A/N: Wow, so this one-shot sort of just flowed out of me yesterday. Please enjoy!
Theme 2- Love
Shun wearily crept up the stairs after a day with his friends. They'd gone to the park, went into the shopping district, attended this weird brawlers' con, and finally stopped to rest at Runo's family café. Being out and about for eight hours straight was tiring and Shun was definitely worn out.
But there were bright spots in his day; every time Alice spoke or smiled or laughed. She was so easy to be with and she understood when he wanted to talk or when silence was best. She got him and that's what mattered to Shun. He didn't have to try to be accommodating to her nature or pretend to be something he wasn't. She enjoyed being around him and he enjoyed her company as well. Immensely, at that.
Not to mention she was beautiful. Her long, orange-hued hair tumbled down her back in waves and she exhibited gracefulness in her speech, dress, and manners. She was everything he'd never even thought about wanting, but there she was in his head, filling his thoughts. He thought back to a particular moment that day, at the brawlers' con. The venue was packed and people pushed and shoved just enough to aggravate any docile creature. Even Alice's frustration was beginning to shine through.
"Why is- ow! There's so many- please watch where you're going!" Shun was observing her all the while, making sure she wasn't swept up in the mass of people, and watched her smile turn into a frown.
"Shun?" And there she was, intimately leaning against him and looking up into his golden eyes with her burgundy ones. She hadn't said anything before he grabbed her by the hand and started winding his way towards the exit. He moved swiftly, but Alice kept up well. Once they reached the exit, both were a bit hot and Alice's ponytail had loosened. She smiled ruefully and shook her mass of locks until they were completely free.
"Thank you, Shun."
"No problem." And although he was cool and collected as always, he felt his face heat up and his heart drum uncomfortably in his ears.
"Would you like some ice cream?" she asked this next, her tone polite and inquisitive.
"Sure." Her next action surprised him most; she grabbed hold of his hand and guided him down the street to the nearest parlor. They soon fell into a matching stride, two of hers equaling one of his. He remembered all of this with perfect clarity and felt his face heat up again, his pulse stand out erratically, and his breathing become slightly labored. The feeling was consistent and although Shun could identify it, he shoved it out of his mind each and every time.
Now, he considered whether or not it was really true. Was he starting to fall in love with Alice? He loved her as a friend; he wanted to protect her, care for her, be there for her… But did that desire stretch past friendship? This was something that he needed to ponder on, but he felt that he already knew the answer.