Chapter 32 - mortification fever

The rest of the day at the fair was fun. Declan and Lou more or less competing to see who won the most games with Isla cheering them on.

Faun had gotten quieter towards the end of the day, not because he was tired but because he was so full with happiness that it made him take a breather or two.

Declan insisted on carrying everything as they made their way out of the fair. They said their goodbyes at the entrance to the fairgrounds because they were both taking cabs.

They were all too tired to do any walking.

"I hope you had fun." Isla patted Faun's cheek. "I'm looking forward to our picnic this weekend."

"Bye, Faun." Lou said shortly but no less sweetly.

"Make sure you take care of him, Declan…" Isla called out seriously, even as Lou pulled her away.

The cab dropped them off at the entrance to the woods. The sun was already setting when they made their way down the well trodden path that led to the cottage.

"Tired?" Declan asked.

Faun stretched, glancing at Declan in concern. "A little."

Declan was currently hauling everything they got at the fair, refusing Faun's help when he offered. Although he looked like he had no issues with it, Faun couldn't help but worry.

It was nice coming back to the cottage after a long day out. The wooden house in the woods felt like more of a home to Faun than the wild ever did.

"Are you up for the movies tomorrow? We could go some other time." Declan already started to make excuses.

Faun whipped his head around, excitement flaring in the depths of his eyes again. "The movies? What's that?" He immediately jumped on the chance to leave the cottage with Declan.

"We just go out to watch shows with other people on a big screen." He explained as simply as he could; it sounded weird the moment he did.

Faun nodded gravely even though he couldn't make heads or tails of what Declan was talking about. "Okay, let's go." He agreed.

Declan studied Faun with an inscrutable expression on his face, he couldn't remember the last time he went out so much. He almost didn't mind.

Declan headed straight for Faun's room when they got to the cottage, dropping everything he won for him on his bed at Faun's directions.

"I'll order takeout for dinner." Declan threw over a shoulder as he left him to his antics.

Faun was quick with organising; he kept the stuffed toys on his bed, finding a suitable place for the rest of the nick nacks as well.

He stood proudly at the centre of the room when he was all done, his chest feeling stuffy from having so much to call his and a place to put it as well.

His ears and tail had popped out while he was busy bustling around so he took a shower like that, he needed to scrub out the grime and sweat that his busy day had accumulated after all.

He wasn't surprised to find Declan in the living room when he came out. For some reason, he slowed down before he got to him, stopping to stare at a distracted Declan.

Declan was lounging on a couch, his head bent over his phone. His short black hair was damp and it fell over his face, slightly obscuring his features.

Faun didn't think he had ever properly looked at Declan; he had seen so many humans today and… was Declan always that good looking?

Declan raised his head at this point, amusement lighting his pale grey eyes. "Is something on my face?"

He had been caught staring!

Faun lifted a hand to touch his ear. "N-No." He murmured, a faint dusting of red over his face. "Is the food here yet?" He immediately diverted the conversation.

Declan didn't push. "Not yet but they should be here anytime soon…" The doorbell rang. "Or right now." He corrected dryly, getting up to get their food.

Faun just beelined straight for the kitchen when Declan was distracted. "I'll grab the plates!" He called to him, ducking inside of the kitchen quickly.

He placed his hands on his face to try and cool it down, he had done a little research about why his face got so hot and red.

He definitely didn't have a fever so he had to be 'blushing?'

He didn't like it much. It was bad enough when he got affected by something or mortified, why did everyone have to know about it too?

It faded very quickly in the absence of the instigator so when he stepped out of the kitchen again, he was a brand new person. Lack of red cheeks and all.

They lazed around in the living room after dinner; the sun had set a while ago, a comforting darkness blanketing the woods and the cottage.

Faun wasn't sleepy but he definitely wasn't going to bed early. He hadn't so quickly forgotten about what happened in the morning.

A show was playing but he was barely paying attention to the tv, sneaking glances at Declan who was still engrossed with his cellphone.

What was he doing with it anyway? Faun wanted to talk to him.

"How did you like Isla and Lou?" Declan asked immediately, almost like he could read his thoughts.

Faun would never know but his expression gave every single thing away.

Faun started at this, he hadn't been expecting Declan to do exactly what he asked for in his head.

"They're nice." He said sincerely.

He had truly been surprised by how they had treated him, like he was one of them.

"You don't mind the picnic then?" Declan prodded.

Faun brightened at this; If there was a picnic, it meant that he could try out new foods and snacks for it. "Not one bit, I can cook for it, right?" He immediately started to ramble. "We'll need food for the picnic, won't we?"

Declan went quiet, listening intently to everything that Faun had to say, his phone long discarded.