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alottanothing · 4 years

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Left to Ruin: Chapter Eight

Summary: With no better plan, Nouke risks returning to the palace of her youth, hoping her friend is still the kind boy she remembered.

Previous Chapters

Word Count: 5853

Warnings: Some slight aggression because Kahmunrah is a piece of shit, other than that it’s mostly lighthearted fluff.

Tag List: @xmxisxforxmaybe, @r-ahh-mi, @theultraviolencefan, @hah0106, @rami-malek-trash, @diasimar, @sherlollydramoine, @flipper-kisses, @ivy-miranda-2390, @txmel, @sunkissedmikky, @concentratedsassandcandy, @babyalienfairy, @edteche2 (Let me know if I missed you, or if you would like to be added to the tag list)

A/N: The reunion chapter is finally here! I hope you guys enjoy this one--it’s one of my favorites of the whole story. As always, thank you all so SO much for the likes and reblogs and the comments. Your comments fill me with so much motivation and I cherish the hell out of all of them. 💕 Again, as a disclaimer, I am not an ancient Egyptian expert and google only knows so much. So yeah, I took so historical liberties while writing this to make my life easier, but tried to keep it as “authentic” as possible

The next morning, Nouke woke on the rooftop with an odd sense of calm for the first time in what felt like years. When she found sleep in the few hours before the dawn, the rest that greeted her was dreamless--a blissful contrast from the haunting images that had plagued her slumber in the recent weeks. And Nouke chose to see that pleasant void of rest as a sign her foolish idea wasn’t actually so foolish. The majority of the day passed as normal. She went about her chores on the farm as she usually did—with diligence and a finesse that came with years of hard work—stealing glances at the sun. Every hour it sank lower into the horizon, was another step closer to what she hoped would be a solution. That day, while her mother worked at her side, Nouke found Maketaten’s spirit akin to what it once had been: another sign Nouke took to mean her reckless plan was the right thing to do.

Maketaten still struggled to finish the food on her plate in the evenings, which served to remind Nouke of the necessity of her plan—never mind any apprehension she felt of her own well being.

After their meal, Nouke helped her mother to bed once she cleared away the scraps of food left on the table. With a steady grip, she easily anchored herself to Maketaten’s side and guided her to where they slept in the adjoining room.

“I think I’m going to take a walk before bed,” Nouke mentioned.

Maketaten smiled, “I pray you find peace on your venture.”

Her mother made herself comfortable on the sleeping mat as best she could and Nouke kissed her on the forehead. She took a moment to memorize everything about the woman who had given her life: her graying hair, the lines on her face, and the impossible kindness in her eyes despite all the years of hardship. Every tiny detail Nouke kept in her heart incase her plan ended poorly.

“I love you,” Nouke murmured.

“I love you, my sweet girl,” she smiled back. “Now go, and be safe.”

Nouke promised not to be gone long—praying her words not be a lie and cloaked herself in a hooded robe before making her way to the palace.

The path to the West Garden wall was not one she had trekked before—at least not from her farm. Nouke did, however, have dozens of memories of playing on the banks of the Nile with her friend to steal directions from. All she needed to do was follow the mighty river, and her feet would carry her to familiar shores.

She wove through Waset’s market streets with practiced ease, through the city's center and down to the docks were the waters of the Nile glistened like a thousand gems in the moonlight. Her feet were already aching by the time she reached the docks with half a journey still to venture. Nouke stopped only a moment to rub the sores of her calloused feet before venturing on.

Every moment north she strode along the banks Nouke spent fretting over every conceivable way her plan could go awry. By the time she came to the palace wall, her heart was pounding and the ache in her feet no longer mattered.

Logic and reason were both screaming vehemently in her skull—one at war with the other. Logic pleaded she turn back and think of another way to help her mother, while reason instilled her with imprudent motivation.

That reckless commitment didn’t begin to ebb until she found all the stones on the wall perfectly in place and immediately, her stomach churned at the thought that maybe their secret passage had long ago been sealed.

How fitting, she thought. It only made sense that his world was closed off forever; their paths split even further apart.

Nouke wasn’t sure how many stones she pushed until one finally gave away, and when more began to fall, a wave of relief brought a smile to her face. Part of her was thrilled the plan was working, while a larger part was thrilled with the prospect of seeing her friend again after so many years. She had to remind herself there was no guarantee Ahk would still be the kind boy from her youth—the boy who always helped her when she needed it most.

Nouke prayed salvation would be waiting within the walls of the palace. The only promise, however, was the one Kahmunrah left with her family the day she’d been cast out.

“That doesn’t matter,” she told herself firmly, ignoring logic and siding with reason. She had come too far to back out.

The fit was tighter than she remembered, but Nouke managed to squeeze through without too many scrapes. Only when her feet settled in the soft soil of the West Garden did realization strike with a flurry of emotions she was not prepared to combat. After years of living in exile, she was standing in a place her adult self only dreamed of stepping foot in once more.

The garden was quiet, and with a surveying glance, she found herself alone. A sigh broke past her lips, both relieved and disheartened. Things would have been so much easier if Ahkmenrah was already in their oasis.

Nouke lingered, hidden in the lush greenery lining the towering walls, taking the time to gather herself before she went further. Every one of her senses filled to the brim with nostalgia; memories flooding into her mind faster than she could comprehend them. Nouke's heart raced with fear and fervor. Tears threatened to fill her eyes with happiness despite the looming danger.

All at once, Nouke was overcome with the wonton need to lay in the plush patches of grass and wade in the fountain the way she had countless times as a child. Everything was still as serenely beautiful as she remembered it to be--it had weathered time far better than she had.

Nouke forced her eyes shut and shook the memories out of her mind's eye; she was there for her mother, not for herself. With a deep breath, she tapped into the same reserve of determination that helped her through the break in the wall moments ago, lending her the motivation to step into the empty garden.

The stones were cool beneath her feet as she treaded lightly out of the emerald oasis and into the gilded corridors of the palace. Almost instantly, her momentum stilled. The halls were always like a maze, but in her youth, she had mastered their secrets; yet as Nouke stood openly in the glow of torchlight, she had no idea where to begin her search for the pharaoh.

Quickly, she filtered through all the possible places one would be able to find the king. There was the throne room, the council chamber, as well as his private chamber; most of which were off-limits to servants without a summons. The likeliness she would find him in one of those forbidden rooms was high, and she took a moment to decide which one she would search first. The throne room was closest.

Nouke’s feet moved keenly along the polished floors—foolish and brazen to a degree—with the hope she would simply come upon the one person in all of Egypt who could help her on a whim. When voices or the cadence of footfalls echoed near, she ducked behind statues and columns until it was safe to venture once more—a sort of dance Nouke garnered more thrill from than she knew was wise. Her smile was difficult to quell every time she evaded passer by’s; each time her heartbeat more unbridled adrenalin through her veins making the threat of the pharaoh's brother less of a concern.

As she turned down another empty hall, the sound of voices met her ears and Nouke skillfully took cover behind a wide column etched to the ceiling with hieroglyphs. A group of palace guards marched by without ever looking her way, fueling that rush that kept a grin on her face. The moment they were out of sight, Nouke boldly stepped back into the hall colliding with another human being.

Before she could utter an apology, she looked to find Kahmunrah staring down at her like a beast who had just captured its prey.

The surge of adrenalin that had filled her with thrill, was suddenly the only thing keeping her from panicking. Her heart all but stopped as dread closed in around her, and immediately shifted her focus to the floor so her hood fell to hide her face from his scrutiny. Nouke kept her breaths steady, knowing it would be better to stay calm and not draw unnecessary attention. She could feel the heaviness of his leer as he sized her up and felt the irritation that was undoubtedly twisting onto his face.

She wanted to scream and curse him for what he had done to her, but Nouke kept her eyes averted at all costs.

A snap split the silent air, echoing in the hall, causing Nouke to jump hearing the sudden sound, and again her body jolted when hulking men descended upon her. Like Kah’s men years before, they held her by her arms with an iron grip that stung, tightening with even the slightest of her movements. Kahmunrah said nothing as he turned on his heel, chin arrogantly pointed forward as he waved over his shoulder for the men to follow.

The moment his cold eyes were no longer baring upon her, Nouke risked a glance forward to take in the man strolling several paces ahead. Time had not changed Kahmunrah for the better; he still carried himself with an air of hubris unbefitting of his title. A prince he may have been, but he walked as though he were pharaoh. The sight drove her hatred of the man who’d caused hardship to befall upon her family even deeper.

For a single moment, Nouke considered her odds of wrangling free and making a run for it. She was thin, but working day after day had put some muscle on her bones. Surely the men restraining her underestimated her strength, but would she be quick enough? Possibly; but if she ran and was caught, her situation would not be made better. Nouke wasn’t about to accept defeat, but she also was wise enough to play the game as long as the outcome remained in her favor.

Nouke was ushered into a chamber she’d never seen before; there were shelves of rolled papyrus, a desk with stools, along with a few other pieces of ornate furniture: an office of some kind. The wooden doors shut behind them with a baleful thud that made her jump again, and with a few more deep inhales Nouke willed herself to keep her composure wound tight.

Her eyes followed Kahmunrah with predatory focus. His ability to destroy her was the furthest thought in her mind; instead, Nouke continued to weigh the likeliness of escaping to freedom. Finally, Kah turned to face her, smiling the same sinister smirk she hated.

“It’s not often a common thief makes their into these walls.” The indifference in his tone allowed some of Nouke's apprehension to lesson—he didn’t recognize her.

“It’s an impressive feat,” he chided, and Nouke couldn’t tell if he was mocking or being genuine. “How did you manage it?”

Nouke didn’t reply, much to his displeasure, and kept her focus far away—just to be safe.

“Perhaps you didn’t hear me,” Kah’s tone rapidly lost its indifference, shifting into one seething with irritation. “I asked, how you managed to sneak in here past the guards.”

Again, Nouke kept her focus trained on the floor and her lips sealed. She wasn’t about to give up the location of the passageway in the garden.

“Speak!” he shouted, his short fuse already at its end.

Kahmunrah ripped one of the small idols off of his desk and threw it across the room when she refused him a third time. His temper spilled into the room like a thick fog, stirring fear within her that she valiantly fought back. Angry words tumbled from his mouth coated in venom as he banged his fists on nearby surfaces, scolding his men for letting a thief—a woman no less—get past them.

Her silence and her reluctance to look at him only seemed to fuel his anger, which would have been comical if she wasn’t trespassing and in the presence of a man who had promised to kill her.

“Look at me!” he growled, crossing the space separating them in a couple of wrathful stomps.

“I want you to look at me!” Aggressively, Kahmunrah grabbed her by the throat, squeezing just enough to make breathing difficult, forcing her focus to meet his.

Tears brimmed her eyes, a result of the pain and her struggle for air. He pulled her face close to his, eyes black with fury.

“You will tell me how you got in, or I will throw you into the Nile and let the crocodiles do my work for me.”

Kahmunrah’s piercing eyes bore into her own; his features twisted into a snarl like a rabid beast. At that moment, a flicker of faint realization softened his gaze—his fiendish expression shifting as his memories stirred. And for the first time, Nouke felt genuine fear writhe in her gut.

Before his memory could piece everything together, the doors behind her flew open with another loud noise that caused everyone to jump.

“Kahmunrah, what is the meaning of this?” a deep and powerful voice called out.

The men who’d been ordered to restrain her suddenly dropped to the floor into a kneel, lending Nouke the evidence she needed to figure out who had entered.

“Who is this?” the pharaoh asked, an authority to his voice that made Kahmunrah’s demeanor crumble slightly; no longer was he the man with the most power in the room.

“Release her,” the king demanded and without hesitation, Kahmunrah’s hand fell limply back to his side.

Nouke choked, sucking in the unrestricted air too quickly, and her palms rubbed away the phantom feel of Kah’s fingers until her skin was almost raw. It took everything in her not to lunge forward and tackle the pharaoh’s brother to the ground, overcome with the need to strangle him. The beaten dog expression Kah’s face held, however, was satisfactory enough.

“She’s a thief, little brother. I was dealing with a criminal, as criminals are to be dealt with,” Kah explained with a bravado that seemed to challenge his brother’s grand title.

After Nouke regained her composure and steady breaths that no longer choked her, she looked upon the boy from the garden for the first time in years.

In a word, he was beautiful.

Ahk was regal draped head to toe in finery that complemented his olive skin. The black Kohl around his eyes was a vivid chiaroscuro to the swirling blue-gray of his irises. Her fingers twitched at her side, yearning to reach out and run them along his sharp jaw; he was breathtaking.

Despite his presence awakening dormant longings, Nouke reminded herself risking her life by stepping back into the palace was not for her own benefit, but her mothers. She pulled the laces of her composure a little tighter, compelling herself not to lose sight of why she was there.

Ahkmenrah offered a fleeting glance at first, one with only mild concern but mostly indifferent. His heedless gaze should not have dismayed her the way it did, but the sharp pang of disinterest was too poignant to ignore. And again, Nouke had to remind herself she was there for her mother, not herself. It didn’t matter whether or not Ahk still held her favor, she just needed him to still be kind enough to help.

Nouke moved her focus away from Ahkmenrah, both glad and disheartened the brothers had not recognized her. Kah’s reasons rambled from his tongue in a continuous barrage and arrogant tone that the pharaoh looked utterly bored by. In that boredom, Ahk’s focus shifted, finally meeting her gaze.

Almost instantly the mask of indifference melted away as realization consumed his features in a show of varying expressions. Nouke swallowed a sudden nervous lump and smiled faintly, with a single nod, reassuring him that she was who he thought.

Bafflement coupled with joy and mixed with unbridled excitement on his stately features—Ahk’s smile almost blinding to behold. He quickly masked them, however, to keep his brother from noticing.

The pharaoh raised an open palm and a moment later, the trail of word's spilling from Kahmunrah’s mouth came to an abrupt end.

“Enough, brother,” he said with his kingly bravado. “You did well seizing this thief. Leave me now so that I may ask her why she was foolish enough to trespass here.”

Nouke watched Kah’s face shift between his brother and herself as a puzzled expression cemented on his boorish features. It seemed like hours passed between those glances, every second her heart was pounding against her ribs in fear that his ignorance would run out, and he would know her. She watched him as best she could without truly looking; if there was any suspicion as to who she was, it was buried under the questioning furrow he wore.

“This is a trivial matter, brother—too much so to concern a king,” Kah proclaimed.

“On the contrary,” Ahk recanted. “This is a matter that concerns my people—nothing trivial at all.”

Kahmunrah frowned, eyes growing narrow with suspicion and after a cumbersome silence, he folded. He left with a forced bow to the pharaoh and a snap of his fingers that called his guards to follow him out.

The arduous quiet remained after the wooden doors shut with another leaden sound, stretching far longer than both cared to let it, though, neither knew what to do or say in their newfound privacy. There was so much lost time, where did they even begin?

Nouke's avid heart thrummed in the silence, leaping from her chest to her throat as she tried to piece together words to say. She couldn’t even bring herself to look at him, knowing her pulse would surely quicken embarrassingly so if she did. Still, from the corner of her eye, she caught the gleam of torchlight glinting brightly against the gold of the crown fitted to Ahkmenrah’s head.

All at once, the realization settled: she was in the presence of a son of Ra, a god-king: Pharaoh of Egypt. Her heart leaped again, this time out of fear of offending, and without another thought, Nouke fell to her knees, bowing her head.

“Your majesty!" she husked out. “Please forgive my intrusion. I’ve come to speak with you.”

When he didn’t immediately reply, Nouke’s breaths stilled and her stomach churned. She didn’t move, but she listened, hearing the light scuff of his sandaled feet moving along the stone floor as he approached. The pharaoh knelt, and with a gentle touch, his fingertips tilted her chin so that her eyes met his own.

Nouke was sure time stopped at that moment while she searched his stormy eyes for the compassion and goodness that was a staple of his character when she knew him years ago. Before she could finish, a smile unfurled slowly at first, until finally, it consumed his entire face—there’s the boy I remember.

“It’s you…” he murmured with wonderment that spread visibly across his features, affirming her hope. His tone was airy, light enough to be swept away on the most insignificant of breezes, as though he could hardly believe she was real.

Nouke let her held breath escape her lungs in a sigh of blissful relief.

Ahkmenrah’s hands found hers, taking them warmly as he guided her to stand. His pale eyes never left hers, shining like the waters of the Nile under the moonlight—glistening like faceted gems as he marveled.

“It is…” Nouke’s words flowed the same as his—light and billowy—her words making Ahkmenrah’s smile grow impossibly wider.

“Nouke.” The sound of her name falling from his lips after so many years was like the sweetest of melodies. She smiled finally as the shock began to ebb. He was really there.

“Ahk…” It felt so good to say his name, so natural. “…Or should I call you, my king, now?”

He shook his head, biting his bottom lip as he grinned through a chuckle, “No, just Ahk.”

When silence fell around them again, it was not marked with unease or emotional strain; what remained was uninhibited wonderment that made both of their heart's race. They both drank in the sight of the other, taking that moment to memorize the changes in the other’s face. Time was kind to her prince; his features were regal and sharp but not without the softness she admired. The years, Nouke feared, had been less forgiving to her.

Her skin was darkened by hours in the sun, making every line across her face twice as visible. There was no softness to her that she could tell, just a work-worn face perpetually covered by sand and grit—hands riddled with thick, scratchy callouses. Ahk’s hands were so soft in hers. The lightness of his skin a contrast to her own, screaming the different paths they tread—a thought that stole the smile from her lips.

Ahk noticed her shift in demeanor and gave her hands a gentle squeeze before leading her to a nearby bench. He never relinquished her touch, and the eagerness she found twinkling in his eyes was that of the boy she grew up with, making her heart swell.

“I’m so happy to see you,” he beamed. “I want to know everything that’s happened since your family decided to leave the palace.”

Suddenly, the wonder left her features, and her brow creased into a heavy furrow.

“Decided to leave?” Nouke asked. “What do you know of my family's departure?”

Ahk’s smile faded as he read her confusion, his own uncertainty mixing into his expression.

“I only know what I was told,” he admitted. “My mother said your family left of your own accord. I thought it strange, but I didn’t question it. Should I have?”

A hint of anger began to boil inside Nouke, anger from the pain of that day so many years ago and what became of her family since. None of it was Ahk’s fault; in fact, some of that anger was for him and his mother—someone had lied to them. She reigned that ire back, however, deciding there was nothing to be done about it.

“We didn’t want to leave, Ahk. We were cast out—my father was almost executed. We were all almost executed for a crime none of us had anything to do with.”

His big eyes grew impossibly wider, his mouth hanging slightly open from shock.

“What? How?”

Nouke did not like to think about that day, nor the emotions doing so always stirred, but Ahk deserved to know the truth—not whatever his brother told them. With a sigh, she built up the resolve it would take to tell her friend of that fateful day, from the beginning.

She started by explaining the way she and her family were brought to Kahmunrah in the throne room, the case of the missing tablet, and how her father was condemned without real cause.

“…there is nothing more frightening for a thirteen-year-old then almost being put to death.” Nouke swallowed the lump in her throat as she spoke.

The shock on the pharaoh’s face slowly shifted into anger the likes of which Nouke had never thought imaginable for her kind prince to possess. Still, he was strangely calm when he spoke.

“What happened next?”

“The council managed to talk him out of executing us given there was no proof,” she shrugged. “We were given the choice to live in a cell until there was proof or banishment. Kah promised us if we ever set foot in the palace again he would see to our punishment himself, which isn't hard to guess what he meant.”

“Did he know you just now?” Ahkmenrah asked as some of the anger faded to fear on his face.

Nouke shook her head, “I don’t think so.”

As quickly as it had come, the fear faded from his features.

“Good,” he breathed, giving her hands another warm squeeze, brushing the soft pads of his thumbs across her skin. “My father would never have let that happen to you—I never would have let that happen to you.”

“I know,” she said without hesitation.

Nouke got lost momentarily in his presence, feeling her grasp on reality slipping the longer he looked at her so fondly. It was so easy being with him again—so natural.

“Was your tablet ever found?” Nouke asked suddenly, blinking back to reality, too stubborn to let herself fall under his spell. You are not here for yourself!

“The day my father and I returned to Waset, Kah told us it was found,” Ahk said with a nod and a look of skepticism that Nouke’s features mirrored.

The entire ordeal always felt suspicious; the knots in her stomach kept Nouke wondering if Kahmunrah was somehow behind the whole thing—stealing it, framing her family. However, she pushed that particular speculation from her mind. It was not her place to accuse members of the royal family of crimes.

She sighed, suddenly displeased and defeated.

“I’m so sorry all of that happened to your family,” Ahk said, his voice only an octave or two above a whisper. “The years were kind, I hope?”

The sincerity in his tone crashed against her with such genuine benevolence Nouke wanted to lie. The truth would surely pull away the soft smile on his features, and she didn’t want to leave him with any second-hand guilt over what had become of her and her family.

With a steadying inhale, she cast him a smile even though she knew it lacked the joy often found in such a gesture, and she nodded. When his smile stretched further, urging her to tell him of her life, Nouke chose to filter out the pieces that could steal his grin away.

She told him of their farm, the evenings she spent in the market, and the city’s center—how it reminded her of their West Garden. Nouke never mentioned the nights they went hungry, or how they were hardly surviving now with no one to help plow their entire fields. She couldn’t burden him with such knowledge.

“And what of your parents? Are they well?” he asked.

Nouke couldn’t keep her frown from twisting onto her features; even after so many years, her grief was still palpable.

“The gods took my father four years ago,” she said quietly.

She felt the tight affirmation of Ahk’s hands around hers once again, and it was enough to soothe some of the sorrow that stirred from the memory.

“I’m so sorry, what can I do to help?” he asked. “Anything for you.”

Nouke’s lips ghosted into a smile hearing the compassion she’d always adored.

“Actually, that’s why I’ve come—to seek your help.”

Ahkmenrah scooted closer, his attention all hers.

“Tell me,” he implored.

“My mother,” Nouke began, willing her voice to stay even. “She’s ill. After what happened with my father—the money we have is not enough to pay for a healer's skill. I-I didn’t know where else to go.”

Nouke hung her head to keep him from seeing the tears welling in her eyes as the familiar inkling of helplessness loomed. She did not want to cry in front of her pharaoh, but her emotions were betraying her.

Ahk lulled her gently, tilting her chin so he could look once more at her face—the kindness in his eyes soft and overwhelming.

“What are the signs of her malady?” he asked. “I will consult my healer's first thing tomorrow so that we can make sure your mother maintains her health.”

Nouke listed them as best she could, describing the severity of each, and she could almost see Ahk file every detail away safely in his memory to call upon come the dawn.

“Please do not worry,” he gently begged. “Your mother was kind to me. I am honored to be given the ability to help her.”

The sweetness of his words crushed part of her composure, prompting one of the tears she’d been fighting to restrain to spill over. Whether it slipped down her cheek out of relief she had finally found a way to help her mother, or because of the compassion and kindness Ahkmenrah offered so freely, Nouke wasn’t sure. Nevertheless, she struggled to fight the urge to lunge forward and yank him into an embrace so tight he might have feared she was trying to crush him.

Instead, Nouke pulled her hands from his grasp and slid off the bench into a kneel, unsure how else to show a pharaoh the level of her appreciation. Before she could make it to the ground, however, Ahk stood, pulling her back to her feet with him.

“You never need to kneel to me,” he promised.

His hands lingered on the bare skin of her arms where he’d gently guided her to her feet. His thumb swept back and forth so tenderly until he reached to tuck stray hairs behind her ear. Goosebumps prickled in the wake of his feather-light touches—so familiar but so much more intimate than she remembered, and without reason, Nouke stepped closer to him.

Ahkmenrah was intoxicating—his warmth, the kindness in his eyes, the way his fingers felt like wisps of satin across her skin. The thick velvet of his voice captivating to her ears. Nouke would have known true happiness trapped in that moment forever, yet every flickering gleam she caught dancing in the shine of his crown reminded her she could never have him.

Before long, she would lose him again. Destiny dictated that he would remain within the palace to rule, and she would slink back to her farm where they would walk their separated paths until the gods claimed them.

Nouke smiled only to keep from frowning, but the sadness in her tone was something she couldn’t mask.

“Thank you,” she told him, stepping out of his grasp before her heart grew anymore attached. “I need to get home. I've already been away much too long.”

Although she wasn’t looking at him, she could feel Ahk’s eyes watching her tentatively, as though he were trying to decipher the doleful expression hidden in her smile.

“Then I will escort you.”

He held out his arm with a charming side smirk, dripping with a playful arrogance that made her heart flutter—a remnant from their childhood together. Such casual intimacy would make her miss him all the more, but she quickly wound herself around him, causing his grin to grow.

Kamuzu was waiting outside the door of the chamber and Nouke found herself smiling, having almost forgotten Ahk’s personal Medjay. He was just as stoic as she remembered, with an underlying kindness that always made her admire him.

Kamuzu said nothing, looking to both, raising a brow in silent question.

“Kamuzu, you remember Nouke?” Ahk reintroduced with a grin.

“I do,” Kamuzu said, a faint upturn to his lips, and he bowed his head respectfully. “It is good to see you, lady Nouke.”

“You too.”

Kamuzu fell behind them as Ahk guided her through the halls of the palace almost proudly. The palace was quiet given the lateness of the hour but several guards passed by, each one kindling Nouke’s paranoia that one of them would be Kahumunrah’s men. Ahkmenrah pulled her closer to his side, as though he’d sensed her apprehension, and wanted to reassure her he would never let anything happen to her.

When they reached The West Garden it was alive with the soft sounds of insects singing in the silver cascade of moonlight as the desert breeze rustled the leaves in time with their somber symphony. Ahk easily found his way through the line of foliage, and to where the passage out of his world waited. His eyes wandered to the hole in the sandy wall, a slight quirk to the corners of his lips.

“I suspected this was how you managed to get in without the guards noticing.”

He grew quiet as his eyes stayed fixated on the break in the stones, and slowly his upturned features became heavy with an expression akin to regret.

“I thought about running away through this wall so many times to find you...I should have.”

Nouke wanted to ask what stopped him, but she felt she already knew the answer. Like her, he knew his place and the responsibilities therein. For him, running away was more than abandoning his family, running away meant abandoning an entire nation. Ahkmenrah was too good to be greedy.

She stayed quiet, unsure she could conjure a reply that wouldn’t make her heart ache more than it was already beginning to. Whatever was growing between them: infatuation, desire. Nouke needed to keep it from blossoming further to save them both, and she untangled herself from his hold��abruptly empty on account.

The look of hurt that flashed over his features was difficult to miss even though the pharaoh worked to hide it quickly. She felt it too—the loss of his touch was excruciating.

As they lingered, neither looking at the other, both not wanting to say good-bye, the silence grew poignant.

“Thank you,” Nouke said finally, making haste to leave before her emotions got the better of her.

“Wait,” Ahk stepped to block her way, his words sounding desperate.

His hands gripped the upper part of her arms to stop her before gently sliding to take her hands in his.

Logic screamed at her to pull away from his tender touch, in order to spare her a lifetime of heartache, but it was a battle Nouke was hastily losing. She met his eyes, matching their intensity.

“Meet me here tomorrow as the sun is setting,” he implored. “The council will think I am at prayer—no one will question my absence. I will have your mother’s medicines by that time.”

Ahkmenrah’s muted excitement was contagious, and Nouke grinned despite her better judgment.

“Is that a demand, my king?”

Ahk’s features burst into a brilliant grin.

“Yes.” He pulled her into a tight embrace.

Nouke’s breath caught as she fell into him, enveloping herself in his presence, squeezing back just as snugly. Her eyes even drifted closed and when Ahk laid a kiss to her cheek, allowing it to linger long enough to make it more than a friendly gesture, Nouke knew she was falling into a path she couldn’t tread.

“Tomorrow?” Ahk asked again as he pulled away to meet her eyes.

Nouke grinned, unable to keep hope from ruining her.

“Tomorrow,” she murmured.

Next Chapter-> Chapter Nine: What We Have

#Ahkmenrah #Ahkmenrah x Original Character #Ahkmenrah Fanfiction #Night at the Museum #NATM #NATM Fanfiction #Left to Ruin #Rami Malek Character #Rami Malek Character Fanfiction #Rami Malek Fanfiction #Rami Malek

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tachinanabananase · 5 years

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makoharu fic rec list? 🙏

Oh gosh, where do I even begin with this!! So many fics I love, and sooooo many amazing authors, some who I’ve even been lucky enough to become friends with! I’ll do my best to include as many as possible and that I remember (it’s been a while since I went through my favorite fics, and I’ve read so many that keeping track is difficult. Like you really have no idea. there’s 24 pages of history in my AO3 account, and that doesn’t include one’s I’ve read while not logged in. So you can imagine, it’s hard to separate them all in memory).

But first, a few quick things:

1. These are in NO particular order, just as I found them in my history :)

2. Sorry this took me so long to answer, I got caught up re-reading a few of them while I was trying to refresh my memory...

3. Don’t be surprised most of them are NSFW. I tend to filter my fics specifically looking for it because I’m a shameless hoe so sue me

4. My descriptions are super unhelpful and mostly just my thoughts about the fic but not actually a summary of it. I recommend reading the summaries and tags as they’re listed on AO3 for more details and sensitive content warnings!

Here we go!

(NSFW)

Frenzied by Thesis - I always always ALWAYS recommend this fic. It’s one of those ones I still go back to and read sometimes. It’s wonderfully suspenseful, so angsty and full of delicious smut and has a happy ending, so like, what’s not to like? 1000% a favorite fic of mine.

Dead Reckoning by furiosity - lol my AO3 history says I visited this fic 55 times if that doesn’t say how much I love it I don’t know what else will

I drove all night (to get to you) by maybeillride - This one is short, but I really like the way it reads, it has a great flow and overall the tone is just super captivating. The dirty stuff is brief at the end but it’s just descriptive enough to get you all warm and tingly inside :))))

Winter in the City by relativestranger - This fic. I followed its updates religiously and the chapter titles are a gem. I really enjoy how this author takes the time to create a world and really paint the picture of each scene, plus I love college AUs that don’t try too hard to overdo anything. Also, slowburn is the key to my heart

Coral and Bone by @macbetha - Okay sorry if this one is obvious but Macbetha is a fic writing god in this fandom and honestly, I like this one of theirs best. Talk about mermaid AUs. Very immersive, well written as usual. I’ll be honest, I haven’t had the chance to read the last few chapters, but I’m sure they’re just as good as the rest of it.

tomorrow, you might love me by nezumiprefersdanielleovershakespeare - Alrighty so I didn’t remember what this one was and I reread it and wow holy shhhiiiiiiiit this is something else. Mostly canon compliant with their high school storyline and domestic af. Plus the way this author writes is so captivating and also very Haru, it’s like spot on. Gives you the major feels, some healthy angst, and of course a wonderfully happy ending.

Just Friends by FruitsOfPassion- if you know me and read my fics, you KNOW this is my kind of fic. Sloppy drunk mistake hookups that lead to lots of miscommunication and angst before they both realize they’re in love with each other. Also if I remember correctly, this one is v dirty ;)

Touch Me by Gemmiel - okay there are so many good fics in this one series alone so I just recommend reading them all. The author is 10000000000%%% and there’s a really nice balance of smut and fluff and everything in between. Honestly just read everything by them it’s worth it!

connotation by magicianprince - this freaking fic. This is the fic that deadass inspired me to write my whole Hot for Teacher series. I have no other words, it holds a special place in my heart because of that :)

Can You See Me? by choking_on_roses (orphan_account) - another fic that heavily inspired me. I love Rockband AUs with all the glam and drama and of course, angst. Once again, fair warning this one is unfinished and I’m pretty sure abandoned (I know, I’m still sad about it too), but it’s a damn good read still.

Had we but world enough, and time by anditwasstinky (thewicked) - Mermaid au, hella long and an emo rollercoaster ENJOY

His Camera by LensMind - Makoto has a very dirty secret, and Haru happens to find out and simply cannot get enough of it. Very much a guilty pleasure fic, sooo juicy and the actual epitome of sexual tension and just ugh. I’d definitely consider it a favorite of mine...

Take Me Home by otp_tears - This one is really cool. A bit of sci-fi, memory loss, and a hell of a lot of angst. Basically Haru’s consciousness is transferred to a new body after he “dies” from an illness, and he has to deal with remembering who he is and his relationships while Makoto has to deal with separating the Haru he knew from the Haru he is now. It’s very sad but also a super interesting concept, the author did a good job tackling a difficult fic like this!

2/13189000 by tothemoon - this fic is the ultimate rec. I see it in everyone’s posts, but i can’t NOT recommend it because it’s amazing. So there you go enough said just read it k thxbye

Finger Slip by thoughtless_dreamer - phone sex fic ENOUGH SAID

safe landing by heinsou - I found this on my fic-rec tag on my blog. It’s the way that the fireworks scene SHOULD have gone. Emotional rollercoaster but wow soooo worth it because this author makes you feel shit real good

(SFW)

A Kingdom For You and Me by @datheetjoella - I have an unending amount of loving words for this fic and this author. Joella has been a fic writing inspiration for me for I don’t even know how long. I can pick out her writing style without even looking at this point. She’s incredible, and has written plenty for than just this fic which I also HIGHLY recommend (and not just because one of them is a special gift for me :3)

Me Too by Flightless_Bird - Ohh ho ho I remember the first time I read this, it gave me major goosebumps. Basically Makoto shows up for one of Haru’s swim meets and there is hella sexual tension right before Haru’s race It’s one of those fics that makes you wish there was a 10,000 word sequel for... other things...

Between the Raindrops by westgate - Makoto is home alone during a rainstorm and Haru is his knight in shining armour! I’m weak for protective Haru and first kiss fics, and this one is certainly a gem.

The Voltage of Our Heartbeats by @datheetjoella - another Joella fic (not surprising lmao) but this one really gets me because coincidentally, her and I were both working on power-outage fics at the same time when she wrote this. I really loved hers though, so I couldn’t resist putting this one down too hehe

Okay I’m running out of patience and quickly realizing theres so many fics I love I could work on this ask for days so here’s a second Fic Rec post I made a while ago with some repeats and a few others that are definitely worth a mention. It might be more helpful too because when I made it I actually was currently reading some of them or remembered a lot of them better.

I hope this is some sufficient reading material for you, anon! And please don’t forget to check out the fics of yours truly as well hehe

#asks #fic rec #makoharu #tachibana makoto #nanase haruka #harumako #free!#fanfiction #fanfiction recommendation #i wish i knew everyone's tumblr alias so I could tag them all #but that's a lot of work #so hopefully this is helpful #i'm assuming it will be at least a little #because that's a lot of fics lol #and I didn't even get through them all #I might add more later #when i'm less overwhelmed #thanks for the ask!

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