Chapter Text
I'd bottle the feelin' you give me
And shelve that stuff for years to come
'Cause, baby, when your arms are around me
I'd swear that I'm holding the sun
Fluixon was angry, more than angry; he was infuriated. He had kept perfectly controlled when walking Saps home; the image of his terrified eyes kept flickering into his mind from last night, he would rather die than see that face directed towards him.
The second Flux was out of range from Saps, he screamed, slamming his fists onto the nearest object, which happened to be a tree. He couldn’t stop, punch after punch, his hands starting to bleed, but he didn’t care. None of the leaders understood the dangers that lay right beneath their noses! They want to send aid to the enemy? Send them exactly what they need to plan an attack on Island Two? No. He wasn’t going to let that happen. He kept going, punching until his arms felt like lead, weighing him down. Panting and shaking, he wiped the blood off his hands with leaves scattered around the ground.
His fingers trembled as he pulled himself up against the splintered tree. It was a long walk between the meeting and Saparata’s home. It was well past midnight when he ventured back to Luminara, so he wasn’t surprised to see nobody on the streets. It was dark out, the moon slowly sinking, as Fluixon entered his home. He unlocked the door, heading straight for the kitchen. Flux knew he should immediately head to 3Below's office to report, but honestly, he didn’t care. Not right now, when he was still seething, the only thing that had dragged him back was pure determination and rage. He grabbed a glass from the cabinet, filled it with water, and poured it over the lotus flower he kept at the center of the island in his kitchen. The snow colored petals drank up the liquid, as it thrived in the water.
The other members of Luminara had definitely arrived home and reported everything that happened in the meeting to the president. He already knew he wasn’t going to be pleased. If only 3below would listen to him and his warnings, then he wouldn’t have to go behind his back.
Flux stood at the doorway and tried to compose himself. He plastered a smile onto his face and clenched his fists to hide the slight shake. He rapped on the door, and when he heard a call from inside, he stepped in, smoothing out his hair, trying to look more presentable.
3Below's office was down the hall, but the whole place was empty, so any sound was amplified. Flux stood in the doorway waiting to be acknowledged. 3Below’s office was covered in art. Some were from his own younger citizens, some professionally done,
“Sit.” 3Below gestured to the seat in front of him; he didn’t continue speaking until Flux had sat down.
“I’ve heard some interesting reports about the meeting.” 3Below placed his hands on the table and looked directly into Fluxion's eyes. “Care to explain?”
“I did what I believe is the best course of action for the safety of all Island Two.” Flux sat up straighter.
“Do you truly believe this? The others have already explained how you represented Luminara.” Fluixon could feel his anger bubbling under his skin, ready to burst. “I have already sent a message to the other leaders expressing Luminara’s support for sending aid to Island One. I have also explained our plan to build a bridge to eventually connect Island One with Island Two and offered to use it for trading.”
“Building this bridge is only going to lead us to our destruction! Island One will use that bridge and use it as a sword against us! We are giving Island One the supplies they need to start a full-scale invasion of Island Two. And you know which nation they will attack first? Luminara, because we are the easiest target! Directly connected, and open, completely unprepared for a fight!” Fluixon snarled.
“And as I have told you, sometimes peace comes at that risk. We cannot run like blind wolves towards violence at the slightest scent of danger.”
“It is better to be the hunter than the prey.” Fluixon snapped back.
“No. We are the sparrow. The resilience against the cruel world that’s only bent on war. We are the vision of a better future for all. The community and teamwork needed to create change.” 3Below stood up.
“You’re wrong.” Fluixon stood up, slamming his hands on the table, his voice deadly calm. The sparrow is the harbinger of death. And you’ve brought it directly overhead Luminara.”
“Fluixon. I have given you a chance. I let you represent Luminara at the Island Two meeting with the expectation that although you have different views, you would uphold Luminara’s beliefs, as you have sworn to do when you took up the position of being my second in command. You have proven to be untrustworthy, and I must ask you to step down.”
“You’re too naive to see beyond your delusions. Don’t come to me when Luminara falls.”
Briskly, Fluixon turns and slams the door.
Clenching his shaking hands into a fist, he strides the few blocks over to Thomas’s house.
BANG
BANG
BANG
…
BANG
BANG
BANG
“WOAH!” The door flew open, revealing a tall man with saggy brunette hair. “Who the hell- oh, it’s you.”
“Of course it's me, you cow-headed oaf. Are you gonna let me in-”
“Not until you say the magic word!” Thomas stood obstructing the door, blocking all of Fluixon’s attempts at forced entry.
“Let me in!” Flux jabbed Thomas in the stomach, and as Thomas doubled back, he shoved his way through.
“Oi!”
Fluixon had already made himself at home, sitting on top of the kitchen counter.
“You know I was asleep, right? I didn’t need to be woken up by a human alarm today. What’s so important that it couldn’t wait till a reasonable time?”
“That old squid terminated me!”
“You already knew something like that would happen.” Thomas drawled.
“That doesn’t make me less mad.”
“Obviously. Look. Why don’t I go back to bed, and we can talk about this in the morning? You can take the couch, since I assume you aren't leaving." Thomas turned and started walking back to his bedroom.
“Stop, there's another thing.”
“Ugh, out with it!”
“There was one person who I believe will be very helpful with our recent project.”
Thomas froze and turned back around, now giving his full attention.
“Who?”
“I'll tell you tomorrow. I want to make sure no one overhears.”
“I doubt anyone would overhear our conversation, that's in my house, in the middle of the night, but I’m too tired to care. Good night.”
“Good night.”
Flux dug around in the basket by the couch. He knew where the spare blankets were due to barging in here a million times. Pulling out a blanket with small stars flecked around it like the galaxy, he lay down and finally went to sleep.
---
News spread quickly of Fluixon's demotion. Everyone else on Island Two soon found out about his demotion as well. Luminara was angry, to put it lightly. He couldn’t step outside Thomas’s home without being met with fevered whispers and pointing fingers.
Thomas didn’t care in the slightest. Neither did Fluixon. He knew that after planning to speak at the meeting, the aftermath wouldn’t go over well, but all his efforts weren’t for nothing.
“Where are we going?” Thomas asked as he trudged through the woods. They were miles away from Luminara now, and they were walking through a dense forest near tricolor.
“It's only like another half mile,” said Flux as he glanced down at his coordinates. “Actually, less than that.”
“We’ve been walking all day!” Thomas whined dramatically, dragging his feet behind him.
“We’re almost there!” Flux grumbled. Thomas had been complaining all day, and he was almost starting to wonder why he even brought him at all.
“What if she doesn’t even come?”
“Then we’ll burn that bridge when we get to it.”
“Don’t you mean cross the bridge, pea brain?”
“I meant what I said.”
Fluixon bushed branch from branch out of his way, occasionally letting one whip back and smack Thomas in the face, which was always met with an insult.
The meeting spot he had chosen had to be far away from any civilization, so as not to be overheard. Deep in the woods seemed like the perfect place.
“We’re here.”
“Finally!” Thomas wasted no time in finding the nearest knocked-down log to sit on.
Fluixon had filled Thomas in on all that had happened at the meeting. At a reasonable hour, according to Thomas. None of it had been too surprising as Fluixon had already planned for every outcome, and even if the outcome wasn’t overly in his favor, he would make do with the short straws he had drawn.
The war was inevitable. Island One was planning an uprising. The rumors of Island One uniting had been proven true, and the only explanation for such unity is revolution. The only thing that drove people was violence. Nothing is more powerful than an army angry at the same target.
And they had reason to be angry. Island One was suffering, with limited food, resources, and harsh environments. It was a stark comparison to Island Two.
“Did you bring any food?” Thomas asked. “I’m starving.”
Flux handed him an apple and ate one himself.
The sound of footsteps made both of them look up and watch as a figure emerged from the woods.
“Lady Seraphim!” Fluixon held out his hand in greeting. Thomas, who was beside him, stood up.
Seraphim’s elegant clothing looked extremely out of place compared to the muddy forest floor they were meeting on. Her long brown and grey cloak covered most of her body, concealing armor plates for extra protection. She looked like a royal warrior. Her short hair only fell to her shoulders, and her heterochromic eyes were like red and blue lasers.
“Pleasure to meet you.” They shook her hand.
“Thank you so much for meeting us here, especially this unconventional place…”
“I understand the need for privacy for this conversation,” Seraphim answered, adjusting her brown scarf, plucking off leaves.
“Perfect.” Flux clapped his hands together. “This is my right-hand man, Thomas5200.”
Seraphim nodded in his direction.
“I wanted to continue our previous conversation that we started at the meeting, but first, I would like you to swear that you will agree to any means necessary to achieve our goal. I cannot have disloyalty.”
“I swear it.”
“Good. Then here is our goal. Since the leaders of Island Two are blind to the dangers of Island One invading, this is our only hope. I have created this conspiracy with a limited number of members. It is very top secret, and I trust that you will not reveal any of our plans.”
“I can promise that I will not compromise anything.”
Fluixon nodded in agreement.
“Our current plans involve the death of Queen Jophiel.”
Fluixon and Thomas watched carefully for Seraphim’s reaction to this information. Seraphim had hardly reacted. Her eyes flickered with an unreadable emotion. She seemed as if she had already come to the same conclusion and accepted it.
“The death of Jophiel will cause chaos, which is what we want.”
“How do you plan on assassinating her?” was all Seraphim asked, stone-faced.
“That's where your role comes in. Since you are the closest to her, it will be the perfect opportunity to get her alone and cornered.”
“We go for walks together. Jophiel claims it helps her clear her head,” Seraphim added.
“That would be the perfect opportunity,” said Thomas.
“I will notify you when to do it through the intercoms.”
Seraphim looked down at her wrist, where her intercom lay innocently. “Is there anything else?”
“Are you prepared to kill Queen Jophiel?” asked Thomas, narrowing his eyes.
Seraphim’s closeness with the queen had been a factor of convenience and efficiency, but it also made her liable. If her attachment prevented her from taking her Queens life, the whole operation could go under.
“I have been thinking a lot lately about what you said at the meeting. Jophiel is too willing to lend a helping hand to those who could turn on us in a heartbeat. She does not listen to any of my concerns. My loyalty is to the well-being of my citizens in Tricolor, and if Queen Jophiel has to die, then so be it.”
Thomas nodded, satisfied.
“Where will I go after she is killed?” Seraphim asked.
“We are working on a headquarters. It will be very safe and secluded, and will be finished before the Queen's assassination. I will send you the coordinates, and you can head there after she is killed.”
“If that is all, I need to return to Tricolor before my absence is noticed.”
“You may leave.” Flux and Thomas watch as Seraphim turns and disappears into the woods.
“Well, I think that went well. Can we go home now?”
Flux opened his mouth to quip back, but was interrupted by his intercom beeping.
Hey, Flux, I’m sorry about your demotion :( You can come to my house if you want. I can imagine the people in Luminara aren’t exactly happy with you right now. I would also like some help with building my house if you still want to!
Saparata
Flux read the words, trying to suppress a smile, and glanced up at Thomas, who was trying to read over his shoulders.
“Who is it?”
“Saps. He invited us to his house to get away from Luminara.”
Thomas gave Fluixon a look. A look that he knew all too well.
“Stop it.”
“Oh, come on! I know there’s something between you two.”
“There’s nothing. You must be hallucinating." Flux grabbed Thomas’s sleeve and dragged him along out of the woods.
“You’re terrible at hiding it,” said Thomas once they reached the light of the sun uncovered by trees.
“I’m not hiding anything.”
“That might be the biggest lie you’ve ever said.”
“Whatever. Let's just go.”
“Go where?” asked Thomas in a singsong voice, fluttering his eyelashes. Flux grumbled.
He opened his intercom and sent a message to Snowbird, Newkids, and Gotoga to meet them at Saps’s house. They had spent the day building an underwater bunker that they could use in the future for covert meetings, and according to their responses, it was almost finished.
“Are you going or not?” asked Flux, and he was already heading towards Saps’s place.
“Of course I’m coming!”
---
Two hours of incessant teasing later, Fluixon and Thomas arrived at Sap’s place.
“Hey, you guys!” Called Saps from up top the hill. He had his hands full of sandstone.
“Oi! Saps! Got enough to carry there?” Thomas yelled as they both trudged up the hill.
“This is lightweight, really!” Saps called back sarcastically. They couldn’t even see his face anymore, the sandstone blocking their view entirely.
“Saps!” Saparata stopped just long enough for Flux to reach him and take a few blocks of sandstone from him.
“Oh, thank you, Flux!” Saparata beamed at him. Flux held his breath, drinking in the sight. “Just put them over here.”
Saps nodded his head towards a giant pile that had been accumulating.
Together, they gently placed the blocks down. Flux looked back over at Thomas, who was giving him that look again. Flux rolled his eyes and turned away from him.
Saparata wiped the sweat from his forehead. His long braid was slightly undone, baby hairs flying around his head.
“So what's the vision for this place?” asked Thomas.
“I want it to be like a Greek courthouse, tall ceilings, and open walls.” As he talked, he waved his hands around, gesturing to where the walls would be. “I would have gotten a lot more done, but I lost the blueprints.”
Flux winced. When he had left last time, he had run off with the blueprints still in his pocket. That night, he had realised and had pored over the design, trying to commit the whole thing to memory. Since he hadn’t brought the blueprints with him, it would be very helpful. “I memorised your plans, I could remake them.”
“You memorised the blueprints?” Thomas asked, astounded.
“You make it sound like a big deal,” shrugged Flux.
“Actually, that's perfect.” Saps handed Flux another piece of paper. Their fingers touched as the paper swapped hands, and Flux felt an electric shock jolt through his fingers.
Their touch lingered until Flux took his hand away, and quickly he scribbled down a rough sketch of Sap’s old blueprints and placed them on the floor so everyone could see them.
“I want the pillars done first, then we can build everything else around them,” said Saps.
They all got to work. Saps went to pick up a piece of sandstone to move it. Flux watched mesmerized, admiring how beautifully messy his hair always managed to be, how his eyes always glowed with warmth. How utterly optimistic he is; it was naively cute.
Thomas nudged him. “Dude, you're staring,” he whispered
“No, I’m not,” but Flux didn’t take his eyes off Saparata.
“Are you guys gonna help?” Saparata had turned around again to grab another piece.
“Yes!” Flux said a little too quickly, and he rushed to the pile, covering his face in the sandstone. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Thomas silently laughing.
They worked together, building up the pillars and clearing the messy floor. The sun was starting to set, casting an orange glow over the hill.
“I am parched,” said Thomas, wiping his hands against his clothes, trying to get all the dust and dirt off.
“Go get water from the stream down there,” Saps pointed towards a small trickle of water at the base of the hill, and Thomas immediately headed off.
“So what do you think so far?” asked Saps, standing back and admiring their work.
“It’s certainly something. It's definitely very you,” Flux jabbed two fingers into Saps’ side, making him yell out and retaliate by knocking Flux to the floor, but Flux had grabbed a hold of Saps arm, and they both fell on top of each other laughing.
Saps slowly got off, and they sat together watching the sun set.
“I’m sorry about your demotion,” Saps whispered.
Flux sighed. “Well, I should have known. It's over now, so I can’t change anything.”
“You’re always welcome to stay here. There’s plenty of space,” he paused, taking a deep breath in. “And I could always use the company.”
His voice sounded unsure, his voice quiet like he didn’t want Flux to hear the last part. His face turned away, so Flux could only see his beautiful hair that had now lost the hair tie keeping it together. It shone in the faint light, ethereal.
“I’ll stay,” he whispered back softly, leaning towards Saps and placing his head on his shoulder.
When Saps turned his head back to look at Flux and flashed him a bright smile. Flux felt his insides melt. One look at him, and he didn’t think he’d ever have the strength to leave, not as long as Sap's gaze was on him, like he was the only person in the world that mattered.
Saps reached over behind him and plucked a flower from the small garden next to them. Carefully, he placed the flower behind his ear, the white petals glowing against his dark brown hair. His fingers were warm, and his skin burned where Saps gently grazed against his ears. When Saps’s hands fell away, Flux reached up and played with the poppy. The butterflies in his stomach started doing flips. Slowly, he reached his hand over to Saps’ face and placed his thumb on his cheek. His face inched forward, nervously, and his whole body burned, until softly their lips met and he felt Sap's eyes widen before leaning in and kissing back.
His lips were sweet and tasted like the berries in the woods. Fireworks were going off in Flux’s mind, blinging him and his senses till it was only him and Saps, the whole world falling away. It was just his hands, so warm and perfect, around his head and his fingers running through his hair.
They broke apart, and Saps quietly laughed into Flux’s shoulder.
“What?” Flux started laughing too. Sap's laugh was contagious. “Am I a bad kisser?”
“No!” Saps placed a finger on Flux’s lips to shut him up. “You’re perfect.”
Saps shuffled closer to Fluixon, pressing his body against his and grabbed his hand. He brought Flux’s hand to his lips and gently kissed it, making Fluxion's whole body shiver.
Silently, they watched the sun sink into the ocean below, as the yellows and pinks turned to dark blues, just enjoying the others' presence.
Heavy breaths broke the silence, and they both turned abruptly to the noise. Up the hill behind them came Thomas, who was drenched head to toe.
“What-where did you go?” yelled Fluixon down the hill to Thomas.
“I took a swim! You know how sweaty you get from all that construction? I don’t want to smell like an old tomato!”
“No, now you just smell like a wet dog!” Saps replied.
Fluixon laughed next to him.
“OI! Both of you shut up.”
Thomas flipped his wet hair from his eyes and sat down next to them.
“Don’t sit next to me! I don’t want to get soaked with your sea water!” Fluixon yelled, shoving Thomas away.
He sat down on the ground, his eyes immediately pointing towards their intertwined hands. Flux felt his face get red, and he rolled his eyes. Saps, who was completely oblivious, laid his head down on his shoulder.
“I’m ready for bed,” Thomas announced, standing back up.
“You just got here?” remarked Saps.
“All that hard work, you know, it really did me in. I’ll see you guys tomorrow." Thomas left for the makeshift beds they had made.
“Looks like it's just us again,” said Saps.
“Yeah,” said Flux, sighing. A pause, then;
“Thanks for letting me stay.”
“I wouldn't want anyone else.”
Saps closed his eyes and let his head fall against Fluixon’s shoulder. Flux brushed the hair that fell in front of Sap's face behind his ear and kissed his cheek. He saw Saps’s lips twitch into a soft smile.
The sky darkened steadily, along with Sap's increasingly heaving eyelids.
“You still awake?” Flux whispered into Sap's ear, answered by the slow breathing of the other.
Carefully, Flux stood up and carried Saps back to where they made a space for beds. Flux set him down, taking off his cape and shoes, and threw blankets over him. He stopped for a moment, taking in the sleeping form of Saparata. He looked so peaceful; the slight crease in his forehead was gone, replaced with a relaxed face. He leaned down and brushed his hands over Saparata’s face and kissed his forehead. Then he turned around and headed for his own bed when his eyes met Thomas. He was still awake and staring open-mouthed, his lips curling into a manic smile.
“If you say one word. I’m gonna kill you.”