Chapter Text
Sebek is not one to skip his classes and dishonor the name of the great Malleus Draconia, but when his duties become contrary to each other, he has to make a decision. His priorities are simple, when such a circumstance arises. As a bodyguard, the safety of his Lord comes first and foremost. Defense of his good name follows suit. There is little to consider past that point, though if he were honest with himself, Sebek might acknowledge his current decision stretches this line of reasoning.
Silver has been unwell, as of late. With his sleeping spells more frequent and the consequences more troubling, Sebek has upheld the appropriate level of concern, for this is a break in pattern for his fellow bodyguard- which is unacceptable! They must both be at prime condition, body and mind, in order to protect Lord Malleus.
So Sebek has been following Silver around campus to ensure his unexpected naps do not interfere with his safety, at the cost of his own attendance and sleep schedule. He can only catch up on his coursework when he's sure that Silver and Malleus are both safe, something that is only truly feasible at night, or during those short hours when Silver can be left to sleep uninterrupted between obligations.
His own lingering tiredness is mild, and thus, perfectly manageable.
And this is how Sebek has come to be subjected to Coach Vargas' favorite method of discipline: doing the entire course of exercises twice within a class period already bursting at the seams with activity. This is, obviously, not considering that he is doing the second years' exercises instead of the first years', as he is still shadowing Silver. But he is attending the second year class period and so Coach Vargas will have nothing less of him.
In the few days he has been maintaining this unusual schedule of his- much to Silver's confusion (despite how clearly Sebek explained himself!) -he has not once failed to fulfill what he is approaching as an "upgraded" training regiment. Furthermore, he has broken from his own diligent work in order to awaken Silver no less than seventeen times!
And Sebek is exclaiming as much, quite loudly, arguing with Coach Vargas that Silver should not, under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, be flying until his sleeping spells are under control. In fact, he's one dull-brained word of rebuttal away from challenging this useless human to a duel of honor, if only so the rest of the class period will pass and Silver will not be forced into an unimaginably dangerous situation! His efforts are rendered quite pointless when Silver himself asks him to quiet down, half awake after an eighteenth sleep attack.
"Enough of that, Zigvolt! Some brisk exercise is sure to finish waking Silver up, don't you think?"
Vargas shoves brooms into their hands, his smile twisted up with unwarranted irritation and his eyes squinted almost completely shut.
"And brisk it shall be! THREE ROUNDS FOR THE BOTH OF YOU!"
Sebek nearly snaps his broom in half.
"YOU HALF-WITTED-!"
"Don't make it worse than you already have."
All of his anger wilts and dies when Silver glares at him. Does he not understand how serious this is?
"But if you fall asleep midair, then-"
"I'll catch myself, Sebek! Just like I have every time before you decided to- to-"
Silver grits his teeth together, and Sebek truly doesn't understand what he's done wrong. He barely has time to think on it, mind stuttering and freezing on the knowledge that Silver has already fallen asleep midair in the past. By the time he's stopped gaping, Silver is stalking away.
"Wait- Silver- SILVER!"
Sebek's cries go ignored. Silver takes to the skies and he has no choice but to follow, pushing his broom to catch up with his foolish dormmate. The wind stings his eyes and his form is terrible, but that's not what he's worried about.
"I- I APOLOGIZE!"
And thank the Great Seven, that is enough for Silver to allow him near again.
"I don't understand what I've done wrong, but I did not mean to upset you! PLEASE ALLOW ME TO ACCOMPANY YOU!"
Sebek feels somewhat foolish, unable to bow or kneel or further prove his sincerity while apologizing midair. He also does not receive any further acknowledgement, so he must clearly make further reparations after class. Perhaps Master Lilia will have advice- Silver's father should know him best, after all!
Still, they match each other perfectly as they perform their first set of flying exercises. It settles some of the ache in his chest to know they are in sync, and Silver has not yet lapsed into slumber, but Sebek watches him like a hawk all the same. It takes mere seconds for an attack to occur, after all.
And mere seconds after they begin their first repetition- Silver only a few feet ahead, a safe distance for joint flight exercises -does sleep come for him. Sebek sees his shoulders slump forward and rights himself, darting closer and grasping for Silver's arm, missing by a hair's breadth. Missing by a mile. His heart stops as Silver's grip comes loose and he falls.
Sebek dives. It's a reckless, dangerous descent, hurtling headfirst towards the ground as it's the only way he has even a chance of catching up to Silver before- before-
If only he were as talented as their Liege, with his unparalleled flying skills, be it on a broom or with his magnificent draconic strength.
Sebek does not hear the sickening crunch as Silver hits the ground, nor does he hear the screaming of the other second years, occupied as he is with jolting his broom just far enough out of his nose-dive that he does not join the bloody heap upon the grass. He rolls as best he can, his uniform ruined, and it does not matter. Nothing matters more right now than Silver.
"STAY AWAY FROM HIM!"
Sebek can feel the stuttering, wild pace of his breathing and he kneels in the grass, checking desperately for a pulse, but not daring to move Silver, lest he make his injuries worse. When he finds it, faint though it may be, he weeps.
"Zigvolt!"
Though he knows the voice, and can distantly recognize that his fellow students will only want to help, Sebek growls fiercely upon being approached.
"Zigvolt, your phone will have broken upon landing."
Riddle Rosehearts, Heartslaybul Housewarden. In his right mind, Sebek might feel shame for snapping at someone who deserves at least a modicum of respect, but as it is all he can do to not react with outright violence.
"Use mine. There are emergency services on the way, but you must contact your Housewarden at once. Is that clear?"
Sebek swallows around a snarl and takes Housewarden Rosehearts' phone, dialing Master Lilia and wondering if he will die when the elder fae arrives for failing to keep Silver safe.
"Oho! To whom do I owe the pleasure?"
"Lilia!"
Even if the fae will soon have his head, Sebek cannot help but feel relief upon hearing his voice. If anyone can fix this, it will be their Liege and Master Lilia.
"It- it's about Silver, sir, please-"
The line drops. The air beside him shifts, and a sharp inhale of breath is all the warning Sebek has before Lilia begins barking orders, voice flat and deadly. How to move Silver, which injuries to treat and which are too dangerous to touch-
In between it all, Housewarden Rosehearts is corralling the onlooking students, with Lilia directing him.
Fireflies wink in and out of existence in the corners of his eye, and Sebek, having nothing else he can do for Silver, watches mutely as Lord Malleus arrives. As he lifts Silver up with magic, positioned perfectly so as not to cause him harm, and vanishes just as quickly with Lilia in tow. As Riddle Rosehearts directs the remaining crowd to return to their dormitories and rest, forgoing their classes due to extenuating circumstances.
"Zigvolt?"
Housewarden Rosehearts looks pale, Sebek thinks. Paler thank usual.
"Sebek Zigvolt!"
He stays where he is, staring at the blood in the grass. It's stained his hands, now, where he'd followed Master Lilia's orders, enacting emergency field aid that he'd thought they'd never need know, for they would protect Lord Malleus at the cost of their own lives first.
Riddle Rosehearts drapes something over his shoulders and kneels beside him.
"My parents are remarkable medical mages. Silver will... he will pull through. I swear it."
Sebek wants to believe it. With every fiber of his being, he wants to believe that the last conversation he'll ever have with Silver was not an argument, but the facts remain irrefutable, and he remains silent.
Silver is only human, and humans are ever so terribly fragile.