Chapter Text
It’d been a bright sunny day, the perfect kind of day in Sumeru where the heat wouldn’t cling to you like a warm wet blanket which would make you to sweat buckets amount. The exact type of weather Wanderer hated which sadly was common within Sumeru’s hotter months, this day apparently being the exception from the norm. A welcomed exception. Wanderer had been looking forward to a day where he could take a break from all his akademia work. He needed a break from the gaze of his classmates, who either tried, but would ultimately fail, at attempting to ‘befriend’ him through awkward small talk or just gawked at him stupidly from a distance.
As much as he came to hate his homeland, He sometimes missed the reserved nature of it.
He knew it wasn’t a regret truly worth having, his painful past still an unpleasant thing to recall. He needn't act as if it wasn't people he disliked, adamant that he’d ever warm up to the idea of living among people as a “person” ever again (even though Buer had insisted once or twice that he shouldn’t despise the idea of it as much as he does) and hypothetically, if he wished to ‘become human’ again like he did so long ago, that didn’t mean he was required to be a social one. A great example of a person who was the exact opposite of social was the akademias prestigious scribe. Last Wanderer had checked he still counted as a person (by most people's standards), Just not a friendly one.
Hell, one break from being surrounded by people on a day this good wasn’t illegal. When was ‘recharging his social batteries’ (as he’d decided to call it after he overheard some of his classmates call it) a bad thing? Everyone needs a break, including Wanderer. Being around people alone is exhausting and with the recent increase of akademia students from his darshan intruding his personal space and wasting his time with gratitudes and thank yous 'for his contributions to their project’ (It hadn’t been even much, he just brought about a new perspective) and words of unwanted praise. He had definitely earned some time alone spending day after day putting up with such morons.
So, why not spend this perfect day napping? Finding a tree with a nice view was easy in Sumeru, and with the free time Wanderer had for a short period before he had enrolled into the akademia after Buers recommendation, he’d had plenty of time to explore and because of it, found prime nap spots. A wonderful view, perfect weather and some time alone? What else could he want? What could possibly go wrong?
—
His day had definitely gone wrong (at least in his eyes). He’d picked a spot that was on the farther side of the outskirts of Sumeru city, far enough away so that he'd go unspotted. The shade provided by the tree he'd picked out was perfect, tall enough to ensure he’d get a good view too with good, sturdy branches, perfect to lay down on.
Shockingly however, he was soon found by an unwelcomed guest as a few minutes into his nap he suddenly hears the irritating call of that wretched nickname… the nickname a certain someone had come up with and somehow had stuck. The exact same person which happened to be calling for his attention.
“Hey! Hat guy!” Sethos called loud enough to be heard the first time, Wanderer opened one of his eyes and could see him waving his hands stupidly within his peripheral, a sad effort in trying to grab his attention. It only annoyed Wanderer in reality, deciding to ignore him and his attempts. He was bound to leave him alone if he where to act as if he hadn’t seen him in the first place for long enough.
Wrong was he proven as the calling had seized. Wanderer took peek through one of his eyes, he looked down to see no Sethos in sight. A content sigh escaped him as he went back to his lounging.
Finally alone… He thought before a sudden ‘ boo’ shocked him terribly, a violent anemo-infused punch thrown in the direction of the sound, narrowly missing Sethos in the head.
“That was close!" He called out redundantly. "You could’ve hurt me with that one” despite almost being sent flying from a tall tree, Sethos smiled brightly, practically as bright as the sun. Wanderer couldn’t help but almost squint at such a blinding sight.
“I won’t miss next time.” Wanderer replied grimly, crossing his arms as he looked away from Sethos. He’d actually climbed all the way up the tree just to bother him. He balance on a branch slightly lower than the one Wanderer was resting on, it gave him enough height to meet wanderer face to face. Wanderers eyebrows scrunched in annoyance, any semblance on alone time dissipated by Sethos’ presence.
He laughed, Irritatingly, almost musically. “What’s got you so far out from the akademia?” He asked as he looked out at the sight before them.
“Why are you so interested in knowing?” Wanderer looked back towards Sethos, irritated. “I’d like to know how you found me.” his eyebrows scrunched, staring at Sethos with an accusatory look.
“I wasn’t following you if that’s what you’re hinting at… I just happened to notice you after I finished an errand is all.” Sethos replied casually with a shrug of his shoulders. “Plus I thought you looked quite lonely up here.”
“Well believe it or not I prefer being alone. I don’t need your company.” Wanderer said matter of factly. He'd only then noticed how suddenly Sethos seemed a lot closer to him than before. Practically sharing a space with him under his hat, all the small details of his face like the subtle yellow within his green eyes clear as ever, the subtle freckles over his cheeks, the length of his eyelashes, even the hint of curiosity within his eyes. He could feel slight nervousness begin to fester at the pit of his abdomen.
“Then…” Sethos paused, inspecting Wanderers face before finishing off his thought. “Why haven’t you left already, If you wish to be alone so badly.”
Wanderer stared blankly, he could feel his face heat up a little. Sethos tilted his head, looking away slightly
"I mean, you're usually gone by now.."
He could feel a proper blush begin to form subtly on his cheeks. "Well.. I- uhh..."
Wanderer looked away for a second before looking back, jump-scared by how Sethos' face was nearly close enough to kiss his own.
"Unless you've maybe had a change of heart...?" Sethos raised an eyebrow in question, continuing to lean into Wanderer as the puppet leaned back a little in attempt to create more space. He couldn't handle all this sudden tension. What was Sethos trying to insinuate, why was he getting so flustered?! He needed to remove himself from this situation now.
Wanderer disappeared within seconds before Sethos could get an answer. He looked down and sighed in defeat, realising he'd made a mistake. “You moron… you were too straight forward with him…” he mumbled to himself before chuckling pathetically. The image of a Flustered Wanderer forever etched into his mind's eye.
—
Not far from where he had escaped from, Wanderer was hid behind a tree grasping at his own chest. Wha—
Not far from where he escaped, Wanderer was hidden behind a tree grasping at his own chest, taking in deep breaths of air, his throat suddenly dry and slightly sore. Had he held his breath that entire time? What was the feeling he was experiencing in his chest? Why did it feel like he had a heart ready to burst any second now? Questions all of similar nature rushed through his head. What was this weird feeling that had blossomed from out of practically nowhere? He was left cursing at the mental image of the Sumerian from that moment. The memory re-playing in his mind over and over and over.
Stupid errand boy... Why are you affecting me like this. Wanderer asked himself.
What kind of curse have you placed on me?