Felicity

*^20^*

"Cute. Not what I was expecting, but cute. I was afraid of the unknown. With this whole courting thing, I wasn't sure if you'd leave me since everything between us seemed rushed." He speaks back before stopping, turning to two trees formed in an arch; vines hanging to cover a passage. "Bingo. Come here."

"What is... this place?" I asks as he pushes the vines apart, revealing an private clearing with a small pond. Birds and other creatures inhabited the space as we walked in. Stars filled the sky as well as fireflies in the air. "It's beautiful..."

"I would come here as a kid and I would just sit here on hours, playing songs based on how I've felt. Before wanting to be a pilot, I actually wanted to be a musician and when I got upset; I ran out here and got lost. I found this clearing and the stars were just so bright. I wanted to touch them and explore the unknown. Get over my fear, you know? And it worked until I met you." He chuckles as he sits on a grassy patch, patting the space next to him; me quickly following his lead as he fixes his strings. "You were a whole other version of unknown and I wasn't sure if that was good or bad. You made me feel things and I wasn't sure if you were even in my range. I was sure what your second gender was, I wasn't sure what your deal was. It scared me because all of these light feelings showed up and I wanted to hate you even though I knew nothing about you. And believe me! I wanted to get to know you... But you were like the stars. Visible, but out of my reach no matter how hard I tried."

"But...?" I whisper, touching his upper arm as he chuckles, strumming lightly in random patterns before looking into my eyes; brilliant blue orbs, threatening to spill tears.

"You weren't. You weren't out of reach. You were there, the entire time. I didn't want to believe you were an omega. I didn't want to believe you were there. I was livid that you hid from us for a year. A literal year, Keith. We knew nothing about you and you sat there, acting as if everything was okay. But instead of speaking to you about it, it took us getting through mating and now a courtship to have this conversation." Lance sighs, wiping his eyes before smiling at me; chuckling. "So I'm sorry for getting you caught up in all of this."

"Can you..." I trail off, pointing at his guitar before standing up. "Play a melody, please?"

"What kind of melody? Oh! Are you going to sing for me?" He jokes as I deadpan, glaring at him.

"Don't ruin it. Now play something soft." I ask again as he nods, softly plucking at the strings as I take a deep breath; slowly walking around the secluded area. "If I could begin to be...Half of what you think of me; I could do about anything. I could even learn how to love."

"When I see the way you act... Wondering when I'm coming back. I could do about anything. I could even learn how to love like you." I smile at him as his eyes widen in awe before I dip a hand into the pond. "I always thought I might be bad. Now I'm sure that it's true... 'Cause I think you're so good. And I'm nothing like you."

I then point at him, tears filling in my eyes as I sniffle, wiping my nose while still singing; pointing at him annoyance. "Look at you go! I just adore you! I wish that I knew... What makes you think I'm so special?"

"If I could begin to do... something that does right by you, I would do about anything; I would even learn how to love. When I see the way you look: Shaken by how long it took. I could do about anything. I could even learn how to love like you... Love like you... Love me like you." I finished as he continues to look up at me, lost in my song. "What? You're not the only one who has a talent for something other than warfare."

"Another secret? I've learned so much about you in the course of a month than the whole year we've been in space... James might actually win this stupid competition since he actually knows you." Lance chuckles sadly before standing up before I grab his shoulder, shaking my head.

"James doesn't know me. He knows Akira; he knows my childhood, he witnessed my transformation, he grew up with me. He doesn't know the finished product. You know Keith; the person in front of you. You know my body, my mind and you know my interests. You understand me. You're always there for me, even when I've pushed you all away. I've always known my choice. There was no competition in my head." I whisper meaningfully into his ear before I get tugged.

Closing my eyes, I open them to feel a pressure on my lips. Squeaking, I realize that I'm getting kissed before leaning in to the kiss; touching the side of his face and deepening it. Humming, I feel his tongue skim my lips before I allow him in; his tongue tickling the inside of my mouth and leaving nothing untouched before he pulls away at the sound of twigs breaking. "Keith? Lance? Are you two here? Um... the Griffins' are here. I thought the announcement was to made in the morning?"

"We're here, V! Keith invited them since he has his answer." Lance smiles in the voices direction, now known as Veronica before turning to me. "Come on. Let's end this competition."

~•~•~•~•

Oh come on. Heheh.... Should I juke you people or... Time will tell.

~Shadow Out!🌑