Several weeks had passed since Rei had first refused to join Nagisa for snuggling in bed. It figured—the first time he'd actually invited somebody, they weren't interested. Haru was the talk of the palace, even though Nagisa hadn't actually seen him up and about. Even though a scullery maid had said he'd have more luck trying Haru's room for the both of them, he'd decided to try talking to Makoto alone first.
Nagisa opened the door to Makoto's quarters. "I'm coming in!"
"Ah, Nagisa," Makoto said, blinking up at him from his bed. He covered his mouth as he yawned. "Excuse me. I didn't expect you to visit."
"It's been a while," Nagisa agreed. When he'd been a child, he'd spent most of his nights with Makoto and his siblings—now grown and working in the palace with rooms of their own. "How's Haru doing?"
"Improving," Makoto said, but worry pinched at the corners of his eyes.
Nagisa decided to lighten the mood. "You remember Rei?"
"New guard, right? Wears glasses?"
"That's the one."
Makoto smiled. "Got your eye on him?"
"I only ever see him when he's on duty," Nagisa whined, flopping onto Makoto's bed beside him. "Is he always so...so stuffy?"
"I'm not sure," Makoto said, frowning with thought. "I never see him talking to the other guards."
"I want to talk to him," Nagisa said. "Please, Makoto? Pretty please?"
"So you want to have some sort of secret rendezvous with this guy?" Makoto asked. "Should I give him the Don't Mess With My Friends talk?"
"A secret rendezvous!" Nagisa beamed. "Ooh, that'll be like spies. Star-crossed lovers! How fun." He shook his head. "But don't scare him off, Makoto! I just want to talk."
"Okay, okay," Makoto said, patting Nagisa on the shoulder. "How about you two meet here tonight?"
"Because you'll be in Haru's room?" Makoto flushed pink as Nagisa winked. "You know, I have some massage oil—"
"Nagisa!"
"He's probably sore from all that walking, right?" Nagisa stuck out his tongue as Makoto sputtered. "You go look after Haru, and I'll wait here for Rei."
"Wait here?" Makoto repeated. "He doesn't get off duty for hours."
"I'll just sleep until then." Nagisa yawned and stretched out on the bed. "Your sleepiness is catching."
"Sorry to spread it," Makoto said. He patted Nagisa's shoulder. "Want me to tuck you in?"
"Yes, Mama."
Makoto chuckled and pulled a sheet over Nagisa. "I'll go let Rei know to come here after he finishes work."
"Mmhmm." Nagisa's eyes slid closed. "Thanks, Mom."
Minutes or hours later, he heard a knock that jolted him from his sleep.
"Yes?" he called.
The door slid open, revealing Rei holding a little lantern. It cast long, flickering shadows; while Nagisa had been out, the room had gotten dark.
"You asked to see me?"
Nagisa patted the bed enthusiastically. "Yeah! I thought we could talk while you're off-duty. And maybe we could be friends."
"Very well." Rei set the lantern on the bedside table and slowly, haltingly, lowered himself onto the bed. He seemed to be holding his breath.
"I told you that I'm not gonna bite, silly." Nagisa wriggled his way over to Rei without pulling off the covers—nights were cold in the desert. He curled up against Rei's back and twisted around until he could look up at Rei's face. The low light made it hard to see, but it looked like he'd started blushing again.
"I'm not so sure about that," Rei said. "I think I saw you attempt to chomp on a zealous patron's hand before."
"Your hands don't wander, so I'm not gonna bite them." He frowned with concentration for a moment. "Hmm. Actually, if your hands were doing the wandering, I think I'd kinda like that."
"Why?" Rei asked. "Why me, specifically?"
"I could say it's because I think you're gorgeous." Nagisa snaked one hand out from beneath the sheets to reach up and touch Rei's cheek. "But you didn't like that answer last time."
Rei looked away. "I'm sorry for storming off like that," he said. "It was highly unbecoming of me."
"I can come on a little strong when I like somebody," Nagisa said. He trailed his fingers along the cold metal of Rei's glasses and adjusted his position so that his head rested on Rei's lap. "Doesn't happen very often, though. So that makes you special!" He beamed.
"I don't understand," Rei said. "Why does it have to be me?"
The grin faded on Nagisa's face, and he lowered his hand. "You know, I never went to school," he said. "I was gonna be a dancer either way. But you just assumed I'd gone to a school like you had. No one ever told me I could."
Rei went very still. "I'm sorry for making assumptions."
"It was nice," Nagisa continued. "Nobody's ever tried to talk to me about science and numbers and stuff." He didn't mention the sheer awe on Rei's face whenever Nagisa danced for him, the way he made him feel like he could dance forever.
"I could teach you," Rei said quickly. When Nagisa looked up at him, he blushed. "My parents are both scholars. I have a lot of resources."
"I'm not a good student," Nagisa said. "Ask Ms. Hemson." He shook his head. "I'd rather be friends with you, Rei."
For a long, still moment, Rei said nothing. "Don't friends help each other, Nagisa?"
Nagisa's heart stuttered. He didn't dare comment on the name—it'd kill him to hear Mr. Hazuki after listening to his first name in Rei's mouth. "Yeah," he said. "Yeah, they do." He cinched his arms around Rei's waist and buried his face in his stomach to hide his blush.
"I've never had a friend before, so you'll have to take responsibility," Rei said. "I understand the theories perfectly, though."
Nagisa smiled against Rei's side, heart glowing in his chest.
"I will."
