[Open] That One Where There Is A Guard And A Bird

[skyward_eyes]

Who; Nida, Open
What; Stopping Crimes, Experiencing The Harbor, Trying Some Art
Where; Markets, Docks, Central Fountain
When;
Warnings;

I. Foiling the Crimes | The Markets
Really, he had to wonder at how foolish people could be to make trouble in the markets on any given day. This was one of the more carefully patrolled parts of the city. Not just that, there were merchants that weren't beyond hiring their own people to protect their things. But this? This was hilariously stupid.

Seriously, someone trying to extort a merchant in the markets for money? Well, it's extra hilarious because Nida wasn't even in uniform today. He was off, his uniform at home, because he was doing errands today. Even Hibiscus wasn't in her uniform saddle, just in the training one that Nida had, lightened up so he could put his purchases on her back. Still, Nida saw it going down, and like he could stand by. He whistled a careful command to Hibiscus, and her training was coming on well. The bird pulled her lead from his hand and strode off a bit down the road, slowing down traffic a bit. Meanwhile Nida slid up behind another person in the market and whispered in their ear.

"Hey, I'm with the guard and I'd like to borrow you for a brief little thing. Wanna help me catch some people trying to set up a protection racket?"


II. Missing The Shores Of Home | The Harbor
Summer was the time he missed Balamb the most, and it wasn't something Nida shared very much. Home was a place that he had no intention of returning to, after all. Balamb wasn't where he belonged anymore. He belonged with Ignis, wherever that was. But there were moments, faint and rare, where his heart ached for the shores of Balamb, or the forests near there. The mountains had been where he'd learned his climbing skills first, the forests where he had refined them. He'd grown up in the nature that had characterized Balamb Island, and he wanted it in this moment.

It would of course not be a feeling that lingered even come another day, but here Nida was anyway, embracing it. He sat on a dock, boots on the dock beside him, his legs and bare feet dangling over the water. Not that he'd jump in, but damn, the smell of it, while not quite right, is almost home.

"Fuck, I just... wish i could see it one last time."


III. Practicing The Softer Skills | Central Fountain
There aren't a lot of times that Nida takes a lot of time for himself. He's a guy that is always driven to doing more, some echo of an absolute need to be busy. A SeeD should always be doing things, and maybe he wasn't a SeeD anymore, but damn that drive was still there.

So Nida took the time when he could, and today the time was taken by the fountain. Hibiscus, the almost adult red chcoobo, lay on the ground in front of him, curled up, and Nida's feet were up on her saddle. He was sitting with his back against the fountain, a sketch book in his lap as he was busy drawing. His mind was very distracted though, because he was having issues with picking something to draw. He'd already sketched a bit of Hibiscus's head, his boots, a distant building, even someone passing by.

And damn, he just can't get something to coalesce in his mind enough for him to focus on any one thing well. Frustrated he flipped to the next page, earning a concerned warbling from the bird.

"Yeah, I know. Guess I'm just a bit stressed. Sorry."

Comments

2

[areasontohope]

Yuki was travelling during his time before he had to go home. Usually Jacob came to pick him up or he walked to where the other was. He got out a little earlier than intended and went to the harbour on a blue chocobo that wasn't Haru.

And as he securely tied the bird to the railing, he happened to catch sight of sensei. Was there a problem? Shouldn't he be with Mister Scientia? Well there was something he did want to talk to the man about, so he went down the steps leading to where his teacher was.

He tried to be quiet as he didn't want to startle the man in case he was working on something important. So he then overheard what was said. So then Yuki attempted to make some sort of noise though he highly doubted he'd snuck up on the man.

"See what sensei?"

[skyward_eyes]

Yeah, he hadn't snuck up at all. Enhanced senses thanks to Siren, and she really was a blessing in that way. He gestured for a spot for Yuki to sit if he wished to.

"Balamb Island. Or maybe just the place in Timber forest where I was born. I barely remember it."

[areasontohope]

He was happy that Nida offered him a spot on the dock to sit down at. Gestures like that always had a habit of making him feel welcomed in situations he wasn't sure about.

So he slowly lowered himself down and listened. "You were born on an island?"

[skyward_eyes]

"Not at all. But from when I was about eight until my arrival here, I was raised and lived on one. Balamb was sub-tropical, with mountains and forests and of course the Fire Caverns. And beaches."

He missed fish. He missed curry. He missed all of home sometimes.

[areasontohope]

Yuki mentally tried to go back to when he was eight but that was just a bunch of memories that he didn't want to go through right now. So he focused on sensei.

"That sounds like a lot to go see and do."

His shoulders came down and he tried a small smile. "Maybe you can go see it when you leave here."

[skyward_eyes]

It is a lot to see and do, and he'd agree with it if his student hadn't suggested what he had.

"I don't intend to ever go back there. When I leave here, if I leave here, it's with my husband."

He'd find a way. He swore he'd find a way.

[areasontohope]

Yuki had to smile softly and turned away from sensei when he had his voice sounding so full of conviction. There were so many questions he had swimming around in his head. But instead he decided to go with something more neutral.

"I'm sure you will if you leave here."

And somewhere deep inside he realized that he'd miss Nida if he left.

[skyward_eyes]

"I don't want to leave," Nida sighs, shaking his head. That sounds like the worst.

"Wouldn't have my lovely students if I did."

[areasontohope]

Yuki smiled again about not wanting to leave. True if any of them left, there would be the gamble of whether or not they would be able to leave with those they loved.

And that was hard.

He then smiled more, a little bit shyer this time because of Nida's words. "That's true but you might find other students." This was him stalling too, because he really wanted to bring up Jacob, but wasn't sure how to as of yet.

[skyward_eyes]

They probably wouldn't, which was why Nida wanted to stay, to have his life.

"There's no call for me to teach elsewhere. This is what I can do, it's all I can give. To try and teach my students all I can, so my skills are passed on."

[areasontohope]

He thought of Mono inheriting most of Nida's more peculiar skills. But at least he was teaching someone, right? Nida taught him and Jacob fighting skills and he'd kicked his significant other's ass more than a few times.

Those things would be up to Jacob to tell sensei though.

"What made you want to teach those things?"

[skyward_eyes]

Some of Nida's more peculiar talents would pass with him. No one needs more assassins.

"I taught polearms back in Garden. I never meant to teach it here actually. But Jacob would get into so much trouble, and then you came to me, so..."

So he had taught.

[areasontohope]

Yuki had to laugh a little. "Those polearms seem pretty big and unwieldly. Yet you seem to just use them as if they don't weigh anything."

He couldn't bring himself to say it was almost breathtaking to watch them move as sensei moved them.

"And I don't know if Jacob knows how to stay out of trouble."

[skyward_eyes]

"Oh come on, they are SUPER wieldy!" Nida insisted with a smirk. "And they don't weight that much at all."

And he'd had a lot of training with it.

"Jacob knows a lot about finding trouble. It's impressive."

[areasontohope]

"Ya right." Yuki half laughed, looking at sensei's smirk. But sensei of course made it look that way whenever he managed to catch the man whirling the polearm around as if he was a natural with it.

But then he smiled as Nida mentioned Jacob's penchant for trouble. "I don't really know if impressive is the right word. But trying to keep him away from it can be a full time job in itself."

[skyward_eyes]

"They are. You just haven't learned it. You chose my less polished skills instead," Nida said, because it's true.

Thing was, Nida didn't know if Jacob even wanted to avoid trouble at this point.

[areasontohope]

He had to laugh. "I'm still learning a lot, whether they're less polished or not."

Underneath the laughter, Yuki was concerned that Jacob was just a magnet for trouble. But that man was the reason the grey haired young man had decided to take up learning to fight. If his other half was incapacitated, it was going to be up to him to fix it or heal his boyfriend.

Or both.

[skyward_eyes]

Well, that makes Nida at least feel nice. That he might be helping Yuki.

"At least you're a devoted student that makes me feel okay with the blade in hand again."

Even if he doesn't like the idea though.

[areasontohope]

He nodded. "I have someone I have to protect, so I have to take the lessons seriously." There was a small smile because he was sure sensei would know who he was referring to. But still, he'd meant what he said.

"So thank you for your time to teach me what I need to know."

[skyward_eyes]

"Yeah, I think Jacob might also be looking to protect you," Nida pointed out.

They were so adorable, the way they were about each other. Nida hoped he was half that interesting with his own husband.

"You know I'm never going to deny you that time."

[areasontohope]

Yuki just smiled and shook his head. "He's the one that needs looking after."

And if he were asked, the younger man would say they had been plenty of adorable at their wedding.

There was a genuine smile at the last. "Thank you sensei."

[skyward_eyes]

Nida cuhckles. He can't argue with Yuki's point there. Not at all.

"You're always welcome, by dear student."