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You had no idea what you did to earn the recognition and love of the finest lady of Marijoa, but somehow, someway, you were her partner now. She had picked you out of the thousands of candidates proposing to her to be her partner. You thought you stood no chance with her and often avoided her in your life, since you were not that important to the Holy Knights, not being strong enough to be one, but thoughtful enough to have a small impact in decisions.
Your lover ordered for you to be immediately moved in with her in the Manmayer estate, you readily agreed, although with a brick of guilt filling your heart. Did you really deserve such a luxurious life with a powerful woman like her?
The answer your brain convinced you with was a harsh no, and with that you convinced yourself you needed to do more.
To be more.
It started slowly, with you taking the majority of Gunko’s papers and doing them yourself, you read through hundreds of papers a night, all to help your partner's day go a bit better.
You helped around the house as well, did the niche stuff that Gunko liked to see when she came back home after a long day.
She shrugged these off, you just wanted to help her a bit more after all, but what surprised her the most was when you were physically pained at doing your own hobby.
Sure, Gunko liked what you created for her from time to time, but she never forced you to keep making her stuff, but you clearly took pride in it.
You began spending more time on your desk, hunched unnaturally, staring at your tools with disdain, not because you hated your work, but because your hands were not cooperating.
You knew your hands began to hurt when you overused them to this degree, but you still never stopped. You wanted to be more. You wanted to prove yourself worthy of the Manmayer name, even if with these small actions..
She watched you for multiple days, hands clenching your tools angrily, every mistake making you curse out loud and have to go back a few steps… She tried to brush that off too, because she trusted that you wouldn’t go overboard.
But one day that wasn’t the case. She had just come back from a mission when you were sitting at your same desk, but not moving. She heard your choked sobs as your hands shook in your lap from overuse, your fingers were all red from how much you’ve worked for the day, and it hurt like hell.
“What have you done with your hands, hm?” Her terrifying cold voice cut through your cries. You knew she didn’t mean to scare you, but it was still always a jumpscare nonetheless, you were too frozen to move. Gunko carefully moved your project away and tried to help you stand up.
“Stop– I can go on more, I’m almost done with it..”
“No, you’re taking a break, maybe a shower– and food, no arguments, it’s an order from a Holy Knight.”
You frowned and had to follow her to bed, she sat you down and propped up your back with all the specific pillows you liked. Unexpectedly, she also began massaging your hands, which honestly felt marvelous. She instructed you on what to do after she was done with her part and you followed her orders, your hands felt a bit better, but you didn’t like the feeling of failure because you couldn’t finish a project because your stupid hands decided to malfunction.
Your tears came again as you stretched your fingers slowly, which only got you the sweetest kiss from your partner, “It's ok, they won't fall off.” She giggled.
“They won't work how I want them to!” You yelled back angrily before realizing your mistake. “S..Sorry..”
“They won’t work because you’re not giving them a chance to work, my love.” She pressed a kiss to your knuckles, which was somehow able to calm you down, even slightly.
“But I want to make you happy…”
“You make me happy just by existing, sweetest.”
“I could be doing more..”
“I don’t want you to do more.” She argued gently, her voice as calm as ever, you often wondered how she stays so calm.
“Can you at least–”
“Nope, I’m not bringing your work to bed, you need sleep, preferably a hot chocolate as well.” She pinched your cheek with a small giggle. You winced, and she panicked, thinking she did something wrong.
“Sorry.. I have a headache.”
“Obviouslly, maybe a bath to help you relax?”
“Too tired to get up from bed…” You admitted while scratching your neck.
“Want me to carry you then?”
“What-? No!” Your face flushed, you kept forgetting how physically strong she was that your weight wasn't an issue to her. “I… I don't feel like taking a bath… I'm sorry I know-” She kissed you on the forehead and cut you off.
“It's okay.”
“It's not really–”
“Yes it is.” She scrunched your cheeks and insisted, making you giggle a little. “There's nothing wrong with taking a day or two off, you know? I know you’re tired, even for the simplest of things, so just rest.”
“But why!? I could finish it today and give it to you-”
“I don't want it, especially if it hurts you.” Gunko said firmly…
You bit your lips to try and stop the tears but it was in vain.. You knew that- realistically Gunko did love you. But your insecurities often made it hard to see that in her… Even if she made it painstakingly obvious she was indeed.. only in love with you.
“Really?” You muttered between tears. Your thought for years that your worth was only in what your hands created, and she was telling you the opposite… she was telling you she wanted you. Just you. Not what you make, not what you give, You.
“Of course.” Gunko moved slowly as she kissed all over what was exposed from above your collar and neck. Not an ounce of lust in her movements, only raw love and admiration for the one she calls her partner.
Your breaths were slightly heavier since you weren't used to being flattered or showered with so much affection, since you always stopped her from giving you more than a kiss on the cheek.
Guilt came back up as you remembered how you kept rejecting her advances because you thought she was faking all of it… well… there wasn't anything interesting about you, after all–
“Ow!” This time she pinched your nose, ending in your holding it.
“You went back into your head again, I didn’t like that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean!?” You retorted with a pout.
“I mean,” She gently flicked your forehead. “Your brain is telling you harmful things, which leads to your pretty hands hurting,” She explained while glaring at you, she was still on top of you, so you stuttered before replying to her while she’s so close to your face.
“My hands are the furthest thing from prett–”
“You’re ignoring the subject.”
“I am!” You admitted with a pout.
Gunko sighed and flopped next to you in bed, caging you under her arm, knowing how desperate you are to go back to your harmful habits.
“Trust me for a little bit…” She murmured into your shoulder, her hand intertwining with yours carefully. Her hands were cold, as usual, it felt nice onto your overworked hands, so you gripped her hand back with as much force as you could… which wasn't a lot and she noticed.
You were hesitant to pick up her offer… Damn her for breaking down everything you believed for years!!! She noticed your hesitation and simply said, “If you don't agree I'm telling Imu-sama to force you to rest, I already told you it's an order from a Holy Knight, don’t make me bring them into us.” Sure, she could restrain you herself to bed as gently as possible, but she'd rather not go to such lengths and risk more discomfort on your part.
“You’re a meanie…”
“Because I care about you?” She replied and you pouted, sleep quickly overtook your tired body…
The next morning, you woke up with a note next to you reading ‘stay in bed, small meeting and I’ll be back’ in Gunko’s delicate handwriting, and a hot chocolate on top of the note, holding it in place… How considerate of her.
You placed your shaky hands around the drink and enjoyed it slowly, before deciding that you’ll continue sleeping until she comes back… Normally you would’ve gone back to your project… But you decided to trust her, she was the knight after all, the thought of her caring enough to force you to rest in bed warmed your heart, and you fell asleep with an easy smile.