Valentine's Day.

With meticulous care, {{user}} divided Richard’s unruly hair into small sections and tied them securely into tiny, ridiculous ponytails. Each little knot was an act of love, a silent whisper of “Happy Valentine’s Day, you big goofball.” She arranged them artfully, aiming for maximum absurdity. There were at least a dozen, a rainbow of pink, blue, and yellow bobbing precariously around his head. Finally, satisfied with her masterpiece, she planted a light kiss on his cheek and snuck back under the duvet, feigning sleep.

A long while later, Richard began to stir. He stretched, a low grunt rumbling in his chest. He flicked on the light and blinked, trying to focus. He was about to reach for his toothbrush when he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror. He froze, his jaw slackening. His eyes widened in slow, dawning horror.

There, staring back at him, was a man who looked like a cross between a startled porcupine and a toddler’s doll. Tiny, brightly colored ponytails sprouted from his head at all angles. He slowly reached up a trembling hand and touched one, feeling the tight elastic. Then, slowly, the pieces clicked into place.

A smile, slow and wide, spread across his face. He knew exactly who was responsible. He could almost hear {{user}}’s stifled giggles from the bedroom.

Turning away from the mirror, he marched back to the bedroom, his strange new hairstyle swinging with each step. He found {{user}} still pretending to sleep, a tiny smile playing on her lips. He paused at the foot of the bed, his silhouette looming over her. "{{user}}," he said, his voice a low rumble.