Pink Rose [1]

"You Perfect, Adorable Human"

Quest Objective: Conduct a super-secret sleepover.

I knocked on the glass.

I ducked as the windowframe opened wide. Anduin sighed as he looked down at me, "Eona, I thought we both agreed this was mildly reckless—"

"And a great upper arm exercise," I added. I swung as I gripped the windowpane. There was a slight drizzle tonight. I felt the haze gathering in my hair, breathing life into the curls I so desperately tried to straighten.

Sneaking into Andy's room on the second floor isn't so bad—I haven't gone splat on the ground yet!

"Hurry, it's starting to rain," Andy disappeared from view as he stepped out of the way.

I pulled myself up and slipped inside. I made sure to set my feet on the ground gently—the floorboards creaked sometimes.

Anduin's room was small and cozy. It was furnished with many pandaren cushions. Only one lantern near the bed was lit, the burning flame giving off the scent of jasmine.

I had snuck into Andy's room a few times before. No one could know about us, including the guards. The sneaking around was exciting, but it limited my time with him. It was better than the alternative. I didn't want to think about if Garrosh or the guards found out...

The rain was starting to pound on the roof. I shut the window behind me and then turned to Andy. As usual, he wore light cloth robes. His hair was slightly tousled from sleeping—I liked it that way—and his headband was missing. He was holding a dry towel, "I had a feeling you might come anyway."

I smiled softly, "Thanks."

"Here, let me," He wrapped the light blue drape around my shoulders and wiped away the droplets on my cheeks. His hand paused near my mouth.

I leaned in and pressed my lips against his.

The warmth of his mouth tingled against mine. The smack of our lips filled the room. It was a thrilling, exhilarating sound that sent shockwaves through me. Kissing Anduin was always like that, like one of those goblin machines that sensed earthquakes; ripples of energy and shivers of delight.

I had to pull away before things went further. The scent of him lingered; an astounding aura made of so many layers. I detected Pandaren oils, church incense, dried ink and the faintest hint of pine from Elwynn Forest.

Kissing had been a little odd at first (the last person I'd kissed had tusks, and Andy had no experience at all whatsoever) but Anduin caught on. There was always restraint, given his painful state.

"Thank you," Andy murmured.

"You don't have to thank me every time we kiss," I chided him, still feeling the touch of his lips as I spoke. I slid off my boots to prevent the spread of dirt across his room.

"Sorry, it just feels...customary."

"In what way?" I glanced up at him, smiling.

Andy's face was aglow with scarlet. "It just does."

I had a theory about the true answer. Andy was so reserved—could it be that a kiss was so outlandish to him in his life of formality? I admired his politeness, but sometimes it's overwhelming amount scared me. Did Varian ever notice it in his son?

We took up our usual positions, sitting on his bed, facing one another. Our sleepovers usually entailed the following: endless talks, endless kissing, or Andy showing his true colors as he beat my ass at Hearthstone. I had some news to tell him, so we were probably headed towards the talking route.