Relationship Status: It's Complicated

Photo Fiasco

(Art by SerinityAInfernoArt)

"How the hell did you escape? I'm surprised your face looks like your face." Sega cheekily turned Valas' face so he could see the fine jaw. He needed something to distract him from his own impatience. 

Valas grabbed Sega's ponytail, yanking, "who's jaw are you grabbing romantically? Want to check other places too? I'll let it happen since its you. You have to check everywhere though or I won't be satisfied."

Naki's brows furrowed, "hey ew, beyond being one of his partners. I don't ship this at all. You two would never get anywhere, just literally fight to be dominant."

"I can dig it," Valas chuckled deviously. "Didn't you know we had a thing? He may be all googoo for you now but if I wanted him, it'd be over for you all."

"I'm not entertaining you right now Valas, we have work to do. We already had to wait for you."

"Excuse me little miss 'It was a smart idea to wear my school uniform to the rival school'." Valas crossed his arms, "and by the way, tone down the chihuahua act, it won't get you far here. This is Dawnbringer Sha Naki, that attitude isn't going to get you cooperation."

"Who needs cooperation? I'm here to make sure no one is lying. Dark species can be sneaky. And what was I supposed to wear? My crown? Go away!"

"It's a good thing I snuck out of lockdown to come and help. Princess and the poodle would not have gotten much done. What's the rules, hmm? One chance before we scare the piss out of them? Sylas was in those pictures aside from Valges, I'm already ready to break necks. If Aesmond doesn't watch who he burns, he will end up ashes."

Sega's jaw ticked at the name he was starting to abhor. "It is already marked on my blade's edge! He thinks I'm the same boy he could play with from before! He doesn't know who I have become after his poisonous words dripped into my mind before. This time I will cut out his tongue and he can see if my father finds him useful then!" Sega looked at Naki, "don't tell Cactus."

"It's me! Who's going to tell? I'm on your side!" Naki's nose wrinkled, "acting all nice only to do such a nasty thing! I'll punch him the next time I see him! No one thinks hard when it's me. I'm young and rash~"

"You're a little shit," Sega chuckled, throwing an arm around Naki's neck. "Come on, let's let you go be as devious as you want."

~*~ 

The sound of sizzling and a keyboard filled the empty silence of Sega's suite kitchen. Aiden had left to speak with Leiodus who had just arrived back home to inform him of their presence. Valges was sitting in one of the barstools beside Saalah, his head down on the marble counter. Saalah paused his typing occasionally to pet the green head soothingly, leaning down to whisper encouragingly to him before going back to his laptop screen filled with unfamiliar codes and tracking sites. 

Bai Yusheng was cooking up dinner but came over to check on the two, sighing. "Valges, my love, at least sip your water. You have barely moved." 

"I can't, Doll...even the food you are cooking is making my stomach churn, and I know it's always tasty, but..." Valges seemed to sink more into himself. He was embarrassed. His phone had been blowing up all day from fellow classmates, and he had been too overwhelmed and scared to even look at what they were saying. He had to turn it off. 

Bai Yusheng had comforted him with the knowledge that none of his employers or anyone outside of the DSU student body had received the messages, but that was all he could handle. 

Saalah placed a kiss on his head and rubbed his back. "I'm close to a break through on reverse tracking the images. It may not lead directly to Aesmond, because he could not have taken the images himself while in the rafters, but we can at least find who was working for him. He won't get away with all this."