Perhaps In Another Life [WMMAP]

27

Lucas was never one to be concerned about his future. Perhaps it's because it hasn't changed in all the years he's lived. He'd live on for hundreds of years, with nothing changing in his life.

He didn't know why he was curious when he saw a page about a spell giving false futures to the one it is casted on. He was only going to the magician's tower's library, one day suddenly having the urge to go back to the place he's avoided since he woke up from years of slumber. It was in that exact place, where his last mentor perished infront of him.

Perhaps he was looking for closure. Either way, it didn't matter.

He walked past the magicians who took notice of his presence, walking up to him and asking why he suddenly returned and if he decided to come back and fulfill his duties as the head of the tower. Not like he wasn't already doing those, of course. He did his duties, but he didn't do them in the tower at all. There was another building where he only resided in where he did all his work. He ignored the fellow magicians and immediately went to the library, the very same room in which the memories that haunted him for years had come from.

He hitched, stiffening as he registered the place in front of him. It was nothing like he remembered; new shelves and books were added, new placements of furniture and a few added decorations. The place was clean but clearly used by a lot of people. It wasn't anything like that day.

He took a step forward, walking inside as he wandered mindlessly. He wasn't sure what he was looking for. He was just passing time, really, with no one to accompany him. Athanasia was busy with her empress duties, she hasn't had any time for him since she was crowned, attending matters diligently like a good Empress. It didn't bother him, he knew how much the empire meant to her and how badly she wants to be fit for her title. He was genuinely happy for her. Lucas would never admit it, but he was quite proud of his friend. Jeanette, on the other hand, was busy taking care of a dog she and her girlfriend recently adopted. He could crash into their home and annoy them, but he didn't want to bear witness to whatever sickly sweet things the lovers would do infront of him.

And Ijekiel...

Lucas huffed, suddenly feeling annoyance at the thought of the man. He didn't know what had gotten into him. For some reason, Ijekiel had been avoiding him for days since their last... session.

He didn't get it. Everything went fine, just as normally, and Lucas couldn't remember doing anything that might have unintentionally pissed the Duke off... Well, there was one thing that stood out to him that night. Ijekiel had asked him a question he wouldn't normally ask the magician.

"Lucas, why do you sleep with me?"

Lucas paused from the question, looking up at the other man who had his naked back to him, breathing out smoke that came from his cigarette as he looked outside the open balcony.

The moonlight gently shone upon him, making his features more defined and his eyes appearing a brighter gold. The bite marks that graced his neck and shoulders only made Lucas more attracted to him. His beauty was breathtaking. He took his eyes off from the sky and tilted his head to meet Lucas's with a curious expression.

Lucas gulped, forcing his head to turn from the man's captivating beauty as he looked down on the bed instead. "We're friends," He said simply, "And we're both lonely. We get bored when we're alone. You know what I mean. That's enough talking, I'm tired." He laid on Ijekiel's bed and buried himself inside the sheets, preparing to sleep.

"....I see," was the other man's unusually quiet reply.

It couldn't be that Ijekiel's been avoiding him because of what he said, could it...?