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Malleus sat in his room fiddling with his little toy Drago.
He was upset.
Not long ago, he was invited to a party for the first time since he arrived at school. They gave him a date and location and everything. He even went out to buy snacks out of appreciation. But, as it turns out, they changed the day to yesterday….and had failed to inform him.
Just his luck.
Lilia, Sebek, and Silver had tried to make him feel better, but he ultimately hid away in his room to sulk. Not even Drago was making him feel better, and he had such positive emotions connected with the toy.
Why did this always happen to him? He was so excited too…
*knock* *knock* *knock*
Malleus looked up in surprise. He looked to the door, but the noise didn’t come from there. So it must be….
*knock* *knock* *knock*
He looked to the other side of the room and saw a figure standing outside his window. He looked out to the balcony with confusion.
“Who’s there?” He asked with warning.
“Malleus? It’s me!” He recognized the upbeat sound immediately as Scarabia’s housewarden. “Can we talk?” Malleus went to open it, but thought back to what happened earlier and retreated back.
“I’m in no mood to talk.” He spoke honestly.
“Come on, please?” Kalim begged. “It’s important!” Malleus thought for a moment, letting Kalim’s desperation simmer, but ultimately decided to open the doors. When he did, Kalim looked grateful, but also frowned. Malleus cocked his head to the side.
“What do you need, Asim?” He asked the smaller. Kalim’s frown deepened.
“Malleus, I’m really sorry about the party.” He apologized, looking the other in the eyes. “We really did want you to come! We just…forgot!” Malleus frowned in response.
“They always forget.” He said under his breath, striking Kalim like a bullet. “I appreciate your honesty however.” He went to close the door, but Kalim stopped him.
“Malleus, wait!” He turned to see the expectant boy. “I really, really am sorry! I want to make it up to you!” His eyes darted every which way, as if coming up with something on the spot. Then, it struck him. He smiled brightly at him. “How about I take you for a ride?!”
“A ride?”
“Yeah! On my magic carpet!” As if on command, the ornate carpet appeared from below the balcony and Kalim jumped on it easily, presenting it to Malleus. The fae didn’t know what to think.
“…a magic carpet, huh?” He looked at it curiously. “I’ve seen you ride this before, but never myself.”
“Do you want to?”
“Is it safe?”
“Sure! Do you trust me?” He held out his hand with a smile, leaning down towards the other. Malleus looked to the hand, then to Kalim, then to the door, and then back to Kalim.
He smiled back.
“Yes.” He answered, placing his hand in the other’s. He hoisted him up, the rug assisting slightly, before the rug took off and knocked them both down. Kalim gripped the edge with experience, and Malleus, with wide eyes, held onto Kalim for a moment before letting go.
They took off into the sky; little balls of fire twinkling in the distance. Clouds floated by them carelessly as they soared.
Flying wasn’t anything new to Malleus. They were mages after all. Flying was apart of the curriculum, and Malleus had flown even higher than what they were now. However, there was something different about this. The mutual satisfaction that was shared amongst the two was peaceful. It was calming, even relaxing, even though Malleus could think of very few times that he actually hung out with the other.
They flew all around the island. Passing the neighboring school, the beach, and down to the ocean. The glistening waters mirrored the sky, looking incredulous to touch. Kalim took them down further, barely grazing the ocean below. He looked to Malleus, who in response reached down to touch the water, interrupting the still waves.
There was a moment where the carpet slowed down, allowing the two of them to lay on their back, and they stared up into the constellations telling their favorite stories amongst the stars. Malleus even brought up how, in his lifetime, he’s seen the sky change as much as the seasons, and that even now, he can pinpoint specific patterns that remind him of a childhood long ago. It was fascinating.
Eventually, they flew back to the school grounds, Kalim taking Malleus back to Diasomnia. Back to the balcony they went, and Malleus stepped off with grace.
“That was, as you put it, quite the ride, Asim.” He told the blonde as he lowered himself down to lean against the railing. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“Of course!” Kalim said, smiling. “And, just so you know, you’re always invited to visit Scarabia. I know I’m not good at remembering things, and I still feel really bad about the party, but I just wanted you to know that you’re welcome anytime!” Malleus chuckled at the thought of him showing up unannounced at Scarabia, and how Jamil would react if he did. Regardless, he appreciated the offer.
“Thank you, Asim.” He thanked. “For the invitation, and for a wondrous night.”
“You’re welcome, Malleus!” Kalim said, eyes creasing from his smile. They two stared at each other awkwardly, not knowing how to break away. When Malleus opted to shake his hand, the carpet had other ideas.
Misinterpreting the scene, the rug gave Kalim and extra push, pressing his lips against the fae’s. Their eyes went wide; the two not being able to break eye contact with each other. Kalim hadn’t noticed that Malleus’s pupils were like slits, and Malleus never noticed just how much light reflected off of Kalim’s irises.
Their lips were only together a minute, but it felt as if time had stopped out of shock. Their lips made a light popping sound when they broke away, and the two refused to blink as they stared.
The silence that followed was deafening.
“…uh….” Kalim managed to mutter, Malleus still staring incredulously. “…uh….”
As Kalim began to stutter, Malleus managed regain enough strength to blink in response. The Scarabia student’s face gradually became more and more red.
“…UH….” He started shaking in the presence of the other. “…UH…” Without as much as a ‘goodbye’, Kalim quickly left, leaving a speechless Malleus behind. He stared blankly at where Kalim recently stood, slowly processing what had happened.
“…um…” He oddly stuttered. “…well then…” He slowly made his way back into the room, the unsuspecting kiss plaguing his mind.
What a ride that night was.