A/N: this has a lot more feelings in it than I originally intended and less smut, huh
Pike didn't often wear her armor in Vasselheim, at least not around her own temple, Sarenrae's temple. She didn't need the gauntlet's of ogre strength in a temple of healing in a city of gods. She tended to feel naked without wearing her maille though, not vulnerable, but alone. Her maille was from her days with Vox Machina. It spoke to her of deep friendship and family not made from blood.
Without it, she felt singular.
It wasn't that there weren't people who cared about her in Vasselheim. Sarenrae was growing in popularity as of late, now that she had been revealed as one of the old gods, they felt like it was more acceptable to worship her than before, and so many people needed healing, but Sarenrae's worshipers were not Pike's friends. Pike was their leader, a stalwart religious pillar, Sarenrae's avenging Angel.
It was dinner time in Vasselheim, so the temple was empty, and Pike found herself the solitary soul in the rebuilt temple. Physically alone, the way she rarely was these days, surrounded by people who wanted to touch the divine. Being alone wasn't peaceful, it worried like a hole in her heart. Pike wondered if she needed a little healing herself.
She wandered towards the front of the temple, where the statue of Sarenrae stood, a serene beacon of hope. She let her steps echo the space. There was no need to try and be stealthy here. Not that it would have worked.
Everything sounded so hollow.
She kneeled before the statue, head bowed, one hand on her amulet, the other hand splayed on the ground before her. The tiniest of supplicants.
"Sarenrae." She breathed. "Sarenrae, you have given me so much. So it feels wrong to ask for one thing more. But I do not feel myself in this place. It is a solitary road being the leader of a revival and I am not a solitary being. I miss my friends. I miss having people around me who aren't surprised when I drink them under the table. I miss playing games with Grog. Please, Sarenrae, I don't want to be alone anymore."
Pike waited. She felt nothing. No divine warmth. No light. No sign that Sarenrae heard her or thought her request important. Perhaps being solitary was her designated cross to bare.
Pike was shaken out of her reverie by the temple doors slamming open.
She was on her feet in an instant, being inside Vasselheim for a few months had not dulled her adventuring instincts.
"Didn't disrupt, did I?" The small figure in the doorway asked gruffly. Pike thought she recognized the voice, but it was hard to see with the glare of the sun behind her.
"No." Pike took a deep breath. "I had just finished up." She brushed non-existent dust off her knees.
"Good." The figure stomped forward, plate armor clacking as they neared. Without the glare behind them, Pike recognized familiar brown skin, with a jagged scar, and wild hair.
Pike let out a shaky, relieved breath, hand back on her amulet. "It is good to see you." She could feel the sting that meant there were tears in her eyes.
"Well, there's no need for that is there?" Kima pulled a blue scarf out of somewhere and passed it to Pike. "I'm no use with tears, so stop it."
"I'm sorry." Pike sniffled. "I was just praying about how alone I felt with out any friends and now here you are. I'm just very happy."
Kima smiled. "Well, I guess then, I'm the answer to your prayers. I came to ask you to keep me from the horror of being alone with the others of my order for dinner. Want to join me for something less stoic?"
Pike laughed. "Of course."
Kima took Pike's hand. "Don't worry we'll have fun tonight." Then she kissed Pike on the cheek and led her out of the temple.
Re: Pike/Kima, A temple isn't just for praying
Pike didn't often wear her armor in Vasselheim, at least not around her own temple, Sarenrae's temple. She didn't need the gauntlet's of ogre strength in a temple of healing in a city of gods. She tended to feel naked without wearing her maille though, not vulnerable, but alone. Her maille was from her days with Vox Machina. It spoke to her of deep friendship and family not made from blood.
Without it, she felt singular.
It wasn't that there weren't people who cared about her in Vasselheim. Sarenrae was growing in popularity as of late, now that she had been revealed as one of the old gods, they felt like it was more acceptable to worship her than before, and so many people needed healing, but Sarenrae's worshipers were not Pike's friends. Pike was their leader, a stalwart religious pillar, Sarenrae's avenging Angel.
It was dinner time in Vasselheim, so the temple was empty, and Pike found herself the solitary soul in the rebuilt temple. Physically alone, the way she rarely was these days, surrounded by people who wanted to touch the divine. Being alone wasn't peaceful, it worried like a hole in her heart. Pike wondered if she needed a little healing herself.
She wandered towards the front of the temple, where the statue of Sarenrae stood, a serene beacon of hope. She let her steps echo the space. There was no need to try and be stealthy here. Not that it would have worked.
Everything sounded so hollow.
She kneeled before the statue, head bowed, one hand on her amulet, the other hand splayed on the ground before her. The tiniest of supplicants.
"Sarenrae." She breathed. "Sarenrae, you have given me so much. So it feels wrong to ask for one thing more. But I do not feel myself in this place. It is a solitary road being the leader of a revival and I am not a solitary being. I miss my friends. I miss having people around me who aren't surprised when I drink them under the table. I miss playing games with Grog. Please, Sarenrae, I don't want to be alone anymore."
Pike waited. She felt nothing. No divine warmth. No light. No sign that Sarenrae heard her or thought her request important. Perhaps being solitary was her designated cross to bare.
Pike was shaken out of her reverie by the temple doors slamming open.
She was on her feet in an instant, being inside Vasselheim for a few months had not dulled her adventuring instincts.
"Didn't disrupt, did I?" The small figure in the doorway asked gruffly. Pike thought she recognized the voice, but it was hard to see with the glare of the sun behind her.
"No." Pike took a deep breath. "I had just finished up." She brushed non-existent dust off her knees.
"Good." The figure stomped forward, plate armor clacking as they neared. Without the glare behind them, Pike recognized familiar brown skin, with a jagged scar, and wild hair.
Pike let out a shaky, relieved breath, hand back on her amulet. "It is good to see you." She could feel the sting that meant there were tears in her eyes.
"Well, there's no need for that is there?" Kima pulled a blue scarf out of somewhere and passed it to Pike. "I'm no use with tears, so stop it."
"I'm sorry." Pike sniffled. "I was just praying about how alone I felt with out any friends and now here you are. I'm just very happy."
Kima smiled. "Well, I guess then, I'm the answer to your prayers. I came to ask you to keep me from the horror of being alone with the others of my order for dinner. Want to join me for something less stoic?"
Pike laughed. "Of course."
Kima took Pike's hand. "Don't worry we'll have fun tonight." Then she kissed Pike on the cheek and led her out of the temple.