"Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop." - H. L. Mencken
Of all the reactions Fakir had been expecting, this wasn't even on the list. At least he thought to tell her outside so that she would have plenty of room for...well, this.
Once the words left his lips, Ahiru seemed to be frozen to the spot for the moment. Then a blush started creeping up her face until she was a sort of neon red. And then, as if a fuse had finally reached its end, she just took off running in wide circles, giddy giggling pouring from her the entire time.
Is this normal? He's not sure. It's not like he's ever told anyone this sort of thing before.
"Ahiru?"
The girl finally stops again, covering her mouth as her laughter begins to taper off.
"Do you- do you really mean that, Fakir?" she asks.
Now it's his turn to blush. This isn't some kind of joke to her, is it? Ahiru isn't teasing him, is she?
"Yes," he answers, his throat kind of dry now. "I really love you."
This sets her off to running in circles again.
"Hey!" Fakir shouts this time, taking hold of the braid flying behind her. "What- why is this funny?"
Ahiru jerks back and turns to face him, smiling wide and her cheeks flushed.
"It's not. It's just- I-" she tries to explain before dissolving into laughter again.
But instead of running circles again, she throws her arms around Fakir's neck and nuzzles into his chest. He's so taken aback that he drops Ahiru's braid and his hand goes to the back of her head.
"I do, too," she sheepishly admits. "Love you, I mean. I love you, too. And I didn't expect you to say that to me and I just- just had to do something. I couldn't stay still!"
Fakir can't find the presence to call Ahiru a moron in the wake of her reciprocation. Suddenly he understands why she was running circles and isn't certain how he's managing to stand in one spot himself. He quells this urge by tilting her head up and pressing a firm kiss to her lips.
But during the brief moments they break apart for air, he finds himself laughing with her.
