#falk fluff

It took you a moment to find your voice, “well, at least you think it’s cute, I guess… you have a nasty habit of making me trip over my own words.” You let out a soft laugh of your own.

He lets out a low hum in response, “consider it payback.” He responds playfully, his eyes slowly tracing over your features, fearing he may never have the opportunity to study you so close again.

“For?”

“Taking over my every waking thought.” Your cheeks grow warm as a flustered giggle tumbles from your lips, the melodic sound was enough to make Falk’s heart race. You fell into a comfortable silence, the soft crackling from the radio filling the empty air between you as he pulled out onto the road. 

It was a dark, cloudy December afternoon, you could tell that the storm rolling in wasn't going to be a nice one. The soft music lazily rolled through the speakers as you raced along the never ending highway. Falk let’s out a soft sigh, his arm stretching across the back of the seat. You sat rigid, your fingers nervously fidgeting with the edge of the blanket that covered your lap. ‘Stop freaking out.’ you berated yourself internally. ‘We've been driving for almost two hours, he probably just wants to stretch.’ 

“You can relax, you know. I promise I won't bite.” He jokes with a chuckle. You clear your throat, attempting to force your posture to relax. He pauses for a moment, mulling over whether or not he wanted to ask a question that had been weighing on his mind for a while. “Why do I make you so nervous?” Your heart stopped. You didn’t want to look at him, feeling as if your eyes met his, he would know all your deepest secrets. There wasn’t anything you wanted more than to confess to him at that moment. You had so many questions you needed answered. There were so many nights you had fallen just shy of shattering every boundary you knew; how badly you wanted to feel Falk’s lips against yours, how you lingered on his every word, desperate for any way to keep the conversation going just so you wouldn’t have to say goodnight, you wanted to know if he felt the same.

“It’s nothing,” your voice was weak when it finally managed to tumble from your lips. “I’m just worried about us getting to the lodge before the weather gets bad, that’s all.” Falk’s lips press into a tight line. He knew you weren’t being honest with him, but he had decided to drop the matter for the time being. He didn't want to risk you shutting him out entirely. You forced your attention back on the road, your pulse thundering in your ears. It was then you had realized it had begun to snow. Thick white globs of precipitation fell from the sky heavy enough to obscure the highway in front of you. Falk tuts under his breath, “this weather is getting bad a lot quicker than I thought it would.” He manages to read the sign that sped past you on the highway. 

“We’re still over an hour away from the lodge.” Falk doesn’t miss the nervous tremor in your voice as you added your input. 

He offers you a gentle smile in response, hoping to find some way to ease your anxiety. “I know somewhere we can spend the night. It’s probably a good idea to get off the roads before it gets any worse.” 

The thought crossed your mind about how you hadn’t really eaten anything today, your nerves this morning making your appetite the furthest thing from your mind. “What about food?”

“I know for a fact that someone was there recently, I’m sure the cabinets are well stocked. But, I’ll find somewhere to stop off along the way, we can pick up any odds and ends we might need.” He reassures you. You tense as his arm falls across your shoulders. After a moment your body can’t help but instinctively melt into his warmth. You relax into his side, releasing a soft sigh as your shoulders finally relax. “I’ll take good care of you Mäuschen, I promise.” The thought of spending even more time alone with him made your heart race.

“I know you will.” You mutter in response. Falk gives your shoulder a soft squeeze, hoping you wouldn’t notice how fast his own heart was beating.

You leave the highway behind, traveling down winding roads completely surrounded by tall, dark trees on either side. Heading into the mountains, you should have expected that the only town to stop off along the way would be like this. The houses few and far between, miles of road stretching between each impossibly long driveway, concealing whatever dwelling that resided at the opposite end. You eventually pull into a gas station, the dull buzz of the lone sign in the darkness makes your stomach turn with anxiety. The parking lot was solid white, a thick layer of snow making the shop's dull red awning bow under its weight. Falk prattles off your favorite candy and drink combo from memory, catching you off guard. He can’t help but laugh at your bewildered expression. “What?” His question was laced with a chuckle, his playful expression drops to your lips before meeting your gaze once again.

“How did you remember that?” You ask softly. He shrugs, a lazy, full body movement that showed he would never reveal his secrets. “I’ll be right back, you stay here and keep warm.” He carefully takes hold of the blanket resting in your lap, pulling it up to wrap around your shoulders. His warm breath bounces off your skin, for a moment it felt like your heart had stopped. You don’t think you had ever been this close to him before, it was the first time you had noticed the way the corners of his eyes wrinkled when he smiled. You thought it was cute. Falk’s expression softens, a fond look settling across his features that makes your chest tighten. He sucks in a deep breath, snapping himself from whatever trance he had found himself in. He tightens his jacket around him before hurrying from the car and inside the store. You watched him through the wall of windows that lined the front, he tossed a smile over his shoulder as he shouted something in response to the clerk behind the counter. He returns shortly after, rushing back to the car with a few flimsy plastic bags slung over his arm.

“It’s not much, but it’ll do.” He smiles, leaning closer to you as he reaches to put the bags in the back seat.

“You are absolutely covered in snow.” You respond with a laugh. You reach out, brushing the fluffy powder from his head. You carefully push your fingers through his hair, combing the strands that had fallen into his face neatly back into place. Falk watches you curiously, he was happy to see you finally starting to let your guard down, even if it was just a little bit. You pause as your eyes meet his, a soft smile settling onto your features as he leans into your touch. You swallow thickly before you manage to find your voice again, “better get moving, we don’t want to get stuck on the side of the road somewhere.” You joke making him chuckle. You reluctantly separate from each other, Falk nervously drumming his fingers on the steering wheel as he tries to keep his mind on driving. You rest your hand on the space in between the two of you, you notice Falk glance at your subtle movements out of the corner of his eye. You jump slightly as you feel his fingers bump against yours, your skin buzzed with electricity where your hands met.

“You’re freezing.” He remarks suddenly, his voice soft in the quiet space.

“I’ll be alright.” You respond quickly, neither of you making any effort to move away from the other.

“I’ll get a fire going once we get to the cabin.” His pinky links with yours, gently tugging your hand closer. You let your fingers slip in between his, your hand immediately getting enveloped in the warmth from his skin. You shift, shuffling closer to him. You hesitantly let your head fall to rest against his shoulder. He tenses slightly before relaxing into your touch, his thumb distractedly tracing through the valley of your knuckles.

“Whose cabin is this anyways? Is it really okay for us to spend the night?”

He chuckles in response, “considering it belongs to my family I think we’ll be okay.” Falk fills the rest of your car ride with stories of his trips here when he was younger. You hung on every word: fishing trips with his father, weekends hiking the mountains around the property, how every so often he would venture up on his own for some time alone with his thoughts. “I was planning on inviting you up here eventually, I guess mother nature decided today was as good of a day as any.”

You glance at him curiously. “You were going to invite me up here?” He nods in response. “Why?”

“Considering that every time I find myself here my thoughts always seem to wander back to you.” Your cheeks grow warm at his confession, he gives your hand a soft squeeze. “This place is very important to me… and it’s something I’ve always wanted to share with you.” He pauses for a moment, searching for something else to say. “Try to be up for the sunrise in the morning, I think you’ll see why this place is so special.” He adds on with a smile.

The gravel driveway crunched under the car's tires, the tall trees groaning in the strong gusts of wind. Falk pulls the blanket around you before helping you out of the car. He wraps an arm around your shoulders, pulling you into his side to help shield you from the cold. He ushers you inside first before following close behind you with your small haul of groceries. It’s dark inside the cabin, the small living room being only illuminated by the pale light of the moon that streamed in through the window. Falk curses as he trips over something in the darkness, fumbling along the wall until eventually stumbling across a light switch. The lamp in the opposite corner of the room filled the space with a dull orange glow, finally allowing you to see the details of the space around you. A well loved leather loveseat sat in front of a neatly kept fireplace, a heavy crocheted blanket draped across the back. A box of expensive looking cigars sat on one of the side tables, a small stack of books sat on the other next to a cup of crochet hooks and knitting needles. Family photos crowded the mantle, the small shiny frames overlapping one another to make space for all of them. Curiosity gets the better of you as you approach them to get a better look, rubbing your hands over your arms to try and dispel any remaining chill from the outside as you examine each photograph. Falk watches on with an amused smile, leaning against the doorframe as you slowly look between each one. Your hands dropped away from your shoulders, folding them neatly in front of you as if you were at a museum, the sight makes Falk chuckle under his breath. You couldn’t keep the smile off your face as you traced over his familiar features, the teenager smiling back at you from behind the glass a scrawny, awkward precursor to the fine man he eventually grew into. It was apparent that Falk’s family had been coming here his entire life; a barefoot laughing boy propped on his moms hip, the next one a few years older, proudly showing off the fish he and his father had caught at the lake, younger versions of all the High Clergy members sat around a bonfire with beers in their hands. “Quite the place you got here.” You remark, shooting a soft smile over your shoulder when you notice his staring.

“I should bring you up here during the summer,” your cheeks grow warm as you watch his eyes flicker over your form, “I can only imagine how beautiful you would look surrounded by all the fireflies.” He lets out a quiet chuckle, studying you for another moment before shaking himself from his thoughts. “I’m going to put this stuff away, I’ll get a fire going, and we can see what we can scrape together for dinner.” He chuckles.

“Sounds like a plan to me.” You respond with a smile.

Falk made quick work of getting a fire started, you watch the flames dance from your position cuddled up under a blanket on the loveseat. A mug of tea warms your hands, a radio crackles softly from the kitchen. You hear the shower turn off in the other room, Falk emerging a few minutes later in a pair of sweatpants cinched tightly around his waist and a baggy t shirt that was drowning him in its dark blue fabric, a faded logo you didn’t recognize neatly swirled across the front in white font. You nod in his direction, “little big on you, aren’t they?” You ask playfully, making him chuckle.

“My shoulders are a little too broad for one of my mother’s nightgowns.” He rebuttals causing you to let out a laugh of your own. He continues to make small talk as he makes his way into the kitchen, every so often his head poking back around the door frame to shoot you some flirtatious smile. He eventually brings you a steaming bowl of soup, carefully handing it to you before collapsing into the cushions beside you. The loveseat dips under his weight, causing your shoulder to knock against his. You were painfully aware of how his body pressed to yours, wishing you had the courage to reach over and take his hand again. “Chicken noodle, fresh from the can.” He jokes with a smile. You thank him softly, sipping at the hot, salty broth. You sat in a comfortable silence as you ate, both of you watching the fire contently. Every so often you noticed how Falk would glance at you out of the corner of his eye, moving as if he wanted to speak only to settle back into the familiar quiet, as if disturbing the peace would make everything fall apart around him. You help him clean up after dinner, taking care of the few dishes you had created in the process. A strong gust of wind rattles the windows, Falk notices you tense as the lights flicker slightly. He responds by simply turning up the radio, taking your hand, and sweeping you into his arms. He glides you across the floor, swaying you in time with the music that filled the room. You can’t stop the surprised giggle that slips past your lips, allowing him to lead you through clumsy spins. Falk trips over his own feet, offering you a bashful smile as you rest your hand on his chest to steady him.

“Easy there, Casanova.” You laugh.

“It’s been such a long time since I’ve danced with anybody,” he admits with a shaky breath, “forgive me if I’m a little rusty.”

“If it makes you feel any better, you’re the only person I’ve ever had the chance to dance with, so I don’t have much to compare it to in the first place.” Falk pauses, glancing down at you curiously.

“I see you at the parties at The Abbey all the time, surely–”

“No one’s ever asked me.” You respond bluntly, hoping he would drop the subject. That part was true, no one had ever asked you to dance. The part you were neglecting to tell him was how that was more than likely caused by the fact you had a tendency to tuck yourself away in some concealed corner, hoping tonight will finally be the night you share more than some fleeting, flirtatious glances with the man that managed to occupy your every thought.

The current song that was playing faded to silence, the soft popping of the old radio filling the dead air in between the station’s selections. “Well, that simply won’t do, now will it?” He straightens himself up, a mischievous glimmer in his eye. He smooths his hands down the front of his shirt. He offers you his hand, your heart racing at the sight of the charming, lopsided smile that you had been in love with since the beginning. He states your name softly, you had never heard it spoken more beautifully than in that moment. “Can I formally request a dance, Mein Herz?” Your fingers brush over his palm, his skin warm against yours  as his hand fully engulfs yours. The trumpet from a big band ensemble lets out a few lazy whines before the rest of the instruments join in, your heart pounds in time with the drums steady rhythm. Falk wraps an arm around your waist, easing your body against his. He moves you in time with the melody, a few quick steps across the floor that turn into a romantic sway, pulling you just the slightest bit closer. You couldn’t keep your eyes off him, the fear of tripping over your own feet long forgotten under Falk’s intense gaze. He wasn’t going to let you fall, not without being there to catch you. His fingers knead into the plush of your hip, his thumb languidly tracing through the valleys of your knuckles. He looks down at you with complete, unapologetic adoration. “You are so beautiful.” He states softly, his voice barely loud enough for you to hear over the radio.

“I'm nothing special.” You rebuttal in a similar tone.

“You are to me.” Your heart raced at his confession, butterflies erupting in your stomach at such simple words. You reluctantly part from one another, Falk’s hand lingering on your waist, wanting to keep you within arms reach for as long as he possibly could.

“That was nice,” you couldn’t seem to tear your eyes away from him, “thank you.”

He offers you a simple smile in response, but the sight was enough to make your breath catch in your throat. “Anytime,” he leans down to bring his face closer to yours, his warm breath bouncing off your lips, “you’re quite the dancer.” You let out a soft laugh in response, playfully pushing his shoulder. You cover your mouth, unable to suppress the yawn that escaped you. “We should probably get to bed, I want to get on the road as soon as we’re able to in the morning.” He carefully pushes a strand of hair out of your face.

“You’re probably right.” Your chest tightened slightly, you were having such a great night with him, you wish it didn’t have to end so soon.

Despite Falk’s protests, you would be sleeping on the couch. “You’re a lot taller than I am, you need the space.” When he finally realized you wouldn’t budge on your decision, he reluctantly began gathering whatever spare blankets he could find. 

“If you need anything at all, just come wake me up.” He informs you with a soft smile.

“Alright.” You whisper in response. He sways on his heels slightly, searching for anything else to say.

“Well, goodnight…” He pauses before letting your name tumble from his lips, savoring every syllable as if he would never hear something so sweet again.

“Goodnight, Falk.” He gives you a small nod before disappearing into the bedroom, the door shutting with a soft click behind him. You stared up at the ceiling, the light from the fireplace making shadows dance around the room. You nestled into your pillow, your eyes already beginning to grow heavy as warmth began to seep into the blankets. You inhaled deeply, catching the scent of the burning logs and something incredibly familiar. You ran your fingers along the edge of the blanket Falk had given you in the car, the smell of his cologne a comfort in an unfamiliar place. It didn’t take long for you to drift off.

When you awoke the room was pitch black, a few embers clung to life in the otherwise dark fireplace. You shiver as you sit up, it was a lot colder in here now that the fire was out. You jumped as a branch bangs against the window, anxiety slowly creeping its way into your chest as you struggled to get your bearings in the night. Your eyes landed on the bedroom door just down the hall. You didn’t want to wake him, but there was no way you would be getting back to sleep between your rapidly growing fear and how absurdly cold it had gotten. You let your feet drop to the floor, the hardwood like ice beneath you. You grab your blanket, wrapping it around your shoulders. You quietly pad up the hall, stopping in front of his door. You opened it just a crack, cringing as the hinges squeak. You could make out the faint outline of him in bed, the left side of the large mattress completely open for you to slide into. You bolt inside as you hear another loud thwack of a branch against the window. You shut the door behind you, tiptoing around the room in hopes you wouldn’t wake him. You carefully peel back the blankets before slipping in beside him. You lay on your side facing the wall, your body completely rigid as you listened for any signs that you had disturbed him. You let out a sigh when you hear him snoring softly next to you. Your body relaxed into the plush mattress, your achy back finally getting some relief as you settled in. It was much warmer here than it had been in the living room. You let out a squeak when a large hand comes to rest on your waist. Falk’s arm slides around you, grumbling something in his sleep as he pulls you closer. Your heart hammered against your ribs, your eyes wide as you feel Falk’s body press flush against yours. Your hand comes to rest on top of his, debating for a moment whether or not to try and sneak back to the living room. Getting out of the cold seemed like a good idea at the time, but you hadn’t accounted for what you were going to do when Falk woke up the next morning and found you sleeping beside him. You nearly jump out of your skin when you hear him sigh your name, his voice raspy and thick with sleep. His grip on you tightens, burying his face into the crook of your neck. He relaxes as he settles against you, his soft snores alerting you to the fact that he was still asleep. He was so warm, the feeling of the steady rise and fall of his chest lulling you into a state of ease. Your eyes quickly began to grow heavy, melting into the mattress, the weight of Falk’s arm blanketing over you as he continued to hold you close. You begin to drift off, hearing a soft ‘I love you’ tumble from Falk’s lips before sleep takes you.

You wake up the next morning to the first light of dawn creeping in from a window beside the bed. Now that it was day, you had the chance to take in the details of your surroundings. All of the furniture was the same warm-toned wood, more pictures like the ones that decorated the mantle covered the wall. A heavy, dark green comforter blanketed the bed, you could spend all day wrapped up in the warm, luxurious fabric. The closet was filled with thick winter jackets, snowshoes, backpacks, and other outdoor gear. Falk stirred behind you, nuzzling his face into the crook of your neck with a soft groan. Your body goes rigid as you feel him stretch, he freezes mid motion when he realizes he’s not in bed alone. You don’t say anything, you don’t even breathe, unsure of how to breach the conversation of you being in his bed. “I guess that wasn't a dream I was holding you in my arms last night, was it?”  The sound of his raspy morning voice makes your heart race. “Lucky me.” You could hear the lazy smirk laced into his tone. 

“Well, good morning to you too.” You respond sleepily. Your chest tightens as he chuckles, the deep rumble vibrating through your back.

He pauses for a moment, his thumb languidly stroking over your hip. “Did I, um…” he mulls over his words, searching for the right way to ask you what was on his mind. “Did I say anything in my sleep?”

Your mind immediately races back to the hushed confession that tumbled from his lips. “You might have.” You respond hesitantly.

Falk chuckles, cursing under his breath. He fully thought he had dreamed the whole thing; the feeling of your body pressing against his, the subtle, sweet scent of your perfume, the whole moment was permanently burned into his memory. Those three simple words fell so easily from his lips, now he would have to follow through on his confession. “I meant it, you know.” You’re unable to stop the smile that slowly spreads across your lips. You roll over to face him, your heart racing at the stunningly chaotic scene before you. His hair stuck up every which way, the fading remnants of tired circles under his eyes slowly disappearing as he became more awake, the stubble on his face noticeably darker than it had been yesterday. His expression softens, nerves being replaced with adoration as he studies you. He reaches out, hesitating for a moment before his hand comes to rest on your cheek. “I want to wake up like this every morning with you and only you.” Your breath hitches in your throat, the seriousness of his tone unmistakeable. “You told me you don’t think you’re anything special, Mein Herz, that couldn’t be further from the truth. You’re all I can think about from the moment I wake up in the morning until I fall asleep at night. There’s nothing I want more than to make you all mine, but every time I try to get close you always just end up slipping through my fingers.”

“Falk, I…” You trail off. You wanted to be with him more than anything, but there was still part of you that feared all of the unknowns.

“There you go again, second guessing yourself.” He points out with a teasing smile. His thumb trails along your jaw, his golden brown eyes slowly tracing over your features before landing on your lips. He states your name softly, his warm breath bouncing off your skin. “I am absolutely crazy about you… I just need to know how I can prove that.” He swallows, his arm wrapping around your waist to pull you closer to him. His attention turns to the clock on your nightstand, seeing it was still incredibly early he shoots you an excited grin. “Come on.” He hurries you out of bed, helping you shrug into one of his jackets. You clumsily step into a pair  of way too big boots by the door. Falk opens the door, taking your hand as you step out onto the porch behind him.

“Wow.” Was the only thing you could manage to say. The sun burned gold as it clawed its way over the mountain peaks in the distance, the rays of early morning sun warm on your skin. You turn to Falk to find him already staring down at you. “It’s beautiful.”

“This is the closest thing I’ve been able to compare to your smile.” He whispers. Your eyes widen, heart racing at such a simple, genuine confession. “And it still doesn’t even begin to come close to how absolutely stunning I find you.” A warm hand slides over your cheek, you can’t help but lean into his touch. He says your name in that perfect way only he can say it, “I’m in love with you, I don’t want to spend any more time running away from that.” He carefully tilts your chin upwards, your eyes fluttering shut as his lips slot against yours. His fingers slide into your hair, his free arm wrapping around your waist to pull your body flush against his. You felt weightless, like your body was floating on a cloud. Electricity buzzed from the top of your head to the tips of your fingers. Your heart was beating so quickly there was no way he couldn’t hear it, your pulse blocking out any other sound around you. You separate from the kiss breathlessly, getting lost in his eyes the moment they meet.

“How would you feel about staying the rest of the weekend here, with me?” He asks hesitantly, a hopeful glimmer in his eyes.

“You want to stay?” You can’t keep the excited smile off your face at the thought of being able to continue your peaceful existence in the woods for the next couple days.

“Only if that’s alright with you.” He gently cradles your face in his hand, languidly trailing his thumb over your cheek.

Your eyes flash down to his lips momentarily, making him chuckle. “Well, if you keep kissing me like that, I’m sure you won’t have any issue convincing me.” You squeal as he pulls you back to him, his lips crushing against yours in another mind numbing kiss. Excited to spend the rest of the weekend getting to hold you tightly in his arms.

"Father Roel, actually." You say with a small chuckle. Falk's eyes widened slightly at your response.

"His office is on the opposite side of the Abbey, surely he doesn't expect you to carry those books all that way." Before you had the chance to assure him you were quite capable of doing so the stack of books was scooped out of your arms.

"Oh, Father Falk, I can manage, you don't have to trouble yourself." You try to grab the pile back only for him to swerve out of your way.

"Nonsense, we wouldn't want a pretty little thing like yourself getting worn out." He says with a wink and a crooked smirk. You couldn't help but breathe out a shocked laugh, a blush instantly spreading across your cheeks. You walked close to his side, the two of you sharing in some pleasant conversation. "What do you mean you're scared of the thurible?" He asks you through a fit of laughter.

"I'm just saying, you could very easily smack me in the side of the head with it if I'm not paying attention." You explain, trying to maintain as serious as possible. Falk's laughter was infectious, whenever you were lucky enough to hear it without fail it would bring a smile to your face.

"I can assure you my dear, I've never hit anyone with the thurible and I never will." You turned the corner towards Roel's office, who stepped out at the sound of laughter filling the hall.

"Falk, it's good to see you in such a good mood my friend." He turns to you and smiles, "(Y/N), I believed I told you to ask for my help with those."

"Father Roel, I am more than capable of carrying a few books down here by myself. If Father Falk hadn't been so stubborn I would have done so." You say with a laugh, Falk smiles down at you as he gently nudges your shoulder. The two exchange the stack of books, Roel dismissing you for the day.

"(Y/N), would you like to accompany me to my office for some tea?" Falk offers you his arm with a soft smile.

"I would love to, Father." Your arm slips through his, he waves over his shoulder at Roel as the two of you make your exit. As the two of you walked your hand ended up intertwined with Falk's, his thumb rubbing languidly across your knuckles as you walked the halls of the Abbey. It was a dark and gloomy day outside, trails of raindrops spidered across every window. But, despite the definite chill of the weather, you felt undeniably warm. The man at your side made your heart race, every smile and glance in your direction caused butterflies to erupt in your stomach. You reached his office, his fingers sliding gracefully over the brass doorknob. He motioned for you to step inside, your pulse thrumming in your ears. You folded your hands neatly in front of you, almost feeling as if you needed to wait for further instructions.

"You can have a seat, Schatz. There's no need to be so stiff." He remarks with a chuckle. You try your best to shake off your nerves, sitting in one of the plush leather chairs at his desk. Falk starts the kettle, glancing over at you with a smile. "I'm glad I ran into you today. You work too hard, you deserve to rest for an evening."

"I'm perfectly fine with my workload, Father." You assure him. "But, I definitely appreciate the invitation to spend some time with you." You smile coyly at him. He slowly strides over to the side of his desk, gently tilting your chin up with his pointer finger.

"I should be the one thanking you, my dear. I'm very happy to be able to share my time with you." His thumb swipes over your bottom lip, a devious glint in his eye as he took in every detail of your features.

"Falk." He nearly purred at the sound of his name tumbling from your lips. "Can I speak honestly?"

"Of course you can, Schatz." He says softly. His fingers ghosting over your cheek as he brushes some stray hair out of your face.

"I think you're an incredibly handsome man." He breathes out a laugh at your confession.

"You flatter me, my dear." He beams down at you. Your moment was interrupted by the kettle singing. "Excuse me." You couldn't help yourself from trailing after his fingers as they pulled away. He poured you each a cup, retrieving and preparing some loose leaf tea that looked like it was probably a special blend. As it steeped the room filled with a sweet, almost floral scent. You looked at the cup curiously as he handed it to you. "It's a mixture of raspberry tea leaves and rose petals. It's a relaxing blend with a slight, uh… aphrodisiac effect." It was sweet, its warmth quickly spreading through your whole body as you took a long sip.

"An aphrodisiac, huh?" You couldn't help but giggle at the thought. "Trust me, it's not needed." He smirks slightly before taking a long sip from his cup. You noticed him studying you; every finger brushed through your hair, every shift in your position across from him, how you would find yourself getting lost in his gaze only to make you fumble your words and get flustered before his very eyes. Falk noticed it all.

"(Y/N), could I trouble you for a moment?" You nodded, intrigued by his sudden request to join him on his side of the desk. Falk stood, fingers ghosting over your waist before he lifted you up and set you on his desk in one swift movement. You let out a startled squeak, your cheeks instantly heating up as his face hovered in front of yours. "Close your eyes, Schatz." A soft smile passes over his lips. You follow his instructions obediently, your eyes slipping shut as you sit in a state of anxious excitement. "Stop me if any of this is too much." He whispers. You feel Falk's warm breath fan over your lips, the sensation instantly causing goosebumps to erupt across your skin. It felt like all the air in your lungs had vanished when his lips finally met yours. You instinctively reach out, hands sliding over his chest. Thinking his actions were making you uncomfortable he tried to pull back, only for you to grab him by the collar to deepen the kiss. Falk stumbled forward slightly, caught off guard by your fervent and almost needy disposition. His hands slid over your waist before he fully wrapped his arms around you, pulling you in close to him. You can't help but laugh against his lips as he haphazardly clears off his desk with one arm, sending papers, pens and other various office supplies scattering across the floor. You wrap your arms around his neck as he carefully tips you backward, his hands carefully guiding you until you are fully displayed across the dark mahogany before his very eyes. You watched a smile slowly cross his lips as he pulled away, taking in the sight of you with pure adoration pooling in his expression.

You giggle as you watch him stare down at you, "what's that look for?"

"You're just so," he places another soft kiss to your lips before he trails down your neck, "so beautiful." He breathes a laugh against your skin, causing you to shiver slightly. He shifts his position, his fingers intertwined with yours on either side of your head as his eyes locked with yours once more. "How did I get lucky enough to earn your affection?" He asks, giving you a crooked, elated grin. You give his hands a gentle squeeze and return his smile. His eyes trail back down to your lips. He laughs nervously, "I hate to cut things short, but I'm worried I won't be able to control myself-" you cut him off, pushing yourself up slightly, your lips crashing against his. If you were being entirely honest, you didn't want him to control himself. You knew how he was; always very careful and calculated. But, what you wanted more than anything, was to see what the man you had already fallen hopelessly in love with was like completely unfiltered. He let his weight fully fall onto you, crushing you between his warm body and the cool slab of wood below. You struggled against his grasp, not minding the fact he had you pinned down but you were so desperate to get your hands on him. You felt him smirk against your lips at your attempts to wiggle out of his hold. You pushed your fingers through his hair before letting them trail down his neck, and over his shoulders. Your nimble fingers had just started to make quick work of the buttons on his shirt when you were both cut off by something tapping on Falk's office window. You both looked up to see the gardener who gave you an awkward wave, having just bore witness to your antics. Falk chuckles, his forehead bumping against yours. "Would you like to go somewhere a little more private, Schatz?"

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“Maybe you do, but some of us prefer a more predictable lifestyle.” You couldn’t help but roll your eyes, leave it to the eldest to always have to be the perfect daughter. No matter how proper and responsible she tried to be, you knew that under the mask she wore the two of you wanted similar things. You yearned for something different than the only life you had ever known; somewhere you could live your life freely without the neverending list of rules you had been accustomed to, somewhere exciting, somewhere with people that you didn’t have to filter your personality for.

“Please, you think that Duke you’re scheduled to marry is about as interesting as sitting through a portrait painting.” You rebuttal with an uninterested glance.

“Yes… Well, at least the painters offer interesting conversations.” She sighs with a chuckle. Both of your attentions are caught by the sound of someone retrieving an arrow from their quiver. You both stared on as he raised his bow, the arrow whizzing straight into the center of the target effortlessly. He readied himself once more, shooting off another arrow that split the first one clean in half. A triumphant smile crossed his face as he pushed a gloved hand through his hair, you were hypnotized by the sight of him. Your sister leans in closer to whisper something in your ear. “You know, I’m sure Sir Falk would be honored if the Princess wanted to watch him train.” She offers with a grin, your eyes dart up to meet hers. She nods in his direction, your attention drifts back to him as he heads to retrieve his arrow from the target. You took a single step forward, your body moving on its own, surely it wouldn’t hurt just to watch. You found yourself striding over to him, freezing as his gaze lands on you as you exit the tree covered path.

“Your Highness, what do I owe the pleasure?” He crosses an arm over his chest, giving you a low bow.

“I,” you cleared your throat as you struggled to find your voice. “I saw you training while I was on a walk, your skills are really impressive.” Your compliment is meant with a bashful smile, he gives you a slight nod.

“Well thank you for the compliment Princess, it means a lot coming from you.” You can’t help but blush under his warm gaze. He glances down at the bow at his side and then back up at you. “Would you like to give it a try?”

“Me?” You ask in disbelief, he nods with a soft laugh. “Oh, I appreciate the offer Sir Falk but I’ve never handled a weapon in my life.”

“Okay, if you’re positive.” He smirks, retrieving another arrow. “I’d be right by your side the whole time.” It was hard to hide your amused smirk. You held up your hands in defeat as you stepped closer to him. “I knew you had it in you!” He exclaims jovially. He steps behind you, your back pressed firmly against him as he helps you nock an arrow. You attempted to draw the bow yourself, your muscles shaking as you barely pulled it back halfway. Falk chuckles, resting his hands on top of yours in order to assist you. With his help you drew the bow effortlessly, the weapon a clear extension of his body from what must have amounted to decades of practice. “You’re shaking.” He points out with a smirk. How could you not be? Your body pressed tightly into his, warm hands covered your own, his chin tucked itself neatly next to your ear. The smell of wild flowers, dirt, and musk enthralled your sense of smell. “Take a nice deep breath and hold it.” He tells you in a tone just above a whisper. You did as he instructed, taking in as much air as you could before holding your breath. You noticed yourself instantly steady, Falk assisting you in lining up your shot. “Let go… Now.” The drawstring slipped past your fingertips, a sharp sting where it snapped against the inside of your elbow as it sent the shot. The arrow hit the dead center of the target, the tail rocking back in forth as it stuck out of the small red circle. You look up at him to find his eyes already trained on you, “excellent shot, Your Highness.” Watching the smile spread across his lips caused you to blush. You stepped away from him, clearing your throat in an attempt to hide your flustered state.

“That was, um… Thank you, Sir Falk.” You wanted the earth to swallow you up as you tripped over your words. You heard the sound of your fathers voice in the distance. You allowed yourself one last moment to take the sight of him in. “Excuse me, I unfortunately have to go.” He offers you a polite nod and one last smile before you run off. You managed to slip into the castle before your father realized what you had been up to, hurrying around to a spot you could see the courtyard from to hopefully allow you to watch his practice from afar. You perched yourself on a windowsill, watching him flip a knife effortlessly around in his hand before tossing it, it stuck into the target with a loud thunk. He adjusted the strap on his gloves, his attention suddenly getting caught by someone approaching him. He gives a low bow as your father emerges into the clearing.

"Sir Falk, I'm glad I caught you. I have a favor to ask." Your father slaps him on the shoulder, raising him to a standing position. You can't help but smile at the interaction, he always seemed to have somewhat of a soft spot for the archer.

"Anything at all, Your Grace." Falk returns your father's jovial greeting with a toothy grin of his own.

"It's been a while since my daughters have gotten to take their horses out, my youngest has been begging me incessantly for weeks." He chuckles. "I was hoping you would be able to accompany them on a ride up a nearby trail and back."

"It would be my pleasure, Your Majesty." He agrees with a nod. "They'll all be in excellent hands with me." He reassures him. Your father knew exactly who he was asking to complete this task. 

"I'm sure they will be." Your father gives him a knowing grin. Falk was an infamous ranger known throughout the country, not to mention an expert rider, you couldn't be in safer hands if you tried. The next day you found yourself sitting at your vanity, fussing over every little detail you could find. You let out a startled shriek as your sister started speaking behind you.

"Alright, what's going on with you?" She leans against the wall at your side, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're never one to get all dressed up to go on a ride."

"I just feel like putting in a little extra effort today, that's all." You fix your hair for what must have been the millionth time in the mirror before deciding how you look would have to do. You both hurried out of your room to meet the others down at the stables. The moment Falk's eyes landed on you a smile broke out on his face, your stride paused momentarily under his gaze.

"Your majesties." He gives both of you a bow before helping your sister get situated on her horse. Your three younger siblings sat and idly chatted at the stables exit, waiting for you and your guard to catch up. "Is everything alright Princess? Forgive me for being so blunt, but you look a bit nervous." You can't help but smile at his concern.

"Can I speak honestly?" He nods, drifting closer to you subconsciously. "I'm not exactly the greatest rider, horses frighten me a little." You whisper, blushing slightly as you admit a secret only you and your father knew about. You watch his smile widen ever so slightly, his fingers running through your horse's mane and carefully untangling any knots he found.

"I can understand where your apprehension comes from." He chuckles, giving the animal a firm pat on his back. "This guy's massive, but he's very well trained." The coat that passed below your fingers was incredibly soft. "Besides," your eyes drift up to meet Falk's, "as long as I'm here I won't let anything bad happen to you Princess, you have my word." You look to your horse and then back to him, giving him a sharp nod to show you were ready. He knelt down, allowing you to use his leg as an extra step to help you hoist yourself into the saddle, struggling to adjust your dress around the bridle. Falk stands, motioning to your skirt, "may I?" You nod, pulling your hands back so they wouldn't get in his way. He helps you get comfortable, before handing the reins to you. "Take it nice and easy, I'll be right behind you." He says with a comforting smile before hoisting himself up into his own saddle with one swift motion. You shouldn't have been shocked, riding was second nature to him, but you couldn't stop your eyes widening in amazement at the sheer fluidity of his movements. You give your horse a gentle squeeze with your legs, jolting slightly as he starts to move forward. You joined your sisters, the four of you starting down your usual riding trail. You looked around, suddenly realizing you were missing someone.

"She's journeying to the Duke's with Sir Attila." Your youngest sister chimes in seeing your confusion. You nod, your posture stiffening at the sound of your horse snorting. You looked back, catching Falk's gaze in the process. He was keeping far enough back to where he could still keep an eye on the four of you but not close enough to where he could listen in on your conversation with your sisters, something you were very fortunate for at the moment. "You know… Sir Falk hasn't been able to keep his eyes off you since you arrived." You couldn't help but roll your eyes at her observation.

"Oh, is that why you're all made up today?" One of the others pipes up with a giggle. "I think someone knew who would be riding with us today." She teases.

"I don't have the faintest idea what you could be talking about." You tried to remain stoic, but being with the people who knew you better than anyone else made things difficult. The smallest crack in your composure would be a dead giveaway, something they had apparently already noticed.

"You know, next time you're trying to hide your little crush, maybe don't let us catch you staring." You hear one of them say behind you with a laugh. Your cheeks heated up, you were definitely guilty of that, playing off your flustered state with a laugh.

"That's rich coming from the woman I have caught multiple times with Sir Matthew's-"

"Okay, that's enough!" She cuts you off before you have a chance to finish eliciting a chorus of giggles from the group. You caught the briefest flash of red fur, probably a fox darting across the trail, but that was enough to spook your horse. He squeals, rearing up on his hind legs. You grab on to whatever you possibly could, just trying to keep yourself from plummeting to the ground. The second his hooves hit the ground he took off.

"(Y/N)!" You hear Falk yell behind you. No matter what you tried you couldn't calm your horse down, the sharp sting of branches whipping across your face clouding your judgment. You could always try to jump, no that was ridiculous. The trail you were on was narrow, there's no telling what you would hit once you landed on the ground. Your horse was also moving so incredibly fast that you were positive you would break a bone on impact. You had to think, there had to be something you could do. "(Y/N)!" You were snapped from your thoughts by Falk yelling your name at your side. Your head snapped in his direction. "I need you to trust me, can you do that?" You give him a weak nod. He rides closer to you, grabbing you by the waist and ripping you from your saddle and sitting you in his lap. You cling to him, cheeks wet with tears that you hadn't realized were there. "You're alright, I got you." He says through heavy breaths. You watch as he pulls back on the reins, slowing you to a gentle trot. He cradles your body against his, chin resting on your head as he circled around to bring you back to your sisters. "Are you alright? You didn't get hurt, did you?"

"No… I'm alright, but, my horse-"

"I'll go get him Princess, don't worry." You were shaking, your hands fisted in his shirt in an attempt to calm yourself down.

"I'm sorry, I made a terrible mess of our ride." Your voice breaks slightly as you fight back a sob that had bubbled its way into your throat.

"Oh goodness, don't worry about that." His voice was undeniably kind as he spoke to you softly. "Etan has bolted on me like that before." He chuckles, patting the horse's neck. "You did everything right, you kept a level head despite how terrified you must have been." You smile faintly, your eyes growing heavy now that the adrenaline has worn off. You felt so safe and warm in his arms. Your attention was captured by your sisters fussing over you as the two of you came into view. "She's alright your majesties, don't worry. She's just a little shaken up." You make no movement to leave Falk's side as your sisters ride up to you, questions coming from every direction, the youngest looking ready to burst into tears any second.

"Ducky, I'm alright." You reach out and pat her head. "Falk promised before he left that nothing bad would happen as long as he was here." You giggle, trying to reassure her.

"Alright, let's get you four back, I think our runaway here deserves a chance to rest." He smiles down at you, your sisters turning to head back up the trail out of the corner of your eye. "I'll go look for your horse once I drop you off at the castle, he'll be back in the stable before nightfall." The two of you shift positions, your head now comfortably resting against his back. You held his sleeve tightly in your hand, he seemed to be the one thing that was able to ground your racing mind at the moment. He slipped effortlessly from his horse once you were safely back at the castle, offering his hand to help you down. You watched him as he rode off towards the woods once more, a feeling of helplessness settling in your chest once he was out of view. You retired to your quarters with the excuse of needing to rest after so much excitement. You sat by your window, diligently watching the entrance to the trail for Falk's return. You wanted to thank him properly for saving you today. When you saw him exit the trail, your horse in tow, you found yourself hesitating. You wished your sister was here, she would be the first to tell you how irrational you were being right now. You let out a frustrated groan, dropping your head into your hands. You wanted to thank him, yes, but it was more than that. The entire ride home you had one nagging thought in the back of your head. You divulged a fear to him, he had saved your life, but not once had he ever seemed to pity you. Every member of the court, visitor to your kingdom, even your own parents, they all treated you like some frail baby bird. You were sick of it. You planned exactly what you were going to say to him, knowing how strange this would sound coming from one of the princesses. You headed down to the courtyard to find him practicing, a soft smile forming on your lips at the sight.

"Sir Falk." He drops his bow immediately, turning in your direction.

"Ah, if it isn't the runaway!" He chuckles, taking a couple steps closer to you. "Princess, how are you feeling?"

"I'm alright, I wanted to come thank you for earlier." You fidgeted nervously with your hands, all the resolve you had built up practicing in the mirror dissolving the second his gaze landed on your face. "I also wanted to ask a favor, if that's alright."

"For you Princess, anything." He gives you a toothy grin you can't help but return.

"I'd like you…" you cursed internally as you stumbled through your words. "I was hoping you could train me."

"Train you?" He crosses his arms over his chest, a perplexed expression on his face as he ponders over your question. You pursed your lips, looking down at the ground to hopefully ease your flustered mind.

"I'm sick of feeling helpless… I want to be a mercenary… like you." Your voice came out soft, much different than the firm diction you held with your reflection. Falk could tell by your words that this wasn't some silly daydream you wanted to pursue. He could tell by your expression that you didn't just want him to train you, you needed him to. Sure, training a Princess wasn't going to be an easy feat, but since when had he ever turned down a challenge?

"Training starts tomorrow, meet me here at noon." He chuckles, returning to his target practice. You nod, unable to hide your elated smile as you turned to leave. "Oh, your highness?" You glanced back at him, a playful smirk on his lips. "I want you to know, just because you're of royal blood doesn't mean I'm going to go easy on you." You chuckle, you knew he was the perfect man for the job.

"I didn't expect you to."

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