You relaxed in Garroth's arms. Travis's opinion didn't matter... Maybe it did. Just a little bit.

Leaves crunched overhead as a squirrel scurried up a pine tree. You thought nothing of it, but Garroth had seen something. He took in a deep breath and gently stepped away from you and towards the tree. "Travis, I'm sorry. You can" -he waved his hand- "stop hiding."

"Was Travis in that tree?" You thought out loud.

"Yup..." Garroth answered before stepping towards the base of the tree Travis was in. A head of white hair fell to the ground.

You looked at Travis. "Do you want to talk?"

"Do I have to?" He mumbled.

"You really should." You motioned for Travis to come closer. "Please? We don't bite."

"Maybe you don't." Travis remarked.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Garroth marched forward angrily.

"Garroth, sweetie," you said through gritted teeth, "why don't you settle down?" You held your arm out to stop him. "You're proving Travis's point."

Garroth inhaled slowly. "You're... You're right." He put his hands up. "Fine. I'm calm. Totally calm. Like the wind."

"Good," you started, "now Travis, what's on your mind?"

Travis nervously glared at Garroth before beginning to speak. "Well, I guess I just..."

***

You were laid back on your couch. Garroth was next to you, and Travis was no where to be seen. All the guy had felt was neglected, but Garroth had convinced Travis to be happy for you guys.

"You know how happy tacos make you feel? That's how I feel about ____." Had been Garroth's reasoning with Travis.

After that, Travis gave in and actually, for real, left you alone. Now that you could relax with Garroth, you were extremely grateful.

A cold breeze drafted through the window, sending shivers down your spine. "I'm cold." You said, ready to get up and slam the window shut.

Before you got up, Garroth yawned an obviously bogus yawn and stretched, lowering his arm around your shoulders.

You laughed. "Really?"

"Yes, really." Garroth smiled goofily as you leaned closer into him and laughed wholeheartedly. After the laughter subsided, you sighed dreamily. You remained in the comfort of Garroth's arms while your head rested on his chest. This, this is what you had longed for. And at that moment, you decided it had been worth the wait.

***

You were sitting in Garroth's lap when it dawned on you. I'm hungry, you thought."Do you wanna get some food?" You purposely made sure to say 'food' and avoided saying 'cake' because you knew Garroth would be reluctant to go to the only place that sells sweets.

"____, you always want to get food." Garroth grinned brightly.

"Can we?" You looked up into Garroth's eyes hopefully.

Garroth stared into your eyes for a few moments longer. "Alright. Let's go to the Dining Hall."

"I was thinking we could go to Kawaii~Chan's." You spoke up.

Garroth groaned. "Do we have to? All she does is talk about her 'ships'. Last time I talked to her she said that you and I are 'canon'? What does that even mean?"

"I don't know. But come on, she makes really good cake." You tried to defend the cat that puts food in your belly.

"How about we get a real meal first? Then we can get cake for dessert." Garroth turned his head away from where you were positioned in his lap. "Anything to avoid Kawaii~Chan." He muttered under his breath.

"Did you say something?" You pried for him to tell, forcing Garroth look at you.

"Nothing." Garroth lied for a good reason. You scooted off of his lap, which allowed him to stand up. He held out his hand to help you up, so you took it as he pulled you to your feet.

He stepped towards the door where he had hung his guard attire. Garroth slipped on his armor over his clothes and grabbed his diamond sword, then sheathed it.

Once you stepped outside, you could tell the clouds were gloomy. Garroth looked up. "We'd better hurry. Looks like it's going to rain."

"I guess I can't do my best snail impersonation like I had planned." You said sarcastically.

"Ha ha."

You continued walking, and at abut halfway to the dining hall, you purposely wasted time by bending over and picking a flower. You stuck it in Garroth's blond locks and picked another one.

Garroth grasped your hand and continued walking with you.

After you stood outside of the door, Garroth pulled the flower out of his hair and stuck it in yours above your ear, making you giggle. He walked in front of you to hold the door open.

"Why, thank you." You said as you walked inside.

"No problem, m'lady." Garroth followed you closely behind.

***

After eating, you made your way towards Kawaii~Chan's. It had only been a few minutes when it started sprinkling in light drops.

"Do you feel that?" You asked Garroth.

"A drop landed on my forehead. Soon it's going to be pouring hard." He replied.

"So you're saying I should walk slowly and smell every flower I walk by?"

"Yup. That's exactly what I was implying." Garroth rolled his eyes, but smiled anyways.

Out of no where, the clouds started throwing a fit. Rain pounded down onto the sand of the shoreline. You had only made it to the docks when the weather had started acting up. Garroth's hair started to flatten as water dripped from it. You hoped his armor wouldn't rust after being filled with water.

Garroth's first instinct was to step even closer to you and shield you from the rain. You replied by jumping into a puddle that splashed Garroth. "Hey!" He said playfully.

You started jumping around all over the place and catching water in your hands, only to fling it at him. You didn't care what you looked like or that your hair was matted to your forehead, you were having the time of your life.

Garroth pulled his sword out and set it far off to the side before he started play-fighting back. After only a few minutes, you had managed to get Garroth onto the ground. You were on top of him, both people laughing excessively.

"Remember that time it rained back in Phoenix Drop?" Garroth asked.

"Yeah. What about it?" You answered, still on top of him.

"I wish I had known about my feelings then, because I could have dramatically kissed you in the rain."

"That's pretty cheesy." You said, leaning down and kissing him. He wrapped his arms around your back, rubbing it soothingly.

You pulled away, then stood up alongside Garroth. The rain had settled down, and the clouds had opened up to allow rays of light to shine down. There were puddles left everywhere and the grass all around was soggy.

You looked up and pointed at the sky. "Look Garroth! A rainbow!"

He distractedly turned his head. "Look ____. A ship." He said with less enthusiasm.

You looked towards the ocean. Surely enough, a trade ship was docked. A Bright Port trade ship. Trade ships meant Garroth had to work. "Those are Bright Port colors." You noticed.

"On the rainbow?" Garroth asked, still trying to pay attention to what you had to say from before.

"No, the ship." You glumly looked down.

"I should go greet them. Come with me." Garroth grabbed his sword off of the ground and put it in its sheath.

Was Garroth planning to attack the visitors? He noticed the look you were giving him, so he patted his sword while saying, "Just in case."

You understood, so you pointed out another detail. "Garroth, we're soaked. Anyways, it looks like Lord Aphmau already took care of it. She's over on the docks." You pointed out.

"You're right. We should go back." Garroth agreed.

"Go back where?" A feminine voice startled you from behind. Garroth held his hand over the hilt of his sword, but didn't pull it out.

"You didn't even say hi." she continued. Garroth let go of his sword when he turned around. You turned around with him.

The woman was blonde. And from Bright Port. Azura.

"Um... Hi." He said awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck.