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March could be found fiddling with his necklace in front of his desk late at night, staring at a blank piece of letter that he is supposed to write for your birthday.
It wouldn’t hurt him to start early, as there is still a week left after all.
Leaning back against his chair, he draws a sigh, his brain drawing a blank from what else to add besides a simple ‘Happy Birthday’. He was never good with words nor expressing his feelings, unlike his brother Olric who is undoubtedly the more optimistic and happier sibling, often offering a helping hand for the community when it comes to construction purposes.
“What are you writing?”
“Ahh!” March almost fell off his chair at the sight of his brother’s curious smile upside down, before returning his posture upright with a concerned look. “Oh- it's you. Please stop scaring me like that.”
Olric cackles in response, not before swinging an arm around him to peer over his shoulder. “I just came to grab a cup of water only to see you staring off into space. Just figured you’d need some help!”
“Nothing much,” March’s tone comes off as unruffled as he shrugs Olric off his shoulder, casually leaning an elbow onto the desk to block the other’s view. “I was just writing our groceries list. The usual.”
Olric nods in affirmation, until he drags another chair right beside where March was sitting with an innocent smile beaming at his direction. Tapping his own chin, Olric pretends to be deep in thought, “It’s…almost their birthday, isn’t it?”
Guess his brother didn’t buy the horrid lie he thought of at the spot. “...I wouldn’t have known.”
“Who else could’ve made my little brother sit in front of a desk right now?” His brother grins cheekily. March almost hated how sporadic Olric’s perceptiveness could be, but that’s just a part of being in a sibling package; the younger one nonetheless.
“Good luck!” With a pat on his shoulder, his brother soon dipped back into his room, leaving March to be at the comfort of his own presence.
March runs a hand through his red dyed hair in slight distress, giving up on agonising over the blank piece of letter for the time being. Solemnly brooding at the full moon before heading to bed sounded like a better idea, but the birthday letter wasn’t going to write itself.
The night air was chilly but comforting as soon as he steps outside, the weight escaping from his lungs after stretching his arms out. It was rare to witness Mistria being void of people - except the noises of rustling trees and soft breeze of wind that tousled his hair—
Oh, right. He left his headband on his nightstand.
March instead chooses to embrace the silence, allowing his legs to carry him wherever he wants to go without the expectations from others. He was so used to others running around town and greeting him every now and then that it almost felt eerie without it. Especially with your presence.
Your first appearance in Mistria was something akin to a whirlwind, always on the move and coming back from the mines with your clothes and weapons tattered before the cycle repeats, disappearing every so often. You were either busy, or would be found mingling around others for a light chatter, winning the hearts of the majority even if it took a little more time for you to be comfortable voicing your opinions.
Before March knows of it, he finds his eyes occasionally wandering to the back of your figure till he needs to return crafting metal.
And there you are, in the middle of placing down a picnic mat onto the grass when you whipped your head towards the slightest bit of noise in surprise. He froze, not realising he was walking down straight the entire time before stepping foot into your farm.
“March!” You called him over in delight, waving and beckoning him to come closer. With the garden lamps you placed around the path, it was hard to not see the way he trudged awkwardly, embarrassment creeping onto his face as he took a quick glimpse of you in pajamas.
“Very... rare to see you at this time of day.”
“I just needed some fresh air.” March responds curtly to your obvious remark, a hand in an attempt to tug at his headband out of habit only to find nothing - this spluttered a chuckle out of you which he intends to feign ignorance of, his arm drooping to his side soon after. “I could say the same thing. Couldn’t sleep?”
“Unfortunately. Might as well decorate my farm to make myself feel tired!” You proudly raised a bicep, crouching down to give the vase of flowers a good whiff before settling it down onto the mat. A hint of smile curled your lips, face gleaming beneath the moonlight that gave you an ethereal look as you sat down. "But since I have your company now, I won't have to."
March finds his gaze impossible to tear away from you for the brief moment, before following suit with a knee casually propped up. "Glad to be of service." He said, flattered. Perhaps it was the tranquillity, or your carefree and sincere attitude that was enough for him to drop his guard down temporarily.
Oblivious to the other's thoughts, you end up giving March a curious once-over as you break the temporary silence in awe. "Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen you without an apron and your usual headband,”
A brow raises. “Your point?”
“You look just a tad more approachable.” You admitted cheerily, a nudge on his forearm as if to indicate your light-hearted manner. “People are kinda missing out on seeing you like this.”
Missing out? March wondered dubiously, your choice of words piquing his interest. For once, he wishes he could get a better read of you as a person with the few times he’s indulged in conversations with you.
“I don’t just dress like this in front of anyone, you know.” He states plain and simple, his tone rife with indifference despite that was his attempt of testing the waters. March isn’t clueless; he will grab onto any chance he gets if it means he could have your attention to himself—
For the time being, anyway.
“Awww, that sounds like I’m pretty special to you.” You cooed at him, head tilted to the sides eagerly. “Isn’t it?”
March’s mouth opens on instinct, but finds himself at a loss for words as his lips purse into a thin line, cheeks flushed. He was no match to your honesty and subtle advances, may it be platonic or not.
Instead of a verbal response, March drapes an arm across your shoulder, enough for your head to fall onto the crook of his neck. The familiar, welcoming scent of lavender you've previously planted and fresh shampoo wafted from your hair, and despite his self-consciousness telling him otherwise, his hand was unable to resist from holding you to his embrace.
You tense up in surprise, but gradually loosens up to his tender gesture with a sigh of relief. He was grateful you didn’t let go and neither did a part of himself want you to notice how nervous he felt.
“And that’s for you to find out.” He breathes, unable to contain the satisfaction and smirk in his voice.
“I’m up for the challenge then.” You retort in glee, content with just staying where you are.
Taking the opportunity to bask within the warmth of you, it was perhaps a rare moment where March felt the need to gaze at the star-filled sky, to empty his thoughts and let time take its course. His life had always felt rushed and mundane and yet, your addition to Mistria has brought a splash of colours to his empty palette.
This feeling that attempts to claw out of his chest feels so very foreign to him.
“Look, March! The sun’s rising!”
You sat up in excitement, admiring the sun that soon reveals its presence on the horizon, sunlight spreading across town as it gradually lit up the sky with hues of orange and blue. The view was precious and breath-taking, accompanied by soft breeze caressing both of their sun-kissed skin. All that matters is that he got to share such a view with someone he cherishes the company of.
March shifts his gaze to the side after what seemed like minutes - there you were, sprawled on the grass with your eyes fluttering close, a large smile adorning your face like every other day.
“It’s time to wake up, sleepyhead.”
“...Don’t wanna.”
“Fine, I guess here’s your punishment.”
Leaning forward, he plants a fleeting kiss onto your forehead.
“Huh?” Your startled eyes met his, confused.
Turning away from you, March has to restrain every ounce of his being from acting further on impulse, heartbeat going erratic by the second. The mixture of concern and giddiness paints his face red like a mask, refusing to disappear from the lingering sensation of his lips on your skin.
“...You’re imagining it.” He mutters, yet he knows his behaviour says otherwise. Desperately, he seeks for a change of topic that just dawned on his mind. “Say, is there anything you like?”
With his back still turned to you, he doesn’t dare glance at your reaction.
“Mmm, something handmade?”
March smiles. “That I can do.”
It had been a few days - days in which you hadn’t seen him in town at all, and neither had he since wandering to your farm. For March, the mines were a tough place to scavenge about, somehow containing monsters that must have been the equivalent of foraging herbs to you. With Olric joining him in the act of mining for ores, it was impossible to not receive looks of familial endearment, able to witness his younger brother’s growth to a proud, young man in due time.
Throughout the night, you could faintly hear the noises of hammer clanging against metal, pace slow and steady in an attempt to not disturb its neighbours. A part of you wants to rush over and confront him about the many questions that have invaded your mind since then, but you knew better than to intrude on March's boundaries.
Dragging your footsteps outside during a typical morning, you were met with your mailbox overflowing with mails and packages—
Turns out you had completely forgotten about your birthday.
Amongst the stack of letters and gifts, your eyes subconsciously searched for March’s name before finding the package laid on the grass and picking it up. Although it looked slightly crumpled, it was heavy in weight and also wrapped with velvet wrapping paper.
Tearing the package open with a grin graced upon your lips, you couldn’t help but giggle at the sight of three Mistril ingots - not only did they have to be crafted on the anvil, but the ores were only available beneath the part of the mines that you hadn’t been able to explore yet.
Happy Birthday,
I had some ingots lying around, figured you could use them.
Meet me at the summit by 1pm.
March.
You made sure to tuck his letter into your pocket as you went through the rest of the stash, feeling valued and ecstatic over his company again for today’s adventure.