Trash Panda

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Kane’s tension didn’t slip past Crow’s watchful gaze for a second. The viceroy eyed him discreetly when Naida carelessly announced that he and Penelope had kissed during the nobleman’s absence. His frustration wasn’t unexpected though. Crow had already guessed that Papert had competing with him for the knight’s affections since he’d shown up at their table. The other man probably thought that he’d just lost out on a chance to be the one to kiss her instead.

Too bad, he thought scathingly, lifting his mug to his lips to finish off the rest of his drink. It would be a relief when he and Penelope could finally come forward about their relationship and stop pretending like they were nothing more than friends. He was reaching the end of his rope with all the nobles who had been trying to court both of them. Hopefully once everyone knew they were together, the flirting strangers would come to an end. And even if they didn’t, at least he would have a pass to do something about it instead of sit back and pretend like it didn’t bother him when other men flattered his woman.

In the next instant, Crow was torn from his musings when Kane signaled to a group of knights to approach their table. The former thief felt his heart beat faster with adrenaline, his eyes locked on the armored men that now strode toward him and the others. He had been prepared to handle his drunken companions get back to the castle, but if they were ambushed now, he couldn’t fight them all off by himself. He was still an amateur combatant at best, and he’d stopped carrying his daggers ever since Preston had told him about the nobleman who had snapped and killed a guard. Not trusting any of the people who were surrounding them now, he turned on Kane with an unbridled glare.

“It’s unnecessary,” he growled, warily keeping the knights in the corner of his eye as he hurried to come up with an escape plan. If they were here to pick a fight, he would either go down swinging or do everything in his power to get himself and the two inebriated noblewomen to safety.

“It’s no trouble at all,” Kane kept up his polite attitude, although the lighthearted tone didn’t match the unfriendly look on his face.

“I don’t care,” Crow said stubbornly. “I don’t know them; I don’t trust them. We’ll be just fine on our own, so you can call off your dogs.”

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Crow tried to reign it in, but Naida might have screwed it up again ^^;

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Crow grimaced when Naida called him out for the way he’d been acting since Penelope had kissed him too. He would have liked to be able to meet her lips so passionately and then pretend like nothing had happened, but the fact of the matter was, he couldn’t turn his feelings for her on and off like a spigot. They’d managed to have a little more time together than usual since the party, but it was still far from enough to satisfy the longing he had to be close to her. The unexpected kiss just now had felt like a cold drink of water after a drought. He couldn’t hide the excitement he’d felt upon receiving it.

To make the situation worse, his sister chose that moment to declare the worst challenge for her friend that she could have come up with. The viceroy tensed involuntarily, taking a slow breath to stop the look of dismay that threatened to take over his features as she told the knight to kiss Kane. After everything that had happened the night before, the last thing he wanted was to watch the woman he loved be pressured into a romantic dalliance with another man. The defeated expression he’d seen on her face after Cedric had forced himself on her was ingrained vividly in his mind. He couldn’t bear the thought of seeing it again.

Feeling Penelope’s hand slip into his lap beneath the table, Crow glanced down at her with a frown. The uncertainty in her eyes had gone unnoticed by his drunken sister, but he caught sight of it right away. The princess had gone too far this time. “Naida, enough,” he snapped in a low tone, shooting her a warning scowl. He didn’t care how she interpreted his sudden change of mood as long as she stopped pushing Penelope to kiss the other nobleman.

The princess gawked at him confusedly. “Why? It’s just a li’l fun. We’ve all been drinkin’. He’ll know it didn’ mean any—”

“I’m serious,” he interrupted sternly, reaching underneath the table to lace his fingers with Penelope’s in a comforting gesture. “That’s enough. Leave her alone.”

Naida shrank down in her seat, but she seemed to get the message as she nodded a wordless agreement.

A tense silence fell over the group until Kane slid in next to Penelope again. The nobleman looked over them with a bemused expression, unsure what was going on since he’d been gone. “So,” he cleared his throat awkwardly, turning to the knight. “Did I miss anything?”

“Not much,” Naida mumbled across from him, dismally toying with her empty mug. “Collin and Penelope, just kissed, tha’s all…”

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Crow didn't help the situation xD
He definitely forgot they weren't alone for a second

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

As Naida fumbled to come up with a solution to the problem he’d pointed out to her, Crow shook his head exasperatedly. There was nothing she could say to convince him to join in her game, and it sounded like Penelope wasn’t enthusiastic about it either, even drunk. He lifted his mug to take another sip of his drink. He hoped the princess would give up soon, so they could move on and talk about something more enjoyable. Constantly fending off her accusations was getting exhausting.

He had just gotten distracted by a group of knights that had broken out into laughter at another table when Penelope suddenly let out an annoyed huff. Caught off guard by her reaction to Naida’s prodding, Crow turned to her in astonishment as she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him into a somewhat forceful kiss. At first, he froze stiffly, eyes wide with shock that she would lock lips with him so passionately in front of his sister. But even though he was sober enough to know it was a bad idea, he couldn’t help returning the kiss after his initial surprise faded. They had been together long enough that it was too easy to fall into a natural rhythm with her.

His eyelids drifted closed, and he reached across her lap to rest his free hand on her waist. Her lips felt soft against his, and he could taste the sweetness of the cider that still lingered on her tongue. For a moment, he forgot about their audience and lost himself in the feeling of her mouth moving against his. That is, until he felt the knight pull back to address Naida again.

The viceroy averted his gaze, pressing his lips together as he tried to will away the ruddy warmth that had crept over his face. He was embarrassed that he’d caved to his desire so easily, but more so than that, he’d found Penelope’s spontaneity thrilling in a way that made his heart hammer in his chest. He hoped his sister was too drunk to notice, but somehow, he was sure a detail like that wouldn’t slip past her after what had just happened.

“What’re you talkin’ about?” Naida exclaimed with an incredulous grin when Penelope tried to play off the kiss. “That was hot. I’ve nev’r seen anyone kiss a friend like that. I think you fancy him.” Her triumphant gaze shifted to her brother’s colored face. “And I think he fancies you too.”

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Nadia saw through the bluff though ^^; She's trying so hard lol

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Crow rolled his eyes when Naida misunderstood what he’d been trying to say to her. It seemed like alcohol just made her even more persistent than she already was before. Part of him appreciated her unwavering support for them to be together, since there were few others in their lives that approved of their unorthodox relationship, but until he could have a civil conversation with his father about it, he had to keep her in the dark. He was sure she would understand when they eventually explained it to her.

However, before he could steer the princess off course again, he turned to Penelope in surprise as she thanked his sister for the compliment. Apparently she was drunk enough to forget that they were trying to keep a secret after all. Even Naida seemed taken aback by her friend’s giggly response, but, fortunately, the knight managed to make a clumsy recovery at the follow-up question.

“Oh,” Naida pouted when Penelope said he wasn’t her type.

“Can’t help that,” Crow shrugged, jumping on board with the excuse since his sister seemed to buy it. Subtly, he rubbed Penelope’s back with his hand to assure her that he hadn’t taken any offense to the feeble lie.

“Wait a minute,” Naida furrowed her brows, and the viceroy tensed. She was quiet for a moment before her eyes lit up with renewed excitement. “That’s not true! You couldn’ take your eyes off ‘im at the party last night. He’s totally your type.” She grinned across the table, seeming to think she’d won.

Crow sighed. “Does it matter?” he pointed out tiredly. “She obviously has some reason why she wouldn’t want me to court her even if I was interested. She probably just doesn’t want to offend me, so we should let it go.”

“I don’ think so,” the princess’s impish expression returned again. “I think she just hasn’t given you a chance. I’ve got an idea!” Leaning forward, she tipped one of her empty mugs onto its side. “Le’s play spin the bottle! I bet P’nelope’ll change ‘er mind if you kiss ‘er.”

“That’s a terrible idea,” Crow wrinkled his nose. He glanced over his shoulder briefly and lowered his voice. “You’re my sister, moron. What are you going to do if it’s your turn to spin, and it lands on me?”

Naida blanched, as if the thought hadn’t occurred to her. “You’re right,” She squirmed in her seat, looking around the tavern before she went on tentatively, “What if we invited more people t’ play with us? Then it’s not as likely t’ happen…”

~Bonsoir~

Vail definitely wasn't thinking about his father when he did that xD Not that it would have changed anything though, since he's been getting fed up with being told what to do when it comes to his love life.

~Bonsoir~

Yep, he's gonna chew Vail out after everyone else leaves, haha.

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Crow tried to rectify it, but Naida was too drunk to realize he was messing with her xD