Jehan's POV

"'Parnasse, this is wonderful!" I exclaim, and it's not a lie, nor a notion hyperbolized by a poet. It truly is beautiful, what my new friend has done for me.

I woke up this morning, and Combeferre was gone, but in his place there was a text from Montparnasse that asked me if I would like to meet him in the park at one o'clock for a surprise. I was ecstatic to hang out with Montparnasse and to see what the surprise was, and this is it: a picnic, whose beauty I have never before seen in something as mundane as packed lunch. It isn't so much the food that captivates me (though the food shouldn't be degraded at all). It's more like the presentation and the thought that added to it. Montparnasse has spread out the traditional crimson checkered picnic blanket across the tender grass of the park, and it was only until I sat down upon it that I realized it's fleece, too — he knows me so well. He has selected a wicker basket to store the lunch provisions, a product of the classical tastes and of the ways humans can supplement ordinary things with unimaginable magnificence, and that is how this basket was constructed. Inside of that basket, there is what looks like homemade mac and cheese (which I appreciate more than I can tell; it's always a good sign when your date prepares something of his own instead of slacking it on store-bought items), as well as assorted fruits packed in plastic bags based on species. The utensils and paper supplies have already been distributed across the blanket, placed there with a meticulous view, so it seems that Montparnasse has thought of it all, and here he stands with the widest smile I've ever seen, with the knowledge that I love what he's done.

"You really like it?"

"I love it!" I loop my arms around his neck and practically jump onto him — he stumbles for a moment but regains his balance quickly so that he can stabilize me and my heighted elevation — thankful for all that he's prepared for me. From my position close to him, I catch his comforting scent of lavender swirling around my head, and I breathe it in like the rhythm of a song, natural and flowing smoothly to each note and each second. I could stay here forever, but Montparnasse is setting me down gently onto the picnic blanket so that we can actually enjoy the treat he's arranged.

To think he did this for me!

"I hope all of these things are foods that you like," Montparnasse says, already doubtful of something that couldn't be more perfect, just like him.

"Oh, yes, of course!" I broaden my already broad smile to convey to him that I am completely enamored by this bountiful feast. "Everything is so amazing, Montparnasse. Thank you, truly."

Bashfulness rouges the slender cheeks of my companion, and he glances down at his lap, something I didn't think a person like him would do, but I suppose he's just flustered by my presence. I wish he weren't, and while the action of blushing is annoying and invasive to the person experiencing it, it's always a good sign that they're interested in you, so I reach across the spread of dishes to slip a hand around his cheek to let him know that it's okay to be a bit embarrassed, but his cheeks only flame more.

"Anyway." Montparnasse clears his throat in an attempt to recover from that odd exchange of heat and intimacy, or else he'll fully succumb to a face full of fire, and he procures the food from the masterfully created wicker basket, unsealing each plastic bag, and freeing the mac and cheese from the plastic wrap that covered the pot in which it rests. He scoops some food from every area onto my plate and then onto his, the courteous gentleman that he is, and he is content. He can begin a conversation with me now that he has assembled everything, released from his the minor stress that ordering a date induces.

"You look lovely," Montparnasse compliments me, and I can't discern whether or not he's being genuine, as all of my friends have informed me on countless occasions that I have no idea how to dress (I think I look fine, but that's probably because I've grown accustomed to my spontaneous outlook on life, how I believe that everything in the universe fits together), and Montparnasse is a man of superior fashion himself, but sometimes you can overlook the faults of people when you like them, instead regarding them as cute or attractive, so that may be Montparnasse's stance. Nevertheless, I don't think a shirt that almost falls off my shoulders and a pair of Capri shorts are anything of note, and might even strain from a point of neutrality as an abhorrent sight, but compliments are meant to be accepted, so I murmur a gentle thank you, as well as remind Montparnasse that he always looks lovely, and drop the subject.

"How has your day been?" I inquire. I wish we could move past small talk, because Montparnasse seems like a very intriguing person, but I honestly have no fucking clue what to say to this god. He doesn't seem to mind, though.

Montparnasse expels a labored breath, indicative of the burden he must have experienced before he journeyed here for this date, and I can only assume that his day was not all that great, but it's somewhat comforting knowing that his previous hardships of the last thirteen hours make this date the highlight of his day. "Eponine decided that she would steal another one of my sweatshirts. It's not like I use them, anyway, but the problem is that she thinks they're a substitute for pants, too, which they're really not, so I had to spend the morning with a half-naked thief shouting at me about her favorite television programs."

I almost snort, but I catch the sensation in my throat before it can escape, a close encounter I barely avoided. "So you had a fantastic day, then?"

"An absolutely magnificent day." Montparnasse winks, then cascading into a fit of giggles, and I follow close behind. When he survives the laughter, he adds, "Eponine is quite the treat."

I roll my eyes, fitting with some of my new friend's mannerisms. "I'm sure. Whereas my roommate just had a fight with the love of his life, who barely acknowledges him beyond his criticisms, and I have no idea how he's doing with that, so I'm worked up over that."

"All three of you should get a massage together," Montparnasse jests, portraying a tone of that bitchy friend who, every day, mourns the loss of any fucks they could've given. It suits him all too well, and I can predict that he is someone's bitchy friend, most likely Eponine's after all she's done to provoke him.

Now that I think about it, however, he may have been bitchy, but he is also kind of helpful. "That's not actually a bad idea," I admit.

Pantomiming an act of politeness, Montparnasse tips an imaginary hat. "I know what I'm talking about."

Without any prior warning, a swarm of gnats buzzes around my head, a sphere of peevishness encircling me, assailing me from all directions and at all points upon my face, and I do my best to fend myself against them without interrupting Montparnasse's good time, as he doesn't need to be concerned with what I can handle quietly.

However, Montparnasse is bound to notice, and he does. "Are the gnats bothering you?" Montparnasse asks, and immediately I pretend like I'm fine, in case he's annoyed by my constant swatting motions when we're supposed to be enjoying a wholesome meal together. "We can go back to my apartment and watch a movie, if you'd prefer that to the heat and bugs."

I debate this for a moment, and then almost reprimand myself for being so rude by thinking that I can invite myself into Montparnasse's apartment. My mouth swerves into a crooked line. "Are you sure? I don't want to impose."

Montparnasse rolls his eyes playfully, and contradicts, "You're adorable, and you're not imposing. You're welcome at any time."

Still unsure, I hesitantly agree. "Okay...but are you sure?"

"Oh my god, Jehan. We're going." Montparnasse is having a field day with how ambivalent I am, but it's not like I can help it. I extend my hand to him, and he hoists me onto my feet so that we can walk back to his apartment together and escape the gnats.

Now I'm just worried that if something happens at his apartment, I'll have pesky bugs to blame for my relationship's success.

~~~~~

A/N: when two of your favorite characters have a budding relationship

wow what a grand old time we're having here

~Dakankle