AN: Thanks to La Lapin for reviewing!

When he woke for the second time the bright Saturday sunshine was pouring through his window almost blindingly. He rolled over trying to ignore it but everything was still too bright. He sighed. Sitting up he rubbed his eyes and willed himself to be more awake. Across from him the sunlight glinted on the silver photo frame, still there, still empty. That hadn't been part of the dream then. Standing up he crossed the room in a few impatient strides and taking it from where it stood bunged it instead in one of the drawers where he couldn't see it. There. Out of sight, out of mind. It was probably time he had a shower and got ready. Even though he knew the theatre trip was next Saturday and Pit had said nothing about today he wouldn't put it past him to have planned something.

It wasn't a far stretch of the imagination. Just before noon the doorbell rang and pulling on a thin cardigan Marth went to answer it.

"Hi!"

Marth gave Pit a small smile. "Just let me put on my shoes."

"Okay! Where do you want to go for lunch?"

Marth tied his laces slowly.

"I've heard of a new restaurant that's opened recently, we could go there!" Pit continued exuberantly.

Then the other shoe. Marth finished tying it and stood up, thinking to himself.

"I think it's Spanish, you might like –"

"What about a walk?" Marth interrupted, surprising himself. Pit looked at him curiously. Marth shrugged. "A walk. Just…around the park near town. Then we could get a hotdog or something."

"Okay."

Marth looked down at his feet, unused to being so forward. "It's sunny," he tried to excuse himself.

"I know," Pit agreed cheerily.

Marth stepped outside the front door, locking it behind him. "Okay then."

The park was quite busy, with many families strolling around to take advantage of the weather. It was easy to spot, too, the older children that had been dragged out 'to get some exercise'. There were shoppers and tourists and pensioners… Marth spotted at least two couples kissing on the grass. If Pit spotted them too he made no comment, but he linked his hand through Marth's as they wandered all the same. They chatted sporadically, circling the park until they came round once more to the main gate.

"Hotdog?" Marth suggested.

"We haven't looped the whole park yet," Pit commented.

"Haven't we?" Marth looked around. He remembered there was a more secluded section to one side that he'd forgotten. "No, I suppose we missed the bit on the other side of the pond," he muttered. He felt guilty now it sounded like he had been trying to cut their walk short – he hadn't intentionally skipped a bit. The thought probably hadn't occurred to Pit but Marth knew that he had suggested a walk through the park at least partially because it would be less romantic than a restaurant lunch, and wouldn't last as long. The guilt rattled around in his mind like a stone in his shoe.

"You're right. Come on then." Gripping Pit's hand more firmly he began to head over to the part of the park they had missed, intent on making up to Pit what he didn't even know he was missing.

"You walk fast," Pit teased, breaking into a sort of half skip. Marth instantly slowed down, having barely been aware that he was power-walking.

"Sorry."

"Are you hungry? We don't have to cover the whole park – we can get food now if you like!"

"No, no. I'm fine."

"You're acting funny." Pit bit his lip with a small smile.

Was there ever a more provocative statement in all the world? But Marth refused to let himself take the invitation. "Am I?" he asked nonchalantly.

Pit shrugged and kissed him on the cheek playfully. "Dunno. Shall we find some shade?"

After a few minutes they reached the part of the park they had missed and found a bench under one of the tall trees there. A cool breeze flicked some of Marth's hair across his face. He reached to tuck it back again, but Pit was already there, tenderly brushing it behind his ear for him.

"I haven't done this for ages," Pit said happily. "Years, or something."

Marth smiled at him. "What, walk around the park? Really?"

"Yep!"

"Why not?"

"I used to just chill at the Coffee Cube on spare days like this."

Marth had heard of the place. Now he thought about it Pit had never taken him there, and he had taken him most places.

"Alone?" he asked.

"No." Pit gave a small, confused laugh, and Marth felt embarrassed. But of course Pit had had friends and a life before him, why should he think otherwise?

"Sorry, I didn't mean –" he began.

"Oh it's alright!" Pit smiled.

"Who did you go with then?" he asked.

"Friends," Pit answered vaguely.

Marth blushed, feeling stupid again. "I…We've never been there together."

"No." Pit shrugged awkwardly.

Marth felt his curiosity peaked by the short answer. Normally Pit was all too happy to tell Marth details of his life.

"Why not?"

"I…just…well…It's not much of a venue."

"Oh." So that was all. Marth watched his happy face gaze attentively out over the park. He looked very pretty in this light, as if caught in one of those timeless dreamy moments. On impulse Marth leant forward and kissed his cheek.

"Ma-arth." Pit blushed and leaned away. "Not in public."

Marth knew that he was awkward when other people were watching, but now it occurred to him how odd this was – in every other respect Pit was always seeking to be close to him. He shifted closer to Pit and leaned in to kiss him again, on the lips this time. Pit touched lips with him fleetingly, then ducked and rested his head on Marth's shoulder instead.

"Why can't I kiss you?" Marth asked. As his boyfriend Pit should want him to surely? He thought this would be a good thing to do, a proper couple-y thing, but it seemed Pit wasn't going to give him the opportunity to.

"I suppose…if you like." Pit looked up at him bashfully.

"No, I…" Marth almost felt angry with himself. He didn't want to appear lustful; he'd thought Pit would like a kiss, that was all.

"I don't mind." Pit smiled.

"It's okay." Marth looked away, embarrassed. He knew Pit didn't like to kiss in public; generally he wouldn't either – so why had he tried to? To ease a guilty conscience?

"Shall we go and get a hotdog now?" Marth suggested.

Once they had both bought their hotdogs they meandered slowly through town, window-shopping. Pit was planning on getting some new shoes, but Marth was still thinking about the kiss. He had to kiss Pit, be close to him…forget how close Ike had been to him… He needed to replace those memories with Pit memories, the way it ought to be. Did Pit act shy because he thought that attracted Marth?

Marth swallowed his bite of hotdog and waited nervously for Pit to finish admiring one of the window displays in Topshop. As Pit finished looking and turned to face him he leant forwards tenuously and kissed him again on the lips. The rest of their bodies didn't touch but still Pit pulled away, blushing and looking around him. Marth looked away too, feeling slightly ridiculous at having made the attempt. It was meant to have made him feel better, not worse.

"Maaarth…" Pit poked Marth's chest self-consciously, looking up at him from under his eyelashes. Marth stayed quiet.

"That's three times," Pit whispered. Marth didn't know what to say. He'd wanted to show Pit that he cared for him. He'd wanted to show himself.

"Marth?" Pit prompted shyly.

"Yes?"

"Do you want to have sex with me?"

Marth stared at him. Why did he have to ask so bluntly, so innocently? "I…" And how on earth was he meant to answer the question, let alone in public? Instead of answering he turned and continued walking. Pit followed him. They were quiet for what felt to Marth like a painfully long time before Pit changed the topic. Marth seized on the conversation eagerly, wanting to forget his embarrassment. However, after they had turned several corners and Pit had given him several smiles, Marth feared the topic would come up again. He fumbled uselessly in his mind to prepare a suitable answer, but luckily just as it seemed Pit was about to make a relating comment something distracted him.

"Let's go and get some milk from Marks & Spencer's," Pit proposed suddenly, gently tugging his arm to urge him away from a bag stall. "You're running out."

"Huh?" Bewildered, Marth let Pit lead him away and around the corner.

"Milk," Pit repeated.

"I heard. But we have time, I was just looking at…" Marth frowned.

"No we have to hurry, it will be closing soon."

Marth glanced at his watch. "No it won't, it's only quarter past three."

"I…uh…"

"Pit?" Marth smiled, surprised by Pit's unusually worried expression.

"Can we go this way for a little bit?" Pit pleaded.

"What is it?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Did you see someone?" Marth asked, intrigued.

Pit hesitated. "Yes."

"Who?"

"No one important," Pit replied evasively, awkward.

"Then why are we walking the other way?" He looked back over his shoulder and saw Pit looking back too. "Are they following us?"

"No."

"What do they look like?"

"It doesn't matter – I can't see him."

"Who is he?" He knew he shouldn't be pushing for answers – Pit wouldn't if it was him – but he was curious, excited.

Pit paused. "Just someone I knew a long time ago."

"Do I know him?"

Pit shrugged. Marth inwardly willed him to continue, but it didn't look like he was going to. Why, at a time when Marth was most willing to listen to him, was he least willing to talk? It was an unfair irony. Not wanting to pester Pit Marth fell silent, although inside he was still highly curious. They turned into Marks & Spencer's to get some milk.

Much later, having shopped for a medley of unnecessary items, they finally arrived back at Marth's house. Dumping multiple bags in the hallway Marth stumbled through into the lounge and flopped onto the sofa with a weary sigh. Pit went to the fridge and brought Marth back some orange juice before sitting down beside him.

"A good day's shopping!" he announced.

Marth managed a smile. Pit put an arm around his shoulder and snuggled against him contentedly.

"Love you," he mumbled.

Marth shifted slightly to make himself more comfortable. Pit beamed up at him. Marth wondered what he would do in a weekend where he didn't see Pit. Where would he go? Who would he talk to? Pit interrupted his thoughts, leaning up to kiss him. Marth pulled away slightly, partially as a response to the fact Pit had pulled away from him earlier, though it wasn't really a fair comparison. He waited hopefully for Pit to try again so that he might accept him on the second time, but Pit was offended rather than provoked, and sat back.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes." Marth sighed. He drank his orange juice down and then went back into the kitchen for a refill before returning to sit on the sofa. Pit was oddly silent, as if lost in thought. Marth was going to ask him what he was thinking when Pit gently nudged his ribs.

"Won't you say that you love me too?"

Marth tensed slightly. Why was Pit asking him this? Did he suspect something? A meaner part of Marth's mind sensed an opportunity…but he refused to take it. Even if there was something to be said, now was not the time. He hugged Pit close and said what he was meant to.

"I love you too."

The words were simple but to Marth they had never felt more ambiguous. Thoughts, contrary thoughts, seemed to be aligning themselves in his mind but they were muddled and muddied, deep feelings swirling at the bottom of an unwanted well. He spared telling Pit these things, perversely, out of love.

Pit was smiling at him. "See you again tomorrow?"