#old man rom grandson agenda

[chrysoula]

Felt-chan's Bedsharing Experiment

Felt woke up in the dark, instantly alert as the texture of the midnight silence changed. It was a trait she’d developed growing up in the capital’s slums. She no longer slept in such dangerous places, but it was still a useful ability.

“Reinhard?” 

He stepped from the darkness into the patch of starlight shining through her open curtains. “Yes, I’m here.”

“Why?” Her voice was very even.

He hesitated before saying, “I felt anxious and wanted to check on you. I didn’t expect you to wake up.”

Felt eyed him. He was dressed in black and dark blue, rather than his pajamas or the lighter casual clothes she’d last seen him in. Clothes for sneaking out at night. Then she sighed. “Did you have a bad dream again?”

“My lady… you’ve noticed?”

“Of course I noticed. Who do you think I am? Now, get over here.”

Slowly, he approached her big bed. Felt used to wonder why the rich always seemed to think sleeping in a big bed was a status symbol, but now she could suddenly see the point. She scooted back from the warm hollow left by her body and pointed at it. “Lie down.”

“Lady Felt!” Shock flickered over his face, but Felt wasn’t in the mood to savor it.

“What’s the problem? It’s a big bed. I don’t know what the hell’s wrong with you, but I’m pretty sure if we’re in the same bed, you’ll stop worrying I’ve run away or something for a few hours and get some rest.” She narrowed her eyes. “You do keep insisting you’re not a pervert, right?”

He gave her that detestable wan smile. “I do.” He considered a moment and then exhaled lightly. “I see. You may be right. But this isn’t a sustainable solution, my lady.”

Felt snorted. “Damn straight. But it’s a solution that lets me get back to sleep as soon as possible. Besides, you’ll think better once you’ve had some sleep. We can talk about it tomorrow.”

Reinhard’s eyes widened and he looked stricken as he realized what he’d done. “My deepest apologies, Lady Felt. I’ve allowed my own troubles to—”

“Reinhard! If you don’t shut up and lie down right now, I’m gonna get pissed off.”

Once again, the knight contemplated, before sitting down, trailing his fingers down the indention where she’d been.

Felt, who had moved to the cold side of the bed for the stupid Sword Saint, watched him sourly and then flopped over before lifting herself up enough to swipe her own pillow and shove the fresh one where Reinhard would rest his head. 

He glanced at her and smiled in that other way he had, the way that made her happy and angry at the same time. But then he stretched out on the bed, as if her pillow swap had reassured him somehow, so Felt decided she could tolerate it.

He turned just slightly toward her, tucking his far hand under his head with the smile lingering in his eyes, but saying nothing. Even in the darkness, she could see the impossible blue of his eyes.

Felt scowled. “Close your eyes. Go to sleep.”

Obediently, he closed his eyes, although obviously forcing himself to sleep was impossible. It didn’t matter, anyhow. Even without his vision, he could sense everything about her that mattered right now: her breathing, her heartbeat, her warmth…

Felt could see the exact moment he fell asleep. The hint of a smile faded from his face, but no furrowed brow replaced it. His relaxed face was so rarely seen that Felt considered it unnatural, and got pissed off all over again.

Then she considered why she was pissed off and her shoulders slumped. This time she was in the wrong, and she knew it without having to lose an argument with him first. Knowing what she did about his life, and what she did about people, she couldn’t blame him for giving the world so many hollow smiles. But she liked all of his other expressions so much more. Or at least, sometimes when she saw them she wasn’t quite as angry at him as usual.

“Sorry, Reinhard,” she whispered under her breath.

Without waking enough to lose that relaxed expression, Reinhard stirred and his hand moved, capturing her wrist before she realized what was happening. Her teeth clicked together in an angry, incredulous grin as her eyes widened. (I give you a hand and you take an arm, huh? Just like always…)

But she didn’t pull away. He’d release her immediately if she woke him, but it would be way too much trouble to calm him down and get him to rest again. Besides, it wasn’t so bad to sleep once more beside somebody she trusted…

Felt, too, fell asleep.

Reinhard opened his eyes in darkness, and tried to reassemble the facts that led him to his current position.

Ah. He must have fallen asleep after Lady Felt’s gracious act of comfort.

Only… He couldn’t quite recall how exactly she’d ended up spooned against his chest, with both of his arms around her. He felt quite certain she wouldn’t have voluntarily positioned herself that way, so had he forced her…? But no. If he’d done anything like that, she would have complained loudly, and he would have woken up instantly. 

Then it must have happened gradually and accidentally. He’d long since stopped seeing even violent physical contact from his mistress as something to automatically avoid, so it didn’t puzzle him that he’d been able to continue sleeping through the tossing and turning required to…

Oh. He realized that not only was she holding the hand attached to his arm underneath her (or perhaps he was holding hers), but his upper arm, draped over her abdomen, rested on the bare skin revealed by her rucked up pajama top. Of course, her favorite clothing revealed most of her abdomen as well, so he’d had plenty of opportunity to visually inspect her stomach, but he’d never imagined touching it like this. And she was so warm, and the smell of her hair was… comfortable.

He hummed silently to himself. (This really is quite intimate and inappropriate. That’s a problem. But…) 

Reinhard wasn’t sure if he could extricate himself without waking his mistress. If he could, that might erase the issue. There was no need to distress her, after all. But he knew how much that sort of consideration would anger her, and more importantly, it violated Reinhard’s integrity to pretend they hadn’t ended up sleeping together so entangled.

That being decided, he stayed how he was. She would discover their position when she woke naturally, just as he had, and no doubt she would rightfully punish him. So he felt (as he sometimes did) that if he was going to do the time, he might as well do the crime.

His troubling, adorable mistress really was rubbing off on him.

The thought made him unreasonably happy, and he smiled to himself as he once again drifted off to sleep.

Felt woke up in the gray light of dawn with the echo of a gasp, a giggle, and the click of a door echoing in her ears. After evaluating her situation for a moment, she determined her exact physical positioning, which she didn’t actually hate, and also that her twin chamberlains probably knew Reinhard had spent the night in her bed.

Well. First things first, because she certainly wasn’t going to sort this out alone, and she also wasn’t going to act like it hadn’t happened. Her stupid perfect knight was far too comfortable to snuggle against, for one thing.

Her voice harsh and commanding, she said, “Reinhard. Wake up but, and I mean this, do not move.”

His fingers twitched against her revealed stomach, which didn’t quite tickle, and then he said softly, “All right. I’m awake.”

She could feel his breath stirring her hair, and tried to pull her thoughts together. “I give you a hand and you take an arm, just like always…. is what I’d like to say, except I’m not ready to be cold yet.”

“All right,” he said peaceably. “It is rather chilly.” His fingers twitched again, searing trails of sensation against her skin.

Felt frowned. “Aren’t you going to lecture me about how inappropriate this is?”

“I felt that went without saying in this circumstance, my lady. Flam and Grassis have already drawn incorrect conclusions, but they won’t gossip, and I can correct them later.”

“Huh,” she said, taken aback. “I guess you got some serious sleep.”

“Yes, I was untroubled by bad dreams. Thank you for your generosity.”

“Hmph,” Felt said, and then, since she had nothing she was ready to argue with him about, closed her eyes again to doze a bit longer.

It didn’t quite work. Closing her eyes just focused her attention on his hand, and every slight move of his fingers sent tingles through her whole body.

After a few moments, Reinhard said, “Ah. I can’t exactly call it gossiping, but Flam and Grassis are congratulating Rom on acquiring a fine grandson-in-law.”

Felt opened her eyes. “Never mind what they’re doing, it’s what you’re doing that’s bothering me! Are you just eavesdropping all the time, you creepy bastard?”

His fingers stopped moving before she explained what exactly bothered her, but began to move again as he said mildly, “I ignore what doesn’t concern me.”

Felt realized in a flash that the movement of his fingers against her skin was entirely intentional, and her temper rose as she wondered if he was petting her like she was a foxette. Maybe it was time to get back to kicking him and teasing him for being a pervert.

(Nah.) It was really hard to stay mad at him right at that moment, maybe because everything felt so nice. "What's Old Man Rom saying, anyhow?"

"He's cautioning them against assumptions that may embarrass them later. He's a good man." His nose touched her hair. "Lady Felt, as much as I'm enjoying this, it might be best if we separate and ready ourselves to face what may be a trying day."

"Not yet," said Felt stubbornly,  not releasing the hand she still held. "We still have to talk about what's keeping you up all night.”

She could hear how startled he was as he said, "Like this?"

"Exactly like this. I don't have to look at your stupid pretty face, and you don't have to fret about me running away. Not that I know why you suddenly are, after so much time. So spill your guts, Reinhard."

His palm flattened against her stomach as his arm tightened. "I know very well you'd never run from the responsibilities you've taken on. I only wish I could be so confident of my ability to keep you safe.”

Felt closed one eye at this. “That why you keep sneaking out at night? Doesn’t make sense, Reinhard.”

“Forgive me. I’ve found that… saving others, even in little ways, can sometimes quiet my troubled heart for a time.”

“Yeah, okay, I can see that. Makes sense after all.” Felt nodded to herself and thought for a bit. “You know, I’m surprised you’re staying like I said. You usually ignore my orders when you don’t approve of them, so I guess you must really be enjoying this.”

“I was not lying when I said as much a little while ago. And very little would change at this point were I to disobey you. But I dare say I’m just as surprised that you’re allowing this.”

“Yeah, well, Old Man Rom says I’m too big to sleep beside him any more.”

Reinhard hummed thoughtfully. “I didn’t know that.”

“Not that we slept quite like this,” added Felt, annoyed. “I just used to sleep on his chest all the time, ever since I was a baby.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” he said, and his hand relaxed enough to start drawing light circles against her skin again.

(Hey, what the hell does that mean?) But Felt bit the demand back, because she wasn’t sure she wanted an answer. Instead she said, “So what do you need to get rid of the bad dreams for good?” Then, unable to stop herself, she added acidly, “Maybe we can get you a foxette kit.”

He pressed his head against hers enough that his voice was muffled as he said, “I think that would be very cruel to the foxette.”

Felt snorted and almost rolled over to face him, just stopping herself. “It would be the happiest foxette in the world and you know it, you dumbass.”

He said nothing, which wasn’t a denial. Then he said, “Although I don’t quite understand why you think a foxette would help.”

“Doesn’t have to be a foxette.” Felt’s slender shoulders tightened in an awkward shrug. “Something warm you can cuddle and pet. Maybe anything would do.” 

His fingers kept moving even as he said, “My lady, I’m hurt that you think I could replace you so easily.”

She squeezed his other hand. “I’m not a foxette, okay? Not a foxette!”

“No, you are not,” he agreed. “You are such a lovely young lady that I cannot bring myself to stop touching you at the moment. It’s quite a dilemma, and I already regret burdening you with my ineptitude.”

Felt sighed, but her shoulders relaxed a little. “So you don’t think a foxette would help.”

His nose was in her hair again. “Would you like a kit, my lady?”

From anybody else that might have been some kind of innuendo, but Felt knew Reinhard well enough to recognize a sincerity she definitely had to nip in the bud before she ended up with another pain-in-the-butt underfoot. She scoffed. “Me? Hell no. Foxettes are nothing but rivals for the best food.”

Bits of her hair moved against his mouth as he mused, “The twins have a birthday soon. Maybe they’d like a foxette. Or perhaps one for each?”

Exasperated, Felt said, “If you want a foxette, just get a foxette, Reinhard. But only one.”

He lifted his head a little, so that his voice came more clearly. “It’s not so much that I want a pet so much as your suggestion struck a chord. Whether or not any individual member wants it, my intuition tells me the camp needs a foxette.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” And then, because she really did know Reinhard well, added, “Just one! I’m serious! This camp isn’t big enough for two foxettes.”

And then, because she could learn from the past, she demanded, “Reinhard, do you already have some abandoned kits you’ve stashed somewhere?” Although she could hardly believe it possible, coincidence did favor Reinhard in exactly this way when he wanted it to.

He responded only to her surge of physical tension. “Are you ready to rise and face the day?” His weight shifted as if he was about to slide away.

“No!” shouted Felt, in a swelter of panic and confusion and hurt. “I will never forgive you if you if you’ve been manipulating me this way, you bastard!”

He froze. “Lady Felt… That has not been my intention, I swear, but the circumstances—”

Felt squeezed his hand as hard as she could. “If it’s not your aim, then don’t go running away as soon as I ask, dumbass.”

He relaxed once more. “My lady, that grip would be quite painful for anybody else.”

“Sure, but you can take it just fine.” Felt mashed his fingers a bit more before giving up on getting any other reaction from him. “Well?”

“Ah. While it’s true that I did recently rescue some abandoned kits, I was planning on rehoming them without bringing them to your attention… until you made me imagine the addition of one (or perhaps two) to our household.”

“And that has nothing to do with how you’ve been cuddling up to me and rubbing my belly, is that what you’re claiming?”

Without any hesitation he said, “I couldn’t say. I woke like this; it’s not impossible that I dreamt of baby animals and grew confused by your proximity. But I can say that I’ve barely touched the kits as of yet. I only checked their health before putting them in a basket, after which I delivered them to Marian the midwife, who agreed to temporarily foster them while I found them new homes.”

Then, meditatively, he said, “But it’s also true I’ve never cuddled this close to another human before. Well, not since I was a young child myself. I do recall that we had a large dog when I was around eight—”

"That's it!" Felt finally had enough, and jumped in his arms, spinning to face him and grabbing him by his shirt front. The fact that he released her hand in time for her to spin freely was just fuel to the flames. “You bastard, you didn’t just take my arm, you took the whole bed! Which one of us is the mistress and which one the dog, huh? Tell me that!”

His arms closed back around her as he met her gaze with his radiant blue eyes, their heads on the same pillow. He was smiling broadly in the face of her wrath. “Normally I would protest such a term, but I’m happy to be of service to my lady in whatever way she requires.”

“You really shouldn’t be smirking like that when somebody’s calling you a dog, you know?” She shook his shirt back and forth, but couldn’t budge him. 

Instead of answering, one of his hands slipped under the back of her pajama top, tickling her back a little.

Warningly, she said, “You know, I’m in a great position to bring you a whole world of hurt, unless you’re immune to that too.” She shifted a knee meaningfully.

His hand stilled, but stayed against her skin. But the faint remainder of his earlier smile remained in his eyes as he said, “I assure you, it would hurt as much as you imagine. But I’ve already accepted that I will face harsh consequences for the liberties I’ve taken.”

Felt eyed him sourly. “Did you now. Way to take all the fun out of it, dumbass.” Reinhard _letting_ her hit him wasn’t satisfying at all.

Then an idea occurred to her and she grinned, her fang showing. When his eyes narrowed, which she recognized from her long-ago run of failed escape attempts before she’d joined the Royal Selection, she said, “No no, Reinhard. You said you’d take whatever I dish out, right?”