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Exam week is the bane of every student, everywhere — even for the magical ones.
An uneasy atmosphere lingers around D.A.M.N as the current semester hurl the students into an intense week of revisions, study groups, and extra classes; all for the upcoming exams.
The seniors are frantically cramming for their final papers and projects under the watchful eyes of the lecturers. The Freelancer doesn’t envy them one bit when they caught a Sonal Energetic screamed into his backpack for a solid ten minutes.
His scream shakes the student lounge, and the windows shattered.
Once he got that out of his system, he focused back towards his textbook, expressionless. The rest of the students around the Energetic hardly bat an eye over what just happened.
On that day, the Freelancer learned to avoid a large group of seniors until the exam week blows over.
“The tension alone in that lounge could make a Serenity Daemon hide underneath a bed.” The Freelancer narrates their experience to Lovely. The two of them are currently having their own study session over at the Freelancer’s apartment.
It’s a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and yet here they are - flipping through textbooks, reviewing and swapping notes and downing cans of coffee and Red Bulls from as early as 9 AM. “Even the janitor wasn’t fazed by it. He just snapped his fingers, and the windows were good as new!”
That night after their proper introduction, Lovely and the Freelancer had become quite good friends, much to Vincent’s annoyance and Gavin’s pleased smirk when the Freelancer told him that Lovely would be coming over for their study session.
“Aww, look you, Deviant. Arranging a little study date with that friend of yours,” Gavin teased during breakfast this morning. They both woke up early to prepare meals that could last the Freelancer and Lovely throughout the whole day. When his Deviant absentmindedly replied, “Uh-huh” as they were busy chopping the vegetables, Gavin couldn’t help but plant a fond kiss on top of their head. “Anyway, I’ll be popping into Aria for a bit today. A few of my, ah, older brothers and sisters called for a meeting. Can I trust that you two won’t be having too much fun without me?”
The Freelancer stopped chopping to gave their boyfriend a deadpan stare. “Gavin, we’ll be studying.” They explained. “Our first paper is literally next week. So I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but there won’t be any fucking happening.” They then stop themselves. They suddenly recalled something. “I don’t want to be on that Solaire Prince’s hit list too.”
Gavin just cooed at their disgruntled partner, as if the genuine possibility that the both of them being shred to pieces by Lovely’s possessive boyfriend amused him.
Nonetheless, Gavin pulled his weight to ensure there was enough food and comfortable pillows and blankets in their shared apartment so that his Deviant and the Electro Energetic would be comfortable for their revisions.
An hour before Lovely arrived, Gavin kissed the Freelancer goodbye and Rifted into his home dimension.
And now we’re back in the present.
“I think those students around that guy were his classmates,” Lovely commented. They take a quick sip of the lemonade that Gavin prepared to refresh their parched throat. Even in a simple pair of slacks, baggy t-shit, and hair pulled up in a bun, they still look as breathtaking as ever. “They reacted as if it was like a regular Tuesday for them. It’s so crazy to think that we’ll be seniors like them soon.”
The Freelancer pours more lemonade into their glass from the pitcher beside them. Their books, notebooks and snacks are spread all over the dining table. A large and fluffy pillow is propped behind the Freelancer so they can lean back on their chair comfortably. “Urgh, mood. I can already imagine the coursework we’ll be forced to do in our final semester.” They groan. Their brain is fried from all the information and notes they’ve been reviewing since this morning. On top of that, the thought that they will be getting even more work once they hit their senior year is starting to freak them out.
Seeing the Freelancer is having an internal crisis, Lovely quickly glance at the time on their phone and decides, “OK, I think we seriously need a break. You look like you’re going to pull a stunt similar to that Sonal Energetic, and I don’t think your boyfriend appreciates coming back to a half-destroyed apartment.”
“Gavin can fix the apartment with his magic, don’t worry.” The Freelancer is quick to assure Lovely. “He did that after he and Vega trashed the place anyway.”
“Uh, what? Who’s Vega?”
The Freelancer snapped their attention back to Lovely once they realised the name that they accidentally dropped. “N-Nothing! I didn’t s-say anything!” They laugh awkwardly, doing their best to brush off Lovely’s concerned expression. “Anyway, break! Yeah! That’s a good idea! Are you hungry? We can watch something on Youtube and eat in the living room. You’re OK with that?”
Lovely gingerly nods; it’s best not to comment or ask about this Vega person since the name alone made their friend jumpy. They push their chair back, stretch their stiff spine, and get up to help set the plates and cutleries while the Freelancer heats the lunch they made in the morning.
They then move to the living room with a tray of food and drinks, where the couch and coffee table are surrounded by pillows and blankets thrown around messily.
“You play video games, right?” The Freelancer asked after Lovely settle down on the couch with a blanket over their lap. “Do you want to watch a playthrough or something?”
“Sure! Do you and Gavin play video games too?”
“Gavin does, though he usually only plays those dating sim games for girls. It’s a guilty pleasure of his.”
“Oh, Otome Games? My respect for your boyfriend just levelled up. Has he ever played Hatoful Boyfriend?”
“Uh… I don’t remember he ever mentioned that title. What is it about?”
“We’re watching a playthrough of that game. Right now. You can watch it with me, but you can’t tell Gavin anything, OK? I promise you’re going to love his reactions.”
Lovely’s eyes light up with glee and grin widely as the Freelancer switch on the Smart TV. When thumbnails of pigeons with pink hearts in the background pop up on the screen, they immediately throw an incredulous look at the Energetic.
“That top playlist is good to watch. Come on, sit beside me.” Lovely pats on the empty spot on the couch beside them, unperturbed at the look the Freelancer is giving them. “I think you’re going to like Okosan.”
The Freelancer press play on the first video and kick back on the couch with the Energetic. What’s better than having a break after a long study session? Hanging out with a friend with some good food while watching a crazy romance video game about pigeons!
However, when the fourth video starts to play, the doorbell rings.
“Uh… are you expecting someone?” Lovely asks curiously; their head is tilting towards the door. Their plate of eggplant pasta and buttered abalones are polished on their lap. The Freelancer internally preened when they enthusiastically complimented on theirs and Gavin’s cooking skills.
Anyway, the Freelancer moves their empty tray onto the coffee table and flip over the blanket to get up. “Not really. Gavin said he’ll be coming back home at night.” They explain and went towards the door when the doorbell ring once more.
A delivery man greets the Freelancer with a stoic face, an armful of flower bouquet, and a thick, rectangular item wrapped in hot red packaging.
“I, uh, think you got the wrong address?” They said, confused to hell and back.
The delivery man blinks, unfaze at the Freelancer’s greeting. “Good afternoon. Delivery for…” He pauses to read the card attached to the bouquet. “Deviant? We received a request from Gavin to arrange a flower bouquet and some… special chocolates. He also left a message for you: My Deviant has been working so hard lately~ So I got you something to… help you relax. PS: give some of the special chocolates to that gorgeous friend of yours and their boyfriend.”
The Freelancer could only gape when the delivery man finished reciting Gavin’s message. From the living room, Lovely is also doing an excellent mimicking of a goldfish. Their stunned expression made the man sigh tiredly. “Look, I’m not going to judge your… bedroom activities. Just take the packages already. I still have more stops to deliver.”
“O-Oh my god! I’m really, really sorry about my boyfriend!” The Freelancer finally snaps out of it and stammers an apology. Their face is bright red. They hurriedly accept the flowers and package, shoot a quick thank you and slams the door shut.
Lovely watches as the Freelancer stares into the bouquet with a mixed feeling, something between fondness and extreme embarrassment, before they scream into the large sunflowers.
They patiently wait for the Freelancer to get it out of their system before Lovely delicately asks, “So, uh, does Gavin do these sort of things often?”
“No. This is the first time ever.” The Freelancer replies. Their voice is muffled because the flowers are still pressed onto their face. “That’s what I get for dating an Incubus, I supposed…”
“Aww, don’t be embarrassed, dude! I think it’s super sweet how much Gavin loves you. Flowers and chocolates? Boy got some serious game; might even give Vincent a run for his money, and you should’ve seen how we first met.”
The Freelancer peeks through the petals and is relieved to find that Lovely wasn’t put off by Gavin’s forward nature. In fact, they are very accepting of the Freelancer and Gavin’s relationship.
Feeling the warmth on their cheeks slowly disappearing, the Freelancer made their way back to the couch. The rectangular package is tossed onto the couch, and the bouquet is on the coffee table. The Freelancer figured they could put the fresh flowers in a water-filled vase later.
“The guy said that Gavin sent you some chocolates?” Lovely reiterate as the Freelancer began to untie the ribbon and unwraps the box.
“Special chocolates, and knowing Gavin, I kinda have an idea of what kind of chocolates they are.” They admit and make quick work of tearing the paper wrappings.
Apparently, Gavin ordered two types of chocolates for his Deviant. One box holds a fancy gourmet assortment of salted almonds dipped in rich Belgium chocolate, double chocolate raspberry truffles, vanilla pieces powdered with light matcha and some white praliné hearts.
Lovely whistle, impressed over the spread. “Your boyfriend really went all out for you!”
The box below it contains rows of heart-shaped chocolates, but the short message written on the card of said box proves it’s anything but ordinary treats.
‘These are homemade chocolates made by one of my close associates. She’s a Succubus, by the way, and renowned for her aphrodisiac desserts. You can try some first if your Energetic friend doesn’t mind being a voyeur.’
The Freelancer promptly throws away the card and cues them, and Lovely shrieking in embarrassment. Neither of them expects the second batch of chocolates.
“These are sexy chocolates? Like, legit aphrodisiac chocolates made with magic!? Oh my god, I didn’t know they were a thing!”
“I didn’t either! I was expecting sex toys below the chocolates!”
“Wait - didn’t Gavin wants to give these to Vincent and me!? Dude, does he has a thing for Vincent? Because at this point, I should tell you: he noticed that Gavin was purposely riling us up when they first met, and he’s been thinking that your boyfriend is out to get him. But, uh, not in the sexy way, but I’m thinking otherwise now. And if that’s the case, then you can warn that Incubus to be ready and catch these hands.”
The Freelancer groans and hides their face in their hands. “OK, you know what? I’m going to put the special chocolates in the fridge, and then we’ll continue watching a few more videos from the playthrough and get back to studying.”
“… You’re in denial.”
“I’m just trying to keep whatever sanity I have left. It’s been a crazy year.”
“Urgh, tell me about it.”
That night, at Lovely’s and Vincent’s apartment:
“Vincent, baby? I’m back. Look what I got!”
“Welcome home, Lovely. Dinner’s ready if you’re hungry. Hmm? What’s that?”
“It’s homemade aphrodisiac chocolates made by a Succubus. Gavin and the Freelancer gave some to us.”
“…I’m gonna punch that Incubus in his smug ass face.”
“…Does that mean you don’t want them in the bedroom tonight?”
“OK, I’ll punch him tomorrow. C'mere, Lovely. I’ve missed you.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”