Archive of Our Own

"There's nothing to be nervous about," Wise said aloud to his reflection in the mirror. "Right Eous?"

"Ehn-na! Ehn-ne, en-nah. (Right! Wise doesn't get nervous.)" Eous didn't seem to fully understand what he was talking about but continued scurrying around the room to help Wise get ready regardless.

"We're just friends and this isn't a date." He frowned and tugged at the hem of his shirt, wondering if he would look better in something else. "But maybe…"

Eous excitedly handed him his jacket, and looking into those cute pixel eyes, Wise did start to feel a little less nervous.

"I'm the legendary Phaethon! I can do anything!"

"Ehn-uhn, neh-enn! (Yes, yes! Phaethon is the best!)"

Eous pulled its little arms back into a confident pose, and Wise laughed, giving it a pat on the head as he headed out.

"En-nah! (Good luck, Wise!)" Eous waved to him from the bedroom door.

Wise took one more deep breath before rushing down the stairs.

"Hey Manager."

"Lighter!" Wise's face lit up, bounding over to where he was standing by the door. "Have you been waiting long?"

"Nope, just got here."

"Oh, good! Was the drive here okay? You parked in the back lot right? How's hot pot sound for dinner?"

Lighter nodded affirmatively to all of his questions, the small but warm smile never leaving his face. Wise beamed back at him, excited to finally have time to hang out again. They confirmed their plans for the evening, totally absorbed in one another. So fixated, in fact, that they didn't even notice they were being watched by several pairs of eyes.

Belle abruptly and dramatically cleared her throat to disturb the trance the pair had fallen into, and Wise flinched, turning toward the source of the noise. Not only was his sister behind the counter with 18, but Astra Yao was also standing there, not even three feet away, watching them in silence.

"O-oh, sorry! I didn't notice you were here too, Astra."

"That's okay," Astra said with the usual friendly lilt in her voice. "Belle and I were just discussing some old musicals. I guess Lighter didn't feel like joining in because he just stood there all menacingly for a while."

"I didn't want to interrupt," he said bluntly, the smile gone from his face.

"Oh, that's nice…" Wise was too flustered to notice that Lighter had been caught in a lie or that Belle was visibly struggling to contain her laughter, and the store felt really small all of a sudden. "We'll leave you to that then. Ready to go Lighter?"

He replied with a single sharp nod then opened the door, waiting for Wise to leave first.

"See you later Belle, bye Astra!" Wise called back as he rushed out, Lighter following close behind.

Once the door clicked shut, Belle burst into a fit of laughter as Astra stood there dumbfounded by the absolutely absurd situation she just witnessed.

"They're so hopeless," Belle sighed.

"Wait, I’m confused. You said they aren't dating?" Astra asked, tilting her head.

She shook her head. "They are just friends."

"But they're always together?"

"Yes."

"And they look at each other like that?"

"Yes."

"So they both clearly have feelings for the other?"

"Yes."

"Then why aren't they dating!?"

Belle giggled at Astra's baffled but completely justified outburst. "Wise is just a little oblivious. He's never noticed the effect he has on people, and I think he really doesn't see it with Lighter."

"Hmmm. I suppose that would fit his personality," Astra said, then furrowed her brow again. "But what about Lighter? He seems like the bold and confident type, no?"

"Good question," Belle hummed, considering the possibilities. "Maybe he doesn't want to pressure Wise? Worried about messing up their friendship? Or maybe he's just as oblivious as my brother."

"Well, if you ask me, Lighter will definitely confess soon!" Astra proclaimed with a confident grin. "Wise might be too shy, but a guy like that won't be able to keep his feeling hidden for much longer."

"Oho, wanna make that bet official?" Belle asked with a mischievous grin. "You aren't the first person to say something like that to me."

Belle pulled out her phone and they reviewed the long list of friends and acquaintances who have made similar observations about her brother and the Sons of Calydon champion.

Wise had no idea that half of New Eridu was speculating on when he and Lighter would finally get together. If you had asked him, he would sincerely tell you that it was nothing more than a one-sided crush and there was no chance of his feelings being reciprocated. Sure, they spend a lot of time together all over the city. And yes, Lighter does respond to Wise's every beck and call, even if he's in the middle of a fight. Plus Wise can't even begin to imagine his life without Lighter in it. But that's just what good friends are like, of course.

"My money's on the Proxy," Lucy said. "Lighter might be undefeated in the ring, but he folds whenever Wise asks for his help."

"Nah, I believe in our Champion," Caesar declared with a firm nod. "He'll definitely be the one to confess first. It'll be so romantic—"

"You're an idiot! Haven't you seen them together? He's a total sap next to the Proxy!"

Pulchra watched them bicker back and forth, which wasn't out of the ordinary, but she wondered just how many people were in on this little bet and whether there might be an opportunity to get some insider knowledge somehow.

"I'm betting on the Proxy too," Burnice suddenly piped in, interrupting the squabbling. "He may be shy, but I bet a little liquid courage will loosen him up." She held up a can of Nitro-Fuel and gave it a shake.

"Hey! You know the rules! No interfering!" Lucy protested, waving her arms around frantically.

"Ah youngsters these days…" Piper was lounging nearby, half asleep as usual, but her ear caught the unmistakable sound of Lighter's bike pulling up. "Better quiet down, Lighter just got back."

Sure enough, a minute later Lighter pushed through the Cheesetopia doors and plopped down in the nearest empty booth.

"Successful commission?" Caesar asked. "Are the Proxies coming to celebrate?"

"Yes and kinda," Lighter replied. "Wise will be here shortly, but Belle said she needed to take care of the store or somethin'."

Lucy and Burnice exchanged a knowing glance, which did not escape Lighter's notice, but he was too tired to fight with either of them for an explanation.

"That's great!" Caesar said excitedly. "You two have fun tonight!"

"What? Where are you going?"

"Oh you know, you and the Proxy—"

"We have work to do!" Lucy interjected, grabbing at Caesar's arm. "Nothing ever gets done on time with this dummy in charge."

They all watched Caesar be hastily dragged away, and Lucy's scolding could still be heard well after they disappeared down the lift together. Lighter looked to the others for an explanation, but Pulchra expertly avoided his gaze while Burnice cheerfully continued mixing up one of her concoctions.

"Proxy's here," Piper announced, then yawned. "Lil' old me's getting a little sleepy..."

Lighter stood up from his seat but Wise walked in before he could reach the doors.

"G'night," Piper mumbled as she shuffled by and out of the diner.

"Oh, uh good night," Wise said, watching her leave with a confused look since the sun had barely started to set, but shrugged it off and turned back to the remaining group. "Hey everyone. Hi Lighter."

"Hey Proxy," Lighter said, gesturing to the empty seat next to him.

Pulchra rolled her eyes and groaned under her breath, while Burnice flashed a big grin and placed a glass filled to the brim in front of Wise.

"Hiya Proxy! Drink up!"

Lighter shot her a look which she either ignored or didn't notice. She was always pushing her Nitro-Fuel cocktails into any available empty hand, but she seemed especially enthusiastic today for some unknown reason.

"Thanks Burnice," Wise said and took a sip. It was strong, much stronger than he would've asked for, but it wasn't the worst thing he's ever had, and he had no obligations to prevent him from enjoying a nice evening in the desert. "This is good."

"Great! Just shout when you need a refill!"

"Hungry?" Lighter asked, holding up a menu. "You must be starving after that commission."

"I should be the one saying that, you're the one who did all the fighting," Wise replied. "Thanks again for helping last minute. I know you're really busy."

"No worries. Whenever you need me, I'll be there."

Wise felt his cheeks flush, ducking his head to try to hide it, and turned his attention to the menu. "Anyway, order whatever you want. My treat."

As they waited for their food, Wise steadily worked on his drink while Lighter stuck with plain old water instead. The diner soon filled up with the Blazewood regulars and other travelers passing through, but they didn't really seem to notice. The buzz of the crowd on a warm summer evening was nothing more than background noise to two people immersed in their own private world.

Burnice and Pulchra were sitting across the room, chatting and occasionally glancing over to the pair. Burnice was monitoring Wise's glass, ready to provide a refill the moment it was empty. Pulchra, however, was trying to understand how a legendary Proxy and their own Undefeated Champion could be so oblivious to what was so obvious to everyone else.

"Are you sure they aren't dating already?"

"Lighter woulda told us," Burnice said as she began preparing another drink.

"Maybe they're keeping it a secret."

"I don't think Wise could keep it a secret from Belle, and Belle definitely would let everyone know."

"Hmmmm..." Pulchra didn't sound convinced. Wouldn't good proxies be able to protect such a small secret? But Burnice knew them much better than she did so whatever. "Why is everyone so invested anyway?"

"They're cute! Don't you want our Champion to be happy?"

She shrugged, not seeing how it would affect her life at all.

"Don't worry, Kitty! When I win this bet, I'll buy you all the grass-scented hair conditioner you could ever need!" As she leaned over to try petting Pulchra's tail, she saw Kasa emerge from the kitchen with the guys' order. "Oh! Perfect time for a refill! Be right back!"

Pulchra watched her rush over to their table and decided it wasn't even worth getting in on the betting pool at this point. The Proxy siblings seemed to have an endless list of friends, and most of them were involved in this rom-com subplot for whatever reason. If Burnice didn't succeed in tricking one of them into confessing tonight, it was only a matter of time before someone else did.

"Thanks Kasa," Lighter said as she placed the food down.

"Yeah, thanks so much." Wise took another swig of his freshly refilled drink. "Wow, I'm so hungry."

Knowing how heavy-handed Burnice was when she mixes her drinks, Lighter was sure that the Proxy was at least tipsy by this point, if not teetering on the edge of full-on drunkenness. He had ordered extra food, hoping that it might slow Wise down slightly, but it was also nice seeing him be so relaxed for once.

Wise excitedly dug into the his food, apparently even hungrier than he thought. He didn't realize Lighter was subtly nudging the shared plates closer to his side of the table and ate much more than he normally would have. As they finished eating, some Outer Ring kids passed by, looking at them curiously. They stopped to whisper among themselves, still staring, until one kid suddenly pointed in Lighter's direction.

"Go for it, Brother Lighter!" The kid shouts while the others pump their fists encouragingly. "You got this!" They then burst into giggles and ran away in search of something else to entertain them.

Wise looked at Lighter for an explanation, wondering if he missed something obvious in his slightly less observant state.

"...Don't mind them." Lighter shifted in his seat. "Those kids are always joking around."

"Why do they want you to go for it?"

Lighter was hoping Wise wouldn't ask any follow up questions, considering his current level of inebriation. Though looking at his face, it didn't seem like he was being teasing, just confused and curious. Lighter squirmed a bit more, trying to think of the least suspicious thing he could say.

"Maybe they were worried I wouldn't be able to finish all the food on the table and were cheering me on to clean my plate."

"I see."

"Yeah… that's right."

Wise went back to eating his food, but now he was quiet, seemingly lost in thought. Lighter looked over at the children, joyfully playing with a half deflated ball they found somewhere. Their laughter rang in the open air and mixed nicely with the music softly emitting from the jukebox nearby.

Maybe he should listen to those kids and just go for it. They seemed to have so much more courage than him, unburdened by age and unafraid to say whatever they wanted. He too might find his own happiness if he just ran after it and spoke the words. He looked back at Wise who was still focused on finishing his food. Maybe this comfortable silence was the right moment.

"Hey Proxy, I—"

"Another round on the house!" Burnice suddenly appeared next to their table. She refilled Wise's glass, spilling some over as she slyly gave Lighter a wink. "Drink up, Proxy!" 

Lighter glared daggers back at her, but Wise, oblivious to their wordless exchange, just laughed and lifted up the overflowing glass.

"Cheers!" Burnice giggled as she clinked her glass against his then skipped away.

Wise stared at the glass for a few seconds before taking a big gulp. The glass felt so cool in his hand, but every drop made him feel so warm and foggy.

"You okay, Proxy?"

He nodded and took another sip of the drink. He was a little less steady placing the now nearly empty glass down on the table.

"You know you don't have to all of drink that…"

"It's good though… Warm…"

Lighter looked around the diner and noticed it had mostly cleared out, only a few people lingering on the far side of the room. Even Burnice and Pulchra had disappeared somewhere. It must be much later than he realized. Maybe they should call it a night.

"You know Lighter…"

"What's that, Proxy?"

"You know…" Wise repeated, jabbing a finger in his direction for emphasis. "You know!"

"I really don't," he said, trying and failing to follow the drunken train of thought. That last drink must have been a doozy. "Why don't we go for a walk?"

Lighter stood up and offered his shoulder for him to lean on. Wise managed to push himself up, wrapping his arm around Lighter's waist and leaning his head against his broad, sturdy shoulder. Wise was still good enough to walk, so they slowly shuffled out of the diner.

"Proxy? You okay?"

"Mhmm… Jus' sleepy…"

"Do you want to go to bed? There's a clean one all made up for you."

"Uh-uh." Wise tried to shake his head but that just made the fogginess worse.

Lighter sighed. He decided to bring him to the room they had set aside for when the Proxies visit anyway. That would mean getting down the lift somehow, so he tried to steer them in that direction. But then Wise suddenly stopped, planting his feet in the dirt and pulling at Lighter's waist with a surprising amount of strength.

"Lighter."

"C'mon Proxy. It's getting late."

He tried to nudge him along but he stubbornly refused to move.

"No! I- Lighter… you like…"

Lighter was still holding his shoulders to stop him from falling, but then Wise leaned in, tilting his chin to look up under his sunglasses.

"First met… I really li… Maybe if- If… No…"

Lighter stared back, holding his breath as he searched those shining teal eyes for some meaning, some understanding of what he was trying to say.

"I… do…" Wise sighed and then slumped against Lighter's chest, the last of his consciousness fading away. "Hmmm 'm sleepy…"

Lighter finally exhaled, letting out a long sigh and tipping his head back to look up the starry sky. At least that was beautiful.

"Okay, Proxy. Let's get you to bed."

Wise was pacing outside of the metro entrance on Sixth Street when he suddenly heard a familiar voice call out to him.

"Huh? If it isn't the manager!"

"Oh, hey Billy," he said as he turned around, barely able to conceal the nervousness in his voice.

"Whoa, are you okay Manager? Should I take you back to the store?"

"No, I'm okay." He tried to pull his face into a more calm and collected expression. "I'm just waiting for Lighter."

"Oh Lighter… Ohh!" Billy's tone hints at something, but Wise is in no state to notice it, let alone figure out what it means. "I guess… I'll leave you alone then! I'm just running some errands for Nicole… Ha…"

"Okay, see you later," Wise replied distractedly, starting to pace again, already lost deep in his thoughts.

Billy walked away until he was out of sight, then sprinted down the street at full speed until he found a quiet corner and frantically called Nicole.

"Boss! We have a big problem!"

"Did something happen to my noodles!?"

"No! I think…" Billy whipped his head around to make sure there was nobody within earshot, then lowered his voice. "I think Wise is about to confess to Lighter!"

"What!?"

"I just ran into him on the way to General Chop's and he said he was waiting for Lighter and he looked sooo nervous! I really think he's about to do it!"

"Billy! You said you had insider knowledge and were sure that Lighter would confess first! We put money on that!"

"I know, I know… I'm sorry…"

"You have to stop this from happening!"

"Huh!? No way!"

"Billy!! If we lose the bet, it's going to count against your performance next quarter!"

"Okay, okay," Billy relented, smacking his forehead. "Don't worry, Boss, I got this!"

"I'm on my way now! Just stall them!"

Nicole abruptly hung up the phone, and Billy sighed. He looked around for something that might help him, but there was nothing here besides a few stray cats silently watching him panic. He would just have to improvise until Nicole arrived.

Wise, still pacing by the metro entrance and totally oblivious to any and all commotion further down the street, wrung his hands as he reminded himself of the plan for the evening. Lighter would arrive, they would hang out on Sixth Street for a little bit, then they would watch the film he picked out. Naturally they would discuss the film afterwards as they have done many times before, and that would provide the perfect opening to finally express what he's been hiding for so long. Even if Lighter didn't feel the same way, it was only fair to be honest with his friend. Wise took another deep breath. He wouldn't lose his nerve today.

"Hey Manager. You here to pick me up or something?"

"Lighter!" Wise, despite his nervousness, felt relieved by seeing his face. "You made it."

"I get lost in the city easily, but I know the way to your video store by heart."

"I know, I just thought we might walk around for a little bit first."

"Works for me."

They started walking down the street, but as they passed Box Galaxy, Lighter noticed Wise craning his neck to peek through the windows.

"Do you want something? I'll buy it for you."

"Well… There is this one cute bangboo figure I've been trying to get for ages." Wise pointed at the row of display figures on the top shelf. "That's the secret rare one, it's next to a little TV that looks just like ours."

"Great, let's get one then."

"Are you sure?" Upon seeing Lighter nod, Wise picked out one of the boxes. "Maybe you'll be my good luck charm."

They paid for the item and continued leisurely walking down the street as Wise excitedly tore into the box. He briefly paused for dramatic effect, much to Lighter's amusement, and then pulled out the figure with a flourish.

"Ah. It's just a basic one," Wise said, turning it over in his hand, "and I already have this one."

"Sorry, Manager." Lighter furrowed his brow. "Guess I'm not so lucky after all."

"That's okay, maybe I can give it to Belle for her own collection." Wise smiled, unwilling to let something as silly as a blind box dampen the mood. He stopped walking when he realized they were already in front of the arcade. "Wanna play a few rounds?"

"Sure," Lighter said with a cheeky grin, "but just so you know, I'm not one to lose."

"Yeah, yeah, Mr. Undefeated Champion, let's see what you got."

"Welcome to Godfinger!" Asha said warmly as soon as she heard the door open. "Ah, it's you, Manager. And you brought your friend again."

Wise waved at her as they headed toward their usual perch. Sometimes they would try out the newer games, or Lighter would watch Wise try to beat his record in Soul Hounds III, but they always ended up in front of the same machine, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder, battling it out in Snake Duel.

"Aha! I win again!" Wise exclaimed after his third victory in a row, pumping his fists. "So much for the Undefeated Champion, eh?" He bumped his shoulder into Lighter's and laughed.

"So much for the humble, delicate Proxy." Lighter cracked his knuckles and pressed the buttons to start a new round. "Alright, time to get serious."

"Hey! I wasn't ready!"

Their playful trash talk and bright laughter echoed around the small arcade. Wise often came here to unwind, but it felt different being with Lighter. Things that were already enjoyable seemed to bring even more happiness when he shared the experience with someone he cared so much about. Even the possibility of being able to experience more fun and new things with Lighter made him so excited.

"Better watch out, Manager, I'm catching up."

"Haha you wish!"

Lighter finally managed to box Wise in and just as he was about to fall into his trap, the screen suddenly cut to black.

"Huh?"

"Ahhh…" Lighter's focused posture deflated a little. "Thwarted again…"

"I'm so sorry," Asha called out across the arcade. "The circuit breaker must have overloaded. The machine will just need a few minutes to restart…"

"No worries," Wise replied as he stood up. "We should probably get going anyway."

As they left the arcade, Wise checked the time on his phone. Belle had agreed to let Wise have the place to himself for the evening after closing up for the day, but it was still a little too early to head over. He tried not to let the mishap shake his resolve. The evening wasn't over yet.

"You okay, Manager?"

"Uhh yeah," Wise said, looking around for something else to do in the meantime. "Wanna check out the music store?

"Lead the way."

"Hello there," Elfy said as they approached. "Can I help you find something today?"

"No, I just thought we'd check out the new releases."

Wise began surveying the various albums on display while Lighter stood close by his side, watching his face as he judged each album's cover and tracklist, admiring how focused he could be even for trivial things like this. Elfy watched both of them with a faint smile. She knew the manager had excellent taste and trusted that he would pick something suitable for this moment.

"In that case, I won't disturb you two while you enjoy the music."

They didn't really notice her walking away, quickly getting absorbed in listening to the album Wise picked out. The soft ballad suited the pinkish orange sunset settling over Sixth Street, blanketing them in a gentle calm. Wise looked up to check if he liked the song, and even from behind his sunglasses, he could clearly feel the warmth in Lighter's gaze. Everything felt like it was falling back into place.

Then, out of nowhere, all of the stray cats that hang around Sixth Street suddenly ran past the newsstand toward the music store, weaving between and around their feet. Wise was startled by the sudden chaos, and by attempting not to step on any of the little guys, he completely lost his balance and fell to the ground, landing butt-first with a dull thud.

"Manager!" Lighter reached out to help him up. "Are you okay!?"

"Ow…" Wise winced, taking hold of Lighter's hand to pull himself back up. "That hurt…"

"Should we get some ice? Let's get you back home."

Wise leaned on Lighter's arm as they slowly crossed the street. It wasn't that bad of a fall, but as the initial shock wore off, mild embarrassment and nervousness settled in its place. Sixth Street wasn't usually this chaotic, so he thought it would be the safest and calmest place to hang out, but he was clearly mistaken. At this point, everything that could go wrong has gone so wrong, and he was afraid this sudden string of bad luck would continue if he stuck to his plans.

"Are you okay?" Lighter asked when Wise suddenly stopped a few steps away from Random Play's front door. "Does it still hurt?"

Wise shook his head. He couldn't do this. He couldn't risk any more bad things happening. His confidence was completely shot.

"We can—" Lighter started to say just as they heard the door open.

"Oh, hey guys!" Belle emerged from the store and greeted them with a bright smile that quickly faded once she saw the grimace on Wise's face. "What's wrong?"

"I tripped," Wise explained without looking up. "I'm fine."

"Do you have ice?" Lighter turned to Belle. "Or should I go get some from 141?"

"Oh no! I don't think we have any…"

"Okay, I'll be right—"

Wise grabbed at Lighter's sleeve before he could run off. Ice wouldn't fix anything. "I'm okay, Lighter, really."

"You sure?"

"Yes." Wise straightened up and forced a reassuring smile. "It doesn't hurt."

Belle wasn't convinced, and she was pretty sure Lighter wouldn't buy it either, but she knew better than to argue with her brother about something like this. "Well uh… I just closed up the store. And I'm gonna meet Astra at Reverb Arena."

"Do you mind if we call it a night?" Wise asked Lighter, ignoring Belle's well-intended cue. "We can watch the movie I recommended another time."

"Of course," Lighter said. "I understand."

"I'm sorry you came all this way."

"Don't worry about it, Manager."

"See you later," Wise sighed, walking into the store and closing the door behind him.

Lighter stood there, staring at the door, not saying a word. He could tell Wise was really upset, and he had a hunch that it wasn't just because of the fall, but he felt utterly helpless seeing him leave like that. He considered rushing into the store and insisting that they talk about whatever was bothering him, but out of respect he remained where he was.

"Guess I'll get going. Let me know if he needs anything."

"Oh, sure. Will do."

Lighter nodded in appreciation before walking away. Belle watched his sad silhouette disappear down the street, feeling conflicted about what she just witnessed. How long were these two idiots going to torture themselves? Should she just say something to Wise? Or maybe have Lucy talk to Lighter? She thought about it for a few minutes but ultimately decided that it was up to them to figure out their own feelings. Though she hoped it wouldn't take much longer because at this point it seemed like they were the only two people in all of New Eridu who had no idea that they were both in love with each other.

Wise huffed, knitting his brows together as he surveyed the wide selection. He had done some research, but there were so many flowers related to 'love' that it was difficult to choose just one. Which one would he like the best? Would he even accept flowers? Maybe he should just try something else—

"Hello there, dearest customer. May I offer my assistance?" Orchidea, having finished helping someone else, suddenly appeared by his side.

"Hi Orchidea," Wise said with a meek smile. "I'm not sure. Flowers might not be what I need."

"What's the occasion?"

Wise looked away, frowning. He still hasn't talked about his feelings with anyone. Well, no one besides Eous, which probably didn't really count. Saying it aloud still felt a little too daunting.

"I see," she hummed, all too familiar with the bashful uncertainty clouding his face. "Well, I'm sure you know that that different flowers carry different meanings? They can be an efficient way to communicate unspoken feelings."

He nodded. "Red roses represent passionate, true love, but these white daises can symbolize secret love…"

"As expected, you've done your research. Then tell me, did you happen to come across the meaning of different lilacs?"

He shook his head but before he could ask her to explain, they were interrupted by the sound of the shop door opening.

"Oh, Lighter!" His frustrated expression was quickly replaced with a wide, bright smile.

"Hey Manager. Sorry I'm late."

"No worries. We were just chatting about… how to care for freshly cut flowers."

She smiled along, greeting this customer the same as she would anyone else, but this too was a familiar scene. The video store manager and the gentleman with a red scarf, together in her shop, talking about flowers instead of all the other things they actually wanted to say.

"Orchidea, could I get the same arrangement as last time?" Lighter asked, walking over to the counter.

"Certainly," she replied, leaving Wise to ruminate over the roses and daises.

"Dear customer, you've been ordering purple lilacs for weeks now," Orchidea whispered as she neatly wrapped up the rather large bouquet. "Might I recommend adding some words to your gift this time?" She gestured toward the small selection of note cards on the counter, though they both knew that wasn't what she was really referring to.

Lighter remained silent, but his eyes flicked over to the other side of the shop to check that they were still out of earshot. Wise was admiring some sunflowers, apparently deep in thought, paying no mind to him and Orchidea. Lighter made a mental note to maybe get those flowers instead next time.

"I added some white babys breath today, on the house," she said slightly louder, alerting Wise to the end of the transaction.

"Thanks," Lighter replied coolly, taking the flowers from her then looking at Wise to leave together. Once they were on the street, he casually handed him the bouquet.

"For me? Again?" Wise had lost track of how many times Lighter had given him flowers. It might have become a weekly occurrence by now.

"You liked them before," Lighter explained with a shrug. "They make you smile."

Wise blushed since he was indeed already smiling at the beautiful arrangement. "I do like them. Thank you."

They continued their leisurely stroll around the square, having some time to kill before their movie showing. Wise couldn't seem to wipe the smile off his face as he admired the gift. The bouquet seemed fuller than usual, with tiny white buds encircling the light purple flowers.

"Do they mean anything?"

"Huh?"

"The flowers. Some flowers have special meanings. Do you know if purple lilacs mean anything?" Wise asked, keeping his eyes focused on the a particularly delicate looking bloom.

Their steps naturally slowed to a halt as they reached the entrance of the theater. Lighter was suddenly aware of their surroundings, feeling small and slightly out of place in the city. It was a busy weekend afternoon, and another movie must have just finished because there was a steady stream of people pouring out of the doors.

"Uh… No, I don't know anything about flowers," he lied. He had requested them specifically. He asked for a flower related to 'first love.' "Orchidea recommended them."

"Oh, I see." Wise finally looked up, his grin still wide and bright. "They're really nice. Thanks again."

Lighter's shoulders relaxed seeing the happiness on Wise's face, the corners of his eyes crinkling to match his smile. They headed into the theater, so close together that the employee didn't even bother to ask if they were paying separately or not.

Orchidea had followed them out of the shop, watching them as she tidied the outdoor displays. From the quietly attentive gaze to the sparkling joyful smile, their deep affection for each other radiated off of them, surrounding the pair like the sweet mix of aromas from all the flowers in her shop. She wondered whether a verbal confession was even needed when you have already cultivated such a meaningful relationship together. Perhaps not.

"Thanks for coming all the way into the city to hang out with me again," Wise said as they arrived at the metro station in Lumina Square.

The sun had already set, and Lighter had a long drive back to the Outer Ring, but they both lingered in front of the entrance, neither willing to say goodbye just yet.

"Let me kno—"

"I can take you back to Sixth Street," Lighter interrupted. "Just to be safe, you know." He tugged on the front of his scarf. Maybe he was being too overbearing.

"Okay," Wise quickly agreed. "Just to be safe."

They resumed their discussion from earlier, sitting side by side in the otherwise empty train, knees and shoulders bumping against each other, laughing as they recalled lines from the film they watched at the theater. It wasn't a long ride to Sixth Street, and Wise didn't question it when Lighter followed him out of the metro station.

"I'll walk you back to the store."

"Just to be safe?"

All of storefronts were still alight, each providing its own illuminated offering to complement the bright, glimmering moonlight. Glancing down the street, there didn't seem to be anyone else around.

"Yes, just to be safe."

They slowly made their way to the store. Intentionally condensed strides stretched out the short length of the street, attempting to delay the inevitable for as long as possible. Wise didn't usually sleep much anyway, and Lighter wouldn't mind finding a place to crash if it got too late to drive back to the Outer Ring. And though the calm hush of the approaching twilight would not have been bothered by conversation, they were content to enjoy the quiet together.

As Random Play finally came into sight, the familiar heartache reemerged, and they were running out of excuses not to say goodbye. As they inched closer to the store, each step became smaller and more hesitant than the last.

Lighter quietly cleared his throat. "I guess…"

"Yeah…" Wise glanced over, knowing he shouldn't keep Lighter out much longer. But then something caught his eye, and he grabbed at his arm. "Wanna get some noodles? Midnight snack?"

Relieved to have found another reason to extend the evening, they settled into the seats on the shorter side of shop counter. The two stools were firmly fixed in place, so their shoulders had no choice but to brush against each other as they got ready to eat.

"Hey General Chop," Wise said, lowering his voice to better suit the late hour. "Could I have the Smoked BBQ Noodles please? And an— ah, nevermind. That's it."

"I'll have the same, please."

They sat quietly while General Chop prepared their food. In the pale daylight, they might have chosen other seats or leaned a polite distance away, but tucked under the shop's awning, away from the moon's watchful glow, they kept their arms pressed up against each other, a warmth steadily growing between them.

"Last order of the day. Enjoy."

"This looks so good," Wise said excitedly, but General Chop did not hear him, having already disappeared into the storeroom to begin closing up for the night.

Just as Wise was about to dig in, Lighter suddenly placed the marinated egg from his soup into Wise's bowl without saying a word.

Wise blinked at it as his thoughts took off trying to make sense of the gesture. Wise's favorite part of getting noodles was the soft-boiled egg that came with it. He always saved it for his last bite and often ordered an extra. He almost did that just now except he didn't want to complicate things for General Chop so late at night. Did Lighter notice that? Had they gotten noodles together enough times for Lighter to remember? Was this what it meant to be—

"I love you."

The words slipped past Wise's lips before he was even aware they had materialized in his throat. He felt Lighter's body stiffen next to him. The air around them felt so still and thick, he could almost picture the words hanging in front of their faces.

"What?" Lighter's eyes remained fixed straight ahead, too afraid to move. Sixth Street was so quiet at this hour that there was no chance he misheard. And yet. "What did you just say?"

This wasn't how Wise wanted to do this. Maybe he didn't fully hear him. Maybe he could still save it.

"I- I love that- the egg. That y-you gave me yours…" Wise mumbled, eyes fixed on his bowl.

Lighter didn't say anything, didn't even seem to be breathing. Wise could feel the embarrassment spreading from the back of his neck to his ears. This was all wrong. He messed everything up.

"I'm sorry. Please forget it. I didn't mean to say that."

The silence was deafening, but he couldn't bring himself to look up from his food. He couldn't bear to see how uncomfortable and awkward he made his friend feel. What if they stopped being friends because of this? How could he make such a stupid mistake—

"You didn't?"

Lighter's voice was quieter and smaller than he had ever heard before, which finally forced Wise to look over. He had removed his sunglasses and was staring directly at him, his eyes searching for an answer. It wasn't discomfort or disgust that he was seeing on his face.

He looked sad.

Wise didn't know what to say. He had felt this way for so long, but even when he thought he had finally mustered up the courage to confess, he never actually prepared for Lighter's reaction, for this moment, for the after of it all. It never felt like a real, tangible thing that could happen. How could he possibly put into words how he feels—

"I love you, Wise."

"You do?"

"Yes."

"I love you too."

"Hey Belle! Over here! Hey!"

General Chop was waving his arms excitedly as Belle exited the store the next morning. It was odd to see him be so energetic first thing in the morning.

"Morning, General Chop. Uhh, I'm sorry, but isn't it a bit early for noodles?"

"No, no, it's not that," he quickly replied then paused, reconsidering. "It's never too early for noodles. But that's not why I called you over!"

"Oh, then is something wrong?"

"It finally happened."

"What happened…?"

General Chop stared intently at her, then dramatically looked toward Random Play then back at Belle. "Wise… and that man he's always with…"

"What!?" Belle exclaimed, her voice carrying down the street. "Really? Last night? Here!?"

He quickly explained what he had overheard, and Belle ran back into the store. Wise was restocking tapes on one of the shelves and looked up as she rushed over to him in a flurry.

"You're back already? Where's the coffee?"

"Nevermind that! Tell me everything!"

Wise stared at her as she excitedly hopped around him. "What are you talking about?"

"You and Lighter!! Are you dating now? Did you confess first? What did he say? Tell me!"

Wise scrunched up his brows and then sighed when he remembered that they were literally sitting at Waterfall Soup when everything happened. Of course General Chop overheard them, and of course he told Belle. He'd have to go and thank him for, at the very least, not interrupting or commenting on it in the moment.

"Okay, okay, stop shaking me, I'll tell you everything."

He recounted every last detail to his sister's extreme delight. He was still having a hard time believing it wasn't a dream, but it was nice to finally discuss everything with someone (besides Eous) after so long. Belle didn't seem all that surprised when Wise revealed that he had been harboring these feelings for months, but it made sense that his sister would know him so well.

"...And we agreed to have our first real date tonight."

Even saying that out loud didn't make it feel any more real, and he felt butterflies flip around in his stomach.

"Ahhh I have to tell everyone!" Belle squealed as she pulled out her phone and started furiously typing away. "This is so exciting! I'm so happy for you two!"

"Thanks Belle," he said, still a little embarrassed. "Wait— Everyone? What are you talking about? What is that?"

"Oh, right…" She laughed sheepishly and held up her phone so he could see the flood of messages from all their friends with some variation of "Finally!" or "Congrats!" or giant blocks of heart-eyes emojis.

Wise listened, eyes wide and slack-jawed, as Belle explained that basically everyone in New Eridu knew that he and Lighter were in love before they could even admit it to themselves. And apparently were also placing bets on who would confess first and when. She then quickly fled the store, under the pretense of getting coffee, before Wise had time to process the information and yell at her for not saying something sooner.

He pulled out his phone and tapped on the starred contact at the top of the list.

"Hey Wise."

"Hi Lighter," he said, instantly comforted by the sound of his voice. "We might need to change the location of our date later."

"Oh really?"

"It's a long story, but I think we maybe need to avoid being out in public together for a while."

Lighter laughed. "Yeah, I think I know what you're referring to."

"Ah, of course." Wise realized he was probably ambushed the second the girls received Belle's message.

"No worries, I'll see you at your place soon."