driftfleet | (no subject)

[one day he'll learn to stay on top instead of just barely surviving an encounter. one day, surely.]

Ah.... I'm bad with names. Can I think about it for a while?

Nope. You're stuck here until you come up with a good one.

[Because he's in such a horrible situation right now. Yep.]

Haaaah? You want me to pick a name on the spot!?

[BUT HE WORKS SO POORLY UNDER PRESSURE]

I do! Doesn't me having faith in you count for anything?

[Yep, she's using the almost sad voice they both know is so fake but it still works.]

It... does...

[Even if he thinks it's kind of misguided, he can't exactly tell her that.

He sits quietly for a long moment, mulling over his options as the fish float around them, exploring the room.]

Uh... well, if we're naming them after people... how's about... Kizmel...?

[Asuna is so taken aback by the name, she moves forward just so she can turn around and stare at him incredulously.]

W-wha-- No! How is that fitting? [Why are you naming your shared fish after another woman!!!!]

[ABORT ABORT THIS IS WHY HE SAID HE WAS BAD AT THIS]

...I-it's not! You're right, it's terrible, I just thought- I mean- you know what, let me rethink it, please...

[Okay, not Kizmel. Something better than that, then...]

[She sighs heavily, partly irritated at herself for insisting on this even though she knows it was dumb, but partly irritated with him for his (bad) first try. Really, their color schemes are so far off, it's almost laughable.

Asuna doesn't lean back against him again. Instead, she scoots forward (away) and shifts so she's sitting and facing him.]

Oh, come on. Try to think about something important that can relate to it somehow. Does it remind you of anything? Even a food...?

[She's really trying here.]

Would food really be better...?

[Somehow he doubts that (although now that he's thinking about it, the fish is totally the same colour as that grated sweet potato chiffon he ate one time at Sugu's insistence) so he refrains from making a dish-related suggestion. He gives it another round of serious thinking, his gaze switching between the fish and Asuna. If she named the other one for him... for very serious and sentimental reasons... uhhh... maybe- no, no...

While he's thinking, the fish turns just the right way so the upper light reflects off its scales and right into his eyes, and he squints. Jeez, it really has a metallic sheen to i-

....oh. Oh.]

How about... Fleuret?

Mn, maybe not... [She doesn't sound entirely convinced about that idea either, despite it being her suggestion. That doesn't matter!

For a little, she watches him watch her and the fish, tilting her head in curiosity at the changes in his facial expression. She wants to ask, but knowing it's because of her insistence he's thinking so hard, she remains quiet. Only when he makes the suggestion out of seemingly nowhere does she react, not entirely sure she heard him right.]

Huh?

[Her response is not a "oh god that's horrible" so he takes a deep breath and rolls with it.]

Fleuret. Like- like the Wind Fleuret. That sword meant a lot to you, it was your partner for a long time back in SAO, and it's one of the things that helped us connect... and, um. Well, Asuna is Kazuto's partner. So it's pretty, and... kind of symbolic...?

[is he doing okay]

[Her immediate response is to lean forward and press her lips to his once more, moving towards him to retake her previous seat basically in his lap. Yep, he's doing perfectly okay.]

It's perfect. [Words happen when they break apart and she's nestled against him. Again. It's comfy, what can she say?] I knew you could do it if you tried.

Mm, now I wonder if the name I chose is lacking any major thought...

Are you serious? Yours was so...

[He gestures vaguely, as if waggling fingers can convey the same kind of sentiment as her words of glowing praise that he definitely does not deserve.]

But, I mean. It's your fish, name it whatever you want.

Hey, they're ours, you know. You can't expect to do all this then leave only me to care for them. [Of course, her reasoning is a humorous one. Instead, they now have something to share, just the two of them, and that implication is very clear with him being forced to name one.]

Kazu and Fleuret they'll be. [Asuna angles her head to look at his face.] How did you come up with the idea for this, by the way?

[He leans in, resting his chin on her shoulder, his brows furrowing thoughtfully.]

How...? Well, I guess I had it on the brain... Nightingale and I were talking about the whole Black Swordsman stuff when we arrived, and then we got our swords from those ruins... so when I walked by the black one and it had our colours, I couldn't stop thinking about it. And they were pretty- the rooms start out so empty and depressing when you first get here. I thought you might feel a bit more at home.

[A happy hum can be heard, and she rests her head against his, a contented smile on her face.]

You're right, the rooms could always use something else. This was very sweet, thank you.

[She kisses his cheek before sighing happily and completely relaxing against him.]

Mm, but as long as you're with me somewhere, I can always feel at home.

...Yeah... no argument, there.

[His arm tightens a little, hugging her closer to himself.]

I tried not to think about it too much, but... you being here changes everything.

Really? [There's a shift of her head in curiosity, but she doesn't move to look at him. Where she currently rests is too comfortable to leave, so she settles for just listening to his voice.]

I hope you mean that in a good way.

[Of course she's teasing him.]

[He blinks in that brilliantly clueless way of his.]

I can't even think of a bad way.

[Bad??? Asuna being here??? Bad????? does not compute]

[A giggle escapes her as she nuzzles him in response to his completely honest statement.]

Okay, okay. What did you mean, then? Because I'm not sure how it really changed.

Ahhh... do I really have to explain it...?

[He knows he does - it's rhetorical - but in truth he's not really sure how to phrase it. He exhles through his nose quietly, thinking it over.]

Well... I mean, it was sort of like being in SAO, right? Being isolated, away from home and everyone I knew... and sure, I made friends here and there, but it still felt different, and I was on my own. It wasn't what I'd call a great experience. But then we teamed up, and... when we got that cottage for ourselves, made it a real home...

[He shifts his hand, scratching his cheek awkwardly as if it could erase his blush.]

That's... what I mean.

[Without moving too much, Asuna reaches over to place her hand on his cheek so she can guide his face to meet hers, which is now turned toward him. There's warmth in her eyes and smile in that way she's always so tender when he tries to explain the feelings they both share. Her voice is soft, meant only for the two of them, gentle as she tells him once again how she feels.]

Kirito-kun, no matter where we go, as long as I'm with you, I am home. I love our cabin, and I loved our time there, all of it. We made it ours, and it will always be special. But we can do that again, wherever we are. The main reason it's so wonderful is because I'm there with you. [And Yui, but details.]

I know exactly what you mean now, so don't worry. [She brings them together, stopping just short of their faces meeting, a smile playing at her lips.] I love you.

[Oof... w-well, at least that means he gave a good answer. He blinks owlishly at her, eyes wide, as a blush crawls across his cheeks.]

Ah... I'm glad. That- that you get me, I mean. Erm- that is- and the other thing too-

[Mouth, stop doing that. He pauses awkwardly, inhaling, exhaling, and tries again.]

...That is, I love you, too.

[There we go.]

[Congratulations, he manages to make her giggle right before she plants a quick kiss on his nose.]

I know. [Asuna's smile turns a little more comfortable, and she settles against him with a happy hum.]

Still, I really do enjoy hearing you say that. I feel so happy.

[He feels oddly proud for not completely failing at that one. He smiles and nuzzles his chin against her hair, cozy and content with her pressed against him.]

If you're happy, then I'm happy.