#aquatroll

"Yes, but that was for your sake, not mine."

"My sake, is that right? I didn't know--"

At that moment both of their heads turn towards the front door, whose handle had suddenly begun to shake as someone attempted to put in a key. Julian's eyes anxiously flit over to Odarem, whose own stayed locked on the door.

In a loud whisper, Julian spoke, "You said she'd be out until tomorrow evening..."

In a more level voice Oda replied, "That's what he said, but-"

Before the teal could finish speaking, the door swung open, revealing the younger of the two Mortis siblings, Kaliya.

"I'm back-- Oh? what's this? Rem, you have a cute little friend and you didn't tell me?" their gaze immediately swept over from Odarem to Julian, who shuffled ever so slightly under her gaze.

Julian opened his mouth to speak, but Odarem quickly beat him to it, "Ah, yeah, this is my Kismesis. Guess schedules never linked up for you two to meet until now."

Though he wouldn't admit it, Julian was thankful for the diversion, knowing Odarem did it for his sake.

Kaliya frowned and raised a skeptical brow, "Your first real friend and you start dating him? And you just never mentioned him to me, your own sibling?" his eyes dart between Odarem and Julian before he chooses to settle back on the bronze.

"You and I haven't spent much time together lately, must've just slipped my mind, sorry Kali," Odarem offers as he pulls out two mugs to fill with his and Julian's respective beverages of choice.

The younger teal ignores the explanation offered and speaks instead to Julian, "Sorry he's so embarrassed about you, you're his first friend, so I think he's self-conscious--" They wave their hand in Odarem's direction dismissively and continue, "He's such a weird one, isn't he? What is it you like about him, the putting his hands on dead animals or the nonchalant ego?"

Julian turns towards her as she starts asking a bunch of questions, about to give an answer when, once again, Odarem swoops in.

"Kali, we're trying to get an important assignment done, and it's getting late, would you interrogate him another time?" Odarem half-chuckles as though amused by her behavior.

Julian fights the urge to give his boyfriend a knowing look at the fake laugh, instead keeping his eyes on Kaliya.

She taps her foot on the floor for a moment before finally leveling her eyes at Odarem, "Fine-- pardon me for being interested in my older brother's flourishing social life." With that, she walks briskly to her room past them both and closes her door with a notable thud.

There's a long pause before Julian looks toward Odarem, who's now walking over with two drinks in hand. The teal sits on the couch beside his friend, opening his mouth to speak, but before he can get a word in it's Julian's turn to interrupt.

"...I don't like how they speak about you," he says finally, with a hint of gentleness.

Instantly Odarem offers a reassuring smile, "It's alright, that's how he is- I've gotten used to it."

"Odarem..."

"It's okay, Jules, really. Sorry you got grilled like that, I really thought he wouldn't be back until tomorrow."

"That's not-- don't be stupid. You have a lot to apologize for, but that isn't it."

Another long beat of silence as Odarem sips his drink without a rebuttal to offer. Suddenly, Julian begins packing up their homework, sliding things into folders and bags as needed to clear up the space in front of them.

"Jules?"

"We're going to my hive, I forgot a textbook we're going to need there. I know it's late, you can spend the day so we have time to get things done." The whole time he's avoiding eye contact, putting things away while the tips of his ears burn.

There's a moment when Odarem considers pointing out that whatever textbook his kismet could be referring to is almost certainly here under his own possession, but a knowing smile takes its place instead.

"That's a smart call, it's good to see you using that big brain of yours again Jules."

"Shut up, don't make me regret taking you along before we're even out of the door"