Thad fumbled to put away his apartment keys as he wrestled the groceries onto the counter.

  “Took you long enough. Pretzel thought you’d abandoned her forever.”

  “Slander!” Thad exclaimed with laughter as he reached down to ruffle Pretzel’s ears, who just gave a huff and trotted off, as if upset, he’d the nerve to leave in the first place. “Also, are you just going to sass me, or put some of this away?”

  “Well, watching you is pretty nice.”

  “Marcus, flattery’s not getting you out of—"

  Thad went silent as he caught sight of Neil leaning against the kitchen table, his green eyes hungry. Tight t-shirt showing everything off. And those jeans… why’d he never seen Neil in jeans before?

  Wait, why was Neil in his apartment?!

  “Neil, how are you…” Thad trailed off as Neil pushed off the table and strode into his personal space, causing him to step back against the counter. “…here?”

  “Disappointed it’s me?” Neil smirked, his hands resting on either side of Thad. “I can go if you want. But then… I don’t think I’ll be able to help.”

  “You came all this way, just to help me with dinner?” Thad asked, only to let out a breath as the elf’s lips brushed his throat.

  “More or less,” Neil murmured, trailing kisses up Thad’s neck to his ear. “Though I thought you might be looking for something, you know… more.”

  “More than you in those jeans?”

  “You should see me out of them.”

  “It seems like you're trying to distract me, so you don't have to help, Neil.” Thad playfully whispered, their lips a hair's breadth apart.

  “Oh, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

  The apartment was empty in a blink, causing Thad to stumble back against the counter for a second as he searched for the sudden intruder. Only to see—himself?

  No, that didn’t make sense.

  His hair was all wrong, longer, darker, his eyes deep brown.

  His outfit, pure white, like some acolyte of purity.

  “You just going to keep gaping like an idiot or actually say something, User?”

  “Thadwick?!”

  “Oh, look who’s figured it out,” Thadwick said, clapping with a mocking smirk.

  “What are you doing in my apartment? Wait… why am I in my apartment?!”

  “It’s a dream, dumbass.”

  “A dream, but—”

  “You actually believed Neil would ever be that fashionable?!” Thadwick scoffed.

  “Well, I… Damn, you’re right, I should’ve caught that.” Thad sighed, leaning onto the counter, only to stop and glance back at Thadwick, who was now inspecting the apartment with a smug expression. “Wait, that still doesn’t answer my question. How are you in my dream? When was that ever a thing? Oh god… what all have you seen?”

  “Please, like I want to be privy to what’s going on in your head,” Thadwick laughed. “No, I purchased an ability.”

  “An ability?”

  “Yes. So, I can visit you in your dreams if I want. Keep up!”

  “You can already talk to me.”

  “Yeah, as a stupid paperclip. How are you supposed to take me seriously like that?”

  “I took you seriously… most of the time.”

  Thadwick’s look was withering.

  “My point, exactly!”

  “Well, fair, I guess,” Thad said, looking away for a second. “I’m sorry, by the way, about the other day.”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “It does! You’re just as trapped as I am, maybe more so, and I shouldn’t have gotten frustrated with you.”

  “You know, I hate when you’re like this.”

  “What, caring? You were missing for four days, Thadwick? I was worried about you!”

  “You don’t have to pretend for my sake. It isn’t like I care about you!”

  “Of course you don't,” Thad huffed, walking towards Thadwick, whose eyes went wide as he was pulled into a hug.

  “What are you doing?! User, you can’t just… I’m the one who—” Thad could hear a small, shaky sob escape as he held the young man, whose shoulders trembled, from quiet tears. “I don’t… Thad, I don’t deserve this. Let go.”

  “Nope, you’re stuck with me till the end. Hopefully a bit after, as well.”

  “Oh, joy,” Thadwick said with a sharp laugh, undercut by the fondness that lingered on its sad edges and the way he clung to the other man.

  It was grounding in a way, being with someone who knew everything. Not having to wear a mask. Play some role.

  “You know, it’s good to finally meet you in person, Thadwick.”

  “Is it? You may be the first person who’s ever said that… ever thought it.”

  “I’m sure I’m not the only one,” Thad offered with a small laugh as he looked over the young man. “You know, I kind of expected you to look exactly like me.”

  “Small mercies,” Thadwick said as he pulled away, putting distance between them.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  “I can’t tell whether you’re being nice or not.”

  “Guess.”

  “I don’t think I will,” Thad said with a wave of his hands. “Feels like a trap. Besides, I was a twin, and I know that snipes tend to come back around in these sorts of situations.”

  “Fine, whatever, but you know… You must’ve been rather hideous in your past life.”

  “Oh, are we just going for straight insults now?! For your information, I was considered rather decent looking…By some. I mean, Marcus had no complaints.”

  “Well, you act like someone who’s never been deemed so.”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  “It means, all you do is just tramps about with my face, unaware of your potential,” Thadwick said, waving his hand vaguely in Thad’s direction until he paused as he noticed the groceries still sitting on the counter. “You know what, fine. I guess I’ll help with your little Davone problem.”

  Thad took a step back with a frown.

  “My Davone problem?”

  “Yeah, all this domestic shit’s just pathetic,” Thadwick said, waving at the apartment. “You should just seduce Davone, fuck him, and get it out of your system. That way you can focus on what’s really important.”

  “I can’t just seduce Neil!”

  “Why not? It would be super easy.”

  “Well… there’s a weird power dynamic, and I mean, he still likes Cass, right?”

  “I highly doubt that, but so what?”

  “What do you mean, so what? I don’t think he’ll be down to date me if that’s the case, and I won’t make him feel obligated to.”

  “Date you? Gods, don’t tell me you’re actually in love with Davone!”

  “No! That’s not what I… I mean… he’s such a great guy, and—”

  “Do you really think the family would be ok with that?”

  “Why wouldn’t they be? It’s better than sleeping with half of Old City.”

  Thad barely dodged the book that flew at him.

  “Hey!”

  “There’s a big difference between fucking and catching feelings for someone beneath you.”

  “Neil’s not beneath me,” Thad said, picking up the book and placing it on the table. “I mean… if anything, I’d prefer him on top of—”

  “I don’t need to know your preferences, User!”

  “Well, apparently, I don’t get to have any privacy, so!”

  “I’m not trying to spy on you, trust me. I feel like a chastity acolyte, watching your life half the time. You’re so boring, and a prude on top of that! Why do you think I disconnect so much?”

  “Even in the baths?”

  “What do you mean in the baths?”

  “Nothing.”

  “What happened in the baths?!”

  “None of your business!”

  “It very much feels like it is!”

  “Why are you up so early?”

  Dustin watched Neil glance back with a tired expression. The barely risen sun casting shadows across the dim interior of the inn.

  Had the guy slept at all?

  “He said it.”

  Dustin tilted his head at the words… it was too early for this. In fact, why was he up anyway?

  “Said what?” Dustin asked as he took a seat by the healer, motioning at the innkeeper to bring tea.

  “You know…It.”

  “Not any clearer, man.”

  Neil gave this exasperated look, as if he wanted to strangle him, but instead sighed, placing his forehead on the table.

  “He confessed.”

  “Confessed to what?... Oh, oh shit! Wait what? Thad confessed to you first? When did—No, how did I miss that?... And why do you look so bummed?”

  “I don’t know if he meant it.”

  Dustin raised a brow at this, only to stop and quietly thank the innkeeper as the tea was set on the table.

  “I don’t follow. Did he or did he not confess?”

  “It was vague.”

  “I don’t see how it could be.”

  “He said he loved me. As if it were nothing.”

  “That’s not just a confession, Neil! That’s… That’s a godsdamn declaration!”

  “But that’s the thing, I don’t think it was meant for me,” Neil said, filling a cup and taking a sip, only to grimace and then examine the loose leaf in the pot.

  “What? Were there other elves sharing the bed with you I didn’t know about?”

  “No… but he asked me if I was getting ready for work? Like if I were a guild artisan or something.”

  “I mean, we’re at work now, I guess. But yeah, that’s weird. Why was he asking you that?”

  “I don’t know! I don’t even know if he was awake.”

  “Ok, stop, backtrack. Awake? Wasn’t this a conversation between you two?”

  “No! I was getting out of bed, for well… reasons, and then he grabbed my hand and just confessed.”

  “So did you ask him what he meant by it?”

  “He fell back asleep!” Neil lamented at Dustin.

  “So! People can be woken up, Neil. You know, as a healer, I’d like to think you knew this.”

  “I guess… but it just didn’t feel like the time.”

  “The time to find out if your crush is in love with you or not after you’ve slept together?”

  Neil opened his mouth as if to speak, only to take another sip of his tea and grimace before moving the teacup out of reach.

  “You’re misrepresenting the facts, and you know it, Dusty.”

  “I don’t think I am.”

  “I don’t care what you think.”

  “Then you wouldn’t be talking to me,” Dustin said, only to smirk. “Well, either way. This is a rather fortunate turn of events for me.”

  “What are you blathering about now?”

  “I may or may not have bet that Thad would confess first.”

  “You what!?”

  “Look, I know you, man, and let's face it. I’d reach silver before you made a move on your own.”

  “This doesn’t count.”

  “Oh, how do you know? Have you asked him?”

  “Fine, I will!” Neil exclaimed, standing up.

  “Doubt it.”

  “Watch me!”

  “I am. Go on then.”

  “… Well, it’s a bit early, and Thad’s mana depleted, so I should let him sleep,” Neil rambled as he took his seat again.

  “Naturally,” Dustin agreed. His streak, well and truly secured.

  “Um, Priestess Lasalle, if I may… your uniform’s dirty.”

  Anisa stopped in her tracks and scoured her uniform only to find a dark brown smudge on her left upper chest plate. She went to work immediately, but the stain didn’t budge.

  “I may need to burn it,” Anisa grumbled with frustration.

  “I doubt you should take such drastic action,” The acolyte said with a feigned smile. “Surely some crystal wash—”

  “Everyone is out of crystal wash because of that cursed man Asano.”

  “Wait, isn’t he that guy with the evil powers? Why would he be so interested in cleanliness? Is he worthy of recruiting?”

  “No. He is the very antithesis of our order!”

  “Oh, I see,” The acolyte said, his head bowing slightly in deference. “Shall I find someone with a cleansing power then?”

  “No need, I’ll be but a moment,” Anisa said as she returned to her dormitory, the door shutting behind her.

  At this rate, she would miss mass, not that she would want to be seen sullied.

  Not again.

  Hunger was a worthy price to pay.

  Anisa removed the soiled chest plate and lightly touched the stain. She had no idea how it had gotten there. But it felt like a portent.

  A mark for her silence, she shouldn’t have kept.

  He’d only been a distraction after all. A misunderstanding that would’ve thrown the order into disarray. No one needed to know her moment of weakness.

  Anisa glanced at her pillow.

  Well, it wasn’t the first time she’d been weak, failed her vows.

  Anisa strode to the pillow, her hand reached under it, only to find nothing. Her heart dropped as she threw back the pillow, then the blankets. She looked under the bed. It was gone!

  “No… no, no, it has to be here,” Anisa whispered to herself as she pulled open the small wooden trunk that held all her worldly possessions, which didn’t even fill it halfway. It made things easy to clean. Easy to search through as the items skittered across the floor.

  “Little priestess, what is it you seek with such fervor?”

  Anisa gasped as divinity saturated her littered room.

  “Nothing…. my lord.”

  “Are you sure you’re not searching for this?” Anisa’s eyes turned to the small bit of paper held between the god's fingers. His mask unreadable. “Trying to deceive me?”

  “Of course not, I thought it beneath you,” Anisa answered as she fell to her knees, her eyes downcast as dread filled her mind. “Forgive my impudence.”

  “Oh, but this isn’t the only time you've hidden things, priestess.”

  Anisa felt herself go cold as she glanced up at the pale figure before her, tears in her eyes. And she couldn’t tell if it was fear or reverence that caused them, but they came, nonetheless.

  “I’m sorry, please. I’ll confess, I’m yours, my lord. Please!”

  “You’re mine in more ways than you know, little priestess,” The god said, his voice a mask of neutrality. “I think a test is in order.”

  “I’ll do anything.”

  “Then, I’ll have you bring me, Thadwick Mercer. With a team I select. When I deem it time.”

  “Thadwick? Surely, my lord, he isn’t fit for our congregation. You would cleanse him?”

  “He will be a gift, not for us, but for our allies.”

  “The Builder? But then his soul will be—”

  “Should I question your definition of loyalty, priestess? Has this heathen infested you with impure thoughts? Need I regret my mercy?”

  “No, my lord,” Anisa said, bowing her head. “I give myself only to you.”

  “Then partake of my sacrament, and be cleansed,” The god demanded, as a spirit coin appeared in his hand and he placed it against Anisa’s lips.

  The god’s essence dissolved on her tongue, fiery and intense as she stared at her now pristine room and armor. The only lingering proof of his presence, a sketch of her mother that floated softly to the floor, its edges shimmering with a faint glow as it crumbled to ash.

  this is a later-in-the-series Clive and Jason, but still, yay art!

  an animatic I made of the trio dealing with Neil's crush on Thad, hahaha.

  Please enjoy this meme dump!