Since Xavier Had Opted To Work On The Dry Ingredients, Lily Worked On Measuring Out The Wet Ingredients.

When he mentioned 'writing it out', she tilted her head in confusion. She didn't bother questioning it though, just giggling at his reaction to her request.

Once she had the mitt on and took the tray, she took a moment to get on tip toe to gently kiss his cheek. "Thank you~!"

She did take the opportunity to grab a few ingredients to make a test batch of icing for the cookies, humming along to the music again. Is it selfish of her to hope that they can get more moments like this?

[Phone call, Xavier's voice sounds urgent] "I'm in great danger I need you to come downstairs right now. Please! You're the only one that can help. In fact, the entire complex may be in danger if you don't help me stop this right now."

As soon as she registered the urgency and he mentioned 'upstairs', Lily was rushing out of her apartment, only sparing enough time to grab her guns as a precaution.

"I'm on my way!" She reassured as she hurried upthe flight of stairs between them. Her thoughts were already racing a mile a minute, wondering what could possibly be causing Xavier of all people to struggle and call for help, especially without causing much of a ruckus.

By the time she reached his door her heart was pounding and she was braced for a fight.

Lily lit up when Xavier didn't really question her, giggling as quietly as she could as she gently ran her fingers through his hair, just like she usually does when straightening out his hair.

This time, however, she also adds a cute little star-shaped hair clip to help keep his bangs out of his face.

After a few more moments, she finally spoke again. "Okay, open your eyes."

She had a compact mirror held up so he could see his reflection, having a matching clip in her own hair, on the opposite side as she'd placed his.

“I trust you” - @lily-of-the-linkon

"Huh? What are you up to?" He closes his eyes.

--

Ask meme

"I'm fine, don't worry... it's just a scratch. What about you? Isn't it a nope day? You should lie down..."

"I'm still going to worry," she insisted stubbornly, her eyebrows furrowed, "Sit down for now, I'll be right back."

As much as she knows she should listen to him and sit down, trust him to tend to himself, not over do it... She can't help but fuss. Is she going to pay for it later? Probably. But it's worth it to know he's okay now.

So she shuffled her way to the bathroom, grabbing a hair tie and messily pulling it back and out of the way for the time being. Once relatively satisfied with that, and once again dismissing the thought that short hair would be easier to deal with on days like this, she grabbed her first aid kit from under the sink and shuffled her way back to Xavier.

Kaia's suggestion honestly sounded perfect to her, so Lily nodded in agreement. "We can definitely do that. Well just need to book the training time, but I can take care of that later if you want me to." She offered, taking the blue jacket off for now to put her white one back on.

All of the compliments still made her cheeks flush, only to turn a deeper red at her teasing. Lily shot her a playful look, reaching over as though she was going to smack her arm, but not making contact just yet. They're not that familiar with each other yet. "Oh hush, you." She pouted.

The request for lunch made her hum in thought, tilting her head slightly as she considered before shrugging and offering the other hunter a smile. "That sounds good to me. I don't have anything important going n today, so I suppose you can steal me for a while longer." She teased

"Oh, wait! Before you leave, what color do you think the jacket should b—" Not looking away from the clothing rack in front of her, she grabs the sleeve of the person nearest to her without thinking, and realizes a little too late that it felt... Different. She turns, blinking; the person she'd been talking to had left, and beside her instead was...

"Wait, you're—! Lily?! You're Lily, right?! Oh, my god, I am so sorry, I totally thought you were someone else! Gosh, and this is the first time I'm actually talking to you, too..."

—&&. @kaiakaya 🤍

Lily was more than a little startled to suddenly feel her sleeve grabbed while she was looking for a new jacket to replace her favorite one that has... been through it. It's getting a few small holes in it but she's already mended it so many times it's time to retire it.

She blinked in surprise at Kaia for a moment before she started laughing, keeping it relatively quiet for the moment so they don't draw too much attention.

"Yes, I'm Lily. You're Kaia, right?" She asked, hoping she doesn't make a fool of herself.

At Kaia's concerns about how this is the first time they're speaking, she shook her head with a smile and waved a hand dismissively. "It's alright, don't worry!" She reassured easily "Do you need help finding the person you're here with?" She offered, tilting her head slightly.

"I'm honestly trying to be flexible with weaponry, but I'm most comfortable with a gun. I prefer keeping a distance where I can." Lily answered honestly "Though I've been practicing with the sword lately. It is a lot more active, and exhausting." She laughed sheepishly, shaking her head. "Talk about a workout..."

She looked at the jacket curiously and felt it curiously, humming happily "Ooo it feels nice!" She beamed, checking the size before taking off her white jacket to try on the blue one. "I think this is actually a really good fit. Good choice!" She praised, turning her attention back to Kaia.

"Oh, wait! Before you leave, what color do you think the jacket should b—" Not looking away from the clothing rack in front of her, she grabs the sleeve of the person nearest to her without thinking, and realizes a little too late that it felt... Different. She turns, blinking; the person she'd been talking to had left, and beside her instead was...

"Wait, you're—! Lily?! You're Lily, right?! Oh, my god, I am so sorry, I totally thought you were someone else! Gosh, and this is the first time I'm actually talking to you, too..."

—&&. @kaiakaya 🤍

Lily was more than a little startled to suddenly feel her sleeve grabbed while she was looking for a new jacket to replace her favorite one that has... been through it. It's getting a few small holes in it but she's already mended it so many times it's time to retire it.

She blinked in surprise at Kaia for a moment before she started laughing, keeping it relatively quiet for the moment so they don't draw too much attention.

"Yes, I'm Lily. You're Kaia, right?" She asked, hoping she doesn't make a fool of herself.

At Kaia's concerns about how this is the first time they're speaking, she shook her head with a smile and waved a hand dismissively. "It's alright, don't worry!" She reassured easily "Do you need help finding the person you're here with?" She offered, tilting her head slightly.

"Xavier! I know I'm a little late, but I have something for you!"

Lily beams as she offers him a plushie of an all-white, very sleepy cat, with embroidered paw pads. If he got close enough, he'd realize that it has the faintest floral scent, like the perfume that Lily uses on special occasions.

"It's a weighted plushie! I know you don't really need help falling asleep, but... maybe it'll make the sleep a little better?"

"Happy Valentine's Day!"

@lily-of-the-linkon

More than the spirit of the holiday, was the fact that for the first time in his life he had someone to spend it with,

And she was looking at him like that.

He wished he could capture this feeling like a photograph.

Taking it into his arms, he gave her a small look while he smiled, a bit shy.

"So you're saying I can imagine it's you when I need to hold you? I could get used to that."

Reaching out he brushed his fingers along her hairline and drew closer to place a kiss on her cheek, dwelling there long enough to take in that pretty perfume he loved.

"I can't wait to grow our plushie family more. They'll have many adventures with us. I'm just looking forward to spending every Azure Echo Day with you from now on. I'm... happier then I've ever been, Lily."

His lips traced her cheek towards her lips, teasing before chasing after them. "I love you, Valentine."

Lily couldn't help a small huff when seeing that Xavier had been no better than her about listening to suggestions to sit down and rest, not that there was any heat to her expression either. Instead she finally sat down beside him, her expression softening in gratitude when he explained the reason for the icepack.

She accepted it, but set it aside for the moment to focus on him, her eyebrows furrowing in concentration as she took in the injuries she'd be able to see. With that, she opened the first aid kit to get to work doing what she can.

"I'll be okay too," she finally reassured, her voice quiet as her gaze remained completely fixed on her hands and what she was doing, "Once you're all patched up, we can just... relax."

Perhaps it's because she's so used to feeling like this, or she didn't spare a glance at herself in the mirror while in the bathroom, or a more deep-rooted reason she doesn't have the energy to unpack right now, but she'd much prefer he focus on himself first.

"I'm fine, don't worry... it's just a scratch. What about you? Isn't it a nope day? You should lie down..."

"I'm still going to worry," she insisted stubbornly, her eyebrows furrowed, "Sit down for now, I'll be right back."

As much as she knows she should listen to him and sit down, trust him to tend to himself, not over do it... She can't help but fuss. Is she going to pay for it later? Probably. But it's worth it to know he's okay now.

So she shuffled her way to the bathroom, grabbing a hair tie and messily pulling it back and out of the way for the time being. Once relatively satisfied with that, and once again dismissing the thought that short hair would be easier to deal with on days like this, she grabbed her first aid kit from under the sink and shuffled her way back to Xavier.

Lily immediately flushed at his question, even the tips of her ears turning pink as she shook her head. "I should be okay to at least get to my apartment." She reassured, almost feeling bad that he even had to offer.

"I do appreciate the offer though. You spoil me." She teased, not wanting to even risk him thinking she doesn't trust him or anything. She just doesn't want to inconvenience him after he's undoubtedly had a busy day!

Plus she's pretty sure she'd combust if he picked her up, at this point, no matter how tempting it is for her to agree.

❛ you shouldn’t be out here by yourself. ❜ 

Send me a prompt!

~

Normally, Lily tries to be fully aware of her surroundings. Working as a Hunter means she shouldn't let her guard down, especially when by herself. Who knows what threats are just waiting for a chance to strike, after all?

Though normally, Lily doesn't have to resort to late night walks to try and clear her mind so that she can sleep.

Suddenly hearing a voice nearby startles her out of her own thoughts, immediately setting her on alert. Her head whipped around towards the source, her posture tense and ready for a fight. Once she finally recognized Xavier, she let out a slow breath that ended in a sheepish laugh.

"Xavier!" She half-greeted, half-scolded.

Once she finally processed his warning, she offered what she hoped came across as a reassuring smile. "I know, I know. But I'm a big girl, I can handle going for a little starlit walk before bed." She teased, running her fingers through her hair in an attempt to calm herself down further so her heart wasn't pounding so hard in her chest.

"What about you? You're out rather late too."

Interesting... I wasn't expecting this much of an even split!

Perhaps I'm just that photogenic~

Lily at least tried to help with carrying the boxes so that they could head home, not the slightest bit phrased by his phrasing. “We should probably at least stop home to drop off the food, yeah,” she agreed, starting to lead the way once they had everything gathered.

His comment about taking a nap earned a small laugh, humming thoughtfully. “Honestly a nap does sound pretty nice...” She admitted, even if she knows she probably shouldn’t let herself take a nap. She’d ruin her sleep schedule if she did, and that’s the last thing she needs right now.

“To be fair, you work really hard, so I’m not surprised that you end up so tired.” Even if she wishes that she could do more so that he wasn’t exhausting himself so much... but she has such a long ways to go to even begin to compare.

After spending the morning doing research on places in Linkon City that offer milk tea, Lily finally found a place that seemed like it would be a nice place to visit and had the coffee milk tea that Xavier mentioned. Plus it wasn't far from a few good places to eat so they'd have options based on what they were feeling up to without having to go all the way across town. Perfect.

Lily finally sent Xavier a text in the late morning.

'I found a place that has that coffee milk tea you mentioned! And it has really good reviews.'

After a moment of thought, she sent another text as well.

'And thank you for walking me home last night. I really appreciated it. It was nice, looking at the stars with you.'

If not for the sporadic texts, Xavier would still be asleep. Outside the birds that often bickered over his balcony were squawking at a volume loudly. The combination of factors is enough to stir him, just barely. He knows its her before having to unlock his phone.

↪[ Audio: I'm awake. I'm up. I'm coming. ]

↪[ It was nice. Let's do it again sometime ]

In a flash he rinses off, takes care of basic hygiene, and is donning a favored hoodie in spite of the weather.

By the time he gets downstairs, he's already rubbing his eyes again as he knocks on the door.