Chapter Text
I walk into the office, rolling my shoulders, massaging my neck at the same time. I had just completed my rounds, checking on each area of the port, greeting various kansen around and generally milling.
It was one of my favourite duties, and the nice weather had meant the walk was pleasant. I had received the odd eyeful of jealousy, even annoyance. But all had been polite. The reason for those reactions was rather simple.
The day. It was Valentine’s Day.
Back in the day, a lot of the ships got me chocolates and small gifts, and I think some found it harder than others to break from that routine. Indeed, when I came in this morning, I had found a box of chocolates on my desk, ready and waiting.
The packaging had been discrete, with no sign as to who it was from, the sender was not stupid enough to out themselves. I had a few guesses as to their identity, but I kept such things to myself.
Akagi would be the obvious choice, but in reality, I didn’t think it was her. She had moved on from her obsession with me. Eventually. It had been hard on her, seeing me happily married, but she had come to terms with it, told me she was truly happy for me, and sought love elsewhere, which I respected.
My wife had been more sceptical. Their past tussles and Akagi’s actions were not so easily forgotten by the vampiress. But when Akagi had turned up with Shoukaku on her arm one right at the port gala, her fears were laid to rest. It had certainly been a surprise, to see the two together like that, but they seemed happy, which is what I hoped Akagi would eventually find for herself.
As I open my eyes and begin walking towards my desk, I start to realise that my seat is not empty. In fact, it was taken. By my very own vampiress.
“My Adonis.” She greats me with a smile, sitting cross-legged with a smug grin planted on her face.
She redirects her attention to my secretary for the day, who had hurried in behind me before stopping, just as surprised as I at my wife’s presence in the office.
“Forbin.” York nods professionally at the blonde woman, who is desperately trying to keep her composure when faced with the more mature, and perhaps intimidating women.
“York.” Forbin does a decent job of overcoming her surprise and nodding back at York, even giving a little bow. Even as a ship and as a woman around the port, York had always commanded respect from her fellow kansen. Whether that was born from fear and wariness of her vampiric nature… well, that was another subject. But ever since we had become husband and wife, most of the ships treated her with an almost deference, not because of her nature, but simply her status as my wife.
It was odd to think that the position that held no rank or seniority within the confines of the port commanded such a reaction from the other girls. But Dork loved it. I knew she did, she bathed in the attention, the smug aura around her palpable whenever we walked around the port as a couple.
She just loved to show off that she was the one who had caught my eye, who had captured my heart and claimed a ring off me. She was like that sometimes and truthfully… I loved it.
“So. Hath mine spouse received many gifts this day?” She smiles, revealing a fang with intention as she raises a brow questioningly. She wasn’t the jealous type, she was just playing, although she was certainly curious.
Forbin keeps her cool and just smiles back. “None. Aside from one this morning.” The destroyer points towards the chocolates on my desk and I wince.
I needn’t worry, of course, York merely peers at them for a second, picking up the box and turning it over before putting back down nonchalantly with a shrug. “Well, I guess that’s a box for us to share.” The vampiress laughs lightly.
As I had suspected, she didn’t really care. She knew I would never take an advance like that seriously. I suppose, when we were constantly in and out of each other’s heads, the insecurities that came with that kind of stuff just…. didn’t exist. We both knew we would never harm the other like that, so there was no point even entertaining the idea.
To York, it was quite literally an extra box of chocolates we could enjoy while watching a film on the sofa one night. She stands lithely from my seat before gliding towards me, her long arms quickly finding their way around my back as she takes me in a deep hug, her refined tone clear in my ear.
“Happy Valentines, my dear Adonis. Doth thou wish for thy gift?”
York’s hands return from my back holding a bright red box, gold ribbons tied up in a neat bow. I already knew what they were. Homemade chocolates. She had given them to me every year, and they were always delicious.
I kiss her on the lips gently as I take the gift from her, mumbling into her lips. “Thank you. You want yours?”
York hums an affirmation, and I’m a little embarrassed to realise Forbin is still standing there nervously watching.
“Uh. Dismissed Forbin. Thanks for the help.” I give a sheepish smile to the French girl, who flashes me one in return, making herself scarce quickly.
I return to my desk, pulling the lower drawer open and retrieving the gift from inside. It looked remarkably similar to York’s own gift, with the main distinction being the dark red ribbon and slightly shinier material.
My wife watches me curiously as I take it out of its hiding place and hand it to her. She takes it with a smile, reading the tag on the box.
“Oh, Simons? How delightful.” She was referring to the local chocolatier from who I had got the chocolates, as I did every year. I wasn’t much of a talent when it came to making chocolate by hand truthfully, not like York. But there was another reason I had made a custom order with the local business this time, something a little different I had thought of.
“Open them.” York gives me a questioning look but pulls on the ribbon keeping the box sealed, taking the lid off and staring at the assorted chocolates inside.
They were all set out in rows professionally, with intricate designs and details adorning them. Most were heart-shaped, but some were round or square, allowing for more decoration atop.
“Taste one. I think you’ll like them.”
York picks one up daintily, before flicking it into her mouth and biting down. Her reaction is immediate, a rather sultry moan of pleasure slipping free as her eyes flash red for an instant, before settling back down to her turquoise after she had swallowed down the treat.
“Oh. My my. Such delectable little treats, hidden with such a subversive taste. I thought mine senses detected a familiar pleasure… a scent hanging in the air, teasing my fangs with its presence.” She grins at me.
“Infused with my Adonis’s blood… you know exactly how to make them a truly more-ish indulgence.” She smiles before picking up another and closing her eyes as she bites half, relishing the taste before finishing it off.
“I shalt hath to bind my gluttonous hunger before I devour the entire box.” She gives a sheepish smile, placing the lid back on. But I can tell, she wants more. She absolutely would eat the whole box if she could. Each bite of the chocolate was like taking a bite of me. Infinitely pleasurable.
“Yes. But…” She glides closer and kisses me on the lips. “I still like it fresh from the tap, so to speak.” She laughs lightly before kissing me harder.
The taste of the chocolate lingers on her tongue, and I love it, hunting down every morsel I can find as our bodies press close, before moving on to her fangs. Running my tongue over them never got old.
“Careful now.” York mumbles quietly into the kiss, the edges of her lips tugging upwards into a smile. “Tis only a matter of time and fate before thou injures thy tongue again.”
I laugh, and continue anyway, enjoying the feel of the sharp point against the very tip of my tongue. “Perhaps. But I think you’d like that anyway, wouldn’t you?”
“I would.” She admits it before retreating back from the kiss. “But you winced in pain everytime we kissed afterwards, for several days in fact. Twas amusing, but tis no need to repeat such folly. Unless you liked the pain, of course…”
Her teasing is smug, turquoise eyes playful. She knew full well that I had indeed enjoyed the pain. I had accidentally cut my tongue on her fangs when making out passionately. We had laughed at the time, and York was happy to clean up the blood, of course. It had been sore afterwards, but something about that pain whenever she had probed the cut with her tongue, trying to dig out anymore blood had been exhilarating. But then… my masochistic streak was not exactly news to me or my wife by this point…
“Right.” I glance at the clock. It was close enough to the ned of my shift, a couple of minutes wouldn’t matter.
“Let’s get home.”
“Oh. Something a little different than our usual dance, dear?” I nod. Indeed, we usually went out for Valentines, to a nice restaurant or bar, sometimes both, while our daughter was busy with whichever kansen would take her for the night. But seeing as my pregnant wife could not drink, I had the spur to try something a little different.
“I’m cooking.”
York grins happily, playing with her left earring, blushing slightly. “Oh my. How romantic~” She laughs. “And hark, what sustenance have thou planned for us?”
I hug her closer and whisper in her ear, making the description of my planned dishes oddly sultry, which York giggles at.
“Arancini starter, with a side of salmon terrine.” I pause, my breath lingering on her sensitive ear before continuing. “For main. A small sirloin steak, paired with orange jus and duck breast.”
Her eyes sparkle with recognition as a warm smile spreads on her visage. “Oh. I see.” She didn’t need to say it, I knew she realised the significance of those dishes. They were a fusion of what we had both eaten on our very first date together.
“A beautiful sentiment.” She speaks truthfully, before flashing a cheeky fanged grin. “But those dishes are rather technical. Art thou sure thou hath mastered the culinary arts that finely? We may well end up eating takeaway yet.”
“Hey!” I grumble indignantly as she chuckles. “I reckon I can handle it. I’ve… been practising them.”
York looks surprised for a second, before regaining her composure. “I look forward to it then~” She leans closer, and it’s her turn to whisper in my ear.
“And what doth thou hath in mind for a sinfully delightful dessert?” The way she say’s ‘sinfully’ sends shivers down my spine.
“Chocolate brownie.” I lean in and as gently as I possibly can, graze my teeth against the tip of her ear, the vampires’ whole body quaking in response as I whisper again. “with a side of ear licking… care, affection… and perhaps an extra helping of physical love.”
York can’t help but laugh at my corny but sweet flirting and hugs me tight, kissing me once more. “Such twisted desires swimming around in that mind thou calleth home.” She bites my lip mischievously. “Sounds like a charming evening indeed.” Her hand quickly finds its way into mine. “Come now. I wish to witness thy adorable attempts at cooking such finery, such lavish entertainment is hard to come by.” She chuckles once more before pulling me forcefully towards the door, and our romantic night for two.