Setosolace: The Kingdom's Sorcerer-AU

Chapter 6: Rubicon's Great First Impression

-Few phrases of curse words, of course not fully typed-

~Edit: Just updating this chapter after finding a few typos, so if you were notified that I updated this chapter don't worry about it and carry on. :)

~Back to the magnificent Brice third-person~

The last thing Brice remembered was Seto and Choco planning what they would do when they got to Rubicon. He uneasily pried his eyelids open, blinking a few times to clear his blurred vision. Faint sunlight poured through the large window in the back wall of the room, telling Brice that it was just before sunrise.

He realized he was lying on the couch he was on with Seto yesterday. He also noticed that he was holding a body close to him, and he nearly loosened his grip right away until he became aware that Seto would fall off. Chills shot through Brice, looking at the sorcerer he held to his stomach. Brice had his head resting on the armrest of the couch, and Seto's was on the crook of Brice's elbow. His other arm was tightly wrapped around Seto's torso, pressing his back to Brice's stomach. The gentle rise and fall of Seto's side clarified that he was still asleep--at least Brice hoped. He wasn't sure how to get out of this situation without waking him, and he didn't plan on getting slapped in the face by a burning ray of magic by an upset sorcerer who found out he was clutched all night by someone he probably barely tolerates and was awoken by him as well.

Calm down, Brice.

He tried to even out his breathing, slowly beginning to remove his arm from Seto's side, only to have Seto turn over to face him and mumble, "Morning."

Brice was stunned for a few seconds, his arm freezing in mid-air, but he stuttered in his own morning voice, "How long were you awake?"

Seto shrugged, his eyes still closed. He didn't look like he'd be moving any time soon.

"Uh, sorry about this," Brice awkwardly said, quickly motioning to get up. Seto stopped him with a single hand held up.

"It's fine, I know you were completely exhausted yesterday from going from one place to another. How long were you traveling?"

"Um, I left Rubicon a few days ago and have been walking the path until I pretty much passed out. It was urgent, after all." He tried keeping the mixture of pride and regret from his voice, only to cringe as his last statement gave it away.

Seto grunted and nodded. "Well, this time I'm teleporting us and I'll be the one to go into the kingdom, but we'll inform you of everything before we leave."

Brice found himself just staring at Seto, and how peaceful he looked at this time of day. The sunlight always made its way to illuminate Seto's features, like the loose, brown hair that fell over his headband, and his currently hidden, lighter brown eyes that shone purple and knowledge. He couldn't believe this one calm person could have such a terrible and revered reputation, given the gentle and almost child-like content displayed in this state.

Brice, what are you doing? He forced his eyes away, realizing they were still resting on Seto like an owl studying a foreign forest animal trying to climb its tree.

"Should we go find Choco?" he asked, not knowing how much more his thoughts could take of his confusion with the sorcerer in close proximity.

"He's already nearby, I can sense him," Seto simply stated, finally flickering his magnificent eyes open. Brice tried to calm his quickly-beating heart, aware that Seto could hear it that close up.

"What!? No, I'm not!" Choco called from somewhere outside the double-doorway, causing both of them to perk their heads up.

Seto sighed and shook his head. "I finalized the plan last night, Choco, you need to hear this."