Work Text:
This seemed like a good place to stay for the night. A small clearing in the woods right beside the shore of one great river, not exactly strategic, but beautiful nonetheless. They’ve been travelling near it for the past few days, but tonight was the first time they got so close that they could hear the river itself.
The sun was slowly getting closer to the horizon and its last amber rays were dancing on the waves, among the curved branches and leaves. It was time to set up a camp.
The routine was already established, after all, they’ve been travelling together for a while. Max and Ruby were usually the ones setting up the tents, Brohiny would cook a simple meal, ignoring cleric’s advices and complaints. As for Mr Wizard… Well he always claimed that he was checking the area for monsters.
This time something was different — usually he’d create an image of active work, so no one would bother him until dinner was ready, but today he was mindlessly swaying around the trees.
—
“Are we running out of supplies?” Max was staring at his bowl with a watery stew. “How far away is the nearest town?”
“We’re running out because someone wanted to carry more useless junk than food.” Ruby was staring directly at Mr Wizard.
He wearily lifted his head only after a few seconds, realising that he might be that ‘someone’. “Huh? Oh, no! That’s not junk —”
He was immediately met with three not exactly thrilled glares.
“— okay, maybe it seems like junk, but I promise it will be worth it!”
Brohiny shrugged, ignoring the wizard's excuses, “I'd say we're going to get to our next stop in two days at best. Better tighten your belts until then.”
—
Darkness covered the forest. The dinner was finished, Max and Mr Wizard were the ones to take the first half of the watch. By the start of it they would usually find something to keep themselves busy, be it the simple talking, strolling around the camp, or learning the art of backflips.
“Hey, come to think of it, Daniel…” Max stretched, “It didn't work out the last time you tried to do a backflip.”
Mr Wizard grimaced at the memory, “Oh, it sure didn't.”
“Wanna try again?” with anyone else he wouldn't even consider the possibility of teaching them how to do ‘his thing’. Mr Wizard, however, was different. First of all, Max didn't believe for a second that he would be able to nail it; and then there was something about his admiration for the skill that made it so appealing to spend more time showing off.
“Well, Max, I'd love it,” he mumbled, trying to hide a yawn, “but my prophet crystal tells me that tonight is not the time!”
“Just how many of those stupid crystals you have…“ he complained, “What are we gonna do then?”
“Oh, I’ll be sorting my spells, of course!” he pulled a comically large grimoire from the bag beside him and placed it on his lap, creating a cloud of dust.
Max rolled his eyes and looked around. Everything, unfortunately, was quite peaceful. With his eyes closed, he tried to listen to the sounds of the forest — night birds singing, waves splashing, tree crowns rustling in the wind, crickets chirping… It was almost melodic.
He didn’t know for how long he was lost in thought, but, apparently, long enough to feel a bump on the shoulder. His head instinctively turned and met the wizard's dark soft hair. Seems like he wasn’t the only one enjoying the ambient sounds — Mr Wizard had drifted to sleep, leaning onto the closest thing to him, which was Max’s shoulder. The grimoire was about to slide from his lap on the ground. Max reached to put it back in the bag and noticed that it was turned upside down. What kind of spells could possibly be written in it and how would this wacky man ‘sort’ them he didn’t want to know.
While Max was trying to find a place to leave grimoire at, Mr Wizard murmured something in his sleep and wrapped his hands around Max’s.
“Alright, that is too much.” he mumbled awkwardly, trying to wiggle out of Mr Wizard’s embrace. Mr Wizard was taller and their current position was really uncomfortable. However, he didn’t want to wake him up. It was obvious that he was tired and Max wasn’t a monster, not tonight at least. He could keep watch alone. But there also was something weirdly calming in the sight of this man clinging to his shoulder without a care in the world.
He was never fond of “Mr Wizard”. However, his interest in the real guy behind this quirky mage act grew bigger day by day. And right now he seemed like his real self more than ever, and that wasn’t something Max would want to end so quickly.
—
Mr Wizard's head fell from Max's shoulder and his mind woke up in an attempt to catch the body.
“Oh!” he wasn't falling, Max held him up, “hoo-hoo, Mr Bladder, what a pleasant surprise! Seems like my spells got the best of me.” he jumped up, looking around like he hasn't been here for the past three hours.
“What is it with you today?”
“Ah, I am just awfully tired.”
Max wasn't expecting such an honest and simple answer.
“But I'm excited to go into the town and sell all these precious little things!” he nodded towards the tent and his vehicle behind, “I have never seen the dungeon so plentiful!”
Right, he did fight to get the treasures, almost ripping these potions, rusty metal and grimoires out of the unforgiving claws of the dungeon. That must've been the reason for his current weariness.
“You think anyone would want this?”
“You don't know how far words can get you,” Mr Wizard smiled and tipped his hat.
“So far that you'd have to hide your identity?” Max teased.
“I'll go for a stroll! You know, I noticed some unusual presence earlier today.” he swung his hands in a usual manner and headed into the woods, completely ignoring Max.
“You're not fooling anyone!” he yelled, watching the man disappear.
Maybe it was a good thing, whatever he was up to, at least he won't fall asleep anymore. Huh… Max wondered if Mr Wizard could actually fall asleep while standing. Sure sounds like him.
Max took a deep breath. The air was chilly, permeated with the aromas of surrounding greenery and occasional hints of smoke from their campfire. Not everyday he got a moment like this — complete silence and peace, when he could finally hear his own thoughts.
But was that a good thing?
He looked around once more, but nothing caught his attention, the wizard wasn't anywhere to be seen, he didn't even hear him, which was unusual. Max was completely alone.
What was it about Mr Wizard anyway that made him cling so desperately to the mere fact of his presence?.. Cling? Gods, no. He winced as the image of the man appeared in his mind. There had to be something else. Max tilted his head back, begging to see some kind of bird or a moth, but there was nothing but twinkling stars above him.
It's been quiet for a while now.
He begged for something to happen.
And his prayers were heard. A loud cry came from the river.
Max grabbed his mace immediately jumping in the direction of the water. He didn’t think of what might wait for him. The bushes cut him and a few branches definitely slapped his face as he tried to find a shortcut to the shore. The screaming didn’t stop and, to his horror, he recognised the voice.
He jumped out of the forest, almost falling from the high shore. Right under the edge there he managed to catch himself, Mr Wizard was splashing in the dark water, coughing trying to escape something behind him, something Max couldn’t yet make out in the darkness.
“Theodor!” he called, falling on his knees and reaching above the edge, trying to grab the man.
Mr Wizard froze in place upon meeting the other’s eyes and his shaking hands instinctively jumped up to fix the slipping fake beard, even though that move made him sink even lower in the murky waters.
At that exact moment Max realised — never in his entire life he felt so much anger.
He reached for Mr Wizard as far as was humanly possible, digging his nails into the ground to keep himself stable, and snatched the man from the water by the collar. Eventually, when Mr Wizard’s body inevitably hit the wall of the shore, Max had to grab the man with both hands and drag him up to the ground.
“How can you keep doing this, you fool!?” Max yelled, losing balance and falling on his back along with Mr Wizard, “How did you even survive to your age!?"
The saved man pushed himself up on the elbow and lifted the rim of his soggy hat to look at Max with the most miserable expression imaginable.
“There was a-” he winced as his voice cracked, “there was something in the water- and I-I tried to see what it was and something pulled me in!” he repeated in his “normal” voice before Max could react, “I swear it tried to drown me! I think it was some kind of a worm or an octopus!”
Max rolled his eyes, “And you sure you didn’t fall on your own?”
“It might still be around!” the wizard exclaimed as he tried to stand up, “I wouldn’t fall without reason!”
“I think the way you move is a good enough reason.” Max got up and held Mr Wizard by the forearm, until he could stay on his own.
The man then sneaked closer to the edge to look in the water, still concerned about the mysterious creature. He was completely soaked, trembling either from fear or the cold, with sand all over his clothes and skin.
Max looked around cautiously only then leaning down to pick up his mace — there could still be a chance that the wizard was right about the creature. The coast, however, seemed clear. He tried to focus and ignore the coughs and gasps Mr Wizard was making.
The sedge that was outlining parts of the shore rustled. Max turned to the sound just in time to dodge the jaws of a giant snake.
“Woah! Look at it, it's bigger than you! ” he yelled, checking on the terrified man behind him.
The snake curled its body, scanning its opponents, getting ready to lunge forward again.
Max held up his mace and started slowly making his way around the giant hissing creature, “Stand behind me and cast something. Don't let it close, it might be venomous.”
“I can't.” Mr Wizard whispered.
“What!?”
“I used all my energy earlier in the dungeon, I need time to recover!”
Mr Wizard was shaking like a leaf, Max could hear it in his voice, but now wasn't the time to argue.
The snake jumped, aiming for the cleric. After barely dodging the attack, he saw an opening and was able to land a hit somewhere in the middle of the snake’s body. It twisted, covering the injured spot and pulling away the weapon from Max’s hands with its tail. As he tried to pull it back, the creature creeped behind him.
He ripped the mace back and turned to shield his companion, but the snake wasn’t interested in the wizard. Max tripped on its body and fell on the ground face-first. He felt the monstrous animal wrapping around his legs and torso in a crushing embrace and his whole body became cold.
He was able to free his left hand just in time to cover his face from yet another attack. Giant sharp fangs sank his arm, making him yell. He tried to push the snake away but that got him nowhere, the fangs only sank into the muscles deeper and the snake's hold got tighter.
Then there was a bright flash.
He involuntarily closed his eyes. In one moment the pain grew stronger and then suddenly disappeared. He finally could move and slipped from the hold.
Max rubbed his aching chest, trying to get himself together. The snake in front of him didn’t move, its jaw was open, blood dripping from it, but that was only temporary, since after a short while it backed up squirming, shaking its head, almost hitting it on the ground.
Mr Wizard approached the snake holding a mace. He was clearly struggling with the weapon and yet managing to land a hit.
The snake, still blinded and now injured, cringed and jumped in the wizard's way. He shrieked and fell back, trying to cover himself with the mace. Lucky for him, the creature didn’t turn and retrieved as it missed its target. It creeped back where it came from— in the tall grass under the shore, leaving the trail of blood behind.
There were no sounds except their heavy breathing anymore.
Max sat up, and met Mr Wizard’s eyes. He didn’t move or say a word, still clutching the weapon to his chest. Max felt a smile growing across his face.
“That was impressive!” he laughed, tired and out of breath, “What was with the light, I thought you can’t do your magic?”
“A cantrip, nothing much, but rather useful.” the wizard returned the smile, “Are you okay?” he crawled to the man reaching for the wounded arm.
Max pulled it back before he could touch it. His smile faded.
“There is no way I’m the only one who got hurt.” he muttered inspecting the bloody mess.
“Well, the snake also-” he noticed Max’s furious look and decided not to continue, “I’m sorry. Let's get you back.”
“I can do that on my own.” he ignored Mr Wizard’s hand and stood up, heading towards the forest.
“Right.”
—
Max sat on the ground, back against the log. His breath fastened and he couldn’t know if the cause was the venom or his own fear. This wound wouldn't be a problem if it wasn’t caused by the snake. Should warn the townsfolk that kind of creature roams their forests.
“Here,” Mr Wizard offered him some old piece of cloth.
Max tied the cloth around his arm to stop the poison from spreading. It might be too late for it and the attempt was rather bold, but it gave a sense of security he needed. He imagined showing off the scar in the tavern and weakly smiled.
Mr Wizard jumped, “Wait! Stay here, I might have something for you!” he got into their tent and for a while Max was subjected to listening to annoying rustling before the man exclaimed, “Found it!”
He ran to Max and presented him with a vial with mystery contents.
“It could be an antidote, I got it from the dungeon!” he smiled as if it wasn’t even more horrifying than losing an arm to the poison. Mr Wizard noticed Max’s expression, “Oh, I’m sure It’s safe…”
“You don’t even know what this is and you offer me to drink it!” Max backed up, “Are you out of your mind!?”
“Well, it’s not like you have any other option, so why not take a chance?"
No matter how grim it sounded, it was true. He could wait it out, see what kind of the poison that was, maybe he could make it to the town they were heading to and get some help. But something told him that the outcome would be the same either way…
Max looked at the man kneeling in front of him and felt his temperature rising. The poison must’ve started working.
“To hell with it.” Max grabbed the vile with the bright blue liquid, his hands were shaking.
Mr Wizard’s face was no longer radiating confidence. He watched closely as the cleric opened and smelled the potion.
It was a vaguely familiar aroma, maybe he got the chance to drink it before, but he couldn’t remember what it did. At least he was alive.
Max drank the liquid, the bitter taste stayed on his tongue.
“How is it? How do you feel?”
“Nothing yet. But I’m not sure if the poison was very strong either.”
The wizard sighed with relief. His hand slipped from Max’s. He didn’t even notice Mr Wizard was holding it and made a mistake of trying to catch it back. Mr Wizard noticed and Max was ready to die from embarrassment.
“Are you-”
“Why don’t you go in the tent and dry your clothes out?” Max offered as he pulled his hand away to heal his wound or, at least, try to, “Take your clothes off, they’re gross”.
Mr Wizard lifted a brow and smirked, getting ready to answer.
“Listen, Maddison, if you get sick from all that I won’t carry you around,” he interrupted, trying to win the time to compose himself, “you better hurry.”
The wizard got up from his knees, brushing the dust from them, as if it could help his overall appearance, “Anything you wish for, Mr Blunder.” he winked and turned away to find a place to hang his clothes on.
Max pretended he didn’t notice.
He sat there for a while, listening to Mr Wizard’s humming, and wondered if he made a right choice putting his, if not life, then wellbeing in the hands of this man.
—
“...What happened?” Ruby examined Max who was covered in dirt and blood.
“We fought a giant snake,” he groaned.
“Did you kill it?” she frowned.
“No it got away, go pet it. It’s probably somewhere by the river.” Ruby looked at him with disgust.
“We’ll find some kind of bathhouse in the town,” Bro shrugged, “Walking around the forest smelling like blood ain’t ideal.”
“Yes…” Max paused, lingering on this thought.
“Okay, stop overthinking,” Ruby exclaimed, visibly annoyed, “go wash yourself in the river, idiot.”
“Well, thank you for the kind words, I’m fine by the way.” Max theatrically shaked his hands, hissing as the injured arm reminded of itself; he couldn't heal it completely after the mystery vial shoved its effect.
On the way to the tent he overheard Ruby saying to Bro something about red ears.
—
“Alright, it was a long day-” he stopped at the entrance of the tent and stopped, staring at the wizard, “you’re joking.”
He was sitting up on his side of the tent, wrapped in a blanket with a completely innocent look on his face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, how’s your arm-”
“There’s no way you will sleep like that,” he crawled closer with a look of utter disbelief, “take it off”.
“Now, how am I supposed to do that, you silly man?” the wizard laughed.
“You know how. Take the beard off, we all know it’s fake, moreover-” he stood up on his knees to be higher than the man in front of him and pointed finger at him, “you know we know”.
Mr Wizard’s eyes darted to the corner, he stayed silent.
“It’s wet and full of sand”.
The tent was rather cramped because of all the things the wizard couldn’t fit in his bag. They’d have to sleep less than a foot away from each other.
“I don’t want to be near this thing.” Max gestured with his finger in the general direction of the beard, before crossing his arms on his chest, visibly aggravated.
The man let out the most devastated sigh possible as he reached for the back of his head. At that moment Max realised — he somehow has never seen his companion without that stupid beard. His heart skipped a beat at the thought of him being the first one to see the wizard’s face, and actually, hear his real voice too, even if it was by mistake.
He held his breath watching the white piece of fake fur being carefully removed, exposing the lower part of its owner’s face. As expected, Mr Wizard seemed a lot younger than he tried to appear, Max wouldn’t give him above fifty years. And it would be a lie to say that he wasn’t handsome, as he liked to brag. Mr Wizard had a stubble… When did he even have time to shave? No way that was the work of his cantrips.
“Like what you see?” he smiled sheepishly, pulling Max out of the thoughts and making him realise that he has been staring at Mr Wizard all this time.
“A lot, actually.” he really did and that was making him genuinely mad, Max averted his eyes. Mr Wizard was beautiful. So why put on the show? Wouldn't it be easier to get on people's good side by just looking like that? For God' s sake, if on the day they met he sounded like that, looked at him like he was right now, Max would actually consider buying one of his useless crystals.
Mr Wizard turned away, a blush appearing on his face. He pulled up the blanket to his nose to hide the involuntary smile, “Well, have a good night!” and turned his back to Max, laying down.
“Uh,” he felt his face turning red, “Right, sleep well.”
—
“Stop wriggling!"
“I am still concerned about that snake, ” he whispered, “and I'll be honest, I slept better in the evening, despite the pillow being your shoulder… “
Max rolled over on his back to face the man, “Are you suggesting something?”
A blush appeared on his cheeks. “Well… I might.”
He was pulled closer and was now practically pressed against Max's side. Max sighed, furrowing his brows, jumping through hoops mentally to justify his decision.
Mr Wizard chuckled, “How gentle.”
Max tensed at the sensation of the hand traveling from his chest to the side of the neck. He felt everything acutely: the slight tremble of Mr Wizard’s body, his nose brushing against his jaw, hot breath stinging his neck, his companion cuddling up closer, getting more comfortable… and Max found himself unable to move, afraid to lose the points of contact again. It was the kind of warmth he hasn’t felt in years and wasn’t expecting to feel even now. He couldn’t lose it.
Thousands of thoughts were circling in his mind, not letting him rest, not letting his eyes close.
And then he flinched, feeling a blanket creeping over his leg. The dream of keeping the contact was immediately pushed in the background.
It was established on the first night when he had to share a bed with Mr Wizard — they both had separate blankets. Not out of modesty, but to avoid a fight. This man had many ways to annoy Max and one of them was his tendency to steal blankets and pillows. Not even to use properly, but to push them in the pile and sprawl on top of it. And to this day Max was convinced that was done on purpose, just to mess with him.
“You’re not doing this again.” Max hissed and felt the body beside him freeze.
“I’m cold.” the other answered in a guilty tone. He pulled himself even closer to the other's face, “Please, it’s not like we can’t both fit…”
“You have your own.” Max’s face was already burning, now he felt like he’s about to pass out. Mr Wizard didn’t sound like himself, at least, not like the man the party was introduced to initially. His voice was tender and quiet, like he too didn’t want to scare the other man off. Maybe the lack of a beard did that to him.
“Max?...” Mr Wizard gently squeezed his shoulder. That was enough to pull him back into reality.
“...Whatever,” he let go of his grip on the blanket, letting the other man crawl under it. He spent the whole evening spoiling him like that, might as well finish it off in the same style “do what you want.”
—
“Guys, wake up!” Ruby's voice ripped through his sleep. For a moment Max got nervous, thinking of the events of this night — the man pressed to him, his exposed face. But Ruby didn't peek in, couldn't bother enough. Still, that possibility on its own was enough to wake him up.
As he tried to get up a displeased hum burned his back and an arm that was wrapped around his torso clung stronger. He slowly laid back down.
“Uh-” he cleared throat, “Okay, we'll be there soon!” just to be sure she won't get back to check on them.
“Now why would you do that…” Mr Wizard mumbled in his back.
“Well, we'll have to get up eventually and-”
“Yes, but you could've waited a bit before saying that. Now they'll check on us sooner…”
“Don't you have places to be?” Max tried to untangle their legs.
“Yes, but I can trade anytime and I've just had the best sleep in my entire long life!” he squeezed Max’s side, “I don't want to get up just yet…”
“You know…” Max managed to lift himself up a little bit and turn to lay on his back, just to catch a glimpse of a man and meet his hopeful gaze, still blinded by sleep.
“Know what?”
“We… Ugh, don't stare at me like that-” he felt the tips of his ears become warmer, “I was gonna say that we could maybe do that again-”
“You mean that!? Oh, you're simply wonderful!.. And yet,” not waiting for an answer, he pulled him back "Let's give it a couple more minutes.”
Max, obviously, didn't get a say in this and now was laying face to face to this man. His heart was racing. It was too early for all this.
The wizard's hand slid from his back, to the shoulder and gently, with just tips of his fingers, traveled to Max's palm, locking it in a hold.
Max tried to think of anything else, tried to look at anything but the sparkling green eyes, the lips curved in a soft smile. He was a coward, especially when it came to things like that.
He moved closer and couldn't bring himself to do anything but lock the other man in a hug. As tight as possible. It would be a risk to try something else, he couldn't take it, not when everything goes so perfect.
Mr Wizard chuckled, gently placing his free hand on the other's cheek, “You're adorable.”
Max wasn't looking at him anymore, he savoured each second before they'd have to leave the place.
He felt his face being lightly lifted towards Mr Wizard's. He couldn't catch a glimpse of his expression before he felt a soft kiss being planted in the corner of his lips. His stomach dropped.
“What did you just—”
“Ah! You must not be familiar! You see, that’s a custom in the place where I'm from! To… Greet people like that.” Mr Wizard quickly rambled, ready to jump up and run away, but Max tightened his hold.
“This is just as real as your stupid beard.” He said, pulling him back into the kiss.
Max was a mess, as well as his mind. He clung onto the man like he was about to disappear at any second. He kissed impatiently, messily, trying to fill in for all the moments he couldn't do it.
Mr Wizard was melting in his embrace, making muffled pleased noises whenever Max was tugging him closer and gasping for air whenever he could.
Max felt palms on his face lightly pushing it away. He paused the kiss and moved away to look at the man. The wizard's face was completely red, lips glistening, breathing heavily.
He locked eyes with Max. He lifted the other's hand to his lips and gently kissed the inside of the palm. Then his head moved down, eyelashes brushing against the skin of the arm. Max knew his plan and when a kiss was placed on the wounded spot he had already covered his burning face.
“We don't have time for this nonsense…” He whispered and felt more kisses being placed. It was evil to say the least.
“Nonsense? And here I thought you saved my life tonight,” Mr Wizard answered with a slightly sore voice. He lifted himself up, now towering over the cleric, “let's go then.”
He really was beautiful, especially now in the dimmed warm light, with that soft smile blooming on his face.
“Right… But should I hold onto it?” He grinned, waving the fake beard in his other hand.
“Or you could give it to its rightful owner and be the only one who gets to see my face.” He leaned down to kiss Max again as a distraction to steal the beard back. Worked like a charm.
“Just don't think that you'll get away with this ever again,” Max tried and failed to hide his smile.