Work Text:
Six weeks after Edward started rooming with Workner again
It was yet another three weeks of comfortable coexistence later, when the news that Ed’s rooms were almost complete came through. The engineer in charge predicted the space would be fit for habitation in another five days or so.
Workner didn’t know how he felt about that. After almost a full semester of Ed’s company, Workner had gotten used to it.
He’d gotten used to having the other man around, in his space. That when he came home, there would be traces of another person in the sitting room. Hints of burnt ozone in the atmosphere, if Ed had come from a training session; or faint ink stains on his doorjamb from Ed’s habit of not letting the ink dry on his parchment.
Workner had even gotten used to leaving the couch free of clutter, so Ed could collapse onto it after the other mage got back after a long day. (Workner had commented that Ed resembled some noble lady on a swooning couch once, and had gotten a shoe tossed at his head in retaliation.)
Workner had also gotten used to having the other man next to him, in his bed. It sounded strange to say out loud, but Workner liked waking up next to Ed and knowing he wasn’t alone. Beyond tolerating the incursion into his space, Workner actively enjoyed it. And that worried him a little.
Workner had always known the arrangement was a temporary one. He had counted on it, in fact. As a creature of habit, though, Workner wasn’t looking forward to Ed’s departure and consequent disruption of said habit.
“It’s just stress I don’t need,” Workner had admitted to the sky dragon he was brushing in the stables. “No one likes stress, right? I know you don’t,” Workner cooed. The sky dragon in question gave a content rumble deep in its chest and closed its eyes. Workner scratched at a particular spot behind its top left horn. “Yeah, that’s it, big guy. I wonder what he’d do if I told him I forbid him from leaving, just so I don’t have to change my routine. He’d probably laugh in my face, honestly.”
The sky dragon made a crooning noise, and nudged Workner with its mouth until Workner’s hand switched to the other horn. Workner smiled exasperatedly as he continued to scratch. “You are so spoiled, you know that?” Workner told the sky dragon. The sky dragon had no comment, but Workner hadn’t expected one.
“Professor Workner?” A voice called out, and Workner leaned back away from the sky dragon to call back.
“In here!” He replied, then finished rubbing down the long neck before him. It wasn’t anything a standard groom couldn’t do, but he enjoyed connecting with the animals. A redheaded girl approached with a scroll in one hand. Workner gave her a warm grin. “Ah, Aria. What can I do for you?” Workner asked, wiping his hands on a towel. Aria smiled back.
“Professor Eliza wanted me to ask if you can give this to Professor Edward tonight. She said she doesn’t have time to hunt him down, and that you’d be able to get it to Professor Edward quicker than anyone anyway.” Workner wasn’t so sure, but he accepted the scroll and put it in his satchel next to the stable. “Tell Professor Eliza I’ll do my best, but I probably won’t see him until late. He works past dinner time on practical testing days.” Aria nodded.
“I’ll let her know. Thanks, Professor Workner!” The girl said, before turning and exiting the stables. Workner shook his head. It wasn’t a new thing, people giving him things to give to Ed. Mostly, it was students trying to avoid the Viper Mage’s wrath. Workner rarely accepted anything, citing professionalism. As much as he wished Ed was a bit more diplomatic some days, he wouldn’t tread on Ed’s space like that.
Since Workner and Ed had started sharing Workner’s room, though, some staff had begun assuming that giving materials to one was the same as giving materials to the other. Mostly like now, when they would send things to Workner via a student knowing Ed wouldn’t appreciate the interruption. Though there had been an evening when Ed had appeared with a package for Workner after visiting the mailroom for himself. Apparently the mailman had put them both in Ed’s box.
Workner shook himself, and latched the stall door as he began putting away the grooming materials. Another thing that would probably change when Ed moved out, Workner thought. He just didn’t know how to keep things the same, without making everything so much more awkward.