Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a hot day of summer, the end of the holidays. Alexis was sitting in his garden, under the cool shadow of a tree, reading the single book about magic that his siblings didn't took from him. The 17 yo boy sighted, he was eager to the moment when he would finally leave this house, this prison even. During the whole summer, his parents annoyed him with his future, they wanted him to become a researcher just like them.

In this world, you can choose your future vocation through all of these: to be a soldier, who will defend and protect his kingdom, a researcher, which Alexis' family was and which consisted in discovering things for humanity, an artist, who have the most various under categories of them all with being a poet, a writer, a painter and all that kind of things, and at last, to be a bourgeois and live or work in a castle. None of those propositions were tempting for Alexis, and even if one was, he didn't even had the choice. His parents already made it for him and he couldn't say anything about it, in a few days, he will go to a prestigious school, where he will learn about being what his bloodstock want him to be, same goes for his siblings.

The only difference between Alexis and his family was, well, everything.

Through all the years he spent in this house since is birth, he had not found anything in common with his parents, nor with his sister and brother. Interests? Alexis liked stories, fiction and getting lost in books for hours, which his mother found pointless and his siblings always made fun of him for that. Opinions? Alexis wanted to do what he wanted that's all, a single and easy thing his close ones never gave him. It wasn't even in a reckless way, he was a nice guy, but more in a way of being free to like what he liked. And that was probably the only thing he wanted.

Alexis closed his book and looked around him for a bit: the back of the beautiful old house was bathed in sunlight; through a window, he could see his older sister in her bedroom, writing something on her desk, probably in a journal; through another window on the left, he saw his father in the laboratory, working as usual. Then, he looked back at his book.

Was that really the life he wanted? Of course not, he had thought about this a million time. A light breeze came across the garden, making the leaves slightly move on the trees.

The young boy putted his book away in the grass, his eyes started to sting. He brought his knees to his chest, wrapped his arms around them and started to cry. No sounds, no shivers, nothing. Just the tears rolling down his cheeks and falling between the stripes of grass. What did he do wrong? How come his parents wont let him the choice? But what choice was Alexis even talking about? What did he wanted to become while growing up? Many questions but no answers.

While being a child he wanted to be a magician, a usual dream for a little boy who believed in the impossible, but now he wasn't a kid anymore. He was almost an adult, with no idea of who he was, nor what he wanted in life. He was lost, very, very lost. He knew his parents were supposed to guide him in life, that's why parents are here for right? So then why didn't they do it? Why didn't they took him by the hand and tell him that they were here? Alexis started to cry even more at this thought, big tears forming is his eyes, almost completely blurring his vision.

More than he wanted a person who will be next to him, he needed it. He stayed crying for a few more minutes, trying to calm down little by little. After some time he finally looked up from his knees, drying his eyes with the back of his sleeve.

That was it, the knew only thing he wanted was someone who will stay.

Someone who will care and who will be next to him. He had read books about soulmates, some people believe it, some people don't. Alexis didn't had an actual opinion about the subject until now, from now on, he knew that he had to find the perfect someone and that could probably be called a soulmate. A person who will be perfect for him. A person who will accept him for who he is and who will support him. He could do anything for someone like that, really anything!

The young boy let out another sigh and rested his head back on the trunk, eyes closed. Now the sun had shifted and the tree on which he was leaning against was now in the sun. His head hurt, probably because of all he cried. After another few minutes of resting, Alexis stood up from the ground, took his book and headed back to the cool inside of the house. Tomorrow, he would go for the first time to this brand new school, probably filled with bourgeois kids, children of dukes, magistrates or other important people. He got a place there because his parents are respectable researchers and they have good connections in the king's court.

He walked through the house, almost running toward his room to not be caught with a magic book in hand by one of his siblings. When he got there, he closed the door behind him and sat at his desk, the admission envelope still on it. The letter included a list of the few school supplies he needed to get, which he already did even tho most things would be given by the school itself. Alexis read it once more, out of pure boredom, one thing he liked about this establishment was the variety of classes is offered: of course there was different all the different vocations separated in sectors but you could also choose your own special classes and as much as you wanted. Alexis' parents had forced him to go to the researchers sector but tomorrow would be the day he could pick extra classes, like history of art or literature classes. He didn't got the list of the different options though, which means he will have to pay attention during the presentations.

Alexis' putted down the letter and leaned back in his chair, he didn't even wanted to have more classes than he already knew he will, the researchers section is known for being hard, but he hated this house more than he disliked sitting on a chair.

After that, the afternoon went by quickly; Alexis checked for the thousandth time this week that his uniform was ready in his closet. He liked it a lot actually, for men, it was a simple large white blouse, as long with a pair of black trousers for regular days but on special occasions, such as informative outings with the class or banquets with the director of the school, it was more elegant: the outfit consists of a tailcoat jacket in the color chosen by the student, decorated with gold buttons, a cream double-breasted waistcoat, a cream-white shirt, trousers matching the jacket and black patent leather shoes. Of course, Alexis took a dark pink as a color for his whole look, he enjoyed matching his clothes with his hair and eyes color, even though it wasn't exactly the same.

It was then dinner time, one of the maids called him and he joined the rest of his family at the table. The dinner went in silence, Alexis didn't liked to talk during those moments. His brother talked about how eager he was to finally start his first job tomorrow since he was already an adult and his sister also said something about it that Alexis didn't really catch, already lost in thoughts in the middle of the dinner.

On his way back to his room, the maid asked him if he wanted to take a bath, which he agreed willingly. The bathroom was huge, the stone walls reflecting the blue color of the off-white bathtub, it smelled like lavender in here and Alexis always had enjoyed it. He took off his clothes and got in the bathtub, the lukewarm water wrapped him all up and it felt good finally washing after a day of being sweaty from the outside heat. He then headed back to his room is pajamas with a candle, he spent so much time in this bathroom that it was already dark when he got done.

He got in his room, closed the door, placed the candle on his table next to him and lay on his bed, the flame still dancing next to him. He starred at the ceiling and thought again about tomorrow, and especially about that special someone. Will he meet them tomorrow? If yes, will they go in the same sector as him or another? Now he was impatient to know who they were, how will they act or even how will they look like; somehow, Alexis was convinced that he will meet that person one day, at school or somewhere else.

When he finally blew his candle and went to sleep, he even dreamt about them, and even though his dream was very vague, for some reason, in his dream that person was blond.

END OF CHAPTER ONE!!

Chapter Text

Alexis woke up with a maid opening the curtains of his room, the sun was already up at 7:00am in a summer day. He got out of bed and the maid left.

While getting ready, he tried the remember his dream from last night. Sadly, a lot of it was unclear and everything was blurry. He told himself to stop thinking about it and that he was just delusional for dreaming about someone who probably only existed in his head.

After he got done, he looked at himself in the mirror, he really like this uniform and how it suited him. In general, he was rather satisfied with his looks: he wasn't the most handsome guy on earth but wasn't ugly, his eyes were the same color as his wavy hair: magenta.

The hair he always spends time brushing in the morning because if he don't, he looks like a sheep.

Finally, he took a deep breath and headed out of his room to share breakfast with the rest of his family, which wouldn't be the best part of the day. Its not even like they hated him that much, its more like than didn't cared about what he had to say.

If his parents wanted something to be done in a certain way, it will be done in that way no other; this life, Alexis was used to it. It didn't meant he liked it, he just thought it was normal for his parents to act like this, even if he knew that it wasn't this way in other families.

He knew that other children had better childhoods than him, that their parents cared about them but he also knew that some other people had it even worst so he did not complain. With time, he even stopped caring about it, he thought that he didn't needed them and he could do things just fine on his own.

Which was obviously a huge lie but that, Alexis doesn't know it, or at least not yet. When the young boy arrived at the table, his parents weren't even here. He thought that they must have already went to work in the laboratory but he didn't minded it at all.

His sister was there, finishing her eggs and porridge, and left the table when he saw his younger brother coming in. Alexis didn't took much time to eat, he wasn't even that hungry anyway. He took his shoes, his bag with his books and school supplies, got out of the house and saw a carriage waiting for him outside to take him to school.

His family was rich, not fortunate, but rich enough to have a mention with a garden, domestic staff, and carriages to take the children to school. Alexis got in and the vehicle started moving.

The boy sighted, he wondered how this school was like.. from what he heard it was a huge domain and the teachers were coming from the king's court so they had already taught really important people.

He also hopped that he will make friends or at least get along with his class because, ha had admit it, he wasn't having such good relationships with the kids of rich people, even though he was one.

While thinking about making friends, he thought once again to his special someone. He wished with all his heart that they would go to this school so that they could meet as soon as possible.

The school was in the periphery of the town, just like Alexis' home but at the opposite side. When the carriage got into the domain, the entrance gates opened and we could read on top of them in golden letters: Falconstein Kollegium.

Alexis closed his eyes, praying for it to be a good start in his life. The coachman parked through the different carriages of different people and let the young boy go out.

From outside, the school was more than fancy, it was beautiful: the front building was white and golden, very tall and had magnificent windows which were probably classrooms.

Some students were coming in by the front door, so Alexis did the same. He got into a huge backyard, where all the new students were separated in different rows two by two, probably depending on the chosen sector, in front of a platform.

He started walking around to find his new class when a woman with dark green hair and freckles stopped him:

«Hi there! You're new here right? Could i just have your admission letter? Its to make sure you're an actual student and not just someone who pretends to be one.» she asked Alexis with a bright smile.

She wasn't wearing the same uniform as him so, even if she was young, he assumed she was a teacher there.

«Yes of course.» he simply answered while searching in his bag the envelope before giving it to her.

She looked carefully and read it before handing it back to him. «All good, Mr. Ness!! I'm Miss Julie and i take care of the new students each year so feel free to come to me if you have questions or if you need something ok?»

Alexis nodded, «About that, could you tell me where the my row is? I'm in the researchers sector.»

Miss Julie turned around: «Follow me, its this way.»

He executed the orders and followed her. Even if its hard to admit, he was an easily pleased guy and this only interaction with this lady who smelled like flowers was enough for him to like her already.

«Here you go young man!! I hope you will spend a good year here, the speech will start in a few minutes.»

Alexis thanked her and she left. He found himself alone again, through a multitude of new students who were either joking with their friends or were as uncomfortable as him was right now.

In front of him were two guys: one with dark purple hair and a dark blue uniform was searching someone in his bag and the other one turned around to face Alexis so suddenly that he flinched. He was a red head with the bluest eyes you could ever see.

«Your alone here too right?» he asked, weirdly out of the blue.

«Yeah..» Alexis awkwardly answered not really knowing what to say else.

«Good! My name is William, you can call me Will, and that's Sam!» he said, pulling on the sleeve of the guy next him who also turned around,

«Hello?» he said unsure to who he was talking.

«Hi I'm Alexis.» he said polity, guessing he wanted to be friends.

«I like the color of your uniform Alexis!», practically yelled William which earned him an elbow in the ribs form Sam.

Alexis wanted to reply to that but the director of the school had entered the platform to make the new year speech.

He was a man maybe in his forties, with a white and gold outfit so fancy that he could've go meet the king like that, it wouldn't be an issue. As he started talking, Alexis noticed all the teachers standing a few meters behind him, giving death stares to the students who were still talking.

The more the director was talking, the more he started to drift away. He taped on William's shoulder:

«Please warn me when he's talking about side classes.» William nodded and turned back around.

Alexis started to look around, to the other people in his class, next to him and to their uniform colors, how some were pretty and some other ugly like this grey green, one girl was wearing. The researchers row was on the right of the soldiers and at the left if the bourgeois.

That's when he noticed him, right next to him, in the row of the bourgeois: him.

It couldn't have any other explanations, it was him.

That blond boy with a blue uniform, the tips of his hair tinted in blue, the piercing blue eyes who were looking right at the director talking.. A shiver ran through Alexis' spine.

He was majestic. Sure he was handsome, but in Alexis eyes he was dazzling, all about this total stranger was attractive to him. He found himself wanting to know more about him, who he was, how he acted, his personality, the way he talked, he wanted to know everything about this blue guy.

He stayed like this a few more seconds, staring at that guy, lips slightly parted: he couldn't look away.

He was charmed by him especially because he knew. He knew it would be him he waited for, he knew it was him who would get him out of his boring and stupid life and he knew he would do anything for him.

Anything to stay close to that guy and to stay close to that happiness, to- Suddenly, William turned around, which made Alexis flinched once again:

«Hes talking about the side classes now.», he whispered

«Thank you Will», nicely answered Alexis,

«Are you ok? You're looking really red right now..», asked Will, frowning. Its true that Alexis was now burning hot and it must have shown on his face

«I'm ok! Its just that standing like that under the sun is kinda hot for me», awkwardly replied Alexis, he wasn't going to tell him what was going on through his mind right now.

Then, Will just turned back and Alexis tried his best to focus on the director's words and to acknowledge everything. A few minutes later, he had calmed down and was now fully paying attention to the speech.

He was so concentrate tat he didn't even noticed the pair of blue eyes exterminating him from his right.

END OF CHAPTER TWO!!

Chapter Text

The director's speech has been over since a few minutes when Alexis, Will and Sam, got lead by a teacher to have the first class of the year. Will and Sam were talking together while Alexis was clearly not paying attention to them.

The was really glad to meet them though, it meant he wouldn't spend the year alone and that he will have people to hang out with, even though they weren't the most interesting guys on Earth. While walking through the hallway, the voice of the teacher talking about the school, fainted away.

The young boy's mind started to wonder about once special thing: who was that guy? He needed to know about him, every single thing about him.

He thought about asking his new friends a few times but everyone was new like him in this school so since they wouldn't know, it would be really awkward and he would sound like a creep.

The group of students then stopped in front of a dark wooden door, the teacher took his keys and opened it, telling the students to go in. Everyone did as they were told and they discovered a large classroom with around 10 chair rows and a black board behind the teacher's desk.

Alexis started to walk toward the front of the classroom when will pulled his sleeve

“What are u doing man? Ain't no way we're gonna sit in the front!!” he was already sat at the most in the back row, the other already taking off his bag and putting it on his chair.

The tables were also wooden, with little hole in the front to put the inkwell and the pens. The windows on the left were shinning form the sun outside, it was really comfortable. When the last students finally sat, the teacher started talking: apparently, he would be their main teacher through the year.

He then explained more in detail than the director, the rules of the establishment, how the classes were working and distributed the plannings. Alexis was really paying attention before the teacher spoke the words:

"The students who desire staying at the school's dormitories for long distance purposes or others are always welcomed as long as we have their tutor's signature. I will now distribute the paper and you will see with your parents if you will stay at the boarding school or not. If yes, bring back the paper signed tomorrow or it will be too late”

Alexis took the paper the teacher handed him with stars in the eyes. Why had no one told him about this before? Staying at school during the night meant not going back at home with his family, it meant to be able to read what he wanted without hiding.

He was euphoric.

“What a pain!! Who would like to spend all their time at school? This is literally the worst place in the world!!” Will exclaimed, crumpling the paper.

“Mind you smartass, I do!! And I think Alexis is not against it either judging his expression..” responded coldly the other.

“Yeah, its kinda tempting to me, its better here than in my house.” joked Alexis back.

“Oh my god me too!! I really hate my parents they're always behind my back its so annoying!!” the other one complained. “Will is the only one in the group who have a normal family I guess..”

“ Hell yeah!!” proudly retorted the redhead, laying back on his chair.

All jokes aside, Alexis was pretty sure that his parents wouldn't mind not having him around during this year. He could go back at his home during the weekends if he wanted or in the holidays, either way, he had to stay there during the whole week.

The young boy smiled and put the paper in his bag, making sure not to loose it.

Today was the first day of school only for the first years because it only was the presentation of all the teachers and the staff of the school. The day was also shorter than usual, finishing at noon by eating at the cafeteria of the school.

The three boys entered the place after being freed by their teacher: everyone was loud and chatting between each other. They were a multitude of tables and after getting their foods, Alexis found a table to sit with will and Sam.

Just when he had sat down, he saw through the cafeteria the long blond hair he already loved so much. His eyes followed the guy walking toward a table, not really sitting next to anyone.

“You know what guys? I wanna go eat with that guy right there. He uuh... is alone! And its not nice to leave people like this right??” Alexis awkwardly said, standing up again.

“Alright man see ya” responded will, already too busy eating to look at him.

Alexis took his lunch and left the table. Sam watched him leave

“Hey why didn't he just went ask him to sit with us if that guy was alone?” he asked to his friend who just raised his shoulders as only answer, not caring about anything else that wasn't in his plate.

Alexis walked up to the guy and sat in front of him at the same table:

“Hey..” the blue eyed guy looked up at him

“Hello? Do I know you?”

Oh god.

Even his voice was amazing.

Like really really amazing. And he was even more handsome for up close, his face, hands, body, everything was perfect. And his eyes!! He was having the most beautiful blue eyes he ever saw, the type you could get lost during hours into.

Alexis tried his best to not react too much to it and continued the conversation:

“Yeah not yet, I just anted to keep you company and all since you know, you're alone. I would've felt bad if it was me so-”

“Do you fucking pity me??” the other cut him mid sentence.

He was angry and it was showing on his face. Crap, that wasn't what Alexis wanted, why did he had to come up with such a stupid excuse to approach him!?

“No not at all!! I'm sorry I just wanted to make conversation..” apologized the pink haired boy “I'm Alexis!! Alexis Ness nice to meet you!!”

After a few seconds of silence, the other finally answered, going back to eating

“Michael Kaiser.. nice to meet you too I guess.”

At his words, Alexis' heart made a little looping in his torso, he was happy he felt like he would implode. Like all his organs would explode into mush on the inner walls of his body.

The two young boys didn't added anything more after it and continued eating like nothing. What Alexis didn't knew was that he was blushing a lot, or at least enough for Michael to notice his rosy cheeks while he was talking to him.

The first thing he had noticed about Alexis was his smile, kinda cliché isn't it? But it was true, this guy was having a really particular smile, kinda creepy in a way. It wasn't even that Michael like it, because why would he? They just met.

No it was more that he wished he only smiled like that to him, weird wish you will say but it was a fact, it made Michael feel special and he adored it.

END OF CHAPTER THREE!!

Chapter Text

The meal went through with Alexis not stopping smiling just because he was around Michael and the blue haired boy giving him weird looks. At one point, Michael sighted

“You want my drink?” Alexis looked up

“Excuse me?”

“Yeah. I don't want it I don't like it” he simply replied, handing him the small bottle of milk who was in the meal given by the school. Alexis took it and put it next to his

“Yeah thank you Michael!” the other guy nodded and started eating his desert

“Are you sleeping at school? I mean are you gonna take the option?” he added, not wanting the conversation to die so soon

“Yeah I think I will, I live kinda far.” answered Michael. Alexis smiled

“Me too. It would be nice if we end up in the same room!” the other boy looked up immediately

“The rooms are shared!?” he asked, clearly not happy about the news

“I mean I'm pretty sure at heard our teacher say ts at some point..”

“Ughh!! Please kill me its gonna be hell!!” Michael replied.

“What sector are you in by the way? I'm in the bourgeois”

“The researchers ones!!” quickly answered the pink haired boy, glad that he was now asking questions about him.

The other one nodded, not adding anything else. Alexis' heart was beating hard in his chest. Why was he so happy to have such a simple conversation with someone he just met? Nonetheless, Alexis was decided to keep him close to him, forever.

On the other hand, Michael was wondering why he was even talking to him. It better not be because he pities him for sitting alone, the blue haired boy was just fine on his own and choose to sit alone.

But looking at his new acquaintance, he didn't saw any bad intentions in the way he acted: the pink haired guy was sitting in front of him just like that. That was it, nothing more, nothing less. He was eating, bringing the fork back and forth to his mouth and not saying a word.

Most people would think its just a normal situation but for Michael it was more than unusual, why was he doing that? Why was he nice with him? It's not like he deserved it so why?? What could push that guy to come up to him and talk to him nicely?? Why was he so-

“What?” Alexis had looked up from his plate just to see the other guy stare at him. Michael quickly turned his gaze away,

“Nothing.” It was embarrassing to look at someone like that, even more if the person was so irrelevant to him.

After a few seconds, he finally looked back at him, thinking he would've looked away too but no: the pink haired boy hadn't moved a single finger. He was looking straight at him, fork in hand and the mouth slightly opened and red as tomato.

He seemed to have seen an angel, and well from his own point of view, Michael wasn't far from being one to his eyes.

Everything about this man was just so.. captivating to him. The way he acted, the way he talked, everything. But most importantly: his eyes, oh how he could get lost in it. It may had sound cheesy, but I don't think Alexis cared in that moment.

All he was thinking about was how piercing they were, those sharp, deep blue eyes seemed to see through him. More than that, they were looking. Looking at Alexis and acknowledging him, they knew he was there and they seemed to know everything about him.

A shiver spread through the whole young man's body, he was hot now, very hot. He loved the way Michael was looking at him. He wanted it to last for ever and ever. He wanted to be near him, to look at those eyes from up close, to feel his long blond hair through his fingers, to touch his face, his skin.. everything.

Alexis sucked a breath, he was feeling good.

A little too good for the simplicity of the interaction and he knew that.

The pink haired boy forced himself to look away form the ocean colored eyes, scared that the other guy understand what was going on in his lower body. He took a deep inspiration and try to think about something else.

“Tell me Michael, why did you choose the bourgeois sector?” he engaged the conversation once again

“Because I'm made to rule, its as simple as that.” he answered,

“You plan to be king one day?” the other, trying his best to keep his self control

“I know I will, I have what it takes to be one I don't care what the others says. One day they'll all gonna be on their knees begging me to spare them.”

Alexis was drinking his words. How could someone have so much confidence?? It couldn't be called pride because this guy had all the rights to say that, the pink haired boy knew nothing from him but he knew all he said was justified.

“I earned my place in this school, it doesn't mean I'm gonna give up so close from my goal.” Michael continued under the admiring eyes of the other.

How attractive was that huh?

Alexis' brain made a little court circuit and his crotch was loving it. He internally shook his head, trying to get any weird thoughts out of his head.

The meal ended with Alexis complimenting Michael on how noble his motivations were, that one not totally hating it. It was now time for both of them to leave the school so they decided to walk together to their respectful carriages.

“I liked spending lunch with you Michael!!” joyfully said the pink haired boy when he arrived in front of his vehicle.

“Yeah.. I guess it wasn't half bad.” simply replied the other one

“Am I seeing you tomorrow?”

“You choose, I wont search for you anyway” answered the blue haired boy, already walking away.

Alexis smiled and got into his carriage. He didn't wanted to get home, especially after the good time he spent with Michael. The sun was shinning gin the sky, another afternoon who will he really hot, he thought.

When he got home, he ran to his room and lay on his bed, that guy was truly someone else. How could a guy be so perfect?

At that moment , the other one was still in his carriage, its true that he was living far. Strangely, he was also thinking about Alexis. What was wrong with that guy? Why was he like that with him it made no sense, as much as he was superior to him, he did not deserve such attention from that guy, did he?

The young man scratched his neck, flooded with mixed feelings about this.

He was lost, like really really lost.

He hated knew things, and even more knew feelings or sentiments. Most of the time he was wearing the same clothes, doing the same routine everyday, and not changing a think to the way he was eating. He hated change, this feeling of unknown who made him feel week, like he was not in control anymore.

But in a few minutes, that guy just by sitting down in front of him had changed his whole afternoon. In a bad way? No, but not in a good way either. That's where it didn't matched: he didn't hated it.

But he should, he should've made him fuck off and leave before he even said hi to him!! But he didn't. He kept the conversation going, he offered him his drink and he told him about himself.

How odd.

Just the fact of thinking about those moments made him sick, how could he let himself go like that, he knew he was gonna regret it later.

It started to submerge him, the air got thick, hard to breathe, the floor of the carriage fell under him and now everything was dark. He could barely see in front of him even though his eyes were wide open, he had to find something with his hands.

Anything would do the thing just something real who would remind him that none of this was true. And unconsciously his hands climbed up to his neck, they started to close around it, tighter and tighter around the neck of that ten years old, crying on the ground of that disgusting house.

He was coughing, tearing but the hands wouldn't let him go, they were growing stronger around his neck until he started seeing little stars over his eyes. Now it was better, that disgusting, repulsive sensation was feeling good.

Michael finally let go of his neck, hands shaking. How pathetic was he? Finding comfort in such horrible things was hideous. He wanted to puke. What the fuck was wrong with him? He sighted, always the same question going on, he had enough.

He took place again in the bench of the carriage, getting back to his mind. All of this because a guy, how disproportionate.

END OF CHAPTER FOUR!!