Chapter Text
They had been walking for a while now, the sun spotting through sleeping branches as the party carved through the brush.
Sage and Bragi had wondered ahead of the others, chatting idly in the drowsy light.
Sage’s hat sat hunched on his head and swayed with each step, and oh…how Bragi admired it. It was such a mesmerising sight, so much so that he had ceased conversation entirely to gaze at his companion and his hat.
Bragi turned away with a jolt as Sage peeked at him from the corner of his eye, and felt his face warming with embarrassment. He turned back to see the wizard staring at
him with that dreary, lost look he wore when he didn't quite understand something.
“You look like a scared fish, mate.” Bragi joked, trying and failing to play off his clear infatuation.
“I…well I did have something to ask uh…” Sage fiddled with the hems of his sleeves, rubbing the thick cotton between his thumb and forefinger.
Leaning heavily against an elderly oak, Bragi silenced as a signal for his friend to speak further.
They both stood motionless, until Sage’s gaze climbed up the others face, and towards their gentle pupils resting on his own.
“Okay well uh…what I wanted to say is that I-I know what you are? Th-that sounds really creepy hah…but you know in like a-a supportive way?? Because you know…some people don’t really…like your kind, um-but I’m completely fine with it!!
I know you haven’t really been trying to hide it and I’m not really sure why cos thats sounds really hard you know? But uh y-yeah anyway wuh- (he took a deep breath in)…what I wanted to say is that you don't have to hide around us! Because we’re friends now I-I’d hope uh- yeah but I can help you with anything you need I promise but obviously you can just keep it a secret! Uh…yeah…”
He covered his face with his gloved hands.
“God that was embarrassing, sorry…” He mumbled.
Bragi stood stock still, unsure quite what to do. Had he really known this whole time? What does he do now?
“...and you’re cool with it right?”
Sage flustered, “Oh- yeah of course! I mean I’ve never really met a vampire before so-”
“Sorry you- you what??”
Bragi let out the breath he didn't know he was holding. That was fine, he could live with Sage knowing that at least. He let out a bark of laughter, pushing a hand to the oak tree, head bowed as his laughter reverberated through the trees.
Sage jumped at the noise, his hat slipping off his head as he fumbled to get it back to its proper post.
“Oh wow! Mate I’m so sorry HAH!! Vampire? Yeah obviously oh my goodness…no no I’m sorry man that’s- yeah! I’m not hiding it so I’m glad you finally got there in the end Sherlock.” He had the biggest grin plastered across his face, his little fangs gleaming in the afternoon light.
It was infectious, and without even knowing, Sage was smiling too.
They continued their conversation, ambling through the woods once again. The day cast down its generous warmth, illuminating the two like a spotlight as they journeyed on. The topic was no longer on vampires, but Sage would bring it up later, because for now, all he cared about was the man next to him, shining in the sun.