Short Story: [Emberfate] Love Guru

Hey! 

So this is the last reward post for February — a silly-ish short story of Emberfate, starring Chris and sorta ft. some guild members too 👀 I realize I still kind of owe you all 3 short stories for Oct, Dec and Jan, which I promise I will get to this week. 🥹I'm so sorry for the delay. But for now, I hope you enjoy this story at least! 

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You watch the actress on the television screen in front of you widen her eyes in disbelief, and you can't help but let out a chuckle. 

"You know, the comedy in this movie isn't half bad. I'm surprised the ratings aren't higher." You say out loud to your partner, Chris, sitting beside you, as you keep your eyes trained on the screen. 

Except you only receive a small, clearly distracted hum from Chris in response.

You turn your head towards him with a cocked eyebrow — only to find that they're not even paying attention to the movie, their head bowed low over their phone in their hand.

"Chris?" You give them a gentle nudge with your elbow, slight displeasure lacing your tone. He jumps, his head snapping to you and his gaze colliding with yours. 

"Oh. Sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you." Chris runs one hand through his hair roughly, a sheepish glint in his eyes. "I wasn't going to look at my phone, but it wouldn't stop vibrating and I got pissed."

Your eyebrows pinch together in a concerned frown. "What happened? Is it something urgent?"

"Nah, not at all." Chris rolls his eyes, looking unamused. "I'm being asked for love advice." 

"What?" You bark out a laugh at the unexpected answer. "Who? What did you get asked?" 

"It's — you're not going to believe this, but it's Walter." Chris eyes his phone again, looking bemused. 

"Walter?! Wait, since when are you that close with him? And is this about Ali? What did he ask?!" Immediately having lost all interest in the movie, you shift your position on the couch so you're facing your partner for the interrogation. 

"That's the thing, I'm not! I don't know why he's coming to me of all people — for love advice of all things! Do I look like I'm a love guru?" Chris throws their arms up in the air with a scoff. 

"Hey, give yourself more credit." You grin, reaching forward to touch his chest lightly. "You're pretty good at this relationship thing actually, you know? Trust me, I would know."

Chris' lips curl into a pleased smile, though they immediately cough to try to hide their delight. "Yeah, well, what do you know? I'm just good at everything I do. You'd better try harder to keep up with me." 

He dodges your playful smack on the shoulder and laughs, raising his arms in surrender. "Okay, okay, do you want to hear what Walter wanted to ask?" 

"Of course! Tell me quick!" 

"Well, you know how Ali's birthday is coming up? I guess Walter wants to do something special for her, but he doesn't know what exactly." Chris lifts his shoulders in a small shrug. "And apparently, he thinks I would be full of good ideas, because of the celebration I planned for you on your last birthday." 

They narrow their eyes at you then with suspicion — and more than a hint of cocky satisfaction in those depths. "Been bragging to your friends about the dates I planned and what an amazing partner I am, huh?" 

Now it's your turn to give a light cough, a faint flush rising to your cheeks as you avert your gaze. "Perhaps... I might have just mentioned it in passing to Ali and Ruby, you know? Not on purpose or anything." 

Chris grins but mercifully decides to let your poor excuse slide. You quickly change the subject. "What suggestions did you give Walter? I can help come up with ideas too if you need! Though honestly, I think Ali will be glad no matter what he does — as long as he's finally trying and putting thought into it." 

"Yeah, that's what I told him too. And that he should consider what kind of things Ali likes, or maybe has expressed an interest in but never had the chance to try yet." 

As though on cue, his phone buzzes again, and he glances down at the screen, his face immediately twisting into an indescribable expression full of colorful emotions. "Well, you'll be happy to know that, thanks to your endorsement, I'm now considered the role model partner of the guild. I just received a text from Jim too — asking me for tips on how to ask someone out." 

"Jim?! What? No way! He's still a baby! Okay, I guess he's just turned 18, but still! Baby!" You shriek, desperately leaning forward to peer over Chris' shoulder at their phone screen. "Just tell them how you feel straight up..." You read the words appearing on the screen from Chris' typing out loud, and you can't help but snort. "Oh, you mean like how you did it back then? That terrible offer for me to date you?" 

"What?! I thought we agreed that incident will never be spoken of again!" Chris splutters, his ears turning an endearing shade of red. "Besides, it worked, didn't it?"

You grin, watching your flustered partner attempt to recompose himself, and you reach forward to pull him in for a quick kiss. "That it did. And I couldn't be more glad, Role Model Partner Chris."