IdentityV - Oneshots

♠︎ Cherishable - Naib x Reader

It was just another boring day for the hooded Mercenary. Features sharp and dull as usual but you weren't phased by his tough look. In fact you were intrigued by him. "Hello Naib!" You hopped up beside him, giving a quick side hug as you joined his walk in the empty halls. No reply but that was to be expected. He wasn't the friendliest in the house. "What're you up too?" You asked cheerfully. His cold eyes only took an annoying glance at you before turning back. "Going to get food." He mumbled. "Yummy! Can I come with you?"

You were annoying to him. Always talking and hanging around him. Maybe cause he didn't know why. In his perspective, you were just a brat who didn't get enough attention so you bugged other people for it. Though why him? Why not Emily or Eli? Anyone else but him. Except that wasn't the reason at all. In fact you didn't like asking for attention, you hated it. But Naib was always so isolated and empty that you felt you had to cheer him up. Seeing him so... depressed, it even put you in a bad mood.

"I don't care." He sighed. "We should go to the garden sometime!You smiled as you both made your way to the kitchen and he ignored you. Once you did, you entered close behind him. "What are you gonna eat?" You asked. "Apple." You pouted. He barely ate dinner and you never seen him out of his room. You thought someone like him would be dying for something a little more, yet he wasn't. "Really? That's it? Shouldn't you eat a little more?" You pestered. The least you could do was make sure he ate right. "It's none of your business." His rough hand grabbed an apple out of a bowl on the counter and turned to walk out.

Until you grabbed his hoodie. "Wait- I'll make you something." You didn't let go and as he looked behind himself at you, he gave you shivers. His dark eyes flared at you, though you stood your ground. "No. Let me go." He said, forcefully walking forward as he dragged you little by little. "No, let me make you something. You never eat-" "LET GO!"

Your hands have never been so quick to release something as you jumped and looked up in shock. You've never been yelled at so harshly before, not even by your parents. So as your emotions kicked in you stared to tear up. You didn't mean too, you were just scared and upset at the same time. You made him unhappy.
His eyes widened at you. He didn't think he'd make you tear up like that. Before he could say anything you apologized. "I'm sorry. I was only worried." You started to rub your eyes furiously and ran out of the kitchen.

Naib didn't know what to think. He grew up rough and didn't know how to treat such... frail people. "God damnit!" He kicked the table, moving it a couple inches. He always messed up. At least in his opinion he did. He could win a million dollars and feel like he didn't do enough. Now he made you cry. You were pretty much everyone's kid at this god forsaken manor so he was sure to get a talking to tomorrow. He ate his fruit and threw the core away before walking upstairs to his room. Naib mentally prepared himself for the lectures about making others cry.

Except when he woke up and walked downstairs, not one word came out of anyone's mouth. In fact it was like he didn't even shout at the small girl. He felt relieved and not to mention you weren't annoying him so far today. He had finally got you off his back which he smiled at the thought.
He went back to minding his own business, not talking to anyone or listening to anyone. Not being pestered to come down for dinner by you. It was like heaven on earth that he didn't hear your voice anymore.

Though... as he traversed the halls like he usually did, only then did he realize how lonely he was. You were always next to him, and now you weren't. He picked up on other's cold shoulders toward him. He didn't notice before since you were always so open to him. A though went though his head. He might have... taken you for granted. But he shook his head ignoring the idea. He was fine on his own. Right?

The Mercenary's boots thumped in the empty halls. It used to be accompanied by the heels of your own boots, but no more. It was so dark without your smile next to him. He was in limbo before you came and now that you were gone it came back to him. How he had nothing. Nothing to be happy for, nothing to live for, and nothing to cherish. He's walking around aimlessly. Literally. Where was he even walking? A little bit of him hoped that he would bump into you.

He walked past a few other Survivors, though he expected them to be just like you. They weren't. They didn't even acknowledge him. He was ignored. Treat others as you want to be treated I guess. Except he didn't want to be treated like he was invisible. He missed being something to you, even something little. The way you smiled when you went up to him, the way you worried for his health. The way you cherished him.

He couldn't take it anymore. He sped up his walking through the cold hallways eyes searching and scanning for you. He went everywhere he could think of, the kitchen, the dining room, the infirmary, everywhere. Everywhere but the garden. You had to be there, it was the only place he didn't look. His steps were hesitant. Why? He just ran a marathon looking for you! What was the problem?

Fear. Fear of you ignoring him. Fear of you rejecting to pay any attention to him again. Fear that, you might even be scared of him. He did admit, he yelled at you strongly that night. He was just frustrated. How could you worry for him after the countless glares he gave you? Maybe he should ask...

His hand shakily twisted the doorknob open, green eyes instantly catching a glimpse of (H/c) hair. You were planting flowers it looked like but the squeak of the door made you turn around. His heart dropped at the look of dread on your face. "H-hello." He said. You still stared at him in shock. "Good afternoon." You both stared at each other in nervousness. He didn't know what to talk about but he wanted to talk to you. He didn't care about what.

"Can I come in?" You nodded. "Sure, you don't have to ask." You gave a weary smile which made him feel a bit better. He closed the door behind him and made his way out to you. "What're you up to?" He asked, slowly sitting down next to you. You didn't expect this so you were a stuttering mess. "J-just planting flowers, wh-what about you?" You shakily placed another flower in a hole before packing up around its roots waiting for his answer.

He was waiting too. What was he gonna say? "I just-!" He stopped himself before he could lie. I wanted to look at the flowers. IDIOT! He would never want to do that. "I actually, wanted to see you." He flinched seeing you stop your gardening. "Why's that?" You asked looking up to him. He looked away, avoiding eye contact with you but spoke a genuine answer. "I think.. I think I miss you." He seen you jump out of the corner of his eye as you stayed silent. He knew you'd ask why so might as well continue.

"I just... I don't know." He scratched the back of his head. "I didn't know how much you meant to until you left." You lightly laughed. "It's only been like twelve hours." He blushed a furious red. "Yeah I know-! I just couldn't deal with everything. No one try's to make an effort with me besides you. I liked that, but I guess I never accepted it." You listened intently for his sake now. "I had nothing to hope for. Nothing to cherish. I didn't realize that til you left me alone with my thoughts."

He slowly turned his head to yours. Your cheeks were slightly tinted with a pink. Was this some kind of discount confession? "I see..." your eyes flicked all over the place besides his face before finding your courage to look him straight in the eyes. "Will you cherish me then?" Your voice was soft but you really wanted an answer. His face was starstruck as he couldn't speak. "I- I mean- I could- ... do you want me too?" Embarrassment washed over your features. "D-do you want to?" This was just embarrassing each other at this point as you were both blushing messes. "Y-Yeah." You smiled. "O-okay." You leaned onto his shoulder as to not let him see your face. "Then I guess I can go back to cherishing you as well."

His eyes lit up as he looked down at you. He missed your warmth, so he eagerly wrapped his arms around you in a panic. "Im sorry... for snapping at you like that." You hummed into his chest. "It's okay, I'm sorry too." Had you done something wrong? "For what?" He asked petting your hair. Your small hands pushed off his chest. "For getting your clothes dirty." You said, pulling back your dirty gloves. He seemed annoyed at that. "Why would I care if you've got dirt on you? I love you." He grabbed you which pulled you down into the dirt you were trying so hard to not get on him. "H-hey!"

He only laughed at your struggles which only got more dirt on you both. You ended up giving up as well with a small laugh. "I love you too." You pet his hair as he held onto you tighter, pulling you up. The Mercenary leaned forward to kiss your cheek which left you feeling fuzzy.

"Ill cherish you better now, promise."