by R. Cooper
“Funny how the agitators are all beings.” The large being at Clematis’s right with two sets of plastic cuffs on his arms was a werewolf, and very, very unhappy. He was also probably younger than Sasha. Possibly even a freshman.
Clematis stared at him. “We’re here but those Heritage people aren’t?” He looked over to the officers.
“The campus police seem to think that the MCC existing is what’s causing all the friction, and not the people telling us they hate us all day every day,” Mishi answered. She wasn’t loud, but one of the officers twisted around to scowl at her.
“I said be quiet,” he hissed, and then his walkie-talkie crackled. Whoever was on the other end said Media on site as a warning to the other officers, and the ginger werewolf next to Clematis let out a small, growly laugh. The officer rounded on him. “I said be quiet.”
“Or what?” Mishi challenged, quiet and tremulous. “You’ll hurt him?”
Two of the campus officers turned sharply to look at her. Some of the campus police had guns, which could kill her if used correctly.
Clematis stumbled into her lap. His sweatshirt sleeves were trapped beneath him. He couldn’t open his arms to hold himself up. The two armed humans put their hands on their belts.
“Nobody touch her!” His voice was shrill. He couldn’t be still or lean back or speak invitingly. His cheeks were wet enough for Mishi’s shirt to get damp when he briefly put his face to her shoulder. Clematis looked at the humans again, wide-eyed. “If you touch her, all anyone will see on the news is how you had to hurt a fairy to get to her! They love fragile, broken fairies. I can do that.” Clematis shrank down and fluttered his wings with nervous, helpless excitement. He made his voice soft and high. “Please don’t hurt me,” he begged, just for a moment, with his lip trembling. The officer stopped dead, almost riveted to the spot, and Clematis jerked his chin up. “I can do that so well I won’t even need to call my lawyer. Leave Mishi alone. Leave all of us alone!”
His stomach churned. For the first time in his life, he might be sick.
He shivered uncontrollably, cold despite his warm skin and racing heart, and Mishi whispered, “Clematis, don’t cry.”
And then, from some distance away, Flor spoke as hot and fast as lightning. “Somebody better have a good reason for why I only see beings in cuffs right now.”
Clematis’s heart stopped. He lifted his head to search for Flor and saw him with David and some other humans he didn’t know. Tarō and Annabeth were on either side of him. Annabeth had her phone up, recording everything. David had his phone out too. Tarō had some dirt on his sleeves but otherwise seemed in one piece. Some of the humans were older, possibly professors.
“Oh, thank God,” Mishi murmured. “They’re here.”
“Flor,” Clematis said, not very loud, with a curl of heat in his chest.
Flor was looking right at him, as though he wasn’t surrounded by furiously embarrassed campus police. Clematis was a clumsy mess, with an old sweatshirt around his waist and tears running down his face.
Flor’s mouth opened and his chest heaved, but he didn’t move from where he stood. “Clematis.” His voice was soft and rich with feeling. “There you are.”
Chapter 21
VOICES WERE raised all around him. Clematis stayed curled against Mishi, although none of the campus officers were currently looking at them. He wondered what was going on with the original conflict and the punched human, but for the moment, it wasn’t any concern of his.
“Yeah, I don’t really give a shit.” Flor wasn’t on his toes or using his wings but somehow gave the impression of being the same height as the human officer he was arguing with. “You can say ‘imminent threat’ all you like, but if you don’t release them all now, you’ll have to back it up in court. And one of these guys over here”—he waved at the older humans—“is a law professor, so that’s not a point in your favor. Also, almost every being you have restrained here looks untouched by any sort of fight, and it’s all on camera and out on the internet now. So you can’t hide that either.”
His wings were open, and the light from the lamps and from within the building made him glow.
“The fight is over. For now, anyway,” Tarō added. “So unless you’re arresting them, you have to release them. Has anybody here been read their rights?” he called out, grinning to show teeth.
“Who is that?” the were next to Clematis asked with interest.
Clematis let Mishi answer, too busy watching Flor clench and unclench his hands. Flor hadn’t looked at him again.
“Here.” The were scooted around to show them his back and wave his fingers, offering his claws to cut through Clematis’s cuffs. Clematis shuffled over to saw at the plastic impatiently, and got it off one wrist and left it hanging from the other next to the pink ribbons. The were had to scoot a little closer for Mishi, but once free, he and Mishi quietly discussed how best to break his cuffs for him. It ended with Mishi snapping the plastic “lock” between her thumb and forefinger, and then stammering when the were hugged her in gratitude before letting her go.
“A hero,” Clematis told her without taking his eyes from Flor. “I told you, Mish. You’re a knight.”
“Says the guy who leapt dramatically into her arms to protect her,” Tarō remarked as he came over. The campus police officers were starting to melt away, shouting into their walkie-talkies as if they were needed elsewhere, and not as though they were afraid of being caught here if Flor made a bigger scene or someone filed charges.
A few remained. One actually pulled out a small tool and started to cut through the other beings’ cuffs. She didn’t apologize to anyone, not that Clematis heard, but at least she did that.
The leader, if that was even his rank, continued to try to stare down Flor.
Clematis looked distractedly at Tarō. “I couldn’t leap into her arms. They were behind her back.”
“Because that is the relevant part of the story?” Tarō tossed his head. “Clematis, I’ve missed you and your logic. Mishi, my lovely, tell me you’re okay. How long were you trussed up like that?”
“It felt like forever. I was trying to be cooperative,” Mishi explained, then groaned. “Someone help me up. My leg fell asleep and my butt is numb. Ah, I need to pee. Tarō—”
“Yes, my angel. I’ll help you. Sorry, wolf. You will have to wait.” Tarō looped an arm around Mishi’s waist and pulled her to her feet easily, despite the size difference between them. “Then we’ll clean you up, and I’ll stay with you, hmm? Just until you feel calm again.”
Because she wasn’t calm. Only pretending to be, and Tarō was as good as she was. Clematis and the were watched them go, and then the were disappeared too, and the lamps got brighter as the sky darkened.
He turned back toward Flor. While he’d been distracted, the rest of the campus police had vanished without a word, as though the shocked and traumatized beings around them didn’t deserve the courtesy of an explanation or apology. They were probably embarrassed, not that Clematis cared.
David was helping a gushing elf get to their feet, smiling sweetly as if he had no idea of the effect he had on them. He possibly didn’t. But Clematis didn’t care about David either at this moment.
Flor had a camellia at his ear, in a pale shade of pink he didn’t usually wear. He was wearing a small, loose sweatshirt with a torn collar and slits up the back for his wings, retro-style shorts, high athletic socks, and sneakers.
Clematis swallowed.
Flor stared at him, only briefly reacting to the sound of David’s voice as David tried to soothe the elf. “They ruined a perfectly good lecture. Dr. Jones is brilliant and will get invited back. He does all the time. They made a show about him this year because of that other dragon up north. Trying to stir up support for their cause.”
“Our side is better, and stronger,” Flor commented, gaze steady on Clematis. “Some of us fight for the world. Some of us fight for who they care about. Some fight just to get out
of bed. But they still fight.” The pride in his eyes was seeping into his voice, making Clematis squirm.
“Flor,” he protested gently, then reached up in horror to wipe his face. Flor was starting to smile, which only made it worse. “Flor,” Clematis said again. “I can’t stop them. You might as well know.” He sniffled dramatically, warm all over from the heat in Flor’s eyes. Lis was right—Flor was delighted. “I don’t even know what kind of tears they are,” Clematis complained anyway. “Tears can mean anything, apparently.”
“Oh, my poor sweetheart,” Flor said at last, breathless. “Would a hug help?”
Clematis stuck out his bottom lip in a pout but then nodded. Flor was on him in a heartbeat. He wrapped his arms tight around Clematis’s waist and sighed happily when Clematis put his face to his neck.
Clematis let Flor hold him up. “I thought he would really hurt her.” It felt like his heart stopped when he thought of it. “I didn’t know what to do.”
Flor squeezed him tight, and it was wonderful. “You were there. You stopped him.”
“You stopped him.” Clematis didn’t need Flor to be kind about it.
“Whatever.” Flor dismissed his argument easily, but kept him reassuringly wrapped in his arms. “I got lucky this time. We all did. The campus cops just didn’t know what to do. That’s all. They were not expecting beings to be organized or to know their rights—or know exactly what humans can think of us and then use that against them. You confused him. I never thought, even for a second, that I would be glad to watch you fuck with humans. But holy shit, that was brilliant.” Flor let Clematis burrow in even closer and ran his hands down his back to stop his shivering. “If you never did it again, though, I wouldn’t complain.”
“I didn’t mean to scare you.” Clematis didn’t know if he was apologizing or simply trying to calm Flor down. Flor was shaking too, although not as much. “I wouldn’t do that to you, wouldn’t be like that for you. It’s different when I pretend for you because you know I am, and you like it, and I like how hot it makes you. I thought—”
“You were in danger.” Flor stopped him there, in a tone that said Clematis had missed the point again. “That’s what I didn’t like this time, sweetheart.”
Everyone in the MCC was in danger to some degree. They were weird about it, but Clematis hadn’t tried to argue against it, even though seeing Flor dart into trouble made him anxious. “It’s always like that for me, when you do it,” Clematis argued and then hurried past that before Flor could worry. “But here you are now. I was on my way to find you when—oh, Arthur!” Clematis raised his head. “Was Dr. Jones okay?”
Flor had the funniest, frustrated look on his face, but he answered. “The professor guy? He’s fine. For all I know he’s giving interviews right now. You were looking for me?” His smile returned. “I got your text. Of course you can see me. Always.” He smoothed down Clematis’s hair. “I missed you. Then to find you again like this.” He crooned when Clematis shivered. “Don’t be scared. You love Mishi so much. You were so brave for her.”
“Lis loves me,” Clematis blurted, although it wasn’t the time.
Flor laughed. “Ah, sweetheart, I told you she did.” He accepted Clematis hiding his hot face in his neck and then held him firmly, until Clematis felt captured and kept and comfortable. He exhaled, and Flor shamelessly snuggled him. “Never had any doubt.”
“Honestly, I feel a little bad for filming this too, but it’s just too cute,” Annabeth cut into the moment, but though Flor stiffened, Clematis didn’t pull away.
Then David said firmly, “That’s enough,” and Annabeth giggled a little but must have stopped.
She yelled out, “They’ll want to see it later anyway!” as she walked off. Flor huffed indignantly without denying it.
Clematis didn’t know what there was to see, except a hug that he didn’t want to end. Flor’s sweatshirt was well-worn and soft. “I missed you too,” he admitted shyly to the crook of Flor’s shoulder. “Sending Stephanie… that wasn’t fair.”
“I didn’t promise to be fair.” Flor was smug. “Besides, don’t you know not to make deals with fairies? I’m allowed to make that joke,” he added to someone. Although David was likely the only one left.
Clematis looped his arms around Flor and held on so hard Flor let out a small oof in surprise. “I’ve already made a deal with a fairy,” Clematis reminded him.
Flor tensed. “Yeah?” he asked warily.
David sighed, long and low. “That’s my cue. Flor—” He paused. Clematis got the sense of David coming closer, of Flor raising his head. Perhaps he and David exchanged a look, because nothing else was spoken. Then David’s footsteps in the grass grew quieter and more distant.
Flor didn’t say anything for several minutes.
Clematis hesitated before asking, “What’s going to happen with all this?” Then he finally straightened. The area around them seemed peaceful and deserted now, but he doubted it was calm anywhere else around the university. The campus police were going to be on alert. All the beings were alarmed and upset. And the other humans, the ones who weren’t hateful, weren’t very happy either. There might be news crews by the main gate.
“Right now, I have no idea.” Flor scanned the area around them with a tight, furious expression. “I should be out there making sure people are okay, badgering the administration to deal with this on-campus harassment. All that. But nothing will happen until at least tomorrow anyway, and, well, I’d rather be with you.” He took a deep, steadying breath. “If that’s what you want. Is that why you’re here? To tell me yes, or no, or wait?”
“Yes.” Clematis reached up to almost touch the pink flower.
“Because I can wait longer.” Flor scrunched up his nose. “Don’t listen to whatever the others say. It was only, like, a week. I was fine. Did you talk to them? Find out what I’ve been trying to tell you? I think you have. I think it’s all over you that you are loved and you love people back.”
“That’s just the tears, Flor.” Clematis looked down at himself. “They aren’t too horrible? I’m not… covered in snot, am I?” He whispered that although they were alone, and didn’t appreciate Flor’s growing smile. “Flor, I cry for everything now! It just happened one night and it won’t stop! I couldn’t push things down anymore, and I’ve worried all week that you would hate this—”
“Never.” Flor kissed the tip of his nose. “And covered in snot is not the deal breaker you seem to think it is. Try dating a human sometime. Wait, don’t. Don’t do that. Date me.” He kissed Clematis’s nose again. “Be my love.” He kissed it a third time. “I can buy Kleenex.”
Clematis’s eyes welled up, and no amount of blinking helped. “Why are you like this?”
“Because yesterday I was in love with one of my best friends, and today, I realized all at once that he also was my happiness.” Flor slid a hand along Clematis’s jaw and then cupped his cheek. “It was the most amazing thing. Annabeth had to shove me to remind me to speak.”
Clematis stared at him, lips parted, then tried to shake his head. “No. No, you don’t have to—”
“It was like seeing him again, but never seeing him before,” Flor rolled on, inevitable and unstoppable. “Like he’d hidden himself so well that until that moment, I’d only caught glimpses. Then there he was, gleaming brightly and scared to death, but absolutely certain he could be the victim people wanted if it would help his friend.” Flor said that last part like it hurt. “And he was right and it was terrifying. I’m still terrified. He was too shiny.”
“It’s just the tears,” Clematis whispered.
Flor slowly shook his head before lifting his hand to drag through the air over Clematis’s shoulder and arm, where there wasn’t a steady rain of glitter, but there was more than there had ever been before. “There you are,” Flor said again and cupped Clematis’s cheek to brush his thumb through the tears. “But these are lovely too.”
Clematis gaped at him, at the heavier p
resence of glitter around him. “When did that happen? How?”
Flor gave him a gentle smile. “You tell me.”
Shaking his head was no kind of answer, but it was all Clematis had. “Stephanie started calling me Sparkles the other day. I thought it was from all the crying.”
“You must have had a very interesting week.” Flor dipped his head, maybe a little sad, but waited for Clematis to say more.
“You left,” Clematis blurted clumsily. “You left and I got fired, but then Stephanie got me another job, although it’s only part-time. Mrs. Galarza thinks I should go to school like a real student. Frangi says I’m moody. I’m going to meet new dogs, and Lis said she loves me. I blessed someone!” he finished, amazed. He had done that. He’d blessed someone. “A child. A firebird, Flor! A firebird!”
He had to stop to take in air and force himself back to the ground.
An absent smile came and went from Flor’s mouth. “Yeah?” he asked. “That is a lot. You blessed someone? Of course you did. I wish I’d been there.” He was so serious. “I only left because you asked me to, and you were so upset. You still haven’t given me an answer, by the way. If you aren’t sure, it’s okay. I mean, it’s not every day I realize I’ve known you for years but it took me this long to really see you. I’m still kind of reeling, but I’m not going to make you do anything. If you need more time, I’ll deal.” He moved his hand through Clematis’s glitter one more time. “I’m sorry you don’t like the tears, but they’re beautiful. This is beautiful too. I can only imagine how it looks in the daytime.”
Clematis looked down uncertainly before glancing up at Flor’s face. “Did you want to see? I’m off tomorrow. Well, I have a lot of free time now. It doesn’t have to be tomorrow. If you wanted, we could do something. Something inexpensive,” he warned. “I’ll have less money for a while.”
Flor raised both eyebrows and then grinned with sudden, wicked pleasure. “Are you asking me out?” he teased. “Sweetheart, I thought you’d never ask. Oh, is that why you were looking for me?”