Maki sat next to Echo on the wagon’s tailgate. Cali and Maeve were up front, and Luke was in his own little rock-carving world.
Echo was levitating a snowball a few feet away, which Maki was trying to hit with fireballs. She smirked, weaving it expertly through his volley as he cursed.
“Seriously, you’re way too good at this,” Maki laughed, shooting two fireballs at once.
Echo leaned over, bumping his shoulder with hers. “You just need to practice more.”
“I’ll show you practice…” He sent out a blast of heat, melting her snowball. “Ha. There.”
“Cheating, but, whatever,” she said primly. “I’m not a sore loser. Go on, your turn.”
Maki summoned a fireball above his hand and sent it out. It was barely a foot away when an icicle shot through it, dissipating the magic.
Maki narrowed his eyes at Echo.
She smiled imperiously. “What? You’re not a sore loser, are you?”
“No, not at all, I just thought you were better than that,” he replied, leaning closer to her.
“Better?” She turned to face him properly. “Hey, I’m never the first to cheat, but once the rules are broken all bets are off.”
“Oh, if we’re breaking all the rules…”
Echo leaned closer. “Will you finally do something interesting?”
Maki kissed her. She put a hand on his knee, leaning in. He hadn't planned on it lasting more than a moment, but it seemed neither of them particularly wanted it to end. In the background, a bird sang and the horses clopped along. A soft breeze made its way through the wagon, smelling faintly of the ocean. As far as Maki was concerned, everything was perfect.
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Suddenly Echo jerked away, breathing hard, fear on her face.
His heart dropped. “Sorry, I-”
She jumped off the tailgate and ran down a hill. After a moment of panic, Maki dropped to the ground and ran after her.
“Echo! Wait! I’m sorry, I won't do anything like that again, just… Please.” He stopped, finding her pressed against the trunk of a tree, out of sight of the road.
“I can't. I’m sorry, Maki, I didn't- I can't,” she said, tears in her eyes.
Maki felt his tail thrashing and grabbed it to hold it still. “I’m sorry, I just… I love you.”
“No, you can't,” she said, her voice cracking. “You don't know anything about me. You don't even know what I really look like!”
“Does what you look like matter?” he asked.
Echo started pacing, pinning her hands under her armpits. “You never ask questions. You don't know… why I left home, or why I’m a Spy, or- or even what my favorite color is! You don't know anything about me!”
For a few seconds, Maki was silent. Finally he sighed, scratching an ear. “I don't know why you left your old home, but I know you’ve never mentioned your father. I don't know why you chose Spy as a class, but I know you’ve trained and worked hard at perfecting combat magic. I don't know your favorite color, but I know you love watching sunsets and all your clothes are some shade of blue. I know there are lots of foods you don't like, but you do your best to eat them anyway. You’re a fast learner and a good teacher. You’re strong and funny. I want to know everything about you, but I see you flinch when people ask about your past, so I’ll just… wait for you to explain.”
Echo walked over and put her head on his chest, wiping away tears. “I can't. I can't be in love with you.”
“Echo…”
“I have responsibilities. One of those being marrying a changeling for political reasons.”
Maki stared down at her. “Well that’s dumb.”
“Not-” She stopped, shuddering. “Not for the half-elf princess of the Bestest Empire.”
Maki continued staring.
She wiped her tears away again and looked up at him. “Someday I’ll have to go back. I don't want to. Maki, I don't want- Damnit.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Maki put his arms around her, pulling her in tight.
The future was going to be full of problems, sure, but at the moment the only thing that mattered to him was kissing Echo back.
