Chapter Text
What does it mean to be a friend? Does it mean helping your friend move furniture up three flights of stairs? Does it mean hyping them up when they’re about to hit on the hottest person in the club that’s way out of their league? Does it mean eating their food and making weird noises when they’re on the phone? Or does it mean bursting into their room late at night asking them for the weirdest favor known to man? These are the questions Caelus asks himself as repeats the phrase he just heard.
“You want me to go on a date with you to get practice?”
His words were directed to said friend who was currently in his room, the bubbly pink haired girl March 7th. The two were currently as just a few moments ago she walked in uninvited.
“Ugh Yes! How many times do I have to say it?” Said the pink haired girl as she placed her hands on her hips and cocked a look at him. Caelus was sitting besides his bed playing a mobile game, or trying to at least. March 7th came in with this request and it completely threw him off his game.
“Why?” Was all he could ask as Caelus’s brain was still trying to process these weird turn of events.
“Because, I have no one else to ask. Sunday won’t stop talking about this sister, and Welt feels more like a dad you know.” March walked up to him and bent forward just a bit. “Look, I’m going to ask Dan Heng out on a date and this is really important to me…”
She suddenly looked very bashful and her cheeks turned slightly red.
“I’m sure he doesn’t want to date someone with no experience…”
Caelus nodded along, still very much confused by all this and not noticing that he was getting alerts on his phone.
“So that’s where you come in!” She stuck a pose and pointed her finger right at the grey haired man. “You're obviously single.”
“Ouch.” Said the grey haired man.
“And you don’t have any plans tomorrow! So come with me to the art museum, there’s plenty of places to take pictures there. Plus it will give me the experience I need when I ask Dan Heng out.” She pulled out her trusty blue camera and flashed a bright smile at Caelus.
The grey haired man could only say one thing.
“You’re asking Dan Heng on a date? Damn…I owe Stelle 20 dollars.”
March shot him a glare and was about to retort back when suddenly Caelus’s phone started ringing like crazy.
“Who's calling you at this hour?” She asked as the pink haired girl leaned closer to get a peak.
“Oh man…” Caelus grimaced as he answered the phone. “Hey Silver Wolf…”
“Hey, Dumbass, do you know what it means to do a raid.” An angry female voice rang from Caelus’s phone. “I thought I specifically told you to-”
Click
Before the young man could say anything back, March had reached over and ended the call as well as taken his phone out of his hand. She stared at the blank screen as the expression on her face was the pure definition of annoyance.
“March! Are you trying to get me killed?” Asked Caelus in panic as he clutched his head.
“Oh please, you shouldn’t be hanging around Silver Wolf anyways.” There was a small amount of venom in her words.
March then placed his phone on his desk. She then walked back to Caelus and sat just a few inches away from him. “Now come on, promise me you’ll go on that practice date with me tomorrow! A cute girl like me needs to be ready for her future real date!” She said as made a puppy dog expression that made her look even more cute!
Caelus however stood strong and wasn’t swayed by her cuteness beam. He’s fallen for that before one too many times.
“What will Stelle think when she finds out you went on a date with her brother?”
March shot him a glare.
“Ugh, nothing. Your sister knows I’ve been planning to ask Dan Heng out and she’s even given me some tips. She’s the one who suggested I go on a practice date with you!” She leaned closer and closer, her face getting unnecessarily close to Caelus' face. “So, please help me.”
Finally, the young man relented.
“Ok, you win. I’ll go on this practice date with you.”
“Yes!” She rose from his bed and did a little dance. “Thanks Caelus, meet me at the art museum okay! Tomorrow at 6pm and don’t be late!” She skipped out of his room and didn’t even bother to close his door.
Caelus sighed and rose from his bed, going to close the door before anyone else decided to come in uninvited. He then walked to his desk and looked at his phone, seeing several missed calls from Silver Wolf. Yikes…
“Yup she’s pissed, I’ll wait to she cools down and call her tomorrow.” With it being so late and bed time just a snore away, Caelus will wait for tomorrow to deal with any unforeseen consequences from his gamer friend.
Caelus, true to his promise, met March at the agreed location and even arrived five minutes early! He was truly proud of himself, and even made sure to rub it in March’s face when she arrived. Bet she was expecting for him to do all that just for a practice-
“Oh good, you’re here.”
Huh?
Caelus’s dreams came to an end when he saw March had arrived before him as she was already waiting right in front of the museum. Dressed in a nice pink and blue outfit, huh now that Caelus thought about it he doesn’t recall seeing her ever wear something like this.
“Well…” She twirled around and smiled at him, most likely waiting for a compliment to come her way.
“Wouldn’t it be better to wear this for your actual date?”
Caelus’s words shot down any chance of that happening.
“Ugh you’re hopeless. I’m wearing this outfit now to break it in, girls do that too you know!” Said March as she punched his arm. “And your outfit…you always wear this…you didn’t think to wear something more special?”
The poor grey haired man looked apologetic as well as confused.
“But it’s a practice date and so I didn’t…”
March sighed and grabbed his arm, wrapping it around her arm.
“Fine, my fault I guess for not making things clearer. Anyways, let's go inside, I have everything planned out for our date!”
And planned out she did, as the day went on March dragged Caelus throughout the museum. Taking him to any and every little thing she found interesting and making sure that they took a photo together. Some photos were serious, some were silly and some were just selfies. Throughout the whole time, March’s arms were interlocked with Caelus and rarely did she leave his side. The young man didn’t mind though, she most likely needed to get comfortable locking hands with Dan Heng and was using him to get that practice in.
The grey haired man nodded as he connected the dots.
“Honestly, I’m so smart.”
“What are you mumbling now, Caelus?” Said March as she saw her companion nodding to himself while speaking quietly. “Anyways, wait her I need to go to the restroom okay?”
Finally unlocking his arms and walking away gave Caelus a moment to himself. He walked to a random piece of art, crossed his arms, nodded his head and walked away. Surely that will give the people around him the impression that he is truly a sophisticated man with a taste for the fine arts. But before he continued his little escapade the young man felt his phone ring. Taking his smart phone out of his pocket, Caelus could see a message from a familiar friend.
Firefly: Hey Caelus :) Silver wolf told me she was really angry with you. What did you do?
Caelus winced, he hadn’t called Silver Wolf back yet. He made a mental note to do that before the day ended.
Caelus: Sorry, I was talking with March during a raid and got distracted and ended up messing up the raid. I’ll apologize to her later.
Firefly: You were talking to March? But Silver Wolf said this happened late at night.
Caelus: Yeah, March was in my room at that time. She was asking for a favor.
Firefly: Oh I see, what were you talking about?
Caelus: March wanted to do a practice date here at the museum. We're both here right now and just walking around.
Firefly: A practice date? With just you and March?
Caelus: Yup. It’s a long story but I’m with her right now.
Firefly: Why?
Caelus: Why what?
Firefly: Why are you on a date with her? Why didn’t you tell me? I like museums too.
Caelus: It’s just a practice date, she’s planning to ask someone out and heeded help. And why do you sound mad?
Firefly: I’m not mad.
Firefly: …
Firefly: Caelus, can I come and join you?
Firefly: I don’t have any plans today.
Firefly: Would that be okay?
Firefly: I love museums too. I’ll be there in just a few minutes.
Firefly: Where can we meet? Just tell me where and I'll be there.
Firefly: …
Firefly: Caelus, why aren’t you responding back?
Firefly: Caelus?
Caelus: He’s busy, stop texting him.
“Hey, March!”
Again, March had come and taken away Caelus' phone just like last night. This time she responded to one of his texts. The grey haired man snatched his phone back and shot March a small glare, only to be met with her annoyed expression.
“Not. Cool.” He said.
“I agree.” She responded back.
“You can’t just take my phone like that and respond back.”
“What kind of guy focuses on another girl while his date is right in front of him?”
“It’s a practice date!”
March didn’t say anything after that, instead she turned around and pointed her back towards Caelus.
“...sniff.”
Oh no…Caelus recognized that sound.
“No…Don’t do this to me…” Said Caelus as he recognized that sound. March turned around and the sound of sniffing could be heard as her head hung low.
“I just…I just wanted to get some practice before the big day. I’m really nervous and doing this with you is putting my heart at ease. I didn’t think it was too much to ask that you just help me out with this…sniff.”
She’s crying, she’s actually crying. Caelus turned around and could see people giving him a stare so cold it puts Belobog’s winters to shame. Even worse was how the young man felt, making his dear friend cry like this. Forget the cold stares, if Stelle or Dan Heng learn about this they will absolutely kill him.
“March, wait, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry just…it's just you can’t do that. It’s not cool…” He tried to coddle her and ease the tears.
“Sniff You’re right, I overreacted and I’m sorry. But can you promise that for today you’ll keep your focus on me?” Said March as her back continued to face Caelus.
The man in question smiled, happy that he got an apology.
“Yes and thanks for the apology.” Caelus put his phone on do not disturb, he could see a few more messages coming from Firefly. He winced, knowing now he had to make things up with both Silver Wolf and Firefly. Putting his phone away, Caelus waved his hand at March. “Done! Now…I believe we have a ‘date’ to finish?”
March’s tears went away and immediately her bubbly cute girl persona came back.
“Yeah! Come on, we have a lot more places to visit!” She grabbed his hand and lead her further and further throughout the museum.
The sun was beginning to set, Caelus and March walked down the steps that took them out of the Museum and back outside to the public. The grey haired man gave a big stretch along with a yawn, his body tired from all the physical activity they did.
“Oh man, that restaurant we went to was delicious. I’m so happy we got to go there and try out the food. Now I know it’s good to go there next time.”
Caelus nodded to March’s words, patting his now full stomach over the delicious food they had. He then looked to the sky and could see the sun begging to set, their practice date had now come to an end.
“So how do you feel? Do you think you’re ready to ask Dan Heng out?” He asked his pink haired friend.
“Huh? Oh…right that…um I think so but I think I need practice with one more thing…” March’s cheeks turned red as she looked away. Her actions drew Caelus’s curiosity.
“Oh? What is it?”
“Not here…” She said quietly. “Can we go back to your place?”
“My place?” Now Caelus was confused. “But my place is super far and now that I think about it, I haven’t cleaned my room. You kind of barged in there last night and saw the mess.”
“It’s okay! I don’t mind the mess. My room isn’t that great either.” She grabbed his hand and began leading Caelus towards his home. “Lets go! Hurry up.”
“I’m coming, I’m coming.” The grey haired man could only wonder what last thing his pink haired friend needed to practice and why it needed to be done in his home.
The two reached Caelus’s home, after unlocking the door and going inside the young man called out to see if his sister was home.
“Yo, Stelle. You here? Hello!”
No response.
“Guess Stelle must be hanging out with her friends.” Caelus turned to see March outside, waiting to be invited in. “What are you doing?”
“Waiting to be invited in! It’s proper manners.” She said with a huff.
“I don’t remember these manners when you barged into my room last night…”
Her cheeks turned red, she entered Caelus's home and smacked his shoulder.
“That was a spur of the moment all right, jeez…” She looked around and indeed the home was empty. Leaving only her and Caelus with no one else.
“All right, so what more do you need practice with?”
The young man got straight to the point as he took a seat on the couch. He gestured for March to sit on the opposite side of the couch, leaving them ample space in between. The pink haired girl looked away and grabbed her arm.
“Um actually, can we talk about it in your room?”
“My room?” Now Caelus was starting to get a bit worried, especially with the way March was acting. “Sure…Do you remember how to get to my room?”
“Of course, duh!” She said with a cheeky smile, running to his room leaving Caelus alone on the couch.
“Hey wait! Don’t just go in there!” He rose from the couch and made his way to his room only to see March was already inside, checking underneath his bed. “What are you doing?” he asked Caelus as pulled March away from the bottom of his bed.
“Checking to see if you have any porn magazines, all guys have them under their beds. And Stelle told me you had a stash.”
Caelus made a squawked sound as his cheeks turned slightly red and his mouth was agape.
“I-Don’t listen to that monster! She’s the type of girl that eats that last pudding in the fridge and blames me!” Cried out Caelus as he tried to defend himself.
“So you don’t have any porn mags in your room?” March gave him a suspicious look as her eyes narrowed on him. His mouth went silent and he looked at the floor, unable to meet March’s gaze, which told the pink haired girl all she needed to know. “Whatever.” Weird, that had a lot of venom in it. “You’re a guy so I get it, anyways come here and sit!” March returned to her regular tone and sat on Caelus’s bed and patted for him to sit next to her.
The young man gave a sigh of relief, glad that they had moved on from that topic. He joined March on the bed.
“Ok, so what’s the last thing you need help with?” Caelus was truly curious as to what else March needed help with that required them to be in his room instead of anywhere else.
“A kiss, I want to practice kissing.”
…What?
“What?” Caelus scooted back but all that did was make March get closer to him to the point that their legs were touching. “March that’s not funny, don’t joke about that.”
“I’m not joking.” Indeed she isn’t, Caelus knew March for some time and looking at her expression she was indeed dead serious about this. “I don’t want my first kiss with Dan Heng to go wrong and I’ve never kissed anybody before so practice with me.”
She grabbed his shoulders and-damn! That was a strong grip, Caelus couldn’t even break out of it. Where did this strength come from?
“First kisses are special, you need to have them with the person you care about!” Argued Caelus, but it felt like he was arguing with a brick wall. “When you and Dan Heng kiss, you’ll be able to practice together!”
“Dan Heng has plenty of practice, you don’t so it’s easier.” She said rudely.
“Hey! I’ve kissed before and I’ll have you-”
“No you haven’t.”
She cut him off, her voice cold all of sudden. Again, her tone had some venom to them and it made Caelus all the more nervous. Where did this come from? Is this really March? The same cute bubbly girl who took photos all day and slept on the job? As Caelus and March’s eyes met, the young man could see that she truly wasn’t backing down. She really wanted to do this!
“March…I…I don’t think this is right for us to kiss. We’re friends and…”
“Stop.” Her gaze was sharp, her nails digging into his shoulder. Not painfully, but just enough to tell Caelus that his pink haired friend was losing her patience. “Just think like you're acting out a play, okay? Like actors do in movies.”
Caelus looked unsure…but…if that’s what it took to get out of this situation and if it would get March back to normal and stop acting like this…then he’ll do it.
“...Okay.” Caelus’s tone was weak but those words caused March to break out in just a small smile.
“Good. Now put your hands on my hips…” She said softly and Caelus did as instructed. Placing his strong hands on her waist, he closed his eyes as the two slowly moved closer and closer. Caelus looked unsure while March’s expression was unreadable until finally their lips met.
Soft. Is what Caelus thought as he had his first kiss with March, it was awkward and he didn’t know what to do. He expected March to be the same, Caelus opened his eyes to see what expression she was making and what he saw surprised him. Her eyes were closed and she looked to be in pure bliss, but why? Why would she be making that expression, this is just a practice kiss.
Caelus soon broke the kiss.
“T-There now can we just-”
The grey haired man didn’t get to finish his sentence as March wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. This time the kiss was much deeper and passionate as she tackled him down so that he was laying on his bed. March positioned herself so that she was straddling Caelus and keeping him pinned between her legs. Caelus was surprised and tired to open his mouth to protest, but all that did was give March an opportunity to slip her tongue inside his mouth. The young man was now torn, this felt like it was too much for practice but he was still a young healthy male. Feeling March kiss him like this felt enjoyable, and a part of his brain told him to just enjoy it.
That feeling soon went away when he felt March slip her hand underneath his shirt.
This time, using all his strength, Caelus pulled March away from him. She still gripped his shoulders but now she wasn’t as close.
“March! We need to stop! I think-I think you’ve gotten enough practice.” Caelus said as he was panting and gasping for air. “Look, you seem to know how to kiss and so when you and Dan Heng do it I’m sure it will-”
“Are you stupid?”
Again, there was that cold venomous tone. One that made it hard to believe he was speaking with March, the same March that he’s known for years as a bubbly friendly girl. As she softly glared at him, Caelus began to sweat as he saw March’s eyes turn red…
How in the…what’s going on…
Unfortunately, the poor young man would get no answers as March(?) got closer to his ear and whispered these next words.
“Do you really think a girl would do all this with a guy she wasn’t in love with?”
“Wh-What?” Caelus gulped. His tone was a nervous wreck, something was wrong. March’s eyes were never red, she never sounded like this, never acted like this. It was like it was a completely different person. “In love? But I thought you were going to ask out Dan Heng.”
She laughed, Caelus hated that laugh immediately and he hated what it made him feel.
“Hmmm…well that was just a lie. I needed you to go on a date with me but if we just asked you straight out you’d say no.”
“We?”
March(?) ignored his question and continued talking.
“So I came up with this plan to lure you out on a practice date. March was hesitant at first but after I explained everything to her she was more than happy to do her part.”
“I don’t understand, March, why are you referring to yourself in third person?”
“Oh…Sorry about that.” March(?) said as she started removing her shirt. “This might be a bit weird but it’ll make sense later. For now, just call me Evernight.”
Caelus, still unfortunately confused, reached up and grabbed Evernight’s hands.
“S-Stop, I don’t know what’s going on with you March but we need to stop!” The poor man was confused and a little scared. His friend was acting weird, she lied to him all so that they could be alone in his room with no one here. She just confessed her love to him and now wanted to make love!?
“March please can we just talk first and then-”
“NO.” Again, with strength that seemed abnormal, Evernight grabbed Caelus arms and completely overpowered him. “I’m not waiting, I’m done waiting. March and I have been waiting ever since we fell in love with you. Firefly, Silver Wolf, Robin, Kafka, Topaz, Castorice, Cyrene. Even your own sister, Stelle. All of them are after you and the only reason why you haven’t noticed anything is because you’re too clueles.” Said Evernight with a slow whisper as she nibbled on Caelus’s neck.
“But I’m done waiting, and so is March. We’re getting what belongs to us…” Evernight started rocking her hips. “Besides…I feel something poking me.”
Evernight looked to Caelus, who could only blush in shame.
“It’s a perfectly natural response…”
“Ahhh…if you say so.” She let go of his wrists and slowly started kissing his neck. Caelus covered his mouth to hide a moan. “Don’t hide it, moan for me. I want to hear it.” Slowly her arms began to move up and underneath his shirt, Evernight grew even more excited as she felt his firm muscles.
“Don’t worry…just let me take the lead.” Those were the last words Evernight said, before she completely removed both of their clothes and began to explore Caelus’s body.
Night had come and the two had finished their little session, Caelus was currently asleep. His neck and back were covered in scratches and bites. Besides him lied Evernight, who was currently browsing through Caelus’s phone. She’s seen him enter his passcode so many times when he wasn’t looking, so it didn’t take long for her to get his phone and break in. She understood this was an invasion of privacy but it was for good reason.
“Repugnant, these shameless women. Messaging and bothering my Caelus.” Evernight said these words internally, looking at how many messages he’s received today from other woman. Especially Firefly…
16 messages and 5 missed calls. Honestly, the woman couldn’t be anymore desperate, she probably went to the museum looking for Caelus. Speaking of which…
Evernight looked to her sleeping lover as her smile grew wide and wicked.
She placed Caelus’s phone down and grabbed her phone instead. Snuggling up to Caelus, she undid the sheets just enough so that it was clear for anyone watching just what had happened between the two. Then rising her camera and giving a great big smile, Evernight took of photo of her and Caelus together.
“Here you go Firefly…I’m sure you’ll enjoy this.”
With that, she placed her phone away and nuzzled next to Caelus as sleep overtook her.
A young woman stared at her phone, her eyes blank and devoid of any life. She looked at the photo, a photo of the man she loved. The man who belonged to her in bed with a shameless tramp. She gripped the phone with such strength that it shattered completely in her hand. So angry was she that as she looked in the mirror, she could see blood falling from her lip as she was biting it with too much force.
“It’s fine, I’ll be there Caelus. I’ll save you. You belong to me, we’re perfect for each other. I just need to show you.”