Pause System: Harem In The Apocalypse-Novel

Aurora's long light pink hair swayed as he turned to her, her grey eyes sparkled as they stared straight at him.

He was left speechless, his brows were raised in surprise, his jaw had dropped.

He didn't know what to say.

But there was one thing he knew for sure, and that was that he couldn't take his eyes off of her.

"S-Since you're not saying anything... A-And I've already told you... L-Let's just head back over to Violet."

Aurora couldn't handle her emotions, she was so nervous her heart felt like it would jump out of her chest. Every second that passed as she waited for his reply felt like an eternity.

Because of that, she quickly got up and turned back to Violet.

'You idiot... What were you expecting from telling him this just now?'

'Besides... Aren't you supposed to be happy just from being able to protect him and keep him safe?' She asked herself.

As she took a step in Violet's direction, her eyes teared up once more.

'He saved me and took great care of me as a friend... Just being by his side was enough for me before...'

'So why...?'

*Grasp*

A palm grasped her hand from behind. Still, she remained turned away, she didn't want to turn around and show him her face.

Contrary to what she had planned, Gray pulled her in, forcing her to face him.

His shock grew even more once he saw the expression on her face.

"Aurora... You..."

*Drip* *Drop*

Tears were dripping down her face onto the ground before them, her cheeks were flushed red from embarrassment. She had shut her eyes trying to hide from the reality.

'Why...? Why am I crying!?' She asked as she rubbed her eyes.

"...Let go..." She muttered.

Gray tightened his grasp.

She had lowered her head to try and stop him from looking, but he stepped in and raised it with his fingertips.

What she saw when she opened her eyes was him staring right at her, he too was blushing and had a troubled expression on his face.

"Me too..." He mumbled nervously.

*Thump*

"What did you... Just say?" Aurora asked as she stared right at him.

A warm bubbly feeling swelled up in her chest which had been aching just a few seconds prior.

"I said, me too." Gray replied, this time with a more determined gaze.

He leaned in to her ear and whispered. "I wasn't sure at first, but I'm certain of it now..."

"I also love you."

Aurora's ears twitched as she heard the worlds, her chest tightened and her heart skipped a beat.

Her eyes grew even more watery as she looked up at him and said. "Don't lie to me... You... I don't believe you..."

She tried pulling away not wanting to hear his comforting words, only to get stopped by him as he pulled her into his chest.

"I'm not lying. My heart is beating really fast right now.. Hearing what you had to say made me really happy." He confirmed

Aurora rubbed her face in his chest and listened in to the sound of his heart beat and just like he had said, it was beating unbelievably fast.

After listening to it, she seemed to have calmed down.

"I won't forgive you if you're lying..."

"Then, how should I prove it?" He asked in a whisper.

Aurora grew even redder, steam looked like it would start rushing out of her ears any second now from how embarrassed she was.

"...K-Kiss..." She muttered whilst stuttering.

Gray lowered his head placing his ear right beside her lips and said. "Say that again? I didn't hear you." In a teasing tone.

Realising that he was teasing him, Aurora gave him a weak hit to his chest which he had barely felt, before saying. "Give me a kiss..."

Gray smiled as he heard her words, with his finger tips still on her chin, he turned her head placing their lips right before one another.

*Smooch*

And just like that they kissed.

-

-

-

Gray and Aurora could be seen sat down beside one another backed against the debris which was blocking their path in the tunnel.

Violet was fast asleep covered in a jacket on the ground before them. She was wrapped tightly and had a bright smile on her face as she slept.

No one would have guessed that she had just suffered a life-threatening experience based on how comfortable the expression on her face was.

Aurora who was sat down with her head dug into her knees slowly turned her head to check on Gray.

He looked like he was in deep thought about something.

There were times where it was easy to tell what he was thinking, she was always observing him after all.

No matter how hard she tried, there were times where it was really hard for her to speak her mind to him, compared to the others, she was the shyest.

'If only I was as good at socialising as Violet or Ruby...' She thought to herself.

The longer they sat there in silence, the more she realised she needed to do something.

She quickly shook her head and called out to him, but to her surprise, so did he.

"Hey." The two simultaneously said.

"Ah- Sorry, you first." Said Gray with a slight giggle.

Aurora giggled too as she wondered whether or not to say it or let him speak first.

'If... If I don't say it now then I may end up being too shy to say It in the future..'

It was just the two of them, in the quiet dark. What better opportunity than now to ask?

"So... What are... What are we going to do now?" Aurora asked.

'I'd be lying if I said I wasn't fine with the way things are... But...'

'Can't I be a little greedy... Just this once...?' She questioned herself as she stared at Violet.

Gray opened his mouth, but didn't say anything. He was contemplating on what to say.

Aurora gave him an akward smile wondering if she was asking for to much. She was about to play it off as a joke when all of the sudden-

"I... I don't know."

For a moment, her heart sunk.

"I- I don't want to ruin what we have with the others... I'm worried that if we make anything official, we might separate as a team..."

Gray was interrupted by Aurora who suddenly asked.

"Gray... How do you feel about Violet and Ruby?"

"..." He was quiet for a moment.

But just a moment, he didn't take much time to contemplate on how to respond. After all, he knew being honest right now was something that he owed to Aurora who was hoenst to him in regards to her feelings.

"The same way I feel about you." He replied.

Aurora listened in quietly without muttering a word.

"They're very important to me... Being with both you and them makes life just a bit easier to handle."

"Just as I love you, I love them."

That was it, that was all there was to it.

It was strange for her, she expected that hearing it from him would have hurt a lot more, and in the past it probably would have.

But after talking to Violet, seeing his honesty.

His answer had genuinely made her happy.

With a bright smile on her lips, she suddenly leaned in and put her head to rest on his shoulders.

"I had a feeling things were like that."

Gray was surprised by her reaction.

"You're not mad?" He asked.

She shook her head.

"The fact that you were honest was good enough for me, and besides..."

Her cheeks grew redder once again as she turned to him.

"You said you loved me so... I'm still reaaalllyy happy about that.."

'So what if I have to share him? As long as there's a place for me in his heart... I couldn't ask for anything more.' She wondered.

Gray's eyes widened, his cheeks flushed red as he looked at her bright smile. Her expression, her beauty, it all captured his heart once again in that moment.

He moved instinctively, pulling her in for another kiss. Embracing her slim waist as he hugged her tightly.

When it came to any of them, Gray would really lose control himself.

But it was the same for them.

After being pulled in and kissed by him, Aurora began giving him small kisses running down his neck.

One particular kiss which was done on his neck lasted a long while, she forcefully sucked on it aiming to give him a hickey.

"Isn't that long enough?" Gray asked after twenty seconds had passed.

Aurora shook her head. A small sucking sound was made as her lips finally separated from his neck.

With both a cheeky and proud smile on her face she placed her finger over the newly formed hickey, open to the views of others before muttering.

"Now it's done. I've marked my territory." She claimed with a bright smile.

*Thump*

Gray's heart skipped a beat.

'How can she be so cute?' He wondered.

"Then- It's my turn." He spoke before suddenly moving in to her neck.