Time
Almost immediately after Fakir and Ahiru became 'official,' the betting began.
"I put in a couple of months."
"A couple? That's generous, even for you. I put in four weeks."
"Teenage relationships don't ever last that long, and we're talking about Fakirhere… so I say just one week."
Ahiru slumped over and sighed, trying to tune out the murmurs that seemed to follow her everywhere for the last few days. She could understand why people would talk – after Mytho and Rue left, it was like he was the only dancer left worth talking about, and she didn't forget how there were many people who called themselves part of the 'Fakir Faction,' so she could get why they'd be upset when he started dating someone, she could especially get why when he was dating Ahiru, just simple awkward Ahiru, but…
She still didn't like hearing those things!
Ahiru abruptly let out a noise of frustration, frazzling at her hair wildly as she sat between Pique and Lilie in the girls' dressing room.
"Uh, something wrong?" Pique asked.
"Wrong?" Lilie immediately perked up with stars in her eyes. "Oh, my! You're having a lovers' quarrel with Fakir already!"
"Eh?" Ahiru started, and then waved her hands about. "Wait, no no no, that's not it at all!"
But Lilie was already off in her own little world. "How terrible! Absolutely terrible, Ahiru! You two can't seem to mix and match and are always going up and down, up and down, you're simply not suited for each other and while it's so much fun, he just can't take it anymore!" She practically quivered, pressing her palms into her cheeks, until she loosened and sighed wistfully. "But you two didn't even last as long as I predicted… oh, well."
"EH?" Ahiru gaped at her friend. "Don't tell me you were doing that betting thing too, Lilie…"
"Three days!" Lilie answered in a sing-song voice. She giggled behind the cover of her hand. "Oh, but you didn't even make it to two… Not to worry, you can always come to me for comforting!"
Ahiru gave a nervous chuckle, waving her hand. "Like I said, that's not it at all…"
"Well then, what is it?" Pique leaned over, drowning out Lilie's more obtuse ramblings.
"It's…" Ahiru hesitated, before shaking her head. "Mm, it's nothing. I was just a little nervous thinking about auditions, that's all!"
"Oh, that was all?" Pique straightened, and then reached for their friend who was still listing off various ways Ahiru's relationship could go awry. "Come on, you heard her. They've not broken up yet."
"No way!"
Ahiru couldn't stop herself from wincing at the use of 'yet,' but waved with a smile as they left the changing room. Maybe it was dishonest to hide the real reason she was frustrated, but…
Sighing to herself, Ahiru resumed changing back into her school uniform, giving a small pained noise when she removed her toe shoes and dressed them back in socks. As she stood up and grabbed her bag, she glanced back to the door leading to the practice room.
… This was something she should just talk to Fakir about.
She reached out for the doorknob, took a deep breath, and pushed it open. As expected, she was greeted with the sight of Fakir warming up by the barre. Every Tuesdays and Thursdays, he used the room for an hour of private practice after Ahiru's class ended. He glanced up upon hearing her enter. "Hey."
Ahiru gave a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Hey…" Just as she did every Tuesday and Thursday, she made her way over to the corner and plopped her bag down before seating herself. She always used her free period this way, even before they started dating. Whether friends or something different, she enjoyed chatting with him and watching him practice.
But Fakir seemed to notice immediately that she was quieter than usual. He looked at her levelly while stretching out his calves. "… Something wrong?"
"No, nothi—!" Ahiru answered on automatic reflex just as she did a minute ago, but caught herself quickly. Why was she being so silly – she just made up her mind to talk to Fakir about it, didn't she?
Ahiru deflated in a long sigh, curling her legs up against her. "Actually, there kinda is something…"
She was glad Fakir was so patient, switching his legs during stretching and simply waiting as she tried to find the words.
Finally she blurted out in one breath: "Haveyouheardabouthebetting?"
Fakir snorted, once again switching positions and scowling deeply. "As much as I wish I hadn't. It's ridiculous and none of their business anyway."
While Ahiru was glad Fakir didn't seem to mind, it still didn't quite mollify her enough. "You're right, but… but what if they're right, too?" Finally it was out. Ahiru couldn't tell immediately that he had stiffened in his place. She began to twist at the hem of her dress, and the words continued spilling. "I mean, we're not in a story anymore, right? So it's not like it's 'and they lived happily ever after' and that's the end, not like with Rue and Mytho, and Pique and Lilie have even already dated some people and those haven't worked out for very long and—!"
"Ahiru."
Shame lit her cheeks as she quieted. Maybe it was silly to bring up such a thing when they've only been dating little more than a day already, but with all the murmurs and rumors being whispered wherever she went…
Fakir had ceased his stretching by then, lightly holding the barre as he looked at her with something in his expression she couldn't discern, and a serious air fell over them. He closed his eyes and sighed through his nose, as if trying to work the words through his head, before opening them again and fixing on her.
"I didn't promise you just a few days, or weeks, or even years," he said. "I promised you forever."
Ahiru never would have been able to guess that Fakir was capable of saying such things back when they first met. Things that were so romantic, even, yet there he was, blushing at his own words after they had dated for little more than one day already.
The last time he said such words, they were dancing at the bottom of a lake as a last comfort before facing the end of the story together. While Ahiru knew that Fakir wouldn't take back his promise the moment her life changed once again, she still felt touched that he'd stick by those words even when she was a human again.
Nodding, she stood up and drew closer to him, a sweet smile on her lips. "Mm… yeah. Asking that was kinda silly of me, huh?" She suddenly couldn't understand why she would listen to all those rumors and betting in the first place, when he had already made such a promise long ago.
"No." Fakir shook his head, waiting until Ahiru was close enough for him to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's not silly if you weren't used to people suddenly talking about you." He glanced away. "Sorry. I should have mentioned it or something before, but it didn't even occur to me. I didn't realize anyone would even take it so far as to start bets, either," he said, grimacing as if the words left a bad taste in his mouth.
"'S nothing to say sorry for," Ahiru chirped, leaning against the barre a little. It was funny. Just a few short minutes ago she'd felt so dejected, but one simple reminder from Fakir left her cheerful and optimistic. She chuckled to herself. "Actually, if anything I'm the one who should apologize. I never realized how bothersome it might be to have so many people talking about you and stuff… and I did that a lot myself… talking about you and Mytho with my friends. That was before we really met."
Fakir lifted his hand from her shoulder to ruffle the top of her head in a comforting gesture, her cowlick slipping between his fingers. "Idiot. Stuff like that doesn't bother me anymore." After considering a moment, he added: "It's when you can't open a door without dodging an avalanche of eavesdroppers that gets on my nerves."
Ahiru burst into laughter at the memory and leaned into him. In the closeness, she could tell that he was chuckling a little, too.
Being part of a hot topic by proxy would take some getting used to, as well as adjusting to their new relationship in general. But Ahiru wouldn't worry anymore. They had time. They had all the time in the world.
They had forever.