Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Fabian stepped ashore, putting one hand on the side of the rowboat to steady himself in what he hoped was a casual motion. It always took him a few minutes to get his land legs back after a stretch at sea, and this time had been longer than most. 

“You alright there Captain?”

Fabian waved a hand. “Yes, yes. Do look after things while I’m away."

“I think I can handle the crew for a few days,” said his first mate. “We’ll try not to get into too much adventurin’ while you’re gone.”

“As long as you tell me a tale when I return I don’t mind if you do,” said Fabian.

His first mate tipped his cap. Fabian waved to him, watching for a moment as he rowed back to the Hangman III . He did so hate to be apart from his ship, but she was in safe hands, and anyway, he’d had to miss the last Bad Kids reunion. He couldn’t let a whole year pass without seeing his friends. Sporadic crystal calls were all well and good, but he was so rarely in range for them to speak for long.

They all had that same trouble, really. Fig and Gorgug on the road as they continued their quest to bring “real music” to the world, Kristen and Tracker always trekking out to some gods-forsaken swamp or forgotten valley to bring whatever help was needed to those in need of it, Adaine and Riz- Well. Fabian supposed they were, usually, within crystal range of one-another. At least with Adaine visiting Riz occasionally the others could be assured that neither of them were holling themselves up somewhere, studying or spiralling at the expense of their health.

Riz, especially. Even with his much less dangerous job at the Elmville Daily News, he could still get so easily caught up in an idea, talking everyone’s ear off about it, talking Fabian’s ear off about it. Fabian smiled to himself as he hailed a cab. He was almost excited to hear what Riz’s latest obsession was this time.

He dozed on the cab ride back to Elmville. They’d had good wind to make it to Bastion City so quickly, a day ahead of schedule. It would certainly be something, to wake up in his own bed and go downstairs to surprise Cathilda and his mama with his presence in the morning instead of arriving in the afternoon as they had expected. He’d be there to greet Fig and Gorgug’s tour bus with the others too, which ordinarily he was too late arriving to do.

Seacaster Manor was dark as he got out of the cab. Fabian crept through the house, careful not to wake Cathilda. He didn’t turn on a light until he reached his own room, letting out a sigh at the sight of his bed. His quarters on the Hangman III were perfectly fine, but there was truly nothing more luxurious after ten months at sea than his own soft mattress.

He’d barely sat down before a thud downstairs caught his attention, too loud to be an object tipping over from mere gravity. Fabian reached for his sword, keeping to the shadows as walked quietly in the direction of the noise, peering over the balcony that overlooked the main foyer. The lights were on, which they had certainly not been when he’d entered the home.

Sprawled on the floor were Riz, Adaine, and Gilear. Fabian opened his mouth to shout a greeting and then closed it again, studying them. Gilear was dressed in the fine robes he wore when assisting Adaine with her duties as Oracle. Adaine and Riz, on the other hand, were dressed much more casually. Riz’s waistcoat had a large tear at the front, although to Fabian’s immense relief he seemed uninjured.

"How's that for close to Seacaster Manor?" said Adaine, breathless, an edge of laughter to her voice.

Riz laughed. "Okay, okay, I will admit your aim is getting like, significantly better." He raised his head. "This is pretty much spot on. Good job on landing us on something soft, too."

Gilear, underneath them, groaned. Riz and Adaine scrambled to get off him.

"Oh, shit Gilear-" said Adaine.

"I am fine," said Gilear. He sat up slowly, patting himself down. “Although I-”

A crystal rang, echoing in the entry hall's cavernous space.

“Shit,” said Adaine, patting down her pockets, “Shit, shit, where’s-”

Riz dived for the crystal on the floor next to them, quickly passing it to Adaine. Adaine, her eyes wide, pushed it into Gilear’s hands.

Gilear did not look any less panicked than they did. “I, uh-”

“Just- it’s a normal call, right Gilear?” said Riz. “Just a regular night, we’ve just been doing regular stuff, okay?”

“Right,” said Gilear. He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly before he answered. "Hello, this is the office of the Oracle, to whom am I speaking? Ah, hello. I'm afraid it's quite late, are you sure this is as urgent as- I see.” He paused. “Well, I will see if the Oracle is available to take your call. Please hold on one moment."

Any steadiness Gilear had held during the call instantly vanished. He held the crystal out toward Riz and Adaine, his eyes wide and panicked. Riz and Adaine had a hissed conversation, too quiet for Fabian to hear, before Adaine took the crystal.

"Hello councilman, I- oh how terrible , I do hope everythings alright. Nothing taken?"

Riz clutched at Gilear's sleeve. Gilear covered his face with his hands.

"I see. I do understand your concern but I suppose I am still a little confused as to why you contacted me and not the proper authorities- No, I haven't." Adaine’s expression hardened. "Well, I suppose if I had a vision about every single moment of the life of every single living being in the realm I would hardly be of use to the Council in their times of need.” 

She blinked, holding the crystal away from her ear for a moment. Fabian could hear the tinny noise of someone yelling on the other end of the line. Riz’s expression shifted and he pressed a hand to his mouth, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. Adaine waved a hand, obviously trying to keep her serious expression.

“Well, if you would like me to prioritise this I certainly will, although I will of course have to inform the others in the Council that I am setting aside the work I had previously agreed to focus on in order to prioritise your personal- yes, I see.” She paused. “Perhaps another time, I am currently in Elmville on some personal business. Yes, yes, I'm sure that's fine. My assistant will be in touch to organise a more appropriate day for me to come by. Okay- goodnight councilman."

Adaine hung up.

"Should I… set up a meeting?" said Gilear.

She and Riz looked at each other for a moment before Riz laughed, sliding to the side to press his face against Adaine’s arm. Adaine flopped backwards, taking Riz with her. She covered her face, letting out a huff of laughter.

"God," said Adaine, "oh my god. Yes, why the fuck not, sure."

"Is that safe?" said Riz.

"Probably not, but I doubt he’ll attack me in his office," said Adaine. "Not really his style."

"I guess not," said Riz. He groaned. "What a fucking… what a fucking night yorb of a situation."

Fabian’s eyebrows shot up. Night yorb?

"What a fucking night yorb situation," said Adaine in agreement.

Riz groaned again. "I can't feel my legs."

Adaine sat up. "What, seriously?"

"No, I mean I'm- I forgot how much this stuff takes out of you," said Riz. "I'm out of practice."

"You're supposed to be out of practice, you're retired from adventuring," said Adaine. "I doubt this kind of legwork is expected for junior copyeditors."

"Or Elven Oracles," said Riz wryly.

Adaine huffed a laugh, tugging at Riz’s sleeve. “Come on, we’ve got to get some rest before everyone gets in tomorrow, you know it’s going to be an absolute madhouse as always.”

"You are both welcome to sleep here," said Gilear. "Fabian does not arrive back until late afternoon and there are plenty of bedrooms.”

Fabian went still, holding his breath and pressing back further into the shadows.

"Nah," said Riz. "I know how much Fabian likes an entrance. Wouldn't want to spoil it."

Fabian frowned. What was that supposed to mean? Of course he liked to make an entrance, everyone did.

" Riz ," said Adaine.

Fabian was too far away to get a good sense for the meaning behind her tone, Adaine’s fondness laid over something else.

Riz waved a hand. "You know what I mean. Besides what am I supposed to say? I was here to surprise him?"

"Trying to get a scoop for the society section perhaps?" offered Adaine.

Riz groaned. Adaine laughed, tugging at his arm.

"Come on, up. The Manor’s close."

"Too many people," whined Riz. " Adaine ."

Adaine sighed. "Fine, fine. Let's go sleep on your terrible pull out couch."

"Yay," said Riz, his tone the kind of tired-pleased he got after a long night of investigation.

Adaine helped Riz to his feet. They both swayed slightly, clearly exhausted.

"You all good if we head out?" said Riz.

Gilear waved a hand. "Of course. I will be collapsing into bed momentarily."

"Right," said Riz with a laugh. "See you later, I was never here, all the usual stuff."

"Yes, yes," said Gilear.

"Night Gilear," said Riz.

"Goodnight Gilear," said Adaine. “Thank you for your assistance tonight.”

"Goodnight Riz," said Gilear, "goodnight Adaine. Safe travels."

The two of them headed for the door, leaning on each other. Gilear nodded to himself, flicking off the entry hall light, and walking slowly in the direction of Hallariel’s rooms, leaving Fabian stunned in the darkness.

“Master Fabian!” said Cathilda’s delighted voice at his elbow, jolting him from his daze. “I thought I heard you get in! We weren’t expecting you until tomorrow evening!”

“Yes, I… got in early, good winds and all that. Cathilda did you…”

Fabian trailed off, glancing behind him. Whatever Riz and Adaine were up to had sounded extremely secret and potentially dangerous. In that kind of situation, it was likely that even asking Cathilda about it might put her in danger as well as them. That was surely why Riz hadn’t told him about it, some kind of mixture of trying to protect Fabian and whatever it was being too secret to discuss over a crystal call. Riz could be awfully paranoid that way, even now.

“Did I what Master Fabian?”

“I- Nothing,” said Fabian. “Just- I hope my early arrival is a pleasant surprise.”

“Why of course it is!” said Cathilda, wrapping her small arms around him. “It’s a good thing I already stocked up on kippers, I knew you’d be wanting a good meal when you arrived back with us.”

“Oh Cathilda, you spoil me!”

“Well I don’t get many chances to these days,” said Cathilda. “I’ve got to make the most of it while you’re here with us.”

She walked with him to his rooms. Despite the mystery of Riz and Adaine he’d just uncovered, he found himself diverted by Cathilda’s presence. It was right to leave her with Hallariel, but he did miss her companionship while he was out at sea.

“I’ll bring you an extra-special breakfast tomorrow morning,” said Cathilda brightly. “It’ll be such a treat having a chance to catch up on all your adventures before your friends get in. Not that I begrudge you the chance to see them of course, I’m sure you must miss them.”

“Yes, I-” Fabian hesitated. “Do you see much of them? While I’m away?”

Cathilda paused where she was turning down the sheets on Fabian’s bedding. “I suppose I see Miss Abernant from time to time when Mister Faeth is helping her with something, translating documents and the like.”

“You don’t see The Ball at all?” said Fabian.

Cathilda frowned. “No, but I don’t suppose he has much reason to visit here with you being away Master Fabian.” She paused, thinking for a moment. “I have seen him from time to time if he’s picking up Miss Abernant. She was feeling poorly for a time, and I understand that she was saving her spell slots for healing.”

“Yes, of course,” said Fabian.

He did have a vague memory of Adaine having the flu the last time he’d visited, something that had caused her to go home early from a few of their gatherings, but she seemed well enough now. Another layer of the mystery. It would have been one fit for Riz himself, were Riz not also at the centre of it.

It took Fabian several tries before he was able to assure Cathilda that he had everything he needed to go to sleep, that he wasn’t hungry or thirsty, that he wasn’t injured, that he wasn’t too hot or too cold. By the time he did so, he was much too tired to puzzle over the events of the night, falling into sleep almost as soon as his head touched the pillow.

He was shocked that Gilear, of all people, managed to play it so cool the next morning. He was sticking perhaps a little closer to Hallariel’s side than Fabian thought was usual, but it was equally likely that this was a habit he had formed over Fabian’s absence. Hallariel certainly didn’t show any sign that she thought it was odd, looping her arm gracefully Gilear’s side and leaning her head against Gilear’s shoulder in between bites of her fruit salad. The sight did not fill Fabian with as much revulsion as it once had, and he silently congratulated himself on his maturity.

“I suppose I should let the others know I have arrived,” said Fabian. “I don’t know if any of them have gotten into town yet.”

He looked directly at Gilear. Gilear cleared his throat, and reached for his cup of coffee.

“I believe your friend Adaine has already arrived,” said Hallariel.

“Yes,” said Gilear, “She would have arrived last night, or the night before perhaps. I believe she was looking into something for the Elmville council.”

“Oh?” said Fabian. “What was she looking into?”

“You’d have to ask her,” said Gilear. “I merely offer secretarial and occasional legal aid to the Oracle. I do not advise her on every matter.”

Fabian narrowed his eyes. Gilear set his coffee cup down, an action which masked his expression enough that Fabian couldn’t tell whether his line of questioning was having any effect on the man.

“But surely you must-”

Fabian’s crystal buzzed and he looked down reflexively. He was almost unused to the noise of it, most of the time he was too out of range for messages, and certainly not at the speed at which they were currently coming through. He flicked open the group chat. Fig was texting her excitement one word at a time, punctuated by Gorgug sending through screenshots of their tour bus’s progress on a map. Judging by how quickly the images were coming through, it looked like they’d just gotten back into crystal range. It also looked like they were only a few hours away. He’d have to get a move on if he wanted to meet the bus as it arrived.

He hurried upstairs to shower and change. Any interrogation of Gilear would have to wait until later. It would probably be unnecessary once he’d seen Riz and Adaine anyway, since surely they would tell him all.

Riz and Adaine were waiting in front of Mordred Manor as Fabian pulled up, a picnic blanket spread out on the lawn. Adaine lifted herself up on her elbows, smiling. Riz hopped up as Fabian parked, the delight on his face so genuine that Fabian could almost have forgotten the mystery at hand.

“Fabian!”

Fabian opened his arms for a hug, letting out a soft oof at the force of Riz’s enthusiasm but still returning his embrace. He was glad that this was something they both gotten a little better at since their school days, the physical sensation erasing their time apart from one another. He felt Riz squeeze his side slightly before he stepped back, warmth spreading through Fabian’s chest as Riz smiled up at him.

“Good to see you too, The Ball,” said Fabian. He waved to Adaine, his other arm still around Riz. “Hello Adaine.”

Adaine waved back. “You’re early.”

“Your Oracle powers didn’t tell you?” said Fabian.

Riz laughed, moving to sit back down next to Adaine. Fabian followed, sitting next to Riz.

“You know they don’t work like that,” said Adaine. “You even beat Kristen and Tracker. They only just got to the edge of town.”

Riz hummed in agreement, taking a sip of the coffee in his enormous take-away cup.

“That thing’s almost bigger than your head,” said Fabian. He paused. “Late night?”

Riz shrugged. “Kind of.”

“Oh?” said Fabian. “Do tell.”

“It wouldn’t be a very interesting story,” said Riz. “Just me staring at a crystal screen, editing for like five hours.”

Okay, now Fabian was sure that there was a mystery afoot. Riz and Adaine not telling the rest of the Bad Kids something via crystal was one thing, but Riz so cleanly avoiding telling him of what was going on in person was entirely another. Even if he had been waiting for the other Bad Kids to arrive, that didn’t ordinarily stop him.

“What do they have you working on this time?” said Adaine.

“Lifestyle section,” said Riz. “I’m learning a lot about rhubarb.”

Adaine’s crystal pinged and she picked it up, rolling her eyes at the message. Riz gave her a questioning look, and she shook her head slightly.

“Just Aelwyn,” said Adaine. “She wants to know if you talked to Penny about her coming to the concert tonight.”

“I did,” said Riz. “The short rogues squad has cleared her for coming and it not being a big deal as long as no one makes it a big deal.” 

“Short rogues squad?” said Fabian, raising his eyebrows.

“Me and Penny Luckstone,” said Riz. “Whenever Ostentatia and Aelwyn are going to be in the same place it’s still kind of you… y’know. Me and Penny need to make sure there’s some kind of truce in effect. Not that it’s unfair, I mean I still don’t really forgive Biz for putting me in a palimpsest and he didn’t even pretend to be friends with me before that.”

“I’m a little surprised she wants to go at all,”’ said Fabian.

Adaine shrugs. “She likes a party, and a Fig and the Cig Figs concert is kind of one of the biggest there is in this town.”

“She and Ostentatia probably won’t even see each other,” said Riz. He turned towards Fabian, waving a hand at the manor behind them. “You don’t normally get here until the day after one of Fig and Gorgug’s concerts but in like five hours this place is going to be packed . I think Jawbone spent most of this week, like, securing the place against destruction.”

Adaine laughed, her attention turning back towards her crystal as she typed out a reply. Riz leant back on his palms, tilting his head back and closing his eyes the sun on his face. Fabian studied his familiar profile for a moment, looking away as Riz’s eyes snapped open to meet his.

“So this is the calm before the storm,” said Fabian.

“Yep,” said Riz, “This is about as quiet as it’s going to get during Bad Kids reunion week.”

Fabian glanced back but Riz wasn’t looking at him, instead holding his crystal up to scroll through it while he took another long sip of his coffee. He did look tired, but not so much that Fabian would have thought anything of it under normal circumstances. Riz had looked tired every day that Fabian had known him, likely a result of only getting an average of four hours of sleep every night. He looked at Adaine out of the corner of his eye. She didn’t look any differently than he would have expected either, her blonde hair fanned out underneath her head where she was lying on the blanket. If he hadn’t known, he would never have thought that anything was going on at all.

It did raise the question of how long this particular mystery had been going on. He’d missed the last Bad Kids meetup, but before that? Cass only knew, since apparently Riz and Adaine had a higher deception skill than he would have thought.

“Kisten and Tracker are almost here,” said Adaine, sitting up.

“I thought you said that your Oracle skills don’t work like that?” said Fabian.

“They don’t,” said Adaine, pointing down the street.

The Hangvan rumbled it’s way towards the Manor, showing signs of new wear and tear on its airbrushed paint job. It drew into park behind the Hangman, Kristen springing out of the door before the van had come to a complete stop.

“Hey!” said Kristen. She did a double take at Fabian. “ Hey , you’re home early!”

“We had a good wind on our way-”

Like Riz, Kristen slammed Fabian into an enthusiastic hug. The hug was quickly joined by Riz and Adaine.

“God it’s so good to see you guys,” said Kristen.

Riz grinned. “It’s good to see you too! How’s it been going with you guys?” He looked behind them to the van. “Looks like you’ve been having some more wild times.”

Kristen laughed, the four of them stepping back slightly from one another to sit down. Tracker came around from the other side of the van, bending to kiss the top of Kristen’s head.

“Hey guys,” said Tracker. “I’m going to go say hi to Jawbone, okay?”

“‘Kay,” said Kristen brightly. As soon as Tracker was out of earshot, Kristen sighed, putting her face in her hands. “Guys, I just spent like six months watching my girlfriend save people from forest fires like she’s someone out of a fuckin’ action movie. If I can’t find a way to propose to her soon I’m gonna die.”

Fabian laughed. “You still haven’t worked out how to do it?”

“I almost did skywriting, but then we had to deal with this fire that was basically caused by this asshole pilot, so that’s right out as an option.” Kristen groaned. “I just need to find a way that’s as cool as she is.”

“I think you’re both very cool,” said Adaine, “and I’m sure she’ll like whatever way you end up proposing.”

“Yeah. You know you guys made the front page a couple of times,” said Riz. “I think Jawbone’s saved all the articles. He’s probably showing them to Tracker right now, he has like a whole scrapbook going.”

Kristen laughed, a light blush rising to her cheeks. “I mean, we’re just helping it. The real heroes are the people are out there every day-”

“Serving their communities,” finished Riz, grinning up at her. “Yeah, I know, I edited that piece, I saw your quote.”

Kristen pushed his shoulder and Riz made a show of falling over, bumping into Fabian’s side. Fabian shifted and Riz filled the space, leaning slightly against Fabian’s shoulder as he took another sip of coffee.

Their crystals chimed in unison as a message came through on the group chat. It was a very blurred photo of the Welcome to Elmville sign, Gorgug’s feet kicked up on the dashboard.

“That’s going to be an album cover some day,” said Adaine.

Kristen laughed. Fabian could see, from his close angle to Riz, that he saved the photo. Something warm uncurled in Fabian's chest at the sight of it, Riz secreting away mementos, his own like scrapbook. Fabian had done a similar thing himself over the months away whenever he’d been in crystal range to see whatever new photo the others had put in the group chat or posted to their social media.

“So what have you guys been up to?” said Kristen.

“Same old stuff, just... working at the paper,” said Riz.

“Come on,” said Kristen.

“Yes, The Ball,” said Fabian. “I missed the last gathering, you must have some news.”

Riz wrinkled his nose. “I mean, sometimes I put on a nicer suit and go with Adaine to, like, one of her government party things, but nothing as exciting as what you guys are doing.”

“I can’t exactly help that,” said Adaine. “The Solesian government is not known for their thrilling cocktail parties.”

“You guys are such adults now,” said Kristen.

“Oh yeah, for sure.” Riz took another sip of his coffee, deliberately making a slurping noise.

Kristen laughed. “You know what I mean.”

“So are you guys, saving people,” Riz waved a hand between Kristen and Fabian. “Sailing the ocean doing piracy or whatever.”

“Yes, I do a great deal of whatever,” said Fabian.

Riz laughed, the sound of it obscured by a loud horn. The four of them looked up to see the Fig and the Cig Figs tour bus zooming up the hill, screeching to a halt on the curb in front of them.The door hissed open and Fig jumped down, spreading her arms wide.

“We have arrived!”

The others lurched up off the blanket and Fabian followed, adding a layer to the group hug.

“Gorgug!” said Kristen. “Get down here!”

“Hi guys,” said Gorgug, laughing as he was pulled into the hug.

“Bad Kids week starts now!” said Kristen.

“ Hell yeah,” said Fig, her excitement palpable. “God, I have so much to tell you guys!” 

The others laughed, pulling Gorgug and Fig down onto the blanket with them. Fabian wasn’t normally there in time for the first day, but he did normally get caught up in the second wave of story-swapping that occurred now when they were all together. This time, though, he kept half an eye on Riz and Adaine, watching for tells. If they wanted to share whatever it was they were up to they didn’t give any sign of it, dodging any questions so artfully that even Fabian was almost fooled by it.

Hours passed and eventually they went inside to eat and, in Fig and Gorgug’s case, to make sure their stage was being set up properly. People slowly began to gather outside, the promised storm of people arriving so gradually that Fabian barely noticed until he glanced out the window and saw the line to get in, snaking around the block and out of view.

Riz laughed. “Told you so.”

Some smaller, local band was opening for them, their music a little more folk-heavy than Fig’s style but close enough that people gathered around the stage. Kristen and Tracker broke away from the group to dance.

“You coming?” said Fabian, tilting his head towards the stage.

“You know I don’t dance,” said Riz.

“ Still ?” said Fabian.

Riz gave him a lopsided smile. “Just not something I’m good at. We can’t all take points in bard.”

“Why not?”

Riz pushed at his shoulder. “Go on, we’ve got the whole week to hang out. Fig’s on after these guys finish this song, and I know she’s opening with one of your favourites.”

Fig did, indeed, open with Burn Towns, Get Money before launching into one of their newer songs. Fabian danced, buoyed by the music and the excitement of the crowd. He didn’t even realise how long he’d been dancing until Fig called an intermission, the cheer of the crowd fading as Fig’s intermission playlist started. Some of the crowd drifted away, others continuing to mill around, still dancing or trying to hold their place at the front.

Fabian pushed through the crowd, his eyes searching out the other Bad Kids - Kristen and Tracker making out by the fountain, Adaine leaning against a wall talking with Zelda, and Riz-

Fabian blinked, not quite sure his eyes could be trusted.

Riz was sitting at the makeshift bar that had been set up along one side of the manor. Next to him was Aelwyn. They looked shockingly at ease with one another, Aelwyn leaning back against the bar, her body turned towards Riz where he was perched on one of the barstools as he spoke to one of the bartenders. 

Aelwyn said something after the bartender moved to serve someone else, the smirk on her face the one that usually accompanied a particularly cruel remark and Riz- Riz laughed . Fabian couldn’t hear the sound of it over the music, but of course he had long since memorised how it sounded, the particular tilt of Riz’s lips that preceded the warmth of it. Aelwyn’s smirk melted into something more approaching genuine amusement. They clinked their drinks together and she tilted her head towards the dance floor, giving a huff at Riz's response. 

It didn’t take long for someone else to approach, a broad-shouldered human man pulling Aelwyn onto the dance floor. She shot Riz a look as she went and Riz laughed again, taking her drink as she thrust it out to him and setting it on the bar next to him. Riz’s eyes scanned the party, finally landing on Fabian. Fabian’s stomach jolted unexpectedly at Riz’s sharp attention. Riz smiled, giving Fabian a little wave, which Fabian took as his cue to go over and continue solving the mystery that was Riz Gukgak.

“Hi,” said Fabian.

“Hey,” said Riz, with a laugh.

“If I didn’t know better I’d say you were avoiding me,” said Fabian.

“Why would I be?” said Riz.

Fabian gestured to the dance floor. “Well. Sitting next to Aelwyn...”

“You guys broke up literal years ago,” said Riz. “I would have thought that you’d be over it by now.”

“Of course I am,” said Fabian, waving aside the very dramatic moping that he had done in the wake of his first romantic heartbreak. “I just- I didn’t know the two of you were friends.”

Riz shrugged, taking a sip of his beer. “I see her when Adaine’s in town, I guess.”

“She trusts you enough to hold her drink,” said Fabian.

“Well, she knows I’m not going anywhere,” said Riz.

“Despite my best efforts to get you on the dance floor,” said Fabian.

Riz smiled. He opened his mouth, closing it again, his gaze going past Fabian’s shoulder. Fabian turned in time to see Aelwyn pushing her way back through the dancers. She took her drink, letting out an annoyed huff.

“The absolute nerve of that man, on top of being a complete bore-” She paused. “Hello Fabian, wonderful to see you as always.”

“He's probably going to keep having the nerve if you keep agreeing to dance with him when he asks,” said Riz.

“Well nobody else asked me,” said Aelwyn, giving Riz a pointed look.

“You know I can't dance,” said Riz.

“I know you won't dance,” said Aelwyn, “I don't know if you can't.”

“Then you’re going to have to take my word for it. Besides, you're a lot taller than me,” sais Riz, “it looks kind of goofy for an elf and a goblin to dance together.”

“I don't know about that,” said Aelwyn. “Fabian, I'm sure you've danced with Riz, what do you think about Riz’s particular stubbornness?”

“Uh,” managed Fabian.

He had a hazy memory of dancing with Riz after graduation in the parking lot of the Black Pit, tipsy and tired while they waited for a taxi to pick their group up, and honestly closer to swaying into one another than anything else. He couldn’t really remember if height difference had been an issue, just the warmth of it as Riz had pressed his face against Fabian's chest. It had been nice enough that he'd almost been disappointed when their taxi had arrived.

“I don’t suppose it would really be an issue if you kept in time?” said Fabian.

Aelwyn smirked and Riz blushed.

“I don’t know if I’m good enough at that,” said Riz.

“Don’t sell yourself so short Gukgak,” said Aelwyn. “I’ve seen you in a fight, your dexterity is impeccable.”

“Firing a gun is not like dancing,” said Riz.

“It can be,” said Aelwyn.

Riz hummed, taking a sip of his beer. “Your man’s making eyes at you again.”

Fabian glanced behind him. There was the same tall, broad-shouldered human as had pulled Aelwyn up to dance earlier, looking intently in their direction.

“He is not my man,” said Aelwyn. “He’s a paladin . You know I much prefer someone with more of an air of danger to them.” She knocked back the remainder of her drink. “I’m going to find Adaine. I’m sure you can find me if you change your mind about dancing.”

“I won’t,” said Riz, “and Adaine’s out the front.”

“No she’s not,” said Fabian, “I saw her talking to-”

He looked over to where Adaine had been talking with Zelda. Adaine was gone. Aelwyn patted Fabian on the shoulder, heading in the direction of the front of the house.

“Zelda went backstage,” said Riz.

“I think you don’t like dancing because you like keeping a watchful eye on us,” said Fabian, wryly.

“Or maybe I’m just not a fan of public embarrassment,” said Riz calmly. “You want something to drink?”

“Sure,” said Fabian.

He took the beer from Riz’s hand and took a long drink. It was not really his preferred, but it was always worth the look on Riz’s face after he did something like this, the flush on his cheeks almost obscuring his freckles, smiling too much to be able to put up a proper pretense of annoyance. Something squirmed hotly in the pit of Fabian’s stomach, oddly close to nerves which was, of course, ridiculous. He knew Riz far too well to be nervous around him.

“Thank you,” said Fabian, handing the bottle back to Riz.

“Can’t you ever get your own?”

“I’m a professional pirate,” said Fabian. “It goes against my ethics to pay for a drink.”

“You know Kristen has a Bad Kids stash set aside for us,” said Riz. “Also, this is Fig’s concert, you literally would not be paying.”

“Why would I know that?” said Fabian. “You always bring me a drink.”

“I don’t bring you a drink,” grumbled Riz, still smiling too much for his words to hold any real annoyance. “This is my drink.”

The intermission music cut out and Fabian looked back towards the stage. People were already making their way back there, the air humming with energy.

“You can keep dancing if you want,” said Riz. When Fabian hesitated, he poked Fabian’s leg with his foot. “Go on. I know you don’t need me to have fun dancing.”

“I’ll get you onto the dance floor one day, The Ball.”

Riz smiled. “Sure, maybe.”

When Fabian glanced back from the edge of the crowd, Riz’s eyes were still on him. Fabian felt a hot jolt in the pit of his stomach again, any attempt to untangle the meaning behind it immediately derailed by Fig popping onto the stage in a burst of flame. He lost himself to the dance, the movement of it as joyous as ever. When Fig finished up it was to the roaring chorus of My Van is a Boat and my Boat is a Van , pulling him up onstage to dance with her.

Fig pulled him backstage with her and Gorgug, the three of them laughing, coming down from the high of performance. Kristen was waiting backstage.

“Your show streams are pretty good,” said Kristen, “but there really is nothing like the real thing.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea for a song,” said Fig. “Gorgug, write that down.”

Gorgug patted his pockets. “Uh.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll just remember it.” Fig tapped her head. “Music stuff sticks up here.”

“Riz probably has a notepad on him,” said Fabian.

“Hey, yeah!” said Fig. “Come on, Bad Kids assemble!”

Riz was not at the bar where Fabian had left him.

“Maybe he’s out the front?” said Fabian. “I think Adaine was out the front.”

“They’re probably together,” said Kristen. “Nerd squad solidarity.”

Adaine and Riz were both sitting on the low fence that had been half constructed around Jawbone’s vegetable patch, bottles of water in hand. Fabian noted that there were another four bottles sitting next to them, unopened and waiting. The Bad Kids supply. Adaine held one of the bottles out to Fig as she approached, and Fig took a grateful swig.

“Hey!” said Fig. “Riz, do you have a notepad?”

“Uh, sure?”

Fig held out a hand. “Cool, thanks.”

Riz pulled a very small spiral notepad out of his pocket, handing it to Fig. She immediately began scribbling something down, Gorgug looking over her shoulder.

“Where’s Aelwyn?” said Fabian.

Adaine shrugged. “Around. There’s some paladin she’s flirting with.”

“I thought she didn’t like him?” said Fabian.

“She doesn’t,” said Adaine. “But she does enjoy negging him.”

Riz snorted. Adaine grinned at him, opening her mouth to say something before she paused, pulling out her crystal. Fabian could just make out the unknown number flashing on the screen before she answered.

“Hello, this is Adaine Abernant, how can I- I see.” Adaine paused, turning away from the group slightly. “And you’re sure of the timing?” She let out a long breath. “I- Give me- I’m at a personal event, but I’ll be there shortly. Thank you for your call, I appreciate it.”

Riz had gone very still. Fabian tried to focus in on him, without looking as though he were studying him.

“What was that about?” said Kristen.

“I- The council needs me,” said Adaine, standing up.

“ Now ?” said Fabian.

Adaine shrugged. “Oracle duties can, ironically, be quite unexpected. I’ll- I’m sure I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

“Hell yeah you will,” said Fig, her attention still mostly on the notepad. “Group brunch, remember?”

“Uh,” said Riz, “I have to, uh- I have to give you that CD, remember? Before you leave?”

Fabian glanced at the others, to see if they had picked up on what was clearly a completely bullshit excuse. Fig and Gorgug were still focussed on the notepad, and Kristen was nodding along, obviously distracted as she texted Tracker.

“Oh, right, yes,” said Adaine. “Why don’t we- We can go together, and you can always come back here after.”

“Great,” said Riz. “Well, see you guys in a bit.”

“Okay,” said Kristen, glancing up and then looking back down at her crystal as it buzzed in her hand. “See you guys later.”

Fabian watched them go, feeling irritation itch under his skin.  “We should follow them.”

“Okay,” said Fig. She looked up, frowning. “Wait, why?”

“Because they’re… Okay, look, I didn’t say anything earlier, because I was hoping they’d say something, but I think they’re mixed up in some-” He lowered his voice. “ Night yorb shit .”

Kristen sat up. “ What !” 

“I got home late last night and they just misty stepped into Seacaster Manor, talking about- I don’t know, something, they’d just come from sneaking around somewhere I think, and then they mentioned the night yorb, and then today they acted like nothing happened,” said Fabian. “They’re obviously doing something .”

“Something to do with the council thing?” said Gorgug.

“No,” said Fabian. “Or, maybe. I overheard Adaine take a call from a councilmember about someone searching his chambers. He sounded distressed.”

“I thought Riz wasn’t doing detective stuff any more,” said Fig. “Isn’t he a full on reporter now?”

“ Exactly my point!” said Fabian, pointing at her for emphasis. “And you know if Riz is hiding it, that just means it’s extra dangerous, come on!”

The others followed him to the Hangvan. Fig cast an invisibility and silencing charm on it as they drove, making it perhaps one of the more dangerous drives Fabian had ever experienced, but at least they were able to keep close enough behind the taxi Adaine and Riz were in without being spotted. The taxi dropped them outside the building that housed Riz’s office, Riz and Adaine hurrying inside.

“This doesn’t exactly disprove that he’s returning her CD or whatever,” said Kristen.

“Come on ,” said Fabian.

Any doubts he had were wiped away as he realised that Riz had been in such a hurry to get in that he hadn’t reset any of the wards and locks that usually encircled his office. As they reached Riz’s office door, Fabian opened it in time to see Riz and Adaine misty step away, disappearing in a flash of light.

“I told you!” said Fabian.

“Yeah, okay, okay,” said Fig, “But like… now what do we do? Wait for them to come back?”

“They did say they’d be back later,” said Kristen. “Plus they left their coats here.”

“Yes,” said Fabian, still riding the high of being correct. “We wait.”

The feeling of triumph lasted about ten minutes, at which point he got bored and started poking around the room next to Riz’s office which seemed to function as both a waiting room of sorts and a lounge room. He shut the office window to the room and the door between the office and the waiting area, confident that if Adaine and Riz reappeared they’d have to see the rest of the Bad Kids in order to leave. Fig stretched out on the small couch, scrolling through her crystal. Gorgug absent-mindedly started picking up the newspapers scattered on the floor, stacking them in a pile. Kristen flicked through a large folder on Riz’s desk.

“Huh,” said Kristen, “I guess he’s making his own scrapbook.”

Fabian looked over at the articles that had been cut out - reviews of Fig and the Cig Figs concerts, an interview with someone with a passage highlighted about Kristen and Tracker’s help, and one very small clipping of an article where Riz had underlined a quote from someone saying they been saved by a “handsome elven pirate”. Riz, collecting their achievements and hoarding them away.

“Huh,” said Fabian, swallowing around the sudden lump in his throat.

There was a flash of light under the door of Riz’s closed office door, followed by the sound of two pairs of stumbled footsteps. Fig opened her mouth and Fabian slapped a hand over it, making a shh motion to the others. They crept towards the door.

“Oof,” said Adaine, “Ow, shit. Riz, you okay?”

“I’m fine,” said Riz, his voice strained. “That was uh. Not exactly our most successful run considering the head’s up.”

“No kidding.” Adaine let out a sound of frustration. “Ugh, I used all my spell slots, so I can’t even- Do you think we have time to wait it out? I don't think this will get any worse if I have to trance before I can heal us."

“It’s- huh,” said Riz. “It’s only been like twenty minutes.”

“Huh.” Adaine paused. “That’s some night yorb shit.”

Fabian poked Fig in the side. “I told you guys,” he whispered.

“ Shh ,” Fig whispered back.

Riz laughed, the sound ragged and breathless. “Yeah. I mean, at least that gives us some buffer time?”

“Probably me more than you since I’m supposed to be doing some kind of boring Solisian government thing right now, and you’re just supposed to be giving me a CD you forgot,” said Adaine.

“We are doing that,” said Riz. “I mean, sort of. Boring is relative, y’know, compared to rock star tours or high sea adventures or saving people from forest fires, or whatever.” He paused. “I bet I can get away with waiting here with you, I mean, everyone’s probably pretty drunk by now. They won’t notice if I don’t show up ‘til brunch tomorrow.”

Adaine hummed. “Maybe. Depends on how drunk they are. Fig’s probably set her playlist back up by now, so Kristen and Tracker are probably dancing, they won’t notice-”

“So’s Fabian,” said Riz.

Adaine hummed again. “Might mean he notices you’re gone sooner if he wants to dance with you.”

Something jolted again in the pit of Fabian’s stomach. Fig shot him a look, and Fabian waved a hand.

“He wouldn’t,” said Riz. “I don’t- whatever. So we’re probably good, right?”

“Yeah- oh, what about that bartender friend of yours, Orin, Allen-”

“Tallaine,” said Riz.

Fabian’s hand flexed at his side. It seemed tremendously unfair that some bartender was on the same level as them in terms of awareness of Riz’s presence.

“And, I mean, I don’t think so?” continued Riz. “I mean he- we’ve only hung out a couple times, no way he remembers me enough to notice.”

“I mean, debatable, but if he does I suppose we’re still probably good on that front. If anything he’ll just think of you being missing for a couple hours is mysterious, which Aelwyn informs me is an attractive trait,” said Adaine. “I- you don’t have a healer’s kit in here, do you?”

“Used it last week on a thing,” said Riz, his tone apologetic. “I meant to buy a replacement one but I don’t get paid until the day after tomorrow. I mean, I think I still have bandages maybe?”

“I doubt that will help with this,” said Adaine. “I’ll just have to trance and-” She broke off. “Do you hear that?”

There was a small scuttling sound from the other side of the door.

“Oh shit,” breathed Riz.

“No need to panic,” said Adaine. There was the sound of soft, slow footsteps. “I’ll just-”

There was a crash, and Adaine groaned. Riz let out a yelp.

“Get it, quick, before it gets out!” said Adaine, “Oh my- not with your hands- !”

“Ow, fuck, owowowow ow , Adaine, quick, get the thing, get the thing-!”

Riz yelled, startling Fabian into finally throwing open the door. Adaine and Riz looked towards the group in the doorway, wide eyed. The room itself was more of a mess than usual, papers scattered and the couch that sat in the corner of the room overturned, an odd, metallic scent in the air. Riz and Adaine were both on the floor, Adaine slumped against Riz’s desk, her hair singed and tights covered up to the knee in dark mud. Riz was covered in mud to the waist, one shirtsleeve torn off and his vest gone entirely, holding a large glass orb to the floor.

Fabian could see, because Riz's arm was shockingly bare, that the muscles of Riz's arms flexed with the effort of keeping the orb still. Fabian’s mouth went a little dry at it, the dramatic speech about betrayal that he'd been going to make instantly leaving his mind. He certainly didn’t remember Riz being that muscular, although given Riz had spent the entirety of high school hidden under suits it was possible.

“Hold shit,” said Kristen, “What happened  to you guys?” She let out a gasp. “What happened to your hands ?”

Fabian blinked, his stomach turning over. Riz and Adaine’s hands were both covered in large, painful looking blisters.

“Holy shit ,” said Fabian.

"Well as long as you're here staring at us, would one of you mind doing some healing?" asked Adaine. "I'd rather not be like this-" She held up her hands. "For hours if I don't have to."

Kristen and Fig both stepped forward, Riz and Adaine’s hands clearing under their’s. Adaine closed her eyes, letting out a breath and flexing her fingers.

“Thank you,” said Adaine.

“Yeah,” said Riz, “That’s way bett-” The orb began to roll away and Riz dived for it. “Oh no you don’t.”

“What’s with the-” Gorgug blinked. “Whoa.”

The others looked closer. Inside the orb was a crystalline-looking bug, about the size of Fabian’s fist. 

“Aw, hi little guy,” cooed Fig.

The bug hissed, spitting something against the orb that crackled and sizzled like acid, the metallic scent growing stronger. Fabian suddenly had a very good idea of how his friends fucked up their hands.

“Yeah, they don’t really like being looked at,” said Riz, “Or like, anything else.”

“Where did it even come from?” asked Kristen.

“Originally?” said Adaine. “Who knows?”

“Why not simply kill it?” said Fabian, “It’s just a bug.”

Riz paled. “Uh, I don’t- I wouldn't recommend it. We saw a guy try to do that once and he kind of… melted.”

“It’s some kind of defence mechanism I think,” said Adaine. “It’s skin ejects the crystals like spines and they… well, you saw our hands. It’s like that but your whole body and worse .”

“Where did you even-” began Fabian.

“Hey, yeah, wait,” said Fig, “You went adventuring without us? What the fuck?”

“Oh so you can have solo adventures but we can't?” said Riz. “I don't hear you getting on Fabian’s case and he's basically on a non-stop adventuring alone for like eight months at a time.”

“I’m not alone,” said Fabian, “I have a crew.”

“Well we have each other,” said Adaine.

“What are you doing though?” said Gorgug. “This doesn't seem… super Oracley.”

“Well it is and it isn't,” said Adaine. "It's complicated.”

Fabian looked at Riz. Riz's hands twitched where he was still holding the orb. Fabian raised an eyebrow, holding Riz's gaze.

“Someone's using the bugs to try to poison her,” said Riz quickly.

“Maybe!” said Adaine, over Kristen’s sound of concern. “That’s maybe what they’re trying to do.”

“Uh, absolutely that’s what they’re trying to do,” said Riz. “They already did do it, pretty fucking sucessfully.”

“They're… I think that was more an attempt to obscure my visions than to actually kill me.” Adaine paused. “Probably”

“Yeah but you don't know that because he's doing a bunch of-” Riz made a wild gesture, his hands fluttering through the air. “Weird obfuscation magic shit.”

Adaine huffed, crossing her arms. This was obviously a well worn argument between them. “Yes, well. Maybe. We have yet to find proof of any of it, so it’s really a moot point at this stage.”

“Question,” said Fig, raising her hand. “One, why is someone trying to poison you? And two, who are they so I can kick their ass?”

“It’s- Well we think it’s councilman Selanar,” said Adaine, “He seems the most likely at the moment, given his- Well, given what we‘re pretty sure he’s doing.”

“Adaine,” said Fig.

“It’s- It’s just not very...” Adaine looked to Riz.

“It’s a real estate thing,” said Riz. “The short version is that he’s from Fallinel but he has serious stakes in a housing company here that wants to take over a section of land that’s already occupied, so he’s been… poisoning the ground with some kind of liquid made from the bugs, essentially, to make it unlivable so the that people who currently live there take the shitty deal to sell their homes. It’s mostly a halfling and gnome area, although there are a couple wood elves out there which is how Gilear heard about it. He didn’t know what to do with the information he had, so he told Adaine about it.”

“The moment I pressed back on Selanar even a little he- Well, he made a few wild swings, shall we say, which really just made me think Gilear was right even if he didn’t have any proof,” said Adaine. “And then he- Well. There was a small…. instance of poisoning-”

“You almost died ,” interjected Riz.

“It’s hardly the first time that’s happened, we spent almost our entire high school years almost dying,” said Adaine. “But, yes, that did sort of confirm we were onto something. But I need conclusive proof before I can take anything to the council, so I put my best man on it.”

Riz beamed. Fabian was not at all jealous that Adaine had gotten that reaction.

“Why didn't you ask us to help though?” said Kristen.

Riz frowned. “I- no offence but it's hard enough to get you guys on like a half hour call. Besides, we could handle it.” He paused, looking at Adaine. “We are handling it, right?”

“Right,” said Adaine, “In any case, it's not like- it's not an end of the world situation, it's… a weird real estate deal. We don’t need to tap into the collective power of the Bad Kids for one shady real estate man.”

Fabian frowned. “What about the night yorb?”

Adaine blinked. “What about the night yorb?”

“Come on Adaine,” said Fig, “we literally heard you guys, you said this was a night yorb situation!”

Riz laughed. “Oh, my god. For a second I really thought- Guys, we were joking .”

“You shouldn’t joke about the night yorb ,” said Fabian.

“Okay, maybe joke’s not the right…” Riz paused. “It’s- we’ve been kind of using it like a code phrase, I guess? For when stuff goes off the rails.”

“Which,” said Adaine, gesturing at her mud-covered legs and the glass orb in Riz’s hands. “Obviously it did.”

“Not as badly as it could have,” said Riz, lifting the orb to peer at the bug. “At least we stopped this guy from getting out of the room.”

“So,” said Kristen, “what are you going to do with this guy?”

Riz shrugged. “Put him with the others I guess.”

“Others?” said Gorgug.

Riz pushed a button and a section of the wall of the office pulled back. There was a little crystal enclosure, humming with magical shield energies. Inside, there were six of the crystal bugs Fabian could see, scurrying and hissing in response to the light.

“You kept them?” said Kristen. “I thought you said they were dangerous.”

“They are,” said Riz, “But if you, uh. If you get poisoned, for example, with the stuff that Selanar’s adding to the ground, you need them to make the antidote.”

“We can't exactly take them back,” said Adaine. “I don't know where they're from, and it seems… unwise to introduce them to anywhere that’s not their native environment.”

Riz stepped forward to put the bug in with the others, his movements careful and practised. “What do we name this one? It's your turn.”

Adaine hummed, peering at it for a moment. “Eleanor.”

“Alright Eleanor,” said Riz. “Be good in there with the other murder bugs.”

He held the orb up to the crystal enclosure, tapping something on the orb with his claw as he reached for a lever to the right of the enclosure. The orb and the enclosure both formed a small matching opening, and the bug quickly scurrying through. The other bugs hissed in a chorus that could have been welcoming or a warning, and Riz quickly re-sealed the enclosure.

Fig leant close to the crystal enclosure. “What do they eat?”

“Plants, other bugs,” said Riz. “I’ve seen them eat small animals, so I guess they eat basically anything that stays still long enough.”

Fabian looked into the enclosure again. “Are you sure that it’s wise to keep so many in your office?”

“They’re evidence,” said Riz with a shrug. “I’d rather have them somewhere I can keep an eye on them. Plus, if someone attacks me here I can release them as a mutual-destruction failsafe.” He glanced at Adaine. “But uh. Not that I hope that happens.”

“Yes, I think our lives are dramatic enough as it is,” said Adaine. She wrinkled her nose, brushing at the muddy hem of his skirt. “Ugh.”

“You can have first shower if you want,” said Riz.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” said Riz, “You go. You can borrow whatever, you know where everything is.”

Adaine smiled at him, heading into Riz’s office and then through another door Fabian hadn’t noticed, a little alcove with two other rooms coming off from it. Adaine disappeared into one of the rooms, followed by the hiss of a shower.

"Why do you have a shower in your office?" said Fabian.

"I don't," said Riz. “I have one in my apartment.”

Fabian looked around. Now that he wasn’t focussed on sneaking or his friends being in danger it was kind of obvious that Riz had been living here, his regular life laid over the usual mess of his office. There was even a wardrobe in the corner of what Fabian had assumed was Riz’s waiting room, his shoes lined up by the door.

“The Ball-”

Riz held up his hands. “Hey, it was either live here or move back in with my mom and Gorthalax and I super don’t want to do that. Besides, the rent’s okay, and I can walk to the paper’s offices from here.”

“I was starting to think that was just an elaborate cover story or something,” said Kristen. “You don’t ever talk about it much.”

Riz gave her a lop-sided smile, running a hand through his hair. “No, I- I do work there. I guess I just- I don’t have a lot of thrilling stories about being a junior copy editor. I go in, I do a bunch of admin stuff, and then I come home-”

“And then you come home and do spy shit,” said Fig.

Riz laughed. “I guess? I mean, I’m just helping Adaine.”

“Can’t stay away from being a detective,” said Fabian, nudging Riz with his elbow.

“I guess not,” said Riz wryly.

Adaine opened the bathroom door, emerging in a cloud of steam. Fig laughed as she caught sight of her, which, Fabian could agree that Adaine did look a little ridiculous, wearing too-short sweatpants, which were obviously Riz's, and an enormous Elmville fire service t-shirt, which obviously was not.

“Great combo you got going on,” said Fig. “Where’s you get that ?”

Adaine looked down. “It's Riz's, after a fashion. He got it when he covered that fireman's calendar, from…” She grinned. “Who was it, Riz? Mr September?”

Kristen and Fig turned to Riz, matching grins of delight on their faces.

Riz turned a deep green, stepping towards the bathroom door behind Adaine. “It was just a one time thing.” He closed the door and then opened it a crack. “And he was Mr November.”

Adaine laughed. 

Fig immediately pulled out her crystal. “This I’ve gotta see-” She blinked. “Whoa. This guy?”

She held the crystal out so Adaine could see it, which also meant that Fabian was forced to confront the image of an extremely ripped half-orc holding a fireman’s hose in a suggestive manner.

“Yes, that’s him,” said Adaine.

“Huh,” said Gorgug. “I think Ragh dated that guy.”

“Yes,” said Adaine, “Riz introduced them.”

Kristen winceed. “Sorry Riz.”

“I don't think he minded too much,” said Adaine. “It seemed like that was his plan, you know, for letting the guy down gently.”

Fig laughed. “Riz Gukgak, heartbreaker!”

Fabian flexed his hands, turning back to watch the crystal bugs scurry around. It was so easy to forget that while he was away that Riz had a whole life without him. He hadn’t been as bothered by it before this visit. It always felt as though Riz told him everything that happened, trading tales of life in Elmville for Fabian’s tales at sea. He thought he knew Riz well enough to sense if anything was being left out, that they could always just pick up as though he’d never left. Clearly, Riz didn’t trust him enough for that to be true.

When Riz emerged he was wearing flannel pajama bottoms and his old Elmville PD sweatshirt. Fabian was hit by the memory of the morning after prom, both of them stumbling around Fabian’s room, pretending not to be as hungover as they obviously were, the shock of seeing Riz out of a suit for the first time a remarkable thing, even muted as it was by Fabian’s pounding headache. He’d seen Riz as dressed down a handful of times since then, but it never quite lost the ability to make something jolt in the pit of Fabian’s stomach.

Riz frowned. “I kind of thought you guys might have left.”

“ Absolutely not,” said Fabian, “We are all in on this mystery now.”

“Yeah!” said Fig.

Riz laughed, glancing at Adaine. “I mean, I don’t know how much fun you guys are gonna have on this but- Adaine?”

“I don’t see why not,” said Adaine. “It’s not as though it’s classified information.”

Riz grinned, stepping to run a claw along one of the panels in the wall, flipping it over to reveal a complicated conspiracy board. Fabian laughed, stepping next to him to scan over the jumble of evidence.

“You have been quite hard at work without us,” said Fabian quietly.

The back of Riz’s neck flushed. “I guess I-”

Riz’s crystal buzzed on his desk and he reached for it, his eyes still on the board. “Hello? Oh hey- whoa, okay, calm down, everything’s- No, we’re both fine, everything’s fine. Here-” He held the crystal out to Adaine. “Aelwyn.”

“Ah,” said Adaine, “Right. Yes.”

She took the crystal, wincing slightly. “I- Well, if you’d give me a moment- I left my crystal at Riz’s office- No, honestly Aelwyn, we’re both fine.”

She pushed open Riz’s tiny window and crawled out onto the fire escape. Riz picked a blanket off the back of the couch and passed it to her through the window, and Adaine wrapped it around her shoulders while she talked. Fabian felt once again like he was an outsider in Riz’s life, watching him go through some well-practised motion that Fabian had no frame of reference for.

Riz sat on the couch, leaning backwards heavily, tipping his head to rest on the couch’s backrest. Fabian flexed his hand. He felt like he should step forward, offer some kind of physical comfort, but he couldn’t seem to get his legs to move.

“The Ball?” said Fabian.

Riz sat up, shaking his head. “Sorry, I- Did you guys want coffee or something?”

“It’s like 1am,” said Gorgug.

“Oh.” Riz blinked. “I think I have decaf?”

“No, I mean… we should probably-” Gorgug made a face. “Actually, should we go? This feels like a-”

“A Bad Kids sleepover situation,” said Fig, “ Exactly . I mean, we’re already having brunch tomorrow, so I know you guys are all free.”

“You don’t have to do that,” said Riz.

Kristen put an arm around Riz’s shoulder. “But we want to. If it’s okay with you, obviously.”

Riz gave her a small smile. “Yeah, it’s okay. I’ll, uh. I have to fold out the couch.”

“You really should get a real bed,” said Fabian. “This thing is probably terrible for your back.”

“Probably,” said Riz, huffing a laugh. His head jerked up as Adaine pushed the window back open and climbed back inside. “Everything okay?”

“It’s- yes, she’s fine, just- Obviously, I should have told her we were going before we left, so she didn’t think I- Well, you know how she gets since... everything. And she had some new information to-" Adaine shook herself, pressing her lips together for a moment, her eyes flicking to the others.

Riz stopped what he’s doing, his tail twitching. “What happened?”

“Nothing, I- Aelwyn heard from that paladin of her's that councilman Selanar is going to be at that charity thing tomorrow,” said Adaine.

Riz’s eyebrows shot up. “Like in person ?”

“Yes,” said Adaine. She opened her mouth and then closed it again, her eyes flicking to the other Bad Kids and then back to Riz.

Fabian folded his arms over his chest. “Guys, we know . You may as well deal us in completely, otherwise we’ll just simply have to keep following you.”

“He just… He doesn’t normally attend things in person. We've been trying to… affect certain things so that he has to be a little more hands on about it and we can get actual footage of him actually doing something, but there’s only been a handful of instances where he...” said Adaine, “I- We think that whatever he’s been doing to the ground at the housing sites he’s been doing himself. If he’s in town, there’s a good chance that he’s really here to do something shitty and use his attendance at the charity thing as a cover. We’d- before you guys were in town, we’d talked about-” She glanced at Riz. “We’d talked about potentially putting some kind of tracking device or something on him, since he uses so many wards he’s almost impossible to track by scrying.”

“What kind of device would you need?” said Gorgug.

“We already have it,” said Riz. “That’s not the part that’s difficult.”

“I don’t think putting it on him will be too difficult,” said Adaine.

“I still really don’t like that part of the plan,” said Riz.

“Well, me dancing with him is better than your idea of hiding in the trunk of his car,” said Adaine. “I’ll be in public. I’ll be surrounded by people. I’ll be fine.”

“You were in public when he poisoned you ,” said Riz.

“Well, now I know not to eat or drink anything he’s come close to,” said Adaine. “He’s hardly likely to have poisoned his own jacket. Look, this isn’t-” She blinked, her eyes flicking to the others as though just remembering that they were there. Fabian wondered how often she and Riz had argued like this, locked inside his tiny apartment while the rest of them continued their lives unaware. “Sorry.”

“Hey, it’s okay,” said Kristen. “I mean, we’ll be there to protect you.”

“You- it won’t be very interesting,” said Adaine.

“Uh, you’re doing some like James Bond shit,” said Fig. “We are absolutely all gonna go.”

“You need a ticket to get in,” said Riz.

“I’m Fig Faeth, baby,” said Fig. “I can get tickets to anything .”

Chapter Text

Fabian tugged on his shirt sleeves, smoothing a hand along the front of his suit jacket. After a few years of being on the open ocean it felt strange to wear such formal clothing, but it was a requirement to blending in. Well. As much as someone could blend in while wearing a finely tailored, red floral suit, it wasn't as though he was going undercover as someone without style . His crystal vibrated, a message from Adaine in the group chat.

“She wants us to go in without her,” said Kristen, looking equally uncomfortable in her own much more muted suit, fiddling with her bolo tie as she looked at her crystal. 

“Not a chance,” said Fig.

Fabian’s crystal vibrated again.

“She says they’re just parking and that it’ll look less suspicious if we don’t all come in all at once," said Kristen.

“She's probably right about that,” said Gorgug. He looked down at his own purple plaid suit. “We are kind of noticeable.”

“I still think at least one of us should stay out here to go in with them,” said Fabian.

“I can stay out here,” said Gorgug. “I mean, you guys will probably have a better chance of blending in anyway.”

“I-” Fabian closed his mouth.

It did make more sense for Gorgug to come in with Adaine and Riz, playing at being their security. With the rest of the crowd mostly made up of elves and humans, Fabian, Fig and Kristen would have an easier time blending in.

“Fine," said Fabian, waving a hand. "We'll get the lay of the land inside while you wait here."

They joined the other people making their way inside, groups and pairs dressed in tasteful gowns and suits. Even given Adaine’s description of the dress code, it was significantly fancier than he would have expected for an Elmville event. An attendant checked their tickets at the door, waving them through towards a smaller, plushly-carpeted entry hall where there was a line of people checking their coats. He, Fig, and Kristen all elected to keep their's on - it was much easier to disguise their weapons under the extra fabric. Adaine had assured them that a fight was not part of the plan, but as Fabian was absolutely sure that Riz would have brought some kind of weapon, he felt justified in bringing a few daggers.

Through the curtained doorway, Fabian could see the real event, a tastefully-lit room with a dance floor with ornate cocktail tables scattered around the outside of the room, and a stage where a singer and her band were just beginning to get started. The music reminded him a little of the kind of songs that Hallarial would put on over the manor’s speaker system, the elven woman’s sultry voice soft over the music.

“I’m going to go scope out the stage,” whispered Fig, straightening the lapels of her emerald green sequin jacket. “You guys take the rest of the room.”

He and Kristen nodded to each other, splitting up to slowly walk along the outside of the room. He spotted councilman Selanar easily - the man certainly wasn't hiding, standing close to the stage with a young elven woman who was most certainly not his wife on his arm. Fabian’s lip curled. If he had met this man at sea he would have been well within his rights to take him out, but unfortunately he'd already agreed to go along with Riz and Adaine's plan. They were just back up tonight, extra eyes to guard against danger while Riz planted the tracker on Selanar.

He and Kristen swapped sides, meeting back up by the curtained entryway with Gorgug.

“I thought you were waiting for Adaine and Riz?” said Fabian.

“I was,” said Gorgug. “They just got here.”

He nodded towards the coat check. Fabian followed his gaze, his breath catching in his throat. Adaine was wearing a long flowing blue gown, a long, sheer cape made of the same fabric draped over her shoulders. Next to her was Riz, his suit matching the colour of Adaine’s gown, marking them as a pair.

Riz always wore a suit, so it really shouldn’t have been so surprising to see him in what was, admittedly, simply a much nicer one, but Fabian’s mind immediately went blank. Where Adaine’s gown made her features seem more pale and delicate, the colour brought out the cool undertones in Riz’s skin, reminding Fabian of the wild ocean, his usual riot if curls slicked back, the usual traces of tiredness around his eyes making him seem rugged and mysterious rather than someone run ragged. Beside him, Kristen let out a low whistle.

“Yeah,” said Fabian, his voice hoarse. “Uh, I mean- Good. I’m glad they’ve arrived. I mean, finally, right? We should keep an eye on them.”

“Are you okay?” said Gorgug.

“Yes, I- Obviously. I am obviously fine,” said Fabian.

Riz reached up, helping Adaine take her cape off to hand to the cloakroom attendant. He glanced towards them, his eyes meeting Fabian’s for a single, heart-stopping moment. Riz nodded. Fabian nodded back, in case it was some kind of secret code. Riz’s lips quirked into a grin before he turned back to Adaine, offering her his arm as they entered the party.

“So I guess we’ll just watch and make sure that Selanar doesn’t try anything?” said Kristen. “Should we split up? Fig’s already watching the area near the stage, so maybe one of us should stay by the door, one of us takes the left side, and one of us takes the right?”

Riz and Adaine began what looked like a circuit of the room, stopping to talk to someone to the right of the door. 

“Yes, good idea,” said Fabian, already stepping to follow them. “I’ll take the right.”

For two people who had spent the majority of their high school years actively not enjoying parties, Riz and Adaine moved through the crowd with ease, fitting in so well that in any other situation Fabian’s eye would have moved over them. As it was, he found that he couldn’t look away from Riz.

He made sure to stay a few paces away from them, keeping his body turned mostly towards the stage as though he was watching the singer. As they reached the edge of the dance floor, Adaine ducked to murmur something to Riz, their bodies close and intimate. Riz grinned, the bright flash of it hidden as another couple blocked Fabian’s line of sight.

When he spotted them again, they were dancing.

Fabian swallowed around his suddenly dry throat as he watched them together. He remembered Riz saying that an elf and a gobin would look goofy dancing together, but it was anything but. Although Riz might have been correct that their difference in height made them stand out among the other couples they fit together easily, not with the liquid movement of elven dancing or the classically perfect steps of some of the other couples dancing, but with a kind of practiced ease and grace, their bodies familiar with one another’s as they moved in time to the music. He'd never seen Riz move like that.

Fabian couldn’t get enough air to even be mad that Riz had obviously lied about being able to dance. Riz had said that he went with Adaine to these kinds of things. They certainly looked as though they did this kind of thing all the time. Riz smiled up at Adaine, lifting his arm a little higher and going up on his toes so that he could twirl her around. Adaine smiled back, the two of them moving closer to the stage and disappearing again behind some other dancers.

Fabian blinked, his eyes scanning the crowd. He spotted Adaine again, who- Fabian frowned. It looked like she was dancing with someone else now, Selanar by the look of it, but then where was-

“Hey,” said Riz, appearing by his elbow.

“Ah! Ha, hello,” said Fabian.

Up close, he could see how Riz’s hair had come a little out of its slicked back style, a few curls artfully falling into his face, his cheeks flushed from dancing. Fabian swallowed, feeling suddenly unsure of his posture, where he should look. Riz put his hands in his pockets and then took them out again, looking away from Fabian.

Fabian cleared his throat. “I thought you’d be sticking close to Adaine.”

“Not for this part,” murmured Riz, his eyes fixed across the room. “I have to give them space while she’s distracting Selanar, make it seem natural that she's there with him, and then I go over and plant the tracker while I’m cutting in." He let out a breath. "The whole thing’s done in under five minutes, minimal danger, minimal fuss, as long as we stick to the plan.”

“Right,” said Fabian. “Because you’ve been dancing together, it makes sense for you to keep dancing.”

Riz gave him an odd look before he looked back over at Adaine. “Right.”

“Even though you don’t dance,” said Fabian, some of his bitterness leaking into his tone.

“This is work dancing,” said Riz. “That’s different to- I can’t dance like you can. This has steps .”

“I can use steps,” said Fabian. “I mean, I know dances that have steps. I know this dance.”

Riz looked up at him. “Fabian, is that your way of, uh. Do you. Um. I mean-”

“Would you like to dance, The Ball?” said Fabian. “I- we could keep a better eye on Adaine if we were a little closer.”

Riz’s eyes went wide. “I, um. Are you sure?”

Fabian’s heart thudded in his chest. “Of course. How could I pass up the opportunity to finally get you on the dance floor?"

On impulse, he held his hand out to Riz. Riz swallowed, looking down at Fabian’s hand and then back up at his face. His fingers flexed at his side before he reached out to take Fabian’s hand, letting Fabian lead him out onto the dance floor. Fabian felt his body move on autopilot, his mind turning to static as his awareness focussed in on the feeling of Riz’s hand in his.

“Uh, Fabian?” said Riz.

Fabian blinked, looking down at him. “Yes, The Ball?”

“If, ah. I can lead, if you want?” said Riz. “I mean, if you don’t know the steps-”

“I know the steps,” said Fabian quickly. “I was simply- I was giving you the chance to acclimatise to having another dancing partner.”

Riz pressed his lips together, as though he was trying to suppress a smile. “Thanks?”

“You’re quite welcome,” said Fabian. “Now-”

He stepped closer to Riz, his hand easily spanning Riz’s small waist. Riz reached up, not quite tall enough to put his hand on Fabian’s shoulder and settling for Fabian’s upper arm instead. Fabian felt his claws prick through the fabric, his throat too tight to chastise Riz for any damage he might be doing to the jacket. They were close enough that Fabian felt Riz let out a long, slow breath and he looked down, his stomach flipping as Riz met his gaze.

“I, uh. Ready?” Fabian managed.

Riz nodded, following Fabian’s lead easily as Fabian moved them to join the other dancers. They made a slow circuit of the floor, and despite the urgency of the mission at hand Fabian found that he couldn’t look away from Riz’s face. Perhaps it was alright that he did so - Riz didn’t look away from him either.

“I can’t believe all these years you pretended not to be able to dance,” said Fabian, after he’d managed to find his voice. “We could have been dancing together for years.”

Something flickered over Riz’s face, too fast for Fabian to catch. “I, uh. I really only know like two dances, and they’re both for stuff like this. I don’t know if that really counts.”

“Of course it counts,” said Fabian. He paused. “Did- I assume I have Adaine to thank for finally convincing you to learn.”

“Aelwyn taught me actually,” said Riz, his gaze sliding away from Fabian’s face. “She, uh. Adaine and I needed to know how to dance for these kind of things so we wouldn't stand out and, I mean. She did take dance classes for like fifteen years. She seemed like the person to ask.”

Fabian frowned. “You could have asked me.”

“I think it’s probably hard to learn this stuff over crystal,” said Riz.

The hand on Fabian’s shoulder shifted, drawing Fabian’s attention back to Riz’s claws, which led to Fabian’s attention travelling down Riz’s arm, which led to him suddenly releasing how close they were to one another, Riz’s body following Fabian’s as they moved, quickly closing any distance that was made between them. The knowledge settled, red hot, in the pit of Fabian’s stomach.

“I- you still could have asked,” managed Fabian, relieved that he was able to keep his voice steady. “I could have visited.”

Riz laughed. “Fabian, that’s- You have a life , I wasn’t going to call you to ask you to drop everything to teach me how to dance .”

“I would have,” said Fabian.

Riz’s expression softened. “I know you would have, but I… I don’t expect you to put your life on hold. You- You worked too hard to get it, to be out there, and I don’t want to pull you back here for every little thing.”

“Every little- The Ball, this is not little ,” said Fabian.

“I know, but I just-”

Riz froze, his claws digging into the fabric of Fabian’s jacket. His tail flicked, almost hitting another couple as they moved behind them.

“The Ball, what-?”

He followed Riz’s gaze. At first he thought Adaine was still dancing with Selanar, their bodies moving in time with the other dancers, but their positions were awkward. His hand, instead of being at her waist, was tight around her wrist.

“Shit,” said Riz, “I- I- I have to go, I can’t believe I- Stay here.”

He broke away from Fabian, moving through the dancers towards Adaine and Selanar. Fabian saw Riz’s hand go to his pocket as he stepped between them, putting a hand on Selanar’s. As soon as Riz touched him, he let go of Adaine’s wrist, a scowl darkening his features. Riz grinned up at him, a vision of easy charm, patting Selanar’s lapel casually before he turned away to take Adaine’s hand, smoothly leading her back onto the dance floor. Selanar glared after them for a moment before his previous date drifted into his line of vision to get his attention.

Now that he was sure Selanar was sufficiently distracted, Fabian turned back to where Riz and Adaine had been moments earlier, only to find that they had vanished from sight behind the other couples. Fabian frowned, moving through the crowd to look for them. Someone put a hand on his shoulder as he reached the edge of the dance floor and he flinched, turning to see Fig.

She raised her hands. “Whoa, hey. Riz and Adaine said they're done so we’re heading out.”

“Right,” said Fabian.

Fig gave him a look. “Dude, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” said Fabian quickly. “Let’s just go.”

The Hangvan was already outside waiting for them, Gorgug in the driver’s seat and Riz and Adaine curled in the back. Kristen raised her eyebrows, ushering Fig and Fabian inside.

“So,” said Fig, and the van took off, “mission success?”

Riz opened his mouth and then closed it again. His tail twitched.

“Yes,” said Adaine faintly. She rubbed at her wrist, wincing. “Mission success.”

“Barely,” snapped Riz.

“At this point you would think that would be enough,” said Adaine, shooting him a look.

Riz’s mouth settled into a grim line and he fell silent for the remainder of the drive back to his office. Fig raised her eyebrows at Fabian and he shrugged. When they reached Riz’s office, he led the way up the stairs, undoing and resetting the wards as they went, his tail twitching all the while. Once the door was shut behind them, he turned, his eyes flicking to Fabian before his gaze settled on Adaine.

“It’s just- it’s not a success if you get hurt,” said Riz. “The whole point of this is to stop you from getting hurt.”

“No, the whole point of this is to stop Selanar from poisoning a significant chunk of the city,” said Adaine, facing away from Riz as she slipped off her shoes.

“Who cares about that?” said Riz.

Adaine turned towards him, her eyes flashing. “ You do!”

“Not more than I care about you!” said Riz. “God, I should have-”

“No, you shouldn’t have,” said Adaine. “You should have stuck to the plan so we can track him and get actual proof. We've done so much set up to make sure he has to check on it himself. Attacking him during a cocktail party would get us nothing-”

“But he hurt you!” said Riz. “Again! And I couldn’t- I let myself get distracted by-" His eyes flicked to Fabian and then back to Adaine again. "I should have been focused on the mission.”

“I’m fine,” said Adaine, “You got to me before anything happened-”

“ Barely !” said Riz. “What if he- He has a whole pack of bodyguards Adaine, you know that, just because they wouldn't go with him to the construction site, that doesn't mean they couldn't easily-”

“Riz!” said Adaine, her voice sharp. “I'm fine, I’m okay. It’s just a bruise. It’s nothing but a bruise.”

Riz swallowed, his breath coming quickly. Now that Riz had stilled, Fabian could see how pale Riz looked, his hands trembling not with anger but in something closer to fear.

“I-” Riz swallowed again, running a hand through his hair, pulling it out of its slicked-back style entirely. “I don’t- I promised Aelwyn I’d- You could have been…”

“But I wasn’t,” said Adaine, stepping towards him. She put one hand on his shoulder, the other hand, with its rapidly purpling bruise, held out between them like a peace offering. “See? I’m okay. Just a bruise. I’m still here, I’m- I’m still alive.”

Riz’s hands fluttered over Adaine’s wrist and then up and away. He ran a hand through his hair again, his eyes flicking to Fabian before his cheeks flushed, and he looked down at his feet.

“I- Sorry guys, I don’t- I just- I think I’m going to just- take a walk around the block, or something,” said Riz.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea to go alone,” said Kristen.

“Good point,” said Adaine, her voice business-like. “Gorgug?”

“Guys, I’ll be fine,” said Riz.

“Well, obviously,” said Adaine, “But I was going to ask you to go get everyone coffees from that diner around the corner that you like, and you can’t carry everyone’s orders back by yourself.”

Riz huffed a breath. “You were not going to ask that.”

“Oh, so you’re the Oracle now?” said Adaine. “Now, what does everybody want, one of your awful not-cortados I assume.”

They ended up settling on something non-caffeinated given the late hour, a mixture of decaf coffees, herbal teas, and hot chocolates. Fabian was glad of that at least - coming down from the rush of adrenaline from the party made him feel jittery enough as it was.

There was a pause after Riz and Gorgug left, the remaining Bad Kids listening to their footsteps as they faded down the stairs. Adaine sat down on the couch, letting out a long, slow breath. Fig flopped down next to her, tilting her head to look up at Adaine.

“So,” said Fig, slowly. “That was kind of a lot there at the end.”

She gave Fabian a look, as though waiting for him to offer some kind of explanation.

“It’s not my fault he-” said Fabian quickly. “I didn’t know Selanar had bodyguards who might have kidnapped you.”

“No, it’s- I should have warned you guys,” said Adaine, folding her hands in her lap. “He's just been a little overprotective since… well, since the start of this. He and Aelwyn both have, really, it’s...” She paused, unfolding her hands and then refolding them again, pressing her lips together for a moment before she spoke. “I suppose it's understandable. By the time I realised I was being poisoned I was not exactly in great shape, and he got sort of… the brunt of it.”

Fabian traded glances with Fig and Kristen. It was the first time Adaine had mentioned being poisoned herself since they’d found out about this whole thing. 

“How long?” asked Fig.

Adaine blinked. “That’s a very broad question.”

“Okay,” said Fig slowly. “How long were you being poisoned?”

Adaine paused for a long time, smoothing her hands along the fabric of her gown. "Do you remember last year when I had to miss the group movie night?"

"Yeah, because you had the flu," said Kristen. Her eyes widened. "Oh. You didn't have the flu."

Adaine's smile was brittle. "No, I did not. I didn’t- I knew there was something off for a while, but I really did think I was just sick, or working too hard, I mean, you guys are always saying- Anyway. Riz dropped by after you all left and I was… I…" Adaine looked away, swallowing. Boggy manifested beside her, jumping into her lap. Adaine's hands shook a little as she cupped the frog in her palms. "By the time I realised how bad it was, I couldn't- There wasn’t much I could have done for myself, and I'd- I’d lost a lot of blood. When Riz found me, he- well I imagine it was quite a shock. I certainly wasn’t in any state to brush it aside, at that point."

“ Adaine ,” said Fig softly.

“I'm fine,” said Adaine. “I'm better now, I'm- I've been very careful since then.”

“But why didn't you tell us?” said Kristen, coming to sit on Adaine's other side.

“What good would it have done except making you all worried about something you couldn't do anything about?” said Adaine. “I can't expect you to put your lives on hold.”

Riz's words from earlier that night echoed in Fabian's mind. His chest felt tight, thinking of Riz and Adaine pulling themselves through this alone, all because they thought-

“It's not on hold if it’s to help you,” said Fabian. “That's part of our life. You’re part of our lives.”

Adaine swallowed, wiping at her eyes. Kristen put her arms around Adaine’s shoulders to pull her into a hug. Fig’s arms bracketed Adaine from the other side, and she shot Fabian a pointed look until he stepped forward, kneeling in front of the couch to put his arms around the three of them.

“We all keep each other safe,” said Fig. “That’s- that’s like the rules. One for all and all for one, or whatever.”

“That’s the three musketeers,” said Adaine, her voice a little muffled where her face was pressed against Fig’s shoulder.

“Whatever,” said Fig. “There are more of us than them, we’ll fight them for the copyright.”

Adaine gave a watery laugh. “That’s not-”

The door locks clicked and Adaine froze. Fabian instinctively shifted to be in front of the other three, readying himself, only to give a huff of relief as Gorgug’s face came into view.

“Hey,” said Gorgug. “We got, uh. We got the coffees?”

He was carrying both trays himself, one balanced on the other.

Adaine sat up slightly. “Riz?”

“He’s- Aelwyn called,” said Gorgug. “He’s downstairs. It seemed kind of… private?”

Adaine let out a breath, relaxing back against the couch. “That’s… it’s good that Riz give her the rundown of everything that’s happened, she’ll just worry otherwise.”

“It’s kind of weird that they’re so chill with each other now,” said Kristen.

“ Thank you,” said Fabian. “That’s what I said.”

“I think they’ve both- Well. They’ve both spent a lot of time in doctor’s waiting rooms with me over the past year,” said Adaine. “If they hadn’t found some things in common eventually I’m sure they would have killed each other.”

Riz peeked around the door. “Uh. Hey.”

Adaine smiled. “Hi. Aelwyn?”

“Just checking in,” said Riz. “She already heard about Selanar at the party.” He huffed a breath. “I don’t know how she hears about stuff so fast , but- anyway, it doesn’t sound like he knows about the tracker.”

“Speaking of,” said Adaine.

“Right,” said Riz.

He walked to his desk, pulling out a crystal screen about the size of a book. The screen flickered into life, thin spiderwebs of light zig-zagging across to form a map of Elmville. A single red dot lit up, blinking steadily.

Riz peered at the map. “That’s his usual hotel. He’s probably in for the night.”

“You don’t think he’ll go check on the building site?” said Adaine.

“Not so quickly after tonight, our best bet's tomorrow morning,” said Riz. “Besides, Aelwyn said his wife usually calls him from Fallinel after he goes to an event here, takes a couple hours to coordinate it on both their sides. After all the fuss he’s pretty wiped, just goes to bed.”

“I absolutely do not want to know how she knows that,” said Adaine.

“She made friends with the woman who was his date tonight,” said Riz. He tapped the screen, bringing up location data for Selanar and then tapped it again to remove the pop-up. “She’s- Honestly, if the anonymous tips we got at the Elmville Daily were anywhere near as accurate as her, my job would be way easier.”

“Yes, she truly has found a way to use her penchant for gossip as a force for good,” said Adaine. She lent forward, picking up the decaf coffee and handing it to Riz.

Riz frowned at the word decaf and then looked at Gorgug. “I ordered a double shot.”

Gorgug shrugged. “They must have misheard you.”

“You know I have coffee here,” said Riz. “I could just-”

“Drink your decaf, The Ball,” said Fabian, “and get some sleep .”

“I’m not tired,” said Riz, looking back down at the crystal screen.

Fabian hummed. “Sure, but- Indulge me.”

Riz’s cheeks flushed. “I, uh. Fine.”

He sat down at his desk, the group of them watching the tiny red dot on the illuminated screen. Fabian felt his eyes slip closed. When he opened them again the room was dark, their coffee cups clustered on Riz’s desk and a blanket draped over him. Fig was curled around Kristen on the couch, one of her hands curled around the lapel of Fabian’s jacket. Gorgug pressed against him heavily on his other side, snoring against Fabian's arm. It sounded enough like the ocean that Fabian didn't move away.

The kitchen light was on, faint music coming from that direction. He lifted his head, still half-asleep, frowning as he tried to place the song. One of Fig’s. It was her voice, certainly, but it was one of her slower songs, the kind she tended to write whenever Ayda went back to check on the Compass Points Library.

Riz and Adaine sat on opposite sides of the small kitchen table, the crystal screen between them. Riz had evidently been working on something on his laptop but he’d paused, his head turned towards the radio. Adaine lifted her head, blinking at him.

“Riz?” said Adaine softly.

Riz shook himself. “I'm fine, I just- this is the song that was playing when I- when Fabian told me he was going away, after we graduated. It always makes me think of-”

He swallowed, lowering his voice, and Fabian strained to hear him over the song. 

“I mean, it was so stupid, that I really thought he was going to… because all night he'd been trying to tell me this big news , like he was teasing it, and I really let myself think that he- and then he said he was going away, that he'd found a crew and booked passage and he was so excited to get away from his breakup with Aelwyn in this big way, and away from- from Elmville, and that was- It just always makes me think of that moment.”

On the radio, Fig sang about love's eternal flame. Fabian’s stomach twisted. He remembered that night, high on his good news and bursting to tell Riz, breaking free from his post-Aelwyn breakup blues and everything else tying him to Elmville. Riz had seemed happy, when he’d told him. He’d thought Riz had, anyway.

“So stupid ,” said Riz. The way his voice cracked broke Fabian’s heart, just a little.

“Did you want me to change the station?” said Adaine gently.

Riz paused. “No it's- Honestly I should have the reminder. Stops me from getting so-” He let out a shaky breath. “It stops me from doing anything stupid.”

Adaine reached over, covering Riz’s hand with her’s. “Being in love with someone is never stupid.”

Fabian’s stomach dropped. Love . Riz was in love .

Riz gave a little huff of laughter. “Well it feels pretty fucking stupid, I’ll tell you that.”

Adaine leant over and flicked the radio to a different station, the music changing into the low hum of a late-night call-in show. Fabian's eyes drifted closed as he thought about getting up, about pulling himself up off the couch and putting his arms around Riz’s shoulders, about cajoling Riz until he poured his worries into Fabian’s ears like he used to. Tiredness overtook him again, his thoughts fading into dreams.

When he woke from an uneasy sleep it took him a minute to remember everything that had happened, and why exactly he was being crushed against the side of Riz’s couch instead of in his own much more spacious bed. He sat up, trying to be careful so as not to disturb the still-sleeping Gorgug. It was still early by the looks of things, the sun only just beginning to rise. The light from the kitchen was still on, Riz and Adaine both sitting in different seats to when Fabian had fallen back asleep last night, which he could only hope meant they had actually gone to sleep at some point.

There was someone else there with them, a figure in a short gold dress. She tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulder, instantly recognisable even to Fabian’s half-alseep mind. Aelwyn.

She was leaning over Riz’s shoulder, wearing what looked like the kind of clothes she would have worn to some nightclub, her hair and makeup a little too messed to be perfect but still managing to look like something out of a glamorous magazine cover. Fabian did not feel quite as presentable in his suit, the bright fabric rumpled from a night spent on Riz's couch.

Aelwyn pointed at something on the screen, saying something too quiet for Fabian to make out, and Riz gave her the finger. Awelyn laughed.

“Look,” said Riz, all early morning grouchiness, “who exactly is the professional editor here?”

Aelwyn held up her hands, standing back up. Her eyes met Fabian’s and she raised her eyebrows at him before she turned back to Riz. “Alright, alright. I suppose I should take my opportunity to shower now before the Bad Kids rush makes me late to meet with my thesis supervisor.”

She disappeared into Riz’s bathroom, the door clicking shut behind her.

Riz hummed, squinting at something on the screen and running a hand through his already-wild hair. Now that Fabian was more awake, he could see that Riz was wearing glasses. The combination short-circuited something in his mind, and he stumbled. Riz’s head jerked up, his eyes going wide behind the lenses. They framed Riz’s eyes perfectly, a thin band tortoiseshell around the yellow of his eyes.

Fabian swallowed roughly. “Uh. Hi.”

Adaine blinked, looking up from her crossword puzzle. “Good morning.”

“Morning,” said Riz. “Uh, coffee?”

“Yeah, sure, uh. Thanks.”

He didn’t really want any of what he was sure would be extremely shitty coffee, because he was always trying to hassle Riz into getting a real coffee maker or at least some decent drip coffee but Riz only ever bought instant. He did, however, desperately need something to do with his hands to stop them from doing something ridiculous like smoothing down Riz’s wild hair.

The mug was warm in his palms. He took a sip and the coffee was just as terrible as he’d thought it would be, but it did help to wake him up a little. Riz pushed his glasses up with one hand, drawing Fabian’s attention back to them, as he typed with the other. Fabian opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Riz’s eyes flicked towards him. “What?”

“I just- When did you get glasses?” Fabian’s voice cracked, which he blamed entirely on how early it was.

Riz frowned. “In, like, high school?”

Fabian matched his expression. “No you didn’t. You never wore glasses. I would have noticed if you wore glasses.”

Riz huffed a breath. “Exactly, you and every other dude who wanted to dunk me into a trashcan, so I wore contacts instead.”

Adaine gave him a look over her coffee cup.

“I get the long-wear ones,” said Riz. “So it’s fine .”

Adaine hummed, looking back down at her crossword. Riz huffed a breath, looking back at the screen, pausing in his scrolling to type something. Fabian’s eyes kept sliding back to him. The early morning light illuminated Riz’s face, highlighting his green skin in golden light. His features were constantly in motion, biting his lip, his expression twisting into a frown (usually accompanied by a flurry of typing) or a slight smile. Occasionally, a stray curl fell over his forehead and Riz would brush it away, claws flashing in the sunrise.

Fabian took a long sip of coffee and leant more heavily against the counter.

The bathroom door opened and Aelwyn emerged, now wearing jeans and a familiar Elmville PD sweatshirt, which was perhaps more cropped on her than it was designed to be. Fabian felt his stomach swoop as though he was standing on a ship’s deck in stormy weather.

Riz glanced up. “That's mine.”

“Actually I believe it's Sklonda's,” said Aelwyn, unruffled. She glanced at Fabian, stepping around him to look over Riz’s shoulder again, draping the gold dress she’d been wearing on the chair next to him. “Still not done?”

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Riz shot back.

“Can’t I enjoy a moment with my sister and her beloved friends?” said Aelwyn. “Why, I’ve barely had even a moment to catch up with Fabian here.”

Fabian choked a little on his coffee.

“Leave him alone Aelwyn,” said Adaine, not looking up from the crossword.

Aelwyn raised her hands. “Fine, fine.” She opened the fridge and then closed it again, huffing a breath. “Don’t you ever have anything to eat in this place?”

“Protein bars in the thing,” said Riz, waving a hand, not looking away from his laptop.

“Those things taste disgusting,” said Aelwyn, leaning up to the cupboard above the fridge to take one out despite her words. “You really should take better care of yourself.”

“Same to you,” said Riz.

“I take impeccable care of myself” said Aelwyn, picking up her bag and opening misty step.

Fabian could see the hazy image of the Bastion University campus through the portal. She kissed Adaine's forehead and then Riz’s forehead as well, raising an eyebrow at Fabian, like a gauntlet thrown down or the first shot across the bow of a ship. Fabian opened his mouth and then closed it again, feeling his cheeks flush.

“See you later dear sister, do try not to get yourselves killed.”

“You too,” said Adaine.

Aelwyn stepped away, the portal closing behind her, and then the kitchen was quiet again, the only sound from the soft music coming from the radio and the faint clicks of the keyboard as Riz typed. It was all so comfortable, the casual intimacy of it like a weight on Fabian's chest. Now that he was looking for it, there were signs of Aelwyn all over the small space - a glass with her lipstick on it by the sink, a stack of arcane textbooks on the windowsill, a jacket that wasn’t quite Adaine's style draped over the back of a chair next to her gold dress. The fingerprints of Aelwyn all over Riz’s life, the kind of thing that he surely wouldn’t allow unless he-

Unless he cared about someone. Unless he loved them.

Fabian gripped the edge of the counter with one hand. Riz must have got a stronger instant coffee than usual. He’d only had half a mug’s worth but his heart was pounding.

Adaine laughed, jolting him out of his thoughts. Riz rubbed at the lipstick mark Aelwyn left on his forehead.

“I hate when she does that,” muttered Riz.

“Yes,” said Adaine, “that's why she does it.”

Riz wrinkled his nose, and went back to typing away.

“I... didn't know the two of you were so… close as for her to pay you such a visit so early in the morning,” said Fabian carefully, relieved that his voice held steady.

“We weren't,” said Riz, “but we sorted it out after Adaine- when she got sick. We kind of just… said everything bad we could say to each other? So now y'know, it's like a truce.” He squinted at the screen, adjusting his glasses before he typed something. “It helps that we have Adaine in common, probably.”

“I doubt it,” said Adaine. “I think it’s probably more that you have similar taste in-” Her head jerked up. “Um. In dangerous lifestyle choices.”

Riz huffed a laugh. “Thanks Adaine.”

“You know what I mean,” said Adaine.

Fabian took another sip of his awful coffee, forcing himself to swallow it. It wasn’t that he expected Riz to always stay the same, after all he himself had gone through many transformations, but Riz always felt like… he always felt stable, like Fabian could come back any time and Riz would be there waiting for him, ready to pick up things wherever they’d left them. Unfair of him, he supposed, but still, it was… this was a whole life Riz was having, and they were best friends, and he'd had no idea. For him to be close to someone new without Fabian knowing- and with Aelwyn, no less. 

Strange, to think of The Ball potentially kissing someone that he'd kissed. His stomach clenched, almost certainly a result of the absolutely terrible instant coffee he was forcing himself to choke down.

“I- I think I might get some air,” said Fabian, putting down his cup with a little more force than he meant to.

Riz looked up. “Fabian, are you-”

“I’m fine,” said Fabian. “Just- I’m not used to being inside so much, you know, after being out on the high seas. I’ll just-”

He went to the window with the fire escape that Adaine had crawled out onto the previous evening, the chill of the morning air immediately sinking through his clothes. He wrapped his arms around himself, leaning against the cold window frame. There wasn’t much of a view - other apartment buildings and grimy shop fronts - but everything was lit in the golden orange glow of the new morning. If Fabian had been in a better frame of mind, he would have said it was quite beautiful. As it was he barely took it in, his mind replaying the moment of Aelwyn leaning over Riz's shoulder, both of them comfortable with the intrusion into one another's space.

“Fabian?” said Riz, his head poking out from under the window.

“As I said, just getting some air,” said Fabian.

“Right,” said Riz.

He wriggled out onto the fire escape, bringing the blanket Fabian had woken up under with him. He held it out and, when Fabain didn’t take it he made a face, draping it around Fabian’s shoulders himself.

“Won’t you get cold?” said Fabian.

“I’m fine,” said Riz. “I’m used to it. Lots of stake outs.”

Fabian huffed a breath, lifting the blanket to cover Riz’s shoulders as well. Riz shuffled a little closer, their sides pressed against each other's as they both looked out at the city.

“I didn’t think you were doing that any more,” said Fabian, after a moment. “Stake outs, I mean.”

“I wasn’t,” said Riz. “Well, not really. But then this thing with Selanar…” He pressed his lips together. “There’s- It needed investigating. I couldn't let Adaine do it alone.”

Fabian let out a long breath. “I still can’t believe you didn’t… I mean, I know I missed the last gathering, but we’ve spoken since I was here last.” His gaze dropped to his feet. “You- We used to talk about everything.”

Riz sighed. “Not- Not everything . Just most things.”

Fabian thought of Aelwyn, casually in Riz’s kitchen, checking in with Riz on the phone. Aelwyn, who had known about all of this the whole time.

“What?” said Fabian.

“I- I’m a rogue Fabian, rogues don't tell the whole truth,” said Riz. “Especially not when- When it would just make things complicated, to say things out loud.”

“What does that even mean ?” said Fabian.

“I- you know, when it’s something obvious, something we both know but it’s just- If we don’t say it out loud then we can, then I can just-” Riz let out a breath, running a hand through his hair. "Then we can both pretend everything's still the same."

Fabian frowned. “Riz… you know you can tell me anything, I- There’s nothing you could say that could change the way I feel about you-”

Riz laughed, but there was none of his usual warmth in it. “God, Fabian, I- you can't expect to me to bare my soul to you just so you can feel better when you leave at the end of the week, I can't live my life like- like- like an open wound-”

“That's not what I'm asking!”

Riz looked up at him, the thin morning light reflecting off his glasses, obscuring his eyes. ”Then what are you asking?”

“I don’t… I don't know,” said Fabian, after a long moment.

“Right,” said Riz. “Right, well, when you figure that out, you let me know.”

Riz let the blanket drop from his shoulders, wriggling back inside and leaving Fabian in the cold morning air, alone. He watched the sun begin it's slow rise, peeking over the horizon and slowly warming the air around him, until Fig knocked on the window.

“The tracker thing!” said Fig excitedly. “It’s- Selanar’s on the move! Up and at em!”

Riz’s apartment had become a flurry of activity. Adaine held the crystal screen, her eyes wide.

“He’s heading for the construction site,” said Adaine, “near the- high ground, it looks like. Riz-”

“Got it,” said Riz, his eyes flicking to Fabian as he pulled on his coat. He wasn't, Fabian noted, wearing his glasses anymore, that part of himself hidden away again. “I, uh- Are you guys coming?”

“Duh!” said Fig.

“Of course we are, The Ball,” said Fabian. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Riz gave him a lopsided smile, swallowing as he turned to pull a few things out of his desk drawer, stuffing them in his pockets. “Well, come on!”

They scrambled down to the Hangvan. Fabian was thankful that the early hour meant they had minimal traffic to deal with as Gorgug sped them towards the construction site. The houses around them changed from shopfronts, to small suburban homes, to vacant lots, all of which were signposted for the same construction company.

“Park here,” said Riz, gesturing to an empty house at the end of the block. “We- This will probably go easier if we get the drop on him.”

“Wait,” said Kristen, “are we- is this something we can solve by kicking this guy’s ass?”

Riz looked at her. “No, we- Guys, we’re getting him on film doing something. The plan is just to get actual proof of him doing something that Adaine can show the council.”

Fig's shoulders slumped. “Right, that’s- I guess that’s cool too.”

Riz patted her arm. “Hey, maybe he brought along his bodyguards after all, and you can kick their asses instead.”

“I hope not,” said Adaine. "We've certainly put in enough effort over the month to get him alone."

Fabian wrinkled his nose as they got out of the Hangvan. The air had an odd, metallic smell to it, even more than he would have expected from a construction site. Riz stilled, tilting his head for a moment, his eyes fixed on the tracker screen.

“This way,” whispered Riz.

They crept through the construction site, stepping over cement blocks and discarded tools. Everything was still and dark, except for a single torch beam ahead of them held by none other than Selanar. Riz froze, motioning for the others to get down. He slowly crawled forward and, well, Fabian wasn’t about to let him go alone. The others seemed to be of a similar mind, following after Riz as he made his way closer.

Selanar was oblivious to their arrival, getting something out of the trunk of his car. He struggled with it for a moment before he pulled it out. It was a long hose, faintly glowing and - Fabian sniffed - the source of the odd, metallic smell.

Riz pulled out something from his pocket, nodding to Adaine. She pulled out her crystal, sending out a message. Riz twitched, circling a finger around a small button on the device he was holding. Adaine’s crystal lit up as she received a message and she nodded to Riz.

As he pushed the button Fabian could finally make sense of what he was holding - a modified camera device, faintly glowing with arcane energies. It let out a faint hum, although luckily the sound didn’t seem to be enough to disturb Selanar from his task. The elf plugged the hose into a nearby machine, flicking a switch. There was a faint hiss as dozens of tiny sprinkler points popped out of the ground, the metallic scent strong enough that Fabian almost gagged.

“Do you think that’s enough?” whispered Riz.

Adaine paused. “I don’t, actually.”

She stood up.

“Adaine,” hissed Riz, “what are you doing ?”

“Good morning councilman Selanar,” said Adaine loudly.

“Oh my god,” said Riz, standing up beside her.

Fabian stood too, followed by the others as Adaine stepped toward Selanar. Selanar’s expression changed from surprise to annoyance.

“Good morning Oracle Abernant,” said Selanar, his voice cold.

“I admit, I am a little surprised you came in person,” said Adaine. “You normally send one of your many lackeys to spread your poison around.”

“Once this whole area is covered in concrete it will hardly matter what the soil quality is. And my lackeys , as you say, are currently indisposed,” said Selanar. “Your interference, I presume.”

“You’re free to presume whatever you’d like,” said Adaine. She paused. “I suppose it is good for you to practise doing tasks without them, since once the council learns of how exactly you’ve been going about your construction here they will undoubtedly have to find new employment.”

“As you say, you are free to presume whatever you’d like,” said Selanar. “The council are hardly likely to take your word against mine.”

“It’s not just her word actually,” said Riz brightly. “I’m streaming this live.” He held up the camera device. “Say good morning to your fellow council members, and goodbye to your membership.”

“You-” Selanar paled. “You cannot be serious.”

“I absolutely can,” said Riz. “You really shouldn’t have tried to fuck around with this. Another month and this stuff would have gotten into the water supply."

“You can’t- you can’t prove that,” said Selanar. “Fellow council members, if you are in fact hearing this, then I assure you I- This is entirely unfounded-”

“And I assure you ,” Riz cut in, his pupils narrowing to a thin, dangerous line as he stepped in front of Adaine, “That I have all the paperwork I need to tie you to this machine, all the trace evidence I need to link you to the manufacture of this poison and the poison you gave Adaine, and witnesses for every shady backroom deal you’ve made to get it done for the past six months. You’re done Selanar-

Selanar lunged for Riz. The moment Fabian saw Selanar twitch he leapt toward him, tackling him to the ground. Compared to magical beasts and bloodthirsty pirates, he was quite easy to take down. Selanar let out a yell, quickly cut off by Adaine’s silencing charm.

“And stay down!” said Fig, laughing a little.

Adaine cleared her throat, and Riz pivoted, turning the camera towards her.

“Councilmembers, I-” Adaine paused. “I thank you for attending this emergency meeting. I, and my associate Mr Gukgak, will be available to speak to you in person regarding this matter should you need to. I believe you will find the evidence we have against councilman Selanar extremely sufficient.” Her crystal chimed and she turned away to answer it. “Yes, hello- I apologise for the secretive nature of the footage, but I’m sure you understand that it was required in order to preserve my investigation.”

Riz grinned, snapping the camera shut as Adaine stepped away to finish her call. Selanar wriggled in Fabian’s grip.

“Oh,” said Gorgug, “Hey, do you want me to, uh. Keep ahold of him?”

“If you’d like,” said Fabian. “Careful, he has very boney elbows.”

Gorgug nodded, sitting down on Selanar’s back to pin him to the ground. Fig laughed, getting out her own crystal to snap a picture.

“So now what?” said Kristen.

“The council’s sending someone,” said Riz. “I mean, that’s their protocol on this anyway.”

Right on cue, a few shiny diplomatic cards drew up, accompanied by several dozen Elmville police cars. Riz stood back, grinning as they watched Selanar be taken away, the silencing charm serving to frustrate him further as he tried to yell at them. 

“A fine morning’s work,” said Fabian, putting a hand on Riz's shoulder.

“Yeah,” said Riz. His grin faded slightly as he looked up at Fabian. “I, uh- earlier, when you-”

“No need to thank me, The Ball,” said Fabian, waving a hand.

“I-” Riz huffed a breath. “I mean, yeah, thanks, but I was actually going to say that you don’t- You don’t have to protect me.”

“But I want to,” said Fabian, “I- that was always- I think you can agree that our past performance has shown that I’m good at it.”

“We’re not kids anymore, I can-” Riz’s fingers twitched on the camera. “I can defend myself against one guy.”

“I know you can,” said Fabian, “but I want to, I don't want you to get hurt-”

“I get hurt all the time,” said Riz, “I’m fine with getting hurt-”

“Well I’m not ,” snapped Fabian, “even if I am only here for a week, I still care about you when you're not around, I still love you-”

Fabian’s jaw clicked shut, a cold, sinking feeling in his stomach. Riz went very still, his eyes wide as he looked up at Fabian.

“What?” said Riz faintly.

“Nothing,” said Fabian. “I just- I’m glad you’re not hurt. I should go check on Adaine.”

Instead of doing that, he walked through the cement blocks and fallen beams of the site until he found a half-constructed shed, ducking behind it and sliding to the ground. His chest felt too tight to draw breath and he dug his hands into the dirt before he remembered why they were there, quickly wiping his hands on his pants, making a face at ruining such a fine fabric. 

He was still wearing the clothes they’d worn to the cocktail party the night before. His fingers flexed, remembering the feeling of Riz’s hand in his, how Riz’s waist had fit against his palm, how his body had followed Fabian's. Fabian put his head on his knees, his stomach churning. It had felt so simple, to dance with Riz. Even if he would only dance to something with steps , Fabian could work with that, maybe they could learn new dances together, or he could teach Riz, or. No. Riz learnt dancing from Aelwyn. Aelwyn, who was almost certainly the object of his affections.

No wonder he’d been so cagey about it. Aelwyn and Fabian’s break up, though years in the past, had certainly been one for the ages, not even counting what she’d put them all through on the journey to the Nightmare King. Of course it made sense that he’d try to hide that from Fabian, that it was the thing that he wouldn’t say it aloud even though it was so obvious to the both of them. Maybe they were already dating, and they were trying to keep it under wraps to spare Fabian’s feelings, and once he left they’d go back to being in the open about it. That must be it. No wonder Riz kept bringing up how soon he would leave, how often he was away. Well, soon he would be, and then they’d all get what they wanted.

Except.

Except it wasn’t really what he wanted. What he wanted was to put his arms around Riz and bring him onto his ship and into his life again fully, to stop relying on sporadic crystal calls and twice a year visits to hear Riz’s laugh, to watch all the tiny expressions flicker across his face as he puzzled through something, to sit across from him and pretend not to notice that Riz stole half his fries. What he wanted was for Riz to look up at him and say… and say...

“Fabian?” said Fig’s voice from above him.

Fabian flinched, looking up at her. “Fig, I think I’m poisoned.”

Fig froze. “What? How? When? Oh my god, did you touch that stuff that was pumping out of that hose when you tackled that guy?”

“No, no, I just- I feel terrible all of a sudden,” said Fabian. “It feels like- it almost feels like the flu, except I- I told Riz I- I said-” He let out a sigh, lowering his voice. “I’m not poisoned I- I think I’m in love with Riz.”

“Well, yeah,” said Fig. “Wait, how is this connected to you being poisoned?”

“It’s not, I- wait, how are you not- this is new information,” said Fabian.

“Wait,” said Fig, “Wait, did you not- Fabian-” She sat down in front of him, crossing her legs. “Did you seriously not know? Be real with me.”

“Of course I didn’t know!” spluttered Fabian. “I've only ever- this is the first time I-”

“Wow,” said Fig, “I guess I just kind of thought you were, y’know, playing it cool.” She paused. “Obviously I should have known I was wrong because you're not and have never been cool.”

“Excuse me,” huffed Fabian, “I am very cool.”

“Dude, you just told someone you loved them and then ran away,” said Fig. “Even I went right back after I pulled that move and I was a mess in high school.”

Fabian groaned and put his face in his hands. Fig shifted to sit next to him, putting an arm around his shoulder and pulling him in for a one-armed hug. Fabian let his head rest on her shoulder.

“So,” said Fig. “What did he say?”

Fabian frowned. “What?”

“Riz,” said Fig, “what did he say when you told him that you loved him?”

“I... don't know,” said Fabian.

“What do you mean you don't know?”

“Well I left very quickly out of extreme embarrassment,” said Fabian. “I can't imagine- I mean, we kind of- I think he’s in love with- with someone else and it’s- we had an argument about it, before, and it’s- I didn’t want to stick around after I'd made a fool of myself.”

“You kind of have to, when love’s involved,” said Fig. “That’s just how it goes.”

“I really don’t think... I think the best thing I could do right now would be to pretend that this never happened,” said Fabian. “Riz is a good guy, I’m sure he can be convinced to just not mention it.”

“I- Fabian,” said Fig, “You should- Look, it’s probably not my place to spill anyone’s secrets, but… you should talk to Riz about this. You- I think you’ll both feel better.”

Fabian sighed. “I just- I’d really rather not.”

“I know,” said Fig, squeezing his shoulder. “But- trust me, okay? I went back to talk to Ayda and it worked out pretty fucking great for me.”

“That’s different,” said Fabian.

“How is it different?” said Fig, sounding on the edge of exasperation.

“Because she loved you back,” said Fabian, his voice cracking.

Fig let out a long breath. “Oh, Fabian… You really gotta talk to him.”

“I know, I just- I need a minute,” said Fabian.

“You can have a minute on the way back to Riz's office,” said Fig.

“What?”

“That’s why I came to find you,” said Fig. “He and Adaine already went back to his office to gather up all their evidence stuff. We were going to follow them in the Hangvan but you just like, ran off.”

“Great,” said Fabian. “Good, great, I’m so glad everyone noticed.”

Fig stood up, offering him a hand up. “Come on.”

The ride back to Riz’s office was quiet. Fabian got out first, looking back at the others.

“Oh, ah, I have- I’m meeting Gilear for lunch,” said Fig, quickly. “I totally forgot, Gorgug, can you uh, you can drop me off right?”

“Yeah,” said Gorgug, “That’s- I’m actually seeing Zelda? Or, no, my parents? So, uh.”

“And I- Tracker, is the person I have to see,” said Kristen. “So I can’t- anyway, say hi to Riz and Adaine for us.”

Fabian narrowed his eyes. “I don’t believe a single one of you.”

“Doesn’t matter,” said Fig cheerfully. “Go on and remember what I said.”

She shut the door, and the van pulled away. Fabian let out a sigh, looking up at Riz’s building. He may as well get this over with.

The wards hadn’t been put back into place, letting Fabian climb the stairs unimpeded. He hesitated outside the door, taking a steadying breath in and letting it out slowly before he knocked.

Aelwyn opened it, folding her arms over her chest. She was still wearing the Elmville PD sweatshirt.

“I, uh. Is Riz here?” said Fabian.

“Maybe,” said Aelwyn. “Why do you want to know?”

“It’s fine Aelwyn,” said Riz’s voice from behind her. “He can come in.”

Riz was kneeling on the couch next to Adaine, a file clutched in his hand and a few boxes scattered around them. Three coffee mugs sat on Riz’s desk, one marked with Aelwyn’s lipstick. Fabian’s stomach twisted.

Riz's gaze was fixed on Fabian, his eyes wide  “You kind of, uh. Ran off earlier."

“Yes, I-” Fabian pressed his lips together. “Could I talk to you in- in private?”

He could feel Aelwyn’s eyes on him and he dug his nails into his palms to stop himself from flinching. Adaine stood up, putting a hand on Riz’s shoulder as he moved to follow her.

“I- Aelwyn, perhaps we could go for a walk around the block,” said Adaine.

Aelwyn looked at Riz. Riz shrugged, the movement of his shoulders jerky, the product of too much coffee.

“Very well.” Aelwyn picked up her mug from the desk, giving Fabian a look. “So you can be sure I'll be back soon.”

And then it was just the two of them in the quiet of Riz's apartment. Fabian shifted his feet, putting his hands in his pockets and then taking them out again as they began to sweat.

“I… I wasn’t expecting to see her here,” said Fabian.

Riz shrugged. “Someone sent her the stream of us and Selanar... She wanted to check Adaine was okay.”

“And if you were okay,” said Fabian.

“I guess.” Riz paused. “She's not so bad. I kind of get why you liked her.”

Fabian’s stomach sank so fast it was as though an anchor had been tied to it. He should never have listened to Fig’s advice on this.

“Right,” said Fabian. “Well, I- you certainly don't need my blessing, I'm sure Adaine-”

Riz frowned. “Your blessing for what?” 

“To… pursue Aelwyn.” Fabian’s gaze dropped to his feet. “Romantically. If you- If you have not already done so, obviously. Not that you need to wait for me, of course, I merely-”

"What?" said Riz. "Why would you even think… with Aelwyn ?"

Fabian huffed a breath, avoiding Riz's gaze. "You're just very- close ."

“Yeah, but-" An odd expression flickered over Riz's face. He tapped the file he was holding against his palm, biting his lip for a moment before he spoke. “Fabian, you… you know I'm gay, right?”

Everything Fabian had been planning to say immediately vanished from his mind. “Uh."

“Oh my god,” said Riz. “ Fabian -”

“To be fair,” said Fabian, “I didn't even know I was gay until like an hour ago. Or- bi, maybe. I don't know, it's only been an hour, I'm still figuring it out.”

“I- what?” said Riz. “Fabian, we were dealing with Selanar an hour ago-”

“Yes,” said Fabian, “that’s- funny you should bring that up, actually, because that's sort of what I wanted to speak to you about-”

Riz paled. “Oh, uh, that's okay, we don't have to-”

“No, I- look, The Ball, I just want to- clear the air, I don't-” Fabian huffed, running a hand through his hair. “I don't want things between us to be weird, but I- it has recently come to my attention that I-" Fabian braced himself. "That I love you, and I probably have for quite a while now, and I- look, I understand that you probably don't feel the same way, obviously, I mean you have your own life here, why would you choose my sporadic presence over the stability of- of someone else-”

“Fabian-”

“No, The Ball, let me finish, I want you to know that I will respect your boundaries and, although obviously I will need some time to get over this, I want you to know that if you do need me I will of course be there for you-”

“Fabian-”

“-in every situation,” continued Fabian, because if he stopped to hear Riz's rejection he was sure he would lose his nerve. “And, you know, if it is that you're dating someone the next time we see each other I want you to be able to tell me things, rogue nonsense aside, because at this point, really, I don't think there is anything you could tell me that would ever truly make me think less of you-”

“ Fabian ,” said Riz, reaching out to grab Fabian’s hands.

Fabian’s mouth snapped shut and he stumbled the half-step forward towards Riz. “Uh, yes, The Ball?”

Riz pressed his lips together. “I- Fabian-” He let out a breath, a flush rising to his cheeks. “God I can't believe I'm really going to say this, this is the stupidest thing I have ever-” He took a breath in and let it out in a quick rush. “Fabian, you know that I have a crush on you, right?”

Fabian’s mind screeched to a halt. “You-? On me ?”

“Yeah,” said Riz, the flush on his cheeks deepening, “A crush, like a I-think-about-you-all-the-time, Adaine-teases-me-constantly, I-have-to-stop-myself-from-staring-at-you-when-we-hang-out-crush. An-” He wet his lips. “An I-love-you kind of crush.”

“What,” said Fabian faintly. "Since when do you… do you…"

Riz huffed a breath. “Fabian-”

“No, wait,” said Fabian, “wait, say that last part again?”

Riz looked away. “I love you.”

Fabian’s breath left him in a rush. “What a relief, The Ball- Riz -”

Riz’s head snapped back up, meeting Fabian’s eye.

“I love you too,” said Fabian.

“I- okay,” said Riz. “Okay, cool.”

Fabian couldn’t help it- he laughed. “Yes. Yes, it is very cool. We are both very cool.”

Riz laughed too, tugging Fabian forward into a clumsy hug from where he was still kneeling on the couch. Fabian leant into it, letting himself soak in the warmth of it as he pressed his face to the top of Riz's head. His hair smelt like fresh dirt and old coffee, and Fabian had never felt more in love than he did in that moment. This time, now that he knew the feeling for what it was, he leant into it, letting himself bask in it.

He felt Riz pull back and he copied the motion, still keeping close enough to keep his hands on Riz's shoulders. Riz wet his lips, opening and closing his mouth a few times.

“Riz?” said Fabian.

“I- can I kiss you?” said Riz. “I always, um. It’s something I- Did you want to?”

“Oh,” said Fabian, “yes, definitely, allow me-”

Riz cut him off with a kiss. His lips were chapped, his teeth sharp when they caught on Fabian’s lower lip. Fabian’s breath hitched in his throat. He leant closer, pressing against Riz until they both tumbled backwards onto the couch.

“ Oof ,” said Riz, with a laugh.

Fabian paused for a moment to take in Riz below him, his green curls spread out across the worn blue couch cushions, the deep flush on his cheeks almost enough to hide his scattering of freckles, his wide eyes golden.

“What?” said Riz.

“Nothing,” said Fabian. “Just admiring the view.”

Riz's flush deepened. “That's so corny, oh my god.”

Fabian felt himself flush to match Riz. “Sorry, I-”

“No it's- I like that you're corny,” said Riz quickly. “I like that you're earnest and fierce and caring even when - even when I don't deserve it.”

Fabian cupped Riz's cheek in his hand. “You absolutely deserve it.”

Riz's breath hitched and he pulled Fabian down again. Fabian followed easily, the way his body always wanted to, fitting against Riz as he pressed Riz back against the couch. Riz pushed at his jacket and Fabian shrugged it off, letting it drop to the floor behind him and using the new freedom of movement in his arms to shift Riz against the couch cushions, so he could lean over him. Riz let out a small keening noise at the manhandling, which honestly went right to Fabian’s head, the pleased feeling spreading hotly through his body.

He leant down to kiss Riz again, groaning as Riz’s claws caught in his hair. He smoothed a palm up Riz’s thigh, feeling the muscles of Riz’s leg twitch as Riz shifted against him, clutching at his back. It was a heady feeling, having Riz under him like this, overwhelming his senses. Riz, for his part, seemed similarly captivated.

It was probably why neither of them noticed the Abernant sister’s return until Aelwyn cleared her throat.

Fabian sprang back. Riz’s claws stuck slightly in his shirt, pulling Riz up with him.

“Well,” said Adaine after a moment. “I suppose this means you have worked things out.”

“I- yeah,” said Riz. “It's- we're cool, we're, uh, dating? I mean, I guess I should actually ask-”

“We are absolutely dating,” said Fabian. “Yes, I accept, whatever you- whatever you want Riz. Long distance, or short- you could come with me, or perhaps we could get our own boat for a time, see how you like the open sea before we make any definitive choices-"

Riz's cheeks flushed a deep ocean green and Fabian could now admit to himself that it was the prettiest thing he'd ever seen, making his thoughts stutter to a halt.

“Good,” said Adaine. She paused  “We actually do have to hand over all this but- They’ll be interrogating Selanar for a little while. We probably have until this afternoon, so you two can...”

“Continue to make up?” offered Aelwyn, smirking.

“Thanks,” said Riz, his voice cracking. “I’ll , uh. I’ll-”

“I need to get some things from my office anyway. I’ll call you in a few hours,” said Adaine. She puts a hand on Aelwyn’s arm, pulling her out of the apartment. She paused, poking her head back through the door. “Congratulations to you both.”

“Thank you,” said Fabain.

Riz laughed, the sound drawing Fabian in again as the door clicked shut. Everything else, he could work out later.

For now, there was Riz.