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It’s strange, just how normal things are.
Except they’re not, not really. Or at least, not everything. Silver has never been one to understand nuance, but he understands that things have changed. It was impossible not to.
The people of Sage Island are going about their business as usual, and classes have resumed as if there hadn’t been a massive interruption—as if everyone, including the faculty, hadn’t been forcibly placed into a deep slumber.
Silver has struggled with drowsy spells his entire life. He’s despaired for years about his inability to stay awake. Therefore, he has to imagine that there’s at least a little resentment from his classmates for their temporary state, but their understanding has been truly remarkable. Silver’s heart still swells at the outpouring of compassion from Malleus’ friends.
And especially from Silver’s own friends.
Kalim had gone so far as to hug Malleus, telling him that he was throwing a big slumber party to celebrate the campus’s Grand Awakening. Malleus simply had to come, Kalim had stressed. In fact, Kalim would save a spot for Malleus’ pillows right next to his own.
Malleus had looked so surprised at that announcement that Father hadn’t been able to resist teasing him about it. He’d promised Kalim that Malleus would be there, if he had to drag Malleus to Scarabia himself.
It had been so normal.
Leona had asked Kalim if he was crazy, inviting people to a sleepover when they’d all just woken up, but Ruggie had agreed at once, licking his lips as he did so. (As far as Silver knew, Ruggie had never refused one of Kalim’s invitations, not even once.)
Silver had attended quite a few of Kalim’s parties himself, but never one that involved sleeping. He was familiar with the concept, of course. Kalim had explained how the entire NRC Tribe had all stayed in the Ramshackle dorm in the weeks before the VDC. Perhaps that’s how they’d managed to perform that routine so easily. Silver had been impressed by their performance at the time but had been even more so since his fumbling attempt in Rook’s dream.
The slumber party took place the very next weekend, and that’s when Silver had noticed.
Sebek had begrudgingly agreed to attend—because it was his duty as a guard of Malleus to be where his liege was!—but now that they were here, Sebek was enjoying himself. He made as many trips to the food tables as Ruggie, and he continued to squabble with his friends, but there was an affection there, as well. On both sides. It warmed Silver’s heart that others could see the Sebek that he knew. Yes, Sebek was often rude and insulting, but that was because he expected so much from everyone, especially himself. Sebek was smart, hard-working, and loyal—all traits that were valuable in a friend.
And he was funny. Silver was glad to see that the others had a chance to see how humorous Sebek could be. How bright his smile was when it wasn’t mocking. How he’d bite his lip, exposing the tip of one fang or the other, when someone said something amusing and he didn’t want to reward it with a laugh.
People were looking at Sebek differently now, and Silver couldn’t be more pleased.
It was odd, the way humans looked at Silver these days.
Since coming to Night Raven College, Sebek had overheard many comments about Silver’s appearance—how beautiful he was, how captivating his eyes were, how full his lips were—from nearly everyone in Diasomnia. When he and Silver walked to class together, he would overhear the occasional muttered compliments, ones too quiet for Silver to hear with his inferior human hearing. There had even been the occasional doubletake at the Equestrian Club, but Sebek could hardly blame the other students. Their uniforms were very flattering, and as much as he hated to admit it, the colors suited Silver. And, with his hair tied back, it revealed those stunningly beautiful eyes, eyes that were on display more often now that Silver wasn’t suffering from bouts of sleepiness as often.
It wasn’t about that, though. It was how they were starting to actually see Silver as more than just a pretty face. Those that had been asleep during the whole thing hadn’t seen Silver in action, but everyone on campus had at least heard about it. Had heard how Sebek and Silver had been knighted by Malleus Draconia himself!
And, with the exception of a gaggle of humans, they were also treating Sebek with more respect as a result.
Not that Sebek cared about their opinions, but Silver did.
It was, Sebek supposed, understandable that Silver’s classmates hadn’t been able to see him as more than the student who drew their professor’s ire for falling asleep in class. Silver was unremarkable when it came to academia, and the only place where he was able to shine was in PE class.
(Outside of a time or two when he’d nearly fallen off his broom, having fallen asleep mid-flight. It was anyone’s guess how many bones Silver may have fractured if not for the birds that flocked toward him.
Sebek would like to blame the birdseed Silver kept in his room, but truthfully, they’d always been drawn to him, for as long as Sebek had known him.
Everyone was drawn to Silver.)
Silver didn’t know when he himself had started to recognize Sebek’s expressions for what they were. He wasn’t always right—Sebek continued to surprise him to this day—but he’d had plenty of time to get to know them.
There was the way Sebek would rudely insult his classmates and then turn around and find himself interested in—even intrigued by—what they were doing. There was the way his facial expression would go from angry or annoyed to a softer, less abrasive one—one where the wrinkles in his brow would smooth out, and his eyes would light up in a way that had always fascinated Silver. Whether it was their rich, golden color, the slitted fae pupils, or something uniquely Sebek, Silver didn’t know, but seeing Sebek smile had always made him happy.
(There were also those times when Sebek would go a little too far, and Silver wasn’t very proud of himself in those moments. Silver’s flares of temper were brief, but they always took Sebek so much by surprise, Silver immediately regretted them.)
As if he could feel Silver’s eyes on him, Sebek looked up, and from across the room, their eyes locked. Silver’s heart fluttered, and he splayed his fingers against his chest, struck by how very handsome Sebek was.
“Are you feeling ill, Silver Vanrouge?”
Silver tore his gaze from Sebek to look at Ortho Shroud, who was floating next to him.
“No,” Silver said. “I’m fine.”
“I detect fluctuations in your heartrate,” Ortho announced. “I can do a bio-scan to check for signs of injury. Scan commencing.”
There was no use protesting, not when the scan was already underway and especially not when Ortho could be incredibly stubborn when his mind was made up.
(He was a little like Sebek in that way.)
Ortho made a noncommittal noise and then the scan was complete.
“Everything is functioning normally,” he announced.
“Yes,” Silver said. “I know.”
“Humans often deceive themselves into believing nothing is wrong when the opposite is true,” Ortho said, sounding almost petulant.
(He sounded a little like Sebek in that way, too.)
“How have your sleep cycles been?”
“My sleep?”
“My brother’s sleep cycles are erratic,” Ortho said. “He can get very focused on something and refuses to eat or sleep.”
Silver could believe that. Idia—and Ortho—had been instrumental in defeating Malleus. When Silver had been unable to strike down Malleus with his mystium sword, Idia had taken control of the situation. It had been thanks to Idia that the sword’s aim had been true, breaking off the tip of Malleus’ horn.
It had been that bit of horn, imbued with draconian magic, that had helped bring Father back.
“Sebek and I couldn’t have done it without you and your brother,” Silver said. “I owe you a debt of gratitude.”
“We could not have done it without you and Sebek Zigvolt,” Ortho replied.
Silver supposed that was true, especially when it came to Sebek, whose presence throughout the entire ordeal had been steady and uncompromising.
“Your heartrate is accelerating again,” Ortho announced. He sounded almost triumphant,
(another thing Ortho had in common with Sebek)
and this time, Silver didn’t bother protesting.
“Your form is improving,” Lilia said approvingly. “And so has yours, Sebek.”
And then, he grinned. “Not that it prevented me from trouncing you both.”
Sebek grabbed his left elbow to massage the ache from the way Lilia had disarmed him. And Silver… he was arching his back, stretching his spine after the submissive hold Lilia had used to defeat him. It caused his shirt to ride up, just enough to reveal a sliver of skin.
This was exactly why he should have worn his PE uniform as Sebek had done.
“I am sorry, Father,” Silver said as he straightened. “Obviously we need more training.”
And then he smiled, a small quirk of his lips that did uncomfortable things to Sebek’s insides. “Next time, we will defeat you.”
“Ho ho ho,” Lilia said with an even wider grin. “Sebek has been quite the influence on you.”
The smile that Silver gave to Sebek was softer, fonder. Sebek’s insides felt a little gooey, and he wondered if he’d been bitten by something during their drills, prior to facing Master Lilia.
And then, Silver’s eyes widened.
“Oh!” he said, chagrined. “I promised to meet Malleus to go over the rules for housewardens. Thank you, Father,” he said. It looked like he was going to hug Lilia, but then, instead, Silver gave him a little bow.
“Enough of that,” Lilia said, ruffling Silver’s hair. “Now, give your old man a proper hug.”
Lilia pulled him into an embrace, and Silver practically melted into it. There was clearly an excess of pollen in the air because Sebek’s eyes began to itch, and it was definitely not from seeing how much his idiot partner so obviously needed that physical demonstration of his father's love, as if he'd forgotten everything Sebek had told him! When Lilia released his son, Silver's lips were curved in a way that left no question how happy Lilia's hug had made him.
“I must meet with Malleus,” Silver reminded them. “I will see you both at dinner.”
And with that, he was gone in a flash of sparkles.
“I wonder how far he will find himself this time,” Lilia mused. “I think he made it as far as the courtyard last time. He’ll eventually find himself in Diasomnia.”
Sebek was still staring at the space where Silver had been standing just a moment ago, and Lilia took advantage of the opportunity to ruffle his hair, too.
“Silver is still a year ahead of you,” he chided gently. “Now, show me what you’ve been working on.”
Sebek closed his eyes and focused on the image of his school uniform, and, with a slight tingle, he felt the magic wash over him. When he opened his eyes, he was wearing his school uniform…but with his dorm uniform boots.
“You hesitated,” Lilia said. “When you lose focus, your magic suffers.”
With a careless flick of his wrist, Lilia changed Sebek’s dorm boots to his much shorter daily pair.
“Thank you, Master Lilia!” Sebek said. The bow he gave Lila was a proper one.
“Tut tut,” Lilia said. “No need for formality here! You’ve come a long way in the past couple of weeks.”
“We have yet to defeat you.”
“You and Silver have worked together for many years,” Lilia said. “You were able to land a hit. Not bad for a few wet-behind-the-ears young ‘uns.”
“That was in a dream,” Sebek pointed out.
“One in which I was at my most fierce.” His expression grew serious, but then he laughed. “I rather like how cute I am these days.”
Lilia might have changed his hair, and the liberties he’d taken with his dorm uniform had made it less severe, but there was nothing ‘cute’ about the way he’d once again proven that he was every bit the general of the right.
Lilia crossed his arms. “Sebek,” he said, gently chiding. “You know that Silver will choose you as his vice. And as for Malleus’ ‘housewarden rules,’ why, all he has written on that list he plans to give Silver is a reminder to show up for meetings!”
Even a list as brief as that is something that Sebek would treasure, if Malleus had chosen him. Still, Silver was stronger, and while Sebek would love to challenge him next year, he would not dream of trying to usurp the position of Malleus’ chosen successor!
“Your expressions are always written on your face,” Lilia sighed. “It was one of Baul’s weaknesses, too. That boy has never had much of a poker face when he feels something strongly.”
Hearing his grandfather referred to as a ‘boy’ was startling.
Lilia patted Sebek on the cheek. “Whoever is distracting you, you can always settle things between you with a big ol’ smoocharoo!”
With that, Lilia, too, disappeared in a flash of sparkles.
And it was a good thing that he had because Sebek was still reeling from Lilia’s words.
Whoever, not whatever. Had he really been that obvious?
At least he was in good company, he supposed, if he had that in common with Grandfather. It was difficult to picture the man with an expression other than sternness, but he’d had an occasional smile for Sebek. Sebek could remember them warmly, back when his grandfather used to read to him.
(The idea that Baul had ever looked the same way, had ever felt something strongly—and around Master Lilia—was something to sort out another day.)
“Silver!”
When Silver looked up, Sebek’s breath caught. He was glad that Silver’s drowsy spells were fewer and farther between, but it still threw him off when he’d find Silver sitting somewhere, surrounded by his forest friends, without a trace of sleepiness in his face.
He was glad, of course; Silver’s penchant for falling asleep everywhere and anywhere was unbecoming for a guard of Malleus! Still, he couldn’t deny the odd little twist in his gut now that Silver didn’t require five alarm clocks (including the cuckoo clock Sebek had gotten him in Harveston) to wake.
In fact, he was often up and about before Sebek, ever since Malleus’ overblot.
His grooming habits still needed work, however, and that was what Sebek pounced on now.
“Did you comb your hair with a sock?” Sebek scolded before sitting down on the bench next to him.
“Of course not,” Silver said, elbowing Sebek in the ribs lightly. “I used my fingers.”
“That does not remove all the tangles!”
“It was fine when I left this morning.”
Sebek reached over and combed his own fingers through Silver’s hair, immediately hitting a snag. When Silver winced, Sebek couldn’t help smirking at him.
“If you used something to tame your errant locks,” he slid his hand out of Silver’s hair, “this wouldn’t happen.”
Silver turned and traced his finger—none too gently—along the side of Sebek’s head. The gel made a crunching sound beneath his finger, and Silver’s lips quirked.
“I wouldn’t be able to comb my fingers through your hair, either,” he pointed out.
“You don’t need to! My hair is completely presentable!”
“Of course,” Silver agreed, and then he patted Sebek on the shoulder.
Was he being condescending?
“And it always looks nice,” Silver continued.
Nice?
“But you’re also very handsome when your hair is unruly, as it was in Father’s dream. You know, after your grandfather gave you that armor.”
The armor that had only existed in Lilia’s dream, unlike the armor that STYX had crafted from the mystium in Master Lilia’s mage arm.
(He wished Silver had kept his own armor, but Sebek understood why he hadn’t.)
And did Silver just say he was handsome?
Before Sebek could process what that meant—if it meant anything at all—Silver did something that he hadn’t done since Malleus’ overblot.
He rested his head on Sebek’s shoulder.
Sebek froze. The familiar weight of Silver’s head was reassuring, a reminder that things were back to normal. It wasn’t that Sebek had wanted Silver falling asleep—or worse, using Sebek as a pillow! It was just that he’d had this constant sense of something missing, something that had been a large part of his life for so long, he felt its absence keenly.
“Did you fall asleep?” Sebek asked.
“No, I’m still awake. I just…” Silver lifted his head. “Sebek, I think we should talk about what happened in Father’s dream.”
Sebek swallowed. “It was unconscionable how the Senate treated Master Lilia! If not for him, Malleus would not…” Sebek’s voice broke. “He would not be here today.”
Silver threaded his fingers through Sebek’s and gave them a brief squeeze before letting go.
“I can see why Father preferred keeping me from the capital. If they already had a poor opinion of him, no matter how undeserved, I can only imagine how they must have reacted to his adopting a human child. But that’s not what I want to talk to you about.”
He got to his feet and raked his fingers through his hair. “Sebek, I know we haven’t always agreed on things, and I still object to your choice of words—not just to me, but to your friends—”
Sebek opened his mouth to protest, but Silver crossed his arms over his chest as if daring Sebek to argue with him. It caught Sebek off guard, and he snapped his mouth shut.
“—and yes, they are your friends, Sebek. Deuce said so himself.”
Sebek had only a few joint classes with Deuce, and he’d not been very impressed with the human up to and including his dream…but he’d been there to support Sebek and Silver as they faced Malleus. And he was one of Riddle’s card soldiers, so Sebek supposed he had at least one or two redeeming traits.
(And he was close to his mother, Silver had mentioned after returning from Clock Town. Deuce was doing all he could at Night Raven College to make his mother proud. As much as Sebek hated to admit it, that was something he could understand.)
Silver pressed one of his knees against the bench, between Sebek’s legs, and rested his hands on Sebek’s shoulders. His eyes met Sebek’s, and Sebek found himself unable to protest the liberties that Silver was taking.
“You have always had my back. When you catch me sleeping. During Father’s more intense training challenges. The fire lotuses at Noble Bell College, and that time when you decided we should train together in the courtyard. You’re often rude and dismissive, but I’ve always known that you cared.
“Never, though, did I realize just how much, until you used your unique magic to reach my side. Until you punched me. Until you said things that I’d always known but still needed to hear.”
His eyes searched Sebek’s, as if seeking confirmation.
“That’s because you’re an idiot.”
Silver smiled at the insult, and that annoying flutter was back.
“I think this is where I tell you that I love you, too,” Silver mused.
Wait, what?
Before Sebek could protest, Silver pressed his mouth against Sebek’s—a quick, perfunctory meeting of their lips—and then he lifted his head.
“You kissed me!”
“Didn’t you want me to?”
Yes.
“No!”
“Oh,” Silver said. He lifted his hands from Sebek’s shoulders and slid his knee off the bench. “I thought…”
“Thinking has never been your strong suit,” Sebek said, grabbing Silver’s wrists. And then the idiot smiled again, and Sebek was lost.
He’d never accepted his losses to Silver gracefully, though, and he wasn’t about to start now.
He released Silver’s right wrist to tug on his tie. Silver wasn’t the smartest person when it came to academics, but he was quick to match Sebek when it came to anything physical. Which now included kissing, apparently.
Not that Sebek was complaining.
(Not when Silver’s mouth opened against his and invited Sebek’s tongue inside for a proper smoocharoo.)