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‘A wandering magician known as Merlin Hermes granting wishes in Limon City… I wonder how Klein’s doing,’ Leonard thought.
He and his team were currently dispatched to investigate the wandering magician granting wishes. While his team grumbled about how much of a workaholic their captain was for assigning them another case so soon, Leonard just wanted to see Klein again.
Then, he felt a pull at his Spiritual Intuition and ran off in another direction, leaving his team behind.
They groaned as their Captain ran off, trailing behind unenthusiastically.
“Don’t you feel Captain is a little too eager about this case?” Cindy commented.
Bob nodded. “He seems really happy whenever he looks at a photo of that magician. Maybe they’re friends?”
Cindy snorted. “No one looks at a friend like that. Heck, Captain’s never even looked at a girl like that. Do you think…?”
“Alright, alright…” Albert cut in. “Captain’ll assign us 5 more cases if he finds us gossiping about his love life…”
Despite those words, the three of them were reinvigorated and ran after to where their Captain was.
They rounded the corner only to freeze.
Because their Captain, a workaholic who has never shown any interest in any lady, no matter their beauty or status, was grinning from ear to ear as he hugged the wandering magician tightly. They almost doubted their eyes, maybe it wasn’t actually the wandering magician that was suspected to be a higher Sequence than a demigod, but he had the same long brown hair, black robe and red scarf.
They were in the middle of the square that was filled with Winter decorations due to Winter Gifts Day that occurred recently. The square was filled with people constantly coming and going yet the two in the centre appeared to be unnoticed by everyone. It felt like a scene from a novel, a romance novel with the expression their Captain was making.
“K–Merlin!” Leonard smiled.
The magician sighed in exasperation but hugged the other man back. “Leonard, doesn’t our Deacon of the Evernight Church have better things to do?”
“We’re investigating you right now so it’s relevant,” Leonard replied. He grasped Merlin’s shoulders and with something akin to adoration in his eyes, asked, “Besides, I missed you!”
“You see me every week, isn’t that enough?”
Leonard pouted. “It’s not… Besides, you’re Merlin Hermes right now, won’t you grant me some wishes?”
Merlin snorted. “Even our Deacon can be so greedy? Alright then, 3 wishes. I’m feeling generous today, so you won’t even have to pay.”
“Then, for my first wish…” Leonard’s hand slid into Merlin’s. “I wish for Merlin Hermes to take a walk with me.”
Merlin laughed softly. “Really? You couldn’t think of something better? Something more useful?” Nonetheless, Merlin snapped his fingers with his other hand and let Leonard pull him in a random direction.
From a few feet away, the group of Red Gloves trying to hide behind a wall gasped.
“Is this a date?” Cindy said excitedly.
“We should follow them, right?” Albert asked. “But the magician should be a High Sequence, what if they notice us?”
“Uh, they probably would’ve noticed us already…” Bob commented. “Whatever, this is still a mission, Captain can’t blame us for doing our job.”
“Right, let’s go!” Cindy said and they began following their Captain and the Magician, making sure to keep their distance. It was a good thing their Beyonder abilities granted them enhanced hearing.
———
Klein watched as Leonard eagerly led them through the streets of Limon.
‘He’s like a dog, eagerly running through the streets,’ Klein lampooned but smiled fondly.
With the decorations from Winter Gifts day and the snow that piled up around them, it made him a little nostalgic of Winter and Christmas back home.
His divination had led Klein to the square this morning and that something good would happen. ‘Well, seeing Leonard always stabilizes me.’
Leonard led them around town, stopping at a cafe where Leonard let Klein pick out any of the sweets he wanted. They fed pigeons by the fountain and chatted about recent events.
Wherever they went, Leonard’s hand always found its way to grasp Klein’s. Meanwhile, Klein tried his best to ignore the implications of such a gesture.
Klein couldn’t help but sigh internally. ‘My dear poet’s gay temperament… This feels like a goddamn Hallmark movie! Could this be considered a date? Ergh, what are you thinking, Klein…’
“So, what has our esteemed Deacon of the Church been up to?” Klein asked as they walked through side streets that were filled with decorations.
Leonard looked at him with a bright smile. His face was always gorgeous, but now with a red tint on his cheeks from the cold and emerald eyes gleaming in the light, Klein couldn’t help but glance elsewhere, even as his Clown abilities fought to keep the blush off his face. It was cold outside but despite the both of them wearing gloves, their linked hands made Klein feel hot. His heart was beating fast, but he remained calm on the surface.
“Well, I recently got my Holy Artifact,” Leonard commented. “It’s like Crestet Cesmir’s Bone Sword but it’s a scythe instead. That hardly matters though. What about you? I heard you rebuilt Constant City!”
“Well, my dear poet, I am a miracle magician after all. Speaking of, you haven’t made your second wish. Maybe this time you’ll wish for something grander?” Klein ended with a teasing wink.
Leonard looked flustered all of a sudden. “Then… I wish for Merlin Hermes to stop using his Clown abilities to control his expressions around me.”
Klein’s smile froze and he stopped walking. Thankfully, the two were in a smaller street and didn’t block anyone.
“Ah… a–are you sure?” Klein stuttered. ‘Please don’t…’ “I could grant anything, you know? Even a sealed artifact or a weapon?”
Leonard smiled teasingly. “What, is this too big of an ask for the great miracle magician, Merlin Herm–”
“Alright, fine…” Klein cut Leonard off with a snap of his fingers and immediately looked away. A red blush spread across his face as he could no longer hide it.
“Kl–Merlin, are you hiding from me~?” Leonard laughed.
Klein felt a gloved hand grasp his chin and tilt his head towards Leonard. Klein’s eyes widened in shock and embarrassment at the action as heat rose even to his ears.
Leonard seemed just as embarrassed by his action as his hands shook and blush tinted his face. A flustered smile appeared on his face. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you like this…” He whispered.
Red crept on both of their faces. Their hearts were beating so fast and their hands shook softly.
Yet neither of them looked away.
Leonard let go of Klein’s face and pointed upwards. Klein’s gaze followed to find the overhang they were under decorated with ribbons, bells and… a piece of mistletoe.
Because of course, despite Roselle’s failure to bring over Santa Claus and Christmas, he managed to bring over the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe that would be hung during Winter.
‘Roselle you scum! All of you Intis–’ Klein’s thoughts were cut off as Leonard’s hand tilted Klein’s chin down once again.
Leonard’s hands weren’t gripping particularly hard. It would be easy to pull away and play it off. He could easily overpower Leonard and run. But he remained still.
Even without his Clown powers, Klein wasn’t bad at hiding his facial expressions but he couldn’t help the embarrassment on his face. Leonard’s hand moved to rest on Klein’s cheek, and Klein leaned in to the touch.
“For my third wish…” Leonard whispered, warm breath ghosting over Klein’s face. “I wish for Merlin Hermes to forgive the outrageous act I am about to commit.”
Lips slotted over Klein’s own and he felt his brain grow blank.
Then, he sighed and closed his eyes, unlinking their hands to wrap his arms around Leonard’s.
Leonard’s eyes widened at the action before Klein felt a smile against his lips. Hands moved to Klein’s waist and Leonard’s eyes fluttered shut.
Even as Klein slipped his tongue into Leonard’s mouth, the kiss was undoubtedly gentle. He could feel Klein’s thundering heartbeat against his chest and he was sure Klein could feel his own heartbeat that wasn’t much better.
Leonard sighed softly as he reciprocated to Klein’s every movement.
His chest swelled with warmth, adoration and love and everything that was happening felt so unreal, like a dream.
Klein was kissing him. He didn’t push Leonard away.
Soon, Leonard felt hazy from the lack of air yet he couldn’t bear to pull away until Klein did. A string of saliva connected them as they pulled apart.
Klein was currently Merlin Hermes but his eyes shone the same. His face was flushed and embarrassed, eyes darting around frantically.
“Idiot…” Klein spoke, voice hoarse. “I didn’t even grant your wish.”
Leonard laughed, eyes shining with mirth. “Then, will you let me have another one?”
Klein punched him lightly. “What a greedy Deacon. Very well, what is it?” He attempted to appear carefree to regain his composure, but from the way Leonard laughed, it wasn’t working.
Then, Leonard’s hands grasped both of Klein’s hands. “I wish for Merlin Hermes to be happy.”
Klein looked away, embarrassed. “I can’t control that, you know…”
“Then I wish for Merlin Hermes to rely on me more,” Leonard spoke again, undeterred.
A pang of hurt stabbed through Klein’s heart. “Leonard. You know I’ll have to do something in the future… Something that will only bring you danger.”
“I know,” Leonard’s response came easy.
“I may not have my humanity anymore. I may leave you. I may– no, I will hurt you,” Klein insisted.
“Klein,” Leonard whispered. Then, louder, he said, “I love you.”
Despite the fact that they just kissed, despite the fact that their hands were intertwined, Klein’s heart soared at those words.
“I didn’t have anything after you died. No ambitions, no hope other than revenge,” Leonard continued. “I’d do anything for you.”
Klein was stunned into silence. Leonard’s feelings were so sincere… What could he possibly say to such a confession!?
“... You’re sure?” Klein settled on, after a beat of silence.
“Of course,” Leonard replied without hesitation.
Klein sighed as he morphed his face from Merlin Hermes back into Klein Moretti’s as he settled into Leonard’s embrace.
“Technically, you didn’t even need to use a wish for this…” Klein muttered. “Just being here is enough… You stabilize my humanity.”
Leonard laughed and held Klein tight. “What an honour,” he whispered. “I suppose I’ll have to save my last wish for later.”
Klein scoffed. “You really are a greedy Deacon…”
Leonard merely grinned as he grasped Klein’s hand once again to lead him elsewhere.
———
The team of Red Gloves were stunned into silence. “Oh my…” Cindy whispered.
They had theorized this but they never actually suspected that their Captain was in love with someone that was suspected to be stronger than a demigod.
“No wonder why Captain’s single, he’s been devoted to the magician all this time!” Bob said in shock.
They quickly ran off before they were spotted, returning to the Church. Their excitement and lack of Captain was evident when they returned.
“You look excited, what happened? Where's the Captain?” Jasmine, a new civilian staff who was healed by Merlin Hermes asked.
“You remember the miracle magician, right?” Cindy asked.
“Of course! He healed my face!” Jasmine responded gratefully.
Cindy dramatically fell onto a sofa. “You won’t believe this… Captain ran off and then we saw him with the magician!”
“They were kissing too…” Albert added.
Gasps were let out across the room as civilian staff and Red Gloves alike listened intently to the story. About how their workaholic Captain Leonard Mitchell confessed his feelings to the magician.
Captain Soest entered the room to find the members of the Evernight Church that should’ve been working were huddled around gossiping.
“What are you all doing?” Soest asked with a sigh.
“Captain Leonard kissed the miracle magician!” One of them eagerly responded.
“Wait wh–” Soest was stunned when the door opened and the subject of all of the gossip finally entered the room.
Leonard Mitchell, with a faraway giddy expression, cheeks still a light pink and a red scarf that definitely did not belong to him around his neck walked through the room that suddenly went dead silent.
Confused, he looked around and asked, “... What?”
The room erupted in questions.
———
Leonard walked through the snowy streets filled with buildings taller than he’d ever seen. It was the world before the Epochs, where Klein–, no, Zhou Mingrui once lived.
Christmas lights decorated the streets, illuminating the night and many people filled the streets doing some last minute shopping.
He returned to his apartment complex, where he’d somehow managed to convince Zhou Mingrui to become roommates with him and spotted the man outside the building, about to enter.
“Oh, Leonard,” Zhou Mingrui spotted the man and waved.
“Mingrui,” Leonard ran over and hugged the man tightly. Zhou Mingrui sighed.
He wasn’t a very touchy guy but he supposed foreigners like Leonard were more used to physical contact. Besides… He didn’t really mind when it was Leonard… ‘Leonard, your gay temperament is rubbing off on me…’ Zhou Mingrui lampooned inwardly.
Leonard was a good person and roommate, however. He was rather protective of Zhou Mingrui, probably stemming from the fact that he was a police officer. Leonard was obviously beautiful, drawing stares whenever they went but he never had a girlfriend. And while he wasn't the greatest cook, he always helped out in the kitchen and with household chores. Sometimes, Zhou Mingrui would come home exhausted from another day of overtime and Leonard would greet him at the door with dinner already prepared and the house clean.
Zhou Mingrui couldn't help but compare Leonard to a dog, a fluffy, clingy dog.
“Hey, look,” Leonard spoke softly, pointing above them.
Zhou Mingrui looked upwards and saw a singular piece of mistletoe hanging above them. Before he could react, he felt Leonard lean in…
And press a quick kiss to his cheek.
“Oh, by the way, I bought the groceries you asked for,” Leonard pulled away, walking inside as if nothing happened.
Zhou Mingrui stood there frozen, brain blank, until all at once, his face flushed red and his heartbeat thundered dangerously. ‘What the fuck just happened? Are all foreigners this shameless? And why did he–?’
He whipped his head around with an accusatory glare. “You– You!” Zhou Mingrui stuttered angrily.
Leonard laughed as Zhou Mingrui ran after him.
That night, after cooking and eating dinner together, they turned on the T.V. to watch Christmas movies together. Once Zhou Mingrui realized Leonard understood none of his references, he was determined to introduce Leonard to things he didn’t know. It was a bit odd that Leonard hadn’t even watched movies or played games popular in America and Europe, but he supposed Leonard did seem like a workaholic, perhaps he was just preoccupied in his studies.
The two of them sat on the sofa, a blanket shared between them. Leonard looked genuinely interested in the movie Zhou Mingrui put on.
Zhou Mingrui couldn’t help but drift his gaze over to Leonard. He had always known that Leonard was beautiful, enough to be a model, but he seemed to be entranced by the man.
His eyes began to droop tiredly but he saw Leonard turn his head and give Zhou Mingrui a smile filled with adoration.
‘Why do you look at me like that?’ Zhou Mingrui couldn’t help but wonder.
His eyes eventually closed and his body leant against Leonard’s. Leonard turned down the T.V.’s volume and moved Zhou Mingrui to a more comfortable position.
Zhou Mingrui was like Klein, except perhaps a little more blunt and rude. It was probably because this era did not care about being ‘gentlemanly’. But his emotions were genuine. The mix of annoyance and endearment was evident every time he hugged Zhou Mingrui was just like when he teased Klein back in Blackthorn Security Company.
Leonard stared at Zhou Mingrui’s relaxed face. After a beat of silence, Leonard whispered into the air.
“For my third wish… I wish for Zhou Mingrui to remember.”