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Idia groaned into his pillow, his entire body aching like he'd pulled every muscle in existence.
He hadn't moved from his spot since he'd woken that morning, his stomach immediately locking up and his head pounding, even to change clothes. Ortho had pulled back the blankets, informing him that class was starting in an hour, Idia had simply pulled the covers back up.
At first, Ortho had been determined to get Idia up. Pain meds, loose uniform, snacks.. But his older brother remained buried under his mess of blankets and pillows. Then, he started with a gentler approach, looking for Idia's tablet so he could just attend class remotely.
.
"No...," Idia had grumbled, flopping an arm over the edge of the bed.
"'No'?" Ortho repeated.
"No. I don't wanna today."
"Brother, I know your menstrual periods can be difficult, but you need to attend class."
"Ughhh! Don't say it!" Idia groaned, twisting his abdomen in hopes of relieving the pain.
"Idia." Ortho said sharply, putting his hands on his hips. Uncle Zeus, he looked like their mom.
"Orthoooo, little brotheeerr, don't make me."
".. Fine, but you're entirely responsible for any school work you miss."
"I know.." Idia waved, already readjusting himself.
"And since you'll probably be on your pho-" The humanoid reached for the device.
"Don't want it..," Idia said, rolling onto his side facing the wall.
That gave Ortho pause, what?! Did he hear that right?! Where is audio receptor systems crashing?! "What?"
"Don't want my phone.. Head hurts too much."
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Idia was immediately piled under MORE blankets and pillows, his head the only part left exposed. Ortho had left with a promise of checking on him during lunch, but only after a twenty minute argument in which Ortho began insisting on staying with him, while Idia tried to convince his little brother not to.
Idia pushed himself up with a wince, his body aches increase tenfold and he almost collapsed back down. But he didn't. He didn't. He swung a leg over and stood up, stumbling a bit.
Idia opened the door to his bathroom, ever grateful he had a personal one. Pausing, he turned back into hos bedroom and grabbed some extra clothes. He didn't want to shower, but he would have to eventually, so why not get it over with?
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The Ignihyde housewarden returned to spawn position, body contorted and hair a mess. Fuck, his eyes hurt.. Why did his eyes hurt? Why did everything hurt? Why was this happening?
Why?
Why was he.. This?
Why couldn't he be that?
Why was he born like this?
Why why why why why why
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More importantly, why was someone knocking on his door?
He got up again, pain still coursing through his body, nearly tripping over his blanket.
He opened the door just a crack.
"Idia."
Malleus greeted, his voice smooth.
Idia slammed the door shut. His heart slamming against his chest as he tried to compose himself.
What was Malleus Draconia doing here? Why was he stood on the other side of Idia's door?
The realization settled heavy in his already sore stomach, he'd slammed the door in Malleus Draconia's face.
Without thinking, Idia wretched the door back open, light from the hallway pouring in and making him recoil.
"M-Mr. Malleus," His voice trembled. "Wh-what are you doing here?"
"I was informed you weren't feeling well and came to offer my condolences." He said, his formal tone chipped at the edges to reveal something softer. Idia would not think about it, he wouldn't.
".. Thanks," Idia said, his face flushed. Knowing he probably looked like shit; loose shirt and shorts, missing one sock, hair a tossled mess and clear eye bags. Compared to Malleus' pristine appearance, Idia would assume that he was perfectly put together, but he quickly recognized the signs. His gloves being bunched up and the folds of his collar weren't perfectly centered.
Anyone else might not have noticed, but Idia did.
And how he wished he didn't.
"Ugh.., yeah, thx. I was just about to do... Something."
"'Something'?"
"Yeah, I need to.. Y'know, lay back down.."
They stood in silence for a while, before Idia continued. "And I need to find my heat pad, it's somewhere in here."
"Do you need any help?"
Idia's heart lurched, but not at the thought of Malleus seeing his room. No, Malleus had seen it at it's best and worst just like he's seen Idia. It was more so Malleus being in his room as Malleus. Not as Thunderboy.
"Uh..," Idia looked away, he wanted to say no.
He would say no.
He's going to say no.
He has to say no.
He said no-
"Sure," He said, moving aside and letting Malleus in.
Idia slid the door shut, the room darkened. Malleus stood still just in front of the door, causing Idia to awkwardly shuffle by the fae, their arms briefly grazing together. Idia tried to ignore the way they both flinched slightly at the contact, little sparks coming from the action.
Idia returned to his bed, sitting down heavily and looking up at Malleus, who was still standing without a movement. Idia didn't dare make eye contact.
The room wasn't horribly messy, only a few trinkets scattered about and the tangle of cords running across the floor was the biggest hazard.
Idia leaned down, grabbing one of the mangas he'd left lying about. He tossed it onto his desk without a second thought.
"Do you have any idea where this 'heat pad' is?" Malleus asked.
"Nah, I'm just.. gonna lie down.." Idia yawned, pulling his legs up and laying down.
"Is the pain excessive?" Malleus finally moved further into the room, sitting at the far edge of the bed.
Yes, Idia thought. The throbbing in his lower abdomen had him nearly crying. But he just didn't have to energy to sob over an organ he didn't even want.
"I've dealt with worse." You know that, he wished Malleus didn't.
"I wish you didn't have to deal with this at all, if I could stop this, I would've years ago." Malleus said as if he were thinking out loud, Idia stamped out the bits of pink that tried to creep into his hair and face.
.
The two sat in silence for a bit, Idia trying to not look directly at Malleus and Malleus not moving at all.
Until he spoke, "May I lay down with you?"
The Ignihyde housewarden felt his heart plummet, hitting every rib on the way down before splashing into his stomach. Oh gods, why did the prince ask with such... Sincerity? Like he was afraid Idia would say no and he'd be left sitting indefinitely?
Malleus was probably tired, yes. He most certainly was, so for that reason, and absolutely no other, Idia nodded. "Yeah," He scooted over.
Malleus toed off his shoes before laying down carefully next to Idia, laying down on his side, being mindful of his horns. They looked in opposite directions from each other, Malleus folding his hands on his stomach.
He was only doing this so Malleus wouldn't have to sit there awkwardly, only for that.
Idia tried not to move too much, his head still hurt.
Malleus, to his surprised, yawned, stretching his arms above his head.
Like a cat, Idia thought, unable to resist the little smile at the mental comparison. But it quickly changed back to the tight lipped frown when the Diasomnia student sat up and pulled off his jacket.
"Is it too warm?" Idia asked, watching Malleus fold the garment and set it on the floor, the desk too messy and overcrowded. "I could adjust the temp, or is it my hair? I promise I'm not annoyed with you! Or am I too close?" Idia was already moving closer to the wall.
"No!" Malleus turned all the way on his side, hand froze mid-reach for the other. "..No," He said, quieter. "You're not, if anything you aren't enough.. Close, I mean. You're quite enough, Shroud." The fae rambled a bit. "Especially with your machinery, I have no understanding of it but I understand it must be impressive-"
"Holy yap-a-tron." Idia grinned, cutting him off. He shifted to lay on his side as well, mirroring the other.
Malleus hummed, looking a bit embarrassed. "Pray tell, whatever does that mean?"
"You talk a lot."
"I was under the impression that you liked hearing me talk." Malleus smirked.
"If it helps you sleep at night," Idia rebuttled.
The pair stared at each other, the very thing they'd been avoiding. But still, Idia couldn't bring himself to care. Not when the banter distracted him from how horrible and icky he felt.
But it didn't distract him from the drowsiness, the result of his emergency run to the Mystery Shop last night for ice cream. He shivered at the memory of making extremely awkward eye contact with Epel Felmier down the frozen isle.
Idia yawned himself, his bangs falling over his eyes. "Don't let me fall asleep," He ordered Malleus.
Malleus hummed in response, likely not paying attention.
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Bastard, Idia thought as he started to wake up. How hilarious it was that Malleus would teleport the housewardens to his dorm without a second thought yet couldn't manage to keep him awake when asked.
Idia curled further into the pillow against his chest.
.. He did not own a pillow this long. Nor did he own a pillow that breathe. Or that wrapped around him.
His eyes shot open, looking up to only see white fabric, pale skin, and traces of black hair. He could feel the rise and fall of Malleus' chest and the steady beat of his heart. Their legs tangled together, and Malleus arms were locked tightly around Idia's waist, pressing them together until all Idia could feel was MalleusMalleusMalleus.
His entire head was nearly pink at this point, his eyes wide and mouth open, ready to wake Malleus and be let go.
But no words came out, Idia only let himself be held by the future king.
King. Malleus would one day be a king, and Idia would be a Watchman.
Idia always knew that, his parents made sure he knew that. That's why Idia always tried to push away the ache in his chest. He just wanted to ignore it in hopes his heart would learn it's lesson. No man was worth the aggravation.
And yet, Idia still tilted his head up just slightly, pressing his chin into the base of Malleus' neck. He could see his face now, his lips parted ever so slightly as he unknowingly held Idia close.
The shorter stared up at him, fearing his breathing would rouse him from sleep. But Malleus' face remained a perfect picture of regality. Idia didn't like regal, imposing Prince Malleus Draconia as much as he liked his Malleus. He let himself stew in the ache for the time.
After another moment, Idia's arms looped around the prince's neck, one laying on the pillow behind Malleus' head while the other barely brushed against the back of his head, just scarcely touching the raven colored hair. Idia allowed himself to be deluded into thinking that Malleus' grip on his tightened ever so slightly as a result.
Idia's heart rate increased to almost lethal speeds as he fully took in just how close they were now, their hearts beating almost in sync, and their breath mingling.
Idia stared at Malleus' face, his closed eye lids, the slope of his nose, the shape of his lips... All of it.
Despite his better judgement, but if there was a competition for rotten judgement, he would've long won that, Idia shifted ever so closer. His blue lips less than an inch away from Malleus' colorless ones.
So close.
So far.
But.. Idia didn't want to be far anymore. He wanted to be there, right there with Malleus.
Just a little further, their lips were already practically touching. The little air became charged with tiny shocks and bursts of heat, Malleus' hand drifted up Idia's back, and one went to his shoulder blades. The other stayed put.
So many memories came to him, so many it hurt his head. Tears filled his eyes, unwanted. All those times he wished he learned on Malleus' shoulder, all those times he should've rolled over and thrown an arm across him, all those times he should've closed the gap between them.
But he couldn't now.
Idia jerked his head back, the tears now spilling down his cheeks as he tried to stay silent.
He didn't want to be far from Malleus. But he had to. For what other choice did they have?
There would have never been a way for them to work out. They shouldn't have even crossed paths. They shouldn't have said anything to each other. Because if they hadn't, this wouldn't be happening. Idia wouldn't be crying in Malleus' arms.
Idia wouldn't have pulled away from Malleus at all, he wouldn't have hid away from the prince, he wouldn't have fought with everything he had to ignore the longing pain in his chest.
Because Idia should've known it would never have worked. They both should've.
Idia should've never let Malleus in, he should've never opened the door, he should've never let Malleus worm back into his heart. Even if he'd always been there.
Idia's tears eventually stopped, leaving tracks on his face as his hair dimmed. The pulse of the flames weakening as he fell back asleep.
Maybe he could pretend this was all a dream.
He could just pretend to be asleep until Malleus woke. Yes..., he could do that.
Idia twisted his body and head as far away from Malleus as possible.
He needed to be far away. He should've stayed far away.
He would. He should. But he couldn't.
Even when he knew it'd hurt.
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Malleus lay, hoping. His heart hurting. His lip trembled.
IdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdia
One kiss. That's all he wanted.
IdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdia
That's all it would take. To shatter what was left of him.
IdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdiaIdia
A single tear fell from his eye.
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