[attr="class","icon"]

"yeah, i'm good."[break][break]

he still feels out of his element but that isn't his fault. they are in an entirely different universe, after all, one with giant pokemon trying to kill them.[break][break]

their moment of reprieve is short-lived as Izumi Yamamura gives them direction.[break][break]

two keep watch, two to investigate.[break][break]

"wanna check it out? or you two can as well, i don't mind."[break][break]

he asks calla roth but would be fine with stepping back to allow the roths to investigate.

[attr="class","bottom"]calla roth Kieran Roth Izumi Yamamura[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

"i just...don't know how we got here. i wouldn't trade it for anything."[break][break]

he's being sappy. too sappy, perhaps. but it's just him. he's not had anyone to be sappy with and to.[break][break]

his gaze does drift eventually, even if only for a second.[break][break]

"...should we start baking?"

[attr="class","icon"]

in reality, she's more likely to get sick of him. he's not the most mature—in fact, he's been called immature for the majority of his life. but maybe that's not such a bad thing.[break][break]

he rests his forehead against hers, eyes fluttering shut for moments.[break][break]

"i can't help it, cal. you're just, so, you. amazing. wonderful. fantastic. i ran out of words but you know what i mean."[break][break]

a chuckle.[break][break]

"i have to pinch myself sometimes to make sure i'm not dreaming."

[attr="class","icon"]

"nah, not suspicious at all."[break][break]

they could get away with it. maybe. maybe not. but at least they'd have fun trying.[break][break]

"how could i ever get sick of you?"[break][break]

leaning into her touch, he kisses her nose, light and full of affection as he shakes his head.[break][break]

"i could never."

[attr="class","icon"]

"it is killer, isn't it?"[break][break]

the paper bag is placed on the counter beside her before he takes a step closer to her. he's careful to time it carefully so as to not get kicked by her swinging legs.[break][break]

"you know you can always come in more often, right? just say you have a document to run through with me or something and then stay all day."[break][break]

he grins, leaning close to her face.[break][break]

"or, i could move your desk into my office."

[attr="class","icon"]

much to his surprise, they're able to make their way out of danger, disappearing deeper into the jungle where they can continue their exploration.[break][break]

the wilderness must be explored! as he likes to say.[break][break]

"phew. that was really close."[break][break]

he laughs as he looks around at the rest of the team to make sure they're okay. naturally, he gravitates towards calla roth out of the three, drifting by her side.[break][break]

"is everyone okay?"[break][break]

the question is voiced right before he turns to notice how they're on the edge of...something.

[attr="class","bottom"]calla roth Kieran Roth Izumi Yamamura[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

it hasn't even been half an hour before they run into yet another thing that's likely trying to kill them. uriah can do no more than sigh when he sees a large shadow looming over them.[break][break]

"here we go."[break][break]

sharing glances over Kieran Roth and calla roth, he shrugs a shoulder and tugs his dodrio in a direction.[break][break]

"go, go, go! julian!"[break][break]

away.

[attr="class","bottom"]calla roth Kieran Roth Izumi Yamamura[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

"aw, did you?"[break][break]

it's the little things that catch him off guard that make his heart flutter the most. the way she pouts at him is killing him and it shows in how easily he gives in to her.[break][break]

"missed you too."[break][break]

even if has only been a few hours since.[break][break]

"all i could think about was getting work out of the way so i could spend time with you."

[attr="class","icon"]

uriah returns the peck, a smile easily flitting across his face as he does so.[break][break]

"happy to be here."[break][break]

honestly, he prefers it to his place even if it isn't as upscale. it's nicer because she's here and also because it's her space, and he's thankful to be able to share that.[break][break]

"shame your brother won't be here, though. guess we have the place all to ourselves."[break][break]

not that he minds, clearly. he's just teasing.

[attr="class","icon"]

not met with anything beyond the the light smack of her ponytail, he's left chuckling, realizing that he has to work if he wants a proper greeting. can't really fault her, though. not when he had teased her like that.[break][break]

"wait, wait, wait."[break][break]

stepping after her, he is quick to brush past her if only to turn around right in front of her, blocking her path back into the kitchen.[break][break]

he looks down at her, grinning.[break][break]

"hello, cal. how are you?"

[attr="class","icon"]

her affirmation is enough to make his heart flutter, now even warmer than the fire that burns behind them.[break][break]

"i'm not going anywhere either."[break][break]

he says as well, smiling.[break][break]

"we'll make it work."

[attr="class","icon"]

when the door pulls open, greeting him with such a wonderful sight, he almost feels bad about feigning the confused look on his face that follows her question.[break][break]

"the sugar?"[break][break]

but it's not like he ever keeps up the act long. his hands which had been held behind his back is brought to the front, revealing a small grocery bag with the missing ingredients inside it.[break][break]

his smile is warm.[break][break]

"of course i did. i literally only had one job to do."