Tell me, am I going crazy?

Once Briar had climbed into bed with him and gotten settled down, he immediately felt so much better. Seeing her in a state of fright and nervousness had broken his heart, but now she seemed much more calm and content that she wasn't alone anymore. It brought a tranquility to Artorias' soul that only she seemed to be able to bring. She had been his calming thoughts during his meditations, his grounding force to keep himself contained and sane, his sanctuary when he felt his world spin out of control. It could be said without a doubt that his life was better for having Briar in it, and he would never be able to let that cherished relationship go. He would protect it, defend it and her from everything that dared threaten them. Briar Fatalis was his, and he protected his loved ones to the death, from all enemies physical and intangible.

Briar wiggled closer until their bodies snuggled together, her weight and warmth making his heart race in his chest while a startled smile made its way across his face. He was silently thankful that she seemed to have read his mind, allowing Artorias to wrap Briar up in his arms and embrace her among their nest of blankets, furs, and pillows. They had touched one another on many other occasions before, but something about this felt different. Pressed close in the quiet of the night, only the fading glow of the fire barely illuminating her outline and her turquoise eyes shimmering in the dark hypnotizing him, making it impossible for Artorias to look away from her. Warmth and affection smoldered in the gold-flecked amber of his irises, a tender smile on his lips, heart pounding against his ribs, feeling flurries of unfamiliar emotions jumbling him up inside. He felt her fur against his paw pads, really felt her, the softness of each strand while he ran a paw slowly up and down her back to comfort her, taking in her warmth, her scent, her presence all around him. He never noticed other wolves the way he noticed Briar—not from the first day they met, and still not to this moment now. Briar was special, she was unique, and she was so, so important to him.

While the two of them laid there, heads resting on the same pillow near one another, close enough for him to feel her breath on his cheek while they simply stared into one another's eyes, losing himself in the presence of his Briar in this moment. She had such a strange expression on her face, something crossed between contentment and a sudden comprehension of something he didn't see. No matter how much time passed with them cuddled like this, Artorias' heart refused to slow down, beating so fast he was sure she could hear it. His paw continued its slow roam up and down her back, memorizing the way her skin and fur felt under his touch, watching her with a curious raise of a brow. Was she getting embarrassed? Had he done something wrong? Those panicked thoughts didn't live long though as Briar closed the narrow gap between their muzzles, and Artorias felt her lips meet his in the softest and sweetest kiss.

The stunned boy froze, eyes wide like a deer in headlights, but inside his heart was doing somersaults and a heat radiated from his chest. Briar had just kissed him. Briar had just kissed him! A whirlwind of thoughts swept through his head like a tornado. Briar kissed him! Did that mean Briar had a crush on him? It had to, right? You only kissed other wolves you had a crush on, right? So Briar had a crush on him! Oh no, did that mean he had a crush on Briar? Did he want to kiss Briar back? He paused, staring into those big turquoise eyes while she stared at him expectantly, feeling her breath against his snout from how close their mouths still were. Yes. Yes, he wanted to kiss Briar back. So kiss her then!

Artorias obeyed his inner voice and desires, his mouth twitching into a nervous smile while he moved his muzzle forward to meet hers again in return, moving entirely on instinct while he kissed her slow and soft. His kiss was a bit more anxious, but also lingered longer, taking in the sensations of how her mouth felt on his, the way the kiss sent fire racing through his blood and made his heart beat so hard he thought it might burst. He reluctantly pulled back again, leaving the thinnest strip of space between them, a content sigh slipping past his lips while he opened his eyes to find Briar's gaze once more. She sent his heart beating into a flurry, his breathing turned shallow with nervousness and excitement. He had kissed Briar now, and his mind was coming to the realization that he also liked her. Not just as a friend, but in the same way he saw his mothers whenever they looked at each other or shared a kiss. It was a longing to always be close to this girl, to keep her in his arms, protect her, care for her, make her feel special and loved. Artorias' smile was more assured after their second kiss, his forelegs tightening around Briar to keep her held close to him, never wanting to let her go again. She was his, and he would be hers.

"Artorias" | "Corbin"