Ironic, that as one relaxed the other grew more disturbed.

Maybe grabbing his friend's wrist had been a mistake, but what else else was he supposed to do? He tried asking. Being repeatedly tapped with a ruler for no reason didn't hurt but it made it no less vexing. It didn't make it right.

Then, Bookworm went all stiff and weird again for no reason. Pink, too. That seemed to happen several times today. Maybe he was sick? Asking wouldn't do any good, the celestial mage would probably do that weird laugh and insist he was fine. Sig had accepted his help but he seemed unable to admit wanting any in return. It didn't seem fair.

Hugging him was probably something he shouldn't have done either. Was all this distress over the nickname? It was disappointing. He liked using them even though they were rarely shorter than anyone's given name. Could he still use 'Bookworm' or did that have to go, too?

Depressing.

At least Klug seemed to have stopped freaking out for the time being. His pulse wasn't super-fast anymore, either. Good. It kind of reminded him of a baby rabbit before it got used to people, wide-eyed and heart hammering so fast and so, so hard. It wasn't its fault. That's just how bunnies were.

'Bunny'. A silent smile formed on his face. If Klug hated 'Glasses' he'd definitely hate 'Bunny', but the mental image was too perfect to resist. The overachiever certainly was jumpy enough to qualify; harried and nervous, too, but still cute.

Perhaps it wouldn't be the worst idea to keep an eye on his friend. After all, everyone should have someone to worry about them, especially if they didn't worry about themselves. That's what Amitie had said, anyway, and it made sense to him.

Sig let Klug free... or mostly free. His odd arm propped up the slackened body of his classmate so that he wouldn't unexpectedly slide off and onto the floor or worse. A bang into the coffee table was definitely something that Klug didn't need.

Wonder when I can get my shirt back, he indolently mused. It was mildly gratifying that his friend didn't seem repulsed by his 'condition'. If the scholar was disgusted there was no way he'd keep this quiet and look so tranquil. Such a relief.

He couldn't help brushing a loose lock of chestnut hair out from in front of his friend's lenses, sweeping it to the side where it was supposed to be. The usually expressive green eyes stared into nothing, their owner deep in contemplation. What's he thinking about..?

Daylight was burning. As much as Sig didn't want to disturb his classmate's meditation, it wouldn't be good to stay like this forever. Less time meant more pressure, pressure neither of them needed. He'd already lost them a great deal thanks to his performance in the library.

"Hey, Klug," he nudged his comatose companion's head gingerly with his chin, "doing okay?"

"... Hmm?"

"You're not mad?"

"What? Mad?" The mage still seemed a little out of it, but slowly continued, "no. No, I'm not mad. Why? Do I look angry?"

Sig shook his head. "Nah, kinda dazed, but not angry. Feel better?"

Taking a moment to think about it, Klug gave a small nod, still supported by his friend. "Surprisingly, yeah, I do," adding apologetically, "sorry about the... everything. Ruler. Overreacting. You know."

"Sure. Sorry for calling you 'Glasses'. Didn't think it bothered you."

Smirking, the bespectacled one replied, "I guess I could've said something sooner. We're both at fault, there."

"Guess so," the bug catcher smiled, "umm, one question."

"Hm? What's that?"

"Where's my shirt?"