Embers of Sun and Flame: Before We Have It (Fuegoleon x OC)

Chapter 43 What to say and what to not

Snowflakes. Large, light flakes floated down from the sky as if a thin curtain which would soon coat the world in white. Soon, but not yet, for now they still melted as soon as they hit the stones that paved the road to a bar that had been booked for a private function. This time, however, that function was not a friendly meeting for all of the Captains.

Instead, it was a meeting between just two of them.

Fuegoleon and Nozel had agreed that they should have a conversation, such as the one they were going to have, in a place that was neutral ground, so to say. They shouldn't talk in the office of either of them, and the meeting rooms of the castle seemed... too official, strangely. As if they would be there to make a definite decision, when in fact they were only supposed to talk about it; about what to do with the title of the Wizard King. If they'd be willing to take on the position.

But. It wouldn't be an easy discussion, because there was so much to consider, so much weight on the entire topic that Fuegoleon couldn't help but feel a heavy sigh leaving him before he set his foot inside of the establishment, and was shown to a booth where Nozel already sat with a drink in hand.

"I trust that I'm not late," he commented while taking a seat.

Nozel's eyes closed in a slow blink as he took a sip from his glass, and let out something that was nearly a shrug. "You're not. I'm just early."

Fuego nodded. Nozel nodded. And they ordered drinks along with a few side dishes for the discussion. Because they were certain that they'd be there for a while, and it had been a log day for the both of them until then already.

"How have you been?" Fuego asked, trying to make small talk.

Small talk. Neither of them were great at it. And the thought that they needed to have something as hollow as small talk, would have seemed ludicrous if not for the setting. But. This time it was welcomed. This time it felt like a bumper, a cushion, between the silence, and the discussion that would follow.

Plus, it wasn't that they didn't have catching up to do, or that they wouldn't have been interested in how the other was doing. Because even if they saw each other quite often, it didn't mean that they would have talked about personal matters.

"I've been... We've been fine," Nozel corrected himself as a hint of a smile appeared on his lips.

"Good to hear," Fuego nodded. "I hope that married life is treating both of you well."

"Likewise. I hear that... there has been discussion of ... family planning."

"Correct. I have heard similar discussion between the two of you, and I wish that you shall be blessed." The sentiment was genuine. It was sincere, because Fue still felt the swirl of his own, consuming feeling of joy within his chest.

Nozel nodded, still wearing a faint smile on his lips as he stared ahead of himself. "I wish that... this time it will be for real."

"Oh? You mean to imply that..."

"I don't mean to imply anything."

Fue wasn't quite sure how to take the remark, as a result of which, he raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment on it.

"I... simply wish that... now that we're again hoping for a new addition to the family, that our wishes would be fulfilled," he explained.

And Fuego understood. He had heard about how they had gotten their hopes up, only to discover that Selena hadn't in fact been with child, but instead burdened with stress, and thus, there had been a disrupt in her cycle.

"I hope so too," he replied, but felt the need to add: "for us both", as an afterthought that made Nozel glance at him, but as the drinks and side dishes arrived, he didn't ask. Not about the added remark, but instead another thing.