The way Akiha asks that, with that sheepish eagerness to her voice, makes a wave of overwhelming fondness surge up from Nico's belly. "You're cute," she blurts, more of an uncontrolled urge than a deliberate answer. It's something, though, at the very least.
But there's so much more to it than just that, and Akiha deserves to hear it. It's just... finding those words doesn't come half as easy. As unapologetically upfront as Nico is on principle, when it comes to this stuff -- this mushy, sentimental stuff -- she always finds herself fumbling. But Akiha's at least as bad, and she still went and gave an honest answer, so it's only fair she tries her best, too.
(And, if she can give her this same giddy-bubbly warmth Akiha's words planted in her chest... she wants to.)
"I love," she begins, tentative yet sincere, "that thing... what you just said before. How when you want something, you'll make sure you get it. I guess we're kind of kindred spirits like that!" She laughs, but it's not really a joke if she means it, is it. The word choice, made dramatic for humor, gains a whole different weight in the atmosphere of the room. Nico flushes, but doesn't regret saying it.
"I mean... I get that. And I respect that in you, too. We're always arguing, but it's because we're both the kind of people who don't back down. So, uh... I don't think it's bad. I mean, I kind of like it."
A thoughtful beat--
"And you're impossible." She laughs again, at her own bluntness more than anything. "Which makes it feel like-- like I gotta work to get to you, you know? But I want to. You make me want to. 'cause you're..."
Really, seriously beautiful every time she opens up, and it feels all the sweeter for the time and care it takes.
But god, no matter how honest she's trying to be here, there's no way Nico could get herself to say something that embarrassing. She bites her lip through a slow grin, lopsided with self-consciousness and a little bit goofy; softly, her palm curls around the back of Akiha's hand. "Like a cactus, right?"
:oooo hi!!!
But there's so much more to it than just that, and Akiha deserves to hear it. It's just... finding those words doesn't come half as easy. As unapologetically upfront as Nico is on principle, when it comes to this stuff -- this mushy, sentimental stuff -- she always finds herself fumbling. But Akiha's at least as bad, and she still went and gave an honest answer, so it's only fair she tries her best, too.
(And, if she can give her this same giddy-bubbly warmth Akiha's words planted in her chest... she wants to.)
"I love," she begins, tentative yet sincere, "that thing... what you just said before. How when you want something, you'll make sure you get it. I guess we're kind of kindred spirits like that!" She laughs, but it's not really a joke if she means it, is it. The word choice, made dramatic for humor, gains a whole different weight in the atmosphere of the room. Nico flushes, but doesn't regret saying it.
"I mean... I get that. And I respect that in you, too. We're always arguing, but it's because we're both the kind of people who don't back down. So, uh... I don't think it's bad. I mean, I kind of like it."
A thoughtful beat--
"And you're impossible." She laughs again, at her own bluntness more than anything. "Which makes it feel like-- like I gotta work to get to you, you know? But I want to. You make me want to. 'cause you're..."
Really, seriously beautiful every time she opens up, and it feels all the sweeter for the time and care it takes.
But god, no matter how honest she's trying to be here, there's no way Nico could get herself to say something that embarrassing. She bites her lip through a slow grin, lopsided with self-consciousness and a little bit goofy; softly, her palm curls around the back of Akiha's hand. "Like a cactus, right?"