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After the very dramatic and agonizing incident that was the evening dance, all he wanted was to be free.
Today couldn't have been any worse than it already was.
Not only had his entire plan been swiftly dealt with, he had failed himself. His idea of what he was, proved to be untrue. And it was gnawing at him.
Atleast, though, the day was over.
Almost
He glanced down at the city below from atop the bell tower. It was the best scenic view in their college, as he himself remembered mentioning when the NRC students had first arrived.
But for Rollo, crimson suited the city better
He grimaced at his own loss again, before fidgeting with his ring, as if waiting for the day to quickly be over...so he could plan once again, this time, keeping in mind the possible obstacles.
It didn't suit him, failure
A man as austere and diligent as Rollo Flamme was not one to accept loss. Even for a second. It was pathetic. His method was perfect, it shouldn't have ended the way it did.
Did they not understand his point? That he was willing to sacrifice even his own magic for the good of the world?
All morons
Idiots, the lot of them
No one could understand the brutality of his truth. That magic was dangerous. He had proved it himself, the lotuses were a tragedy brought upon the mages as a punishment for the disasters caused by the magic they wielded with such pride.
Disgusting
All of them
Sefish and apathetic
He had just about closed his eyes in an attempt to calm down, that he heard some footsteps near the bell.
Acting on instinct, he swiftly spun around, and narrowed his eyes. So far, he saw no one.
He walked over to the bell, and under it
"It is quite a huge bell"
A creature with horns adorning his head, peeked under the bell, smiling truthfully
A hankerchief to his lips, he simply glared back at the emeralds staring him down.
"May I join you?"
"Do as you like"
Malleus ducked, and carefully slipped under the bell. His horns made it harder than it should've been.
He looked around, seeing the inside of the structure, humming a tune Rollo didn't recognise
He then turned back to Rollo
"You didn't have to abandon me like that"
"I didn't decline your request, however that doesn't mean I enjoyed the company"
That made the other smile a bit more
"Is my existence that heavy on your shoulders?"
"Yes"
...
"After witnessing, and experiencing your magical prowess, I couldn't help but wonder..." He looked to the bell again, eyes wandering back to Flamme, "...how can someone with such talent be so unknown to me?"
What is that even supposed to mean?
"I despise magic"
"And yet, your power is magnificent"
He was taken aback. Only a little. But enough for Malleus to catch.
"That's not all" He continued, "You are also intelligent, well-versed in your culture and diligent"
He wasn't able to figure out where this was going anymore.
"What are you getting at, Malleus? Don't you dare beat around the bush"
He chuckled lightly
"Ah, I meant I wished I would've heard of you sooner"
Again, this was him circling around the main point. Did he think Rollo wouldn't notice? He was still being vague. Less vague than before, but vague nonetheless.
"But you had heard of me?"
Rollo blinked back into reality
"I had"
"What did you think of me then?"
It seemed everytime he felt he was finally close to understanding where this discussion was headed, it was twisted in a completely different direction.
"Same as I do now, someone revolting to think about, and even more so revolting to exist around"
This time Malleus genuinely laughed
It was funny how for a second there, Flamme had almost let his guard down.
"I adore you, Flamme" he finally said, "You're quite interesting"
"I do not like how you say that" Rollo covered his rotten expression with his veronica hankerchief once again
"I shall rephrase then"
Malleus walked past the clapper and stood not far from Rollo, his eyes never breaching eye contact even for a second.
"I like you"
What
That didn't sound right
It rolled off his tongue just fine
But it was otherworldly to Flamme's ears
"You realise what I have done today"
"I do"
Rollo was uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable. He felt nauseous and leaned on the bell's lips for support to his back.
He had never been told he was liked by someone he loathed.
And it made him feel strange.
Since he had stepped back, Malleus stepped forward, reducing the privacy Rollo so desired.
"You aren't going to run from me again are you? Though I make no attempts to hurt you"
That wasn't even a little convincing. And to make this situation worse, was the fact the the only way for Rollo to leave was to duck again and get out of the bell. But that needed to be a quick movement, and with how his brain was currently melting into a muddled pool of signals it wasn't an option.
Meaning he'd have to bear with his privacy being breached by Draconia for the time being.
"Though its a little sad that you despise me" Malleus looked like he was trying to resist a pout, "Even though we hardly had a chance to talk and interact"
That was true
Then for some reason, Malleus slipped both his gloves off
One of his hands reached out to graze Flamme's cheek.
"I never noticed how pale you were. Has it always been that way?"
He was beyond replying for now
So he simply stood in disdain and some form of curiosity he was unable to imagine himself feeling.
He felt chained to the ground
"Shall we exit the bell?"
Finally
Yes
Without thinking, or perhaps thinking from a different part of his brain, Rollo took the hand held out for him, and ducked out from under the bell.
"..."
"I meant what I said" Rollo said, bringing his voice back to the usual tempo, "I will not be giving up"
"That is quite brave of you"
"I will succeed" He emphasised every word. He wasn't even looking at the city below, his eyes were looking straight ahead, in determination.
He could see the fae smile without having to turn
"Your magic will be swiped away soon enough" He continued, his tone laced with the same bitterness as the last time he had argued on the bell tower.
For some reason, Malleus wasn't talking
He was just looking at him
And it agitated Rollo even more
So he stopped talking too
Instead darting his gaze to the streets, of people trying to repair the destruction caused by the lotuses. Some were happy to see their loved ones alright. It was a sight unbearable to Flamme's eyes.
He had nowhere else to look now
So he closed his eyes in meditation
With, of course, Malleus still smiling like he won something. Which he had, yes, but that didn't mean he had to rub it into his face.
"I didn't betray my words" Draconia said, "So neither should you"
"What on earth are you talking about?" Rollo was forced to open his eyes
"I told you, that we would meet by the bell once again...and we did"
"I didn't think you'd mean right after" He hissed
"I didn't mean right after" Malleus said, "But I changed my mind after you left"
Yet another time for the hankerchief to return to his lips as he makes a revolted expression towards the skyline.
"While I do enjoy the company of my fellow schoolmates...it was quite a bit bland after you walked away. You see, everyone was busy with each other, but I was alone again. And It's not a good feeling. Being alone."
...
"I had no intention of intruding on your introspection, I simply seeked company"
"I forgive you"
A sincere smile
"It makes me happy to hear that"
Rollo faced Malleus once again, withdrawing his hankerchief
"Is it so easy to entertain you?"
He hummed
"A complaint I hear very often...that I am childish"
"You are"
"If it makes your anger diminish even by a little, then I am glad"
...
"It is quite late. You should head downstairs" Rollo said
"I should" Malleus looked back at the way he came up, "but I don't feel satisfied yet"
"Satisfied? With what?"
"I'll simply leave when you do" Malleus said, returning his gaze to the man beside him, "If that is alright"
"I don't have much of a choice" Rollo said, flatly
"You can leave me here. But I'd get lonely again."
"That's what i mea- "
He stopped, once again covering his lips and looking back away.
"Ah, so you truly are kind" Malleus said, after his surprise faded away, "The gargoyles were right"
"The gargoyles talk of me?" Flamme asked, a little curious, but mostly annoyed
"Yes of course. Rain or shine, snow or sleet, he’d climb the bell tower and polish the Bell until it sparkled…is what they said"
A slight pink crept up his pale cheeks, which made him turn away.
"In my eyes, Rollo is a man who treats the bell tower and the Bell of Salvation with the utmost reverence"
Malleus recited it as if he meant what he said
All whilst Flamme choked on the words. He wanted to speak, but didn't know what to say. The atmosphere wouldn't allow anything direct and cruel anymore...it had turned softer. He wasn't used to this softness.
He gripped the railing, and avoided the emerald gaze that wouldn't leave his face.
"Stop looking at me" He almost whispered
"I can't"
It was tender
And his head was aching now
He held his forehead between his fingers in an attempt to massage his temples out of misery. To no avail.
His eyes kept to the streets below. He wasn't really paying attention to the human activity, it was an escape. An escape from his brain that had twisted his rational thinking into anticipation.
Malleus took off his mask
"I wonder why you didn't wear a mask tonight"
"Is that a complaint?"
He chuckled, the sound almost hypnotic
"Heavens, no. You look better without one"
It was now getting on his nerves, the satisfactory compliments thrown at him. Truthfully, it was new to hear it. He would get compliments of a different kind, usually. On how he is diligent, confident and hardworking. But never on his face, or anything to do with his appearance. Especially never from someone he wished to destroy.
"Before I go, and leave you to retire for the night" Malleus stepped back from the railing, "I have one last favour"
Rollo turned around
"Yes?"
"May I have the honour of a last dance?"
He blinked excessively, expression deterring from its usual resting face
"A- What?"
"A last dance. I won't blackmail you into it, it is upto you if you wish to entertain my request"
It was a genuine request
And a ridiculous one
Yet
He took the hand that waited for him, once again
"Thank you, Flamme"
Was the softest he had ever heard from him before
He had no comebacks to it. So he stepped into rhythm without another word.
...
This was strange
For there was so music, no tune, no chandeliers, no chatter in the background to serve as distraction, and no pressure to rely on.
For the last time his had happened, Rollo had relied on the fact that he was emotionally blackmailed into it, as a way of telling himself it wasn't his fault if he enjoyed it, or his fault if he didn't.
But this time, he got to choose
He wasn't forced into it, so if he was uncomfortable, it was his own problem.
And uncomfortable he was
It was more due to the absence of any melody rather than the dancer being Malleus...the only sound being the indistinct chattering coming from downstairs.
"You'll have to forgive me once more, it seems"
"What for?"
"For enjoying this. Your company"
"Why do I have to forgive you for it?"
"You won't?" Malleus asked, his expression naïve and confused
The other sighed
"I don't see why you would classify this as a sin"
"It's not a sin. I am aware you don't like my presence"
"And what of it?" He spoke with clarity, "I chose to dance, and I chose to stay behind"
The fae couldn't believe what he was hearing
And Flamme couldn't believe what he was saying either.
"So you did" Malleus replied quietly
☆
"Malleus" was probably Silver's voice from somewhere near the staircase that led to the tower
Malleus made a childish face, consisting of both defeat and annoyance.
He stopped dancing, but didn't leave his partner's hand yet.
"I'm being called downstairs" he muttered
With his one free hand, Rollo once again hid his lips with his hankerchief
"Then you should leave"
"I should, shouldn't I?"
...
"This was a short visit" Draconia said, this time his pout was a bit clearer, "I wished to explore Fleur City to a greater extent"
"You can visit again"
God why is he even saying that?
"It isn't very far"
That made Malleus smile a little
"I will. Definitely"
Silver called once again, with greater volume, and Malleus stepped towards the staircase.
"Goodbye, Malleus Draconia"
He paused to turn around once again
And then he smiled as usual
"Don't say that, you'll see me again very soon, Rollo Flamme"
With nothing else left to say, he turned back to the exit, and was out of sight in mere seconds.
...
Rollo sighed in resignation, giving in to his tiredness and fatigue.