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"Ghezen, Jesper, I can't believe you've done this."
"I can't believe you thought I wouldn't do this!"
"But- Well, it's ridiculous!"
Jesper looked at Wylan and frowned slightly. He tapped his fingers mindlessly against the spot on his belt where his pistols would usually be held, however he never wore them when they were at home.
"You don't like it?" He mumbled.
Wylan sighed with a fond smile. He looked around the huge greenhouse that Jesper had led him to moments ago. It was pretty far down in the mansion's gardens, and the last time Wylan had seen it, the building had been in ruins, and his father had never thought it was important enough to spend money on repairs. How Jesper found the time and team to restore it without Wylan noticing amazed him. But what amazed him more was the contents inside.
Dozens of plants, big and small, some native to Kerch but some that Jesper must have had to get shipped in, most noticeably, a large group of datura meloxia in the centre. Wylan had looked at Jesper with a raised eyebrow at first, wondering why he hadn't just planted all of this in the gardens, until Jesper placed his fingers under his chin and lifted Wylan's head upwards to show him the real present.
"It's not that I don't like it but- Well how did you get so many cyan morphos in here?" Wylan laughed incredulously. He held out a finger and one landed gently on it. He almost cringed at the memory of passing it through the door to Inej for her to eat.
Fluttering all around them were cyan morpho butterflies, the very same that had saved Kaz, Inej, Jesper and Tolya's lives in Shu Han. Occasionally they landed on the datura meloxia for a few moments before flying away again and landing on another one of the many other plants that were surrounding them. The sight was even more incredible than the one Wylan saw those few years ago, and he never thought he was going to see it again.
"I made you a promise and I always intend to keep them." Jesper said. He smiled smugly and Wylan watched as a butterfly landed on his hat. He couldn't help but giggle at the ridiculous sight of it.
"Oh yeah, and what was that?"
Jesper took Wylan's hands and held them tight. His expression softened as he tugged Wylan closer.
"I want to stand with you, in front of all of the daturma ox things to come." Jesper said lowly, repeating words he'd said before that spread a warm feeling throughout Wylan's chest. Wylan squeezed Jesper's hands and grinned.
"You got a whole bunch of them shipped here for our greenhouse and you still haven't managed to learn their name properly?" He teased. Jesper rolled his eyes but glanced at the flowers carefully. Wylan brought a hand up to cradle Jesper's cheek, to which Jesper leaned into gladly. "Hey... We don't have to be so close to them you know. You told me about what you saw. I understand if it brings back bad memories. I don't want you to suffer just for me."
"I'm not suffering, love. How could I be? I'm here with you." Jesper took the hand from his face and kissed it, revelling in the red blush that still grew on Wylan's face despite everything. "Now, I want you to tell me all about these plants, and squeeze my hand. Okay?"
Wylan studied Jesper's face for what felt like hours. It could have been for all he knew, and he wouldn't have minded one bit. Jesper was staring at him with so much love and fondness that it was almost overwhelming, like a tidal wave that was going to splash over Wylan and drown him in the best way. The sun beaming through the glass walls reflected off the butterflies wings and splashed blue light over Jesper's face, making his eyes glow even more than usual. It took Wylan's breath away. He was truly ethereal and Wylan had no clue what he'd done to deserve to be standing there in that moment, his hands being held by Jesper Fahey, who loved him and would do forever. Forget the butterflies in the greenhouse, Wylan felt a million of them going haywire in his stomach.
"Yeah. Okay." Wylan replied in a slightly croaky voice, beaming as bright as the sun. Jesper - finally - leaned forward and captured Wylan's lips in a sweet kiss, holding his hips as Wylan wrapped his arms loosely around his neck. They just stood like that for a while, kissing lazily as the butterflies flew around them and the sweet scent of the datura meloxia filled their senses. Wylan's mind went hazy and he had to pull back to catch his breath, only just though, to lean his forehead on Jesper's.
"I love you Wy." Jesper breathed, his chest rising and falling heavily. His eyes were still shut, as if he were afraid that opening them would end the beautiful moment they'd created.
"I love you too Jes." Wylan whispered instantly, his breath fanning against Jesper's face, making him shiver. Wylan smiled as he noticed it, laughing a little. That's when Jesper opened his eyes, and laughed as well. He moved his head away but didn't let go of Wylan's hips; if anything Jesper tugged him even closer.
"Now... I want this botanical lecture pronto." Jesper said after a moment. His voice was soft, an antithesis to its usual cadence. Wylan loved when Jesper was like this. A side of him that only Wylan got to see. Completely and utterly his.
"So, it's kind of silly but I've always thought they were kind of like a little love story of sorts."