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When Luck comes back from that dungeon, something’s changed.
Magna doesn’t know what it is. It’s something in his smile. It’s lighter. Less intense. Almost settled- dare he say it. Still alert with eyes roaming, searching for mana and any fight he can find, but it’s like he’s looking at more now. Seeing more. And maybe it’s the way those teal eyes settle on Magna when he finally catches sight of him, but he knows something major has happened.
The boy is quiet. Magna tenses as he approaches, both unnerved by Luck’s uncharacteristic silence and preparing for the attempted battle he knows is coming. Instead, Luck stops. Looks up at Magna with something undefinable within his gaze, and all at once, it’s like he’s meeting Luck for the very first time.
He sees a young boy. Someone afraid. Looking out into the world and finding meaning in the things he sees, like he’s never thought to consider them before. Battle mania dims into vulnerable curiosity, some hidden battered paradigm, and Magna’s heart shatters into pieces.
“Luck? You good, bro?” Magna does his best to appear nonchalant, but the lack of response whisks the wind from his sails almost immediately. The boy takes a step closer, looking a bit unstable. Magna’s concern grows. “Buddy?”
“Magna,” the boy warbles, that permanent smile of his wavering. “You’re…my friend, right?”
Magna’s brows shoot up. “Well duh- what kind of question is that? That dungeon fry your brain or somethin’?” He tries for an exasperated scoff, but it comes out sounding more like a nervous huff. He’s never seen Luck like this. Anything other than a battle crazed freak- something like pain is leaking from his posture and Magna can’t find it in him to act unbothered. Not when his friend’s smile looks half way to collapsing for the first time he’s ever seen it- it takes everything in him not to grab him by the shoulders and pull him close, trigger happy battle freak be damned.
Luck tilts his head, considering. Then some unseen understanding sparks behind his eyes, crumbling his expression even more, and he sways forward unsteadily, like he doesn’t even know he’s doing it.
“Do you wanna-” Fight me, Magna anticipates, like he’s heard a thousand times before, until Luck’s voice breaks and chokes around the final word- “hug?”
And oh, if that doesn’t spear Magna right through the chest. Finally seeing past the mania, past the barriers he has wrapped around himself to catch a glimpse of the kid underneath it all- a relieved smile breaks out across Magna’s face, and this time it’s entirely genuine.
“Of course,” he breathes and yanks the boy to his chest, one hand coming up to cradle his head.
Luck freezes. A whole body flinch, like he’s expecting a blow, but Magna waits. Just holds him, a steady wall of warmth, something solid in the midst of unseen chaos. Slowly, the boy relaxes. Unsure hands come up to wrap around Magna’s waist and he squeezes tighter, encouraging.
“I’ve gotcha, buddy,” he rumbles. “No matter what happens.”
And he means it. Through victory or defeat, through all the best times and all of the worst ones. Because they’re friends. Because that’s what being a Black Bull is all about, and Magna’s not about to let anyone’s past, present or future get in the way of that.
And if he hears a sniff and feels his shoulder grow wet, he doesn’t comment. He doesn’t let go until Luck relaxes first. When he pulls back, both of their faces are red and raw. Luck rubs his eyes, his grin still warbling, but he looks steadier. More like himself, and still with that newfound clarity in his eyes Magna decides he likes seeing there.
“Feel better?” he asks, and grins when Luck nods, still unnaturally quiet, but that’s all Magna really needs to see. He doesn’t know what happened inside that dungeon or what kind of battle, internal or external, Luck had to fight. But as long as his friend is safe and happy, that’s all he cares about.
And maybe, next time the mood strikes, he’ll finally take up Luck’s offer to duel. It’s the least Magna can do after all that’s happened- the kid’s definitely earned it.
And this time, he imagines, it’ll be because Luck wants to fight, and not because he thinks he needs to.