Chapter Text
"Idia!"
Idia nearly jumped out of his skin. "Huh!?" Horrified, he whirled halfway toward the sudden shout and immediately wished he hadn't. He shrieked quietly under his breath, and his fingers instinctively yanked down the strings of his sweatshirt until its hood shrunk so deep into itself that he looked like a very blue, very terrified caterpillar. "W-wha?"
Silver stared right at him with furrowed brows and an intense enough stare to carve folds between his eyes. He… uh, was he glaring at Idia? Idia was pretty sure he was glaring at him. Cold sweat began running down his spine when Diasomnia's argent knight made a straight beeline for him through the hallway of the school, threading through the other students with a singular fix on - Idia. Looking at that face, more precisely on Idia's throat.
O Seven, had he finally done something so despicable and evil that the highest order had dispatched their angels of death to smite him? Was that it? Was Idia going to die?
The mirror chamber was only just around the corner; he had been so close to safety - he could STILL get to safety, maybe, if he ran. He didn't have time to think twice about it; Silver might be leagues above him when it came to physicality, but he was still all the way in the back with a cluster of students to get through, so - Idia bolted.
The students that saw might as well start believing in flying pigs.
He scrambled, nearly slipped when he took the corner, yelped, and only stayed on his feet by pure luck and will of the mind. He untangled his legs and stumbled the last metres toward his beautiful, peace-bringing mirror; it rippled like a field of a thousand stars as he longingly outstretched a hand and promptly squeaked, catapulting himself face-first into the wall of the narrow arch when a hand plastered itself firmly on his shoulder. "Gah!"
"Are you busy right now? I promise I will make it quick."
Silver wasn't even out of breath! What a monster! The only indicators he'd been hunting Idia down were the slightly ruffled clothes dragging his collar. But- more importantly, make it quick? Make what quick? Oh gosh, he was going to die. Idia knew he should never have stopped closing all discriminatory tabs on his PC every day before school; but it was a hassle, okay? Especially when he'd wanted to revisit certain ones later. Now his leisure would be the downfall of his pride, even beyond death.
"S-Silver! Quick? Me, yeah, busy. Veeery busy. So busy in fact, that I've got like, absolutely no time to spare - you know, housewarden stuff, so I'm just gonna-!"
Silver blinked and drew his hand back. "I understand that, my apologies for holding you up. But it's so hard to track you down around school grounds, and it will take only a moment."
Idia's panic was alight, fire and flames, literally, but it had simmered into something closer to reluctance now that they were face to face and Silver had lost that I-shall-murder-thee-fiend edge (whatever in all Wonderland had him looking so fierce in the first place). But even then his heart was hammering behind his ribs and his pride had taken a critical hit. Was he seriously that slow? Idia wasn't made for real-life physics.
Anyway! Other things were firing on his imagination now, so for the moment he'd put the angel of death theory to the back (to the back but not out of the possible routes), what else could Silver want with Idia? He was one of Malleus' retainers. Malleus. So by extension, what did Malleus want with him? Seven, somehow that was even worse. Green lightning and icy storms raged before Idia's inner eye, and suddenly he would rather Silver came to kill him off after all. Make it quick, alright.
Silver straightened. "Of course," he replied firmly. Eh? Had Idia said that out loud?
"I've come to extend an invitation to you…"
Here it went. An invitation by the great Malleus Draconia, heir apparent to the crazy magic valley, third most powerful mage in the world, to… to what? -that would end in Idia's untimely execution. Game over.
"…by me…"
Huh?
"…as a sign of gratitude for your generous help earlier this year."
Idia stared at him dumbly. "My? Generous help?"
"Yes." Silver nodded firmly. He kept his eyes straight on Idia's. Idia withheld the eye contact for only a second before he felt his coolers malfunction. Silver must've been doing it on purpose to keep him pinned - looking at him like that - but instead of falling for the cheapest of tricks in the ikemen handbook, Idia nonchalantly (!) gazed into the hallway, letting his eyes drift from mirror to mirror. "The gadget you developed against my drowsy spells. Although it didn't work for me in the end, I'm still grateful… Besides," Silver played at brushing his bangs back dignified, while clearing his throat a somewhat awkwardly. "I still owe you for the time I ambushed you in the courtyard. It is just that so far, I couldn't come up with anything adequate to compensate you with."
Gadget? Ah.. Idia remembered faintly. A little after the start of Silver's second, and Idia's third year, the boy had asked some Ignihyde students to look into his narcolepsy. Or more like, into how to counter it, since there were no potions or spells that did the trick. Idia had tuned in on a whim, playing around with a few ideas. Mostly out of simple boredom, really. And like, come on. Why wouldn't he delve into a couple party tricks to show off in front of someone as easily impressed by tech as Silver? It might've been a failure in the end, but Idia thought he'd gotten pretty damn close. Actually, if he looked into it a little more with fresh perspective… he blinked himself out of his headspace.
"Eh, wait—t-that's nice and all, but what sorta invitation? You know, I'm not really big with play dates. And 's cool, like totally cool—I really don't need you doing anything. Actually, doing nothing IS the best thing you could do for me… so… uh, thanks but no thanks? No quest rewards required." He waved his hands in front of himself, smiling a crooked, shaky smile.
Silver's shoulders drooped slightly, but his expression didn't twitch, staying unpleasantly unreadable. "Is that so? I wouldn't exactly consider it a play date… If it means anything, it was Ortho who had the idea; so I figured it'd be something you might enjoy." He crossed his arms and inclined his head regretfully. "But I understand if you'd still rather decline."
Idia choked. His eyes snapped back to Silver and immediately away again when that auroral gleam burnt his retinae. Bright! Bright enough to viciously make his cheeks heat. "Ortho?! You talked with Ortho?!"
"Yes. As I said, I wasn't able to come up with any ideas, and since I don't know you all that well yet, I thought he would be the best person to address."
Yet
Somehow that simple word made his pulse do weird things. This was exactly why Idia avoided earnest types like Silver (pls act as though he wasn't a chronic loser shut-in who avoided everyone for the bit's and the denials' sake, k thx) like the bubonic plague. There was no hidden agenda, and you could be sure every word was backed with pure honesty. A familiar bitterness settled among the warmth. There was no future for a 'yet' to have its place in this conversation. Idia huffed.
Ortho complicated things. Alone the fact he knew of this nipped several of Idia's escape routes in the bud. His brother could be seriously stubborn when it came to forcing Idia outside. Ugh. Two against one was definitely unfair, especially when adding a rigged high little-brother-buff onto their stack. Eh, be that as it may... what could Ortho have possibly proposed convinced Idia would not only not flat-out decline but end up agreeing to?
"Ehm, not saying I accept or anything, but what exactly was the big idea?"
Silver perked up again, "Oh! Well, I was supposed to keep the details secret, but it would be a lot to ask of you to just follow me blindly. You like cats, yes?"
… …?
"Sure."
Idia adored cats.
"But you are never really lucky with them. They tend to greatly dislike you"
… What the hell.
"Uhm, okay, rude much? It's not like that."
Cats despised Idia.
Silver blinked again, caught off guard. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. Ortho described it that way." Traitor.
The retainer shook his head apologetically. "You would not have to do much; it would be nobody but us. And you wouldn't have to bring anything. My physical presence should be enough for what I have planned for you - I was unsure about it at first, but Ortho assured me you'd like it."
'Nobody but us'. Idia's eyes bulged. He stood there uselessly for a moment while Silver just looked at him stone-faced; Idia burst: "Your what?! Your 'Ph-ph-physical presence'?! What are you talking about?!"
Wait, wait, cut, hold on — was this a courteous attempt of saying - and now cue the lights and pink sparkles -: 'Ohh, Idia~, blushes, bites lip and cutely flutters lashes, I have no other means to, so I absolutely must repay you with my very own, utterly ripped body… flutters lashes cutely again and loosens collar with two fingers. His heart couldn't take that!
Idia must've looked out of service. Mouth slack in… horror? Yes, horror; eyes blank and glassy as he stared ahead. The film forcibly replayed in front of his inner eye multiple times, so much so he did not hear a single word the actual, in the flesh, very much not blushing or bashful Silver was saying to him. There were no pink lights either, and Idia had to clamp his mouth shut.
"…is that fine with you?"
"Fine? Uh, yeah, fine, I'm fine! I hear you."
Silver's features softened from stone to something that seemed almost satisfied. Relieved even, if the way his shoulders relaxed was anything to go by. "I'm glad. Then I will see you tomorrow."
He gave a brief wave and was off. Idia stood there, a little lost, hair flickering. He ignored the rose-tinted reflection in the mirror. Had he just accidentally agreed to-? "Wait! No- I!" Stiffly he reached out an arm, but there was no time to dwell on it longer, as a bunch of Ignihyde students with uncomfortable faces suddenly stuck their heads around the arch's corner, some looking ashamed, others coughing into their fists as they 'casually' walked past him through the dorm mirror that he and Silver had been blocking.
"I'm not doing it."
Ortho sighed long and dramatically, "But Idiaaa, don't you think this is a perfect opportunity to make a new friend~?" He skipped around the chair his brother had curled up on, leaning left and right to catch a glimpse of the yellow eyes that Idia kept decidedly averting. "And you already know Silver! You'll regret not going!"
Idia huffed a wry bark of laughter. "Yeah right. As if someone like that has anything to say to someone like me - matter of fact, vice versa too. We have seriously no compatibility at all." Idia imagined awkward silences and disappointed glances. Wouldn't be the first time. There were always odd ones, attracted by his supposed mysteriousness or whatever, that decided to prod where they weren't wanted. Like, yeah, you could totally bet that under all that social anxiety, grime, and gacha addiction actually lay a charming beast that'd swoop you off your feet and reveal the mysteries of the universe to you—that was absolutely reasonable! Not problematic at all. …. Ugh, crumbs, not that he actually believed Silver to be one of these people - earnest, too good for this world typa guy and all - but…
Sitting up and hooking one foot around a table leg to pull himself toward his desk, Idia shrugged, fingers innately finding the keyboard. "I sorta zoned out when he gave me the deets anyway, no idea when and where and I'm not gonna go 'nd ask."
Ortho scowled as hard as a teeny-tiny android with a too cheeky pair of eyes and a filter for a mouth could scowl. His eyebrows knit, and Idia stubbornly stared ahead at the screen booting: 'The Age of Titans', in yellow, flickering letters. "You already agreed to meet him! He'll expect you!"
Idia winced. "I- I didn't agree! It was a misunderstanding! I-it's not my fault he ran off before I could clarify!" Unbidden, an image of Silver standing and waiting for him materialised in Idia's mind. Undoubtedly the sophomore wouldn't just leave after Idia didn't show up after five, or even ten minutes. He would wait… and wait… and probably do something stupid like worry. It would begin to cloud and to rain - Silver wouldn't have an umbrella, and from somewhere a sad strung violin solo would accompany every drop of water running down his dejected face just before he finally realised he'd been stood up by a cruel bastard whose only objective had been to play with his feelings. Dramatically, the bouquet of roses he'd brought would drop into a newly formed puddle of muddy water, and the camera would pan to where his steps heavily dragged him through the rivulets between cobblestone, before the screen and the music would slowly fade until it all turned black.
Idia wilted even before he could press the flaring 'start' button. "W-well, I can't just walk up to Diasomnia in the middle of the night and ask him, what am I? Suicidal? (Don't answer that)." He dragged a hand down his face, catching one of his eyelids. Obviously he'd never asked for Silver's number either, so texting was out. "I… Can't you, like, talk to Mr Loudmouth tomorrow morning? In class? The one Silver keeps hanging around with. He's in your year now, right? So if you tell him to tell Silver that…"
"Nope!" Ortho chirped, "Our year's visiting the Foothill Museum tomorrow, remember? Neither Sebek Zigvolt nor I will be on dial!" Idia grumbled. Right. "Hehe, BUT you can ask Silver everything you need to know yourself. Though it isn't highly probable he'll still reply tonight. My calculations come out with a seventy percent chance he's already asleep." Something was dropped into Idia's lap, and for a moment he just stared at it, then his gut sank.
"Orth—o…", he groaned in warning. Or tried to, because the pitch of his voice already rose into dangerous heights. He turned his phone around and found a new chat with only two messages.
Me: Hi! Hello! This is Idia, hope u don't mind - my brother gave me ur number! Haha, I'm super looking forward to tmrw — tho, mind telling me all the details again? Jst to make sure I got the quest parameters right! Thx!
Me: ฅ^>⩊<^ ฅ
Idia didn't say anything. His expression was one of deep peace. Eerily calm, he peered over at Ortho, who watched him with gleefully evil eyes. Idia nodded. Figures. There was a short snicking sound when Idia drove his tongue over his upper gums, inclined his head, and nodded again, exhaled slowly. He pressed down on the messages until a menu with commands opened and - lightning fast, much faster than his muscles should allow in their sorry state, lifted the phone over his head when Ortho lunged for him. "No!!!" Screeched Idia, "I'm deleting it! Stop! Get off! Off—you're crushing me!"
And - Thunk! "Ooghf!" The chair tumbled and crashed. Idia's legs got tangled in wire, and the Pc screen went black with a zap. Ortho made a helpless whirring noise as he tried his hardest to land next and not on top of his brother, which would inevitably have ended with crushed ribs and an attempted murder trial. Idia's chest heaved; his hand still held his phone in the air, like a prize, as his legs were wrapped in cable and angled limply over the felled chair. He'd hit the back of his head on the ground, and now stars danced through his vision. Next to him, Ortho propped himself up on his arms, looking not half as phased when he stared up at the screen with widening, bright eyes. He didn't even apologise, that violent, friendly-fire-abusing, little gremlin, Idia would—
"Look! He read it!"
"WHAT?!"
Nonono, that was impossible! Idia jerked his head up, finding, with swimming sight, the 'read' subtitle under the mortifying messages. It was 02:43:56 in the night! Why? Why!?
Three traitorous dots began bouncing on the lower left side of the screen, and it took only a moment before he got a reply.
Silver: Hello, Idia. I don't mind.
There was a longer pause in which Idia numbly peeled himself off the floor, once he accepted he wouldn't just sink into it. He wanted to die. "Ortho… what have I ever done to you?" He whimpered. Staring at Silver's and 'his' messages, he gingerly rubbed the back of his head and sat down on the edge of the bed. The mess he'd made of his set-up and chair was left abandoned. He buried his face in his hands - Ortho flopped down next to him, making the frame creak in protest. The boy innocently swung his legs.
"Oh, c'mon, it's not that bad — don't be dramatic, Idia!" His eyes turned into smiley crescents. "I don't think you're as incompatible as you think! Silver is nice - and don't forget the main quest is absolutely Ortho-approved! Trust me!"
Trusting this spawn of the Underworld was the last thing on Idia's mind right now! Idia glared at the still smiling freshman. "It's not that bad—? 'Hi! Hello! Haha-Hihi!' Who am I?! You made me sound like Kalim!"
The phone vibrated. Idia stared at the message. Tomorrow, 5pm, behind Sam's shop. Silver was 'glad' Idia 'looked forward' to meeting him. He didn't have to bring anything.
Ortho glanced over his shoulder to read. Idia switched off the display with a groan. "You're so evil to me… and that after all I've done for you." Ortho huffed at that.
"At least consider it. You enjoyed spending time with him in Fleur City! You even tried helping him with his condition, too - voluntarily! Don't tell me you don't wanna see what we came up with just a little… You'll survive, I promise." Ortho looked at him, and Idia knew exactly what face he was making. One that he knew he would fold to if he looked over now, so he didn't. Instead, he continued glaring at his phone's dark screen as if it were personally responsible for everything that had gone wrong today.
Ortho nudged Idia; his brother didn't look. "Promise me you'll consider it. Idia, promise." He nudged him again. And again.
And again. "Yes!" Idia barked louder than he'd intended, "Yes, okay! I'll consider it, Seven!" The moment he'd spoken and watched his hair flare red in the reflection of his display, he bit his tongue. Guilt already overcoming him before he'd even taken another breath. "Ugh… promise." He muttered quietly. "Sorry." Even more quietly.
Ortho sighed and gave him a rub down his back before he left. It was weird—but he had his own room now.
He switched his phone back on; the chat was still open. Should he tell Silver that it wasn't Idia who asked? He had Silver's number now; technically he could just text him that it was all a big misunderstanding and he couldn't make it, block him, and Silver probably wouldn't even be mad.
The three dots danced again, then vanished. Idia held his breath. What? Was this conversation not over?
He began typing with a dry throat. Should he just make it quick? Like - oop, I actually remembered something important, or, sorry but I don't actually wanna meet you, don't worry tho, it's not cuz of you, it's cause I'm a social wreck, lol; sorry can't do tomorrow cause I feel like a repelling nobody and you wouldn't understand; sorry can't meet tomorrow cause my cheeks burn up whenever I look at you for too long and I really don't have the time to figure that out right now…
Five minutes had passed, and he still hadn't found an acceptable way of putting it. Silver's three dots were still bouncing too. What sort of behemoth of a text was he composing?! Eh, actually, knowing Silver and the time, he probably fell asleep while typing, Idia figured.
When he'd finally managed to put together a coherent sentence that sounded not too much like an excuse and not too much like they should reschedule at all, another two messages popped up on the screen before Idia could send his.
Silver: Thank you for indulging our idea. I also look forward to meeting you, Idia.
Ah…
Silver: Thank you for indulging our idea. I also look forward to meeting you, Idia.
Silver: \≽^-⩊-^≼ ~☆
…. Damn it.