Work Text:
Shu was aware there were many things Y/n admired about him.
His looks, his talent, his hard work, his work ethic, his ability to see art in almost anything that he found potential in, and his diligent efforts of loving and cherishing her.
To Y/n, Shu wasn't a mere classmate nor a lover.
To Y/n, Shu was a newfound cornerstone in her ambitions of improving herself as a person and as an artist, her muse, her whole heart and soul, the apple of her eye, the center jewel of the crown called her life, and a man she wished to share her future with.
Even if they haven't been endeavoring in their romance for long, Y/n shared her late-night whispers with him about how she envisioned a future with the two of them together and tight-knit as ever. Like intricate lace and yarn spun by their hands alone, she would murmur her dreams about the two of them growing old and wrinkly together. Not that his appearance mattered much to her, considering that she loved his heart and soul more than anything. She would hold his hand in hers, gently rubbing away the strain and ache in them when he's been sitting at his desk stitching and knitting the day away. She would prepare him tea and a small tray of eclairs for him while he worked, so while he may not be eating healthy, Shu was at least eating something.
She had gone as far as waking up in the middle of the night to coax him to bed, clean his desk and work area while he washed away the sweat and strain of the day, dry his hair, gently forced her skincare routine on his fair and porcelain skin, and tuck him in. Other days, she would go as far as to making meals and lunches for him, even though she had her own work to do. Perhaps it was because Y/n knew better than anyone else Shu was too passionate for his work to remember to eat and take care of himself like a sane person, or that Shu would rather binge on croissants and coffee if she left him unattended.
There were so many things Y/n did for him, yet so little he did for her.
He didn't realize it until they arrived at the hotel he demanded they stay in during their vacation in Japan.
Of course, Shu had a dormitory he could go to for the night as well as friends and roommates that would greet him there. But Y/n wasn't allowed in an all-boys dormitory, and he had no faith in any hotel security to keep her safe while she was away from him. Hence, he booked the two of them a lovely suite, and could only watch as Y/n fiddled about with the room, unpacking her things, setting up a bath for him, and getting two cups of tea prepared to enjoy later. Now, Shu had never and will never dare to consider her a maid, let alone someone that pampered him with nothing in return, but watching her slave away during what was supposed to be their resting time bothered him.
"Shu-Kun, you should go wash up. The tea should be ready by the time you're done-."
"Non."
"... No?"
The pink-haired artist approached his lover and carefully placed his hands on her waist, gently pulling her to his chest.
"You've been doing too much since we got here. You should rest."
Turning around to face him, the h/c-haired woman looked at him with what could only be described as fondness and appreciation.
Undeserved ones, Shu would like to add, considering there was very little he did for her other than taking her out to cute cafes and fancy restaurants.
"I feel fine, Shu. You don't need to worry about me."
She placed a hand on his cheek, rubbing his cheekbones like it was that easy to ease his worries. Unfortunately for her, no matter how much Shu loved a person, his stubbornness would never fade.
"Hmph, you've done more than enough since we got to this forsaken place. It's about time I take care you instead."
"But you already do a lot for me..."
The man let out an exasperated sigh, pulling her head into his chest as he shook his head.
"Do, pray tell, explain what I've done compared to you."
He felt her reciprocate his affections, feeling her fingers loop tiny figures and invisible shapes across his back.
"I mean, you help me with my homework, you help me buy paint and even let me use Mademoiselle as a model for my paintings. Oh, and you've taken me out on a lot of great dates... Like the play we watched recently."
They were all the things Shu did for Y/n. However, compared to the extent Y/n went to take care of a... Passionate person like him, the idol couldn't help the icky feeling of incompetence. It wouldn't be a lie to say he would bury himself alive rather than carry it any longer.
"You've done much more than I have, take my word for it. If there's anyone who deserves at least one night filled with relaxation, it's you. Go. I'll take care of the tea and the rest of our luggage."
"... Are you sure it's okay?"
Goodness, Shu wondered if his lover (he hates the term girlfriend for how shallow it sounds) could be any sweeter and kinder than she already was. Here he was trying to coax her to relaxing for the night, and she was thinking that it was a crime for her to settled down during their own vacation.
"Yes. I promise you, I'm competent to brew a pot of tea, Y/n."
She knew he could do that much, and much more, so she conceded and started pulling away from their embrace reluctantly. Shu watched her gather her toiletries and sleeping gown then skitter off to the bathroom, where the bath was already drawn. It was meant to be for him, but Shu's conscience felt better knowing she had plenty of warm water to wash herself with.
He turned to the teapot and began pouring the pitcher water into it. While he was setting the tea leaves into the boiling pot, he heard the faint sound of his beloved humming. She wasn't the best singer, but the sound of her enjoying herself was more than enough for a smile to draw itself on his face.
It was so strange that Shu grew attached to her in such a short time, but it felt right. Holding her in his arms, linking arms with her while strolling, talking to her about anything and everything, even sharing the tiny bed he had in his rented room in Paris felt natural. Having him paying for their dates, no matter how hefty the price, was something Shu wished Y/n took for granted. He nearly fainted from shock the first time Y/n suggested splitting the bill on their first date, and nearly boiled over with anger when Y/n told him about the times she had gone on other "first dates" with other men, and they either split the bill with her or made her pay the whole thing. It baffled him, a person who was raised with the expectation of having enough financial stability to take his lover out on a date and pay for all of the costs.
Thus Shu did all the acts of a gentleman more than he usually did. Pulling out chairs, covering the edge of the table whenever she went under them to pick up something, walking on the outer side of the road, holding her bags for her, buying her flowers with every date he took her on, anything he learned from his family about courting, he did it. He couldn't have this precious gem of an artist and person that was Y/n crushed under the cruel and disgusting habits of the modern casualness of the world. If anything, Shu was intent on proving to Y/n that he was far better than anyone else she had taken interest in.
He certainly proved his worth, now that her affections poured over him like snow in the winter season. Soft and gentle, but ever=so present. Unlike snow, however, Shu saw it more fitting that her love was described as the falling flower petals of spring because her love was far from cold.
With the two tea cups now filled with chamomile tea and Y/n's preferred amount of honey, Shu sat on one of the armchairs that overlooked the cityscape. As much as he claimed that Japan had very low capacities of appreciating and creating true art, he couldn't deny that there were certain moments that were truly a sight to behold, just like the nightlights of ES.
"Enjoying the view, amour?"
Oh, how Shu loved it when Y/n spoke French.
"You're a better view any day of the year, though."
He stood to greet her properly, only to freeze at the sight of her scantly-clothed in a bathrobe instead of her nightgown. The man felt his face flush a little and caught himself staring at the abundance of skin below her collarbone.
The embarrassment couldn't get worse when he heard her giggle a little, though she tried to muffle it with her hand.
"You're allowed to look, you know. I'm not a stranger."
"It's precisely because you're not a stranger that's it more shameful."
Shu crossed his arms and settled for staring at the carpeted flooring instead.
"Would it bother you if I said I wanted you to look at me? If I invited to you, it wouldn't be so shameful, would it?"
Y/n stepped closer until Shu could smell the faint scent of her shampoo, which didn't quell the flare of his cheeks.
"Y-you... Ugh..."
He felt her hands drifting towards him and tug him closer by his belt loop until she could comfortably wrap her arms around his waist, and his eyes were forced to stared down at what he considered "unnecessary cleavage." His eyes immediately snapped to meet her eyes, the pout on his lips fading at the sight of her smug grin. She wasn't good for his heart, if the racing pace it was beating was anything to go by.
"Come on, Shu. It's not like I'm wearing lingerie or anything. Technically, I'm not showing that much skin."
True, and if she were to wear lingerie, it would be something made by his hands. Not that he would admit it with his mouth. (As if he didn't have one or two already finished in the case she were to entertain a fantasy or two of his.)
"You shouldn't be offering yourself up like this. It's improper as a woman."
Or so he says, but he still wraps his arms around her and tucking her head under his chin.
"I'm offering a hug, mon cher. What are you thinking about?"
Shu sighed again, dropping head into the crook of her neck while the blush on his cheeks spread to his ears and neck.
"If I had known you were going to tease me, I wouldn't have offered to let you bathe first."
"Would you rather have joined me?"
Teased the woman, who brightly laughed at his miserably red-faced self.
Shu squeezed her a little tighter, as if warning her not to push his buttons more than she already did.
"You know what I mean, beau."
She laughed again but didn't tease him further, instead bringing up a hand to ruffle his hair and run her fingers across his scalp, just the way he liked.
Shu relaxed in her arms letting his arms hang loosely around her waist as he stared at the floor behind her.
He had initially planned to be at Y/n's beck and call, treating her like nothing short of a goddess. It was her reward for her daily care towards him, attending to the needs he kept forgetting and putting off, cleaning up behind him and making sure there was never too much on his plate. Certainly she deserved nothing but the best of him. And he would have offered his utmost everything if it wasn't for his lack of experience and knowledge in... Intimate acts. It wasn't like they haven't shared kisses or fervent sessions of kissing and sharing each other's breaths, but Y/n had never pushed the line no matter how much it looked like she wanted more. Shu usually felt bad for limiting how much she could have of him, but he'd prefer not to make a fool of himself if possible.
"I was joking... You know... When I asked if you wanted to join me... "
Shu didn't respond, only sighing in response.
"... Are you upset?"
The purple-eyed man couldn't ignore how small her voice sounded. Turns out she didn't mean to make him uncomfortable.
He pulled his head away from her to look at her in the eyes, where he was meant with an apologetic look.
"No, I could never be mad at you over a harmless joke... I was... I simply feel bad."
Y/n tilted her head and furrowed her brows.
"For what?"
"For denying you something you would have gotten... If I wasn't so selfish."
"You're not-."
"Yes, I am. I let you do so many things for me, more than I could ever count. You've made sure I didn't starve too many times and kept me a healthy person throughout the months we've known each other. Even before we started dating, you were the only one who would entertain me in a conversation and not be offended. You place yourself on such a low pedestal that you do all these things expect nothing from anyone. Not even me. For you to do all this and make you wait for a mere few moments of intimacy... This is my pinnacle of selfishness, Y/n. You must understand."
"You need time, Shu, to get used to the relationship... Just like how I need to get used to relying on you more. You said it yourself: I don't know how to relax... Just because I've been doing all these things to take care of you and help you doesn't mean you have to have intimacy with me... I did all those things because I wanted to show I cared about you..."
Shu frowned, softly cupping her cheeks in his hands with a stern look.
"You shouldn't... As much as you have given me a home in your heart... It's taken me this long to realize I've never given you a home in mine. It's undeniably cruel and unfair of me to reject you that way."
Y/n remained silent, shakily fiddling with the string holding her robe closed. She was nervous.
"... Are we breaking up...?"
God, that was the last thing he wanted... But how much longer could he remain selfish and still have her at his side?
"Not if you want to stay... I... I was simply expressing my regrets of not noticing how skewed out relationship has become."
"... What do you mean?"
"It's about time I've thoroughly repaid you, is it not?"
The woman blinked a few times, like she couldn't understand him. The start of a blush painted her cheeks a few seconds later, and Shu couldn't help but grin a little. If she was any cuter, truly his self-discipline would've proved itself useless.
"Y-you said you weren't ready..."
"I'm ready to give you a home in my heart, Y/n. If it means having intimacy with you just as you've given me your heart, then I'll do it. However many times you want, as long as I can prove to you that our love make us equals."
With those words, Shu sealed his promise with a kiss, wrapping an arm around Y/n's waist, and his other hand entangling itself with her own.