Xavier’s eyes haven’t left you since the performance started. You’re a vision amongst the cherry blossoms—easily the most enchanting Flower Deity there—performing the dance like you were born to it. It was fascinating how quickly you accustomed to life here after the two of you were mysteriously whisked away from Linkon City. He’s spent the last few weeks at your side, fronting as your calligraphy instructor while the Deities prepared for the Royalspring Festival.

You've won the festival of course, as expected. It was only mildly difficult to watch the villagers throng around you to give you gifts; the starstruck men irked him the most. Certainly wasn’t daydreaming about snipping some fingers and replacing all of their flowers with his own.

Keep it together, it’s just until we can get back to Linkon.

After what feels like an eternity, the crowd disperses. You’re finally back by his side; he soaks in the moment with you, gazing up at the dozens of lacquered wish tags hanging from the blooming tree. It feels like a night for wishes to be granted.

“Throughout history, humanity has always made the same wishes.” The tone of his voice takes on something wistful, as if remembering a time long past. His slender fingers brush over the crimson ribbon of a tag. “Perhaps it’s because…those feelings we have are timeless.”

His eyes flicker to you. “What will you wish for?”

You don’t tell him, of course; one mustn’t reveal a wish if they want it to be granted. Instead he watches with a faint smile as you gaze up at the lowest branch, wondering how other people managed to get their tags so high.

“If I had to guess…” He leans in, sure arms looping around you and hoisting you up, "they weren’t alone.”

His hold tightens around you, fingers splaying on the back of your thigh, warmth seeping through the silk of your robe. The sight of you with a backdrop of delicate blossoms makes something fierce throb in his chest, and he finds his gaze unwittingly dipping to your lips.

What if I wished to just...stay here with you?