Today’s etiquette class had been canceled due to the teacher suddenly being called home so they were given time to just relax and have an impromptu tea time with Henri and Lua playing as hosts. Henri sighed after everything was over with Lua relaxing on one of the couches. He turned and leaned against him, it was the first time in a week they had actually touched and it felt nice to feel Henri’s warmth.

“I feel like trash.” Henri told him.

“Why is that?” Lua asked, taking in the bit of skin contact.

“I feel like the only time I’m me is times like this, when I’m close to you.”

“There’s little stopping you from staying close to me.”

“But sometimes there is, sometimes I just want to rest my head in your lap and rest and other times I feel like there’s a voice that tells me not to.”

“Well there is a time and place, like now I don’t mind and no one here really cares to do more than relax and drink tea.” Lua told him. Henri didn’t hesitate and laid his head down into his lap. He smiled and stroked his head letting him do as he pleased, this was the Henri he knew and loved.

“Your thighs are nice and cushiony.” Henri told him. 

Lua turned red. “I’m glad you like it?”

“Mmmn I do this is mine.” He said happily. “I feel all my worries rush away when I look up at you from here.” He told him as he looked up into his face, he reached up and caressed his cheek and Lua instinctively nuzzled his hand.

“I feel better too with you here with me.” Lua told him. “I was worried we weren’t clicking anymore.” He admitted. Henri looked up at him concerned.

“Lua my precious Fiancee, I adore you and I’m sorry for making you feel that way.” He said sitting up and pressing his forehead against his. 

“I know, because you are here with me by choice not force, and I want you to know I adore you as well.” He told him. This was always a comforting gesture for him. They stayed that way for a few minutes, the feeling of the skin on skin contact breathing in each other's scents. There were a few others who were still there that whispered how adorable they looked together and it made him turn red and his ears slightly wiggle with joy. He was glad there were people who still thought that way.

“You know the winter ball is approaching, it’s a month away now and I’ve yet to ask you.”

“Are you asking me to the winter ball?”

“Yes, I am asking my handsome, adorable, Fiance to go with me to the Winter Ball.”

“I accept.” Lua told him as he lightly kissed him. 

Henri grinned, and kissed him back. “Good, I am now looking forward to it and seeing what you are wearing, though I’d like to get you a cloak, what colors were you thinking of?” He asked.

“Violet, black, and silver.” Lua told him without hesitation. 

“I like those colors, it shouts out who you think of the most.”

“Yes, sorry my colors are so bland.” He said looking at his own hair next to his skin, he felt all muddy, especially next to Henri.

“Green, violet, and light green? You know I love how your eyes look.” He said looking into his eyes. Lua felt his blush return just as it had been calming down.

“And yours are like shining amethyst.” Lua told him. Henri smiled a small blush rose to his own cheeks.

“How about we end things here for today and then you and I both go out for dinner tonight?” he asked.

“I’d like that.” He said happily.

With that they wrapped up the tea party and then went off to the next class hand in hand. At Lunch they sat next to each other like normal, only Marissa seemed annoyed at this but a small smirk crossed her lips. Lua ignored her and happily enjoyed her date with Henri and their weekend study date. Things slowly started to spiral as they spent less time together but Lua tried a little harder and Henri seemed to react better when he did. It was the same for the others as well. Marissa didn’t like it. She started to get whiny as she wasn’t getting her way and they just ignored her, why should they bother? 

Lua was alone making his way to his next class two weeks later when he was hit from behind and everything went fuzzy. When he woke up he found he was in a small dark room. Fear and panic overtook him immediately, memories of his mother locking him in the spider closet flooded back to him.

“Hello? Is someone there?” He squeaked as he grabbed the door handle. It wouldn’t budge and he felt himself starting to hyperventilate. “This isn’t funny, please let me out.” He begged as he rattled the handle and pushed on the door, but nothing moved. He started to claw at the door and bang on it calling out, but no one answered, he thought he heard skittering and tears started flowing down his cheeks as he was afraid of spiders coming down from the empty ceiling to bite him. “Let me out! Please, I'll be good!” He begged, pounding the door harder. No one answered no matter how loudly he called out and cried, and after what felt like forever he then curled up on the floor and started to rock back and forth slightly as tears poured down his face. He could only hope that someone would let him out soon. He chewed on his thumb nail and stared at the door and listened hoping to hear someone. No one came, no one was going to save him, he was going to be locked up here alone for the rest of the night, he was sure of it.

“Has anyone seen Lua?” Henri asked worriedly, it wasn’t like him to skip class, especially History.

“I was going to ask you the same thing.” Lidia asked, clases were over for the day and the last she’d seen he was running to class a little late and then he had missed their magic lesson. “I saw him talking to the social customs teacher after class, that was the last I saw of him.”

“Maybe he knows where he went.” Henri said, concerned.

“Let’s go talk to him.” Lidia said, worried. The two of them made their way to the professor’s office and found the elf grading papers. “Professor Monroe?” Lidia said, knocking on the door to get his attention.

“Ahh Miss Del Avalon, Prince Henri, how may I help you?” He said standing.

“We were wondering if you saw Lua’aZaer since class?” Henri asked.

“We spoke a bit about a self project he was working on, he wanted to show me his almost complete progress and get some feedback, we talked a bit too long and he ran off late to his next class. I gave him a note for his next teacher to apologize for keeping him so long. That was the last I saw of him today.” He told them. “Is everything alright?”

“No one has seen him since your class.” Henri told him.

“I know he mumbled something about needing a restroom but he seemed fine, he was actually rather excited about the near completion of his project.” he told them.

“Thank you, we’ll try to find out where he went from the classroom.” Lidia told him as they left.

“Thank you for your time.” Henri said as he walked out.

“I hope he’s alright.” The Professor said sitting down, he was now worried as well.

The two made for the classroom and then the nearest bathroom and figured the path he’d take from there, as they walked Lidia spotted a bag neatly placed against a wall. Walking over Lidia identified it easily as Lua’s bag, inside were all his books and note books, even though he had an item box he always insisted on carrying it. “This is his bag, but where is he? He wouldn’t just leave it laying around.” She asked.

Henri nodded in agreement. It was odd, and there was a secent that was tickling his nose that was making the panic inside him rise up. He looked around. “Do you smell that? I think it’s someone’s distress pheromones.” he said, his head whipping around looking for the source.

Lidia sniffed and nodded. “I’ll go this way, you go that way.” She was unsure of where it was coming from.

Henri nodded and went the other way it seemed to get stronger but he couldn’t tell where it was coming from and then he heard a soft whimper coming from what seemed to be an old closet, the scent got stronger and as he reached the door he saw nothing odd about and as he took a step closer he hit his leg on a chair that had been camouflaged with magic that broke the instantly. The chair was jammed under the door preventing anyone from inside opening it. Anger boiled in him as he ripped it out from under the door and threw the door open, he saw nothing at first till he looked down at the huddled up figure on the floor. It was Lua with his back against the wall rocking slightly his arms around his knees and his face in the top of his knees. His distressed pheromones flooded the small space and rolled out at him, he’d clearly been there for quite some time. There was a gasp from behind him as Lidia approached, she’d noticed the door, the handle was slightly crushed and there were scratch marks all over it and some streaks of blood. 

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Lua chanted softly to himself.

“Lua!” Henri shouted getting down in front of him trying to snap him out of it. It worked as his head snapped up and Henri could see his tear streaked face. “Lua it’s OK I’ve got you, you’re alright now.” He told him, letting out his own calming pheromones as he gathered him into his arms. It took him a moment to realize this was real, he was being let out, Henri was here, was really here.

“I’m sorry I was so scared…” He said softly as he started to cry again uncontrollably. 

Henri lifted him up. “It’s okay, you’re okay now.” He whispered calmingly. He put his arms around Henri and buried his face into his shoulder and took in his scent.

“Let’s get him to the healer’s office to have him looked at and then someone look into this…” Lidia suggested angrily, she wasn’t about to let this go. Someone had locked her best friend into a closet and he was clearly terrified of the small space. Henri nodded and Lidia closed the door and followed him as they went to the healer’s room.

By the time they got there Lua had managed to pass out, the mental exhaustion and adrenaline rush was gone. The healer looked him over and gasped as she saw his fingers and then she demanded to know what happened. Henri told her how he found him in a closet and Lidia told her about the door as she healed up his fingers. A report was going to be written up and there was a note going to be put into his record about him having claustrophobia. Lidia left to tell the other’s, one of the guards was notified and was looking into the closet, it was a rarely used hallway which was why no one had noticed sooner, and Henri stayed with Lua.