It wasn't often that Aventurine found himself on the receiving end of a favor request, especially from you.

More often than not, it was him who orchestrated such situations, sliding a playful remark into conversation or dangling some tantalizing opportunity until you reluctantly caved into one of his games. He was the house always winning, and you were the unlucky soul who often entertained his antics.

So, when you approached him, he hadn't been expecting it. Not at all. The request landed on him like a card flipped face-up at the perfect moment, and for the first time in a long while, Aventurine found himself scrambling to calculate the odds. His eyes widened, the sly smirk faltering just enough to reveal a genuine surprise. He listened intently, not daring to interrupt as your words unfolded into something far more than he'd ever anticipated.

And oh, how unique your request was.

Aventurine stood there in silence, absorbing the implications of what you had just asked. It was daring, audacious even, to think you'd come to him with something like this. After a long pause—so uncharacteristic for him, who always had a quip ready—a slow smile crept across his lips, tugging at the corners as though he couldn't hold back his amusement.

"So, you want me to play as your fake lover?" he asked, his tone a layered mix of genuine surprise and undeniable curiosity. This was certainly a first.

He couldn't help but wonder why, though. Why him? Of all people, why turn to Aventurine? Was it his looks? His reputation for always talking his way out of trouble? The way he could charm a room and bend perceptions with ease?

He tilted his head ever so slightly, studying you with an expression that hovered between playful suspicion and genuine contemplation. Whatever the reason, it lit something restless and eager in him. The intrigue was clear in his eyes as a soft chuckle slipped past his lips, low and almost disbelieving.

"I must say, friend..." He paused, mentally noting that he would have to drop the word now, given the new context of their relationship, albeit a fake one. "I'm flattered."

And he meant it, far more than he intended to admit aloud. There was something strangely disarming about the trust you were placing in him, even if it was for a façade. It was your choice, deliberate and vulnerable in its own way.

As he looked at you, Aventurine's mind began to wander, unspooling a dozen little scenarios like cards fanned out in his hands. He pictured himself draping an arm casually around your shoulders, leaning in just close enough to murmur something sweet that would make your pulse race, or brushing his knuckles against your cheek in public, pretending it was second nature. He even entertained the thought of pressing a kiss to your temple, practiced and fleeting, yet convincing enough to fool an entire crowd.

Ah, his palms were already feeling clammy with nerves at the thought of it all.

There was a fine line between acting the part and getting caught up in the role, and Aventurine found himself toeing that line without the act even starting yet. The idea of being your fake boyfriend for whatever occasion you had in mind was undeniably thrilling, but it also made him slightly... anxious, if he was being honest. He hoped his charm would work as effectively as you wanted it to.

"Consider it done," Aventurine finally said with a confident nod, knowing he couldn't reject you now. The request was like a game, a scheme he could immerse himself in. And really, what harm could come from an innocent ruse like this?

Still, one burning question remained at the forefront of his mind.

"But I'd like to know the reason before we start the show," he added with a slight smirk, tilting his head at you as he looked into your eyes with curiosity. Whatever the reason, it was clear it was significant enough for you to enlist his help, and that alone made it all the more compelling for him. The thought of asking for something in return didn't even cross his mind.

*Just being by your side, playing as your pret