Chapter Text
Himi sighed, flopping onto her back in the sands of Costa de Sol. Somewhere nearby, Leveva was excitedly explaining the stars to X’shiemma. There wasn’t a gate to unlock – but there were other constellations worth pointing out. Normally Himi would be following along more closely, but she just wasn’t feeling it tonight. Tamru, Van and Resin had come along as well, but they all seemed equally distracted. A week had gone by since Resin began hiding in house Haillenarte, and since Fleur hadn’t yet appeared to scold them for not being in Gridania or Thavnir, their new disguise in Coerthas appeared to be working.
She kicked off her shoes and socks, folding her hands on her chest and digging her feet into the sand. Counting the stars, wondering how many of them were just different worlds. Surely Sharlayan would have figured that out by now - maybe they had and just didn’t share that knowledge with everyone else. A sigh escaped her lips as she shut her eyes, feeling the warm ocean breeze tickle her face. She heard the soft crunch of sandy footsteps as someone joined her, laying beside her in the sand. Himi didn’t need to open her eyes to know who it was. A familiar, flowered perfume overtook the salt of the ocean.
“I’ve been having a lot of weird thoughts lately.” Himi muttered flopping her left hand onto the beach.
“I know.” She heard the soft voice of Minfilia beside her, and felt their fingers intertwine.
“Everything would be so much better, if you were here.” Himi paused. “I miss you.”
“I know.” She squeezed her hand. Silence for a moment, before Himi opened her eyes and looked to her left.
“Minfilia, I-” But she wasn’t there.
“I know.” Her voiced whispered in her ears. Himi turned her gaze back to the stars. She felt someone’s foot jostle her shoulder.
“Himi, you lazy bum!” Resin snorted. “It’s not even that late, why are you sleeping?”
“I was awake!” Himi insisted as she opened her eyes. “I was just blinking, really slowly.”
“Uh-huh.” Resin nudged her again. “Gil for your thoughts.” They smiled warmly. Himi debated on whether or not she wanted to say anything at first. Looking between Resin and the stars, chewing on the inside of her cheek before answering.
“I miss Minfilia.” Not that she didn’t miss everyone else, it was just…
“Oh.” Resin’s smile fell into a frown. They lay on the sand beside her, resting the back of their head on her stomach as if she were a pillow.
“Me too.” They admitted quietly. “Sometimes I think I still smell her perfume.”
“...Me too.” Himi confessed, not divulging any details on what was probably just a dream. Her eyes welled with hot tears, flopping her right hand onto the sand, as if hoping to feel Minfilia grasp it again, or Thancred, or. Anyone, really.
“You kids doin’ alright?” Van asked, leaning over and blocking part of their view of the stars.
“Yeah. It’s just missing people hour.” Himi mumbled.
“Ah.” Van smacked his lips as he crouched down next to Himi, flicking his ears back. “We’ll find ‘em.” He stared out onto the horizon. Himi asked what they would do if they never did. What if everyone was gone forever.
“Then we regroup in the Aetherial Sea, find a way to be reborn at the same time, same place. Grow up together, adventure together, and send whatever still plagues Eorzea to hell.” Tamru replied, now joining them as X’shiemma and Leveva were done with the stars. They'd already teleported back to Ishgard. He sat behind Himi, gently pulling her hair out of the sand and scooting close so she could rest her head in his lap. He quietly began picking beach debris out of her hair.
“I don’t think anywhere in Eorzea could handle all of us at once.” Resin snickered. "A second time, I mean."
“Thankfully we have options.” Van pointed out. “We can vote on it much later, when we’re all in the sea together.”
“Years, and years, and years from now.” Tamru clicked his tongue, wondering how the hell Himi managed to get so many tiny seashells stuck in her hair already.
“The thought of all being together in the future is great. But, I’m happy you’re all here with me, now.” Himi hummed.
“Aw shucks.” Van reached over to boop her nose.
“Especially you two; Van, Tamru. I mean to make good on a promise.” She smacked her lips. Resin felt left out; but that didn’t last long when Himi reminded everyone exactly which promise she meant. "Get 'em."
Resin squirmed between laughing and cursing as the other three Warriors of Light carried them towards the ocean. “Mercy, mercy!” They wheezed.
“You shall get NO mercy this day, fucker!” Himi grunted as she and the other two tossed Resin into the water.
“I meant what I said and I said what I meant!” Tamru clicked his tongue. “Nearest body of water, regardless of how cold it is.”
“I might’ve been snoozing during that conversation, but Himi told me about it afterwards!” Van flicked his tail.
“Snitch!” Resin laughed, brushing their sopping wet hair out of their face.
“Hey, no one said to keep that convo a secret~!” she teased, grinning wide. Resin sloshed their way out of the ocean. Commenting on how they’d have to wait to dry off before teleporting back to winter wonderland.
“Jesting aside.” Tamru wrinkled his nose. “It would have been nice to know beforehand, that your heart is on the opposite side of your chest!” Tamru clicked his tongue. “That is the sort of thing that gets one left behind in the snow because it’s been assumed you’ve taken a fatal shot.” He wagged a finger. Van and Himi nodded in agreement, giving Resin matching stressed grimaces.
“Well, I can’t really argue that.” Resin sighed, pouring water out of their boots. “I suppose I should have least told you that I wasn’t just joking about being half-guado.” They admitted.
“House Haillenarte already know?” Van asked curiously.
“Oh, of course. Stephanivien discovered it when we were young. I wasn’t very good about maintaining glamours for lengthy periods of time back then. The Countess – Haillenarte, not my mother – would affectionately call me Edelweiss because of the colour of my hair. It was, er, a lot more white back then.”
“They must have been worried sick for you when you vanished during the Calamity that turned Coerthas into an eternal winter. You being a plant and all. You’ve apologized profusely for that, yes?” Tamru narrowed his gaze.
“Of course they did! I don’t think they’d be sleeping with Lord Stephanivien if that wasn’t the case.” Himi shrugged.
“HIMI.” Tamru bapped the back of her head as Van whooped with laughter.
“...Well she’s not wrong.” Resin rubbed the back of their neck as their face grew hot.
“She needn’t say it out loud!” Tamru sighed. “Himi, some thoughts are meant to be kept to yourself.”
“Don’t listen to him. He’s not your dad, he can’t tell you what to do.” Van wiped a tear from his eye as he finally stopped laughing. Tamru scoffed, looking a little crestfallen.
“I think you hurt his feelings, Van, I think he secretly enjoys Dadding me.” Himi tucked her hands behind her back. "Despite him being grumpy the other day when I called him that."
“Of all the!” Tamru crossed his arms, huffing.
“Uh oh, I think you’re right!” Van playfully bumped his fist against Tamru’s arm.
“Sometimes I miss the days of you always being grumpy and not encouraging her.” Tamru glanced down, giving Van a flat look. Van flashed a cheeky grin and shrugged.
“What can I say. She’s worn off on me. And knowing X’shiemma isn’t dead helps my mood.”
“I could start calling you daddy instead.” Himi batted her eyes innocently, and Resin squawked with laughter. Van furrowed his brow, bending back both of his ears.
“Aiight Himi-bean, I don’t know if you meant that for Tamru or for me, but either way we’re putting that in the “no” box right next to referring to Hydaelyn as “Crystal Mommy." He clapped a hand on her shoulder.
“No fun.” Himi mocked a pout, plopping her hands on her hips.
“I knooow. I’m so cruel. A real killjoy.” Van snorted, reaching up to ruffle her hair. His ear flicked towards a distant bird call. Even Himi seemed interested in it. “Well; I’m off. I think I’m going to take a little stroll before heading back to Ishgard. Himi, I think you should do your old man and Resin a favor and take them right back to the manor so they can rest and get dry.” His ear flicked again at a second bird call, one a little closer. She nodded, not fussing at all as she quickly left with the other two before they could object or question anything. Van crossed his arms, acting as if he was still watching the stars as he remained on alert.
From the darkness, a scrawny man in sailor’s clothes with a parcel tucked under his arm came running. More concerned with what chased him in the shadows he left behind than who was in front of him. He crashed into Van, bouncing off him and stumbling backwards as Van remained standing.
“Ah! M-my apologies good sir!” The sailor who didn’t sound much like a sailor apologized.
“Running from something?”
“N-No. I-I’m just late to catch my boat, you see. I really must be going!”
“Funny place to catch a boat.” Van eyed the package carefully. “Filch somethin' what didn’t belong to ye?” He slipped into his gruff Limsan accent. The man shook, sputtering random words as he tried to come up with an excuse. “Nah, I ain’t buyin none o’that. Changin’ yer excuse five times in one sentence ain’t a good look, mate.” A third bird whistle, closer than the previous two. “I think ye be runnin’ from the only shadows what scares thieves an’ pirates.” He swiftly pulled out his daggers, his attire changing not to the gear gifted to him by the shinobi of Doma, but the green and white clothing favored by a certain band of Limsa Lominsan Rogues. He even had the green bandanna to match. Van wrinkled his nose as the suspicious sailor pissed himself.
“Alright! I stole it! Just let me live!” The man pleaded, tossing the package aside and groveling.
“Aye. I can do that.” Van got a mischievous twinkle in his eye as he made the promise.
When Jacke, Underfoot and V’kebbe finally joined Van on the beach, their quarry was already tied up in the nearest palm tree, whining and swinging to and fro by his ankles. Jacke whistled, admiring Van's rope work. “This dimer-damber is so proud o’ ye!” Jacke pantomimed wiping a tear away. “It be like ye never left us!”
“What’d ye do? Ooph. I can still smell his soiled clothing.” V’kebbe fanned her nose.
“Yeah I’d avoid that wet spot ilms from your feet, I might’ve literally scared the piss out o’him.” Van warned.
“Gross.” V’kebbe gagged as her tail fluffed up.
“As if ye ain’t ever smelled worse shite before.” Jacke snorted. “…But aye don’t step in it, love.” He thinned his lips. V’kebbe casually slid further to her right to get away from the suspiciously wet sand.
“Lucky ye happened to be out here!” Underfoot nodded. “Though we woulda’ gotten the cove eventually.”
“Of that I have no doubt.” Van smiled, putting his weapons away and returning his attire to his “regular civilian” appearance and dropping the accent. “I’ll leave him to you, then. If I’m gone too long the other three might return out of curiosity.” Van snickered. “And they needn’t know all of your business all of the time.”
“Fair ‘nough.” Jacke clapped a hand on Van’s back. “’Preciate ye stringin’ him up all the same.” His eyes flicked to the man, still whimpering in between pleas. Van nodded before teleporting back to Ishgard, where Himi eagerly awaited him, a tad hopeful.
“Sorry, kid.” Van ruffled her hair. “Not something for us this time.”
“Aww...” She pouted.
“Don’t you dare look disappointed. I’ve had enough excitement this past month to last me a lifetime.” He mumbled as they made their way back to the Fortemps manor.