Please Remember Me Like This

Right Now We're Just So Perfect

Please Remember Me Like This

Chapter 1: "Right Now We're Just So Perfect"

Ian spent what seemed like the better part of the summer looking for the absolutely, no questions about it, perfect gift for Aeric's birthday.

What did one get the absolutely, no questions asked, perfect boyfriend in the realms? He had everything: a great car, the best job (where Ian could indulge in his quickly growing caffeine addiction for free now), wardrobe that never failed to show off those bulging biceps... Ian supposed newer exercise equipment, but what actually worked? He would never be able to figure out what Aeric needed without it being too obvious. And even worse, all Aeric said he wanted was the company of his boyfriend! No huge party, no mention of cake, even!

"You're more than enough," Aeric had complimented during one walk along the beach. "I don't need anything else when life is pretty much perfect."

Meanwhile, here Aeric was, constantly pestering what Ian might want for his birthday, only about a month and a half after his boyfriend's. Ian could think of a bunch of things he might want: a celebration with their friends and family, these adorable pink floral printed shorts he saw at the mall and a new pair of wedges (the superior heel, he'd come to find this summer), new assist items to help with magic, a car.

Yes, that last one was certainly the most implausible, but a soon-to-be senior could dream.

All Aeric seemed to want was Ian's company and a show of magic. And, not to brag too much, but they had spent a great majority of their summer so far practicing together, and Ian could feel magic just becoming easier to wield and control. Going into stance took very little thought, as did believing in himself, with Barley and Aeric constantly cheering him on and encouraging him. Hell, he was even learning more spells in Quests of Yore Volumes 2 and 3 (the strength and water spell being two of Aeric's absolute favorites), and with all this extra time not spent at school, attending boring classes, his advancement and progression were just... natural at this point.

Whether it was tossing a ball in the park for Aeric and Gurge to chase after, or practicing astral projection when he and his boyfriend eventually had to physically part, Ian could feel the swell of his powers becoming prouder, his smile growing whenever he cast anything, as opposed to his initial apprehension. Barley, of course, played impressed every time.

"By this point, you're going to be the first full-blown wizard of the 21st century!" he complimented, only after Ian had apologized for dousing him in water in the front yard (again, for skipping yet another shower).

"I wouldn't know about that," Ian replied sheepishly, shrugging. "You should really take care of your hygiene more—you have a girlfriend now."

"Such things matter not in the presence of my lovely Athena!" Barley cried, wringing out his beanie. The sweet mechanic who had so carefully fixed Guinevere 2.0 found herself enamored with Ian's older brother—even convinced him to sign up for classes for the upcoming semester at NMCC, effectively ending what Mom still liked to call "the world's longest gap year." Ian still couldn't believe it: someone had tamed Barley's seemingly permanent bachelor status—a centaur, nonetheless (which he'd continue to tease his brother with, after all the crap they'd said about Colt back in the day).

But Athena was lovely, as Barley so often complimented: her gentle voice appealed to everyone, she didn't mind showing off her wits and intelligence, and she even got along with Aeric, helping him jog some mornings (which, for a centaur, was absolutely nothing).