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The brightest among seven suns. The one who wanders and waits, or simply, The Wanderer. That was what Silber called him.
He wasn't soft like Silber was. Wasn't as nice or understanding.
When the situation arose, he was unable to fully comprehend human emotions and empathize. The complexity of the human heart was something he had long since given up on trying to understand.
The Wanderer's nature was rough. Sharp and demanding. What it was, was effective against Silber. It always got him what he wanted.
It was strange, the way Silber responded to The Wanderer. They were both used to commanding a room, but Silber was different. Flexible. He could survive from just riding the wave instead of steering it. He was malleable, bending and adapting to whatever came his way.
He worked undeniably well with The Wanderer, who demanded control. The Wanderer, who needed to be in charge of every situation. Who choreographed the movements of his followers months, years, centuries in advance to ensure everything went his way. Who made sure nothing happened without his knowledge.
It made him powerful. It satisfied his craving for certainty. The assurance that nothing could surprise him, and that he was always three steps ahead.
Aligning perfectly with The Wanderer's demands, Silber never resisted when The Wanderer needed his body. Never refused an assignment. If anything, he welcomed the possession, always treating it as a rare opportunity to pry answers from him.
Possession was like a duet for the two. It came easily. The Wanderer led and Silber followed. The Wanderer’s every step was practiced, perfected to death. Silber followed in perfect synchronization, anticipating his every move. With each movement, each shared breath, each shared step, they felt a closeness they didn’t dare acknowledge out loud.
For Silber, these moments were an escape from his endless obligations from the prison that was the FCP. All he had to do was lean back and let The Wanderer steer. He slipped away from the constant performance he put on for the public, instead indulging in one just for him and The Wanderer.
Over time, they’d settled into a rhythm. Silber would test, push, and press, trying to find a question that would tip the balance in his favor. But quickly after, The Wanderer would shut it down. He’d remind Silber, without words, who was truly pulling the strings.
Usually, The Wanderer only sought him out when there was work to be done, as to avoid his incessant yapping.
Today was different. There had been no assignment for him to complete, yet something compelled The Wanderer to visit him.
He appeared in Silber's living quarters and stood quietly for a moment. The room was dimly lit, smelling faintly of cologne and a cranberry candle Silber had most recently decided to burn.
He told himself he was only here because Silber had finally worn him down enough to fully answer some questions.
That was the only explanation he had for his sudden desire to see Silber.
“Hello?”
Silber broke him out of his thoughts, greeting him with a grin plastered effortlessly across his face. It complimented his features well, and gave the slightest edge of understanding, as if he already knew the reason The Wanderer had appeared in front of him.
He was dressed in pajamas, not having had any assignments to fulfill today. Shorts patterned with hearts, and a t-shirt he had most certainly stolen from the gift shop.
The Wanderer stared longer than he meant to. He had never seen Silber in anything but the FCP uniform. There was something endearing about it, about the way Silber’s guard was so visibly down, his bare legs crossed casually, his hair a little messy. The sight was foreign, but not entirely unwelcome.
Then he spoke.
“I am willing to answer 7 of your questions.”
He didn’t bother with a greeting, not that Silber minded.
The smile on Silber’s face widened, if that were even possible. He adjusted his posture, and stared up at The Wanderer as the questions started pouring out.
He asked question after question, and The Wanderer couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. Silber’s curiosity wasn’t shallow. It dug deep, turned over stones, pried open doors The Wanderer thought no one else would ever bother to touch. He was truly so curious.
It was… charming. And as The Wanderer caught himself thinking that, he froze.
What? What was this?
Infatuation?
With Silber of all people?
It seemed to fit. Despite how humiliating it was to admit.
It wasn’t all that surprising however. Silber had a way of getting through to even the most closed off of people. He saw more than most. Though sometimes his insights were a bit too sharp.
He voiced the beginning of an eighth question before pausing. He waited for some kind of warning, but it never came.
So he continued. He was being given the lead in something new. Something The Wanderer hadn’t accounted for in all his years of planning.
Though somehow the uncertainty and unplanned nature of the situation hadn’t disturbed The Wanderer. He wanted to know where this would lead, where this newfound infatuation would take the both of them.
A duet just for them. One that wasn’t limited to the work they did together. One that could allow for all of Silber's queries to be answered.
He had long since exceeded the seven question limit set for him, but The Wanderer wasn’t going to stop him.
Though as they continued to flood in, The Wanderer attempted to slow the tempo, savoring the moments stretched between them. Every pause, every carefully chosen word, was him buying time.