The Way We Are
[a short story featuring Suthen from @divine--tragedy ]
"Calm down, Cipher. It's just your boyfriend... no need to panic. It's just a normal date ..."
Who knew me sitting by the park bench would keep my heart racing yet here I am, under the bright city lights of Jubilife waiting for a certain someone to arrive. Night's still young from the looks of it but I'm just worried he might be busy or something and I picked the absolute worst time to invite him.
For this special night, I just decided to put on a black shirt underneath a Jirachi hoodie, not too casual but it's good enough for me. I just sighed to myself as browsed through my phone in the meantime just so I wouldn't get bored. Suthen doesn't have one so I can't really text him to see where he was right now.
I've noticed that the city is pretty bustling even at this time, an occasional thing so I wasn't too surprised by it. For some reason, I'd much prefer this than a quiet park as being alone with my thoughts doesn't help at all with waiting.
A moment had just passed when I suddenly felt as if I was being slightly lifted from the bench I was sitting on. That obviously startled me a bit and I almost dropped my phone as I looked as to what or who was it that lifted me up.
"Knew I'd see an angel from afar~" The all too familiar voice spoke up as he had the same charming smile that I always loved from him. "Got your invite by the way so I'm here to hang out."
"Hey Suthen, so glad you came! You're surprisingly early."
"Oh hush hush ... I just did that on purpose. It's not like I planned to be early or whatever ..." He pouted, gently putting me on his back as I hugged him from behind. "So what'cha got planned, huh? Just smooching?"
"Nope ... not yet, babe. I have other things planned first before we get to that." Of course, I wouldn't want to spoil the festivities for tonight, the night's still young so there's plenty more to be done. "Come on, I'll lead the way~"
~~~
"Nice funny glowing tree you got here, angel. This came from a different planet or something?" We both were staring over at the Lumos Tree, one of the well-known landmarks here in Jubilife. Tonight it seemed like the lights were a pure white glow and even though he was joking I can see him looking at it with awe.
"Of course not, love. It does look like it but it was grown here on the same spot that it is on. It's supposed to be a gift that our mythical Shaymin, Favonius, made for Stella."
"You mean the Jirachi you always talked about? must be a special tree then ... Never seen any glowy trees anywhere in my forest and I've lived there for a long time."
"It is special. Stella made sure to always make the tree light up for them and for all of us who are standing near it at this moment." I turned back to face him after mentioning all of that. "A special moment I wanna show to a very special someone."
Suthen blushed a bit when I said that, trying to hide it but looking away a bit with a pouty face and scoffing. "Oh hush! You can just pick any day and I'll still be there ... no need to label it as 'special' ... Come on, ya sappy angel, let's see what else you have in mind for this night ..."
My mind started to wander for a bit, thinking about what I just said. He is probably doubting what I called him after our last date. Was he really mad at me and just hiding? Maybe ... maybe he's-
"Cipher? Are you okay over there? Found a ghost or something?"
With that, I snapped back from reality, not realizing I was staring at a blank space instead of at him. "I'm okay! It's just nothing! I was just ... looking at a bush." What did I say that for!?!
"..."
We just stared at each other awkwardly before he just shrugged it off. "We probably should get going, something else you wanna show me?"
"Right, right ... I'll lead the way!" I held his hand instinctively as I pulled him towards where we should be going next.
Maybe I should tell him later what I should've said when we were at that bar ...
~~~
We were now standing in front of Stella's statue all in its silver glory looming over the port towards Canalave City. I can say this was both a landmark and a lighthouse even, as her statue while holding a beacon of light so that ships can't be lost on the way to and from Canalave.
"So you folks only ever had one Jirachi, huh? Where are they even?"
"That, I really don't know ... all of us here don't exactly where she is at any given time. Some might just say she's just a myth but very few seen have here before, even me."
"I figured you'd be a lucky one." He laughed as he had me resting on his back for, comfort as he put it. "I wouldn't mind your story though and that shiny light thing can be the campfire even. Can't believe you didn't tell me this already."
"Well, you never asked, I just thought you wouldn't like to hear a fairytale ..."
"Oh just get on with it, angel~! I wanna hear it right now."
"Fine ... if you insist, love."
I'm not the best when it comes to telling a story but I've at least made it interesting to hear. I rarely ever tell stories about myself even but he seemed to be eager to listen regardless.
The gist was that I saw Stella once while I was walking towards V.E.G.A. the day that I first sent in my application. It wasn't a vision or lucid dream like any other deity would do but I did see her back in that alleyway and she was only whispering this whole time. Part of me still wonders to this day if she was doing it so that she wouldn't be seen by someone else.
"Heh, cool. We should share stories more often, at least from there we get to know each other better." He was just listening to me this whole time and just spoke when he felt like I was done talking. "That would be cool too, you know ... campfire stories near my forest but I don't know if you'd want that ..."
I can tell he was nervous asking me this and I think I know why. He hasn't forgotten that night as I have too but, I can never decline an invitation from him to just hang out.
"Sure ... I'd love that!"
"You do? Heck, I was just joking you know ... but you did say yes so ... why not, right?"
"Hey, Suthen ... wanna see the stars with me? I have a favorite spot we can go to." I did plan to end this date with some stargazing and I'm pretty sure this was his first time doing so.
"Cipher, you silly angel ... you don't have to ask that, you know. Whatever it is that you wanna do with me I'm always up for it." He again lifted me up with his tail and gave me a smooch on the cheek before putting me down onto his back. "We better get going then~"
Off we went to the stargazing spot I was talking about which isn't far from where we were. It was a hill with a large patch of grass that overlooks the Lumos Tree and where me and a lot of other 'mons of the city go to stargaze or just to hang out. Wild Gracidea flowers were also scattered all around the grassy hill providing a bit of decoration for it.
Suthen was the first to sit down by the grass, folding up his hoofed legs looking like a loaf of bread. He's so adorable when he does that. I thought as I sat beside him, making myself comfy.
"So ... stars, huh? I've always wanted to ask why you like seeing 'em every single night. I won't judge ... just curious and all that."
"Of course, I'd be happy to share. Well, it's just ... comforting you know? Like looking at them I see imaginary shapes here and there and I would think, 'Hey! They're moving around a cosmic ocean. That's cool.' and sometimes I think that the night sky here is the same as the night sky back home. So in a sense, I feel more at home watching the night sky."
"Heh, I feel that too. I mean, my home is in the woods but at least it's comfy. But yeah ... why did you change homes?"
"It's a long story but … I was chasing my dreams and I wound up here. I didn't regret any of it though ... because I met 'mons that mean a lot to me. Elaina, you and a bunch of others too."
I can sense him looking away, flustered and not knowing what to say.
"You mean a lot to me too you know ... I never did regret sparing you over at that very forest ..." He muttered his words but I really couldn't blame him. Instead, I held his hand with mine making sure they were intertwined on the grass while not taking my eyes off of him.
"Glad you feel the same way, babe ... I just felt like saying it. These past few weeks, you've been constantly on my mind ... I just wanted to say something before I regret not saying it forever ..." We now locked eyes as he fell silent, I guess the time is now and my heart is racing still, even faster this time.
"You remember that last time we were in the forest, right? Your confession and how I said I wasn't ready for it? Well ... the reason why I answered is because ... I was scared ... I'm scared of making a decision too fast ... too quick for my own sake ... I wanted to say yes then and there but I was too caught up in the moment ... I ... I loved you then ... you might be angry at me still but you just wouldn't show it ... for your sake and for mine ... and I still love you now ..."
The words just kept on going as if I was just releasing the bottled-up thoughts in my head. "Sorry, Suthen ... I wished I've said something else instead ... I was ... I-"
A claw would then reach out to wipe a tear from my face, his claws as he then pulled me closer to him. Somehow in the middle of my confession I never even noticed I was crying. It was a bit of a blur from there but I did remember sobbing a bit into his chest and never speaking a word once he felt like I was done.
"I still forgive you, you know ... and I still love you. You're still an angel to me." He whispered, a single tear running down his face with a smile. "Even if we don't see each other that much ... I still love being with you."
"Well that's something I would wanna change ... I promise I'll spend more time with you even more and I love you too." I had this feeling that I couldn't have picked a better time for this other than tonight but I'm glad this happened. The stars were still very clear up above as if they were watching us and feeling what we feel.
I can feel him looking away again, flustered as before as I thought of something just to ease the tension. Gently pulling him close to me, I'd smile with tears now flowing through my eyes as I made sure we locked eyes. "I love you, Suthen. Always have...~"
He was also crying too but before his sobbing got the better of him, he smiled back at me. "I love you too, Cipher. You're always going to be my angel." He then pulled me even closer to him with a warm embrace with the night sky and its stars watching us from above.
And then, Suthen kissed me.
And I kissed him back.
