“Mare?” Mad stood at the bedroom door, hugging an arm to the side and wearing one of Mare’s favorite oversized sweaters. Seeing Mad in that told Mare right away that something was up since Mad didn’t usually seek out something so thick with his scent. Yes, he’s stolen clothing before, but usually, if he wanted Mare’s scent, he just went to him. Mad liked it from the source.

“Hey, starlight.” Mare greeted, sitting himself up as Mad walked into the room. “Something on your mind?” 

“Yeah.” Mad crawled up on the bed and sat on Mare’s lap. He paused as his eyes glanced down at Mare’s lips and then back up to his eyes. A silent question that he didn’t know how to ask out loud yet, at least, not without Mare starting it up first. 

“Would you like to kiss?” Mare asked, grinning when Mad answered him with a nod. When it came to his work, Mad was confident, loud, prideful, and not afraid to tell or show others that he knew what he was doing. He could get snarky and sassy, and Mare loved that about him. But when it came to this stuff, romance and physical intimacy, Mad was clueless. He’d get soft and shy, and it was the cutest thing Mare had ever seen in his life. “You can kiss me.”

“Okay.” Mad adjusted and then slowly leaned in, pausing just short, his lips brushing against Mare’s with his breath before finally closing the space. Mare waited patiently until Mad relaxed and his eyes fluttered shut. He then hummed and placed his hands on Mad’s waist, sliding them down to rest on his hips. 

The kiss was soft and tender. Mare tested the waters with a gentle nip to Mad’s lower lip, earning a light gasp and a tight grip to the front of his shirt. Mad had to pull away a few moments later to catch his breath, and Mare saw how wide Mad’s pupils were and how flushed his cheeks were and saw that his fangs were peeking out from behind his upper lip. He knew that look. Mare held Mad’s hips a little firmer and flipped them over, laying him out on the bed.

“You want more than a kiss, don’t you?” Mare prompted. “You’re wearing that sweater, your fangs are coming out, tell me, love, what do you really want?”

“We haven’t freshened up our marks in a while.” Mad lifted a hand and traced his fingers on Mare’s neck, brushing the tips against his claim mark. 

“Do you want me to bite you?” 

“Yeah.”

“And you want to bite me?”

“Yeah.”

“I can arrange that~” Mare chuckled, leaning down and catching Mad in another kiss. Mad melted much more easily now that Mare knew exactly what he was thinking; his hands went to Mare’s shoulders and moved down, feeling at his arms. He felt the tattooed skin, following each curve of muscle and groaning with approval when Mare flexed so he could feel them more. 

“Mare~” Mad breathed out as Mare trailed his kisses down. “Mare, please.” He pleaded, feeling Mare’s fangs graze against his neck. “Please.”

“I got you.” Mare crooned, dragging his tongue across Mad’s neck before finally sinking his teeth in, getting a nice, happy sound from Mad, feeling his hands grasp at the back of his shirt desperately. He let his fangs linger in the skin for a few moments before taking them out, lapping at the fresh mark and smiling at Mad’s purr. “Go on. You can bite me back.” Mad didn’t hesitate. High off his own fresh mark, he lifted his head and bit into Mare’s neck, purring even louder as soon as his fangs broke through the skin. “Damn, starlight,” Mare grunted low in his throat. Mad pulled away with a happy, satisfied look on his face. “Better?”

Phantom let himself into Mare’s house, multiple files under his arm as he glanced at the couch where Mad was curled in one of Mare’s old hoodies. “Just the man I was looking for!”

“Hey, Phan,” Mad hummed, thumbing through his notebook without looking up. “Mare’s in the music room if you need him.”

“I was actually looking for you, Maddy,” Phantom replied, sitting on the opposite end of the couch to Mad. “Found some articles you might be interested in.” He smiled when Mad finally looked up, his old book scent turning sweeter as his curiosity spiked.

“What kind of articles?”

“They’re doing some research into treatments to help infertile omegas,” Phantom began, holding his hands up as Mad’s stare hardened. “Their current results have helped mates to produce children without harm to the omega.”

“What’s your point?” Mad asked, setting his book aside to focus on Phantom.

“There’s a chance you can still give Mare pups,” Phantom replied, eyes shining as his whiskey scent sharpened. “Sure, the treatments are still in development, but there’s an opportunity for you and Mare to have a family. A proper family.”

“Why would I want that? Mare doesn’t care if I don’t give him pups.”

“You still want to give him children, though,” Phantom pressed, setting the files onto the coffee table. “You want that because you know he only said he didn’t care to make you feel better.”

“You can bite me,” Mad spat, lip curling in the semblance of a snarl as he tucked his legs further under the hoodie. “Mare doesn’t lie about that. He loves me.”

“While it’s a good offer, I don’t much like the taste of coffee and old books,” Phantom joked, getting off the couch and making his way to the door before pausing. “Besides, Mare wouldn’t like that.”

“I wouldn’t like what?” Mare asked, stepping into the room while rolling his sleeves above his elbows, the scent of rosin and polished wood growing stronger as he moved to stand near Mad.

“Your mate told me to bite him,” Phantom stated, smirking as Mad’s cheeks flushed from the implication. “Told him you wouldn’t like it.”

“You provoked him,” Mare pointed out, hand snaking around to hold Mad possessively. “What did you say?” There was a hint of ash in his scent, smoky but woodsy, a sign of anger.

“There’s new research to help infertile omegas have pups,” Phantom sighed, gesturing to the files on the table. “I thought Madsy might be interested. Guess he isn’t, because he told me to bite him.”

“What else did you tell him?”

“I told him you probably lied about not caring that he’s infertile.”

“Get out,” Mare growled, flashing his teeth as he hopped over the back of the couch to cradle Mad in his arms. “I would never lie to hm, which makes you a jerk. Get out, I’ll call you later about… all of this.”

Phantom’s lip curled in the hint of a snarl, hands clenching by his side before taking a deep breath, ducking his head and strolling out, closing the door with a soft click behind him.

--

“He was wrong… right?” Mad asked quietly after Phantom left, keeping his face tucked into Mare’s neck, nose pressed to his scent gland. “About how you feel?”

“He was wrong, darling-heart,” Mare rumbled, holding Mad tighter. “While there was a time I wanted pups, I met you, and the only thing that matters now is your happiness. I don’t care about a stereotypical family with children and an obedient omega, I just want you beside me, tucked into my side for the rest of our lives.”

“I love you, Mare,” Mad whispered, pulling his face out of Mare’s neck to press their lips together, melting into the kiss when Mare tilted his head to deepen it, gently pushing Mad back to lay down on the couch. “I only want you for the rest of forever.”

“You have me,” Mare purred, moving to kiss along Mad’s neck and grazing his teeth against his claim mark. “You have me forever and beyond, drowning myself in your scent and your taste and your touch.” As Mad arched his back in a moan, Mare took the opportunity to hook his fingers into the waistband of his boxers, sliding them down his hips while latching his teeth to his claim mark.

“M-Mare, more…” Mad dug his fingers into Mare’s shoulders, tilting his head to give the alpha more access and letting out a whine when Mare pulled away.

“Hold onto me, dearest,” Mare whispered, waiting for Mad to hold on before effortlessly carrying him off the couch and toward the bedroom. “I want you to be comfortable,” he explained when Mad furrowed his brow in confusion, then moved away to remove his own clothes, leaving Mad in just his hoodie.

Climbing back onto the bed, Mare knelt between Mad’s legs and hitched up the hoodie before settling his hands on his hips to keep him still. Leaning down, he met Mad’s eye as he pressed a kiss to his hipbone before centring himself to kitten lick at his cock, smirking at the squeak Mad let out from it.

“M-Mare, please…”

“Patience, sweetheart,” Mare murmured, licking his lips before taking half of Mad’s cock into his mouth and sucking, running his tongue along the underside in the way he knew drove Mad crazy. Adjusting his hands so one arm was slung over his lower belly to keep him down, Mare moved his free hand to tease at Mad’s hole, smearing the slick there before slipping two fingers inside and groaning at the warmth that encased it.

“Oh, gods above, Mare,” Mad panted, covering his face with one arm while tangling his fingers into Mare’s hair with the other. “Y-You’re going to kill me.” Mare’s chuckle sent vibrations along his cock, making him jerk against Mare’s arm before letting out a high keen as Mare pulled off.

“My favourite thing about you,” Mare began, lifting his fingers to his mouth with a sin-filled smile, “Is the way your slick tastes like oak when you’re ready for me. How you smell heavenly to the point where I feel lightheaded.” Watching Mad’s chest heave as he licked his fingers clean, he shuffled forward before lining himself up to Mad’s hole, leaning forward to catch the omega in a kiss as he slowly pushed in.

“Mare…” Mad groaned as he was filled, clutching the sheets so tightly they started to tear and breaking the kiss to press his nose into Mare’s scent gland. “M-Move.”

“As you wish,” Mare hummed, hooking one hand under Mad’s knee to bend his leg while the other got a tighter grip on his hip before he started to thrust at a slow and deep pace. “Gods, you’re perfect,” he mumbled, watching Mad’s face contort in pleasure as he angled his hips to make him see stars.

“M-Mare, m-more, harder, please Alpha,” Mad babbled, meeting Mare’s thrusts as he reached down to rest a hand over Mare’s on his hip. “B-Bite… bite me, please, Mare…”

Mare growled at Mad’s babbling, nipping at his jaw before mouthing at his scent gland and moving further to sink his teeth into his claim mark, tasting Mad’s pleasure as he came between them, grip tightening on Mare’s hand on his hip in a silent command. Releasing his leg, Mare moved his free hand to glide across Mad’s body, tracing the invisible trails of each freckle and making more of a mess on his stomach.

“Mad, starshine,” Mare panted, pressing his lips to the shell of Mad’s ear as his hand returned to Mad’s hip. “When my knot locks, I want you to bite me, stake your claim over and over. Can you do that for me?”

Through his blissful haze, Mad nodded, clawing at Mare’s back to pull him closer as he mouthed at his claim mark, feeling Mare’s knot catching before warmth flooded him, biting down as hard as he could while Mare locked them together.

--

“Phan says he’s sorry,” Mare reported, poking his head into the bathroom to smile at Mad in the tub, relaxing after Mare cleaned him. “His intentions were good, just… misplaced.”

“It’s because Jackie’s beta, isn’t it?” Mad asked quietly, voice strained from earlier. “Jackie can’t give Phan pups, so he wants you to have them.” Looking up, he saw Mare’s smile fall as he stepped into the room. “He knows I’m not stupid.”

“He does,” Mare was quick to console, helping Mad climb out of the tub and wrapping him in a fluffy towel. “He’s just stupid enough to think I care at all about carrying a family line. He knows better than that.”

“Do you…” Mad trailed off as Mare dried him before putting him into a fresh pair of boxers and a soft sweater. “Do you think they can come over tomorrow? To talk?”

“Yeah, I’m sure they can, dear heart,” Mare agreed, grinning at Mad’s squeak from being lifted. “We’ll have them over for dinner, and we can talk about whatever research Phan brought over.”

“I’m happy I met you,” Mad murmured, settling under the bedsheets and curling into Mare’s side, head on his chest to listen to his heart. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, starlight,” Mare hummed, running his fingers idly through Mad’s hair and listening to his breathing. “I’m always going to love you, and I’m always going to ensure you’re happy.”

-------------------

“Hey, Jameson? Can we, uh, talk?” Jackie shifted his weight from foot to foot as he stood in front of Jameson, listening to Phantom and Shawn talking downstairs. When Jameson nodded to him, stepping back to let him into the room, Jackie’s hands immediately busied themselves fidgeting with the hem of his hoodie.

“Is something wrong?” Jameson signed, brows furrowing as he looked at the nervous face of Jackie. “Anything between you and Phantom?”

“No! No, no,” Jackie hurried to keep his tone down, cheeks darkening as he caught a glimpse of the rumpled bedsheets on Jameson’s bed. “It’s just—Maddy was talking about how he fixed Mare after the stuff the cult did and… it made me think about Marvin.”

“Jackie…”

“I know you’re going to tell me that he’s been gone for years, that I shouldn’t be thinking of the “what if”,” Jackie interrupted, reaching out to stop Jameson from signing, “I started wondering if Mad could bring Marvin back. Even just for a moment.”

“Why?” Jameson eventually signed when Jackie released his hands, waving a hand in front of his eyes before miming removing a mask. “Marvin’s gone, Jackie. Why would you want to disrupt his rest?”

“I don’t know!” Jackie blurted, eyes brimming with tears as he raised his arms in frustration. “I just—I see Phan and Mare interacting, and with you and Shawn being together now, I just miss him. Maybe I could find a way to turn him, make him a vampire like me…” He trailed off, dropping to his knees helplessly.

“I understand your loneliness,” Jameson signed, kneeling before Jackie so the other could see his hands. “I understand how you feel, but Jackie, I don’t think bringing Marvin back is going to make this easier for you. I may not understand the full extent of what losing Marvin brought you, but I doubt Marvin would want you to bring him back.”

“I just want to see him one more time,” Jackie whispered, tears falling freely down his cheeks as he looked pleadingly into Jameson’s eyes. “I-I think he and Maddy would be good friends, with Mad’s science knowledge and Marv’s occult background… imagine the things they could do together.”

“Marvin’s skills are different to Madrick’s,” Jameson began, motioning for Jackie to sit in the armchair by the door. “He may not even want to talk to Marvin.” He sighed before crouching in front of Jackie, resting a hand on his knee and offering him a smile. “Here, tell me one of your memories of Marvin. Let’s talk about him.”

----

“I’m not sure we’ll be able to find all of these just by foraging, but if we can find a couple, we can help a lot of people,” Mad stated, squinting at his list of herbs as he walked beside Mare to a denser part of the forest.

“Why are we looking for these herbs at all?” Mare asked, nudging at some mud with the toe of his boot. “If we can find them at the apothecary in town, why are we foraging?”

“She’s not always the most… discreet,” Mad replied, crouching beside some yellow flowers to inspect their shape. “Explaining to a human why vampires need herbs for anxiety or blood circulation may get us killed.” He cut a few of the flowers before digging up another from the root and tucked them into a small leather pouch on his belt.

“Why are we getting herbs for those?” Mare frowned, watching as Mad scribbled out ‘St. John’s Wort’ from his list. “Mad, starshine, are you alright?”

“I’m looking for gingko to ensure that your system properly flushes out toxins,” Mad explained, moving deeper into the forest with determination on his face. “Ginseng and ginger are for fatigue and nausea. I noticed that Shawn gets tired quickly and Jackie overworks himself to the point of being nauseous.”

“And the St. John’s Wort?”

“Some for Jameson’s anxiety around Shawn, and some to help me sleep better.” Mad looked at Mare and offered him a light smile. “You always worry about me not sleeping properly.” Pausing briefly, he took hold of Mare’s face and pulled him into a kiss, tracing the line of his lips with the tip of his tongue before pulling away and smirking at the dazed look on Mare’s face. “Dazed is a nice look on you.”

“You’re a tease,” Mare snorted, coming out of his daze and watching the mischievous glint in Mad’s eyes. “If I told you I wanted to fuck you right here among the St. John’s Wort, what would you do?”

“If you actually asked, I’d be surprised,” Mad replied, cheeks flushing red. “I wouldn’t be opposed to it, though.” He paused to shake his head with a chuckle, setting the basket down beside him. “You and Phan really are twins, getting distracted by the same things.”

That made Mare stop, returning his mind to a few thoughts he’d been ignoring in the back of his mind since learning about Jackie’s brother. “Do you think Phan and I are still similar even though we were turned differently?”

“You aren’t identical twins, so there’s always been a subtle discrepancy in your genes,” Mad began, hesitating to look into Mare’s eyes. “What’s wrong, love?”

“I know the whole, “twin telepathy” thing is just a theory, and I know you told me that twins aren’t magically bound together,” Mare started, sitting in the grass beside Mad’s basket and waiting for his husband to sit beside him before continuing. “I sometimes wonder if Phan and I are growing distant because we’re different vampires. I guess I just wanted to know if you knew much about twins versus siblings, especially with Jackie’s weird questions about necromancy and his brother.”

“Darling,” Mad hummed, leaning against Mare and resting his head on his shoulder. “I don’t know much, but from comparing your blood with Phantom’s, I can say that you’re both still alike, no matter how you were turned.”

“Is there anything in the genetics that change us?”

“Most of your concerns are psychological or behavioural. Blood is chemical. You and Phan grew up together, possibly as closely as Jackie and his brother, so you’ll always have some kind of bond with him, no matter what genetics may say.”

“Are we different?”

“My blood courses through you,” Mad explained, taking Mare’s hand and turning it so he could trace the veins in his wrist. “It is still mostly your blood, but it’s altered slightly with my cells. In turn, my blood is altered by the vampire who turned me, and that traces further back. Phantom was drained of his blood and left to turn, a process of pain and sickness as the body forces itself back together.”

Mad turned his head to press a kiss to Mare’s claim mark, nestled beside the scar from the cultists trying to kill him. Feeling Mare shiver, he smiled before returning to leaning against his shoulder.

“The only difference between the two of you is the process by which you were turned. You both feed to survive, drinking blood to keep warm and feeding from your mates to stay satisfied. You’re still twins, still have the same attitudes, signals and languages, and you both still understand each other deeper than I would ever be able to.” He slid his hand down to entwine his fingers with Mare’s, offering him a smile. “Without needing more research and testing, I can say with certainty that you and Phantom are not growing distant. If anything, being turned brought you both closer than ever.”

----

“Mare knows a jeweller in town who would be willing to help,” Phantom stated, drying the dishes in the kitchen while Shawn sat at the counter. “It’s where he got Maddy’s ring from. He offered to take me into town next week to meet the jeweller if you wanted to tag along?”

“I might,” Shawn answered, fiddling with the buckles on his shoes before looking up to meet Phantom’s eyes. “I may start with fixing his favourite pocket watch first. Designing a ring seems a little… daunting.”

“I could help you with that if you wanted,” Phantom offered, smiling when Shawn’s eyes widened. “You’re practically family anyway; I’d be happy to help.”

“Why did Mare give Madrick a ring?” Shawn asked, dropping his shoes onto the ground as he pulled his legs up to tuck under him.

“All I know is that Mare was willing to marry Mad in the traditional sense before he was turned,” Phantom replied, putting the dried dishes away. “Even though he has the claim mark, apparently Mad likes to wear the ring.”

“Would you be getting Jackie a ring?”

“Less of a ring, more like a token he can wear,” Phantom hummed, pausing to tilt his head in thought. “He doesn’t like things on his hands, so I want to get him something he can have on his person without being uncomfortable. A token on a leather cord around his neck would be fitting.”

“Something small that’s stamped with a signature symbol of you would be perfect,” Shawn stated, reaching out to touch Phantom’s shoulder. “Maybe I could speak to Jamesy about getting something made for Jackie to remember his brother, as well.”

“I’d like that,” Phantom admitted, cheeks dusting red as Shawn smiled at him. “I think a blue garnet or a blue spinel would suit Jameson nicely with some amber on a gold band. Just an idea for a ring.” He winked when Shawn’s face turned a deep red, leaving the kitchen in search of Jackie with a smile.

--

He found Jackie in their bedroom, laying on his side on the bed and doodling in a notebook while humming quietly to himself. Pausing briefly in the doorway, Phantom made his way to sit beside Jackie, peering over his shoulder to look at the sketches in the notebook.

Scrawled on the paper were tiny portraits and several scribbled letters that Phantom couldn’t understand. Scattered lines forming words in some arcane language, layered atop each other to make sigils, alongside a rough drawing of card symbols connected with lightning bolts.

“What’s this?”

“Thoughts,” Jackie replied, turning around to catch Phantom in a kiss before returning to the sketches. “Trying to remember Marvin’s face, the way he laughed. How to spell his name in runes – he taught me that in case I’d ever need to know – just small things.”

“And these—” he motioned to the layered letters, “—What are these?”

“I just wanted to see how they’d fit layered together. Like a crest, maybe?”

“Would you want Marvin’s name modelled like that?” Phantom asked, holding Jackie’s chin with his hand and tilting his head so he could trace the line of his jaw with a thumb. “A crest to hold, something physical to remember him?”

“I don’t know, Phan,” Jackie admitted, leaning into Phantom’s touch, sketches forgotten as he melted under Phantom’s gaze. “I-I just want something as proof he existed, you know? It’s not like I can bring him back to life or anything.”

Jackie reached up to take Phantom’s hand, pressing a kiss to the heel of his palm before holding it close to his chest. “I’ll figure it out eventually. These were just some ideas. Did you need something?”

“Actually,” Phantom began, freeing his hand so he could reach into the bedside drawer and pull out a folded scrap of paper. “I wanted to know your opinion on something. I know you said we didn’t need a fancy ring like Mad and Mare have, but I wanted to give you something to prove you’re mine. Something even non-vampires would understand.”

Unfolding the paper, he showed Jackie a simple sketch of a pendant design. Embedded in resin atop a brass base with a brass ring band enclosing it were two sapphires and a ruby in their natural cut, imitating two hands cradling something delicate. Beside the design was a short inscription: Always come back home to me.

“Phan…” Jackie breathed, holding the paper like it could crumble to dust any second. “I… it’s beautiful.”

“I know how you don’t like things on your hands, so I decided on a pendant to wear around your neck on a cord,” Phantom explained, freezing when Jackie tossed the paper aside and tackled him into a tight embrace. “Do you like it, then?”

“When are you getting it made?” Jackie asked, muffled by his face in Phantom’s chest.

“Mare’s taking me into town next week to order it,” Phantom answered, running his fingers through Jackie’s hair with a shuddering breath as Jackie lifted his head to nose at his claim mark. “I wanted to surprise you, but I decided I couldn’t wait.”

“Can I make one request?”

“Anything, babe.”

“Get the jeweller to carve Marvin’s runes into the back of one of the sapphires,” Jackie looked at Phantom with bright eyes, nuzzling against the hand in his hair. “And have that sapphire be more refined than the other, to symbolise his order against my disorder.”

“I can do that,” Phantom answered, pulling away long enough to scribble a note onto the design before sweeping it and the notebook off the bed and rolling to straddle Jackie’s hips. “Now let me help you feel better.” Smiling at Jackie’s blush, he leaned down for another deep kiss.

----------------------------

But when Mare went to Mad’s lab to fetch him for dinner, he wasn’t there. That was odd; it was more common to see Mad in his lab than anywhere else. Maybe he had gone to the bathroom? Maybe he needed a snack? Actually taking a break? 

Mare checked the bathroom and the kitchen and still couldn’t find Mad. He went for the bedroom next and found it empty as well. But there was something new in there: a piece of paper on the pillow. Mare hummed to himself in curiosity as he picked up the paper and read it.

Go to where we found Albert.

“This is new.” Mare chuckled. He knew the note was from Mad, not just because it was on their bed, but because he recognized his handwriting. The way his letters connected, how he lifted the pencil only when needed, always wanting to get to the point, even when just writing. It was cute, and it was even cuter that it seemed like he was planning something fun for them. “Alright, starlight, let’s see what you’ve got in store.” Mare folded up the paper and tucked it into his pocket. He then cracked his knuckles, snapped his fingers, and sent himself away. 

Mare now sat on a bench in a park that wasn’t often frequented by others. It was a very nice park, but it was out of the way from where people lived, so it was a bit of a trip. A trip that didn’t really exist to a good part of the Egos, given their abilities, so it was one of Mad and Mare’s favorites. 

About six months ago, he and Mad had been sitting on this bench together. Mad was drinking a fun iced coffee they had gotten from a nice cafe, while Mare was eating some banana bread. Then there was a meow, and Mad, without hesitation, got up and went toward the sound. 

Mare stood as the memory still played in his head, heading for the tree where Mad had found Albert, their kitten, curled up inside the trunk and meowing for help. Mare knew there was no denying the kitten, with the way Mad immediately forgot his coffee and scooped up Albert, looking at Mare with the same sad eyes the kitten had.

Crouching down and reaching his hand into the same hole Albert had been in, Mare found another piece of paper. 

Go to where we had our first kiss.

Mare chuckled at the little doodle of a mug of beer next to the words, a clarifier of which first kiss Mad was talking about. The first time they had technically kissed was during a party with the Septiceyes. There was more than plenty of alcohol to get almost all of them fairly drunk, Mare included. Anti then started up a game of truth and dare, and, with the encouragement of liquid courage and chants, Mare pulled Mad into a kiss. It was…a mess. Mad didn’t know what he was doing, and Mare was too intoxicated to have any grace. 

“Hey there, Mr. Music Man.” Anti greeted with his classic grin when Mare appeared in the Speticeye House’s living room. “Looks like you’ve been getting the hints right so far.” He typed away on his phone before pulling out a piece of folded paper from his pocket and handing it to Mare. 

“Of course I am. They’re from Mad.” Mare chuckled, opening the paper and smiling.

Go to where we had our real first kiss.

“Looks like you were the last stop.” Mare hummed.

“Have fun.” Anti winked before Mare sent himself back to his home, standing in front of his bedroom door. 

The first ‘real’ kiss between him and Mad happened the day after the drunken one. Mad had gotten anxious and was overthinking the kiss, and went to Mare’s room to try to talk it out. To understand what was happening in his head. Mare could still see the flush to his cheeks and the way he picked at his fingers. It had been so cute. Too cute to deny it anymore, so Mare had kissed Mad again. And kissed him and kissed him and kissed him, and the rest is history from there. 

Mare placed his hand on the doorknob, turned, and paused. Giving Mad a moment or two to finish up any last-second details before stepping into the room. 

“Surprise.” Mad greeted with a shy smile. He stood in the middle of the room, a box of chocolates in his hands, and flower petals covering the floor and bed. What stood out the most was what Mad was wearing. Some slacks and a button-up shirt, but the shirt wasn’t Mad’s. It was Mare’s. He could tell by the dark purple color and the way it rested too loosely on his shoulders. 

“Well, hello there.” Mare greeted back with a chuckle. 

“You’re always the one planning stuff like this, so I wanted to give it a shot,” Mad explained. “I-uh-I wanted to try to do something cute.”

“Try? Oh, Starlight. Everything you do is cute naturally.” Mare used his foot to close the door before stepping over to Mad. He took the box of chocolates and set it aside, placing the final hint on top as well. “And this is the cutest thing you’ve ever done.” He added with a grin, seeing that adorable pink-orange gradient in Mad’s eyes as his face started going red and making his freckles stand out. 

“Did you want any of the chocolates?” Mad asked. 

“Later. We’ll save that sweet treat for after I have this one.” Mare knew Mad was going to ask what he meant by that and answered the question ahead of time by pulling him into a kiss. That seemed to be more than enough to satisfy, since Mad wrapped his arms around his neck and leaned up into the kiss. 

---------