A/N: I just really wanted to write some AdderBrindle fluff! uwu The ultimate power couple of MazeClan

An Awkward Duet

"Adderstone!" The dark brown tabby tom blinked blearily in the light sneaking into the stone warriors' den. The dark silhouette of his apprentice, Redpaw, was at the opening, fur bushed up in excitement. "Come on, you promised that you'd take me out hunting for the first time today! Maplepaw and Whitesnow are already up!"

Adderstone groaned slightly before slowly getting to his paws, moss falling off by the clumps from his pelt. He'd completely forgotten that he'd agreed to take Redpaw out on his first hunting trip today… If he had foreseen that he would be completely drained out by rebuilding the apprentices' den, he would not have agreed to such a plan. Nevertheless, the young mentor headed out to join the little group.

"How nice of you to join us so early in the morning, Adderstone," Whitesnow commented dryly upon seeing him. "We've been here for ages. And where's Brindleshade and Mist-tail?" The white warrior turned her attention to Redpaw. "I told you to wake the two up, didn't I?"

Adderstone felt his tiredness abruptly wash away. Brindleshade?

Redpaw shrugged. "They weren't there. Not my fault!" The dark ginger tom nudged his mentor. "Such a shame, too, isn't it, Adderstone?" Redpaw sniggered.

Adderstone felt himself grow hot beneath his fur, so much that he expected that there was steam coming out of his ears. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Redpaw," he snapped at his apprentice. "Now be a good clanmate and go find them."

"Grump-face," Redpaw muttered, dashing off towards the warriors' den once more.

"He has a point, though," Maplepaw mewed from where she was sitting behind her huge mentor. "You do like Brindleshade, don't you?"

Adderstone gave a quick glace to Whitesnow – she wasn't helping matters. The large white warrior's face looked like it was going to split from the smile she had on her muzzle.

"I… should say that she is a very entrancing feline," Adderstone decided. "Any warrior would be quite lucky to have her, don't you think?"

"How sweet," a low voice came from behind the brown tabby. He turned to see the sturdy form of Mist-tail. The large gray tom is grinning widely at him. "Brindleshade will most definitely be interested in hearing more, don't you think?"

Adderstone was almost too afraid to peek behind Mist-tail, where the pretty tortoiseshell was standing. Brindleshade blinked a couple of times at Adderstone before giving him a smile.

"Good afternoon," she mewed. "I hope you're ready for the hunting patrol?"

"Uh." Adderstone conveniently forgot how to speak. Did she hear all that? "Yeah. Yeah."

"Great!" Redpaw bounced up ahead of the patrol, eagerness bursting from his red pelt. "Let's go!"

AN AWKWARD DUET

Adderstone swished his tail as he waited for the bird in front of him to stop moving. A small, delicate bird it was – probably recently out of its nest. But fat enough to feed a few kittens, that was for sure. He leaped at the bird; at the same moment it took flight, just barely missing his outstretched paws.

"Fox-dung!" the brown warrior cursed as he landed on the ground. Before he could say anything else, though, there was a vague sound of a soft crunch of a windpipe. He looked up to see Brindleshade looking down at him with an amused look in her eyes.

"Trouble hunting?" she teased, dropping the bird on the ground.

"Kind of," Adderstone mumbled. "Nice catch."

"Nice jump," Brindleshade replied, still staring at him. After a moment, she added, "Aren't you going to get up, furball?"

"No need for the rush," he grunted, getting to his paws. "Stars, where have the apprentices gone?"

"Whitesnow and Mist-tail took them off our paws… for some reason." Brindleshade averted her eyes, instead staring at the roots of the nearest tree as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. "Want to go hunting?"

"I thought we were hunting," Adderstone reminded the brindled tortoiseshell. "Or is that you asking me on a one-on-one hunt?"

"You can say that," Brindleshade agreed. There was another moment of silence, during which Brindleshade continued staring at the root and Adderstone stared at the she-cat in front of him. "So are you coming or not?" the she-cat asked, breaking the tension.

"Of course I'm coming!" Adderstone mewed immediately. Mouse-brain! He rebuked himself in his mind. That was too fast! She'd think that you're interested in her or something!

But you are, aren't you? A voice that suspiciously sounded like Redpaw's answered in his mind. You, my dear friend, have been crushing on her since you were apprentices.

Which is exactly why I can't talk to her! She's my friend and she thinks of me as a friend as well!

Coward, the voice mocked.

Shut up.

"Hey, you said you're coming." Adderstone broke out of his train of thought. Brindleshade was already a few fox-lengths ahead of him, looking back. "Aren't you going to get on your paws and follow me?"

"Uh, right!" The brown tabby hesitated. "What about the bird?"

"Leave it! The others will probably find it at some point."

Adderstone bounded after his friend. "So, where do you plan on taking me?"

"By the streams." Brindleshade's pace was faster now. "I fare better at fishing than ground hunting."

"You don't say," Adderstone chuckled. "You were the best at swimming, if I remember correctly. Meadowpaw called you the goddess of water."

Brindleshade puffed her chest out. "And for good reason, too, Adderstone."

"Of course," Adderstone purred. "Obviously the prettiest she-cat in the warriors' den deserves the title of goddess." Adderstone halted abruptly. What did I just say? Did I just call Brindleshade the prettiest she-cat in the warriors' den?!

Brindleshade had also stopped. Adderstone chanced a quick look at his friend's face. If anything, the tortoiseshell seemed to be trying to decipher the meaning of his statement. Finally, she mewed, "Why thank you for the generous compliment, Adderstone. But surely there would be… prettier she-cats who might catch your eye later on." That last statement ended a little bitterly, Adderstone noted. With that, the duo padded on, not saying anything to each other for the rest of the walk.

At last they reached the stream; the pristine waters of their single water source beckoned to the two felines. Immediately Brindleshade broke into a run and leaped straight into the water, splashing droplets everywhere.

"Augh!" Adderstone let out a yelp as he was showered with water. "That's one habit that you still haven't got out of your system for sure."

"Obviously," Brindleshade purred, climbing back onto the grass. "A swimmer never returns to her homeland without a good splash."

"Sure, if that's your opinion, I respect it."

"Thank you."

The brown tabby and the now dripping-wet tortoiseshell sat by the banks, staring at the river. Adderstone stole a glance at Brindleshade, before turning his head sharply to the other direction. Brindleshade's amber eyes were staring straight at him.

"So, uh," Adderstone stammered. "That… comment back at camp was… also a compliment. Friend-to-friend. Any warrior would really be lucky to have you as your mate, really."

"What if I asked you to be that warrior?"

Adderstone froze. Did he just hear right? "Sorry, what?"

"Adderstone." Brindleshade's commanding mew made the tom turn his head to his friend. The tortoiseshell looked at him with the calm eyes of a leader, belling her small size and her slick fur. "I… have been thinking about this for moons." An intake of breath. "I know it's going to sound… strange, but I've had something for you… for a while now, and It's getting hard to ignore." Another breath. "You're amazing."

"Me?" Adderstone squeaked. "Amazing? How?"

"You see the good in everyone." Brindleshade's face was closer to his now. "I love you for that."

"You're amazing," Adderstone breathed back. His heart could burst, it was beating so fast. "You're the one who makes me laugh. You're the one who helped me out of grief."

Without hesitation this time, Brindleshade quickly pressed her nose to his before drawing back. "I want to be your mate" was all she could manage. "I want to make your life happier."

"And I'll be yours and I want to make your life brighter," Adderstone purred, bumping his head against her cheek. "As long as you let me take care of the kittens instead of you once in a while."

Brindleshade snorted. "That is for sure."

The two settled into comfortable silence, listening to the cheerful burble of the streams.