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[ The honest admission surprises him again. He was expecting her to fluster, blush and stammer over the thought of doing something so intimate, especially so quickly after confessing their feelings, but evidently she was braver than he thought.

It's honest, her words, and without any intention to tease him back, but he feels something in him flip and a flush threatening to bloom on his face. But he does his best not to show any of that, remaining close to her for a moment before chuckling and pulling back, letting his hand drop to his side. ]

Eager to have my hands all over you, hm? But there's no need to rush that quickly.

[ The calm words hide a fluster he knows Altria will pick up, so he looks away, as if that would make it less obvious. It doesn't help that his ears are bright red, which can be seen through the locks of his hair swaying as he turns away. ]

[Oh yes, she absolutely can tell. It helps temper some of her own embarrassment, because she is firmly aware of what she just told him she was willing--no, completely interested in. But her chin remains lifted, stubbornly, because she's not about to take it back.

A slow breath in.

And then he looks away, and she feels a little weak at the knees, but also like she's able to breathe again.]

W-well...! Well, that's... that's fine! We don't need to rush or anything!

[In fact, she'd rather they take their time. She's enough of a romantic to want it to be... as romantic as she's dreamed of having. But--when it comes down to it, she wants him to know.

She wants the same things.]

I was just...saying! In fact, that's probably better. To, um, take our time, I mean. That's what I meant to say all along! [Sure. She's as transparent as ever.]

[ It's now, when he's not looking at her, that the magnitude of his confession sets in. He's never been this honest about his feelings. He's never felt so strongly for another. Even if Altria had reciprocated, it's—a lot.

His short bangs fail to hide the reddening of his cheeks as he continues to look away, and he doesn't respond, letting the conversation die and silence settle in its place.

It's a heavy, awkward silence. ]

...

[He falls silence, continuing to look away, and for a moment, Altria's own embarrassment is shoved aside in favor of wondering if she broke him. She blinks, peering at him curiously, and then smiles a little to herself.

Ah.

With the weight of that sword at her side still, she's not afraid of things like him being disgusted with her for being so bold or anything like that. Not when such a tangible, solid, wonderful example of his love is right there for her to touch. Which means... he's embarrassed, right?]

Yuu... let's take things at our own pace, okay? Like--not just that, but everything.

[Everything about this new, gentle, warm relationship they're embarking on.]

I'm not very experienced at this sort of thing, but... that's what I want too. I'm sure of it.

[ He manages to glance back at her, though it's reluctant. The emotions he's feeling right now—it's all new, all overwhelming. And Altria's gentle smile is—it's also too much, to be the recipient of such warm emotions.

But to pull away and try to shield himself from them... That's not what he wants to do. He doesn't want to keep deflecting people, keep trying to hide. Especially not with Altria. That's why he confessed in the first place.

He still ends up with a smirk on his face, though he knows it's like pulling a clear veil over Altria's eyes. It's useless to hide his timidness. ]

Don't worry, I won't complain even if you want to go at a snail's pace.

[ It might be him who wants to go at that pace though... ]

[It might be him that wants to go at that pace, indeed. She can read it all over his face, but it just makes her smile, shoulders settling into a comfortable slump as the relief settles in. For all of his teasing, for all of his sass--he's really the sweetest and gentlest of people now. For all of his words, he's the sentimental one who wants to do things right most of all, isn't he?

Altria's not sure how she got this lucky. It feels fake still, sometimes, that she could be loved by someone so incredible. She's never been lucky a day in her life, but maybe...

Maybe this time, it's okay.

It's with more confidence that she reaches out to him, trying to gently grab his arm in hers.]

I'll probably trip and fall sometimes if I try to go faster than that.

[She is, at least, self-aware.]

But... that's okay. You'll be there, after all. [To help her up when she needs it, and... she hopes, to be helped up when necessary in turn. She wants to be the one to be able to extend her hand to him in response, after all.]

[A beat.

Something seems to have sunk in for her, because she straightens suddenly with a look of panic.]

Oh gosh! I need to make you a sword too! It should be an exchange sort of thing!

I think if I use some magecraft, I could probably make one. Not as good as this one, of course, but, um--it'll have all of my feelings in it. So please wait patiently for that!

[ He lets out a huff of amusement at the admission of her own clumsiness. Yes, at least she's self-aware. Not like him, who often has trouble acknowledging his own faults, especially those regarding his emotions.

He blinks at the sudden jolt of panic, and sighs when it turns out to be nothing of alarm. He places a hand on her head as if to stop her from running away. ]

You don't need to. I wasn't expecting anything in return.

[ He's not just referring to the sword. He had been ready to receive a different response when he called her over today. ]

[She puffs out her cheeks at him at that, a full on pout (though she's far too happy to properly sulk, at least).]

It's not because I have to! It's because I want to. Because you're precious to me too and giving someone a sword that you made for them is really, really, really romantic!

[Granted, hers is somewhat less so because it was his romantic idea in the first place, but still.]

[ He knows his words wouldn't have stopped Altria. He just felt the need to state that. That his feelings and his gift were not dependent on reciprocation.

But please stop insisting that he's being romantic, that wasn't his intention at all! His cheeks shade a slight pink and he pokes her in the forehead to cover his embarrassment. ]

Fine. I'm looking forward to receiving it.

[ And that's the truth. It doesn't matter if her sword isn't as good as his. What matters is the feelings behind it. He knows she'll try her best and that's more than enough for him. ]

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