And since I was allowed (but if you don't feel like it or don't feel like you have the characters in hand, no worries !) : a kiss on the inside of the wrist, Ephraim and Innes ?
Hello! I'm sorry this took forever, but here you go. I hope my characterization was okay-ish; I don't know why I struggled with these two so much. But I did it, headcanons included and all. Enjoy~
29. a kiss on the inside of the wrist + Ephinnes
âItâs a bit like the shore gambit, isnât it,â Innes mused, almost talking to himself. Ephraim, though, recognized the bait for what it wasâa challenge, a subtle goad that perhaps Ephraim couldnât keep up, didnât truly know of what Innes was speaking.
Ephraim raised an eyebrow in response, face neither smug as he rose to the occasion nor betraying his confusion as to why this challenge was issued here and now. (He felt, somehow, that Innes read both emotions off his face anyway.)
âI suppose there are similarities,â he said simply. The sentence was meant to end there. But despite the tone being relatively final, the silence that stretched out in its wake was brittle, waiting to crack. Ephraim felt a sigh run through his body, shoulders falling and feet shifting so that he could turn fully to face Innes. âBut isnât it odd for that to apply in a land-locked battle?â
Innesâs eyes lit up as he, too, turned. He remained drawn to his full height, however, and every line of his body seemed even more intensely regal than usual. Ephraim was fairly sure, in that moment, that heâd stepped exactly where Innes anticipated. But having Innesâs genuine joy and interest on full displayâeven if it had taken Ephraim a very, verylong time to realize thatâs what this was since it looked so very similar to arrogance on anyone elseâwas worth whatever way in which Innes was sure to show him up.
âŚprobably. Sometimes Innes could still be particularly vicious, not in a way that meant any real injury to Ephraim, but certainly in ways that bruised his ego, at least.
âWhich is the real brilliance of it,â Innes said, placing a hand on Ephraimâs shoulder and looking him squarely in the eye. âOf course, for it to be truly effective in a place like this, it would be better if infiltration had happened beforehand, but our reconnaissance wouldnât allow for it. A travesty, in my humbleââ Ephraim chuckled ââopinion, since the ability to plant an agent in the enemyâs sixth rank would nearly undo them all on its ownâŚâ
âAnd I imagine this hypothetical agent would be, say, a sniper?â Ephraimâs smile gained an edge as he spoke, because he, too, could see through Innes after everything they had been through.
Pure offense overtook Innesâs features, like the idea of it being anyone else was as distasteful as inviting some undead to dinner. Ephraim couldnât help laughing, even as the two of them could faintly hear the others outside getting ready to move out, his sisterâs voice calling for them. And even though the laughter wasnât particularly hysterical, Ephraim still reached up, curling a gauntleted hand around Innesâs wrist as if to steady himself. He hoped that was how Innes would read it, anyway, even ifâŚ
Or, it occurred to him as he blinked back to reality and found Innes watching him, the spark that had lit his eyes when they discussed tactics now burning steady and warm, maybe it was better to be honest. As much as their rivalry would allow.
Ephraim took a slow breath as he turned his head slightly and placed a kiss against Innesâs wrist, just where the fabric of his archerâs glove gave way. âFor luck,â he said cheekily, watching green eyes widen across from him, though Innes made no move to pull away. âSince I canât get you behind enemy lines today.â
Innes stepped closer, instead, almost so near that their noses brushed, hands now trapped between them. âI wonât need it,â he said simply, and smirked. Hesitating only long enough to make Ephraim question whether Innes wanted something else to happen regardless of the fact that both of their sisters were now yelling for them, Innes finally drew back to turn on his heel and leave the tent.
Ephraim shook his head. For how unassuming the words had been, the flush on Innesâs cheeks and the way his fingers had lingered for a second too long when leaving told Ephraim that this was, in no uncertain terms, a challenge acceptedâand unfinished.
