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The night had been going well, in Green’s opinion.
Green had the whole night planned out. They'd already gone for their picturesque walk in the park. Now, before they went back to the empty-under-threat-of-death PC to watch a movie, they were at the Last of the Night Tavern.
The Last of the Night Tavern was Purple’s favorite bar. Its medieval atmosphere, its wooden floors lit by stylized torches and its modern music interspersed with old tavern songs attracted Purple and her sixteenth century style of dress.
Purple herself was in a frilled button up, a dark purple vest, and tight black pants. A violet brooch was pinned at her neck. Green was in a black and lime crop top jacket and ripped black jeans.
They sat at the bar together, a drink or two in. Green was feeling a pleasant buzz, and from Purple’s flushed cheeks, she was too.
“You're such a dork,” she was saying, poking his shoulder. “It's a wonder you managed to woo me.”
“Come on, babe, you know my charms are irresistible,” Green said faux-casually. He pressed a hand to his chest. “Look at me, lyre, and tell me I’m not the coolest motherfucker in this bar.”
Purple laughed brightly as she leaned back on her stool. “Okay, Green,” she said disbelievingly. “Says the guy in the crop top.”
Green gasped. “You love the crop top jacket,” he complained. “I wore it for you!”
“I know, I know-” Purple giggled and took Green’s hand. “You and your Nickelodeon sense of a 'cool' style-”
Purple’s mirth faded as her gaze landed on something over Green’s head. Her eyes widened, and the smile dropped off her face.
“Oh, shit,” she muttered under her breath, her grip on Green’s hand tightening. She sunk down in her seat a bit.
“What?” Green asked. “What's wrong?”
Purple leaned forward and attempted to hide her face with a folded arm, her back stiff. “Don't make eye contact-”
Green heard a voice behind him, one that was sharp and almost grating with how loud it was.
“Hey, Tyrian! It's been a while since I’ve seen you around!”
A man appeared on Purple’s other side. He had shiny brown hair and bright gold eyes, and he wore a button up shirt and jeans. Purple straightened sharply and glared at the drinks behind the bar like they had personally hurt her.
“You've been missing out,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Oh. You.” Purple turned slowly and stared at him. She sounded coldly polite- the voice she had used back when she was positioning herself on King’s side, or the one she got when she was displeased with one of the Color Gang. It made Green a bit amused to see it used on someone other than himself, and for this Bronze guy to so clearly not realize she was using it. “Hi. I guess I have been gone.”
“Bronze Yellow, in the flesh. You look good,” Bronze said, studying her. “Better with a skirt, maybe.” He leaned against the bar, and so Purple spun around on her bar stool to face outwards. She crossed her arms.
“Sure,” she said shortly.
“I saw you from across the bar, and I couldn't believe it was you,” Bronze continued, oblivious to Purple’s withering glare. “I mean, it's been so long! And we used to be so close!”
Green turned on his stool, too, and flashed a grin at Purple, showing her his amusement at her hostility. Purple rolled her eyes.
“We weren't- okay, sure, Bronze.” She sounded pointed and a bit strained.
“And who's this guy monopolizing your time?” Bronze asked, his eyes flicking between Green and Purple. He clearly saw how Purple leaned away from him and towards Green.
“This is my boyfriend,” Purple snapped, resting a hand on Green’s. “Green. We're on a date.”
“Just Green?” Bronze tilted his head. "No use being anonymous here. What's your real name?"
"It's... just Green!" Green said, a bit confusedly. "Don't have any others!" Bronze frowned.
"Like, not Lime or Chartreuse or-"
“Don't ask,” Purple said dismissively, before Green could interject. “Why are you here, Bronze?”
“I just happened to see you and thought I might be friendly. Someone's a little beneath your league, Tyrian,” Bronze remarked, his eyes flicking up and down Green.
Green felt a twinge of annoyance, but instead of letting his smile waver he patted Purple arm. “I think we're all beneath her,” he said smoothly. "None could match her beauty or wit."
Purple flashed a dazzling smile at Green. “Don't say that,” she said. “Blue’s pretty close to my level.”
Green dramatically fell back against the counter and pressed the back of his hand to his forehead. “You would wound me so? Lyre! Blue, of all of us, the target of your affections?”
Purple leaned in and poked Green’s cheek. “Just being honest,” she said.
Green glanced up to see Bronze’s face twisted in something like contempt. “Really, Tyrian?” he said disdainfully. “You're with this guy?”
Purple's smile dropped from her face. “Look, are you here for anything or are you just going to insult my choices?” Purple snapped. “Last I checked, I didn't ask you.”
“Maybe you should've,” Bronze said. “I’m just giving you advice. Good advice.”
“I’ll pass.” Purple sighed as Green sat up fully. “Green, have we ordered?”
They had, but it was a clear redirection for them both and a dismissal for Bronze. Green nodded.
“If you want, I can-” he started.
Bronze threw an arm around Purple’s shoulder, and despite her attempts to move away, pulled her in. “C’mon, sweetheart,” he oozed. “You've known me way longer than this guy. Before you disappeared on me, we were so close. And you still haven't given me a shot.”
Green shifted, ready to jump up, but Purple jerked her head in a subtle no. Green paused.
“And I still won't,” Purple hissed. She leaned back. “You're overstaying your welcome.”
“Really? I just arrived.”
“And you've been here too long. Get off me, Bronze, and go back to your gaggle of idiots,” Purple growled. “I’m trying to have a nice time here.”
Bronze did not let her go. He leaned in closer. “I could make it nicer,” he said.
“I will pass, like I have every other time. Is there anyone else you can bother?” She made a show of glancing around the room. “I’m sure someone here would be interested.” She paused meaningfully. “Unless no one is.” She shrugged, a cool detachment passing over her face. “I guess nothing’s biting tonight, hm?”
“Aw, you know I like the ones who play hard to get,” Bronze said, although there was a hint of annoyance in his voice.
“I’m impossible for you to get,” Purple snapped. “Now get off.”
“Don't be like that,” said Bronze, his grip tightening. “I could change your mind.”
Purple’s eyes flicked over to Green, and then back to Bronze. Time to intervene.
Green grabbed Bronze’s arm and jerked it away from Purple. She easily slid off her stool, ducked under Green’s arm, and popped up behind him. She placed a hand on Green's shoulder and squeezed it lightly.
“Hey, if she tells you not to touch her, you don’t,” Green snapped. He twisted Bronze’s wrist a bit, just enough to twinge with pain.
Bronze grinned sharply, a touch of anger in his chiseled face, as he yanked his arm out of Green’s grip. “So the pretty boy's finally baring his teeth?” he said. “You want a fight?”
Green glanced back at Purple, who looked for all the world like she wanted to sink into the ground and never emerge again. He sighed. “I love a good brawl as much as the next person, but is now really the time?”
“When else?” Bronze scoffed. “Don't be a pussy.”
“I’m- Okay, whatever. Is that really what you want?” Green said. “'Cause, not to be like that, but I'm kind of-”
“You scared?” Bronze said.
Green felt a sharp smile rise to his face, angry and frustrated all at once. He needed to get this guy away from Purple, away from them, and away from their perfect night.
“Fine! Will you leave us alone if I beat you?” he asked, crossing his arms. “Will you leave us to the nice date that you keep interrupting?”
Bronze made a show of studying them. “Whoever wins gets the lady for the night,” he oozed. Green twitched.
“Fuck that,” Green snapped. Oh, he was going to kill this guy.
At the same time, Purple jabbed a finger at Bronze. “I’ll go with who I want, asshole,” she snarled. “I told you you'd never get me.”
“We’ll see about that.” Bronze winked in a way that was probably supposed to be charmingly smug or something, but it just made Green and Purple grimace with identical expressions. “We’ll see if you actually want to be seen around this guy after what I do to him.”
Purple’s eyes flicked up and down as she studied Bronze. Then, she barked a laugh and leaned against Green's side. “I doubt it,” she said.
Bronze twitched. “Well! Let's see to it!” He spread his arms and spun around, addressing the small gathered group who had been watching their rather animated exchange- his friends, mostly, but Green could make out the curious looks of regulars and newcomers alike who were interested this new turn of events. “Who wants to see some excitement?”
With that, he brushed past them, although he did take a moment to lean down to Purple and whisper, “I’ll see you later.”
Purple bristled and hopped to Green’s other side, hissing. Bronze barked a laugh and walked out the back.
Green felt rage building up in his own rising pulse, too, but he patted Purple’s arm soothingly.
“Don't let this guy get to you,” he muttered. "We can just get out of here."
“He's getting to you, too,” Purple hissed back. "And, no. You need to kick his ass." Green grinned sharply.
“Way ahead of you. I’m about to get to punch the smug expression off his face,” he said. “I’ll make it showy.”
“I’ll call this night a success if I get to kick him once he's on the ground,” Purple growled.
“You could fight him yourself, lyre,” Green said. "You're more clever than he could dream of being."
Purple snorted. “Please. You know I’m not a fan of brawling like you,” she said. She leaned into his side and pressed a hand to her forehead dramatically. “Don’t you want to be my knight in shining armor?”
Green looped his arm in hers and gave her a lazy smile that hid his rising concern.
“Of course, I'd want nothing more, my prince,” he said. “And after that: we’ll feast!”
“On mediocre burgers and fries!” Purple echoed. Green laughed.
That is, they’d return to eat if this guy didn't beat Green to a pulp. But Green had been in a lot of fights in his time, and looking at Bronze didn't make the star-shaped scar over his heart hurt in the same way some threats did. He could handle this guy.
There was an overconfidence and arrogance to Bronze that Green recognized, partially because he himself often experienced it. It was that sense of confidence that overwhelmed the mind and blocked out all reasonable avenues. It was easy to get caught up in it: the grandeur of winning, the allure of prestige.
The difference was that Green had his friends to knock sense into him and, failing that, the physical manifestations of his anxieties in the form of Greenscreen. Bronze clearly never had to fight the gigantic projections of his own insecurities before. So Green had an edge in that department.
“I’m gonna beat the shit outta this guy, and then I’ll get to tell Orange about how they missed my awesome victory,” Green said.
“That's the spirit,” said Purple, a bit more cheered. She hopped from foot to foot in a way that reminded Green of a songbird.
“Can't be as bad as Greenscreen,” Green mused.
“Nothing’s as bad as your and Yellow’s hate-child,” Purple muttered. “What a combination. So glad me and King missed all of that nonsense.”
“I can't really disagree there.”
The two of them walked outside. Bronze was there in the alley, alongside three of his friends. A small crowd had formed; most were pretending to be calling someone or smoking to seem disinterested in the very proceedings they'd come to witness.
Purple nudged him. “I’m gonna stand over here.” She jerked her head toward the side of the alley. “If you get in trouble I’ll start biting.”
“Always with a plan, my prince,” Green murmured back. “Just let me fight fair first, yeah?”
“We’ll see.” Purple ghosted off to the wall of the alley.
Green stepped out into the cleared space in the middle. “I’m here,” he called to Bronze. “Can we get this over with so I can get back to dinner?”
Bronze grinned. “Finally. How're you feeling?” he said, hopping from foot to foot. He did a few punches at the air. “You scared yet, loverboy?”
Green chuckled. “Sure thing. Is… that supposed to be an insult?” He glanced at Purple questioningly, but she just waved her hand exasperatedly. “I love a lot of things. Like my wonderful girlfriend over there?”
Purple blushed, looking embarrassed, but Green knew she was secretly pleased. He winked at her. Oh, she was so charmed right now.
Bronze seemed momentarily caught off guard. Then, he laughed. “We've got a poet here, folks!”
Green felt distinctly confused. “I’m flattered you think that’s poetry,” he said, grinning easily. He fanned his face. “Man, you're making me blush! Take me out to dinner first!”
He tilted his head at Purple, and Purple just shrugged helplessly and mouthed, I’ll explain later.
“Looking to your girlfriend for reassurance?” called one of Bronze’s lackeys. “She’ll be Bronze’s by the end of the night.”
Did they think Purple would just... go with Bronze if Green lost? She was much more stubborn than that, Green knew that firsthand. The fact they were talking about her like she wasn't there made his skin crawl. and he scowled.
“No,” Green said truthfully. “I just… I really don't understand what you think you're doing here.”
"Clearly you don't understand anything," Bronze growled. "Look, you've got one chance to back out and let Tyrian see who's the better stick here."
"Hm," said Green. "You'll have to do a lot to top me, I think." Bronze could talk about Purple's affections once he dragged Purple out of the depths of despair using song- then Green would start to be worried.
Then again, Bronze didn't seem like the type Purple would tolerate even in the best of times.
Bronze seemed to be getting agitated; clearly his ‘insults’ were not getting the rise out of Green that he had wanted and expected.
“Let’s just do this before it gets boring,” Bronze said, yawning exaggeratedly. “I want to have as much time as possible with my new girl after this.”
Green's eye twitched. He regretted not having Purple bite Bronze. “We're making a lot of claims here,” he said. “Let me ask again: are you really sure you don't want to just let us go back to dinner?”
“Just shut the fuck up and fight already,” Bronze snarled, stalking forward. Green noted that the circle around them was completely clear, and he lowered himself into a fighting stance.
“Okay! Fine!” Green said. “Someone’s hasty-”
Bronze swung.
Green had been expecting a lot of things from this fight. He had been bracing himself for a quick, sharp eyed opponent- or perhaps Bronze was a brute, a tank who dealt out tough blows and took them in equal measure. Maybe Green would have to adapt to a fighting style he'd never seen before. Maybe Bronze would pull a knife on him, or something.
Instead, what Green learned from Bronze’s first punch was that Bronze didn't know how to punch someone.
It was badly telegraphed, for one. He swung around with all the grace of a raging bull, and at least the bull had the majesty of the natural world on its side. His rear back told Green exactly where he was aiming. His stance was far too wide- he would throw himself off balance with this one swing alone.
And, as Green noted in the moment it took for the punch to reach him, Bronze was very slow. It took barely a thought for Green to sidestep his swing.
Bronze’s fist flew past Green. He stumbled forward, his feet barely managing to catch him as he went wide. A wonderful expression of confusion appeared on his face.
“Hey, that's bad sportsmanship,” Green remarked, a smirk rising unbidden to his face. “You didn't even tell me the fight was starting!”
“Wha-” Bronze began.
Green also realized that, as he grabbed Bronze’s arm and yanked him sideways, Bronze was not very strong at all. He had Green beat on height and apparent muscle mass, but Green had no idea what weight that bodybuilder physique was literally pulling for Bronze. In strength, it felt kind of like Orange’s punches at first- hesitant, uncertain, and held back.
But this was a full-out punch from a grown man. What was this? Was he holding back? Testing his opponent? It was a strange way to go about a test. Green would have let his opponent swing first, test out their speed and strength before committing to any one course of action.
Not to mention the tucked thumb…? Honestly, Green was doing him a favor by not letting Bronze hit him. He would have probably broken his thumb with the technique he was using.
Before Bronze could even think about recovering- a rookie mistake, on his part, he should have been recovering or changing his maneuver the moment he started- Green swung towards his jaw.
Green’s fist connected with Bronze’s face with a dull thud.
Bronze toppled backwards and hit the ground like a sack of bricks.
Green tensed, bringing his fists up to block Bronze’s inevitable attack back. Red and Orange would already be on their feet, swinging back with barely a delay, while Blue would try to kick out their feet and trip Green up. Green could never predict what Yellow would do; she could have any manner of gadget tucked up her sleeve. Either way, the fight would continue quickly-
-but Bronze still hadn't gotten back up.
Green hesitated. He dropped his fists to his side.
“Hey, man. You gonna get up?”
There was no response. Just silence. How odd. Was he preparing a counterattack? Waiting for Green to let his guard down? Blue did that all the time; they would just go limp, and when their concerned friends came over to check on them, they would strike.
Bronze didn't seem the type to let himself seem weak, though.
Green nudged Bronze’s still side with his foot. He still wasn't moving.
Green had hit him with a single punch. That was it. One hit to the face. Surely that wasn't enough to take him down, right? One punch was enough to make Red laugh at Green. One punch was enough to start a fight, not end it.
"Huh," said Green. "That's weird."
“What the fuck?”
Green turned to see a pale yellow stick with four arms storming toward him. Green chuckled and crossed his arms.
“What the fuck indeed?” Green said. This was one of Bronze’s friends, probably. He glanced down at Bronze and noted that the guy was, regrettably, still breathing. “Hey! What's your name?”
“Level,” the stick spat. He gestured wildly at Bronze’s supine body. “What the hell'd you do to him?”
“I don't really know,” Green said. His mind was still reeling. “What's your problem? He's breathing! I don't know why he's not getting back up!”
“He beat your guy fair and square,” Purple interjected. She bristled as Bronze’s third companion, a coyote-headed stick with red fur, stalked toward her, tense with anger. “He was an idiot for doing this, you know that. Green warned him. So you all should just scurry on back home and lick your wounds,” she added.
Coyote growled. “Fat chance we'll do that after you did that to him. You've got some sort of enhancer on you!”
“Please,” Green scoffed. “I don't use items in a fair fight. And that was fair.” He shrugged nonchalantly. “I mean, c’mon, it's not my fault he went down so easily.” He gave an easy smile and held up his hands. “Take that up with Bronze. I barely hit him, really…”
That was the wrong thing to say, apparently. Level’s face twisted in anger. He reared back and threw a punch.
Is everyone just really slow today? Maybe this guy had a few drinks before the festivities, and that was why Green could see his punch coming from a mile away. He sighed.
Green grabbed Level’s fist. As he suspected, it was another disappointingly weak punch. Level yelped as Green twisted his arm to the side and kneed him in the stomach. Four arms, and for what? If Red had four arms, Green would probably be unconscious on the ground before he could think. If Yellow had four arms, he would be dead.
“You have four arms!” Green said. He grabbed Level’s lower wrist on his other side and twisted that one, too. Level seemed to be ineffectually flailing around. “Use ‘em!”
“Fuck you-” Level snarled. Before his uninjured arms could come up to grab Green, Green hopped back and chopped him in the neck. Level gasped for air.
Then, when Bronze’s second companion- a dark purple stick with a long scarf- came around and tried to grab Green, Green simply ducked and let the man fall literally head over heels. He watched as the stick slammed into Bronze’s prone body, and the man gasped in pain when Green yanked his arm back and socked him in the stomach.
“Guess you fell for me in the end, huh?” Green said. Scarf groaned.
In the background, Green saw Purple nail her elbow into Coyote’s side. Coyote stumbled, wheezing, and Purple kicked him in the shin. He fell to the ground with a yell.
“Get ‘im, babe!” Green called, waving.
“Thanks, sweetheart!” Purple kicked him again in the side, and then in the head, and Coyote groaned.
Green hopped to the side as Scarf lunged up at him. As the man staggered past him, Green shoved him down, and he fell to the ground with a thump.
“Stay down, Scarfy,” Green said. “I appreciate tenacity, but come on.”
Scarf attempted to twist around onto his back, but Green had already grabbed his shirt and nailed him in the jaw. Scarf slumped.
“Down they fall,” Green remarked. Another one-hit knock-out. Either Green was very strong today... or these people were weaker opponents than he had been expecting.
Green stepped back, hopping from foot to foot, and surveyed the damages.
All four attackers were down. Purple had just finished dispatching Coyote, and Green had handily disposed of Bronze, Scarf and Level. The crowd that had gathered was dead silent.
That wasn't… was that all? Were they all really down? Green kept glancing around, expecting one of them to shake off their stupor and continue the duel, but none of them so much as twitched.
That was strange. All of his friends were usually on their feet by now.
Green turned to Purple and opened his arms.
“Looks like they're all down,” he said as brightly as he could muster.
“You think?” Purple said. She looked suddenly nervous.
“Was that really all, lyre?” he asked. He scratched the back of his neck. “That felt kind of easy. I was hoping for a challenge, maybe.”
Purple darted up to him and grabbed his arm. She sounded breathless, and she was grinning despite her worried tone. “Green, we've- we've got to get outta here,” she said. “You're not hurt?”
Green took her hands in his and grinned confusedly at her. “What?” he said. He puffed his chest out. “No. They couldn't touch me. Are you-”
“No,” Purple interrupted. “We need to leave.”
“Why? Can't we finish our dinner?” Green asked, but he let himself get tugged past the stunned onlookers. Purple was holding her other hand to her mouth to hide her smile. “We beat them, didn't we? He said he'd leave us alone.”
“Yeah, if leaving us alone meant unconscious in an alleyway,” Purple said.
“He literally told me to!” Green complained. “Babe, you're not mad at me for-”
“I’m not mad!” Purple interjected quickly. “That was hot! But the issue is that you just beat up a whole gang in a back alley with witnesses.”
“And-” Green felt his face flush. “Hey, wait, you think that's hot?”
She led him onto the street and peered around. “No, we can't finish dinner. We need to leave before someone decides to- I don't know, call the police?”
“He literally asked for it.” Green casually wrapped an arm around Purple as she guided them down the street, away from the bar. He grinned and squeezed her shoulders. “It’s not my fault he wasn't prepared for Greenzilla, now, is it?”
“God, you're such a dork.” Purple grabbed his chin and pulled him into a kiss. Green paused, surprised, before melting into it. She grinned against his lips and pulled away. “It's so stupid you were able to knock him out with one punch. It's so stupid I’m into you.” She punched his shoulder.
“Hey, I’m cool!” Green argued, half heartedly.
While Green was still blinking, Purple shook his arm off and grabbed his hand. “C’mon, let's run. I hear sirens.” She tugged him forward.
“Sirens? Run?” Green was still reeling a bit. “We could kiss again instead,” he suggested.
“You all didn't have hospitals in Sticksfight, did you?” Purple sighed. “That's what it is. Then they'll probably talk to a lawyer or, I don't know, they were so badly humiliated that they won't press charges-”
“They'll need to go to the hospital?” Green interrupted, mildly bewildered. He glanced back at the alleyway to see people were starting to filter out and stare after them. “I barely- that was hardly a fight! Even Yellow would only need, like, an ice pack-”
“Yes, Green! Now run!” Purple started to jog, and Green followed suit. He glanced over at her to see she was laughing.
Despite the swirling frustration building in his gut, Green couldn't help but grin alongside her. His heart began to pound as they broke into a sprint, and the rush in his lungs became a welcome feeling. With the wind in his hair and on his face, and Purple’s hand in his, he could almost imagine this whole date wasn't a complete failure.
He laughed. “Race you!” He lengthened his stride, and he heard Purple’s offended gasp as he gained a few feet on her. Quickly, all thoughts of the fight had fled his mind; he was only focused on the run.
The two of them made it a few blocks away before Purple decided it was probably safe to walk. She slowed and linked her arm in his as they both caught their breath.
“We're probably safe for now,” she said. “I doubt anyone regular at that bar would want to identify us. Bronze’s group is a bunch of reckless idiots.”
“I can tell,” Green panted. He nudged her playfully. “Seems like you have a lot of practice at this. You were pretty quick to get out of there.”
“Yeah, well, smuggling illegal Minecraft items all around the City taught me a few things,” Purple said, hiding her pride under a faux-humble brag. She pressed a hand to her chest. “You just get a feel for it, you know?”
“I’d expect no less.” Green opened his mouth to spout another quip, but now that he wasn't running, what he had just done suddenly caught up to his mind. The grin slipped off his face.
Tonight was supposed to be their night. A fun, relaxing time for the two of them. And what had happened instead? Purple had gotten harassed, and then Green had accepted that Bronze idiot’s challenge. If Green hadn't, he wouldn't have bothered with fighting Bronze and his lackeys, and perhaps he and Purple would still be enjoying their food.
“Butterfly, I’m- I’m sorry about our night,” he said. He sighed and pulled her into his side. “This was supposed to be nice and fun-”
“Hey, Green, there's nothing you could've done.” Purple wrapped an arm around his torso and squeezed him back. “They were going to bother us until we made something of it. Better we did it on our terms.”
“I know,” Green said. “It's just- I had all this planned-”
“I mean, Green, what's a date without a little violence and running from the law?” Purple said with a shrug. “I’m not dating you to have a normal time, is all I’m saying.”
“Oh, so you're keeping me around for entertainment value?” Green snarked back. Purple grinned.
“Tonight was pretty entertaining, I've got to say…”
Green clutched his chest dramatically and fell to his knees. “How could you, Purple? How could you betray me like this and admit you're not here for my stunning personality and voraciously good looks?”
“Well, those are a plus, I’ll admit,” Purple said, snickering. “Get off the floor, you drama queen. I’ll consider tonight a win if you take me to that ice cream place you talked about.”
“Oh! Right!” Green hopped up and held out an arm to Purple, his frustration forgotten. He bowed. “You just follow me, my prince.”
“How kind of you, my bard,” Purple said haughtily. She looped her arm in Green’s and pressed close to his side. “Or should I call you my court jester?”
“Such biting words! You wound me,” Green said. “I’m good for more than simple entertainment.”
“I know,” Purple said affectionately. She pressed a kiss to his jaw. “This was great.”
“Not as great as it could have been,” Green sighed. “It's shitty you have to deal with people like them.”
“Well, every moment I spend with you and the others more than makes up for it,” Purple said firmly. “But, yeah, it really does suck…”
Green glanced over at her, concerned at her suddenly dark tone. He grinned as he saw her dramatically press the back of her hand to her forehead.
“...so I guess the only way you can make up for the problem with performative masculinity at the very heart of our society is to take me to get ice cream,” she finished.
“As you wish, my prince,” Green purred.
“Lead the way, my bard,” Purple said, nudging the side of her head against Green’s shoulder. Green rested the side of his head on hers.
Together, the two of them walked off into the night, serenaded by the sounds of distant sirens.