Shift

-----Fabian's POV

Unlike before when an elf came up to deliver some food for me. This time, I asked Ilfa if I could go to the kitchen instead. She agreed only if she could come as well, which of course I had no problems with. I would like to think she wants to spend more time with me, which could still be the case, but I bet she's mainly worried about my ankles giving out during my climbing of those stairs. I also wanted to go down simply because I'm not making the same mistake as before, being stuck in a bed for days on end.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I heave a sigh of relief, knowing that it's finally over. Moving down the stairs is considerably easier than going up, but the sudden impact with each step I make did put a lot of stress on my ankles.

Ilfa: "You alright?"

Fabian: "Mm. I'm fine."

At this point, even I can tell that Ilfa will need to carry me back up the stairs, and that alone is already making my face feel hot.

We soon come to kitchen as the smell of food quickly entered my lungs, reinvigorating the fatigue in my ankles a little.

Alenia: "Ah, Fabian. And the Matriarch?"

Rina's mother is the first to greet us. Sure her face is still intimidating, but her personality is quite soft, much like Rina herself.

Fabian: "Hello. I was wondering if I could eat here for a change?"

Alenia: "Sure."

Ilfa: "Could I also help with the cooking this time? Of course, I'll be relying on your help once again."

Alenia: "C-certainly!"

With Ilfa's presence, everyone quieted down in the kitchen. After hearing Ilfa's story, I can understand how she must feel right now. Sure she has made "friends" here, but they still distance themselves from her.

(Tarifa: "It's what sister wanted the most... I'm more delighted to see that Ilfa finally found someone to bond with.")

I recall my exchange with Tarifa that night... Even if it's just me, I'll try and make Ilfa not feel alone. Sure Tarifa might hate me, but I won't let her down. Everything seems to be calming down now, and with the recent development between Ilfa and I, I'm not about to ruin anything. But... Staring at Ilfa from the table while Alenia teaches her the ropes, I can't help but think of Rina. She was the first to take me out here and has done so much for me. I feel bad that I just tossed that aside, but my thoughts and body just moved on it's own, and now here I am, together with Ilfa.

A part of me wants to tell Alenia right now, but I feel like telling Rina first would be important. But I'm honestly struggling at finding the words to say when she inevitably comes back. Or maybe it might not be an issue?

Dark Elf: "Hey, Fabian."

Fabian: "Hmm?"

It now dawns on me that I sat down on a table with someone else. Or maybe they just sat down and I didn't realize?

Dark Elf: "What's the deal with the Matriarch?"

Fabian: "I guess she's interested in learning new things. I know next to nothing when it comes to cooking, so I respect that she's giving it a go."

Even seeing her right now, the brief moments where she turns to smile at Alenia makes my heart stutter every now and again. I'm glad to see that she's enjoying herself.

Dark Elf: "That's not what I meant."

Fabian: "Oh?"

Dark Elf: "You're quite close with the Matriarch, so everyone's been curious."

It was then that I took a moment to look around the room, and many eyes were focused in on me, whilst others were focuses on Ilfa.

Fabian: "I... I guess you can say that."

Instead of stating it out right, I choose to be vague about it. I don't want to say anything until everything's been figured out. But just from the look on the elf's face tells me that I maybe said a bit too much even with just that.

Dark Elf: "Wait, how close?!"

Fabian: "Uhm."

Dark Elf2: "Hey, hey. We'd like to know as well."

Suddenly, I was surrounded by a few more elves as they must've overheard our conversation. Yeah, I think I fucked up. Now I'm struggling to even make any words as I'm assaulted by their gazes and their persistent chatter.

Ilfa: "Hey!"

But suddenly, Ilfa's voice breaks through the elves' murmurs as they all turn to face her.

Ilfa: "Fabian 丨丂 爪丨几乇, 丂ㄖ 卄卂几ᗪ丂 ㄖ千千."

I'm surprised I could understand her words, but after I take the time to process her words, I feel my heart begin to quicken as I avert my gaze. You're not making this any easier Ilfa!

...

Ilfa: "Hahh~ That was fun."

Fabian: "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

After a somewhat unpleasant lunch with so many stares piercing my body, Ilfa ended up carrying me up the spiral of stairs once again, making this day just that much more embarrassing. I'm glad that Ilfa announced that I'm hers, but thanks to that, now everyone is wondering what exactly is going on. I feel like when Rina comes back, it'll just be a mess.

Ilfa: "Hmm? Was my food no good?"

Fabian: "No. It was delicious. But maybe you shouldn't have said that."

Ilfa: "Said what?"

Fabian: "That... I'm yours."

Ilfa: "It's the truth though, no?"

Fabian: "Well... There's still Rina to think about. And many of the elves knew that we are a couple. You might've confused them or something."

Ilfa: "Hmmm. I see now."

I'm glad to see that she's realized how careless she was-

Ilfa: "But it's not like I said anything in detail. Everyone already knows that you're mine."

Nevermind... But I guess she has a point. I was taken in by Ilfa and looked after by her since the beginning. Maybe I was just over thinking everything.

Ilfa: "Fufufu. So that's what was eating at you during lunch? Cute."

Yeah yeah, keep talking. You're sleeping next so it's my turn to finally get back at you.

Ilfa: "Ah~ But I think I'll take my sleep now before it's too late."

It was then that she laid down on the bed as I went ahead and untied the curtains surrounding the bed frame.

Ilfa: "Mmm. Yeah, If I knew that was the purpose of those things, I would've done that long ago."

Fabian: "Well, I just figured that this was the purpose of them."

There's always a chance that this is just for show and that I'm not actually meant to untie these, but oh well, it does make for a more pleasant sleep; especially during the day.

I end up laying down next to Ilfa as she immediately went and clinged onto my side. It's cute to see this side of her again. The same Ilfa that was so dominating, taking control of everything, is now clinging to me as if she's a baby; or at least it would be if it weren't for her chest sandwiching my arm like this...

Ilfa: "This is okay, right?"

Fabian: "Mm. Of course."

Now's not the time for that. But now with Ilfa this close to me, I can't control how my body reacts. Just her against me like this is enough to make my body heat up.

Ilfa: "Then-"

Suddenly, she lands a kiss on my lips during my attempt at calming down, as all my efforts shatter right then and there. Before I knew it, my hand had already grabbed hold of her arm as I try to keep her in place, not wanting to break away from the kiss just yet. Her eyes widened in surprise at first but quickly relaxed as our kiss softened up before turning more passionate as our mouths slowly open for one another.

Ilfa: "-Fabian."

Fabian: "Sorry. But I can't-"

We stop the kiss for but a moment before I connect our lips once again. I know what I'm doing is unbelievably selfish, but I can't help it. I've been dying over this ever since last night. So with our kiss continuing, I slowly move my hands down her sides towards her waist, feeling her body also growing hot from my fingertips. But suddenly, in a blink of an eye, I find myself on my back with Ilfa now on top of me. I can feel my heart beating out of my chest, but my eyes were fixated on her eyes. they looked to be glowing a lot brighter than any other time as her gaze refuses to leave me, with her mouth slightly open as she pants, almost as if she's looking at me like I'm some delicious kind of food.

Ilfa: "Y-you're making this extremely hard..."

Her eyebrows furrow as her face slowly contorts, almost as if she's in pain. And just then, I feel my chest beginning to tighten, almost as if I'm in sync with her.

Ilfa: "I'll end up killing you."

Fabian: "You won't."

I gently grab one of her forearms that has pinned my shoulders to the bed, trying to soothe some of that pain that she's feeling. And just then, the pain in my chest subsides a bit, and at the same time, her face softens up ever so slightly.

Ilfa: "You put that much faith into a monster like me?"

Fabian: "You're not a monster Ilfa. But yes, I would."

Ilfa: "...You couldn't even last a day?"

Fabian: "Sorry. How could I ignore you when you cuddled up with me like that. I don't think a monster would be cute like that."

Ilfa: "Cute you say..."

I try to make a stab at giving her a bit of payback, but I guess that didn't work. But in the next moment, the corners of her mouth rise, as more of the pain leaves my chest, leaving mainly the feeling of lust I'm feeling right now. Just then, in but an instant, she closes the distance as she seals my lips once again. I wrap my arms around her as we share an even more intense kiss as her body completely presses down against me, enveloping me in the process.

Ilfa: "I'll, try my best-"

It was now her moving her hands over my body as my body could only shiver in place as her nails glides along my skin as we kiss. I'm sorry Ilfa, but it seems as though I'm not the only one that's feeling selfish. So let's just trust each other.