Chapter Text
Phainon wasn’t supposed to be here.
Well, he was supposed to be in this general area, technically. Hyacine had asked him to check for a missing chimera, and he’d dropped one of his bracers somewhere along the walkway earlier, so really, his being under this particular balcony was completely justified. Nothing suspicious at all.
He crouched among the ivy, muttering to himself as he peered under a bench. “No sign of the creature. No bracer either. Maybe it wandered off…”
Above him, a familiar voice drifted down from the open balcony, making him freeze in place.
Stelle.
At first, he tensed, ready to announce himself, but then he realized she wasn’t calling for him. She was…talking. To someone else.
He tilted his head. A soft, cheerful “Awoo” accompanied her voice,.
Ah. She was talking to Bubbles, her little chimera.
Phainon sighed, easing back against the stone wall. “Stars preserve me,” he muttered. “Of all places to end up…”
And yet, when her voice carried down again, quieter and uncharacteristically thoughtful, he found himself holding his breath.
“I’m serious, Bubbles,” she murmured, “I’ve been thinking a lot. Hey, don’t make that face at me, I do think at times. It’s just…Ever since we came to Amphoreus…spending time with him has been…fun. Really fun.”
Phainon blinked. Him? Who…?
Another “Awoo” answered her.
“What do you mean ‘who’? You know who I’m talking about!”
“Awoo!”
“…Phainon,” Stelle replied, almost shyly.
The lantern in his hand slipped. He fumbled desperately, catching it by the handle at the last second before it shattered against the cobblestones. His heart, unfortunately, was already in pieces.
She’s talking about me?
He pressed himself back against the wall, as though it might swallow him whole.
Pull yourself together, Phainon of Aedes Elysiae. Eavesdropping is dishonorable. Disrespectful. Utterly beneath you…
He kept listening.
Stelle’s voice grew warmer, almost teasing. “He’s always bright and even clingy sometimes, but in a good way. Sparring with him makes me feel alive. Fighting with him…it feels like we could take on anything together.”
Phainon’s lips twitched upward despite himself. Alive. Invincible. With me? The praise was dizzying, like the rush after a well-won duel.
“And…I like his smile.”
Phainon choked on absolutely nothing.
Bubbles let out another delighted “Awoo,” as if in agreement.
“Yes, exactly!” Stelle laughed. “That smile of his…it makes me want to smile too. And his eyes…” She trailed off, an element of dreaminess in her tone. “Don’t get me started on those eyes.”
Phainon slapped a hand over his face, ears burning so hot they could light a torch. Stars above…She…she thinks about my eyes?
He turned away, determined to leave before his dignity combusted only for his boot to catch on a stray garden lantern cord. He staggered, barely managing to steady himself against the wall. Above, Stelle kept talking, blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding below.
“And it’s not just that,” she continued, voice softer now, earnest. “I realized…I care about him. So much. Hey! Stop laughing at me! I said I’m serious! I just…want to stand by him. To help carry his burden and see Era Nova with him. Because I can’t imagine not having him in my life now, not anymore.”
Phainon nearly keeled over. His whole world tilted, the stars themselves seemed to shift. Stelle – brave, blunt, brilliant Stelle – wanted…him.
Bubbles gave a triumphant little howl, as if it had just won some private bet.
Phainon, meanwhile, was in shambles. His composure was gone, his heart was a wildfire. His mind was nothing but a giddy, almost incoherent, song of 'she wants me, she wants me, she wants me-'
“…Era Nova save me,” he whispered hoarsely, burying his burning face in his hands. “She’ll be the death of me.”
He risked one last glance upward. Stelle leaned against the balcony rail, smiling softly down at Bubbles, completely oblivious to the man unraveling beneath her.
Phainon stumbled back into the shadows, desperately needing to retreat before he either melted into a puddle or announced his undying devotion right then and there.
Above, Bubbles peeked over the railing, tail wagging, eyes sparkling knowingly.
Phainon glared up at it, mortified. “…Not. A. Word.”
The chimera tilted its head innocently.
“Awoo.”