Picking Up Zick

Milo stepped inside Zick’s cottagestack tower and climbed the stairs up to the third floor before halting in front of his door, his heart hammering in his chest as anxiety swarmed through his limbs.

Milo might have picked up Zick on countless occasions during their years of friendship, but today was different. Today, Milo was picking him up to go on their first date, and Milo feared messing everything up.

Perhaps Milo was accustomed to being Zick’s friend, but he didn’t know a single thing about being his heartwick, and that reality scared him.

What if Zick realized Milo wasn’t worth the trouble?

Milo tightened his fists and took a deep breath before knocking on Zick’s door. Even if he was plagued by an anxious energy, he’d still do anything in his power to ensure this date was a success.

Zick threw the door open, a big smile stamped on his face. “Milo! You’re here.”

Milo snorted. “Good evening to you, too.”

A goofy grin appeared on Zick’s lips. “I missed you.”

Milo rolled his eyes, ignoring the quickening of his pulse. “We saw each other three days ago.”

“My point exactly.” Zick crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame. “Those three days were pure torture.”

Utter love bloomed in Milo’s heart. “Silly.”

Zick guffawed before schooling his features and locking eyes with Milo’s. “Hi,” he drawled in a flirtatious manner, waggling his eyebrows. “How are you?”

A blush crept over Milo’s cheeks. “I’m doing great.”

“Might I add that you are looking great, too.” Zick shook his head, his mane of dark hair wiggling on top of his head. “Scratch that. You look stunning. Any special occasion?”

Milo shrugged. “Nope. Just a regular night with my friend.”

“Friend, huh?”

“Yup.”

Zick flashed Milo a wolfish grin before he pulled him inside his cottagestack, closed the door, and pressed Milo against its surface. “For your information,” stated Zick in a husky voice that made Milo shiver from head to toe. “I’m more than just a friend.”

Zick kissed Milo in a languid manner, which inflamed Milo’s every nerve. Even if Milo wasn’t used to be sharing kisses with his best friend, he sure wasn’t complaining.

After Zick broke their kiss, he went to sit down at his kitchen table and took off his boots. With the greeting Milo received, he didn’t even realize that Zick was still wearing his Stormstriker uniform.

Milo loved Zick in his uniform, but this piece of clothing came with a responsibility that Milo would rather Zick not bear during their first date. Tonight, he wanted Zick all for himself as he was unwilling to share him with the rest of the world. Call him selfish, he didn’t care.

Milo crossed his arms and leaned against the door. “Shouldn’t you be ready, already?”

“Sorry,” said Zick, settling his boots against the wall, “but something came up and I had to work later.”

“I hope you’re not planning on coming to our first date in your uniform.”

“Not a chance.” Zick rose from his seat and hung his weapons belt on a hook dug in the wall. “I’ll jump into my bath barrel real quick, and then we’ll be off in no time. Promise.”

“Good idea,” stated Milo as he peeled himself off the door. “Especially since I can smell you all the way up here.”

A predatory look crossed Zick’s face before he lunged at Milo and hugged him tight. “Do I really stink?”

Milo uttered a whine mixed with fits of laughter, his heartbeat quickening. “Totally,” he confirmed, freeing himself from Zick’s grasp and pushing him towards the bathroom. “Go take a bath. Now.”

Zick saluted Milo before entering the bathroom and closing the door behind him, and Milo couldn’t erase the smile off his face. Milo worried for nothing. As long as he remained true to himself, their date would go perfectly.

Zick and he, they were meant to be together.

As Zick activated the charm imbued within his bath barrel with enermagic blasts, Milo slumped on Zick’s worn couch and summoned his baking spellbook.

“You’re going to love the cook’s lair I picked for tonight,” shouted Zick from the other side of the door.

“Oh, yeah?” Milo browsed through his spellbook’s pages, a flutter of excitement erupting within his body. “Where are you bringing me?”

“The place’s called A Table for Two. It’s perfect for couples, and the food’s really good,” he explained while washing himself. “Well, that’s what I heard. I never visited the place, always wanting to go with you, but…”

“But, what?”

Zick sank his head underwater before emerging back to the surface. “We weren’t dating, so I was afraid to scare you away.”

“Nothing you do will ever scare me away. I watched you reenact The Prince and his Silver Knight in its entirety and I’m still here. Its entirety. That play is three-skylight long.”

Zick gave a hearty laugh. “Gosh, I’d forgotten about that. Not my finest moment.” He climbed out of the bath barrel, water splashing all around, before he slipped and crashed on the floor while uttering a sharp yelp.

In the end, nothing was going perfectly.

What if they had to cancel their first date to pay a visit to a Life Keeper?

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