Snippets of Eventide

No.2: Cirrus and Millie go Fishing

Slowly the water stilled again as silence filled the air. Millie sighed, soft and content as she settled back into her wooden seat. "So, I take it you two are friends? You and the cambion."

Cirrus nodded, letting his eyes slip to the still waters. He was at home today, probably anyway. Last night when he'd come home he'd been tired, slipping under the couch blanket with that sleepy smile as his words started to run into each other before he fell asleep. He'd thought of trying to carry him upstairs too bed, but couldn't take the risk of waking him up when he'd seemed so at peace.

Millie's soft laugh brought his attention back. "What's that look for?" A sly smile spread across her face as she leaned in. "You look like you've got a crush."

Cirrus' eyes widened and his face flushed. "I," He couldn't meet her eyes, heart beating quick in his chest and sending more blood to his reddened cheeks. Was it that obvious? "I do not." He sat up straight and crossed his arms.

The net slipped and Cirrus jolted, scrambling to catch it before it fell overboard. He swore as he pulled it back in, seawater dripping cold and wet over his legs, all while Millie laughed. She laughed deep and barking, the sound carrying loud across the water's surface.

"I've seen how you look at him," she said. "All stares and longing when he's not watching. It's adorable."

Cirrus hunched his shoulders and grumbled to himself. Was it that obvious? He bit at his cheek. Asher hadn't noticed, had he? Hopefully not.

Millie leaned forward. "Oh, don't be embarrassed." She smiled. "It's not like you're the first person to ever fall in love. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone though."

Good. Cirrus sighed and tilted his head all the way back, staring up at the foggy clouds quickly burning off under the morning sun. Asher couldn't know, at least, not until he knew what he wanted to do about it all.

"So," Millie dragged out the word. "You going to ask him out?"

"No!" Cirrus snapped his head back to face her. "No, of course not."

"Why not?"

"Because..." Cirrus grappled. "I don't know." He sighed, long and deep. "I..." He shook his head to the bottom of the boat. "I've never done anything like that before, never even thought of it. I was a prince, and princes don't get to choose their partners. Whoever my mother chose for me I would have married and that was the end of it."

Millie sat tall, a cheerful grin on her cheeks. "Well, seems how you said you'll probably be stuck here forever, why not go for it?"

Because it scared him. He didn't know what he would say or how he would react or anything.

"I don't know what I would say." Cirrus mumbled.

"I don't know either, I think that's something you've gotta figure out for yourself." Millie shrugged. "He seems nice though, the few times I've ran into him. I doubt he'd be a jerk about it, however you said it."

She was right. As hard as he tried, Cirrus couldn't picture Ash acting harshly towards him, or anyone. But still, he shook his head.

"I don't know. What if he doesn't feel the same way?"

"Well," Millie said. "Won't know until you ask, will you? I think—oh!" She cut herself off and grabbed the fishing rod, jerking it upwards. "We got one!"

She braced herself against the boat as she started to work at reeling in her catch. Her seal coat fell off her shoulders as she rose slightly from her seat, the soft furs falling in a heap at the back of the boat.