Put a Ring on it

Gregory walked through the familiar courtyard that he had walked toward his death. It wasn't his death necessarily, but Gregory supposed it was the end of many things. The end of his freedom for one. There was a violent humming in his veins that caused the scowl on his face to grow. It was also the end of his logical thinking. This was an arranged marriage. Gregory had no clue what had caused him to pick out the ring himself. He told himself it was because it would be a reflection of what he had bought. He couldn't have people think he was cheap or boring. Besides, the ring just reminded him of her.

Hopefully Catalina had gotten his owl about meeting him here. Gregory didn't want to be here and the quicker they got over with this, the quicker he could go back to his life. A life that didn't involve a fiance. With a sigh, he ran his hand over his stubble, nostril flaring as he waited for her. She needed to get here.

Spotting her, he waved her over. "Little fox," he said as he stared down at her.

Cat almost didn't go to the courtyard to meet Gregory.

Walking in the courtyard normally didn't both her, but with each step, it felt like she was drowning. It was almost suffocating to be there. When she read his owl, she didn't know what he wanted from her. To yell at her about what happened during the summer? It wasn't her decision. She had a small frown on her face, and her hair was red. Red seemed fitting for her situation. Cat picked at the thin sweater she was wearing, and picked lint off her leggings. She might as well look reasonable for here fiancé.

Fiancé. What a change of events.

Cat stood in the middle of the courtyard, petting her hair nervously, waiting for him to find her. She was beginning to feel a little annoyed, as she was there at the right place and the right time. How could he stand her up like that? It was a poor decision if he wanted to be tolerated.

Just as Cat was about to leave, she heard the al too familiar pet name he had christened her. Gregory, she had to stop referring him as a creature. "I still don't know why you call me that." Cat calmly answered, crossing over to him.

"It's a fitting nickname," Gregory replied thoughtfully as he stared down at her. Even though she could change her hair color at will, he would always have their first meeting imprinted in his mind. Fiery eyes with fiery hair to match. In his mind, his fiancé would always be little fox to him. "If you have a problem with it, I suppose I could just call you Catalina." He supposed that was fair. The pair would be married in a few years, it was only fitting that he tried to be as pleasant as possible. Merlin knows Cat wouldn't be easy to handle.

Clutching the velvet box in his hand, Gregory's light blue eyes flickered to meet hers. "My mother said it was fitting for the fiancé to have a ring." Gregory had decided not to tell Catalina that he had picked out the ring himself. She may take that as a sign he felt affection for her. Which, he didn't. Gregory probably could've told her that the ring his mother picked out was horrid, but that wasn't quite true. There was just something that compelled him to pick out the ring that was safely tucked away in the velvet box.

Pulling out said box, Gregory held it out to her. "I'm not going to get down on one knee or anything tacky like that." He waited for her to open it, surprisingly eager to see her response.

"I can't stand Catalina. Cat or little fox is fine, I suppose." Taking in a deep sigh, Cat stared up at him. It was odd, he was almost being friendly toward her. She would have to get used to it though, or at least tolerate him. Though he wasn't her choice, she would have to deal with him. She grinned at him uneasily, though Cat tried to be pleasant. It was the start of something at least.

"I'm assuming that's what people getting married get each other." Cat wouldn't know, nor would she normally care. Gregory was clutching something in his hand, and she knew with a dreadful thought that it was the ring. How appalling. Cat bit at her low lip, wondering what it would look like. Wait, did she actually care what it looked like?

Of course not. That had to been a mistake.

"I wouldn't expect you to. I think I'd leave you right then and there." Cat looked him in the eyes with concern, her brown eyes full of confusion. Carefully taking the box from his hands, she opened it with exaggeration. Seeing the diamond, it was shocking to think his mother picked it out. It was beautiful. Looking from the ring to Gregory, Cat opened her mouth slightly. "Do I have to wear it?" What did she know? He seemed to hate her existence. Why would she wear a ring of his?

Gregory didn't say anything at her agreement with the nickname. He didn't like the nickname Cat, for whatever reason. Maybe it was because he knew that everyone called her that. Gregory liked knowing that he was unique. And he considered the nickname he came up with to be very unique. Little Fox. Staring at her, Gregory knew that it was the perfect nickname for her. His nose scrunched up at the thought of him respecting the girl. He didn't have affection for her, not yet at least. He paused. Not yet? It was official he was going insane.

"You would assume correctly then," he replied tersely. He didn't like this marriage thing any better than she did, but he was getting used to it. It was something Gregory had assumed that something like this would happen. His father had been in an arranged marriage with his mother, so Gregory had a feeling he would be married off eventually. He just didn't know it was with someone that was emotionally unstable.

Gregory watched as Catalina opened up the velvet box, carefully gauging the little fox's reaction. For a moment, a brief moment, he saw a flicker of amazement in those chocolate eyes of hers. And, it was enough for him. "I would assume so. Wouldn't want anyone hitting on my fiance," he said blandly, the corner of his lip twitching up into a grin.

Cat didn't quite feel familiar staring at Gregory longer than necessary. She looked to her hands, which were beginning to turn icy in the cold. She looked up at Gregory only briefly, watching him wrinkling his nose about something or another. He was quite amusing when he was lost in thought. Cat made a face, wondering if she should break the silence.

There was nothing Cat could say to him after that. So, she once again dropped his gaze from hers did flopped here hands to her side. She placed her hair in a messy bun, knowing this little get together would be extremes awkward and unnecessary. Maybe the ring ment mo than it should've to the both of them, but Cat certainly didn't need that just yet.

To her surprise, Cat laughed st his comment. It was clear as a bell, and it shocked her almost. The sound was almost foreign. "That is a reasonable explanation for it." So, her chocolate eyes dancing still in amusement, Cat carefully slipped the ring onto her left ring finger. She was shocked at how it fit, and she stated up at him, craning her neck to see his reaction.

Gregory felt slightly awkward standing here with Catalina; his new fiance. It was quite odd actually. He never felt awkward, mostly because there was no point in being awkward. Gregory knew that he was usually in the right, but this situation wasn't one where you could be in the right. Unfortunately, both of them were forced to marry each other.

Watching her with blue eyes, he smirked slightly when she put her hair up. People only did that when they felt awkward. Awkward jitters, he supposed. Gregory resisted the urge to laugh slightly. She was so awkward and yet slightly adorable. If they weren't getting married, then he might've considered having a one-night stand with her.

"Isn't it though? Anyone attempt to get with you, I'll be stepping in." Gregory joked, snorting slightly. He was possessive, yes, but not over Catalina. At least, he didn't so. Being possessive meant having feelings. And Gregory did not have feeling for this insane girl.

There really wasn't much reason for Cat to still be with Gregory. She had the ring now, what was still needed to be discussed? It was so awkward between them Cat felt like she could cut the tension with a knife. It was honestly a personal problem that she didn't want to deal with at that moment,

Cat noticed the smirk on his face and she hid her mouth with a hand, attempting to hide the grin stretching on her face. It amused here for terrible reasons. He was an ass, but now he was Cat's ass of a fiancé. It almost seemed that she wanted it. Hell, she was more insane than she was in the hospital. Cat was practically too loony to function.

"I'll just dangle my ring in front of them, it'll ward them off." Cat caught his joke, but she didn't have the heart to joke back. The ring wasn't the only reason why anyone would steer clear of her, and she was almost positive he knew that. He was much too attractive for Cat to have.

"That would surely scare them off," Gregory said with a nod of his head. He honestly didn't care if other guys went after her. If she gave into their advances, then that wasn't his fault. So what if he fiance turned into a whore? Maybe his mother would find a more suitable wife for him. Though, he doubted he would be interested in them like he was interested in Cat.

Crossing his arms awkwardly over his chest, he wondered what exactly he was doing here. There was no point in being at here if she had the ring. His mother had suggested getting to know her, but what was there to know? She was insane and had an anger issue. Plus, she randomly stripped when she didn't like the clothing she was wearing.

Suitable wife material, right?

Cat briefly met his eyes as an answer, and sighed loudly, sitting down on one of the stone slabs next to them. The tile was cold, but it was better than having to stare up at him. Her back hurt as well as her neck, and Cat rubbed the back of new neck in discomfort. This wasn't what she signed up for. Actually, this really wasn't, this was just one of the many things why Cat hated people.

Cat watched Gregory standing awkwardly by himself, and actually let out a small laugh when he crossed his arms over his chest. He was so awkward, it made her quite amused. Standing up, she brushed off her leggings, and cautiously placed her arms around his mid section, hugging him slightly, flinching as she waited for a response.