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It is a very strange thing for a young man to obscure your way in the morning, but that's exactly what Nash did to Mia.
Unintentionally. He was going to Mia's room in order to bring her the money he's earned since he agreed to help with the city's finances. Unfortunately, it was very late in the day and he was completely exhausted from the work, so he fell asleep propped up against the wall.
She was still a bit drowsy after waking up, so she ended up tripping over his legs and falling in a fairly ungraceful way. This promptly woke up both of them.
“I'm sorry, Mia!” Nash says in apology. “I was waiting for you to answer your door, but you must have been asleep. I was going to leave, but I guess I was just too tired.”
“It's all right, Nash,” she says, propping her head up with her hand. “My fault for not looking.”
The Guildmaster turns so that she's sitting up and facing him.
“I was actually about to go looking for you,” she adds.
“Really?”
The thunder mage is suddenly more alert, feeling important.
“Yes. I think we need to talk about our current work setup. We're both working ourselves to exhaustion, though in different ways. People at Milliways have taken notice of my stacks of paperwork and have suggested that either I get someone to help me do it or I toss it all in the fireplace. And while I appreciate all the work you're doing, I'd rather not find you sleeping outside of my room every morning. The idea came up that we take the workloads in shifts, one of us doing paperwork while the other does mercenary work and switching when we get tired.”
Nash takes it all in, blinking a little. It's a good idea, a great one, even. Precisely the sort of thing Mia comes up with that proves that she is in her right place as Guildmaster. But he also blinks at the implications.
“You trust me that much? You trust me with the work that needs to be done in order to rebuild the city?”
“Of course! You're my best friend, Nash.”
But both of them knew that this offer was more than just friendship, or at least beyond the boundaries of some friendships.
No, they both understood that Mia was essentially asking Nash to take up the duties of the Premier of Vane.
“And what would Draco think of all this?”
“Right now, he's just glad that my biggest worries here are paperwork.”
She tells Nash about the war in Draco's world, how he came back to Milliways looking absolutely awful, and his memory-erase precaution so that Voldemort doesn't find out about her and try to use her against the hapless Malfoy.
“He would actually kill you?” he asks after she finishes, a bit startled. “He doesn't sound that different from Ghaleon.”
“Draco and I have agreed on that point. I wish I could go help, but apparently pedigree is really important there right now. And besides, I have work to do here.”
“But what about when Draco comes back?”
Mia smiles a little. It's nice to hear Nash say that instead of “if Draco comes back.”
Too bad it's partly the result of Nash being bitter towards the git. It's not that Nash wants him dead. On the whole, he can see getting along with him, perhaps even better than those creeps from the Mia Ausa fan club. It's just that he still hurts and figures that it would just be his luck that all of Draco's world could go to Hell in a hamster ball and Draco would still somehow find his way back here.
“I trust Draco, but he isn't familiar enough with Vane to be very productive. And he could use some work in other areas first. The spoiled brat's been catered to his entire life and he just doesn't know how to actually......well.....live.”
Nash ends up smiling a little, too. It's refreshing to hear Mia call her boyfriend a spoiled brat.
“I didn't talk to him much while he was here, so I just thought he was as much of a jerk as I am. So, is he a pampered little rich boy?”
“Essentially. He doesn't seem to like actually doing things for himself. Cooking, cleaning, traveling, the list goes on. At times I think it's a miracle Draco can manage to put one foot in front of the other.”
And Nash almost howls with laughter, saying, “By the goddess! I know I'm pathetic, but at least I'm not that bad!”
“That will change the next time he comes here. I've been meaning to show Draco more of this world, so I wanted to take him on a trip. Have him actually take care of and fend for himself,” Mia says.
“Good luck with that,” Nash snickers.
Though he's laughing, he keeps in mind what she said. A trip. Likely one they'll be taking by themselves. He wonders if they've already.....
But you just don't ask Mia Ausa if she's slept with her boyfriend, especially when you have your own interest in.......well, yes..........
He'd rather not think about it.
“Have you told him about the Premier?” Nash asks, changing the subject slightly.
“Yes. Naturally, he's interested if it means a position of power, but he doesn't like all the aspects of the job. He's said that he would rather be here helping with the paperwork, but given the choice between that and a war, who wouldn't? Quite frankly, I think you're a better candidate for the job, Nash.”
He blushes with importance.
“Will this be made official?”
“I don't know yet, but it's clear that I can't do all of this by myself.”
Both of them are quiet for a moment.
“I guess you will be the Premier Pro Tempore until I decide to make it official.”
She adds with a smile as she stands up, “Just make sure to impress me and the job is yours.”
The temporary Premier scrambles up to his feet, only to bow before her. “I'll do the job to the best of my abilities, Mia.”
“Good. I'll let everyone important know that you're authorized to take on some of my paperwork. Maybe now I won't be so prone to overwork myself. So, should we do the switch day by day or would you rather not keep a schedule?”
It takes him a short moment to get what she means by switch, but he replies fairly promptly, “A schedule doesn't matter to me. We can just decide as we go. Did you want to go out today?”
“Yes, I think I do. I could use some physical exercise more than I can another hand cramp.”
Nash's face sunk a little as he realized what was ahead of him today, making Mia giggle.
“I'm sorry to put the paperwork on you so soon,” she says.
“Don't worry, it's still a nice change from the constant battle.”
“I imagine so, as I hope it will be for me.”
They're quiet as they walk down the hall, ready for breakfast, when an idea hits Mia.
“Nash, when Draco comes back, we should get him to do some of this mercenary work.”
“You think he'll be able to handle it?”
“He'll have to learn sooner or later if he hopes to survive here.”
“That's true enough.”
“Besides, he's expressed a desire to help Vane.”
Nash ponders this. So he and Draco aren't so different, not at all.
“Hmm. I thought you said he was a spoiled brat.”
“Oh, he is.”
“But he actually gives a damn about something other than himself?”
“Well, not at first, of course. When we first met, he fully expected me to be his trophy wife, mother to his heirs.”
This trips up Nash and he just has to ask now, “He has kids?!?”
Mia stops and blushes, “No, not that I know of. I mean he wanted me to.....help continue his family name.”
He looks at her surprised and, before he can stop himself, asks, “Are you-?”
“No, of course not. We know we're not ready for that yet. We've been careful.”
They simply stand and stare at each other, considering what had just been admitted.
So, Draco and Mia had done it.
She really was his in that sense. Mia simply wasn't the type of girl to just go off with anyone. It was almost like looking at Mia after being introduced to her as some other man's wife.
“He is serious about this?” Nash asks, just as he hoped Mia was serious about this if she's going to be doing things that will put her in danger of having her heart broken.
“Very serious.”
Serious enough to suggest an Unbreakable Vow, not that Mia would expect Nash to know what that means. And as for being in danger of having her heart broken, well that's happened in this relationship already.
“Even though it means you won't be his perfect little trophy wife and his family name will die out?”
“We've already established that, if he held to the ideas he had when he first met me, then it would be a waste of his time to pursue me, and yet he does. He told me that I'm not what he thought he wanted. Instead, I'm what he needs.”
Nash finds that it's hard to argue with that, even if he thinks Draco isn't the only man who needs Mia.
“Spoken like someone who knows,” he softly admits.
Looks like Nash has a lot to mull over while he works today. Part of that being exactly what is he going to do with himself and his messed up heart.
Mia certainly isn't a bitch, but unrequited love sure is.
Unintentionally. He was going to Mia's room in order to bring her the money he's earned since he agreed to help with the city's finances. Unfortunately, it was very late in the day and he was completely exhausted from the work, so he fell asleep propped up against the wall.
She was still a bit drowsy after waking up, so she ended up tripping over his legs and falling in a fairly ungraceful way. This promptly woke up both of them.
“I'm sorry, Mia!” Nash says in apology. “I was waiting for you to answer your door, but you must have been asleep. I was going to leave, but I guess I was just too tired.”
“It's all right, Nash,” she says, propping her head up with her hand. “My fault for not looking.”
The Guildmaster turns so that she's sitting up and facing him.
“I was actually about to go looking for you,” she adds.
“Really?”
The thunder mage is suddenly more alert, feeling important.
“Yes. I think we need to talk about our current work setup. We're both working ourselves to exhaustion, though in different ways. People at Milliways have taken notice of my stacks of paperwork and have suggested that either I get someone to help me do it or I toss it all in the fireplace. And while I appreciate all the work you're doing, I'd rather not find you sleeping outside of my room every morning. The idea came up that we take the workloads in shifts, one of us doing paperwork while the other does mercenary work and switching when we get tired.”
Nash takes it all in, blinking a little. It's a good idea, a great one, even. Precisely the sort of thing Mia comes up with that proves that she is in her right place as Guildmaster. But he also blinks at the implications.
“You trust me that much? You trust me with the work that needs to be done in order to rebuild the city?”
“Of course! You're my best friend, Nash.”
But both of them knew that this offer was more than just friendship, or at least beyond the boundaries of some friendships.
No, they both understood that Mia was essentially asking Nash to take up the duties of the Premier of Vane.
“And what would Draco think of all this?”
“Right now, he's just glad that my biggest worries here are paperwork.”
She tells Nash about the war in Draco's world, how he came back to Milliways looking absolutely awful, and his memory-erase precaution so that Voldemort doesn't find out about her and try to use her against the hapless Malfoy.
“He would actually kill you?” he asks after she finishes, a bit startled. “He doesn't sound that different from Ghaleon.”
“Draco and I have agreed on that point. I wish I could go help, but apparently pedigree is really important there right now. And besides, I have work to do here.”
“But what about when Draco comes back?”
Mia smiles a little. It's nice to hear Nash say that instead of “if Draco comes back.”
Too bad it's partly the result of Nash being bitter towards the git. It's not that Nash wants him dead. On the whole, he can see getting along with him, perhaps even better than those creeps from the Mia Ausa fan club. It's just that he still hurts and figures that it would just be his luck that all of Draco's world could go to Hell in a hamster ball and Draco would still somehow find his way back here.
“I trust Draco, but he isn't familiar enough with Vane to be very productive. And he could use some work in other areas first. The spoiled brat's been catered to his entire life and he just doesn't know how to actually......well.....live.”
Nash ends up smiling a little, too. It's refreshing to hear Mia call her boyfriend a spoiled brat.
“I didn't talk to him much while he was here, so I just thought he was as much of a jerk as I am. So, is he a pampered little rich boy?”
“Essentially. He doesn't seem to like actually doing things for himself. Cooking, cleaning, traveling, the list goes on. At times I think it's a miracle Draco can manage to put one foot in front of the other.”
And Nash almost howls with laughter, saying, “By the goddess! I know I'm pathetic, but at least I'm not that bad!”
“That will change the next time he comes here. I've been meaning to show Draco more of this world, so I wanted to take him on a trip. Have him actually take care of and fend for himself,” Mia says.
“Good luck with that,” Nash snickers.
Though he's laughing, he keeps in mind what she said. A trip. Likely one they'll be taking by themselves. He wonders if they've already.....
But you just don't ask Mia Ausa if she's slept with her boyfriend, especially when you have your own interest in.......well, yes..........
He'd rather not think about it.
“Have you told him about the Premier?” Nash asks, changing the subject slightly.
“Yes. Naturally, he's interested if it means a position of power, but he doesn't like all the aspects of the job. He's said that he would rather be here helping with the paperwork, but given the choice between that and a war, who wouldn't? Quite frankly, I think you're a better candidate for the job, Nash.”
He blushes with importance.
“Will this be made official?”
“I don't know yet, but it's clear that I can't do all of this by myself.”
Both of them are quiet for a moment.
“I guess you will be the Premier Pro Tempore until I decide to make it official.”
She adds with a smile as she stands up, “Just make sure to impress me and the job is yours.”
The temporary Premier scrambles up to his feet, only to bow before her. “I'll do the job to the best of my abilities, Mia.”
“Good. I'll let everyone important know that you're authorized to take on some of my paperwork. Maybe now I won't be so prone to overwork myself. So, should we do the switch day by day or would you rather not keep a schedule?”
It takes him a short moment to get what she means by switch, but he replies fairly promptly, “A schedule doesn't matter to me. We can just decide as we go. Did you want to go out today?”
“Yes, I think I do. I could use some physical exercise more than I can another hand cramp.”
Nash's face sunk a little as he realized what was ahead of him today, making Mia giggle.
“I'm sorry to put the paperwork on you so soon,” she says.
“Don't worry, it's still a nice change from the constant battle.”
“I imagine so, as I hope it will be for me.”
They're quiet as they walk down the hall, ready for breakfast, when an idea hits Mia.
“Nash, when Draco comes back, we should get him to do some of this mercenary work.”
“You think he'll be able to handle it?”
“He'll have to learn sooner or later if he hopes to survive here.”
“That's true enough.”
“Besides, he's expressed a desire to help Vane.”
Nash ponders this. So he and Draco aren't so different, not at all.
“Hmm. I thought you said he was a spoiled brat.”
“Oh, he is.”
“But he actually gives a damn about something other than himself?”
“Well, not at first, of course. When we first met, he fully expected me to be his trophy wife, mother to his heirs.”
This trips up Nash and he just has to ask now, “He has kids?!?”
Mia stops and blushes, “No, not that I know of. I mean he wanted me to.....help continue his family name.”
He looks at her surprised and, before he can stop himself, asks, “Are you-?”
“No, of course not. We know we're not ready for that yet. We've been careful.”
They simply stand and stare at each other, considering what had just been admitted.
So, Draco and Mia had done it.
She really was his in that sense. Mia simply wasn't the type of girl to just go off with anyone. It was almost like looking at Mia after being introduced to her as some other man's wife.
“He is serious about this?” Nash asks, just as he hoped Mia was serious about this if she's going to be doing things that will put her in danger of having her heart broken.
“Very serious.”
Serious enough to suggest an Unbreakable Vow, not that Mia would expect Nash to know what that means. And as for being in danger of having her heart broken, well that's happened in this relationship already.
“Even though it means you won't be his perfect little trophy wife and his family name will die out?”
“We've already established that, if he held to the ideas he had when he first met me, then it would be a waste of his time to pursue me, and yet he does. He told me that I'm not what he thought he wanted. Instead, I'm what he needs.”
Nash finds that it's hard to argue with that, even if he thinks Draco isn't the only man who needs Mia.
“Spoken like someone who knows,” he softly admits.
Looks like Nash has a lot to mull over while he works today. Part of that being exactly what is he going to do with himself and his messed up heart.
Mia certainly isn't a bitch, but unrequited love sure is.