It became a habit to ignore each other. Aik confused everybody. He never went out of his way to ignore people, except Enforcers maybe, and his open resentment made rounds. Mika kept watching him warily and became protective, shushing Mages when they asked him cheerfully about his… something. 

They were something, but the redhead seemed more grumpy and kept him at arm's length, only to suddenly realise what he was doing and hurry back to Mika, clinging to him with fierce desperation when they made love. Mika suspected Tarit still harboured feelings for the blonde Mage, and he tried to talk with Tarit about it, but it led to ugly arguments, so after a while, he gave up. The uncertainty fuelled by these moments was unpleasant, but he would take what Tarit offered, and, Aik aside, life was good.

He loved waking up to Tarit burrowed deep in the covers beside him, warm and pliant and snoring lightly when the first rays of the morning sun set his red hair on fire. The freckles on his shoulders looked like the stars in the sky. A burst of little dots he wanted to connect with his tongue. Maybe they could do this all the time. Permanently. He didn't mind the cramped quarters of Tarit’s, as the Mage's room was out of the question for sleeping over. The spells securing the Mage quarters were strong and had not been designed to accept visitors of any kind. 

They made do, and Tarit didn't mind shuffling some things around to make space for Mika's feet that were constantly dangling over the too-short bed frame. Unless they were thrown over the younger man's shoulder when he aggressively fucked throaty moans out of the Mage. Mika grinned, remembering the last time and how good it felt that the more petite man wasn't shy to take the lead. Mika's previous lovers had assumed he'd top, and the Mage hadn't felt comfortable enough to ask for anything else, especially when they had been so keen to be taken by a taller guy. Tarit had taken one good look at him and simply whispered: "I bet with all those big muscles, it's easy for you to stay in position when I fuck you from behind, huh?"

He had grinned cheekily and walked away slowly, looking back with a little smile and twinkling eyes, and Mika had followed like a lovesick puppy. They hadn't even made it to Tarit's room that night. 

Life was indeed good.