[SE] Through a net

Noah stepped off the ramp with a slow breath, boots striking stone as the wind curled around the open platform of Stormbreak’s skyport. Too high, too exposed. The sky was wide and blinding up here, clouds sharp-edged and loud in their motion. He kept his hood low.

The crate was supposed to be waiting for him, and the delivery man waiting for the trade. He wanted Tal to have done this, but the Messenger was busy. Still, being here put him on edge. The city gleamed like a blessing, but it didn’t feel like one. He walked briskly. He didn’t belong here. He was simply here for the trade. Then back to the Greenwing.

no one ever tells you that forever feels like home

sitting all alone inside your head

NOE

'Cause, baby, I could build a castle
Out of all the bricks they threw at me

Noe rarely came to the skyport these days. There was no reason to. Everything she could ever want was here in Stormbreak, and the last time she’d left, she’d come home broken-hearted and alone. Of course, there was something to be said for companionship, and hers was extremely limited these days, what with Koa off doing gods-knew-what and Jude being gods-knew-where. But she was surviving. Thriving, even.

Even if she was doing it alone.

Today brought her to the skyport simply because she needed to collect a shipment for her work. She’d been commissioned to upgrade the Dragoons’ training grounds, and she needed to inspect the wood that had been shipped in for her to use. So she strolled down the walkway, her hair tied up in a chic bun on top of her head, Mika curled happily around her neck, and kept an eye out for a pile of lumber.

And every day is like a battle
But every night with us is like a dream

Noah made his way towards where he had described in his letter to meet, glacier eyes scanning beneath his hood. For him, this weather was sweltering, though for Stormbreak he was not the only one with their hood up. Even though Longheat was on their horizon, the height gave way to colder temperatures to cling. And today was awfully windy.

Stepping through the crowd with enough grace not to knock into anyone but not with enough purpose to draw attention to himself, Noah neared the meeting space. As he lifted his chin, he didn't notice the face he expected to see. He sucked a breath in between his teeth and cursed under his breath, "Damnit," as he paused near a shipment of lumber. 

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and turned to look around, mirroring the other patrons expecting their shipments and packages. At least he hadn't been the only one left waiting.

no one ever tells you that forever feels like home

sitting all alone inside your head

NOE

'Cause, baby, I could build a castle
Out of all the bricks they threw at me

Ah, there it was. Her shipment had arrived, it seemed, and it was not the only one. A gaggle of people had gathered near the pile of wood, causing Noe to huff dramatically. How was she supposed to inspect her shipment in the middle of all these people?

She approached, resigned, and scooted between a couple of arguing men. Something about prices, she thought, though she didn’t stick around to eavesdrop. Then she passed by a patiently waiting woman with arms that suggested she might be a blacksmith or something. Finally, she stood next to the lumber, but she was not alone: a stranger with a hood stood between her and her shipment.

”Excuse me,” she said cheerfully, pointing towards the lumber. ”I’m just trying to get there. Can I squeeze by?”

And every day is like a battle
But every night with us is like a dream

The demigod caught the movement before he heard her voice—a girl weaving her way toward the stack of lumber with a measured, familiar air. She didn’t look like a courier or a skyboat captain or crewmate, but she moved like someone who knew what she was looking for. 

He realized he was in her way a second too late. Noah shifted to the side, murmuring, “Sorry,” as he stepped back. His voice came out low, rougher than intended. He was impatient, in this moment.

He stuffed his hands back into his coat pockets, gaze lifting to scan the crowd again. Still no contact. The sun cut sharp across the stone, and the wind hadn’t let up. Every minute felt like a risk—because simply his being raged against the void and the void touched. Noah kept his posture loose, his eyes busy. Watching the flow of movement.

no one ever tells you that forever feels like home

sitting all alone inside your head

NOE

'Cause, baby, I could build a castle
Out of all the bricks they threw at me

”Oh, no problem,” Noe said as she squeezed by, placing a hand on the lumber pile as though to claim it as her own. She glanced back at the hooded stranger. ”It’s not like them to be quite this disorganized,” she commented, going back to her quick survey of the wood. At first glance, it looked like what she ordered, but she had learned the hard way a few deliveries ago not to trust her first glance.

It took her a few minutes, but she was able to confirm that she’d gotten the right type of wood, the right amount of planks, and that the shipment would be delivered to the training grounds by the end of the next day. Satisfied, she turned to find the hooded stranger still waiting. ”What are you waiting on?” she asked kindly, taking pity on him. ”I know some of the workers. I can find out where it is.”

And every day is like a battle
But every night with us is like a dream

The impatient demigod sucked in a breath before letting it out in a huff. ”I was just waiting on a trade. Said I’d meet the guy here at this time. He’s probably just being held over at his training. He’s a dragoon.” Noah said, offering a shrug that he tried to make as nonchalant as possible. He wasn’t entirely sure how well it would be received, given the way his skin prickled with more and more apprehension about being in Stormbreak the longer he stood there.

”We were kinda friends when I lived here, so I was hoping to see him rather than use a courier service.” Noah said in half truth. He had initially hoped Talyson would make this trade for him, but the messenger was too busy and probably didn’t want to come to Stormbreak, either, but Noah couldn’t speculate too deeply.

The demigod exhaled hard through his nose, jaw feathering before he spoke. “Was waiting on a trade.” he said, the words edged with a forced ease that Noah wasn’t terribly practiced in. “Supposed to meet the guy here, this time. He’s probably held up at training. Dragoon.”

Noah gave a shrug—casual, or an attempt close enough to pass—but tension still bristled under his coat like static. Stormbreak wasn’t easy for him to stand in. 

“He was kind of a friend,” he added, voice dropping slightly. “from when I lived here.” That part was true enough. The rest—skipping the courier, making the trip himself—he left unsaid. It didn’t much matter — Noah was here now, and each passing minute pulled tighter against the knot of his instincts. ”But I might just meet him another time…” Noah trailed off, and started to step away from the woman.

no one ever tells you that forever feels like home

sitting all alone inside your head

NOE

'Cause, baby, I could build a castle
Out of all the bricks they threw at me

As much as Noe wanted to help, and as much as she wanted to be nosy (and much more likely the latter), she didn’t like how antsy the stranger appeared. He shifted like he was uncomfortable, and Noe could only speculate as to the type of trade he’d arranged. And with a Dragoon, no less! Koa would probably have a field day if he knew any of his fellow soldiers were making sketchy deals with hooded strangers from gods knew where.

”Okay, well, good luck with that,” Noe chirped, stepping away and accepting a clipboard from a passing worker. She signed off on her own delivery and turned back to the stranger, hesitating for a moment before shrugging and going on her way. ”Hope you find your Dragoon.”

And every day is like a battle
But every night with us is like a dream

He didn’t give her much else but a firm nod and a muttered goodbye before he was fully off. He didn’t stop at a skyboat, either. Just turned into the wind, coat snapping at his sides, boots grinding against the stone as he walked. The weight in his shoulders lightened with each step—subtle, but there. He’d waited long enough. The trade could happen later. Maybe. Or not at all.

Stormbreak shimmered behind him, bright and unholy in all the ways that made his skin crawl.

Noah glanced up once, toward the tower spires slicing the sky, then tucked his chin down and walked faster. Halo called like a pulse in his bones.

Time to go home. With a thumb to his compass, Noah disappeared.

Fin

no one ever tells you that forever feels like home

sitting all alone inside your head