#dweed

The room was almost deathly silent when Reed walked in.  It was unusual because Dwight was always rushing at him, yelling things about what had almost killed the student body during the day.  He was insane, and loud, and quick to jump to every dangerous conclusion in the book- but he was always there.  It was unusual to come across his dorm without getting an earful.  

Not that he minded.  It was only a month since they’d gotten together, and only a week since Reed had told someone; but the fact Reed hadn’t run away (and tripped) screaming was enough.   He did like Dwight, the way he had an eye roll for every situation and even the way he made sure Reed was always safe.  It also helped that he was really attractive, but Dwight figured most people didn’t see beyond the cloak and the talismans.  

As for Reed, he didn’t know what Dwight saw in him.  But then again neither of them even expected this to happen, it was kind of a surprise to them both (not just because Reed was questioning and Dwight thought he was straighter than an bolt in his crossbow).  

So when he saw that room empty, yes Reed was disappointed. He had excepted Dwight to be there.  

He almost left the dorm, but then he noticed the flicker of light.  He turned, a white candle burning on the bedside table next to the canopy bed which was standard Dalton issue.  It was against the rules of the dorms to have candles burning.  It was one of the few rules Dwight actually paid attention to because of the high amount of explosive chemicals he used to preserve dove feet on his shelf.  But why was this burning?

Reed walked in a little farther, stepping closer to the tiny flame.  It wasn’t a huge flame, not producing enough heat or smoke to sound the alarm.  But the fact it was here unsupervised left Reed to wonder who had left it, especially since it looked recently lit.  

A clatter from the closet made Reed snap to attention, tripping on the carpet and falling into one of the corners of the four poster bed.  It was familiar though so it was almost like it didn’t hurt, well almost.  His eyes watered as the pain of hitting the wooden post got to him, his forehead throbbing.  He managed to see a black and white blur cross in front of him.  A cool hand brought his face up and brushed away curls to inspect the unseen bruise.  

“Shit. That wasn’t supposed to happen.”  Dwight’s voice.  Reed felt stupid at falling again in front of him.  And he was supposed to be the in-sync performer.  So much for that.  Dwight could hang off buildings and get less injuries than Reed did crossing a room.  

“Sorry.”

“Stop it Reed, you’re not Canadian.”  Reed felt Dwight’s fingers brush against his forehead.  He twitched.

“Does that hurt?” Reed shook his head.  Dwight paused.  “You sure?  Because I can get some ice.”

“I’m fine, it happens like twenty times a day, I’m fine.”

“Doesn’t mean I like it.  I was trying to put the pointy objects in the closet.  I guess I need to calculate for the rug.” 

“I was just curious about the candle. I didn’t even know you were here.”

“I’m a ninja remember?”

Reed laughed.  His eyes weren’t watering anymore and he could see the thin line of concern on Dwight’s lips.  He smiled a little wider.  “You worry too much.”

“And you don’t? Face it Reed, we’re the biggest sources of paranoia in the whole school.  Me more than you but-”

“I know.”  Reed let himself be pulled up into Dwight’s arms.  There was a moment before Reed broke off eye contact and glanced back to the candle.  “Is there a reason you have a candle burning?”

Dwight coughed. “Uh yeah, I was waiting for you to come over and it was actually part of a surprise.  I didn’t really think it through, but because Valentines is coming up I thought I should try something romantic.”

“A single candle in a big dorm is romantic?” Reed asked.  It seemed a little strange

Dwight nibbled on the inside of his lip.  “I guess…”  He sighed and leant against the offending bed post, still holding one of Reed’s hands in his.  “I thought the others would find out to quickly if I got you flowers, and I know you only eat fancy chocolate when you’re sad, and heart shaped anything reminds me of the creepy cupid in 5.14.  And well,” Dwight rubbed little circles with his thumb on the back of Reed’s hand.  The pause again, almost like Dwight was working off a time signature, “I’m kind of stuck on grand gestures.”

“You don’t have to do anything for me.  I understand.”  Reed drew closer.  Truth be told he hadn’t even expected Dwight to even think of Valentines, it wasn’t like he thought of Dwight as a romantic in the first place.  He was all rough and tumble, shotguns and leather jackets- not bad boy but more thoughtless than anything.  Reed realized Dwight put a lot more thought into things than he gave him credit for.  

Dwight glanced over at the candle.  He sucked his cheeks him, thinking.  Walking over he blew out the flame before going back to Reed and letting Reed pull him close. The bright curls tickling his chin almost made him laugh but he was still upset with himself for letting Reed get hurt in his dorm.  

“I still want to do something for you.” Dwight spoke into Reed’s curls.  Reed looked up, “Like what?”

“You asked me the other day if I could sing.” He said.  Reed nodded remembering.  “Yes?” Dwight went under his bed and pulled out a guitar case.  Reed’s eyes widened.  “Is this okay? It’s not singing, but I wonder if you’d like it just as well.”  

Dwight unlatched the case, flipping up the lid to reveal a classical guitar with the words “DaltonAcademy” in script on the pick guard.  Reed recognized it as one of the school’s instruments from the music department.  He didn’t even know Dwight was taking that class. 

Reed sat down on the bed, Dwight sitting across from him in his desk chair.  He plucked at the strings of the guitar checking the tuning, strumming once or twice to make sure it was okay.  Reed sat in quiet anticipation. 

That was when Dwight started.  It was a gentle, almost Spanish sound emanating from the guitar.  Reed listened to the quick slides between soft plucks of two strings, then three, then two again.  The fingers slide up the fret board, creating the image of a starry night and warm breeze on flushed faces.  The smoke from the blown out candle still lingered, making the image of a seaside campfire insert itself in the melody unintentionally.  It was wordless, just Dwight’s guitar but Reed could hear Dwight humming the tune to it under his breath.  He was keeping the song in his fingers as he played.  

Twisting and gliding, dreamy and quiet Reed felt his lips twitch upwards at the song.  Dwight’s eyes were down at the guitar but Reed could see the pink across the edge of his cheeks.  It was subtle the way the melody was almost a calling card, a hello-again and a sweet gesture of how open Dwight was to showing more of himself.  It wasn’t everyday he actually let people see more than just the hunter.  He was always too busy worrying about them instead of letting them worry about him.  This little piece really meant a lot. 

So when the final note hung in the air Dwight looked up to Reed’s twinkling brown eyes and wide grin.  “It was good?”

Dwight shivered, the power had gone out all over the school. Only a few people had flashlights and Han wasn’t letting anyone use his emergency generators. 

He gripped his flashlight looking for anyone who wasn’t down in the common room around the fireplace. They’d ignored him when he placed a large salt ring around them, better let him freak out now instead of later. 

He heard a muffled thud from down the hall. It was coming from the Art Hallway. 

"Hello?" Dwight yelled; his fingers trembled over the bag of rock salt on his belt. Was that spirit or corporeal being? He couldn’t deal with a ghoul right now he didn’t have the right- 

"Dwight?" A small voice asked.  Dwight waved the flashlight about to see a huddled figure at the end of the hallway.  It looked human… regardless if it knew his name he needed to get closer to determine if Holy water was necessary. Oh what was he thinking it was always necessary!

As he got closer he saw curls and paint smudges, and a foot bent at the wrong angle. This was no demon. 

"Reed? Are you okay?" He asked kneeling down beside the other boy.  Reed bit his lip and shook his head, rolling over onto his back. 

"In the dark I tripped over my feet and I think I twisted my ankle." Reed admitted.  "I was on my way back to Windsor when the power went out." 

"You know its dangerous to be out on your own Reed.  Especially with all the ghosts around the Art Hall." Dwight reminded him, a smile on his face almost teasing the other boy. 

"I know." Reed admitted, the pendant around his neck a reminder of that.  

"Do you want me to carry you back?" Dwight asked, the flashlight still lit and set on the floor, shining up at the ceiling. It made Dwight’s face look even more tired than it usually did but the concerned half smile on his face made up for it. 

Reed let a little smile inch onto his face. “You don’t have to. We can just wait for the lights to come back on and then just call the school nurse.  I don’t want you to fall." 

"I’m stronger than I look." Dwight said trying to prove his point, sadly poking his arms which were skinnier than Reed’s own wasn’t much of an impressive gesture. He bit his lip.  "Well I also know you’re lighter than you look."

"I still hope you don’t tell the rest of the boys how you know that." Reed said quietly. “I don’t want them assuming things." 

"Even things that are true?" Dwight asked reluctantly. 

"You know as well as I this is a really ambiguously weird situation.  Everyone already is assuming about me, we don’t want you under their scrutiny as well." Reed said to him, his voice falling. 

Dwight looked at him sharply. “Reed. I know you’re not sure, hell I’m not sure either.  I’ve only liked one person but she hated Harry Potter, and you’ve never liked anyone up until now. Neither of us are sure. But I am sure that there is something here.  I swear on Castiel and whatever other angel is watching over us." 

Reed shook his head. “I just… you keep coming back and I don’t know why.  I mean even here, you’re looking out for me and I just tripped in the dark." 

"Whatever happens Reed I could never leave you. Even if this turns out to be an exception for both of us." He knocked the flashlight over with his foot, the light falling off the boys and rolling to the wall. 

"You got that. I will never leave you Reed.  I protect the people I love." He whispered, his forehead against the smaller boy’s. 

The blush creeping up each boy’s faces wasn’t seen in the darkness but they could still feel it there as their lips brushed. It was soft and sweet, which was all either of them needed. 

They didn’t tell anyone. 

They kept it secret and in the dark. 

Even when the power came back on and Kurt and Blaine found Dwight splinting Reed’s ankle with some paintbrushes and yarn. They said nothing, just smiled at one another before Reed was taken off to the Infirmary.