Chapter Text
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Qifrey’s dream clung to him, like a wet shirt, sticking to him uncomfortably, no matter how he tried to shake it. Unfortunately, no matter how many towns he passed through, he could not outrun his own haunted mind.
He’d passed through many more towns, leaving just as quickly as he came, refusing to linger. While the cold made these visits necessary, he didn’t want to linger long enough for his name to become known, lest someone recognize him later.
He’d stuck mostly to smaller, unknown villages. The kind that rarely had visits from witches, the kind where someone passing through was totally unremarkable. For that reason, he kept his hat tucked away, so he was just seen as any other traveler wanting to get out of the cold for the night.
This time however, his path forced him to go to a bigger town, the kind that was, unfortunately, full of people. On the bright side, he’d have an easier time blending into the crowd.
He was full of anxiety as he navigated the street, arms wrapped around his belly protectively. He wasn’t wearing his sweater, and so his belly was fully visible. It was necessary at this point, since he’d grown to the point where strangers would bump into him, thinking there was more room between them than there really was, and every time it happened, panic overtook Qifrey as he flinched away from the poor stranger. All that in mind, he’d made the reluctant decision to shed his sweater for the benefit of people instantly becoming more aware and giving him a bit more room. He was hyper aware of his surroundings, his eye flickering back and forth as he kept careful watch for anyone who might recognize him.
Of course, it was just his luck that he’d catch a flash of red in his vision, followed by a flock of winged caps.
Of course, of all the possible towns, the Knights Moralis just had to be here, right now, when Qifrey wanted nothing less than to deal with them in his current state.
He ducked into an alley, wishing he knew the town better, so he knew a faster way out, a better place to hide. He looked around the corner, immediately regretting it when he spotted perhaps his least favorite person he’d ever had the displeasure of knowing.
Easthies. And he’d definitely spotted Qifrey, based on the flash of recognition, followed by a quick wave of the man’s hand to the other knights.
He cursed under his breath, ducking back into the alley and walking as quickly as he could towards the other end. Unfortunately, that wasn’t very fast, and the Knights of Moralis weren’t pregnant, and therefore much faster than Qifrey.
“Wait right there, Qifrey.” Easthies called out to him, and Qifrey stopped in his tracks, mentally cursing up a storm. He kept his cloak closed as he turned, careful not to let them see past the thick fabric. “What are you doing here?”
“I don’t believe that’s any of your business Easthies,” he replied primly, narrowing his eyes at the man.
“It is when you’re far from your atelier, without your apprentices or your watchful eye.” He said Olly’s title with a certain level of disgust, and it made Qifrey angry. Who was he to disrespect Olruggio like that? “And furthermore, you aren’t wearing your cap. It is a failure on your part as a witch to be without it.” Qifrey’s irritation increased, was that really the only reason he had for stopping him?
“I forgot it today, and calling me a failure is wholly unnecessary, though I don’t know what else I expected from you. I can travel on my own, it is perfectly within the rules for me to do so.” He snapped, glaring daggers back at Easthies, whose own red eyes were narrowed. “I’m really not in the mood to deal with your harassment today, Easthies.”
“It becomes our business when your Watchful Eye reports you as missing, and has been badgering the Great Hall relentlessly to find you.” Qifrey stepped back, panic overtaking his anger. Olly went to the hall?
“Well as you can see, I’m not missing, now if you don’t mind I’ll be on my way-” He tried to turn, but in a flash Easthies had snatched his wrist to stop him. “Let go of me!” He tried to yank his wrist away, but Easthies’ grip was firm, not letting go of him. Qifrey struggled, but Easthies wasn’t moving, and his expression had gone wide-eyed with shock.
With a dawning horror, Qifrey realized the movement had flung his cloak open, exposing his round, very obviously pregnant belly. Panic washed over him, his blood running cold as he realized the entirety of the Knights Moralis now knew the thing he’d been trying desperately to keep secret.
He took advantage of Easthies’s distraction, pulling hard to snatch his wrist away, and wrapping his cloak back around himself as he turned to flee, but it seemed his movement had snapped the knights out of their trance, and white pennants suddenly blocked his path out of the alley. He felt like a cornered animal, trapped between high brick walls. His breathing quickened, and he glanced around frantically. He was well past the point of being able to use his sylph shoes safely, and even if he could, the pennants could snatch him up before he’d get far in the air.
He was well and truly trapped.
He snapped back around to face the Knights, focusing only on Easthies, who was looking at Qifrey with an unreadable sort of expression he’d never seen from the Knight, especially when the only expressions Qifrey got from him were variations of anger, annoyance, and disgust.
Qifrey didn’t recognize the look on his face, and that scared him more than if it had been outright anger. An angry Easthies was one he knew how to handle. This was unpredictable, and an unpredictable Easthies was not something Qifrey wanted to deal with right now.
“You’re with child.” When Easthies finally spoke, it wasn’t a question, his tone blank. Behind him, the other knights were exchanging glances, some sort of silent conversation Qifrey wasn’t privy to.
The blond knight, Lulucy, if he remembered correctly, had some mix of horror and pity on her face, and it made Qifrey want to cringe away. He felt so scrutinized, and wished for a fleeting moment he could simply disappear, vanish into thin air.
“It’s none of your business,” he snapped, sharpening his fear into anger.
“Is this why you ran away?” Easthies asked, and Qifrey knew he wouldn’t stop asking, would keep probing till he got an answer. Qifrey really didn’t want him to get any, but Easthies could be relentless when he got like this. “Why you abandoned your responsibilities and disappeared with no warning?”
Qifrey couldn’t help the angry growl that slipped out, gritting his teeth and sending Easthies his most venomous glare. “I said it’s none of your damn business!” He raised his voice, the anger lacing his tone burning in his throat. “For once in your life Easthies would you fucking listen to me and just leave me alone!” Easthies seemed to be caught off guard by the sheer anger in Qifrey’s voice, taking an aborted half-step back.
“As the Knights Moralis its our duty to-”
“I don’t give a damn!” Qifrey yelled, throwing his hands up as his anger reached a boiling point, stalking towards Easthies as he seethed, “If I wanted the Knights asking me questions I don’t want to fucking answer, I would’ve gone to the hall! I have done nothing wrong to warrant being questioned but you just can’t leave me alone! You and your fucking ego just need to make my life a living hell every chance you get, but guess what Easthies! I’m already there!” He pointed, jabbing a finger into Easthies’ chest, the man not responding to Qifrey’s outburst. “I am sick and tired and in so much pain, I have spent weeks on the road, sleeping on the ground, avoiding anyone and everyone explicitly because I don’t want to answer any damned questions! So for once in your miserable life, take a hint and fuck off!”
With the worst possible timing, a cramp rippled through his abdomen, and Qifrey stumbled back, hand flying to his belly as he had to lean against the wall. His chest heaved, and he struggled to regain control of his breathing. He squeezed his eye shut, bracing himself as he waited for the waves of pain to ease. He felt near tears, angry and hurting and overwhelmed, and he wanted nothing more than to be literally anywhere else right now.
Once the pain eased, and he could reliably breathe again, he opened his eye to find that Easthies hadn’t moved, just staring at Qifrey with that stupid unreadable expression. “What?” He snapped, his voice ragged.
“It is the duty of the Knights,” he began, his voice low. “To provide aid to witches who need it. If you have been hurt,” there was a twinge in his voice Qifrey couldn’t begin to decipher, “then please know that my dislike for you will not prevent us from offering you aid.”
Confusion washed over him, replacing his anger even as he still shook with the force of it. “What?” He repeated himself, feeling lightheaded as he struggled to think, to wrap his head around the idea of Easthies of all people offering to help him.
This time it wasn’t Easthies, but Lulucy who answered him, taking a step forward. “If something happened to you, we can help you, take you back to the hall where it’s safe.”
“I’m fine,” he said through gritted teeth, then sighed, weariness washing over him. “I just want to be left alone.” He raised his head, meeting Easthies’ gaze with his own. “If you want to help me, just leave me alone. And don’t tell Olruggio where I am,” he added, thinking of the man pestering the knights.
“Did he-” Lulucy tried to ask, but Easthies held up a gloved hand, stopping her from asking something Qifrey couldn’t begin to answer.
He did some hand motion, and Qifrey heard the pennants behind him whip through the air as they retreated, leaving the exit open once again. He glanced over his shoulder at it, then back to Easthies, who had yet to say anything.
He wanted to press the man, ask why in the world he was helping Qifrey of all people, but the overwhelming urge to flee won out, and he turned, leaving the alley as quickly as he could. (Still pathetically slow with the weight of his belly pressing on his hips.)
He didn’t stop until he heard the sound of fabric rustling as the Knights took off, and only then did he allow himself to lean back against the wall, using it to keep himself upright.
He was so tired. Was this his life for the foreseeable future, until he gave birth to his baby? Running and hiding and ducking between alleys? He wiped away a stray tear from his face, and took another deep breath, firmly pushing down the thickness in his throat.
This was what he chose. All of this was his fault, and these were the consequences.
He left town rather quickly that day, despite having planned to stay an extra night to try and regain some energy. He’d just walk through the night, so he could get as far from here as possible.
Easthies might have let him go, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to try anything, and the sooner Qifrey was untraceable again the better.
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On the road, cloak pulled tight as he shivered against the cold, he couldn’t help but think about Olly. Easthies had said that Olly was looking for him, that he’d gone missing. Apparently his old friend had seen right through the letter Qifrey wrote. He’d thought about that happening, Olly was always able to tell when Qifrey was lying to him. It’s how time and time again, he inevitably discovered Qifrey’s secret.
He wished that Olruggio could’ve simply accepted Qifrey’s absence, despite knowing how that could never be the case. Olly was just too loving to accept when Qifrey needed to run, needed to deny himself any possible comfort. From the moment they met, Olruggio was the one racing after Qifrey, reaching for his hand and demanding to come along, all so Qifrey wouldn’t have to do it alone.
“Sorry Olly, this time, it really is something I must do on my own.” He rubbed his stomach, feeling the baby press back against his hand. “Besides, I’m hardly alone, am I?”
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