131- I save babies, puppies, and kittens. And I look forward to saving you from a boring life!
DAMIEN
Eli looks like he might be having some kind of existential crisis. His eyes are wide, his face pale, and he’s staring at the floor like it just insulted his ancestors. Did I... Break him? Damn it. That wasn’t the goal. I was trying to make things easier for him, to give him an opening, to ease some of that pressure he keeps putting on himself. Instead, I might’ve just confused him even more. I DO like Eli. More than I’ve let myself admit, even internally. He’s my best friend, and not just by default, but because he's actually the person I trust most these days. And yes. Obviously, I’m attracted to him. I’ve tried to deny it, tried to ignore it, mostly because I’m pretty sure giving in would complicate my life in every possible way. And my life? Already complicated.
Apparently ‘magic’ is now both a valid solution and source of my daily problems. So that’s great.
The truth is, I’m not ready to leap into a full blown romantic relationship. Not now. Not yet. BUT I’m not against the idea of testing the water. Of starting. Slowly. Carefully. At my own pace. But Eli looks like he thinks that whatever he says next is going to define the rest of our relationship forever. Like one misstep is going to blow up the entire foundation we’ve already built. Has he forgotten we’re already friends? Short of him suddenly turning into a complete asshole, that’s not going to change overnight. Not because of one conversation. I reach out and place a hand on his arm, just to ground him, to remind him I’m still here. The moment I touch him, a surge of heat rolls through me. That low, simmering pulse again, thick and electric. Right. Lust magic. Still a factor. I probably should pull my hand away… But I don’t. For two reasons. One, I don’t want Eli to feel rejected again. Not after how hard that confession clearly was for him. And two... I just really don’t want to.
“Before your brain explodes, I’m just going to remind you that we’re already friends. That means I already like you. I’m not going to suddenly start hating you because you ask for more.” I say quietly. Eli nods shakily, taking a deep breath, but I notice his eyes keep flicking down to where my hand is still resting on his arm. Like he’s trying to focus on that instead of whatever is unraveling in his brain.
“Can I ask for two things?” Hsays, voice soft and unsure. I raise an eyebrow.
“I suppose so. It was a guideline, not a rule.” I point out. I expect him to relax at that. A smile. A joke. Something. But he doesn’t. He’s still wound tight. Still hesitating.
I decide to try a different tactic. Normally, he’s the one breaking tension with a dumb joke or a well timed quip, but right now? Eli looks like he’s one stray thought away from imploding. So I pull out my phone and hold it out to him.
“Do you need to phone a friend?” I ask dryly.
“With how close you and everyone else at that bar are, I find it very hard to believe you haven’t already told them all about this.” I tease. Eli snorts, a reluctant laugh escaping him, but he avoids my gaze. I narrow my eyes, suspicious.
“Well, that’s telling. Is this one of those terribly kept secrets?” I pause, and then my eyes widen with dawning horror.
“Hold up… Does my sister know about this?” I demand. Eli shrugs innocently.
“Maybe?” He answers awkwardly. I laugh, both amused and vaguely betrayed.
“So that’s a yes, then.” I say flatly. He shrugs, unrepentant.
“I should just ask her.” I threaten, pulling up her contact with a smirk.
“I bet you’ve told her plenty about what it is you want from me. She’s probably awake too.” I remind him. Eli lunges and snatches the phone right out of my hand, holding it behind his back.
“Don’t you dare.” He says, all mock sternness, but there’s a hint of embarrassment there too. I laugh, and yeah, it’s childish, but it’s working. He’s loosening up, starting to smile like himself again. So I reach for the phone, and we start shoving at each other in that ridiculous way people do when they’re pretending not to care if they win. It spirals quickly. As these things tend to do with Eli. The shoving turns into splashing, water flying from the sink in both directions. Someone laughs first, I’m not even sure who, and then we’re both laughing, really laughing, breathless and soaked and shining with leftover glitter. By the time we finally stop, we’re dripping wet and grinning like idiots. It’s the most relaxed he’s looked all night.
“I think I might have something in my locker, a jacket or something.” I tell him with a grin. Eli, now visibly more himself again, slings an arm over my shoulder like he hasn’t just been in emotional freefall for the past hour.
“Lead the way.” He says, smiling.
In my locker, I find a single hoodie. Why don’t I have any other clothes here? Probably because everything we wear here ends up reeking of smoke anyway, so there’s just no point. No one exactly plans for glitter emergencies. I offer it to Eli, but he declines with a grin. Now that he’s more relaxed, it’s pretty clear he’s enjoying walking around shirtless. He’s definitely flexing a little more than necessary, not that I’m complaining. Combined with the glitter still clinging to him, it kind of feels like I’m getting a free show. There are worse problems to have.
“So…” I say dryly, pulling the hoodie over my head.
“You said you had two things you wanted to ask for. Better hurry up and ask before something else explodes. Honestly, it’s a miracle no one’s woken up yet. Starting to wonder if there’s some kind of magic at work here, because we have not exactly been quiet.” I comment, only half joking. It is weird that no one has woken up. And that we haven’t gotten any emergency call outs. Eli laughs, a real one this time, loose and easy.
“Okay, okay.H he says, running a hand through his damp hair.
“First thing, I would… Really appreciate it if, while we’re... Figuring out whatever this is... You don’t, uh, go on dates with anyone else. At least, not without telling me first. So I know I have no chance and can, you know, die dramatically.” He says it with a joking tone, but there’s still a thread of real insecurity under the words. I raise an eyebrow.
“Are YOU planning to date anyone else?” I ask. Eli shakes his head so fast that droplets of water fly off of his hair.
“No. I swear. No one else. Just you.” He says sincerely. I nod, the decision surprisingly easy.
“Then yeah. I won’t start anything new without talking to you first. Fair’s fair.” I promise. Eli’s whole face lights up. Before I can react, he gleefully yanks me into a hug, arms tight around my shoulders. I return it without hesitation. It’s... Nice. Comfortable, even with his magic trickling through me. I guess some things are better when you aren’t fighting them.
“What else did you want?” I mumble into his shoulder. Eli clears his throat, a nervous little sound.
“A kiss goodnight?” He asks, voice tentative and small. It’s worrying how little I even have to think about it.
“Okay.” I say simply.
“Okay?” Eli echoes, pulling back to look at me like he can’t quite believe what he’s hearing. I smile, trying to be reassuring. Apparently, that's all he needs. He moves fast, one hand cupping the back of my neck, the other bracing against my chest, and pulls me in like he’s been holding himself back. The kiss isn’t hesitant or delicate. It completely knocks the breath out of me. Eli’s mouth is hot and sure against mine, tasting faintly of mint and soap and something uniquely him. His magic hums under his skin, a low, thrumming current, and when his fingers curl tighter against the back of my neck, I feel it flood through me like static, sharp and overwhelming. Everything tilts. The smell of soap and smoke. The way my heart trips over itself trying to catch up. It's too much, and somehow not nearly enough. I kiss him back instinctively before I can even think about it, grabbing a fistful of his still damp hair like it’ll keep me grounded. I feel his answering shiver, the little hitch in his breath. Damn… It would be so easy to lose myself in this. It’s probably a good thing he pulls away first, because I definitely wouldn't have. He grins at me, wide and wicked and glowing, and presses a quick, teasing kiss to the corner of my mouth, so light I barely feel it.
“Night Dami.” He says softly. Then he grabs his ruined shirt, slings it over his shoulder, and strolls right out the back door like he didn’t just shatter the entire axis of my reality. He’s whistling, he has glitter sparkling in his hair, and he is looking happier than I think I’ve ever seen him. I stand there, dripping wet, glittery, and very seriously questioning every decision that led me here. And somehow? I don’t regret a single one. One thing is for sure though. I don’t think I need that coffee anymore, because after that kiss, I am wide awake.