EVERYTHING THE ICE BITES
one
Karin is in heaven. Well. She might as well be, in her opinion.
Heaven is her husband's metalcraft workshop, Grand Crimson Lotus. Heaven is in her husband's arms. Heaven is kissing him, loving him and knowing that she is loved just as much in return.
Heaven is —
"This can't be right!" Karin says, grabbing his arm and inspecting his wristwatch, then holding it up for him. "What does this say?"
Aquamarine eyes gaze intently at the clock face.
Karin holds her breath.
"Four o'clock."
"You're sure?" She asks, willing him to try again and say something different.
He meets her eyes.
"Yes."
Karin curses under her breath, letting go of him as she strides towards the door. She'd only meant to talk to him for a couple of minutes but… he had looked so handsome, radiantly outlined by the sunlight that her heart had skipped a beat and…
"We're late, then," Karin grumbles, focusing the matter at hand, before turning towards him, somewhat petulant. "And to think, I let you distract me."
"Oh?" Amused at her attitude, he raises an eyebrow. "I distracted you, did I? Who was it that waltzed into my workshop, starts flirting with me by batting her pretty eyelashes and —"
"Hush!" Her cheeks burn at his teasing, and then she makes a show of looking around. "What if a customer came in and heard you?"
What if someone had seen, is what Karin had meant to say.
"You didn't seem to mind a minute ago," he points out with a wry smirk.
Her entire face might as well be on fire.
"Um, well," Karin flusters, guilty as charged and they both know it. Floundering for words, she tries to centre herself by thinking about their evening plans. "Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that we are late! I… I have to go pick my clothes at the drycleaners!"
"And you came in here, because…?" He makes a sweeping gesture at his workshop, and the distance between them closes, little by little, interested in how she's going to respond.
"Because… I wanted to remind you," Karin steps towards him, away from the door, choosing her words carefully, determined to not make the same mistakes that got them in trouble in the first place. "After you're done here, you have to go upstairs and pick out Hina-chan's best clothes."
The expression he makes in response is beyond exasperated.
"Karin."
"You get carried away by your work, sometimes!" Karin defends herself, rambling a little. Even if the craft shop is directly below their apartment, sometimes that job of his made him forget how quick time could pass. "And I just thought that you could use the reminder."
"Alright, alright."
He's placating her, she knows, but still.
"Consider me reminded," he says, reaching out so he can touch her, gently rubbing her shoulders. "Take a breath, Karin; it's going to be fine."
"I can't help but worry," Karin admits, muttering, head downcast. She wants nothing more but to fall into his embrace, and share the calmness that he has, but no matter how soothing his hands are, part of her knows that it won't be enough.
"Trust me," he murmurs, kissing her forehead, and oh, that sets her heart at ease. "Okay?"
Karin looks up at him, thankful that she married such a wonderful man.
"You know I do, Yukio," Karin breathes, and steals herself a kiss, letting herself get distracted one more time, consequences be damned.