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Ruggie is in the library studying because Trein has been on his ass about this test because he screwed up on the last one since he was working so many hours to help GramGram and the kids.
So, he’s in the library studying when he hears a loud, booming voice, “You’re not supposed to sleep in the library, Silver! We’re meant to be studying!”
And Ruggie shakes his head because yep, that’s definitely Sebek being insufferably loud, but then he hears the quiet huff of Silver as he says, “Sebek, you’re the only one studying. I’m only here because Malleus and Lilia are doing something and kicked us out. I’d rather be sleeping.”
Ruggie snorts quietly to himself before getting up to wander after the voices he’d just heard, and he can’t help the way he feels like he’s melting at the sight of Silver lying, curled up in a ball against the wall while Sebek sits with six books around him and at least three notebooks.
“Stop slacking! I know you have that history test! Get to studying!”
“Sebek, I’ve already told you that I don’t need to study. I know what I needed to be prepared for, and I’ve already done my studying for it. I’m set. That class is a breeze. You know I like history. Stop nagging me and get to studying for your alchemy, that’s the whole reason you dragged me here anyways.” huffs Silver with his eyes closed, silver hair falling across his face as his entire body seems to just relax into the floor. He and Sebek have found a private space between a bookcase and the wall, a small alcove spot that’s easily passable.
“Silver, you’re really ready for this test?” asks Ruggie before he can think better of it, but he still smirks when he sees the way they both jump as Silver jumps up onto his arm, purple eyes wide as his hand darts for the sword at his waist, Sebek doing the same before they see him. “Wow, you boys really are trained to jump up in an instant. Malleus’ lap dogs, huh?”
“How uncouth you scavenger! Don’t talk about Lord Malleus in such a manner! We are but his loyal guards, not a lapdog like you are to Kingscholar.” Sebek spits Leona’s last name like it burned him, and Silver’s head drops forward as Ruggie growls.
“Can we not? I’m so letting father know how much of a brat you were to Ruggie, you know he‘a impressed by him! Honestly, Sebek, do you have to insult everyone? Ruggie was just being Ruggie, no harm no foul unless he wants to make sure he gets something.” says Silver as he twists until he’s sitting properly, back against the wall before he turns his purple eyes on Ruggie.
It’s been a minute since Silver was seen as naive, yes, but that’s only because a summer dealing with people attempting to come after Malleus has ruined all sense of naivety for Silver who’s had to do heinous things to protect their future king. “What do you need, Ruggie?”
“I’m trying to study for the test, but then Sebek’s loud mouth rang out and distracted me… again.” replies Ruggie evenly as he decides not to play Silver like he would anyone else, he respects the man that’s returned to school, almost hates how changed he is now.
“I can help you study, it’d probably get Sebek off my back.” sighs Silver as he stands, ignoring Sebek who is gaping between them.
Ruggie simply turns and walks back to his table, knowing Silver is following because he doesn’t go back on his word. Silver settles across the table and asks, “What’s the issue?”
“All of it. The stupid wars don’t give me any reason to pay attention to them.” grumbles Ruggie as he slaps a palm over his notes about the mage war.
“So, don’t. Do you know the crucial information about the wars? When they started and ended, the winning and losing sides, the important names embedded in their history?” replies Silver quietly, yawning half-way through his sentence as he visibly fights sleep.
“Of course I do, Trein’s drilled it into our heads for the last two weeks!” exclaims Ruggie exasperatedly even as he gets this itching urge to tuck that piece of hair behind Silver’s ear so it would stop blocking his purple eyes the way it is.
“So, focus on the essay, focus on the people, the poverty, the ones like you, tell that story rather than repeating what we have to answer with the multiple choice and discussion questions. Draft out the essay instead, brush over your notes in the morning and during lunch for refreshers, but put the essay at the forefront, that’s where the points are anyways. And if you get all twenty points, Trein said he’d bump the score up a letter grade.” Replies Silver as he lays his head on his arms on the table, blinking tiredly up at Ruggie.
“Okay, go to sleep. I can do this bit myself.” says Ruggie after a moment before he forced himself to get to work shifting through the notes he’s taken and the book to his left. And it’s not until he hears quiet snores that he looks up and lets himself take in the sight of a sleeping Silver.
It’s the only time he seems at peace again, truthfully, and Ruggie has always enjoyed seeing him sleep, but now, after the rumors that swirled across campus when they all returned, when Silver and Kalim weren’t so naive and oblivious anymore, now just getting to see this is a quiet blessing Ruggie wishes to never lose sight of.
“You’re staring.”
Ruggie startles backwards, back smacking harshly into his chair as he blinks twice in surprise, eyes locking on Silver’s peeking purple one and he stutters, “I- I wasn’t- I didn’t- just- go back to sleep, Silver.”
He tries to scowl as he turns his attention back to his notebook, glaring down at the pages of information inked out in painstakingly dark color while his cheeks turn a pink he hates to admit has been happening around Silver more often than it should since they started at NRC. His eyes are locked on the paper, but the low chuckle from Silver has his eyes lifting immediately because it’s been so long since Silver has laughed where Ruggie could hear it.
“Sorry, I just- it’s not like I was complaining about your staring. I was just pointing it out because I’ve gotten far too used to it and wanted you to know I could tell.” explains Silver softly, kind as he lifts his head and puts his chin on his hands instead, smiling gently up at Ruggie.
“Calling it out is kinda embarrassing, ya know? I guess it’s not that surprising though, you called out Jamil, Ace, and Floyd for their staring too, and they were staring because you were guarding Malleus while he was sleeping next to Idia at least three times last week.” murmurs Ruggie amusedly as he looks at the sleepy man, grinning when Silver snorts at his words.
“I don’t see how someone as shameless as you can be embarrassed, but okay then. Although, I gotta ask, what that smug amusement is about. What’d you get outta those three staring?” asks Silver as he sits up more, settling firmly back in his chair and tilting his head at Ruggie with curious purple eyes locked on him.
“I might be shameless, but I still get embarrassed sometimes. I got some good videos out of that, even managed to get some scarabian food and a deal at the lounge because Leona was ready to end Jamil and Floyd for making Idia feel insecure, shishishi. It was a great day, especially getting to help Idia give Ace some trouble too, he’s a lot more fun than people give him credit for.” explains Ruggie with a chuckle as he pulls out his phone, tapping it a few times before twisting it around to show Silver the texts from Azul and Kalim telling him they’ll do anything to get Leona to stop causing problems within the Lounge and with other Scarabian students.
“Ah, Kalim was trying to protect his dorm, and Azul was trying to protect his business. Sounds about right, though to be fair, Jamil wasn’t staring out of disgust or to embarrass anyone, he just wasn’t in the know about those three and their relationship. He’s already apologized to Idia and Malleus, made ‘em some lunch for their date the other day too.” replies Silver amusedly with a tilt of his head as he settles back in his chair again after reading the messages. But then his head straightens and his purple eyes lock on Ruggie with intent as he goes on. “But back to the first part, I wasn’t trying to embarrass you, Ruggie. It’s not like I mind the staring, at least I don’t mind it from you.”
Ruggie’s eyes go wide as they lock on Silver, surprise shifting through his eyes as his ears twitch and his lips part. Silver not minding the staring when it comes from him, from Ruggie, that- that has to mean something, but he’s not sure if it means what he thinks it means or not. Silver ducks his head after a moment, and Ruggie isn’t sure what to make of it until his eyes lock on his ears that are burning bright red at the tips.
“Silver, I’m going to ask you something. I know it’s going weird and everything, but I just- I want to-” Ruggie cuts himself off when Silver’s head comes up again and those purple eyes lock on his. But then he’s swallowing hard and his voice drops to a whisper as he asks the only question on his mind right now. “Silver, do you have romantic feelings for me?”
Silver’s eyes go wide, his mouth opening and closing as he sits ramrod straight and stares at Ruggie because yeah, the question was a weird one to ask right here in the middle of the library. Silver blinks harshly, three times in a row, his face turning bright red in the cutest way, and Ruggie grins big at the sight of it.
“I- Yes, I do, but that wasn’t what I meant to have brought into our conversation.” says Silver a bit shyly as he ducks his head again.
“I know that, it was obvious you weren’t meaning to insinuate feelings, but I needed to know for myself, Silver. I needed to know because I have feelings for you, and if they’re reciprocated, I wanted to know that… I don’t know what I was going to do if you’d told me no though.” replies Ruggie honestly, voice soft as he feels a little embarrassed at himself because he really didn’t have a plan for if things didn’t work out this way.
“I guess it’s a good thing those feelings are reciprocated then, but to be fair, I wouldn’t have been weird about it. Had some people back home come at me about crushes too, and it was odd, but I didn’t let it get in the way of training and building those working relationships.” explains Silver brightly, smiling as he lifts his head, pure happiness shining in those beautiful eyes of his.
“I guess it is…” murmurs Ruggie in awe, still a little uncertain of what comes next, but he’s glad this has happened today. “Maybe- umm- maybe when Leona, Malleus, and Idia get together for their date tomorrow night, you and I can have one as well? We can station ourselves close for you to do your job, obviously, but I-”
“Sebek and Lilia were taking over for me tomorrow because I wanted to do some training and catch up on some reading, so we don’t have to have a date near them where you’re going to hear everything they’re doing. We absolutely can have one though, I- I’d really like that.” offers Silver shyly, looking up from under his lashes as he speaks with hope and excitement in his voice.
“Ah, shishishi, I don’t gotta hear Leona be all sweet then. Great! Means he won’t get to listen to me either, so I don’t gotta be worried about him teasing me about it later. That also means that I can take you to a specific spot just off campus, not too far though. It’s maybe ten minutes through the woods behind our flying field, but it’s a beautiful spot with a gazebo. It’s surrounded by a bed of flowers of all kinds, all safe of course, but all gorgeous and beautiful smelling.” Ruggie gets excited as he speaks, his ears twitching, tail swishing against the chair behind him, already imagining how he can create a soft picnic dinner and decorate the gazebo for them to make it soft and romantic.
“That sounds like a wonderful idea, and I can’t wait to see this spot of yours. It sounds beautiful, so I know it’ll look absolutely gorgeous when we get there. It sounds like it’ll be the perfect spot to not get bothered by anyone too, which will be nice considering how everyone surrounded us when we were looking out for Malleus on his, Leona, and Idia’s first campus date.” chuckles Silver softly, but Ruggie’s eyes latch on the blush covering his pale cheeks as that head ducks to hide it from view upon noticing his attention locked on it. “You’re very thoughtful, and I really appreciate that.”
“That blush was absolutely adorable, and I’m kind of sad you took it away… Shishishi, I have a new goal now. To get that blush to cover your cheeks again because you look adorable with it. But back to the spot, it’s a nice place and should offer us the privacy that those three weren’t able to get for their date here. I don’t know who all knows about it, but I know I haven’t seen anyone there before, so crossing my fingers that it won’t change for our date.” replies Ruggie with a wink when Silver’s head tips up and those purple eyes go wide as they meet his own eyes.
“I can’t wait for the date, and I blush constantly around you. I’m kind of surprised you’re just noticing it, but we’ve gotten so far off track that I feel like I need to point out that you’re supposed to be studying.” murmurs Silver quietly, cheeks burning just a little bit more as he reaches his hand across the table to tap two fingers against Ruggie’s textbook, sheepish smile curving his lips.
“Dunno how I’m going to be able to focus on this instead of our date, but you’re right. I do need to get this done. Why don’t you lay your head back down and try to get some rest, and I’ll wake you when I’m done if Sebek doesn’t get you up first?” offers Ruggie with a sheepish smile of his own, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand as he tilts his head slightly.
“Sounds like a plan, and just think of it this way… Sooner you get done studying, the sooner you get to think about our date.” replies Silver brightly, a grin breaking up his sentences and making him wince at himself.
“This is true, very true. Get some sleep Sil.” says Ruggie with a soft chuckle as he turns his focus back to his studying.
The silence that follows has Ruggie hiding a smile in his free hand as he starts underlining certain thoughts that he’d already jotted out, then when a quiet snore reaches him, Ruggie lifts his head up to see Silver sleeping yet again. Ruggie smiles at the sight before focusing back on the books in front of him, and he works on writing things out while also jotting down date thoughts in the margins.
While Silver sleeps across from him, Ruggie feels excitement fill him because he’s going to go on a date with Silver and hopefully manage to get a good grade on this test too.