Yggdrasil's Ace

Chapter 10

Author Notes: Welp, I am long overdue for an upload...holiday hell will do that to my schedule but it's fine. I got a ton of these chapters stocked up and ready to go. At least until I start uploading for octwober...ahem, I do not own Dragon Quest.

3rd P.O.V

"We are not putting Serena in charge of getting rooms at the inn again..." It didn't take them long to find the monsters that had kidnapped Veronica(and many others including Connie's father) and defeat them. Though it was a bit of a bittersweet victory.

Even though the victims were saved, and Veronica got her magic powers back, she was still a child. For whatever reason she didn't return to her actual age. Another mystery to join in the madness that was being a hero of ages. "I can't believe she did this."

And with all the fighting they had been doing, it had been clear that they were exhausted. So the plan to return to Hotto for the night sounded like a splendid idea. It becoming even better when each of them decided to split up to cover more ground.

Veronica would escort the missing people back to their loved ones. Ace would fix up all of their battered equipment as well as make new stuff for the group since she found some new recipes. Erik was in charge of restocking their supplies and finally Serena would grab some rooms at the inn.

But apparently Veronica never went about telling her sister that Ace was actually a girl, and would've probably been better off sharing with them rather than Erik. "It's fine Erik, it's not like we don't sleep close by when we're camping outside."

Though she said that there was a bit of a blush on her cheeks as she eyes the sole problem with this little scenario. There was only one bed. "I'm taking the floor." Honestly there should've been no reason for there to be such awkwardness between them.

Like Ace had mentioned before they were always sleeping closely by the campfire. Practically back to back to protect each other from monsters. And they had done it even AFTER Erik found out her gender. It was nothing new, even with Veronica and Serena joining them on their quest.

But...to the thief it made a hell of a difference knowing that there was one bed that they had to share. He probably wouldn't feel as uncomfortable or nervous sleeping in the room with her if there was two.

The fact that they assumingly had to sleep together in such tight spaces was what bothered him. He cursed the twins for this. Doing his utmost not to blush horribly as he undid his boots. Knowing that the Luminary, his partner and the girl who has masterfully gained his loyalty and admiration was looking at him.

Feeling just as nervous as he was despite her words. Erik hasn't known her for very long...there was no denying the bond they had. His dedication to be her trusted companion went far beyond of having faith in her like the seer told him to. "Erik...you don't have to do that. Don't worry about it please."

Despite being a supposed savior of the world Ace was doing a fabulous job at stealing his heart. "Nope, go ahead and get settled. Seriously." He knew if she managed to convince him there would be nothing stopping him from wanting to hold her close.

"It's just for one night Ace, give this to me." No matter what he had to get ahold of himself. She was the Luminary...she was a Princess. Way out of his league. It was a painful mantra he had to keep reminding himself. He had to know his place.

Bad enough he was so attached that he stuck to her like glue. "Erik..." Without even meaning to he tilted his head up, meeting her dark eyes. Her cheeks were puffed out, showing her frustration. Lips in a stern line. Immediately she shook her head, her hair flying all over the place.

A childish, stubborn action that actually made him laugh. "What is that face!?" Breaking the tension slightly. She gave him a soft smile, though the previous emotions she had before was still present.

"I don't mind sharing if it's you Erik. Don't put my needs or comfort over your own." A blush horribly formed on her face than as she sharply looked away. Missing the surprised expression on his face. A sense of warmth filled him, along with disbelief that she trusted him so much.

He was just a thief with sticky fingers and an eye for valuables. "I-dammit Ace. It's not fair of you to say shit like that. You're making me seem like a real bad guy here." The fact that she said that with a straight face was not helping his feelings for her in the slightest.

"Well you Are a thief, so it fits. But...I'd feel a lot safer having you close to me. Please?" His will was crumbling away like the earth spells he used. He could only admit defeat at this point. Guess there truly was no arguing with her is there?

Stubborn woman through and through. "Alright...but the minute you're uncomfortable, let me know." There was no way she would tell him even if she wasn't sure of her decision. But she couldn't help nodding in agreement as he went about taking off his weapons.

The next few minutes trickled with silence as the pair got themselves ready for bed. Erik specifically trying to drag this on as long as he possibly could before nervously getting under the covers. Making sure to have his back face her while staying as close to the edge as possible.

"Night Ace." Carefully she slid under as well, leaving some room for him to shift around so he wouldn't fall off the bed. Lifting up her hand, she tries to stifle a yawn. "Good night." It didn't take long for her to fall asleep, at complete ease though it was hard to give an exact time of how long.

Her companion well...Erik was as stiff as a board. All the tension he had from before coming back in full force when he felt the other side of the mattress dip with her weight. Suddenly a faint aroma from the soap she used the last time she bathed was a sweet invasion to his nose.

Making his face burn like a furnace. His mind paralyzed along with his body. He tried shutting his eyes, counting in his head in the hopes of drifting off but he couldn't. Desperately he tried to ignore his beating heart and the soft, rhythmic breaths behind him.

"This is going to be a long night." It was honestly baffling at how at ease she was with these sleeping arrangements. Minutes ticked by, stretching into hours as sleep refused to arrive. Erik could only sigh as he carefully turned over.

Unable to stop himself. "You're going to be the death of me..." His gaze fell onto her face first thing. There wasn't a single wrinkle of distress to be seen on her. No serious expression to be found. For once looking her age.

Moonlight peered from the window, encasing her form into a white glow. Much like when she was praying at one of the Goddess statues. He always thought she was pretty-even when he had assumed her to be a guy.

But seeing her like this. Completely unguarded and at peace? Beautiful. It was so hard to believe that this enchantress was attacked and locked away in Heliodor's royal dungeon. None of what happened to her and her town made any damn sense to him. She...didn't deserve any of it. "Some darkspawn..."

His eyes squinted slightly as a few strands of her hair fell onto her face. Her nose twitched in response and it took everything in him not to laugh and accidently wake her. Gently he reached his fingers out, tucking the little hairs behind her ear.

He wasn't sure how long he was laying there, mesmerized by her presence, but eventually he finally fell asleep. Unaware of how he took her into his arms or how perfectly she fit into his hold. She didn't even stir from the shift in position. Both were content, and that was all that mattered.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXXxXxXx

Harsh knocks echoed in rapid succession is what Erik woke up to not too long after... He silently groaned, not ready to open his eyes despite the noise and the sun that he knew was shining outside. "It's too early for this dammit." His entire body ached, a soreness one would expect from traveling long distances and fighting.

All he wanted to do was go back to sleep. For once he had no nightmares to give him a hellish welcome, something he hasn't had in YEARS. And the bed was so warm and soft. Who Would want to get up? Apparently whoever was on the other side of the door as he heard knocking again.

He was ready to shout and tell the person at the door to fuck off. Something told him it was Veronica, making him all the more willing to ignore her. However it was the slight movement underneath the blanket that actually made him crack an eye open, only to make him awaken entirely.

With wide eyes and a sharp intake of breath he found himself looking at Ace. The girl was still down for the count, not at all stirring from the noise but what startled him was how close she was in his personal space. At some point during the night her head nestled into his shoulder and her arms tucked into herself.

His own backstabbing arms were wrapped around her frame keeping her close. She looked so much smaller in his grasp. Even with the overly bulky clothes she wore. And he couldn't stop swearing under his breath. He was afraid something like this would happen, and he hated how much he liked having her like this.

It was so bizarre how accepting he was with her presence. Luminary be damned he never felt so attracted to someone. And because of that now he didn't want to let her go. He cursed with a flinch as he heard another series of knocks. "Dammit whoever's there is going to wake her up..."

As carefully as possible he got out of bed, doing his utmost to will away his red cheeks. Ignoring the slight shiver that racked his frame as he makes a beeline for the door. "Alright, alright I heard you." Yawning he opened the damn door, finding an impatient Veronica and guilty looking Serena there waiting.

"It's about time you answered. You better not have done anything to Ace last night!" The blonde midget waited until now to tell him to behave? To not try any funny business? Was she being serious? He crossed his arms, pissed off at the rude accusation.

A criminal he may be, but a monster he was not. Especially when it came to Ace. "Get your mind out of the gutter Ronnie. If you had a problem with it you should've told Serena as soon as we got to the inn." He opened the door fully.

Letting the girls get full view of the room. "As you can clearly see she's still sleeping. Might want to tone it down before your shouting wakes up both her and the whole damn town." It was a bit too late as sleeping beauty gingerly pushes herself up with a small hum.

Swaying slightly as she blinks at the trio. Her hair a bit messy as it covers half of her face. "Morning already?" Tears prick her eyes as she tries blinking awake, only to fall back down onto the pillow with a groan.

Completely unaware of the conversation going on around her. The little antic cause Serena to giggle, fully charmed. "Oh my-not much of an early bird is she?" Veronica snorts, feeling a little relieved that everything seemed to be ok.

It didn't stop her from feeling a little ashamed and embarrassed that she didn't realize the problem with their room arrangements until after the fact. Not that she'll dare say that out loud. Let alone to her least favorite pain in the ass party member.

On the other hand she also blames her sister. All of them had been using female pronouns for her...despite Ace's attire its not like any of them were hiding her gender. She most certainly didn't see Him protest when they went to their sleeping quarters.

Which was what bothered her in the first place. "I suppose she's earned the chance to sleep in...get her up in a little bit. There's a lot we need to discuss today." With that the young sage marched off, ready to go get breakfast.

"Get back here! You don't go off insulting me and then leave without an apology!" Leaving Erik to growl in irritation, ready to go off on her. Only to turn his attention to a gentle hand resting on his shoulder.

Looking into apologetic eyes. "I apologize for my sister. We'll see you later?" He waves her off. Promising he would just so she could leave. Rolling his eyes, he closes the door, watching as Ace valiantly tried motivating herself to get up. Only to fall back onto the pillows.

A cycle he needed to stop before she misses the pillow and falls out of the bed entirely. "You know you can sleep in right? You look exhausted." She may've fallen asleep pretty quickly last night, but he knew it was probably one of the only good nights she's had that wasn't plagued with nightmares.

He wasn't the only one with skeletons hiding in his closet. What they were he could only guess from the little he's seen. "Hmm?" She blinked up at him, only to narrow her eyes at the faint circles under his eyes.

"Only if you will." Here we go again. He digs his fingers into his hair in frustration, knowing exactly how this will play out. "Ace..." She gives him a smile at the whining tone. She rests her head on her arms. "Erik. You need sleep too. If I need to i will zap you. Or I'll take the floor."

Now that just wasn't fair-and probably the most aggressive thing she's ever said to him. "Now that's just not nice." Who would've thought she'd be the grumpy type when tired. "I know you didn't sleep much last night. If I'm making you uncomfortable just let me know." The girl was even throwing his words right back at him.

Challenging him. It sparked something in him as he narrowed his eyes. Exasperated. "I...you play dirty you know that?" He couldn't pretend to be annoyed though. He also couldn't deny that he liked waking up to her this morning, after the shock factor wore off of course.

"I seem to recall learning from a certain thief that I have to use every resource available to me. And nap times important." Once again he was reminded as to why arguing was pointless with her. "Ok ok you win. Again."

And frankly he was too tired at this point to care. "Just for a little while..." Sighing he returns to his side of the bed, watching her relax almost immediately. A small hum passes through her lips as she snuggles into his chest. "That's all I ask." Noting him stiffen for a brief second before he wraps his arms around her.

Both closed their eyes, succumbing to their dreams as the birds chirped cheery tunes outside.

to be continued

Author Notes: And here I can successfully check off all of my personal boxes on how to make a somewhat funny, but fluffy scene with a dash of cringy awkwardness. See...even with things I hate, I can make tolerable.

Ahem, bias aside as far as awkward scenes go, I did enjoy writing this chapter. But that is it for now everyone. Thank you all so much for reading and if you wanna send your love and support feel free to fav/follow/review as it means a crap ton. I'll see you all later. Tchao for now.