Chapter Text
A black-cloaked shadow crept through the night at the western foot of Coatepec Mountain, softly, like a cat on the hunt. However, the woman's prey was much grander than a mouse.
The dark purple and night blue tents of the Fatui camp had not changed a thing in over two decades since she had last been here, and she hoped very much that the habits of a certain Fatui Harbinger also had remained constant: she wouldn't have liked to barge into a quarters of stranger vanguards, especially after today's large-scale clash, with reduced pyro elemental power in her.
Taking a cue from the past, she headed to the right, sneaking behind the outermost tents until she reached the last one, and with a deep sigh, she lifted the thick fabric to carefully peek underneath.
She saw no movement inside, only a single candle was flickering, casting a faint glow on the interior. Ah, maybe she missed it after all? Obviously, she was so naive to think...
"You still have a good sense of being where you shouldn't be."
... or not.
The voice came from a dark corner, cracking like a whip in the silence.
Shit!
With a graceful movement, as if at least she hadn't been caught, she slipped under the curtain and sprang to her feet. The hood of the cape fell from her fiery red hair and she quickly shook it to look as imposing as possible for this long-planned moment.
"That's what the person who stormed into my Stadium just said, after twenty-three years!"
She tried to turn towards her target, but the man's form was completely swallowed by the darkness. She could only roughly guess the direction.
"As far as I know, the stadium is not YOUR property," replied Capitano coldly. " "A free community space for Natlan and its visitors."
"As this place should be, regardless of the fact that you and your cronies set up a camp here illegally. We're now square!"
The man leaned forward in the corner just enough that his silhouette was visible for a moment. He was sitting at a weird angle, like he was in... pain? Come on! She didn't hit that big. Rather, he didn't even care to stand up for her reception.
After a long silence, Capitano grunted in irritation.
"I'm not alone here. You should be more careful what you thrust your nose into."
Oh, so the number one Captain has no control over everything? She couldn't stop herself from stabbing him.
"Well, your beloved Tsaritsa didn't trust that you could acquire the gnosis on your own? Although, that's understandable, since you didn't take it with you last time, when you left in such a hurry. By the way, could you explain, why not? If you didn't have to then, what right do you have to demand from me now?!"
Presumably she hit a sensitive spot with this, because Capitano had been silent for so long that she thought he didn't even deserve an answer.
"I have my reasons." He finally said.
"Always these cryptic speeches! Tell me, what could she offer you that I couldn't? Mora? No, you're not that kind of person who would be interested in that. Herself? It's like you once said she wasn't your type. Maybe blackmailed you with something? It has to be-"
"Mavuika."
The tune of her name in his voice, annoyed, yet soft ... touched her uncomfortably. She didn't even remember if he had ever called her like that, by her first name.
"What?"
"You can hate me if you want, but I won't let you continue this madness."
She would have been surprised if a criticism didn't emerge from the man this time. In this case, she would suspect that's not he is who standing - sitting - in front of her.
"What you call MADNESS, people gave their lives for!" she blurted out angrily. She no longer cared that anyone could hear them, twenty-three years of hurt came to the surface. "Still, who are you to dare to criticize, the one who left Natlan in the darkest hour, and retreated to the comfort of Snezhnaya? I fought alone against the Abyss with Natlan's people, and thank you very much, we did just fine without you!"
She would have liked to charge at him again, but the dimensions of a tent were not exactly ideal for a duel. Neither is her condition. Looking at him, the condition of none of them.
Capitano, on the other hand, just kept silent, instead of his always stiff posture, he just slumped forward, leaning on his knees. The patterns on his helmet were bathed in orange-black shadows from the candlelight, but no light penetrated the darkness covering his face. He looked unusually awkward, which Mavuika couldn't get over.
"You're in pain," she stated the obvious. "I didn't think it would be... this much."
Another growl.
"It's not worth a word."
Mavuika could not have been silenced by this even if she did not want to make her voice heard. This annoying figure really provoked her.
"You thought I was the same as before I actually became a real Archon?! You didn't give it your all!" She snapped at him.
"What makes you think I didn't?"
"We've fought each other many times, I know you could have fend off! Why the hell didn't you fend off?!"
"You used to always overestimate yourself, even though you were much weaker. Now you could finally be proud of what you have achieved, yet you question your own power."
... No, the time has long over when she fallen for such a ruse. He just wants to deflect her, knowing how praise affects her.
"Maybe I haven't become stronger, just more persistent. That's what betrayal does to you."
With furrowed brows, she looked meaningfully at where she guessed the man's eyes behind the helmet.
"Did I betray you? If I had, I can assure you that you would no longer be alive, and everyone else in Natlan would be long dead."
"Oh, how gracious! Perhaps you expect thanks for it?"
Another long silence. What she once found downright delightful in him, now rather annoyed her. She knew that Capitano was not a man of words, he preferred to settle tense moments with his sword, but she wanted answers from him. If there is no other way, she will force out of him!
"No. I don't expect anything." Capitano finally said quietly. "I came to help, because it seems that you are no longer able to maintain order alone with your outdated principles."
He still has a face...!
"I don't want to hear about principles from someone who thinks it's perfectly natural to exterminate nations in the name of judgement!"
"You will never understand!" He snapped, which was just fuel to the fire.
"NEITHER DO YOU!"
Just like in the good old days, they shouted at each other until there was barely any distance left between them. It was no longer a secret to her that something was wrong.
Surely the guards already know that their boss is not alone, but no one dared to disturb them. They probably all feared Capitano as much as they admired him, preferring to let him sort it out himself if anyone came into his tent, for whatever reason. Too many people wouldn't have survived such an adventure anyway.
She understood them, long time ago... she also couldn't resist the phenomenon that this man was. She was charmed by the fact that even though his strength rivaled of the gods, he never flaunted it, never used it for nefarious purposes... in fact, the only thing she resented him for was abandoning her in the time of greatest need.
And now, that the man was in front of her - even though she had trained her soul for years, it weakened her. All along, she had prepared that if he ever ventured back to Natlan, she wouldn't rest until he will be on his knees begging for forgiveness.
Yet, when he fell to his knees in pain before her...
"Why are you crying?" - she suddenly heard Capitano's voice. He had a strange tone, a bit like he was... worried? Huh?
"I'm not crying! I'm just angry. I'd rather beat you until you pass out, and maybe even longer!"
"You can, if it makes you feel better. I won't resist."
This is definitely getting weirder.
"Don't think I will be gentle!" To prove she meant it, she punched him on his shoulder.
Capitano groaned in agony. Oh shit, she forgot that she probably hit just above the wound!
"I never asked you to be."
Well, what the hell is wrong with him?!
In the past, the only time when he spoke to her in "such" a soft voice, was in their most intimate moments, when she pushed him completely over his limits and made him forgot to use his usual, supremely deep tone. How serious can his injury be?
"Show me!" she grabbed the man's collar without seeming to contradict.
A disbelieving sigh escaped Capitano's lips and he grabbed her wrist, ready to push her away.
"Not necessary."
Not the freaks!
"I know you're too proud and stubborn to ask for help, and you'd rather die than have someone take care of you, but I've never seen you so down on yourself. Let me see!"
His protests of "I don't need your pity-" fell on deaf ears, however, and as she firmly began to undo the tiny hidden clasps holding his undercoat together, all his resistance ceased.
Mavuika rolled her eyes as she began an even lower layer held together by even smaller, annoyingly tight staples. Seriously, this guy never left it to chance, getting him undressed is like winning a battle. It is pedantic to the extreme, there is not a flash of skin anywhere, the material is smooth and wrinkle-free. He's so... him. Deep down, she hoped that not many women had bothered to undress him, even if she didn't hope for the pathetic idea that no one but her did.
Capitano grew more and more frustrated as the protective layers of clothing slowly drained from his chest. He tried to push the woman's hand away from him several times, then he had to realize that what she wanted, she would do it even if she had to go against Celestia for it. How annoying!
He hated it when anyone saw more of him than he was willing to show the world - so, mostly his strength, his fighting skills, and nothing else. Everything else was completely irrelevant. And when it came to Mavuika... he wanted to hide from her gaze even more madly.
Why did this woman want to cross his boundaries at all costs?!
His chest... bore the marks of countless battles. Of all the scars and bruises, few were the result of unprotected attacks, all of them the rest was self-inflicted, the results of his own weakness and loss of control... He was disgusted with himself and downright sickened by Mavuika's attention.
The feeling only intensified when a small flame flared up out of nowhere in the woman's palm, illuminating each and every scratch - the most annoying thing was that, no matter how much he wanted to hide, no matter how much he wanted to push her away and cover himself back into invisibility, the warmth of that flame really called him; to pull her closer, and after so many years, finally be able to experience again what it feels like not to be cold.
Mavuika carefully placed her hand next to the wound, horrified by the sight. How the hell was the man able to get that simple punch so full?! In the past, he would have easily dodged it, and there would have been a greater chance of her getting hurt.
True, she had become much stronger with her fulfilled Archon power, but she still felt that was too much. When did Capitano become so...fragile?
Although... the sight of the muscular chest swelling with strength did not justify this assumption. She tried to focus only on the scar, but the old memories suddenly flooded her, and she could almost feel all of his curves in the palm of her hand. Even those, that are still covered by clothes.
Shit... it's not right, it's really not right!
Maybe she should take care of the wound... oh, she fucking shouldn't!
He can thank himself for provoking her, and anyway, he made it clear that they are currently on two opposite sides!
But if she don't help him, as an idiot as he is, he will be able to die in the end. Can he die at all?
She was brought out of her reverie when a gloved hand suddenly landed on her shoulder, and gently pushed her back away from him. She hadn't expected such "non-aggressive" treatment after their battle.
"Enough. You don't have to worry." Capitano said in a muffled voice deep inside his helmet. She wished she only could have seen his face...
"It's pretty arrogant of you to think I'm worried about you!"
That hand was no longer on her shoulder; instead, he reached forward and gently poked her forehead with his index finger, where she didn't notice how deep a crease had formed as her thoughts raced.
Her facial muscles involuntarily relaxed at his touch, but soon she wanted to catch fire, she was so embarrassed. Relax... you can't give up control!
She didn't even add the sea of insults she had come up with over the years. He can't beat her that easily!
She hated that after all these years, he still read her face like an open book, while she had no idea about anything.
"It's fine. Now you see, there's nothing significant." The man said.
True, a scar more or less really fit on the man's body, but this seemed more serious than all of them.
Then he pushed her away, and to Mavuika's greatest annoyance, it felt like something truly precious had been robbed from her in an instant. Why was her mind so... so... wistful?
Finally, Capitano started to rebutton his undershirt, and she literally panicked. Was that all? Can she never... see him like that again?
Before she could think twice, she removed the flame from her own hand, grabbed his shirt and leaned forward, placing a careful kiss above the scar on his collarbone.
She felt the huge male body stiffen into stone in front of her, and all the air seemed to be forced out of his lungs in an instant.
She just smiled to herself at the old knowledge of how sensitive he was in this place, and it was surprising even to herself how much she wanted the experience back to tease him. However, Capitano did not seem to be enjoying the situation. He grabbed her by her waist and held her still, far away from him.
"What are you doing?!" He asked threateningly. "We are both-"
However, before he could finish, she stepped closer, leaving no resistance in his arms. Both of his palms still remained on Mavuika's leather-clad waist, but even through the gloves, his fingers almost burned where the cloth ran out, and went directly to the heat of the bare skin.
He couldn't resist as the distance between them grew smaller and smaller, and when they were so close that he could smell her intoxicating, spicy scent, twenty-three years of hunger came out of him.
That was more than enough for "that thing" to harden in his pants, and regardless of his injury, for the first time in twenty-three years, it tensed excitedly, throbbing with desire for the woman's attention.
And to his chagrin, Mavuika noticed it.