Zeven headed downstairs, leaving Chris to clean up in the bathroom before meeting him there.
His body was stiff from sleeping on the floor, but he felt well rested. Even with that his head still swum with questions and feelings. He walked into the kitchen and saw Gunter.
With a sag, he collapsed on the bar stool. Laying his head on the counter it's cold temperature soothing his mind slightly. When Gunter didn't acknowledge his motion, he let out a large sigh. He sought his advice, but his pride prevented him from asking for it directly.
Luckily Gunter spoke his language fluently.
"You look conflicted, I'd imagine it has something to do with a certain woman."
"Everything is just complicated"
"Care to explain?"
"It's all wrong and all right-"
"Just to be clear, we are talking about Chris?"
"Everything." Zeven corrected
"Is she included in everything?"
Zeven cut his eyes over to Gunter, raising his eyebrows as his lips thinned.
"I guess she would be included in Everything, continue."
"Everything is overwhelming, frustrating, hard to get along with… she-"
"She?"
"It. It is confusing me. I don't know what to do anymore, Everything is consuming my thoughts and causing me to doubt myself."
"It sounds like Everything is really doing a number on you."
"Why is Everything so-"
"Frustrating?
"-Beautiful."
They both fell silent, Gunter could see the emotions swimming behind his eyes. And his old heart ached to see the conflict within him. He put a comforting hand on his shoulder. There was nothing that he could say to ease the situation. It would surely continue to change and grow to an even more impossible question the longer it persisted. So he just did what he could in the moment and hoped that the rest would fall into place.
The silence was interrupted when Chris walked into the room.
"There she is," Zeven mumbled to himself as he rested his head on his hand to get a better look at her.
Gunter saw the way Zeven's eyes were drawn to her, he leaned down and whispered into his ear, "How does Everything look?"
Zeven almost jumped out of his chair, drawing Chris's attention.
"What are you looking at?"
"Nothing."
Gunter laughed slightly to himself at Zeven's rapid defense because 'nothing' couldn't be further from the truth.
The three of them had an easy breakfast, a comfortable quietness that none of them felt the need to fill swirled in the air. When they were finished, Chris and Zeven went outside to spar for a while. Zeven was insistent that she learn how to wield the smaller sword.
Chris realized that learning with Zeven was very different than learning from the tutors her father had chosen. His pace was quick, but he took time where it was needed. Making sure to never chastise her for her questions or failures, instead he focused on praising her achievements. She learned fast and over the course of the week they had been training it seemed like she had been crafted alongside the sword. Fitting like pieces of a puzzle.
Her injured shoulder was beginning to heal nicely and its movement was returning. It lacked complete freedom, the bandage carefully wrapped prevented it from coming out of its socket again but it also prevented free range of motion.
When Zeven assessed that she had progressed far enough for the day, he moved inside. Chris disappeared upstairs for a few minutes after eating, leaving Zeven downstairs alone. He picked up the empty plates and sat them in the sink.
There was nothing more for him to do other than wait for her to return to him. Despite his desire to follow her closely every moment of the day, he remained downstairs and waited almost patiently for her return.
He closed his eyes for what seemed like only a second before he felt a warm sensation across his face. Opening his eyes, he saw Chris in perfect definition. Startled, it took him a few blinks to realize that the warm sensation he had felt was her hand as she slipped his glasses onto him.
"What is this for?"
"I figured out that the reason you are so useless at this is because you can't see anything."
"You are overestimating me. I am very useless in general."
The time passes quickly as they both brainstormed aloud. Zeven didn't supply any ideas himself, but he offered commentary and logic on all of hers. And despite having his glasses, he only gave passing glances to the paper scattered on the table. Instead, his gaze seemed to follow Chris, looking away before she could catch his stare.
She had an idea that seemed to pan out, it was only faulted when Zeven pointed out that a simple cultural merger couldn't get rid of all animosity between the kingdoms.
When they tired of that, they moved on to playing a chess game. Chris had helped Zeven strengthen his game. He almost posed a challenge now. Almost, and Chris was sure to tease him on that subject.
After 6 losses and one close call, Zeven sat back from his hunched position over the board. With his glasses on, he could clearly see her smiling face. It wasn't a large smile, but with her lips curved slightly and the corners of her eyes creased, she seemed to glow in his eyes.
"Look at me."
Zeven circled his hands in front of his chest, never breaking eye contact with Chris. A smug look across his face as he kept repeating the same gesture.
"What are you doing?"
"Letting you know exactly what I think of you."
His smile grew, showcasing his dimples.
"And what do you think of me?"
"Oh, I think many things about you. For starters though I think you're fairly gullible."
She squinted at him as she walked over.
"So you're calling me a dumbass?"
"Not quite, but close enough for me."
Wordlessly she began to make the same motion with her hands. Focussed sole on her own hands, she missed the way Zeven looked down at her.
He was so caught up in watching her, that he forgot to look away and she finally noticed his stare. Her large grey eyes widening as her smile fell and brows furrowed. He watched as her face changed into one of confusion.
"Would you believe that you almost look pretty right now?"
"Almost?" her eyes squinted at him as she tilted her head, "I remember you distinctly saying that I wasn't your type."
"Am I not allowed to say you're pretty?"
"We both know that even if I told you no, you would do it anyway." She sighed and looked away.
"Chris, you are pretty. Do you know that?"
Squirming slightly in her chair, she made a faint clicking sound in response.
"No one has ever called you that before?" he waited for a response and the silence was his answer, "then it is my honor to be the first to let you know. You, Chris, are very pretty."
Her skin flushed at his words, it was something she had never thought she'd hear, let alone enjoy being told.
"You're turning red."
"Don't state the obvious!"
"So you agree that it's obvious you're pretty?"
She stood up from her chair like she was going to run, so Zeven also got up ready to catch her. But instead of running away, she ran towards him.
Seeing her make her move, he opened his arms to catch her. She slipped through his hands as they reached for her, making her way behind him. Standing up on her tiptoes she tried to put him in a headlock. He bent down slightly so that she wouldn't strain her injured shoulder. He smiled at her actions, as he heard her chuckling slightly while giving him a noogie. When he felt that she had a good grip around his neck, he stood up quickly, lifting her off the ground. With a small squeal, she wrapped her legs around his waist to keep from falling off. Her laughter grew louder as he spun around in a circle.
She tapped his shoulder to let him know that she was ready to be let back down. Without protest he lowered her back to the ground. Rewarded for his compliance with a wide smile when she was in front of him.
Taking a step backwards to give her space, his heel clipped the foot of the chair sending him toppling backwards onto the floor. Her laughter stopped abruptly as she leaned down to check on him. And after seeing that he was okay, an even larger laughing fit over took her. She leaned backwards and felt the tears form in her eyes.
"Get up." she said as she tried to catch her breath, offering her hand to help him.
When she was close enough, his eyes snapped open as he captured her hand. Pulling her down on top of him in a swift motion. She fell directly into his chest and his free arm snaked around her waist.
"It's not so funny now is it?"
She was no longer laughing, but she was still smiling. Pushing up as far as the arm on her waist let her get, she looked down at him. Her hair cascaded down, falling to the right side and pooling on his chest. He looked deeply into her peerless grey eyes, drawn into them like a moth to the flame. His other arm sneaked into her hair lightly cupping her face, keeping her face looking only at him.
Her expression changed, the smile was gone, but it was not replaced by fear. Just curiosity. They seemed frozen in that moment, nothing else existed around them. His eyes hovered over her soft pink lips for a moment, before they returned to meet her gaze once more.
His hand was strong against her head, he opened his mouth to say something. Nothing came out except a shaky breath. Releasing his hand, his fingers combed through her hair before falling to the ground. He leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling.
"Tomorrow I have to go to my father's side."
"You're leaving?" She pushed up on his chest, leaning back further. "Why?"
"There's something I have to take care of?"
"What?"
"If I tell you, I won't seem as cool and mysterious."
"You already don't seem cool and mysterious."
He laughed, but it was a hollow sound.
"I'm really not looking forward to this." he groaned, one of his hands running through his curly brown hair.
His face was curled into a sort of half smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"I would like to comfort you, but seeing as I am currently dead in my own country…" She moved closer to his face. Placing her arms on either side of his head and staring directly at him, "However, I am sorry that you have no choice in the matter."
A real smile lit up in his eyes, before a smug look eclipsed it.
"Be careful there Chris, that almost sounds like flirting."
"Are your ears as bad as your eyes?"
"So is that a no?"
Someone coughed to get their attention. At the same time they both turned their heads to the source of the sound. Gunter stood at the bottom of the stairs, and had been so quiet that they had no idea how long he had been there.
Feeling the heat rise to her cheeks, Chris peeled herself off of Zeven. Standing up and awkwardly dusting herself off before reaching a hand down to help Zeven up. He took it quickly and practically jumped to his feet.
"If the two of you are done, dinner is almost ready."
Gunter turned and walked back into the kitchen, followed shortly by Zeven. But before he disappeared around the corner she saw him turn back and wink at her.
The rest of the evening flew by, the time passed in laughs and warm feelings. The conversation was kept away from what tomorrow would bring. Gunter made dessert and they ate that in the living room while Zeven played the piano.
It was late when they dispersed for bed. And as Chris crawled into bed beside Zeven and felt the stress radiating from him she knew that it would be even later before he fell asleep.
Considering her choices, she reached a hand out and touched Zeven's back. He jumped at her touch, whipping his head around to look at her.
"You do not have my permission to move, turn your head around."
Zeven did as asked without question. Committing to her plan she scooted closer careful not to hurt her injured shoulder. Slowly she extended her arm and draped it over his side while sneaking the other one under his head. Pulling herself closer, she hugged him from behind trying to offer some comfort to him.
She heard as he gave a short exhale from his nose, before feeling him relax against her. His hand creeped up and threaded with hers. Keeping her anchored to him. Chris made no comment on his action, just wanting him to fall asleep.