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Chapter Text

Sunny put his knees to his chest, shifting a little closer into the shade of a tree within the secret hangout area. He inhaled deeply, taking in the peaceful scenery. Their checkered red-white picnic mat was set up near the lake, crumbs and stains littering the empty plates and bowls set up. Mari sat there together with Hero, a smug grin on her face as she said something Sunny couldn't quite hear, causing Hero to turn red and look away with an embarassed smile. Further away, a fast-running Kel was keeping a good distance away from an angry Aubrey. Ah... Aubrey. The sun shining on her bright pink hair cast her in an angelic glow, her anger doing little to dampen her beauty. Oh, how Sunny wished he could hug her, taking in her scent. How he wished they could lie on the couch with each other like how Hero and Mari did at Basil's 12th birthday party. How he wished they could spend time basking in the shade of a tree with each oth-

A sudden flash of light broke Sunny's train of thought.

Sunny jolted out of his daydream, his head whipping over to Basil. A polaroid reeled out of his camera. Basil gave Sunny a smirk. "Sunny... That little crush of yours... it seems to have only grown over the years, hasn't it?" He removed the polaroid, giving it a quick look over. Sunny vehemently shook his head 'no', before he felt the blush catch up from his ears to his face, causing him to bury himself into his knees. "Take a look, Sunny."

Sunny peeked his eyes out from his knees, taking in the photo – himself, sitting up against a tree, his normally locked jaw drooped slightly open, a dreamy expression on his face. He almost saw stars shining in the eyes of the picture of himself. Basil continued, his smirk getting wider. "Have your feelings for her really not grown at all?" Sunny's blush intensified, as he once again frantically shook his head 'no'.

"Ah, that's a shame." Basil said, his smile slowly turning to a tiny frown. "I actually took a few pictures of Aubrey earlier. She looked so cute in them!" Sunny's head shot up from his knees, his eyes widening. "But I guess you don't really want to look at them anymore..." Basil pretended to stand up and walk away.

Sunny grabbed firmly onto Basil's sleeve as he began to stand. Sunny's face flushed crimson, as he pursed his lips before opening them once more. "...Please..." his soft voice drifted out, almost inaudible. "...let me see them."

Basil sat down, give Sunny a wide smile as he leaned into him. "Hehe! Sorry for teasing you, Sunny. Here, have a look!" As Sunny pouted, Basil pulled out a set of polaroids from the pocket of his overalls...

......

"-and I swear his eyes started to sparkle. I didn't want to say anything so as to not ruin his moment, but he's definitely still in love!"

The setting sun cast a red glow around the park. Sunny, Aubrey, and Kel were a ways ahead on the path to Hobbeez, with Hero tailing them not far away. As Basil finished recounting his tale, Mari nodded with a small grin, fully invested in the story. "As for Aubrey..." She began.

......

Aubrey and Mari were in Mari's room, in front of the vanity set. Mari ran a brush through Aubrey's hair, earning a smile and a sigh from the pink-haired girl. The smile unchanging, Aubrey furrowed her brows slightly, thinking before breaking the near-silence. "Mari, can I trust you with a secret?"

Mari replied with a warm smile. "Of course!" She said, continuing to straighten Aubrey's slightly messy hair.

Aubrey shifted nervously on the stool, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks. "For the past... few y-" Aubrey cleared her throat. "-Months now... I... I've been getting a strange feeling in my chest when I see... this boy." Mari's smile grew wider, putting the hairbrush down on the vanity as Aubrey flushed deeper. "E-every time I see him smile, I feel like holding him close and never letting go. When I'm with him I feel like the day is brighter, and it kinda makes me... happy? And on the days I don't see him, I feel sad, like I'm missing out on something." Aubrey covered her red face. "Is it what I think it is...?"

"Yep! Looks like someone has a crush!" Mari exclaimed, an ecstatic look on her face. "Who's the lucky boy?"

A long silence proceeded, with Mari expecting a response, and Aubrey only getting redder and redder. Eventually, an inaudible sound came from Aubrey's throat. "...ny."

"What was that, Aubrey?"

"Y-you have to promise to keep it a secret, okay!?" Aubrey suddenly raised her voice. "Promise me!"

Mari's gave her a winning smile in the mirror. "I promise, Aubrey. You can trust me!"

Aubrey paused, shifting herself in her seat again. "...It's Sunny." Aubrey admitted, before turning a dark shade of scarlet, lowering her head and covering her face.

Mari gasped, her ecstatic smile returning once more. "Ohh! Oh my goodness! Sunny would be so happy to hear that! You should really tell him how you feel, Aubrey!"

Aubrey looked up, slight panic in her face. "But, but! What if he doesn't like me in that way? We're already in a good spot, if I tell him and he doesn't like me back, it'll get super awkward! I might ruin everything!"

"Aubrey..." Mari sighs, her smile not leaving. "I don't think you'll have to worry about that one bit. Sunny isn't the kind of person to do that." Besides, Sunny has had a crush on you since forever ago.

......

"And after that, she started making excuses, saying Sunny is a guy and he should be the one asking her out, and that she's been hinting to him but Sunny never seems to get it... you know. Excuses." As Mari finished her story, Basil put a hand to his chin, a smile growing on his face. They looked to each other, both recognising the knowing sparkle in each other's eyes.

==========================================

1:36 PM

Basil created a group chat.

Basil added Mari to the group chat.

Basil added Hero to the group chat.

Basil changed the chat name to GS&AT

[1:36] Basil: And so, the first 'get Sunny and Aubrey together' meeting shall now commence!

[1:37] Hero: Why am I a part of this?

[1:37] Basil: Given it'll be Valentine's in a week, I was going to get Sunny to come make chocolates with us!

[1:37] Hero: Ah

[1:38] Basil: We'll need to distract Aubrey, though...

[1:39] Mari: Leave that to me. I'll set up a picnic at the park! Though, it might get suspicious if it were just the 3 of us. You might have to join us, Basil.

[1:40] Hero: How about you guys bring Hector? He could do with a little exercise.

[1:40] Mari: That's a great idea, Hero!

[1:40] Mari: What about the big day itself?

[1:41] Basil: Sunny once told me that Aubrey rants to him on the swings

[1:41] Basil: I could try to convince him to spill the beans at that point.

[1:42] Mari: Not a bad idea, but their rant timings tend to be random

[1:42] Mari: Wait!

[1:42] Mari: I could convince Sunny to call Aubrey to the swings!

[1:43] Mari: Given it'll be Valentines, there'll probably be a great mood!

[1:44] Hero: So am I just here to teach Sunny how to make chocolate?

[1:44] Basil: Hero!

[1:44] Mari: Hero! We'll need you to distract Kel!

[1:44] Basil: We'll need you to distract Kel!

[1:44] Hero: Uh

[1:45] Hero: I can do that, yeah.

I wanted to spend time with you though, Mari. Hero sighed and put a hand to his head, flipping his phone closed. They even made him install this "eBuddy" software on his phone so they could do a group planning for Valentine's. For sure, he wasn't against helping Sunny and Aubrey get together, he just had the selfish desire to spend Valentine's with the one he loved most, Mari. His phone vibrated in his hand. He exhaled, flipping it open to see a text from Mari.

"Hero, we don't have to spend time on Valentine's specifically! We've already done so for the past few years! This'll be the first Valentines Sunny'll spend with his first crush! Do this for me, Hero... Please? :)"

Almost as if she was reading his mind. Well... I can't refuse if you're asking so nicely... He thought, as he began to type his reply.

=================================================

A sweet smell lingered in the air of the kitchen. Sunny and Hero watched their handiwork cool on baking racks, the smell causing Sunny's mouth to water, though he resisted the urge to taste it. For the first time in the few hours Sunny was with Hero, he looked up and spoke. "Hero..."

"Mm?" Came the response.

"How... did you and Mari... get together?" Sunny's muted voice came out, imperceptible to all but Hero standing next to him.

Hero's face turned pink, his hand going to the back of his neck. "Ahaha..." He took a deep breath, putting his hands to his hips, his brows furrowing. "Sunny... I understand you want to use my situation to help you with yours. Unfortunately, my case is- well, different."

Sunny raised an eyebrow quizzically, prompting Hero to elaborate. "You... know how perceptive Mari is, right?" Sunny nodded. He remembered all the times it felt like she was reading his mind from just his actions.

Hero put a hand to his chin. "You remember just before the recital from years back? Mari still talks about how you were getting so frustrated and needed some time away from it. I'm still a little ashamed I wasn't able to tell, and I'm sure Kel and Aubrey would be too, if they knew. Heck, I don't think anyone except Mari and maybe Basil were able to tell how you were feeling at that point."

Sunny looked away, a little embarrassed, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Hero continued. "Putting that aside, Mari had figured out my feelings at some point while we were all hanging out..."

......

The fifteen-year-old Hero and Mari were both washing dishes, listening to the sound of the four twelve-year-olds playing. "Say, Hero. I've been meaning to get a birthday present for someone. Do you have any suggestions?"

Hero looked up. "Eh? Uh, sure. Who're you getting it for?"

Mari pointed her eyes away, a small smile growing on her lips. "That's a secret."

"Well alright. Do I know them? What's the person's age and gender? That'll narrow down what they like." Hero wiped his hands off, crossing his arms.

"Hmm... sixteen years old, and he's a male. I'd think you know him pretty well..." Mari's small smile widened to a smirk.

So the present is for someone other than me. An upperclassman, probably... Hero's smile started disappearing off his face, a sinking feeling coming up in the pit of his stomach. His ears started ringing slightly. There's... no way, right?

Silence continued for about half a minute. The tension in the air could be cut with a knife.

"Do you... like this person?" He couldn't stop himself from asking, looking directly at her as he did. While Mari did not respond, he noticed some pink begin to appear on her face, as she dipped her eyes slightly away from him. Hero felt his heart sink, the feeling in his stomach churning like a maelstrom into a burning pit of despair. Attempting to hide his distraught face, he splashed some water in his eyes, ignoring the slight burning pain in his eyelids and the intense burning pain in his heart.

Mari started giggling.

"What's so funny, Mari?" Hero asked, barely able to stop his voice from shaking.

Mari's giggles turned into chuckles. "The present is for you, silly!"

Hero's breath hitched, as time seemed to freeze. His emotions, still in turmoil, only allowed him to turn slowly towards Mari. "What?"

"Won't you be sixteen next year? I was planning for your next birthday present!"

Hero's devastated look slowly morphed into a look of surprise. The heavy feeling in his chest lifted, and it felt like he was able to breathe properly once more. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, and wasn't able to stop himself from beginning to laugh, not out of seeing the humour in the situation, but out of sheer relief.

Mari's smirk turned into a smug grin. "Did you like me that much, Hero, getting that jealous? You looked absolutely distraught!"

Hero kept laughing despite his reddening blush. "It's true! I do! And I got so, so jealous! Oh thank goodness, Mari! Please don't do that to me ever again!" He gave the surprised Mari a hug, the relief weighing more than the initial heavy dread he felt, making his legs almost unable to support himself.

......

"...and she was the one who broached the topic with me. So yeah, it's a little different. Sorry I can't help you out more. That being said..." Hero smiled as he began to pack the chocolates properly. "I'll be supporting your confession as much as I can. Do it confidently. Good luck, Sunny!" He said, as he handed the box over to Sunny.

"...Thank you, Hero." Came the soft voice of Sunny. He clutched the box to his chest, as if it would calm his nervousness, and hustled back to his house.

=====================================================

The setting sun made the shadows grow longer. Sunny sat on a creaky swing, a hand slightly squeezing his hand-made confectionary within the sling-bag he was carrying. Letting out a breath, he straightened out his vest for the fifth time in 10 minutes, combing his hair with his fingernails.

"It'll go great, Sunny! Trust your big sister on this! ...Don't be afraid, Sunny. It's not as scary as you think. Take a deep breath..." Mari's words rang in his ears as he inhaled deeply, quelling his fears.

As he opened his eyes, he caught sight of the beautiful pink-haired girl making her way towards the swingset. This is it. He thought to himself, battling the raging pit of anxiety threatening to burst out.

Aubrey took her place on the other swing. "Hey, Sunny." She began. "I heard you wanted to talk about something? You've listened to me many times before, so I owe you at least this much... What's up? Something getting you down?" She looked towards him, concerned.

Sunny pursed his lips, his heart pounding in his chest, his breathing growing faster. It's not as scary as you think. It's not as scary as you think. Sunny furrowed his brow, beginning to sweat out of nervousness despite the cool weather. Trust your big sister on this, Sunny! Mari's voice continued to ring in his mind in a desperate attempt to calm himself down. Sunny audibly gulped.

Noticing his struggle, Aubrey stood up, stepping over to face him. "Sunny? It looks like it's something really hard to say. I won't judge you, you know? You've done the same for me..."

It's now or never, Sunny. Sunny told himself, steeling his nerves, reaching into his sling-bag.

Aubrey could only react in surprise when a heart-shaped ribboned box was thrust into her field of vision, Sunny's muted voice louder than she's ever heard it piercing the silence. "I- I love you, Aubrey! Please go out with me!"

Sunny kept his head down, not daring to see her reaction. With any luck, if she doesn't like me in that way, she'll just go away and leave me by myself. As the silence reached mere seconds long, Sunny imagined the ground opening up and swallowing him whole, the tension in his heart reaching a breaking point. This was a bad idea, this was a-

His self-depreciating thoughts were interrupted by a sudden hug. A pleasant smell filled the immediate space around him, as he found himself being embraced by none other than the one he had a crush on. He felt his face redden, as he hesitantly returned the embrace. A sniffle came from Aubrey, and his embarrassment turned to worry. "...A-Aubrey? Are you alright? D-Did I do something wrong?"

Aubrey hugged him tighter, her tears staining the back of his vest. "You dummy... I'm so happy right now... I've always loved you too."

Always...? Sunny thought to himself, as his blush came back in full force.

Chapter Text

"What do you think, Sunny?" Mari said with a smile. "A double-date with me and Hero – that'll solve all your issues!"

Sunny glanced away in thought. True, a double-date was a nice idea for a third date, but wouldn't he feel more awkward trying to get closer to Aubrey with others watching him? Let alone his own sister.

Mari, as if reading his mind, responded. "Come on, Sunny! Trust your big sister on this! With our help, you might feel that special connection even during the date." Sunny looked back at Mari, causing her to put on a smug grin. "And at the end of it, I could give you a couple of tips to get even closer to her..." As Sunny's ears grew red, Mari continued, her smile getting slightly wider. "Oh? What might my little brother be thinking of now? Perhaps, you were looking forward to Aubrey giving you a k-"

"Mari!" Sunny interrupted, covering his reddening face. "It's not like that!"

Mari giggled at her brother's outburst, watching him blush. Sunny continued. "A-anyway, it'll depend on whether Aubrey is alright with it. A-and Hero as well."

Mari smiled. "I'll worry about Hero. If Aubrey isn't convinced, tell her-"

============================

"It was Mari's idea?" Aubrey asked over the phone. At least she seemed receptive. Sunny instinctively nodded, before realising she wouldn't be able to see him over the phone and responded, slightly embarrassed. "Mm. Mari said Hero would be driving us to a fancier place out of town this Saturday. She said to dress up a bit."

Aubrey facepalmed and mumbled. "Was this why she brought me to buy that dress just a few days ago? How long has she been planning this for?" She felt her lip curl up slightly.

"Did you say something?"

"No, it's nothing... Well, I don't dislike the idea... And I won't say no to having a fancy dinner." With you. She added in her mind. "Was that all you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Yeah, that's all. See you at 6 on Saturday?"

"Mm. I'll meet you at your place. " Came the response, as she hung up.

=============================

Friday came and went quickly, with Sunny getting more and more nervous as the promised time approached. Mari, ever the big sister, helped Sunny into a smart black-and-white suit and combed his hair neatly, before putting on her dress; a royal purple short-sleeved dress, with a ruffle trim on its right side from her waist down.

While Mari prepared her makeup, Sunny faced the bathroom mirror, frowning slightly. While he agreed he looked sharper in a suit, the fact that he barely grew at all since the recital annoyed him a bit. That, and the suit was quite uncomfortable; the long sleeves made his arms a little too heavy, the long pants made his legs a little too warm, and the tie made him feel he was being lightly choked all the time. Still, Mari seemed excited, and Sunny trusted her implicitly, so he decided to do it for her. And Aubrey.

He just wished he wasn't forced to put the suit on a whole hour before the meeting time.

=====================

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"I think that might be Hero!" Mari said with a smile. "Coming!"

Sunny followed behind, as Mari opened the door to reveal-

Bright pink hair providing a stark contrast to a black shoulderless dress. The single high side-cut complementing her legs well, Aubrey stood at the door, flushing slightly. "Ah. Hi, Mari."

Mari's smile grew wider. "Oh! Sunny! Aubrey's h-" As she looked behind her, she noticed stars in the normally emotionless eyes of Sunny. His usual clenched jaw hung loose, his mouth was slightly open. "Ahaha! Looks like he likes your dress!" she teased. "Tell her what you think, Sunny!"

"...beautiful." Sunny absentmindedly mumbled.

Aubrey grasped at her face in her thoughts. Sunny was too cute. And with that suit, the combination of cute and sharp was almost too much for her to behold. She blushed, looking away. "Thanks Sun-Bun. You're looking good too."

Sunny came back to reality the moment Aubrey called him by a pet name. He practically started melting, causing a giggle to escape Mari.

Just in time, Hero arrived in his dad's car, giving them a wave from the driveway.

Mari dragged the two beet-coloured lovebirds to the car, sitting in front, with the two sitting at the back.

=============================

The silent ride was interrupted by Hero.

"With Kel at his basketball training camp, and my parents trying out the new restaurant a few bus stops over, we've pretty much got the car to ourselves." Hero started.

"Oh...? With no one home like that- are you inviting me back to your house, Hero?" Mari teased, a smile growing on her face.

Hero cheeks turned pink. "That's not what I meant! It's just that we can stay out late if we wanted!"

"Ah, so not your house, but a hotel nearby? I see what you're after, Hero~" Mari continued.

Hero's face reddened. "-Ghh! Don't tease me while I'm driving, Mari!"

Mari laughed, then looked back and winked at Aubrey. Aubrey gave her a quizzical glance.

Was she trying to signal something? Was that a challenge, to do better than her?

...That can't be right. This is Mari we're talking about. ...Why'd she wink at me, though?

======================

The restaurant was bigger than expected. A red carpet lead up to a set of glass double-doors, with a registration counter at the end. The inside was lit by several chandeliers, and the tables had fancy laced tablecloths covering them. Wow...

The four got out of the car, with Hero paying a tip to the bellboy. Mari gives Aubrey a knowing grin, before latching onto Hero's arm with a bigger smile.

"M-Mari!?" Hero started, then composed himself. "R-Right." They started walking towards the front counter.

Aubrey's quizzical look gives way to slight anger. Oh, I see. She thought to herself. Mari's trying to show off. It was a challenge, wasn't it? Well, I'll show her. As Sunny stepped forward behind the couple, he felt a tug at his arm, as he suddenly found it locked within Aubrey's arm's grip.

"H-huh?" Sunny didn't resist, but his ears started to redden. "Aubrey, wh-"

"Shh."

At Sunny's startled yelp, Mari gave a quick look back. There was Sunny with red-tinted ears, his arm locked with Aubrey's, and Aubrey... looking like she won? Huh?

Oh. She must have gotten the wrong idea. Mari thought, another idea forming.

As they got to their assigned table, Mari let go of Hero's arm, and opted to lean on his shoulder with a smile. At this, Aubrey put her arm over Sunny's shoulders, and started caressing his deltoid, before maintaining what she assumed to be an challenging gaze at Mari.

Aside from the hugs he gave his sister, Sunny had never had physical contact like this before, let alone from someone he liked, and the amount of physical attention he was getting just caused his face to flush. Mari noticed, of course. All according to plan. Wonder how far she'll take this?

Hero either didn't notice, or pretended not to, as he called over a waiter and started placing his meal order. Aubrey and Mari followed up after him, with Aubrey ordering an extra-large spaghetti to share with Sunny, and Mari ordering drinks.

"So." Hero began. "I heard you both wanted to get closer to each other, but I see you're pretty much close as can be over there." Rather than flinch away from Sunny, Aubrey lightly squeezed his shoulder, and gave what seemed to be a smile of victory at Mari before replying. "Well, it's not really the same kind of relationship the two of you have, though I'm sure we still have room to grow."

Mari interlocked her fingers with Hero's, giving a smug grin to Aubrey. Aubrey strained a return smile. "I was actually surprised Sunny asked me for help on this." Mari put a finger to her chin, pretending to think. "The way he made it sound, it was as if you were just hanging out like we usually do, like friends."

At this, Aubrey winced, reached her arm up, and started petting Sunny's head. Sunny, overwhelmed by the sudden display of affection, grew red as a tomato, melting right into her touch. "I don't know what you're talking about." Aubrey responded, as Sunny leaned sideways into her. "We're usually this close."

Hero glanced away, unsure if they were being watched by other patrons. "Uh, Aubrey. I-is Sunny alright with you doing this?"

Aubrey looked at the blushing mess in her arms. "Oh. Er, Sunny? You alright?"

"hnmmmnnggggn" he responded.

"R-right." Aubrey released Sunny from her grasp. The pink in her face started turning into a full-blown red, as the absurdity of her actions caught up with her, causing Mari and Hero to chuckle.

"How shameless~" Mari laughed.

"Reminds of when we were a bit younger, doesn't it?" Hero chuckled.

Sunny continued leaning into Aubrey's shoulder, breathing a bit too heavily as she pouted.

===============

The food arrived eventually, as Sunny recomposed himself. Good as the spaghetti was, Sunny couldn't help but think about Aubrey, especially after she suddenly showered him in physical affection. What was with her today? Was it Mari? He glanced up at Mari, and watched her give him a knowing smile. Her expression changed to one of surprise, as she tugged at Hero's sleeve. Confused, both Sunny and Hero looked to what she was pointing at.

The one spaghetti strand in Sunny's mouth stretched over... to the strand out of Aubrey's mouth.

Oh.

WAIT.

With the sudden silence, the lack of even the clinking of utensils on plates caught Aubrey's attention. She looked up, and noticed two things. The first thing being Sunny looking at her, with a spaghetti strand connecting her mouth and his. What small amount of red in her face was instantly quelled by the second thing she noticed: Mari's smile, daring her to continue.

As Sunny contemplated his next move, he watched the look of recognition spark on Aubrey's face, before she leaned over, slurped up the spaghetti strand, and kissed him on the lips.

It lasted for barely a second, but for Sunny, it was an eternity. His first kiss, the taste of her lip balm imprinted on his. He stopped moving, the blood rushing to his face.

Aubrey looked towards the other couple. While Hero was looking away, embarrassed, Mari had a look of surprise, covering her o-shaped mouth with both her hands. Aubrey smirked at her, prompting her to respond, "Wow, Aubrey... How daring!"

Daring? Of course. It was just a kiss, after a-
... Oh, a kiss.

Aubrey clutched at her rapidly reddening face, replaying the situation over and over in her mind. Did I just do that? She peeked out her fingers, noting Hero looking away with second-hand embarrassment, and Mari trying to hold in laughter. She glanced to her side and saw Sunny's fork on the table, with Sunny himself probably the same shade of red she was, flopped onto his chair, smoke seeming to pour from his ears.

====================

Mari smiled all the way back to the car. A blushing Sunny and Aubrey walked side-by-side, flinching whenever their hands touched.

The moment the four of them got comfortable in the car, Mari broke the silence.

"Did you enjoy challenging yourself to greater heights, Aubrey?" Mari asked through giggles.

"S-Shut up... You started it..." The pink in her face intensified once more.

"Challenging...?" Sunny asked.

"You know, I actually grinned at you because I assumed you were having fun watching me tease Hero! I didn't expect you to take it as a challenge!" she laughed.

"...!" Aubrey covered her face with her hands again. Her silence was telling.

"So Sunny, what tasted better? The spaghetti, or Aubrey's lips?" Mari teased.

Sunny proceeded to have another silent meltdown.

"What about you, Aubrey? Spaghetti, or Sunny?" Mari continued.

"S-Shut up...!"

The rest of the ride back was peppered with Mari's teasing and giggles.

===============================================

Bonus art (Commissioned from Kazu)!: 

Chapter Text

It had been a week since the double date, and Sunny and Aubrey hadn't so much as held hands since that day. Sunny, touch-starved as he was, had gotten more clingy around Mari. Aubrey, with no siblings, was not so lucky. While she initially snuggled up with Bun-Bun a bit more, Bun-Bun had days where it would squirm away, preferring to keep to itself.

It was on one such autumn morning where the white rabbit wanted time to itself. Aubrey lay upon her bed, imagination running wild. She held both her hands together, imagining herself holding hands with Sunny, following him wherever his whims took them. The imaginary pair lay on a picnic blanket in the secret hideout watching the clouds go by, just enjoying each other's presence. She pulled her pillow out from under her head, imagining Sunny rolling over on top of her, hugging her close. She responded by hugging her pillow tightly.

“Oh... Sunny...” She thought to herself, lonely.

The more she snuggled with her pillow, the louder her thoughts became, so much so that she didn't notice herself verbalising her thoughts.

“Sunny... Mmm... Sunny...”

Indeed, she didn't even notice the sound of someone climbing up the ladder to her room, or moving closer to her bed, up until she flipped herself on her bed, meeting the gaze of one blushing onyx-haired boy.

“S-SUNNY!?” Aubrey gasped, red filling her face. She sat up and backed herself to the wooden wall her bed was next to, hugging her pillow like a shield. “Why- When did you- How long have you been standing there?”

Sunny's blush had already filled his face. "I- I wanted to visit... so I let myself in... I heard you calling my name... Was I interrupting any...? I'll go-" Sunny started slowly turning around.

"WAIT. Wait. Sunny." Sunny turned back to face her, as Aubrey put both her arms out towards him, averting her eyes. Her face still maintained its healthy red glow.

Sunny was confused for just a moment, before Aubrey broke the second-long silence. "Hug. Now."

His confusion turned to realisation. Sunny leapt onto the bed, almost tackling Aubrey into the wall behind her. "Oof! Eager, are we?" Sunny only responded with a smile no one saw.

As they slowly lay themselves onto the bed, Sunny broke the hug for a moment only to bury his head into the crook of Aubrey's neck, smiling all the way. The ruffle of Sunny's hair on Aubrey's face tickled her slightly, eliciting a giggle from the pink-haired girl. She tousled his hair, running her fingers through the soft mess. The mixed smell of him and his shampoo hit her, widening her smile, and lightly tightening her grip on his back. Leaning her head on his, she unabashedly inhaled his scent, happy to just be with him.

The pair enjoyed each other's warmth for a few minutes, relaxing and slowing their breathing to match each other. Aubrey stopped stroking Sunny's head and back and settled with holding him against her, both arms on his back. The silence was broken by a soft voice in the crook of Aubrey's neck. "I love you, Aubrey."

Aubrey tightened her grip on him, her smile growing once more. When did he become this forward? She thought. He's so cute. She snickered. "Love you too, Sun-Bun." She felt his shoulders tense and the heat from his face grow as she said the pet name. The smirk on her face grew a little more before she pursed her lips to hide it. She leaned closer to his ear. "What's wrong, Sunny-Bun?" she whispered, leaning even closer. "You suddenly tensed up."

Aubrey's whispering next to his oh-so-sensitive ears combined with the pet names she never let up on caused Sunny to almost physically melt into her. He held her tighter, burying himself harder into her, trying to hide his embarrassed face. He didn't know she could feel his fluttering smile pressing into her. Partially failing to hide her wide grin, she half-jokingly whispered, "Sunshine? You alright there?", causing him to quiver in her grasp. Way too cute.

His soft voice came up muffled in the crook of her neck. "I just... really, really love you... is all."

In her thoughts, Aubrey punched the wall a couple of times. It's not fair for him to be this cute! She pushed a knuckle into her mouth, stifling the grin still present on her face. As she used her other hand to ruffle his hair again, she felt her fading blush start rapidly coming back. "You're not really getting this mushy on me, are you, Sunny?"

"It's true..." She felt him hug her tighter for a second. "I never want you to feel lonely ever again."

Her wide grin softened, and her heart warmed. Even while she was teasing him, he was concerned about her earlier wellbeing. Her teasing grin slowly turned into a warm smile, as she once again lay her arms across his back. "Thanks, Sunny. In that case, can we stay like this for a while longer?"

“Mm...” Came the response.

=========================================

The pair fell asleep like that on that cool autumn day, the cold wind blowing through Aubrey's room every once in a while waking one of them up and causing them to snuggle closer to the other. Almost four hours passed, before the beep of an alarm woke both of them up.

“Ah, it's 1pm already? Sorry, Sunny, I promised Kim I would meet her for lunch.” Aubrey sat up, but found the attempt difficult. Sunny had made no effort to move, his arms still locked around her back, his head now relocated to her lap. “Sunny? C'mon, I gotta go.” She shook him a bit, assuming he was still asleep.

A soft response came from her lap. “Nnooo... Want moore hug....”

She smiled. Cute. He reminded her of Mewo. She ruffled his hair once more. “I'm out of time, Sunny. C'mon, we can cuddle more later.”

“Nooo....” Came the soft response. “More cuddleee...”

A loud rumble came from Sunny's stomach, causing Aubrey to chuckle. “Alright, come on, Sun-bun, let's get you some lunch.”

She attempted to stand up, but was still held back by the red-eared Sunny. She sighed. And she got an idea.

Reaching below Sunny's knees and his neck, she lifted him in a princess carry. Surprisingly light. Aubrey thought. Sunny, surprised, broke his grip for a second, only to reestablish his arms around Aubrey's neck. “There. Now we can both do what we want to do.” She smirked at him, watching him melt into her with a flushing, smiling face. That's way too cute. Catching herself staring, she averted her gaze, quickly moving to bring him out of the room.

============================

Eventually, Sunny let go after getting his fill of pizza. They bid goodbye to each other, Sunny almost having a skip in his walk as he headed back home.

Aubrey made her way back home, crashing onto the chair in her room. Sunny is kinda cute when he's all clingy like that. She absentmindedly thought to herself. As she started moving herself onto her bed, she caught a whiff of a familiar scent. Oh. Sunny held onto me for so long that his smell is on my clothes.

Laying onto her bed, she gingerly put her shirt to her nose and took a sniff, slowly wrapping her arms around herself. Mm... Almost as if he were right here... She smiled, slowly closing her eyes.

============================

Bonus Art (Commmissioned from Ant||Liaromori)!: 

Chapter Text

It was nearing winter, and the weather had started to turn colder. Sunny and Mari were enjoying their breakfast in the warmth of their home when a knock on the door pierced the silence. Mari smiled at Sunny, before standing up to answer the door.

"Oh, Aubrey! Come in! What brings you here so early in the morning? And what's with the bags?"

Sunny, catching the familiar name being called, popped his head out of the dining room. Aubrey stood in the doorway, a large pet carrier in one hand, and several plastic bags in the other. She put the bags down, exhaling as she did.

"Morning, Mari. I... actually got a favour to ask of you-" She caught Sunny staring. "-two."

"What is it, Aubrey?" Mari looked worried for a moment. "You didn't... run away from your home, did you?"

"What? Oh! No, no, no!" Aubrey lifted the pet carrier. "I just wanted to keep Bun-Bun over here for a few weeks or so! I'm starting a part-time job in the evenings at the new cafe opening up, and-"

"You're starting a part-time job!?" Mari worried look immediately turned into a winning smile. "Wow! I'm so proud of you, Aubrey! Look at you, getting more mature and stuff!"

"-er. Thanks Mari." Aubrey continued. "Point is, I feed him at about 8 in the evening, but my new job lasts till 10pm. So if it's not too much trouble..."

"Sure thing, Aubrey! Bun-bun eats carrots and greens, right?"

"Yeah, that's what these are." She pointed to the mass of plastic bags she set on the floor. "I figured I could prepare basically all of it first and count on you guys to ration it out."

"Of course!" Mari replied. "Why don't you join us for breakfast? You can leave Bun-Bun over by the coffee table for now."

"Oh, I don't really want to impose-" Aubrey's stomach grumbled loudly at this, causing Mari to smile wider, and Aubrey to flush slightly. Sunny nodded to Mari, piling a set of pancakes onto a third plate.

======================================

Eventually, breakfast was finished, Bun-Bun's new living quarters were set up in the living room, and Aubrey found herself sitting between Mari and Sunny on the couch, conversing (mainly with Mari) in front of the off television.

Sunny felt kind of left out. Even though he was sitting right next to Aubrey, she and Mari seemed to be off in their own world, swapping stories of school or hooligan-related drama. The stories started off interesting at first, but he was getting bored of yet another "dumb thing that Mikhael did", or another "social mistake some college professor did". Gingerly, he leaned himself onto Aubrey in an attempt to get attention, then lowered his head slowly onto her shoulder. This earned a tousle of his hair, but not much else.

Slightly annoyed at being ignored, he started lightly rubbing his cheek on her shoulder, before settling on inching his hand closer to Aubrey's. His attempts to get attention from Aubrey did not escape the notice of his sister, and her smile kept growing wider as Sunny continued.

"What's so funny, Mari?" Aubrey eventually asked, quizzical.

"Aw, Aubrey. You can't tell me you haven't noticed Sunny's been trying to get your attention for the past 5 minutes."

At this, Aubrey stopped ignoring Sunny's weight on her shoulder, looking towards him. "Sunny...?" Sunny stopped, looking up to face her with a sad, lonely look in his eyes.

Erk. Aubrey clutched her chest in her thoughts so strongly she nearly did so in person as well. Her face turned pink. Sunny is so adorable! I wanna hug him! She cried out in her thoughts. Her arms twitched, almost in response to what her inner thoughts sounded out, only held back by the sensible part of herself warning her that Mari was right there.

Seemingly sensing her conundrum, Mari got up, only to push Sunny's head into Aubrey's lap. "I'll get a head start on preparing Bun-Bun's food. Enjoy yourselves, you two!" She smiled, making her way to the kitchen.

The blush on their faces only intensified when Mari looked back and teased, "Oh, but not too much, there are some things you two shouldn't be doing in broad daylight~".

She proceeded to duck into the kitchen before Aubrey threw a couch cushion at her.

======================================

Aubrey played her fingers through Sunny's hair as the two of them recomposed themselves. "Sorry for ignoring you there, Sunny. " She started.

Finally getting some attention from Aubrey, Sunny's expression changed from a frown to a small happy smile. He flipped onto his back, exposing his small smile for her to see.

Hmmgh. She felt her face heat up, pursing her lips to stop her own growing smile. "Oh, Sunny-Bun." She stroked his hair. "You're too cute."

Oh, the pet names. No matter how many times she called him by a pet name, he would turn into a blushing mess each time. Sunny began to cover his quivering smile and reddening face with a couch cushion, before Aubrey roughly pushed it away with a grin. Watching Sunny squirm and attempt to cover his shyness gave her an odd sense of satisfaction, as she worked to removed Sunny's hands from covering his face. She leaned in closer to him, stopping centimeters away. "Why're you covering yourself up, Sunshine?" She felt him tense, his eyes darting from her to everywhere else. "Are you getting shy?"

Sunny felt his heart rate shoot up. His hands held in place by Aubrey, he could only stare at the beauty with the glint in her eye dominating his vision. He closed his eyes, unable to stop his fidgeting, yet also unable to cover his blush or his trembling smile. Desperately, he flipped himself onto his side once more, nuzzling his face into Aubrey's shirt. Surprised, Aubrey released her hold on his hands, only for him to reestablish them around her waist. A muffled murmur came from her stomach. "D-Don't be so mean, Aubrey..."

She chuckled, stroking his hair once more. "You're just the cutest, Sunny." She kissed him on the cheek, causing his blush to spread down his neck, and his grip to tighten on her. "I love you so much."

"...Love you too." came the delayed muffled response.

She closed her eyes, relaxing on the soft couch with the one she loved so much in her lap, and slowly drifted to sleep with a smile on her face.

=======================================================================================

Bonus:

Sunny came up to the doorway while Aubrey was putting on her shoes.

"A... Aren't you forgetting something?" Sunny said, looking away sheepishly.

Aubrey gave him a confused look, before embarrassedly smiling and pulling him in. She closed her eyes, meeting his lips with her own. She felt his body tense up, his knees almost buckle, and a small smile creep onto his face. Their hesitation and nervousness at such a bold action slowly faded, as they moved their lips to match each other, breaking apart only to plant more kisses onto each other's lips.

Their heavy makeout session was interrupted by a smiling Mari clearing her throat behind Sunny.

They pulled apart at the same time, Sunny massaging the back of his neck, and Aubrey looking away. Mari addressed the beet-coloured lovers. "I think what Sunny meant was this:" she said, as she lifted up Sunny's hand. A pink wallet rested within his grasp.

Aubrey flushed crimson, taking the wallet with mumbled thanks, before turning to leave. "Take care of Sun-Bun while I'm gone." Aubrey repeated softly.

"Sure- Wait, Sun-Bun?" came Mari's response. Her smug grin grew larger.

Aubrey facepalmed. "F- BUN-BUN. BUN.BUN. NOT S-SUN-BUN."

Mari smirked. "Oh, don't worry, I'll take real good care of your Sun-Bun for you, Aubrey~~"

As Sunny started melting on the spot, Aubrey quickly let herself out before she embarassed herself further.

Chapter Text

Aubrey's head rested on an unclenched fist, as she lay on the couch in Sunny's house. The peaceful silence led to a stray idea forming, one she needed answered. "Say, Sunny." She flipped the page of the magazine she was reading, brushing a stray hair from her face. She heard a sharp intake of breath, as Sunny, awoken from his daydream, tilted his head curiously towards her. "If you don't like talking on the phone that much, why do you always call and never text?"

A valid question, by any means. Which is why she did not expect him to suddenly flush pink and look away. She sat up, directly facing him. "Sunny? You alright?" Sunny's ears grew redder, stammering as if there were some sort of uncomfortable truth he was unable to put forth. "I... Well... It's just..."

"Sorry to interrupt, you two!" Mari's voice called from the kitchen. "It's getting late. Don't you have that job you have to get to, Aubrey?" Aubrey's eyes drifted over to the clock over the mantlepiece. "Huh? What time is - oh, shoot. Yep, gotta go." She got up, shuffling her feet towards the front door. "See you tomorrow, Sunny." She looked back, noticing Sunny sitting up, his gaze lingering on her. Their eyes met, and she flashed him a warm smile, watching his blush return to his ears. Aubrey giggled, stepping over to ruffle his hair, as he slowly lifted a couch cushion to cover his face, muting his soft voice even more. "See you tomorrow, Aubrey.".

To be able to make him blush just from a smile...Geez, Sunny. You sure make me feel pretty. Aubrey thought, leaning over to plant a kiss on his forehead. "Mmh..." Sunny murmured in response, meekly hugging the couch cushion, red spreading to his face, his eyes angling away from her. Cute... Unable to contain herself, she leaned over to give him a hug as well, an arm thrown over his shoulder, and another continuing to ruffle his hair. She basked in his warmth, letting loose a radiant smile. "Don't look so lonely, Sunny! I'll be back before you know it, alright?"

The sound of ruffling of hair and fabric was overridden by Mari's voice. "Flirting is fine and all, but keep doing it for too long and you'll be late for sure, Aubrey~". Aubrey pushed away immediately, her face showing the tell-tale shades of red. "I-I wasn't! It's not like that!" She once again began stepping to the front door, ignoring Mari's smug grin.

As the front door closed, Sunny hugged the couch cushion tighter, his face still burning from the physical affection he received. He didn't notice Mari leaning down towards his sensitive ears. "Why're you so thirsty, Sunny?" She whispered into his sensitive ear, causing Sunny to let out a yelp and fall back lying onto the couch. His face now fully red, he held his ear, pursing his lips, before once again reaching for the couch cushion as a shield for his face. "Ahaha! What's gotten you so embarrassed, little brother?" Mari teased, a wide smile plastered on her face, as Sunny shifted his gaze away.

Mari's smile softened. "You love Aubrey a lot, don't you?" Sunny flinched, then responded with a nod, clutching the cushion tighter to his chest. "I've got a little bit of money. We could visit her at her workplace for dessert. She does work at a café, you know." Sunny's eyes widened, looking up at her. Noticing she had his full attention, Mari put on a smug grin. "You could see her in her work clothes. Maybe she'll be dressed sharply, say, like a butler..."

At this, Sunny's eyes seemed to sparkle, causing Mari to let out a snicker. She put her fingers over her mouth. "What're you thinking of, little brother? Maybe, Aubrey in a suit, princess-carrying you to-"

"Mari!" Sunny's voice came out muffled by the cushion, his eyes squeezed shut. "I'm nooot..." How does Mari always know what I'm thinking...? Sunny felt his face burn, as he hid himself the best he could. Visiting Aubrey isn't a bad idea, though... He thought, starting to fantasize once more.

Mari giggled at the scene. "Let's go see her after we feed Bun-Bun. I've got a plan, if you're up for it..."

===========================

The café was a little bit out of the way, just a short walk to the left of Faraway Park. While most people wouldn't bat an eye to the pair of siblings walking side by side, those in Mari and Sunny's friend group would be able to point out Sunny's newly-combed hair, his brushed vest, and his oddly anxious demeanour. Mari smiled, reaching for his hand, beaming at him when he accepted.

...

"We need a barista at table 15."

Aubrey nodded at her manager's call, responding. "I got it." She brushed her hair out of her face, walking towards the corner where the new customers sat. She put on a winning smile as she approached. "Hello! My name is Aubrey. What will you be having to-" Her smile faded instantly. "Wh- Sunny!? Mari!?" she hissed, almost crumpling her notebook. "What're you doing here!?"

Sunny gave her a small smile, and she felt her troubles melt away. Erk! That smile could be classified as a deadly weapon. She blushed, pressing at her temples in an effort to recompose herself. Mari smiled, nonchalantly flipping through the menu, pretending she didn't hear Aubrey's outburst. "I'll have a strawberry shortcake and a green tea. Sunny?" Mari gave him a wink. Sunny pointed to an item on the menu, showing it to Aubrey.

"For you... A coffee with honey?" Sunny glanced towards Mari, who nodded, pursing her lips as if to stifle a laugh. Sunny opened his mouth slightly, looking away from Aubrey, his face flushing pink.

"Coffee with what, honey?" he responded. His neutral expression held for about two seconds, before he was reduced to a flushing mess, pressing his palms to his eyes, lowering his head onto the table.

Aubrey looked confused at first- Sunny... just called me honey. -before pink filled her face. "Mari..." she started, looking towards the woman shivering with held-in laughter. "Did you..." While Aubrey's eyes showed anger, the curling and pursing of her lips betrayed her hidden joy. "D-Did you force Sunny to say... that?"

Mari sniffled, a big smile on her face as she wiped away a tear. "What're you talking about, Aubrey-honey?" She burst into stifled laughter again, covering her mouth with the menu as Aubrey bopped her head with her notebook, her face reddening further.

"Ugh. Damnit, Mari." Aubrey recomposed herself, her blush still visible on her face. "Sunny, would you like your coffee with sugar?-erk-" She caught herself too late.

"Coffee with what, sugar?" came the muted voice of Sunny from under the table. Despite his blush and his obvious embarrassment, the shaking of his shoulders betrayed his laughter.

When did Sunny get this bold? Aubrey thought to herself, hopelessly trying to keep her smile from widening. She maintained her professional posture in defiance of her intense spreading blush, holding both her hands together in an attempt to stop them quivering in happiness.

===========================

As Aubrey worked, Sunny let his gaze wander. All things considered, Sunny was having a pretty good time. Aubrey looked smart, her pink hair put up in a ponytail contrasting well with her green apron, and her green bandana giving her a fresh feel –  a housewife-kinda feel, Sunny added in his head, before quickly dispelling that thought.

"Enjoying the view?" Mari teased. "Imagining her as your wife, maybe?"

Sunny's composure broke, as he moved to cover his reddening face once more. "M-Mari..." he started. H-how does she always know?

"Hahaha! You're blushing really hard, Sunny! Hit the nail on the head, didn't I?"

"Stooop..." Sunny covered his face with his hands, sinking into his seat. Mari smug grin softened. "Aw, don't be so shy, little brother! You remember what I told you? She won't mind, she'll probably even entertain the idea if it came from you!"

"...it's embarrassing..." Sunny's soft voice came from the table.

"But it worked, didn't it? I'm surprised you came up with that one by yourself! Did you see how flustered she got?" Mari excitedly spoke, taking a bite of her cake. "Yet she kept so calm and professional! So mature!"

Sunny pouted slightly. While the prospect of Aubrey getting flustered was... interesting, he lamented the fact that he missed the opportunity to see it, having covered his face with his hands and the table most of the way.

"Oh, don't worry, Sunny." Mari put on a smug grin. "You'll have plenty more opportunity to see it happen eventually." Knowing Mari, he didn't doubt her words for a second.

"That being said, you know the way back, right? I think I'll head home first. The café seems to be closing in about 15 minutes or so: you'll be able to walk her back. I'll give you two some time to yourselves. Enjoy, little brother!"

===========================

Sunny sat on the living room couch, dialing Aubrey's number on his phone.

RIING RIING. RIING RIING. *click*

"You rang, Sunny?" Aubrey's voice. Despite not being close to her, despite only being away from her for less than an hour, just hearing her sweet voice was like falling into a fluffy cloud. He loved the way it sounded so much, especially so close to his sensitive ears. He felt like he could forget all his troubles from a single phrase, except one: the ache in his heart telling him he already missed her warmth, her touch, her.

Strangely, he wasn't always like this. Just several months ago, he was able to somewhat hold phone conversations with her without much of an issue. Was it because of his ever-growing feelings for her? Maybe, if the burning of his sensitive ears was any indication. Sunny thanked whichever god was out there that Aubrey wasn't able to see his embarrassment.

A sigh came from the other end of the line. "You know, you never told me the reason why you always called despite disliking phone conversations." Sunny jolted out of his thoughts, trying to recall the reason why he called. "O-oh, sorry. Uh, I just wanted to thank you for today. It was... nice."

Another sigh. "It's no problem, Sunny. Just... make sure to tell me when you or Mari are planning to show up next time, alright?"

"Uh, um, yeah. O-of course."

God, he loved her voice so much.

Chapter Text

Sunny lay on the couch, his hands behind his head. Aubrey... He absentmindedly thought to himself, remembering the time he spent pretty much half a day physically clinging to her. How many people saw him get carried by Aubrey all the way to Gino's? In hindsight, that was really embarrassing, wasn't it? ...It's not like he didn't enjoy it though.

Perhaps he could bring her somewhere further out from Faraway next time? Sunny sank into his imagination, envisioning himself bringing Aubrey to a museum, looking at ancient relics from the past. He imagined a giant sprawling cave underneath the museum that the two of them had found in the basement and had decided to explore. They would defend themselves against creatures from a different time, and when they got tired, they would rest and have a dinner made from strange cave mushrooms and questionable moss. They would have an entire adventure discovering the remains of a civilization long gone, just the two of them. And when their campfire's light grew dim, they would snuggle together, and send each other off to sleep with a ki-

A set of knocks jolted Sunny out of his daydream.

Sunny peered out towards the front door from his comfortable position. Mari and his parents were out today, which left him as the only valid choice to open the door. He sighed and sank deeper into the couch for a moment, hoping he imagined the knocks. That happened sometimes, what with his overactive imagination.

Another set of knocks shattered his thoughts.

Sunny stood up and made his way towards the door. Hopefully it was Aubrey. She always brightened up his day. Sunny's ears started turning red as he considered the implications... Though, weren't they dating? Was it really that weird to like someone you're dating that much? He'd known her for years beforehand, after all. He also had to see how she felt about heading further out from Faraway for a date.

He put his hand on the doorknob, quelling his anxiety. A voice filtered through the door. "Sunny? Are you in? It's Basil! I'm just making a quick stop, Polly's waiting for me." Oh.

He opened the door, his eyes meeting the blond flowerboy. Basil's face lit up as the door opened, giving Sunny a big smile. "Hey Sunny! It's good to see you! Though, I won't be staying long..." Sunny nodded, the end of his lip curling up ever-so-slightly. He continued. "There's an amusement park close by I managed to get two tickets for. I was going to invite you, but my parents are coming back from their trip for the first time in a long time. So I was thinking... Maybe it won't be a bad idea if you brought Aubrey there instead!" Sunny's eyes widened, nodding quickly at the idea.

"Ehe... I didn't expect you to agree so fast, Sunny!" Basil chuckled. Pulling out two tickets from his wallet, he handed them over to Sunny. "Well, the tickets expire tomorrow, so... Enjoy yourselves!" He stepped away from the front door, giving a wave goodbye as he went.

That settles it. He'll bring her to the amusement park.

===========================

"That's nice of him. Aren't the entrance fees for amusement parks usually really expensive?"

Aubrey and Sunny were sitting on the couch, the television on, but at a soft volume. Aubrey scooted closer to Sunny and wrapped her blanket around him. As she leaned into him, she felt his muscles tense up. She smiled, the heat from his chest betraying Sunny's blushing self. "I wouldn't mind going." Only with you, of course. She added in her mind.

She could feel happiness almost radiating off of him. Looking up at him, she caught sight of the small smile on his face. So cute. Putting an arm around him, Aubrey continued. "You look so happy, Sunny! I'm your girlfriend, aren't I? It's not like we haven't gone on dates together before, geez..."

Sunny! I'm your girlfriend- The words kept repeating over and over in Sunny's mind, causing him to flush crimson, melting into Aubrey's embrace. Truly, he thought, he was the happiest boy in the world at that moment. "Th-Thanks, Aubrey..." He began, putting an arm around her in response.

Aubrey smiled at his touch, hugging him tighter. "My pleasure, Sun-Bun." God, Sunny has such an adorably pretty blush.

===========================

Aubrey wore a yellow shirt with detached short sleeves, tucked into a pair of jean shorts. Her pink hair flowed in the soft wind, as she gazed out to the variety of attractions near the entrance of the amusement park. The smell of a roast cooking wafted past occasionally, bringing with it the heavy, oily scent of unhealthy, yet certainly delicious meat. The smell was dispersed again, by a rollercoaster zooming past loudly, carrying the sound of happy screams and squeals. Maybe I could bring Sunny onto the rollercoaster. I don't think I've ever seen him scared before.

Sunny caught sight of Aubrey rather quickly, her pink hair shining like a beacon in the sun. Moving closer, he couldn't help but feel a little underdressed in his grey hoodie and cargo pants. Nevertheless, a tiny smile crept onto his face as he met up with her.

"You're a little late, Sunny..." Aubrey began. Sunny checked his watch, noting he was right on time. Aubrey let out a small sigh. "It's rude to make a lady wait, y'know." She said, brushing her hair behind her back, before fixing her expression into a smirk. "Come on! Let's go!" She held her hand out to Sunny.

Sunny took her hand, his ears tinting pink from the physical contact. "What do you think will be a good first choice?" he asked softly.

Aubrey grinned, pointing to the haunted house. "Maybe... that one?"

Sunny tilted his head quizzically, though he offered no resistance to Aubrey pulling him towards the queue.

...

"Gyaaaah!" Aubrey screamed, as a bloodied masked lumberjack with a chainsaw stepped closer to them. I just wanted to see Sunny scared! How did it become this way? She felt herself get tugged forward, flinching as Sunny pulled her through the maze. "Aaah!" She squealed again, as metal bars were released from the floor with a loud clang, blocking the chainsaw-maniac from stepping any closer. The creature released a surprisingly loud growl, rattling the bars before stepping away.

"Oh, oh god, Sunny! Aren't you afraid? H-How...?" Aubrey shivered, brushing her hair out from her face, before looking to the cliff-faced boy still holding her hand.

"...You're with me. So I'm not scared." Sunny replied softly. Agh! How can he say such princely lines with such a straight face? Aubrey thought, her fear washing away in seconds... Only for her to shriek and hug Sunny again when a white hand suddenly burst from the wall of the maze.

Sunny froze for a second, his mind stuck on Aubrey's smell and her warm touch. She's squeezing him tightly, holding him so, so close to her. Sunny was able to tell she was afraid, though he was much more focused on the cold patch Aubrey left on him when she let go. He grabbed her hand, not out of fear, impatience, or reassurance, but for a simple selfish desire to stay close to her warmth. Aubrey accepted his hand eagerly, allowing him to pull her through the maze. The darkness made it difficult for him to see where he was going, though as Sunny was attempting to focus on the way forward, a loud crash from beside him caused Aubrey to scream once more, squeezing him like a teddy bear, her warmth and her touch filling his mind, pushing out any other thoughts again. I can barely focus on anything else when you're holding me so close all the time... Sunny thought, his reddened face fortunately obscured by the lack of light.

...

"Thank God, finally, we're at the end of the maze." Aubrey panted, her breath ragged from screaming. "Now we can get out of he- AAH!" She yelled, as a long-haired white-dressed body dropped from the ceiling, its neck making a loud crack as it rebounded from the noose around it. She grabbed Sunny's arm and pulled.

Sunny wasn't moving.

"S-Sunny! What's wrong!? Let's get out of here! Come on!" She pulled harder, nearly dragging him out of the maze.

===========================

The two were luckily able to find a pair of vacant seats at a nearby cafe despite the crowd. Aubrey sat down beside Sunny, holding a cookie she had bought.

"Sunny? Are you alright? You seem a little... out of it." Aubrey looked at him, concerned. Normally, some semblance of emotion would make it onto his face, but his cold look showed nothing but neutrality.

Sunny turned towards her, before suddenly pulling her in for a hug. "I-I'm sorry."

Aubrey flushed pink at his sudden embrace, patting him on the back. "What's bothering you, Sunny-bun? You're not usually like this..." She felt his neutral expression crack and his blush spread from his ears as she said the pet name.

"Th-That last bit just brought up... memories of a bad dream from long ago... Mari had... hung herself... It was very vivid... I was sc-scared."

"Oh, Sunny..." Aubrey hugged him closer, petting his head. What was I thinking bringing him there? She thought. "Here, have a little bit of this." She loosened the hug to put the cookie to his mouth. Sunny pouted slightly, before biting into it, his face turning red. "Th-thanks..." He said with his mouth full, snuggling into her embrace once more.

Aww... Sunny is getting clingy again... Aubrey smiled, moving her chair closer to his, and pulling him closer. I didn't get to see him scared, per se, but this... this is nice as well.

===========================

"Oh hey, Sunny, look at that!" Aubrey excitedly tugged Sunny towards the colourful ring-toss stand. A large pink stuffed bunny hung from the stall's ceiling, drawing the eyes of many carnival-goers walking past... including Aubrey. Though she clearly was trying to hide it, Sunny could tell; her eyes sparkled with longing, her arms twitched as she seemed to stop herself reaching for her wallet. "It's cute, isn't it?" She turned, her eyes darting from the rabbit to Sunny in expectation.

"It's..." Not as cute as you are. Sunny thought, his ears turning pink. "...something. Want to have a shot at it?"

Aubrey pursed her lips, part of her wanting to say no, yet part of her absolutely wanting to say yes. She shifted her weight from one foot to another, glancing at the crowd, taking in the amount of children attempting the game set up. Noticing her indecision, Sunny reached into his pocket, pulling out his wallet. He tilted his head towards the stall with his wallet in plain view, as if to say, C'mon. My treat.

Mmmh. The way Sunny looked at her invitingly with that smile, it made her heart throb. If you look at me that way, I guess I have no choice but to accept! Aubrey gave him a sheepish smile, taking his hand, and walking towards the stallkeep.

A hundred colourful bottles were set up in a ten-by-ten square. Multiple bottles were marked, but only one was painted with a gold ring, matching the tag that dangled from the stuffed rabbit. Aubrey gave Sunny a glance and a smile, before asking a stallkeep for a try at the game. The stallkeep nodded, taking the money and handing her 3 rings.

===========================

"Uggh! Land, dammit!" Aubrey grit her teeth, throwing her 25th ring, watching it bounce haplessly to the ground. Sunny glanced about, thumbing at the collar of his shirt. At least no one was watching.

"Come ON!" The 26^th ring bounced off a second bottle.

Sunny rubbed his ear. That last yell left his sensitive ear ringing. "A-Aubrey, um... I think-"

"GODDAMMIT!" Came the yell, as her 27^th ring bounced off of a bottle. Aubrey threw her hands up in the air in frustration. Her yell drew the attention of some of the children nearby, who were promptly made to ignore the scene by their parents.

Sunny put his hands to his ears. Both his ears were now ringing. Clenching her fists, Aubrey turned to Sunny, before noticing his discomfort and calming down. "Ergh. Sorry, Sunny. I guess I got too caught up in the moment. We should probably go. Erm... You... okay?"

Sunny rubbed at his ears, nodding. He pointed an index finger up, indicating her to wait, then faced the stallkeep and bought a try.

The rings were hard, despite having the texture of rubber. They're probably hollow aluminium, to cause them to more easily bounce off of the bottles, Sunny assumed. At least the three rings feel like they're the same weight. He spun a ring in his grip a few times, then flicked it over towards the bottles. It bounced off, but Sunny judged the distance it flew, noting the amount of strength he put into it, and also noting that the ringholes were only about half an inch larger than the bottlenecks. Readjusting his aim, he flicked the second ring, then the third.

As Sunny received the rings from the stallkeep, Aubrey watched his brows furrow slightly. Ooh. An intensely focused look... I should get him to show his cool side more often. Aubrey thought. He flipped a ring around a few times, gripping it tightly, then raised an eyebrow. He then swapped the ring in his right hand with one of the two in his left, paused, and repeated that motion. Aubrey, confused, was about to say something, when his expression returned to neutral and he flicked a ring towards the bottles. It bounced around, close to the coveted bottle, but was overall a miss. Aubrey watched his brows furrow again, moving a ring from his left hand to his right. The second ring bounced right off its bottleneck. Her confused expression turned to awe, as she watched the third ring stick directly on the gold-ringed bottle.

Sunny nodded once, his lips curling slightly, before he was shaken out of his headspace. Aubrey held him by the shoulders, eyes wide, her mouth wide open. "Three tries!? I took like thirty and didn't even get a single consolation prize! You got it in three!"

"I-it was nothing, really-" Sunny began, the mumble of the crowd nearly drowning out his voice.

"Are you kidding? That's amazing!" Aubrey gave him a quick hug, leaving him blushing as she went to claim the prize.

===========================

Sunny and Aubrey sat at the very top of a ferris wheel, watching the scenery around them. "Look, Sunny!" Aubrey excitedly pointed. "You can see your house from here! There's yours, with the light brown roof!" Sunny nodded, paying more attention to how the sunset gave Aubrey a strangely-heavenly glow. She's so beautiful. He thought to himself, dispersing the thought before he started blushing again. "Y-Yeah.." He gave a non-commital response, still staring at her with a dreamy look.

"Really pretty, isn't it?"

Sunny jolted up. "H-Huh? Uh-" His ears turned red. "Yeah- I mean, I wasn't- er." Aubrey beamed at him, before sitting at his side, leaning into him while hugging the large rabbit plushie. "I was talking about the scenery, Sun-hun. What did you think I was referring to?" Sunny felt his blush spread to his cheeks, looking away from her to hide his expression. Aubrey giggled.

"I had so much fun today, Sunny. We should hang out like this more often." She let out a happy sigh, enjoying his warmth in the red glow of the sun. "I'm glad I managed to get you." She said, hugging the plushie tighter.

Sunny massaged the back of his neck. "...It was really no big deal, Aubrey."

Aubrey looked up at him, slightly confused, before breaking into a chuckle. She leaned up, and kissed him on the lips, holding it for a few seconds. She then broke away, smiling as she watched him turn a dark shade of red.

"I wasn't talking about the plushie, dummy." Aubrey rested her head on his chest, listening to his quickening heartbeat.

==================================

==================================

Bonus:

Sunny and Aubrey were making their way back home. The intimate silence was nice, but Aubrey had a concern she had to raise. "Speaking of which, Sunny. I hope this trip didn't cost you too much."

"I'm... pretty much flat broke now." Sunny showed his empty wallet. "I think I've got maybe $2 in coins, but that's about it."

"What? Sunny! You didn't-"

"I-It's not a bad thing! ...I mean, I spent it on y-you, so I'm happy..." Sunny began to blush again.

"S-Sunny..." Aubrey didn't know whether to get happy or angry at him. Maybe I should get a job.

Chapter Text

Aubrey had not visited Sunny for only about two days, yet the strange sensation in her heart compelled her to visit him that weekend. It wasn't that she was overly worried, though she did feel like she wanted to see him every day if she could. It was more a strange feeling of concern, like there was something happening to him. And so she found herself standing outside Sunny's house, knocking on the door, hoping to prove herself wrong and see her beloved once more.

An awkward pause. She knocked again, before she heard footsteps from deeper within the house head towards the door. It swung open, revealing Mari, her hair slightly disheveled. Mari gave her a winning smile. "Good timing Aubrey! You're here to see Sunny? He's recently become very feverish." She took Aubrey by her hand, pulling her into the house. "I'll be needing to get some medicine from the pharmacy, could you watch him for a bit?"

While Mari didn't show it on her face, her curt behaviour and her slightly furrowed brow betrayed the concern she had for her little brother. Noticing this, Aubrey let herself get pulled into Sunny's room without complaint. If anything, she started feeling an odd feeling of happiness creep in, not only from somehow knowing in her heart that Sunny was ill, but also knowing she was being trusted by Mari to take care of him alone. I'll be taking care of him with no one else in the house... That last thought repeated in her mind a few times, before she dispelled the thought.

Mari sat her into a cushioned chair next to Sunny's bed, putting her hands on Aubrey's shoulders. "Aubrey..." Mari put on a smug grin. "I know it'll only be the two of you in the house, but I'm trusting you won't 'take advantage' of the situation, alright?"

Aubrey blushed pink. "Mari! Just go get the meds!" She stood up, hastily pushing the smiling Mari out of Sunny's room. How did she know? Aubrey thought, closing the door behind her. She sighed, taking in the sight of Sunny on the bed, his face flushed not from embarassment, but from being feverish. A wet towel lay on his forehead, a bowl of iced water on the end table by his bedside.

Sunny's breathing was slow, but regular, Aubrey noticed. The pillow he was lying on hugged his face, giving it a small, squishable look. He looked comfortable, despite the sweat rolling down his cheeks. Aubrey's heart throbbed. Sunny looks like a melting bunny... I wanna hug him, but... Aubrey sat by Sunny's side, pursing her lips. She reached over, poking Sunny's cheek once, her finger squishing his soft skin. As she pulled it back, she noticed the sweat on her finger, wiping it on her jacket. "Sunny... You're sweating so much. Why're you still wearing a vest over your shirt...?"

Sunny stirred slightly, his eyes fluttering open. "Mmmn... Auby?" He flashed her a small smile, happy that the first thing he saw the moment he woke up was her.

-Auby? -Auby? -Auby? Sunny's soft voice repeated in Aubrey's head multiple times. She clutched at her chest in her mind, the pet name said with such a cute smile causing her to blush deeply. It's not fair for him to be this cute! She gave him a happy grin, kissing him on the forehead, resisting the urge to overheat him with a full hug. "Auby's here for you, Sunny-honey!" Sunny flushed deeper, pulling the covers up to cover his embarrassed smile. They basked in the intimate silence for a moment, before Aubrey spoke. "That being said, let's get this vest off of you, Sunny. You're overheating as is."

"Mmmnn..." Sunny responded weakly. He sat up slowly, but offered no more resistance or help. Aubrey began pulling at Sunny's vest. As her hands roughly glided across his body, he seemed to jolt, his face flushing more red than before. "Sunny? You alright?" she asked, pulling the vest over his head. She threw it to the side, watching it land near Sunny's dresser. Sunny looked away, pursing his lips, and giving no response, prompting Aubrey to smile and nudge at his stomach.

"Nngaah!" Sunny squealed, putting his hands over his abdomen to guard it. He blushed a dark shade of crimson, lying back down and throwing the covers over himself, his breathing a little bit faster. Oh shit. He's super sensitive to tickles. Aubrey thought to herself. She grinned, reaching under the covers, poking and prodding in his side, watching him squeal and squirm. "Ahaha! You're so ticklish, Sun-hun!"

Sunny sat up, catching and holding both her wrists, his face flushed. He pouted, pursing his lips to hide his growing smile. "Auby... Stooop." He pleaded. Ack! The way he's pouting reminds me of Bun-Bun! Aubrey couldn't stop herself from throwing her arms around him, pushing her cheek into his. "Hehe! Sorry, Sun-Bun! You're just way too cute!"

" 'm nooot..." Despite his protests, Sunny's face flushed, and he leaned into her hug.

As Aubrey pulled away, a thin layer of sweat coated where she was holding Sunny. "Ergh... That being said, Sunny, you're sweating a lot. It's almost soaking the mattress at this point. Here, let me wipe you down." Aubrey said, picking up the wet towel that fell on the bed at some point.

Aubrey reached over, unbuttoning the first button on his shirt, then another. The comfortable silence quickly became tense. I'm just gonna wipe him down. There's no bad thoughts behind it, none at all! I didn't specifically want to see him shirtless, I'm just wiping him down!

Aubrey unbuttoned the third button, looking down to hide her slowly reddening face. Come on, pull yourself together, Aubrey! It's just his chest! His bare, soft, cutely huggable che- NO. No. Bad Aubrey! Pull yourself together!

Aubrey looked towards Sunny's face. While he made no move to stop her from continuing to unbutton his shirt, he was flushing a shade of scarlet, looking anywhere but at her or her hands. Is he flushing because he's ill or because he's embarrassed? It's gotta be the former, right? Aubrey thought, attempting to take the shirt off past his head. Her hands brushed across his chest and back, causing him to jolt once more. She flinched at his movement, before reaching in to try and pull it off again.

The shirt seemed to stick to him, getting stuck at his elbows. The more she pulled, the more her hands ran over his sensitive skin, and the more Sunny yelped.

......

Leaving his house, Basil noticed Mari making a turn back to her house. He noticed her drop her smile for just a moment, sighing before putting her smile back on her face. He jogged over to meet her. "Hello Mari! What're you doing here? You seem a little stressed."

"Oh hey, Basil! I just picked up some medication for Sunny. He seems to have caught a fever. Would you like to come visit him? I'm sure he'll enjoy the company!" Mari responded, maintaining her winning smile.

"I was about to head over to Fix-it, but sure, Mari. Is- will Sunny be okay?" Basil responded worriedly.

Mari smiled warmly. "With me, you, and Aubrey taking care of him? There's no way he won't be okay!"

"Alright! I'll get my photo album. That'll cheer him up!" Basil beamed at her, quickly jogging back home.

......

"That being said, Basil, I think we should give them a little space. Aubrey's probably wiping Sunny down right now, and it might be a little embarassing for them if we walked in." Mari placed her plastic bags on the dining table, retrieving the medications.

"That's alright, Mari! I can help them out!" Basil said, heading upstairs.

What he didn't expect, though, was hearing the sounds of Sunny's moaning through the door.

"Nnnghhaaa... Aubrey...! Auby, stooop...!" Sunny's soft voice floated through the door. Basil raised an eyebrow, putting his ear to the door.

"Sun-bun, I need you to hold still. I need- You need this." Aubrey's voice responded. A squishy, watery sound was heard. Surprised, Basil flushed a bright red, putting a hand to his mouth.

"B-but Auby... Nngh! It-It's...!" Sunny continued.

"It's too tight! Urgh, how do you usually...!" As Aubrey's voice pierced the silence, Basil steeled himself, bursting through the door.

......

Basil slammed the door open, his face rose red and his eyes held closed. "Aubrey! You shouldn't be doing such things! A-at least b-be more gentle with Sunny!" He opened his eyes, taking in the scene.

Aubrey knelt on the bed, still trying to take off Sunny's shirt. Sunny's elbows were stuck at the sides of his shirt, its stiff fabric almost stretching as Aubrey tried to force them through. Aubrey stared at Basil, the wet towel still in her hand. "...What?"

"What did I tell you, Basil? What did you think was going on in the room?" He turned around, his eyes meeting Mari's, her signature smug grin teasing a response out of him. Basil almost began glowing red, as he stammered and stuttered a few apologies, stepping out of the room.

......

Eventually, with Mari's help, Sunny was wiped down and put to bed. As Aubrey was about to follow Mari out of the room, she felt a small tug at her sleeve. Looking down, she saw Sunny pat invitingly on the side of the bed. Cuddle? His big bright eyes seemed to convey his message to her.

Sunny... You know I can't say no if you look at me that way. Giving him a warm smile, she stepped over to the other side of the bed, facing the door, cuddling him from behind. He's still so feverish. She thought to herself, listening to his breathing get slower, and feeling his body relax as he drifted off to sleep.

The squeaking of the door's hinges broke the silence, as the blonde flowerboy stepped into the room. "U-um, am I- interrupting anything?" He spoke, a smile slowly growing on his face as he saw Sunny and Aubrey in the bed.

Grinning, Aubrey gave him a wink, putting a finger to her mouth. Basil smiled wider, nodded, and pulled out his camera, immortalizing the moment in a quick snap.

Aubrey briefly considered rushing over to snatch the camera away.

She instead blushed and leaned into Sunny. She'll get back at him soon enough.

==================

Chapter Text

Sunny's boots crunched as he stepped over the dune of brown sugar, the sweet smell filling his lungs with every breath. The atmosphere was cool, despite the sun's harsh glare beating down from its place in the orange-hued sky. Sunny squinted against the light, reminded of spotlights cast into his face like he was a performer on stage. Bright pink entered his vision from the right, as Aubrey stepped past him, her beautiful form in full explorer garb. She brushed her smooth pink hair behind her back, causing Sunny's heart to flutter as much as her hair did in the wind. His gaze drawn to her sparkling hair, he could almost smell fresh strawberries replacing the sugary stench of the dunes.

Aubrey extended a finger, pointing towards the brown pyramid in the distance. "There it is, Sunny. The years we spent researching and exploring have finally paid off. King Orange-mandias' treasure lies in that cookie pyramid!" She turned towards him, stepping closer with a faint smile, putting her arms behind her back almost shyly, her alluring face filling his field of vision as she leaned in. "We couldn't have done it without each other, Sunny." she whispered.

"Sunny." The ground seemed to rumble, the sky seemed to stutter to a blue before turning back.

"I love you so muc-"

"Sunny!" Mari's voice pierced the daydream, causing Sunny's vision to shudder. The orange-hued skyline and brown shifting sugary sands made way to plain white ceiling. Sunny blinked wearily, readjusting his vision to his surroundings, taking in the ceiling and the feeling of couch cloth below him. Ugh. His daydreams always got interrupted at the best times. ... Or was it because he knew they were ending that he would skip them forward to the best bits as fast as he could? His thoughts were interrupted by the smell of sugar wafting over from the plate of hot cookies Mari had set on the coffee table. Mari smiled, watching Sunny sit up from the couch, reaching over for a cookie. "You were lost in your own world again there, Sunny. What were you imagining? A cookie world, perhaps?" Sunny shrugged, biting into the sweet snack. Mmm. Excellent as always.

"Was Aubrey there with you?" Mari teased, grinning as he fervently shook his head no, his ears turning red.

Mari smirked. Sunny always had the cutest tells. "Hehe... You can't trick your big sister, Sunny! Anyway, check this out!" Mari thrust an open dog-earred magazine towards him expectantly, her eyes betraying her excitement. Emblazened on the page was the side profile of a large man in a sharp suit, his arms around an elegant lady in a long, flowing blue dress. On the page, in large font, detailed the location and date for what appeared to be an upcoming ball. "It's in two weeks! Doesn't it look interesting? We should totally invite Aubrey and Hero along!"

Sunny looked into the sparkling eyes of his sister, unconvinced. While another double date seemed nice, the first one didn't really leave a good impression on him. After all, his suit was annoying to wear, and he had to sit through so much teasing from Mari. Aubrey positively shone in that dress, though... and they got their first kiss there... and he received a lot more physical affection from her-

Alright, maybe it wasn't that bad of an impression. Point was, he wasn't interested, and he showed it, his eyes dipping down away from her, his mouth maintaining its perpetual tiny disinterested frown. He didn't know how to dance, either, and didn't particularly care to learn.

"Come on, Sunny!" Mari smirked at him. "Don't you wanna see Aubrey in formal dress?"

Sunny furrowed his brow, finishing off the sweet chocolate-chip cookie he held. Indeed, Mari had put forth an extremely compelling argument. However, having experienced firsthand the heat that builds up when blushing in a suit, Sunny was caught unable to choose. In other words, he thought, he had to experience hell to experience heaven. "...the suit is too warm..." he absentmindedly mumbled through chews.

Mari glanced away, thinking. "Hmm. Tell you what, Sunny. I know someone whose family owns a clothing business. Let's go get a thinner suit made for you that'll be more airy than that old second-hand one you've got! We could get you something that fits so well it'll make Aubrey blush!" Her slight smile turned into a teasing smirk. "Maybe she'll like it well enough that she'll be unable to keep her hands off of you... Hehe."

Sunny brought a couch cushion to his reddening face, looking away and nodding. Getting a more airy suit would certainly go lengths to ensure he wouldn't overheat. Of course, he would rather he didn't get flustered in the first place, but somehow, he knew that hope was a lost cause. His mind started running wild again, imagining Aubrey and himself dancing slowly in a plaza lit only by the full moon and the twinkling starlight. He was dressed in the poster man's black suit, and she in the elegant blue dress, matching each other's steps in a slow waltz as they enjoyed each other's presence. The soft wind blew through the square, gently tousling their hair like an embrace from the atmosphere itself, the moonlight causing sparkles to reflect in Aubrey's lightly-coloured locks. Aubrey gave him a smile with blush so faint it was almost invisible in the moonlight, squeezing his shoulder and hip. He returned her smile, then closed his eyes, leaning in closer-

"Sunny..." Mari's voice broke through his daydream again. "I know you're about that age already, and I know I said Aubrey'll be unable to keep her hands off of you, but don't be thinking about those racy kinds of things, alriight?" Despite the tone of her voice, she gave him a smug grin.

Mari barely finished her last word before Sunny ran upstairs away from the sofa, burying his face into his bed.

===========================

"How do you like your new suit, Sunny?" Mari asked. Sunny nodded, a small smile forming as he hugged the pillowy plastic bundle to his chest. He turned to Mari, his smile making way for concern to shine in his eyes. "What's wrong, Sunny? It's alright, it wasn't too expensive!" Mari gave him a warm smile. And it's worth it to watch you blush in future formal-attire situations! She thought, smirking to herself.

"Oh hey, Sunny! Mari!" A familiar voice called out to the siblings, drawing their attention. Aubrey gave them a wave, catching up to them.

"Ah, Aubrey! Perfect timing!" Mari's smile grew ecstatic. Taking Aubrey's hand, she started pulling her back from where they came. "I'll meet you back home, Sunny!"

"Wait, Mari- I wanted to- Sunny-" her sentences cut off the further she was pulled. Sunny watched a widely-grinning Mari drag a confused Aubrey back towards the clothing shop they had just left a few minutes ago. He gave an awkward wave goodbye as his eyes met Aubrey's, before continuing on the path back home.

==========================

The day of the ball finally arrived.

There was something about fancy dress parties that made Sunny more nervous. Perhaps it was because all pretenses were off about it not being a date-date. Though, did that really matter? He remembered the times they spent on the swings, just talking and enjoying each others' presence. Sunny readjusted his collar, feeling the cold sweat form on his brow and the butterflies swarming in his stomach. On one hand, he was excited to see what Mari got Aubrey at the clothes store... On the other hand, getting teased was a little humiliating. At least the suit felt nice. It fit better than the old one, and he had even managed to get used to the feeling of the tie around his neck.

He stepped out of the bathroom, taking a deep breath as he made his way down the staircase. It's not as scary as you think. He told himself, trying to calm his anxieties.

......

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Sunny stepped over to open the door, swallowing audibly before he turned the handle.

The evening sun's rays dipped into the doorway, temporarily blinding him as he looked at the figure in the doorway. Her ever-present bright pink hair glowed in the orange light, giving her an almost dreamlike aura. Similar to her previous black dress, she wore a shoulderless blouse, though her black skirt now no longer covered her knees. Her usual jean skirt and tank top covered less than what her current outfit did, but something about this one made Sunny's heart throb more. Maybe it was because her current skirt was fluffier? Or maybe it was because...

"She's wearing this for you, you know?" Mari's voice was a lot closer to his ear than he expected, making Sunny jolt in response, his ears turning red. She guessed my thoughts again... "Come in, Aubrey! Wow... you're looking good, don't you think, Sunny?"

Sunny pursed his lips, in an attempt to hide his embarassed smile, his blush flowing and filling his cheeks. He nodded swiftly, earning a grin from Mari and an embarassed smirk from Aubrey. "Auby..." He began. The word hung in the air, almost floating in the soft light. Sunny put his hands behind his back, glancing away from her, toeing at the ground. While he never finished his sentence, his meaning wasn't lost on her.

Aubrey stepped over to him, pulling him into a hug. "It's been a few days, hasn't it, Sun-bun? It's only been that long, but I've already missed you." It had been almost the better part of an entire week since they had last seen each other, excluding that time Mari pulled her away for clothes shopping. Despite the pet-name being said more lovingly rather than teasingly, Sunny felt the red on his face gain a healthy glow as she said it, boldly wrapping his arms around her, fully reciprocating her embrace. Aubrey nuzzled herself into his shoulder, taking in his form, his scent. The touch-starvation was harsh on her, especially when Bun-Bun was here at Sunny's place. It wasn't even her fault that she couldn't visit – between school, time spent with her friends, as well as her part-time job, neither of their schedules aligned well enough for them to meet up. But they were together again, sharing their warmth with each other, their hearts reconnected, and that was all that mattered in the moment.

Mari broke the intimate silence. "Aw, you two... you act like you haven't seen each other in years." Every relationship may be different, but Mari still felt a little jealous knowing her brother was getting way closer with Aubrey than she was with Hero. The couple reluctantly tore their arms away from the other, almost ignoring Mari, as Sunny reached over to intertwine his fingers with Aubrey's. The blush lingered on their faces, Aubrey brushing her hair back, while Sunny massaged the back of his neck.

With a little tug, Sunny brought Aubrey to sit at the couch, patting at his side in an invitation for her to sit beside him. She gracefully accepted, immediately leaning into his shoulder, letting out all her tension with a happy sigh. Sunny pouted slightly, a little embarassed that he had the exact same idea, only that Aubrey did it first. "God, I've really missed you so much, Sunny." Aubrey whispered. With the stealth of clouds covering the sun, she slipped her fingers back into his, holding them tightly, as if they would disappear at any time.

Sunny was happy, very very happy. And he made a vow to himself, that no matter what, he would remember this moment forever.

===========================

Their moment barely lasted 15 minutes, as a loud knocking on the door shattered their comfort.

Opening the door, Mari doesn't wait for Hero to greet them before grabbing his arm, her smile tense and fake. "Hey everyone! ...Mari? What's wrong?" Hero spoke, attempting to remove his arm from her vicegrip. That kinda hurts a bit.

"Nothing's wrong, Hero." Mari held his arm tightly, not letting him pull away. Sunny and Aubrey stood up, walking towards the front door.

Hero smiled. "...Alright. You all ready to have a ball? Hehe."

"Hero..." Aubrey and Mari groaned, a look of exasperation on their faces.

===========================

The auditorium the four were brought into was brightly lit and extremely spacious. A ceiling extending two stories up, the floorspace was an area large enough to comfortably fit 10 times the number of people currently in it. Many guests in various types of formal attire had already settled into the many tables set up around a large furnitureless area. A soft waltz filled the air, as numerous couples took their time to dance in said area, elegantly moving with the rhythm. The carpeted floor muffled the footsteps of the two couples heading towards their table.

Sunny felt the familiar sense of anxiety climbing up his stomach. Everybody seemed way more high-class than he felt. He shifted his hands uneasily, chewing slightly on his lip. As Mari, Hero, and Aubrey took their seats, he spoke up. "...I need to use the bathroom."

Aubrey nodded as Sunny stepped away, briskly walking out of the auditorium. "I guess we can get some food first."

============================

Aubrey poked at her dish with a fork impatiently. Sunny had been gone for almost 10 minutes at this point. "Say, hasn't Sunny been gone a while? Did he have stomach troubles or something?" Aubrey spoke up, prompting Mari and Hero to glance at each other.

"Now that you mention it... Hero, could you check on him for me?" Mari suggested.

"I'll go too." Aubrey stood up. "I don't want to be sitting here, staring at food while being polite enough to not begin eating before he comes back." Mari waved her off with a knowing smile.

......

"What do you mean there's no one in the toilet?" Aubrey asked, worried.

Hero shrugged, his smile betrayed by the worry on his face. "It's as I said, the toilet's empty."

"Where could he have gon-" Aubrey cut herself off. In the distance, past the main entrance of the hotel, she caught a glimpse of a tall woman pulling a familiar besuited teen to a corner. No way.

"Hero. Head back to Mari." Fury seemed to enter Aubrey's face, a dark shadow covering her eyes.

"Huh? Uh, okay. You see him, I assume...?" Aubrey started walking off even before Hero had finished his sentence. "Alright."

......

Sunny was backed into a corner. To his left and back were walls. To his front was a tall, curvaceous woman with short, dark blue-green hair. She leaned into him, her red-and-white dress almost touching him in a clear attempt to show off her ample bosom. A tiny bell jingled from her choker, as her orange-yellow eyes flashed at him, reminescent of Aubrey's teal contacts. Sunny flushed a deep red, looking away to his right; freedom in reach-

THUD.

Nope. To his right was the arm of the person in question. Sunny put both his arms up to his chest. How did he get into this mess?

He was walking back from the toilet, when he spotted a shiny green earring on the floor. He picked it up, and noticing the green earring missing from the lady's right earlobe but present on her left, returned it to her.

He did not expect to be pulled to a dark corner by this strange person with the excuse of giving him a "reward". "You're such a cutie, little boy." Her voice came out, smooth, velvety. "Why don't we have a little fun...?" His blush grew as she leaned in closer to him, her assertiveness reminding him of Aubrey.

Sunny caught a whiff of perfume as she stopped centimeters from his face. Her minty breath hit his face, causing his blush to intensify. If it were Aubrey, he would be way into it, he told himself. Why did this person remind him of her so much? He turned his red face away, closing his eyes.

"Aw... are you getting shy? That's adorable, boy. Come here, let me take care of you~" The woman dragged her free hand across his shoulder, her soft caress making Sunny feel things he wish he didn't. Her hand slowly traced up Sunny's neck, gently cupping his face. She felt his breath hitch, and her wolfish grin widened.

A pink flash entered her vision, grabbing onto Sunny's right arm. Sunny felt himself get pulled out of the woman's grasp, finding himself locked into a side-hug.

"Oh, Sunny! I was looking for you! Was this person holding you up?" Despite her tone of voice, the throbbing vein on her forehead threatened to burst as she gave the tall woman a furious glare.

"Tch." The lady clicked her tongue, before smiling at Sunny. "I'll repay you sometime, boy. I won't forget." She gave Sunny a wink and stepped away, gracefully ignoring the pink-haired threat behind her. "Toodles!" She waved from behind her, stepping away from the dark corner.

Aubrey cracked her knuckles, continuing to glare daggers at the woman's back, watching her continue her showy walk until she was out of sight.

With the danger past, Sunny put his hand to his chest, letting off a sigh of relief. Hopefully, they could get back to their food-

THUD.

Nope. He backed up, finding himself pushed up against the corner again. To his right was Aubrey's arm.

THUD.

And her leg between his. Oh dear. He felt his blush coming back in full force.

"You know, Sunshine, you were blushing really hard when I found you. Did you like being in that situation? Even though it wasn't me doing it?" Aubrey cracked a toothy smile, though her eyes betrayed a hint of anger. Just a hint. She didn't want to scare him... Or did she?

Sunny felt his pulse quicken. He looked away, turning a shade of crimson. The pet name, combined with the new situation overwhelmed his senses. His eyes briefly met her teal contacts, before he looked away once more. He frantically shook his head 'no', putting his arms up to his chest again, like the instinct of a frightened rabbit.

Aubrey leaned in closer, so close that he could feel her exhales, her face filling his field of vision, so much so he could barely look at anything but her. Her voice came out in a teasing whisper. "Are you sure, Sun-hun? Your pants seem to be getting a little tight down there..." She slowly raised her knee, reaching up just enough to brush against-

If smoke could pour out of Sunny's ears, it would. "I-It was because I imagined it was you who was doing it!"

The pang of jealousy that had initially filled Aubrey's heart was overridden by Sunny's sudden outburst. Such a pretty blush. She smirked, a predatory grin forming on her face. "How about we turn your imagination into reality, then?" Unable to stop herself, she pushed her lips into his.

Sunny's eyelids fluttered shut as he fell into her passionate kiss, her arms caressing his shoulders, going around his neck. Overwhelmed by the sudden embrace, Sunny couldn't help but to let out a soft moan in her mouth. As he gave in, he felt her tongue brush across his lips. Gingerly, he opened them, accepting her in.

Unlike the other times, where they would move their lips in time to each other's, Sunny felt like he was being ravished, every corner of his mouth being explored by Aubrey's tongue. She caressed his teeth, his tongue, his lips, breaking away only to take a few breaths, leaving a string between their mouths, before diving in once more.

"Aubrey... Mmmph...! Aah-Mmm..." Sunny's moaned, his breath hitching as his lips continued to meet Aubrey's, his voice interrupted by her tongue. She felt her lips curl up, the very fact that it was her who reduced him into this state filling her heart with glee. She pushed into him, feeling his knees buckle, his weight and his most sensitive place both resting on her knee. Unconsciously, Sunny's arms went around Aubrey's shoulders, as Aubrey immersed herself in his kiss again.

Twice. Thrice. Sunny lost count of the number of times they made out, at first letting himself be swept along, before hesitantly returning it, and then boldly entwining his tongue with hers, turning into a panting, blushing mess. He felt himself unknowingly grind against her knee once, the sudden shock of pleasure from seemingly nowhere causing him to let out another moan, all thoughts in his mind replaced with Aubrey. Feeling him jolt, Aubrey took the opportunity to pull away, a heavy blush in her face. "Sunny-" She panted, beaming at him. "Sunny, I love you so mu-Mmmph!" She was interrupted by Sunny pressing his lips into hers, her eyes rolling up in bliss.

They couldn't get enough of each other, their taste, their touch, their look, their scent, their voice. Every one of their 5 senses were overwhelmed with the other, and their hearts felt like they were filled to bursting. Every time they pulled apart, they did so reluctantly, panting heavily before deepening their embrace anew.

As they were about to dip into each other's passion once more, the sound of someone clearing their throat loudly behind them snapped them out of it.

Almost annoyedly, Aubrey turned around, breaking the saliva string that still connected their mouths, before turning a bright scarlet from seeing Mari standing behind her. A smile lacking in warmth was plastered on her face. "Wrap it up soon, you two. Your food's getting cold."

"H-How long have you been standing there?" Aubrey began, stepping away from Sunny.

"Let's see... 'How about we turn your imagination into reality?', was it?" Mari's stony expression broke as she giggled, stepping away from the beet-coloured lovebirds.

=========================

The trio sat back at their respective seats, Aubrey and Sunny finally beginning their meal. Hero looked up from his finished plate. "What took so long?" He asked.

Aubrey shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "M-Mind your own business, Hero."

Mari snickered, picking up her utensils. "They were shamelessly making out in a dark corner."

Hero chuckled at her, unconvinced, before looking to the blushing pair confirming his doubts.

"...Wait, really?"

==================================================

I commissioned art for this chapter as well! Special thanks to Kazu:

Bonus:

"So I'm curious. We're working, so we managed to pay for the tickets here, but how did you and Sunny pay for it, Aubrey?" Hero stopped the car at his home, setting it into Park one-handed, his other hand still tightly held by Mari. Wow...

Aubrey blushed, lifting her head off of Sunny's. "I took a part time job... Sunny paid for an entire amusement park trip for me, so I figured I should repay him somehow." She squeezed his hand, feeling the heat radiating off his blushing form.

You've already repaid me back that and more. Sunny thought. If only Mari weren't there to interrupt us.

...

Hero squeezed Mari's hand, waiting for Sunny and Aubrey to get a little bit of a distance ahead. "Speaking of which, Mari. I noticed you seemed a little jealous of the two of them, and I was thinking-" Hero began.

"Oh? Whatever do you mean, Hero?" Mari interrupted.

"Well, erm. My parents aren't around today, and Kel's a very heavy sleeper after his training practice... I was thinking..."

Mari's fake smile slowly morphed into an expression of surprise. She snickered, planting a quick smooch on his lips. "Hero! How sly!" She grinned at the blushing Hero, pulling him into his home.

Chapter Text

"Mmh..." Aubrey contentedly adjusted the position of her head on Sunny's lap. While she understood why people might like it, she never got the appeal of giant mecha, and as such, the programme on television wasn't interesting to her. No matter, there was a far more interesting sight for her eyes.

She lay herself flat on her back, looking up at Sunny, his attention completely captured by the displaying movie. His eyes were wide, the slightest hint of a smile on his lips. Aubrey enjoyed how his expression would shift every so slightly as the scenes changed, how his right arm would twitch slightly when the mecha attacked another, almost as if he were the one controlling it. She smiled, enraptured by him, feeling joy from being the only one to be witnessing and noticing changes in his expression.

...Was she the only one? Surely Mari must be able to notice them as well, right?

Nevertheless, despite his generally neutral look, the fact that she was pretty much able to tell what he was feeling whenever his expressions changed brought her much happiness. Content, her smile widened as she closed her eyes, resting them for a bit.

As the show cut to advertisements, Sunny looked down at Aubrey's form, her eyes closed, her breathing slow. He admired her beauty, smiling, his eyes resting on her pretty mouth. Sunny slowly leaned in, glancing to her closed eyes, then back to her mouth, leaning closer to her alluring, absolutely kissable lips, his eyes steadily closing as he got closer, and closer... He glanced at her eyes once more, licking his lips...

His eyes widened, his face started to flush. Aubrey's eyes were now open, his mouth only an inch away from hers. Her smile unfaltering, she locked eyes with him. "If you won't do it, I will." She whispered, bringing her head up to meet him.

He must have kissed her hundreds of times before, but the soft feeling of her lips on his never failed to fill his heart with glee. Not the short-lived pleasure that would normally come from such an action, but a truly long-lasting happiness, a warm fuzzy feeling that spread out from his chest to his limbs, that filled him with delight like his growing blush filled his face.

Aubrey broke the kiss, sensually licking her lips, her own pink blush manifesting. She maintained her eye contact, smirking and enjoying his flushing red face. "What's wrong Sun-hun?" Sunny turned redder, her actions combined with calling him a pet-name proving too intense for him. He put his hands up to cover his red face, only to have them pulled away by Aubrey. He shook his head 'no', pursing his lips to stop his embarrassed smile from widening, only to watch Aubrey nod her head 'yes', her predatory grin spreading wider than his flustered simper. "Aubreey..." Sunny began. "Stooop..."

A voice perked up from his left. "Sunny... Aubrey... These days, even when we're together, you're both always flirting. You don't seem to even pay much attention to the rest of us anymore..."

Aubrey released one of Sunny's hands, reaching over to prod at his side. He let out a loud unmanly "Ngyaah!", jolting sharply, causing Aubrey to release his other hand. She snickered. His reactions are so cute. She thought. Sunny covered his face, too embarrassed to even look towards the source of the voice. Aubrey reached up, ruffling his hair, before slowing her touch, softly petting his head, stroking his hair towards his face. She watched Sunny curl up into himself, his shoulders tensing in bliss, his head dipping towards his chest, ironically giving Aubrey a better angle to pet him. "Love you, Sunny." Aubrey whispered.

"Nnnnmgh..." Sunny responded, his voice muffled by his hands.

"Are you two listening?" Basil pouted, as the pair continued to display no visible reaction to his words. Aubrey continued to pet Sunny's head, giving him no chance to recover from his heavy blush. She put her other arm behind her head, a satisfied smirk plastered on her face. "To be fair, Basil, I've not really hung out with Kim too much these past few weeks as well." Can you blame me though? Sunny is so fun to tease! I can see why Mari does it so much.

"Th-That's fair, but... Y-You've been monopolizing him for at least a week now." Basil shifted in his seat, his hand drifting across the once-again forgotten photo album. "I wanna spend some time with Sunny too, but around you... no offense, but, well..." Basil gestures towards him, Sunny's hands covering his blushing face, his breathing heavy, his eyes still fluttering in delight at Aubrey's touch. "I don't think he even remembers I'm here..."

Aubrey pursed her lips to hide her smile, secretly happy that she was able to keep Sunny almost enthralled by her touch. Flipping herself over, she turned her attention towards Basil. "Well, tomorrow's Saturday. I could hang out a little with Kim..." I don't really want to give up time with Sunny, though. Her unspoken words hung in the air.

Basil let his sad pout speak for him.

"Oh, alright, fine." Aubrey huffed, pulling out her flip-phone. "I'll give her a call."

Basil's expression immediately reversed. "Thanks, Aubrey." He beamed at her.

====================================================

The clouds drifted lazily across the sky above the secret hideout. Basil and Sunny sat underneath the shade of a tree, Basil leaning into Sunny, pointing enthusiastically at the images in the botany book he was holding. He chattered eagerly, smiling happily at Sunny's hums.

"-and I'm surprised my parents would drop so much money on something that's just a hobby of mine. I never expected a pink princess Philodendron of all things!" Basil spoke excitedly. "It's such a cute pink as well! It reminds me of Aubrey's hair! I wonder if they got it because I told them about you guys..." Basil put a finger to his chin. Sunny listened in rapt attention, a small smile on his face as he nodded. A teasing grin slowly formed on Basil's face. "Speaking of Aubrey, Sunny... I've gotten a few photos of the two of you these past few months. Would you like to take a look?"

Sunny's ears started turning red. He hugged his knees closer to his chest, bringing his gaze away from Basil before nodding. Basil giggled, bringing out his photo album and flipping to the back, placing it down in front of them.

The first thing that caught Sunny's eye was the picture of Aubrey hugging him from behind on his bed. Aubrey was winking to the camera, a finger brought up to her grin. His eyes were closed, a relaxed expression on his flushed face. It's description was in Mari's cursive handrwiting. "Taking care of your ill significant other with no one else at home is a heart-throbbing experience, isn't it?"

His attention drawn, he couldn't help but blush, staring at the picture and its description, almost completely ignoring all the other pictures in the photo album. He brought his eyes over Aubrey in the picture, seemingly taking in her every detail.

Basil snickered at Sunny's sudden change in expression. "Something up, Sunny?" he teased. Sunny jolted at the sudden question, jumping his hand over to a picture of Kel playing fetch with Hector, badly pretending he was looking anywhere else but the picture of him and Aubrey. "Hector sure is cute in that picture." Basil said, smiling. He leaned over, whispering. "Aubrey is cuter though, isn't she?"

Sunny curled up, picking up and bringing the photo album closer to hide his reddening face.

Basil snickered. "Hehe... Sunny, you're blushing so much from just that? What if I showed you this?" Basil leaned close, flipping through the back pages of the photo album, landing on a photo placed by itself with no description. Reflected in Sunny's eyes was a photo of Aubrey posing for the camera by herself with the swings in the background, a hand up in a peace sign, her smile bright and radiant. An absolutely perfect picture. Sunny thought, his embarrassment completely forgotten in the moment, tracing a finger around the picture, enthralled as if she were a personification of the goddess Aphrodite herself. He found himself swallowing his saliva, unable to pull his eyes away from the image before him.

Basil watched as Sunny's eyes widened, and sparkles seemed to form in the air around him as he stared at the photo. His normally clenched jaw opened slightly as his expression softened, his finger tracing across the image as if he had found a long-lost precious item, like he were King Arthur catching a glimpse of the Holy Grail. He pursed his lips, swallowing audibly, before loosening his jaw once more.

Sunny broke the silence, looking towards Basil, his blush replaced by a strong curious expression. "Where...? When...?" He stuttered, seemingly unable to form words.

"Truth is, Aubrey was the one who suggested it. She said it would be nice to have a solo picture of each of us in the album." Basil stood up, taking his camera out, his smile unfading. "Would you like to take one now? It'll be best if you could give a smile, though."

Sunny nodded, standing up to follow Basil. "...One condition." His soft voice came almost inaudible through the breeze.

"What is it?"

Sunny shifted uncomfortably on the spot, putting his hands behind his back. He began toeing the ground, pursing his lips as his blush came back in full force. "...I want a copy... of that photo."

......

Sunny stood on the small wooden docks, holding the polaroid in his hand, sliding his index finger over the smiling form of Aubrey in the picture. She's so beautiful. And she's my g-girlfriend. Memories of the times he spent with her saturated his mind, from the dates they had in the past, to the little things, like reaching out to grasp her hand while walking back home. He remembered her touch, from her scared grabbing in the haunted house, to her resting on his shoulder on the couch. He remembered enjoying her sweet scent whenever he cuddled into her. He remembered her voice, from the times she expressed her love for him to the times he called her just to hear her.

Unknowingly, he broke into a small smile.

"Sunny!" Basil called out. Sunny looked up from the photo, his small smile unchanged-

A flash of light jolted him out of his thoughts, as Basil immortalized his look with the click of a button.

==========================

Faraway Park was rather packed given it was a Saturday afternoon. The warm wind brought along the laughter of children running about the aged sandy playspace. Occasionally, the squeak of sports shoes on concrete would pierce the air, the loud thump of a bouncing basketball following it. Nearby, the sizzle of a grill and a meaty scent floated by as a family enjoyed their day off.

"-so I questioned her," Kim continued her story, fetching her drink from the vending machine just outside the park. "I asked her what she saw in him. Did she not care he called himself 'The Maverick' and wore a blonde wig all the time? And you know what she told me?"

Aubrey raised an eyebrow, sipping at her own drink.

"She told me 'His confidence is so cool!' and asked if I could give her information on what he liked or disliked. What a dork! Why would I know what Mav likes?"

Aubrey smirked. "They're still together, though, aren't they? He's simmering down a lot on his schtick as well."

A cheer erupted from the basketball court, interrupting the pair's conversation. "Ergh." Aubrey covered a ear, wincing at the volume of the cheer. "Let's go somewhere quieter. How about the secret hideout?"

===========================

"That was a great shot!" Basil held up the polaroid proudly. He flipped it over, showing it off to Sunny. "Look! A smile that'll make Mari proud!"

"What's going on over here?" A voice called out from the underbrush. Sunny and Basil looked towards the source of the noise, and were greeted by the bright pink hair and bright blue hoodie of Aubrey and Kim respectively. "Who-?" Kim began.

"Oh hey, Sunny! Hey, Basil!" Aubrey stepped forward to meet them, putting on a warm smile.

"Huh? Oh, are these part of those other friends you keep mentioning, Aubrey?" Kim followed behind her, looking them up and down.

"Yep!" Aubrey responded, giving Sunny a quick side-hug as he stepped off the dock. "And this is my boyfriend!" She declared unabashedly.

-My boyfriend! -My boyfriend! Aubrey's words reverberated in Sunny's head, causing his muscles to lock up, his face reddening. He pursed his lips, stopping his embarrassed smile from widening more than it already had.

"So this is him, huh?" Kim stepped in front of Sunny. "Hmph. Doesn't look like much."

Aubrey shot her a glare. "Excuse me?"

"Uh... I mean, he's a little thin, and he doesn't look very tough... N-No offense or anything, but even Angel could give him a run for his money." Kim pursed her lips, unable to keep her eyes on Aubrey's glare. "No offense." She repeated.

Aubrey closed her eyes, releasing her grip on the still-blushing Sunny. "You know, that's fair. But still, Kim. You do anything to hurt the sweetest boy I know..." She reached over, squeezing his shoulder for emphasis. "And I will personally end you. You hear me?" She pointed a finger out, tapping Kim lightly on her nose.

SNAP!

Three pairs of eyes turned to face the grinning Basil. A polaroid reeled out of his camera. "Hehe. You were looking pretty cool there, Aubrey! Here, let's show your friend our photo album!"

==========================

The four of them sat in a circle on the picnic mat with the photo album in the middle, Sunny bumping shoulders with Aubrey. Basil excitedly chattered about the photo album, reminiscing of times gone by. Kim sat there, engrossed in the storytelling, though Aubrey and Sunny were less enthused.

Sunny shifted himself, moving to sit on Aubrey's lap, before leaning back into her on the picnic blanket set up. She smiled, putting her arms around him like he were a big teddy bear, inhaling his scent and resting her head on his shoulder. So lost they were, in their own world, that they barely registered what Basil was saying about the photos in the album.

"This one was of a few weeks ago. Hero and Sunny were working together to decorate a cake for Mari's birthday. That one was quite fun! I remember Hero having to run Kel over to Othermart a few times to get more and more specific ingredients. Once, Kel ran off the moment Hero said 'I need you to go to Othermart-' without listening to what ingredients he actually needed! He came back winded like a minute later when he realised! Hahaha!"

Kim chuckled, imagining Kel's sweating, sheepish look as he came back home. Basil turned towards Sunny. "Right, Sunny? You remember- oh." Basil's smile faded into a pout, as he watched Sunny snuggle into Aubrey once more. "Hmmph... They forgot we're here again..."

Kim gave a half-smile. "'Again'? They do that a lot?"

Basil sulked. "Yeah. They've been monopolizing each other for the past week or so. I even got her to agree to spend some time away from him for a bit, but..." He pointed to the couple cuddling each other without a care in the world.

"Oh, so you were the reason why she suddenly called me to hang out?" Kim asked. Basil nodded in response, continuing to sulk.

He sighed. "Hmm... Say, we never really talked much. Kim, right?"

"Yeah. What of it, flower boy?" Kim snapped back.

"...w-wanna learn how to make flower crowns?"

===============

"You know, I kinda feel bad." Aubrey said, ruffling the hair of the half-asleep Sunny. Sunny gazed up at her curiously. "We were both supposed to spend time with our respective friends, but we kinda left them to fend for themselves with each other." Sunny raised his head from its very comfortable position on Aubrey's lap, looking over to the pair. Basil placed a completed flower crown on Kim's head, while Kim had a intense look of concentration on her face, her own half-completed flower crown in progress. Their voices drifted over through the near-silence, one happy, the other carrying a hint of frustration.

He lowered his head back down. "...S'fine. They're having fun." Sunny relaxed back into Aubrey's touch, reaching over to hold her free hand.

......

Some distance away, on the grass littered with various types of flowers, Kim let out a sigh of frustration. "Grumble, grumble... How do you nerds make these so fast?"

Basil smiled, placing a flower crown on Kim's head. "You're doing great, Kim!" Kim let out another sigh of frustration. Her look of concentration intensified as Basil dusted off a smattering of flower petals from his overalls, his smile unchanged. "Would you like a little help?"

"NO." Kim responded a little too forcefully, before reeling herself back. "No. I've got it."

"Suit yourself." Basil replied, lying back down on the grass. A peaceful silence followed, filled with the ambient noise of wind blowing through the trees and grass, as well as the occasional grumble from Kim. Basil watched the clouds go by, exhaling. "Do you have a favourite flower, Kim?" He asked, breaking the silence.

"No." Kim curtly responded. "I assume you have one, though."

Basil lay himself on his front, leaning his chin on his hands and kicking his legs up to his back. "Not just one, but I've got a few favourites..." Basil put his hands out, rattling off plants as if from a list. "Tulips, Gladioli, Lily of the Valley, Roses, Cacti, and Sunflowers."

Kim looked up from her handiwork quizzically. "That's some variety. Why?"

"Hehe... They represent my friends! Sunny, Aubrey, Mari, Hero, Kel, and myself!"

"Huh." Kim responded, going back to her flower crown. "Dare I ask how?"

======================

Sunny slowly rose from Aubrey's lap, finding slight discomfort in his lying position. He blinked a few times, letting loose a small yawn as his eyes readjusted to the light of the late afternoon. Half-asleep, he turned to Aubrey, who gave him a warm smile. As he sat up, the photo of Aubrey slipped out from his vest, floating onto the picnic mat. Curiously, Aubrey gestured to the photo. "What's that photo you were keeping there, Sunny?"

Sunny's eyes widened, patting the location in his vest where he was keeping the photo. He snatched it up from the floor, quickly storing it back under his sweater-vest. "...W-What photo...?" He overtly bluffed.

"Sunny..." Aubrey's smile widened into a wolfish grin. "Piquing my curiosity like that... You can show it to me, or I can tickle it out from you. Your choice." She reached her hands out, clenching and unclenching her open-palmed fingers.

Sunny tensed up, silent. He wanted neither option! Think, Sunny! Quickly, distract her! "Auby... Cuddle...?" Sunny put both his arms out, giving Aubrey a pleading look.

Aubrey grew a little pink at his sudden assertiveness, slowly lowering her arms. "Sun-bun..." Sunny relaxed slightly, his ears turning red from the pet-name being said. It worked! He thought. He gave her an inviting smile.

"Hiding something so obviously like that..." Aubrey began, her grin growing wider. "Did you think acting so cute would distract me? Come here!" With that, she lunged at him, tickling his sides, filling the air with squeals and yelps.

......

Sunny lay on the picnic mat, breathing heavily, an arm over his eyes and an uncharacteristically wide grin on his face. Aubrey sat beside him, holding the picture of herself in her hand. "Sunny!" She spoke, embarrassed. "Why would you need something like this? I'm here for you, aren't I?"

"...You can't always be next to me... With that, you always will..." Sunny's muted voice drifted over from his lying position.

Stunned, Aubrey took a moment to register his words. She then immediately turned a shade of crimson. "Wh-Wh-What are you saying, Sunny? W-well, I mean, i-if it's like that, then I guess you can keep it-" She slipped the photo into his vest, sitting beside him, covering her face with her hands.

"Thanks, Auby..."

Neither of them spoke for almost a minute, Sunny taking the time to catch his breath, and Aubrey taking the time to recover from her embarrassment. As the wind blew past the pair, they both spoke at the same time. "...Wanna cuddle?"

They snickered, Sunny sitting up. Aubrey pulled him into her, laying herself onto the picnic mat, feeling him nestle his head back into the crook of her neck like someone returning home for the first time in years. Smiles made their way onto both their faces, as Aubrey felt the familiar nuzzle. She stroked his soft hair, petting his head comfortably.

"Mmm... Love you..." Sunny responded, slowly drifting back to sleep.

"Love you too, Sunny."

=========================================

"Heh, Gladiolus certainly fits Aubrey alright." Kim spoke, half her attention still on getting her flower crown just right. "What do you think'll fit me?"

"You remind me... of a coconut." Basil put up a teasing grin.

Kim eyed his look for a moment, before taking the bait. "...Really. Go on."

"Hehe... You're strong and tough on the outside, but really sweet on the inside once we get to know you!"

Kim felt her face flush, reaching up to adjust her glasses in an attempt to hide it. "T-that so. S-sure, whatever... Grumble... Grumble..."

Unrelenting, Basil leaned over, adjusting the flower crown over her head. "With help, you'll also bloom into a beautiful tree. Coconuts are seeds, after all!"

"H-Huh!?" Kim's face turned red, her own flower crown dropped in the grass. She stood up, turning away from Basil. "Grumble... Grumble, Grumble... Aubrey! We're leaving!"

Basil maintained his teasing smile, standing up to follow her. "Aww, leaving so soon, Kim? You're almost done with your flower crown too!" He raised the flower crown, a few extra flowers in his hands.

Aubrey lay on the picnic mat, one hand on Sunny's head, the other behind hers. Hearing Kim step close to them, she opened her eyes, looking up at her flushed face. "Sorry, Kim. Can't move when you've got one on you. Them's the rules. I'll get you some taffy later."

Kim crossed her arms, pursing her lips. "...F-fine. Deal. But we're going after I finish this nerd's flower crown."

Aubrey's smile grew a little wider. Success! She thought to herself.

================

Bonus:

Tap-tap. Tap. Tap-tap.

Aubrey rapped on the window of Basil's room purposefully, the rhythm short but distinct. Basil looked out, a teasing smile on his face. Aubrey cleared her throat, looking left and right, making sure there was no one but crickets in the distance. "You got the goods?" She asked.

"Sure do~ You'll love this one." Basil held up the polaroid of Sunny. Reflected in Aubrey's eyes was a photo of Sunny holding a polaroid by himself, with the lake at the secret hideout in the background, his smile small but radiant. An absolutely perfect picture. Aubrey thought, her nervousness completely forgotten in the moment. She found herself swallowing her saliva, unable to pull her wide eyes away from the image before her. Her breathing grew heavy as she reached out to grab the polaroid, only to find it snatched away from her.

"Ah-ah-ah!" Basil tutted, holding the photo out of her reach. "I need to call in that favour you'll owe me."

"Already?" Despite her trying to act annoyed, her eyes never left the photo Basil held in front of him. "Name your price."

"Your friend Kim, she's kinda fun to be around..."

Chapter Text

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Aubrey rapped her knuckles on the door of Sunny’s house. “Sunny? Mari? It’s Aubrey! I came to visit!”She rapped her knuckles on the door once more.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

The door opened, her eyes meeting the warm smile of Mari. “Aubrey! It’s good to see you! Sunny is still asleep right now, so you might not want to disturb him yet~” She opened the door wider to let her in.

Aubrey took a look at the clock over the mantlepiece. “He’s still asleep?” She looked at Mari incredulously. “It’s 11am.”

Mari gave her a smug grin. “Well... I guess maybe he’ll appreciate it if his loving girlfriend was the one waking him up and not his big sister, hmm?”

Aubrey turned pink. “Wh- Well- I-” She spluttered, before stopping herself. A smirk found itself onto her face, smugness rivalling Mari. “Oh, this girlfriend will be showing her boyfriend lots of love, so give us a little privacy, alright?”

Mari’s smug grin morphed into a surprised expression. “Oh~ How bold, Aubrey! I’ll be sure to give you both some space, then… hehe…” Mari giggled, heading into the dining room.

“Thanks, Mari.” Aubrey’s smirk widened slightly as she started climbing up the staircase to Sunny and Mari’s room. The unspoken understanding between them aside, she was getting better at reacting to Mari’s teasing, she thought.

...Did she just try to tease Mari back, though? Mari must be rubbing off on her.

She gently turned the door handle, being careful not to make a sound. Sunny’s eyes closed, he was still fast asleep, hugging a pillow in his bed. The soft breathing of Sunny in his bed reached her ears… And… was that his voice?

“...Auby… Zzz…” Sunny’s muted whisper was just barely audible.

Oh my. Aubrey thought. Was Sunny dreaming of her? Her pink flush returned to her face, as she slinked closer to Sunny’s bed, her socks making almost no sound over the hardwood floor.

Sunny… His small, soft shape was lying sideways, arms thrown around a pillow. She heard her name whispered on his breath once more as she watched his slow breathing. She took in his relaxed form, watching his chest rise and fall. He was clearly experiencing some good dreams. How should she wake him up…? Should she wake him up? He looks so peaceful…

No. She reminded herself. She had a favour to repay. Though… a little indulgence never hurt, right?

Gradually, she shifted herself onto his bed. She gently lifted his arm off of his pillow, moving oh-so-slowly so as to not wake him. She slipped the pillow away, putting Sunny’s arm over her shoulder instead, feeling him sleepily attempt to pull her closer. She watched as his inhales got deeper, giggling as his chest rose more with each breath, almost as if he were subconsciously trying to take in more of her scent. She shifted herself even closer, so much so that their noses were almost touching, lying in his bed and enjoying his presence.

She felt him shift, his brows furrowing, as he tightened his hug. “Mmmph.. Aubrey…” His whisper became a murmur, as his shoulders tensed. His eyes still closed, he kissed her on the lips, inhaling deeply, before whispering, “...Love you, Aubrey.” Aubrey’s pink flush grew deeper at his sudden subconscious display of love. She stayed still, not daring to move a muscle.

Wait. That felt a little too real. Sunny thought, his eyes snapping open.

“A-A-A-Aubrey!?” Sunny flipped over on the bed away from her, rolling right off onto the floor. “Oof!”

His face a full crimson, he barely even reacted to his falling off the bed. “W-W-What-? Wh-When?” He spluttered, unable to form a complete sentence.

Aubrey crawled and looked over the side of the bed, a warm smile on her face. “Good morning, Sun-Bun!” Her smile grew wider. “Slept well?”

"A-Aubrey... I-uh-you... When? But-" Sunny stood up, continuing to stutter, the sudden calling of the pet name doing him no favours for him to regain his composure. Aubrey hoisted herself up, kneeling on the bed, kissing him on the lips once more.

Despite lasting for less than a second, his heart leapt with joy, not just from being so loved by the one he had a crush on, but also from being shown so much love so early after waking up. "Don't worry, Sunny-Honey. I like when you're assertive kissing me like that." Aubrey whispered next to his face, instantly replacing the cold patch left on his lips with an ever-intensifying warm blush.

As Sunny continued to stare at her, stunned, she threw her arms around him, pulling him back onto the bed. She felt him pause, before his mind seemed to restart itself, and he began burying himself into the crook of her neck, his favourite spot. As they snuggled into each other, her hand instinctively moved up to pet his head. She inhaled, taking in his scent. "What time did you sleep last night, Sunny? It's like 11am and you were still out like a light!"

Sunny kept silent. He thought back to his memories of the previous night: his imagination having run wild, he had imagined himself and Aubrey in a host of various situations. The pair laughing, swapping tales and sharing a snow-cone on top of a tall, snowy mountain. The both of them, hand in hand, exploring a vast forest filled with rabbits. The two enjoying a dip in the ocean on a hot day, finding treasure beneath the ocean’s waves, Aubrey’s swimsuit hugging her figure, just a little bit racy-

Aubrey spoke up, breaking the silence. “Were you staying up thinking about me? You flatter me way too much, Sun-hun!”

Was it that obvious? Sunny tensed up, burying himself tighter into Aubrey. She giggled, feeling his quivering embarrassed smile in her shoulder. “When…? How…?” Sunny mumbled into her shoulder.

His meaning wasn’t lost on her. Aubrey continued stroking his hair, explaining to him. "Mari let me in. Basil said he wanted to head out with you for brunch, didn't he? I was going out with Kim as well, so I figured to spend as much time as I could with you first before we separate." Aubrey leaned in, kissing him on the head.

Sunny’s ears almost seemed to emit smoke, as he muffled his voice in Aubrey’s shirt. "...Thanks, Auby."

Aubrey snickered at the pet-name. "Oh, Sun-hun… You're so cute..." She tousled his hair, before resuming her headpetting, the pair continuing to enjoy being in each other's presence.

…...

A good few minutes passed, allowing Sunny to recompose himself. Aubrey whispered to Sunny, breaking his daydream. "That being said, Sunny, if we don't go while I still have the motivation to, we might instead be spending the whole day here."

Sunny looked up, his eyes wide in surprise. If he kept her here until her motivation to move reaches zero, he can spend the whole day cuddling her? Sounds like a plan! He lowered his head, hiding his face from her in her embrace, a quick plan forming.

"Auby…" Sunny looked up at her, giving her a sad look. "...was really lonely yesterday...want more cuddle...please?" He dipped his head down, squeezing her slightly as his eyes still focused on her, in an attempt to play up his pitiable look.

Hnngh! Sunny, giving me that look is unfair! Aubrey felt her heart skip a beat, every instinct inside her telling her to give in, hold him close, and enjoy his warm embrace. Her smile quavered, as she was caught between two separate wants. "Sunshine…" she began. "I know what you're trying to do, and I can't say I'm not tempted. But we made a promise to our friends, and we're not about to break it, are we?"

Sunny's brows furrowed, as he looked away in thought. A part of his mind pleaded its case: Sure, they would be breaking a promise, but it's not like it's anything too important; he can have lunch with Basil another time! Or have dinner instead! Aubrey, beautiful Aubrey is right in front of him, her touch wonderful, her scent intoxicating, her kisses absolutely happiness-inducing…

Another part of his mind stopped him. A promise is like a contract. Sunny didn't want to be a person who broke his promises. That just felt… wrong, somehow. Even if it was Aubrey-

His thoughts were interrupted by her. "Sunny... I'm honestly flattered, but don't actually look like you're considering breaking a promise just for more cuddle time." She put her hands on Sunny’s shoulders, beginning to break the hug despite Sunny's grip. "Tell you what. Morning breath isn't great." She leaned in, whispering to his sensitive ears. "If you get yourself properly washed up and dressed... I'll give you a nice time on the couch-" She was interrupted by Sunny releasing his grip, jumping right out of bed, and rushing to the toilet, not even closing the bedroom door behind him, leaving her still lying on his bed, surprised, but charmed by his enthusiasm. She giggled, calling out "Make sure you brush properly!" as she moved to head downstairs.

…...

Aubrey adjusted herself on the couch, trying to find a position that would fluster Sunny the most. She settled for lying sideways, her head propped up by her fist, facing the doorway he would come in from. As she settled in, a curious Mari walked into the living room. “Aub-...rey…” She started, as she caught a glimpse of the position she was in. Her smug grin came back with force. “Don’t overdo it, alright? You’re both still underaged!”

Aubrey flopped face-first into the couch. "M-Mari..." her muffled voice emanated. “You said you’ll give us space…”

Mari stepped to the front door, in the middle of putting on her shoes. "I was already going to visit Hero.” As she opened the front door, she turned back to the couch. “Don’t forget to use protection, you hear?"

She closed the front door behind her just in time to hear a couch cushion impact the door.

……

Aubrey huffed, her face red from Mari’s implications, her arm still outstretched from her lobbing of the couch cushion towards the entrance. “...A-Aubrey?” A soft voice called from behind her.

In less than a second, with a speed rivalling that of Kel's fastest sprints, Aubrey flipped herself back into her side lying pose, landing and bouncing on the couch slightly, her expression flipping into an inviting smile, blush still evident on her face. Sunny straightened his sweater-vest, hesitantly looking to Aubrey. "...y-you said there'd be a nice time... I'm here..." He took a few steps closer, standing in arms' reach, a rosy pink forming on his ears.

Aubrey grabbed him by his shoulders, pulling him into the couch. She leapt onto his tensing form, greedily pressing her lips into his. Sunny widened his eyes, surprised at her sudden fervor, his blush returning in full force as he gingerly let himself be swept away by her assertiveness. He felt her tongue press against his lips, and opened them to accept her, entwining his tongue with hers. Aubrey grew more excited, her hunger for him only growing the more she dove into his still-minty-fresh mouth. Her aggressiveness and his gradually dwindling passiveness slowly filled their minds with nothing but each other...

=================

Basil took a glance at the time on his phone. 11:30am. Granted, they never settled on a time other than "brunch", but that was slowly turning into "lunch" at this point. Well, if Sunny isn't here, may as well go pick him up at his place. He stood up from his seat at the fountain next to Hobbeez, beginning his stroll toward's Sunny's house.

...

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"Sunny! I'm here!" Basil called out. He heard hushed voices some distance behind the door. "Sunny? It's Basil! Are you there?" He rapped his knuckles on the door once more.

A familiar voice sounded out from behind the door, far away and soft enough that a less perceptive person wouldn't have caught it. "Shunny-mmmph! Stop, th'door-Mmmmaah!"

He began to blush, putting his ear to the door. He caught the sounds of heavy breathing, before the familiar voice echoed anew. "Let'sh continue later, okay?-MMmmmph-"

There was a loud ruffling, before a pair of slow, heavy footsteps came closer and closer to the door. Basil snapped up straight, his face in full blush. While he initially felt slightly annoyed at Sunny not even leaving his house yet, his annoyance had washed away from the realisation that they might be caught up doing... each other. What didn't help was the familiar voice sounding out close to the door. "Mmmph-haah, Sun-bun, stop! Basil's right there-mmmph-"

Basil reached forward to knock once more, then stopped himself. They were clearly in a... compromising position. As Sunny's best friend, should he be interrupting them? His dilemma was answered by a "Woah!-Oof!" and the thud of something heavy impacting the floor.

Whatever happens, happens! Basil thought, throwing open the door, his face cherry-red. "I heard a loud noise! Are you both okay-Ah."

A fully-clothed Sunny was laying atop a jacket-less Aubrey on the floor near the entrance, his vest crumpled in the middle, and his pants looking... a little tight. The bottom half of both their raspberry-pink faces glowed with a wet sheen, as they each looked up at him, a string still connecting their mouths. "Th-the door wasn't locked...?" Aubrey turned crimson red, bringing her shoulder-strap back onto her shoulder, yet making no move to push Sunny off of herself.

Sunny blinked. "...Guess not." He leaned his head in again, continuing the make-out session.

"MMMmph! Sunny! Mmmmwaait! Basil's watching us-Mmmmph-" Aubrey continued her outcry in-between kisses. When did he get so bold?

Basil stared at the scene, his second-hand embarrassment slowly turning back into annoyance. Aubrey... you're not being very convincing with your arms pulling him tighter against you...

......

Basil sat at the dining table, his eyes closed, his brow furrowed, an angry look on his face. Sunny and Aubrey were sitting sheepishly opposite him. "Come on, you two! Learn to control yourselves a little!" Basil lectured, putting both his hands to his chest. "It was supposed to be a brunch meetup, but it's pretty much lunch at this point! How did you end up on the floor in the first place?"

Sunny shifted his gaze away, scratching at a non-existent itch on his cheek, his cheeks flushed. Aubrey giggled. "He tried to carry me to the door."

Sunny pursed his lips. "...Aubrey said 'until Basil arrives'... and you weren't in the house yet. So..."

"Geez... Sunny, I know you l-love Aubrey a lot, but you promised!" Basil blushed slightly at his stutter on the word 'love'.

Sunny drifted his hand over to Aubrey's. Their eyes met, and they both understood. They nodded to each other, standing up, walking around the table.

"What are you both doing?" Basil jolted, as two pairs of arms went around him. "W-wha-!"

"We're sorry, Basil."

"...sorry, Basil."

A different apology in each ear. Basil tensed, blushing as Sunny leaned himself sideways into Basil's shoulder and Aubrey lay her cheek against the top of his head. Both their hands started brushing his hair.

"Please forgive us." They both spoke at the same time.

"We didn't watch the time..." Aubrey started.

"...and we got carried away..." Sunny finished.

Basil's face turned red at the physical affection he was receiving. He quivered, his hands moving from a clenched position near his chest to his knees. "Mmmph... Well... If you both know what you did wrong... And won't do it again... I guess I'll forgive you..." Basil shakily stood up, breaking the half-hugs, a smile replacing the small pout on his face. "S-So, let's get some lunch, alright?"

As Basil turned away to the living room, Sunny and Aubrey caught each other's gaze, both gaining smirks of different sizes. Too easy. They both thought, walking out, hand-in-hand.

================

The trio exited the house, Aubrey quickly saying goodbye to Sunny and Basil before rushing off in the direction of Kim's house to meet her.

"See you, Aubrey!" Basil called out. "C'mon, Sunny! There's a new restaurant at the Plaza I wanted to try out!" Basil grabbed Sunny's hand, tugging him towards Faraway Plaza.

......

The restaurant was quaint, its lighting bright. A number of semicircular cushioned benches were set up on either side of the restaurant's walls around small circular tables, leaving the middle open – almost like a catwalk for the queue leading up to the counter at the front. Basil took a look at the menu at the counter. "It's mostly fish. You like steak, don't you, Sunny? I think they do sell cuts of steak here as well!" Basil smiled, pointing at the menu.

Sunny took a look, putting a hand to his chin. He maintained his pose for a minute, his brow furrowing in deep concentration. He closed his eyes, tilting his head left, then right.

"Sunny? You good?" Basil shook him out of his thoughts. "Didn't expect you to start thinking so hard over fish or steak."

Sunny shrugged, walking to the counter.

......

The pair took their meals to one of the circular tables, sitting next to each other in the middle of a cushioned bench. Basil smiled at Sunny, as he sat down with his steak, cooked to perfection. The quality doesn't seem half-bad. He thought, biting into the steak. Mmm. Decent, especially for a five-dollar steak. He took a sip of his cherry soda, his eyes glancing up to catch a flash of pink.

Wait... pink? He focused, noticing the familiar form of Aubrey enter the restaurant with Kim. "...and I heard their fish was really good. Here we are!" Aubrey's voice echoed through the nearly-empty restaurant, her eyes suspiciously darting around, landing on them.

Basil smiled, waving at them. Aubrey's voice cut across the restaurant, the false surprise in her voice only noticable by Basil. "Oh hey! Sunny! Basil! What a surprise!" Basil's eyes met Kim's, causing her to awkwardly look away.

"Hey Aubrey! Hey Kim!" Basil gave them a warm smile. "Come sit with us!" He kept his eyes on Kim, who seemed to be refusing to make eye contact with him.

"S-sup, nerds?" Kim stepped forward, watching Aubrey take the seat next to Sunny, which left her with a seat next to- oh.

Basil.

She forced a smile, taking a seat next to him, oblivious to his own slightly widening smile.

......

The conversation was sparse, as all four of them dug in to the meals eventually set before them. Aubrey took a big bite of fried fish, taking a gulp of her drink.

"Ugh, this blueberry soda tastes awful." Aubrey complained. Sunny looked at her, his eyes glowing with curiosity. "What's up?" She asked. "You wanna try some?" Sunny nodded at her words, as she handed the drink to him, letting him take a sip.

"...Not that bad. Wanna swap?" Sunny offered, pushing his drink over. She smiled at him, sliding her drink to his side of the table. She picked up Sunny's cherry soda. "Thanks, Sunny." She said, savoring her new drink.

"Wait, don't those sodas colour your tongue real bad?" Kim said. "Oh, oh! Show us your tongues!"

Aubrey and Sunny shared a glance, before sticking their tongues out.

"HAH! They're both purple! Looks like the two of you've been making out or something!" Kim burst out laughing, unable to control herself.

All three of their minds flashed to the earlier incident in the morning, as Aubrey and Sunny began to blush. A knowing smile formed on Basil's face.

"Shut up, Kim. W-we weren't!" Aubrey protested, continuing to eat her meal.

"Weren't? Why're you trying to deny it like that?" Kim dramatically gasped. "No way... Unless..."

Sunny's eyes darted to Kim, then to Basil. She likes it when I'm assertive, right? The tiniest smirk formed on his face, as he turned to face Aubrey, pecking her on the cheek.

"S-S-Sunny??" She spluttered, her face glowing the shade of a tomato. She whipped around to face the onyx-haired boy, her once-held fork clattering loudly on the table. She gave him a look of surprise, covering her cheeks with her hands. Not in front of Kim! She attempted to signal him through her eyes.

Sunny's small smile warmed her heart, causing her to lower her hands. It was obvious he didn't understand her signal, as he seized the opportunity to kiss her on the lips.

"Woah!" Kim jolted at the scene playing out in front of her. Eyes wide, she grabbed Basil by the shoulder, putting a fist over her open mouth. She stared at the pair, spinning to face Basil, her astonishment evident. He must be so surprised, his friends are -

He... showed no surprise whatsoever. Huh.

As Sunny continued to pepper Aubrey with kisses, Basil acknowledged Kim's confused expression. "So, looks like they're flirting again." He said. As expected of Sunny. Keeping Aubrey distracted all according to plan.

"Y-you weren't kidding, huh." Kim said, engrossed with watching the scene.

Aubrey's face still-reddening, she was caught between the choice of stopping Sunny to prevent more embarrassment and the choice of embracing it, giving in to his loving clinginess. Sunny kissed her on her neck, smiling as she lost strength in her push. He moved to kiss her on her forehead, then the side of her cheek, then the tip of her nose. Unwittingly, being showered in so much attention, her mouth crept up into a smile, encouraging him further, as he met her lips with his.

"So, Kim." Basil began. "We should hang out more often!"

Kim didn't respond, covering her mouth with her hands, still watching the escalating public display of affection in front of her.

Basil smirked, leaning closer to Kim. "Looking awfully thirsty there, Kim."

Kim jolted, a hand covering her ear. "H-Huh?? Who's the one who's-" She caught a glimpse of Basil's teasing grin, recomposing herself. "Shut up, n-nerd."

"Hehe..." Basil softened his smile. "Say, you're kinda fun to hang out with... when the two of them are busy doing... this again, wanna come hang out at my place? I could show you a couple of plants you might like."

"Why would I be interested in p-plants, flower boy?" Kim deflected, her face pink, still sneaking glances to the increasingly embracing Sunny and Aubrey.

"Hmm...? Everyone loves receiving flowers." That's also not a 'no' I hear. Basil thought. "Tell you what, I'll send you a bouquet you'll really like. You can decide if you still wanna visit after that."

===============================

Bonus:

Kim looked at the bouquet of mini roses on her table. "From: Basil. Come visit sometime :)" - The note next to it read. On its back was what she assumed to be his number.

"Brought that in for you. A secret admirer, hm?" Vance smirked, chewing on a lollipop.

"S-Shut up, Vance! If it was, the roses'll be red! Different colours have different meanings, you know!" Kim's face began to flush.

"Sure, sure. Why don't you ask Charlene? She'll confirm it." Vance teased.

"More like bust that theory! And I was about to do that anyway!" Kim pulled out her phone, selecting Charlene from her contacts list.

......

Charlene's phone rang. She answered it, bringing it to her ear.

"CHARLENE! Hey! Just the person I wanted to talk to! Listen! I've got you on speaker mode here. Don't laugh, but I was just sent a bunch of roses, but they're NOT RED, and Vance keeps saying its from a secret admirer!" Kim's voice blasted through the speaker. In the background, she heard Vance. "Hey! I only said it once!"

"Yeah, so listen. Charlene! I was sent yellow and pink roses! What do those mean?"

"...yellow... Friendship and care..." Her soft voice contrasted heavily with her large size. "...pink... Admiration and appreciation..."

"See, Vance?" The voice blasted from the phone speaker. "Thanks Charlene-"

"Wait." Charlene interrupted. "...How many... and what size?"

"Uhh... let's see here. 6 yellow, and 6 pink, which makes 12. And they're real small, like they'll all fit into one of those small hanging pots in Fix-It. Think that's 'cause the small ones are cheaper?" came the reply.

Charlene let out a snicker. "...Lucky. Good job, Kim." She hung up the call.

"Huh? Wa-Wait, lucky? What's with that laugh? What's 'Good job' supposed to mean? ...Hello? Charlene? ...Charlene!" Kim yelled into her phone, intensely aware of the teasing look Vance was giving her. She paused, taking a deep breath, putting a hand to her forehead. "...There's... There's no way, right?" she asked no one in particular.

"Hey, who knows, it's not necessarily a bad thing!" Vance shrugged, a smile on his face.

"Shut up, Vance! You're not helping!" Kim stammered, grabbing the note attached to the bouquet and stepping out of the room.

She just made it into the bathroom as her phone vibrated.

It was a text from Charlene.

"Dozen roses: 'I love you'. Petite roses: symbol of affection for a sweetheart ;)"

Kim stared at the message, stunned. "She even added a winky-face at the end..." As she felt her face begin to burn, she turned around, locking the bathroom door, slumping to the floor in front of it. Thoughts whizzed through her mind. There's no way... It was by accident, right? But he loves flowers, doesn't he? He has to know! ...Right? No way...

Well, I don't dislike him... Maybe if I asked him about it... no, that's dumb...

==============================================

This fic was somewhat inspired by @Kazuya_cz's art:

Chapter Text

Basil loved taking care of plants. He was locally famous for it: even people who didn't know him personally knew of "the flower boy that lived near the main road". He didn't mind; it wasn't a bad reputation to have, after all, and it gave him a sense of fulfilment.

Basil inhaled, taking in the view. The fruits of his labour. Rows of flowers grew beautifully, their petals colourful in the soft light, their scent filling the room with a unique fragrance. He stepped down from the stepping-stool in his living room, inspecting the next row of flowers, and checking the dirt for moisture - anything that wasn't just right, and the plant would suffer. "You're quite picky, aren't you, Philodenron?" Basil spoke to the plant, lifting up a small watering can and giving it just a little bit more water.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"Hm..." Basil looked up from his plants. "Wonder who that could be...?" He asked no one in particular, the knowing look on his face betraying his true feelings.

He put down his watering can, stepping over to open his front door. The creak of the hinges caused the bespectacled girl on the other side to jolt slightly, almost as if she weren't expecting a response. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, adjusting her glasses. "Hey nerd. You wanted to show me your flowers." Her eyes darted from the doorframe to the window, from Basil's shirt to the inside of his house. While her voice didn't stutter or shake, there was a nervous energy radiating off of the blue-hoodied girl so clearly avoiding his gaze.

Basil gave her a big smile, both in an attempt to welcome her, and an attempt to calm her nerves. "Heya, Kim! Hehe... you actually came over!" He stepped aside, opening the door wider to her enter the house.

Kim let out a quick snort, brushing off invisible dust from her hoodie. "Well, yeah. I messaged you, didn't I? P-Plus, it would have been rude not to, since you sent that bouquet and all." And I need to know if you meant what I thought you meant with it. Her thoughts lead to the slightest rose-pink tinting her cheeks, slight enough that normal people would have dismissed it as a trick of the light.

Basil, however, was more perceptive than normal people. "Hmm...? Was that really all the reasons...?" He probed, a teasing grin growing on his face.

The slight pink grew less slight, as Kim turned away from him, dodging his look and ignoring his question. "Grumble, grumble..." her voice came out, muffled behind her nearly-closed mouth. As if it would suffice as an answer, she stepped past him into his house, ogling the inside of the main room. "Kinda small place you got here..." She began. A pleasant scent caught her attention, bringing her to take a deeper breath.

"I think that makes it cosy!" Basil replied, watching Kim float her gaze from the dining area, to the kitchen, to the rows of flowers lining the living hall. He caught a glimpse of the curling of her lip, clearly having her interest drawn by the very same things that caught her nose's attention. She followed the embrace of the sweet aroma, the tiny lip-curl slowly but surely turning into a half-smile as she stood before Basil's handiwork, the rows of colour greeting her with the same enthusiasm as the morning sun.

He followed her over, staying only a pace behind her, keeping an eye on how her posture relaxed, her shoulders released her tension, and her half-smirk grow into a warm smile. He felt his own smile threaten to grow, but forced it down. He would give in to his excitement later, he told himself. "Do you like them? I was planning to show you how I take care of them... But Kel always says that's pretty boring. Hmm... Any of these plants stand out to you? I've got even more outside!" Basil attempted to make conversation, his unchanging smile still present on his face.

"I'd ask you which one is making that minty-pine smell, but I'd guess it's a mix of most of these flowers here." Kim responded, her gaze changed from nervously questioning to soft and warm, her endless fidgeting quelled. "Uhh, you said you had a few favourite plants, right? Tell me more about those."

Basil's excitement slipped through, his eyes seemingly reflecting the ceiling-bulb's light more, his smile wide and bright. "Sure! Let me start with the sunflowers here..."

......

The sun shone over Basil's outdoor planters, giving Basil a faint glow as he gushed about his plants. Kim watched Basil's expressions change between various smiles, barely listening to him describe the characteristics and method of plant care for each of his plants. The minutes passed, a strange feeling rose up in her chest, slowly growing the more Basil spoke. It made her smile despite her feeble attempts to curb it, and left her unable to tear her eyes away from him. Even though she wasn't quite listening to what he was saying, the sound of his voice coupled with the smiles he was giving her made happiness bubble up from deep in her heart.

"Kim?" Basil asked, slightly concerned. His smile seemed to falter a little, the ever-present glow from the sun still causing his hair to seem to sparkle. The way he looked at her, paid attention to her... Her heart would be racing if it weren't for the calming scent of flowers in the air. Such a strange feeling, one she had never experienced before-

"Kim...? You feeling alright?" Basil asked again, tilting his head slightly in confusion.

Kim's eyes refocused. "H-huh? Y-Yeah! Yeah, I'm fine." She hastily responded, looking away, a slight blush forming on her cheeks.

"You were spacing out a little there." And I could feel you staring at me. Basil thought, the implications clear to him. "Say... it's getting a little late! Wanna stay for lunch?"

......

Kim shifted in her seat. A few hours had already passed since she arrived at Basil's house and she had still not asked him about the bouquet. At this rate, I won't be able to ask him at all! She thought, putting her utensils down. She let out a sigh, wondering how to broach the topic.

Basil looked up from his meal, noticing her discomfort. "Is something wrong, Kim?"

"H-huh?" Kim responded, startled. "No! No, nothing's... Grumble, grumble... Well yeah, I wanted to ask you about..." She stammered, the sentence drifting off. A faint blush formed on her cheeks as she avoided his gaze, her mind racing as she tried to figure out how to continue her line of inquiry.

The seconds passed, and the awkward silence continued. "Ask about...?" Basil probed, a teasing smile forming on his face.

Kim's face began to flush as she remembered Charlene's text. "Well... you sent me a dozen petite roses... I-I wanted to know..." Her sentence once again drifted into an awkward silence as she was left unable to continue.

Basil's smile widened, hiding his knowing look. "Hmm...? Know what, Kim?"

"N-Never mind!" She dipped her head down, picked up her utensils, and continued to eat.

.........

Time passed, and the afternoon soon grew late. Basil stood at his door, keeping it open as Kim put her shoes back on. "Thanks for coming over, Kim!" He said. "Let's hang out more often!"

"Thanks for having me over." Kim finished her laces, stepping out the door. She adjusted her glasses in a bid to hide her embarrassment. "And, uh... I w-wouldn't mind coming over more often, flower boy."

"Hmmph..." Basil pouted. "My name is Basil! Ba--sil!" He let out a sigh, his eyes dipping down. Sadness filled his expression, bringing a dark cloud over his normally radiant features. "I guess... you really don't like hanging out with me, do you?"

As the bitter frown crossed his face, Kim felt like she was given an emotional blow to the chest. "H-huh? Well, I- uhm-" She stuttered, powerless in her attempt to keep her eyes on the blonde-hair boy whose body language was wilting by the second.

"If you don't like it that much, I guess I could call it off..." Basil interrupted, his mouth forming a thin, sad line, reminescent of a puppy that had its meal taken away. He reached for the door handle, pulling the door closed.

"WAIT!" Kim yelled a little too forcefully, thrusting her foot out and anchoring the door, stopping its movement. She took a few breaths, having reverted back to being unable to meet his eyes. "I... It's not like it wasn't fun hanging out. Grumble, grumble... I d-don't dislike it... So let's hang out more often, Basil."

Basil's expression flipped right around, radiance pouring back into his face. "Hehe! Thanks, Kim! I'll see you around! Text me!" He waved his phone.

Kim nodded and turned away, walking off. Text me! Basil's last words and smile caused a blush to fill her face like a burst dam.

In the end, I never got to ask him about the bouquet. She thought to herself.

...Wait. Did Basil just manipulate me there? How cheeky...

Well... He is kinda cute... I'll forgive him this time...

=====================

Bonus:

Basil closed the door, just barely catching a glimpse of the blush beginning to fill Kim's face.

"Hehe! She'll be visiting more often for sure!" He stepped towards the planters in the living area. "Couldn't have done it without you." He spoke to the flowers, nodding to each set. "Lavender. Jasmine. And especially you, Rosemary." He took a whiff of its minty-pine smell, a big smile forming as he remembered Kim's attraction to the scent.

"Let's see... for next time... Maybe I'll go with..."

Chapter Text

A salty gust of wind blew across the six, nostalgia filling their hearts, the memories of past experiences at the sandy sea-side remembered well by the group of young adults. Responsible as they were, many of their belongings were being unloaded from the car by Hero, while Mari began to set up the picnic mat. She gave a warm smile to the Sunny that began to help her.

Kel, on the other hand, stepped away, facing the sea. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the briny air. "Ahh... the sea-breeze... the sand beneath our toes... It's the beach, alright!" Kel inhaled. "WOO-HOOOO!" he yelled, throwing his shirt off, raising a beach ball in the air as he rushed towards the ocean.

"Hehe! Wait for us, Kel!" Basil yelled, rushing after him.

Hero and Aubrey stepped over, unloading the group's six bags onto the picnic mat, preventing the winds from blowing it away. Aubrey started rummaging through her bag. "So that's why they insisted to wear their swim shorts here rather than their pants. Ugh, they could have at least helped us set up."

Hero went over to the crumpled mess that was Kel's shirt and folded it up for him, putting it on the picnic mat. "It's no big deal, Aubrey. I remember the two of you rushing off like they did when we were younger. ...Granted, you were 12 then, but still. Some things never change, eh?" Aubrey grumbled a response, as Sunny patted her on the shoulder reassuringly.

"It's nice to see the two of you getting more mature across the years." Mari beamed at the pair. "Hero, we're gonna get changed. Take care of our stuff, alright?" Hero nodded as he opened a large parasol, sticking it in the sand.

......

Aubrey stood in the bathroom in her frilly, pink, two-piece swimsuit, staring in the mirror, propping herself up by her arms. This swimsuit is basically underwear... Oh man, what'll Sunny think? She paced her breathing, attempting to quell the unease within herself. I don't know what I expected, agreeing to let Mari pick out the swimsuits like this.

Mari stood by her in her matching purple swimsuit, beaming at her. "That swimsuit looks really good on you, Aubrey! It's a good thing we found a beach that barely anyone goes to. You'd get constantly hit on for sure!"

"Mari... I can't go out like this..." Aubrey gestured to herself. "What'll Sunny think, seeing his girlfriend in such attire?"

Mari smiled wider. "Trust me, Sunny'll love it. Have some confidence in yourself! Don't be shy, Aubrey!" She clasped her hands on Aubrey's shoulders, pushing her out of the bathroom.

"Mari! Wai-ah! My heart's not ready for thi-" Aubrey stuttered, unable to resist Mari's pushing as she was shoved through the door, right into the arms of-

......

Sunny was waiting outside the female's bathroom, his own changing long completed. At the sound of the familiar voices of Aubrey and Mari coming closer to the entrance, he turned, barely catching Aubrey as she almost fell through the door into his arms.

His whole body tensed, as his brain registered a new sensation across the entire front of his upper body. Bare skin-to-skin contact. He froze, continuing to hug Aubrey, his arms around her waist as she rebalanced herself in his arms.

"Agh! Mari! Why'd you push me so hard?" Aubrey looked to the person she ran into. "Thanks for the save, Sunny. You can let go now."

Sunny was in full blush. It was his first time hugging anyone with both their chests basically bare, and he was doing so to Aubrey. His crush on her had not waned over the years - instead, it had deepened, and suddenly being covered by not just her voice and smell, but also the sight of her - and her touch, unfiltered, barely even behind one set of clothes - his senses were completely overwhelmed.

"Sunny? You, uh, you're squeezing kinda tight." Aubrey patted at his arms, noticing his face blushing prettily, his eyes trained on her, and his slackened jaw.

"Uh, ah, Au-uh," Sunny spluttered, his mind repeatedly shorting out as it went over and over the touch of her bare skin on his.

"O-Oh." Aubrey gave him a smile, hugging him closer, pushing herself into him, happy that she could still turn him into such a mess. "Sun-bun..." She ruffled his hair lovingly. I'll never get tired of seeing him blush.

"Looks like he likes it, and a lot, at that!" Mari gave them a teasing smirk. She stepped over, prodding Sunny in his side, causing him to snap out of it with a yelp, letting go of Aubrey. "Time to go, Sunny! Hold onto her for too long and you might not be able to hide 'that' anymore..." Pointing somewhere south of his bellybutton, she giggled as Sunny turned away from them, embarrassed.

=============================================

The wind brought along the cheers of the four as they made some manner of attempt to bounce a beach ball back and forth in the ocean. Every now and then, the ball would be thrown a little too far, causing one of them to reach and fall, splashing into the briny seawater.

Hero flipped a patty over, the sizzle and smell of perfectly-cooked meat providing a strangely synchronous complement to the sound of the four splashing in the sea and the smell of the waves crashing on the shore. With a practised speed, he flipped several more patties with one hand, turning several sausages on the grill with the other. He sprinkled a blend of spices onto the patties, before flipping them into a large paper plate. Drawing in a deep breath, he smiled. He flicked his fringe out from his face and turned around to the one watching his art intently behind him. "Like what you see, Mari?" He flashed her one of his signature grins, just barely noticing the slight blush forming on her face. "Come, get a plate. We've got more, after all!"

"Oh, Hero... one of these days, we've gotta come back here, just the two of us." Mari cooed into Hero's ear, draping her arms around him like a cloak around his shoulders. Pressing her barely covered swimsuited self into him, she felt him tense slightly, as a blush began to make its way onto his face. She gave him a small smooch on the cheek, smirking as his blush intensified. Her handiwork done, she pulled herself off him before he could respond, turning in the direction of the four playing in the ocean further off.

"Come get some food, everyone!" She yelled, getting the attention of the four in the water.

===============================

As the day began to tilt towards the early evening, the food was eventually consumed, a little too eagerly on Kel's end. Somehow, he had managed to eat thrice as much as anyone else in the group.

"Oh, Kel!" Hero spoke over the pile of dirtied paper plates and finished watermelon slices. Kel looked up at him, a satisfied smile on his face. "Wanna bury Sunny in the sand again?" Hero suggested, watching Sunny give Kel a thumbs up.

"Heck yeah!" Kel grabbed a spade, rushing off to a side of the beach, beginning the digging process.

Sunny was unusually enthusiastic about it, helping Kel as much as he could. As he handed his own shovel to Kel, he watched Kel beam and raise both shovels in the air above his head. "Behold! A spade in each hand - I am the Master Digger!" He yelled out to nobody in particular. He held the position for a few seconds, before digging at twice the ferocity, earning a slight curl of the lip from Sunny.

While both Sunny and Kel were each helping with the giant hole, Hero gave the rest a thumbs-up. "Plan away, everyone. They're distracted enough."

Basil nodded, bringing Aubrey aside from the picnic mat. "You managed to get the, uh, thing?" He whispered to her.

Aubrey let out a breath loudly, the sudden bout of anxiety almost swirling behind her brown eyes. "...I'll be getting it the day before." She responded, biting at the edges of her lip.

Basil smiled warmly, giving her an encouraging look. "Are you prepared for it?"

Brows furrowing, she let out another loud breath, as if it would soothe her wavering heart. Mildly annoyed at the way Basil cut right through to the exact question she didn't know how to answer, she scratched an impalpable itch at the back of her head. "Look, he was the one who confessed to me. I have to even up the score here, I must!" She beat her fist against her chest twice. "My pride as a girlfriend is at stake here!" She declared, her posture now brimming in confidence.

"That... doesn't answer my question, though." Basil said, his eyebrows raising in amusement as Aubrey rapidly deflated at his astute quip.

Aubrey let out another breath loudly, this time almost in defeat. "...I'll be prepared. I don't think my heart is ready now, but in a few days, it'll have to be. I will be."

Basil's smile widened. "That's the Aubrey we all know and love." He patted her on the shoulder. "We'll be supporting you two till the end!"

........

Hero went back to the grill, watching the digging scene with a smile. Mari patted her hand on Hero's shoulder, raising her index finger. As Hero turned to face the sudden stimulus, he was met with a finger in his cheek. And a chuckle. "Something up, Mari?"

She withdrew her hand behind her back, clasping it together with her other hand. Her gaze wandered, as she started swaying herself back and forth, playing up a meek front. "Hero... Aubrey requested some privacy with Sunny during his birthday... You'll help to distract Kel when the time comes, won't you?" Mari gave Hero a pleading look.

Hero nodded, confidence gathering on his face. "Oh yeah. Yeah, of course! I've got the perfect plan, in fact." Despite the certainty in his voice, the way his right lip curled up a bit too much and the way he glanced off to his left for a little too long betrayed... something. A secret he was hiding, perhaps?

"Does it involve bribing him with food?" Mari joked.

"...That's a secret." Hero responded, his attention going back to flipping the burger patties on the grill, a poker-faced smile making its way onto his face.

"Aww, Hero... Is it something you can't even tell your girlfriend?" Mari probed, putting her arms around his neck and shoulders, pulling him into a hug from behind.

Hero maintained his poker face. With no hesitation, he responded. "Yep. Sorry, Mari. But it'll be worth it, I promise."

Mari pouted. She had always been able to tell when people were hiding things – Often, she was even able to tell what it was they were hiding. With how perceptive she was, being kept in the dark wasn't a feeling she was used to. Even her perceptiveness has its limits, after all, and that annoyed her a little. "Alright... I'll trust you on that. But it better be something good!"

==========================================

Mari looked back at the four teens squeezed together in the back of the car. Aubrey and Sunny had their hands with fingers interlocked, Sunny sleeping on Aubrey's shoulder, while Aubrey rested her head on Sunny's. Kel was sleeping leaning on Basil while Basil was looking out the window at the passing scenery.

Catching Mari's look, Basil whispered to her "You think it'll go well?"

"With the way it's gone for them so far?" Hero asked softly.

"Absolutely." "Yep." Hero and Mari both let off their respective voices of approval.

Basil smiled, turning back to the window. "I agree. As long as we support them, they'll be able to get through anything."

Mari reached her hand over, interweaving her fingers with Hero's.

Chapter Text

The sun shone onto Sunny's sleeping face. He had ignored it at first, drifting in and out of sleep, but was eventually made to open his woozy eyes, sitting up. To his right, Mari's bed was made, prim and proper as she was, with no sign of its occupant. He got up, slipping himself into his usual garments; shirt, vest, pants. The silence in the room allowed his sensitive ears to pick up the murmur of multiple voices downstairs.

Gingerly, he stepped out of the bedroom, reaching to close the door behind him. The wind blowing through the window in his room, however, pushed it with a little too much force, causing an echo to sound out through the hall. The murmuring voices immediately stopped, the house turned oddly quiet. The rising urge to investigate the voices was quelled by his hygienic want to get his teeth brushed, and so to the bathroom he turned.

//////////

"Happy birthday, Sunny!"

"..."

"Come on, make a wish!"

A wish. What should he wish for? World peace? Well, he could be selfish about it, it wasn't like anyone would know. Speaking of, who was he making the wish to, anyway? Who grants these wishes?

"..."

//////////

Sunny wiped his hands off on the towel in the bathroom. It is my birthday today. I think I have an idea of what I should wish for already. Sunny thought to himself, as he stepped out of the bathroom.

The teal contacts of the pink-haired Aubrey jolted him out of his daydream. His heart skipped a beat, a smile moving onto his face as naturally as he breathed. She grinned at him, causing his heart to skip once more. "Good morning, Sun-hun! Slept well?" He nodded, eager to spend today with her.

He stretched both his arms out. "...Hug?" His muted voice asked, his tiny smile growing.

Aubrey maintained her poker-faced grin. Erk! The Aubrey in her mind hunched over, clutching at her chest. That's the smile that whole kingdoms would fight for! She thought. I need to get him downstairs, but... I guess a little indulgence never hurt anyone, right...? Her mental dilemma invisible to him, she pursed her lips, feeling her last shred of resistance blown to smithereens as Sunny gave her a curious head-tilt.

The Aubrey in her mind was thrown backwards onto the floor, reeling from the cuteness of his movement. Nnngh! That's not fair, Sunny! "J-just for a while then!" A pink blush made its way onto her face, as she gave in to her instinct to throw her arms around him and cover him with her love.

Sunny snickered, leaning himself into her, ecstatic at the opportunity to be close to her once more. He buried himself into her shoulder, smiling as he felt her ruffle his disheveled hair, petting his head. Their breathing slowed, synchronising with each other, as they took in deep breaths of each other's scent, a ritual they had long perfected and performed whenever their want to be with each other grew tremendous.

Aubrey kissed him on the head. "Love you, Sun-bun." She murmured into his sensitive ear, smiling wider as she felt him tense and shiver. Oh, how their love extended far beyond what they could describe. Oh, how the seconds would take forever to pass with each other, yet the hours would paradoxically move so quickly while they were in each others' arms. Oh, how they wished they had eternity to share in each others' presence.

Sunny gave a muffled "...love you too." seconds before he felt the hug being broken. He caught a glimpse of disappointment in her eyes, mirroring his own feelings. A little confused at being separated before either of them had enough, he felt her softly take his hand.

Her touch was light and sent tingles up his spine. For but a moment, he could only focus on her hand, her form leading him down the stairwell like they were about to go on an adventure, just the two of them. He let himself be pulled forward, the soft sunlight flowing in from the window at the top of the stairs coating the pair in an almost dreamlike yellow shine of happiness.

Every step Aubrey brought him gave him just a little bit more joy, growing in his heart like cherry blossoms in the spring. It bloomed and fluttered through to his normally-expressionless face, bringing his smile up to reach his eyes. Step by step, they went, crossing the doorframe to the living room...

...where with a jump, every one of his friends leapt out from behind the sofa.

"HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY, SUNNY!" The cheer from the living room was nearly deafening. Sunny leapt back out of shock, his hand pulled out of Aubrey's. He put his other hand to his ringing sensitive ears, a little overwhelmed by the sudden shout.

A smiling Hero walked forward, clapping him on the arm, causing him to tense at the sudden impact. "Mari said you slept a little late yesterday. Gave us a little more time to prepare!"

He gave his arm a squeeze before releasing it, stepping aside as Kel came forward. "Yeah! Come on, Sunny! Let's go get you some food!" Kel grabbed at Sunny's free hand, attempting to pull him towards the kitchen.

Aubrey punched Kel in the arm, weakening his pull, her hand finding its way to Sunny's shoulder. "I'll have to agree on that. Kel wouldn't shut up about wanting to eat since he came over. We'd better get to that before he does."

Kel sheepishly rubbed at the back of his head. "Heheh.. I mean, smelling Hero's cooking for hours on end... that's enough to make anyone famished!"

"Speaking of which, I hope you don't mind, but I invited Kim and Vance over." Aubrey pointed at the pair approaching Sunny.

"Heyo, friendo." Kim said.

"Heyo, sister's friendo." Vance followed up.

Basil stepped into the semicircle of people now crowding around Sunny, pushing between Vance and a suddenly-blushing Kim. "Wait till you see what we got you." He declared, before suddenly dipping into a half-whisper. "Aubrey worked the hardest of all of us for her present!"

Aubrey's face turned slightly pink, glancing to see if Kel heard it. "Sh-! Basil, don't you dare spoil it, I swea-"

"Clear away, everyone. You're overwhelming him." An almost commanding tone came from the normally unflappable Mari, drawing everyone's look. As everybody's eyes turned back to Sunny, it became clearer that the sudden burst of social activity and attention from so many had overtaxed the poor onyx-haired boy – his dark eyes had become unfocused, zoned out, shifting everywhere, yet avoiding everyone else's gaze. His breathing had quickened somewhat, and his hand, still in Kel's, was squeezing a little too hard. Clearly, he wasn't used to be the target of so much attention so close to him.

Sheepishly, the gathered crowd began to disperse, first Kim pulling Vance away, then Hero with a mildly-disappointed Kel.

Aubrey kept her protective hand on Sunny's shoulder. He tilted his head to face her, his lips faintly pursing, his eyebrows raised just enough to betray his anxiety. She responded with a soft smile, squeezing his shoulder in an attempt of reassurance.

Sunny found himself suddenly wrapped in Mari's hug, his eyes refocusing as he processed the new sensation. She gave him a look over, and a tender smile. "Morning, Sunny! Hope you slept well!" She asked, ruffling his hair. "It's already almost 11am, sleepyhead! We managed to set everything up for your big day while you were asleep! Come on, little brother, let's get you some brunch!" She began leading him into the dining room.

...

Few words were left able to describe Hero's cooking. While it had already initially started out good, Hero had honed his skill and prowess over the years, reaching the point where he even had multiple secret spice blends for specific situations and dishes.

Needless to say, the smell of the grand spread of dishes laid out on the dining table immediately caused Sunny's mouth to water. Not only was there a full roast chicken, there was also cuts of beef steak, pork stew, bacon of various assort, and even a cutting of raw fish set up for whoever wanted some. And that was just the meats.

Hero called from the kitchen. "There's salads and mashed potatoes here, for whoever wants any." Basil nodded, helping himself to a bowl. Hero winked at Sunny. "Pastries as well. I tried my hand at making some of those jelly-filled doughnuts you've described before." He handed one to Sunny.

Kel had already begun shovelling meat into his mouth with intensity. A chicken wing in one hand, he took a big bite from a lettuce-wrapped piece of steak in his other hand. He put the chicken wing down, taking a drink of a fizzy orange liquid. "Aah. There's nothing like Orange Joe. Sit down, Sunny! Have some food!"

Sunny nodded, bringing a well-done steak over to his plate.

...

As Sunny finished the steak and doughnut, he leaned back, satisfied. It was better than any steakhouse he had ever went to. He looked up at Kel, still eating despite his plate having become completely covered in stacks of various bones at this point. Kel gave him a smile, his cheeks puffed with food, and his mouth coated in gravy.

Sunny blinked at him. He took his plate to the sink, before proceeding to wash his hands.

"Sunny!" Aubrey called from the living room doorway. "Vance has been beating us quite hard on that new game he brought. Wanna give it a shot?" And hopefully thrash him like he did us? The unspoken question floated through.

Sunny smirked. He wiped his hands on a towel, stepping through the doorway.

...

"Get him, Vance!" Kim's breath fogged in the cold weather, leaving a slight mist on her armour. A translucent wall formed in front of her, as she raised her shield, blocking an attack from Sunny. "You're open-" Kim wound up a headbutt, whiffing as Sunny did an upwards double backflip, spinning his daggers in a throw outwards as he did. The daggers spun past her guard, damaging her, and knocking her down before they magically boomeranged back to Sunny.

Vance rushed forward, his greathammer crashing into Sunny, knocking him- Wait! That was an illusion, created when he perfectly blocks an attack! While Vance was recovering from the wide swing, the real Sunny unleashed a flurry of stabs into Vance's back, causing him to fall to the ground. Sunny sheathed his daggers, propelling himself backwards using throwing knives, giving himself a bit of distance. He turned, leaping over a pit of icicle-spikes, and staring down the pair.

Kel stood a floor above, stumbling left and right. "What's this item do?" He picked up a metal wand, bringing it up above his head. The battleground's snowshield began dissipating, causing ice to form all over the room he was in, spreading along the walls and floor. Icicles formed along the ceiling, while the floor grew slippery. The ice continued to spread through the floor, coating almost a quarter of the map. "Oh hey, guys! Look at this! I'm icing the floors! Hahaha!"

Sunny's cloak began to billow around him, as the weather's detrimental effects began to manifest themselves.

Kim picked herself up from the floor, watching Sunny begin to charge a swing. She rushed at him, easily leaping over the spike pit... Right into Sunny's waiting charged attack.

He swung, clashing against hardened shield with a loud clang. She had sustained no damage from the hit, but the recoil had knocked her back... causing her to slide right into the spiked pit. Unable to move in her defensive stance, she fell to her death.

The real Kim stood up. "What! Man! I was still at almost full health! That's bull!"

Aubrey shrugged. "Why'd you rush him when he was clearly charging a swing?"

"I blocked it! I pressed the button and everything! I only fell off 'cause of Kel's ice nonsense! Dangit, Kel!" She shook her fist angrily at the screen.

"What did I do? I was just playing with items! I wasn't even on the same floor as you guys!"

"Stop doing that and help us, dangit!"

"Alright, geez."

Kel threw the metal wand behind his back, hearing it clink against the frozen walls. While the snowshield was reforming, the battleground needed some time to go back to normal. He rushed over to the ropeladder above the spike pit, ducking and throwing a few orbs of electricity towards Sunny. They slowly arced out, stopping as they hit the edge of the pit.

Sunny maintained his distance, sliding himself slightly away from the edge, watching the other two opponents. He flipped his daggers out of their sheathes, spinning them around a few times, his cloak no longer billowing.

Impatient, Kel got up and lowered himself down the ropeladder above the spikepit, his movement slowed by the cold environment. He measured the distance... and leapt off, charging a spell.

Vance, on the other hand, had just built up some speed, throwing an item-capsule towards the speedy rogue on the other side of the pit, before attempting to stop his own sliding movement. Rather than hitting its target, the capsule slammed into Kel, knocking him into the wall, and sending him spiralling into the spike pit.

The item capsule shattered, dropping a mega-bomb, which Sunny promptly leapt up to the rope-ladder to grab.

"No, no, Sunny don't do it-" Vance stuttered, as Sunny chucked the mega-bomb behind Vance, the explosion continuing his slide into the very same spiked pit below.

"GAME!!" The announcer called.

/////

Vance let out a sigh. "Man, I hate playing on Mt. Icewind. Let's just play on Final Fight." Vance said, shifting the map selector over to a straight, blank, battleground. "No items, no map shenanigans."

"Sunny's great at using item and map shenanigans against you guys, though." Aubrey said, reaching her hand to high-five the victor of the 3v1 battle.

"Let's have a rematch. Kel! Get your shit together!" Kim commanded, shifting her glasses up closer to her face. Kel uncrossed his legs, leaning forward.

"...I get to choose the map." Sunny cracked his knuckles, readying himself for another battle.

=====================

Sunny won yet another close battle. "Seven to two." Kim sighed, resting her head on the couch. "And the two was in the first three games." She rolled her head to look at Vance. "We shouldn't have accepted that rematch."

"Was a bad idea." Vance concurred. "Should've kept the best-two-of-three."

"Heh, told'ja Sunny'll kick your butts." Aubrey bragged, leaning over to give Sunny a smooch on the cheek. As Sunny's blush began to fill her field of vision, she stopped herself. Wait. She tilted her head to look at Kel on the opposite side of the couch. Whew. Good thing he was preoccupied. She thought to herself, leaning back again as Kel finished off his cup of Orange Joe.

The mild silence prompted Hero to clap his hands twice. "Alright, everybody! I think it's time for Sunny to open his presents!" Sunny nodded, putting the controller down. Everyone took a moment to pick up their respective gifts from the present-pile on the coffee-table.

Aubrey sat back down next to Sunny, handing a medium-sized box over to him. Wrapped in bright, pink, spotted wrapping paper, the box had the height of a basketball, though with a width and length of about half that. He looked at it curiously, the excitement evident in Aubrey's eyes. "This one's from me, Kim, and Vance."

The siblings flashed him a pair of thumbs-ups. "Just tear it open, Sunny!" "Yeah, wrapping paper was meant to be torn!"

Sunny nodded, the tiniest of curls making its way onto his face as he began rip at the flimsy cover, revealing and opening the box within.

"So the three of us got together with Ms Candice, the owner of the sweet store, and we custom-ordered this." Sunny reached into the box, pulling out the ribboned giant gummy bear, the sugary-sweet smell filling the immediate area with the smell of candy.

"Happy birthday, Sunny!" Vance smiled a toothy grin.

"Don't eat it all at once!" Kim matched her brother's smile.

Wasting no time, Kel bounded up behind the sofa. "Me next! Here!" Kel thrust the smaller-sized box into Sunny's field of vision. Sunny began to unwrap it, as he continued. "I figure you have some music you like. With this..." He paused for effect, as Sunny pulled out the black electronic cubeoid. "Brand-new latest model of Walk|Man, you'll be able to listen to any CD, Cassette, or even Radio Channel you might wanna tune in to! It even comes with those fancy new rechargeable batteries so you don't gotta buy new ones all the time!" Kel declared. He paused, as Sunny began flipping and inspecting the strange device. Sheepishly, Kel rubbed at the back of his head. "It was pretty expensive! I had to take up a few part-time jobs for it, heh."

Sunny inserted the batteries into the device. He turned it on, tuning the knob over the various radio frequencies. He furrowed his brow, turning the volume knob up and down. Confusedly, he turned to look at Kel.

Aubrey took the device from Sunny, giving it a once-over. "Kel... This has no speakers. You need earphones for this. This doesn't come with earphones."

Kel's eyes seemed to shrink into his head. "Huh? Oh. Oops." The crowd around Sunny snickered, as Kel slumped over the sofa. "Maaan. And here I thought- Oh, never mind. Sorry, Sunny."

Sunny patted Kel on the arm, setting the empty boxes aside. Hero watched him expectantly, handing him a much smaller, unwrapped case, dense for its size. It flipped open to reveal a shiny pen. "I figure you'll need this for college." Hero explained. "Grips the hand well, super smooth no matter the paper. I've even got you a few refills!" Hero said, handing a small cylinder over to Sunny, his attention still drawn by the dark, shiny pen.

Mari tapped Sunny's shoulder from behind the couch, gaining his attention, before placing what appeared to be a violin case into his lap. "This one's from Mom, Dad, and myself! It's a lot easier to learn than the other instruments we've played, but about as hard to master, I'd think. Go on, open it!"

Sunny flipped the case open, revealing not a violin, but a ukulele. He held the varnished wood in his hands, giving the strings a test plucking. "...Thank you... Everyone... I'll treasure your gifts..." Sunny said, putting the ukulele back into its case with a small smile. He hugged the case closer to himself, looking down at it fondly.

"Wait, what about Basil?" Kel pointed out. Basil shifted uncomfortably, his shoulders tensing. "Come on, Basil! Show us what you got Sunny!"

"I was going to do it later... but alright." Basil handed over a white-covered photo album wrapped in clear plastic to Sunny. "Here, Sunny! This album contains the highlights of all our memories for the past six years. And uh..." Basil speech hitched as Sunny moved to open the plastic. "Wait! I'd uh... I'd appreciate if you looked through it later, at your own time." He fidgeted, his confident demeanor fading away as Sunny watched him.

"Never seen you acting so meek, Flower Boy." Kim stepped over, putting an arm over his shoulder. "Now I'm curious. What's in that book? Put illegal plants in there or something? Heh."

"N-no! It's just... the message I left is a little embarrassing when read out loud." Basil turned his face away, a small blush filling his face.

"Oho...? Now I'm getting a little jealous~" Kim teased. The times she met Basil, she's been on the receiving end of his teasing. Now that she had gotten the opportunity to tease him back, she wasn't about to let it go. "Tell us, Basil! Or better yet, show us, Sunny!" Sunny tilted his head quizzically, reaching to open the plastic covering.

"Wait! Sunny! Don't!" Basil frantically snatched the album away, hugging it to his chest. "I-It's not that kind of message, alright? M-Mari! Here!" Basil gave Mari a nearly imperceptible wink. "Put it in his room for me, will you?" He thrust the book into her arms, before turning back to placate the others.

Mari's surprised look turned into a smile. Supporting them in that way? A brilliant play, getting me to put this as the only present in their room. And unopened too. Was he planning this the whole time? She snickered. Guess I'll have to step up my game.

She turned to exit the living room, giving a quick look behind her. Sunny, Aubrey, and Vance had already shifted their attention to the ukulele, while Kel and Hero seemed to be discussing something with serious expressions. With the photo album in Mari's hand, Basil seemed to have regained his confidence. He stepped closer to Kim. Being the pair closest to the living room doorway, Mari was able to just make out through the chatter-

"So... why were you so curious as to what was in the book, Kim..?" Basil teased, his disposition having done a 180. "Were you that desperate to look for racy stuff...?"

"H-huh?" Kim was caught off-guard by his sudden about-face. "N-no... Who would be looking for such things?" She looked from side-to-side, finding no one to support her in the conversation.

Basil leaned in closer to her, his voice getting softer. "You did say you were jealous... perv."

"W-WHA-"

Mari smirked, leaving the living room.

=============================

As Mari came back into the living room, she spotted Aubrey and Hero glance to her, then turn and nod to each other. Basil gave her a wink, shifting himself closer and closer to Kel despite his teasing conversation with Kim.

"Grumble, grumble... Vance! Get over here!" Kim called out, drawing Vance's attention over to them.

With Kel's vision blocked by Kim, Basil, and Vance, Aubrey grabbed Sunny's hand, pulling him past Mari, out of the living room, quietly making their way upstairs.

Hero put both his hands on Kels shoulders. "Alright. Wish your brother luck." He paused just long enough to see Sunny and Aubrey make their way out of sight, exaggerating his breathing to disguise his true aim of buying time.

"C'mon, bro. You got this." Kel encouraged Hero, completely overlooking the pair's escape upstairs.

Hero smirked, ruffling Kel's hair. "Mari." He called out just a little too loudly. The conversation between Basil, Kim and Vance took a sudden pause, as Basil 'suddenly' focused his full attention on Hero. Kim and Vance faced Hero, curiosity temporarily overriding their current emotional states.

"What's wrong, Hero...?" Mari stepped past the trio, meeting Hero's gaze, taking in the conviction and sincerity behind his eyes. Is this...? No way... Uncertainty bubbled up in her chest, fading completely as Hero got down on one knee. She gasped, her hands instinctively moving up to cover her o-shaped mouth.

Sunlight shone from the window in the dining room, causing the dust floating around Hero to glitter, reminescent of sparkles appearing in the air around his face. "Mari." He began, flipping his hair out of his face. "You're the love of my life. The apple of my eye. I don't want to spend a single day away from you. Truth be told, I don't know if I'll be able to go on without you." In a single swift motion, Hero took a small box out from his pocket and opened it, revealing a bejewelled ring. "Will you make me the happiest man in the world?"

"Wow... Henry..." She tried to hold back, but the shimmer in her eyes betrayed her tears. She sniffled, lifting the box from his hand, taking it in as if her attention were hooked by it, yet cradling it in her palms as if it were a newborn chick. Closing the box, she took Hero's hand, hoisting him up to his feet, pulling him into an embrace.

"What do you say?" Hero asked.

She unabashedly met his lips with hers, right in front of everyone else. Closing their eyes, they held the kiss for but a few seconds, before they slowly pulled away. "Does that answer your question?" She meekly asked. Hero smiled at her, his fast-beating heart betraying his true emotions.

SNAP!

At the sound of a camera shutter, Kel's voice broke through the near-silence. "WOOO-HOOOOO!!!! YEAAAAH!!! I'M SO PROUD OF YOU, BRO!!" He threw both his fists into the air, before putting them at his hips. "You looked like a prince over there, with the sparkles, and the sunlight, and everything!" Kel threw an arm over Basil's shoulder as Basil was inspecting his polaroid. Kel pretended to wipe a tear from his eye, as he continued. "Ahh... so majestic... so beautiful..." He turned around, facing Kim and Vance. "Everyone saw that, right?"

Kim had a small blush going on her face, her hands covering her mouth. She shifted uncomfortably to look at Vance. Vance met Kel's gaze with a smile. "I'm happy for you guys."

"Thanks, Vance! Maaan, Sunny and Aubrey should have been here to see this." Kel looked towards the couch, noticing it was empty. "Hey... where are they, anyway?" Kel dipped into the kitchen, then the dining room. "Sunny? Aubrey? Where'd they go?"

As he was about to head to the stairs, he was stopped in his tracks by Basil suddenly jumping in front of the doorway, blocking his path. "Uh, Basil? Something wrong?"

Basil looked aside, his smile wavering. "Erm... Aubrey and Sunny... They're upstairs. Aubrey's in the bathroom... Sunny's probably having a look at the photo album!"

Kel tilted his head. "Err, alright? My brother just got his marriage proposal accepted, though. They'll definitely want to hear this! Come on, Basil, let me pass!"

"Wa-wait! Err... they can't come out right now!" Basil stuck his hands out, stopping Kel from pushing past him.

"Hm? Why not?"

Basil's eyes looked behind Kel, resting on the still-embracing couple. Kim and Vance had already relocated themselves to the couch, deciding to restart the console.

Curious, Kel looks behind him, noticing Hero and Mari.. "Heh... come on, Basil, we gotta give them some space. Let's get Sunny and Aubrey. We gotta at least tell them Hero and Mari are gonna get married! They'll be super excited!" He stepped into Basil's arm.

Basil refocused back on Kel. "N-no, wait!" He pushed back, his unathletic self barely holding against the mass that was Kel.

"Basil... It's pretty clear you're trying to hide something. And it's gotta be something really good if it's stopping us from telling them about Hero and Mari. What is it?"

Basil pursed his lips, his eyes darting back and forth. With no answer given to him, Kel began getting impatient. He reached over, picking Basil up "Kel, nooo!" Basil cried, flailing against the sudden assault.

Kel put him down gently. "At the very least tell me why, Basil!"

Basil's mind was running at a hundred miles an hour. He tried to think of an excuse, something that would throw Kel off.

"Listen. Kel can't know about this. If he does, I'll be the butt of all the kissy-relationship jokes for weeks! I don't wanna deal with that!" An old conversation with Aubrey floated into his head. He remembered Sunny slipping his hand into hers as she ranted about it, silencing her with a kiss despite his presence.

An idea. Sunny definitely wouldn't mind it, but it wasn't something Aubrey would like. He sighed. Whatever happens, happens! "Listen, Kel. Can you keep a secret?"

"...Anything, Basil. What's up?"

"Look... Aubrey... She wanted to confess to Sunny today, and she asked to keep it private. So..." Basil turned away, shutting his eyes tight, unwilling to see if Kel bought his excuse.

"Oh. Ooooooooohh... I understand, Basil. Ol' Kel won't be disturbing them, then!" Kel let out a laugh, rubbing at the back of his head. "But I'm surprised, though! It took them this long to even confess? I could've sworn they were already dating."

Basil looked up. "H-huh? How so?"

"Well, they were always hanging out without the rest of us, weren't they?"

"Uhh.. yeah..."

"And she was pretty much spending most of her time at Sunny's place. And she was carrying Sunny around town once... though, I can't rule out maybe Sunny could have gotten high or poisoned or something that time. And one time, they went to an amusement park without us!"

"W-well, yeah!" Basil confidently pushed Kel away from the doorway. "The-They're probably making out or something, so we gotta give them some space! Yeah!"

=====================

Aubrey closed the bedroom door behind her, moving over to sit herself onto Sunny's bed, patting the spot to her side. She watched the onyx-haired boy saunter over, his eyebrows raised slightly, curious at her current actions. He sat down next to her, the bed bouncing slightly as he did, experimentally reaching for her hand to gauge her reaction.

Aubrey's brow was slightly furrowed, her smile forced. Though she gave little reaction to his hand going over hers, as he interlocked his hand with hers, she squeezed it slightly, pondering how she was to proceed with her plan.

"...Aubrey... you-you okay? ...Want... hug...?" Sunny managed to stutter out. Aubrey finally met his eyes, his dark irises drawing her in as always. She could lose herself in those globes forever, embraced by him, sharing each other's warmth – such errant thoughts floated through her mind. She closed her eyes for but a second, stopping herself. She called him up here for a reason, and it wasn't getting themselves lost in each other's eyes. Well, mostly. While Sunny starting a conversation with his voice was a rarity of mythical status, a subtle pang of guilt crawled its way into her heart – it felt nice to be loved, but she didn't bring him upstairs just for him to worry about her, after all.

"Thanks for the concern, Sun-bun." Noticing his tensing shoulders and reddening ears, both effects of calling him a pet-name, she reached out, pulling him into a side-hug. "This isn't why I brought you up here, though." She leaned her head into his shoulder, sensing a twinge of disappointment. Sunny had always loved cuddling with her, and given how boldly he had always requested it, he knew she loved it too. She quickly quelled the second bitter twinge of guilt rising up in her heart, calming herself down. She would never give him her true present if she decided to indulge herself, she knew.

Quickly, she broke the side-hug, standing up, slapping herself on both her cheeks twice. Come on, Aubrey! Sunny was able to do this! There's no one around, no one to judge! You know he loves you, and you know you love him too! He didn't have that luxury when he confessed! What's stopping you? What're you afraid of?

She felt a pull on the side of her jacket, grabbing at her attention. Sunny met her look, his normally-stoic face now hosting a slightly furrowed brow. He bit his bottom lip lightly. "...If you need... I'll listen..." He spoke, his voice nearly inaudible.

Oh... Sunny... Aubrey thought. He's looking so concerned at me... That's twice he's spoken up. She clenched both her fists, steeling herself. This is my pride as a girlfriend on the line! Here goes-

Aubrey knelt down, dropping her eye level to Sunny's. She dove a hand into her inner jacket pocket, the rush momentarily getting the small box on the inside stuck, before she dislodged it from the mess of cloth. She met his now-curious gaze with a confidence he'd never seen before. She thrust the box into his field of vision.

"A promise." Aubrey declared. "That we'll be together forever."

Sunny stared at the gem-studded promise-ring in the box, his eyes widening. He drew in his breath sharply, a hand going to his chest. She recognised his expression. It was one he would cutely display whenever he saw her in a distinctly different outfit, a subtle praise of the highest order that she always kept and held dear to her heart, an expression that always did wonders to improve her self-esteem. And, if Basil was to be believed, one that he had displayed in secret every time he had a moment to stare at her.

He reached towards the ring, his eyes raising to meet her gaze, almost as if questioning if he were deserving of it. She wanted to hug him close, to shower him in love, and to tell him how he was so deserving of this and more. But there would be time for that later. She gave him a small, subtle nod, a warm smile taking the place of her forced one.

Sunny took the ring from the box with an almost child-like wonder, slowly twirling it, watching how it caught the light in the room. He slipped it on his right ring finger, turning his hand around a few times, staring at this new addition to his body. He would never take it off, he vowed. And the more he stared, the more his smile curled up, an ecstatic grin that reached his eyes. He somewhat registered the feeling of himself throwing himself around Aubrey, not even noticing the held breath she had slowly released.

Aubrey broke the hug, sitting herself back on the side of the bed. Unexpectedly, she began to chuckle. "You know, almost all my part-time pay went into that little thing. Heck, I don't know why I was afraid to begin with..." She continued chuckling. "It's not like you would have rejected me, would you?" She turned to him.

He pushed her onto the bed, burying himself into her chest. "...Never. Even if the ring costed nothing." Came the response.

=====================

The clock eventually hit 6pm, and the dishevelled pair were eventually brought downstairs, with various knowing looks and blushes given to them from the other guests of the party.

Wasting no time, Kel had pulled Sunny away from Aubrey's handhold into the dining room, claiming that the best part of the party had yet to begin.

.........

"Ready, Sunny?" Mari asked, unwrapping the tall box they had pulled from the fridge just moments ago. Mari and Hero let loose a "Ta-dah!" as the box fell open, revealing a professionally-made cake.

The wide double-stacked circular cake was covered in smooth pink icing, with cherries and blueberries placed around the lower layer in a symmetrical fashion. The smooth icing on the face of the cake was marred only by the bright cursive "Happy Birthday Sunny" written in light blue icing. Strawberries were expertly placed around its outer edge, like sweet edible battlements on the castle-turret that was the top layer of cake.

Sunny inhaled, holding his breath. His dark eyes widened in wonder, catching the light from the windows like smooth gemstones, his normally locked jaw opening once again. He had only ever seen such a cake in shows with high-class weddings, and this one's magnificence left him in disbelief. He gazed across his captive audience around the dining table, shakily raising a finger to point at the cake, then back to himself, repeating the motion.

His movement earned a few snickers. "Of course it's for you, silly!" Mari said, beaming at him. "It's no big deal for my one and only favourite little brother's big eighteenth birthday!"

Sunny dropped his hand to his side, a smile creeping through his pursed lips. His low self-esteem told him he didn't deserve this much. And the more he considered the lengths his friends had to go through to make the cake, to prepare his presents, heck, to prepare this birthday for him in general, the more he was unable to hold his smile back. He appreciated them considerably. He didn't think he deserved having such loving friends, ones who cared about him so much. And yet, he was so grateful for them. Such thoughts flowed through him... and a reflective sheen spiralled across his eyes. His ears started turning red, this time not from embarassment, but from being so deeply moved. A little laugh-sob escaped him, as he suddenly found himself wrapped in the arms of Aubrey. Then Mari. Basil. Kel. Then finally the wide arms of Hero going around the whole group. Even Vance and Kim stepped forward to put a hand on the cuddle-pile that had spontaneously formed around Sunny.

"Oh... Sunny... There, there..." Aubrey cooed, stroking his hair. The sobs rocking his body sent tremors through the group, as they attempted to soothe him.

"-tha-k...Thank yo-hic-...so-orry-" His muted voice softly crackled, giving off thanks and apologies in equal measure.

"There's no need to apologise for anything, Sunny. It really was no issue!" Hero said, his hand reaching over to give Sunny a pat on the shoulder. "Sure, it took some time, but hey, doesn't all cooking? And all presents take preparation!"

"N-not-hic-Not that..." Sunny took a shaky breath. "I l-love you all...sniff...Thank you- alls -hic- so much..." The more he spoke, the more emotional he got. His breath hitched, he buried his face into his hands, his muted words causing tears to form in his friends eyes.

"We all love you too, Sunny." Mari said.

"Yeah..." Kel tightened his long arms around the group. "I think we'll always be best friends."

============================

Bonus:

The cake consumed, Kim and Vance had eventually said their goodbyes, followed by Basil.

Sunny lay on the couch, his arms around the sleeping Aubrey curled up on him. He thought back to all the other birthdays he had had before.

When he was 13, he wished Aubrey would like him.

When he was 14, he wished he would get the courage to ask her out.

When he was 15, he wished he and Aubrey would start going out.

When he was 16, he wished they would get closer.

When he was 17, he wished they would gain much happiness.

Now that he is 18... he had wished they would be together forever.

It was a little selfish, but...

He put his hand up to the light from the dining room, watching it glint off the promise ring he had received, the shimmer both an affirmation of love and an assurance for good times to come. He brought it to his lips, before softly draping his arm back around Aubrey. He loved her, as she did him.

Maybe someone grants birthday wishes after all.

Mari and Hero peeked out at them from the kitchen, smiling at the scene. "My little brother isn't exactly 'little' anymore, is he?" Mari cooed.

Hero smiled warmly, tilting his head slightly towards Mari. "He's a man now. An adult. And yet, I still see the four of them as kids, like they all were when they were 12."

Mari interlocked her fingers with Hero. She squeezed it affectionately.

The light glimmered gently off the engagement ring on her finger.

==========================

Double Bonus:

The next day, Sunny flipped through the pages of the photo album, lazily letting the pages fall, reliving each of the photos as he glanced through their descriptions. Every now and then, the light would catch on the ring on his finger, causing it to sparkle, and a small smile to form on his face - one no one saw.

Speaking of which, he never saw any embarassing message in the album. There was a congratulations penned to him at the front of the book, signed by Basil, but it didn't warrant being as guarded as Basil was yesterday.

A small plastic packet dropped from between two pages, landing on his bed with a rustle. On the sugar-packet-shaped object, written in permanent marker: "Just in case. ;)"

Oh god. Basil... Sunny blushed furiously, loudly shelving it behind the sweater-vest he was wearing.

"What was that noise, Sunny?" Aubrey asked from Mari's bed.

"No-Nothing!" He spoke a little too loudly.

Chapter Text

Kel inhaled deeply, enjoying the fresh air in Faraway Park. The cloud cover was just enough to cover the park in shade, yet had enough gaps in between each lumpy mass to let streams of light through. Great day today! He thought, his signature grin forming on his face. He put his basketball down, beginning his stretching, his eyes catching a glimpse of a familiar bespectacled artist diligently sketching away.

"Hey, Mincy!" Kel called out, jogging over.

The girl with mousy features looked up from her sketchbook, her own smile forming, matching his. "Oh, hi Kel!"

"Whatcha drawing?" Kel asked, his eyes going over the page.

Mincy tilted the sketchbook to face Kel. "It's the park! I've been trying to get the shading right for the longest time, and I think it's going quite well."

"Woaaaah!" Kel exclaimed. "It looks so... true-to-life! You even got the rust patches on the swingset looking good!"

"Hehe... thanks, Kel." Mincy tilted her sketchbook back to herself, her pencil pausing. Her brows furrowed slightly, as she put the pencil to her lip. "Actually, Kel. Remember that sketch I made of you and Sunny some time back?"

"Of course! Sunny has it, I think." Kel responded.

Mincy flipped to the back of her sketchbook, her eyes darting around uncharacteristically. She stared at the page, her gaze moving to a confused, politely waiting Kel, then back to the page. She took a breath, releasing it. "I wanted to, uh, thank you for all the encouragement you've given me so far, so I went and did a 'remaster' of that sketch, so to speak." She flipped the sketchbook over, revealing a fully-coloured artpiece of Kel smiling, his thumb sticking up.

"No way! That's amazing! It's almost like a photo!" Kel watched as Mincy began to tear the sketch out of her book, handing it over to him. "Wait... Is this really- Are you really giving it to me? But it would look so good in your portfolio!"

A few beads of sweat began forming on Mincy's face despite the cool weather. "Uhh... I don't know about putting portraits in there. Plus, I made it for you..." Mincy tensed up, a faint blush joining the beads of sweat on her face. "Erm! I mean- uhh..."

"Thanks, Mincy! Wow, this is so amazing! I bet no one'll notice even if I use this for an ID photo!" Kel held the portrait gingerly, seemingly unaware of the implications of Mincy's last statement. "You've made your #1 fan really happy today! I'll go put it back home right now!" Kel started jogging off. "See you next time, Mincy!"

Mincy heaved a sigh of relief. "Good thing he didn't catch that." She mumbled to herself, her blush intensifying. Pull yourself together, Mincy! You'll have to tell him sometime...

===============================

Kel lay on his bed, his arms behind his head. He glanced at the portrait sticky-taped to the wall, thinking. A few days had passed since he was given the portrait, and he was now considering reinforcing the tape on the wall. Maybe later... Though speaking of the drawing, he was really lucky to have friends like Mincy! To be able to draw that well - he was reminded somewhat of Sunny, though he had a vastly different artstyle. Kel grinned to himself. Oh right! I was gonna show Cris the secret hangout lake today! He thought to himself, leaping off his bed. He grabbed his one pair of swimming pants, dashing out the door.

......

Cris rummaged through her wardrobe, a whole pile of swimsuits piled onto her bed. Oh no, why didn't I pick out a cute one beforehand? She thought to herself, the stack of rejected swimsuits only growing larger and larger. Maybe I'll use an orange one. He likes orange, doesn't he? She thought, pulling out a frilly orange two-piece bikini. She considered it, before flinging it onto her bed. No, that way too racy. Plus, I bet he only wears orange because that's our school's basketball team colour. Maybe a lighter blue? She pulled out a smooth teal one-piece. Just a little risqué, but might be a little too plain. Into the 'Maybe' pile, then. She chucked it onto her chair. Argh! He'll be here any minute now! I should have asked him what colour he liked at the very least! Wait, that's a horrible idea, if I show up with that colour, wouldn't that be the same as a confession? Cris pulled at her hair, her eyes shut tightly. Damnit, Kel! Why do you have to be so dense!

The sound of fast, loud, footsteps running up the stairs snapped her out of her thoughts. Oh no. He's here! She dashed to her door, locking it just as the door handle shook.

"Cris! I'm here!" Kel's loud voice filtered through the door.

"Give me a moment! I'm not dressed yet!" Cris called out, throwing her stacks of swimsuits into a messy pile in her wardrobe before closing it. Looks like it'll have to be the teal one.

"Oh. Probably should have knocked, then. I'll meet you downstairs, alright?"

......

The light filtered through the clouds above Faraway Park, the cloud cover much thinner today as compared to the few days before. Mincy continued to sketch diligently, this time a picture of a beehive a safe distance away. A familiar voice jolted her out from her artistic trance.

"Oh hey there, Mincy!" Kel called out, approaching her, Cris in tow. "What's up today?"

"Hi, Kel! Not much-" Mincy looked up from her sketching, her eyes meeting Cris. A smile that didn't reach her eyes formed on her face, her demeanor changing. "Uh... who's that with you, Kel?"

Cris raised an eyebrow, glancing at Kel, who, despite all odds, seemed to not notice the sudden tension in the air. "Yeah... who's this, Kel?"

Kel responded with his signature grin, gesturing to Mincy. "Ah, right! I've never introduced you, have I? Cris, this is Mincy. Mincy's really talented at drawing! She's got a super-realistic art style, and makes amazing art! Someday, I think she's gonna be a famous artist!" A vein seemed to bulge on Cris' forehead, as Mincy grew a smug smirk, their eyes never leaving the other's.

Still oblivious to the growing tension, Kel turned to Mincy. "Mincy, this is Cris. Cris is my next door neighbor and she's really cool! She's the fastest swimmer in school! When she's in the water, people compare her to a mermaid... or a shark... or even a torpedo!" This time, it was Cris' turn to grow a smug smirk, as Mincy glanced away from her.

"I think we can all be great friends!" Kel concluded, reaching out and patting them both on the shoulder at the same time.

Great friends...! Great friends...! Great friends...! In their respective minds, the echo of Kel's voice rumbled through, wracking their bodies with pain, as they both collapsed to the floor, the weight of the words leaving them sprawled out, defeated.

In their minds, of course. In the real world, they both tensed up slightly, a small blush forming as their true relationships with Kel were exposed for what they were. They shifted uncomfortably, the awkward silence turning seconds long.

Mincy was the first to act. "Oh, Kel! Do you still have that picture of you I drew?"

"Sure do, Mincy! It's up on my bedroom wall!" The statement caused Cris to tense once more, her lips pursing for just a second before relaxing.

"Since you've really been helping me out a lot, I've actually got a special one I was thinking of giving you." She flipped to the middle of her sketchbook, tearing a piece out. "Here, you can have it!"

Kel received the page, his eyes widening in awe. "Wooaaaah! Is this you, Mincy?" Cris' heart sank as Kel lifted the sketch of Mincy up to compare it to her. "Awesome! It's a splitting-image of yourself!"

The fully-coloured piece of Mincy seemed to accentuate her cute features, as well as covering up any minor skin defects she may have. She held her sketchbook in one hand, winking at the viewer. A small Kel was giving her a thumbs-up in the corner of the page.

Mincy smirked at Cris, causing a dark shadow to seem to form over her eyes. Turning back to Kel, she continued. "You encouraged me a lot, and it pushed me to do much more! So I made this for you... with this, even if I go far away to pursue my art career, you won't forget me!" A small blush formed on her face, her smirk remaining strong.

Kel grinned at her. "I don't think I'll ever forget you, Mincy! I'll put this right next to the other one!" An almost-audible sound of glass shattering could be heard from Cris' direction.

Somehow still not noticing, Kel put a finger up, an idea forming. "Speaking of which, Mincy. Cris was about to show me a few swimming moves. Wanna join us? I bet she'll be a great teacher, even if you've never done it before!"

Cris' tensing form comically grew smug, as she matched Mincy's wavering smirk with her own. She grabbed at Kel's arm, sticking out her comparatively larger chest. "I wouldn't suggest it, though, Kel. I was hoping to go through more... advanced... techniques. I don't know if she'll be able to handle it." Cris leaned into Kel, her own smirk growing as Mincy's shrank.

Mincy's eye twitched twice, as she tipped a glance back to her own flatter chest. Kel sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, ignorant of the psychological battle waged between the two girls. "Ah, that's a shame. Alright, give me a minute, Cris. I'll put this art piece back home. I'll be back before you know it!"

As Kel's form shrank into the distance, Cris turned to face Mincy, the power of a great white shark behind her gaze. "Oh, you know this means war, art-girl."

Mincy matched Cris' gaze with her own, delivering the power of a tiger behind it. "Bring it on, swimmer."

The electricity behind their malicious stares stopped at the same time about 15 seconds later, as they pouted, each refusing to look at the other.

================

Bonus:

"See ya, Cris!"

"Thanks again for showing me that swim spot, Kel! I'll probably be visiting there more often!" Cris said to Kel, as he left her room.

...

"Heya, kiddo! Kel, was it? Thanks for finding the TV remote again. Spared me from leaving this very comfy couch. Here, have another can of Orange Joe, on me! You deserve it!" The all-american guy handed Kel an orange can.

Kel took the can from him. "Thanks! Though, how'd it get into the refrigerator in the first place?" Sharing shrugs, Kel enthusiastically cracked open the can, chugging half of it in one go. "Aah... The best drink there is..."

"Oh, you like it? Man, you've gotta be the only other guy in this entire town to like this stuff!"

Kel and the All-American Guy proceeded to bond over Orange Joe for the rest of the evening.

Chapter Text

This chapter takes place during the Sunny's 18th birthday chapter.

It's smut. It's explicit. It's R-18. It's really fluffy and sweet as well but if you're in this fic you probably don't mind the diabetes already.

I can't stop you from reading it if you aren't 18 yet, but I think I legally gotta put it out there that you shouldn't be reading it if you aren't.

The link to the E-Rated fic is here.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32897524

Last warning for the people at work, <18 years of age, or don't like reading smut. Don't click it.

Everyone else? Enjoy!

Chapter Text

The sun beat down heavily over Faraway Park, casting its strong glare over the surroundings. Though the playground's rusted steel contraptions baking in the sun were clearly unappealing to any but the most heat-tolerant of people, sounds of running could be heard about the basketball court, evidence of the practice the athletes were putting in for a competition coming up sooner or later. A sizzle pierced the air, the sound of a patty placed on a heated grill set up by the All-American family a little ways off.

Despite the sunlight, a consistent wind blew through the Park, its cool breeze carrying away the heat enough for the townsfolk to enjoy the day outdoors. Within the shade of a tree closer to the entrance of the secret hideout, Aubrey sat, her arms wrapped around Sunny sitting in front of her, a book in her hands. Occasionally, the dozing Sunny would shift his position, his hair tickling her face, eliciting a smile from the pink-haired girl - she would ruffle his hair, hug him a bit tighter, and continue on the book she was reading.

It was at one of those points when the wind blew his hair into her face, where she hugged him closer, inhaling his scent. It filled her heart with blossoming roses, a warm fuzzy feeling that bloomed from within herself. She wanted more of it, so much more. "Sunny..." she whispered, taking in his scent once more.

"Mm...?" Sunny responded, his sensitive ears picking up her voice. He tilted his head to look back at her, his sleepy eyes half-closed in the afternoon light.

Aubrey giggled, tightening the cuddle. "It's nothing. I just wanted to say your name..." She cooed, planting a kiss on his hair. She once again inhaled his scent deeply. God, she loved him so much.

Sunny sharply exhaled, the end of his tiny smile creeping up just a little bit more. He shifted himself, leaning a ear on her chest, her soft rhythmic heartbeat inviting him back to sleep. "...mm... Love you, Auby..." He whispered, earning him another ruffle of his hair. Heh. How sweet of him. She thought to herself, leaning a cheek on his hair. Her book forgotten, she ran a hand across him, first rubbing against his forearm, then squeezing his bicep, then running across his shoulder.

As she reached her hand lower, caressing his chest, Sunny let out a small hum, grabbing at her arm, hugging it as if it were a bolster. He pulled more of her arm into him, rubbing his cheek into the crook of her shoulder and releasing a happy sigh before he continued his light snore.

Aubrey cupped her other arm across her mouth, suppressing a squeal. Ack! Years with him and I still can't get over how cute he is. She leaned her head back, her smile threatening to tear past the confines of her face. How? How does he keep doing it? She took a few deep breaths, before throwing her arm around him, giving him a full embrace. As if encouraged by this, Sunny snuggled deeper into her, his own smile slowly growing.

It was when the pair almost felt like they were going to overheat from sharing their own warmth so much, when their attention was pulled away by a familiar voice. "Hey lovebirds! I got the candy!"

Looking up, Aubrey caught sight of the approaching Kim and Vance, their outerwear stuffed full of various sweets, taffy, lollipops, and other candies. "Here!" Kim called out, tossing her a pack of bubblegum. "Watermelon, right?"

The pack of bubblegum landed right on Sunny's chest. "Eck. Sorry, boyfriend. But you can't keep hogging Aubrey for the whole day. Come on, let's go do something!" She stepped next to the couple in the shade, nudging him with her foot.

Sunny, startled awake by the sudden slap to his chest, glanced about, putting the pack of gum into Aubrey's hand. Then, apparently deeming it safe, he leaned himself back into Aubrey's arms, nuzzling into her chest again.

"Oi." Kim's eye twitched. She squatted down, poking at Sunny's cheek. "Don't just sit there, Aubrey. Help me out here." She said, more annoyed that Aubrey had made no move to get up than the fact that Sunny wasn't listening.

"Sorry Kim. You know the rules. Can't move when there's one on you." Aubrey responded, leaning her cheek back onto Sunny's head, much to Kim's frustration.

"Hi guys!" Kim nearly cracked her neck whipping around to face the source of the new voice, some candy falling out of her pocket as she did. "Uh- H-Hey, Basil!" She called out, barely managing to keep her voice steady as she stood up. Vance watched wide-eyed, the sudden juxtaposition of Kim's personality intriguing him.

Basil stepped up under the shade of the tree, his own smile growing as he got closer to Kim. "What'cha got there, Kim?" He asked. His gaze shifted from the candy in her hoodie's pocket, to the candy on the grass.

"Candy. Mmhm. Want some?" Kim grabbed a handful of candy from her pocket, thrusting the candy into his field of vision, yet keeping her eyes away from his gaze as she did. She let her gaze wander over to the trees, the sky, the entrance to the secret hideout. Anywhere but Basil.

Basil tilted his head. "Wow, Kim! You must have like fifty dollars worth of candy between you and Vance! You spent so much on sweets?" Basil asked, an eyebrow rising. Curiously, a dark shadow seemed to go over the flower boy's smiling face, giving it a sterner look despite his unchanging expression.

Kim hummed, her hand moving up to the side of her glasses. "grumble... grumble... well, I, uh, got a part-time job, you know?" A smile came up on her face - a terrible attempt at inspiring confidence, given her eyes still unable to meet his gaze, and Vance's slowly appearing smirk.

Basil clapped his hands lightly together. "A job! Wow! What're you working as, Kim?"

Kim tensed up at the question, bringing the held-out candy back into her pocket. "grumble... grumble, grumble... I can't tell you. It's a secret." She scratched at an invisible itch on her cheek, staring down at a button on Basil's overalls rather than his face.

"Hmmm...? You're not lying, are you...?" Basil tilted his head inquisitively, getting closer to her face. Kim pursed her lips, her hand adjusting her glasses in a bid to hide the blush she felt rising in her face. "Hehe... You're blushing, Kim."

She took a step back from Basil. "-Ghh! Anyone would if someone brought their face that close!"

"Is that so...?" Basil prodded, a finger going to his chin in mock contemplation. "But, I saw you getting close to Sunny there without blushing. Is it because you're hiding something? Or is it because... it's me doing it?"

Kim's face turned a bright shade of red. "Grumble... grumble, grumble... Come on, Vance, we're leaving!" She quickly walked off, her original plan to bring Aubrey and Sunny with her forgotten.

Vance snickered, watching Kim leave. He took a step over, high-fiving Basil. As their hands met, he transitioned it into a grip. "Treat her well, you hear?" Sharing nods, he parted ways, walking off after Kim.

===============================

The days came and went, when even the stacks of candy they had pilfered had run out, and the pair found themselves in the candy store once more for their next heist.

Kim snatched up a few handfuls of candy from a shelf, stuffing it into her hoodie pocket. "Alright, Vance. I got the goods!" She looked to the Vance keeping a lookout. Silently yet frantically, he waved her out, the pair hastily making their retreat.

"We did it again, Vance!" Kim declared, her eyes suddenly catching the blonde boy standing right outside the candy store. "Uh. Hey there, Basil. Fancy meeting you here, heh." She brought her hand up, looking at her nails in an attempt to look casual.

Basil shifted the pot he was carrying, his brow furrowing slightly. His disappointment was evident. "Kim... You... You paid for those, right?" He pointed a shaky hand to the candy sticking out of her pocket.

Kim pursed her lips, her eyes zipping to look at the Vance pretending to not be part of the situation. "H-huh? Paid for what, Basil?" she bluffed, brushing her hoodie in a mock attempt to examine herself.

"Kim..." Guilt pierced her heart as she watched Basil's posture slouch in sadness, his eyes tilting up to meet hers. "There's candy sticking out of your pocket." She turned away from him, unable to face him, unable to face those eyes almost pleading with her not to continue. A few long seconds passed, Kim's resolve slowly breaking down under the weight of Basil's look.

"...Uhhh.. OOPS!" Kim let out a fake laugh. "Thanks for reminding me, Basil! Looks like I made a mistake! I'll be going to pay for these right now!" She grabbed Vance's arm, dragging him back into the store. Basil followed behind.

...

"DIDN'T I TELL YOU KIDS TO NEVER COME BACK HERE?! SMILEY SMILEY!" A shrill yell pierced the air, echoing out into the corridor.

"Wait! I just wanted to pay for this candy!" Kim spluttered, dumping handfuls of candy out from her pocket. Her eyes started dipping back to Basil behind her. She took a closer step to the counter, blocking the growing pile of candy from view, almost ashamed at the amount of she was producing from the inside of her hoodie.

"LEAVE THE CANDY ON THE TABLE AND-" Candice was interrupted by Basil stepping up to the counter, squeezing between Kim and Vance.

"Wait! I actually asked them to help me out! I wanted to buy some candy for a party, you see, but I needed to pick this up-" He shifted the flower pot. "-from Fix-it." Basil put a hand around Kim's shoulder.

Candice paused, her angry-smiling expression softening. She looked at the blushing Kim actively pretending being in close contact with Basil wasn't bothering her at all. A wave of understanding crossed her, memories of her own youth flashing through her mind. "Ah. Well, this much should be... $18 worth of candy. Smiley smiley!"

Kim took her wallet out, before Basil stopped her, handing over a twenty-dollar note of his own.

==================

Kim stepped out of Othermart, Vance following behind. Ugh, what a day. First, everyone was busy with their own thing, next she was denied the fruits of her own heist, and then her uncool side just had to be seen by Basil of all people.

She stopped herself in her tracks. Wait. When did I start thinking about the flower nerd in this way? Her thoughts were interrupted by the rustle of a bag of candy pushed into her arms.

"Here." Basil said. "I'm proud of you, Kim."

"H-huh?" Kim responded in surprise, both at the bag of treats being given to her, and the sudden words of... encouragement? She cleared her throat. "I mean, I made a mistake, was all! It wasn't really... Grumble... grumble..."

"Still, you brought yourself back around and did the right thing in the end. For that, I'm proud." Basil gave her a warm smile, dispersing all the negative feelings she had had. A warm fuzzy feeling started creeping into her chest. The feeling in her chest was relatively new, one she had started to get used to feeling around Basil. It wasn't unpleasant, per se, moreso... pleasantly uncomfortable.

Maybe today isn't so bad after all. The stray thought came into her mind, her face growing red.

Basil stepped away from the pair, waving. "Next time, bring me along to get candy, alright? I'll see you around!"

...

Kim was left staring at his form trotting down the road, her attention split between Basil and the big bag of candy he had just given her.

"...Even giving up taffy to not lose rep. You've got the biggest damn crush on that flower boy, don't you?" Vance teased.

"S-Shut up, Vance."

Chapter Text

The cheery birdsong filled the air, greeting the morning sun and the rise of a new day. Light filtered in through Sunny's bedroom window, the sun's rays reaching out to jostle the sleeping Sunny awake. He frowned, his face tensing, eyes closing more shut than usual, annoyed at the disturbance. Flipping himself onto his side, he threw the covers over his head to block out the light, continuing his snooze on his very comfortable bed.

Perfectly soft. Hugs the body. Breathable material. All correct descriptions of both his bed and Aubrey. He shifted himself under the sheets, breathing deeply as the rustle of cloth reached his ears. A faintly sweet smell reached him, familiar in all the right ways. Aubrey... Almost as if she were right here...

Just like that, he lulled himself back to sleep... until his slumber was disturbed once more, this time physically.

"Sunny! Wake up!" The high pitched voice ringing in his sensitive ears called out.

"Nnnnnnmmmgh..." Sunny responded, pulling the covers tighter around himself before he felt himself getting unrolled from the blanket-sushi-roll he had formed around himself, his veritable fortress of cloth untangling from around him. He was far too tired to stop the demise of his very own clothtopia.

"Come on, Sunny! Didn't you say you would join us for badminton?" Mari kept unravelling the Sunny-roll, revealing his dishevelled form in all his sleepy glory. "Get some exercise in those lazy bones!"

Sunny gave her a frown, his face tensing as much as it did when the sun just began to tickle his vision, annoyance colouring his every minute expression change. "Don't wanna..." He murmured, hugging his cheek into his oh-so-soft pillow. He reached an arm down, pulling the covers back up to his shoulders. The bed called him back to the comfort of sleep, and he would not be tempted away this day!

"Didn't I tell you, Sunny?" Mari took the time to open the window's blinders fully. "It's not just gonna be the two of us! Aubrey's gonna be joining us!" Mari added, her smile's radiance rivalling that of the sun.

Sunny's face untensed completely. His sleepy, half-lidded eyes widened to full, as his gaze went from Mari's winning smile to a spot away from her. He let his voice peter out with far less resolve that he had earlier. "...D-Don't wanna..." He managed, before he pursed his lips together, almost in guilt at what he had just implied.

"Aww... She'll be real sad it's been called off, though..." Mari gave him a sad look, barely managing to turn around before her frown cracked into a teasing smirk. "I guess I'll have to tell her you don't wanna spend time with her..." She said, a practiced bitterness flowing through her tone, one she had used every now and then when her family members were being difficult. And occasionally with Hero, to plead for planned vacations. She put her hands to her hips and shook her head with a sigh, playing up her sadness.

Mari barely managed a step away before she felt her sleeve being grabbed from behind.

"Hmm~? What's wrong, Sunny~?" Mari stopped walking, her grin growing wide, her shoulders slightly shivering from the giggles she was suppressing. "I thought you wanted to stay in bed~?"

"Mmm... Mari..." Sunny began, his ears turning red. He clenched Mari's sleeve in his hand, his eyes once again relegating themselves to burning a hole in the same blank spot in their room.

"It's alright, Sunny~" Mari continued in her singsong tone. She pulled her sleeve from his grasp, clasping her hands together. "You stay right in bed! I'll tell Aubrey all about how you much preferred the hug of your bed to the hug of her arms~" She teased, taking another step forward.

"M-Mari!" Sunny nearly leapt out of bed, his arms wrapping around her in a tight back-hug, preventing her from taking another step. "N-No!" He smushed his head into her back, his cheek pressing into her with as much force as he would into his pillow.

"Hehe..." Mari giggled, extracting herself from the hug. She turned around, patting the blushing, pouting Sunny on the head. "Come on, get yourself ready. She'll be really happy to see you."

==========================

Sunny looked at himself in the mirror, taking in the black singlet and striped sports pants draped across his shape. Something about seeing himself in this clothing specifically gave him chills, though he was unable to pinpoint what. His confusion manifested in a slight chewing on his upper lip as he turned himself from side to side, having a good look at himself for the first time in some time. Hmm... He was getting a little bit of fat, he thought, poking at his abdomen. His arms were thin, but they were growing out kinda nicely. A little bit of muscle, though not a lot by any means. Would Aubrey like it if I grew more muscles? Sunny thought to himself, flexing an arm in the mirror, strangely enjoying the tiny height it gained as he pumped his invisible dumbell.

"Sunny..." Mari's voice filtered through the bathroom door, interrupting his faux-exercise session. "If you keep admiring your muscles in the mirror, we're going to be late to the meetup..."

Sunny froze, his arm still locked in place. "I-I'm not...!" How does she always know? Sunny thought, staring back at the bathroom door, his arm dropping to his side. He splashed some cold water on his face in a vain attempt to stem the tide of his growing blush.

===========================

The early morning sun gently shone onto the badminton court, the light heat already causing the less-athletic Sunny to begin lightly sweating. He spun the racket in his hand, waiting for Mari to make her serve.

"Sunny! Mari!" A voice interrupted, its mere tone bringing a slight smile to Sunny's face, as he turned his head face its source, oblivious to Mari's serve flying past him.

The sun's rays reflected off of Aubrey's bright pink hair, causing a halo of light to seem to shine around her head. Sunny stared at her as she came into view, his jaw dropping. He burned her form into his mind, her black sports bra and bike shorts leaving little to the imagination.

"Wow..." Sunny murmured, the all-too-familiar skip of his heartbeat dissolving the world away in his mind. The only thing that reflected on his eyes was her. Aubrey. They had been together for years, and yet every now and then he would fall so deeply back in love with her all over again. He watched her step up closer to him, her walk, the slight blush forming on her face causing Cupid to strike his heart once more, matching her pink hair with red ears of his own. She reached out, touching his chin, a confident smirk making its way onto her face.

Aubrey closed the mouth of the staring Sunny. I was about to ask you what you think, but I guess that answers that. Her soft touch seemingly sank him deeper into his thoughts of her, his eyes, those raven-coloured discs, only focusing on her loving face. They were filled with more warmth than any of their hugs, reflecting more love than she could ever imagine. Unable to stop herself, she slowly brought her arms around his neck, pulling him into her, tender as any time they held hands. "Good to see you again, Sun-hun." She murmured into his ear, following up with a smooch to his cheek. It felt good to be wanted, and Sunny never failed to make her feel so, so wanted. Why wouldn't she do all she could to return the favour? She patted the back of his head, enjoying the feeling of his blush heating up his face, the blush that she herself caused.

...

From the staircase up to the badminton court, Hero popped his head up, lifting a bag of badminton rackets. "Hey, Mari! Hey, Sunny!" Hero called out. He drifted his look across the court, his eyes inadvertantly locking onto Mari for a moment. "Woah. You, uh, you look good in that." He said, unable to tear his gaze off of the Mari in a tank top and short shorts.

"Oh, Hero~ You shouldn't stare so much..." Mari smirked at him teasingly, and with a start, his gaze immediately left, an embarrassed smile entering his face. He massaged the back of his neck, unable or unwilling to deny her allegations.

Hero dropped the bag onto the bench at the side of the court, pulling out a racket and inspecting the strings, adjusting them slightly. Mari slumped onto the bench next to him, his attempt at stealthy glances at her not lost to her. "Have a seat, Hero! We gotta give them some time to get ready, I think." She smiled, pointing at the pair still getting lost in each other's gazes.

===========================

A few practice rounds later, the four had agreed to a proper doubles' match, with Mari and Aubrey up against Hero and Sunny.

It would have been a pretty even match. Hero had played a good number of games of badminton before, and though Mari and Aubrey were far less experienced in the sport, they were no slouches either. Sunny, the least athletic of the four, struggled, though not for physical reasons.

Everytime the shuttle flew in Aubrey's general direction, he couldn't help but lose focus, his gaze caught by the pink-haired angel in the other side of the court. Certainly, he would pull his eyes away, but his lost focus was difficult to regain in the heat of the moment, especially when his thoughts swam full of her.

Hero and Mari quickly caught on, with Mari taking advantage of Aubrey's encharming effect on Sunny to score against him, and Hero covering for Sunny's sudden bouts of hesitation.

Despite this, Hero couldn't carry the team all by himself, and they were losing quite badly, with a score of 8 – 16. They hadn't lost yet in the game of first-to-21, but they would, at the rate it was going.

It was Sunny's turn to serve. He tensed up, swallowing. He knew it was pretty clear his team was losing because of him, though he was oblivious to the teasing glances Mari and Hero shared whenever he hesitated. Aubrey's beauty was enrapturing him - a mere look at her brought back all the happy memories they had shared, the walks home, the talks on the swings and on the couch, the hugs, their shared kisses... It had nothing to do with her semi-revealing form-hugging outfit at all, Sunny told himself. He snuck a glance at her again. Yeah... nothing to do with that at all. He pursed his lips, a small blush forming as he snuck another glance at her.

His thoughts were interrupted by Mari shouting from across the court. "Heey! Sunny! If you guys win, Aubrey'll give you a one-time 'do-anything-you-want' ticket!"

Aubrey froze. "What! Wait, Mari! I never-"

Mari immediately interrupted her. "Put your all into it, Sunny! That goes for you too Hero! Your ticket will come from me~!"

Realisation flashed in Sunny's eyes, his mind focusing to a sharp point. He looked towards Hero expectantly, noticing his eyes widened in surprise before their gazes met. Indeed, the look in each others' eyes were the exact same. As fellow guys, nay, fellow men, with the promise of a reward so sweet dangled in front of their noses like that, their competitive spirit burned strongly within them.

Aubrey gulped. Where once stood a blushing, hesitating, cute onyx-haired boy, there now stood a fully determined, agile, cool competitive man. We're in for a hell of a battle, aren't we?

............

They got close. The score was now 19-19. A tie, though either side had to score 2 points higher than the other to obtain their win.

Aubrey was sweating. Initially, it had been from the exercise, but the rate of sweat had doubled from they moment she heard what she might be pushed into if they lose. She watched the still-fully-determined Sunny get into position to serve the shuttle, an idea forming in her head.

The moment Sunny began his serve, Aubrey shouted "Sun-Bun! Go easy!".

The sudden call of the pet name, especially in front of his sister, immediately filled his face with a blush, his muscles tensing. The shuttle knocked into the edge of the net, falling back into his side.

"Ghk-!" Aubrey suppressed a laugh, watching Sunny's determination momentarily fade away into roses and pink.

"Hey, don't you think that's cheating, Aubrey?" Hero began, watching Sunny begin his second serve.

"Ahn, Hero~!" Mari responded. "You're too rough~!" She shouted, returning the serve with a smash.

"Ghh-" Hero froze, hitting the shuttle against the net. "Mari! Come on!" He started, his angry posture neutralised by his embarrassed smile.

The girls shared a teasing look, smirks forming on their faces.

Sunny took a deep breath, refocusing. They were down a point, but they could bring it back. He watched Aubrey, sweet Aubrey begin the serve, her posture immaculate, her movement- NO! He shook his head slightly, clearing his mind of thoughts.

As she begins the serve, a yell pierced his mind. "Love you, Sunshine!".

Sunny froze, his recently-cleared blush reforming instantly on his face. The shuttle flew past him, his reaction far too slow to catch it...

THAP! Hero had reached over to Sunny's side fast enough, barely able to return the shuttle over the net.

It didn't help them much, though. With both Hero and Sunny on the left side of their court, Mari knocked the shuttle to the far right, sealing the deal with a "Henry~! Wow~!"

A chill ran down Hero's spine, impairing his attempts to reach the shuttle. His racket reached the shuttle just barely after it hit the ground.

"Yes!" "Yay!" The girls shared high fives, as the boys shared postures of despair.

=================

Aubrey approached the pouting Sunny, his arms wrapped tighter around his legs as he refused to look at her. She patted him on the head, kneeling next to him.

"Aubrey... that's meaan... you were cheating there..." Sunny murmured, his slightly sad expression and cutely pouting lips causing her heart to skip. He's so adorable... Aubrey brought her arms around him in a side-hug, ignoring the mix of their sweat, pressing herself into his side.

"It was just a game, Sun-sun..." She said, patting his hair. She nuzzled herself into the side of his neck, watching his mouth purse to hide a small smile. He didn't push her away, which was good. She watched him turn his head away from her, though not before she noticed his eyes had already no longer reflected frustration.

"...Y-you both took advantage of us... there was no honor..." Sunny mumbled, his tone no longer holding the annoyance he wanted to inject into it. Aubrey grinned, giving him a kiss on the cheek. She kissed him again, on his ear, his hair, then moved around to his front, kissing him on his forehead, his closed eyes, his nose. Each time she pressed her lips into him, his attempt at hiding his smile failed a little more, until even his pursing lips could not hold back its tide. She finished it all off with a peck to his lips, causing him to playfully hold her away, a smile gracing his face. "A-Auby, no! I'm angry at you-" He said with a barely-held back giggle, his face reddening at the attention. She watched him purposefully furrow his brow, unable to hold its position for more than a second or two before it relaxed.

Aubrey chuckled, throwing her arms around his head, squeezing him into her chest. "Aww, but Sun-bun... I don't want you to be angry at me... You know I'd do anything for you anyway~" She said, patting his hair. She planted kiss after kiss into the top of his head, grinning even wider when she felt his arms go around her sides. "Won't you forgive me, Sunny-honey? Won't you forgive your loving girlfriend~?" She cooed, pressing her cheek into the top of his head.

She heard the slightest snicker come from Sunny, his face turning up to look at her. The meager attempt of a pout remained on his lips, his eyes full of mirth, betraying his true feelings. "...Only if we can cuddle later back home..."

She beamed at him, her grin filled with equal parts happiness and amusement. "With pleasure!"

===============================

Bonus:

Aubrey lay on the couch, her arms around the Sunny currently nuzzled into the crook of her neck. Despite the calm situation, a question surfaced, one that she had been wanting to entertain for some time now. "So, Sunny, what would you have used that ticket for, anyway?" She asked.

Sunny reached into his thoughts.

"Marry me, Aubrey!" Sunny said confidently, displaying the wedding ring to her.

"Oh~ Sunshine! My-My heart isn't ready for this! I don't think it's time for this yet! Plus, we still have to figure out so much!" Aubrey swooned, the back of her hand dramatically pushed against her forehead.

Sunny pulled out the one-time-do-anything ticket from his wallet, displaying it proudly in front of him. "I've kept this for so long. I love you Aubrey! Marry me!"

"Oh my, Sunny! How... romantic! Yes! I'll marry you right now!" They shared a long kiss.

Sunny blinked, tightening his hug into her. "...Insurance." He responded, leaving Aubrey slightly confused.

Chapter Text

The sun rose over the sleepy town of Faraway, casting its light over the rows of buildings. Its rays awoke the birds in the trees, who began their noisy birdsong, signalling the day's beginning.

Suffice to say, the morning was excellent for outdoor activities.

Outdoor activities were not what Kel and Sunny had in mind for today, however – they had loaded up the well-used console with the game they had borrowed from Vance, and were whiling their time away, clashing virtual swords with each other.

Aubrey lay on the sofa, watching the battle get closer and closer each match. Sunny may have always been the better one at video-games, but it was clear he was attempting difficult strategies, disallowing himself from using specific moves, or generally fooling around to give Kel a chance.

While she herself was no slouch at the game, Kel had always played for fun rather than to get more skilled, and more than once, Sunny and Kel would pause their attacks to, "attempt shenanigans", as Kel put it. Oft-times, he would even fire off his big attacks into Sunny's block just to watch the animations on screen.

With the match completely unbalanced towards Sunny, the game on the screen didn't hold much interest for her. She was more interested in Sunny, and watching his reactions. She was far more interested in how despite his normally emotionless face, his left eye would twitch ever-so-slightly whenever something went wrong on screen, how his lips would purse and his brows would tilt in just that tiny bit when he was attempting something difficult, how he would give her a happy glance whenever his plan was successful.

Oh, how she loved him so much. Every time he glanced at her for approval, she resisted reaching over to ruffle his hair, every time he pumped a fist slightly in triumph, she wanted to hug him and congratulate him.

The only thing stopping her was her embarrassment from showing her affection in front of other people (who weren't Basil. And to some extent Mari.).

And so, she resisted. The urge to straight-up glomp him grew and grew, and she found herself brushing her hand across his shoulder when Kel wasn't looking, staring at him - his composed appearance, those onyx locks across his face, those obsidian irises almost getting a gleam of their own whenever anything went right... and whenever he was with her. A faint blush formed on her face, partially from indulging in the look of the one she loved most, and partially from noticing the ring she gave him kept on a chain around his neck, the symbol of their love always with him, even if they didn't want to display it that loudly and proudly... yet.

At some point, Sunny noticed her stare and blush and responded with a smile, causing her heart to skip a beat. Dammit, Sunny! I'm trying to hold back here! The smile creeping through her pursed lips did not go unnoticed by him, and Sunny took the opportunity to act boldly.

He locked eyes with her, and winked. He then let off a tiny snicker, and went back to the game.

In her mind, she fell to her knees, slamming at the ground, her heart beating as fast as it did when she first fell in love with him. Mmmgh! Sunny! That's not fair! That's absolutely not fair! You can't act this cute and get away with it! Aubrey clenched her teeth together, squeezing a couch cushion as hard as she could, as if it were a replacement for throwing her arms around him. He was teasing her for sure! It wasn't like how Mari or Basil teases, it was a completely different ball game altogether, and she wasn't prepared for this at all! He has to know his effect on her! He must! There's no way he would act so boldly if he didn't! She wanted him in her arms so badly, she started kicking her legs in the air a bit, her blush filling her face.

And as luck would have it, Kel stood up, the match having been lost once more. "Agh... I can't seem to win to matter what I do. You're too good at this, Sunny... I'll just play one more after I head to the bathroom. Got some chores to finish, after all!" He rambled, rushing off to the doorway out of the room.

Aubrey drifted the couch cushion down from her face, revealing her predatory grin. Sunny gave her a glance, a tiny bead of sweat rolling down his face. He audibly gulped, standing up, pursing his lips to stop his smile. "I-I'll get some water-" He began, barely taking half a step before he found his wrist locked in Aubrey's grasp.

"Where do you think you're going?" She asked, her grin not diminishing.

Sunny felt himself get thrown onto the couch, finding the grinning Aubrey atop him before he could react. Her wolfish expression filled his view, her face a mere inch from his. "You're not getting away after teasing me like that!" She said.

In one of the few rare occasions in her life, she saw Sunny give her a teasing grin. In the blink of an eye, he puckered his lips, pecking Aubrey on hers, before relaxing with a satisfied look on his face.

Ghk! Aubrey paused, stunned for a moment. "Alright, you asked for it!" Aubrey declared, throwing her arms around him and beginning her tickle-assault to his sides.

...

"Hyaah!" Sunny yelped, writhing in her grasp. "Nooooo...! Auby, stoooop...!" Despite his muted yells, the big smile on his face urged her on. Unable to squirm out of her hold on him, unable to move away due to her bodyweight pressing on him, he was left only able to give Aubrey the reactions she craved. "Ngaaahaha!" He attempted to block off his sides with his elbows, his paltry defense against her wriggling fingers crumbling instantly as she kept tickling him over and over.

The seconds passed, his breath became more and more ragged, an uncharacteristic grin plastered on his normally stoic face. Yet still her assault continued, until finally, in between laughs, Sunny managed to get out "Okay, Auby... Sorry...! Hahaha- I'm sorry...! Stop...!"

Aubrey immediately stopped her offensive, watching the cutely-blushing mess with an arm over his eyes catch his breath. "Sorry for what, Sunny?" she asked, her fingers twitching at his sides, threatening to continue their wiggling assault.

"...teasing you... hehe... sorry..." Sunny murmured between breaths.

She leaned in to kiss him on his forehead. "Apology accepted, Sun-hun. Don't do it again, alright?" she leaned into him, pushing his face into her chest, taking in a huge whiff of his hair, his scent. Her hand moved to stroke his hair. She smiled at the giggling wreck in her grasp, his still-smiling, still-quivering, heavily blushing form testament to her handiwork.

And in the distance, they both heard a toilet flush.

Aubrey sat up off of Sunny, taking a seat at the far end of the couch. She propped her head up on one arm, pretending she had no part in Sunny's current state.

The loud footsteps down the staircase signalled the re-arrival of Kel. "I'm back, guys! Sorry I took so long, had a little, uh... stomach troubles." He stepped back up to the controller on the floor, picking it up. "Sunny? You playing? Why're you lying down like that?"

......

And with a final cannon shot, Kel's character was knocked out of the arena by Sunny's. In the heat of the moment, Sunny pointed a finger gun at Aubrey. He winked, and pretended to fire a shot at her, then blew the invisible smoke out the barrel of the finger-gun.

A chill ran down his spine. His body tensed, his eyes closing. Gingerly, he brought his gaze to Aubrey, the voracious leer on her face priming him for what was to come. Once more, he gulped, the bead of sweat reappearing on his brow.

"Alright, guys! That's all from me. Like I said, I've got chores to get to. See you both around!" Kel got up, a smile on his face, completely oblivious to Sunny's look begging him to not go.

"See you next time, Kel!" Aubrey called out to him, a little too much joy in her voice.

Sunny's breathing grew heavy. His teeth started chattering slightly, in equal parts fear at what Aubrey was about to do, as well as happiness at the amount of attention he would be receiving from her. He turned to face Aubrey, his pleading look not dissuading her in the slightest. "A-Aubrey, wait... Hehe- I-I didn't mean to-" He began, shaking his head, the small smile forming on his face doing nothing to help his situation.

The front door closed loudly behind Kel, signalling the start of Aubrey's hunt.

"C'mere, Sun-bun!" Aubrey yelled, glomping Sunny, pushing him to the ground. She pushed her lips into his, prodding at his sides to force a moan out of him.

Bonus:

"Mmmph... Sunny..." Aubrey pushed her lips into Sunny's, his eyelids fluttering in joy and pleasure attracting her to him more than he could ever know. She took a breath, entwining her tongue with his, her lip curling up slightly as she felt him reciprocate.

"Auby... I love y-mmmph..." He was silenced by Aubrey deeply kissing him once more.

SLAM

The front door crashed open all of a sudden, their heavy makeout session interrupted.

"Hey guys! Sorry, I think I left my wallet here! Have either of you see- Whuh."

Red-faced, Aubrey threw out the first excuse that came to mind. "I-It's not what it looks like! We were, uh, wrestling!" She said, getting off of Sunny. She readjusted her jacket, putting her sleeve back on properly.

"Wrestling? What for?" Kel asked, completely oblivious to the pair's reddened lips and blushing faces, their disheveled clothing and their unnaturally shy demeanors.

"...dominance..." Sunny said, brushing himself off.

Chapter Text

Sunny readjusted the weight of the various plastic bags on his unathletic arms, mentally cursing his physically weak self. Sure, he could have asked for help to bring the sleepover's snacks and drinks back home, but he was the one who suggested the event! It didn't feel right if he didn't prepare for it himself! He turned the corner to his street, the final stretch in front of him. He took a moment to admire the sunset, catching his breath.

"Oh hey! Sunny!" A call from around the corner pulled Sunny's attention. His heart skipped a beat, a faint smile entering his face, as he admired the pink-haired girl waving and jogging up to meet him. She was wearing a white shirt underneath her usual jacket, a pair of short shorts coupled with stockings revealing that small patch of skin on her upper legs-

Sunny tore his gaze away before his blush spread any further, thankful that the sun painting everything in orange camouflaged his reddening ears so well.

"Preparing for the sleepover, Sunny?" Aubrey asked. "Here, let me help you with that." She reached over, grabbing a set of plastic bags from him. Sunny's hesitation in giving her the set of bags caused her to falter for a bit, her hand clamping completely over his.

They both shared a mild blush for a moment, before Sunny let go. Aubrey shifted the plastic bags over to her other hand, boldly taking his hand in hers. "I'll give you some company on the way home. Let's go, Sunny!"

Sunny squeezed her hand once. A smile made its way to their faces, their hearts brimming with warmth on their simple shows of affection for each other. Everything seemed to lose focus, the only thing left in the forefront of their minds being the feeling of each other's hand in theirs. Had such a thing – holding hands - always been so intense? Sunny rubbed his thumb over Aubrey's, the ticklish feeling causing her heart to skip a beat. She looked at him, noticing the uncharacteristically large smile on his face, his blush visible even in the orange light.

Making the normally-stoic boy gain such a huge smile from simply holding his hand – how happiness-inducing that was in itself! Oh, how her own happiness seemed to multiply whenever she was with him. How she wanted to hug him and shower him in so much affection he would positively burst from happiness! How she yearned for him to cling to her once more, his bold displays of want for her (and his lack of display of want for anything else, she might add) filling her heart with warm fuzzy feelings, just like that time she carried him around town.

She loved him so much, and loved the ways he would show his love for her, the way his sleepy little eyes would brighten up the moment he saw her, the way he would get that tiny little smile on his face, the way he would just somehow know when something was bothering her, even when she tried her darndest not to show it.

He turned to look at her, that curious head-tilt he did sending her heart aflutter once more. Mmmgh! She gave him a smile full of the warmth her heart was overflowing with, feeling it grow wider as he turned away with a blush. Lost in her thoughts, she continued staring at Sunny, oblivious to the fact that they had already reached his house for a good minute now.

"...Aubrey..." Sunny mumbled, his soft voice gently coaxing her out of her headspace.

Aubrey continued staring at him for just a second, before she realised he wasn't just calling her name for its own sake. "H-hm?! Yeah, what is it, Sunny?"

"...I can't open the door... My hand..." Sunny embarrassedly looked away from her, giving her tensing hand a gentle squeeze.

"Oh. Oh, right!" She said, dropping her grip on his hand like a hot potato.

Sunny would admit, the cold patch left behind was slightly disappointing. He didn't quite understand why she was staring at him so much, though. Did he have something on his face? ...No, if he did, she would definitely say something. Still, he felt really self-conscious about her stare, despite the attention causing his heart to throb.

......

The bags of snacks and drinks placed on the kitchen counter, Sunny headed to the living room, flopping onto the couch. He wasn't winded or fatigued, per se – he just wanted a quick break before continuing on their preparations for the sleepover.

Aubrey came out of the kitchen. With a single look at the relaxed form of the onyx-haired boy stretching like a kitten on the couch, she couldn't help herself. She flopped atop him, almost knocking the wind out of him, burying herself into the crook of his shoulder.

Stunned for a moment, he instinctively brought his arms around her, the feeling of her inhaling his scent bringing the red back into his ears. "Au-Aubrey...?" Sunny whispered.

The sound of footsteps came down the staircase. "Welcome back, Su-" Mari's voice caught in her throat as she caught a glimpse of the couple on the sofa. A teasing grin spread on her face, before she continued. "-nny..."

Sunny's blush filled his face, not expecting Mari to catch them in their lovey-dovey display. "Nnn... Aubrey..." He nudged her a little, the footsteps coming closer causing his embarrassment to peak. "Aubrey..." He nudged her again, slowly turning a full shade of scarlet.

Aubrey's voice came out muffled in Sunny's shirt. "Shh, Sunny. It's been two days. Let me enjoy this." She continued breathing heavily into his shoulder, the warmth of her breath spreading into his vest filling his heart as well.

Overwhelmed by the combination of affection and embarrassment, Sunny covered his face with a hand, dipping his head into Aubrey's hair. His inadvertent display of affection encouraged her, causing her to nuzzle deeper into his chest.

"Aww... Sunny!" Mari teased, ruffling his hair. "Aren't you a little ladies' man!"

"He's my little ladies man." Aubrey's voice came out, still muffled. "No one else's." She emphasised, hugging him tighter into her.

Sunny began positively melting from the excess affection heaped onto him, the incomprehensible sounds he was making absolutely dripping with happiness.

==================

Kel and Hero lay in their pillow fort in the living room, half-paying attention to the horror movie playing on the television. Mari sat on the edge of the couch, next to Basil, Sunny, and Aubrey.

Silence filled the air, the female survivor having locked herself into the bathroom. She held her breath, the violin sounds in the background of the scene reminescent of soft screams, turning the tension up to its maximum.

Sunny blinked. "Why did she lock herself in the bathroom when she could have went right out the back door and ran?" He thought, poking more holes into the plot of the movie the more he watched.

All of a sudden, the bathroom door loudly rattled, sending a shock through the shoulders of the woman. She whimpered, muffling herself with her hands.

An axehead stuck through the bathroom door with a loud SLAM!

Basil and Aubrey screamed in tandem with the lady on the television screen, both their arms wrapping around the stoic Sunny sitting in between them, interrupting his thoughts. Despite the otherwise tense atmosphere, being hugged like a teddy bear from two sides made Sunny start blushing. He may have been shy, and he may not show it, but being hugged felt really nice, even if it was a hug out of fear.

The bathroom door slammed open, revealing the killer in all his bloodstained glory. "There you are!" his deep voice rumbled.

The scene elicited another scream from the pair, as they both hugged Sunny closer to them. A tiny smile entered his face, happy that he was being relied on in this way.

==============================

Aubrey lay under the covers of Mari's bed, having been allowed to sleep there for the night. She shivered, the shadows in the room seemingly flickering, hiding invisible monsters behind every dark corner.

Sunny glanced towards her from his bed. He turned off the lamp on the end table, hearing a quick gasp leave Aubrey. "...Aubrey...? Are you... scared?" He asked softly.

"No! No, I'm not!" Came the affirmation, a little too loudly.

Sunny pursed his lips, the white lie she did to save face not lost on him."...If you are... we can cuddle..."

"I said I'm not! Stop asking!" She replied annoyedly. The mere assertion of her fear insulted her outwardly brave persona, and for a moment, her anger overrode her fear. Yet as time passed, with Sunny not responding, the shadows seemed to grow even more, the minor creaks from the floorboards making her mind run wild with terror.

At some point, despite her fear, despite the various shades seemingly crowding her bed, despite her mind running at a hundred miles an hour, she managed to fall asleep.

......

Thunder.

Sunny wakes up in the middle of the night, a strange feeling in his heart. He felt... concern? Something kept him up, and it wasn't the thunder rumbling outside the window.

The sound of movement came from Mari's bed. Aubrey.

Sunny got up, silently stepping over to where Aubrey was sleeping. She was shifting on the bed, her brow just barely visibly furrowed in the darkness. Sunny admired her sleeping form, her pink hair almost a beacon of fluorescence in the inky dark. He brushed her hair out from her face, his heart skipping a beat as he took in the form of the girl he so loved. Though, her obvious discomfort betrayed the fact that she was having a nightmare.

"...Aubrey... Aubrey..." Sunny shook her shoulder in an attempt to jostle her awake. Aubrey let loose a sudden inhale, her dream of horrible monsters with too many teeth and too many eyes broken by a soft voice, so gentle, so tender, more whisper than tone.

"...Auby..." His sweet voice brought her back to the world of the waking. For just a moment, she was filled with gratefulness, the worst dream she had in months being broken by the best thing that had happened to her. She heaved a silent sigh of relief before pulling herself together, putting up her tough girl persona as quickly as she could. "Mmm... W-what's wrong, Sunny?"

"Auby... nightmare..." Sunny murmured, his hand lovingly squeezing her shoulder.

Aubrey pursed her lips, dipping her eyes away from him. "N-no I wasn't..." She insisted, her white lie clear as day.

Sunny pouted. Anyone would have been able to tell: the horror movie had clearly affected her despite her insistence that she was fine. Despite it all, his love for her and want for her comfort outweighed the unpleasantness of swallowing his pride. Sunny inhaled, preparing a lie of his own. "...I had...nightmare, Auby... I wanna... Can we cuddle...?"

"O-oh. Oh!" Aubrey responded. "Well! Hmhm! If you were scared, I guess we can..." Aubrey lifted her blanket, giving Sunny a smug look.

Sunny blankly stared. Despite him wanting to protect her, despite his overwhelming love for her, for her to call him out for being scared despite his complete lack of fear, to basically directly flip the situation onto him? That's just rude. He snorted, frowning. A few awkward seconds passed, the shadows in the room seemingly growing larger, longer, more threatening. Sunny began to turn back to his bed.

"No, wait!" Aubrey grabbed at his arm. "Sun-bun! I'm sorry! Alright? I'm sorry. Please... let's cuddle, alright? Let's cuddle!"

Somewhat satisfied, Sunny turned back around, moving into Aubrey's bed. He shifted himself higher up onto the pillow, hugging her head next to his chest.

"S-Sunny? I thought you had a nightmare." Aubrey said, expecting to be the one hugging him close to her.

"...I lied."

Aubrey paused, the realisation hitting her. She had acted so selfishly in the moment, hadn't she? And yet, Sunny saw right through her, cutting right to the core of her discomfort - her fear. She never needed to keep up her persona in front of him. And despite doing so, he was so willing to throw away his own pride to make her feel better... Her heart warmed, Sunny's love for her pushing out all the fear she had in her heart. She hugged him so tightly, listening to that heartbeat, soft as he was. In his arms like this, she felt absolutely safe and comforted.

"Sunny?" Aubrey whispered.

"Mm...?"

"Sorry I was being such a blockhead. And thank you."

"Mm..." This is my pride as a boyfriend at stake here. I have at least want to protect my girlfriend. Sunny thought, dipping his face into her hair. He inhaled her scent, her sweet smell pushing out his annoyance, his mind getting filled with red roses and pink. He smiled, hugging her, feeling her squirm into the crook of his shoulder. "...Auby... I'm your boyfriend... Let me protect you sometimes, okay...?"

Aubrey smiled warmly. She leaned up, and kissed him on the chin.

Chapter Text

Mincy brushed off some invisible dust from her grey hooded coat and black tight pants. She put her hands on her hips and took a deep breath. "Ahh, the smell of popcorn and cotton candy. The cheers of the people on the wild rides, the time I'm going to be spending with Kel..." Mincy smiled, taking in the atmosphere. 

She turned to the right, facing the blue-haired girl, her happy expression dropping to reveal one of annoyance. "So why are you here?"

Cris brushed her fingers through her hair, her light blue tank top and her jean shorts showing off more skin than Mincy would ever admit to be brave enough to show. "Could ask you the same question, art-girl." She said with a scoff, not even bothering to match her eye contact.

“Grr… Well, I’ll have you know Kel invited me here for a date!” Mincy put her hand onto her cheek and closed her eyes. “It was going to be the two of us, enjoying our time together, sharing ice cream, maybe having a romantic time in a ferris wheel…” A bright smile moving onto her face, her imagination filling up with rainbows and cotton.

Cris’ eye twitched. Annoyed, she put her arms on the sides of her hips. “What nonsense. Kel invited me here for a date! We were going to ride the water-coaster! Something a little too intense for you, perhaps?” A smirk moved onto her face, her perceived superiority being rubbed in the artist’s face.

“Ghk-” Mincy bit her lower lip. It was true, she wasn’t one for high-adrenaline attractions. However, she had plans of her own. Well, you’re not going to get any sort of romantic mood going on any of those intense rides. She thought, her pout slowly turned into a smirk of her own. Clearly my choices will be superior in determining the victor!

Almost as if Cris read her mind, her smirk turned judgemental, a shadow seemingly moving over her eyes. How cute. You think those slow rides will catch someone like Kel? While you’re boring him with your ideas, I’ll have been able to get so much closer to him (physically) on the extreme rides! 

The pair continued to mentally push their superiority at each other, before being snapped out of their psychological war by a familiar voice. “Hey Mincy! Hey Cris! Wow, you’re both getting along so well!” Kel waved at the pair, jogging over to them, his casual bright yellow shirt and light brown cargo pants catching their eyes. 

"Oh, hi Kel!"

"Hey, Kel!"

They both responded at the same time, bright smiles  on their faces, in stark contrast to the looks they were giving each other just two seconds before.

Mincy daintily put a foot in front of the other, her hands clasped behind her back. "Kel..." She began, acting shy. "Didn't you invite me here so we could spend time together in the amusement park?" She stepped up to him slowly, moving closer and closer.

Cris brashly pushed past her, grabbing Kel's hand. "Kel! It's good to see you! You invited me here to hang out, just the two of us, right?"

The implications of their statements zoomed right over Kel's head. He replied with a big smile. "Yep! I invited both of you here to enjoy the amusement park!" Everyone else seemed to be busy, so... "C'mon, guys! This is gonna be great! Let's get in there!" Kel began dashing off, gesturing to the mentally facepalming pair to follow.

============

The amusement park was full - people packed around the sugary-smelling cotton candy and ice cream stalls, the lines to the brightly-coloured attractions packed with families and children. A rumble of the nearby rollercoaster brought along the mixed sounds of happy and fearful squeals from its riders. The atmosphere was generally jolly, the mood light… in stark contrast to the pair behind Kel still staring daggers at each other.

Close to the entrance of the park, the well-lit colourful claw arcade drew no small number of couples there to spend time with each other. It was here that the trio made their first stop, splitting up for a few minutes to win prizes of their own.

Barely a game in, Kel felt a pair of hands on his shoulders, pulling his attention away from the claw machine advertising the newest game console. "Kel…" a familiar voice called from behind him. "I can't seem to play the claw machines. I don’t know what’s wrong…”

Kel turned around to face Cris and her pleading look. She gestured to a smaller claw machine containing a few small dolphin-keychain plushies. Despite its small size, the title “Sea World” was lit with a bright blue, drawing the attention of the occasional child walking past.

Kel tilted his head quizzically. “Can’t seem to play…?” He trailed off, as Cris pulled him over by his hand, inserting a dollar into the machine. She brought the crane claw over a dolphin, then pressed the ‘grab’ button. The claw twisted in a full spin as it lowered, destabilising it just enough for it to fail the grab on its prize.

“See…? No matter what I do, I can’t seem to do it.” Cris complained. “Could you show me how it’s done, Kel?” she pleaded, her hand still loosely atop the joystick. With any luck, he’ll reach over and hold my hand with his...

 Kel patted her on the shoulder. “Heh. Step aside, Cris. Let ol’ Kel show you how it’s done.”

“Sure thing Kel!” She said. An awkward silence followed, as they stared at each other expectantly. 

Kel slowly started looking more and more confused, his big toothy smile shrinking into a slightly concerned look. “...Um. Cris? You wanted me to try it out, right…? You’re, uh, blocking the machine.” 

Cris mentally rolled her eyes, her hints having flown past Kel once more. She forced her smile to maintain its size.  “R-right.” She said, stepping aside.

Kel cracked his knuckles, inserting a dollar into the machine. As he started moving the crane, he felt a sudden soft weight on his own arm and smelled a familiar scent - one that reminded him of the fresh ocean breeze, a slightly sweet yet tangy smell mixed into it reminiscent of the drinks and treats on the beach, the times he had spent with his old friends, the food, the activities.

And for a moment, he lost concentration. The keychain dropped from the device's claw. “Aww…”

“It’s alright, Kel.” Cris said, pushing her chest into his arm, taking the time to feel up his muscled bicep. “We can keep going.”

…...

“Oh… Kel will be so happy when he sees what I won for him…” Mincy happily skipped over, the fluffy, awkwardly posing orange fruit man with an orange fruit head flopping oddly in her arms.

Her mood did a complete one-eighty as she noticed Cris- that absolute CHEATER! -pushing her chest directly into Kel’s arm, causing him to blush slightly. MMNNGG- Mincy fumed, her mouth pushing into a huge pout. She dashed over, nearly crashing into Kel’s other arm, pushing her much more modest chest into him.

"Woah-hey! Mincy, Cris- if you keep pushing my arms around, I won't be able to get the- prize. Ah. Darn. I missed it again. Sorry, Cris." Kel apologised, completely oblivious to the weight of the competing stares from both the girls leaning onto him possessively.

The sudden break in Kel’s activity prompted Mincy to speak. “Kel… I know how much you like Orange Joe. That’s why I got you this!” She said, completely ignoring Kel’s recent failure at Cris’ prize. She brandished the plushie of Orange Joe’s mascot, pushing it into his chest.

"W-Woah, is this really for me? Hahaha! It’s Orange Joe, alright!” Kel turned the plushie around a few times, his grin growing as the plushie’s limbs awkwardly flopped around. “Thanks Mincy! That's really sweet of you!” He gave her a wide smile, before looking away, slightly embarrassed. “Sorry I couldn’t win anything in return, heh."

Mincy blushed. That Kel considered getting a prize for her... it made her heart beat a little faster. “It’s alright, Kel! It’s the thought that counts, after all…” As Kel admired the stitching on the Orange Joe plushie, Mincy shot Cris a victorious smirk, growing slightly wider as she watched her eye twitch. “Well, I don’t think we should spend too much money or time here. Let’s check out the other attractions, Cris .” She clasped her hands behind her back, slowly stepping out of the arcade, the little victory she gained over Cris filling her with confidence.

===================================

Pushing through the crowd of people, a shock of bright pink in the generally dark-haired crowd drew the gaze of the trio. Kel focused on the person’s movement, the way she carried herself, and the black-haired boy she was pulling along, finding the way they acted extremely familiar...

“Oh hey, that’s Sunny and Aubrey!” Kel pointed. He took in a breath, about to call out to them, before he found his shoulders clasped by a pair of arms, and his mouth covered by a pair of hands. “Mmph!” He vocalised, turning to face his entourage confusedly. “Huh? What’s up, you two? I wanna say hi to Sunny and Aubrey! We can head around in a big group and everything. Wouldn’t that be more fun? The more the merrier, after all!”

Mincy flushed pink, her hand still locked around Kel’s wrist. Her lips pursing, she dipped her eyes down to face her shoes, before moving her gaze to meet Cris’.

Cris’ smile was false, barely even reaching the side of her face. A dark shadow seemed to cover her closed eyes, her hand still maintaining its tight grip on Kel’s shoulder. She glanced at Mincy for a second, before both their gazes focused directly on Kel.

"No!" They both responded to him at the same time. Besides, they look like they're on a date of their own. They thought.

“Y-you guys…” Kel began. “They’re not that bad! Aubrey- well.. I can’t really vouch for Aubrey. But didn’t you give Sunny that shell necklace, Cris? And didn’t you say Sunny was your number-two fan, Mincy? What gives?” Kel asked, raising an eyebrow.

I said that so it wouldn’t be mean to him since the two of you were wandering around town together… Mincy thought, completely unable to meet Kel’s questioning look. She tightened her grip on his wrist, shifting her posture uncomfortably.

I gave that to him because you said he was going to summer camp, and I wanted to do something for you(r friend). Cris thought. Her slightly open eye began twitching, her mouth pursing, as she attempted to come up with a response.

As the pair were lost in their thoughts, Kel began pulling them closer to Sunny and Aubrey. They caught sight of Aubrey in the distance nuzzling into Sunny’s shoulder, his posture relaxing despite the chaos of the crowd. Sunny put an arm over Aubrey’s shoulder, encouraging her further.

Mincy’s heart skipped a beat. She imagined herself in her room nuzzling into Kel’s shoulder, watching him read a comic book, just glad to be in his presence. She imagined him leaning his head onto hers, leaning down just enough for her to peck him on his cheek - the situation running in her head causing her to blush deeply.

Cris gained an uncommonly-seen blush, her imagination bringing her and Kel to the beach, watching the sun set over the waves, giving the sea a beautiful bright glow. She turned to him, admiring his muscled arms, his athletic body in his swimming pants. Their eyes met, their faces moving closer and closer to each other as their eyes slowly shut, their lips locking together-

Both of them froze simultaneously, stopping Kel in his tracks, his arm and shoulder still held on tightly by each of them. Kel attempted to take another step forward, finding himself unable to move. He turned around, looking confusedly at the pair.

Just as he turned around to face the frozen pair, Aubrey leaned over, giving Sunny a big smooch on the cheek. His normally stoic look gained an uncharacteristically large smile, his ears turning completely red as he tilted his head down to partially hide his flustered look. Aubrey gently held his hand, spiriting him away to a different location, their own happiness almost coating them with a bright yellow glow.

At the same time, Cris and Mincy got the same idea, grabbing each of Kel’s arms, pulling him in two different directions.

“Kel... Let’s get our pictures taken!” Mincy said.

“Let’s go to the water coaster, Kel!” Cris insisted.

“Wait, what? But- huh?” Kel responded. He quickly glanced back behind himself, unable to catch sight of Sunny or Aubrey anymore.

Ignoring each other, they pulled at his arms, stretching him outwards.

“Ngh- Come on, swimmer! Kel’ll love getting a picture! He’s loved my art-pieces in the past!”

“Grr… We’ve not done anything exciting yet, art-girl! Kel’ll want something that’ll get his adrenaline pumping!”

“G-Guys… calm down… We won’t be going anywhere like this.”

The pair glanced away from each other, their brows furrowing. Their grip maintained tight, though they stopped pulling on him. “He’s right.” Mincy said.

“Yeah, this doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.” Cris said. “There’s only one way we can settle this for real.”

They both faced Kel, giving him a pleading look. "Kel! Which of us do you want to go with?"

Kel stared incredulously, his eyes seemingly retreating into his head. "I, uh, don't see why we can't do both! We've got time. How about the water coaster first? We don't wanna get the pictures wet or crumpled from the coaster after all!"

Mincy shifted uneasily. She'd never ridden a roller coaster before. She knew she wasn't good with extreme-intensity, high G-force attractions… but if Kel wanted to…

…

"There it is! The water coaster!" Kel pointed.

The track began steep, stretching meters up into a giant slope, before dipping down at a dizzyingly-vertical incline. It transitioned into an upside-down section, a set of sharp curves and turns, culminating in a loop-the-loop waterslide, and splashing into a pool at the end.

Slowly making their way through the queue, Mincy uncomfortably watched a cart get flung through the waterslide, the loud splash causing her to shudder. She gulped, her resolve wavering as she watched the next cart enter a near-freefall at the first slope. And then the next cart. And the next. Each time, the carts seemed to be falling a little faster, the screams a little louder, the rumble a little more intense. Her attention was slowly drawn away from the small-talk they were making, until she barely paid attention to it at all. Near the front of the queue, her resolve finally failed, as she tapped Kel’s shoulder. “Uhm… Listen, Kel... I-I’m not really good with rollercoasters…” she nervously stuttered.

Kel raised an eyebrow. "Aw, c’mon, Mincy, we've gotta try the water coaster! We’ve been queuing for it for a whole twenty minutes, after all!"

"Yeah! What are you, scared?" Cris taunted, her arm sneaking around Kel’s shoulder causing Mincy’s annoyance to temporarily override her shyness. Her lips turned up into a pout, her brows furrowing.

"I-it looks like it'll ruin my makeup. And mess up my hair. And cause me to lose my glasses." Mincy crossed her arms in front of her.

Kel dipped his eyes sadly to the side. "Mmm… I don't wanna force you to do something you don't wanna do…"

Cris interrupted him with a loud sigh. "I mean, if she doesn't want to, she can sit it out for a few minutes. We could go on it, just the two of us…" Her judgy look gained a smirk as she spoke, the left of her lip curling up just a little too far as she started pulling Kel towards the coaster.

"WAIT.” Mincy spoke up, a little too loudly, stopping Kel’s movement and drawing a few looks from the nearby crowd. “ I'LL DO IT." She declared, looking Kel straight in the eye.

Kel’s smile filled his face once more. "AL-RIGHT! In that case, let's go!" He said, rushing to the waiting attendant.

"...Don't push yourself too far, art-girl. Might wanna just sit this one out." Cris jabbed with a smirk, before following behind Kel.

"Grr... you watch your own back, swimmer."

...

The moment the attendant had let him through, Kel sped ahead, getting sat next to a random member of the public on the 8-person cart. "Let's get on it, you guys!" He called out to the pair.

Seeing Kel sitting next to a non-empty seat, Cris and Mincy came to an abrupt halt, their lone thought shared between the two of them.

Wait, what?

Both their eyes widened in surprise, as the thought resounded. Mincy felt herself fall into a bottomless pit in her mind, the light at the end of the tunnel getting tinier and tinier as they were shooed into the frontmost seats next to each other. Her jaw dropped slightly, the full weight of the realisation hitting her as she was strapped into the cart.

Cris’ brow furrowed as they rose, disappointment and annoyance rising and bubbling into anger as her own safety harness was strapped around her. She tried to reflect on how it turned out this way. All signs pointed to Kel being dense… but she couldn’t seem to get angry at him specifically no matter how hard she tried. She settled for seething in her seat.

A quick glance shared between the pair told each other all they needed to.

What? The? Heck??

“This is gonna be great!” Kel vocalised from behind them.

Cris’ eye twitched. “Yeah. Great.”

Mincy shivered. “Y-yeah…” she nervously responded.

...

Cris held a finger in her ear, the ringing from Mincy’s screams still persisting. She gave her a glance, her wind-tossed hair and shivering form causing a pang of… pity? to rear its head in her heart.

Despite their mutual distrust, Cris reached over and patted her on the shoulder. Their eyes met for but a second, those little globes so grateful for being on solid ground again causing Cris to turn away in embarrassment at showing someone she considered her rival a little affection.

It was evident Mincy felt the same way as well, being shown empathy by Cris of all people putting a blush on her face as she began to pout.

Kel turned around to face the pair, his toothy grin wider than normal. “That was great! What do you guys think?"

"Yeah, Kel. It was great." Could’ve been much better, though.

"Y-yeah… it was…" If only I was sitting next to Kel...

“Haha! Good to hear you enjoyed it a little, Mincy.” Kel said, oblivious to her recovering form. “You were reluctant to get on, so I’m glad!”

Cris and Mincy shared a look. So dense… They both thought. But that’s part of his charm.

 “It’s getting a little late. Wanna go again? Or should we get our photos taken?”

“Photos.” They both spoke simultaneously.

=====================

The photo booth came into view along with the line of couples and families all wanting their memories immortalised in some way. A long table full of props was in full display next to the photographer working tirelessly in front of the photo stage.

Mincy imagined herself being hugged by Kel from behind as he rested his chin on her head, their faces of absolute joy being captured in the image. She wanted a picture of Kel with her, just the two of them! Forget about Cris!

Cris, on the other hand, imagined boldly taking Kel in her arms, sharing a deep kiss in front of everyone while her picture was being taken. She wanted a picture of them by themselves! Forget about Mincy!

As they reached the front of the queue, Mincy put on a cat-eared headband from the set of props, while Cris picked up a paper shark. Their shared glance turned into an unbroken stare.

Mincy picked up a similar pair of cat ears, her intention to put them on Kel not lost on Cris.

Cris put down her paper shark in favor of a paper speech bubble with a pair of kissing fish in it.

They reached over to the same red paper heart on a stick. A pause.

Their expressions unchanging, they continued staring at each other for a few seconds. Mincy swallowed as Cris’ eye twitched.

As they both inhaled to say something to Kel, the currently dog-earred Kel pulled them both into the photo zone, the sudden touch of his rough hands on theirs, as well as the grinning dog-eared boy shooting Cupid’s arrow into their hearts once more.

He pulled them into the shot of the camera, throwing his arms around their necks, pulling them both into him as he put up a wide smile.

The presence and touch of the tall basketballer behind them, the sensation of his slightly-sweating form, the feeling of his every chest rise and fall on their backs… Cris and Mincy took on a full blush, all thoughts being pushed out and replaced with Kel, their entire situation forgotten as they began to melt in his touch.

“Say cheese!”

FLASH

===============================

The sun was beginning to set on the amusement park. Cris and Mincy walked side by side, a still-grinning Kel walking in front of them. Needless to say, Cris and Mincy planned to hide their shared photo away from any prying eyes the moment they got home.

Kel turned around, walking backwards. "I really had fun today. Thanks for joining me in the amusement park, you two. And on such short notice as well. I really appreciate it!" His bright grin filled their hearts with happiness, and their faces with a blush. They nodded to him, mumbling words of affirmation.

Cris looked at Mincy as Kel turned back around. “Call it a draw? ...Mincy?”

Mincy returned her look, chewing on her bottom lip slightly before replying. “Agreed… Cris.”

They matched each other’s movement, Mincy grabbing onto Kel’s left arm, while Cris grabbed onto his right. They leaned their heads onto his shoulder.

Kel continued walking, happy at the sudden ‘friendly display of affection’ from his friends.

Bonus:

“Master!” Angel prodded the teen wearing a blonde wig. He pointed out into the distance on the sidewalk “I see our arch-nemesis across the road!”

Mikhael looked up, following his finger. “As expected of my protégé, your eagle-eyes are peerless!” He squinted at the figure in the distance. “ ...A girl in each arm? Truly, he is worthy to be considered my rival!”

“Master, aren’t you already seeing that Bebe person? I thought you stopped having dates at the fountain because of that.”

Mikhael silently swallowed. W-wait, you know about that? “Hush now! Here he comes!” He deflected.

...

The walk back had been about fifteen minutes, and the pair had not stopped their affectionate arm-grab at any point in their walk. “...guys… this is kinda making it hard to walk. Could you let go?” Kel asked.

“Nope!”

“No way.”

They answered at the same time.

Double bonus:

Kel lay on his bed, giving a couple of glances at the photo he had taped on his wall. Though, weren’t Cris and Mincy looking a little red there? …Maybe it’s the sunlight. He prodded the Orange Joe plushie he had received, smiling a little at how its head flopped about.

Hero walked into the room, sitting on Kel’s bed and ruffling his hair. “I heard you were going out with two girls at once, you little rascal, you.” He teased.

“Uh, yeah. I brought Mincy and Cris over to the amusement park yesterday. What’s up?”

“Oh? You’ve grown up somewhat, haven’t you? I don’t know if Mom or Dad would approve of dating two at the same time, though.”

Kel sat up on the bed, his confusion plain to see. “Huh? Dating? What? They’re great friends, but dating…?”

Hero paused, his smile slowly shrinking. ”...Kel, I was told they were both clinging to each of your arms while you were walking back to Faraway.”

“Yeah, they’re both kinda touchy-feely like that. I mean, Sunny and Aubrey do that a lot, don’t they?”

Hero swallowed at the mention of Sunny and Aubrey, the weight of the open secret he was requested to keep reappearing in his mind. ”...So you have no feelings towards either of them whatsoever?” He asked, his eyes staring at the polaroid Kel had taped on the wall. Those were the heaviest blushes if he’d ever seen one.

Kel thought for a second. “They’re good friends. I mean, neither of them look like they have any feelings towards me.”

Hero sighed, his body posture deflating. He covered his face in his hands. “Kel. Kelsey. Brother. How do I break this to you…?”

Chapter Text

Kim lazed on the floor of Basil’s house, only partially paying attention to the B-rated movie playing on the screen. These movies are getting kinda boring. She thought. She took a look at Basil still watching the movie, blushing slightly as he returned her gaze with a bright smile.

“Say Basil. You’ve been friends with Aubrey for a long time, haven’t you?”

”For years now, yeah. Why?”

“Got any embarrassing stories about her to share?”

Basil tilted his head, tapping his chin with a finger. ”I do… But, to share? You’re asking for a lot here. I don’t know about selling her out like this…”

Kim raised an eyebrow, a small smile forming on her face. ”Name your price, fl- Basil.” She glanced away, hoping Basil didn’t notice her slip-up.

Thankfully, he either didn’t notice or chose not to comment on it. ”Hmm… How about… I’ll ask you a question that you’ll have to promise to answer completely and truthfully for each story I’ll tell you.”

That’s it? ”A question for a story? That’s a no-brainer.” She sat on the couch next to him.

”And! You’ll also have to promise you won’t tell her I was the one who told you the stories.”

”Of course. I’m not a rat.” She said, resting her arm onto the back of the sofa. “Go on, then, I’m listening.”

Basil smirked. “If you’re sure. Hmm… Oh, this one took place about two years ago…”

=============

Aubrey lay on the couch, a magazine in hand. “Sewing - The perfect way to impress your sweetheart!” claimed the article on the page. 

“Hey, Mari. Does Sunny have any clothing other than his usual vests and shirts…?” she asked, casually turning the magazine away from any other possible line of sight.

“Hmm… not really. We’ve bought him other clothing before, but he doesn’t seem to enjoy any other design.” She responded. “Why do you ask?”

“Oh, er, just curious is all!” Aubrey replied. Suspiciously, she was unable to meet Mari’s truth-searching gaze. Aubrey’s eyes went across the room, shifting back and forth in a vain attempt to distract her from the magazine she was shelving into her jacket.

Mari smirked. She had finished reading that edition just before Aubrey came in and borrowed it, and the sewing article was the only palatable piece not filled with trashy opinions and terrible life choices. “I could hand you some of the clothes he doesn’t use. Maybe with our old sewing kit as well?”  

Despite her attempt to hide her intentions, as usual, Mari had her figured out in a single glance. Aubrey sighed, putting the magazine face-up on the table. “Alright, you got me.” She puffed up a cheek, pouting. “Geez… you don’t let us hide anything, do you, Mari?”

“Let’s just say... your big sister will never lie to you, so she won’t like it when you kids aren’t honest either~! Come on upstairs! I’ll hand you what you’ll need.” With a winning smile, Mari beckoned Aubrey up the stairs.

...……

A paper bag filled with a small number of shirts lay on Sunny’s bed. Aubrey sat on the side, continuing to listen to Mari currently packing up Sunny’s closet.

“-and that should be most of the clothes he doesn’t wear. They should all be the proper size for him, so if you’re making shirts, those should work. As for pants, though-”

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

A loud knocking on the front door interrupted the pair. Mari smiled. “-Sorry. Make yourself at home, Aubrey. I’ll get the door.” She said, leaving the room.

As the door closed behind Mari, her near-silent footsteps instantly muffled by the door, Aubrey sat in the suddenly-quiet room, looking through the sets of clothing. Matching shirts sounded great, but she wanted to be able to make Sunny a pair of pants as well. Or maybe some socks on a fine winter’s day. She bit her lower lip, imagining Sunny in a coat she made, her handiwork brightly shining on her beloved’s chest, the colour matching with the long pants and socks he wore. She imagined Sunny, cute as can be, rewarding her with a bright smile upon receiving her gifts, warming her heart through and through. A slight blush formed as she massaged away the uncontrollable smile that had appeared on her face. That settled it, then. She stood up, opening Sunny’s closet. Wouldn’t hurt to at least take a look at his sizes, right?

Aubrey opened the first drawer, finding only a bunch of rolled-up shirts of varying shades of white and light gray. The next drawer only yielded a set of vests. So many black vests. Geez, Sunny. Aubrey thought. You don’t really follow fashion much, do you? Aubrey closed the drawer, opening the third just as the door to the room creaked open from behind her.

She put a hand on the contents of the drawer, pulling out what felt like a wad of cloth as she turned to face the new occupant, the blonde-haired flower boy greeting her as he entered.

”Hey Aubrey! I heard- you’re...” Basil’s speech slowed and stopped, his eyes growing wide as he stared at her. 

”Hi Basil!” Aubrey replied. She noticed his blush beginning to form, his slightly open mouth, and his face becoming redder and redder with every passing second.

“ ...Hm? ...What’s wrong?” Aubrey asked, confused. She followed his gaze down to her hand, grabbing firmly on-

Oh.

The third drawer had opened up into a few rows of neatly-folded briefs. In her hand, a dark grey pair, one she immediately dropped and pulled her hand back from, as if she had touched a hot stove. She whipped around to face the Basil who was already slowly backing out of the room.

“Wait. Wait, Basil. It’s not what you think.” She began. Her blush had immediately matched his.

Basil closed the door to the room in front of him.

“Basil! BASIL! COME BACK!”

=============

”No.” Kim suppressed a giggle. “You can’t be serious. She seriously- His underwear.” Kim put a hand to her forehead.

”I’m completely serious! You should have seen her face change when she realised!”

Kim shook her head. ”Oh man. You weren’t kidding when you said…” she said. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, the second-hand embarrassment bringing a smile to her face.

”Oh, oh, here’s another one. This one took place a little after Valentine's a year back. Sunny wanted some help to cook the best meal he could...”

===============

The fire from the stove was large, raging and burning against the frying pan Sunny held against it. With a pair of tongs, he flipped the slab of meat, reaching over to apply more pepper and seasoning, the very same blend of spices he and Hero had prepared but a few hours ago.

He wiped the sweat from his brow with his arm, taking care not to dirty his hands. Standing in front of the fire for so long was exhausting in a different way. He even took his shirt and vest off underneath the apron in an attempt to cool himself off easier.

Removing the medium-rare steak from the pan, he placed it on a plate next to a set of mashed potatoes and salad. A generous amount of gravy found itself poured over the top of the dishes. Aubrey’ll love this. He nodded, a small smile growing on his face.

Sunny picked the plate up, bringing it over to the dining table. ”Well done, Sunny!” Mari encouraged, smiling at him as he placed the meal in front of the empty seat.

”Yeah! The meat, the cabbage… All of this is cooked to perfection! You’ve really improved a lot!” said Hero. He winked at Sunny. “Guess all that practice paid off, huh?”

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

”Think that’s her. Wanna bring her in, Sunny?”

…

It had been an annoying shift. Not only were there as many people as there were on a weekend for some reason, one of Aubrey’s colleagues for that shift had called in sick, forcing her manager to put aside his paperwork to help her take the floor. On top of that, there was one particular family that would call her over and take so many minutes contemplating what they wanted, first taking a whole 10 minutes to order a set of drinks, then calling her back to order dessert later on, then calling her back again to order drinks again…

Suffice to say, Aubrey had been on her feet for most of the day, and just wanted a break, something to take her mind off everything.

So when Sunny went to open the door, the apron just wide enough to hide his pants, his shirtless shoulders and bare arms showing, Aubrey had to do a double-take, her eyes widening.

Sunny? Sunny in nothing but an apron? Wh-

In her mind, the background became soft and fluffy, red roses blooming all around the slightly-blushing onyx-haired boy, his meek demeanour and eyes unable to meet hers playing up the cute factor so much. It was at that point that Sunny spoke a line that Aubrey would never forget for the rest of her life.

”Do you want dinner…? Or a bath…? ...” Sunny paused, his lips pursing. He shifted uncomfortably, the seconds of silence ticking by slowly.

Aubrey’s mouth was open, her brain overloaded by the amount of suggestiveness the seemingly-naked-apron-wearing Sunny was heaping onto her. She closed her eyes and mouth, clenched her fists, and took a deep breath.

Sunny tilted his head in confusion, as he found himself being pulled by his hand into the living room. “Eh?” He vocalised, as he felt himself thrown onto the couch.

Aubrey leapt atop him, pulling him into a big hug. ”I want you first, Sun-Bun!” she declared.

”Eh?” Sunny had only just started blushing slightly from his personal pet-name being used, before he felt Aubrey press her lips into his. “Mmmph...!?” Sunny’s eyes fluttered closed as he felt her push her tongue into his lips. He gingerly opened them, before immediately feeling his mouth get nearly forced open and ravished by her tongue. He felt her intertwine with his own barely-moving tongue, lifting it and twirling with it like an invitation to a dance, before he felt her suckle on it slightly, provoking a slight moan from him.

Her hungry kisses continued on and on till he felt dizzy from lack of breath. She broke apart for air, allowing the heavily panting Sunny to get out a few words- “Aubrey... haah... I cooked dinner for you… We can-mmph!” -before he was immediately silenced by his pink-haired lover going in for more.

”Mmmwaait! Aubrey-mmmmph! Dinner will get cold-mmmmm...” While Sunny was unable to push her off of him, he didn’t particularly want to. That was, of course, until he heard the familiar footsteps of Mari walking into the living room. “Mm- Auby-mmmph… Wait-stop-mmm!“ He attempted to cry out, his voice barely making it through to Aubrey. He turned a shade of crimson, partially from being showered in affection, but mostly from the embarrassment of knowing his sister was right there watching him make out.

”Aubrey…” Hero’s voice sounded from behind the couch.

Aubrey immediately broke away. ”H-huh?? H-Hero?? What’re you doing here?” Her pink flush rapidly turned into a full red, as she wiped the saliva off from her mouth.

================

”To be fair, it was kind of Sunny’s fault for phrasing it in that way, but at the same time, I don’t think he knows about it, you know? ...You’re blushing, Kim.”

”Wha-” Kim covered her burning cheeks. “No I’m not!”

Basil smirked. “Is that so…? You know... I could do that for you if you’d like.”

”Wh-what are you saying…?” Kim said, directly facing Basil.

Basil gently half-clasped his fingers together, his shoulders hunching forward slightly. He tilted his head down just enough to play up a soft, meek personality. His voice rose two notes higher. ”Would you like dinner…? A bath…?” He unclasped his hands, lightly placing one on his chest as he leaned closer to her. “Or would you like… m-” Basil was interrupted by Kim pinching his cheek. “Ow, ow, shtop it, Kim, that hurtsh…”

"Don't push it, Basil." Kim said, her anger hiding her face burning a deeper shade of red.

”Showwy...” Basil murmured, his cheek still held in Kim’s grip. 

===================================================

Bonus:

“I think it’s time for me to ask you questions, now isn’t it?” 

”Yeah, sure. Go ahead.” Kim said, relaxing back on the couch with her arms behind her head. How bad could it be?

”So, first question. Do you have anyone you like or have a crush on right now?”

Kim did a double take. ”Wh-. Seriously? You can’t- I’m not going to-”

”Hmmm~?" Basil shot her a teasing grin. "You agreed to answer the question completely and truthfully~”

”...Yes. The answer is yes.”

”Alright, second question. Who is it~?”

Double Bonus: 

"OH BASIIIIL!" Aubrey came barrelling down the path from Fix-It, stopping a short distance away from Basil. 

"Hm? What's wrong, Aubrey?"

A false smile on her face, she pointed a softball bat at him, the tip of it brushing against his nose. "KIM KNOWS ABOUT THE SEWING INCIDENT. CARE TO EXPLAIN HOW?" She spoke loudly. A vein throbbed on her forehead, the culmination of her anger plain to see in the bright afternoon sun.

Basil’s smile faltered slightly. I thought I told her not to tell- Oh. Wait. I was the only witness to it, wasn’t I? A bead of sweat started rolling down his cheek. "...Ehe." He giggled, taking a tiny step backwards.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'EHE'!?"

The moment Aubrey took a step forward, Basil turned tail and legged it as fast as he could.

"BASIL! YOU LITTLE- GET BACK HEEERE!"

Chapter Text

The air was cold in Faraway.

Unlike the previous years, where snow came quite a ways past New Years’, this year in particular, there was just that little bit of snowfall coating everything in a layer of light grey - not enough for activities in the snow, but just enough to be noteworthy. Far better than the tease of a few snowflakes that came down before the weather turned it into a drab, cold, drizzle. That fine sprinkle of snow floating down from the sky added to the warm, cozy, atmosphere of Sunny’s house, where many of the Faraway Friends gathered.

It was a fine Christmas day.

Sunny and Aubrey sat on the carpet in front of the warm, crackling fireplace, a shared book in their hands and a half-finished cup of hot cocoa at their sides. Aubrey leaned on Sunny, the blanket around them more so to play up their feeling of companionship than to keep the cold out. She nuzzled the back of her head into the crook of his shoulder and into the red jumper she had knitted for him a month back; his growing, slightly embarrassed grin pairing well with the smirk on her face. A happy blush accompanied her smile as she felt him caress her arm atop her own matching teal jumper- his hug tightening around her. Even spending but a few days apart had made their mutual pining unbearable, and nothing would separate them today!

The shared warmth from their bodies spread to their hearts, filling them with joy, enough that Aubrey let out a giggle she couldn't suppress, bubbling up from her like the first beads of steam at the bottom of a water pot. She felt Sunny's chest rise with a deep breath (one taken of her, no doubt), cementing his desire for her and her alone. She responded by interlacing her fingers with his. How thankful they felt to be together.

It seemed they each had the same idea, to knit jumpers for each other. Or did Mari somehow influence them to do it? She always pushed for the pair to get closer together, after all. And being behind so many events with plausible deniability on her side; only Mari herself knew whether or not she had planned for this. …Not that either of them were against it.

The sound of a light jingle above their heads and a flash of light broke their reverie and attracted their attention. Tied to the end of a stick was a sprig of mistletoe and a set of bells.

They shared a look with its owner - the blonde flower-boy giving them a confident smile in response.

The moment the polaroid reeled out, Basil’s camera found itself shoved behind his back. Basil held his mistletoe-fishing line still, his intent clear and obvious. His smile unchanging, he jiggled the stick in an attempt to wave at them, the resulting jingle of the bells wordlessly repeating his silent challenge.

The side of Aubrey's lip tilted up. Taunting her like that… Sunny seemed to be okay with it, if the redness of his ears were anything to go by. If anything, the adorable way he dipped his eyes off to the side, the way he pursed his lips before releasing them… She answered his silent request for permission, locking her lips with his, pushing him to the ground beneath her. He squeezed his widened eyes shut, the sudden display of affection causing his blush to spread to his now-rosy cheeks.

Aubrey threw an eye towards Basil, winking at her apparent victory, before throwing her blanket over herself and Sunny, barely concealing their lovey-dovey act from the outside world.

Basil giggled. While he was a little jealous of the love the couple shared with each other, it did give him some fuzzy feelings inside, watching them get together on the wintery holiday.

…That being said, the sounds below the blanket were getting a little intense. Perhaps moving on to the kitchen would be a better idea?

...

Mari heaved a sigh of relief as she stacked another sparkling-clean dish atop the plate rack in the kitchen. She smiled, wiping an arm across her brow. Almost finished. In the moment, her gaze drifted over to Hero - his concentration while decorating the two-tiered Christmas cake unbroken, he stuck his tongue out the side of his mouth, squeezing blob after blob of perfectly-alighted cream to adorn the massive confectionery.

The second he stepped back from the cake, he mirrored Mari’s movement of mopping an arm across his brow. A sudden pair of hands caressed his shoulders and drifted across his chest. He reached up to hold one of Mari’s hands, matching her grin with his own. Indeed, the seasons they had spent together had subconsciously made them grow similar in their styles and habits, their body language reflecting the other’s influence on them. So lost in each other’s presence they were, that they scarcely paid attention to Basil entering the kitchen, up till the light " ding-a-ling! " sounded out above their heads.

Mistletoe…? The slightest of blushes formed on Mari’s face, her eyebrow raising at both the teasing smile Basil gave them and the polaroid already reeling out from his camera.

Hero smiled at Basil, planting a small, chaste kiss on Mari’s lips.

Her eyes widened, her face flushed brighter. She touched a pair of fingers to her lips, unused to Hero acting so bold with her. She turned to the side, just before the goofy wide smile blossomed onto her face, protecting her shattered “perfect” persona, particularly from the perceptive peering eyes of the blonde flower-boy who indirectly caused it. Basil’s teasing grin grew, aware of Mari’s charisma break. He stole away to the living room, even putting a hand over the bells to muffle the sound of him leaving.

In the scant seconds after he left, Mari recovered, pulling Hero in for a deeper kiss, one that he was unprepared for, yet reciprocated with gusto.

…

The dining room table was bestrewed with a modest spread of food. A basket of fruit sat half-empty on one end of the table, providing a healthy alternative to the moderate variety of meats and carbs set up for everyone to enjoy.

A half-eaten salad sat in front of Kel, a turkey leg in his left hand and a sandwich in the other. He gushed about something or other between bites, of a subject matter Basil wasn’t paying much attention to. As for the people he was talking to…

Cris sat on his right, poking at her remaining apple pie with a fork. It was less a lack of appetite that slowed her eating, more that her attention was taken by Kel’s voice and his stories. She bit into a small piece, smiling at one of Kel’s jokes. Mmm… This food is really good… Kel’s brother cooked this…? Her thoughts about being able to eat this type of cooking often should she get closer to him were shooed away in favour of Kel himself. Such a charming fellow… she wanted to take him to the beach, going swimming…

The thought made her wince. Winter really wasn’t her season, huh. It definitely fit someone else she knew way better: A certain artist sitting to Kel’s left. While past events did make Cris respect her more, Cris still wasn’t too comfortable with, well… “sharing”.

Mincy propped up her chin on a fist, adjusting herself in the seat to Kel’s left. She had already finished her food portion, but something else was holding her attention. Or some one , rather. The light from the late afternoon sun through the window was giving him such an angelic glow… or was that her imagination? She sighed, losing herself in his eyes, his voice. Shame about that girl sitting to Kel’s right, though. She did respect her a little more as compared to before, but sharing a significant other? That wasn’t something Mincy’s completely comfortable with.

The flash of a camera interrupted Kel’s story, drawing three pairs of eyes to it. With little chance to react, the sound of jingling bells above the table pulled awareness to the sprig of mistletoe dangling above their heads.

To say they were embarrassed would be an understatement, with the cherry-red colour the girls turned. They each faced away from Kel, Cris pursing her lips into a thin line, while Mincy covered her mouth with a closed fist.

A loud swallow came from Kel between them. Kel’s eyes seemed to sink right into his head with a face that screamed ‘confused’. “Basil, what are you doing?” He asked, first looking up at the mistletoe, before noticing the embarrassment on the faces of the pair beside him. Then, like a lightbulb went off in his head, he gained a rare pink in his face. “Oh. Wait!” Kel said, putting his hands out towards Basil. “Basil! We’re just friends, we’re not like that! Right? Hahaha…” He forced a laugh, giving pleading glances each to Cris and Mincy.

Just friends- friends- friends… Kel’s voice echoed in their heads, as the declaration reverberated through them, hitting them right in their hearts. They fell to their knees in their minds, Kel’s sheer denseness seemingly increasing gravity ten-fold.

Cris’ eye twitched. Mincy’s head did a sharp tilt as her brows furrowed. The pair locked eyes, each knowing exactly what the other was planning.

All expression drained from Kel’s face, as their lips met his cheeks.

“A-” A tiny sound emanated from his throat, his jaw left dangling halfway open.

Basil chuckled, putting the stick back over his shoulder. Kel's never-before-seen deer-in-headlights look was amplified by both of the flushed, smiling girls leaning their heads on his shoulders. He raised his camera, and took a second picture.

I normally prefer to take pictures of people acting naturally, but…

A knocking from the front door jolted Kel back into reality.

“Basil- it’s- I-” he began spluttering.

“I’ll get it!” Basil tittered, ignoring Kel’s attempt at correcting some perceived misunderstanding. He almost skipped out of the room, Kel’s flustered expression of rarely-seen embarrassment music to his ears.

…

Basil opened the door, his initial grin turning into a full on beam at the bespectacled blue-hoodied girl standing on the porch. ”Hey, Kim! Glad you could make it!” He said, shifting the stick onto his shoulder, the bells jingling as he adjusted its weight.

“Hey, Ba…sil…” She looked up, her gaze affixed to the mistletoe now dangling above the two of them for a few seconds. Her eyes drifted back down to Basil, before she pursed her lips, swallowing her saliva.

"....oh.” Basil said. “W-wait, Kimmmph-!?"

Interrupted by Kim’s lips pressing into his, the sudden feeling of blossoming roses and softness on his lips stopped as quickly as it started; Kim pulling back in an instant. Clatter of a stick on the floor aside, the pair turned to awkward stares at each other, their faces getting redder by the second.

Kim adjusted her glasses. “L-let’s get some food, Basil.” She stuttered, pushing past the paralyzed Basil.

Basil continued standing in the doorway, his mouth opening and closing in an attempt to process what just happened.

Chapter Text

13th of February. One day left.

It had been a couple of hours of hard work, here in Sunny’s kitchen. A few pan-sized heart-shaped chocolates with various defects sat on the kitchen counter; one burnt, one broken in half, one chipped at the tip. One had apparently been tilted while cooling off, causing it to be thinner at the heart’s curves, yet thicker at the tip.

DING!

Aubrey looked up from her comic at the sound of the oven. She stood up, oven mittens in hand.

//////////

1 day ago…

Aubrey flinched at the footsteps of someone approaching the kitchen, scrambling to cover the cookbook she was flipping through with a newspaper.

“Oh, Aubrey! You’re here!” Mari’s bright smile lit the room up as she entered. “Why’re you in the kitchen all by yourself?”

Aubrey gulped. “H-hey, Mari!” Of everyone who could have possibly seen her, Mari was the most dangerous. With how perceptive she was, most likely, she would be able to easily figure out her plan at a glance-

“If you wanted to make chocolate for Sunny, I would’ve been happy to assist you, you know?”

Drat.

Aubrey sighed, rolling her eyes. Her mouth formed a small pout, and her frustration made itself known in her brows' furrow. Of course Mari would know. Why was there any other expectation? She rolled up the newspaper, uncovering the cookbook underneath.

Mari looked from the chocolate recipe on the table to Aubrey’s pout, her bright smile unwaning. “Hmm…? Something wrong, Aubrey?” She tilted her head, pretending to not understand.

Aubrey shot her a weak glare, one more suited for voicing annoyance rather than a display of anger. Mari clasped her hands behind her back, and took a dainty step closer to her. Then another. She put a finger to her chin, tapping it a few times.

“If we work together…” Mari leaned in, her expression smug. “...We might be able to make something that’ll cause Sunny to fall head over heels in love with you all over again~!”

H-head over heels…!?

In Aubrey’s mind’s eye, she imagined Sunny’s satisfied expression, an uncharacteristically-large smile on his face as he tried the chocolate she gave him. She imagined his face glowing brightly with triple the amount of happiness he showed only when he saw her. She imagined him clinging to her all day, rubbing a cheek into the crook of her neck. Ah… she would show him so much love! She would kiss him on the forehead, hug him tightly, and ruffle his hair a bunch… What she would give to have him in her arms right now!

Mari watched a blush form on Aubrey’s face, her pout losing all its energy as she seemed to fall into her own world. 

“Aubrey… you’re starting to drool…”

“W-wha-! Am not!”

//////////

Aubrey wiped the sweat off her brow with a piece of tissue. The heat from an oven switched on for the past couple of hours had gradually heated up the kitchen about three degrees more than normal, and it was starting to get uncomfortably warm.

She picked up a piping bag with a tiny nozzle and started applying icing to the chocolate's surface. “Hopefully this one works.” She said to no one in particular.

===================

February 14th, Valentine’s Day.

Sunny stood at the front of the agreed-upon cafe, brushing invisible hairs off of his shirt. While he had no issue with his usual attire, and he assumed Aubrey would have had no issue with his usual attire, he was chastised by Mari, and forced to change into something a little more formal.

Normally, he would have insisted not to, but a quick “Don’t you think Aubrey would be disappointed if you didn’t take Valentine's seriously?” and his cargo shorts found themselves replaced with warmer long pants, his top replaced with a dress shirt.

At least the weather was still cool.

He didn’t have to wait long - only about 5 minutes came and went before his daydreams were interrupted by bright pink.

Aubrey.

Sunny’s heart skipped a beat. While what she was wearing could be considered by some to be 'just plain cyan', the way the top complemented her figure and the way the skirt showed off her legs turned Sunny's knees to jelly.

"...H-hey, Aubrey." Sunny greeted her, his smile and the light reflecting off the ring on his finger mentally knocking Aubrey back. The light seemed to form a halo around him, the air itself seemed to grow soft and fluffy.

Aubrey swallowed her saliva in an attempt to bring her mind away from the wreath of flowers that appeared to form around Sunny, her eyes dipping from him, to the semi-formal suit he was wearing just for her, to…

The shining ring he wore loudly and proudly on his finger. The same engagement ring she had given him a few months back, the very same ring that marked that he was her boyfriend. No one else's but her's.

Aubrey sped up, grabbing Sunny's hands in her own. The happiness that formed from being reminded they belonged to each other… it grew and grew as they stared into each others' eyes. No words were needed. Slowly, gradually, their eyes drifted shut, their faces shifting closer, and closer…

The chaste peck on the lips they shared was somehow more heart-throbbing than many of the more intense makeouts they had had before. Perhaps it was because they were in public…?

Their trains of thought were interrupted by the person at the counter.

"T-table 5 is available…"

The pair followed the waiter in, pretending there was no heavy blush on either of their faces.

……

The meal was reasonable - they had specifically chosen this location as a cheaper alternative to many of the fancy areas around, after all. Despite the atmosphere not being as good as it could have been, more than once, one of them would get lost in the other's eyes, before the happy yet uncomfortable shifting of the other snapped them out of it and caused them to blush a light shade of red.

Geez… years together and they still made each others' heart throb like crazy over something so small… It made them both so happy.

======================

The setting sun brought low the temperature of the air, and once again coated everything in that bright vermilion tint.

Aubrey and Sunny stopped at Faraway Park's rusty swingset, each taking their respective places.

”It’s been a couple of years since we’ve gotten together, huh?” Aubrey said. She smiled at Sunny, a light blush forming on her cheeks. "A few hiccups aside, meeting you... It's definitely the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Sunny's eyes widened, his surprise evident. He raised an eyebrow slightly, the quizzical look asking his unspoken question for him: "Surely not The best thing?"

Aubrey put her hands on her hips, a faux attempt at looking offended. Her mouth formed a pout, yet her face betrayed her amusement: Sunny's low self-esteem aside, he had been a beacon of light for her for years, and she was confident she had had made sure he learned that much. "Yes, The Best thing. Give yourself a little more credit!" She said, reaching into her purse.

Sunny smiled the tiniest of smiles, shaking his head. Far as he was concerned, it was the inverse. Aubrey was the best thing that had happened to him. There was no way-

”Here, Sunny. Happy Valentine’s Day!”

Sunny found the heart-shaped box handed to him. He looked to the pink box, and back to the smiling Aubrey, whose blush was darkening by the minute, before gingerly accepting the gift.

The smell of the chocolate hit him first. Excellently baked, the perfect amount of cocoa, sugar, and heat. The next thing was the heartwarming "Love you, Sunny!" written in white icing on the middle of the heart.

Sunny's look of mild surprise gradually grew a smile. It grew and grew, like a tulip would grow when given care, a bright smile that shot Cupid's arrow into Aubrey's heart again. "T-thank you, Aubrey…!" His soft voice filtered through the near-silent air. If the smile made her heart skip a few times, the adorable voice of the one she loved more than anything else in the world made it run a marathon!

"I-I also…" Sunny murmured, reaching into his pocket to pull out a ring box. "Th'silver band... was cheap… so I got you something that fit you better…" Sunny managed to get out, opening the ring box to reveal the beautifully-cut sapphire on a rose gold ring, reminiscent of Aubrey's cyan headband on her pink hair. She took the ring in surprise, admiring the way it looked. This is real gold, isn't it...? Sunny... He really went and...

The ring slipped onto her finger, Aubrey flashed Sunny a big toothy grin, the ecstasy on her face plain to see. Her breathing got faster, her happiness borderline manic.

And with no one around to watch, she was left unable to restrain herself, and she leapt off of her side of the swings, onto his. "S-Sunny!" She cried out in happiness. Sunny found himself wrapped in her arms, her weight thrown into his lap.

The groaning of the swingset was drowned out by Aubrey's saying Sunny's name, gushing about his cuteness, and repeating how she loved him, she loved him so much, she absolutely loved him!

She ruffled his hair, running her fingers over his head, hugged him tightly, and kept kissing him over and over again, his blush turning a full scarlet in response to the sudden wave upon wave of affection heaped onto him.

"Sunny! Thank you! I love you, Sunny!" She pushed her cheek into his, rubbing their faces together.

"Aubrey…" Sunny began, pushing her back slightly. In her curiosity, she paused, watching as he broke a piece of her chocolate and carried it between his teeth.

"Love you…" he whispered, kissing her on the lips. Their enthusiasm, their happiness, and the confectionery they shared culminated in a very love-filled, chocolatey kiss.

Chapter Text

“...and I’m scared, scared of what’ll happen if I fail, scared of what’ll happen if it doesn’t go as well as we expect, you know?”

With summer coming up, the weather was getting warmer; the cool cloudy day was a godsend given the rising temperatures, hiding the sun’s harsh glare behind it. A few rays peeked through the cloud cover, like a child taking a furtive look through window blinds, observing the earth below.

"...Mmh…" the faint voice floated over the wind blowing through Faraway Park, the soft breeze tousling the pink and black hair of the couple on the swings. Sunny nodded demurely, prompting her to continue.

Aubrey's teal contacts weren't in place today - her chocolate-brown eyes so full of self-reflection, contrasting with her pink hair flowing in the wind… on one hand, her beauty never ceased making Sunny's heart skip beats, but on the other hand,  his girlfriend's attractiveness wasn't the best thing to be thinking about while she was feeling down.

It's not like he didn't know how she felt - With Mari being better than him in almost everything… If it weren't for Mari making sure he got some recognition, he felt he wouldn't be able to get his parents to notice his efforts at all. He didn't want to be a burden on his family either.

She glanced at him. That look of understanding on his face… Aubrey gave him a sad smile, one that set his heart a-flutter, before looking at the ground, kicking a bit to give her swing a bare minimum of movement.

A small happiness formed in her heart, a blooming light in her dark mental state. They had gone through so much over their years together, but no matter what, Sunny had always made the time to listen to her rant about all the silly little things she had issues with, all the worries that plagued her, all the problems she had. He always paid her his full attention as well, no matter how boring she felt she was being.

Despite his barely-changing expression, she was somewhat able to tell what he was thinking from the subtlest of hints: the way a brow would raise just the smallest bit when he was confused, the way he would purse his lips ever-so-slightly when she talked about something painful for her, the way that tiny smile came up when he empathised with her…

She even loved the big ways he reacted - like when she tells him about something embarrassing and he would look away with his ears turning various shades of red. Or when she would ask him for help and he would suggest something from his perspective, with that cotton-soft voice, light and quiet as the gentlest breeze. And he would always follow up on how she was feeling afterwards… The idea that he was thinking of her as much as she was thinking of him never failed to set her heart ablaze.

Sunny was never one for speaking - no matter how much Aubrey wished otherwise, she would more likely get a snowy summer day than get him to rant like she did. But that made it even better when he did - his words were sweet as honey to her ears, and she wanted to hear him express all parts of himself: his happiness, his anger, his sadness, his fears. The fact that she was probably the only one to hear him express himself this much filled her with giddy glee, and gave her a smug sense of superiority.

Indeed, their time on the swings was sacred, and they loved each other so much more for it.

”You know what my home is like…" Aubrey began, breaking the comfortable silence. "If I’m not any good with this… no, it’s fair to say I can’t afford to fail. I must do well. I have to.”

”...Aubrey…" she heard his barely-audible voice. "I’ll always be here for you… No matter what…”

A faint blush formed on her cheeks, pink as the strands of hair on her head. She let out a giggle. ”Oh, I know that, you lil dummy. I can’t just rely on you for everything, you know! I want to do what I can by myself, I wanna pull my own weight!”

"...You will do well…! You will… but..." Sunny stepped off the swing, standing in front of Aubrey. There was pain in his eyes, and his pursed lips screamed distress. "...But I-I don't ever want to lose you… please…"

He threw his shaking arms around her, holding his dearest Aubrey closer, as close as she was dear to him. And when he felt her arms wrap around him in response, he couldn't help but feel his lips curl up.

"I never want to lose you either. And thank you, Sunny. I didn't mean to make you this worried. Was just a little anxious, that's all." She patted him on the back.

Sunny let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, pulling away, this time with a smile that made Aubrey blush and look off into the distance. "I, I believe in you…! You’ll do well… We've, studied… so much together, after all…"

Aubrey snickered. "Mari was right when she called it ‘training from Hell’, huh?"

Sunny pursed his lips, stopping a smile from invading. He nodded -  It may have been those final exams, but for Mari to be right there next to them the entirety of the few hours they were studying… And studying with them? How she didn’t lose her mind studying so much was unknown to him. Visions of their weeks together flooded their minds, practice paper after practice paper, test after test, Mari’s false smile whenever they slacked off…He had tried to get a little closer to Aubrey a few times, but she had called him out on it every, single, time!

Despite being her brother, he had never known her to be that strict, other than when they were preparing for the recital years ago.

Sunny’s faint grimace caught Aubrey’s eye, the small furrow of his brow and the slight dip of his eyes enough to catch her notice. Looks like he’s remembering a lot of bad memories. "Heh, you've been having it rough too! I guess that’s the bad side of having a perfectionist sibling, huh?" She stood up, stretching, before letting loose a loud exhale. "Thanks for listening to me rant about such a small thing, Sunny… I'm feeling a lot better already. I really appreciate it."

Sunny shook his head. “I- I enjoy it too…” Especially because your voice is lovely.  

Aubrey clasped her hand around his, sharing a smile, and receiving one in return. Sunny… the way he perked up when she simply held his hand was rather adorable, enough that she couldn’t stop herself from gently rubbing her thumb across his.

She did not expect the little tickle across his finger to make him jolt and squeak.

Geez, Sunny! I knew you were ticklish, but not this ticklish!

His blush spread from his ears to the face he desperately tried to cover up - and yet, he found himself unable to, thanks to Aubrey’s iron grip on his hand, refusing to let go.

While to anyone else her smile would have looked wholesome and full of loving affection, being around Mari and Basil long enough had made Sunny far more capable of identifying it: The subtle upwards twitch at the corner of her mouth, her eyes closed only a fraction more than before…

Indeed, with the smug, teasing look she was giving him, Sunny felt his dignity was in danger.

The tickle of her thumb across his made him jolt again, causing his receding blush to reform.

Aubrey felt him try to pull his hand away. She reaffirmed her grip on him, disguising her shenanigans by leaning into his shoulder.

Ahh… the way her normally-expressionless boyfriend reacts from her touch alone… She may have felt down just a few minutes ago, but simply being around Sunny made her feel so much better. Her heart swelling with affection, she stroked her thumb across his again.

“Au-Aubrey…! S-stop…!”

……….

As they were reaching the front door of Sunny’s house, Aubrey snaked her arms around Sunny, stopping him in his tracks as she bound him in a tight embrace.

“Um… Aubrey…?” Though confused, he reciprocated her affection. He didn’t dislike it - in fact, he loved being close to her. It was just a little strange to be giving him a hug just outside of his house.

As he tried to pull away, he found himself pulled tighter against her. “Sunny… When we go back in there, we’ll have to finish another set of tests, won’t we? Could… could we stay like this just a little longer?”

Sunny let out a tiny snicker. “Mmh…”

=================================================

Despite her reluctance, Aubrey eventually found herself being pushed into the dining room.

“SURPRISE!”

The room was decorated with ribbons, the bright colour as well as the odd balloon floating about contrasting well with the dull wallpaper. A wide spread of various foods and sweets adorned the table - gelatin, cut fruits, meats… an absolute sight to behold, especially with the large birthday cake in the middle serving as the set piece for the full course.

Aubrey’s eyes widened in surprise, confusion evident on her face. Mari, Basil, Kel, Hero… even Kim was here as well.

“Man, Sunny really did manage to keep you occupied the whole time, huh?” Kel said, slapping a hand onto Basil’s shoulder. “Seems you were right!”

“Hmm~ Why so surprised, Aubrey?” Mari asked.

“Well- my birthday is-”

“Tomorrow? You’ve got two exams tomorrow, don’t you? And more the day after?” Mari beamed at her. “Your big sister won’t be so crass as to get everyone to meet up on an exam day. So, happy early birthday, Aubrey!”

“No matter what, no matter how well you do, we want you to know we’re here to support you, alright?” Hero promised. “That being said, as always, this took a lot of time to finish, so enjoy! Happy birthday, Aubrey!”

Aubrey’s bewildered expression slowly turned into a big smile. She snickered, running over to give Mari a hug. “Thank you, Mari. And thank you, everyone!”

“I think it’s time for a group hug!”

“Aw yeah, count me in!”

“Sunny! Kim! Don’t just stand there!”

Aubrey felt her eyes getting a little wet.

With friends like these behind her, there’s nothing she can’t do!

============================================

Chapter Text

Heyo! The latest chapter has been moved to become part of a fluffy sunburn collection, for Sunny's birthday.

Check them both out! Here's the chapter;
https://archiveofourown.org/collections/Sunnys_Birthday_2022/works/40435518

And here's the collection:
https://archiveofourown.org/collections/Sunnys_Birthday_2022


Enjoy!

Chapter Text

Sunny’s arm trembled, his right hand balanced the four encyclopedia-sized books, while his left stretched up towards the top of the library shelf for another. He stood on the tips of his toes, stretching, reaching for a hold of it, his balance questionable, his strength waning.

With a tug on the book’s spine, he lost his already precarious balance, the sense of falling causing his eyes to widen and brace for the incoming impact…

The tumble of books hitting the ground aside, his own fall was cut short by a soft sensation and a warmth around his back and head.

“Geez, Sunny. If you needed help, you should have said something. What would you have done if I wasn’t here?”

“Aubrey…” With his feet finding renewed purchase on the floor, Sunny clasped his hands around the pair of arms that had him in a protective embrace. Aubrey had tried to release her hold, but he held her in place in her back-hug, leaning his head back into the crook of her shoulder.

Sunny’s soft, pleasant scent filled her lungs. “S-Sunny…” Despite her protest, she held him close at his unspoken request, nuzzling her head onto his shoulder. They matched breaths, and she felt him rub his cheek up against hers, a cute expression of his affection that she responded to with a quick kiss.

He seemed to have gotten self-conscious at this, as he released his hold on her arms, attempting to pull away from her - though this time, she was the one who maintained her hold on the now-blushing boy. 

”You know, Sunny…” Aubrey whispered, her voice in his sensitive ear giving him a pleasant shiver. “We can’t go out thanks to exams, but afterwards… after the last day, let’s go someplace, like we used to do.”

Sunny nodded in excitement, causing her to giggle. “That excited? Well, it’s no big deal, I’m excited as well. It’s been some time, after all!”

She gave him another peck on the cheek, watching his blush spread from his ears to the very face he was now tilting away from her in a desperate act to hide his flustered look. As he tried to pull away, she gave his ear a little nip.

His shoulders tensed, his arms held close to his chest in the most huggable pose, she could tell Sunny was barely keeping himself together. “-Nmmgh! Au-Aubrey… We’re in public…”

Despite there not being many people in the library on a weekday just after school, despite most sightlines being blocked off by a bookshelf both in front of and behind them, Aubrey released her hold on Sunny, ruffling his hair. “Alright, Sunshine. Let’s get back to studying.”

=============================

”So much for going out today, huh?”

Aubrey stood, staring out a window in the kitchen of Sunny’s house. The pitter-patter of the rain outside was discouraging, to say the least. What’s more, the weather forecast had mentioned showers for the next few days, ruining any plans for outdoor activities they might have come up with.

Sunny shrugged, sliding a cup of hot cocoa over to her. For him, it didn’t really matter whether he spent time with her indoors or out, so long as they were together. The corner of his lip rose, just enough for Aubrey to notice. “What’s on your mind, Sunny?”

Sunny paused, his eyes trailing off to the side, as he gathered his thoughts. “The rain… is calming…” Another pause. “...Brings good memories…” Sunny murmured, his sentence fading into silence in that delightful way that made Aubrey smile.

She sipped the cocoa, her curiosity welling up. “Good memories…?”

The lack of response prompted her turning to face Sunny, his reddened ears and bashful look immediately making her heart throb once more. With a grin hidden by the cocoa cup, she teased. “What good memories did you have in the rain, Sun-bun?”

Sunny flinched at the pet name, unable once again to stop the flow of crimson in his face as he became more and more red, something Aubrey loved to do.. He put down his cup, and took a deep breath. “...mm…”

//////////////

A similar rainfall drenched the road outside Kel and Hero’s home. Four raincoated 12-year-olds stood in mid-conversation.

“One day, I'm going to dye my hair pink!” The 12-year old in the pink raincoat twirled her umbrella. “But... maybe not anytime soon… My dad is kind of strict about these things.”

“What’s up, Sunny? Did you want to see the photo?”

Sunny nodded, and Basil grew a teasing smirk. “You always ask to look at my photo whenever I take any pictures of Aubrey. Do I… maybe… sense a little crush?”

//////////////

“No way… don’t tell me… even back then, you already…” She paused as Sunny covered his face in embarrassment, shying away from Aubrey’s sparkle-filled eyes.

He nodded, and she chuckled, a pleasant sound filled not with mockery, but with happiness. She pulled him into a hug, feeling his tense shoulders relax in her embrace. “You dummy. If only you had just told me earlier…” She stroked his soft, onyx hair, her heart full of love for him.

They shared a comfortable silence for far longer than most would, their drinks eventually finishing before they retired to the couch in the living room, shoulder to shoulder. Together, they watched show after show, episode after episode. The hours passed, and eventually, the rain slowed to a drizzle.

As the credits rolled on the final episode they were watching, Aubrey leaned her head onto Sunny’s shoulder. “Sunny…” Aubrey started, stifling a yawn. “I always wanted to know, what were you planning to do in the future?”

Sunny tilted his head at her question. Certainly, he had given it some thought, but nothing felt just right for him. An artist? An office worker? Perhaps he could give in to pressure and become a doctor or an engineer like his dad always wanted? He sighed, the exhale wordlessly expressing his despair at the sheer number of choices he had.

Aubrey couldn’t help but break into a smile. “I get it. I really do. The future is kinda scary to think about…” She yawned again, her eyes drooping closed. “Don’t laugh… but personally, I want to start up a little cafe in the countryside. Someplace calm and peaceful…”

Her voice softening, Aubrey let herself slowly fall onto Sunny’s lap, relaxing even more at the feeling of his hand on her shoulder and on her head. “Someplace I can be with you…” She whispered, dozing off completely.

Sunny froze as his face turned tomato-red. Living together in a peaceful environment, simply being with the one he loved more than anything else in the world… That sounded embarrassingly perfect for him.

Aaahh… It was all Sunny could do to not just melt into a puddle.

“Love you, Aubrey.” He whispered, kissing her on the forehead. He’s happy… very, very happy… And he promised himself that no matter what, he’ll always love her.

Chapter Text

Kim paced the fountain next to Hobbeez. She stopped only to facepalm, both to block the rays of the evening sun, and in intense frustration.

“Ugh, I said that with such a cool face and everything, but-”

//////////

This was it, this was the moment.

They had just finished a movie together, and Kim was about to head home. She stood in the doorway, gathering up her courage.

“Well, I’ll see you next time, Kim!” Basil said, giving another radiant smile.

Kim swallowed. “Basil.” She said, putting on a serious look.

“Mm?”

“I- I have something to tell you…”

“What is it, Kim?”

“I… I…” The words she wanted to tell him couldn’t exit her lips, much to her dismay.

Basil tilted his head, his smile unwavering. 

A bead of cold sweat rolled down Kim’s neck. “I’ll only tell you if I pass all my exams. Once the results are out, wait for me at the fountain in the square immediately after school.”

“Hmm~? Now I’m curious…” Basil teased with his smug smile - the very same one he'd perfected from teasing Sunny. “But, aren’t you failing half the subjects?”

“No I’m not!”

Basil raised an eyebrow.

“Grumble… grumble… Yes… And so, I’ll need your help to study for them!”

“Hehe…” Basil giggled. “Of course! Come over any time you’d like!”

//////////

Dammit!! Kim cursed in her head. I failed one subject! One! And- oh no, there he is right now!

“Hey, Kim!” Basil called out, heading in her direction.

Kim straightened her posture, adjusting her red-rimmed glasses. While she managed to look presentable, the slight shine of her sweat betrayed her frantic pacing, and she was completely unable to meet his gaze.

“So… how did you do?” 

Ugh… he got right to it, it seemed.

Kim sighed, sitting at the edge of the fountain. She crossed her arms as Basil sat right beside her.

“Grumble… grumble… I failed one subject. So yeah…”

“Oh… Kim… Sorry to hear that… But that’s still much better than the five you failed before!”

“Wh- you- …It was still one failure…”

“Don’t beat yourself up so much about it… You did much better than before, and that’s what matters. You’ll do better in the next exam!”

“...Thanks, Basil.”

The lull in conversation, while comfortable for Basil, got increasingly awkward for Kim. She fidgeted, her mind and heart both racing.

She began. “Well-”

“Didn’t you have something you wanted to tell me?” Basil interrupted.

Her shoulders slumped, her hand moving to cover her eyes. She attempted to disguise her movement by adjusting her glasses again. “There is. But… I can’t say it anymore.”

“Why not?”

“Grumble… grumble… Failing a subject like this… aren’t I just so uncool?”

“No, you’re not.” Basil immediately denied.

“Huh?”

This time, it was Basil’s turn to put on a serious look. ”These few weeks, you’ve been working so hard, sacrificing your time and effort for these exams. You’ve stopped fighting without reason, and you’ve even stopped stealing candy. You’ve been really cool! If- if there’s really nothing you want to say to me…” He stood up. “-then I’m heading home.”

He was interrupted by a pull on his sleeve.

Kim’s gaze was immediately broken the moment he locked eyes with her, the back of her other hand ineffective in covering her blush. “There is.”

…

The wind blew across Faraway, the rustle of trees disguising the sound of conversation.

It was only by sheer luck that no one caught the beaming flower boy and the beet-red blue-hoodied girl walking hand-in-hand back home together.

Chapter Text

Spring was ending, though the weather was still cool; just enough that the mild heat from the sun above didn’t bother the children too much. A perfect day for outdoor activities, in other words - an opportunity that the youths in recess took to play as much as they wanted.

Most youths, rather.

If one wandered to the back of the school building, they would be able to make out quiet sniffles, a nearly-hidden sound coming from a little black-haired girl with a pink bow. She clutched her stomach, the mild pangs much less anxiety-inducing than the idea of how many more weeks she would be forced to endure it in this same way.

She almost didn’t notice the silent approach of another young boy of the same age, his raven-black hair and charcoal-dark eyes both a source of comfort and a source of embarrassment for her in her time of vulnerability. In a fit of haste, she attempted to dry her tears and pretend nothing was wrong, though her sobs still filtered through, and her eyes were still red and puffy.

His compassionate look of concern asked many unspoken questions she was unable to answer in the moment. Despite her thoughts running a hundred miles an hour, going over the fact that he was here for her, that he wouldn’t judge her and never have, the notion that she didn’t have to be alone going through what she was going through… She remained strong.

Until the rumble in her gut spoke for her, the one and only meal she had had in the past twenty-four hours clearly not enough for a growing child. This idea reopened the floodgates again, as she covered her face in both embarrassment and worry, closing her eyes in hopes that if she couldn’t see him, she wouldn’t have to know how he was looking at her in this moment of weakness.

The crackle and pop of a plastic container opening tore her hands from her face, the surprise momentarily overriding her current emotional state. The boy had opened his lunchbox and had pushed it towards her.

Half a grilled ham-and-cheese sandwich sat there, well made, perfectly cut. Completely untouched.

Her eyes darted to it, then back to the boy offering it to her, before she pursed her lips, as if to ask if she really could have such a lavish gift.

His voice, soft, velvety, so unused yet so welcomed in the moment, floated to her. “Mom and Mari always both make food… …can never finish…”

The implication was clear. And this time, her tears were those of happiness, her arms already thrown around the red-eared boy, her thanks said between sobs as she held him so close to her, like he would disappear if she didn’t.

===========================

The day would grow warmer over the coming weeks, as Spring gave way to Summer. What cloud-cover there was barely helped to shield from the sun's glaring rays.

Aubrey watched as Sunny bit into the slice of watermelon, the soft crunch reminding her of its sweet, juicy, succulent- ah.

She caught herself staring again.

The twinge of pain from watching Sunny enjoy her favourite fruit was quickly quashed - he had already shared a bit more than half his lunch with her, and even gave her a few cookies. To ask for his fruit as well would be behaving like quite an entitled-

Her thoughts were interrupted by her vision being half-filled with the red and green of watermelon. Sunny had broken off half the piece and had thrust it towards her.

“W-wha-!” She started to protest. “Can I really…?”

Despite her taking the half-piece in surprise, she seemed unable to tear her sparkle-filled eyes away from the heavenly nectar-filled fruit in her hand. Her attention only turned back to him when Sunny dabbed his handkerchief onto her mouth.

O-oh… She was drooling…

All semblance of embarrassment disappeared immediately the moment she bit into the slice, the taste being so good that she couldn’t help but to put a hand to the side of her face.

That he was able to bring Aubrey such happiness… it filled his heart to full. He watched her eat, his head resting on his hand, enjoying himself as much as she was. Unbeknownst to him, however, her slight blush wasn’t from her liking the meal, but from being charmed by the rare smile that had formed on his face…

==============================

“Little brother… you’ve been managing to finish all your food nowadays, huh?”

“Sunny’s still growing after all! I told you he’ll need both our meals eventually!”

Sunny gulped. He couldn’t tell them the true reason why he always came home with an empty lunchbox. No, they wouldn’t suspect anything. As long as he didn’t act suspiciously…

Mari glanced at Sunny, his stiff posture, his little eyes averting her gaze, the way he nodded a little too enthusiastically when their mother mentioned him still growing…

She smirked. Aubrey was coming over today to study, wasn’t she…? Today, she’ll pack something slightly different.

…

“Woah… fries with cheese sprinkles? How do they expect you to finish all this yourself?”

The pair were sitting at the back of the school’s building again, Sunny’s lunchbox filled to the brim between them. Aubrey helped herself, taking fry after fry, while Sunny slowly bit into the patty half he had cut for himself.

“This is really good, Sunny! It must be nice to live with people who can cook this well!”

Sunny nodded, taking his time to watch her happy expressions as she ate.

She rested her head on his shoulder, causing him to jump. “Thanks for always sharing your food with me, Sunny. I really appreciate it.”

His ears flushed red, a hundred different lines pouring through his head. I don’t like it when you’re sad. I just want to see you happy. It’s because I love you.

“...i-it’s really no big deal…” He eventually responded.

“Well it is to me. So let me thank you.” Aubrey said, booping him on the nose.

……

As Sunny set his bag down in his room, Aubrey rushed into the living room, greeting her big-sister-figure. “Mari!”

“Wow, Aubrey! You’re in a good mood, huh?”

“Mmhm!” Aubrey said, doing a little twirl.

Her smile turning smug, Mari leaned in. “So, did you enjoy the meal?”

”Meal?”

”The one Sunny shared with you!”

Aubrey froze. ”H-huh? I, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” She lied, immediately averting her gaze, a hand relocating to the back of her neck.

Mari glanced at the orange dusting on Aubrey’s blue dress. The same dress Aubrey had worn multiple times before, the very same cheap set that had initially been too big for her, that she had almost completely grown into. Her eyes shifted to the well-worn pair of shoes near the entranceway, the ones Aubrey had worn here, long darkened with dirt and age.

She sighed, and her teasing smirk slowly shrank down to a small, compassionate smile. “Aubrey…Your big sister is always looking out for you, alright? Feel free to come over to our place at any time. We’ll always have a hot meal for you. I’d bet Sunny would be very pleased to see you too!”

The sudden shift in atmosphere caught Aubrey off-guard. ”Mari…”

Mari wrapped her arms around her, the comfort pushing out all the worries Aubrey had about her household’s problems, all the issues a normal child of twelve years should never have needed to think about. “There’s no need to worry… your big sister is here for you.” Mari whispered.

“Thank you…” Aubrey responded, choking back a sob.

Chapter Text

A gentle breeze swayed the branches of the school’s trees, casting dappled shadows on the pavement. The silence was interrupted by a loud ringing.

At the sound of the bell, the teacher ended class, allowing their students to stream right out, their voices mixing with the sounds of desks shifting and chairs scraping across the floor.

Amidst the commotion, Aubrey sat at her desk, a smile of contentment on her face as she took a bite out of the other half of Sunny's lunch. The delicious sandwich, its savory fillings… a sense of comfort and warmth enveloped her, the delightful combination of taste and texture bringing satisfaction to her heart. Almost as if the sandwich was made just for her…

A familiar chuckle was heard from the front of the classroom. Aubrey looked up from her meal, immediately noticing the bright orange jersey the person was wearing. ”So, uh, yeah, I’m going to be late for practice at this rate… If you don’t mind, since you’re going to be going home right after this, could you take on my side of the classroom cleaning?”

In normal situations, Aubrey would simply ignore the scene, and keep eating. However, the target of Kel’s work-offloading that day happened to be one black-haired, onyx-eyed boy. Almost instinctively, she shot up from her seat, her chair causing a loud dragging sound behind her. 

“Kel! How could you!”

She ignored the several heads turning to her, only focusing on one as she stormed up to him. “You can’t just keep offloading work onto Sunny just because you don’t wanna do it!”

“Ugh… Come on, Aubrey, it's such a pain, and Sunny doesn't mind anyway. What's the big deal?”

Sunny shrugged, his expression plain, cliff-faced. ‘It’s really no big deal.’ He seemed to radiate.

Kel, seizing the opportunity, swiftly made his escape, expressing his gratitude with a quick “See? Thanks, Sunny! I owe you one!” before dashing off.

Her voice a mix of indignation and concern, Aubrey responded. "Sunny! That wasn’t the point! You can’t let him keep treating you like this! Ugh!" She pressed a hand against her temple. “Why didn’t you tell him off, Sunny? He's just taking advantage of you…”

Sunny tilted his head slightly, the movement sending her heart aflutter, though his message was clear: he didn’t believe Kel was doing any of it out of malice. Aubrey sighed, her frustration turning to resignation. “Alright, let me help y-”

She was immediately interrupted by the loud rumble from her stomach. Heat rushed to her cheeks, her face turned a shade of crimson as she froze, momentarily unsure of how to proceed. 

The tension broken, Sunny's face lit up with that tiny smile, the same one that captures her heart every time she saw it. He gestured towards the sandwich that had only one bite taken out of it, a silent invitation to the solution to her predicament.

Aubrey let out another defeated sigh, but this time with a mixture of gratitude. She couldn’t help but return Sunny’s smile, not knowing how to show her appreciation.

////////////////

The sounds of sneakers squeaking against concrete and the rhythmic dribbling of a basketball filled the air. A few basketballers were taking a break, settling on the benches that lined the court. They sat in a loose group, some absentmindedly bouncing a basketball, their hands finding solace in the familiar rhythm of the game even at rest. Others took swigs from water bottles, replenishing their energy and sharing lighthearted banter.

Jay leaned closer to Kel, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "So, Kel, what's the deal with you and Aubrey? You guys seem... complicated. What's up with that?"

Kel let out a loud “Ugh!”, before leaning back on the bench, his hands behind his head. “She’s so annoying, I swear! Sunny doesn’t mind helping me out, why does she have to butt in like that? Like, one time, I just needed to borrow two dollars from Sunny, and she came over with the whole ‘When will you return the previous four dollars you borrowed from Sunny, Kel?’ , like geez! That’s not the point! I just needed to buy some food!” Kel continued on, badly mimicking Aubrey’s voice as he continued telling his story. “She keeps doing that kinda thing. So annoying!”

There’s a pause, silence, though the other basketballers had a look of mild amusement on their faces. Kel was the first to break the silence. ”Why do you ask?”

”Well…” Jay replied. “You fight with her a lot, so we’ve been assuming you hated her, but we heard you were friends. Do you two…?”

Kel stuck his tongue out. “Oh, puh-lease! How about you and that Pretty Boy you said you had your eye on?”

In but a minute, Kel’s unintentionally masterful deflect of the conversation lead to more teasing and nudging from the other basketballers, causing Jay to stand up in a huff, his face red.

…

Unbeknownst to them, their conversation was overheard by Sunny and Aubrey, who had just left the main school building, strolling along the familiar path back home.

A wave of mixed emotions washed over her—a burning anger mingling with a tinge of hurt. However, halfway through their walk home, the anger began to dissipate, replaced by a growing sense of vulnerability.

Slowly but surely, she was unable to contain her swirling emotions any longer. Her voice betraying a hint of trepidation, she said. "Sunny, do you... do you think the same way about me as Kel does? That I'm... annoying?" Her voice quivered slightly, revealing the depth of her concern.

Sunny shook his head immediately, taking a breath. His voice, rare, but velvety soft, barely a whisper, was almost drowned in the gentle breeze that rustled through the air. "Aubrey... I... I really like that about you... how you always say what's on your mind..." "...you're always so kind to me... even when I doubt myself… or mess up…" He felt his ears burn - his voice faltered, his words trailed off, his soft and barely audible voice filled with unspoken feelings and the weight of his love for her.

Aubrey's cheeks mirrored the colour of Sunny’s ears as she felt her heart skip a beat. She couldn't help but lean into his shoulder, the warmth of his presence enveloping her, easing the uncertainty and vulnerability that had taken hold of her. Even the world around them seemed to fade away as she felt the warmth from him grow. “Thank you, Sunny…”

==========================

Bonus:

As Jay, Kel, and the other basketballers left school, the sight of a androgynous, black-shirted, young boy immediately caught Jay's attention. ‘There he is again…’ Jay thought. Unable to resist his curiosity, Jay approached him.

"You like comics, huh?" Jay ventured, attempting to strike up a conversation. The boy nodded in response, sparkles seemingly forming around him from the light of the sunset.

”Mmhmm.” came the reply.

”Me too, but I don’t think I’ve read this comic befo-” His voice cut off as his eyes landed on the open page, his eyes accosted by a hot steamy makeout scene between two comic book characters he recognised. Captain Spaceboy and… Rococo…? It felt like a strange pairing, but the characters in the pages seemed to be enjoying themselves oh, so mu-

Jay’s face kept getting redder and redder as he stared at the pages. It wasn’t like he *didn’t* have those kinds of interests, but to read something like this so brazenly in public… Jay didn’t even notice himself taking the book out of the sparkling boy’s hands to stare at the comic even closer…