So I have a lot of cut content...

I also have a lot of OLD content that went through so many edits I barely recognize it!

This is the First Chapter 1. In ACG, it's now chapter TWENTY-EIGHT. A lot has changed since, for the better I'd say.

In any case, enjoy!

It all kind of felt like a dream since the first day. Sometimes Milo Anani wondered if it was. Then he’d wake up to feel the effects of the before and after. 

They started off as friends at their university. While Milo was into the sciences, Corym Bloom was into literature and spent much time learning different fighting techniques, especially with the odd battles happening around the continent. 

Acquaintances turned to friendship turned to quiet crushes. One day, Corym invited Milo to a small party he was hosting. He didn’t mean anything by it, he just saw that Milo seemed upset, and thought he could use a distraction. 

And… maybe he wanted a time to talk to him outside of class. 

Though the evening was fun, Milo mostly stood silently in a corner, only sometimes talking to people he recognized. Too many people in one place made him dizzy. 

Eventually, Milo fell asleep on Coryms couch while people were still around. People left him alone, and eventually left the party. In the middle of the night, Milo woke up screaming from a nightmare. 

He was mostly used to it, but sometimes the nightmares were overbearing. 

This woke Corym up and, without hesitation, he joined Milo on the couch and held him close, 

“Hey, it’s ok. You’re awake. You’re not alone.”

Milo swore quietly “I’m sorry I woke you, the nightmares surprise me sometimes…” 

“Nightmares?”

Milo shook his head. “It’s stupid…” 

Corym made himself more comfortable. “So? I just hosted a party on a Monday night in the middle of October. How is that any less stupid?” 

Milo chuckled. “Fine. I’ve always had these nightmares. They’re usually dark and quite repetitive. They get worse when I’m stressed. Having a drink or two usually helps, but on rare occasions it makes them become worse. It’s why I fell asleep in the middle of your party, I often just… stay awake at night. The clerics call it narcolepsy. I just… I guess I have a fear of these stupid battles, and my mind turns that into dreams.”

Talking about it helped Milo calm down to the point where he was almost asleep again. Barely conscious, he kissed Corym drowsily, thanking him, and wished him goodnight. 

They woke up together in the late morning, Milo only then realizing what happened. He blushed deeply when Corym explained it all, seemingly content. The two laughed about it together, but Milo soon left to return to his room, unable to make eye contact with Corym.