Chapter Text
Summer 10
Sage
Sage had opted for an adventure with Fang to celebrate her success instead of drinks at her place. After reading the letter from Aadit, it only solidified what she wanted in life. Her bakery, family, good friends like Doctor Fang and if she was being honest, she wanted more than friendship with Fang. But time and again, she’d presented opportunities for him to touch her or kiss her but he was always withdrawing. Always reserved. At this point, she needed to realize she wasn’t a part of his desires. So better for her not to have drinks in the intimate space of her home and risk wishing for something that would never be. She had his friendship and it could be enough. Would have to be enough.
Though the morning had just begun, sweat gathered on her forehead while she handed over the gols needed to go sandrunning. She could use her magic to provide some relief but she couldn’t calculate how discreet she could be about it. But sandrunning would supply some relief soon enough. It was her favorite thing to do on a hot day outside of swimming. The thrill of racing through the cliffs with the wind in her hair, unbothered and far from town, was exhilarating, even if the climb was long. She would need to suggest a lift to Catori or Vi to save everyone from the hot trek up the dunes in the future though.
The vendor handed her two lime green wristbands, unlimited use of the sand boards for the day. It was the best deal anyway outside of a season pass (Catori hadn’t worked out all the details to get such a pass setup). She said her thanks to the attendant and joined Fang near the concessions where he finished downing his water. A country tune blared out of the loud speakers of the stand as she split the two bands apart.
“Have you done this before?” she asked Fang, while they wandered over to the sand boards, the music a hum of white noise in her ears.
“No,” he said. “Too busy.”
“Really? I’m shocked Violet hasn’t taken you. This seems like her kind of thing.”
“Tram usually,” he replied.
“Ah, yeah. She took me out on that too when I first visited Sandrock. It is pretty.”
“Yes. Pretty.”
She gestured for him to give her his wrist and she gently fastened the armband on. He took the other band and did the same for her. Together they picked out a sand board. Climbing into the front seat of it, she grasped on tightly to the steering handles. He followed her example, squeezing in behind her. She tried not to think about the way his body was pressed up against hers. His long legs stretched up and around her hips, knees slightly bent and pressed against her waist. Excitement coursed through her veins as his hands snaked around, fingers interlocking as he tried to be careful with the placement of them. Unfortunate. She didn’t want him to be careful.
“Hold on tight spider-monkey,” she said with a laugh, knowing Vi would probably be the only person in the world to get the reference.
“Hmm?” She could almost hear the confusion in his voice which made her laugh harder as she signaled for the attendant to give them a push.
“You ready?” She asked.
“Yes,” he replied.
Heart thudding wildly in her chest, the sand board took off down the sandy slope and she whooped in excitement. Fang clutched her tightly, almost squeezing the breath out of her lungs, not a sound leaving his lips. She steered them down the dunes, weaving in and out of boulders and avoiding the rough cliff sides. She almost swallowed a bug halfway down and reminded herself to keep her mouth shut. As they progressed, Fang loosened his grip and relaxed. She hoped he was enjoying himself back there. Her own exhilaration lasted maybe ten minutes before they slowed and came to a stop at the bottom of the dune, sand sprawling in an endless sea before them as the sun started rising higher in the sky. Fang released her waist and she wished he hadn’t.
“I could hear the wind whistle in my ears,” he commented.
“Isn’t it so wonderful?” She glanced over her shoulder at him and he was smiling. Not big and wide with a whole lot of teeth but in the way that was his.
“Yes,” he said. “Wonderful.”
“Again?”
He nodded and she hopped out over the side of the sled, offering to help him out too. He stood and dusted the sand that had gathered on his pants off and together they carried the sled back up the slope.
“We didn’t have anything like this in Portia. We had balloon rides and a hot spring. But the most exciting thing outside of the balloons was seesawing or swinging at the playground.”
“Balloons?”
“Yeah, you could ride in a big basket that carried you across the town held up by a large balloon. It was slow but you could take in all the sights. Perfect for photography if you ask me. Or a date night.”
“That sounds similar—to the Ferris Wheel in Seesai or the Tram.”
“Like the tram but covering more area. Also, I think a Ferris Wheel would be an excellent addition to Catori’s World.”
“Yes,” Fang agreed.
“Did you ride the Ferris Wheel often when you lived in Seesai?”
Halfway back up the dunes, the sandrunning starter rails and the pile of sand boards came into view. “Only once. With mother and—” He cut himself short. “I was very young and I remember eating candy on a stick. It melted in my mouth. There were—lights. So colorful.”
“That sounds lovely.” She smiled at Fang but he kept his eyes straight ahead as they came up over the cusp of the hill and made their way back to the starting point.
The attendant helped them get the sand board situated again and they climbed in, riding down the dunes for a second time. She wanted to go even faster than before.
“Lean forward!” She yelled, bending down. “We’re going to speed up!”
Fang rested his cheek against her back without question and they picked up speed. It sent her into a giddy fit of laughter as she avoided obstacles in their path. Dashing down the dunes with the hiss of sand behind her and whistling wind in her ears, she could sand run all day. It was wonderful!
Until it wasn’t.
Unable to slow abruptly, she saw the path grow narrow at the halfway point, and they were gaining on a pair of sand runners in front of them. She straightened up, Fang doing the same but it wasn’t enough to help them slow. As they drew closer to the other sandrunners, she noted the shape of Logan’s familiar hat.
“Shitshitshit—shit! On your left!” She screamed at the top of her lungs.
Logan jerked his head around as she veered off to their left but the back end of her sled caught theirs and time stilled.
Eyes wide with horror, she watched as their sled caught air while hers continued down the dunes.
It flipped.
Their bodies took flight.
Without thinking, a magic shield spilled from Sage’s fingertips as her board sped by. She turned to watch as it washed over Logan and Violet in a white sphere, protecting them from slamming into the cliffside. But Logan’s body hit the sand and skidded, skimming on his stomach like one of the pensky’s near the outpost, until he came to a full stop at the bottom of the hill. Her own sled didn’t even come to a complete stop before she and Fang were scrambling over the sides of it, running over to Logan.
“I’m so sorry, are you okay?” Sage knelt in the burning sand where Violet was biting down on her lower lip while cradling Logan in her lap. Just when things were already tense with her sister, she had to fuck things up again.
“I’m fine. Just got tousled a bit,” Logan replied. “No need to fret about it.”
Violet raised one of his arms and it was red and blistered and bleeding in places where the skin had sloughed off.
“Not fine,” Fang said, kneeling next to Sage. He pulled his medicinal bag off his shoulder.
Where normally she’d complain that he drags that bag everywhere, she found herself grateful. Rummaging around in the bag, Fang pulled an amber colored bottle from the depths, and popped the cap. Grabbing Logan’s arm, he doused the wound in the antiseptic. He replaced the lid on the bottle and bottle in the bag, waiting for the liquid to dry.
Violet brushed some hair out of Logan’s face and kissed the top of his head. “Want me to kiss it to make it feel better?”
“Would you?” He grinned. “Now that you mention it, my whole body aches. Could use a bit of your healing lips everywhere, since you’re offering.”
Sage rolled her eyes, and glanced at Fang. He didn’t notice her, focused wholly on healing. He wiped away excess sand in the wound and blotted away the blood as it surfaced in little droplets. “No kissing. It will create—infection,” he said.
“You hear that, Fang’s accusing me of not brushing my teeth,” Violet said.
“Doc, I’ve seen her floss for ten minutes straight and she uses mouthwash after brushing too,” Logan continued the joke. “And have you seen her pearly whites?”
“Won’t help—infection,” Fang reiterated as he started wrapping Logan’s arm in gauze. “There. You should go home and rest.”
“But this is barely a scratch!” Logan protested.
Violet leaned down and whispered something Sage didn’t catch and his eyes lit up. “You know what, you’re absolutely right. I should go home and—rest.” He threw a wink up at Vi. “Thanks doc.”
Folding her arms across her chest, Sage apologized again about running into them.
Violet hugged her after she and Logan rose to their feet. “It’s okay. Glad you were out having fun. Of all the people to run into, better us than someone else.”
“Yeah, we’re tough,” Logan added, giving her shoulder a firm squeeze. “And I’ll be right as rain in no time.” They grabbed their mangled sand board and started up the hill. Sage went and fetched her own and Fang sidled up alongside her.
“Your healed burn. Fire from your fingertips. Taking me to the clinic on your own. All magic. Magic is—impossible,” he said.
Closing her eyes and sighing them back open she turned to Fang. “If it makes it easier to pretend you never saw it, I’d appreciate that you also never bring it up to anyone.”
“It was—is beautiful,” he said. “I don’t want to forget.” He eyed her with a new kind of openness and appreciation. “I will keep your secret.”
She eyed him, curious why that had been so easy but it was getting hotter and she didn’t want to grill him in the heat. “I appreciate it,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
“Trust—must be earned. Thank you for trusting—me.” He reached into his bag again, digging around. Pulling something out of it, he outstretched his hand, revealing a crumpled up ball of paper. “And I’m sorry I took your letter.”
So genuinely remorseful, she felt bad she didn’t care. She’d left the letter in the bushes. Anyone could’ve taken it and read it. “It’s fine. Did you read it?” she asked, tucking it away into her pocket.
“Yes,” he admitted.
“What did you think?”
“I—” His cheeks flushed a lovely pink.
Not at all what she would’ve expected. Was he really that embarrassed about reading it? He swallowed and cleared his throat, eyes leaving her face to stare at the ground.
“It really is fine,” she reassured. “It shows me you care a little about me. Being curious about my life and all that.”
His shoulders relaxed. “I do—care about you.”
“And I you. You’ve become a treasured friend.” He nodded in agreement. “Um, so, do you have any questions about Aadit?”
He clutched the strap of his bag tightly. “Do you still—love him?”
Again, not a question she expected but she easily said with certainty, “no. I’ve come to love someone else.” She left out the bit about it being him, avoiding the risk of losing his friendship altogether.
Fang’s usual, neutral expression shifted subtly from surprised to sad and then back to neutrality. “Hmm,” was all he said.
The air was stale and the sun was scalding on her skin. “It’s getting hot. Want to head back to town?” She asked after a long silence passed between them.
“Yes,” he said and they trekked back up the dunes in silence.
“You going to be at the dance off tomorrow?” Owen threw down his towel next to Sage, stretching out and dipping his toes into the oasis. The sun was setting but the water was still warm. She was surprised to see him.
She pulled her sunglasses down just a smidge, and eyed him over the rims. “Look who’s back!” She half-smiled at him. “And I wasn’t planning on it. Why?”
“I was hoping I could steal a few dances with you.” He peeled his shirt off and tucked it into the bag situated between her towel and his. Bronze and built like the statue of a god from the old world, Sage’s mind drifted to Fang. Maybe she needed to move on and move forward. They were just friends after all and Owen was right in front of her. Owen—always making it obvious that he's into her. But she knew, she’d just be using him and Owen deserved better.
She shook her head and sat all the way up. “You know what, since you were missed, I’ll consider going to the dance off and saving a dance for you.”
“You’ll consider?”
“It’s considered. I’ll definitely save you a dance.”
He laughed at that. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“How are your parents?”
“Okay,” Owen said. “I took your advice and asked if they’d move in with me and they accepted easily. I was apparently worried for no reason.”
“It wasn’t for no reason but I’m glad they’ll be with you.”
“And you know, Heidi’s already drawn up some plans for me. I just need to ask Violet and Mi-an if they’ll take on the project.”
Stretching her legs out, Sage spotted Fang waltzing across the bridge, heading her direction. All thought to forget about him vanished as she eyed him, giving him a smile and wave.
“That’s really great Owen. If you need an extra set of hands, I’d be happy to help too,” she said, distracted.
Owen’s response was a half-heard buzz in the back of her mind.
Fang’s beachwear revealed more than she’d ever seen of him. His sheer shirt, black and unbuttoned, revealed his long torso. He was less muscular than her but more toned than she’d expected. As he neared, she scooted a little closer to Owen to make space for his towel. When he sat down, she had to avoid gaping at him. But then he pulled the clip out of his hair and it tumbled down his shoulders and the gaping could not be helped.
“Hey, Fang,” Owen said with his jovial chuckle, giving a wave.
Fang only acknowledged his presence with a nod.
To prevent embarrassing herself, Sage closed her mouth and grabbed her bottle of sunscreen, in need of a second application. She smoothed it down both arms, vigorously rubbing it in.
Owen, after being summoned for the third time by Justice, stood and jumped into the oasis. The wave splashed back and tickled Sage’s feet, while Justice shielded his face.
“Come on man!” She heard him shout before splashing Owen back.
Others had joined in on their mini water war and it ended not long after it had begun and Owen launched into storytelling.
Surprisingly, Fang took the sunscreen from Sage, squirting the liquid into his own hands and gently pushed her hair aside to one shoulder. “Let me help,” he said softly as he smeared it onto her shoulders.
“Are you done at the clinic already for the day?” Sage asked just to keep back the little sighs that wanted to escape as his fingers massaged her skin.
“Haru said it would be handled.” Sage swallowed as Fang’s hands traveled down her back, skimming along the strap of her top. A deep breath and she held her less-than-innocent thoughts back.
“How is your apprentice? Is he holding his own these days?”
“More than capable,” Fang replied. “Bend forward a little.”
His voice dipped a little lower with the command and she bit down on her lower lip, squeezing her eyes closed. Did he even realize what he was doing? Correcting herself, she realized he was just helping and she was the one taking every touch and turning it into a fantasy in her mind. She was the problem. Nails digging into her thighs, she did as he said. He continued, oblivious, working the sunscreen into her skin. At a slow and steady pace, he inched down her back. She attempted to think of more questions to ask, not wanting to get too caught up in having Fang’s hands on her body. But his fingertips brushed along her lower back, near the elastic of her swim bottoms and her heart hammered in her chest.
Cooper appeared then, like some beacon of salvation, knowing she needed her mind occupied. “Well if it isn’t the silent doctor and the busy baker. Guess you forgot to invite ol’ coop to your little pow wow.”
Fang removed his hands, holding the sunscreen casually.
“Hey Coop,” Sage said, sitting upright again.
“Ya know, little busy baker bee, it wouldn’t hurt if you smiled a little and pretended you were happy to see yours truly,” he said, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his green swim trunks. He still wore his wide brimmed cowboy hat and he chewed the end of a piece of wheat that hung out of the side of his mouth.
“I am smiling,” Sage told him. “It’s just on the inside.”
“Ha!” Cooper laughed at that. “And here I thought there weren’t a lick of humor in you youngins. Was starting to think the lot of you were getting replaced by dull, robo-aliens.”
He used that to launch into one of his alien theories he liked going on about. Sage just gave him the occasional head nod and listened. But Fang interrupted.
“Not—a good time milkman.”
“C’mon man!” He tugged the wheat out of his mouth and wagged it at Fang. “Anytime’s a good time with Coop!” He chuckled heartily. “For real though, y’all best not be skippin’ out on the wise words of your elders; I know for a fact you ain’t like them other youngins, turnin’ tail at first glance of yours truly.”
Sage tried to keep her expression neutral and match Fang. What Coop didn’t understand is that he always caught her when she was stuck behind the bakery counter and now, at the oasis where she was seated. Not exactly easy to escape even if she didn’t really mind his company. Just didn’t make her different from the others when she didn't leave. She couldn’t.
“Plus,” Cooper continued, “you’re comin’ off a bit rude if I may say so. Don’t wanna come off as an ingrate, do ya? Just look how far you’ve come, doc! Would hardly know you were the silent type now. You wouldn’t want to trash all that hard effort now would ya?”
“We’re on a date,” Fang said.
“What in—?” Cooper’s brows shot up as a slow grin spread across his face and Sage was internally doing the same. “What in the french fried Peach on a cracker! No wonder y’all are lookin’ like a pair of lady mantis-eez ‘bout ready to eat each others’ faces off!”
“Well, I don’t think—” Sage started and Fang gently touched her thigh and she went silent.
“Yes,” Fang said, removing his hand. He reached for the sunscreen cap and screwed it back onto the bottle. He tossed it into Sage’s open bag. “When we are together. We are on a date.”
Sage whipped her head around to glance at him, all of this news to her. Confused, she studied him but his expression was as unreadable as ever. Fang loosely draped his arm around her shoulder.
“Uh, yeah, that’s right. We’re—dating.” Sage offered a cringe of a smile, hoping to sell the lie. She wished her words were true. But for now, she played her part. “We were just trying to enjoy a peaceful moment in the sun together. Cool off after a hot day.”
“Oh—I get it,” Cooper said. “I remember those days with my dear Mable, but hot dang! This is quite the scoop! I could take this straight to the tabloids and make a quick and glamorous gol!”
“Please—don’t,” Fang said quietly.
“Alright—alright, no need to twist my arm, doc.” He shoved the end of the wheat back between his teeth. “But only because I care about my customer’s loyalty and you're my number one customer doc. Plus, im truly an oustandin’ citizen and I can’t be tarnishin’ my good reputation.”
“Thank you,” Sage said. “It’s appreciated Coop.”
“But now that we’ve got that settled, you two better not be strangers. Would love to have y’all over for dinner sometime. I’ll make sure to have Mable cook up some of them rutabagas, seeing as you’re vegemetarian and all that. You’re still vegemetarian, right doc?”
“Vegetarian,” Fang corrected.
“That’s what I said.” He threw them a wink. “Anyway, be looking for a letter in the mail and enjoy your evenin’ in the sun. I’ll be goin’ now but don’t you think for a second that I won’t be looking’ forward to that dinner!”
Cooper wandered off then and Fang exhaled, removing his arm from around her shoulder.
“What was that?” Sage asked.
“A distraction—for the milkman.”
“Well your distraction landed us a dinner at his house—as a couple.”
“You can simply—decline the invitation.”
“You know Cooper isn’t the type to give up easily. He will just keep inviting us and I will hear about it everyday he comes into the bakery.”
Fang glanced down at his hands. “I didn’t mean to cause a problem. You could say we—broke up.”
Apparently he had a solution for everything. But the idea of being a couple for one evening appealed to her, even if it wasn’t real.
“If we do that, it won’t get us out of dinner. We’ll just end up at his house and it will be even more awkward when he grills us about the break-up for a relationship we never even had. And what if he tries to force us back together at the dinner? Can you imagine? Cooper playing Cupid—what a terrible concept.” She shook her head. “I don’t think I could manage that. I say we do the dinner and get it over with. We can fake break-up in front of him if we have to.”
“Then it’s settled,” Fang said.
Shocked he didn’t have another rebuttal, Sage dipped her toes into the water. “I guess it is,” she replied, stealing sideways glances at Fang while he pulled her sunscreen back out and slathered it on himself. She almost offered to help but she couldn’t trust herself to calmly put it on his body like he’d done for her. Besides, he proved more than capable of reaching all the difficult-to-reach places. He replaced the sunscreen, then curled his arms around his legs, staring out at the clear, crystalline waters of the oasis. Unbothered. Thoughts still swirling, desperate to be rid of them, Sage stood and dove beneath the water’s surface.