ask away!🩷

Popping a dumpling into your mouth, you hum blissfully, savouring the flavour. The sweet tang of the sauce, and the-

The men on the other side of the table staring at you, biting back smiles. Shingen clears his throat, tapping his cheek.

"My angel, you have something on your face. Allow me-"

Before his hand is even a hair's breadth near your cheek, a hand to your left and another two your right shoot out with deadly efficiency, to intercept his touch. The temperature of the room seems to drop into the negatives, Kanetsugu and Kenshin both frozen in a defensive posture to clean your cheek, with terrifying intensity. The room falls into an awkward silence, your cheeks warming as both men slowly and reluctantly pull their hands away from you. Shingen sits back with a knowing smile, an eyebrow raised as his steel grey eyes flit between the two men who right now resemble cobras, coiled in tension and ready to strike.

"Do not touch her, Shingen, or you will lose both hands before they make it back to that disgusting excuse for a meal." Kenshin threatens through gritted teeth, earning a fond chuckle from Shingen who easily reaches his threatened hand back down to a sticky red bean dumpling perched on the edge of his plate, unaffected by the chilling glares. Kenshin's eyes briefly flick past you to Kanetsugu, his expression almost a mirror image of his own. It causes an uncomfortable feeling to claw its way up through his chest, jealousy. That glimmer of covetousness doesn't go unnoticed by the man on other end of the table.

"Agreed, Lord Shingen. Y/N is grubby enough without your paws on her. Respectfully." Kanetsugu adds, envy subtly rearing it's ugly head, Yukimura scoffs in agreement, trying to hide his grin, unsuccessfully of course.

"Excuse me? Rude! I am not grubby! And will the two of you cool it?! No violence while we're eating!" In an attempt to defend yourself, you seem to bring the temperature back up to a comfortable degree, the pleasant atmosphere returns. Kanetsugu shakes his head with a strictly subdued smile as Kenshin returns to his eye watering plums, covertly stealing glances at you to make sure Shingen isn't trying anything. You swipe the sauce off of your cheek and return to enjoying your meal, Shingen speaks up again.

"Can you blame these lovesick brutes, my princess? Even in the midst of this tantalising spread, you are by far the most delectable thing in the room." He coos, never lost for flowery flattery when it comes to you.

"Lord Shingen, I'm not going to stop these two when they decide to cut your head off. You deserve it for being such a shameless flirt, and over a boar woman no less-"

"If one more person calls me a boar, or grubby, or anything but pleasant company, I'm leaving! You guys can eat on your own!" You interrupt Yukimura with your declaration, giving everyone pause. Of course, for all their teasing, no one wants you to leave. Moments like these are precious, few and far between as war looms overhead, casting a shadow over Echigo.

Days go by like petals in the breeze, the tension has mostly been forgotten, save for envious glances and suppressed jealous comments that threaten to jump out from both Kantesugu and Kenshin. One crisp morning, you're on tenterhooks waiting at the castle gates. Soldiers stand around immersed in excited chatter but you find it hard to be so lighthearted, waiting for your friends to depart to face battle. Kantesugu takes his places beside you without a word, coolly surveying the scene. His demeanor gives nothing away except for the fact he's seemingly not worried at all.

"You may as well write 'terrified fool' on your forehead. It will save you the trouble of frowning so much and sighing yourself into a stupor." The words are teasing, but there's a hint of a soft smile on his face as he regards you. In his own way, he seems to be trying to comfort you.

"I'm allowed to be a terrified fool. I'll always worry about you guys, especially when you're about to go off to war." You look up at him, surprised to see such a gentle look in his eye, a rarity that makes something bloom in your chest. Something new but undeniable.

"Do you trust Lord Kenshin? And do you trust me?" He asks, his voice losing it's mocking tone and softening imperceptibly as he turns to face you.

"Of course I do. I don't know anyone stronger or braver than the two of you."

"Good. So you do have some brains in here somewhere." Smiling uncharacteristically sweetly, Kanetsugu taps your temple with two fingers. Half-heartedly smiling, your attempt to look away is intercepted by his steady hands cupping your face, his usually stern expression giving way to something more comforting.

"I swear on my honour, Lord Kenshin and I will return to your side. All you have to do is be patient. Can you manage it?" He knows the answer, you're a good girl to your core, good to a fault, it's what he loves-

He shouldn't say love, it burns him up inside, the words he wants to say die on his tongue. He shouldn't say love, not when he sees the way Kenshin softens for you. He knows because he softens the same way, weak from you and strong for you.

A throat being cleared agitatedly nearby snaps you both out of the haze, cool hands withdrawing achingly from your soft face. Kenshin stands nearby, something violently itching inside of him, something unnamed and ugly. It threatens to claw its way out before he puts a lid on it, addressing Kantesugu.

"Mount your horse. We march soon. And you, woman-" He lowers his tone for you, mismatched eyes locking onto you with frightening devotion as Kantesugu reluctantly releases you to find his steed, steadfast in his loyalty.

"If you keep looking at me like a frightened rabbit...I'll lock you in the dungeons. No one can see that look but me. Do you understand? Smile, and we will bring you victory." A large hand ruffles your hair as your heart pounds almost painfully, Kenshin turns his back on you without another word, and you're left to question which one of them has left you reeling more. You can only watch as they stride toward battle, comrades on the field and rivals in love. Each man painfully aware of the feelings starting to blossom in his chest, and more

"You mustn't smile at me so sweetly, my angel. My heart can't keep up with all of the ideas you give me." He slides the shoji screen door across, inviting you to enter first.

"I can't help smiling...I'm just happy, you make me happy." You feel your cheeks warm at your own sappy words, now avoiding meeting his steel grey eyes, because you know exactly what face he's making.

Shingen lets out a groan, lifting his free hand to his chest to clutch the spot over his heart in exaggerated lovesick agony.

"Have mercy on a poor mortal, celestial maiden. You can't be so cute without warning me first." As always, his words are flowery but unlike when you first met, now every one is sincere. You may as well have hung the stars in the sky because that's how he looks at you.

"Oh, stop it. You knew I was cute when you met me, you've had more than enough time to prepare." You quip, grinning. As the screen door slides shut again, you begin peeling your robes off one by one, changing for bed. The nights have been warm, something thin should suffice. As you peruse, you hear the rustle of fabric and a deep, contented sigh. Shingen of course is already in bed waiting for you, watching lazily with his head propped up on his hand, taut muscles on full display.

As you finally pad over to the futon, Shingen's face changes to one of concern, and your heart squeezes with unease. What could be wrong..?

"My angel, this bed...it won't fit us both...where will your wings go?" Just like that he's grinning again and you want to suffocate him with a pillow.

"Don't do that! I got worried. If you keep teasing me, I'll just fly away and never come back! Then what will you do?" You declare, climbing into the covers beside him, his strong arms already moving to pull you close, back to his side where you belong.

"Then I'll be left with no choice but to make sure you never want to leave me again. I will worship you every day and every night until all thoughts of flying back to heaven are forgotten..." He's so warm beside you as he whispers in your ear, not in a sensual way, but in the way a secret promise between lovers should be told. Warm, sincere, adoring. You rest your head on his chest and you can faintly hear the beat of his heart like a steady drum.

"...that doesn't sound so bad. I suppose I could stay a while. You do make a comfortable pillow." Your breathing gets slower as you smile up at the ceiling, indescribably comfortable and cosy, contented.

"And you, well...you..." Shingen gently turns your tired face towards his own, smiling softly at the sight of you. Safe, happy, loved. Just as you should be.

"...you make everything comfortable. You make me whole." No poetic or fanciful words this time, just his heart laid bare. Your brow is kissed tenderly as you gaze up at him, eyelids a fraction heavier than they were before. Minutes of slow, tired talking pass, his heart warms at the sight of you trying so hard to stay awake to talk to him, but eventually he pulls you closer with a gentle hush.

"Sleep, my goddess of dreams." He mutters into the crown of your head, holding onto you as if you might really float away. Letting your weary eyes close, you feel nothing but loved and cherished by a man who fears being without you more than facing battle. Nothing exists outside this room, outside the two of you.

➺ Leonardo isn't the crazy, over-the-top kind of lover. He's easy and gentle, he knows you're his, and he's yours. Of course he is protective of you and has the potential for jealousy, but he doesn't fret too much. Where's the need? He's confident in the fact that every night it's his arms you return to, he doesn't rely on garish displays of affection to keep you by his side.

➺ Having said that, Leonardo does feel the instinctive kind of jealousy that one does seeing someone else get a little too friendly with you, their hands almost where they shouldn't be or eyes lingering on your lips. He's friendly in his jealousy, quiet and warning. All he needs to do is smile, throw an arm around your shoulders, anchoring you back to him whilst making conversation, fixing the other person with a look that says 'I'm watching'.

➺ The sound of your laughter is one of Leonardo's favourite things. From a stifled giggle to an uproarious belly laugh, the sound of your joy incarnate warms his heart every time. Hearing it from somewhere within the mansion always gives him pause and makes him smile, internally thinking 'God, I love you, cara mia'

➺ He doesn't like smoking his cigarillos around you too much, he knows the smoke isn't good for you. He'll never give them up of course, after trying to quit for centuries, you eventually just give up and light the next one, he just makes sure to do it on the balcony or in the garden. The last thing he wants is to cause you any ill effects from the smoke.

➺ Watching you get ready in the mornings is the ultimate relaxation, lazing in bed, head propped up on his hand while you fuss over your hair, applying lotions and potions to that cute face and choosing an outfit. Not that it matters what you wear, you could wear a potato sack and he'd still be pawing at you. Dressed to the nines or completely bare, you're more beautiful than anything he's seen in his long life.

➺ Leonardo is a napper, the king of being lazy, but even more so if you sit on his lap. Like his own personal weighted blanket, your presence is like a warm balm on his soul. You fit perfectly against him, snug and his. He can smell you, feel you and adore you, taking in every detail. Sometimes when you wake up, he's still dead asleep and you'll find yourself trapped under him, you'll have to try your hardest to wake him up for any chance of escape.

➺ He tries not to manhandle you too much, but when you're as old as he is you learn to keep your eyes peeled constantly. He's very careful with you, he admires your independence but sometimes you're so damn oblivious and he'll be damned if he's gonna watch you get hurt. Sweeping you out of the way if a carriage drives by too close, carrying you to a café for lunch if you've neglected to have breakfast and he sees the signs of fatigue setting in.

➺ He'll always make sure you know you're beautiful. He's very appreciative of everything about you, from the top of your head to the tips of your toes, inside and out. There's not a part of you he won't kiss, caress or compliment, and it's all genuine. There isn't a part of you that inspires anything other than love, because you radiate it.

➺You'll sometimes find little sketches of you littered around the room, you don't even catch him doing it, they just appear there. It just comes naturally, his hands easily create your image even from memory, thats what happens when you spend so much time admiring someone's face.

Cries for help were swallowed up in the night, adrenaline coursing through you so painfully you could mistake it for poison.

Now, here in the dark, bound and afraid, you could only hope to feel the touch of the man you love instead of the rough ropes holding you uncomfortably, chafing against your soft wrists. Unable to see what was going on, the only thing you could do was steady your breathing and think of the heterochromic eyes you were wishing to look into again. A campfire burned nearby, the smell of disturbed earth and curling smoke reaching you, it would make sense that dusk was approaching fast. It'd seemingly been hours, occasionally you've been nudged and spoken to in a gruff manner, if only to make sure you're still alive.

The waiting, the fear, the loneliness. It crept upon you like the shadows of the night, of course you had every faith in Kenshin who was undoubtedly razing forests and levelling towns to find you, his beloved, but the fear of 'what if' lingered. What if he couldn't find you in time? What if you could't hold out any longer? What if-

Thud.

A discordant chorus of yells broke out, the bandits leaping to action and putting an end to your doubts. Your body curled instinctively, the fear untamable.

Ching.

Blades on blades. To the untrained ear, the cacophony of scraping metal is just another skirmish, but a single blade, a flame in the darkness reignited hope in your heart. Himetsuru Ichimonji.

Only one man possessed the ferocity to wield the blade with the same hands that worshipped you softly and cradled your face as naturally as breathing. Kenshin. He made no sound, swift and silent in his approach as the bandits fell to his blade like sheafs of wheat to a sickle. Within minutes, the slaughter was over and as soft as cotton, Kenshin knelt reverently beside you.

"My love. You must never forgive me for taking so long to find you." He spoke, guilt, quiet rage and relief all baked into his words as the ropes fell away from your aching limbs.

"K-Kenshin...you found me-" Tears fell before you could stop them, the hood lifted from your head only to reveal the pained, hauntingly beautiful face of your love. The tears seemed to burn him as large thumbs swept over your cheeks to chase them away, the tension finally melting out of you as you sunk into him, face buried in the safety of his chest and head cradled in his cool hands.

You didn't dare ask or look as Kenshin took you into his arms, pressing your head into his shoulder so as to shield you from the remains of his rage, the men who'd captured and tormented you now laying in different pieces underfoot. Such sweet and sensitive eyes should never bear witness to the ones Kenshin Uesugi lays waste to.

The ride home was brief, as if Kenshin could spur his steed on to outrun his guilt, but it didn't matter to you. All that mattered was the love spoken into the crown of your head and the gentle kisses pressed to your pulse points. You couldn't cease the trembling of your limbs, but you assured him it was merely due to the chill of the night which he of course knew to be a lie. How did he know? He'd perhaps been shaking more than you. From anger, from fear, from guilt, and from the agony he'd endured knowing he wasn't there to prevent this in the first place. He made a silent vow to never let you leave his sight again.

As night settled over Echigo, Kenshin settled over you. Wrapped around you like a suit of armour that bled on your behalf, howled in pain if you were aggrieved. Lamps were lit as far as the eye could see along the palace walls, guards stationed right outside as Kenshin tucked your head under his chin after holding you through the tears and hiccups.

"My love...my [______]...never again will this ugliness reach you, never again will a tear spill from these eyes of yours...and never again will I allow you to feel so afraid. Do you hear me..?" His voice was soft but firm as you nodded against his neck. That wasn't enough. Briefly you were peeled away from him as he took your beautiful face into his hands, guiding your gaze to his.

"You are safe. Hear it. Know it. You are mine alone." He affirmed, forehead pressing against yours. And you knew it was true, it couldn't be anything but. The look in his mismatched eyes told it all. Reflected in his gaze was you, small, beautiful, wonderful you, the only thing there was room in his heart for.