Work Text:
Elidibus was the title given to the Emissary of the Convocation of Fourteen. The seat’s official epithet was “Shepherd of the Convocation,” and those who held it wore white, singularly among all who had not retired from their offices, to stand out as impartial advisors. Their role was to mediate between members of the governing body of Amaurot, and ensure everyone was safe and productive.
The current holder of the office - Themis, as he was called before his Ascension - took his role very seriously. His predecessor had served so faithfully for so long, and he couldn’t betray the trust they placed in him when they Ascended him to their office and returned to the star. He mediated meetings, calmed arguments before they truly heated up, and looked after everyone around him. In time, they all warmed up to him, and came to regard him as ‘talented’ and ‘hard-working', which he thought was a gross overexaggeration. All he did was do his job, even if the compliments and smiles sent his way made him feel warm inside.
There was now only one thorn in his side: Lahabrea. Not that he disliked the man; quite the opposite. He had no peer when it came to creation magicks, and even if he sometimes came across as cold, the flames of his passion always warmed Elidibus. And lately, as much as he would deny it later, sometimes his gaze landed on his colleague’s face where it wasn't covered by the mask and he forgot to look away.
However, the selfsame passion that elevated the Shepherd of Creation to the Convocation of Fourteen tended to carry him away, and after the third consecutive day Elidibus had to herd him out of the Capitol as he locked it up at midnight, he realized he had to hold an intervention. He needed to rest, or he would get easily irritated and unfocused.
The only question left was how. Direct confrontation wouldn’t work on him; he would brush it off and continue his self-destructive way. No, Elidibus would have to trick him into taking care of himself. The man was running on fumes by now, and if he just sat in one place for five minutes, he would surely fall asleep. And how could Elidibus achieve that…? A plan started to form in his head. It would be risky; if he failed, Lahabrea wouldn't forgive him until he returned to the star, and if he succeeded, he would forever embarrass himself in front of his colleague. But I have to do this. For him, and for my duty.
The first thing he did was prepare the battlefield, so to speak. He cleared his office enough that the couch, which he sometimes slept on if duty kept him too long in the Capitol, would be accessible. The room was was somewhat private; not many people came to him before he came to them, making it the perfect place. He wanted Lahabrea to be rested, not embarrassed.
Next, he spent two painstaking hours and a considerable amount of aether to Create the most perfect blanket, large and well-airing so as not to let the always warm Lahabrea overheat, which he hid in the closet of his office. He added the constellation of Pisces to the underside, on a whim. This was made for him personally; it should bear his mark.
The final piece of the puzzle was a report on how the fire aether in southern Erimia was umbralizing. Elidibus only had the vaguest idea of what that meant, but he was sure Lahabrea would be thrilled to talk about fire for hours on end. He found himself smiling as he quadruple-checked every step of the plan, even if it took him past midnight. He would rest after taking care of his friend.
The next day, he took a deep breath and knocked on Lahabrea’s door.
“It’s not locked,” he heard, and he opened the door to step inside. Lahabrea’s office was crowded in a different way than Elidibus’s; instead of books piled on every available surface and lately on the floor, there were concept crystals arranged neatly in more holding cabinets than Elidibus thought was possible to set up in one room. Every square ilm of his colleague’s desk was occupied by instruments he couldn’t even begin to guess the purpose of, and Lahabrea himself was hunched over something that vaguely resembled a microscope, an orange-hued concept crystal held underneath the lens.
When Elidibus cleared his throat, the man looked up, his expression visibly warming as he recognized his guest. Yet, his shoulders remained slumped, and tiredness radiated from his form. Fear not, my friend, I will make sure you rest.
“Elidibus!” he called out. “How may I help you?” There it was. Phase one of the plan. With an earnest smile, Elidibus held the report out and resisted the urge to rub his eyes..
“I just received this from our neighbours, but I have trouble with understanding its contents. Are you familiar with the concept of umbralization of fire aether?” The way the man’s focus instantly sharpened, he knew he had the man. He had to hold himself back from grinning, instead arranging his face into an earnest smile.
“Why yes,” Lahabrea said. “The polarization of aether is something of an advanced field of study, but I know it fairly well. I could quickly explain the basic terminology if you like?” Elidibus shook his head, trying to calm his racing heart. So eager to help me...
“I think understanding this report in full will be important for my next visit to them. If you can spare an hour or two, I’d rather you give me a full lesson.” He could see Lahabrea was busy, and this was a considerable favour. But surely his colleague, his friend, liked him enough to give him his precious time. And Lahabrea stood up after a moment of consideration, stretching.
“Very well. My office doesn’t really have enough space for the both of us to sit, perhaps yours does...?” Elidibus chose his bait well, and Lahabrea in his greediness didn't even suspect the hook underneath. The thought of him getting pierced by it filled him with excitement and guilt in equal measure. But he couldn’t let himself stand in the way of his duty. If he had to go against him for his benefit, so be it. So he nodded with a smile.
“My couch is rather comfortable, or so Azem told me when they broke into the Capitol to sleep on it. I would be honoured to welcome you into my office.”
Once settled, Lahabrea wasted no time to start the lesson. “I’m sure you’re rather busy, perhaps overly so, but understanding the basics is the most important in any field of aetherology. Now, the first thing to understand about aether is that it is almost always aspected towards one or more of six elements, in such a way that...”
Elidibus waited until Lahabrea was fully immersed in his explanations, and got to his favourite aspect - fire - to make his move.
“I’m something of a visual learner,” he started carefully. “Is there a visible difference between Creations made of different polarities and multi-aspects of the same aspect of aether?”
“Of course,” Lahabrea nodded, and brought a concept crystal from his pocket. Elidibus pulled the report from him, placing them on a side table well out of Lahabrea’s reach. “This is the concept of a rather simple floating mote of fire. It’s primarily used for illumination. Watch what happens if I release dual-aspected aether into it instead of single-aspected, fire and earth in this case. See? It cannot float, instead staying on the ground. The earth-aspected aether made it ‘heavy’, metaphorically speaking. Its actual weight is the exact same as a single-aspected one’s.”
“Fascinating,” Elidibus breathed, enthralled with the passion in his friend’s voice. But he couldn’t indulge himself now. He had a duty.
Time to commence phase two.
He leaned in to take a closer look at the dual-aspected mote, and when Lahabrea leaned back to Create a single-aspected mote, he casually rested his head on his shoulder. Lahabrea didn’t really react, besides slumping a bit to make him more comfortable. They were fairly close, after all. As the man continued explaining the differences between astrally and umbrally aspected fire, he started blinking slower and slower, as if he was fighting sleep. Lahabrea, upon noticing this, paused for a second.
“Are you tired? I saw you sign off from the Capitol past midnight yesterday. I can finish tomorrow. The next conference with Erimia isn’t for some time.” Elidibus shook his head weakly, deliberating whether he should lift it for a second, but honestly, Lahabrea’s shoulder and side was so warm and comfortable. And this way he could sell his ‘tiredness’ better.
“No, I’m fine,” he urged, the end trailing off into a yawn. Though unintentional, the timing was perfect. “This topic is fascinating. I could listen to you talk about it all day, and I need to understand the report in full. Please go on.” This, he wasn’t faking. He did like fire - for him, keeping warm was a constant struggle - and Lahabrea had such a great way of making the most advanced science sound simple. He felt bad about making him stop, but he had a duty now. Maybe, when Lahabrea was well-rested, he could ask for the rest of the lesson.
The man continued, getting to the actual topic of polarization, and Elidibus deemed it safe to take the next step. He let his eyes fall shut, slowed his breathing and relaxed his face and limbs, his mask pressing into Lahabrea’s shoulder and his hands falling into his lap. To anyone looking at him, he would appear to be fast asleep. Now to wait for Lahabrea to notice... He did, nearly five minutes later. He really loves this topic if he's this immersed, isn’t he? So dedicated and passionate...
“Elidibus?” he asked, subconsciously lowering his voice. He didn’t answer, just made a slight movement to snuggle into Lahabrea’s side. Were he anyone else, the man would surely shake his shoulder until he roused, but Elidibus knew his own reputation, and his relationship with Lahabrea. They were friends - even if Elidibus sometimes felt their bond was deeper than that word - and the man cared for him greatly, as did the rest of the Convocation. This embarrassed him to no end, but he was ready to mercilessly exploit their affection for him for their benefit. Nothing was below him when it came to his friends.
True enough, Lahabrea made no attempt to wake him, and just sighed.
“Seriously, Elidibus? And you say I’m overworked. Whatever am I to do with you?” Elidibus had a ready answer: Sit here until you fall asleep, so I can get back to my work , although obviously he couldn’t voice it. He could feel Lahabrea extending his hand to reach for the report he’d put aside, and heard his grunt of frustration when it proved to be out of range. Elidibus suppressed a smirk; he had made sure it was. Then he did the unthinkable and moved, keeping one hand on Elidibus’s chest while he twisted his torso to try and extend his reach. Oh no, you don’t. He stirred, letting out a small, confused noise, and reached up to grab at Lahabrea’s robe. The man immediately settled back down, moving his hand to pull down his hood and gently stroke his hair.
“Shh, it’s fine, I’m not going anywhere,” he murmured, and Elidibus buried his face in his shoulder to hide his triumphant grin. He still took care to keep his breathing even and his limbs relaxed, and soon he got his expression in order too. But soon Lahabrea, his hand still on his hair with a gentleness that made him feel soft and warm inside, started rotating his body towards him, and Elidibus wasn’t sure what he was doing. Should he intervene? At this point, Lahabrea will never go to sleep, and he didn’t have all day for this plan. But he kept his patience, and soon he felt himself being shifted. Lahabrea, with the utmost care, slid his legs underneath him and laid down on his back, laying Elidibus on top of him so his head rested on his chest. So, he was getting comfortable. Good. You won’t be able to resist the siren’s call for long.
“You won’t need this for now,” Lahabrea murmured and with his free hand, plucked Elidibus’s mask from his face, probably setting it on a side table from the quiet clatter. Elidibus barely restrained himself from covering himself with his hands, feeling horribly indecent, but he managed to stay still. He was doing all this for Lahabrea, and he couldn’t fail over something as banal as his face being bare. The man continued stroking his hair, and it helped him calm down and relax, appearing deep in dreamland. Lahabrea’s chest kept gently moving from his breathing.
Just as Elidibus began his wait for Lahabrea to fall asleep, there was a click and his brain immediately registered it as the door to the study room opening. Oh no. He never asked his colleagues to knock, as he wanted to appear as inviting as possible, should anyone have need of his advice. And now there was a complication he couldn’t deal with in his current state, unable to intervene without giving himself away.
“Oh,” he heard Emet-Selch’s voice. “I came here to ask Elidibus’s opinion on something. Am I intruding on something?” He could feel twin stares on himself and he fought not to squirm. In, out, in, out, slow and even, nothing to see here.
“Huh? No, no,” Lahabrea said, and Elidibus could feel his body moving slightly, as he likely shook his head. “He just fell asleep on me, and I didn’t want him to wake with a crick to end all cricks in his neck.”
Emet-Selch snorted. “I don’t suppose you’re familiar with the feeling.”
Lahabrea sputtered, and Elidibus had to curl his toes to stop himself from smiling. “Do be quiet,” he said, although there was no heat in his voice. “Actually, can you do me a favour and fetch a blanket or something for him? I know he’s always cold, and one’s body temperature lowers while asleep.” He heard a sigh, feet shuffling, and the cabinet door opening. Victory! He felt so proud of himself for hiding the blanket there beforehand. He felt rustling, and then footsteps approached. The blanket was laid over him, cold but rapidly warming up - he sensed aether emanating from Lahabrea and smiled - and Emet-Selch was leaning over his ear.
“Clever,” he muttered, and Elidibus remembered with a start that Emet-Selch had the gift of seeing souls and the state they were in. He knows I’m awake and only pretending to sleep. His face burned, and his fingers clenched onto Lahabrea’s robe, his brows furrowing in embarrassment and anxiety. If Emet-Selch told Lahabrea, this would all be over.
“Emet-Selch,” he heard Lahabrea hiss. “You’re going to wake him up.” Emet-Selch just sighed as he adjusted the blanket, Elidibus could almost see him rolling his eyes under the mask. He wished he could communicate telepathically, to thank him for not revealing his secret.
“Sorry,” he said in a quiet voice, not sounding particularly repentant. Lahabrea just sighed, but Elidibus felt him relax, his breathing slowing down.
“I’m just glad he’s getting some rest,” he murmured, breaking into a yawn at the end of the sentence. Elidibus’s breath caught in his throat. He was getting closer and closer to sleep. His plan would come to fruition, if only Emet-Selch left them alone.
“Pot talking to the kettle,” Emet-Selch said, but Elidibus could hear the ghost of the affection he knew the man held for them in his voice. He hid it well, keeping up an annoyed and lazy persona, but Elidibus was trained since childhood to read people. There was a brief pause, and he wondered if Lahabrea was glaring at the man, before he spoke.
“I’m older, I need less sleep. And Elidibus is just incapable of saying no for his own sake. He goes on about helping others, but he never lets us help him. Just keeps overworking himself, taking on more and more duties, until he passes out on someone’s shoulder. It feels like he’s sacrificing his entire life to make Amaurot a better place.” He sighed. “He’s entirely too young for such a burden. I wonder if we should raise the minimum age limit to join the Convocation of Fourteen.”
Emet-Selch hummed noncommittally. “You could raise the topic at the next meeting, if you wish. Anyroad, I’ll leave you two to it. I was going to ask if Elidibus could force you to take an early day and get some rest, but you seem to be in good hands. Have fun!” Elidibus could almost see his signature handwave as the man left, closing the door behind him.
“I guess I’m staying here for a while,” Lahabrea murmured, his hand moving back to Elidibus’s hair, resuming carefully stroking it. “You sleep, and I guess I’ll just stare at that report until I spontaneously invent telekinesis.” He yawned again. “Maybe a nap wouldn’t hurt me either…”
Elidibus waited patiently as Lahabrea settled down, and the pressure of a pillow disappeared from his side. Soon, his breathing eased, his hand slowing and then stopping. His heart leapt. Finally, he’s asleep! Cracking an eye open carefully, he saw Lahabrea’s eyes closed, his mouth open as he snored.
Now all he had to do was extract himself from Lahabrea, cover him up, and go back to his report. But as he shifted, he felt the hand on his hair move, and he froze. He knew Lahabrea was a light sleeper, and he couldn’t move his head until he was one hundred percent sure he wouldn’t wake up. Still, even from his position, he could do something for him. Carefully reaching out, he took his mask from his face, placing it besides his own. There, now he would be just a smidge more comfortable.
Now, to wait. If he was patient this far, he could manage five more minutes so Lahabrea would have a good nap. He settled back on his chest, listening to his heartbeat and his light snoring, feeling his chest move still with slow, even breaths. Up, down, up, down… Up, down… Up…
When he woke up, he wasn’t sure where he was. There was something soft and warm underneath him, and a blanket pulled up to his chin. The bed moved underneath him, and he realized with a start that he wasn’t in his apartment, but on the couch of his office. But then… He opened his eyes, looking up, and saw an open book, the covers facing him. Huh? Then the book lifted, and Elidibus found himself face to face with Lahabrea. His hood was down, and his mask was missing, revealing his glowing golden eyes regarding him affectionately.
“Good morning,” the man called out softly, reaching out to stroke at his hair. It was then that Elidibus realized that his own hood was missing, and as he reached up, his fingers met exposed nose and eyes. They were alone, both maskless. And he suddenly realized that the warm, moving ‘pillow’ underneath him was Lahabrea’s chest. The indecency of the situation made his cheeks burn.
“What…?” he mumbled. Lahabrea chuckled.
“You asked me to explain the polarization of aether, but you fell asleep on my shoulder.” Oh. Memories came flooding back. His plan to make Lahabrea take a nap by pretending to… Stars, he went and actually fell asleep. His plan ended in abject failure from every conceivable standpoint. Lahabrea, seeing his embarrassment, chuckled.
“If it’s any consolation, you weren’t the only one who passed out. I guess I should’ve gone home at a reasonable time yesterday…” Elidibus, still groggy, rested his head against his chest. He knew he should get up, fetch his mask, and leave to preserve the last scraps of his dignity, but he felt so comfortable and peaceful. Lahabrea always ran hot, and he melted into his warmth, only their robes and his extra layers between their skin.
“Would you like to go back to sleep?” Lahabrea asked gently, still stroking his hair, but he had a better idea. He decided to follow Azem’s example and take refuge in audacity, not moving.
“I don’t think I could. But can you continue your lesson? I think I was starting to get it.” He held his breath as he awaited Lahabrea’s answer, and found a smile creeping on his face as the other man nodded.
“Of course. What’s the last part you remember?” Elidibus took note that he didn’t move either, seeming comfortable with their current positions. He wracked his mind.
“Something about astral and umbral fire, I think…” Lahabrea picked up his book with a nod, launching into an explanation about what polarities were in the first place, and Elidibus settled down to listen to him. The soft orange light filtering in from the windows slowly faded, and Lahabrea helped him Create glowing motes to illuminate the room once again as part of the lesson, adding his own. Elidibus watched his face, framed in violet and red, before he snuggled into his chest again.
All was right in creation.