Archive of Our Own

Dion was not sure what to expect as he slowly pushed the heavy door open, heart pounding just a little faster as he wondered what he might say. How had time slipped away from them so easily? Already a few years had passed since that day in Origin that had come so close to being their last, that fateful day they stood up to a god and said no more. Why it took such a strange, arbitrary task to bring Dion back to one of his companions, he could not say; the bag of seemingly random items was clenched tightly in one hand as he eased the reinforced door open with the other.

What had he imagined, as he made his way to this out-of-the way location, to the unassuming old house at the outskirts of civilization? Perhaps a cozy study, lined in books and littered with parchment and ink pots. Joshua spent a great deal of time at the Hideaway with Harpocrates; it was a role Dion could easily see him taking on. Quill in hand, candle guttering out, books propped haphazardly nearby. Perhaps a cluster of eager young students listening quietly to his every word.

Or maybe buried under a mound of letters and treaties, books on laws and finance, helping sort out Rosaria's fledgling government. Just as Dion should be assisting with back home.

Whatever Dion might have imagined, a lab of colorful madness had not been it. He froze, hand still grasping the door handle, staring at the symphony of bubbling beakers, small alembics on tables and large stills on the floor, steam in assorted and alarming colors wafting through the air. Filled bottles of all shapes and sizes covered every available surface. The scent was overpowering, as if every medicine and cleaning substance imaginable, along with a few slices of burnt toast, had all been mixed together into a very aromatic stew.

Taking a tentative step into the room, wondering if he might have been better off wearing armor, Dion let the door swing shut behind him. It closed with just enough force to be heard over all of the steaming and bubbling liquids, startling a figure out of hiding. Dion’s breath caught as he recognized Joshua instantly despite how strange he appeared—if he could recognize a grown man he had briefly met in their childhood who was not even supposed to be alive, this was no great feat. Even still, Joshua looked a fright.

A leather apron and gloves covered him like a blacksmith at his forge, large goggles hiding his eyes—and much of his face—from the world. His strawberry blond hair, once feathery soft and neatly layered, was frizzled and almost charred at the ends. When he yanked the goggles from his face, tossing them aside without care onto a nearby stool, he revealed two circles of bare skin surrounded by smudged soot. Familiar eyes, blue like the raging sea, were wide with shock.

Dion swallowed thickly, mouth suddenly dry, the desert far from that raging sea. His heart managed to beat just a little harder as he took in the sight of his treasured friend after so long apart, at the mess he had become. Always before he looked the part of the prince. Even years on the road, wasting illness, and old frayed clothing had been unable to stop him from looking pristine and regal—now that he seemed more akin to mad scientists from fairytales than the princely heroes that defeated them, Dion found he could not tear his eyes away.

“Dion,” Joshua breathed, his voice unchanged from the last time Dion heard it utter a fond farewell, no way of knowing their busy schedules would keep them separated for years more. “Is it… that is, you look…” With a helpless laugh, Joshua moved as if to run a hand through his hair; he grimaced and shucked off the thick leather gloves, adding them to the stool across his goggles. “It is good to see you,” he finally settled on. He rushed closer with arms outstretched, stumbling to an abrupt stop a mere pace away. Dion’s heart gave a painful little lurch at the avoidance before he realized Joshua was giving himself a look of chagrin. Smiling, Dion set down his bag and closed the distance between them, pulling Joshua into a hug.

“I do not fear a little soot,” he said as long arms wrapped around him, as a hard leather apron creaked in protest. “Even were I not used to working in unseemly conditions helping out Mid’s army of engineers, even if I had spent these years lounging in court with the Council, I would not care.”

“Yes!” Joshua backed away, broad grin stretching across his face and lighting it up, sending Dion’s heart into another fluttery lurch. “Yes, I heard you have been helping with the construction efforts.”

Dion nodded, thinking fondly on long days and even nights spent working with his hands, making something of himself. Creating, to make up for the destruction. “Improved aqueducts, pipes, all very impressive. I hear water in the pipes will even be heated.”

Joshua gave an enthusiastic nod. He looked, Dion realized, like an excited raccoon. “And with those plans figured out and in the hands of her engineers, she will move on to keeping food cold.” His smile fell, just a fraction, a slight twitch of the lips. “We will ensure nobody mourns the loss of crystals.”

“Or former Bearers,” Dion added softly, and Joshua’s smile fell further. “Though I am pleased to hear of your brother’s continued efforts to find safe havens for them.” Wishing to change the subject, Dion peered around Joshua at the merrily bubbling madness ensuing. “Should all of those be going at once? Perhaps a few at a time would be safer?”

“Oh!” Joshua turned away from Dion with a laugh, observing his colorful little orchestra. One flask was deemed full and removed from an alembic; a beaker was quite possibly deemed dangerous and yanked from its flame. “No, this is just the right amount.” He winked at Dion over his shoulder, eliciting another heart flutter.

Why had Dion let time slip away like that? With only the engineers to keep him company, as he deftly avoided anyone he did not feel he deserved, that brought back the guilt. Not to mention anybody that might think he deserved a place on the Council—the new Council of twelve, voted in by the public, replacing the Council of Elders made up of senior Cardinals and replacing the emperor as well. Still no place for Dion anymore, as he regrettably informed them when he handed in his resignation to the dragoons; and even more regrettably explained to Terence their continued separation was really with his best interest in mind. Last he heard, more than one dragoon—Terence included—was considering running for a Council position. What a worthy position for him! And at least he could be trusted to speak with Isabelle without devolving into a babbling ninny.

“Without the Phoenix,” Joshua was saying, pulling his gloves back on, “without healing crystals or light Bearers, without magically crafted potions, this is what the world needs.” He gestured to the assorted concoctions. “Better potions.” Joshua turned back to Dion with a puzzled look on his ashen face. “As pleased as I am by your visit…”

“Why?” At Joshua’s suddenly bashful nod, Dion retrieved his bag. Carried all this way and without Mid’s cooling device even thought out yet, its contents were likely quite foul. “Hecteyes eyes, miteling eyes, wyvern livers and kidneys.” He made a face. “I do hope you were not planning on eating them.”

“No, no, this is perfect.” Hopefully satisfied no explosions were imminent, Joshua left his tubes and beakers and hurried back to Dion. “I appreciate you bringing those.”

“Some former Undying were asking about how to slay the beasts in question,” Dion said with a soft snort, and Joshua suddenly looked bashful once more, perhaps a trifle guilty as he cast his gaze to the colorful stained floor. “So I took it upon myself to send them on their way and take on the job myself.”

“Thank you, Dion.” Joshua added the new bag of ingredients to a back corner, among other sacks and boxes with mysterious and likely unpleasant contents. When he returned, he had discarded his gloves once more—and apparently tried to wipe his face clean, which mostly just left it more smudged—and took Dion’s hands in his own. They were rough and warm, and Dion swallowed thickly as he was confronted by large, earnest eyes. “It means so much that you have come by. More than I can say.”

“Time truly escaped me,” Dion said, squeezing Joshua’s hands. “I honestly do not know—”

“Do not apologize.” With a laugh, Joshua escaped, returning to his experiments and removing more bubbling beakers. “It is the same for us all, the days slipping away like petals from a flower. Clive insists I have grown every time we meet up, which of course is absurd.”

“He likes to jest,” Dion said. “But you are right, all of us have lost ourselves in replacing the magic we obliterated.”

“Obliterated.” Joshua held up what looked like a beer mug filled with disturbingly bright green liquid. Were all of these unpleasant mixtures supposed to be healing potions one was to drink? “Now there is a harsh word for it!”

“Rid the world of, then.” Dion’s fingers twitched with the desire to help, but he dared not go near the potions. Much more helpful to simply stay out of the way. “But I still regret not visiting sooner.”

“I’m just glad you are here now.” Joshua picked up another beaker, frowning at its contents as he gave them a swirl. “Actually, I was planning on making a journey soon. I would ask you to keep an eye on things here, but I am forced to simply turn everything off and have it wait. It would take far too long to train a successor.”

“Please do not ask me to keep your lab safe,” Dion said with a short laugh, the image of himself covered in soot rising unbidden in his mind. He trailed off, wondering if there might be a particular reason why Joshua was bringing this up now. It cannot hurt to try. “I would be honored to accompany you, though. If you would have me.”

“That would be wonderful!” His imminent departure settled, Joshua picked up speed as he removed beakers and bottles, extinguished flames, turned knobs to shut off devices. One could breathe easier with every impending disaster rendered docile. “We will have plenty of time to catch up. And if you can handle an oar the way you can a spear…”

“A sea voyage, is it?” Dion tilted his head, heat rising to his cheeks as he remembered those stolen moments alone aboard the Enterprise, sailing away from Stonhyrr. Moments ostensibly spent getting caught up on the dire situation before them, but truly just an excuse to spend time with each other.

“I am in search of a rare herb.” Joshua next rushed to a bookshelf, running a finger over the numerous spines, somehow finding what he was looking for. There was a reason the term ‘organized chaos’ existed, and Joshua always seemed to know exactly how to find anything. “An ancient potion so powerful it is said to stave off death itself, every ingredient found now but one.”

“Stave off death?” Dion frowned at that; if magic could not perform such a feat—usually—how could a simple combination of herbs, no matter how rare?

“I know what you are thinking.” Joshua managed to find room between two cooling burners for his book, though he did not open it just yet. His face, beneath the ash, had grown wistful. “Not even the Phoenix could raise the dead.”

“Only once,” Dion said, voice barely about a whisper, and Joshua bowed his head.

“All the more reason to try.” Joshua wiped at one eye, smearing his face further. He looked up, then, giving Dion a watery smile. “Because why me, and nobody else?”

“Oh.” Heart breaking, Dion could only stare as Joshua idly flipped through a few pages, then resumed shutting down his potion production. “I…” He suddenly felt like a fool for never realizing there may be extra guilt and pain hidden behind Joshua’s easy smiles, a hidden layer beneath the celebratory mask he wore in those days following their victory. Dion had seen none of it, focused only on their survival. “Perhaps I am selfish, but I am glad it was you.” Joshua hummed a response that might have been pleased, his expression hidden once more. Dion cleared his throat. “Where is this herb rumored to grow, then?”

Joshua was only too happy to talk business. “An island in the Boiling Sea, off the coast of Rosalith. Close enough rowing will suffice to reach it within the day. Small, unassuming, a place few would look for medicine normally.”

“And monsters?” Dion guessed.

“It is a small island,” Joshua repeated. He fetched a rolled-up scroll from his miniature library, presumably a map to consult. “But I would be shocked if we did not encounter some sort of vicious beasts.”

“Agreed.” Dion had not packed his armor for this journey, assuming he would just be dropping off supplies and visiting. He would have to rectify that and find some. “When would you like to leave?”

All traces of his earlier pensiveness gone, Joshua was once more beaming at Dion, sending his heart racing. “Find lodging in Port Isolde, I will finish up with a few things here and join you.” His eyes widened as some memory seemed to strike him all at once. He glanced over his shoulder at the bag Dion had brought, discarded among the other dubious ingredients. It was touching, the way Joshua’s excitement at seeing Dion again had surpassed even remembering the items he had sent for. “After a few experiments. Go ahead and settle in for a little while. Then I will join you.”

Dion was still lost in thought studying the small two-man craft, mesmerized by the gently rolling waves, when the sound of boots rang out across the pier. He turned, not entirely sure what to expect after Joshua’s strange initial appearance. His mind had managed to supplant the charred figure with the memory of his princely pre-Origin self, as if upon leaving the lab he would revert back.

Not… exactly. Joshua had thankfully discarded the heavy apron and gloves, his skin was scrubbed clean and mostly healthy—rather raw, but that could be from said scrubbing rather than exploding experiments. His hair had been combed and partly tamed, but the frazzled mop was still a far cry from his old feathery layers. The black trousers were as tight as ever, a fond reminder of awkwardly averted eyes as Joshua spent his non-library time leaning onto the Hideaway railing near Dion. His red blouse was cinched tight by a leather vest that Dion had a feeling was also going to be attracting much attention.

“Do I look all right?” With a nervous laugh, Joshua ran his long fingers through singed locks. “I know I have blown myself up a time or two…”

“You really have taken on too much at once.” Dion bowed low, as if he were a knight greeting his lord. Which was not the most unfit comparison. “You look all right, Joshua.”

“I still enjoy hearing our real names from your lips,” Joshua said, and Dion wondered if perhaps there might not have been a slight falter before ‘our’. Had he truly meant ‘my’, perhaps? Joshua’s delighted look abruptly fell; he appeared as shocked as when he first realized the identity of his goods deliverer, back in his lab. The wide eyes were not nearly as striking without the backdrop of soot, but they made up for it in proximity. “Dion, you…”

“What is it?” With a puzzled frown, he dropped the pleased gaze that had been drinking in his old friend clad in leather garb, taking in his own appearance. Ohh, right. He had almost forgotten his hasty visit to the forge, given his lack of appropriate packing for an adventure. “Oh, my armor.” He grimaced slightly, fearing he had inadvertently caused offense. “Is this all right? I had not known I would need—”

“It’s all right!” Joshua hastily assured him. When Dion looked up, a light flush had spread across his face. Which very well could also be attributed to the scrubbing. “No, I’ve just…” He lowered his eyes, suddenly finding the stained planks beneath their feet fascinating. “I’ve never seen you in Rosarian armor.”

“Do I look all right?” Dion found himself asking, mirroring Joshua’s initial question. “It was all they had on short notice.”

Joshua quirked a crooked smile. “You look wonderful,” he said in a soft voice. “Just like a Rosarian knight I looked up to as a child. It is a better look than science experiment gone wrong.” He gestured toward himself in self-deprecating fashion. “Though I suppose it will have to go for the journey, yes? Do you need help?” His gaze turned to the armor itself, flicking toward the boat as he considered.

“Oh, that will not be…” Dion blinked, feeling his entire body heat up in a way that had little to do with the sun. Yes, he could do it himself, but why? “I… yes, that would be appreciated.” He turned away from Joshua and held his arms out, barely daring to breathe as deft fingers worked on the laces holding his armor together. “It was easier just wearing it out of the armory after the fitting.”

“Of course,” Joshua said. “And much as I would be glad to swim after you when you sank like a rock…”

“Avoiding that would be preferable.” Joshua clearly had experience with the removal of his homeland’s armor, and pieces were set into the boat in no time. Dion added the helmet, as Joshua finally took the time to stop and survey the craft Dion had procured, sweeping his eyes over it from bow to rudder. It was just big enough for two, plus supplies.

It was going to be a cozy journey.

“Well, I have traveled in better.” Joshua approached the edge of the dock, retrieving his bag to toss into the boat with an alarming clatter, as if he had packed weapons and pots and pans for their journey. “And I have traveled in worse. This will do.”

“It will suffice for our needs.” Dion squatted down to add his own supplies alongside his armor pieces, leaning the hastily purchased spear out of the way. “Were we going as far as where Drake’s Breath once sat, something a little bigger would have been better.”

“Hopefully we find what we need on this island.” Joshua carefully eased himself into the boat, Dion following after, mystified by the smirk he was receiving as he climbed in. “Just remembering your spectacular leap onto the Enterprise.”

“Not recommended on dinghies,” Dion said with a laugh. Boat untied, they settled in with their oars, knees and shoulders pressed together. Dion was glad this was a simple boat and not anything that required a modicum of concentration, for he would be lost.

“For once,” Joshua said, his calm voice leaving Dion wondering if he were the only one so distracted by heat and proximity, “I am glad Torgal is not here. He would insist on joining us, and it would be quite cramped.”

“I imagine so.” Dion smiled fondly as he recalled tail wags and wet kisses from the wolf, keeping him company through long lonely days. “How is he?”

“Everybody is well.” Joshua looked to the sky, clouds scudding across a brilliant blue that would never get old. Even overcast gray was a welcome sight, after so many moons of sickly purple those years ago. “We have much to catch up on, since we lost track of time and the letters stopped. We had good intentions…”

Dion nodded. At least, thanks to their brief letter exchange after settling down in the new world they had created, they could skip over the less pleasant topics. The creation of their new governments and their avoidance of them, the end of relationships (at least on Dion’s end), the struggle with what to do with themselves and how to help fix what they had broken. “The last I heard, Clive and Blackthorne were helping various cities’ forges with improved bellows, thus beginning the quest to replace magic reliance with mundane.”

“Right,” Joshua said, still lost in the sky as he moved in harmony with Dion to pull his oar. “That is when everybody became so caught up in our work.”

“And you turned to healing,” Dion said. It was hardly surprising, even if his methods were a bit of a shock.

“I have already recreated potions and hi-potions using everyday ingredients,” Joshua said, giddy like a proud schoolboy sharing his essay. “But if I can find this lost herb…” He laughed suddenly, throwing his head back with genuine amusement that was a wonderful sight to behold. “We had this entire boat ride to get caught up, but that is really all I have.”

“Myself as well,” Dion said, unable to stop a laugh from escaping at Joshua’s mirth. “I suppose I could call some of the engineers my friends? But aside from that, there is nobody new in my life.”

“Ah…” And how much sorrow but understanding was in that single soft word. “I suppose none of us have made any headway in that regard. Even Clive and Jill are just where we left them. Honestly, I do not know how she puts up with my brother.”

That was both surprising and… really not. “When you have found the right one, you have all the patience in the world for them,” Dion said, not even sure why. Joshua was also unimpressed by the sentiment.

“If you say so. I am this close to buying a ring for them.”

They fell quiet after that, nothing to disturb their thoughts but the sound of lapping waves, plunging oars, and the occasional gull until they drew further and further from land. They periodically dug into their supplies, sampling water and snacks, most of which had been packed into scientific tubes and bottles. Dion tried to not be alarmed by that, but having recently watched concoctions bubbling away in test tubes, accepting nuts from one felt just a little odd. At least the impish smile that spread across Joshua’s face made it more tolerable.

“Well,” Dion finally said after enough time had passed for the sun to move fully behind them in the western sky they were rowing toward. “We are supposed to be using this journey for catching up. I would not mind hearing more about your exploits in the lab.”

“Would you?” Joshua brightened, perking up beside Dion where he had begun to wilt.

“Any story with explosions is bound to be interesting.”

And so Joshua dove in, breathlessly describing ancient texts he had found with old recipes, many even just theoretical lists of ingredients that might work. Search parties sent out to acquire harder to find items—a job Clive inevitably was roped into when he was not busy with his own tasks, along with former Undying. Long days and nights spent hunched over tables laden with a maze of beakers, burners, mortar and pestles, alembics, just as Dion had seen. Pounding and measuring and mixing, heating and distilling, trying every possible combination until he found something that worked.

“How did you know when you finally found the right potion?” Dion wondered.

“Sometimes there was a description of the desired results,” Joshua said. “If the potion is finally turning out blue like it is supposed to, that is a good sign.” He must have seen the skepticism on Dion’s face. “A good sign, I said! Not the only sign. I would find test subjects among those that needed healing. Oh, now what is that face for? They were willing volunteers, I explained everything, and there were no fatalities.” Joshua nudged Dion with the shoulder Dion had never once forgotten was pressed against him, and he found himself glad anew his armor was jumbled together in the bottom of the boat and not covering him. “I even tried them on myself a time or two. I might not have needed healing, but at least I knew they weren’t dangerous.”

Of course he used himself as a test subject. The only part that seemed far-fetched was 'a time or two'. “Only when they blew up in your face.”

“Right,” Joshua said, as nonchalant as if he were agreeing to the direction they were heading. “Those potions obviously needed a lot more work before attempted consuming.”

“Obviously.”

“But they have worked, Dion.” Joshua’s excitement from the beginning of his tale, and the recent defensiveness, both vanished as he grew earnest and completely serious. They looked at each other, pride shining in his eyes. “They are already beginning to sell my potions. They work, and they are helping people. The Phoenix is no more, but everybody can keep a piece of it with them.”

“Noble work,” Dion said, just as serious, feeling a pang as he considered his own accomplishments in that time. “A feat to be proud of. I have spent these years hiding from duty and helping out where I might be needed. Many could learn from you and commit to a passion—”

“Don’t.” Now a nudge from his knee. “You have done a great deal of help. Assisting Mid’s engineers is perfect!” The serious pressed-together lips drew into a smirk. “Clive is busy more often than not. If you crave different work, I could use a new assistant and ingredient hunter.”

Dion swallowed, digging for something to ease his parched throat—the one in the normal waterskin, rather than the flask. How quickly this had transformed from brief errand to help out the Undying and see Joshua again, to slightly less quick errand helping Joshua out, to… permanently working with him.

“Dion?”

“I would like that,” he said.

“Okay.” The light was growing dim as the sun edged ever closer to the horizon. Dion had no way of knowing if that truly was a blush rising to Joshua’s face. “Thank you. I already have a first job for you.”

“Already?” Dion chuckled. “Aside from helping find special healing herbs?”

“Take the first watch.” Joshua relinquished his grip on his oar, rotating his free arm like a crank on one of Mid’s gadgets with a groan. Then he leaned even closer to Dion, settling in for a rest.

And so Dion waited, keeping a wary eye on the waves, seeing nothing but a distant school of dolphins. Stars spread overhead, and Dion managed to light a lamp without disturbing his friend too much. Alone with his jumbled, confused thoughts. He pondered on what he had agreed to, on how he would be moving to Rosaria and leaving behind… not much, to be honest. What had even possessed him to return to Sanbreque in the first place?

Guilt. Which could have been better assuaged helping out his companions.

But Dion had already spent far too much time dwelling on the what-ifs. Beside him, Joshua shivered in the salty sea breeze; Dion put an arm around him and focused instead on the future as Joshua unconsciously pressed close.

“Are you expecting to actually find this rare herb here?”

“Honestly?” Joshua chuckled as he helped drag the boat a little more securely onto the sand, grateful to feel solid ground beneath his boots at last. The grassy breeze the island boasted fought with the salty air that had accompanied them the entire journey. “I was not even fully expecting to find the island. This journey is already a success.” Satisfied they were in no danger of tides washing their boat away, they set about retrieving their supplies. The first order of business was to strap Dion’s armor back on, now that he was no longer in danger of serving as their anchor should he fall overboard. As Joshua fastened the pieces to muscles that had in no way atrophied since last they saw each other, he kept his mind very occupied by remembering doing the same for his brother. Tasks he did for Clive were perfectly innocent. “Has it been a while?”

“What?” Dion’s head jerked over to stare with wide amber eyes. He had not retrieved the helmet, but had never worn one as a dragoon, either. “Since…”

“You have worn armor.” Joshua finished tying off the last knot, stepping back to observe.

Dion in Rosarian steel. It was so… it was strange. The early morning sun was a halo behind him, as befitting the one-time Holy Knight. And Dominant of Light.

And on top of that was the bare stretch of muscled arm between the pauldrons covering his shoulders and the wrist guards…

“Right.” Dion looked down at himself, as if surprised to realize he was, indeed, armored. “Yes, I suppose it has been some time. It feels like only yesterday.”

“I know what you mean.” Joshua pried his eyes away from the puzzling conundrum of Dion the Shield with his bit of forearms peeking through, taking in their surroundings instead. Only a sliver of sandy beach, so at least they should not encounter any cactuars. Clive had ended up on one such desert isle once, and poor Torgal’s snout took quite some time to heal. Joshua had immediately been inspired to concoct a cactuar needle salve that was now a best-seller among sailors that felt much safer stopping at random islands. “Mostly forest, it seems.”

“Will we know your herb when we see it?” Dion slung his bag over one armored shoulder before grasping his new spear—a simple thing far from the fancy halberd of days gone by. He seemed to lose himself in studying its blade, adrift in the murky swamp of bygone days once more. Joshua had hoped he might have finally put the past behind him, but that was an ambitious hope. Who among them had fully moved on from the past?

“It is said to resemble Phoenix down,” Joshua said, fingers itching to flip through the pages of books he had not brought. “Just one leaf crushed into some water can heal many ills and injuries, but if I can get some back to my lab…”

“A beautiful Phoenix feather among the greenery should stand out.” For some reason, Dion’s words brought more warmth to Joshua’s face, when they were simply discussing plants. “Shall we begin our search?”

“Yes, we—wait. Don’t move.”

Dion froze just as he was, foot poised in the air over a bed of herbs. Perfectly balanced. He looked down at what had nearly been trampled with a frown. “What are those?” He stepped back onto safe grass.

“Caerulea.” Joshua knelt at the edge of the small blue plants, breathing in the earthy, bitter scent. “As long as they are here, I could use some more.” While Dion stood guard and kept a curious eye on him, Joshua dug assorted bottles from his bag. Some herbs he collected were stuffed whole into a larger bottle, others were crushed before adding to a smaller one. Some crushed leaves he carefully mixed into vials of oil. “There we are. Sorry for the delay.” Feeling pleased at such a find already, Joshua carefully stuffed his bottles away.

“It is your journey.” Laden with his own packs and weapon as he was, Dion simply watched Joshua rise to his feet. He never had been one to coddle Joshua or always try to assist, even in his weaker sickly days. Only if it were deemed genuinely necessary. It was… appreciated. “Take all the time you need.”

“Thank you.” Joshua rearranged his bags, shifting them more comfortably on his shoulder. “Now let us depart this beach.”

The forest they ventured into differed little from those found around Rosaria and Sanbreque, made up of familiar trees and plants, swarms of insects and small birds taking flight at the sound of intruders. Joshua made frequent stops to collect leaves and petals, herbs and mushrooms; many he did not even recognize, which only added to his excitement. “I cannot wait to find out what these even are!” he said while holding up a bottle of leaves. A single blue feather sat among them, fallen from a startled bird.

“What of those?” Dion pointed with his spear toward a cluster of small flowers that resembled burgundy daisies. He seemed doubtful at first, and almost startled when Joshua hurried closer.

“I might have missed those.” Into his bottles an assortment of blooms and leaves went. “Thank you, Dion.” He found himself laughing as he took in their surroundings, at his already growing collection, sheer pleasure suffusing him. “Oh, look at all of this already. Even if the Phoenix down herb is a mere fancy we are chasing, this journey is still worth it.”

“Yes.” Dion’s soft voice was almost lost within the backdrop of insects and birdsong. He was staring at Joshua with an unreadable expression—which was odd, given he used to be so easy to read.

“What is it?” Suddenly self-conscious, Joshua raised a hand to his damaged hair, very aware of how awful he looked. Which was even more strange, since he had cared very little before. So long as he came away from lab accidents in one piece, what else mattered?

“You.” Dion made an unnecessary gesture toward Joshua’s face. “Such happiness is a welcome sight. Would that I took such joy from…” He trailed off with a little frown, nose wrinkling as he pondered. “I suppose I am happy, assisting the engineers, helping restore a type of magic to the world.”

“Yes!” All interesting plants in the area accounted for, they continued their journey among the trees, eyes always focused on the ground ahead. “Magic and science. The Fallen Magitek combined both. Their time ended, and magic reigned supreme. Now we have begun the age of science.” He grinned over at Dion, who appeared as thoughtful as ever as he strode carefully, spear practically a walking stick.

“I am glad to be a part of that.”

His simple sentiment echoed happily in Joshua’s heart. Even after Origin, after he recovered from his wounds, Dion’s deep guilt enshrouded him still. Just hearing a statement of pleasure at being alive was cause for celebration. “I am as well. Oh, look out!” Joshua set his fragile bag aside with a glassy clatter, drawing his sword, at the approach of several massive spiders. They rose to waist-height as they reared back, hissing with an aggressive anger the larger varieties of their kind all seemed to possess. “I hate these things.” Ah, for a single fireball! That usually did the trick to either take out or scare away aggressive insects and arachnids. “I wish they were as solitary as their tiny cousins.”

“I am out of practice,” Dion warned as he slowly approached, drawing their ire. Three broke away from the group and charged him; Dion neatly skewered two of them together, swinging the spear free and slicing through the third in one fluid motion.

“Yes, that was appalling,” Joshua said with a snort. He severed the front legs of a rearing spider—it barely seemed to notice, but stumbled just enough he was able to finish the job. A sharp hiss from behind was the only warning he received, but it was enough, and Joshua spun around and sliced through a leaping spider just in time. “They surrounded us!” The spiders back home were not nearly so organized.

“Fascinating.” After a brief observation of the fallen bug, Dion inspected the area for additional foes, then wiped his blade on the grass. “What sort of prey—or predators—do you suppose they have on this island to develop such tactics?”

“I would really rather not…” Joshua turned to Dion, tilting his head. “Wait. Out of practice? Did you not just take on similar creatures to bring me miteling eyes?”

“I did not lie,” Dion said, and had it been anybody but Dion, Joshua would have said he scoffed. “I am still out of practice.” He glanced to the spear gripped casually in one hand, as if remembering it was there and not an extension of himself. “I suppose I will be getting more experience if I am to be doing this for a living.”

“Only if you want to.” Together, they retrieved their belongings and left the spider carcasses behind before they could attract… whatever. A normal spider skittered away from them along a branch, as was proper. “If you are happy building waterways and plumbing—”

“I was happy.” Dion almost seemed like he was done speaking, trailing off for a long, thoughtful moment. Then he bowed his head and continued. “But I will be happy here. Perhaps happier; I am grateful for the offer.”

“Right.” Joshua stared down at the foliage spread across their path, ears burning. “You’re welcome.” His blush only grew as he remembered Dion had not actually thanked him to warrant that response.

They paused for some water and rations, Dion’s hesitation before accepting the bottle Joshua offered somewhat insulting. But… understandable, he supposed.

“It is warmer out than I was anticipating,” Joshua said as they strolled along, eyes on the flora. Dion, used to going about clad in armor no matter the weather, simply nodded. “Here, that looks like echo herbs. Pardon me.” Joshua knelt to collect some, distributing them among his varied receptacles. Only a short distance later, it was Dion halting them.

“Those small flowers are very fragrant.”

Joshua wrinkled his nose. They rather smelled like his childhood memories of the jar in Great Aunt Ariane's washroom. “I will remember those when I need potpourri.” He plucked a single flower and stuffed it away, just in case. Hopefully his future self would not be filled with regret while scrubbing out the floral scent.

No, he had too much else to do. He would simply purchase a new bag in that case.

The long stretches of silence as they hunted—gathered, that is—felt as much like wasted opportunities as those on the boat; Joshua sought for any words that might fill it up. He spoke further of his experiments: the successes that most filled him with joy, the crushing disappointments that urged him to try harder, even the more embarrassing tales were told. Dion’s laughter at the story of Joshua with bright pink hair for a week was well worth the mortification. But how was he to know! And with green tea of all things! Joshua was still suffused with a pleasant tingling when they stopped at a small lake, refilling waterskins and splashing water over their faces, pausing to collect lakeside plants and shells.

The journey resumed. Awkward silence no longer reigned as Dion offered a few stories in return. Nothing exciting, just basic anecdotes of helping with aqueducts or preparing houses for plumbing installation. Dion was no engineer, and while he enjoyed the work, did not seem to really care to know—he seemed more fascinated learning about alchemy than discussing the ins and outs of slope control for aqueducts, or clay versus steel versus copper pipes. But whenever Joshua discussed a potion recipe, Dion seemed to be mentally calculating, as if pondering on how that might work, or committing it to memory. And so Joshua dove back into his own stories, which felt more and more like classroom lectures and should be boring the former prince to sleep.

It was a combination of Dion’s interest causing a distraction, and the unfamiliar petals of pale green fading to yellow that nearly got Joshua in trouble. He jerked backward with a startled gasp when the harmless-seeming pitcher flowers erupted from the ground, vines lashing out with a burst of putrid odor. One managed to strike him across the chest before he yanked his sword free and sliced it to leafy pieces. “You blasted thing!” Most of the species of death blossom and vampire thorn Joshua had encountered bore pink blooms! He cursed himself for not recognizing the shape at the very least, but… Dion. He had seemed so enthralled in Joshua’s admittedly boring stories, he had almost forgotten keeping a close eye on the flora was why they were there in the first place.

“Another stirs,” came Dion’s sharp warning before he spun away from it, the graceful arc of his spear sending vines and petals flying. “I am honestly surprised we have not encountered more.”

“There will be more.” The threat seemed to have passed for the time being. Joshua made a face as he inspected the splatters of sap clinging to his vest and—until very recently—nice new shirt. What had possessed him to wear a nice new anything on a trek around an island, he had no… well. He did know. Joshua lifted his eyes, opening his mouth to say… something, but snapped it shut with a click of teeth. “Oh dear…” Two Dions wavered before him for a moment, before blurring back into one. His skin was beginning to tingle all over. He stumbled forward, firm hands suddenly gripping his shoulders to keep him steady. “An especially poisonous variety.” He winced. “I should have collected some sap…”

“Joshua?” Dion said, voice sharp with concern. Or fear? “Joshua, you must have something that can help.” Joshua looked up once more, relieved to only see a single face and two… beautiful eyes.

“Goldenseal root,” he mumbled, and Dion’s grip tightened ever so slightly. Even through fabric, the hands felt hot against Joshua’s feverish skin.

“That will help?” Dion said anxiously. “Do you have any?”

“No, no. Not that. Your eyes.” His vision was starting to darken, though he could still clearly see Dion’s eyes. “They remind me of goldenseal root.”

“Joshua!”

“Caerulea,” he said, and he could see in those amber eyes the flicker of recognition. “The blue herb from earlier. Anything with that.”

“Thank you.” Dion rummaged through Joshua’s bag with one hand, maintaining a grip on his shoulder with the other, though Joshua really wanted to lay down in the nice soft grass for a nap. With a grunt that managed to sound relieved, Dion found a vial of blue oil. He pulled the cork free and practically shoved the vial into Joshua’s mouth.

It tasted as pleasant as most potions and antidotes did. Joshua cringed as he swallowed down the mercifully small amount of bitter oil. He was the alchemist, he really should find a way to improve taste! Almost immediately his vision wavered back into focus, tingling fading.

“You look better already,” Dion breathed, taking the small glass from Joshua. The eyes that had proven such a distraction were wide. “You were beginning to look rather green.”

“Thank the Founder we found those growing here.” Joshua grinned at Dion, both in relief and reassurance. “Yes, I am feeling better. And there is more, should I need some.”

“You should return to the lake and clean up,” Dion said with a pointed look at Joshua’s shirt.

“Yes. Best not to leave that against my skin.” Joshua hesitated, wondering if he should invite Dion along while he… cleaned himself up. It seemed like the right course of action, given how unwell he was just a moment ago.

Dion must have been sharing the same thoughts. “I will be right behind you,” he said, perhaps a little stiffly. “Within range of hearing you. Should you call out for me. That is… for help. Call out for help.”

“Right.” Joshua cleared his throat, grimacing when he could still taste the herbs. “Back to the lake.”

“That was a new shirt,” Joshua was saying mournfully as he approached from the direction of the lake, his return having already been heralded by footsteps crunching over twigs and leaves. “Leather washed off easily enough, but not the shirt. It lasted as long as the fragile blossoms of spring.”

“Oh, I imagine that sap…” Dion trailed off as he turned to fully face Joshua, now wearing nothing underneath his snug leather vest. He had also scrubbed his face, and the charred tips of his hair clung damply to his head, but that was not nearly as distracting. “Is. Very hard.” Dion cleared his throat. “To get out.” Had Joshua’s shoulders always been so… lean yet muscled? “You…”

“What is it?” Joshua rubbed at his bare arms as if cold, which could not possibly be the case on this warm day. A warm day that was suddenly much, much warmer.

“Your shoulders.” As Joshua waited, growing more confused, Dion quickly sought for a realistic and sane-sounding follow-up. “You burn easily, do you not?” Joshua’s confusion cleared away, and Dion was pleased by his quick thinking.

“I come prepared.” Joshua set his bag on the ground for another rummage with its usual clatter. Honestly, how had nothing broken yet? “Rice bran and snow daisy oil. It makes for a wonderful sunscreen.” He rose to his feet, handing a bottle over before turning his back on Dion.

Right. Sunscreen. Of course an easily burnt alchemist would create such a concoction to always have on hand. Dion took a deep breath and dumped a greasy glob onto his hand, setting the bottle down among its brethren before rubbing the oil over both of his palms. He inhaled once more and, without dwelling too hard on it, ran the hands over Joshua’s shoulders.

He could feel the muscles tensed under his hands, beginning to loosen as he kneaded the sunscreen in. Joshua let out a happy little sigh as his pale skin was successfully gaining him an impromptu massage. All Dion had to do was make sure the exposed areas were fully covered, but he was nothing if not a perfectionist, and went over every speck of bare velvety skin multiple times. Firm muscles had turned to wobbly Flan by the time Dion backed away with a satisfied nod.

Joshua turned to Dion, thoroughly flushed, lips parted slightly, and for just a moment their quest for the Phoenix down herb was forgotten by all parties.

“Thank you,” Joshua finally managed to say after an awkwardly long pause that involved lots of avoided eye contact. But then Joshua’s eyes were on him, and they definitely had a downward trajectory. “If that is uncomfortable, I do have ointment that can bring down the swelling.”

“What?” Dion froze, a cold sweat somehow breaking out on skin that burned like a forge. How he longed in that moment, more than ever, to still be able to just fly away. “You… you can do that?” He found himself burning with curiosity as much as mortification. “There is an ointment… that can help…”

“Inflammation,” Joshua said with a nod. “You know how willow bark tea and koring bark tea are both utilized for headaches? I have created an ointment by combining them, along with a distillation of—”

As Joshua rattled off a list of ingredients, Dion finally noticed that Joshua’s eyes were focused on the bare patch of Dion’s left arm, where an ugly bruise was spreading. He frowned down at the offending appendage, wondering when that had even happened. A slap from the plant beast would have poisoned him, too, right? The spiders never got close. Possibly a simple errant branch, and would that not be the most ridiculous injury for a seasoned soldier? “Oh. No, thank you,” he finally said, cutting off a description of the creation process that likely involved more explosions. “I barely noticed it. Save your medicine for when it is truly needed.”

Joshua simply gave a single nod. “Very well.”

Their journey resumed. Joshua was bare-armed but protected from the sun. Dion turned all of his focus on their mission to locate medicinal plants, eyes firmly locked on the greenery surrounding them. The enemies remained small and easily dealt with, although now that he knew it was there, Dion’s bruise was beginning to sting. After years of dealing with far worse injuries along with gradual lithification, he was hardly bothered by it, and only the thought of Joshua applying salve gave the consideration some merit.

“This is remarkable work,” he said during one of Joshua’s collection stops. Fluffy red flowers they called Fire Breath were being harvested, and as Dion watched bare arms at work, he wondered. How did alchemy build or maintain arms? Did Joshua fight monsters himself for their eyes and fangs and other ingredients? Did he carry supplies with him everywhere—such as now, hauling a bag full of glass bottles all day as if it were nothing? Or perhaps he simply exercised in his free time. “Your commitment to replacing lost healing magic is to be commended. You are changing the world.”

“Thank you.” Joshua stood with a smile of pure happiness, which Dion found himself returning. Two men once lost, heading out on a mission together from which neither planned on returning. Now look at them, experiencing such joy as they strove to fix the world they broke, make it better. And Dion had to admit, had the offer to assist Joshua never been extended, he would be happy returning to engineer assisting. The hint that chilling food was next on the agenda was strangely exciting! Perhaps Dion could still help Mid out, even while working with Joshua.

Dion was excited for what the future held. He was excited to learn more about herbs and alchemy. And…

Perhaps there was a future for him with somebody. Somebody sharing his renewed excitement for their new future, so passionate about his work, his new mad scientist look so endearing. A dear friend that—

“Did you feel that?”

“What?” Shaken from his musing, Dion turned away from the rows of foliage. Joshua had paused, head tilted, looking rather like a confused Torgal.

“The earth trembled.” Joshua shook his head, frowning. “No… I suppose I imagined it.”

Dion had felt nothing, and so he simply nodded and returned to his inspection and musing.

Where was he?

Ah yes. The future. A potential future with an enthusiastic scientist with frazzled hair who wanted to change the world. And perhaps together, they could—

Dion froze, coming to such an abrupt halt he was glad Joshua had not been behind him. “Wait.”

“You felt it as well this time?” Joshua whispered, pausing to stare at Dion.

Dion slowly shook his head, the words barely registering. “What?”

“The shaking.”

“Oh. No.” He pointed to the blush of orange nestled among the greenery. “Is that it?”

“What?” Joshua pushed past Dion, falling to his knees as he went for a closer look, like an excited child diving for gifts on a holiday. He leaned in, nearly nose-to-nose with the little orange plant. He looked so astonished and full of wonder in that moment, Dion thought he might burst with affection.

And then Joshua was back on his feet and kissing Dion; it happened so fast, Dion was too stunned to even put his arms around him. All his brain could speculate on was that Joshua’s enthusiastic response implied that was the herb they were looking for. And that Joshua still tasted of the bitter antidote he had consumed, but Dion did not mind it at all. Bitter medicine was how an alchemist should taste.

The kiss was awkward and clumsy, though the longer it lasted, the more Joshua seemed to improve already—or, much like a bad drink, Dion just cared less and less as it went on. Dion finally remembered to slip his hands around bare shoulders to a leather-clad back and hold him closer. Right now it seemed important to hold Joshua close.

“I’m sorry,” Joshua breathed as they broke apart just far enough to gasp in some air. His hair tickled Dion’s face, the strands rougher than he remembered from the feathery accidental touches of the past.

“Do not be sorry,” Dion said. For one brief, crazy moment he thought Joshua was apologizing for his skill. Thank Greagor he did not laugh before the obvious meaning was clear. “For anything. I am glad.”

“Good.” That must have been all the reassurance Joshua needed for he was abruptly kissing Dion again, cupping his face. He was an eager student, always happy to learn and experiment, and Dion was all ready to teach him something new when the trembling ground sent them stumbling apart.

“It seems you were correct,” Dion said grimly, grabbing his spear from its resting spot. “And we are not alone.” As effective as a bucket of ice water. Greagor curse them all.

“We will continue our discussion later.” Joshua let out a long sigh. “Normally the earth moving would be a good thing…” Another shake of the ground, and Joshua was on his knees again. Not from stumbling; he reached reverently for the single orange herb this entire mission hinged upon. Dion held his breath as he watched Joshua carefully pull it free from its stem. He held it up in the fading light, the sunset’s crimson rays peeking in through the trees setting it on fire. “Beautiful.”

“It approaches,” Dion warned, forcing himself to look away, to stand guard. Of all the times for an interruption! But had not that always been their luck? “Nocturnal, perhaps.”

“Or crepuscular.” After carefully securing his precious herb in a bottle and tucking it away, Joshua stood, drawing his blade. He may look the part of the mad scientist now, may have spent the past years burrowed in his lab, but he still held his sword at the ready with practiced ease. “There,” he said, focusing behind Dion. “Look out!”

Dion spun around, dropping into a crouch to prepare for a jump. He hesitated as he took in the large grassy hill approaching, the impenetrable shell of the adamantoise. Dion straightened back up with a scowl as the creature’s head and limbs vanished inside; one of the few foes a dragoon jump was useless against. All they could do now was avoid it until its head popped back out. “I do not care for these things.”

Joshua had a reply ready, but Dion missed it as the ademantoise began to spin, tearing up foliage in its wake and sending dirt flying. Had Joshua not retrieved his herb in time, it would likely be lost. They both hurried out of its way as the massive rotating shell flew by with impossible speed, churned-up earth raining down on them. It paused briefly before doubling back, somehow picking up speed. Dion leaped aside, just in time for it to make another turn, aiming right for him. Joshua’s voice cried out sharply as the adamantoise slammed into Dion as if he were a mere sapling in its way.

He was briefly aware of being airborne, of considerable pain everywhere, before all was dark.

“No!” Joshua stared in horror at the limp form sprawled in the bushes, alarmingly red among lush green, a familiar nightmare sensation returning.

For a time, in Origin, he had genuinely believed Dion had fallen in battle. He had been forced to push that grief aside given the situation, and his own revival later had been to the happy news that Dion still lived. But he never forgot that terrible feeling of despair, and as Dion lay on the ground completely still—all because Joshua wanted to go herb hunting—it was creeping back in and taking root.

The adamantoise had finally ceased its frantic spinning and now rested among flattened plants and snapped trees, head tentatively poking out to investigate its surroundings. Joshua dug through his bag, working quickly but trying to remain as inoffensive as possible to avoid spooking it again. He located a pair of potions that seemed harmless enough, one for minor wounds and one to combat sleep spores, but he knew from personal experience did not mix well. Joshua dumped one potion into the other vial, gave it a quick shake, and rolled it under the creature’s grassy shell.

There was a sound like muffled thunder, smoke curling out from beneath the ademantoise. With a startled cry, it yanked its head back inside and began to spin once more, wobbling like a dropped plate as it fled back along the path of broken trees it had emerged from.

Joshua barely waited for the shell to disappear off to hopefully a distant corner of the island before scrambling to Dion’s side, heart in his throat. He rested trembling fingers against a pulse that barely flickered with life. “Dion…” He could not accept this. Not again. Not when this journey was his idea. Not from something as anticlimactic as an adamantoise. Not when they had finally awakened to what they must have known all along existed between them. Not… not Dion. Joshua pulled his carefully packaged Phoenix herb from its bottle, not hesitating before he tore it in half, shoving part of it away for safe keeping. The rest he crumbled into a vial already half-full of a green healing potion, hoping the two were compatible. But if he blew them both up, so be it. At least they were dying together in the name of science. “Please work.” Sending out a brief prayer to the Founder, to Greagor, to the Eikons that perhaps still watched over them, to whichever science deity had managed to keep him alive throughout all of his experimental close calls… Joshua tipped the contents into Dion’s mouth, massaging his throat, begging him to just drink it and not choke.

The results were nearly instantaneous. Lacerations wove back together, fractures corrected themselves, color returned to sallow skin. Joshua nearly burst into tears, as much from the sharp reminder of his own lost healing magic as from Dion’s recovery. This herb truly was as potent as the Phoenix it resembled! How in the world had it not been cultivated and marketed? Something must have happened, so long ago, to show that leaving these herbs alone was for the best.

Eyes like goldenseal root slowly blinked open, forehead crinkling in confusion as he took in what was hopefully a clear and painless view of trees and dark sky. “What?” Dion attempted to jerk upright, eased back down by Joshua’s hand on his chest. He stared up in surprise, and Joshua did cry then. “Am I dead?”

Joshua shook his head, smiling through the tears. “We’re both all right.”

“Good.” Dion let his head drop back to the ground. “I should hope, had that been the case, you would have devised a better story to share with everybody than adamantoise.”

Joshua’s teary smile became genuine laughter; he couldn’t help it, after he had been thinking that same thought. It wasn’t even that funny! “Of course. Only a flying, fire-breathing, armored Behemoth could take you out. I would tell everyone no less.”

With help that he allowed grudgingly, Dion sat up, promptly pulling Joshua close for a kiss. And just as quickly pushing him away, looking immensely distraught. “What did you do?”

“I healed you with a potion.” Joshua lifted the empty bottle into Dion’s viewpoint.

“I know my body, Joshua.” His eyes, so recently the objects of Joshua’s admiration, narrowed. “I know I was not just a little wounded.” He continued to hold his accusing stare, but Joshua refused to look away. “You used the Phoenix herb.” He did not wait for Joshua to do anything beyond open his mouth. “The only one, the reason we came here. We are back to square one.”

“I am sorry for saving your life.” Joshua pulled out the bottle containing half a torn herb. “I still have some of it.” He gave the bottle a little shake, not exactly placating Dion, before returning it to his bag. “Perhaps I can study it, figure out how to grow more or how it works.” He brightened. “That beast tore up all the plants in its rampage, but perhaps we can still find the leaves and stem and roots. Or…” He patted the bag fondly. “Or maybe I can only make one more potion. That is still one person near death we can save, that we could not otherwise.”

Finally, he jabbed Dion in the chest. “What would you have done, had I been the one wounded?”

Dion sagged, staring down at the earth, still stained in his blood. That was one difference: healing magic basically reversed a wound, leaving the blood inside its owner where it belonged. Potions, even those with impossibly magical-seeming results, still left a mess behind. Hopefully Dion had enough blood. “I suppose… crumple it up and shove it in your mouth, which may not have worked at all, and you still would have died and there would be no herb at all.”

“Oh.” Joshua snorted. “I was thinking more along the lines of you doing the same for me, but you might be correct.” He leaned in for another kiss. “I was all ready to use the rest of the herb,” he murmured against Dion’s lips, “if half was not enough.”

Dion just rolled his eyes, an action that seemed especially amusing coming from him. “I know. And do you know what?” He licked his lips. “It leaves a pleasant aftertaste.”

“I noticed that! Would that my childhood medications have been that sweet.”

“All that possess the power of the Phoenix taste sweet, I suppose.”

It was hard for Joshua to not roll his own eyes, but he would never offend Dion for ridiculous compliments. It was rather cute. “I suppose it is time to return to the boat.”

“Return?” Dion peered at Joshua, as if suddenly unsure he were real. “Why?”

Joshua blinked at him. “Because… we found it? And that thing is still out there, I only scared it away.”

Dion stood, looking around for his supplies, locating the spear and striding that way. “We found one,” he said. “There might be more. We know what manner of beast we are dealing with and will not be caught unaware again.” He nodded to Joshua. “Let us find a safe spot to rest for the night. Our search resumes at first light.”

Joshua could only stare up at him from his spot on the grassy, bloody ground. “I… yes. Of course.”

Later…

The lab was as full of bubbling, steaming, distilling life as ever when Dion pushed the door open and eased his way in. He looked fondly at the familiar chaos, snatching a dangerously shaking beaker off a flame and replacing it with another, barely breaking his stride. “I come bearing gifts.”

Joshua looked up from his alembic, brilliant smile lighting up his goggle-covered face. Instead of soot, it was dotted with dewy droplets; ice crystals clung to his hair. “Something delicious, I hope.”

“It is long past lunch.” Dion set his package into a small sliver of empty space on a wobbly desk. Nearby sat the bottled torn half of a Phoenix down herb, still waiting to be used. “I should have known you hadn’t eaten yet.”

“Is that a no?” Joshua pulled his goggles off, sending ice crystals and water scattering, followed by the heavy leather gloves.

“We will go out for lunch.” Dion lifted an unpleasantly dripping sack from his bag, wrinkling his nose. “More eyes, as requested.”

“Thank you.” Laughing, Joshua hurried closer, leaning in for a kiss. It was a far cry from that first eyeball delivery, when Dion was simply happy to see his friend again. Now here they were, together as often as possible, experimenting and hunting together, changing the world together one potion at a time. All from one shared adventure, an afternoon on an island forest. Two men, both returned from death to be together.

Never mind that one could only be taken out by a god, after having managed to seal that god away for years. While the other was… knocked aside like a pesky bug by a common adamantoise. Small details. What mattered was they had defied all odds to be together.

“And this is Mid’s latest attempt.” Dion pulled a small metal cube out, holding it into the light to show off knobs and levers jutting from its gleaming carapace.

“I knew you were conspiring with Mid.” Not unhappy in the slightest, Joshua gleefully picked the device up, holding it close. His propensity to inspect new and unknown inventions or concoctions up close and personal really made Dion wonder how he had only died the once. Like a cat, he was.

“Here.” Dion flipped a switch, a small door popping open, revealing an apple and wrapped bundle of meat within. He reached inside to give everything an experimental poke, nodding in satisfaction. “Still perfectly cold.”

Joshua’s eyes were so wide, he may as well still be wearing his goggles. “The refrigeration device works!”

“Thanks to our freezing potions.” It was hard not to burst with pride: that was the first potion Dion had assisted in its creation. And the ingredients were common and easily cultivated; unlike his Phoenix herb, there was no concern about frequent usage by a large number of people. Every city could have one. Every home! “Now you can keep lunch stored in here with you.”

“I suppose so.” Joshua pressed close with another thrilled kiss, tasting of his usual mixture of herbs he had sampled. Dion slid his arms around him, holding the leather-clad form close. “This is amazing,” he said after breaking away once more. “What’s next?”

“Perhaps the bedroom?” Dion smirked at Joshua’s startled chuckle. “I am joking. I know you meant Mid’s plans.”

“I do like your idea.”

So Dion turned back to the lab’s sturdy, explosion-resistant door. Joshua, still cradling the cooling device, was right behind him. “I believe next she wishes to experiment with taming lightning.” Dion had his doubts such a feat were possible. Nothing mundane could harness the raw power of a thunderstorm like Ramuh. “She would like some couerl whiskers.” It was a decent quest for a former dragoon, at least.

Unlike an adamantoise. Which was why, any time Dion secretly snuck back to that island in search of more Phoenix herbs to surprise Joshua with, he took along warriors better equipped to handle it. One day he would return with the herb he sought.

“Couerl whiskers, to bottle lightning.” Joshua sounded just as skeptical as Dion felt as they passed through the very normal hallway of their very normal home at the edge of civilization, now bearing the lived-in look of them both. One would never guess the bubbling chaos that raged on just below by looking at the mismatched furniture they had settled for when they could not agree on a single set.

Potted plants decorated the house in abundance, offering pleasant decoration along with a constant source of common ingredients. One bright orange pot near the sapphire blue loveseat had been where they planted the roots of hopefully the Phoenix herb upon their return. But alas, a useless tiny fern grew from it instead, a friendly little reminder of their first journey as scientists together.

“I suppose anything is possible,” Joshua was saying as he, too, seemed lost in thought looking over their plant collection. Instead of continuing on to the bedroom, he settled onto the loveseat that was nowhere near big enough for the two of them to do more than sit side-by-side. Dion simply looked down at him, as amused as he was enchanted, until Joshua remembered to discard his leather apron.

Dion did not have time to so much as blink before the now-familiar sound of a muffled explosion downstairs reached their ears. Joshua, looking quite sheepish, began to stand before Dion stopped him. “I will go this time.”

“Thank you.” His acceptance itself said a lot about their relationship, when he would have hesitated in the beginning. Dion and Mid were the only ones he trusted checking on the experiments without supervision. “Wait.”

Dion, already on his way back to the stairs, paused with a backward glance. “Yes?”

Joshua’s sheepish expression grew just a little mischievous. “Bring back the pink potion on the table by the stills. I think it is time to try that one.”

Dion hummed thoughtfully. Oh, that concoction… “I am almost afraid to ask where we will have pink hair after drinking that.”

“That is what experimenting is for!” The fact that Joshua was not denying anything was concerning, but realistic.

Dion continued back down toward the lab, grabbing a pair of goggles as he went. He wondered what was in store for him this time as he pushed open the reinforced door to the lab, and its symphony of colorful potions.