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Part of him asked if he'd lost his mind, while the other part argued that he'd been in Dorrek's room several times since the incident and was welcome there now. 'But this is the first time going to the balcony' the first part argued back.
He hesitated.
Dorrek's room was empty, Wiccan wasn't sure where the master of the castle was but there was something that had been poking at the back of his mind since he'd started studying magic to try and break this curse.
He needed to see the rose.
He needed to see if it could give him any answers. But he knew Dorrek was very cautious and protective when it came to that flower. A flash of Dorrek swinging his claws and roaring at him stayed in Wiccan's mind for only a second before he shook it out. That wasn't Dorrek, not anymore. He'd changed and they'd grown closer. A new image of Dorrek laughing while they'd had their snowball fight entered his mind and the difference between the two memories was so strong that Wiccan had to question that they were even the same person.
Looking to the balcony he saw the rose exactly where it had been every other time he'd seen it. On its stone table under the smudge-less glass dome. He took a deep breath and continued through the room. He took the three steps up onto the balcony then turned, Dorrek's room now illuminating from his right side. Being so close to the rose without Dorrek's permission seemed so wrong, so sneaky. He backed up until his back was against the rail, the furthest away he could possibly be. He stared at the flower watching it float in midair. It just sat there, minding its own business and strangely, Wiccan scowled at it and found himself becoming angry. Dorrek resented the rose too, Wiccan knew because Dorrek had confided that in him. How it mocked him as he counted down his time. Billy wanted to shout at it, don't you know what you're doing to him? Don't just sit there like everything's fine. How can you treat someone this way! It was all things he wanted to shout at the enchantress; but she wasn't here and Billy was incapable of finding her. If he could. . .
He let that train of thought die out. He wasn't sure what he'd do if he ever encountered that witch. Yell at her for all she'd done to Dorrek? Beg her? He really didn't know. He sighed again and pressed all his weight back to the rail slouching just the smallest bit.
"What are you doing?"
Wiccan jumped and inhaled sharply. Turning to his right he saw Dorrek in his room staring at him. He'd asked the same question the night 'it' had happened only this time he'd asked it much, much calmer, there was even a hint of true curiosity in his tone now.
"I – uh, I was just –"
"It's okay Wiccan." Dorrek said slowly approaching him and raising a hand palm up like a surrender. "I trust you."
The amount of relief Billy felt at hearing that was like a damn bursting. His shoulders sagged as the tenseness left his muscles. He glanced back at the rose before looking to Dorrek who was still getting closer as he tried to explain.
"I had to see it. I had to feel it again."
Dorrek nodded joining him on the balcony. He stood between Wiccan and the table and looked nervous. He turned to the flower and rested his large clawed hand over the top of the dome preparing to lift it.
"No." Billy corrected making Dorrek turn to him. "Not actually feel it. I meant. . . feel the magic."
Dorrek looked as relieved as Wiccan had felt just a moment ago. Billy gave him a reassuring smile. "Just because you trust me doesn't mean I'm going to disrespect your boundaries."
"Thank you. I'm grateful."
Wiccan smiled at him and Dorrek smiled back. Then Billy approached the flower and stood at Dorrek's side. Carefully lifting a hand Wiccan rested it against the glass. The warmth he felt pulsing from the rose like a heartbeat was so strong, it was like nothing he'd ever felt before.
"What does it feel like?" Dorrek questioned after a moment of silence.
"Warm, almost hot. It's imbued with so much energy, it feels like it should be on fire. Like the story of the burning bush."
Dorrek rose his hand and placed it on the glass opposite Wiccan's. After a moment his blonde brows pushed together. "It doesn't feel warm."
"Hmmm." Wiccan mumbled now deeper in thought. Dorrek watched him as he stared at the flower with curious and confused brown eyes. He felt for Wiccan in moments like this. How hard must it be to grow up knowing no one like you? Dorrek at least had Kl'rt for several years and visitors from Skrull refuges around the galaxy. Even as an alien on earth he never felt alone, not as alone as a mage with no way to study magic.
His pondering was broken when Wiccan turned to him with a question on his lips. But it died the moment their eyes met. Suddenly they both remembered what had happened the last time they'd been alone on a balcony together. At the same time they blushed, dropped their hands from the glass and looked away in opposite directions. Wiccan cleared his throat as he backed away from the table and opened the book he'd brought taking out a pen from his pocket and scribbling notes in the margins. Dorrek rounded the table so he faced the mage but at least he had the distraction of the rose between them now.
