[ a/n: i got some inspiration from @jannegard‘s super cute art so here is a thing i guess??? i missed writing about these two tbh, so this was fun. ovo ]
''Are you sure you're gonna be alright?''
Much akin to a butterfly, Tiz fluttered around Yew, with towels slung over his arms and worry in his eyes. Water still dripped from Yew's nose and chin, leaving no visible stains on the already soaken-through clothes.
Exactly the one thing Magnolia and he weren't prepared for was rain - and of course it had to fall at the exact moment they were farthest away from their tent, just outside of a town in Florem's countryside. It was only a five-minute jog to the tent, yet still more than enough time to soak them to the bone.
He glanced to his left, where Magnolia was already bundled up, mere seconds away from falling asleep. Edea was already sawing logs by the time they'd returned, and now snored loudly in Magnolia's ear, though she didn't seem all too fazed by it.
A slow warmth did spread across Yew's face, and he briefly believed himself to have caught a cold, before mentally smacking himself on the forehead.
Tiz busied himself with patting Yew's cheeks dry, and the realization the warmth in his body had come to rest upon the bridge of his nose came a tad too late.
He shrugged off his wet clothes, and took the remaining towel from Tiz. ''Don't worry, I feel completely fine.'' He dried himself off as best as he could with the little lighting available and without accidentally rousing the girls. Before he could pull on his night shirt, Tiz motioned for him to wait, and the older man dove into his bag, rummaging around in its contents.
Yew stood behind him, waiting. Tiz was still worried, he could tell. He wouldn't dare rest until everyone was out of danger for the night - a pretty impossible task in retrospect, given the people their group was composed of. But, amidst chaos, Yew knew he could depend on Tiz's endless patience - patience that could flatten mountains and still oceans.
Maybe that's why Yew liked being around him so much. Every day, when the sun dipped down the horizon and their long battle was over for the day, he could say without hesitation that he was safe.
After some seconds filled with curiosity, Tiz bolted upward from his hunched-over position, and presented what appeared to be a white shirt, folded neatly into a square.
Yew's brow rose as Tiz held it before him, but he eventually accepted it without another word.
The shirt unfolded as he held it up for inspection. Its sleeves were long and wide, and intricate patterns were embroidered on the shoulders. The fabric felt incredibly soft between his fingers, and he lowered it to look into Tiz's eyes. ''I've never seen you wear this before,'' Yew said, smiling solely because he now could say with certainty that, yes, Tiz owned more than one shirt after all. And yet, he still wondered why the man's eyes trailed off to the side, a bashful smile taking hold of his lips.
''Yeah, it was my old shirt.''
Before Yew could say anything else, Tiz continued.
''You can wear it.''
... Oh.
After some spluttering from Yew and some reassurance from Tiz that 'yes Yew, it's one hundred percent okay', he finally pulled the shirt over his head. As he stuck his arms through the sleeves, warmth enveloped his entire being. It was a little big on him, but for some reason... he couldn't say he minded.
He pulled the collar over his nose once the lights were off and he was in his own sleeping bag - it smelled like everything he associated with Tiz - grass, freshly baked bread, and an overwhelming sense of home.
A whirlwind of thoughts still rampaged through his ribcage, pulling his heart left and right. He didn't know what he wanted to say in the morning. A thank-you was in order, of course, but aside from that? Yew was certain his tongue would betray him as soon as the first syllable would leave his lips.
And so, he checked to see if Tiz was already asleep, and again, and just once more to be absolutely sure - before proclaiming his love in the only way that wouldn't make him combust out of embarrassment: in soft, heartfelt whispers.
He feigned to be asleep when Tiz's arm curled around his shoulders, but the breathy, relieved laugh that left him when Tiz mumbled 'I love you too' into his back tore down any doubts that were still standing.
Yew woke up when the morning sun cast its rays straight unto the tent cloth, bathing the entire inside in orange hues. And, that shy but equally relieved good-morning kiss on his temple spoke more than any words ever could.
