouldn't be because he didn't want to be. Especially not when it was Aymeric he was nestled in against like he'd only daydreamed fondly of the idea of before this. He wanted the Elezen desperately, and with the response he was getting here, his delight was absolutely clear in every inch of him.

Yielding willingly to Aymeric's guiding touch, the Miqo'te basked in the feel of being in his arms, of the warmth of the body he was pressing in against as kisses continued, deeper and more needy as they went on, Mikka responding to the hunger he was sensing in his companion with no small amount of enthusiasm, hands slowly unlatching from the Elezen's coat to slide under it, for all there were still plenty of layers between slim hands and skin.

[mostheavenly]

There's still conflict, here, waiting to rear it's ugly head the moment he could think for two seconds. Aymeric isn't yet convinced that what he's doing is right, even if it's obviously wanted. But that would require the ability to think for more than a moment of something other than the way Mikka feels against him, the responsiveness in every kiss, the way his hands were searching for a deeper sort of intimacy.

Aymeric hasn't taken very many lovers in his life and none since he was made Lord Commander. It's always seemed far too risky and for little enough reason, besides. But he does know at least a little bit about what he's doing, how to lick slowly along Mikka's lower lip until they part, how to press the advantage there without it ever quite veering into being pushy. Even so, he's the one that moans at the sensation of their tongues against one another's, low and satisfied, like he'd always suspected this would be lovely and he's been proven right.