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[credere]

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[magician_king]

He's more aware of it today, and it makes him nervous. What if Alec is right?

"Woah. That'd be a big change."

[credere]

"I don't know. I've never been - I mean, I don't - "

He's struggling to articulate, wringing his hands, frowning.

"It would just be like it always was, back home."

[magician_king]

"I mean. The magic would be the same, but you and your life here are very different."

He prompts him to see.

"I mean for one thing, you kind of have the beginning of an outlet for it now."

Jerking his chin at the ceiling.

[credere]

"Yes. And - um - my wand. Do you want to see it? I have it."

[magician_king]

"Wow."

Says Quentin, sitting up.

"I thought Newt was keeping it?"

[credere]

Credence shakes his head.

"I have - my own warden now."

One who, evidently, might not have to adhere to such strict standards as previously imposed.

[magician_king]

"Right."

Says Quentin, chewing his bottom lip again, looking up at him.

"Do you feel different than when you came on board?"

[credere]

"I - "

He frowns thoughtfully.

"...That was such a long time ago. Feel different about what?"

[magician_king]

"Do you feel like you have changed?"

He clarifies.

"Personally."

[credere]

"I don't know."

He fidgets.

"It's all - it's so different here. I don't know if I've changed, or if it's everything else."

[magician_king]

"Fair enough."

Says Quentin, but explains;

"I guess I just mean, I expect all those differences, all the things you know now, to mean that it'll be completely different getting your power back this time. You could work towards becoming an animagus. You could do anything you want."

[credere]

Credence looks up, surprised despite himself - Quentin's right. He could do that. Not whatever miserable twitches of magic he might be capable of under Newt's tutelage, but - something real, that he's chosen for himself.

"...I don't know what that's like," he says, very softly. Being able to choose for himself.

[magician_king]

"I mean, I don't want to spoil the surprise. But it's pretty cool, Credence."

He says, and then smiles up at him, to show it's a joke, a soft understatement-

"Whatever you pick, I'm here."

[credere]

"...I found another book," he says, like he's admitting a secret. "About how to - how to become an - Animagus."

The library just has these things lying around. It's incredible.

[magician_king]

Here Quentin just brims internally- almost points out that that's a change, that a year ago he'd never have gone looking for magic books, but he lets that one rest for now.

"I've been drafting a course of study. A systematic approach to the basics I think you'd need to work that kind of magic. A path where you learn the things it'd take- because it's pretty advanced magic. But knowing that every step, you were working towards-"

[credere]

Credence blinks several times, startled and almost guilty.

"Oh - Quentin. I didn't know - you didn't have to do that."

That he's incredibly touched and pleased that he did anyway feels like it's besides the point.

[magician_king]

"I know."

Says Quentin, glancing up at him and giving him a small smile.

"But I thought I could tell you were interested."

And he likes helping.

[credere]

"I am. I - very much," he says, in the hushed near-fearful tone he uses to identify the things he feels most passionate about. "I'll find a way to - pay you back, I promise."

[magician_king]

"Just keep being my friend."

Quentin requests, and then hesitates, before ripping the bandaid and asking;

"Which one of us proposed that we do maintenance together?"

[credere]

Credence frowns thoughtfully.

"I - I don't know, I can't remember. Is it important?"

[magician_king]

"Not really."

He admits, not if Credence doesn't remember feeling bullied into it.

"Do you ever get- that feeling where you're sure the people who know you are just tolerating you because they're too polite to say so?"

[credere]

"Yes," Credence says, with feeling - then gives Quentin a startled look as if he should be taking a hint. "Um, if you don't want to work with me any more, I won't take it badly, I promise."

[magician_king]

"No. The opposite."

He says, and looks up at him, trying not to look openly insecure and imploring- but how do you ask for validation when the thing you're worried about is pushing your friends into doing what you want? His ears go red, and he struggles for a second, trying to think desperately of some way to change the topic.

[credere]

"Oh - "

He thinks back, now, to what Rey did when he was bracing for her to hurt him and she did nothing of the sort. It was good, and as much as everything she did now is tainted by his absence -

"Um. This might be strange. I'm sorry."

'This' is a hug.

[magician_king]

It's the right thing to do. Quentin startles, then lurches into it, forehead dropping onto Credence's shoulder, nervous little sound escaping the back of his throat. His hand comes up to Credence's shoulder, and he hangs on good and tight.

"Thanks."

He says, a little croakily.

"You're a good friend, you know that?"