* ring / master

    “Sounds good to me, dude.” Truthfully told, Marinus knew that whatever Valentines he may have had following Willow, they certainly had their work cut out for them. There were few out there who were so genuinely thoughtful and caring merely for the sake of it. Marinus knew that was one of the several reasons he admired his friend. He took a deep drink of his hot chocolate, savoring the simultaneously sweet and savory notes of the special beverage. In that moment, he was so glad to have been the one to initially share such a delight with Willow. There was not many at all he would deign to have the privilege. “Sounds like we’re soon bound for a healthy competition then, huh?” He grinned. He moved his hand from the other’s, enfolding it with his own to rest beneath his chin to prop it up on the table. “Gotta warn you, though, swimming across a few rivers is very different than swimming in the ocean. Especially if we’re going out to where I wanna show you.”

    His explanation almost made Marinus chuckle a bit, wanting to tease him for the sweet sentiment. He always admired how much of a softy Willow was. He picked up one of the scones with a nod of respect, pleased that it was still warm. “Well, well, Mr. Popular. Thank you for the hookup,” he said, picking up the handle of his drink with his other hand and raising it slightly to cheers. After trying and failing not to get whipped cream on his nose after his first sip of the hot beverage, he bit into his pastry and finished it rather quickly. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was. Patting around his face with a napkin to get most of the crumbs off, he laid a few fingers on the back of Willow’s hand to get his attention. “You said swimming next, right?” He asked, absentmindedly tracing patterns into the boy’s hand. “I don’t think we’ve ever been swimming together, have we? I’m excited to see your skills, and maybe we could even have a race.”

     Willow’s words bore more comfort than he knew. Marinus inhaled deeply as they entered the cafe, strong scents of buttered pastries, spices, and hot coffee greeting him as they crossed the threshold. The shop, unsurprisingly, had followed the rest of the town’s lead in decorating for the holiday - the windows were covered in washable drawings of cutesie anthropomorphic hot chocolate couples or chocolate croissants, sometimes detailing the ‘romantic’ special deal drinks they were offering. Marinus had just been about to make a comment on one of the more obnoxious displays when Willow caught his attention again. “I-…” he started, but his voice died in his throat, cut off by his partner’s direction. Though that was no problem at all. Fuck, why was that so hot? With a little chuckle and nod, Marinus left him in line to wander around the seating area, eventually staring down two other patrons from their spot by a wide window and securing it for himself and his Valentine. From here he could clearly see his tall friend over the throngs of patrons, easily ordering something for them. It pleased Marinus to realize that not even a few months ago Willow had next to no idea of this place, but now he was ordering as confidently as any regular. He raised a hand when he eventually saw him looking for Marinus, two big mugs of something in hand, and drew him to their table. “Took you long enough,” he teased lightly as he joined him, but his eyes widened as he recognized the drinks. His face lit up in a bright smile. “Wait… are those Fancy Ass Hot Chocolates?”

     He shrugged at the other’s question, feeling something almost akin to embarrassment for the first time in a long time. Sure, he’d had a few… partners, the last few years. But never someone to bring to meet his family, never a boyfriend or girlfriend, never a Valentine. For one reason or another, nothing clicked for him. Though maybe that due to something Marinus had long suspected: His own fault. “Not really. Just been solo to friends’ parties, I guess.” Marinus looked at his partner and, noticing his furrowed brow, laughed and nudged him with his shoulder. “But I mean, c’mon. This is all totally new to you even more so. I’m super grateful you’ve trusted me enough to decide to spend today with me.” He admitted. Just then, a drunken couple loudly giggled and skipped to their right, causing Marinus to glare and scoff when they passed a bit too close to Willow and himself without so much as an apology. “By the way… if any of this gets a bit much for you, let me know. I’ll fix it,” he said, just as they turned a corner and the coffee shop’s sign came into view.

     Willow’s hand, though calloused and tough from years of caring for wild animals, was no longer than Marinus’ own and pleasantly felt so much warmer. It had been a long, long time since the mermaid had been able - much less willing - to hold anyone’s hand. Their fingers slotting together gave him the same feeling of delight and satisfaction as when he’d finally complete a horrendously difficult puzzle. Such intimacy was such a foreign, seldom reality for him. He almost shivered. “Maybe if you weren’t so snarky I wouldn’t need to, sweetheart” he replied, little smirk on his face again. They both knew full well Marinus provided more than enough snark between them, and was likely the reason for Willow picking it up. “Don’t worry, though, I try not to do that to much. I can barely stop talking about how incredible you are, so. Like, for example, you look damn good, dude.” Finally out of Marinus’ apartment complex and on the street that would lead downtown, Marinus shielded his eyes from the midday sun with his free hand to gaze at all the rose, heart, and Cupid decorations donning so many buildings. “You know…” he began as groups of people or other couples happily meandered the streets alongside them, going on about their day. Hilariously, across the street he saw the shocked face of one of his last ‘dates’ - he gave a smug smile and waved. “It feels a bit strange to be doing this. Have a Valentine and go out, I mean. It’s new, and sappy of me… but I think like it a lot already. Thank you, man.”

     Instant butterflies erupted into flight deep in the pit of the merman’s stomach. His eyes lingered for a second too long on the other’s lips but he quickly turned his attention back to the box, tossing his own chocolate into his mouth before shutting the package and setting it farther back on the counter. Damn, that was good candy. “I’m, uh, I’m ready.” He could almost feel the slight tremble in his fingers as he crossed to the living room to grab one of his nicer blazers he’d set on the back of his couch, slipping his arms through the black fabric. He wished he hadn’t finished his vodka. A quick shot to calm his nerves would be perfect… but he shouldn’t have needed it, anyway. This was strictly platonic, he knew that. Clearing his throat, he led his friend to the door, holding up his phone as they began to exit into the brisk air. “Want me to call a driver? Or should we walk?” But a thought struck him. “Actually, let’s walk, it’s not too far,” he hummed, and offered up his hand, fingers splayed, for the other boy to take. Keeping his cool. “It’d be good to be seen strolling in public with my Valentine, don’t you think? Maybe have less suitors coming at me after, and I’d have less of a reason to whine to you.”

     It was a pretty rare occurrence for Marinus to see Willow blush, since he usually didn’t have a reason to. He loved it. However, his beaming smile faltered ever so slightly when the other’s words clicked. He didn’t really get the whole love thing. It made sense, of course, for him to not really get the implications of a holiday he couldn’t possible have celebrated on the Isle. That was fine. This was above and beyond anything Marinus thought he himself deserved. “You think I’m special, huh?” He teased, stepping over to the taller boy’s side of the counter to nudge him gently in the side. He could feel his heart hammering in his chest by now. “Can’t say no to that. Maybe you are, too, so it’d be my pleasure,” he said, setting the box down and selecting two particularly handsome pieces of chocolate. Expectantly, he held the better one up to Willow’s lips. “When are we heading out?”

       Marinus had barely given the upcoming holiday so much as a second thought these past few weeks. Between lessons on the finer intricacies of his royal duties, redecorating his room, and especially dealing with his grandfather’s near constant setups, he didn’t want to waste his time with the day of love. Besides, he was hardly the one to openly gush over the romanticism of Valentine’s Day. So the surprise of seeing Willow standing across the kitchen counter of the mer-prince’s apartment, glossy red gift in hand and even dressed noticeably more carefully than usual, hit Marinus like a truck. “… Fuck…” He mumbled under his breath, suddenly acutely aware of how wide his eyes must have been. “Uh huh, so this is why you told me to get ready, huh?” Thank goodness he recovered quickly, but his brows were still furrowed as if he were questioning what his friend was saying. Slowly, he set his fingers on the surprisingly heavy box but didn’t remove it from the other’s hand, his insides churning in excitement as Willow laid out his plan. “Dude, this is… wow. Thank you. That all sounds chill as fuck. I-I should have gotten you something, no one’s ever… uh, ask me what?”

TEXT: Okay, I won’t, promise.

TEXT: You would?

TEXT: That’d be cool if you weren’t on a date.

TEXT: Oh, okay. That’s good.

TEXT: But I do 🤷