”Red velvet cake. It tastes amazing and looks great, what more can you ask for?”
[break][break]
To no one’s surprise, Mars is the sort of person who cares about his food looking aesthetically pleasing. He often enjoys it much less when it’s not, and even though that’s somewhat silly, it’s not like he can help it.
[break][break]
The rich scarlet colour of a red velvet cake, the contrast between it and the pristine white of the icing between layers… It’s all just delightful to him.
[break][break]
Yet, as much as he likes the thought of red velvet cake, it’s the memories that come with Cian’s next question that make him smile as honestly as he does at those moments.
[break][break]
”Do you really wanna know? It’ll probably sound kinda sad.”

[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

cian could sit there and argue over what the best cake is, but they're both entitled to their own opinions, even if mars is definitely wrong about his. vanilla is better than red velvet, clearly.

"yes. why wouldn't i?"

he shakes his head.

"tell me."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

He can think of more than a few reasons why he shouldn’t tell Cian that story at this very moment, starting by the simple fact that it’s his birthday and it’s meant to be a fun day, so Mars shouldn’t make it about himself.
[break][break]
But, didn’t he say they’d do everything Cian wants today?
[break][break]
’Tell me.’
[break][break]
There really isn’t much choice, is there?
[break][break]
Mars sighs in defeat, but there’s a chuckle and the smile remains. Over the table, he reaches to find Cian’s hand, looking at him.
[break][break]
”Fine... I guess it’s probably obvious, but my grandparents aren’t exactly the ‘cake in your birthday’ type, so as a kid I didn’t get to do that for a long time...”
[break][break]
This comes with a dismissive shrug, because even though he knows it’s not the way it is with most families, it’s just what Mars has been used to all of his life. Nothing seems okay about the idea of having birthday cake with his grandparents. It just wouldn’t be right, or even fun.
[break][break]
”Last I remembered was having funfetti cake with my dad, and I kind of slipped about it once when talking to one of my friend at school… I was like sixteen or something. She made me one for my next birthday and it was probably the driest cake I've ever had.”
[break][break]
He laughs, because the fact that funfetti cake has a special place in his heart has nothing to do with the taste of it.

[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

fuck mars' grandparents, honestly. cian's not a violent person in general but there are things he wishes he could do to them — things that will be left unsaid for both their sakes.

"well, it's the thought that counts, right?"

he chuckles, reaching out for mars' hand.

"i'll make you a proper funfetti cake next year."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

Whatever hearing about his grandparents’ actions may evoke in Cian, it surely can’t be worse than anything Mars himself has thought of doing to them. It surely can’t be worse than what he already plans on doing and what he’s already working towards, but of course, that’s something he’s yet to tell Cian about, isn’t it?
[break][break]
They really should talk about those things, considering how much they will affect the future, but today is not the day, is it?
[break][break]
For a moment, the portentous words spoken by the mysterious pokémon that one night ring in his mind, but Cian’s words push his thoughts away from that.
[break][break]
’I’ll make you a proper funfetti cake next year.’
[break][break]
Would he really do that for Mars?
[break][break]
It probably isn’t hard to do at all, but the thought of it makes him feel warm inside.
[break][break]
”I’d love that, but we can always buy cake, you know? It’s okay.”
[break][break]
There’s a gentle squeeze of his hand, because in a way, it’s also nice to hear that Cian looks forward to spending his next birthday with him…
[break][break]
And many more.


[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

his hand finds mars', and he returns the squeeze with ease only to reach his other hand out to slap mars'.

gently, of course.

"true, but buying one and making one is different."

he shrugs a shoulder.

"i dunno. just feels more personal, i guess."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

”Ow. Cian!”
[break][break]
Obviously, the slap didn’t actually hurt at all, but when will Mars ever not be a dramatic bitch?
[break][break]
He knows why it happens, and he chuckles about it, a bright grin illuminating his expression as he looks at Cian from across the table, and gently, almost as if not thinking about it, a thumb affectionately runs circles on the back of his hand...
[break][break]
”I know, but you also don’t need to put all that effort for my sake... Though I bet the cake would taste much better if you make it.”
[break][break]
As things always seem to, in Mars’ opinion.
[break][break]
Since, Cian’s right: it is more personal, and it feels like a sign of affection, even if he may be no Michelin Star chef.

[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

always so dramatic. cian rolled his eyes in response, but he found it adorable.

"i don't do things for you because i need to."

it should have been obvious, so why was there even a need to clarify? again, he slapped mars' hand, clicking his tongue at the same time, almost disapprovingly.

"i do things for you because i want to, and i want to bake you a cake."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

’I don't do things for you because I need to.’
[break][break]
This much Mars knows, just as he knows the words that will come next, but that still doesn’t stop him from pouting when his hand is slapped once again – if only for Cian’s sake.
[break][break]
”Babe.”
[break][break]
As sad as he may act, the truth is that Cian’s words make him glad. That he’s happy that Cian wants to do things like those for him, and that it means a lot to him. It did back during Mars’ own birthday when he cooked dinner for both of them, and it will continue to make him feel happy and glad every single time Cian does things like those – no matter how mundane something like cooking may seem.
[break][break]
It makes him feel loved, even if those words are yet to be spoken between them.
[break][break]
So, he should tell Cian as much, shouldn’t he?
[break][break]
”I know… Thank you. It means a lot to me that you do.”
[break][break]
His words are honest, as is the way he smiles.

[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

more relieved than anything that mars has finally gotten the message, cian sighs, finally smiling after what feels like too long.

"i know."

saying nothing more than that, he reaches for his drink, finishes it, then gestures out the door.

"now come on. let's go shopping."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

Mars had gotten the message from the beginning, of course, but the simple truth is that as much as he’s the kind of person who could have just about anything he wishes for, he’s not used to people wanting to do things like those for him.
[break][break]
It’s not what he has ever expected from others, so it does feel like a lot of unnecessary effort, but he’s happy whenever realizing that Cian is willing to put all that effort for him.
[break][break]
It truly makes him feel happy, and glad, and perhaps even so very lucky to be with Cian…
[break][break]
Even when Mars tells himself he doesn’t believe in luck.
[break][break]
”Sure, let’s go.”
[break][break]
Without letting go of his hand, Mars stands, reaching over to gently kiss Cian’s cheek before they leave the restaurant.


[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

the kiss on his cheek is familiar, warm, and he'll always cherish it. with his hand still in mars, they leave the restaurant, stepping back out into the streets of alto mare.

now full of pizza and re-energized, cian's just about ready to do anything, as mars might be able to tell by the spring in his step. he tugs mars along, then turns to ask:

"so, how long until we get there?"

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

Lucky.
[break][break]
Alto Mare is full of wonders, and it’s a place Mars has truly begun to love, but in all of his visits to the island, never once did he feel like this. Not when he stayed here when he was eighteen. Not when he visited with her.
[break][break]
Why are things different with Cian?
[break][break]
Will it always feel this amazing to even do something as simple as walking down the street together?
[break][break]
Maybe it’s a “honeymoon phase” thing, but it really doesn’t feel like it…
[break][break]
”Aw, excited to go shopping?”
[break][break]
More like excited to do just about anything. Mars grins about it, because it’s just adorable.
[break][break]
”Five minutes for sure this time. It’s not a big city, the shopping district is only a couple of blocks away.”
[break][break]
This time, he actually does mean five minutes, unless...
[break][break]
"Though, there's a cute park nearby if you wanna walk through there instead. It'd be romantic and all."
[break][break]
Mars winks at him then.


[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER