Chapter Text

BAZ

Watching Simon at the door, struggling to close his umbrella, is painful. Everything he does makes a scene.

I decide it’s best to intervene. “Pass it here, Snow.”

“I can … if it would just … Crowley … here.” He hands me the umbrella, still looking at his shoes.

“All right?” I ask. The umbrella closes with a click.

“It’s been stuck open all day. At the store I couldn’t leave it on the floor and had to put it in the stock closet. It took up all the free space to move around.” Snow got a job at a student-run bookstore near his uni campus. He says all the books there are second-hand just like he is. When I tried to ask him what that meant, he said that he didn’t really know, it just felt right. 

“And then you just –” he’s making a flailing gesture with his arms now. He’s still on about the umbrella then. I’ve learned just how common it is for him to fixate on these kinds of inconveniences, no matter how small, and if he’s this worked up about a battered umbrella, I’ll never understand how he survived all those years spent on exposing me for my ‘plotting’. So, I take both his hands in mine, pull them together, and center his attention.

“Well, the problem’s solved now, isn’t it?”

He rolls his eye at me, “… yeah.”

“All right. Find a stool at the bar, I’m almost done here.”

I, on the other hand, work at a Costa Coffee. It’s not that I need the money, rather something to pass the time. My lectures are interesting, but not challenging, and I don’t want to waste my days sitting around twiddling my thumbs. I prefer to keep busy.

By my second week on the job, I had picked up on just how much the Normals rely on their caffeine, it almost runs parallel to my dependence on blood. “Every day to feel good, every few days to stay sane,” one lady told me when I handed her her usual medium roast. It completely caught me off guard.

Working at a coffee shop has also given me free range to try out new flavor combinations, as many as I fancy. The manager encouraged it. My newest blend, a bonfire spiced latte with a shot of pumpkin spice and a sprinkle of cinnamon, stirred up a fair amount of buzz with the regulars. The cinnamon complimented the caramel and the hint of smoke; it was the perfect blend for the transition from summer to autumn.

Snow will meet me at work when his lectures are finished for the day and, like a gentleman, he’ll walk me home. I spend more nights over at his and Bunce’s place than I ever do at Fiona’s flat, so I found a posting with the shop around the corner from their building.

Sometimes, I work the closing shift and Snow will sit at the bar near the register working on his essays and readings for class. It can be distracting. If you had told me a year ago, while I was trapped in a coffin, that this is the life I could except, I would’ve never believed you.

But here sits Simon Snow listening to another barista, Rachel, while he waits for me. She’s chatting his ear off about some tragedy of a date she went on last weekend. All my co-workers love Simon; they tolerate me. Which is fine really, Snow is all I care about. And I guess Bunce, too, by association. I always knew she was clever, but I’ve seen that she’s also bolder than I imagined, and it makes for great conversation. Not that I’d admit that to her, though.

My issue with Rachel, however, is that she’s more interested in having a “gay best friend,” than actually being friends with Snow. I find it ironic since I’m the one who’s actually certain of my sexuality, and Simon is, well, Simon. I can imagine the horror should I casually let it slip to Rachel about Simon and Agatha’s past epic storybook romance and just what her reaction would be. But Rachel would never confide in me. I intimidate her.

“What does it mean? Do you think he’ll call?” Rachel asks. Merlin help her if she thinks Snow will have any useful advice. He’s making this face that tells me he’s having trouble keeping up.

I hurry to secure lids on mine and Simon’s to-go cups and try save my boyfriend from having to stutter out an answer. He’s been doing that now – stuttering – when he gets nervous.

“Rachel,” I say behind her. She flinches. “Can I have Simon back now?” I swear he almost sneers at me.

“S-sure,” she croaks and starts again. “Sure thing, Baz.”

“I balanced the till, so you just have to count it again at close.”

“Oh, yeah. Okay, thanks. That’s great.”

“Don’t mention it. I’m off now and Martin should be in at 6 to help you with the close.” Rachel nods and scatters away to her post by the till.

I look back and Snow is glaring at me.

“Why do you do that?” he asks.

I know what he’s talking about, but it’s more fun to string him along. “Do what?”

“You call me Simon when you talk about me, so why is it so hard to call me by my name when you talk to me.”

I ignore him.

“Gather your things Snow or we’ll be late to meet Bunce. Didn’t you get her message?” He slings his straps over his shoulders and follows me to the door.

“Honestly, what do I have to do to get you to call me Simon?” He’s struggling to open his umbrella this time.

“Tell you what – when you can open and close your own umbrella, I’ll start calling you Simon,” I say, already a few paces ahead.

I turn around to hand him his hot chocolate and then I spell open his umbrella. Snow’s mouth hangs open as I continue on my way, back to the flat.

“Waste of magic,” I hear him mutter.

SIMON

I made a stir fry for dinner. They’re pretty hard to mess up, unless you cook the vegetables too long and they burn. So, I didn’t let Baz help. He’d probably have set the pan on fire with his magic and then called me a moron for it. To my face. I don’t know why I thought being boyfriends with Baz would make him be nicer, but I guess I can always count on him to be honest.

Penny’s gotten pretty good with her cooking spells. She used to burn everything and the whole flat would smell like a hundred different flavors all at once. It would take days to reverse it.

She’s gotten better, but I still limit the amount of magicked meals we eat. I like doing some things the Normal way. Not that I have a choice anymore.

It’s been a while since we’ve all eaten together. Penny and I always try to eat dinner together, and Baz is here more nights than he’s not, so it’s usually the three of us. Baz does eat with us. He wouldn’t at first because he didn’t want Penny to see his fangs, but I kept nagging him and kissing him a bunch and he eventually gave in.

Last week we all had midterms, so we haven’t eaten together in ages. I feel better tonight, things will return to normal.

“So,” Penny starts, “I’m sure you both have been dying to hear my news.”

“Too late Bunce, I’m already dead,” Baz says, taking a sip from his tea. I kick his leg under the table. He winks at me, the bastard.

“Anyway,” she continues, ignoring Baz. “As you know, we have fall break next week.” I haven’t forgotten. I’m counting down the days and since today is Monday, so we only have four days of classes left. “Well, guess who else has a break from school next week.”

Baz looks at me. I shrug.

“Micah?” I guess.

“No, he has an internship this term, so he doesn’t get a break,” she waves her hand dismissively at me. “Anyway, it’s Agatha.”

Agatha. I haven’t seen her since Christmas Eve at Baz’s. I haven’t talked her since then either. Except Penny had me sign a birthday card for her. She said it would be easier if it was from the both of us. But I don’t think that counts as talking to Agatha.

Baz is the first one to say something.

“I didn’t know you and Wellbelove still talked.”

“She wished me a Happy Birthday. I was surprised she remembered when it was, but I think she regrets it. Since then I’ve been getting her to call every couple weeks or so. She says her parents don’t even call her as much as I do, but I don’t want her to think we’ve forgotten about her.”

“Maybe she wants to be forgotten, Bunce.”

“I don’t think so, she just wants to be a Normal.”

Normal. Agatha wants to be Normal. I wish I could tell her how Normal isn’t as promising as she believes it is.

“Anyway,” Penny continues, “her parents miss her. I think they’re suffering from empty-nest syndrome or something, but they want her to come home for break. So that’s the news. Agatha’s coming back, and she’s going to visit. On Friday. Agatha’s coming to visit on Friday, and I told her she could spend the night if she wants.”

“Agatha’s coming here?” I’m trying to hide my excitement. But I am excited.

Penny nods.

“Didn’t you tell me she got a dog?”

Penny nods again.

“Couldn’t catch it from the horse’s mouth, Snow?” Baz asks.

 I shake my head. “I haven’t talked to her since Christmas Eve.” Baz raises any eyebrow at me.

BAZ

Well, I should’ve seen this coming. I knew Wellbelove would have to come back to England eventually, but I thought I would’ve had more time. I was beginning to enjoy this reality, but I should’ve known better, some things are too good to be true.

Once Snow sees her again, I’ll be finished. He’ll run back – sprint back – to Wellbelove. And now that Snow’s a Normal (sort of), she’ll happily take him back.

She just wants to be Normal. Snow is finally everything she wants. No more monsters. No more wild goose-chase adventures. No more going off. There hasn’t been any of that in months.

I could be wrong. Maybe the wings will be enough to keep Wellbelove away. But it doesn’t matter. I’m not going to stick around to find out either way.

Snow has been spewing out a rapid-fire round of questions at Bunce all about California. I use it to make my Irish exit.

I stand and make my way to the door. I grab my jacket and my satchel, and I think about finding a way to spell the rest of my stuff back to Fiona’s.

“Baz?” I freeze, caught.

“Where are you going?” Snow calls from the table. I should’ve been more subtle, taken my dishes to the sink or something. Snow actually makes a good stir fry. Cooking is one thing he does better than me.

“Are you going to hunt?” he’s followed me to the door now.

“No.”

“Then where are you going?”

“Home.”

I’m out of practice. I used to be able to bark Snow off without flinching. It was practically my day job.

“To Oxford? You can’t leave, we have lectures tomorrow.” As if that’s what’s most important right now. I open the door to the flat.

“No.”

“To Hampshire?”

“NO.”

I walk out and slam the door behind me. I stomp down the stairs, but I don’t want to cry until I’m back at Fiona’s. She’s out of town so I’ll be able to do it in peace.

Choosing this – walking away from Simon – will probably be the hardest thing I’ll ever do, but I don’t want to stick around to suffer the heartache. Snow had a concerned looked on his face. He probably does care about me, but I don’t want to watch it all decimate. I’ll make myself suffer before I endure it from Snow.

I arrive on the street and pause to collect myself before catching the tube.

SIMON

Penny joins me at the foyer after the door slams.

“Where is he going?” Penny asks.

I shrug. “I’m not sure.”

“Should we go after him?”

“No,” I say. I narrow my eyes and think about what I said that sent Baz off. “I’ll go. He seemed upset. Ju–j–just stay here, all right?”

Penny has a nervous look in her eyes, but she nods.

I run down the stairs and hope I can catch him.

“Baz,” I call out as soon as I open the main door. “Baz, wait.” I spot him hunched over halfway down the street to the tube. “Wait a second.” I should’ve put my shoes on, the concrete tiles are freezing in October.

“Leave me alone, Snow.” He doesn’t even look back. I guess he wasn’t expecting Penny to run after him anyway.

“Is this about Agatha?” I ask

That got him to turn around, but he stays where he is.

“No, it’s about tube fares. They just go up and up and up. Maybe one day they’ll even float away.”

“What are you on about Baz?” I’ve gotten a lot better at spotting his sarcasm.

“Crowley, Snow.” Baz marches back to steps of the building, where I’m standing. “Read the room. No one should have to tell you these things. Yes, it’s about Wellbelove. Are you satisfied?” He hisses.

“No, I want to understand. I want to fix it.”

He sighs.

“You’re finally everything she wants. There’s no fixing that.”

“I don’t get it.”

“It’s because you’re thick, Snow,” Baz says, rolling his eyes.

“No, it’s because you’re focused on the wrong thing.”

He lifts an eyebrow at me.

“Maybe you’re thinking that Agatha will want to get back together when she sees that I’ve lost my magic.” He sneers at me, so I must be right. I have thought about it before tonight, but I’ve decided it doesn’t matter. “But you haven’t thought about what I want.”

Baz looks away, almost ashamed.

“I want you. Just you. Only you.”

I tilt his chin up to get him to look at me. I’m standing on the last step into the building, so for once I’ve got about two inches over Baz. I feel in control – powerful. His face is bored, but his eyes are pleading, almost like he’s going to cry. So, I take him in both my hands and kiss him.

He finally begins to kiss me back and puts a firm grip on my hips. I don’t mind, I feel like I’d float away otherwise.            

I pull away and catch my breath. “C’mon, let’s get you home.”

Baz nods, his expression drops. He pulls his hands away and starts to turn, but I catch him by the wrist. I gesture back to the flat.

“This isn’t my home, Snow.”

“Yes, it is,” I insist.

“I don’t pay rent here.”     

“I never paid rent at Watford, and I still called our tower home for eight years.”

“You’re an idiot, Snow.” I swear he almost blushes, and he hasn’t even eaten today.

“Yeah, but at least we match,” I say, and pull him up the steps.