What am I saving? (Michael/Markise)

[Markise Sterling]

Markise blinked, repeating the words. "Somewhere to buy? Like, a store or something?" Even if he had had a clue what Michael meant, his mind likely wouldn't have allowed it to register. As far as Markise was concerned, Dare and Michael both slept in their dorm rooms every night, even if he knew better. He'd never once sat down and tried to figure out where else they might be.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"Yes," Michael said, nodding. "I would be fine just having a place to stay, but it'd be better to have a job, too." Not that it would make it any easier for him to keep up with his classwork. He believed that he could do it, he only needed to be open a few hours a day, and Dare would be getting back later in the night anyway, so he would still have time to work on his homework.

[Markise Sterling]

A place to stay. Markise didn't like how that sounded at all. Somehow he'd pushed that whole love and marriage thing completely out of his mind, and he was praying Michael only meant for himself. But he hadn't said anything that Markise could confirm, one way or another. The part of him that stubbornly refused to recognize Dare being in love hoped that Michael would find his place to stay as far away as possible. He forced as genuine a smile as he could. "Good luck," he said, honestly meaning the words. "You're not graduating until May though, right?" Why was he already looking?

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"Right," Michael said, though his voice gave away that there was a reason for not being there. "But..." Usually he wouldn't have told Markise, but it felt different somehow, and he didn't feel like he was giving away too much by talking. "I can't stay in my dorm." As far as he was aware, the only ones that knew were him, Dare, Emilian, and most likely, Adara. The guys that lived in the dorms knew he and Dare hadn't been sleeping there, but they didn't know where they had gone.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise blinked as his mind filled in the rest. Dare had told him he and Michael had been having a hard time since the newspaper outed them, but he'd never so much as hinted that they weren't going back to their dorms anyway. Markise looked down at his shoes again, thinking. He didn't want to think that Dare and Michael were staying somewhere together, but if Michael couldn't stay in his dorm, what were the chances Dare could stay in his? What were the chances they'd purposefully find other places to sleep...

Markise got a flash from that day in the Leaky Cauldron. One bed. He didn't want to think about it. "That chick from the Prophet should be shot," he said. "Or hexed, or whatever." A bullet through the head sounded pretty good, though. Especially if it was that damn reporter's fault Dare and Michael were apparently sleeping together. Markise felt a little sick again.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"She tells a lot of lies, but when she gets it right..." Michael licked his lips and looked out over the lake. She had made it sound like he and Dare had been sleeping together all over the school, when in all reality they still hadn't had sex. Technically. That set Michael's mind on an entirely different path, he couldn't really say they hadn't, could he? His eyebrows came together as he tried to work it all out in his mind, not for the first time.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise risked another glance at Michael, but only the briefest, most covert one he could manage. He hadn't read the Daily Prophet--ever--but the way Michael had said that, it sounded like... more than just saying they were gay, or bi, or whatever the hell it was. Markise pouted out at the edge of the water. It didn't help at all being reminded how definitely out of reach Dare was. Markise didn't try breaking the silence.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael tilted his head a little as he thought. He didn't know how he could ever figure it out, though. He sighed softly and put it out of his mind, he could think about it some time that he wasn't sitting beside of Markise. "So do you really plan on just hanging out by yourself for the holiday?" he asked, glancing over at Markise.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise blinked a few times in rapid succession, pulled guiltily out of his thoughts by that question. He couldn't look back at Michael yet, but he managed to nod. "Ariel's going to be here too," he said softly. "I'd rather not run into him." He didn't want to fight like last time, didn't want to butt heads. He wanted to just forget and go on. In a week. He probably could have gotten faster results if he hadn't gone to a Muggle place, but he hadn't wanted to risk the nurse here sending word back to his family, and he hadn't known of anywhere else to go.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael nodded in understanding and looked out over the lake again. He couldn't say that the conversation was exactly a success, but he hadn't blown up at Markise, neither of them had went off in a huff, and he felt at least a little comfortable sitting there by Markise. He smiled as he imagined finally being able to tell Dare that he had talked to Markise and gotten out without a fight or argument.

[Markise Sterling]

Still no extension of an offer for company that day, but the disappointment wasn't as bad this time. He knew he wouldn't be getting invited by Dare, not unless Michael wanted it too, but why in hell would they want a third wheel? Michael silently cursed as his allergies threatened. He'd never been a third wheel to Dare before, and he'd never have believed it could happen until that first day he'd met Michael. Dare had forgotten all about him just to kiss his boyfriend in front of him.

"Do you know what you're getting him for Christmas?" Markise asked absently, only realizing after he'd said it how personal it could be. He blinked and went on quickly, hoping to back out of a potential hole before the quicksand of his own damn mouth got him. "I mean, cause I was going to get him a coat, but if you've already got something..." He shook his head at himself. It had been going so well before he'd opened his mouth.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"I'm getting him some boots," Michael said, smiling to himself as he remembered how miserably cold Dare had been. "I was going to get a cloak, too, but if you're getting a coat," he shrugged and looked over at Markise. There was no reason to get Dare both, and even if Michael's nerves screamed at the idea of Markise giving Dare something, he would ignore it long enough to finish out the conversation. "I think I might get something else, too," he mused.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise nodded in understanding, even if he wanted nothing to do with hearing whatever else Michael might get Dare. Markise almost wanted to get him something else too, but he knew that if Dare didn't pick up on things, Michael did and it would only make things worse. Markise didn't offer Michael any suggestions, nor did he ask if he had anything in mind. Maybe he was a bit curious after all, but he knew it would be better if he just didn't ask.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael was going through all of the things that Dare had mentioned wanting, all the things that he thought Dare would like. He knew that time was short, but there was always his trip to Diagon Alley, and he already knew where he could get boots. He just needed to get away from Dare long enough to go and get the things he wanted to buy without Dare knowing.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise didn't dare break the silence again, not after how close his last question had probably drawn him toward the unacceptable. He decided to just stay quiet, to enjoy having a little company, even if he couldn't understand why Michael had stopped in the first place. He wondered briefly if Michael didn't like him because of Dare, or at least partially because of that. He knew how stupid he'd been before--not surprising, come to think about it--but for Markise, at least, Dare was the metaphorical elephant in the corner.