Right Here — Stahl x gn! reader
summery: Lissa tries tirelessly to make you realize your feelings for Stahl. Once you do, things don't go as smoothly as you'd like.
tw: anxiety, anxiety attack (This is fluff tho I swear), hurt/comfort
a/n: I'M GOING FERAL I NEED MORE STAHL CONTENT HELP ASAP! HE IS SO FINE AND SWEET HOW IS EVERYONE SLEEPING ON HIM AHHHHHH!
wc: 1.3k
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“He’s looking at you again,” Lissa pointed out, a giggle falling out of her pink lips.
This had been going on longer than you thought it would. Your close friend Lissa had been pointing out every time she had caught Stahl looking at you. At first you thought she was just messing with you. She had quickly caught on to your feelings for the olive haired knight when she noticed how you were warmer to him than anyone else. Whereas others wouldn’t bat an eye at you bumping shoulders with Stahl jokingly, Lissa had honed in on the smallest interactions she caught between you two.
Little did you know, she had also picked up on signs from Stahl. The way he leaned into your jokes, or how he always seemed to have something you needed when you needed it. She felt hopeless watching the two of you subtly showing your signs of care and affection for the other. The two of you were so blinded by your own feelings, you missed how the other felt.
Rolling your eyes, you replied, “Whatever helps you sleep at night.” Lissa pouted, getting sick of your ignorance.
This had continued until finally you were forced to face the facts. You were innocently teasing each other, enjoying the other's presence.
“You’re so mean to me,” You pouted, crossing your arms over your chest.
“Only to you,” Stahl teased with a bright grin adorning his face. You missed the way his eyes watched you warmly. Instead you reached up to his cheek and pinched it in slight frustration (perhaps a bit out of cute aggression as well).
“Ow!” Stahl yelped, holding his cheek protectively as it was his turn to pout at you. A wave of guilt had suddenly hit you, not wanting to have actually hurt him.
“I love you,” You blurted, hand forming a heart shape. It was something you did when you felt you may have gone a bit too far, hoping to make amends before the other person could get too mad. You had done it with your childhood friends, they had been who you learned it from. So you didn’t think much of it until you parted shortly after.
Lissa pounced on you, pulling you over and jumping up and down excitedly. With your back turned, you had missed the warm pink that dusted over Stahl’s face, walking towards his next duty with a beaming grin. He couldn’t help the excited flutter his heart gave recalling the memory. Even if you hadn’t said those three words in the way he wished, he was still content hearing you aim them towards him regardless.
“You told him you love him!” Lissa squealed once the two of you out of ear shot.
You felt yourself warm at the implication and quickly went to clear the obvious misunderstanding, “I meant it as a friend.”
Once again, Lissa pouted, cheeks puffed out in frustration, “Then why did he give you the most lovesick look after you said it?” You paused, trying to recall how he looked. Damn you for being too anxious to look at people fully.
“He did?” You asked meekly, a strange feeling encompassing you at the thought. You continued to contemplate your feelings, and they were stronger than you had anticipated.
“He has been for the longest time!” Lissa exclaimed, crossing her arms. “And I’ve been pointing it out this entire time! You’re just noticing?”
You couldn’t stop thinking about it for the rest of the day. The sudden realization of just how deep your feelings had scared you. You’d never felt so scared for loving someone before. You loved your friends deeply and unconditionally, but not to the extent you loved Stahl. It was scary how you could envision your future with him, even scarier was the thought of him not being there.
You kept stewing in these thoughts, sitting by the fire as the other’s started retreating to their tents. You had never seen yourself being dependent on someone else. The thought alone was terrifying. Relying on someone else, giving them your heart and trusting they won’t break it. But then your mind drifted to Stahl, and the thought of giving him your heart seemed less daunting. He was so sweet, easy to talk to and fun to be around. He had shown you nothing but kindness and your fearfulness seemed silly. If you were to depend on anyone, it would be Stahl. And just as you came to that conclusion, Stahl had joined you by the dwindling fire.
Suddenly your self assurance had vanished and the anxiety of giving someone your all had returned full force. You curled in on yourself, holding your knees to your chest as you watched the flames dance around. You could feel Stahl’s worried eyes watch you, and where this would usually calm you down, it had only heightened the anxiety coursing through your veins. He had scooted closer to you. This too would normally calm you down, but this time it made you feel like you were drowning.
“What’s wrong?” He muttered, voice soft.
Tears formed in the corner of your eyes as you buried your face into your knees, hoping it would hide you from your fears, “I’m scared.”
Stahl frowned, watching as your breathing picked up and you suddenly grabbed onto your hair. You kept repeating that you were scared and he felt his chest tighten. He hadn’t seen you like this in a long time, and he hoped he never had to. Your anxiety had been clear to him since he first met you, and it was his personal achievement that his presence had seemed to quell most of it. Although this time, he was the cause without even knowing.
He placed his hand on your back, bringing you into his chest and holding you. Resting his head on top of yours, Stahl gently rubbed your back. You grasped onto his tunic. Not only was he the source of your anxiety, but he still managed to comfort you.
Once your hysteria started to die down, Stahl asked, “Do you want to talk about it?
Your fist clenched onto his tunic once more, whimpering out pitifully, “I love you and it's scary.”
Stahl’s heart pumped faster, yet it twisted as well. Was loving him really so harsh? He knew it wasn’t that, but his own mind couldn’t help but warp it to be as such.
“I’ve never felt this way for anyone before and it's so scary,” You continued, unaware of Stahl’s internal conflict. “I love you so much but I’m scared to let you in.”
At this, Stahl nuzzled the top of your head, “You don’t have to do anything you're not ready to do.”
“But I want to,” You replied back almost pathetically, melting into the warmth of his affection. “I want to love you and care for you, and for you to love and care for me.”
“I do love and care for you,” Stahl replied instantly, only pulling away enough to meet your eyes. The usual feeling of warmth and affection filled him every time you were near filled him tenfold. He brushed back a stray strand of your hair as his hand rested on your cheek.
His touch sent your body aflame, unused to such a gentle caring touch. You stared at him with unending love and adoration for the man who sat in front of you, who held and touched you with such reverence. You felt your mind finally ease, and the thought of giving your all to him had finally brought you peace. He cared for you just as you did him, and you couldn’t be any happier than you felt at that realization.
Closing the small gap between the two of you, you placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. You both watched the other with tenderness, not wanting the night to end just yet.
Lissa picked up on change in both of you the next day. She watched with near awe at your unabashed adoration for the other, how you were even more relaxed by Stahl’s side, how he managed to dote on you even more than before.
‘Finally,’ Lissa thought to herself with a slight huff.
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