(Leo)
***
The next morning came quickly like a fucking freight train while Sinclair and I mused over the technicalities of the universe, people, and whatever else came to our minds. The best kind of conversation was one that came naturally—never forced. We had no need to fill up the silences with words, for they spoke eloquently of our relationship that we could remain quiet and convey what we needed to.
At the very least, the empty moments were cozy. The only discomfort I detected was Sinclair's leftover shaking from their dream, which we avoided like a hot potato since neither of us had any suspicions or solutions. It was useless to talk about such a thing without a purpose, lest it turned into a game of dressing up meaningless statements like dolls.
We headed to the castle early in the morning and were greeted quietly by Jisoo and Mr. Heide as we proceeded to the courtyard to meet Algor.
To Sinclair's surprise, he already gathered and placed all the required stones, but Sinclair seemed a bit fussy over something.
"Where are they?" they snapped as the man bent over to fix a dalmatian stone.
"Where are *what*?"
"The amethysts," Sinclair deadpanned.
Algor shrugged. "I don't think they're needed. They're only a booster to the magic."
"I requested specifically that you procure them for me last night. They were the only stones I named for you."
Nonchalantly, Algor replied, "I couldn't find them." He stood up and wiped his hands on his light blue outfit. "Can't do anything about that, can we?"
"I'll get them myself."
"Hey." When they faced the door, I stood in front of Sinclair to block them while I interjected.
I nagged, "That's what you're *not* going to do."
"Why not?" Sinclair said in a gentler tone.
Raising my eyebrows, I answered, "You know why."
"Is there something I need to be told?" Algor asked. "Hm?"
He walked behind Sinclair and twirled their hair around a pinky finger.
With their eyes closed, they exhaled harshly.
"No."
Subsequently, Sinclair went back inside, leaving Algor and me alone in the courtyard.
I turned to the man, who seemed smug, and I wanted to wipe that shitty grin off his face.
"Why do you keep getting close to them like that?" I straight-up asked him.
He looked at me—except he lacked his fatherly gaze and instead appeared irritated.
"Why do you want to ask?" With a smirk, he continued, "Are you jealous or something?"
I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes at him. "I don't think that matters."
"Then, what does?"
"What matters is if Sinclair is comfortable, and they don't seem to appreciate you acting like that."
"So?" Algor shrugged. "I mean them no harm. I'm just messing with them like friends do."
"Sure," I told him sarcastically, nodding my head as I bared my teeth. "Last time I heard, you only knew their name. What's the real story?"
"Nothing that concerns you," he responded, his presence towering over me.
Ready to pour my heart out like a waterfall, I sighed under that faint shadow.
"See, I look up to you like a family member, Algor, and I want to give you mercy like one. But when you're acting like a general with a stick up his ass, it's very hard to deal with you!" I huffed in his face as if that accentuated my point.
"When you act like a child then," he replied in a dangerous lilt, "you deserve to be scolded and punished like one."
I decided there was no point in arguing with him if I didn't want any conflict dripping into the imminent search; not to mention, the sky blue tint around him didn't need to consolidate into a stronger glow.
"Fine," I told him—albeit in a way that justified his statement—and I trudged off.