Something Blue

 

Akira’s feet dragged along the dormitory hall. “How many more times do we have to do this?” he groaned.

“Ten pledges remain.” Suuzu frowned and evicted a red flower petal from his nestmate’s hair. “The next phase of their courtship is not scheduled until summer’s end.”

Akira had spent the whole day alongside Argent and Gingko, standing in for his sister. That’s why he was garbed from head to toe in Mettlebright colors—icy blue edged in frostlike embroidery—and marked by the crests of both Argent Mettlebright and Stately House.

Suuzu waited patiently as Akira patted through unfamiliar pockets for his set of keys.

Even though he radiated weariness, Akira smiled softly. “Quen and Kimi seemed happy.”

“Yes.” Because Suuzu was watching, he saw the sudden change in Akira’s expression. “Hmm?”

“Nothing. Well, it’s something, but … sort of a secret.”

Keeping secrets? That was a first. Whatever was in Akira’s pocket, it had wiped away his weariness. Suuzu was puzzled by the sudden hurrying of his nestmate’s pulse and the warming of his cheeks.

“Found the keys,” Akira mumbled, opening the door.

Suuzu merely hummed again and followed him inside.

Once behind wards, Akira raised his hand, as if asking to address a classroom. “I have something for you. It’s usually really hard to hide things from you, but you didn’t notice I was up to anything.”

He felt the need to apologize. “I have been preoccupied with Kimi’s needs and the demands of the ….”

Akira shook his head. “No big deal. It worked out because it’ll be fun to surprise you. I hope.”

Suuzu searched his memory for any hint of scheming, but he truly had not noticed anything out of the ordinary. He was ashamed to have been so inattentive.

“Hey.” Akira touched his arm and offered a tired smile. “Let’s clean up. I want to be preened for this.”

“You need sleep.”

“No kidding. But I won’t be able to sleep until I do this.” Akira was already pulling off the fancy outer tunic. “Most of the gift has been ready for a while, but I was waiting for one last thing. Got it today from Argent. He was cool about it, promised not to tell anyone.”

 Suuzu obediently kept his gaze averted while Akira hid the contents of his pocket under the discarded tunic, even resisting the urge to tidy the rumpled garment. Their evening patterns were perfunctory at best, with Akira nearly falling asleep in the bath.

Back in their room, Suuzu pulled out their futons and bedding, swiftly assembling their usual nest. “I can be patient. You should rest.”

Akira only shook his head and sat cross-legged atop their blankets.

With a soft trill of concern, Suuzu joined him.

“For you.” Akira held out an empty palm.

Suuzu cocked his head to one side, unsure how to interpret the gesture.

“Oh, sorry. Hang on.” Akira poked and prodded, and with a soft pop, a ward vanished, revealing a small wooden box that still bore a tracery of seals. “Boon did that part. Pretty neat, huh? You never knew it was here.”

“I did not.” This gift was becoming more elaborate and more mysterious by the moment.

Suuzu accepted the box, teasing away an additional seal and lifting the catch. A neat braid coiled within, and he was picking up the faint presence of tuned crystals. Recognition pulled a soft warble of surprise from him.

Akira pushed up onto his knees. “I went ahead and started on our nest.”

The box’s contents mostly smelled like Akira, but there were hints of others’ handiwork. He lifted the slender black cord and whispered, “Juuyu?”

“His hair.” Pointing to a russet crystal, Akira added, “This one’s tuned to him. I got it from one of his teammates. Can you really tell where he is?”

Suuzu immediately pointed to the west.

“Nice!” He scooted closer, their knees touching. “Tuning one to me was trickier, since I’m not a reaver. But Michael worked it out. See?” From the bottom of the box, Akira brought a second black cord, which he quickly looped around his ankle, settling a smooth, milky blue stone against his skin. “This cord’s made from Sis’ hair, and your crystal’s tuned to mine.”

Suuzu caressed the blue stone knotted into his necklace.

Akira bounded up and crossed to the closet, ducking inside. He called, “Does it work?”

“I know where you are.”

He leaned out. “I know, but does it work?”

Suuzu smiled and waved for him to come back. Belatedly fussing with Akira’s half-dry hair, he said, “I always know where you are.”

“You do?”

“Hmm.”

Akira narrowed his eyes skeptically. “How’s that possible?”

Suuzu brushed his knuckles along Akira’s cheek. “Homing instinct.”

His nestmate’s eyes softened.

Taking a formal tone, Suuzu said, “I will wear your tokens. We will build our nest. My songs will all and always be for you.”

Akira lowered his gaze and fidgeted.

For a moment, Suuzu feared he had crossed a line. His nestmate was not looking for pledges.

But Akira shyly said, “I have one other thing to add, but I held it back since it would have been the bad kind of surprise.” He slipped his hand into the pocket of his pajama pants and brought out a folded blue envelope that glittered with sigils. “I really wanted you to have this, but … just … it’s empty, okay?”

Suuzu accepted the second gift. At his touch, the seals vanished, proof of Argent’s skill. Slitting the paper with a claw, Suuzu tipped the contents into his palm. Etched leaves twined around a slender metal rod, which was capped with a green stone.

“It’s a reliquary, just like the one Sinder had, just like the ones in Kikusawa’s treasury.” Akira took it from his palm and showed him the trick to opening its tiny panel. “I was thinking it would be good to add this to our nest. I mean, I know it’s empty, but it exists.”

Suuzu didn’t trust his voice.

Akira quietly said, “And since it exists, we can hope.”

With a fluttering exhale and a broken sob, Suuzu pulled Akira close and hid his face against his shoulder. His nestmate’s fingers were in his hair, making a mess as surely as he disarranged his composure.

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m not going anywhere.”

Suuzu’s voice came out muffled. “You are mine.”

“I know.”

He lifted his face, needing Akira to understand. “I want to find a way.”

“I know.”

His eyes slammed shut. “Akira ….”

“I know.” He pulled the phoenix’s head back onto his shoulder and held on tight. “Suuzu, I get it, okay? I know.”

And that had to be enough. For now.

 

THE END