“It is my firm belief that the outsider Baz is no longer a threat to this circle.” Nik stood before the elders the next morning after their embrace in the woods. He’d let Baz sleep off last night release of emotions and snuck to the elder’s stone. All the old people were always there first thing in the morning anyways. “I ask your permission to train him in our ways.”

“Niklus asking permission?” one of them scoffed. “and by permission you mean your asking but are going to do what you want any ways.”

“Look… I want to do this right. He needs this.” Nik rubbed his forehead and sighed. “I want him to understand there’s a life to be had beyond what he knows, power beyond that of the one he serves. This is might be the best option we have to keep him on our side.”

“When he first came here, we told you he trusted you judgement on this matter,” another said. “Teaching him our magic though Niklus, that is another matter.”

“He needs to find peace in his heart, please consider it.”

“You will have your answer on the next full moon.”

“A month really!” he snapped a bit. “who knows what will happen between now and then.”

“That is why you must be diligent, teach him our ways, meditation perhaps, to help him find his way without out magic. That is our answer for now.”

“I can’t wait until you are all mushrooms.” Nik stormed off, they were never going to listen to him.

*****

Baz was awake when Nik returned. Swords on the ground of Nik’s hut doing morning prayers. Nik flopped back down on his bed and waited until he was done. It seemed like he prayed longer today but Nik couldn’t really be too sure on the matter, strange words said to gain favour with a stranger being he just wanted Baz to know more.

“I woke up alone…” Baz said dismissing the swords, “I don’t usually feel so bad when do.”

“Sorry, I had to deal with something…” Nik sighed. “Elders are stupid.”

“Was it to do with me?” Baz came to sit beside him.

“I wanted to teach you our magic... they are considering it.” Nik took his hand, rubbing his thumb along the back of Baz’s hand.

“Elder’s always take their time,” Baz leaned on him. “it was years before I saw any real combat.”

“Still… it just frustrating. They will never listen to me.”

“Perhaps you must accept it then.”

“I can’t Baz. I just can’t.” Nik buried his head in the pillow.

“Hey.” Baz poked him. “I was able to summon my swords.”

“I saw.”

“You know what that means right?”

“You’re going to kill the elders for me?”

“Well I could…” Baz paused considering his words.

“You know I’m joking right?”

“Yes.” Baz blinked, “all I meant was she hasn’t punished me for last night.”

“I guess that’s right isn’t it.” Nik smiled propping up on his elbows. “Not such a sinful act after all.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“It is, but she seems to be permitting it.”

“Good to know I seem to be permissible,” leaned in to kiss him.

“Nik…” Baz paused.

“Just kiss me and lets go back to bed okay?”

Baz nodded and leaned into him and the two of them settled under the covers. Nik had no intention of either of them leaving this tent today. Fuck anything else.

*******

“What’s the point of this?” Baz asked after and hour or so of being snuggled up with Nik.

“The point is that there is no point. I’m pissed off, so fuck today.” Nik groaned.

“Seems to me like the only one that’s having a hard time with this is you. They are your elders, accept what they have said and move on.”

“Baz if I accept it nothing changes, they are just going keep jerking me around until they want something from me.”

“Yes but if you do nothing and mope nothing changes either.” Baz sat up. “Prove your worth and they will listen.”

“They are not Gods Baz, I have no desire to be seen as worthy in their eyes, the forest knows my worth and that’s all I care about.”

“You’re lying.” Baz continued.

“No I’m not.”

“Nik, I’ve been watching you all this time and noticed, there’s two sides to you. You are someone that your community greatly respects and comes to for advice despite your young age, you are mature and strong. But the minute it has anything to do with the Elders you turn into a child.”

“I’m not a child Baz… but it get it… they certainly treat me like one,” Nick sat up, “My voice was supposed to matter. I left home for a year to train on their request, and they no respect for me. The villagers do but them, they only call when they need something.”

“Your people work for the collective good, I can only assume there’s a plan in place for you. Just as my goddess has a plan for me.”

“Your goddess seems a bit more nurturing in some ways.”

“My life has been hard.” Baz said running his hand down the side of Baz’s face. “But not without rewards. She’s allowing me to be here with you still, even though I really shouldn’t be doing any of this,”

“Allowing you…” Nik took his hand. “You’re here because you want to be not because she’s letting you.”

“Nik, do you know what I want right now?”

“What’s that Baz?”

“For the two of us to get out of this tent and go for a walk,” he smirked. “I’m not sitting idle and neither are you.”

“Fine, but I’m still pissed.”

“Then use that feeling for something other than feeling sorry for yourself.”

********

The two of them walked silently through the woods. Baz forging a few steps a head scanning the woods like he knew this place better than he did. Like he was protecting Nik. This was better than moping in his tent Nik supposed.

Baz was right though; he did turn into a child when it came to the elders. Nik couldn’t help it, the forest shouldered him with its secrets, knowledge of the darkness beneath the earth and the still had no respect for him. Why should he give them respect when they had non for him. His flesh grew warm just thinking about it again.

He kicked at the snow in frustration and the spray of it caught Baz in the back of the neck.

“Hey!” Baz spun around to face him wiping the snow from the back of his neck.

“Just taking out some frustrations on the snow.” Nik tried to laugh is off.

“Snow usually doesn’t fight back.”

“I mean it can… but I’m not in the mood for that sort of magic. Sorry.”

“You want to fight then?” Baz took a dagger from his belt. “I can teach you to use this. That would get you mind off things.

“I’d rather not add a massive headache onto everything else going on with me today.” He waved the dagger away. “Certain metals and unnatural item make us sick. Steel is one of those things, iron too. I’m a bit more sensitive to that than most.”

“Most of my things are steel and iron,” Baz said putting the dagger away.

“Why do you think I’m always trying to get you out of your clothes.” Nik laughed.

“Staffs then, it will clear your head,” Baz brushed off the comment and went to break some branches off a near tree.

“Fine, I guess.” Nik picked up an stick, it grew long in his hands. “Go easy though. I’m no warrior.”

“I don’t go easy Nik.” Baz gripped his own.

“Good neither do I.” The staff glowed green in nicks hands for a moment and he imbued it with his natural power.

Baz rushed forward in a blur of speed the stick coming down hard and fast on Nik, catching him in shoulder with a curt but intentional near miss. It stung and Nik jumped back and winced a bit before swinging back with his own weapon, Baz did bother to block it, and let Nik’s blow hit him square in the chest.

“Not bad,” Baz mouth curled into a fox smirk. “I almost felt that.”

Baz cracked his stick over his knee and came at Nik again a weapon in each hand, ducking low and cutting at his knees. Nik buckled and fell flat in the snow, Baz straddling him with one of the sicks at his neck.

“You’re not even trying are you.” Nik was at his mercy.

“Nope.” He laughed rolling off him. “Feel better?”

“Yeah.” Nik smiled. “Thanks Baz,”

“Sometimes a fight is all you need to get your mind off something.” He rose to his feet. “Get up, I want you to show me how to identify trees without the leaves on them.”

“We can do that.” Nik smiled picking himself up, he did feel better.