Chapter Two-hundred Twenty-Two: Seasons Change

Chapter 222

Seasons Change

That morning, Celeste was out of the shower and sat at Fabien’s dining room table wearing her kitty robe. The words Fabien echoed in her head. The same words Jaxon struggled to tell her, and she felt she had to pull them out of him. She hugged her legs. She examined her freshly painted purple toenails and felt a flutter in her feminine core as she recalled the night she spent with Fabien.

She listened to the shower running as Fabien was in the shower. He stepped out of the shower with a towel around his waist. He had white stubble on his face. He smiled at her.

Fabien: “Morning!”

He leaned in and kissed her. She smiled at him.

He entered his bathroom and stood in front of the mirror with a sink full of soapy water. He squirted some shaving cream on his hands and lathered his face with it. He ran his hands in the water and picked up his razor. Celeste leaned in the doorway, gazing at him. He started at the sideburns. The first stroke was a clean, downward sweep that made a sound like heavy boots on gravel. With every pass, a strip of pale, smooth skin emerged from the white foam. He moved with a clinical grace, tilting his chin upward to navigate the treacherous territory of his throat, where the skin was thin, and the pulse beat steady beneath the steel.

He didn’t flinch. He rinsed the blade under a stream of hot water, watching the white suds and white grit of stubble spiral down the drain.

Once the last patch of foam was cleared from his chin, Fabien cupped his hands under the tap. He splashed his face with freezing water—a sharp, bracing shock that tightened his pores and rinsed away the remnants of the day’s grit. Every droplet of blood cleared up as his wounds healed before his eyes.

He reached for the heavy glass bottle on the shelf. The liquid inside was clear and smelled of cedarwood and cold citrus. He splashed a pool of it into his palm, rubbed his hands together once, and pressed them firmly against his cheeks and neck.

The burn was immediate. It was a sharp, searing heat that climbed his skin, a controlled sting that demanded his full attention. Fabien held his breath for a beat, leaning into the sensation until the fire cooled into a dull, pleasant tingle.

He turned to her and smiled.

Fabien: “What are you lookin’ at?”

Celeste bowed her head.

Celeste: “You.”

Fabien: “Yeah?”

He grinned. He dropped his towel and put on a clean pair of underwear. He then grabbed his green hot pants and slid them over his hips, and slipped on his white socks. He then shoved his feet into his green sneakers. He spritzed some cologne on his neck and wrists. He then grabbed his server belt and his car keys.

Fabien: “I gotta go to work.”

Celeste: “Okay.”

She rushed up to him and hugged him. He hugged her back, and the two kissed.

Fabien: “See you later.”

He whispered and traced his thumb over her lips. She smiled.

Celeste: “Okay!”

~

Jordi stepped out of his bedroom after having gotten a shower and gotten dressed. He wore a white pressed shirt, black tie, black pants, and black sheer socks. Lena was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. She wore an off-the-shoulder pink floral dress with angel sleeves and a heart-shaped apron over it.

Jordi sat down.

Jordi: “Morning!”

He smiled. Lena dished up his breakfast, which consisted of eggs, bacon, sausages, and toast. She poured him a cup of coffee. Jordi knit his eyebrows.

Jordi: “No heart-shaped eggs?”

He asked. She shook her head.

Jordi: “Are you okay, Lena?”

He asked her. She spun on her heel.

Lena: “I don’t want Ashley here anymore!”

She blurted. Jordi paused and frowned.

Jordi: “...Why?”

He asked slowly.

Lena: “They’re using you. Jordi! Tristan and others told me how they went from Blair to Lazaros, and now you! Don’t you get it?!”

She knit her eyebrows.

Jordi: “Did Tristan tell you they were dating Blair?”

He cupped his mouth.

Lena: “No, but it doesn’t matter! They move on to new men when they get bored with him, and they’re doing it to you!”

She cried. Jordi hung his head.

Jordi: “That is NOT what is happening, Lena. Did Tristan tell you that?”

He asked her.

Lena: “NO, but others did, and I can see it! They’re going to hurt you, Jordi!”

She cried. Jordi rubbed his eyes.

Jordi: “Don’t be angry with me, Lena.”

He said beseechingly.

Ashley entered the kitchen, freshly showered and dressed.

Ashley: “Good meowning, Jordi!”

They chirped and greeted Jordi with a kiss on the cheek. Jordi smiled a bit.

Ashley: “Good morning, Lena!”

They turned to her and smiled. They paused when they noted their expressions.

Ashley: “Is everything okay?”

They tilted their head and knit their eyebrows.

Lena: “I think you should find somewhere else to go, Ashley. I don’t want you doing to my brother what you did to Lazaros and Blair.”

She cried. Ashley recoiled as her harsh and blunt words slashed at them like razors.

Ashley: “...Wh-What? I-I’m sorry! What did I do?”

They cried.

Ashley: “What I did to them?! Lazaros abused me, and Blair assaulted me!”

They trembled all over.

Lena: “And will you say that about Jordi when you’re done with him?!”

She snapped. Jordi rubbed his temples.

Ashley recoiled with tears. Jordi knit his eyebrows.

Ashley: “Wh-What? What are you talking about? Where’s this coming from?”

They stammered with hurt.

Lena: “Tristan told me you just broke up with Lazaros and moved on to Jordi! Fabien told me you wanted Lazaros so badly and left him when you met Jordi, and he said you were dating Blair.”

Jordi turned to her. Ashley looked hurt.

Ashley: “You have no idea what went on between me and Lazaros… and I only ‘dated’ Blair because he said he was going to hurt Lazaros! I left Lazaros because I got tired of the way he treated me! I wish you had come to me about this instead of other people…”

They closed their eyes and embraced themself as tears streamed down their cheeks, feeling hurt by her.

Lena: “I never trusted you! Why would I believe anything you say to me?!”

She hissed. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “I-I’m sorry! What did I do to upset you?”

They cried.

Lena: “I don’t want you to hurt my brother!”

She countered.

Ashley: “I don’t want to hurt your brother! I really like your brother, and I wanted to get along with you, too!”

They pleaded.

Jordi rose.

Jordi: “Lena, they never dated Blair. Fabien is being his usual trolling self. As for Lazaros, the relationship ended on bad terms.”

Lena: “Why did they move on so quickly?”

She challenged. Jordi pursed his lips. Ashley bowed their head.

Ashley: “...I think I fell out of love with Lazaros long ago, and what was between us was already dead…”

Their voice trailed off quietly.

Ashley: “And it felt right with Jordi… he’s always so kind and everything feels lovely and peaceful around him…”

They smiled up at him. Jordi smiled back and sighed happily.

Lena: “What will happen when they see you have flaws, too?”

Jordi: “Okay, those are Tristan’s words.”

He rubbed his eyes. Lena bowed her head.

Lena: “So what if they are? He’s worried about you, too.”

She said to him.

Ashley: “I know he’s not some perfect being… He’s allowed to have flaws! Lazaros… never let me have flaws…”

They frowned. Jordi inhaled sharply and bowed his head.

Ashley: “Tristan? Oh, is there something going on with you and him?”

They titled their head. Lena reddened.

Lena: “We’re friends!”

Jordi frowned.

Jordi: “Even if he keeps Deimos hanging around.”

He muttered.

Lena: “He’s not keeping Deimos around! Deimos keeps coming to him!”

She huffed and placed her hands on her hips. Ashley sighed.

Ashley: “Deimos isn’t going to stop.”

They said, knowing him.

Lena: “Yes, what they said!”

She huffed. Jordi drew a long breath and rubbed his temples. Ashley placed their hand on Jordi’s shoulder, noting his tense demeanor.

Ashley: “Are you okay, Jordi?”

They asked.

Jordi: “I’m fine.”

He forced a smile and rose.

Jordi: “I should get to work.”

He draped his suit jacket over himself and buttoned it.

Ashley: “Oh, okay! Have a nice day, Jordi!”

They leaned in and kissed his cheek. Jordi kissed them back and slipped on his boots. He knelt to zip them up and stepped out the door.

When Jordi left, Ashley turned to Lena.

Ashley: “I’m gonna bake him some cookies! Would you like to bake with me?”

They offered, pressing their fingers together.

Lena: “Why do you want to do that?”

She asked them.

Ashley: “Well… I like baking, and it seems you do, too! I like baking him lil’ treats to come home to from a hard day at work!”

They smiled a bit.

Lena: “I guess so. What did you want to bake?”

She asked them.

Ashley: “You pick!”

They nodded to her, tying their hair back.

Lena pressed her finger against her chin.

Lena: “How about apple pie snickerdoodles? My grandma taught me to make them, and she said Jordi loves them.”

She smiled. Ashley brightened.

Ashley: “Ooh, delicious! How sweet! What is your grandma like?”

They asked, rummaging for ingredients.

Lena: “She’s kind, but rebellious. She doesn’t let anyone walk all over her. She told me she used to, but that was long ago. I hope she comes home someday.”

She said, her voice trailing off.

Ashley: “Oh, she sounds like a strong lady! Where is she right now? On a vacation or something?”

They asked with curiosity.

Lena: “She’s in Treasure State, where I lived. She’s living there. I came here a few months after I turned eighteen.”

She replied.

Ashley: “Oh, I see! Well, I hope she comes here to visit you and Jordi together!”

They chirped, thinking of the time their mother visited them.

Lena smiled a bit. I don’t think she will as long as Grandpa is here, she thought.

Lena: “Maybe we should make another batch of cookies for someone else…”

She muttered. Ashley tilted their head.

Ashley: “Oh? Who is this someone else?”

They chirped. Lena blushed and brushed her hair behind her ear.

Lena: “...Tristan.”

She said softly. Ashley’s eyes widened with a smile.

Ashley: “Ohh, so something is going on between you two?”

They chuckled. Lena shook her head.

Lena: “No, no! We’re just friends!”

She nodded. Ashley smiled.

Ashley: “Suuure!”

They teased with a laugh.

Lena: “He bought me a lovely butterfly clip once, and he brought me home last night.”

She bit her lip and tucked her hair behind her ear.

Ashley: “Aww, how cute! Sounds more like just friends!”

They winked and smiled. Lena blushed.

Ashley: “So, you like butterflies, huh? Why is that?”

They titled their head with a smile.

Lena: “They’re beautiful! I love them and always did since I was a little girl!”

She smiled.

Ashley: “They are super pretty! I love cats and have since I was little, too!”

They exclaimed.

Lena: “I wish I could have grown up with Jordi…”

She sighed. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “I’m sorry… Why were you apart from him?”

They asked.

Lena: “I was born prematurely by a couple of months, and my grandparents couldn’t afford my treatment. My Grandma found me later and took me to live with her, but she told me about Jordi. I know Gina hurt him badly, and I don’t want to see him hurt like that again.”

She admitted.

Ashley: “Oh, I’m sorry! I know your Grandpa… isn’t a kind person, and I’m sorry. I hope Jordi can see his Grandma again someday!”

They said hopefully.

Ashley: “And… yeah… Gina really hurt him, and I know you care about him! I care about him, too, and I’m not going to hurt him!”

They assured her.

Lena: “I hope you don’t… He doesn’t need to be hurt anymore.”

She bowed her head. Ashley held their hand up.

Ashley: “I purr-romise you I won’t! He needs warm hugs, cookies, and love, not hurt!”

They stated. And tickling, too, they thought, biting their lip at the thought of his laughter. Lena smiled a bit.

~

Tristan was in his office, signing and stamping some documents. He wore a dark purple three-piece Italian-cut suit, a white pressed shirt, a black tie, and black wingtip Oxfords. Someone knocked on his door.

Tristan: “Come in.”

He said robotically as he signed his name to a letter.

The door opened, and Jordi entered. Tristan raised his head to Jordi.

Tristan: “Jordi, what brings you by?”

He closed the door behind him.

Jordi: “I want to know why you’re trying to sabotage my relationship with Ashley!”

He flared. Tristan raised an eyebrow.

Tristan: “Excuse me? You interrupted my work for this?”

He asked sharply. Jordi sat across from him.

Jordi: “I’m sorry, but Lena is angry with them for stuff you told her!”

He said sharply. Tristan pursed his lips.

Tristan: “What I told her wasn’t untrue.”

Jordi: “Ashley was never dating Blair!”

Tristan clicked his tongue.

Tristan: “I never said that; Fabien keeps saying it.”

Jordi: “But you left out that Lazaros was abusive to Ashley!”

He knit his eyebrows.

Tristan: “Lazaros is a traumatized man. Ashley was smitten with him as they are with you. I warned them not to move in with him, and Deimos verified it. They insisted, and this is why we’re here.”

He said as a matter of fact.

Jordi: “So you’re saying it’s their fault Lazaros was abusive?!”

He rasped. Tristan glared at him.

Tristan: “No. I’m stating that both parties are at fault, and this was inevitable. Ashley moves on quickly… but, so do you, Jordi.”

He said with a trace of an edge.

Jordi: “Why do you care what I do with my love life?!”

Tristan raised his eyebrows.

Tristan: “Because we’re friends.”

Jordi: “What about you? My sister likes you a lot, and you keep Deimos around!”

He snapped. Tristan pursed his lips and cupped his mouth to glare at him.

Tristan: “I don’t control how Deimos or Lena feel about me, Jordi. I apologize for that. I’ll try and work on that since you seem to think I am capable of it.”

He said dryly.

Jordi: “I don’t know why you do this, Tristan.”

Tristan: “I’d love to know what I did! All I told Lena was what was presented before me, and she’s rightfully upset by this!”

He rose and slammed his hands on his desk.

Jordi: “Then how do you know we’re in a relationship?!”

He asked acidly.

Tristan: “Because someone named ‘Tengu’ on Fabien’s Bungle Server has been posting pictures of you two!”

He fired back and sat down. Jordi’s face grew ashen.

Jordi: “Why didn’t you say so?”

Tristan: “You came in hurling accusations at me! Does this problem run deeper, Jordi? Is your anger directed at me for something else?”

He asked through clenched teeth. Jordi recoiled.

Jordi: “I’m sorry, Tristan… I’m really sorry.”

He said sincerely. Tristan leaned back and formed a pyramid with his hands. He inhaled sharply and tightly pursed his lips.

Jordi: “Sorry, Tristan.”

He murmured. Tristan drew a breath. His expression relaxed.

Tristan: “You are forgiven.”

He replied. Jordi smiled a bit.

Tristan: “But answer me, Jordi. Does this run deeper? Are you upset with me because you and I never took off?”

His finger swayed between them. Jordi cupped his mouth.

Jordi: “Maybe?”

Tristan bowed his head.

Tristan: “I apologize.”

Jordi smiled.

Jordi: “It’s okay. I don’t want to force you into something you don’t want.”

Tristan: “I cherish our friendship, Jordi.”

He said earnestly.

Tristan: “I am… a man who comes with a lot of baggage and am uncertain of what I want when it comes to romance. I broke up with Deimos. I’m not sure if my feelings for him still linger. I don’t jump from person to person, so I didn’t want to get romantically involved with you—or anyone—while I am in the midst of this uncertainty.”

He cupped his mouth. Jordi nodded.

Jordi: “It’s fine, Tristan. I am happy with Ashley.”

He beamed.

Tristan cleared his throat.

Tristan: “When they were with Lazaros, there was no impending doom of them being in trouble outside of Blair because Lazaros isn’t involved in our escapades.”

He locked his gaze on Jordi.

Tristan: “I don’t know if our lifestyle would fit Ashley’s is all I am saying.”

Jordi twisted his mouth.

Jordi: “I understand that, but I was with Gina, and she’s not an etheressum.”

Tristan: “Gina is also from this planet. I don’t believe Ashley is, and you know how Reonans treat aliens.”

He said grimly. Jordi looked away.

Jordi: “Yeah, I know.”

Tristan: “Oh, and Minerva kidnapped Fabien last night.”

Jordi hung his head.

Jordi: “Yeah, I know. This is why I am here. I have time off until she heals. Sorry about all that. Why didn’t you call me?”

Tristan: “Because I felt we could manage, and I didn’t want to risk you losing your job.”

Jordi smiled a bit.

Jordi leaned back in his seat.

Jordi: “So, who’s ‘Tengu’? I had to leave Fabien’s server again. I explained to him that I can’t be in the same space as Blair, especially after what he did. He seemed to understand.”

He pursed his lips. Tristan cupped his mouth.

Tristan: “I don’t know who this is. They shared images of you and Ashley. Nothing too intimate—no nudity was shown—but it was enough for Blair to get into his usual tirades and demand someone put him in a coma.”

He rolled his eyes.

Jordi: “What pictures?”

Tristan cleared his throat.

Tristan: “You and Ashley at Fred’s 50s Diner, and cuddling in bed.”

Jordi shifted in his seat uncomfortably. Tristan knit his eyebrows.

Tristan: “I’m sorry.”

Jordi: “Who is doing this and why are they doing this?”

He asked with discomfort.

Tristan folded his hands and drew a long breath.

Tristan: “The why is easy to guess, but the who could be anyone. Whoever this is wants to spite Blair.”

Jordi: “Do you think it’s Fabien?”

Tristan shook his head.

Tristan: “No, because Fabien would have attached some insult to Ashley, and this person is alerting Blair.”

Jordi folded his arms.

Jordi: “Do you think it’s Blair’s friend? That nerdy Japanese guy who always hangs around him?”

Tristan twisted his mouth.

Tristan: “It’s possible, but I don’t think Yoshi is good at being discreet, and how would he get into your house undetected?”

Jordi gaped at him.

Jordi: “This person was in my house?!”

He asked in a high-pitched squawk. Tristan nodded soberly.

He typed in his username and password on Bungle. He clicked on Fabien’s server. He typed in “from: Tengu” in the search bar, only to be met with a ten-page tirade from Blair. Jordi rose and stood behind Tristan. He cupped his mouth at the pictures. There were five pictures of Jordi and Ashley snuggling in his bed.

Tristan: “They were in your house.”

Jordi: “I know! Why, though?! Why violate our privacy to spite him?!”

He asked angrily and paced around.

Tristan drew a short breath and recalled that Ichiro had a teleportation device in his ear.

Tristan: “...This is Ichiro.”

He said breathlessly. Jordi froze.

Jordi: “Ichiro?! I don’t speak to him at work, and we rarely cross paths! Why is he targeting Ashley and me?!”

He asked with agitation.

Tristan: “Because you share a mutual interest with his actual target: Blair.”

He said grimly.

Jordi gaped at him.

Tristan: “In the last few times we encountered him, he was trying to turn Blair into a richonoid.”

Jordi raised an eyebrow.

Jordi: “Why, Blair?”

Tristan pursed his lips.

Tristan: “I think he thinks if he hurts Blair or kills him, it will affect Fabien.”

Jordi: “What?! Are you kidding me?! If Blair gets killed, Fabien will just move on to someone else!”

He threw his hands up.

Tristan: “Ichiro can read our moves, but he can’t seem to read emotions… Interesting.”

He muttered.

~

Celeste walked up from her basement apartment at Deimos’ place. She wore a white tiger-striped bustier, a black leather skirt, a spiked collar, and black thigh-high stockings. She went upstairs to Deimos’ personal gym to see him bench-pressing. He wore gray gym shorts, socks, and sneakers.

Celeste: “Hey.”

Deimos lifted the barbell and rested it on the rack.

Deimos: “Yo.”

He sat up and wiped his forehead with a towel.

Celeste: “So how do you know when you’re in love with someone?”

Deimos gaped at her.

Deimos: “You feel really amazing and feel like yourself around them. You would do anything in the world for them, even if you don’t want to do that thing. And the downside is you do crazy things.”

He drew a long breath.

Celeste: “Would that other person tell you they love you and you don’t have to pry it from them?”

She scratched her head. Deimos raised an eyebrow at her.

Deimos: “Yeah, of course. I never struggled to tell Tristan he loves me, and he didn’t with me.”

Celeste: “I had to pry it out of Jaxon.”

She gazed down at her feet.

Deimos: “I never felt Jaxon was relationship material. He did take advantage of me and made me cheat on Tristan, so.”

He shrugged. Celeste sighed.

Deimos: “Are you and Jaxon done?”

Celeste paused.

Celeste: “I dunno, Deimos. I guess so.”

He put his hand on her shoulder.

Deimos: “Look, he’s a great musician and a good foot model, but he can’t be a boyfriend. He doesn’t know what he wants. I know what I want.”

He said doggedly and patted her back.

He knelt down to remove his shoes and socks. Celeste scrunched her nose.

Celeste: “Ugh, I could do without smelling your feet.”

Deimos pouted.

Deimos: “I’m getting a shower to fix that!”

He huffed and marched to his bedroom to go to the bathroom.

~

Jaxon stepped out of Percy’s room after having gotten showered and dressed. He wore a black button-down shirt with a paisley pattern, black leather pants, and black sheer socks. He descended the stairs and froze when he saw Fen Huang at Percy’s bar. Percy wore a white button-down shirt with cascading jabot-style ruffles that ran down the length of the button placket, black pants, and black Beatles boots.

Fen wore a long green coat with a peacock emblem on the back and white fur trim, a gold silk button-down shirt, tight, dark brown leather pants, black double-strap monk shoes, and heart-shaped glasses on his head. He wolf-whistled when he saw Jaxon.

Fen: “Hey, there, sexy! Wanna sit on daddy’s lap?”

He teased. Jaxon’s face twisted with disgust.

Jaxon: “No!”

Percy leaned closer and withdrew his kukri. Fen froze at the sight of his blade.

Percy: “Fen, darling, you may look, you don’t touch. Do I make myself clear?”

Fen swallowed hard and nodded meekly.

Fen: “Y-Yes, o-of course, Percy!”

Percy smiled at Jaxon.

Percy: “Having a drink with an old friend, darling. Why don’t you go out to the backyard?”

He suggested. Jaxon gazed at him with alluring eyes and smiled.

Jaxon: “Sure.”

He sauntered out to the backyard. Fen checked out his ass as he walked out.

Percy: “You keep undressing him with your eyes. Let’s stay on the topic, shall we?”

He twirled his kukri. Fen froze and nodded slowly.

Fen: “L-Look, I owe some debt to The Azure Dragon Pavilion and Lady Lan Zhaolin wants this ‘ehtytrim’, and this is where I need your help!”

He whispered.

Percy: “What’s in it for me?”

He smirked.

Fen: “I can crush Dieuseul Charles!”

He exclaimed. Percy scoffed.

Percy: “Darling, he and I made peace. You need to try better than that if you want my services. Besides, getting ehtytrim is easy. Why on Reona do you need me for that?”

He spread his arms out. Fen leaned closer.

Fen: “According to her, it’s just not any regular ehtytrim, but a special serum. I don’t know much about it. She said the name was ‘Aetheris-9.’ ”

He whispered. Percy quirked an eyebrow.

Percy: “This is news to me. I didn’t know there were variations of ehtytrim.”

Fen shrugged.

Fen: “Apparently, there are.”

Percy folded his arms.

Percy: “You will have to give me an offer I can’t refuse, darling.”

He smiled.

Fen: “I will not look at your little Japanese prince!”

He grinned. Percy rolled his eyes and laughed.

Percy: “I didn’t realize I hired a comedian.”

Fen: “Percy, come on, we’re friends! She’s going to kill me!”

He clutched his shirt.

Fen: “You have to help me! I needed her services to open Miss Peahaven! It got shut down in The Silver State!”

He pleaded. Percy sighed.

Percy: “How did that happen?”

Fen: “...Someone planted drugs and claimed I was dealing drugs! That is not true! I never did drugs in my life!”

He insisted. Percy clicked his tongue.

Percy: “And I’m the pope.”

He said dryly.

Fen: “Well, what am I supposed to do?!”

He caterwauled. Percy shrugged.

Percy: “Make me an offer I can’t refuse or negotiate with Zhaolin.”

Fen turned ashen.

Fen: “I was lucky she helped me set up shop here!”

Percy: “Then you have the powers to convince her to take your deal.”

Fen: “WHAT deal?! I don’t even know what I am supposed to get or HOW to get it!”

He slammed his fist on the counter. Percy remained calm.

Percy: “That makes the two of us, then. Maybe you should have thought it out carefully before executing anything.”

Fen glared at him.

~

Jaxon stood out in the backyard. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and the faint, sweet perfume of ferns unfurling in the humidity. It was a pocket of absolute stillness, hidden away from the rush of the world by the heavy, tiered eaves of the wooden pavilions. Dark timber balconies, worn smooth by generations of hands, reached out over a pool of water so clear it seemed like liquid jade.

Beneath the surface, a slow-motion riot of color played out.

Koi—splashes of vivid orange, ghostly white, and mottled gold—drifted through the cool depths. They moved with a lazy, rhythmic grace, their trailing fins like silk ribbons caught in a gentle breeze. Every so often, a ripple would break the glassy surface, shattering the reflection of the overhanging trees into a thousand shivering fragments of green and gray.

Cherry blossoms, heavy with the weight of their own fleeting beauty, framed the scene in clouds of candy-pink silk. Occasionally, a petal would surrender to the air, spiraling down to kiss the surface of a pond that mirrored the deepening sky. Wooden bridges arched over the narrowest points of the water, connecting the meticulously manicured islands of moss and stone.

Jaxon walked on the bridge and rested his arms on the railing, staring down at his reflection and the koi fish in the pond. He saw Percy approach him from behind and embrace him. Percy kissed his head and inhaled the sweet aroma of his hair. Jaxon closed his eyes.

Jaxon: “How’d that go?”

Percy chuckled and intertwined his fingers with his.

Percy: “I think Fen will be dancing with the devil soon.”

He said wryly, and the two kissed.