Chapter Text
Flux shrieked, seeing his dismembered arm rolling around the ground, blood pooling beneath it—staining the snow into a deep red colour. He wasn’t even a soldier, why was he being targeted? Flux used his right arm to stop blood from oozing out of his left, he was now at a disadvantage, not even an arm for him to use his sword.
So, he ran. Adrenaline pumping every step inside the deep red snow of deceased soldiers, without proper armour or defense. Flux was an idiot, if only he weren’t so stubborn of not delaying the escape, if only he actually prepared some equipment when deciding to go against an entire squad of warriors from a different desert faction on their shields. Still, he hoped that his sister and friends could escape Aculon and search for a new life whilst he battled life and death.
Saps, Saps was his only reason for fighting and living. He wanted to survive this, to make it out alive just to see the Saps now for once. Encaged inside the Aculon castle for his whole life, without knowing there even was an outside for him to see and explore. He was a prince in prison.
Reaching the cold shores of Aculon, Flux was panting, body burning and mind unable to think straight—either jump into the freezing cold waters or surrender, both choices resulted in the same imminent death, an illusion of choice. Now or never, with the enemies closing in between the gap, he was doomed to fall with no one there to save him.
Flux blinked, his body was warm and at a normal temperature. Just a dream, a nightmare. He let out a sigh, one that has been waiting long enough. Staring down, he realised his left arm was replaced with a mechanical arm. Unfamiliar but it’s better than nothing, looking to his right he spotted Saps sleeping—and using his lap as a pillow?
Flux wanted to pull away, embarrassed and humiliated but his body refused, he was lying down like an idiot with his face flushed red. This was a thousand times worse than death. He wanted to wake Saps up without acting like an asshole, after all it was Saps who saved him from the brink of death.
His hand found its way to Saps’ cheek, they were warm—too warm actually, was this a desert thing? Flux’s hand felt like it was inside a furnace, warm and gentle.
“Flux…” Saps murmured, sleep-talking to himself. Flux flinched, jerking his palm away and back to himself. Thank lord Ish Saps was sound asleep or else explaining why you are touching his face while asleep would be too embarrassing for Flux.
Flux sighed in defeat, he was going to wait for Saps to wake up whether he liked it or not.
Just then, someone barged in. Flux’s eyes darted in the direction of the open door, his blood went cold—standing outside was of a woman in military uniform, Flux was a fugitive, if he were recognised as a child of Elanuelo outside of Aculon, he’d surely be killed on sight.
Panic surged through his chest, he wanted to flee but with a sleeping man’s head and arms spread over your legs it was impossible. As the woman slowly approached closer, his heart rate was jumping up dangerously—he was out here vulnerable and wounded, too easy to get rid of.
Jophiel noticed the visible discomfort in Flux, trying to stop a smile forming on her lips. “It’s alright, I’ll help.”
Jophiel flicked Saps’ forehead with her fingers, snickering to herself seeing his forehead with a red patch.
Saps shot up awake, mumbling to himself. He blinked, realising the situation. “J-Jophiel!”
“I’ll leave the rest to you, Fluixon.” Jophiel snorted with laughter, walking away with her cap in her hands.
Flux stared at Saps in disbelief, his eyebrows furrowed. “My name’s—”
Saps cut him off with a palm over his lips, “please don’t say that, it took me a while to convince everyone that you’re Fluixon’s son.”
“What?!”
Flux frowned, questions all over popping into his head. He glared at Saps with a murderous intent.
“It was the only excuse I had, how do you explain to your sister that—”
“Thank you, Saps.”
Saps blinked, confused but at least he’s not pissed anymore.
“My sister, any news about her?” Flux continued.
“Your sister…”
Saps hesitated, fists clenched and nails digging into his skin. His eyes couldn’t meet Flux’s, only downwards.
Flux grit his teeth, “is she dead or not?”
“She… I-I don’t know, nothing has been said…” Saps admitted, unable to hide the truth.
Saps’ chest was about to explode, he didn't want Flux to be in an immediate state of panic after briefly waking up nor did he want Flux to hate him for hiding things.
“…”
Flux stared at him, long enough to make Saps freak out internally and overthink everything inside. “How long has it been since—”
“2 days,” Saps answered immediately.
Saps gulped nervously, Flux was staring at him and especially straight into his eyes—he couldn’t think straight, his entire body was at war with itself.
Flux stared at him, amused and intrigued. The boy he had been exchanging letters with for years was like this in person?
The more Flux stared, the more he realised how attractive Saps actually was—heck, in Aculon standards, Saps would be considered the most beautiful man ever. White hair, black obsidian eyes, a face someone would go to war for. He was practically a painting worth trillions.
“Is there… something on my face?” Saps asks, smiling nervously.
“Uh…”
Think.
Think of an excuse Flux.
Saps couldn’t hold himself back from grinning, Flux’s ears were burning red and his gaze shifted uncomfortably.
“Aculon—how is it…?” Flux managed, eyes shifting away and shoulders loosening up.
“Not good,” Saps replies awkwardly.
Flux nodded numbly, body still aching in pain despite waking up. “What do I have left to live for?” He says, falling back onto the Saps’ mattress.
“You should’ve just let me bleed out that day,” Flux continued, “I am going to get you killed for sheltering me.”
Saps clenched his knuckles, fury boiling in deep inside. “You think I would let you die in my arms?”
“You should have.”
“Flux,” Saps snapped, grabbing him by his wrist—knuckles whitening.
“I don’t care if saving you means endangering myself, what I do care is you, your wellbeing, your health.” Saps spat, leaning his face in closer.
“If you no longer have a home, I will help rebuild you one here in Theria. If you wish to find your sister, I will do my best for you.” He continued voice, dripping with sympathy that should’ve made Flux more irritated, but it didn’t.
Flux nodded in defeat, glancing back at Saps he let out a deep exhale. Their eyes met, amethyst and obsidian, unable to turn back or stop. For a moment they just stared, silent and studying one another’s features.
Flux blinked, he couldn’t last any longer in this state with such inimitable gaze—it was impeccable, really, how Saps managed to last so much longer.
“I’d like to go out,” Flux whispered softly, fingers subtly grazing against Saps’ hand. Saps flinched from the sudden touch, Flux’s hand was cold despite being covered in his blanket he slept on. “Your hands… they’re warm,” Flux added, noticing the heat gain from a slight touch of Saps.
Saps’ brain was close circuiting, batteries fused, switches open. His whole system was malfunctioning and going into emergency shutdown. “I-I’m from the desert… and you’re from the snow!” He said, heat rushing in.
Flux stared at Saps blankly, like he told him lord Ish had descended into the mortal realm. Saps wanted to slam his face straight into his silky pillow that Flux was using, he just told Flux the stupidest response mankind has ever lived up to. “No—no, no, you…”
Flux didn’t even bother to listen anymore, expecting another meaningless statement from Saps. He tried to slowly slip out of Saps’ warm sheets, to escape from Saps’ awful social interactions.
Saps immediately caught onto Flux’s sudden movements, if anything it was death if he screwed up again by not protecting Flux.
Before Flux could reach the ground, Saps swiftly scooped him up into his arms, grinning as if Flux were a prized possession. “What are you doing?” Flux snarled, crossing his arms.
“I—uh, you’re not ready to move yet. So, I’ll carry you!” Saps exclaimed, slowly moving forward, his arms on edge of collapse.
Saps was no strong guy, he only slept and only went out for the public to know that he is the second in command because Seraphim was more of a bodyguard rather than a vice president.
“You… sure?” Flux asks nervously, feeling the unstableness of Saps’ grip and trembling arms. “I think it’s both safer for me and you that you let me down.”
“Oh…” Saps nodded, “I’ll… get you some clothes, stay here for now.”
He dropped Flux back onto the bed, opening up the wooden closet his father had made for him. He carefully scanned through each one for the most suitable one before landing on a plain white shirt and black pants that matched Flux’s own style.
“Here,” Saps says, passing over the clothes. “Do you need help? I know this mechanical arm thing is pretty new to you so—”
“I’d appreciate it if I didn’t have someone watching me change clothes.” Flux interrupts abruptly, shutting up Saps. “Alright then—I’ll look away.” Saps snickered, spinning his head in the opposite direction.
Humming to himself while leaning against the wall, he heard a sound similar to a pin drop, instinctively his eyes shifted his gaze towards the floor—spotting something he hadn’t seen in years.
Before he could blink, Flux threw himself onto the floor, trying to conceal it away from Saps. “Flux—what are you doing?!” He shrieked, jumping in to help.
“It’s nothing!” Flux grunted in pain, trying to pocket the pieces back without Saps knowing. “I’m literally shirtless—who said you could look?!” He screamed, shoving Saps onto the floor, his head hitting the ground.
Saps’ ears were glowing red, his palms covering his face. “I’m so sorry! I-I really didn’t know Flux!” Saps crawled away, ashamed and embarrassed.
Flux sighed, biting his tongue to stop the hundreds of curses he had generated within the few seconds Saps had seen him half-naked. It was a death sentence in Aculon terms but since Saps was his saviour he gets a pass.
Luckily, Ish was on his side today, Saps didn’t see his stolen laurel wreath he had kept even after everything he’s been through. This piece of accessory was his last remaining memory of Aculon, unironically originating from the very place he’s currently in. He didn’t know why he was so attached to this scrap of metal, perhaps it was like his friendship with Saps, keeping a memory of his friend always with himself.
Saps chuckles, he knew he had seen it right with his perfect vision—clear as daylight as it was that Flux was definitely treating it like family, going so far as hurting himself just so Saps wouldn’t notice it but in the end it was all for nothing and Saps didn’t want to ruin the mood so he stayed quiet about it.
He remembered his late father’s words to him on that boat ride back to Theria, he was going to get him a new one but it never came.
His father had jumped off the Therian tower after his conspiracy to assassinate the Sultanate was leaked and the operation was unsuccessful.
Saps slaps himself on the temple, his father had committed suicide for Theria, his father also wished that he moved on and lived a happy life.
Saps reached his hand out for Flux’s, “need a hand?” He says, as if nothing happened a while ago. He’s screaming inside, almost unable to control himself from Flux’s pouting lips and that frown that was supposed to throw him off.
“What now?” Flux asks, taking Saps’ hand and using his body for support.
“Huh?” Saps replies innocently, breathing in Flux’s scent with their bodies so close together.
“I’m a wanted fugitive who's definitely going to get chopped up into pieces if word gets out—”
“Yeah, that’s why you’re going to be my second in command.”
Saps smiled, leaning his mouth in closer to Flux’s ears, “just like my father,” he teased, forming a faint smile on his lips.
Flux stood completely frozen, shell shocked, one wrong step and he would be tumbling onto the floor. “Your… what?” He says, raising an eyebrow.
“It’s the safest option for you,” Saps replies. “You… wouldn’t really mind, would you?”
Flux’s eyebrows faltered, expression softer and authentic. “I could try for you.”
Saps’ smile grew wider, “it’s not much actually, I barely do anything.” He reassured, gently patting Flux on the back.
Flux’s tensed shoulders loosened up subtly, a short yet deliberate breath escaped out of his lungs, his eyes darted around the open space—looking for something, someone in particular.
“Where’s your sister?” He whispers softly.
“Why do you ask so?” Saps questions, looking around in doubt.
Flux hesitates, mouth agape yet unable to process his feelings into words. His chest tightens into an undoable knot, almost as if he were having a panic attack, throat squeezing and tongue frozen still, no words could be heard from the raven haired.
Saps studies his unlikely behaviour, teeth clenched and stomach rapidly churning. Brain repeating through the synonymous same few old fashioned words one would say to alleviate the other.
“You’re worried about her,” He finally says, “are you not?”
Flux’s eyes blinked once, intense fear was seeable through the glimpse of a singular blink of his, adequately enough for Saps though.
“You’re afraid of her,” he guesses.
Flux’s head snaps back, sending a spark of shock to the white haired. Glaring at him with those pristine purple eyes and a furious expression with eyebrows angular than the average human.
“I am.” He admits.
For someone known for her gentle charm and kind charisma, fear isn’t something the normal person should feel about when talking about Jophiel of Theria, of course Flux is an unwelcomed pest in a land of pesticides.
Saps stares, breathes, blinks in awkwardness, he doesn't know what to say to Flux of his sister, seeing someone in charge of the same monsters that released bloodshed onto your homeland greet you warmly with open arms as friends was an absolute psychological horror experience.
To an outsider, Ms Jophiel of Theria was a kindhearted, generous and sympathetic individual. To an individual who shares an intimate relationship with her, they are the only few who understands the true horrors of a master wolf in a sheep’s body.
Flux, a man who was nobody to her, glimpsed into the soul hidden beneath a bottomless ocean and knew to crawl on land even with predators lurking within a few metres.