Remi strolled down the hallways of Wellston, her signature pink hair bouncing with each step. It was a regular day, and she was in a great mood. The sun was shining, classes had gone well, and she was looking forward to spending time with Arlo later. The relationship between the Queen and King of Wellston was still a bit of a secret—well, at least from the younger students. Arlo was private by nature, and Remi respected that. Plus, it was fun to keep everyone guessing.
As she turned a corner toward the courtyard, she noticed a group of first-years huddled together, chatting nervously. The moment they saw her, they hushed, eyes widening. Remi smiled warmly, giving them a little wave. She enjoyed interacting with the younger students, remembering how overwhelming everything had seemed when she was in their shoes.
One of the boys, with sandy blonde hair and a hint of nervousness in his eyes, stepped forward, swallowing hard as he approached her. He couldn't have been more than fourteen. His uniform was a little too big, his tie slightly askew, and he looked like he was trying to summon all the courage in the world.
"Uh, hey, Remi!" he called out, his voice cracking just a bit.
Remi turned her attention to him, still smiling. "Hi there! What's up?"
The boy took a deep breath, his friends watching intently from behind him. "I-I was wondering... if maybe, um, you'd like to go out with me? Like, on a date?"
There was a moment of stunned silence. Remi blinked, genuinely surprised by the question. She hadn't expected that. At all. But she quickly recovered, her smile softening as she realized how much nerve it must have taken for him to ask her that.
Before she could respond, the boy hurriedly added, "I-I know it's kind of sudden, and we don't really know each other, but I thought... well, maybe...?"
Remi chuckled lightly, not out of mockery, but out of genuine amusement at the situation. The boy's cheeks turned bright red, clearly interpreting her laughter the wrong way.
"Hey, don't be embarrassed," she said gently, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It's really sweet of you to ask, and I'm flattered, really. But—"
"Hey, Pinky," a familiar voice interrupted, calm but with a hint of possessiveness that only Remi could pick up on.
Remi looked over her shoulder to see Arlo walking towards them, his expression as unreadable as ever, though his blue eyes held a certain sharpness. He was the picture of composure, his posture perfect, every step deliberate. He stopped next to Remi, placing a casual but unmistakably possessive hand on the small of her back.
The boy's eyes widened even more, if that was possible, as he realized who was now standing in front of him. "A-Arlo..."
Arlo glanced at the boy, his expression unreadable. "What's going on here?" he asked, though it was clear he already knew.
Remi couldn't help but smirk a little, enjoying the subtle tension. "Oh, this brave first-year was just asking me out on a date," she said cheerfully, glancing up at Arlo with a playful glint in her eyes.
The boy's face turned a deep shade of crimson. "I-I didn't know— I mean, I didn't realize you two were... uh..."
Arlo's gaze softened slightly as he looked at Remi, his thumb lightly brushing her back in a way that was both reassuring and affectionate. "She's already taken," he said simply, his tone firm but not unkind.
The boy stammered, looking between the two of them with a mix of awe and embarrassment. "I-I'm so sorry! I didn't know! I'll just... I'll just go..."
Remi laughed softly, waving a hand dismissively. "No harm done! But thanks for the offer. It's really sweet of you."
The boy nodded quickly, his friends already pulling him away, likely teasing him about the whole situation. As they left, Remi turned back to Arlo, a mischievous grin on her face.
"Look at you, Mr. Protective," she teased, poking his chest lightly.
Arlo rolled his eyes, though the corners of his mouth twitched upward. "I'm just making sure everyone knows who you belong to," he said, his tone light but the meaning clear.
Remi's grin widened. "You know, I could've handled it myself. I think I was letting him down pretty gently."
"I'm sure you were," Arlo replied, finally letting a small smile grace his features. "But I prefer to make things crystal clear."
Remi leaned into him slightly, enjoying the rare, softer side of him that only she got to see. "Well, I guess I'll just have to be more obvious about being taken," she said playfully.
Arlo's arm slid around her waist, pulling her just a bit closer as they continued their walk toward the courtyard. "That would probably help."
As they walked together, Remi couldn't help but feel a warm glow in her chest. It wasn't just about the first-year's innocent mistake; it was about how, despite everything, she and Arlo fit together perfectly. They balanced each other out in ways that no one else could, and even in moments like this, where the lines between their public and private lives blurred, they found comfort in each other.
She glanced up at him, catching his eye. "You know, you're kind of cute when you're jealous."
He scoffed, but there was no real heat behind it. "I wasn't jealous."
"Sure, sure," Remi said with a knowing smile, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Whatever you say, Arlo."
He didn't argue, simply letting out a soft sigh as they continued walking together. And as they disappeared into the crowd, any remaining tension melted away, leaving only the quiet, undeniable bond between them.
