Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Roland (LeanderxRoland)

Chapter 4: A Perfect Predicament

(I know I never update, but someone left a really nice comment and I got inspired during a lonely quarantine lol. Follow me on Instagram @patrick_kohai if you wanna shoot me some questions or bounce ideas for some other stories/chapters you'd like to see!!)

He turned his head towards me so we were barely inches apart as he spoke the next sentence, "You just don't seem to be fully aware of it yet".

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Roland P.O.V:

We were examining one another, both unsure how to move forward with Leander's keen observation about my hidden feelings. Truthfully, I don't think he or Bracken were right. I've come to terms with the simple fact that this young body provided to me when I came to this land just acted on its own...it was the sickness of the sea when visiting Hydropolis or the lack of oxygen when flying with the pirates! That's much more logical than a man such as myself falling for another man. Especially Leander. He's clearly here as just a courier for Nerea anyway or at least he must still have feelings for her in some capacity...right?

"Roland, express to me what you are thinking...it is certainly not of what to do about our predicament with Mausinger. I can tell you have much more on your mind then that."

As he spoke this, we were close enough I could smell the lasting peppermint on his breath. Leander was simply hoping he was wrong as well, I was sure of it. Neither one of us could possibly want this...it was so wrong.

"I don't know what to tell you, I'm incredibly distracted..." I closed my eyes trying to lead him to believe I was uncomfortable with what was going on. I inched myself away just a tad, convincing myself halfheartedly it was what I wanted.

"I just can't seem to focus when you are around, I'm always trying to understand you or what's on your mind or get you to leave because my emotions overcome my ability to create strategy. Just tell me what spell or potion you've had me under." I chuckled at this last part knowing full and well that everything could be explained away if it was indeed magic. I was currently trying to convince myself that the reason I wanted him closer was just to prove that it was repulsive and not love or something disgusting.

Love? Roland you've surely lost it now.

"Roland, my dear, you know it is no spell or potion. I would never enact such a distasteful strategy just to attract your gaze." He was watching me move away from him. "You've managed to stare at me all on your own."

I rolled my eyes and turned my head back towards him.

"If it's not that, then it must be--"

"You speak far too much." He interrupted me.

Leander, without a moment of hesitation, placed his hand on my face, the other on my hip pulling me back closer (partially on top of him), and kissed me very softly. Just hard enough to notice he definitely meant it, but short enough to have me leaning into his embrace. I didn't even have time to kiss him in return before Leander was already pulling away from it. My eyes must've closed because all I could tell was he still had his hand on my hip. Opening my eyes, I saw a very blushed, blonde, beautiful wizard waiting for me to react in hopeful earnestness that I would reciprocate the feelings he showed.

I was indeed stunned for a moment; I had no intimate contact with anyone since I had come to this land...the closest person I had as a friend was Bracken and even she chose to poke fun at me every chance she got. Leander had taken advantage of me and he sure as hell knew it.

My lips tasted of the peppermint tea he must've been drinking during breakfast and our time spent note taking. My head was sufficiently spinning as I pushed myself into a sitting position and covered my face to conceal any emotion I was potentially displaying for him to assess. It was sure to incriminate me for how absolutely embarrassed I was feeling.

"Why'd you do that?! I told you I was confused and distracted and your bright solution is to kiss me? Without permission? What's wrong with you, Aristides?" My tone was steadily rising as I asked him all of this in an inquisitive manner. Still civilly, just inquisitively annoyed.

His face if at all possible, grew even redder at this line of questioning.

"I simply knew you were not bold enough to carry out the deed yourself! It was practically inscribed on your face! Didn't this help sort it out? You do seem interested in me after all...in the very least, I can tell when a man is giving me signs!"

"I'm not gay...I wasn't giving you signs..." Was I giving him signs? I couldn't tell anymore.

We were back to accusing each other as if we were still at breakfast. My face was burning a bright color that was beginning to resemble the shade of a fire higgledy. I crossed my arms and practically pouted over my current situation. I really hadn't expected him to kiss me!

He smiled hugely and pushed his glasses up again clearly finding my reaction amusing.

"If I may be so bold, it is obvious to me you liked it and you're too scared to admit it, my dear sweet Roland." Leander pushed himself into a sitting position as well, crossing his legs, keeping that bright smile plastered onto his face.

I opened my mouth to speak and it fell open for a moment getting ready to speak, I quickly closed it again and looked into my lap not really knowing what to say. Was he wrong?

I played with the hem of my pants, cheeks burning. "Leander...I'm just very confused. I had a life before coming to Evermore, before meeting Evan, a life where I was treated very differently. I was even in love at one point. That feels so long ago and even longer someone chose to give me attention..." I looked up at him. "You are just...overwhelming to me..."

Leander shifted so that he was sitting directly in front of me, "I'm not going to harm you, my dear. And I do apologize for stealing a kiss from you, that was completely uncalled for..."

He slowly placed his hand on my neck, barely grazing my skin. My breathing became shallow and my skin became raised from the sudden contact. My mouth slightly opened waiting for him to say something else.

He continued, "...but I cannot say it won't happen again..." He moved his head closer to mine again. "...or that I didn't like it."

His eyes noticed my parted mouth and I could tell he and I were thinking the same thing.

I closed my eyes and leaned in and kissed him softly, my body aching to have him again. The temperature must've risen 10 degrees in the space between us, all I could focus on was Leander's slightly chapped lips and how good it felt to be this close to someone again. His hair smelled of lavender and a fruit I couldn't identify, needless to say it was fantastic.

He moved his hand down to my hip and kissed me back much more intently this time, tightening his fingers around the loops on my pants.

I breathed into his mouth very shakily, "L-Leander..." I kissed him again deeper this time slightly licking his bottom lip "I-I liked it too..."

Note: 

(I'm not sure what I want to do from here exactly, send some comments my way, going to try to nail something down for how to proceed over the next few days. Stay healthy!)