fic: Certainly Fond Of You (1)
Dec. 20th, 2018 11:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bonnefoisTitle: Certainly Fond Of You (1)
Series: Ace Attorney
Character/pairing: Amara, Nahyuta/Ema (Nahyuta/Ema)
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 1900
Summary: Nahyuta and Ema's relationship as seen from the outside.
Author's note: Consider this a spiritual sequel to A Certain Fondness. Missing scene from 6-3
Happy Holidays, OblivionIsAtHand. Also, thanks to her for looking it over.
AA6 spoilers abound.
"UGH! Pick up already!"
A foreigner?
Amara glanced into the gardens through the doorway of Rayfa's residence. a woman stood near the wooden bridge, amid the beautiful gardens, and before Amara's very own tomb. She certainly didn't look like the royalty and wealthy businessmen who came to Khura'in to look beyond the veil. Long brown hair cascaded down her back. A long lab coat hid so much, and left Amara with only questions.
As she turned, Amara took in the details: the ribboned heels and capris, fashionable and insensible for this climate. Her dark green eyes were filled with irritation as she pushed a button on her device again.
"Come on, Prosecutor Sahdmadhi! I am not getting another Divine Punishment because you wouldn't pick up!"
The sound of that name was like an icy vice about her heart. Sahdmadhi, the name of the husband who had betrayed her and yet she was too weak to ever let go of, and the son who had grown up without her.
Ga'ran had punished him for his father's sins. Even though it was as the laws demanded it left such a cold and empty feeling at what her Yuty had been forced to endure. Stripped of his title, treated as if he was tainted and cursed, even half-human and half demon.
And yet, he had risen above and now taken on the role of prosecutor. She saw him, sometimes. He truly resembled her...no, he was more beautiful, she thought. His hair was the same color as hers, and was braided thick and long down his back. He was tall, like his father, yet more graceful, and willowy.
Dhurke is the proof that you cannot take the throne again. I will keep you safe from this, but I need your help Ga'ran had told her. And she was right, of course. Ga'ran had warned her at first about Dhurke, and she had married him anyways. And now she took her sister's place, the hidden Grand Priestess.
No one would dare cross Ga'ran, and that was what kept her safe. But it was a safety without her own child and husband. Still, her sister had shown her a thousand small kindnesses. She had been allowed to raise Rayfa, and there were key moments she had been able to see of Yuty's life. Even though he was a rebel, and had sided with his father. Amara had still seen his graduation, when he'd passed the bar.
Amara strode a little closer. In her robes, she was given a certain privilege of invisibility. Had her little Yuty found himself a foreign girl to bring back? What a bittersweet feeling it was. Her little boy grown enough to have a serious girlfriend--maybe even wife, one day.
She'd only seen fragments of his life. And what she had seen were tinged with pain. Yet, there was nothing she could do to make this better. Dhurke had forced her hand.
(Even in her resignation, her heart beat a little faster at the thought of him. Her traitorous heart was why Ga'ran had the throne now.)
The woman angrily pushed at the buttons of her device, and let out a sigh of frustration.
"Ho ho ho. Trouble in paradise?"
The woman squinted, likely trying to place her.
"I am Nayna, Rayfa's caretaker. I know all of the secrets of the country. Ask me what you need."
"Got any psychic powers? If you do, spare me some and tell me where on earth Prosecutor Sahdmadhi went to. He said he wanted this data processed immediately, then he pulled this vanishing act so I can't give it to him. I tried to give it to the guards, but they have no idea what I'm talking about."
"He respects and values those who work with him, so if you cannot reach him, he must either be in prayer, or meeting with the queen."
"Respects and values? Ha!" She tossed her head indignantly. There were sparks of passion her deep green eyes. "That's sure a good one! He was so nice back in L.A. and now all I'm getting is orders! And this whole place is really intense. I didn't expect it."
"Your law is so different?"
"I mean, they don't execute the lawyers, just the criminals," she said.
"So your lawyers are allowed to corrupt the system without any check?"
"Our lawyers are fine. The prosecutors, though--a lot of them are jerks, and corrupt creeps to boot. I get to work with Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth sometimes, though."
All her frustration dispelled as she said the name of this high-ranking prosecutor. Oho, it looked like Yuty had competition.
"There is a saying within our country: the Prosecutor is the hand of Heaven on earth."
The woman looked more than a little annoyed at this. "So, what, they're like deities here?"
"Prosecutors guard the law. They must be impartial, and strong enough to smite all evil and weakness around them. He must act like a proper Prosecutor within the confines of out country."
The woman twirled her brown hair around her fingers. "Figures."
"Take it from an old woman: these little married spats fizzle out soon enough."
"He's my boss," she said.
"Oho, that's all?"
"As far as I know. For now, anyways. I can't read him at all!"
For now? Oh, how interesting. So she wasn't quite as angry with him as she seeemed... And what a feisty woman he'd brought back, too.
Yes, Yuty had grown up just like Amara. Like her, he withdrew when he was upset, he was just as stubborn and even more beautiful than she ever could've imagined a son of hers would grow to be. Every time she caught him in the halls, and he looked past her, not even knowing his own mother was more salt in the wounds.
(And she repeated what her sister had told her: I was merciful to let him live. Accept that, move on. Blame Dhurke who stole your life away.)
"Ugh, I can't read what he planned by dragging me out here." She puffed out her cheeks. "He told me there would be forensics here, great forensics. And that he wanted to show me them..."
"And did you see any wonders?" she said.
"There was a lot of unexpected things, but I don't know that I'd call them forensics and science... But I haven't been able to disprove them. It could be a big scientific discovery, and I guess I wasn't tricked after all..."
"No, he is very honest. He always has been," she said.
For a moment, Amara wondered if she'd said too much, as the woman grew quiet. However, the woman's gaze was far beyond her. Amara turned to see, and let out a shaky breath.
Every time she met a Sahdmadhi man, she was a little heartbroken. One for the past they'd once shared, one for the past she'd missed. She mourned for every future moment she would not see. Even if she was granted the mercy of being able to raise Rayfa as Nayna, she lost her little Yuty.
He'd grown so tall, just like his father. And oh, how he wore that golden and white prosecutor's uniform. She still remembered the day she'd snuck in to watch him bow and take the prosecutor's oath.
She ducked her head as he came near, and let the fabric drape away. He knew her only as Rayfa's maid and she would keep it this way. To keep him safe, to keep them all safe.
Not that she need to have worried that Nahyuta would see past her disguise. He barely even paid her any heed, his gaze was magnetically caught by this foreign woman. Any doubt, or thoughts that the girl was merely an assistant was lost as she saw the way he looked at the woman.
She hadn't seen Yuty smile in a long time, and yet he unwittingly thawed the moment he saw this woman. Did he even see how transparent he was in his feelings? Did he know how much his mask had fallen?
How brazen, sneaking his love right into the country, right under the nose of Ga'ran herself. As much as he had gained Amara's traits, there was still some of Dhurke within him, hidden away.
Yuty, do you still have the heart of a rebel within you? Do you still serve Dhurke?
"Did you eat?"
"What? No, I was calling you, and then you didn't call back. I can't talk and eat at the same time."
"Then eat, and calm yourself."
"Calm myself? I would be calm if you answered the phone already!"
He placed his finger to his thumb. "The queen requested my presence. I could not have any distractions."
She opened up a bag, and took several bites of some kind of sweet. She finally took a breath, and seemed at least somewhat less enraged.
"You always grow more agitated when you're hungry," he said softly.
"I'm agitated because I don't want to be punished for something I already did on time because you're late."
"Fear not, no such thing shall come to pass."
"I want to believe that of you, but you've been so--cold. Distant. I can't believe I'm telling you this to your face--but it's seriously a problem."
She dug deep into the bag of sweets and grabbed another piece.
"It is the Khura'inese way," Nahyuta said softly. "My thoughts upon it aside, this is the role I must play.:
"Oh, does this mean you'll be all nice again when we're back in L.A.?" the woman said sarcastically.
"To you, yes. To the defense, not so much."
"I got what you asked, anyways. And no complaining about how it's late! I worked hard to track you down to be on time."
"Thank you for your service. Your diligence and promptness is always very appreciated."
All her anger dissipated. She brushed her brown hair back. "Yeah, yeah..."
"Now, that this is completed, shall we go eat? There is a place..." He spoke so softly, Amara couldn't hear from this far. But, the woman broke into a smile.
"Fine, but you're paying."
"Of course...."
She didn't hear the rest of Nahyuta's response, it was quiet, intimate. A low chuckle lost in the midday sun.
Amara walked away into the shadows of Rayfa's residence without a word to them. Had she even said her goodbyes, neither would've likely heard her, given how utterly wrapped up in each other they were. Even as she knew she should let her son fall in love in peace, she couldn't help but watch this moment.
Despite everything, her mind went back to a decades ago, where a renegade lawyer had stolen her heart. Even through the pain that happened, he still owned it.
Oh, Dhurke. Our son's grown, and fallen in love. Have you seen? Do you know? So much time has passed since then, and yet it feels as if none. To me, I am still your wife...
As many times in the past, her thoughts rose up towards him, always towards him. Time hadn't healed the wounds. Whoever had said that adage was a liar.
And would that be it? Would she haunt him through the shadows as her son married?
At least he would be alive. As her sister had said this is unwarranted mercy. I have let Dhurke and his son live, and even let Nahyuta regain his status. This is the furthest thing from justice imaginable. I know that Dhurke clouds your mind, but know that this is the only mercy I can spare Dhurke's line.
Amara closed the gate behind her. Perhaps, if her sister was merciful, she could watch them from afar for many years yet. Maybe she could even offer to help watch their future children.
And even the though was bittersweet. Beneath her robes and new name, Amara took one last glace as her son continued to grow without her.
Series: Ace Attorney
Character/pairing: Amara, Nahyuta/Ema (Nahyuta/Ema)
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 1900
Summary: Nahyuta and Ema's relationship as seen from the outside.
Author's note: Consider this a spiritual sequel to A Certain Fondness. Missing scene from 6-3
Happy Holidays, OblivionIsAtHand. Also, thanks to her for looking it over.
AA6 spoilers abound.
"UGH! Pick up already!"
A foreigner?
Amara glanced into the gardens through the doorway of Rayfa's residence. a woman stood near the wooden bridge, amid the beautiful gardens, and before Amara's very own tomb. She certainly didn't look like the royalty and wealthy businessmen who came to Khura'in to look beyond the veil. Long brown hair cascaded down her back. A long lab coat hid so much, and left Amara with only questions.
As she turned, Amara took in the details: the ribboned heels and capris, fashionable and insensible for this climate. Her dark green eyes were filled with irritation as she pushed a button on her device again.
"Come on, Prosecutor Sahdmadhi! I am not getting another Divine Punishment because you wouldn't pick up!"
The sound of that name was like an icy vice about her heart. Sahdmadhi, the name of the husband who had betrayed her and yet she was too weak to ever let go of, and the son who had grown up without her.
Ga'ran had punished him for his father's sins. Even though it was as the laws demanded it left such a cold and empty feeling at what her Yuty had been forced to endure. Stripped of his title, treated as if he was tainted and cursed, even half-human and half demon.
And yet, he had risen above and now taken on the role of prosecutor. She saw him, sometimes. He truly resembled her...no, he was more beautiful, she thought. His hair was the same color as hers, and was braided thick and long down his back. He was tall, like his father, yet more graceful, and willowy.
Dhurke is the proof that you cannot take the throne again. I will keep you safe from this, but I need your help Ga'ran had told her. And she was right, of course. Ga'ran had warned her at first about Dhurke, and she had married him anyways. And now she took her sister's place, the hidden Grand Priestess.
No one would dare cross Ga'ran, and that was what kept her safe. But it was a safety without her own child and husband. Still, her sister had shown her a thousand small kindnesses. She had been allowed to raise Rayfa, and there were key moments she had been able to see of Yuty's life. Even though he was a rebel, and had sided with his father. Amara had still seen his graduation, when he'd passed the bar.
Amara strode a little closer. In her robes, she was given a certain privilege of invisibility. Had her little Yuty found himself a foreign girl to bring back? What a bittersweet feeling it was. Her little boy grown enough to have a serious girlfriend--maybe even wife, one day.
She'd only seen fragments of his life. And what she had seen were tinged with pain. Yet, there was nothing she could do to make this better. Dhurke had forced her hand.
(Even in her resignation, her heart beat a little faster at the thought of him. Her traitorous heart was why Ga'ran had the throne now.)
The woman angrily pushed at the buttons of her device, and let out a sigh of frustration.
"Ho ho ho. Trouble in paradise?"
The woman squinted, likely trying to place her.
"I am Nayna, Rayfa's caretaker. I know all of the secrets of the country. Ask me what you need."
"Got any psychic powers? If you do, spare me some and tell me where on earth Prosecutor Sahdmadhi went to. He said he wanted this data processed immediately, then he pulled this vanishing act so I can't give it to him. I tried to give it to the guards, but they have no idea what I'm talking about."
"He respects and values those who work with him, so if you cannot reach him, he must either be in prayer, or meeting with the queen."
"Respects and values? Ha!" She tossed her head indignantly. There were sparks of passion her deep green eyes. "That's sure a good one! He was so nice back in L.A. and now all I'm getting is orders! And this whole place is really intense. I didn't expect it."
"Your law is so different?"
"I mean, they don't execute the lawyers, just the criminals," she said.
"So your lawyers are allowed to corrupt the system without any check?"
"Our lawyers are fine. The prosecutors, though--a lot of them are jerks, and corrupt creeps to boot. I get to work with Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth sometimes, though."
All her frustration dispelled as she said the name of this high-ranking prosecutor. Oho, it looked like Yuty had competition.
"There is a saying within our country: the Prosecutor is the hand of Heaven on earth."
The woman looked more than a little annoyed at this. "So, what, they're like deities here?"
"Prosecutors guard the law. They must be impartial, and strong enough to smite all evil and weakness around them. He must act like a proper Prosecutor within the confines of out country."
The woman twirled her brown hair around her fingers. "Figures."
"Take it from an old woman: these little married spats fizzle out soon enough."
"He's my boss," she said.
"Oho, that's all?"
"As far as I know. For now, anyways. I can't read him at all!"
For now? Oh, how interesting. So she wasn't quite as angry with him as she seeemed... And what a feisty woman he'd brought back, too.
Yes, Yuty had grown up just like Amara. Like her, he withdrew when he was upset, he was just as stubborn and even more beautiful than she ever could've imagined a son of hers would grow to be. Every time she caught him in the halls, and he looked past her, not even knowing his own mother was more salt in the wounds.
(And she repeated what her sister had told her: I was merciful to let him live. Accept that, move on. Blame Dhurke who stole your life away.)
"Ugh, I can't read what he planned by dragging me out here." She puffed out her cheeks. "He told me there would be forensics here, great forensics. And that he wanted to show me them..."
"And did you see any wonders?" she said.
"There was a lot of unexpected things, but I don't know that I'd call them forensics and science... But I haven't been able to disprove them. It could be a big scientific discovery, and I guess I wasn't tricked after all..."
"No, he is very honest. He always has been," she said.
For a moment, Amara wondered if she'd said too much, as the woman grew quiet. However, the woman's gaze was far beyond her. Amara turned to see, and let out a shaky breath.
Every time she met a Sahdmadhi man, she was a little heartbroken. One for the past they'd once shared, one for the past she'd missed. She mourned for every future moment she would not see. Even if she was granted the mercy of being able to raise Rayfa as Nayna, she lost her little Yuty.
He'd grown so tall, just like his father. And oh, how he wore that golden and white prosecutor's uniform. She still remembered the day she'd snuck in to watch him bow and take the prosecutor's oath.
She ducked her head as he came near, and let the fabric drape away. He knew her only as Rayfa's maid and she would keep it this way. To keep him safe, to keep them all safe.
Not that she need to have worried that Nahyuta would see past her disguise. He barely even paid her any heed, his gaze was magnetically caught by this foreign woman. Any doubt, or thoughts that the girl was merely an assistant was lost as she saw the way he looked at the woman.
She hadn't seen Yuty smile in a long time, and yet he unwittingly thawed the moment he saw this woman. Did he even see how transparent he was in his feelings? Did he know how much his mask had fallen?
How brazen, sneaking his love right into the country, right under the nose of Ga'ran herself. As much as he had gained Amara's traits, there was still some of Dhurke within him, hidden away.
Yuty, do you still have the heart of a rebel within you? Do you still serve Dhurke?
"Did you eat?"
"What? No, I was calling you, and then you didn't call back. I can't talk and eat at the same time."
"Then eat, and calm yourself."
"Calm myself? I would be calm if you answered the phone already!"
He placed his finger to his thumb. "The queen requested my presence. I could not have any distractions."
She opened up a bag, and took several bites of some kind of sweet. She finally took a breath, and seemed at least somewhat less enraged.
"You always grow more agitated when you're hungry," he said softly.
"I'm agitated because I don't want to be punished for something I already did on time because you're late."
"Fear not, no such thing shall come to pass."
"I want to believe that of you, but you've been so--cold. Distant. I can't believe I'm telling you this to your face--but it's seriously a problem."
She dug deep into the bag of sweets and grabbed another piece.
"It is the Khura'inese way," Nahyuta said softly. "My thoughts upon it aside, this is the role I must play.:
"Oh, does this mean you'll be all nice again when we're back in L.A.?" the woman said sarcastically.
"To you, yes. To the defense, not so much."
"I got what you asked, anyways. And no complaining about how it's late! I worked hard to track you down to be on time."
"Thank you for your service. Your diligence and promptness is always very appreciated."
All her anger dissipated. She brushed her brown hair back. "Yeah, yeah..."
"Now, that this is completed, shall we go eat? There is a place..." He spoke so softly, Amara couldn't hear from this far. But, the woman broke into a smile.
"Fine, but you're paying."
"Of course...."
She didn't hear the rest of Nahyuta's response, it was quiet, intimate. A low chuckle lost in the midday sun.
Amara walked away into the shadows of Rayfa's residence without a word to them. Had she even said her goodbyes, neither would've likely heard her, given how utterly wrapped up in each other they were. Even as she knew she should let her son fall in love in peace, she couldn't help but watch this moment.
Despite everything, her mind went back to a decades ago, where a renegade lawyer had stolen her heart. Even through the pain that happened, he still owned it.
Oh, Dhurke. Our son's grown, and fallen in love. Have you seen? Do you know? So much time has passed since then, and yet it feels as if none. To me, I am still your wife...
As many times in the past, her thoughts rose up towards him, always towards him. Time hadn't healed the wounds. Whoever had said that adage was a liar.
And would that be it? Would she haunt him through the shadows as her son married?
At least he would be alive. As her sister had said this is unwarranted mercy. I have let Dhurke and his son live, and even let Nahyuta regain his status. This is the furthest thing from justice imaginable. I know that Dhurke clouds your mind, but know that this is the only mercy I can spare Dhurke's line.
Amara closed the gate behind her. Perhaps, if her sister was merciful, she could watch them from afar for many years yet. Maybe she could even offer to help watch their future children.
And even the though was bittersweet. Beneath her robes and new name, Amara took one last glace as her son continued to grow without her.
