Boyfriend Banter[Nero/Violet]

"From the way you speak alone, I can tell you truly mean that. I hope I can love someone like that. I sincerely hope you two spend the rest of your lives with one another."

Nero found genuine love such as theirs heartwarming. He could tell she meant every word. Even if he didn't know what that felt like yet, he felt the warmth in her words. All things considered, he seemed like a good man. Nero hoped fate would continue to bless them with good fortunes in the future. When she posed the question about whether he worried about Kokuto's safety or not, Nero paused for a moment.

It was an interesting question to ruminate on. After all, he used to occupy a position in the Sternritter. He was well aware of what went into fighting on the frontlines. It would've been a relatively easy question for him to answer, but he noticed that she attempted to shift the subject, and decided to follow suit. If she didn't want to indulge the subject, he would also avoid it. Chuckling softly, he cocked his head to the side as he tapped at his chin.

"He isn't picky about his hair from what I've gathered. He seems like the type of guy who'd probably wash and do the bare basics and leave it at that. Now, as for me, I'm quite particular about my hair. I could tell you thousands of funny stories where my hair preparation ended up working against me."

"Let's see... where do I start first? This one time..."

Nero would first map out how he prepared his hair and the conditioner he used. He shared how he was born with black hair and decided to start dying it emerald green. Then, he'd go into the funny stories about how his siblings would play lighthearted pranks on him and how some days he'd simply have to leave the house with his normal hair color versus the green he'd grown so attached to. It was somewhat embarrassing, but he sincerely hoped she could find humor in it and laugh at it as much as he did now.

"Needless to say, my siblings can be quite the hassle with them being so young. What about you, Violet? I like the color of your hair. How do you get the layered effect and maintain that pretty blue sheen?"

"Hm..."

Nero took a few more bites of his food as well. Come to think of it, this would be his first relationship. It took him so long to feel comfortable with his sexuality that the idea felt almost foreign to him. He held no attraction to the other sex and any attempt felt wrong since he knew where his heart belonged. With his grandfather's acceptance, he felt comfortable now. For a moment, he felt a slight pang of anxiety. What if his inexperience held him back? What if he ended up compromising his best efforts? No, perish the thought. They needed to go on the first date. He could worry about the long-term later.

"Kokuto would be my first relationship, yes. Up until now, because of the way I was raised, I didn't exactly feel comfortable with the thought of disappointing my family and dating another man. Most of my family probably already knew, but... I feared my grandfather's opinion the most. I admired him so much... and wanted him to accept me. For a while, I was willing to deny myself if it meant earning his approval. Now, I realize, I didn't need to do that. We ended up having a heartfelt conversation... and he's nothing but proud of me for the way I've chosen to live my life."

"Well, my family was never particularly the issue. It was my grandfather who couldn't accept me for some time. That said... I wouldn't exactly consider myself lucky. There was a lot of time I missed out on that can never be reclaimed... but I'm happy he accepts me now. That said... might I pose a question?"

Nero's focus was his strong suit. His magenta gaze didn't miss much, and the subtly forced nature of Violet's smile made him wonder. It was a bright smile, but it didn't possess that natural sense of happiness he felt moments ago. He didn't wish to assume it, but he wondered if Violet endured a similar life where she was ridiculed and looked down on. He was somewhat nervous to ask the question, but he voiced it in a way that came across as caring as he reached over to rest a hand against her own.

"Do you have family that ridicules you, Violet? I'm not proud I have experience on the subject, but I can help."

Nero quickly discerned the sudden shift in Violet's demeanor. But he understood the moment she answered his question. In truth, though he didn't know the extent of her trauma, he could relate to feeling like an utter failure in the eyes of someone you desperately wanted to look up to.

It was detestable to treat one's child that way, and seeing the impact it had on her was gut-wrenching. Unable to see that any longer, he politely rose from his chair and wrapped her into a warm and consoling hug, patting her back with each passing second. As far as he was concerned, she was his friend now. If there were any way he could help, he would pursue it without hesitation.

"You don't have to. You're free to live your life now. You have your storybook boyfriend, a cool job, and a girlish boy who genuinely wants to be your friend."