Brik (Bronte x Terik)

## **Part One**

**Oralie sat on Kenric's wooden throne, tears in her eyes. She traced her finger over a small crack in the wood, sniffling softly. Terik came into the room. When he saw Oralie, he was about to leave her alone, but then sighed and strode forward.**

**Oralie looked up. "H-hi, Terik," she said quietly.**

**He knelt by her, biting his lips. He gently took her hand. "How are you doing?"**

**"I've been better," she mumbled.**

**It had been two weeks since Kenric had... left. Oralie tried so hard not to think about him, but she was even wearing his cape everywhere she went, and refused to take it off.**

**Terik gave her hand a soft squeeze. "Oralie..."**

**"I know, I'll take it off... I just need a couple more minutes..."**

**Terik started to get up, but she gripped his hand tighter. "C-could you just... stay here with me?"**

**"Of course." He knelt by her again.**

**Oralie sniffled. "I m-miss him so much," she whispered.**

**"I know you do. It'll be okay, I promise."**

**She didn't look too convinced, but after a few more moments, Terik was able to escort her back to her tower.**

## **Part Two**

**Terik froze. Then he smiled. His goblin bodyguard picked up the small package, a smile flitting to his lips. "It's from Councillor Noland."**

**"I see that." Terik too the package inside. He tore it open curiously, wondering what his friend had sent him. He opened it, and pulled out...**

**Pajamas.**

**He blushed, staring at them. Blue dinosaur pajamas.**

**His bodyguard, Olgic, snickered. "Are you gonna wear those?"**

**"No! Of course not!" Terik rolled his eyes and headed into his room. Sure enough, he slipped into the pajamas, hoping Olgic wouldn't come in and check on him.**

**He smiled softly, touching the soft fabric of the sleeves. He stared at the crystal ceiling, sighing. He eventually drifted off to sleep.**

**"Terik!? You wore the pajamas?" asked Noland, smiling broadly.**

**His face burned. "What? Who told you that?"**

**"Um, your bodyguard."**

**Terik shot a glare at Olgic, who shrugged, giving an unforgiving grin. He sighed heavily. "Yes, I did."**

**"Are they comfortable?"**

**"Yes."**

**Noland laughed loudly. He always laughed loudly. He couldn't exactly control it. Terik hated to admit it, but he loved the sound of his laugh. The echo bounced off the walls of the tall castle, disappearing above the immeasurably high ceiling. "Well! I'm glad you like it! I picked it out specially for you."**

**"They're... I really... I like them a lot." Terik realized his face was starting to go red.**

**Noland looked at him, eyebrows raised. "Well. That's good!"**

**Terik smiled, nodded, and walked away before he could continue to make a fool of himself.**

**Oralie glanced over at him, smiling slyly. "So cute," she mouthed.**

**He blushed, rolling his eyes.**

**Oralie was the only one he'd trusted enough to talk to about Noland. She teased him about it sometimes, and Terik used to tease her about liking Kenric. They were closer friends than people seemed to realize. Terik and Noland were also friends, but it was slowly getting more and more awkward the more Terik fell in love with him. Noland was mostly confused, wondering why Terik was acting so strange.**

**Terik stole another glance at Noland, sighing.**

**Noland caught him staring and smiled, offering a little wave.**

**Terik waved back. *Wow he's so cute...***

## **Part Three**

**Terik smiled at Bronte as he walked by. Bronte half-acknowledged him, mumbling a hello and continuing to walk briskly down the hall. Terik smiled to himself. Bronte was so serious all the time. Terik had only seen him smile a few times. He did have kind of a nice smile, though. It really helped soften the sharper features of his face-**

**Terik quickly tried to stop his thoughts from going any further, but the thought was already there.**

***Bronte was very good-looking.***

**Terik resisted the urge to curse.**

***Bronte curses alot-***

**Stop it. Bronte is just a friend. A good one, too. And he already liked Noland. You can't like two people... can you? He thought about it.**

**As if on cue, Noland turned into the hall. He spotted Terik and smiled. "Terik!" he called out. "I have to talk to you!"**

**Terik smiled as Noland came closer, but the smile on his face twisted into confusion and surprise when Noland took his arm and pulled him aside. His hair had been taken out of it's pony-tail and was down just past his shoulders. Noland gripped Terik's arms. "Listen, I don't know if you can tell or not, a-and I kind of hoped that you wouldn't... but I like you. And I don't mean like a-as a friend... but you're an amazing friend! I... I can't explain it..." Noland looked at the shocked expression on Terik's face. "Please, don't tell the rest of the Council!" he blurted.**

**Terik shook his head hard. "N-no, I won't... I just... I can't..."**

**"It's weird? You don't feel the same way--"**

**"No! I-I do!"**

**"What!?"**

**"I definitely feel the same way! I just can't believe it..."**

**"Really?"**

**"I've liked you for... k-kind of a while actually," Terik said quietly, still in disbelief.**

**Noland stepped away from him. "What... what are we going to do?" he whispered.**

**They looked at each other.**

**"We can't both step down from the Council. The Council needs us, especially now," Terik said.**

**"I know..."**

**Oralie was walking down the hall, humming to herself. "Hello, Bronte!"**

**"Hello." Bronte walked briskly past her.**

**Oralie wanted to say something to stop him. "Uh, how are you?"**

**He slowed down. "I'm fine..."**

**"Good! Good..."**

**They both went silent at the sound of two voices talking nearby. Oralie immediately recognized them as Noland and Terik. She made a face. Bronte tilted his head. "What are they talking about...?"**

**"Um..." Oralie didn't want Terik to get into trouble... but at the same time, she knew Bronte was smart enough to figure it out on his own. In fact, before Oralie could finish her sentence, Terik mentioned something about stepping down from the Council.**

**Bronte froze. "He's in love with Noland," he said. His jaw tightened a little.**

**Oralie sighed. "Please, can you not tell the rest of the Council until Terik and Noland are ready?"**

**Bronte rolled his eyes. "Why would I do something like that?"**

**Oralie didn't particularly know how to respond to that, so she stayed silent.**

**Bronte walked away.**

**Terik hugged Noland.**

**Noland smiled and hugged back. There was a beat of silence before he whispered, "Are you gonna keep those dinosaur pajamas?"**

**Terik's face reddened. "Of course." He released Noland from the hug.**

**Noland swept his hair back, giving Terik a wide smile. "I want to see what you look like while you're wearing them."**

**"Oh... well... it's k-kind of embarrassing."**

**"Don't be ridiculous. You look amazing no matter what."**

**"Thanks..."**

**Terik rung his hands over and over again, twisting his fingers so hard it had to have hurt. Bronte looked at him. "What do you want?"**

**"I... have to tell you something."**

**"Is it bad?"**

**"I'm not sure."**

**Bronte waited for him to continue. "So...?"**

**Terik looked away.**

**"Is it about you and Noland? I already know about that."**

**"No, it's- H-how did you know about that?"**

**"I overheard you talking to him."**

**"Oh... well... I guess that's... sort of what it's about, but..."**

**Bronte stared at him. "So...?"**

**"I... may have also... developed feelings... for another person..."**

**"Well, leave me out of it." Bronte turned to leave.**

**"I... can't leave you out of it... because... y-you're... you're the other person."**

## **Part Four**

**Bronte... was shocked. Beyond shocked. He looked at Terik, his expression unreadable. He blinked once. Then twice. "You... like me?"**

**"Yes." Terik's voice shook a little, as if he could hardly believe it himself.**

**"But... I thought..." He trailed off. Noland... Bronte looked down.**

**Terik was silent, shuffling his feet awkwardly.**

**"This is something you need to tell Noland, not me," Bronte said quickly.**

**"I know. I just don't know how to tell him..."**

**"Then why are you telling me!?" Bronte exclaimed. "Just talk to him! He's your boyfriend!"**

**Terik blushed. "I know."**

**Bronte sighed. "How serious is it?"**

**"Wh-what do you mean?"**

**"I mean how much do you... like me?"**

**Terik looked down, unable to meet his eyes. "A... lot."**

**"A lot," Bronte repeated carefully. "You have to tell Noland."**

**Terik blinked at the floor. "Haven't you ever liked someone before?"**

**"Of course I have," he snapped. "I'm just better at hiding how I feel. You, however, are absolutely hopeless."**

**Terik didn't say anything. But he looked like he was smiling a little. He was blushing. Bronte hated to admit it, but Terik was... very good-looking. Bronte clenched his jaw, fighting back the urge to curse, and grabbed Terik, pulling him forward and hugging him.**

**Terik, shocked, slowly hugged back.**

**Bronte felt heat rising to his cheeks. *\*\*\*\*.***

**Terik gently pulled away after a few moments. Their eyes locked.**

**Bronte continued to fight back the many profane words that were rushing through his mind as Terik moved just a little closer--**

**The door suddenly flew open. Terik jumped away from Bronte, his eyes wide.**

**Clarette was standing there, jaw dropped. "Bronte? What the heck is happening in here?"**

**Bronte stepped back. "Nothing. We're just talking."**

**While Bronte was able to hold himself together, Terik looked like a nervous wreck, blushing wildly and fidgeting.**

**"You were standing awfully close to each other," Clarette noted.**

**"Yes... well..." He stammered for an explanation, looking over at Terik.**

**Clarette stepped back. "I... won't tell the rest of the Council," she promised.**

**"Of course not. Because there's nothing to tell them," Bronte said stiffly.**

**She snorted. "Okay... I'll just... go." She quickly rushed out of Bronte's tower.**

**There was a long silence.**

**"So," Terik began softly. "What now?"**

**"I don't know," he grumbled.**

**There was another long silence.**

**Terik reached for Bronte's hand.**

**Bronte flinched as their fingers twined together. He didn't move away, but he didn't dare meet Terik's eyes, either.**

**Terik leaned a little closer... then a little closer... until Bronte was forced to look at him.**

**His eyes went wide as their lips met.**

**He still didn't pull away. He couldn't, even if he wanted to.**

**The kiss lasted for longer than it should have before Terik pulled away.**

**Their eyes locked again.**

**Bronte suddenly stepped back, cursing. "Terik, you have a boyfriend!"**

**For a moment, Terik just stared at him, shocked. His expression went from shock, to horror, to guilt, and then he burst into tears.**

**Bronte took another step away from him, needing distance. He *really* didn't want Terik to cry, and really wanted to calm him down somehow, but was also still in shock after what had just happened. *No one can know this happened. I am so screwed, aren't I? I kissed someone. I kissed Terik. I kissed Terik and I didn't pull away. What the \*\*\*\* is happening to me... I'm a Councillor! This isn't happening. It just isn't. It's simply* not *possible.***

**But it did happen.**

**"Terik, please. You have to control yourself."**

**Terik wiped his eyes. "I'm a horrible boyfriend..."**

**Bronte wasn't really sure what to say to that. "Just... take deep breaths or something." Bronte looked away.**

**Or something.**

## **Part 4**

**Terik took a few shaky breaths, covering his face with his hands.**

**Bronte sighed heavily, listening to Terik sniffle softly. "Terik... we have to make sure no one finds out about this. And you have to talk to Noland."**

**"I suppose you're right," Terik whispered, looking away.**

**There was a short silence before Terik smiled a little. "You kissed back."**

**Bronte felt himself blush. "That's... beside the point."**

**Terik sat down, sighing. "I hate feeling this way."**

**"Feeling what way?" Bronte asked, even though he knew exactly what feeling Terik was talking about.**

**"In love!" Terik blurted. "With you! I just... this shouldn't be happening. But at the same time, I... the kiss..."**

**"But Noland--"**

**"I know! I-I know... That's why I don't like feeling this way. But..." He looked at Bronte expectantly. "You kissed *back,* so th-that must mean you feel the same way... right?"**

**Bronte was flustered. He wasn't sure *what* he was feeling right now. Everything just felt so... messy. And overwhelming. "Can... can we talk about this later?" Bronte said suddenly. "Or never. Or maybe just never do that again." He regretted saying it immediately when he saw the hurt look on Terik's face.**

**Terik blinked a few times. "Do what? Kiss you?" When Bronte didn't say anything, he stood. "Fine, then," he agreed quietly. "We'll talk about it later. Or never." He briskly walked out, slamming the  door behind him.**

**Bronte was left in shocked silence.**

***What the \*\*\*\* is happening to me?***

**Love.**

***No.***

**He was in love.**

***No... I can't be... that's insane.***

**They didn't talk to each other for a few days after that. Bronte could only sit back and watch as Noland and Terik were slowly becoming more open about their relationship. The rest of the Council was well aware that they were thinking about resigning. Even as this was happening, Bronte often caught Terik staring at him. And Bronte hated it. Because he would just stare back. He couldn't help himself. There were only a couple of people who caught these stares. Clarette and Oralie. Oralie would give Bronte this *look*, and Clarette would just roll her eyes. Bronte wanted to scream at him to stop staring, but yet he said nothing. He didn't want to draw attention to them.**

**Bronte sighed, catching Terik staring at him for the third time that day. Bronte blinked and Terik quickly looked away, blushing.**

***Why is he* staring *at me like that? I know he likes me, but it's ridiculous. I feel ridiculous. And why the heck do I stare back at him? All I have to do is look away. It shouldn't be that hard. Just* stop looking. *Why does he even love me?***

**He wasn't used to being stared at like this. He found himself staring back. Was he allowed to look at someone like that? It felt so wrong... But he didn't stop. He kept staring. At his hair. His jawline. At his eyes. At his--**

***Gah, stop it!***

**"Bronte?"**

**"Ah!" Bronte whirled around at the sound of Clarette's voice. "What do you want?"**

**"Nothing... I'm just making sure you're not so focused on Terik that the world around you is still audible."**

**Bronte's jaw clenched slightly. "I wasn't... *focused* on him..."**

**Clarette half-smiled. "Yeah... sure."**

**"Oh, shut up. I was just... thinking. And looking at nothing."**

**"Are you saying Terik is *nothing*?"**

**"No," he said quickly. "He's... he's definitely something."**

**Clarette gave him a look.**

**"You know what I meant," Bronte grumbled, the tips of his ancient ears reddening.**

**"Uh-huh. I know exactly what you meant."**

**"I... I hate you."**

**"I know. You hate everyone," she stated, then quickly added, "except Terik," under her breath.**

**Bronte shook his head and walked away.**

**"Wait, Bronte--"**

**"What!?" he snapped loudly, spinning around to face her again.**

**Everyone turned and looked at them. Clarette stepped back. "I... n-never mind," she whispered.**

**Terik watched, eyes wide.**

**Bronte caught Terik's eyes and quickly hurried away.**

**Terik froze up for a moment before rushing after him. "Bronte, wait!"**

**After they had both left, everyone looked at each other nervously. "Wonder what that was all about," Noland mumbled awkwardly.**

**Oralie and Clarette looked away.**

## **Part 5**

**"Bronte, wait!"**

**That was Terik's voice behind him. Bronte slowed slightly, but didn't stop, allowing Terik to catch up to him. Terik fell into step next to him. "Bronte, what's wrong?"**

**Bronte scoffed. "What do you think?"**

**"Bronte, we should talk about it."**

**"There's nothing to talk about," Bronte muttered stubbornly, walking a little faster.**

**Terik caught up to him again. "I have to know if you feel the same way, Bronte."**

**"What? I-I don't know, Terik!" Why would he ask something like that? And why would Terik care?**

**"You don't know," Terik repeated.**

**"You should be with Noland right now." *Instead of following me around like a lost puppy.***

**"Bronte, this is serious. And this is something that's going on between us, not him."**

**"You still haven't told him, have you?"**

**"Well... no. But I'm going to. Eventually."**

**Bronte sighed. "You're never gonna tell him, are you?"**

**"I don't know... not until I know how you feel."**

**Jeez, why was he so obsessed with Bronte's feelings? "I don't know how I feel, Terik! Just... can we talk about this later?"**

**"You said that three days ago. I'm not waiting another three days to talk to you. You have to tell him eventually!"**

**"Then I will. Eventually."**

**Terik's jaw tightened slightly. "You're making this way more difficult than it has to be."**

**"That's because this is really difficult for me, Terik, you have no idea! I've never done anything like this! This! This is crazy!"**

**"I kissed Noland yesterday."**

**Bronte's jaw clenched. "Good for you."**

**"It didn't feel *right*, though," Terik continued.**

**"Terik, I... I don't know what you want me to say."**

**"I just want you to give me a straight answer!"**

**"I don't have a straight answer!"**

**Terik closed his eyes. "Okay," he said quietly. "When do you think you will have a straight answer?"**

**"I. Don't know."**

**"Fine." Terik sighed. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to pressure you. "**

**Bronte looked away. "It's fine," he said stiffly. This was no doubt one of the most uncomfortable things he'd ever been through.**

**There was a short silence before Terik blurted, "I have to leave Noland."**

**Bronte looked at him, shocked. "What? No, Terik, you can't do that..."**

**"I can't be with him while I have feelings for someone else."**

**Bronte didn't know what to say to that. "Well. I..."**

**"You don't have to say anything."**

**But Bronte wanted to say something, There had to be something, anything...**

**Terik walked away.**

## **Part 6**

**It continued to be awkward between them, especially after Noland and Terik broke up. Terik would try to visit him, but Bronte would push him away. One day, Terik showed up at his castle, pounding on the door, and he would not go away until Terik answered it. Bronte stormed to the door and ripped it open. "What!? What do you want from me, Terik!?"**

**Terik looked at him. "I don't want anything. I came to tell you something."**

**"You could've hailed me," he grumbled, looking down.**

**"No." Terik inhaled. "Look at me, Bronte."**

**"Why?"**

**"Just look at me!"**

**Bronte was trembling. That was the last thing he wanted to do right now, but he slowly met Terik's deep blue eyes. There was a short silence. Bronte quietly noted how there were flecks of green in his eyes. Terik smiled. His smile was shaky. "I love you."**

**Bronte tried to pull away, but Terik grabbed his hands. "Bronte, I love you."**

**"I heard you," Bronte's voice cracked.**

**Terik studied him for a moment. "For some reason, I get this weird feeling that you don't believe me."**

**He didn't. It was nearly impossible to believe that someone like Terik could love him. "I don't," he said quietly.**

**"Why not?"**

**Bronte was desperately trying not to get emotional, but he also didn't want to break the eye contact he had with Terik. He cleared his throat, but his voice still shook as he said, "You're... intelligent, funny, beautiful... and just... perfect."**

**Terik laughed, moving back slightly. "*I'm* perfect? Compared to the clean, precise, heart-throbbingly handsome person *you* are? And you're way more intelligent than me!"**

**Bronte flinched. He didn't know what to say to that, so he just looked down.**

**Terik frowned. "Bronte, I really do love you."**

**Bronte was trembling. "Okay..." he said slowly.**

**Terik tried to take his hand, but Bronte pulled away. "We're Councillors, Terik."**

**"We'll step down!"**

**"The world's only Descryer and Inflictor probably shouldn't step down from the Council."**

**Terik hesitated. "I... I hate it when you're right. But we could..." He trailed off and looked at Bronte.**

**Bronte bit down hard on his lip. "What?"**

**"I mean, no one has to find out, right?"**

**"Are you suggesting-- Terik, no way. No. We'll get caught. And even if we don't get caught, I... I can't."**

**"Bronte--"**

**"No. D-don't." Bronte knew that Terik could probably easily convince him to change his mind.**

**Terik looked at him. "Please?"**

***No. Frick. Stop it.* He was adorable.**

**Terik took his hand. This time, Bronte didn't pull away. "I love you," Terik whispered.**

**"I." Bronte looked absolutely flustered, his face red, not knowing what to say. *Say it back, you stupid elf. Tell him that you love him, too.* But he didn't. He just stared at their entwined hands. "Terik, I. I can't."**

**Terik's face fell. He let go of Bronte's hand.**

**Bronte inhaled sharply. "Terik, I-I'm sorry..."**

**Terik smiled softly. "It's fine, Bronte. I understand."**

**Of course he does. Of course he has to be so nice and understanding about it. Bronte felt his eyes start burning with tears. He swallowed hard. *I love you, too, Terik. Just say it. I love you.* "I..."**

**Terik noticed the tears in his eyes. His shaky smile quickly slipped from his face. "Bronte...? Are you--"**

**"I'm fine," Bronte grumbled, turning away from him.**

**There was a beat of silence before he heard Terik whisper, "You know, it's okay if you're not fine."**

**Bronte stared at him for a moment, trying to hold a blank stare, but right when they made eye-contact, Bronte's composure crumpled, and he burst into tears.**

**Terik gasped. "Bronte!" He quickly wrapped his arms around him.**

**Bronte buried himself in his arms, unable to hold any tears back anymore. It felt strange to cry. It had been a while, maybe even years, since he had last cried. All the emotion just came pouring out of him, and, for the first time, Bronte didn't care. He felt... he felt something while he was clinging to Terik. *Safe*. He felt safe. It was a strange feeling. Safety. Terik cared about him. He stopped clinging to Terik. He realized he didn't need to hold on anymore. He just needed to be held. And Terik... Terik held him.**

**Bronte had long since stopped crying, but he stayed nestled against Terik's chest, scared that if he broke the moment, this would never happen again.**

**Bronte felt Terik's lips press against his forehead. Bronte didn't move. Terik smiled. "I love you."**

**There was five seconds of silence. "I love you, too."**

**That was all Terik needed. And it was everything Bronte needed.**

## **Part 7**

**Terik jolted awake to the sound of a snore. He pried his eyes open to a searing light that was seeping through the window. It took him a moment to process where he was. Bronte's tower. Bronte's house. Sitting on the couch. It took him another moment to notice Bronte, snoring on his lap. He smiled. And yet another moment passed before he realized that he was a Councillor, and they were very late. Emery would be wondering where they were. Terik's tired eyes snapped awake. "Bronte!" He gently shook him. "Bronte, we're going to be late!!"**

**"Wh... what?" Bronte sat up groggily. "Late?"**

**"We have a Council meeting! Emery's going to ask where we've been!"**

**Bronte cursed, shaking himself awake. "I've never been late for a meeting before," he grumbled.**

**"I know! What do we tell Emery?"**

**Bronte hesitated. What *were* they going to tell Emery? "I..."**

**"Crap, Bronte, I'm going to need to borrow some clothes."**

**Borrow his clothes? Oh jeez, they'd both slept in yesterday's clothes. Bronte rubbed his eyes. "O-of course."**

**Bronte waited outside as Terik got dressed, tapping his foot impatiently. What was taking him so long?**

**Terik stuck his head out of the door. He looked like he was trying not to laugh. "B-Bronte..."**

**"What?"**

**Terik cleared his throat and said softly, "The pants are too short."**

**He stepped out. Indeed, the pants were too short for Terik, exposing half of his calves. Bronte cursed at him. "It's not my fault you're so tall," he grumbled.**

**Terik giggled. "Uh, I think the problem is that you're..."**

**"Don't you dare."**

**"... shorter than me?"**

**Bronte scowled as Terik giggled. "I'm not *that* short!"**

**"Mhm."**

**"Don't *mhm* me, I am not short!"**

**Terik stood next to him. Bronte looked up at him. "Mhm."**

**Bronte scowled again. He cursed at Terik and started to walk away.**

**"Aw, come on, I was only teasing!"**

**Bronte sighed.**

**Terik caught up with him, grabbing his hand. "Hold on! Jeez, you walk really fast."**

**Bronte's face reddened. It felt strange to be holding his hand. Walking to a Council meeting together. It was surreal. "Well, if you want to keep holding my hand, you'll have to keep up."**

**Terik smiled. When they got close enough to the meeting place (I forgot what the Councillor castle is called, so I'm just gonna call it the meeting place), Terik let go of his hand. "Well. What are we gonna tell him?"**

**"I don't know," Bronte mumbled.**

**Terik sighed. "Well, before we go inside..." Terik took his hands and kissed him on the lips.**

**Bronte, surprised, almost pulled away. But he didn't.**

**When Terik pulled away, Bronte looked dazed.**

**"Wh-what was that for?"**

**"Just because I love you." He winked.**

**Bronte looked at him, flustered.**

**Terik smiled. "You're so cute."**

**"I am not c-cute."**

**"Yes, you are. Now, we have to go inside. Wouldn't want to get in trouble, right?"**

**Bronte stared at him. He smirked. "I guess not."**

**Terik grabbed the handle of the door and threw it open dramatically. All nine of the other Councillors were staring at him. Wait, nine? Terik looked at Noland's empty throne. "Where's Noland?"**

**"Um, where were you guys?" Emery demanded.**

**"We were... we overslept."**

**"Both of you? Bronte's never *overslept* before, how do you expect me to believe that?"**

**Bronte's mouth went dry. "Well, I did. I overslept. For your information, it has been a rough past few days for me, and I needed it."**

**Emery nodded. Obviously, no more questions would be asked about that.**

**Terik smiled. Bronte gave him a side-ways glance.**

**"Now, about Noland?" Terik pressed.**

**"Well, we're not sure. Oralie said she went and checked all of your towers to see if you were there, and she said she didn't find any of you. She checked Noland's first, and he wasn't there. Then she checked yours, and you weren't there, either, and finally she checked Bronte's, and apparently he was also missing."**

**Terik gulped. Oralie had lied to Emery. She probably saw them together sleeping, and didn't want to wake them up. "So, where *were* you if you weren't in your towers? Where did you go last night?" Emery questioned.**

**Terik scrambled to come up with something. "We were in the at the Council library this morning nd lost track of time."**

**"I... thought you'd over-slept?"**

**"Oh. We... we did."**

**"So, even though you over-slept, you still went to the library rather than coming here?"**

**"We were unaware of how late it was at the time," Bronte jumped in, saving Terik from having to answer.**

**Emery raised an eyebrow. "Ora, check if they're lying."**

**Oralie nodded and went over to them, taking their hands. After s short silence, she nodded and said, "They're telling the truth."**

**"Thank you," Terik whispered.**

**Ora gave him a side-ways glance. Bronte closed his eyes.**

**"Alright, now that that's taken care of, our first order of business is the Queen Hylda's suggestion to revise the peace treaty."**

**After a few treaty revisions had been discussed, Terik found himself staring in Bronte's direction. When the meeting was adjourned, Terik was tasked with researching... something. He didn't remember. Bronte caught him staring and his face went red. He looked down. Clarette noticed and rolled her eyes. Ora pulled Terik aside. "You were with Bronte last night," she quietly pointed out.**

**"I know."**

**She gave him a look.**

**"I-... i-it wasn't planned. We just fell asleep."**

**She snorted. "Yeah, snuggled in each other's arms."**

**Terik stammered for a moment.**

**"You know what happens if you get caught, Terik."**

**"I know..."**

**"Both of you will be forced to resign."**

**"Like you're one to talk! What about you and Kenric?"**

**Oralie stared at him.**

**Terik winced. "Ora, I... I didn't mean..."**

**"If you haven't noticed, he isn't around anymore. Just be careful, Terik."**

**Terik nodded slowly. "I... I'm sorry."**

**"It's okay."**

## **Part 8**

### **~time skip~**

**Bronte glared at Terik. He was so bad at keeping secrets... the way he kept looking over at him. Bronte didn't really help, because he would always stare back, but still. It was ridiculous.**

**"Terik," Bronte whispered when he came over and sat next to him, "you have to stop."**

**"Stop what?"**

**"Staring at me!"**

**Terik's face reddened slightly. "I... s-sorry."**

**"If you keep doing that, people are going to start to notice, and we don't want another Oralie and Kenric dilemma on our hands, especially if I'm a part of it."**

**Terik sighed. "I'm not very good at hiding how I feel."**

**"I know." Bronte stood up and moved to the opposite side of the room as him.**

**Terik looked down.**

**Later, as Terik was sitting in the Council library, reading some important scroll that I won't specify for now, Clarette rushed in. "Terik!!"**

**Terik quickly set the scroll down when he saw the troubled look on Clarette's face. "What? What's wrong?"**

**"It's... it's Bronte."**

**"What! What happened to Bronte!? Is he okay!?"**

**"I... his mind broke... we don't know why, but E-Emery seems to think it was because of guilt."**

**Terik blinked. "His mind... broke?"**

**She had tears in her eyes. "He was acting strange, and then he collapsed... and Emery entered his mind to see what was wrong..."**

**Terik shook his head hard and rushed past her.**

**When Terik got back to the Tribunal Hall, Bronte was sitting there, on the floor. He saw Terik, and his eyes kind of lit up, but he stayed on the floor. "Terik?"**

**Terik froze.**

**Bronte was trembling badly. He smiled at Terik for a moment before staring off into the distance. Terik gripped his shoulders. "Bronte, look at me."**

**Bronte looked at him, but it seemed like he was looking through him. He laughed softly and muttered something under his breath.**

**"Bronte, d-don't do this to me... p-please..."**

**Bronte didn't respond, he just stared right through him.**

## **Part 10**

**Terik pulled Bronte into his arms, holding him. He stayed there on the ground, holding Bronte for a little over an hour before Bronte suddenly let out an ear-splitting scream. Emery tried to get Terik to stand up and move away from Bronte, but he refused. After a while, the screaming stopped. There were tears running down Terik's face. Bronte groaned.**

**Emery returned shortly. "Terik?" he whispered.**

**"No," Terik said quietly. "He'll be okay, Emery."**

**Bronte snuggled against Terik, mumbling something incomprehensible.**

**Terik choked back tears.**

**"Terik please, we have to get him in a bed. It's been three hours."**

**"But-"**

**"This is ridiculous. He's not getting any better, Terik. And giving him a hug isn't going to fix everything."**

**Terik looked up at Emery. "It might."**

**Emery sighed. "You're in love with him, aren't you?"**

**Terik didn't say anything.**

**Emery frowned. "Are you going to resign?"**

**"I don't know," Terik said softly. "But please don't tell the rest of the Council."**

**"I won't," Emery promised quietly.**

**Terik looked back at Bronte. "This is my fault."**

**"Terik, don't say that..."**

**Terik shook his head, staring at Bronte's closed eyes.**

**"Come on. He needs to see a physician."**

**Terik hesitated, then nodded. "You're right..." He gently shook Bronte awake.**

**Bronte's eyes fluttered open. He stared right through Terik. He blinked, then blinked again, his eyes slowly focusing.**

**Terik furrowed his eyebrows. "Bronte?"**

**Bronte blinked again."Wh..." He scrambled away from Terik. "What the \*\*\*\* happened?"**

**Terik looked ready to burst into tears. "You're sanity nearly shattered."**

**"Wh-what?" Bronte spluttered.**

**Terik kind of just wanted to hold Bronte again. He looked down. "And Emery... Emery knows..."**

**"What!" Bronte shot him a glare, then looked at Emery.**

**Emery bit back a slight smile. "I'm not going to tell anyone, Bronte."**

**Bronte breathed. "You're not?"**

**"No. I'm... just glad you're okay..." Emery glanced back and forth between the two of them. "I'll leave you two alone for a moment." He walked away.**

**Terik pulled Bronte forward and hugged him.**

**Bronte hesitated.**

**"I sat here on the floor holding your limp body and listening to you scream in agony for hours, you better \*\*\*\*\*\*\* hug me back, Bronte."**

**Bronte, surprised, hugged back. "You... what?"**

**"I sat here, and I held you for hours!" Terik was trembling. "I thought I lost you! I thought... I thought... I'm s-so sorry, Tay, I-I really am..."**

**"What? Sorry for... oh... oh, no, Terik, that wan't your fault!"**

**Terik sniffled. "Yes, it is."**

**"Stop it. We don't need you shattering, too."**

**Terik kept hugging him. He sniffled softly. "Who's fault was it, then?"**

**Bronte pulled out of the hug and looked at Terik. "Sometimes, it's no one's fault."**

**Terik didn't quite meet his eyes. "But I was the one who-"**

**Bronte gripped his shoulders. "Terik, listen to me. All you did was fall in love." He bit down on his lip. "And... I did, too... there's nothing wrong with that, okay?"**

**Terik nodded, looking at him.**

**Bronte sighed.**

**Terik furrowed his eyebrows. "I'm just so glad you're okay..."**

**Bronte frowned as Terik moved closer. "Terik, not now-"**

**"Yes, now. You almost died." He kissed Bronte.**

**He felt the tips of his ears redden as he kissed back.**

**Terik smiled a little, pulling away. "And you always kiss back."**

**Bronte grumbled something under his breath.**

And they lived happily ever after, the end!