TRYST // Philza X Reader

29

The council broke out into arguing again - this time outrage from Etienne's old supporters and words of approval from those on the new council. All the talk stopped when the crown heir raised their hand though, drawing all eyes across the room to the dias. 

"It's already been decided that Gemma should be rewarded." They said, voice smooth and even. "And Philza wishes to be rid of the Totem-"

"We shouldn't be giving immortality to a killer!" Someone shouted, interrupting the crown heir. 

"I wouldn't keep it." Gemma said. You glanced over at her to see that her fingers were wound tight around the arms of her chair, almost white knuckled. This was the most emotion you had seen from her the whole meeting. "I would use it."

The crown heir raised an eyebrow at that. "Then there should be no problem with using the Totem as a reward." They gestured to Phil, waving a hand towards Gemma.

Phil turned in his seat, holding the golden statuette out to Gemma, who was seated next to him. The figure glittered in his hand, it's little emerald eyes catching the morning sunlight of the room. Gemma's hand was almost shaking when she took it from him, fingers clutching around the statue. 

"This is unbelievable!" The man who had been speaking for the rest of Etienne's old supporters said, throwing his hands into the air. "You've just voted to give the woman who killed the king the power to live forever or bring back the dead! This is why-"

Whatever the rest of his sentence was you didn't catch, because Gemma was rapidly trying to rip a pink stone that had been braided into her hair out, fingers rapidly working the braid undone. The stone came loose and she yanked it out, throwing it on the floor and standing up. 

She stepped on the stone, and it shattered into small pieces, the crack resounding through the stone room. 

"Gemma..?" Phil asked, hesitantly rising from his chair as well. "What are you-"

Gemma turned to the Totem, prying the emerald pieces from the eyes of the statue and tossing them aside. In a haze, she scooped up the pieces of the pink stone she had crushed and pressed two of the smaller shards into the now empty eye sockets of the statue. When she was done, she set the thing down on the ground in front of her, watching it intently. 

"She's mad!" The man shouted again now. "You've entrusted one of the most treasured items in the world to a mad woman-"

All eyes were drawn to the center of the room when the statue began to glow, seemingly taking the light streaming in from the broken windows and bending it around itself until the little figure was completely obscured by beams of light. You squinted, flinching away from the brightness. Though you couldn't see him, you felt Phil wrap a hand around your wrist, holding on. 

The light seemed to fill the whole room for a moment, but then it was completely gone. You opened your eyes again slowly, first checking that next to you, Phil was alright. He seemed fine, if a little dazed - the feathers of his wings puffed up slightly. Seeing he was okay, your eyes then darted to the center of the room. 

The Totem was gone, and in it's place, stood someone you hadn't seen before. 

They were about average height, but had the build of someone who had spent their life in constant movement - the musculature under their skin was lean and lithe like a cat. Golden brown skin was spattered with freckles here and there, and amber eyes blinked curiously at the people around the room. Dark hair fell in waves almost to their shoulders, a few strands falling over their face. 

What struck you most though, was that they were naked as the day they were born. You rapidly looked away, meeting Phil's eyes again and trying to stave off the rising heat in your face. 

"Arlow?"

For a woman that had stabbed the king to death and not even blinked an eye, Gemma sounded choked as she said it. 

The person in the center of the room turned (Arlow, you assumed), wide eyes focusing on Gemma. "Gem?"

For a moment, the room was quiet. 

But then Arlow broke out into a sprint, a smile stretching across their face as they laughed aloud, making a beeline for Gemma's arms. Gemma caught them when they came, wrapping them up in a hug and burying her face into their shoulder, sobbing. They crumpled to the floor together, reunited. 

You felt yourself tearing up a bit at the display - it was oddly touching, even though you barely knew them both. Knowing that Arlow had been beyond the void while Gemma was still on earth... 

Phil's hand that had still been wrapped around your wrist slipped upwards, interlacing your fingers with his instead. You glanced over to see him smiling, the corners of his eyes a little misty as well. You reached out with your other hand to wipe away the tears before they fully formed. 

"You're such a sap." You teased, even though you were a little misty yourself. 

Phil rolled his eyes. "Sorry I'm a romantic at heart."

The crown heir cleared their throat, drawing the attention of the room back to the dias, where they and Technoblade were now stood. "I think that draws our meeting to a close for today." They said, smiling slightly at the happy couple still wrapped up in each other's arms. "You're all dismissed."

The room began to shift as members of the council filed out the door, and slowly, Gemma and Arlow got up as well. Gemma's eyes were red from crying, but there was a smile on her face as she held Arlow to her, trying to maintain as much dignity as she could. 

Arlow, however, was not having it. 

"Really, Gem." They said. "It's nothing you haven't seen before."

"Arlow you're naked." Gemma interrupted. "There are people here-"

You glanced at Phil, reaching over to slide his coat off his shoulders. Phil let you, and you handed the coat over to Arlow with a smile on your face.