⋆˚࿔ uni ࿔˚⋆

I.

The first time Mualani noticed something different was in an early morning by the coast, watching the waves curl and crash. She often started her day stretching at the shore and riding the first waves of dawn. But this time, as she rounded a cliff, she spotted Kinich and you sitting on a rock overlooking the sea. The two of you were close enough that your arms brushed every time the wind picked up.

Kinich’s usual stern expression was softer than usual. Mualani squinted at you suspiciously. Were you... holding hands?

She jogged closer, but just as she got near enough to say something, Kinich quickly stood up, putting a considerable distance between you and himself. “You're up early,” he said, his voice in its usual calm.

You smiled warmly. “Hey girl! How are the waves? We were just discussing about it.”

Mualani tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. “You were? Really?”

You let out a light and confusing laugh, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear. “Of course.”

She didn’t quite buy it, but you didn’t give her any reason to push further. “Well, the waves are good today! You guys joining?”

Kinich only gave her a polite headshaking, while you nodded smiling. Maybe she was imagining things.

II.

Except she wasn’t. 

A few days later, you were hanging out by Tequemecan Valley' canyons with Kinich standing quietly while you and Mualani chatted. However, every time she glanced toward him, Kinich seemed to be watching you a little too intently. It wasn’t the usual hunter’s focus; it was softer, caring, almost like... adoring.

The girl squinted, pretending to be interested in some flowers nearby while keeping an eye on you two. You didn’t seem to notice anything, or if did, you didn’t mind. You just kept talking, your laughter filling the air.

When Mualani caught Kinich staring again, she couldn’t help but ask, “Kinich, you okay? You’ve been zoning out all day.”

He blinked, his neutral mask slipping back into place. “I’m fine.”

“He’s just tired from all the training,” you teased, winking at him.

Mualani raised an eyebrow, astonished by the scene before her eyes. Something was definitely going on.

III.

The third time came on a day when Mualani was guiding a group of Sumeru’s travelers near the springs when she spotted you and Kinich again, standing by the water. As she approached, she saw Kinich leaning down to whisper something to you, his lips close to your ear. You giggled softly in response.

Wait a minute... Kinich never whispers to anyone. Much less in such an intimate way and even less to make someone laugh. Mualani's instincts flared up immediately. What was he saying? And why did you look so happy about it?

She cleared her throat loudly as she walked up. “Hey. What are you two whispering about?”

Kinich straightened up quickly, crossing his arms. “Nothing important.”

You smiled at her, but there was a glimmer in your eyes that made the girl even more suspicious. “Just a silly joke,” you said lightly.

A joke, huh? Mualani filed it away in her mind. This time she was very determined to figure out what was going on between you two.

IV.

It was late afternoon, and Mualani had just finished surfing when she saw you two by the waterside. Kinich and you stood close, so close as it has strangely been, and for a brief moment, she could have sworn Kinich was about to lean in and kiss you.

She froze, watching from a distance as you smiled up at him, your palm softly pushing his chest away. Were you two really about to kiss? It couldn’t be just her angle view. Could it be?

But just as quickly as it happened, Kinich stepped back, his usual stoic demeanor falling back into place. You turned and waved at her, your smile as bright as ever.

“Lani. Hey! How was the surf?” you called out.

Mualani, still in shock, shook her head. “Uh... good. Really good.”

She stared at you both for a moment longer, convinced she’d almost witnessed something, but there was no proof. Again.

V.

In the several days that followed, Mualani continued to witness that strangeness that kept repeating itself every time you thought she wasn’t around, creating a certain tension between her and you and Kinich—although she doubted that you had noticed any difference, treating her as you always did from the beginning.

Even if it relieved her to know that nothing had changed in your friendship, the surfer couldn't help but feel upset too. Was it that bad if she found out? Didn't you trust her the same way she trusted you? She wanted to be able to release all of her thoughts and ask you if maybe there was something in your bond that was bothering you. But she didn't. And so, things remained the same.

That was a quiet evening, and the moon hung low over the mountains. Mualani had been taking a stroll, enjoying the peaceful night, when she stumbled upon you.

This time, though, there was no mistaking it—Kinich and you stood together under some trees, locked in a slow, deep kiss.

The girl’s cheeks burned as red as the pyro vision you hold so dear closely, eyes widely opening and heart skipping a beat. She gasped, louder than she intended, and both of you quickly turned toward her. You blinked twice before smiling stiffly, even daring to look a bit embarrassed, while Kinich gave her a calm look, his hands still resting on your waist.

“You two!” She exclaimed shaking her head, “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me earlier! I mean, I knew something was up, but really?”

You bit your lip while Kinich just blinked at her, slightly starting to look more guilty as well.

“We didn’t mean to keep it from you for long,” you said as you stepped out of Kinich’s arms and reached for her hand. “We were just... taking our time.”

Mualani arched an eyebrow. “Taking your time? You two were being so weird and annoying with all those suspicious interactions for weeks now! I’m supposed to be your best friend!”

Kinich rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable with the attention. “We wanted to keep it quiet,” he said, his voice low. “At first, anyway.”

Mualani softened, her fake scold melting away into genuine affection. “Still, I would’ve loved to know sooner,” she said, her tone gentler now. “You know me better than anyone else. You know I would never judge you,” she sighed as she watches the sorrow on your face. “Nevertheless, I’m really happy for you both. Really am.”

You beamed and even Kinich’s usual stoic expression seemed to relax slightly.

Mualani continued, her voice full of warmth. “I’ve always known you two had something special. And now that I know for sure, you better believe I’m fully on board with this!” She shot Kinich a playful look. “Just make sure you treat (Y/N) right, okay?”

Kinich nodded, his eyes softening as he glanced at you. “I will.”

You squeezed Mualani’s hand, your eyes sparkling with gratitude and pure happiness. “Thank you, Lani. Your support means a lot to us.”

Mualani grinned, pulling you both into a tight hug. “Just don’t keep secrets from me again, alright? I’m always here for you two.”

You all laughed but shared a quick but sweet bond moment, the atmosphere light and easy. And somehow, Mualani couldn’t help but feel like everything had fallen into place just the way it was meant to.

“But I just got here! And you didn’t even look at me yet!” Phainon whined from the other side, knocking dramatically. “C’mon, you love looking at me.”

“No, I don’t.”

A beat of silence. Then, the click of your window unlocking.

Your heart sank.

“Did you— Phainon!”

With a triumphant ha-ha! Phainon pushed your window open and gracefully slipped into your room. His Spider-Man suit—black, white, and blue with elegant gold accents—hugged his form perfectly, and his mask was pulled halfway up, revealing his ever-so-cheerful face with that boyish grin. His cerulean blue eyes sparkled mischievously as he waltzed right over to your bed.

“I knew you’d leave it unlocked for me,” he chirped.

“That was an accident.”

He dramatically gasped. “Oh, so you don’t want me here? How cruel!”

You rolled your eyes. “Phainon, it’s my night off. I just wanna watch my show in peace.”

Phainon, naturally, ignored your plea for solitude and flopped onto your bed, making himself right at home. He rested his chin on his palm, tilting his head at your laptop. “Whatcha watchin’?”

“Something you don’t care about.”

“Orrrrr,” he drawled, poking your blanketed form, “I do care, because I care about you. Which means your interests are my interests.”

“Lies.”

“Betrayal!” He gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to his chest like you’d just stabbed him. “Here I am, your bestest friend—”

“Self-proclaimed.”

“—who just wants to share quality time with you,” he continued, completely ignoring your interruption, “and you reject me? After all the cool crime-fighting I did today?”

You turned to him with an unimpressed look. “Phainon, if you don’t let me enjoy my show, I will literally punch you.”

“Joke’s on you, I’m into that,” he quipped.

“OH MY GOD—”

Before you could retaliate, Phainon swiftly yanked the blanket off you in one motion. You yelped as cold air hit your skin.

“PHAINON, I SWEAR—”

But the menace wasn’t done yet. Before you could crawl back under the covers, he scooped you up in his arms, bridal style.

“Time to goooooo!” he announced cheerfully.

“What the— PUT ME DOWN!” You struggled in his grip, but he held you tight, effortlessly standing up.

“You had your chance,” he teased. Then, with an absolutely mischievous grin—

He sprinted to the window.

“Phainon. No. NO—”

And jumped.

Your scream got swallowed by the night air as he shot a web toward the nearest skyscraper, the both of you swinging high above the city in an exhilarating rush of wind. Your arms clung around his neck instinctively as your stomach plummeted from the sudden movement.

“Phainon, I hate you SO MUCH—”

“Lies! You love me!” He laughed, effortlessly maneuvering between buildings, his movements graceful and precise. The golden accents on his suit glowed subtly under the city lights. “C’mon, [Name], don’t tell me this isn’t fun!”

You gritted your teeth. “I’m going to kill you.”

“That would be murder, and you’d miss me too much!”

You let out a strangled groan, burying your face into his shoulder. “Just—Just get this over with.”

“Aw, but we just started,” he pouted, but the way you clung to him made his grin widen. He loved it when you relied on him. When you held onto him like this, he felt like the most important person in your world.

He couldn’t get enough of it.

“Hold on tight, [Name]!” he chimed before dropping down from a building, making you scream again.

Phainon’s laugh echoed through the city as he swung with you through the skyline, his grip firm and secure.

You were never gonna get rid of this menace, were you?

The city blurred past in a whirlwind of neon lights and towering skyscrapers, the wind whipping through your hair as Phainon swung effortlessly through the skyline. You were still clutching onto him—your heart hammering from the initial rush—but there was no denying the way exhilaration bubbled in your chest.

“…So THEN—get this, [NAME]—this absolute idiot of a villain tried to rob a bank with a banana.”

You blinked. “A banana?”

“A banana,” Phainon confirmed, his voice practically vibrating with excitement. “Not even a fake gun, not a knife—just a plain ol’ banana. And the guy had the audacity to point it at people like he was in an action movie. Like, ‘Freeze! Hand over the cash!’”

“Oh my god.” You snorted. “Please tell me he slipped on it.”

“HE DID!” Phainon howled with laughter, almost missing a web shot. “Dude ran, tripped on his own banana peel, and knocked himself out cold! I barely even had to do anything!”

You cackled, gripping his suit tighter as he swung around a tall building. “Phai, what is your life?”

“Absolute cinema, dear,” he shot back, winking.

Your stomach did an unexpected flip.

It wasn’t just the wind rushing past you anymore—it was him. Phainon. His warmth, his voice, the way he held you so easily in his arms. Even as he soared through the air, he was relaxed, confident, completely in control. His cerulean blue eyes sparkled with mischief, even behind the shadows of his mask.

And god, that little smirk of his? Annoyingly attractive.

You shook the thought away. No. No way. This was Phainon. Your annoying, overly cheerful Spider-Man best friend who loved nothing more than dragging you into his chaos.

And yet—

“You okay?” Phainon glanced down at you, the breeze tousling his white hair slightly under his mask.

“Yeah.” You cleared your throat. “Just… thinking.”

“Thinking about how cool I am?” He waggled his eyebrows.

You deadpanned. “Thinking about how I should’ve stayed in bed.”

He gasped, dramatically offended. “Wow. You wound me.”

“Good.”

“Okay, you know what?” Phainon gave you a look, then suddenly loosened his grip on you.

Your stomach plummeted. “PHAI—”

He caught you immediately, laughing. “Relax, I gotcha!”

“You absolute menace—”

“Ohhh, says the one who’s clinging onto me like a koala,” he teased.

Your brain short-circuited at the comment. But you refused to let him win. Then you just give him the most fucking judgemental side eye ever before doing something incredibly stupid.

You let go.

With a mischievous grin, you pushed yourself off him, falling freely through the air. Wind roared past your ears, the city lights a dizzying blur as you plummeted. But instead of fear—

You laughed.

“C’mon, Phai! Catch me!”

“Oh, you little—” Phainon immediately shot a web toward you, diving after you with pure panic flashing in his cerulean eyes.

For the briefest moment, you saw something shift in his expression. Something raw. His usual lightheartedness cracked, replaced with something deeper, heavier—like his world would shatter if he didn’t catch you.

And then—

He caught you.

His arms wrapped around you tightly, pulling you flush against him as he shot another web and swung back up. Your heartbeat was wild—not just from the fall, but from the way Phainon was holding you. His grip was desperate, his breathing heavy.

“You,” he exhaled, voice lower than usual, “are insane.”

You smirked. “Takes one to know one.”

He let out a breathless laugh, pressing his forehead against yours. For a second—just a second—his gaze dipped to your lips.

Phainon landed smoothly on the rooftop of a tall building, his grip on you still lingering even after your feet touched the ground. The city sprawled beneath you, a sea of twinkling lights and distant sirens.

And yet, your focus was entirely on him.

He pulled back slightly, keeping one hand on your waist as if reluctant to let go. Then—

That damn wink.

Confident. Dorky. Absolutely Phainon.

“Wait five minutes.” He grinned, then leapt off the building without another word.

You blinked. “Phai—WHAT—”

But he was already gone, swinging downward toward the city streets.

You sighed, running a hand down your face. “This idiot…”

Exactly two minutes later, a soft thud landed behind you.

You turned—and wheeze-laughed on sight.

Phainon stood there, his Spider-Man suit completely gone, neatly folded in his arms. In its place, he wore a loose white T-shirt, slightly oversized, draping over his frame in a way that showed off his collarbones. Paired with black cargo pants, he looked effortlessly relaxed, like he hadn’t just been swinging around the city at terrifying speeds.

“You stole that outfit, didn’t you,” you deadpanned.

Phainon gasped, pressing a hand to his chest. “EXCUSE me? [NAME], I am offended.”

“You absolutely stole it.”

He smirked. “Did not.”

“Did too.”

“Did. Not.”

“Phai.” You gave him a knowing look. “There is no way you just had a fresh change of clothes on standby.”

He hesitated for a fraction of a second.

“…Okay, technically, I just ‘borrowed’ them.”

You groaned, dragging a hand down your face. “Oh my god.”

“It’s fine! I paid for them with my charm.”

“You mean you confused the poor cashier with your chaotic rambling until they just let you take the clothes out of fear.”

He grinned way too proudly. “Works every time.”

You groaned again, but you couldn’t stop laughing. God, why was he like this?

Phainon just watched you with a lazy smirk, arms crossed, and you hated that it looked stupidly attractive. His hair was still slightly tousled from the wind, strands falling over his cerulean blue eyes—eyes that gleamed with mischief but also something warmer.

Something softer.

And the way his white T-shirt slid slightly off his shoulder? Not fair.

You clicked your tongue, looking away before your thoughts spiraled further. “You are the worst.”

“Aww, c’mon.” He nudged your side, stepping closer. “You love me.”

Your heart skipped.

But you just raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Debatable.”

Phainon gasped dramatically again. “Ouch.” Then, after a pause—he tilted his head with a lopsided grin.

“…So, are you coming willingly, or do I have to throw you over my shoulder?”

Your eyes narrowed. “Phai. Don’t you dare.”

His smirk widened. “No promises :).” . . . .

A mischievous glint flashed in your eyes as you stepped forward, rising onto your tiptoes. Phainon barely had time to react before you flicked his forehead, making him stumble back slightly with a surprised blink.

“Ow—HEY!” He pouted, rubbing the spot. “What was that for?”

You smirked. “For dragging me out of my warm, comfortable bed and kidnapping me via rooftop parkour.”

Phainon gasped, placing a hand on his chest as if truly wounded. “Kidnap is such a strong word. I prefer the term ‘spontaneous adventure with a touch of reckless endangerment.’”

You rolled your eyes, crossing your arms. “Yeah, yeah, whatever, Spidey.” Then, tilting your head, you grinned. “Let’s go to McDonald’s. And you’re paying.”

Phainon blinked. “Wait—what?”

You patted his shoulder. “Because you forced me outside, and I’m hungry.”

He stared at you for a long moment. Then, in a completely serious tone, he muttered, “This is robbery.”

You shot him finger guns. “Yup.”

He groaned dramatically, dragging a hand down his face. “I can’t believe this. This is extortion. This is—”

“I will leave you on this rooftop,” you threatened, turning away.

Phainon immediately perked up, skipping to your side like a loyal puppy. “Fine, fine! Let’s go! But just so you know, this is coming out of my superhero budget.”

You gave him a look. “You don’t have a superhero budget.”

“…Okay, true, but if I did, this would definitely affect it.”

You simply smirked, grabbing his wrist and pulling him toward the nearest fire escape. “C’mon, before you start monologuing about your tragic financial struggles.”

As you both climbed down and started walking toward McDonald’s, the city was alive around you. Neon signs glowed in the distance, taxis honked impatiently, and the streets bustled with late-night wanderers. Phainon, now completely out of his Spider-Man persona, walked with an easygoing energy beside you—his white hair ruffled slightly by the breeze, his black cargo pants hanging just low enough to be unfairly attractive.

You hated how effortlessly cool he looked.

But he wasn’t cool at all.

Because he would not stop talking.

“And THEN—get this—this dude at the store earlier saw me swinging down in full costume, right?” Phainon launched into yet another one of his endless stories, hands waving animatedly. “And I swear to god, the first thing out of his mouth was, ‘Damn, Spider-Man’s built different.’”

You snorted. “I mean, he’s not wrong.”

Phainon smirked, striking a fake flex pose. “I am pretty built.”

You rolled your eyes. “You have noodle arms.”

He gasped in betrayal. “EXCUSE ME?! These arms carry you through the city at high velocity, Miss ‘C’mon, Phai, Catch Me.’”

You just smirked, shoving your hands in your pockets. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s see those muscles in action when you carry the McDonald’s bags.”

“Oh my god, you are milking this.”

“Damn right I am.”

By the time you reached the McDonald’s entrance, the warm scent of fries and burgers filled the air, making your stomach growl. The place was still busy despite the late hour, a mix of students, late-shift workers, and other night owls filling the booths.

And then—

Right at the front counter, a bright red sign caught your eye.

“COUPLES GET 40% DISCOUNT.”

Your eyes gleamed.

Phainon, still in his own world, was stretching his arms, completely oblivious to your brilliant, devious plan.

Without missing a beat, you turned, grabbed his hand, and dragged him straight to the counter.

“Wha—?” Phainon stumbled forward, blinking as he suddenly found himself standing very close to you.

The cashier, a tired-looking teenager, barely glanced up before mumbling, “Welcome to McDonald’s. Are you two—” He paused, glancing at your intertwined hands, then at the bold discount sign behind him. “Oh, a couple?”

Phainon’s brain stalled.

“Wait—” He opened his mouth, eyes widening, but before he could protest—

You smirked, leaned in, and—

Pressed a soft kiss against his jawline.

Phainon froze.

Like. Literally. He felt his throat tighten up, like a lock had been placed in his throat and the key had been thrown away. He felt like his heart stopped, Like— God you were going to be the absolute death of him. And then before he even gets to recover himself a little bit, your lips barely left his skin before you shifted slightly, brushing another light kiss beside the corner of his lips. “Yep, we’re a couple!” you chirped, completely unbothered. “I’ll have a large McNugget meal, extra fries, and a vanilla milkshake. And he’ll have… A large Big Mac, large fries, and an Oreo McFlurry, thank you." The cashier hands you the receipt as you take it from her hand and drag Phainon's huge frozen body to the chair. After you seat yourself down and look beside yourself to see Phainon. Only to find him stuck in place, malfunctioning.

His entire face was burning.

From the tip of his ears down to his neck, his skin was flushed a deep red. His cerulean eyes were wide, his lips parted, but no words came out. He wasn’t breathing. He just stood there, completely frozen, staring straight ahead like he had just experienced a full system crash. And then, Phainon made a noise. a small whimper as his left hand goes to his jawline, the exact same area where you had placed your soft lips on. He could still feel the warmth of your lips against his skin. The way you had leaned in without hesitation. The soft pressure against his jawline, the slight graze near his mouth—

His heart was hammering.

His brain was short-circuiting.

You kissed him.

The moment you stepped out of McDonald's, the crisp night air hit your skin, a pleasant contrast to the warm atmosphere inside. You cradled the McDonald's takeout bags in your arms, feeling victorious from your ingenious scam—the couple’s discount had worked flawlessly, and now you had free food and a flustered best friend in tow.

Speaking of flustered bestfriend—Phainon stepped out behind you, his movements stiff, shoulders hunched slightly, as if trying to fold in on himself.

And then—

The stares started.

People on the street, whether passing by, sitting on benches, or just minding their own business, suddenly turned their heads to look at him. Their gazes lingered, eyes darting between his face and his overall demeanor. Some exchanged amused glances, while others outright giggled as they passed.

A group of teenagers sitting by the sidewalk nudged each other, whispering and pointing directly at him. A woman, holding hands with her boyfriend, looked at Phainon, then at her own boyfriend—her eyes clearly saying why don’t you ever look like that when I kiss you?

It took you exactly two seconds to realize why.

Your lipstick marks were still there.

Still boldly visible on his jawline and beside his lips.

Phainon, in his post-flustered daze, hadn’t even wiped them off.

And now he was just standing there, dressed in a loose white t-shirt and black cargo pants, looking like an absolute wreck of a man who just got kissed senseless in public.

Oh. Oh, this was golden.

You opened your mouth, ready to tease him about it—but you never got the chance.

Because before you could even get a single word out, Phainon’s hand shot out, gripping your wrist firmly as he suddenly dragged you forward.

“Wh—? Phainon—”

“Nope. Nope, no, absolutely not.” His voice was fast, frantic, as he swiftly maneuvered you both into a nearby alley.

You barely had time to tighten your hold on the McDonald's bags before Phainon’s arms locked around you—one arm securing your waist, the other ensuring the takeout wouldn’t drop.

And before you could protest—

Whoosh.

A strong, sudden force yanked you upward. The world blurred, a rush of air slicing past as Phainon swung you both up, up, up— the city lights below morphing into glowing smudges, the sounds of traffic turning into a distant hum.

Your stomach flipped, but exhilaration coursed through your veins instead of fear. The weightless feeling of being carried mid-air, of soaring, of being so high up with only Phainon’s grip anchoring you—it was thrilling in a way that made your heartbeat race.

Within seconds, Phainon landed smoothly on the rooftop, feet steady as he held you close for just a moment longer. The city stretched beneath you—lights blinking in rhythm, streets weaving like veins through the concrete jungle.

You let out a breathy laugh, looking up at him. “Damn, Phai. Could’ve given me a warning.”

Phainon, however, wasn’t looking at the city.

He was looking at you.

Still flustered. Still down bad.

His hands hadn’t moved. His arms were still wrapped around you. He was holding onto you like you’d disappear if he let go.

And his eyes. Oh god.

His cerulean eyes, usually bright and mischievous, were soft. Warm. A little dazed, like he still couldn’t process the fact that you had kissed him.

You raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. “Still thinking about it, huh?”

Phainon blinked. Then—his arms tightened.

Like a dam finally breaking, he collapsed against you, burying his face into your shoulder.

A muffled groan escaped him.

“I’m literally going to die,” he mumbled against your skin. “You actually kissed me. In front of people.”

You chuckled, shifting slightly so the McDonald’s bags wouldn’t squish between you both. “Yeah, and?”

Phainon lifted his head just enough to glance at you, his lips parted like he wanted to say something—but instead of words, his forehead bumped against yours.

You stilled.

Your smirk faltered.

Oh. Oh.

This—this was new.

The playful, chaotic tension between you two had always been there, but this? This was different.

His breath was warm. His fingers, once gripping your waist firmly, now curled slightly, as if reluctant to let go. His eyes, up close, weren’t just flustered anymore—they held something deeper.

Something fond.

Something achingly, terrifyingly real.

“…I should be making fun of you right now,” you muttered, voice softer than you expected.

Phainon exhaled a laugh, his lips barely ghosting against your skin. “You should be.”

Silence stretched between you, thick with something heavy. Charged.

Then—suddenly—

Phainon moved.

Not away. Closer.

His arms shifted, fully wrapping around you. A hug. A full, desperate, clingy hug.

He buried his face into your neck, holding you like a man starved.

“…I don’t wanna let go,” he admitted, voice muffled, boyish, soft.

Your heart did a weird, traitorous thing.

“…Then don’t,” you murmured.

And he didn’t.

He stayed pressed against you, completely attached, a lovesick puppy in human form.

You snorted, patting his back with one hand. “You’re so clingy, Phai.”

“You made me like this,” he grumbled against your neck.

You bit your lip, suppressing a smile. “No, I think you were always like this.”

Phainon huffed dramatically but refused to move.

“Just… let me have this,” he muttered. “For like, five minutes.”

You exhaled, shaking your head. “You’re an idiot.”

Phainon nuzzled into your neck. “And yet, you kissed me.”

You groaned. “Shut up.”

He grinned. Didn’t shut up.

“…Do it again.” His voice was soft, playful, but you could hear it. That little hint of hopeful longing. The barest trace of desperate wanting.

You snorted, pulling back just enough to look him in the eye. “Absolutely not.”

Phainon froze.

His playful grin faltered for a moment. His eyes widened slightly, processing your rejection as if you’d just broken his heart into five tragic pieces.

And then—he pouted.

Oh. Oh, no.

You were not prepared for full-sad-clingy-puppy-mode Phainon.

His bottom lip jutted out slightly, his brows furrowed, and his usual confident, cocky demeanor completely melted into pure, shameless, pathetic neediness.

“But whyyyy?” he whined, dramatically nuzzling into your neck again, refusing to be ignored. “You did it before. You can’t just kiss a man and then cruelly take it away.”

“Oh my god, stop.” You laughed, trying to push him away, but he didn’t budge.

He was completely latched onto you, arms locked, legs refusing to move, as if he’d become some kind of living, breathing, human-shaped magnet permanently stuck to you.

“You’re so clingy,” you groaned, but the amusement was clear in your voice.

Phainon huffed dramatically, his pout deepening. “And whose fault is that?”

“I dunno,” you teased, tilting your head. “Seems like a you problem.”

Phainon gasped, offended. “A me problem? A me problem?” He leaned closer, his nose brushing against your skin. “I don’t think so, sweetheart. You did this. You kissed me. You ruined me.”

You rolled your eyes. “I kissed you twice.”

“And yet,” Phainon sighed dramatically, gripping your waist tighter, “I am now a ruined man. Devastated. Completely in shambles. Unrecoverable.”

“You’re so dramatic.”

“I’m suffering.”

“You’re fine.”

“I’m not fine,” he declared, burying his face into your neck again. “I won’t be fine unless you kiss me again.”

You opened your mouth to protest—

But then he bit you.

Softly.

Lightly.

A small, almost teasing nip at the curve of your neck.

You immediately tensed.

Your breath hitched, a small shiver running down your spine.

Phainon stilled for a second, gauging your reaction—then, realizing you weren’t pushing him away, he did it again.

Another tiny bite.

Then—a slow, teasing drag of his lips over your skin.

Oh. Oh no.

Your grip on the McDonald’s bags tightened, fingers digging into the paper as heat rushed up to your face.

Phainon, the absolute menace, let out a low, smug hum against your skin.

“You’re awfully quiet,” he murmured, his voice mischievous, but softer this time. Lower.

You narrowed your eyes, trying not to show how flustered you actually were. “Phainon, I swear to god—”

“I swear to god, too,” he mimicked, grinning against your neck. “Swear to god you should kiss me again...Please baby :(" "Ugh c'mere"

Bonus part-

The second you and Phainon finally made it back to your apartment, barely stepping foot through the doorway, he was on you.

Immediately.

Like a damn puppy seeing its owner after a long day, he lunged, arms wide open, and tackled you onto the couch, wrapping himself around you like an oversized, overly affectionate weighted blanket.

“Finally, home!” he cheered, burying his face into your shoulder, grinning like an absolute fool.

You groaned, laughing, trying to pry him off, but he was stubborn as hell.

“Phainon, get off me.”

“No.”

“Get off me.”

“Absolutely not.”

His arms tightened, his legs tangled with yours, and now you were completely stuck, trapped beneath a very happy, very clingy human spider.

You huffed, playfully rolling your eyes. “You’re literally the most affectionate menace I’ve ever met.”

Phainon giggled, actually giggled, and nuzzled into your neck. “You love it.”

You let out a mock sigh, pretending to be exasperated. “Unfortunately, I do.”

At that, Phainon gasped dramatically, pulling back just enough to look at you with wide, sparkling cerulean eyes. “You admit it?”

You smirked. “I admit nothing.”

And with that, you did the unthinkable.

You flipped the script.

Without warning, you wrapped your arms around him, pulling him in so suddenly that he actually yelped.

“Oh?” Phainon blinked, caught completely off guard.

You grinned, wickedly.

“Two can play this game,” you murmured, voice low, teasing, challenging.

Phainon stared, and for the first time in a while, you had him on the defensive.

He barely had a second to react before you wiggled out of his grip, shoved him onto your bed, and climbed onto his lap, straddling him.

“Wait—oh. Ohhh.” Phainon’s lips curled into a slow, cheeky smile. “Now, this is interesting.”

You ignored him, reaching over to your nearby vanity and grabbing something crucial.

Lipstick.

Bright. Bold. Unforgivingly pigmented.

Phainon tilted his head, curious. “What’s that fo—”

Before he could finish, you swiped it across your lips, coating them fully.

Phainon’s eyes flickered. His hands settled on your waist.

“Ohhh. I like where this is going,” he teased. “You finally gonna kiss me again?”

You grinned, devious.

Then—without warning—you attacked.

Not just one kiss.

A thousand.

You scattered kisses all over his face, his cheeks, his nose, his forehead, his jawline—everywhere.

Phainon yelped, his hands gripping your hips tighter, his body stiffening beneath you.

“Oh—oh my god—wait, wait, sweetie, [Name], hold on—”

You did not hold on.

You pressed another kiss onto the corner of his mouth.

Phainon let out a low whimper

And when you finally pulled back to admire your work, Phainon looked fully ruined.

His face was littered—completely, hopelessly covered in smudged lipstick marks.

And he was so flustered.

His eyes were hazy, his cheeks burning, and yet—that stupid, teasing, smug grin was still there.

He was grinning like an absolute menace, but oh god, he was absolutely, hopelessly down bad.

"Holy, sweetheart.” His voice was lower than before. “Didn’t think you had it in you.”

You smirked, placing one final peck on his jaw before pulling away entirely.

“Well,” you said, grinning as you wiped excess lipstick off your mouth, “you kept begging for more kisses. Thought I’d be generous.”

Phainon laughed breathlessly, tilting his head up slightly. “Oh, I should beg more often, then.”

You rolled your eyes, shoving his shoulder.

But as you tried to move off his lap, his grip tightened.

“…You know,” he murmured, voice slow, thoughtful, laced with something dangerously teasing, “You might have to take responsibility for what you’ve just done.”

You narrowed your eyes. “Phainon.”

He tilted his head, grinning.

His hands moved slightly, gripping your hips more firmly.

“What?” he said, all fake innocence.

“You are so annoying.”

“I’m also so in love with you.”

You froze.

Your heart skipped a beat.

You quickly shoved him back onto the bed, rolling over to the other side before he could see how red your face had just become.

Phainon laughed, loud and cheery, before pulling you back into his arms anyway.

He wasn’t letting you go anytime soon.

after he returned home that night, laborious trial finally completed and coreflame within the hands of the chrysos heirs, he treated you as though you were made of glass despite the fact it was his body that was one step away from collapsing. fatigue clung to the bags under his eyes, his hands shook from the intensity of the battle, and he is not so unscathed himself yet he looked at you as if you were a wounded animal, eyes glossy and filled with emotion.

"i'm fine," you would try to reassure, but the furrow in his brows never did smooth over.

"so you keep saying." he murmurs, "but i'm not."

"of course you're not, you just defeated nikador-"

"that's not what i'm talking about," his interruption is gentle, it comes in the form of a large, warm hand wrapping around yours, grip tight and unrelenting, as if he was still trying to confirm you were with him. "you're hurt, and i couldn't do anything about it. you may claim to be okay, but i'm not, because i was not good enough to stop your pain."

"phainon-"

"-it is my duty to protect everything that is dear to me. i failed." he places a ghost of a kiss on the back of your hand, lingering there as his shoulders shake, revealing the true nature of his anxieties.

his grip that night is especially tight, never letting you stray too far while consoling him, demanding and vying for your attention. he eventually rests after hearing your voice drone on and on in his ear. it was the kind of incessant reassurance that he needed as he curled around you, his large, muscular figure acting like a shield from the outside world as he held you close.

his guiding light, his tether to reality, you hold so much power over him that you don't even realise you have, and if he manages to anger you, phainon crawls on his knees for your forgiveness. time heals, and he knows he needs to give you space so you can work through your emotions, but he's convinced he'll wither away to nothing unless you can look him in the eye again.

he's impatient, especially when it comes to you, he needs to know that you still love him, needs to know that you still want him, that you won't leave him with a permanent hole in his chest, and needs to know it all now. time heals, they say, but every second away from you is a dagger to his bleeding heart.

"y/n, your favourite fruits are here, we should buy some!" phainon suggests from behind you. "oh, and there are apples too, we should make apple pie, i've been really craving them recently, we can even give some to the others!"

he's rattling off in your ear about sharing a portion of the desserts with his fellow chrysos heirs, how tribbie, trianne, and tribios would love them, how mydei would scoff at his efforts but take it nonetheless, and something about lady agalea that you don't hear entirely.

because you're trying really hard not to snap at him with the snarky remark that's sitting on the tip of your tongue.

and it's worse because you know that he's aware of how upset you are, how you are still sensitive from the disagreement you had in private not too long ago, how you need space to think, a space where phainon can't intrude and talk your ear off.

but he is doing this- staying close to you, metaphorically and physically pressing in on your personal space because he needs your reassurance and validation. you know he's doing it out of love, so you're trying really hard to keep a level head so as to not explode, but he is just too insistent, too overwhelming, too everywhere.

"let me pay," phainon gives the right amount to the storeowner, and he takes the bags before you can even reach for them. "i'll carry them, too!"

"phainon," you murmur softly because you're afraid your voice will crack, yet, he hears it, spine straightening a little under your command. "i... i need some time. alone. sorry."

you don't see it, but his expression morphs into something unbearably upset, his bright blue eyes dulling and larger-than-life presence shrinking as he lets out a small sound of agreement, helplessly watching you walk away from him. a part of him hopes that you'll turn around and take it back, running back to him and his fragile heart that needs you. that feels like it's going to combust in his ribcage unless phainon runs after you and does everything he can to get you to forgive him.

the grief exuding off phainon is practically tangible, mixed with an immense sense of yearning as his heavy footsteps take him back home. he becomes a shell of who he is, even as people- young and old, women and men alike, come to talk to their favourite hero. his smile never reaches his eyes, the chipper tone of his voice diminished a little as his eyes helplessly scan everywhere for you, hoping just to catch a glimpse.

so until he can feel your hands on his face again, thumb caressing his cheek, he will feel uneasy, his stomach will churn, his chest feels like it will cave in, and his heart misses you so much it might as well jump out through his mouth and run to you instead.

sat on a chaise with his head in his hands, the door to his private quarters pushes open, and he feels hope zap him alive, ears and eyes anticipating any indication that you were finally, finally home.

"phainon?" his back immediately straightens at the call of his name, and without even a second thought, he scrambles up to see you at the entrance, almost knocking everything over at the prospect of being able to exist in your orbit again. he wants to see you, wants to be near you so sadness won't paralyse his being.

seeing you is like a breath of fresh air after fighting in the ruins of castrum kremnos.

"y/n, my light, i'll apologise a thousand times over, i'll fight thanatos if you wanted me to if it means you'll forgive-"

"-i forgive you." suddenly, his words get lodged in his throat, ears attuned to every word you have to say to him. "you were doing what you thought was best, i appreciate it, i appreciate your love and care for me, phainon."

pure bliss courses through his veins, and it warms him from the inside out, the light slowly returning to his eyes as a big, bright smile pulls at his lips.

happiness looks good on him, but you don't get to savour his expression before he pulls you flush against him, even lifting you into the air with his arms around your waist.

"i love you," he whispers against your neck as he holds you up effortlessly. "i would do anything for you."

"you're already everything, i don't need anything else. although... maybe try not to make decisions for me without asking first, because then we can avoid problems like this."

he nods enthusiastically, white hair tickling your neck, causing you to laugh, the sound healing all the cracks of sorrow in his heart.

"your wish is my command, anything for you."

"and maybe... put me down, please?"