Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Travis was standing against the side of the ship watching as they sail towards the new island Phoenix Allegiance was going to be on. Travis hasn't been able to sleep much because of the anxiety that has sunk its claws into his gut. The Demon Warlock was sealed away and weak but something told him that most likely wouldn't last.

"Travis?"

Travis turns to look and sees Laurance approaching him. Laurance joins him in watching the waves lap at the side of their ship. "I thought you would be asleep by now" Laurance comments.

"I can't sleep I guess"

Laurance hums "I get it."

Travis glances at him and their eyes meet briefly.

They both shared a moment of quietness before Laurance spoke, his voice steady. "You're worried about the demon warlock, aren't you?"

Travis blinked as he turned to face Laurance. "Was it that obvious?" he asked, earning a nod from Laurance.

"I suppose.. I know that he's locked away and all, but something tells me that locking him away wasn't enough." Travis continued, Laurance quietly listening.

Travis continued to share his concerns about the demon warlock, and how powerful he was. All while Laurance listened, making a few hums every now and then.

Eventually Travis talked so much that he started to get exhausted, the lack of sleep also getting to him. Laurance noticed this and placed a hand on Travis' back.

"C'mon Trav, let's get you to bed." Laurance sighed as he started to guide the half-asleep Travis to the bunks. Once there, Travis was practically asleep when he hit the bed, but he wasn't letting go of Laurance's hand. Laurance seemed hesitant before he laid down beside Travis on the bed, holding his breath as he felt Travis subconsciously snuggled up against him.

In the end, both Laurance and Travis slept on the same bed, and once morning came, Isabell had come to wake them up, but seeing the two guys share a bed, she thought it was adorable before she walked over, shaking Laurance's shoulder.

"Hey.. it's time to wake up." Isabell whispered as she watched Laurance wake up.

After Isabell had left, Laurance looked down at Travis who was still sound asleep against him. He shook Travis' shoulder. "Hey, Travis, wake up man." He whispered, watching as Travis started to wake up.

Once Travis finally came to his senses, and realized he had shared the same bed with Laurance, he quickly sat up, his eyes slightly wide. "Did we? what? Why are you in my bed?" He asked, confused as he looked at Laurance.

"Hey, you were getting sleepy last night so I helped you to bed and you didn't let me leave so I slept here." Laurance explains

Travis feels his face get warm "I'm sorry I guess I just didn't want to be alone? I have just been alone for so long..." Travis trails off nervously playing with the cuffs of his jacket.

"Hey it's all cool I get it" Laurance assures "we can go get breakfast I'm sure Isabell made something good for everyone"

Travis nods quickly, getting out of the bed and making his way towards the kitchen to get breakfast.

Once they got to the kitchen, Travis quickly noticed how people were whispering, most likely about him and Laurance. He knew how it had looked. Travis cuddling with Laurance was bound to stir up questions.

After breakfast, Travis had pulled Laurance aside, worried. "Laurance.. I think the others think we're a thing now.."

Laurance let out a small huff, having realized it too. "Yea I know.." He replied with a long sigh. He hated seeing Travis this worried, and he blamed himself for being a good part of the reason.
"We should just keep this going, fake a relationship, it'll be less confusing-"
"Absolutely not!" Travis cut him off, seeming baffled at the idea of the two faking a relationship. He didn't want to lose his chance with Katelyn.

"Just for a while, Travis." Laurance sighed as he placed a hand on Travis' shoulder. "Till we get to the island, then we can stage a breakup."

Travis groaned at the idea, obviously hating it. "That idea sucks." He replied, looking at Laurance with narrowed eyes.

"I can't tell Isabell that she would be wrong about us... It's kind of awkward. Please Travis I promise we will break up as soon as we get to the island" Laurance meets Travis' gaze.

“No"

"Come on Katelyn also thinks we are dating as well... and if you try to be with her now she won't like that"

Travis' eyes widen then he sighs "fine but when we get to the Island we are doing the breaking up"

"Deal" Laurance then grabs Travis' hand and they go to get breakfast together.

When they sit down they can feel all the eyes on them. Aphmau met Laurance's gaze, a sly smirk playing on her face.

Laurance rolled his eyes playfully as he noticed the smirk on Aphmau’s face, starting to eat his own breakfast. He only really picked at his food, not really hungry. He glanced over at Travis every now and then, watching how Travis was picking at his own food. It seemed like none of them were really that hungry after they’d decided on their plan.

After breakfast Laurance was pulled aside by Lucinda who was smiling at him and he knew what she was looking for.

“So you and Travis?” Lucinda asks slyly

“Yes? I mean…If you are wondering yes we are together”

“Yes, but details Laurance tell me everything,” Lucinda tells him while looks at him expectantly

Laurance blinks “I don’t think there is a lot-”

Lucinda gasps “Of course there is a lot to say! Like tell me when did you first get feelings for him? And how did you two confess?”

Laurance mentally kicks himself if only they decided to get their story straight beforehand.
“I.. don't exactly know when I fell for Travis, but I just felt like, there was a bond between us, y’know?” He said, trying to explain the best he could.

Laurance ran a hand through his hair as he looked at Lucinda. “Well, it was kind of awkward..” He started, letting out a small chuckle. “We both just kind of.. blurted it out.”

Lucinda raised an eyebrow at the explanation, but decided not to question it. After all there were lots of different ways to admit feelings, and no one said it was supposed to be easy.

“Lucinda!”

They turn to see Aphmau approaching them. When she gets there she gives them a smile then she speaks “Katelyn was wondering if you had her tea ready?”

“Oh! Right, I'll get on that. Talk more later Laurance Katelyn needs me” Lucinda rushes off leaving Laurance alone with Aphmau.

“So” Aphmau then turns her attention to Laurance who looks at him with this smug look on her face.

“Aphmau” Laurance knows that look, the look bares into his soul.

“Laurance, all I’m wondering is you and Travis?”

“It just… kind of happened?” Laurance tells her while avoiding directly looking at her.

“I’m honestly glad you’re happy Laurance” Aphmau tells him she smiles at him and his chest is filled with the familiar warmth he gets whenever he looks at her. Her kindness and the way she cared for people so freely and genuinely was amazing.

“Thanks” Laurance smiles, his mind drawing a blank on anything else he wants to say.

Chapter Text

Later in the day Laurance was watching the ocean. His mind just thinking of last night with Travis and their deal. Was this a mistake? Should he just tell Isabell the truth?

“Laurance?”

Laurance turned to see Travis, his heart starting to beat faster, though he didn’t know why.

“Yes Travis?” Laurance replied, voice cracking slightly in surprise. He crossed his arms over his chest as he watched the white haired man approach him.

“How long are we supposed to play this.. Fake dating?” Travis asked, his voice laced with a hint of annoyance. His left hand rested on his hip while his right hand was clenched into a fist.

“Till we get to the island.. I told you.” Laurance chuckled, a sly smirk painting his lips as he placed a hand on Travis’ shoulder, making the white haired relax slightly. “Plus.. admit it. It’s not bad dating me.” He continued, winking at Travis.

Travis couldn’t help but roll his eyes as he playfully shoved Laurance. “Yea right, you’re a total clingy mess.” He teased, watching as Laurance’s expression faltered for a second with enjoyment.

“But you love it, and me” Laurance replies, wrapping his arm around Travis’ shoulder.

Travis scoffs though a smile forms on his lips.

The light of the setting sun caught Travis’ eyes and face making him glow in the golden hour light. Laurance felt a warmth grow in his chest when he saw how the sun made Travis just glow.

“What?” Travis asks
Laurance feels warmth rise from his neck to his cheeks he glances away “Nothing.. You just look pretty in the golden hour light” Laurance wants to kick himself he is normally so confident so why not now? It was just Travis.

Travis opens his mouth to respond but then they hear Isabell call them for dinner.

Laurance uses it as an excuse to move away from Travis and heads to join everyone. Travis follows him.

Isabell gives them a knowing look when they walk past her to join the rest of the group at the table.

When they sit down Laurance notices that when Travis spots Katelyn his eyes light up.

Laurance watches as Travis goes trying to talk to Katelyn. Laurance feels Aphmau next to him nudge his shoulder. Laurance turns his attention to Aphmau who was looking at him.

Aphmau looks at him “So how are things going?”

“Aphmau!”

Aphmau giggles “Well?”

“Good I think” Laurance glances at Travis who was still trying to talk to Katelyn. Though Katelyn didn’t seem interested in the conversation.

“I’m glad things are doing well” Aphmau smiles “It is good since everything has been going so wrong recently”

Laurance nods Aphmau was right but this was the closest they have been at the same time to having something go right when they get to the island. When they get to the island it should lead them to getting Garroth out.

Aphmau gives him a smile, Laurance loves when she smiles she doesn’t do that enough.
—--------------------------------------------------------
After dinner Travis caught up with Laurance “Laurance!”

Laurance turns around to see Travis standing there.

“Hey”

“I was thinking, since I’m going to stay up, would you like to stay up with me?” Travis asks

“Sure” Laurance nods

Travis smiles at him “Great. It will be kind of boring though”

“You make everything fun. I doubt it will be boring with you”

Travis smiles at Laurance and that same heat from before returns. He was the reason he smiled. It was weird the only time he has ever truly felt this warmth with Aphmau and now Travis…. But he still loves Aphmau. He couldn't possibly love Travis, could he?

“I have to go help Lucinda for a bit with guiding the ship then we should be good” Travis explains pulling Laurance out of his thoughts.

Laurance nods, allowing Travis to go but he feels the urge to stop him and pull him back. But he didn’t, watching him disappear below deck where Lucinda was waiting.
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Laurance was standing against the side of the boat he was waiting for Travis to come back. Recently it has been getting harder for him to think, his head being filled with a lot of thoughts. Thoughts about Travis and the Nether calling him back, he was trying to resist the call as long as possible. He was trying to stay present for Aphmau…and Travis. He wasn’t going to leave them as he promised Aphmau.

Laurance could feel himself slipping from who he is. He doesn’t want to forget himself, he will hold on for them. He wants to keep being who he is now so he doesn’t forget how to be good. He doesn’t want to hurt them or anyone.

“Laurance”

Laurance snaps out of his thoughts and turns towards the sound and sees Travis.

Travis made his way to stand next to him.

“Hey Travis” Laurance gives him a smile

Travis returns the smile “Hey Laurance I’m glad you waited”

“I would wait for you.”

“I wouldn’t want anyone else.”

The two fell into a silence though it wasn’t uncomfortable as they listen to the waves and the cool night air felt on their exposed skin.

It wasn’t long before Laurance broke the silence “Travis, can I ask you a question?”

Travis tilts his head curiously “Sure, what's up?”

“Do you ever feel lost because of your demon?” Laurance asks before glancing off at the sea.

“Sometimes it’s all I can think about, especially because all my life it has been my curse and what people on the island have judged me by. I have never been accepted by them and never will be and all because of a curse I was born with.” Travis runs a hand through his hair.

Laurance flicks his gaze back to meet Travis’.

“They made sure that I knew they never wanted me. I protected them even after they cast me out and treated me like a leech in their life.”

“They were wrong about you” Laurance tells him

Travis pauses to meet his gaze again.

Laurance puts a hand on his shoulder “They don’t understand you are more than just the power The Demon Warlock gave you. They don’t get that you have a lot of good in you and that you protected them. You did more than just be a product of The Demon Warlock”

“You really think so?”

“I know so”

They stood together feeling this growing tension between each other.

“I know because if I can be more than just a Shadow Knight then it means you can be more than just a demon” Laurance moves his hand from Travis’ shoulder feeling the familiar warmth in his chest return when he sees a small smile come on Travis’ lips.

Even though nobody was watching and they were just dating for the act Laurance wants to hold him. To be close to him and not let him go.

Suddenly feeling nervous he pulls away from Travis a bit.

“Thanks Laurance, for being there for me” Travis gives him a smile

Laurance returns the smile as they slip back into their comfortable silence this was enough for now. He just has to focus his feelings back on Aphmau instead of his growing feelings for Travis.
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They stay up and talk until the late hours about anything and everything Laurance hanging off every word Travis says. The way he spoke made him feel all warm and fuzzy; he just made a room better. He made the world feel clearer. It was a feeling Laurance never wanted to stop feeling.

Travis turns to Laurance just as the soft glow of the dawn light shines over the horizon lighting up the water and their faces. “Looks like we stayed up all night, didn’t feel like all night though”

Laurance smiles “I could say the same” he glances out into the water before meeting Travis’ gaze.

Travis returns the smile before they sit against the side of the ship.

Laurance unconsciously leans against Travis feeling the weight of sleepiness once he sat down. He feels Travis wrap his arm around him. This felt safe, maybe shutting his eyes for a little while wouldn’t be so bad.