GODLY AUDIENCES: LUKE FON FABRE

[divus]

Comments

[divus]

It's alright. I'll just set it down.

[He puts it on the pew, his smile never breaking, and shakes his head.]

No, not really. I've gotten a few offerings but I've still had plenty of time just to look around and reminisce. Any time that I get to spend with you is at the top of my list.

[dupelicate]

[!

His brows suddenly furrows, and he leans towards Ion.]

That's right! You talked to Senri today!

Well, guess who tracked me down at the fountain and started squeezing me for details?!

[His expression is harried, but there's no heat in his voice.]

[divus]

[Ion, unfazed, laughs lightly. He doesn't sound particularly surprised.]

Oh, did he? I'm sorry. I hope it wasn't too much trouble.

[dupelicate]

You're not even a little sorry...! He was bugging me about all kinds of stuff, you know!

[divus]

[He's unrepentant.]

Senri's really nice. It's good to be able to share with friends, isn't it?

[dupelicate]

[He huffs a smile, and gives Ion a friendly shove, soft and playful.]

You're too easy-going, as always! Who else are you telling about us, huh?

[divus]

I haven't told anyone else, I swear. It just came up, that's all!

[He only laughs more as he's shoved, putting up his hands in surrender.]

I just get excited when I think about you.

[dupelicate]

Yeah right! I bet you brought it up as soon as you had the chance.

[He's laughing now, too.]

You're a god! I can't be the most exciting thing in your life right now!

[divus]

You are to me.

[His smile softens, eyes glancing down as his cheeks flush.]

When I saw you for the first time, in that dream...it was like watching a miracle unfold in front of my eyes. A miracle beyond even a god.

[dupelicate]

J-Jeez, you don't have to put it like that...

[Ducking his head, he eyes Ion's hand, still resting on the back of the pew.

As smoothly as he can, which is not even slightly smooth, because it's an extremely obvious and pretty slow action, he slides his hand along the pew until the two hands touch, his own over Ion's much smaller one.

Bam.

Nailed it.]

[divus]

[Ion pretends not to notice what Luke's doing. He sees it, but he keeps his eyes trained on Luke's face as he shifts his fingers to nestle gently between the other boy's larger ones.]

I can't think of any other way that I would have.

[dupelicate]

[As Ion's fingers interlace with his own, he stares at them, as if witnessing some kind of magic trick—then back at Ion, face in shock.]

Don't tell me... Senri taught you, too?!

[divus]

[Ion blinks, surprised, his smile only faltering in his confusion.]

Senri...? What do you mean?

[dupelicate]

N-Nothing!

[AGGGGH

HOW'D ION KNOW THE MANEUVER???? AND HOW'D HE BEAT HIM TO IT?????????]

A-Anyway, if you have time, we should hang out. [...] More, I mean!

[divus]

Of course!

[???]

I'm here now...and tomorrow, we can spend the night together until you fall asleep!

[dupelicate]

[somehow,

spending the night together was starting to sound a lot more saucy now than it had in all the weeks prior.]

Oh, uh... yeah, of course! It's tradition, right?

[...]

...Just the two of us?

[It's hard to say if the upward inflection pitch on the end of that sentence was hopeful, or nervous.]

[divus]

I'd like that.

[He only smiles, eyes shining, neither laughing nor giving Luke any kind of indication that he noticed the awkward tilt of his speech.]

[dupelicate]

Oh.

Cool.

[just like??? it's no thing??]

...Are you staying in, um...

[he indicates vaguely upwards, and to the right.]

...your room? Did you make that, too?

[divus]

Yes and no...I guess I sort of just...made a new entrance.

[Godly powers are just so convenient.]

I'll show you, tomorrow! You just need to know where to look.

[dupelicate]

[he has to chuckle at that.]

Being a god sure is handy, huh?

Okay. I'll meet you here tomorrow, and you can show me where to look.

[divus]

That sounds great!

[Ion beams, and as the conversation stalls...he finds himself comfortable even in the silence. But the silence does bring more questions, and as he looks at Luke, something else comes to mind.]

Could I ask you something?

[dupelicate]

[The silence between them is familiar, comfortable, and he's content to let it continue, despite himself, for as long as Ion is. So when the other boy pipes up, he raises his eyebrows, and nods.]

Yeah, of course. What's up?

[divus]

It's about the competition. I know you trust me...who else do you trust? Within the gods, I mean.

[dupelicate]

Trust?

[He considers it, tilting his head.]

...Like... with my life?

[divus]

I suppose I mean...in general. In their word, their ideas...and in a sense, your life.

[He pauses, then decides to add a bit more clarity to the question.]

Do you trust Chloe?