Hello, my lovelies! I have been writing a lot so I hope you guys are enjoying the frequent updates here lol I'm obsessed with this pairing at the moment so... Yeah lol

Anyway! I hope guys enjoy the update! Much love to you all!

"DID YOU SEE HIS FACE!?" I laughed cheerfully as Raz and I ran as quickly as we could away from an aggressive and agitated Bobby Zilch who was yelling at us as we dashed through some of the forest.

"That was the fucking best!" I looked over my shoulder to check if the camp bully was still chasing us or not. "that was hilarious when you used Galcho to flick him whenever he turned his attention away from his water!"

"I thought it was better when you had him scared of a sunflower!" Raz gave me a shining smile as he glanced over his shoulder too. Before slowing down so we could come to an easy stop. "Looks like he gave up trying to catch us." I laughed wholeheartedly as I enjoyed the prank seeming to go without a hitch. Not even Sasha or Milla came to find us for our annual scolding.

"Man, I always love it when a classic prank goes well!"

"Especially an old one like that." Raz turned toward me and gave me a sweet smile that made it obvious that his mind was remembering a good set of memories. A nostalgic glint in his eyes as he went to lean the top of his back against a tree not too far behind him. "Hard to think that five years ago, we first came here together." I smiled softly at the idea as I went over to join him by sitting on one of the roots that were already out of the ground a good foot or so. That way, I'm now about half of his height with the top of my head being near his abdomen as he now crossed his arms over his chest. "Feels like yesterday that I begged my folks into letting me have some childish fun here than doing circus tours."

"And that same exact year they agreed to let you go was the year my brain was almost snagged for a brain tank." I blushed as I tried my best to suppress my thoughts as the mental image of how I must have viewed him that day he both helped and saved my ass. Must have been the equivalent of some childish rendition of a handsome prince coming to save me.

Even if it was something I repeated would tell others I never wanted or would ever need. He ended up being exactly that.

"Yeah, honestly really happy for that." Raz chuckled as he shot me a proud look. "Wouldn't know what to do with myself if my best friend ended up brainless and stuck in a tank."

"Kick the ass of Oleander who would have done that to me into next Tuesday would be the least of it, knowing you."

"Honestly, I could see myself submerging him in water until Milla or Sasha talked some sense into me." I heard the protective little rasp to his voice as he glared off into the distance. Obviously envisioning what would have occurred if he wasn't able to be there on time or wasn't there at all. It caused my blush to deepen nonetheless seeing the protective nature of his on full display. It took me a few moments of controlled breathing to get the blush to lighten and for me to be able to even speak after that.

"I can say though," I reached up and nudged Raz in the elbow as he just chuckled in reply. "I enjoyed my summers here a lot more after you were able to join me."

"Can say, my favorite summers quickly became the ones I spent with you here so it's definitely mutual there, Lilypad." I blushed at the old nickname as my mind went on to remember the first time he called me that cursed nickname.

I tried my best to catch my breath as Raz did his best to aid me with him kneeling by my side. His hand on my back despite me being soaked from being dragged into the water by whatever the heck that fish-like monster was.

"Take your time, Lils. Just breath." I tried my best to listen to him. Sometimes the motions caused me to cough up a bit of water every now and then, but he was right there and it helped a lot. I sat up on my knees eventually with me leaning against him for the most part as he tried his best to give me the time I obviously needed. I looked up toward him for a moment as he gave me a soft smile. Seeming desperate to try and make me feel better. "You know, with the name Lili, you would think you would be like a lilypad when it comes to water." I gave him a half-hearted glare as I brought my head up from his shoulder I was supporting myself with.

"What did you just say?" He laughed hesitantly as he scratched the back of his neck with his free hand.

"You know. Lili. Lilypad. They kinda float. You kinda got-." He hesitated for a moment as a sheepish smile took over his lips. "Sunk."

"You're the one with water powers here. Makes sense for me to sink." I gave him a punch in the shoulder which I tried to make at least sting, but it seemed like I wasn't at a hundred percent just yet.

"Aw, but Lilypad."

"Nope." I nearly pushed myself up onto my feet to get some space from him, but I nearly fell over.

"Ya dumal eto umno." His Russian rolled off his tongue with ease as he did his best to support me. A mischievous grin on his lips as I knew I was blushing heavily at the sound of it.

"Mudak." I tried my best to put some spite into the curse despite him taking my arm and wrapping it around his waist so he could help me walk for a bit. Just till my strength came back.

"Would I be an asshole if I'm helping you walk, my Lilypad?"

"I swear once I get my strength back, I'm going to punch you so hard, Razputin Aquato."

"Pulling out the full name, huh? I'll watch my tongue then."

"You better." There was a moment of silence between us before a smart-ass smile took over his lips once more.

"Still going to call you Lilypad though."

"Again, you're an asshole."

"You never cared for me calling you Lilypad." I felt my blush deepen once more as I snapped my attention toward a smug look Razputin.

"Were you reading my thoughts again?!" I gave him a half-hearted glare as I rose to my feet. "You know I hate it when you do that."

"I know, I know." His smug look softened as he raised his hands in defense. "But you were so off into space, I couldn't help but want to know why." A soft smile took over his lips as dropped his hands to his sides. "I'll be honest though, kinda cute that you were so caught up in that memory of all things." I watched him intently as I felt my blush go on to deepen. I saw a sheepish look to his smile.

And I nearly had to double-check due to the light color of his cheeks.

Is he... Blushing?

Instinctively, I drew my fist back and knocked him in the shoulder.

"J-Just don't be doing it without my permission. Okay?"

"Y-Yeah, totally understandable." I could have sworn his cheeks darkened in color as he opened his arms toward me. "Sorry hug?" I saw the puppy dog look in his eyes as he pushed himself away from the tree so I could wrap my arms around him too. Without answering him at first, I moved forward and wrapped myself around him with ease. My arms looped around his middle as my head met his shoulder.

"Sorry hug." I felt his arms wrap themselves around me as well as we held each other loosely. Our apology hugs were something we started doing once we were twelve or so. Basically as a way to show without a doubt that we still cared more than anything for the other despite the mistakes the other could make. Small or large.

Though the best hugs he ever gave me are the ones we shared when the world was coming to the end.

I felt my arms tighten around him a little and I subconsciously nuzzled a little into his shoulder.

"LILI!"

"RAZ!" We collided together and we wrapped our arms around each other tightly as the top of the building I was once captured in for about thirty or so minutes started falling to the ground around us. I buried my face into his shoulder as my arms are wrapped around tightly to his middle. His hands had one that's placed at the middle of my back as the other cradled the back of my head. As if it could protect me from the rubble more than anything else. He pulled back slightly to look up toward the tower still falling, as my thoughts were desperate for him to just look back toward me. Give me a reason to push forward and take his lips with my own. Instead, he pulled me close and covered my head with himself, pulling us down to the ground as if that would protect the both of us.

Or me which was what he was seeming to be more desperate about achieving.

I blushed as I felt his one hand place itself on my head. His actual fingertips stroked through my hair as it seemed he took one of his gloves off to do as such while I was in my thoughts.

He was desperate to save my life. Then there was me who was desperate to kiss him till the world ended.

I blushed even more as I remembered that he read my thoughts earlier as well.

And he better not have overheard that or I will kill him three times over.

"As much as I love hugging you, Lils," I pulled back to see Raz was giving me a cheerful smile. "But we should head back to camp before they send a search party." I smiled softly as he instinctively moved the little curl that always occurred on my forehead off of it as he knew it annoyed me as I grew older. The soft touch was enough for me to have my brain go back to a thought I would whine desperately to myself every time we had moments like this growing up.

God, when are you going to just kiss me? Is it that difficult to catch my feelings here?

I shook myself out of my thoughts though as I gave him a soft smile as well.

"Yeah, sadly." I unraveled myself from him as he did the same with me. But he instantly took my hand in his as he started to lead the way back toward camp. We've always held hands growing up when we went on adventures or just walking together as kids, but he didn't bother putting his leather glove back on and his fingers were actually intertwined with mine. I tried my best to walk beside him, but the feel of his actual hand was in mine was something my brain was spiraling on.

I knew his hands were bigger than mine to a certain degree, but I never could tell by how much with his clunky gloves. Without them, our hands were like little puzzle pieces. They were slightly bigger than my own and I could tell why he wore the gloves due to the calluses that covered the skin nearly entirely. Though, the rough skin was contrasted by the gentle rubbing his thumb gave to the back of my hand.

Okay, I wanted a kiss but this feeling is worth the wait. At least for now.

I smile softly as I glanced up toward him. A wide smile on his face as he was just a little bit ahead of me.

For now. I still look forward to him understanding what a moment is. Even after how many times I have described what one is to him.

I sped up my walking so I was right beside him and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

But I'll gladly wait till he gets the hint there. No matter how long it takes.

After all, I've loved him for five years already. What's a little longer?