a/n BTW this whole thing is before Sapphire arrived. The italics are flashbacks in the flashback.

Sigils liked Henwy. He knew that just as he knew that his favourite mob was an enderman. He always brushed it off though. Nobody except Biffle knew he was bi, and he wasn't sure what he would do if he dated anybody, let alone his friend. He didn't want people watching their relationship like they were famous, but he didn't want to hide it.

He never considered how much he felt for him though. In truth, he brushed it off so much that he thought he liked him 'as a friend'. He was such an idiot. The last few days had proven that to him.

They were fighting FwF again. This time it was closer to Insane's base, but they were still winning. Sigils wished that they just wouldn't fight at all, but he knew that FwF would never agree. They were the ones that started each battle, despite losing every time. They, not us.

This time they were fighting with guns. If it was an attempt to throw them off guard, it was poorly thought through. Despite Sigils' class being called Swordfighting, it was more of a 'Weapons that aren't Magic' class. As for the magic users, they stayed back, providing support roles.

The rest of the students disappeared, leaving the minions to grapple with the remaining ones. Sigils didn't mind, he knew that these wouldn't be any trouble. They never were. He finished with his own, knocking him out with the side of his gun.

Sigils turned around. A scream rose in his throat. An attacker holding a knife was sneaking up on Henwy! Henwy, himself had finished with the other person and turned around. The attacker struck. A lethal blow, right under the fourth rib to strike the heart. A wide blade as well, so not just a puncture.

A cry of anguish ripped out of his throat. He rushed over to his friend. The soldier with the knife turned to him, no doubt trying to kill him as well. He grabbed his gun and hit him over the head. The soldier crumpled. Sigils was a peaceful man, as peaceful as one could be in war. But at that moment, he wanted to kill the soldier.

He didn't. Instead, he picked up Henwy, tears welling up in his eyes. The others, he knew, were probably watching him, but they left him to it. When Sigils passed Biffle, all he said was "I'm sorry Andrew."

Sigils walked the whole way up to the base without saying a word. All he did was cry silently. Cry, mourn and hope that Ian could do something to save him. It was only when he arrived at the gates he wiped his tears away. Ian was there. His face saddened as he saw just what he was carrying.

"How long?" It seemed cruel to ask when he died, but he knew it must be important. "A few minutes ago. He was ambushed by another soldier." He spat out bitterly. Ian nodded.

"That's good. More likely to have success."
"Success for what?"
"Bringing him back from the dead. I haven't done it before, but I can't let him die either." Sigils nods.
"Can- can I help?"
"You can help me prepare." He nods again.

They clean the area in silence. Finally, they finish the area.
"Can you go get Nico for me?" He nods, not trusting himself to speak.

He spots Nico trudging up to the gates.
"Nico! Ian wants you to help him." Nico looks puzzled, but nods and goes.

Sigils goes to his room and cries.

It was a few days after that. Henwy had fully recovered, despite having some... complications. Simmi, their nurse, had forbidden him from teaching for a few days, but that was a precaution.

Now what kept him up wasn't Henwy, recovering from dying, but himself, and Ian. Biffle had suggested the idea, as a fail safe, and Sigils constantly switched in between thinking it was a good idea and thinking it was the worst idea Biffle ever had. And that was saying a lot.

Biffle suggested to tell Ian he was bi, and if he wanted to, that he had a crush on Henwy. Biffle, being Biffle, had even thought of a back up plan in case Ian didn't have a great response. He said "If it doesn't go well, we both walk out of here." Sigils appreciated it, but it didn't calm him down.

Suddenly, he decided. He would tell Ian. If he didn't like it, too bad. That was his problem.

A few minutes later, he was at Ian's door. He had sent a message to Biffle, saying that he was going through with the plan. He was too deep in it to back out now. He took a deep breath and knocked on his door. Ian opened it.

"Hey! What's up?" Trust Ian to get to the point.
"Uh, I just wanted to tell you... I'm bi. Bisexual." A look fluttered across Ian's face.
"Thanks for telling me! Now you can tell me all about your guy crushes as well! Or do you already have a guy in mind?" Damn it. He was hoping he didn't catch on that.

"You turned red at that! You already have a guy in mind! Who is it? Henwy! It's Henwy, isn't it?"
"How- how did you guess that? Wait."
"It is Henwy! I should've guessed by how cut up you were but I didn't. There's no way you like Biffle, I doubt you would tell me if it was me, and I'm pretty sure it's someone you know reasonably well."

"I should've denied it." Ian laughs at that.
"Maybe. But it's much funnier now. Who else knows?"
"Just Biffle." He nods.
"Biffle put you up to this, didn't he?" Sigils nods. "Thought so, my advice? Ask him out."

Sigils laughs and leaves to go talk to Biffle.