Vessel X OC/reader

Chapter 23

  I plonk myself on the grass, and stretch out my arms. Vessel gently places a bag down, and sits beside me, looking up at the sun.

I turn to look at him, and smile faintly. He had no mask, no makeup. Just his beautiful bare face and hair on show. He notices me looking and cocks an eyebrow, but says nothing.

He reaches into the bag and hands me a wrapped sandwich, and grabs himself one.

"Good day?" He asks.

"Yeah. Feel like I'd been cooped up indoors since I moved in with you." I reply, munching on my sandwich.

"That's right; I don't think we left the house. Too much had happened."

I lean over and rest my head on his shoulder while I chew. He stiffens up at first, but wraps his arm around me after a few awkward seconds.

I hear him swallow his food, and he leans down to gently kiss my head.
"It'll get dark soon. I want to head home once we've eaten. I don't really want you out in the dark at the minute."

"But it's not like I'm alone."

"Mm, I know. But I can't protect you from a gaggle of angry assassins."

I cackle at his choice of words.
"Fine, fine."

Once we finish our food, we make the hour long walk back. It wasn't exactly as far out and adventurous as I'd hoped, but I gotta ease Vessel into it. Soon we'll travel the world, that I'm sure of.

I jump into the shower, and shut my eyes. I sigh heavily, and to my surprise, he joins me, standing behind me and gripping my face. He tilts my head back and kisses my forehead, and washes my hair before he does his own.

"We don't do this enough."

"Perv." I tease, and he pulls me closer, biting on my ear. I squeal and wriggle free, hopping out the shower soon after and drying off.

Once I'm dry, I throw a night dress on, and sit on the side of the bed, deep in thought.

"Are you happy?" He asks me, sitting on the opposite side of the bed, appearing thoughtful himself.

I want to question him, and understand why he's asking me. But as I turn to look at him, there doesn't seem to be much room for discussion.

"There's no simple answer. I'm happy with you. Some things, well, I wish they were different."

He nods once.
"Ok."

"Don't go all grumpy on me. We had a good day, right?" I ask him, and he smiles at me faintly.

"We did."

"So what's on your mind?"

"The fact that you're still here. No amount of picnics change that you're in danger here. Aren't you scared?"

"I mean.. a little. But I have you. You're the scariest person there is."

He chuckles under his breath, and his stance seems to become less tense. He lies down beside me, and I rest my head on his chest.

"You're a beautiful little thing. It's an honour, protecting you. I just wish I felt like I could do better."

"Ah, don't beat yourself up. I drank a random bottle of wine with poison in it. You can't protect me from stupidity."

He burries his face in my hair, but says nothing.

"Besides," I continue. "I'm pretty scary, myself. I can look after myself."

"It's true." He replies, quietly. "I thank our god each day that I am no longer on your bad side. You and that brother of yours. You're an army unto yourselves."