If You're Down

The smell of pancakes drifted through the small kitchen, warm and buttery, curling around Mele’s nose and teasing her empty stomach. She sat at the dining table, watching Fali’s back as he worked the pan with surprising precision. The quiet sizzle and the occasional soft clink of metal were oddly comforting.

She found herself smiling faintly, tracing her fingers over the faint scar along her hip. Another ran close to her spine - proof of the wounds she’d survived, reminders of everything she’d endured. They didn’t hurt anymore, not physically. But sometimes she still felt the ghost of them, like her body remembered even when her mind tried to forget.

Her eyes flicked up just as Fali turned, carrying two plates piled high with golden pancakes glistening under a drizzle of syrup. He set one in front of her, the steam wafting between them.

“Thanks,” she said softly.

He smiled, taking his seat opposite her. “You’re welcome.”

She leaned forward and blew on the pancakes, watching the syrup run down the edges in lazy streams. When she looked up again, she caught him staring.

“What?” she asked, a little shyly.

He didn’t look away. “You’re cute.”

Her face lit up in surprise before she scowled, folding her arms.

“Hey! That’s my line!”

“I know,” he said, grinning.

“Oh really?” She sat up straighter, mischief flickering in her eyes. “Then I’ll have to come up with something new.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Yeah? Like what?”

“I don’t know. Maybe something like… ‘Daaang, you’re sexy’ or something.”

He didn’t even flinch. “I could get used to that.”

She frowned theatrically. “Who are you, and what have you done with Fali?”

He laughed, shaking his head. “Nope, still me.”

“Mmhm.” She narrowed her eyes, clearly scheming. Then a grin crept over her face, slow and deliberate. “Alright, tough guy. Do you remember how you promised you’d never let me wake up alone again?”

His smile faltered just a bit. “Yeah?”

“Well,” she said sweetly, “I woke up this morning and yesterday morning completely alone.”

He straightened immediately, sensing danger. “I… see.”

“So,” she said, her tone innocent but her grin anything but, “we should share a room.”

That did it.

“S-share a room?” he stammered, color flooding his cheeks. “Do you mean like… put both beds in the same room, or-”

“No.” She rested her chin on her hands, elbows propped on the table, her voice turning honey-smooth. “I mean we should share a bed.”

He blinked. “But… but…”

“Besides,” she said, smiling sweetly, “we’re practically married already. I mean, look at us.”

Her grin widened. “And I like seeing your face when I open my eyes. It feels… special. Like something only I get to have.”

Fali’s heart was pounding so hard it almost hurt. He could feel every beat in his ears, in his throat.

“Y-you… want to…”

Mele giggled, leaning back with an utterly self-satisfied look. “Good, it is still you. Shame I had to step up my game though.”

He sighed, long and loud, rubbing his face with one hand. “So it was all just to get me flustered, huh?”

She tilted her head. “Well… yes and no.”

He froze mid-breath. “No?”

Her eyes softened. “I meant it too.”

She giggled again at his stunned expression, stabbing her topmost pancake with her fork as if to punctuate her victory.

“So anyway,” she said between bites, “what’s the plan today?”

Fali blinked a few times, his brain slowly rebooting. He turned to his plate, taking refuge in the safe, fluffy haven of maple-drenched pancakes.

“I… I want to go shopping,” he said at last.

She tilted her head. “Shopping? What for?”

“Clothes, first of all. I’ll need a suit for the trial when it’s announced, and maybe some casual stuff too.”

Mele smiled, eyes sparkling. “Silly. Just wear your uniform with all your medals.”

He snapped his fingers. “You’re right! Why didn’t I think of that?”

She giggled. “Happy to help.”

Then her expression dimmed, the light fading just a little. “I’ll need a new dress too… my old one…”

Her voice trailed off. And fair enough - her old dress had been torn and soaked pink with her blood, the fabric cut apart for makeshift bandages. A grim souvenir of a night they’d both rather forget.

Fali’s tone softened. “Then you can come too.”

Her fork froze midair. Then, to his surprise, she scowled, hissing, “Never say that again.”

He blinked. “What?”

“I’m going everywhere with you from now on. Got it?”

There was no trace of her usual musical grace in that voice - just cold, fierce determination.

He held up his hands. “Okay! Okay! You’re coming everywhere with me.”

Her scowl melted instantly into sweetness. “That’s better.”

The sudden shift made him chuckle under his breath. The clinking of cutlery filled the quiet room until Mele covered her mouth, swallowed, and sighed contentedly.

“You’re a good cook,” she said.

Fali smiled. “You say that every time.”

“Well, that’s because it’s true.”

They ate in companionable silence for a moment. Then Mele’s voice broke through again, a playful note returning.

“Whilst we’re out there,” she said, “let’s get some beach stuff.”

He looked at her as though she’d just spoken in another language. “Beach stuff? But…”

Her expression sharpened immediately. “You’re the one who told me not to give up. So here’s my not giving up. We’re going to the beach.”

He opened his mouth to protest about the wheelchair, the sand, the logistics - then stopped. She was right. She was always right when it mattered. So he nodded instead.

“Alright. What were you thinking?”

Her eyes brightened. “Well, picnic things, like a rug, umbrella, beach bags, all that. But also swimsuits.”

“Swimsuits?” he echoed, his voice cracking slightly.

She nodded solemnly, as though announcing a military operation. “Swimsuits.”

He stared helplessly at her, mouth opening and closing. “But… you can’t-”

“I can sunbathe, can’t I?” she shot back, crossing her arms. “And you can carry me into the water.”

That image hit him like a punch. The warmth of her skin under his hands, the sunlight shimmering across the ocean, her laughter echoing against the waves - his heart pounded like a drum.

“Okay,” he said finally, his voice low. “That sounds good.”

Her smile turned triumphant. “Then it’s settled.”

She happily took another bite, humming in satisfaction as Fali found himself smiling too. Even after everything she’d been through - pain that most people couldn’t even imagine - she could still laugh, tease, and glow like this.

He watched her quietly for a while, letting the moment sink in. The way her hair caught the light. The way her eyes softened when she smiled.

Her gaze flicked up suddenly, catching him staring again. “...What?”

He just smiled. “Nothing. Just thinking about how beautiful you are.”

A faint blush touched her cheeks, her eyes darting back down to her plate. “Oh… thank you…”

He raised an eyebrow at her bashfulness - so unlike her usual teasing confidence - but decided not to press it. Instead, he took another mouthful of pancakes, already planning the day ahead in his mind.

A quiet day of shopping, sunlight, laughter - and maybe, if he was lucky, a beach to remember.