Healed

Chapter 20

"We need to talk," Flame spoke solemnly.

That doesn't sound promising, Umber fretted. Is he going to tell me he doesn't want to be my friend anymore? That I went too far and he hates me?

"U-um, OK," Umber sputtered out. Flame looked around, equally as nervous.

"Let's go into my room and talk," He offered and unlocked the sliding door. He stepped aside to let Umber enter first. Umber's body felt tight with tension, but once he entered the room he let out a snort of amusement.

Flame's room was a mess. His bed was a disaster; the blanket was in a giant knot and the pillow on the floor. The desk was covered in graphicolls and what looked like old food plates that the SkyWing had probably taken up from the cafeteria. The little sitting area to the left looked like a war zone as well, the two sides having been Flame versus a batch of cookies. Obviously Flame had won since all over the table and surrounding floor were crumbs and stray chocolate chips. Meanwhile the floor pillows had been pushed together to make a sort of larger seat that was also surrounded by more graphicolls.

Hastily Flame rushed in. He went over to the sitting area and pulled the pillows apart, brushing off any crumbs. "Erm, sorry for the mess," he apologized, embarrassed.

Umber was only amused. He picked up a chocolate chip off the table, examining it between his claws before tossing it in his mouth. "I'm guessing you must have baked some cookies recently," Umber reasoned aloud.

Flame blinked in surprise and then nodded sheepishly before going to the nearby cupboards and pulling out some candles. Well, a LOT of candles. Within several moments the room was well lit with the smoldering glow of dozens of tiny fires. Umber wrapped himself in the soothing pulse of their flickering hearts like a blanket, letting it wash over and calm him.

While Flame went around illuminating the room Umber nervously fondled the gift that was tucked away under his wing. He had spent all evening working on it with Sora and Jet. Even though Jet had wanted to make it a romantic gift, Umber had gone with something a little more neutral. It wasn't meant to be romantic or even sappy. It was simply something he thought Flame would enjoy in hopes of smoothing things over between the two of them.

Finally the SkyWing sat down next to Umber on the adjacent pillow. The firelight gilded the ruby scales of his throat and contoured his muscles with shadows. Umber forced himself not to stare.

Don't get distracted! You came here with a purpose!

In the silence that stretched between them Umber took this opportunity to speak first. "Flame - I - I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. I'm so so so so so SO sorry I made you uncomfortable the other night but it's just-" Umber felt his face grow hot "-I think you're really cool and nice and fun and handsome and oh Moons I'm sorry if I am rambling I should probably just shut up." Having made a complete mess of the apology Umber slammed his mouth shut, biting on the inside of his cheek as he went over what he said. Great. Six hours of practicing this speech and I messed it up. Great.

Flame turned his eyes upwards and Umber was struck their complexity. Like rings of copper freshly pulled from the forge they burned more vibrant than any fire Umber had ever seen and it warmed him to the core.

"You didn't make me uncomfortable," Flame spoke with unusual softness, as if unsure his voice would hold.

Umber's heart skipped a beat. "R-really?"

When he had rehearsed this whole conversation in his head he had imagined Flame being annoyed but forgiving Umber in the end. In that scenario they went back to being friends and pretended nothing had happened. The MudWing hadn't been expecting this outcome.