Carrying Baskets
Milium x Reader:
I hummed as I walked through my home city, Rimuru. I smiled and occasionally waved at the other monsters that acknowledged me. I readjusted my hands on the basket of picked fruits because they were losing grip.
'I need to ask for a new basket soon,' I thought staring for a brief moment at the loose straw seems, 'It is getting too worn out especially nowadays.'
"Oh (Y/N)!" I heard a bubbly and cheerful shout behind me.
My head rotated 90 degrees to discover the one calling me. I smiled a little with a short sigh recognizing the pink-haired, blue-eyed, demon lord herself. She was running with those huge aqua eyes and an all-too-sweet smile. I turned my head forward as she approached me and I resumed walking. She caught up to me not too soon after.
"Hello, Milium," I greeted her when she was walking beside me, "How are you today?"
From the corner of my eye, I watched her pout, "Rimuru wouldn't give me a treat for doing a great job!"
"Really?" I was thrown off guard at her statement, "Why wouldn't he give you a treat for your hard work?"
She huffed, clearly frustrated, "These humans were picking on one of my besties' subordinates and tried to hurt him so I hurt them back."
I could feel the sweat-drop manifest itself on my forehead. I should have known that it was her own doing that she didn't get a treat rather than the Great Rimuru being cruel.
"Well, it was--no, is a rule to not mess with humans. You should have scared them not hurt them. They can cause heaps of trouble later." I said sternly.
"You sound just like my bestie," Milium cried.
I stayed silent for a bit. I felt cold when she said that. Do I sound like her bestie? Can we not bring up that I am like him? I am not like anybody but me. Don't talk about this or that reminding you of the guy that I am in a rivalry with for your affection. Pushing that aside I need to raise her spirits.
"Here," I tossed her one of the fruits in the basket.
I heard her fumble a bit to catch it but she did. She didn't even ask me why, she just devoured it. Thankfully, there were no seeds for her to accidentally swallow.
"Hm! Delicious!" She raved.
My lips' corners rose up at the compliment. Then it was back to silence between us as we walked. My eyes were focused in front but the bricked road was replaced by the demon lord and forced me to halt. I stared at her happy face in question, quietly asking her why she had stopped me.
"I'm going to help you carry the basket," she beamed ripping the basket from my hands and running off with it. I also watched with horror as some of the fruits flew out the basket!
"Wait, Milium! Please slow down!" I chased after her while also catching any falling fruits.
All she did was laugh and continue running. It must have amused the others too because her laughter wasn't the only one I heard. She probably didn't even know where to go.
"Milium, please slow down or you'll hurt yourself!" I exclaimed fumbling with the fruits in my arms while running.
Too bad my warning was a little late. I heard her scream in surprise and saw her fall backward. Time felt slower as I discarded all the fruits in my arms and lunged for her. My arms wrapped around her waist, tugging her to my chest to prevent her from hitting the ground. Unfortunately, the momentum and force of her falling on me caused us both to hit the ground but at least I was her cushion. After that, the world resumed at normal speed.
I groaned sitting up with her in my lap, "Are you okay, Milium?"
"Yeah," she murmured.
"Oi, are you both okay?" I heard Rimuru say.
"Yeah! We're both fine!" I called back getting up with Milium in my arms.
"Are you okay, Rigurd?" Rimuru asked, who I'm guessing is the one Milium ran into. When Rimuru affirmed that he was fine, he turned to us, "What happened?"
We had already separated from the embrace but I wish we hadn't. I shouldn't think of that right now. Milium was already being punished for fighting today, I can't let her get into any more trouble.
"It was my fault, Great Rimuru," I bowed my head, "I asked Milium to help me take these in and when I noticed we were running late I forced her to run faster. She got distracted because I was telling her to go even faster. Please forgive me, Great Rimuru. And most importantly of all, please forgive me for forcing you to do my work, Milium."
It was quiet, too quiet. I was worried he saw right through me. Please forgive me for lying, Great Rimuru! I picked up on a sigh.
"Alright, as long as you are all okay then it's all good but you are still picking all this mess up, and be careful next time." Came his response.
"Yes, sir. Right away, sir." I got on my knees to pick everything up.
I heard footsteps walk away from me and I let a sigh of relief out. I'm glad he didn't get mad and that he believed me.
"(Y/N)," I registered Milium's voice, "Why did you do that?"
"You didn't deserve another punishment when it wasn't your fault. I should have carried my own basket," I stated throwing her a grin then got back to work, "Now, go enjoy the rest of your day."
A few moments passed before she too walked away.
"Oh no," I frowned holding the unwoven straw that was once my basket, "This is what happens when you complain about a few seems."
I sighed, now having to find a way to carry all the fruits.
****Late afternoon****
"Finally!" I huffed.
It took me an hour to gather all the fruits because they got scattered all over Rimuru but now it was done.
"Now all I need to do is carry them," I dreaded.
There were so many! Just as I was about to roll up my sleeves and just do it I heard an ahem behind me. I turned to see a sight. Milium holding a basket similar to the old one but newer and she was blushing.
"Here, this is for taking the blame. Even if it was my fault," she spoke, "I'm also going to help you this time."
I was confused at first but then I grinned at her, "I would love that. Thank you."
She blushed more as she came to sit beside me. We sat very close, our thighs touched, but I didn't mind. We gathered the fruits in comforting silence.