[Survey] Wishes

"Soooooo." Gaia drew out the word as he leaned on the railing next to Fleet. "Are you gonna make any New Year's wishes this year? I know that you don't really care about all that stuff but-"

"I made a resolution last year." Fleet interrupted him.

Gaia blinked. "You did? I... didn't expect that."

Fleet huffed. "Well believe me or not it happened. I was... not in a great place this time last year."

"I'm sorry..." Gaia's ear drooped. Fleet didn't need to say it, Gaia already knew it was his fault.

"You should be." Fleet growled. "But..." He suddenly sounded more tentative. "I guess some good did come out of it."

"Your friend who I still think wants me dead?" Gaia guess, a tint of amusement in his voice.

"Yeah, mostly that." Fleet shook his head. "I guess I learned to be a little... bolder too."

"Any chance of you trying to convince your friend there to not wanna kill me?" Gaia perked up.

Fleet made a show of thinking about it for a while. "No, not until you earn that. You're not there yet."

Gaia sighed dramatically. "An unfortunate answer but one I get." He focused his gaze on what he could see of the sky. "So... circling back to my initial question. Are you gonna make any wishes this year?"

Fleet made an uncomfortable face. "You'd think it's dumb."

"I would not." Gaia put a hand in his chest in offence. He couldn't tell if he was being dramatic or if he really was upset that Fleet would think that.

Fleet locked eyes with him. The other xero's eyes seemed to search Gaia's own for a long time before he sighed and looked away. "Fine, but this stays between us. Got it?"

"I swear not a word of this will be spoken to anyone else." Gaia rose a hand and placed the other on his chest.

"My wish is..." Fleet hesitated for a moment. "Ugh." He groaned. "It already sounds stupid enough in my head but..." He gripped the railing tighter. "I wish for us to... stay together. To keep being happy. Even if you've hurt me in the past I want this to work." His voice dropped lower. "Need it to..."

Gaia put an arm around Fleet and pulled him close. "See I don't think that's dumb at all. That's a really nice wish actually." He tentatively nuzzled Fleet. "I know that I can never take away the pain I put you through when I vanished but I will do my best every day to keep making it up to you." He hummed. "My wish is that one day I can truly make up for that. I know it won't be soon, but I'm willing to keep trying for as long as it takes."

"You're such an idiot sometimes." Fleet made a noise between a laugh and a huff. "You really should know you've already made up for it. As long as you keep your promise of never pulling something like that again."

"Just because you say you forgive me doesn't mean I'm ready to forgive myself for what I did yet." Gaia squeezed Fleet's should. "But it's good to know that I'm doing something right again."

"Suit yourself." Fleet attempted to shrug despite the arm around his shoulders. A comfortable silence stretched between the two of them. "You better not expect me to get all mushy like this all the time." Fleet eventually said.

"I'd think something was wrong with you if you did." Gaia chuckled. "I want you to be well... you."

"Good." Fleet huffed. Gaia leaned his head against Fleet's. Hopefully with the new year the two of them could really move forward. Even though Fleet said he'd forgiven Gaia, Gaia knew him. He was still hurt and Gaia would make sure that he made up for it. For now though? He'd enjoy this moment with the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.