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The bittersweet feeling of spring grass under Two Time’s feet hit them like a shock to the heart. Oh dear Spawn they were tired, and despite their hopes, no amount of praying had helped them last night. They tried to sleep. They really did! They knew today was going to be fun and didn’t want their needs and self destructive behavior get in the way of Azure’s absolute favorite weekend of the year. So they attempted to sleep their best without going to Azure’s house. Alas, sleep was not a strong suit of theirs.
Two Time splayed their arms out as they suddenly felt dizzy and sat down on the steps to regain some sense of balance before putting socks on and begrudgingly pulling on their boots. They felt like a tortoise as they stood up, a large shell seemingly weighing them down. So they closed their eyes to bask in some sun before their partner would inevitably come bounding towards them with that sunny smile of his and whisk them away to his favorite event in the world, possibly even topping Christmas… the annual herb and flower market, which seemed suspiciously targeted towards Azure. They have been trying to convince him to set up a stall there for years but the one time they tried it, both were caught attempting to steal a table and were banned from going that year. Azure was devastated and they never tried again.
Two Time was snapped out of their thoughts as familiar foot steps came skipping towards them as he hummed a song. Their eyes opened to a flowy skirt dancing in front of them as the botanist spun, two large baskets on his arm and a rickety wagon behind him which he had dropped the handle to. Two Time smiled and laughed at the sight till their hand was taken up in the air just gently enough to have them slip away if they wanted, but firmly enough to feel held. He then shoved his face into theirs their heart skipped a beat as their noses just touch slightly and he backed up just a bit, but Two Time could still smell his chamomile breath on their face. Still smelling apple-like from his morning drink of chamomile tea.
“You're awfully hyper” Two Time said with a laugh and Azure’s smile dropped as they spoke, their heart dropped along with the smile and their hand from his as they started to fear if they had said something wrong, or done something wrong! He really didn’t want Azure to be upset with them- he then put his hand to their cheek, his thumb gently running up and down across their skin.
“You look tired, nightshade. We can cancel today’s plans and take a nap if you want to, I don’t wish to push you for my own interest” Two Time moved Azure’s soft hand from their face and shook their head with determination. Although the thought of curling up with their partner in pajamas in his bed, a quilt laid over top of them as sunlight gave them a ray to fall asleep in felt like a second life right about now, they couldn’t!
“No, no! I slept, of course I did. I knew today would be ruined if I didn’t” they smiled to try and sell the lie. Oh Spawn, forgive them for they have sinned. They hate lying to such an innocent puppy-like face. Azure nodded suspiciously.
“I’m going to believe you, because I trust you, but if you have lied we’re going back and I’ll make you some tea and we can lay in bed. Deal?” Two Time nodded and took one of Azure’s baskets with a convincing smile. Azure ruffled their hair fondly and chuckled at the sight of their now messy hair. “Alright. Let’s go, Two Time.”
———＊✿❀○❀✿＊———
Azure and Two Time stood on a small hill overlooking the plain where the event was set up. People talked in a low roar ahead and a band played on a makeshift stage so music wafted into the two’s ears. Two Time squeezed Azure’s hand a little tighter as they mentally prepared to enter the crowd like they were holding their breath, about to plunge underwater.
Azure looked to them, most likely noticing this display of anxiety and his hand slid from theirs as he took the side of their head and pushed them into his chest, he kissed them and Two Time looked up at him with a face of faux annoyance. Azure looked down and laughed at them as he ran a quick hand through their hair and pushed his index finger to their nose. They pulled away and huffed with embarrassment as their face turned hot and red. Azure proceeded to giggle some more, his cute melodic laugh sending an unexpected shiver down their spine as their mouth twitched into a smile despite their attempts to stop.
“What’re you smiling about~” Azure said in a teasing voice as he looked at them mischievously with an impish grin.
“You’re laugh is stupid” they said unconvincingly and started to walk down the hill with hands in their pockets.
They were halfway down when Azure seemed to process their words and we ran after them as the wagon he dragged squeaked with every step.
“Hey! That’s not very nice!” He cried in a demanding tone as Two Time felt their knees lock slightly, they stumbled and took a deep breath, but Azure thankfully didn’t seem to notice as he caught up with them. “As a spectacular comeback, I take back how I said your eyes were pretty the other day” Azure announced and looked in the opposite direction of Two Time prissily as they walked into the crowd and voices began to surround them. They took another deep breath as their mind began to fog once more and they looked up at Azure, they must’ve looked in panic because Azure grabbed their hand again.
“Are you all right, Times?” Two Time straightened up and smiled.
“Of course! What’s first in your list?”
“Foxglove I believe. Ms. Knowlton is having some heart problems” Two Time nodded and followed Azure, they were practically leaning on him at this point, they felt so dependent.
As Two Time stood with the wagon while Azure exchanged pleasantries with the sales lady, they experienced a wave of dizziness and almost fell over, but they spread out their arms a little and shook their head as they prayed for their stomach cramps to go away, their one goal was to not pass out that’s all they needed to do! And that was easy, people do it every day! Ugh, they felt sick.
Azure returned with the plant in a large pot, it was a pretty pink color with slightly bell shaped flowers, but they had to agree the name served it justice, as each little flower looked it might be the pink gloves designed for a fox, flowers that lined the stalks majestically. The pot was soon in their wagon.
As they rolled off to the next stand, Two Time watched their partner fawn and talk about all the plants and stands they pass. They smiled up at him, the whole world felt like a dream with their weariness, but Azure was the thing that made it a dream and not a nightmare. They desperately wished to lean their head on Azure’s arm and take in his scent, but they didn’t wish to seem tired so Azure wouldn’t make them go back and lay in his beautiful soft warm bed…Two Time drooled at the thought, or were they drooling cause a sweet and tangy scent caught their nose. They looked over to Azure who had crumbs of something on his face.
“Hey, earth to Two Time”
“Hm?”
“I asked if you wanted a poppyseed muffin” Two Time’s stomach growled intimidatingly, yet they shook their head, but they then smiled.
“You seem to have some extra on your face though” they commented softly as they pointed to their own side of their mouth. Azure giggled and quickly wiped his face with his arm before he smiled sheepishly at them. Two Time tilted their head and let out a soft chuckle. He noticed Azure wrapping the muffin in a cloth though, and sticking it in his basket, this piqued their curiosity a bit, but not enough to ask.
Two Time then stumbled on their own feet as they began to space out once more. Oh Spawn save them, their legs were burning. They just hoped Azure didn’t noti-
“How about we get some lemonade and find a place to sit down?” Azure asked, a hair of worry sticking up from his tone, but Two Time caught it, how could they not?
“Uhm….sure” they muttered and they went to a booth which sold many types of interesting drinks they would never work up the courage to buy.
Azure of course talked to the person at the stand for them while Two Time stared off into the distance at the crowd, their eyes were heavy and they saw themself staring at themself from another booth, aw, where was their Azure. It was upsetting how they knew that the Two Time they stared right at wouldn’t get to have a gentle yet firm grasp pick them up when they…eventually passed….Two Time’s knees buckled.
———＊✿❀○❀✿＊———
They woke up under a weeping cherry tree, the pink blossoms outlining Azure worry-stained face. Their head was in his lap, but they were pulled to sit on his lap when Azure realized they were awake. They leaned against him, their arms clinging around his neck.
“Please don’t scare like that again Nightshade-…” Azure’s sweet voice came to soften into the background like white noise that you fell asleep to as they thought while setting their chin on his shoulder. Their brain felt light. Not their head, just their brain, like it was a balloon at the top of a box. What if they opened the box? Would their brain fly away? This was an urgent matter. A question burned at the back of their throat.
“Do you understa-?“
“Azure, would you still love me if my brain floateded away?”
“What?” Azure questioned with concern. Two Time mumbled in response. Wow, that was embarrassing, of course Azure wouldn’t love them! Cause their brain make them love him, and who would love something that couldn’t love them back-, Two Time was dipped down as Azure now held them like a baby.
“A cat” they muttered and Azure took a plastic water bottle, then shoving it into their hands.
“Drink the water, Two Time” he said sternly, he seemed to now be growing impatient with their delusions.
“Okay dad” they giggled at their own joke then drank the water, and drank it, and drank some more till the whole thing was almost gone. Cool! They didn’t even know they were thirsty.
“Do you want some food? How long has it been since you’ve eaten?”
“Bug collection!” Azure sighed and reached into his basket. Unwrapping the muffin and splitting off chunks of it. He pressed a bit of the slightly stale muffin against their lips and they opened their mouth to let him put it in. It was quite scrumptious and they let him feed them the rest till they were picked up and placed in the wagon with all of Azure’s other plants. They were definitely the favorite. They thought as they sunk down under the leafy greens, they took off their cloak and placed it under their head so the edges of the wagon didn’t press into their skull uncomfortably.
———＊✿❀○❀✿＊———
Azure gently stroked Two Time’s hair as he looked down upon them, they clung to his waist and snored softly as a bit of drool slid down their cheek, they had made it back to Azure’s cabin and Two Time currently slept contently as they clung to him while he sat. His poor partner, always pushing themself to please him. It was sweet in an odd sort of way, he should really stop trusting them and start trusting his judgment…but they were so damn cute, it was hard to believe that adorable face could lie.
He gently caressed their cheek with his thumb. Their mouth closed at this and they leaned into his touch. Oh and how clear it was that they loved him. Azure didn’t want to be with them just to fix them, but he honestly didn’t mind helping them work on stuff. Like sleeping more often, and eating more often. He could help with that. He could sleep alongside Two Time more, or he could maybe cook for them more, yes, they always ate his cooking. He never thought of himself much as a chef before he had someone to cook for.
Azure smiled and leaned down, kissing the top of their head then leaning back into the headboard as he let his shoulders relax. Everyone’s okay…Two Time is with him, because without, he felt aimless, he felt completely lost, like a rock was on his chest, like his head hurt all the time. They were here now though, and he could be as annoyingly clingy as he wanted…cause everyone’s safe, and it’s alright.