VERSAILLES // Ranboo X Reader

29

You sat in the hallway for a while, just watching the sunlight through the stained glass windows paint colored spots on the stone floors. You didn't say anything to the twins and they didn't say anything to you, but it was better that way. You were still keyed up from talking to the king, and you didn't want to say anything that you would regret later. 

When the doors to the throne room opened again, the sun was just beginning to dip down to the horizon. 

You looked up, heart leaping into your throat as you got to your feet. "Well?"

Ranboo stepped out into the hallway, waiting for the twins to step into the throne room and for the tall doors to close behind them. You were truly alone in the hallway now. 

Ranboo fiddled with the hem of his shirt. "He pardoned me."

The nerves you had been feeling dissipated in an instant, and you smiled, reaching out and grabbing him by the shoulders, pulling him in for a hug. Ranboo melted into the contact, burying his face in your shoulder like he had done so many times before. 

"That's great." You said, pulling back slightly. "That's wonderful Ranboo."

"Yeah." He said. There was still a tinge of nervousness in his voice though, and you furrowed your brow, searching his face. 

"What's wrong?" You asked. "Is there some kind of condition, or..?"

"No, I just..." Ranboo paused. "He told me you left the guard."

"Oh." You hadn't expected the king to say anything about that, but then again - it wasn't like you were particularly upset about it. It wasn't some secret. "You're upset that I left the guard?"

"Isn't that your job?" Ranboo asked. 

You smiled. "It's not like I have no other skills. And if worse comes to worse, I can take up mercenary work."

He still didn't look completely at ease though, so you just waited - patiently watching him work his way up to whatever he was going to say. His eyes kept flicking back and forth from your face to the windows behind you, and the sun streaming through the glass painted his face in soft shades of pink. 

He looked lovely in the lighting like this.

"Are you still going to go back to Templeswift?" He asked. 

"That's the plan." You said. It would be good to get back to the village - you could use the familiar comforts after all this-

"Do you think I could come with you?" Ranboo asked, hesitance plain in his voice. 

You melted at that - he looked so unsure when he said it, and he was fiddling with the hem of his shirt again. You smiled, a rush of affection for him surging through you. You reached out to brush a hand along the side of his face, tucking a stray curl behind his ear. 

"Of course." You said. "We'll get you Oxeye daises to put in the windows."

Ranboo smiled, looking relieved. "Really?"

"Yeah, really." You said. "I mean, we talked about it, didn't we? And I know you don't really have anywhere else to go-"

"Can I kiss you?"

You blinked, taken aback by his sudden question. "What?"

You hadn't really thought about it before, but you found yourself inclined to say yes. A fondness for Ranboo had been growing in you since the first time he had rested his head on your shoulder, and you could only find more and more things to like about him. And all the nights in the tent, the days spent together on the horse - you had literally been chained to him. 

It sort of felt like the chain had never really disappeared. You couldn't imagine a future without him. 

The white side of Ranboo's face flushed pink and he let out a nervous laugh. "Sorry, I just- you're amazing, and you were saying yes and I thought-"

You cut him off by pressing your lips to his, wrapping your arms around his shoulders to pull him down to your level. It took him a moment to start kissing back, but when he did, his lips were pliant and soft against yours, and his hands hovered around the small of your back - like he was nervous to touch, even though he had in times past. 

You pulled away to find his eyes wide and mouth slack. "You kissed me."

"I did." You said. "And I think I'd like to do it again."

You couldn't help but smile at the dumb look that came across Ranboo's face. He grinned, surging forward to press his lips against yours again, more insistent this time now that he was expecting it. You responded eagerly - there was part of you that had been waiting for this, no doubt, even if you hadn't really realized it until he asked. 

He didn't bother pulling away too far this time, opting to bury his face into your shoulder again. You could feel his smile against your collarbone. 

You wound a hand into his hair, idly stroking. "You seem happy."

"How could I not be?" Ranboo said. "You kissed me, and you said I could come with you back to your village. I'm going to get to see the daisies."

Your free hand wound it's way around his middle, and you closed your eyes, letting the dying sun just rest on your skin. For the first time since the End, you felt settled and whole - at peace. You were going back home, and you had left the guard, and Ranboo was here, in your arms. 

"We'll have to get you a bed." You said absently, still stroking his hair. 

Ranboo sighed, picking his head up somewhat to look you in the eye. "Do we have to?" He asked, a teasing smile playing on his lips. 

You couldn't help but laugh, roughly ruffling his hair. "You're not allowed to make jokes like that."

Ranboo just smiled, stopping you from messing up his hair by capturing your hand with one of his and pulling you closer again for another kiss, sealing your lips against his.