FEATURED FIC
take it slow
fandom: pokemon sword & shield
rating: general audiences
pairings: sordward/sonia
characters: sordward, sonia
tags: mistletoe,first kiss, established relationship
summary
the couple who've been taking things slow for months find themselves under a plant with a very specific tradition attached to it
It was freezing out, even with hands interlocked as they walked through the streets of Wyndon, picking up some final bits and pieces before it hit midnight and was officially the twenty-fifth. It was weird, but not unwelcome. Sonia was used to doing this type of thing herself, so having some company definitely helped make it easier, even if he grudged her making him contribute to carrying half of the bags. Why he didn't just call upon one of his dozens of maids and butlers she wasn't quite sure of.
Still, this entire thing had cut it quite late. By the time they'd fully finished getting everything they need Sonia had missed the final train home, with Sordward offering to drive her home no matter how much she insisted she could just get herself home.
Since they'd started dating she'd picked up on Sordward getting very protective over her, something she couldn't quite get used to no matter how many months it'd been. Though it wasn't even truly exclusive to them dating, he'd began to get like that way before, but she didn't think too much of it at the time.
"So, you definitely have everything you need?" Sordward spoke up, reminding Sonia he was right in front of her despite how caught up in her own thoughts she was.
"Mhm, think so." She smiled, picking up her pace to catch up to him slightly ahead of her. "Even if I don't, considering what time it is already that's everything shut now anyway."
"That is what happens when you leave things until the last minute." He scolded receiving only a pout in return.
"Hey! I mostly got everything, there was just a few things I was missing and we got them now, so everything is fine!" She huffed, adjusting the way she held one of the bags. At least they were close to Sordward's mansion, she could see some of the garden from where they were now, and from there it'd be…a couple hours home, but she didn't mind too much so long as he didn't. Part of her considered asking to stay the night, it'd be easier for both of them, would it not? But somehow she saw that conversation being awkward.
"Are you sure it's really alright for you to give me a ride home?" She started, quickly forcing in her follow-up as she saw he was about to reply. "I mean, it's almost midnight already, aren't you tired?"
"Which is exactly why I'd prefer I was helping you get home rather than you going alone at this time of night." He shrugged, letting go of her hand and digging through his pockets to find the key for the first of many locks throughout his estate. It definitely didn't help his case that he kept all of the keys separate rather on a keyring. She tried to raise the suggestion once that he should get one of those, but he was too stubbornly stuck in how he's used to doing things.
Though that was one of many things she found oddly endearing about him, so she didn't mind too much.
When the gate was finally open Sonia was quick to run off into the garden. She swore, were it not for the straight path in the middle leading to the mansions entrance this place would be a maze, hard to navigate during the day and even harder now when she could barely see a thing, besides the lights adorning the center path. She drifted back to that primary path as Sordward began to make his way towards the opulent entrance, suddenly stopping and looking up at something over one of the arches adorning the garden.
"What's up?" She let her eyes drift up to his, he looked almost annoyed, and even as she finally looked to what his gaze was on she didn't quite understand.
Mistletoe.
She stared for a moment, meeting his eyes as he finally ripped his gaze off of the plant lingering overtop of the two. She furrowed her brows, trying to think of what exactly to say to him.
"You know, it's just a dumb tradition." He seemed uncomfortable, perhaps at the thought of the kiss? She wasn't entirely sure. "We don't have to do it if you don't want to."
Hopefully that at the very least would ease him. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't a little hurt that her boyfriend seemed so annoyed at the thought of kissing her under the mistletoe, but if he didn't want to then he didn't want to. They'd been taking things slow. Sordward's hand came up to the bridge of his nose, pinching it as he grit his teeth.
Geez, could he not at least pretend?
He clearly noticed Sonia's look, clearing his throat and resting his arms on her shoulders as he spoke.
"No, no, I want to!" He seemed rather desperate in that declaration, a total surprise considering his prior look. "Is it not rather pathetic for our first kiss to be due to some stupid holiday tradition?"
So that was the problem, she sort of understood where he was coming from now. Even if she did disagree. How exactly to tell him that was the next big mystery she needed to solve, going quiet for a few minutes and twirling her hair in her hand until the internal lightbulb flickered on.
"Actually, I think it's rather sweet." She pointed up at the plant once more. "It's just like a romance movie, isn't it? The couple who have been taking things slow–haven't kissed yet–finding themselves under the mistletoe. If anything, it's just a good excuse to finally do it, if you really want to."
The way she viewed things was always so sweet, he couldn't help but let out a hearty chuckle in response, biting his lip as he leaned towards her face ever so slightly.
"Well, if that's how you see it. If you're alright with it, I'll do it." He scanned her face, waiting for her affirmation to go ahead. When she finally gave a small nod, he hesitantly continued the slow lean in, as if unsure of what he'd do when their lips actually finally touched.
Though clearly he was taking a bit too long, Sonia's hands looping round to pull him closer, resting on the back of his head. The build-up was clearly the only problem, considering how eager to deepen the kiss Sordward seemed.
After a few moments he finally pulled away, with an expression she could only describe as relief. Relief that they'd finally gotten a first kiss out of the way, relief that it'd gone well. Perhaps even relief to be there with Sonia at all.
He quickly leaned in again, planting another small kiss on her lips.
"Ah, let's get inside. It's too cold for us to be standing out here all night."
A small giggle escaped her mouth. It seemed the kiss had made someone forget he was supposed to be driving her back to her own home rather than having her stay over at his own.