Prompt: Klarion struggles to show his emotions, so he does what any rational immortal would, freezes time.
"Youāre quiet tonight," I observe, glancing at him as I cross the street. āDid you finally run out of things to complain about?ā
I pop another chip into my mouth and finish the carton, crumpling it in my hand. Weād spent the last few hours at my apartment, but when I said I couldnāt be bothered to cook, we ended up walking to a fast-food place instead. Now heās walking me back instead of teleporting us, which is a miracle. I tell myself itās fine, I could use the exercise.
Klarion kicks a rock down the street, hands shoved deep into his coat pockets. The streetlights cast that weird orange glow on the pavement, and for once, heās not talking.
āIām thinking,ā he says eventually, grumpy as usual.
He shoots me a glare. āYouāre very smug for someone who can barely handle their own kitchen.ā
āYou burned popcorn last week,ā I remind him.
āIt was experimental fire magic!ā
āIt was a microwave. You shouldāve just asked me to show you how to use it.ā
He huffs, looking away, āYouāre lucky I tolerate you. And that stupid microwave.ā
āOh, tolerate, is it? Thatās sweet. Really warms my heart.ā
He mutters something under his breath, too low to catch. I smirk. āWhat was that?ā
āNothing,ā he answers quickly. Then, after a beat, he floats to catch up to walk next to me. āYou could do worse, you know.ā
I raise an eyebrow. āWorse than what?ā
āThen me.ā He keeps his gaze fixed forward, tone annoyingly casual. āMortals throw themselves at all sorts of useless, boring creatures. At least Iām interesting.ā
āHow much worse could a Lord of Chaos possibly be?ā I say.
He tilts his head, pretending to think. āWell, you could end up with one of those dull little Justice babies.ā
āSo, my options are you or a guy in spandex?ā
āIām simply saying Iām a catch.ā
āYou just admitted to almost setting my kitchen on fire.ā
āThat was controlled chaos!ā He gestures with both hands, a little too dramatically.
āPretty sure it screamed when you pressed the start button,ā I remember the weird sound I didnāt think a microwave could make.
āMachines areĀ weak,ā he insists, crossing his arms. āThey fear me.ā
āSo does my smoke alarm.ā
He glares, and I canāt help but laugh. āYou think this is funny,ā he mutters.
āIām trying to be nice!ā he blurts out suddenly, and it takes me a second to realise how sincere that sounds coming from him.
āThis is you being nice?ā
āWhat do you expect? Flowers? A serenade? Mortals are so particular.ā
āIād settle for a new microwave.ā
He sulks, āYouāre impossible.ā Heās quiet, hands deep in his pockets. After a pause, he says, more uncertain,āYou could still do worse.ā
āYouāve said that.ā
āI was making sure you heard it.ā
āStill thinking about the guy in spandex.ā
He groans loudly, tossing his head back like Iāve personally offended him. āUgh, why do I bother blessing you with my presence.ā
āThatās a question for both of us,ā I say. āWould you stop coming over?ā
āAnd deprive you of my company?ā
āNot really. Iād probably get a new microwave.ā
āYouāre obsessed with that machine,ā he declares. āItās unhealthy.ā
āSays the immortal chaos gremlin who visits my apartment uninvited.ā
āVisits?ā He scoffs. āYou should be honoured. Do you know how many mortals get my attention for more than five seconds?ā
āI donāt know- three?ā
āLess!ā He points at me, triumphant, like heās proving something. āSee? Youāre special.ā
āBecause you decided to loiter in my kitchen?ā
āBecause IĀ choseĀ to!ā
āThatās⦠not the compliment you think it is.ā
Klarion stares at me, clearly offended. āYou mortals are impossible to impress.ā
āMaybe donāt lead withĀ āYou could do worse.āā
āItās not flattering.ā
I grin at him, just to make it worse. āSo factual, itās romantic.ā
āI can be romantic,ā he snaps.
āAlright, then, prove it.ā
āFine, I will!ā He stops walking, throwing his arms out dramatically like the streetās his stage. āWhen the stars burn out and the seas run dry, I'll be there!ā
I blink. āThatās⦠kind of intense.ā
āIt's sounds like a war declaration.ā
He glares. āI hate mortals.ā
āYou keep hanging around one.ā
āThatās different.ā
āBecause youāre-ā He stops, grimacing like he just bit into something sour. āNever mind.ā
I smirk. āBecause Iām what?ā
āI willĀ not-ā he starts, but then his voice cuts off.
The world cuts off with it. The engines of cars pause, and I notice because the city has never been quiet.
Klarion exhales sharply, dragging a hand down his face. āI canāt do this when you wonāt take me seriously.ā
I blink, glancing around at the silent, motionless street. āYou froze time because...?ā I drawl out.
āBecause youĀ mockĀ me!ā He points an accusing finger, expression somewhere between furious and mortified. āDo you have any idea how difficult this is?ā
"This!ā He gestures between us, pacing a few steps before spinning back around. āYou! You make jokes, and you roll your eyes, and then you smile and I-ā He stops himself, groaning into his hands.
āYouāre the one who hangs around me, you know what I'm like,ā I remind him softly.
āExactly!ā he snaps, voice cracking a little. āThatās the problem.ā
I raise an eyebrow. āIām the problem?ā
āYes! No- ugh, donāt look at me like that.ā
āLike you think this is funny.ā
āYouāre yelling at me in a frozen street. Itās aĀ littleĀ funny.ā
He makes a strangled noise of frustration, pacing a few steps in a tight circle. āYou donāt get it. I donāt do this. Mortals, friends, whatever this stupid thing is. And you- you act like Iām just some⦠stray cat that wonāt leave you alone.ā
āWell,ā I say carefully, āyouĀ didĀ break into my kitchen that one time.ā
āBecause you said you missed me!ā he blurts out and then looks like he immediately regrets it.
I blink. āI said I missed Teekl.ā
āIt is!ā He drags a hand through his hair, muttering to himself. āYouāre infuriating.ā
āYouāve mentioned that.ā
He stops pacing. For once, heās completely still, eyes on me, expression oddly serious. āI donāt want to be your friend,ā he says finally.
The words hang there, flat and blunt and a little too honest. And I feel even myself pause at his seriousness.
I open my mouth, but he keeps talking, voice lower now. āI donāt want to be the annoying thing that shows up when youāre bored, or the chaos you feed fast food to. I just-ā He hesitates, struggling for words. āI want to be somethingĀ else.ā
I stare at him for a moment. āSomething else,ā I repeat.
āYes. Something thatās not⦠this.ā He gestures vaguely between us, then grimaces. āSee, now it sounds stupid out loud.ā
āItās cute,ā I respond, smiling before I can stop myself.
He groans, throwing his head back. āYouĀ see?!Ā This is what Iām talking about! You never take me seriously!ā
āBecause you say it like a riddle,ā I reply. āJust- what are you trying to tell me, Klarion?ā
He falls silent. Then, through clenched teeth, āI like you.ā
The way he says it, clipped, like it physically hurts, makes it somehow worse and better at the same time.
I blink, trying to process that. āYou like me.ā
āDonāt say it like that!ā
āHow else am I supposed to say it?ā
āLike itās not embarrassing!ā
āYou stoppedĀ timeĀ to tell me you like me. Weāre way past embarrassing.ā
He glares, red creeping up his neck. āI could leave this whole planet right now and pretend it never happened.ā
āYou could,ā I say, smiling faintly. āBut you wonāt.ā
He hesitates, and that tiny moment of silence is the closest Iāve ever seen him come to shy. Then he waves his hand, muttering something under his breath.
The world slams back into motion. Sound, wind, the city breathing again. A car horn blares in the distance like nothing happened.
Klarion immediately starts walking again, faster this time, head down.
I jog a few steps to catch up. āSo⦠you like me, huh?ā
āI will turn you into a frog.ā
āIt could be if you keep talking.ā
He glares over his shoulder. āBe quiet.ā
āYou like me, though.ā
He groans, picking up his pace again, muttering something about āmortals and their stupid faces.ā
I grin to myself and catch up, looping my arm through his. Our hands brush, brief and warm, and neither of us says a word. For all his power and posturing, he sure doesnāt pull away.
TAGS: @chrisrue15 @jade-digital
Random Klarion fic as I work on longer ones