What It Takes (Slash II)

After the prestigious ceremony, and after the many hands Zayn shakes, people she meets and greets, and the overwhelming eyes that scan her as if she is still below them (courtesy of that pretty girl with the pink hair and aqua eyes that seems to not like Zayn at all for some reason), Zayn, Chase, and Amur ride their horses behind Zayn's who is in front of the pack behind her. Jeremiah rides his horse beside Zayn with Clarke on the opposite side; the knights ride through the capital as its citizens scream and cheer for the newly awakened hero, but the knights keep their eyes in front of them or peak between the cleared streets and the royal carriage their guard behind them. Zayn, however, is memorized, waving confusedly but happily as citizens scream her praises.

"How are you feeling?" Jeremiah asked, his eyes facing forward as he effortlessly ride his horse. "The ceremony, as short as it was, always feels like a bit much."

"I...I feel much better now that it's over." Zayn said, waving at another passerby as they smiled and cheered at her. "I-I didn't know it'd be like this though. I have done nothing but be given a title, yet such kind people label me a hero? It agapes me."

Jeremiah doesn't say anything at first until he slowly raises the reigns on his horse, beckoning the horse to move a bit faster. 

"You are a humble young lady." Jeremiah said. "They cheer for you because you give them hope, that if anything happens, you'll fight for them--for Avia."

"I gave my word to." Zayn said, clearing her throat. "However, I fear I may do a horrid job, Captain."

Jeremiah pauses, thinking of his words before he speaks again. 

"You only need to try your best." Jeremiah said. "And I am here to always help you, Holy Knight Zayn. That is what I am here for."

Zayn stares at Jeremiah, her mouth agape and her fingers trembling on her reigns until she sees a foreign object drop between her and Jeremiah. They both react at the same time, reaching for the object to realize it is a bouquet of various flowers, its soft fragrance illuminates Zayn's nose as she holds the flowers by their stems, while Jeremiah's large hand grabs the bouquets' stems under Zayn's hand; their hands touch due to the distance between their fingers.

Zayn gawks, feeling her caramel cheeks blaze with a soft flush. Jeremiah isn't too far off, as he averts his bright green eyes, yet his dark skin flushes a bright red. Jeremiah clears his throat, causing Zayn to be released from her trance as she holds her hands to her chest, watching Jeremiah hold the bouquet near his own.

"I assume these are for you." Jeremiah said, gently handing Zayn the bouquet.

Zayn nods her head, a heavy flush to her tan cheeks as she shakily takes the flower bouquet from Jeremiah's hand, delicately placing them between her plump thighs as she numbly rides her horse back to Black Fawne's headquarters. 

...

"Captain!"

It is a voice that snaps Jeremiah out of whatever stupor he is in, his thoughts racing in his head as he still feels Zayn's armor-clad hands touch his own, the smell of the soft fragrance from the sweet flowers, the soft retract of Zayn's hand as she mumbles to Jeremiah soft words of gratitude as she holds the flower banquet in her hands, holding them close to her chest as she cradles them like there are the dearest of flowers.

Jeremiah even remembers Zayn's eyes, which through her heavy helmeted armor are often hard to see, but underneath the heavy sun and bright blue skies, Jeremiah sees both Zayn's one warm goldish brown eye and her other eye mixed with hints of browns and green and grayish blues laced with gentle, soft emotions as they glistened and-.

"C-captain?" Jeremiah jolts up, meeting eyes with a surprised Clarke as she slowly closes Jeremiah's office door behind her. "Are you...alright?"

"Yes, I just appear as if I spaced out, my apologies." Jeremiah said.

"You...do that?" Clarke asked. Jeremiah responds with a raised eyebrow.

"R-right, haha! Anyways, when will the knights meet to discuss the expedition?" Clarke asked. 

Jeremiah clears his throat as he sits straighter in his chair.

"We will all meet tomorrow to discuss." Jeremiah said. "For now, our knights will rest and ready themselves. After our meeting, however, I want them to receive the remaining days to where they may visit their families, or bid friends proper goodbye.

"Do you think we'll have any casualties in our travels?" Clarke said, a hint of fear in her voice.

"With the Gods, there isn't anything certain." Jeremiah said. "Regardless, even if it is the case, we must prepare for the worst."

"I would not stand beside anyone else but you, Captain." Clarke smiles. "You are a great man."

Jeremiah grunts, turning his head and averting his eyes.

"Oh right!" Clarke said, snapping her fingers. "Should I move Zayn to the private dorms now?"

Jeremiah shakes his head, raising a sheet of paper and pointing towards its contents. 

"I suggest maybe after we announce the placements of the recruits tomorrow." Jeremiah said, "The recruits will be meeting their Squadron teams in the afternoon, and then the knights will have time after tomorrow to pack and relax. When we arrive back from our journey to the Gods Realm, you may do so.." 

"Roger that!" Clarke said. "Oh! If Squadron I is meeting tomorrow, three of our members will be missing. Ramon is still in the infirmary, and Eric and Erin are on a small mission, remember?"

"Yes, I sent them to collect bleke for Foster for our very late weaponry order." Jeremiah said, "They should be back in the next few days, Kush is only a half an hour's journey and that's a hotspot for bleke, and Foster isn't at headquarters, so he's probably in his secluded hut."

"It deems that he's in one of his moods..." Clarke said. "I wonder if he and Rita had a fight?"

"You know them..." Jeremiah pinches the bridge of his nose. "Hopefully they'll be back before we leave for the expedition, but in case, I will leave a note for them. They will be temporarily in charge."

"Are you...sure you want to leave them in charge?" Clarke asked, nervousness laced in her voice. "They can...be a bit much when you assign them in charge..."

Jeremiah shrugs, wetting his feather pen with ink.

"Not much for a choice." Jeremiah said. "Besides, someone has to maintain order around here."

Clarke clears her throat, averting her eyes to her feet as Jeremiah quietly writes a note.