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A date.[break][break]

A discreet and removed one, yes, but a date all the same. No masks, no being tucked away in their homes or their offices. Lavaridge is out of the way, but a pretty little place to boot. Donned in a yukata of dark blue which fades to pale seafoam at the bottom, they fit right in.[break][break]

Though with the festival in full swing, it takes a moment to find jayden cross where he’s tucked himself away. Though when Fern does finally manage, his statement catches them by surprise.[break][break]

Fern tilts their head, brows knitting together even as they smile at him. “What? Of course I came…” They release a breath of laughter as they brush a hand against his cheek. “Did you think I’d have you come all this way and then stand you up?”[break][break]

Even more than that—why would they stand up the person they thought to be their partner? It is wild, silly. Their hand tosses their own hair lightly. “No, here I am. Sadly, you are stuck with me, Michail.” Fern smiles wider then, and steps closer.[break][break]

Always eager to be pulled into the other’s gravity.

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Their brows lift in mild amusement as they smile knowingly at what they perceive as the slightest hint of sulkiness.[break][break]

“No?” they tease before their smile breaks wider across their face. “That is good then, because I would never leave you alone.”[break][break]

Not even for what some might consider a casual little date.[break][break]

Hands slot into theirs and Fern raises one pair to press a soft kiss against Jayden’s knuckles—peering at him over the ridge of them with playful eyes. “Shall you prove it, then?” they ask, head tilting as they inch closer. Sandals still clacking against stone.[break][break]

They do soften, though. After a moment. “I’ve been looking forward to this.”

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Whatever they are expecting in return for the tease, it is not honest thanks. Fern blinks a few times before their smile turns tender.[break][break]

“Of course, duck. It’s not even in question.”[break][break]

A soft laugh flutters through the space between them, and their head tilts to the side as their eyes remain trained on him.“Yes, very much so.” Though they’ve found that they often miss his presence when he’s not around.[break][break]

The sound of his voice. The soft timbre of his laugh. His warmth and his scent on their pillows.[break][break]

Turning, he begins to lead them both back toward the festival by the hand. “I did! Very much so—expect something for yourself in the next day or so.”[break][break]

They’d been waffling what to get this time, and missed the day itself.

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“It was a sweet gift, it made my day—truly.”[break][break]

They squeeze his hand lightly. Really, he’d been reluctant to eat them at first, even if he’d immediately recognized the apple puffs as something commonly found in their part of Galar. No, instead, they had stared fondly at them, and at the card with its neat writing and signature.[break][break]

Yours, it had been signed.[break][break]

“I’ll be sure to make sure it’s extra good th—“ They’re interrupted by the fish treat, which they promptly open their mouth to take a bite from. Eyes light up in delight.[break][break]

“Ugh, that’s so good!” It’s nice, being out undisguised like this. It feels normal, it feels right. They glance up at him, eyes bright. “Oh, there’s all sorts of things. Other snacks…games..you name it! Have you never been to one of these?”

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“Are you sure?” they ask even as they’re being handed over the skewer entirely. Fern is quick to lift the treat back up to Jayden’s face for a nibble.[break][break]

Mirroring his prior gesture. Just in case.[break][break]

“I see. Well then we better make the most of it, hm?” They turn inward to look at him, their smile broad and bright.[break][break]

They don’t know Jayden’s old feelings tied to memories of the past. They don’t know what lingers under the surface. But they are here with him, and it provides the chance to build something shared together. To add to the bedrock foundation that has formed over months of effort.[break][break]

“How about a game then? You can pick which one It reminds him of silly youthfulness. And that feels like a good thing to harken back to. Just for a night, the ability to act young and foolish somewhere that they aren’t readily known or recognized.[break][break]

It’s freeing.

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Fern hums, face twisting in a look of serious contemplation. “There’s target shooting…goldfish scooping…and balloon darts? And that’s just a few of them.” They shrug, looking up at him cluelessly. It’s his pick.[break][break]

In the time it takes, though, as they stand there with hands tangled together, it gives them the pause to think. Maybe it could even be called daydreaming. Thoughts usually better left staying inside their head.[break][break]

But they feel comfortable enough with him, and he’s the driving force behind it, so as they twirl the skewer between their fingers they find themself blurting out the question.[break][break]

“—Do you ever wonder what it would be like if our lives were like this every day?” Fern doesn’t sound sad when they ask, it’s more absentminded than wistful, but they don’t look at him either.[break][break]

Instead, their brows furrow as they fixate on one of the game stalls with its strung lights and overstuffed prizes. Not just stolen moments like this one tonight, but all of the time.[break][break]

Fern’s never been one to wish for normal. In all likelihood, they think they’d grow restless and bored without much excitement. But sometimes they wonder. If it would be nice, if they would be happy. And they think yes, they really might.[break][break]

But it’s only ever when Jayden is right there alongside them.

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Their head nods avidly. “Okay, yeah. I was a real pro at darts, once upon a time.”[break][break]

Okay, so maybe that was a bit of a fib, but they’ve always sorta talked big when it came to little things like competitions and games.[break][break]

Fern blinks, then swivels to look at him fully. Was that a joke..? Whether it is, or not, they laugh. He really is the most literal person they know. “What? No, not at the festival.”[break][break]

Some of their hair is pulled back with a sparkly pin. But they tuck strands behind their other ear as they contemplate. “No, I just meant. You know, real civilian life. Doing stuff like this without having to worry about being noticed.”[break][break]

Even when they’d technically been a civilian, they’d never been normal.