#ash !!

Phantom’s not great at articulating his feelings, about- anything, really. Putting all of the thoughts and feelings and emotions swirling around in his mind, into actual words, and coherent sentences at that, is an almost impossible task more often then not. He learned this early on about himself, and while he has since made progress, sometimes its easier to show the others just how much he loves them.

When Phantom hears Vi talking with Mountain and Cirrus about the best road trip snacks late one night on the bus, early in the first leg of the tour, he makes a mental note as Vi mentions her love for sweets, chocolate, and dried fruit. 

Later that week, on a gas station stop, Phantom finds freeze dried chocolate covered strawberries and wonders if Vi has ever had them before, she had opted to stay on the bus, claiming not to want anything, but Phantom decides he’ll get them for her to try anyway, and well, if she doesn't like them, he’s sure he will.

Headed back to the bus, Phantom makes a B-line straight to Vi, more than a little excited to show off what he had gotten her.

“I know you said you didn't want anything, buuuut, I found these and thought you'd maybe wanna to try them?” Phantom’s voice trails off towards the end as he reaches into the plastic bag, dropping the treat into Vi’s lap. 

Phantom watches carefully as she studies the packaging.

“These sounds great sweetheart, thank you! Here you wanna try one too?” Vi pats the space next to her, encouraging Phantom to join her. 

Phantom watches her face light up at the candy, and after that, he is sure to buy her another bag at every gas station stop for the rest of the tour, just to see that smile on her face, each time a silent, I love you, I care about you, I’m glad you're here.

Their first kiss tasted like those chocolate covered strawberries, Vi’s own attempt at a silent, I love you, I care about you, I’m glad you're here. 

Somewhere along the way, Phantom's sure some of the wires in his brain must've gotten crossed, no longer able to think about those chocolates without craving their taste straight from Vi’s lips. 

When the tour ended, Vi grieved the loss of her new favorite treat, sure, she’d miss those gas station finds, but what she’d miss more, was the excuse it gave her to melt into Phantom’s hungry kisses. 

That is until she finds Phantom knocking at her door, “I come bearing grifts” he says, grinning and holding up a bag of those same chocolate covered strawberries.

She laughs at his display of affection, how excited he looks to she her, and steps to the side, inviting him in. 

Vi situates herself back into the bed, patting the space next to her, a silent reminder of the first time Phantom had brought her those chocolate strawberries to try, how skittish they both were, him around her, and her around all of the ghouls, compared to now, the quint sprawled out across her bed, bringing a chocolate up to her mouth, intending to feed it to her, himself.

They sit in a comfortable silence for quite a while, close, enjoying their shared treat.

“If I was a stray,” Phantom breaks the silence, “and followed you home, would you keep me?” he asks, almost causally, popping another chocolate into his mouth.

“We are in my bed” Vi giggles, shaking her head fondly at the ghoul next to her, of course I would goes unsaid.

Phantom smiles bright, and he attempts to distract from his growing blush by reaching for another chocolate strawberry.

“Thought those were a gift for me? Vi chastises, swiping the bag back, out of his lap.

“Oh cmon, you'll get your treat soon enough” she coos, as Phantom gives her his best pout, one she is sure he has perfected during his time topside. 

Vi leans back into her space against the headboard, grabbing for another chocolate, watching as Phantom’s eyes follow her hand from the bag to her mouth.