The warmth of the morning sun is the first thing to tickle Zye’s senses. It rouses him from sleep just enough to hear the birds chirping outside. The noise goads him to try and sit up only to realize he can’t. The arm over his waist is a comforting weight, but a weight nonetheless. Eyes blink a few times to clear the haze of sleep only to see that Callua is already gone.
“Jay? You awake?”
“Mm-hm.”
Zye rolls over with a raised eyebrow. “Then why didn’t you wake me?”
“Because sleep heals our souls where blessings can’t. And you were sleeping so soundly it would have been cruel.”
“You’re an idiot.”
Jace laughs as he finally lets go and turns away. He swings his legs over the edge of the bed, stands, and nods his head toward the door. “When you’re ready I’ll get the documents out and then we can practice a bit. I won’t let you go after Daichi unless I know you can handle yourself.”
“I can handle myself just fine.”
“I’m aware. Cal should be back soon as well. She’s probably out gathering information.”
“Really? She must know a lot of people.”
“Well…she made more connections than I did. More friends. She trained quite a lot of them, too.”
Zye slowly sits up. There are so many things he doesn’t know. Little pieces of two of the people he cares about. They’re a breadcrumb trail and he feels as though he’ll follow it to the end of the earth and further. They’ve been alive so long that surely they’d never run out of stories to tell.
Then again, he’s satisfied with having Jace smile. He looks like he’s doing better. Maybe talking it out really did help more than either will realize.
Jace chuckles and bends forward. He ruffles Zye’s hair, frustrating him in the process by doing so. “You got that look on your face again. Save the questions for later.”
“No promises,” he retorts while swatting the hand away.
Catching his hand, Jace tugs him closer. Zye can’t stop himself from ending up on his knees and looking up. It’s just in time to have Jace’s lips capture his.
An action that Jace isn’t sure he wants or should do. But do, he does anyway. It feels so right to kiss Zye after so long. As if such a simple touch can heal the parts others can’t see.
Jace is retreating as quickly as he had come. He snags the bandanna, pushes most of his hair up, and ties it around his forehead. Grabbing his boots, he begins to head out into the rest of the cabin. The coat is the last thing he grabs. All the while Zye is kneeling there on the bed— frozen in place.
“There are some spare clothes in the closet I’ve picked up. I’m sure there’s something in there that’ll fit you.”
It has a plethora of emotions and memories bubbling up to the surface. A pot that’s about to boil over. Except it’s good that it is. He can close his eyes and remind himself of all of the memories they’ve already made.
He can’t make more if he doesn’t get up. Springing off the bed, Zye hurries to the dresser across from the bed. It takes him a moment to rifle through and find something he thinks would be good for training. Especially when one of the drawers is full of books.
Out of the dark attire, he changes into a light blue tank top and a pair of light-colored jean shorts. Off to the side, he finds a dark brown belt to keep the shorts up. Making sure it’s nice and snug, Zye forgoes shoes on his way out to the main room.
It doesn’t seem like a very large cabin at all. From the bedroom, there’s another door across the hall. A hallway that becomes a dead end otherwise. Out in the living area, he can see a kitchen to the right and a row of windows to the left. There has to be at least four on one wall.
The curtains are pulled back from each one to show a glimpse into a garden. From what Zye can see, there are flowers of all shapes and colors. He strides over to the couch where Jace is waiting. The brunet glances up as Zye gets close.
“Ready to go?”
“Yup, let’s see what you got.”
Jace stands and looks down. “Did you…forget your shoes?”
“Is there a reason I should wear them?”
“No…I think you’ll be okay. The grass is grown up through here. It’s just around the cabin that I’ve kept it cut down a bit.”
Zye begins for the door. He’s ready to get this started and especially if he gets to do it with Jace. It makes him feel a little bit better about not being at everyone else’s level.
“Then let’s go! I want to see this world.”
Jace follows after him, shutting the door behind them before they head out. He leads the way around the side of the house. It takes them past the small garden of flowers. Past that is a dense tree line not far from the house.
It’s there that Jace gestures to two large bushes that have a suspicious path between them. It doesn’t look burnt, at least, but trimmed back in some form or fashion. Zye follows carefully behind Jace with his toes gliding over the grass. It feels so soft and thick beneath his feet— like walking on a bed.
“So, there’s really no one else here?”
“Not much wildlife either. This world seems to be recuperating from whatever it went through. I explored quite a bit and found the remains of a small town.”
“Huh…And we’re going?”
“Towards a lake. It’s pretty big and there’s plenty of space for us.”
Zye nods despite Jace not looking at him. The path, that’s small at first, slowly begins to widen. He takes that opportunity to come up beside Jace. His hand slips down to grab onto the hand gently swinging as he walks.
“You know, seeing a bunch of Hax’s memories was pretty convenient.”
“I can imagine. You probably know him better than most of us that are left.”
“Well…I wanted you to know I, uh, I think I saw your parents through him.”
The hand clasped to his squeezes his fingers.
“It wasn’t anything bad. I mean…I guess it was. Your mom did get hurt.”
“That would have been when she was forced to retire, so to speak. She gained feeling and could walk, for the most part. But fighting was out of the question after that. She settled down and had me shortly after from what my father told me.”
“I just wanted you to know. Hax…was really worried about that place. Apparently, it was a hotbed for Nether and he couldn’t figure out why or keep it under control. I don’t know if he said anything to anyone.”
“It’s alright, it doesn’t matter.”
Zye looks over at Jace. “Are you sure?”
“I am. What’s done is done. I’m aware his intentions were good even if his choices and actions might not have been. He…did save me. It’s why I did what I could for him and will continue to keep Sigil safe.”
“And Sigil is?”
Zye is trying to remember. There’s been so much information in the last couple of days that he feels like his head is going to pop off.
“She’s a girl from your world that could see those that have died. From what I understood, it’s only if they haven’t gone into the cycle. She’s not…quite like you. But she does have a tiny fragment of Haru’s power.”
“What are you all going to do with her?”
“I’m going to give her whatever she needs to keep living. I won’t let anyone hurt her further.”
Zye gives a bit of a swing to the hand he holds. It feels far too comfortable to have this again. He can’t believe he’s missed the simplest of touches this badly.
“Soren is after her though. Are you sure she’s safe?”
“Vespera is highly skilled and Gray I trust with my own life.”
“And I get to meet Gray when?”
Jace smiles as they come out into the clearing. Before them is a large expanse of water that sparkles under the bright rays of the sun.
“Hopefully soon. He tries not to leave Yue’s side for long. She refuses shelter in Noctis since Gray can’t go with her.”
“Wait. I met her already. I think? Unless someone else has that name. Purple and pink hair?”
“That’s more than likely her. She’s a friend of Ilista’s.”
Letting go of Zye’s hand, he leads him out from the trees. He’d rather not damage the nature that’s trying to thrive. He takes the coat off and throws it to the side on the grass some feet away.
“What do you know about Hax’s power?”
“Uh, it’s space? Do I get a weapon?” Zye asks while moving to stand in front of Jace. “It doesn’t really sound like magic that I can punch with.”
Jace laughs and Zye can’t help but stare. He soaks in the sound— deep, happy, and amused. It’s been so long since he’s heard it. Yet it feels like yesterday all the same.
“If you’d like a weapon, your soul can manifest it. Hax would always use small daggers or something along those lines. They can be sent through the portals easier. Depending on how much you put out, you could send yourself through one.”
“And…it’s different than how we cross…dimensions?”
“Yes. Think of it as a smaller form and more personal. It’s also very obvious since it has a glaring visual when using it.”
“So it has to have an ingoing and an outgoing? I can’t just, I don’t know, create a pocket to hide in?”
Jace gives a shrug. “I’m not sure. I didn’t train with him much. It was either Callua, Charm, or once or twice Kerse would hunt me down.”
“Are you going to attack me or should I go after you?”
“Let’s focus on seeing if you can call it forth first. From there we can try getting you a weapon and applying it to your power. You don’t have to hold back.”
“You’re sure you can handle it, huh?”
“Well, that and I made sure to activate the gem Hax gave me. I placed enough of my power inside of it to generate a barrier for us. Kerse won’t be able to sense us no matter how out of control you want to go.”
Zye gives a hum of thought before lifting both hands. He keeps them palm-side up and closes his eyes. Remembering his time spent with Hax, he thinks about what he was feeling. Unfortunately, at the time it was anger. Something he’s not at all right now.
He can feel Jace’s hands balancing beneath his.
“Focus on it. What would this power give you?”
“What does that mean?” he asks with furrowed brows.
“My fire is comfort. It reminds me of my life and what I fight for. It gives me strength.”
For a moment, Zye isn’t sure what to make of his. It’s not anything like Jace or anyone else he’s sure. It’s abstract and not applicable to actual fighting. Not in the sense that Jace’s is. His power isn’t offensive. It could be, but what does it give?
He stands there, perplexed and unsure. He’s trapped in his thoughts that swirl with empty notions and words. There’s nothing that comes to mind to the point where he’s getting frustrated. No power and no answer for Jace.
Until it hits him like a sack of bricks.
“Freedom.”
Jace lightly pats the backs of Zye’s hands. He’s proud to watch his lover find what he’s looking for. Better yet, to have purple energy swirling across his palms. It slowly generates until it’s large enough to cover both his hands.
“Very good. You’re doing well.”
Zye opens his eyes and is surprised. It didn’t feel like it did his subconscious. This is peaceful and it circles slowly. Much different than the erratic display he first had.
“Now what?”
Jace begins to back up until there’s quite a bit of space between them. “I’m going to attack you. No fire, I promise. I want you to try and call forth a weapon.”
“What if I want you to?”
“Zye.”
“Jace.”
He can’t help but smile and shake his head. “Just try for me, alright? We’ll see how far you get.”
It’s not that he doesn’t think he can do it. He knows he can. Summoning his weapon has been ingrained into him from Ilista and Orion. He shouldn’t ever forget how it feels.
Yet this still seems foreign to him no matter how hard he tries. For a moment, he closes his eyes and holds out his hands. It doesn’t matter which one it appears in— only that it does.
Jace patiently watches. When he can see brows pinching together is when he begins to walk over. Except he stops when Zye opens one eye.
“Don’t. I can do this.” Except he’s not sure he can. Groaning, he pats his hands against his thighs. Something that reveals the magic to hover in the air where it was summoned. “Fine, but you’d better be attacking me if you’re coming over here.”
He doesn’t question Zye’s motives. After all, it’s not unlike what Charmilla put him through at first when he couldn’t summon his magic forth. It would sputter and die on his fingertips like a candle at the end of its wick. It was only when she’d run at him, not holding back, that it’d work.
Not that he dares to use his against Zye. While he might have not minded getting battered to learn, he can’t bring himself to hit Zye for the sake of this. He jogs forward until he’s close. As he does, he watches the magic dissipate as well as the distance between them.
A fist jabs out at Zye.
All Zye can do is dodge.
He’s able to keep up with the minimum effort Jace is obviously putting in. Each punch he dodges. The kicks he knocks aside. All until his feet are closing in on the water’s edge.
With the next jab, Zye knocks at his wrist only to lose his balance. The curse that leaves his lips might be from the fall, but it should be toward the swirl of violet and lavender that appears beneath where he’d land.
He falls through it with Jace staring after him. It doesn’t help that he appears from another portal just off the ground where Jace was originally standing. He lands face first at that. Palms bracing against the ground, Zye rolls over onto his back.
“That was stupid.”
“You used it, though. Good job.”
Zye glares up at the man that comes to stand next to him. The long shadow he casts is welcome, shading Zye from the glare of the sun. “Still don’t have my sword.”
“I wouldn’t have expected that escape.”
“Me neither. I’d rather use my hands, but it worked. Although…I guess it won’t be able to do the same things as when I had Orion’s power.”
“No, it won’t.”
“Haaa…okay. One more time.”
Zye sits up as Jace’s hand comes into view. Helped up, he brings his fists up only for Jace to chuckle. “Let’s try something else. Hold out your hand and focus. Think of a warm memory. What makes you happy?”
It’s an easy question as well as a hard one.
There are so many things that make him happy.
The most distant memory is sitting with his mother while she’d sing him to sleep. Shae helping bandage him up after he got into it with some unsavory characters is another. Playing games with Xerxes was always something that brought him happiness— something that kept him going.
Then there’s Callua. His rock. He has so many fond memories of her that he’s not sure which to pick. She’s always been there for him since the beginning with such small, yet strong hands eager to hold his.
Of course, Jace is no different. Falling in love is a special type of joy. One that he still doesn’t understand. One that brings so much uncertainty with it.
Being together with them all, having this small chance, however, is what makes him the happiest. For at least one more day, he can be with them. It’s the greatest gift in the world to someone that’s lost everyone else— had almost no one to begin with.
“Very good. I’ll resist asking what it was.”
Zye glances down, staring at the blade he now holds. It’s so vastly different than the one he knows that he’s unsure. Yet…it feels right.
The grip is wrapped in the softest fabric. It doesn’t slip from his fingers nor is it coarse. Whatever it is, it’s a deep violet that feeds into the guard. One that’s not very traditional at all. In fact, it’s simply a light blue hexagon.
From it comes two long strips of the same fabric. The only difference is they fade from purple to a pale, white-ish blue. Meanwhile, the blade itself is a deep black that glints in the sunlight.
“Huh…well, that’s different.”
“Would you like to continue? See if you can hit me.”
“Jay, I’m not going to attack you with this thing. It could hurt.” The look Jace gives him has Zye huffing. “Seriously? You think you’re that tough. Well, the answer is still no. Instead, you can show me your form. You promised.”
Jace shakes his head and begins to put distance between them once more. “You have a one-track mind.”
“I know I can get you to do it. Cal is gonna fight me on it.”
“Afterward. Summon your magic and send your sword through it. Hax could do that with himself as you have, objects, and other people.”
“What if it hits you?”
“It won’t.”
Zye rolls his eyes. Not that he minds the confidence. It helps ease the nerves away to even grasp for that power again. He recalls what it felt like to use it. How it felt to go through it. It takes a few tries to hold out his other hand and call it forth— a small rip in space.
“Good. Now throw the sword through it.”
“It’s too small.”
“Try it anyway.”
“This is stupid,” he mutters while simply doing it.
He can’t throw it how he’d like. Instead, he gently nudges it in and then gives a light toss to the end of it. Jace glances over his shoulder and steps to the side in time to miss the other end of the portal opening up.
The sword shoots up out of it at the same velocity Zye shoved it through. It allows it to go up high enough for Jace to catch the handle. He spins it back around and walks to Zye. “A good start.”
“You’re just saying that.”
“I’m not. This won’t be easy for you to figure out in the middle of all of this. Still, you know how to fight. Dodging and keeping your distance is the best way to move forward. It’ll save you more than you know. These people…they don’t have anything to lose and they won’t hold back.”
“I can handle it.”
“Zye, they’ll kill to get what they want. Remember that.”
He holds the hilt out for Zye to grab. Except he doesn’t get a chance. It simply vanishes away back into his being. Zye glances out at the water and how it glistens like a pool of diamonds.
“I will. I’ll back out if I have to, I won’t push myself into danger. I promise.”
“Except we’re going to Daichi.”
Zye laughs at that. “Yeah, I guess I already fucked that up, huh?”
A firm hand falls onto his shoulder— a comfortable weight. “You’re fine. Now, you can have your reward if you want to see it that badly.”
“I do,” is the speedy reply.
Fast enough to have Jace a bit flustered with a dark tinge around his eyes. He doesn’t say anything further. He merely pulls his hand away from Zye and focuses.
It should be fine. After all, he’s blocked off Kerse from his mind as much as he can. The diamond is activated as well. It should hold this much in the barrier it generates. Exhaling, Jace concentrates until he can feel the visage appearing.
The first thing that Zye sees as Jace tugs his bandanna off, are the horns that curl up from above his eyes. They lay against the tresses while curling back down towards his eyes. Zye is up in his personal space the second Jace smiles at him.
“You can touch if you want.”
Biting at the inside of his cheek, Zye brushes his fingers over the left horn. It feels smooth and hot at that. It’s not uncomfortable to touch. Although, he can imagine to anyone not on this side they’d think the opposite.
The most important part is the one he has to step around Jace to see. “Can you move it?” he asks with eyes tracking the idle tail.
“Yes,” he replies while sweeping his tail up. It curls around the side of his leg and ends up between them. “Go ahead, I know you want to. Just…be careful.”
It’s not hard to do. The fact that Jace can do this is as cool as can be. It reminds Zye of some of his favorite media. A good reason why he lightly grips the slender tail. The other hand pokes the rather fluffy-looking golden plume of hair.
Jace doesn’t react in the slightest until the hand holding his tail brushes down it. “Z-Zye, that’s enough.”
“Already? Come on, one more minute. It’s so…soft.”
Pinching an eye shut, Jace grabs Zye’s wrist. Doing so finally has Zye looking back at Jace. The flush across his face and the way he glances away has Zye smiling wide. He can’t keep the laugh inside as he lets go, taking a step back.
“That’s too cute. Is it sensitive?”
“Very.”
“And you probably shouldn’t have told me that. I don’t know why you two don’t like it, but I think it’s really cool.”
Dismissing the power, Jace allows the tail and horns to shimmer out of reality. He turns slightly, sweeping his gaze out over the surface of the water. “I’m assuming you don’t know how to block messages from others since you couldn’t send them.”
“You’d be assuming right. So, how do I do it?”
“The same way you focus on the person you want to connect with. Except I imagine putting up a wall in the line of connection. I do better with visuals.”
Zye comes to stand next to him. “Huh…okay I can manage that. It’ll take some time to get used to.”
“You can only do it with people you’ve linked with. Except you’re an Infernal. You can send out alerts to all of the Dark Stars if you so wish. I’m sure it takes up quite a bit of energy.”
“Eh? They’d all just…hear me? I don’t know if I like that.”
“That’s what happens when you’re a leader. You can also find me whenever you need me. If you’re linked with me and I call for you, you can pinpoint my exact location.”
Tentatively reaching for the hand at Jace’s side, Zye brushes his fingers along the calloused ones. “I kinda like that. Could come in handy.”
“As an Infernal you’ll be able to sense a presence at a greater distance. Also, since I’d keep my side of our link completely open, if something happens you’ll know it first.”
Jace’s fingers spread and allow Zye to hold his hand. His thumb brushes over the back of Zye’s hand as they stand there, enjoying the view. It’s beautiful and peaceful. A serene spot in all of the chaos.
Except it’s not the sight of it all that has Zye walking toward the edge of the water. The grass squishes beneath his feet. The soft blades tickle across the bottoms of his feet as he grows closer to the ground that’s a little softer. A step closer and the cool water seeping up around the grass has him realizing he needs it.
The hand clasped to his is released so that he can move forward. Mostly from Jace as he doesn’t go any further. He only watches as Zye begins to stride out until the water is around his knees.
Jace finds it hard to shove down his nerves as he waits. Steadily, Zye goes further out until it’s up to his waist and soaking through his clothes. Not that Zye minds in the slightest. All he does care about is how warm and complete it makes him feel. As if it’s giving him new life simply by being in it.
“Your body is probably starving for energy. I can, maybe, sneak you back to Solis before we deal with anything else. You just wouldn’t be able to leave my room.”
Zye’s hands swish beneath the surface of the water. His attention is captured by the ripples he causes. “Because she’d sense me?”
“She’ll sense your return if she’s there. I wouldn’t grant her permission to enter my room. I don’t think she could break her way in, but then again, no one has ever tried.”
“Seems a little broken, but nice.”
“It’s to give privacy and security. If anything ever happened, it can be bypassed with the mirror to break the seal. It requires one of those above us to do it.”
Zye hums in thought at that. He doesn’t know so many things. And these beings that have more power than them, he has no idea what their goals are. They don’t seem to want to cross the line and help. But would they?
“So they could give it to her?”
Jace walks forward until the water is around the ankles of his boots. His gaze flicks down and then back up. “You don’t have to go that far out.”
“Jace, question.”
Turning partway, Zye glances over his shoulder. It has Jace’s breath catching in his throat if he had any. Every part of his being yearns to run forward and grab onto the man. Instead, he’s kept at the shoreline with lips parted ever-so-slightly.
To him, Zye is beautiful.
The sun cascades down so brilliantly and yet the glare of the light doesn’t stop him. Jace stares at the way water drips from the hand Zye lifts out of the water. It has him forgetting they’re even having a conversation. The only thoughts in his head are how he never wants to leave this place— it’s peace and they could stay here together.
He wishes they could have had a real life together. Meeting and growing up. Living and experiencing the good and the bad. He wants the simple things; making dinner together, going to work, and coming home to him. Even doing the laundry.
“Jay?”
The gentle shout has Jace snapping back into focus. “Ah, they could, yes. But I don’t think they will. They seem adamant about letting us handle it for the most part. I think they’re waiting to see how this plays out.”
“That’s irritating as hell.” He drops his hand back into the water, creating a small splash. It feels so good. He can’t remember the last time he went swimming and was able to enjoy it. “It’s stupid that they get to watch and not do anything.”
“We have our jobs. From what I know, we don’t cross jurisdiction—”
“Like I care about that. If you see something wrong or someone hurting, you should do something about it. Right?”
“Right. Also, I didn’t bring a towel.”
“Pff, it’s fine.”
“I also can’t go in after you if you need me to.”
Zye grins and turns full around. He balances his hands perfectly on the surface of the water, floating them there. “Don’t want to get your clothes wet or can’t swim?”
The glance away tells Zye all he needs. Especially when he knows Jace could care less about his clothes if it came down to it.
“Maybe I’ll just stay out here for a bit. It feels good.”
The tease does little until he goes further out. Each step has Jace on high alert. Even more so when all he can see is Zye’s head. The water laps up against his shoulders. To Zye, he can barely touch the ground. The fall-off is rather quick and quite steep.
“Don’t panic, okay? Look away if you have to.”
Jace doesn’t. He can’t. He suffers from the way his gut clenches at the sight of Zye dipping below the surface. All he wants is to cool off, the heat is intense even for him. It’s for the smallest of seconds before he’s back and wading a little closer to him.
“Let’s go back.”
“If you’re sure.” Zye makes his way back far quicker than he had gone out. “You know, I could teach you when this is all over.”
“Maybe…”
Jace can’t look away as Zye comes to stand in front of him. Walking back to where they aren’t standing in water doesn’t help. His eyes are glued to the way the tank top is glued to Zye like a second skin. The thin and light material doesn’t help either. It’s nearly see-through.
It’s killing him. The first chance he gets to go retrieve his coat, as well as keep his back to Zye, he takes. “I wanted to talk to you about Daichi, actually.”
Zye follows after him. He knows they should. Surely Daichi said something. Callua might have as well to soften the blow, make it seem like it was nothing. Not that it matters. He’d rather be open about it. After all, he already made it clear that all the ones before Jace don’t matter.
Dragging his fingers through his hair, he tries to keep the longer strands swept in the right direction. “I know it’s not the best idea since he’s still latching onto me. And it’s not because I feel anything for him. Well…maybe except for pity? I do feel bad for him.”
He doesn’t dare say he’s afraid. There were plenty of times that Daichi showed he would cross a line, be a little too much.
“Our relationship wasn’t anything. It didn’t feel like one, not to me. I know he saw it differently. In his eyes, I guess we were practically married.”
“Married?”
“Uh, like…bound to each other till death do you part kinda stuff. I should have never said yes to him. He was just so nice and sweet. I was at a point where I was going to take the first hand that came by I guess…”
Zye lets out a sigh. It’s at himself— at how stupid he was to let his own misery blind him. Not that it was unexpected. His record of healthy lovers isn’t very high in hindsight. It was always about the convenient attachment to something that seemed so good at first.
Jace turns around, furling the coat over his shoulders. “I’m not worried about that. You know that. I…don’t like him touching you is all. You only know him as what he presented to you while you were human, right? I’m sure he didn’t tell you about his past.”
“I mean…yeah. He had no reason to. For all I knew he was some rich kid that got his father’s company. Soren was the one that ran it on the daily.”
“Daichi is lucky to still be a Dark Star. Long ago he fell in love with a mortal and when they were on their deathbed, he tried to keep them around. He didn’t want to lose them.”
“Meaning?”
“He tried rituals of all kinds that he had been researching across worlds he visited.”
“I take it he didn’t succeed?”
“They…were a little late to get there. From what I heard, Charmilla handled the situation personally with Kerse and Hax helping come to a decision on punishment. Hax convinced them to give Daichi a second chance. Whatever Daichi told him, pleaded with him about, it worked.”
“Huh… I bet Hax regrets that now. And what about the person he loved?”
“It took a long time for their soul to heal after what Daichi did. It nearly tore it into pieces.”
“So, what are you worried about? It’s not like he can do that to me.”
“No, but he’s desperate and doesn’t like letting go of what he wants.”
Zye strides past Jace, bumping his fist against Jace’s shoulder. “Relax. I got the best boyfriend to back me up.”
He intends to go back to the cabin. Dry clothes would be nice. Zye doesn’t get very far at all before Jace is tugging at the back of his shirt.
“If I ever act like that, please tell me.”
“What?” Zye pivots back to him. “Where did that come from? You’ve never been anything but—”
“We haven’t known each other for that long. Barely a year.”
“Like that has anything to do with it. You put your heart into everything you do. Why would I think you’re a problem?”
“I…I just don’t want to do what he did to you. Charm was obviously worried I would or—”
“I don’t care what she thinks. I’ve seen things. I know she was smart, wonderful, and all of that. But, Jay, come on. She was probably just worried about you.”
Zye grabs Jace’s hands in his, squeezing them. “Just because I end up with losers doesn’t make you one, remember? It makes me the luckiest guy in the world ‘cause I finally found someone who treats me right.”
“But—”
“Eh! No buts, dammit. If you were like him you wouldn’t have asked me. You’d have done it and we wouldn’t be here right now. Or well…maybe you could have kidnapped me and brought me here. That’s not the point.”
Jace smiles at him and steps forward, closing the distance between them.
“You promised to stay with me or let me go. You took care of my friend until he died. You’ve been working your ass off to fix things and you still made time to save my dumb ass.”
“You’re not dumb.”
“And you’re not Daichi.”
Zye leans up a bit on his toes, hating that Jace’s boots give him a bit of added height. He dusts a kiss over Jace’s forehead before tugging him back to the path they took to get here.
“So, can we head home?”
Jace loves the sound of that. So much so that he smiles, biting back the emotion that wells up in the pit of his being. “Yeah, let’s get you dry. You can read the journals and rest.”
“Sounds pretty boring.”
As they make their way back through the foliage, Jace keeps his hand clasped to Zye’s. It’s a comfortable walk to the cabin. Growing closer to it, Jace glances over at Zye.
“Are you feeling alright after getting your memories back?”
“Yeah, nothing weird. And I really did get all of it. Including what you got me for Christmas.”
The wink and elbow nudging into his side has Jace shaking his head.
“Well, especially the day after. I think that was a pretty awesome gift, too.”
“Once this is over we can do that any time you want.”
“Nah. I’d rather enjoy it now and then. Wait, you’ve only been on the receiving end with me, right?”
“Correct,” replies Jace as they step back into the clearing.
Jace thinks that’s the end of it. He’d rather it be considering that’s the last thing he wants to dwell on. They have work to do, after all. He can’t afford to get distracted. They’ll have plenty of time to date and get closer after this is over.
To the front door, he lets go of Zye’s hand to open it for them. As he goes in, Zye grins wide at him.
“Guess I really am the lucky one.”
“Go in already so I can show you where I’ve kept them.”
The door shuts behind them before Jace gives him a short tour. If only because it is a small building. It only has a living area with a connected kitchen. The hallway leads to two rooms, one of which Jace leads him into. From what Zye saw earlier, there’s nothing else.
It really is a small place. But…it’s still cozy.
The same one they slept in, in fact. Jace leaves Zye in the doorway while he goes to the dresser. Zye glances down at his feet and how some water still drips down his legs. For the most part, the walk has dried him.
“So, no shower?”
“No. I believe the people that did inhabit this world bathed outside. I found a bathing…tub of some sort. I’ll get you something to dry off with.”
“No big deal. So, there’s no one here at all?”
“I believe whatever lived here died off some time ago. It took a bit of work to get this place put back together.”
“Huh…a handyman. Looks good.”
Jace begins to scour through the dresser, pulling out notebooks and tomes of all kinds. He stacks them on the top before glancing back at Zye.
“You could barely see the house through all of the weeds and the vines.” He taps the top drawer that he doesn’t open. “In here are your things as well as whatever Kass gave to me before she passed.”
Zye slowly trots over. Peering down into one of the three top drawers, he can feel the burn in the back of his throat. He doesn’t even need to shuffle through to see what everything is. Jace has it all stacked perfectly.
There are plenty of loose pictures atop a thick album. To one side is a velvet box he knows is his parents’ wedding rings. A small bag sits on them. A small touch reveals that they’re his earrings. There are so many things that he has to close the drawer.
“Thanks…really. I…I can’t thank you enough for keeping all of this. I know it’s just stuff, but it means a lot to me.”
“You’re welcome, always.” Jace gestures to the journals. “These are what you can start reading. Hax led me to where they all were. It has everything he learned about his kind, Nether, and everything in between.”
“This might take me a while to read. I’m not very fast.”
“The one on top relates to you if you’d like to start there. Otherwise, I’ll let Celeste come collect them so that they’re stored safely.”
“What about training?”
“Get changed, relax, and read. I need to go check in with Gray. Enjoy the downtime unless you’d like to practice by yourself out back.”
Zye gives him a sour look. “You’re not going off to do things on your own are you?”
“Zye—”
“I mean it. No secrets. Don’t make me put a tracker on you.”
“You already have one. If you ever need to find me, you can.”
Zye grumbles and turns away in an attempt to hide the blush on his cheeks. It makes him beyond happy that that’s the case. He moves to where he left his clothes. As he does, Jace pats his shoulder before moving to leave.
“I promise I won’t. We’re a team, the three of us.”
“You’d better not think about leaving Ilista out, she’ll throw a fit and join anyway.”
“Of course. The more the better.”
He waits for Jace to leave, return with a medium-sized towel, and then finally head off. Left alone in the cabin feels strange, but not in a bad way. Zye busies himself by changing into his underwear and drying off.
The pants and shirt he leaves on the edge of the bed. The towel drapes over his shoulders while taking the journal to the bed to read. Plopping down on the mattress, he leans back against the pillows with the book propped on raised knees to hold it.
Zye’s almost finished it by the time the afternoon sun is beginning to sink. It’s around then that he gets a message from Jace. The feeling is warm and comfortable. He never thought getting one could feel like reaching out and holding Jace’s hand.
Such a strange sensation. The message is even stranger.
“Aster will be there soon to train with you. I tried to tell him to message you directly. Instead, he’ll come to wherever you are. I gave him the go-ahead.”
Zye expects this to happen eventually. Not the second the message ends. He can’t even close the book before the portal opens in the room’s doorway. Out from it walks Aster with his coat swishing behind his legs.
“T-the hell are you naked for?”
“I have underwear on. Chill.”
Aster spins around to face the open door as the energy from the portal fades. “Get dressed so we can get this over with.”
Zye rolls his eyes and stands up. He huffs as he steps into his pants. The shirt he pulls over his head and buckles despite not wanting to. The socks and boots are what he tugs on last. “You didn’t have to come.”
“I did. Are you ready? Where do we even spar here?”
Stepping forward, Zye taps him on the shoulder. “We can do it outside as long as we don’t break the house. Jace worked hard to get it livable.”
“Lead the way then.”
Aster steps aside to allow Zye to do just that. Zye takes him out of the room and then the house entirely. It’s a short walk until they’re out in the front yard with enough distance between them and the house.
“How do you want to do this?” asks Zye.
“I’m going to attack you. Don’t worry about anything other than not getting hit.”
“And we stop when?”
“When you can’t move.”
Smirking, Zye focuses as best he can. His reward is his new sword shimmering into his grasp. It’s a pleasant surprise. Then again, he’s done it once. He just has to focus the same as before. Aster puts distance between them and lifts his fists.
“Would you rather I ditch the sword?”
“No. You’re going to need it.”
“Pretty confident for a complainer.”
“Then get your ass over here and prove you can do something.”
Aster doesn’t know what that comment does— what it unleashes. All he knows is that Zye is lunging for him in the next second. Power be damned, Zye is swinging his sword at the fist-fighter.
It’s not quite anger that gets under his skin. It’s pure, raw frustration. Jace would go all out for him if he truly asked. But Aster is willing to take it, let him push himself to his limits with one snarky remark.
Adept at dodging thanks to all of the sparring with Ilista, Aster takes the attacks in stride. He’s been trained to dodge, duck, and sidestep each swipe that comes at him. All so that he can set up to punch toward where Zye is defenseless— everywhere but the front of him.
They chase each other around the yard with grass getting kicked up every so often. Zye can get close. Aster is simply a slippery worm he can’t pin down. Not that he wants to hit him. He’s trying to create an opening to drop his sword and trip the man up.
Aster isn’t phased. He sees the sword disappear as Zye inches closer. Catching the fist that’s aimed for his face, he knocks his free arm against the side of Zye’s wrist. It forces Zye to back up and call for his sword once more. He has to think of another plan.
No matter what he does, Aster evades. Which he should.
The moment to think is interrupted by Aster sidestepping around the next slash and toward Zye. It catches the latter off guard to where he fumbles.
Aster’s fist catches him in the jaw.
The impact has him staggering. The force behind it has him nearly falling backward.
Irritation that he let that hit through fuels the power vibrating at his fingertips. Magic that he doesn’t realize is there until he dashes forward. The sword in his hand slings out, thrown to the side so that he can go hand-to-hand with Aster.
Except it goes into a portal he doesn’t realize he’s conjured up. He does when it comes from a rip in the space opposite to him. Cursing in his head, he ducks the punch Aster throws and grabs his wrist.
Zye yanks him to the side as he forces the sword to dematerialize. It’s a hair away from catching Aster in the arm before it does.
Stumbling, Zye lets out a sigh of relief. “Fuck…that was close. Sorry about that.”
“Why? I knew it was coming.”
His hands slide away from Aster’s form as he steps away from him. Zye rubs at his nape. “I think that’s enough. I got, uh, more of that crap to read.”
“Don’t think I’m counting that as your win. If you don’t have the balls to go through with it even in training, then I win. Then again, it did seem like that would have really hurt me.”
Zye is exasperated as he flails his arms down to his sides. “Of course, it would have! It’s a sword. And because I can’t control my power, you would have been hurt.”
“Is that what this is about? Fine. Try me. What’s the problem?”
“I…” Zye falters. It’s because he feels helpless— useless even. “I can’t control this stupid magic and I asked everyone to let me walk into a lion’s den. But…I can’t leave it for someone else to clean up later.”
Aster crosses his arms over his chest. “Because it’s personal.”
“It…yeah…I guess it is.”
“You’re an idiot.”
Zye glares at him, “So are you.”
“At least I’m not as big of one as you. If he really thought you weren’t able to handle it or were in danger going, Jace would stop you. Right?”
“I guess so.” He’s conflicted. He knows Aster isn’t a jerk. He’s just abrasive at times for reasons he hasn’t figured out yet. Then again, the slight smile on his countenance convinces Zye to keep going. “Sorry about almost hitting you.”
“It’d take more than that to hurt me,” he replies while pivoting on his heel.
His gaze sweeps over the front of the house and toward the odd stone path going around the side of it. It’s a peaceful area. One he wishes he could show Orion one day. A place where everything is still and calm.
“Did you know about Orion’s plans? Everything?”
Aster chuckles at that. He drags the toe of his boot through the grass. “Yeah…I did. Glad it didn’t come to that. Why? Are you mad at me and that’s why you tried to stab me?”
“Nah. Grateful. Didn’t think you cared, but I guess you did. Even if it was mainly over Orion.”
“What?” he sputters. “What the hell gave you that idea?”
“Well…try the friendly route instead of the threatening one next time. Catch more flies with honey.” Zye smirks over at him. “Weren’t too thrilled with him having to kill someone, huh?”
“No.” Aster finally glances over at him. It’s the first time those green eyes of his have ever looked so serious. “That’s a hard line to cross. It’s not like the Nether or the tainted stars. It would have been different.”
Zye stretches his arms high above his head. Shoulders pop and fingers crack. It all ends with Zye crossing his arms behind his head.
“You know, you’re not too bad. Oh, you should show Xerxes your collection. Kid could recommend you some stuff from our world you’d really like.”
“When—”
“It’s all on display. How could I have ignored it?”
“…Thanks. I will.”
“He could use some help with Ilista in return. I think she likes him.”
“No kidding. As if I couldn’t have guessed that. She’s gone all cute on him. They train for hours and then she dotes all over him. If I look at him wrong, she gives me a look that says she’ll tear my throat out.”
Zye laughs at that. It’s adorable to imagine because, to him, Xerxes deserves it. Such a sweet person could use some aggressive love to take care of him. Of which, he begins walking toward the house.
“And take that hermit out to have some fun when this is over. If you like clubs I can recommend one to you. It has some special back rooms, too.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He stops and glances back. “I hope you’re kidding. You’re good-looking, nice sometimes, and not always an ass. Go for it. Maybe it’ll get Orion to chill.”
“I…what?”
“I said your hot, get him to realize it so he gets off my back. I know he’ll be nipping at my heels even after this is over so that I follow the rules.”
Aster opens a portal. The swirls of purple and blue are his escape. If only because he has a blush darkening his ears and face. It’s a sight he’s glad Zye turns away from. He can hide it better that way.
“I’m leaving. Get some rest.”
“Oh! Aster? Thanks again. I’ll tell him you worked real hard to help me out.”
“I’m going to kill you,” he mutters as he begins to step into the portal.
Before he does, Zye lets his arms down to hang at his side. Turning sideways, he smiles at Aster. “Seriously though, thank you.”
“It’s nothing. If you need me just ask. We’re in this together, right? If you’re not up to par then I have to fight. So, I’ll be back when you call for me.”
Zye watches him leave. It’s bittersweet considering he was enjoying the solitude yet hates that he doesn’t have a friend here. Gazing up at the horizon over the treetops, Zye huffs.
He has to get better at this.
He has to be smart about this.
He can’t lose Callua or Jace. He can’t handle losing any of them.
Fingers curl into fists at his side. He pinches his eyes shut and tries to take a deep breath. One that then comes out as a shaky exhale. It’s times like this that he feels like a kid. The same one that would run for Shae to hold his hand— to tell him it’d be alright.
“As long as we’re all together, it’ll work out. That’s what you always said, right? God, Shae…I miss you.”
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