Work Text:
All Silver wanted was to drink his coffee in peace. He felt the sleep looming, seeking to seize his body, to take control of his mind, and coffee – black coffee in particular – always came in handy when that happened. It didn't cure his detestable sleepiness, but it was a good short-term solution, and Silver would take anything at this point. The hot beverage helped him clear his mind and gave a boost of energy to his tired body.
Whenever Silver had a task to finish, such as homework assignments or swordsmanship practice, and he had an access to coffee, he would consume the drink, helping him to finish his tasks unscathed... most of the time. No one knew better than him the horrible feeling of waking up to find out he has never finished his homework from the previous day, having fallen asleep in the process. The terror was great especially if said homework was for Mr. Trein's class.
As Silver walked into the Diasomnia Dorm lounge, intending to get his much-needed cup of coffee, he found Sebek, sitting alone by a small, round table. He was drinking tea, probably taking a break from his very own tasks he had to finish, a nearly empty sugar-cubes container in front of him. Silver could feel the younger boy following his every move with a pair of golden eyes, probably waiting for Silver to screw something up as he prepared to brew the coffee. Silver was not going to give Sebek that pleasure though, not today.
However Silver's first mistake was making black coffee. His second mistake was sitting by the same table as Sebek.
"Why are you sitting next to me!" Sebek raised his voice as soon as Silver sat down and placed his mug on the table, "There are plenty of other free tables!"
"It's a waste to use another table when there's still a place here." Silver took a sip from the hot drink.
Sebek frowned, his nose twitching as the strong scent reached his nostrils, "I get it now, you just want to brag! You are rubbing in my face the fact you can drink black coffee!"
"No, I didn't mean to-"
"But you did! You're looking down on me, aren't you!"
"I'm really not…" Silver started, but gave up. He just wanted to drink his coffee in peace, but peace wasn’t an option when it came to Sebek Zigvolt. No matter what Silver said, Sebek would find a way to turn it into a competition, or worse, a quarrel. So Silver tried to soothe matters by taking a practical approach, "Black coffee is too bitter for you, right? How about you add sugar?"
"Don't treat me like a child!" Sebek was yelling at that point, "There is no point if I add sugar! I must be able to taste the same beverage as you. And then, with the Young Master…"
It seems like Sebek relaxed a bit as he mentioned his object of admiration; the crown prince of the Valley of Thorns, and Silver took advantage of the opportunity to ask Sebek about his attempts to get over his dislike for black coffee. Sebek told him with a smug smile about his harsh training regiment, which included daily attempts of drinking the muddy, black beverage, and settling for other types of coffee in order to build his endurance. He was beaming with joy when he told Silver about how he managed to drink milk coffee just the other day, and Silver had to stifle a smile – he didn’t want to anger Sebek again, or his coffee time would be noisy once more.
Silver was very fond of Sebek's hardworking side. He did think that sometimes Sebek used way too much energy for petty matters – he didn’t know a single person who would invest so much time and effort to dispel a dislike for a drink – but in the end, there was no harm in that, so Silver left it. He even praised Sebek often when praise was in place, but Sebek didn’t accept the compliments very honestly, and insisted Silver's compliments meant nothing to him.
And that was fine, though Silver knew that had those same compliments came from the mouths of Malleus or his father, Sebek's reaction would be completely different. Which was also fine, and Silver tried to tell himself it didn’t bother him… but part of him felt uncomfortable about that, feeling something he couldn't quite point at. And that gave him a strange urge to gently tease Sebek. After all, he did grow up under Lilia Vanrouge in the same household, and trickery and pranks weren't alien to him. Though not mischievous by nature, seeing Sebek made Silver's usual serious demeanor crumble.
"You're amazing, Sebek. You're so diligent." Silver said, putting his now-empty mug on the table, and before the bewildered Sebek could respond he added, "I can suggest another training method for you. Will you listen?"
Sebek tried to hide it, but Silver could tell he was eager to hear said suggestion, "W-Well, I do not need the help of someone like you, but I shall listen! As fellow guards of the Young Master, we shall share any helpful information!"
Silver smiled. A soft, princely smile that might or might not have hinted at what he was about to do. He leaned forward in his chair, bringing his body closer to Sebek's. The smug expression disappeared from the taller boy's face. He must have understood that something remarkable was happening, but too late.
Silver grabbed one pale cheek with his hand, slender but powerful fingers gently digging through Sebek's hair, and Sebek felt his breath stopping as the silver-haired boy further closed the distance between them, until their lips met.
The dreadful, bitter taste of black coffee immediately filled Sebek's mouth. The taste spread in his mouth as Silver moved his tongue on his sharp fangs and more foreign saliva made its way through his lips. The strong taste was almost unbearable, and the fact that Sebek apparently forgot how to breathe didn’t help. Both his body and mind were so overwhelmed, and just when he thought he might black out, Silver let go, and Sebek could breathe again.
Sebek coughed, trying to simultaneously get rid of the taste in his mouth and get air into his lungs. He vaguely noticed Silver getting up and returning a short time after with a glass of water. Sebek downed the water in seconds, feeling slightly better. Only slightly though. He turned to Silver, fury in his eyes as he waited for the other boy to explain.
"How do you feel?"
"How do I feel?" Sebek screamed, "You know I dislike this horribly bitter taste! On top of that you… this unsightly deed…" Sebek's cheeks burned with red, and once again Silver had to stop himself from smiling. Sebek's reaction was more adorable than he expected.
"I thought it was a good method for getting used to the taste, without directly drinking it. You put a fight for quite a long time. I'm impressed."
Sebek seemed to be content with the praise this time, because his tensed-up shoulders relaxed a bit, "You think so?"
"Yeah." Silver let his smile show this time, "If you want to practice again, just say so. I'll gladly help my fellow guard."
Silver could almost hear Sebek's teeth gritting as he was anguishly contemplating the idea, "I will think about it!"
*****
Sebek indeed was thinking about it, but not in the way he wanted to. The feeling of Silver's fingers in his hair and his warm tongue in his mouth wouldn't leave his head.
He still tried to grasp what happened that day. Silver said he had a method that would help Sebek conquer black coffee. And Sebek, who was honestly out of ideas regarding his black coffee situation, didn’t mind going as far as taking advice from Silver. Sebek thought of Silver as being incapable, but he hated to admit the human was slightly better than him in some matters, namely drinking black coffee. And Sebek was at a point where he was ready to try anything.
But then Silver did… that. And what was that, exactly? Sebek was almost certain what they did was considered a kiss. Sebek preferred not to think about it as such, but there was just no other way to describe it. Silver kissed him. For the sake of training, of course, but still.
Sebek hated how recalling those few seconds of their lips being connected made his heart race. And he hated how he actually liked the feeling of Silver's tongue in his mouth, which in turn caused his heart to race even faster. The only thing that spoiled that moment was the bitter taste of black coffee, lingering in his mouth way after the kiss was over, making him relive it over and over.
Which raised another issue – since that day, every time he was anywhere near black coffee, he would remember Silver. Whether he smelled the strong scent floating in the corridors, or drank it himself as a form of training his endurance, he saw Silver in his mind's eye. He apparently now associated black coffee with Silver, and this couldn't possibly be a good thing.
How could he concentrate on his training when all he could think about was Silver gently kissing him?
*****
"You ruined everything!!" Sebek yelled at Silver the next time they happened to meet in the lounge for their tea break. This time Silver was already there, drinking his black coffee, and Sebek followed, lured by the smell.
"What's wrong?" Silver looked unfazed in front of Sebek's loud voice, but there was genuine concern in his question.
"Your foolish training method! For conquering black coffee!" Sebek added after noticing Silver's dumbfounded face.
"Oh, that." Silver said, his fingers sliding over his mug, "I wanted to apologize, Sebek. I went too far when I kissed y-"
"Because of you I can't concentrate on my mission anymore! Every time I drink black coffee, or as little as smell it, I think about you and then I… wait," Sebek stopped, Silver's words finally breaching through his fury, "What did you just say?"
"No, what did you just say." Silver replied and got up from his chair, leaving his unfinished drink behind. It was all so sudden Sebek was startled and could only take one step backward before Silver's hand was on his wrist.
"Let go, Silver!"
"Not before you repeat what you just said." Silver looked so determined and coolheaded Sebek could do nothing but stare into his mesmerizing eyes, "Did you say you think about me? When you drink black coffee?"
"A-And what about you!" Sebek shot back, "You said you apologize for kissing me!? What on earth does it mean!?"
"I take it back." Silver said, eyes still locked on Sebek's, "I'm happy I kissed you."
"You little…! I just told you my training amounts to nothing because of your foolish suggestion!"
"But you can drink black coffee now, right?"
"W-Well… I suppose? But that is because I end up thinking about you and I…" Sebek stopped again. Was he really going to tell Silver the flavor of coffee reminded him of the kiss they shared, and it made him feel all fuzzy inside and incredibly excited? No, he couldn't possibly tell him, and yet this memory alone caused Sebek's face to redden, all the way up to the tip of ears – and the fact Silver was before him, watching his every move, didn’t help.
"Doesn't sound like a bad deal to me." Silver shrugged, finally letting go of Sebek's wrist.
Sebek sighed, "You really don’t have a single care in the world."
"I care about your training."
"Lies!" Sebek screeched.
"I do, I swear it." Silver said gravely, and for some reason, Sebek knew he meant it, "I truly hope that someday, we can sit down and drink black coffee together."
"And with the Young Master too!"
Silver chuckled, making the insides of Sebek's stomach move funny, "Of course, drinking coffee with Malleus-sama is a great honor. But I also want to drink with you. Just the two of us."
"You… you are weird." Sebek managed to say, his voice quieter now.
As Sebek stood there, he could smell that bitter scent, flooding the whole room. It came from Silver, being gently carried from his clothes, his hair, his breath. Sebek should've hated this smell. Should've hated the bitter taste that refused to leave his mouth. But he suddenly found himself craving them, wishing to be engulfed by them, to feel that warm and exciting sensation he felt that other day. To reconnect with the silver-haired boy who haunted his mind.
"Would you mind… helping me with my training again?"
Silver tilted his head, "I thought you said my training method was foolish?"
I thought you said you were happy you kissed me, Sebek thought, but out loud he said, "You don't have to help if you don’t want to!"
The older boy shook his head now, "I'm sorry, I'll help you. It benefits us both, after all."
Silver stepped closer, and Sebek followed, the distance between them growing shorter and shorter until it was almost nonexistent. Silver gently placed his hands on Sebek's nape and led him downward. And as their lips met there really was no distance between them, and they dove into the kiss. A bitter, coffee-flavored kiss.