Venom shook herself out as the last of them filed off, the whole time she’d been plagued by the bent quill she had yet to remove. It just continued to irritate her skin, but it was her own fault at this point for not having it looked after. She huffed lightly and stood up, finally noticing that there was one last wolf still in attendance. Her lilac rose gaze found him, and her expression shifted into a playful smirk that had once been so easy. Then she remembered how much hesitation he’d given her, how rejected she’d felt and the anger he’d shown.

The Empress hesitated, her expression falling as she paused her approach. Nothing felt right between them, and already she could feel the tension rise within her. She took a steadying breath and continued, if they were to fix anything… and she hoped they could… this was the moment.

”Azure,” she said softly, a tenderness not present while she addressed the Empire as Empress for the first time. ”Thank you, for being here.” Venom continued as she came to a halt a comfortable distance away. Her irritation from the best quill even more obvious as her heckled started to twitch. She shook herself again, having barely moved during the meeting. Before he could ask as she reached over her back to itch her poor skin she explained herself. ”Naiche’s pangolin fell on me yesterday. It bent one of my quills and it’s bothered me since.”

While the others filed off, Azure remained. Venom had officially become the Empress and the way they'd left their last conversation wasn't ideal. His prior commitment to her still stood, and he needed for her to know that his loyalty had not faltered. Her playful smirk stabbed at his chest and it fled before he could even think to return it. "Venom." He returned, bowing his head to her as a subject might towards his Empress. She thanked him, and a part of him was offended that she thought for a moment he might not attend her coronation. "I made you a vow." He said matter-of-factly, his lips pursing into a thin line. With a sigh he blew out his tension, swallowing hard as he watched her rattle her quills. She didn't make him ask which was good, Az sucked at small talk. He offered to her the most natural response to her pain, voice level and serious as it had been when he offered to retrieve for her Kai's quill. "Do you want me to kill it?" Naiche was a member of the Armada and technically he wasn't allowed to harm another pack member, though the pangolin had it coming really. After all, if the companion was granted the protection of the Armada then it needed to abide by it's rules, too. Clearly etched upon their obelisk was the commandment that no Armada wolf would harm a member of the Empire. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

”You did, but you still deserve my appreciation.” She started softly, still feeling around uncertainly as she waded back into him. ”It means a lot to have had you here for this.” Her confident gaze was lowered and much more timid than she would have let anyone else see. She’d left herself exposed to him last time and he’d turned her away, part of her wanted to hide behind the mask the pack had to see. Venom could never show her weaknesses unless she trusted the one she showed them completely, and she’d broken that rule with Azure already.

His reaction to her discomfort brought her more amusement than she realized, and without thinking she let out laughter to reflect that fact. Tension forgotten the newly crowned Empress found Azure’s gaze as the impish smile played over her features. ”Only if it happens again.” She wouldn’t be offended like that again. ”You could do something for me though.” Venom made an attempt to approach further, wanting too bad to reconnect with the young Warlord. She gestured to the side of her that had been injured and offering up the bent quill. ”Nip it, pull it. Get rid of it.” She pulled away only slightly before adding, ”Try to be gentle.”

The tension between them was palpable and he could tell Venom was trying. He appreciated her for her effort, even if he couldn't manage to do the same. The last thing he wanted was to have their relationship stuck in limbo because he couldn't bring himself to apologize and fix things. Her smile brought the corners of his own lips to rise and his chest rose and fell with a steadying breath. If it happened again he would dispatch the companion, though he was thankful that it was not on his to-do-list for today. It would have meant walking away from her, something he did not yet want to do. "Anything." He responded softly as she walked nearer, his heart beating fast. Venom did not leave him waiting long, offering up her injured side towards him to fix. Az's brow raised in question, but he nodded. He didn't know how to fix things. Breaking things he could do, like piercing Asla's ear for her. Fixing things? Much harder. Az studied the bent quill, lifting one bear-like paw to her neck from beneath her chin to hold her steady to him. "Stay still." He breathed. His jaws parted slowly and he leaned down towards her quilled scruff, feeling around them with the smaller teeth between his sabers. The fear of hurting her was hard to ignore and he blew out a breath into Venom's fur before firmly taking hold of and pulling the damaged quill. He did it quickly, hoping a sharp yank would be considerably less painful in the long run. "Gentle is... hard. I'm sorry." His paw remained where it was, black-tipped nose moving to nudge gently against her ear. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

Slowly and with a bit of effort the tension began to dissipate, that they could both find a way to grin was testament to the both of them. He seemed to steel his resolve as she let him off killing the pangolin now. The prospect still hung in the air, though she had no doubt the pangolin would never fall on her again.

Venom felt an odd thrill race through her as Azure promised her anything, and she was kind of disappointed in the task given. As the distance between them was closed nearly completely she could hear her heartbeat in her ears and a nervous sensation race over her skin. He’d been so quick to answer before she’d even presented her request. The thought made her grin spread to her rose and lilac eyes.

She stilled herself as Azure put his paw to her throat and leaned in close to her scruff. Though she didn’t enjoy taking commands their closeness nearly had her frozen anyway. She was returned to that day when he’d curled himself around her and held her tight… Venom lost herself in the memory as he pushed his muzzle into her scruff and she felt his teeth brush against her flesh.

The Empress jumped as he pulled the quill from its follicle. She couldn’t help the little squeal that fled her lips, but it was easy to forget as Azure rushed his muzzle to her ears and held his paw to her neck. Tears had welled up in her eyes but was gone just as quickly with his sweet little apology. ”No, thank you. It’s better to be rid of the thorn in my side.” She told him as she rested some of the weight of her head in Azure’s paw as she aimed to press her lips to his cheek. An innocent kiss for her champion.

Az gritted his teeth as Venom yelped and held her tighter, though her pain fled quickly enough and it seemed the worst was through. Her kiss upon his cheek softened his tension and he rolled his paw upwards so he was holding her face against his own. "I'd rather have pulled the scale from a pangolin." He murmured into her. "Foolish creature." He realized then that he was still holding her, and let his paw drop and stepped away. The last time Az had held her in his arms Venom had asked of him the impossible. In her mind, had he had enough time to think about it? Az knew he was no closer to coming to any decision, especially one that brought him further from Hana. "Tell me about your new Empire."  He deflected, willing his tension to move on and away. "Have you heard yet from your mother?" "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

She was comforted by Azure’s control of her as pain washed over her in one quick wave before leaving her to recover. A droplet of blood filled the space where the quill had been, but beyond that she showed no sign of distress. The source of her irritation was relieved. A girlish grin played on her features as she closed her eyes and leaned into Azure’s rare affection. He cursed the pangolin, proof of his distaste in causing her harm. All at once he dropped her though, and pulled away as he decided he ought not be so close to her. That feeling alone was far worse than the pulled quill, but she hid it to the best of her ability. She’d shown him enough weakness.

His time limit was swiftly approaching, though she wouldn’t make mention as he swiftly carried them onto broader topics. Toxicity’s words played over and over again in her mind, and though she tried to appease her feelings she knew what she wanted. She was frustrated and hurt that Azure did not, Venom would only allow him to do this to her for so long.

She recovered quickly, though she’d been leaning so heavily against him that she had to catch her step. She hid her disappointment that he’d allow her to fall, and she tried to shove away the turmoil his uncertainty caused inside her. ”I don’t want what happened at the raid to happen again. Rank will be based off of merit and loyalty, not just a name.” She said smoothly, no hint of how she felt beneath the surface. ”She was at the coronation, not that anyone’s loyalty to her means anything to me now. Those who cling to their Klein lineage instead of personal ability and strength wont last long.” Her eyes never really reached his gaze, the only hint to her discomfort.

Missing Venom's discomfort was easy when Az was drowning in his own, and breathing seemed to come easier with the topic firmly diverted away from, well, them. He watched the blood prick from the spot the quill had once been and frowned, but did not address it. Knowing nothing of healing, he trusted Venom to be intelligent enough to know if it needed care and to find a healer to treat it. Her words made Az's head shake slightly, an amused half-smile upon his face. "That is a practiced, political response." He chastised softly. "I'm asking you your feelings as an ally and a friend, not as a member or potential member of your Empire." Az had wanted to say 'as her warlord', though the train of thought veered dangerously close to 'emperor' and that was not a conversation he was willing to have. "I'm worried about you, worried about Ashen. I want to know if there's anyone you distrust... or someone I should watch for." He was unbiased entirely towards the Kleins, and unlike his father would stand between even Deathbelle and his Empress should it come to violence. Some of the others of royal blood might not appreciate the shift Ashen was to take, and Azure was not willing to risk Venom being caught in a power struggle unawares. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

Venom was grateful that he hadn’t caught on to the emotions that burned beneath the surface, that didnt mean they would dissipate. She barely resisted gritting her teeth as she straightened herself and tried to hold his gaze. He was fairly obvious where he preferred their conversation go and Venom would resign herself to waiting longer. Patience was a virtue she was working hard on.

She narrowed her gaze as he called her on the almost scripted response that fell from her lips. After he dropped her so quickly he expected her to be fully candid with him! She dropped her gaze as he went on, wanting to know the wolves whom she did not feel like she could trust. Those that needed an eye kept out for them.

She looked around subtly before looking up to Poison in silent request he seek out any listening ears. ”This is not the place to speak of matters like that, dear Azure. The trees have ears you know.” She wouldn’t speak any names in a place so unguarded as this. His worry for her lifted her heart, but it was unfounded. She could take care of herself, and if he really worried about Ashen and its stability he had his chance to act on that impulse.

”I think you’re much too worried anyway.” She grinned, forgiving him for now. Venom took in a deep breath and tried to relax, tried to return to the thrill of having her future… Warlord, beside her. ”I still feel a little nervous about it all, but if I don’t acknowledge it, it’ll go away I’m sure.” She half chuckled. ”I’m excited mostly, when you finally achieve what you’ve been training and preparing your whole life for…” It was almost too much, but it was all too little at the same time. Toxicity’s words repeated in her mind. To join Ashen and the Armada in more than just mind… The obvious next step was her focusing on Ashen’s future. ”It’s thrilling.”

Her response did not sit well with Az, and his eyes too roamed the tree-line casually. It was in his mind an admittance that there were untrustworthy wolves lurking in her borders, ones dangerous enough that she feared them discovering Venom's true feelings. "Let the trees listen." He rumbled dismissively. "I'll tear them out from the root whether they hear me coming or not." Upper lip curled faintly, the tips of his teeth peeking through. Did Venom think so poorly of him that she did not believe him capable of ridding her of her problems? It was a frustrating thought, and he sighed. Hearing her speak of finally achieving her dreams hurt him more then Az expected, and he had to steel himself to keep the jealousy from pouring through. She'd offered him a crown and he'd spurned it, spurned her. What was worse was he still had no idea if it was the right or wrong decision to make. The Armada was years away from a change of hands - he could step up to a throne beside Venom today. "Is it everything you've ever dreamed of?" He asked softly, unable to keep a bite of pain from his tone. "I'm happy for you, truly." A pause, and Az deflected his train of thought once more. "If you'd like to take me somewhere more private we can discuss the trimming of your weeds." Whether she'd allow him into the deeper conversation would be telling. Venom would either need to give Az the information he needed to keep her safe or admit that she did not trust him enough to tell. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

His answer was very… Azure. Maybe he was perturbed but that emotion only fueled Venom’s amusement in him. Everything could be handled with violence it seemed. ”I know you would, pangolin, tree, or my enemy.” She gave him a soft grin, hiding the fact that she couldn’t forget his rejection. Why did she want his strong arms around her shoulders so bad? Was it just his elusiveness? The fact that she couldn’t just drove her crazy. She froze for a moment, realizing she was acting just like her mother. She couldn’t have Sirius because another woman had him. Azure… Venom tried to rip the thoughts into shreds and ignore her feelings completely.

Except.

”No.” She whispered timidly in return, surprised at how easily the truth slipped from her soft lips. ”It’s more lonely than I expected.” She felt herself grow cold, having resigned herself not to touch on the subject of them. Those words were the closest she’d strayed, but she tried to scurry away even more quickly.

”We should. Everything I know so should my Warlord.” She turned away from him to lead him as she spoke his title, uncertainty filling her as she spoke it. The title didn’t fit him, and she tried not to want to call him by what she wanted. ”The palace is most secure on the Ashen side, unless you have a better idea.” Venom stopped, almost reluctant to return her gaze to him, but wanting all the same to rekindle her enjoyment in his presence.

"..It’s more lonely than I expected." Az's expression softened, and he withheld an empathetic sigh. He'd been lonely for most of his life and for the most part it did not bother him. Not until he found himself wolves he enjoyed the company of, and felt their absence. Wolves like Venom and Hana, and at one point even Magnus. Venom didn't deserve feeling that way, especially when it was him that she was waiting on. "I'm sorry." The apology was pathetic, but genuine. Her suggestion grasped at his chest, the memory of the last time they were in her palace still strong and painful. "No." He gave back quickly. "My den is closer. I don't often have visitors, the Armada wolves don't linger nearby." His brow lifted, a touch of amusement returning to his face. "If you think it would suit your highness, that is." When Sirius had granted the yearlings their freedom from the den, Az had built himself one along the beach as close to the Shrine as he'd been able to manage. It was at the far south western tip of their territory and he'd explained it to himself as wanting to be away from the rest of his pack members, but perhaps subconsciously it was a choice to bring him closer to Venom. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

She tried to ignore his soft worded apology as the conversation moved swiftly forward. She hadn’t really intended to answer the question that way and she didn’t want to linger. Both of them had growing up to do and perhaps his hesitance held some wisdom deeper down. Venom was uncomfortable with his actions and they hurt, but she was learning patience. She would persevere, she would not become her mother.

She only let onto her surprise with a slight lift of her brows as he denied her and suggested instead the two of them go to his den. She’d never seen where he laid his head down to sleep, he’d been in the palace more than she’d even thought about what his den might look like. Getting a behind the scenes look at her favorite Warlord was an opportunity she wouldn’t pass up. Venom managed an amused chuckle as she narrowed her quartz gaze as him, ”Should I have doubts?” The question was laced with mirth as she moved closer, intending to follow his lead.

Venom stepped forward to follow his lead and gave her playful reply. Azure laughed, moving to bump his shoulder against hers. The closer she got the more he wanted to drink in her scent, and he forced himself to keep the contact limited. For both their benefit. He then moved to lead her on down along the border towards the beach, keeping his voice low as he spoke to her in case an Armada wolf wandered nearby. "If my mother didn't have this stupid prejudice against slavery, I could have had someone else do it. I got annoyed half way through, it's not my best work." No, his best work was on Hanako's den. He'd must have come along way coming closer to perfection on his friend's sleeping quarters then his own. "Definitely not fitting for an Empress, but it'll do." If only he'd been allowed to have a servant, perhaps he'd have a palace more similar to her own. Surely Deathbelle hadn't built her own den, his father or someone else must have done the labor behind it. "Not much farther now." He could already see the beach in the distance, and soon the den dug into the side of the cliff would show itself too. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

He spoke of his mother’s distaste for slaves, she offered nothing but a raised eyebrow as he said it. Had he only just accepted her offer he could have full access to those under Ashen’s possession. Venom remained silent otherwise. ”You have a habit of digging dens?” She decided to press softly as they walked. She was appreciative of his impressive paws, but had no idea he used them for moving earth. Venom did like the natural caverns that her mother had chosen for the palace.

”I expect a better presentation next time,” she joked amusedly with a little chuckle as he warned her of its lackluster appearance. They didn’t take long to arrive, and it wasn’t much to look at. Not a hole in the ground, but a literal hole in the wall. She shook her head amusedly, ”No, this is much less luxurious than the palace.” Venom agreed with him as she nudged his shoulder with amusement.