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Raine had never been one for grand romantic gestures.
She had always found the concept of couples’ holidays a little frivolous– one of those unnecessary traditions meant to fuel consumerism rather than serve any real purpose. But as she stood outside Zelos Wilder’s mansion, on White Day no less, clutching a small gift bag in her hands, she felt… oddly nervous.
It wasn’t as if she hadn’t seen him recently. In fact, she had seen him far too recently. And far too intimately, considering how their last evening together had ended.
She inhaled slowly, her face warming at the memory of pressing her lips to his cheek before slamming the door shut on him like a flustered schoolgirl. It had been impulsive, ridiculous, and completely out of character for her. And yet, here she was– outside his home this time, debating whether or not she should knock.
She had spent the entire week preparing for this, ensuring her workload was cleared so she could spend the weekend uninterrupted. The last three times they had seen each other, Zelos had come to her. This time, she would be the one to surprise him.
That was the plan, anyway.
Taking a breath to steady herself, she raised a hand and knocked. The response was immediate– footsteps, quick and light, heading toward the door– and only seconds later, it swung open.
There he was.
Zelos blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting her. But within a heartbeat, his entire face lit up with that signature, easy grin. “Well, well, well,” he drawled, leaning against the doorframe like he had all the time in the world. “Look who decided to show up at my place for once. What’s the occasion, Professor? Missed me already?”
Raine resisted the strong urge to roll her eyes, fighting the heat that threatened to rise in her cheeks once more, “Don’t flatter yourself.”
The redhead chuckled, stepping aside to let her in. “Oh, come on. I think you might’ve missed me just a little. I mean, why else would you be here?”
She ignored his knowing smirk as she stepped past him, refusing to entertain his teasing. Instead, she held out the small bag she had been carrying, “For you.”
It probably wasn’t the most graceful delivery, but she’d never been one for theatrics and fanfare anyway. With a little luck, he would be so surprised that he would be willing to let her awkwardness slide– at least just this once.
Zelos hesitated, blinking between her and the unexpected gift in her hands. For once, he looked genuinely thrown off. “…Huh?” He finally took the bag, twisting the handle this way and that as if expecting a trap. “You got me a present?”
The half-elf raised a brow at his reaction, “Yes, Zelos. That is what people do on White Day. They give gifts.”
His confusion only deepened. “Yeah, but… guys are supposed to be the ones giving them. Y’know, repaying the whole Valentine’s thing?”
“Well, since you went out of your way to spoil me last time, I figured this would be the perfect chance to get back at you.”
The corner of his mouth tugged upward into an amused grin. “Getting back at me, huh?”
“Exactly,” she said, giving a single, confident nod.
“Well,” he hummed, pulling out the first item– a bottle of Prosecco, elegant and crisp. “I’ve gotta say, I like where this is going so far.”
Next came a box of fine white chocolates, the packaging alone making it obvious that she hadn’t just grabbed the cheapest option. And then finally–
Zelos’ brows lifted slightly as he pulled out a familiar bottle of cologne. His cologne. His exact favorite brand .
His smug expression flickered into something softer, something Raine wasn’t quite prepared to deal with. He turned the bottle in his hands, examining the label before glancing back at her. “Professor…” He hesitated, his voice noticeably more gentle than before. “You really didn’t have to.”
Raine shifted her weight, mildly flustered under his sudden change in tone. “I wanted to.”
For a moment, the young man didn’t say anything. He just stood there, holding her gift, something unreadable in his expression. And then, as if snapping back to reality, he grinned. “Well,” he mused, tucking the gifts carefully back into the bag and placing it on the foyer table by the door, “I guess this means I officially owe you a date now, huh?”
Raine let out a small, amused huff. “Well, you’re not obligated to, but if you’re still interested, I wouldn’t say no.”
“Oh, sweetheart, you have no idea.”
As Zelos reached for his coat, he casually called out to his staff, letting them know he’d be out for a while. It wasn’t really necessary– everyone knew he came and went as he pleased– but old habits died hard. Besides, it was the polite thing to do.
With a quick, playful gesture, he offered his arm to Raine, and after a brief hesitation, she accepted, allowing him to guide her down the grand steps of his estate and into the bustling streets of Meltokio. The city was as lively as ever, the cobblestone roads echoing with the rhythm of daily life. Street vendors called out their latest offerings as noblewomen strolled by in elegant gowns, and the scent of fresh bread and roasted nuts carried from market stalls, mingling with the early spring air.
Their destination wasn’t anywhere extravagant. Zelos had simply suggested they grab coffee and enjoy the afternoon together. Raine had agreed without hesitation, and soon enough, they found themselves stepping into a quaint little café nestled between the larger, more opulent buildings of the capital.
The warmth of the space wrapped around them like a quiet embrace. The scent of freshly brewed espresso lingered in the air, mixing with the faint sweetness of pastries displayed in the glass case by the register. The place wasn’t particularly busy– just a few patrons tucked away in corners, murmuring over steaming cups– making for a cozy, intimate atmosphere, while the barista wiped down the counter, waiting patiently for their order.
Zelos tapped a knuckle against his chin, scanning the handwritten chalkboard menu with exaggerated intensity. “Hmm. What do you think, Raine? Should I go for something bold and daring, or stick to my usual irresistibly smooth and charming selection?”
“It’s coffee,” she deadpanned.
“Exactly. It’s a very important decision.”
“You could always just pick something normal.”
“Boring.”
The Professor shook her head in exasperation, but the corners of her mouth twitched slightly in amusement. “Then get whatever you want.”
A wide smirk broke out on the redhead’s face as he took in her words with interest, “Oh, yeah? Whatever I want? Darling, you can’t just give me that kind of power.”
“Zelos.”
He chuckled, holding his hands up in surrender. “Alright, alright. You get to be the boss of me for today. What’s your order?”
Raine rolled her eyes, stepping forward to relay her selection to the waiting barista: a large, black coffee. Zelos glanced at her in disbelief (and also partially in disgust, because ‘who in their right mind would drink plain coffee?!') before settling on something just fancy enough to justify his usual dramatics, but not over-the-top enough to earn himself a lecture from his date.
The barista nodded, ringing them up. “That’ll be–”
Before the total could even be spoken, a crisp bill landed on the counter with precise finality. Zelos barely had time to register the movement before Raine, perfectly composed, tucked her wallet away in her handbag as if nothing had happened.
“…What the hell was that?” he managed, his mouth hanging open in surprise.
Raine shrugged, completely unfazed, “I paid for our drinks.”
“You–” Zelos blinked comically, as if his eyes were deceiving him. “You paid?”
“That’s generally how ordering works, yes.”
“But– You– Wait.” Dramatically, he patted down his coat, as if checking for his wallet. “Did I just get outplayed?”
Her lips curled into a smug smile, the kind that only ever appeared when she was truly satisfied with herself, “Yes. Yes, you did.”
Zelos gasped. “Raine Sage, did you seriously just buy me a drink?”
“What’s the big deal? It was my turn.”
“Your turn?”
“You bought mine last time.”
“You remember that? It was over a year ago!”
A single brow arched in silent challenge, “I remember a lot of things, including the fact that I’d told you that I would be paying next time.”
For what wouldn’t be the last time that day, Zelos was the one looking flustered.
The barista, completely unaffected by whatever power move had just transpired, handed the pair their drinks with a polite nod. “Enjoy, and have a great day,” they said, already moving on to clean up the equipment they’d used.
Raine took her cup without hesitation, while Zelos could only stand there, staring down at his like it had personally betrayed him. “…I don’t know how to feel about this.”
She sipped her coffee, completely unfazed by the fact that it burned her mouth and throat on the way down. “You’ll survive.”
Zelos narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “I’m watching you, Professor.”
Without so much as a flicker of emotion, Raine took another sip as she headed for the door.
They stepped out of the café, the early afternoon air cool but comfortable. The streets were lined with warm sunlight, a few people strolling along, and despite his recent shocking defeat, Zelos couldn’t help but grin. “You know,” he said as they walked, falling in step beside her, “this really is starting to feel like a date.”
Raine glanced at him over her cup. “Is that not what you wanted?”
The ex-Chosen laughed, nudging her playfully. “Well, yeah, obviously. But after you brutally rejected me on Valentine's Day, I figured I’d never get it!”
“How did I reject you?”
“You wouldn’t go out with me!”
“And I explained to you why I wouldn’t!”
“Excuses, excuses!”
As if on cue, an elderly couple strolled past them, walking hand in hand, their pace leisurely and their eyes warm with the familiarity of years spent together. As they neared, the woman gave them a knowing smile. “Ah, newlywed bickerings,” she sighed wistfully, her voice rich with nostalgia. “I remember those.”
Her husband chuckled, nodding in agreement as they continued on their way, leaving Zelos and Raine rooted on the spot, their cheeks stained a brilliant red and at a total loss for what to say. They simply exchanged a glance, full of unspoken panic, before quickly looking away and pretending the moment hadn’t happened. It was safer that way.
Raine, eyes fixed stubbornly ahead, sipped at her coffee as if she could physically will herself into becoming invisible, while Zelos, for once at a complete loss, ran a hand through his hair, his usual smirk nowhere to be found. The silence stretched on, long enough that it became clear neither of them knew how to recover.
Finally, the redhead exhaled loudly and muttered, “I am way too young to be a husband.” His date made a noise that was suspiciously close to a choke, and Zelos glanced over, eyeing her with suspicion. “What?”
“Nothing,” she said quickly, her voice just a bit too high-pitched to be considered normal.
“Don’t tell me you–”
“I don’t want to talk about this!”
Zelos snorted, “Oh, I definitely want to now. My gorgeous beauty is already thinking about her future spouse and the joys of marriage. How can I not be curious?”
“You have no reason to be!”
“‘Raine Wilder’ has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
The half-elven woman groaned into her sip of coffee as Zelos laughed, grabbing her by the waist while they walked. He’d let her off the hook… for now. But this certainly wouldn’t be the last she would hear of it.
All she could do was sigh as she fought to ignore the sound of his jovial laughter that rang in her ears, and the feeling of his arm draped lazily around her waist as they walked, his touch light and familiar as if this had always been a habit of theirs.
With a little luck, they would be back at his place soon, out of the watchful eye of the many chatty nobles who were no doubt already concocting rumours about them. But of course, Zelos being Zelos, he was bound to get sidetracked constantly.
A glint of polished silver in a display window caught his attention first, drawing them toward an upscale boutique that specialized in accessories. While Raine remained outside, taking a slow sip of her coffee, the redhead disappeared inside, only to emerge a few minutes later with a small, elegantly wrapped package tucked into his coat pocket. He didn’t explain, and Raine didn’t feel the need to ask.
Further along, he paused in front of a clothing shop, his gaze catching on a deep blue sweater displayed on a mannequin inside. "Huh," he mused, more to himself than to her. Before she could question it, he strolled inside, exiting a short while later with a neatly folded parcel held under his arm.
"Impulse shopping?" Raine remarked dryly as they resumed their walk.
"Indulging in life's simple pleasures," he replied smoothly, adjusting the package with a satisfied grin.
They strolled back through the city at an unhurried pace, Zelos occasionally pointing out shops, people, or bits of gossip that may or may not have been true. Raine found herself listening despite herself, his voice an easy, steady presence beside her.
Eventually, the grand gates of his estate came into view, and as they stepped through, the woman couldn’t help but exhale slowly in relief. As much as she had enjoyed their little outing, she was looking forward to a moment of quiet solitude indoors, away from the crowds and distractions.
"Not much to do here, I’ll be honest," Zelos admitted as he led them inside, tossing his jacket onto a nearby coat rack and motioning for Raine to do the same with hers. A butler was soon at his side, taking his recent purchases from him with a promise to bring them up to his room. "But we can just sit and chat for a bit, unless you had something specific in mind?"
"Conversation is fine," Raine replied, offering a polite nod to one of the housemaids as she made her way to the couch, waiting for Zelos to join her.
He claimed the spot beside her, sitting just a bit closer than he’d done the previous times, "Lucky me, getting all of your attention today."
She rolled her eyes, but there was a certain softness to it, "Don’t let it go to your head."
"Too late, dear."
For a while, they talked easily about nothing in particular– small anecdotes, bits of idle conversation that made the time stretch comfortably between them. And then, just as Raine was thinking to herself that she hoped he wouldn’t bring up their last parting kiss, he did exactly that.
"Hey," Zelos murmured, tilting his head slightly. "Been meaning to ask… have you been thinking about our last goodbye as much as I have?"
Raine stilled. Her fingers tightened slightly around her nearly-empty coffee cup, but she made no move to look away. She should have expected this. She really should have. And yet, somehow, she still wasn’t prepared.
The ex-Chosen, ever perceptive, caught her hesitation immediately. "...You have been thinking about it," he said, clearly delighted.
"Zelos," Raine cautioned with a sigh.
"No, no, no. I want to hear all about what’s been going through that brilliant mind of yours. Be honest, Professor, were you just a little heartbroken when I didn’t storm back inside and sweep you off your feet?"
The woman scoffed, finally setting her cup down on the coffee table. "Storm back inside? You make it sound like a dramatized romance novel."
"I am very romantic, I’ll have you know," Zelos mused. "I could’ve dipped you backwards for a real, proper kiss. ‘ A moment for the ages,’ as they say."
Raine exhaled sharply, pressing her fingers against her temple. "You’re being ridiculous."
"So, that’s a yes. Don’t even try to deny it."
She bit the inside of her cheek as she felt his gaze boring into her with an intensity of almost child-like excitement. Before long, her resolve wavered and the words tumbled out before she could stop them, “Fine. You’re right,” she admitted quietly, folding her arms as she leaned back against the couch. "I have been thinking about it."
By some miracle, Zelos' smugness faded ever so slightly. Not because he wasn’t pleased with the answer– oh, he very much was– but because he could tell she was being completely honest and vulnerable, and that deserved sincerity in return.
"I don’t usually do things like that, as you can probably imagine," she continued, her voice quieter now. "I don’t act on impulse. But with you, I…" She trailed off, unsure. Zelos didn’t push, not this time. Slowly she exhaled, looking down at her hands in embarrassment. "With you, it’s different."
There was a pause then, as warm fingers gently brushed against her own, sending a small shiver through her entire being. Raine looked up– and there he was. He’d inched even closer now, and he was still watching her with that same glint in his eye, but something deeper lingered underneath it. She couldn’t quite place what it was, but she found that she didn’t mind it.
"Yeah," he murmured, just as quiet. "It is, isn’t it?"
Though a part of her wanted nothing more than to run away from the entire situation– like she’d done many times in the past when romantic feelings were involved– something inexplicable kept her rooted in place– unable to move, unable to overthink. For once, she simply let the moment be what it was, even if she could feel the air shifting between them and making her more nervous than ever before.
It would have been so easy for Zelos to lean in, to close the space and prove his earlier point about sweeping her off her feet. But instead, he just smiled. Not his usual teasing smirk, nor the dramatic, self-satisfied grin he so often wore. No, this was something new and gentle, something Raine wasn’t sure she had ever seen before.
The seconds stretched, weightless and unhurried, until finally she exhaled and broke the silence, her voice quieter than before, but certain. "Zelos, I…" she hesitated, unable to even look him in the eyes, "I think I might have feelings for you."
He stilled at her confession, then slowly a wide grin broke out on his face as genuine laughter bubbled in his chest. Not in mockery, not in teasing, but in pure, unfiltered joy. And as Raine watched him light up over such a simple confession, she found herself flushing to the tips of her pointed ears, a small smile creeping onto her face. For once, she didn’t mind being laughed at.
Zelos gathered the blushing woman into his arms, his laughter settling into something fond as he held her against him, “You think you might? You’re not sure about it?”
Raine rolled her eyes, but there was no real bite to it. “Don’t ruin this.”
“Sweetheart, this is me savoring the moment.” His thumb brushed absently against her cheek as he cupped her face– the lightest touch, barely there, but enough to send a small shiver down her spine. “I like this,” he whispered after a moment, his tone almost absentminded, like he was just thinking out loud.
“What exactly?”
“This,” he gestured vaguely between them. “You and me, like this.”
“…You act like we’ve never sat together before.”
“Not cuddled up like we are.”
He was right, and she couldn’t deny it. They had spent time together before– argued, bantered, shared drinks, traded sharp words and softer ones alike– but this was different, and neither of them moved to break the closeness between them.
A flicker of something unreadable passed through Zelos’ expression, and then he smiled again– soft, easy, without expectation. “You know, if you wanted to kiss me again, you wouldn’t even have to run away this time.”
Raine scoffed in a futile attempt to put up a defensive front, “I did not run away.”
He tilted his head, giving her the most insufferable grin imaginable. “Professor, are you forgetting that I was there?”
The half-elf could only huff in response and Zelos chuckled, pleased as ever, but he didn’t push the subject any further. Instead, he gave her one last lingering look before shifting back slightly, letting the moment settle between them.
Raine, despite herself, found she didn’t quite want to leave the warmth of it just yet, and for a moment, she let herself forget about everything else– the world outside, the responsibilities waiting for her, the fact that they had spent far too much time dancing around this thing between them. Zelos wasn’t pressing her for anything, wasn’t trying to turn the moment into a prank or joke, or push her past her comfort zone. He was simply there, watching her with a quiet warmth that felt entirely too dangerous, like he could have her wrapped around his little finger without much effort.
She wasn’t sure what to make of that. Or of the way she fit so easily against his side, his arm a casual weight across her shoulders. It felt natural. Undemanding. Safe. It was everything she hadn’t realized she wanted to sink into.
And perhaps that was the most dangerous part of all.
She drew in a breath, willing herself to move or to say something, anything, when a faint chime broke through the hush of the room. Her gaze flicked toward the grandfather clock, its hands marking the slow, steady crawl of time.
Her stomach sank. It was later than she thought.
“Is everything okay?” Zelos asked, concern flickering across his face at the sight of her suddenly crestfallen expression.
“…I should probably go. It’s getting rather late, and I'd promised Genis I would be home for dinner.”
The redhead reached for her, trying to pull her back in, but she gently resisted, her determination stronger than his grip. “Awww, don’t say that. I’m just now getting you to loosen up.”
Despite herself, Raine found herself smiling at his comment. “I can’t let you have too much fun right now, or you won’t want me to come back over.”
“As if! I had such an amazing time with you today.”
“Zel, come on,” she tutted. “My brother is waiting for me at home.”
He sighed and stood, stretching with a reluctant groan. “Alright, alright. Let me at least walk you to your ride.”
Raine didn’t argue.
Donning their coats once more, they stepped outside together, the early evening air wrapping around them as they made their way toward her rheaird. The sky had darkened considerably since they first set out, and the streets were quieter now, bathed in the warm glow of lanterns lining the cobbled paths.
Neither of them spoke at first, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable– just a natural extension of the evening, stretching between them like an unspoken acknowledgment that they weren’t quite ready to break the spell yet.
Zelos walked with his hands in his pockets, his usual chatter absent as he stole glances at the silver-haired woman from the corner of his eye. She looked peaceful, at ease in a way he wasn’t sure he’d ever really seen before. Maybe, if he could be as bold as to say: a little reluctant to leave.
When they reached her aircraft, Raine slowed to a stop, turning to face him. "Thank you for today," she said, her voice softer now, almost shy. "I had a good time."
Zelos, ever the showman, put on the saddest puppy eyes as he pouted. "A good time? That’s all I get?"
Raine rolled her eyes. "Fine. A great time."
"That’s more like it."
She exhaled a small laugh, shaking her head, but she was quickly caught off-guard by Zelos stepping closer to her– not quite crowding her, though certainly close enough to make her pulse jump a little as he grinned down at her.
"By the way… Since we’re officially calling this a date, I believe I’m entitled to one more thing before you go."
The half-elf arched a brow, suspicious, "Oh?"
“Mhm,” he nodded, more serious now. “A kiss goodnight."
Raine’s breath hitched at his request. Heat crawled up her neck, but she refused to look away. Instead, she crossed her arms over her chest, feigning nonchalance. "Do you now?"
"Of course, that’s just how these things work, y’know. You wouldn’t want to break tradition, would you?"
"How convenient that you suddenly care about tradition."
"I care about lots of things, babe," he mused, reaching out to lightly trace a knuckle down her arm. The touch was featherlight, but still enough to draw a subtle shiver from her. "And kissing you goodnight is pretty high on that list right now."
"And what if I don’t kiss on the first date?"
Zelos leaned in with that wicked grin she knew all too well. "That’s funny, because I’m pretty sure you kissed me last time."
Heat rose instantly to Raine’s face as she sputtered out an indignant, "Th-That was different!"
"Oh? And how do you figure?"
She opened her mouth to answer– then promptly snapped it shut.
Her thoughts tangled. Logic failed her. And worst of all, he was looking at her like he knew she was unraveling. All charm and unbearable confidence.
She hated feeling like this.
She had spent years cultivating composure, cool logic, and control, only to have an unnecessarily handsome, smooth-talking, maddening man ruin it all on her in an instant. How utterly humiliating…
“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue? Or maybe you’re finally realizing that you can’t talk your way outta this one?” The man tilted his head, his voice dipping into something more coaxing as his hand moved to tuck a stray lock of silver behind her ear. "No need to overthink it, sweetheart"
Oh, but she was overthinking it alright. She always did.
Her pulse thrummed beneath her skin, her breath hitching as he lightly caressed her cheek and trailed his fingertips down her neck. His free hand found its way to her hip and she jolted in surprise as he pulled her in closer.
"Unless you’re worried you might like it too much?"
Her jaw tightened at his comment. He was impossible- always so sure of himself, and so certain that his charm would win out in the end. And the worst part was, it usually did. But she wouldn’t be complacent like all the other women he had wooed in the past just because he leaned in and smiled that way. No, she was better than that. She wouldn’t stand for it anyway, especially not after all the kindness and sweetness he’d shown her thus far.
So, before he could get another word in– before she could start second-guessing everything– she made the decision for both of them.
Surging forward on impulse, gripping the lapels of his coat to draw herself up to his height, she pressed the quickest kiss to his unsuspecting lips, and immediately, she felt him freeze.
Surely, he had been expecting a peck on the cheek at most– something playful and chaste like last time. But this? It had certainly caught him off guard, and she was giving herself a pat on the back for that.
By the time his brain remembered how to function, she was already pulling back, her face burning as she turned toward her rheaird.
Zelos blinked, completely stunned. "...Wait. Wait, wait, wait," he finally sputtered, his eyes wide as saucers. "Did you just–?"
"Goodnight, Zelos," she interrupted swiftly, climbing onto her ride before she could let him see how utterly mortified she was.
The engine roared to life. She cast one last glance over her shoulder– only to find him standing there, dumbstruck, a hand lightly pressed to his lips like he was still processing what had just happened.
Her stomach did a little flip at the sight.
And then she was gone.
As the mansion disappeared behind her, Raine exhaled, her lips still tingling, thoughts a little unsteady.
Maybe she’d been foolish. Maybe she’d made a mistake.
But when she closed her eyes, all she saw was his face– dazed and delighted– and something told her… this was only the beginning.