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Louis saw it when the crown was destroyed, although he didn't know how it happened until much later. He watched Ivan more than the others did, because of how he felt, because of how it had changed Ivan. He saw Ivan's eyes clear, the white shutters fading, falling, and warm brown looking back at him.
"Ivan?" he asked cautiously. "Are you okay?"
Ivan blinked at him. "I don't... I don't know," he said slowly. "What happened?"
"You look like you feel better," Louis pointed out, carefully not mentioning how clear his eyes looked, the only way they'd known.
"What's going on?" Jahan asked, looking up from his daggers. He'd been caring for them for the last while, not really paying attention (probably good) to anything else.
"Something's changed," Ivan said, straightening slowly, rolling his shoulders back and reaching for the staff he'd left untouched for years. Centuries. It came alive when he touched it, white magic caressing down his arm, wrapping around his chest, giving off a familiar, vanilla scent that he'd missed. Louis didn't know how Ivan felt, but something in his chest eased at that sight and scent.
"You haven't touched your staff in forever," Jahan said, sheathing his daggers and setting them on the stand that held them when they were home.
"It hasn't wanted me to," Ivan said, and looked at Louis. "Is that weird?"
Louis laughed, short and sharp, disbelieving, and then decided to try an experiment. "You're asking me if something you made is weird?"
Ivan laughed.
The difference warmed everything in Louis completely. The last time he'd made that sort of comment, Ivan had gone off on him and then hadn't spoken to him again until he'd apologized. He smiled at Jahan's stunned expression, shrugging to indicate he had no idea what had happened either.
When Dann, Mujin, and Arthur returned some hours later, the three of them sat in front of the fire, talking in low voices. "Is everything okay?" Dann asked, setting his bow in the stand next to Jahan's weapons.
Jahan turned to look at them. "Welcome home," he said, straightening up. "Everything's fine."
"You're not usually so cozy," Arthur pointed out as he put Excalibur down. His brows furrowed and he stepped aside so Mujun could store his katana as well.
"Something happened," Louis said as he and Ivan turned around as well. "Ivan's back."
Dann blinked at him. "He's... back?"
"Like before the crown," Jahan added.
All three new-comers looked at Ivan, who nodded. "I can't explain it," he said softly. "I don't know what happened. But it's... it's not anywhere in my head anymore."
"How?" Mujin asked.
"It wasn't anything we did," Louis said. "It just... happened. For good, it seems."
Ivan nodded.
"You don't know how?" Dann asked incredulously.
"We don't," Louis said, shaking his head. "It just... happened."
Dann frowned. "It just happened?"
"We've been discussing, and interrogating him," Jahan said with a shrug. "It's apparently true. It's definitely not... not nothing."
Dann regarded them silently. "Why don't you two step out," he said. "I want to speak with Ivan."
Louis straightened, consternation in his expression. "About what?"
Dann pressed his shoulder gently. "Please, Louis. I just want to talk to him."
Louis got to his feet as Jahan did, jaw jutting out stubbornly. "How far away?"
"Go sit out on the porch. It's a nice day."
"It's okay," Ivan said softly. "I'll see you later."
Louis nodded stiffly and left, slipping past Mujin and Arthur without touching them and grabbing his shoes on the way.
Out on the porch, he put his shoes on and then he perched on the ratty blue and white stuffed chair, ignoring that his shoes probably made the blue cushion even less welcoming than usual.
"Dann won't chase him away," Jahan said softly, sinking down in the chair next to his, something less cushioned but still comfortable.
"How can you be so sure?" Louis asked.
"Because he hasn't yet," Mujin said, leaning on the railing around their porch. "Why would he now?"
"This is different," Louis pointed out. "That damn crown has never tried to pretend it wasn't there. That's how I know it's gone."
"It's not pretending now," Jahan said softly. "You know it and I know it. He knows it."
Louis nodded and sank into contemplation, letting the rest of their words wash over him without reacting.
He remained outside even when the others went in, invited in by Arthur who looked lighter when Louis glanced at him. "I'll send him out to talk to you," Arthur said, and went back inside when it became obvious that Louis wasn't going to move. Louis nodded and turned to look back out over the expanse of their yard.
A few minutes later, Ivan came out and stopped next to him. Louis looked up at him and smiled in relief at the clarity still in his eyes. "Hey," he said.
"Jahan said he didn't know why you didn't come back in," Ivan said, sitting next to him.
Louis sat properly in his chair and leaned back, relaxing for the first time since Dann and them had come home. "I still needed air," he said. "I guess he proved it to his own satisfaction?"
Ivan smiled, a smile Louis had started to despair of ever seeing again. "Between my staff and Excalibur, it was hard for him to deny. He actually burst into tears and cried on me for a moment." He showed off his damp shoulder.
Louis chuckled softly, and then had to fight to keep from sobbing. "I missed you," he whispered softly. "I'm so glad you're back."
Ivan hugged him. "I'm glad to be back," he whispered, resting his head on Louis' shoulder.
They stayed like that for a while. Louis no longer needed to watch the grass or anything, his eyes closed as he relaxed into their hug, arms gentle around Ivan.
After a long time - still too short a time - Ivan stirred. "Louis," he said softly. "I really like you."
Louis's heart lurched, and his arms tightened around Ivan. "I like you, too," he said softly.
Ivan looked up, startled. "Even with... even with everything I did?"
"You didn't," Louis said firmly, meeting his eyes. "That crown did. And it's gone." It was almost enough to make him cry again. He swallowed hard. "I've liked you for a long time."
Ivan tilted his head, that faintly amused expression on his face that drove Louis crazy before the crown took that, too. "How long?"
"Long enough to ask if I can kiss you," Louis admitted.
Ivan's eyes went wide and he sucked in a breath. "Please," he whispered.
Cautiously, Louis leaned close and kissed him gently, a soft brush of his chapped lips against Ivan's.
And then Ivan settled on his lap, arms around his neck, and kissed him properly. Louis didn't care if anyone caught them, too absorbed in kissing this man he'd been in love with for centuries.