#yami

You smiled with gratitude and nodded, surrendering to his lead and putting yourself under his care. Yami nudges your shoulder with his as he guides you toward the kitchen, boots thudding lazily against the floorboards.

"Next time, just wake me up. I’ll brew tea, light a fire… whatever it takes to keep that head of yours from crackin’ open." He said in his usual nonchalant tone.

The man tosses a dry log into the stove and sparks a flame with his lighter, after a split second igniting warmth.

"...And no more midnight escapes. All my mages should be in their rooms sleeping by 11" he added with that slight hint of unserious exaggeration whenever he joked around.

You let out a small chuckle, at this child-like treatment. You were far older than newer recruits like Asta and Noelle, your age was closer to Yami's, yet sometimes his caring nature made him treat you like a needy kid.

Your cheeks flushed a little under impression of his words. So warm, so familiar, so caring contrasting with his brutal nature.

"You're way too good to me, captain" you muttered softly, slightl playfulness lingering in your voice.

"Don't be gettin’ soft on me now."

Yami avoids your gaze for a moment, poking at the fire making sure it burns hit enough to provide warmth for you. The light dances over his stubble, his messy black hair, hiding the faint twitch of his lips.

"Someone’s gotta keep you from turnin’ into an ice statue" he throws another log in the flames. "You'd definitely look good standing like that in living room but I prefer you warm and alive"

He grabs a chipped mug from the shelf, one that survived daily black bulls shenanigans, and pours steaming water over dried tea leaves.

"Here." He shoves it into your hands, voice gruff but warm. "Drink up till the last drop. Captain's orders."

"Yes, captain" you took the cup from him, warming your frigid hands. A sip of steaming beverage made pleasant warm spread through your body. You moved to the couch taking a seat.

"Good. Now stay there." He commanded.

Yami stomps over to the supply cabinet, yanking out a thick blanket, threadbare at the edges but still warm from being stashed near a heating charm. He tosses it at you without finesse.

You returned him his cloak and wrapped yourself in a soft blanket. Your face flushed with relief and comfort as you settled comfortably sipping more of the warm aromatic drink.

"Wrap up. I saw you shiver just now."

He leans against the counter, arms crossed, watching as steam curls from your mug as if to make sure it's still warm enough even though he just brewed it.

"You are making me worried, though" he grumbled his eyebrows furrowing slightly "It's been happening more often lately. I'm feeling like if I don't watch over you, you might freeze to death.

You look down, eyes stuck on your forearms where little ice crystals lingered, not sure how to respond. Your power was a double edged sword, fierce and brave on the battle ground but making you feeble and frail after.

Yami drags a chair over with his foot—sitting too close, knees almost bumping into yours. He fishes out another cigarette but doesn’t light it yet, just flicks the unlit end between his fingers.

"If you don't inform your captain about those side effects... I might put you in detention."

You look up at him with a gaze that explained more than words. Uncertainty, vulnerability, plead for understanding.

He leans in, voice dropping to a gravelly murmur.

"Or I could start expectin’ you to need this every night?Or maybe you want me to just stick around and make sure ya don't freeze solid on principle?"

You hear that teasing in his voice again making you less nervous about the situation.

You let out a soft exhale with a weak smile. "I don't think it's a secret that I like when you take care of me, captain. Those migraines....are seriously unbearable. But you make me suffer less each time you help me out."

"Mhm."

Yami glances away again, lighting his cigarette, corner of his lips almost curling into something that could look like a smile.

After a moment of silence when you focused on your tea and Yami on his cigarette, his hand reaches out to rest against your forehead, his palm shockingly warm compared to the ice of your skin.

"Still freezin’," he grumbles. "C'mon. Lie down."

He waits till you finish the last sip and shoves a spare pillow against the armrest, urging your head to move with a light nudge. You obediently flopped on the couch, your body that felt heavy at the moment landing there with a thud.

"Atta girl."

Yami's hand lingers on your brow for half a second too long, calloused and rough, but almost too gentle, then it pulls away spread the blanket over your shoulders, fixing the pillow under your sore head.

"Better?"

He moves to sit on the edge of the couch, weight dipping the cushion. It places him close enough that you can smell tobacco.

“Much better,” you exhaled, contentment easing into your chest. The smell of cigarettes was strangely comforting.

"Good."

Yami relaxes, leaning back against the armrest. One foot rests on the coffee table, the other on the floor, legs spread wide and relaxed, taking up too much room. But you didn't mind at all. It felt oddly domestic with both of them being just themselves.

"Gotta say…" he mutters, flicking the cigarette between his knuckles.

"Hm, what is it, captain?" You shift your head to look up at him.

"Nothin'."

Yami glances down at you, one eyebrow raised like you caught him mid-thought. The corner of his mouth twitches—half smirk, half something quieter.

"Just thinkin’… I'm damn lucky you joined my squad"

He leans back further, folding his arms behind his head.

"You're a bit of pain in ass but I ain’t complainin’."

His voice drops low again—teasing, but laced with something warmer than smoke and fire.

"I'm lucky I was chosen" you let your eyes flutter shut feeling warmer each minute. "I wouldn't have it any other way. I have best mates and... couldn't wish for a better captain"

"If being best captain means sittin’ here watchin’ you sleep like some creep? Hell, I’ll take it."

You couldn't help but chuckle softly at his remark.

"I don't mind being watched over by you like that, captain. It makes me feel safe" you admitted sincerely.

"Is that so…"

Yami exhales slow, eyes narrowing as he watches you. His smirk lazy smirk tugging on his mouth.

He shifts, leaning forward, elbows on his knees, eyes locked with yours.

"You really mean that… don't ya? You feel safe, with me watchin'."

His eyes flicker with something warm, something unexpectedly tender.

You extended your hand and carefully took the cigarette from him, inhaling the smoke as if savouring it, before placing it back in his grasp. “Yes,” you murmured, a faint, fond smile touching your mouth. "I mean it."

Yami looks away with a huff. The cigarette is halfway to his mouth, forgotten as he stares at the opposite wall, too aware of your touch still lingering on his hand, the feeling of your gaze.

"You don't play fair" he flicks your forehead.

The words come out grumbled, half-obscured by the cigarette shoved between his lips. His free hand reaches to rub a thumb against your knuckles, as an excuse to check your body temperature – still cold, but no longer frozen.

Yami lets out a huff, not quite a sigh, but close. "Jus' couldn't sleep. Got up, thought I'd have a smoke. Wasn't expectin' to find ice-princess headin' outside in the middle of the night."

He exhales another stream of smoke. It curls against the dim light of the room, wrapping around his sharp features.

"You're not overworking yourself, are you, captain?" You asked softly opening your eyes a little, observing the dancing fire across the room.

"Me? Nah."

Yami leans back, scratching his stubble with a rough hand. His voice is steady, but there’s a flicker in his eyes, like he’s not exactly telling the truth and knows you can see it.

"Just… been hearin’ things. Movements near the border. Nobles actin’ sketchy again, like always."

He taps ash into an ashtray at coffee table, gaze fixed on the grey powder.

"And… well." He lowers his voice slightly. "Someone's gotta watch over my team when they're too insufferable."

His eyes slide to you.

You look up at him meeting his gaze

"Next time I'll return the favor. I'll let you relax and take a break. Paper work, watching over the squad, anything."

Yami snorts, blowing out a stream of smoke. He seems about to argue, but then pauses, eyes narrowing as he studies you.

"You're serious, aren't you."

It's not a question. His smirk returns, but it's not his usual sly grin, something softer, deeper.

"You'd really try to take care of me, huh."

"Only if you’d permit it,"you said, your voice barely above a whisper.

"Mm. We'll see about that."

Yami huffs and ashes the cigarette into the tray again. The room falls silent for a spell, quiet, but not uncomfortable. He remains where he is, close enough to feel the heat from your body.

His eyes rake over you again, this time slower, thoughtful. It's hard to read his expression like this, like he's battling something inside himself.

His thumb rubs feather light circles against your knuckles, not quite realizing he's doing it, a gesture so unlike him.

You savoured the faint warmth of his touch, letting it dissolve the frost you carried, heat seeping gently into her skin. “I do care. Very much,” you murmured. "Besides…"A small smile curved your lips. "Every man needs a woman’s guiding hand at some point."

Yami lets out a short, sharp laugh, half surrender. He shakes his head, stubble scratching against the back of his hand as he rubs it across his mouth.

He leans in just slightly—close enough that the light from the fire catches the glint in his dark eyes.

"You tryin' to fix me now?"

His voice drops low—teasing at first but with something warmer underneath.

"...Might be too late for that."

His fingers brush a loose strand of hair from your forehead as you tilt your head trying to read the meaning of his words.

"Captain’s already been taken, you know."

"Taken?"

Your eyes widened in a shock as you gripped the blanket, hoping maybe you misunderstood.

"Yeah."

Yami's eyes stay locked with yours, dark, intense. Smoke curls again from the forgotten cigarette between his fingers, as he leans closer, the couch shifting under his weight.

"Taken, as in…"

His thumb brushes against your cheek—light, like a whisper. He's close enough that your breath mingles, warm and heavy.

"Taken by a cold ice-princess who doesn't even realise she's stolen my damn heart by now."

"Wha—" you parted your lips, but no words came. Your wide eyes searched his, firelight flickering in their depths. You looked shocked, stunned even, yet something fragile and hopeful still lingered in your gaze.

"Surprised?"

Yami's smirk is back, but softer than usual—more teasing than sharp. His thumb brushes against your cheek again, tracing along the contour of your jaw. His voice remains low, almost a whisper.

"Shouldn't be. Not a secret I’ve been wantin' you for a while now."

He leans in even further, breath mingling again.

"And I don't plan on lettin' anyone else have you."

You pushed herself up, clutching the blanket to your chest as if it could steady you. “Are you… serious?” The words came out fragile, almost disbelieving. Hope fluttered uneasily in your chest, bright and terrifying all at once, because a moment ago, he had seemed so far beyond your reach.

"Damn straight."

Yami huffs, watching you sit upright with something between amusement and intensity in his eyes. The blanket slips slightly, but he reaches up to fix it, fingers grazing your shoulder through the fabric.

"Never been more certain of anything."

He holds your gaze, steady and unflinching.

You gulped, trembling under the weight of his words, your thoughts reeling. “Yeah…I mean...” The word barely left your lips. “I wouldn’t mind being yours, captain.” You drew a shaky breath. “Truth is… I think I’ve wanted that for a very long time.”

"Good. We are on the same page then"

Yami's lips twisted into a smirk again, his hand shifting to rest on your shoulder. The touch was gentle, rough fingertips drawing lazy circles on your skin. It was an easy-going gesture, but it held a possessive undercurrent.

You shifted closer, clinging to him, your arms looping around his strong one, as if holding on to more than just his body. Finally, you let yourself lean in, letting the nearness you’d longed for wash over you.

A low, almost pleased noise escaped him as you closed the distance. After a while he shifted, wrapping his arm around you and tugging you closer, the blanket wrapped around the two of you. He smelled like smoke, warm and bitter

"Damn," he muttered against your skin, voice low and gruff. "You're still freezing for my liking"

"In this position…” you exhaled softly, a shiver running through you. “I’ll get warm pretty soon.” you felt yourself melting into him, surrendering to the heat of the moment.

"Hah… that so?"

Yami chuckles—low and rough, vibrating against your neck where his face still rests. His grip tightens, pulling you even closer until there's no space left between you. The heat of his body seeps through the blanket, burning away the cold like a slow-spreading flame.

"Mm. Guess you’re right."

He lifts his head just enough to look at you, eyes half-lidded, voice thick with something warm and lazy.

Your eyes locked on his, warm, tender, and full of quiet fondness. Ever since joining the squad, you had admired Yami from afar. You had been his right hand, steadfast and loyal. And now you finally get what you yearned for.

Yami’s voice dropslow, when he says your name, like he’s holding back something.

His fingers slide up to cradle the side of your face, calloused thumb brushing over your cheekbone as he studies you.

"I’ve been watchin" you since day one, you know. You were always truly impressive"

You gasped softly, hear beating just faster at his heartfelt confession.

"You fought like hell just to prove yourself here, even when no one else gave a damn. And I…" He smirks faintly. "I liked that fire in you."

He leans in until his forehead rests against yours, a gesture surprisingly affectionate and tender.

"But now?" His voice is barely above a whisper. "Now, you're more than just that.

You're my woman."

And for once he says it soft.

“Captain’s woman…” you breathed, unable to believe it, your pulse hammering in your chest, cheeks burning. “It’s… an honor.” Every word trembled with awe and something tender you could hardly contain.

You tilted your head slightly, heart hammering against your ribs. The firelight danced across his face, highlighting the faint curve of a smile you hadn’t dared to imagine.

Your hands rose almost instinctively, resting against his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath your fingers. He leaned in, slow, deliberate, giving you every moment to pull away, but you didn’t.