Monday Night at Nell's

[mylandmyrules]

This would be the first time people gathered here in the New Year, so Nell wanted to make it a little special for everyone. She had carefully handpainted and baked mugs for each person so they'd each have their own special one for when they were here.

Comments

[mylandmyrules]

Nell stopped what she was doing and turned to give him her full attention. She just looked at him silently for a moment with very little expression.

Then she said, "Maybe you should."

Why not? She was happier when she slept in his arms. He was good company. He didn't need entertaining and was perfectly happy to read a book companionably by the fire. The cats loved him - almost as much as she did. Why not?

Why not do what made her happy?

"Maybe you should."

[sword_chocobro]

At first, with that reaction, Gladio was instantly worried that maybe, even as a joke, the suggestion had crossed a line, and he was feeling a little torn, between a frustration for having gotten it wrong and a firm belief in that he'd rather be able to be open and honest with Nell about anything and everything, especially when it came to something that, now that he'd said it, now that it was out there in the open air, really did seem...well, logical. It would make sense and be kind of nice, actually, but he also knew he had no right to just impose on her space like that, especially when he knew how important having that space for herself was to Nell...

So he took that moment of blank consideration with a sort of ready patience, preparing himself for whatever can of worms he may have just inadvertently opened, and then blinked when she finally did speak. And by the time she said it again to confirm he'd heard it correctly, he just grinned back.

"Maybe," he echoed, "I should."

And maybe he should also just take a moment to set those kittens back down on the floor so that he could wrap it around Nell instead and give her that long-overdue kiss.

They could work out the details and if they were really serious about it later. Right now, he just needed this.

[mylandmyrules]

And Nell proved her climbing skills were dead on by wrapping her legs around his waist and clinging to him as they kissed.

"Maybe we should," Nell said when they came up for air briefly - Liliana and Ignis be hanged. Then she kissed him again.