Page 55 of Shifter Omegaverse AU

“Uhhh,” Rowan said, glancing between Milo, the map, and the gravel path ahead. “Is that what you want to be?”

“Well, my pony wants us to be mates, like, yesterday. I like the idea of you being my boyfriend, though. At least to start.”

Rowan white-knuckled the wheel as the car bounced and jerked along the road. “O-okay.”

“Perfect,” Milo said, raising their voice to be heard over the crunch of gravel. “I can be your boyfriend, or girlfriend, or I’ve heard faefriend and datefriend before. To be honest, none of those really do anything for me, but they’re not terrible, I guess.”

A very tall shifter waving a neon orange flag directed them into an open spot, and Rowan did his best to pull evenly into it before throwing the car into park.

Very slowly, he turned to look at Milo, one eyebrow raised towards the still-open sunroof. “Do you have any preference whatsoever?”

Milo shrugged, tipping their head back so their pony could sniff at the farm-tinged air.

“How about partner?” Rowan asked.

Milo scrunched their nose. “Actually, I’ve never really liked that one. Sounds like we run a law firm together.”

“Okay, how about significant other…” He trailed off at Milo’s grimace. “Alright, so there are some you definitely don’t prefer, and none you particularly like.”

“I like baby,” Milo said, and their pony whinnied in agreement.

Rowan stared at one of the strawberries on Milo’s dress. “I am very happy to keep calling you my baby, but as far as introductions and titles, how about…” That small smile curled his lip, and he looked up into Milo’s eyes. “My Milo?”

Milo’s pony trotted in place, and Milo gave Rowan two thumbs-up. “Ding ding ding, I think we have a winner!”

Their pony jumped in the air, throwing their head back before landing on the ground with such force they almost shifted right there in Rowan’s front seat.

“Oh—shit, wow, my pony really wants to shift,” Milo said as their pony jumped in the air again.

They were ready to meet their fated mate and have him appreciate their mane and pelt and hooves and teeth and—

Milo scrambled for the door handle and nearly fell out of the car, all the while trying to force their pony back down. There would be time for Rowan to appreciate all the wonderful, amazing majesty that was their pony—but now was not that time.

Rowan was still in his seat, gaping after them, so Milo hurried over to his side of the car and opened his door for him, as if everything was totally and completely normal.

“Do you think they’d frown upon my pony going through the field of strawberries?” Milo mused, as Rowan pushed himself up and out of the car. “Probably, right? They might trample some of the berries.”

Milo shut the door for him, because it felt like a very first-romantic-date thing to do but also because they loved the smile it brought to Rowan’s lips.

Milo’s pony continued trotting, first one way and then the other, and Milo couldn’t help but bounce on their toes. "We should come back in the fall! They let my pony walk with Ray all the way out to the pumpkin patch last year. I had to get dressed and undressed behind some bushes, but it was totally worth it cause then I could carry the pumpkins in my satchel on the way back.”

“We haven’t even started our first date, and you’re already planning for the fall?” Rowan asked, but the way his smile stayed firmly in place was more than enough proof that he was just as excited for their pumpkin patch date as Milo was.

“I think technically the date started when I got in your car, and it’s been absolutely lovely thus far. Your car drives like a dream. I don’t know if mine could have handled that gravel. Although maybe it would shake loose the glove compartment.” Milo tapped their chin in thought, nearly jabbing themself in the cheek when they couldn’t stop their pony’s bouncing. “Maybe I should come back next weekend and find out instead of wasting money at the shop.”

“I could always take a look at it if you want,” Rowan offered as they approached the ticket booth. Milo reached for their wallet, but only then did they realize they hadn’t grabbed their red tassel on the way out of their apartment.

“Sweetheart,” they said, coming to a stop in front of the ticket window. “I had planned on paying, but—”

“I can pay,” Rowan said, pulling out his wallet, which, sadly, also did not have a tassel. “I’d love to, actually.”

“Oh, I was just going to let you know that my wallet doesn’t match my outfit, so I need you to look away and pretend you never saw anything.”

Rowan paused with his credit card halfway out of his wallet. He slowly shook his head but handed the card to the ticket woman anyway.

She smiled warmly at them both as she swiped it and passed Rowan two bright red tickets and a receipt. “Thankfully, the tickets match your outfit, dear,” she said. “Take these over to the gentleman to my left, and if you would like someone to take couples photos of you two picking the berries, we have staff and volunteers all over the place.”

Milo’s hand flew to their heart. “Oh my gods, we absolutely need a couple's photo! Thank you for thinking of us!”