Wyn

[petty_dabbler]

The day was finally done. He shooed out the last of the students, swung the door closed, and lit a cigarette right there in the basement.

These children were going to be the death of him. Maybe he could convince Guy to teach a lesson or two on pertinent symbols.

With his cig in his mouth, John rolled up his sleeves and sat cross legged in the center of a circle surrounded my mystical runes and symbols. The circle began to glow gold as he performed the ritual to strengthen the protections in the Dark Arts room. John was sure they were one student fuck up away from a schoolwide disaster.

Comments

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Really?" Wyn asked. "What about, um, tonight?" he suggested awkwardly.

[petty_dabbler]

"I'd like that," he nodded.

It was foolish. He always got his heart a little broken by these beautiful young men. But, fuck, it was nice to be wanted. To be admired for a minute. Every one of them had moved on, as he expected them to, but it was always so good while it lasted.

"Finish your drink."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Wyn smiled shyly, sipping his drink and enjoying the little flutter in his stomach.

[petty_dabbler]

"Tell me about Broadway," he said, pushing himself into the corner of the booth and kicking his feet up.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"It was wonderful, and New York was beautiful," Wyn said, happily chatting away about the show, the cast, even the hotel he called home for a while. He spoke poetically, but with glee.

"I can't wait to go back," he sighed when he was done.

[petty_dabbler]

John listened, smiling fondly at Wyn's enthusiasm. He could see his passion.

"New York is beautiful," he agreed with a nod. "Did you do the tourist thing at least once? If you didn't, you have to next time."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I did a little, but... It was kind of fun to pretend to be a local," Wyn admitted as he finished his drink.

[petty_dabbler]

John drained his pint and nodded. He could see the fun in that.

"I'm going to take a leak, then we can walk back," he said, scooting off the end of the seat.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Wyn nodded, smiling to himself as John left the table.

Was this a mistake? Perhaps. Did he mind though? ...No.

[petty_dabbler]

John was quick and looked himself in the eyes in the mirror as he washed his hands.

"You're an idiot, John," he said to his reflection, then he dried his hands.

John walked out with a warm smile for him.

"Go?"

[prince_of_nymphs]

Wyn nodded, quickly getting to his feet and fixing his tunic.

"Yes, let's," he said, practically bouncing along at John's side.

[petty_dabbler]

Halfway down the block, John subtly caught Wyn's hand and gave it a squeeze.

"I bet you're talented on stage," he said. He liked the way Wyn lit up talking about acting. John would have listened at length to any subject at all if it made him so visibly happy.

[prince_of_nymphs]

No one had ever held his hand in public before, and Wyn was so touched that it took him a beat to respond.

"Next time I'm on stage I'll send you tickets."

[petty_dabbler]

"I'll absolutely come," he promised. He carried on, asking more questions about Wyn's favorite roles, what was his first, and then-

"So why do you like it so much? Because it's so obvious you do."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"It's fun, being someone else for a while. Playing a part, playing a game. It's an escape," Wyn confessed.

[petty_dabbler]

John let go of his hand once they were back on campus, but kept close enough that their hands kept bumping.

"It's nice getting to know you outside of class," he said. "You're dead interesting."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"So are you," Wyn said. "It feels like you know everyone and everything here."

[petty_dabbler]

"I'm a busybody," he chuckled. "Also, it pays to know where there's strife, because people do stupid, stupid things when they're upset. Part of the role of Dark Arts instructor is keeping the school safe from dark magics. And the best way to do that is to know everything."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"That makes sense," Wyn nodded, glancing around as they neared the staff apartments.

[petty_dabbler]

John lead I'm to his door and passed his hand over it to take down the protection, then used his key.

Inside was tidy, all the furniture dated and ugly, but the couch liked inviting, as if it were beckoning you for a nap.

John took off his coat and hung it up.

"Something to drink?" he asked.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I'm alright," Wyn assured him with a faint smile, looking around and taking it all in. He loved seeing the way people lived, it could tell you so much about them.

[petty_dabbler]

He went to the fridge and got himself a beer and cracked it.

How long had it been? A year? Had it been a year already.

"Have a poke around," he offered.

There were books and papers piled on a desk, all dark magics, more than one forbidden tome. He had a framed tarot card, the Hanged Man. Everything remotely nice was a gift, and nothing coordinated.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Wyn looked around, but eventually gravitated back to John.

"It's nice," he said, and it was obvious he meant it. It was comfortable. It felt lived in.

[petty_dabbler]

Wyn was close and John closed the distance until he was close enough to touch. He put the beer on the coffee table.

"What are you hoping for?" he asked softly.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I don't know," Wyn confessed. "I just like spending time with you."