My Name is Marcus: Sweet Scent

II. Beautiful

"So I gotta ask", Marcus began as the two walked along the sidewalk through the bustling cityscape. "Why did you decide to dress up tonight?"

"I-I dunno", Marnie responded in a mild fluster, "maybe I just felt like it, alright?"

He chuckled. "Alright, alright, I was just curious. Never figured you to be the type to want to, is all."

Cinderace followed shortly behind the two trainers, Morpeko seated comfortably on his head.

Marnie let out a gentle sigh. "I dunno, I... y'know how you're always complainin' 'bout dealing with random people bum rushin' you outta nowhere n' all?"

Marcus raised a curious brow. "I mean, yeah, but I always felt like I complained about dealing with people, you know, just in general."

"You dork", she replied as she giggled softly. "But... yeah, I think I get it now." She turned and looked at him as they continued walking together. "I mean, I always felt like I kinda got it, what with my bro and Team Yell followin' me around chantin' and makin' a big hullabaloo and all, but..." She paused, letting out another breath. "As soon as word hit the wind 'bout what I've been doin' for Spikemuth, everyone started callin' me a hero."

"Marnie", Marcus smirked, "don't take this the wrong way or anything, but you kind of are a hero."

Marnie averted her gaze away from him, her pale cheeks turning slightly pink. "Jeez, you're startin' to sound like the rest of 'em", she pouted.

"I'm sorry", Marcus chuckled. "But seriously, the work you've been doing to restore Spikemuth and unite Galar and all, it's incredible. No need to undersell it."

She sighed again. "No, I know that. And don't get me wrong, I really appreciate all the nice things that people are sayin' 'bout me and what I'm tryin' to do n' all, but-"

"But it's gotten to be a bit overbearing?", Marcus interjected.

"Exactly", Marnie replied. "I mean, tellin' me I'm doin' a nice job n' all is one thing, but people callin' me stuff like ''Battle Princess'' and wantin' interviews and autographs n' stuff outta the blue? It's a lot, y'know?"

Marcus nodded. "Welcome to my life."

"Yeah", she continued, "so I thought, y'know, maybe takin' a page outta the champion's playbook might help me out in this case."

"Ooooohhhh", Marcus exclaimed with a smirk. "So you're dressing up to avoid the publicity, are you? Makes sense; your usual look is so iconic, anyone who's even remotely familiar with you could pick you out of a crowd pretty easily."

Marnie nodded. "Mhmm... I didn't want anyone comin' up an interruptin' our only night off in the last three weeks for some random photo-op or somethin'. And I figure since I've never really gotten gussied up like this before, it's probably the best way to stay hidden in plain sight, yeah?"

"Yeah, I'd say you succeeded", Marcus replied. "Honestly, even I hardly recognized you when I first saw you."

She chuckled nervously. "Wow, you didn't even recognize me... I must look pretty silly then, huh?"

"W-what?", Marcus stammered, his mind frantically firing on all cylinders from the surprise turn this conversation suddenly took for him. Marcus, you fool, you've made her insecure, he thought to himself. Fix this now, pull this situation back! "N-no, Marnie, nothing like that", he replied with passionate reassurance, "you look beautiful!"

Marnie froze in place as she turned to Marcus, her cheeks pink and her eyes wide and filled with a look of wonder, as if begging the question; Did he really just say that?