The Flower Dance. That’s what they called it. A yearly event where couples twirled in bright outfits beneath the canopy of the forest, surrounded by petals drifting in the breeze. It was the kind of thing Sebastian usually avoided—too many people, too much attention, and way too much forced cheerfulness.

Yet, here he was.

Sebastian stood near the edge of the clearing, arms crossed, watching the festival unfold with that usual detached expression. But his foot tapped slightly, betraying the restless energy beneath his cool exterior. He was waiting.

When he saw you, his shoulders tensed for a fraction of a second before he forced himself to relax.

—“Took you long enough,” he muttered, though his tone lacked any real bite.

His fingers twitched at his side.

—“I still think this whole thing is kinda dumb,” he admitted, glancing at the dancing couples. “But… I guess it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if we joined in.”

Sebastian wasn’t one for grand gestures, but the way he hesitated—like asking was foreign territory for him—said enough. His gaze flickered away, then back again.

—“Only if you want to,” he added quickly, shoving his hands into his pockets.

The music swelled, and for the first time, there was a crack in his usual guarded demeanor. A quiet hope, barely noticeable, but undeniably there.