A lot to think about

"They said yes" I whisper taking my seat opposite Quinara, "good boy" she purrs back to me "you gonna tell me what this is about?" I ask in a hushed tone, Quinara smirks then loudly says "good idea master, we should do some sparring" drawing looks. I groan realising I wasn't getting an answer, I pick up my empty bowl and go to grab hers to take to the dirty dishes. Quinara stops me and then loudly says "apologies master, I forget my place" quickly grabbing my bowl from my hands and taking it with hers to the dishes.

Once out of the building and out of earshot of the others Quinara admonishes me "you think the master would be taking his own dishes?" I look at her sheepishly "...No" it was hard doing this act, expected to be her dominant master in public while desperately wanting to be her good boy everywhere else. "You gotta do better runt, we need this room" she states firmly, I nod in agreement after last night I think I would do some unforgivable actions if they tried to kick us out.

We eventually find a spot that's somewhat shaded to train "you given any thought to what comes next?" Quinara asks setting down her stuff, "what do you mean?" I ask calmly. "I mean after all this, we make it to the elven kingdoms and find a place what then?" I envision that future me and Quinara in our own place safe and alone, the sun shining in through the windows as we lay intertwined on a bed, it was a beautiful thought one that I so desperately wished to come to fruition. "I guess we get a home, live out our days in the sun" I suggest to her, Quinara laughs "as nice as that sounds your money will run out." Quinara was right buying a house would be expensive and while we had enough to live off of comfortably for a couple of years, maybe longer if we were frugal eventually we would have to figure out a solution "um well we can cross that bridge when we come to it" I suggest having not even considered what would happen then. "Sure but I wanted to make a suggestion" I let her continue focusing in to hear what she has to say "what if you joined me? Do what I do" I almost do a double take "what you mean mercenary work?" Quinara nods "I-I can't do that" I say thinking about the types of people who did that work, they were fighters people like Quinara not bookkeeper types like me, sure I was considerably more capable than I was when we met but I couldn't do it as a profession. "Why not?" She asks, "look at me, I'm not a fighter" I protest; Quinara says nothing but picks up her hammer swinging it at my head. I dodge it carefully slipping below the swing and drawing my sword ready to train, "really? You certainly seem like one to me" I look back at her "yeah but you're going easy on me" I protest "was Zihan?" That silences me, Quinara continues "I know you don't believe it runt but you're a better warrior than you give yourself credit for, you're damn good with a sword" I smirk "oh am I?" I flirt back shamelessly, Quinara rolls her eyes and sighs, "I'm trying to be genuine runt." There is a small silence before Quinara speaks again "just consider it runt, we've got plenty of time to figure it out."

The actual training session is one of our worst, I couldn't help it but my mind was elsewhere. "Runt? Come on, you barely swung there. Are you trying to prove you can't do what I do?" Quinara asks after one of my more laughable attacks, "no it's not that I'm just uh distracted" I say honestly. I couldn't help but let my eyes roam over her, something she notices and rolls her eyes "men" she says jokingly "look runt I'm flattered but I need you get your head in the game. You can't just forget how to fight because you're thinking with your dick. What if you had to fight someone hotter than me?" She says, I almost laugh at the absurdity of the statement "there isn't anyone hotter than you" I reply truthfully. "Ok firstly good answer runt, but I'm serious" she says, "so am I." I see her eyes study me for a second, sure she knew I loved her and obviously I found her attractive but the idea that I thought she was the most attractive woman who ever existed seemed to be something she doubted. "I've never been more serious, I can't focus right now because I'm still riding the high of everything that's happened" I explain, Quinara smirks "riding the high of getting fucked?" I blush "y-yeah kind of but more than that the high of being your man, being bound together. You're the most beautiful person, my best friend..." Quinara cuts me off, "ok I get it you're smitten with me, or well at least smitten with these" she says tapping her chest. "I'd love you just as much if you didn't have them" I can see Quinara's eyes roll not believing me "sure you would runt I bet you couldn't even name three things you love about me without bringing up these....or my ass" she challenges me.

I did sense that her dismissal of the notion that I could love her for more than her boobs was wall she had put up a long time ago, however I would be happy to tear it down and the first step was thankfully unimaginably easy. "Gods where do I begin: I love that whenever I do what you ask you look at me in a way that makes me melt it's so intense, I love that you can just stay calm no matter how dangerous it is, you make me feel safe. I love that you carry my pack when we've gone particularly hard with training and I complain about my back, I love the way your nose scrunches when you laugh, I love the way you cared for me when I was injured. I love the way that you try not to wake me when you get up early and I don't need to get up yet, I love the way you hold me close when we share a bed. I can go on" (and I genuinely could) I say rattling off more than the three things Quinara had required of me. Quinara was stunned, "wow that's a lot." She looks around awkwardly for a second before grabbing me and pulling me in for one of the most passionate kisses I had ever had. Her hands combing through my hair as her tongue invaded my mouth, I was locked in place both by her physically and by my own desire for this to never end.

The second our lips part I feel a deep sense of yearning, I had only just stopped and I already missed the experience. "Room." Quinara commands firmly, it was exactly what I wanted to hear.