"You are wonderful," James said quietly.

The corners of Zarina's lips twitched up as she looked away shyly.

"All I did was…mix some dust together…" She said with a tinkling chuckle. James shook his head and delicately lifted her chin with his forefinger to look into her hazel eyes. Zarina laughed and lightly pushed his finger aside.

"Are you rejecting my affections?" James said with a teasing scoff. "Well, I never!"

Zarina smirked at him playfully and flitted up to his cheek, which she promptly punched. Of course, all James felt was a gentle poke, but he staggered back, yelping dramatically.

"Please! Have mercy!" he managed through his laughter as Zarina pummeled the palms of his hands, which were protecting his face. Zarina nodded proudly and stood in the crook of his thumb, her arm casually resting on the tip of it.

"Let that be a reminder," she said with a smile.

"What, to refrain from complimenting you?"

"No! To refrain from crossing me. Now you know I can best you in a fight." At this, James tutted and brought her to his face.

"You know I'd never cross you, love."

Zarina almost stumbled on her perch in surprise. He hadn't called her "love" before. She had thought that her feelings were one-sided, and no matter how often she daydreamed about his seemingly-facetious flirting being genuine, she simply didn't know how to react.

James's eyes flickered along her face, his own looking blissful. Zarina blushed and glanced up at him, fighting back a grin.

"If only we were the same size," James sighed. He brought her to the tabletop and rested his chin on his hand. "I truly wish we could be."

Zarina hesitated before she flitted up to his face and placed her tiny fingers on his. She pressed her lips to his cheek, and in a sad tinkling whisper, said "Me too."