Chapter Text
Rean lay quietly on his back, arms folded behind his head. He was allowing himself a rare moment of idleness, letting his thoughts wander. Feeling the thrum of the Courageous' engines through the bunk as they cruised to Nord to look for more Thors students to join them, he thought idly of the name people used: "Crimson Wings". It was lyrical. Maybe Prince Olivert had got people calling it that, even though he'd actually named it Courageous. Maybe the Emperor had insisted on Courageous as an official name. It was after all technically the Emperor's property, and that seemed like a more appropriate airship name. But "Crimson Wings" seemed more Olivert's style. And it evoked what it felt like, at least to Rean, to actually be on the ship, cutting through the clouds, filled with the purpose of helping their fellow citizens with the vagaries of war (in small ways at least), reuniting the students, protecting those they loved, taking back their school.
His thoughts shifted to Valimar. He was resting, standing tall in the hold of the ship. Sometimes when Rean was out and about on the ship, he stopped in to see him. Rean didn't often even speak to him -- just stood there, looking up at him. He felt sure Valimar knew he was there, but the orb in his chest didn't glow, indicating that he was 'awake', unless Rean spoke to him. There was still so much Rean didn't know about Valimar. But... the way it felt, when Valimar called him "my Awakener" ...it was hard to describe. He'd had so little experience, but it was how he imagined physical passion felt, reminded him of how he felt towards certain people. There was a way in which he and Valimar did belong to each other... a way in which they merged when Rean piloted him... a shiver ran through him. It was unlike anything else he'd ever experienced. The combat links from the ARCUS seemed to be a little like it, but nothing like as powerful, as... seamless.
Unfortunately the only other person who would know was Crow. And while he'd enjoyed getting to re-connect with Crow -- it had been surprisingly easy, given all that had happened (and Crow's cooking had been really good) -- still Rean didn't think he could trust him. It had been really good to hear his story, to understand how he'd come to do what he did. To know that he'd essentially lost his country, and his grandfather, to Osborne's expansionism. But of course it had to be a strategy on Crow's part, sharing that with him. Rean was a pushover, he knew that about himself. He actually didn't want to harden his heart and become suspicious -- it was partly intentional that he was open-hearted like that. Nonetheless, when Crow had said that he wanted the end of the war as part of his 'game', and Rean's heart had leaped that maybe they could come to agreement somehow... there was still just a tiny corner of him that wondered if Crow was playing him. Crow had done it before, in little ways and big ways. He was a con artist par excellence.
And yet, Rean wanted so badly for Crow to come back to him -- he didn't really believe that it had all been an act. Not *all* of it. The thought came to him, frequently, that Crow had agreed that if Rean could beat him, he'd come back to Class VII, and Towa and George and Angie. It had been a silly promise; who knew if Crow would honor it. Rean half expected that he wouldn't. But somehow it gave Rean something to focus on. Ending the war was complicated. But training with Valimar to defeat Crow, to get Crow back... that seemed simpler. Major Neithardt had noticed it, when Rean and Valimar had fought him in the Soldat unit they'd captured. He'd called Rean on his impatience. Rean had to admit to himself that it wasn't just an urge to better his form, his execution, to be a better pilot to Valimar. It was to get Crow back.
He sighed, and stood up. Time to get back to work.
~*~
Work turned out to be going with Gaius out to the farms outside Celdic to look at windmills, and discovering that a some repairs were needed. The spiritual beliefs of Gaius' people about the wind did often emerge in his speech and interests. And far be it from Gaius to miss out on a wind-related opportunity to help out, and indeed as they stood looking up at the stilled windmill mechanism, he seemed to have an idea.
"I think Rean and I can help you," Gaius said to the farmer. Rean looked at him, first confused, but then as Gaius reached towards him, alarmed. The farmer needed a cog replaced, up high, and hadn't his stepladder. Rean had thought to himself idly as Gaius said maybe they could help, well, Gaius is pretty tall, but he's not *that* tall... you'd need at least another half of a person length above that to reach it... and before he knew it, Gaius' strong arms were lifting him up, somehow getting Rean's whole body balanced on top of him, and then he was sitting on Gaius' shoulders.
This was not something Rean had ever done before -- maybe back when they were small, Elise had ridden on *his* shoulders, but... he felt totally unbalanced and quickly sunk his fingers into Gaius' hair to hold on. He tried to ignore how silky it was, and soft, and how it tickled his hands where it was pulled back behind Gaius' head.
Gaius' hands were on Rean's shins, and in response, he tightened his grip reassuringly. Rean reddened as he realized how much of his body was pressed against Gaius'. Could he feel...? He shook his head and reached towards the windmill cog as Gaius stepped closer, tried to focus on the task at hand, tried not to get distracted by the feeling of Gaius' torso, lean and strong, shifting under his legs as he moved, and his head, pressing into Rean's legs and... other parts, as Rean leaned forward with the cog.
A moment later, it was over, and as Gaius gracefully slid Rean back to the ground, Rean rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Um, thanks," he said. Gaius smiled mysteriously. He was never sure how to interpret that smile. Was Gaius teasing him? Interested in him? Just a helpful sort? He always seemed to have such gravity, seriousness, and yet it was mixed with a kind of levity...
Rean smiled back uncertainly. Gaius was exotic, beautiful... Rean always admired the elegant tattoo on his left arm, and the traveling clothing he had adopted suited his long legs well. He moved with the grace of the wind, and was easy to be with. Rean certainly found him attractive. But that didn't mean...
Gaius turned to the farmer as the windmill's mechanisms began turning again. The farmer thanked them, and Gaius thanked him for showing them the windmill.
The two of them walked back into Celdic together, mostly silent. Gaius said a few words about how wonderful the windmills were. Rean agreed, and said something about Parm apparently being famous for its many windmills, not that he'd been to see them himself. Gaius remarked that he had enjoyed the field study to Parm for just that reason. Rean had forgotten that Gaius had been in Group B for that field study. They reached the market and Gaius nodded at Rean, thanked him for the trip to the windmill, and turned and walked away. Rean reddened again, admiring him as he strode off. He tried to get a firm grip on his thoughts and remember the next task he had to do, but it was difficult. Eventually he remembered and set off around town again.