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It was late, just a bit before closing and Isa was in the back of the store. He was almost finished putting away one of the display mannequins. The store had been selling so well since it opened and Isa couldn’t be happier about it. It had been open for just over a year at this point. After saving the world, and doing a bit of a tour to visit Ka Bue and Bambouche, he finally put the effort into opening a store in Jouvente. With the gold and silver they’d gotten for saving the country, and the help of his friends, he managed to get a wonderful spot all of his own. Well, his and Sif’s own. (He was still riding the high of Sif accepting his confession, even after all this time.)
Though, since opening the shop, he hadn’t really been traveling. Which was fine with him, as much as he loved it, there was nothing else he wanted more than to make clothing for people. But it did mean it was harder to see everyone. He would of course take breaks to visit Dormont and Bambouche, but a journey to Ka Bue would take far too long. All that to say, Sif went to Ka Bue without him and he was missing them big time. They offered time and time again to take Isa with them, but Isa had to turn them down, even though he would’ve loved to join.
The trip to Ka Bue by itself would take a week at best, and that was only going there. Spending time in the country, and the journey back… Sif had been gone for so long. He said that he would be back by the time the moon was full again. It sounded romantic, but it just meant Isa spent the night staring at the moon. The past few days he wondered if it was full or not yet. And today, it was too crabbing cloudy to see!
Isa sighed, putting the head of the mannequin back in its box. At least the store kept him busy during the day so he wouldn’t have to think about it. But at night, when everyone was winding down, and the streets became silent… Luckily, to interrupt his thoughts, the bell above the door dingled. While it was a surprise to have someone come in this late, it wasn’t too unusual. “One moment!” Isa called, shoving the box back in place.
"A moment? I can't wait that long." Isa felt his heart flutter as he heard their voice. He quickly came out and smiled wide once he saw them. "Siffarooni!" Sif chuckled, holding his arms out. Isa pulled him into a big hug, lifting them up off the floor as he spun. He’d always do that when he’d see them after a trip. It was just the first response Isa had when seeing them back home! (The first time he did, he apologized right after and Sif asked him to do it again.) Once he placed Sif back down on the floor, he looked them over. They looked tired, maybe a little hungry, and they had the cutest tint of gray to their cheeks. "Did you have a nice vacation?" Sif chuckled and nodded, watching him as Isa walked over to the door of his shop, turning off the lights and locking the door. "Did Odile finally tell you what she was researching? Was her research published in the papers?" Sif snorted, shaking his head. They followed Isa upstairs to the actual living space. He felt so lucky he had managed to get such an amazing place. His friends certainly had great taste when it came to helping him look.
Isa headed to the kitchen, turning on the stove as he got the ingredients out. Sif started to help, but Isa pointed at the table, “You know the rules.” Sif rolled his eyes and sat down. (He couldn’t cook right after coming home. Isa wouldn’t feel good letting someone so tired help him.) Sif started to talk about the trip. Apparently, it was only him and Odile this time. Bonnie and Mira were doing things they couldn't drop when Sif went to ask them to join. So he and Odile just had a good time. Both being the quiet types, Isa could imagine the two of them sitting in a room together and just enjoying each other’s company while doing their own things. He was almost a bit jealous.
He got to see her dad, her friends, and he kept going on about all the interesting foods he found there. His eyes sparkled as he talked about the raw fish he ate, and about the noodles that Odile made herself for him. Apparently, the fish he ate was much different than the fish Odile showed off to everyone during their first trip there. It was a kind that could kill you if it wasn’t served properly! While he trusts Odile to not kill Sif, it still feels like he should be more careful with his life. He’s not trapped in one of those loops anymore after all.
"You really need to come with us next time." "Sorry for not being able to. You know why I can’t.” Sif sighed and laid their head on the table. “But I promise I will next time!” Isa turned, smiling at them, “I’ll make sure I have everything ready and done so that I can leave with you, okay?” Sif smiled back, tilting their head.
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
“You super promise?”
“I super duper promise!”
Sif laughed, and Isa joined in. Bonbon’s super duper promises were impossible to break after all.
Isa listened as Sif went on and on. It always felt strange to be the quiet one while Sif talked, but Isa would never interrupt them. He’d wait patiently for Sif to ask him his opinion, or if Isa would do something like they did. Listening to their stories made cooking seem like a flash, because as quickly as he started, it was time to eat! Isa placed the plates down on the table, then the glasses. It wasn’t anything too special tonight, just some gratin. A nice warm and delicious dish that would certainly lead to a comfy sleep with a full stomach. (Even if sometimes he would add potatoes on instinct, Sif would still eat it up.)
Isa sat down with Sif, continuing to talk to him about simple things between each bite. It was a perfect night. Which made Isa more nervous about giving them the earrings. He didn't want to ruin the night with something like that. Sif did just come home after all, he’d probably be too tired after traveling and eating. Maybe he could wait a little longer... No. No, that thought process was how he got stuck pining for them for years. He couldn’t let himself get caught up in his thoughts. Be impulsive! Don’t dwell on this!!
“What’s with the face?”
Isa flushed up, “Ah- I was, making a face…?” Sif nodded, snorting and pointing his fork at him, “You look like you’re about to punch the table.” “Well…” Isa tapped his fingers on the table, “I was just trying to think of a joke.” Sif’s eyes sparkled a bit at that. Cheesy humor always got him excited. But Isa really couldn’t just come up with one on the spot like that- “I’ll tell you once I get it worked out. It’s a bit too wordy right now.” “Awwwwe…” Sif groaned. “Getting my hopes up like that. You’re really gratin on my nerves, Isa.” Isa laughed, then coughed. He was still in the middle of a bite. Sif quickly gave him his glass of water and apologized. “Nah, nah don’t worry,” Isa coughed a bit more, finally getting the cheese out of his throat, “This isn’t the first time tonight though. Seeing you early really choked me up.” Now it was Sif’s turn to laugh. It was definitely weak but he seemed to enjoy it. He looked so cute smiling like that.
Once dinner was over, Sif picked up the plates and started to clean them along with the pots Isa had used earlier, taking off his gloves before plunging his hands into the sink. Even if he wasn’t allowed to help cook, he would always tell Isa that he should at least clean. This time, Isa didn’t put up a fight about it. Seeing as it gave Isa enough time to grab the small box he had kept the earrings in since he made them. In their room, in the third drawer of his desk, there it was. He opened it to check on them one last time before taking a deep breath.
Isa held the box behind his back as he approached Sif. They were diligently cleaning, putting some serious elbow grease into scrubbing the baked-on cheese. "Siffrin." The serious tone and full name caught Sif off guard. They looked up at him, surprised. Isa immediately jumped at that, trying to lighten up his face. "Ah-! It's nothing bad, I promise!" Sif chuckled before tilting their head at him. "I... I bet you were wondering why I was asking you to pierce your ears a while ago.” Sif shook his head and shrugged. Ah. They weren’t… That doesn’t mess up his plan at all though! “Well, either way... There's a... A tradition that I've always... wanted to take part in." He didn't know why it was so hard to make words all of a sudden. He thought the nervousness would go away once he finally confessed, but it seemed any kind of romantic talk got him all flustered. It felt like he was telling them how much he loved them again. "It's a symbol of love between partners. A... A gift to always wear."
Sif furrowed his eyebrows, then suddenly something clicked in his mind. "Wait- Wait wait, I have something for you too then." he dug through his pockets, hesitating a bit before pulling out a small black sack tied closed with a small white ribbon. He offered it to Isa. Isa looked down at it, then at Sif. He shook the bag a little, holding it out further to him. Isa took the sack, trading it for the small box with the earrings inside.
He opened the sack, finding a pair of small wooden earring studs, carved to look like delicate roses. ... Isa's face immediately flushes a bright gray. "S-Sif?!" Sif stayed quiet, his own face a similar shade of gray. He picked up one of the earrings Isa made, moving it around in his hand. There was a soft smile on his face. The face put Isa’s heart at ease. (Or as ease as it could be when given something like bonding earrings.) He looked up at him, "Can you help me put it on?" Isa quickly nodded, too shocked to speak. Sif lifted up his hair. He was still wearing the onyx studs that Isa picked out for him. Carefully, he took out the earrings and put them on the counter. Then, just as carefully, he put one of the roses on his left ear and one of the glimmering blocks on his right. Once he let his hair back down, you really couldn’t see the rose. But the small block was only slightly hidden by the white locks in front of it.
Sif helped him in return, putting them on the opposite ears to them. Isa looked down at him, putting their face in his hands. Sif smiled, placing their hands on Isa’s. Their face was warm. Isa’s face must’ve been hot too. He never would’ve thought Sif knew about this, or really even considered doing it for Isa. Maybe it was something they learned through their travels that they never told Isa about. Maybe they were planning the same thing this whole time. But none of that really mattered now. He was so happy he could share something like this with Sif. He knew they would stay together forever.