[Ritsuka's instincts are, in this as in most things, spot on.
She doesn't give him time to second-guess or doubt. Instead, she's taking the plunge, and her reward is a quiet, breathy noise out of Minato, partially surprise but mostly very intrigued and encouraging.
He's not a loud human being at any time, really, so the noise itself is a bit of a surprise for him; he chases it up by trying to coax her into a deeper, more lingering kiss, partially because he wants to, and partially... to try to cover up how embarrassed he is that she was able to draw something out of him so easily.
Possibly more than fine, in ways Ritsuka is not letting herself think too deeply on, because the moment she does, she will fizzle out in embarrassment. As long as she just relies on instinct over thought, it will definitely be fine!
And the noise he makes is inspirational, to say the least. She wants to follow it as far as she can, so it takes very little encouragement for him for her to throw herself into it.
Which, for the moment, apparently means crowding him back a little, into the table. There are no convenient walls, and she's not willing yet to break the kiss to find one. This will just have to do. ]
Oh yes, he is so into this. He's more into this than he probably wants to admit to even to himself, but Minato's always had a weakness for ladies who can absolutely shove him around and apparently Ritsuka can fit that bill just fine!!
She crowds him forward and is perfectly successful; he goes willingly, until his back is pressed up against the table and he can't go any further. There's something exciting about that, too, something that makes his heart race as Ritsuka's all up in his space.
The way he leans in to kiss her is even more insistent than before, and the way that he almost hums into the kiss is very interested and intrigued.]
[ The more he allows her, the more she's willing to push. Ritsuka has always done her best responding to the energy she gets from the other person, so if Minato is willing to let her bully him like this, she's more than happy to keep pushing. It's just that she doesn't entirely know what she's doing, and instinct can only carry one so far.
But once she has him pressed up against the table, she does, very daringly, let her hands slide up, curling behind his neck. When she's allowed, she likes to be a tactile person, and it has possible that she has wanted to pet his hair for a while now. Just a little. She certainly makes a very pleased sound when she gets her fingers in it, giving the hair at his nape a small testing tug before she bites him again.
Sometimes you're the bullied, sometimes you're the bully. ]
[Sometimes you're just a guy who likes being bullied by strong ladies, and that's just a fact.
At the very least, he has a lot of hair for her to play with at will, and the way he turns his head into her touch, completely encouraging and willing. More of that, please--he's very much enjoying it.
His arm, looped around her waist, tugs her just that bit closer, until they're pressed flush together.
And when he finally breaks away from their kisses, it's with a smile on his face and flushed cheeks.
And, breathlessly (but clearly entirely pleased and only mildly teasing):]
[ It's not actually the first time she's ever been called that, though it's always been in a wildly different context. But even when it's someone praising her in a fight, it's not really a word she's ever associated with herself.
If he's going to say it, though, she might have to actually rethink her own impressions for herself. At least he doesn't seem to dislike it, which means she's only flustered, rather than trying to backpedal. There's a part of her that's deeply embarrassed about how skittish she feels, but also, this is all new for her! Surely she's allowed!
Her fingers flex a little in his hair, but she doesn't pull them out; if anything, she leans more of her weight against him. ]
I've never--uh--I've never even... I've only ever held someone's hand before...?
[She is absolutely, completely, and totally allowed to be as skittish as she needs. Minato seems content to take more of her weight, looping an arm comfortably around her waist as he soaks up the moment.]
Oh yeah...?
[Minato hums to himself a little as he considers that, before he leans in to press their foreheads together again. She's cute when flustered, but he doesn't want to push it too much. At the very least, he'd like for her to be able to find her footing before he pushes things further, even if she doesn't seem to dislike it either.]
I think that just means I'm really lucky, since I get to be the first person to find this out.
[And while he's sure his body language has already made it clear, he'll continue:]
[ She grumbles, not quite whining, though she leans into the touch. She can't quite look him in the eye, because unfortunately that's just #tsunderelife, but she does like the contact. It's not wrong to say she might even be a little touch-starved, for all that she sometimes still shies away from it.
But after a few seconds, she glances at him again. ]
If you didn't, we'd probably have some problems...
[ It's the most lukewarm sort of complaint, the sort of thing that she's saying because it just sort of bubbles up, nearly an automatic response. ]
...but if you like it, then that's what I care about...
[He's also a little touch-starved, not that he wants to admit to it or examine it too closely, so it works out--
But... this is nice, honestly, pressed this close together so that he can see the emotions playing across her face and the way her golden eyes are so, so bright.]
Mm, I do. I like pretty much everything about you, you know?
[She gave him the opening!! He's going to take it!!]
[ Oh no. Oh no, danger, danger, she gave him that opening and she knows it. Her gaze immediately darts to the side again, though she doesn't pull away. If anything, she hitches herself a little closer. She just likes being close to him like this, no matter how embarrassed she is by his words. ]
That's... a pretty bold thing to say, you know. I can be a lot of trouble.
[He responds like that, but it's with faint amusement too. He's sincerely curious, but he's not concerned in the least by what she might say.]
What kind of trouble?
[He's also not about to pull back, though--in fact, he finds himself gently running his fingers through her hair with his free hand. He's always wanted to! Her hair is fluffy and pretty!]
[ There's a pause that isn't quite startled, before she leans her head more into the touch. She's unfamiliar with most kinds of touch, and as it turns out, she likes when someone plays with her hair. ]
It's practically my job, getting in and out of trouble.
[ She's pretty halfhearted about the protest, though; she doesn't actually want to scare him off. The dilemma is that Ritsuka does, in fact, really want someone to stick with her no matter the situation, but she can't just accept things that easily. ]
Actually, it would definitely be a lot of trouble...
[The good news is that he's really, really hard to scare off, in actuality. He just hums softly in response to that, tugging her a little bit closer, into a tighter hug.]
Then I'm happy to be able to face that trouble with you.
It's better to handle a lot of trouble together rather than alone, right?
[ In response to the tightening of his arms, she leans harder into him, pressing her face more against his shoulder, close to his throat. This is just comforting for her, and also something she almost never allows herself. ]
I've learned that the hard way. But I still worry about being a pain, you know?
[There's something extremely comforting and warm about having her tucked up against him like this, and... that's kind of dangerous, isn't it? If he already doesn't want to let her go, then he's already getting so, so greedy about all of this.
It's a new feeling for him, and one that he's going to need a lot of time to get used to, he thinks.
But that doesn't mean he's about to pull away. It's fine for him to indulge in this right now, right...?]
Mm... I suppose that's normal. But... honestly and truly, Ritsuka... what you bring into my life far outweighs any trouble you could ever cause me. I just feel so grateful.
[ She's still somewhat sulky about saying it, keeping herself tucked up as close to him as possible. It's a problem in her life, really, that the more sincere someone is, the more fussy she becomes.
But rather than pull away, she curls her fingers tighter in his shirt, letting out a long huffing breath. ]
...you deserve a lot, Minato-kun. So... so I'll do everything I can to give you that.
[Thankfully, he seems to think the fussiness is cute. Honestly? It's adorable... the fussier she gets, the more he just wants to kiss her even more.
She speaks before he can, though, and then it's his turn to look a little bashful. He doesn't really think he deserves that much...! But... he also doesn't want to disagree with her, since, well... he also very much likes the sound of that--?! This is a difficult position she's put him in!]
Ah, well... um...
[He dips his head to bury his face in her hair, where he is safe from showing too much of his embarrassed expression.]
I don't know about that... really. I'm pretty ordinary. [And happy that way--he's sure she understands that feeling.]
But... I also don't exactly want to tell you to stop, you know...?
[ That opens her up to having this turned on her, and she knows it, but also, she can't not say it. Even if he's already being embarrassing, saying that much. On some level, there's still a part of her that kind of wants to punch him and run, just out of sheer hair-trigger anxiety. Nice things don't happen to Ritsuka! Not very often, at least, and certainly not enough that she can settle gracefully into the feeling.
But it's just an impulse, a thought that flashes in her mind and is gone again. She doesn't actually want to run away, no matter what the lizard part of her brain is trying to tell her. ]
So... so if you don't tell me to stop, I won't. I'm pretty bad at giving up.
[It's true that he could try to turn it around on her, but... right now, he feels like there's a way better use of his time than that. Later, though--he'll put a pin in it for later, because Ritsuka is still one of the most extraordinary people he's ever met, and he just wants her to know that with all of his heart.
Right now, though?
He'd much rather focus on how her words make his heart skip a beat.]
I definitely won't.
[A beat, and he nuzzles into her hair just a little bit more.]
You know... I really like it when you're a little fierce like this.
[ It's a joke, but it's also serious. Minato?? Please, you deserve a nicer girl than Ritsuka can really be.
But she's also unwilling to let go or pull back, so the complaining is mostly mumbled into his shoulder, her fingers flexing in his shirt. Even if she's saying that, she's still giving herself the permission to be greedy. Just for now. That's okay, right? ]
I'll kick your ass too. And then mine. We've gotta find you some nicer people to spoil you.
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She doesn't give him time to second-guess or doubt. Instead, she's taking the plunge, and her reward is a quiet, breathy noise out of Minato, partially surprise but mostly very intrigued and encouraging.
He's not a loud human being at any time, really, so the noise itself is a bit of a surprise for him; he chases it up by trying to coax her into a deeper, more lingering kiss, partially because he wants to, and partially... to try to cover up how embarrassed he is that she was able to draw something out of him so easily.
It's fine.]
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Possibly more than fine, in ways Ritsuka is not letting herself think too deeply on, because the moment she does, she will fizzle out in embarrassment. As long as she just relies on instinct over thought, it will definitely be fine!
And the noise he makes is inspirational, to say the least. She wants to follow it as far as she can, so it takes very little encouragement for him for her to throw herself into it.
Which, for the moment, apparently means crowding him back a little, into the table. There are no convenient walls, and she's not willing yet to break the kiss to find one. This will just have to do. ]
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Oh yes, he is so into this. He's more into this than he probably wants to admit to even to himself, but Minato's always had a weakness for ladies who can absolutely shove him around and apparently Ritsuka can fit that bill just fine!!
She crowds him forward and is perfectly successful; he goes willingly, until his back is pressed up against the table and he can't go any further. There's something exciting about that, too, something that makes his heart race as Ritsuka's all up in his space.
The way he leans in to kiss her is even more insistent than before, and the way that he almost hums into the kiss is very interested and intrigued.]
no subject
But once she has him pressed up against the table, she does, very daringly, let her hands slide up, curling behind his neck. When she's allowed, she likes to be a tactile person, and it has possible that she has wanted to pet his hair for a while now. Just a little. She certainly makes a very pleased sound when she gets her fingers in it, giving the hair at his nape a small testing tug before she bites him again.
Sometimes you're the bullied, sometimes you're the bully. ]
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At the very least, he has a lot of hair for her to play with at will, and the way he turns his head into her touch, completely encouraging and willing. More of that, please--he's very much enjoying it.
His arm, looped around her waist, tugs her just that bit closer, until they're pressed flush together.
And when he finally breaks away from their kisses, it's with a smile on his face and flushed cheeks.
And, breathlessly (but clearly entirely pleased and only mildly teasing):]
Ritsuka... you're pretty fierce... huh?
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[ It's not actually the first time she's ever been called that, though it's always been in a wildly different context. But even when it's someone praising her in a fight, it's not really a word she's ever associated with herself.
If he's going to say it, though, she might have to actually rethink her own impressions for herself. At least he doesn't seem to dislike it, which means she's only flustered, rather than trying to backpedal. There's a part of her that's deeply embarrassed about how skittish she feels, but also, this is all new for her! Surely she's allowed!
Her fingers flex a little in his hair, but she doesn't pull them out; if anything, she leans more of her weight against him. ]
I've never--uh--I've never even... I've only ever held someone's hand before...?
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Oh yeah...?
[Minato hums to himself a little as he considers that, before he leans in to press their foreheads together again. She's cute when flustered, but he doesn't want to push it too much. At the very least, he'd like for her to be able to find her footing before he pushes things further, even if she doesn't seem to dislike it either.]
I think that just means I'm really lucky, since I get to be the first person to find this out.
[And while he's sure his body language has already made it clear, he'll continue:]
I like it, for the record.
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But after a few seconds, she glances at him again. ]
If you didn't, we'd probably have some problems...
[ It's the most lukewarm sort of complaint, the sort of thing that she's saying because it just sort of bubbles up, nearly an automatic response. ]
...but if you like it, then that's what I care about...
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But... this is nice, honestly, pressed this close together so that he can see the emotions playing across her face and the way her golden eyes are so, so bright.]
Mm, I do. I like pretty much everything about you, you know?
[She gave him the opening!! He's going to take it!!]
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That's... a pretty bold thing to say, you know. I can be a lot of trouble.
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[He responds like that, but it's with faint amusement too. He's sincerely curious, but he's not concerned in the least by what she might say.]
What kind of trouble?
[He's also not about to pull back, though--in fact, he finds himself gently running his fingers through her hair with his free hand. He's always wanted to! Her hair is fluffy and pretty!]
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[ There's a pause that isn't quite startled, before she leans her head more into the touch. She's unfamiliar with most kinds of touch, and as it turns out, she likes when someone plays with her hair. ]
It's practically my job, getting in and out of trouble.
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He's not here to push her, but he's really happy to see her slowly opening up to and making clear what she does enjoy.]
In that case, it's definitely okay that you're trouble. I think a little trouble keeps things exciting, personally.
guess who lost this notif
[ She's pretty halfhearted about the protest, though; she doesn't actually want to scare him off. The dilemma is that Ritsuka does, in fact, really want someone to stick with her no matter the situation, but she can't just accept things that easily. ]
Actually, it would definitely be a lot of trouble...
let's blame dw
Then I'm happy to be able to face that trouble with you.
It's better to handle a lot of trouble together rather than alone, right?
no subject
[ In response to the tightening of his arms, she leans harder into him, pressing her face more against his shoulder, close to his throat. This is just comforting for her, and also something she almost never allows herself. ]
I've learned that the hard way. But I still worry about being a pain, you know?
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It's a new feeling for him, and one that he's going to need a lot of time to get used to, he thinks.
But that doesn't mean he's about to pull away. It's fine for him to indulge in this right now, right...?]
Mm... I suppose that's normal. But... honestly and truly, Ritsuka... what you bring into my life far outweighs any trouble you could ever cause me. I just feel so grateful.
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[ She's still somewhat sulky about saying it, keeping herself tucked up as close to him as possible. It's a problem in her life, really, that the more sincere someone is, the more fussy she becomes.
But rather than pull away, she curls her fingers tighter in his shirt, letting out a long huffing breath. ]
...you deserve a lot, Minato-kun. So... so I'll do everything I can to give you that.
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She speaks before he can, though, and then it's his turn to look a little bashful. He doesn't really think he deserves that much...! But... he also doesn't want to disagree with her, since, well... he also very much likes the sound of that--?! This is a difficult position she's put him in!]
Ah, well... um...
[He dips his head to bury his face in her hair, where he is safe from showing too much of his embarrassed expression.]
I don't know about that... really. I'm pretty ordinary. [And happy that way--he's sure she understands that feeling.]
But... I also don't exactly want to tell you to stop, you know...?
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[ That opens her up to having this turned on her, and she knows it, but also, she can't not say it. Even if he's already being embarrassing, saying that much. On some level, there's still a part of her that kind of wants to punch him and run, just out of sheer hair-trigger anxiety. Nice things don't happen to Ritsuka! Not very often, at least, and certainly not enough that she can settle gracefully into the feeling.
But it's just an impulse, a thought that flashes in her mind and is gone again. She doesn't actually want to run away, no matter what the lizard part of her brain is trying to tell her. ]
So... so if you don't tell me to stop, I won't. I'm pretty bad at giving up.
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Right now, though?
He'd much rather focus on how her words make his heart skip a beat.]
I definitely won't.
[A beat, and he nuzzles into her hair just a little bit more.]
You know... I really like it when you're a little fierce like this.
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[ It's a joke, but it's also serious. Minato?? Please, you deserve a nicer girl than Ritsuka can really be.
But she's also unwilling to let go or pull back, so the complaining is mostly mumbled into his shoulder, her fingers flexing in his shirt. Even if she's saying that, she's still giving herself the permission to be greedy. Just for now. That's okay, right? ]
I'll kick your ass too. And then mine. We've gotta find you some nicer people to spoil you.