PENUMBRA (how the flowers grow)

20. Clover

"Be mine, think of me, luck"

The moment Jitho drags Sabina away to go explore the city, Tuluvey is cornered. He raises an eyebrow at Xaniphe as she drags him away to where Flix, Eggel, and Tremas are waiting by the hills.

"Xaniphe," he says patiently. "What are you doing?"

"We decided you needed an intervention," she says brightly. "A fae-to-fae chat about love, to be specific."

Tuluvey didn't expect this, but he feels like he should have. Xaniphe would do this kind of thing (and so would he, if Xaniphe didn't get her shit together about Flix).

"You roped everyone into this," he accuses and Xaniphe only grins cheekily in response.

"She may have roped us into this, but your pining is getting pathetic and this would have happened sooner or later," Tremas says, as prim as always.

Fair enough.

"All right, well, go on then."

Xaniphe clears her throat. "Just marry her already."

Tuluvey scratches the back of his head, eyes going wide. "Uh."

"He can't just marry her, Xaniphe," Flix cuts in. "She's not fae, remember? Ease her into it. Humans are weird about that stuff sometimes."

Xaniphe pouts.

"You're going to have to be more blunt," Eggel remarks. "The flirting isn't going to get through her thick human skull."

"I think it's more of a Sabina thing and less of a human thing," Flix says.

"Well, then what do you suggest?" Tuluvey queries, trying and failing to not let on that he's so flustered.

"Obviously you need to confess your love," Flix answers. "Obviously."

"I am not up for rejection."

Tremas rolls his eyes so hard Tuluvey wonders how they didn't get stuck. "Even Robb can see how infatuated she is with you."

Tuluvey twitches. "I know she loves me to some degree, but I don't know if she's ready for anything more. I don't want to push her and mess things up."

"Go get her a present and go for it," Xaniphe chirps.

"I think if you just have a really long, heartfelt conversation, you won't scare her. She trusts you," Flix reasons.

Leave it to Flix to offer real advice.

"Life doesn't exist for you to waste it, Tuluvey," Eggel tells him. "Stop waiting."

Eggel pats him hard on the side, the furthest up he can reach, and then starts up the path. Tremas gives him a nod as he passes to go catch up with Eggel.

"Go for it, lover boy," Xaniphe coos into his ear. She kisses his cheek and then bounds away.

Flix smiles at him, eyes shifting colors in the light. "It's really sweet how considerate you are to her. You're good for each other. I've never seen you be this thoughtful before."

Tuluvey would be lying if he said he wasn't a bit offended, but he's mostly pleased with the compliment. Flix's wings spread out and they flap them, lifting off the ground to flutter the small distance to catch up with the rest. They link hands with Xaniphe.