#verusrexed

gilgamesh leans in and takes a bite of her

〘楓〙

"...Ow."

"It's my room! What's got you all mad, did someone put ants in your food or something?!" Seriously this guy.

"Fine. I'll go find Saber and hang out with him if you're going to be sour enough to curdle milk."

"Bro's night out! Sushi and Soju."

"You were on the front lines for most of the mission, and you had to fight in the blistering cod because you were kind enough to lend me your coat. It's only fair I repay that kindness." She had been fighting the urge to eat the sweets that were intended for him, it was meant to a gift, a small token of gratitude.

But when he offered to share them with her there was a moment her fight against her sweet tooth waivered.

𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘀

〘楓〙

"Arthur?" His name is hesitant, looking up towards the King as he draws near. He looks troubled, his eyes focused on the now bandaged gash that she had received from the last singularity--the pain lingered but was more of an ache thanks to the painkillers she had received.

Before she can shrug on her white coat again, he stops her. A smile forms onto his lips, gentle, knowing before he leans forward and places a kiss over the band-aid. The warmth of his lips seeps through the neatly wrapped bandage; it makes her freeze. A quick intake of breath held as he lingers, warmth blooming on her cheeks so much that she can feel her ears turn red.

She's afraid that if she exhales, he'll look up, give her that smile again and she'll crumble in his arm. Somehow, he traces the wound with his lips, each press deliberate as he leans closer when his arm wraps around to pull her closer. When she does finally exhale, his hand presses on her lower back to guide her, never forcing--just asking for her to follow him.

And with each soft 'please' that escapes between kisses. Her hand settles on his shoulder, bundling the fabric of his shirt to ground herself somehow. She settles into his lap willingly. Another soft breath released by his ear as his kisses trails to the skin between her injured shoulder and neck.

Her knees sink into the cushion of the bed beside him, hesitating to put her full weight on him despite knowing he'd encourage it if he wasn't focused on kissing up along her jaw.

He asks again, a single please as he reaches her lips.

She replies, leaning into him and kissing him back. The warmth of his body and hands makes her head spin as his mouth consumes her with a passion that doesn't match the softness of his gaze. He feels his hand come to the back of her neck, holding her there to ensure every kiss, every please is whispered into her mouth.

〘楓〙

"YOU'RE TOO SPARKLY, GO AWAY!"

from here

〘楓〙

His gaze is too earnest for her.

She's not used to dealing with people like him. Optimistic, but stubborn in their beliefs. He was the opposite of her in every way, wasn't he? She looks away, a small sigh escaping to get her flustered feelings out of the way first.

Her lips press to a thin line for a moment as she lets his words hang in the air and maybe let it sink in. It's both reliving and strange to hear, that strange contradiction of liking the his words while also fearing them comes back up again. She wasn't sure whether to thank him, laugh it away, or run.

Maybe all three at once? Thankfully, her sarcasm was still there so she's not completely out of it.

"Arthur..." His name has weight that she doesn't mean for it to have as she meets his honest and warm gaze. It's not like her to be nervous. She learned how to push down that feeling a long time ago but with him it bubbles up in her chest--could he see it in the way her hand squeezes his hand back in reply.

For just a moment too, her shoulders feel less heavy.

"I...thank you for your words. Really." The mage manages out between the sound of her heart trying to leap out of her chest. "I want be stronger so you can rely on me too. I don't want to fall behind."

And disappoint you.

She wishes those words didn't follow what she said. Expectations are dangerous things to feel, especially from him.