Chapter Text
The dusty smell of books danced in the air, a gentle amber glow poured through the windows of the library, the silence only broken by faint purrs of Fumpkin and the turning up pages.
Caleb and Beauregard were currently studying together in the local college library. Beau would have offered the cobalt soul archive but something about “the mighty nein being a disturbance of the peace” and “destructive towards property” Meant they were stuck with the school library until their ban was lifted.
“Ughhhhhhhhhhh” Beau groaned beneath the book on her face, The monk was dressed in a grey tank top with “sleeves are bullshit” written across it, dark navy jeans and a hoodie around her waist in the trademark cobalt soul colours.
“Yes Beauregard?” Caleb asked, keeping his eyes on the page in front of him.
The book slid off of her face and hit the table with a thud. Beau pulled a face.
“I fucking hate maths” she said chaotically gesturing to the books on the table.
“Can't relate” Caleb said, cocking his head slightly, copper hair falling out of place.
“It makes me feel so dumb!!! I just don’t get it!!!” the monk hissed.
“Beauregard you are brilliant, I find it hard to believe you are dumb in anyway.” Caleb argued, turning to face her fully.
“Easy for you to say, your head is built for equations and shit!!! I just see fucking gibberish!!!” the monk said ragging her palm down her face in frustration.
“Intelligence is more than equations and maths Beauregard. Just because your brain doesn't work well with numbers does not mean you are stupid.” he turned and put his hand on her shoulder.
“Thanks or whatever.” the monk said, punching the wizard in the arm. “You wanna have lunch?”
“Ja okay, one moment” he answered, Before beginning to put his books back in his bag.
“Why did you bring your own books to the library?” Beau asked as they walked out the doors and down the sidewalk.
“The books go with me everywhere Beauregard.” He held his bag protectively.
“Fucking nerd.” she said sticking her tongue out at Caleb, In response Fumpkin did the same.
The walk to the cafe wasn't a long one, usually they would have gone to the Blooming grove but Caduceus had closed it early.
The place they went was a simple but tasteful establishment. They found a table and ordered lunch and fell into easy conversation, the food arrived shortly and was placed in front of them.
“So what you doing today?” Beau asked, leaning over and taking a chip off Caleb’s plate.
“I have class for most of the day and then I have work” he answered, tapping his fingers in a lazy rhythm on the table.
“You still coming to Jester’s movie night?”
“I don't believe I have a choice” Caleb said dryly.
“True but still,you sure you're up for it?” Beau took a drink of her coffee. “I mean you don’t look like your sleeping well.”
“I’m fine, I will be there.”
“Good because she would hurt you and you're squishy so you will probably just die.” she deadpanned.
“I’m very squishy and would like to not face Jester’s adorable but terrifying rage.”
Caleb was wearing skinny black ripped jeans, and a dark purple hoodie that was slightly too long on the arms and fell down to his knees. Copper hair put back into a low ponytail, dark heavy under his eyes from lack of sleep. It was true he hadn’t been sleeping well, some nights he would wake up screaming bloody murder, some nights he would be mute and shaking till dawn, and some nights he would force himself to stay awake from fear of the demons in his mind scratching and clawing at his sanity.
Well the sanity he has left anyway.
“She said to bring a movie and shit.” Beauregard said, taking her fonk and stabbing her food. “I’m getting a lift from Yasha after this, do you need a ride to work?” she asked, before taking a bite of her food.
“Nein, I’m fine” Caleb said, spinning a piece of amber in his hand.
The reminder of lunch passed easily enough with comfortable conversation between the two. They collected their bags, paid and began walking down the sidewalk when they saw a black van and Yasha waiting by the front door.
“Hi” the barbarian said softly.
“Hello Yasha,” Caleb said, eyes catching Beauregard’s dusty blush and her best “be cool” expression.
“Do you need a ride too?” Yasha asked.
“Nein, but thank you” he said, waving at the two as they got in the van.
“DON’T BE LATE FUCKER” the monk yelled as Yasha pulled onto the road. Caleb watched the van disappear down the street.
Caleb got through class rather easily. The work wasn't necessarily hard but it was draining for a lack of better word.
He had magical history, transmutation, and dunamancy with Essek for the rest of the day before work.
Work was the taxing part. Caleb was already working three jobs, the library, the Blooming grove, and a small coffee shop. Luckily the shop was having a quiet day so there were only a handful of people in today.
“What can I get for you?” Caleb asked, as a young man approached the counter.
“A iced coffee and maybe your number?” the man said leaning against the counter. Caleb turned a dark red and moved backwards in reflex.
“I-I’m flattered but nein.” Caleb forced his voice to be steady.
“Oh come on, why not?” the man said, a hint of annoyance on his face.
“Look, I’m sorry but no-”
“Caleb you're needed in the back.” Caleb turned his head to be met with Reani, Ivory white hair pulled up into a messy bun, dark skin littered with golden freckles.
“Right, Ja” he said darting to the backroom. Reani immediately stepped up to the counter, she cocked her head to the side and gave a smile at the man and said “do we have a problem?”
“N-no” he said and turned to leave, face red from embarrassment or frustration.
Reani ran into the back room, “Caleb you okay? I’m so sorry about him!!” she said, concerned in her golden eyes.
“It is fine Reani, I’m okay.” he answered, more embarrassed than anything else.
“Are you sure? because I can kill him if you want. He is definitely bad.”
“It's fine Reani, thank you” he said with a soft laugh.
The rest of work flew by quickly and Caleb was out the door by 6:37. He parted ways with Reani and started walking to his apartment he shared with Nott.
By 7:03 he and Nott were heading to Jester with snacks and alcohol.
______________
Mollymauk's heels clicked against the ground, horns adorned in silver and gold jewellery jingling as he walked.
Molly was dressed in tight black jeans covered by leather thigh high boots. A v-neck T-shirt with the all seeing eye on it.
Molly had thick black eyeliner around his eyes contrasted by the bright red and gold eyeshadow covered by a pair of round sunglasses with a gold frame.
He casually scrolled through his phone while listening to music.
He made his way to Jester's apartment that she shared with Beau the unpleasant one.
He knocked on the door dramatically and was met with Jester in a fluffy pastel pink unicorn onesie and a bowl of sweets and sugary snacks in hand.
"Molly!!!" She beamed, a large smile growing across her face.
"Hello my darling" he said, he gave Jester a hug and a kiss on the cheek before walking inside.
Inside the couches had been moved so people could cuddle and lay on them comfortably.
The living room was covered in blankets, covers and pillows. The room was dark asides from Jester's multi coloured fairy lights that hung from the apartment ceilings.
Yasha and Beau had already arrived and changed. her hair was still in its familiar topknot but she was wearing grey bottoms and an oversized blue tank top.
Next to Beau was Yasha who wore black baggy bottoms and a black hoodie with a storm cloud symbol on the back.
On the armchair sat Caleb widogast reading a book.
Shit
He's adorable.
Caleb's copper hair was down and slightly fluffy, he was wearing a dark purple hoodie with the hood up and a grey pair of sweatpants. Bight intelligent eyes scanned the page of the book, heavy bags under his eyes that somehow made the man so much more endearing. Pale skin littered in freckles like stars and fuck Molly was falling in to the stars orbit.
"Hello darlings!!! You're all looking lovely!! aside from you unpleasant one" he grinned, looking at Beauregard.
"Fuck you to Molly" she said flipping him off.
He blew her a kiss and sat down on the arm rest of the arm chair.
"Mr Caleb" Molly purred.
"Mr Mollymauk"
"What has my favourite wizard been up to today?"
"Well I studied, I had class, I got hit on at work-"
"What?!" Molly said before he could stop himself. The group all turned to Caleb.
"OH MY GOD REALLY CAYLEB!?" Jester basically squealed with excitement "WHO!? DID YOU SAID YES!?"
"I do not know who it was, I said nein but he kept asking...Reani had to step in."
"Fucking creep" Beau gritted.
"Are you okay Cayleb? Do you need us to kill somebody?" Jester asked.
"Nein I'm fine." The wizard reassured.
Mollymauk sighed in relief, The creep probably didn't get the message even with Reani stepping In. And Caleb didn't say yes, which doesn't surprise Molly but the millisecond he didn't know made him sick and wanted to gag.
Molly after some small talk got changed into a pair of shorts and a purple cat hoodie he borrowed from Jester.
Fjord and Caduceus arrived and movie night officially started.
Alcohol and food was passed around, Fjord ordered pizza and take out. The first movie was tusk love, Jester's pick and by the time the credits rolled, she was openly sobbing.
Despite the awful acting Molly would say the costumes were beautiful and well made.
The next was Beau's movie, it was a pirate movie and Fjord spent the entire movie silently dying from the countless errors the characters made.
The night passed and the nein found themselves drifting into sleep cuddled up in a bundle of pillows and blankets.
__________________________
Caleb let out a silent scream, eyes pinpricks, he’s be met with the soft glow of fairy lights instead of burning hell fire, the domestic sight of the mighty nein asleep and cuddling in a fort of blankets and empty sweet packets instead of his crooked smile and her burned skin.
He carefully stepped over the sleeping bodies and made his way to the bathroom. He turned the light on and stared into the minor, heart thumping in his chest. silence only broken by his only breathing. Caleb heard a sound behind him and he spun around a fire sparked into existence. The fire acted like a cat puffing up in fear to make itself look bigger.
“Caleb are you okay-”
“M-mollymauk?” Caleb asked, Flames dying out immediately. the tiefling stepped into the bathroom. Hair messy and eyes sleepy.
“Caleb what’s wrong?” Molly said, stepping closer to Caleb.
“I- I’m so sorry Mollymauk-” Caleb apologised, shaking slightly.
“Now darling no sorrys, let’s get you some tea?”
“J-Ja, Ja, okay”
Molly took Caleb’s hand, Caleb blushed and put a shaking hand over his red face. Molly made some tea, he sat on the counter and turned to Caleb.
“I hope you don’t mind my company darling” the tiefling said.
“I could never Mr Mollymauk.”
“Then you haven’t spent enough time with me” he said with a cat-like grin.
“Maybe so,” Caleb said with a soft smile.
Caleb went back to sleep smelling of lavender and cinnamon tea and the night terrors didn't touch him for the rest of the night.