Archive of Our Own

Trips to Kalhn were rarer than Qifrey would like them to be.

He sometimes forgot how freeing such a small adventure felt to the girls. He held no fondness for cities himself, but he supposed for his apprentices, the novelty would always be exciting.

It hurt his chest a bit when they acted as if they were confined to the atelier, his favorite place.

Qifrey just hoped the lazy day walking through town would assuage his guilt a bit.

He walked with Tetia and Coco on either side, whispering to each other as he very blatantly eavesdropped on their hushed conversation full of gasps and giggling.

Olruggio was a little farther up the path, having chased Richeh down with Agott in tow when the girl bolted out of reach to a barbeque stand.

He glanced back at Qifrey once he had Richeh’s hand securely in his own, raising his brow as if to say, “Was that the right thing to do?”

It was, and Qifrey confirmed so with a small smile and nod of his head.

Olruggio sighed, watching intently as Richeh skipped a few paces ahead, happily enjoying her bribe of saltpork skewers with Brushbuddy running all over her shoulders, trying to steal a bite.

“Watch out!”

It was shrill, and full of terror, a woman’s voice coming from close enough Qifrey heard it clear as day.

His blood went cold.

“Everyone get back now!” he shouted, grabbing hold of Tetia and Coco’s collars to yank them behind him.

He saw Olruggio turn his head, and saw the man’s hand fist in the back of Agott’s cloak as if to lift her, his other reaching to Richeh up ahead.

But there was a scream so blood-curdling that Olruggio’s gaze snapped to the side, and Richeh was still standing a few feet in front of him.

It was only a split-second.

Not even long enough for Qifrey to manage a proper gasp.

There was another scream, this time layered with others and the commotion of a frantic crowd desperate to get away.

A reflection soared overhead, it’s trajectory suddenly halting midair in a harsh gleam of sunlight.

It launched straight at Richeh.

“Agott, no!”

Agott tore herself from Olruggio’s grasp, lunging forwards and wrapping both arms tight around Richeh, twisting to shove the girl away from the blow.

“Master Qifrey!”

Tetia’s frantically calling his name, her and Coco both, over and over again.

They’re tugging at his robes, they’re both crying.

Qifrey can’t hear.

He can’t hear or move or breathe.

His sight wouldn’t focus, everything was too hazy.

Qifrey stumbled forwards.

It happened too fast to see, but somehow Richeh was laying curled up on the ground, off to the side and out of the way.

Agott was flat on her back, and Qifrey could see how rapidly her chest was rising and falling.

There’s blood smeared over her dress, her eyes were shock-wide.

Olruggio coughed once, and blood splattered across her cheek.

“Oh, sorry,” Olruggio’s small voice said, rough and labored. He heaved a breath, his arms shaking with the effort to hold himself above her. “Didn’t mean to do that.”

He shot her a small, wry grin.

Then he collapsed.

His body pinned Agott to the ground, and her eyes filled with tears, and then she screamed.

Qifrey sprinted forward, and he could hear the girls calling his name, and see Agott’s eyes, wide and terrified and reflecting the blood oozing onto her clothes.

He fell to his knees beside them.

He grabbed Olruggio by the shoulders, yanking him into a sitting position and willing himself to stomach seeing the damage.

The barb was long and needle-sharp, seeming to be made from metal and piercing straight through Olruggio’s chest.

Qifrey could see both ends of it poking from his clothes, blood soaking through the ruined fabric surrounding it.

It kept getting darker.

Stay calm, stay calm.

He grabbed the end of his cloak, tearing long strips from the fabric and twining them around the barb where it met Olruggio’s mangled skin.

There was a pained gasp, and Olruggio lurched in his hold.

Qifrey started to cry.

“Y-you need to remain still, Olly,” he whispered, his voice wavering. His breath caught in his throat, murmuring out a pitchy, “Don’t you know you’re bleeding?”

Olruggio’s hand fisted in his robe, and he muttered something too warbled for Qifrey to make out.

“What was that, my dove?” Qifrey asked, leaning close.

He felt Olruggio’s breath on his neck as the man croaked out a quiet and stunted, “-girls...” before heaving a clotted gasp and adding a rough, “Scaring ‘em, Qifrey.”

Qifrey’s arms tightened around him, his vision blurring along the edges.  

Olruggio didn’t speak again, and his breathing slowed, and Qifrey’s nerves were frayed beyond recognition.

Calm, calm, calm, calm.

It looked so sickeningly close to his heart, and there was so much blood and Qifrey didn’t know what to do because he wasn’t allowed to know what to do and-

“Qifrey, let me help!”

It was Luluci’s voice, he could tell.

But the only reason the Knights Moralis would be here is if this was a military issue, which meant that some sick bastard in this city just mauled Olruggio in cold blood.

Right in front of him.

His heart was racing, and he felt like he couldn’t breathe. His fingertips were sticky with blood.

Olly’s blood.

He saw a hand on the side of Olruggio’s neck, right at his pulse.

It wasn’t Qifrey’s.

“Don’t touch him!”

It was so sharp and hateful that it felt like glass dragging up his throat.

He could feel Luluci staring at him with those big eyes of hers, wide and startled as Qifrey clutched Olruggio to his heaving chest.

Luluci leaned slightly, just into his line of sight that he couldn’t tear from the bloody fabric sticking to Olruggio’s sweaty skin.

He shouldn’t be this pale.

Qifrey wiped at his eye, crouching to slip an arm beneath Olruggio’s knees with the other wrapping around his back, careful to weave around the barb.

He stood.

“Point me towards the hospital.”

“Let me take him,” Luluci said, stepping in front of him. “You need to watch your apprentices.” She looked past him, adding a hushed, “Get them someplace safe, Qifrey.”

“Where is the hospital?” he demanded again, his voice harsh and angry and raising as he shouted, “I won’t ask you a third time, Luluci, point me towards the damn hospital!”

She blinked once, and her gaze shifted over his shoulder.

Her face fell.

Then she sighed, turning to point the way they came.

Qifrey shut his eye, and he pressed his face into Olruggio’s hair, inhaling deep.

Then he turned on his heel to sprint away from the scene, towards the hospital and right past the four little girls left staring after him.

The hospital was packed to bursting when Qifrey ran inside, filled with citizens injured in the panic, lost children searching for their parents, and...

Victims.

His chest was heaving as he looked down at Olruggio, and he wished he had a hand free to brush the hair from his face.

He shouldered through the crowd, earning a tongue-lashing from the receptionist for cutting the line which devolved into a screaming match that abruptly ended when her eyes found the barb, the blood, and the sickly pallor of Olruggio’s skin.  

The next few minutes were a flurry of questions and triage and nurses having to threaten Qifrey with expulsion for him to finally let Olruggio leave his arms.

They took Olruggio down a hallway, and Qifrey followed one step behind until they entered an exam room.

He fought hard to get into that room, but they kept denying him, and the rational part of him knew it was for the best, that he’d only be in the way and would impede their work.

It’s how Qifrey found himself sat on a bench in the hallway, not knowing how much time was passing or what he should be doing with it.

No one’s exited the room yet, but a few entered, carrying so many bags of blood Qifrey worried he’d be sick from the implication of it.

It felt like a torture made special just for him.

He must’ve dropped his cap in the panic, leaving his emotional-support ribbon somewhere on the street and his emotional-support person bloodied and battered one room away.

There were footsteps, and he could tell from the scent of perfume that it was Alaira walking towards him.  

But it wasn’t Olruggio, so it didn’t matter.

He returned to his emotional-support task of watching the door.

“Know why I was called here?” Alaira asked, staring down at him with her arms crossed and her shoe impatiently tapping against the floor.

She only waited a moment before taking a seat beside him and leaning in close.

“Richeh’s pretty banged up from the fall she took,” she said pointedly, staring him down. “And Tetia and Coco were terrified.”

Qifrey didn’t move, or breathe, or make a single sound, his eye locked onto that door.

It was the only thing that mattered.

Alaira snapped in his face. “Agott got stitches, Qifrey!” she shouted, grabbing his chin and forcibly turning his gaze to her. “She was hurt and you weren’t there!”

His skin prickled, and his chest caved in.

“Don’t you think I know that?” he whispered venomously, wrenching himself from her hold. “Of course I know that! But what would you have me do?” he asked roughly, staring daggers at her. “Leave him there?”

She didn’t understand where he was coming from, Qifrey could tell by how angry she looked in the few moments of silence that followed.

Alaira clicked her tongue, looking off to the side. “What exactly are you saying?”

His fingers twisted into his hair, pulling at the strands until it stung.

He could practically smell Olruggio’s blood on his hands, and hear the man’s soft groans of pain as Qifrey handed him over to the medics.

It’s the only thing that matters.

“That there are some things more important than the girls!”

It was dead quiet, and Qifrey’s breathing was out of control.

He doubled over, feeling the burn of bile rise in his throat.

“I can’t believe you just said that out loud.”

Alaira sounded disgusted by him. 

He curled up tighter, pressing his face into his knees and wrapping his arms around them. “Me neither,” he whispered in shame, feeling the guilt close in around him.

“Master Qifrey?”

The smallest he’s ever heard her voice, tentative and startled so horribly timed.

He felt his eye well up, and then he wiped at it, slowly lifting his head.

“Agott.”

She was standing there in a different dress, wringing her hands together and staring at him with wide eyes.

Alaira looked between them, seemingly struggling with the decision to stay and continue berating him, or grant him the small mercy of leaving and not watching him fall apart.

She shook her head, giving Qifrey a pointed, “We’ll be discussing this again,” before standing and tacking on a softer, “Once your Watchful Eye can take part.”

Her footsteps echoed down the hall, and Qifrey’s gaze found the door once again.

But he couldn’t watch for too long, because Agott was still there, waiting with patience for him to pull himself together.

“I-I heard you were hurt,” he whispered, voice shaky. He cleared his throat, reaching out to her. “You had to get stitches?”

She nodded, stepping closer. “Yes, but only a few.”

“But still, that’s...” He trailed off, eyeing the pinpricks of blood showing through the bandage on her chest. “I’m, um- I’m so sorry I wasn’t-“

His voice cracked, and he stared up at the ceiling, biting into his lower lip to keep himself quiet.

“Master Qifrey,” Agott said softly, setting a light hand on his knee. “You’re crying.”

Dammit.

He laughed, and it sounded wet and awkward and so horribly wrong.

“It seems I am,” he mumbled, shifting his gaze away. “How embarrassing,” he whispered to himself. “I’m making so many mistakes today.”

It was his worst day as a teacher by far, and he didn’t even know the extent of it yet.

Or that he was only making it worse.

“Will Master Olly not be okay?” Agott asked quickly, wringing her hands together. “Is that why you’re so upset?”

Qifrey shook his head. “He’s not out of surgery yet, but he...” He cleared his throat. “He’ll be fine.”

Big eyes staring right at him, searching for comfort as Agott quietly urged, “Are you sure?”

“No.”

His voice broke as he said it, all the stress and worry and fear turning to a flood of honestly he couldn’t hold in.

“I’m sorry,” he gasped out, dropping his face into his hands. “Agott, I am so, so sorry.” His teeth dug into his lip, furious with himself. “Leaving you girls there, all by yourselves in such a panic-‍”

“We weren’t alone, Miss Luluci was with us!”

She was trying to make him feel better, lessen his guilt.

But the effort was wasted on him because-

“I didn’t know that!” he shouted, whipping around to face her. “Don’t you see, Agott?” he asked, horrified laughter starting to bubble up beneath his words. “It didn’t even register in my head! None of you existed to me once Olly was-‍”

His mouth snapped shut.

Then he was left to stare wide-eyed down at the floor, sick with shame but so far past caring when Olruggio was on the other side of the wall and Qifrey’s heart was shattered to pieces in his chest.

Agott took a small step towards him.

“You didn’t mean to,” she said quietly, sounding sure of herself. “We don’t think rationally when we’re scared,” she added after a moment, looking up at him. “You were… so scared, Master Qifrey, we won’t hold that against you.”

Qifrey sighed, shaky and shallow.

“You’re a very sweet girl, Agott,” he said softly, desperate not to cry. “Trying to spare your master’s feelings.”

I don’t deserve it.

He was about to break apart.

“It’s late,” he whispered. “You should go back to the others and get some rest.”

She made a face. “What will you do?”

His eye raised, and he smiled.

It felt horrible and awful and twisted beyond recognition.

“I’ll wait here, for Master Olly.”

Agott’s lips pressed into a thin line, quiet for a moment.

“I think you should come back with me,” she said quickly, rubbing at her arm and adding an awkward, “I don’t feel comfortable leaving you by yourself.”

Qifrey sighed. “Agott, I… I can’t leave.”

Her mouth twisted. “You always say we shouldn’t be alone when we’re-‍”

“Agott,” he repeated firmly, slamming his fist against the bench. “I will not leave!”

Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open.

She looked furious.

“You owe us!” she shouted, stomping her foot with her hands curled into fists at her sides. “It was scary and we’re worried about you both and you owe us!”

She scrubbed her hands through her hair. “I got stitches and you left!” Her breath hitched. “Richeh is covered in bruises and Tetia hasn’t stopped crying since it happened!”

Then her hands were on her hips, huffing as she leaned over him.

“And after all that, you have the nerve to sit here and yell at me?” she demanded, her eyes sparking in anger. “I don’t think so!”

Qifrey balked, shifting his gaze around. “I… didn’t mean to yell, I only-‍”

“Get up!” she snapped, grabbing his arm and attempting to yank him from the bench. “Ugh, you weigh a ton!” She threw his arm to the side before pointing a finger in his face. “Get up right now!”

He huffed a nervous laugh. “Don’t you think you’re being a bit demanding?”

“Do you expect me to coddle you?” she asked, flippantly gesturing at him. “You’re a grownup!”

Qifrey didn’t consider himself a prideful man, but...

That one stung.  

“Alright,” he conceded quietly, dusting off his robes as he stood. He gestured down the hall. “Lead the way.”

She looked surprised at first, like she expected him continue refusing her.

But then Agott shook her head, taking his hand in hers to tug him down the hall and away from that door.

It broke his heart to leave, and he wondered if Olruggio would do the same thing, if he’d suffer the way Qifrey was right now.

He glanced at Agott, at the small bit of bandage poking from the collar of her dress and the determined look on her face.

Qifrey sighed, tightening his hold on her hand and taking a deep breath to will himself calm.

Olruggio would forgive him for leaving in this situation, that he was certain.

He’d just have to pray the pardon stuck once Olruggio knew who else was left behind.

When they arrived at the room Luluci managed to reserve for the girls, Agott held up a hand, stopping him in place.

“Let me brief them,” she said, glancing over at him and adding, “It’s... startling to see you like this,” before pulling the door open.

“Did you find Master Qifrey?” Tetia’s frantic voice asked. “Did you talk to him? How’s Master Olly?” She took a harsh breath. “What did the doctors say? Will Master Olly be-‍”

“Tetia, slow down,” Agott said with forced calm. “Master Olly’s still in surgery, there isn’t much news yet.”

“Oh,” Tetia whispered, soft and heart-broken. “A-and Master Qifrey?”

“I spoke to him,” Agott said slowly, looking to the side at Qifrey hidden in the hall. “He’s here, but he’s...” She trailed off, her fingers ghosting over the bandage under her clothes. “He’s very upset.

“I thought it’d be good for him to wait with us,” she added after a moment, waving Qifrey closer. “We should be together for things like this.”

Qifrey crossed the threshold, awkward and full of shame, and as his gaze swept over Tetia’s tear-streaked face, Coco’s red-rimmed eyes, and the bruises mottling Richeh’s arms and legs, he felt something inside himself break apart.

He gasped, clutching at his chest and stumbling forwards.

Coco stood from her bed, alarmed. “Master Qifrey?”

“Is it Master Olly?” Tetia asked suddenly, her eyes gleaming hazy with tears. “Is he actually still in surgery?” She gasped thickly, scrubbing her hands over her eyes. “He’ll be okay, won’t he? He will, right?”

Qifrey’s ears were ringing, he could hardly breathe.

“Yes,” he rasped harshly. “Olly will be fine. Olly will always be fine.”

He collapsed onto his knees, squeezing his eye shut and winding his hands into his hair. “He’ll be fine, he’ll be fine,” he repeated, whispering the words under his breath in a weak effort to convince himself they were true.

“Oh, dammit,” he gasped after a moment. “Olly, why’d you have to get hurt? You don’t get hurt, you never get hurt.” His fingertips traced down his neck, feeling his own pulse beating like mad beneath his skin. “You’re so careful and responsible and you will be fine,” he urged softly, his voice breaking. “I need you to be fine.”

He pressed his hands together. “Please,” he breathed. “I need this, please.”

“M-Master Qifrey?”

His eye opened, and suddenly he was in the girls’ room again, kneeling on the floor with them all circled around him, watching him shame himself with watery eyes and held breath.

Tetia’s bottom lip was wobbling, and she bit into it.

Then she burst into tears.

“I’m scared, too!” she cried, throwing herself at Qifrey and collapsing into his chest. “It was so scary, Master Qifrey!”

“We didn’t know what was happening,” Coco mumbled, hesitantly approaching as she chewed on her nails. “Everything was fine and then...” She squeezed her eyes shut. “Then Richeh and Agott were on the ground and…”

Agott spoke up then, standing a foot away. “Because Master Olly saved me.”

Qifrey turned to her. “And because you saved Richeh,” he pointed out, his pulse evening. “You were so fast, but I saw it happen.” He looked over them all. “You girls should be proud of Agott, she was a hero today.”

One she had to be in my place.

He felt Coco’s hand grip into his cloak, and he saw Agott and Richeh awkwardly step closer as he smoothed a hand up and down Tetia’s back.

It eased something in him.

“Come in, everyone,” he murmured, holding his arms out.

They all bundled in beneath his cloak, Tetia with her arms locked around his neck, Richeh and Coco beneath either arm, and Agott, pushing her face into his shoulder with her hands fisted tight in his robe.

Qifrey took a slow breath.

He was their teacher.

He owed them his care.

They stayed that way for a few moments, with Qifrey’s hands ruffling through hair and small, warm faces pressing against his conscience.

He looked over them, debating what a good teacher would say in such a situation.

It’s not something he’s ever had to think about before.

Qifrey tapped Richeh’s shoulder. “You got hurt when you fell?” he voiced, gesturing at her bruised arm that he was being careful not to touch.

She nodded. “Scraped my knees too,” she said, lifting the hem of her nightgown. She pulled a face. “Now they’re all itchy.”

He looked to Agott next, a bit more hesitant. “And you... how exactly did you get hurt again?”

Qifrey couldn’t recall if she brought it up before, or if he was paying attention when she did.

Her face twisted a bit. “When Master Olly passed out and he fell forwards, the tip of the blade...” She trailed off, gesturing a short line down her chest.

“Oh,” Qifrey said, his voice small. “I didn’t realize that.”

He hadn’t even considered it.

Qifrey hadn’t thought about it once, as if it didn’t concern him.

It was practically criminal.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, turning his face into Agott’s hair. “I didn’t... it wasn’t my intention to leave you all by yourselves.” His arms tightened around them. “I’m so glad Luluci was there.”

Tension settled in the moment he spoke, and Qifrey hesitated in the awkward silence that followed.

“You need to apologize to her,” Tetia suddenly said, pulling from the hug and sounding oddly firm in spite of the tears drying on her face. “To Miss Luluci.”

Qifrey shrunk back. “I realize I wasn’t the most polite, but given the situation, I don’t think I must-‍”

“Do you not remember?” Agott suddenly asked, shocked as she tugged on his robe.

“Master Qifrey…” Coco murmured slowly, trying to be gentle. “When she tried to help with Master Olly, you kind of...”

Agott concluded with a short, “You slapped her.”

“Right across the face,” Richeh added, swinging her hand in a big arc in demonstration. “It was just like that.”

His brow furrowed. “I... are you certain?”

They all nodded, all four of them.

He doesn’t remember that happening.

All he knew was someone was touching Olruggio, and it wasn’t him, and Qifrey needed that to stop so he-

He did.

His hand flew up to cover his mouth, his eye wide. “Oh goodness, I need to find her right now.”

Qifrey pulled away from them, standing upright and quickly saying, “I’ll be right back, girls, just stay here until-‍”

“Y-you can stay, can’t you?”

It was Coco’s voice, shaky and upset.

His lips pressed into a thin line, a breath from denying her and living through the guilt it brought.

Something caught his eye.

“Is that my...?”

Coco’s eyes widened, and then she offered a shaky smile, rushing to the other side of the room.

“It was on the ground,” she explained, gingerly setting the cap in his hands. “We thought you’d want it.”

Qifrey’s breath caught in his throat, and his eye pricked with tears.

“You picked it up for me?” he whispered, turning it in his hands.

“Of course,” she said happily, her arms tucked behind her back. “A witch’s hat is a precious thing.”

They spared him by remaining quiet as he pressed his forehead to the cap’s emblem, and as Qifrey loosely twirled the ribbon around his finger and his mind calmed, he knew he needed to stay.

Both for himself and the girls.

Qifrey took a deep breath, counting backwards in his head before sitting cross-legged on the floor.

He rested his chin in hand, looking between them and asking, “Could you girls show me some of your spells?” before his face crumpled a bit and he added a shaky, “It’d make me feel better.”

As expected, they rushed at the chance, frantically tripping over each other to search their bags for palm quires and spread them on the floor before him.

Qifrey smiled, soft and slow.

It was all he had left to hold him together.

Qifrey awoke to daybreak creeping through the window and his back aching from a night spent sleeping on the floor.

Coco and Agott were curled up together under his arm, using the edge of his cloak as a makeshift blanket.

Resourceful of them, but he still felt bad for not putting them to bed properly.

He unclasped his cloak from his shoulders, which took care of only half of his apprentices.

Richeh was sprawled across his legs, pinning them to the floor, and Tetia was sleeping with her arm coiled around his own and her face shoved into Richeh’s stomach.

After some careful maneuvering of an absurd number of limbs, Qifrey finally managed to stand with all girls remaining asleep.

It was as he finished covering them with blankets and tucking pillows beneath their heads that the realization struck him like a bolt piercing through his chest.

He jerked upright, his pulse hammering in his ears.

The doctor said she’d come get him once Olruggio’s surgery was finished, and now it was nearly morning.

No one came to get him.

Qifrey sprinted from the room, running full-speed down the hallway and towards the med-bay.

He ran head-first into one of Olruggio’s nurses as he came around the corner, and he gripped her shoulders tight, yanking her forwards and seething, “No one came to get me,” between clenched teeth.

His sight blurred. “Why didn’t anyone come to get me?” he demanded, shoving her away. “What the hell did you people do?”

She opened her mouth, and the thought of what she might say made him feel sick to his stomach.

He stormed past her, his steps unsteady as he found that vile door and threw it open.

It slammed into the wall with a harsh bang, leaving the door rattling on its hinges and every person in the room staring at Qifrey in alarm.

The doctor, two more nurses.

And Olruggio.

He was sat upright in bed, actively getting his bandages changed and staring wide-eyed at Qifrey having a heart attack in the doorway.

Qifrey took a startled step back, not knowing if it was relief flooding into his chest or betrayal.

“N-no one came to get me,” he whispered harshly, clutching a hand into the fabric of his shirt. His voice cracked, and his soft words ached. “Why didn’t you send someone to get me?”

That nurse rushed up behind him, desperately trying to catch her breath as she roughly informed, “He asked us not to wake you.”

Qifrey didn’t know what sort of face he was making, or if he spoke, all he knew was the moment his eye met Olruggio’s was the moment he started to hyperventilate.

The doctor looked between them, raising a brow.

She turned back to Olruggio, smoothing her hand over the bandage and nodding. “I think we’re finished for now.” Her eyes flicked to Qifrey. “I’ll come check on you in a few hours.”

Qifrey’s step to the side was mechanical, letting the staff pass through the door before he slammed it shut behind them.

He turned, and Olruggio was quiet, patiently waiting for Qifrey to remember how to speak.

“Y-you told them not to wake me?” Qifrey asked softly, his chest feeling hollow. “Why would you… such a thing is…” His breath caught in his throat, and his ears rang so loudly he didn’t even hear himself shout, “You’re horrible!”

Olruggio looked him up and down, his brow raised. “You wanna repeat that for me, friend?”

“No!” Qifrey said sharply, storming up to the bed and shoving a table to the side. “You don’t get to say that to me!” His eye strayed to the bandage. “You don’t! Not after you...”

He could still feel it on his hands.

Qifrey squeezed his eye shut, holding them away from him.

“There was so much blood.”

It was a whisper, rasped and aching.

“You don’t understand, Olly, there was-‍” He shook his head, biting into his lip. “A-and you kept passing out and your breathing was-‍”

His face crumpled, and he set a shaking hand on Olruggio’s wrist, feeling for his pulse.

“Olly, it was horrible.”

Olruggio’s face softened, pulling his wrist free to take Qifrey’s hand in his own.

“Qifrey, I’m okay.”

He sounded so sure when he said it, and his eyes never left Qifrey’s, and his fingers were loosely lacing with Qifrey’s own.

Qifrey released a slow breath, desperate to regain some control over himself.

His other hand joined the first, cupping Olruggio’s between them.

“Are you in any pain?”

Olruggio eyed their linked hands. ”Not really, whatever concoction they’ve got me on is doing its job.”

Qifrey nodded, tightening his grip as he softly said, “And they’re… you’re being taken care of?” His thumb brushed over knuckles. “Is there anything you need?”

“Nah,” Olruggio breathed, gesturing around him. “They’ve got me setup pretty well here.”

There was a small part of Qifrey that wanted to accept the relief and end it there, to put his head down on the bed and listen to Olruggio breath for as long as the man would allow.

But he had to know.

“H-how bad is it?” Qifrey mumbled, hesitant. “It looked... so bad, Olly.”

“See for yourself,” he said, slipping his hand beneath the wrapping and carefully pulling it down. “It’s really not that bad.”

Qifrey forced himself to breathe, and forced himself to look.

Two small stitches, fewer than Agott received, woven clean and practiced into Olruggio’s bruised skin.

“I’m told it’s the same on my back,” Olruggio added, looking down at it. “Can’t believe I got skewered.”

Qifrey couldn’t either.

“Seems I was lucky for the blade to be so thin,” Olruggio said next, eyeing him. “It’ll barely leave a mark.”

Qifrey stayed quiet, because he couldn’t quite believe his ears.

His hesitance was noticed, and Olruggio took it as his cue to change topics.

“Alaira stepped in a bit ago,” he suddenly said. “Said the three of us had to have a conversation.” He gave a sharp tug to Qifrey’s hand. “Wanna tell me what that’s about?”

“Not particularly.”

“Qifrey.”

“Can we just…” he started, briefly trailing off before lamely muttering, “Can we have a few moments? Please?”

Olruggio heaved a sigh but still relented, just like usual.

He slipped his hand from Qifrey’s, gesturing at a chair. “How are the girls?” he asked instead. “Did any of you get hurt?”

It was torture.

“Everyone will be fine.”

“That’s not the question I asked you,” Olruggio said sternly, his face dropping. “Why’re you being so evasive? What did you do?”

Qifrey shrugged.

“Nothing,” he said quietly, closing his eye. “I did nothing.”

He didn’t want to admit to it, he wasn’t sure he could say the words out loud.

Qifrey wouldn’t be able to handle the disappointment on Olruggio’s face, or the harsh tone it’ll stain into his voice.

You owe us!

He sighed, burying his face into his hands.

Qifrey already condemned himself the moment he ran from them, it was only a matter of time until Olruggio did the same.

“I left them there.”

Qifrey could hear his heartbeat in his ears, and feel how hot his neck was burning with shame.

He wasn’t prepared for it.

“What do you mean you left them there?”

The anger, the accusation.

The disappointment.

His only defense was the sheer desperation coursing through him since the moment he saw first blood.

“Y-you needed to see a doctor!” he stuttered out, wringing his hands together. “You were impaled!”

Olruggio didn’t cross his arms over his chest, because he physically couldn’t in that moment.

But Qifrey could tell he wanted to by the sharp look in his eyes.

“So you thought it wise to leave four terrified children alone in a mass-casualty event?”

Qifrey groaned.

“Olly, I can’t-‍” He cut himself off, scrubbing his hands through his hair before shouting, “I couldn’t handle it!” His hands clenched tight, yanking at the strands. “S-seeing you like that was...” He shook his head, squeezing his eye shut. “It was the worst thing I’ve ever seen!”

He had no expectation for pity, or for mercy.

“Qifrey, you...” Olruggio shook his head, pinching at the bridge of his nose. “You did the wrong thing here.”

It still hurt, hearing such a thing from that voice would always hurt him.

“I know,” Qifrey whispered quickly, twisting his cap’s ribbon tight around his finger. “A-and they know and-‍” He felt his eye well up. “And everyone knows but what should I have done instead?”

Qifrey couldn’t believe he had to say the words again, because just the thought of them was enough to send him into a blind rage.  

“Everyone acts as if I should’ve left you there! Bleeding and dying in the damn street!” He slammed his fist against the table. “Just what the hell do you take me for?” he shouted, his lungs burning. “D-do you think so little of me that you think I’d- that I could ever-‍”

Qifrey gasped, and his vision blurred around the edges.

There was a soft, “Qifrey,” spoken low and calm. “Come sit with me.”

It was too disarming.

Qifrey scooted the chair closer, and he sat down, and then dropped his face against Olruggio’s shoulder.

“There was a better option here, Qifrey.”

“To you!” he seethed, winding his arm around Olruggio’s tight. “There was a better option to you!”

Qifrey shook his head, his body slumping.

“I understand what everyone’s saying,” he whispered sternly. “And I feel... I feel so guilty, Olly.” He squeezed his eye shut. “It was irresponsible, and reckless, and-‍”

His head was tilted up by the firm grip Olruggio had on his chin.

“Quit beating yourself up,” he murmured, swiping a thumb over Qifrey’s cheek. “That’s my job.”

Qifrey made a horrible sound that was somewhere between a laugh and a sob, and he watched Olruggio’s face fall in the silence that followed.

“I guess you should probably know that I, uh,” Olruggio voiced quietly, a grim look on his face. He cleared his throat. “I can’t say for certain I wouldn’t’ve done the same damn thing.” His gaze shifted to the side. “And that’s... not a good thing, Qifrey.”

Qifrey collapsed against him, all the fight leaving his body.

“I’d never leave you,” Qifrey whispered harshly, his voice breaking. “Never, Olly.”

“I know, I know,” he murmured, smoothing a hand over Qifrey’s shoulders. “Just take a breath for me, okay?”

“I can’t take it, Olly,” he gasped, his whole body burning with adrenaline. “You can never get hurt again.”

Olruggio’s mouth twisted, and Qifrey knew he was fighting the urge to tell him he was being dramatic, and childish, and that he could never promise such a thing.

But Olruggio was Olruggio, so he’d always be kind first.

“Let’s drop this for now,” he murmured, petting at Qifrey’s hair. “Tell me about something else.”

Qifrey nodded, mentally preparing to shift into the second, third, and fourth worst things he’s done in the past twenty-four hours.

He sat upright, murmuring, “Well, I... I believe I’ve yelled at...” He trailed off, rubbing at his arm before shamefully admitting, “Every single one of your nurses.”

Olruggio huffed a sigh. “Well, that explains how relieved they looked when I said not to wake you.”

“I slapped Luluci,” Qifrey blurted, quickly following with, “And Alaira’s furious with me.”

“What?” Olruggio asked in shock. “Why?”

All Qifrey could manage was a small shrug. “For... everything we just spoke about.”

Olruggio’s eyes rolled to the ceiling, pointedly tapping at Qifrey’s head to firmly say, “No, idiot, why’d you slap a Magic Knight?”

“She was-‍” He heaved a sigh, looking away. “She was trying to help and I… didn’t want her to.”

“To help?”

“To touch you!” he seethed, his hands curling into fists. “Someone just hurt you and then her hand was-‍” Qifrey cut himself off, putting his head back down to mumble, “I overreacted.”

Olruggio watched him from the corner of his eye. “So long as you know.”

Qifrey rubbed at his neck. “The girls apologized for me, but…”

He bolted upright. “I should go wake them,” he suddenly said, looking to the door. “They’ll want to see you now that you’re up.”

“Let ‘em sleep,” Olruggio said, waving a hand. “They went through a whole ordeal, they should rest as long as they can.”

Then he tapped at the top of Qifrey’s head. “That goes double for you.”

The longer the eye-contact held, the further Qifrey withered.

“Is that really why you didn’t have them wake me?” he asked quickly, because he needed to know. “So I could sleep?”

Olruggio raised a brow. “Of course,” he said simply. “What other reason would I have?”

“I thought that...” Qifrey started, briefly trailing off before saying, “That maybe you were upset with me.” He shook his head. “That the staff told you what happened and you... didn’t want to see me.”

A dull, very unimpressed look as Olruggio grumbled, “You really think I’d do something that malicious?” with offense written on every inch of his face. “To you?”

“I haven’t had the best judgement lately,” Qifrey responded with a shaky laugh, rubbing at his arm. He ducked his head. “I’m sorry.”

“Just rest,” Olruggio said, pushing Qifrey’s face against his shoulder. “You’re stressing me out.”

Qifrey didn’t need to be told a third time.

He scooted as close as he could get, his knees jammed into the edge of the mattress and his nose pressing into the crook of Olruggio’s neck.

Qifrey could feel his heart beating.

It was the only thing that mattered.

It was good medicine, the privilege of sitting there with Olruggio’s hand threading through his hair, his rough fingertips occasionally brushing against Qifrey’s neck.

Hours later and he hasn’t even pushed Qifrey away yet.

Qifrey refused to sleep, not while Olruggio was still awake.

He needed to soak in the moment, in the relief that Olruggio was here with him, alive and breathing and playing with Qifrey’s hair.

The conversation was stunted, but it still continued, with Olruggio murmuring soft questions now and then and Qifrey whispering his responses into Olruggio’s stomach.

“So it was an accident?”

“Mhm,” Qifrey hummed softly. “A young witch, not much older than our own.” He sighed, feeling blunt nails scratch against his scalp. “She drew a spell to summon her sewing bodkins back to their drawer.” He closed his eye. “Four people were impaled.”

Qifrey remembered reading the details in the letter Beldaruit had rushed to him, but his eye only glazed over the words at the time, not giving himself the chance to internalize them and what they meant.

A normal object plus one irresponsible spell and terrible luck.

It’d haunt that poor girl for the rest of her life.  

“Oh, thank mercy,” Olruggio breathed, his body relaxing. “I’m so glad.”

Qifrey pulled a face. “The word ‘impale’ doesn’t usually inspire such words.”

Olruggio shrugged. “It’s a relief, right?” he asked. “I thought someone was out there murdering people.”

In the moment, Qifrey thought so too.

It nearly drove him mad, and he’s certain if Agott hadn’t shown up last night when she did, Qifrey would’ve done something about it.

What that something was, he didn’t know.

He only knew it would’ve reflected badly on them all.

“Master Qifrey!”

They turned to see Tetia standing in the doorway, out of breath with her hands on her hips and her face set in nothing short of betrayal. “You said you’d tell us when he came out of surgery!”

The guilt crept back in, because Qifrey knew exactly how she felt.

“Yesterday was tough, he wanted you girls to rest,” Olruggio cut in, briefly looking to Qifrey. “It was a kind and thoughtful thing to do.”

Qifrey pursed his lips, begrudgingly accepting the defense he argued so passionately against mere hours ago.

“We’re so glad you’re okay!” Tetia shouted, running up to the bed and throwing herself at Olruggio with so much force that Qifrey had to snag her mid-jump.

“You must be careful, Tetia,” he urged, setting her on her feet. “Master Olly’s still injured.”

She grinned a bit sheepishly, looking to Olruggio with a sparkle in her eye.

“No pigtails?” Olruggio asked, raising a brow as he ruffled a hand through her wild hair. “You all must’ve been in a hurry.”

Coco stepped forwards. “When we saw how late it was, we...” She trailed off, scratching at her neck. “We panicked.”

“A nurse yelled at us for running,” Richeh added, hopping up on the bed’s foot and swinging her legs forward to gesture at her bandaged knees.

“Ouch,” Olruggio said, pulling a face. “Scraped ‘em?”

“Mhm,” she hummed, adding, “These too,” as she pulled up her sleeve to show her other bruises and scrapes.

Olruggio huffed a small laugh, tilting his head. “What’s the other guy look like?”

She puffed her cheeks, assuring, “The ground and I had words.”

Coco stepped up to the bed then, extending her hand to let Brushbuddy run onto the sheets. “Brushbuddy was worried too,” she said, her eyes brightening as the creature frantically raced up Olruggio’s arm to settle around his neck.

Olruggio scratched at Brushbuddy’s head, and Richeh reached out to do the same, unable to help herself.

It was a relief, seeing them all settle in so easily.

As if it never happened, as if all would be well.

But Qifrey noticed the glaring issue, and from how Olruggio was watching her from the corner of his eye, he did as well.

Agott.

She hasn’t spoken a word, and was hanging back from the others, watching them interact the same way Qifrey was.

Like she didn’t belong with them.

Neither of them pressed her as the morning wore on, both fully aware that forcing such a personality to talk would do more harm than good.

She looked like she was stewing, and she’d pop at any moment.

It was midday when the doctor returned, and this time Qifrey sat quietly, listening politely to what the woman had to say.

The nurses didn’t look too happy when they eyed him, but with the kids in the room, they seemed to take pity on him.  

“You girls should get some lunch,” Olruggio said once the doctor left. “The food here’s not... the worst.” His eyes found Qifrey’s, adding a pointed, “You too.”

“I’m not hungry,” Qifrey lied through his teeth, hoping Olruggio wouldn’t notice.

He did, and so Qifrey was forced to whisper a low and painfully honest, “You’d have to drag me out of this room, Olly,” that got his point across in an instant.

Olruggio sighed, just like he always does.

But he still relented, just like he always would.  

As the girls filed into the hall, Agott stayed standing stock-still in the room’s center, where she hasn’t strayed from a single time.

Coco poked her head back in. “Agott?”

“I’m going to stay back for a minute,” Agott told her, her eyes locked on Olruggio. “I’ll meet up with you guys soon.”

The girls waved them goodbye as they left, leaving Agott to shake her head as she hurriedly paced up to the bed’s side.

Olruggio blinked at her once, tilting his head.

“Hey, kid,” he said, reaching to her. “Qifrey told me you got a cut.” He made a face. “I’m sorry, that must’ve really hurt.”

At a glance, it might look as though Olruggio was coddling her.

But Qifrey knew better, he knew what that pained expression on Olruggio’s face meant.

It was pity, yes, but also concern, and care, and regret at having not done better to protect her.

It simply must’ve really hurt, and Olruggio felt that too.

Agott gave a curt nod, her eyes never leaving his face.

The calm was short-lived, because the moment Olruggio touched her arm, she smacked his hand away, her eyes suddenly wide and panicked.

“Agott, what’s-‍”

“Will you really be alright?”

Olruggio blinked. “Yeah, I mean, I’ll be slow-going for the next few weeks.” He pressed a light hand to his bandaged chest. “But the doctors got me all fixed up.”

She shook her head, her eyes squinted like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“But there...” She trailed off, squeezing her eyes shut and biting into her lip. “There was so much blood!” Her hands twisted into the front of her dress, her breathing ragged. “There was so much of it and it was everywhere and all over everything and I-‍”

Olruggio shot him a worried look just as Qifrey was standing on his feet, ready to go to her.

But she shoved Qifrey away too, sucking in a sharp breath and continuing with, “I felt it and you-‍” She gasped harshly, her eyes brimming with tears as she desperately whispered, “I thought you were dying, a-and that it’d be my fault and that... t-that...”

She burst into tears, backing away from them and scrubbing at her eyes. “I thought Master Qifrey would hate me, a-and he’d make me leave the atelier and it’s... it’s so selfish but I was scared and it felt like everything was falling apart and it was all my fault and there was nothing I could do and I-‍”

“Whoa, whoa,” Olruggio urged firmly, holding a hand up. “Slow down.”

He shifted on the bed, sitting fully upright and patting the space beside him.

“Come over here for a minute,” he said, watching as she stubbornly shook her head and stayed put. Olruggio sighed. “You’re really gonna make me come to you?”

She looked up, and he gestured at his bandages.

Agott relented instantly, her movements tense and rigid as she stepped up to the bed.

“Agott,” Olruggio said sternly, prying one of her hands free to take it in his own. “I am fine.” His eyes met hers. “None of this was anyone’s fault, it was an accident and you did a fantastic job keeping Richeh safe.”

Another tear fell, and she stomped her foot in frustration. “But she got hurt anyways.”

Olruggio shot her a wry grin, then he gestured back to his bandaged chest.

“I’d prefer some bruises to a chest wound,” he said, giving her a quick onceover. “Wouldn’t you?”

Her fingers brushed against her own bandage, and she breathed in deep.

Then she looked to him, and her eyes crinkled on a shaky smile.

“Yeah,” she murmured softly, tilting her head. She sniffled. “Maybe we’ll have matching scars.”

Olruggio smirked, holding his fist out to her. “That’d be pretty badass.”

“Olly!”

“What?” he voiced with a brow raised, looking to Qifrey. “As if you weren’t cussing up a storm this entire time?”

Agott smiled as she climbed onto the bed, settling in beside him. “He said dammit like, three times.”

“Agott!”

Olruggio cracked a grin, tossing an arm over her shoulders. “He did, did he?”

She nodded, looking to Qifrey with a sour face. “Right in front of us, too.”

Okay.

This had to be payback for Qifrey yelling in the hall, right?

He supposed she wasn’t wrong, but still.

Qifrey huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “I felt as though it was warranted.”

“Yeah,” Agott said quietly, eyeing him. “Me too.”

It was the most unassuming olive branch he’s ever been extended, and the normalcy of it made his chest lighten.

She really was such a sweet girl.

Then she ruined it by looking back to Olruggio and saying, “Did you know he slapped Miss Luluci?”

Qifrey puffed his cheeks, looking away.

He would never describe a child as a rat, but…

But.

“I did hear about that, yeah,” Olruggio said, tapping at her arm to get her attention. “But it’s not polite to snitch.”

Agott’s lips pursed, and she pointedly turned away from him, acting more petulant than Qifrey’s ever seen her.

It was decidedly childish, something Agott usually wasn’t.

Then she heaved a dramatic sigh, sad and longing.

Olruggio’s painted indifference cracked in an instant.

“Fine,” he conceded with a huff, lightly jostling her arm. “You get to say badass one time.”

“No, she does not!” Qifrey blurted, standing on his feet. “Don’t encourage them to-‍”

“You’re right,” Olruggio interrupted. “Sounds like everyone should be allowed to say dammit as much as they want the next few days.” His eyes raised to Qifrey’s, a smirk on his face. “Since it’s your new favorite word.”

Qifrey felt himself pout, and he watched Olruggio’s eyes roll at the sight of it.

“This is your punishment,” Olruggio said sternly, ruffling a hand through the back of Agott’s hair. He rested his cheek against her head. “Be grateful.”

Then he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Go get some lunch,” he said, giving a playful shove to get her moving. His eyes again found Qifrey’s. “You too.”

Qifrey had no desire or willingness to leave, as Olruggio was well aware.

You’d have to drag me out of this room.

He was a breath from repeating it.

“C’mon,” Agott said, suddenly standing right in front of him with her hand held out. “We’ll walk together.”

He looked to Olruggio, whose encouraging nod had him taking Agott’s hand in his own and allowing himself to be pulled to the doorway.

“Oh, Agott, real quick,” Olruggio called out, grabbing their attention. His eyes locked with hers, and he tilted his head. “What were you yesterday?”

He was smirking again.

Qifrey wasn’t sure he liked the look of it.

Agott’s fingers tightened around his own, her eyes crinkling as she confidently said, “I was pretty badass.”

Qifrey pursed his lips, spinning Agott by the shoulders and urging her into the hall.

He didn’t say a word, even as Olruggio watched them with a brow raised.

Qifrey instead patted a hand against his lower back to catch the man’s attention, then he raised his finger to flip Olruggio off behind his back.

They walked from the room, hand in hand, with the sound of Olruggio’s amused laughter following them down the hallway.

Olruggio found it extremely dramatic to send for a Pegasus Carriage like Qifrey insisted for their trip home the following day.

He was perfectly steady on his sylph shoes, as he was forced to demonstrate as proof multiple times.

Qifrey eventually gave in, but still watched him like a hawk the entire flight to the windowway and beyond, a hand kept hovering over his shoulder in case Olruggio needed steadying.

It admittedly wasn’t the easiest trip Olruggio’s made.

The doctor warned that he’d be sore, and stiff, and achy and-

Olruggio heaved a sigh as he touched down in the yard, more carefully than ever before.

He watched Richeh bunny-hop into her own landing, which Tetia immediately mimicked with a squeal of delight.

Qifrey, meanwhile, opted to spare Agott the jolt of a landing and instead swept her in his arms right before dropping to his own feet.

Olruggio figured it’s the same Qifrey would’ve done for him had he allowed it.

But he didn’t, going so far as to put up a passionate fight against anyone trying to help him on the trip home.

It’s a decision he was starting to regret as the wear of the travel began taking its toll.

He was hurting, and nearly out of breath from a simple trip he’s made dozens of time in the past with ease.

“Are you alright, Master Olly?” Coco asked, eyeing him as she dropped down beside him. “Is it your stitches?”

“I’m fine,” he lied, squaring his shoulders and having to bite into his lip at the sharp twinge he felt stab through his chest. He tried for a grin, hoping it was believable. “Just hungry.”

Coco pouted at that, quickly turning to tug at Agott’s sleeve and draw the girls into huddle around her.

That’s when Qifrey saddled up beside him, lightly tapping his arm and asking, “What’re they whispering about?”

“Think I accidentally just swindled them into making me food,” he said, tilting his head. “Judging from the secrecy, that is.”

Coco was allowed to speak for mere seconds before Tetia’s face split into a big grin and the sounds of her squealing echoed around the yard.

“Of course, of course!” she said, her eyes lit brilliantly. “Oh, Coco, that’s a wonderful idea!” She clapped her hands together, snatching Coco by the wrist and hauling her through the front door.  

Richeh pointed right at Olruggio before wagging her finger and giving a stern, “Don’t snack!”

Then Agott was crossing the threshold behind her, turning to add, “Seriously, don’t,” over her shoulder.

Soon it was only Olruggio and Qifrey remaining outside, with Qifrey worrying his lip between his teeth, watching from afar as they filed into the kitchen.

“Is this wise?” he asked, taking a sudden step forwards. “I should probably watch them...”

Olruggio took Qifrey’s wrist in his good hand. “I actually need you to do something else,” he prompted, letting Qifrey’s hand fall to lightly touch at his bandage. “Could you check these stitches for me?”

He knew he was in trouble when Qifrey’s hand propped on his hips.

“For what?” Qifrey asked sternly, staring him down.

“For possible, uh…” Olruggio paused, looking away. “For a possible- as in, very unlikely, extremely low-chance...” He swallowed. “Very minor possible tear.”

Qifrey’s eye damn-near burst from his skull.

“Olly!” he chastised, setting a worried hand on Olruggio’s chest, just over the bandage. “I knew we should’ve gotten a carriage, I shouldn’t’ve let you do this.”

Olruggio rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes,” he grumbled, waving Qifrey away. “You were right, I was wrong.” He gestured at the open door. “Now can we please...?”

A huff of breath and then Qifrey giving a curt nod. “Of course.”

There was no smell of smoke or sounds of shouting when they entered the atelier, which they both accepted as a small mercy.

Qifrey did check in on the girls as they took a major detour to pass the kitchen, but only for a moment until a wooden spoon whizzed between their heads and Tetia sternly called, “No peeking!”

It was a little sweet, a little amusing, and a lot concerning.

“I don’t know which I trust least,” Olruggio told him as they entered his quarters. “Richeh strikes me as a fire-starter.”

Qifrey’s eye swept over him. “Bold words, Mister of the Torch.”

Olruggio rolled his eyes. “Don’t act like setting things on fire isn’t fun,” he said, being as careful as possible as he pulled his shirt over his head. He looked to Qifrey. “How do you want me?”

A moment passed in tense silence.

Huh.

He doesn’t think he’s ever seen Qifrey make such a face before.

His lips were pursed, and his neck was creeping with red.

“Just lie down.”

Qifrey knelt down beside the bed, waiting until Olruggio laid flat to lean over him.

It was clear from a quick peek that the wound was redder than when they left the hospital, further proven by the tormented look mottling Qifrey’s face.

Qifrey’s fingers lightly touched at the stitches. “Seems you did tug one a bit,” he murmured, gently pressing the bandage back in place. “Would you be more careful for me, Olly?”

There was something in the tone of his voice, low and strained.

It nearly sounded like begging.

“I will be,” Olruggio assured, laying back on the bed and nudging a foot against Qifrey’s leg. “I promise.”

Qifrey looked to him, and his mouth was all twisted up.

He suddenly sat on the edge of the mattress, his lower back pressing to Olruggio’s hip.

There was a hand on Olruggio’s, lacing their fingers and squeezing them tight.

Qifrey took a deep breath, and then pulled Olruggio’s hand up, pressing his forehead to his knuckles.

He opened his mouth to speak.

“Master Qifrey?”

It was Richeh, standing right in the open doorway with Tetia peeking over her shoulder.

Neither looked grim, but as Olruggio’s come to suffer through, that meant nothing.

“Yes?”

Qifrey’s voice was already frazzled before they appeared, but now it was verging on downright haunted.

Richeh’s head tilted. “Oil’s hot enough when it’s boiling, right?”

Olruggio felt Qifrey’s pulse quicken from the hand held in his own.

“No!”

“It needs to be hotter?” she asked, squinting her eyes like she couldn’t quite believe it.

Qifrey jumped to his feet, but not quickly enough, because Richeh was taking Tetia’s hand in hers to tug her back into the hallway, murmuring, “I guess we’ll turn it up?”

“You will do no such thing!” Qifrey blurted, racing after them. “Girls, get back here!”

Qifrey paused right at the threshold, looking back to shoot Olruggio a pout of despair.

Olruggio laughed, waving him away. “Make sure they don’t burn the place down, will you?”

It put a smile back on Qifrey’s face, one that was pinched and shaky and desperate to stop whatever tragedy was brewing in the kitchen.

So it was a bit awkward, and not as amused as it should be, but it was still Qifrey’s.

Qifrey was still smiling.

As his Watchful Eye, it meant Olruggio was doing his job.