Strawberries
Apr. 12th, 2019 09:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nyanderenekoWord Count: 2,887
Summary: Ayame makes Nova something special for her birthday, but he isn’t the only one interested in sharing the fruits of his talent as a gift.
*Author’s Note*: Lol puns!! But seriously, today’s my birthday, and I know I haven’t shut up about it but…idk, I think it’s kind of important. It’s just something I want to celebrate. I really struggled with this fic, and still feel like it’s a little boring because not a lot happens, but I can’t seem to shake my habit of writing long drawn out emotional monologues orz but there are a lot of little touches I like in this, and super subtle references that will only make sense if someone keeps in mind some important Ayame/Yuki bonding moments from the manga while reading this, which I don’t expect. It’s just fun for me to know they’re there and play around with my post-canon AU and its implications a bit. I think I’m close to hammering out the details I want, but that’s not what this fic is about so I’m not going to elaborate here. I just wanted to write some cute Yuki stuff lol. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy! Oh yeah and the dress is this one that I would die for.
Examining herself in the mirror, it was almost like she’d just stepped out of a fairytale. In her daily life, she thought it felt more like she’d stepped into one, or at least that’s how things had been since she’d met them. A stranger who happened to notice the real her had quickly become a true friend, and soon after opened the door to a world unlike anything she’d ever known or envisioned. Nova was fascinated by it, but also quite intimidated, which she supposed was only natural. One after another she became acquainted with the unique group of people that Kagura called her family, a term that was applied loosely, and that was overshadowed by a different, more exclusive connection that most of the individuals she was meeting happened to share. Things were different for them now, though, and Nova thought it best to avoid asking too many unnecessary questions. Probing into the past, a past that not everyone wanted to acknowledge or remember, wasn’t really her place.
“Don’t you think this is a little overkill?”
She was referring to her distracting attire, an ensemble that’d been custom tailored for her as a gift. Her comment was directed at the tailor, who she knew was just going to dismiss her skepticism as nonsense. Without missing a beat, he got to work doing just that, going off on one of his eloquent and nonsensical tangents that were meant to dazzle and disarm whomever he happened to be addressing. There was no such thing as “too much” for the man with the Midas touch, metaphorically speaking. Weaving amazing, sometimes mind-blowing garments from the simplest ideas, exceeding expectations as if it was a given rather than a bonus. Well, it was a given for him, but Nova hadn’t entirely adjusted herself to the unique reality he existed in just yet. She was grateful to know him, routinely impressed by his flamboyance and charisma, but she also understood how easy it was to get burnt out in his company. She often found herself in that same position, although rather than remove herself from the chaos, she generally opted to shell up and wait for the storm to pass instead.
Without a certain someone’s tempering presence, she was surprised she hadn’t already combusted beyond repair. She wasn’t completely on her own, although both Kagura and Mine’s personalities were only really capable of adding fuel to the fire. She was gradually drawing closer to her own breaking point, further incited by the fact that she wasn’t very keen on being the center of attention or the object of any praise. It always felt so hollow to her, and she hated how performative such occasions seemed to play out around her.
She was only important during times like this because of the context, not because of her personal merit or something particular she’d done to earn any kind of special consideration. She wanted to experience it, yes, but she wanted it to be a conscious decision rather than an act of compliance with some arbitrary social obligation. When it came to her friends, she tried to remind herself that they certainly didn’t see things that way, and that she needed to accept their kindness as it was offered without any suspicions or misgivings. Her train of thought wavered as Ayame’s overwhelming personality proved to still be a bit too formidable for her to endure by her own willpower.
It was her birthday, and none of the individuals Kagura had so generously taken the liberty to inform were going to overlook it. She was grateful to her friend for going out of her way to advertise the event in the first place, although she wasn’t sure all the people that’d been included wanted or needed to be roped into it. She wasn’t planning on having any sort of fancy get together or flashy party, a decision that circled back into her paranoia of being or acting too self-centered. But the moment she’d discovered that such words had managed to reach Ayame’s ears, she knew she was pretty much done for. She was conflicted by her desire to keep things subdued and her happiness at being treated in such a manner, appeasing the most egotistical part of her whose only goal was to be viewed as necessary and important. As she examined the outrageous dress that’d been tailored in her honor, that she was sure would finish the job of swallowing her up at any moment, she tried her best to come to terms with the circumstances she was confident she couldn’t escape.
“You really do look wonderful; you don’t have anything to be bashful about!” Kagura encouraged, examining the ensemble from all sides. Following the end of his speech, Ayame had temporary excused himself, much to Nova’s relief.
“But this is still definitely too much,” she repeated, making a turn and watching the waterfall of fabric sway with her. “I mean, just look at this thing. How long ago did you tell him when my birthday was? This thing looks like it probably took months to make.”
“Oh, please. You have that little faith in his enthusiasm and skill?” her friend joked, unable to disguise an amused chuckle. “Honestly, I bet he’d prefer to thank you for giving him the opportunity to go all out.”
“He went all out all right,” Nova sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I mean, it’s not that I’m not grateful…ugh, whatever. I’ll keep it together for this afternoon, but I have no idea when I’ll have a chance to even wear something like this again.”
“Maybe you could wear it to a wedding, or something like that,” Kagura teased, a mischievous glint in her eye. Nova faced her with pursed lips and a flushed face, her expression loosening as her friend crossed to the other side of the room.
“What are you—?”
“I want to see what it looks like all lit up again!”
And just like that, the room was plunged into darkness. The only light that pierced the heavy shadows was the glow of Nova’s dress, a garment that’d been specifically crafted with a secondary function in mind. A striking blue ball gown that looked as if it’d been infused with pure starlight when framed by a backdrop devoid of any other source of illumination. As overbearing as she found it, the young woman couldn’t deny that she unabashedly adored its design, and she became entranced by its true and enchanting charm as she, too, examined it in awe once again. It’d been remarkable to her the first time she’d tried it on plain, but the moment its hidden magic had been revealed to her, it was hard for her to find any words to dismiss or denounce it.
“It really does look wonderful on you.”
She almost let out a squeak, but as light returned to the room she held on tightly to her composure. She was helpless to the blush that deepened in her cheeks, creeping up her face and down her neck, but she was still in control enough to make what she perceived to be a basic and sensible comment to her new visitor.
“You can’t even see me in it in the dark.” If she’d been paying more attention to her surroundings, she obviously would’ve noticed him sooner. Heightened vision in the dark was a benefit of her less than human attributes, but she’d been so caught up in her own musings that she’d failed to notice anyone making some kind of sly transition right under her nose. “You just see the outline of this thing that’s too extravagant for its own good.”
“I think my brother would flinch if he heard you say that,” Yuki chuckled as he stepped forward. The truth was that he also retained a lingering amount of heightened perception from the days of his cursed possession, but for now he decided to keep that little detail to himself. “Actually, maybe not. It takes a lot to faze him. But I know this is one of his proudest creations.”
“How so?”
“Oh, he couldn’t keep his mouth shut about it,” he explained, and Nova was slightly relieved for the shift in conversation. “It’s a wonder he didn’t show it to you sooner. I suppose Kagura might have beat him to a pulp if he did. That’s usually a good enough threat to deter anyone from not doing what she says.”
“And why are you here?” That was a stupid question, and it only brought back the topic she’d just considered herself so fortunate to avoid. Clearly, she wasn’t thinking straight, but the combination of her nerves and the events of the day had understandably taken their toll.
“You didn’t think I’d forget your birthday, did you?” he asked with a lighthearted lilt. “Even if I had, Kagura wouldn’t let me forget it. She’s got everyone under her thumb for you, although I know you didn’t ask for that.”
“I didn’t ask for any of this,” she defended insistently. “I mean, I’m grateful for it, endlessly so…but I didn’t expect any of this, and I never would. And I’d never ask for it in the first place, for people to go out of their way like this, especially when you haven’t even known me for very long—”
“I know,” he reassured, placing a cool finger against her lips. “I was just teasing you. You don’t have to start panicking or try to explain yourself. And I didn’t come just because I was told to. I really did remember, and I really do have something of my own to give you.”
She felt like she was going to implode, but it would be a tragedy to singe any part of this expensive new dress. Scrambling to find the proper words to respond, her eyes snapped to the object he slipped out from behind his back. She took the modest container he presented from his hands and opened it carefully, instantly recognizing the contents. They caught her off guard almost as much as the dress had. An assortment of shiny red fruit with soft leafy tops filled the inside, and she could smell their sweet aroma the moment they were exposed to the air.
“Strawberries?” Wait, that reaction seemed rude, and she definitely didn’t want to sound underwhelmed. “I mean, I love these, I really do! They’re my favorite fruit, but—”
“Kagura told me.” He smiled and her fingers started to shake. “One benefit of her forethought is that it gave me enough time to plant these. I was planning on growing some anyway, but I figured I could try to at least get a small batch done in time for today.”
Growing them…he’d made these specifically for her. Over time they’d been nurtured and cared for with the intent of developing into something that would be worth giving to her. She’d heard about this sort of secret hobby of his before but had yet to really find a chance to discuss it with him, or even just hear him talk about it. But the fact that he’d bothered to make such a thing for her…both brothers were outstandingly talented in their own right, and she was lucky enough to reap the benefits of both of their specialties. It made her want to cry, but she was too self-conscious for that now, and the last thing she wanted to do was make him think he’d upset her.
“Thank you.” It was the best thing she could think to say. Her eyes grew watery despite her best efforts, but she managed to hold back the bulk of her tears valiantly. He wasn’t dense enough to miss the misty sheen in her downcast gaze, and his heart swelled a bit with the happiness he felt upon realizing he’d done something to bring honest tears to her eyes. “I’d enjoy them more if you’d eat some with me, though. If you’re not allergic, that is. But I guess if you were able to grow them you probably aren’t, so that was a pointless thing to say.”
She couldn’t seem to stop herself from getting more and more flustered by the moment, and his smile widened just a hint as he wrapped her in a gentle embrace. “It wasn’t pointless. Nothing you say is. I appreciate that you care enough to ask, and I’m glad you like them. I know they aren’t as amazing as what my brother made—”
“No, please, they’re really just as amazing!” she vehemently denied, pushing back so he could see the determined sincerity on her face. “They’re even more amazing to me, I promise! No one’s ever done something like this for me, took the time to make something like this. And I know it can be really hard to grow things. Well, it’s always been that way for me, it’s always seemed like a really delicate balancing act. You have to be careful of weather and bugs and all sorts of other things…I know it wasn’t easy, and it took a long time, a lot longer that it would have to just go out and buy some from the store, or anything else for that matter! It really really does mean a lot, it means the most to me, and I really don’t want you to doubt that—”
“Okay, okay, I understand. I was kind of kidding, I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression,” he soothed, patting her head. The warmth in his eyes reminded her of the burning heat in her skin, and she was easily captivated by his shimmering silver gaze. “To be fair, even I’m a little impressed with the dress he made. I’m not a huge fan of a lot of the stuff he sells here, but this is a special case. And it really does look beautiful on you.” He barely managed to hold his tongue in time to avoid letting anything more embarrassing slip out. “I’m lucky I got to see you wearing it.”
Steam was practically blowing out of her ears now, and she did her best not to tighten her grip on the container to a point that it would harm the contents. She wanted to thank him for his thoughtful compliment, but all her mind could do was reel with disbelief and delight and shyness. She wanted to throttle her friend for setting her up in such a stressful situation, but also shower her with gratitude for giving her the opportunity to share a moment like this with him. It was obvious that she liked him, and she was cautiously coming around to the idea that he might have even an inkling of the same kind of fondness for her…but nothing had been set in stone by either of them. Maybe little exchanges like this were the preparations they needed to get a place where they could take that first tentative step.
“Thank you,” her words were nothing more than a timid whisper, but his hearing was more than keen enough to decipher them. “For your gift, and your kindness. For bothering to do any of this for me and coming to see me today. I know you have plenty of other things you’d rather be doing, things that are less annoying and boring than this—”
He trailed his fingers through her hair, curling them around until her cheek was settled in his palm. She followed his soundless guidance, lifting her eyes to find the surprisingly intense expression he’d put in place. His face was communicating a thousand things at once, but the most prominent display was the unmistakable affection that made her knees weak. She didn’t know if she’d be able to live it down if she collapsed here and now, but her heart and mind were unprepared to withstand the resolve in his gaze.
“There’s nowhere I’d rather be right now than here with you.”
A cheesy line to say the least, but she was thinking the same things ten times over. She wondered if they were actually being eavesdropped on, and if so, just how much self-control it must be taking their spies to hold themselves back. By this point, Ayame usually would have been grandly waxing poetic about the true beauty and splendidness of such an intimate scene, and Kagura probably would have been equally forceful in her own method of cheering them on. But by some miracle, they were able to keep this experience to themselves, to soak in the atmosphere and the intoxication of each other’s presence on their own for just a moment.
Nova couldn’t remember what kind of birthday wish she’d made, if she’d made one at all, but her desires had been fulfilled all the same. Moreover even, since this kind of caring and thoughtfulness was the last thing she’d expected. Part of her heart couldn’t help wishing that she’d get to keep filling it with this special feeling, that she’d be able to keep gazing upon this pleasant, calming face. In his own heart, Yuki was trembling to an equal degree, one that he’d never felt in the exact same way before. Perhaps one day they’d be able to steady one another’s shaky hearts by sharing a stable, comforting embrace.
Summary: Ayame makes Nova something special for her birthday, but he isn’t the only one interested in sharing the fruits of his talent as a gift.
*Author’s Note*: Lol puns!! But seriously, today’s my birthday, and I know I haven’t shut up about it but…idk, I think it’s kind of important. It’s just something I want to celebrate. I really struggled with this fic, and still feel like it’s a little boring because not a lot happens, but I can’t seem to shake my habit of writing long drawn out emotional monologues orz but there are a lot of little touches I like in this, and super subtle references that will only make sense if someone keeps in mind some important Ayame/Yuki bonding moments from the manga while reading this, which I don’t expect. It’s just fun for me to know they’re there and play around with my post-canon AU and its implications a bit. I think I’m close to hammering out the details I want, but that’s not what this fic is about so I’m not going to elaborate here. I just wanted to write some cute Yuki stuff lol. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy! Oh yeah and the dress is this one that I would die for.
_____
Examining herself in the mirror, it was almost like she’d just stepped out of a fairytale. In her daily life, she thought it felt more like she’d stepped into one, or at least that’s how things had been since she’d met them. A stranger who happened to notice the real her had quickly become a true friend, and soon after opened the door to a world unlike anything she’d ever known or envisioned. Nova was fascinated by it, but also quite intimidated, which she supposed was only natural. One after another she became acquainted with the unique group of people that Kagura called her family, a term that was applied loosely, and that was overshadowed by a different, more exclusive connection that most of the individuals she was meeting happened to share. Things were different for them now, though, and Nova thought it best to avoid asking too many unnecessary questions. Probing into the past, a past that not everyone wanted to acknowledge or remember, wasn’t really her place.
“Don’t you think this is a little overkill?”
She was referring to her distracting attire, an ensemble that’d been custom tailored for her as a gift. Her comment was directed at the tailor, who she knew was just going to dismiss her skepticism as nonsense. Without missing a beat, he got to work doing just that, going off on one of his eloquent and nonsensical tangents that were meant to dazzle and disarm whomever he happened to be addressing. There was no such thing as “too much” for the man with the Midas touch, metaphorically speaking. Weaving amazing, sometimes mind-blowing garments from the simplest ideas, exceeding expectations as if it was a given rather than a bonus. Well, it was a given for him, but Nova hadn’t entirely adjusted herself to the unique reality he existed in just yet. She was grateful to know him, routinely impressed by his flamboyance and charisma, but she also understood how easy it was to get burnt out in his company. She often found herself in that same position, although rather than remove herself from the chaos, she generally opted to shell up and wait for the storm to pass instead.
Without a certain someone’s tempering presence, she was surprised she hadn’t already combusted beyond repair. She wasn’t completely on her own, although both Kagura and Mine’s personalities were only really capable of adding fuel to the fire. She was gradually drawing closer to her own breaking point, further incited by the fact that she wasn’t very keen on being the center of attention or the object of any praise. It always felt so hollow to her, and she hated how performative such occasions seemed to play out around her.
She was only important during times like this because of the context, not because of her personal merit or something particular she’d done to earn any kind of special consideration. She wanted to experience it, yes, but she wanted it to be a conscious decision rather than an act of compliance with some arbitrary social obligation. When it came to her friends, she tried to remind herself that they certainly didn’t see things that way, and that she needed to accept their kindness as it was offered without any suspicions or misgivings. Her train of thought wavered as Ayame’s overwhelming personality proved to still be a bit too formidable for her to endure by her own willpower.
It was her birthday, and none of the individuals Kagura had so generously taken the liberty to inform were going to overlook it. She was grateful to her friend for going out of her way to advertise the event in the first place, although she wasn’t sure all the people that’d been included wanted or needed to be roped into it. She wasn’t planning on having any sort of fancy get together or flashy party, a decision that circled back into her paranoia of being or acting too self-centered. But the moment she’d discovered that such words had managed to reach Ayame’s ears, she knew she was pretty much done for. She was conflicted by her desire to keep things subdued and her happiness at being treated in such a manner, appeasing the most egotistical part of her whose only goal was to be viewed as necessary and important. As she examined the outrageous dress that’d been tailored in her honor, that she was sure would finish the job of swallowing her up at any moment, she tried her best to come to terms with the circumstances she was confident she couldn’t escape.
“You really do look wonderful; you don’t have anything to be bashful about!” Kagura encouraged, examining the ensemble from all sides. Following the end of his speech, Ayame had temporary excused himself, much to Nova’s relief.
“But this is still definitely too much,” she repeated, making a turn and watching the waterfall of fabric sway with her. “I mean, just look at this thing. How long ago did you tell him when my birthday was? This thing looks like it probably took months to make.”
“Oh, please. You have that little faith in his enthusiasm and skill?” her friend joked, unable to disguise an amused chuckle. “Honestly, I bet he’d prefer to thank you for giving him the opportunity to go all out.”
“He went all out all right,” Nova sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I mean, it’s not that I’m not grateful…ugh, whatever. I’ll keep it together for this afternoon, but I have no idea when I’ll have a chance to even wear something like this again.”
“Maybe you could wear it to a wedding, or something like that,” Kagura teased, a mischievous glint in her eye. Nova faced her with pursed lips and a flushed face, her expression loosening as her friend crossed to the other side of the room.
“What are you—?”
“I want to see what it looks like all lit up again!”
And just like that, the room was plunged into darkness. The only light that pierced the heavy shadows was the glow of Nova’s dress, a garment that’d been specifically crafted with a secondary function in mind. A striking blue ball gown that looked as if it’d been infused with pure starlight when framed by a backdrop devoid of any other source of illumination. As overbearing as she found it, the young woman couldn’t deny that she unabashedly adored its design, and she became entranced by its true and enchanting charm as she, too, examined it in awe once again. It’d been remarkable to her the first time she’d tried it on plain, but the moment its hidden magic had been revealed to her, it was hard for her to find any words to dismiss or denounce it.
“It really does look wonderful on you.”
She almost let out a squeak, but as light returned to the room she held on tightly to her composure. She was helpless to the blush that deepened in her cheeks, creeping up her face and down her neck, but she was still in control enough to make what she perceived to be a basic and sensible comment to her new visitor.
“You can’t even see me in it in the dark.” If she’d been paying more attention to her surroundings, she obviously would’ve noticed him sooner. Heightened vision in the dark was a benefit of her less than human attributes, but she’d been so caught up in her own musings that she’d failed to notice anyone making some kind of sly transition right under her nose. “You just see the outline of this thing that’s too extravagant for its own good.”
“I think my brother would flinch if he heard you say that,” Yuki chuckled as he stepped forward. The truth was that he also retained a lingering amount of heightened perception from the days of his cursed possession, but for now he decided to keep that little detail to himself. “Actually, maybe not. It takes a lot to faze him. But I know this is one of his proudest creations.”
“How so?”
“Oh, he couldn’t keep his mouth shut about it,” he explained, and Nova was slightly relieved for the shift in conversation. “It’s a wonder he didn’t show it to you sooner. I suppose Kagura might have beat him to a pulp if he did. That’s usually a good enough threat to deter anyone from not doing what she says.”
“And why are you here?” That was a stupid question, and it only brought back the topic she’d just considered herself so fortunate to avoid. Clearly, she wasn’t thinking straight, but the combination of her nerves and the events of the day had understandably taken their toll.
“You didn’t think I’d forget your birthday, did you?” he asked with a lighthearted lilt. “Even if I had, Kagura wouldn’t let me forget it. She’s got everyone under her thumb for you, although I know you didn’t ask for that.”
“I didn’t ask for any of this,” she defended insistently. “I mean, I’m grateful for it, endlessly so…but I didn’t expect any of this, and I never would. And I’d never ask for it in the first place, for people to go out of their way like this, especially when you haven’t even known me for very long—”
“I know,” he reassured, placing a cool finger against her lips. “I was just teasing you. You don’t have to start panicking or try to explain yourself. And I didn’t come just because I was told to. I really did remember, and I really do have something of my own to give you.”
She felt like she was going to implode, but it would be a tragedy to singe any part of this expensive new dress. Scrambling to find the proper words to respond, her eyes snapped to the object he slipped out from behind his back. She took the modest container he presented from his hands and opened it carefully, instantly recognizing the contents. They caught her off guard almost as much as the dress had. An assortment of shiny red fruit with soft leafy tops filled the inside, and she could smell their sweet aroma the moment they were exposed to the air.
“Strawberries?” Wait, that reaction seemed rude, and she definitely didn’t want to sound underwhelmed. “I mean, I love these, I really do! They’re my favorite fruit, but—”
“Kagura told me.” He smiled and her fingers started to shake. “One benefit of her forethought is that it gave me enough time to plant these. I was planning on growing some anyway, but I figured I could try to at least get a small batch done in time for today.”
Growing them…he’d made these specifically for her. Over time they’d been nurtured and cared for with the intent of developing into something that would be worth giving to her. She’d heard about this sort of secret hobby of his before but had yet to really find a chance to discuss it with him, or even just hear him talk about it. But the fact that he’d bothered to make such a thing for her…both brothers were outstandingly talented in their own right, and she was lucky enough to reap the benefits of both of their specialties. It made her want to cry, but she was too self-conscious for that now, and the last thing she wanted to do was make him think he’d upset her.
“Thank you.” It was the best thing she could think to say. Her eyes grew watery despite her best efforts, but she managed to hold back the bulk of her tears valiantly. He wasn’t dense enough to miss the misty sheen in her downcast gaze, and his heart swelled a bit with the happiness he felt upon realizing he’d done something to bring honest tears to her eyes. “I’d enjoy them more if you’d eat some with me, though. If you’re not allergic, that is. But I guess if you were able to grow them you probably aren’t, so that was a pointless thing to say.”
She couldn’t seem to stop herself from getting more and more flustered by the moment, and his smile widened just a hint as he wrapped her in a gentle embrace. “It wasn’t pointless. Nothing you say is. I appreciate that you care enough to ask, and I’m glad you like them. I know they aren’t as amazing as what my brother made—”
“No, please, they’re really just as amazing!” she vehemently denied, pushing back so he could see the determined sincerity on her face. “They’re even more amazing to me, I promise! No one’s ever done something like this for me, took the time to make something like this. And I know it can be really hard to grow things. Well, it’s always been that way for me, it’s always seemed like a really delicate balancing act. You have to be careful of weather and bugs and all sorts of other things…I know it wasn’t easy, and it took a long time, a lot longer that it would have to just go out and buy some from the store, or anything else for that matter! It really really does mean a lot, it means the most to me, and I really don’t want you to doubt that—”
“Okay, okay, I understand. I was kind of kidding, I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression,” he soothed, patting her head. The warmth in his eyes reminded her of the burning heat in her skin, and she was easily captivated by his shimmering silver gaze. “To be fair, even I’m a little impressed with the dress he made. I’m not a huge fan of a lot of the stuff he sells here, but this is a special case. And it really does look beautiful on you.” He barely managed to hold his tongue in time to avoid letting anything more embarrassing slip out. “I’m lucky I got to see you wearing it.”
Steam was practically blowing out of her ears now, and she did her best not to tighten her grip on the container to a point that it would harm the contents. She wanted to thank him for his thoughtful compliment, but all her mind could do was reel with disbelief and delight and shyness. She wanted to throttle her friend for setting her up in such a stressful situation, but also shower her with gratitude for giving her the opportunity to share a moment like this with him. It was obvious that she liked him, and she was cautiously coming around to the idea that he might have even an inkling of the same kind of fondness for her…but nothing had been set in stone by either of them. Maybe little exchanges like this were the preparations they needed to get a place where they could take that first tentative step.
“Thank you,” her words were nothing more than a timid whisper, but his hearing was more than keen enough to decipher them. “For your gift, and your kindness. For bothering to do any of this for me and coming to see me today. I know you have plenty of other things you’d rather be doing, things that are less annoying and boring than this—”
He trailed his fingers through her hair, curling them around until her cheek was settled in his palm. She followed his soundless guidance, lifting her eyes to find the surprisingly intense expression he’d put in place. His face was communicating a thousand things at once, but the most prominent display was the unmistakable affection that made her knees weak. She didn’t know if she’d be able to live it down if she collapsed here and now, but her heart and mind were unprepared to withstand the resolve in his gaze.
“There’s nowhere I’d rather be right now than here with you.”
A cheesy line to say the least, but she was thinking the same things ten times over. She wondered if they were actually being eavesdropped on, and if so, just how much self-control it must be taking their spies to hold themselves back. By this point, Ayame usually would have been grandly waxing poetic about the true beauty and splendidness of such an intimate scene, and Kagura probably would have been equally forceful in her own method of cheering them on. But by some miracle, they were able to keep this experience to themselves, to soak in the atmosphere and the intoxication of each other’s presence on their own for just a moment.
Nova couldn’t remember what kind of birthday wish she’d made, if she’d made one at all, but her desires had been fulfilled all the same. Moreover even, since this kind of caring and thoughtfulness was the last thing she’d expected. Part of her heart couldn’t help wishing that she’d get to keep filling it with this special feeling, that she’d be able to keep gazing upon this pleasant, calming face. In his own heart, Yuki was trembling to an equal degree, one that he’d never felt in the exact same way before. Perhaps one day they’d be able to steady one another’s shaky hearts by sharing a stable, comforting embrace.
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Date: 2019-06-26 02:50 am (UTC)