Chapter Text
“Ryuu!” The main pharmacy door crashed against the wall and rebounded, shuddering. Ryuu dropped everything and ran, pens scattering in his wake. Obi had taken Shirayuki herb gathering. If he was coming back, kicking down doors, and shouting for Ryuu, that meant -
Shirayuki was cradled in Obi’s arms, pressed tightly against his chest. The fact she wasn't greeting Ryuu was unusual, but he didn't see any overt signs of injury. No blood or bruises, no broken bones. Obi, on the other hand, looked like a man on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Ryuu got his first clue why as Shirayuki stretched upward and locked her lips on the corner of Obi’s jaw. Obi screwed his eyes shut and gritted his teeth. A trail of marks down the side of his neck showed she’d been busy all the way back from the woods.
“Congratulations. Now get a room.” That had taken them long enough. Ryuu really didn’t need to know any of the details. He smiled as he turned back toward his office.
“Ryuu! This isn’t funny!” Obi was pleading now. He grunted as he dislodged Shirayuki from his throat and she whined. Her fingertips traced his eyebrows lovingly. “She got a faceful of some flower pollen and now she thinks I’m Zen.”
Okay, that was actually interesting. “Describe the flower.”
“Big flower, blue petals with purple along the edges. The plant was low to the ground, tiny leaves, growing under another plant. Miss was reaching past it for something else, it went poof, and when I went over to check on her, she attacked me.” The note of panic dropped and his voice got very quiet for a moment. “This isn’t fair, Ryuu.”
“Sounds like a Hyacintho Desiderium. The petals are used as a soporific and sometimes sold as an aphrodisiac, but this is the first I’ve heard of the pollen having an effect.” Even more interesting. “Did you save any?”
Obi’s response was so flat it could press flowers. “I was busy. On my back trying to fend off one extremely aggressive herbalist convinced I’m her prince boyfriend.” His chest convulsed as Shirayuki licked his ear. Ryuu really didn’t need to see this, or hear the hums and wet noises Shirayuki made against Obi's skin. “Just tell me it's safe for me to put her down and leave her alone.” He was breathless, agitated to a level that would have a less controlled man in tears.
“If the pollen works like the petals, she’ll be fine. She should get sleepy anytime now.” She already looked very disinclined to move, her legs dangling loosely over Obi’s arm. “We can put her in one of the observation rooms.”
He turned down the covers, and Obi laid Shirayuki in the bed. It took some effort to disentangle himself, her hands slipping into his hair and attacking his clothes as he tried to get free. She had half his coat undone by the time he captured both her hands at once. He stared at her a moment, as if committing the sight to memory. Ryuu could almost see him deciding one last time not to take the opportunity to kiss her. Then he sharply dropped her hands and fled the room.
Ryuu heard Obi thud against the outside wall and slide to the floor, sighing from the depths of his soul. Only Ryuu heard Shirayuki’s pleading whisper, “Obi, come back . . .”