Chapter Text
“Ambear, what in the ancestors are we doing here?” Pyro stood, hiding behind some boxes in an alleyway in the capital. Ambear, who had dragged him from his cell to here, was peaking her head out of the alley way, on the look out for… something. She turned around and glared at him.
”SHUSH!” Turning back around, she shrugged her incredibly indiscreet brown cloak further over her face, making sure her wings were hidden. Throwing one back towards Pyro, her voice filled with more glee than he had heard in weeks. “We, dear Pyro, have a mission of the upmost importance.” Looking back, she made sure that Pyro had his cloak on.
”And what would that be?”
She smirked, a manic smile on her face befitting of the nature of her people. “Our two dear blue haired mages have decided to go on a ‘do nothing day’ together. Alone. In the capital. And we,” she gestured between them, “are going to make sure no one and nothing interrupts this momentous occasion.”
Pyro remained unimpressed. ”Why is it momentous exactly?”
”Because Legs and our respective best friend are going on a not-date and i think we all deserve a break and what better break than spying on our friends going on a break themselves?”
”Scott and Legs... are taking a break?”
”Yup! Miracles can happen.”
”Scott and… Legs, are on a date?”
"Uhuh!"
”Scott and Legs.”
”Uhuh.”
”Scott likes Legs?”
”You didn’t notice?”
”Well- i mean just-“ he paused, as if unsure how to state it. Maybe afraid of her reaction. “Why… Legs? Of all people?”
She raised her eyebrow. “Why? What’s wrong with him liking Legs?”
“Well, he did threaten to kill me.”
”Pretty sure half the academy has at some point.”
“True.” They shrugged, “but still.. Legs?” They gestured, as if that explained it.
”Think of it this way. When you do your inevitable shovel talk, it’ll be even more satisfying.”
Pyro paused, clearly considering her point. “You are completely right. Okay, when are they meeting?” It was noon, and Pyro didn't feel like standing here for too long.
”About that…” Ambear looked away, a sheepish expression on her face. “I have no clue.”
Pyro just groaned. They would be waiting here a while, wouldn’t they?
——————
Legs tugged at his shirt, unsure of the way it was sitting on him. He had stolen one of Junipers and whilst comfortable, was a lower cut than he was used to. She hadn't exactly been around to ask, technically just outside of town building, but it looked nice and fit him and every other pair of his clothes had some sort of stain on them. He had no idea why he wanted to look nice, but Scott had gone out of his way to do this and Legs felt like maybe he could try just… doing nothing, for Scott, and the gesture meant a lot (even if it was pointless. Something was bound to happen.). So what if he wanted to look nice to appreciate the sentiment?
It was nearly ten past one now- he had been distracted- well, working on his lab, that he hadn't noticed the time, and definitely spent far too much rifling through his clean clothes only to realise that none were clean leading him to just give up, hence the stealing of Junipers shirt.
She might murder him, but that's a future him problem.
Running through the streets of the capital as Gadget had decided to just drop him off at the gates for literally no reason- and since when had the streets been this crowded? Was something going to happen? He rushed to the bakery- the book Scott had given mentioned something about meeting there, they believe.
Making his way through the street, he spotted a familiar blotch of blue-blond hair sticking above the crowds.
“Scott!” He called. Running towards him, Scott turned at his voice and smiled, a relieved look in his eyes.
“Hey Legs!”
Reaching the taller, Legs panted a bit, the sprint having been surprisingly draining. “Sorry, huff- late, time- didn't realise the, huff, the time.”
The Ice Mage smiled. Legs, now taking him in, felt their face warm at his outfit. Scott was wearing a casual lilac shirt that complimented his eyes nicely, fitting nicely accross his torso. He was holding a basket on one arm with no armour nor weapon in sight (not that Scott really needed one). His pants and even his boots looked new, and suddenly Legs felt self conscious of his own old scuffed up pair.
He also couldn’t help but notice the way the shirt was just a little tight around the others chest, his face warming even further. Scott looked nice. “You’re okay Legs, just remember you can send me a ring, yeah? Was a little worried I’d have to go drag you from the crypt myself.”
Legs blushed more, this time embarrassed at such a simple mistake. I was so panicked i didnt even think- what has gotten into me? Maybe i really do need a break… “It was my lab, thank you very much.” He mumbled.
The crowd was getting bigger with the coming later afternoon, people milling about the market even now, and Legs couldn’t help but tense, wary of anyone who could be lurking.
Scott, ever observational, seemed to notice this and took them to the front of the bakery, where it was quieter away from the traffic.
”…Thanks.”
Scott simply shook his head, a faint glimmer in his eyes, so different from the tired, hopeless gaze that was becoming more common in all of them as the past few weeks passed with nothing good.
Nudging Legs’ shoulder to get his attention, he sent him a warm smile. “C’mon. I was thinking we grab some baked stuff and lie down on the ground somewhere?” Looking a little sheepish from Legs’ gaze, he spoke softly, as if a bit unsure. “…I figured nothing says ‘nothing day’ than a picnic and some cloud watching.” Scott shrugged his shoulders, and that's when Legs noticed the nervous energy around him- something that he wasn't used to being able to notice so clearly, not since the taller’s magic was going haywire, and even then was hard to tell. Maybe they both really needed a break.
Legs blushed. Again. ”Yeah.. i- that sounds nice, Scott.”
They smiled at each other, a dusting of pink on them both.
Taking a breath, trying to gain some more social confidence (as recently, he had been failing a lot in the social part of it all, somehow more than everything else) and spoke up ”I like you’re outfit, by the way. It- uh. It looks nice.” He stuttered. “Matches your eyes.” That's a normal thing to say right? Was that creepy? That sounded pretty creepy. He should just take it back. “I mean- you know- not that I’ve stared or anything-“ oh no that's worse go back go back undo crap crap crap-
Legs didn't even get to finish his clumsy internal or external backpedalling monologues before Scott interrupted.
“Thanks,” He murmured, voice as soft as the colour on his cheeks. “I- uh. I think you look nice too. New shirt?”
They looked down at their borrowed (*cough* Stolen *cough*) shirt. It was a mid toned brown, low collared and relatively loose sleeves. It was insanely comfortable and also why he chose to steal this one in the first place.
”Ah, no, it’s Junipers.”
Scott hummed. “Well, i wont tell her if you don't."
Chuckling a bit, he smiled again, relaxing slightly. “Thanks… I really hope she doesn’t find out.”
“Something tells me she wouldn’t be the happiest at her clothes being stolen. Pyro’s the same way.” Scott looked down at him that same soft fond expression on his face (unfamiliar to Legs in all the ways it shouldn’t be. He never saw it growing up, and at the academy it feels like its been so long since anyone’s glances hadn't been filled with something. Some sort of expectation, or want or need of him. Seeing Scott's face so much more relaxed than normal, and just plain happy to look at Legs just being there… it felt freeing, in a way, even if something felt different about it than his friends. Something that made his stomach squirm in a good way), and gestured. For a brief moment, it looked like he was going to hold out his hand, but that must’ve been Legs’ imagination. “Shall we?”
Legs nodded, and the was too distracted by the other and the strange nervous feeling in their stomachs to notice the sets of eyes following the two into the bakery.
————————
“AUHHHGG THEY'RE SO CUTE I JUST WANT TO JUMP OFF THE ROOOOF!” Cried the fairy, as she bit the hem of her cloak from the sheer feelings the two inspired in her.
”I still don't get why he chose Legs.” Pyro, the ColdIron DENIER interjected. Calmly observing the two in the bakery from the roof top across the road, he was decidedly not expressing the same joy in this as Ambear.
(At least, externally. Internally, whilst still questioning Scott's tastes, he was happy for his friend. It had been a long while since he’d seen his pseudo brother relax like that. Smile, like that.
The extra presence in his mind didn't seem to like it, at all, and that's probably the main reason that Pyro hadn't already started rehearsing the shovel talk yet. To spite it, and also too make sure that everything goes well.
If worse comes to worse, Pyro hopes that Scott has some others to help him come the aftermath.
Even if it is Legs)
Ambear glared up at him from where she was lying. ”Shu’ up. Le’me have m’ joy and whimsy.” She grumbled through the cloak.
”Get that cloak out of you mouth- seriously where have you been keeping these? They're disgusting.”
She kept the cloak in, just to be petty. “ ‘Ust cause im not a p’ima Donna like you ‘oesn’t mean i ‘ont care. I ‘ave you the cleanest one ‘or a reason.”
The look of disgust on his face as he glanced at the minorly dusty inconspicuous cloak was worth the taste in her mouth.
”You disgust me.”
“You’re too kind.”
Unable to think of a witty comeback, he merely whacked her shoulder. Naturally, this meant Ambear had to hit him back.
To preoccupied in their need to get the other back, neither noticed the shadow looming over them.
“Who the hell are you and what do you want.”
—————————
Juniper had been having a normal day, for once.
They’d woken up, gotten dressed had breakfast, worked on the library design (or, tried to), and contemplated on the strange feeling she’d had last night. Originally she wanted to find Legs to try some new rituals, but decided otherwise. Something told her that was a good idea. After building, she;d gotten a change of clothes (spent way too long looking for one particular shirt- she could’ve sworn it was clean) and grabbed Pinecone.
Now, he had been heading into the capital to grab some… things she needed to pick up, when she’d spotted two cloaked figures on the roof, enraptured in some argument.
And well, most cloaked figures around here tend to lead to bad news.
Flying Pinecone down, they decided they’d confront the two before anything.
”Who the hell are you and what do you want.”
—————————-
Ambear froze. Pyro also froze.
The two looked up, to see the ominous figure of a Juniper with her axe and the massive Pinecone looming over them.
They gulped.
”Heyyyyy Juni, how's it going?” Ambear sheepishly greeted. “Nice weather we’re happening, huh?”
Juniper blinked. Looked down at the two beneath them. Blinked again. “Ambear? Pyro? What the hell are you two doing?”
Pyro, the expert bullshitter with possibly some of the worst charisma, decided to. Well. Pyro. “Well,” he began, and Ambear gulped, “the two of us were simply enjoying the wonders of the serendipitous day ahead of us,” Ambear and Juniper made eye contact, mouthing “serendipitous” and shrugging at each other, respectively, "and whilst on a wondrous flight on our dragons, galivanting in our- er- new cloaks, as you can see,” He gestured to their matching slightly dirty cloaks, “and saw this roof” half broken and definitely uncomfortable, “and couldn’t help but think how amazing it would be to- uh- lie here to enjoy its splendour to the fullest.”
Ambear by now had turned her head back over the side of the roof, leaving Pyro to his own devices to keep a better eye on the targets of this whole operation.
Juniper looked at Pyro, and merely raised her brow.
Pyro sweated. She definitely got that intimidation roll.
”… Uh-huh. We’re gonna pretend that I believe that and that you two don't look suspicious as hell sitting here like that. Seriously, you’re so lucky someone more trigger happy didn't find you!-“
”SHSUHSHH” Ambear whisper yelled, pulling Juniper and Pyro down to be more level with the roof. Gesturing to Pinecone to also lie down flat <(as much as he could), she continued “they’ve existed the building! I repeat ColdIron has exited the building!”
Juniper, extremely confused because what in the world is she talking about she doesn’t mean-? “Is that Scott and Legs? Why are you spying on them and-“ She sat up, an affronted expression on their face.
“Hang on, is that my shirt?!”