“Thank you, Leon,” Emma breathed, her fingers closing around the necklace etched with the date their paths crossed for the very first time he had gifted her for Christmas, holding it close to her heart. “It’s perfect and I’ll treasure it forever.”
Pushing up on the tips of her toes, she ran her fingers threaded through Leon’s hair, tightening as she lingered over his lower lip, eliciting a soft gasp from him. Butterflies erupted in her stomach with every kiss, a familiar warmth blooming low within her, each heartbeat echoing her growing urgency.
His kisses had always undone her; leaving her yearning and aching for the long of his touch.
“It pleases me to know you are satisfied with your gift, Emma,” Leon said softly, a warm smile curving his lips as he drew back just enough to brush her hair away, exposing the graceful line of her neck. “Step closer. Allow me to put it on you so I may admire how beautiful it looks.”
“I would love that,” Emma replied, her cheeks painted a faint crimson holding her hair while Leon fastened the jewelry around her neck.
As Leon focused on fastening the clasp of the necklace, Emma found her gaze drifting to the empty tree skirt beneath the glistening Christmas lights. Her gift for him still waited there. This year, her present was anything but traditional—and the anticipation of his reaction set her heart racing.
Approximately four months earlier, Emma’s lion had murmured the declaration while their limbs lay tangled together, bodies still flushed from a night of fervent passion. One confession gave way to another, and soon the hours slipped by unnoticed, the lovers surrendering to a sleepless night losing themselves in their lovemaking with the hopes of one day bearing a child.
When her monthly cycle failed to arrive, Emma discovered she was carrying Leon’s child. Overjoyed, she knew there could be no more perfect moment to share the news of their miracle with her husband than Christmas.
“There, all finished,” Leon’s voice jolted Emma from her thoughts, as he spun Emma around to examine the crafted pendant. “Beautiful….and I’m not just referring to the necklace.”
“Oh, Leon,” Emma murmured, lifting her hand to caress his cheek with tender pulses. “I still have something for you.”
Threading her fingers through his, she led him across the room and placed a beautifully wrapped gift into his hands. Leon wasted no time tearing away the paper and then froze, heart stopping as he read the words written in her handwriting upon the small card. Slowly, he glanced up, his gaze seeking hers, questions flickering across his features.
Holding his gaze, Emma gathered the fabric of her dress and raised it just enough to reveal her abdomen, where a crimson ribbon was tied in an elegant bow. Utter silence filled the room until Leon was able to digest and interpret the meaning of Emma’s gift before him.
“Emma?” Leon breathed, a pleasant rush of adrenaline flooding him. “Are we…?”
“…Expecting a child?” she finished for him, her voice trembling with joy as tears shimmered in her eyes. “Yes, my king. We are.”
“This is the most wondrous present I could ever have received,” he murmured. Gathering her into his arms, he carried her into the chambers of their bedroom. “You are my crown jewel, and your love is the most precious treasure of all.”
Leon took her hands and pressed them to his heart. “Thank you for being you… and for gifting me the greatest Christmas miracle I could ever hope for.”
The remainder of their Christmas was spent nestled in one another’s arms, hearts brimming with love and excitement with dreams of their future family after they eventually drifted into a peaceful slumber.
aka 100 ways he shows his love for you: Silvio Ricci
Rating: 18+? (Very brief and non-descript spice ments.)
WC: ~4.7k
Pairing: Silvio Ricci x gn!Reader fiancé(e)
*(There are allusions to his main storyline, & potentially Belle, but feel free to imagine otherwise, or react differently from Emma in past situations. Rearrange hc's at your leisure!)
Warnings: General mentions/spoilers for Silvio's route and event routes (mostly vague), brief and non-descript mentions of spice and aftercare, one mention of future children (no pregnancy ment), one passing mention of alcohol (it's Silvio & Benetoite so uh). Mostly "spoilery" references are of events that take place after the main storyline.
A/N: Please lmk if I missed anything, I wrote this in one go in the middle of the night bc I was in my feels for this man, I am down bad horrendous, truly. I adore his character/arc sm. I am also apparently unable to write anything under 2k, noted.
MDNI with my blog, especially anything specifically labeled as such. Insta-blocked if so.
Silvio always shuddered at your touch, but these days it's lessened. After officially becoming engaged, as long as it wasn't unexpected, he found himself less inclined to pretend he didn't enjoy it. That he didn't fawn internally over every one of your smiles, laughs, hugs, kisses, sighs, and I love yous. He's already let slip multiple times how cute he finds you, how much he respects you and cares for you, and how cute he finds you. Silvio still blushes every time, and shows his affections in awkward and tsun ways at times too; but his actions have always spoken louder, or rather yelled, compared to his words.
Taking on extra work just to finish ahead of time to take you on a date, or travel, or just spend time together. Doting on you when you're sick, tired, stressed, or generally unwell somehow. Carried you everywhere when you sprained an ankle. Called off and rescheduled work to take care of you when you had a fever. Would love you if you were a worm rabbit. Learned to lean into simpler tastes, learned to trust you; something so foreign to the man who believed he didn't even have any friends.
Silvio learned to have a little faith in humanity again after meeting you, after hurting you in his fear and spite, after apologizing and making up for it to win you over again, and still feeling like shit every day for it, wondering why you'd ever "settle" for him. He looks in the mirror some days, noticing how happy he looks, and pauses. Had he ever smiled like that before? Who was this man standing before him?
Makes love to you, explores with you, always focuses on your pleasure, as long as it takes for you to warm up, to feel good, or to make your way from start to finish. For someone with so much experience, but such distaste for others and their ways, he's surprisingly skilled in the ways of doing so, you think. Someone who didn't care as much as he said he did wouldn't have even bothered to pay attention.
He's always respected your consent, boundaries, and stamina, even if he's left hanging. You two didn't even get physical yet for awhile, and not just because work was insanely busy. It was partly due to Silvio giving you space at first, but also because he wanted to give everything time to sink in, to experience and appreciate your love for each other and all you've overcome so far.
Both in and out of bed, he pampers you and treats you like the royalty you'll soon be. Washes your hair, always takes care of you after any physical intimacy, bubble baths, massages, brings you flowers and things he'll think you like, or caves when you ask him for a favor, ridiculous as it may be, just to see you smile at him, knowing that he's the only one who makes you do so that way.
The thought of marriage still feels surreal to him, but he knows he wouldn't want to experience this with anyone else. To have something so fulfilling, so selfless and honest, in ways that have made him hope for the future. He's soon to be king, and you, his royal spouse. More thoughts come unbidden, ones he'd much rather put off, still too much to work through.
Would he be a good parent? Would you? Would he turn out like his father? His mother? Could he truly hold them and love them unconditionally? Or would he get stressed and drink again, trying to hide from his responsibilities? The very thought of doing so goes against his caring nature, repulsing him immediately. A strong sign that even if it's a bit of tough love, he'd still love and protect them the same way he does you.
Every night, when not out at sea, he returns home to you, to your shared room, falling asleep with you in his arms, hearts beating together as you drift off. Sometimes he'll fall asleep first, or wake up first, and wholly take in the sight of you. He might even muse aloud again, and if you're lucky, you might be awake to hear it.
He'd do anything to redo how he was when you'd both met. There's still a lifetime ahead together to make things right, to redeem himself for his past. But deep down, it's himself he has to convince, because you already know how selfless and loving he can be, even with those he's had a complicated past with. Little by little, he's begun to heal, to grow, to be less dependent on the ways he used to escape his reality. He's more present than ever now, and grateful for it.
Silvio swears he's going to go mad from how you consume his every thought. The cliché of wanting to wake up beside you, spend his day working to see you again, to hold you while the land of dreams beckons. He hates how easily you make him blush, fawn, react, and feel. But most importantly, Silvio's a big fat liar. Because he's never hated how much he cares about you, not even a little bit.
: ̗̀➛ A/N: OK I had to do just a little bit more with the Chev thoughts of having a daughter, connected to my headcanon post here, so just have this little slice of life thing. Papa Chevalier has a very special place in my heart ❤️
: ̗̀➛ Warnings: fem reader, reader is the mother of Chev's daughter and queen of Rhodolite; just some sweet fluff mostly in Chevalier's perspective; Chev is likely OOC for a bit lol; not proofread~
: ̗̀➛ Word count: 2193
Chevalier had a knack for predictions. His perception had always been extraordinary, able to pick up the smallest of clues from his environment and the people around him to know what would happen next. It aided him in his development as a prince, working with his brothers to keep the kingdom running smoothly as his father’s health declined, and it helped him now that he was the king of that same kingdom. He was a monster on the battlefield, strategically taking down enemies with the ease of a beast, and was equally a monster in the courts, always knowing what information was needed where and who to deal with.
When it came to you, however, you were his blind spot.
No amount of strategy and foresight could have prepared him for the way your fates intertwined, or the way you captured his very heart in the palm of your hand. A younger Chevalier would have scoffed at such a notion, that he had the human emotion to even fall in love to begin with when he was most aptly labeled as the "Brutal Beast" by every possible noble in the court. But of course all it took was the wisdom and pure heart of Belle to look deep inside and find the truth. Looking back on the events leading up to the discovery of these feelings, once he met you, he realized it couldn't have gone any other way.
You managed to surprise him at every turn, with your unending love, your wisdom, your thoughtfulness and devotion. That's what made you fit to be his queen, someone that helped him bring out and connect with his human side. The day he married you was something he never could have dreamed of in a hundred years, and even much less so, the tiny babbling bundle you delivered into your lives a year later.
Now he watched as his tiny daughter, three years old and full of toddler mischief, ran through the rose gardens of the palace at alarming speed, eager to see you again after being separated during a diplomatic trip– and she wasn’t the only one that was eager. He could just make out the top of her head, her hair color the exact same as yours and bouncing along as she moved.
That was something he was thankful for, the way his daughter resembled you in so many ways. Her hair color, the shape of her face, even her personality and stubbornness was coming to resemble you too, and he had no doubt the similarities would continue as she grew older. She was also attached to books the same, though honestly he was just as much at fault for that as his queen. However, the one thing that differed was that she had inherited his eyes, a strong clear blue that somehow looked right into your soul.
The little princess was beginning to learn how to use those ice blue eyes to her advantage, much to his amusement. When something didn't go her way, she'd glare at whoever was responsible in no dissimilar way to his own until they cracked from the pressure. It was no end of stress to Sariel or his brothers, realizing there was a little Chev 2.0 in the making. She'd even turned that icy gaze onto him, too, managing to surprise him.
Anyone that looked at her knew immediately whose daughter it was, and something about that sentiment, creating this tiny human so clearly made up of his traits and yours together, warmed him up inside.
Getting lost in his reverie, he quickly lost sight of his small child and hastened his pace. The full bushes made it difficult to keep his eye on her, even with his keen eye and sense of danger, so outside excursions were often accompanied by extra help such as the servants or even Lucien on rare occasion. Thankfully, that wasn’t necessary today as you were the one waiting at the end of their journey through the garden, and the thick foliage made the path clear, leading up to a gazebo.
Just as the image of your face came to mind, he could hear a loud exclamation from up ahead, and turned a corner in time to watch his daughter run into your waiting arms.
“Mama!”
You couldn’t help but grunt from the force with which you were tackled, but your arms wrapped around your daughter as she gripped you tightly.
“Hi, my love! I've missed you,” you said, pulling back to kiss the top of her head. You noticed the missing presence of your husband, glancing around before looking back at your child. “I’m so happy to see you again. Where’s your papa at, can you tell me?”
“Papa is slow,” your daughter mumbled, the excitement of seeing you lost already as she caught sight of the butterflies flitting about from bloom to bloom behind you.
Her wording made you giggle against your better judgment. Your husband could be described as many things, but you were certain the word “slow” was not one of them. But almost as if summoned, his platinum blond head came into view over the bountiful rose bushes, and it was as if all was suddenly right with the world— even if he did have a slight frown on his face.
“Little rabbit, I’ve told you not to run ahead in the gardens,” he sighed, entering the gazebo and patting his daughter’s head roughly. Instantly, her attention turned back to him, two pairs of ocean blue eyes meeting briefly before she looked away.
“‘M sorry, papa, I won’t do it again,” she replied, reaching out to hug his leg, gripping the fabric of his pants with tiny hands. Anyone else that saw this scene would expect the King to be cold and unfeeling in response, but instead he sighed, patting her hair awkwardly without a word.
You watched all this quietly, unable to fight the smile that made its way onto your face. The method of his comforting reminded you much of the early days of your relationship in which he did the same, unsure how to touch you or perhaps even afraid to hurt you. Chevalier may have been called the Brutal Beast for his actions, but he was really more of a beast for the way he was unused to loving human touch.
Over time, he’d eventually grown better and more confident with touching you, a way to express his unending love for you that he couldn’t express with his serious and less-than-romantic words. But it all seemed to revert the moment your daughter was born.
You remembered the very first time he had held her. All his brothers and the palace physician had waited with bated breath, and it was clear in Chevalier’s expression that he had his own reservations about what he was about to do. How could hands used for killing, hands used for exterminating the threats to the kingdom and defending the borders, possibly be suitable for holding that of his small, innocent child? The moment his daughter was placed in his arms, his discomfort was extremely clear –to you, at least– arms frozen stiff in an attempt to be gentle to the tiny creature he'd been entrusted with. But it was this same discomfort and worried reaction that showed you just how much he actually cared about her, and about you, too.
The memory brought a smile to your face, which was met by a strong, familiar poke to the forehead.
“Do not let your head get caught in the clouds, Rabbit,” Chevalier said. His voice was chastising, but the smirk gracing his lips was soft, sweet, making your heart thump.
Chevalier caught sight of one of his brothers out of the corner of his eye, a familiar flop of lilac hair waiting just beyond an ivy-covered arch by the gazebo. It reminded him how, as his daughter grew and came to differentiate his brothers, an unfortunate attachment had grown to a particular somebody. Much to his dismay, his daughter seemed to like her uncle Clavis the most, often shouting his name and using her stubby legs to seek him out when she could, and the feeling was mutual with the resident troublemaker. And Clavis delighted in this fact, often rubbing that in his older brother’s face and using it as an excuse to irritate him at every turn.
But today, Chevalier would use it to his advantage if it meant having you to himself, at least for a little bit. He knelt down to eye level with his child, peering into her familiar ice blue eyes.
“Little rabbit, I want to speak to your mother,” he said. He turned in the direction of his brother, pointing to direct his daughter’s attention in the same direction as well. “Why don’t you go see your uncle Clavis? He’s waiting for you in the gardens.”
His daughter’s eyes widened to a comical size, filled with excitement. Her head whipped around to search, despite Chevalier’s finger pointing the way, but thankfully, Clavis was accompanied by his trusty attendant, Cyran, who popped his head out at the perfect time to catch her attention. His shock of red hair made him look like a human rose, against the background of the gardens.
A shrill shriek filled the air, causing you and Chevalier to wince simultaneously. “Unca Cwavis and Cyan!” Your daughter was still having trouble pronouncing her L’s and R’s, but the men didn't mind. Chevalier watched as his daughter shot forward, “Cyan” quickly bowing to Chevalier in greeting before catching the girl in his arms. As he watched the two leave, he felt an arm slip through his and turned to look at you.
“I’ve missed you too, King Chevalier. I’m so glad to see you look okay,” you said, your relief evident in your smile. “How was everything during the visit? Did everything go alright?”
Chevalier huffed at your questions. “Would I have returned so soon if things did not go well?”
Your face scrunched up for a moment, but you were used to Chevalier’s sass.
“I know, but I’m still allowed to worry about you,” you said, leading Chevalier over to a bench in the gazebo. “The people of Rhodolite know now what a kind King you are, but I can’t say the same about people in other countries. And I know you’re capable of handling many things, but I still don’t want you to get hurt. I’ll always wish for your safety and good health, can’t I wish that for my own husband?”
Chevalier took a moment to look at your face, eyes following the curve of your eyebrows and lips, the shape of your nose and jaw, all features he had long since memorized. Finally, he simply snorted, reaching a hand up to poke your forehead again as a smile made its way onto his lips.
“That is awfully sentimental, and also unnecessary,” he said. “I am not so weak as to be felled so easily. I will always return to my Rabbit in the end, so long as you wish to wait for me.”
Now who’s being sentimental? You didn’t dare say that to his face, although the caution was unnecessary, given the way he was always able to read your thoughts based on your expressions alone. His smile turned teasing, clearly knowing what you were thinking, but he didn’t comment further on it.
“Now, I believe you’re forgetting something,” he said expectantly.
He watched as your head tilted in confusion. The gears were clearly turning in your head to determine what he was waiting for, but it only took a moment for understanding to dawn on your face, your lips curving up into a warm smile.
“Welcome home, Chevalier,” you said, stretching up to place a soft kiss to his cheek.
His arms wrapped around your waist, pulling you close as he returned the kiss to your lips, the taste of home filling his senses. He didn’t speak further, but he didn’t have to. Every ounce of his love was put into his kisses, and you gladly accepted it all.
Neither of you could have ever predicted being here, Chevalier least of all. His life had become a fairy tale on par with the romance books he enjoyed reading but never totally understood. No amount of strict noble education, military strategy, or the annoying words of a certain foolish brother could have told him that a future like this was possible. But as he held you close under cover of the gazebo, happy to finally have you in his arms once again, he realized he was okay with that. You came into his life in a whirlwind of drama and intrigue, turning his expectations around and introducing him to so many unfamiliar things and feelings, like fatherhood, yearning, and love. It wore on him, at times, not being able to see where his future was heading thanks to all the new things he was experiencing by your side. However, so long as it was with you, Chevalier supposed he was okay with a little bit of unpredictability.
7 things he loves about you, fluff for @violettduchess to soothe ur soul for the next two weeks
the way you cradle books to your chest like they're living things; and they are, so you'd told him once -- each story a breathing thing, changing every person who flips open the page, the words like plucking fingers against the strings of each life they touch; you handle each one with care, press them to you like if you just tried hard enough you could brand the story into your soul and become it's vessel; he doesn't have the words to tell you that thats how he wants to hold you too -- maybe, if he reads enough books, he'll have the words one day
the way you fall asleep with your head on his shoulder
how your hand fits in his, just right, palm warm against palm, your skin milk smooth beneath his own callused fingers -- worn from years of swinging his sword, but you'd once pressed open his hands and traced maps into his skin, telling him that he holds a kingdom in the palms of his hands and he's never forgotten it since
how to you, love isn't a learned thing -- not like it is for so many he knows, but innate, a reaction and sometimes it is more than an emotion because when its with you, sometimes love feels like an element; some raw, unsteady dream of nature herself, something with a will of its own, something with gravity and bodies that pull -- he wonders if anyone else feels windswept when you turn to cast your smile in their direction like he does; or maybe it's just because he's been locked in your orbit for longer than he can even remember
how sometimes, you snort when you're laughing too hard
how you like to be little spoon and big spoon in equal measure, pressing yourself into his chest or curling yourself around his back, murmuring into the nape of his neck the endings and beginnings of fairy tales he never knew existed
knowing when he falls asleep each night that you'll still be right by his side when the morning comes
Chevalier Michel Fluff
notes: felt like writing this one just to get some Chev brainrot and general headcanons out of my head. nothing too serious or crazy here. excuse my (literal) french or lack thereof. it's been awhile since i've spoken or written any of the language, so i may be a little out of practice. feedback in messages is always appreciated. otherwise, i hope you forgive me for any mistakes. <3.
content warning(s): written with OCs in mind, established characters/OCs, wholesome, sleepy little tiger babies.
A yawn pierced the silence of the royal palace of Rhodolite, the brutal beast getting to his feet and glancing at the candle on the windowsill before lifting it up to his lips to blow it out with a hushed breath, quietly closing the door behind him as he left the office.
The king was lead down the hallways by a soft humming melody. The beast followed the melody like a siren’s song down the halls, the faintest of smiles upon his face as he peered into their bedroom, taking note of his wife, his Belle, singing to the two young boys as she rested her head against the pillows, letting them curl up with her. Her eyes closed in a blissful sigh, only opening up to meet his own arctic blue depths in the most loving gaze.
She beamed as he moved across the room with a quiet stride, crouching down to rid himself of his gloves and slip off his shoes, climbing into bed and looping his arm behind the pillows that rested against the back of his sons’ heads. Olivier tiredly rubbing at his eyes as he yawned and smiled up at his father, drifting off quickly. It reminded Chevalier much of a certain brother of his, gently brushing the wavy pale blonde locks back from his little brow as he snored quietly.
“Chevalier…” his beloved whispered to him, gently nodding at the elder of the boys, eight year-old Arsène, reading their large storybook quietly in the bright moonlight that illuminated the bed from the window behind it. His tiny fingers gently leafing through its pages as he quietly brushed at the wetness of his tired little cobalt eyes. The very picture of his father, if quite small.
Chevalier smiled lightly, the smallest quirk of his lips as his eyes narrowed at the little boy that had subconsciously snuggled into his father’s side as he’d joined them to venture into dreamland. He gently grasped the spine of the book, fingers pressed between the pages as he lifted the book out of his eldest’s arms, feeling Arsène’s reluctant grip as he resisted.
“Mon petit, you managed to wake before me, it is time for you to rest.” Chevalier gave another gentle tug on the book, feeling the young prince’s grip slacken, but not relent.
“I was just reading the part where…wh-where…” his eyelids drooped and fluttered in fatigue as he started to drift before his body jolted slightly. He pouted and frowned up at his father, only to be met with the same smile as always.
“Arsène, c’est l’heure d’aller au lit.” Chevalier hummed, leaning over to kiss his forehead, moving to do the same to Olivier’s as younger brother slept curled into his mother’s side. Arsène whimpering and letting go of the book to his father’s grip. Chevalier reached to the bedside table, plucking up one of the boys’ bookmarks and placing it between the hardcover pages. His hand gently setting the collection down and turning back to give the final goodnight kiss to his wife before resting his own head against the pillows.
“Papa…?” The beast’s eyes flickered in the moonlight down to Arsène’s matching ones, full of childlike admiration, “I love you.”
Some say that the rarest expression on the brutal beast was a faint smile, reserved only for his darling queen. But that wasn’t entirely true, for he had just as bright of a smile when he was reminded just how truly loved he was.
“I love you too, mon petit.” He murmured, drawing his family close as the four of them held each other tight.
AUBBIE! Can I, can I get claves and mc dancing in the rain pretty please?
SUMMARY: you dance with clavis in the rain.
WARNINGS: None!! :D
COMMENTS: OF COURSE YOU CAN CECE!! i know clavis kissers are out there i hope i did your man justice <3
I FINISHED THIS IN LIKE TEN MINUTES I WAS SO INSPIRED...THANK YOU CECE <3
The pond bubbles as your feet sweep across the cobblestone, carefully stepping around Clavis’s feet so you don’t trample on him. He seems amused by your caution, keeping his hand steady on your hip as the other spins you around. You part your lips as you suck in a breath, the scent of fresh air and water and flowers soothing your anxiety. The paths are slippery under your feet from the rain, but you know he won’t drop you.
Well, just so long as this dance is entertaining enough for him.
You crack a smile but hide it in his chest, focusing on your movements. Just take it slow, you remind yourself. It’s just practice. It’s just for his entertainment.
You don’t have to speak.
He gathers you into his embrace as you come back to your original position, pressing you closer. There’s a smug look on his face, but it fades into softness, a gradient of emotion he only ever seems to show with you.
“Are you alright?” he teases, voice low and soft. It’s easy to forget that this is the same man that destroys the kitchen on a regular basis to make heinous soup for you, the same man that digs pitfalls for his brothers to fall into (although Yves seems to fall into almost all of them), the same man that left that banana peel in the hall that you spilled on one time.
“I’m better than alright.” you say honestly, and he looks surprised by the admission.
His hands burn through your clothes and you can feel him preparing to spin you again. The rain pitter-patters along the leaves and stones, splashing against the dirt, and there couldn’t be a more perfect ambiance.
“I’m glad.” he beams, and you twirl once again.
Except this time, when he brings you back to him, his lips find yours as his hands find your waist. You’re unsurprised, even though you feel like you should be shocked, and you lean into him as he continues to lead you through the garden in your slow dance.
“Clavis.” you whisper against his lips, a smile on your face and laughter bubbling up in your throat.
“Yes, my dear?” he croons, eyes half-lidded as he gazes into yours.
“You led us right into the pond.” you bite your lip and try to hold back your laughter, but it bursts free when Clavis looks down at his wet boots, ankle-deep in water, and cackles.
Emma/MC begs Silvio to adopt a pet, and Silvio is trying to talk her out of it with the millions of reasons why a pet in a palace is impractical… but she has the power of persuasion.
Thank you anon and @happy-pup so much for the requests! I decided to combine them because the idea of doing a cute fluffy Silvio fic in his POV about the struggle of trying to convince his lover that pets don't belong in the palace was too good to leave separate.
No Pets
Silvio Ricci (POV) x Reader
Genre: Fluff
WC: ~ 1k
I can’t believe you’re on this again… How many times am I gonna have to tell ya, the palace is no place for a pet. But here you are, tryin’ to convince me yet again that you’d be less lonely. What do you mean you’d be less lonely? Are the rotten mutt and I not good enough company for you?
Thoughts spiral through my mind as I stalk through the halls on my way to my last meeting. It seems like you’ve been even more eager to get me to agree to letting you get a pet recently, coming up with the most random reasons.
“It’ll give me something fun to do while you’re working. I could take it out to the beach and let it run in the sand!”
“I want to be able to try out this new recipe that was developed specially for dogs.”
“They’re just so cute!”
My entire meeting went by in a blur as I recalled time after time that you had mentioned wanting to get a dog, a cat, a rabbit, any sort of little furry companion.
Recently it really seemed like you were interested in getting a dog. Every point, every question, every… everything.
I’m really not sure why you’re so desperate for an animal. The thought of you spoiling it with your affection honestly had my heart twisting just a bit with jealousy.
I threw open the door to our room and was greeted with a startled scream and a flurry of thumping sounds as you leap to your feet, running toward me and blocking my view of the room.
“You’re acting suspicious,” I state, fixing you with a questioning stare.
“What are you talking about? I always come and greet you at the door.”
The look on your face tells me everything I need to know.
“Is someone else in there?”
“Just me,” Valerio’s voice called from the far end of the room.
My eyes flick back to you, and I can’t stop the fear and panic from flaring up.
“What the hell?! Why is that damned dog in here with you?”
“Silvio please calm down! It’s not what you’re thinking! I promise!” You sputter, taking a few steps backward and glancing nervously at Valerio.
“It sure as hell looks like what I’m thinking.” I’m having a really difficult time holding the red rage inside. Valerio leaps to his feet, stalking around the side of the bed.
“Will you calm down already? She was just too nervous to tell you about the surprise!” He growled, fixing his sky-blue gaze challengingly at me, as if daring me to keep talkin’.
“Rio!” You shout, an indignant scowl crossing your features.
And then the room is filled with a flurry of loud yapping and scrambling noises.
“No, no, no! Luca, sit!” you squeak, twirling around and darting over to the side of the bed.
You don’t seem to notice that I’m right behind you, peering over your shoulder. You little sneak. You went and got a dog.
I look down at the little bundle of white and black bouncing at your feet, tongue lolling as he excitedly tries to grab at one of the toys you had picked up. Another bout of excited yaps spill from the puppy as he notices me looking down at him, his tail wagging furiously as he runs around your legs to come see me.
“Silvio! I’m really sorry I was going to come and talk to you but he followed me home from the market and I tried to find his owner for several days! Rio was keeping him in his room but the maids insisted that they clean his chambers today and didn’t want the little guy running around and leaving pawprints all over the freshly mopped floor.”
I kneel down, reaching out a hand to the dog who eagerly sniffs at the rings on my fingers before licking at them. Normally, I’d be repulsed by the drooling creature getting my hands all dirty like this, but there’s something so innocent about his eyes and the cute way the spots on his face are laid out makes him look endlessly happy. Dammit. Leave it to you to manage to find a damned puppy that I’ll never be able to say no to.
“You would,” I sigh, shaking my head.
“Silvio, please. I really did try to find his owner.” Your tone is so melancholy and I can’t help but chuckle. You’re so dense sometimes.
Looking up at you I see your hands fisted in your skirts and you’re nervously chewing on your lip staring at me with such a deep look of guilt.
“You would manage to find an animal that, without a doubt, belongs here.”
You’re stunned, I can tell. It’s so damn adorable, I scoop the puppy up from the ground, his tail never slowing down as he leans up to lick my face.
“Hey! Hey, stop it little guy! Ya said his name’s Luca right?” I ask, petting between his ears and earning and excited bark as he leans into my hand.
“Um… yeah that’s what I’ve been calling him. He just makes me so happy and it means ‘bringer of light’ so I thought it suited him.”
Damn. Damn. Damn. I don’t get it… you’ve already got me hooked on ya and then you go and do this shit. I lean in to steal your lips in a kiss but it seems our new little companion wanted in on the fun as he begins licking at our faces.
We both start laughing furiously. Looks like he’s gonna need a lot of attention, but I’m starting to think it might not be too bad to give him the attention.
“We can count on Uncle Valerio to puppysit sometimes too, right?” I joke, flashing my brother a smile.
“Really! You’d let me watch him!” Valerio exclaims, his eyes welling with tears of joy.
This is absolutely not what I had expected when you had started asking so many questions. I can’t say I’m surprised; you’ve always been able to come up with some sort of harebrained scheme and it all works out for you. And damn if I don’t fall even more in love with you for it.
Author's Note ~ For @maries-gallery , while she's not feeling well. 🥰
Warnings ~ None, tis period fluffy
Rio's eyebrows knit together. He knew that look; the look of you doing your best to hold yourself together in public, bear the pain and try not to let it show on your face. You had eaten little to nothing, and although you had been holding your teacup for some time, had only taken a few drinks before resting it back at your stomach. You were uncomfortable, but ignoring it for the sake of keeping your plans for the day. But he wasn't having it, not this time. So the next time he came around to refill your tea, he leaned down and subtly whispered in your ear that Prince Leon needed to see you fairly urgently. You responded with a short nod and politely excused yourself from Yves and Licht to head to the domestic faction's office. The moment you were out of sight of the 5th and 6th princes, you doubled over and groaned softly, clutching your abdomen as it roiled in pain.
"I knew it." Rio rounded the corner on you, carrying a solemn expression on his face.
"Hey, Rio." You smiled weakly. "Would you mind grabbing me some pain medication from the maid's stores? I need to go see Leon."
"No you don't." Rio argued, and when you hit him with a questioning look, he sighed softly, wrapping his arm around your waist and pulling you in for a hug. "You never did. I knew you were in pain, but you're too nice to cancel your plans."
"Rio, I can't just cancel everything everytime I get my period." You chuckled, your tone disapproving while your body melted into his warmth.
"No, and you don't. But.. sometimes you can, and I know you can barely eat right now, so why put yourself through that? Yves and Licht will understand."
You were about to argue. You had opened your mouth and formed your first thought already, but as soon as your eyes locked with Rio's desperate ones, it all flew out the window. *He* was the one who was all too nice. You closed your mouth and let your lips turn upwards. "Okay, fine. Just this once." As soon as you conceded, his face lit up with undeniable triumph.
"Great! Now let's get you to bed and I'll bring you that pain medicine. And don't worry, I'll take care of you aaaaall week long." You chuckled at his enthusiasm as he led you back to your room, helped you into more comfortable clothes, and tucked you into the covers snugly. He brought a hot water bottle and pain medications from the kitchen, along with a few cold sweets to help get it down. After he saw to it that you were easing into sleep, he turned to leave your room, silent as a mouse.
But something caught his sleeve. He turned to find your delicate fingers wrapped around the button hole of his jacket, and his eyes made the slow ascent to your angelic face, your features finally relaxed and calm. "Do you need something else?" He asked gently, hope springing into his chest at the fleeting thought that he could stay with you a little longer.
"W-will you stay, Rio?" You murmured, your eyes pulling him into a trance. How could he ever say no to that face? So he nodded, and turned to find a chair, but you tugged on him again, and when he turned back to look at you, his breath stopped in his lungs. You had pulled the covers back, enough to expose the slightest bit of your light blue negligee. Could it be? Did you really- ? "Please," you near whispered, the word barely carrying through the still room, and Rio's heart started beating again at the sound of it.
"Of course." He smiled softly, working to remove his shoes and his jacket before sliding into the cool sheets beside you, his mind blanking as you snuggled into his side. He wrapped his arms around you on instinct, pulling your warm body as close as he could get it before settling down and staring up at the ceiling in a daze. It wasn't long until your breath evened out beside him and you drifted into a long-awaited slumber. He stayed awake next to you, your faithful and loving sentry, overseeing your blissfulness in sleep and gathering himself from the shock at your sudden affection.
It was awhile later before Rio finally grew used to your presence this near to him, and he braved a glance at your effervescent sleeping form. Coherent thought had abandoned him the moment you welcomed him to bed, but the first in awhile came to him all of the sudden. "You should really cancel all your plans more often." He muttered into the silence, and carded his fingers through your hair, silently vowing to make this a tradition every month.
~
Tags for the Lovelies: @aquagirl1978 @maries-gallery @rhodolitesroseforclavis @ikehoe @queengiuliettafirstlady @veervers
