(A/n: Please enjoy)


Chapter 43: The Calm Before The Storm (Finale): Learning of Firkle's Past and Other Things

"Damn it, it's not this one either."

Disgruntled, Ike tsk's, pushing a book with a similar color as the one he's searching for back in line on the bookshelf with one finger. That is probably the seventh book he's examined today, he hasn't really been keeping track. Heaving a sigh, he continues down the aisle, perusing each side attentively for books that are only dark blue. With every book he passes by that doesn't match his criteria, the sinking feeling he had long before would swell.

"Where is it? Seriously..."

The boy wasn't 100% sure that the human-written book would somehow wound up back in the library, but it was the only likely place he at least hoped it would be in. If it was in someone else's possession and they had returned it, Ms. Faith would've thrown a fit at him the day he stepped foot in here. But instead the woman appeared unaware of the book's disappearance, greeting him with a smile that made Ike feel all the more guiltier and only urged him to find it as soon as possible.

"Good thing I extended the return date ahead of time," Ike thinks, feeling a pinch of alleviation. That quickly dies away once he realizes he's reached the end of the aisle he's in. He stares ahead, there are only two vampire history sections and he's checked them both. Even in the spot where he found the 'The Difference Between Purebloods and Mixed Bloods' in. Neither row contained the book. And that makes him wonder-

What if it's in an entirely different section? Hidden in genres such as fantasy, horror, or even romance? It could be anywhere in here so long as no one else ever comes across it again.

"If I search the whole library, that would take forever." Ike smacks his lips nervously, he may have to ask for his help. He already knows Ike has it, but if Ike tells him that he lost it he would most likely be happy about it. Exhaling deeply through his nostrils, just when Ike is about to take one step forward, deciding to start in the sci-fi segment before him, a voice comes from beside him on his right.

"Oi human." He freezes, then looks at the person, his cinnamon brown eyes meeting a turquoise colored pair. "If you're having trouble looking for a book, why not ask the librarian to help you?" They say, jabbing a thumb behind them at the librarian's desk.

Ike shakes his head and hands. "Oh no, that's not it. I know what book I'm looking for, but..." He trails off, keeping the book's identity a secret.

The navy haired teen stares at him blankly. "Whatever, just stop all of your lip smacking and sighing, it's getting really annoying."

Ike can feel his cheeks heating up. "S-sorry," he apologizes, abashed. The vampire walks away. "Didn't think anyone else but me and Mr. Wolfram were in here." Ms. Faith is absent today, so the male librarian, Sullivan Wolfram, is supervising the library by himself. He's a German vampire with blonde silver hair, and grey-blue eyes behind dark rimmed glasses. He looks mean at first thanks to his sharp handsome features, but unlike Mr. Akuma Mr. Wolfram is actually kind and welcoming. At least he was to Ike when he saw the boy enter the library some minutes ago.

Hurrying back to the task at hand, Ike is relentless with his searching until Mr. Wolfram announces it's closing time an hour later, his accent thick though comprehensible on the ears.

The three males exit out into the hall, Mr. Wolfram locking the doors behind them. Without a word, the vampire teen walks down the barren hallway, his footsteps feather-like amidst the silence. Ike is about to depart as well, going in the opposite direction but is suddenly stopped.

"Ah, hang on a moment." Ike turns around, facing the tall man who finishes his business with the doors. Tucked underneath his arm is a rather large brown book.

"Yes?" Ike responses politely.

Mr. Wolfram pushes his spectacles up to rest comfortably over the bridge of his nose. "I noticed earlier zhat you were struggling to find a book."

Ike lowers his head, feeling the familiar warmth resurfacing within in his cheeks. "Oh, so you heard me too huh?" A soft chuckle from the adult confirms that he did, embarrassing Ike further.

"If you still can't find it zhe next time you come back, don't hesitate to ask me or Zerphy for assistance," Mr. Wolfram offers with a friendly smile.

"T-thanks, but I assure you it's no big deal. I know what book I'm looking for, just forgot where I'd last seen it," Ike shrugs, raising his head with the pink on his face fading.

"Oh if zhat's zhe case," Mr. Wolfram takes out his golden key chain, ready to open one of the dark brown doors. "You can just tell me zhe title of zhe book, and I'll see if I can find it for you on zhe computer."

"N-no!" He pauses, giving Ike a raised eyebrow for his panicked exclaim. The noirette forces up a smile. "Really it's fine, I don't wanna trouble you. I'll find it eventually."

The man's lips form a line as he lowers his brow, stuffing his keys back into his pants pocket. "Hmm if you insist. Well, zhat was all I wanted to discuss wizh you about." He bows his head. "Until we meet again."

Which will be tomorrow. Ike returns the gesture, then they go their separate ways.

Ike slouches forward, sighing heavily. Today marks either the fifth or sixth day of his failed forage, he can't precisely remember. Either way the more days that go by, the more apprehensive he becomes. What if he never finds the book? What if it's lost forever...? Ike nearly blanches at the thought. "I wonder if Gregory is having better luck than me in finding his sword." Deep down, Ike hopes Gregory is having an equally tough time just like he is. It's wrong and selfish to think like that, yes he knows, but unlike Gregory Ike would be in serious trouble if he can't retrieve his book. He doesn't even want to fathom what would happen to him as a result.

"Ike."

Ike trudges on, so far in his depressing thoughts that he doesn't see or hear a black haired vampire walking up to him. That is until they stop, causing him to bump into them.

Stumbling back, Ike blinks rapidly a few times, shaking his head to clear away the negativity and the slight dizziness after the collision. "S-sorry I-"

"Just now leaving the library?" He recognizes this voice.

Lifting his head, he gazes straight into a single violet colored eyeball. The other eye, though of different color, is concealed behind a long dark bang of hair. "Firkle? When did you get out here?"

The young vampire stares at him silently for a moment, his expression changing. "I asked you a question first," he deadpans.

"Oh," Ike frowns confusedly. "Sorry I didn't hear you."

"Yeah I know," Firkle scoffs humorously, his hands going into the pockets of his black sweatpants. "C'mon," he nudges his head back. "Let's head out to the courtyard."

Ike deepens his frown. "But it's raining."

"We'll stay under the breezeway." Firkle turns around, and saunters to his chosen destination.

With a bit of reluctance, Ike trails after his friend.

They walk in silence, Ike the only one thinking it's awkward between them. Before long they reach the pair of ebony doors, Firkle opens one of them allowing Ike to step outside first then following after. The door closes leisurely on it's own without a sound. The two boys take a couple more steps beneath the breezeway, stopping and facing the large gap leading into the courtyard. Ike is very glad that he is still wearing his blazer, shoving his balled hands into his pants pockets to warm them. Firkle seems unconcerned of the cold in his thin long sleeved black shirt, on his feet are a pair of comfy looking bedroom shoes.

Neither say a word for an additional minute, watching and listening to the fast falling raindrops pelting the ground. Ike flinches faintly when a gentle thunderclap sounds not too far from in the distance.

"What's troubling you?" Firkle questions, not taking his visible eye off of the downpour.

Ike presses his lips into a line. "I lost the book," he admits under the rainfall.

Firkle hums, looking the faintest bit of uneasy. "So that's why you've been going to the library a lot lately."

"Y-yeah." Ike tenses. "Can you help me find it?" His question comes out timid, fearing Firkle will flat-out decline him. The wait for a response only spikes the boy's anxiety, friends or not Firkle will not hesitate to speak his mind. But the fact that he's taking this long to answer means he's seriously contemplating. He finally replies after half a minute.

"Wouldn't it be best for it to remain missing?"

Ike looks over at the vampire with a blink, a bit dumbfounded. His hunch was actually right, well partially. Firkle didn't sound nor does he look happy about the book's whereabouts. Frowning, Ike looks back at the rain. "You may think so, but Ms. Faith strictly told me that no one is supposed to see that book." He scrunches up his face, clenching his fists tightly. "She trusted me yet I..." He clenches his eyes shut, feeling them well up with tears.

"You don't have to worry about it," Firkle reassures calmly.

His eyes flying open, Ike snaps his head over in his direction again. "But-"

"It's only a book written by some money grubbing human," Firkle pushes, his tone never-changing. "So losing it shouldn't effect you, no one else should know that it exists." He looks at Ike. "I know you were naturally curious about it, but you should forget ever finding it."

The black haired human avoids his one-eyed gaze, looking down at the ground. "I only wanted to know the author's view on vampires, and how they perceived them was all. Though I did wonder why they published it when vampires are actually real, I figured they must not have known at the time."

Shrugging, Firkle diverts his attention back to the courtyard. Then his expression tenses. "If you wanted to learn about Mixed Bloods...you could've asked one directly."

Ike looks to him confused. He's pretty sure Kenny is a PureBlood, Kyle too, though even if he isn't Ike wouldn't dare ask him. He still feels a bit on edge around the redhead. And the only other vampire he's close with is...His eyes slowly begin to widen in realization. "Wait, Firkle you mean you're-"

Just like on the first day of Ike's training, Firkle sweeps his long bang back and holds it in place with his hand. He turns his body to face Ike, showing the boy his other eye for a second time after a long while, and it's still the same as Ike remembers it. A mesmerizing gold with a thin shaped pupil.

"Yeah, I'm a Mixed Blood," Firkle divulges, his lips a hardly noticeable smile.

Ike blinks, still in shock at this revelation. "Wow, I never would've known since all you do is make flowers heavier."

Firkle frowns at his teasing, not finding it comical. "Either my mother or my father was a human. It's been years since I'd last seen them that I don't even remember their faces."

Almost immediately Ike becomes curious, appearing conflicted however as he looks off to the side. He doesn't want to seem nosy but his interest in knowing is only getting stronger the longer he doesn't ask. So he does, tentatively. "Did..something happen to them?"

"They were killed," Firkle answers without wasting a second.

"...I shouldn't have asked..." Ike grimaces regretfully.

Dropping his arm to his side, Firkle faces the rain again, his slightly disheveled bang instantly falling back over his eye. "I was only a kid when it happened, I don't know exactly how old though. Word got around that a human and vampire were dating, and they'd had a child. Thus all three of us were sentenced to be executed on that same day." Sadness clouds over his features. "Somehow I lived. I've been assuming that my parents protected me until the very end." Despite the lingering grief, one side of Firkle's lips arch upward. "Even though I've forgotten what they looked like, I don't think I'll ever forget how they treated me. They had accepted me even when I was born into this world looking like this."

Now Ike feels even worse for succumbing to his inquisitiveness so easily...Again.

"The hell are you feeling so guilty for?" Ike flinches, this time not because of the thunder. He looks up at Firkle to see him giving him a small smile. "I'm glad you asked, I would've been disappointed if you hadn't." Ike eyes him in disbelief, normally people would be offended by such a prying question. Especially if they didn't say what the repercussions were outright or they looked uncomfortable. But then it dawns on him - Firkle is a vampire, not a human being. They have a completely different mindset on this kind of matter compared to humans, not all vampires probably but so far only Firkle didn't seem to mind.

Shaking his head, Ike's face relaxes into a relieved faint grin. He was worried for nothing. "You're so weird."

"I know," Firkle concedes, his smile broadening a smidgen.

"But..." A frown tugs at Ike's lips. "How did you get by after that? Were you taken in by a relative?"

Firkle mimics his expression, his violet colored eye darkening a little. "I was, but not by any kin. I don't think they supported the relationship my mom and dad had. Instead I was found by a couple after living out on my own like a wanted criminal for a few years." Ike's jaw tightens at that, albeit he's put at ease that Firkle wasn't homeless for too long. He was still only a child after all. "After surviving, I had no choice but to leave town. I kept myself hidden for awhile in the woods, and it was fucking awful." Firkle shakes his head, his face contorting at the memory. Ike copies him unattentively, pitying him even more. "I ended up wandering around until I eventually came across another town, I hadn't trained enough to use teleportation at the time. Turns out it was two cities away from the place I once called home. It was nighttime when I'd gotten there, I didn't realize I'd walked almost non-stop in the woods until I looked at my shoes. They were really dirty and nearly torn from all the mud and sticks I'd stepped on. I think I tripped a few times too cuz my clothes were in similar shape." An unexpected flash of yellow enters his field of view, but it doesn't frighten him. Soon comes a vibration of thunder, and the rain starts picking up speed. Firkle is unsure whether he heard a whimper from beside him or not so he glances at his right to see Ike tensed up with his eyes shut tightly. "Wanna go to my room? No one's in there right now." His eyes refusing to open, Ike eagerly nods his head.

Firkle teleports them inside his shared room. Ike gradually feels the tension ebbing away from his body, sighing out as his eyelids split apart. Firkle hurriedly turns on the light from the lamp on his nightstand, then plants his butt down on the edge of his bed. Without being beckoned to, Ike joins him, his eyes focused on his clasped hands in his lap, his cheeks flushed deeply in embarrassment. He really hates it when he blushes so much in a single day, it's happened like twice now...Probably.

Feeling an intense gaze on him, Ike wills for his cheeks to not get any pinker. "C-can you continue?" He prompts shyly.

Firkle develops the urge to hug the boy, finding something- no someone cute for the first time in his life. To think Ike is afraid of thunder. Disregarding his desire as to not overstep his boundaries, Firkle instead reaches for one of Ike's hands, gently slipping in between them only for Ike to catch on and latch onto his hand. Ike's palm feels a bit clammy but warm while Firkle's feels the same sans being moist, due to them being inside their pockets. Smiling softly at his acceptance, Firkle sets their interlocked hands in the middle of them on his bed and resumes where he left off.

"Even though my feet were sore as hell, I forced myself to find someplace to rest at, starting with a nearby alleyway. I made sure no one saw my golden eye by keeping it closed and my head down, it may had been dark but the city lights were bright, and I was already getting enough stares thanks to my filthy appearance. Some people asked if I needed or offered to help while others talked about me like I couldn't hear them. But I ignored them all." Anger overtakes Firkle's face, however it isn't strong. "I didn't ever wanna get involved with another human again. After what their kind did to my parents when we were only living peacefully, even now I don't forgive them." Ike merely frowns in understanding. Firkle's expression softens slightly, his lips forming into a line. "When I reached the alley, it was so disgusting that the thought of living in the woods would've been far better. It was beyond dirty, the ground was practically littered with empty beer bottles, food wrappings and bags from restaurants, ripped up cardboard and worn-out clothes and shoes." Firkle shudders at a brief image of the mess, Ike lightly squeezing his hand to ensure him that he will never see a sight like that again. Firkle shoots him a grateful half-smile. "I decided to look for another place, this time it was a park. There was nobody but homeless people sleeping on the benches. I had to keep walking cuz almost all of them were taken, I was already dreading the thought of having to sleep on one of those. Outside...And to top it all off I was starving."

"..You didn't...kill any of those people, did you?" Ike asks, looking at Firkle nervously for his answer. Though he already has an inkling as to what it's going to be.

The violet-eyed noirette frowns, knowing the young teen isn't going to like his reply. "I did. I was so pissed off at the humans that I didn't care about them anymore. Besides I had to feed in order to survive, especially since I had nowhere to go. Blood is vital to us vampires, we can't go too long without it."

"Yeah, but..they were innocent." Ike lowers his gaze back to his lap, silently giving the deceased victims his condolences.

"I know, that's why I regretted it," Firkle admits honestly. "But that was probably a year later, when I began to realize that not all humans were cruel. That didn't change my viewpoint on them though. So I started drinking from animals that would appear in the park, which were mostly birds and squirrels...I even fed from dogs that strayed away from their owners." A pang pierces Ike's heart, but he fights back the urge of voicing out his dissent, baring in mind that Firkle did that for his survival. Those poor creatures... "It took time getting used to switching between blood types, they tasted so different from each other that I'd gotten sick at some points. And that was when I met the couple. Apparently they were scouting out young vampires to attend their academy, both Mixed and Purebloods. I was too ill at the time to care if they were lying or not since they showed up outta nowhere that night, but I'd rather live somewhere else than in some park." Firkle produces a vague smile. "Needless to say I'm really glad I went with them, otherwise I would probably still be at that park or some place worse. This school's grown on me, despite most of the assholes here."

The atmosphere around them starts brightening some now that Firkle has finished. Irregardless of the deeply-rooted sympathy held for the homeless people and animals that had the life sucked out of them in the past, Ike tries to push the strong emotion away and say something uplifting to his friend. However he blinks, suddenly getting a strange feeling that he'd overlooked something in Firkle's story. His mind replays the last few sentences of what Firkle had just said. "Wait a sec..." The bi-colored eyed boy turns his head to look into his cinnamon brown iris'. The moment he figures it out his eyes expand to a point where they look about ready to burst out from their sockets. Firkle stifles a laugh. "No way, Principal Brimestone and Ms. Biggle were that couple?! They're dating?!"

Firkle quickly places a finger over his lips, quietly shushing him. "You wanna tell the whole school?" Ike smacks his free hand over his mouth, ashamed at his outburst. Firkle rolls his eyes amusedly. "They're not really together, but the Principal does have feelings for her. He's just as obvious with his advances like Mr. Thorn, but a little less cringey."

Ike lowers his hand on the mattress, the shock gradually decreasing. "Woow."

"Crazy to believe I know," Firkle snickers, mainly at Ike's astonished mien. Firkle's humorous smile lessens into a relaxed one. "I don't claim them to be my foster parents or anything, but I am indebted to them. Principal Brimestone even trained me, which is why I'm so experienced now. Even though I'm not the only one they'd picked up from off the street, I'm just happy that I was fortunate enough to be chosen to come here." He stares down at their hands. "I truly am."

Ike follows his gaze, smiling warmly. "Yeah, I agree. And..I'm starting to feel the same way since I get to stay here longer. After getting this close to you, I found out that you're not really all that scary, you're just plain weird."

Firkle shakes his head with a chuckle. "You sure do love calling me that."

"Cuz it's true!" Ike laughs. "But I mean that in a good way."

Firkle rolls his eyes again. "Suuure."

A comfortable silence settles over the two, Ike basking in the sound of the heavy rain and the mild heat of Firkle's palm. After a minute or two, Ike says, "Can I ask you something?"

Firkle, who was also relishing in the same things, registers that he's being spoken to and nods his head.

"Does anybody else know that you're a Mixed Blood?" Ike observes the noirette's features, once again feeling contrite when he knits his brows.

"No, except the Principal and Ms. Biggle." Firkle looks him in the eyes. "You're the very first person I've told."

Ike regards him in both shock and incredulity. "Really?"

Firkle nods again. "Mixed Bloods were - still are actually seen as the lesser beings of vampires. You might already know this thanks to that book, but because of the human cells - in this school we're seen as easy targets for bullying and manipulation. That's why those that are Mixed keep their origin a secret or cover it up by proving how strong they are. There's more PureBloods here, which is to be expected, but I heard that one student is a rare breed."

"A rare breed?" Ike repeats, intrigued.

"Yeah, he was born from a vampire and a witch."

Ike is momentarily dumbstruck. "Witches exist too?!"

"They did, but they'd been killed off over 50 years ago. Or so I learned in Mr. Nion's class. The last of their kind was that guy's mother."

Before Ike can express his astonishment any further, the knob to the front door suddenly starts rattling, shortly after the door is pushed forward. Unconsciously, Ike releases Firkle's hand as they steer their attention to the person walking in, Firkle trying not to appear disappointed at the separation.

Standing in the doorway, the teen's lilac colored eyes shadowed with eyeliner stare right back at them. "Oh, it's just Pete," Firkle says boredly, looking away.

Pete shoots him an annoyed glare, losing the look when he looks at Ike. "Hey." Ike returns his greeting with a nod of his head. Pete ambles into the room, going straight for his bed. "So what's this about witches?"

His cheeks erupting in a bright pink, Ike quickly tries to think up something to cover up his previous exclaim. "U-umm-"

"They're extinct."

Two sets of eyes look at Firkle, Pete narrowing his again at his roommate's superfluous tone.

"Yeah no shit."

"Then why'd you ask?" Firkle deadpans, still not looking at him.

"Cuz you two were talking about them."

"Yeah so?"

"So what else was said?"

"Why do you wanna know?"

"Oh my fucking God-"

"I asked Firkle about them cuz I was curious as to whether they existed too or not," Ike says, his cheeks back to normal.

Pete looks at him, then sighs, his anger beginning to recede. "Jeez, wished you'd said that earlier so I wouldn't have had to waste my breath on that asshole."

Ike shrugs, grinning sheepishly. "Yeah sorry, Firkle beat me to it."

Pete starts unbuttoning his blazer. "Well anyway, I'm outta here." He sets his jacket down on his bed, showing off his black dress shirt and red tie. He untucks his shirt. "I'd planned on taking a nap, but I won't be able to with you guys talking about stuff."

"I can leave if-"

"No, stay."

Ike visibly shudders when Firkle gently places his palm on the back of his hand on the bed. The human preteen can't decide if the fresh number of goosebumps sprouting along his arms are caused by the coolness of Firkle's skin or something else entirely. They'd held hands yet Ike didn't feel nothing of the sort.

Pete wordlessly gives Firkle's hand on top of Ike's a hard look for a moment. "I'll go to Kevin's room," he then says, heading towards the opened door. He walks out, closing it behind him.

A verbal silence falls over the duo for a couple seconds.

"Do you hate Pete?" Ike inquires, frowning.

Firkle shakes his head. "No not really, we just like to annoy each other is all. I do hate Joey though."

Ike knows who and what kind of person he is since he has a class with him. That dude isn't as nice as he seems.

"Do you know why you're the first and only person to ever know about me?" Firkle asks all of a sudden.

Still frowning, Ike quirks an eyebrow. "Why?"

Firkle feels his lips going downward also. "You don't remember? Think back to the first day of your training session."

Ike does as instructed, facing away from Firkle and staring fixedly at the carpeted floor. He recalls first being assigned to the vampire he dubbed 'creepy' by Mr. Thorn, having doubts and fearing for his safety in that instant. Ike doesn't bother reminiscing the scene where Firkle ridiculed him while he struggled to lift up the Basyes rose, because that isn't what Firkle specifically wants him to look back on. Said noirette is quiet, maintaining a watchful eye on the concentrated boy next to him. Not even the flash of lightning or the crash of thunder deters his train of thought. Soon, Ike arrives at the part where he started to no longer think of Firkle as a scary person, visualizing the beautiful aurelian eye amid the rain and dark grey setting. Then comes the words the vampire spoke after he revealed his secret.

A soft small smile emerges on Ike's face. "I remember now." He looks up towards Firkle's eye. "You said you'd tell me about your eye when you knew you could trust me."

Firkle smiles, relieved. "Yes I did, and I have. Throughout the years of me being here, I trusted no one but Principal Brimestone and Ms. Biggle, plus I wanted to get all of that off my chest. I didn't think that after despising humans so much I would confide in one in the future." He shakes his head, finding it a bit funny. "You know not to tell anyone right?"

Ike nods. "Of course, my lips are sealed." Firkle looks pleased with his response. Ike's tender visage suddenly saddens, experiencing another wave of guilt. He breaks eye contact with Firkle, curling the hand under the vampire's own into a fist. "I wanna apologize again, for not telling you about Stan's escape plan that night in the classroom." Firkle feels the corners of his lips being tugged downward, but says nothing, silently prompting Ike to continue. "I..actually wanted to tell you sooner, but I thought that if I did you wouldn't wanna be friends anymore."

"I told you before that it was okay." Firkle carefully squeezes Ike's hand. "I can't be mad at you for wanting to go home...but I would've missed you though."

Ike's heart skips a beat, his cheeks reddening. "I-I would've too had the plan worked. I would feel way worse than I am right now, thinking I should've at least...given you a proper goodbye."

A sudden roar of thunder ruins the moment, this time sounding somewhat closer due to how loud it was. Firkle observes Ike's reaction to the sound, seeing and feeling him trembling with genuine fear on his face makes him concerned.

"Ike-"

Another bout of thunder interrupts him, startled when Ike jerks his hand out from under his with a yelp. The half-Canadian stumbles off the bed, sinking down onto his knees then hunching over till his forehead touches the floor. He clamps his hands over his ears, his hidden eyes clenched shut. He starts whimpering.

Firkle begins to panic, inwardly cursing the strike of lightning that comes in, worsening the situation when it brings about more thunder. He glances at the front door, contemplating getting an administrator to help. He quickly erases the idea, thinking leaving Ike alone in this state wouldn't be the smartest thing to do. Gritting his teeth, Firkle decides to handle this himself.

"Ike calm down, it's okay."

His words seemed to have no impact on the quailing boy, he didn't even hear him over his whimpering and clogged ears. Firkle nips his bottom lip, ignoring the sting and needle-like trail of blood slowly going down to his chin. Words didn't work, so what will? He wonders. The thunderstorm certainly won't be passing anytime soon, so waiting it out is inept. The best he can hope for is it lessening it's severity, but who knows how long that will take. Letting up on his lip biting and wiping the blood away, Firkle drops onto his knees next to Ike, wanting so badly to allay the human's anxiety somehow.

After a short moment, Firkle outstretches a hand, gently placing it in the center of Ike's back. He swiftly shoves away the urge to feel every curve of the boy's spine. Ike flinches at his touch, but his position doesn't change. Firkle tries to help him regain some composure with more soothing words, making no progress once again.

However when thunder rumbles once more, Ike impetuously tackles Firkle, catching him completely off guard though not enough to make him fall back. He can feel his shirt being dampened with tears, Ike's face buried in his chest. Relaxing from the shock, Firkle wraps his arms around the noirette, feeling his lips forming into a fond smile at how the younger fits in his embrace - even while sitting. He closes his eyes, reveling the smooth strands of black hair against his cheek as he starts to caress his back.

"Everything is okay."

In one swift motion, a memory pops up in his head- it's of his mother doing something similar to him when he was a child. Her face is blurry due to his hazy mind, yet the comforting sensation is so clear that it's strange. He can't recall why his mother did that for him, perhaps it was because he was scared at the time also or maybe sad about something. Nonetheless, caring for the person you cherish like this feels very fulfilling, that Firkle is sure of.

Feeling that Ike is no longer shaking, Firkle stops and purely enjoys holding him, unaware that the tips of the boy's ears are reddening.

"I hope one day you come to know my true feelings towards you without me having to say it."

(A/n: I hope you enjoyed and the next chapter will be up soonish)