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There was a buzzing eagerness present within the entire school, Malleus noticed, hushed whispers there and a noticeable unease here, but not out of fear—of him specifically, he ruled out. It was something different. Behind that nervousness there was a veil of zeal, an unabashed endearment directed towards another.
“Is there a special occasion today?” Malleus asked Lilia before a short chorus of applause resounded. The prefect along with other fellow first year students gathered around a beastman from Savanaclaw and Schoenheit’s protege, Howl and Felmier if he recalls correctly. They were flustered, but had large smiles plastered on their faces as they tried to not look at the small crowd.
“Ah, young love, how endearing." The fae smiled cheerfully, glancing over at the pair, “Though I suppose it is that time of the year…”
“And what ‘time’ is it that you are referring to?”
Lilia chuckled as he took in Malleus’ furrowed brows and mild frustration growing with the lack of answers. “Oh, nothing much. It’s just a human holiday, a quite appealing one for the youngsters if I do say so.”
“A mortal celebration.” Malleus put his fingers to his chin, “What exactly does this celebration entail?”
“It is a day of celebrating love and relationships, though not necessarily romantic, many do profess and express their love to one another.” He hummed, “Think of it almost like Beltane.”
Malleus nodded, “I see.”
“Yes,” Lilia smiled mischievously, “though if you still feel this explanation is lacking, you should go ask Idia about it~ If I remember correctly, this holiday has its origins in the Kingdom of Heroes."
“Perhaps I will…”
Idia groaned as he passed another sickening and overly flamboyant Valentine’s day confession on his way back to the dorm. Their need to have it known to the entire school made him roll his eyes, total overkill as if they didn’t already go out of their way to change their relationship status on Magicam and post about it.
He walked as fast as he could to get back to Ignihyde, which was, surprisingly, faster than one would imagine for someone as unathletic as Idia. He breathed a sigh of relief as the cold air hit his exposed skin, making his way past the lounge as he got to his room. Unlike the rest of Night Raven College, Ignihyde students were much less into the whole Valentines propaganda spreading around.
The teen shut his door close the moment he stepped in and dropped the stuff he got from Sam’s onto his desk. He still had to farm for the new SSR character coming out, but after that hellish trudge to-and-fro he’ll need a minute.
“Shroud?”
“Eek-!”
Idia jumped back in surprise at the sudden voice behind him, scrambling onto his bed to clutch at his pillow. “A-ah, it’s you, M-Malleus…”
The fae offered an apologetic smile as he slowly pulled the pillow from the boy’s face. “Apologies if I startled you, beloved, I couldn’t help but see you right away.”
Pink flames licked at the edges of his hair, and Idia tried not to look at his boyfriend’s ridiculously handsome face. “Oh, w-why’s that?”
Malleus quirked an eyebrow, “You do not know? Lilia told me you would have knowledge of today’s ‘Valentines Day’ celebration especially.”
Idia tense at his words. “A-ah.”
Honestly, he only remembered what day it was when he had seen Azul meticulously pre-plan out a date for the whole evening with Jamil, a feat he found nigh impossible with how much Sacarabia’s vice-houswarden has on his plate, but then again, Azul isn’t some noob who backs down at a challenge.
“Truthfully, I had no prior knowledge of such keeping until I witnessed one of these ‘confessions’ myself.”
Idia snorted, “Those are so cheesy.”
“Are they?” The prince hummed, pressing his body close to the other’s, “It is certainly a more contemporary manner of which, with how suitors express their desires, but it is no less meaningful.”
“It is when they only do it as a result of the social pressure surrounding this capitalistic, hyper-commercialized mid holiday.” Idia mumbled. “If they wanted it to be mainstream and cliche, task achieved, but atp it js loses it’s value if everybody does it.”
Malleus tensed up a bit at his digress, not quite expecting so much distaste for the mortal celebration, “Then, from your perspective, are all acts performed on this day as equally as artificial?”
“Kinda,” Idia shrugged, not caring so much for the day, “Honestly it’s too much a manufactured, corporate-driven banner event not to think it, no wonder the Jupiters love it so much…totally a Hallmark event if you ask me when they’re pressuring others now to go all out on a D-tier holiday.”
“Ah, I see…” Malleus put his hand down on his lap at the explanation and Idia felt a small pang at the dejected expression on him, regretting his words.
“Pardon me, beloved, but I have to take my leave now.” Pressing a brief kiss on his head, Idia’s words died in his tongue as his room was filled with green fireflies and not his draconic boyfriend.
Silence and the faint humming of his hardware encapsulated the room before Idia slapped his face with his hands, dragging them down. “Gods, you’re such a fucking idiot.”
A clap of thunder resounded outside Diasomnia, flashing green from the glass window as small droplets of water began to slowly pour down. The sky was downcast, as the sun was completely obscured by the dark clouds above.
Inside, a certain fae watched the morbid skyline from his place, enjoying a cup of tea with son, who was suddenly woken up by another peal of thunder.
“A-ah, father!”
Lilia put his hand up to stop Silver from getting up, his hand subconsciously reaching for his side. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this.” With a soft hum, the man got out of his seat and climbed up the stairs to the top ground.
Another rumble was heard, and Lilia sighed as he approached the door and knocked. “Malleus? May I come in?”
There wasn’t a response however the door quietly unlocked itself, therefore he took that as an invitation. He found the younger fae slowly pacing around his room, his gaze solely focused on the floor until his father figure entered.
Malleus didn’t say anything, instead he sat down on the settee in front of his bed as he waited expectantly for the other to approach him. Lilia could almost laugh at the sullen pout on the boy’s face, but didn’t and went to sit down next to him.
“...I’m afraid I don’t understand any of these human traditions, Lilia.” Malleus admitted suddenly, “I came here to learn more about humans and expand my connections for the future of Briar Valley, yet I cannot even comprehend the workings of a contrived holiday such as this one today. And I will have returned home without even having made any significant progress despite the Queen’s wishes.”
Lilia smiled sympathetically at the boy he raised and put a hand to his shoulder, “Her majesty did not send you here purely for the benefit of the Valley, but to also experience this for yourself and perhaps discover something of your own here as well, something worth remembering.” He added fondly, “Something like what you have right now with Idia.”
Malleus felt a tug on his lips before it fell, “Yes, no... I keep foolishly misinterpreting these common human courting practices and I fear that one day I may do something irreparable to our relationship or perhaps strain it.”
“Have you spoken to him about this?”
“No, but-”
“But you may also be misinterpreting this as well.” Lilia said, not unkindly and stood up to look out the window. “The best way to learn is through experience, and I’m sure Idia is more than willing to help you along the way." He motioned below and Malleus caught a familiar blue as he glanced outside the window.
The prince’s lips parted at the sight of his lover standing in front of his dorm, hands clasped behind his back as he met his gaze and gracefully bestowed him one of his few smiles reserved for his eyes only. He cast a quick look at Lilia before teleporting down to meet the eldest Shroud.
Lilia sighed, “How nostalgic…”
“Malleus.”
Idia smiled shyly as his boyfriend enveloped him in a hug, his toned arms coming behind his back in support. He let himself a moment to relax and lowered his head to meet his chest, the soft beat of his heart a small comfort.
“I apologize I left so abruptly, love.”
“Hm, ‘ts alright.” Slowly, Idia pulled himself away from the fae and took his hand in his, walking towards the mirror. “But I have something to show you rn.”
Malleus blinked curiously, observing his beloved until his soft hands came to cover his eyes.
“Dw, I’m not princenapping you…though I doubt I’d be able to if I tried…”
He chuckled, “If it were you, I would eagerly submit to your wiles, beloved.”
The flame haired young man mumbled something unintelligible under his breath, now glad his boyfriend couldn’t see his flustered face although his teasing smirk was all too telling.
The air shifted around them the instant after crossing the dark mirror, a cool breeze hitting their bodies as a sharp sea salt and resinous pine smell flooded his senses. The ground below him was soft as Idia guided him, eventually coming to a stop.
“O-Okay…you can open your eyes.”
Stepping back, Idia let Malleus take his time adjusting to the change in scenery.
They were at a sea side cliff, the sun dipping into the ocean and illuminating the sky in vibrant warm colors. There were stone columns behind where they stood, but the architecture of the building was foreign to him, a peripteral and hypethral style, and raised upon three steps. It definitely wasn’t anyplace on Sage Island, Malleus concluded, taking in the full setting.
“Where are we?” He asked, his gaze still glued to the sky.
“In the Kingdom of Heroes.” Idia answered quietly, watching the fae’s expression slowly shift. “It's an old Sanctuary dedicated to one of the gods. When I was younger, I used to come here sometimes after lessons.”
Malleus cocked his head, “I thought you lived on the Island of Woe?”
“I do, but before I used to go to school on the mainland. Along with the rest of my extended family…” He added that last part begrudgingly, before shaking his head. “But this was one place I liked to go when I just wanted to…escape.”
“Then I’m glad you’re willing to share such a place with me, beloved.”
“Yeah.” They stood there for a moment, not saying a word to each other and simply enjoying the other’s presence. Idia shook himself out of his trance after a moment. “I-um…”
Malleus smiled softly, “Would you mind showing me around?”
“No, y-yeah. Of course.” Swallowing his nervousness, Idia took the prince’s hand and started to lead him towards the foreign building. There were many statues littered about the grounds, of both men and women alike along with other creatures. Satyrs, if he recalled correctly.
“Who is this temple dedicated to?”
“A-Ah.” The younger man began to flush a bit. “It’s one of Eros…”
“Eros?”
Idia nodded. “Yeah, you probably know him better as Cupid though, but this is one of Eros’ Sanctuaries.”
The fae hummed, “This Cupid, according to what I learned, is it not an integral character to this ‘Valentines Day’?”
“That’s just the over-commercialized design of him you see in every party store, but yeah.” Idia cackled slightly, showing off his serrated teeth. “But he’s a god. Of all that rated-R stuff and smut yk, so like desire, attraction, and affection, not to mention erotic love. Big hit outside the Kingdom of Heroes, but just with a baby skin and diaper.”
The prince made a strangled look at that, the prospect of an infant child symbolizing such things seeming outrageous, and Idia couldn’t help but laugh again. “It’s weird, ik, way too OOC but he’s not the one who’s actually widely worshiped over here in the Land of Heroes, maybe a few centuries ago when it was occupied, but most people nowadays follow his original counterpart from the Age of Myth, Eros.”
Malleus nodded, moving closer to his lover, “That is quite interesting. Then, from that historical context, I take it this ‘Valentine’s Day’ is one full of passion and desire for one’s romantic partner?”
“I-I, um, y-yeah…” Idia felt his whole face heat up as his boyfriend threw him a teasing smile. He avoided looking anywhere but the egregiously handsome face card Malleus had and fell into step with him again, “But, um, Mal? I’m sorry about how I acted. I know you're excited about learning more about humans and stuff, but I've just been dragging the whole holiday.”
The brunet shook his head, taking both of his beloved's hands in his as he guided him toward the large fountain. “It's alright. You have your own reasons to dislike whatever you want, I cannot judge.”
“You're too nice.”
“For you, of course.”
Idia huffed out a breath as he tried to shy away from the fae's endearing stare, but Malleus wouldn't let him. Pulling him closer, Malleus used one hand to lift the human's chin up and let himself enjoy the feeling of his lips, slowly, sweetly tasting the balm on them before deepening the kiss with a soft bite. Idia let out an appreciative hum, opening his mouth as Malleus’ forked tongue entered and started exploring his cavern.
He always liked the sweet lingering after taste Idia’s mouth had, of all the sickeningly sweet candy he eats. It wasn’t too overpowering, but pleasantly addicting as their tongues wrestled, licking and sucking each other.
They parted for a brief moment, their chests slightly heaving as Malleus pressed his forehead against Idia’s, his hands mindlessly caressing his beloved's waist.
“It's getting late.”
“So it is.” The prince hummed and raised his hands to play with his human's buds, leaving soft kisses along his jaw. “But I think I want to truly immerse myself in this holiday today, my love.”