Chapter Text
Although the sounds of the ongoing festivities echo through the entire town, the din quiets as Shirayuki and Zen amble towards the rooms the Mountain Lions set aside for guests. It is cooler without the crush of people, the air kissed by a breeze that provides welcome relief for the blushes still riding high on their cheeks. Neither party was quite ready to discuss the unwitting confession or it’s implications, so as they walked Zen relayed the conversations and events Shirayuki she had missed while the women of the town helped her bathe and change into clean clothing.
“You and Kiki will be upstairs,” he explains as they head towards her door, “and we’ll be using the room downstairs.”
“Okay,” she acknowledges, a little too quietly. He stops before her room and turns to face her. A frown tugs at his lips when he sees her – her face is pale and her smile uncharacteristically tight.
“Listen,” he steps a bit closer, hoping to alleviate her concerns, “If anything happens, all of us are just a call away.”
“Okay!” she repeats with a sharp nod, “Please don’t worry!” Her hands knot together in front of her body, and he notes they are trembling slightly.
“I can’t do that,” he admits ruefully, reaching a hand to cradle her face gently. Touching her like this, he can feel the fine tremors are not just isolated to her hands. “Hey,” he prompts, taking her hands in both of his, “why are you shaking?”
“Can…can, um…” she shudders again, unknotting her hands to tangle them with his, “Can you stay with me a little longer?”
“Of course,” he squeezes her hands gently, and directs her gently towards her room, “Is it okay if I give you a hug?”
She nods, and he lets go of one of her hands to tuck her under his chin. She wraps her arms around his waist, hands fisting tightly in the fabric of his shirt, and leans her weight against him. He feels the damp heat of tears soaking into his shirt, so he rubs her back gently and whispers what he hopes are soothing words against her hair. Over time, the tears stop, her grip loosens, and the tremors pass.
“Sorry,” she mumbles against his chest, “I don’t know why it all hit me at once.” She sniffles, then presses against his hold a bit, so he allows her to step back, “But thank you for staying with me, Zen.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he soothes, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, “You’ve been through a lot, so it’s normal to be a little spooked.” His hand lingers, and he brushes the last of her tears away with his thumb. She smiles up at him with that beautiful, brilliant smile that does all sorts of things to his heart and makes him feel like he is the king of the world instead of the Second Prince of Clarines.
“C-can I kiss you?!” he blurts out, then immediately feels heat flood his cheeks. He had been thinking of this moment for a long time, of when they might finally be able to share a kiss instead of him taking one from her, but this was not at all how he had pictured this request going. He had been aiming for something a little more suave, but his dignity never stood a chance against that sunshine smile.
Somehow, she smiles even wider, then leans forward to press her lips chastely to his. It’s short, but so sweet, and he feels a little dizzy when she steps back.
“You may,” she answers belatedly, and he notes her cheeks are now as red as his, but a happy smile remains on her lips. He retreats towards the door, and her voice follows, “Goodnight, Zen.”
“Goodnight, Shirayuki.