( i am fully aware snowfelt is not a word. shhhh just please. ignore it. let's have another silly year together, yeah? )
⤷ they confess to you! reader has liked them for a while beforehand, fluff to start off the year ~ (psps i kn o w its the 23rd but writer's block whammied me against a wall and held me hostage for that time so. its really not my fault /lh)
[ in the dying light of fireglow, hands intertwined below a blanket, they turn to gaze into your eyes, speaking three words... ]
"Cold, are we? Shall I warm you up?"
Ah, but the playful grin tugging at LYNEY's lips already provides you with a sufficient, kindled warmth nestled deep into your chest. The snow cascading beyond the windows, curtains half-drawn over the glass, revealed the picturesque scenery, the land that had grown familiar to you dusted with white... your thoughts were dispersed with a light shake of your head just as the winter breeze swept over the snow.
The male smiles as you nudge yourself closer to his side, and with a swift snap of his fingers, sparks heat in the fireplace, a blaze whose flames licked the bricks of its ensnarement. Unfair, really, simply unfair, how with such an effortless movement he swept you into your arms, reddened your already flushed, cold-bitten cheeks. "Warm yet?"
"...Too warm," you manage a complaint, voice barely audible with how tightly you were pressed against him. "You're suffocating me, Lyney." At your words, his seemingly unconscious vice-like grip loosened, allowing you a breath.
"Better?"
"Better."
The world was quiet. Silent, for not even the wind dared utter a noise. No, that couldn't be true, for if that were the case, then what were you to make of the persistent flutter of your heart? It was the way his gaze drunk you in that allowed you to dream of such a misunderstanding that he might share the sentiment, with the sight of you cuddled tightly in his arms, your slightly messy hair after he had ruffled it and the rosy cheeks that could possibly bring the most minuscule warmth to his face.
"Thank you." Your voice was quiet, it felt small, too small for your liking. Why were you even thanking him? What had he done for you? A lot. Simply too many to count. With his playful demeanor, certainly someone like you wouldn't be well suited to him. Perhaps it was just a haphazard coincidence that allowed the two of you to meet, or perhaps just a cruel twist of fate that had decided to toy with your heart before discarding it. Either way, these feelings are safeguarded, nestled along with the warmth in your chest... they were quiet.
"For what?" Lyney's jest of a smile tugged at his lips. "Why, have you finally realized that I'm quite the respectable person after all this time?"
"No," you playfully hit his chest. Ever since the first encounter, the male had chased after you with reckless abandon, somehow managing to find you in just about any situation you were in. Watering the flowers that lined the streets, discussing work matters with the civilians, he'd appear out of thin air beside you, almost like magic. With a boyish grin on his face and a word or two whispered into your ear, "So this is where you were~" ...You shook your head, ears only growing redder at fortunate past thoughts. "You still remain a stalker, it'd be foolish to hope for anything more."
To hope for something more... what a hypocrite, you were. Your own words burned your tongue, the consequence of such a sin.
"Is it wrong to hope?" Lyney's smile remained, but his tone grew serious. The faint twinkles that shone in his lavender eyes evidently bore his "wrongful" hope. "To wish that perhaps one day, I'll mean more than just a 'stalker' to you?"
Your breath hitched. Say, didn't these words... sound familiar? Didn't they resemble lines read from those light novels from Inazuma, covers decorated with roses and sparkles? "Lyney, you-"
"I love you."
Your words have escaped you. Countless, countless words. Each of them grow wings and flit away.
"Ah, would it be too cliché to call it a love at first sight?" Lyney let loose a sigh, grinning sheepishly with a shake of his head. "But that was exactly what it was. The second I saw you... my, how generic I sound. Would it be too much to stomach if it was from that moment that I knew?" He paused, pursing his lips. They pressed into a tight line. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter. "I won't be hopeful. I know better than that, and you've said it yourself. Let's just... would I go too far if I wished to remain by your side? Not as a lover, surely, but a companion, or a mere acquaintance-"
"Lyney."
His name is familiar in your mouth. It rests easy on the tongue.
"As a lover. That. That's what... I want."
The curve of his lips says well enough before he even opens them.
"Then, as your lover... may I kiss you?" ₊˚ෆ
.
.
.
"Are you feeling alright?"
His words were soft against the cold air, and NEUVILLETTE's pale-eyed gaze even softer. Fontaine had had its first taste of snow, and with it came its cold finger tips that thoroughly dusted whatever it touched, the streets and tops of buildings painted a brilliant white.
"Yes, it's just... Aren't you cold like this?" The male, upon seeing you give the slightest shiver at the sudden drop in temperature, had immediately rushed over and taken off his coat for you to wear instead, where it was now draped comfortably over your shoulders. Warm, and it carried his scent. "I'd feel bad if you were to feel unwell because of me, so please, take it back?"
"Now, that's something I simply can't do," His lips drew the slightest smile, a rare sight you were delighted to witness - the way his eyes crinkled at their corners and twinkled all the more was a pleasant one to experience indeed. "I'll be fine, I can assure you. It'd take more than just a winter breeze to incapacitate me."
You furrowed your brows, puffing out your cold-flushed cheeks before making a cross with your arms. "Nope, no can do! We're heading back to my place, and I'll brew some hot tea. No complaints, we're going!" Before the man could utter another word, presumably a word of protest, you took him by his gloved hand and started running forwards. Full well, you knew Neuvillette was certainly at a better physique than you were, but you really just needed an excuse to hold his hand.
Why, exactly? The answer was rather simple.
While you weren't enamored with him to begin with... after all, how could one be like that towards the respectable iudex of Fontaine, your curiosity got the better of you the moment you realized the stoic man suspiciously resembled one of Fontaine's many creatures, the otter. The colors, the mannerisms, truly, it all paired up in an uncanny fashion. Somehow, along the line of approaching and getting to know him, you had caught feelings. It was almost funny, how they could sneak up on you like that while your guard was down. Except, now that you had them, what were you supposed to confess? "I started to like you when I realized you were practically an otter, love!"...Ugh, how embarrassing would that be? Imagining his handsome features scrunched with displeasure at your offense is one thing about Neuvillette you wished not to behold.
"...Ahem." Curses, you had been holding his hand for far too long to just laugh it off. You blinked yourself out of your past reminiscence, finding yourself faced with a rather concerned Neuvillette. "Apologies, you weren't responding, so..."
"No matter, are we here already?" You coughed into your first awkwardly, quickly letting go of Neuvillette's hand, however warm his touch may be. Unlocking the door, you swiftly swung it open, letting Neuvillette enter and then shutting it behind you. If you'd known that he'd be coming over - you had unconsciously invited him to your residence - you would've cleaned the space up a bit more. Nothing you could do about it now, you supposed. "There's nothing special, you can make yourself at home while I go fetch some refreshments for us."
"There's no need for that." Neuvillette held up a hand to stop you. "I'm quite alright, and if anything, I'd be delighted if you allowed me to brew your tea for you."
"What? No, you're my guest, you shouldn't possibly-!"
"Ah ah, no complaints. I held mine back, so you should do the same, no?" Great, since when had he started getting clever with his words? "What I need you to do is to go get a blanket and sit at the fireplace. Where do you keep the tea?"
You let out a begrudging sigh. "Fifth cabinet."
"Thank you." You did as he asked with less than an enthusiastic self, and managed to light the fireplace before Neuvillette returned from the kitchen, carrying a tray that held two cups and a steaming teapot.
You raised an eyebrow at him as you took your cup, warm to the touch. "My, I didn't expect you to have any complaints, dear Sir Iudex of Fontaine."
"...Complaint? Ah," Neuvillette's eyes rounded when he realized what conversation you were referring to. "Hm, it's rather embarrassing to say, however... well, since it was a precious day off, I figured I'd take you somewhere special, to the Opera House or wherever, but instead I'm here interfering in your home... it's certainly not ideal, is it? My apologies."
There was a moment of silence, accompanied by the crackle of flames. "Archons, is that what you were thinking with such a downcast expression?" You laughed, seeing his expression brighten. He was perhaps a little too predictable. "I don't mind, Neuvillette. I was the one who invited you here, so there's no need for you to feel ashamed that you accepted it. Besides..." you inched closer to him, grinning. "Every moment with you is special enough, it doesn't take somewhere 'special' to make it so, hm?"
The man remained silent. Had you gone too far with your reassurance? His pale cheeks were flushed, had he become so enraged that his face had gone red? Certainly not, for he whispered your words like an echo. "A special moment, you say?" A tilt of your head was enough of a response. "Then..."
"I love you."
"...Pardon?" The smile on your face slipped, and your ears rung with the gravity of his words. Perhaps you had grown so desperate that the only way to appease that mind of yours was to form auditory hallucinations? You had surely dropped to new, unprecedented lows.
"I love you."
There's just something about that gaze of his that makes you want to cry in his arms. Something about it that makes you want to be held by him, to feel the warmth that he holds in the way he simply looks at you, to bask in it like sunlight, to feel loved.
"I love.."
"There's no need to say it again, Neuvillette." His face falls, and his beautifully damned eyes grow wide. "I heard it the first time." You can sense that he's bracing himself for a response, with the way the smile on his lips draws tight and his stance grows rigid. "To think that you'd be the one confessing to me, why, this was certainly not the vision I had imagined a thousand times over in my head."
You can see the hope in his eyes. You would never dare crush it, your heart beats for him. "I love you, Neuvillette, so repeat it just one more time, would you?"
And just like that, he melts in your arms.
"Yes, darling. I love you too." ₊˚ෆ
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.
.
"My, I didn't expect to see you here!"
Standing up from his desk, WRIOTHESLEY's eyes are bright with excitement.
"So surprised, aren't you?" You lean on his doorway with a fond smile as he embraces you in a quick hug. You smile as he draws back, "Why, am I not allowed to visit the poor duke, cooped up here with nothing but paperwork to satisfy his boredom?"
Your words were true, and they'd struck a note inside him. The Fortress of Meropide was quiet, almost too quiet these days. Sure, there was the persistent, eternal sound of turning gears and bursts of steam, and the never-ending crinkle of paper under his hands, but with most of the prisoners turning in a little earlier due to the cold, the hallways that were usually filled with chatter that he'd proclaim as "distracting" were no more. Monotonous was the crackle of the flames in the fireplace, but the sound of your eager footsteps rounding the hallways was a welcome sound indeed.
"Certainly not, I wouldn't lie through my teeth and say that your presence is unwelcome." His lips were curled upwards in a grin, his husky voice bearing the melody of delight.
"I'd imagine." That sneaky smile on your face is almost alluring in the pale light. "Stuck in this office of yours doing tedious tasks for the foreseeable future is not the ideal form of entertainment for most Fontainions."
A scoff, a playful one. "Then, have you come to help me with said paperwork?"
The shake of your head was instant, so much so that the man could've sworn it came out of instinct. "Most definitely not, Wrio. It's rather unfortunate to say, however..." You let out a great sigh, one foreboding terrible news. Even your eyes began to tear up at their corners, and your expression became dramatically crestfallen. "I'm afraid this empty head of mine has suddenly become illiterate!"
Wriothesley swallowed a laugh that almost dared surface and instead feigned a dramatic gasp, a hand over his mouth that had widened with shock. "Oh, dearest me! What a predicament... Then, what have you come to visit me for, pray tell? To sit and stare at me?"
You shrugged your shoulders, expression blank. "To be fair, I don't exactly know either. I wanted to see you, and my feet just brought me here." It wasn't a complete truth, but not exactly a lie either. You had wanted to see him - partially to admire his strikingly handsome features, but also just to, well, exist in his presence. As much as he'd deny it, Wriothesley hated the idea of being apart from you, and his unchanging situation as the duke of the Fortress of Meropide didn't aid that information. That, and the fact that ever since you had seen him simply strolling through the city, the slightest wind ruffling his dark locks and that sharp gaze of his staring ahead of him, you'd been utterly captured. While clichés weren't exactly your forte, you had to admit that he was a case of "love at first sight". And while you had fallen for his looks, his disposition wasn't something to simply brush aside. Funniest thing? He'd been the one to approach you, striking up a conversation while you were merely having a drink at a nearby cafe, asking if you'd seen a certain wig-wearing dog.
"Excuse me, I'm so sorry to bother you, but have you seen a dog around here? He has a top hat, brightly colored hair, is wearing a suit covered in stickers..."
After joining him on the chase around just about the entirety of Fontaine, the two of you managed to find the missing dog, who was actually a stray being taken care of by a melusine Wriothesley was familiar with, and return it. One thing led to another, and the two of you grew from strangers, acquaintances, and now to friends. Surely, it'd be terrible to wish for something more, wouldn't it?
"Just tell me you missed me." Wriothesley's grin had returned, and he chuckled. "You're not doing the greatest job of hiding it."
"So what if I missed you?" You pouted, finally moving past the man and into the office, eyeing the papers on his desk before making yourself comfortable next to the fire. "And who said I was hiding it, dear duke?"
Wriothesley paused for a beat before continuing in his regular fashion. "You're being rather bold today, aren't you? Your words... they're making it easy to misunderstand."
"Misunderstand all you want, does it matter?"
"Yes, it does."
"N-"
"Let's stop speaking in riddles. Make yourself clear, hm? What're you trying to pull with all these questions?" Wriothesley crossed his arms over his chest, leaning closer. "What, are you trying to be a flirt?"
"Aaaand if I am?" You smiled at his actions, not exactly sure what was spurring you onwards.
"...Damnit, you... archons, you just won't listen, will you? No matter, it just makes things easier for me. Hey, flirt, you won't get all flustered if I say this then, yeah?"
"Say what-"
"I love you."
That was certainly a way to catch someone off guard. "... the fuck-"
"No need to react that badly, all right?" Wriothesley let out a sigh of defeat, leaning his head against the wall as he sat down next to you. "I didn't say it for the sake of saying it. It's true. I've been wanting to tell you for some time now, but.." He chuckled, a laugh that was void of what a laugh should have. "I'm rather a coward."
"I-I didn't mean to answer like that, you just caught me by surprise-" You shook your head, cursing at yourself for sounding so pathetic, with your trembling voice and words that stuttered every syllable. "...And by your definition..." You drew your knees closer to yourself, hugging them to your body. "I'm a coward as well."
It takes him the count of three to respond, eyes blown wide. "...Wait, you-" The flush on his face was undeniable.
"I like you too, Wrio."
"Archons, I... give me a moment. I've been wanting to hear that for so long, I think my heart has stopped beating." ₊˚ෆ
votes and comments are much appreciated <3
thank you for reading ~ ☆
I FINALLY CAUGHT UP THANK THE ARCHONS ABOVE !!! fucking hell omgsdfjodsfjaglskd