If You Must

All That We Are Is Forewarned

Micah

I, for one, am not surprised that Simon is marrying Baz. I mean, Penny always made Baz sound like a bit of a 'lovable asshole', but I've wondered for a long time (almost since I first met Penny and 'her boys', as she calls them) if Simon liked him. In Pen's letters for a few years she would go into exasperated detail about Simon only talking about Baz and following him around like a lost puppy. And now I guess I get to say 'I told you so' to all of them (though I am surprised how long it took Simon and Baz to actually get together).

Currently, Baz is staring at me from across the table like he's trying to drill holes into my skull with his eyes. I shift uncomfortably in my seat, pushing my glasses up the bridge of my nose. Did I do something wrong? Baz, Simon, and I have always gotten along fairly well, but right now I think Baz might hurt me.

"Is something wrong?" I ask, clearing my throat. Baz blinks slowly, the movement weirdly feline, and leans back in his seat.

"We need to talk," he answers simply, crossing his arms. He winces a little when he moves one arm-- it must be the one he broke. I nod, pushing my glasses up again (sort of a nervous tic I've developed).

"I'm listening." Baz is back to glaring daggers at me. A lock of raven-black hair falls into his eyes but does nothing to dim the intensity of his death-ray scowl.

"It's about Penny," He says slowly. My brow furrows.

"What about her?" Baz leans forward, never once breaking eye-contact with me. I feel like a little kid in a staring contest (I'm losing). Jesus, I'm too jet-lagged to deal with his enigmatic antics right now.

"She finally proposed?" He juts his chin in the direction of the silver band on my finger (Penny conjured it right before setting time right again). He really doesn't miss a thing-- I'd thought Pen was exaggerating. I nod.

"She did." Baz stares at me for one long, cool moment.

"You know Simon and I will literally blow you off of this earth if you break her heart, right?" He asks, cool as anything. My jaw drops a little, and I have the ridiculous urge to laugh. Holy shit, I think he's the most threatening person I've ever met. And I've met Simon Snow, who's the most powerful Mage on earth (that's not saying much, though, the dude's a big teddy bear).

I grin broadly at him.

"Yeah, I know. I can promise you, that will never be necessary," I assure him. Immediately, the death-glare melts away. Baz smiles (slightly) at me, holding out a hand to shake.

"Then welcome to our family, Micah. Penny did good, choosing you."

"Thanks, Baz. Simon did good, choosing you, too," I reply, shaking his hand, "I can tell he loves you a lot." The other Mage smiles for real, a slight pink tinge rising to his grey cheeks.

"I can tell Penny loves you, too-- she looks at you like you're the only person in the room. It takes a special sort of person to do that." I'm smiling too, because I think this is the longest, friendliest conversation I've ever had with Baz. It's nice-- he's a pleasant guy.

"I'm glad you think so. You know, I've been wondering for a long time whether or not you and Simon were going to get together. I'm glad you finally have. He's a good guy." I swear on the Veil, he looks like a lovesick schoolboy-- I have never in my life seen anyone so badass look so sappy. It's nice, actually. I think it confirms my original feeling that he's actually a nice person, despite what Penny's said in the past.

"He really is a good guy. Maybe the best guy..." He trails off, then shakes himself out of whatever reverie he's in and looks back at me, "And Bunce, too. She's terribly fucking smart-- she knew what she was doing when she chose you." It's my turn to get goo-goo eyed and dreamy.

"Penny is so smart. She's probably the cleverest person I've ever met."

We lapse into comfortable silence, both of us smiling like idiots, thinking about our respective significant others.

I am so in love with Penelope Bunce I don't know what to do with myself. I don't think I ever expected to end up with someone so completely awesome. She's clever and brave and loyal and honest and powerful and just... well, she's just so Penelope. I've never been so excited as I am about the fact that I get to spend the rest of my life with her. I mean, the rest of my life with Penelope friggin' Bunce. That's pretty freaking amazing.