I'm going to be updating this to the same chapter that it is on AO3, so there should be six chapters, since I put the Halloween special with the main story (It's chapter 10 of the main story).

Planted Feelings

Slaine saw Inaho sitting on the porch swing in the backyard, reading a book from the doorway. She looked peaceful, alive. Her long brunette hair kept blowing every which way. She didn't even bother to tie it back, or hold it out of her way. She simply flipped a page with her short, thin fingers.

He wanted to know what she was reading so badly. It had to be interesting to hold her attention, or perhaps not. He held her attention, after all. He was no marvel, but to her, he was worth sacrificing for. He would keep being something important to her. He wouldn't use her like he had with Lemrina. He wouldn't blindly follow after her like Asseylum.

He didn't love Inaho. He didn't know if he could love without tainting it with a misunderstood meaning behind it. He respected her. She was so accomplished. She was powerful, intelligent, and honest.

And the only reason why he could observe her was because of her kindness. He wanted to comb his hands through her silky hair, he wanted to hide away in his room, he wanted to be beside Asseylum.

Slaine watched her eyes flick towards the backyard. It was a rather large backyard. It wasn't too hot or cold today. Maybe…

His legs moved without his consciousness being aware of it. His mouth moved before he could properly think.

"Hey, Orange; want to build a garden with me?" He asked, not really sure why he wanted to build a garden with her, but thankful his body didn't obey him.

She cocked her head, and made a small smile. It was a small mercy that he hadn't made her angry, but she had never gotten angry with him. It was always the other way around. Really? Why had he bothered her?

"Of course. Right now?"

He nodded. She closed the book, not making her page. Maybe she just didn't have to because of her eye.

He was immediately enthralled when she stood up. How had he not seen what she was wearing? It was so different from her usual look, that it left him speechless. She wore a light green summer dress with beige heeled sandals. The summer dress had flowers and trees growing at random parts. The heels matched.

Was she going somewhere? His thoughts turned ugly quickly at that. Who could she be meeting? For what purpose was she meeting this person? Did he know them? Were they better than him? Did they know Slaine was her fiancé? He shook his head.

He would do the casual approach. "That's a pretty dress. It suits you." Um… casual? That wasn't at all casual! He sounded weird saying that out loud. What if she got disgusted at his comment? Then he wouldn't get to admire her -uh, to find out why she was dressed up.

She had a light red color brush her whole face. She blushed with her face. It was adorable.

"Sometimes, I get confident enough to wear something like this outside of my room." She sounded embarrassed. Why would someone like Inaho ever get embarrassed?

"I-if you get confident enough again… I wouldn't mind seeing you wear another dress. If you want, that is." He read a scenario like this in a romance novel he found at the library. He thought it was stupid how flustered the male character was, but being in a similar situation made Slaine admire the man's courage. This was hard to say.

Inaho looked down, and made another smile. Clearly, she was pleased with what he said. She nodded. "Next time, I will."

He had to change the mood before it was spoiled with awkward silence. "So… what do you want to plant first."

"Tulips. I want to plant yellow ones." She said, walking towards the yard. She turned to him. "What about you?"

"White tulips. We can plant more later." She didn't need to know what they represented. She didn't need to know he wanted to be worthy of that smile so badly. She didn't need to know that he would never stop trying to be worthy of her