#also fantasy brain. im craving magic and battles

[carnivalcarriondiscarded]

hold on, late night fantasy au snippet (its short, emphasis on this factoid). context: early days of the neighborhood, most of them are still getting to know each other. frank has a crush <3

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“So,” Eddie says conversationally, “and let me know if I’m overstepping, but how did you get that scar? I confess, it’s been eatin’ at me for days. There must be some sorta story behind it.”

In a heartbeat, Frank lists the qualities of the man in front of him. 

Handsome.

Incredibly sweet.

Too sweet, easy to take advantage of.

Charming accent.

Handsome.

A man of honor and righteousness. 

Handsome.

The only logical conclusion? Impress him.

“It’s not all that interesting,” Frank says. He shrugs in a way that he hopes comes off as nonchalant, but not aloof. “[INSERT GRAPHIC WAY OF SCAR-GAINING HERE]”

There, now Eddie will surely be impressed, and perhaps even in awe of - oh no. He looks sad. Why does he look sad?

“That’s terrible,” Eddie says with upturned brows and soft, shiny doe eyes. “That really happened to you?”

Frank’s brain says, No, of course not. That was a lie to impress you. I actually got this scar from an exceptionally sharp - and heavy - book falling off of a library shelf. It landed directly on my face and knocked me out instantaneously.  

Frank’s mouth says, “Not all of us had a happy childhood.”

That was, evidently, the wrong thing to say. Eddie’s melancholy expression turns stricken and ashamed, and Frank is keenly aware that he just dashed any hope he had of this beautiful person ever liking him.

“You were a kid?” Eddie nearly whispers. Real, honest tears gather on his ridiculously full lashes. “I’m so sorry, that’s… that’s just awful.”

Frank doesn’t know what to say to that. It’s far too late to tell the truth, but anything he says further would just deepen the hole he’s landed himself in. Luckily - or unluckily, it’s hard to say - Eddie doesn’t seem to expect him to say anything else.

He mumbles another guilt-ridden sorry and faces front again, staring mournfully at the ground and radiating discomfort. Frank has a feeling that he’s projecting more of the same. 

Curse this man’s sensitive nature - Frank’s varying tales of how he got his facial scar always garner sounds of amazement or astonishment. Of course Eddie, handsome sweet Eddie, would find the story horrifying. Frank doesn’t want to imagine how he’ll react if he found out that his tearful response was unwarranted. Here’s hoping that never happens.

~

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