accidentally yours | claude de alger obelia

under the moon, over the line

night had settled deep over the camp, velvet-dark and quiet save for the low hum of insects and the occasional flicker of flame from the campfire. just beyond the cave entrance, evie sat on a flat stone, ankle propped up, now properly bandaged with fresh linen. maerin's work, of course. clean, tight, not too stiff.

claude's bloody shirt was loose on her frame, its sleeves rolled up to her elbows. his coat hung over her shoulders, warm and far too big, the gold embroidery glinting faintly in the firelight. it still smelled like smoke and blood and something colder underneath.

tofu lay curled in the cradle of her lap, small paws twitching.

claude stood just a few paces away, back to the fire, arms crossed as he kept watch over the silent treeline. he didn't look at her, but she could feel the shape of his attention like a second heartbeat.

"you're still standing," she said after a moment. "even now?"

"i'm not tired."

she gave a small snort. "you're bleeding into the hem of your pants."

"not important."

"you're very bad at lying."

"i'm the emperor," he said, finally glancing down at her. "i don't have to be good at lying."

evie narrowed her eyes at him. "that doesn't even make sense."

he didn't reply. instead, he let his gaze slide down to the oversized coat wrapped around her. his coat. and the shirt, bloodied at the collar. also his. the only things she was still wearing that were hers were her underclothes, her boots (one of which was off), and her dagger strapped to her thigh.

she suddenly felt... very small.

tofu sneezed.

then-

"i KNEW IT!" came a shriek from the shadows.

evie jerked so hard tofu nearly flew off her lap.

mira came sprinting into the firelight, hair wild and bouncing, her usual chaos fully restored despite the wounds from earlier. behind her, kael followed at a slower pace, hands in his pockets, face unreadable.

"it's only been a few hours!" mira cackled, pointing wildly at evie. "a few hours and you've already stolen his entire wardrobe?!"

"mira-"

"you're literally swimming in it. oh my gods, it's so big on you. you look like a child playing dress-up." she turned on claude next, expression gleaming with danger. "and YOU. your majesty. you gave her your COAT?"

"mira," kael said flatly.

"and your SHIRT?"

"mira."

"and-evie!" she wheeled back to her. "did you or did you not caress his cheek in full view of the camp like some sappy romance heroine?!"

evie made a strangled sound.

claude said nothing.

tofu looked personally offended.

"i-i was checking for injuries!" evie protested, face burning. "there was blood on his face!"

"uh-huh," mira said, completely unconvinced. "real normal thing. touching a man's jaw like that. totally platonic."

kael sighed loudly.

then, without warning, he stepped up behind mira, clamped a hand firmly over her mouth, and started dragging her away without so much as blinking.

"mmf?! mmgghh-kael!"