Saturday

The next minute, Shaze found himself in the future. He would graduate from high school & college, and all his friends would part ways to pursue their dreams. Alpha would become an influencer and a NFL cheerleader, Brock would end up on the NFL as a bench warmer before finally becoming a starter and absolve himself of his anger issues, and Regina would be a top researcher working on curing illnesses and developing vaccines.

But this time his pathways were open. A guidance counselor or a public relations manager to help the big and little stars of the world to give them a hand, even a researcher for issues, was open. The possibilities were endless. And at the end of every path he could take, Regina was there waiting for him. 

Then the pathways started crumbling down. Wanting to be right by her side, he leaped with the fury of a dragon, jumping from broken pieces of the falling paths, one after the after. Then there was only one rock left and he leaped onto it, but the path was too narrow, his attitude decreasing. He grew wings and flew towards her, until another piece of the path fell and clipped his wings. He was about to fall right in front of the unbroken path. Giving it his all one final time, Shaze pushed himself off with all his might and as their fingers touched, the door behind her opened.

Shaze stumbled up awake, wondering if he was now an adult, reflecting back on old times. Then as his vision became clearer, his eyes veered left, and Regina was there cuddling next to him, her head resting on his, their hands holding while their bodies wrapped next to each other under the comforts of a warm blanket. It was Saturday.

"Did we," looking down and seeing all their clothes still on, "no, we're on the couch." He sighed, but grinned in glee. All those times she called him laid-back, and now they were laying down together. Still, he was about to rest back down when one problem arose, rather aroused. 

He had to pee.

Shaze slowly slid himself off his now girlfriend, positioning her upright so she wouldn't wake up and stumble on the couch, or make her feel like he left her in the middle of the night. He stumbled around her apartment, as it had been a while since his last visit there.

"Shoot, where's the bathroom again," not realizing he said it out loud.

"It's the door right next to the kitchen," a strong, feminine voice answered his question. That voice rang familiar.

"Ms. Query? Um, thanks." He found it, about to open the room.

"And one more thing Shaze. Thank you for looking after our daughter."

He blushed. "She's the one that's been looking after me."

"Keep each other happy, alright. And don't worry, we texted your parents when you two fell asleep, they know you're safe."

He sighed, relieved before heading in for some body relief. When he came out, he went back to Regina. He slid back into the comforts of the couch and blanket with her, making sure it was just like when he woke up and held her hand firmly again, resting next to her, hearing her mumbling.

Her other hand nested on his heart. "Shaze, so, glad, you're here."

He lied down next to her. "Me too."

Shaze woke up again, but this time, their hands weren't together. Regina was gone. He looked back and forth, asking if he did something wrong and got up.  Maybe Bel and Mathias escaped prison, found her apartment and attacked the two while he went back to sleep with her, or he did something to Regina in his sleep and it pissed her off. 

Then he pinched his cheeks, reverting to his calm demeanor and got up to investigate, guessing she most likely went to the bathroom. He headed in that direction, but the lights were off. The door next to her was not.

When he opened it, Regina was waiting there for him.

"Finally, finished." Then she noticed him staring. "Wait, you're awake!?"

"Yeah, did I do something wrong?"

"No, no," rambling, " I definitely lost track of time and totally wasn't expecting you would sleep over but just in case, I wanted to-"

"Tiger, breathe. It's okay." It's fun always seeing her excited. The two of them sat down at the table and the attention caught his eye. The waffles and pancakes were cut, heart shaped, the boiled eggs sliced up and shaped like eyes, and the grapes were plated akin to a smile.

Regina was skilled at many things, and this just seemed like something she would do.

"You had this planned all for me?"

She seemed nervous. "Is the saying not, the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach?"

He agreed, and thinking about their recent endeavors. "Or his balls," smirking, much to her dismay.

Regina channeled her flustration into her knife and fork. "Shu-shu-shut up, or I'll eat yours for breakfast." In response, he covered his mouth, trying hard not to laugh.

How is she always this funny when she's flustered?

"There will be no fornication in this house, you are too young to give me grandkids! Only use protection," yelled Ms. Query.

"I-I didn't mean it like that! Go back to sleep mom, you promised!" Then she focused back on Shaze.

"Only with consent. And how do you always find these quick rebuttals to throw at me?"

He rubbed his nose. "Guess you've always been rubbing off of me."

"I wasn't planning on rubbing on you today," exasperated. "Can we just eat?"

"Sure."

They finished eating rather quickly both soon having only an egg left. He lifted it up with his fork and was set to dive in when Regina was staring. 

"It's okay, I like it, I was going to thank you at the end."

"I wasn't staring," and in her rejection, accidentally dropped her fork and egg onto the floor. "Darn it!"

He went over to help her clean it up in spite of her insistence, and as she tossed it in the garbage and cleaned off her hands, he greeted her with his egg and fork in hand.

"Huh?"

He took a bite out of his, and caressed her cheek. "Let's share it." In glee, she chomped down on it, holding her cheeks in delight. There was still some egg yolk on her cheek that he wiped off for her to her joy. The mood was well between them, and then she popped a question.

"You called me tiger based on Byakko, right? But aren't they white tigers?"

"You wear white almost all the time. You're also an angel."

"Well of course I am," putting her thinking face on. "Wait, are black angels evil?"

"No, only fallen angels. Black's a beautiful color for a beautiful girl." He felt a bit more emotional than usual. "White and black, yin and yang, you've always had that," pouring his heart out for her. "You really are the yin, well wind beneath my wings."

A tear dropped from his eye and she wiped off before it could drop, touching his heart.

"Oh," holding her cheeks up, "who taught you how to be so cheeky?"

He scratched the back of his head with his cheeky smile. "I guess you did." She let her hands down.

"So, uh, you liked my surprise gift?"

He nodded. Suddenly, she tip-toed up and the next thing he knew, she was kissing him with all her love, and her hands wrapped around his head. He closed his eyes, embracing the moment, and then he felt her hugging him with all her might.

"I love you, Shaze. Happy Valentine's Day."

He went with the flow. "Happy Valentine's Day." Then, he looked at the calendar nearby where February 1st through 14th had been crossed out. "Wait, that's today?"

Regina stared at him, confused, then growled.

"You didn't know?" Then she started shaking him rapidly. "Stop being so forgetful you laid-back dragon! Do you know how long I've wanted and waited for this to happen?"

The daffodil he gave her was still on her head. There was good luck after all.  

He then lifted her up, his eyes giving her an answer as he tightened his hands around her. The tiger and dragon resonated with each other's raising heartbeats: fast, frantic, fierce, and yet filled with passion. Now at each other's heights, she nodded and he opened up all the feelings he locked in his heart, with a hearty kiss leaving them both in harmony. 

"You won't have to wait anymore, tiger. Regina, wanna keep moving forward together?"

"Yup." She jumped down and took his hand, back to the couch to rest together in sync.

End