‘Me? Would I ever do such a thing?’
The question was facetious and Haaki knew it. It was really only a way to bide time, just like fussing over the hounds as they settled, just like pushing his bread around the edge of his plate. Not that he could eat it if he wanted to. His throat was too dry to swallow and his stomach felt the same way as it had done when he was climbing a building on some mission for the Brotherhood and lost his handhold, dropping into the icy street below. Shaken, shivering.
Although he had felt, or thought he felt, this way about people before, somehow he had never got as far as telling them so. There was never a right time, never a right place and a plethora of other excuses. Whenever he came close things went wrong and then they were gone. He couldn’t quite meet Sibby’s eyes as he spoke, but he watched her hands, made sure she was still there.
‘It’s just… I like you?’ Making it sound like a question, very good start, really reinforced his sincerity. Haaki picked up the bread and crumbled it between his fingers. ‘I mean, really like you. And care about you. And, you know. All this joking about us being together, I sort of think… is it really joking? Because you’re– so important to me. I’m not going to make this even more awkward by going on about how you helped me, and how much fun you are, and how clever, but, um, now I have already so… aye. I love– the time we spend together, I love your smile, I love your laugh, I love… you. It came out all wrong but I’ve said it. You, um… you can kick me out now.’
The silence was worrying at first. Haaki seemed to withdraw into himself and otherwise acted as though he was incredibly guilty of something. Sibjorn almost broke the silence herself, ready to tell him not to worry and give him an out to whatever had him so fidgety. But instead, she patiently waited. You had to be patient with Haaki, otherwise you’d never get anywhere with him. Spending so much time with Haaki, and honing that skill with him, she almost accredited her wonderful patience at the Temple to him alone.
Sibby smiled at his first attempt, and her brows furrowed in amusement. Of course he liked her, they spent a lot of time together and Haaki was not the type to be around those he didn’t like. Neither was Sibby. But from the first moment she had laid eyes on Haaki, she knew she would like him.
The more he spoke, however, the less amused she became. The tone of the entire day was shifting rapidly and for a moment, Sibby wasn’t exactly sure how to react. But eventually, it was made clear to her. She responded in the only way she knew how: by leaning forward, pulling Haaki to her, and firmyl kissing him.