A second commission for the wonderful @aiden-bevelle. I’m so happy I got to give them the happy ending I ever gave my “reader” in the Bragi stories.
Premise: Bragi just can’t stand leaving by himself
Spoilers for KH:DR
~~~~~
This is not how he wanted their relationship to go.
Luxu stands in the rain, the hood of his black coat hiding his face. He just witnessed his own funeral—well, his and his friends who had actually died. It was bitter and painful, but worst of all was Aiden. Aiden survived, but now he sat in front of “Bragi’s” grave, still crying long after the ceremony ended.
The last thing Luxu wanted was to hurt Aiden, but because of what happened, he was being forced to move on. He didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye.
Honestly, Luxu wasn’t done being Bragi. There was still so much he wanted to do with Aiden. He used to think that his relationship was getting in the way of his job; now his job seemed to be getting in the way of his relationship.
Luxu’s not ready to let go.
Screw it.
Quick, decisive strides close the gap; he can’t give himself a chance to second-guess. A hand claps across the mourning boy’s mouth. The young man freezes, irrepressible sobs rattling his chest.
Low and even, Luxu orders, “Come with me.”
The weariness in Aiden is severe enough that he complies without question, letting himself be led from the graveyard to a secluded alleyway.
Once he’s sure they won’t be seen, Luxu’s cautious fingers lower the hood. Aiden’s eyes fly wide open. He just stands there, mouth agape, and Luxu lets out a nervous laugh, not entirely sure he made the right choice.
“Hey darl—”
He doesn’t get to finish his greeting. Sharp pain stings at his cheek from where Aiden’s palm made contact. When he looks back, Luxu feels his heart crumbling as he finds fresh tears dripping from Aiden’s face.
“You asshole!”
He deserved that. All the screaming and yelling that comes from Aiden next is warranted. He was worried; he was heartbroken; he was mourning. And that was Luxu’s fault.
“—And you have three seconds to explain yourself starting right now!”
“Woah, hold on!” He needs a second to think.
“One!”
“A-Aiden!”
“Two!”
He’s not backing down at all. Aiden wants his answers and Luxu can’t blame him.
“Thr—”
“Okay okay!”
And he breaks. Luxu explains what happened with Baldr and how he got away. His mission comes to light, though his words carefully dance around who and when it came from. He does his best to explain all that he can while still cowardly hiding just who exactly he is.
But that seems enough for Aiden.
The fury in the blonde melts, more tears falling past his wavering smile. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
This kid’s going to give Luxu whiplash from all the emotions. Still, having Aiden in his arms when he’d told himself it was never going to happen again is a huge relief.
If only it could last forever.
Pressing his face into Aiden’s shoulder, Luxu murmurs, “Look, I can’t promise I’m not gonna disappear for real, but for as long as I can stay, I want to be with you. Come with me.”
The silence is unnerving. There are things Aiden would have to leave behind—people, no, family, he’ll never see again. He wouldn’t blame Aiden if he stayed, but Luxu can’t.
Words so soft bind his heart. “Where to first?”
Luxu’s arms tighten, his face hiding tears in the fabric of Aiden’s shirt. Even so, he tries to keep his voice light. “Kid, I got so much to show you.”
“After what you put me through, you better make it worth my while, Fluffcoat.”
A real, genuine laugh comes from Luxu. “Guess I got my work cut out for me then.”
Aiden lays a kiss in Luxu’s hair. “Thank you for coming back.”
The truth falls from his mouth without a second thought. “I’ve never wanted anything more than you.”
Once the boys compose themselves, Luxu takes Aiden’s hand and the two leave Scala Ad Caelum to start a new adventure. Together.
Anyway, the third of @aiden-bevelle‘s exciting commissions that made me re-love Bragi somewhat.
Premise: Bragi and Aiden’s friends are a bit fed up with the antics.
~~~~~
“Alright Fluffcoat, show me what you got.”
That confident smirk ties knots in Bragi’s stomach but the words instigate his ego.
“Oh, I will.” The red-head gives a practice swing behind his blade. “Just don’t go cryin’ when I roll you in the dirt.”
So much smack talk for such an ordinary day at school. But one could only expect as much when it came to Bragi and Aiden.
These two have been inseparable since the day they met. Aiden had that softness that made him an easy target, but he really snared Bragi’s interest with his steadfast conviction. Sure, Aiden would play nice to get what he wanted, in lieu of that though, he made it happen with his own hands. This made him an infallible ally of the light, but it also made him an intriguing partner. It was only a matter of time before witty remarks became conspicuous flirtations.
Yet some of their friends have started to reach their wits’ ends with these two. The affection has become so painfully obvious that there have been active attempts to push the two together. None of them ever seemed to bear fruit though as the two go on as usual.
Today, however, is pushing it.
“Admit it,” Aiden goads as the herd returns to their classroom. “I got you today.”
Though Bragi is actually quite enamored with Aiden’s pride, he sneers for show. “Puh-lease. You won by a fluke.”
Hermod interjects, “Give a rest, you two.”
The bickering pair ignore him. “Was that fluke you landing on your ass, because then, yeah, you fluked alright.”
“My foot slipped.”
“Sure sure. Just admit I beat you. I’m not Eraqus.”
Poor Era. “Hey!”
“Guys,” Xehanort tries, also with no success.
Bragi smirks in Aiden’s face. “Nah nah. You believe what you want. I know what really happened.”
Aiden grins back. “Yeah, you know I won.”
“Whatev—”
This time, the interruption works.
“WILL YOU TWO JUST FREAKIN’ KISS ALREADY?!” Urd snaps.
The room stares at her in silence for a moment.
Bragi finds her outburst amusing; not only have they found the limits of their friends’ patience, but the prettiest pink blush bleeds across Aiden’s face.
Oh how the tables have turned.
Bragi’s shoulders rise in a shrug. “We did that already.”
Now all eyes snap to him with a collective, “WHAT?!”
Aiden snags his jacket, practically shaking him. “BRAGI!”
“Ah, relax darlin’.” He can’t help laughing, showing off that smarmy smirk. “Everyone already knows you’re crazy about me.” A fist meets his shoulder. “Ow!”
“That doesn’t mean you tell everyone we made out!”
“But Urd said—”
“I don’t care what Urd said!” Poor kid’s face is damn near the same shade as Bragi’s hair.
Vor butts into the conversation. “About freakin’ time!”
Bragi points to her. “See!”
Huffing, Aiden rolls his eyes and stalks for the door, likely more from embarrassment than annoyance. Bragi tips a salute to their friends before following after.
“Yo, cutie, slow down.”
Aiden does not.
Knowing how stubborn the blonde can be, Bragi takes action. Catching up, he shoves Aiden off-course, into an empty classroom. The door closes behind them as Bragi forces Aiden up against the wall.
Leaning in, he lets his voice drop. “Oh don’t be mad. You know I’m just as crazy about you, right?”
“You didn’t have to tell everyone we made out.” That pout is adorable.
“’Course I did.” Gentle fingers coax Aiden’s face closer. “I want everyone to know you’re mine.”
The breath that ghosts his face shudders. A chuckle slips his lips and Bragi closes the gap.
It’s soft and slow, letting the boys bask in each other’s touch, just as they have so many times before. And every time, Bragi’s heart threatens to break from his chest. His stomach flips over and over and the rest of the world slips away. There’s no doubt he’s head-over-heals addicted to this feeling.
Though the kiss breaks, Bragi’s voice clings to the intimacy. “See? Crazy.”
I’m still having a moment because I’m still royally upset and needed to do something. So...have this. I may have a bit of denial left in me, but that’s another story.
Premise: A breakup
Spoilers for Dark Road
~~~~~
Today is just like any other of these past few weeks. It’s quiet with only the occasional customer venturing into my shop to peruse books. The usual source of chaos and entertainment in my life and his classmates have been out on what feels like a never-ending mission. I know it’s important and all, but my boyfriend’s absence really hits hard.
The jingling bell pulls my attention from my paperwork. Making my way around the desk to greet my customer, I feel a smile pull at my lips.
“Bragi!”
He looks exhausted, even more since the last time I saw him. Rings beneath his eyes have only gotten darker, his hair is mussed more than usual, and the usual smirk on his face isn’t quite so smarmy.
“Hey darlin’.”
Arms outstretched welcome me in his embrace, enveloping me in that sweet spice I could never get enough of. A wave of relief washes over me like a fresh hit of content. This feels so right.
“Welcome back.”
His hold is tighter than normal. It belies a sense of remorse that sends up red flags in my head. Softly, he replies, “Thanks.”
Pulling back, I glance to the clock—it’s nearly closing. “It’s late. You must be hungry. You head upstairs and I’ll close up real quick, kay?”
A kiss presses down on the top of my head in a melancholic manner. “Okay.”
And that’s it—no teasing, no complaining, no smarmy comment. Something’s wrong and the way Bragi’s going about it has me worried. Still, I keep my word, shutting down shop for the night before making my way upstairs to start prepping dinner.
Conversation feels forced, as if he has to keep dragging his mind back to the subject on hand. Whatever it is, I’m starting to feel anxious.
“Hey.”
My gaze falls back to him. There’s heartache etched into every feature of his face. He looks about ready to cry. That sight and the tone of his voice stings in my eyes. What comes next will be miserable for everyone.
Immediately, the cookware in my hands find the counter so the conversation can take my full attention. His name ghosts passed my lips.
“I…” A man so full of himself struggling with what to say rattles me. “I think we should end this.”
“What?” It’s like my brain has collided with a brick wall. I was prepared for bad news, but I wasn’t prepared for this.
His teeth gnash together and his voice wavers. “Us…I think we should end…us.”
The first tear falls and a ragged breath ripples in my chest. “Why?”
Suddenly, it’s too difficult to keep eye contact with me. “It would be best for both of us. With this whole keyblade thing, I just don’t think it’s gonna work out.”
“I don’t understand.” It’s my turn to keep my words steady. “We’ve made it work until now.”
“I know but…I get the feeling things are about to change. And the last thing I wanna do is hurt you any more than I have to.”
“You don’t think we can make it through that?”
A single word stabs at my heart. “No.”
“Really? After all we’ve been through?”
“Not this time.”
A hand across my mouth stifles the sob.
“Gods, if I knew it was gonna end like this…” Fingers shove through that wild hair. “You can hate me if you want; it might be easier if you do. But believe me when I say that I meant every word. You’re amazing and smart and beautiful…And I loved you.” He breath staggers. “And that’s why I have to do this.”
I can’t do anything. My voice is broken, my legs won’t move, my self-control is falling to pieces. Through it all, he just looks like he wants to break—to take it all back and hold me.
But Bragi sticks to his decision. He offers me a smile, damaged and somber though it is.
“I’m sorry. Just…take care of yourself, okay?”
Powerless to do anything, I watch Bragi walk out the door of my little home for the last time.
The very last time.
~~~~~
Standing before the granite stone, I feel empty inside.
But now I understand everything.
This is what he’d been talking about. This what he was trying to save me from. But I guess he underestimated just how strong my feelings were. In the short few days since I last saw Bragi, the pain never dulled and now it’s just as fresh as ever. Perhaps I hadn’t been able to come to terms with his departure; there’s no denying it now though.
He’s gone.
The love of my life will never come back.
He’s dead.
Tears patter to the ground, hidden amongst the rain drops that seem to bring the world down around me. Such terrible weather had driven all the other mourners away—the ceremony having long since ended. Only I remain, wrought with paralyzing grief.
A weight drapes across my shoulders. Spice wafts around me as soft fur caresses my skin. I don’t even need to see the shade of blue to know whose jacket this is.
My gaze slips to the passerby, finding only the back of a black-cloaked figure retreating. I don’t know who they are or how they came across Bragi’s coat, but I don’t have the spirit to leave the grave to chase them.
“Wait.” The word claws its way from my throat.
I didn’t expect them to actually pause, but now that they have, I don’t know what to say.
“Thank you.”
The figure simply shakes their head and continues walking.
Trembling, frozen fingers pull tighter at the jacket around me. This is all I have left. After all these years, it’s over. I guess he was right.
Thank you to @aiden-bevelle for giving me back some of the love I’ve been struggling with for Bragi. I honestly wasn’t sure how I was gonna feel about this but...maybe I kind of love him again. Also, Aiden if freaking adorable and I can’t wait to work with him more!
Premise: Bragi is stuck on a mission with Aiden and has a choice on which secret he’s has to give up.
~~~~~
Of course it would be Aiden.
Another sigh escapes the lips of Smarmy Fluffcoat.
“You alright?” Those mezmerizing eyes turn on him.
Not exactly, but Bragi smiles anyway. “Yeah. No worries here.”
Lies.
Bragi’s been struggling for a long time with his feelings for his classmate. Since they met, Aiden’s been by his side, stealthily stealing away the focus on his mission—stealing Bragi’s heart. So to have this kid partnered with him during this stressful mission has the red-head on edge.
Aiden snaps him from his lamentations. “Heartless!”
From beneath their feet squirm shadows that give rise to a hoarde of dark creatures. The boys watch each other’s backs as they cut through, but the sea of black seems to never end.
But just as quickly as it began, the shadows freeze. Seeing the living mass so still is more unnerving than their usual undulation. Then, without warning, they scatter.
“They’re…running from us?” Aiden asks.
Darkness and fear roll across his back. Sudden realization jolts through Bragi. “No. Not us.”
The young man whirls around to find a monster he hasn’t seen since another lifetime. It runs his blood cold. The collossus Darkside looms above the pair and a new fight begins—one they have no hope of winning. What school had taught them would never be enough to bring down this behemoth.
Bragi’s heart skips. His partner stumbles, giving the Heartless the chance to take him. As pressure squeezes down on the blonde, Aiden lets out a scream.
Panic skyrockets. “AIDEN!”
The space before Bragi tears open. Keyblade magically charged, he bolts through the portal, coming out on the other side of the Darkside. His weapon slashes through the darkness, bringing attention to himself and allowing Aiden’s escape. Before the monster can strike back, another portal appears, this time sending Bragi to the side. The young man flies around the Heartless at blinding speed, never once missing his mark with all the energy he can muster funneled into every attack.
In seconds, his shoes skid to a halt across the dirt. His chest heaves, his arms are dead weight, and he couldn’t take another step even if he wanted. Even so, light eats away at the darkness, seeping from Bragi’s attacks until it consumes the threat.
Knees quiver, giving in; this body is still too new to be commanding that kind of power.
And Aiden seems to know that. “What the hell was that?!”
This isn’t good. Bragi’s mission would be heavily jeopardized if anyone knew. He could’ve just let Aiden die. No. That was never an option. He would have done anything to save Aiden, even if it meant exposing himself. Still, he’s not ready to confess who he really is.
But maybe he can confess something else.
“Ah, well, people do crazy things…when they’re…in…love…”
“What do you—”
Aiden’s confusion flashes to shock. A tinge of pink slowly bleeds across his nose. Watching the epiphany is so damn adorable, Bragi can’t help but chuckle.
Aiden’s voice is soft, as if he might ruin a dream. “Did you say ‘love?’”
A corner of Bragi’s lips turns up. “I might have.”
Aiden unexpectedly lunges. Bragi hits the ground, the weight of his cherished classmate pressed to his chest. Soft, warm lips demand his attention, full of longing and what tastes like relief. The sheer ardor shocks the red-head, snaring his heart before sending it soaring. Bragi falls so hard that he wonders how he’d denied himself this for so long.
Reluctantly, Aiden pulls away, but he smiles.
And his words hit harder than any Heartless ever could.
My gods, I feel like this request was made by me. I freaking loved it! I did re-write half of this like 3 times because I was having fun and things were getting out of hand. <3
But! It’s done now. Not perfect, but I absolutely loved writing it. Thank you for the request, anon!
Also, I’m adding this to the Smarmy Nonsense series.
~~~~~
Rough—this single word barely begins to describe how this morning started. In fact, this entire week could be called a tragedy in regards to my boyfriend. Bragi’s unfortunate week started with sleeping in and missing a test. The rest of the week did not get any better. Starting the week on the wrong foot meant that the young man was always a step behind and frustrated to wit’s end. Events outside of school were just as exasperating. I asked him to watch my shop for an hour while I ran an errand, only to return to an asshole customer, a boyfriend one step away from murder, and books scattered around the shop—I got that sorted out but it definitely didn’t help. Today followed suit with a tear in his favorite jacket and a misplaced paper. I managed to find the missing paper and attempted to deliver it along with lunch, only to come home without seeing him at all because he was busy trying to catch up. At least Hermod promised to pass on the paper and food for me before I came home, so it wasn’t a total waste.
Despite all the hell and annoyances this week had brought him, Bragi hadn’t turned on me. Even I made a slip up in ruining dinner one night, but his frustrations were never aimed at me. He’s been angry and fuming and miserable all week but still he’s trying his best. I hate it. Nobody likes seeing the people they love upset and I don’t really know how to help him. I can’t do his homework or train for him nor can I stop the freak accidents that he’s been attracting this week. I wish there was something I could do.
As I sit behind my shop counter, stitching the sleeve back on his jacket, I spot a misplaced book. I’d only had a few customers today which makes this all the more annoying. Deciding to take a short break from stabbing my own fingers, I put the fabric down and pick up the book to return it to its rightful place.
As I place it back on the shelf, I look at the cover of fancy, decorated sweets. I admit I have a pretty monstrous sweet tooth and my curiosity encourages me to peek at a few pages inside. Many of them look delicious yet complicated but I can’t bring myself to stop looking at the page of homemade chocolates.
“I bet Bragi would like these,” I hum to myself.
Those words infest my thoughts while I go back tending the quiet shop and mending the jacket. They are eventually the only thing I can think about, inevitably convincing me to close early and go grocery shopping. The more I think about it, the more excited I become; even after I’m home, as I start cooking dinner, I cannot stop grinning.
With dinner keeping warm in the oven, I start the dessert. It is not as easy as this book makes it sound and all I’m doing is mixing heated ingredients in a bowl! The first two…three…four batches don’t turn out right at all; one of them tasted like cocoa dusted rocks and I set the third mixture on fire…twice. This last one, though, seems to be going great so far and thank the gods because I have no more ingredients left without a second trip to the market.
The unmistakable sound of keys in the door pulls my attention. The doorknob rattles and jiggles until the door slams open, revealing an exhausted Bragi.
“Welcome home!” I chirp, placing the only decent tray of chocolates in the fridge.
“Hey,” he murmurs.
I follow him towards the living area of the room. “You’re back late. How was class?”
He drops his bag on the floor and heaves an exaggerated sigh. “It was shit. I was gonna give up and come back after class but the others wouldn’t let me go until I was finally all caught up.”
“Good. And you get to sleep in tomorrow.”
“Thank gods. And thank you for finding my paper. And bringing lunch.”
“No problem,” I say. “I also fixed your jacket.”
Poor weary boy slings his arms around my waist. “Thank you.”
His lips meet my cheek, however, when he leans back, his brows are scrunched together as he licks his lips.
“The hell? What’s on your face?”
I shove a fist across my face, finding the mixture that managed to escape me during the second batch. Then his eyes dart to the kitchen.
“What the hell happened here? Looks like a band of Heartless had a party.”
I take a look back, finally noticing the disaster my kitchen lay in. I thought I managed to contain the mess despite the many mishaps but, clearly, I was wrong. “Oh…uh…I was making dinner and dessert but I guess it kinda got away from me.”
“Did it at least turn out alright?”
“Dinner’s fine; we can eat after you get cleaned up. I can’t exactly vouch for dessert though.”
“Alright. Gimme five minutes.”
Bragi leaves to get cleaned and I try to take on ground zero in my kitchen while plating food. I’m almost done with dinner by the time he returns.
“So what’s for dessert,” he asks, amber eyes scanning the mess across the table.
“Hopefully chocolates.” I wipe my hands on a cloth and turn my attention to him. “But some of them didn’t-Wait! Don’t!”
It’s too late. Bragi, while surveying the trays of botched batches had decided to try one. By the time I noticed, it’s already too late. I hear the crunch, the curiosity morphs into shock and then horror. His entire body convulses and his expression screws in disgust.
“What are you doing?! Spit it out!” I shout. And he does…on the floor. “Bragi! Why would you spit it out on the floor?!”
“WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!” he exclaims after a bout of spitting in the sink.
“That’s the rock batch! Why would you put something in your mouth when you don’t know what it is?! Are you stupid?!”
“You said you made chocolates!”
“Yes, but these are the ones I messed up!”
“No shit!”
“Pick up your spit rock and get out of my kitchen!” I demand.
He grumbles as he scoops up the inedible candy. “With pleasure.”
Catastrophe ends with dinner, which I’m far more confident in than even the acceptable sweets chilling in the fridge. While we eat, I still notice the weariness in his eyes and the listlessness in his voice. I’m a bit worried that his unfortunate encounter made things worse and it makes me nervous to even think about giving him dessert. Bragi, though, uses all opportunities to pick on me.
“So did anything good come out of that wreck over there?” he asks, pointing towards the kitchen.
“Uh…maybe.”
“What I’m hearing is that you don’t know if they’re safe.”
I scoff as I stand. “Oh now you choose to be cautious.”
“I’d like to keep all my teeth, thanks.”
“You weren’t so concerned about that earlier.”
Tray now in hand, I look them over. They don’t look luxurious, but they look more than presentable.
“And you have destroyed my trust,” he retorts.
“Fine.”
Setting down the tray, I pluck a little molded heart and pop it in my mouth. Instantly, I feel far more confident than I had as it melts in my mouth.
“Ooo, I need to keep that recipe.”
Cocking a brow, Bragi grabs one for himself. Pride blossoms in my chest when he smiles.
“Definitely better than the rock chocolate. Hell, this is better than most of the ones at the market.”
“Wish it didn’t take me as long as it did to get it right,” I sigh.
“Yeah? How many times did you fail before you got it right?”
A hand drags down my face. “Four.”
“Damn. I guess you better keep your day job.”
“Ha ha,” I say sarcastically, swiping the tray out of his reach.
“Oh c’mon!” He flops to his side, lying his head on my lap and grinning at me. “You know you got the best book shop in Scala. Even the citadel relies on you for text books.” His little flattery isn’t winning him any points. “And honestly, would you really rather own a candy shop than a book shop?”
“Not the point.” I poke a finger against his cheek. “You’re rude.”
“Sure, but I’m dating the best person in all the worlds.”
Okay, five points.
“You’re only saying that because I have the chocolate.”
“Are you saying that you want me to say it more often? ‘Cause I can do that.”
Blood rushes into my cheeks. “No!”
“I don’t see why not—it’s all true.”
“I will throw the rock chocolate at you.”
“As long as you let me eat those ones.” His mouth opens in a gesture to be fed. I shake my head but pick up a chocolate to drop on him. A smile sneaks onto my face as he happily chews.
“You’re spoiled, you know that?”
He gives me his signature smirk. “Of course. Now are you gonna tell me what all this was for? I didn’t forget something did I?”
“Didn’t I just tell you that you were spoiled?”
“Okay, then why am I being spoiled this time?”
I know I wanted to find a way to make Bragi’s week somewhat better, but now that I’m confronted with it, I can’t exactly meet his gaze as I make my confession.
“Because…I hate seeing you depressed. I know you’ve had kind of a shitty week so I thought maybe we could end on a happier note.” I spot my mess and sigh. “Granted, I don’t think cleaning the kitchen is gonna be fun.”
Soft laughter reaches my ears and I look down at him. Bragi’s smirk never fails to get my heart racing, but it damn near stops every time I see an honest smile on him. He’s got bags under his eyes, his hair is messier than usual, and he’s been a little down all week, but he’s happy and I would go to the ends of existence for him.
“You dork,” he says. “I love you.”
The elation is so strong I might burst. “I love you too.”
He drops another dessert into his mouth. “But you are not allowed to make these for anyone else.”
“What?”
“Do you really want Vor and Eraqus mauling you for these?”
So, forever ago, when I wrote Fluffcoat, it almost went down a different path. Well I saved that path and decided I wanted to write it. It’s not my best work, but it was something fun. That and I gotta move on. But I’ve been dying for some Bragi, so here we go!
~~~~~
“Ugh, I can’t believe I let you drag me out here.” The red-head tightens his jacket around himself.
A smile pulls at the corner of my lips. “I didn’t ask you to come, Bragi. You heard ‘pastry shop’ and announced to everyone you were coming with me…loudly.”
“Well someone had to come help you carry it all back.” He lifts his single bag to show off just how much he’s “helping.”
“I wouldn’t have as much to carry back if you hadn’t announced it to everyone.” I shove against his shoulder before pointing at the dark clouds dribbling down on us. “And I wouldn’t have to worry about getting rained on if I didn’t have to take everyone’s orders.” As if on cue, a shiver ripples through me as punishment for leaving my coat in my dorm room.
“You know that pack of hyenas would’ve mauled you if you came back without something for everyone.” He has me there. “I saved your hide. Do you remember the last time Hermod came to class with a single cookie? Do you really wanna see Vor go savage again?”
“…No.”
That signature Smarmy grin flashes at me. “Didn’t think so. Now step on it or we’ll be right in the middle of the storm.”
Bragi. My gods, Bragi. He’s that friend that’s always got a smart-ass response, the one that somehow manages to drag everyone into trouble even if they had nothing to with his schemes. And somehow, beyond my comprehension, he conned me into having a crush on him. Okay, I wasn’t conned—I was doomed. Since our first meeting, I was drawn to that cool, aloof composure of his; then, as I got to know him more, he hit me with that goofy, charming idiocy he kept hidden and I never had a chance. I can’t refuse the chance to spend even a minute with him. He’s cleverer than he lets on though, so I’ll be surprised if he hasn’t noticed my interest in him. What I don’t know is what he’ll do with that information and that’s why I haven’t done anything about it.
Just as we pick up the pace, the skies decide to let loose all they’ve been holding back.
“Shit, too late,” Bragi hisses. Taking my wrist, he pulls me off-route towards an overpass just off our path. He heaves a sigh once we’re under cover. “Well ain’t this just peachy.”
Standing just beneath shelter, I look out at the wall of water imprisoning us—one step forward and we’d be soaked in an instant.
“I guess when Scala decides to rain, it pours.”
“We could chance it and run for the castle, but we’ll be soaked to the bone, including all our goodies,” Bragi says. “Or we can wait it out until it lightens up, but who knows how long that will take.”
Ambling towards the white wall, I plop down to wait. “It’s not like I’m in a hurry to go anywhere though I don’t think the others will be happy with the delay. But I’ll hold onto the snacks if you wanna make a run for it.”
Bragi sits beside me. “Nah. Hermod was trying to harass me about my homework before I left; not in a hurry to get that done.”
“So that’s why you wanted to come with me.” I nudge at him with my elbow.
Laughing, he pushes me off. “Only part of the reason.”
“And the other?” A finger taps against his cocky lips. “Oh come on! Tell me!”
“Not a chance, darlin’.”
“Bragi!” My ears burn as I shove against his shoulder again—it doesn’t bother him one bit and I can’t get over just how light his laugh makes me feel.
Idle chatter floats between us with little sign of the storm ending any time soon. While our shelter keeps us safe from the downpour, the cold is working its way to the bone. Before long, my muscles ache from the deep shiver seizing my insides. I can’t keep it contained forever and one inevitably jostles my arm against my classmate.
“You gettin’ cold, huh?” he hums.
“It’s getting there,” I reply, puffing warm air into my frigid fingers.
“Shoulda brought a jacket.”
“Well I didn’t think I would be out long enough to get caught in this,” I retort with a glare.
“Don’t blame me for your poor choices.”
When my eyes narrow at him, Bragi just rolls his eyes. I return to my trembling, now praying for the rain to end when Bragi unzips his jacket.
“Get over here,” he says.
“What?” I question whether or not I heard him right.
He insists. “Come on. The best way to keep warm is sharing body heat.”
My brain churns over his words, still trying to comprehend. When I don’t react, however, Bragi scoots closer, wraps his jacket around me, and pulls me against him. The instant the warmth hits, my hands clutch at his shirt where I bury my face. Clinging to him is like sitting next to a crackling fire which melts the chill I’d been fending off within moments.
“How the hell are you so warm?” I murmur.
He chuckles. “The human body can produce enough heat in thirty minutes to boil water. I just like to collect it all in my coat.”
“How do you not die when it’s not cold outside?”
“Magic.”
Not about to get a real answer from him anytime soon, I sigh and bask in the warmth. But there’s more than that. Cinnamon and spice envelop me in a cozy cloud, the rise and fall of his chest creates a peaceful sway, and the beat of his heart soothes the bashful panic rising in my own. This is more than I ever could’ve dreamed of; I’m just thankful he can’t see my face with the burning blush or lovestruck grin—he’d know in an instant my little secret if he doesn’t already. So, while he can’t see my weakness, perhaps I’ll let myself indulge in this euphoria while it’s within my grasp.
Intermingled body heat becomes a source of pure serenity and my consciousness slips into mindless peace. That breaks when Bragi breaks the silence.
“Looks like the rain’s letting up.”
Both relief and regret rise in me. Mentally kicking myself, I pull away to look out at the storm. I can actually see more than ten feet in front of me now.
“About time,” I murmur despite my feelings. I get to my feet, pulling Bragi with me.
“Don’t get your hopes up yet. This is just a lull,” he says, pointing at the sky—there are still more dark clouds to come. “But we better skedaddle before it picks up again or we could be stuck here all night.”
More mental conflicts. “Yeah, okay.”
Before I can pick up the bags, a weight drapes across my back, wafting that spice around me. I look back at the culprit just in time for him to zip up the jacket he’s trapped me with.
“Better bundle up now.” He takes advantage of my surprise and scoops up the bags himself. As he stands straight, he pulls the hood up over my eyes. “Would be a shame if you caught a cold.”
“What about you?” I retort, shoving my arms through the sleeves so I can push fluff from my eyes.
“Meh, I could use the sick days,” he says with a simper.
“I see, you’re just trying to out of doing classwork again.”
“Whatever you say, darlin’.”
Bragi always uses nicknames, for everyone, but I have never heard him use “darling” for anyone; and now he’s used it for me—twice.
I only just start managing the shock when Bragi snags my fingers. In disbelief, I look to him, but he’s staring out at the drizzle.
“Keep up, okay?” Something strange in his voice covers up the usual confident, teasing tone. It douses my concern and inexplicably draws me in.
I secure my grip around his hand. “Okay.”
The increasing rain is suddenly no longer my top concern; instead I focus on keeping up with Bragi for if I fall behind, my grasp on his hand will slip. He never lets up on the sprint and I somehow manage to keep up with him, not even paying attention to our destination anymore. He could run us all the way down to the docks and I’d be running along right behind him. It doesn’t matter right now where we’re going, at least not to me. I want to hold onto the closeness we had, the warmth we shared; I want to hold his hand—no matter how one-sided this all may be.
And, as they do, all good things must come to an end.
We reach the citadel and student dorms too soon for my taste; once we get inside, this little delusion of mine will end. My only condolence will be the ability to lock myself in my room and fantasize over the encounter away from prying eyes.
Suddenly, two steps from the front door, Bragi stops. I, myself, nearly slam into him from the sudden halt.
“Bragi! What are you doing?! Get inside!”
Without warning, he turns on me. His hand around mine disappears, gripping the jacket to jerk me closer. The hood falls back, exposing me to the chilly rain, but that’s not the part I’m focused on right now. No, my focus is entirely on Bragi’s lips against my cheek. There’s definitely no more chill as fire surges beneath my skin, starting with my cheek.
He pulls away, amber eyes aglow and all the mischief missing in his expression.
“That’s the other reason,” he says softly.
It takes a second to click in my brain, in which time Bragi turns away, pushing his way into the student dorms. I follow after him up the stairs to our floor where everyone is sitting around the commons.
“Come and get it, kiddos,” he announces, sounding exhausted.
“’Bout time you two showed up,” Xehanort says, on his feet and leading the pack closer. “You get caught in the storm or what? You two look like drowned rats.”
“Thanks,” Bragi retorts. The bags in his hand are shoved into Hermod’s. “Next time you guys can get your own snacks.”
“Th-These bags are full of water!” Hermod holds up the waterlogged bags.
“So a bunch of soggy sweets, huh,” Urd mutters as Eraqus and Vor poke the bags. The pen in Era’s hand punctures the plastic which starts leaking.
“ERAQUS!”
Hermod scurries out of the room with the bags with Vor for help and Eraqus exclaiming apologies. Urd sighs and follows Xehanort after the disaster in progress. It’s Baldr who pauses to give us a second glance.
“Are you guys okay? You were gone a long time.”
“Yeah, we’re good. We had to take shelter during the worst of it,” Bragi tells him. “But it was fine.”
Bragi’s eyes flickering to me catch my attention but he glances away. After what happened, I would’ve thought he’d be all over teasing me but maybe I have it wrong. Maybe while I was hiding my giddy infatuation in his shirt, he was hiding his in my hair.
“Well you better get dried off before you catch colds,” Baldr hums.
It’s my turn to take the initiative. I take Bragi’s hand and give Baldr a smile. “Don’t worry; we’ll stay warm.”
The rare surprise on Bragi’s face quickly turns to a genuine smile.
Baldr glances between us, smiles, and says, “Okay. I’m just gonna go watch the chaos in the kitchen.”
We watch him walk away, waiting until the kitchen door swings shut before someone says something.
I’ve never seen Bragi bashful and yet he still manages to mix in that smarmy nature. “Soooo…dry off and share some body heat?”
I lean in, placing a kiss against his cheek. “I’ll bring a blanket.”
I’ve had this chapter in my pocket for a while now so I think I’m just gonna post it. Still not sure where this series is going, but as mentioned in previous chapters, I’m just having fun with Smarmy Fluffcoat.
~~~~~
“I’m back,” the red-head calls, jingling the bell as he enters the store.
“Welcome back,” I call before addressing the customer. “Sorry about that. Here’s your book.”
The patron is bid goodbye just as my boyfriend sidles up to the counter. “Hey there gorgeous,” he hums with that signature smirk. “How’s your day been?”
“Just fine,” I reply, walking around to re-shelve a few misplaced books. “There’ve been a few customers but it’s been mostly quiet so I’ve been practicing my spatial magic.”
“Yeah? You should just about be an expert by now.”
The drama in my sigh cannot be expressed enough. “I don’t know why I picked spatial magic to be my specialty. The texts are near impossible to find and all of the experts refuse to take an apprentice.”
“Guess I should count my lucky stars there,” he teases, only receiving an eye roll. “Oh come on. You don’t need a master. You’re already a Master Mage and you’ve gotten this far on your own. The pocket dimensions are pretty cool and just last week you shoved me down the stairs from across the room.”
The incident still haunts me: the smarmy bastard had poked the bear just one too many times and a hand waved at him without a thought. “Please stop bringing that up. I said I was sorry.”
If that expression is any indication of his intentions, it’s not going to stop any time soon. “Yeah, but you’re so cute when you’re embarrassed.”
“Ugh…”
The chuckles of Smarmy Fluffcoat still play with my guts every time; there’s no doubt I’m still madly in love with him, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t push buttons.
“Anyway, Master Odin wants to meet with you.”
I look back at the boy. “What does he want me for?”
Shoulders bounce. “I ‘unno. He just asked me to tell you.”
“I swear to the gods, if he tells me you’re causing trouble in class, you’re going to be grounded,” I laugh, final book in its place.
Warm hands capture my face, calloused thumbs brushing over the skin as the perpetrator leans in. The amber in his eyes glow with that sultry mischief he enjoys trapping me with. “Me? Cause trouble? Never.”
“Says the guy who shoved his classmate into my bag.”
“Shh. No one needs to know about that.” His voice drops to a whisper. He’s baiting me; he’s absolutely trying to bait me—and he’ll probably catch a bite.
“I know. You’re entire class knows.” Tongue following the conversation, my thoughts are one hundred percent focused on his lips only a miniscule movement away.
“Shh.”
Needless to say, kisses take over communication as I fall victim to the cinnamon-scented bait.
~~~~~
The next morning is spent wondering just when is the best time to venture to the citadel; worries of what the master would need me for consume the following afternoon. Come two o’clock, the shop closes down early and I wander my way through town.
Droves of students pass by me—all on their way to various after-school activities. It’s on my climb towards the faculty offices that I hear my name. Familiar faces all await me at the top.
“Hey guys,” I greet.
“Hey! What’s up!” the blonde waves back.
“What are you doing here?” asks the second girl.
A simple laugh is offered. “Turns out I’ve been summoned. I think Bragi is in trouble.” There’s a glare at my quip.
A head of silver hair tilts. “The Master summoned you?” I nod. “Ooo, Bragi’s in trouble!”
“Does everyone remember the bag incident?” our victim asks, gesturing towards the satchel at my hip. There are murmurs of agreement.
“I told you they knew.”
“I know they know—it was a threat.”
Replies vary from offence to taunts until I’m forced to intervene, dragging my boyfriend away while he waves his middle fingers at Urd and Xehanort. There’s some apologizing and chastising as we go until we reach Master Odin’s office.
“Want me to go with you?” Bragi offers.
Knuckles rap against the door. “I’ll be alright. I don’t know how long this will take so I’ll just meet you at the shop later.”
“You sure?”
I can hear the resident beckon me inside. “Yeah. I’ll see you later.”
A brief kiss on the cheek bids me goodbye and we part ways. This is when I learn of the reason Master Odin summoned me—it’s kind of upsetting. I question his decision in choosing me, barely holding my tongue long enough to reword the derision bubbling in my brain. None of this sits well with me; the Master seems to understand that and implores me to accept. Seeing as thing could be disastrous if I don’t, I do.
The agitation rolls in my chest as I descend the steps. What the hell are they thinking?! It doesn’t matter if I’m a Master Mage! They-
“Yo, babe, you in there?” Out of reaction, I slap away the hand in front of my face. My thoughts had taken over, leaving my body to autopilot out to the castle grounds.
Hermod—ever the big brother—leans closer. “You okay? You looked upset?”
Eyes scan across the young faces before me. Their light to be put at so much risk stokes the fire boiling my blood. As the ‘master’ in a professional situation among these kids, I wipe the surface clear of turbulence.
“Yeah. I was just thinking about a book order I need to work on.” My decision is just as terrible as Master Odin’s, but at least mine is to preserve peace—leading the blind lambs has never been a desire of mine though.
The rabble of Odin’s pupils manages to distract me for a while, but the content of my disagreement with the master keeps dragging up how much of an outsider I am. Not only am I not a student of the master, but I don’t even wield a keyblade. Mage students aren’t common in Scala Ad Caelum so I was an outcast from the start. My status above them only serves to widen that gap, not to mention the alienation my choice has placed on me. Efforts have always been made to include me in their shenanigans and, while I will likely never be part of the group the same way Bragi is, I always appreciated their kindness. Yet here I am, withholding information that will endanger their very lives because of “grown-up business.” Scum on the bottom of their shoes is what I am.
“We’ll catch you guys later.”
Bragi’s words cut through another stroll through my thoughts. The path that breaks off towards my shop is just to the right. There’s just enough sense left in me to tell the others I’d see them later, receiving some funny looks, before they walk away. That’s when my partner begins prodding at me.
“Alright you. Spill it.” His first few steps start the trek home.
“Huh?”
“You can’t hide it from me. Hell, you can barely hide it from Eraqus. What’s bothering you?” Gods, he’s right. Even at my best, hiding secrets from Bragi is just impossible for me. “What did Master Odin want?” An idiot, Bragi is not.
Suppressing information from the others can barely be excused, but hiding things from my significant other—especially information such as this—feels like a sin. It smolders in my heart and threatens to suffocate me in the smoky guilt. I can fool myself all I want that it’s for the better, but his life is on the line and I would never forgive myself if something happened to him.
Shoving a hand through my hair, I mutter, “He’s going to start preparing you to go off-world. He asked me to accompany you.”
The boy stops in his tracks. “What?”
That guilt billows stronger. “The upperclassmen are missing. He’s sending us to find them.”
The understanding washing over him is visible, turning into fierce objection. “No. Nu uh. You are not coming with us!”
My brows furrow; that’s not the reaction I was expecting from him. Excitement, veiled worry, anger at not being told by his master, maybe even enthusiasm at my presence—those were the things I expected, but his protest is that I’m going with them.
“What?”
“You’re not coming,” he repeats.
I don’t know what it is in me that reacts to this, but it’s insulted. “That’s not really for you to decide.”
Looking ready to fight me over this, he snarls, “No! You’re going back to the castle and telling Master Odin that you refuse.”
“Excuse me?! The last time I checked, I outrank you!” This retaliation further drives home the point that there’s a gap between us. “So I don’t know what silly little delusion you have that makes you think you can boss me around, but you don’t own me! I make my own decisions!”
The combativeness shines in his eyes. “The last time you went on a mission, you disappeared for a month and came back a complete wreck! It took weeks for you to stop having nightmares!”
“So what!”
“So what?! It took me all night to convince myself you’d be okay long enough for me to go to school the next morning! And then I spent all day worrying you were having a meltdown while I wasn’t there!”
“This is part of my job! And I’m not going to let a few bad dreams keep me from protecting the person I care about!” Interrupting his argument, I add on, “Look me in the eye and tell me you wouldn’t do the same thing!” The boy scowls. “Go on! Tell me!”
“It doesn’t matter what I would do! You’re not going!”
“Try and stop me!” His teeth bare. “If you don’t have anything else to say, I’m going home!”
My boyfriend just stands there, glaring at me.
Say something! Say something, you idiot! Yell at me more, grab me, do something! Anything! Don’t let it end like this!
I can’t blame him for not stopping me and I'm ashamed to say that I walked away at that point.
Slamming the door behind me, I lean against it, my weakness finally slipping through my eyelids.
