Chapter Text
Free period is both a blessing and the absolute worst moment of Lysistrata day. Don’t get her wrong, she does appreciate the opportunity to study or just catch up on her assignments while in the Academy rather than having to do it in her home, but at the same time is it worth it to have a whole period to deal with her friends without a professor to tell them to shut up? Debatable.
And of course the moment they saw her sitting on her nice little table in the library they went straight to claiming the vacant chairs. At least Felix and Arachne had the decency to open their books before turning their attention to whatever gossip they heard on the day, Livia bless her soul grunts in annoyance before opening an algebra book and focusing all her attention on it, furiously scribbling away at whatever assignment had been given to her.
It’s almost peaceful, Arachne and Felix just background chatter, and Lysistrata feels her hopes rising that this will be a productive period.
Of course the universe does not agree.
“Is someone sitting here?” Coriolanus asks approaching them and doesn't wait for an answer before pulling the last empty chair and lowering himself heavily in it
“Why ask if you are just going to sit anyway?” Livia rolls her eyes, pulling her book closer to make space for him
“To be polite, Livia, you do know what that is don't you?”
“You speak like you know it Snow.”
“No one is there.” Lysistrata says to break the friction between the two because she knows how easily they can dissolve in a never ending argument and she is not dealing with it today “You are welcome to join us Coriolanus.”
“Thank you Lysistrata.” He says and gives her that charming smile who melt any heart, Livia pretends to gag
“Why aren't you with Clemmie?” Felix asks, still not even pretending to be looking at his open book, his pen tucked in his ear “You don't usually sit with us, we are, how did you put it? ‘So eager to speak with yet so little to say’”.
“I never said that.” Coryo says, looking genuinely taken aback
“Yes you did?” Felix says, arching an eyebrow at him “During our last free period last week.”
“Are you sure it was me? Because I was with Clemensia during our free periods last week, we were working on our advanced genetics work, I don't remember sitting with you.”
“You totally did.” Felix insists “You sat with us because the tables are all full because of a group project another class was doing.”
“I would never say anything like that.” Coryo shakes his head at him, like the idea is ridiculous “Are you sure it wasn’t Arachne or someone else who said it?”
“It wasn’t me.” Arachne defends herself with an eye roll “I’m not the one who denies anything I say thank you very much.”
“Well, it wasn't me either.” Coryo shrugs like that is the end of the conversation, opening his own book to focus on it
“Clemensia kicked you from her table didn't she?” Arachne narrows her eyes at him, putting a hand over his book to make him look up
“She wants to study by herself.” He replies making a point to maintain eye contact with her
“She totally kicked you out.” Felix nods sagely
“She didn't kick me out.” Comes the petulant answer, his blue eyes narrowed “She just asked to study by herself.”
“Whatever makes you feel better, Coryo, whatever makes you feel better.”
It takes a lot of his willpower to not give Felix an answer, they can clearly see it by the way he sighs deeply and looks up as if asking the heavens for patience, and they all appreciate his restraint when he just bats Arachne’s hand away from his book and goes back to reading whatever it is, maybe things are looking up for once!
It takes them approximately ten minutes to figure out why Clemensia had kicked him out her table.
The constant tapping of his pencil on the edge of the table is slight annoying but easily enough to ignore after the few first minutes where you want nothing more than to take the pencil and shove it in his ears to make the noise stop, Arachne narrows her eyes in his direction but whatever she and Felix are discussing sounds more interesting and she ignores him, Lyssie and Livia too focused on their own work to gather the motivation to do anything about it.
Then he starts with the sighs . Those long, very obvious sighs, that in anyone else would be a clear indication that the person wants them to ask what’s wrong and maybe even offer help and comfort, but since they are coming from Coriolanus they all know that he will deny to his grave that he wants them to ask anything.
They are not giving him the pleasure of denying them an answer, they aren’t.
When he starts to tap his foot almost in rhythm with the pencil Felix opens his mouth but Livia steps on his foot and glares daggers at him shaking her head so he just holds his hands up in surrender and starts drawing random lines on what probably should be an essay.
Lyssie arches her eyebrows at the blonde girl but Livia just lifts her chin in defiance and goes back to her algebra.
It’s when he starts to angrily turn the pages of his poor book that Lysistrata can’t hold it back anymore, she didn’t even know it was possible to put so much violence into such an innocent act.
“What’s the problem Coryo?”
“Problem?” He blinks at her in surprise, and yeah like she is going to buy it “Why would there be a problem?”
“Because you are acting like that book has personally offended you?” Felix asks “C’mon don’t play hard to get now, we know there is something bothering you.”
“Maybe we can help, with whatever it is.” Lyssie offers with her best comforting smile, debating the wiseness of putting her hand over his’
“There is nothing bothering me.” He denies with a light chuckle, but he is still tapping the fucking pencil “Are you guys alright?”
“Oh please.” Livia exclaims, pushing her book away and rolling her eyes at them gesturing to one of the other tables “He got his panties in a twist because Festus, Persephone and Plinth are sitting together.”
“Why would I care about how other people are sitting?” Coriolanus demands but there is a new tenseness to his shoulder and he narrows his eyes at Livia “Why are you paying attention to them Livia?”
“Because you keep glaring at them and sighing like you have been personally offended.” She shoots back “You are not as discreet as you think you are Coriolanus.”
“I have no reason to be looking at them, perhaps you are projecting?”
“ I’m projecting?” Livia laughs incredulously “Oh you are not doing that with me Snow boy, I’m not Felix to fall for your bullshit.”
“What do I have to do with this?” Said boy exclaims offended
“I think it’s lovely that Festus is making new friends.” Lysistrata cuts whatever would come off Livia’s mouth, plastering a wide smile on her face “And surely it is nice for Persephone and Sejanus to have someone like him around.”
“What exactly can Festus offer Sejanus?” Coriolanus asks looking at her like she is mad
“Festus is a great friend.” Lysistrata offers, arching an eyebrow as if daring him to deny it “Anyone would enjoy having him around.”
“Besides” Livia starts and there is a glint in her eyes “Plinth looks so much happier around him doesn’t he? I’m glad you didn’t really think of him as your friend, Coryo , because if you did I would be forced to point out how much happier Festus makes him and that perhaps you are being replaced.”
“And the boyfriend.” Arachne adds smoothly, an innocent smile on her face “You received some great news this week didn’t you Coryo? With a hot boyfriend and Festus hanging with him, you are finally free of Plinth following you around trying to get you to talk and sit with him like a lovesick puppy, you must be sooooo relieved. It was pathetic really, seeing him embarrass himself for you.”
“He isn’t pathetic.” Coriolanus grits out, teeth clenched and he glares at Arachne for a moment before he scolds his features in something that is very painfully forced, a badly made mask of indifference “And we are still on good terms, just because he is hanging out with Festus and Persephone doesn’t mean we don’t talk anymore.”
“Oh I don’t know.” Livia shrugs “He never invited you to sit with him again did he?”
“Yes he did.” He insists, a haughty expression on his face “It was just that I didn’t want to, so of course he would sit with someone else.”
Sometimes Lysistrata truly wonders if Coriolanus hears the words that come out his mouth, because holy fuck his denial got to be a category of his own, it has to be on purpose at this point.
“Yeah but since you keep denying, I bet he will stop asking so you are free from those invitations.” Felix offers his contribution, smiling and leaning over to pat Coryo on the shoulder “Since now he has Festus and Persephone to hang out with and they don’t reject his offers, rejoice my friend, you are free!”
Coriolanus looks like someone just told him a brand new piece of information and Lyssie fights the urge to facepalm, of course Mr Ego never stopped to think about the possibility that Sejanus would ever prefer anyone else's company. He looks genuinely shocked as he stares at Felix with wide eyes and Felix just shrugs again turning to look at the table they are currently speaking off.
And boy, do they all turn to look at them at the perfect moment. The three are sitting side by side, with Festus in the middle, and it looks like both Sejanus and Persephone are helping him with some assignment or another as they have a bunch of books and notes scattered over the table and Festus is writing something, when he finishes he looks at the two of them like they hung the moon.
“You two are the loves of my life” Festus proclaims and then proceed to kiss both of them on the cheek, smile splitting his face
Both Sejanus and Persephone blush, their whole faces heating so much it’s visible from a distance and it’s almost endearing the way they both duck their heads with small smiles on the corner of their lips.
The pencil Coryo was holding breaks.
“What do you have against pencils?” Arachne demands, looking incredulous at him “Are yours made of paper or something? How the fuck are they breaking so easily?”
“It's the power of repression.” Felix whispers to her, too low to be heard by anyone else but her and Lyssie at his other side “All that gay yearning has to go somewhere.”
Arachne gives him a long look but eventually nods, as if it makes all the sense in the world.
Lysistrata wonders if it's too late to find another friend group.
And because Felix has never seen a problem he didn’t feel the need to make worse, the only warning they get is a wink before he is turning to the direction of the other table.
“Plinth is taken, Festus!” Felix says loudly to be overheard by everyone who is in the surrounding tables, a shit eating grin on his face “Home wrecking is not a good look on you!”
“We have two hands for a reason, dumbass!” Festus replies without missing a beat, throwing his arms around Persephone and Sejanus who look at each other with twin looks of helplessness but lean into the one armed hug
Coryo looks like he is sucking on a lemon, hands gripping the edge of the table like he wants to flip the thing, or maybe throw it at Festus’ head who knows with him.
“I will take Persie's other hand!” Diana butts from the farthest table, her brother giving her encouraging pats on the shoulder, her new hat is dark red and quite stylish to be honest
“This is a library! Can't you all have some respect for those who are trying to study?” Coriolanus interrupts them, louder than anyone else had been, glaring at them all
“Oh Coryo, you are just bitter that there is no one holding your hand.” Festus grins at him before deliberately resting his head against Sejanus’ shoulder snuggling into him and dragging Persephone closer as he didn't let go of her
“I'm not interested in hand holding, I'm interested in reviewing for the test we will have tomorrow, some of us care about our work and grades, Creed” If looks could kill, Festus would have already dropped dead
“Keep telling yourself that, pal, I'm sure you will believe it some day.” Festus nods at him, grimly even if his eyes are shining with mirth
And then he proceeds to give Coryo zero chances of a reply because he is turning his attention to Persephone and Sejanus, arms still around them, and speaking something that makes them both laugh and Persephone gives him a light slap on the chest before opening another book and nudging in his direction.
Coriolanus breathes deeply, knuckles white as he still grips the table, and it looks like it takes him and herculean amount of effort to look away from the three of them and focus on his own open book, his expression is pinched and they are all nice enough to not mention the fact that he just stares blankly at the same pages until it’s time for them to leave for their next classes.
Arachne giggles and gets a kick under the table for it. Livia has a very calculating look on her eyes that bodes no good for anyone in close vicinity and Lysistrata can only hope from the bottom of her heart that whatever Livia is planning, she will put it into action when she is far, far away from her.
They discover that tough love works wonderfully at the end of the same day when they are all arranging their things in their lockers to leave. Coryo closes his locker and nods just once to himself before he approaches Sejanus like a man on a mission.
Clemensia is far too invested in him to not quietly follow, pretending she just wants to wait for Lyssie in her conveniently placed locker, the two exchanging conspiratory looks and turning to look at the two idiots.
“Coryo!” Sejanus greets him first, smiling at him like seeing him is the best part of his day
“Sejanus.” Coryo’s is more controlled of course, but there is a smile on his face and he leans on the locker besides him, his voice casual as he asks “Have you finished reading the book from the rhetoric’s assignment?”
“I finished it yesterday, have to say it was way better than I expected.”
“I finished it too, would you like to meet after classes in the library to work on the essay together? I would appreciate your input in some points, if you don’t mind staying in the library with me tomorrow.”
“I would love to, Coryo.” Sejanus smiles brightly, looking at Coryo like he hung the moon and the stars and probably the whole solar system
And the tension on Coryo’s shoulders disappear like it never existed, his own features softening into a smile that feels honestly a bit too intimate for them to be staring at, like he can’t help but match Sejanus’ energy even as he tries to pretend it didn’t affect his mood at all.
“Wonderful.” There is even warmth in his voice now and he goes as far as to clap a hand on Sejanus’ shoulder, lingering for long seconds before speaking again “I will see you tomorrow, get home safe Sejanus.”
“Get home safe Coryo” The curly haired boy replies, softly watching as Coriolanus nods one last time and leaves, much more relaxed than he arrived
Clemensia and Lysistrata smile at each other and high five as soon as he turns his back to them.
Finally some fucking progress!