Chapter Text
Ivy's knees were shaking.
Well, to be more exact, all of Ivy was shaking. In Ivy's opinion, the shaking was illogical, but that fact didn't much help them to stop.
Held tight to their chest with one arm was a dark red jacket, and in their other, shaking hand, they held a note which read,
"Hey Ivy, sorry for how shitty the writing is I can’t stop shaking. So we’ve both made it pretty clear that we have feelings for eachother. And I know I said just like two days ago that I want to wait until I’m ready but I can’t stop thinking about you. Which now that I’m putting that down that sounds stupid lemme try that again. I can’t stop thinking about officially being with you. I want it and I think I’m ready. I’m sorry I took so long. But yeah we can like properly discuss this when I come in for you to read to me. I love you. -Jonny D’ville"
Franky, it was a lot to take in, Ivy felt like he was experiencing ten different emotions at once. They read the note repeatedly as if it somehow would make them shake less. She couldn't stop smiling, her eyes watering slightly from the intensity of her emotions.
He couldn't even begin to put a name to all of them, was it excitement? Anxiety? Love? Relief? Perhaps all at once. They were mostly good emotions, but so many, it felt painful, like being presented with all your favorite things in the world and having very little time to even comprehend it all.
Ivy read it over again.
"I can’t stop thinking about officially being with you."
Jonny must have read Ivy's rant from the previous day. The wording would suggest that.
"I want it and I think I'm ready."
Ivy's heart soared at this. He didn't realize how long he'd been wanting to hear that.
"I'm sorry I took so long."
Ivy felt bad Jonny even felt it necessary to put that in there. She hoped Jonny didn't think she was getting frustrated with him over it.
"I love you."
The nail in the coffin. Ivy dropped their head and held the note close to their chest. Jonny had never said it that directly before. It'd always been tacked into a joke or somehow indirectly implied.
Ivy leaned back in their chair a moment, attempting to collect their thoughts enough to message Jonny and confirm a time for them to actually talk this out.
How Ivy was going to fare until then was a mystery to them.
The time did come, eventually.
The hours leading up to it went by slowly, with Ivy attempting to reshelve some books, and when that failed, organizing data Raphaella had sent her for the archive.
Finally, after checking that it was close enough to the time, Ivy left the library and walked down the hall to their room with a couple of books in hand they had set aside to read to Jonny.
Had they had time, Ivy would have started pacing their room once they arrived in it, but luckily they only had to set their books down on the desk before Jonny was in the doorway. Jonny looked like she'd been spending the last few hours about as anxious as Ivy was.
Jonny moved forward a few steps to let the door close behind him. He paused when he noticed Ivy properly, "You're wearing the coat."
Ivy looked down at the coat Jonny had given them, smoothing the deep red velvet with their hands, "'Course I am."
"It suits you well."
Ivy laughed, "I would hope so. You did make it after all."
Not keen on having a strange stand-off in the middle of their room, Ivy went over to sit on their bed, patting the space next to them in an invitation to Jonny.
Reluctantly, Jonny sat down next to Ivy. His nervousness seemed ironic considering he usually loved taking up almost all the space on Ivy's bed.
Ivy crisscrossed her legs and turned to face Jonny. "Hey," She took one of his hands in her own. "I do not say this nearly enough, but, I love you."
"Thanks, I guess, I um- I love you too." Jonny squeezed Ivy's hand.
"So, you wanted to talk?"
"I did- er- I do. Yes." Ivy squeezed Jonny's hand back and they tried to find the words. "I want to be with you, Ivy. Officially. Whatever that means. Partners, dating, I don't care, but, I'm ready now."
"I like the sound of partners."