#also i figured i should say butter doesnt belong to me when hes in like all of the story

[hqmillioncorn]

Lalapril 4/11: Eternity

guest starring @windupnamazu’s Butter (last name pending) and Oleo for a split second

Butter had just finished planting planting the last of the daisy seeds he needed to plant that day when Oleo came zipping in, clearly out of breath. Just as Butter was about to ask if something was wrong Oleo grabbed him by the shoulders.

“Butter!!!!!!!! Babycorn just asked me where you are!”

“Huh?!”

“She told me she was specially looking for you!!” Oleo might have been changing the details just a bit but one part was true.

Babycorn had asked if Butter was free for the afternoon.

“Hurry! Butter hurry! It's about to start!”

“C-Coming-! I’m coming!”

Against his better judgement, Butter decided to look down.

Right under the rafters that he and Babycorn were walking on he could see the guests for the eternal bonding ceremony starting to walk in. 

Moogles were flying around in all sorts of directions. He was a little worried that one of them would fly just a little too high and catch him and Babycorn sneaking in.

“Don’t worry Butter! The moogles here are my friends!” Babycorn waved down to one of the moogles that were spreading flower petals around. She only looked a little disappointed when they didn’t wave back. “If one of them sees us they’ll probably just tell us to get out and that’s it!” And if anyone tried to smack Butter with a broom like they did to her before then she would just grab the broom and snap it in half.

Or at least she would try.

Butter let out a nervous laugh. Was his worryness that noticeable?

At the very least he was glad that Babycorn didn’t notice anything else he was feeling.

There were a lot of feelings running through Butter at this very moment actually. One of them was worry of course, but he was also feeling excitement, surprise, absolute terror and a feeling in his stomach that could be classified as butterflies.

He was also very in love at the moment and out of all the emotions he was feeling right now it was the one that was guiding his decisions right now.

Which he guessed was how he now found himself yalms up in the air over an eternal bonding ceremony with his years-long crush surrounded by the dangers of being caught or falling down onto an unsuspecting public of guests.

Of course he didn’t regret any of it. 

Well, he didn’t regret any of it so far.

“Let’s sit over here Butter!” Babycorn waved her hands up and down so he could see where she was. Though they were no less than a few fulms from each other. Babycorn sat down on the rafter and tapped the free space next to her so Butter would know where to sit.

“Here! You can sit right here cause this is like, the best view!”

Butter stopped in his tracks. “A-A-Are you sure? I don’t mind if you wanna sit there!”

“It’s fine! Besides, I've snuck in here lots of times so I’ve seen the best view lots of times too!” Babycorn had heard it was polite to be nice to your guests and since she had invited Butter along with her today that made him her guest! After this she even had plans to take him to go get lunch too!

The butterflies in Butter’s stomach had multiplied and were now in full panic mode. “I…Thanks.” Butter took a few more steps forward and carefully took his seat next to Babycorn.

The rafter under them shook just a bit but integral support safety was the farthest thing from Butter’s mind right now. Babycorn turned to look at him and grinned, sticking her tongue out at him. It was such a simple gesture but it made Butter happy to see her having a good time.

How had she gotten even cuter since coming back from Old Sharlayan???

Babycorn looked down at the sights under them, pointing at something, “Look! Look! See that?”

“Hmm?”

Babycorn paused to look back at Butter. “Why are you looking at me silly?!” Babycorn couldn’t help but laugh a little. Butter was so funny sometimes.

“Oh! U-Uh sorry! I’m sorry!”  

“You might miss the best parts if you’re not looking Butter!”

What was she talking about? Butter was already looking at the best part.

“Um, what were you looking at again?” Butter asked. He hoped that Babycorn wouldn’t get too mad at him for asking.

Babycorn knew she could hardly get mad at him.

“I’m looking at all the pretty flower decorations they have down there! Aren’t they amazing…?”

Butter looked down to see what Babycorn was talking about. There were decorations as far as he could see. Whoever had decided on the decor had decided that roses of all sorts of different colors were the right choice for the ceremony. “Woah...! They are really pretty!” Butter had to agree, they were nice to look at, especially from their viewpoint.

“Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to get eternally bonded to someone.”

Butter froze in place.

“R-Really…? I, um…”

Why was Babycorn telling him this?! Where had this even come from???

Babycorn sighed and held her head in her hands, watching as the eternal bonding ceremony continued under their feet. The bride and groom were walking down the aisle under them. Babycorn stared down at the bride’s veil, watching as it sparkled and shimmered in the light.

All of a sudden Babycorn stood up, the rafter wiggled under her catching Butter by surprise.

“It all just looks so fun! And magical! You know?”

She twirled in place and grabbed onto the ends of her dress, taking a few steps forward on the rafter as if she were walking down the aisle. “I bet I would be the best bride ever!!” Babycorn exclaimed as if it were a competition. And if it were, she was prepared. She had snuck into enough bonding ceremonies that she had found herself practicing all the parts of one.

“Do you ever think about stuff like that Butter?”

“About…? Getting eternally bonded?”

Babycorn nodded.

Butter was sure that his face was probably blushing a bright red now. Thankfully by now he knew that Babycorn couldn’t really tell the difference between when he was or wasn’t blushing. Blushing was just his natural state of being around Babycorn, so she didn’t know Butter could look any other way.

“I…” Butter hesitated for just a moment, “Sometimes…?”

“I knew it! It’s fun to think about, right?!” Babycorn sat back down and laughed to herself , excitedly kicking her legs back and forth. She held her hands up to her cheeks and let out another giggle. “It get me all excited for when I finally get to be eternally bonded with Hildibrand~<3”

At the mention of Hildibrand’s name Butter imagined himself whacking the aforementioned legendary inspector with a giant oversized hammer.

“You’ll come see the ceremony when that happens, right?”

Butter would rather die.

“Yeah of course!”

Okay maybe that was an over exaggeration. He certainly wouldn’t be happy about it. Well, he would be happy for Babycorn but that was where his happiness would end and he would wish the curse of nothing but wet socks for a lifetime on Hildibrand.

Especially if he disappeared for more than a year on her again.

Just the thought of that made Butter unusually mad.

“Hey Butts?”

Butter jumped at the sound of Babycorn’s nickname for him.

“Yes? What is it?”

“If I were to get eternally bonded to someone…H-How do you think it would go?”

Babycorn couldn’t help it. Asking questions for things she didn’t know was just her way of finding things out. It was her second nature to assume that other people always knew more about things than her.

The only problem was that this time, the person she was asking knew just as much about it as she did.

Butter didn’t know what to say.

It wasn’t like he was the expert of eternal bonding ceremonies! He had only ever been to one! Maybe two!

Today marked his possible third one.

Butter looked down at the couple under them. They were still walking down the aisle together but had stopped for just a second. It was still really hard to see what exactly was going on down there but Butter could have sworn they were holding hands now.

“Um…I think whoever you were getting bonded to…They would hold your hand?”

He wasn’t too confident in his answer but he wanted to help Babycorn as much as she could in her quest for answers to things she didn’t know. Lately Babycorn had been visiting the kitchen more often, asking him question after question about cooking and Butter loved-

“Oh!”

All of a sudden Butter felt someone grab his hand.

“Since you’re here I’ll just grab your hand!”

Butter felt his face getting warm.

“If that’s okay?”

Butter wanted to say something. He wanted to say anything. He wanted to tell Babycorn that of course it was okay, but no words were coming out at all.

Eventually Butter gave her a simple nod.

Babycorn smiled. With the same toothy grin that made Butter’s heart practically do backflips every time he saw it.

“What would happen after that?!”

“After that? Um…”

Butter looked around for anything else that would give him the answer. He noticed that the couple had reached the altar, instead of walking together they were now standing in place and facing each other.

“After that you two would um…Look at each other?”

“That’s easy! I’m already looking at you!” Babycorn beamed. She raised her free hand to her head and bent her hand in such a way to mimic Butter’s viera ears. 

“Hee-hee~ See?”

Butter nodded silently. Was there even a name for the level of completely smitten he currently was?

“I think I know what happens after this part!”

“You do?” Butter was just a little afraid of what the next words out of Babycorn’s mouth would be.

“I would tell Hildibrand how much I love him and he would tell me how much he loves meeeee!!”

It was honestly a shock that the guests of the ceremony hadn't heard Babycorn’s high pitched giggling by now. Or the continued sound of an imaginary hammer hammering the ground to hit an imaginary inspector.

Babycorn closed her eyes to think. “I think I would say something like…Oh-! Hildibrand you’re the most coolest and most amazing-est inspector I’ve ever known! And-and-and-! The way you help people is super cool and you’re soooo smart too!”

Butter had heard all of this before. Basically every time Babycorn had come home recently she always had some story to tell about her adventures with Hildibrand that left basically everyone more confused as the more the story went on.

“Butter?”

“Hmm?”

“What do you think Hildibrand would say about me?”

Butter froze.

“I…um…He would…”

Deep down, Butter knew exactly what he would say.

“H-He would probably say….Um…” Butter took in a deep breath and closed his eyes. “...He would say that…Babycorn Corn Starsinger you’re the most amazing person I’ve ever had the privilege of meeting. I cherish every moment we’re together, it doesn't matter what we’re doing!”

ba-bump

“I love basically everything about you….! From your golden fluffy hair to your cute little button nose. You’re funny, kind, and so, so, courageous. Sometimes I can’t believe that someone as incredible as you could exist!”

ba-bump ba-bump ba-bump

“Your eyes always have this sparkle to them that makes me smile every time! It doesn’t matter what color they are!! And it always amazes me when I think about how you decided to fight for the world that hurt you so much. You’re amazing…!”

ba-bump ba-bump ba-bump ba-bump ba-bump ba-bump ba-bump

“You’ve given so much, you’ve done so much. I want to be able to give you something in return! I want to support you in whatever you’re going to do next! I want to…to…to…uh...uhhh...UUUUHHH.”

Butter had just now realized what he had done.

“Yeah! That’s what he would say or something like that!!! Haha!!!” Butter quickly let Babycorn’s hand go in favor of holding his hands nervously while looking at anything else besides Babycorn.

To say that Butter was mortified at the words that had spilled out of his mouth would be the understatement of the century.

Babycorn remained silent.

But not for long.

“Wow! He would really say all that?! You know Hildibrand so well Butter!”

Butter slumped down. He had never been more relieved that Babycorn tended to take things at face-value than at this very moment. “Yeah! Haha! I guess I do?” He didn’t really know what else to say at this point.

“Hey Butter? Can I ask you another question?”

Butter feared for his life now. “Y-Yeah of course!” Hopefully this question didn’t involve any more of Hildibrand. He didn’t know how much more he could take of that guy.

Then Butter felt something brush up against his hand.

“Is it okay if I hold your hand for just a little bit more time?” Babycorn asked.

“H-Huh?”

“I’m sorry…It’s just…” Babycorn turned her head to look at something, her other hand unconsciously twirled her braid around a finger. Until she spoke, her voice was as quiet as she could make it.

“...Your hand is warm. It feels nice.”

A million versions of ‘Yes.’ and ‘It's fine.’ and ‘Don’t worry.’ spun around in Butter’s head but absolutely none of them were managing to make it out.

Until he decided to just answer Babycorn’s question by holding her hand in his.

Suddenly a round of applause erupted underneath them, catching both lalafells off guard. A quick look down was all they both needed to notice that the eternal bonding ceremony had just concluded.

“Aw fiddlesticks!!” Babycorn leaned forward to look all around the sanctum. Though she had clearly seen that the ceremony was over, she didn’t want to believe it. “I’m sorry Butter! I distracted you so much that we missed the best parts!!” Now he would never ever want to hang out with her ever again!!!

Butter didn’t seem to mind though.

“Don’t worry Babycorn! It was still fun!”

“Oh really?” Babycorn instantly cheered up. “Then do you wanna come back here tomorrow?! There’s this big ceremony that someone’s having and this time there's gonna be like a snack bar! We can totally sneak in and grab some while no one’s looking! It’s gonna be so much fun!!”

“I would love to!”

There was just one thing Butter wanted to mention.

“You know, instead of sneaking in-why don’t we just ask if they can invite you in?” Butter figured that anyone who was anyone would want Babycorn as the special guest of their eternal bonding ceremony. And if they didn’t, well then they were just crazy!!

Babycorn let out a nervous laugh. “Oh, did I forget to mention?”

“Forget to mention what?”

“I’m actually banned for life from here.”

“HUH?!”