Be Mine (EnglandXReader)

"Are we…almost there…yet?" You asked, panting as you took another painful step on the umpteenth step on the what seemed to be the 5^th stair case.

"Almost. Come on, (Name), you can't be tuckered out already, it was just a few flights of stairs!" your best friend, Arthur Kirkland, said as he seemed to glide up the staircase with ease, as if his legs weren't burning with an overwhelming pain. Not that you were thinking about his legs…

"FEW? That was like…over a thousand steps! You expect me…to just…zoom up all of them?" You huffed, blowing some stray (h/c) strands of hair out of your face. You received an amused smirk from the Englishman as he reached the top of the staircase, only to start on a new one. You groaned at the new set of steps as you reached the top of the staircase as well, grudgingly taking more steps up the stairs.

You had recently flown out to England to see your long-time friend, Arthur. You two had grown up together since middle school, up until college, when he had to return to his hometown in England to attend school while you stayed back in the U.S. Though you missed him greatly, the two of you e-mailed each other and video-chatted, so it was as if he never left. You had grown close to the Briton, even if he was cynical and had a sharp tongue - not to mention he had a strange belief in supernatural creatures, such as faeries, unicorns, and specifically a flying green bunny he claims to have named "Flying Mint Bunny" since the 6^th grade. Truth be told, you actually had a little crush on the Englishman. You didn't realize it until your high school years, when you noticed how tall he came to be. He was a good few inches taller than you, and became a bit more buff. Not a total jock, but more than just a skinny body. How your heart fluttered every time you looked into his grass-green eyes that just seemed to suck you in, or when he flashed you one of his smiles that he rarely showed - everything about him brought you more in.

And, here you were, just plain old (Name), with (h/c) hair and (e/c) eyes. Arthur was truly one of God's own creations, whereas you were…you. Not that you were ashamed of being you, it's just…how could someone so perfect fall for someone like you? Or so you thought. When you arrived in London, Arthur and you had spent the whole week visiting the city's best tourist attractions - such as the London Eye and the Tower of London. But he seemed to have saved the best for last, since he had blindfolded you and drove you out to who-knows-where, and told you it was a surprise. Of course, he didn't mention the surprise was at the top of what seemed to be 10,000 stairs.

You didn't notice Arthur stop at the top of what seemed to be the last staircase, and ran slightly into him. "Are we…finally done? I'm..!"

Woah.

Your words died on your tongue as you stared in awe at what was around you.

Big Ben, and all its glory.

"A-Arthur, this is -"

"Amazing, I know," the blond seemed to say smugly. He was satisfied with your reaction, obviously, as he watched you take steps around the giant bell, touching all of the clockwork that surrounded the massive thing. But that wasn't the best part.

When you turned to face the clock, you nearly fainted right there. The clock seemed to be transparent, clearly and beautifully showing the city of London. You pressed your hands against the wall, smiling at how wonderful it all was. The lights from the giant Ferris wheel gleamed and twinkled as it slowly rotated, along with the city's other smaller attractions. You turned back to Arthur, who looked happy that you were enjoying yourself. "Arthur, this is so incredible! It's gorgeous up here!"

He nodded, taking his steps to gaze out of the clock tower next to you, "Indeed." You turned back to the clock, eyes scanning over the many streets and pedestrians that seemed like ants when you felt Arthur staring at you.

Blushing, you asked, "A-Artie? You okay?"

He seemed to snap out of his trance and cleared his throat. "O-Oh, um, yes, (Name), I-I'm fine,"

Both of you turned back to the clock, silence taking over the two of you. Then, finally, he spoke. "H-Hey, (Name),"

"Yeah?" you turned to him, his green eyes locking with your (e/c) ones, sending shivers through your spine.

"I-If I ask you something, will you promise not to get angry with m-me?" he seemed fidgety all of a sudden, a sense of nervousness washing over him suddenly.

You nodded in response as he took a deep breath.

"(Name)…will you be mine?"

Before you could even utter a "Huh?", he had cupper your face in his and pressed his lips against yours, making your eyes widen in shock. The kiss seemed uncertain, like he was scared that you would reject him. Throwing all uncertain thoughts out of your mind, you wrapped your arms around his neck, smiling into the kiss. This seemed to encourage him, since he brought his arms around your waist and held you closer to him, pouring all of his feelings since he's first met you into this one kiss. Pulling away (reluctantly), you laughed and said, "Arthur, I'm already yours."

The Briton smiled one of his genuine smiles that only you've ever seen and leaned in for another kiss.

…

…

"Oh, yeah, and Arthur?"

"Yes, (Name)?"

"All of those stairs were totally worth it~"