a/n: in which MC (ft. accomplice Dazai) wants to make the resident flirt, Arthur Conan Doyle, jealous. Why? Who knows! But what I do know is that it ends up working in his favor rather than MC’s... wait, what?
a/n 2: changed the title cuz it was bothering me xD nothing else changed.
My entry for @scummy-writes‘s Arthur Week!
Day 3: Coffee and Fudge || Writer’s Block
[Pairing]: Arthur x You/gn!MC, (pre-relationship)
[Characters]: You, Arthur, Dazai, Sebastian
[Word count]: ~2300 words
[Rating]: T
[POV]: 2nd Person
“...and all of a sudden, I hear Mozart yell ‘stop releasing chickens in my music room!’ but Dazai didn’t even flinch!” You brought a foam-covered hand up to your mouth to cover your laughter.
You and Sebastian were cleaning the dishes together after lunch time. You’ve made it a habit to catch up on your day and share observations with Sebas, as pretty much no one steps into the kitchen around this time.
Well, that is except—
“_____~!”
Except Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, naturally. He must’ve finished his writing session and been wandering around the mansion, as is his trademark since your arrival.
You closed your eyes, hoping the man would walk past the kitchen without checking. You weren’t exactly in the mood for flirty games with the mystery writer, especially not after dealing with a haughty music teacher in Mozart. Sadly, luck was not on your side, today.
“I’ll tell you the rest later,” you wipe your hands with a towel. Picking up the tray of plates and cups to put them in their rightful places, you didn’t pay the writer any mind.
“After this I gotta find Dazai,” you said as you opened a cupboard. Your turned around to find Arthur leaning on the door frame, and your tone shifted dramatically, “Oh! Arthur, funny to see you here.”
Sebastian knew that tone very well. It was your sickeningly sweet voice that you dedicated to either (a) dodging conversation, or (b) planning something against that person.
“I’d say the same to you, ___, but you’re always in the kitchen. I couldn’t help dropping in to check on my favorite bird,” Arthur leaned against the door frame, flashing you a grin and a wink.
“Oh please, don’t talk about birds after what happened this morning,” You caught sight of your target at the end of the hallway, “aaaand I have to go, see ya!”
You duck under Arthur’s arm while his guard was down. He twirled around to follow you, but you evaded him, calling out to Dazai. Arthur stood in his tracks, as he watched the japanese author stop for you, and you beamed up at him.
“Dazai-san, I’ve been wanting to ask you for something, if you’re… free,” you noticed mid-sentence that the chicken that was still nestled in his arms.
“Hm?” His piercing yellow eyes brightened, “I’ll always have time for you, Toshiko-san.”
“Bawk!” The chicken… agreed, supposedly.
You laughed sheepishly, “That’s very sweet of you, I was actually interested in learning about your writing style and get some advice. I’ve been going through some terrible writer’s block.”
“I was working on a short story earlier, it’s in my room. Want to come with me?” He began to lead her towards his room.
“I’m honored! I’d love to, Dazai-san.”
Oh yes, you were definitely planning something, Sebastian noted.
As the two of them walked away, Arthur stood glued watching the scene. Sebastian had been poking his arm the whole time, but he didn’t budge. Even shaking his entire arm didn’t spur any sudden movement from him.
“Sir Arthur. Earth to Sir Arthur,” Sebas continued tapping his shoulder and pinching his arm.
“Huh? Oh…” His gaze held an odd expression, one that Sebastian hadn’t seen from him before—a hint of sadness, maybe even frustration. But it was quickly replaced by his signature grin as he finally took notice of me, “Sorry, Sebas, I must’ve been blocking your path, got to go!”
And just like that, he scurried off.
After a moment’s pause, and after making sure the hallway was clear of esteemed residents, Sebastian did much the same, but in the opposite direction. He has notes to take, pronto.
~*~
You and Dazai sat in the lounge room, having passed by his room, and Dazai collected his writing material.
“You have really pretty hands, Toshiko-san. I’ve heard you playing in Mo-kun’s piano room, you’re a wonderful pianist,” Dazai held your hand delicately in his, as he ran his thumb over your knuckles.
“Thank you, it’s something I take a lot of pride in,” your heart swelled from the warmth of his compliment, “but I’ve been much more interested with writing as of late. Actually, I’ve always wanted to write a novel.”
“Oh? I admire your ambition. How can I help?”
“Well well well, what do we have here?” A third voice chimed in.
Right on time, as you expected.
“Have I interrupted your little rendezvous?” Arthur walked slowly and purposefully, as if he had caught them red-handed doing something they shouldn’t.
Internally, he was trying his best not to jump to conclusions. That would be uncharacteristic of him, after all. You weren’t tied to him in anyway, so there was no reason to feel so jealous that you went to Dazai for writing help instead of him. He didn’t even know about it!
So why was his heart pounding so loudly in his head while his eyes were fixated on their linked hands?
Dazai withdrew his hand, occupying it with his writing pen instead. He shot Arthur a smile with closed eyes.
“Of course not, we were just talking, Arty.”
“…Don’t call me that,” Arthur narrowed his eyes, “and second, I’d like to steal ____ now.”
“I’m sorry, Arthur, but I want to talk with Dazai a bit to improve my writing.”
Being shot down so directly caught Arthur off-guard; his insecurities getting a hold of him. For the first time, he found himself at a loss for ways to turn the conversation in his favor. At the moment, if he persisted, and you kept turning him down, he wouldn’t be able to let it down for the rest of the day.
Instead, Arthur straightened himself, fixing his tie, “Well then, I’m heading to the pub soon enough to find me a pretty skirt for the evening. Have fun, you two, I know I will.”
He huffed childishly, going out with a wave. Dazai turned to you with a polite smile.
“Do you think it worked?”
“Oh, he is definitely salty, thanks for agreeing to this, Dazai-san.”
“Any time, Yoshie-san, what are housemates for?” He smiled fondly at you.
“You’re a great actor, didn’t even flinch!”
“Ah, but who said I was acting?”
He got up with his writing tools and stepped out of the lounge before you registered what he said.
“Wait… what?!”
~*~
Later that evening…
…Well, more like around midnight, you just happened to catch the insomnia bug and were heading to the kitchen, as all people naturally do when they’re insomniac. You switched on the lights, thankful for the dimness of the lanterns in the kitchen. Scanning your options, your eyes settled on the coffee pot that sat quietly in the corner. Thoughts of a certain mystery writer gnawed at you, but you darted them away and walked past the coffee pot to get a glass of water instead. You leaned forward, filling her glass with bleary eyes that refused to slumber but also refused to open properly.
Suddenly, you felt a touch to your backside. Eyes cracking wide open, you spun around and swung your makeshift weapon of glass at your offender. The offending mop of ash blue hair felt the full force of the blow, and the glass shattered across the floor.
Well crap.
“Ow… If I’m not mistaken, I’d say you were trying to kill me there, ____.”
For the love—.
“Arthur what the hell were you trying to pull?! Bloody hell! You made my heart drop.”
In a flash, his body was pressed against yours, caging you between his arms and the kitchen counter. The crunch of the glass under his shoes was the only sound in the room. You saw a small stream of blood start to fall by his ear.
“I was going to prepare myself a midnight snack with my coffee, but it seems I already found one ready for a taste test,” he licked the back of his fangs.
“At this hour??” It was well past midnight by now, and caffeine was the last thing you’d recommend anyone at this time.
You felt his breath on your ear before he inhaled your scent. It was comforting to him as much as it was intoxicating to his senses.
He sighed, “____… I can’t get you out of my mind, no matter what I do.”
His arms circled around your waist, pulling you away from the countertop and flush against him, instead. All sorts of alarms were going off in your mind despite the drowsiness, with your instincts telling you to push him off.
“But then, you started avoiding me. And then… Sebastian and Mozart and even Dazai took you away from me,” he sniffled.
You pushed him off gently but still within his arms, as you stared at his face. There was a pink dust across his cheeks and a redness in the corners of his eyes.
“Arthur, are you… drunk?”
His frown flipped into a grin as he nuzzled his nose into your disheveled hair.
“Oh, don’t be silly, dear. I may have been out drinking, but I can bloody well hold my liquor. Theo can vouch for me on that.”
(a/n: no, he can’t lmao)
The sight of him in a somewhat vulnerable state, as well as the smell of his cologne, made it hard for you to properly fight him. Plus, you felt bad for crushing a glass cup on his head. Speaking of which…
“Is your head okay?”
“Hm…” He brought a gloved hand to his forehead, feeling a dull pounding in its wake, “I must say, you got me good, even the most daring fools never landed a hit on me yet.”
Just how thick is his skull to endure that?! You were both dazzled and frightened by their realization.
With one of his arms off of you, you took this chance to escape, but you slid on a shard of glass and would have fallen face first onto the floor had Arthur not pulled you against him and taken the impact of the floor to his own shoulder. He laid on his back, clutching you protectively against his chest. He groaned with pain, but he pushed it aside to check on you first.
“Clumsy tonight, are we, or are you seriously trying to kill me?” He chuckled wryly.
Before you could even blink, you felt your vision do a 180-flip, and you were suddenly beneath him, away from the glass shards that littered the floor. The scent of his cologne flooded your senses again, as he smirked down on you with a drunken lopsided grin.
“I was absolutely livid when I saw Dazai hold your hand. Was that part of your plan, darling? Well, I’ve taken the bait.”
You flinched, your body wide awake to every touch and caress of this man. You bit your lip to avoid playing into his hands. You were still in control of the situation, you thought. His lips descended to your jaw, barely brushing your skin, like he’s testing your limits. Instinctively, you sighed, unaware of the breath you’d been holding.
Ok, maybe you weren’t entirely in control, either.
“Arthur…” You commanded, trying to regain some semblance of control back.
This was not part of your plan, however, and you were quickly losing grip of all reason and logic. You needed to get him off and away from you before you acquiesced to his ministrations.
“But don’t worry, ____. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to.”
He drew back from you, staring down at you with an uncharacteristic tender look. He continued.
“The effect you have on me is not one I’ve felt with any woman I’ve ever encountered before. It’s confusing—maddening, even— and I can’t escape it… because I don’t want to,” he sighed in surrender, “I want you, ___.”
It was a look of pure love and affection that shone in his eyes. His half-opened shirt invited your gaze to roam his body, and his thick-rimmed glasses framed his features in such an alluring glow that outshone the dimness of the kitchen. His hair looked softer than usual, too. Your hand twitched at the thought of running your fingers through those ash blue locks. Your mind was thrown into a whirlwind with the influx of new information, one that dented your rationality. Your desire to get closer to him wrestled against your impartial stoicism, threatening to crack the armor around the stone gates to your heart.
“Hey Arthur,” you started, twirling a lock of his hair with your hand. It was ever-so-slightly damp; he must’ve bathed in le thermae earlier.
“Yes, ____?”
Damn that seductive voice of his, you shooed away that thought as soon as it entered. You chose to focus on something much more pressing at the moment.
“We need to get you bandaged up. You’re bleeding terribly from your head.”
~*~
It took a lot of convincing, but Arthur finally acquiesced to your persistent request.
“There, all done,” you stepped back from Arthur, who was sitting hunched over on his bed.
You were both settled in his room with his medical bag open on the desk and his equipment strewn all around. You didn’t exactly know what to do to treat Arthur’s wound, but you insisted on doing it for him… with copious amounts of instructions from him.
“I brought you some fresh coffee and fudge, as an apology.”
“At this hour?” He mimicked your tone from earlier. You rolled your eyes at his childishness.
“And here I am trying to make it up to you, and this is how you show gratitude?”
You huffed indignantly, ready to head out and leave the unappreciative writer to his own devices.
“Hold on, now,” he gripped your wrist before you could fully turn away, “you’re the one who smashed glass on my head, so you owe me a favor.”
“…a favor on top of tending to your wounds and bringing you coffee?”
“Oh, indulge me, won’t you? You did those of your own volition.”
You sigh, “Depends on the request, then.”
“Feed me,” he perked up with no hesitation or embarrassment in his tone.
You wanted to turn him down, to tease him about his child-like excitement, but you couldn’t resist his puppy dog eyes. Those eyes held a very powerful hold over you though you blame it on your own tiredness outweighing your better judgment.
“Alright…” You moved aside his things to sit next to him, leaning towards the table to drag the tray closer to yourself.
How did you get into this situation? You peeked up at Arthur as you tugged his dark blue bed sheets over your shoulder, watching the way his eyes scanned the pages of the book he held in his hands. He sat beside you, one pillow behind his back while you sleepily nuzzled into the other, trying to ignore how the scent of his cologne surrounded you.
The only light on was the lamp by the bed at the perfect height for him to comfortably read with. The warm glow helped ease your nerves, especially as it made Arthur look more… mature with the way it framed his features. Relaxing. It was almost hard to believe this was the same man that constantly, lovingly, teased all the residents. Or that this was the same man that joked time after time about whisking you away from here, to a home just for the two of you.
For a moment, his gaze dipped away from the book, meeting yours, making your heart speed up again at being caught ogling. But he just smiled, quietly shutting his book.
"You look like you're ready to fall asleep, luv."
When you nodded, shyly returning your focus on snuggling into the sheets, he set his book upon his desk. Then his glasses, rubbing his eyes for a moment.
Soon, the pads of his fingers gently brushed your bangs aside. Tucking your hair behind your ear he hummed in thought.
"Would you rather go back to your room or would you like to stay here for the night?"
You were surprised he was giving you a choice. Honestly, you thought he was about to tell you to leave. While he teased and flirted with you on occasion, none of this was the excitement he seemed to seek out each night. Instead, it was boring. Comfortable, for you at least, and… embarrassing, giving the context.
But if you had to give an answer…
"Could I stay here?"
"Of course."
The lamp clicked off not a moment after, leaving you trying to readjust to the faint moonlight from the window that stretched over the room. You had a hunch he left the curtains open for you, but you didn't voice it as he settled into bed, letting out a content sigh.
"Mmh… Hey, bird?" You let out a hum of acknowledgment, feeling his fingers ghost along your cheek in a gentle caress before thumbing the skin there. "You said you had a nightmare, right?"
Yes… Earlier in the kitchen, where he had ran into you drinking a glass of water, trying to shake off the haunting images of your dream. He had still been awake writing, given the empty mug he was carrying in and the glasses he wore, but upon seeing you he seemed to drop any further plans he had that night, trying to coax out the reason you seemed so shaken up.
Which led you here, with his chest close enough to nuzzle into if you so wanted.
"Y-yeah…"
"Do you want me to stay awake until you fall asleep?"
"No, no, you don't have to go that far."
"Mm… You're right, I don't have to. But if it made you feel better, I would without a second thought, darling."
Heat rose to your cheeks hearing his rare pet name for you. "Just… just this is enough. It's more than enough." Then quieter, but no less honest. "...Thank you, Arthur."
"Mhm, anytime, bird. I'm always up late, and if I'm not ready to sleep yet you can rest here while I write."
"That sounds really nice…"
There was a beat of silence as a soft smile played at his lips and, feeling your heart stir against your will, you tightened the sheets around your shoulders. And speaking of, you couldn't help but trail your eyes over his, and then drag them towards his chest…
Arthur seemed to read you well even in the dark. With a quiet come here, he coaxed you into cuddling up to him; gently, of course. All it took was a comforting arm around you, and you gave in, letting Arthur hug you close.
Surely it was fine to do this, right? You were still shaken up over the dreams that had plagued you tonight- of course, the thunderous ba-dum against your ribs was from that, and not from finally knowing what it felt like to be held by Arthur.
(And God, did he smell so good.)
"You know… it doesn't have to be a nightmare. Even if you're just having a bad day, you can come to me and I'll do what I can to help."
When he got like this it was nearly impossible to refrain from melting into his arms. And you seemed to anyway, feeling yourself start to fade as he began to slowly rub your back.
"Mmh… Are you sure?"
"Dove, I'd do just about anything you asked."
-
This time, you didn't wake with a start. Rather, a slow few blinks mixed with a haze of confusion. Until you took a deep breath, remembering last night with the faint smell of coffee and musk.
The sun was yet to be seen, and you wondered how long you managed to sleep. Not enough, given how tired you still felt.
Glancing up, you saw that Arthur was still asleep. You idly wondered about the dream he was having as he stirred, only pulling you into a firmer embrace.
Was this why women chased after him so much? That, aside from the promise of pleasure he made well on, he would make them feel… safe?
Though, imagining that with other women felt off, especially the few times you had witnessed him coming back the morning after; weary, slightly out of character. With the additions of Theo's murmurings to you, you almost had half a mind to think he'd only do this for you.
Almost.
The mood soured by your own thoughts, you attempted to fall back asleep to the sound of his sleepy sighs- but it felt hopeless, as your mood sunk while the sun rose.
~☆~
True to his word, Arthur apparently would do anything you asked of him. It felt silly; being an adult and still seeking comfort so late at night. But instead of nightmares haunting you, it was memories refusing to stay buried. Something you didn't realize you had in common with Arthur until later that night.
When he had answered your knock, he did seem surprised, but moreso he looked weary. His smile couldn't seem to reach his eyes as he ushered you inside, which made your cheeks burn from shame, thinking that you were truly inconveniencing him and he was just too nice to say so. (Because really, how old were you now?)
But before any hasty apologies could spill out of you he was admitting how little sleep he had gotten lately. Arthur threw out the excuse of a manuscript keeping him up, but the smell of ink was nowhere to be found, and his desk was oddly bare.
"You can go ahead and hop into bed, my dove, I'll just be a moment."
His soft words were accompanied by a gentle pat on your shoulder before he turned around, opening his dresser drawers to pick out a fresh set of pajamas. Arthur changed in his small bathroom as you crawled into his bed, already feeling your body relax at the missed comfort.
Truly, Arthur could be too kind, you thought. Despite his countless warnings of the same vice towards you, maybe he was better off worrying about himself. After all, you weren't the one who looked so worn down and ragged when finally settling into bed.
Arthur spared a strained smile your way once the lights were out, the moonlight once again providing a soothing atmosphere.
"I may end up falling asleep first this time. I hope you'll forgive me for that."
"I’ve already told you that you didn't have to stay up for my sake, Arthur. I'll be okay." You stalled for a moment before inching closer, gingerly resting your hand on his side, "just being with you is enough for me."
"Mm…" His exhaustion showed with his lazy and crooked smile that made your heart flutter as he pulled you into his embrace, nuzzling against your hair, "be careful, bird, you'll lead me to believe that's under a different context."
The tease was meant to provoke a flustered reply, but you stayed silent, cheeks glowing as you imagined the context he was referring to.
-
You awoke to panting. Honestly, you almost fell back asleep immediately, and the only reason you didn't was due to the jolt that seemed to go through Arthur. And in just a blink, you were pushed off his chest rather abruptly, causing you to scramble to sit up.
Impulsively, you cut on the bedside light, just to be greeted by a shame-stricken Arthur. His eyes wavered with something you couldn’t quite catch, and then he was looking elsewhere, chest heaving as apologies stumbled out from him.
"Just- just a nightmare, luv. I-I didn't mean to wake you, not like that."
Drowsiness still taking hold of most of your thoughts, you nodded along, letting yourself catch your breath from the sudden start. And then you ran his words through your head again, frowning.
What nightmare had brought forth such a startling reaction?
Judging by the embarrassment still clouding his features- and his outright refusal to look you in the eye- it didn't seem like one he would be too keen on sharing. For an idle moment, you let yourself consider what would keep him awake at night, and how different the causes might be from your own.
The thought has you easing yourself under the covers again, hesitantly reaching for his arm and thumbing the patch of skin under his sleeve, muttering.
"… I'm here for you too, you know?"
Arthur’s breath stopped as he processed the words, shyly glancing your way.
"W-we don't have to talk about it, unless you want to that is, but…" Your cheeks burned, "you're always willing to ease my fears. Let me do the same?"
Arthur’s scoff almost made you recoil until he spoke, "rather sore I've let you see me in such a state," and then another look your way, "... but I do appreciate it, luv."
Wordlessly, you lifted your arm up- just enough for him to snuggle into your embrace with a self-deprecating chuckle against your shoulder.
"Thank you. For feeling sympathy for such a sorry bloke as myself."
“It’s okay to need a little help now and then, Arthur.”
His deep sigh gusted against your neck, making your cheeks burn further while you focused on his words,“... I do need that reminder now and again.”
“I’ll be here to give it to you,” Gingerly, you rubbed his back, thankful when he let himself relax into your hold, “... whenever you need.”
“Mm… Thank you, darling. I really mean it.”
There wasn’t much more to be said. Arthur only mumbled a few more tired apologies for his dazed behavior, and then he was fast asleep in your arms, his slow breathing helping lull your eyes closed.
True to his word, Arthur had been exhausted, and now the reason behind that was clear. Whether or not this same reason was behind other nights you saw of him in such a state was unclear, but… Hopefully, as he had been doing for you, you could ease his troubles and help him during those moments.
At least a little, right?
-------
Day four of Arthur Week! *wheezes* this was originally supposed to be longer but, ah... you all know the ol song and dance by now o|-< things didn't come out like I wanted and this is what I made do with.
Arthur is a godawful flirt, but I always appreciate the moments of genuine kindness he has, in or out of his route. Shows a Lot about him.
. arthur x reader . 943 words . day 4 entry for @scummy-writes’ arthur week .
How far just had Arthur fallen from the man he used to be? A few years ago, he scoured his local pub looking for “delicious birds” to feast on and never meet up with again. He drank until he was sick and vowed never to stick with one woman for more than a night. But now, here he was, finishing up the room in the mansion where his baby was going to sleep. Never before did he even think he’d get married, let alone have a child with his wife. But here he was, eagerly preparing for his baby, and fantasizing about the life he was about to have in a few months. The life that he’d built together with you that he didn’t think he deserved. A life of happiness and warmth, and endless promises and love that he couldn’t get anywhere else. One he never thought he’d have.
The room was pastel yellow and had patterns of animals and flowers going in a line. It was full of storybooks, some written by himself just for the baby, toys, stuffed animals, and anything else that a child could ever want. Arthur had insisted on purchasing most of it, but plenty of it had been gifts from the others. Comte especially insisted on providing you and Arthur with baby toys, and you ended up with a little more than you needed. Nevertheless, too much was better than too little, and the both of you couldn’t be more grateful for all the support you had gotten from everyone.
Arthur snapped out of his thoughts and turned around, making a beeline for his bedroom. You were there, laying down on his bed, with your hands on your swollen stomach. Murmuring to yourself, you had the most serene smile that Arthur had ever seen. You’d been married for years now, but the sight of you in his bed, carrying his child was enough to make him fall in love with you all over again. He couldn’t help himself. He just had to make his presence known, and hold you in his arms. He sat down next to you and kissed your cheek, guiding your head to his chest. “Good morning, love.”
“Morning.” You hugged your husband and sighed. He was warm, and that was something you always had known. Arthur’s hugs were the warmest, and they were especially perfect on mornings like these. “How are you?”
“I should be asking you, Mrs. Doyle,” he chuckled, kissing your hand and pressing it to his cheek. “How is our little stinker?”
“She’s doing fine! Missed her daddy, I bet.”
“Oh, how sweet.” Arthur put his hand on your stomach and grinned when he felt a little kick. “There she is!” he whispered, leaning in closer. “Good morning, little love… We’re very excited to meet you. Daddy’s going to give you a big hug and a kiss every single day.”
You giggled and tilted your head. “Mommy’s gonna sing you songs and snuggle you until we fall asleep together.”
“I changed my mind. I want to do that.”
“No! I’m gonna sing her songs!”
“I will!” Arthur kissed you and smiled, rubbing your noses together. “You’re going to be a wonderful mother to a beautiful little girl… I just know it. I hope she looks like you. I’d love a miniature version of you running around.”
“No, I think she should look like you.” You looked up and poked the beauty mark underneath his mouth. “She should have this at the very least.”
He shook his head. “A baby girl with your hair and eyes and my little mark? I’ll take it. Ah… Vic is going to have a lovely little playmate.”
“That’s right. We need to introduce them. Is he going to be good with her?”
“Of course he will! Vic will adore her, I promise.”
You sat up and stretched. “Oh, that’s good. Hey, Artie…” He turned and kissed your brow, rubbing your arm.
“What is it, my love?”
“Thank you… thank you for everything. Thank you for loving me, thank you for marrying me, and thank you for being mine. All the men and women in the world and you chose to marry me.”
He blinked for a moment and pulled away. “Did I hear you correctly?” he started softly. “You’re thanking… me? Love.” He gently pulled your chin up to meet his gaze and shook his head. “My beloved wife, I wouldn’t be the man I am if I hadn’t met you. I’m not a brilliant man. I’m no one to thank, because marrying you is the obvious choice. Y/N, you’re beautiful and passionate and clever and just so adorable and sexy… Anyone would be out of their minds not to choose you. Your love gave me a life I don’t deserve, and I just can’t thank you enough for it. I should be the one thanking you. You, and this lovely little lady right here.” He put his hand on your stomach once more, sitting in silence as he waited for another kick. He looked over at you, and smiled, reaching over to wipe your tears away. “Oh, don’t cry, love.”
“Sorry,” you whispered. “It’s just so nice having you in my life. Arthur, I love you so damn much…” You laughed and wiped your eyes again, hugging your husband’s neck.
“I love you too.” Arthur pressed your lips together, closing his eyes. He sat for a moment, holding you softly to his body, cherishing the love he felt radiating from you. When he pulled away, he couldn’t help but tear up himself. “Thank you for this beautiful little family, my beloved wife.”
The carriage ride home was quiet. There were few bumps in the road, making it a smooth ride back to the mansion. Darkness was starting to bleed into the twilight, staining the golden sky with streaks of midnight blue. The moon was peeking out from behind the clouds -- her glow ever so gentle as night came.
And Arthur was staring out the window, watching as the stars became more visible as the light from the sun slowly disappeared behind the horizon. Out of the corner of his eye was the bird, reading one of the novels he managed to give her from the bookshop.
He studied her as her thumb idly toyed with the edge of the page as her eyes quickly gobbled up the words before her, blissfully unaware of the longing look that was written all over his face.
He smiled. It wasn’t often that he was able to see Leona like this — in her element. Pools of lilac purple focused so intently on the book, like she was absorbing each and every single sentence. She toyed with a piece of her hair as she continued to read silently. While her expression remained unchanged, Arthur could see a familiar light flickering in her eyes.
"So, what do you think of the old chap Holmes?" He asked, finally breaking the silence.
Leona remained quiet for a moment, finishing up the paragraph she was on before placing her bookmark in its place. And when she looked up at him, that was when he saw it.
Wonder. Excitement.
They made her glow like a candle’s flame.
"I think you have a way with words, Arthur," Leona began, adjusting herself in her seat before continuing. “You suck people in, right from the very beginning. I mean, starting with Watson’s perspective was an interesting move, but I liked it. Being introduced to Holmes through his partner’s eyes was refreshing, and I just…”
“I really like it so far,” Leona said, grinning from ear to ear. “So… thank you, Arthur.”
His heart slammed in his chest.
The smile that graced Leona’s face plucked at his heartstrings, like it was a harp. He could see giddiness overflow in her eyes, like a flood. There was a crack in wall, and Arthur found it … but at the same time, he was so incredibly disarmed by her.
Praise — genuine praise coming from someone whose tongue so sharp, it could cut glass — soaked into his brain. Her words etched themselves into his memory as they kept replaying over and over again in his head. Her smile would haunt him for days to come.
To be thanked for something he wrote, to be the reason why Leona radiated pure joy made his heart leap in his chest.
"I'd like to keep reading for a little bit longer, if that's alright with you. I… I stopped at a good part…" she said, her voice trailing off sheepishly.
Arthur hummed before sitting back against the cushions.
"On one condition."
Leona quirked an eyebrow.
"Could you read it out loud? The silence is so deafening, my dear. Perhaps your voice might quiet it down a bit."
Crimson tinted Leona's cheeks. Fingers dug into her black skirts as his teasing words caressed her. But, in the tease, there was truth. If she was to read the story of the man he hated most, he'd rather hear it in her own voice. Silence held loneliness. It was stifling. However… with Leona, the loneliness was kept at bay for a while.
The bird sighed.
"Oh, fine. But no interrupting. Deal?"
He chuckled lightly before closing his eyes.
"Deal."
✥﹤┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈﹥✥
For this, Arthur’s first gift to Leona was a book. A Study in Scarlet. She’d never heard of Sherlock Holmes, so... there wouldn’t be any harm in introducing her to him, would there?
This was written for Arthur Week which was started by @scummy-writes. Thank you for providing the prompts and the event!
Story after the cut.
I scrapped the first story idea so I apologize if this one seems a bit rushed... ;-;
Her Laughter lights his path
The flowers of the garden seemed to dance as the wind blew around her. It was a beautiful day, Arthur thought, standing before the door. He spotted Serena sitting at the fountain, her light pink hair rustled by the wind. With a smirk, he strode towards her. His jacket was billowing with the breeze, his hair getting blown into his face. As he approached her, she turned to look at him, her expression as neutral as it always was. Not even a smile graced her lips. He resisted the urge to pout at her.
She had been here for over a month and had not once shown them a glimpse of how she truly felt. She had explained to him before that she felt her emotions left her feeling vulnerable. He knew she would allow him in at some point, allow him to glimpse that side of her. They had spent countless days on cases helping other people.
“Good afternoon, Arthur. Are you on your way to the pub to catch another ‘pretty skirt’?” She tilted her head as she asked, her tone still balanced. He wished she would show some emotion. Jealousy, happiness, even wished she would dislike him outright. Anything to get her to be more than a blank slate. However, she never pushed him away nor did she hold him at a distance. Even seemed to welcome his presence around her.
“I already found a pretty little skirt I’d love to spend the evening with~” He winked at her, hoping to at least cause her to blush. I want you and only you. Reaching his hand up, he brushed her bangs out of her face and gently cupped her cheek. She still showed no reaction. “Blast. You’d be a great companion for poker. Have you been told that, luv?” He shook his head and tossed his hands up in playful defeat. Just as he’d ‘given up’, he heard a musical sound. A sound that almost made his heart beat out of his chest.
Her shoulders were shaking, her gloved hand covering her mouth, her laughter filling the air. “I’m sorry Arthur, but it’s so fun to tease you. When you make it so obvious you want to see me as I am, it makes me want to hide it all the more.” Her hand left her mouth, showing him a sight for sore eyes. Her lips were pulled into a playful smile, the corners having the cutest dimples he’d ever seen. She was giving him a gift; Allowing him to see her ‘vulnerable’.
“My- Your smile eases all my burdens, poppet~” He leaned towards her in an attempt to get a closer look. But she turned away from him to look out at the setting sun once more. He moved closer to her, wrapping his arm around her waist. Once he didn’t receive a protest, he laid his head upon her shoulders praying no one else was around to see him so vulnerable. A feeling they both shared, truly. Neither one wanting to give up their facade, their mask, for anyone but each other.
“Arthur? I have a request.” She hesitated, another way of showing him her trust in him. “If I’m your skirt for the night, would you at least grace me with a dance?” He chuckled at her innocent question. He didn’t want to leave his comfortable position beside her, but if she wanted to dance, he would gladly do so.
Arthur stood and gave an elegant bow, bending at the waist and holding his hand out to her. “Would you be kind enough to allow me a dance, mademoiselle?” He gave her the most enticing smile he could muster. She laughed again and took his hand as he helped her up from the fountain. With a tug, he pulled her into his embrace.
He wrapped his arm around her waist to lead their dance. Her skirts swirled with each twirl. Just holding her in his arms made the darkness ebb away. She had allowed him to hear her laughter; shared the musical sound with his ears. Even as the sun set and the moon rose, they continued their dance. After all, she shone the brightest in the dark. She was his firefly.
With a low groan, Arthur gingerly stretched out his legs, already beginning to feel the ghost of a deep ache settling in. He allowed himself a moment to catch his breath, arm slung over his eyes, before finally muttering to the other man in the room.
“Just give me a moment, I’ll be out of your hair soon enough.”
Theo said nothing in response, already having cleaned himself up and was beginning to get dressed himself. And if this wasn’t the usual, Arthur would have been concerned. But this was Theo; This was their relationship.
Or, so he thought.
As the bed dipped under Theo’s weight, Arthur peeked out from under his arm, giving the man a bleary but confused look of concern. “Hey, I know you’re eager to sleep but-”
Theo cut him off with a scoff, plopping a wet washcloth onto Arthur’s stomach- ignoring the small yelp it brought out.
“I’m not that bad, klootzak.”
“Right, forgive me, I must have missed that last time.” Arthur shot a crooked smile his way, “... I take it that I can borrow your bathroom for a bit?”
“Mm.”
It didn’t take long for Arthur to clean up- in fact most of what kept him in Theo’s bathroom was snooping. Looking at the brand; of shampoo, soaps, and cologne he owned- both bottles, frowning when he saw the one he had gifted Theo last Christmas still basically untouched. He shook off the annoyance, taking the sudden flash of the emotion as a cue to leave.
Stepping out of the bathroom, he saw Theo sitting in bed with a pillow propped behind his back. Odd, considering he expected the man to already be trying to sleep.
“Do you remember where you threw my boxers?”
Theo glanced at him, then over towards his desk where their night together started. Beside the chair was his crumbled blue underwear, and Arthur was thankful Theo seemed to turn the other way while he slipped them back on.
“Mm, feeling shy after all of that?” He commented, slowly picking up his scattered outfit from the floor.
“... When you’re done, just put all of that on the chair.”
Arthur paused. “I don’t quite fancy taking a stroll through the halls in just my knickers, ol’ boy.”
“That’s not-” Theo huffed, then much quieter. “Just come back over here.”
Come back…? Arthur mulled on the request unintentionally, stuck wondering if he had actually heard him right until Theo began to glare. Wordlessly, Arthur set his clothes on the seat of the chair.
It shouldn’t have felt so awkward to climb back into bed, nor should there have been warmth rising to his cheeks as he did so, especially considering how ‘intimate’ they had just been, but… Arthur couldn’t fully look at him as Theo reached beside him, turning the lamp off.
“You can stay here tonight.”
“What’s the occasion?” His question came out strained, apprehensive.
“Does there have to be one?”
With you, yes. But Arthur kept that thought to himself, instead easing under the covers. “What about your darling brother-”
Theo scrunched up his nose, nudging Arthur’s shoulder. “Don’t bring him up right now. Besides, he’s still out with Hondje.”
Right, they were having a little getaway. It’s part of the reason Theo didn’t mind bringing the fun into his bedroom this time around, since they didn’t have to worry much about others hearing.
Arthur kept quiet as Theo settled beside him, trying to ignore the awful thumping in his chest. It wasn’t as if he hated this- actually quite the opposite- but there was the dread of when the ‘other shoe’ would drop. Because when was the last time Theo was even remotely affectionate towards him? Aside from when drinks were involved, that didn’t count.
But they were both sober this time around, as much as Arthur wished he wasn’t. A bit of a drink might calm him down…
“Do you always sleep so stiff?”
“Depends. Which part-”
“Arthur.”
He chuckled at Theo’s tone, finally turning to face the man.
“How about you? One part of you has calmed down, but the rest is still stiff. Unfair to tease me when you’re the same, hm?”
“It’s because you are.”
Arthur hummed as he looked away, drumming his fingers against the sheet covering his stomach. Could he sleep without mentioning it? How forced all of this felt?
“I’m just curious about the sudden change, is all. It’s not like you to have the need for snuggling-”
“What, do you not like it?”
Arthur blinked at him, mouth open for a moment until he closed it.
“... No, it’s… It’s rather nice.”
“Then,” Theo turned on his side, easing his arm over Arthur’s waist, “what’s the issue?”
Oh, he hated this. His cheeks were burning hotter by the second, not to mention how small he felt. But, he took in a deep breath, battling with the sudden feeling like a schoolboy with a crush.
“The issue is that you’ve never done this before. I-I don’t know how to take it.”
Of all the responses to get, he nearly felt offended when Theo chuckled. The only reason he didn’t was because Theo tugged him further into his embrace, making Arthur’s thoughts cut off short.
“Where’s all that confidence from earlier? You were yapping about how I never give you the ‘treat’ you want-”
“That is an entirely different context and you know that!” Arthur rolled his eyes when Theo kept laughing, stubbornly huffing. “Theo, don’t act like this isn’t strange. We always just have our fun and then go our separate ways. Pretend we didn’t until the next time we want to have a bit of fun. Hell, you don’t even wear the cologne I got you.”
“Mm, it’s for special occasions.”
“‘Special’? What do you me- Now wait, don’t go changing the subject!”
Theo seemed to ignore Arthur’s quiet ‘come on’ of protest as he hugged him against his chest. Arthur could feel Theo’s chin on top of his head, and it just made him frown further until Theo spoke.
“I’m not good at these things.”
“I’ve noticed.”
A scoff, and then he continued. “Let’s… try this out. For tonight. Your birthday is coming up soon, yeah?”
Arthur pulled back from Theo’s chest to look at him directly, but the words he had readied to firmly ended up tumbling out clumsily when he saw the deep pink dusting Theo’s cheeks.
“You- You never do gifts- Are you expecting me to- No, Theo, am I going to wake up tomorrow with you pretending this never happened?”
“Do you want to?”
They stared at each other for a moment, the ‘fight’ slowly ebbing from Arthur as he mulled over the idea. Moreso, his own thoughts on the matter, recalling other times this- the near admission of whatever relationship they had- stung the nights after. He hated to admit that, even to himself. “... No.”
Theo shrugged, the casual movement so strained it was anything but. “Then I won’t pretend. I won’t act like this never happened.”
Neither of them spoke. Arthur carded his fingers through his hair with a sigh as Theo turned to lay back on the bed, his grip loose on Arthur now.
They really could pretend this awkward night never happened, despite all the fun that preceded it. But how long had they played this game? And how often had it sent Arthur out in bitter avoidance of the mansion residents?
With one glance it was easy to see how Theo’s blush had extended to the tips of his ears. And Arthur, knowing fully well Theo wasn’t the only one, finally let his shoulders relax.
“Gods, we are truly terrible at this, aren’t we?” Arthur wasn’t looking for an answer as he muttered it.
“There’s only one way to fix that.” Theo finally met Arthur’s gaze, motioning for Arthur to lay back down with him. And this time Arthur finally let himself relax, carefully settling himself in Theo’s warm hold.
“Mm… I suppose you’re right.”
------
I always hc that they both struggle with accepting their ~feelings~ towards each other are more than 'friends with benefits'. Causes a lot of rocky moments, But with some practice, they can fix that.
Decided to make another character themed week for fun again, this time taking place from May 16th-22nd! Much like Isaac Week, the daily prompts count down to our favorite thot's birthday, and why not spoil him a bit by making the countdown a lil special?
Day 1: Firsts || Anniversaries
Day 2: Partners in Crime || Placing Bets
Day 3: Coffee & Fudge || Writers Block
Day 4: Family || Nightmares
Day 5: Glasses || Leather Gloves
Day 6: Blue Ink || Playing Detective
Day 7: Birthdays || Spoiled
If you decide to try your hand at doing any of these in any creative format, please @ me so I can see and reblog!
There's not really any 'rules' to this, just dont be gross (ex: writing non/con, in/cest and so on) and don't be rude (ex: writing hate fics against any characters and whatnot). You don't have to do every day/every prompt to join, and hey! If none of these prompts are sparking inspiration you're more than welcomed to go by your own prompts.
And as an additional note, Suitor/Suitor content is fine to do for these prompts!
