#estoma kiss fic

[cartoonfangirl1218]

Estoma kiss fic

So in honor of my favorite month of the year, I’m posting a kiss fic that I did ages ago. It’s a continuation of the Estoma fic I did for Ship Appreciation week. For context, it's in present time and Doña finds out that the kiss had actually happened and was not some drunken dream she had imagined. And is angry that Esteban never told her, "Were you really so ashamed that we kiss that you wanted to pretend it never happened? Am I really not that good enough for you?!?" And go... "Don't you think 13 days is enough of the silent treatment! How ridiculous and pigheaded are you going be with this?" Esteban scowled, banging at the locked office door. 

The anger and frustration he had been feeling the past couple of days faded as he sighed, his chest clenching with anticipation and nervousness at what he was about to admit. 

"Doña, please just listen to me. I swear that kiss had nothing to do with being better than you or being ashamed. Really, it wasn't. I thought that that kiss was just a fluke because you are unusually affectionate when you're drunk. But I was also scared of things going further. That maybe if we became too close it would affect our work, or Shuriki would be displeased and do who knows what. Most of all, I was scared that if we went further, I would fall in love with you."

The defeaning sound of silence from the other side of the door made Esteban feel a bit faint, wondering how she was reacting to this or how she would reply to what he would say next.

"Which honestly was useless because I think I already am in love with you. So if you want to continue this grudge, I'll just forget about it and go home." 

The door slowly opened and Esteban let out the breath that he had just realized he had been holding in. 

Doña didn't look angry but confused as if she couldn't believe what was coming out of his mouth or if she was questioning his sanity.

"We should talk about this" She said in an uncharacteristically quiet voice. "We should," Esteban took a step forward and cupped her cheek, and tilted her chin so they could lock gazes. 

It was an odd sense of deja vu from the drunken kiss they had shared so long ago. It was just the two of them, and as he stared at her large emerald eyes, he felt their surroundings fade away. 

It felt claustrophobic but thrilling, and his senses heightened to where he felt all sorts of small points he never had noticed before like softness of her skin, the faint whiff of rose perfume, the heat of their bodies so close to another. 

He waited to see if she would say anything but she seemed too shocked by the turn of events to know where to start. 

It was new ground for both of them but at least he had the foresight to prepare a small speech before coming here.  

He licked his lips in anticipation, and his heart pounded faster than before. His mouth felt full of cotton and he panicked, wondering if he could say it aloud. He forgot what exactly he had wanted to say first, if it would make more sense to talk about their first impression or maybe he should just talk about what he wanted their relationship to be like or a million other ideas flooded his mind in a jumbled slew of words and sentences. 

He opened his mouth and spoke in a rapid fashion, trying to make sure the words made at least made some sense even if he babbled. 

"You drive me crazy, you annoy me, you insult me, but these last few days of not talking made me miss you. It made me think about the kiss a lot. Really think and I've realized it was one of the sweetest moments of pleasure I had during Shuriki's rule. The more I thought about it, most of the time I spent with you during Shuriki's rule are some of the only good memories during those dark years. You challenged me, and made me become more enthusiastic and ambitious than before. All that in the hopes of proving you wrong I'll admit. I haven't had such riveting conversations about politics with other leaders, at least ones that enjoy doing.” 

“We understand things about each other that I don't think anyone else knows. We talked about our families and the guilt and the loneliness. I know our love may not be as picture perfect or "adorable" as the king and queen's but we understand each other and we still, care at least I care about you in all the years we've worked side by side. “ 

“And if you feel the same way...I don't think we'll be lonely or in want for any sort of affection. So if you'll let me start with this one..."

Before he could even lean in, Doña pulled him towards her. Their lips crashed against each other in a passionate fervor that Esteban felt was equal to the taste of delicious, gooey melted chocolate with the surprise of a firework. 

He felt a boyish sort of giddiness as one thought sped through his mine, "She likes me!" 

She raked her hands through his hair, pulling a bit, urging him to move closer. He did so, sliding his arms around her waist to pull her closer, savoring the warmth and perfect fit of their bodies plastered against each other, and revealing in the feeling of affection. 

Her other hand slid down his back, stopping to grab at his butt then drew back, quickly traveling up to shoulders as if realizing how inappropriate that gesture had been.  

However for Esteban, that move made something in him light up so he grabbed tightly and lifted her up so her legs crossed around him and she only could hold onto him lest she wanted gravity to do its duty. 

His breath became shortened and he forced himself to part lips for a moment, air rushing through before he returned to those soft lips that he had begun to associate with what paradise must feel like. Thrilling, all encompassing, warm, delightful, and the need to never leave it.

The kissing that had started tender eagerness became a small battle of vigor and who could put more fire into the intertwined embrace they were in. 

He had new sense to win, not for dominance of tongues but for love. That he could somehow win this and then proceed to lavish her with warmth and devotion that they had been longing to have and to share for far too long. 

He gave another shuddery sigh as they part and Doña nipped at his neck allowing him to regain another gulp of air, her nails pinched at his shoulder blades with an animalistic want. 

A sense of satisfaction filled him as victory was achieved. He combed his head through her hair, knocking off her hat. From there, he drew small circles around the small of her back, then placed a kiss on her collarbone, holding it there sucking and letting the tension build until he finished by sliding his tongue across the bone and nip at her mouth. She let out an incomprehensible murmur, tensed, relaxed and melted into him. 

The kisses slowed down to a steady eager pace so Esteban began to sneak his hand up her dress and brushed against her thigh. 

"No no we should stop. I mean we shouldn't stop. I mean we should talk first" Doña stammered.  

"Oh right we should" Esteban agreeded readily removing his hand and kissing her again. 

"I do have a few things to add after your speech" Doña added between the kisses. 

"Of course you do." Esteban murmured stopping for another kiss.

They quickly lapsed into silence, fully enjoying the lingering kisses between them, talking was far from their minds. 

Then there was a knock and nervous laugh. They both turned to see Mateo at the door.

Esteban was momentarily confused in what possible situation would have brought the wizard to Doña's office when he remembered that Mateo had been the one that encouraged him to say his feelings, and had come with him to the emporium for moral support.

"Heh uh the door wasn't fully closed." Mateo said sheepishly. 

"Sorry" Esteban said hastily putting Doña down and smoothing his rumpled clothes. 

"I was wondering if I could go? I promised Elena I would be home in time for dinner." Mateo continued on with a teasing smile, "And I think you have things handled here. I'll tell them that you're occupied." 

"Uh well maybe not. We could keep this a secret for a little bit?" Doña said a bit breathily, looking at him for confirmation. "You know, until we talked this out." 

"Yes, that would be an excellent course of action." Esteban cleared his throat, willing his heart to stop beating like a hummingbird at his realization that this kind of encounter would happen again.

"Secret got it. Sure can do" Mateo nodded eagerly and ducked away. 

Esteban turned to Doña who was still flushing profusely and bowed, "Will you save a date for tomorrow night?" 

"Yes, of course. We'll defiantly have plenty to talk about." Doña winked. 

Esteban bowed again and didn't bother fighting the broad smile that spread across his face when he left the store. 

"Told you it would work!" Mateo cheered. 

"Ay Mateo, it was...yes it worked. But remember not to say anything." Esteban reminded easily falling in step with him. 

"Did you get a date?" Mateo asked.

"Yes, yes I did." Esteban answered catching on to Mateo's enthusiasm. And hopes to many more.

[cartoonfangirl1218]

Fav fics

So as I’m approaching being two decades old soon (😱😱), I decided to look back at all the fics I have written in the past year or so. Yes, it’s a bit of a shameless self promotion but who cares 🤗

Utmost favorites: Love Potion Extravaganza https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/181955720067/love-potion-extravaganza-ch-1

Winner’s Curse https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/182344754787/winners-curse-prologue What a surprise, my two long fics are at the top of the list as favorites. Love Potion Extravaganza especially as it’s complete and it features some of my favorite things, ships, musicals, and the utter insanity that comes with love potion gone wrong. And although I have not finished Winner’s Curse, it’s certainly one I enjoy doing by taking any and all Disney characters and incorporating them into my huge cast and of course, trying to dive into the darker themes implied in the Descendants franchise. Funniest: Kiss meme Estenaomi almost kiss https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/184257194637/you-basically-asked-for-it-and-i-couldnt-resist#notes

Campechana Conditioning https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/178679085792/campechana-conditioning

Alonso’s Legen-Wait for it-Dary Dating Rules https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/186657814897/alonsos-legen-wait-for-it-dary-dating-rules Love Potion Extravaganza I already wrote why Love Potion is such a joy above. Love comedy of Errors and all that. Kiss me Estenaomi was fun because well young Esteban and Naomi bantering is always fun to write specially as it leads to ridiculous nicknames and a passionate kiss. Campechana was taken mainly from a Big Bang Theory episode because it’s just too perfect to not imagine Esteban and Doña trying to condition each other. Alonso’s Legen etc etc. was taken from How I met your mother if one cannot tell from the title and just as Barney Stinson, Alonso doling out his awful advice to an land-clueless Marzel was too good to pass up.

Angst/Hurt/Comfort: Deserve https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/184295644377/deserve

Disconnect & Still Here https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/611748633146163200/disconnect & https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/190788257312/still-here

Tete a Tete in a Jail Cell https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/189553140372/tête-à-tête-in-a-jail-cell

Song of the Sirenas drabble https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/183673052607/song-of-the-sirenas-drabble

Starved https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/175733451452/starved?is_related_post=1

Broken Pieces https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/181464010247/broken-pieces

No room for weakness https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/174697101917/no-room-for-weakness Deserve is top because I really gave Esteban the angst in that one. I really enjoyed putting Esteban in one of his first low points throughout his life and with no comfort in sight. Disconnect & Still Here are kind of two sides of the same coin in the breakdown of the Delgado marriage with Ash’s being about of all the trials of motherhood and her jealousy of Victor and Carla’s bond while Victor’s is his realization that his wife is dead, and he is a single dad and dealing with that fallout. Tete a Tete was an emotional Carla piece since we haveN’t heard one word from her since The Magic Within special and I wanted to explore the isolation of the jail cell, the heartbreak over her father and her utter wretchedness with some hope coming in the form of the Captain of the Guard. Song of the Sirenas drabble was just a small piece on what Mateo’s reaction might have been like at the thought of Elena dead after the battle with Shuriki. Starved was my first piece with darker themes since it alludes to her life in poverty so I’m proud of that one. Broken Pieces is another emotional hurt comfort from Elena’s POV in the aftermath of Rise of the Sorceress and dealing with the heartbreak of her Mamí’s crown being broken, symbolizing all the danger she is in now that Shuriki’s back. Finally No room for weakness is another Esteban angst because Esteban always brings on the angst and emotional repression but luckily Elena’s there to pick him up.  

Heartwarming and/or Romance: Mistletoe https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/189843988472/mistletoe

Saying Goodbye https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/189558947892/saying-goodbye?is_related_post=1

Reunion https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/189252050212/reunion

Intrinsic https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/187971072332/intrinsic

Safe in his eyes https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/186678480327/safe-in-his-eyes

Kiss meme Gababel kiss on the fingertips https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/184397938137/im-kinda-late-on-sending-this-but-if-youre-ever#notes

Kiss meme Estoma kiss over the wrist https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/184233727497/i-looooove-your-drabbles-rachel-okay-so-how

Estoma drabble https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/190476170997/little-estoma-idea

Mood Swings https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/187648741932/mood-swings?is_related_post=1

Three’s a crowd https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/179313607297/ch-1-threes-a-crowd

This is my son https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/182500372627/this-is-my-son EoA Appreciation Week: Gabe Melee https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/186979963112/eoa-appreciation-week-day-2-melee

Coffee Run  https://cartoonfangirl1218.tumblr.com/post/174694324052/coffee-run

Mistletoe is pure unadulterated Eleteo Christmas fluff and one of my best of the Eleteo confesses their feelings stories, I think. Honestly it was just overall a joy to write so I love looking back on it. Saying Goodbye, I was just so proud of this one because it was the first Estenaomi story that popped into my head without the help of prompt. I have some difficulties thinking up scenarios for them for some reason but this one flowed so easily, imagining how young Esteban would be after Naomi’s departure in The Last Laugh. Reunion was just a little fic based on what of the sweetest slow burn romance songs, “This is not my idea” from the Swan Princess. Intrinsic is another Eleteo one and its a fav because it just... I wanted to explore Mateo’s feelings after Elena almost died in Naomi knows best and just give name to the bond that they share. Safe in his eyes explores the same idea with Elena working through her new nightmares of being sacrificed and Mateo, the ever faithful is there to hold her close. Gababel is so fun and sweet to write and it was scarily easy to write Isabel being flustered (way too much experience in the easily flustered department) and of course, the first blush of crush love and having a mature Isabel interact with Gabe. Estoma kiss meme was a departure from the usual frenemy bantering to what I imagine was their initial partnership where they were reserved and feeling each other before unleashing their true personalities. The Estoma drabble started as a drabble but turned into a full length fic-let of what I imagined as a clandestine affair to hate to comfort to frenemies to potential friends which never comes to fruition because Esteban ran off with Ash. Mood Swings was initially inspired by a Kim Possible episode of the same name but evolved into one of my only heartwarming Delgados fic centering around Carla’s birth.Three’s a Crowd was one of my few attempts at Naomi POV which I think I did serviceable job and it was fun to go with a classic love triangle hijinks with suspicious Naomi, scheming Carla and clueless, arrogant Alonso. This is my son is one of the only YJ fics I’ve written down and so I love it because I wanted to include Rocket more into the team and Team dynamics and all that. I don’t write many Gabe POV fics so this one, I’m proud of, especially for giving Gabe a chance to shine in beating up a malvago and never giving up even when stabbed. Finally Coffee Run, a Goldenvibe fic because I wanted them to have a little more closure before the Legends of Tomorrow series started up.

[cartoonfangirl1218]

EoA Ship Appreciation Week Day 4: Esteoma

Note: I did this fic about a year ago. And well...might as welll post it now for top day. It’s Estoma. Hope you enjoy. 

“Ooo someone's maaad" Hortensia sing songed as Esteban slammed the door to his guest room.

That was the understatement of the century. 

Esteban was NOT having a good day. 

To start off this "fantastic" business trip to Ávila He had a seven hour meeting with ambassadors and officials to discuss potential invaders, and other political strategies including boundary lines and new titles of nobility and the like. 

It wasn't enough that the ambassador from Norburg was being particularly long winded during his speech, nor that the newly crowned King Hector interrupted every other sentence to add his own opinion. But he had gotten in several fights with the official from Marswick where the man almost punched him if Soji hadn't intervened. It was all because he dared criticize that Marswick hardly contributed anything of significance to the international kingdom in the past 76 years. 

It was shameful. He was the Chancellor of Avalor, he should be setting a good example, but being stuck in a room with all these. . . “characters” was wearing on whatever patience he had left after dealing with Shuriki’s latest demand for more gold from before he left Avalor.

He needed a break.

But he couldn’t stop. He wouldn’t stop. He had a duty to do. 

So after all that, all he wanted was some good news about the new trade agreements and go to his guest suite and sleep. 

As it turned out, in Ávila when Ávilians close a trade deal they celebrate by having their guest get inhiberated by local drinks and send them off to the casinos. 

At least he arrived only after an hour of "celebrating" and Doña was only mildly tipsy veering on lightly drunk. 

That was just the positive side. 

The negative side was that he was stuck babysitting her lest she makes a fool out of herself or tries to bet the kingdom treasury during poker. 

It took a good twenty minutes, but he managed to drag her away from the dance floor, refuse her attempts to salsa together, avoid more than a few vulgar conversations with other far more drunken merchants, and maneuver their way through the palace to his guest room. 

"Yes I am mad," Esteban grumbled shrugging off his jacket with a frustrated huff when his hair flopped over his forehead, "What were you thinking accepting all those drinks?!? Did you even stop to think how it might reflect on Avalor if you lost a quarter of the money earned because you are bad at gambling!" 

Never mind the fact that he wanted a drink right now after all he had been through. Just a little numbing alcohol would be nice. But as usual, he had to be the rational one. 

Hortensia gave a silly smile as she leaned against his chest since her heels combined with her drunken condition was not helping in the balance department. "Don't worry Chance-Chanceshellor. I wouldn't have lost." She gave him a boop on the nose. 

"Sorry that my little faith reflects your lack of judgement," Esteban rolled his eyes at her slurred words. Even when drunk she was still so assured in her abilities. He shifted her so that he could wrap his arms around her waist as he walked to the immense king sized bed. 

"I wouldn't!" She insisted wobbling slightly. She placed her chin on his shoulder which would have been nice if it weren't for the close proximity that let him take a full wiff of her reeking alcohol breath. 

He lightly pushed her to a sitting position at the edge of the bed, "Try to sleep, please. If you think you're going to throw up just yell. I don't want you to choke on it." 

She rolled her eyes as if his request was incredibly unreasonable and pulled at his sleeve, her eyes sparked as if she was about to let him on a secret. 

"I would have won. I'm a great cheat at craps. I mean everyone knows it, but they can’t prove it, so I do it all the time." Hortensia smiled triumphantly and pulled at his sleeve again, patting the bed so he would sit next to her. 

She put her head on his shoulder once more and wrapped her arms around his neck,"Craps. Craps craps craps. Isn't that a funny word" She laughed in his ear and Esteban nearly jumped at the tingly sensation. 

"S-sure" He stuttered trying to disentangle her from him. 

"Aww no no don't leave!" Hortensia whined oblivious to how he tried to squirmed so she would stop talking directly into his ear. It wasn't so much the volume or the smell but her breath against his ear was surprisingly ticklish.

"I'm not leaving I want to go to the couch," Esteban murmured trying to keep his own laughter under control. 

"Oh" Hortensia pouted choosing that moment to sigh deeply. 

Esteban let out a small giggle before forming it into a coughing fit. She probably didn't hear..she couldn't have, she was in her own little drunk world. 

"Aww that's cute, Esteban" She drawled out his name before latching on to his body so she could blow into his ear again. 

Just his luck. 

He laughed deeply as he unsuccessfully tried to wriggle out of her grasp which only seemed to tangle them up further in a jumble of arms and legs. The whole situation was ridiculous in a way. It was the late hours of night after a grueling day of work, and here he was, he was trying to get away from a surprisingly playful Hortensia. 

She was drunk he should be able to fight her off. Not be taken down by a little thing such as blowing air. 

He experimentally poked at her side and she gave a small screech before resuming her attack. 

Esteban gave a genuine smile before launching an attack of his own. 

The two wreastled each other, alternating between whoever had the upper hand and the other one howling with laughter. 

He managed to pin her down with one hand and use the other to stroke her stomach in the same he used to play his guitar. He was surprised to hear that her laugh was quiet musical. She looked so carefree and happy. But then again, he never seen her this playful either. If she wasn't as inhiberated as she was, she wouldn't let this happen. He had to admit if this was her genuine smile it was actually quiet adorable. And though this whole thing was foolish, he felt like a schoolboy playing around without worries for once.

"Please tell me we're done and that we can go to sleep." Esteban asked which Hortensia silently nodded her acceptance. Esteban let go of her hands and laid down on his back with an exhasted groan. 

Finally he could let go of all this and sleep. 

"Tired?" Hortensia asked pointing out the obvious. 

Esteban groaned letting his body sink deeper into the bed. It seemed all the weight, and stress and exhaustion from the day even the weeks before this seemed to settle on his chest unmoving. Nothing would lift the pain. 

Esteban closed his eyes in effort to take his mind off it. If he gave it too much thought that was all he would be able to think about. The overwhelming darkness that was Shuriki's rule. No one was going to stop her. This was going to be the rest of his life. At her beck and call, seeing the kingdom he loved and foolishly ruined away by his stupid mistake. The true rulers killed. 

It was all his fault. 

He gave a shuddery sigh and sat up when he felt two arms wrap around him. 

He stiffened then relaxed when he realized it was a simple hug. 

"How long has it been? When you weren't alone?" She asked snuggling closer so she would be sitting on his lap. 

It took a few moments for Esteban to process what exactly she was asking. "Since I've been alone?" 

"Shuriki doesn't seem to be the affectionate type" Hortensia murmured putting her head in the crook of his neck.

"You mean..oh since I've been hugged? Um about 31 years" Esteban admitted

"24 for me. I miss it" Hortensia said 

Esteban almost shook his head. Has it really been 31 years? 31! It must be right, since that was how long it has been since Shuriki was ruling. It was true, she was not the affectionate type. Not that he would ever accept her affection after what she had done to him and to Avalor. 

He'd been so isolated ever since he became Chancellor. Rules and orders were his only priority. But with his body so close to hers in such a simple act. He couldn't believe he went that long without it.

He wanted to stay this way and never move from this position again. Not work again. He wanted to soak up the warmth from the other body. The feeling of arms holding him made him feel safe and secure. He wanted to let go of his usual dignified posture and relax. He felt wanted that someone cared enough just to hug home like this, without words. He held her tighter and nuzzled her neck in an effort to get closer.

Hortensia moved her head so they were forehead to forehead and nose to nose. She kissed his left temple with a slow searing intensity and looked shyly to see how he would react. 

He could only think that his exhaustion was making him imagine things because that small kiss felt like it would be ingrained on his temple. It was soft and it send a shudder down his spine. 

He paused before kissing the side of her lips. Then pressed another kiss against her neck. Hortensia pulled him closer with a sense of urgency and impatience as she ran her hands into his hair.

They continued to place small kisses on each other, teasingly avoiding the lips. 

He slid one hand to cradle her hand and the other slid down to hold the small of her back, taking notice of her curves. She kissed at the corner of his lips and to Esteban, it burned. He wanted to be closer. No, he needed to be closer. 

He hands trailed up again and the thought of her curves pressing tightly against his chest filled him with an unexpected sense of excitement. Her warmth blending into his warmth, only holding each other. 

He enthusiastically pulled her closer and kissed her full on the lips. His tongue demanding a push past her lips and their tongues intertwined and wreastled, letting the rest of the world fade away. 

Esteban lost any train of thought as he kissed her. Lust and passion overriding most of his thoughts. He wanted to be closer, closer to what he didn't know, but that just made him kiss more intensely than before. All the thoughts that had been pounding the side of his head disappeared, leaving it blissfully blank to register only on the titilating skin to skin contact. 

He pushed her back to lying position and she eagerly pulled down his sleeve, kissing his shoulder. Esteban was about to return the favor when he stopped short. 

This was wrong. This was wrong. She was drunk. She wasn't thinking straight. 

Esteban backed away. He let his need for affection go to far. It started with a hug and he let it spiral into this.

"Esteban?" Hortensia sat up pulling down the shoulders of her dress down herself.

Esteban hurried to stop her indencent exposure. "We can't..it's not you..it's not now." 

"No it is," Hortensia said moving to get on to his lap again. "Esteban I need to do this now or I never will." 

"You're not thinking," Esteban insisted but he didn't shove her away. 

"Please?" Hortensia didn't wait for a answer and kissed him again. It wasn't full of passion as the other one but it still held a certain amount of longing and closeness. 

The moment they parted, she turned and threw up over the side of the bed. 

"Oh Tensia I feel that way too," Esteban muttered sarcastically. 

-------------------——————————————————————————-

Sunlight filtered through the large balcony windows and Esteban blearily shook away the morning foginess. 

He was startled to feel so warm when he realized he was cuddled up against Hortensia. After the throw up, he spent some minutes giving her water and holding back he hair. Thankfully any more discussions or attempts at a passionate rendezvous were promptly forgotten and they fallen asleep cradled against each other. Platonically. 

He wasn't sure if he was disappointed or not. It had felt nice to hug tightly to someone else's warmth. 

A loud moan got his attention, "Turn it off." 

"I'm sorry but the sun isn't under my power." Esteban answered by went to the bathroom to get her more water. 

Hortensia sipped it uneasily. After a couple more minutes of silence, she cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry for last night. I must have been annoying for whatever I did. Nothing too foolish I hope.... What exactly did I, you know, happen?" 

Esteban froze. That was a loaded question. 

On one hand it would probably be embarrassing that she revealed she liked him and kissed him among other things while drunk, would it be bad?

He actually thought about the idea of dating her. She was intelligent, witty and he did enjoy spending time with her. Yes, she could be an infuriating thorn in his side with the way she contradicted most everything he proposed but at least talking with her would always be interesting. She was the only one he could gossip about other royals and she understood precisely what he meant because more likely than not she held the same ideas too. 

She certainly wasn't lacking in the appearance department either, he had to admit. Discounting the current bloodshot eyes and ashen parlor, she was quiet attractive. Even now, her burgundy wrap-around dress showed off her curves nicely and her disheveled hair gave an air of 'sexily rumpled' more than anything else.

Her soft lips brought back memories of them from last night pressing against his...

But dating her would have risks. If they ever fought or even broke up, would they manage to be professional enough to get the job done? Also they both worked so much, there would hardly be time for dates. 

Work! Shuriki! He couldn't believe he forgotten about her even for a moment. Shuriki took pleasure in seeing his guilt and pulling him around with it. She wouldn't be above destroying any new happiness that came his way. He didn't think he could handle more heartbreak and guilt on his hands.

And what if? What if last night had just been a fluke. The longing for a crumb of affection without any feelings toward him. Maybe she didn't even like him that way, and if he told her how they kissed and that he willingly kissed back. Well that was going to bring up a new kind of awkwardness. 

He spent the last 31 years without anyone beside his side and that is how his life would remain. He didn’t need to become emotionally dependent on someone else. No, that would be the sure way to bring disappointment. He must focus on his duty to the kingdom and nothing, no one else. It was the right thing to do.

"You-you just talked incessantly. How you cheat at poker." Esteban answered 

"Oh. I thought..oh" Esteban thought he saw a flicker of disappointment flash across her eyes but passed it off as his imagination when she shoved her head under the pillow.

"Well I have to go to work. Again." Esteban got up to leave and pulled on his jacket. 

"Can't you stay?" She murmured softly. 

Esteban looked at the door and forced himself to get up from the bed and put on his jacket. "No I can't. My work- my duty is very important."