Super sappy, a little romantic, and all kinds of indulgent.

Favorite

Lamps glowed to life and campfires burned into existence as all around the Shepherds settled down to enjoy a few quiet hours before the night became too dark and too cold to put off sleep any longer. A few joined forces in the mess tent to gamble away what little they had left of their stipends while others gathered around the various fires to swap stories of home. Some stalked off to take up their posts as nightwatchmen as those in charge of last minute duties hurried to finish them so that, they too, could catch a couple hours reprieve. And the rest returned to their tents to relax the evening away in the silent comfort of their own little worlds.

Now that the day was over and she was free to spend the night however she wished, Robin led an overly amused Henry by the hand to her own tent. It had been weeks of round-the-clock planning and fighting for the Ylissean elite force ever since they had made landfall in Valm and tonight was the first night in a long time that she was able to have him all to herself. She certainly had no intention of squandering their precious little time together by taking part in a ridiculous gambling tournament.

"Vaike will surely be sorry once the wine wears off and he realizes that he basically handed Gregor his money," she thought smugly as a smirk crept across her face. "Because he sucks at gambling.".

Finally coming to a halt outside her tent flap, she twirled on the spot and smiled sweetly at her soon-to-be husband. He returned the sentiment as she softly squeezed his hand before letting it go all together so that she could bunch the edges of his cloak in her own hands as she tugged him quickly into her canvas home. She chuckled at his apparent shyness while he mumbled inaudibly to himself. This wasn't the first time he had visited her in her tent but it definitely was the first time he had been allowed inside during the night. The faint pink that colored his cheeks told her he had an idea of where tonights events might possibly lead and while she was in no state of mind to rush their relationship, the nervousness he displayed now was so rare and so out of character that she just couldn't resist the urge to toy with him a little bit longer. Oh, she could be so sadistic when she wanted to be.

"What's the matter? There's no need to be so shy." Robin purred quietly. Carefully stepping deeper into the tent, she made sure to put a slight sway in her hips as she walked away from him. She could feel his gaze on her backside and had to suppress the laughter that dared to bubble in her throat. She felt so silly acting like this but his reactions were worth it.

Reaching her untidied desk, she turned back to face him as she casually leaned against its oaken edge. The smile on her face was small but genuine and holding her arms out to him, beckoned him to come to her. She was absolutely pleased when he obeyed and in one fluid motion, she placed the palms of her hands on his chest and moved her body as close as her arms would allow. One thing that she loved about him was his need for closeness. He never denied her a hug, a sweet kiss, or a hand held because they were things he wanted as well. Even before he proposed, even before they revealed their mutual attraction, he just had to be close to her. He would help her with her chores and duties(while inadvertently shirking his own), insisting on hanging around even when said chores and duties were complete, standing as close to her as he could get away with, and generally just being there with her. At first she thought he was just clingy and would often ask why he hung around but after hearing what he had to say about himself, she realized that he simply needed daily interactions and physical contact. And the fact that he would come to her for such things, well, she never felt more wanted and more needed by anyone than when he was around.

Smiling at the thought, Robin hummed to herself while watching her carefully placed hands. She smoothed her palms just so over his chest, liking the feel of the worn fabric of his sweater but wishing she could remove it all that same. The feel of his clothes, though on and being warmed by his body, just wasn't the same as bare contact and, almost like reading her mind, he brought his own hands up to stroke the backsides of her arms, caressing gently while sending shivers down her spine. The sensation got her thinking.

"Henry? What exactly do you like about me?" the flirtatious edge in her voice was unintentional this time but she found herself quite surprised by how easy it came to her.

He opened his mouth, ready to voice whatever came to mind, but seemed to backtrack for a moment before settling on "Everything."

The glow in his face and the way he smiled at her had her believing he truly meant that, but 'everything' was so vague and she wasn't going to let him off so easily. Pressing her whole body ever closer, she urged him to delve into specifics. Even he couldn't be immune to the charms of a lady.

"That's not a real answer, love. I want detail." she remarked, massaging her hands over his sweater and up onto the decorative collar of his cloak.

"Ah, er, well..."

With wide eyes, she awaited his answer expectantly. "Come on," she giggled lightly, "there has to be something in particular that you like about me."

He laughed softly at her insistence. "You mean besides how smart you are? Or how nice you are to me?"

Robin roared with laughter at that. "Come now, you don't have to convince me that my personality is golden." Wiping a figurative tear from her eye, she calmed her mirth before fixing her attention back on the feel of his hands that were now holding on to her hips. "I mean, what do you like about me physically?" asking her question slowly, she knew just how superficial it sounded bur it wasn't every day that she received compliments on her figure. Not that she was fishing for compliments or anything like that.

"Mmm," he hummed quietly.

Even with his eyes closed she could sense his gaze falling to just below her chin. Really? That's the part of her he liked? Men...

"Well, I do really like your neck." he finally said, causing her to double take and blink four times before the gravity of his words sunk in.

"My neck? Why my neck?" her hands unconsciously lifted up to cup her slender neck. There was really nothing special about it.

"Because! It's always so warm! And soft! And it smells nice, kinda like wild flowers or soap." he stated matter-of-factly. He even raised a pointed finger for emphasis.

Now she was the one blushing.

"And this might sound a little creepy but I LOVE hearing and feeling your pulse. It's comforting in a totally weird way, ahaha." he lifted his own hand and placed it alongside her neck, rubbing his thumb right over where the skin pulsed with life. In a totally weird way, she understood.

"But also," he continued, but with less hilarity. "I feel safe there. Like when I hug you, or when we're napping, just hiding my face in your neck...I don't know, I just feel safe. Like the world can't see me and nothing else matters. Isn't that strange? Ahaha."

His revelation was far too endearing and she could feel real tears pricking the corners of her eyes. She hadn't been prepared for an answer like that but she was still glad for it.

"Henry, that's really sweet..." she smiled, wiping away a very real tear.

He threw his hands up in a 'what are you gonna do?' manner. "Oh, I don't know about that. I'm just being honest. Actually, there're a lot of things I like about you. When I said 'everything', I meant that. But your neck is my favorite, hehe."

Shaking her head free of anymore unshed tears, she lunged for him. Clasping her arms around his head and locking his lips in her own, she kissed him like she never had. Rough, passionate, with brief moments of innocence, he kissed her back, though it took him a little longer to get on even ground. But once he did, he was more aggressive in the act than she. And that was the second thing she loved about him.

…

Sorry if my updates take too long, I become distracted quite easily. :\