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"What should I give them…"
Azul ponders over the flora stand, taking quite a while observing the flowers. It's nearly the so-infamous Valentine's Day and he's struggling to buy something to show his affection– his gratitude for their kind hospitality, he corrects himself, for the Ramshackle Prefect.
"Azul~ Just choose one for Shrimpy, won't ya? Like, they obviously wouldn't mind a simple red rose, right Jade?" Floyd whines, getting much more impatient and agitated at the hours they have spent at the florist.
"Yes, but let's not forget," Jade leans in closer to Floyd who is now crouching down on the wooden floor. "This is the Prefect we're talking about."
"Shrimpy? I mean, I get why we're here, but FOR FIVE HOURS?! For a gift?! 'Zul, come on! Order someone else to make one for Shrimpy or somethin'?!"
"Hush! I need some time to think about this!" Azul looks behind with a finger on his mouth, telling Jade to distract his brother with something else instead of bothering him. Then, something glistens at the corner of his eye. He looks back to see it properly and stares. He excitedly announces to the Leech twins his new idea.
"Boys, I just found the perfect flower, and the perfect gift, for the Prefect," he pushed his glasses up, and a grin made its way to his face.
Azul slips a note into the Prefect's desk, turning his head away in embarrassment. He doesn't know how to say that he'll be giving a gift to someone else. He had done it multiple times with the Leech twins, but to someone else? He would always expect something in return and always will.
The Prefect notices the note. Unfolding it, they read it silently to themselves. They had to do it discreetly to avoid Trein or Lucius catching a whiff of them not focusing on the lesson.
"Stay after class?"
There are two checkboxes below them. Yes and no. Intrigued, the Prefect checks 'yes'. They silently poke Azul's hip with the note, making him squeak in surprise. Azul obviously didn't expect a response that fast, accepting the note from them. He had never felt this afraid before, afraid that they might reject his moves. So he kept the note in his pocket. Not well-prepared enough to see their answer.
Class ended and everyone had already packed up and left, including Trein. Azul takes his time to stall, seeing if the Prefect would get up and leave or stay seated. To his surprise, the Prefect is still not packing their things up.
"Prefect? I thought you would be off with Ace, Deuce, and Grim. Is something wrong?" he asks them.
Realizing he hasn't checked the note, he clumsily takes it out of his pocket, fumbling it while unfolding it. He scans through the paper to see the 'Yes' checkbox marked. He looks up back to the Prefect, seeing them grinning widely at him.
"So? Got something to say? Or rather… a gift?"
Azul is astonished and tries to calm himself down. He clears his throat, unwrapping a very obvious box.
"It's rather unexpected for me to do this without wanting rewards in return like the usual, but I can't help it. I've… spent lots of time thinking about this carefully. Sevens, probably made Floyd irritated at me too because we had been at a florist for hours,"
He opens the lid, showing the Prefect a beautifully decorated bouquet of pink peonies and pink Bloomingdale ranunculus. They could understand the meaning behind the pink flowers and realized that Azul had grown affection for them. Peonies for affection and long-held romantic attachment and pink ranunculus for Azul to announce a crush on the Prefect.
In the corner of it, it was a dress. Adorned by white laces and ribbons with amethyst gemstones. It's not that flashy nor simple, but just right to fit the Prefect.
Azul clears his throat again. The Prefect observes his facial expressions carefully, seeing pink on the tips of Azul's ears, finding it adorable.
"Prefect, would you be my Valentine?" He holds out his hand to them. The evening light illuminated his face, making him look ethereal. Angelic.
They take his hand, smiling softly at him.
"Yes, I'll be your Valentine. Your 'Happily Ever After'."