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Thomas is a light sleeper.
It's a fact that he's often teased about, immediately jumping into action the moment sleep pulls away from him.
Like a dog. They had said, an attack dog.
Thomas waved it off as nonsense, having enough of his likeliness compared to a dog of all things. But the comment never leaves his brain, sitting there in the back of his mind.
When Thomas wakes up at the crack of dawn, witnessing Saps pointing a sword at Flux's throat, Thomas pretends to move in his sleep.
An attack dog. That's a funny phrase for it. He specializes more on defense, acting like a shield to those that needs his protection.
Putting himself under Flux's chin is a risky move, but with his arms around him, it's an easy maneuver.
If Saparata truly has the nerve to wedge a sword in his architect's throat, then Thomas shall die protecting him with a blow to his head.
One roll. That's all it takes to shield Flux and further antagonize Saparata.
When he dies, his blood will serve as protection. Flux is smart, using this freely given resource, he could hatch up a plan condemning Saps for good, pointing fingers against the man who killed a dear friend in cold blood.
Dying a martyr, that wasn't the fate he expected to come to. But when it comes to Flux, well. He supposes it wouldn't be too bad.
But what will happen to Flux when his life is taken away?
He doesn't know. He has never been the type to plan such things, as he was made to take orders, and a dog without any orders acts on their instincts.
And his instincts are screaming at him to protect Flux till his very last breath.
Thump. Thump.
He calms his beating heart, and listens as Saps shakily gasps for air, and runs away. The leaves crunch beneath his feet, the sound of foliage rattling slowly fading away as he avoids an opportunity offered to him in a silver platter.
Thomas blinks his eyes open, sitting up as he watches Saps' figure disappear into the forest for good.
The word friendship must hold onto more value to Saparata than what Thomas initially expected.
It was careless of him, to let his guard down against an enemy. Even if that enemy couldn't hurt them even if his life depended on it.
He sighs.
That's why Saparata was the best scapegoat for the job. He's just too naive, trusting, good. He was just the right person, at the right time. An unfortunate pick.
Thomas, the human, not the dog that waits for orders, allows himself to feel conflicted on the matter.
…Guilt. That might be the right word for it. Pity, even.
For once Saps was a dear friend, ultimately a sacrificial lamb for the greater good.
(Or what Flux claims is the greater good anyway, Thomas never really bothered with the semantics. It's all the same to him, anyway.)
He lets himself feel Flux's steady heartbeat for a moment, and detaches himself from the hug, sitting up to start the morning.
"Flux." He shakes Flux twice. Flux is a bit of a heavy sleeper, one that doesn't fall asleep easily but doesn't wake up easy either. He was the polar opposite of Saps, who could sleep and wake up anywhere.
There was a time where Saps slept on the unfinished floor of his house. Flux terribly scolded him for doing such a thing. Saps wasn't the type to get sick either, but it was bound to happen when he didn't even have a roof— Thomas helped nursed him to health that night.
"Flux." Thomas shakes Flux more aggressively, knowing that a gentle awakening wouldn't do anything to get him out of his sleepy state. "Wake up."
"…Thomas?" Amethyst eyes blinks open, truly, the color worthy being named after a beautiful gem. He yawns. "What time is it?"
Thomas sweeps off the hair clinging to Flux's forehead, helping him sit up. Flux's hair is fine and soft, as always. It is taken very well care of, admittedly a source of Flux's pride.
"It must be a little past dawn. I just heard Saps run towards the woods." Thomas says, combing Flux's hair with his fingers. It isn't ideal, but without a comb at hand, he makes do.
"Right. He must be off collecting materials to leave." Flux yawns once more, leaning into the touch of fingers in his hair. "Why did you wake me up again? Just leave him be."
Thomas' hand stills, momentarily pausing from combing. It was a small brief moment of hesitation, but it was enough for Flux's gaze to turn sharp towards him. Thomas removes his hands, away from the soft hair as those lovely gem-like eyes turns suspicious.
It's a shame, he wishes to linger a little bit more.
"Thomas… did something happen while I was asleep?"
"Nothing you need to worry about." Thomas offers a placating smile, waving his hands in the air. Flux sees through it easily.
"I order you to tell me." Flux's voice turns commanding, with a stare so full of conviction.
And who is he, to ignore such orders coming from his architect?
Thomas sighs, "Saps almost killed you in your sleep. But it's alright, you wouldn't have been hurt."
Flux's stare turns even more narrow, "…and why is that?"
Thomas opens his mouth to answer, but Flux beats him to the chase.
"I told you we should've left him to die last night. You're too soft on him." Flux's face contorted to one of anger, and Thomas thinks this might be his best look yet. "Who cares about a few spent diamonds for a bribe anyway?"
Of course, Thomas' expression might've exposed the swelling fondness he's feeling in his chest, because Flux turned even more serious, his anger directed at him this time.
"Thomas. Stop that look on your face, this is a serious matter."
"I can't help it." Thomas speaks out the truth inside his heart, and watches as Flux gets caught off guard for a moment before he regains his composure once more.
"Thomas, if you shall die for me, now is not the time for such things." Flux reprimands him, "If you have to die, die for a worthy cause."
Thomas hums in what he hopes, sounds like agreement. He would be dying for a worthy cause, either way.
"Thomas. Are my words reaching through your minuscule brain or is it going in one ear and out the other?" Flux crosses his arms, as always, reading Thomas so well.
"I'm listening. You know I always do." Thomas' eyes soften with his words. Flux's mouth gapes open for a split second, but he closes it back up again.
Even his endless loyalty is a mystery to Flux, who's always so questioning and suspicious of any motives behind everything. But what can he say? Even Thomas himself doesn't know the answer to it either.
"You are mine, you hear me?" Flux glares at Thomas, "You are my subordinate. You don't need to care about the past, that's long since over."
Thomas nods in agreement, staring into the other's eye. Where his words are sharp and sometimes come off as uncaring, his eyes never tell such lies.
He knows the look in Flux's eyes, a little too well, one that even reflects his own.
He's trying to convince himself with those words, because only Thomas, can really see that silver of guilt he hides inside.
He still cares for Saps, in his own way.
And it seems like Flux cannot accept that fact, choosing to ignore and run from his feelings as usual.
Thomas sighs.
"Come on, let's get you into armor." Thomas cuts through the tension, and watches as Flux splutters something along the lines of "I'm not incompetent that I cannot put it on myself!"
Thomas just smiles, putting his armor on as well, turning his gaze to the forest and the trail Saps left behind.
Saps was easier to find than they expected it to be, with him barreling through bushes and decimating every tree on his path.
"That's enough logs for a luxury ship, with the way you're committing deforestation in here." Flux starts his usual spiels.
"Flux," Saps turns around, "you're awake."
Sweat crawls through Thomas' back as a chill buzzes through his entire being. He's suddenly vividly reminded of the fact that, just a few moments prior, this was the man he witnessed point a sword against Flux's throat.
His stare is dangerous. Deadly.
His eyes almost reminiscent of a void, to be lost in, trapped and held captive for eternity. He feels as if he's being sucked in that vacuum of nothingness, to be completely trapped in its mercy.
It's beautiful. Thomas thinks. He wouldn't mind being consumed by that darkness.
He can vaguely see Flux step back beside him, probably being reminded of the same thing.
"You've got a bit of drool over there. Had a nice sleep?" Saps teases, easing the atmosphere.
Sometimes, it's confusing, how Saps could act as if nothing has happened.
Don't you feel it? The crushing pain of betrayal? The past that weighs so heavy?
Thomas turns his gaze towards Saps' axe. A weapon and a tool like no other. Like the sword he pointed at Flux this morning.
Of course he feels that way. His mind whispers.
That's why Saps couldn't stain his hands with their blood.
That would break him more than their betrayal. More than the fate that awaits him in the Commonwealth's court.
Thomas couldn't help but wonder, How much can he bear until he breaks that limit and kills them in cold blood?
Thomas shivers at the possibility of such a thing happening, fearing for Flux's life more than his own.
"Thomas, make yourself look presentable." Thomas hears Flux's voice through the haze. He vaguely registers hands in his hair, helping him fix the rat's nest he forgot to attend to this morning.
This morning… isn't over just yet, but Thomas feels as if he's aged a year with it alone.
"—Isn't that right, Thomas?" Flux's voice completely snaps him out of his trance this time.
"…Huh?" Thomas says, trying to recall what Flux said. Something about bolting to the forest. He nods, that must be the right response to it. "Right. Right."
"Still asleep?" Saps asks, gently tilting his head.
"Yeah, probably." Thomas scratches his neck. "Are you making a raft?"
"His stare is a bit too obvious, if you ask me." Flux says, almost in a whisper as Thomas carries the wooden logs to put them in one place. Flux sits, cross-legged on a big boulder on the ground.
Thomas looks at Saps, his jaw agape for quite a long time, now only closing it back, leaving to make his boat someplace else.
"Blatantly ogling you at broad daylight." Flux scoffs. "Does he know that we betrayed him and is sentencing him to death soon? What an idiot."
It would be a lie if Thomas denies seeing the way Saps keeps staring at him. He doesn't know when the stares started, and honestly, he thought that it would be gone after their betrayal. For some reason, its intensity only increased, the stares holding much more than simple affection.
More hungry, Thomas thinks. Those stares feels like Saps wants to eat him whole.
"You jealous?" Thomas teases Flux, who splutters in return.
"I'm not jealous! What do I have to be jealous for?" Flux's voice pitches up higher and higher, till he clears his throat in embarrassment.
"Defensive, are we?" Thomas couldn't help but add more fuel to the fire. It's just so fun to tease Flux, something that Saps wholeheartedly agrees with as well.
Flux doesn't find it as funny as they do, considering he's the target of said teasing.
"Thomas," Flux's glare darkens, "get back to work."
Thomas smiles and does as he says. As always.
As expected, Saps wasn't able to build a proper, working boat. It really isn't his forte at all, being a craftsman just isn't what Saps is meant to be. He's more suited for fighting, and heavy work such as wood chopping.
He's good with weapons, and that is exactly what Thomas' biggest nightmare is.
"Thomas, is your offer still up?" Saps sheepishly asks. Thomas had offered to share a boat earlier, since they were going to the same place anyway.
"Coincidentally, our boat can fit up to four people." Thomas smiles. As they say, keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.