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The sun was shining brightly, and Trey Clover could tell his companion was nervous as they set up the picnic blanket. Being back in the Queendom had always set Riddle on edge, and it had been worse now, after his Overblot, but this was also the first time since childhood that Riddle had disobeyed his mother's rules. Not only was he supposed to be studying but she would have greatly protested the reason of their picnic.
Riddle had confided to him that one of her rules, set when he’d been in middle school, was no dating until he graduated high school. Of all the rules Riddle had decided to break, Trey was glad this was one, but that didn’t mean the petite redhead wasn’t nervous.
Trey chuckled as he started to unpack the picnic basket. Riddle had insisted on planning their first date together himself. He’d picked the location; a field in the woods bordering the capital where they were not likely to be found, and he’d packed the lunch. The four different tins of tea were perfectly on brand.
Riddle was staring at him, and Trey cocked an eyebrow as he set down covered plates next to the tea tins, spelled thermos of hot water, teacups, and a teapot.
“You’re laughing at me.”
“I’m not laughing at you.” Trey bit the inside of his cheek, but it didn’t help. Riddle’s cheeks were puffed in annoyance, and he’d always found that adorable even when he shouldn’t have.
“All right,” Trey admitted. “Maybe a little.”
Riddle crossed his arms and huffed as the breeze caught a few strands of his red hair and sent them fluttering across his forehead.He looked particularly put-upon, pouting, surrounded by neatly packed containers, and Trey leaned over to smooth his hair back, lips brushing against his cheek.
“It’s fine, Riddle.”
“I just wanted to make sure we had everything we needed.”Although his tone was clipped, his face flushed a bright crimson. “Different teas pair better with different foods.”
“I know.”
“And I wasn’t certain what you’d prefer.”
“You could’ve asked.”
“I wanted it to be a surprise.”
Trey’s smile softened as he saw Riddle's shoulders tense. That was it then—the real reason Riddle had been nervous. This was their first date; they’d spent time together as friends before this, of course. Worked together as Housewarden and Vice-warden...there were trips to the kitchen where Riddle would pretend he was merely checking whether Trey was following proper recipes but end up taste testing as long as Trey could distract him.
But this was different; this was a date. While Trey had been the one to confess his feelings first, Riddle had been hesitant to share his own. He’d been given no room for crushes and romance in his mother's plans for him; he’d rejected any hint of them to stay perfectly in line with her rules. And with his parents, he didn’t really have a very positive guideline for relationships and affection. Trey understood that.
He could see that Riddle had some feelings for him in the way he’d shyly held Trey’s hand on the way to the portal back home. In the time he had taken after he insisted on planning their date.
Trey didn’t need an immediate declaration of love; he was happy enough to be with Riddle.
“It is a surprise.” He took the shorter teen's hands in his own. “I like it.”
Riddle seemed to calm at that, settling down to open the covered plates. They munched on small sandwiches, trying each of the teas to see which one it paired with better. Trey loved seeing Riddle slightly more relaxed than he’d seen him recently, and the pure delight on his face when Trey had reached into his own bag for a small container of mini strawberry tarts he’d made had put the sun to shame, even if he’d admonished Trey for bringing anything.
As the afternoon wore on, they sat together, Riddle leaning against Trey’s side as sunlight filtered through the leaves overhead. For once, there was nothing demanding their attention. No Ace and Deuce causing trouble, no responsibilities, and none of Riddle's mother's insane expectations.
Just the two of them.
Trey was about to offer to make more tea when a single drop of water landed on the back of his hand. He glanced up at the sky and winced as another hit him directly in the eye.
“It’s raining.”
He didn’t expect the distressed look on Riddle’s face. “It wasn’t supposed to rain! I checked the weather.” He glared at the sky, grey eyes narrowed as if daring it to continue its unscheduled downpour.
As if in defiance, the sky opened up and it started to pour. Cups were upended as they scrambled to get under a nearby tree. Tre wiped his glasses as water ran down his face. Across from him, Riddle stood dripping wet, his hair plastered against his forehead and his clothes clinging uncomfortably to him.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke. Replacing his glasses on his nose, Trey shaded his eyes, looking at the sodden blanket ruefully. “Well... there go the leftovers. It looks like a sunshower…Riddle, are you ok?”
Riddle's shoulders were shaking, and when he pulled him around to look at his face, he could see his eyes were wet.
“What’s wrong? It happens…We can dry off and—”
“It’s not ok…I planned everything. I wanted it perfect… Now it’s all ruined.”
Trey pulled Riddle into his arms with a frown. Crying wasn’t something Riddle did often. He’d known being home after everything had put a lot of stress on Riddle. By Queendom law, he had to live with his mother until 18. If this was getting to him that badly…
“I wanted it perfect for you.”
Riddle hadn’t wanted a flawless picnic because he was obsessed with appearances. He’d wanted it because this was important to him. Trey sighed, lips pressed against Riddle's wet hair.
“Things can be perfect without everything going right.”
“That makes absolutely no sense, Trey.” The indignation in Riddle’s voice was better than the defeat he had heard earlier, at least.
“It’s been a perfect date because I’m here with you.” He pushed the damp strands sticking to his forehead back. “That’s what matters…” he thought for a moment, then grabbed Riddle’s hand. “You know… dates are bout making memories, and memories are what you make of them.” He pulled him towards the curtain of rain just beyond the branch line. “Come on.”
“Trey, it’s raining.”
“I noticed.”
“We’ll get even wetter.”
“Probably.”
Riddle stared at him as though he’d lost his mind, still holding firm. “Trey Clover, what exactly are you suggesting?”
“Dance with me.”
“In the rain? Not only will that likely make us sick, but I’m sure it violates at least one of Mother’s rules”
“So does being here with me.”
For a moment, Riddle didn’t move, then he took a step forward.
“You’re ridiculous.”
Trey just smiled as they stepped into the downpour. Their hair and clothes were immediately plastered to their bodies, but the rain was warm, and the sun was bright between the scattered rain clouds. The green-haired teen pulled Riddle into a twirl, dancing him around the field, surprising a small laugh from the usually serious boy.
Trey wasn’t sure it could even be called dancing, but it didn’t matter when Riddle laughed freely in a way he’d never seen before. When they finally slowed as the rain stopped, Riddle rested his head on his shoulder, and he could feel soft breath on his damp neck.
“You were right.” Riddle said so softly that Trey could barely hear him. “It is perfect.”
“Not quite yet…”
Trey waited until Riddle pulled back and looked up at him with confusion before pressing his lips gently to Riddle's.
The picnic was ruined, the tea was cold, and the blanket was soaked through.
But Trey couldn’t imagine a better first date.