MakaMarie

“What happened to wanting to take pictures of the flowers?” You asked, feeling the warmth spreading to your cheeks and acknowledging that it wasn’t from the weather. 

“I am, I am, I promise,” Aether replied, scratching the back of his neck before his golden eyes opened again to find yours. “I just couldn’t help myself when you look so much prettier.”

“What a smooth-talker,” you mused as you came to a halt in front of him, reaching out to pick a pale pink flower from his hair, which matched the blush dusting his cheeks and the freckled bridge of his nose. 

Since winter was slowly melting away, the little spots were hardly visible and you were sure you could only make them out because you knew they were there, but you looked forward to the time where his skin would be sunkissed by the beauty of summer.

Intertwining your hand with his warm one, you pulled him with you towards your chequered picnic blanket. You sat with your knees touching, your head resting on Aether’s shoulder and his leaning against the top of yours. For a few moments you rested like that, soaking up the rays of the sun and listening to the birds chirping.

Then, Aether moved to lift the strap of the camera over his head and set the device down to rummage through your basket of snacks. With his focus elsewhere, you could take your time to admire him. The light breaking through the almond trees created a spotted pattern, illuminating different colours of his dyed highlights and reflecting off his jewellery.

Almost unconsciously, your arm stretched towards the camera and you uncovered the lens. A light breeze rustled the leaves and moved the light material of his unbuttoned shirt, strands of his bright hair moving with the wind. Just as you took a picture, more almond blossoms drifted down to aid the dreamy scenery of the moment.

Like you had done earlier, Aether turned towards the sound of the shutter to see your smile half covered by the camera in your hands. The next shot memorialised the endearing surprise painted on his features; the one after that the golden glow of his eyes in the sunlight. The last two pictures captured his gorgeous smile and the way his palm covered the lens.

“Hey! Didn’t you just complain about that?” Aether laughed, helping you put the camera back into its case.

“Sorry,” you teased, letting yourself be pulled back into his chest, “I just couldn’t help myself when you’re this beautiful.”

“What am I going to do with you,” your boyfriend sighed over your shoulder, sounding not at all upset over your smartass comment.

“You could kiss me,” you half-jokingly proposed.

What you didn’t expect was Aether to tilt your head to the side as he leaned down to capture your lips with his. Though, your surprise soon morphed into content reciprocation as you closed your eyes and melted into the rhythm he set. 

All too soon you parted and you took a moment to let the sensation linger before you searched for Aether’s aureate gaze. When your eyes fluttered open, you found he was tracking the movement of his thumb tracing along the curve of your bottom lip, mesmerised in his own world.

“You know,” he hummed, seemingly more to himself, “I wouldn’t mind if you copied this as well.”

with love so sudden and sweet, it takes you by storm, his gentle kisses seemingly hearing the silent, negative voice in your head as he knows how to make you calm down and comfort you in the process.

curiously, your gaze swathes from your figure to his face, admiring the handsome features belonging to your boyfriend— those lips and those eyes, reaching your soul when it feels out of sight.

he does it flawlessly, loving you of course, because diluc loves you to the depth and breadth and height, with a passion entirely put to use.

it pains him when he sees you saddened. when all he sees is a beauty of cloudless climes and starry skies— your smile that shows him what home looks like, or the addiction of your lips, the glow in your eyes.

hey, you hear? you need to focus.

because my dear, you're perfect you see, you cannot not be.

because perfection ultimately lies in the imperfection of it all, the uniqueness, the individuality and kindness.

and even when you cannot see it at all today, all of it will forever bloom like the sweetest flower on your face.