Painted in Fate

Extra Chapter 6:

Babe was practically glowing as he stepped into the cozy little café, the familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee and pastries filling the air. He hadn't been here in ages—it was one of those places he and Billy used to frequent when they were still navigating the early stages of their relationship. It felt like a warm, nostalgic embrace.

Billy followed closely behind, holding the door open with a fond smile. "You look like a kid in a candy store," he teased, watching Babe's eyes light up at the sight of the display counter.

"I forgot how much I loved this place," Babe said, his voice filled with excitement. "We haven't been here in forever!"

Billy chuckled, placing a hand on Babe's lower back as they moved toward the counter. "Yeah, we've been a bit busy saving the world and all."

Babe rolled his eyes, though his smile didn't fade. "I think we've earned a little break."

They ordered their usual—a couple of lattes and a selection of pastries—before settling into a corner booth near the window. The late afternoon sun filtered through the glass, casting a soft, golden glow on the table. It was one of those perfect, quiet moments that felt timeless.

"So," Babe began, leaning back in his seat as he took a sip of his coffee, "what's the plan for the rest of the day, Mumu?"

Billy smirked, reaching across the table to steal a piece of Babe's croissant. "Well, Tofu, I was thinking we could do something spontaneous."

Babe raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Spontaneous, huh? Like what?"

Billy leaned forward, his voice dropping to a playful whisper. "How about a dance?"

Babe blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Here? Now?"

Billy shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Why not? We've danced in weirder places."

Babe let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. "You're unbelievable, you know that?"

"Unbelievably charming," Billy corrected with a grin, standing up from his seat and extending his hand toward Babe.

For a moment, Babe hesitated, glancing around the café. It wasn't crowded—just a few other patrons minding their own business—but the idea of dancing in the middle of a café still seemed a bit ridiculous.

Then again, Billy had a way of making the ridiculous seem perfectly reasonable.

With a soft sigh, Babe placed his hand in Billy's and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. "Alright, but if people start staring, I'm blaming you."

Billy chuckled, pulling Babe close as they swayed gently to the music playing softly in the background. "Let them stare," he whispered, his voice warm against Babe's ear. "I don't care."

The world outside the café faded away as they moved together, their steps slow and easy, like they had all the time in the world. Babe rested his head against Billy's chest, letting the rhythm of his heartbeat guide their dance. It was moments like this—simple, intimate moments—that made everything they'd been through feel worth it.

As they swayed, Billy pressed a soft kiss to Babe's temple, his voice barely above a whisper. "You know, I could get used to this."

Babe smiled against his chest. "Used to what?"

"This," Billy said, tightening his hold on him just slightly. "Us. Just being together like this. No drama, no past haunting us. Just... now."

Babe's heart swelled at his words, and he tilted his head up to look at Billy. "I like the sound of that."

They continued to dance, the world outside the café window passing by in a blur as they remained lost in their own little bubble. Neither of them cared who might be watching or what the other patrons might think. All that mattered was this moment—their moment.

Eventually, the song ended, and Babe pulled back slightly, looking up at Billy with a soft smile. "Okay, that was pretty spontaneous."

Billy grinned, leaning down to steal a quick kiss. "Told you it would be worth it."

Babe laughed, shaking his head as they returned to their seats. "You're ridiculous."

"And you love me for it," Billy said confidently, settling back into his chair.

Babe sighed dramatically, though the fondness in his eyes was undeniable. "Yeah, yeah, I guess I do."

They finished their coffee and pastries, the lighthearted mood lingering between them as they talked about everything and nothing. It was easy—so easy, being with Billy like this. The weight of their past felt like a distant memory, and the future ahead of them seemed brighter than ever.

As they left the café and walked down the street, Babe slipped his hand into Billy's, their fingers intertwining naturally. "So, what's next on this spontaneous agenda of yours?"

Billy smirked, glancing down at him. "How about we just keep walking and see where we end up?"

Babe smiled, nodding in agreement. "Sounds like a plan."

And so, they walked, side by side, their hearts light and their steps easy. Whatever came next, they knew they'd face it together—just like they always had.