“Has the seed the Reaper’s planted yielded fruit yet?”

  Mara Tia glanced over her shoulder, her dark eyes meeting silver with a smile.

  “Really, Velius, I tend to find you’re the more patient administrator. Surely you know we’ve barely watered the soil.”

  “It’s not hard to be considered patient when you're around.”

  “Old bad habits die hard,” Mara Tia laughed as she walked to her desk and offered a chair. “But then again, death is our purview. You didn’t truly come all the way here to check on my little project, did you?”

  “I did. There was a meeting today.”

  “A meeting?”

  “With Shako.”

  “Builder’s already throwing a tantrum, is he?”

  “Mara, you know better than to speak like that.” Velius chided, giving the look that she’d witnessed many times over the years. One that had raised her hackles at iron, but now she knew it for what it was. Concern.

  “I’m kept for my candor, as you are for your compassion.”

  “You may not feel that sentiment towards me in a moment. I must inform you, this is our… your only chance to get this right.”

  “When has this ever been my only chance? The loop—”

  “A deal was struck.”

  “You’ve got to be shitting me, right?! Please tell me this is some humorless joke, made by two diamond rankers older than the concept.”

  “It’s going that well, I take it?”

  “I’ve got it completely under—"

  -Warning: Administrator Thadwick Mercer has been disconnected for over 72 hours. Health Check Protocol initiated. -

  “Oh, for fucks sake.”

  “Well, I shall be leaving you to it then,” Velius said as he saw the notification appear above Mara Tia’s desk. “You know, I wonder if this is karma for when I was your—”

  “Velius, I swear by the gods of my world, you best leave my office now!”

  “I’m sorry to disappoint, but I’ve only got the one room left for the night.”

  “At least there’s a roof, we’ve been roughing it the last three days,” Dustin lamented to the innkeeper, who just glanced at him and his other mud-covered teammates with a look that warned them not to step on his carpet.

  “I thought the camping was fun,” Thad said, looking like he was about to fall asleep against Neil.

  “Well, you’re mana depleted, and can’t be trusted to make good decisions,” Neil said, looking far too pleased to be the noble’s preferred resting spot, despite his snark.

  “I’m not sure he makes good decisions when he’s not,” Dustin said as he shook his head at the duo. He’d been stuck watching Neil hopelessly pine the entire contract. He’d hoped that Thad would pick up on it, but no, the guy was just as oblivious as always. So instead, he was forced to watch days of longing glances and lingering touches from the elf, while he was missing Phoebe.

  It wasn’t fair!

  He was about ready to tell Thad about Neil’s affection himself to save him the misery. But he knew better… wanted better for his friends. Besides, he had an ongoing bet, and despite it being only one win, he wasn’t about to lose his winning streak.

  Still, it would take a miracle for Neil to admit his feelings. He’d been present for the years of the guy hopelessly being hung up on Cassandra, and this crush was by far worse.

  “Well, the Bathhouse is around back. When you're cleaned up, I’ll give you the key,” the innkeeper said with a side eye at the delta muck still covering the men. “I used to think all adventurers kept crystal wash on them, but I’m finding that to be less and less the case.”

  “There’s been a shortage recently,” Neil sighed.

  “Yeah, a shortage, due to a shorty,” Dustin grumbled as he turned to leave.

  “Don’t let Asano hear you say that,” Thad admonished, only to stop a concerned look coming onto his features as he watched the rest of the team walk through the inn’s door. “Wait?! When he said bathhouse, does that mean public baths!?”

  Thad hesitated undressing. Was he ready for a situation like this?

  Well, it wasn’t like this was his first time being nude in public. There were also memories of bathhouses in the Old City he’d integrated. And he’d seen Neil shirtless plenty, but then again, he hadn’t really… seen Neil like that.

  He needed to keep it together. Thadwick would’ve already been yelling at him about it… If he were present.

  Thad looked up, his brow furrowing at the warning triangle in the corner of his vision. Manual disconnection… but not from his side. It had been over three days.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Hey, Thadwick? Clippy?

  … Thadclip?

  No screens popped up. No angry paperclip yelling about the dumb nickname, telling him to quit pining over Davone, or how big an idiot he thought Thad was letting his mana get so low.

  It had been nice at first to have some quiet. But now, it was just lonely, not to mention worrying.

  It had been such a stupid argument.

  He’d apologized multiple times to no response… not that he had really said anything wrong, but still.

  “You going to get undressed or just keep staring into the void?”

  Thad snapped out of his thoughts only to immediately feel his brain try to short-circuit as he gazed at Neil, a towel wrapped around his waist, and nothing more.

  Fuck, he looked terrific. A total ten. Tan, tawny skin peppered in freckles from days of training in the sun. Perfectly sculpted body, always hidden behind robes. Wavey, auburn hair tied up and away, exposing his neck. Thank god for bathhouses and sold-out crystal wash.

  “Oh, um, of course! I’m just going to, um, finish changing…” Thad trailed off as he turned away, grateful for the aura control he had been forced to gain. At least the trauma with the goddess had been worth something.

  Ok, focus, shower, keep eyes to myself, and then just get out… no worries. Keep it quick, no reason to… linger, to—

  “When you're ready, I’ll help wash your back if you want.”

  My god, he’s going to destroy me.

  “Thad?”

  “Yep, sounds great, Neil, thanks. I’ll just meet you in there then,” Thad rambled, shooting finger guns at the elf, only to stop when he realized what he was doing. Thank god Clippy hadn’t witnessed that.

  Neil just quietly stared at him for a second before mirroring the finger gun motion back with a confused smile.

  And Thad had to admit he felt shot through the heart at that moment.

  How could this guy be so unintentionally cute?

  Neil heard Dustin let out a satisfied groan as he lowered himself into the water.

  “Gods, that’s good, I always forget how nice bathhouses are till I’m back in them.”

  “I guess it is more of an Old City custom,” Neil said as he rinsed himself off, the herbal-infused water feeling nice after days in the Delta air.

  “So, what were you two talking about?”

  “I don’t know what you're getting on about, Dusty?”

  “I swear, Neil, if you don’t make a move, I’m about to! And I’ve been told I’ve gotten quite good.”

  “You’re away from Phoebe for barely a week, and you’ve somehow lost your entire mind!”

  “I’ve been stuck watching you moon over the guy for three straight days; anyone would be driven to madness at this point. Pheebs would’ve already taken matters into her own hands.”

  “Well, it’s obvious not everyone can see my affection,” Neil said as he thought back to how Thad had just continued to act as if nothing had changed between them over the last week.

  Had the moment in the control room meant nothing?

  Had Cassandra talked to him?

  “You know what helps someone who’s oblivious, Neil? Confessing!”

  “It could ruin everything, Dustin.”

  “Well, at least you’d have your answer. Seriously, am I going to have to watch another eight years of you crushing over someone you’ve no intent of following through with?”

  “Well, I did offer to wash his back.”

  Dustin looked up at Neil with a sudden smirk.

  “Oh, really? Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

  “Well, I—”

  Both men stopped talking as Thad walked in, a towel fastened securely to his hips.

  “Damn, looking good, Thad!”

  “You think so, Dusty?” Thad said, glancing down for a second.

  “Yeah, training’s been generous to you, man… don’t you think so, Neil?”

  Neil nodded silently, knowing words would betray him as he drank in the view.

  Thad had always been attractive, his lean athletic build complementing his striking features, but after two months of intensive training with the team, he’d truly come into his own, distractingly so.

  The subtle definition of his pecs, with the light dusting of chest hair. The way the muscles in his arms lightly flexed as he talked to Dustin, his hands gesturing with each word.

  How his abs looked, the trail of body hair disappearing into the towel that hung around his hips, swaying slightly as he walked.

  Neil watched as Thad went to rinse himself off, water washing down over his body as he lathered soap into his hair and rinsed it out.

  Neil stood, his heart pounding in his chest, his aura locked as far down as he could manage.

  “Still need a hand?”

  “If you’re willing,” Thad said, glancing up with a smile, water droplets clinging to him. Neil watched one bead trail down his throat.

  Oh gods, he was willing.

  Neil further tightened his aura as he worked the soap into a lather, his eyes focused on the nape of the man’s neck.

  Thad’s skin radiated warmth as Neil massaged the soap into the noble’s shoulders. The sudden touch elicited a slight gasp of surprise, which Thad gave a contrite smile for.

  It was emboldening, as Neil worked the soap further along Thad’s shoulders to the base of his neck.

  “God, that feels amazing. What were you trained in this or something?” Thad asked breathlessly, leaning his head forward with a satisfied hum.

  “No. But I’m good with my hands,” Neil replied, a zing running through him as he imagined what else he could be using his hands for if they were alone, if Thad reciprocated his feelings.

  Neil trailed the line of Thad’s spine to where symmetrical dimples lay right above the towel, his thumbs resting for a second on them, his fingers lightly gripping Thad’s waist only to release the moment Thad glanced back over his shoulder. Golden eyes, intense as the man, absently bit his lip for a second.

  Did the guy even realize how he looked right now?

  “I think I’ve got it from here, Neil,” Thad said, looking away before immediately grabbing the closest bucket of water and tipping it over himself.

  “Right, I’ll just—"

  “Wait,” Thad said, grabbing Neil’s wrist. His face looked a bit uncertain as he mulled over his words.

  Oh gods, what was he about to ask? Had he been sloppy with his aura? Had his body betrayed him?

  “Do you want me—”

  “What?”

  “Do you want me to get your back?”

  Neil felt his heart flutter at the thought of Thad’s hands tracing his body. Could he survive this?

  “I mean, it seems only fair,” Dustin answered for him with a cackle.

  And while he wanted to thank the defender, he was also lamenting that the guy was even here as he watched Thad stand and offer his seat to Neil with a smile.

  Thad didn’t even know what that smile did to him.

  Neil felt a shiver run through him as warm water was gently poured over him. And then he felt Thad’s hands touch his neck, and his eyes closed as the young man started to rub patterns into his shoulders, which he couldn’t help but lean into.

  “Didn’t realize you were so tense, Neil,” Thad laughed as his fingers worked further down his back, causing his whole body to tingle.

  “Anyone would be tense, working with you lot,” Neil quipped, trying to take his mind off the visuals it was being provided.

  “Well, maybe I should take some of that burden from you,” Thad said, pouring more water over Neil’s shoulders, before a hand came to rest at the base of his neck. A finger lightly playing with a loose lock of hair. “Want me to wash your hair too?”

  Neil couldn’t help but nod, his mind lost for words at the noble’s offer.

  It was probably wrong to enjoy this, to take advantage of Thad’s goodwill. But gods, did it feel divine.

  Thad tilted Neil’s head back, releasing his hair as warm water flowed over his temples. It felt magical as Thad hummed, working shampoo into the wavy locks. It reminded him of the first time Thad had braided his hair.

  Reflexively, he felt his breath hitch as fingers brushed against the shell of his ear, causing Thad to pause.

  “You ok?”

  “Of course,” Neil barely managed as he opened his eyes and caught sight of Thad studying him, a soft, relieved look appearing on the man’s face as he continued his task.

  Thad had to know what touching his ears like that meant, right?

  Nope, he most certainly did not. Neil thought, as he almost had to go into a meditative state to keep himself from letting out a moan as Thad's fingers trailed his ears again. Fuck, he’d need a moment to himself at this rate.

  How would he ever wash his hair again without thinking of this man?

  Onsen/ Hot Springs Episode and this chapter my wife referred to as "What's gayer? Being gay or whatever Thad and Neil have going on." (Could definitely see a fade to black scene built around this one.)

  "A Treatise on the Efficacy of Boiler Systems" by The_King_In_Yellow. It's a fun, cute fic, highly recommend you check it out for easy fluff.

  fan art time! And I'm pretty happy with how this one turned out.