The Choice (Soma x Reader x Agni)

The Choice
(Soma x Reader x Agni)

As you pulled off your nightgown and tossed it over the Japanese screen that shielded you from the tall Indian man standing uncomfortably in your bedroom, a loud yawn escaped your lips.  It was early; much too early for you, or anyone else, to be awake (in your opinion).  Pale, gray sunlight poured in through your partially curtained windows and revealed a small layer of dust at the foot of your bed, covering the tall bedposts in a thin sheet.  Agni had an undeniable urge to start tidying up, but he resisted.  Pillows were strewn everywhere, the sheets on your bed were tangled up into a knot, there was a various assortment of random items strewn across both of your bedside tables, and a half-drunk cup of tea was sitting on your vanity.
 “I’m almost done,” you said, rather loudly, as you finally figured out the proper way to wear the strange dress that Agni had brought you.  As you made your way around the screen, you eyed yourself in the full-length mirror carefully.  “What did you say this thing was called?”

“A sari, Miss,” Agni replied with a gentle smile.  His tan cheeks were dusted in pink as he watched you twirl and observe yourself in the mirror.  He stiffened when you cut your eyes toward him.

“I see.  It’s lovely, but Prince Soma really didn’t have to…”  Your brows furrowed a bit as you tried fixing one of the wraps.  It was loose, but you had no idea how to tighten it without unravelling the whole thing.  Agni approached you hesitantly.

“May I?”  He bowed slightly.  You gave him a firm nod before extending your arms out obligingly.  “I think the prince felt a bit disheartened when you wouldn’t accept his last gift.”

You flinched a bit as you felt Agni gently tugging on the fabric of your sari.  He glanced at you a few times to make sure you weren’t offended as he carefully pulled the wraps a bit tighter.  “I couldn’t keep it.  Ciel doesn’t allow pets.  Especially not angry chipmunks.  Though I think it was just scared…it was fine when I caught it.”

Agni nodded and straightened his posture.  You felt his hands leave your waist as he finished fixing your clothing.  “Indeed.  It was very frightened, but not aggressive.  The prince had me fetch it for you in the first place.”

“I think that Ciel might have provoked it a bit…”  You cocked your hip and placed a hand on your chin as you tried recalling the incident.  “Or maybe it was Sebastian that it had a problem with…the poor thing just took off through the mansion!”

When you came back to reality, you saw Agni lingering at the door.  He gestured out into the hallway.  “Shall we?  The prince is waiting on us.”

Agni’s face turned at least three different shades of red as you linked your arm with his and swept him out into the hall.  You didn’t even bother to close your bedroom door.

 “I really hate mornings,” you yawned as you leaned your head against Agni’s shoulder.  You felt every muscle in his body tense as your hair brushed against his skin.  You were so tired that his discomfort didn’t really register in your mind.  It wasn’t until you stopped walking that you realized that you had already reached the sitting room.

 Agni cleared his throat and gently pushed you forward so that you were standing directly behind Prince Soma.  His head was propped against his right hand while his left hand idly smoothed out the lace tablecloth.  You glanced over your shoulder, but Agni was nowhere to be found.

 “Ah!  ______!”  Soma greeted you as you took a seat beside him.  The large, arched windows cast shadows across the room.  These shadows made box-like designs on you and the prince as you began pouring the tea.  “Please.  Let Agni do that.”

“I think Agni stepped out for a bit,” you said absentmindedly.  The smell of the tealeaves almost had you in a trance.

“You look tired,” Soma noted.

“I am.”  After a moment of silence, you quickly added, “Thank you so much for the generous gift.  It’s very nice.”

Soma smiled.  His golden eyes watched you fondly as you sat down the teapot and began stirring in lumps of sugar.  “It looks lovely on you.  You’d make all of the princesses of India look like common maids.”

You felt blood rush to your cheeks unexpectedly.  You were a maid, but no one had ever compared you to a princess before.  Soma was quite charming when he wanted to be, but he was also a bit demanding.  You knew that if you ever became more than friends, things would probably end badly, but you couldn’t help but harbor a slight crush.  Why else would you get up so early in the morning?

“I see you’re speechless,” Soma chuckled warmly.  You felt a delicate pressure against your hand as he curled his fingers around yours.  He skin was warm and soft; that of a man who had never worked a day in his life.  As you glanced down at your intertwined hands, for some reason your mind flashed to Agni and how he had helped you with your sari.  His touch was different.  It was gentle, but firm, and more than a bit hesitant.  Your blush intensified greatly.

“I’m sorry.  I’m not very good at accepting compliments,” you blurted out as you reached for your teacup.  Your hand was trembling ever-so-slightly.  Soma merely smiled at your nervousness.

“You should get used to it.  You are a very attractive girl, ______,” he told you as he lifted his own cup to his lips.  A dark blush had blossomed across his cheeks.  You could tell that he was trying his best to seem confident and charming, but underneath, he was just as shy and nervous.  The fact that you seemed so shaky appeared to calm his nerves considerably.  It made you feel a little bit guilty that Agni had crossed your mind and made you so flustered.

 “Shall we take a walk in the garden?”  You glanced up at Soma, who watched you expectantly.  He seemed quite eager to get out of the mansion, which was understandable considering the fact that he had been cooped up for several days.  You had been much too busy to spend time with him, therefore he only had Agni to accompany him on his ventures.  You nodded once and smiled, taking his arm as he extended it to you before standing.

 All of the plants were covered in small droplets of dew.  Finny and Agni had been working together and had really made some improvements.  There were several trellises with roses climbing them, and beds of various flowers were positioned against the side of the mansion so that they were beneath every window.  There was a heavy, porcelain fountain placed in the center of the garden, and around it a ring of teacup roses were planted.  Your entire face lit up as you examined the scene, lighted in the pale morning light just enough to make all of the florae look extra colorful.  Soma shifted his weight from one foot to the other beside you as your eyes scanned over one of the beds with careful scrutiny.  Pluto had been messing with the flowers again.

“Beautiful,” Soma commented lowly.  You nodded as you leaned toward the smashed flowers in order to get a closer look.  There were definitely footprints.  You shook your head slowly before straightening your posture.

“Yes.  Finny and Agni have done a wonderful job.”

Soma swallowed nervously and shook his head.  “Y-You are beautiful.”

You turned your head quickly, but just as you did, Soma placed a gentle kiss on the corner of your lips.  He paused for just a moment before backing away.  You opened your mouth to speak, but stopped as the prince pulled you into his arms, hiding his blushing face in your neck.  You could feel the heat radiating off of his cheeks as he nuzzled closer to your skin.  As he did so, you felt your shoulders relax and your heart melt.  Little did you know, you were being watched from nearby.  Agni allowed a gentle, but sad smile to grace his facial features as he watched his master and the girl he had fallen in love with, stand together in the center of the garden.  Nothing could have made him happier, or more brokenhearted.  All he could do was smile.

 At the end of the day, Agni led you back to your room.  You had spent the whole day with Soma, chatting and wandering around the mansion.  You had considered going in to town, but immediately dismissed the thought because you knew that if you did, Soma would buy anything that you looked at for more than five seconds.  You felt dazed and a bit confused.  You liked Soma, but you couldn’t help but feel like there was something creating a distance between the two of you.  As you glanced at Agni, watched how fixedly his silver eyes stared ahead and how strong and proud he looked standing beside you, your heart twisted into a tight knot.

“Agni?”  You spoke slowly.  Agni glanced at you, the candle in his hand casting a quivering shadow across the right side of his face.

“Yes?”

“Thank you.  For everything.  You do a lot for me, and Soma, and everyone else here at the mansion.  I appreciate it.”  You bit your lip slightly as the two of you stopped in front of your bedroom.  The door was still open.  As Agni glanced over your shoulder, he saw that Sebastian had tidied up your things, and now everything was in order.  He bowed formally.

“I am glad to be of service.”

You smiled and turned, your hand on the doorframe.  You closed your eyes for a moment, then pivoted back around suddenly.

“Agni—” you stopped mid-sentence.  The Indian man was gone.  You were left alone in the hall.  Each end looked pitch black.  There was no light except the moon, shining in through the window in your room.  You let your shoulders slump as your back touched the doorframe.  You tipped your head against it and closed your eyes.  After a moment, a small grin tugged at your lips.  “I am so fortunate to have two wonderful friends who care about me so much…so very lucky.”

As you drifted off to sleep, the events of the day played in your mind like a movie.  Memories of the past few days followed, and by the morning you knew exactly who you belonged with.

~And the two of you were very happy for many years to come.

THE END~