Mothers of the Heart

[bard_linn]

Title: Mothers of the Heart
Content Warnings: None
Pairings: None
Summary: Sekoko comes home to visit her foster son. 
Originally Posted in: The Wholesomely Debauched & Enabling Bookclub Discord

Sekoko Seko sighed a little as she finally crossed the threshold of her home. It had been a long day. A long series of days, really. She looked forward to the eventual time when the Immortal Flames would return to their normal duties, but so far that had yet to happen. They had lost so many of their numbers in the battle of Carteneau. Everyone was taking double or even triple shifts to try and keep the capital safe, to say nothing of the relief efforts that had consumed the weeks immediately following the battle.

The Lalafell removed her weapons, hanging them by the doorway before making her way into the house proper. “Willow?”

“In the kitchen!”

Sekoko headed into her wife’s favorite room, smiling a little to see her hard at work. Graceful Willow was an incredible woman, a lovely Roegadyn who not only dominated household tasks, but traded with a deceptively soft smile on her lips. Her family dealt in spices, and thus Willow had found it helpful to present clients with the fruit of her hands, that they might know what could be made with their purchases. “How did things go today?”

“Well enough. Joshua is a little tired out from the healing, but I think he’ll be able to come down for dinner.”

“I’ll check on him, then.”

Sekoko headed upstairs, bypassing the room she shared with Willow to open the door of what once had been their guest room. Inside, a young Hyur sat on his bed, a thick tome in his lap, blue eyes focused on the print in front of him. Beside him lay a red carbuncle, gently nuzzling his hand. “Good evening. Made a new friend, have you?”

“Sekoko!” Joshua smiled. “You’re home.”

“Aye, I am. And if things go well, I might even be home tomorrow, too. At least for the morning.” Sekoko surveyed the boy before her. She had found him in the devastation of the Carteneau battlefield, clearly exhausted and injured. At first she had seen him into the care of the medics, but when he’d had no place to go, she had taken him home with her. She had never considered being a mother before, but she did not regret the decision to give him a roof over his head. Already he had become incredibly dear to her, a son of her heart, if not of her body. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired, but better,” Joshua admitted. Sekoko nodded in satisfaction. According to Joshua, he had been ill most of his life; his lungs in particular were quite fragile. Thankfully the conjurers of Gridania, as well as potions made by the Alchemists’ Guild, were able to mitigate most of his sickness. It wouldn’t be pleasant, taking medicine for the rest of his life, but it would be far preferable to falling ill so often. “I’ve been reading about arcanima.”

“Thus your new companion, I take it.” Sekoko had seen carbuncles nipping at the heels of various adventurers before. This one seemed rather taken with its young summoner.

“Yes!” Joshua’s eyes brightened. “Arcanima is very interesting. You can do a lot with very little power, and store things in your grimore so you can use it later!”

Sekoko nodded along as Joshua explained the mystic world of arcanists to her, not following a damn word. She was a swordswoman through and through, and had no head for complicated geometries or arithmetic. But it was clear Joshua was interested, so she would do her best to support him, even if she had no idea what he was doing. Arcanima, from her limited understanding, was relatively gentle on the body, unlike thamaturgy or conjury, though given Joshua’s mind she had little doubt he’d be poking at those as soon as he was able.

“Well, that sounds mighty fine.”

Joshua’s lips twitched. “Really? Because I just said I’d summon a sabotender.”

Thal’s balls. Caught. Sekoko laughed. “All right, no sabotenders. And I may not understand, but I can tell you’re interested, so we’ll make sure you get back to Limsa Lominsa for some more lessons, how’s that sound?”

Joshua gave her a startled look, making Sekoko’s heart clench. Sometimes he did that, looking surprised at a little kindness. It made her wonder what his family had been like before he came to Eorzea. He hadn’t shared much with them, yet, and her instincts told her she needed not to push.

“Would that be all right?”

“A boy your age, already summoning a carbuncle? I think Mistress Thubyrgeim would probably hunt me down if I kept you away. Besides, it’s a cute little fellow. ‘Tis no bad thing to have a friend with you when you’re wandering around Ul’dah.”