Archive of Our Own ^beta

Sometimes, when they had nothing to do, they would just lay in his bed.

They wouldn’t do anything in particular. Just thinking, talking, cuddling.

Cus enjoyed this type of affection. She loved to give hugs and cuddles nearly as much as she loved receiving them; it was practically her love language. Rumsshi, however, had never been the kind of person to enjoy such affection. Granted, he never actually received said affection, either. He just never really found it to be something to care for. In his opinion, a man didn’t need cuddles or sweet talk to go about his day. Besides, it’s not like it would ever make him feel better, or anything. Or so he believes. Regardless, it could never hurt to lay down and relax, especially when she practically gave him an excuse to.

Besides, he could never say no to her.

The conversations never had a set topic; they quite literally talked about anything.

“What’s your favorite color?” She asked, tracing circles on his pink chest, where she was comfortably snugged.

“Anything but pink,” He responded bluntly, staring upwards at the ceiling. He rested his forearm along her lower back, while his other was serving as a pillow.

“Is it because you’re pink?” She innocently inquired, her purple eyes traveling to meet his icy blue sclera.

“Of course. Pink is such an ironic color to be born with. Someone of my stature wouldn’t be fit for it, you know?” His eyes remained on the ceiling while he responded. She continued to rest hers upon his chin.

She did not understand - he believes he cannot be pink due to his stature? What an interesting stance to take. In her mind, she wouldn’t want him any other way. His naturality always fascinated her. The idea of beings existing in all sorts of colors and builds was something she enjoyed about mortals, even if in this case the mortal was turned divine. She had to wonder, if he felt this way about himself, how did he feel about her?

“Would someone of mine be associated with the color blue?”

His gaze moved from the walls to meet hers. “Well…they could be, yes. But you appear so youthful that it fits you.”

Cus smiled softly. “Well, just because you appear older doesn’t mean pink doesn’t fit you.”

Rumsshi chuckled a bit. “Fair, but many would and have argued otherwise.”

She looked back down to his chest as her smile disappeared. She snuggled in a bit more into his chest, tracing smaller circles near his pec. “Your manly values sure blind you to what I see in you…”

Rumsshi was caught off guard by that response. “What do you mean?” He asked, holding her a bit tighter out of concern.

She kept her gaze averted and continued tracing. Rumsshi kept his vision focused on her, even if he were only being greeted by her snow white hair.

“You’re perfect just how you are.” She responded softly, almost a bit too quietly. Almost as if she were a bit nervous to admit it.

His lips formed a small grin, feeling a false sense of pride. “You’re the only one in the existence of anything who truly believes that.”

Her finger was slowing down. With the same tone, she replied, “Maybe everyone else is blind…”

His grin slowly faded as his gaze returned to the ceiling. “Or maybe you are.”

Her finger stopped entirely. “I doubt that.”

He glanced down at her, only this time being greeted by her eyes just barely peeking from her eyelids. Her expression, from what he could tell, was not an amused one. “I may appear youthful, but I’m not naive.”

She quickly returned her gaze to his chest. “And besides, is that really much different from me saying that I, the oldest child of my father, shouldn’t appear this way?”

“Well…no, but both you and your father give off deceiving looks.” He admitted casually.

“And you don’t think people have said that to me?”

He shrugged. “I’m sure they haven’t. Although, I have in the past, so at the same time, I’m not sure.”

“But why wouldn’t they?” She questioned.

“Well, because…you’re you. You’re an angel, you could flick their head and their brains would fly out.” He attempted to summarize his thoughts the best he could. He didn’t feel as if there was another way to explain them.

She found that explanation amusing enough to giggle at. Her? Doing such a gruesome thing? How absurd! “If you think I’d ever harm someone over a silly misunderstanding based on their own observation, then surely you don’t know me at all.”

Rumsshi sat up a bit, using the bedframe as support. He couldn’t stop a chuckle from escaping. She says that as though it were false. “I’ve seen what you can do. You obliterated planets just to show me how to.”

Rising from his chest and sitting just before him, she rolled her eyes playfully at that response. “I didn’t prefer to, but that’s how your job goes, so I had to show you.”

She reached over and took his hands in her own. “Listen, don’t ever be ashamed of who you are. If I were ever ashamed, I wouldn’t be fit to be an angel.” She held his hands tighter. “You’re at least allowed to have feelings, so show them.”

Rumsshi looked away, barely hiding the frown that was spreading across his face. “A man can’t share his feelings without getting judged.”

“I won’t judge you, though.” She replied sincerely, nuzzling his hands with her thumbs.

He turned his head to her with a smile. “I know that.”

His frown couldn’t remain for long; her playful demeanor always brought him joy. He moved one of his hands to her cheek, just to playfully rub it.

She placed a hand on his, feeling a smile grow that she couldn’t - and wouldn’t - resist. She moved closer and sat on his lap. Aiming for a comfortable position, she crossed her legs behind his back the best she could and adjusted accordingly. She moved closer to his face and met his gaze with a look of sincerity and worry.

In a pleading, yet calm, tone, she softly requested, “So…talk to me.”

He sighed, unable to resist her pleas. “Fine. But will you tell me your feelings?”

She looked down and retracted her hands. “I can’t…”

Rumsshi smiled sadly. “Not even in private?”

Cus shook her head and continued looking down. “It would be unbefitting of me, as an angel, to do such a thing.”

Rumsshi, though understanding, wouldn’t let such a thought alter his request. “I mean…” He moved his arms around her waist and held her gently. “I do a lot of things unbefitting of a destroyer, and yet we’re still here.”

Those words paired with that gesture gave her more confidence to look him in the eyes again. The sincerity and sweetness hidden behind those blue sclera always pulled her in. She could only rest her hands on his chest, but the smile on her face was surely there to stay.

“I suppose…but I honestly wouldn’t know how to.” She confessed with a slight tone of embarrassment coating her voice.

“That’s alright, do it however you must.” He took one of her hands in his and gently moved it towards his lips. “I won’t judge you, either.” He placed a tender kiss on her hand, a gesture she hadn’t expected, but was pleased with.

A light blush decorated her cheeks. “How romantic of you.”

“Never hurts to be every once in a while.” He felt his cheeks become a bit red. “Especially towards someone who deserves it.”

She gently grasped one of his hands and kissed it lightly. “You deserve it, too.”

“Which you’ve led me to believe.” He joked.

“Gladly, at that.” She moved closer and lightly kissed his cheek, a gesture that made his heart skip a beat. “If you won’t love yourself, know that I will.”

“If that’s what you choose to do.” He held her there, allowing their faces to remain inches apart.

And there came the perfect moment for her to ask. “Do you love me?”

Although he should’ve been caught off guard, Rumsshi simply wasn’t. He knew such a question would come up eventually, but he never prepared himself for how he’d answer it. He could be straightforward - yes. He could play around - what do you think? He could dodge the question. Yeah, that was best.

“Am I even allowed to?” In his defense, it wouldn’t be unusual to ask, given their positions. He was well aware that the Grand Minister - her father - most likely did not care, but part of him still had that fear instilled.

Cus recognized that and answered carefully so as to not dismiss his fear. “Probably not, but it’s okay if you do.”

Rumsshi chuckled and rested his forehead against hers. “Of course, I love you.”

Her blush further decorated her cheeks. “And that’s okay,” She responded softly, closing her eyes. “In any other reality, we’d be an old married couple living in the fields where you grew up…”

He sighed. “You know, I’d like that a lot.” He quietly confessed.

“Yeah…me too…” She confessed herself as his grip tightened around her waist.

In response, she moved her head to his shoulder and buried herself into his neck, taking in his scent as she fully rested against his frame. She held him tighter than she ever had before, and he gladly did the same. They wanted to kiss, more than anything. Cement and officiate the feelings that would always be there. But, at the same time, they were afraid to. They cared too much for each other to risk anything. As long as they could be like this without complication, it was perfectly okay for now.

And no matter what, they’d always enjoy their pillow talk.