[ a life at sea had been freeing, yes, but it has also put a lot into perspective for mal oretsev. the fact that he could no longer feel a magical call home did not mean that his heart did not yearn for land, for the person waiting for him on the shores that he'd let slip through his fingers like the sand of ravka's beaches.
so eventually the hummingbird left the waters, sailed through sea and air only to return toward the palace. the rest of the crew would return to sea but malyen oretsev would not, instead taking his place where his heart felt whole. with alina, with a sense of renewed purpose that was not defined by what he could do to help her in one goal. now he knows he can keep her safe, to be the man at her side even if he has to stand aside and watch an engagement play out before him.
and that-- well, all of that is complicated. mal's learned plenty about himself during his time at sea, where his gaze can turn and linger. returning has made things complicated for where his heart lies in alina's hands, his eyes do linger unbidden on the sharp lines of nikolai's jaw. those lines and angles are the same places alina's gaze lingers and it's not long before she notices, though she says nothing. at least until there's an attempt on nikolai's life and while mal sticks closer at her side, she insists it is the king that needs protection.
she's right.
mal does not find nikolai in his chambers when he goes to check on him, instead he's sure the king has made a run for it. where to, mal's not quite sure. but it sends him on a journey through the winding halls of the palace, determination in his step until he rounds a corner and into the very man he is searching for.
mal's hands shoot out as nikolai groans, bracing to hold the man up and awkwardly landing on his flank. ] And you are the worst patient in Ravka's history.
You're meant to be in your room. In bed. [ but even for the annoyance in his voice, mal's appraisal shows that there's no real new damage and the crease in his brow smoothes. he keeps his hold steady, trying to take some of nikolai's weight as he breathes through the pain of it all. and if he tries to step away, mal refuses to allow it. the poison, from what mal understands, means he is in constant pain. ] Where are you trying to squirrel away to?
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so eventually the hummingbird left the waters, sailed through sea and air only to return toward the palace. the rest of the crew would return to sea but malyen oretsev would not, instead taking his place where his heart felt whole. with alina, with a sense of renewed purpose that was not defined by what he could do to help her in one goal. now he knows he can keep her safe, to be the man at her side even if he has to stand aside and watch an engagement play out before him.
and that-- well, all of that is complicated. mal's learned plenty about himself during his time at sea, where his gaze can turn and linger. returning has made things complicated for where his heart lies in alina's hands, his eyes do linger unbidden on the sharp lines of nikolai's jaw. those lines and angles are the same places alina's gaze lingers and it's not long before she notices, though she says nothing. at least until there's an attempt on nikolai's life and while mal sticks closer at her side, she insists it is the king that needs protection.
she's right.
mal does not find nikolai in his chambers when he goes to check on him, instead he's sure the king has made a run for it. where to, mal's not quite sure. but it sends him on a journey through the winding halls of the palace, determination in his step until he rounds a corner and into the very man he is searching for.
mal's hands shoot out as nikolai groans, bracing to hold the man up and awkwardly landing on his flank. ] And you are the worst patient in Ravka's history.
You're meant to be in your room. In bed. [ but even for the annoyance in his voice, mal's appraisal shows that there's no real new damage and the crease in his brow smoothes. he keeps his hold steady, trying to take some of nikolai's weight as he breathes through the pain of it all. and if he tries to step away, mal refuses to allow it. the poison, from what mal understands, means he is in constant pain. ] Where are you trying to squirrel away to?