Chapter Text
Magnai comes into consciousness slowly, the sun’s morning rays through his window warm his skin and his limbs instinctively start to search. An arm meets with a warm body and curls around it, pulling it closer until it meets with his chest. This body wasn’t lying down, Magnai realizes. He sits up a bit and rubs the side of his horn on an arm in an affectionate manner.
“It was me, wasn’t it?” His bed mate asks quietly.
“What?” Magnai opens his eyes and blinks back the sleep that still lays heavy across them.
“It’s me. ” He says again, confusing Magnai further. Turning to the other man he finds a look on his face that looks near to tears. It was concerning to say the least so Magnai sits up completely as he yawns and pulls Sugar into his lap. Whatever has him so upset Magnai can surely rectify.
“What are you talking about?” He asks as he pulls the Viera’s chin to face him.
“I am your moon. Your Nhaama. Right?” Magnai’s stomach drops as he freezes. “Your cook came in to give me a tea that would help with sickness and— well, I asked about your Nhaama, I was curious.” He gets out quickly, a flush flashing over his features. “She said she didn’t know much except that you found them after the Nadaam three years ago. The one that I was at.” Why does he look like he is going to cry at the revelation? Would it truly be so bad to be loved by him? He drops his hand from Sugar’s face, the rejection bubbles sickly under his skin and he wishes he could crawl right out of it.
“If it upsets you this much please do not worry, you can return to Camp Broken Glass and never have to speak—”
“No!” Sugar startles Magnai from closing himself off completely. “I’m just overwhelmed it think.” His small hands grab both sides of Magnai’s face. “You are just so gentle. I have never been treated so gently before.”
“How could I treat you with anything else? It is a crime for you to experience anything but kindness.” Magnai explains, he deserves much more than that but he will keep his mouth closed about it for now.
“I am afraid that there are many on this star that would have to disagree. I’m fussy and— and petulant. Annoying, even.”
“That isn’t a valid deterrent. If it was, I wouldn't be friends with Sadu.” Sugar snorts a laugh before pulling Magnai’s face to his for a kiss.
It was different from all the other kisses they have shared thus far. Tender and unhurried. Warmth floods Magnai’s chest and as they part he feels breathless.
They come together for another. And another. Magnai was more than willing for a fourth but Sugar pulls back abruptly.
“I’ve been so lost recently. I feel like I am constantly searching for something to hold on to. And between the season and every other fucking star threatening problem all coming out at once…” The Viera’s eyes glisten with unshed tears and his voice teeters on the edges. “Then you just show up, whisking me away when I’m at my most miserable. Different and terrifyingly perfect. You feed me, fuck me, and pamper me like I’m something precious. And now I find out that I am your moon. Which is a soulmate thing if I’m remembering correctly.” He stalls for but a moment to take a breath.
“I— I am not afforded such attachments as the Warrior of Light, anyone I care about loses their life or wishes they had. But…” Sugar stops short and sighs heavily, tears start to roll down his cheeks. It breaks Magnai’s heart in two as he reaches up to catch any more tears that slip past Sugar’s eyes.
“After this is all over—“ he sniffs, “I want to see you again. Things are going to get scary and messy soon but if I live through it I want to finally do something for myself.” The vulnerable look in his eyes and tear-stained cheeks was painful to see. Duty of paramount sits on his shoulders and now that Sugar has shown him the cracks in his armor Magnai can see how he wheezes under its weight. "Or at least I want to try."
“I would like that immensely.” To have him in Magnai’s vicinity at all was a priceless gift but to also help their salvation find happiness and someone to call his own, and that someone being himself, well that would be the pinnacle of pride for the Au' Ra. “I rather enjoy your company and I fear I may suffer without it now.” Magnai watches a smile break through the tears on Sugar’s face.
“You are a terribly sweet man.” Sugar says as he pecks Magnai on the lips. His smile is contagious as it catches on Magnai’s own lips as he pulls Viera into a hug.
“There is only a seldom few who have ever regarded me as such. Please do not forget my capacity to be an incorrigible ass.”
“You? And incorrigible ass? I cannot even fathom it!” His tone drips of sarcasm. “Are you sure you won’t call me ugly again?” He laughs, the teasing edge to his voice sparks a flush on Magnai’s cheeks.
“I had not actually seen your face until the Nadaam. It was an untruth that I dare not speak again.” Magnai looks away sheepishly. He had just been handing out insults like a child, but to his past self’s defense dragoon armor is not very appealing. He just looked like a spikey little problem. He wasn’t half wrong, he had certainty turned into a problem. But it was one of a different kind altogether.
“You shall be safe from my ire for now then.” He sniffs, his face is splotchy and swollen from crying but the smile on his face was just as beautiful. Magnai places a kiss right between his ears. “If you keep treating me this tenderly I will become spoiled.” Sugar warns.
“Good.” Magnai answers, “You deserve to be spoiled.” He watches the Viera flush and take in a breath, opening his mouth to say something when Magnai’s linkshell rings on his horn. Sugar stops and motions for him to answer. Magnai opens the line of communication.
“Gooood morning Magnai! Well, afternoon now I guess.” Sadu’s voice has a put-on cheery shrillness to it that startles him from volume alone. Wait, the rest of the sentence dawns on him.
“Afternoon?” It couldn’t be. Magnai looks out of his window and it is very bright, shit. He looks to Sugar who just shrugs. They did spend a large sum of the night busy so it makes sense. “We are late?” He asks, voice veering gently into panic.
“No! You aren’t late! This is your call to return Sugar.” Magnai lets out a sigh of relief. “So, hurry your ass up and come back.” And just as quickly as she came she was gone. Magnai looks down to see a small frown on Sugar’s lips. He looked conflicted and his ears slowly started to drop.
“Did you hear—”
“Yes.” He answers quickly, almost short. Like the thought of leaving irritated him. “Sorry, I just— I forgot that I had to go back to the real world after this. It has been dream-like here to say the least.” He sighs, scooping his coat and boots to the bed to start putting them on. A stunned silence falls over Magnai, dream-like. His chest was almost bursting with happiness that he considered their time together dream-like. The next second Sugar is dressed and grabbing some fruit from a bowl that was laid out for them on the table. Magnai rolls out of bed and puts on his clothes as well. Taking his time when he finds the Viera’s eyes watching as he enjoys his breakfast.
“You had better have care with those wandering eyes of yours lest we get distracted.” Magnai remarks playfully.
“If only there were more time.” He sighs, mourning his multitude of sordid thoughts if Magnai had to guess. “Do you mind carrying me through the Aetherite again? It was kinda fun.”
“Of course,” he answers. And as he steps in close he doesn’t stifle the urge to place his hand at the small of Sugar’s back this time. It falls there naturally and in turn a body leans affectionately into his own as he starts to cast.
The two of them arrive with a blip at Camp Broken Glass and the brisk cold was not missed. Nor was the biting wind that followed. Sugar seemed unaffected by the weather and already walking in the direction of the large tent in the middle of the encampment. He stops short and turns around with the smallest hint of a flush across his cheeks.
“Um, thank you. For Yesterday and today. I’m not very good at taking care of myself.” He laughs nervously as he scratches the back of his head.
“Do not mention it. Anytime you need rest or anything of the sort, the Steppe welcomes you.”
“Well I hope to return swiftly.” He smiles up to Magnai, lopsided and perfect.
“Sugar, is that you?” A voice calls from the tent and surprises both of them.
“I’ve got to go.” He says as he doesn’t move. Neither of them willing to part ways, a sinking feeling curls under Magnai’s ribs. He doesn’t know when, or if he will ever see Sugar again.
“Do me one favor, if you can?” Magnai asks, “Come back soon.”
The chime of Sugar’s laughs lifts that heavy feeling right off Magnai’s chest. “I’ll do my best. Goodbye, Magnai.” A hand comes to pull at his coat. Urging him lower as the Viera wears an expectant look. Magnai complies and cradles his cheek before pulling them in for a kiss. It was quick and a hell of a lot more chaste than their previous ones but it still spurred a few whistles and inappropriate jeers from their surrounding comrades that painted Sugar’s cheeks a brilliant rolanberry red. The voice calls for him again and this time he actually takes off in the direction of the tent this time.
“So, how did it go~?” Sadu’s voice scares the shit out of Magnai; he jumps and clutches at his chest where he thought his heart was going to leap out from.
“Father’s fucking light Sadu, would it kill you to not sneak up on me just once?” He huffs as he turns around to see Sadu’s smug face. Cirina is next to her nursing a cup of warm liquid.
“Yes. I need to know how the booty call that saved the star went.” Cirina spits out her drink.
“Sadu!” She chides with a cough. “That is crass!”
“What? I heard it from Y’shtola. We are friends now by the way.” Sadu says proudly. “But she said that he’s been too stubborn to eat for days. You getting him to agree to try was a feat.” Magnai’s eyes widen in surprise.
“All I did was ask him if I could get him something else.” That wasn’t such a far off thing to offer.
“Yes and he has declined every other offer.” Oh. But he had agreed to Magnai. The knowledge pleased something baser in his chest. An elbow in his side brings his attention back.
“C’mon, Magnai, what happened?” Cirina asks with curiosity in her eyes.
“I asked Prilla to make him a dinner, he ate and then passed out on my bed with his boots on.” Magnai tells them, holding out on telling them how the rest of the night went simply because it is none of their business.
“Uugh.” Sadu laments. “I told you he wouldn’t tell us. We saw your little smooch when you got here, we know something else happened.” She points excitedly as Magnai sighs.
“It would be unbecoming for the Sun to kiss and tell and Sugar deserves the utmost respect.” Magnai explains, earning a raspberry from Sadu. “He did say that when he is released from his duty he will come back to the Steppe for a visit.” He offers instead and Sadu hisses out a yes as Cirina gives a delighted gasp.
“So did you tell him?” Cirina blurts quickly, more than thrilled for even more information. Magnai just scratches at the back of his neck.
“He— uh, figured it out by the time we woke up.” Given that Prilla gave him a very good hint, but he digresses.
“And he said he will return?” Magnai nods and Sadu’s smile goes eerily wide. “Excellent. I think we are going to get along swimmingly. I am excited for a new friend.” That doesn’t bode well at all for Magnai but he can’t help but to look forward to it as well. He glances back to see the main tent completely empty. The Scions were already gone and Sugar along with them.
He will return, Magnai says to himself, by the grace of the Dawn Mother they will see each other again soon. He swears it.