Scrutinize: Examine or inspect closely or thoroughly

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Peter feels like a ghost. He's drifting, not sure where he belongs. He doesn't want to intrude when Edmund and Sanya and Caspian are together — fool, you damned fool: he's not even sure where they go without him — but he doesn't have any connection to any of the other kids. He uses the library as a last resort.

Caspian feels like a breath will blow him away. He doesn't want to be so fragile. So he spars with Sanya and pushes himself the way Miraz taught him. At this point, it's the only thing holding him together. If he buries his emotions, he doesn't have to feel them. Edmund duels him sometimes. It's a bit jarring to fight someone other than Sanya. She and Edmund fight similarly, but just different enough that he notices.

Peter avoids antagonizing Caspian — the first time in a long time he's backed down from a fight.

Caspian avoids interacting with Peter — the first time in a long time he's ran from someone.

As expected, this works quite smoothly until the day before Edmund and Peter's departure. Louise and Eric and Dianne are due to go back to their own schools as well, only they leave today. Caspian and Sanya and Edmund and Peter are shooed away to entertain themselves as Professor Kirke and Mrs Macready help the other three handle their things. Caspian has said goodbye specifically to Eric already, and he knows Sanya has done the same for Louise.

The library is locked. Peter can't escape to it again. He knows, because he tried this morning.

Mrs Macready pointedly tells them not to come back inside until lunch. Caspian knows they won't be allowed back inside.

Caspian has never understood the saying 'mother hen.' Except now, when both Sanya and Edmund take it upon themselves to monitor Caspian and Peter, herding them all in the same area.

Peter doesn't realize where they're going — where Edmund is leading them — until he nearly trips into the clearing. Regaining his balance, he spots long sticks placed just outside a cleared-out circle in the dirt. Rocks and twigs have been carefully, purposefully removed. Sanya strides towards the branches, takes one for herself, and tosses the other to Caspian, who catches it easily but glances in Peter's direction and at Edmund in a question. Peter turns to Edmund, who has dragged up a log to sit on — how many times have they been here? — and pats the spot next to him.

Caspian focuses back on Sanya, moving so that when he inevitably retreats against her blade he won't back towards Peter. Caspian doesn't really know why Sanya wants to fight now, but he needs the distraction and the calm it will give him afterwards. He rolls his shoulders, she rolls her wrists. "Same rules?" Peter wonders how many times they've done this. Caspian nods. And they pounce at each other.

Peter is enthralled by Caspian's — by Sanya and Caspian's fight. They've clearly done this before, multiple times. Caspian aims for certain spots on Sanya's body — although he avoids her chest and her groin, but ew, Peter mentally leans away even from the medical language of that — only to twist away from her blade and never let her get closer than he can defend. The expression on his face is one of utmost focus, and somehow calm. If Peter didn't know exactly how incredible and unstoppable Sanya is with a sword in her hand, he would think that Caspian had a chance at winning.

Caspian likes the spars with Sanya. He can't afford to actually think in these scenarios, his instincts and reactions and skills keep him busy enough. A minuscule part of his brain, remaining aware of his surroundings, notes that Peter's jaw has dropped and that Edmund looks as if he wants to worship the very ground Sanya walks on.

Caspian has never actually won against Sanya. He's come close, but it hasn't happened. It probably won't happen, considering how much more experience Sanya has over him. They have the same combination of strategies, and although his balance is probably better than hers, she uses her size to her advantage every single time. He's bigger than her, after all. He doesn't need to guard his crotch, which is appreciated. Sanya and he have rules when they fight, with or without swords.

Peter couldn't stop watching, even if he wanted to. This is different from when he'd fought Miraz. That was brutal, a desperate chase. This? This is stunning. Caspian knows what he's doing, and he's barely panting with the effort. His sword never touches Sanya's for more than a heartbeat, always switching tactics and attempting another blow. When they do meet, they glare at each other, all camaraderie ignored for the moment. Caspian bares his teeth and Sanya just scowls. They both get in a few good knocks, but both get up and don't let the other incapacitate them.

Caspian is fading. He's lasted longer than the other times, though the outcome is inevitable. He postpones it as long as he can, until—

Peter watches with his heart in his throat as Sanya finally lands a jab at a particularly vulnerable spot below Caspian's kneecap. Caspian can't help the instinct to flail and in doing so lets Sanya knock his sword all the way to the other side of the circle. She puts her own sword casually under his chin in a matter of seconds before he can back further into the tree. There are bits of spruce needles in his hair. He looks at her with a skeptical expression, considering that he'd just been unarmed and immobilized in the blink of an eye. Peter is completely and utterly stunned by the work of art he's witnessed. A feeling prickles just under his skin, one he doesn't entirely want to examine. Edmund is next to him, just as dumbfounded.

Sanya lets Caspian move again after he yields to her. There's an almost-smile – finally, Peter can see it – as he stretches out of the uncomfortable position. Caspian knew it would end this way, and in a way it's comforting to know that their duels haven't changed. He'd forgotten their audience completely, but it's satisfying to see the dazed look on Peter's face.

~~~

Again, it's Edmund who initiates the contact. It's yet another dinner with tension in the air, marginally less so since the swordfight Peter and Edmund had gotten to witness. Although it's only the four friends of Narnia, the most glaring difference of all is that Peter and Edmund are leaving in the morning.

"Professor, do you think we could send letters here?" Peter hasn't considered that, but now he thinks it would be a good way for them — for Sanya and Edmund — to stay in contact. It would certainly be better than not interacting with Caspian or Sanya for the next six months.

"Of course. I will send you back with the mailing address, although you should put nothing but what is official on the envelope itself. Inside, you may put whether your letter is intended for Caspian or Sanya."

"Oh, I didn't mean to imply—" Edmund cuts himself off with the knowing twinkle in Professor Kirke's eyes.

Caspian wonders if the Professor has some sort of looking glass that lets him see into the minds of his charges. It wouldn't be the most impossible thing.

Professor Kirke turns to Caspian and Sanya. "Sometime after your boys send their letters, I will show you how to respond." Peter can feel himself going scarlet, and Caspian is gaping like a fish internally. 'Your boys,' indeed. Peter has a sinking, though not entirely unpleasant, feeling that the Professor knows and meant to say exactly what he said.

Caspian can't get those two words out of his head for the entire rest of the dinner. Your boys. It's ridiculous — isn't it? It could be explained and accepted for Sanya and Edmund, alright. But Peter is certainly not Caspian's. And thank the Lion for that! Caspian doesn't have any interest whatsoever. None. None at all, thanks.

~~~

    Peter can't help but focus on the fact that even though Caspian didn't flee from yesterday's forced outing together, he hasn't made any effort at all to interact with Peter.

    It breaks a little part of him as he and Edmund climb into the automobile to go back to that bloody school for another six months.

    (Is it irreparable? Please don't let it be.)

A/N:

...what do you mean of course it's still the first week of June.

The pining idiots they are *oblivious* to EVERYTHING! Calm, it's calm we're calm.

My exams are next week so next chapter probably won't be out until July.