🦉/+/ Katana \+\🦉 ~> Tea Invitation...

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Katana took a step back as he looked at the room. He had carefully arranged cushions by the low table and straightened an errant tassel on one of the decorative scrolls hanging from the wall, for what seemed to be the tenth time. Katana paced around his home, meticulously cleaning what was already spotless. Each sweep of the broom carried too much care, throwing up dust he had disturbed more than removed.

Earlier that week, Katana had sent Prince with a letter in the owl’s beak to your abode to invite you over for tea. Katana inviting you over for tea wasn’t a rare occurrence as the two of them were close, but this time it’d be different. Not different as in the two of them would try out a new blend or spar, but different as in Katana would be confessing his feelings to you.

It took quite a while for Katana to come to terms with his feelings. He knew he was in love, if it wasn’t for his cheeks heating up whenever you were near him, or the wanting to place his hand over yours, then it was him constantly looking at you, committing each detail to memory as an unbidden smile tugged at his features. It was just difficult knowing Katana had so many other worries in life.

It took even longer for Katana to come around to the idea of confessing to you. He was content cherishing the moments spent with you, treasuring each shared smile and conversation even if it was only platonic. But the secrecy of the weight of his emotions had been a burden even if they all served as silent testaments to his affection for you.

While the invitation to tea was his idea, Katana now regretted it as nerves twisted his insides. The room, meticulously arranged moments ago, suddenly felt suffocatingly small. Katana's pacing intensified, his steps echoing in the hushed space. He glanced at the ornate teapot, wondering if it was the best thing to confess his feelings over tea.

He could’ve done it at an iron cafe maybe, but the idea of saying something so intimate like this in a public setting like that seemed off. Maybe it was better, seeing as he felt trapped even in his own house.

When Katana heard the sound of knocking against his door, he whipped around so fast his neck cracked audibly. All thoughts of worry flew from his head as he stilled, blinking owlishly. Oh gods, you were here. Was it already time? Surely it wasn’t, the time he’d spent cleaning was long but surely it didn’t pass by that fast.

Breathing deeply to calm his nerves, Katana slid open the front door with a slight creak from the wood. For a moment, the two of them just stood there with the only sound being a soft tune being carried by the breeze. Katana's lips parted as if to speak, yet no noise came out.

Shaking his head, Katana averted his gaze in hopes he could will his flustered state away. He spoke your name gently, dipping his head in acknowledgment before stepping to the side to let you in. “It’s good to see you. Thank you for coming over.” He welcomed, trying his best to steady his voice.

Katana closed the door behind you as she stepped in, glancing over his shoulder to admire your form once more. He shook his head, collecting himself. Now was not the time for such fanciful musings.

Leading you into the tearoom, which overlooked the garden, Katana knelt across from you. Pouring tea with practiced grace, each measured movement a form of meditation. Steam rose from the cups, wisping away into nothing. Katana offered one to you, fingers brushing for an instant too long.

For a moment Katana says nothing, focusing on evening his breath as he admires you in a peaceful silence. At last, finding courage in stillness, he speaks; "I hope you find the tea to your liking. It is a new blend I thought you may enjoy." Hopefully, the new blend would be something to talk about in case things didn’t go his way.