“Bryce,” they said, and he cleared his throat nervously.
“If my gift of affection and my portfolio of future are in alignment with your desires, it would be my honor if you accept this plant as a token of our courtship,” he said.
The words were almost right, a rough translation of the customary Mantodean offering. His delivery was awkward given the stilted phrasing, but it was perfect all the same.
Speechless, they took the manilla folder with one hand as their top two continued to unwrap the gift. It was a simple wooden box, stained dark, with a lid connected by a metal hinge. They opened it and peered inside.
“Are these…” They poured out the contents as their wings buzzed in excitement. “Are these your baby teeth?”
“Yes,” he said, “and in any other context, this would be the weirdest gift I’ve ever given anyone. But it ain’t weird giving them to you.”
With a wet laugh, they inspected each one, trilling happily. “They are so tiny, and I love them. I will add them to my shelf, right in the middle so everyone can see them.”
Once they had looked their fill, they poured the teeth back into the pretty box and smoothed a hand over the manilla folder. “I shall read your portfolio tonight.”
“Okay,” he accepted immediately, like he had been expecting that. “Then I shall keep our courtship plant from dying as best I can.”
“I would accept the vivaryn now, if you are agreeable.”
“But you’re supposed to read my portfolio first,” he said, even as he offered them the pink plant.
They framed the pot in their hands without taking it from his hold. “I do not care about the portfolio.”
“I worked really hard on it,” he whined, and they snickered.
“I will still read it. It simply bears no relevance on whether I wish to accept your bid for courtship.”
“So that’s a yes?” he asked, and Zef nodded, taking the vivaryn and hugging it close.
“Yes, Bryce, I accept your bid for courtship. I shall prepare my bid for yours posthaste.”
Beaming at them, he waved his hand dismissively. “No, you don’t gotta do that. I already accept your courtship.”
“I shall still prepare a portfolio for you. My last one is severely out of date,” they insisted as Bryce reached out and cupped their cheek. They pressed their face firmer to his palm and thrummed.
With the vivaryn centered on the kitchen island, Zef led Bryce to the hall where they displayed his baby teeth, right in the middle where everyone would see. Their wings fluttered in satisfaction as Bryce took their hand and laced their fingers. It was a new way of holding hands, and they were still adjusting to it, but they did not pull away.
“Bryce,” they said as they turned to face him, “I have been thinking about something.”
“Okay, hit me with it,” he said as he tucked his free hand in his pocket.
“Another very strange saying,” they mumbled before shaking their head to get back on track. “I have been thinking about hugging. Are you amenable?”
He was the one speechless now, blinking at them in genuine surprise.
“You wanna hug?” he clarified, and they nodded.
“Yes, I would like to engage in an affectionate but non-sensual embrace. If you are—eep!”
Tugging them forward, Bryce hugged them before they could even finish, arms slipping between their upper and lower ones, hands flattening to their back under their wings. His face fitted naturally into the nape of their neck, and he shuddered in something akin to relief, his exhale hot and wet.
They froze at the suddenness of it, and Bryce felt it. He made a pained noise and made to release them and step away, but they stopped him.
“No,” they said, gripping his waist with all four hands. “It is alright. I would like you to hug me.”
On a sigh, he melted right back into place, and Zef carefully wrapped their arms around him, tangling their fingers in the back of his shirt. Their bodies met from chest to thigh, and it was the closest they had ever been. Anxiety tickled the back of their neck, and their fingers trembled, but they breathed slowly through it.
This was Bryce, their dear friend and roommate, and now, their suitor. They had never felt more safe or cared for or wanted than in his presence. They did not have to be afraid of this intimacy, not when it was Bryce sharing it with them. So they breathed and rubbed their cheek over their beloved’s head as they held him close.
