Chapter Text
The light wind didn't help the late August heat. It didn't help either that the specialists outdoor training area was placed where the midday sun could shine freely on. A bunch of specialists were actually sparring, while the rest kept themselves busy by cleaning their swords or tidying up the area while trying to stay in the shade as long as possible.
I, Tamara, a third semester specialist, with my hair sticking in my face from sweating like crazy, had been sparring with Dane, who had tossed his shirt to the side a while ago. My sword clattered to the ground and Dane puffed his cheeks. "You really are useless in combat." He grabbed his water bottle. "I know I suck in combat..." I muttered and brushed my brown hair out of my face. "You're the best strategist, so don't worry. They're not going to kick you out." He tried to cheer me up and I forced a half smile.
"You can't be that bad." Sky, the local legend, stepped on the platform and stopped right in front of me. "Go ahead, punch me." I thought he was joking but he had the most serious face I've ever seen on him, and that man had a resting serious face. "Don't be shy. I want to see what I'm working with." He expected me to hit him in the face for sure, he would block that and kick my ass. I considered my options for a few seconds before I attempted to kick his groin. Sky's eyes widened and he quickly took a step back, missing my kick by half an inch. "Is that all you have?" He asked, covering up his surprise with a cocky smirk. A smirk I had seen too many times on Riven.
So I swung for his face, and as expected he blocked the impact, spun me around and trapped me in a loose headlock. "I think I can make a good fighter out of you by midterm break." He breathed down my neck. I felt dizzy for a moment. It was hot already, the sun was blazing, and now his body warmth added more to my already overheated state. "I'm not a charity project." I muttered. If I wanted, I could slip out of his grip, but I was already dizzy. I wasn't going to take the risk of stumbling and falling.
"Never said you were. Tomorrow morning, six o'clock. I'll kick you out of bed if I have to." Sky fully loosened his hold on me and I had to take a deep breath to compose myself. "Give me one reason." I turned to look at him. It was ironic that his eyes were the same colour as his name. A really soft sky blue. "You need a coach, and I have time to spare." He shrugged. "Tomorrow. Six o'clock. I won't knock quietly." He said again before he turned around and walked away.
-.-.-.-.-.-.
It was already midnight and I tried to ignore the feelings this small encounter had stirred up, but every time I closed my eyes I felt the heat radiating off of him. I had a crush on him two years ago, as pretty much everything, and it faded pretty much after a few months. Sky seemed to be everyone's crush, and even now the first semesters were drooling over him. Can't blame them either. He was adorable... If your type were upright guys like that one.
With a frustrated groan I sat up and turned the bedside table light on. My roommate had left Alfea in the last semester due to a familiar emergency and decided to finish her studies in a different college, which gave me the rare privilege of a room for myself. I missed the late night talks somehow, and her snoring. It was too quiet, too lonely.
I took my phone and decided to post some of the sunset photos I've taken before heading to my room. A few minutes later a direct message popped up. >>You're supposed to sleep.<< I tilted my head and clicked on the profile. Of course it was Sky. Why was I even surprised? >>Whatcha gonna do? Tuck me in? Feel free to do so.<< I texted back and snorted at the mental image of him being a mother hen. Three dots appeared and vanished. Oh? Did I render him speechless?
Without thinking about it again, I kept scrolling through everyone else's posts. Just to get jump scared when I heard a knock on my door. "Bloody hell." I whispered to myself and got up to check who was knocking at almost half past midnight. "What the fuck are you doing here?" He didn't answer, instead he gave me a light shove towards my bed before he slipped in the room and closed the door behind him. "Make sure you actually sleep." "I was joking when I said you should tuck me in." I stared at him. "I know and I don't care." He backed me up until I fell backwards on the mattress, laughing lightly. "You're a weird one." I scooted over and patted the mattress beside me. "You're the girl with her nose on maps, not me." He sat down on the edge of the bed. "So you want to make sure I sleep and won't offer cuddles? I see, I see." I teased, trying to get a reaction out of him.
"I thought you're not the type for that." Sky took a pillow and whacked it over my head. I snorted and pushed the pillow away. "You're just scared I'm going to witness that you're actually a real softie." I opened my arms, testing the waters and to my surprise, he rolled his eyes and... I should've thought this through ... He let himself flop into my arms like a golden retriever. "Ooof." My ribs will definitely be sore later. "You're heavy."
Sky laughed lightly. "You're the one who suggested cuddles." "You don't know how to cuddle, do you? Suffocating the smaller person isn't part of it." I didn't even try to shove him away. "I don't hear you complaining." He muttered. "Never said I am." I mumbled, accepting my fate.