Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It had barely been 2 months since the expedition out to Ultima Thule, and Haze was spending his time in the lower floor of his shared home, standing between walking bars trying his damndest to get his legs to work again.

You must give yourself time. We’ve had the best chirurgeons do all of what they can, you even journeyed to the first and got the best there and there wasn’t anything more they could do. Your body needs to do the rest of the healing.

You need to rest, Haze! Stop pushing yourself, you won’t get better that way!

The words of worried friends and healers ring loud in his mind, but regardless he doesn’t listen. So, he takes a deep breath in and grips onto those metal bars beside him and keeps pushing his legs — that hardly listen to him — to keep moving.

“Haze?” A voice rang out, coming from the upper floors, which quickly made it’s way downstairs which revealed itself as Aries, Haze’s boyfriend — well one of them.

At the sudden presence of another, his focus got misplaced and his legs buckled, dropping him harshly to the floor. Straining his arms that still gripped tightly to the metal bars. “Hi Aries.” He murmurs.

Aries, seeing Haze fall, immediately rushed over and knelt beside him, hesitantly putting his arms around him to lift him back up. “The hells are you doing? You should be resting, not pushing yourself!” Aries practically scolded him, staring at him with nothing short of worry. 

Haze stared at Aries for a moment before looking away, his gaze locked at the floor. “ Sorry. ” He barked out, sounding a lot harsher than he intended, which caused Aries to hesitate a bit more.

After the small struggle of getting Haze off the floor and into his temporary wheelchair, Aries sighed, raising a hand up to his ear he looked back down at Haze. “If you won’t listen to me, then I’ll get G’raha.” He murmured.

“Wait—! You don’t need to—!” Haze began to protest but he could already hear the ringing of the Linkpearl and G’raha on the other line. He went quiet almost instantly, sulking as he sat there in his wheelchair.

“ Aries? What’s wrong? ” Haze could hear from the linkpearl, although barely, which only made him just want to sink into a puddle of nothing where he was sat.

“Haze is pushing himself too much, and I was wondering if you would come home and… convince him to stop. He doesn’t seem keen on listening to me.” Aries murmured, his voice low out of a seemingly forced habit. 

From what Haze could hear, there was other voices on the other side of the linkshell, which he could only assume was Krile giving the okay for G’raha to go home. Due to that; the linkshell hung up not long after.

“It’s not that I don’t want to listen to you…” Haze mumbled, looking at Aries. “I just need to get better, who knows when the next danger is going to come and if I can’t walk when it does, we’re doomed.” Haze huffed, crossing his arms.

“Regardless, if you won’t listen to me, I will get reinforcements.” Aries grinned a little, before kneeling down in front of Haze. “Listen to me for a second though will you?” He sighs.

“Even if you won’t recover for another few months or even years, …Raha and I, will be here no matter. It’s bold of you to assume you are entirely powerless.” Aries shifted slightly, cupping Haze’s cheeks in his hands. 

Haze took a deep breath in, sighing. He reluctantly gave Aries a soft nod before leaning his face into the contact of his hands. Easing quietly. “Can we just… go upstairs?” He mumbled, closing his eyes.

Although, he very quickly yelped as he felt himself get hoisted up into a bridal carry by Aries, flushing no small amount of red he stared at Aries. “Wh — Put me down!” He exclaimed, flailing slightly.

Aries cocked a grin. “Why? So you can go back to pushing yourself? I rather think this is better.” He shifted Haze in his arms before making his way to the stairs, carrying Haze with little to no effort required — even with the obvious height differences between the two — Haze tried to push himself off and away from Aries using his hands, which guided him no effort as Aries shifted slightly to trap his arms against his chest. “Oh stop it.” He mumbled.

Haze huffed, trying to hide his face but ultimately failing. Instead his ears laid flat against his head, and against his better wishes, his tail started wagging gently. 

Not after long, did Aries end up setting haze down on the couch. “Now — don’t move till G’raha gets here or Rhalgar help me.” Aries pointed at him, before shifting to seat on one of the chairs in the main room.

“You both suck.” He mumbled, curling up on the couch with a blanket nearby.

Aries sat there, looking at Haze as if contemplating something, cocking his head side to side before grinning. “Well I don’t know about G’raha, but I could.”

Haze went quiet. Staring at Aries like he just commited treason. “You—!” He started. “Don’t—! That’s—! Shut up!” He finally decided on saying, his face so much more red than it was when they were downstairs. He pressed his hands to his face and slid down the couch into hiding. “I hate you…” He mumbled from behind his hands.

“Mm, Love you too.” Aries laughed softly.

However, when G’raha walked through the front door, he glanced at Aries and Haze who was embarrassed to no tomorrow. “…What happened?” He asked.

“Aries is being mean.” Haze mumbled, looking over at G’raha.

“Mean? I was just stating facts.” He shrugged.

“I see…” G’raha mumbled, shifting over to stand in front of Haze before kneeling down. “Are you alright? I heard you were… pushing yourself again.” He sighs, taking one of his hands and letting it light with healing magicks as he gently moved his hand up and down on Haze's legs.

“I’m fine.” He sighs, but looking over at G'raha’s hand he frowns. “You and I both know that’s not going to help any…” He mumbles. “The chirurgeons were quite persistent on telling me that healing magicks can do no more for me.” 

G’raha sighed, pulling his hand back. “Yes I suppose you’re right… Just thought maybe…” He mumbled.

Haze, looking at G’raha’s expression of defeat, sighed. Leaning forward he moved G’raha’s hair out of the way of his forehead and kissed his forehead. “I appreciate it nonetheless.”

G’raha shifted, moving to sit next to Haze and wrap his arm around him. “Well I’m glad… and dearheart please don’t exceed your limits.” He spoke softly, taking his hand and rubbing it up and down against Haze’s shoulder. “Please? For us?” He smiled easily at Haze, red eyes gleaming at him with love.

Haze stared at him and just nodded, tucking his head to lean and press against G’raha’s chest. “I won’t make promises… but I can try.” He mumbled, glancing over at Aries sitting on the other sofa.

He was watching intently at the affection shown between the two, still somewhat flabbergasted by it and amazed by it, but adoring it all the same. 

Haze smiled over at him, which managed to pop Aries out of his daydream state and smile slightly back.

However, even though he just barely made an agreement to not exert himself, he pushed himself up and off the couch, taking a moment to steady his balance on his legs before slowly taking a few steps towards Aries.

“Haze —!” Aries exclaimed, shifting to stand up before Haze is right in front of him, leaning over and placing a soft kiss to his forehead. “Y'know we love you too, right? You don’t always have to watch from afar my love.” He smiles, but almost immediately after his legs give in and he manages to manoeuvre himself into sitting on Aries lap.

Aries startled and scared, threatened to push Haze off him, but haze quickly pushed himself over and off of him. “Sorry, I panicked.” Haze giggled quietly, “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Aries stared at him like a doe in the light of a torch. “‘M fine.” He mumbled, looking over at Haze.

“I swear Haze, it had not even been a few ticks since you said you would try.” Graha sighed, looking over at Haze but couldn’t help but grin.

Haze grinned right back at him. “I told you I wouldn’t make any promises.”

Chapter Text

It had been a few days since Aries and G’raha managed to get Haze to somewhat promise to take a break, although they both knew that it would not be that easy to get him to stop.

Although, they somehow managed to convince Haze to go on a trip, despite how much he would’ve rather not.

-

Taking a deep breath in, he pushed himself up into sitting looking out the window in his room, looking out at Thavnair. He shifted, grabbing his legs and moving them over the edge of the bed.

“Oh, good morning Dearheart.” G’raha spoke up, looking over at Haze from where he was sitting braiding his hair. Haze looked over at G’raha and just smiled.

“G’morning,” Haze mumbled, staring down at his feet as he debated putting pressure on his legs before glancing over at G’raha. “Mind uh… helping?” He murmurs, ears against his head as he sighs, almost ashamed he must ask for help.

G’raha, tying off the band in his hair, looks over at Haze, pushing himself to his feet. “Of course.” He smiled softly, standing in front of the Vulpes, he gently moved Haze to lean on his shoulder, arm wrapped around his waist. “Are you sure you don’t want me to look into getting you magitek to assist you in walking?” G’raha asked, as he gently sat Haze down where he was previously sitting at a Vanity.

Haze nodded, letting out a quiet ‘oomph’ as he was set down. “I’m sure. I don’t want to have to rely on magitek or anything for the rest of my life — make sure to tell Rammbroes that.” He murmurs the last part about Rammbroes, but glances over at G’raha. “Why am I sitting here? I thought we had plans today.”

“And pray tell; you thought you’d go out like that?” G’raha arched a brow, looking over Haze’s rats-nest of hair, and his half-naked body — covered in bites and hickeys no thanks to the red-headed Miqo’te — “I’d rather you dressed properly, or at least put a shirt on.”

Haze looked down at his chest and flushed. “A-Ah. R-Right.” He mumbled, shifting his arms to cover his torso somewhat.

G’raha chuckled softly, moving in behind Haze and began running a brush through his hair, the odd glance at the mirror allowing him to make brief eye contact with Haze through it. After a moment, Haze’s hair was braided neatly on his shoulder, part of his bangs clipped to the side of his head.

“Thank you.” Haze smiled, turning around to look at G’raha, he glanced around the room more before returning to the Miqo’te. “Where’s Aries?”

G’raha stared at him for a moment, tilting his head down to the side before back up straight. “He went down to Mehryde’s Meyhane. Something about a performance I think?” He spoke, gathering up Haze’s earrings that lay on the Vanity and helped get them into place on his ears. “I asked if he could bring us some food… he seemed skeptical though.”

Haze hums, making a noise of acknowledgement at G’raha’s explanation, then chuckles at the comment about the food. “After travelling with him this long, I’ve grown to find out he doesn’t eat anything he can’t see being prepared. He’d rather starve.”

G’raha blinks, his hands stopping for a moment, earring shifting and pricking the wrong spot in Haze’s ear, which causes the Vulpes to startle. “I didn’t know that.” He mumbled quietly, moving the earring away from Haze’s ear for a moment.

Haze shrugs, shifting his arm behind him to take the earring from G’raha’s hand, placing it in his ear himself. “He doesn’t talk about it. I only know just from watching.” He leans in towards the mirror more. He was shifting hair and fur to place the earring.
Once the earrings are all in place, he wiggles his ears, making sure they’re secure and won’t fall.

“I see…” He mumbles. “Perhaps I could make some archon loaf when we get home—“

“No!” Haze interrupts. “Sorry love, but Archon Loaf is atrocious. I’d rather go back to Garlemald than eat more of it.” He laughs quietly.

G’raha stares down at Haze for a moment. “I suppose it is.”

Haze shifted in his chair, moving his hands to grip the armrests, before pushing himself up. His legs shook for a minute before he managed to stabilize them, although just barely.

“Haze—!” G’raha exclaimed, quickly grabbing him and supporting him. “You need to stop, you aren’t going to get better if you keep doing that!” He scolded, staring at him.

“I know, I know.” Haze started, but started to move his hips and knees regardless. “I don’t want to be some — helpless fool! If I can try and walk then I am going to.” He murmured, clenching one of his hands into a fist.

“Haze, you are not some helpless fool, you cannot help what Zenos did to you. It was a circumstantial mishap. Unavoidable if you please.” G’raha tried to reason with him, remembering how Haze had returned to the Ragnarok with his life barely in his hands, his spine almost wholly torn in half, hardly being able to support him, not to mention the extensive damage to his vertebrae. It’s a miracle he could even stand not to mention live and breathe.

“Stop it! Don’t remind me!” He shouted, throwing his hand out to the side. “He’s dead — don’t talk about him, don't even bring it up — just — STOP!” He exclaimed, breathing heavily, panic coursing through his veins. Anxiety, PTSD, whatever you wanted to call it, he was feeling it.

G’raha stood there silently for a moment taking Haze’s hand into his own. “I’m sorry Dearheart.” He mumbled, bringing Haze’s hand up to his lips he pressed a gentle kiss to his knuckles. “How about we just go and find Aries, hm?” He smiles briefly, letting go of Haze for a moment to go and grab his turtleneck and shoes.

Haze takes a deep breath in, nodding gently. He extends his hand and takes the turtleneck from G’raha and slips it over his head, letting it rest securely over his torso, but scowls when the shoes are offered. “Absolutely not.” He speaks clearly.

G’raha just sighs, “Haze, love, when are you going to start wearing shoes instead of your… whatever you want to call them.” G’raha crosses his arms as Haze shifts to move into sitting in his wheelchair despite how much he hates it.

“Shoes are uncomfortable, can't get as good a grip on the ground below me as my feet can. Plus I think of them as a hindrance.” He murmurs, shifting his legs to pull his “socks” on.

G’raha sighed, shifting over behind Haze’s wheelchair. “Whatever you say, love.” He smiles.

-

After a brief walk from Kama toward Mehryde’s Meyhane, Haze and G’raha stumbled upon seeing Aries doing a small little performance on the stage, whether it was stressful for him or not wasn’t quite obvious, but it was still mesmerizing to see nonetheless.

Once Aries caught the eye of Haze and G’raha in the crowd, he seemed to pause mid-routine. Flushing as if almost slightly embarrassed but continued regardless, only to end it not long after with a bow.

With a swift exit, Aries went behind stage, only to emerge later in his usual attire. His dancing clothes in his arm folded nicely. “Hello, lovebirds. I see you two took your merry time.” Aries smiled.

Haze smiled, chuckling for a moment. “Love, must you call us that?” Haze reached up with a hand and gently guided Aries to lean forward, simply so he could plant a small kiss on his forehead. Aries flushed slightly, leaning back to stand up straight yet again.

“Ah… do you not like it?” Aries murmured, rocking back and forth on his heels for a moment. “I can stop if you want.”

“I think what Haze means, Aries is that he thinks it's a tad embarrassing in public,” G’raha chimed in, “But no, I don’t think he hates it so, please, continue all you want.” G’raha smiles, offering Aries some semblance of reassurance.

“Oh… well if that’s the case then uhm… alright.” He nods, shifting to put his clothes in his bag, then lets his hands rest in front of him, fidgeting with his thumbs.

Haze glanced between the two of them for a moment, before slouching back in his wheelchair. Huffing he crossed his arms. “Is there anything we can do besides sitting in idly? I’m bored.” Haze spoke up, “I don’t like not moving around or being busy.” He grumbles, looking between the two.

G’raha and Aries both blink as they look down at the Vulpes before they both burst into a small fit of laughter at the Vulpes' need for action.

“Well, Dearheart, if it means anything Thancred and some of the other scions have agreed to meet us out near the ocean to have a little vacation.” G’raha spoke up, “Krile arranged it, and hopefully not too many people will see us around and panic.” He smiles, taking his hand and gently running it through Haze’s hair.

Haze looked up and over at G’raha and smiled, but couldn’t hide the nervousness very well behind his grin. Sure he was overcoming his fear of open water and learning to swim, hell he even jumped into an open body of water to save an infant during the Final Days, but he still couldn’t help but feel stressed at the idea of swimming.

He nods at G’raha and lets them both wheel him around to head to the main Aetheryte.
Upon their arrival, they attuned themselves before transporting to their next location, Yedlihmad. Fortunately for Haze, and unfortunately for Aries and G’raha, the sand was a little too dense and course to be able to use the wheelchair, so they really had no choice but to let him attempt to walk, of course, neither of them straying too far from his sides in case he needed extra assistance.

It was only a matter of time before the rest of the Scions started to show up one by one, the first being Krile and Estinien. Then later Thancred and Urianger, who brought over the news that the Twins would not be joining them, they have some important matters to deal with in Garlemald, but that Y’shtola would be arriving soon.

The time there was fun, Haze and Aries stayed at the back under the umbrella for the most part, until Thancred walked over and hauled a certain “Warrior of Light” over his shoulder to throw in the water.
It caused a very loud – and very unmanly – yelp from the Vulpes, who attempted to get up to his feet and chase after Thancred, but unluckily for him; his legs caved, landing him face first into the wet sand.

Aries and G’raha couldn’t help but laugh at the whole situation; although they were worried for him, they thought they might as well let him have some fun, that is why they arrived here after all.