a finch with a broken wing

a finch and their protector

Ian is... odd.

While Finch obviously loves him very much, he is quite weird. He has some odd tendencies, ones that Finch wishes they could understand.

He smiles, a lot. He smiles constantly while he's off-duty, and it's out of the ordinary to see him not doing so.

Finch will never understand the needs to portray emotion on one's face. What is the point, other than to let others know how you feel? And why would you want someone to know such a thing?

Ian is also found in areas of the house he wouldn't normally be found in. He wanders, and sometimes he'll drag Finch along for a stroll. And he will exchange a smile with a certain guard every time, nodding at him in a slightly bashful way.

And it takes them a while to realize, but these exchanges are between Ian and Aloysius.

And it clicks.

They aren't good at romance, not in the slightest. They've had crushes, though few and far between. They've never done anything about any of them.

But the way Ian and Aloysius (who they've only met once, an extremely awkward encounter) look at each other is... special.

It's timid, and shy, and everything a normal friendship wouldn't be. Ian isn't a bashful person, not in the slightest, but he's bashful every time they walk by Aloysius.

He blushes, and Finch used to think he was sick, fretting over him, primarily, and the threat of illness. He had brushed their worried hands away, muttering about being embarrassed, asking them to keep their voice down. There had been a snicker from Aloysius, and Ian had blushed deeper.

Aloysius is sweet, if Ian's gushing is anything to go by.

They feel stupid, quite frankly, to have only connected the dots now. They quite literally facepalmed.

As the Marquess, they have quite a big power. And maybe, for Ian, they could abuse it, just this once. He deserves to be happy with a good person, and if Aloysius can be that person, they'll do anything to help that relationship blossom and grow.

Ian asks again to go on a walk. Finch is smart.

"No. I would prefer to go to the library. Is that alright?" They ask. The smile on his face falters for a second, a twinge of disappointment showing in his features. He quickly plasters on another smile, though this one is much less... real.

They consider.

They feel bad, of course, about denying Ian something he enjoys just to affirm their thoughts, but they're grateful to know.

"Of course, my Marquess." He says, tone slightly sullen. My, he's smitten, isn't he?

"You sound... hm, how shall I put this... upset. Why are you upset, Ian?" They question. He falters for a second, choking at the accusation.

"No, my Marquess, I'm not upset!"

They narrow their eyes at him. He stared back, eyebrows slightly furrowed.

"Yes, you are. You are disappointed. Why?" They frame it like a question, though they don't expect him to answer. Before he even gets a chance, they continue. "I know why."

"Oh..? Um. Why would that be?"

They giggle quietly, a teasing lilt lacing the sound. "You have a crush on Aloysius and you like to drag me along for walks to visit him. Or, you're dating him and haven't told your sibling yet. A crime, truly."

Ian chokes, trying desperately to cover up his ears that are starting to go red. "Finch!"

"What? I'm telling the truth, am I not?"