Come on, Ayo. You can do this. He thought to himself as he paced around his den. His tail brushed against the plants. You're just going to confess your love to the only lion who has managed to maintain consistent contact and who you have to work with every day and oh gods I can't do this.
He sighed shakily and sat down, looking at the fireflies that managed to sneak into his den.
"Aww, it's okay Ayo. You don't have to tell her now." One of them says, landing on his nose, light flickering.
"But I do, guys. I can't just sit here and wait for her to possibly fall in love with someone else. I have to work with her every day, and I couldn't bear to hear her gush about another lion, while I'm still in love with her. I just can't. But I don't know how I should tell her." He contemplated, eyes flicking between the fireflies.
"We might be able to help!" This time a different firefly spoke up, flittering around Ayo's head.
"Really? How so?" Ayo asked curiously.
The firefly whispered the instructions into his ear. Ayo nodded excitedly, "That's a great idea! Thank you, guys. I'll tell her tomorrow, she's probably asleep right now. I need all of you to meet me just outside the Ancient Ruins. I've been working on another garden there that I want to surprise her with. Oh, and if you could tell the others, that'd be great. I don't think there's enough of you here right now for what I want to do."
With noises of encouragement, the fireflies promptly flew out of his den, likely to gossip with their friends about what just happened. Ayo doesn't mind right now, though. Now, he needs as many of them to know about what he has planned.
You know, I'm starting to second guess this idea... Ayo thought as he waited in his secret garden. He'd filled it full of Urania's favorite flowers. The edge of the garden was rimmed with young apple trees, who'd just gotten their flowers, along with some pink calla lilies, green daylilies, and an assortment of green and pink roses. In the center, there's a small pond, surrounded by mossy rocks and full of water lilies and lily pads. He'd managed to convince some of her favorite moths to visit tonight too. It was perfect.
"Ayo, please, I'm begging you. Stay here and wait. Giles said that she's coming." A young firefly said pleadingly.
Ayo stayed, reluctantly, and waited for Urania to arrive.
"Ayo?" He was pulled out of his thoughts by a voice ringing through the clearing. Urania was staring around herself at all of the flowers and moths, her eyes eventually landing on him. "What is this?" She asked in awe.
"Remember... Just like we practiced." He thought, before directing the fireflies above the pond.
Their lights flickered on and off until they eventually were able to form a couple words.
I L O V E Y O U
Urania gasped slightly, staring at the insects, their light reflecting in her eyes. Ayo looked at her lovingly, before he cleared his throat and handed her a stem of bleeding hearts.
"Ayo..." She breathed, looking down at the flowers.
Oh gods she hates it doesn't she. She thinks it's weird that I'd do this. Time to hide in my den and never see the light of day ever again-
"This is beautiful."
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