Easton shook his hand. "No, no, no, it was…it was fine. I was the one who initiated the kiss so none of it falls on you." Easton watched Abrose push his plate away and he frowned. "If you think I'm going to say it was a mistake I would never say that about anything. It doesn't matter if I was drunk, I do things for a reason. I only kiss people I want to kiss. If you didn't pull away that means you felt something too right?" Easton smiled lightly. He pushed Abrose's plate back towards him. "Eat something. It might make you feel better," he suggested. He Easton looked raising one eyebrow. "No, I don't remember you saying anything. That mask was from the ball that I went to previously, the one I told you about." He continued to eat himself, enjoying the food.
Abrose nodded slightly but still didn't touch the plate of food, his appetite now long gone. He wrung the napkin in his hands for a few more moments before slipping from the table and scurrying upstairs. When he came back, he emerged with the mask, hands trembling slightly as he set it down between Easton and him. He took in a shaky breath before he leaned back in his chair and brought his gaze up to meet Easton's eyes. "I didn't actually believe you when you approached me at the ball and called me handsome. I didn't want to believe that I'd let me myself fall so easily to some snooty Noble's feeble compliments but when I realized it was you, I thought it might be fun to entertain the idea for a bit. But as the night went on and as we kept talking, your words and actions seemed so genuine that I felt myself wantimg to be equally as genuine. That's when I decided to just act normal around you. The things about my sister and my mother are true, they died when I was younger and their favorite flowers are peonies." He paused and flicked his gaze away for a moment before continuing. "I was going to tell you who I was at the picnic but when I learned about your family, i- i couldn't bring myself to tell you, not without risking my own life. And if by chance you were catching feelings, I didn't want to ruin that as well since you are technically supposed to turn me in." He chewed on his lip as he fell silent, seeming to curl in on himself. "I'm sorry, Easton. For not telling you sooner."
Easton watched him go upstairs confused, but he was even more confused when he saw what Abrose was holding. "Why are you-" he smiled faded when he heard him talk about the ball and he finally put the pieces together. His tears were a mixture of happiness and anger. "I'm such an idiot. I can't believe I couldn't see it. I'm such a fool." he shamed himself looking around the room. "I fell in love with you twice!" he laughed. "I fell for you twice! When you allowed me to help you around the store and didn't sho me away like everyone else, my heart skipped a beat. When you accepted my offer to have a drink with me I-" he choked on his words his voice being affected by his tears. "…I really thought. I understand it now. The big decision you regretted. The one you couldn't let go of. I was stupid enough to think that you were completely separate people. If you would've just told me…if wouldn't matter if you were poor or the richest person alive I…I…" Easton looked up Abrose. "I just wanted to be with you." Easton knew he was probably being dramatic, but that's what his feelings are, he couldn't hind that. At least, not from Abrose. He took a deep breath in and stood up. He took Abrose's hands whipping his tears. "I still do…but I don't know if I can…even so I just want to know one thing…" he wiped the tear stains on his cheeks. "I need you to look my eyes and tell me that you want it to." He prayed it wouldn't end up like before.
Abrose snapped his head up to look at Easton with wide eyes, "fell for me? T-twice?" He squeaked out, hands itching to wipe away the tears that streamed escaped from Easton's eyes. Tears formed in his own eyes as Easton met his gaze: "I wanted to," he strained out, managing a small smile at Easton's response, finding it adorably dramatic. "I really did." He reached up as Easton stood, taking one hand in his and using the other to brush against his cheek. He brushed away his own tears with his sleeve and gently brought their heads together. "Do you do this often, captain? Find single young men on there way home, patronize them for a bit, and then woo them later that night and make them fall in love with you?" He teased with a laugh. "Of course I want to be with you, Easton."
"Yeah, I did and each time was painful." Easton laughed at his comment. "No, not usually…I found you quite interesting even before I was given the order to catch you. I would need to witness something illegal for that to happen. Either way, I wouldn't tell." When he heard those words, his chest relaxed and all of his fears washed away. All of his doubts were gone. The pain in his chest that he had been feeling for days just went away. "Then how about we have a do-over. We can have that date and talk like we were planning to do. We have a garden. We could have our date there if that's alright with you…" Easton looked down at their hands. "Why did you say those things to me that night? You said that you wanted to explain it and I told you I would hear you out.
"ah so you chose to stalk me before you approached, now it makes more sense." He teased, pressing a softly kiss to Easton's brow. He slid to the ground so that he was kneeling with Easton, perking up at the mention of a garden. "And here I thought you hated plants. A garden seems out of place knowing that. But yes, I'd love a do-over first date." He replied, gently squeezing their linked hands. his heart raced at the thought of actually being with Easton. He wanted it more than anything but he knew there were risks with a human dating a Fae, especially if the human was wanted by the queen and the Fae being dated was the captain of her royal guard. "I was scared." He hoarsly replied. "I didn't know you were ordered to take me in. And after I heard about your family I panicked. I thought that if I showed you who I was, you'd get mad and turn me in out of spite since you didn't seem to like me without the mask. I had spent so long protecting what little I have of my family, I didn't want that to go to waste. Besides, I thought in the long run it'd save us both from more heartbreak. You'd eventually find out who I was, and if by some chance you fell in love with me, I didn't want you to choose between your family or me. I thought cutting things off would solve that and you'd focus on their needs. Apparently not since you saugt me out yesterday and dragged me to drink with you." He offered a shy smile and gently brushed his thumb along Easton's cheekbone. "You have no idea how many times I wanted to tell you, even before the date at the ball, I wanted to shake you and make you see who I was. But for some reason or another I was too scared to do so." He gently took Easton's Chin and tilted it up so their eyes met. "I'm not scared anymore. You can do what you want to me, keep my secret or bring in, I won't be mad. I know why you'd do it and I know my family would be proud that I at least experience some love before I was brought in."
Easton only listened patiently waiting for him to finish. He thought about his words. After he finished he was silent. He didn't know what to say to that. "Well, for one…I'm not a stalker I just like to take interests in things or people. Two different things. two, I did not drag you, you accepted my request and here we are." he laughed. "The only thing I would loose is my status and honestly I could handle that. If I did gain the money then…I wouldn't find. If my family knew then maybe they would see things how I see things. Even if they hate me and I'm all alone, I'll still have you right? I think that is enough. Even I'm not a monster to turn you just because you died. I have no proof. It's how this world works. If you don't have proof then there is no crime. If I turn you in I would probably break you out of jail because I felt bad. I have no doubt that you're not scared anymore and…neither am I. I know I judged you and was an ass to you before and I'm sorry fo that. I may still act like that even after all of this. It's engraved in me, it's going to take a while to change. Knowing that, will you give this a chance?" He said these words back at the picnic. Easton leaned into his gentle touches while he talked. He took his hand and kissed the palm softly while he looked at Abrose. "If you keep touching me like that who knows what I'll do." He teased.
it broke Abrose's heart, knowing that Easton was will to lose everything to be with him. "I can't let you do that, to lose everything you've worked for." He shook his head and sighed "you're right, you are an add, but I wouldn't change anything for the world. He lightly brushed his fingers through Easton's hair,, taking a good long look at his features, his bright eyes, the curve of his lips, the planes of his face. "I'll always give you a chance, no matter how annoying you can get." He promised with a laugh, his skin tingling on the area where Easton had kissed. "Oh really?" He purred, lightly tracing the curve of Easton's jaw with his other hand. "Do I want to know what's going through your mind?" He asked softly, lips brushing against Easton's in a tentative kiss
"It would kind of just happen, you wouldn't have to ask," Easton smirked. "No..no you don't." He pulled Abrose's waist towards him. "I'm serious, you can't tempt me, darling." Easton pushed their lips together softly. He let his hand rest on Abrose's jaw his fingertips feeling the strands of his hair. His were closed, enjoying the kiss the two shared. He pulled away his eyes feeling hazy. "I think I should mark this as our first kiss since I don't remember the one before." Easton kissed his forehead. "I guess I should leave you so you can go do your job." he sighed tucking a strand of hair behind Abrose's ear. "I have to go do mine. One thing I have to ask. Can you heal this headache of mine? It's been pounding in my head all morning. I've just been holding it in." Easton laughed, placing his head on Abrose's shoulder. He held him in an embrace and it felt warm. "Do you know long I wanted to do this? 3 days." he chuckled. "Now I can. Whenever I want. You're personal charger." He mumbled into Abrose's neck. Easton felt lips on his neck and didn't bother moving them. He simply rested there.
Abrose gripped the lapels of Easton's uniform to pull him closer to his form, not execting this kiss to be so soft and gentle. His eyes fluttered shut as he finally let himself enjoy Easton's kisses fully as his sober self. He laughed breathily as they finally broke apart and nodded his head. "Like you said, this'll be our do-over." He reminded, leaning into Easton's genetle touch. "Ah so no more days off? Here I thought you were going to take a full week off." He teased, tilting his head and gently brushing aside Easton's own hair. "Oh? Is the captain asking for my technically illegal help? No less from a human? Wow." He laughed softly and nodded, "Yes, of course." He gepyly wrapped his arms around Easton's shoulder and rested his head on his, feeling every word Easton spoke warm on his neck and houlders, causing him to immediatly blush. "Are you trying to tell me your partience only lasts that long?" He asked, closing his eyes as he felt Easton’s lips on hos neck. “Don’t bite.” He murmured teasingly, tilting his head to press a kiss to Easton's temple.
"Oh, shush…" He chuckled. Easton lifted his head up. "I can be patient. I only wanted a taste of you. Besides you had it coming to you with the way you were touching my jaw. You didn't seem to stop. Either way, I may be a jerk, but I do have respect and I will wait for however long you need. I'm not needy. I just to kiss your neck is that so bad." He sighed contently, look at the time. "I wish I could just lay in bed with you all day. But my work calls and so does yours too. I only wish I could take a week off, but don't worry, I'll stop by and say hello. Maybe a Little kiss before I leave." Easton fixed his hat. "How do I look?" he asked taking a step back making a 360 turn, jokingly. I know it's only my uniform. I don't want to be looking like shit today." He stuffed his hands in the pockets of his pants.
Abrose sighed softly and shook his head "no, it's not so bad. I wonder how long this patience will last though." He smirked and slowly broke away, brushing a quick kiss to Easton's lips before he stood To help clear the table as much as he could, setting the dishes neatly ontop of one another. He chuckled lightly "I'd love that, but no distractions." He gave a Easton a pointed look but couldn't keep a smile off his face as Easton turned in a small circle. He walked around the table towards him and fixed his hat a bit as well as the jacket lapels he had hastily grabbed in their kiss, brushing out the wrinkles. "Frustratingly good, I was never a uniform type of guy but I think I could get used to this." He gently nudged Easton towards the door. "Now let's get going, I'm already late. Besides you still need something for that headache and I need to catch up on a few tasks at home."
"My patience can last as long as you need it to. He kissed his forehead before he started walking. "Okay, okay, you don't have to worry about the mess. The servants will clean it up. Personally, I think a good distraction is good once in a while." He smirked and laughed while he said these words. He felt like a ray of sunshine as he looked at his angel. "So, does that mean I get to hold your hand in public now?" Easton took Abrose's hand, giving a butterfly kiss before pulling away. He opened the door, leading Abrose through it. His expression stayed the same. With his smirk and bright eyes. His cheeks hurt from smiling too much. When Easton was with Abrose there was no way he could stop grinning like the sly fox that he was.
"if you'd like." He replied with shy smile, walking through the the for, thanking the servants as they passed to he front of the house. re glanced up at Easton and tilted his head curiously. "You're sure you're okay with this?" He pointed between them. "A few days ago I would have thought something like this would have been impossible. That you'd turn me in sooner or later when you got bored or annoying me or something." He shook his head and took a deep breath. "Not that I'm not happy, it's just that I never thought I'd be in a relationship, much less with a Fae, even less possible with the captain of the Royal guard." He looked around at the town as they walked around, wondering how they had gotten through in their drunken state.
Easton only shook his head. "If I wasn't okay with it, there would be six feet between us while we walked." He rolled his eyes. "How many times do I need to tell you unless I see you doing magic I can't arrest you. Yes of course there is suspicion, but no one who you've treated would ever rat you out. So, for right now, I have nothing to turn you in for and I don't think I want to. Just be careful because some of the other guards know that we're trying to catch you so just be careful around them. You also want to be careful who you treat too. Some of them could be going undercover." Easton smiled and kissed Abrose's temple. "I'm serious be careful. Do you need help to set up or clean the shop today. I know we didn't get far yesterday because we went out to drink." He pushed a strand of Abrose's and tucked it behind his ears. He could feel the stares on him, but he didn't mind. It wasn't odd for them to be together it was odd because people knew what Easton was like.
Abrose nodded in understanding, "I will. There hasn't been anyone I suspected of being undercover but even if they were, there's a reason why they come, right? I'll help them in any way I can." He leaned into the kiss and closed his eyes for a moment. "I hope I can show you my magic without having to worry about any of this, one day." He murmured, leaning into the gentle touch and nodded his head. "If you'd like, I'd love some help, I'm pretty far behind." He glanced over Easton's shoulder, meeting a few states from people they passed in the town. He glanced away shyly and genyrly ested his head against Easton's shoulder, trying his best to ignore it. He was not stranger to stares and murmured but he hadn't realized how noticable those would be when with someone else
Easton shook his head. "You're much too nice for your own good Abrose." Easton liked the idea of him being able to see his magic. "I would like that as well. It seems like fun." He watched him lean against his shoulder. "Don't mind them let's just get to the shop and I can help you out before I leave. He hated that he was the cause of all of these stares. He hated the way is made Abrose feel. Easton pulled him close rubbing his shoulder. "So, what should out first date be. What do you suggest. I would rather not do another picnic like before. Have a lot of bad memories. Maybe dinner at a restaurant or I could go to your house and we could have dinner there. We already had breakfast at my place." he shruggged.
Abrose blinked and glanced up at Easton, relaxing into his embrace. "Hm? Another date?" He laughed softly, the stares around him dissapearing as he focused on the Fae beside him. "I wouldn't call it all bad." He inhaled deeply and gazed forwards as they walked on the roads that lead to the outerskirts of the village. "I did really love the picnic. It was one of the most beautiful things anyone has ever done for me." He peeked up at Easton features softening. "Easton, you have to know that I meant nothing of what said at the end of that night. It wasn't a waste of time or a distraction." He gently brushed Easton's cheek with the back of his hand and sighed softly, silently promising himself he'd make up for every terrible word he had ever said to them. "I wouldn't mind having dinner at home." He said, a small smile spreading across his features as he saw his mare trot around the front yard. He laughed as she whinnied and nudge her muzzle into his hand, occasionally glaring at Easton and hugging her distaste, nudging Abrise behind her and puting some distance between the couple. "Jelous beast." Abrose cooed, patting the mare down before leading her to a patch of grass to eat.
Easton only laughed. "I know, I know those words meant nothing. I just meant not just the picnic but the night in general. Anyway dinner at your place sounds nice." He joked being offended when the mare pushed him behind. "I'm not sure not feel about a small horse pushing me away from you. Easton walked up behind Abrose, pulling him close by his waist. He kissed his neck lightly before resting his head on Abrose's shoulder. "You have animals too not just plants? That's a first. There is still so much that I don't know about you. I'm glad that I can hold you like this…" he whispered. "I don't want to work today. I just want to sleep. I need a day off once in a while." he yawned. "So, what do you need help with before I stop distracting you hm?" Easton pecked his cheek.
"small? He back comes up to your shoulders, I wouldn't call that small." Abrose cane to a stop next the horse's mane, gently untangling the hair while she calmly ate. "Don't tell me you're jelous too." He murmured, heat rising his to his ears as Easton kissed his neck. He let out a breathy laugh and leaned into Easton's hold. "Well, I did just have plants. This one," he patted the mare's neck, "is a very recent edition. I haven't even gotten a chance to name her." Abrose turned in Easton's embrace and shook his head with a smile. "You had a day off yesterday and you already want another?" He chuckled and gently pulled Easton by the hand around the back of the house and shop to the gardens. "You, my dear, are going to weed the Shiori patch." He pointed to an overgrown bed in center of the garden. Thick Green vines cover most of what was supposed to be bright crimson flowers with which Abrose used the pollen from for most of his remidies. "If you need anything I'll be inside cleaning up and taking care of the next shipment of flowers." He hurried inside to grab gloves as well as a large back for Easton. "Weeds go in here. I'll use them.later."
Easton looked confused and gloves were placed in his hands. "I'm going to weed the what? What is weeding and what is a Shiori patch? I haven't done manual labor since the day I was born this is just plain torture. I mean you know I don't like plants and I don't even know how to do this so-called "weed" you speak of. I would probably mess it up to. If you really want me to help I'll listen and try to do what you ask of me, but just know if your…" he put his two fingers up making quotations with his fingers. "Shiori patch dies, it's on you." He cleared his throat. "What is a "patch" by the way?" Easton tried to put on the gloved but they felt too think for his liking. "Here hold these." he held out the gloves as he put on a pair of his own, them fitting better than the other ones. The gloves were black and they went down to his wrists. "Don't worry I have hundreds of them at home I'll be fine."
Abrose arched an eyebrow at the gloves and reluctantly took his own back. "You're gonna want the thicker ones." He warned. He had assumed Easton had very little experience with manual labor since most of his training had more to do with security and dealing with threats than landscaping. Though he hadn't expected the captain to be completely clueless. He yanked on the gloves and led Easton through the gardens. "These are beds." He said, kicking at prices of lumber he used to make a rectangle in the ground. "This is where I grow most of my crops and things I used at the apothecary. He walked around to one of the larger beds in the middle, crouching down beside it and motioning forwards. "These are Shiori." He gently untangled a thorny vine a stalk until he found the crimson bloom beneath. "These are what we need to save." He held up a thick thorny vine and yanked hard, ripping the weed from the roots. "These are what needs to be removed. But i'll keep these for later, they're good for baskets." He looked up at Easton and tilted his head "I can find something else for you to do if you don't want to deal with plants." He offered, standing and brushing off the dirt from his knees
Connor smirked as watched him take weeds out. "I could watch you do that all day," he smirked. He shook his head along with his hands. "I can do it, just don't blame me if anything goes wrong." He slowly got down to the ground. He hesitated as he looked at the weed he seriously found plants discussing. However, he pinched the weed to what seemed like gently and pulled it out with ease. "Like this? Where do I put it again?" Connor held it away from him holding his nose. "My apologies if I am offending you, but I really can't stand the stench. Don't worry, I finish up here and then come back to you. I can do it so you don't have to worry about me."
"oh really? You wouldn't happen to be turning this is into something else, would you?" Abrose gave a sly smirk of his own and watched as Easton pull a vine out. He nodded and nudged the basket towards Easton. "Exactly like that." Abrose left Easton's side to do a sweep around the garden, giving a critical eye to his crop beds, almost as if daring weeds to grow or for the plants to wilt. He crouched down beside the smaller one of the beds and grazed his hand along the blooms, carefully watching for those that reached towards his touch, ready for picking. He smiled softly nodded his head before gulling his hand away and standing. "You're. It offending me Easton." He replied, crouching down beside him to help with the tougher weeds that tended to wrap around the blooms and suffocate them. "I know plenty of people who don't like plants. Granted most are Fae but it's not that uncommon. I thank the Spirits that I don't have a Fae's keen sense of smell, else I don't think I'd last long in the gardens." He laughed lightly and set his pile of weeds into the basket. "I'll meet you inside once you finish here then. If I'm not in the front, I'm probably in the back area past my room helping someone or working on a few last minute chores." He said, pressing a kiss to Easton's cheek before standing and grabbing an armful of vines and reluctantly heading inside
Easton looked at Abrose plopping the weed in the basket. He sighed and started doing the rest of the patch. He cursed under his breath a few times when he got poked by the thorns and sometimes just in general. He kneeled as close as he could to the ground without ruining his uniform. It didn't work all the much considering some parts of his uniform by the leg and waist got ripped. Easton only cursed under his breath the more it happened. Once all the weeds were he made with a way out of the patch with the basket. He slammed the door open with an annoyed look on his face. "I've decided. I tried to like and I just couldn't. I officially hate Shiori patches." he growled. He put the patches of flowers on the front desk. He took off his gloves revealing some thorn in his hands. "You have got to be shitting me." Easton happens to be on a cursing spree since his frustration at the patch. He took off his other glove revealing the same thing in his other hand. "A little help?"
