Work Text:
It started with a glance. An introduction. A nervous hello given from behind his brother’s legs.
Zenitsu had never met another demon, let alone one quite so sweet. He knew it instantly from the curious way she peered at him. The gentle lilt of her bird like heartbeat, frantic and flighty.
At first, he had nothing to say to her. Where to start? Where are you from? He clung to her, sniffing her raven hair. How did you become like this? Nosing her cheeks, he trilled. Are you going to stay for a while? He didn’t want to let go!
So little time he got to spend with her and she was already being coaxed back into her box. The swift, hollow loneliness left in her place was agonizing. He clawed at his chest, stared forlorn at the horizon, paced and huffed, biding his time.
And then she was back! The sunshine he couldn't bask in, completely embodied in her! She threw herself into his arms, tiny and perfect, squealing with laughter while he spun her.
Toting her like she was his, he only earned a scolding once, from his elder brother.
“Ah! Put her down! She’s not a toy, forehead.” Kaigaku had fussed.
“He’s fine! I haven’t seen her this excited in a while.” Tanjiro had soothed, going to his knees to murmur sweetly to Zenitsu, while ruffling his hair. “Thank you for keeping Nezuko company. She can get lonely without someone to play with.”
From then on it was his duty! His solemn deed in life! Protect and entertain his— entertain Nezuko! It wasn’t until he saw a couple strolling by, hand in hand that the final pieces of the puzzle fell into place and he realized he wanted That with her.
Would she like to be kissed and hugged like that?
“I like Nezuko,” Zenitsu confessed over a game of go.
Kaigaku chuckled, tacking down another smooth piece. “Well, why are you telling me?”
So instead, he told her. Or, at least, he really tried.
A sleepy creature like her left him in roiling anticipation until dusk fell. When Nezuko would come tumbling wearily out of her box, eyes heavy with slumber, Zenitsu would choke up.
He attempted other routes of confession! With varying success.
A snail shell plucked from the muddy butterfly gardens after a heavy rain. Eaten in one bite.
A daffodil, late to the party and blooming on its lonesome. Eaten in two bites.
The hull of a robins egg, cracked in the meadow. Inspected wide eyed before eaten in one bite.
He wasnt angry that she’d eaten his gifts, in fact the opposite. Those had served their use. Rather, he was beginning to fear she wouldn’t understand the intent behind the gifts before consuming them.
She listened but did not speak, but if he focused, she had words to say. In the way she hugged his waist before they separated with their siblings for missions. In the lingering brush of her lips against his cheek when she sniffed him upon his return.
Like bled into love quicker than he’d anticipated, with no one else to blame but himself. His chance laid with her, no girl in her right mind wanted a demon for a mate, unless that girl was also a demon herself! A pretty one with melty pink irises and petal soft palms and birdsong hums.
I love Nezuko, I love Nezuko. Waking, resting, away or far, she was the only thing on his mind.
Now as they dashed through the moonlit forest, with his heart full and mind resolved, he finally possessed the words to tell her.
Speech wasn’t the easiest for him either, he had the feelings but the sounds came out jumbled without practice. But his first ‘I love you’ had been honed.
Kaigaku found Zenitsu muttering to himself on more than one occasion, rolling the words out, tasting them, swishing them in his mouth till it sounded just right.
Some flowers were needed to accompany his love words, just to make sure. The setting was perfect and the time was right.
Underneath the star washed sky, Zenitsu crept his hand into hers and leaned in to whisper his secret. She tilted her head and cupped her ear, capturing what he had to say.
And then she pondered on what he told her, briefly, before tackling him, affectionately rubbing her face against his, conveying her response with a kiss. ‘I love you too, Zenitsu.’