Up and Down

Form and Function

"Oh, one thing has escaped my mind, dearest..."

"Hmm?..."

They are soaking under the warm rays of the sun in the Vivarium, resting after the exceedingly eventful day. Anna has her head on Ominis' shoulder as they lay on a conjured blanket, basking.

In front of them, Sebastian, who was busy washing off blood and sweat from his body in the cool stream, tenses noticeably.

"What is it, Ominis?..." she had almost dozed off, but the sound of gentle lyrical voice never fails to bring her out of slumber.

"He's been keeping quite a secret to himself," there is a soft rumble of laughter underneath her as Ominis pulls her in closer and places a loving kiss on top of her head.

"And what would that secret be, pray tell?" She raises an eyebrow, her eyes flickering to the bare back rising out of the water, bruises blooming on the freckled skin where blood had pooled from the repeated hits, "unless you want to enlighten me yourself, Sebastian?..."

"Uh..."

"I'm sure he won't. He was content to take this secret to his grave."

"Oh, it can't be that bad, can it?..."

Unease spreads through her chest but before she can voice her worry, Ominis soothes it away with a nuzzle to her hair.

"It's not Dark magic. Nor is he in love with someone else..."

"Hey! I would never-"

"Then, what can be so terrible?"

Ominis snickers and leans closer, his lips brushing her earlobe.

"Our darling is an Animagus."

"... what?!"

She sits up. Sebastian's shoulders hunch, taut muscles of his back flexing.

"What do you mean you weren't going to tell us? That's amazing, Sebastian!"

"Because..." the brunet sulks, sitting down in the stream, disappearing into the water up to his neck, "it's embarrassing."

"What?... Natty isn't embarrassed, and-"

"Natty is a gazelle. Not... what I turn into."

"And what do you turn into, then?"

"I can't tell you."

"But-!" Oh, that is unfair. She won't be able to stop thinking and guessing now, "I'm sure it's magnificent!"

"Absolutely bloody not," Sebastian stands up in a splash of water and begins to climb out, adamantly not looking at her.

Ominis stretches his long legs out, laughing quietly.

"You know she can order you to and you will fold, Sebastian. Like the good boy you are."

The young man freezes, his dark damp curls clinging to his forehead.

Like the... the good boy he is. Pieces of the puzzle - his embarrassment, his silence and his refusal - all come together as Anna's mouth forms an 'o' shape.

"You're a dog."

"Fuck you, Ominis," Sebastian growls, shaking off his wet hands onto the other man. Ominis flinches as cold droplets hit his face without warning.

"Hah, you won't. If anything, I'd be the one doing that to you," he smirks lazily in response.

"But... can I see you when you transform?" Anna looks pleadingly at frowning Sebastian, "please?"