Chapter Text
Water swirled between the metal pieces of its compartment, held in place by a simple moisture capturing spell known as a vapor bubble. The contraption was somehow incredibly simple and a genius way to save a poor witch from having to trek down to the nearest lakeside for a wash. Qifrey dipped his hands into it and sighed, eyebrow crinkling. Even after all these years it was hard to willingly get wet, especially when his clothes were soaked through. If it wasn’t for a certain drying spell, he would be a lot more miserable. Still, washing up before cutting vegetables was a must and he wouldn’t shirk cleanliness and etiquette for a silly little fear. The main room at the Atelier was recently tidied up, blankets folded on the couch and a laundry basket sitting in the hallway full of dirty old clothes.
It was strange to be without the girls, even after a few consecutive years of having to find them a place to stay when either of their masters were put out of commission every couple of months. He was glad to finally have this season’s heat behind him and would utilize the windowway to retrieve them when all of the proper preparations were made. First things first, a meal would be waiting for them with all of its inviting smells the second they stepped foot inside the Atelier.
“Oi! You seem to be off in your own little world. You sure it’s over?” A warm hand pressed to Qifrey’s forehead without warning, causing him to flinch. How had he not heard his dear friend walk in, let alone smell his usual brimstone scent? The moment it hit him who this was, Qifrey relaxed and turned to look at him, hands flicking off any spare droplets.
“I’m sure. You think I would let the girls come home if I was still in heat? You act as if I’m not the most responsible teacher you’ve ever met. Come now, wash up and grab a knife.” He handed the vapor bubble over and practically floated to his cutting board, chopping up a carrot and then moving on to another.
“Did you really nest in the living room? You’ve never done that before, what’s changed?” Olruggio wiped his hands on his cloak- making it completely irrelevant to have washed them in the first place- and raised an eyebrow. They knew each other better than any two people possibly could, knew what it was like to be alone and in that vulnerable state of mind.
“I suppose…” Qifrey trailed off and pursed his lips, eyes narrowed, “It feels better to be surrounded by the smell of family. Call me sentimental, but I hate when they’re not around. It’s too quiet.” And his mind was far too loud. It wasn’t unusual for Omega’s to have maternal feelings towards pups that weren’t their own, but by now Qifrey felt as if they were his daughters. All four of the girls held a special place in his heart. What a cruel trick fate would play, to give him so much peace and love when he should surround himself in turmoil.
Olruggio grunted in that silently observant way he always did when he was deep in thought. He understood, he really did, but they had been watching over the girls for a while now. Maybe Coco joining made it feel more like a pack.
“Did my clothes help? I know I’m not an Alpha-” Qifrey whipped his head around and cringed visibly, nose scrunched.
“Eugh you think I want Alpha stench in my nest? No thank you. Have you ever smelled Easthies when he’s angry? I can’t imagine.” They both laughed in agreement, happy to not have to deal with some hormonal and territorial meathead. Their Atelier was a safehaven away from the rest of the world, which hopefully extended to the girls. They were allowed to be themselves without worrying about societal norms.
“They helped. I figured I would take them to the washroom after I finished up here.” The white-haired witch picked up his cutting board and rested it against the edge of his stew pot, sliding the diced carrot pieces into it and then moving to cut a few onions. A hearty rice pilaf was on the menu tonight, and since he was feeling rather generous, he might even bake a honeycake for dessert. Coco’s eyes always lit up when she ate something sweet, though she was enthusiastic about all the food they cooked.
The next few hours were filled with a comfortable silence, occasionally broken by casual conversation. Their beloved home filled up with warmth despite lacking the usual childish laughter that came with housing young girls. It reminded them both of a simpler time, before becoming teachers and taking on Agott. There was no second thought behind requesting Olruggio as his Watchful Eye, vowing to stay together through thick and thin. It was a job usually appointed to Alphas, especially for an Omega teacher, but Beldaruit pulled some strings to prevent anyone from keeping them apart. He was sad to see his apprentice go, but knew that he would be in good hands. They built the Atelier brick by brick; digging amongst the rubble of those abandoned ruins, and hoping to create something magical. Years later, it stood as a monument to their partnership- a proud ship sailing through the grassy sea.
“You seem happier lately. Maybe I’m overthinking it but you never used to smile this much.” Olruggio’s words sent a chill down Qifrey’s spine causing him to pause in the middle of cooking rice. He pointedly looked away. It was true, he could feel it. Roots, as thick as they were deadly, bound their way around his heart and crept up over his shoulderblade, threatening to sprout when he finally let his guard down. It wasn’t a bad comment, or at least it shouldn’t have been. There was no ill intention behind it and he couldn’t be angry at Olruggio for stating the obvious. The truth was that Qifrey could feel himself giving up. It would only take a few years at most for the spell to overtake him completely, which was exactly why he was pushing his students so much. They would need to be prepared for a world without him. And Olly… His dear Olly… Life would move forward. The girls would go to him if anything happened to their appointed master.
“Did I say something wrong? Your scent’s gone all sour.” Olruggio crossed the space between them, resting a hand on the back of Qifrey’s as if to steady him.
“It’s nothing, dear friend. I think I caught myself reminiscing on the past, that’s all.” He shrugged off the gentle touch, fearing what would happen if it lingered for too long, and forced himself to ignore the dejected expression on Olruggio’s face. This was their routine- a constant game of getting too close and then having to create distance. There was a time in which he tried to live without companionship entirely, thinking it was his only option if he wanted to survive. It never lasted and he found himself bundled up in a bear hug on the front doorstep.
Finally satisfied with the state of their meal, Qifrey excused himself and climbed the stairs to their windowway, placing his hands on the lever and turning the sigil until it matched up with Hiehart’s home. The middle shined with a blueish hue, rippling like the surface of a lake, until it showed a warmly lit stone chamber on the other side. To be honest, it was usually Olruggio who handled socializing with Hiehart, but they probably knew each other long enough to be considered friends, so it was a little ridiculous to continue to avoid him. Qifrey stepped through with a sigh, hands clasped in front of him and head tilted forward to get a better look of his surroundings. It was like most of the appointed studies for those that became teachers and remained in the Great Hall- but it had that special Hiehart flare to it. There were various contraptions scattered along the hallway leading from the windowway, all with purposes that were unnecessary for daily use. It was like the act of collecting was where he got joy, not in actually utilizing them.
The shrill voices of a gaggle of young girls bounced around the walls as he got closer to the main room. It brought a smile to his face when he recognized Tetia going on about her newest dress.
“Master Qifrey takes us every once in a while to go shopping in Kalhn! Isn’t it pretty? Coco, did you and your mom ever make garments like these?” She never asked about Coco’s life before she became a witch, it was a sore subject and only ever led to damp eyes and hushed tones. This time though, Coco seemed happy to respond,
“Yeah we did! Sometimes. I mean- for the most part we focused on tailoring clothes for the village residents, but my mom had a great eye for beautiful things.” There was a smile in her voice, one that made Qifrey’s heart twist. He wanted so desperately to fix things for her.
“Girls? Am I interrupting something?” He asked cautiously, turning the last corner and leaning against the doorway with a fond expression. Tetia and Coco squealed with delight, getting up from their spots around the fireplace and rushing to his side. Richeh was excited in her own way, following along at a slower pace and tugging at the end of his cape.
“Master- we missed you. Are you feeling better?” She muttered, barely audible. He could understand her perfectly by now.
“Ah yes, I’m doing much better. How was your time with Master Hiehart? Hopefully uneventful.”
“I wouldn’t call it uneventful! We had tons of fun!” Hiehart came up behind Qifrey without warning, a plate of cookies in his hands. Jujy rolled her eyes at his entrance, exchanging expressions with Qifrey as a way to apologize.
“Well I’m glad to hear it. I know you’re not used to having so many apprentices to watch over, but I know my girls are well behaved- as is dear Jujy.” Qifrey put some distance between them, not liking the complete lack of awareness for personal space, though he remained cheerful and friendly on the outside.
“They’re always wonderful! Is Olruggio going to be visiting? I half expected him to pick them up.” In spite of himself, the white haired witch’s scent grew sour and unpleasant. He was their teacher after all, it made sense for him to be responsible for them. Things were a little easier when it was Alaira who offered up her services as babysitter. She was unfortunately rather occupied at the moment with Euini, so they had to make do. Beldaruit was the next best choice, but Qifrey was hesitant to deal with him anytime soon.
“He’s at home finishing dinner. Don’t stuff yourself with cookies girls, you’ll lose your appetite.” He instructed, watching them surge forward to grab a few. Tetia put one back solemnly, though he could tell she was still excited for whatever was waiting for them back at the Atelier.
Hiehart wilted when he was informed of Olruggio’s absence, as if he was expecting some alone time and was once again hit with the glaringly obvious lack of interest. Maybe that’s what rubbed Qifrey the wrong way. If you were dead-set on pursuing someone who clearly did not want you in return, you should respect their wishes and work on moving forward. It was much too close to his heat ending to be dealing with an overexcited alpha. Then again, he might be exactly what Olruggio needed. He might not look like someone who required a lot of attention on the outside, but his love language included physical touch- something that Qifrey shied away from at every opportunity. It wasn’t because he didn’t want it, in fact, he burned for that kind of relationship. Unfortunately, so did the Silverwood.
Despite Hiehart’s insistence that they stay for a little while longer and enjoy a mug of hot cocoa, the visit was cut short. Qifrey was getting much too antsy and he knew that there was food waiting to be eaten. Shepherding his girls through the windowway, he waved goodbye to Jujy and her master, before turning the wheel back to its usual state.
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“Have you thought about courting an Alpha?” The question was admittedly out of nowhere and one that they happily skirted around for years after leaving the Great Hall. It felt as if they were finally at a happy and comfortable place by each other’s sides, so why should they consider uprooting that? The sound of a glass being set down on the coffee table was the initial response, followed by an exasperated expression on poor Olruggio’s face. Their dinner was wonderful, complete with all the usual chatter from the girls as they filled their teachers in on what the last couple of days looked like. They had long since gone to bed, tucked under their blankets and surely dreaming of what spells they might cast tomorrow. Why bring this up now?
Qifrey set his own glass down, leaning back against the couch and fixing his eyes on the ceiling, “You’re loved by so many. The people of our neighboring village owe their livelihood to you, the merchants in Kalhn are obsessed with your work- all of witch-kind is. It wouldn’t be hard for you to find an Alpha, one that would take care of you. One that is oh-so cheerful every time your name is so much as whispered near him.” Qifrey’s tone grew pointed, though he was an expert at not allowing those darker feelings to show on his face. Why did Hiehart rub him the wrong way without even trying when all the poor witch wanted was to be seen? He was a sweet man.
“Ah. I reckon the visit with Hiehart went well? I don’t know why you let him bother you so much.”
“It’s not about him. I never mentioned his name.”
“You didn’t have to. Do you really think I want to be Hiehart’s Omega? Come on Qifrey, you call yourself my closest friend.”
“Proudly. I just think you wouldn’t have to deal with the ridicule of your peers if you settled down. It would help your business- if you think about it there are really only positives.” Qifrey sounded bright and happy, his words chosen carefully and with intention. He didn’t see Olruggio stand from his armchair, nor did he notice how close they were until there was a steady weight at his side, their shoulders touching.
“I wouldn’t be here with you and the girls. That’s a pretty big negative if you ask me.” As if he didn’t know what to do with his hands, the Watchful Eye raised one over Qifrey’s thigh, before hesitating and letting it fall back at his side.
There was a beat of silence that hung in the air like a heavy cloak. It was warm and expectant, each one waiting for the other to break it. Even moments like these were a treasure in Qifrey’s heart.
“Well… We would miss you.” He turned to meet Olruggio’s eyes, crossing his arms over his chest and raising an eyebrow. “I won’t push you to do something you don’t want. It’s just been on my mind lately. Especially with Hiehart looking like a forsaken puppy when I told him you weren’t going to be picking the girls up. It makes me think I’m keeping you here against your will.” Qifrey punctuated his sentence with a chuckle, but a part of him meant it. Were they bound to each other in an unhealthy way?
Finally pulling away again and reaching to take a swig of wine, Olruggio rubbed the back of his neck with a sigh.
“It’s not as if I don’t see the outside world. I leave for weeks at a time on commission, and yet I always come back- don’t I? Maybe I should have helped you through your heat this time if it was so bad that you’re questioning why I’m still here. Unless you want me gone.”
That stung probably more than it should have. Did it truly feel like he wasn’t wanted? Qifrey would do anything to show how much he cherished their friendship, how much he *needed* to be by Olruggio’s side. Despite worrying about Hiehart’s childish crush, he wouldn’t be able to stomach watching his dear friend walk out their front door, never to take up the mantle of Watchful Eye again.
“I don’t need help. You’re acting like you did when we were teenagers and I presented as an Omega for the first time. It would be far too embarrassing anyway.” Qifrey’s gaze was locked on the pyreball in the fireplace, flames licking stone and creating a pool of ash below. It was familiar magic, and somehow infinitely more soothing than whatever spell Hiehart used for warmth. Outside, rain pattered against the windowpanes, tiny droplets creating puddles below the eaves.
“I know you don’t need it. You don’t need anything. Still it might be nice to not be so alone. That is- if you’d let me into your nest without bitin’ my head off. You always use my clothes for the smell anyway, isn’t the real thing better?” Alarm bells were going off in Qifrey’s head, both screaming at him to accept the offer and to run as far away as the night would allow. Of course it would be amazing to have Olruggio there during his heat. It just wasn’t an option. Instead of answering, the white-haired witch stood and downed the rest of his drink, placing the cup on the counter and brushing his fingers over the tile island between them.
“Goodnight, dear friend. Don’t drink yourself into a stupor, you’ll have a headache tomorrow morning if you do. It’d be nice to have you there for breakfast.” He offered up a small smile and turned towards his own bedroom, trying to push back any lingering thoughts or emotions that might blur his vision further.