The Rose Bouquet

Chapter 2: The Library

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A/N: I love this pairing so so much. Sorry this is so messy ahah

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"Let me guess...you've been thinking about it right?"

She should've turned tail and ran the very moment he said it. She should've pretended she hadn't even heard him. Hell, she should have laughed, shrugged his hands off of her, and rolled around in the grass full of giggles and sarcastic jokes until he gave up to change the subject. She could've even yelled at him, or maybe she should have even gotten up and walked back to the house without looking back once at him, letting the conversation die and never be brought up again. Anything other than this.

"You're curious, aren't you?"

She shouldn't have let his fingers linger on her face or have lent into the touch. It burned like an open flame on her exposed skin, and she was sure she was beginning to sweat. And when he inched closer until she could feel the soft wisps of his breath ghosting across her face, she instinctively closed her eyes and grabbed a fistful of the grass beneath her fingers. "Please..."

The kiss was soft, and over much too quickly. It reminded her of something similar to sticking her nose inside the core of a rose's bloom for a greedy inhale of its scent. When he pulled away, she heard herself actually whimper. For a while they just stared at each other, disbelieving that it had even happened and afraid of who was going to speak first. But his eyes were narrowed, like he wanted to say something else.

Eventually, his fingers twitched against her cheek in another gentle sweep. "See?" He said breathily, "...not so bad, right?"

She shook her head slowly, and his hand fell away from her blushing face. Katarina still didn't trust herself enough to speak. She was distrusting of her own voice-its desires now somewhere in-between asking for him to do it again and screaming out apologies for just having her very first kiss with her sweet little brother Keith. And oh yes, she liked it. Too much that she refused to answer him back. His face melted into a half-smirk, and she learned forward again to capture his lips. He made a small noise of surprise before melting back against her slowly. If only she could hold that memory of him forever. Before things were bound to change again.

The kissing became a constant intrusion of her thoughts since. She had liked it so much that she somehow found herself here, after only a week since the incident. Keith had resigned himself to the family library room today for self-study. He had made a point to announce this at breakfast...twice. And as often as she gets teased for being, well, ditzy, even she couldn't have mistaken the teasing hint in his voice. The open invitation he was suggesting.

The worst part of it was, this wasn't even the first time. That night after they had kissed, Keith was just as cool and nonchalant as ever, while she struggled to even look his way at dinner. The next day when she 'bumped' into him in the library she was immediately fixated on his mouth while the conversation stayed light as she was going on and on about her garden and the healthiness of her tomatoes, anything to get him to keep talking. It didn't take him long to notice this, and when he did he just trailed off on his last sentence to stare at her intently.

"Nee-san...what's that look on your face?" He titled his head to the side, amusedly.

"W-What look?! I-I'm not-uhm…" Her face was growing warm. He was moving in too close-couldn't he see how her hands were trembling at her sides? She let the rest of the sentence die in the back of his throat when, Keith pushed forward and kissed her quickly. No fuss or warning-just a firm hand on the back of her neck to hold her still and warm lips pressed against her own, like he was trying to swallow the words up. Then he released her and let the sounds of his chair scraping across the wooden floor back into place be the only noise between them. Keith licked his lips over slowly. "Hm. It looks like I can't read your thoughts through a kiss after all."

"Wha-?"

His eyes were turned away from her before her brain could catch up to the events that just transpired. He then took the opportunity to wish her well with the garden, and excused her neatly-like a cold rush of wind that made her arms prickle with goosebumps. And since he wouldn't look up at her anymore, she was left at just nodding stiffly and excusing herself as well, her eyes only absently watching her instinctively moving feet guide her back out the way she entered.

Katarina was still blinking down at the carpet as she continued to retreat from the library, the first lines of annoyance pulling a pout at her lips. Why was he suddenly acting like this? She was muttering to herself when the sound of pounding footsteps ahead of her made her flinch in confusion, before a mob of attendees suddenly rounded the corner at the the end of the hall, faces all flushed with worry in stark contrast to the center of it all, her mother. The look of annoyance was so shockingly resembled on her mother, turned up to a dangerous degree by the focused, beady stare ahead she gave that were indicative that she only had one objective ahead of her-the library.

"Mot-"

"Not now Katarina!" Her mother snapped back in response, giving Katarina little time to throw herself out of the way of the attendees, who shot her sympathetic and shy looks as they passed. "Where is that boy?! We've been ready to go for over an hour and the Croft family head is getting anxious! Keith?! Keith!" Her mother's screeching filled the entire hall, and caused Katarina to flinch again and hurry away. But a sudden thought occurred to her as she peered over her shoulder; her mother and the group were heading directly to the library where Keith had ceremoniously pushed her out of just moments before. Which meant Keith probably knew that they would come, eventually. And what if he had given into her silent demands and their mother walked in on them? He was being too clever again, before she even realized that she had been falling behind. Still...it was another example of how kind and protective her little brother truly was. Her Keith was truly...

Katarina shook her head, shelving the thought for later. Now feeling both flabbergasted and excited at her newly-drawn conclusion, she hurriedly moved to the garden with a soft smile on her lips.

Five whole days have passed since then, though. Her eyes fell to the rose bush a few feet away. She reached out a hand to touch, and nicked her finger on an errant thorn. Katrarina whimpered softly with the slice of pain, and immediately began to suckle the wound clean. Foolish of her to avoid wearing her gloves this time.

It had definitely changed something between them. Like some kind of a trigger had gone off inside her from it. They still weren't speaking to each other as much publicly, but his looks had changed. She was jumpier than usual. Anxious. Katarina dismissed Anne now when she went to the gardens. And on the third day it happened when he did it again, her toes reached a bit more forward to kiss back. And on the fourth day, she kissed him first.

It was now day five and the day had yet to even reach noontime when he sought out her presence again. And now-now finally, she was crawling into his lap like a silly, lovestruck teenager who was aching for attention. He let the book in his hands he brought to show her drop to the ground without preamble, preferring to grasp her by the small of her back instead. It was difficult to manage, since the small garden table was made of twisted iron and didn't yield to having two people share a single seat like this, but Katarina was starved to be near him enough to feel his heat. She was glad she wasn't made to have to didn't beg for his touch too.

"Nee-san," he whispered in warning, but his hands moved to wrap around her waist possessively. "...don't you have somewhere to be soon? Why are you still here, of all places?"

So you could find me. He moved his head back when she tried to peck at him again, holding her steady. Her blue eyes looked up to him, embarrassed. He was waiting for a response.

She did have somewhere to be, that was the truth and he already knew that. So she nodded.

He held her gaze with a smirk until she began nibbling on her lower lip in consternation-no, frustration. His hands pinched playfully at the tight bodice of a matcha green day dress, the silk moving under his fingers and over her skin reminding them both of exactly where she had to be. She didn't usually dress up, so it was a dead giveaway that she had another date to attend with Geordo. In an hour, he was planning to arrive. They'd eventually have to part she knew, but for some reason Keith always made a funny face when she started talking about Geordo, so she held back on it for now to not spoil the good mood he seemed to be in.

"W-well...not yet-in another hour. I-I overate so, I thought a walk around the garden would help me..." She whispered, her words sounded less believable by the minute. Keith chuckled lightly with a shake of his head.

"Aaah, is that so? What will I ever do with you, nee-san?" She titled her head over her shoulder to bump foreheads, letting the sound of his voice wash over her. They kissed slowly, and he cupped her face with a tight squeeze until her lips parted.

"An hour then-but not a second more, nee-san."

"Are you sure you're feeling alright today, Katarina?" Geordo was leaning forward in the cabin car again, concern etched into the blue of his eyes. But even a frown made him look lovely-and she always admired that about him.

Katarina shifted a moment backward but remembered to stay polite enough to nod silently. He gave her a relieved smile that was too charming not to return, and the carriage jerked forward. She took a moment to peer outside of the window. Usually Geordo liked to get her central opinion on places she might like to go or things she'd be interested in doing together with him-formal dates. Today was a surprise. It had kept her nerves bundled up all morning-no wonder she sought Keith out so easily. Everything about him was too calm and relaxing.

"Don't even try to guess it, Katarina. " Geordo said from behind her playfully, so she leaned back into her seat to look at him with a pout. "I won't tell you even if you ask me."

She whined in exasperation. "Why? Not even a little hint?"

"Hmm...well, maybe I'll give you just one." He touched his chin in thought. "How about this? ...It has to do with things that smell sweet."

Her eyes lit up immediately. "Sweets?! Are we going to stop at a bakery today?!" Katarina clapped her hands in excitement, but Geordo just shook his head and wagged a finger.

"Not quite." He gave her a wink. "But I'm quite confident it will be pleasing to you-ah, I hope so anyway. I know that lately these outings may be becoming a little routine...so I thought this would be more interesting to do together, no?"

During this exchange, she hadn't noticed that Geordo had managed to fill that distance between them back up, and the warmth of his knee gently brushing against hers was sending weird jolts of electricity through her belly.

"...You're blushing." Geordo's eyes were lowered. She glanced at their touching knees, and the excuses died on her lips and her blushing intensified under his direct gaze. This was the correct thing to do, wasn't it? He was her fiance after all-and the black-hearted prince was asking. So she didn't move her leg away again. It wasn't a kiss-so this should be fine...

"Aah-oh, am I? I-it's just because it's so warm out today isn't it Geordo-san, ahaha..."

And neither of them said another word until the carriage drew to a stop. She didn't let it bother her though; and she didn't move her leg away when Geordo let his knee rest against hers with every bump and rut of the ride.

He took her to a greenhouse. A small one; one would have to first enter through the front of the floral shop that Geordo carefully drew her towards by hand as he closed the carriage door behind her and gave a nod to the driver. She blinked curiously between herself and the shop. It was quaint-picturesque, as Sophia might call it. The entrance curiously on the side, and not the front of the actual cottage-looking building, with the only direction being the small man-made cobblestone walkway that barely allowed the two of them to walk together without their shoulders brushing. Vines and pretty flower bushes seemed to spring out of every crevice of the building, as though the cottage itself was tethered to the land it stood on. The sign read 'Rosemarie's', in the strange foreign language she had become adept at deciphering now after many years. They'd never been here before-she had to give him credit for staying true to his word on becoming more creative for their outings.

He gave her a small smile. "I was thinking you might like to see this for yourself...this family is known for its rose cultivar-they are in the process of genetically modifying a rose with many colors at once-"

"-Wahh, yay! We get to see them? I have been dying to see the roses here!" Her eyes lit up excitedly as the words tumbled out of her mouth and over Geordo's. She already knew exactly what he was referencing. Not too long ago she remembered sharing this exact piece of information with him over tea, and how interesting and peculiar she found it that even in a 'video game world', the urge to modify and experiment on the world in an interactive way had not worked its way out of people's imaginations. She found it humorous, and wished she could tell Geordo more about the life she once lived-how common such a thing was and the future of selective breeding when it came to flora and other plants, but she held her tongue for that. Only when she tells Keith these things does he offer something more than a confused look. And sometimes Sophia. Sophia sometimes nods.

He chuckled as he took a step forward and opened the door, holding it open as ever the gentleman she knew him to be. "Are you pleased then?"

"Yes!" The cool air hit her face with blissful relief as she turned her head to answer him with a wide grin. The chime of the door rang softly and immediately Katarina saw a small-figured woman with a mop of curly red hair pinned atop of her head as she trotted to the front. She was pale-looking, deep set eyes and a rosy complexion, but still young. Maybe she had only recently finished school? Or relocated here?

The girl smiled. "Welcome! S'nice to see you both-" then her eyes went wide with panic as she formally took in the state of their dress and Geordo's patient, tight-lipped smile. She tried to mask her casual language with an awkward curtsy. "-your majesty, the royal prince and his consort! P-please- feel free to look around as you like!"

Katarina's eyes softened. The girl had to be at least a foot shorter than her, and although busty for her physique, she was an emaciated type of thin, wearing faded clothes with fresh marks of dirt splattered about. When she smiled, Katarina could see a missing back tooth. She found herself struggling to offer a curtsy in return.

"Aw-no need for all that! Thank you so much for welcoming us here! I have been so excitedly telling Geordo-sama news I've heard about the roses-"

"Ah! The galaxy roses? Yes, yes! They're young, so they're still in the greenhouse and not the actual shop but-" the girl cut herself off, realizing the volume of her voice had nearly reached shouting. Clearly Katarina was not the only one excited about this scientific revelation. "-but, aw, who cares-please! Follow me, and I would be honored to show them to you anyways!" She started bouncing back and forth on her feet, springing as Katarina nodded excitedly and, with a 'go ahead' look from Geordo, took the hand of her new auburn-haired friend as the two excitedly babbled about past the front displays of the shop and into a backroom.

The actual greenhouse was attached through a small outdoor tunnel. Everything was paneled with glass and so immediately the cool air of the shop was eaten alive by the sweltering heat of the flora center. She could feel new beads of sweat beginning to form and slide down the curve of her spine. This was not an ideal location for a dress to be adorned as this, but Katarina had to make some concessions with her mother somewhere-and Geordo did have an image to maintain, at least publicly. Unfortunately for him, and all too easily for Katarina, once again he became the background fodder to the chattering of the shopkeeper-Grettie-and the new research her family had been conducting in order to produce roses that held up to four or five colors in one pattern. Her family hoped to be able to produce a new breed of these roses that could help them establish a name for themselves in this town-and a livelihood. This was work that had gone years in the making. Galaxy roses, she called them.

And once Katarina had laid eyes on them herself, she found the name oddly appropriate. They were small, several plant boxes laid out on wooden tables surrounded by papers, pestles, and magnifying glasses. Many weren't looking too good. But for the handful that were-

"Breathtaking," she heard Geordo breathe from behind her. Her eyes drifted up to see him looking down at her, and not the flowers. She blushed, and for the first time realized that while her left hand had already been laced up with her new friend's, Geordo was still carefully holding onto her right hand. He gave her gloved hand a squeeze which made her blush harder, but Grettie didn't notice.

The girl nodded in agreement. "Aren't they?! So tiny still-but you have no idea how big of a breakthrough these new ones are! Aah-this one is my favorite - I call it the sunset rose since it has those warm red, yellow, and orange colors. Ooh! And this one we're trying an interesting thing with blue-"

Katarina looked back down at the rose Grettie was pointing at. It was not even taller than four inches she could've guessed, but it held on its petals a magnificent gradient shade of midnight to dusk, and morning blue hues throughout. As she moved around the table, the sunlight reflected from the petals seemed to sparkle. Geordo followed behind her, equally as curious.

"It's our best chance at success, this one here," Grettie was saying, still nodding. "Though since we have so little it'll probably fetch for a larger price but-"

"That won't be a problem." Geordo cut in, and gave her a much more genuine smile this time. "I'd be happy to pay whatever sum your family finds appropriate. It's more than worth it for your family's hard work."

Grettie flushed with excitement. Oh-really?! Oh wow, I have to tell Nana-" she had already turned on her heels in excitement before remembering herself and did a full 360 as literal as her swirling emotions of joy and embarrassment. Geordo laughed and waved her on.

"We'll wait right here."

Katarina smiled at the girl's relief, and watched her bounce off with a shouted promise of expediency. The minute the door closed behind her, she noticed how much warmer the greenhouse seemed to have gotten. Her clammy hands were itching to feel the softness of the petals through her white gloves.

And Geordo. Geordo was still much too close.

She cleared her throat. "A-ah, Geordo-sama…? If you're thinking of doing that for me, you don't have to, you know? It sounds actually crazy expensive and-"

It was his sigh that made her next words die in her throat. It sounded both amused and exhausted at once. His free hand found its way to her middle, and he pulled her back against the hard line of his chest, curling their connected hands together possessively.

He lifted her gloved hand up to his lips, pressed a warm kiss there. "Why wouldn't I? You obviously love them, and I love you. It's an easy decision."

But why me? When I already...

She could feel the sweat soak into the fabric of her gown, the only thing preventing her from feeling the full extent of his body more than she already was. Was he always this warm? Was he always this tall?

Her face reddened with embarrassment. If he leaned down she'd turn away, she told herself. She'd turn away. He left her hand back at her side to stroke the side of her face, eyes searching over her face as he peered down at her-like he was looking for something. She blinked.

And he didn't lean in. Not this time. And Grettie was thankfully right on interrupt the loving couple.

That's all I have, please drop a review if you want to, it always much appreciated - thanks for reading! I'm so super grateful. ~SQ