The Ice Queen and The Dark Prince

the calm

Minatiro was sitting by the edge of the lake, watching the water ripple in the breeze. The sun was high in the sky, casting warm light on the scene, but inside his mind, everything felt clouded. He had been meditating, harmonizing his breaths to the sounds of nature around him in an attempt to further train his breathing and clear his mind. The same thoughts kept surfacing, no matter how hard he tried to push them down.

Esdeath.

It had been a few days since Dr. Stylish's attack and inevitable defeat. Night Raid had gained two new members: Chelsea, an assassin with a sharp tongue and a habit of staying in the background, and Susanoo, a humanoid Teigu who served as Najenda's bodyguard and weapon. Everyone had adjusted to their presence fairly quickly, but Minatiro found himself still struggling to adjust to his new life here.

He sighed, the image of Esdeath flashing through his mind again. He missed her—her strength, her confidence, the way she looked at him like he was the only person that mattered. He tried to convince himself that it was wrong to feel this way, that she was the enemy, but it wasn't that simple. A part of him longed for her, even now.

"What's wrong with me..." he muttered to himself, splashing his face with the cool lake water.

As he was lost in his thoughts, a familiar voice broke the silence.

"Yo, what're you doing, man? Daydreaming about someone special?" Lubbock asked, sneaking up on him with his usual grin.

Minatiro flinched slightly, irritated at how easily Lubbock seemed to read him. He turned his head slightly but didn't look up. "I'm just thinking."

Lubbock walked up to the edge of the lake and sat down beside him. "Thinking, huh? About a certain ice queen, maybe?"

Minatiro tensed up. Damn, he's sharp. He let out a frustrated breath. "It's none of your business."

Lubbock chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "Come on, man, it's pretty obvious. You've been sitting here, staring off into space, ever since you got here. I'm just saying, if you need to talk about it, I'm all ears."

"I don't need to talk," Minatiro muttered, his jaw tightening. "I'm fine."

Lubbock leaned back, folding his arms behind his head, clearly not buying it. "Hey, I get it. It's tough. You were with her, and now you're here. I mean, she's gorgeous, terrifying, and probably the most dangerous woman in the Empire. That's gotta mess with your head."

Minatiro clenched his fists, trying to push away the thoughts of Esdeath. He didn't need to be reminded of how much he missed her. "I'm not in love with her."

Lubbock smirked. "Sure, sure. And I'm not the best-looking guy in Night Raid."

Minatiro shot him a glare, but he couldn't deny that part of him did miss her. He tried to focus on the reality in front of him—he was with Night Raid now. He had left Esdeath behind, even if his heart hadn't completely followed.

Lubbock noticed the tension in Minatiro's expression and sighed. "Look, man. You've gotta figure out where you stand. You're with us now, but if your head's still with her, it's gonna get you killed."

"I know," Minatiro replied quietly, staring at the ripples in the water. "But it's not that simple."

Lubbock nodded, his tone turning more serious. "It never is. But you've gotta let go of something. Either you move forward with Night Raid, or you stay stuck in the past."

Minatiro stayed silent, knowing Lubbock was right, but still struggling with his feelings. He missed Esdeath, missed her presence, her warmth—or rather, the cold touch that somehow felt warm to him. But he had to push those feelings aside. He couldn't stay attached to someone who represented everything Night Raid was fighting against.