Tales of Legendia- Walking Through Puddles
Title: Walking Through Puddles
Author: seta_suzume
Pairings/Characters: Shirley/Walter
Prompt: Shirley/Walter, puddle after a rainstorm, on the road
Rating: G
Warnings: Mild spoilers about the main quest, I suppose. You're okay if you've reached the CQs.
Shirley tripped over a rock in the road and wobbled unsteadily, throwing out her arms to catch herself. Walter, ever intent on the the well-being of the Merines, swooped to her rescue, firmly grabbing Shirley before she hit the ground. Only the long end of her pink skirt swished through one of the many muddy puddles dotting the weather-worn road. Shirley gasped at the close call with scrapes and dirty water she had just escaped.
Walter held her close, pressed against his chest until he was sure she had gotten her bearings together. "I'm sorry I couldn't have acted faster, Merines," he apologized, stepping away from the dainty girl. As he looked down the path ahead leading to the Ferines' Village, he could see the entire length of the road was just as marred by puddles, debris, and potholes as it had been thus far. The gray sky promised more rain. "Perhaps I should lead to clear the way of any troublesome obstacles," he suggested.
"Umm, whatever you think is best, Walter," Shirley murmured, blushing as she touched her wrist where he had grabbed her.
Of course, if the Merines was behind him, Walter would be unable to keep an eye on her. Though Vaclav's main force had been destroyed, splintered fragments might still roam the Legacy, as well as other evil-doers with designs on the Merines. Seeing as his duties as a guard had not gone particularly smoothly thus far, he was unwilling to take any major chances with the Merines' safety. ...With Shirley's safety.
The more he talked to her, the more Walter came to see this fluttering flower as not just a savior, but as a girl. Despite her attachment to that detestable Senel, Walter could see she did not regard him with disinterest. And he liked her hair, wavy like the shifting ocean. He chastised himself internally for his wandering eyes. She was the Merines, for Nerifes' sake! She was above him! How did he dare to even contemplate sullying her with an impure touch!
"Are you alright, Walter?" Shirley worried. Her guardian was not a very talkative man, but this time he had clammed up even tighter than usual. He looked almost pained, standing there in a murky brown puddle up to his ankles. Was it something she had done?
Oh, how much harder it became when she spoke to him like that! "Don't concern yourself on my account," he urged her. He was used to all things harsh and cruel- it was kindness that would break him.
"Then, shall we go?" she proposed softly.
Walter pursed his lips in thought. He could keep her within his reach and out of danger if he carried her. He knelt down with his back to Shirley and looked at her over his shoulder. "Please, allow me to carry you."
"Oh, Senel used to carry me piggyback like that when I was tired," Shirley reminisced, going along with his suggestion.
As Walter rose to his feet, he felt how light she was. Perhaps it was all the training he had undergone through the years. The Merines was not a burden on his body.
She leaned her face toward his, placing them cheek to blushing cheek.
Additionally, I suppose I should more formally introduce myself. Hi, I'm Suzume and I'm going to be assisting effaced as a co-mod. *waves*
Author: seta_suzume
Pairings/Characters: Shirley/Walter
Prompt: Shirley/Walter, puddle after a rainstorm, on the road
Rating: G
Warnings: Mild spoilers about the main quest, I suppose. You're okay if you've reached the CQs.
Shirley tripped over a rock in the road and wobbled unsteadily, throwing out her arms to catch herself. Walter, ever intent on the the well-being of the Merines, swooped to her rescue, firmly grabbing Shirley before she hit the ground. Only the long end of her pink skirt swished through one of the many muddy puddles dotting the weather-worn road. Shirley gasped at the close call with scrapes and dirty water she had just escaped.
Walter held her close, pressed against his chest until he was sure she had gotten her bearings together. "I'm sorry I couldn't have acted faster, Merines," he apologized, stepping away from the dainty girl. As he looked down the path ahead leading to the Ferines' Village, he could see the entire length of the road was just as marred by puddles, debris, and potholes as it had been thus far. The gray sky promised more rain. "Perhaps I should lead to clear the way of any troublesome obstacles," he suggested.
"Umm, whatever you think is best, Walter," Shirley murmured, blushing as she touched her wrist where he had grabbed her.
Of course, if the Merines was behind him, Walter would be unable to keep an eye on her. Though Vaclav's main force had been destroyed, splintered fragments might still roam the Legacy, as well as other evil-doers with designs on the Merines. Seeing as his duties as a guard had not gone particularly smoothly thus far, he was unwilling to take any major chances with the Merines' safety. ...With Shirley's safety.
The more he talked to her, the more Walter came to see this fluttering flower as not just a savior, but as a girl. Despite her attachment to that detestable Senel, Walter could see she did not regard him with disinterest. And he liked her hair, wavy like the shifting ocean. He chastised himself internally for his wandering eyes. She was the Merines, for Nerifes' sake! She was above him! How did he dare to even contemplate sullying her with an impure touch!
"Are you alright, Walter?" Shirley worried. Her guardian was not a very talkative man, but this time he had clammed up even tighter than usual. He looked almost pained, standing there in a murky brown puddle up to his ankles. Was it something she had done?
Oh, how much harder it became when she spoke to him like that! "Don't concern yourself on my account," he urged her. He was used to all things harsh and cruel- it was kindness that would break him.
"Then, shall we go?" she proposed softly.
Walter pursed his lips in thought. He could keep her within his reach and out of danger if he carried her. He knelt down with his back to Shirley and looked at her over his shoulder. "Please, allow me to carry you."
"Oh, Senel used to carry me piggyback like that when I was tired," Shirley reminisced, going along with his suggestion.
As Walter rose to his feet, he felt how light she was. Perhaps it was all the training he had undergone through the years. The Merines was not a burden on his body.
She leaned her face toward his, placing them cheek to blushing cheek.
Additionally, I suppose I should more formally introduce myself. Hi, I'm Suzume and I'm going to be assisting effaced as a co-mod. *waves*