🌸 .: クリムゾン·ダンス :. 🌸

Today was supposed to be a relaxing experience but between busted egos and misguided determination, what was once a date soon became akin to a scene straight out of a comedy sketch. With two men set in their ways, there was no way anything could be normal without a little chaos. The two were a half of each other's whole in more strange ways than good. But perhaps in the long run, those little quirks made each moment fresh.

At least, that's what they tried to believe.

It all started out with the two high school boys meeting up one afternoon once class had ended for the day. Chrom managed to slip free from fencing practice to keep his end of the promise to treat his ivory haired partner to a much needed outing. Slipping entwined hands into one of Robin's oversized hoodie pockets, the shorter of the two puffed out his cheeks and huffed out playfully.

"I'm surprised you made it out here in one piece. I figured Sully would've had your head for bailing out of practice right before a tournament."

Chrom couldn't help but rub the back of his neck out of nerves, knowing all too well that he was treading on a thin wire when it came to her rage. For taking this time off, he had a feeling she was going to overwork him big time the following day. However, for a few quiet moments with Robin, it was worth it.

"Hey, don't give her any ideas now! Besides, I know how much this means to you. We don't get to hang out very often due to our conflicting schedules so I had to keep my promise."

The fencer proclaimed with a shy smile all while holding back a lighthearted chuckle when his love almost shot him a glare for talking in such a sappy manner. At times like this, Robin had to wonder just how in the world did he manage to fall so head over heels for such a featherbrained man.

"You're so embarrassing, you know that? Come on, let's get going before it gets too late."

There were no further comments as the two made their way across the street towards their destination. It was easily one of Robin's favorite places to go, though this was the first time he was going with Chrom in tow. He wasn't fond of extravagant dates, given that he was used to living a life with very few luxuries. When Chrom tried to insist that he'd treat him right with glorious gifts and treats, Robin instantly refused. All he needed was his company. That's why the local café was a perfect medium for them both.

Once inside the small establishment, Chrom and Robin pulled away from each other to contemplate what to order. Chrom looked over towards his boyfriend and once he got his attention, he smiled with his wallet in hand.

"I'm going to treat us today so feel free to order whatever you want, Robin. You like the caramel latte with whip cream, right? I heard Lissa talking about it the last time you two hung out."

Almost instantly, the teen sputtered and took a turn for denial. This was so embarrassing! He was sure Chrom was going to consider such a sweet drink to be childish, something that he worked his butt off to prove otherwise despite his small stature. Robin wasn't going to admit to his secret treat that easily.

"H-Huh? Lissa's wrong! I don't like sweet things like that. I drink my coffee black, just like my father!"

Robin tried to mask his initial shock with a confident smirk, nudging his lover to keep up the act. "Maybe you heard her talking about her favorite drink? I like it nice and strong. What about you?"

While his lover was acting a bit strange, Chrom merely took it as being playful and shrugged it off. It was Robin's special day so if he wanted his coffee like that, who was he to say no? Though he had to admit it was rather admirable to see Robin dive into the more sophisticated tastes. So much so that the navy haired male wanted to give it a try.

"Me?" He started with a determined gleam in his ocean hued eyes. "I like it that way too. Alright... so two orders of hot coffee with...-"

"A lemon pound cake... please," Robin mumbled as he gave a wave of his hand, deciding to pull away yet again to get their table ready while Chrom got busy with the order. Oh how he hoped he'd be able to handle a drink so vastly different from his usual taste.

With the order placed, the two love birds settled down in a quiet corner of the shop to enjoy each other's company. Robin was perfectly nestled against the elder's shoulder, humming in attention as the other told him all about the hectic school day. The day had started with a surprise pop quiz which Chrom was sure he failed all because of his short attention span to studying. If Robin managed to find that out, he was sure these calm dates would quickly turn into study halls so he tried to reassure the other often that his grades were up to his high standards. The ivory teen couldn't help it though. He loved to learn and in turn, tried to inspire his friends to see the benefit of good grades. However, that was a tale for another day. Chrom proceeded to confide in his boyfriend before the other shuffled and gave a cute giggle.

"You better manage your time better this week, dork. Otherwise you're going to fall behind. But I guess I can let it slide for now..."

Robin's voice trailed off as he reached under the table to lace his scarred hand with one of his partner's, relishing in the mild comfort and warmth it brought against the cold chill of the building.

"I missed you, you know. Being so caught up with your practice and all. We normally only get a few minutes to chat in the halls before class."

Smiling himself, the fencer tightened the grip and found himself pulling the white haired historian in training against his chest. In all honesty, he didn't care that he was pushing the boundaries of their affection.

It felt right at the time and Robin appeared to be enjoying the contact as well.

Chrom felt guilty for pushing Robin aside for his sport but he knew the other supported him all the same. That's why moments like this were so precious.

"I'm sorry. Don't worry, once this last tournament is over, I'll be free until summer. We can do more things together during Winter Break. I promise."

"I'll hold you to that," Robin replied, perking up as a worker came over to finally deliver the warm beverages and his slice of cake.

Now came the moment of truth. Who could handle the coffee the best? Given the look in each of their eyes, they knew this was going to be more than just a battle of pride. The two mugs were lifted from the table and once Robin finished devouring his piece of cake, it was now time for the ultimate test. The rims of the cups were placed against their lips and as they took the first sip of liquid death, the look of immediate regret settled upon both of their features.

"BLEGGGH PTooy! S-So BITTER!"

Warm coffee spewed everywhere, startling both each other and the other patrons who happened to be lurking near-by. Chrom found the experience to be hilarious, struggling to keep his laughter down at the lingering taste on his tongue. But with Robin, it was a whole different story. He felt humiliated by acting so impolite by spitting his drink out of disgust. Not to mention in the process, the two of them had made quite a mess of the table. Was it that moment when the older of the two realized he had messed up? Or perhaps was it when Robin suddenly yanked his hood over his face, pushing Chrom's concerned hand full of napkins and telling him to leave him alone before bolting out?

He needed to fume off. Robin took a few moments to calm his flustered breathing as he hid his face with his sleeves. He didn't mean to run off like that but when he saw how concerned Chrom looked back there, the smaller teen needed to get out before he could see just how red his face was. But on hindsight, it now clicked that his exit probably sent the wrong message to his partner, who was pretty much left in the dust back at the café.

Before he even had the chance to send over an apology through text though, a mop of blue locks flashed out from the corner of his hazel eyes. Chrom wasted no time in trying to make things right, as evident once he caught up with his shocked lover with two to-go cups in hand. The poor guy looked absolutely exhausted, yet he still gave off that special grin that was only meant for Robin.

"H-H-Hah... Robin, are you ok? I'm sorry for that..! If I had known, I would've never... Look, it's ok. I cleaned it up and no one said a thing. Was this about you.. appearing more manly for me?"

Chrom asked while tipping his head to the side, causing Robin to slink down a tad before crossing his arms.

"...No. I mean.. maybe. I guess. Lissa called my tastes girly so I wanted to prove her wrong. But now I see that it was ridiculous. I only made a fool of myself."

Seeing those cheeks all puffed out in a pout, Chrom moved forward and knelt down to be eye to eye with Robin. He just had to cheer him up. To make this date right.

"I guess that makes two of us, huh? I spit that nasty stuff out too, you know. It was pretty gross. But you don't have to do stuff like that to impress me. You're perfect just the way you are. After all, you're my~?"

He mused expectantly, only growing silent when a small smile cracked through Robin's pout.

"...your other half. I get it, I get it."

Gods, Robin was just too cute for words.

Chrom pulled Robin into a weak hug before he remembered to hand him one of the two cups that were still gripped in his hands. He hoped this would be enough of a treat to get that smile of his beaming once again.

"Oh, right! I got us these to try and salvage the day... I assume Lissa held some truth to her words. Please tell me you like caramel lattes... if not, I'll return them for something el-"

"I do. Thank you, Chrom. You really didn't have to do this."

Stars lit up in his eyes and once they settled down on the park bench close by, the two relished in the sweet lattes that instantly worked their charm on his partner's face.

"You know, I think I like this too, Robin."

Turning his focus from his drink, the ivory male cocked an eyebrow in between his sips, not noticing the dab of whip that lingered on his upper lip.

"Oh? Why is that?"

Chrom's next move nearly caused flustered mess number two. With his coffee set aside and a blush dusting across his cheeks, his free hand cupped his lover's cheek as he leaned forward to gently peck Robin's unsuspecting lips. The kiss certainly didn't last very long but it was enough to illicit an amusing reaction from his partner.

Heat instantly flooded Robin's body and all while he sputtered and stumbled over his words, Chrom smirked.

"Because it tastes just as sweet as you, Robin."

The shove and shy kiss in return was worth it just to see his love bury himself in that hoodie of his.

Ren's concerned words snapped Aoba out of his fourth yawn in a row, causing him to try and laugh it off. "Ah, yeah! There's nothing to worry about. I'm just a little groggy." He reassured the other before he worried his little head off. Anything that involved his well-being sent the ex-canine into protection mode, despite losing his system monitors after gaining his bodies. It was a habit he retained and had no intention of losing, even if it got a little over-bearing. Shoulders slumped down in defeat as Ren gave in, knowing there was no point in fighting with the other. "If you say so." His tenor voice trailed off as the tip of his fangs poked out from his pouting lips. The couple had been headed back home after a quick visit to grocery store to pick up some food for dinner and the navy haired male couldn't help but zone in on the exhaustion Aoba seemed to possess. He wasn't one to admit it outright but even in his Allmate days, he never liked to see Reason overwork himself. It held more importance now, given that he was now working twice as hard to help cover his doctor visits and all the things he needed as he grew into his new form. Ren couldn't express with words just how grateful he was. Now, he wanted the man who gave him so much to take some time off himself.

"Huh? What's that look for?" Aoba stopped and turned his attention towards Ren, unaware of how his words had affected the other. Ren wasn't one to get all emotional and defensive like his partner but when he had his heart set on something, old habits got the best of him. Golden orbs met hazel before Ren moved forward and placed his hands on top of the plush fabric jacket that was a trademark for the boy. "...Is it bad? This look on my face? Forgive me, Aoba. I am simply concerned about your health as of late.. I'm sorry for letting my emotions on the matter get the best of me." He nearly whimpered out, causing Aoba to gasp and shake his head. "No no! It's alright, Ren. Honest! If anything, it reminds me of the past. You may not be an Allmate anymore, capable of using technology to check up on me, but it's really sweet to see you so adamant on watching my health." Ren could only sigh as he took in each and every word Aoba spoke, both relieved and content that the other seemed to appreciate his habit in good nature. "..Thank you, Aoba. You still should get some rest when we return home. I'm sure Tae will agree, even if it is only for an hour before dinner." The only response he got to that was a playful jeer before the two proceeded down the busy Old District lane to their abode.

Once home, it took Ren no time in convincing Aoba to follow through with his suggestion for a much needed nap. While Aoba occupied the bedroom, the ex-canine took it upon himself to remain by his side, maintaining his role as guardian. Thoughts buzzed through his mind, all reminding him of the old days and how a big part in caring for the other was now gone. In some ways, he was glad to have this sort of freedom. But in some ways, he liked the duty of reminding his partner to keep up with his own daily routines. In the end, bad habits weren't so bad if they contained good intentions, right? Ren liked to believe so.

He'd always remain by his side, he promised that from the day he came into existence.

"Ren? Is that...your tongue poking out of your mouth...?"

Well, maybe he still had some other habits he needed to work on too.

With the smallest hint of tongue poking from his lips due to drifting off into his thoughts, he instantly shook such a look away with a flush. How embarrassing.

Flopping back on to the bed with a low grunt of exhaustion, Ren placed the small hand weights aside and drifted off into his own thoughts involving his daily accomplishments for the day. With Aoba returning to work after being by his side for the past two weeks since getting discharged, the ex-canine took it upon himself to recover as quickly as possible on his own. However, it turned out to be much more taxing than he realized. Shifting from an Allmate to flesh and blood was a harrowing ordeal, even for one with such steel nerves. His body throbbed and ached as it adjusted into it's new form, not to mention the added physical therapy only stirred the discomfort after each session. Despite the pain, Ren pushed onwards. Each day, the navy haired man managed to master something new, much to his partner's elation. Every little accomplishment was rewarded with a kiss and words of encouragement, sowing the seed of determination inside his mind. He wanted to get better. Not just for himself, but for Aoba too.

A quick glance to the clock showed that Aoba would return in less than ten minutes from his delivery job for the day, causing a warm smile to work it's way on his face. He couldn't wait to welcome the other back and show him the journal records for the day. Throughout the week, Ren managed to start learning all sorts of things with Tae's help on the side. His main focus was motor skills, given that when they first took him home from the hospital, he felt pitiful that he couldn't even manage to eat with anything more than a spoon. His recent attempt with chopsticks at the dinner table ended in a few good laughs and a sheepish puppy as his stiff hands dropped the utensil various times during the course. That wasn't a big cause of concern in the end as he regained some confidence from completing his very first note to his dear love. The piece of paper was crumpled left and right, not to mention scribbled all over. Yet, there was one clear message written in innocent handwriting, much like a note written by a child to their parent and you could've sworn Ren still maintained his ears and tail by the look on his face when he bestowed the surprise to his beloved. As hazel eyes scanned over the simple words, smiles were shared between each other.

"T H A N K Y O U"

The sound of the front door opening drew Ren out from his reminiscence and he struggled to prop himself back up on to his pillow mound as muscle aches trickled across his arms and back from a long day's work out. "Ren! I'm home!" Aoba bellowed out from below, wasting no time in plucking his shoes off and ascending up the stairs to reunite with an anxious pup. Gold hues met hazel and with a weak smile, Ren returned Aoba's call with a calm voice. "Welcome home, Aoba." Throwing his bag off to the side of the room, Aoba made his way over to the bed and propped himself up on the edge with a content sigh. After a long day of work, there was nothing more he wanted to do than to hear all about the ex-canine's progress. "How was it today?" He asked, cocking his head to the side. Ren simply shrugged before handing over the time journal that held all of his records for the day. "It went well. I completed my goal of ten lifts with my hand weights, though I am ashamed to admit that it tired me out more than I expected. I'm sorr-" A finger gently shushed the rambling pup, followed by a chuckle. "Ren, there is no reason to feel ashamed. I'm so proud of you for meeting your goal. Every day you push yourself more and more. Maybe I should try harder too, huh?" Resisting the urge to ramble out that he didn't feel like he deserved Aoba's praise for such a little feat, Ren simply leaned forward to press their foreheads together with a low hum. In turn, Aoba did the same. A familiar gesture, yet new and full of emotions.

"Thanks, as always."

"The pleasure is mine, Ren."