My Name is Marcus: Sweet Scent

X. Something More

A golden beam caressed Marcus's face, awakening him gently from his slumber as he lay atop the blanket. The sun began its climb into the sky, blessing the Weald and its denizens with the gift of the morning as its amber rays lightened the black of the night into the warm orange of dawn. A group of Rookidee chirped through the woods, singing a delightful "good morning" to all those with the ears to hear it. Flowers began to bloom, their petals unfurling like arms slowly stretching outwards in preparation for the upcoming day.

Amid the tranquil scene, however, a twinge of panic tore through the young champion, a shot of adrenaline beginning to buffer urgently through his veins as the situation became increasingly clear to his half-conscious mind; they'd slept through the night.

Oh no... I've royally screwed up this time, he thought to himself. I never got her home last night. I hope she's not too upset with me when she wakes up... Piers is gonna kill me...

Anxious clarity gave his brain the leverage to begin sending distress signals to his arms and legs as his adrenaline continued to alleviate him of his drowsy state. He had to get up. He had to get ready to go. He had to get her home, and he had to do it now.

A feeling of peace suddenly quelled his thoughts, however, taking the form of a familiar and lulling voice and breathing itself through his being like a breath of the wind through the forest.

"Hey... g'mornin'."

Marnie spoke softly and sweetly as she laid curled up against Marcus's chest, her arms wrapped loosely around his torso. In contrast to Marcus, she remained remarkably serene, smiling warmly as she looked up at him with tender and tired eyes that gleamed like gemstones against the morning sunlight.

"Good morning", Marcus replied quietly, now somewhat more relaxed, but also slightly perplexed by Marnie's lax demeanor. "...what happened last night?"

"You conked out not long after our lil' chin-wag", Marnie answered with a breathy giggle. "Ya just looked so peaceful n' all, I didn't wanna disturb ya..."

"You should've woken me up", Marcus replied, a shallow guilt lingering behind an apologetic smile as he spoke. "What about getting you back to Spikemuth at a reasonable hour?"

"Marcus, the hour was already unreasonable as soon as we got out here", Marnie started with a smirk. "We both knew what we were in for." She paused briefly to exhale a quiet yawn, letting it out into the palm of her hand as she covered her mouth. "Sides, it was late; I was tired, you'd passed out, n' the Pokemon were startin' to nod off. Figured it best to not strain ourselves n' just hunker down for the night, y'know? Seemed smarter than tryina wrangle everyone n' make Corviknight fly us around again."

She studied Marcus's expression as she spoke, becoming aware of the remorse in his stare straight away.

"Hey", she began with reassuring tenderness as she placed a gentle hand upon his cheek and smiled warmly. "I'm glad we came out here... I'm glad we stayed." Her grin continued to widen as she spoke. "This has honestly been one o' the most amazin' times o' my life, n' I don't regret a lick of it, ya hear?" She pressed her index fingers at the corners of Marcus's mouth, pushing them upward and curving his lips into a more noticeable smile. "So stop lookin' at me all sad n' all, would ya? Else people are gonna start sayin' that maybe you need some ''practice'', if ya know what I mean."

The gesture was enough to bring out a genuine smirk and chuckle from Marcus - Marnie had always praised him for always doing and saying exactly the right things to make any situation better, but she seemed more than properly equipped to do the same herself. "Alright, alright, message received; I won't bring that day at the hotel up ever again", he chortled. "What about your brother? He's not gonna be mad, is he?"