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Nathaniel smiled into his hand as he walked into the park near the bakery, clutching the strap of the bag at his side. He hoped he looked alright for their first date. The artist had even gotten some of his friends to help him decide his outfit for today.
Date. He was going on a date with Marc.
He couldn’t help but let out a giddy laugh as he walked closer to the fountain. Nathaniel had actually scored a date with the cutest and nicest boy at school. How the hell that even happened, he didn’t know, but he certainly wasn’t complaining.
Nathaniel was dragged out of his thoughts when he saw the writer next to the fountain, a pile of sheets beside him, and a piece of creased paper in his hand. Marc glanced up when he heard footsteps, relaxing immediately upon realizing who it was. “Hey. You look great.”
He blushed, fiddling with the edge of his shirt. Guess the fashion advice paid off. “You look nice too!” Nathaniel complimented brightly, “You said you had a date idea right? What is it?”
Marc gave a shy smile from where he was sitting against the fountain’s edge, fiddling with the paper in his hand. “Marinette told me you wanted a romantic boat ride.” Ah, right, Evillustrator. It had actually taken him a few months before anyone even thought to tell him his akuma took the designer on a date. “I don’t have the money to pay for an actual ride, but I hope this suffices.” He finished messing with the sheet, showing it to the redhead, revealing a paper boat.
Nathaniel’s eyes went soft as he sat next to Marc, blushing as he murmured, “Anything would suffice as long as it’s with you.”
Marc stared at him, mouth agape with pink dusted across his face. He gulped, turning back down to the boat in his hand, his lips turned up. “I was thinking we just sit here and talk? Make some paper boats and float them on the water. A-And we’ll pick them up at the end! Obviously! I didn’t mean we litter!”
Nathaniel chuckled, “Yeah, I get it.” He glanced down at the item near Marc on the ground, “What’s that?” Marc picked up the pile of paper, flipping through it to reveal numerous colored sheets.
“It’s origami paper!” Marc said, “Do you know how to make a paper boat?”
“Uh… no.”
“That’s fine!” Marc cheered, “I’ll make them for you. Unless you want me to teach you, that is.”
“I’m fine with you making them,” Nathaniel hummed, “Um, actually, I had an idea.” He pulled out a pen from his pocket, “What if we wrote down little wishes on the paper before folding it?”
Marc beamed, “Sounds great. Here, I’ll make yours first.” He picked up a red paper, handing it over to the artist, “Write your wish down.”
Nathaniel quickly scribbled down his desire, before handing it over to Marc with a blush. He held it in his hand, about to start folding when he read the words.
'i wish to go on more dates with Marc'
Marc stared down at the paper, shocked still. Nathaniel fidgeted in place, blushing and looking away. Finally, the writer smiled, folding it up. He gently placed the boat on the water, the two watching happily as it floated a few inches away.
He picked up another paper and wrote his own wish on it, turning to Nathaniel, “Want to see?” The artist slowly nodded.
‘I want there to be even more dates with Nathaniel.’
They both blushed yet again as Marc folded it into a boat and let it loose into the fountain.
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They spent a few more hours in the park after that. Just like Marc suggested, they hadn’t really done much other than fold boats and talk, but it was still enjoyable. They hadn’t ended up making many boats, but that was fine in the end, since it was easier to pick them all off the surface of the fountain.
Before they went their separate paths, Marc grabbed Nathaniel’s hand, “Um, hey, would you ever want to go on a second date? Cause I really had fun here.”
“I’d love that,” Nathaniel smiled back.
I guess our wish came true then.