“Genny, are you sure this is going to work?”
Your shorter friend had been brushing your hair and cleaning you up as you sat on a tree stump, just a stone’s throw away from where Celica had decided to make camp for the night. Genny had been giving you tips and advice on how to approach a certain person of interest, and how to sway his stoic heart in your favour.
“Trust me, older men love a good conversation-just be yourself, and remember, don’t get discouraged.”
She finished with your hair and circled around to take a look at you from the front, taking the opportunity to brush one last strand from your eyes, before a look of satisfaction grew across her face.
“Deen’s a pretty quiet, closed-up person, but I’m positive that bright smile of yours will open him up as easily as a flower.”
“Y-You really think so, Genny?”
She giggled, and took the chance to gently pat your head, as you were finally short enough sitting down for her to reach properly.
“I know so. Now-look, there he is! Go on, you can do it!”
Genny helped you to your feet and excitedly gave you a comforting squeeze, before dashing off back to camp for you to complete your mission. You watched as Deen, large and intimidating as ever, appeared to be walking towards his own tent as well-and as you came forth nervously, you got a few feet away before your eyes met.
“H…Hello, Deen. How are you?”
You stopped a little bit before him, and to your surprise, the intimidating man suddenly had trouble holding your gaze. He looked away and mumbled something, and you had to take a cautious step closer to hear it again.
Your eyebrow raised, and softly, you asked whatever he could be sorry about?
“That gift for you….it was uncalled for. Unnecessary. I’m afraid I may have complicated things, and the last thing you need is to be distracted.”
He seemed almost a bit bashful, which was yet one more side of Deen you hadn’t had the pleasure of seeing before.
“You can sell it, or throw it back into the ocean-but don’t feel obligated to keep it. It was just a tool of my own…desires. So I-I apologize..”
Deen became more and more flustered the more he spoke, until it was more like he was nervously babbling, and yet still in that calm tone of his. Fortunately and unexpectedly for you, he seemed just as embarrassed having a conversation than you were-and so, to show him just how exactly you were feeling, you slipped your hand into the top of your tunic, and pulled out the pendant that had been hanging underneath. With a small chain from Genny’s jewellery box, she had helped you fashion the little pearl into a necklace. And, at the sight of it, Deen’s eyes widened.
“I…I liked your gift so much, that I wanted to keep it with me wherever I go. To…remind me of your kindness.”
Tentatively, the myrmidon got a little closer to you, to slowly reach up and lift the pearl pendant onto the pads of his fingers. He seemed entranced not only by your handiwork, but just by it’s stunning beauty itself.
The words had barely left your mouth when you realized just how close Deen really was, and how easy it would be to touch him. Just lean in oh-so slightly, and surely your lips would brush with his…
But, to your surprise, it appeared that Deen already had such an idea in mind. After a fair bit of quiet hesitation, he slowly leaned in, giving you plenty of time to move if you wished-before finally, his mouth pressed to yours in a gentle, warm kiss. He pulled away quite hastily afterwards, a little awkward about the whole encounter-but you couldn’t stop the growing grin on your face, even with a hand covering your mouth.
“That’s…a pretty smile you’ve got there.”
For the first time, Deen let off a tiny, soft smile, that made his whole face glow with warmth. The coldness of his exterior appeared to have melted away in your presence, which only made you that much more giddy and comfortable. Without lots more to say, the two of you started making your way back towards camp, each one of you with delighted smiles on your faces, in anticipation of whatever could happen next.
