Aaron stared at himself in the reflection of a cracked mirror, his hair messily tousled, his shirt wrinkled in ways that no amount of quick smoothing could fix. He ran a hand over his face, muttering to himself.
"Okay, Aaron, it's just dinner. Just dinner. You've survived fire-breathing maniacs, collapsing stages, and accidental near-death experiences. This is nothing."
He exhaled sharply, knowing full well that this felt very different. It wasn't the stage catching fire, or even one of Tobias's bizarre ideas that might involve actual danger. This was a date—or at least probably a date. Kaelyn hadn't exactly confirmed that part, but that didn't stop Aaron's mind from racing in circles trying to figure out what this dinner actually meant.
Did she see it as just a friendly hangout? Or was there something more? And what exactly was Aaron even hoping for?
He shook his head, grabbing his jacket from the back of the chair. "Calm down. It's Kaelyn. Worst-case scenario, she mocks you for being an idiot and you go back to pretending like you didn't accidentally ask her out."
The evening air was cool as Aaron made his way through the town, his heart beating faster than it probably should have been. It wasn't that he was nervous—okay, maybe he was. But there was something about Kaelyn, something grounded, something real that made him want to not screw this up. And for Aaron, not screwing things up was a full-time job he was famously bad at.
The restaurant—if you could even call it that—was more of a local tavern, with mismatched tables and chairs, and a fireplace in the corner that gave off more smoke than warmth. It was a far cry from anything fancy, but it had its charm. Nostoria didn't exactly have five-star dining options, so this was the best he could do.
Aaron arrived a little earlier than planned, which wasn't like him at all. Usually, he was late to everything, more out of principle than any genuine lack of time management. But today, he'd actually tried to be on time. Maybe that was progress. Maybe it was a sign of something else entirely.
He found a table in the back, his foot tapping nervously on the wooden floor as he waited. Minutes felt like hours, and every time the door opened, Aaron's heart would jump just a little. Calm down, he told himself for the hundredth time. This is Kaelyn. She's not going to judge you based on how awkward you are.
At least, that's what he hoped.
When the door finally opened again and Kaelyn walked in, Aaron's nerves hit overdrive. She looked exactly like herself—no fancy dress, no over-the-top effort to impress. She was wearing her usual casual tunic and pants, her hair pulled back in that loose braid. There was a confident ease to her that made Aaron's stomach twist in ways he wasn't used to.
She spotted him, her lips curving into a half-smile, and walked over to the table.
"Hey," she said, sitting down across from him. "You look... nervous."
Aaron chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "What, me? Nervous? Nah, this is my default state of being—looking like I might pass out at any second."
Kaelyn raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Uh-huh. Well, you're doing a terrible job of hiding it."
Aaron grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, well, I don't do well with 'normal.' This whole thing feels weirdly civilized for me. I'm usually more of a 'survive the chaos and hope no one dies' kind of guy."
Kaelyn chuckled, a low, genuine sound. "So I've noticed. But don't worry, I'm not expecting you to light anything on fire tonight. Not unless it's part of the meal."
Aaron smirked, feeling the tension ease a little. "No promises. With my luck, the kitchen could spontaneously combust just because I'm here."
The tavern was lively but not overly crowded, giving the two of them just enough space to talk without being overheard. As the server brought over two mugs of ale, Aaron found himself relaxing into the conversation. Kaelyn, despite her no-nonsense demeanor, was surprisingly easy to talk to. She didn't ask questions that felt like tests, didn't make him feel like he had to perform. It was like talking to someone who didn't expect him to be anything other than who he was—a rarity in Aaron's life.
"So," Kaelyn said after taking a sip of her ale, "what's next for the great Aaron? Another chaotic performance in the works? Or maybe you've got a new disaster planned?"
Aaron grinned. "Oh, you know me. Always looking for new and exciting ways to nearly get myself killed. But actually, Tobias is already talking about some ridiculous festival idea. Something about getting the whole town involved in a grand competition. I'm pretty sure he's trying to make me the Nostorian version of Ryan Seacrest."
Kaelyn's eyes widened slightly. "Who's Ryan Seacrest?"
Aaron blinked, then laughed. "Right. Different world. Let's just say he's the guy who somehow became famous for hosting everything. If there's a microphone, he's got his hands on it."
Kaelyn smirked. "You'd make a terrible Ryan Seacrest."
"Thank you," Aaron said, mockingly offended. "I'll take that as a compliment. I prefer to think of myself as more of a chaotic, underqualified... I dunno, medieval Ryan Reynolds. With fewer abs."
Kaelyn laughed again, and Aaron couldn't help but notice how her eyes lit up when she did. He wasn't used to feeling this kind of warmth around someone. Sure, he'd had friends before, but Kaelyn was different. She didn't seem fazed by his mess, his sarcasm, or the fact that he didn't have his life together. She saw him for what he was—a walking disaster—and didn't seem to mind.
After a brief silence, Kaelyn leaned forward, her gaze steady. "Why do you do it?"
Aaron blinked, taken off guard by the seriousness in her tone. "Do what?"
"All of this," she gestured vaguely with her hand. "The chaos. The sarcasm. The 'I don't care' attitude. What's the point?"
Aaron leaned back in his chair, feeling the weight of the question settle over him. He could deflect—he could make a joke, brush it off like he always did—but something in the way Kaelyn was looking at him made him pause. She wasn't asking just to ask. She genuinely wanted to know.
He shrugged, his grin fading just slightly. "It's easier, I guess. I've always been better at laughing off the mess than actually trying to clean it up. You keep things light, and people don't expect too much from you. And when things inevitably go wrong, at least you can pretend you saw it coming."
Kaelyn didn't say anything for a moment, just watched him with that same calm, unwavering gaze. "You're not fooling me, you know."
Aaron's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"
"You're not as indifferent as you pretend to be," she said, her voice soft but steady. "You care. Maybe more than you want to admit. But you act like you don't because it's easier than dealing with whatever's really going on."
Aaron blinked, taken aback by how easily she saw through him. Most people didn't bother looking past the jokes, the sarcasm, the endless quips that kept everyone at arm's length. But Kaelyn... she wasn't most people.
"Wow," Aaron said, trying to regain his footing. "When did I become your personal psychology project?"
Kaelyn smirked, leaning back in her chair. "I'm a blacksmith, remember? I know how to spot cracks in metal."
Aaron chuckled, shaking his head. "You're good."
"I know," she replied, her smile softening. "But seriously, Aaron. You don't have to keep pretending. At least not with me."
Aaron's chest tightened. He wasn't used to people seeing him like this—without the layers of humor and sarcasm to protect him. But there was something about Kaelyn that made him want to open up, even if it scared the hell out of him.
"Thanks," he said quietly. "I'll... keep that in mind."
As the night wore on, the conversation between Aaron and Kaelyn became easier, the awkwardness melting away with each shared laugh. By the time they'd finished their meal, Aaron felt more comfortable around her than he had with anyone in a long time.
"So, what do you do for fun when you're not busy saving Nostoria from your own disastrous plans?" Kaelyn asked, her tone teasing.
Aaron smirked, leaning forward. "Oh, you know, the usual. Cause small-scale chaos, practice my sarcasm, and occasionally flirt with death. All in a day's work."
Kaelyn shook her head, a grin tugging at her lips. "You're impossible."
"True," Aaron said, his voice dropping just slightly, "but you're still here."
Kaelyn met his gaze, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Don't let it go to your head."
"Too late," Aaron replied, a smirk playing on his lips.
There was a beat of silence, the air between them thick with unspoken tension. For a moment, Aaron wondered if he should say something—something real—but before he could, Kaelyn stood up.
"Walk me back to the forge?"
Aaron blinked, caught off guard. "Uh, yeah. Sure."
They left the tavern together, the cool night air wrapping around them as they walked side by side through the quiet streets. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable—it was filled with the kind of understanding that didn't need words. Aaron, for once, didn't feel the need to fill the quiet with jokes or quips. He was content just... being.
When they reached Kaelyn's forge, she turned to face him, her expression unreadable.
"Thanks for dinner," she said, her voice soft but steady.
Aaron grinned. "Hey, thanks for not breaking me in half during dinner."
Kaelyn chuckled, stepping closer. "You're lucky you didn't say anything too stupid."
Aaron's breath hitched slightly as she moved even closer, her face inches from his. "I'll take that as a win."
Before Aaron could process what was happening, Kaelyn leaned in and kissed him—soft and quick, like she'd decided on it in the moment and didn't want to overthink it.
It was over before Aaron even had time to react, and when she pulled away, she smirked at the look of pure shock on his face.
"Goodnight, golden retriever," she said, her voice filled with amusement.
Aaron stood there, frozen, as she turned and disappeared into her forge, leaving him standing on the doorstep with his heart pounding and his brain short-circuiting.
He blinked, still processing the fact that Kaelyn had just kissed him. On purpose.
"Well," Aaron muttered to himself, a slow grin spreading across his face, "that wasn't a disaster. Not at all."
And for the first time in a long time, Aaron felt like maybe—just maybe—things were starting to go right.