Party: sorry for the lack of chapters on this story, ive been working on the other one, 'I Wish I Knew'. Not to mention 2 other people joining my account, things have become a little hectic. Anyways enjoy. :)

warnings: maybe onesided RuskxMicah

The blond tossed and turned all night and didn't catch a wink of sleep as his mind was clouded with the thought of a certain dwarf.

"Ughh.." the half monster groaned tiredly as he looked at his ceiling. After awhile of staring mindlessly, he sighed and stood up scratching his neck. He was relieved when he remembered that it was winter and wouldn't be needing to tend to his farm.
At the end of each season there was a crop festival but it looked like he wouldn't be attending this one, he preferred farming when it wasn't negative freezing and snowing. To make money for this season, he was just going to have to sell items and sell what his monsters produced.

Shuffling sleepily to his kitchen, he proceeded to make his breakfast. French toast smothered with sugary powder and rich syrup, delicately adorned with freshly cut strawberries.
Oh yeah, cooking was an art. With his food, he'd make Rusk or even Blaise cry. Placing his steaming plate on the table, he sat down with a cup of orange juice, sighing contentedly as he breathed in the delicious meal. And for a brief moment, he forgot all about his dreams with Zaid...

Until now!

He almost spit out his juice when he recalled what he'd thought last night. Coughing, he rubbed his temples. What was he thinking!? About Zaid like th-that?

Okay stop! Just eat, eat the food that you made. It's really good ...yum.. Maybe Kuruna would like this. She likes cake and all maybe she likes other sweets? Maybe Zaid likes sweets too... NO NO NO not working! Don't think about Zaid and his stupid good looks-!

Micah nearly pulled out his hair in frustration, ok not working! The blond rested his chin on his palm as he stared out his round window, white flurries were falling down, the sun hidden behind grey clouds, soft light peeking through. Maybe I should go outside to the hot springs... He hadn't bathed since two days ago and it would really relax him.
Deciding it was a good idea to go, he cleaned up the table, washing the syrup sticky plate before grabbing fresh clothes. Then he made his way to the front door, opening it absentmindly. Only to jump backwards in surprise, "R-Rusk..? Oh you scared me!"

"Hi Micah!" the younger blond smiled at him, the cold from outside made his nose and cheeks slightly red.

"Hey Rusk, is there something you need?" he glanced at the greyish sky.

"Yeah, I was just wondering if we could hang out or something today.. unless you have other plans?"

"No, we can hang out. I was just gonna go to the inn, if you wanna come with me."

"Okay! Hold on, i'll meet you there, i'll go get a change of clothes." the pastry chef ran down the stairs and dashed to his house.

xXx

Micah walked into the inn, sighing as the warmth from a fire nearby hit him immediately, "Welcome!~" a pink haired girl said, "Oh good morning, Micah!"

The blond smiled, "Hey Pia." he sat down at a table, "I'm gonna take a bath but I'm just waiting til someone gets here."

"That's fine you can wait, but you're making the fishies wait too!~"

Micah sweat dropped, "Haha...okay.."

"Hi Micah." Sakuya said.

"Hi." he smiled and left the two girls to chat.

Not even 5 minutes later, Rusk came bursting through the door, "H-hey," he panted as he shut the door behind him, "sorry i'm late."

"Rusk!" Micah's face brightened up as he stood up, "You look freezing cold."

"Yes, you look so cold! Go into the hot springs to warm up!" Pia suddenly said.

"W-what? What about paying?" Rusk tried to stop being pushed- wait when did Pia get behind him?!

"Thank you, Pia!" Micah said as he pulled on Rusk's arm happily.

"Have a nice bath!~" Pia said as she shoved them through the hot spring door.

Once they stumbled in, Rusk sighed, "She tires me out."

Micah chuckled, "I know right."

Rusk looked at Micah's hand still on his and blushed, "U-uh.."

"Huh?" Micah was really kinda slow sometimes, huh, "Oh wow it's already so cold, let's get in the water!" he let go of Rusk and proceeded to strip his clothes, right in front of Rusk.

Rusk turned around quickly, taking off his clothes too albeit slower, he stole a glance at the other when he heard a relieved sigh.

Micah was sitting in the hot spring, his head thrown back with his eyes shut closed.

Rusk slipped in next to him, feeling slightly awkward. Micah didn't notice.

"Hah... It feels so good, right Rusk?"

"Yeah. Warm."

Micah dipped his head under the steamy water, after a few seconds he popped back up shaking the water out of his hair. Now damp, the blond hair stuck to his forehead and neck, "That hits the spot. It's been too cold recently." he was already feeling relaxed, forgetting about his...thoughts.. in a warm pool of water next to one of his best friends.

But... Rusk was feeling the total opposite.

"Er.. Yeah." he was feeling dizzy and his heart was beating erratically. Maybe its because of the hot water? D-definitely not because he was near the other blond or anything.

"Hey? Your face is a so red, are you ill?" Micah leaned towards him, "Or maybe its the water? Too hot for you?" he pressed their foreheads together.

Rusk nearly jumped out of his skin, "No! No Micah i'm fine, honest." he said pushing the other away by the shoulders.

"Ah.. okay, if you say so." Micah closed his blue eyes and went deeper until the water reached just below his nose.

After awhile, Rusk started to relax. Relaxed enough to ask the other certain questions, "Ne, Micah?"

"Mn, yea?"

"So why is it you disappear into desert a lot?" he leaned back against the wall and looked at him through the misty air.

"Um nothing really, monsters drop really cool things so I... "

"You what?"

"Sell them."

"Sell them?"

"Yup!" Micah nodded to himself and congratulated himself on a winning answer, "Sakuya loooves monster items."

"Hm.." Did Rusk still not buy it?

"U-Um, soap!" Micah suddenly exclaimed.

"What?"

"Let's put soap on now!" he said standing up, "Here you wait there, and i'll go get it."

"B-but-"

"It's okay!" Micah's voice was distant now, his body just a shadowy figure disappearing in the mist.

"..-you're ..naked.." Rusk trailed off sighing, shaking his head.

Rusk was not dumb. He knew Micah was hiding something, something important, but he wasn't cracking anytime soon which made him kind of annoyed. Why didn't he want to tell him? How bad is it?

I-is he seeing someone? Nah that can't be, right? He would tell him if he liked someone.

Was he learning some kind of forbidden spell? Ah why can't he just tell me the truth..?

"I'm here!" he said, disrupting Rusks' inner turmoil, "Here's your soap." he handed him a blue bar of soap while he kept a green one.

"Thanks." Rusk said.

As they began scrubbing down with the colored soap, Rusk couldn't help but to ponder. I wonder if he is seeing someone. He watched as Micah's body was quickly covered in green soapy bubbles. I wonder what type of girl he'd go for. Or boy, whatever you want. Rusk began to scrub his own body with his blue soap as he stole quick glances as Micah rinsed himself, now washing his hair. He'd probably want a cute, cheerful girl like Shara. Or maybe a shy one like Raven? Would he like someone like my sister(ew that's weird) what about eccentric and bouncy like Daria or Marian maybe even Sophia? Lazy like Karina? But what if he's seeing a boy? He watched as Micah used the soap to spike up his hair. There's not that many guys, except Gaius and Carlos... Rusk shivered as he thought of Micah and Carlos dating each other, that would be a mess. He had nothing over Carlos but his personality just...is too much for him sometimes, the only person that doesn't seem to mind is his sister Carmen. But Gaius? Maybe... I don't know.. Gaius is cool, he's honest, friendly, happy and maybe a bit of an airhead sometimes. He could definitely see Micah going for him. What is this? his heart was clenching. I'm not..jealous am I?

"Hey look Rusk!" Rusk watched as Micah spiked his hair up into a mohawk, "Cool right?"

The younger blond just shook his head smiling. Smile a bit sad..?

No, I couldn't...

I just couldn't.

Party: sorry its a bit short, i just wanted to put a little bit of Rusks insecure feelings lol

i love Rusk so i feel bad when i make him like this, but! micah needs to be with zaid in this story , i sorry :c

might make a oneshot with rusk and his feelings and such c:

review please