Unlikely Alliances (The Pack)

Twelve - Less Threatening Bonding

'So logically speaking, I should be dead right now?'
'...Yes. Sorry about that.'
'Nah, you didn't mean to. It's fine... I'm probably lucky I don't have any side effects, though,' Preston responded dismissively. He was too busy poking Lachlan's arm (getting some dirty looks from a certain member of the group), and occasionally squealing when the Astralan didn't get burnt.
It wouldn't be possible for that to happen, though. As the spell had taken away his magma-like skin, he now just looked like a regular teenager of his age. Tanned skin, and fiery amber eyes that seemed to dance in the firelight.
Rob totally wasn't staring, though. Nope, not at all. There was one thing that he was definitely thinking about, though.

'Preston?'
'Hm?'
'You've been like this before, haven't you?'
The Tauran stopped prodding his friend's skin, sitting up straight in the comfortable armchair as the Library's fireplace crackled through the (otherwise quiet) hall. 'Yeah. Yeah, I have. I was actually born a keeper.'
'Then why've you looked like a lavamob the past- Well, since I first met you?' Vik asked curiously. The brunet have a nervous laugh and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly while his Boralinian companion froze. 'Shoot; Sorry if that made you uncomfortable.'
'No! No, it's okay, this is just really weird. Right, so past the past... Ten years? Yeah. Ten years I've been a lavamob, but before that I was pretty much normal. When I was a kid, I got dared to pull a prank on this witch. I did it, but was cursed after getting caught, and boom- I became the lavamob.' He explained swiftly, giving his team a tired smile and running a hand through his hair.

Oh my Lords, this kid's adorable.
A wide-eyed Lachlan turned to look at the Prince, giving him a cheeky smirk as the older swore quietly. Of course. He could read minds.
Not a single word.

I won't say anything, mate... Ahah.

Suddenly, the Astralan was far more threatening than he'd been earlier.
The royal shot him a dirty look, with somehow conveyed the invitation to an intense staring contest. How it happened, they had no idea, but I swear they're mature.

'Guys, what are you doing?'
'A battle to the death, clearly.' Vik shrugged. Jerome seemed to he satisfied with this answer, and about two minutes later Lachlan was forced to look away and blink. 'Dangit.'
'Hah! You lose, sucker-'
'Yo Princey, you might want to keep it down; Preston's out.' Mitch pointed out, a soft smirk on his fave as he gestured to the sleeping prodigy.
Keeper? Prodigy? Huh. Well, he was asleep, so it didn't matter at that point.

Lords, thank you for this blessing. 'Uh, what do we do? He can't stay here, but at the same time we can't wake him up.'
'Why not? We can actually touch him now, and he'll probably fall back asleep anyway.'
'I mean, I guess, but... Ugh.' Rob didn't know why he was arguing with the boys. It was perfectly logical, after all.

'Oi Preston, it's time to get up. School time!' Lachlan teased. All the brunet did was swat him away and sink down further into the armchair, muttering that his teachers hated him and that he didn't want to go. Adorable.
'Sleeping beauty, wakey wakey. Vik made chicken.'
'Him... Chicken don't have legs.' He murmured quietly, before common sense reminded him where he was e jolted upright. 'Shoot, did I-'
'You fell asleep, yeah.' The Tauran groaned, with Mitch and Lachlan snickering about his previous chicken statement as Vik snorted good-naturedly.
'It's okay mate. I think everyone's tired out.'
'It is almost midnight.' Rob agreed. After a few more minutes of "bantering about", the group unanimously decided that sleep was a good idea, so retired to their rooms for the remainder of the night.

'Hey, Preston?'
'What's up?'
'Uh, are you still okay with - Well, with the whole fountain thing, do you want me to move rooms? I don't mind-'
'It's fine. You didn't mean to do it, so I don't hold a grudge.' Preston assured, smoking brightly at the royal and waving at the others as he entered the chamber. 'Also, this is your castle. You do whatever you want to do.'
'So... You don't mind?'
'No! If anything, you did me a favour. Try to stop worrying about it, okay?' Preston ordered jokingly, falling backwards onto one of the two beds as Rob grinned apologetically. 'Right. Thank you.'
'Don't sweat it, dude. I do have a question, though.'
'Go ahead.'
'Why did you decided to stay down here, when you probably have a massive bedroom all to yourself?'
'I figured it would be a good idea. Allow me to get to know my team members a bit, y'know? Also, it gets kinda... Meh. Let's just say I don't do too well by myself.'

Don't do too well... Hm. 'Sounds like a good idea to me, team leader.'
The Prince could only snort in response. 'Oh, I am in no way the leader. If anyone, it would be, uh, probably Mitch or something. He seems more experienced with leading a team.'
'Yeah, but you're the one who put this whole thing together.' Preston pointed out, yawning at the end of his sentence as Rob smirked.
'Whatever you say, Mister- What even is your last name?'
Don't tell him. 'Um, I, it's- it's Arsement.'
'You're not sounding too good. Are you okay?'
Say yes. Say yes, damnit!
What are you? Go away.
Oh? And what're you gonna do about it if I don't?

'Rob? I think Seto's spell did something.'

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
'Geez dude, today has been weird.'
'Uh-huh.'
'But at the same time, I've enjoyed it.'
'Really?'

Jerome nodded from where he was positioned (casual side-lean against the wall, a classic) as his Candelian friend looked over, tilting his head as he did so.
'Yeah. Being part of a prophecy, the guys we'll be working with seem pretty cool, and they're like us. They're not purebloods that look down on us- Sure, the prince's dad's a bit iffy, but he's royalty.'
'But Rob acts nothing like him. It's strange.'
'I know, right? That's why I'm excited to be here. We get to meet knew people, eventually save lives, and we already get along with the people we'll be doing it with. It's great!' The bacca flashed Mitch a cheeky grin, flopping back onto his claimed bed as the brunet rolled his eyes.
'Sure. We should probably get some sleep though; Apparently there's stuff under the beds for sleeping, basic hygiene etcetera. I call bathroom first.'
'Whatever you say dude. See you in a few minutes.'

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

'Today's been pretty hectic, eh?'
'You can say that again.' Lachlan groaned tiredly, already face-down on the bed. Vik, noting this as an appropriate mood, curled up in the soft covers of his own bed and sighed.
'These are so soft.'
'Your mum is soft.'
'The Hell?'
'I dunno dude, I'm drained. Sorry.'
'You're so weird.'
'Taken into consideration, but also partially...'

No way. Did he just- Poking his head out of his blanket cocoon, the Boralinian found that his friend had literally fallen asleep mid-sentence.
Aw. I should probably make sure he doesn't suffocate or anything.
He unravelled from his space and walked over to the blond, checking to make sure that he actually was asleep before moving his head to the side. Good enough.

'G'night Lachlan. Sleep well.'

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d'aw, sleepy bois.

QOTC - What ship's gonna sail first?

AOTC - All I'm saying, is one of 'em does.