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Olruggio was bent over his desk. As he always seemed to be. Qifrey would usually bring him food or remind him to eat but he still forgot even when there was food in front of him.
He remembered the bread and stew beside him, now less hot than it was when Tetia left it for him and said goodnight. He dipped the bread in the stew and looked at the spell he was working on, concentration colouring his expression.
Something else was on his mind and he couldn't quite place it. It wasn't until Qifrey poked his head in that Olruggio broke out of his intense focus. Olruggio hadn't heard a knock but he may have been too focused to notice.
"Are you concentrating too hard and forgetting to eat again, Olly?" Qifrey stepped in, closing the door ybehind him, his arms crossed.
"It's likely," Olruggio sighed and stretched as he sat back in his chair. He scolded himself internally about fixing his posture, his back wasn't what it used to be.
"Would you like to join me? Take a break while the house is asleep and quiet?"
Qifrey held up a bottle of wine in one hand, the other arm across his chest rested on the arm holding up the bottle. The pose was natural for him and it had Olruggio staring at him for longer than he intended. He shook his head clear and looked outside, it was dark out.
"Oh, is that the time?" Olruggio for up and stretched his legs. "I could take you up on that."
"Good, finish your dinner and I'll be in the living room," Qifrey winked and turned to leave.
Olruggio ate the now cold stew, the bread making it much easier than without.
Once he finished he found Qifrey sitting in front of the fire on the sofa the bottle in his hand. He smiled up at Olruggio, that adorable, tired smile he knew so well. Qifrey had many smiles, ones he used for the children, for other witches and friends, and certain ones reserved specifically for Olruggio.
Olruggio had been in love with him since they were children. He didn't hesitate to be assigned to Qifrey's atelier as a watchful eye simply to continue to be close to him. But his memories involving his good friend had been spaced out through the years. Olruggio always chocked it up to lack of sleep and long days.
Qifrey had been good to him but it was never clear what he was thinking, even to Olruggio. The children hadn't known him as long as Olruggio had, so they couldn't know the intricacies of their Master. Olruggio didn't know what would happen if he ever confessed his true feelings he had kept hidden for so long, and he was scared to find out. Maybe Qifrey would leave him, never speak to him again, only coexist as masters without the private time together like they had at that moment. Time without teaching while the kids were asleep.
Olruggio cleaned out his dishes, deep in thought and trying to seem natural. Not that Qifrey seemed to notice, staring at the fire as he was.
Olruggio dried his hands and approached the couch, the chill of the outside air leaking in and making him shiver. The fire made the room feel much more cozy. He grabbed a blanket, took the bottle from Qifrey's hand without a word and sat on a cushion in front of the fire where it was much warmer than the couch. He hasn't said a word to Qifrey yet but he left some extra blanket slacked in hopes of Qifrey joining him. Olruggio waited a long while, knowing he was assuming too much. He was kicking himself internally wishing he sat with Qifrey to begin with.
Maybe Qifrey wouldn't notice the implication, as dense as he can be. But Olruggio was proven wrong in no time at all. He heard Qifrey rise from the couch then the blanket beside him moved and he felt the warmth of his friend beside him as their shoulders brushed. No. Not brushed. Qifrey was leaning against him and he handed the wine bottle to Olruggio who took a long swig and sighed. The drink felt warm as it flowed through him.
"You always find the best stuff," Olruggio commented.
"Well, you work so hard for the girls, for the good of people…for me," Qifrey shrugged taking the bottle when Olruggio handed it back. "You deserve it."
Olruggio stared at him and struggled not to pull him in for a kiss. The wine hadn't hit him that hard yet so he still had some self control. He managed to smile as Qifrey took his own long swig and sighed, staring at the fire and leaning closer to Olruggio's shoulder, almost snuggling but not quite. Olruggio ached to put his arms around his friend.
They used to do so as children if one of them had a nightmare and joined the other in bed for the night. Most of the time it was Qifrey but Olruggio had done so once or twice.
As they passed the bottle back and forth, Olruggio and Qifrey talked about old times and the new items they've shared together and with the girls. When the bottle was empty, Olruggio got up without being asked and got another one. Tethering a little as he walked through the kitchen, he heard Qifrey snicker.
"You try drinking that much and walking straight," Olruggio nudged Qifrey when he returned. Olruggio opened the bottle and downed a large chunk before handing it to Qifrey.
"Well, I'm glad you had the decency to allow me some," Qifrey's eyes sparkled as he smiled and laughed at Olruggio. A sparkle that Olruggio always loved. He watches Qifrey drink from the bottle and the jealous of the bottle touching Qifrey's lips when Olruggio wished he could touch them to his. The urge to kiss Qifrey was overwhelming but he took the bottle from Qifrey's outstretched hand and took another long swig, but not finishing the bottle.
When the bottle was once again finished. They were both almost passing out there on the floor, the fire now begining to falter as the spell was starting to fade. Olruggio strengthened the fire in his inebreared state as he felt Qifrey shiver.
"Perhaps it is time for bed now, Olly," Qifrey's voice was faded in Olruggio's drunken mind. He somehow sounded less drunk.
"Did you even have enough to be drunk?" Olruggio managed
"I am drunk, my friend," Qifery laughed as he found the words. "You, however were very heavy with both bottles. I barely had enough." Qifrey didn't sound angry, merely amused. "I think it's time to get you to be, my friend."
Qifrey moved to get up and Olruggio tugged in his friend's robe. "Just…a few more minutes."
Olruggio wasn't ready for this moment to be over. He wanted to stay with Qifrey in the moment forever. No obligations, no Watchful Eye duties, just them existing together in each other's warmth.
Qifrey nodded and settled back beside Olruggio, who laid his head on Qifrey's shoulder. Qifrey's posture didn't change. It all felt so natural, as if Qifrey had the same feelings at Olruggio had for him. But that was impossible. They were friends and colleagues. The Knights Moralis might find it a conflict of interest if he is the Watchful Eye of his romantic partners atelier. Olruggio didn't want anything to jeopardize what they had.
Finally, Qifrey suggested going to bed again as Olruggio was dozing off on his shoulder.
"Let's go sleepy head, it's time for bed. Qifrey yawned. Qifrey helped his friend up, wrapping an arm around his waist and Olruggio's arm around his shoulders. Olruggio nudged a little bit.
"I'm fine, I can walk," he protested and wriggled out of Qifrey's arms. When he tried to take a step, Qifrey caught him as he almost toppled into the wall.
"Master Qifrey, is Master Olruggio alright?" A small voice squeaked from behind them. Coco was rubbing her eyes with Tetia sleepily glancing from her room.
"Olruggio is very tired and I'm making sure he gets some rest. As you all should be as well. Goodnight girls." Qifrey placed a finger on his lips in a shushing gesture and winked at the girls.
Coco yawned and went back into her room. "Okay, goodnight Master Qifrey, Master Olruggio…"
"Goodnight…" Tetia narrowly avoided running into her door frame as she went back into hers and Richeh's room.
Qifrey snickered as he continued guiding the stumbling Olruggio up the stairs to his room.
Next thing Olruggio knew, he was in his bed and being offered some water. He drank greedily and laid back.
"Good night, you lush," Qifrey snickered.
He was about to get up after tucking Olruggio in, but Olruggio grasped Qifrey's arm. Qifrey leaned closer. Olruggio's lips pushed on to his in a messy, wine flavoured kiss then he laid back and turned his head away.
Qifrey sat on the bed, too stunned to stand any longer.
Olruggio's eyes were closed and his mouth moved before he could stop it.
"I love you Qifrey….always have." And within moments Olruggio began to snore.
Qifrey sat there, touching his lips. He glanced at the memory wiping spell he kept on him and then his eyes moved to Olruggio.
The next morning Olruggio awoke with the worst headache he had ever felt after a night of drinking. I suppose I really did overdo it.
He groaned.
When he started to move he felt a weight on his chest. White hair brushing on his face as he looked down. Olruggio's eyes widened, then he remembered what he said the previous night. He just felt it and said it without even thinking. To be fair, he was too drunk to think that through at all.
But Qifrey was here. In his bed. He had assumed Qifery would have gone to his own bed and never spoken to him other than as a fellow master ever again. But Qifrey was in Olruggio's bed.
Qifrey stirred and Olruggio froze. An ocean-blue eye looked up at him and Qifrey smiled sleepily.
"Is it morning already?" Qifrey yawned. "I swear I just put you to bed…"
"You stayed…" Olruggio muttered.
"I did."
"I confess that I love you…and you stayed." Olruggio said, still in shock.
"I can't deny it any longer, I love you too Olruggio, and I want you to know I feel the same."
Qifrey pushed himself up and pressed his lips to Olruggio's softly, and then began to move them as Olruggio lead him.
Before Olruggio could push any further, Qifrey pulled away.
"There will be time for that, once we send the girls off to Kahln. We should have a few hours before we need to pick them up from Nolnoa." Qifery kissed his nose and Olruggio groaned.
Qifrey pulled Olruggio into his arms.
"Thank you for last night. It helped me realize how I feel."
Olruggio held him close.
"I can show you much more than that once we have ome alone time."
Qifrey smiled when he pulled away. "I'm counting on it.
Written by a human in Ellipsus.