Say it (Michael/Dare)

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael looked down, his eyes trailing over the design, from his hand all the way up to where it ended on his chest. After a few moments he nodded. "Everything you do looks good," he commented, looking up at Dare. He smiled again, "I've yet to see something of yours I didn't like." He felt comfortable, though it could have made him feel very exposed to have his shirt off as Dare looked at him, especially considering Dare was still fully clothed. "Are we still going to go swimming?" he asked, his eyes flashing slightly with the morning's excitement.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare grinned again. "Yes," he said. He'd forgotten about swimming, with everything else that had happened. Dare was feeling energized now, from having told Michael he loved him, having actually heard Michael say the same, having gotten to draw again. He was refreshed, more so than he'd been in weeks, and suddenly had excess energy. "You want to go now?" he asked Michael, though he was sure he knew the answer.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael grinned and nodded, "Yeah, I swear I haven't been in years." He hadn't realized how much he was looking forward to it until waking up that morning, and it had been compounded by the arrival of the quill. Though the excitement had died, it had suddenly came back to life and he pulled his shirt back on and started doing the buttons back. He was ready to go, didn't need to go back to the dorm or anything, and so when he stood he shifted on his feet, aching to get going.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare had watched Michael as surreptitiously as possible, but now, he stood too. He stretched lightly, working out the slight stiffness in his muscles from having sat so long, then turned a mischievously crooked smile on Michael as he tucked the silver quill into his back pocket. He couldn't help remembering having caught Michael looking once, and though they'd come far since then, it was still fun to think of. He bent and picked up his sketchbook, flipping it closed, then gestured toward the door with a nod of his head. "Let's get to it," he said.

Unfortunately, when they got to the doors outside, the sky was filled with heavy, dark clouds that threatened to open up at any moment, and a chill breeze swept into the entrance hall where they stood. "Dammit," Dare said under his breath.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael had, as usual, been distracted by the shining feather of the quill, but had pulled his eyes away to follow Dare outside, only to feel a huge wave of disappointment when he saw the sky. He sighed and glared up at the clouds, trying to hide the disappointment with and outward showing of anger at the change in weather. "Figures," he muttered under his breath, sticking his hand in his pocket.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare made a face at the miserable weather, then turned to look at Michael. "We'll do it another time," he promised. "As soon as the weather clears up. I'll ditch class and everything." Dare glanced around the hall, empty, considering the proximity to the unseasonably cool breeze, then brought his hand up to Michael's back. "It's a delay, not a stop," he told Michael. Dare was disappointed too, but he didn't want to let himself get dragged down, not after everything that had finally gone right.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael sighed again and nodded, then gave another glare to the sky before looking over at Dare. "Yeah, I know, just got my hopes up," he said, then gave a half smile and shrugged slightly, feeling Dare's hand on his back. "So what do we do now?" he asked, trying and failing to think of anything other than going back to the Room of Requirement. He searched his mind for something, then lit on what had happened the day before, "Should we go to Hogsmeade?" he asked, flicking his eyes up towards the clouds and wondering if it was worth the chance.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare grimaced. His gaze dropped from Michael's and went back out the doors to the brooding weather. "We should," he agreed. "I can't imagine that they'll feed themselves any better than..." yesterday. It didn't need said. "Sorry," Dare added, remembering that Adara hadn't been the only one who'd had trouble. Dare grimaced again. "I really don't want to go. It's just...it was yesterday..." He hadn't quite gotten over everything he'd seen yet.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael paused for a minute, then nodded, "I'll go, I'll go get them something if they need it." He knew that Adara was perfectly capable of going to the store, but he didn't like the idea that she didn't have a wand. "I'd feel bad if I didn't check on them," he said by way of explanation, "Though I really don't blame you for not wanting to go." He tried to push the image out of his mind, it wasn't exactly one he wanted to think about.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Relief washed through Dare at Michael's offer. As much as he didn't want Michael to have to go off alone, he didn't think he'd be much good today. He'd be too busy sneaking glances and overthinking things. "Thank you," Dare said. He glanced down the entrance hall again, then slipped his hand against Michael's, squeezing it. "I'll probably draw in the Room of Requirement. It's been a while."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"Alright, I'll try to find you if I have time," Michael promised, though he was unsure how long he'd end up being at Emilian's. His eyes searched the hall reflexively and he leaned in to kiss Dare lightly, "Love you," he said softly before pulling away reluctantly to head out the door, though not without looking back at Dare every so often.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare was grinning as Michael walked away. That kiss, as brief as it was, sent a light thrill of electricity through him, and those words, so softly spoken and unexpected, warmed him clear through. I love you, Michael, he mouthed when Michael looked back at him. He stood at the doors until Michael was out of sight, then turned back toward the Room of Requirement to draw.