It was like a dance under the bright sun. Dewi weaving between players of the other team to the pseudo-music of the watching crowd cheering for whichever side was theirs. He sees one of his teammates to one side and passes the ball in a maneuver that surely could be considered art. Goal!

He takes a moment to look up into the bleachers. Even in the chaos of colors, his eyes are drawn to the gothic calm in the storm. He smiles, feeling refreshed, before turning back to the game.

When he’s switched out a while later, that energy evidently didn’t go unnoticed. “Man, you’ve been on fire today. I almost feel sorry for the other guys with how much you’ve been running circles around them all game.” Of course. Dewi always seemed to get even more competitive when Blake came to watch his games. He mentally blamed his deeply rooted crush… It was like a part of him wanted to prove that he could be better than any Seeker that could ever even consider courting Blake for a second. Blake only deserved the best. That was the only way Dewi could accept the heartbreak he’d have to be prepared to experience someday. But until that day, despite being a Claim, he’d be the unquestionably greatest Seeker around Blake to fend off the lessers.

“It’s a team effort.” Dewi takes a long sip from his water bottle.
“Maybe… But you seem to be really putting in extra effort today. Like you’re trying to impress someone…” Shit, was it really that obvious? “A girl, perhaps? You should just ask whichever one out. Pretty sure at least half the cheerleaders with boyfriends would dump them to be with you so your chances are unbelievably good she’d say yes.” Dewi wasn’t interested in anyone who wanted to be with him for such shallow motivations, who doesn’t really know the real him. All he wants is… The secretly Claim player avoids looking back towards where his heart’s desire sits in the crowd so as to not accidentally reveal his feelings.

“Anyone who would end a serious relationship to be with me would probably do the same to me when someone else catches their eye.” Neither confirming nor denying his teammate’s assumptions.

“Sure, but you could still have plenty of fun in the meantime… I bet you’re itching for a pretty little thing to shower with affection and take care of.” No, Dewi was not. Though, he quite liked the thought of being on the receiving end of such attention if it was Blake. And maybe even repaying some of that care by being there for Blake during his own time of the month, holding him close so the older Claim could feel a touch of safety in his moment of vulnerability.

***

Dewi lays his head down on the table, feeling like he's gonna pass out from information overload. Why did he decide to take Psychology of Subgenders as one of his electives? It wasn’t even a class that he was doing with Blake, and the teacher insisted on using the scientific terms for the types at all times instead of the common names. It was Quaerere this, Pretiosus that, and of course those who didn’t have a subgender, the Inexplicabilis. It made following along to the professor’s lessons exponentially harder when he had to mentally remember what each one was.

He hears a cup being placed on the table beside his head and senses a familiar presence. He raises his head with a smile to look into the violet eyes staring at him. “Thanks…”

“You obviously need it, Dew.” He isn’t wrong. Dewi takes a sip of the warm beverage, wondering once again how Blake always seems to make the perfect blend for his personal taste. It was heaven.

“Just a bit of mental overload. We’re in college now so it should be expected, right?”

Blake playfully ruffles Dewi’s hair. “Just make sure you’re not letting yourself get overwhelmed with everything. It’s okay to take a break when you need it, Dewdrop.” Dewi wished the physical contact had lingered longer.

“Yeah, yeah… I just got back from a break.”
“Having to isolate yourself in the Seeker facility because your sensitivity becomes worse than most shouldn’t count. You’re a social person so I can tell it makes you miserable every time.” Dewi’s heart skips a beat at hearing Blake noticed even such small things… Followed immediately by guilt at being reminded about the lie all his peers believe about his absence. Many Seekers could continue their lives as normal during their times of the month with medicine, but it was much more dangerous for Claims to be around Seekers during theirs. So he’d told anyone who questioned his need to isolate that the medicine wasn’t strong enough in his case.

“Well, either way, it means I have to catch up on some assignments and larger projects now.” At least he’d been able to talk with the director of the Claim facility while there about helping out in an indirect capacity. That meant he had his needed community service credits figured out for their first year class assignment. He hadn’t been looking forward to having to explain to wherever he volunteered why he might not be able to show up when he’d committed to.
“Guess I need to make sure to up how often I’m getting you these drinks until you take a proper break…” Honestly, that might have the opposite effect and motivate Dewi to work even more.

***

Blake covered his nose and mouth as if he’s going to be sick. “Get out!” Dewi stands frozen.

This room was expected to be empty and he was supposed to clean it between visitors. So imagine the shock when he found it occupied by his crush and childhood friend. He’d gone straight from class to the Claim facility for his volunteer hours so Blake must have come in during Dewi’s class. Dewi felt bad he hadn’t even noticed Blake’s time was getting close. Blake had noticed the signs with him…

Said friend is visibly in distress and all he wants to do is help. “Please. You…” The older boy looks so desperate, taking a deep breath through his mouth as if to calm himself. “All of it… the smell is making me nauseous.” Did he mean from the rest of the building? Dewi closes the door with himself inside but Blake doesn’t seem to relax. 

“What do you mean the smell is making you nauseous?” He takes a step closer to which Blake shies away slightly.

Blake continues to take careful breaths, in through the mouth and out through the nose. “I’m not Claim… They never tested past if I was untethered because Lu was born first. Medical records say ‘Claim’ so they won’t let me in the seeker facility…” Well, that gave Dewi pause. No wonder he looks so uncomfortable… While Claims had a monthly spike in hormones, Seekers instead grew more sensitive to scents during their few days. And Blake’s only refuge from the outside world is a building full of strong hormones… It must all be so overwhelming for him.

He quickly gets closer and wraps Blake in a deep hug. “It’s okay. Try to focus on just me, alright? It shouldn’t be as bad if mine masks the other smells, right?” Blake stiffens, seemingly scared for some reason.

“...Not safe for you here…” His voice is muffled against Dewi in the embrace.

“You’re suffering and I can help. That’s more important right now…” He pats the seeker’s head. How many times had he wanted to touch these soft black locks before? “I know I can trust you.”

“You shouldn’t…” Some combination of everything seems to be making it hard for Blake to stay tense as he starts to lean against Dewi. “...Might claim you if ya don’t leave.” Dewi’s heart flutters at those words. Blake wanted him too? Maybe, just maybe, his feelings weren’t so one sided…

He opens his mouth to tell Blake to go right ahead when he suddenly feels something against his bare neck. “Eep!” It’s only a light kiss but it surprised a squeak out of him. The second kiss surprises him a little less but Blake starts to hum some song as he peppers Dewi’s neck with more soft kisses. Was he…? This wasn’t usual behavior for the Blake he knew, but since he’s a seeker during his days of sensitivity… It’s like Blake is getting high on Dewi’s scent or something… If that’s the case, now might not be a good idea to be making any important decisions.

“Feeling better now, Babe?” 

Dewi gets a lazy “Mhm…” against his neck in response. After a while more, Blake finally pulls away enough to look at Dewi properly. His eyes have a slight unfocused look. “Thank you for always being there for me… My own prince Charming…” Blake kisses his cheek before laying his head on Dewi’s shoulder. 

Dewi’s heart both soared and sank. He’d dreamed for years of Blake being this affectionate towards him, but… how much of it was just the hormones affecting him? It hurts just considering if Blake would have acted this way if it was someone else in Dewi’s position.

Blake sits back up and looks worriedly at Dewi. He hesitantly reaches out a hand to cup the younger man’s face which Dewi leans into, desiring the warmth on some level. Blake’s thumb wipes away a tear Dewi didn’t even know he had shed. “I hurt you…” A few more tears roll down his cheek as Dewi places a hand over Blake’s on his cheek and tries to smile.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“You’re crying because of me… Why didn’t you leave so I couldn’t hurt you?” Dewi’s wavering smile becomes even more unstable.

“Be-because I love you… I don’t care if you don’t feel the same, I couldn’t leave you to suffer alone.”

Blake’s brows furrow slightly in thought. He suddenly leans in and kisses Dewi. When he pulls away, it’s only a breath away. “You’ll believe me if I tell you after I leave here, right? You can’t believe this is real because of my condition right now… So I just need to show you again later. My affections are true.” He wraps his arms around Dewi. “Until then, I don’t plan to stop showering you with what you deserve, my precious Dewdrop.”

***

Lately, there’d been a defined shift in the two boy’s relationship. The rumor was that Dewi had claimed his childhood friend as the two were seen being publicly affectionate. Anyone with eyes could see they couldn’t keep their hands off each other every chance they got. Not that they noticed any of the gossip when they had each other. The only thing Blake and Dewi cared about was that the two of them knew the truth now.