Credit for this idea goes to Mike AZ 2. I'm getting to the other requests by the way, still working on writing them!
**I just wanted to give you guys a heads-up that I'm currently working and in grad school, so if I go silent for a while, that doesn't mean I've abandoned my story/stories, it just means I'm buried in assignments. That said, during my free time, I will still try to work on these as much as I can, so keep sending requests if you have any! And don't be shy, if you like what I'm writing, please let me know! I enjoy seeing what you guys think of my works; it motivates me to write that much faster! ;P
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The Silver Bar gets completed and the Builder gets a little carried away.
Khrumbul-Dun Kiss
She placed the last light box in its place, finally completing the blueprint.
"It's done," she said, wiping the sweat from her forehead. Water spurted forth from the fountains below and Babs' sign looked positively gorgeous. The others, having heard her place the last item on the blueprint, rushed over to admire her work. Everyone was astounded at how beautiful the silver bar looked; the braziers offered a dazzling twinkle to the silver bricks of the pool. As soon as Malroth was able to climb up the ladders, they shared their usual victorious high-five, applause echoing from below the stage.
With the silver bar finished, Goldirox having been turned back into a golden golem, monsters beaten back, and the small town of Khrumbul-Dun as lively as ever with a done-up dormitory, showers, a proper smithy, and now two gorgeous bars, a celebration was due.
The music was loud but the cheers, clapping, and merriment of the people watching Babs perform the Khrumbul-Dun Rhumba was louder. She was truly a gorgeous young woman and her spunky spirit shone like a star; the Builder could see why the miners went bonkers over trying to win the girl's affections.
While Babs performed alongside two other dancers, the rest of the town's population eating and drinking their fill after working hard in the mines for days on-end, the Builder decided to stroll around. It felt strange to have a moment to herself, to not have to rush off and build stuff or complete tasks. After speaking with a starstruck Goldirox, Digby, Dougie, and Den, the Builder spotted a familiar spiky ponytail heading towards the copper bar. She took off after him.
"Hey, Malroth!"
He turned around immediately. "Hm?"
"Tonight's the big party! Don't you want to celebrate?" The Builder couldn't help the wide grin that she'd been wearing all evening. Truth be told, she'd been grinning like a fool ever since finishing up the silver bar; her face was actually beginning to hurt from smiling so much.
"I already had a digger's jigger," he replied, offering a small smile of his own—her dopey grin was contagious, after all. "I'd have a few more, but I'd rather stay alert in case any monsters try to crash our gig."
The blonde could understand that. "Well, at least come sit with me? We can still enjoy the music and Babs worked so hard on getting that dance perfect."
He glanced at the copper bar, which had been empty, before nodding. "Alright."
She took his hand and led him towards where Goldirox had previously been standing, as the golem had, in fact, moved closer so he could join in with Babs's other admirers in cheering for her performance. The two best friends sat down side-by-side, both politely declining Ordelia and one of the other bunny girls when they asked if they'd like to order something from the bar, and focused their attention on the stage.
At least, that's what the Builder did, anyway. Malroth's gaze came to rest on his best friend.
While the Builder watched Babs's performance with a happiness Malroth was glad to see, he couldn't help but watch her. Babs was a beautiful woman, no doubt—anyone with eyes could recognize that—but the Builder held a captivating beauty of her own. He'd seen her at her worst, best, and everything in between, yet in the glow of the golden braziers, the stars twinkling above her as she gazed at the supposed most-beautiful woman in all of Khrumbul-Dun, Malroth couldn't help but think the Builder was beautiful, too. Her shiny blonde hair, captivating blue eyes, adorable nose, and pretty pink lips... Yes, she was beautiful in her own right. It was moments like these when he realized just how happy he was to have met someone like her, someone so selfless, kind, patient, nurturing; someone so beautiful, inside and out.
The Builder, on the other hand, was not quite watching Babs but instead admiring her craftsmanship. She still couldn't believe she'd managed to finish it.
"It doesn't seem like I built this thing," the Builder commented, her eyes raking over every inch of the silver bar. "I mean, when I sketched out the blueprint, even I thought I was aiming a bit high, but this... This is incredible. I can't believe it's done."
"Well, believe it." Malroth chuckled, snapping out of his earlier thoughts once she'd turned to him. "I watched you build the whole thing block by block. I think I speak for everyone when I say you did a pretty great job."
The Builder's cheeks grew pink at the compliment. "Thanks!"
The more she looked at her creation, the more it hit her that she'd actually finished this blueprint. It hadn't seemed real but now, as the glittery silver, spouting fountains, light boxes, and the cheerful audience stood before her, she realized the silver bar was done. Really done. She'd made this incredible, superb structure with her bare hands, right down to the silver ingots required to make the tiles.
"Oh my goddess," she whispered. "It's done, it's really done. I can't believe I did it!"
Before Malroth could ask if she'd finally cracked, she got to her feet and pulled him up with her. As she laughed and danced around, he couldn't help but join in. They spun around, dancing and jumping and swinging their arms together. At one point, without thinking, the Builder cupped Malroth's face and kissed him square on the mouth, only pulling away to continue prancing around like an idiot. Malroth was frozen with shock from the action, yet when he was finally able to move again, he reached up to touch his lips.
"Builder?"
The Builder was so lost in her own mini victory dance that she didn't realize she'd kissed him. "Yeah?"
"You just..." He motioned to his mouth. "Did you just kiss me?"
Realization dawned on her and her face went pink. "Oh, um... Yeah, I guess I did. S-sorry about that."
"It's fine." Malroth's fingers hovered over his lips for a few heartbeats, his mouth turning up into a shy, boyish grin that did funny things to the Builder's stomach. "Can you kiss me again?"
The Builder giggled and leaned in again, her soft lips claiming his in a kiss that burned hotter than the Khrumbul-Dun sun. As the rest of the townsfolk partied late into the night, Malroth and the Builder continued trading kisses here and there, their hands intertwined as they continued to watch Babs dance her heart out.
