Pick Your Poison

by Penndragon27

Summary:

Elliot didn't mean to get infected by a deadly poison, but these kinds of things just happen in the Borderlands.

Now he has to deal with it and, against his best efforts, he doesn't have to do it alone.

Chapter 1

Elliot could sometimes be honest with himself, which is why he could admit to himself that the reason he kept it a secret at first was to avoid the inevitable I told you so.

They had just gotten back from the mermaids, which Elliot would not shut up about but he didn’t care how annoying he was. He’d kissed a freaking mermaid. He hoped that the mission would allow for a moment’s peace, but of course that was impossible in this war-obsessed magical world.

Serene and Luke were to join a scouting trip for a potential bandit camp and Elliot had managed to talk his way into joining. Well, by talking he mainly just asked the captain the morning of, while already walking away from the Border camp.

Elliot had said he would end all war and he meant it. If these bandits were human, if they might be from his world, then he should be there to talk to them. He could find a way to bring peace.

As with many of his plans these days, things didn’t exactly work out. For one, the camp was abandoned by the time they got there, the firepits long cold. For another, Elliot had wandered off in the hopes of finding something useful.

Right before said wandering off, Luke had specifically told him to stay close, so now there was no way Elliot could tell him he’d done something stupid.

Besides, he couldn’t even be sure he’d done something stupid yet. He’d know when he checked the library to learn more about the bug that stung him. It definitely wasn’t smart, putting his hand into the hole in the tree just because he saw something shiny, but he had no way of knowing it was actually a silver beetle, about the size of a walnut, and when it grazed his upper arm he felt a shock like the time he’d tried to plug in a rusty kettle when he was ten.

He yanked his arm out, watching the beetle disappear with great speed. He looked at his arm to see that the bug had managed to sting through his shirt, creating a hole with singed edges. When he pulled up his sleeve for a better view, he saw branching lines of red. He’d read about scars from lightning before and this seemed remarkably similar, only smaller and contained to the area just below his shoulder, fanning out like dark pink frost.

“Ouch,” Elliot stated, because it seemed like the thing to say.

Getting stung by a bug was usually not that big a deal, but this was a magical land where most things were pretty weird and leaning towards dangerous. Elliot was calm and rational, though, so he knew that any worrying could wait until he had done some research.

He successfully hid the sting until they were back at the Border camp. It wasn’t too hard, pulling on an extra jacket to keep it covered. Besides, after that first shock, it didn’t hurt anymore. 

Not long after returning, Serene and Luke were called away again for a mission and he could see the surprise on their faces when he didn’t fight to join them.

“We don’t know how long we’ll be gone,” Luke said slowly, frowning when Elliot just nodded. “Try not to do anything stupid while we’re gone, I guess.”

“We will miss you,” Serene said. Elliot tried not to snort at the thought of Luke missing him.

“Make sure you come back,” Elliot said instead. He was looking at Serene, but it was probably obvious he meant both of them.

With them gone, Elliot was able to spend all his time in the library trying to figure out what the heck had stung him. It had been three days since it happened and the mark was still there, though he wasn’t feeling any weird symptoms.

Even if it turned out to be nothing, he wanted to know more about the beetle. Did it have any other properties? Maybe there was some actual magic in this world and Elliot could finally become a badass sorcerer. You know, while still being a pacifist.

So far the only reference he’d found was in an old elvish poem where the author described their lover as having “skin marked with lightning, pink against white”.

It wasn’t much, especially as most of the poem had been lost because recordkeepers here were inept. The fact that it was elven gave Elliot hope and he penned a letter to Swift, saying he’d read about a silver beetle and wanted to know more.

Now all he could do was wait. He still tried at the library, but he found he couldn’t focus with his impatience.

This meant that when Dale showed up with a simple “Wanna go to the lake?” Elliot eagerly agreed. He hadn’t been there since the incident with Serene, but he was happy for the distraction.

His arm was wrapped in a piece of cloth, which Dale immediately asked about when their shirts were off.

“Tried to keep up with my defense training,” Elliot said easily. “A bit trickier without Serene to protect me.”

“I’m sorry,” Dale said, sounding like he meant it. “Do you want me to take a look?”

“I already went to the medic,” Elliot lied, since going anywhere near the medics was the last thing he wanted to do. “I doubt you can do anything more. No offense,” he added quickly in case it sounded rude.

“Sure,” Dale gave that confused grin of his. He might be boring, but Elliot supposed he understood Luke’s crush. Dale was easy on the eyes and he was nice in most of the interactions they’d had. Elliot still had the book he’d given him back in his cabin. It wasn’t the best book in the world, but it was his only birthday gift and that meant he couldn’t part with it.

“If you want,” Dale said slowly. “I could train with you. Just so you have someone around.”

Elliot gave a small smile, even though he’d been hoping to avoid exercise while Serene and Luke were away. Dale was being nice, though, and if it went well then maybe Dale could join all their training sessions. Luke would appreciate having him around more, right?

“Thanks, Dale,” Elliot said as sweetly as he was capable of. He then went to the water, enjoying the coolness. He hadn’t been swimming in ages, but he remembered the basics and ducked under the water to glide around until his lungs burned in demand for air.

He broke through the surface and managed a quick breath before lips landed on his. Elliot froze, but couldn’t help leaning in when arms wrapped around him, pulling him closer.

Dale’s lips were soft and warm and Elliot took a moment of appreciation before realizing why this was a terrible idea. He pushed Dale away, the water splashing around them.

“Oh my god,” his voice was raspy. “Oh god, no.”

“I’m sorry,” Dale rushed out. “I thought you liked guys.”

“I do,” Elliot said absently. “But I can’t do this with you.”

Dales’ face fell and Elliot hurried to explain, hopefully without exposing Luke.

“Look, you’re hot and all, but I’m actually pining away for someone. My heart needs time to heal and all that.”

Elliot did his best impression of sorrow. Thankfully, Dale wasn’t that bright.

“Oh. I’m sorry. Is it Luke Sunborn?”

“Parden, what?”

Dale shrugged. “You always spend time with him and if you like guys, you probably like him, right?”

“Does that mean you like him?” Elliot couldn’t help prying, even though he was still trying to understand Dale’s hypothesis.

“Well he’s pretty hot, right? Er, so are you, of course. In the sweet, bookish way. He’s just… Luke Sunborn.”

Elliot tried not to laugh at being called sweet. Instead, he corrected Dale’s assumptions. After all, even if they weren’t the best of friends, Dale might worry that he couldn’t date Luke if Elliot also liked him.

“Nope, not Luke. Not that he’s not totally dateable, but my heart belongs to another, more gentle creature.”

“Oh.”

“I doubt it will work out,” Elliot went on, since he wasn’t sure he’d be in a relationship any time soon, given his track record. “But I have my hopes.”

Dale frowned, processing that. “Isn’t Luke the only other gay guy?”

“I like both, actually,” Elliot said, only his need to be nice from Dale kept him from snapping. 

“Oh. Really?”

Elliot nodded.

“Weird. But, um, alright then.”

“Yep.”

“So you don’t want to make out?”

“I do not, but thanks for the offer.”

Dale nodded and turned to leave. Elliot, panicked he’d ruined things, called after him.

“You’re still my friend, right?”

“Of course,” Dale smiled. “Let me know if you change your mind, I guess.”

Elliot smiled weakly as Dale left the lake. He could not have him waiting around in case Elliot was in the mood to make out someday. This was ridiculous.

He was just planning to have a stern talk with Luke when the loser himself returned.

Chapter 2

Luke didn’t think that Elliot had missed him at all, it wasn’t like they were friends, but it was still nice to see the flash of red hair when he arrived at camp.

Even more nice, Elliot just sent Serene a wave before heading right for Luke. This was something new and Luke couldn’t help but allow himself to hope.

“I need to talk to you,” Elliot said, breathless as though he’d been running.

It wasn’t exactly a sweeping declaration followed by a dramatic kiss, but Luke felt the hope in his chest grow wings. 

So, when Commander Woodsinger tried to get Elliot to leave, Luke spoke up.

“It can’t hurt to spare a minute, right?”

She gave in and Luke climbed off his horse to take Elliot aside.

“What is it?”

“I…” Elliot actually looked nervous, which was jarring. Luke knew his stupid crush was just that: stupid. Still, the fear on Elliot’s face seemed like that of someone about to confess his feelings.

“I forgot,” Elliot finally said.

It was clear that he didn’t forget anything, but he wasn’t going to explain further.  Luke couldn’t help the flash of annoyance as he frowned.

“Then I better go report.”

“Yeah. Go do that,” Elliot mumbled.

Luke watched him leave, wondering at the reason for his behaviour. Why did he want to talk to Luke and not Serene? Why did he change his mind? Did he have another crush on some girl?

Mood soured, Luke stomped off to do his soldierly duty and then went to the combat ring to hit stuff with a sword. 

He could hear Elliot’s voice in his ear, calling him a loser and telling him violence solves nothing. It just made Luke angrier.

It was stupid to be angry, he knew. Elliot was happy to be with elves and dwarves and mermaids, but not Luke. He had no chance and he couldn’t blame Elliot for not liking him back.

It would be easier if he could stop liking the idiot so much. He should find him annoying and rude. Yes, Elliot was annoying and rude, but Luke found it endearing.

Elliot was right. He was a loser.

When he finally stopped, he found some other cadets had arrived to train. He saw Dale Wavechaser sitting on the bench, pausing in the middle of lacing up his boots to stare at the ground in thought.

Luke had only named Dale his crush to get Elliot to shut up. Of course, it hadn’t worked because apparently Elliot had plots, but at least it threw him off the trail. And Dale was good looking, even though Luke didn’t care about him that much.

Maybe he could change that. He went over to sit next to him, trying for a reassuring expression.

“You alright?”

Dale looked up, surprised to see him there, then sighed.

“Just being an idiot. Made a move on a guy that didn’t go so well.”

“Oh?” Figures that Luke’s fake crush would like someone else.

“I don’t suppose you know who Elliot’s crush is?”

Luke’s stomach tightened. Elliot had a crush? On who? Was that what he’d wanted to talk about?

“Not my business,” he muttered.

Dale nodded. “I should probably leave it alone. He only told me to let me down easily, anyway..”

Luke frowned in thought before something else clicked.

“Wait, you asked Elliot out?”

“Well,” Dale blushed. “I kissed him. He’s always been so nice, but of course I read too much into it.”

“You kissed him,” Luke echoed faintly.

“He was nice about it, I guess. He said he doesn’t think his crush will work out, so maybe when he’s over it I could give it another go. You’re his friend, what do you think? Do I have a shot?”

Luke blinked, trying to process everything. Dale, Luke’s fake crush, had kissed Elliot, Luke’s real crush. And Elliot said he had a crush on someone who didn’t like him back. But who could it be? Unless it was just about him thinking Luke liked Dale?

“Um,” he said eloquently. “But you’re a guy.”

Dale nodded. “So?”

“Elliot’s known to like girls.”

“Yeah, and guys.”

Luke had to take a moment to readjust his worldview before he could respond.

“What?”

“Didn’t you know?” Dale’s eyes widened. “He sounded like he’d been out for a while. You guys are friends, I figured-”

“He told you?”

“I mean, I suspected when he kissed me back because, you know.” Dale grinned and Luke glowered because no, he did not know.

“Then he called me hot and said he liked both, but we couldn’t do anything because he likes someone else.”

Elliot liked guys. Elliot was happy to kiss guys.

Could Luke be included in said guys Elliot Schafer would want to kiss?

“I have to go.”

“Oh, okay,” Dale’s face fell, his question having not been answered. Luke would love to tell Dale that he had no hope and Elliot would never be his, but now Luke  didn’t know.

Maybe Dale would be another person Elliot chose over Luke.

He shook his head as he walked towards the cabins. It wasn’t exactly fair, since Dale had gone and kissed Elliot while Luke had never even admitted to liking Elliot as a friend, but still. Elliot made efforts to woo Serene and Myra, so why not Luke?

“Are you going to Elliot’s cabin?”

Luke nodded as Serene fell into step beside him.

“Me too. Golden responded to my letter and I’m terrified to open it alone.”

He gave her a comforting smile. He hoped things worked out for Serene, both because Golden seemed like he could be good for her and because he made her happy. Also, it would mean Elliot and Serene would never get back together and Luke wouldn’t have to deal with that again.

Luke looked at Serene. Elliot was her friend, so he probably confided in her often. Maybe he’d told her already?

“Serene. Did Elliot mention anything to you about people he’s dated? Besides you?”

Her eyes lit up. “Oh, did he finally tell you? He kept going on about wanting to dramatically announce it to the class like you did, but I told him how ridiculous that was. You two need to have a boy talk and discuss all your emotions.”

Luke faltered slightly. “So he told you he likes guys, too?”

“Yes, he told me all about Jase, though he left out the more lewd details which was very gentlemanly of him. Interesting name, Jase, isn’t it? Apparently he’s from Elliot’s world- but you probably know all about that.”

“Right,” Luke muttered. 

“You must be happy about this,” Serene was saying and Luke swallowed his panic.

“What? Why?”

“Well, it’s something you have in common. I tried to be encouraging, but Elliot’s response suggested my cultural difference might have impaired my judgement. Golden keeps telling me to think before I speak.”

Serene had taken Luke’s coming out well, but he remembered how Elliot had unintentionally been kind of an arse about it. Serene did sometimes struggle saying the right thing, though not as much as Luke. 

As they arrived at Elliot’s cabin, Luke still didn’t know what to say. He turned to Serene to whisper quietly.

“Elliot didn’t tell me, someone else did. Don’t tell him I know?”

Serene opened her mouth, closed it, then frowned. “Very well, but I expect more information later.”

Luke sighed in relief and they entered to find Elliot sprawled on his bed surrounded by books. Serene spoke first, launching into the news about Golden and the letter he’d written.

It was four words, but it was still more of a letter than before. Luke turned from Serene’s smile to Elliot’s fond expression.

“Since that advice worked, maybe you could help me?”

It seemed like the right thing to ask. If Elliot described how he’d want to be wooed, Luke would have a head start on Dale, kissing aside.

“I know exactly what you should do,” Elliot said, beckoning Luke closer. Luke went, eager for some kernel of help in dealing with all this.

“Just ask him out, dammit,” Elliot said, slapping Luke lightly upside the head.

“Hey!”

“It’s true,” he grumbled. “If he gives up on you, he could look somewhere else. Apparently he hooked up with Adam last year so it’s not like he’s a monk.”

“Adam?” Luke felt the familiar tinge of anger at the thought of his cousin. Luke often wondered if what Elliot had said about first kisses was motivated by that event, where Adam had stolen his like Adara had stolen Luke’s.

“So we know he likes Sunborns. Just ask him out. Worst case he says no and you can move on to someone who’s read a book before.”

Luke’s eyes drifted to the books in Elliot’s cabin, including the one Dale had given him that had earned a kiss on the cheek.

“You don’t get it,” Luke snapped. “You’ve never felt about someone the way Serene and I do.”

Elliot crossed his arms. “Good, because it makes you act like idiots.”

And then he left his cabin, leaving Luke to wonder if maybe Elliot had felt that way about someone, if maybe Elliot could feel the same way about Luke.

 

Chapter 3

Elliot had been so wrapped up with Dale and Luke and Serene and Golden that he’d nearly forgotten about the sting on his arm until Swift’s letter arrived. The mark was still there, but he kept it wrapped up so he only really saw it when he changed.

He brought the letter to the library, prepared to do more research with the information Swift provided.

The letter started interestingly enough. Apparently the reason Elliot hadn’t found anything was because the beetle wasn’t a beetle at all, but rather a rare type of fish that could climb on land sometimes because it had lungs as well as gills. The fish was also called the Silver Death, which was not encouraging.

The poem you mentioned describes the mark of the Silver Death. The poison is so horrible that I hate to darken your sweet ears, but I know you admire knowledge in all forms. The poison ensures the death of it’s victim and does so slowly. It is so slow, in fact, that the victim does not realize they are in pain until it is debilitating. Truly fascinating, don’t you think?

Elliot could barely read the rest of the letter, only checking if she mentioned an antidote. She did not.

Elliot really was an idiot, wasn’t he? He had to go on that stupid mission and stupidly wander off and stupidly stick his arm in a tree.

Now he had a weird sting on his arm from some bug-fish thing and it was slowly killing him. He should just go to the medics, but he didn’t want to.

He knew that if he did, he would have to see his mother who would probably not care that her only son was dying. He didn’t need to deal with that today.

Besides, he had a library full of information and, thanks to Swift, he knew where to look.

He didn’t have long before the holidays, so Elliot spent every spare moment reading, trying to find the antidote.

Serene and Luke were clearly annoyed, especially when he tried to skip workouts. They dragged him anyway and Elliot tried to feel for any pain. It had already been a couple weeks, but the only thing he noticed was some tiredness. That meant nothing though, since the two were quite the drill sergeants. 

“Are you coming?”

Elliot looked up, blinking in surprise at Luke standing in front of his table in the library. He hadn’t heard him arrive.

“What? Where?”

Luke frowned. “The game. It’s our last one of the season.”

“Oh,” Elliot said eloquently, realizing Luke was dressed in his gear. “Is that now?”

“Yes.”

“Shouldn’t you be at the pitch, then?”

Luke opened his mouth before shutting it again, clearly not in the mood to argue. Elliot shrugged and went back to reading. He felt a little bad about missing the game, but it wasn’t like Luke would really care and he was using this time to stop dying. He considered that a somewhat worthy cause.

Elliot read through a stack of parchment listing various poisons and by the time he’d finished his eyes were swimming with words. He still didn’t have an answer, though.

Groaning in frustration, he pulled a different book closer. He’d grabbed it on impulse, since it was about his world, and he hoped it could have some information on smuggling more contraband. If anything, it was a break from reading about poisons like the Snapping Tulip, which made one’s hair fall out.

Sadly, the book was useless about electronics, but Elliot did find something startling. He leaned over the table, careful not to miss a word.

Electronics weren’t compatible with the Borderlands, but the reverse was also true. It was why magical creatures couldn’t cross the wall. It could mean, then, that if Elliot went back to his world, the poison might disappear.

Hopefully it wouldn’t be exactly like electronics and he’d burst into flames, but there was every chance the poison would be neutralized.

Elliot couldn’t stop a smile from spreading across his face. Not only did he have a chance to not die a slow and painful death, but he didn’t need any help from the medics or Border guards. He figured it out all on his own.

Feeling happier, Elliot started to put all the books away. The one he’d been reading, though, he casually slid into his bag. Bright-Eyes would in no way allow him to borrow a book this close to the holidays, since Elliot couldn’t be trusted to return it. Besides, it would be useful to keep for a bit to make sure he got things right.

He managed to leave the library unscathed and turned at the sound of cheers. The Trigon game was still going on, so Elliot might as well stop by. If anything, it would get Luke to leave him alone.

He arrived in time to see Luke score a goal, winning the game as usual. Elliot didn’t understand why he had to watch the games, since nothing new ever happened.

At least, there was nothing new until Luke headed for the change rooms and pulled off his shirt. Elliot raced after him.

“Elliot!” Dale greeted, shirtless. Elliot gave him an awkward wave before turning to Luke, who was already changed and looking confused.

“You came?”

“Yes, you played brilliantly, a real nailbiter-”

“You actually watched ?”

“-now take off your shirt!” Elliot finished.

Luke stiffened. “Excuse me?”

“Your shirt,” Elliot said impatiently, ignoring the stares they were getting. “Off.”

“I don’t think I will,” Luke said slowly.

“But there’s something wrong with your shoulders. You need to get it looked at.”

Luke shrugged. “It’s nothing. Just a sprain.”

Elliot furrowed his brow. He knew it was a bit hypocritical, since he was actively avoiding the infirmary while carrying a deadly poison, but he didn’t care.

He pulled Luke aside, lowering his voice.

“If it doesn’t get better. If anything happens- will you go to a medic? Please?”

Luke was watching him warily, like Elliot was playing some prank on him. Finding nothing but sincerity, he softened.

“Alright. I promise.”

“Thank you.”

Chapter 4

Elliot stared at the wall.

He had promised himself one more year, and that’s what he’d gotten. He could now go back and live a normal life with normal people in a normal world.

He wasn’t exactly normal, though, as was pointed out by his mother. He was weird and this normal world might never truly feel like home. The problem was, the Borderlands didn’t exactly feel like home either.

He had the summer, at least, and he hoped that by the end of it he would make his decision. First, though, he needed to find out if he’d been right about the poison.

He noticed he was more out of breath than usual, which could very well be a sign of the poison working. He crossed over to his world and had to grasp for support at the shock.

He really hadn’t noticed that the poison was working, but now, free of it, he felt ten pounds lighter. Had he had a headache the whole time? He could suddenly see and think more clearly. He checked his arm and frowned at the mark still there. Maybe that part was physical enough that it wouldn’t disappear?

He climbed down quickly, feeling more agile, and set off towards his house. He didn’t want to stay there, especially as it could be his last few months in this world.

By the time he ran into his father, he’d made his decision. He would go inter-railing with Tom and Susan. He didn’t know them that well, but it was a chance to see the places he might be leaving behind.

It was one of the better summers he’d had, spending it with people who didn’t mind him so much. He didn’t meet his soulmate, but he couldn’t win them all.

Standing in front of his house, he was faced with his decision. He didn’t have to go back to the Borderlands. He didn’t have to deal with wars.

But he didn’t say goodbye to anyone. Could he really stay here without explaining everything to Luke and Serene? 

Staying would be so simple, though. Elliot just couldn’t figure out if simple was good or bad.

He should say goodbye, though, right? Maybe if this year was terrible, he could return to his world and figure it out.

He tried talking to his father, but that was as useless as always. It was kind of funny that his mother left when his parents were so similar in their disinterest in him. In a way, they were perfect for each other.

Elliot packed his bag with as much contraband as he could fit. If he wasn’t coming back, he needed to be prepared. His bags were heavy, but Luke and Serene’s stupid training helped.

Stupid Luke, stupid Serene. He actually missed them. He wanted to see them again. Stupid.

Elliot headed for the wall, nearly turning back about a dozen times. Finally, though, he was there and he dragged his bags up and across the border.

He had barely taken one step before falling to his knees.

His head felt like it was being split open. He felt achy and burning and every movement was like pushing through oil. The sting on his arm throbbed angrily.

“Fuck,” he muttered, rolling over with his bags to return to the other side.

The pain immediately vanished and he lay on his back, breathing heavily and itching with the phantom of what he’d just experienced.

He didn’t understand. He’d carried exploded electronics back over the border and they never repaired themselves? Why was this different?

Elliot stared at the wall and knew he was not ready to experience that level of pain again. The poison gave him a year, which meant the pain was going to double. How was he supposed to handle it?

When he could catch his breath, he climbed down and began the trek back. His father, thankfully, wasn’t home, which meant he could skulk into his room and toss his bags aside.

He was angry. He’d been agonizing over his decision and now it had been made for him? He couldn’t go back to the Borderlands?

Well, he could, but he’d be in pain and likely die because the Silver Death had no known antidote.

Elliot could not deal with this today. He was sure people would wonder why he was absent for registration day, but they could go to hell. 

He flopped onto his bed and stared at the ceiling, fighting angry tears. Now that the Borderlands were out of reach, he realized there had been no real choice. He wanted to be there.

And now he couldn’t.

 

---

 

Elliot allowed himself a day to mope before pulling out the stolen library book. It was the only resource he had and he had to believe it held the answer.

It didn’t.

He spent three days in his room, hiding from his father to avoid awkward conversation, and scouring the pages for anything. He could quote certain chapters verbatim, but he still didn’t know what to do.

After thinking it through, he had a theory as to why his plan had failed. The potency of the poison might have been eliminated, but it was still there, laying dormant. The mark had stayed, after all. Returning to the Borderlands just unpaused and brought back the symptoms.

The one thing he couldn’t be sure of was whether he still had a year or if the summer had really paused the poison, earning him a few extra months.

Maybe he’d never find out, if he stayed. Or he’d find out by dying, if he returned.

It was almost the weekend and Elliot stared at his photo of Luke and Serene. He couldn’t help wondering what they were doing, if they were worried about him or maybe they didn’t care. Maybe they figured he wasn’t meant for the Borderlands and had abandoned them.

After a week, Elliot was done. He would go back to the Borderlands, poison be damned. Maybe he only had less than a year left, but he would spend them finding a cure. If he died, then at least it was somewhere he cared about, with people who could maybe care about him.

He packed up his bags again and left the house. The grey building stared at him, silent and imposing. He didn’t want to leave it like this.

He had no intention of taking a new name in the Borderlands, but he could leave behind the person he’d been. The boy who was unloved and unwanted.

He bought a can of paint and wrote his name across the front of the house. It was perfect.

This time, at the wall, Elliot prepared himself. It would hurt, a lot, but he could handle it. He had to.

He’d forgotten how bad it truly was. He stumbled as soon as he crossed and needed to sit for a moment, trying to adjust.

He’d built up tolerance before, maybe he could do it again. He tried to move his arm, pushing through the stiffness.

It was a slow trek, most of the journey spent crawling rather than walking. He was halfway there when he lay down again, needing a break.

The pain wasn’t as bad, now that the shock had time to lessen. The pain hadn’t gotten worse, either, so Elliot kept his breathing slow as he tried to ignore it. He just needed to act like he didn’t feel like a tree had fallen on him. Like his arm wasn’t begging to be cut off so it didn’t have to feel this anymore.

He was almost at the camp when he started to slow down. Part was the pain, part was the anxiety of showing up looking as terrible as he felt. 

He could see the walls in the distance and took another step. His ankle rolled and he went down. He was not able to get back up.

He lay there, trying to gather any remaining strength, when a voice boomed.

“Cadet Shafer!”

He managed to turn his head and see Commander Woodsinger rushing towards him. He could’ve sworn that was fear on her face, almost like she was worried about him.

“Evening, Commander,” Elliot said, not moving. It was evening, after all, since it had taken him a while to make it this far.

“Cadet Shafer,” Woodsinger said tightly. “Might I ask why you are here, collapsed in the grass, a week after the year has started?”

“That is a good question,” Elliot stated. He was finally able to move a bit, pulling himself up into a seated position and pinching the bridge of his nose when the world spun.

“Are you going to answer?”

“If I do,” Elliot said slowly. “Can you not judge me? I am aware that I messed up.”

Woodsinger raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. She waited for Elliot to explain.

“I might have been stung by a Silver Death.”

It seemed the bug/fish was known enough, because the commander’s face darkened.

“Might?”

“Well, bit more than ‘might’. Pretty sure, actually. Based on the pain I’m experiencing, I’d say I’m 95% sure. I can’t be certain ‘til I actually die, you know?”

Her expression soured further.

“How long?”

“Again, not sure. 50-50 about that.”

“You’re not sure?”

Elliot explained his research, his plan, and how it had failed spectacularly and now he was sitting in the grass because standing up would hurt too much.

“Cadet Shafer,” Woodsinger’s voice was quiet, almost rasping. “I will spare you the lecture since you seem aware of how impulsive- how foolbrained- how-”

“Skipping the lecture,” Elliot interrupted. “Thank you.”

Woodsinger took a breath. “For now, we must get you back to the camp so a medic can look you over.”

“Do I have to?”

The look in Woodsinger’s eyes could have brought anyone to their knees. Thankfully, Elliot was still sitting.

“I’m just not sure… I already know what it is and that there’s no antidote. I don’t need a medic.”

The commander’s expression softened the barest amount. Likely she remembered who was in the infirmary.

“I asked if you wanted her to leave.”

“I don’t,” Elliot insisted. “I just… don’t want to trouble her with this. There’s nothing they can do, anyway. Right?”

There was no response, which was answer enough.

Woodsinger moved on quickly. “I will take you to my office, then, so we can discuss things further.”

Elliot was finally able to stand, this time with help. The rest of the walk was easier with the support of Commander Woodsinger, but when the gates drew near, he hesitated.

“Is there another way? I’d… I’d rather not been seen like this.”

“Cadet Shafer-”

“Commander. Please.” 

His voice was quiet and pleading. Woodsinger gave a sigh.

“Very well.”

Chapter 5

The way around back was longer, but thankfully had less students. They were able to make it to the tower unseen and once in the office, Elliot collapsed into a chair.

“I don’t have to tell you how serious this is,” Woodsinger said, sitting across from him. “I will write to my associates for aid and if you need to sit out from classes-”

“I don’t,” Elliot objected. “I’m in council training, I can manage it.”

“Cadet Schafer, must I remind you how I found you?”

“I just need to get used to it again,” Elliot explained. “As soon as my tolerance is back up, I’ll be fine. Please don’t make me miss class. And please… don’t tell anyone.”

He really thought that the commander would refuse him, so when she nodded he let out a puff of air.

“I will inform the teachers that you have permission to leave class as needed. I trust you not to abuse this.”

“Of course not,” Elliot promised.

“Very well. There is not much else I can offer,” her voice faded slightly and she cleared her throat. “I can give you this, for now.”

She pulled out a bottle from her drawer and handed it over.

“It should dull the pain. It won’t erase it completely, but if you take decreasing doses every day, it should help you build back up your tolerance.”

Elliot tried not to look too eager as he took a generous sip. 

“Thank you, commander. Can I go now?”

“There is something else I should probably tell you. About Cadet Sunborn.”

 

---

 

By the time Elliot made his way back to his cabin, the sun had set and the medicine had kicked in. He felt much better and could manage to walk normally.

This was considerably helpful as his mind was turning over what the commander had told him about Luke. It was a shock, sure, but it was also an amazing opportunity.

If Luke was part harpy, he could be the key to creating a treaty with them. Another step towards peace was just within reach and Elliot wanted it to be morning already so he could go to the library. He had a book to return, anyway.

He reached his cabin and stopped at the sight that met him. Sitting on the steps, talking quietly, were Luke and Serene. Their faces were serious.

“Alright,” Elliot sighed. “Who told you I was here?”

The two looked up and gave him twin expressions of shock, even if Serene’s was only noticeable because he knew her. She moved first, rushing to pull him into a hug.

“Elliot! I was so worried. I don’t know what goes on in your world, but I was terrified you’d been caught up in a war there or went missing or-”

“I’m fine,” he gasped out, his lungs slightly crushed by the force of her grip. Serene finally let him go, but then he was spun around to face Luke.

He didn’t get another hug, but instead Luke put his hands on Elliot’s shoulders and squeezed tightly.

“You have to stop doing this,” Luke said tightly, expression unreadable.

“Hey, it wasn’t my fault this time,” Elliot protested.

“This time?” Luke frowned and Elliot mentally facepalmed. 

“I mixed up the dates last year, no big deal.” He shrugged and Luke finally let his hands drop. “And this time… It’s a long story. I went on a trip with some friends and got stuck in Prague an extra week. All good now.”

“Next time, at least send a note,” Luke said.

“Aw, loser, did you miss me?” Elliot grinned.

“Of course we did,” Serene said. “We expected the worst.”

“Well, as you can see I’m here in one piece, no cause for alarm. Just had to talk the commander out of punishing me for being late. I think she has a soft spot for me, because I succeeded.”

“Oh good!” Serene smiled. 

“Enough about me,” Elliot went on. “How about you? Did you both have a good summer?”

He tried not to let his gaze linger on Luke. He wouldn’t bring it up if Luke didn’t want to discuss it, but he was also dying to talk about it. 

Serene answered first, bringing him up to date on everything with Golden. Elliot couldn’t help the sting of hurt at seeing her so happy with someone else, but at least she was happy and that was all he could ask for.

“And you, loser?”

Luke shrugged. “Nothing much. Just hung out with my family.”

Elliot stared at him and then nodded.

“Alright. I better go unpack and get some sleep. I have a week of classes to catch up on.”

 

Chapter 6

Luke didn’t mention anything about his heritage for the first few weeks. Elliot didn’t get it, since the rumour was already spreading around the camp. It seemed that Luke had gone to a healer who couldn’t keep their lips sealed.

Despite Luke’s silence, Elliot couldn’t stop himself from collecting relevant information on harpies as well as putting together potential treaties they could use. Serene had found him at the library one day and, upon seeing the topic of his study, revealed that Rachel Sunborn had told her about Luke.

“She thought I should know, to help him. She wanted to tell you, too, even though Luke asked that she didn’t.”

“He didn’t want us to know?”

“Well,” Serene hesitated. “Mainly you. Apparently he thought you’d react… strongly.”

Elliot couldn’t argue. He wasn’t the most sensitive when it came to dealing with emotions and he’d royally screwed up Luke’s last coming out. Nevertheless, he’d been supportive about his crush on Dale (that one kiss aside) and he would be supportive now.

So long as Luke agreed to helping with the alliance, of course.

The medicine the commander had given him was running low and he knew he couldn’t rely on it forever. He’d been slowly decreasing his doses and he thought it might have worked. He wasn’t immobilized with the pain and instead occasionally needed to rest because of sudden exhaustion.

He was aware of the pain, if he focused, so he tried to keep himself distracted with his harpy research as well as his continued search for a cure. So far, he had nothing and his time was running out. He left the last bit of medicine alone in case he needed it when the pain got worse.

The three of them were sitting by the combat ring one day after training, during which Elliot had barely been able to keep up. He was laying on his back, since it provided the most reprieve, when Luke spoke.

“I’m half harpy,” he whispered.

Serene and Elliot exchanged a look.

“We know,” she said calmly. 

“What?”

“Your mother told me and the Commander told Elliot.”

Luke glared at the ground. “Oh.”

Elliot tried to think of something supportive.

“The commander said you might get wings. That’ll be useful for battle, right?”

Luke cast him a dark look, which wasn’t exactly fair. Elliot thought it was a good thing to say, since Luke mainly cared about battle. Shouldn’t something that could help him fight be a plus?

“That’s all you have to say?”

“What Elliot means,” Serene cut in, likely saving Elliot from saying something else, “is that this doesn’t change how we think of you.”

Elliot frowned, not knowing that needed to be said. “Of course not, loser.”

Luke looked doubtful, so Elliot tried to be supportive again and pulled out his notes from his bag.

“I don’t suppose you’re interested in all the research I did on harpies, then?”

“Why did you research harpies?” Luke’s voice was tight.

Elliot gave him an annoyed expression. “Excuse me, loser, for thinking you’d want to know about your heritage and that it might be useful.”

“You… you did it for me?” Luke’s eyes were wide and Elliot shifted anxiously.

“It’s not like research is a hardship.”

Luke reached out a hand and Elliot couldn’t help moving the notes out of his reach.

“So, what will you give me for them?”

“What do you want?” Luke asked, his teeth clenched.

Elliot couldn’t help the guilt creeping up when it seemed like Luke thought he’d actually hold this over his head.

“I want to hide some contraband in your cabin. My roommates are getting suspicious.”

Luke eyed him, wary, before nodding. Elliot relinquished the notes and swiftly switched topics to the treaty he was planning.

Later, he brought a large chunk of his hoard to Luke’s room and set to hiding pens and sharpies under the floorboards.

“There’s so much,” Luke whispered.

“And this isn’t even all of it,” Elliot laughed.

They joked around a bit as Elliot hid his stash, until Luke was rude, as always.

“I can’t believe no one else knows how much of a jerk you can be.”

Luke’s answer was quiet. “I think everyone’s opinion of me is more similar to yours nowadays.”

“I don’t think of you any differently,” Elliot reiterated.

“So your opinion is the only one that hasn’t changed.”

Elliot could hear the bitterness in the statement and felt discomfort prickle his skin. He didn’t know if it was his looming mortality or his new drive to be supportive, but he found himself saying,

“If you being half harpy is the only reason they changed their opinion, then they’re the idiots.”

He couldn’t be sure, but Elliot thought he saw Luke smile.

 

---

 

Luke’s heritage became the worst kept secret of the camp, but the three of them kept to themselves and lived in ignorance. After all, there were treaties to finalize.

Elliot was also trying to avoid Commander Woodsinger, as every time she saw him she got a pitying look on her face that suggested she didn’t have a cure for him. 

So, when he saw her exit the building, he quickly turned around and wound up at the Trigon pitch instead. He wasn’t sure he made the right decision.

Dale was there, at least, and Elliot figured he should put in his bro time and also make sure everything was okay after the whole Luke-being-a-harpy thing.

“Hey,” Elliot greeted, running up to him. Dale smiled brightly.

“Elliot! I’ve been meaning to visit you. I was so worried when you didn’t show up-”

“It’s fine,” he waved a hand. “Just a bit of a delay. How are you though?”

“I’m okay. I missed you.”

Elliot couldn’t help the blush on his cheeks at the comment. His mind played back their kiss before reminding him why he shouldn’t.

“Thanks, Dale.”

He started feeling a bit dizzy and sat on the grass, stretching his arms out to loosen the stiffness. Dale sat next to him, hand lifted hesitantly.

“Can I help?”

Elliot froze, but nodded. Dale’s hands rested on his shoulders, rubbing soothing circles. It wasn’t much, but it provided brief relief from the underlying pain he kept feeling and he would be content to sit there for the rest of the day.

Unfortunately, his peace was interrupted by Dale’s voice barely an inch from his ear.

“I don’t suppose you’re over your crush yet?”

Elliot pulled away, holding back a wince at the sudden movement.

“What?”

“Come on, Elliot,” Dale said. “You know I like you.”

“But you shouldn’t,” Elliot pointed out.

“Why not?”

Screw it. “Luke likes you.”

Dale blinked, opened his mouth, closed his mouth, then blinked again.

“What?”

Elliot sighed. “Luke likes you and I’ve been trying to get you to hang out with us so you can get together already.”

“Luke Sunborn?”

Elliot nodded. “So you see why I can’t exactly make out with you.”

“So you don’t have a crush on someone else?’

“Not really, no. Sorry. And please don’t tell Luke I told you, he’d kill me. Or get very mad at me. But now you know and I’ve seen you check him out so we can find a way to-”

“Elliot,” Dale said. “I don’t like Luke that way. I mean, he’s hot, sure, but now I like someone else more.”

“You do?” Elliot groaned. “I told him to stop waiting. Oh my god, this is so bad-”

“Elliot,” Dale repeated. “I like you.”

It was a rare thing for Elliot to be silent, but here it was. He couldn’t speak.

“I spent more time with you and I think you’re cute,” Dale said, leaning close again. “And I choose you.”

Elliot had never been chosen before. He’d especially never been chosen over Luke Sunborn. The prospect was a little dizzying, this time not from the pain burning through his body.

“You do?”

Dale’s lips brushed his jaw, working down to trace his neck. The sensation made him prickle with pleasure and it was so different from the pain he was always feeling he almost cried. How had he not thought of this sooner? This would be the perfect distraction from the symptoms.

Except Luke was, if only by a technicality, his bro. And he had to hold to the bro code.

“I’m sorry,” Elliot said, forcing himself to stand on shaky legs. “I can’t.”

Dale sighed, but nodded. His eyes were still heated, though, and Elliot all but ran away.

Chapter 7

Luke hadn’t seen Elliot for a while. In fact, he last saw him at their evening training when Elliot had given up halfway through, made an obscene gesture, and left.

He was starting to suspect that Elliot was avoiding him, except he couldn’t make that accusation. After all, they weren’t really friends were they?

But how could they not be? When Elliot put together all these notes about harpies for him. When Elliot made rude comments to anyone who looked at Luke weird. When Elliot…

Luke should stop getting his hopes up, but when the commander approached him about a trip to the harpies for an alliance, Luke gave her a nervous look.

“You know Elliot will want to go, too.”

“Cadet Shafer has already come to see me,” Commander Woodsinger sighed, but her eyes were softer than Luke had ever seen them. It wasn’t much, but it was noticeable.

“I already told him I’d think about it. Do you have any comments about the matter, Cadet Sunborn?”

Luke shrugged. “Elliot will be Elliot.”

“Indeed. Has he… spoken to you at all?”

“He speaks a lot, Commander. You’ve met him.”

Woodsinger almost looked nervous. “He does, but he rarely discusses his personal life. I was hoping he felt more comfortable around you and Cadet Chaos-of-Battle.”

Luke couldn’t help a snort. “Sorry, commander. We’re not exactly friends, are we? More of an unsteady alliance.”

“What on earth are you talking about?” Woodsinger asked, almost as though she hadn’t intended to. “You two spend time together constantly.”

“With Serene,” Luke added. “He doesn’t like me very much.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Woodsinger scoffed. Her next words were low and carefully controlled.

“After the Whiteleaf rebellion I had a discussion with him to figure out his loyalties. When I asked what he loved, his first answer was Cadet Chaos-of-Battle. His second answer was you.”

Luke gaped. He could feel his face bloom with a warm blush, but couldn’t bring himself to care.

“He what ?”

“Yes, it was rather infuriating,” the commander went on as if she hadn’t just shattered Luke’s worldview. “Didn’t care about loyalties to his country or anything. Merely listed the two friends he loves and the other friends he, as he clarified, merely likes.”

“Why are you telling me this?” It all seemed pretty personal to share with a cadet.

“I figured you were already aware,” Woodsinger said offhandedly before growing serious. “And life is short, especially in the Borderlands. Friendship is something to treasure.”

Luke nodded slowly. “If-” he swallowed. “If Elliot really wants to come, can you let him? It would help.”

Commander Woodsinger was never one to smile, but her eyes glinted. “Understood.”

Luke was grateful to her up until the day the group set out, when the commander betrayed him by informing them that Luke and Elliot would be sharing a tent.

“What?” Luke’s throat felt dry.

“Commander-” Elliot started, but Woodsinger cut him off by reminding him of what happened when he shared a tent with Serene.

Luke thought that would be the end of it, but he should’ve known better when it came to Elliot.

“Apologies, Commander, but I go both ways, so these wandering hands aren’t safe anywhere.”

Nobody seemed to react, since it wasn’t the most shocking thing about Elliot. Luke had already known, but he nearly choked at the relaxed way Elliot announced it. He remembered Serene mentioning Elliot’s plan to come out in front of the class, just like Luke had.

What an asshole.

“I’m sure you can manage to restrain yourself,” Woodsinger bit out before setting off. The matter was closed.

“Sorry,” Elliot said, falling into step beside him. “I tried.”

Luke’s immediate response was snark, but he tamped it down. With the new information from the commander, he figured he could make an effort.

“It’s okay,” he tried for a smile. “I don’t really mind.”

Elliot blinked, mouth round with shock. It was a rare look for him and Luke couldn’t help thinking it cute.

He had no idea how he was going to survive this.

That evening, they lay on their blankets and stared up at the canvas ceiling. Luke spoke first.

“I know you wanted to share with Serene. Sorry you wound up with me.”

Elliot turned, so Luke mirrored him and their eyes met.

“I don’t mind, either. Serene would just be willing to cuddle, since I get cold easily.”

This would be the perfect point to offer to cuddle Elliot. Luke would be happy to, after all. But he didn’t, trying for a joke instead.

“Can I trust you, with those wandering hands?”

Elliot laughed. It wasn’t his usually mocking one. It was soft and sweet.

“Sorry about all that. I was going to tell you earlier, but honestly I was still annoyed you didn’t tell me.”

“I did tell you.”

“After you told Serene. And in front of the class.”

Luke huffed. “I didn’t think you’d take it well.”

“I know and again, my anger at Adam was him kissing me when I said no. It wasn’t because he’s a guy.”

“I know that, I was just lashing out.” Luke’s fists clenched at the thought of his cousin.

“So you don’t care that I’m bisexual?”

Luke didn’t know the word, but he could gather its meaning from context. He did care, of course he cared that the guy he liked was also into guys. He didn’t say that, though.

“You really thought I’d judge you? Me, who is gay?”

Elliot shrugged, the movement awkward since he was laying on his side. 

“Some people thought it was weird. Too gay for the straights, too straight for the gays.”

“You have enough weird things about you,” Luke said. “This isn’t one of them.”

Elliot’s smile was small, almost sad. It was gone in an instant and he rolled over to stare up again. Luke stayed on his side, watching him.

“If we’re going to have boy talk, can we talk about something more cheery? How about cute guys?”

Luke would love to talk about the cute guy in front of him, but figured he should ask something else.

“When did you know?”

“I had my doubts for a while, even before the Border. A guidance counselor told me my crush on Simon was just hero worship and I was confused.”

Luke frowned. “I don’t know what a guidance counselor is, but that doesn’t sound very helpful.”

“It wasn’t. Didn’t think about it much because then I fell- was into Serene. Then, after the breakup,  Jase asked me out and I figured, why not? He was hot.”

“Jase?” Luke asked because Elliot didn’t know that he knew.

“My ex-boyfriend. Dated him last summer. Such an asshole.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

Elliot rolled his eyes. “He’s not worth it. It was fun, he was sweet at first, but the whole bi thing… the whole everything about me… Well, you know.”

Luke didn’t know, because he couldn’t understand someone giving Elliot up. Sure, he was kind of annoying sometimes, but it only made Luke like him more. The redhead was so frustratingly amazing.

“Whatever,” Elliot rushed out. “Your turn. When did you know? Was it Dale?”

“I sort of always knew,” Luke said slowly. “I was never into girls. Never even thought about them. Then I got a crush on a guy and… you know.”

“Dale?”

Luke held his breath. He let it out slowly.

“You’re into guys,” he said without answering the questions. “So you probably like him, too, right?”

Elliot snorted. The noise was jarring in the calm quiet that had settled in the tent.

“He’s hot, sure, but so boring. Every time I talk to him I want to stab myself with a butterknife.”

Luke’s eyes widened. “You-”

“But I wouldn’t. Totally not. Would never do something so stupid.”

His tone wasn’t believable at all and Luke couldn’t help being annoyed at Dale for being such a dull person that he would drive Elliot to stabbing himself.

“Why do you talk to him so much, then?” Luke tried to keep the bitterness out of his voice, but the thought of Dale kissing Elliot was playing through his mind.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Elliot looked at him again. “You like him. When you start dating, he’ll hang out with us more. I don’t want to get in the way of you guys. Besides, you’re being absolute rubbish at this crush thing so someone has to help get you two together.”

Luke gaped. Commander Woodsinger’s words played through his head and he was finally starting to believe them. Elliot cared about him, in some way.

“You really want me to date him?”

“You like him,” Elliot stated. “Don’t you want to date him?”

The air was cool and Luke shifted so he was secure under his blanket. He should just agree and leave it at that, but he felt a selfish jolt in his stomach. If Elliot was only hanging out with Dale for Luke, then maybe he could end things before they got out of hand.

“No,” he whispered. “I don’t.”

Elliot gaped at him, barely visible in the near darkness of the tent.

“What?”

“I don’t want to date him. I don’t like him that way. I’ve barely even spoken to him.”

“But-”

“I lied.” Luke shifted closer the barest inch. “You were bugging me to know and I didn’t want to tell you the truth so I just said Dale. He was out, so it made sense.”

“Oh my god,” Elliot’s voice nearly squeaked. “So I’ve been sneaking and plotting and all to the wrong guy? Why did you lie?”

Luke snorted. “Could it maybe have something to do with the sneaking and the plotting?”

“Fair point. Now tell me.”

“Nope.” Luke rolled over, back to Elliot.

“Oh, come on. I can help.”

“I don’t want you to help, which is why I’m not telling you.”

“But-”

“Good night, Elliot.”

There was a huff behind him. “Like I could go to sleep after this. I’m gonna have to go through every guy in the Bordercamp. It’s not Peter, right? I changed my mind about him.”

“It’s not Peter.”

“Or Richard? He’s the worst.”

“Not him. Now go to sleep.”

“I can’t,” Elliot practically whined. “I’m cold and in suspense.”

Luke gathered any courage he had to get the next sentence out.

“If you let it go, we can cuddle.”

There was silence. Luke felt his heart hammering in his chest and guilt crawl up his spine. It wasn’t exactly a fair trade, since Luke wanted to cuddle with Elliot probably more than Elliot wanted to cuddle with him.

But Elliot didn’t know that and this might be Luke’s only chance to-

He froze as a weight shifted closer, pressing up against his back. An arm draped across  his waist and he felt the light puffs of Elliot’s breath against his neck.

“I hope you don’t mind being the little spoon,” Elliot whispered.

“I don’t know what that means,” Luke breathed, hoping Elliot couldn’t feel his rapid heartbeat.

Elliot laughed lightly before pulling Luke closer to his chest.

“It means sleeping like this.”

“No,” Luke said, eyes drifting closed and breathing finally starting to even out. “I don’t mind.”

Chapter 8

Elliot woke up warm and it might have been pleasant except that he couldn’t move. His limbs were stiff with a dull ache and even though he’d slept, he was still exhausted.

He managed to turn slightly, stretching out a hand in the hopes of easing the pain and his fingers brushed against something soft.

“Don’t-”

Elliot’s eyes snapped open to find the tent full of lustrous gold feathers. He was encased by them, pushing him close to Luke, who was awake and looking at him warily.

“They’re so pretty,” he whispered, reaching out his hand again but stopping in time. The wings belonged to Luke and he probably shouldn’t just touch them. Nevermind that he’d just spent the night curled up with Luke Sunborn, which was a statement ridiculous in itself.

“Elliot,” Luke’s voice was choked. “I need you to get up.”

It was true, since Elliot was on top of Luke’s arm and therefore part of his wing.

“Sorry. You could have woken me up.”

Luke didn’t answer as Elliot pulled himself up, trying not to grunt in pain and stretching his arms more generously.

“I should get to the meetings,” Luke muttered, eyes low. Then Elliot noticed how the wings kind of ruined his shirt.

“I can fix that,” he said. “At least, I think so.”

He leaned over to take Luke’s knife, ignoring the yelp of protest, and began cutting up a shirt to allow for the wings. When he tried to help Luke put it on, he was stopped.

“You- you shouldn’t have to touch them.”

Elliot rolled his eyes. “If I could handle spooning you all night, I think I can handle your shoulders.”

Luke fell silent and finally allowed Elliot to help. After, there was an awkward silence in the tent until Luke muttered something and left.

With everyone in meetings that Elliot wasn’t allowed into, he spent his day walking among the harpies and chatting. He found them amazing.

He was sitting and talking to one harpy, Podarge, when he figured it couldn’t hurt to ask.

“I’ve recently been studying the different creatures in your world,” Elliot said as casually as he could. “There are so many I’ve never seen before.”

“We are lucky,” Podarge nodded. “Everything I’ve heard about your world seems very dull.”

“Oh, it is,” Elliot said eagerly. “I mean, have you heard of the Silver Death?”

Podarge shook her head and Elliot’s heart sank. He kept trying.

“It’s a fish that looks like a bug and is all silver. It’s so pretty, shame about the poison, though.”

And then Podarge lit up in recognition. “Ah, you refer to the Moon Flecks. We harpies enjoy them on occasion since they are delicious when roasted.”

“You-” Elliot swallowed. “You eat them? Is that safe?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“They’re poisonous.”

Podarge made a low cooing sound, as though to soothe him. “Maybe to your kind and others, but we are a hardy folk. Most poisons do not affect us.”

“Really?” Elliot’s throat was dry. “Even if you get stung?”

“We’ve been stung plenty of times. A little shocking, but nothing harmful.”

Elliot stared at the ground, his heart racing and too aware of the ache settled in his bones. Harpies were immune to the poison. That had to mean something, right? Elliot wasn’t a harpy, but maybe…

His conversation was put on hold by the others returning from their talks and Elliot was eager to see how that went. He was hoping to get a look at the treaty, after all.

The peace talks went on and Elliot chatted with the harpies, trying to figure out what saved them from the poison. Maybe their four chambered heart? Elliot would give anything for a library right now.

He’d been trying to avoid Dale during the mission, especially now that he knew the truth. It made him grateful for the distraction of coming face to face with a dead rabbit.

“For you,” Podarge said.

It took Elliot a moment, before he realized the significance. Oh, a flying girlfriend. Elliot would love that.

He was just getting his flirt on when Luke and Celaeno, the leader, landed beside them. Celaeno eyed Podarge warily.

“I must speak with you in the air immediately.”

Podarge left, taking Elliot’s gift with him. Luke frowned at him.

“You have feathers in your hair.”

“It’s a losing battle,” Elliot sighed, but then Luke moved forward to pull them out. That worked, too.

There was silence again, so Elliot questioned Luke about the meeting and they entered a discussion about harpy customs.

Most of the humans were settling in nicely, but Elliot couldn’t help noticing some that stood apart from the group. Dale was among them.

Elliot tried looking for Podarge again, both to ask about poisons and for more flirting. Unfortunately, she was being distant, more polite. In fact, most of the harpies were ignoring his flirting. It was ridiculous.

Luke kept spending his free time around Elliot, which seemed to make sense since Elliot knew about harpy customs. Every time he tried to explain them, though, Luke glowered.

Elliot also needed time to himself, if only so he could sit and stop being in pain for a bit. He could feel Commander Woodsinger’s watchful eye on him and fought not to look like he was dying.

One night, in the tent, Elliot expressed some worries about the treaty. He didn’t voice how annoyed he was that the harpies clearly wanted Luke. How Luke was so satisfied with his loving family, he didn’t care that he now had a second one.

“We’ll get the alliance,” Luke said. “Especially with how friendly you’re being.”

Elliot raised his eyebrows and Luke explained.

“Celaeno said you were pretty.  Apparently you’re the harpies’ type.” 

Elliot was excited until Luke’s next statement.

“Don’t worry, I told them we’re dating.”

“ What? ”

Luke shrugged, clearly not caring.

“Why would you do that?”

“They were into you,” Luke said. “This will keep them away. You’re welcome.”

“I don’t want to keep them away! I almost had a badass flying girlfriend, come on!”

Luke’s face contorted in horror. “You’d actually let them touch you?”

Elliot froze. There was a lot of hate in that comment, giving away exactly how Luke felt about his heritage.

Elliot was not the comforting type, so he swallowed his anger and began complaining about camping until Luke’s shoulders eased.

 

---

 

Podarge had been distant, but Elliot was still trying to lay some groundwork with her when the trolls attacked. They’d heard about the potential alliance and apparently thought a common enemy would ruin things.

It didn’t. Humans and harpies worked well together to eliminate the threat. Elliot just wished he’d managed to hide out before the battle started because he was soon face to face with a troll.

He tried speaking to it in every language he knew, from his world and the Borderlands, but there was no response. He was about to accept being killed by a troll instead of the poison when he was lifted off the ground, being clutched tightly by strong arms.

“Could work on your timing, loser,” Elliot couldn’t help pointing out.

Luke rolled his eyes, flying them somewhere safe before checking Elliot over.

“I’m fine, go do your soldier duty or whatever.”

“Stay away from the battle,” Luke bit out. Elliot held up his hands in surrender.

It wasn’t a long fight, since the harpies and humans had teamwork. When things were settled, Elliot and Serene talked their way into viewing the treaty.

It was nice to sit, since Elliot was finding that standing was becoming more exhausting these days. Most things were exhausting, to be honest.

He threw himself into editing the treaty, grateful for the distraction. As the soldiers returned to camp, they stopped by to greet them. Delia was conflicted over Luke apparently saving her life (though she shouldn’t be, since Luke was annoyingly noble that way) and Dale swept Elliot up in a hug he was quick to pull away from.

“I knew you were nearby,” Dale breathed. “I thought you might get hurt.”

“I’m alright,” Elliot said awkwardly. With the revelation of Luke’s lie, there was no reason to talk to Dale anymore. Sure he was nice to look at, but Elliot could not hold conversation with him for longer than a minute.

Thankfully, Dale left soon enough and Elliot and Serene could finish the treaty.

It had left him with a giddy feeling, almost enough to cover up the ever present pain. Serene mentioned Luke being off with the harpies, but Elliot doubted he would partake in their… traditions.

He was proven right when Luke landed by them, eyes dark. Elliot figured he could distract him with talk of the treaty, but it didn’t go to plan.

“The alliance.” Luke’s voice was quiet. “With the harpies. Those-”

There was a violent sound in the distance. The harpies were not finished yet.

“Luke-”

“But that doesn’t matter to you, I guess,” Luke spat. “Nothing matters except your dumb treaties and everyone knowing how clever and special you are.”

Elliot couldn’t hold back a snort. “I think I’m special? Really?”

“What makes you better than us? Why are you the one who can end all the wars? You’re useless in battle and you don’t even have any friends.”

Elliot wilted. He liked to think he had one friend in Serene. He focused on the other comment instead.

“So I’m useless in battle because I won’t fight? There are other important things, you know. But you’re a Sunborn and it’s all about fighting and killing and anyone who can’t do that is useless, right? Who cares if you’re stupid or ignorant, as long as you can chop off someone’s head?”

“You think it’s easy being a Sunborn?” Luke snapped, eyes dark. “With expectations and-”

“Oh poor Luke, woe is you. Having everyone worship you, growing badass wing, having not one, but two loving families who want you!”

Elliot didn’t care if he sounded cruel and based on what Luke said next, he didn’t care either.

“It always comes back to my family, huh? How jealous you are because the only reason you stayed here is that no one in your land wanted you. Isn’t that right? There was no one to miss you when you left.”

Chapter 9

Luke immediately knew he went too far. He knew he was unreasonable at the start, but he was sick of Elliot focusing on how great the harpies were and ignoring how vicious and terrifying they truly were. How that vicious and terrifying blood ran through Luke’s veins.

But Elliot never took anything seriously. Luke had seen him there, excitedly discussing treaties while the sound of harpies tearing flesh echoed in the air.

So Luke had lashed out and as soon as the words left his lips, he regretted them.

Elliot’s face was shuttered and Luke expected… something. Maybe more yelling, maybe Elliot would abandon his pacifism and punch Luke in the face. 

Instead, Elliot went silent before walking away. Luke watched him head right for a campfire where some soldiers were huddled. He watched him pull Dale Wavechaser aside before crashing their lips together.

Luke kept watching as Dale kissed back eagerly, arms wrapping around Elliot in a way that made Luke sick. He also watched as they left the camp, headed towards the woods in search of privacy.

“Luke,” Serene said quietly. “I know you might be mad at him right now, but that was not okay.”

“I know,” he deflated.

“I will speak to him about going after your love, but-”

“I don’t care about Dale,” Luke spat. “I never liked Dale, I just wanted to be left alone. Elliot has every right to be with him and I- I thought-”

Serene placed a hand on his shoulder, patting him awkwardly. She wasn’t the best at emotional comfort. 

“I once thought that Elliot was just… Elliot. That he didn’t care what I said to him. When we broke up, I learned that he takes things far more seriously than I realized. I hurt him, back then. Similar to how you hurt him now.”

Luke looked at the ground. His eyes stung, but he refused to cry over this. “I’ll apologize to him.”

He meant it. He especially wanted to make things right when he returned to his empty tent to spend the night alone, without Elliot curled up close. Luke was a trained soldier and never worried about the cold before, but now he was missing the warmth.

He didn’t see Elliot all day, even when the treaty was complete and they were headed home. Serene walked over to stay next to him.

“I saw Elliot. I think if you apologize, he will forgive you.”

Luke nodded, feeling a knot of tension ease in his chest.

“I also think you need to discuss things. I won’t betray Elliot’s trust of what he divulged to me, but he did explain that you two aren’t technically friends.”

“We made a truce,” Luke muttered.

“Indeed. What confused me was Elliot thinking he was your friend, but you weren’t his.”

“What?” That was news. Luke had made it pretty obvious he was Elliot’s friend. Hadn’t he?

“I made it clear where his logic failed. You boys can be so silly sometimes.”

Luke was rolling his eyes when someone spoke near them.

“Serene, Luke.”

“Elliot,” Luke whispered.

“I’m sorry,” Elliot said, for some reason. He didn’t have to be sorry when Luke had screwed up.

“What?”

“I know that this whole… harpy thing is difficult for you and I’m not good at handling emotions or whatever. I could have been more understanding.”

“It’s not your fault,” Luke shook his head. “I was upset and angry, I shouldn’t have- I’m sorry.”

Elliot only shrugged. “Not like it isn’t true.”

“The other world is stupid,” Luke said sharply. “Just stay with me and Serene.”

The smile that tugged on Elliot’s lips made Luke’s heart flutter, like it had grown wings too.

“Alright.”

Then Elliot’s eyes caught something over their shoulders.

“Oh god. You guys have to hide me from Dale.”

Serene frowned. “Are you not together now? Since Luke is not interested, I thought-”

“Hell,  no,” Elliot said. “I was sad, I sought comfort. It’s an unhealthy coping mechanism. I do not want to be with him. It could kill me.”

Elliot smiled slightly at that, like it was a joke.

Serene did not laugh. “Elliot Jerome Schafer! Are you playing with his feelings? Men’s hearts are so fragile and delicate, you cannot hurt him that way.”

“So you won’t hide me?” Elliot was pleading.

“We can hide you,” Luke promised. 

Serene opened her mouth to argue, but Luke put a hand on her shoulder. 

“That way Elliot can talk to him when he’s ready.”

“Fine,” Serene said. “But you can’t avoid him forever.”

Elliot barely nodded before moving closer to Luke. He still had feathers in his hair and Luke itched to touch him.

“Luke is my favourite now.”

Serene rolled her eyes, but Luke was busy trying not to smile like the loser he was.

Chapter 10

Sleeping with Dale had not been a  great decision, in hindsight. In Elliot’s defense, he’d been angry and upset and Dale was the first person who chose Elliot first. He made Elliot feel wanted.

There was also the fact that the poison was getting worse every day and sex was a great distraction from all that.

He admitted to himself that he’d been a bit in denial about the whole dying thing. Part of him thought Commander Woodsinger would come up with a cure by now, but there was nothing. Elliot was pouring over books on harpy biology, but there was no way to know for sure what the reason for their immunity was. He did write to Podarge as a last hope.

When he woke up one morning to find that every step felt like walking on needles, he knew it was going to be a long day.

He kept spacing out in class and when Luke and Serene tried to get him to train, he’d adamantly refused. He wasn’t sure if he actually looked sick or this was a perk of actually being friends with Luke now, but they’d let him be.

He had been noticing some differences since everything with the harpies. Now that they were friends, Luke seemed to attempt more ‘boy talk’ or ‘bro time’ or whatever it was.

Instead of training, Serene had gone to write a letter to Golden, which left the guys sitting by a tree. Elliot thought they were just going to work in silence, but then Luke spoke.

“You know how you like both guys and girls?”

“No, I forgot. Thanks for the reminder, loser.”

Luke gave him a look and Elliot rolled his eyes.

“Yes, I like both.”

“You were talking about having kids with Serene. If you end up with a guy, will you still want to?”

Elliot was quiet for a moment. He didn’t want to explain what his parents were like and, given how terrible Elliot was with emotion, how he was terrified he might turn out the same.

“I think it’s pretty well-established that I am not great with kids.”

“Of course,” Luke laughed. “But your own kids would be different. Right?”

One would think, Elliot thought bitterly. His parents, though, did not view him as special just because he was theirs.

Part of Elliot did want kids, if only to prove he was nothing like them. To make sure his kids grew up loved and wanted.

“Maybe,” Elliot said. “With a partner, it could be nice. I’d definitely need the help.”

Luke nodded slowly, a soft smile playing at his lips. Elliot couldn’t help the discomfort over discussing his future, when his arm was currently throbbing in reminder of his nearing deadline.

“What about you?” He shifted gears. “You still planning on adopting all the orphans?”

“Maybe,” Luke echoed. “I like the idea of a family. My own, that I built myself.”

“Wow, loser,” Elliot snorted. “You still won’t tell me who you want to raise those kids with?”

Luke blushed and it seemed to be his turn to change topics.

“Have you talked to Dale yet?”

Elliot groaned. “I have not. It’s pretty awkward to walk up, tell him I used him for his body, and then walk away.”

“Not that awkward,” Luke muttered. “Then he can get over you.”

“Honestly,” Elliot said, because bro time should involve some honesty. “I feel like if I talk to him I’ll end up sleeping with him again.”

It was the first time he’d voiced his fear. It wasn’t that sex with Dale was bad, it was just that Elliot was doing it for all the wrong reasons and that wasn’t fair.

Luke seemed tense. “I thought you didn’t like him.”

Of course Luke would be bothered. Bad enough the conversation was about sex, but it also involved something fairly dishonourable.

“I don’t like him that way, but-”

But what? But he likes me? But he wants me? But he gives me the attention I so desperately crave? But he’s easier to think about than the poison?

Elliot couldn’t say any of that.

“He’s hot. It’s fun.”

“Fun.” Luke glared. “You seriously can’t go without… that for so long that you’d sleep with someone you don’t care about?”

“I care about him. He’s always been nice to me,” Elliot protested.

He was having trouble defending himself while keeping his truths locked away. That he only had a few months left and he might as well enjoy a brief fling and then he could just die and avoid the awkward breakup altogether. At least then Elliot wouldn’t have to wait around to get dumped. Because it was always him getting dumped, wasn’t it?

“So you’re going to sleep with him again?” Luke’s voice dripped with venom.

“I said maybe!” Elliot crossed his arms, holding back a wince as it made his arm twinge. “It’s not like I’m surrounded by prospects, especially since someone sabotaged my chances with the harpies.”

Luke muttered something under his breath, but Elliot couldn’t catch it. He didn’t care anyway, instead standing up despite the pain it caused.

“If you’re done slutshaming me-”

“I wasn’t-”

“See you later, loser.”

Elliot left. 

So much for friendship. They were just as incompatible as always. He headed for the library to return to his research, but unfortunately Dale was waiting there for him.

This day was kicking his butt, and it wasn’t even noon.

“Hey, Elliot.”

“Dale,” he greeted. He figured he should get this over with.

“Look, what happened… we both know it was a mistake. I was upset and vulnerable and I shouldn’t have used you like that-”

“Used me?”

“I don’t feel that way about you,” Elliot said. “I’m sorry.”

“Oh,” Dale said. “But… you like me?”

“Sure,” Elliot lied, because it was the polite thing to do.

Dale took a step closer and Elliot became nervous. 

“And you’re attracted to me?”

Elliot nodded, because he wasn’t going to lie about that.

“So why can’t we spend time together? See where things take us?”

It was a very bad idea, but Elliot was still pretty annoyed at Luke and sleeping with Dale would be a bit of a middle finger to him. Also, his feet felt like they were being sliced open and it would be nice to be off them for a while.

“I concede,” Elliot said. “Your cabin?”

Dale’s roommates were out, so they went there. Elliot found he enjoyed things much more when Dale wasn’t talking, so he tried to keep kissing him. When their shirts were off, though, he realized his mistake.

“That hasn’t healed yet?”

It was the fabric wrapped around his arm, hiding his sting. He’d kept his shirt on last time, but now there was no hiding it.

“It left a scar,” Elliot said quickly.

Dale opened his mouth, likely with more questions, so Elliot got to work to distract him. 

He succeeded.

Chapter 11

Elliot walked back to his cabin, well aware of how tousled he looked for this early in the day. Luke and Serene were there waiting for him and Luke took one look at him before storming away. Figures.

“Did you-” Serene cleared her throat. “You spoke to Dale Wavechaser?”

“I guess,” Elliot muttered.

“And you were careful of his emotions?”

“Serene.”

She looked him over. “I do not understand. You were quite loyal to me when we were intimate. You seemed like you wanted true romance, as any man would. Do you no longer value your body, since you have no virtue to cherish?”

Elliot did not know which part to respond to first. He was tired and uncomfortable and, even though it was the middle of the day, he wanted a nap.

“Of course I want romance, Serene. I wanted it with you, remember? I was ready to spend my life with you, but you didn’t want that and now we’re friends and that’s fine but that doesn’t change the fact that you knew me and you knew you could never want me like that. I told you I wasn’t wanted back home, I told you about my mother, but it’s everyone. Jase thought I was too much to be with and Myra liked Luke and Adara liked someone else but settled for me. Everyone always just… settled for me.”

Serene looked uncomfortable. “Elliot, I-”

“But Dale likes me,” Elliot said urgently. “I told him Luke liked him when I thought it was true and he still chose me. He gave me the first birthday present I’ve ever gotten. I know it’s not true love, but that’s where I’m at. I’m just an affection-starved loser who’s willing to sleep with anyone who gives me a hint of attention. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

The words drained him of his limited strength and he sat on the steps of the cabin, putting his face in his hands.

He felt a stiff pat on his shoulder and looked up to see Serene smiling awkwardly.

“There, there, Elliot. I apologize, I am not experienced with male hysterics. Should I get Luke?”

“God, no.”

Serene looked disappointed, but sat next to him. She was quiet for a moment, likely trying to phrase her response in a somewhat sympathetic way.

“I know our relationship… had its issues, but it was not through any fault of yours. It wasn’t that I didn’t like you, it was that I loved you too much as a friend. It was that I knew I wouldn’t be able to love you the way you deserve to be loved.”

Elliot smiled. Golden was definitely helping Serene be more tactful.

“I know, and I’m so happy for our friendship. It’s just, when every romance I have ends the same way, I can’t help feeling like the problem.”

“You’re not. You will have your epic romance someday and, apologies for the bluntness, but I don’t think it’s Dale.”

Elliot snorted. “Probably not.”

“I would never judge you for your choices, so long as they made you happy. I merely want to make sure you’re not with Dale just because he likes you. I want to make sure you like him, too.”

“Thank you, Serene.”

She put an arm around him and he rested his head on her shoulder.

“I might sleep with him again, because he’s hot. Will you think I’m a slut?”

Serene snorted. “I always knew you were a minx, Elliot. Doesn’t make me love you any less.”

Elliot figured he couldn’t exactly deny it.

 

---

 

On the weekend, Elliot ran into Commander Woodsinger in the hallway.

Elliot was sure he looked terrible, since that was how he felt. His head felt like someone had stuffed it with rocks and then crudely sewn it up along the back of his skull. His skin was both itchy and burning, especially around the sting on his arm that he would love nothing more than to rip off. When he’d checked it this morning, he could see that the mark had spread beyond the cloth bandage and he had to rewrap it to keep it covered.

Woodsinger didn’t know all that, but she could clearly see he was not well.

“Cadet Schafer. How are you feeling?”

He didn’t justify that with an answer, instead just looked at her wearily.

“Of course,” she nodded. “I apologize that I have no news at the moment. The Silver Death is quite rare in this area, there has not been an active search for a cure.”

“Talk to the harpies,” Elliot said, somewhat bitterly. “They managed to become immune to it.”

“They have?”

The commander sounded surprised, which was probably fair. Given that the alliance had just formed, it was unlikely that there had been much polite communication with them.

Elliot nodded, mostly wanting the conversation to end so he could lie down and not move for a while.

“They call it Moon Fleck, though. I’m assuming it’s the same thing.”

“Indeed,” she said thoughtfully. “I will pursue the matter.”

He hoped that was the end, but Commander Woodsinger pursed her lips in preparation to speak.

“It seems that your friends are still unaware of your current condition. With the… timing, it might be beneficial to inform them of the matter.”

“No,” Elliot bit out. 

“Cadet Schafer.” Woodsinger took a step forward, lifting a hand as though to reach out to him. Ultimately she thought better of it, since she merely clenched her fist and put it behind her back.

“Cadet,” she repeated. “I know this has not been an easy time for you.”

“Really? Because I think my slow death has been a right treat.”

She ignored him, which was fair.

“I will keep searching for a cure, but in the event that… If things go wrong, it would be good to prepare them.”

Elliot was silent for a moment. He knew it made sense. Hell, if one of his friends were poisoned he would want to know immediately.

“I can’t,” he finally whispered. “If it is the end, I’d rather have things stay normal.”

The commander clearly disagreed with him, but Elliot knew her well enough to trust that she wouldn’t betray him.

It was a weird feeling, trust. He almost didn’t recognize it.

“Very well,” she said shortly. “You will inform me of any developments. We still don’t know exactly how long you have left.”

“Sure,” Elliot said. “Can I go now?”

Woodsinger took another step forward, her voice low.

“I am doing everything I can, cadet. If the cure is out there, we will find it.”

Elliot smiled softly. “What happened to no personal relationships?”

The commander narrowed her eyes. “Then you better survive or you’d just be proving me right.”

Elliot couldn’t fight his grin. Well, he couldn’t have that.

Chapter 12

Elliot’s head hurt too much to actually read, but he still sat in the library, staring at a book in the hopes he could somehow absorb the information.

He had finally found a position that wasn’t awful, so he was ready to stay there for the rest of the weekend, but then Luke decided to show up.

“Look,” he said before Elliot could speak. “Serene said I was being a jerk and maybe she has a point. I shouldn’t judge you for your choices or whatever.”

Elliot finally went to talk, but couldn’t.

His hand tightened around his pencil as he realized his mouth would not open. His jaw had somehow locked from sheer pain.

Luke took the silence as a sign to continue, unaware of the panic swelling in Elliot’s chest.

“It could be that you grow to like Dale that way. Even if not, you’re both consenting participants.” He said that part like they were someone else’s words he was forced to repeat. “So, I’m sorry and I hope that we’re- that we’re still friends.”

His voice went quiet by the end. It was the first time either of them had used the word to describe their relationship and Luke was clearly nervous. Elliot would love to support him for his social growth and agree with the statement, but he was preoccupied with trying to pry his mouth open.

It felt like it had been welded shut. He was almost worried that if he kept trying he’d break something. Elliot loved talking, and now he was incapable of it. What if his jaw was stuck shut? How the hell would he eat? What if he got a cold and couldn’t breathe from his nose? Would he die?

He almost snorted, except he was panicking too much to gather that much air. Colds didn’t matter, since it was likely he’d be dead soon.

“Elliot?”

Luke’s voice was small. If Elliot was a good friend, he would comfort him. Instead, he felt his eyes sting with tears as frustration and helplessness curdled his stomach and twisted his chest.

“Are you okay? Say something.”

Elliot couldn’t laugh, though he did try to. Luke was staring at him, nervousness morphing into worry.

“Elliot?”

To his horror, Elliot felt the tears overflow and start to fall. His breathing was short and shallow and he worried he might faint soon. He knew that the key to panic attacks was slow breathing, but he couldn’t open his fucking mouth right now and his head hurt and his chest hurt and his everything hurt because the stupid fucking poison was eating away at him and Elliot had no idea what the hell he was supposed to do.

“Oh no,” Luke was guilty, as if he was at fault for Elliot’s breakdown. Elliot couldn’t tell him otherwise.

A sharp whine managed to escape the back of his throat and his shoulders started to shake with the effort of wanting to sob. It was like he was dreaming, where he’d be trying to speak but no sound would come out.

Luke was clearly lost at the sight of a crying Elliot. To be fair, it was a pretty rare sight.

“Elliot, don’t cry. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I just want you to be happy and if being with Dale does that, then go for it.”

Elliot shook his head furiously, trying to communicate anything he was thinking. He was just about to stand and run away and be done with all this when Luke bent down to crush Elliot in a hug.

They’d never really hugged before. There was the cuddling, which mainly happened while they were asleep. There was the sort of hug when Serene and Luke returned from battle.

This was a true hug, though. It was strong and warm and meant to provide comfort.

“You’re my friend, Elliot,” Luke whispered softly. “I care about you.”

Elliot could do nothing but sink into it. After all, he liked being held and Luke’s arms were not bad, as far as arms went.

He managed to hug back as he broke into outright sobbing, the sounds broken as they couldn’t escape his lips.

“Ssh,” Luke hushed, as though trying to be soothing. “It’s okay. Whatever it is, it’ll be okay.”

It wouldn’t, but Elliot couldn’t tell Luke that even if his mouth did work.

He wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, wrapped in each other, Luke muttering comforting words, Elliot trying to control his crying.

Finally, almost shockingly sudden, one of Elliot’s sobs broke free as his lips parted.

“Fuck,” he whispered, voice hoarse. His face ached, but he kept talking just to prove that he could.

“I’m not mad at you, loser. None of this is because of you. Thanks for the hug, though.”

Luke pulled away, face red. “Sorry.”

“Again,” Elliot said shakily. “Not your fault. I’ve just-”

He struggled for an excuse.

“This is stupid, I’m the one who should be sorry. I’ve been on a library binge and the sleep deprivation is catching up with me.”

“Oh,” Luke said slowly, as though unsure if he believed him.

“I just need to get to bed. We’re all good, I promise. Thanks for being a good friend.”

His voice cracked on the word. He wasn’t sure if it was from his leftover panic or the lockjaw or because it was the first time he used it for Luke. 

It was worth it, though, for the way Luke’s lips quirked up.

“Of course. Any time.”

Elliot stood up, willing his legs not to collapse and cause more embarrassment.

“I’m gonna go. And sleep.”

Luke looked like he wanted to stop him, but thankfully said nothing and let Elliot leave to overthink in private.

 

---

Elliot woke up and immediately knew he would not make it to class.

He thought yesterday was bad, but it was like sleeping had allowed him to forget everything and the morning was a sharp reminder of how every part of him was slowly dying.

“Schafer,” Richard called out from his side of the cabin. “Class is soon. You missed breakfast.”

It was the barest hint of politeness between them, but sadly Elliot wasn’t in a place to appreciate it.

“I won’t make it to class,” he said, voice cracking.

Richard stepped forward warily, lifting his shirt to cover his nose.

“Are you ill?”

“Might be,” Elliot admitted. “Can you let someone know I won’t be there?”

“Fine,” Richard said, taking a step back so he could lower his shirt again. “Does this mean all your friends will be over later?”

“No,” Elliot said firmly, though the effect was dulled by how terrible he felt. “If any of them ask, can you cover for me? Tell them anything just… I don’t want them visiting me. Or knowing I’m sick.”

“You are a strange one, Schafer.”

“Please,” Elliot practically begged.

Richard was wrongfooted at the sight of a weak and vulnerable Elliot Schafer. Even after being punched in the face Elliot wasn’t this meek.

“Fine,” he said.

Elliot spent the most of the day alone in his cabin, drifting in and out of sleep. He had snacks hidden around his room, but he wasn’t hungry or thirsty. He just… hurt.

Eventually, though, the ceiling lost his interest and he needed to do something, anything. He would not make it more than a foot out of his cabin, so classes were still out of the question. He had things here, though.

He wound up on his bed, lying on his stomach and reading the history book Dale had gifted to him so long ago.

He hadn’t read it in a while and it wasn’t the most riveting work, but it was something. He also couldn’t help the smile on his face at the memory.

He had dismissed Dale as boring and out of the running for Elliot’s true love, but maybe he’d been hasty. Maybe he needed to give things a real chance and they could have an actual relationship.

The words blurred on the page as his head pounded. It was a painful reminder that he was being dumb, since he might not have enough time to build anything with Dale.

He would just enjoy his last couple of months and hope that somehow he was cured.

A twist of anger burned through him and he sat up violently, rage muting the pain enough for him to toss the book across the room where it slammed into the wall, mere inches from Commander Woodsinger’s shocked face.

“Sorry,” Elliot rushed out, trying to stand respectfully and falling back onto his bed when his legs gave out.

“Cadet Schafer,” she nodded, sparing the book on the floor a brief glance. “I was told you were absent today and figured I should check in.”

“Did you figure out an antidote?” Elliot’s tone was bitter, now that the threat of punishment was gone.

The commander shook her head and he gave a dry laugh.

“Then there’s no point in checking in, is there? All I can do is lay here and suffer and wait for my inevitable doom. I doubt well-wishers and worries are going to make a difference.”

“Perhaps not,” Woodsinger admitted. “But suffering can be eased with company and friendship.”

Elliot narrowed his eyes. “Are you offering?”

“Of course not,” she scoffed. “I was hoping you reconsidered your stance on telling people.”

“No,” Elliot spat. “I just want to be left alone.”

Commander Woodsinger sighed. “Very well. How are you feeling?”

Elliot fell onto his back, hitting the mattress with a fwoomp.

“Fantastic.”

“It’s not perfect,” the commander said, reaching into her pocket. “But I’ve found a stronger pain reliever. Hopefully it will do better to dull the effects.”

She placed the bottle on the shelf, looked at Elliot’s collapsed form, then picked it up again to hand over.

Elliot accepted it, immediately taking a swig. It was peppery and cold, giving a weird sensation through his body. He set the bottle down on the nightstand and looked at the commander.

“Thank you.”

“It is my duty to look after the cadets here.”

Elliot barely managed not to roll his eyes.

“ Thank you, ” he repeated.

“I know you want to be left alone, but you have people who want to help. Don’t forget that.”

Elliot gave a small smile. He wasn’t sure if it was a placebo or magic, but he was already feeling a bit better. 

He watched the commander leave and had barely a moment’s quiet before the door burst open again, this time to reveal Luke and Serene.

“Elliot,” Luke stated.

“That’s me,” he responded.

“You- We-” Luke floundered.

Elliot looked to Serene for help. Her brow was furrowed in the faintest crease.

“We just saw Commander Woodsinger leaving your cabin.”

Great. This was all just great.

“And?”

“And,” Luke seemed to have regained his voice. “That’s a bit odd, don’t you think? Why did you skip classes? Your roommate said you went to the library, but you weren’t there.”

Elliot shouldn’t have been surprised Luke didn’t know his roommate’s name, given the whole Peter and Myra incident. He was a bit annoyed at Richard for such a weak lie, though. 

“I was there earlier,” Elliot lied easily. “Must have missed each other. Sorry about that, lost track of time and figured there was no point in showing up late.”

“But you love classes,” Serene said. “Are you really alright, Elliot?”

Immensely grateful for the medicine, Elliot stood up and smiled.

“I’m fine, really.”

“Then why did the commander visit your cabin?”

Elliot shrugged casually.

“Raid for contraband. Good thing it’s not here, right?”

Luke narrowed his eyes. “She came herself? For a raid?”

“I am a wily one.”

“What’s that?” Serene pointed to the bottle on his nightstand.

“Alcohol,” Elliot said, hopefully not too quickly.

“And what happened there?” Luke pointed to the book on the ground, the cover dented where it hit the wall. “Isn’t that from Dale?”

Elliot had no idea how Luke recognized the book, but he just looked away.

“Oh no,” Serene said. “Did you get into a fight with your lover?”

“Please don’t call him that,” Elliot wrinkled his nose. “And we’re not in a fight. I just found an inaccuracy that got me very aggravated.”

Luke and Serene exchanged a look. 

“Elliot,” Serene said calmly. “I’m not sure what is going on, but you’ve been a bit… distant lately. We’re worried about you.”

“You don’t need to worry,” Elliot said as lightly as he could. “There’s nothing wrong.”

“We’re your friends.” Luke seemed to really be leaning into that fact. “You’ve been skipping training, you were late to camp, that whole thing in the library yesterday-”

“I never wanted to train, thank you very much,” Elliot scoffed. “But if you’re that obsessed, fine. Let’s go train and then I can catch up on the classes I missed.”

They looked like they wanted to argue, they surely caught how he avoided the subject, but instead Serene placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“I brought you notes, if you need.”

“Thanks,” Elliot smiled. 

He loved his friends, he really did. Logically, he knew it was his own frustrations making him angry, just like when Luke had lashed out at him back with the harpies. 

Still, maybe it was okay to distance himself a bit. If they cared about him, it would make things pretty awkward when the poison took him.

If. If the poison took him. He had to hold onto hope, even if his time was rapidly draining away.

Chapter 13

The commander’s medicine kept Elliot on a functioning level. He didn’t have to miss more class and he could suffer through training with Luke and Serene. He still skipped as many as he could get away with, though.

Podarge still hadn’t responded to his letter and Elliot had no leads on a cure. There were lots of facets to harpy biology, but even if one of them was the answer, Elliot would have no way to replicate it in his own body.

He couldn’t go a day without some existential panic, so when Dale asked him to come by his cabin one night, Elliot eagerly agreed.

Elliot had not been sleeping well, so it was a nice reprieve to pass out in a tangle of limbs and actually stay asleep.

It meant he spent more nights with Dale and, while fun, he was slowly gaining certainty that Dale was not the one.

He woke up in Dale’s bed, held close to him. He hadn’t taken any medicine yet, so he could barely move in pain. When he made the effort to get up, Dale stirred and it seemed that pillow talk was going to happen.

“Morning,” Dale smiled at him.

“Hello,” Elliot nodded awkwardly, head pounding.

“I had fun last night.”

“I did, too.” It was true, after all.

“Do you think-” Dale went nervous. “Should we try to have a date at some point?”

Elliot snorted. “Romantic.”

Dale stayed serious. “I just mean… we’ve been sleeping together, so maybe we should try a relationship. See how things go.”

“Dale-”

“I know you care about Luke Sunborn so you don’t want to date publicly, but-”

“Oh, right, you don’t know,” Elliot realized. “Luke does not like you, turns out. He just lied because apparently I’m prone to plotting and stuff.”

“He- he doesn’t?”

Elliot shook his head.

“Oh.” 

Elliot couldn’t tell if he was disappointed or relieved.

“Isn’t that good? Since you didn’t like him back?”

Dale nodded quickly. 

“Of course. I definitely wouldn’t be able to date him.”

Something about the phrasing bothered him.

“Because you don’t like him.”

“I mean, he’s hot. You’re into guys, you must know that.”

Elliot did know that, objectively, he just wasn’t suicidal to give it more than a passing thought.

“Why did you never ask him out, then? Before this?”

“He’s not the most approachable, is he? Until you mentioned it, I was convinced he didn’t care about me at all.”

“And when I told you?”

Dale’s face went pink, his expression guilty.

“That was after, you know.”

“I don’t know. I told you before we had sex.”

“After the whole harpy thing.”

Elliot’s blood went cold. His head felt like it was splitting open, but he tried to grasp what was being said.

“What about it?”

“Come on, Elliot,” Dale rolled his eyes. “I know he’s your friend, but you have to admit it’s a bit of an obstacle. Luke is hot, but not enough to brave that. ”

“When-” Elliot swallowed. “When you said you chose me. Did you have romantic feelings for me?”

“You didn’t like me that way,” Dale defended, giving away his answer. “You’re attractive and I heard from Adara that it’s worth it. I figured if we gave it a go, romance could come later. If not, at least we had some fun.”

“If Luke wasn’t a harpy-”

“He is, though,” Dale went on, oblivious to the horror curdling Elliot’s stomach. “So he wasn’t an option, but you like guys, too.”

“And I’m human enough for you to get your rocks off.”

Elliot sat up, ignoring the wave of dizziness and nausea. He wasn’t even sure if it was from the poison anymore.

“Come on, Elliot. I still like you, what does all the other stuff matter?”

“You want to be with me because I’m the only other human who likes guys in the camp,” Elliot said slowly. “You think Luke is disgusting because he has awesome fucking wings? Am I hearing this right?”

“I didn’t mean it like that-”

“How do you mean it?” Elliot was standing, barely. He fumbled to put on his jeans as he spoke.

“What was your plan, Dale? To keep sleeping with me until you found someone better? Someone who could be human and lovable?”

“Come on, Elliot, don’t be like that. You don’t like me that way, either.”

“I thought you were nice. I thought you were a good person and that was worth something. I should’ve stuck to my first impression of you: That you’re an idiot.”

“Now wait a-”

Elliot couldn’t find his shirt, but he didn’t want to be there anymore. He left the cabin, vision blurry from the poison or from tears or from anger or who knows what. He wasn’t entirely aware where he was going and maybe he bumped into things, but he didn’t care.

He’d been so stupid. He’d wasted so much time with Dale and why? Because he was lonely? He was unloved? He wanted some form of affection before he died?

They were all stupid reasons and none of it was worth it. He hated the fact that he’d been so desperate for companionship, had actually believed someone could choose him.

He felt like he was going to be sick.

He still wasn’t sure where he was going when he ran right into someone. Arms caught him by the sides.

“Elliot? Why are you- Where-”

He blinked until Luke’s concerned expression came into focus.

“You were with Dale,” Luke surmised.

Elliot nodded.

Luke’s gaze fell and his face clouded. Elliot followed to see the cloth wrapped around his arm. Bits of pink were poking out where the mark was spreading.

“Did he-”

Elliot shook his head. He couldn’t manage words yet.

“What happened?”

It was sweet, how much Luke cared. Of course he did. He was the loyal friend. He protected those who couldn’t protect themselves. He was perfect and noble and handsome and of course he would be chosen over Elliot every time.

Unless the person choosing was a bigoted asshole who didn’t want Luke because he was part harpy.

“Elliot? Can you talk to me?”

Elliot opened his mouth to speak and then ran to the nearest bush so he could throw up.

He’d barely been eating lately, so there wasn’t much, but it left his stomach cramping and his face clammy.

“Holy- Elliot!”

Elliot straightened for a full two seconds before sinking to the ground. His vision was blurring again and his face was wet. He wasn’t sure if it was sweat or tears or maybe even blood.

“I don’t feel very well,” he muttered hoarsely.

There was a hand on his forehead, cool and calming.

“You’re burning up. I need to take you to the medic.”

“No,” Elliot’s voice was garbled to his ears, but he needed that fact to be clear. “No medic. Don’t take me there, please. Luke, please.”

“Elliot-”

“Commander,” he said. “Her instead, it’s fine.”

Luke was quiet and Elliot couldn’t see his face. Finally, though, he spoke.

“Alright.”

 

Chapter 14

Luke had been planning an early morning training session. He had not expected to run into a shirtless Elliot fresh from a hookup. He had especially not expected Elliot to then become frighteningly sick and beg him not to go to the infirmary.

There was also the cloth tied on his arm, clearly hiding an injury that Elliot didn’t think to mention.

Luke had no time to wonder, instead pulling Elliot’s arm over his shoulders and half-dragging him to the commander’s office.

“Enter,” she responded to Luke kicking the door, his hands full of a worryingly warm Elliot.

He burst in, stumbling into an explanation.

“He looked sick and then he threw up and now he’s like this and he said not to go to the infirmary, but this looks bad. Is it really bad?”

Commander Woodsinger leapt to her feet.

“Place him on the chair.”

Luke set Elliot down, but stayed close. He clutched Elliot’s hand in his, still panicked about how heated his skin was.

Woodsinger pulled out a bottle and Luke recognized it as the same as what Elliot had in his room the day he ditched class.

Luke didn’t dare speak. He just watched as Woodsinger poured the contents down Elliot’s throat before turning to his wrapped arm.

“I’m assuming he still didn’t tell you anything?”

“You know what’s wrong with him?”

The commander sighed, undoing the fabric and revealing a strange mark on Elliot’s skin. It was pale pink around the edges, but went almost an angry red closer to his shoulder. The pattern looked like frost, or lightning.

“What is that?”

“Silent Death,’ Woodsinger whispered.

Luke had heard of it before, vaguely. Mainly his parents warning him as a kid. He didn’t know much about it except-

“Is there a cure?”

“If there is,” she said tersely, rewrapping Elliot’s arm, “We’ll find it.”

“How- When-”

And so she told him. All about how Elliot had been stung, how he’d hid it, how he’d been briefly healed in the human world, but still returned.

How he didn’t want anyone to know, even Serene and Luke.

Luke’s voice was barely audible when he spoke. “How long does he have?”

“We don’t know. The human world might have paused the clock, which gives him longer. Otherwise, it’s a matter of weeks.”

Weeks. Elliot might be gone in a few weeks.

Luke furiously wiped away his tears as the idiot himself woke up, staring around in confusion.

“Commander,” Elliot nodded at her before finding Luke.

“Hi. Care to share?”

Luke was going to punch him.

He didn’t. Instead, he pulled him into a tight hug that might never end. He didn’t want to let Elliot go for a second and risk losing him forever.

“You’re an asshole,” Luke bit out angrily. “I hate you so much. I’m going to kill you.”

“Getting some mixed messages here, mate. Also, could somebody get me a shirt?”

Luke managed to pull back slightly, but his hands stayed firm on Elliot’s shoulders.

“If you die, I will never forgive you.”

Elliot choked before taking in his surroundings. He saw the bottle on the commander’s desk, he saw his rewrapped arm. He blinked slowly, as if remembering what had occurred.

“Well, shit.”

Luke was ready to yell at him even more, but Elliot pulled out of his grasp and all but ran out of the room. Luke prepared to follow him, but the commander stopped him.

“Cadet Sunborn, I understand this is a difficult situation, but he may need time.”

“He doesn’t have time,” Luke spat.

“I know,” Woodsinger said calmly. “So make sure that, if this is it, these weeks are not spent in anger.”

Luke wanted to yell. He wanted to throw things. But he also wanted to hold Elliot in his arms and kiss him until he could take the poison for himself. 

“Is it painful?” He asked instead.

“I can’t know the details,” Woodsinger answered. “But from what I’ve heard, Cadet Schafer is a remarkably brave person.”

Luke already knew that. He also knew what Woodsinger wasn’t saying: That Elliot was in pain.

Luke turned and left the office. He wanted to head straight for Elliot, but maybe the commander was right and they both needed time to cool off.

Instead, Luke went to his swordsister and all but fell into her arms.

“Luke? What-”

“Elliot,” he gasped between tears. “He’s been poisoned and there’s no antidote and he didn’t tell us and he’s dying and- I can’t lose him, Serene. I can’t-”

“No,” she said fiercely, eyes shining even as her jaw set. “We won’t lose him. It’s not allowed. I will write to my mother and to every elf I know and we will find a cure and-”

“Serene,” Luke looked her in the eyes, even though his own were clouded with tears. “Serene, I love him. I love him so much and now he’s going to-”

“He won’t,” Serene stated as if the matter was settled. When she next spoke, though, her voice was faint. “He’s not going to-”

They stood in the middle of the field, tight grip around each other the only thing preventing them from falling.

 

Chapter 15

Elliot considered just hiding out in his cabin until the poison took over, but all too soon there was a knock at the door.

Figuring he might as well get things over with, he called out for them to enter, not wanting to move from where he was faceplanted on his bed.

Despite his muffled voice, he was clearly understood because there was the sound of a door opening and people entering. He didn’t need to look because he knew exactly who it was.

“Elliot! Are you okay? Are you in pain?”

Finally needing more access to air, Elliot turned his head enough to take a deep breath and answer.

“Only the ever-present ennui of my purloined future.”

“Er- what?” Luke stepped closer.

Elliot rolled over and sat up, looking into their worried faces.

“I know I cocked things up. I shouldn’t have wandered off and gotten poisoned and I shouldn’t have hid it from you.”

“Why?” Luke asked. He lifted a hand and then dropped it. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

“It’s not like there was anything you could do,” Elliot pointed out. “All it would do was get the I told you so and then you’d be all pitying and weird and if- if it was the end, that’s not how I wanted to spend it.”

Serene sat next to him, putting an arm around his shoulders. Her hand was cool where it traced the ends of the cloth tied around his arm.

“It’s not the end. And antidote aside, we could be there for you.”

Elliot squirmed slightly. “I don’t know what that’s like. Luke said it, I’ve never- I don’t-”

“I am sorry about that,” Luke said, taking the spot on Elliot’s other side. “I shouldn’t have said it.”

“But it’s true.” Elliot gave a humourless laugh. “I’ve never had anyone care about me, I still struggle believing it could happen.”

“Well, it did,” Serene stated. “Whatever happened in your world, here you are loved and we won’t let you go easily.”

Luke lifted his hand again, and this time he rested it on Elliot’s. It was warm and calloused and Elliot turned his own over to lace their fingers together.

Luke froze and for a moment Elliot thought he did something wrong, but then Luke’s grip tightened.

“We’re not going to lose you.”

“Of course not, loser,” Elliot said, almost sounding like he believed it.

“The commander said-” Luke paused. “She said that the poison doesn’t work in your world. If it gets bad, you could always-”

“I know,” Elliot sighed. “But it’s not really my world anymore. I came back here because this is where my life is, where my friends are.”

He gave Luke’s hand a slight squeeze.

“Returning would mean I could never come back here and I’m not sure I could live with that.”

“But at least you’d live,” Luke pointed out, voice tight.

Elliot let go of Luke so he could stand up.

“I’ll find a cure. Or the commander will. I’ve already got a lead and as soon as Podarge responds I’ll have enough to research and-”

He took a breath, looking away from the pitying expressions on his friends’ faces.

“I’ll find a cure,” he repeated.

Serene stood up first, taking his hand. 

“We’ll find a cure.”

Luke stood and took his other hand.

Elliot smiled at them, holding tight to what hope he had left.

 

---

 

When the Border camp was asked to join the harpies in a battle against trolls, Luke wanted Elliot to stay behind and rest and not get involved.

None of that mattered, of course, because Elliot was dead set on going and Luke didn’t even bother to argue.

“If he gets killed before we can cure him, I’m gonna be pissed,” Luke muttered to Serene, watching Elliot up ahead talking with Delia Winterchild.

“What you said before, about how you loved him. I am guessing you did not mean in the platonic sense?”

Luke’s cheeks felt warm.

“No. Definitely not platonic.”

“So the crush you mentioned before-”

Luke nodded. Serene gave him a guilty expression.

“You had a crush on him when we were dating, didn’t you?”

Luke didn’t answer that. Serene could put it together.

“I’m so sorry, Luke. If you had told me, I would never-”

“It’s fine,” he finally said. “You made each other happy. That’s all I want for you guys.”

“But still, it can’t have been easy-”

“It wasn’t,” Luke admitted. “But it was much worse seeing him with Adara and Dale and literally anyone who wasn’t me.”

He knew he sounded bitter. He was bitter. He’d been pining after Elliot for so long and it felt like just as he was making the smallest bit of progress, Elliot was dying.

“There, there,” Serene said awkwardly. “I really wish you boys would talk to each other instead of letting out all these… emotions around me. I’m not equipped for this.”

Luke snorted. “Sorry. Not like I can talk to him about it.”

“Why not?” Serene asked bluntly. “Perhaps the only reason he hasn’t pursued you is because you’ve made no attempt to pursue him? Let’s not forget he didn’t think you were his friend until this year.”

The reminder still sent an ache in his chest.

“Do you really think I have a chance?”

“I’ve spoken with Elliot about romance before. I hope he will forgive my sharing it with you, but I deem it pertinent. I broke up with him because I could not love him the way he loved me. I did not realize how much I’d hurt him until recently, since he hid it to save our friendship.”

“Why-”

“His partner from the human world, Jase. Apparently he broke up with Elliot because of his interest in multiple genders. He also thought Elliot was ‘too much.’”

“He what ?” Luke felt a stab of anger.

“Adara had been another hope for romance, but then she revealed she liked someone else and was using Elliot for comfort. He subsequently terminated their relationship. I am not aware of how things are with Dale, but a leading factor in Elliot being with him was owing to Dale’s interest in Elliot.”

“Why are you telling me all this?”

“Elliot thinks he can’t be chosen, can’t be loved the way he loves others. If you care for him as you say you do, as sincere as I believe you to be, then Elliot will give you a chance. He already loves you as a friend, it would not take much to shift into romance.”

Luke thought about that the whole way to the harpies. A lot of what Serene said made Luke want to run over and sweep Elliot into his arms, kiss him until he knew how much Luke wanted him.

He was also terrified. What if Elliot turned him down? What if he liked him back and then Luke immediately lost him to the Silent Death?

He had to hope they’d find an antidote, but the thought painted his every action. But maybe, if their time together was limited, this was the moment for Luke to make his feelings known.

When they arrived at the battle, Luke grabbed Elliot and flew him to safety. Thankfully he was smart enough to not argue the matter.

“I’ll come get you when it’s over, if I can.”

Elliot glared. “If I can’t die, then neither can you, loser.”

Luke couldn’t fight a smile. “You worried about me?”

“You already know I care, there’s no more point in hiding it, I suppose.”

Luke’s hand took Elliot’s before he could talk himself out of it.

“I’ll be back.”

“Good, because I need your help with the harpies. They’re immune to poisons, but none of them know enough about their own biology to tell me how. Or maybe it’s because I’m not a harpy.”

“We’ll figure it out and as soon as you’re cured I’ll stop being this nice and finally yell at you for hiding it from us.”

“Aw, but I like nice Luke.”

He was nearly late for the battle but Luke still found time to pull Elliot in his arms and hug him tightly.

“Never mind,” Elliot muttered faintly. “Nice Luke is weird. Say something mean.”

“You’re a nerd,” Luke tried, even though his tone was too fond to be insulting.

“Go do battle. And then come back.”

Luke pulled back and nodded. Then, he flew off to fight.

Chapter 16

Luke was not the one who found Elliot after the battle. In fact, Elliot didn’t get to see Luke until much later.

He tried to focus on taking advantage of the harpies in between troll negotiations, but any time he brought up bird biology they’d ruffle their feathers and change the subject. He cornered Podarge about her silence and she’d awkwardly explained that her correspondence with a fellow harpy’s ‘intended’ was discouraged by the others.

Elliot left the meeting tent, tired and wanting nothing more than to down some medicine and collapse.

He found Luke waiting for him, face creased with worry.

“You’re okay?”

Elliot rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t the one fighting, loser. Where’s Serene?”

“With Golden.”

“Ooh, scandalous.”

Luke seemed confused by the word, but ultimately deemed it useless to question. That was fair.

“I have a tent set up. If you don’t mind sharing with me again.”

“Sure,” Elliot smiled, falling into step next to him. 

They were quiet for the walk, then got ready for bed, which wasn’t much more than shedding their outerwear since they were both exhausted.

Elliot took a quick sip of his medicine. He had only been taking it in the morning, but after waking up in the middle of the night to shooting pain throughout his body, he added another dose to his schedule. The pain was never really gone, but he could manage.

He thought that after the long day they’d both go right to sleep. Instead, Luke was sitting up and watching Elliot carefully.

“Something on your mind?” Elliot tucked the bottle away. It was night, but enough silvery moonlight entered the tent to make out Luke’s silhouette, to reflect the flash of his eyes as he stared.

“Did you talk to the harpies? Did you find an antidote?”

“No,” Elliot huffed. “They refuse to divulge their secrets to an outsider. And Podarge won’t talk to me for fear of seducing your lover, so thanks for that.”

“I’ll talk to them,” Luke said, shifting closer. “I’ll ask all the scientific questions you want. We’ll find a cure, I promised you.”

“I know,” Elliot said, though he wasn’t sure he really believed it anymore.

“We will,” Luke moved even closer. “Nothing will happen to you.”

Even in the darkness, Elliot could feel the intense gaze on him. His heart started beating faster and he wasn’t sure if he was scared or anxious or just sick.

“Thanks, loser.”

“Elliot,” Luke said slowly. “I-”

Elliot waited for him to continue, but he didn’t. Instead, Luke kissed him.

It was hesitant, barely a touch, but when Elliot didn’t move away Luke deepened it. Elliot could only kiss back, keeping in mind that this was Luke’s first real kiss and he wanted to make sure it wasn’t terrible.

On the inside, Elliot was trying to understand what led to him and Luke kissing in a tent. And then Luke’s arms wrapped around him, pulling Elliot on top of him as he leaned back and Elliot had to wonder what led to him full on making out with Luke Sunborn in a tent.

Maybe Luke struck out with his crush and Elliot was nearby? Or maybe the whole poison thing was confusing Luke?

That made sense, Elliot thought as his hands traced Luke’s sides. Luke thought he was going to lose Elliot, and this was the way he tried to hold on. His fear simply manifested in false emotions.

Elliot would have to talk him through it, but right now he was enjoying the feeling of Luke underneath him and surely this could wait until morning.

They kissed long into the night until exhaustion caught up and they fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms.

 

---

 

Elliot woke up feeling warm, almost too warm.

He tried to move, but the attempt felt like pushing through cement. He opened his eyes to be met with feathers in his face.

Right. Luke.

Elliot couldn’t turn his neck, couldn’t move enough to get his medicine from his bag. He tried to open his mouth enough to speak.

“Luke.” His voice was hoarse and weak. Luke didn’t move. “Help.”

No response. Elliot’s throat felt like it was full of sand and he would easily give up pacifism for a cup of water.

Since words were failing him, he gathered enough strength to lift an arm and swing it to the side, landing on Luke’s face.

Luke, ever the soldier, shot up immediately. However, since Elliot had fallen asleep on him, it meant Elliot was rolled to the side and face down in the blankets.

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to- Elliot?”

Elliot gave a groan, unable to move. He felt a hand on his shoulder and was rolled back so he could see Luke’s concerned face.

“Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

“Luke,” he said weakly. “Bottle.”

He could feel his eyes watering with the effort of talking. Luke’s eyes widened and he scrambled for the bag to retrieve the medicine. He made to hand it to Elliot, but it was clear that Elliot was out of strength.

“Oh, Elliot,” Luke whispered as he poured some into his mouth. “I’m so sorry. You shouldn’t have to-”

Elliot cut him off with a grunt, since he couldn’t really speak. Luke pulled the bottle away and watched him nervously.

“How long-”

Elliot shook his head slowly. The medicine was different every day, since the poison only grew stronger.

He lay there, trying to wiggle his toes every minute in the hopes that it would stop hurting soon. Luke was still watching him.

Eventually, Elliot was able to sit up with minimal sweating and his limbs felt more like being stepped on, rather than crushed by an elephant.

“Sorry about that,” Elliot said quietly, still recovering his voice. “Usually I keep it closer, I was just… distracted.” 

He could feel his cheeks heat, this time not from the poison. Luke was also turning pink.

“Are you… okay?”

“Peachy,” Elliot gave a smile.

“About last night,” Luke started. “I- Do you- I mean-”

“Just spit it out, Sunborn.”

“I liked it. And want to do it again. If you want to.”

“I want to,” Elliot said, even as his chest tightened. Luke didn’t really like him, but how was Elliot supposed to explain that? Especially when he didn’t want to because he really enjoyed kissing Luke.

“And we can- you know.”

“I don’t know, loser, since you won’t finish a sentence.”

Luke took a deep breath. “We can be together?”

“You… want that?” 

Elliot knew Luke was projecting feelings onto him, but he thought they were just of the physical variety. This much romantic transference… it would make things much more difficult for Elliot when he was dumped.

At least if he died he wouldn’t have to get dumped, so that was a bonus.

“I want it,” Luke said, leaning closer.

“Then we can do that.”

Luke’s smile was soft and made Elliot’s insides turn to mush.

“Are you in too much pain for me to kiss you?”

Elliot let out an amused huff. “If you kiss me I won’t feel the pain.”

So they kissed.

 

Chapter 17

Luke was a mess until they were back at the Border camp. He kept bouncing between ecstatic that he finally, finally had Elliot, and extreme sadness that he was very close to losing him.

He kept his promise, talking to the harpies, and it was only when he broached the matter with Celaeno that he made progress.

Luke barely managed to give a proper goodbye before racing off to find his… boyfriend? They were boyfriends now, right?

When he found him, Luke first dragged Elliot into a long, slow kiss. He had no idea that kissing could be this… incredible. He felt light and floaty, but also grounded in a way he’d never felt before.

Finally he pulled away since he’d actually had a reason for running over.

“Hello to you, too,” Elliot said breathily. His face was pink and Luke had to resist the urge to kiss him again.

He heard someone clear their throat and realized Serene was watching them.

“Oh,” Luke said awkwardly. “We’re together now.”

She looked surprised and Luke wasn’t sure if he should be offended. Then again, he was also still surprised that he had Elliot in his arms right now.

Since Serene was still struggling for words, Luke turned back to his boyfriend. 

“I talked to Celaeno and I might have a lead for a cure. We just need to get back and talk to the medics-”

“What?” Elliot took a step back, suddenly looking nauseous. Was the medicine not working as well anymore?

“Yeah, we’ll go to the infirmary when we reach the camp and-”

“Why? Isn’t there some magical mushroom or a fountain of youth or something?”

Luke frowned. “How would a fountain that grants youth work for poison?”

Elliot shrugged. He didn’t seem as happy about the situation as Luke expected. He’d thought there’d be more smiling and kissing. He’d really been counting on the kissing.

“It’s none of that. Celaeno said that harpies are immune to a bunch of poisons because, like birds, they have a fast metalism.”

Elliot finally looked happier, though it was only because he gave a teasing laugh.

“Do you mean metabolism?”

“Yes, that.”

“Right, but I’m human. I don’t think I can develop harpy biology, unless you guys have suddenly developed genetic hacking?”

Luke didn’t know what genetics were or why they would need to be hacked up, but he figured he should let it go.

“That’s why we need the medic. If it’s just the metabolism, there must be a way to do it. Then the poison would be gone and you won’t- you-”

He couldn’t finish and Luke was increasingly grateful he was dating Elliot now because it meant he had permission to take his hand and give it a squeeze.

“Thank you, Luke,” Elliot whispered. It was so sincere and lacking of the usual teasing that Luke felt his heart echo in his chest.

“I won’t lose you,” Luke answered, just as sincere.

He couldn’t make out the emotions on Elliot’s face. He stepped away from Luke, pulling his hand free.

“Just… just give me some time to think, okay?”

“Time? But-”

“We don’t even know if the medics can do it,” Elliot said quickly. “We should do more research first.”

Luke knew Elliot was a nerd, it was one of the infuriating things he loved about him, but surely this was not the time for thinking. Not after how Luke woke up to find Elliot lying there, unable to move, barely speaking, looking-

“Elliot, we-”

“There’s Delia,” Elliot was looking away. “I need to ask her something.”

And then he left.

“So,” Serene said awkwardly. “You two…”

Luke blushed and nodded.

“I’m happy for you. You are happy, right?”

“I am,” Luke said. “And if this is the key to the cure-”

“It has to be,” Serene broke in.

“I thought he’d be happy about it.”

“He’s been dealing with this longer than we have,” Serene pointed out. “Maybe he doesn’t want to get his hopes up?”

That made sense. After all, Elliot had thought the human world would cure him and that hadn’t gone to plan. Maybe Elliot was scared. That meant that, as the loyal boyfriend, Luke had to be there for him.

“How can I be there for him?”

Serene frowned. “I’m unsure how it would work with two men. Normally the woman would be the strong support. You guys could talk, I suppose?”

Luke snorted. He wasn’t great at talking. Maybe he should just leave it alone and not tell Elliot until they had a definite answer.

“I’m going to talk to the commander. She’ll know what to do.”

“Good luck. And Luke?”

He stopped before running off.

“I really am happy for you.”

Chapter 18

Elliot was in the library as soon as they returned to the Border Camp. 

It wasn’t exactly surprising, but now he was looking up bird and harpy biology and various medical texts about metabolism. If Luke was right, if this was the answer…

He turned back to his book. He was focusing on this not just for the cure, but also for the distraction. Luke hadn’t mentioned visiting the medic again, thankfully, but Elliot was still trying to figure out what was going on. If Luke thought he found a cure, he would probably dump Elliot soon.

He didn’t want to sit around and wait for Luke to explain his mistake, that he never actually liked Elliot.

Elliot’s distraction was interrupted by the arrival of one of his least favourite people.

“Hi,” Dale said, sitting at the table like he was welcome there.

“Bit busy here,” Elliot said pointedly. Dale ignored him, or maybe he was just too dull to notice.

“We haven’t hung out in a while. I know we had a fight, but-”

“I’m sorry,” Elliot snapped. “But did you think I would continue sleeping with you after everything?”

“You’re really that shallow?” Dale’s voice hardened. “Just because I wasn’t falling over myself for you? I told you you’re hot, isn’t that enough?”

“Oh, I’m shallow?” Elliot said bitterly, barely keeping his voice quiet enough to avoid Bright-Eyes’ ire. “And you’re a saint for putting up with me when your first choice wasn’t up to your standards?”

“Come on, Elliot, it’s not like that,” Dale reached out for Elliot’s hand, which was immediately snatched away.

“Please leave,” he said tiredly.

“But-”

“He told you to leave.”

They both looked up as Luke took the seat next to Elliot and shot Dale a venomous look.

“Sunborn, this isn’t about you, so-”

“Really?” Luke interrupted. “Because you’re bothering my boyfriend after he specifically told you to go.”

“ Boyfriend ?” Dale gaped at them. “You’re not serious?”

“What can I say?” Elliot shrugged, feeling a bit smug at the situation. “I’m shallow and Luke is pretty.”

“You actually-” Dale seemed to have just enough sense not to finish that thought, since chances were it would earn him a punch in the face if Elliot were less of a pacifist.

“Again,” Elliot said slowly, since Dale was a bit slow. “Please leave.”

Dale shook his head and left. Luke’s arm wrapped around Elliot’s waist, pulling him close.

“Careful,” Elliot warned. “We could get in trouble.”

“Don’t care,” Luke said. “I don’t want anymore exes trying to win you back.”

Elliot snorted. “There are so many inconsistencies with that statement, but thanks for being my knight in shining armor. Although, the whole concept is a bit simplistic and rather misogynistic in origin-”

“So you think I’m pretty?” 

Elliot rolled his eyes at being cut off, especially for such a topic.

“You know you’re pretty, loser. I won’t stroke your ego.”

Luke leaned in to kiss Elliot’s cheek. He didn’t move away after, instead lingering up close. Elliot was trying really hard not to enjoy it too much, since it would soon be over.

“I think you’re pretty, too,” Luke whispered.

“This is weird,” Elliot said quietly. “Call me a nerd or something.”

“Something,” Luke responded before kissing his neck.

“We’re in a library, ” Elliot muttered, hoping to appeal to any sense of decency. Luke appeared to have none.

By the time the librarian walked by and they had to quickly separate, Elliot’s neck was suitably marked and Luke was licking his lips, satisfied.

“You are ridiculous,” Elliot said. “I think you should know that.”

“Just making things official,” Luke grinned, lifting a hand to stroke the mark.

It was all so sweet and loving that Elliot was almost fooled into believing it. But hadn’t Jase and Serene been just as cute and flirty before they left him? He couldn’t make the same mistake.

“Luke-”

“You never told us what happened,” Luke said suddenly. “With Dale.”

Elliot groaned, distracted by one of his least favourite topics. 

“He was an arse. Seems to be a trend with people I’m with.”

Luke frowned, clearly not knowing whether to be offended or not. Elliot laughed lightly, giving him a soft kiss in consolation.

“Not you. You’re just stubborn and impossible.”

“I can live with that,” Luke decided. “He- he didn’t hurt you, though?”

“No,” Elliot said mildly. “He’s just judgemental and dull and it wasn’t going to work out anyway.”

“And you’re okay?”

“I think so,” Elliot said before giving a smirk. “I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I made out with this absolute hottie the other day.”

Luke laughed and Elliot considered the matter settled. Before the topic of Elliot’s research and the poison could be brought up, Elliot invited Luke on a walk, far away from the library.

Chapter 19

Luke was trying to enjoy being with Elliot, but things were a bit tricky with the looming threat of the poison.

Elliot never actually complained, but Luke could tell he was in pain. He caught him taking swigs of medicine throughout the day, clearly increasing his doses to counteract the strengthening of the effects.

Luke had talked to the commander and she’d promised she’d take care of it, but he hadn’t heard from her since and time was running out.

Luke could admit he was taking out his frustrations during training and it was a good thing that Serene was so strong or he might have actually hurt her.

When the bell rang, Luke just collapsed where he was, flopping onto the grass and sweating in his armor.

“Luke.”

He grunted as Serene’s face came into view above him. 

“Are you alright?”

He stared back, silent for a long time. Finally, he spoke.

“What if I lose him?”

“We won’t.”

“But-”

“The commander we’ll figure it out or the elves will find something or Elliot will find some obscure ancient text with the answer. No matter what, he will be fine.”

“I want to believe that,” Luke said. “But if he isn’t-”

“Then moping isn’t going to help anything,” Serene shot back. “If- If this is all you have left, enjoy it. Be with him.”

Luke understood what she was saying. Class was over and he was lying on the ground doing nothing when he could be with Elliot.

He didn’t know how long they had left, but Luke was going to find his boyfriend and kiss him and hold him and tell him he-

Luke stood up and ran to the library, where the nerd was most likely to be. He wasn’t there.

He ran to the classrooms, where some students were still lingering. He wasn’t there, either.

Finally, he saw Myra walking towards the cabins. He sent a silent thanks that he finally remembered her name or this situation would be rather awkward.

“Myra! Have you seen Elliot?”

“No, I was just looking for you,” she pulled a stack of papers out of her bag. “He skipped classes today, so I wanted to give him my notes. Can you bring them to him?”

“Sure,” Luke said, tucking them under his arm.

He left without another word, heading for Elliot’s cabin.

It was quiet, likely his roommates weren’t back yet. He looked around carefully.

“Elliot? Are you here?”

He arrived at Elliot’s bed to see his boyfriend.

Limbs splayed out, hand hanging over the edge, eyes shut, skin pale. 

Notes fell to the floor, papers flying out as Luke ran over to search for any sign of life, anything to assure him that Elliot wasn’t gone.

“Elliot! Elliot, please, no, you can’t-”

He couldn’t tell if he was breathing. If he was, it was too weak to discern. Luke needed his medicine.

On the floor, he saw a bottle on its side, contents spilled onto the floor as though Elliot had dropped it.

There had to be another bottle somewhere, right? 

Luke tore the room apart in a violent frenzy until— finally— he found a bottle at the bottom of Elliot’s bookbag. He rushed back to the bed and pried Elliot’s cold lips apart, trying to get some medicine down his throat.

He poured at least half the bottle, desperate. He set it down so as not to waste any of the rest before climbing onto the bed, pulling Elliot’s head into his lap, and stroking his hair softly.

“Please don’t leave. Please, I can’t lose you.”

Luke saw a drop land on Elliot’s forehead and looked up, expecting rain. There was only the ceiling which meant Luke was probably crying.

Looking back down, he swiped away the tear even as more landed beside it. He couldn’t stop his hands from moving, stroking Elliot’s unruly hair and the light freckles he could only see up close.

He placed a finger by Elliot’s lips, trying to feel for any breathing. He wasn’t sure if there was none or if Luke’s hand was shaking too much to tell.

“Elliot? Can you hear me? Is it working? Please, please come back to me.”

Still nothing. Luke bent down and kissed Elliot’s hair, which was just a gateway into kissing his forehead and his lips and his cheeks and then his lips again.

He didn’t know how long he sat there, holding Elliot tightly as though he could will him into waking up.

And maybe he could because, almost suddenly, he finally felt Elliot give a weak, shuddering breath.

“Elliot?”

He maneuvered quickly, letting Elliot lay back down and instead placing his legs on either side of Elliot so he could hover over him.

Elliot’s skin was still pale, but a faint pink flush was returning. Eventually, his eyes fluttered open and blinked as they adjusted to sight again.

“Elliot, oh my god. You’re okay. You’re okay, right? Can you hear me?”

Elliot blinked rapidly and then slowly. Maybe he couldn’t speak yet?

“Blink once for yes and twice for no. Can you hear me?”

One blink.

“Can you talk?”

Two blinks.

Luke realized his position and only fear kept him from blushing.

“Do you want me to move? Am I hurting you?”

Two blinks. A pause. Another two blinks.

“Is the medicine working?”

A blink and then Luke didn’t have more questions. He just fell onto Elliot, burying his face in his chest and clutching him tightly.

He lay there for a while, even when his tears finally stopped and his breathing evened out. He didn’t move until he felt a gentle hand on his back.

“That was a right nightmare.”

Elliot’s voice was strained, but it was there. Luke pulled back just enough to look at him.

“I thought you were-”

“I’m not,” Elliot said. “I just didn’t get my medicine in time and the pain was a bit… immobilizing.”

“I’m not letting you out of my sight anymore,” Luke said, almost angrily. Now that his fear had abated, he couldn’t help the rage swelling at the unfairness and it surely leaked into his voice.

“You’ll stay in my room so I can give you doses as needed.”

“Luke-”

“And you can stay with Serene if I can’t be there. But I will probably always be there because, and I cannot stress this enough, you cannot leave my sight. ”

“Okay, okay,” Elliot held up his hands in surrender. Luke held back a frown and was grateful when those hands soon returned to embracing him.

“I’m still alive, you know,” Elliot went on because he was the actual idiot in this relationship. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

“Shut up,” Luke said sharply. “Are you in too much pain for kissing?”

He was not, apparently, so Luke sealed their lips together. It was definitely their most passionate so far, with Luke’s hands touching anything they could find, his kisses gentle yet angry as he tried to gather proof that Elliot was okay.

By the time they separated, breathing heavily, Elliot was able to sit up. Luke settled next to him, keeping an arm around him.

“I’m sorry,” Elliot muttered. “Though I’m not too sorry if that’s how you respond to near death experiences.”

“Shut up,” Luke said again, the blush finally making its way to his face. “I never want that to happen again.”

“I’ll do my best. No promises, obviously.”

“Elliot-”

“Can you make the same promise?” Elliot’s voice was alarmingly brittle. “Can you promise that you’ll return from every battle you fight?”

“That’s different-”

“Because I’d be the one losing you ?”

Luke was silent. 

“I’m sorry.”

Elliot sighed. “We can’t be sorry every time we almost die. It’s the hazards of living in this ridiculous land.”

Luke lowered his gaze to where his hand was holding Elliot’s. He traced random patterns as he voiced his next thought.

“You could go back.”

“What?”

“The other world. The human world.” His thumb ran across Elliot’s knuckles, stopping at his pointer finger before circling back in an attempt to memorize the path.

“Why would I want to go there?”

“The poison would disappear. You could live.”

Elliot snorted. Luke finally dragged his eyes back up to find Elliot looking away this time, face grim.

“What kind of life is that? Didn’t we establish I had nothing going on there?”

“You could build something. Your family will be happy to see you, at least. Right?”

Elliot froze and Luke knew he said the wrong thing. He’d assumed Elliot’s parents were still alive, or at least his dad. Hadn’t he mentioned his father before?

“I don’t want to go back there.”

“But-”

“It doesn’t matter. Either way would mean your never seeing me again.”

Luke swallowed against the stab that sent through his chest.

“But I’d know you were okay.”

Elliot didn’t say anything.

“I hope we find an antidote, but if we don’t-”

Elliot stood up suddenly. “I need to catch up on my classes.”

Luke watched him collect the fallen papers, feeling cold without him in his arms. He wanted to hold him again, to know Elliot was still alive.

But he knew to drop the subject. Instead, he helped tidy up the room from his whirlwind panic before putting together a bag of clothes.

He hadn’t been joking about Elliot staying with him tonight. 

Chapter 20

Luke saw the commander walking through the halls and immediately ran up to her.

“Commander, I was just wondering-”

“I know,” she said calmly. “I’ve been working with the medics to figure something out. We may have found something, but we aren’t sure how it will affect human biology. Until we can test it, I’m not sure about the risks.”

“Don’t we have to try?” Luke’s voice shook with urgency. “It’s our only hope.”

“It may very well be. Unless he wishes to return to his world.”

Luke lowered his gaze. “It’s not his world. Not anymore.”

The commander sighed. “I will let you know the moment we can do the procedure. I will warn you… Cadet Schafer may hesitate. I’m hoping you will be enough to convince him to go to the infirmary when the time comes.”

Luke frowned. “Why would he hesitate? Doesn’t he want to get better?”

The commander was silent for a moment, as though trying to gather her words.

“It can be a scary time. The procedure might not be successful, it could go badly, there are many reasons. I think I can trust you to be there for him, right?”

“You can,” Luke promised.

He ran off to deliver the good news. He found Elliot by the lake, staring absently into the water. Luke settled next to him, their shoulders pressed together.

“Hey.”

Elliot looked at him, blinking slowly.

“Hi, loser.”

Luke allowed his smile to happen. It was remarkable how the insult became some sort of term of endearment. 

“I just talked to the commander and we may have an answer. They just need to figure out your weird human biology but... you could be cured. It’s going to be okay.”

Elliot’s eyes were wide as he processed that.

“What?”

Luke couldn’t hold back and wrapped his arms around Elliot. He was so happy they were finally together and he was allowed this. He could hug Elliot, kiss Elliot, tell Elliot he wasn’t allowed to go anywhere.

And he did that.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Elliot grumbled, his cheeks adorably pink after all the kisses. “It could still not work.”

“It will,” Luke said solemnly. “I know it will.”

Elliot gave a small smile, but it seemed strained. Remembering the commander’s words, Luke tightened his arm around his boyfriend.

“You’ll go to the infirmary, right? When they figure it out?”

“Reckless as I may be, loser, I’m not actually keen on dying,” Elliot tried to be snarky, but the shake in his voice gave him away.

“I’ll be with you the whole time,” Luke promised. “And if you ask, Serene will too. Probably even if you don’t ask her.”

Elliot gave a light laugh. “I’ll do it, I swear. I’m just… trying not to get my hopes up.”

“Then I’ll hope for the both of us,” Luke said. “But promise when this is all over we can both be happy?”

“Careful, Sunborn,” Elliot’s voice held an unnameable emotion. “I may start to think you like me.”

Luke rolled his eyes and leaned in close.

“And I was hiding it so well.”

They kissed again, until Luke was smiling too much to continue. Then they sat there, cuddled close and watching the calm water

 

---

 

Every day that week had Luke searching for the commander, eagerly waiting for the news that they’d figured it out. That Elliot will be cured.

Elliot had grown quiet lately, which was so bizarrely out of character that Luke didn’t know how to handle it. He’d never been a boyfriend before, but he did what Serene advised him to do. He held Elliot’s hand, he made sure he took his medicine as needed (it felt like he was drinking it every hour nowadays), and he held Elliot when he was in too much pain to move.

Luke tried to push down the ball of panic in his chest, tried to keep things as light as possible, but it was getting hard. It was clear that they were running out of time. Luke helped Elliot change his bandage, since the mark was taking up nearly his whole arm by now.

When Luke was called out of class, he was practically shaking with anticipation. He went out to the hallway to see the commander standing with a very pale Elliot.

Luke swallowed his excitement. “Is it-”

The commander nodded. Her frown was stern, but her eyes were soft. “Everything is prepared in the infirmary.” She cast a glance at Elliot. “I can’t promise it will work, but…”

“Thank you,” Luke breathed out, taking Elliot’s hand to squeeze tightly.

“Would you like me to send Cadet Chaos-of-Battle as well?”

Luke looked to Elliot, who shook his head.

“Very well,” Woodsinger nodded. “Off you go. Medic Pathwind will be expecting you.”

She paused, clearly about to say something else. They waited.

“She developed the procedure, so she’s the only one who can do it.”

Elliot nodded slowly. He looked nauseous and Luke wondered when he took his last dose.

“Thank you, commander,” Luke smiled. “And we’ll make sure to thank her, too.”

And then he pulled Elliot along, trying to get to the infirmary as fast as they could. He would’ve dragged his boyfriend the whole way, but Elliot stopped them a few paces away from the tent.

“Wait. Before- Before we go in…”

“Elliot,” Luke raised his hands to cup his face gently. “It’ll be okay.”

“I-I’m scared.” His voice was soft and Luke hated the tears leaking out of his boyfriend’s eyes. He quickly wiped them away.

Elliot had never looked so small, so vulnerable. It was Luke’s duty to be there for him.

“I’m scared too,” he admitted. “But we’ll get through this and then you’ll be okay.”

“And things will go back to normal,” Elliot whispered, almost bitterly.

“And we’ll be happy,” Luke said. “Together.”

“No matter what happens,” Elliot rushed out. “Will we-”

“We’ll be okay,” Luke said. “I- I love you.”

Elliot let out a sob and Luke couldn’t tell if he’d said the wrong thing. Was it too soon? Should he have waited for a happier moment?

“Elliot-”

“We need to go,” Elliot pulled back, using his sleeve to wipe his face. Luke tried to move closer again, but Elliot was already walking towards the tent.

Luke fell behind, frozen with confusion, and when he caught up he found the medic explaining things to Elliot.

Elliot’s head was bowed, his posture rigid as though he were made of stone. Luke hoped the pain wasn’t too bad to fix.

“It will take time for the poison to burn off, especially due to the late stage. It also won’t be the most pleasant experience, since your body was not made for this.”

“Just do it,” Elliot bit out.

The medic nodded, seeming unfazed by the fact that she was trying to save a life. “Will your boyfriend be with you or wait out here?”

“He’ll wait here,” Elliot said, leaving no room for Luke to argue. He wanted to be there for Elliot, but if the procedure was painful, he wasn’t sure he could handle seeing Elliot like that.

He watched Elliot and the medic go behind the curtain and then he was alone, listening to the sounds of glass clinking and fabric tearing and a sharp gasp of pain from Elliot.

He stood there, unable to sit or move as anxiety stiffened his limbs. Eventually, Pathwind returned.

“Is it… done?”

The medic rolled her eyes. “No, it will take at least a day to burn off the poison. I’ll check on him every hour.”

“And he’ll… be okay?”

She shrugged. “No worse off than he was. We’ll know more tomorrow.”

She was so calm, so collected. Luke couldn’t help being annoyed that the survival of the love of his life was in her hands.

“He has to be okay.” He glared.

“Look, kid, this procedure’s never been done before. I can’t promise anything.”

“Do you even care that he might die?”

Pathwind sighed, turning to her table to sort through some supplies.

“Yes, I’m sure he told you all about his horrible mother who doesn’t care about him, but I hadn’t seen him since he was a baby. He’s just another student and, as a medic, I can’t grow to care about any of you guys or my job would be a lot harder. It’s just the way it is.”

Luke’s anger fell away, his jaw dropping in confused shock.

“Mo- You’re Elliot’s mother ?”

She blinked at him. “Aren’t you his boyfriend? I figured he went crying to you and the elf when he found out.”

“He didn’t,” Luke said faintly. “He didn’t tell… anyone.”

“Weird boy,” the medic said absently, as though discussing the weather. Luke felt the rage returning, stronger than before.

“You don’t care about him at all? You don’t even care that your son might die?”

“I’m not meant to be a mother. He still has his father, anyway. And I’m still trying to save his life, so what’s there to complain about?”

“But- How can you not care? How can you not love him at all?”

“I get that you care about him, kid, but not everyone’s the same. He’s fine, I’m sure he’ll grow up and do something with his life. Then, maybe, he’ll understand the choices I made. He didn’t seem angry at me, so why are you?”

But Luke suspected Elliot was angry about it. He remembered Elliot yelling at him about his family, he remembered Elliot’s reaction to Luke’s horrible insult.

God, no wonder Elliot reacted the way he did. Luke would never have said such a thing if he knew… 

He needed this procedure to work. He needed to make sure Elliot knew how sorry Luke was and how much he loved him, how Elliot could have Luke’s family whenever he wanted.

There was a sharp cry from the other room and Luke’s eyes snapped to the curtain in fear. The medic only sighed.

“That’ll be it kicking in. You might want to go for a walk, go to class, something. I can’t numb the pain much since his body is too desensitized after everything he’s taken. Even the sleeping draught wears off too quickly.”

There was another choked sob and Luke knew he couldn’t stay and listen.

“Can I get him anything?”

“He won’t need anything until it’s over. Then he’ll likely be hungry so you can bring him food. Otherwise, there’s no use waiting here.”

Luke knew she was right, if only because if he stayed he might yell at her some more. Anyway, he should find Serene to get her up to speed. He couldn’t talk to her about the medic, since that was Elliot’s secret, but at least they could be impatient together.

Chapter 21

Elliot was in a haze of dreaming, and then intense pain, and then more dreams. He caught flashes of Luke, of Serene, of his mother. 

When he finally woke up, feeling something almost like consciousness, he felt strange. His mouth tasted like oranges and his skin tingled. He was tired, like he’d been running for ages.

Weirdly, though, he wasn’t in pain. In fact, he felt light. As memories and thoughts clicked into place, he realized the procedure must have worked. He hadn’t been without pain since he was back in the human world and it was remarkable to be able to breathe, to not feel like he was about to crack into a million pieces.

He was still tired though, so he soon fell back asleep. When he next woke up, he felt a sharp stab in his stomach and was terrified the poison was back until he heard a grumble.

He was hungry. Honestly, he was ravenous.

He tried to sit up, but he was still a little weak and dizzy, so he wound up flopping back down.

“Careful!”

He felt hands guide him up, someone else placing a pillow at his back for support. When he was settled, he saw Luke and Serene watching him with worried faces.

“I hope you took notes in the classes I missed.”

Serene wrapped him in a hug and Luke soon followed. Elliot let out a grunt of shock, but managed to hug back slightly.

“I take it things went well?”

“You tell us,” Serene said, pulling back. “How do you feel?”

“Tired,” Elliot admitted. “Hungry.”

“Here,” Luke handed Elliot a basket filled with bread and fruit and cheese.

“I didn’t know what you’d want,” he mumbled awkwardly and Elliot took his hand.

Luke tightened his grip and Elliot quickly pulled away. He shouldn’t be all mushy with Luke, not when they would likely break up soon.

He covered up the action by digging into the basket, starting with the bread in the hopes that it would settle his stomach.

His friends watched him devour the food with amused expressions. Elliot didn’t care, he was just so hungry.

When he’d made a good dent in his feast, he pushed the basket away and leaned back.

“I forgot what it was like to not feel like I’m dying.”

“Let’s hope you never forget again,” Serene said pointedly and Elliot nodded eagerly.

“It all went well, though? I’m not going to start craving worms or grow my own wings? Actually, can I grow wings, because I’m kind of jealous of Luke’s.”

“Nerd,” Luke grinned. “There shouldn’t be any side effects. You can borrow my wings whenever you want, though.”

Elliot smiled, even as his chest ached. He doubted that promise would stick when they broke up. Or maybe Luke would keep it, as consolation.

Elltio shook the thought away, trying to focus on the fact that he was alive and not dying. He met Luke’s gaze, not sure what he was looking for. Luke’s eyes were wide with emotion, definitely relief and happiness. 

“I have notes for you,” Serene said suddenly, a little stilted. “I’ll just go get them and leave you to... “ She waved a hand at the two of them before leaving. She looked back before exiting, as though to make sure Elliot was still there. Elliot smiled reassuringly.

“That was subtle,” Elliot muttered when she was gone. “I guess we need to have boy talk?”

Luke opened his mouth to say something, but then Elliot’s mother walked in the door.

“Just doing a check,” she said, lifting Elliot’s hand to take his pulse. He wondered if she brought over techniques from the other world.

“How long ‘til he can leave?” Luke’s voice was weirdly cold, like he was speaking through gritted teeth.

The medic frowned in thought. “He should stay another night for observation, since we’re in uncharted territory. This especially…”

She had pushed up Elliot’s sleeve to reveal that the mark was still on his arm. It wasn’t as big as before, spreading from his shoulder and stopping above his elbow. 

“What?” Luke was practically sneering. “You worried about him?”

Elliot didn’t know what was up with him. Maybe he had butted heads with the medic during the treatment? Or maybe Luke was preparing for the break-up that was about to happen.

“As long as the poison is gone, I don’t mind a cool looking scar,” Elliot tried to sound cheery. Luke rolled his eyes, but his face was softer.

Medic Pathwind replaced his sleeve. “The harpies have said that they retain the marks even after they expel the poison, so it should be nothing. As long as it doesn’t spread and suggest you still have remnants of the poison.”

“Is that all?” Luke asked impatiently.

“I suppose so. I’ll check on you again in an hour.”

Elliot nodded and she left. Luke was glaring at the ground.

“Care to share?”

“What?” Luke’s face smoothed out and Elliot sighed.

“You’re in a mood. Is it because my scar is cooler than any of yours?”

Luke rested a hand on Elliot’s arm, just over where the mark was.

“No, I just-” He suddenly looked guilty and Elliot knew what this was.

“Oh, right.” He didn’t think Luke would dump him so immediately, but best to get it over with. “Yeah, I get it.”

“Y-you do?”

“I knew it wouldn’t last. I’m not dying anymore and you’ve realized you don’t like me that way. It’s fine, we can still be friends. If you want to be friends, of co-”

“ What? ” Luke was gaping in horror. “What are you- I don’t- You think I want to break up?”

“Well, yeah,” Elliot said slowly. “You thought I was going to die, you misplaced your fear into romantic feelings. It happens.”

“You- Wait, if you thought that, why did you agree?” 

Elliot was feeling increasingly uncomfortable at the look on Luke’s face. Maybe Luke hadn’t known the reasoning for his mistake?

“I mean, I figured the most likely was I would be gone before you could dump me, so I could enjoy it while it lasted.”

“So you only dated me because you thought you were going to die?”

“I did enjoy dating you. I just knew it would end.”

“Why would it end?”

Elliot felt like he was missing something important. “Lots of reasons. You get sick of me, your crush likes you back, you realize you only thought you liked me because you thought you were going to lose me.”

“Are you really that stupid?” Luke asked, exasperated. “You think I ell in love with you because you were dying?”

Elliot’s response was quiet, a little wary of the manic look in Luke’s eye. “It was the only explanation.”

“The only- Elliot,” Luke took a breath. “Did it not occur to you that the crush I’d been talking about was you? Did it not occur to you that I’ve been in love with you for long before I realized and I thought it was hopeless because I thought you were straight? That when I watched you and Serene together it broke my heart? 

That I was so hopeful when I found out you like guys, only to watch you get together with Dale? And that I had to deal with the fact that the only reason you were close with him was because I lied about my crush to hide the fact that it was you I was always thinking about? That you were the one I wanted for my first kiss? That you were the one I wanted for every kiss and every moment and that the thought of losing you nearly killed me? Did none of that ever occur to you?”

“Um,” Elliot swallowed. “No?”

Luke’s eyes were shining and his voice cracked when he next spoke. “Did you only date me because you thought you would die? Did- do you-”

“I like you, a lot,” Elliot muttered, since Luke’s honesty deserved a response in kind. “I never considered you a possibility because I figured there was no point. That you would never-” He broke off at the look on Luke’s face.

“Now that you’re not dying,” Luke said. “Do you care about me that way?”

“Of course I do,” Elliot said, feeling his own eyes prick with tears. “I know I’m terrible at this stuff, but I do love you and want to be with you, but I’m also sure I’m going to ruin it. What if I make fun of you too much or I don’t show enough affection or-”

“Elliot,” Luke had gotten closer at some point, leaning over him. “I’ve known you for years now and my feelings have only gotten stronger. I don’t mind if you tease. I know now that you show affection in more untraditional ways.”

“I’ll keep trying,” Elliot said. “I swear I’ll try to be a good boyfriend. I can call you sweetheart and sugarlips and babe.”

Luke snorted. “That might be a bit weird.”

“Then I’ll call you loser and idiot, but you can pretend I mean sweetheart and sugarlips.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Luke didn’t move, but he did glance away and Elliot grinned slyly.

“I’m not in any pain, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

A pink blush spread across Luke’s cheeks as he pushed himself onto the bed, squeezing in next to Elliot so they were pressed close. Elliot smiled at him.

“Hi.”

Luke had never seen cheesy movies, so he didn’t know he was supposed to say ‘hi’ back. Instead, he kissed Elliot fiercely. No complaints.

This kiss was better than any of their others because it wasn’t something temporary. It was a promise of more, of a future with them together. It likely would have gone on forever if not for a pointed clearing of the throat somewhere from the doorway.

Elliot, long having abandoned any sense of shame, just sighed and pulled away to greet Commander Woodsinger. Luke let out an embarrassed noise and hid his face in his hands. He didn’t move away from Elliot.

“It is good to see that you are well, Cadet Schafer.”

“Not being poisoned really does wonders for the skin,” Elliot winked. If it weren’t against her very nature, Woodsinger might have smiled.

“And I’m sure that this whole event will allow everyone a chance to learn something.”

“We did cure the Silent Death, definitely nothing to scoff at.”

Woodsinger pursed her lips. “I meant more in regards to handling similar situations. And to avoid getting into them in the first place.”

“I can’t promise not to get into trouble again seeing as I’m me. But I will be better about telling people next time I might die.”

He felt a pinch at his side and glared at Luke, who was still flushed, but staring firmly back.

“Indeed,” Commander Woodsinger mused. “At least you have a better understanding of things now.”

“I do,” Elliot said sincerely. He felt his neck itch and he felt especially awkward with Luke there, but he managed to speak anyway.

“Thank you, Commander. For everything.” He gave a salute.

“Just doing my duty,” Woodsinger answered, definitely lying. 

“Is it safe to come in, yet?” Serene’s voice called from the hallway. Elliot snickered.

“All clear, Cadet Chaos-of-Battle,” Woodsinger called back. “I already had the misfortune of interrupting their celebration.”

Serene entered, shock barely painting her face at the sight.

“Commander,” she saluted.

“I shall leave you all. Cadet Schafer, get some rest.”

She left and Elliot was faced with two questioning looks.

“Wow,” Luke finally said. “Since when are you friends with the commander?”

“The commander is not friends with any cadets,” Elliot scoffed. 

“I can’t believe anything you say, since you didn’t consider us friends until we started dating.”

“That’s an exaggeration,” Elliot responded, but couldn’t really argue beyond that. “The commander just pities me because she caught me crying once.”

“When?” Serene frowned. “After the poison?”

“Nah, last year.” Elliot sighed. He supposed he was trying to be more open with his friends. His friend and his boyfriend (wow that was weird to think).

“I had learned more about my mother.”

Serene nodded in understanding, already knowing part of the story. Luke seemed angry.

“Oh,” Elliot realized. “Did Serene mention it to you?”

Luke shook his head. “I sort of found out, while waiting for you to wake up.”

It took him a moment, but then it clicked that Luke had probably been talking to the medic this whole time. She must have said something.

“Right. So, yeah. That’s a thing.”

Luke’s hand slipped into his. Serene walked over to take his other hand. Elliot smiled gratefully at them and in that moment his mother, his whole childhood was irrelevant. He now had a future and people to share it with. People who all loved him as much as he loved them.