(another snippet, this time because my brain keeps yelling about riz wearing fabian's jacket and people bullying goblins and someone whispering "isn't that seacaster's boyfriend?!" and fabian beating them up and)
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Riz is tense and mad and eternally grateful that Fabian will not pry; he is sitting crossed-legged on Fabian’s giant bed, turned towards the enormous flatscreen, Fabian stretched out comfortably beside him. There’s a movie playing they both have seen a hundred times, but it is Fabian’s favorite and it takes almost two thirds of the runtime until Riz manages to relax his shoulders slowly, unfold his legs and finally lay down beside Fabian, head on his chest, Fabian’s arm coming up around him, easy, normal, familiar, his hand playing with Riz’s curls almost absent-mindedly, eyes fixed on the movie as if he was actually watching it. Riz knows better. When the credits roll, Fabian turns his head slightly and looks down on the bunch of goblin tucked into his side. He waits for Riz to speak, always taking his cues and his lead to approach whatever churnes in his hyperactive head and the mismatched bunch of emotions, until Riz finally says “You didn’t have to do that.” Fabian hums quietly, hand still idly in Riz’s hair and for a second, he closes his eyes and lets the warmth wash over him, from his chest all over the rest of his body when Fabian rests his hand on Riz’s neck, warm, heavy, grounding.
“I can defend myself. I’m not a damsel in distress.” Riz begins again, a little softer. Another acknowledging hum. They stay quiet for a while. Then Fabian replies, “Just because you can doesn’t mean you alway have to.”
“They’re just new kids, there is no point in fighting them before their first adventure.”
“Even more reason, they absolutely should be aware of their insignificance!”
Riz snorts. Fabian turns slightly, Riz’s head buried in the crook of his neck, Fabians breath ghosting over his temple, when he pulls him closer into his chest. Fabian's voice is more serious when he speaks again.
“I am perfectly aware that you could shoot everyone who looks at you wrong faster than they could even say hello. But I still want to make it very clear that no one touches you without having to deal with me.”
