I do not own Sword Art Online or any of the characters.
Comfort
"Will you stay?" Shino asked once Kirito was gone and Michael had closed the door. "Just for tonight?"
"I'll stay as long as you want me to," Michael smiled, gently brushing some loose hair back.
Shino smiled then her eyes fell to the floor. Michael wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against himself and she rested her head on his shoulder, her arms around his stomach. They stayed there for a while until she yawned. He smiled and he guided her through the house to a hallway out of the livingroom. She took the lead, walking to her bedroom with him. He stopped at the door, allowing her to put her AmuSphere away. She got some bed clothes out and glanced at Michael.
"I'll be right outside the door," Michael promised, closing the door to give her privacy.
After a couple minutes, she opened the door, telling him he could turn around. He did and smirked. Her pajamas were printed with different sniper rifles.
"Don't laugh," Shino requested, sounding more vulnerable and desperate for acceptance than he had heard anyone.
"Why would I laugh?" Michael asked. "I like those."
Shino smiled, but shook her head. She turned and walked to the bed sitting down then looking over at Michael.
"Oh, you don't have any pajamas do you?" Shino realized.
"It's alright," Michael smiled. "I'll be fine. As long as you don't mind me sleeping in this."
"It's alright," Shino smiled. "Just no shoes."
Michael smiled and walked into the bedroom, sitting on the other side of the bed. Shino lay down and Michael stayed sitting up, mind focusing on Archon for the first time since he had killed him. He felt sick. He felt like he might vomit. After a moment, Shino's arms wrapped around him from behind. Her head lay on his back and she sighed.
"It was self defense, and in order to protect me," Shino said.
"That doesn't change the fact that I killed him," Michael said.
"No," Shino said. "It doesn't. But if you and Kirito taught me anything, it's that killing is okay it it's for the right reason. You saved me. Because you killed him."
Michael sighed and nodded. Shino pulled back and he turned around to her, smirking.
"What?" Shino asked.
"When did you become my therapist?" Michael asked.
Shino blinked then laughed and he joined in. After a couple minutes, she lay back down and he followed suit. She lay her head on his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. She sighed and closed her eyes. After a few minutes, he placed a feather-light kiss on the top of her head. For a moment, she seemed to be asleep. Then, she looked up at him, cheeks stained red. Michael slowly leaned in, placing a light kiss on her lips. He pulled back and she followed. He smiled and kissed her again, Shino kissing him back. After a few minutes, they separated to breathe and Shino lay her head back down, smiling and almost immediately falling asleep. Michael smiled as well and closed his eyes, drifting off.
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