[Rome]: Progress

"Cmon Rome! You can show me!" Juno says cheerfully, giving the other a little nudge. "Don't be shy, I don't bite!"

Rome shakes his head, hugging the photograph close to his chest. "N-no, it's ok." he says nervously. "I don't think... it's quite ready yet."

Juno giggles, rolling her eyes playfully. "Listen. You've been taking pictures for about... EVER now haven't you? You take such good ones too! I've seen them! And now you're telling me you're suddenly getting cold feet over showing them to me?! Cmon!! Please!" she whines, pulling his arm close to hers.

Rome had been taking pictures of Juno all afternoon, and Juno was not even allowed to see a single one. Every time she would ask, the other bunny would blurt out that the next picture would be better or maybe that they needed more sun for the next shot. But now, Juno was getting impatient, wanting to see at least one of his pieces before the day ended.

But now Rome was extra stubborn, holding the picture close to him as if keeping a well guarded secret behind a lock. It was like watching an unstoppable force try to move an immovable object.

Juno sighs and puts her hands to her hips. "Fine. We'll take one last one, then you'd better show that to me." She puts out a hand to shake.

"Do we have a deal?"

Rome thinks for a second, then for another. He nods sadly, and reaches out to shake on it. He guessed he had no choice.

The two assemble once more to take their last photo of the day in front of the lovely sunset on top of the hill. A cool breeze blew through their fur and rustled the leaves around them. Juno laughs, twirling happily in the wind. "What a lovely day, isn't it Rome!" she says, laughing happily. Rome manages a small, shy smile and nods. "It... it is." he says quietly.

Juno plops herself down again on the grass and does a casual pose, taking her position and waiting for Rome to take the picture. He looks up at her for a bit before looking into the view finder. "Hmmm." Rome says, trying to position himself and the camera at a better angle. Juno knew that sound all too well. Rome wasn't satisfied with something. He was sort of a perfectionist when it came to his art, and was not easily impressed by himself. After all, the artists is their own worst critic.

"What's wrong?" Juno asks, still holding her pose, but tilting her head to the side slightly.

Rome shakes his head. "No, no, it's nothing!" he says reassuringly, but he continues to look through the viewfinder, then up, then back again.

Juno puts down her pose gently. "Rome, it's ok. You can tell me." she says, a small smile on her lips. Rome thinks for a moment again before swallowing. He looked really nervous.

"Would it... be ok if... you. Just. Maybe moved a bit to the left? Just so the sunset will be more seen behind you! B-but if you don't want to it's perfectly fi-"

"Rome." Juno interrupts with a giggle. "It's ok. I'll move it's no biggie! Don't worry! Do you think it's so hard for me to scooch over??" She shifts slightly to the left and smiles. "Hows this...?"

Rome purses his lips slightly which prompts Juno to move some more. He finally nods. "That's good. Thanks." he says, looking back into the camera's view finder.

"Ok. Uhm. Don't look directly at me. Look a bit farther behind. There. And... One, two, three."

Click.

Rome snaps the picture and he looks down at the picture's preview.

Then. He smiles.

He finally smiles.

Juno smiles widely herself. Progress was surely being made. It was a small step, sure. But it was a step nonetheless.