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Day 77,
Greetings from the Wise.
Will twirls the quill in his hand and looks up. He sighs. What an awful task it is, reporting when there is nothing to report. There are no signs of danger, no signs of change, no signs at all for him to pen down, he thinks. Nothing worth sending.
Perhaps he could regale about the town. If he hadn’t already done it, he knows he’d be painting this view and capturing every oak cabin and unbarred door, the lights and the grandeur from afar. He’d mimic the townsfolk, too, every working adult and laughing child. What a privilege it is to live near them. The town is beautiful in the sunset, like always. He could pen about its glory for ages, but, alas, he thinks, that’s not what he writes for.
The tree rustles overhead as a gale passes, and the cleric considers what more he should report.
He’s relieved that the sole trouble that plagues him is writing a positive update of their lodging, but he remembers how easily the Party wrote when danger was afoot. Panicked etchings and scribbles blotted ink across page after page, and the Paladin feverishly demanded details while the others recited doomed answers and sorted through inventories and found nothing left - their world was a haze, a blizzard, a storm, never overcome. Their days among makeshift writing tables and hideouts were not kind. That was, until they met a certain Mage and Speedster, and their lives were changed forever.
Will looks up again and frowns at the skyline. Something’s amiss, he can feel it. He quickly readies his hand until the thought quells and - oh. Will closes his eyes and represses any further reaction. That’s not just any other sense of amiss, it’s a playful presence, a presence that he knows well.
Truthfully, Will never planned on leaving his home. He never planned on joining a Party, either. His mother and his brother wouldn’t dare to let him go. That was, until one fateful night when Will was seven years old, he was attacked and a young Paladin his age rescued him. Will couldn’t even explain how exactly it happened upon him. One moment, he was alone. The next, he certainly was not. A dark cloud formed. Will was stranded, fear in his eyes when he realized that he had no bearing of where he was and no hope of being found to be revived, not until he heard the other draw near. Will didn’t know it at the time, but his life would change forever.
He couldn’t see anything but the glinting silver and the shadows surrounding them. The other’s voice shrieked, “stay back!”
The beast growled and pushed the boy closer. “Do you hear me?! Stay back!!”
Will trembled into himself weakly, having borne several hits. He could never forget the terror that flooded his entire body; his health hung by a lifeline. He was so scared, he couldn’t even scream. It was hopeless, he thought. He lay on the ground as the billowing grew. The tendrils of the shadow monster lurked closer, but they narrowly pulled away as the boy shielding him struck each one with a strengthening cry. They got so close, too close. He was scared. But he looked up. He was amazing.
Will didn’t have much power, but he sat up in newfound confidence with help by his side. The stranger gave him energy. He found leverage against the gripping ache in his body, cast the spell he had only dreamed of succeeding in, and somehow, as the odds of strength would have it, the fire hit straight over the boy’s head. The creature whined in pain and the subsuming darkness cleared slightly to reveal the cave’s exit, and all he heard was, “come on! ” and before he knew it, Will was being taken by the hand.
The rest of the encounter was a blur from then on, and Will clung to the hopeful stranger as the cries of the shadowy beast died down as they stumbled away from the cave and into the thicket.
“Oh my gods,” he breathed. “Oh my gods, are you okay?”
Will’s heart pounded. He weakly peered up at the boy who he could barely see in the moonlight and nodded. “I… I think so.”
“Do you have a healing potion on you?” he said, having taken notice of the satchel around Will’s hip.
“Yeah.”
“Here. Let me help.”
Will had never taken this much damage from something so ominous before, and not in real life. Training was never this scary. Will swallowed nervously. He prayed nothing bigger would return. And thereafter, half lost in thought, half hurting too much to worry, Will unknowingly put his trust in the boy to not steal his entire assortment of elixirs. Thankfully, the boy never did.
“Okay, got it.” The green glow was the only splash of color they could see in the night. Will nodded. The stranger knew his potions, too.
“Do you drink it or apply it?” Or, well, he supposed he thought too soon.
Will shook his head and took the flask, then drank about half of it before he exhaled and let the relieving effect wash over him. His heart stopped thudding and his breath slowed.
“Oh. Okay. Nice. I hate the ones you put on. They feel so gross.” He looked at the vial, then at Will. “Um… is it okay if I take some?”
Will smiled. “Yeah, of course.”
He smiled back. “Thanks.”
Suddenly, with the dread gone, Will felt embarrassed. He had just been dragged halfway out of town, on his own, which was already practically against the court of law, and had to be saved by a stranger.
“No, thank you.”
In the last, small light of the potion, Will could see him blink a few times, perplexed.
“For saving me. Because, I… I know I’m not supposed to be outside at night unless it’s a revelry or something-“
“Hey,” he stopped him. “It’s okay. I mean, I’m not supposed to be out, either, so.”
“Oh,” Will sighed, indebted, “well, I guess you’re right.”
“Yeah, my mom is so gonna kill me if she finds out I’m in the woods again.”
“Mine, too.”
They laughed quietly, having already forgotten the whole nearly-eaten-alive-by-a-shadow-monster ordeal. Will had never felt so at ease. The boy didn’t make him feel guilty at all for needing to be rescued. That was a novel feeling.
“Hey, y’know, what you did was really cool.”
“Wh - what?”
“The, like, fireball! I think that’s what it was? I couldn’t hear much over the monster screaming and stuff, but that was super cool.”
Will nearly cried - the stranger was nicer than he could have ever imagined. “Are you kidding me? You faced a shadow monster like it was a stirge!”
He shrugged. “I didn’t kill it, though.”
“You didn’t have to.”
The boy grinned in the dim light and handed back the potion.
“Oh,” Will thought, and he rummaged through his bag. “I don’t have a lot, but do you want something? I - I have a bunch of potions.”
He shook his head and stood up, selflessly denying the offer. “No, I shouldn’t. My sister trades for potions all the time.”
Will frowned and handed him a large flask, anyway.
His eyes widened. “Is that - is that a strength of the - ?!”
A distant roar groaned, and he covered his mouth. Will jolted, a little.
“Maybe we should get out of here.”
“Yeah,” Will agreed.
“You really don’t have to give me this, y’know, I’m just… glad you’re okay.” He smiled at the bottle and held out his other hand. “I’m Mike, by the way.”
Will smiled warmly and took his hand. “Will.”
They’ve been a growing party ever since.
And as a Paladin would have it, Will could always sense his unifying presence. Mike knows this, but he tries to approach Will discreetly every single time. It’s as if he never truly grew up and should have learned that he can’t sneak up to people by now, and yet, he’s learned countless things. He’s sharper, he’s quicker, he’s somehow even more protective. And when he’s protective, he’s protective with abandon. Self-abandon, even.
Will adds to the page, shaking his head. “Don’t,” he exhorts.
For possessing such quick-witted leadership, it always amazes Will how much the Paladin lacks in stealth.
Will doesn’t look up. “I can see you, y’know.”
“What?”
Will doesn’t reply.
“I thought you were writing. Whatever would you need to look up for, unless…” He gasps. “I caught your eye?”
Will sighs loudly. It’s a wonder how, despite everything, he still, ever-so swiftly fell in love. It was easy, having borne so much for so many years together. Knowingly or not, they promised a day would come when they would swear to never to be apart. That they would never need to worry or owe each other anything but their own hearts.
The deal was fair. The day did come, and Mike’s face shone brighter than his glinting armory when he asked.
Will remains persistent in keeping his eyes on the parchment to hide the warmth invading his face. “Get down.”
“What if I am nothing but a thing of your imagination?”
Will fakely jots down a few more lines and resists making another outward reaction, practically straining his neck to stay still. He knows what Mike is playing at, he always does. “You’re not a thing of my imagination.”
The wind rustles the leaves again, some falling before him, but Will spares no movement to dare regard them.
“I could be. You’ve dreamt of me before. So what’s to say you’re not dreaming of me right now?”
“Oh my gods,” Will groans emptily.
Beautifully in reply, Mike chuckles.
Will clutches the quill from being wind blown, having lost all focus on his writing long ago. “Dream or not, perhaps I’m just concerned that our protector could fall out of a tree and die.”
“I wouldn’t die.”
“If you fell on me, you would.”
“Are you saying you’d kill me?”
With a final close of his eyes toward the ground, the cleric gives up and lifts his gaze heavenward. That is, he tries to look heavenward, only, his vision is blocked. Will grins. His gorgeous view is sorely overshadowed by another gorgeous view of its own, black undercoat lining an equally returned smile.
“No,” Will ascertains, looking him in the eye, never to threaten his lover under any circumstance. “But with enough force to startle, I might accidentally hurt you.”
“Impossible,” he ascertains even stronger.
Will threads a hand through his dangling hair. Cute, Will thinks. Mike’s face, lightly blood-rushed and confident as a bumbling ogre, simply reeks of dawning stupidity. But even then, neither of them can help but let the calm and comfort of doffed armor and staff take over. It’s so surreal, seeing Mike like this. Not on guard, not standing with his feet braced and shouting in the face of danger. Will knew he was beautiful, then, but now? Nothing has changed. Nothing at all. There’s still familiarity in his scattered freckles, passion in his fiery eyes, sincerity in his upside-down grin.
All because of their conquest, something they rose into a few moons ago. And when Mike looks at him, it’s like nothing can break the peace of the lands. Nothing can stop the cooling winds nor the Summer song they carry. And nothing, certainly nothing, can cast away the joy drawn across their faces.
“You couldn’t hurt me if you tried.”
That’s untrue. The only covenant that strong in their Party lies squarely between their Bard and Ranger, and even then, the two often try to test its bounds. The only seal between Cleric and Paladin rests between hands and welcome, of vows in health and happiness. They would face the rest together.
Mike tips farther into his hand.
“Shall I start trying?”
Mike shrugs, which looks ridiculous, and reads Will absolutely clean.
“Go ahead.”
Will silently rolls his eyes and runs the risk. He leans into the man as another gale greets them, and somehow, some way, Will is still trying to comprehend it after months, the world seems to shift for them. It’s as if every thought fades, and all worries cease. The constant battle of decisions from scribing letters to slaying monsters feels insignificant, and all he can think about is Mike.
Mike, who never rested until a village was safe. Mike, who jested with compassion amongst the villagers when they were safe. Mike, who always spoke out and defended his team. Mike, who kept spirits high with Dustin. Mike, who found all sorts of pathways of success with Lucas. Mike, who promptly and properly stole Will’s very soul.
Having balanced like this dozens of times before, the Paladin seamlessly holds Will’s cheek. Will tries not to laugh as his hair falls between their faces.
The skies are clear. Even with their eyes closed, one could feel it, the Paladin suddenly inspires him. We’re doing well. Very well, in fact.
“Mike.”
The aforementioned brushes the hair out of Will’s eyes. “Yeah?”
Will looks down bashfully, his lover far too close for him to think without getting lost in his gaze, still upside-down, even. “Please get down.”
Soft as ever, Mike says, “why, if I may ask?”
Stubborn, oh, so stubborn. It’s what always drove them together. Will resists wanting to kiss him again.
“I just think that I’d love you no less if you approached me normally.”
Mike blinks. “You - you love me?”
And yet, without another qualm, the Paladin flamboyantly jumps down from the branch and starts to his knees. He rustles a few leaves in his hair, and Will smiles.
Will threads his hand through Mike’s hair again, working the items out. “Believe it or not, very much.”
Mike shakes his head and opens his mouth, but quickly contemplates and says, “I think I can believe it.” He holds Will’s hands with both of his own. Despite all the teasing and playing, his touch is trusting. His hands are warm. “I’m sorry. I guess I thought it was funny to keep doing it.”
“I mean, it is,” at that, Mike raises his brow, but Will continues, “but I don’t need you falling anymore. We don’t need you falling ever again.”
“I fell, like, twice, my love.”
“One was because of a curse. One was not.”
“Wait.” He shifts to sit on his side. “I believe I fell for a third time.” He kisses Will’s knuckles.
“Don’t -“
“I have fallen for you.”
“Mike.”
“How could I forget?” He exhales through a pained expression.
“Michael,” he calls, and his lover pauses at once.
It’s a wonderful and unfathomable beauty how Mike’s eyes glimmer in the dawning sunset. And his eyes always seem to shine when they look at him. His eyes have never changed, in great trial or in great happiness. They always listen to him with confidence.
And Mike seems to always know what he wants to say. “Yes?”
“I, um,” Will tries, flustered, in all honesty.
“Yes, my liege?”
And Will cannot do anything else but laugh as Mike prods, gently squeezing his hands and kissing his nose. Stupid, he’s never-endingly stupid and dear no matter what he does, and Will can’t help but fall.
“Thank you,” Will finally manages once Mike draws a last kiss.
He tilts his head. “For what?”
“For being… everything you are.”
Mike glows at him. Blushing valiantly, he returns, “well, you’re by far the most wonderful thing under the sun, did you know that?”
Will shakes his head and deeply regrets not having his usual hat to hide under, and as consequence, the Paladin lifts his chin and adores him wholeheartedly. Mike knows how much Will hates being showered with attention. That is, by anyone else besides him. Mike takes that to his advantage every chance he gets.
“Your blush is so pretty.”
“Mike, please.”
“I will never stop fighting beside you, not when you’re this golden.”
Will flares his nose. “Mike, please just kiss me or stop talking.”
“Fine,” Mike sighs, fakely reluctant, and glances at his lips once before oh-so-begrudgingly obliging and drawing them into another spell.
“Hey, lovebirds!”
“Yeah?”
“Wait, is that the bard talking, or - ?”
Lucas just about has his hand fully imprinted into his cheek as he sighs.
“No. No, Will, it was not.”
Mike puts down the die only to immediately scoop them up again. “Just one more roll for initiative?”
“What the hell are you gonna initiate, Mike?”
“And should we even be in this room for it?” Lucas mumbles to Dustin, letting the two hear him clearly.
Mike frowns. “Look. We earned this, okay? We were both really nervous to tell you guys, and now we’re really excited, I guess. Right, Will?”
Will looks to Mike. It’s funny how even in this little skirmish, he can see that brave face, always fighting for him. “Yeah, but...”
“‘Earned’ my ass! I want my best friends back,” Lucas complains.
“Yeah!”
“What? We’re literally right here.”
“You know what we mean, dude.”
“Can Will and I have one day?”
“Yeah, but can we have one second in-game without you guys literally breathing down each other’s necks?”
Will blushes.
“You’re the one who wrote a report break in between the missions!”
“It’s gonna be important later if we can get to later!”
“Well… later is later!”
“It’s also whenever you guys miraculously stop rolling so high.”
“I know,” Mike snickers, “isn’t it amazing?”
“I wish you rolled this well when it actually mattered.”
“Hey! This matters loads!”
“Just… are you gonna do this every time from now on?” Even Dustin is blushing. “Because I don’t know, I got a strong hunch that you will, and I hope we don’t lose your guys’ good strats.”
“You won’t,” Will finally chimes in.
“Yeah?”
“This is only one part of the campaign. We’ll stop.”
“Well, I guess we’ll see.”
Will doesn’t say it, but he has to admit, he and Mike have been going back and forth for quite a while now. He opens his mouth, but then, just in time, Mike speaks.
“Okay, okay, then. Sorry. We can stop.” Mike looks over at Will and pouts. “Or just… slow down.”
Will smiles as Mike seems to take the apology right out of his mouth. Mike smiles back at him.
Lucas breaks out in a gentle laugh as he looks at them. “Alright. Y’know what? It’s different, yeah, but it’s also kinda cool.” He then turns to Dustin. “Admit it.”
“No.”
“Wow,” Mike sighs. “That was a pretty fast denial. Which means it must’ve been on your mind previously -“
“Alright, alright. Okay. Yeah. It is pretty cool that you guys look happy. Like, really happy. In a way I’ve never seen you guys get happy before. And it’s really nice after everything.”
Mike’s lip twitches and he lights up. He proceeds to do the cutest thing he’s done all day as he stands up, pushing the chair back rather forcefully as he rushes up to Dustin and hugs him.
“Oh - Jesus - okay.”
Mike has a death grip on him as he mumbles into his shoulder, “thank you.”
“Thank you, too. For telling us. But, like, it’s just -“ he breaks out in a chuckle as he pats Mike’s back affectionately - “It’s heavy, man. It’s really heavy watching you guys flirt.”
Mike pulls back, wiping away at clearly embarrassed tears. “Okay. Yeah, uh, we’ll - we’ll work on it. I guess.”
Dustin sighs fondly and pushes Mike away who happily falls into Lucas’ arms.
“Just… don’t get too weird. Promise?”
“Promise.”
They break with their hands clasped in a firm shake.
“God, you’re actually tearing up - okay, note to self,” Dustin rolls his eyes with a smile, “no more filler. Not even a chance of it.”
“Whatever,” Mike says under his breath, sitting and scooting back in so that he’s right beside Will, tossing a die that clatters across the table. “Now let me roll. I’m literally on a roll right now.”
“For initiative to…” Lucas raises a brow.
“To marry Will right now.”
“What?” The three exclaim at once.
“Mike.”
“Can we please move on?”
The die stops.
Peeking over the screen, Dustin sighs and his hand meets his forehead. “Shit.”
Lucas laughs exhaustedly.
Mike looks like he’s about to faint.
“Nat - 20.”
Will says it just to let it sink in, but before he can get a word out, his lips are being crashed into, and Mike kisses him so hard, he’s instantly breathless. Will laughs and wraps his arms around Mike, heart racing at his adorable, adorable enthusiasm.
“Alright, lovebirds. Congratulations,” Dustin says all-too tiredly. Will gets it. He really does. But he can’t get enough of Mike.
Lucas shakes his head, his chin against his hands. “What are we doing? Are we even gonna prepare for the gate anymore?”
“I have no clue.”
“I’m so sorry. This was really fun.”
“No, it’s fine. We get Will the Wise back and he’s busy getting wed to our only protector and this party’s rendered useless. And all my hard work. Suspended. For a fake wedding. Everything is fine.”
Lucas takes one look at them, Mike nearly pushing Will to the floor, to decide, “should we order some pizza?”
“Please, dear God.”
Lucas puts his hand on his shoulder. “I’ll pay.”
Dustin smiles as they make their way up to the living room. “Thank you.”
The two trod up the stairs of the basement, but neither Mike nor Will can hear them. The day has been a miracle and a half, coming out to their best friends, playing together for the first time in years, graduating together after some hellish finals. The day feels perfect.
Will cups Mike’s cheek, and he’s spellbound.
“I love you.”
Mike kisses him again. And again. “I love you, too.”