Chapter Text
When asked, Viole looks confused. Which yes, it's very cute, but it doesn't help him any, or make him feel better.
"Master?" He tilts his head in that genuine way, balancing moving a bang like a delicate bird hopping about a person's fingers. Wangnan wonders if, like an anima, Viole could call animals to him. He seems like he has that kind of personality. "He would be excited, I imagine."
"He would?" Something like hope kindles in his breastbone. "Really?"
A tiny smile, flitting like a fluttering petal. "Yes. He's very fond of you all. That's why he hasn't killed you yet."
Wangnan is torn between feeling super happy and utterly terrified. "But… Viole, isn't this different?" Viole hums, as if contemplating it. "I mean… this is a romantic relationship. Isn't that different?"
Viole lets out another hum. "It can be used against me somehow so is there much difference?"
Ah… right. Jinsung Ha was FUG, he was one of the people that was actually keeping Viole in this situation. Shit. Ugh. Right.
"There's a difference in how we get along, usually."
"Oh." Viole nods. "I noticed that yes. But I don't think it will upset him. He worries about me for some reason. Maybe this will make him worry less."
Wangnan really wonders how much Viole is able to feel, locked up like this despite being able to go outside. "Well you do get hurt a lot."
"Not about that." Viole's voice is thoughtful. "About my happiness. It's hard to understand how I could think of something like happiness, but he wants me to try and be happy even in this place, as myself, so I think i should try. And… regardless, I think he will like you, because you were willing to stand up to him and not leave."
"That was all of us!" Wangnan protests, heat rising to his face. "Not just me."
"Yes," Viole agrees. "And that is why it is important to him, I think."
Wangnan doesn't know whether to be buoyed or more terrified. He doesn't even know what Viole means.
Viole disappears.
Well, no, that's dramatic. He leaves a note saying where he's going but is gone before anyone else wakes up and with breakfast on the table covered in plastic. Wangnan just feels put out, that's all. He'd been hoping to talk to him about his master.
"Trouble in paradise?" Goseng asks him with a knowing smile.
Wangnan takes a moment to mourn any concept of privacy. "No." He grins. "I just wanted to ask him something. It's fine. I'll ask later."
"Uh-huh." She grins at him behind her glasses. "You're not subtle, you know."
He has rather been hoping they had been, since the worst they'd done was sleep in the same bed. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." Goseng waggles her eyebrows. "I think Ehwa-ssi is the only one who hasn't noticed."
"Oh." Well, that's embarrassing. "Thanks I guess."
"Of course." She could sound a little less smug, maybe.
But Wangnan does feel a little better, if still worried.
"Are you afraid he doesn't like you?" Goseng asks in a low voice as they sit down to eat.
No. "I think he's afraid he does," Wangnan says instead of actually answering the question. "Feelings are weird. He doesn't seem to get that it's a big deal."
"Is it though?"
"Isn't it?" Wangnan thinks of his ring, spun over and over between lithe, spindly fingers. "He's a slayer candidate." An irregular. "I'm… not."
"You were offering to show him your junk before we were teammates."
"Oh my god." He doesn't want to think about that. He really hopes that Viole forgot about it, but he doubts it. "Why did you have to remind me? I know…"
Goseng chuckles. "I think after all of that, you don't have much to worry about."
Physically maybe. "Do you think he's told his teacher?"
Goseng lets out a snort. "I think we'd know if he did."
He would not be surprised.
Viole comes back with takeout? And no Master. Wangnan thinks he dodged an entire clip of bullets.
"Master's gift," is what he says, setting down the warm food for them. Ehwa shifts, about to say something, but Viole looks at her. "And for you as well." He holds out a single box. Ehwa looks at it like it will spring up and bite her. Then she opens the blank box to… a knife set?
"Uh." They all look at him. Viole scratches his head.
"It's an apology for your family's floor," he says after a moment. "They are not your responsibility to repair." He goes back to his room.
For a moment, Wangnan flails internally. Did Jinsung Ha think Viole was dating Ehwa instead? Was that why the man had done that? Or was there something else to this?
Goseng gives him an almost kind shove. "Go ask him you idiot."
Wangnan doesn't want to but he shuffles his feet to the door anyway and knocks. Goseng looks at him with a single raised eyebrow clear behind her glasses.
Viole of course opens it. Wangnan is not prepared for him to answer it shirtless. The first thing he sees are muscles, then scars, then a towel… oh god. He has seen this all of the time. How is it a big deal now?
"Wangnan-ssi?"
Wangnan jumps. "Oh shit sorry, were you uh -"
"I was just going to take a shower," Viole says, blinking slowly at him, much like a cat. "Would you like to come in?"
"Yes," he says and does. The room is still spartan which is awkward because now he can't look at anything to avoid this stupid conversation. "How was the uh, conversation with Jinsung?"
"With Master?" Viole is focused on picking up bottles into the little bathroom. "About you?"
"... Yeah."
"It went well."
That is such a quick and not soothing response. "It did?"
"By master's standards, yes." Viole pauses to blink at him. "He said if I had to pick someone to be with you would be a good choice. And to be good to you."
Shouldn't it be the other way around? "Oh… huh." He wants to ask about the knife set but as Wangnan opens his mouth to do so, Viole pulls something long and square out of his pocket. He walks over and places it in Wangnan's hands.
Wangnan stares at him. "Uh."
"I don't…" Viole fidgets in place and Wangnan is probably more endeared than he should be. "I have no idea what it is but he said it would suit you and I should give it to you privately. I hope you like it."
Wangnan holds it carefully. He's not sure if he's breathing.
"Excuse me for a moment." Viole enters the bathroom and closes the door quietly.
When the water turns on, Wangnan makes himself rip the paper off to see -
"A bomb making kit?" He tends to buy his. He usually finds good equipment stores. But a kit… Inside is equipment for a few shinsu bombs and clean tools and… two pieces of paper?
One lists a few decent supplier companies. The other says, "If you are serious about this, learn to look after yourself in a pinch."
Wangnan swallows. Despite the implicit threat in those words, a giddy, goofy smile fills his face.
I'm not gonna die. We're gonna be okay.