GAMBIT - Vinsmoke Ichiji x Reader

6 - Dressed To Impress

"OH MY GOD, WHY DO THEY ALL STINK?!"

Lighting my third stick of insence, I waved my hands through the stream of smoke, trying to rid my bedroom of the harsh pheromones. They had all stayed in the palace that night, and even though they were on the other side of the vast building I could still smell them.

Ichiji's scent, by far, was the strongest, and the main one I was trying to cover up. It was screwing with my head. How could someone so vile give off such an alluring aroma?

Trying to ignore those feelings, I turned back to my bed, which was covered in a mess of clothes. I had managed to convince both my mother and Saria that I could dress myself for the festival, which meant I wouldn't end up looking like a froufrou princess doll.

They would be colossally pissed about my decision to wear pants, but it was what I was most comfortable in, and it also made it a lot easier to run away if any of the Vinsmoke bastards tried to mess with me in any way. Not that I could outrun them, even if I tried.

"Hold still. I wanna take a mental snapshot."

My first instinct upon hearing a voice coming from my window was to grab the nearest weapon, an insence stick, and whip it around ready to throw. Corbin simply smirked as he continued climbing over the sill, finding my reaction likely endearing.

"You little..! Ugh, I thought you were one of the damn Princes." I groaned, setting the smoky stick back down and running a hand down my face. Anybody else catching my in my underwear, alone in my room, would have been an issue, but if it was him, well, that was fine.

"They'd better not come sneaking in here like that. I'd kill 'em." Scrunching his nose, Corbin sat upon the end of my bed, partially on top of some of my clothing options.
"As much as I hate to admit it, I don't think they're that stupid. At least I hope they're not."

I can't tell him about what's going on with Ichiji...Not yet.

"I still get a dance at the festival, right? Or do you think your future husband would whoop my ass?" He could joke all he wanted about it, but I knew his ass would get more than just a whooping. Lucky for him, Ichiji didn't want me just as much as I didn't want him.

"Yeah yeah, sure. What should I wear? I need to look princessy, but not too princessy. Get what I mean?" If anybody would understand what I was getting at, it was him. I had to simultaneously impress my parents as well as feel comfortable. It was a hard ask.

"Well, if you wanna avoid Saria dragging you back up here and sticking you in the puffiest skirt imaginable, then maybe that traditional tunic dress thing your grandma made you? It's short enough to pass as a top with some leggings or something, isn't it? Plus it's, well, traditional."

Wow. He actually solved my problem.

Kind of nudging him aside to reach the chaotic pile, I rummaged around and pulled out the exact dress he suggested. It was certainly a great compromise, and paired with fitted pants and boots I'd look the part, plus I could still move freely.

"Corbz, I could kiss you." I smiled, squeaking out as he pulled me to the side into his lap.
"Do it, coward." He didn't have to dare me twice. I would never admit it, especially not to him, but feeling his lips take over mine helped dull the screeching voice in my head that was telling me to follow Ichiji's sent.

Corbin was earthy, and smelled like home to me. Everything about him was comforting, whether it was a hardcore make-out session like what we were doing, or just sitting and talking for hours.

Marrying him would be the solution to most of my problems. My stuck up, cruel, red-headed problems, at the very least, but my parents would never approve. They had no clue we had formed a physical relationship, but if they did they would have surely put a stop to it.