Memories of You (Reader/Grievous)

Chapter 4

The sun was beaming and hot, and it felt only hotter from the fact that there wasn't a single cloud in the sky to temper its blazing anger. You tried not to think much of it and tugged the hood over your head—it offered a minor blessing of shade over your face, neck and shoulders, which would hopefully keep your skin safe from the nasty burns one could get by being out for too long.

Few others in the village needed to worry in the same way; their skin was far tougher than your own, built to naturally withstand the merciless rays shining down upon the summer landscape.

Your back felt heavy with goods traded from the marketplace at the center of the village—some non-perishables, some fresh goods, and a few idle bobbles that had caught your eye. It kept you busy enough, since you weren't allowed to join Qymaen or Ronderu on their hunting party, and they had been gone for three days already.

Given that the next closest town had sent word about more kidnappings, you could only wonder what the two of them might have found—another band of Huk? One of their ships? Would there be too many for them to handle?

You banished the worrisome thoughts with a shake of your head, trudging forward and kicking up dust that swirled through the brisk summer air and made your lungs burn.

There were several children across the road—four of them, three boys and a girl who seemed to be the eldest. You could hear her desperately trying to keep the boys, presumably her brothers, in line. They shouted and hollered, running in the opposite direction from you, seeming as if to be playing a variation of tag.

"Slow down!" The girl shouted after them. "I can't be tagged twice in a row! That's not fair!"

Their voices grew distant and quiet as they continued to run off in the far distance behind you, but the thought lingered in the back of your head for a while. The topic of children has never come up between you and your partners. It wasn't too surprising, however, given the state of things on Kalee and their incredible skills on the battlefield.

It would be hard to juggle the care and safety of a young child—and you couldn't begin to ponder on the possibility (or lack thereof) that your biology would even be remotely compatible with them either.

Maybe... maybe one day.

You tried to focus on simpler things for the rest of your walk home, idly pondering on what you'd make for dinner or even what you'd entertain yourself with the next day. Perhaps you'd weave something? Go fishing? Visit one of the shops again? Each idea came back with a shake of your head; all you honestly wanted was to see Ronderu or Qymaen, though you knew it would be impossible to guess when they would be home.

You lift your eyes up from the road and, as if an answer to a prayer, you see a light already flickering from within the house at the very top of the hill where it ends. Joy floods your veins as the weight on your back is suddenly no more than a feather.

Ronderu must be inside, since her weapons are laid out neatly just outside the front door. You can see Qymaen inspecting each as he kneels over them—he turns his head around when you shout in unabashed glee to see them both home safe and sound.

He is already standing with his arms held out by the time you make it up the hill. All you do is run straight for him and enjoy the simple moment of warmth and love in his hug.

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When Grievous finally relented and explained his plans, you could barely see beyond the hot anger coloring your vision. Maybe it was the way he said it—almost too casual, too detached—or maybe because it had taken nearly a week before the two of you had the time to talk for long enough that he could tell you. Every time that you and him would try to speak with one another, Grievous would get a call, a summoning to something or another that would make him leave the room in an aggravated huff.