Chapter Text
Sorey watched as, from a distance, Mikleo traced his finger across the length of the pond, drawing a stream of water around his index finger. The delicate stream trailed and fluttered like a ribbon through the air. He wound the liquid into a condensed bubble, gently holding it steady in the air. He closed his eyes, trying to focus on keeping the fragile shape together, steadying out his breathing, spinning the bubble around with flowing hand movements. His brows furrowed, his eyelids clenched together tightly, shoulders tense.
Curiosity guiding him, Sorey found himself slowly approaching Mikleo, trying not to draw too much attention to himself. However, the sound of his own quiet footsteps rustling in the grass was all it took for the water seraph’s concentration to waver, in turn, causing the suspended sphere of water to disperse into tiny droplets and return to the pond like rainfall.
Mikleo heaved out an annoyed sigh. “Sorey,” he began. “I was trying to focus,”
“You’re upset.” Sorey didn’t hesitate to speak of Mikleo’s feelings. Mikleo returned his attention to the pond without another word, where he began to spin tiny whirlpools in the surface.
He lowered himself to the ground to Mikleo’s right side, choosing to stay silent. His eyes wandered to Mikleo’s crafts, swirling, winding water paths that added a surreal yet intricate sort of beauty to the pond blessed by Elysia.
It was odd for Mikleo to hold back when something really, truly bothered him. Whenever they needed to air any of their grievances, the other was always there to listen and be a shoulder to lean on. But seeing Mikleo so secluded, so hidden, pushing Sorey away like he was, it made the brunette worry for the sake of his childhood friend. Something was really eating away at him, and he wasn't speaking a word.
Beside him, he saw Mikleo’s hands fall to his sides, a tired laugh passing by his lips. “Am I really that transparent?”
“Well, you’re out here by yourself, you’ve been staring at the pond for at least an hour now, and your nose keeps scrunching up like it does when you’re upset about something.” Sorey folded his arms and stared at Mikleo knowingly. He stayed silent.
“Please tell me what’s wrong, Mikleo.” Sorey’s gloved hand came to rest on his shoulder, watching as his bangs parted to reveal his troubled amethyst gaze.
Mikleo’s head lowered again, much to Sorey’s disappointment. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Come on, Mikleo. You don’t have to hide what you want to say. If it’s something serious, I want you to tell me.”
“You would think it’s silly of me.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Of course I don’t,” Sorey struggled to keep his voice level, worry and impatience gradually boiling deeper inside him. “You won’t tell me what’s been bothering you!”
Mikleo made a face so pained that Sorey could feel his own chest tighten with immediate regret. “N-no, it’s…” A sad sigh escaped from Mikleo’s lips. “I’m sorry, I’m just-”
“No, don’t apologize.” Sorey brought his hands down to rest on his lap, head turning to the pond again. He made his voice quiet and controlled. “I shouldn’t have pestered you so much into talking about it. I understand it makes you uncomfortable, so I won’t force you. I just want to be here for you.”
He could sense Mikleo’s gaze on him. The sudden sensation of Mikleo’s hand resting gently on his own hand caused him to gasp from surprise. His head snapped around to see his friend, but Mikleo couldn’t look him in the eyes.
“Sorey… You wouldn’t leave all of us in Elysia for the land below, right?”
Sorey gave Mikleo a wide eyed stare in return. He couldn’t find it in himself to even speak at first.
“Why,” Sorey said weakly, finally finding his voice, “Where did this come from, Mikleo? Why would you worry I would do something like that? Of course I wouldn’t!”
Mikleo seemed almost shocked by his reaction. Sorey himself felt sad at the fact that he was surprised. He loved Mikleo, he loved everyone in Elysia. The thought of leaving them by choice was baffling.
“So that’s it, huh?” A small smile appeared on Mikleo’s face. But Sorey wasn’t convinced. His eyes still showed the hurt he felt was something deeper than his short answer could fix. Sorey wished so badly for Mikleo to just open up to him, to let him know the true extent of his worries and he could reassure him of how much he cared for him. He thought, if he could make him smile, lift his spirits, at least for now, maybe he wouldn’t worry so much.
He stood up without hesitation and held his hand out to Mikleo. The water seraph stared back with a puzzled expression.
“Stand up,” Sorey asked of him. Mikleo slowly placed his hand in Sorey’s and allowed himself to be pulled up. He watched, his face growing more and more confused, as Sorey linked his own fingers with the other’s, pulled him closer by the waist, and began to sway gently with him.
Mikleo scoffed, “Dancing? Sometimes I don’t get you.” His stubborn comment and turn of the cheek served to cover up the light dusting of pink coloring his face.
“Really?” Sorey questioned him. “Because I’d think if you really thought it was as silly as you act like it is, you would have wanted to stop by now.”
“Hey, you were the one who started this. I’m just doing it because you wanted to.” Sorey’s chest lightened with the laughter threatening to burst from his throat.
Sorey continued to spin the both of them around in slow circles, enjoying the way that Mikleo’s face burned redder when Sorey pulled him closer, or the way that he shyly leaned his head into Sorey’s shoulder, or the way his silver hair tickled his neck. The feeling of Mikleo’s cold fingers intertwined with his own and the warmth of his body pressed so close were such comforting sensations, and Sorey didn’t want it to end.
Mikleo’s cool breath ghosted over his neck. “This is actually kind of nice.”
A mischievous grin broke out over the brunette’s face. “Is it really? I thought you were only doing this because of me.”
“Shut up.”
The air around them was filled with laughter as the two twirled around together and their dancing became more and more exaggerated, arms swinging together. Seeing the bright and mirthful grin light up Mikleo’s beautiful visage made his heart swell. When Mikleo “accidentally” steps on his toes, though, Sorey is prepared with a little petty and playful revenge of his own.
“Oh no, Mikleo, I’m feeling a little lightheaded,” Sorey sang out teasingly, leaning dangerously towards the edge of the pond.
A look of pure terror flashed over Mikleo’s countenance. “Don’t you dare, Sorey!”
Of course, Sorey only meant it as a joke, but he soon felt the pressure of gravity pulling both him and Mikleo down, and it was too late to stop it. Together, they fell into the embrace of the bone chilling water as ungracefully as one possibly could. When they surfaced, Mikleo let out a shriek.
“Sorey, you ass!” He scolded the younger boy, splashing him playfully with a wave of water. Sorey chuckled and splashed the seraph back, watching as he combed his sopping wet bangs behind his ear, pure fire glowing in his eyes and a vengeful smirk etched on his lips. They continued their assault towards one another until their breathing was heavy and their bodies freezing from the chill of the pond. By then, the air began to chill with the first signs of approaching night.
The both of them decided, then, that it was the most appropriate time to go inside and change into drier clothing. Sorey absolutely insisted that Mikleo stay at his house for a little while, “At least until you’ve dried off and warmed up enough,” he begged his friend.
This is how they ended up curled together in a large thick blanket, cozy and warm in front of the soft glow of the fireplace, and their cherished copy of the Celestial Record propped open between them.
“You sure you’re alright?” Sorey brushed a lock of Mikleo’s still damp bangs to the side, letting his hand linger on Mikleo’s cheek.
Mikleo averted his eyes, but allowed the simple caress without protest. “Sorey, don’t worry. It was selfish of me to ask that.”
“You weren’t being selfish,” Sorey assured him. “I understand you’re worried about me leaving. But I want you to know that I love and cherish everyone in Elysia, especially you. I mean, sure, someday I want to go out and see the world for myself, and I want to see all the ruins we’ve read about too.” He picked up the tome in one hand and wove it in front of his face. “But just because I leave Elysia and visit places in the world, that doesn’t mean I’ll be leaving you all forever. You mean too much for me to just leave you behind to never see you again.”
Mikleo stared at him in silence. He didn’t answer with words. Instead, he slid up closer to Sorey’s side, taking in his warmth, and he continued reading and discussing their earlier topic of the history of old rulers and their ancient kingdoms.
---
The sun had set long before Mikleo decided to return to the quiet solitude of his own home, body weary and eyelids heavy. He set his day clothing out to dry and flopped down on his bed. The thoughts that plagued him from that afternoon still running through his head, he buried his face into his pillow, eyes closed.
How was he supposed to be okay with this? With any of this? How was he not supposed to be upset about the things that Gramps told him? Would Sorey really just leave him behind to venture out onto the world below? To live with humans? Humans who had so many mysterious intents, humans who were sly and selfish? Sorey had never met another human before. He was a pure, selfless, loving individual. He would get hurt. He wouldn’t want to live with such terrible people, would he?
Maybe Gramps was wrong. Maybe he would love it so much in Elysia that he would never want to leave.
But he knew deep down that this wasn’t true. Sorey loved adventure. Of course he would want to see the world someday. Mikleo always wanted to do that too. But his best friend, leaving everything and everyone he knew behind in favor of a world full of corruption and greed? The thought made Mikleo sick to his stomach.
But he would never want to admit that to him out loud.