Work Text:
Attrition - ‘win a war(or bet or argument etc.) by wearing down the enemy’
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Katsum made a mental note to never make a bet like this again.
She and Aymeric had been joking around last night before bed in the cheesiest and mushiest of ways a couple could, trading compliments back and forth and showering each other in love and affection. Yet when Aymeric had challenged that she was the one who showered him with more affection than he did her, she had made it official.
“We will see who can last the longest tomorrow without a kiss from the other. Whoever wins can tease the other for the rest of the evening. What say you to that?”
Aymeric had grinned at her and moved to lean over her, caging her in with his arms as he stared down into her eyes with a smoldering gaze, “Deal. But you should know, my dear wife…I will be merciless,” His breath tickled her nose and her ears flicked back as she pressed herself lower into the mattress as he moved closer, “That prize is just too sweet to resist.”
Katsum blushed, trying to grin through the nervous excitement she felt to push back, sitting up on her arms to press her forehead against his, “As will I.”
Though that was more a bluff than a promise. He’d grinned wider and at the time, she figured she knew what she was in store for.
She didn’t.
He had indeed been ruthless.
When she woke this morning, he was waiting for her, leaning over her just a breath away.
“Good morning, my love~,” He cooed softly, leaning just slightly closer, inviting her to press her lips against his. She’d almost forgotten, leaning forward with a smile to take it, yet she’d stopped just an inch away and played it off like that was her plan.
“Nice try, dear Aymeric,” She’d hummed as she pushed him away, trying her best to hide the fact that she had almost lost immediately.
“Worry not,” He’d replied as he’d freed himself from the covers, “‘Twas only the beginning.”
And it really had been.
Normally as they both left the house in the morning, he would pull her in for a kiss goodbye. He did the same movement this morning only he stopped to press his nose to hers and whispered, “I pray you have a good day, my sweet, and I hope to see you whenever you catch a free moment.”
She’d blushed at first, yet in retaliation, she’d against pushed back as she’d laid her hand on his chest, gently sliding it down just enough that she knew he would feel it through the layers of his regalia. She watched the slight change in his eyes as they darkened a little and she smiled back, “I’ll come by and spend lunch with you. We will have plenty of time to play our game then.”
He’d hummed in response, “I look forward to it.” He’d turned to leave then, waving her goodbye, and as she’d closed the door behind him, Katsum had to lean against it for a moment to calm herself.
Heavens, why was he always so tempting!?
When she’d come to the Congregation at noon, he’d smiled as she’d walked into his office with the tray of tea and their lunches. He’d taken her hand after she set the tray down, pulling it almost against his lips but stopping just before they touched her skin, looking up at her with the same smoldering eyes he had given her that morning. It sent a shiver down her spine and she cleared her throat and gently pulled her hand away, finding his desk to be very interesting to look at just then.
“Are you alright, my dear Kat?” He’d purred, watching her fight to keep her eyes from his. She’d heard the amusement in his voice clear as day.
“Of course, why do you ask?” She’d smiled as she’d laid out his lunch for him once he’d moved his papers aside, lifting the tea kettle to pour some into his cup.
“Because it appears your tail fur is standing on end.”
She had very nearly dropped the kettle, glancing back to see that her tail was indeed betraying her, the fur puffing out to nearly twice its size. Her embarrassment was very clear and she knew Aymeric had to be holding back a laugh. She tried to hide her tail a bit as she poured his tea and stepped around his chair to pour hers.
“Are you sure you are feeling, alright, dear?” He had asked again with an amused tone to his voice, “Your face does look rather red.”
It had only clicked then how to respond as she’d set down the kettle and moved to press against him from behind, wrapping her arms around his neck where she knew he couldn’t retaliate and whispered next to his ear, “Can you blame me, love? You are always so enticing it’s hard not to get flustered when you’re around.” She blew a little on the back of his ear and watched his grip on his fork tighten. He too had blushed this time yet he’d still glanced over his shoulder at her and grinned back despite the flush on his cheeks and the tips of his ears.
After that, lunch had passed by quickly, and she’d left him with another exchange of temptations, but neither of them had broken just yet. Now it was close to evening and with the help of the faithful servant of House Borel, she’d set a nice candlelit dinner for the two of them, hoping to find a way to break his resolve before the end of it. Though that had been a few hours ago that she’d had that thought.
She had been waiting quite a while now, glancing up at the clock. Usually, he was home by now and while dinner hadn’t grown cold, it would be before long. An anxious feeling set in; what could he be up to? Her mind raced at the thoughts that came to mind, going from innocent heartfelt gifts to something a bit more..tempting. He wouldn’t get the idea to change his clothes into something like that to walk home in the cold though…would he? The thought was rather scandalous she realized and blushed. It was her husband she was thinking about, so it was alright to let her mind wander though it certainly did not save her from the ever-darkening flush on her cheeks to let it do so.
Suddenly, her ears perked at the sound of the front door opening and of footsteps of someone coming in out of the cold, “I’m home. I’m sorry I ran behind.”
Something about Aymeric’s voice sounded off so she stood quickly and headed towards the hall, hoping he wasn’t fooling her into a false sense of comfort. As she turned out of the dining room door and caught his gaze down the hall, she knew he wasn’t.
His eyes were tired, his posture showing his exhaustion. Whatever had happened after lunch had taken its toll on him she guessed. She sighed and smiled sadly at him, moving to meet him there. He smiled tiredly at her as she moved up to him, reaching out to cup her face and move in…
…And stop as he remembered. His eyes widened as hers did, the thought clicking for both at the same time.
“Ah, right…the challenge,” He sighed, nearly letting go before he shook his head, “I will take the loss. It has been a very long day and I really wish to kiss you.”
He drew her in yet before he could initialize the kiss, she pressed forward and kissed him first. She could tell he was surprised but didn’t let it stop him from kissing her, gently holding her cheek as he sighed in relief. She pulled away for a breath and whispered against his lips, “How about we call it a draw instead?”
He blinked, but smiled and nodded, “As long as I get to kiss you again.”
“Of course, you may,” She pecked his lips again, moving closer and pressing against him, “And the rest of the evening is ours to spend together.”
“Yes…at last,” He kissed her again, pulling her into a deeper kiss than before so that she wrapped her arms around his neck.