madimpossibledreamer | The Right Question 7: Curiosity

Main Points:
Crusade (The Right Question)
Chapter Summary: Gideon's curious about the differences between a technomage and a non-technomage.
Word Count: 345
Rating: Teen
could be read as gen or preslash, though it leans more toward preslash.

        Maybe it’s a useless question, but it’s not the first idle question Matthew’s asked. “Do you get hangovers? Or does your magic take care of that for you?”
        “In most respects, I’m identical to your average human.” That could be read as either yes or no. Gideon’s gotten much better at reading the technomage, where and how to interpret and where to just give up, and every experience tells him that Galen simply isn’t answering, this time. He casts a glance over. The man doesn’t look hungover. It feels like Galen’s withdrawing, uncomfortable with the closeness of last night, but that, too, makes sense, however frustrating it is. Gideon hasn’t worked at this for so long to lose his patience now.
        “Except for your ability to cast spells.”
        The look Galen gives him is astonished (and likely staged). He doesn’t need to say the sarcastic ‘you’re observant’ out loud, but still communicates that loud and clear with just his eyebrows. The technomage answers anyway. “Why, yes.”
        Matthew finds himself smiling in response. “Trying to keep some sense of mystery?” he clarifies, and the technomage matches his smile.
        “For better or worse, enigma is a chief component of magic.” The twinkle of mischief is nothing new; it often accompanies Galen’s smiles. Its presence now, though—is the technomage teasing him?
        Well, he can always test the waters of responding in kind. “I wouldn’t worry too much. For every one answer I get, I think of another three.”
        “Such is the price of knowledge. The more you know, the more you’re aware of what you don’t know.” For once, the feeling that Galen may or may not be laughing at him isn’t a slightly annoying price to pay, but an objective he’d fought for.
        “I don’t regret it.” There’s very little Gideon regrets, and absolutely nothing about his friendship with Galen is included in that category.
        “Given some of the things you’ve done to learn about me, asking questions is hardly one I would expect you to.” It might be a reprimand. It doesn’t feel like one. Just a fond, if slightly disapproving, reminder. The silence that falls between them is comfortable.