HOME | DD

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

Cherry Stems

(England x Reader)

  The weather was beginning to look brighter and more beautiful as spring finally emerged from the rather lengthy winter season. This particular day was strikingly exceptional with birds singing just outside one’s window as the delicate scent of Kiku’s cherry blossoms that started to bud filled the air. Any normal person would be seizing the opportunity to soak in the warm weather, but unfortunately Arthur was currently tasked with cleaning after the horrible mess left by none other than Alfred F. Jones (who happened to sneak out without so much as a goodbye).

  Arthur forcibly open a window before he succumbed to the thick and pungent scent of cleaning supplies. He’d never know how the American was capable of creating such a large mess in such little time. With a wistful sigh he pulled his eyes from the brilliant spring hues to the interior of his home to find he was nearly finished after what seemed to be hours of nonstop work. Before he could go any farther in his endeavors, however, there was a knock on the door.

  Arthur’s face grew red as he knew it was Alfred coming back for one of the many items he inevitably forgotten when he eluded Arthur’s wrath. He marched to the door with nasty words on his tongue just barred behind his teeth when he ripped open the door. Upon doing so, he found you standing innocently on his doorstep with a gentle grin on your lips.

  ”Good Afternoon, Arthur.” You greeted. His mouth was unable to produce comprehensible words while his cheeks flared up from the angry pink to a bashful red. He suddenly become very aware of the bandana tied on his head and the rather frilly apron wrapped on his body.

  ”What are you doing here?!” He managed to finally squeak out after ripping off his bandana. You stifled a laugh realizing he probably wasn’t expecting any guests.

  ”I just came by to see if Alfred was still here.” Arthur’s heart panged with slight disappointment, but he tried not to seem obvious as he had already embarrassed himself enough.

  ”I’m afraid he’s already left.” He admitted, but didn’t want to see you leave so soon. He quickly added, “But I’m sure he’ll be back soon. He left an awful lot of his belongings here.”

  ”I see.” You feigned disappointment, although you didn’t quite feel that way. You were just thrilled to have had an excuse to talk to the British gentleman.

  ”You can come in if you’d like.” Arthur stepped away from the door and swung his arm out in an inviting stance, which you accepted as you took a seat on his couch. “I’ll go get some refreshments.”

  Arthur returned with a small tray containing a bowl of cherries and light, floral tea, appropriate for the season. He delicately placed the tray onto the coffee table and stepped back with his hands on his waist as he mentally went over his checklist for the tray. You took that moment to admire how he looked with his tousled, sandy hair, thoughtful emerald eyes, and, of course, the frilly apron.

  ”That’s a nice outfit choice – really brings out your eyes.” You giggled behind a porcelain cup. Arthur’s face lit up once more in an array of red hues as he hurriedly removed the apron, murmuring something along the lines of it belonging to his mother. Even when he was embarrassed he seemed quite attractive to you perhaps even more so than usual.

  You turned your attention to the bowl of cherries once you replace your teacup on the silver platter and gingerly removed a single fruit from the pile. Arthur chattered on about what was new in his life and even let slip a few insults about the Frenchman at work he so despised. You couldn’t help but smile whenever he did so because his bushy eyebrows would furrow in the most adorable way. Suddenly, however, a thought struck you as you finished another cherry.

  ”Say, Arthur.” You called him back from his rambling. “Can you tie a cherry stem with your tongue?”

  ”Wha- Why would you ask such a question?!” Arthur sputtered nonsense feverishly wondering why you would ask such a question due to the meaning it entails.

  ”I don’t know.” You sighed while looking at him from beneath your eyelashes innocently. “I was just wondering since Alfred could do if you-“

  ”Why that-“ Arthur stopped himself midsentence as his anger riled up inside. He was furious and a little hurt that Alfred would do such a thing after he knew how Arthur felt about you. What Arthur didn’t know, however, was that you made it up! You had never even tried to tie cherry stems with Alfred before, but just wanted an excuse to test how well Arthur could kiss without embarrassing yourself.

  ”What’s wrong?” You inquired assuming he was simply flustered. Arthur turned to you with narrowed eyes and proclaimed, “I can tie a cherry stem just as well as that idiot – a-and twice as fast, too!”

  ”Wow. I’m impressed.” You grinned all the while holding back the urge to ask him to lock lips for proof; you did however settle on, “But you know you have to prove it now, right?”

  ”Oh –“ Arthur’s voice faltered as he plucked one of the many stems from the tray and inspected it for a moment. As time ticked by, he felt less and less confident. Alfred had far more experience with – this – and he had not been expecting to have to prove anything.

  ”Here, I’ll try to do it, too.” You grinned and plopped a stem onto the center of your tongue. Arthur followed suit, but try as he might, tying that stem was far tougher than he ever expected. The longer he tried, the more irrational he became with thoughts flitting around his thinking that you might laugh at him or call him a fool if he didn’t succeed. Then an even more awful thought crossed his mind – what if you didn’t think he was good enough for you!
  It was a ridiculous thought, but he was panicking. All of a sudden he felt the stem break in his mouth. He pulled it out and you glanced at him expectantly causing him to toss it to the tray and quickly fetch a new stem.
  ”Faulty cherry.” Arthur sheepishly tried to laugh it off.
  As you focused on knotting your stem, Arthur noticed you squeeze your eyes shut when he suddenly hatched an idea. He spat out the stem and swiftly tied it with his nimble fingers before pressing one end to his lips as the other end hung out his mouth. He posed triumphantly when you opened your eyes acting as if he hadn’t cheated.
  ”Woah! I didn’t think you could actually do it!” You gasped in genuine amazement with slightly red cheeks realizing what that implied. Arthur felt pride and a bit of guilt, but mostly pride now that you were impressed with him.
  ”You have to teach me how to do that!” You exclaimed ripping the stem from his lips. He pulled away, surprised as you inspected the stem. A perfect knot!
  ”Ah, I’m not a very good teacher.” He bashfully rubbed the back of his neck.
  ”Oh, come on!” You cried clutching his forearm, but quickly easing your grip when he stiffened.
  ”I don’t know.” Arthur had to find a way out of this. “Maybe next time. It is getting late isn’t it?”
  ”I suppose so.” You grumbled with a huff knowing he was hiding it. Arthur stood from his seat and escorted you to the door. When he pulled the door open, he hesitated as if he was looking for particular words, or at least how to arrange them.
  ”You know I didn’t really come over here looking for Alfred.” You confessed. Arthur cocked an eyebrow encouraging you to continue, but instead of letting the words you had been practicing to tell him for so long, you lurched forward and pressed your lips to his in a spontaneous burst of confidence.
  Before you could move away, Arthur’s slender hands gingerly grasped your face and pulled you closer to him. The embrace was sloppy and inexperienced, but embodied the feelings you both were too stubborn to admit for an incredulous amount of time. When he finally released you, his emerald gaze held a glint of euphoria and relief.
  ”I know you cheated, but I am still impressed.” You whispered breathlessly before pulling from Arthur’s now frozen frame with a wide smile. His ears burned to the touch now that he was filled with humiliation knowing you had seen straight through him. He finally dragged himself back to Earth and touched his fingers to his swollen lips. Arthur made a note to purchase more cherries as he watched your figure retreat down the street.