To Chase a Dream ⇾ Aloy

six: a lonely brother and a lovely surprise

Things have drastically changed for him since that one fateful evening. Half of what makes home an actual home has been cast out. His assignments as a Brave keep him apart from the one he loves most, quite often. Those nights without him are the loneliest and toughest nights he has ever experienced. Even after losing a huge part of his family all those years ago, that what broke his parents beyond repair, was manageable. All because she was there.

And now he won't see her again for a long time.

~

With a sigh Flek adjusts the bow on his back and takes a swig of water from his flask. He refocuses his eyes on the horizon, watching out for threats that aren't there and won't be anytime soon. If only Varl would be here. He would crack a joke, or strike up a conversation to keep the time going, but the Brave he has watch duty with isn't as social as his boyfriend. His heart aches in his chest, longing for the brown eyes smiling at him. Another sigh escapes his lips.

"Complaining won't make it go any faster. You know that right?"

He looks at the Brave next to him. She's focused on the wilds beyond their safe walls, or she seems to be. In reality she's as bored as he is.

"Yes, I know that," is all he answers.

She hums in acknowledgment and stretches her sore limbs. "So, I heard your sister is an Outcast?"

His eyes immediately shoot to the Nora next to him. She's just as relaxed and casual as she was before, apparently not seeming to get the painfulness of the question she just asked him. He sets his jaw and turns his eyes to a hunting party returning with their fresh kills. They wave a hello and pass underneath the gate, leaving the two Braves alone on top of the wall once again.

A furious glare is sent the woman's way. "I don't think that's any of your business."

Her eyes flash to him and she sticks her hands up in surrender. "Just curious that's all."

"Take your curiosity to someone else."

And with that the conversation is over. He steps away, creating more distance between them and continues his watch. All the while he's daydreaming about the moment he can fall into Varl's arms again.

~

His bag is flung to the side along with his bow and most of his gear. He plops down onto his bed sighing loudly as he stares at the ceiling. He exhales and feels his back pop. Another day has gone by and yet it doesn't feel like it matters to him. All the days are repetitive and tend to blur together. Except for the days that he sees Varl or his grandmother.

"I do wonder what's keeping her," he mumbles to himself. "I hope she hasn't forgotten."

He drums his hands on his stomach and murmurs a tune he picked up somewhere. His eyes flutter from side to side looking for something of interest. "I need something to do or I'll drive myself crazy." He stands up and goes to a certain board in the floor. He lifts it up and takes a small object out of it.

After laying back down he places the triangular device against his temple. A familiar tune is heard and then the world around him changes. For just a heartbeat a dome of light surrounds him, before many different files pop up around him. All his favorite memories in one place. He plays one from two years ago.

His younger self laughed followed by a rapidly spoken sentence by a female voice. "Flek, get back here!" She called out.

He ignored her and his footsteps carried him onwards. "If you want to know, you will have to follow," was his cryptic answer.

"You're mean!" She yelled back and soon her footsteps were heard next to his own, slightly faster because of the height difference. It continued on like that for a while, with chirping birds and ruffling plants that filled the background.