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lazyheartnacho · 5 months ago

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♡ Sans - Valentine's One-Shot ♡

Written by @/Lost-Immortality

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If given the choice to go back in time to this morning and change the decisions that brought you here, you were sure you would have done so in a heartbeat. Your first bad decision this morning had been responding to a cryptic text message from Sans, confirming that you were not, in fact, busy.

The second was when you checked the date and realized what day it was. February 14th. Of course, it had been silly of you to assume that Sans was planning something normal, like a nice lunch or a walk in the park.

Oh, no. Normal had left your vocabulary entirely after meeting your neighbors.

So, instead of flowers and chocolate or dinner and a movie, you had found yourself staring at Sans incredulously as the escape room worker handcuffed his wrist to the radiator that sat in the corner. The room had been decorated to look like a hotel suite, with the addition of notes and books scattered around on the walls and tables.

You felt like you were in a true crime documentary. How romantic.

Sans planted himself on the ground in front of the decoration he was attached to as the employee went over the rules and the story that went with the room. Apparently, you were an agent that needed to ‘rescue’ Sans and get the both of you out in an hour.

You wouldn't be surprised if Sans took the opportunity to nap while you solved puzzles.

You and Sans were left alone in the room, and the glowing red timer above the door began ticking down. Even if you knew it was fake, it almost felt a bit ominous.

You shifted your weight between your feet as you looked around, not entirely sure where to start.

“...This feels very one-sided,” you mused.

Sans hummed, “Moral support is a very important job. All of this ‘believing in you’ is tiring me out.”

You sighed and accepted your fate, making your way over to leaf through the papers scattered on a desk. “Yeah, yeah. I hardly even know where to start. Have you done one of these before?”

He nodded, “A few times. A lotta the folks in my household like to solve stuff. Puzzles were a big part of our culture, so Papyrus got pretty excited when he heard humans did things like this.”

You softened just a bit at that, chuckling softly as you tried to make sense of the clutter. “It seems like something he'd enjoy.”

“He does, even if it gets a bit chaotic when everyone goes. Most of the time, nothing even ends up getting solved, but that's okay. They have fun with it.”

You glanced back over at him. “Do you?”

“Well, yeah. Why would I have let you drag me out to do something I didn't want to do?” He smiled, squinting in the way you knew indicated he was teasing, but you knew what he meant. If Sans truly didn’t want to do something, he wouldn’t.

“Ah, yes. I dragged you kicking and screaming. Of course, that's exactly how I remember it.”

Sans chuckled when you played along before he shook his head. “Don't worry about the clutter. It's probably there to distract you more than anything. Look for anything that's circled, highlighted, or dated. Not every paper or book is going to be a clue.”

You looked back at him curiously, “Okay, Mr. Mystery Expert. Any other sage advice for me?”

“Well, since you're asking…” he trailed off, and the lights in his eyes darted around the room, carefully taking everything in. “You're looking for a four digit code and a small key.”

How… oddly specific. “I believe you and all, but how do you figure?”

“The nightstand drawer is locked. And there's a safe in the wall under the desk.”

You ducked down to check under the desk, noting the panel with a digital keypad on it. Of course, Sans had already been sitting on the floor. It would have been easy for him to spot. How did he end up with the easy job again?

You pivoted to look under the rest of the furniture while you were at it, blinking in surprise when you caught sight of a small box shoved under the armchair. It slid out easily when you pulled on it, and the lid came off just as easily.

Sans whistled a little four note tune, like you'd just opened a treasure chest in a video game. You couldn't help but chuckle softly.

“Nerd.”

He shot you a wink, not bothering to confirm or deny your claim against him. He didn't need to. “Is it the boomerang or the hookshot?”

“Neither. It's one of those flashlight pens.” you clicked the button on the side of it, though the light was a pretty purple-blue color. “Ah. Scratch that. It's one of those blacklight pens.”

He hummed and leaned back a bit. “Ah. A fitting tool for the light of my life.”

“Sans.”

“Hm?”

“I will hit the emergency exit button and leave you stuck to a radiator.”

His grin widened, “It's kinda nice right here, actually. You're so considerate of my comfort.”

You rolled your eyes, though even you couldn't help the smile on your face. “I don't know how you could possibly be comfortable like that, but suit yourself.”

“...I don't think I have any of those on me.”

You paused what you were doing and slowly looked back at him, your expression scrunching in confusion, “Huh?”

“Suits. I don't have any right now. Can't exactly fit a tux in my pocket. And I definitely can't fit the armor kind of suit in my pockets.”

You just stared quietly at him for a few moments before you turned away without a word, shining the blacklight on the notes scattered about on the walls. When you scanned it over a news article, the light revealed a circled date. Four digits.

You moved back to the safe and quickly punched in the date. You couldn't help the little cheer you made when it beeped and swung open for you, only to reveal a puzzle box. You turned the little box over in your hands for a moment before gently tossing it to Sans, who let it bounce off of his chest and into his lap.

“Since you’re stuck there, might as well give you something to do, right?”

“Really making me do all the heavy lifting here, huh?” he agreed easily enough, examining the box for a few moments before he got to work.

“How dare I give you a task to do?” You joked back with him as you continued looking through the room for any sort of clues or keys.

“I don’t know how I’ll ever cope,” he lamented, though his delivery was entirely dry.

You chuckled and shook your head, wandering over to each set piece and inspecting it. You heard a few rapid clicks from across the room as Sans worked at solving the puzzle box. You kneeled down to look over the nightstand just as a dull thunk came from the box.

You didn’t bother looking back at Sans, too distracted by glaring at the lock on the drawer like you could intimidate it into opening. You couldn’t.

Sans tapped your shoulder before reaching over you to dangle a little key in your vision. “Here you go. I finished my task.”

You opened your hand for him to drop the key into, which he promptly did. “Oh, thanks. That’s actually exactly what I…”

You trailed off, your expression scrunching before you looked back at Sans over your shoulder. He smiled nonchalantly back at you before he casually sauntered back over to the radiator. He plopped himself back in front of it and slid his hand into the cuff again.

“….You could have done that… the whole time?”

His grin widened, “Done what?”

You just quietly stared at him as the red numbers above the door quietly ticked down. His grin twitched like he was fighting back laughter.

“You gonna unlock the drawer, or…?”

Your gaze narrowed at him before you slowly turned to unlock the nightstand. You pulled it open before huffing a sigh.

“Oh, look. A handcuff key that I definitely, for sure, needed to find in order to free the absolute goober of a skeleton that brought me here.” Even though he could apparently get out by himself, you handed the key off to him and watched as he needlessly unlocked it.

“Phew. What a relief. I thought I was going to be stuck there forever.”

“I’m sure the employee would have let you out eventually.”

Sans stood up and needlessly dusted himself off before he began to wander around the room to help you out with more than just little comments.

“Maybe. But luckily for me, I already have you.” He smiled over at you, something a bit more genuine than the usual teasing grin he wore.

You blinked a few times before looking away. “I think you might be the furthest thing from a damsel in distress, but I’m happy to help. I guess.”

With the two of you working together, you practically breezed through the rest of the room, unlocking the door with time to spare. The employee at the front counter congratulated the both of you with cheesy stickers before you left.

As you walked out the door, you peeled your sticker off just to press it to the front on Sans’ jacket, the holographic lock and key catching the sunlight like a badge of honor.

“Oh, are we trading stickers? Nice.” He took your hand and pressed the one he’d gotten onto the back of it. ‘I Survived’ in a mismatch of letters like it was a ransom note.

“Ominous. I like it.” You chuckled softly and held up your hand to admire the silly little sticker.

Sans chuckled and shoved his hands in his pockets as he walked. After a moment, he glanced back over at you. “…Hey.”

You quirked a brow, “Hi, Sans.”

He shook his head, “Thanks for going with me. It was nice.”

What a silly thing to thank you for. You grinned and lightly bumped into his side, “Thank you for inviting me. I had fun, even if I was stuck doing most of the heavy lifting.”

The lights in his eyes got just a bit brighter, “I’m glad.”

“You should invite me to go places with you more often.”

“I’m sure I could pencil that into my very busy schedule. Maybe somewhere between ‘second breakfast’ and ‘nap again’.” You doubted there was actually a schedule at all.

You hummed thoughtfully, “Yeah, but if you did it then, you’d have to reschedule ‘be a general nuisance’.”

“That’s alright. I think I could put that off for you.” He winked over at you.

You linked arms with him, smiling softly at the idea. “Well, in that case… It sounds like a plan. I look forward to it.”

He smiled back over at you, the lights in his eyes bright and almost fuzzy. “Yeah, me too.”

The two of you were more than content to let a comfortable silence fall as Sans took you back home, content with the little outing for the day. Your gaze flickered down to the sticker on the back of your hand, a warmth settling in your chest at the idea of ‘next time’, and every time after that.

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lazyheartnacho · 5 months ago

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♡ Nox - Valentine's One-Shot ♡

Written by @/ChrysanStarset

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A fresh breeze brushed against your face and hair as you and Nox stepped into the sprawling city garden. It was two days before Valentine’s day, and the two of you had been ‘preparing’ for this three-day trip. Though preparing might be a stretch. Nox had planned a trip going around places he had been meaning to visit, along with a special event gala he had been wanting to experience. Of course, he asked you to come and you’d agreed. Nox had taken it upon himself to pack some of your things, even buying you a few new outfits for the occasion. In return, he let you choose his wardrobe, and thankfully, he seemed more amused than annoyed by your choices.

The garden was a massive maze of ivy-covered archways, sculpted hedges, and floral blooms in every color imaginable. It felt surreal, like something out of a dream. Maybe it was the atmosphere, or maybe it was the fact that the two of you were dressed just a touch too well for a simple stroll through a garden. You had to admit it was a bit corny but, it was just the way you liked it.

Nox’s attention lingered on you, even as you became distracted by every turn of the path. Every so often, he stopped to comment on the meaning of certain flowers.

“Tulips,” he said, brushing his fingers over a crimson petal. “Symbolic of perfection and royalty. Sounds fitting, wouldn’t you say?” He smirked, but there was something unreadable in his expression before he looked away momentarily, his eyelights flickered back to you.

“We definitely look the part today,” you curtsied before adding, “your majesty.”

He let out a small chuckle as he gestured towards another flower. “Carnations,” he continued, a bit more thoughtfully. “They represent fascination and distinction. Traits that, for better or worse, tend to draw people together.”

There’s something about the way he said it that made you pause, but before you could press, he moved again, stopping by a patch of roses. He studied them for a moment before plucking one and twirling it between his fingers.

“Roses are, obviously, tied to passion and romance,” he said, almost dismissively. Then, after a beat, he looked at you and offered the flower. “But also appreciation. Or, depending on the color… remembrance.”

You accepted it without thinking. The petals were soft beneath your fingers and the scent was familiar and yet difficult to place.

“…Are you always this sentimental?” You asked, glancing at him.

His smirk returned, but this time it was subtler. “You tell me.”

A comfortable silence settled between you before you shook off the moment with a smile, stepping ahead toward the gazebo and picking up the pace. “Come on. If we stay here any longer, you might start reciting poetry.”

“Spare me the embarrassment,” he muttered.

You sped up with a laugh escaping you, headed toward a gazebo in the distance. “Last one there owes the other a drink.”

“You’re making up rules now?” Of course, without missing a beat, he took the challenge and quickened his pace to catch up.

Inside the gazebo you pulled out your phone, taking some pictures of the scenery as Nox lingered beside you, watching quietly. Eventually, he gently took your phone and faced the camera between you both. He angled the camera, capturing the moment as you lean in closer to his frame. The sun made you both look warm and lively as the phone shutters with a click. Another memory for you to have in your gallery.

…

The following day, you were dressed to the nines along with Nox. He wore a stylized tuxedo with indigo and imperial blue highlights, adorned with little silver dove-shaped cuffs on his sleeves. You had to admit he looked quite dashing, as he put it all together. It made you feel a little worried as you weren’t sure the outfit you’d picked for him was good enough. Nox praised you nevertheless, which made your confidence swell.

Moments later, you’d both arrived at a small pre-valentines gala. An event that lasted until Valentine's Day, but you and Nox had not planned to spend two nights here. Even so, you both were lucky enough to get entry tickets, so you tried to make the best you could out of it.

The gala hall glimmered under the glow of golden chandeliers, their light reflecting against the marble floors in a dazzling display. The soft hum of music playing in the background set the perfect atmosphere for the evening. You looked around, taking in the sight of elegantly dressed guests engaging in quiet laughter and warm conversations. Everything about the event was polished and refined, from the lavish buffet spread to the intricately arranged floral centerpieces on each table, reminding you slightly of the day before.

Nox, with his composed and regal gait, guided you through the hall with an effortless grace. His eyes stayed on you and no one else.

“Shall we dance?” He asked, in a somewhat half-playful, half-serious tone- his voice low, but clear enough for you to hear.

You grinned, even though you weren’t much of a dancer; far from a good one for that matter.

“You promise to not step on my toes?” You teased.

“I believe you might do more stomping than I will,” he retorted, a light scoff escaping him as you could see him fighting the smile trying to escape onto his face.

You playfully scoffed back at him, your voice pitched as if you were offended. You raise the back of your hand to your head in mock distress, “How dare!”

Nox smirked. “Regardless, I’ll ensure you won't fall, you’re safe with me.”

A warmth crept up to your heart, a comforting realization of the genuine care Nox had for you. You felt blessed that he had allowed himself to feel this comfortable around you; to share his sincerity for you without him putting up a defensive front.

He confidently guided you to the dance floor, making his first strides. Soon enough, you found yourself flowing with the rhythm, lost in the moment with him. It was comfortable and safe, in a way you couldn’t quite place. There was a steadiness in the way he moved, in the way he kept you from faltering, as if it were second nature. You didn’t know if it was intentional or just him. Regardless, you enjoyed the fresh new experience he had given you.

“I didn’t take you for much of a dancer”

“Don’t get used to it” He sighed. There was no real sharpness in it, but earned you his signature snarky drawl. “Aww, but you’re so skilled at it. You even managed to avoid my ‘stomping’” You teased. A quiet chuckle escaped him. “I’m really lucky. Next time, I might not be so…fortunate.”

The music began to slow, but the night continued with laughter and indulgent feasting, reminding you of previous events. As the evening was finally winding down, you and Nox stepped out into the cool night air. Nox pulled out his phone and angled it your way. You posed and smiled, not taking it seriously- ruining the elegant vibes you both were showered in. This earned a sigh, and waves of laughter from both of you, but regardless another memory was saved into the gallery.

...

On Valentine’s Day itself, the scent of passion fruit, coffee, and the faintest trace of tea lingered in the air, blending with the crispness of the cool breeze that had settled over the past few days. The warmth of the afternoon sun rested on your skin, a stark but welcome contrast to the chilled air that wove through the open terrace. Nox had just returned, setting down a small plate of neatly arranged mini sandwiches and a fresh cup of tea in front of you. Steam curled from the surface, carrying the familiar, calming aroma into the quiet afternoon. You both were outside the hotel you’d been staying at, resting from traveling anymore and taking the time to enjoy the scenery from where you were. A forest stretched out and across the river that you could see. It was peaceful, compared to the chaotic atmosphere you’re used to back home. Everything felt distant here. As if the rest of the world had momentarily softened its grip.

Looking in Nox’s direction, you saw him staring out to the horizon as well. You wondered if this is what he wanted all his life.

“You know…” He started, not looking at your direction as he spoke, but lingered on his words before continuing. “Meeting you was a strange surprise. I can’t say I mind, though.” He leaned back into his chair, watching you with a barely readable expression. “It’s something I wouldn’t have found in the underground, or with the others.”

He paused again, this time with a sympathetic look to him. Something that, once again, was so rare to see from a skeleton like him.

“I don’t say this often, but..” He looked off for a moment before flicking his gaze back to you.

“I appreciate the comfort you have given me. I hope to do the same for you as well. For accompanying me…I am…grateful. There is no other company I would have preferred.”

Although his words weren’t much, they made you feel sort of praised, coming from him.

“You’re welcome, I’m always down to have a fun time with you. You always make our little adventures very memorable even if it’s just sitting around with coffee and tea.” You chuckled to yourself a little, and noticed Nox chuckling with you. “I’ll take that as a high compliment.” He grinned, sipping his hot espresso.

You both settled into the comfortable silence, the only sounds that accompanied the both of you were the occasional birds and cars. Eventually you both started cleaning up, took one more picture together and proceeded to do your own adventure near the hotel before the time finally came to head back home. Sitting in the front seat of Nox’s car with the windows slightly down, you stared outside watching the trees and buildings blur by. It almost felt like a dream-like haze, with how calm you were. Normally, you would be up to your usual playful antics with Nox, putting on music, and forcing him to karaoke with you, but the trip had tired you out too much to do anything of your usual taunting. You wondered if this was also part of his meticulous planning.

You didn’t mind. You simply gazed out the window, letting the passing scenery lull you into drowsiness. Just as sleep began to take hold, the faintest sound reached your ears: a soft humming from Nox. At first, you weren’t sure if you were imagining it, but the more you listened, the clearer it became. He was humming. And not just any tune, it was your tune. The one you had raved about to him not too long ago, the one that had been stuck in your head for ages. The urge to tease him stirred in your chest, but for now, you let it be, allowing the gentle melody to carry you to sleep.

A gentle shake woke you as Nox leaned over to your side. It was clearly dark, as the only thing illuminated around you was Nox’s indigo pin prick eyelights focused on you, and the dim glow of the night light. You rubbed your eyes, and stretched a bit as Nox spoke.

“I took the liberty of letting you rest and brought your items inside your home. I hope you don't mind.” His voice was deep and low in a hushed tone.

You wanted to ask him how he got your keys, but you decided to let it go since he did you a favor by bringing your luggage inside.

“Thank you, that's so gentlemanly of you.” you said with a smirk, still groggy.

He rolled his eyelights leaning away from you and closed his door, making his way to your side and opening it.

“Come on. It's time to get out.” He urged you to not stall anymore.

You leaned to the dashboard with a groan, stalling.

Nox let out an exasperated sigh, though there was no real frustration behind it. More like mild amusement laced with a patience that has been growing for you. He simply stood there with his arms crossed, waiting.

“You do realize you can’t just sleep in my car, right?” His voice is edged with wry humor.

You peeked at him from a small gap of your arm. “Mmm…. I don’t know. It's pretty cozy here. Smells like overpriced espresso and sass. Very much you.”

Nox scoffed and shook his head. “Funny. But unless you plan to start paying me rent, cleaning and maintaining my car I suggest you move.”

You groaned again, but finally peeled yourself off the dashboard, stretching with a yawn before stepping out of the car. The cool night air hit your face, refreshing compared to the warmth Nox’s car provided you. The quiet stillness of the street felt strangely intimate. You turned to Nox, his expression is unreadable under the dim glow of the street lights.

He adjusted his coat and gloves before speaking. “You should get some rest. It’s been a long three days. I’m sure you want to spend your weekend relaxing.”

“You’re included.” You nudged him a bit, earning a confused look from him. “I’m sure you also need a break from the meticulous planning for all that.”

“The trip was my break.” He retorted, but then he smirked for a brief moment. “But, perhaps spending more of my ‘break’ with you wouldn’t cause any harm.”

Nox lifted his hand slightly, hesitating for a moment before reaching out. His fingers grazed the edge of your hand, a bit more like the ghost of a gesture than a touch.

“Well then, goodnight.” He cleared his throat, looking away from you.

You tilted your head, a bit curious and confused by the action, but you just watched and nodded. “Goodnight, Nox. Sleep well, and I’ll text you later then.”

He lingered for a moment, his movement slowed, before heading back to his car. You slowly made your way to your door as you watched Nox park his car in the garage. Finally, you headed inside your home, peering at your luggage neatly placed in front of the entrance to your home. It almost felt like the time went by too fast and so slowly. You decided to look through your photo gallery of all the memories you two took together, to reminisce. As you intently analyzed each photo, there was a certain warmth you really couldn’t describe. Maybe you’d figure it out later.

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lazyheartnacho · 5 months ago

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♡ Rus - Valentine's One-Shot ♡

Written by @/justsamwich

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Your heart was pounding in your chest, keeping time to the music that played from your phone as you looked over your appearance one final time. Whatever it was that Rus had planned for the two of you, he’d been awfully careful about keeping it a surprise. In fact, the only thing he’d been willing to tell you was that you needed clothes you could move in, which was… vague. And, knowing your boyfriend, perhaps a bit ominous. Before your mind could wander too far down that trail of thought, there was a knock at your door. Despite the nerves, you smiled as you hurried to answer the door.

“H-Heya, sweet pea.” There Rus was, standing at your door with a light dusting of purple already on his cheekbones. He held out a heart shaped box of chocolates and, fittingly, a sprig of small, pink flowers. Sweet peas.

“Hi, Rus.” You answered, “Are those for me?” Even though you knew the answer already, it was cute to see the way he puffed up a little, clearly proud of his gifts.

“Of course, only the best for my valentine, after all.” He boasted. You giggled and took the gifts. Rus waited for you to put them away and collect your things before you came back to the door. Then, he gestured dramatically to his moped. “Our chariot awaits!” “Not so fast, you haven’t opened your gift yet!” You chided the skeleton, holding out a small box. He looked a bit surprised that you’d gotten him something, but nonetheless grateful as he took the box from you. You bit your lip as he opened the box, hoping he would like it. He pulled out the bracelet, colorful charms meant to look like ferris wheel carts hung off the chain, swinging back and forth. He was quiet for a few moments. “This is- I mean, I love it. Thank you.” Rus stammered, already fidgeting awkwardly to try and put the bracelet on by himself. “It’s so cute! And I-I mean- how did you even find something like this?!” You laughed a bit, stepping closer to help him with the clasp.

“I have my ways,” You teased with a wink, “and we have plans today, right?”

“Right!” He agreed, straightening up a bit. “Are you ready now?” There was a teasing lilt to his voice that made your smile widen just a bit. You took his hand in your own and gave it a little squeeze.

“I am now.”

Despite the sunny weather, there was still a bit of a chill to the February air as the two of you rode through the city, and you found yourself holding onto your boyfriend a little tighter in an attempt to preserve your warmth. He must have noticed, because he looked back a bit to reassure you that your destination wasn’t far.

It was only as he pulled in to park that you realized where he’d brought you. The diner was as cozy now as it had been on your first date- maybe even a bit cozier, with the decorations they’d put up for Valentine’s Day. You took off your helmet and passed it to him, and he stowed it next to his beneath the seat.

“Surprise.” Rus spoke softly, his hand resting on the small of your back as he started to lead you toward the door. “Or- Well, surprise number one?” He added a little conspiratorial ‘nyeh-he-he’ at the end. You rolled your eyes, but it made you happy to see him so confident. He’d certainly come a long way since you’d met- or since your first date.

The inside was decorated even more cutely than what had been visible from the windows. Sparkly tinsel hearts in a variety of pinks and reds held menus at each table, and a number of plush valentines toys from over the years stood sigil on the walls that separated the booths. Despite the changes, the diner still held its uniquely 70s themed charm that had drawn the two of you to it in the first place; the walls and chairs were a variety of bright colors that just barely bordered on neon, perhaps to match with the lighting over the bar.

As you and Rus were led back to a table, you realized that most of the couples in the diner were a good bit older. You didn't mind, and it seemed like Rus didn’t either, especially since it meant the place had a more peaceful, quiet atmosphere. You figured it was probably less overstimulating for him this way. “This was a good idea.” You praised him, delighting in the way it made him smile in just a way so that it reached his eye sockets. Tearing your eyes away from the sight to look at the menu was a difficult task. “Honestly, every time we come in I wonder why we don’t come here more often, but then… Well, it feels nice coming here on special occasions.”

“Yeah, I get what you mean.” Rus agreed, pausing for a moment to order drinks for the two of you. You softened a little, resting your chin on a hand as you set your menu aside. Sometimes he really made you wonder if he could read your mind. The staring made him flush a little as he looked back at you. He cleared his throat before continuing. “You know- I think last time we were here, you said almost the exact same thing. It’s cute.”

“That’s-” A familiar warmth flooded across your face, and you fought the urge to cover up your blushing. “So not fair.” He chuckled, giving you a smug grin without a hint of remorse for his teasing. Stars, you really were head over heels for him.

With the arrival of your drinks came your opportunity to place your orders, and shortly after that, your food. Rus had insisted on your very first date that a good meal was best shared over a good puzzle or game, and so, as was tradition at this point- the two of you took alternating turns trying to solve the peg board puzzle at your table. Once it had been solved, the two of you would issue the other challenges to make it a bit more difficult. Or, in some cases, impossible. Usually, Rus would catch you in an impossible puzzle, but it was satisfying to turn the tables every so often. And the look of surprise on his face always gave you a good laugh.

With lunch out of the way, the two of you headed back towards his moped. And then… walked right past it? You gave your boyfriend a puzzled look.

“Ah. We could drive, if it’s too cold for you.” Rus offered, “But we’re only about a block or so from the next surprise. There’s a park we can cut through right around the corner.” “A walk sounds nice, actually.” You decided, linking your arm with his.

The two of you turned into the park. It was just a few small hills littered with playground equipment and paved trails. You could tell it wasn’t quite as lush as it usually was when springtime rolled around, with the trees still devoid of most of their leaves. It was still very pretty, though. More than anything, what caught your attention was that the hills were covered in clover, not grass. You considered bringing Rus back here once it got a little denser, and telling him about how humans like to look for four-leafed ones.

In a matter of minutes, he’d led you to your destination: a roller skating rink! From the outside it was unassuming. In fact, if it hadn’t been for the giant roller skate logo next to the word ‘SKATE ZONE’ you might not have realized what it was. Rus wasted no time in escorting you inside and renting skates for the two of you. He seemed really excited, judging from his smile and the way he kept sneaking glances at you. You gave him the best smile you could muster up with your nerves going haywire.

They continued to spark more anxiety in you as the pair of you went to the edge of the rink and sat down to lace on your skates. Even more so as Rus finished up and got to his feet with practiced ease, offering you a hand. He looked as confident on the skates as he did on solid ground- maybe even moreso. You’d finished getting the skates on; all you had to do was take his hand, but…

“I’ve never gone roller skating,” You blurted out rather clumsily, looking up to meet his eyelights. “I-I’ve never been, and I’m really nervous that I’m gonna embarrass us both.” Rus chuckled, moving to sit back down beside you.

“Gingersnap, you’re not going to embarrass us. Or me, anyway, I can promise that.” He attempted to comfort you, and you gave him a pouty look. “W-What I mean is, when I was learning to skate, I humiliated myself tons of times. We’re talking some pretty spectacular failures. Like, lucky my skull is still attached-”

“Okay, okay, I think I’m getting the picture.” You cut him off, laughing a bit. “And I’ll be holding your hand the whole time.” Rus reassured, leaning in to press his teeth to your forehead in his equivalent of a kiss. “I won’t let you get anywhere close to anything that bad.” When he put it that way, the panicky energy that had been working overtime in your brain finally started to die down some.

Taking advantage of the moment, you slowly and clumsily worked your way up onto your feet. You’d wanted to offer him a hand, like he had offered you earlier, but you started to roll back a bit. Before you had the chance to panic, Rus caught you, one arm wrapped around your waist firmly to help you steady yourself. Once you were stable, he slowly switched to just holding your hand. The first movements you took were awkward and clunky- your body still trying to walk, rather than skate. “Hold on, don’t lift your feet so much. Try and push yourself along- and lean into it a little.” Rus instructed, trying his best to demonstrate without leaving your side. You watched him for a few moments, stiffly replicating his motions until you were able to move a bit more comfortably. You were slow at first, but he didn’t seem to mind, allowing you to set the pace as you found a rhythm that allowed you to pick up a bit more speed. Every once in a while you wobbled a bit, your grip tightening to what you were sure was crushing his hand. You felt a bit bad, even if the skeleton hadn’t said anything. You tried to let go, but he quickly took your hand again.

“Nope, this is mine now.” He teased. You rolled your eyes. Before you got the chance to retort, the lights began to dim, replaced instead with a rainbow of multicolored spots that danced along every surface in the skating rink. The music got louder, too. The modern pop was exchanged for some cheesy 80s funk tunes, and Rus’ face lit up. “Oh man, we gotta dance to this!”

“We have to what?!” You yelped, legs suddenly feeling as unstable as they’d been when you’d first started. “Oh no, no no no. You can dance-”

“Trust me, sweet pea.” Rus chuckled, very slowly turning you in a spin. It didn’t exactly match the cadence of the music, but it was nice that he kept you at your pace. “I think you can, but if you don’t want to, you don’t have to.” You shook your head.

“I think I’d rather see what you can do without having to lug me around,” You joked, “Besides, it’d be nice to take a break.” Rus nodded, helping you get to a wall and settle comfortably before moving a little distance away to have room to dance.

He was… too good at this. With no hesitation at all he spun around and skated backwards in a pseudo-moonwalk; all the while he kept one hand firmly planted on his hip, the other pointing to the ceiling and crossing his torso to point to the floor in big goofy gestures. You had no idea where he learned to move like that, but it was as entertaining as it was endearing. His other (self described) “sick moves” featured the robot, the sprinkler, and quite possibly the worst take on the worm you’d ever seen. Apparently that was where whoever had been responsible for the music change drew the line, because things went back to normal after that.

The two of you spent a while longer simply skating around, Rus even talking you into letting him pull you along as he raced a few laps as fast as he could. By the time the two of you were leaving your cheeks were sore from smiling so much, your legs were sore from all of the skating, and your stomach was… uncertain about the nachos you’d shared. Rus offered a shortcut back to the moped, which you gratefully accepted, and before long the two of you were back at the skeleton home.

“H-Hey, um… I know it’s getting kinda late, and we’ve had a bit of a longer day that I planned, but I do have one more surprise, if you’re up for it?” Rus offered as he put your helmets away. He seemed somewhat nervous, judging from the way he avoided looking directly at you. You swore he was already blushing, and the anticipation of whatever could have him in this state won out over your exhaustion.

“Rus, I’ve had an amazing day. I’d be so bummed if I didn’t see it all the way through to the end.” Your answer seemed to reignite his confidence, a big smile lighting up his face as he excitedly took your hand and started to lead you to the backyard. “Oop- okay!” You laughed, barely managing to wave at a few of the others as you passed by. Rus stopped hard at the back door, and you bumped into his back. He gave you a bit of an apologetic look.

“Sorry! Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that.” Rus carefully took your face in his hands, looking you over for any sign of injury. He seemed satisfied to find there wasn’t any. “Do you mind closing your eyes for me? I don’t want you to see anything before I get it going properly.”

“Alright,” You agreed, closing your eyes. “Just don’t let me trip over anything.”

“I won’t, I promise.” Rus agreed, his hands leaving your cheeks to meet yours, carefully guiding you into the backyard. Slowly, he sat you down on what felt like a blanket. It was quiet for a few moments.

“Rus?” You called, wondering if he’d left for some reason.

“I’m right here. Keep ‘em closed for just one more minute…” He was… typing? Did he have his laptop? Why did he have his- Before you got the chance to ask, a familiar song began to play. The two of you listened to it frequently, you’d told him how much you loved it on your first date.

“Can I open them?”

“Go ahead.” Rus hummed, setting his laptop aside to scoot closer to you and drape an arm over your shoulders. When you opened your eyes, you were met with a brilliant display of lights dancing across the backyard. All hearts and inside jokes, and simply things that looked pretty. And all of it synced to a playlist that he’d compiled during your time together. You didn’t dare speak, afraid of missing some small detail that he’d painstakingly programmed into the light show. No, you waited until it was over. The grand finale came with a much slower song, one that had made you think of him, but that was a detail you’d never confessed.

“This song makes me think of you,” He admitted, cheekbones dusted with that familiar shade of purple. You glanced over at him for a moment, and he just chuckled and pointed back at the lights.

‘I <3 U!’

“I love you too, Rus.” You laughed a little, practically tackling the skeleton to the ground in a hug. He held onto you so tightly you thought he might never let go. Not that you really wanted him to, anyway.

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lazyheartnacho · 5 months ago

Text

♡ Stretch - Valentine's One-Shot ♡

Written by @/buttergriffin332

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The moon was high in the sky, the stars twinkling and bright. The cold night air granted a nice breeze through the neighborhood, sending little chills into open windows and to those who happened to be up at this ungodly hour. A pleasant night to be curled up in bed, sleeping away to begin the next day.

You were one of the many tucked away under the covers and pleasantly asleep. You’d have stayed asleep if not for the subtle chiming of your phone, the screen flashing on and shining right in your face. It seemed you had forgotten to put it on do not disturb mode. So you were roused from your slumber as you blindly reached for your phone. You moved to turn it off, but just barely caught who the notification was from.

It was from Stretch.

‘Lemme in ;3’

You squinted in confusion at the text and watched as a second one arrived.

‘Hi :D’

“Wha…” You grumbled sleepily.

“Hi.”

You yelped and jolted in your bed, sitting straight up as you gawked at the skeleton lazily peering through the window you left open last night. He just grinned as if he hadn’t just roused you from sleep and gave you the biggest scare of your life; at least, for the month.

“Nice shirt.”

“Stretch? What are you doing here? It’s 3 in the morning.” You groaned, voice rough with sleep as you rubbed your eyes. You weren’t that tired anymore after the spook, but you certainly wished you could go back to sleep.

Stretch grunted and hopped through your window, plopping down on your bed with a sigh. “Couldn’t sleep.” He put his hands in his pockets and turned to you. “Wanna go out with me?”

You sighed and pulled a blanket over your shoulders. “Stretch, it’s the middle of the night. Nothing is going to be open.”

He chuckled. “No, I mean literally. Do you wanna go out with me? Like for a walk.”

You tilted your head at him, confusion all over your face, and watched as Stretch’s goofy smile widened. “You, Stretch, are asking me to go for a walk?” You asked slowly.

“That’s how you know this relationship is serious. Only the very special people in my life know I walk outside in the dead of night with a flashlight when everyone else in the neighborhood is asleep.” His smile was unbelievably large at this point, and maybe it was that you’d only just woken up, but you really couldn’t tell if he was playing around or being serious.

“I’m going back to sleep.” You huffed and laid back down.

Stretch laughed and got up and gently pulled the blanket back. “Okay no, wait. Come on, hear me out.” He snickered and waited for you to turn back to him. “I know it’s late, but it’s a great time of night for lizard and frog hunting.” He knelt down beside the bed.

“Why would I wanna go lizard and frog hunting at three in the morning?” You rolled over and frowned sleepily at him.

“Because it’d be with me? And you love me?” He put on that stupid cheese smile that never fails to make you smile back, but you tried to hide it behind your blanket. “Besides, not like you’re doing anything important-”

“I was sleeping! One of your favorite things to do!” You argued.

He continued to talk. “So why not spend this time doing something fun?!” He stood up to his full height and put his hands on his hips. “Come on, you’ll like it!”

“I like sleep, too…” You slowly sat back up and tried to bite back a yawn.

Stretch settled down into a more calm pose, matching your energy a bit more. When he gets all excited his similarities with Papyrus really show. “We won’t be out too long, promise.”

You sighed, caving at his eager face. “If I do this, you’re treating me to lunch and dinner today.”

He snorted, and you almost moved to argue with him, but he waved it off. “I hear ya, it’s a deal. Lunch and dinner, on the to-do list.” He nodded and reached his hand out when you started to get up. “You’re gonna wanna change clothes.”

“I gathered that, silly.”

After you threw on a pair of sweatpants and a nice soft jacket, you and Stretch lazily strolled out of your house. Sure enough, it’s still the dead of night and very dark. The lamp posts were the only light source that allowed the two of you to see the sidewalk. Stretch seemed to have a specific target to walk towards, so you followed.

You soon found yourself in a more odd location than expected. The edge of a small thicket of trees that bordered the large neighborhood. You couldn’t help but laugh in denial.

“You know, if I didn’t care about you so much, I’d find it really strange that you woke me up in the middle of the night to lead me into a dark forest.” You hummed and gave a little shiver from the breeze.

Stretch snickered and pulled an item from the pocket of his hoodie and affixed it to his skull. You squinted from the bright light suddenly shining on your face and groaned.

“Luckily, I have a means to make it not dark.” He replied and offered a second head light to you. You decided to ask why he had multiple of these later.

“You’re lucky I like you.”

“Oh so very lucky. Let’s go!”

Stretch was very careful with you as you both walked through the cluster of trees and bushes and whatnot. He kept a hand around yours, and the light pointed down to make sure you were never far behind and never slipped. All the while, the orange dots of his eyes flicked back and forth with each sound in the night. You could hear the hoot of an owl, the chirp of crickets, and even the occasional frog croak.

You stayed put when Stretch let your hand go and started snooping through some bushes. He rolled up the sleeves of his hoodie and dove his hands into a small, muddy puddle, and let out a shout of victory.

You cocked your head and watched as he approached you, his hands firmly gripping a large frog covered in dirt.

“I got you a friend.”

“Oh my g-, put it down Stretch!”

He fake gasped. “You don’t like my gift?”

“I love your gift, just not the possibility of it attacking me.” You stepped back and smacked his arm when he moved the frog closer. It was surprisingly relaxed in his hands, all things considered.

Stretch smiled. “He’s fine. He won’t hurt ya!” He cocked his head and hummed. “Can’t tell what kind it is… it’s a wood frog.”

You hummed and nestled your hands in your warm pockets. “Well, we are around trees.” You teased gently.

He rolled his eyes and crouched back down to the spot where he’d grabbed the little guy and let him go. “Let’s hop to it!”

Oddly enough, rooting through leaves and bushes was quite fun! Even if it was a little cold. Your fingers gently tingled in the cold night air which left you to watch Stretch more than participate, but it was enjoyable nonetheless! Anything he caught he’d give you a quick show and share a fact or two about the critter before letting it go. It was remarkable that his clothes stayed clean the whole time.

“This a habit of yours I didn’t know about?” You asked as you were crouched with him as he set free a much smaller frog. It was various shades of brown and you were surprised Stretch saw it even with the light.

He shrugged. “Eh… consider it a temporary hobby? A lot of these little guys weren’t in the underground, so I’m kinda infatuated by them.”

“Ooh, big word.”

“Hush.” He pushed you with his elbow with a chuckle.

You laughed with him and stood back up, walking with him once again. “It’s actually really cute. Even if it’s a little silly to think of you stalking through the night just to look at reptiles and stuff.”

He hummed and wrapped an arm over your shoulders to gently pull you closer as you both strolled your way out towards the street. “I’m glad my silliness is endearing.”

“It’s one of your best qualities.” You replied, grinning when you caught the subtle orange that spread on his face. Though he probably thought you couldn’t see it in the darkness.

He rubbed the back of his neck with one of his hands, trying to brush off the embarrassment. “W-well uh… in that case I-OH!”

In a blink, and with speed you’d rarely seen from the skeleton, he was over by a bush and quickly swiped something from the leaves. You tried to ask what was so exciting that got that reaction from him, but he spun and offered you to look instead.

“Ooh, a lizard.” You smiled and reached out to try to give the rather large critter a pet, but Stretch pulled his hands away.

“A gecko! A tokay gecko specifically.” He lifted his hands up to his face to look at the little guy closer. “You’re not supposed to be out here. No, you are not.” He hummed and tried to look it over without loosening his grip.

“He’s not?” You inquired and shuffled closer to him. The little guy looked pretty. The red spots really made him pop.

He shook his head. “Nope. These little guys are actually from uh… Asia I believe? So far away from here. Obviously invasive.” He hummed and cocked his head to the side. “And usually supposed to be pretty aggressive….” His voice drifted off.

“Looks pretty docile to me.” You observed and leaned against the skeleton, partly to look at the large reptile and partly to soak up his warmth as the cold started to bite a bit more.

“Yeah, that’s the problem. That means he was captive bred. He shouldn’t be out here.” He frowned and held the critter closer to his chest.

You grinned. “Did you just make a new friend?” You teased, nudging him as he laughed.

“Nyeh heh, I wish. Regardless of if he was in captivity before, he’s pretty grown up and won’t hesitate to bite to protect whatever they call their territory. Wouldn’t want any of my little ones getting hurt.” He waved his head in motion for you to follow, going back to the original task of going home.

“What are you gonna do with him then?” You wrapped an arm around one of his own, looking at the reptile that seemed rather content in Stretch’s grasp.

“I’m gonna make a temporary tank for the night, then turn him over to a shelter in the morning. He’s a beautiful little one, I’m sure he won’t be stuck there long.”

You smiled. Watching Stretch dote on something the size of his hand was always so sweet to see. You knew a select few details of his past and that kindness is ingrained in his very being, despite some of the demons he obviously has, no matter how much he refused to tell you. Watching him be his authentic self in these moments reminded you of just why you fell for him.

You warmed up in the skeleton house and helped Stretch set up the temporary tank for the gecko. The little guy immediately hid under a hide away log the moment Stretch let him inside. After he was settled, you yawned and sat with the skeleton on the couch. Drowsiness had begun to weigh on you a while ago, but finally sitting down showed you just how tuckered out you were. It was only 5 in the morning, and you were thankful you didn’t have work tomorrow and had every intention of sleeping in.

You felt the skeleton nuzzle his face against the top of your head and hum. “Happy Valentine's Day, sweet bee.”

You turned to look at him. “Valentines day?”

“Yeah, it’s technically the 14th, even if the sun isn’t up yet. Had the whole day planned for ya…. If you’re up for that I mean.” he hummed, a shy smile tugged on his face.

You hummed sweetly and leaned your head back to his shoulder. “That sounds lovely, but I don’t know if I’ll be waking up any time soon for your plans.” You sighed.

Stretch rubbed your back and pulled you a touch closer. “Well, good thing I had that planned out too. Had a whole lunch and dinner date planned.”

“Aww.” You smiled and closed your eyes. Lunch and dinner, he’s so sweet.

…

Wait.

“Is that why you laughed!?”

Stretch’s cackling filled the living room and you’re once again reminded of another reason why you fell for him. He really does think of everything.

You groaned and roughly shoved yourself against him, intending to take all the warmth and comfort he could possibly have. “Happy Valentine's Day to you too, you dork.”

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lazyheartnacho · 5 months ago

Text

♡ Ash - Valentine's One-Shot ♡

Written by @/buttergriffin332

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

It was midday when you finally finished setting up your Valentine's Day gift for Ash. It was nothing special, but getting that ribbon to look perfect took much longer than you’d care to admit. You’d gotten him a cute mug shaped exactly like an empty flower pot and a trowel-shaped spoon to match, with cute print stating ‘Gardener of the Year’ on the front. Inside said mug was a package of herbs and leaves for Ash’s favorite type of tea. The mug was wrapped in simple yellow wrapping paper with daisies on it. And to top it off, the healthiest rose you could muster up in your backyard. It was a bit more pink than the classic red rose, but it was alive! You even added a little handwritten note saying ‘You’re my favorite bud’.

Not too shabby, if you say so yourself.

After you carefully placed the items in a basket to safely carry them to the skeleton family’s household, you noticed that you had a text message you’d missed. A part of you screamed in despair when you realized the pending texts were from Ash.

`heya. do ya wanna come over?`

`it’s a human holiday today, right?`

`we could talk while i work if you wanna`

`i dunno what humans do on “valentines day”’

You couldn’t believe you’d left him on delivered for a whole 12 minutes! How could you?!

‘ Hey! I’d love to hang out with you! You know that! <3’

‘ In fact, I actually have something to give you, so this works out great!’’

‘ If that offer is still up, I can be over in 2 minutes!’

You tidied up the basket a little while waiting for his reply. After a third try of trying to wind the ribbon around the handle to make it look prettier, you gave up.

‘ the offer is always up’

That’s all the clarification you needed to throw on a sweater, grab his little basket, and head out the door with a pep in your step. It was a little nippy, but luckily the sweater helped to block out the breeze.

Once you’d arrived on the doorstep, you scuffed off the debris from your shoes to avoid the wrath of half the family. Then, you bumped the door open with your hip. You announced your arrival to the house before the sweet smell of something like honey hit your nose, and you followed the trail all the way to the kitchen.

Ash stood in the kitchen with a large pot of something boiling on the stove as he bustled to and fro with a few other tasks. He seemed to be trying to tap some colorful powder onto a sheet of paper.

“Hey, you.” You smiled, gently setting the basket on the empty counter space. You made sure to avoid tipping over the vase of colorful flowers, some of which you didn’t recognize. Ash paused and turned his head to face you, his face perking up in the softest way.

“Heya. Sorry, didn’t hear you come in.” He tapped the rest of the powder onto the paper.

You sauntered up behind him and peered over his shoulder. “Whatcha got there? Chalk?”

The skeleton chuckled and shook his head. “No, it’s paint. The base of it.”

“Paint? Isn’t that supposed to be a liquid? Or something?” You scratched your cheek with a confused hum.

Ash gently folded the paper to pour the green powder into a glass vial. “When you add a binder to it, it turns into a nice watercolor paint. They’re for Poplar. He said he was running low on a few colors.”

You gasped and grinned. “Aww! I didn’t know you could make paint!” He slid over to the stove and peered over the top, which you realized was where that sweet smell was coming from. “Is that what this is?”

Ash set the topped vial aside next to a yellow one and nodded. “Mhm. It’s pea flower. If I did it right, it should make a nice teal.” He massaged his palm a bit with his thumb. Clearly, he’d been at this for a second.

“What do you gotta do next?” You asked, wafting the nice smell of the boiling pea flower toward you. The color looked really pretty from what you could tell.

The skeleton sighed. “I gotta pour that stuff into a separate jar and add some alum and washing soda, then strain it through a filter to catch the pigment, and then let it dry out.” He pointed to the sink where a jar tied off with a few filters sat. He seemed exhausted just explaining the process.

“Pour the whole thing into the jar?” You confirmed, and grabbed the oven mitts before Ash could.

He blinked. “Yeah…”

You turned off the stove and smiled. “Go look at what I got you, I can do this.” You reassured and slowly waddled over to the jars.

“Are you sure? Ya don’t have to do that…”

“Yep! Go take a little break.” You pointed at some small containers set aside. “Is this the stuff I gotta pour in?” Once he confirmed, you shooed him off one final time before carefully pouring the contents into the jar. Seeing the light shine through really made the pretty color pop. You couldn’t wait to see how it would look in Poplar’s future paintings.

Once you set the empty pot aside in the sink, you poured in the alum, then the washing soda, the crinkling of wrapping paper stopped and silence filled the air. You looked over your shoulder as you stirred the contents and smiled when seeing Ash’s expression.

The rose sat in one hand, and the mug rested within the other. Ash was smiling at your little note. A soft blush sat on his cheeks, and he looked so truly happy that it made your heart do a couple flips in the best way. You sighed softly and jumped when you felt liquid hit your fingers and realized the substance had foamed over the top. Luckily, you were able to tame the mess before it got too bad.

“What’s this for?” His soft voice broke the silence, and you turned back to him once you’d wiped the mess away.

“It’s for you, silly.” You chuckled, and gently stirred the liquid with the stained wooden spoon. Seems Ash had been busy with this project for a little bit.

You felt him shuffle in beside you, with his hands cradled around the mug and flower like they were the most precious items in the world. You honestly felt really touched by his tenderness with them.

“Well… I get that but… why?” he asked, looking up at you with confusion written over his face. Once you’d finished stirring the pigment, you turned fully to face him. His gloves felt soft against your hands as you gently cupped his own, a tender touch with a matching smile.

“Remember that holiday you mentioned in your texts? It’s Valentine's Day.” You explained as you brushed your thumbs over the tops of his gloved hands.

His sockets blinked. “Oh… I don’t think I know that one. We don’t really… celebrate most human holidays.” He looked down at your joined hands, and a small smile grew on his face. “What does Valentine's Day mean to you..?”

You carefully removed the mug and flower from his hands and placed them on the counter, letting the rose sit inside the planter mug before you properly held his hands. He gave a gentle squeeze. Part of you thought he’d be more firm if he had the energy for it, but you’re not going to complain. Love isn’t only shown in physical strength, after all.

“Well, the short and modern version is that it’s a day for couples to just… be cute and lovey dovey. Celebrate being together, appreciating their partners. Give gifts, all that jazz.” You explained, probably very poorly, but judging by his face he seemed to understand. “Personally, I just like to spend time with my partner and do something fun.”

“Oh… well... We’re a couple.” he stepped a little closer. You could feel the tips of his shoes as they touched yours. “I’m your partner.”

“That you are.” You agreed with a hum, smiling when seeing his blush bloom on his cheeks.

“I…” he looked over to the counter where that large vase of flowers still rested. “I didn’t know today was that kinda holiday but… I guess I still have something to give you.” He pulled his hands away and beckoned you to the bouquet.

The clear vase held a bushel of very bright, healthy, and colorful flowers. Pinks, purples, and greens are neatly fluffed in an almost perfect circle; and you can’t help but imagine Ash tediously hunched over making sure it looked that way. You could only put a name to two of the flowers, but it looked gorgeous nonetheless.

“It’s very pretty.” You praised, gently reaching out to stroke a soft petal. “Did you grow these yourself?”

He nods. “Mmm… most of them. I had to get the limonium from a shop in town, but I grew everything else.” He smiled, looking very pleased with himself in regard to his flowers.

You bit your lip and stared hard at the bouquet, squinting as if the names of the plants would just jump out into your head. “............which ones are those again?”

Ash chuckled, his smile widening as he took in my distress. “They’re the smaller purple ones. They’re also called sea lavenders, because of how much it looks like real lavender.” He explained, and gently rotated a flower to sit better with the bunch.

“Why not get real lavender?”

“Real lavender is toxic to cats.”

“Fair enough.” You nodded and smiled back at the bouquet. “It’s very pretty, hun. Thank you. And you didn’t even know it was Valentine’s Day?”

He blushed and shook his head, rubbing his arm shyly before he gently pressed his shoulder against you. “I’m.. glad you like it. I hope you like what it says, too.” He hummed.

You blinked. “Oh, shoot, is there a note?” You gently spun the vase, looking for a possible tag or ribbon.

“Oh, no. There’s no note. Um… right you probably don’t know a lot of flower language, huh?” He rubbed the back of his neck and turned his head away.

“I know red usually means love or something.” You faced him and smiled, heart fluttering at the apparent hidden message within the bouquet. A message he spent months growing and perfecting to give to you. “What does it mean?”

He fixed the strap of his overalls back to his shoulder, clearly a little shy. “Most of the flowers there mean…. First love, and similar to it.” He said softly, his face a deep blue.

You blinked and smiled slowly. “Ash….. that’s so beautiful! You went through all the effort to make all this just to tell me I’m your first love?” You could feel your own cheeks warming.

He nodded slowly and faced me, his smile the biggest it'd been so far. “I… didn’t know how else to say it.”

You used his hands to pull him close and kiss the top of his skull. “For someone who didn’t know about Valentine's Day, you certainly chose the perfect day to give me this.”

He chuckled gently, squeezed your hands and sighed. “I love you, Petal.”

“I love you too, Ash. Thank you.”

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