He's alone in R'lyeh. Audric slowly cleans the kitchen, pie cooling. It had been a long time since he'd allowed himself to relax enough to make something like this, and he hopes the others love it. A particularly loud part of him snickers, Please we all know you just want to impress one person.
"Shut up, just because you're simping for her doesn't mean we both are." Audric responds, lighthearted, "And anyways we're both just good friends." He ignores the way it sounds like a lie.
As he covers up the pie, he thinks back to their first meeting. Part of it was hazed over by the Wither Roses, but he remembers how scared she had been of him.
"Dumbass, of course she'd be scared if you started talking about sacrifices. Were you that afraid to reach out and connect?"
And he was. She was so small compared to them both. He had wanted to keep her at arms length. And he'd failed.
"And besides you did something similar."
Kingfisher's first meeting. God with all their emotions out of control for once. The first time they'd laid eyes on her.
They'd been shocked breathless. She was beautiful against the ocean scenery, their breath of fresh air in this stagnant world.
And then they'd also tried to scare her. "We really aren't good at this whole befriending thing," Audric laughs.
"We really aren't. Or romance." Audric shakes his head, "Please you know we can't have feelings. For anyone."
You really should stop pretending we aren't madly in love. Just because when you stifle our emotions and you can close your eyes and pretend it's not there, I don't have that luxury. And soon you won't either.
"You and I both know why we can't." As they walk over to the room they'd claimed their own, they notice the flower crown.
"She doesn't deserve to be stuck with our baggage." Audric says, resolute, "Much better to be her loyal Knight than pretend to be her destined Prince right?"
As he picks up the flower crown emotions he refuses to put a name to rising to the surface.
And then the bastard hits them both with memories. Motherfucker.
Io bringing him food. Her fond smiles. Her worry for him. Affection.
The first time they learned each other's name. The first time his heart skipped a beat seeing her in the moonlight. Adoration.
The warmth of her body against his. The trust they shared with each other. Love.
Audric falls over on the bed. "We love her."
It's not an explosive declaration, it doesn't feel like the world shifted to reveal the truth. It just is right. Like it had always been there in plain sight. He loved Io, they loved Io.
Well if you aren't going to make her yours...
"How are you going to do that when she knows our whole deal!?" Audric states, "Look fine. You do your whole thing despite all the problems that will arise from us pursuing a relationship while we're Wither's weapon."
The mask is put in place and Kingfisher shakes their head, "We're insulted you don't trust us. But come on, it's time we find a perfect gift for our Princess."
It's hours later, the sun is setting when they both return. They don't know if anyone decided to return back to this base for the night but they made it. A perfect gift. Hopefully.
And to their surprise, the lights are on in his beloved Princess' house.
"You want to or should I?" At the lack of response, they realize their other part had fallen asleep again.
"Well first come first serve." And with that they make their way to her door, knocking gently.
When Moosh opens the door she seems surprised to see them there, "Oh Kingfisher! I thought you went out on a mission."
"Princess nothing would tear us away from you." They smile, "Join us in a walk?"
They lead her to the garden, hands linked.
At the top, the stars seem so close, and the sight and scent of the flowers calm their shaky nerves. Thank the gods (well one) for the mask to hide how nervous they feel.
"Princess, no, Io, I know I'm not the one you wanted to hear from, but we've gotten you a present. As thanks for the flower crown."
Io is surprised and she looks up at him, man they really want to kiss her right now.
"Really you didn't have to! I just made the flower crown because I care for you." As she rambles her face slowly becomes pinker and it's so endearing.
"We both wanted to. Princess, close your eyes and hold out your hand?"
She does and they pull out their gift, slowly putting it on her.
The bracelet glows silver in the moonlight, the design of flowers weaved around her wrist delicately. Before she opens her eyes they press a kiss to the front of her hand and let go, enjoying the little yelp she made.
She's stunned at the gift for a bit before she presses that hand close to her chest, "thank you, it's so lovely. What are the flowers on it?"
Kingfisher smiles, "We'll tell you later, after all the meanings of them are very very important."
Soon. They think to themselves, the moment everything of ours settles, we'll tell you.