Ferdinand carefully supported Elara as they walked out of the bar, her weight leaning heavily against him as her giggles filled the quiet night. It was nearly 11 PM, the streets lit by the occasional flicker of streetlights. Elara was still in high spirits, though wobblier now, her steps unsteady but her excitement undiminished.
"I want pancakes," she repeated for the third time, her voice carrying a playful whine. "You promised me pancakes, Ferdy."
Ferdinand smiled, amused by her persistence. "I know, I know. I'm finding us a place. Just hang tight."
After a short walk, they came across a small 24-hour diner, its neon lights glowing softly against the darkened street. He guided her inside and ordered a stack of pancakes to go. As they waited, Elara leaned against him, her eyes half-closed but still filled with childlike excitement.
When their order was ready, he took the warm box and helped her outside again. "We'll eat them when we get home, okay? I'll serve you properly, just like old times."
Elara giggled, the same innocent chuckle she used to have when she was just a toddler, causing a wave of nostalgia to wash over him. "You always served me pancakes when I was little," she murmured. "You made them look like little faces."
He smiled, remembering those mornings when he'd try to make her breakfast fun, using blueberries for eyes and a strawberry for a nose. "I did. And you always made a mess."
As they reached his apartment, Ferdinand guided her inside. Elara was still full of energy despite her tipsiness, and the moment they walked in, she plopped herself down at the dining table, humming a silly tune while swinging her legs under the chair.
"Alright, pancakes are coming," Ferdinand announced, setting down the box. He grabbed two plates from the cupboard and began serving them both, placing a neatly stacked portion in front of Elara.
But instead of eating neatly, Elara immediately dug in with both hands, completely forgetting the utensils in front of her. She tore into the pancakes, syrup dripping onto the table, her laughter growing louder with each bite. It was a total mess, but it was also incredibly endearing—just like when she was a little girl, happily smearing syrup everywhere without a care in the world.
Ferdinand watched her for a moment, leaning back in his chair. "You haven't changed at all," he teased, shaking his head as she licked syrup from her fingers.
Elara glanced up at him, her face lighting up with a mischievous grin. "I like making a mess," she said, giggling between bites.
Ferdinand smiled warmly, feeling a swell of affection for his sister. She had grown up so fast, but moments like this reminded him of their simpler times—when they had no worries beyond breakfast and playtime. He sighed, wiping some syrup off her cheek with a napkin, and then, with a more serious tone, asked, "So, Ellie... why were you giving out my number back there?"
Elara blinked, pausing mid-bite as her cheeks flushed slightly. She shrugged, looking down at her plate. "I thought… you could use some more friends. You're always so serious. I just wanted you to have fun, like I do."
Her explanation came out in a muttered rush, but she didn't seem embarrassed, just shyly amused by her own actions. After a brief pause, she laughed again, clearly not regretting it at all.
Ferdinand couldn't help but chuckle too. It was such a childish thing to do, but at the same time, it was pure Elara—thoughtful in her own chaotic way. He decided not to press the issue any further. After all, she meant well, even if it was wildly unnecessary.
"Alright," he said, shaking his head lightly. "But next time, maybe don't hand my number out to strangers, okay?"
Elara giggled, nodding with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Okay, Ferdy," she teased, using the nickname she knew he secretly hated but never corrected her on. "I'll just text them for you instead."
He laughed at that, giving her a mock-stern look. "No texting either."
She smiled sweetly, taking another big bite of her pancake. "Okay, okay, no more numbers. I promise."
They both continued eating, the apartment filled with the sounds of her childish laughter and the occasional scrape of forks against plates. It felt like a simpler time, and for a moment, Ferdinand was content to just enjoy the silly, messy, nostalgic evening with his little sister.
As Elara finished her pancakes, she let out a contented sigh, leaning back in her chair. "Thanks for tonight, Ferdy. I needed it."
Ferdinand smiled softly. "Anytime, Ellie. Now let's get you to bed before you pass out here."
Elara grinned sleepily, nodding as she stood up. "You're the best, you know that?"
"I know," Ferdinand replied, guiding her toward the his room. He couldn't help but feel grateful for moments like this—messy, chaotic, but filled with love. As he tucked her into bed, he thought about how much he enjoyed these rare, carefree times with his sister, knowing that soon enough, life would return to its usual pace.
For now, though, he was content to let the night end in peaceful quiet, with the lingering scent of syrup in the air and the memory of Elara's laughter still echoing in the corners of the room.
Ferdinand smiled as he watched her drift off almost instantly. He lingered by the doorway for a moment, making sure she was settled before quietly leaving the room.
He made his way to the living room, collapsing onto the sofa with a long sigh. His thoughts drifted back to the night. The club, the drinks, Elara handing out his number to random girls—it was all so unlike him. For a fleeting moment, he had felt like a stranger in that setting, surrounded by people he didn't connect with.
His mind, however, quickly shifted back to Daisy. He hadn't wanted to entertain the idea of talking to anyone else. Even as Elara had drunkenly tried to set him up with random strangers, the only person he had truly wanted to be with was Daisy.
He smiled to himself, thinking about their texts from earlier. Her playful, flirtatious tone had lifted his spirits. Even though she wasn't with him, just hearing from her had been enough to make him feel grounded, like everything else around him didn't really matter.
The thought of Daisy lingered in his mind as he lay back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. He imagined what it would be like to see her again, to sit across from her, and to have one of those quiet moments that always seemed so meaningful. No one else could make him feel that way.
As the night grew quieter, Ferdinand reached for his phone. It was already past 1 AM, but he didn't care. He unlocked the screen and typed out a simple text to Daisy.
**"Goodnight, Daisy. Thinking about you."**
He hesitated for a moment, reading over the message before hitting send. As soon as it was delivered, he put his phone back down, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
With that, he closed his eyes, still thinking about her—how she had somehow become the only one who mattered. The noise of the night faded into silence as he drifted off to sleep, Daisy on his mind.