Fuku was waiting for you when you finally woke up. Groggily, you noted her form sitting on the foot of your bed reading a book as soon as your eyes opened again.
"It's four in the afternoon." She informed you, painstakingly calm as she absently flipped the page. You winced. "Assuming you went to sleep right when you got home, that means you slept for nearly twenty hours. How in the world did you get so drained that you needed that much sleep?"
As much as you'd love to answer, your voice hadn't decided it was time to work yet. Instead you dragged yourself out of your covers and pulled your right leg up to investigate the cobalt mage-mark on your ankle.
Mage-marks were a curious universal constant. Humans with magic had them from birth, an easy identifier. Once the mage in question specialized in a particular type of magic, it would take on a symbol for the specialization. It was most often the same color as the magic of the user, brightening and darkening depending on how full the mage's reserves were.
The swirly heart surrounding a small sprout symbolizing your life magic was actively glowing, indicating that your reserves were filled to overflowing. Around it was tattooed seven black stars, showing your level of mastery. It was quite a few for your age, but you had specialized very early.
It was a nice way to be able to check how much magic you had without sinking into yourself.
Once your voice decided to work again, you finally answered your friends, "I was tired. So, I kind of…"
Fuku's glare made you trail off. She knew exactly what you could do with your magic, and made no effort to hide her disapproval when you used it that way. "And does it never occur to you to sleep when you're tired? You used a lot of magic healing Sans. Why couldn't you just admit you needed the rest?"
"I did admit that. But school's an obligation I can't just ignore. Then I was offered free lunch and, while I definitely required sleep, I needed food too. Besides, I like them. You keep telling me I need more friends. As for work…yeah. I should have called in. But I didn't want to do that to Grillby. It's rough being the only person working, and it was only a half-shift. I thought I could handle it."
Fuku had, thankfully, stopped glaring at you during your explanation. She nodded, knowing you were properly chastised. "We also need to talk about that. Be careful around them. All four monsters you met for lunch yesterday are quite a big deal, and they all know all too well the less than savory side to humans."
You shrugged, tugging on a cute tee and some ankle jeans. "You know full well that I'm well aware of that less-than-savory-side of humanity. I can't blame them for being cautious."
"They could kill you." She whispered. "They certainly won't trust you."
"I suppose. But quite a few people could decide to kill me at any time. Probably because they dislike something I've said." You sighed. "These past five years haven't been easy on you guys, have they?" You began to yank a brush through your hair, pondering how to put it up. "I wish I could help more than I do. It's upsetting. But I'm really not…"
"You weren't even a legal adult until after we had basic rights." She reminded you. "You've done more than you know just by being around. Being you. Besides, politics doesn't suit you at all," she finished with a teasing chuckle.
"Being friendly on a small scale hardly helps in the large one." You retorted. "Besides, I'm not even overly friendly. I just don't think it's right to judge someone based on appearance alone." You pulled your hair back into a ponytail before braiding it to keep your neck cool. "On a happier note, I promised today to you. What do you want to do with what's left of it?"
The two of you had gone out to get pizza, then spent the rest of the evening binge watching movies at Grillby's place. It occurred to you, vaguely, that after the semester was over, you'd have to find a place of your own. Third-year students and on weren't guaranteed dorm rooms.
Besides, with all things considered, you probably weren't leaving Ebbott. You'd made that decision a while ago, when you'd decided to support monsters. As a mage so loudly declaring the belief that monsters were just as much "people" as humans were, you'd sealed your fate.
Hopefully, you could get away with Fuku never truly realizing what you'd gotten yourself into. Sometimes you doubted it would stay quiet, but if it came out, then it did. You weren't going to lie about it.
But it rarely came up in any way that would actually affect your day-to-day life. Fuku had no reason to question it, and you had no reason to bring it up. Just like you were fine not telling anyone who didn't ask about your magic. You wouldn't lie, but some things didn't need to be shared so openly.
You were mildly surprised when, upon musing the arising need for a home aloud, Fuku shot a shocked look at you. "You? You want someplace permanent to stay? Are we talking about the same _? You haven't even made your dorm look mildly lived in."
"A dorm isn't exactly a permanent home Fuku. You don't even get it for a year. But, yes, I need an apartment or a duplex or something. I've still got school here, and I don't intend to ditch my job at the bar either. I probably won't leave after school either." You mused aloud. Fuku shot you a questioning glance.
"Why not look together?" Your hand jerked, sloshing your drink as your best friend made the suggestion. "I've been meaning to get out of Dad's place for a bit now."
You mulled it over. It was lonely in your dorm by yourself, and an apartment would likely be the same, so living with Fuku would fix that problem. However, those problems you'd been contemplating earlier would certainly be harder to keep from her notice.
Splitting the bills would be beneficial to both of you, though, and it was much better than getting an unknown roommate. Some humans in the area may not take well to it though, and that could put you both in danger. More danger, anyways. But at the same time, you would be there to protect and help each other…
"That sounds great." You told her, deciding that the growing list of pros would almost definitely outweigh any cons.
Anyone who didn't know you well would probably question how certain you were of your answer. Your deliberation time was always much shorter than they would deem appropriate. Fuku knew better. Just because the response was quick didn't mean it wasn't properly thought out. She nodded. "I'll let Dad know. He's been helping me, but I suppose I need to look for a bigger place now."
"We need to look for a bigger one, silly." You corrected before unmuting the television so the two of you could go back to watching. It isn't something either of us has to do alone.
Grillby had known that you were over, spending time with his daughter. Still, nothing could have prepared him for the sheer cuteness of the scene he walked in on when he finally came up from the bar. Smiling, he brought up his cell to snap a quick picture.
Fuku and you seemed to have made a pillow fort, and were cuddling quite comfortably in it as you both snoozed, ignoring the cartoon playing on the television in the background. Fuku had one fiery arm thrown haphazardly over you as you tangled your legs into hers, blanket bundled and thrown to the side, unnecessary under the conditions presented.
Before you, Fuku had never been close with anyone in particular. The idea that even a momentary lapse in care could cause pain and severe burning kept most people at a respectful distance from fire elementals. Grillby had never seen an exception to this.
Until you came along. It didn't even seem to occur to you that burns were a thing that existed. Never once, even at the beginning, had you shied away from touching either him or Fuku. When he'd finally asked you about it, you had responded in that too blunt way of yours, "Oh, you can burn people? That must be useful if someone attacks you." and dropped it.
Watching Fuku open up to you was like watching a flower blossom in spring; absolutely beautiful and inspiring. Then they discovered the magic you had never really hidden.
Mages had, once upon a time, locked them underground. He had almost fired you when he found out you were one. His own memory of mages was none too pleasant, after all. He'd been alive back when they'd locked the monsters up.
But he knew you. He'd seen who you were, gotten more than one glimpse into your soul. It was something that had surprised him at first. But you were an open person who wore her proverbial heart on her sleeve. Occasional glimpses of your soul were almost commonplace to him now.
It was perhaps the best decision of his life to keep you around.