A/N Hey guys! Wow, it's Valentine's already?? Time sure flies when you're lazy (sorry by you, I meant me). So I actually wrote this around 3 years ago (yes that's how long Sage and Zach have been in my mind lol) and it was valentine's special. I think I was going for a light hearted comedy with a healthy dose of omniscient, which I guess is a reoccurring pattern. I polished it up a little, but you can tell the style is pretty different from what I do nowadays. I still really liked it though, and as always, I hope you enjoy.

"I-I made this myself...could you accept it?" She blushed and stuttered uncontrollably. "Ha-happy Valentine's day," she managed to say.

Sage returned a polite smile. He has never seen this girl in his life. "Thanks, but sorry. I'm lactose intolerant."

"Oh...right," she looked hurt and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "Right, you're Asian." While anyone could have realized just how inappropriate that comment was, she was heartbroken, so cut her some slack please.

"Of course, I'm sorry I wasted your time—" She didn't finish her sentence, and rushed out the room, holding back tears. It took her so long to muster the courage and now...

Guess which guy received no chocolates for the rest of Feb. 14th? But let's move our spotlight back to the girl shall we?

"Estelle! How did it go?" Her friends asked, unaware of the red eyes and sniffles.

"Oh! He's just—" and there she started to relay the story.

Zach, passing by, stopped in his tracks. A commotion of girls circled around another crying girl on "valentines" wasn't an ultra-rare pokemon per-say, but this was outside of Sage's classroom.

"Don't cry Estelle," Her friends patted her on the back. "It's not like Sage rejected you or anything, who knew he was lactose intolerant?"

At the mention of keywords "Sage" and "Lactose intolerant", Zach's heart dropped. What the heck? Sage is lactose intolerant? How did I not notice?

He continued walking in an annoyed hurry as he rattled off all possible evidence that Sage was indeed lactose intolerant. He drinks coffee, but he's ever added milk. I certainly have never seen him eat chocolate or sweets in general. What the hell was I thinking? Making chocolate? Yes, Zach wanted to surprise Sage this Valentines, even though he's never made any meal in his entire life. The family chefs always rushed him out of the kitchen. But this time, with some help, he had succeeded, and after a day of hard work and failures to take to the grave, Zach had a box of chocolates in his bag, which are about to remain in this bag and to be consumed silently, by himself instead of Sage.

Zach opened his locker and a stack of chocolate falls out. He never locked it before, because it was unlikely anyone would take anything valuable. Now he was reevaluating his options.

He suppressed a groan. Chocolates were something he would have normally appreciated, but not today, not today.

"Wow, thanks to however gave these to me!" he said, a little bit too loud.

There were happy squeals and giggles, and Zach assumed his job was about done. He flung his bag in his locker and slammed it shut. He did not want to see the damned thing for at least the whole school day. (He did not throw it because deep down, he doesn't want to waste food and his hard work and first edible masterpiece better deserve some tasting. Of course, he'll never admit that).

In class, Zach didn't focus. Instead he pieced together every shred, every hint that the immortal beings gave him, shouting at his face: "HE'S LACTOSE INTOLERANT." Every minute made him more and more mad and embarrassed of himself.

After Zach leaves the classroom, a head pokes around the corner of the hall. Oh...He's so hot, like always.

Zach had yet another secret admirer. He had been looking up to Zach for years. His figure, strength, and most importantly, his kindness (*Cough*good looks*cough*) was what moved him.

Yet, as he trailed behind Zach as always, he realized Zach was feeling blue-er than usual, and even a little bit annoyed?

Well, that's perfect! He thought. He had prepared chocolates, and he knew Zach liked sweet things. For the first time in his life, he'll talk to Zach, and everything will be perfect!

Zach was a little annoyed, because today, he did not want to deal with this little stalker. This was the one thing he DID notice, how could he not? The boy was everywhere, in his pictures, every single time he turned around. Zach tried to give him the silent treatment because the little guy ran away every time he tried to talk to him.

Zach did not feel like dealing with this today. He snapped around, half ready to chase after the boy if necessary. This time, the boy did not run away. Instead, he held out a wrapped gift with shaking hands.

"Happy Valentine's day," the boy beamed. I hope this makes you happy; I've admired you for a long time.

Zach was afraid and awestruck. Students had turned to watch, this boy, giving another boy a valentine's gift? A prank? It's a joke, the fool's on you fag!!! Zach could almost hear him shout.

The boy's blue eyes flickered away, clouded with uncertainty. I hope he doesn't think I'm making fun of him. That moment felt like an eternity.

Funny how Valentine's work. It's either the happiest day of your life or the moment that pushes you into despair, and it all depends on that one person.

But his eyes betrayed him.

I like you. It was a simple delicate message.

Zach saw it, and saw himself, all those years, before Sage, before he had courage. He saw what he was never able to do.

His hands softened; he did not notice he was clenching them.

Zach smiled and took the gift. "Thank you,"

There were a few gasps, but Zach ignored them. It'll be fine.

A grin spread across the boy's face, a blooming flower perhaps? He left, satisfied, almost skipping towards his locker. In the dark, dark corners of the hall, small voices arose, but they didn't hurt him. Not yet.

Zach stashed the box in his bag. Valentine's became slightly better.

-

Zach sat on the couch and pulled out his chocolate from this morning. He thought he wasn't going to be mad anymore, but the more he ate, the more pissed he became.

Sage appeared from the kitchen. (Oh, they were in Sage's house. Did we mention that?) He sat down beside Zach, and rested his chin on his shoulder. "Happy Valentine's," Sage said as he wrapped his arms around Zach's waist.

Zach, who was still pissed, tried to ignore Sage's touch and his breath beside his ear, and muttered back, "Happy Valentine's."

Sage heard the twinge of annoyance in Zach's voice and wanted to chuckle. Zach was always cute when he was angry—only with him. "Where's my Valentine's gift?" He asked.

Zach touched a piece of chocolate to his lips. "Didn't prepare anything, sorry." The same annoyance.

Sage noticed Zach was eating a box of chocolates. He had an idea, and smiled. "What are you eating, I want some." He leaned forward.

Zach was just about to answer Chocolate, before Sage bit into the chocolate that he was about to eat. The chocolate melted between their mouths, sticky and sweet.

"I can't breathe..." Zach murmured and instinctively moved onto Sage's lap.

Sage's fingers traveled up Zach spine. He shuddered, and Sage pulled him closer.

Under it all, Zach finally snapped back to consciousness. He pushed confused Sage away. "Wait, Sage, you're lactose intolerant!" He shouted.

Sage, completely confused as to why his boyfriend pretty much just refused to make out with him and told him that he was lactose intolerant, cocked his head to the side. "Where did you hear that from?"

"The girls, at school, they said you were lactose intolerant, and I had prepared all these chocolates, but then you refused to receive any, and so I had to tell you I didn't have a gift and..."

Sage smiled and grasped Zach's hand. "I'm not actually lactose intolerant. It's just what I say at school because I don't like chocolate. And besides," he points to own face, "I'm Asian, so I can."

"Wait...what?"

"If I were lactose intolerant I would've told you," Sage said. "Have a little bit more faith in me."

Zach did not expect this coming. "I don't have a gift for you anymore," was all he could say.

"If you feed me the rest of the chocolates, I won't be mad at you," Sage said. He wouldn't be mad at Zach either way, but it wouldn't hurt asking.

Zach reluctantly agreed. He picked up a piece of chocolate by the mouth and touched it to Sage's...

--

On the bed, Zach slept soundly against Sage's shoulder. "I don't want to move," he thought, but breakfast wasn't going to make by itself. He pushed himself off of the bed and got dressed.

In the living room, the box of chocolates rested on the table. There was still one piece inside. Out of curiosity, Sage tasted one.

"I still don't like chocolate..." he muttered.