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It was advertised everywhere by posters and giggling ghouls; it was definitely prom season. Efflo had tried not to give it much thought, he’d thought about trying it once but had ultimately and cowardly backed out last minute. After all, he wasn’t really the prom type, shy, quiet and nearly friendless at the time, it hadn’t seemed like a place for him. But now, as he laid curled up next to Gabby in the dragon’s dorm, he couldn’t help but thinking of it. After all, things were entirely different now. Not only had he found a best friend, he’d found his boilfriend too, in the same person, and he loved more Gabby more than anything.

He stretched out, glancing around the room before gazing over at the dozing boil. Efflo rarely went back to his own dorm anymore, and the glowworms had even made a nest in the corner next to the bed. It would seem they felt at home here too. He smiled at the thought, he was secretly very glad they approved. But, Efflo thought, was prom a good idea? It would be lots of people… Crowded… But it would be with Gabby, and prom was supposed to be a special night you shared with your loved one. He wanted to go, he realized, silently cursing. Efflo wanted all of it, the dressing up, the dancing, and the aftermath…. All of it. But how did it… Work in their relationship? Was he supposed to ask Gabby? Was Gabby supposed to ask him? He’d never asked anyone to prom before, ghoul or boil and the thought made him blush.

He sighed, grabbing one of the pillows and pulling it over his face as he flopped over onto his back in frustration. Maybe he was overthinking things…

His green eyes slid over to Gabby as he peeked under the pillow, and Efflo groaned. How was he supposed to answer that? Nothing was really wrong, at least, it was nothing that wasn’t easily remedied but he couldn’t tell Gabby about it, because then Gabby would know, and then the whole point of asking or being asked would be pointless because it wouldn’t be a spur of the moment, surprise, and romantic thing. That’s what it was supposed to be right?

He groaned again, pushing the pillow off of his face and sitting up, facing Gabby. Efflo stared hard at the dragon, looking determined. Okay. He was going to ask him. That how he would fix this. He was just going to come out and say it and then they would be done and going and he wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore. After all, it wasn’t like Gabriel was going to say no… Oh Jack, Efflo hadn’t even considered that. What if Gabby didn’t want to go? Maybe he wasn’t a prom kind of guy, maybe he just wanted to stay in. Oh no, oh no, what if he said no?

Efflo’s hands curled against the sheets, twisting them while he anguished over what to do. He glanced down at the bed sheets. He shook his head. He looked back up at Gabby. He tilted his head a little, still looking at him, trying to figure out if he’d say no. Efflo blew out a sigh; Gabby would probably say no just to be an a**, and then take him anyway.

Fine, he thought. He was going to do this. He was definitely going to do it. He took a deep breath, and made sure he was looking Gabby in the face. Except as soon as he started to speak, the nervous crack in his voice had him blushing, and his gaze quickly averted down, so he was talking to the bed.

“G-Gabriel… Would you, um... Would you go to prom with me?”

Efflo blinked blankly, of all responses, he hadn’t really expected that. It wasn’t a trick question, not at all. Had someone else asked him? He stared at Gabby, incredulous; did the dragon forget whom he was dating? Efflo didn’t exactly have boils and ghouls knocking down his door. Ever.

“I just – Aren’t you supposed to ask your date to prom? Are you not supposed to? Did I do it wrong? Of course no one else asked me!”

He remembered the suit he’d seen hanging in Gabby’s closet but he’d never clued in that it was anything more than just a really nice suit… Efflo suddenly felt very dumb but, knowing the answer was yes, he was also suddenly a lot less nervous.

He narrowed his eyes at Gabby, leaning in to n** at his nose.

“Really, Gabriel. You’re supposed to say, ‘Yes, Efflo, I’d love to go with you’.”

“Well, I don’t know! Maybe it is just assumed when you are dating… I’ve never dated anyone before, or ever asked anyone to prom!”

Efflo climbed over Gabby, straddling him. His grin was alight with mischief as he reached out for the pillow over Gabby’s face, lifting it up and out of his grasp. He tucked it under his arms for a moment, peering down at the boil.

“Don’t be mopey, I’m the mopey one,” he chastised him playfully, swatting him suddenly in the face with the pillow. “Besides, we’re going aren’t we? Sure, I had to ask you, and I am clearly the better boilfriend, but that’s okay, I’ll still go with you.”

He laughed, unable to help himself, and gave Gabby another gentle whack with the pillow. Efflo hated on himself a lot, but he had to admit, sometimes he was pretty funny, maybe even funnier than Gabby. Well, no, he didn’t think that was possible, but he was up there, anyway. Still chuckling softly, he bent down, taking a moment to meet Gabby’s gaze, lost in his cool blue eyes. Then he was pressing his lips to Gabby’s, kissing him sweetly.

“It’s fine, really. Well, except that I haven’t bought a suit yet…”

“It’s not that I doubt- It’s just that,” Efflo sighed, letting Gabby pull him back down, flopping on top of him and resting his face next to Gabby’s. He was easily in kissing distance, but Efflo wasn’t giving into the temptation just yet. He blew gently at Gabby’s face, pouting.

“Gabriel,” he whined, “I love you. And you love me. And I know you love me. And we’re going to prom. And you're getting me a suit. And you're the best boilfriend in the world. So stop sulking.”

Efflo glared.

“I’m not kissing you if you don’t take me.”

So after taking care of business, both domestic and not, Efflo trotted back into Gabby’s room, and took a flying leap back onto the bed, snuggling up against the sheets and pillows. He agreed with Gabby, shopping was the worst. And even though being with Gabby made it bearable, it was good to be home.

Somehow, he’d conned Gabby into carrying everything, and he sprawled out on his stomach on the on the bed with a grin, waiting for the dragon to saunter in after him.

Efflo climbed on top of him again, pillow in hand. Gabby kept talking and talking, and well, it was actually more complaining than talking so Efflo took the pillow, and squashed it over Gabby’s face.

“Shush.”