“Thanks, but we’re just friends,” Sage said.
She just raised her eyebrows at them, and Will wouldn’t really look up from the floor at all after that, almost like Sage had done something wrong.After they left the clothing store, they went to get Will a phone, which was marginally easier, especially when Sage told Will it was necessary for work.It really wasn’t, but the white lie helped Will relax.
When that was done, Sage started heading back toward the exit, but he came to a halt when something snagged the sleeve of his jacket.He turned to see Will had gingerly taken hold of Sage’s sleeve.
“You forgot the sugar.You need it.For your coffee.”
“Well, fuck me.”Sage turned on his heel.“Thanks, Will.”
Will brightened, which meant his eyes came unglued from the floor long enough that he could smile up at Sage.
“No problem.”
Baby steps,Sage thought.But at least I’ll have sweet coffee for the foreseeable future.
It was late when they got home, the day already waning.Will carried the bulk of the shopping inside, and when Sage came in after, he found the young werewolf in the kitchen, looking at the one bag of clothes among the groceries he’d put on the table.
“Want to get changed?”
Will jumped.“Oh.I…can?”
Sage shrugged.“You do you.Hey, also, I don’t know how much shifting you like to do, but if you want to be in fur every now and then, be my guest.”
Will’s eyes widened.He kept doing that.
“I’m allowed?Inthe house?”
Sage snorted.Stopped.Considered.Someone forbade him from shifting in the house?How fucked up is that?He’s a fucking shapeshifter.
“Yeah, sure.I don’t mind.”
Will pointed toward the stairs.“Can I go upstairs?Please?”
Sage shrugged.“Sure.You live here too now.Go wherever you want.Explore.We can start real training tomorrow if that works for you.”
Will nodded, his bangs falling into his face, and he was halfway to the kitchen door before he doubled back and grabbed his new clothes.
“Forgot this,” he mumbled.
Sage didn’t see him for the rest of the day.When he headed toward the attic, he stopped briefly at Will’s door.There were soft noises coming from inside, like a dog sounding happy to be running around or rolling in fresh grass.
I think I get to call this one a win.For my apprentice.To whom I’ll teach everything I know to the best of my ability.
On the attic stairs, Sage picked up one more piece of rubber and looked at it as it tied to caress his finger.
“I guess Peter had a point dropping him here.”
8
Will
Afterthefirstdaystaying with Sage, and after going to the mall and getting the thing about the sugar right, Will started to relax.Shifting had helped, even if he’d only done it in the bedroom that smelled of roses and contained entirely too many cushions.Regardless, it was good knowing there’d be no punishment for shifting.
Starting the very next day, Will settled into a routine with Sage.
The first and most important rule was that mornings never started before ten o’clock unless someone called Sage for a job.Will made sure coffee was ready and waiting for Sage, which Sage kept telling him wasn’t necessary.Still, he liked seeing Sage sit down and relax at the kitchen table with his non-strawberry-flavored coffee.
Sage had Will read poetry and about poetry, and he made him write poetry about random things.When Will had first made the dish towel dry plates, he’d assumed there were specific spells to memorize for specific things, but apparently, being a witch meant being able to come up with spells whenever the situation demanded it.The intent behind the spells was key, and the words simply activated the magic.
