Chapter Text
This was where they had met each other, even if it had at first been... Well, what it had been, but now that there were only a few weeks of school left, Jusis had to admit he felt a little conflicted about his and Machias' relationship. Whatever it was now, but the fact remained that their time at school was coming to an end soon, and not being around Machias all the time was going to feel weird.
Sitting and reading in the Class VII dorm lobby was nothing out of ordinary; it was pretty standard by now, with Fie napping on the other sofa and Emma who passed by telling her she should just go to bed even if everyone knew she was not about to. Celine also wandered over soon enough and joined Fie.
The fact that Machias could just come down the stairs and sit right next to Jusis on the sofa he was sitting on like it was nothing out of ordinary, despite the fact that sometime earlier last year, something like this would have been absolutely impossible, and they hadn't exactly wanted to be in the same room if it could be avoided. When had they gotten so comfortable with each other, but especially over these last months after the war, the two of them almost sought out each other's company, even in public. What happened in private could be ignored right now, and Jusis tried to focus on his book again, but the earlier thoughts were rather distracting.
Whatever would happen after they left Trista? They could still call each other, but Jusis really didn't want to think about the fact that he would not actually see Machias daily. He had gotten so used to seeing everyone daily, to acknowledge that he had friends, but he knew that it would be especially Machias that he needed to see, somehow, because of the feelings that were complicated, and he didn't know what to call them.
Since when had he been this comfortable with people, he mentally asked himself, but his time in Thors had clearly changed things, and going back home and getting used to his new duties there was such a big change. Something he needed to do, and he had already worked out the details for, but also, a little more lonely.
He got distracted from his thoughts with Elliot entering the dorms, checking his mail and seeming happy about some magazine that was in there, and Elliot then wandered over to sit down next to Machias, who simply shuffled closer to Jusis to make some room. Machias also had no trouble just moving his foot until he was very lightly touching Jusis' for no reason, and Jusis mentally sighed but kept his usual uncaring expression as he went back to reading.
Comfortable indeed, and he was going to miss this.