Florian was cleaning the floor of the bedroom after having dropped books from his own bed-side table. As he picked them up, he noticed the small book hidden under the bed. His big stature usually preventing him from bending down in the narrow room, it was indeed the best place to hide things from him.
He lied on his back to try and position himself in a way that would allow him to reach the object. Carefully, making as little noise as possible, he reached under the bed and caught the book with his long fingers, controlling his strength in order not to damage it.
When the red book was finally in his hands, he pondered. Was it wise to open it? As much as he always wanted to know what lied behind Zahri’s charming smile, would he be able to accept what was written in it?
His train of thought came to a stop as he heard footsteps coming towards the bedroom. Without thinking, he concealed the small object in his right pocket, still unsure on whether he would open it or not.
“You’re taking an awfully long time in here are you alright?” said Zahri, staring at the giant norn sitting on the bed, seemingly doing nothing.
“I’m fine. I dropped some books so I had to pick them up.” Florian said, trying to keep his story as truthful as possible.
“Oh, ok. Still, hurry up and come out, those logs aren’t going to chop themselves.”
Florian obeyed, it was always a good choice to go along with Zahri’s wishes, otherwise he might be the one getting chopped before he could even blink.
As the norn chopped the wood, Zahri was taking care of the garden of their home. It was only a small house on the outskirts of Lion’s arch, but it felt like home.
It was an interesting sight to see the sylvari working in the garden. A plant taking care of other plant, or a ‘salad’ as Florian liked to call him. Zahri hated that name and when he used it his small face formed a scowl that the norn couldn’t help but find adorable, and so he continued to use it at times that he deemed appropriate.
He finished chopping the wood, but he didn’t say a word. Instead, he simply sat down near the chopping log, watching.
There was a way in which Zahri moved which captivated him. When he had first met the sylvari, he had thought that it was because of the difference in body shape and composition, but as he met more and more sylvaris, he noticed that Zahri was special. No one else seemed to tilt their head in exactly the same angle when they gave a charming smile, no one else seemed to walk with quite the same delicate yet strong movement, no one else seemed to smile as he did when he let a true smile slip by as he played his charming act. When Florian had noticed these small things, it was already too late.
He felt his pocket, where the book was still sitting, closed. His fingers played with the delicate pages as his eyes still followed Zahri. They were together, that much he knew. He had made the man smile with his loving comments. He had made him laugh at loud at some moments. He had declared his love and had it declared back, but can love ever truly be confident?
The more he became comfortable with the status quo, the more scared he became. What began as a chase to get the sylvari to notice him, had now turned into a daily wonder as to whether he would be able to offer what Zahri needed. Was he truly content to be with him like so? Would the diary give him the answers he wished for? Or would they confirm their fears.
“If you keep looking I’m going to charge you know.”
Zahri had turned towards him without him noticing.
Florian tried to play it off. “I was just wondering if you were okay after last night.”
Zahri patted his head before heading off into the house. “It takes more than that to take me down unfortunately” he had said, wearing his usual charming smile, but Florian knew every color that defined his face, and he was able to observe the tiny change in tone that occurred whenever the sylvari was blushing. “So cute.” He thought despite himself.
He joined Zahri in the living room, carrying the logs for the fire. When he finished arranging them in the basket next to the fireplace, Zahri noticed the bump in the norn’s coat. As he asked what it was, Florian froze. He tried to make up a story but his fidgeting did not escape the sylvari. A cunning smile showed on his face before he pounced to grab the book. Florian tried to escaped but Zahri was a lot quicker and more agile. It was Zahri’s turn to freeze as he saw what the book was. He raised it up to his face.
“Care to explain this to me?”
Florian looked down in guilt. “Sorry.”
Zahri frowned. “If you want to know something you can just ask, instead of sneaking behind my back. Have you been reading it for a while?”
“I haven’t had the courage to open it.”
The sylvari open his small eyes wider. “What?”
Florian sat on the sofa, joined soon after by Zahri. “These days... I’ve begun to wonder if I’m really the best choice for you. And I was scared that what you wrote in there would confirm that.”
Zahri smashed the small book on the norn’s lap, obviously angry at his remark. Florian watched him leave in confusion before shouting. “Look at yesterday’s page idiot!” He slammed the door leading to the kitchen, leaving a still confused norn on the sofa. He opened the page to yesterday’s date. As he moved down the page, color began to invade his cheeks. He read the last sentence.
“I’m glad to have met Florian.”
He buried what he could of his face in the small book, smiling uncontrollably. He shouted too, knowing fully well that he would be heard in the kitchen.
