Work Text:
One and a Half Weeks after Edward Serfence began temporarily rooming with Workner Norgram.
Sharing a space with Workner again was surprisingly nice, Edward had to admit. Despite the initial friction of learning bathroom habits and sleeping schedules, they had fallen back into a good rhythm in a short enough time.
Edward would never admit it, but he missed this. Another presence in his life, that wasn’t demanding or pushing. That was Workner’s own particular magic, Edward decided after a week and a half of rooming together again. The ability to be present, but not obtrusive.
It was probably why Edward hadn’t hexed the man three ways to Sunday when Workner had insisted he keep his hair products on a specific shelf in the bathroom, or demanded he actually go to sleep at a “reasonable time”.
It helped that a “reasonable time” was closer to eleven or midnight, rather than the nine or ten others had suggested. Workner himself kept odd hours, so Edward figured it was some misplaced nurturing instinct and reluctantly extinguished the lights when asked.
If only his own brain would take the hint and shut off with the lights.
Instead, it refused to stop: Dark Viper Mage, Edward Serfence, Ascendent, lying on a narrow cot behind his friend’s couch, unable to sleep as his mind replayed bits and pieces of the day behind his eyelids.
He should be grateful for everything, and he was. He was so stupidly grateful to be here, to be away from prying eyes and gossiping mouths. Away from the Tower, and all those hateful, gleeful people who pounced on his failure like monsters on unsuspecting dungeon divers.
They’d spawned almost as quickly as monsters, Edward recalled. He’d always had his share of competition and animosity, but everything seemed to increase exponentially after his epic loss. People he hadn’t even known, never talked to, suddenly had an opinion on Edward’s life choices. Worse: Suddenly, Edward could hear all their negative words like knives on his eardrums.
Edward had done his best. That was the horrible, un-flinching truth of the situation. Edward had done his best, given everything he was, and it hadn’t been enough. Never enough. They should change his epithet to “Fangless Viper Mage”. All show and no substance.
Edward knew he should ease up, maybe get up and go to the library or something. Clear his head. But his thoughts had good and trapped him now. It was too easy to follow the paths of self-flagellation in his brain while he was all alone in the dark.
“Ed? Are you alright?”
A warm golden light filtered through Ed’s eyelids. His eyes snapped open, and Edward was grabbing his wand and halfway into an attack before he realized who had woken him. “Workner?” He asked in confusion. “Why are you here?” He asked, relaxing his stance. Workner sighed. “Couldn’t sleep,” Workner shrugged. “Figured I’d go for a walk, but then I sensed something over here. You were frowning so hard in your sleep, your eyebrows almost touched your nose. I know how much you hate wrinkles, so I figured it must be something bad.”
Edward growled. Why did Workner insist on provoking him? It was one bottle of lotion for his face, not some anti-aging array he’d inked onto his forehead.
“I have an issue with the sun, as you well-know, you thick-skinned ass. When all that sun exposure leads to unpleasant doctor’s visits, don’t come to me for sympathy,” Edward sneered as he fell back on the cot.
Workner scoffed. “The day I come to you for sympathy, I’d deserve whatever you say.”
Golden eyes assessed Edward in a way that made Edward a bit self-conscious.
“Want to talk about it?” Workner asked softly. Edward almost bit his tongue as he clenched his teeth. Why did people keep asking him that? Serah had tried to get Edward to sit and share his “feelings” about everything; Edward hadn’t talked to her for a month. When Workner asked, though, Edward just felt tired.
“No,” he replied, covering his face with a hand. Workner clicked his tongue. Edward groaned, and looked up at the other man. His hair was down, and he held a blanket around his shoulders like a shawl. He would resemble an old granny, if it weren’t for his height and the keen eyes behind his glasses. A walk, huh? Edward had never seen anyone look so ridiculous and intend to go out in public.
More likely, Workner had sensed a disturbance and come looking to see what it was about. Workner had always been sensitive to magic and the different currents it created in the ether. It had come in handy when he was hunting rare beasts, or escaping professors in their youth. The white lie was appreciated, though.
“I thought you were going on a walk,” Edward said in dismissal. Workner rolled his eyes, then smiled. “Come on, Ed. You’re not that stupid. How could I leave my friend when he’s in need of company?”
Edward couldn’t help his own wry laugh. “Friend?” Workner’s eyes narrowed, and his face became serious. “Yes, you insufferable bastard, your friend. And as your friend, I’m telling you that even if you don’t want to talk about it, you shouldn’t be alone. So, we’re going to have a sleepover.”
Before Edward could form a rebuke, Workner surged forward and grabbed Edward’s slack arm before yanking the tall man up and through the sitting room. Edward still didn’t understand what was going on, until Workner had placed the candle on the bedside table and yanked Edward down onto the bed beside him. Without missing a beat, Workner grabbed another blanket and drew it around Edward’s slim shoulders snugly. Then he sat and smiled in satisfaction.
“There. Now, go to sleep. We both know you’ll sleep better when you’re near another person.”
Edward wanted to deny it, but a wave of lethargy rolled over him like a wave. He half thought Workner had put a sleep charm on the blankets, but he knew with grumpy certainty the other mage was right.
Instead, Edward merely sighed, then lay down on the bed beside Workner. It wasn’t a large mattress, but it could accommodate the two of them well enough. “I hate you,” Edward murmured as Workner blew out the light. He registered Workner’s deep chuckle as he lay down not far from Edward’s side. “‘Night, Ed,” had been his only reply.
As Edward listened to Workner’s even breathing, he felt himself drift away into a dreamless sleep. It really wasn’t fair that Workner knew him so well. But he didn’t really hate it as much as usual.