16. Dante
16
Dante
H is arms crossed tightly over his chest, Dante slouched back in his chair as he stared unseeing at the holographic map still hovering in the center of the briefing table.
Kaelen broke the silence first. “So, is this the part where we start panicking? Because I’d like to know in advance. Maybe take a ship to Aurios and conveniently forget this whole thing.”
Lucas smirked, leaning his elbows on the table. “Oh yeah, because running away always works with ancient primordial beings. They’re famously great at respecting boundaries.”
Kaelen shrugged, a glimmer of amusement in his otherwise stoic expression. “I’m just saying. Maybe someone else can handle the apocalypse for once.”
Ezra tilted his head, his violet eyes glinting mischievously. “It’s only the destruction of all elemental balance. No big deal.”
Dante exhaled, shaking his head as he leaned forward. “You’re all really comforting, you know that?”
Lucas turned toward him, his electric-blue eyes bright with feigned innocence. “Oh, don’t worry, Dante. You’ve got Sebastian. I’m sure he’ll keep you safe with his… what was it again? Archivist skills? Is that what the kids call it these days?”
Kaelen arched a brow, his lips curving into a subtle smirk. “That’s right. He seems very thorough with his research.”
Dante shot them a glare, his jaw tightening. “Can we not?”
Lucas’s grin widened, clearly unfazed. “Why not? He’s practically your shadow daddy these days.” He waved a hand vaguely. “You know. All mysterious and annoyingly polished.”
“Shadow Daddy? What the fuck is that?” Dante repeated, his amber eyes narrowing.
Lucas smiled and waved him off. “Don’t worry about it. Let’s just stick with ‘charming.’ Way better fit.”
His jaw clenched so tight it cracked audibly. “We’re not doing this,” Dante said.
“Oh, but we are,” Lucas said, his grin turning teasing. “You’ve been different lately. A little more… distracted.”
Ezra leaned forward, his expression sly. “He’s not wrong. You’re practically glowing. Tell him Kae’. Tell him how he glows like the sun…”
Not even the stoic light weaver could choke back his laugh in time.
Dante groaned, dragging a palm down his face. “I hate all of you.”
Lucas chuckled, his teasing softening into something gentler. “You know we’re just giving you a hard time, right?”
Dante sighed. “Yeah, I know…”
Lucas nudged him with his elbow. “He’s not that bad. Sebastian. I’ve seen worse.”
“Really selling it there, huh?” Dante muttered, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward despite himself.
Lucas nodded, his teasing smile fading. “Joking aside, this…” he gestured to the map. “It’s way bigger than any of us. It’s a lot to handle. So, if he’s helping you smile, that’s a win in my book.”
Dante didn’t respond, but his words left an unexpected warmth in his chest. It was a reminder that even amidst the chaos, he had friends like Lucas.
To give him shit until the day they died.
***
Dante leaned against the doorway of the ARC common area, watching as Lucas tinkered with a small device on the counter. Sparks danced along the wires as Lucas adjusted the intricate components with steady hands.
“Got a second?” Dante asked, shifting his weight awkwardly.
Lucas glanced up, one brow arching as he set the device aside. “For you? Always. What’s up?” He brushed his hands on his shirt before leaning back casually against the counter.
Dante hesitated, his gaze drifting toward the sprawling city lights visible through the glass walls of the common area. “It’s about… what you said earlier. About Sebastian making me smile.”
Lucas’s grin widened, sly and teased. “Figured that stuck with you.”
Dante scowled, crossing his arms. “Don’t make this weird.”
“Too late,” Lucas said, his grin softening as he folded his arms. “So, what about it?”
Dante rubbed the back of his neck, his expression tightening. “I don’t know. It’s just… stuck in my head. You said it like it was obvious, like I’m the only one who hasn’t figured it out yet.”
Lucas tilted his head, his electric-blue eyes glinting with amusement. “Hate to break it to you, but yeah. Everyone sees it, man. It’s like watching a storm cloud trying to pretend it’s not full of lightning.”
“That’s a terrible metaphor,” Dante muttered, though his lips twitched in spite of himself.
Lucas laughed, leaning his elbows on the counter. “Whatever. My point is, it’s obvious. You’re into him, he’s into you, and yet here you are, brooding like it’s a hobby.”
Dante exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “It’s not that simple.”
“Of course it’s not,” Lucas said, his tone softening. “But nothing worth having ever is.”
Dante glanced at him, his amber eyes narrowing. “You’re awfully supportive for someone who just roasted me in front of the whole team.”
Lucas shrugged, a hint of something wistful passing through his expression. “Gotta keep you humble. Besides, I meant what I said earlier. Sebastian makes you smile. I can’t remember the last time I saw that.”
Dante frowned, his shoulders relaxing. “And you’re okay with it? I mean, with me—”
“Liking someone?” Lucas finished for him. “Yeah. I’m okay with it. Doesn’t mean I don’t get a little jealous sometimes. But that’s on me.”
Dante studied him for a long moment, his chest tightening with a flicker of guilt. “Lucas—”
“Don’t,” Lucas interrupted, shaking his head. “I’m not saying it to make you feel bad. Just… go for it, alright? Don’t overthink it. If he’s worth it—and from what I can tell, he is—then stop holding back.”
Dante nodded, the knot in his chest loosening just enough for him to breathe a little easier. “Thanks.”
Lucas’s grin returned, sharp and teased. “Don’t mention it. Really. You’re not gonna make me your emotional support mage, are you?”
Dante rolled his eyes, pushing off the doorway. “Don’t push your luck.”
Lucas raised a hand, mock serious. “I’m just saying, I’m not wearing a vest.”
Dante snorted, shaking his head as he moved toward the exit. “Gawd…”
“Hey, orange might be my color, but still!” Lucas called after him, his tone laced with amusement. “Hey, hey! You listening to me?”
Dante didn’t bother responding, though a smirk tugged at his lips as he disappeared down the hall to his room.
***
Sebastian
Sebastian leaned against the railing of the ARC observation deck, his gaze fixed on the sprawling lights of Eryndia. The city stretched endlessly beneath the dark sky, a shimmering testament to progress and resilience. His hands gripped the cool metal railing, but his thoughts were far from steady.
That moment they’d shared—intense, raw, and unexpectedly grounding. It was more than a spark. It had cracked something open inside him, a vulnerability he hadn’t let himself feel in years.
“You look like a man with a lot on his plate,” Professor Silverthorn said from behind him. She approached slowly, her presence steady and deliberate as always.
Sebastian straightened, glancing toward her before returning his gaze to the skyline. “It’s been… a long few days.”
“I’d be surprised if it wasn’t,” Amara said, leaning against the railing beside him. “Anything specific weighing on you?”
He hesitated, his fingers tightening on the metal. “I guess… I’m just wondering if I’m doing enough. If I can be enough.”
Amara tilted her head, studying him for a moment. “Enough for what?”
“For him,” Sebastian said.
Amara’s eyes glinted knowingly. “Ah, I see.”
He shook his head, a self-deprecating smile tugging at his lips. “For all of this. This mission, this team, Dante. He’s so…” He trailed off, searching for the right word. “Sure. About who he is. What he stands for.”
“And you’re not?” Amara asked, gentle but direct.
Sebastian exhaled, his shoulders sagging. “I don’t know. Maybe. I just keep thinking about my name. Everything about me feels like it comes with strings attached.”
Amara turned fully toward him, her expression sharp but kind. “And what about what you’ve done here? The work you’ve put in, the risks you’ve taken. Are those just strings, too?”
Sebastian didn’t answer immediately, his silver-gray eyes flicking toward her. “Sometimes it feels like it’s not enough. Like I’m just playing a role.”
Amara’s gaze didn’t waver. “Without you, we’d still be chasing fires around the city, trying to piece together random chaos. You didn’t just help us see the bigger picture—you helped us understand it. That’s not playing a role, that’s shaping the game.”
Sebastian blinked, her words sinking in slower than he expected. “It doesn’t feel like enough,” he said. “Not when there’s still so much we don’t know.”
“There’s always going to be more we don’t know,” Amara said. “But if you weren’t here, we wouldn’t even know where to start. You think that’s nothing? Because it’s not.”
Sebastian’s shoulders relaxed, though doubt lingered at the edges of his expression. “I’m not used to being the one people count on.”
“Well, get used to it,” Amara said. “You’ve earned it. And whether or not you see it, everyone else does—including Dante.”
He glanced at her, something softening in his expression. “And Dante?”
“What about him?” Amara asked.
Sebastian looked away, his jaw tightening. “What if I can’t give him what he needs? What if he realizes he deserves someone better?”
Amara’s expression didn’t waver. “Dante doesn’t waste his time on people he doesn’t believe in.”
Sebastian’s lips parted, but no words came. Her certainty left him momentarily unsteady, though not in a bad way.
“Take it from someone who’s seen a lot of people come through these halls,” Amara added. “You’re more than enough, Sebastian. Now, stop second-guessing yourself and focus on what’s in front of you.”
Sebastian nodded, his grip on the railing relaxing. “Thanks.”
Amara smiled, a rare softness crossing her face. “Don’t thank me. Just don’t let doubt win.”