Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Shaiapouf sat in the same chair he did everyday. Yes, that chair. The one he had to painstakingly sit in watching his dear King playing “Gungi” with a mere human girl. A worthless human girl. Useless even!

“That's checkmate.” Said Meruem, as he scattered the Gungi pieces across the wooden board. Shaiapouf quietly sighed to himself.
“That woman never fails to win.” He thought to himself. That fact alone angered Pouf quite a bit. How did the king never win one round? It wasn’t possible in the Royal guards eyes- the King was the wisest of them all! Shaiapouf shot Komugi a silent glare, hoping the king wouldn’t notice. He saw Komugi flinch slightly. Well, that wasn't abnormal. Humans can sense when one is staring at them. Meruem looked at Komugi, concerned. “Komugi, is everything alright? We can..stop playing if you aren’t feeling well.” said a worried King Chimera ant to the small woman.

“N-not at all! I can play as long as you want me to!” yelped Komugi.
The King looked at her skeptically. “Komugi, get some rest. No need to go all the way home.” Meruem glanced at Shaiapouf as he halted his sentence. “Shaiapouf will lead you to a room to spend the night in.” Shaiapouf was quite surprised. Angry as well. But he would never disobey his Sire. “Yes sir.” Said Shaiapouf as he approached Komugi. “Right this way, Komugi.”

***
Shaiapouf led Komugi down the hallways of the big palace. “Great. Now he is letting her stay here.” Thought the Chimera Ant to himself. Shaiapouf clenched his fist. “Why..he might as well have her sleep in the same bed as him!” He thought as he grew angrier. He noticed the thought that had run through his head. “No…I do not dare think such insulting things about the king!” Pouf took a deep breath. He remained silent as the Gungi player followed him not too far behind. They finally made it to the designated room. Shaiapouf turned to Komugi. “Here is your room. I will summon Neferpitou to help you change and get settled in.” Said Shaiapouf, trying to hide the disdain in his voice. Komugi smiled. “Thank you, Shaiapouf.” “Yes. Good evening” Said Shaiapouf, walking away. As if on command, Neferpitou happened to be walking his way. “Neferpitou.” Said Shaiapouf. “Yes? What can I do for you?” Shaiapouf rolled his eyes. “Go assist that nuisance in dressing for bed.” He said, as he pointed towards her room. Neferpitou sighed. “You have a problem with all humans, yes?” Said Pitou as she started towards the room. “Yes. I guess you could say that.” Said Pouf, annoyed.

Komugi did no good for the king, nor the castle.
But Meruem wouldn’t let him kill her.

Chapter Text

It was quite the average day at King Meruem's castle. The king thought to himself silently, Komugi had gone home for a bit of rest before their next gungi match.
The Royal guard were simply standing around idly, awaiting a command.
Pouf could tell how bored Youpi and Pitou were. He had to admit he was pretty disinterested as well. Suddenly, he noticed Pitou’s ears perk up as if she had remembered something out of the corner of his eyes. Youpi seemed to have noticed as well. The two Royal guards turned to face Neferpitou. “What is it, Pitou?” Questioned Pouf. Pitou looked at the two facing her, and spoke.
“I saw some curious large colorful buds growing on the bushes that sit in front of the castle…perhaps we should inspect them.” Youpi raised an eyebrow at Pitou. “Colorful buds….that is quite strange.” Pouf was concerned. What if these ....”large buds” posed a threat to his Sire? “We must immediately investigate these strange buds at once!”
Shouted Pouf. Pitou giggles.
“I see. Let’s head that way, then.”

***

It didn’t take more than 45 seconds for the guards to arrive at their destinations.
Pitou pointed at the bush where these rumored buds sat.
“I believe that is where I saw them. They seem to be on multiple bushes.”
Pouf began walking towards the bushes, Pitou and Youpi behind him.
Pouf crouched down once he reached the bush so he could better inspect the buds. Pouf could see them more clearly now. They were red…slightly pointed at the end. Green…leaf like growth at the top? It had little seeds inside it as well. “What in the world could these be?” The other guards crouched as well to see these buds up close through their own eyes. Pitou’s ears perked up, reacting to noise.

Youpi and Pouf heard it, too. They were footsteps in the grass. The three seemed to turn toward it on cue. It was Komugi, returning from her home.
“Ah! Hello, Komugi!” Yelped Pitou. Komugi smiled, and began walking towards the three, cane in hand. Pouf rolled his eyes in disgust, and Youpi kept a neutral face.
“Is that you, Pitou? Are Youpi and Pouf with you as well? What are you three doing out here?”
Pouf groaned. “If you must know, we are investigating some strange red buds that dawn green leaves on top of them.” Said Pouf annoyed. “Oh…you mean strawberries?” Pitou looked intrigued. “Strawberries, you say? What are those?”
Komugi smiled. “They are sweet fruits. They almost take like candy! Try one.”
Youpi plucked 3 off the bush, and gave Pouf and Pitou each one. Pitou and Youpi didn’t hesitate to throw the entire berry in their mouths.

“Nya~ Delicious!” Mewed Pitou.
“I agree!” expressed Youpi.
Pouf was too annoyed to even pay attention to the flavor. How did a blind woman know more than he did…?

Chapter Text

He was so sick of it. Pouf was so sick of that burden of a human being. Of course, all humans pretty much contributed nothing to the world. But how in the world could…this Komugi woman be so utterly useless? No..not just that but…
She was somehow worthy of the King’s affection.
King Meruem's affection.
The most powerful organism to have ever walked the earth.
Shaiapouf’s King. Neferpitou’s King. Menthuthuyoupi’s King.

Shaiapouf bit into his lip as he winced at his own thoughts. How dare he think this way of the King's decisions? The King was a smart man, for sure. Shaiapouf would know that better than anyone. Even better than that woman The King adores so greatly. In fact, Pouf was far superior to that woman in every way! So what if she could identify some inferior fruit before he could? So what if even his fellow guards seemed fascinated…

What in the world has gotten into him?
Why was he..so selfish..?
For heaven's sake he wasn’t even safe in his own head!
To not even be able to feel his feelings inside his own head!
It’s not like Pouf would ever be able to truly have anyone to talk to.
He would’ve been able to live with that, honestly.
It would be difficult, sure. But he couldn’t allow himself to be…so weak…
That was not his duty as a Royal Guard. He was to protect his dear King.
But…he felt his emotions strongly. His adoration and absolute devotion to his King..his purpose! Sometimes…they were too much to bear. It felt painful when the King was cross with him..when he felt like he didn’t carry out his duty properly.
Why couldn’t he just…be worth something..?

“No use in sitting here. If I am truly The King’s Royal Guard…I need to act like one!”
Winced Pouf to himself, finally snapping out of his trance. Yes, he should patrol the hall.
So, as he knew he should, he began wandering the halls, on alert for anything he could possibly be doing to benefit The King. Could he perhaps find something that could..just possibly…make The King happy..?

Nonsense…he was not worthy of The King's praise.
Shaiapouf was only an inferior Royal Guard.
It was infuriating to have even thought for a second that he was worth his dear King’s happiness. What a fool he was!

No matter…
Pouf had a job to do.
Finally, he noticed himself approaching the room in which that woman was residing.
He took a halt at her door, and took a deep breath.
Would it hurt to…just see what she was up to…? To make sure she was not damaging anything in the castle. Yes, that would surely leave one less issue for The King to get distraught over. This was a chance to make himself useful for the day.

Sniff…..

What in the world was that wretched noise coming out of that nuisance’s room..?
Normally Pouf would recognize this sound as that woman’s snuffle as a result of her bad health but…
This noise was stronger. Fuller if you will.
It sounded different in simple terms.
Perhaps she was disrupting a piece of furniture that just so happened to make a similar noise when bothered. What an annoyance!

As Pouf swung the door of Komugi’s quarters open, he was met with a small gasp.
The woman sat, knees to her chin on the soft bed she had been assigned to, her white hair sprawled over her shoulders. This had been the first time he had seen the Gungi Champion without those ponytails he despised so greatly.

In fact, she didn’t even have that rose- colored garment she wore over her snow dress on.
He finally looked up at her face.
It was flustered and…damp?
Pouf remembered..he had read about this phenomenon in his readings!
It was called “crying.”
Not to say he wasn’t personally familiar with it, though..,
As much as The Royal Guard hated to admit it, he believed he had experienced this “crying” phenomenon himself once before.
Ok, many times before!
It’s not like he’d ever outright admit it, though.
How foolish he was…
When he thought about it..,
Was he much better than the king?
Well, of course not but…
In the sense that he was stooping to a humans level..
Pouf and no right to be angry when he himself participated in pathetic human-like behaviors…how foolish an ant he was..unforgivable!

Komugi could hear the ant’s breathing hitch. She could assume he was staring directly at her. After all, walking in on her crying her eyes out would at the very least raise anyone’s eyebrow.
Komugi always had the feeling Pouf didn’t like her.
He always responded in a different, more arrogant sounding tone when the blind woman spoke. She had always wondered why, ever since she met him.
Did she accidentally hit a nerve on their first meet…?
The guilt ate her up when she let her mind wander— after all, she was the only one who was talked to this way by The Guard. Surely she made him angry.
Komugi knew her nuisance based existence was now completely irredeemable…
She knew it was irredeemable now that she lay on the bed she had embraced by wishes of The King, in this awkward situation with the person who hated her most in the world.

Chapter Text

“Mr. Pouf…”
“Is that you?”
Komugi knew the answer to that question. She had learned to discern everyone’s breathing after all this time.
Though, Pouf's breathing had come to an abrupt stop.
“…”
“S-sir?”
“Yes, it is me. Now would you stop making that…. awful noise?”
Before she could apologize, Komugi stopped herself.
This was..odd.
Pouf sounded different.
His words were..hesitant.

But not in an angry manner.

“I'm so sorry, Mr. Pouf. I-I promise to never cause you any trouble from now on.”

Trouble.
So now you’ll stop causing me TROUBLE?
Now you're realizing what a burden you are?
It took me, an honorable Royal Guard, walking in you crying pathetically, for you to realize that?
Honorable.
No.
I think too highly of myself.
Not only do I participate in the same activity.
But I feel sympathy for you.

“Oh? Is that quite true?”
“Y-Yes-”
“Then leave and never come back!”

I hate you.
I hate that I am concerned for you.
How DARE I feel concern for you?
You pathetic woman.
I find myself feeling regret for the words I so cruelly shouted at you.
But I shouldn't.
This is all your fault, witch.
Ihateyouihateyouihateyouihateyouihateyouihatey
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Is everything alright?”
Komugi had watched as Pouf stormed out of the room. Pitou must've heard his shouting, arriving not 30 seconds later.
The feline noticed the woman's reddened eyes and wet cheeks, grabbing a tissue box from the night stand and handing it to her.
“Thank you Ms. Pitou. P-Please don't concern yourself with me, everything is alright.”

“I'm afraid that won't be possible. As the King's Royal Guard, my duty is to carry out his wishes. The one he seems most passionate about is that I keep you safe and happy.”

“The supreme leader….wants you to keep me safe?”
“He’s taken quite a liking to you, nya-”
“H-How kind of him…”

Pitou peeked out of the door, checking to see if Pouf was nearby. His aura was quite weak. He probably retreated to his room.

“W-Will Mr. Pouf be ok..?”
“Yes. yes. Though, what happened, nya?”

“I….I..seemed to have angered him..”
“How so?”
“He came in here…and…was put off by my crying…”
Komugi paused, dropping her head in shame.
“He said I should leave and never come back.”

Pitou nodded her head, stroking her chin.
“Meow i see ... .hm…Shaiapouf never striked me as one to have public emotional outbursts.”
“P-Please..don't tell the Supreme Leader…I don't want Mr. Pouf to get punished! After all, everyone has off days, and I certainly get how annoying I am! Being a guard is a ver-”
“You talk a lot, human. Don't worry. I shall go speak to Pouf myself, and get to the bottom of this issue, nya-”