a/n: phew, after that last chapter and the entirety of Save Me, I needed to write something purely fluffy. I must say, I like how it came out. As with anyone who writes Miriel, I referred to an online thesaurus a lot hahaha.

Requested by ThreeRainyDays~

argarfinkel: I hope you don't mean romantically but if you don't, it'll be the next chapter!

Guest: Thank you very much!

Vykktor: what? I haven't gotten any of those...unless that was one..anyway, you might all be disappointed as it's just a finger-sized thing on my wrist.. lol and a sequel..hmm..I didn't think about it, but I totally could! And probably will now haha. You are welcome:) and yes...I know all about the darkness. Hopefully this is fluffy enough to save us from it haha.

a new feeling

MirielxVaike

A woman of science finds an unfamiliar area of study.

It was another typical day in the shepherd's camp, which for now only consisted of nine warriors. Despite the small number, however, it was still absurdly loud, forcing them to set up far from any villages for fear of complaints. Robin is still traumatized about that time they'd been chased away by a horde of angry men with pitchforks because Mirel had set accidentally blown up one their houses...To this day, she felt no guilt. It had been for science.

The main reason for the bothersome cacophony was Vaike. Miriel saw no humor in his flagrant attempts at getting attention, and she had a small dislike for the man himself. But everyone was useful to the realm of science, so she tolerated him.

"Hey, baby."

Miriel ignored the catcall, and the following whistle, continuing to scan the pages of her book. Vaike seemed to take her silence as invitation, and promptly sat down beside her.

"Interesting," was all she said.

"Hm? Whadaya mean 'interesting'? Anyway, teach was wonderin if ya wanted to spar. Robin says I should test my skills against all types of fighters. Don't see why, as my skills are pretty great as they are."

The mage pushed her glasses up from where they'd fallen on her nose, and gave him a pointed look. "Did I in some way encourage you by not reacting instantaneously to your mating call?"

Vaike gaped at her, and she soon decided such topics were too personal to be pursed. After all, talking of romance could only encourage romance.

"It is inconsequential," she waved her hand to dismiss it. "I am certainly up to assisting a comrade with honing their 'skills' as our tactician put it, but as of now, I am occupied."

"Readin' that book?"

"A very astute observation."

"Then...I'll just hafta sit and read it with you!" Vaike proclaimed. Miriel felt minor annoyance and his wish to stay near her, despite her subtle attempt to get rid of him.

"As you desire."

Vaike settled into a spot against the tree and leaned over her shoulder. Using her peripheral vision, she watched his eyes skim over the words on the page with an empty glare that allowed her to deduce he wasn't understanding a single concept.

"Huh. You are one smart lady."

If there were one point in the conversation she could pinpoint as the moment it spiraled out of control, it would be now. It started off simple, as many had commented on her intelligence (though not always in such a positive light).

"Teach can't understand a single word on that page. Huh..."

From what she could tell, he was thinking as deeply as was possible for his brain, and avoiding looking at her entirely. In fact he seemed...flustered.

"You're one heck of a pretty lady too. Prettiest girl in the camp, I'd say. That Sully is too...manly, and Sumia...well she's got her sights set on Chrom. Lissa is royalty, you know? She wouldn't go for a guy like me. She's too girly anyway."

Some sort of strange, unknown emotion was rising in Miriel's chest. Was he really saying she was the most acceptable woman in camp? No, she should take into account that opinions varied based on how different people observe beauty. Stahl, for example, might say Sumia was the most acceptable. It would make for a good experiment, if she could count on the men to be honest...

"Yeah, you would make some lucky guy a great wife. You've got the smarts, and you're good at that magic stuff ya do. And, you would always remember my ax when I forget it."

Miriel had never felt this before. No one had ever offered her such compliments. She bent her neck down and pulled the book closer to her eyes to hide her red face. Beside her, Vaike was oblivious, looking away from her and chatting on about...oh gods, he was still talking about her. Would the tightness in her chest ever go away? She feared it would soon have negative effects on her health.

"...and I-I know I'm goin' on and on, but I can't stop! Would ya...I mean, if you like, would you-"

Miriel wanted to finish his stuttered sentence, but at the moment she felt that anything out of her mouth would be about as coherent.

"-grab a bite to eat with me?" he finished.

Both of them turned to look at each other at the exact same time. It was a phenomenon she had only heard of in Sumia's romance novels, and so further study on the subject was necessary. Nevertheless, their eyes met, and both of them took in the now deeply red blush on the other's face.

"I suppose I can answer you positively, seeing as it would be a good exercise to strengthen the bonds of our army-" she answered more quickly than usual, at the same time he was stuttering out an excuse as to why she needn't feel obligated.

"Oh," both of them said.

"This...is unusual," Mirel stated, shoving her face back in her book.

"Yeah," Vaike agreed.

Despite that, they stayed in the same position until the sun went down. To counteract the emotions, Miriel buried herself in her reading again, and wasn't able to stop herself from falling asleep on his shoulder.

Vaike gave her a small smile, and carried her back to her tent. "See ya in the morning," he whispered, removing her glasses and brushing a tiny kiss on her forehead.

In the morning, Miriel was astounded to be in her bed when she was certain she had not fallen asleep there. The pursuit to the answer was short, and her blush came back full force. So she buried herself in her studies (which now, as never before, had a little more to do with figuring out the arts of romance, and prepared for her date with the Vaike...for science.

btw if anyone who can art wants to draw Miriel trying to hide her blushing face in a book from an oblivious Vaike that would be so adorable! Writing has been my niche for years, and drawing got left behind haha. To those people who can draw and write, you, my lovelies, are a gift to humanity. Okaay I'll shut up now :