I told You So

The Whole Falling in Love Thing

Dusk tossed an apple core into a trash can as Blaze huffed on a cigar, It was a Sunday and the two princes had nothing to do but relax. "Dusk, I've got to tell you something." Blaze let a plume of smoke roll out of his throat as he tapped the cigar into a dish, Dusk raised an eyebrow and Blaze got up from his upholstered chair.

 He shuffled over to a table and opened the drawer. He grinned back at Dusk and walked over and sat back down, he levitated a small box in front of Dusk. He raised an eyebrow at Blaze and took the box, lifting open the lid, underneath was a studded ring. "I'm flattered." Dusk muttered with a smile, Blaze snorted and took the box back. "It's not for you, it's for Lemon Zest. I'm going to propose to her." Blaze relit his cigar and puffed on it, Dusk looked down to the floor and nodded.

Blaze nudged him with a wing and gave him a look. "Don't be so glum, I'm still the same man I've always been." Blaze smiled at Dusk who gently nodded his head. "I just don't understand." Dusk muttered looking over to the crackling fireplace "The whole, falling in love thing." He stood up and walked over to a small table holding a crystal container filled with an amber liquid. Blaze let out a hearty laugh and threw his head back, Dusk pinned his ears and poured himself a glass. "You're not meant to understand it!" Blaze grinned letting smoke pour out of his nose, Dusk raised an eyebrow at him and returned to his spot.

He opened his mouth to explain when the door opened and in walked Sunspot and Flame in partial armor, Blaze reached over to an oak box and pulled out two cigars and levitated it over to them. "What are we talking about boys?" Flame asked lighting his cigar with a gentle flame from his throat and sitting down across from the men, Sunspot started to peel off his armor and Blaze gave Dusk a look. "We're talking about love." Blaze smiled tapping the ash off his cigar, Flame took a long huff and hummed, letting the smoke wiggle out of his teeth. "Oh love, what makes a boy a man." Flame sat back and looked at the two with a soft look, Dusk scoffed and took another sip of his drink.

 "That's not true, Sunspot tell them love is baloney!" Dusk pointed over to Sunspot who was staring into the fire, he looked back at him with sparking red eyes. "He's right, love makes a man." Sunspot raised his eyebrows into a soft gaze and Dusk gawked. "Not you too! You fell in love!" Dusk hit his empty glass against the coffee table and Flame let out a laugh. "A captain's daughter too, she's a looker that's for sure." Flame chuckled nibbling on his cigar, Blaze grinned wildly. "Who is it?" Blaze called out, Sunspot grinned and looked down to the floor. "Her name is Amethyst." He looked up to the ceiling, his cheeks growing pink as he walked over and sat down next to his father.

Blaze let out a howling laugh and slapped the arm of his chair, Sunspot pinned his ears and let out a sharp growl. "What's so funny?!" Sunspot hissed and Blaze took a long smoke then let out a few rings. "She's purple! Have you looked at yourself? Red and purple don't go well." Blaze pointed out, Dusk let out a laugh and Flame had to bite his lip to swallow away his laughter. "Your finance is lime green!" Sunspot shot back, Blaze squinted his eyes as Dusk started to laugh harder throwing his wings open as he giggled like a school boy. "Lime green and pink work!" Blaze put in, "No they don't" Everyone in the room responded, then a fit of laughter rang through the room. Blaze huffed and sat back in his chair, then once everyone had calmed down and finished their drinks and cigars Blaze looked over to Dusk.

He placed a firm claw on Dusk's shoulder and gently shook him. "You know, one day." He paused and Dusk furrowed his eyebrows. "One day, you're going to come to me and you're going to say 'Blaze, I've fallen in love'." Blaze got up and walked over to a bottle and poured the dark liquid into two shot glasses. "And I'm going to pour you a drink, and tell you 'I told you so'." Blaze handed one of the shot glasses to Dusk who grinned and the two of them shared a drink.

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The summer was coming to an end, the sun was low in the sky and the air had a slight chill to it. Dusk carried a plastic bag and two bouquets of flowers as he quietly walked along the dirt path through the Capital Gardens, he reached a quiet spot shaded by a large oak tree. He pulled out a glass bottle and two shot glasses, then he laid the flowers down gently beside the two graves. He poured the drink into the shot glasses, and held the two glasses up in his magic. He took a heavy inhale and smiled.

"Blaze." He paused and bit away the tears welling up in his eyes. "I've fallen in love." He choked and a shaky smile crept across his face, he took a shot and poured the shot glass for Blaze on the ground. He flipped the glass upside down and set it on top of Blaze's headstone, then with a huff he got up and dusted himself off. As he walked away a gust of wind picked up and rustled the leaves, and just faintly Dusk could have sworn he heard him say, "I told you so."