It was in an abandoned fort that Cynthia found herself alone with Gerome again; thankfully, she'd been released from the infirmary and her brain had been deemed free from serious injury, but she was under strict orders to remain out of combat. So while the majority of the company scouted out the area that the locals had called the "ruins of time," she had been behind to remain on watch. And Gerome was her lucky "babysitter."

Unfortunately, being stuck in camp while everyone else got to have fun was not her idea of a good time, and despite their reconciliation, she still felt nervous around Gerome. So for the first hour or so of their shift, she'd ignored him, and it seemed to be just fine with her masked companion. But boredom was starting to get the better of her, and she fidgeted just to have something to do.

"Oh, hey, a peanut!" she said to herself, but the distraction didn't last long, and soon she was sitting on the wall, kicking her feet back and forth as she scanned the horizon half-heartedly. After a few minutes, she hummed quietly, eventually singing, "Oooooh, I wish I was a hammer! I'd hammer all day loooo—"

"Stop fidgeting!" Gerome interrupted her. When he'd come up to stand beside her, she had no idea. "We're on guard duty. ...You need to stay alert."

Sitting up straight, she said, "Vigilant! Right! That's me!...Got it." It didn't escape her notice that Gerome was often telling her to pay attention, but she couldn't help it if she was easily distracted. She decided to change the topic, "See, it's just that I can't stop thinking about when we were kids. Remember how we'd go into the woods and play Justice Cabal?" Cynthia grinned, as the memories were especially fond ones for her.

He rested his hands on the stone of the wall. "...Vaguely."

It stung that the memories she felt were so precious were only vague recollections for him, but Cynthia didn't let it show on her face. "There was that time I pretended to be a paladin and killed all those evil goblins…" she reminded him, hoping maybe the details would bring the memory into focus for him. "You said I looked truly heroic, even though the goblins were only snapdragons." Her voice had gone soft at the last phrase – that had been back when they had still been innocent, still been happy, before he'd stopped being honest with her and everyone else.

She felt the rustle of fabric at her side, and glanced over to see Gerome had leaned forward over the parapet, resting his weight on his elbows. "You don't forget anything, do you?" he said, and it may have just been her imagination, but Cynthia could have sworn she heard a hint of wistfulness.

"Perhaps it's only fair that I tell you…" he began, but his voice tapered off and Cynthia could not let it alone, not when he was on the verge of revealing something about her.

"Tell me what?" she prodded gently. When he didn't answer, she could not help the near-panic she felt. "Is something wrong? Ohmigosh, there IS something wrong! This is what I've been worried about! Don't leave me hanging! Go ahead! Say it!"

Midway through her barrage of words, she'd turned to sit cross-legged on the wall, facing him, but he looked resolutely out at the horizon. "When I confessed I wasn't comfortable around you, I… lied," he admitted reluctantly. "Or at least, I wasn't clear about the real reason why..."

"Wait, so it's not that I'm too bright and cheerful?" Her expression was confused. "Then what is it?" Her chest ached with the knowledge that there was something wrong with her, so wrong that it garnered dislike. "Maybe I can fix it or change it so you don't totally hate me anymore," she hoped, though it hurt to say the words aloud.

At that, he finally turned to her, bursting out, "Gods' bread! I don't hate you! You're just difficult to be around." He paused, swiveling back away from her before adding quietly, "...Because of my vertigo."

"You mean, like, your being afraid of heights?" Cynthia was still confused, but she was beginning to connect the dots… though the picture they formed still made no sense.

"Do you remember teaching me to fly when we were young?"

"Yeah, sure! You were so scared of heights you couldn't ride a wyvern! So I took you on my pegasus, and we flew and flew until you weren't afraid anymore. That was so much fun!" she recalled happily. "I haven't thought about that in ages."

"I had hoped to never think on it again…" he muttered, his face sullen.

"So, wait," she paused thoughtfully. "You hate me because I know your secret weakness?"

"No! That's not it at all!" Gerome groaned, one hand going to his mask. "...Well, maybe it is. Partly, at least," he conceded. "I have been… desperate to impress you, and yet you've already seen me for a fool."

The words had been a jumbled, embarrassed rush, but Cynthia had heard every one, and she was shocked. "No way! ...You were trying to impress me?!"

"Is that so unbelievable?" His voice was small, face red, and she recognized the sound of someone who expected rejection.

"Gerome! I'm crazy about you!" was her exclaimed answer, and it felt good, so good, to say the words out loud, to him, and to have him finally understand what she'd been trying to tell him for so long. "Why do you think I keep bugging you all the time?!" she reasoned.

It was clear that he hadn't entertained the idea that it could motivated by romantic feelings as he responded, "I... I had always thought... that it was just because we were childhood friends."

"Well, there is that," she allowed, because she treasured those memories. "But a girl doesn't hang on your every word for old time's sake!"

Leaning forward, Cynthia reached out to his face, sliding her fingers into his hair and letting one thumb trace the edge of his mask, whispering, "Really, how can someone so wonderful be so darn thick?" He reached up to enclose her hand in his, and she smiled and gave a soft chuckle, "Well, look. Now that we've cleared the air, we can start fresh."

She felt the muscles of his face shift, and it was a welcome sight when they turned up into a grin. "Yes! I suppose we can! First order of business: what's the best look for a heroic couple...?"

And it was a wonderful freedom she felt to laugh, to know that despite everything, Gerome was worth it.

On the outside, they may have seemed as different as night and day, but Cynthia knew that was what made them so perfect, complete. She had always known he was her other half, the dark to her light, the earth to her sky, and when he tugged at her, urging her down from the wall and into his arms, she thought her heart would burst.

Their bodies slotted together like puzzle pieces, and Cynthia had a feeling that the best look for this heroic couple would be in each other's arms, forever.

A/N: I can't believe it's over! I really debated trying to squeeze out one more chapter, but it just didn't feel right :/

HOWEVER.

I cannot let Cynthia and Gerome fly off into the sunset forever without at least a kiss, and I have a few ideas for an omake one-shot featuring them and Inigo/Lucina that will follow this. IT WILL BE POSTED AS ITS OWN ONE-SHOT and will most likely fall squarely in T rating parameters.

That being said, I haven't started working on it yet as I have other projects that need attention first, but I am really excited about it. It'll be less serious than spectrum or nuance, more for fun :)

If you have any ideas as far as what you'd like to see about these guys, leave a review or shoot me a PM!

also, all chapter titles are snippets of lyrics from the Troye Sivan song, "YOUTH".

Thank you to everyone who has supported this story with faves or follows or reviews! Until next time! :D