Chapter Text
Fuegoleon gently tapped a stack of papers even on his deck and set them in the ‘Complete’ bin at its corner. Satisfied with a job well done, he rose to his feet and stretched. The sun was going down. He was getting his things together when he sensed a presence approaching. He glanced up just in time to see Nebra knock gently on the doorframe. She had a bouquet of white heather, yellow chrysanthemums, and red asters in hand. “Good evening, Master Vermillion,” she purred.
“Good evening, Lady Silva.” He smiled brightly at her. “Are those for me?” The combination of flowers looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t place them.
She strolled inside. “I wanted to congratulate you on the star you earned on our… mission.” Holding out the flowers, she added, “Now that things have settled.”
His smile grew as he accepted them. “Well, thank you. And congratulations, yourself. I heard you and Nozel were both cleared for work again.”
She gave her now freed hand a dismissive flick and looked down her nose at him. “Of course. And we earned stars, too, you know. As if you won that mission yourself.”
“Then congratulations on that, too,” he chuckled. He shifted the flowers to one hand. “It really is good to see you back in action. The magic knights aren’t the same without you.”
She turned away, hand lifted to her lips. “Of course they aren’t… And you weren’t laid up for long, given how minor your injuries were, but I’m sure your squad was happy to have you back, too.” she scoffed. She cleared her throat and watched him from the corner of her eyes. “Still, I should thank you. Things might have gone differently without you.”
He huffed in amusement. His injuries hadn’t been minor, just easier to heal. “I told you. That’s just what magic knights do. I’m happy I was able to help.”
She nodded. “That’s all I wanted to say, so I’ll be going. I thought I saw Nozel on his way here, and I’ve just gotten away from my brothers’ doting. There’s no need to run into him now. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” he agreed, watching her march out.
Fuegoleon took his time getting things together, and just as Nebra had said, Nozel arrived before he had left his office. “Still working, I see. And you’re not even captain yet,” his rival greeted him from the doorway. “If you don’t find other people to take care of those miniscule things, you’ll never have a moment of rest.”
“I can handle it,” Fuegoleon said, puffing his chest. “I don’t plan on taking a long vacation like you did anytime soon.” They exchanged piercing leers. It was enough to convince Fuegoleon that Nozel had completely recovered. A few weeks and a team of very talented doctors had put him back on his chilly pedestal. It was as much a relief as it was a disappointment. Fuegoleon thought his friend being a bit more expressive might have been a good thing. “What are you here for, Nozel?”
“I can’t visit my dear friend after recovering? We’ll be returning to work tomorrow, and I wanted to see you. But if you aren’t in the mood, I’ll go.” He turned his back and started out. “Goodnight.”
Fuegoleon rolled his eyes. Yes, Nozel’s back to his prickly self. He decided to call his bluff. Nozel might not want to be more honest with his feelings, but Fuegoleon wasn’t going to fall over himself trying to uncover them. “Goodnight.”
It turned out that his rival wouldn’t leave without saying what he wanted, after all. “By the way…” Nozel stopped in the doorway and looked back over his shoulder, expression icy. “Did you get a boner for my sister?”
The Vermillion froze and fought to keep his face straight. He struggled to get a word out. He failed. Hair stood along his neck, and heat rushed to his cheeks. Had Nebra told him that? I thought she didn’t notice!
Nozel seemed to have gotten the answer he wanted. He turned without a word and glided out.