Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Julius had great instincts. He had sent the entire Black Bulls squad on a mission that usually would require a pair or a trio depending on who Yami sent. Luck and Magna always worked together. Gauche, Gordon, and Grey had turned into an unlikely team. Finral and Vanessa usually never did any work but they often went on missions together (usually when one or both ran out of yul). Charmy usually went alone or with a babysitter. Noelle and Asta would usually pair up and sometimes one of their senior Black Bull would choose to accompany them. Zora was a lone wolf and if he had to pick someone to team up with, it would usually be Asta and Noelle by protest. 

The mission was to investigate an intrusion of the border. Most of these missions turned out to be fruitless. However, Julius happened to be on the mark this time. The Diamond Kingdom was once again planning to invade the Clover Kingdom and had sent some powerful mages. They were up against a team of five Diamond mages. Finral was navigating 5 different fights, acting as support for his team. He opened portal after portal, teleporting his teammates out of harm’s way and redirecting some of the more lethal attacks.

Noelle had teamed up with Vanessa. Noelle’s water magic put her at an advantage for facing the fire mage they were up against but the Diamond mage’s strong fire attacks had burned both women. Instead of a steady stream of fire, the mage’s fire exploded like dynamite upon impact. Noelle and Vanessa were usually able to avoid the direct bomb but were often caught by shrapnel created by the explosion. 

Gordon, Gauche, and Grey were fighting the third one. Gordon had a broken rib or two. Gauche had dislocated his shoulder and was bleeding from lots of cuts. Gray had used up her mana acting as support and had lost a lot of blood from a wound on her stomach. The third wizard used poison magic. Finral concentrated most of his support on moving his friends out of the direct path of the poison.

Luck and Magna together had taken one mage out but were down for the count after expending their mana. Luck had gotten thrashed pretty badly because of his penchant for attacking up close and personal. Magna hadn’t escaped unscathed either. He was bleeding from his head but he was talking smack so Finral was sure he was fine. 

Finral opened a portal just before the Diamond mage’s lightning attack struck Magna in the chest, unable to relax as he opened another portal to keep Noelle from receiving a burn to the face. 

“Too close for comfort!” Magna complained. Finral scowled at the complaint but didn’t have the luxury of time to give a witty retort. Thankfully, Luck did it for him.

“Then get better at dodging, Stupid Magna!” Luck grinned fiercely, undeterred by the blood running down his face or the odd angle his shoulder was sitting. 

“I’m just getting warmed up!” Magna grinned, fired up by Luck’s comment. Finral redirected the lightning attack to the mage Yami was fighting with and the fire attack towards the mage Zora and Asta were fighting against. The wizard Yami was fighting dodged the attack. Finral gritted his teeth. That wizard’s mana sensing was on par with Luck’s. The mage Zora and Asta was fighting managed to avoid taking the hit to the chest but was caught on the arm.

“Oi, Finral!” Yami shouted. Finral instinctively flicked his wrist in the direction of Yami’s voice, portalling him across the room. Unfortunately, the wizard Yami was fighting against had begun figuring out where Finral’s portals would appear. Finral had turned his attention to Gauche, opening a series of portals so his mirror attacks would be more unpredictable. 

Then Yami let out a guttural cry. Finral immediately turned to look at his captain but then his world froze. Yami’s red blood stained his shirt.

“Yami!” he shouted. 

“Zora!” Asta shouted, alerting his partner of his will to go help his captain.

“Go!” Zora grunted. Asta had a nasty gash on his leg from earlier but with help from a portal from Finral, he was still fast enough to get between Yami and the mage he was fighting in order to negate the magical attack. The experienced enemy mage recovered from his shock at seeing anti magic quickly and hit Asta with a blast to the head.

However, the Diamond mage was not about to stop. Instead of leaving Asta unconscious, he continued his attack on Asta with the intent to kill him. Finral and Yami locked eyes and Finral knew what Yami was thinking: surpass your limits . Although he was exhausted from supporting nine teammates in five different battles, Finral opened two portals at once— one so that the Diamond mage’s trajectory would portal him through and a second so that Yami was right on top of him. Let this work Finral prayed.

“Dark Magic: Dark Cloaked Lightless Blade Storm!” Yami slashed through the Diamond Mage cleanly with his sword. There was no mercy in his eyes. These mages had almost killed the members of their squad. Information be damned. Yami wasn’t letting this one leave alive. Yami flicked the blood off of his sword and slowly stood up straight as he let his eyes assess his team. Immediately, the ones who were able to still stand struggled to get up but Finral reached Yami before all of them. 

Finral grabbed Yami's shirt and pulled him into a hard, closed lip kiss. Yami’s lips were dry against his. Finral could taste sweat and blood even though he didn’t deepen the kiss. There was the ever present taste of cigarettes that was just a part of Yami. Once he felt the heat of Yami’s skin against his, the surprised exhale of Yami’s breath against his, Finral pulled away.

There was a stunned silence which was enough to knock Finral to his senses because less than a second after he pulled away, his face turned red as he had realized what he had done and he managed to summon the last of his mana and disappeared through one of his portals.

Wisely, no one said a thing as a stormy look passed over Yami's face. It was a good thing Asta was knocked out or he surely would have died because he said something. Asta came back to consciousness and broke the tension.

"Did we win?" Asta asked. Everyone held their breath, the tension thick in the air as Yami lit a cigarette.

“Yeah, kid. We won,” Yami said. Everyone let out a collective breath.

“Where’s Finral?” Asta asked. Yami glared at Asta and squeezed his head as everyone let out a collective groan. 

So close. 

Chapter Text

What had he done? Finral panicked, burying his face in his hands. He had portaled instinctively to the first place that came to mind—the hideout. He was in his room, pacing back and forth and then he realized he had left the Black Bulls in the middle of nowhere. Yami was going to be pissed.  

Yami. Finral had almost considered returning but then he remembered he had kissed Yami. Not on the cheek. Not on the forehead. Those options would have been embarrassing but explainable. A kiss on the lips? Not so much. Finral felt how red his face was as he remembered pressing his lips against Yami’s. 

A kiss his captain hadn’t responded to, Finral thought disappointed. He shook his head. What was he disappointed about? He didn’t even have feelings for Yami so why would he worry? A traitorous little thought asked if he didn’t have feelings for Yami, why would he kiss him?

Finral couldn’t be there when Yami arrived home. He summoned another portal and disappeared through it. He reappeared at the capital and began wandering around lost in thought.

“Finral?” Finral turned to see Mimosa of the Golden Dawn, flanked closely by Klaus and Yuno.

“M-Mimosa!” Finral said. “How are you?”

“I believe we should be asking you that,” Klaus frowned, pushing up his glasses. 

“Wh-what do you mean? I’m fine!”

“You don’t look fine,” Yuno said.

“Yuno!” Mimosa scolded. “What Yuno means, Final, is that… well—“

“You have blood and dirt all over you,” Yuno finished. 

“Now that you mention it, I do feel a little dizzy,” Finral said. 

He realized he had never bathed after the battle that had probably happened maybe twenty minutes ago. His injuries hadn’t closed from the battle. His shoulder hurt like hell. Klaus and Yuno nodded at each other and forced Finral to sit at a table while Mimosa healed him. Klaus disappeared for a bit but came back with water and a scone. Finral drank the water but tried to protest against the scone.

“I couldn’t,” Finral said.

“Your stomach is growling,” Yuno said. 

Finral glared at the tactless, bratty rookie. He supposed he should be used to it because Asta was similar, but something about Yuno rubbed him the wrong way.

“It’s just a scone. It’s important for fellow Magic Knights to watch out for each other,” Klaus said. Finral looked hesitantly at the scone and tried to eat it delicately, but he hadn’t realized how much he was starving.

“Why aren’t you with the Black Bulls?” Klaus asked. “Weren’t you all on a mission?”

“Yes,” Finral nodded, avoiding eye contact.

“Where are they now?” Klaus asked. 

Finral really wished this guy would get a hint and stop asking him questions. However, his polite nature kept him from voicing that thought out loud. 

“They’re probably back at the hideout by now…” Finral said.

“Asta?” Yuno asked.

“He’s fine. He got knocked unconscious but I’m sure he’s fine!” Finral said. 

A chill ran through his spine. He had left the Black Bulls when Asta had been unconscious. He probably needed serious medical attention. They all needed serious medical attention. Finral had to stop thinking about the injuries his squad had received or he’d be swallowed in guilt. As it were, he wouldn’t even be able to summon the mana needed to transport the squad back to the base, let alone get himself back to his squad.

“I’m sure he is,” Mimosa said. “Why did you leave them?”

“Mimosa, I’m sure Finral wouldn’t leave his squad unattended after a major battle!” Klaus said. Finral wished he had died in the battle.

“Finral, we can escort you back to the Black Bull’s hideout—“

“No!” Finral said, startling all of them. “No, I can’t go back there.” Please don’t ask me why. Please don’t ask me why .

“He’s Langris’ brother,” Yuno said.

“What?” Klaus asked.

“He’s Langris’s brother. He doesn’t want to go home. He can come to the Golden Dawn,” Yuno said. Finral had never been so grateful in his life. He regretted thinking Yuno was a brat.

“If—if it wouldn’t be an intrusion,” Finral swallowed. 

“I’m...I’m sure Vice Captain Langris would be pleased to see you,” Klaus said. 

Finral winced. Langris was never happy to see him but the alternative of going home and facing Yami was far worse. He felt dizzy standing up, but thankfully Klaus summoned his means of transportation and Finral was able to sleep on the way to the Golden Dawn. 

When he woke up again, he was in an extremely soft bed. Langris was glaring at him and—Langris. Finral sat up.

“L-L-Langris!” Finral said.

“Why are you here, brother?” Langris demanded.

“I can’t just see my brother?” Finral asked, avoiding eye contact. Langris continued to glare at him. 

“Go wash up. You’ve stained my sheets,” Langris said. 

“Wh-what?” Finral blinked. He had been expecting Langris to grill him until he gave up.

“And you stink,” Langris said. “You can use my washroom this once because apparently you have forgotten how to bathe since joining the Black Bulls. I’ll have to call a maid to change these sheets. We’ll discuss this after your bath. You better not take forever.” 

Langris was pulling the covers off of him and pushing him into the washroom. As vice captain, he had his own private washroom. He didn’t have to bother with the communal showers. Finral had gotten used to the communal quarters of the Black Bulls, but in this case, he was grateful Langris was shoving him into his bathroom. Finral sank into the tub, feeling the bliss of hot water eat away the soreness of his muscles.

Why had he kissed his captain? Why had he been so stupid? In front of everyone, no less. If it had been by themselves, it wouldn’t have been as bad. Even though Yami would tease him for years, Finral could have denied that it happened at all. Out of sheer embarrassment, he had fled and left his injured squad to fend for themselves. It’d be just his luck if this was the one time Asta actually got a concussion instead of coming through fine. Finral groaned and dunked his head under the water, blowing bubbles until he ran out of oxygen.

Yami. Yami. Yami. Finral had been so relieved that Yami was okay. He could have kissed Noelle or Vanessa or Gray or even Charmy. They were girls. But Finral remembered the sense of relief he had felt when Yami had been alive. Finral hadn’t failed him. His spatial magic had kept Yami—and the rest of his squad—from dying. All he’d been able to think about was Yami and if Yami was going to survive. Then he had kissed him. His warm, sweaty lips against Finral’s had been the confirmation that Yami was alive that Finral had needed.

He could delude himself into thinking that he was just relieved Yami had been alive. However, in his gut he knew that wasn’t true. Yami meant more to him than just his captain or his friend.

Finral knew he hadn’t done well on the battle portion of the Magic Knight’s exam. He was already a mess of nerves before the test when he had bumped into someone outside the bathroom and made a fool of himself. All he could do was summon portals and dodge his enemy’s attacks. He had managed to create three portals to disappear through and evade his opponent’s attack. However, Finral had no attack magic of his own to attack the other mage from behind. He was a noble and nobles didn’t believe in physical fighting. It wasn’t necessary because magic was how civilized people fought. His opponent brought him down with a blast of water, ending the match. His father and stepmother wouldn’t be pleased.

That was alright with Finral. At least his opponent hadn’t specialized in fire magic or something else that would really hurt. His opponent would hopefully get accepted into a good squad. He had never heard of him, meaning his family wasn’t powerful enough to be associated with the Vaudes. However, his clothing was decent stitching so he probably was in the upper middle class. Finral was sure he would have his pick of squads.

“The captain will raise their hand if they are interested. If you have multiple offers, you may choose which squad you join. If you have no offers, you can try again next year,” the captain of the Golden Dawn recited. Finral watched as people were either chosen or rejected by a squad. He winced every time someone got rejected. The Golden Dawn took two. Twenty were rejected. The Coral Peacocks took another one. The Crimson Lions showed interests in anyone with extremely powerful mana. His opponent had chosen the Crimson Lions over the Purple Orcas. Predictably, the Golden Dawn and The Silver Eagles hadn’t extended an invitation.

Finral wondered what squad he would join. He wasn’t very combat savvy and he didn’t want to fight anyways. He knew that as a noble, he was expected to join the Golden Dawn or the Silver Eagles. They might extend a pity invitation. The Golden Dawn was a new squad, but they were quickly gaining a good reputation. They especially had favor amongst the nobles because of all the noble recruits they ended up taking. He knew spatial magic had its uses but he wasn’t the strongest mage. Everyone in the noble circles—that would include Captain Vangeance and Captain Nozel— would know that Langris was stronger and more promising than his brother. 

The Crimson Lions went after strong mages, which Finral knew would automatically rule him out. The Coral Peacocks might take him. While Captain Dorothy was always sleeping and he’d never met her, Finral had met Vice-Captain Dearing, a noble who would probably retire soon as he was the former Coral Peacocks’ vice captain. He hadn’t gotten on Vice Captain Dearing’s bad side at least.

Finral didn’t know the name of the current captain of the Gray Deer after Julius Novochrono had been promoted to Wizard King. That would also be a respectable squad for Finral to join. It had been the squad of the current wizard king, whom everyone loved. According to his parents, it had gone downhill since it began allowing peasants in. Even his parents would overlook the fact that peasants were allowed in the Gray Deer. Finral could only hope to get an offer from them.

The Purple Orcas… Finral knew enough of that squad to know of their shady dealings that were kept hush hush. He had noticed the captain watching his fight with interest and it sent a shiver down his spine. Finral didn’t want to be involved in illegal activity.

Then there were the Green Mantises… Although Finral loved the color green, Captain Jack was terrifying. Also, Jack was not a noble. Joining the Green Mantises was unacceptable. 

The Blue Roses almost never took males and those that joined were mostly used as errand boys. Finral thought that that wouldn’t be a bad life. He’d enjoy being a servant to lovely ladies—especially the Captain of the Blues Roses, he thought dreamily. Definitely the best case scenario. No one could fault him for joining the Blues Roses.

The worst of the worst would be… the Black Bulls. Yami Sukehiro was a foreigner and a peasant. Although he became captain the same time as Vangeance, Yami’s squad was clearly heading in the opposite direction. His squad never did anything. In fact, all they seemed to do was destroy things. They had no standing and were a joke amongst nobles. They had no rules, no expectations… 

Finral swore that for a second, Captain Yami’s eyes focused on him with laser point precision. He felt his breath catch under the intensity of Yami’s gaze.

“Number 296!” Final walked up, nervous. He felt his hands shaking. He barely heard the man asking the captains to raise their hands.

Nothing from the Golden Dawn or the Silver Eagles. They must be waiting for his brother then. The Crimson Lions didn’t raise their hands either, which was to be expected. Dorothy from the Coral Peacocks kept her hand down. The captain of the Gray Deer raised his hand. Was that the only offer he would get? The Purple Orcas captain didn’t raise his hand either.

At the end of the row, to Finral’s great surprise, Yami Sukehiro had also raised his hand. If Finral was smart, he would join the Gray Deer, Wizard King Julius’s former squad. However, what came out of his mouth was—

“I’d like to join the Black Bulls,” Finral said. There was a quiet uproar across the stands. Finral Vaude , a noble, joining the Black Bulls? The worst of the worst? The squad led by a foreigner ? Even some of the captains were astonished. The Gray Deer were more respectable than the Black Bulls even if they did allow peasants and foreigners into their ranks. 

Finral suddenly felt very self conscious. He wondered if he should take it back—if he could take it back. However, he looked at Yami again and his worries faded away. A load was taken off his shoulders. He would have no responsibilities, no expectations, nothing to live up to in this squad. There was nowhere to fall. That was freeing and so, Finral walked away from the center stage feeling lighter than he ever had.

Brother, hurry up! Captain Vangeance wants to talk to you!” Langris shouted through the door.

“What?!” Finral shrieked. “I don’t have any clean clothes!”

“You should have thought about that before coming here!” Langris griped.

“Can I borrow yours?”

“You’re taller than me,” No matter what Langris said to Finral, there was always an implied stupid at the end of every sentence, even if he didn’t say it out loud. “The maid brought you a spare set. Hurry up and get out. Don’t keep my captain waiting.” 

Finral realized the water had gone tepid. How long had he been in the bath? His hands were pruny and he struggled to wash his hair and body with soap as quickly as he could. He opened the door and Langris shoved clothes at him.

He had been given a pair of white pants that were a little too big. He had to take his belt the maid thankfully hadn’t taken and loop it through, otherwise he would be holding the pants up through his meeting with the captain of the Golden Dawn and wouldn’t that just be the icing on Finral’s already wonderful day? He noticed that while the pants were probably uniform standard, the shirt was not. It was a black shirt that fit slightly better than the pants did. He was glad it was black because white wasn’t his color.

“Where’s my robe?” Finral asked, feeling naked without it. He hadn’t gone a day without wearing it since he had become a Black Bull. He’d proudly worn the robe everyday for six years.

“It’s being washed,” Langris said. “Come.” He strode out of the room with a grace that Finral could never muster in a million years.

“Why does the captain want to see me?” Finral asked.

“He stopped by my room while you were taking forever in the bath,” Langris said. “He didn’t say why.” 

Finral worried that Yami had found out where he was and had come to kill him, but he didn’t feel Yami’s mana anywhere. He was naturally attuned to it after being around him so long.

Finral was nervous when he saw Captain Vangeance sitting at a table by himself with tea set up for three. Langris sat on his captain’s right side and Finral hesitantly took the remaining chair.

“Hello, Finral,” Captain Vangeance smiled.

“Y-y-yes. H-hello!” Finral chirped, perhaps too eagerly. 

Langris glared at him, warning him silently to not make him look like a fool in front of his captain. Vangeance, however, smiled warmly at him, the same way he did at everyone.

“I heard from Klaus that you were wandering around the capital after being on a mission with the Black Bulls. Mimosa said you were in need of healing and they brought you here because you didn’t want to return home,” Vangeance said. Finral felt his cheeks heat up and he looked into his teacup.

“That’s correct,” Finral said.

“Did something happen, Finral? I was worried when I heard you were injured and found without your squad,” Vangeance said. Oh Clover. In front of Langris. Kill him. Bury him now. Please let some major bad guy attack so everyone could be distracted and Finral could flee.

“No, sir,” Finral said. “The mission ended and I—I left by myself.” 

Finral’s stomach chose to rumble embarrassingly loud. The last thing he’d had was a scone probably hours ago, by the way the night was settling through the window. Before that, the last time he’d eaten was well before the battle.

“I see,” Vangeance paused before he spoke. “Langris, could you ask the chef to make us up some sandwiches?” 

Langris’s mouth twitched but he wasn’t about to refuse a direct order from his captain and he knew when he was being dismissed. Finral savored the image of Langris getting up to do something for someone else—even if he had been ordered by his captain. 

“Finral, I was contacted by your captain earlier,” Vangeance said. 

“Oh Clover, is he coming to kill me?” Langris groaned, imagining Yami’s wrath. 

“No, he just seemed… concerned,” Vangeance said and he must have been confused by the horror on Finral’s face. Finral knew his captain.

“C-c-c-concern?! I’m so dead,” Finral groaned. “Please tell me you’re just trying to excuse his bad behavior and he threatened me.” Vangeance chuckled.

“You really know your captain. I wasn’t going to say that, but…” Vangeance said. 

Finral let out a little sigh of relief. Anger he could deal with. Yami was angry every day. He was angry when he had to wake up to use the bathroom. He was angry when he got woken up. He got angry when he was interrupted. Yami was just in a constant state of anger. Finral knew how to deal with that.

“Finral, as you are the brother of my vice captain, I don’t feel comfortable sending you back to the Black Bulls if you don’t feel... safe,” Vangeance said carefully, but in a way that Finral could pick up on their meaning.

“It’s not like that,” Finral said. “I just… I did something really stupid and I can’t take it back.”

“And now you’re hiding,” Vangeance said.

“Strategically retreating,” Finral offered.

“Strategically retreating,” Vangeance repeated.

“Is… is my squad okay?” Finral asked.

“Yes, Yami said something along the lines of ‘everyone will live,’” Captain Vangeance said. 

Finral heaved a sigh of relief and allowed his shoulders to slump, reducing the tension even though he could hear Yami adding “no thanks to that idiot” in his head.  

“May I ask what you did that was so… stupid?” Vangeance asked. Finral felt his face heat up.

“I’d really rather not talk about it,” Finral said, arms flailing. “Um… did Captain Yami say anything else?”

“The communication cut off after he found out where you were. You’re welcome to stay here, Finral. I’m sure your brother will be glad to have you,” Vangeance said. Vangeance obviously did not see the look of horror breaching Langris’ face as he approached the table with a tray of sandwiches. “And Finral, I’m sure that whatever you did isn’t as bad as you think it is.” Langris bowed to his captain as the man left.

“So what did you do?” Langris demanded. Finral reached for a sandwich but Langris pulled the tray away. Finral’s stomach growled.

“Langris!” Finral whined. “Give me a sandwich!” 

“Tell me what you did,” Langris said.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Finral said, cheeks turning red. Langris scowled.

“Then why did you come here?!” He spat.

“What?” Finral asked but Langris had already stood up and stormed off. “Langris!” 

Finral looked at the sandwiches and then after his brother. Used to running away from his problems Finral reached for the sandwich and began eating. Langris would be pissed if he knew what had happened anyways. There would definitely be a lecture in it for him. 

Finral finished eating and took the dishes back to the kitchen, used to cleaning up after himself during his time with the Black Bulls. Although Charmy’s sheep had a sous chef who cleaned up after most of their meals and Asta did a bulk of the chores, Yami still required his squad to do some chores.

“Langris, I’m back,” Finral said. 

“It’s open,” Langris called. 

Finral opened the door to find Langris had changed into his pajamas. He was sitting at his desk. Finral’s Black Bulls robe and the rest of his clothes were laying flat on the bed, folded neatly. Finral instantly went for his robe, inspecting it to see if there were any new cuts in the fabric. To his surprise, he found none.

“The tailor mage fixed it up while it was being cleaned,” Langris said, guessing his thoughts. “Brother, why are you here if you’re not going to tell me what’s going on?”

“You’ll be mad at me and I didn’t have anywhere else to go,” Finral said. 

“I’m always mad at you,” Langris pointed out. “That’s never stopped you from talking about everything before even when I told you to shut up.” Finral winced. He had a point. “What did you do? Kiss your captain?”

“Who told you?!” Finral shrieked. The look on Langris’ face would have been priceless if Finral hadn’t been mortified. 

“I was being facetious!” Langris said, picking his jaw up off the floor. “You really kissed your captain?!”

“It was an accident!” Finral hissed. “Stop shouting! Someone might hear you!” 

“What about Ms. Finnes?” Langris asked.

“I…”

“Are you gay?”

“I-“

“Are you still trying to take your spot back as head of the family?”

“Yes!”

“Do you love your captain?”

“Now hold on!” Finral said. Langris frowned.

“You don’t know,” he said, shaking his head. “Shouldn’t that have been something you figured out before you kissed him?” Finral collapsed on the bed, holding his Black Bulls robe close to him.

“I don’t know the answers to your questions, Langris,” Finral said. “I was just so relieved he was alive… have you ever felt like that?” 

Langris looked at him and Finral felt like he was missing something obvious. However, Langris was actually talking to him like he was his brother. Finral didn’t want to give that up. 

“They prepared the room next door for you,” Langris grunted, looking away from Finral. Finral smiled. Langris looked like he was pretending to fiddle with stuff on his desk.

“Can’t I just stay in here?” Finral asked.

“I’m not having a sleepover with my big brother,” Langris deadpanned. 

“Why not? It’ll be like when we were kids—“

“I have to wake up at six a.m. I know how you are in the morning!” Langris said.

“I’ve gotten a lot better! Yami has me waking up at 6 so—“ so he could take a dump , Finral didn’t want to say.

“So the captain of the Black Bulls doesn’t return your feelings?” Langris asked. “I can’t imagine he’s kicked you out of the squad. You’ve become less useless lately.”

“Is that a compliment?” Finral smiled. Langris scowled but his cheeks were just the tiniest shade of pink. “Yami didn’t kick me out of the squad. He would never do that.”

“Fine. But don’t stay here too long. You’re bad for my reputation,” Langris said.

“That’s mean!” 

“Go to your room. I’m tired,” Langris said. 

“Langris! Can we have lunch tomorrow?” Finral asked, feeling bold. Langris looked surprised. 

“Alright… but it will have to be in my office. I’ll be working,” Langris said. Finral didn’t care. He was grinning ear to ear as Langris threw a pillow at him and told him to “Get out already!” 

Finral barely managed to grab his clothes as Langris threw another pillow at him. They’d been together for less than a day and Finral had Langris acting like the child he never had back when they were actually kids. Finral wondered what had changed.

When he closed the door to the room he was staying in, he collapsed on the bed but he suddenly felt wide awake. He tried to close his eyes and willed for sleep to come but every time he closed his eyes, he couldn’t stop thinking about the kiss. He couldn’t stop thinking about Yami hating him. He couldn’t stop thinking about everyone hating him. 

What about the questions Langris had asked him? After kissing Yami, Finral couldn’t deny that he felt more strongly for Yami than he did Finnes. Finral knew he wasn’t gay. He had an honest attraction to women. He had never been attracted to men. He had never even looked at Yami in that way—except a few times to notice the man’s impressive muscles, but who couldn’t notice that with how he wore a tank top that exposed his buff muscles all the time? Yami was ruggedly handsome, even Finral knew and admitted to that. 

So when had attraction evolved into Finral feeling brazen enough to kiss Yami? Finral let out a shaky breath and knew he was in for a restless night.

Chapter Text

The sun shone through the window when Finral finally woke up. It was bright in the sky, maybe close to noon. Finral stretched and got up to wash his face, happy for the private bathroom so he didn’t have to go looking for one. When the water hit his face, he noticed that it was too quiet. Although he had constantly wished for more quiet time at the Black Bull’s hideout (especially when he was suffering from hangovers), now he missed the noise that began as soon as Asta started cleaning. He missed the noise when Luck stole Magna’s pudding. He missed Gray’s shrieks when someone saw her first thing in the morning. He missed Vanessa drunkenly banging on the wrong door (partially Henry’s fault, partially her being drunk) trying to find him and invite him to join her for a drink. He even missed Gauche whining about not being able to see his sister. He missed the banging of Charmy’s pots and pans when she started cooking. He missed Noelle shrieking when she saw Asta working out shirtless. He missed the way Yami stretched first thing in the morning and forced Finral into doing morning stretches with him—

He missed home. 

However, Langris was waiting for him and his little brother would not be pleased if he was late. After getting dressed, Finral felt much better in his freshly pressed clothes than he had yesterday. Finral inquired for directions from a cute girl and after thanking her, he realized he hadn’t flirted with her when he realized she was giggling and talking to her friend while looking back at him. Finral decided not to dwell on it and went to meet his brother for lunch.

“You’re late,” Langris griped when Finral knocked on the door and entered into the impressive study. Impressively, lunch arrived with a maid. Someone passing by Finral must have informed the chefs he had arrived for lunch. Two bowls of soup and sandwiches were on the platter, along with a jug of water and two cups.

“It’s 11:30,” Finral said when he saw the clock.

“I’ve been up since six. I eat lunch early,” Langris said. 

“You could have started without me,” Finral said and Langris scowled as if he had just insulted his good manners.

“You said you wanted to have lunch together. This is us having lunch together,” Langris said. “Why did you want to have lunch together? Don’t you want to return to your precious Black Bulls and tell the captain you love him?” Finral swallowed a bite of soup. It went down burning like his soul.

“He, uh, didn’t exactly return the kiss…” Finral said quietly. Langris paused as he lifted the spoon of soup to his mouth. 

“Did you give him a chance?” Langris asked.

“What?” Finral said.

“Don’t make me repeat myself,” Langris huffed. “I don’t like talking about this.” Finral smiled affectionately as his brother took a bite of his sandwich. 

“Why are we talking about this?” Finral asked. “I thought for sure you’d be avoiding me.” Langris looked at him, putting his food down.

“I’m only going to say this once,” Langris said. “And if you tell anyone, I’ll deny it.”

“Okay,” Finral said, wondering what his brother could mean.

“You asked me if I’d ever felt relief that anyone was alive,” Langris said. “You.” 

“Oh,” Finral said softly. “You do care!” 

He leapt up to hug his brother which Langris protested against immediately. Finral managed to wrap his arms mostly around Langris but Langris was pushing back hard to escape the hug.

“I will portal you out of here!”

“Spatial magic cancels each other out!” 

“Brother!” Langris growled. 

Knowing it was time to stop pushing his luck, Finral laughed and stopped trying to hug his brother. Langris was muttering something about if his brother just hugged every enemy, he’d be the most powerful attack mage ever. 

“Yami is a fool,” Langris said unexpectedly. 

“You really shouldn’t call a captain a fool, Langris,” Finral said, looking around as if he expected Yami to magically appear. 

“I’m not scared of him,” Langris said. A knock at the door surprised them both and Langris said for them to come in.

“Vice-Captain Langris, members of your brother’s squad are here,” a member of the Golden Dawn said.

“Which ones?” Finral said and then he heard familiar shouting. “Nevermind. I can guess.” 

“FIIIINNNNRRRAAAALLLLL!” Asta shouted, pushing past the Golden Dawn member and practically running into the room. “Where did you go?! Everyone said you portalled away and no one would tell me why!” He latched onto Finral’s body in a tight hug.

“A-Asta. Can’t breathe,” Finral choked out. Asta thankfully let go. However, he felt relieved. If Asta had seriously hurt his head, he wouldn’t have so much energy.

“We told you Bakasta, he had things to do,” Noelle huffed behind him. “Without telling us.” 

Noelle flipped her hair over her shoulder and Finral knew she was displeased with him. Finral felt relief overcome him. Asta was easy enough to fool and Noelle would be displeased that he left without her, but these were the lesser of the evils that the Black Bulls members could send. If no one had told Asta that he and Yami had kissed, there may be a chance that it could just be swept under the rug.

“Oi, Finral, I think you owe us an explanation,” Vanessa giggled. Finral’s hopes dashed and his cheeks turned red. There was no way Vanessa was going to let him live this down.

“Go with your squad members. I have work to do,” Langris snapped.

“Langris—“

“You should talk to Ms. Finnes when you sort this out,” Langris said. “You owe her that.” 

With a sinking feeling, Finral nodded even though Langris was looking at his paperwork again. 

Finral walked out of the Golden Dawn base with his squad mates. Asta was looking around staring at everything with bright eyes. Noelle was looking around like she didn’t feel comfortable and even Vanessa was on guard. Before they made it outside to talk, they ran into Yuno and Mimosa. Noelle and Asta stayed to chat with them while Vanessa quietly led Finral outside.

“How mad is he?” Finral asked quietly.

“He said you have three days to get your ass home before he comes looking,” Vanessa said. “And that was yesterday.” One part of Finral’s burden left him. At least Yami was still letting him call it home.

“What have I done, Vanessa?” Finral groaned. “I just kissed him! You must be so mad at me.”

“Why would I be mad at you?” Vanessa asked.

“Because you have feelings for him,” Finral said.

“I am mad at you, but not because of that,” Vanessa said. “Why didn’t you tell me you had feelings for the captain? I could have won the pot if I knew you were going to make the first move!”

“The… the what?” Finral asked, feeling like he was on a ship that was sinking.

“We’ve had a pot about when you two would get together. I thought for sure it would be after your first battle with Langris. The captain almost never left your side when you were asleep,” Vanessa said. “He almost killed Langris in his sleep but King Julius stopped him.” 

“He… he doesn’t like me, ‘Nessa,” Finral said. “Not like that.” Vanessa stopped and turned to face him. 

“When did you realize your feelings for him, Finral?” Vanessa asked. 

She had a feeling she knew the answer. Just as he was about to say something, Asta came running out with Noelle following slowly behind him. 

“Not like what, Finral?” Asta asked, bounding over. “Can we go home now? Yuno is getting stronger and I need to beat him!” Finral’s heart ached.

“I-I’m not going back just yet,” Finral said. “But I’ll definitely make a portal to take you back!”

“Why not?” Noelle demanded. 

“Yeah, we came to bring you home,” Asta said. “What happened while I was asleep?”

“Well you see—“ Vanessa winked but Finral covered her mouth with his hand.

“Nothing! Nothing at all, Asta! I just wanted to visit my little brother for a few days and catch up!” Finral said. Noelle crossed her arms and frowned even harder. She had seen the kiss. She knew.

“Finral kissed Captain Yami and ran away,” she said defiantly. Asta’s jaw dropped. Finral wanted to die. Did his seniority mean nothing?! Vanessa looked smug.

“You kissed—“ Finral had to cover Asta’s mouth before he shouted it to the world.

"Asta, you're too loud!" Finral hissed. "And you! What do you think you're doing telling him! You know he can't keep a secret!"

"Hmph," Noelle said, tilting her nose up at him. "I can do what I want." 

"Why are you embarrassed?" Asta blinked. "Oh! Are you still shy?"

"Shy?" Finral asked.

"I mean, you and the captain haven't been going out for that long and--"

"We're not going out at all, Asta!" Finral said. "Wait. You've been thinking we were dating this whole time?"

"Well you've stopped flirting with women as much," Asta shrugged. "And you're always looking at each other and he plays favorites with you—"

"He does not play favorites!" Finral denied.

“He always wants you to go everywhere with him,” Asta said.

“That’s because of my spatial magic,” Finral said, although he had a feeling his cheeks were turning red.

“You could just open a portal for him,” Asta said. “And he always makes sure a portion of dinner is saved for you if you’re not out.”

“And he always asks where you are if you’re not there,” Noelle said. “You work out together in the morning and—”

“That’s enough!” Finral said, more firmly than his juniors had ever heard him before. “Look, I-I messed up, okay? That’s not Captain Yami’s fault. It’s mine. And I’m sorry I left you after the battle. I shouldn’t have done that and I-I shouldn’t have…” I shouldn’t have kissed Yami Finral thought, the words dying on his lips. Vanessa decided to step in and save him.

“That’s enough, you two. Finral has things to sort out on his own,” Vanessa said, clapping her hands together. “We’ve checked on Finral and made sure he’s alive. He’ll come back home after he’s done visiting Langris. Isn’t that right?” Finral nodded, grateful for Vanessa. Vanessa wrapped an arm around him. “Meet me tomorrow, at that cafe we like, okay? Just us.” Finral nodded and opened a portal for them.

“Bye, Finral!” Asta waved. “Come back soon, okay? We miss you!” 

“I-I don’t miss you! But the others do. Charmy has to go grocery shopping soon too so it’d be really inconvenient if you didn’t come back soon,” Noelle huffed. 

Finral smiled faintly as he saw her slightly red cheeks, indicating she really wanted him back too. Vanessa winked and blew him a kiss as she stepped through the portal. Finral walked back to his temporary room after that, lost in thought. His heart felt heavy as he thought of Yami. Ever since Yami had raised his hand during Finral’s Magic Knights exam, he had been correlated with home. Escape. Freedom. It felt weird doing things without Yami. Finral didn’t realize it, having been with the dark mage everyday, but Yami was deeply integrated into his routine.

Yami would wake him up first thing in the morning so Finral could send him to the toilet. After Yami was done taking a dump for the day, they’d stretch in the morning. They’d eat breakfast together and Yami would begin training (usually after another dump), sometimes letting Finral do his own thing or sometimes force Finral to train with him. After training, Finral would whine that Yami was sweaty and smelly. He’d force him to shower before they went anywhere or took a nap.

If Finral was able to do his own thing, he’d usually read a book or hang out with his squad mates until Yami was finished with what he was doing. Then he’d have Finral take him into town, force him to go on his missions, or they’d just lounge around the base together. 

Finral couldn’t remember the last time he’d gone so long without talking to Yami.

With a groan, Finral covered his face with a pillow, opting for a nap since he had had such a restless night.

Chapter Text

Eventually, Finral was awoken from his nap by a loud knock on the door.

“Mr. Finral,” Klaus said when Finral opened the door. “I’m glad you’re still here. I thought you might have left with Asta and your other squad mates.”

“I wanted to spend more time with Langris,” Finral said. It was only a half lie. 

“Of course. Listen, I was hoping you’d join the Golden Dawn in a training exercise, if your injuries allow it,” Klaus said. 

“Me?” Finral blinked.

“Your spatial magic will prove a challenge. Vice Captain Langris’ magic is a little too dangerous to use for training the new recruits. Your spatial magic would prove a challenge without threatening to maim or maul the Golden Dawn’s inexperienced members,” Klaus said.

“I don’t know how much use I would be,” Finral said.

“Nonsense. I’ve seen your magic. Just because your magic isn’t impressive attack magic like your brother’s doesn’t mean it’s not useful,” Klaus said. 

Finral nodded, feeling bad that he was taking advantage of the Golden Dawn’s hospitality. At least this way he could help a little bit. 

Klaus led him to the outside training grounds as he explained the exercise he wanted them to do. The three rookies he was assigned to train would be on a team against Finral. They were going to play a game where they had to get a ball into Finral’s goal and Finral had to protect his goal. Finral’s goal was to keep them from getting the ball into his goal. He was even allowed to move it through portals three times in order to keep the rookies moving. His base was already set high in a tree so Finral rested on the branch.

Finral watched as the three rookies snapped to attention, if they didn’t look a little bored. He understood that feeling though, remembering all the times Yami dragged him out to train and he complained the whole time. He couldn’t help but feel jealous of Klaus. He was obviously respected by his juniors, unlike Finral, who was often bossed around or ignored. At least these rookies paid attention to Klaus. 

Klaus introduced the recruits to Finral as Esme Astley, Ruben Jones, and Clifford Conventry. Esme looked as bored as she could without being disrespectful (it was still disrespectful). Definitely a noble, Finral thought, used to that look. He had heard the name Astley in his father’s dealings before. Finral could sense the most mana coming from her. Ruben was fiddling with his hands, nervous about the exercise. Jones was a common last name but commoners didn’t exactly make it into the Golden Dawn. Yuno was a rare exception. Ruben must be middle class. Out of the three, he probably had the least amount of mana. Clifford looked bored but he was trying to keep himself awake through Klaus’ explanation. He had a decent amount of mana, maybe about the same as Finral when he had joined the Black Bulls. 

Because the Golden’s Dawn had such a huge base, they had a lot of land as well. Finral used his spatial magic to portal to the purple marker Klaus had set up. He sat and waited for the kids to show up. Finral was a little apprehensive of the exercise. He didn’t want to embarrass himself. However, he knew there was no way these rookies could be as intense as Asta or Magna… or Clover forbid, Luck. It would be just his luck if the Golden Dawn had a Luck on their team.

However, he could tell that wasn’t the case when he heard arguing all the way up the hill.

“This is gonna be easy! I’ve heard all about the Vaudes. Finral doesn’t have nearly as much mana as Vice Captain Langris and he was disowned!” Esme said haughtily as they trudged up the hill. Finral frowned but he couldn’t really deny that he’d been disowned or that his little brother had more mana than him. 

“He’s still the Vice Captain’s brother. You should be more respectful,” Ruben said. 

“I’m not gonna respect some disowned noble,” Esme huffed. “And he’s part of the Black Bulls . Sure they got second place in the Star Festival, but that was probably just dumb luck!”

“Would you two be quiet? This is supposed to be a serious practice!” Clifford said. 

Finral smiled as he waited for them to use their magic. Clifford seemed to have pull with them. He opened his grimoire.

“Sound Magic: Musical Symphony!” Clifford said. His magic began playing a symphony, making the forest erupt in chaos. Finral stuck his head through a portal so he could keep his ears from bleeding. The spell itself wasn’t that strong, the noise Clifford made was just annoying. When he heard it ending, he put his head back. Clifford had apparently been hoping to draw him out with that noise. All the other animals in the forest had started a panic. Too bad for Clifford, Finral lived in noisy chaos daily. That was nothing compared to the noise Charmy made when she found out there were no leftovers left in the fridge, when Luck stole Magna’s pudding, or when Asta cleaned in the morning.

“There’s the goal!” Ruben said, excitedly throwing the ball. Finral lazily opened up a portal with his hand and let it hit the boy’s head softly. 

“Give me that,” Esme said, snatching the ball. “Plant Magic: Wrathful Vines!” It was just Finral’s luck that he faced a plant mage in a forest. Esme’s vines wrapped up the ball and charged to the goal. Still hidden from the kids’ sight, Finral opened up another portal behind Esme, hitting her in the back of the head. Finral grinned, feeling a little more pleased than he probably should. He enjoyed getting back at people who looked down on him and his squad. “OW!” 

“M-my turn,” Ruben said, opening his grimoire. That probably should have been the first thing he did, Finral thought with a small smile. Rookies. “Water Magic: Tranquil Rain!” 

The forest around them became still as Ruben’s magic did it’s work. Gentle rain began to fall around them, calming everything around them. It only had about a 20 foot radius, Finral noted, still seeing signs of chaos beyond his spell, but the gentle magic undid Clifford’s chaos. 

Finral realized too late that he had been put under the spell as well, immediately calmed and relaxed. Ruben was running to the goal again with the ball. Finral just barely managed to open a portal above the net before Ruben could put it through. The ball disappeared. Out of instinct, Finral had sent it closer to Klaus where the kids had originally begun the test.

“Not fair!” Esme huffed. 

“I would have had it!” Ruben complained.

“We can’t think about that!” Clifford said, acting as the voice of reason. 

The two turned to face Clifford. Finral could see why he had sound magic. Although he didn’t know he was doing it, his tones were confident and self-assured. They were tones people wanted in a leader. 

“Enemies don’t care about what’s fair. If that was an attack, we’d be dead already. We need to think of this as practice and take advantage of Mr. Finral teaching us!” Esme and Ruben quieted down.

“You’re such a goody goody,” Esme huffed, crossing her arms. Ruben giggled a bit and Clifford turned red, losing the leader-like edge he had had. That was alright, he was only fifteen. He had more skill than even Finral had. 

“We need to work together,” Ruben said. “Our magic by ourselves is getting us nowhere… we need to come up with a new plan.” Finral smiled and portaled the base to a new location, laughing as he heard protests. 

After an hour of the kids attempting to one up Finral, Klaus called them back to end the game. Finral took pity on them and opened up a portal so they didn’t have to truck through the forest anymore. Klaus gave them a lecture on what they could do to improve their teamwork, but overall complimented them for getting the general idea that they had to work together. They had tried out multiple combinations. Unlike his squad who seemed to naturally fall in sync with each other, the kids had some issues to work out. 

Esme had tried to combine her wrathful plant magic with Ruben’s tranquil water magic. However, that ended with lazy plants and the rain couldn’t calm anything down like the first time Finral had felt it. When Clifford tried combining his sound magic with Ruben’s water magic, they couldn’t match the same frequency and the area around them began pouring with hard rain. Esme and Clifford probably had the most promise with a combination spell. Esme’s wrathful plants grew even angrier under Clifford’s noisy symphony. However, the plants attacked Clifford and Ruben too until Ruben calmed them down with his tranquil water magic. Esme had to dismiss the attack altogether however because the vines wouldn’t release Ruben and Clifford. The poor kids were all soaked to the bone.

Klaus and the kids thanked him for his help and Finral began to walk away.

“M-Mr. Finral!” Esme shouted, having run after him. Finral stopped, curious to know what the girl wanted. If she wanted to insult him again, she’d be very brave to do it in front of her senior magic knight. “I’m sorry for what I said earlier—about you being weak. You really are the vice captain’s brother. Your spatial magic has a lot of uses.” 

Finral honestly didn’t know what to say to that. He knew he had to say something, because it had probably meant a lot for the noble girl to admit she had been wrong. Her face was beat red. Luckily, he didn’t have to think of anything.

“Why are you soaking wet?” Langris asked as he approached Finral and Esme. 

“Ah, Langris. We were doing a training exercise. Ruben’s water magic got us a few times,” Finral said. “Thank you for saying that, Ms. Esme. I appreciate it. I like this side of you. It’s very cute.” 

He smiled at the girl. Very few people appreciated his spatial magic. Usually, he was used as transportation and insulted if he didn’t have the mana to use for portals immediately. If possible, Esme’s face turned even more red and she said something about needing to get back to her training before she turned tail and ran.

“Why are you flirting with a fifteen year old?” Langris asked.

“Fl-flirting?!” Finral said. “I wasn’t flirting!”

“I thought you were in love with your captain,” Langris said, shaking his head. “I can’t take you anywhere.”

“L-Langris! I’m twenty-three! I was not flirting with someone eight years younger than me!” Finral said.

“Whatever. I have work to do,” Langris huffed. 

Finral’s face felt red but… had Langris made a joke at his expense? It was a mean joke, but joking was definitely progress. It made Finral smile. 

“Finral, would you like to join us for dinner?” Klaus asked. Apparently he had finished lecturing the rookies for the day. 

“I wouldn’t want to intrude,” Finral said. He hadn’t received a dinner invitation from his brother and thought that another meal might be pushing it. His stomach growled, letting him know it was definitely dinner time.

“Nonsense,” Klaus said.

“Join us!” Ruben said. 

Finral gave in with a nod. He never could say no to shining eyes. 

Dinner with the Golden Dawn was… weird. Finral was used to rowdiness. He was used to dinner exploding, the food being gone in twenty seconds or less, but the Golden Dawn was cordial . In the Black Bulls, everyone would be shouting over dinner, eager to tell everyone how their day was or there’d be a fight over the table and a scurry to protect the food.

“How are you enjoying your stay at the Golden Dawn?” Klaus asked.

“It’s different,” Finral said. “I think the only time I’ve heard the Black Bulls be this quiet is… well, I’ve never heard the Black Bulls be this quiet.” There was conversation happening, but not to the noise level the Black Bulls produced.

“What’s your squad like?” Esme asked, leaning forward slightly. 

Ruben and Esme had raced to claim the seat next to Finral and Ruben had won. Esme hadn’t liked it but she immediately claimed the seat across from him. Finral swore she kept trying to play footsie with him. After Langris’ flirting comment, he was beginning to feel a little nervous. 

“We’re the worst of the worst,” Finral grinned. 

The four Golden Dawn members looked at him confused. Of course, the Golden Dawn strove for perfectionism and the best. They’d never understand why Finral was proud of his squad for being the best of the best. 

“Everyday is loud. Something always explodes or gets broken every two minutes. It’s never quiet like this because everyone is always shouting at the top of their lungs but I wouldn’t trade them for anything,” Finral elaborated.

“But why would you want to be the worst?” Esme asked, frowning with a look that said she couldn’t comprehend what he was talking about for the world.

“Yami picks us because we don’t fit in anywhere else. But together, we’re just crazy enough to make it work,” Finral said.

“That sounds like family,” Clifford summarized.

“Yes, the Black Bulls are definitely family,” Finral said, thinking more so since Asta had arrived. Asta was really the catalyst to why the Black Bulls had started trying. There was no way one could watch Asta and not be inspired.

“Is it true that Captain Sukehiro eats five dozen raw eggs for breakfast?” Ruben asked suddenly.

“What?” Finral laughed. “I think Charmy would die if anyone ate a raw egg in her kitchen.”

“Is it true that you have a witch on the squad?” Esme asked. That seemed to be the opening of the flood gate. The kids asked everything they had ever wanted to know about the Black Bulls. Was Asta really the servant of a devil? (No.) Did Charmy really eat three buffets in one day? (Actually, it was five.) Is Luck really insane or is it just an act? (He’s worse.) Was Yami really a foreigner? Why did Noelle choose to join the Black Bulls over the Silver Eagles? Why did Magna dress like a delinquent? Did Asta really fight the Diamond Kingdom? Why —

“That’s enough, everyone. It’s late and you still need to wash up before lights out,” Klaus said. 

“Where’s Langris?” Finral asked, realizing he hadn’t seen his brother. 

“He’s probably still in his office. He doesn’t usually join us for dinner,” Klaus said. 

Finral nodded and bid goodnight to the kids who were reluctant to leave him. However, they started talking about their combination attacks. Although Finral missed the Black Bulls, he supposed it was nice to have juniors who actually respected him. Finral went to talk to the chef, who was mortified he forgot to bring the vice captain’s dinner to him. Finral smiled and offered to take it to him, promising he would say that he insisted on bringing it to his brother after he was done eating so the chef wouldn't get in trouble. Feeling comfortable, Finral opened a portal into his brother’s office.

“Hello, Langris. Working hard as ever I see,” Finral said. Langris looked surprised to see him.

“What time is it?” He asked.

“Seven-thirty,” Finral said. “Do you always work through dinner?”

“Mimosa usually brings me dinner but I think I made her angry,” Langris admitted.

“How did you make Mimosa angry? She’s always so cute and sweet,” Finral said, thinking of his previous interactions with her.

“How are you flirting when there’s not even a woman in the room?” Langris groaned.

“It’s just habit!” Finral flushed. 

“Maybe this is why you never realized you were in love with your captain,” Langris said, crossing his arms.

“Is your charming personality perhaps the reason the sweet Mimosa is mad?” Finral asked. Langris’ cheeks turned red. “It is! What did you do?”

“I asked her why she kept bringing me food in place of a maid…”

“Uh huh…”

“When she could be training,” Langris said.

“Oh…”

“I may have yelled,” Langris said.

“Why did you yell at her?” Finral asked.

“She was talking about that stupid peasant,” Langris sniffed.

“Yuno?”

“The other one,” Langris said.

“Asta,” Finral said and then realization dawned on him. “You’re jealous that Mimosa likes Asta.”

Chapter Text

Langris’ cheeks were pink as he looked away. Finral was surprised that he wasn’t denying it and smiled. He must really like Mimosa. The now eighteen year old had always been beautiful. She had probably become one of the most powerful healers in the kingdom, adding power to beauty. 

“So you really want to be related to Kirsch?” Finral asked. Langris paled and glared at Finral. 

“You really want to make me related to Yami?” Langris shot back but Finral wasn’t having the change of topic.

“Oh no. Kirsch is so much worse than Yami,” Finral said. “Remember the time he was looking for a fiance and none of the noblewoman would take him?” Langris’ stoic mask cracked.

“I think he went through the entire Clover kingdom,” Langris snorted. 

“What did he say to Lady Shane?” Finral asked. “The thing about the pug?”

“He said she might look beautiful if she got a face lift so her face didn’t look like a pug,” Langris laughed. 

Finral stared at his brother. His brother laughed in his presence. Finral smiled, feeling his heart swell. It had been so long since he’d been able to talk to Langris like this.

“What?” Langris asked when Finral realized he’d been staring too long.

“So what do you like about Mimosa?” Finral asked.

“What do you like about Yami?” Langris deflected.

“Hey, I’m trying to get you out of the doghouse,” Finral said. “I happen to be great with the ladies.”

“I thought you never got dates,” Langris said.

“I got laid though,” Finral pointed out with a smirk. Maybe it was the Black Bull in him, but he just couldn’t resist saying that. Langris turned ten shades of red. 

“I-I’m not trying to g-get—”

“Relax, Langris. I know you’re not. Mimosa is very straightforward. Giving her flowers and an apology would work,” Finral said. 

“Why do I need to give her flowers?” Langris said.

“You don’t want to be empty handed when you ask her out,” Finral said. 

Langris had the look on his face when he wasn’t getting his way. Langris had lost his baby fat and therefore, his cheeks weren’t round or puffy anymore, but he used to puff his cheeks out and stick his bottom lip out. It had been adorable when he was four and it was still cute when he was twenty-two. There was a knock at the door. Langris called for them to come in. They were both surprised to see Mimosa at the doorway.

“I thought you might not have eaten,” she said, a plate of food in her hands. “I see that’s not the case.” 

She turned to leave on her heel but Langris’ panicked face made Finral speak up.

“It’s mine,” Finral said. “I was just giving him some of my food because his stomach was rumbling. Thank you for looking after my brother, Mimosa. He is really bad at taking care of himself. I was thinking that I was going to wash up, but I didn’t want to leave my brother with no dinner. Thank you.” 

Finral reached over and grabbed the plate of food and gave Langris a warning look that clearly said you had better eat that entire plate of food .

Finral slept a little easier that night having confirmed that his squad was alright. He still struggled about his thoughts of Yami. He eventually cast them aside, hoping Vanessa would help him sort through the confusing emotions at the cafe the next day.

“Finral!” Vanessa waved him down at the table she’d saved. She had already ordered a mimosa pitcher. “You’re going to need this.”

Finral poured himself a generous glass, knowing she was right.

“So… is Yami a good kisser?” Vanessa smirked. Finral groaned as she laughed. 

“‘Nessa, this isn’t funny,” Finral whined. “This is my life.”

“And if you had stuck around for five more seconds, you’d know how both of you feel,” Vanessa pointed out.

Finral groaned and downed his mimosa, pouring himself another pitcher. Vanessa had this irritating habit of being right and rubbing it in your face. He loved and hated her for it.

“Can you tell me how he feels?” Finral asked hopefully.

“Nope,” Vanessa said. “You should figure out how you feel about him first.” 

“You’re enjoying my pain,” Finral said.

“Obviously,” Vanessa said. “Why did you kiss the captain?”

“Do we have to talk about this?” Finral fidgeted.

“No,” Vanessa cocked an eyebrow. “But do you really want to face Captain Yami when he comes looking for you? Because we both know he will. He’s had to look for the bathroom since you’ve been gone.” 

Finral groaned and hit his forehead on the table while Vanessa laughed.

“I don’t know. I never really thought about it,” Finral said. Vanessa fixed him with a look. 

“You mean to tell me that in the eight years you’ve been with the squad, you’ve never thought once about getting down and dirty with the captain?” Vanessa asked. Finral’s could feel his face turn red.

“V-Vanessa!” 

“Don’t give me that, Finral. I know you’re not completely straight,” Vanessa said. Finral cursed. She knew too much about him. Since she had joined the squad, they had made fast friends once he realized she would never date him. She became his ride or die which unfortunately gave her insight into all of the moments in Finral’s life… such as, he’d been known to go home with men on occasion.

“There’s been a wet dream here and there… but I never thought about it!” Finral blushed. “Not consciously… It could never happen.”

“Why?” Vanessa asked.

“Because he’s a god who has people like Charlotte Roselei going after him and I’m… me,” Finral said. Vanessa snorted.

“Finral, I love you. But we both know you’ve gone home with more people than the captain,” Vanessa pointed out. “Someone being out of your league has never stopped you before.”

“Are you calling me a slut?” Finral asked.

“Yes,” Vanessa laughed. 

Finral rolled his eyes but laughed with her. Her casual banter helped soothe him.

“Seriously, Finral. Do you like the captain?”

Did he find the captain attractive? Yes, of course he did. It was hard not to when the guy was stacked like hell and walked around in a muscle shirt. Sometimes he just walked around shirtless. Did Finral go home with men that resembled the captain? Not exactly. Because Yami was from a foreign country, there weren’t a lot of people with similar features walking around. Did Finral tend to seek out guys who had one of Yami’s features?

...Maybe.

Did he like the captain? Captain Yami was rude, uncouth, and shameless. He always made Finral do things he didn’t want to do and used him as his personal transportation, regardless of time of day or what Finral was doing. He didn’t bathe as often as he should despite insisting Henry should install Japanese style baths. He wouldn’t know proper decorum if it slapped him on the face and introduced itself personally.

However, Yami was honest, brutally so. He didn’t hide behind propriety or fake pleasantries. He always said what was on his mind. He gave Finral tasks he couldn’t do all the time but he had an endless belief in his squad that made them want to meet his expectations. He laughed with his whole body. His eyes would crinkle at the sides when he laughed and he was always warm.

When Finral was fifteen and didn’t know laundry, Yami laughed like crazy but in the end, he taught Finral himself. 

The night Finral had been disowned, he had been able to make it as far as the couch before he broke down. Yami had held him the entire time he cried. The time he’d broken his arm on a mission, Yami had cooked for him and helped him eat without fuss. He even helped Finral with the paperwork (sometimes) and Yami hated paperwork. When he got sick, Yami always checked on him and brought him soup. He’d say Charmy made the soup but Finral knew the difference between Charmy’s soup and Yami’s. When he did something noteworthy, Yami would throw his arm around him and walk like that. For his birthday, Yami always seemed to know what he wanted. In battle, Yami always protected him.

There was always room for Finral at Yami’s side. No matter what Yami was doing, he’d pause and make space for Finral, even if he complained. When he read a newspaper, he’d take the part of the paper he wasn’t reading and give it to Finral. When they trained together, Yami made him work hard but he’d always be the one to patch him up if he got any injuries. It went without question that where Yami was, Finral was around somewhere. 

He thought about the way his captain held him the night he got disowned. Then there was the elf incident and Yami had refused to let him out of his sight after it was over. Yami had gone to every single doctor’s check up with him afterwards and the ones he couldn’t make it too, it’d be the first thing he’d asked about when Finral portaled back home. Finral thought about the time he’d been in Heart and how he always called Yami every single day after training, sometimes falling asleep on the communicator.

Oh. 

Oh.

Finral was in love with his captain. 

Lost in his thoughts, Finral didn’t see Vanessa smile when she noticed the lightbulb go off in Finral’s head.

“Are you at least enjoying your time with your brother?” Vanessa asked. 

Finral lit up as he talked to her about how Langris had been more willing to spend time with him lately. He told her about the training exercise with the Golden Dawn rookies and how Langris had actually agreed to have meals with him.

“And-and get this. He has a crush ,” Finral gushed. “And he told me about it!”

Both Bulls were so caught up in their conversation, they didn’t notice the Green Mantis’s captain approaching until he slammed his hand on the table. Finral and Vanessa both jumped, surprised to see Jack the Ripper.

“You’re Yami’s Magic Carpet, right?” Jack asked.

“My name is Finral…” Finral said.

“Uh huh. I don’t care what your name is. I’m borrowing you. Witch, tell that asshole I’m borrowing his ride,” Jack said. He grabbed Finral’s arm and hoisted him out of his chair.

“W-wait! Yami doesn’t like lending me out!” Finral squeaked.

“Aww, Captain Jack, at least let him send me home!” Vanessa whined.

“Nope. The sooner you tell Yami, the sooner he comes hunting for this one. I need more time than that. Feel free to finish your breakfast and go shopping. It’s on me,” Jack said and then barked at one of his squad members. “Cover the lady’s meal!”

Sekke Bronzazza scrambled to obey, shoving a bunch of Yul in Vanessa’s hand. Jack whisked Finral off before Vanessa could completely process what happened. She looked at the money in her hand and the almost empty pitcher of mimosa in front of her. 

It’d be a shame to let such a good mimosa go to waste, she thought, pouring herself another drink. Besides, he was with a captain. What could possibly go wrong?

“C-Captain Jack! Please! You should be going through the proper channels!” Finral whined. 

He was using every trick in the book to get out of whatever Jack wanted him for. Yami, for all his tendencies to overwork Finral, refused to lend Finral out to other squads. It was something Finral had always been thankful for.

“Shut up before I slice you. Kekeke,” Jack said, shutting Finral up. He groaned, knowing Vanessa would definitely finish the pitcher of mimosa before going to fetch Yami and even then, it would take her awhile to get back by broom. 

“So… what do you want me to do?” Finral asked.

“We’re going on a mission. You’re going to support me,” Jack said.

“Why?!” Finral whined. 

To Finral’s horror, Jack wasn’t kidding. Finral wanted to pretend he had never been to the place Jack wanted him to go, but Jack wasn’t fooled and Finral didn’t want to be sliced in half. Reluctantly, he opened a portal and prayed that Vanessa told Yami where he was sooner rather than later.

Chapter Text

Yami was many things. Suave, handsome, strong, were a few things that came to mind. Patient was not something that made the list. He snuffed out his last cigarette, angry when he realized he’d smoked the last one. 

“Oi, Finral—” Yami cut himself off.

Finral wasn’t here. For the past three days, Yami had to find the bathroom himself, go into town by himself, and go on missions by himself. Normally, Finral was at his side or in the next room over (or somewhere down the hall). It was odd not hearing the spatial mage complaining about something or other when Yami asked him to do something. Without Finral’s constant yammering, Yami was…lonely. 

He thought about taking a nap. Naps were always good. Unfortunately, he knew he’d need another nicotine fix sooner rather than later. Any nap, no matter how relaxing, would be ruined if he woke up and realized he was out of cigarettes. With a sigh of resolve, Yami grabbed his broom so he could go into town and buy more cigarettes. 

This was another thing he could yell at Finral about when the spatial mage grew some balls and came home. 

Finral had kissed him. Yami never would have guessed in a million years the coward would grow the balls to do it. Then again, he’d never made a move on Finral either, so he couldn’t exactly call Finral a coward. It’d be like calling the kettle black. He always had a vague idea that Finral at least found him attractive. Sometimes the spatial mage stared a little too long when Yami walked around without a shirt. His complaints were (mostly) fake when Yami ordered him to go places or go on missions with him. However, between how much Finral flirted with women and their dynamic as captain and subordinate, Yami never made any serious moves.

That didn’t mean he wasn’t attracted to Finral. 

Yami knew he had a type: a high-maintenance, pretty type that kept him on his toes. That description unfortunately fit Finral to a T. Finral was difficult when he wanted to be. If he was complaining, he wasn’t really upset. It was when he was quiet and not saying anything that Yami had to watch out for him. Yami loved messing with Finral. It was sometimes the highlight of his day. The spatial mage was so easily flustered and it was fun to watch his face turn red, especially when he thought he was being overworked.

Finral just fit so seamlessly into his life. Yami never noticed the shape Finral had carved out for himself until he wasn’t there to fill it anymore.

Finral was always the first person by Yami’s side. Finral was there in the mornings when Yami needed to take a shit. Finral always had something to say. He rambled on even when Yami didn’t feel like talking. Somehow, Finral always made him laugh. He always went on missions with Yami and stayed by his side. He was the first person to rush to Yami’s side after a fight. He wasn’t the first person to kiss Yami, but that hardly mattered in the grand scheme of things.

Yami had really thought they were going to lose Asta on that last mission and he knew Finral had felt the same. Then Finral kissed him.

The kiss had been brief. So brief that Yami hadn’t had any time to react, but if he had… Yami scowled, shaking the thought away. Finral didn’t deserve those thoughts until he stopped being a coward.

He hopped off his broom when he finally saw the town. He was about to go into the usual store where he purchased his cigarettes when he saw Vanessa loudly conversing with a Green Mantis member. 

Why the hell was she hanging out with one of Jack’s guys?

“Captain!” Vanessa called over to him drunkenly. “I was supposed to tell you something… forgot what though. Must not have been important…”

“Uh huh,” Yami said, glowering at the Green Mantis who looked a little too upset that his alone time with Vanessa had been interrupted. “Who’s your friend?”

“Buh Hah!” Vanessa laughed. 

The two empty pitchers on the table gave Yami some insight as to why Vanessa was plastered so early. The shop owners around town liked Vanessa. She was often in and out of stores, buying things, and was probably the easiest Black Bull to get along with. They often tended to pour Vanessa stronger drinks because they liked her. 

“Nice to meet you, Buh Hah. You know what she did to the last guy who tried to take advantage of her, right?” Yami smirked. 

The guy shrieked his name and said something else Yami didn’t really pay attention to. What was a Sekke?

“Cap-cap’n,” Vanessa hiccuped. “I was supposed to tell you something. Buh Hah! Do you remember what I was s-supposed to tell the cap’n?” 

“It’s Sekke… Captain Jack borrowed your friend,” Buh Hah said, suddenly looking deflated. 

A vein twitched in Yami’s forehead.

“What. Friend?” Yami demanded, reaching over and grabbing Sekke by the shirt.

“Finral!” Vanessa said. “Jack said to come find you when I was done with the mimosas! He’s so nice, he paid for our meal, captain! You should invite him over more often!”

“I told that bug he wasn’t borrowing Finral!” Yami growled. “Where are they, Buh Hah?!”

“B-by Nean! Captain Jack said he needed a spatial mage to support him!” Buh Hah shrieked.

Yami was about to take off when Vanessa stood up and tumbled forward. Vanessa could handle herself but Yami knew he couldn’t leave her alone with this creep. With a sigh, he drained the rest of the mimosa that was in Vanessa’s cup before bending down and throwing Vanessa over his shoulder. Vanessa laughed at being picked up.

“Hey. You,” Yami said. “Get me at least a dozen cigarettes and send them to the Black Bulls’ base before I get back. You know what. Make it a hundred. Put it on Jack’s tab. Got it?”

“Y-yes sir!” Buh Hah said. 

Yami left the Green Mantis who looked like he was going to piss himself and took off in the direction where Finral and Jack were. He didn’t have enough time to go back to the base and drop Vanessa off. Oh well. It wasn’t the first time he’d had to pick Vanessa up while she was too drunk to function. The Black Bulls captain adjusted Vanessa so she was sitting in front of him on his broom. She’d fallen asleep and started snoring softly. His eye twitched when he realized that this was another situation Finral not being around made difficult.

Then again, he wouldn’t be in any of this mess if Finral hadn’t ran off after kissing him. 

Who knew how much time had passed between Jack stealing Finral and Yami finding out about it? 

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He was going to squash Jack under his foot like the bug he was. No, that would be too merciful. He was going to break his wings off and pour salt over him. Or did that only work on slugs? 

Vanessa stayed asleep for most of the trip to Nean, only waking when they were close. Once they got to Nean, Yami reached out for Finral’s mana. He detected the spatial mage’s mana instantly, always attune to it. It helped that Finral was actually putting work into whatever Jack was making him do. Yami’s jaw clenched. That annoyed him. The only person Finral should be working for was Yami.

Forget Jack. Yami was going to make Finral suffer.

Finral sneezed. He looked up at the sky, confused to see a shining sun and no cold front in sight. He tried to complain to Jack that it was getting cold and maybe he should head back but Jack threatened to cut him again. 

Jack thankfully hadn’t taken him to a battlefield like he had feared but a construction site. Finral hated summoning portals for construction. There were so many things to move and it often required holding open large, oddly shaped portals over and over again. It was draining. Jack wasn’t giving him a break either, forcing him to work until Yami showed up. 

He’d been working for four hours and Yami still hadn’t come to get him. 

Finral began to fret. What if Vanessa had told Yami and Yami was still mad at him? What if Yami wasn’t going to come for him? Finral had left the entire squad to get home themselves after all. What if this was revenge?

“Hey, portal boy. Do your job if you don’t want to get sliced,” Jack snapped.

“R-right. Sorry,” Finral swallowed, opening another portal. 

“What’s wrong with you?” Jack demanded.

‘Aside from being kidnapped?!’ Finral thought. “N-nothing, Captain—”

“Don’t give me that bullshit. You look like someone just killed a puppy,” Jack said.

“It’s just… I thought Yami would have come by now,” Finral admitted. 

“Me too,” Jack snorted. “What, you piss him off, or something?”

Finral immediately felt shame overcome him. He began blinking back tears that built up in his eyes. Jack looked alarmed and then groaned, shouting for everyone to take a break. He shoved a water bottle into Finral’s hands.

“Thank you…” Finral said, sitting down on a workbench. He opened the water bottle and took a drink from it. Jack rolled his eyes and sat down next to the spatial mage.

“What’d you do?” Jack asked. “Don’t give me that look. Julius says I have to ‘ start listening to my squad members’ and ‘be understanding.’ Well they’re a bunch of whining idiots and it’s annoying so I’ll start with you since I don’t have to pretend to care if you’re being stupid.”

Finral wasn’t sure how that was supposed to make him feel better but he supposed Jack had a point. He wasn’t a part of Jack’s squad. Jack didn’t need to pretend to care and his opinion couldn’t be any worse than Langris’s.

Right?

“I kissed Yami,” Finral muttered, hanging his head between his hands.

“What was that?”

“I said I kissed Yami,” Finral hissed. 

“Still can’t hear you. A captain’s offering to listen to you, boy. Don't waste my time—”

“I kissed Yami, okay?!” Finral blurted out. 

Jack stared at him before he started laughing uproariously. Just when Finral thought he might be done, he took one look at Finral before he started laughing again. The Green Mantis captain was holding onto his sides from laughing so hard and he almost fell off the bench.

“Are you done yet?” Finral asked with a frown, crossing his arms.

“That was a good laugh. Thanks for that, portal boy. I needed that kekeke,” Jack said, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. “I’m gonna tell that one at the next captain’s meeting. Alright, you got my attention. What’s really bothering you?”

Finral’s lips drew into a thin line and he sat silently, waiting for the Green Mantis captain to realize that he was, in fact, serious.

“Oh. You weren’t kidding,” Jack said and Finral nodded. “So you kissed him and what?”

“I ran…” Finral said.

“Well you’re a fucking idiot,” Jack said.

“I know, I know…” Finral said, leaning forward. “I kissed him and now everything’s ruined—”

“You’re not an idiot because you kissed him. You’re an idiot because you ran,” Jack snorted. 

“That seems to be the consensus…” Finral sighed.

“Surprised that gorilla didn’t chase you down the second he found out where you were hiding,” Jack said. “Why’d you run?”

Finral’s face heated up as he thought about the kiss again.

“I don’t know—”

“Don’t give me that bullshit. You do know,” Jack said.

“I was scared. I didn’t want to lose him and… and now I might really lose him,” Finral said, voice almost in a whisper as he said the last bit.

“You’re not gonna lose that gorilla over a stupid kiss,” Jack said. “Same can’t be said if you keep playing this stupid game of hide-and-seek.”

“I don’t think it’s really much of a hide-and-seek. He hasn’t come looking,” Finral grumbled.

“Sure about that?” Jack asked with a raised eyebrow. 

Finral looked over his shoulder where Jack was looking. His eyes widened when he realized Yami’s mana was coming in fast and headed straight for them. Instinctively, he opened a portal and got out of the danger zone just as Yami jumped off his broom and punched Jack. Jack was ready for him and Yami was met with a matching fist to the face. Vanessa looked green as she slowed the broom to a stop, stumbling over to Finral. The spatial mage helped her sit down and gave her the rest of his water bottle. He pulled her hair back as she began to dry heave.

“Y-Yami?!” Finral cried as he watched the two captains begin wailing on each other.

“The fuck do you think you’re doing, fucker?!” Yami growled.

“What’s wrong, asshole? Never learned how to share as a kid?” Jack taunted. 

“Nope. Never learned my ABC’s either,” Yami snapped. 

“Squad members get leant out all the time—”

“Not Finral. He’s mine,” Yami declared, drawing his sword and holding it at Jack’s neck. 

Finral’s heart jumped in his chest. Finral held his breath, knowing there was nothing he could do if Jack and Yami really decided to start fighting. He watched open mouthed as Yami and Jack glared daggers at each other, a silent feud brewing. It seemed to be resolved when Jack relaxed his expression.

“We’re done for the day anyways,” Jack said, yelling for the crew to wrap it up. “Portal boy helped us finish ahead of schedule. Kekeke. Look forward to having you on the crew again—”

“You try this shit again, Jack, and I’ll kill you,” Yami warned. 

“Whatever, asshole,” Jack rolled his eyes, pushing the sword away from his throat. “See you, portal boy.”

“Th-thank you for earlier, Captain Jack!” Finral called uselessly. 

Jack waved a hand but didn’t look back. Yami didn’t sheath his sword until Jack had walked off with the rest of the crew. It wasn’t until Finral stood up and began walking towards Yami that the captain sheathed his sword. He still didn’t look at Finral. Finral swallowed and stopped just in front of Yami. The orange hues of the sunset cast attractive shadows over the dark mage’s face. Finral swallowed, suddenly feeling overwhelmed now that his captain he hadn’t seen for three days was standing in front of him.

“Yami?” 

Finral knew his captain was pissed. He still wasn’t looking at Finral so Finral did the only thing he could think of to get his captain’s attention back.

He kissed him.

This time, the kiss wasn’t a desperate need to assure himself that Yami was still alive. There was something gentle about this kiss as Finral cupped both sides of his captain’s face with his hands, lips slowly moving against Yami’s unyielding ones. He began losing confidence when Yami didn’t respond to the kiss and slowly began to pull back, thinking he had misread things. 

Just before he could completely pull away, Yami grabbed him by the waist, pulling him back in and kissing the life out of him. 

Finral’s arms wrapped around Yami’s neck. Yami kissed him like a starved man getting his first meal in days. He could feel Yami’s stubble scratching against his jaw. Yami’s lips were soft and moist while Finral knew his lips were dry and a little cracked from having worked in the sun for the past four hours. Yami didn’t seem to care. He kissed him with everything he had.

Finral was breathless when Yami finally pulled away. The other man still didn’t let him go, holding onto Finral’s waist tightly. The oranges of the sunset still danced over Yami’s face. The color palette complimented him well.

“You done running?” Yami asked.

“Yeah, I’m done,” Finral said.

“Good,” Yami nodded. “Take us home.”

Home… it sounded so good to Finral’s ears. 

There was just one problem.

“Um…” Finral said.

“What?” Yami asked, eye twitching that Finral was making him wait.

“I kind of used up all my mana working for Captain Jack…”