Title: Gift of Protection
Ship: Claret x Burgunday (Spirit of the Harp x Total Deense Shogun)
Chapters: 1-1||Words: 731
Genre: Romance||Rated: G
Challenges: Christmas Advent 2017, YGO GX, day #15, Duel Spirits only in the fic; Mini-fic Masterclass, #7, Random Raffles (no humans, only Duel Spirits); Pairing Diversity Boot Camp, YGO, #14, heart; Include THe Word Boot Camp, #42, iron; YGO GX Rare Pairs Week 2022, day #5, gifts
Notes: This takes place in an AU. Nothing very significant, just a peaceful quiet AU.
Summary: She made dinner. He made a deal. They both did it for each other. What else do you do for love?

Claret glanced up as Burgundy entered her cooking area, his arms full of firewood. He set the pile down in the nearly empty container and stepped back.

"Are you going to need any more?" He asked, looking as if he could go out and wrestle down a few more trees if she needed him to. But she shook her head, returning her attention to the pot as she stirred it. The stew would be done soon, but she didn't want to take the chance on it burning. They didn't have so much food that she felt it wise to waste any of it. Hopefully that would change soon.

He nodded, taking a few heavy steps to the nearest chair and sitting down in it. He leaned back and wiped his forehead before he glanced at her again.

"There's a hunting party coming back in tomorrow, though I'm not sure what they're bringing back," Burgundy told her. "The Amazons sent a delegation as well; they should be here in a couple of days."

Claret tasted the stew, a bit of a smile on her lips, both at the taste, and the news. "That's good," she agreed. The Amazons would bring trade items with them, which would probably include meat of some kind. They were known for being incredible hunters as well as warriors. Meat, skins, teeth, claws, all from whatever they'd hunted before coming here.

The treaty between their realm - tiny as it was - and the Amazons wasn't three entire moons old, but there were already trading delegations getting started between the two of them. Their village rested very near the mountains, with several mines that offered beautiful gemstones and useful metals, such as iron and copper, and a wide river that led to the ocean, where the vast city-state of Kuragari was said to be. One day, perhaps, their little village would be equal to Kuragari, trading all over the world. Claret looked forward to seeing that begin.

But for now, she poured two bowls of stew and two cups of watered wine and set them on the table next to Burgundy. He brightened at the sight before he quickly started eating. She settled down into her own chair and ate quietly, enjoying the time spent with him. It was almost as pleasant and relaxing as spending time with her harp.

Burgundy twitched a little, casting a quick glance towards her. She raised one eyebrow, curious as to what had his attention now. He fidgeted again, then reached into one pocket.

"Remember those traders that showed up the other day? The ones from the Sanctuary?"

Of course she remembered those. She'd not had much of a chance to talk to them, but she'd seen them while gathering the herbs for her stores. They were artisans as well as warriors, and she'd seen a few people wearing items they'd traded since then. Quite lovely items as well; she wished she'd had the time to gather enough of the rare herbs that grew around here to see if any of them wanted to trade something.

"I hoped I could find something for you. I know that you don't like to fight, but if anything ever happened," Burgundy shook his head, then set his hand on the table, turning it upward. There gleamed a brilliant silver ring, etched with runes of protection. "This will defend you when I cannot." He offered her an awkward smile. "I can get more if you like, when they come back."

Claret picked up the ring, feeling the sense of angelic magic as she did so. Burgundy brightened the moment that she touched it, hope flaring in his eyes.

"It's beautiful," she agreed, sliding it onto one finger. "I'll think of you whenever I wear it - and I'll wear it always."

Burgundy had never, in all the years that she'd known him, turned so red. She rested the hand now wearing the ring onto his hand, so strongly muscled and callused. Burgundy looked as if he might pass out from the simple pleasure of the contact. Claret refused to tease him more than that. She got up and started to put the dishes away, humming to herself, fully aware of Burgundy watching her the whole time, with a silly little smile on his face.

She never needed to fear being without defense, not with him there.

The End

Notes: I always rather liked these two. Maybe I'll come back to this one day.