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He finds Varian after.
Nuru is taking care of the royal family-turns out her own royal linage is good for something-with Yong, smoothing things over and promising to pay for reparations. Hugo thinks they should just take off and call it a day, but Yong gives him a disappointed look that has him sighing and saying, “Alright, I’ll let Varian know we’re staying the night.”
Except then Varian is nowhere to be found.
Whatever, Hugo wasn’t a master criminal for nothing. He looks around the plaza for a while, not allowing himself to feel guilty for the still-smoldering buildings, before he spots a familiar figure atop the still intact mill. With a sigh, Hugo looks around to make sure no one’s watching before hefting himself up the side the building. Varian startles when he settles beside him.
“Nice job with the fire chipmunks,” Hugo says, shifting about to get comfortable on the hardwood roof.
Varian rolls his eyes. Hard. “They were harpies ,” he corrects, dropping his chin back onto his knees. “Where’s Nuru?”
“Your girlfriend is making nice with the local royalty.” Hugo smirks at Varian’s glare. “Oh, sorry, forgot you were the girlfr-”
“Are you here for a reason or just to antagonize me?” Varian groans, dropping his forehead onto his knees.
“Pretty much just to antagonize you,” Hugo confirms. “And, I guess…” he trails off.
Varian tilts his head up. Hugo can practically all but see his ears swiveling like a fox’s in curiosity.
“...to thank you,” Hugo finally finishes, realizing- to his surprise- that it’s true. “You had my back out there today. Even if it was against fire chipmunks.” He grins.
Varian rolls his eyes again, but this time it looks more fond than anything. “Recycling jokes? Get something original.”
“Whatever.” Hugo finally finds a comfortable position on the roof. He settles back, arms folded underneath his head. The sky is dimming, but the lights from the city square make it almost impossible to see the stars above. What a ripoff , Hugo thinks. Literally, what is the point of sitting dangerously high on an unstable roof with a pretty boy if you can’t even see the stars.
... Wait what -
“What a view,” Varian says, apparently on a similar train of thought. He squints at the dark blue sky. “I think there’s like. Four stars.”
“Four stars,” Hugo repeats. “Make a wish.”
“That’s for the first star.”
“Okay, so don’t make a wish.”
“Fuck you, I’m making the wish.” Varian lets his legs drop off the edge of the roof. Hugo holds his hand out, just in case the clumsy alchemist unbalances himself from the sudden action. He doesn’t, opting to glare at Hugo’s interference.
“What’d ya wish for,” Hugo asks, drawing back.
“None of your business.”
“Was it to become smarter than me? You can admit it.”
“Hugo-” Varian begins with a sigh.
“No, no not smarter, hotter , that’s your play.” Hugo shoots him some finger guns. “I like your style, Stripes.”
“Yes, clearly I wished to become hotter than you, that’s all I crave in life.” Varian blows a lock of hair out of his face. He doesn’t look very annoyed though. Mostly amused, which is new. And tired. Varian has looked very tired all day, but there’s a heaviness right now hiding beneath the banter that hadn’t been there before. Hugo doesn’t know what to make of it.
“So what did you wish for?” Varian asks, breaking Hugo out of his thoughts.
Hugo doesn’t even blink. “Your undying adoration.”
“Shit, I guess these wishes don’t work then.” Varian nudges Hugo with his shoulder hard enough to push the taller boy off the roof. Hugo gives him a glare after righting himself that spurs a smug smile out of Varian.
“Yeah, well, you already adored me before I made the wish,” Hugo says. “Everyone does.”
“Including Nuru?”
“ Especially Nuru, she just doesn’t know it yet.”
Varian snorts, shaking his head. “Let me know when she figures that one out.”
“Will do, goggles.” Hugo gives him a two-fingered salute. “Well, now that we’ve officially become besties and shared our innermost wishes, I’m gonna go grab some dinner. You should come,” he adds, shifting into a crouch so that he can swing off the edge of the roof.
“Yeah, maybe,” Varian says noncommittally. “I might stay here for a while longer.”
Hugo shrugs. “Suit yourself.” He drops off the edge of the roof, landing on the ground with a grunt. “Watch out for fire chipmunks, Goggles.”
“Watch out for Nuru, Blondie,” Varian calls back, laugh in his voice.
Grinning, Hugo sets out for the plaza, following the sound of Yong’s laughter. For the first time in a long while, his heart doesn’t feel so heavy.