A slow burn

Charlie sat across from Spark at a small café on a quiet corner of the city. The soft murmur of voices and the clink of coffee cups created a peaceful hum in the background, while the lights from lights above cast a gentle glow over the space. Outside, the city was alive with the usual hustle, but inside, it felt like time had slowed and that they were in their own little bubble.

The café was cozy, the tables made of smooth, polished wood, their edges softened by years of use. The air smelled of fresh coffee, warm pastries, and the faintest hint of cinnamon and chocolate. 

Charlie wrapped her paws around the warm cup of caramel latte, savoring the way the heat seeped into her paws. She glanced up at Spark, who was swirling his dark roast coffee slowly, studying the surface of the drink as though lost in thought.

"You look deep in thought," she said with a smile, breaking the silence between them.

Spark looked up at her, his expression soft but thoughtful, the flicker of his reddish fire dancing in the quiet atmosphere. “I was just thinking,” he said slowly, “about how strange it is that we don’t take time to just... sit still sometimes. Everything’s always moving so fast.”

Charlie nodded, “I get that. But it’s nice to pause. To just... be.” She leaned back a little in her chair, taking a slow sip of her latte as her gaze drifted out the window, watching the sunlight dapple the sidewalk. “We forget sometimes that we don’t have to rush through everything, right?”

Spark’s lips quirked into a small smile. “Yeah, that’s true.” He set his cup down on the table, his fire casting gentle glows around them. “I think that’s why I like spending time with you, Charlie. It’s easy to just... be.”

Her heart skipped a beat at his words, and she quickly took another sip of her coffee to hide the warmth creeping up her face. It wasn’t the first time Spark had said something like that, but each time, it felt like a little spark igniting in her chest, making her feel seen in a way she hadn’t quite known before.

Charlie set her cup down, her smile widening as she looked at him. “Well, I’m glad you like it. I... like it too.” She shifted a little, trying to push the fluttering feeling down. “I think we’re good at this. You know, the whole ‘not rushing’ thing.”

“I’d agree with that,” Spark replied softly, his eyes meeting hers, warm and steady. “We’re good at just... enjoying things.” He reached for the small plate of pastries between them, picking up an almond croissant. “Want one?”

Charlie nodded, reaching for a small fork to break off a piece of the flaky pastry. “Yes, please. I’ve been craving something sweet all day.”

Spark handed her the croissant, their fingers brushing slightly, and for a brief moment, neither of them moved. The touch sent a small, electric jolt through Charlie, and she met Spark’s gaze, the air between them charged with something unspoken.

She cleared her throat, breaking the moment. “Thank you.” She bit into the croissant, savoring the buttery, nutty flavor. Her rainbow fire flickered in delightaround her “This is perfect.”

“It really is,” Spark agreed, smiling as he took his own piece. His fire flickered lightly with each bite, and Charlie couldn’t help but notice how the reddish glow seemed to complement the warmth of the café around them. There was something comforting about him, something steady that made her feel safe. She liked that feeling.

“So,” she began after a few more bites, setting her fork down and folding her paws on the table, “tell me something. If you could go anywhere, right now, no limits...where would you go?”

Spark paused, clearly considering the question for a moment. He tapped his finger lightly on his coffee cup, the steam rising in gentle spirals. “I think... I’d like to go somewhere quiet. Somewhere open, where I could just sit and listen to the wind. No noise, no distractions.”

Charlie’s eyes softened at his answer, imagining the kind of peace he was describing. “That sounds wonderful,” she said quietly. “I think I’d like that too. Somewhere with no expectations, just... time to breathe.”

For a moment, the world outside the café seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in their cozy corner. They didn’t need to rush. They didn’t need to go anywhere or do anything else. They just needed to be here, in this moment.

“Charlie,” Spark said, his voice low but full of meaning, “I’m really glad we’re doing this.”

Her heart swelled in her chest, and she smiled softly. “Me too.”

The rest of the afternoon passed in a gentle, almost dreamlike way, their conversation flowing easily from one topic to another. Time didn’t matter. The café didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was the quiet connection between them, and being happy with that sometimes, simply being together was enough.

As they finished their drinks and pastries, Spark reached across the table, his paws brushing hers once again. This time, Charlie didn’t pull away. Instead, she smiled, her heart full of something she didn’t yet have a name for.