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If you had asked the Gus of a few weeks ago what he'd be doing with his free time on the weekends, he would've answered something like studying, or hanging out with his friends. He would've spent it with little projects and crafting illusions.
Well, technically what he was doing right now was a project. It was just... bigger than before. Plus, he had a partner with him.
A certain construction student lowered his hood from his head, breathing out a sigh of relief. His eyes trailed to the sky, clouds drifting lazily by, before going back down to meet Gus's eyes. "Hey there, Augustus." He gave Gus a peace sign, before his eyes went down to the massive pile of books Gus had brought with him. He groaned. "Really, dude? We're studying while we're here?"
Also technically, Mattholomule was a friend he was hanging out with.
Gus chuckled, picking up a book from the top of the pile. "Yep! Dunno what you expected, Mattholomule." He flipped through a few pages, pulling out a note and handing it over. "Don't worry, though. I drew up some plans."
Mattholomule took the note from Gus's hand, reading it over. Gus closed the book and placed it back onto the pile. He spun a spell circle in the air, creating a mini illusion of what had been on the note.
Mattholomule glanced up, already laughing when he saw Gus had made the illusion. "Sometimes I wonder if you ever rest." Mattholomule pocketed the note, making a spell circle and creating their signature punching bag construction— a witch-shaped, featureless rock. "Let's get to it."
Gus used his illusions to lay out a mini version of what the plan for the graveyard was going to be. Mattholomule used his little construction to act out what a normal person would likely do when faced with the obstacles the plan laid out. Anything in the illusion that grazed the rock would be marked down for potential use in the graveyard itself.
Plan after plan was marked down in a notebook that Gus brought with him. The pages were covered in scratchy writing from Gus's hurried notes. The sun traveled across the sky, though only a few rays broke through the clouds. Still, they pushed forward.
...Until Mattholomule's stomach growled. The construction witch winced, and the little rock he was controlling stopped in place— just as an illusion overlapped it.
Gus started to write that down before he realized the rock wasn't moving anymore, and he looked over to Mattholomule, who was rubbing at his stomach. Gus smirked, closing his notebook and drawing a spell circle to stop his illusion. "What's wrong, Matty? You hungry?"
Mattholomule rolled his eyes, ears twitching as he looked away. "Shut up, Augustus. I didn't eat before I came here, like an idiot."
"I notice you tend to do that." Gus said, leaning down and opening his bag.
He reached inside and pulled out a lunch bag, which killed the complaint rising on Mattholomule's tongue. "Luckily, I swiped something before I got here, because I predicted your idiocy!"
Mattholomule simply stared at the bag, eyebrows pinched together. Gus tried to keep his smile level. Eventually, he sighed and walked over, plucking the lunch bag out of Gus's grip and slumping down against a wall. "Thanks, Gus. Sorry for having to force a break on ya."
"No, it's chill, dude! We all need breaks, or something." Gus pulled out his snack from his bag. Gus sat down against the same wall, sitting right next to Mattholomule.
Mattholomule gave him a surprised glance before focusing on the food in front of him. "Right. Yeah." There was a tightness to his tone, like he was restraining his voice from showing more emotion.
The two ate in silence.
Judging by the lack of comments from Mattholomule, the food Gus had brought had been judged as good. If it had been just okay, Mattholomule would've made some quip about the food's quality and how he'll force it down for Gus's sake. Gus took another bite of his sandwich, letting himself eat slowly as he watched the clouds travel the sky.
It was peaceful. Gus guessed that not many knew where this location was. He chewed slowly, watching the shapes in the clouds. He could faintly hear Mattholomule chewing beside him.
Gus finished his sandwich right as a weight settled itself on his shoulder. Gus turned his head towards the weight, lifting his free hand to shove Mattholomule off, only to realize the other kid's eyes were shut. His breathing was steady, and his face wasn't scrunched together like it usually seemed to be.
Gus's heart pounded. His hand twitched as he brought it slightly closer to Mattholomule's face. Mattholomule looked... peaceful. Content. Gus didn't get to see that often.
There was a crumb of food on the cheek that wasn't pressed into Gus's shoulder. Gus reached his hand forward and brushed his thumb across the crumb as softly as he could. He could barely feel the skin under his thumb, but something about that contact sent his pulse racing.
He drew the hand away, letting it slump back to his side. He still trained his eyes on Mattholomule's face. The breathing was still steady. He wasn't waking up from what Gus did.
Gus couldn't bring himself to move. Why tear Mattholomule from the rest he obviously desperately needed if he fell asleep after eating a meal? Some part of his mind couldn't pull away from the other boy asleep on his shoulder. Gus looked back to the sky, trying to focus on the clouds drifting across it.
His eyes were starting to droop, and a yawn escaped him without his permission. Gus wanted to shake himself out, keep himself awake, but Mattholomule was still asleep on his shoulder, so he couldn't. His eyes drooped lower and lower, and his head fell to the side.
He was only faintly aware of resting his head on Mattholomule's when his consciousness slipped away to the realm of sleep.