[ she stacks the blankets on top of the other and it looks like she's ready to bring them back down to her apartment. but that would mean making... whatever this is end. there's always next time, but this just feels so special. it's one day (and night) that she'll never, ever forget.
she walks back to where merlin is and takes a seat on the cooler before she grabs her glass and takes a sip. orange juice is just so good... so rejuvenating. she should have woken up early today to go jogging around the residential district, but that obviously didn't happen. ]
Hey, [ she's not concerned in the slightest, though with how her brow is creased-- ] Are you going to tell Shigeru?
[ It does seem disappointing for it to end just yet, but there really is next time. And it isn't as though they don't see each other often anyway. He glances up at her from his place on the floor and gives her a smile when she takes her glass.
Even when her brow creases and she asks that he just... averts his eyes slightly, nudges his head and moves his eyebrows. It's a little suggestive of something though--
it takes him a moment to explain. ] I may have already hinted some things to him. He tends to worry quite a lot so... [ He pauses, then says: ] Are you going to tell Ai?
[ Little does he know she already told Iris and Yu... wow gurl. ]
[ He bites into his lip at that, mostly because he isn't surprised either. Though... he rubs the back of his neck. ]
I don't know if I can lie about where I was last night. [ He cringes. ] Not to Shigeru, but he can't even talk and even if he could he's really shy and quiet. There isn't anyone else I'd really tell if you'd rather it stay between us.
[ A pause. ] I just don't want him to worry.
[ Because he acts more like a big brother than just a friend sometimes tbh... ]
I, um, [ ah... she feels like she's being backed into a corner right now. what should she say? ] I don't know what this is- [ aside from courtship. should she not call him her boyfriend yet? is there a term to describe what kind of relationship they have now? ] So...
[ she can't finish it. ]
But you can tell him, if it would make you feel better. I mean, I've... asked advice from Iris and Yu, too.
[ Look, he isn't the one who started this conversation, Athena? You backed yourself into this conversation. ] So? [ He blinks up at her, slowly watching her as he leans back on his palms. ] I'm courting you, you're courting me. [ He nudges his foot against hers. ] Or are there other words you're unsure of?
[ It was a lot simpler in 600-700AD... ]
Probably. I mean we share the same living space, he probably spent all night panicking that I didn't come back. [ What a cinnamon roll. ] And... you did?
[ Now that only makes his call with Yu all the more suspicious. ]
[ athena thinks that she doesn't need to be courted tbh but it's much better than being boyfriend and girlfriend... especially when that's what everybody uses nowadays. and it's just weird. . . she's never imagined to ever even have a boyfriend, so. . . this is just perfect.
even if they kind of mean the same thing, anyway. smh. ]
Ahah... n- nevermind, okay? Forget I said anything. [ she nudges his foot right back. ]
If he ever did worry that you didn't come home, please tell him I said sorry. [ not that he knows who athena is... ] And yes. . . I had to tell someone. I couldn't- I felt like it was bad for my heart.
[ she looks down at her feet when she says that, swinging them softly like a little kid. ]
[ Well you don't want to think of the stage after courting for a while if you're going with a more traditional sense. He's less familiar with the terminology here though so.
This works. ] If you say so.
[ He leans forward when she speaks, reaching for her ankles to stop her from accidentally kicking him at some point. It's gentle though, with his hands sliding up the back of her calves to knead gently. It's more to keep himself busy than anything else. But also to treat her like the queen she is ] I'll tell him you said sorry if it comes to it, but I'm sure he won't mind once he knows. [ But he ... grins at the rest, sorry Athena. ]
[ merlin is lucky that her calves aren't a ticklish spot, or else he really would have probably gotten kicked by now. :')
though when merlin asks what he's told iris and yu, her eyes immediately dart around the area. it's obvious that she has no intention of telling him. not unless he forces the answer out of her. ]
[ Wow... he tries to be nice and this is what he gets?
Thankfully she isn't and thankfully he pulls his hands away to press them on either side of her, holding onto the cooler instead. He uses it to pull himself to his knees and leans in like he's going to kiss her--instead though, he just hovers there. ]
You say that like we haven't already crossed that line. Are you getting shy on me?
[ no, no, too close. she wants to be as close to him as possible, but when she's surprised like this, she can't handle it. her mind's gone blank and she has no idea what is happening anymore. ]
I asked-- [ a pause, and she takes a deep breath. this is hard to say... no, it's embarrassing to say. . . especially out loud. there's a reason why she just texted them and not called them. ] Because-- I didn't want to get my hopes up.
[ It's surprisingly honest after she seems to have worked herself up over admitting this. Quietly he finally leans the rest of the way, but it's to kiss her cheek, pulling her into a hug after. ]
But you didn't. [ Even his voice has a smile to it, a soft little laugh. It's precious that she worried about it, really. Then again, he has no idea when this started. ] I'm right here, see? And I'm really not going anywhere. Well... to my apartment but that's still rather close, isn't it?
[ she returns that hug tightly, even resting her head on his shoulder. why... why does this have to end. athena isn't ready yet. ]
I didn't, because I didn't want to. . . [ her mouth curves into a pout. ] I was fine without not telling you but-- [ well, things have certainly changed, haven't they.
and merlin doesn't have to know when this started. she'd get even more embarrassed that way. at the same time, she doesn't want to know how or why or when merlin became attracted to her. ]
[ Her hair is still tied up, which makes it easier for him to tilt his head, kissing her neck this time as he holds her just a tightly. ]
But I'm glad you did. [ His mouth moves up to her ear, kisses right at the bottom of it. ] We wouldn't be right here otherwise, would we? [ Because he wasn't sure if or when he'd say anything either.
[ oh god. athena has to brace herself for her dear life because her neck may or may not be a sensual spot. she only lets out deep breaths, doing her best to control herself from acting any funnier than she already is.
she does squeeze his shoulders a bit, though. that's about all she can do.
please stop kidding her there. ]
Y- Yeah... it worked out fine. It turns out I was afraid of nothing.
[ Look he doesn't know that... it's just the easiest place to reach when she's burying her head against him okay? ]
You can tell them that now too. [ He pulls back enough the he can hopefully peek at her face, and then he tries to fluster her further with: ] You can tell them how you make my heart sing, how you make me smile and make me happy--
[ she finishes her juice, shaking her head slowly as she does. and once the glass is empty, she puts it back in the basket which she'll be carrying home. her abashed look hasn't changed, though. she's so flustered right now. ]
[ He bites into his lower lip when she pulls back to do that, the look on her face is...
tempting. (not in a gross way jfc) Either way he can't help himself when he reaches out for her face to cup it, laughing out a breath. ]
What kind of face is this? [ It's a soft murmur before he leans to kiss her again. At least they both taste of juice rather than anything else now. ] Stubborn. [ Not like he can say anything about that....... ]
[ he really does know how to make her keysmash internally. her mind almost shuts down at the kis but it reboots when he pulls away. he's got two on athena now, and as flustered as she is, she can't let that happen. ]
You're stubborn-- [ and once again, she returns the kiss, licking her lips when she pulls away.
she'll catch up later. for now, he has a one kiss lead on her. this isn't a competition, but athena would really like to show her affection in this manner. ]
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she walks back to where merlin is and takes a seat on the cooler before she grabs her glass and takes a sip. orange juice is just so good... so rejuvenating. she should have woken up early today to go jogging around the residential district, but that obviously didn't happen. ]
Hey, [ she's not concerned in the slightest, though with how her brow is creased-- ] Are you going to tell Shigeru?
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Even when her brow creases and she asks that he just... averts his eyes slightly, nudges his head and moves his eyebrows. It's a little suggestive of something though--
it takes him a moment to explain. ] I may have already hinted some things to him. He tends to worry quite a lot so... [ He pauses, then says: ] Are you going to tell Ai?
[ Little does he know she already told Iris and Yu... wow gurl. ]
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I think... she already has a clue. [ athena's not the best at keeping secrets that pertain to her, after all. . . ] We don't have to, do we?
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I don't know if I can lie about where I was last night. [ He cringes. ] Not to Shigeru, but he can't even talk and even if he could he's really shy and quiet. There isn't anyone else I'd really tell if you'd rather it stay between us.
[ A pause. ] I just don't want him to worry.
[ Because he acts more like a big brother than just a friend sometimes tbh... ]
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[ she can't finish it. ]
But you can tell him, if it would make you feel better. I mean, I've... asked advice from Iris and Yu, too.
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[ It was a lot simpler in 600-700AD... ]
Probably. I mean we share the same living space, he probably spent all night panicking that I didn't come back. [ What a cinnamon roll. ] And... you did?
[ Now that only makes his call with Yu all the more suspicious. ]
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even if they kind of mean the same thing, anyway. smh. ]
Ahah... n- nevermind, okay? Forget I said anything. [ she nudges his foot right back. ]
If he ever did worry that you didn't come home, please tell him I said sorry. [ not that he knows who athena is... ] And yes. . . I had to tell someone. I couldn't- I felt like it was bad for my heart.
[ she looks down at her feet when she says that, swinging them softly like a little kid. ]
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This works. ] If you say so.
[ He leans forward when she speaks, reaching for her ankles to stop her from accidentally kicking him at some point. It's gentle though, with his hands sliding up the back of her calves to knead gently. It's more to keep himself busy than anything else.
But also to treat her like the queen she is ]I'll tell him you said sorry if it comes to it, but I'm sure he won't mind once he knows. [ But he ... grins at the rest, sorry Athena. ]What did you tell them?
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though when merlin asks what he's told iris and yu, her eyes immediately dart around the area. it's obvious that she has no intention of telling him. not unless he forces the answer out of her. ]
I can't tell you! It's embarrassing.
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Thankfully she isn't and thankfully he pulls his hands away to press them on either side of her, holding onto the cooler instead. He uses it to pull himself to his knees and leans in like he's going to kiss her--instead though, he just hovers there. ]
You say that like we haven't already crossed that line. Are you getting shy on me?
[ actual worst tbh ]
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I asked-- [ a pause, and she takes a deep breath. this is hard to say... no, it's embarrassing to say. . . especially out loud. there's a reason why she just texted them and not called them. ] Because-- I didn't want to get my hopes up.
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But you didn't. [ Even his voice has a smile to it, a soft little laugh. It's precious that she worried about it, really. Then again, he has no idea when this started. ] I'm right here, see? And I'm really not going anywhere. Well... to my apartment but that's still rather close, isn't it?
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I didn't, because I didn't want to. . . [ her mouth curves into a pout. ] I was fine without not telling you but-- [ well, things have certainly changed, haven't they.
and merlin doesn't have to know when this started. she'd get even more embarrassed that way. at the same time, she doesn't want to know how or why or when merlin became attracted to her. ]
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But I'm glad you did. [ His mouth moves up to her ear, kisses right at the bottom of it. ] We wouldn't be right here otherwise, would we? [ Because he wasn't sure if or when he'd say anything either.
Then softly: ] I wouldn't be yours like I am now.
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she does squeeze his shoulders a bit, though. that's about all she can do.
please stop kidding her there. ]
Y- Yeah... it worked out fine. It turns out I was afraid of nothing.
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You can tell them that now too. [ He pulls back enough the he can hopefully peek at her face, and then he tries to fluster her further with: ] You can tell them how you make my heart sing, how you make me smile and make me happy--
[ What an embarrassing person ]
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I-- Merlin, stop!
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I'll stop. [ He can't help it... he laughs. ] Is it really that difficult to hear?
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That's just giving way too much detail. That don't have to know.
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You can tell them whatever you want.
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They don't have to know.
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tempting. (not in a gross way jfc) Either way he can't help himself when he reaches out for her face to cup it, laughing out a breath. ]
What kind of face is this? [ It's a soft murmur before he leans to kiss her again. At least they both taste of juice rather than anything else now. ] Stubborn. [ Not like he can say anything about that....... ]
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You're stubborn-- [ and once again, she returns the kiss, licking her lips when she pulls away.
she'll catch up later. for now, he has a one kiss lead on her. this isn't a competition, but athena would really like to show her affection in this manner. ]
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It's signifying that it's almost time for them to go though. Especially when he adds: ]
Is it just the blanket on the floor and the pillows left?
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[ which she can carry herself. ]
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