Pink Rose [1]

"A Good Day to Ditch"

Quest Objective: Ditch school, kids. 

It was supposed to be an ordinary day. Anduin's classes started the usual hours. Scrollkeepers continued to wage war against moths and dust. Gardeners spread across the grounds, ridding the shrines of weeds.

"Are you alright?"

I looked up. It was Anduin's break. He plopped down on the steps to the temple next to me, securing some scrolls in his lap. The only time we were separated now was when he attended the teachings of the pandaren. I didn't mind seeing him more. If anything, I was fearful I'd drive him to insanity with my near-constant presence. But he hadn't complained at all.

I nodded. My spook with Fake Garrosh occured days ago. Tension still lingered in my bones when I gazed out at the emerald wilds, but it wasn't what bothered me.

"Just a headache." I said, tentatively raising my hand to the back of my neck. The pain had started this morning, and had only escalated since. I knew it was more than a simple migraine.

"My apologies," Anduin said.

I shot him a warning look. He apologized too much. "I'll be fine. I'm traveling with the most knowledgeable priest on the continent."

"Hmm. Is he nice?"

"Oh, he's a delight. Snores too much."

Andy snorted and started to place the scrolls into the knapsack at his side. "So, I was thinking of inviting this charming rogue that I travel with to visit the shore, down south."

My eyebrow rose. "Don't you have classes later?"

"I do." He confirmed. "And I'm declined to attend."

I stopped short and studied Andy closely. I wondered if he was struck with a fever. He looked fine. His hair wasn't as orderly as it used to be; he almost looked daring from a distance. And that damned headband still struggled to contain it. "You're ditching?"

"Formally, yes."

"Wow. Am I that bad an influence on you?" I grinned at the thought.

"You don't get all the credit," Anduin remarked. "My father was incredibly untame."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. Some called him an animal."

I turned so I was facing him, stretching my legs out on the steps below and resting my elbow on the one above. I was still smirking.

"You don't believe me, do you?" He said.

". . .When you say 'animal,' you mean like in an ironic way?" I leaned forward slightly, filled with delight when his cheeks burned light pink, similar to my skin tone.

"I do not. And I'll have you know, I can be ferocious." Andy warned. He rose from the steps and stood before me.

I focused harder on him as the pain in the back of my head felt like dagger strokes. "Do tell."

"You have that look on your face again."

"What look?"

"When you're in pain, your nose wrinkles up. Are you ever going to tell me how you got that x-shaped scar on your nose?"

"I told you. Hydra fangs, nasty business," I cursed under my breath as the agony throbbed in the back of my skull. My eyes darted around. There was no threat. The jungle was empty. The temple was full of harmless students. Anduin stood before me, without the slightest hint of unease.

"What brought on this surprise trip to the shore, anyway?" I said, trying to distract myself.

Andy reclaimed his seat beside me. "Well, remember when we were talking about our favorite races, and you said you liked the naga, and how you visited that marsh all the time when you still lived with your mother..."