Relationship Status: It's Complicated

All Seasons End

(Art by Sylvana)

Sega slashed out at the unmoving target, both blades coated with energy as he pivoted, hacked and slashed again. He was sweating, hair in a high pony tails brows drawn low. The dummy was made of a special material, so it didn't turn to fabric scraps as Sega cut at it.

"Sega seriously, you'll be exhausted by the time the ceremony starts. Aren't you going to go shower and change?" Naki's voice sounded on Sega's phone, their video call on speaker so Sega could hear Naki as he worked out his emotions. He'd tried to avoid his lovers most of the week. Seeing Bai Yusheng look so haggard and pale. Seeing Saalah fret after Bai Yusheng and worry for Aiden. Seeing Aiden walk around in a dazed and dreary rut, often even skipping his clubs since it was the end of the year. None of it elevated his mood. 

The worst of it was Naki, he'd been excused for the final week due to obvious medical reasons. On Wednesday Valges visited with Naki a bit, he had scheduled an appointment with Layahla because things were still very erratic in Valges' head. They'd video chatted with the group. When it came to Naki, Sega felt it was doubly wrong to avoid, so he tried his best to act normal on the calls. They all did. Sega slashed at the target, his attack backed by fury. Naki was bubbly for most of the video chat but Sega remembered how he almost seemed to blank out and become bleak and tired.

Sega clenched his swords as he lowered them to his side, his head dropping. He did that. He'd done everything. By existing, by working his way into their lives. He'd ultimately hurt them, like he knew he would. He could burn and kill, but love was not meant for people like him.

"Sega...Sega!"

Sega picked his head up, looking towards the wall at a clock then to his phone. "Yes yes squirt, I hear you. I know it's getting close to the time, I won't be late. I can't believe you're up so early, too excited to sleep?"

Naki chuckled, "I had a rough night, I don't know I kept waking up from something, maybe nightmares." Naki ruffled his hair on camera, "my brain's been weird since dad said I had a blackout."

A blackout, right. Leo was right about Naki coming too. Sometimes he was the Naki with the terrible memory, sometimes he was not. It's why Leo kept him home all week, Naki's father needed to be there when Naki's head sorted itself out, in case Naki took it unwell again. It'd taken the man days to harvest all that Source. JingShui Temple's entire Moon Crystal supply was restocked. Sega literally had a pantry of them to Esga's glee. Leo gave some to Serinity. Leo even purposely gave an enormous amount to the Sha Clan's reserve and still he was unsure what to do with the rest. 

"Sega pay attention, you said you would help me pick clothes for the ceremony. It's Gege and Valges' day, I won't bother them. Saalah and Aiden are no good at this but you are. I really wish you would just come over and help. You could shower here and bring your clothes."

"Naki..." Sega looked at the tired face in the camera. "I told you I can't."

"Yeah yeah, you told me your Black gets overly excited and starts to drive you nuts with talking." Naki was quiet for a moment. "Are you okay? You seem tired. You haven't made your jokes all week, you've been at your penthouse...Everyone seems weird right now. I can't see your feelings through the phone but I can see your eyes...Did we have a poly fight?"

Sega chuckled, his heart twinging because he loved the little goofball and he desperately wanted to hold and hug him. "No Rabbit, we didn't have a poly fight. The week has been tiring for all of us right? When we all get together, we can talk about it more. I'll see you soon at the Ceremony okay?"

"Okay! Surprisingly DSU and ICA got the slots back to back. We won't have to wait long to see Valges' walk too. I know both speeches will be great!"