Germany x Reader - Ten Steps - Part 7

"I never thought circuses could be so interesting, Ludwig," [Name] smiled wider, as she wrapped her coat around herself tighter. Ludwig glanced towards her, a smile on his face mirroring hers, as the tips of their noses were bright red, from the cold.
"I'm glad you liked it," Ludwig ran his gloved hand through his hair, getting used to the strange pain in the cheekbones that comes from smiling for prolonged times. "Ehm, [Name]...is this coffee place really far? Maybe we should've just taken the car."
"Oh, it's not that far," she shook her head. "Just down the road, really...I think it seems longer because of the cold...oh, you're not cold, are you?"
Ludwig shook his head, and [Name] continued. "Yes, well, I thought that I should kind of show you my thanks, and the bakery beside it has some really nice stuff, too."
"You didn't need to show me your thanks, [Name]," Ludwig chuckled briefly.
"Oh, but I do!" [Name] shook her head. "Plus, the coffee here is nice, anyway. You like coffee, don't you?"
Ludwig nodded, as [Name], all of a sudden, came to a stop in front of a quaint awning.
"There...was a coffee shop here?"
"You didn't know that?" [Name]'s eyes sparkled, as she laughed. "But then again, I don't blame you, not many people know about it, anyway."

Ludwig couldn't help but smile faintly, at [Name]'s enthusiasm, cheerfulness, concern...he wondered if ever he'd have the chance to tell her how he really felt about her. He didn't want to spoil how the relationship had been so far – it was strangely calming, and wonderful, and...terribly hard to explain, but-
"Ludwig...are you okay?"
"Oh, I, erm...y-you have something, there." Ludwig pointed at her cheek, where an eyelash sat astray, as a matter of distraction.
"Hmm? Really?" [Name] touched her cheek.
"No…more to the right."
"Here?"
"No, uhh..." Ludwig paused, before he pointed at the approximate spot on his own cheek, yet [Name] still missed the eyelash by just a bit. Almost, as if by reflex, Ludwig reached out, to brush away the eyelash. As his fingers came into contact with her cold cheek, Ludwig froze, slightly. [Name] seemed to freeze as well, as she looked up at him, waiting for a reaction.

"Your...uhm, your cheek...it's quite cold." Ludwig drew his hand back, the tips of his fingers tingling. [Name] rubbed her cheek in a vain effort to hide her blush, a shy smile on her face. "Yeah...I think I just need some coffee."

Step 7 - Break the touch barrier - complete