"Where's it you've been rushing off to these last few days, Pep?" asks Honeyglaze wide-eyed as Peppermint throws things into a basket.

"Can't talk. I'm going to be late, I'll catch up with you later!" He calls over his shoulder as he flits out of the kitchens. He's only turned his head to face forward again, when he nearly collides with a tall figure.

"Peppermint." Oh geez, that's Garnish. She's looking down at him sternly. He tries not to grimace. "I understand that sometimes fairies have other obligations besides baking here in the kitchen, however, if you're going to go out every day, please take some deliveries with you." She holds out a large basket and note listing recipients.

Peppermint breathes a sigh of relief and takes it from her, "Yes, of course, I'd be happy to. And thanks for understanding, Garnish."

She offers him a fond little smile, "Enjoy yourself, Peppermint."

It's not long before Peppermint finds himself back on Redleaf's doorstep. This is his fourth day in a row visiting and he doesn't bother trying to knock, knowing the door's been left open for him.

Today, Redleaf is already sitting up in his bed, it seems he's been improving. Secretly, Peppermint hopes that his visits are the cause, but he knows that's a silly thought. Tentatively he calls out, "Afternoon, Redleaf"not wanting to startle him.

"Peppermint, hello!" A smile dancing across his face as he looks up from the book he's reading.

"You're sounding well, is your cough getting better?" Peppermint asks as he pours out the usual tea.

"Yes, if it means you'll finally allow me something sweet to eat." Peppermint huffs at that. "I'm hoping that's what you've brought in that second basket today."

"Sadly for you, no. Garnish noticed I've been leaving early a lot recently so now I'm taking out deliveries to make up for it, I guess." Peppermint rubs the back of his neck sheepishly, feeling his reputation has been tarnished somewhat. Seeing Redleaf's drooping expression, he jumps to correct, "It's not your fault! I wanted to come, this just means I can't stay too long today."

"I see, well, I'm sorry regardless. Looks like you'll be rushing about again. I suppose you baking fairies don't really get seasonal breaks like the rest of us, not being a seasonal talent..." Redleaf lets out a sound that's half-laugh half-sigh and leans back against the headboard of his bed. "To think; I, myself, was so excited to relax after a hectic Autumn, of course, I would take ill."

"It seems you're improving, so I think there's still hope for your relaxing Winter," says Peppermint as he hands Redleaf his tea, his fingers tingling as they brush the minister's hand. He tries not to think too hard about it. "I don't mean to bring this up again, but you could take a note or two from non-seasonal talents and learn to pace yourself so that you don't collapse when your work is done."

Redleaf's smile is warm despite, surely, being annoyed that Peppermint is once again fussing over his work ethic. "Peppermint. Pepper," The nickname is spoken so earnestly, and so warmly, it seems natural. Peppermint takes a moment to even notice it was spoken and then Redleaf takes his hand again and his stomach does a flip, warmth rising into his ears. "I am so lucky to have you looking after me, you needn't apologize for a single thing."

Peppermint tries to focus his breathing to control the flush of his face, "Alright well, I'm glad then... Well, I guess I should go start on those deliveries. I- I'll see you again tomorrow."

Peppermint flies out the door before Redleaf can get another word in and he tries to tell the distant, insistent cawing as he goes about his deliveries that he did not under any circumstance run away.

Two days later finds Redleaf entirely recovered and Peppermint, though a bit distant and jumpy, has calmed down. Well, sort of. Every time he approaches Redleaf's door he's filled with a bubbly feeling in his chest, he can't help in if his wings beat a little faster, or he blushes a little easier. But he does his best not to let it color his interactions with his friend. He's determined to react calmly, rationally, normally in a way that a friend might talk to a friend- a friend-like manner.

"I'd like to join you on your deliveries today, if you don't mind, of course."

Peppermint stares. "You do? I mean- you would?"

"Oh, of course, I won't come if I'm not welcome, but I would appreciate having a reason to go outside and feel useful."

"You don't need to be useful, you're supposed to be on break and resting!"

Redleaf laughs and holds up his hands in surrender, "Alright, alright, I'll just follow you around, I won't do any work! But if you'd rather go alone, I'll take no offense."

"No, no, um... you're welcome to come, I just- Never mind." Peppermint shakes his head. "What I'm trying to say is I'd enjoy the company."

So the two sparrowmen set out flitting between the trees and falling leaves of the Autumn woods to deliver parcels of food to those unable to leave their homes or those without the time or ability to cook for themselves. Conspicuously, most of the orders have been for fairies living in Autumn. The whole time Peppermint remembers Garnish's knowing smile. Can't get anything past her apparently.

Halfway through the deliveries, the two of them stop to take a break in the hollow of a tree as the afternoon begins to wane and the cool, brisk air begins to nip at their cheeks. Redleaf's carefree, idle replies begin to turn apprehensive.

"Pepper, erm, Peppermint. I was wondering..." He looks up towards the canopy, expression unreadable. "I feel as though we've never discussed anything outside of the scope of our talents. Is there anything- that is to say - do you have any interests besides baking? I know that we're different from humans in the sense that we have a single talent which we usually find to be fulfilling enough, but many of us still have other interests we pursue."

Redleaf's nervous energy, plus the use of the nickname again sends a buzzing back into Peppermint's limbs that he doesn't know what to do with. Still, he tries to breath calmly and answer.

"Hm, well, I do love baking, and I also like sharing food with people, but maybe that's too close to baking..." He also looks up into the trees, watching the leaves wave gently down at them, and above that the birds circling high above pixie hollow. "You know I," he pauses to glance at Redleaf, whose curious gaze is trained intently on Peppermint. "-I like this, right now. Just having a moment to relax. Baking can get really hectic, even if I like it. It's complicated and there's a high demand, I'm busy all day, so any chance to just to sit with the world around me is welcome. Especially, with- with friends."

Redleaf turns to face him fully, hiking a leg up onto the ledge and smiles, warm and sweet. "Then, maybe, you'd like to do something more often, with me?"

Peppermint stares, his heart beating in his throat. Is this-?

Redleaf seems to take his silence as confusion. The minister gives his head a little embarrassed shake, dark hair swinging where it's tied low. "I, ah, I find I rather enjoy your company a lot, Pepper, and I- you're very... I'm not sure if you feel similarly, but I hope we can spend more time together." He lets out a half-laugh, half-sigh, happy to have managed to say what he meant.

Now, Peppermint can't hold back the warmth rising in his cheeks. He can barely hear past the pounding of his blood in his ears, but he forces the words out anyways. "I-of course, I mean, we're already spending all this time together, I also-well, it's just made me very happy to have something special to look forward to, and I would love to have more." The 'more' feels weighted like it's meaning stretches further than an acceptance, he hardly knows what to hope for.

Just as Redleaf tentatively reaches for Peppermint's hand, and the world seems to hold its breath, a screech pierces the air. Both of their heads whip to look at the sky to see several huge birds diving down towards pixie hollow. At the same time, the scout fairy horns bellow, almost shaking the tree they're in.

"Hawks!"

a/n: Hey folks, hope everyone's healthy and safe despite covid-19. I realized as I was writing this that the illness plot line that carries over from the last chapter and the delivery thing discussed here kinda resembles current events. That wasn't my intention, I had a lot of this planned for like over a year. I just hope that this doesn't stress anyone out at all, I know things are rough right now and fic should be a happy place to get away from that kind of stress. Hopefully, since all my classes are remote I can get out another chapter before all this is over, so there is a bright side :^) Stay safe everyone and thanks for reading!

edit: Oh jeez I'm so sorry this chapter looked like an absolutely garbled mess for a bit there, I didn't notice! But hopefully its fixed now :V