Despite Ishan's looming threat and Namaari and Noi's persistent monitoring, things had been surprisingly quiet in Fang.
She had deduced that they had time. Not much, but enough for Namaari to foil Ishan's plans.
She hoped. But a storm was brewing.
(<:>)
Both soon enough and long past what felt like forver, Raya got to see Namaari again.
But not all was well. Raya had started to think of where this (hard to believe there even was a "this", proving the god of dreams must exist) was going...
Time for the hard talk, she supposed. She soon located Namaari in her room, near her desk.
"Is this an alright time, Dep La?" She questioned.
Namaari's usually stoic face lit up. Well, if stone could light up. "Of course" she softly smiled.
Raya winced, imagining that grin disappearing as soon as Namaari heard this..."What's it going to take for our relationship to become public?" Raya asked, trying to mask a break in her voice.
Namaari sighed, putting her face in her hands. "Between Ishan's wannabe coup and Chief Virana's arranged marriage plans, that's not even something I'm considering right now, to be honest."
Raya turned away to hide her pained expression. "Do have any idea when this will all be over, or how I can help you?"
Namaari looked away. "Just by staying safe. It's best if Heart doesn't interfere with Fang matters, at least in this case."
"I'm not asking as Heart. I'm asking as Raya."
"Dep La, we both know they are one and the same" Namaari stated carefully, not without gentleness.
"I-I used to have this dream, one day our kingdoms could be united."
"We are, under Kumandra" Namaari said brusquely, purposely ignored the real truth in her words.
"You know what I mean" Raya's fists involuntarily clenched.
"Is what we have so bad?" Namaari questioned tentatively.
Raya paused. "As long as I'm with you...I can make it work. You know that."
"Are you sure? People in Heart, from what I remember, have never been ones to hide their emotions and relationships. Even gay marriage isn't as reviled there, your birth rate is higher."
“I know. I’m all right. I just don’t want to talk about it" Raya stated hesitantly. This was new territory for them, the politics, discussing the future. Namaari had situated herself against the closed door, her hands stuck in her pockets. Her expression was tumultuous. She knew she had pushed Raya a bit far. Shame, maybe, mixed with doubt and nerves, and something else that was dark and heady and made Raya's toes tingle.
Namaari considered Raya for a long moment. “All right,” she said, finally. “I don’t want to talk about it, either.” Raya started to nod, but was surprised when Namaari pushed away from the door. Raya blinked and stumbled back, startled by the sudden movement. Three, four steps
The backs of her thighs hit one of the desks. “What—?” In one movement, Namaari lifted her onto the desk and pressed her back against the wall and—oh. Where before, the kiss had been gentle and cautious, now there was something passionate. Determined. Raya's body dissolved into nothing but sensation. Namaari's hands burned her waist through the skirt’s thin fabric. Her knees pressed against Namaari's hips, and she pulled her closer, closer, like she couldn’t get her close enough. A whimper escaped her mouth, only to be swallowed by Namaari's. She heard a moan, but it could have come from either of them.
But Raya pulled away. "This…” Her voice caught. She tried again. “This isn’t what I wanted.” It took a moment, but then Namaari's dazed look hardened and she pushed herself back even farther. “I mean, it is,” she amended. “Obviously, it is.” Namaari's relief was obvious, and warmed every inch of Raya's body. Namaari's quick, teasing grin spoke volumes. Of course this was what she wanted. Of course it was. “But … not to be a secret,” she said. “I never wanted to be just a clandestine affair” The smile vanished again.
"Okay, Dep La" Namaari whispered, her head turning down.
She fixed Raya with a steely gaze. "Okay. I don't have answers for you right now, but one day, I promise you...".
She glanced at the sun dial and gasped. "I have to go. I'm almost late! Ishan will be done with his daily training soon."
Raya wanted to face palm, but instead gave Namaari an encouraging grin.
"Off you go then, Dep La. I'd forgotten too. You've got this."
With a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek (Raya couldn't help turning her head, still a bit frustrated) Namaari discreetly winced and strode out of the room, going to fetch Noi. (Noi had been in Fang under the guise of a free, all expenses paid vacation with her family). This worked out well, because Noi had a thing for cats. Large cats.
(<:>)
"Time to see where Ishan goes each weekend" Namaari said confidently to Noi.
Noi put her chubby hands on her face, exasperated. "Creep-creep. Gah."
"Hey, I'm not the one who used to use my baby charms to hustle foreign visitors."
"Low bow, Nam-Nam. Low bow."
"Right. I'm sorry."
Noi perked up a little, at least until they saw Ishan stride out of a shop.
"It's your moment girl, let's go get him."
Namaari had fashioned Noi a cat harness (toddler seat?) out of dragon fruit leather (that stuff was tough as nails, after all, just don't tell Raya) and so far, so good.
They carefully padded on the dirt road after Ishan. Fang had expanded a lot after the end of the druuns, but even Namaari hadn't realized quite so much.
Soon they were surrounded by rural fields and forests.
"Middle of nowhere nowhere nowhere" Noi sang softly.
"Quiet, you" Namaari hissed affectionately.
They were at the border. They were crossing the border. Now in the badlands, practically. Lawless.
Why on earth would Ishan be traveling here? He had an apartment in the capitol, Namaari knew that. Although she rarely saw him in it, come to think of it...
They came across a small house, a hut practically, and using binoculars saw a tiny child run outside, loudly wheezing just from a few steps.
Ishan happily picked up the child and spun him around, until the boy began to cough harshly.
Another man rushed outside. "I told him not to run, he wouldn't listen." Still, the man gazed at the child almost -lovingly.
What was going on here?
"The healers still won't look at him because of, well, who I am, obviously, but I have a few days off next week and should be able to travel to Heart. They should have treatment there."
Ishan nodded gently, transfixed on the child, who was a mirror image of him. His son? Illegitimate? Perhaps that's why there was no wife.
"Daddy!" The boy cooed, his arms almost successfully wrapped around Ishan's rather bulging bicep, snuggling into his arm. Yep, that confirmed it.
Once the boy had calmed (and it took a few minutes), Ishan set him in a rocker inside.
He then came back out and embraced the other man and kissed him tenderly on the lips.
Oh. There was definitely no wife, then.
She would never in a million years have expected that much tenderness from Ishan. Even for a lover -er, husband?
Wait, what?!
______________________________________
Hoping you guys don't hate me for this plot twist :). Answers are coming, I promise. Romantic scene paraphrased from Marissa Meyer's novel "Cress."
As always, constructive feedback, comments, and votes are always welcome.
What are your thoughts on this development?
Sincerely,
-NamaarixRaya