Work Text:
If it weren’t for the fact that Malleus Draconia overblotted and that Lilia revealed who he truly was to the limited populace that helped defeat Malleus, NRC was having a decent week. The aftermath of Malleus’ overblot wasn’t as devastating as it could’ve been; although, the one thing that hurt Malleus more than his overblot or Lilia’s impending departure to the Land of the Red Dragon was Silver. Silver was hurt the most during the battle and subsequently that resulted in the reawakening of the curse put on him as a baby.
In the infirmary, Malleus sat gazing upon his practical baby brother with tears in his eyes. The dragon fey held Silver’s hand and squeezed it as tears rolled down his pale cheeks. Malleus couldn’t believe he had hurt Silver. It wasn’t true. Malleus couldn’t believe it was true.
“Silver please, I know that we’ve had our troubles with each other but I never meant to hurt you. You must know that. You can wake up now. Please, wake up. Open your eyes, Silver, please.” Malleus pleaded like a child as he held Silver’s hand to his forehead, “I never meant for this to happen. I just wanted us to be a family forever. You can’t be gone, you can’t.”
“Malleus?” Yumi walked in and took a seat next to Malleus, “He’ll be ok, I know he will.” Yumi had her doubts that Silver would wake up. Lilia was distraught. Sebek was quieter. Malleus wouldn’t leave Silver’s bedside. Diasomnia was in mourning. To everyone, despite his deadpan face, Silver was kind. Silver was sweet. He knew just what to say to make someone feel better. It was something that Malleus envied and appreciated. It was something that Lilia smiled about. It was one of the things that made Sebek fall in love with him.
“Why won’t he wake up?” Malleus looked at Yumi with bloodshot eyes.
“I’ve read in fairy tales that if someone kisses someone cursed it would wake them. Maybe you could try kissing him? He’s like a little brother to you.” Yumi suggested.
Malleus shook his head, “It only works if the person is his one true love and as much as I wish that would work, it won’t unless I was his one true love and I doubt that. You’re my mate, beloved, there’s no way I’m his.”
“Then we could find his one true love. It can’t hurt, right?” Yumi said, leaning on her dragon.
“I suppose we could try to find them.” Malleus smiled for the first time in a week. Malleus now had reassurance that his human was going to stay in Twisted
Wonderland with him. Yumi didn’t really care to go back to her old world anyway. He also smiled because she had ideas and even if they were a little impossible, they
gave Malleus hope.
For the next week, Malleus and Yumi scanned and rifled through all of Silver’s belongings until they found something useful.
“I found something!” Yumi held up a leather bound book with a design made in metal attached to the cover, “Do you know if this is his notebook for classes or if it’s a
diary?”
“I do not want to invade Silver’s privacy like this, Yumi. This seems like it would be worse than hurting him.” Malleus had conflicted feelings about opening the book, “I
know that is his personal journal.”
“Then,” Yumi opened it to the bookmarked page, “let’s get reading.”
The first entry Yumi read wasn’t anything useful. It mentioned Malleus and Lilia and Silver’s feelings about Lilia going away. The entry wasn’t what Yumi was searching for, so she flipped to a random page. The date read March 17th, 16.
Today was fun. I know that I usually write more along the lines of my day’s comings and goings but today was just fun. He was so sweet even though it was his day he let me choose where we went on our date. I know that he’s bullheaded and loud but somehow I like that. Call me crazy. He gave me a necklace and asked me to promise that when I went to Night Raven College with Malleus that I would wait for him. I will wait for him. He’s the only one who matches me in everything, despite Father’s efforts. I let him win sometimes. I wonder how Malleus and Father would react if they found out. I doubt they would care much. Malleus has been distant, it’s probably because of school. I miss seeing him smile. I miss making him laugh and eating ice cream together. I miss Father. I don’t miss his cooking, but I miss the noises in the house when he would shoo away birds when I slept. I can’t wait till they come back.
“Tsunotarou, I think I found something useful.” Yumi turned the book towards Malleus.
“Beloved, what is it?” Malleus turned to face Yumi and the journal, Malleus read the entry then looked back up at the date, “March 17th?”
“Is that significant?” Yumi asked.
“Silver mentioned nothing of a lover to me or to Lilia. I would know, Lilia can not keep quiet on such matters, but the date is that of Sebek’s birthday.” Malleus put a finger to his chin in thought, “We could ask Sebek if he knows anyone who shares his birthday? It would be helpful.”
Yumi thought for a second, “Let me talk to Sebek. I think I figured it out.”
“As you wish, beloved.” Malleus nodded and then led Yumi to Sebek’s room.
“Sebek?” Malleus knocked on the door to Sebek’s room.
Sebek opened the door, his hair was disheveled and looked like he’d been crying for hours, “Yes, my liege, do you require my services?”
“No, Sebek, I am about to retire to my chambers. It is Yumi who wishes to speak with you. She believes she has found a way to wake Silver.” Malleus elaborated.
“Of course, my liege. Yumi, you may enter although I do apologize for the state of things.” Sebek opened the door wider for Yumi to enter. Once Yumi was inside she
walked over and sat on Sebek’s desk chair.
“I have something personal to ask you.” Yumi took a deep breath and handed the journal to Sebek, “Do you know who Silver’s lover is?”
Sebek’s eyes widened in fear, “You didn’t tell Lord Lilia of your findings or his majesty did you?”
Yumi narrowed her eyes, “Why would it matter if I told them? Unless they didn’t like them.”
Sebek fidgeted as he paced across the room, “Lord Lilia is protective over Silver and for good reason he’s a human. Humans are not common in the Briar Valley and those that reside there aren’t knights. They’re merchants and doctors and in no mortal danger at any given time. Silver is the only knight that’s human in his majesty’s
guard and he is incapacitated at the moment-”
Yumi cut off the half-fey, “Sebek, are you Silver’s boyfriend?”
Sebek sighed, “Yes, Silver and I have been partners for 3 years now. You mustn’t tell his majesty or Lord Lilia of this.” Sebek was nervous.
“I think there’s something you can do to wake up Silver.” Yumi said as she grabbed Sebek’s hands, “If you kiss him, it might wake him up.”
“No.” Sebek said curtly.
“Why not?” Yumi asked, shocked.
“If he does not wake up, it would hurt worse than if he never woke again.” tears began to fall from Sebek’s eyes.
“But if he does wake up?” Yumi placed a hand on Sebek.
“Will you be there to take the fall if he does not wake?” Sebek asked seriously.
“I will.” Yumi said sincerely, “I promise.”
“Fine then, let’s go.” Sebek said, walking towards the door.
The walk from Diasomnia to the infirmary felt too long for Sebek. Words couldn’t describe what the crocodile fey felt for the silver haired human. The forgotten prince of a conquered nation.
“Would you stay outside?” Sebek asked Yumi. Yumi nodded her head. He knew that Lilia wasn’t by Silver’s side at the moment and Malleus was in his room so he had nothing to worry about. Sebek walked over to where his prince was sleeping. Silver looked peaceful. He looked just as radiant as he did when he smiled and he looked just as sweet as when he took Sebek’s hand in his.
Sebek took a deep breath before speaking to the sleeping boy, “Hello, Silver. I am deeply and truly sorry. I didn’t protect you like I promised I would. I failed you.” a tear danced down Sebek’s cheek as he continued, “I truly love you, my dove.” Sebek gently pressed his lips to Silver’s. When Sebek pulled away, Silver’s eyes didn’t open.
Sebek stood up and turned away before he heard Silver’s infectious laugh, “I love you too, mo shiorghra. (my eternal love)”
“Silver?” Sebek turned around to see Silver’s eyes open and his mouth smiling. Sebek leaned down and kissed Silver again deeper.
Silver pushed Sebek away lightly, “You woke me up.”
“It was not my idea. If it were not for Yumi, I do not believe that I would have done such.” Sebek was smiling and laughing.
“Well then, we’ll have to thank her.” tears fell down Silver’s face as he pulled Sebek on top of him, “I never thought I’d wake up again.”
Sebek flipped the two of them onto their sides so that he could look into Silver’s aurora eyes, “But you are.”
“I am.” Silver placed a hand on Sebek’s cheek and leaned in to touch his forehead to Sebek’s.
“You are.” Sebek smiled and placed a hand on Silver’s cheek.
The two boys were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Sebek quickly sat up as did Silver. Silver gripped his head in pain as he sat up too fast.
Lilia appeared in front of Sebek and Silver with tears welling up in his eyes, “My boy. You’re awake!” Lilia walked over to Silver’s bedside and grabbed his hand, “I’m so sorry. I failed you as a father, I couldn’t protect you from anything.” Lilia sobbed into Silver’s hand.
“Father.” Silver smiled and cried as he leaned over to hug his father, “I love you.”
“I love you too, my son. So much.” Lilia cried harder into his son’s shoulder.
Yumi walked in and smiled, “You’re awake Silver.”
“I am, Yumi. Would you mind letting Malleus know?” Silver asked as he laid back down on the bed, “I would let him know myself but I feel weak.”
Yumi laughed, “Yeah, I’ll go tell him.”
When Malleus arrived with Yumi, he walked over and grasped Silver’s hand in his own, “I am so sorry. I was cruel to you. I hurt you.”
Silver laughed weakly, “I don’t think you could hurt me more than Father’s cooking.”
Malleus joined Silver in laughing, “I swear to you, I will never allow such things to happen again.”
Silver smiled at the dragon fey, “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, I don’t know if anyone could keep Father from the kitchen.” Lilia joined in laughing with his boys.
Lilia asked Silver, “Do you know what woke you?”
Silver looked at Sebek and then to Malleus and then finally to his father, “Father, there is something I’ve kept from you.”
Lilia looked shocked, “What is it, Silver?”
Silver gently took Sebek’s hand, “Sebek woke me.”
Malleus looked confused, “Sebek, how did you wake him?”
Sebek looked at Silver for reassurance and Silver nodded his head, “I woke him with true love’s kiss.”
Both Lilia and Malleus were shocked. Yumi wasn’t in the slightest bit. In her time at Night Raven College, Yumi had seen Riddle fall in love with Floyd. She had seen Jamil fall for Kalim. She had seen Vil, despite his protests and denial, fall in love with his hunter. Yumi fell in love with her dragon.
Lilia asked the two, “Are you together? Officially?”
Silver nodded his head, “For three years, Father.”
“I am truly sorry we kept this from you both. I am partially to blame.” Sebek apologized.
Silver laughed, “I didn’t know how to tell you that I found someone and that that someone was Sebek.”
Malleus looked at Lilia, “Who are we to stop them? As long as they're safe and happy, I’m happy.”
“I am as well.” Lilia said before embracing his three boys.