Work Text:
Sebek and Jack had been secretly dating for a few weeks. It hadn’t quite been tow motnhs yet, but already, they were sneaking into each other’s dorms to make-out and cuddle (nothing more, because Sebek had at least a little decorum!).
Sebek had been scared about what would happen if someone found out about his relationship. He wasn’t worried about being found out for being… gay, but he was worried that people would take him less seriously if they knew he had a soft side. And though Jack was strong and could take care of himself, Sebek also worried that someone might try to harm Malleus by distracting Sebek with harm to Jack.
Jack wasn’t loud about his relationship, but didn’t seem to be hiding it. He walked closely to Sebek in the hallways and never tried to hide his smile when Sebek did something smile-worthy. Though, they didn’t kiss in public. Sometimes though, Jack was cheeky enough to steal a kiss from Sebek in an empty hallway or an empty bathroom…. And Sebek would be lying if he said those kisses always left him in a bit of a daze.
The night prior, Sebek had sneaked his way into Jack’s dorm in Savannaclaw. The action filled him with guilt for not being there with Waka-Sama through the night, but the thought of cuddling with his boyfriend was much more appealing.
Jack greets him through his window and taking his hand and pulling him into the already dark dorm room. Sebek is still dressed for school, but he brought a change of clothes. It would be wrong to wear his pajamas across the campus, those were for his bed only. Outside germs on those would ruin his sleep. Jack is already dressed for bed, in his comfortable thick cardigan and loose shirt and pants.
“Hey,” Jack says in his beautiful deep voice, “You get caught?”
“Of course not,” Sebek keeps his voice low, careful not to alert anyone else of his presence. Savannaclaw didn’t have many students this year, so Jack was lucky enough to get his own room. It was perfect for spending nights together. “As knight-”
“Don’t even start about Malleus,” Jack rolled his eyes, leaning into Sebek and stopping his rant with a kiss. Sebek can’t help but giggle a little, letting his hands slide up Jack’s arms and wrap around his neck.
“I wasn’t going to!” Sebek says when they pull away from the kiss. “Okay, maybe a little bit,” He gives Jack a sly smile.
Jack laughs a little, pulling away from Sebek and walking to his bed, dimly lit by a desk-lamp. “Go get changed, I have a good movie for us,” He pulls a laptop out from under his pillows, situating himself on the bed while Sebek, with a small bag over his shoulder, turned for the bathroom. Once changed, wearing his own comfy cardigan, he rushes to Jack’s bed, ready to snuggle up under his big strong arms and play with his fluffy tail, then to fall asleep while watching some random movie.
In a rush, Sebek forgets to put his uniform in his backpack, just throwing it onto the floor on top of Jack’s uniform.
Jack’s arm wraps around Sebek’s shoulder as he sets up the movie. Sebek grabs Jack’s tail, and the movie starts. Sebek finds his head leaning into Jack’s chest, resting on his gloriously large pectorals. The movie is about some short people and a ring, but Sebek finds himself unable to focus on it as he gets lulled further and further into sleep. With an arm and a blanket wrapped around him, Sebek falls asleep. He faintly remembers soft lips on his forehead.
When Sebek wakes up, there’s already sunlight streaming in from the window, pouring over the two’s faces. When the sun eventually wakes them, they shoot up in a panic. “My alarm!” Jack panics, finding his phone long stopped buzzing under his pillow.
Sebek practically falls on the floor trying to grab his phone from his bag, seeing several of his missed alarms and several texts from Lilia-Sama and Silver. “No! I’m going to be late!” Sebek turns to Jack, who’s equally as panicked and already digging around in his pile of laundry to get his uniform on. Sebek averts his eyes when Jack beings to undress, the other not really thinking about modesty and just his rush and panic. Sebek follows suit, grabbing his uniform from the laundry on the floor and rushing to the bathroom.
He dresses in record time, two minutes and fifteen seconds. He stumbles out of the bathroom still squeezing some gel onto his hands (he doesn’t think about how it’s Jack’s heavy duty kind compared to Sebek’s weaker type), when Jack pokes his head out of the bedroom door.
“The coast is clear,” Jack sighs, turning back to Sebek. “I guess we’re both going to be late… you want to go first?”
“This is a shame to my honor,” Sebek sighs, but he can’t be mad. It’s both their faults they missed their alarms. The movie was good, and the cuddling was even better, but they shouldn’t have rushed into it and forgot to set their alarms up. “Are you sure?” Sebek doesn’t want to get Jack in trouble for being late.
“Of course,” Jack pats Sebek’s shoulder. “Your attendance is more important than mine,” Jack pulls Sebek closer and they hug, Jack’s husky scent filling Sebek’s nose. The hug is quick and only last for a few seconds. “You go first,” Sebek nods and rushes out of the room, only looking for a moment when passing doors for anyone who might spot him.
He rushes through campus a little late, only seeing a few students, and the ones who notice him give him odd looks. He’s never been late before, and it’s humiliating. He’s already stained his reputation, and his wrinkles uniform and messy hair is probably making it look even worse.
His first class is mixed with all the first years, so Sebek decides to sit in between Ace and Epel, with Deuce on Ace’s other side and Yuu on Epel’s side with Grim in their lap. They all look at him weird. “I overslept!” He announces, “I failed, and forgot to ensure my alarm was set,” His face heats in shame, both for his lie and for the oversleeping bit.
Ace and Deuce share a look. Deuce opens his mouth to say something and Epel giggles to his side. Before Deuce speaks, the door opens again and Jack walks in, looking as beautifully rugged as he always does. Top button of his shirt undone, tee visible underneath. His tail gently flowing behind him, confidence radiating off him in ways Sebek would never be able to achieve.
Ace, Deuce, Epel, and Yuu gasp. Sebek doesn’t know why, too entranced by Jack making his way across the room to sit next to Yuu.
“You owe me fifty marks!” Epel shouts first, drawing the attention of the rest of the room. “Pay up!” His prim and proper face has dropped, only thing remaining a sly grin with bared teeth,
Deuce groans. “This is so unfair! It was an open secret! Why was I the one who had to bet against the rest of you?”
“What?” Sebek asks, “What was an ‘open secret’? And why are you gambling! That’s unbecoming!” In the lecture hall, everyone is looking at the group. Deuce reaches into his pocket, pulling out a few handfuls of marks and passing them to Epel.
“We should let them figure out themselves,” Yuu giggles.
“What are you talking about?” Jack asks, already ready for class with his notebook and pen at his desk. “I don’t know about any bet.”
Epel gives Ace some marks and Yuu some marks before sinking back into his chair with a grin on his face. “Yuu’s right. Let them find out on their own,”
“Find what out?” Sebek and Jack asks at the same time, one much more irritated than the other. “Tell me now!” Sebek demands. There are people whispering around them. Sebek hears his name whispered, and he feels a bolt of fear trickling up his spine. He hated when people talked about him, especially when he was right there. Foolish humans, they didn’t understand it was better to face conflict head on.
Before Sebek can wallow further, Professor Trein walks into the room, cat in his arms. He stops by the row with their little group. Everyone is silent.
“Zigvolt, Howl, correct your dorm-bands,” That’s all he says, and Sebek looks down to his arm.
He almost screams, but when his mouth falls open, the only thing that comes out is a tiny empty squeak. On his arm, bright yellow for everyone to see, is the Savannaclaw symbol. He look over to Jack, who’s face is equally flushed, who’s quickly untying his bright green band.
Sebek can barely move, frozen in embarrassment. And every single first year had seen it! This was the most humiliating thing he’d ever experienced! And once he vomited in front of Waka-Sama!
He doesn’t notice when Epel and Jack switch seats, and barely register the hand on his arm, untying and tying the arm bands.
He’s so full of shame, he doesn’t know how to even breathe! How could he let something like that slip through the cracks, and for so long? Long enough that by now, the entire school will no that at least something is happening between Sebek and Jack. He’s terrified. He’s not ashamed of Jack, no, he’s one of the best things in Sebek’s life… hes ashamed that maybe Waka-Sama will think he’s weak, or maybe others in school with laugh at him. His confidence is low enough already, trying to adjust to a human life after living as fae for so long, trying to adjust to people with sensitive ears and different morals. And now, he was being outed on top of that? By his own fault as well.
He comes back to reality when a thick and firm calloused hand wraps around Sebek’s. Sebek looks to his side, where Jack looks at him with softness that he rarely shows in public. Sebek huffs and looks away, but he grips Jack’s hand harder. With his free hand he grabs his study supplies, and readies himself for the lecture.