The Troubles from Monsters and Men (The Secret of Moonacre Fanfiction)

Of Cryptic Messages and a Cumbersome Search

Outside their room, the morning rush stirred Robin from his sleep, he could just about make out the conversations between passersby heading off to work and wished they would keep it down. Through bleary eyes, barely able to stay open with a squint, he readjusted himself, stopping short by an external weight that was numbing the left side of his body. Maria was snuggled tight against him and pinning him down.
Her arm was draped over his chest, a leg thrown over his, and her red and wavy hair fanned out over her pillow. She shivered, huddling closer to him. Robin groggily smiled and pulled the covers over them, figuring his numb arm could last through another few hours of sleep.

It was a couple of hours later that the sounds of the bustling port town disturbed Robin once more. Robin looked at the clock, it was well past noon. He groaned, well there went half their day.
He dragged his numbed arm from underneath Maria's body, causing her to pout.
"Princess, wake up," he gently shook her. "It's late."

Maria scrunched her eyes that refused to open and let out a whine. To Maria, his feint voice was nothing but an annoying whisper trying to pull her from her delightful dream. For right now, she was snuggled close to Robin watching the ocean shore. Her head rested on his chest and she was soothed by the rise and fall of his breathing that seemed to match the roll of the waves. Her hand left his clasped hands and moved to his chest. She sighed with contentment. Her fingers played with the laces of his black tunic before moving on to his feathers. They felt very strange, not quite real. She could see them in her hand, but she couldn't feel the feathers. A nagging thought at the back of her head told her he didn't have his feathers. Her hand slid to this chest, perplexed by how real and solid he felt. Maria stilled, since when was she so forwards with him? Robin however didn't seem to notice as he was still watching the ocean. In fact, she wasn't even sure he was paying attention to her. Did he know she was there?

The annoying voice called out once more, now louder. She finally recognized it, it was Robin's, but he was right here next to her and not making a sound. Feeling his very real chest again as her senses came too, she remembered last night and her eyes snapped wide open.

Much like in her dream, Robin was right next to her, except she was now pressed tight against him, holding his torso hostage. For the sake of modesty, and the lingering cold nights unyielding to spring, Robin had slept in a long nightshirt and lose-fitting trousers, while Maria was in her thicker cotton linen nightgown and some knee-length drawers and wool socks. Though they were well-covered, Maria couldn't help but feel shy at being in such an intimate setting with Robin.

He was still watching her, not at all trying to add distance between them. Though his eyes were drowsy, they twinkled with a glint of mischief and laughter.

Maria pulled away suddenly, causing Robin to laugh. "Why the rush? Clearly you were content latched on to me."

"I-I-I was simply cold a-and well you're practically a furnace! I-I was just trying to stay warm," Maria stammered as she started fiddling with her hair.

Robin leaned closer. He took a strand of her hair and began twirling it around his fingers.
"What about last night?" His husky voice asked.

"What...What about last night?" Maria murmured, trying to ignore the growing heat on her cheeks as he continued to play with her hair.

"And here I thought I was the one with the foggy memories," Robin tutted with a playful smile. "Well Princess, let me remind you that just last night you couldn't keep your hands off me."

"I'll have you know I wasn't the only one enjoying myself!" Maria defended herself with an angry blush.

"...No," Robin said with a whisper. His fingers brushed her hair over her shoulder and exposed her neck. He leaned closer studying the two little blooming love bites.
"...You were definitely not the only one enjoying yourself..." His low voice breathed onto her exposed neck and sent shivers down her spine. Maria's heart quickened, remembering the feel of his lips across her neck.