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The night was chilly. A light wind swept a leaf across the window, like a passing shadow.
The chill was refreshing, after all the sweat he had to go through during the day.
The training was relentless, pushing him to his limits. On top of it all, his body felt sore after recent battles. And he had no time to process everything that has happened since Terminalia…
It was quiet. It almost felt eerie. It's been a while since he was surrounded by silence, with nothing but his thoughts as his company.
Normally he hated the night. The quiet darkness his eyes could not penetrate. He hated how lonely it felt. Forced through too many days and nights alone, separated from the hand he used to clutch onto so desperately. Shunned away by everyone, reminded of how useless and pathetic he was. An outcast, with no one to rely on.
But this night was different. The silence was calming. Reassuring. Finally allowing him some time to think, to organize the thoughts and recent events.
In fact, he needed it. He didn't realize until now how desperately he needed this kind of peace, some room for himself, to let his thoughts roam free.
So much has happened in such a short span of time and he got no chance to try and think about it.
The Dungeon Dive being cut short and reassigned on a different day due to the appearance of Duke and two shady figures.
All the time spent studying for the final exams, to the point of cutting down on rest, only to be robbed of hope by mere unfair treatement.
Sudden attack on Terminalia, with the still fuzzy memory of him wielding that mysterious, yet mighty power against the Devender.
Facing ups and downs of not having enough credits to enter the Tower, only for him to be allowed thanks to the newfound power the Headmistress called “Courage”.
Meeting Magia Vanders and the girl he chased after for so long, yet facing another obstacle and not being allowed to join any of the factions until proving himself.
Getting Julius' help in researching the Wis with little to no success, only for the mysterious witch, Ceridwen, to step in and help recall his slumbering memories.
Cutting through Kreutz's monsters, seeing the hope of finally getting reunited, only to be struck down by the Lightning.
A duel that shook the Tower, resulting in him being forced through the exhausting training day after day.
Learning about a potential spy among their friends, planting a seed of distrust, only further wearing down their spirits.
Facing the terrifying member of Gohtia, wielder of Berzeme bloodline's powers, who could make puppets out of their friends, making it even harder to distinguish a friend from foe.
The idea of not being allowed to trust and rely on those around him was terrifying. It could easily throw one into paranoia and depths of despair, the root of any potential chaos that could tear everything down, together with the Barrier.
The truth was though, he had people he could still trust. A ray of hope in the darkness of uncertainty. People worth protecting.
His friends he managed to make throughout all of these chaotic events. As if proving there is no bad without some good in life. So long they didn't give up, there was a chance.
A weak smile tugged at his lips at the thought of the colorful party they created by chance. As if fate brought them together.
The night was different. He felt restless. Despite the exhaustion from the extensive training, he couldn't sleep. He knew he wouldn't be able to, no matter how much he tried to. But he couldn't just sit around either, being locked up in four walls while staying awake felt suffocating. It was driving him crazy.
With guilt painted on his face, he glanced towards the familiar, soundly sleeping on his bed. And then he turned to the window, walking up to it.
“I'm sorry…” he whispered quietly, not just towards the carbuncle, but others, who were not present in the room, yet would yell at him if they found out, worried.
It was risky. In fact, it was stupid, but he made up his mind. He couldn't just sit around, he needed some fresh air to clear out his suddenly raging mind. Because, when the silence has fallen, his thoughts started to speak up, suffocating everything else. Their sudden intensity could even bring one to the brink of insanity.
After gearing up into his faction's uniform, a magically enhanced outfit serving as an armor to a Mage, mounting the belt with scabbard on his hip, he quietly opened the window. Making sure not to wake Kiki up, he sneaked out, carefully closing it behind.
Immediately upon stepping outside, he let his breath out, feeling as if he was holding it in for far too long. Taking a moment to breathe in the fresh air, letting it flow through his lungs, the mind calming down thanks to the chill of the night, he decided to simply hang around the roofs of the fourth stratum, avoiding any unwanted attention. Not straying too far, with the lurking dangers of potential Gohtia spies and puppets.
He had to be super careful while maneuvering the roofs. Despite the glasses from his “father”, Ashley Serfort, the owner of Serfort orphanage, and despite the dim lights of the Barrier above his head and street lights below, he struggled to make out the shapes in the shadows. With the terrain remaining unfamiliar to him and Kiki staying behind, tripping over and falling would be guaranteed to happen if he got too careless.
Afterall, unlike other Lyzance, he lacked the ability to see well in the dark. Another trait that differentiated him from others. Only inviting more unpleasant comments back at school.
He moved slowly, making sure every step he was about to take was safe. Fully focusing on where he was going allowed for his mind to quiet down for the time being. He didn't have a specific goal in mind, he figured he'd find a nice spot to sit down and organize his thoughts.
He roamed carefully for a while, before deciding to stop and look around. Squinting his eyes, he stared into the distance, into the shadows above the roofs, getting lost in his thoughts again. Then his eyes wandered down, to take in the view lit up by street lights.
With a nod he confirmed his destination, believing the spot up ahead to be a perfect one to just sit down and relax. He wasn't sure how long for he had been outside already. Or how far he wandered off. But he didn't particularly care. He needed it, he needed the fresh air, uninterrupted by shouts or ruthless training.
As he approached the spot he decided on, being just mere steps away from the “perfect” place to sit down at, the silence was interrupted by a low voice from the shadows.
Instinctively, his hand darted to the side and the trusted sword hidden in the scabbard. His eyes could not make out the figure out of the darkness, even when squinting. It was no wonder he didn't notice the other from a distance.
His defensive stance relaxed almost immediately, letting go of the sword handle the moment his mind registered the voice, recognizing it in an instant.
“What the hell are you doing here, at this time? Did Thorzeous Fudge hit you too hard on the head during your training or something? You shouldn't be going out alone, at night, when who knows where the spies are lurking.”
He paused his motions mid step, blinking in a confusion upon realizing who he stood before. After all, this was the fourth stratum. The stratum on which the Thunder faction was located.
Even while squinting, he couldn't make out where the face of his unexpected companion was within the shadows, not to mention being able to tell what kind of expression was painted on it. He could imagine it was just another one of the typical frowns thrown towards him.
He moved the center of his balance forward, standing straight, and threw a gentle smile into the darkness. He didn't walk up, afraid to suddenly trip over in a moment of distraction.
“Shouldn't I be asking you the same thing, Sion? The Fire Faction is on the fifth stratum…” He tilted his head, speaking out loud the question that crossed his mind. For a brief moment he pondered whether he accidently ventured too far, but that wasn't possible by traveling via roofs alone.
It was only when Sion moved, that he realized exactly where he was sitting. Even without being able to see clearly, he could tell the redhead turned his face away while clicking his tongue.
“...I just happened to walk all the way here. I couldn't sleep. None of your business, laggard.”
“I guess that makes the two of us,” he wore another gentle smile in response, something about the fact of being able to relate causing a warm feeling in his chest area.
He still couldn't make out Sion's expression. The light of the barrier and lamps weren't enough to break through the dark.
Actually, that wasn't true.
The light sources being too weak and too far to chase away the shadows, yet dancing in the corners of his vision, were the reason behind his eyes being unable to get used to the darkness. That's why he struggled to see anything. So he ended up standing awkwardly a few feet away, too afraid to move and fall over. Almost as if waiting for Sion to speak up.
“Do you need light? At this rate you are gonna trip over those sorry legs of yours and make too much noise. Every potential Gohtia spy will know where to find us,” it was as if Sion read his mind, his quiet voice wearing a hint of annoyance, although not directed at the dark haired boy.
“N- no, I'm fin-”
Before he could even finish his words, Sion took out a wand from under his cape. With a heavy sigh and no incantation, he summoned a small flame beside him. It chased away enough of the darkness for Will to be able to finally see the redhead and what was underneath his own feet, giving him a chance to walk up.
A small, warm, red flame. Like a small candle. Mesmerizing even…
“For the record, I'm only doing this so such a miserable fool like you doesn't fall and expose us being here when we shouldn't. Not to help you because of your stupid lack of darkvision,” Sion threw out of blue, refusing to meet Will's eyes, without even being prompted for an explanation.
A light smile tugged on Will's lips, realizing Sion remembered he had poor vision in the darkness, unlike other Lyzance. It also hurt a bit, the fact he was so different without a proper explanation for it. So inferior.
But Sion in no way was trying to poke fun at him for that difference. Will was thankful for his rough gesture of kindness. Even if it stemmed from logical thinking.
“Are you gonna sit down or not? You are freaking me out, staring so awkwardly from up there. Someone might spot your stupid head sticking out from above the roofs.” Sion hid his face away from the light of the warm fire at the mention of Will staring.
The dark hair waved lightly as he tilted his head, pondering briefly whether he caught a sight of Sion's cheeks turning red or it was just the light from the candle making his skin appear as such. In the end, he brushed it off, chalking it up to his imagination.
Dragged by its warmth, Will sat beside the little flame, which Sion left flickering weakly beside them. Just above their hands placed on top of the roof tiles.
The redhead visibly shuddered when Will settled down next to him, but didn't move. The light the flame gave off wasn't enough to attract any attention, and Will was sure Sion was masking his magical presence just in case.
The flame danced, reflecting in the eyes of the color of a Wis gem, giving them a similar look to when he wielded Ignis Wis. It made him feel at peace, giving off a cozy feeling, reminding him of the Serfort orphanage. Of the warmth of a “home”.
They sat together in silence, letting their thoughts run uninterrupted. Enjoying the brief peace among the chaos of events that had tangled them together. With most of the Tower asleep, streets empty, only occasional High Mage patrols from Thunder faction or Higher Institute crossing below them.
Will could feel that Sion started to keep glancing at him at some point, as if bothered by something. His red brows furrowed as usual, seemingly eternally kept in that grumpy look. His fingers kept on clutching tightly onto the fabric of his equally red cape, wrinkling it relentlessly.
Will gazed into the distance, without focusing on any particular spot, everything in his vision turning blurry. The dark horizon between the line of roofs of the Tower and the Barrier hanging above them. “...do you think everything will be okay?”
Sion raised his chin slightly at the question, his fingers halting wrinkling the fabric, caught off guard by the fact Will chose to break the silence all of the sudden. With an odd question nonetheless. His brows relaxed a bit, red eyes focusing as he considered the words.
“Urbus Rigarden barely got time to recover and we already have been attacked again… From inside the Tower at that…” Will elaborated, voicing his worries. The thoughts that were the root of his restlessness.
Sion's face turned serious and somewhat somber as he grimaced, looking away. It seemed as if he was bothered by similar thoughts, “It's clear as day that the Tower will not be holding up for much longer. I think the Vanders are fully aware of that. Or at least that sadistic maniac is,” he shuddered when mentioning Cariott, as if chills ran down his spine. “You heard that witch, Ceridwen. The attack ten years ago was Gohtia's doing. And now those freaks are on the move again, continuously making an appearance. With plans we have absolutely zero clue about, always a step ahead of us. Who knows what else they have in store, other than Mercedes' Forbidden Arts and that accursed Mage Slayer weapon-”
Sion clenched his teeth, too tightly, painfully. Will could hear the crack, grimacing at the sound, hoping nothing actually broke.
He knew how useless Sion must have felt during the Terminalia fight, having his magic turned powerless by the mysterious weapons, his life in hands of a fate. A feeling that raged within him, fury burning bright like his flames.
It was a feeling he could relate to. All too painfully well…
“Not to mention, now we find out they have people on the inside and we have no idea who it is. I really doubt the Tower will hold up, but-” Sion paused hesitantly, letting go of the tightly gripped fabric, his expression hard to describe. “I've been thinking about it. Is the Magia Vander plan really to just… Forever cower away from those Invaders? Is that really the entire point of their existence?”
There was something in Sion's voice Will couldn't properly describe. Almost like it was disappointment and frustration, mixed with that feeling of being wronged and powerless. Betrayed even.
The question caught him off guard. It was not something he had a chance to even consider. Or perhaps he simply chose not to?
Will watched Sion raise his head, the light from the Barrier reflecting dimly in the red eyes. They were not clouded by doubt or fear. They were crystal clear, determined, refusing to give up. He sat like that for a while, not speaking up before he scoffed off to the side, bringing his legs under his chin, wrapping one of his arms around them.
“We… I used to look up to them. Wanted to become one of them. And now, that I seem so close, with that sadist- with Incindia Braham considering me as his successor…
“I saw what they are. I saw what the cruel reality of this world is. We saw all those High Mages die. I'm no longer sure if that's what I want to be.
“Just another stupid pawn to ‘hold up the sky', twiddling my thumbs for the day the Invaders manage to break through or we get burned to cinders from inside out, with Gohtia at our throats…
“Hiding like cowards, instead of dealing with the problem at its source. Praised by those hoping to be next in line for doing absolutely nothing. Pathetic.”
The longer he spoke, the more of his frustration was seeping through his teeth. His lips trembled, his voice breaking from mixed emotions of fear, anger and that feeling of being powerless, yet determined not to fail.
Will looked at him, wrinkling his forehead in worry, unsure what to say in response. He also used to look up to them. But then they betrayed him, with Elfie leaving for the Tower. He believed the Magia Vander were so amazing, protecting the people by keeping the Invaders away, wishing to become one of them someday, and yet…
A pulsating pain struck across his skull, as he tried to recall the source of this sudden innate hate for Magia Vander that managed to resurface. Yet all he came across were blanks in his memories, unable to grasp and clutch onto any of them.
He tightly closed his eyes, grasping at his head from the sudden pain. Ceridwen did mention some of his memories being locked away. That being the very reason for needing her help in activating Wis without anyone's magic. By unlocking a vital moment from his past, one he had no memory of prior to meeting the witch. It meant this was one of those memories, still out of his reach.
He saw Sion shift in his place with a glimpse of worry crossing his face when he spotted Will gripping his head. The moment Will stopped trying to reach the memory, the pain quickly subdued and he looked up at the False Sky again, briefly lost in his thoughts. His eyes filled with melancholy.
The fire continued to tickle their hands with its warmth, as if trying to reassure them.
“Do you think the stars are shining right now, somewhere there, above our heads?” his voice was a barely hearable whisper.
Sion tilted his head in confusion, surprised by another odd question. His lips opened to say something, but he found himself unable to form a sentence, unsure where the question came from.
Will smirked to himself melancholically as he continued, “You know… Back at the orphanage, me and Elfie dreamed of what the real sky looks like. How beautiful it must be. We imagined how the stars mentioned in the stories shone like a million small flames, spreading above our heads, piercing the darkness. Of the sun and moon, shining bright. These two big objects moving in the vast sky, illuminating the entire world with many beautiful colors depending on the time of the day…” He paused, glancing at the red flame flickering beside them, eyes squinting gently. “The reason me and Elfie wanted to become Magia Vander was to get closer to the sky. To witness these wondrous colors. We… We promised we'd go to see the sunset someday. Together.”
Having said that, Will clutched tightly onto the goggles hidden underneath his cape. Always with him. The childhood promise they both made.
The redness of the flickering light reminded him of the description from their favorite story. Of how the sun painted the entire landscape red with its warm light, as it was setting on the horizon.
Sion straightened up, listening closely, biting his lip in a pouty expression at the mention of Elfie. His gaze wandered around as Will continued to speak. Brows furrowing as he recalled, “It's… It's from ‘The Adventures of Denma’...”
Will smiled to him gently, nodding, his heart fluttering happily at the fact Sion recognized the story he was talking about. Then his eyes returned to the faint light cast by the glyphs of the Barrier. He could feel Sion's eyes plastered to him as he talked.
“It might seem like a stupid, childish dream now. After all, Elfie reached the top. And I'm so much closer to it too, and yet… I think we both faced the reality that being at the top of Tower isn't enough to see that promised sunset. It's beyond that Barrier… Beyond the fake light. Does that mean… Our promise was doomed from the start?” Will looked into the distance, reaching his hand out. Pondering his own question, he always found himself too afraid to ask before. Too afraid of the despair it could bring. Were all of his efforts for naught?
And yet, he didn't sense that fear within him when voicing the question with Sion listening besides him, reassured by his presence.
Truth be told, Will didn't even want to think about the prospect of tearing down the Barrier and endangering everyone just for a childish dream. They can't even be sure if the sunset truly existed beyond the Fake Sky. That beautiful red light.
But maybe the sunset was here, besides him, all along? A thought crossed his mind, but it disappeared just as quickly, before he could even register it.
Their fingers were nearly touching underneath the warm light, painting their hands a shade of red.
Sion remained silent, looking away from Will with a conflicted, yet soft expression, his lips warped in a weird, pouty grimace. He didn't comment or mock Will's words. Sion just let them sink in, acknowledging the burden that was entrusted with him. And Will was grateful for that.
With that thought, a sharp pain stung Will inside his chest all of the sudden, having realized something. He looked down, retracting his extended hand, analyzing the lines on his palm, a remorseful expression painted on his face. All of the sudden, he lost the courage to look into those red eyes.
“...I'm sorry I pushed you away back then. I thought it would've been selfish of me to allow you to acknowledge me but… Perhaps it was the opposite, perhaps what I did was selfish.” He closed his eyes painfully, closing his shaky hand into a fist.
Sion tilted his head to look at him, eyes wide open to hear the apology and the events brought up, his lips parting in disbelief. It took him only moments to know what Will was talking about, as if it happened just yesterday, memory still fresh in his mind.
Will's voice trembled, “I shouldn't have pushed you away… And I shouldn't have ignored you then… Or later. I- Please, don't take this as me trying to make an excuse for myself, I know it was all my fault, but I feel like you should know the reason. My memories were not functioning correct back then, they were going blank, even now they are very fuzzy and-”
“I know.”
“Huh?”
Will raised his head, after fumbling over his own words, tears gathering in the corner of his eyes from the pent up guilt heaving in his chest, making it hard to speak. Sion didn't meet his eyes, looking away with his own sense of guilt and anger.
“I knew since then. After I… After I lashed out at you in that classroom when you came back the next day… I was so sick of worrying about some no-talent when you were gone for so long. I waited at the dorms but you didn't come back.” He clenched his teeth, trying to not break down into tears while talking, revealing to Will the truth behind the events that remained fragmented in his mind. “I was mad. I was mad that I kept thinking about you and waiting for such a useless loser. I just wanted to silence those worries by making you my underling. I thought you were mocking me when you said you didn't remember me asking you to become my subordinate…”
Will leaned back, feeling dizzy all of the sudden. He also felt something clogging up his throat as Sion spoke with a shaky voice, biting his lips. The memories started coming back to him, the missing puzzles being filled in gradually.
Sion scoffed to himself emptily, almost self-loathingly. “Since pointing a wand is a declaration of a duel, I just punched you. I slugged you senseless, even when my knuckles started to hurt like hell… And then that four-eyed fiend… Professor Workner took me away. He-” Sion looked up to finally look into Will's eyes, with tears in his own. “He told me about how you kept losing memories, with that being the reason for your growing white hair. I saw the flicker of hope in his eyes. A flicker of hope I set on fire and burned into ashes in an instant, with no hesitation.
“Hearing that… Hearing that you, a useless no-talent dared to forget about me while I just couldn't… I just couldn't stop thinking about you… An eye-sore that always refused to back down, so unbearably stubborn…”
Sion was struggling to continue speaking, his breath growing ragged. The words he spouted out, tugged and clutched Will's chest painfully, as he realized the amount of damage his selfishness caused and what followed after.
“I couldn't bear that thought. So I wanted to make sure you, a stupid laggard, would remember me. Forever. I promised myself to burn myself into your worthless memories forever after. And let no one else come near. And yet you still…” Sion looked away, hiding the tears that refused to fall, clenching his teeth and fists painfully.
Will noticed, with a hurting heart, how his nails were digging through the skin, making way for the crimson tears. He raised his shaky hand, wanting to cheer Sion up by patting his shoulders and reassuring him, but he froze, shocked to realize he couldn't find any words. Unable to think what he'd even reassure him of. Wishing to help ease the pain, but not finding a way to. He curled up slightly, the guilt sinking in.
This whole time Sion even kept the secret of Will's deteriorating memories from everyone, even his subordinates, Lyril and Gordon. While he could've easily used it against him. And yet, he held onto the secret Professor Workner entrusted him with. Clutching onto it desperately.
Will chuckled hollowly, with Sion darting his head up in surprise, a flicker of confusion, pain and frustration in his eyes. As if he was being made fun of.
Will reached underneath his cape, taking out a book. A diary.
He handed it to Sion with a weak, unconfident smile. “You did,” he threw vaguely.
Sion looked at him through tears stuck in his eyes, not understanding what he meant. He silently and hesitantly took the diary from Will's hands, too curious of the answer. The purple eyes simply watched his motions.
Sion opened the book, only to stare into emptiness, not even a single sheet of paper, a frown forming on his forehead, as he thought he was being mocked, like a twisted form of revenge from Will for all the bullying. Only to realize seconds later what the book really was. With a shaky hand, he pointed his wand at the diary, revealing its contents, with pages suddenly fluttering silently, exposing the words written inside.
His eyes widened in shock seeing the amount of ink of the same color as his hair inside. Entire pages, chapters even. Sion read the first few sheets slowly, the realization sinking in, his heart beat muffling out all the sounds.
And then he started to turn the pages hastily, skimming over, the redness getting blurrier and tears mixing with the ink on the paper, as he seemed to be unable to reach the end of the diary fast enough, with the sheer amount of words written down. With a trembling hand, he covered his mouth, muffling the sound that was trying to escape him, a grimace of disgust crossing his crying face. He couldn't stop it, no matter how much he hated it.
“I felt undeserving to be acknowledged… I thought I deserved all that bullying and let it happen… But I never thought how selfish that was of me. I should've acknowledged your bullying, responded to it, stood up for myself, instead of cowering and running away… I should've acknowledged you. I really am sorry, Sion.”
Sion turned his suddenly heavy head to look at Will in disbelief. His hands continued to shakily skim through the pages, realizing that Will noted down every single time he spotted Sion, even when Sion didn't approach him. Even when Sion simply appeared in the corner of his vision, unaware of Will's presence. He noticed him every time.
Unable to handle it anymore, with trembling hands, audibly gritting his teeth, he slam-closed the diary, yet it made no sound. The pages simply vanished, no longer supported by his magic.
“...Coward,” was all Sion could muster through his suddenly dry lips.
Will laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. He nodded, agreeing with the single word, gently half smiling.
He really was a coward.
Sion opened and closed his mouth a few times, unable to find the right words or his voice after being faced with the revelation that shattered everything he thought he knew. Ultimately, he gave up and forcefully shoved the diary back into Will's hands, grating his teeth. Will was shocked by being suddenly pushed back, the diary back in his hands.
The flame that was between them had gone out at some point, but he didn't realize when. Yet the warmth didn't seem to vanish with it.
Then, suddenly, incapable of holding his emotions back anymore, Sion bursted out in tears. Struggling not to make a noise, stifling it, holding it in his throat in a silent cry with streams of tears running down his cheeks. He had no strength to raise his hands and hide his face away from Will.
It took Will only a second before he instinctively reached for Sion and pressed the crying face against his shoulder in a warm hug. Like he often did with crying kids at the orphanage.
When he looked down, all his eyes could see was that small boy from five years ago he pushed away with regret. He gently smiled to himself, tightening his embrace and letting Sion wet his cloak.
Even if he couldn't go back, and fix his mistake, maybe, just maybe, he could at least make up for it. “You are right… I'm a coward. I'm really sorry for being one.”
Having a shoulder to cry on and suppress his voice, Sion didn't need to force himself not to make any sounds anymore, letting the tears pour down heavily, incessantly. For once letting his true emotions, other than rage, do the “talking”. Not hiding his face behind a grimace, or a frown, or a shout.
He just cried.
And cried.
And cried into that shoulder he yearned for, for so long.
Until the tears ran dry and his voice went hoarse.
And even after that he didn't move, sitting in the warm embrace, his breath ragged, as Will gently ran his fingers across the tips of his red hair in an attempt to help soothe the pain.
It was as if he got stuck in his arms… Or maybe didn't actually want to move and enjoyed the closeness? Will wasn't sure. Maybe he should ask…? Would he even answer him? Or mock him and call him names instead…
It was then that Sion finally moved, albeit as if hesitantly, pushing himself away. His cheeks were red. Will could tell that even in the dim light, due to how close their faces were. He assumed it was from crying. Although even Sion's ear tips seemed to be fully red. He had no explanation for that.
Sion pouted, turning his head away. Will couldn't help but to smile under his nose as he found him looking rather cute, although he wasn't sure if it was okay to say that out loud. Sion suddenly raised his finger angrily, shoving it in Will's face, startling him. He wrinkled his forehead, trying to look threatening and intimidating, but ultimately failing.
“You better not tell anyone about this, laggard!” He hissed through his clenched teeth, voice still weak from crying, lacking any real threat or hostility. It almost sounded like a joke.
Will raised his brows in a shock before laughing awkwardly and cheerfully under his nose. Without thinking, he grabbed Sion's finger—and hand—wrapping his own hands around it with a big smile. Sion's eyes, glistening from the tears he poured, shot wide open and his facade was ruined in an instant by that gesture, replaced by pure shock and something gentle Will couldn't name.
“Sure! This can be our little secret, I promise!” He said, innocently, as always, unaware of how much his words made the other's heart flutter, with Sion curling up in embarrassment, clenching his teeth.
Unable to deal with his own shyness, he attempted to hide his face turning bright red again, like his hair.
Red like the promised sunset.