#zac attack

I wonder how many people are looking at the moon at the same time as us.

Neither of them remember how these late night expeditions started. Something along the lines of them bumping into each other one evening, admitting that neither of them could sleep. A small grin crept up Claude's lips — An idea was brewing in his head. But rather than be quick to scrutinise like usual, Dimitri stayed put, waiting patiently for his fellow house leader's next words.

"Do you want to watch the stars together?" "Oh, sure. Should we go to my room or yours?" "I know a spot, don't worry." "Hm? Wouldn't we get in trouble if we leave— Wait- Claude!"

Two hands clasp one of Dimitri's, running to goodness knows where. There's a thrill in this endeavour — Hastily sneaking past the knights and other authority figures, trying to catch their breath while also waiting for the right time to get past. There have been moments where they've only barely gotten by, but that hasn't stopped either of them from stopping this little evening activity. Dimitri is quick to tell Claude off for his dangerous tactics, but he's the one that keeps coming along to stargaze with Claude. To an outsider, they're both equally as guilty for sneaking out well past acceptable hours.

Tonight was no different — They sat side by side on a small hill just outside the monastery. The knights never checked this specific spot, so they were safe to stay here for as long as they want. The stars and the moon were bright and clear that night, illuminating the otherwise dark blue sky. There's a comfortable silence between them in that moment, until Dimitri's voice rang out in the quiet of the night.

"I wonder how many people are looking at the moon at the same time as us,"

I remember thinking you were odd for ruminating on such a thing.

Claude tilted his head, looking at the other boy with curious expression.

"Do you now?" he replied. His tone wasn't teasing or malicious, he was genuinely just curious as to why that was the first thing that came to the prince's mind.

"Many people have at least glanced at the moon, but how many of them are truly.. looking at it, like we are?" Dimitri doesn't glance over at Claude as he speaks, his gaze fixated on the moon up in the sky. It was a waning crescent that night — Like the shape of Riegan's Crest. The duke shrugged before responding.

"Probably a couple, stargazing isn't just a thing we do, Your Princeliness," even in nights like these — when it was just the two of them stargazing and talking of constellations and myths and legends — Claude couldn't help but joke and tease still. It was always worth it though, seeing Dimitri's face flush pink, the moonlight doing anything but hiding that. This case was no different. He chuckled at the sight.

"I know that.. I was just wondering if people are gazing at it, taking in the sight. Perhaps alone, perhaps with a friend," Dimitri's gaze turned to Claude at the last part, eyes like sapphire reflected in the light boring into him.

Even years later, when Claude is recalling the memory, his heart still skips a beat in that moment. He wonders if Dimitri would look at him the same way now.

Yet now, I find myself wondering the same thing.

"It's kind of comforting, in a way," the prince glanced back at the starry night sky, a small smile on his face, "That despite all the troubles and conflict in this world, we can all look up at the sky and gaze at the same moon."

I wonder if you and I are looking at the moon at the same time.

The duke's eyes moved between the moon and the man beside him. If he lets himself indulge for a moment, the light from the moon and the light shining within his companion were, and have always been, one in the same. A guiding light for the lost, although it too gets lost without a light of its own. That's where the stars come in. The moon looks complete with all the stars surrounding it, bright and beautiful.

He knows he isn't that guiding light for Dimitri. He's more akin to the sun, letting the moon shine as it sets, keeping its distance. And yet he wants to close the gap — Make that distance cease to exist. Surround the other like the stars do with the moon.

It would be nice, wouldn't it? Imagining a world where he was the one to pull out his fellow king out of the darkness, to the familiar scenery of the illuminated starry sky, Claude being the brightest star of them all.

I hope we are.

THE BOYS ARE YEAAARNNIIIINNGG

Exert:

Zach sauntered over like he’d just wandered into a movie set, slapping his hands together. “Yo, bro. Was this your idea?”

The man puffed up instantly. “Damn right it was. Got a problem with that?”

“Nah, bro. Wicked smart,” Zach said, nodding like he’d just found his new hero. “Straight-up 5D chess.”

That clearly threw the guy off, along with the female paramedic, who paused mid-wrap on his ankle and gave Zach a look that screamed what the hell are you doing? He gave her a small, apologetic shrug. Needs must.

“I mean, luring undocumented folks with fake legal help? That’s like, genius-level trolling. Sun Tzu would be proud,” Zach said.

The man beamed, clearly not understanding half of it. “Damn right. Gotta take the country back. Can’t rely on the damn woke brigade, fuckers don’t even know what gender they are.”