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Shulk leaned against the window sill, drowsily watching the red-tinged tides graze the shore. The saltwater waves rolled away to reveal a white, foamy substance left in their wake. This was a pattern that he had observed previously. He didn't know why or how it happened— yet. Opting to study it later, he scribbled a near illegible note on the corner of some spare paper lying on his desk.
This new world that the many races of Alrest, the Bionis, and the Mechonis populated had more than enough to satiate his rabid curiosity. He was inclined to mechanical inventions— Shulk recalled the first time he beheld the majesty that the Mechonis was up close— but he couldn't resist the wonders of nature either.
The cool, salty breeze drifted in through the window. It wouldn't have normally been left open, but Fiora scolded him into it, 'since that's the only way you're going to get some fresh air'. She was only partially right; Shulk had gone outside with Rex plenty of times. The ever enthusiastic salvager and the more demure scientist got along surprisingly well, finding that their respective hobbies had a lot in common. Shulk had introduced him to scrap salvaging, and Rex had shown Shulk the ways of sea salvaging. Both had enjoyed the new experiences.
Still staring idly into the distance, Shulk moved to get something else to occupy his mind with— and knocked down a pile of books in the process. Hardcovers. He knew he shouldn't have left his copy of the Ardanian Arms Album there. 'Agh...' he groaned, awkwardly lifting them off of his body. He stacked them back up on the headboard, slightly neater this time. 'That is a dangerous location to store your books considering they fell down just a moment ago,' warned Alvis in that smug way of his.
Once the books had been relocated to a safer option, a half vacant shelf which still needed to be organised, the pair took a seat on the bed. 'You're so mean,' kidded Shulk, 'leaving without telling me where you went off to,'
'Apologies, Shulk. I had written a note. Did you not read it?'
'Well... I tried. I couldn't make out anything other than "My dearest, Shulk, I have gone to". Did you fit an entire letter onto that tiny piece of paper?'
'Yes.'
'B-But it was the size of my palm! How could you have done that?' Shulk questioned in disbelief. He knew Alvis was formal, but this...
Alvis smirked, unwilling to give answers. 'I was visiting Pyra. She assisted me in preparing ingredients for culinary purposes. Alrest's lands are just as diverse, if not more than ours, and that extends to their cuisine. Mythra also... participated,'
He wasn't sure why Alvis grimaced.
'How was your day at work?' prompted Alvis instead.
'It was slow. The jobs we did get were easy, and I'm not complaining, but... we closed early because there was barely anything to do,'
'I see,'
It was quiet for a moment.
'Shulk,'
'Yes?'
Alvis faced him with a sterner expression now. Worry? Frustration? Shulk was notoriously oblivious of other people's feelings, and even with the bond they shared, Alvis proved consistently difficult to read. Tonight was no different.
'What is the reason for you not awakening any other Blades?'
He was taken aback by the direct question. No riddles, no mind games, no cryptic hidden messages that kept him thinking about the interaction days later. Shocked though he was, Shulk had in mind the exact answer he wanted to give. 'I... I didn't see the need for it. Rex, he gets along with all of his Blades. I guess that having lots of them is helpful, and nice, but I already have you. And...'
Alvis listened patiently for the rest of his sentence, his posture casual but his gaze intent.
'You're my one and only, Alvis,' stated Shulk without faltering. He had confidence in these words, and would not allow himself to stumble over them.
It was silent for only a moment before Alvis smiled fondly, 'I feel the same,'
This did not come as a revelation, but as reassurance. The spoken confirmation of their close relationship made Shulk sigh in relief, briefly closing his eyes. 'Did you doubt that I would not share the sentiment?' asked the voice beside him.
'Not for a second,' he smiled back. Alvis nodded.
'Well then, I assume that after hours of not eating anything, you are hungry,' it wasn't even a question at this point . 'Allow me to cook one of the meals that Pyra gave me instructions to prepare,'
'OK— and, um,'
The words slipped out before he knew it. He couldn't backtrack now. He appreciated Alvis. But... there was so much more to it that he couldn't manage to express. Or understand. Shulk figured that there was no way to communicate everything without a lot of rambling, so he decided on something simple.
'Thank you, Alvis,'