sad fat: the squeakquel

Distant Memory. (Odette x Martin) [The Elder Scrolls Oblivion]

"You know they're calling me a hero now, Martin."
Her soft, deep voice gripped him out of his focus on their game, causing him to look up from the board and towards her.
Odette had begged him to play a game of King and Country with her. And even though he knew she'd beat him, it was a good way he wanted to spend this snowy evening in dear old Bruma.
"Hero of Kvatch." She added, an amused tone in her voice. The young Breton delicately rested her chin onto her clasped hands, cocking her head slightly as her gaze rose to his.
"So I heard." Martin replied, equally entertained. He knew she got a kick out of such a title. She always loved to play the hero. Now the whole Providence was addressing her as such.
Noticing she was distracted with this topic, though, he quickly put one of his red game pieces over one of her blue ones. He couldn't help but chuckle as he saw her prideful look turn into one of annoyance. By the gods was this woman a sore loser.
"Maybe the Hero Of Kvatch needs to dull down her ego for a moment and focus on the game?" Martin teased her, waving his newfound "captured' blue game piece back in forth. Clearly mocking her.
Odette grit her teeth, grabbing at the folds of her red robes. Gods guide her, how she hated his taunting.
The look of pure fury passed, however, when she looked at the board and noticed his fatal mistake.
Quickly going into action, she moved her biggest blue piece over three of his red ones. Snatching them all up like a hungry child would to a basket of sweetrolls.
"Disarmed!" She sang out gleefully, giddy at her power move taking him almost completely out. He only had his big blue piece left. And at the taken back expression on the priest's face.
"Maybe YOU, Soon-to-be Emperor Septim, need to quit lighting my sticks and focus on your overconfidence!"
Martin, baffled, looked at her quickly. Before bursting into laughter, holding his head in his hands.
It was a true, lovey laugh. Loud and genuine. And VERY affectionate, precisely made clear when Odette joined in. Soon, they were laughing so hard that tears were rolling down their flushed cheeks.
The game didn't even matter anymore as Martin pushed away the board, chuckling as Odette crawled over to him and grabbed his face.
He couldn't help but be happy.
This just... felt so right.
Her hands were small, and calloused (somewhat soft) from hard work. Cold from the icy weather outside. Yet so comforting from the years of her nurturing ways, their touch on his cheeks invoking a feeling dizziness and fluttering in him. He felt himself grow red, his giggling not stopping as she pressed her palms harder against his cheeks.
"You-" she giggled out, her own face full of equal love and joy.
"You are just so- so-" she couldn't get the words out, she was just so full of laughter.
Martin was managing to calm down though, and gladly took her wrists in his grip. He squeezed lovingly, before moving his hands to her hips and hugging her close.
"I'm just so what?" He teased, looking up at her joy-filled face.
"So you!!!!" She snorted, before planting a small kiss to his forehead. Knowing he'd instantly melt at the gesture of affection.
Of course he did, his cheeks going even more red as his grip tightened and he stole a kiss on the lips.
"And you-" he managed to get out, fighting his flustered happiness' urge to kiss her more.
"Are going to be the death of me, Odette." He let out a final breathless laugh, and then leaned back with her still in his grasp. The light from the fireplace making him look like he was glowing.
The breton mage's eyes shined with love and admiration as she giggled and pushed some loose strands of his long brown hair away from his eyes. The frosted, ocean blue she stayed awake at night thinking about.
"I couldn't think of a better way to go."
Her playful whispering made Martin wrap his arms around her waist more, the two holding each other on the floor.
"Me neither."
Things went silent a bit, before Odette spoke up again.
"Promise me you won't leave me, Martin? Even after... the coronation? And... and the fight with-"
"I promise, my love."
He didn't let her finish. He wouldn't ever let her go.
"I won't leave you."
Martin whispered to her, their little laughter of agreement echoing out through the halls of Cloud Ruler Temple.
Things were beautiful.
Things were going to be... Perfect.
Odette thought to herself as she pressed her face to the crook of her lover's neck.
They'd be happy and safe forever.
She'd make sure of it.
-
Her heart was audible in her ears.
Her staff, once clutched in her hand, fallen to the floor.
Her knees gave out and her emotions gave in, tears running down her cheeks as she hit the ground.
The sky was still red but the smoke was leaving.
The amulet of Kings lay broken on the floor.
What once had been her Martin now was stone and chipped, its wings spread far and frozen.
The only words she could scream out
"You promised."