#also a little reference to S1-3 on when khun showed bam how to use chopsticks UwU

[deiaiko]

#20.9 Heads up

"I have some news." Agni swirled the water in his glass as if it were wine. "Recently, I have officially taken Bam's friends' team under my wing."

Bam perked up but said nothing. His expression indicated that he wasn't surprised, so Khun or Grace must have told him at some point.

"So to make things efficient, I decided that I will arrange a game for us next week, so we can get to know each other better."

"By beating their asses?" Novick huffed a laugh, looking excited.

"If that's how you see it, sure." Though Agni wouldn't bet that his team would win against them. "Just keep in mind that you shouldn't underestimate them."

Novick folded his arms in front of his puffed chest. "We'll see about that."

Bam looked a little concerned, but Agni couldn't be sure who he was concerned for.

Agni decided to move on. "I need you all to promise that you will treat everyone equally and do your best in the upcoming game." He addressed everyone, but he said it especially to Gyetang and Dan. He already felt a headache coming from thinking about their fanatic behavior toward a certain princess. 

Dan raised his eyebrow, "Don't we always?"

"Why is this important, cluck?"

Agni mustered his best glare, pulling his lips into a thin line.

"Alright, alright." Dan and Gyetang raised their hands in surrender. Everyone else followed by voicing their agreements.

"Good. I will take your word for it. No going easy, especially not for Endorsi. Got it?"

Dan and Gyetang screeched at the same time.

"Whaaaat?!" "The princess Endorsi, cluck??" 

"No wayyy!! Are we going to meet her in person?! Oh my God!"

"I could never harm her, cluck!"

Agni rolled his eyes, having seen this coming. Really, what did they see in that barbaric woman? "If that's the case, then I will put you two on cleaning duty that day, so you don't have to participate. I believe Grace and I would be enough as a substitute."

"That's even worse, cluck!"

"He's right! I want to see Princess Endorsi in action. It will be so amazing!"

Agni felt his eyebrow twitch, thinking back on the spar he did yesterday with her. Her moves got clumsier the more he riled her up, and that was how he defeated her in less than five minutes.

"I hope you won't be disappointed." Grace replied, to Agni's surprise. "She's good, but she can be a little cold."

Agni saw a hint of sadness in Grace's eyes, and he knew why. She was powerful and had a lot of potential, but it would be a waste if she went down the same path as last time. The news of her betrayal from his own timeline still left a bitter taste in his mouth, and he knew Grace was still haunted by it now and then. It was hard to keep a neutral view on her when he knew what she could become. But if there was one thing he learned, it was that people could change. For better or worse he couldn't predict, but a chance for change was all that mattered for him. With it, he would be able to decide if her future self was worthy of forgiveness or not.

"You're worried over nothing!" Dan replied cheerfully. Soon they began to gush over Endorsi, then slowly devolved into the game brainstorming and strategy.

Bam was mostly silent for the whole ordeal, only talking if his opinion was asked, but he was smiling and listening intently. However, Agni noticed that Bam often glanced at him, specifically when Agni was not talking. He decided to ask Bam about it, and Bam answered that the way Agni used chopsticks reminded Bam of someone. Agni had a good guess on who that might be.

After they finished dinner and said goodbye to Bam, Agni and Grace decided to cuddle in bed for the rest of the night, leaving the others to entertain themselves in the living room. As Agni made himself comfortable under the blanket, Grace paused, not yet turning off the light as he was about to do.

"Oh right, I forgot to tell you yesterday."

Agni raised an eyebrow.

"Master finally agreed to have a spar with me. It's in two days." Grace looked a little sheepish, but Agni knew he was excited. Grace had told him that he wanted to build up his stamina, thus he was looking forward to going all out with Jinsung. "Are you free that night?"

Agni mentally sighed. He would not wish any harm upon Grace, if he could help it. But he couldn't talk Grace out of this, knowing that Grace had made up his mind. At least this time he will be there when Grace needs him. "I can always make time."

"Thank you." Grace smiled and turned off the lights. He joined him under the same blanket, resting his hands on top of Agni in an embrace. "I'm glad that you're here with me."

Masterlist

Previous

Next

Let me know your thoughts in the reblogs <3

☕ Buy me coffee ☕