wahahahaaaaaa

============================

The day you left there was a certain shift in the atmosphere…a shift that felt gloomy and oh so depressing.

It all felt like it had happened so fast, you were simply there before you weren’t. Your hands slowly let go of your boyfriends grasp as you walked backwards in the mirror, leaving a lingering feeling behind

The moment the blinding light of the dark mirror finally subsided the mirror chamber felt..empty almost. There was the lingering scent of dust and a smell that was specifically you.

Soon after the reality of silence set in. You were gone, really gone. After almost half a year of being in a totally different world from the one you were actually from, half a year of meeting new people, half a year of building a new life

A new life with him

All of it was gone. Sure it was inevitable, but it didn’t mean that it wasn’t any less painful.

You were never meant to be there. The fact you were even transported there was by..pure luck or rather pure coincidence. It was a fact the both of you knew.

He didn’t want to let you go, he didn’t want you to leave. What he wanted was for you to stay, to continue to build your life together, to graduate together get your own house maybe even with a few pets…maybe you’d even get married and if wanted one or two kids

Those were sweet thoughts, though deep down you both knew you couldn’t stay.

The portal had closed, completely severing the fragile tether between your world and twisted wonderland forever…

Crowley offered empty platitudes while the rest of the staff that had showed to see you off offered formal sympathies but none of it filled the gaping void left in the center of the room.

At first, the absence was a physical and agonizing ache. The first few months practically bled into one another, they were marked only by the deafening silence of your contagious laugh as you joked with him, the empty space beside him in your shared classes one that he keeps empty. Not allowing anyone to sit where you once sat…,and the utter uselessness of a phone that never lit up with another text from you..

He held onto everything. The crumpled wrapper of your favorite snack left on the edge of his desk, the old notes that were practically useless now but that didn’t matter-it had your hand writing and the doodles you scribbled into the corners, that teasing pitch of your voice when you called their name..everything.

He’d also shamelessly sleep with your hoodie, the oversized one you bought from a little clothing shop in foothill town while you guys were on your first date. Your scent clung onto the fabric.

He’d even find himself draping it over the pillow you would sleep on just to trick his brain into thinking you were still there

Sad? Well…yes. It was comforting though, how could anyone blame him?

As expected NRC waits for no one.

Midterms came like a tidal wave, dorm rivalries faired into full on fights, and the crushing weight of your absence began to rot him from the inside outs

His grades slipped, his temper shortened..eventually he had to make a conscious and oh so agonizing choice.

It was clear to everybody in heartslabyul that your absence affected his day to day life, so much so people had began to ask a certain vice housewarden for help, to talk to him, to snap him back into reality and get things back to normal.

He knew he couldn’t fix months of pain but he did offer that big brother insight

After a long conversation about letting go and moving on with trey, he sat with it for a while..he had to face what he didn’t want to. Come to terms with things and push forward…

And so he did just that.

“Trey was right…I think it’s time.”

He whispered to the empty room on one particularly gloomy and rainy Tuesday, staring at the ceiling until his eyes burned with unshed tears

“They’re not coming back…If I keep doing this, I’m only going to hold myself back..I have to let go.”

And even though those words seemed foreign to him he did just that..or at least, he built a very convincing illusion of it.

He packed away everything he had of yours especially the hoodie, He hid your contact in his phone so he wouldn’t have to see the chat, He forced himself to sit in different seats in class, Walk different routes, and build a routine that didn’t have a space carved out for you.

Another season turned. A genuine smile slowly returned to his face, he threw himself back into his hobbies, he showed up to his club again, he even got back into the unyielding rhythm of dorm life.

Soon, you transitioned from an open wound that didn’t seem to stop bleeding to a quiet and dull ache. A fond, distant memory of someone who had fundamentally changed him for the better.

He was surviving. He was finally doing fine as he got back into the rhythm of how things were before!

…

…

Until the afternoon he had decided to clean out the clutter of his designated desk from the last term.

Dust motes danced gracefully in the late afternoon sun as he sat on the floor, sorting through a disorganized pile of old notebooks and loose sheets of paper

He picked up a worn history notebook, giving it a careless, violent shake in an attempt to dislodge the loose syllabus he had stuffed inside the back cover..

Though as he shook the notebook, hand holding onto the front cover, the book opened causing a small glossy paper fluttered out. It drifted lazily through the air for a split second..it practically mocked gravity before landing face up on the rug.

The second his eyes landed on what had just fallen, they widened. His heart dropped to his stomach and room began to spin.

It was just like time had stopped in it’s tracks

On the floor was a polaroid picture. It was a selfie of the two of you on a lazy hangout date. You were leaning in, your eyes bright with pure affection as you pressed a kiss to his cheek while he stared at the lens completely caught in the moment of unguarded and unfiltered adoration.

You were wearing his shirt as you both had on clay face masks, ones you got for a discount at Sam’s shop.

The picture captured that untouchable second of time where everything was okay..where you were still here.

When you were his.

━☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ

Ace Trappola ♥️

He stared at the photo on the floor as he sat completely motionless. His breath hitched and locked in his throat

The casual confident front he always wore quickly faded and was soon replaced by a hallow and devastated expression as his chest began to tighten to the point of being genuinely painful

He had taken a moment, staring blankly at the small photo as his heart practically threw itself against his ribcage

He managed a shaky breath as he reached out with a trembling hand, picking up the picture by the top corner as if holding it too tightly might make it disappear

“Dude..you’ve gotta be kidding me.”

He breathed out, the sound was sharp and humorless in the heavy quiet of the room. He really couldn’t believe what he was seeing…had this always been tucked away in the book? Did he do it to hide it just so he didn’t have to re visit past memories?

Whatever the case was he could only let out a dry and broken laugh as he rubbed his free hand viciously over his face leaving faint red marks in it’s track

“Are you serious? Right when I thought I was finally over you and your…your stupid face”

His tone was hushed he let his head hung low for a moment, his insult packed no punch..he was just saying things, anything he could. He didn’t think your face was stupid

He’d be an idiot if he did…that face, that laugh, those silly little habits you had were all the things he fell in love with which is what made this hurt more than it should’ve.

He traced his thumb slowly over your printed face, his throat working as he swallowed hard against the sudden and agonizing lump forming

Months of creating a new routine, of never mentioning you anymore, all of this walls he had carefully built over the last several months came crashing down within seconds..

He wasn’t the cool and unbothered ace anymore..no. That illusion shattered the moment he saw the picture, all that was left behind was a desperate teenage boy who had lost the one he was sure he would have a life with

“It’s not fair.”

He whispered, his voice now cracking violently as he spoke to the picture as if it would come to life and speak back to him..

“You just…you just got to leave! You got to go back to your normal life but what about me? What about US? I’m still here, stuck with trying to forget how you’d smile at me, how you’d laugh when I’d get in trouble with riddle, how you’d lean on my shoulder when you were tired, how you looked at me like I mattered..”

He dropped the photo back onto the carpet, this ace was one no one saw often..he was vulnerable and hurt. He missed you so much that he could barely stand it..

Ace pulled his knees up to his chest and buried his face in his arms, soon his shoulders began to shake as he let out shaky, choked out sob

“I miss you.”

He confessed into the empty air. The words tasted like defeat as he shook his head, body trembling as he looked up just enough to glance down at the picture

“I miss you so much it makes me sick to my stomach. No matter how many times I try to get over you I never will, huh?”

“….”

“Damn it..I’m never getting past this..I’m never going to get over you..”

He didn’t dare pick the photo back up, he simply sat there in the suffocating silence very much aware of the permanent and echoing void you left behind when you left..

━☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ

Deuce Spade ♠️

Once it registered what that photo was exactly deuce froze in his place, a sharp gasp tore from his throat..

His eyes widened, before glossing over with tears that slightly stung

All of that progress, all of that time getting over you immediately backtracked as he scrambled forward on his hands and knees, grabbing the photo with both of his hands

He pulled it tight to his chest, refusing to let go of it as he closed his eyes tightly and bowed his head…it was as if he was trying to physically absorb the memory before he pulled back just enough to look down at the picture

“No..no..please no”

He muttered, his voice thick and wavering with immediate overwhelming emotion as he began to tremble slightly, his hold on the picture tightened

“I promised. I promised myself I’d be strong I..I told trey I was moving forward.”

The ache in his heart, that’s the same ache he felt when you left…

A stray tear slipped down his cheek, one he couldn’t seem to stop as it landed with a soft tap on the corner of the photo..

A single drop was quickly wiped away with his thumb..he took a deep breath as he began wiping his face with his sleeve, scrubbing roughly at his eyes, so much so he began to see static.

No matter how many times he wiped his tears away, his eyes would well up with tears all over again..his vision left blurred with tears that seemed to distort your face

“I remember this..”

He let out a choked sob, his voice trembled so violently he could barely get the words out..

His thumb ran over the picture gently as he reminisced. He spoke to your picture just like it was really you.

Really you, sitting right in front of him, really you giving him the same soft gaze you always did..

“This was the day after that failed date..the cafe you really wanted to go to was closed all week..you insisted on still doing a more intimate and laidback version of a date..you put that face mask on me and even had your own..we just laid around for hours talking and watching movies then you kissed me..you kissed me and I felt like I could do anything”

He stopped himself for a moment as he let out yet another sob that tore from his throat, one he couldn’t help as he held onto the memory..one that felt so bittersweet now

“Like I was finally someone worth being proud of..”

His grip tightened again, this time the white borders crinkled slightly before he forced his trembling hands to relax as to not damage the photo

“Why..why did you have to go?”

He choked out the question even though he knew why. He knew you had a life back on your world, one you couldn’t just abandon..he understood that but it didn’t make his heart ache any less.

“I was doing so good I…I really was! I studied hard, I kept out of fights but..looking at you? It hurts just as much as the day you left. I try to act like everything is fine but it’s not. It’s not and I’m not sure it ever will be”

He was..well someone who wanted to move forward. He didn’t want to dwell on the past anymore than he had to especially if it was painful but this? This was something he couldn’t just get over and he knew that

It took a while for him to calm down but the moment he did he carefully placed the photo inside of his breast pocket, pressing his hand flat over it

Right over his heart.

He slumped back against his bed frame feeling smaller than he ever had in years

“I’ll never be over you”

Deuce whispered softly into the quiet room as he stared blankly at the ceiling as tears continued to fall from his eyes

“No matter how much time passes…I’ll always wait for you to come back to me even though I know that’s impossible..I hope you’re happy..I hope you’re living the best life you can now that you’re back home…”

He had sat there for a few hours, thinking about all the time you had spent together in just the span of half a year..of all the memories you made..of all the memories you could’ve made..

============================

Hours.

It had been hours since your last class, hours since you returned to ramshackle, hours you had been stuck sitting at the old and oh so rickety wooden desk that had to be rebuilt countless times.

There were crumpled wads of paper overflowing the rusty wastebasket beside you, all of those papers with ink blotches and scribbled out words were a testament to your mountain frustration

Ever since you were little writing had been a sanctuary for you, something you turned turned to when you had ideas and needed to let your creativity go, something you had done just for the fun of it

It was something you simply enjoyed!

…

Truth be told though…today it felt like your own personal battlefield which was funny considering the fact that your story was literally about a war being fought on a literal battlefield!

Your protagonist was currently bleeding out, it was chapter fourteen and even though your writing so far had been going just as you wanted, it seemed that flow had come to a sudden pause.

All of your words started to feel hallow.

“A sharp pain tore through him as the blade pierced this skin..”

It was cliché! It was sterile! God it lacked the visceral and terrifying reality of violence! One you just couldn’t seem to get a grasp on…

You let out a groan of frustration as you slammed your pen down on the paper, a loud CLACK echoed through the room as you slumped back in the chair, one that if you had pushed back against harder it was sure to give out, the old wood already aged so bad it would give out just from the slightest tap

You knew that if you were going to write about survival and war you needed to understand the precipice of death…that would be easy in this new world since well..most people here had been face to face with it one way or another

As you thought more about it, the more a certain someone came to mind. The one person on campus who stood on that precipice more times than anyone could count.

Lilia vanrouge. Not only was he the vice housewarden of diasomnia he was also an ancient fae. One who had lived through decades of life, of change, of war and bloodshed..surely he was the perfect candidate to help you with your writers block!

━☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ

After searching for a while, you found lilia in the botanical garden

He was crouched by a patch of vividly purple and..slightly ominous looking flora. His cheerful humming flowed through the air in a discordant tune. In one hand was a pair of gardening shears, ones that had more than likely been swiped from the shed crewel used for alchemy class and was carefully inspecting a thorny stem.

There were some quiet mumbles from him, ones you couldn’t quite make out fully…was..was he talking about the sap?

Using it as…as an ingredient??

Never mind that. You had business to attend to! You cleared your throat softly as you approached him

“Lilia?” You called out just loud enough to snap him out of his concentration as you clutched your leather bound notebook close to your chest

His pointy ears twitched slightly at the sudden sound of your voice, he paused his oh so delicate inspection as he set the sheers carefully on the ground. Soon he stood up as he began to brush any dirt from his knees with a silent grace

“Ah, prefect! Have you also come to admire the foliage? Oh! Or perhaps you wish to volunteer as a taste tester for my latest culinary experiment? You see the sap here would give a beautifully numbing taste to any dish!”

His fanged smile was bright as per usual, his crinkled with customary mischief as you thought for a moment, shivering at the thought of being a subject to lilia’s cooking again

The last time…well…let’s just say you had been bedridden for weeks and honestly that’s not really something you wanted to experience again

“Uh..well neither, actually” you gave an awkward smile as you clicked your pen a few times, readying your notebook

“You used to be a general right? If I’m not mistaken one in briar valley? I uh…well I have some questions for a scene I’m writing and I’d like for it to be completely accurate to what happens in real life”

Lilia raised a brow knowingly as he puffed out his chest, almost proudly while placing his hands on his hips

“Aha! So my little bat is seeking the wisdom of their elders! By all means ask away, my talented little scribe! Tactics? Logistics? The best way to terrify an entire enemy battalion or mayb-“

“No.”

Your voice cut through completely deadpan and serious before you let out an awkward chuckle. You shifted back and forth on your feet as you looked down at your notebook for a moment before your gaze met lilia’s again and suddenly you were totally serious

“I need to know what it physically feels like to be stabbed…and when you run someone through with a sword how much resistance does the ribcage actually offer before the blade gets stuck? Would it get stuck?”

Lilia’s hands, that were clasped in front of him suddenly went limp at his side

The silence of the botanical garden was absolute, save for the rhythmic dripping of condensation from the glass roof and periodic chirps of birds resting in treesz

He didn’t move. His cheerful smile didn’t Immediately vanish, but it froze, becoming a porcelain mask of sorts…

The usual playful and eccentric fae was suddenly gone, seemingly replaced entirely by a man that had survived centuries of bloodshed. The air around the two of you instantly grew heavy, thick with a sudden suffocating tension that made the hairs on your arms stand up

A long moment passed…well for you it felt like an eternity when in reality it was a minute or two

“Why do you ask me such..gruesome things, prefect?” His voice had dropped an octave, shedding it’s musical beat entirely. Your breath slightly hitched as you saw his eyes grow slightly darker for a moment, his voice was low, resonate, and almost dangerous

One you had never heard him speak in before, one that sent a shiver down your spine as you clutched your notebook

“Well…my writing it feels fake.”

You explained softly, despite the shift you held your ground, determined to get information. Determined to learn.

“I won’t want to write sanitized violence. If a character is suffering I want to respect that by making it real. I don’t want to guess what happens, I don’t want to guess how it feels and get it wrong. I want to know the truth. I want to make this as accurate as possible.”

With that, lilia just stared at you, his wide eyes scanning you for any sign of a joke, though he wasn’t surprised when he didn’t find any. That wasn’t you to joke about things such as this.

It took a moment but the tension in his frame gave way to a weary yet heavy sigh..

He slowly made his way over to a nearby stone planter and at down suddenly the emotion in his eyes made him look every bit of his oh so ancient age

“The truth..” he began in a murmur, his eyes glued to his own gloved hands as he let out a sigh

“The truth is not poetic, little bat. It’s ugly. It’s full of anguish and it smells of copper and void”

You walked over to him, bit wasting a second as you sat beside him, pen hovering over the paper as he glanced up at you

“But…perhaps I can tell you..you do seem quite eager to learn and who would I be to hold back the information you crave to achieve a realistic tale?”

“…”

“When you are stabbed” he began, his voice distant. His gaze moved back to his hands as he sat up straighter, as straight as he really could

“It does not feel like a cut. It feels like a sudden blunt force punch straight through your body. The shock is so instantaneous that your nervous system misfires. Truly, you don’t register the sharpness of the blade…you only feel the agonizing and breathless pressure of foreign steel taking up space inside of your flesh where it definitely should not be.”

For a moment he closed his eyes, brows furrowing as he began to seemingly picture all of it. The distant memories from past battles rushing back to him

“When the initial puncture happens a white hot searing heat speeds from the wound..then comes the cold. An unatural, creeping frost that seeps from the wound and soon into your veins. You gasp but your lungs refuse to expand..you can only taste rust in the back of your throat. Your own blood…a taste that is quite unpleasant.”

“Then when the blade is pulled from your wound..” his words get caught in his throat for a moment before he shakes his head a little

“That’s when the fire begins. It is a blinding and tearing agony. You soon feel the sickening friction of the metal scraping against your own flesh…against your bones.”

Your brows furrowed in focus as your pen scratched furiously against the paper, you were doing your best to capture every horrifying detail but…your eyes kept darting to lilia’s face. The look in his eyes as he describes the feeling, the taste, all of it. It dug a deep pit in your stomach.

“And swinging the sword?” He continued, his voice dropping into a hallow whisper..you paused for a moment, brow raising slightly as he moved to the next topic, your pen beginning to slowly move as you waited for his next words, heart thumping a little quicker against your ribs

“Flesh is not parchment. It drags. It catches. If you strike a clavicle or a rib at the wrong angle, the bone will trap your blade. You will feel the vibration of their breaking bones travel up the steel. Straight into the marrow of your arm. The sound..”

He pauses and swallows hard, his eyes haunted with over decades of grief.

It was more than clear by his words, by the way he spoke that he was speaking about this firsthand. Much like the feeling of what it’s like to be stabbed, he had been at both ends of the sword.

He had felt that vibration of breaking bones. It wasn’t surprising…well maybe if you had just met him. If you hadn’t known he was a general.

If he had told you all of this when you were first sent into this chaotic world? Your jaw would be on the floor. As they say, looks can be deceiving..

“The sound of a ribcage giving way beneath a heavy blade sounds like snapping wet branches. It is a sound that will wake you from your sleep, years later when the night gets too quiet.”

The sheer weight of his words hung heavy in the humid hair of the greenhouse. You had stopped writing, your pen pressed heard onto the full filled paper.

The ink from your pen bled a tiny and dark pool into the paper as you stared at the fae beside you. He was looking down, lost for a brief second in a very cold, and oh so old memory

You took a second to scan over his face, your heart ached as you took a deep breath before gently closing your notebook and setting it aside

Without a word, you reached out and laid your warm hands over his gloved ones, just as a way to silently show him you were there, as a way to silently thank him for sharing.

Lilia blinked, once, twice, three times..the distant shadow in his eyes instantly melting away as he looked down at your hands and slowly up to your face

“I think” you began softly, your thumb tracing gentle and grounding circles over his knuckles, something you had done plenty of times before in different situations

“That’s enough research for today”

He could only stare at you before letting out a breath. One of those breaths that sounded half like a sigh and half a quiet chuckle. The ridged tension in his shoulders dissolving quickly as your thumb brushed over his knuckles

Carefully, he turned his hands over, threading his fingers through yours. The lingering chill of his memories was immediately chased away by the bright and very stubborn warmth you offered.

You were such a bright light in his life, one he was glad he encountered. It was fate that brought you here, a crazy fate but nonetheless. Fate.

He could only look down at your intertwined hands and then up at your face, he shook his head with a gentle smirk tugging at his lips

“Perhaps it is” he agreed with a gentle squeeze to your hand, the familiar musical lilt effortlessly returning to his voice, it was surprisingly quick but you were glad to see him returning to himself

He shifted on the stone planter just a little bit as he leaned into your space, enough so he could comfortably lean his head against your shoulder with a content hum as he gently kicked his feet

“Though..I must admit” he murmured, his voice becoming softer as he basked in the light poring through the glass structure of the greenhouse

“It is incredibly sweet of you to worry about an old general..you truly do possess such a soft, brave and rather protective heart for someone who writes such gruesome tales”

“Ah..uh well I just want to do the story justice” you admitted as you leaned your head against his

“But I don’t want to practically drag you back to a battlefield to do it. Your peace is more important than my chapter, really.”

“Hah! Oh, my little scribe”

His laugh was warm and soft, the sound vibrated pleasantly against your arm as he squeezed your fingers affectionately

“You drag me nowhere but into the sunlight. It takes far more than a few grim questions to truly unsettle an old man like me..though I must admit I am more than happy to accept your comfort!”

He closed his eyes, a picture of absolute, untroubled contentment as the grappled sunlight of the greenhouse warmed you both

There was a moment of silence. Just the two of you, resting and relaxing in the silence. Simply enjoying each others presence…that was until his voice broke through the silence

“However”

He declared, his tone shifting into one of lighthearted authority, “if your protagonist is going to suffer through the ordeal I just described..I have a strict condition as your newly appointed survival consultant”

“Oh? And what’s that?” You asked, an amused smile tugging at your lips as you shifted your head to look down at him, just a little

“Whoever they are. They must survive, and they must receive a throughly indulgent and happy ending. A warm fire, excellent company, and a ridiculously extravagant feast! You see, I will accept nothing less from your magic pen!” Lilia insisted, tilting his head up to follow your movements, just enough to peek at you with bright, playful and teasing eyes

You could only let out a soft chuff, the last remnants of the once heavy atmosphere evaporating completely

“A happy ending. That’s a promise.”

“Good!”

He settled back against you while showing absolutely no intention of moving for the rest of the afternoon, his legs continuing to gently swing

“Now, you may resume your writing. I shall stay right here and ensure your protagonist’s medical recovery is just as accurate! Say how about after this I treat you! I can make you dinner and tell you more tales from life!”

“Ah..uh well how about I cook. I’d love to listen to more stories though!” you said sheepishly as you picked up your pen with your free hand, lilia keeping your other hand firmly encased in his

He only hummed in agreement as you continued to write, the scratching of your pen echoed pleasantly in the quiet garden, guarded not by the shadows of a battlefield…no…but by the quiet and absolute comfort of the immortal resting at your side.

============================

Fun fact! did you know that if you feel sleepy around someone you love it isn’t boredom but a biological sign of deep emotion safety. Your brain interprets their presence as secure and safe so it turns off its own alert mode which in turn allows your body to rest (ㅅꈍ﹃ꈍ)

━☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ

Afternoon sunlight spilled through the warped glass of the ramshackle dorm windows, dust motes danced slowly in the air as the sun casted a warm golden hue across the wooden floorboards.

There was an old oak grandfather clock in the corner of the lounge room, one that had presumably been there for decades…the golden pendulum that sat dead center of it swung slowly from side to side, causing it to tick away in a steady and hypnotic rhythms. It was the only sound breathing the comfortable silence between the two of you

Truly this was a rare pocket of time you were gifted, it was peaceful and quiet which was a big change from the usual chaos loud you experienced in your new day to day life and you absolutely cherished it!

You were supposed to be studying for the latest history test coming up, you had to! With professor trein making the latest assignments excruciatingly difficult for no apparent reason you knew the test wouldn’t be any different!

Unfortunately this was the last resort…fortunately, you had the best study partner in the world! who also just so happened to be the guy you were practically head over heels for

Your textbooks and notes were open and sprawled out on the wooden coffee table but your attention had long since drifted from the messy notes and books in front of you, instead your gaze kept wondering to the body that sat besides you on the worn out sofa

He had insisted on coming over under the guise of helping you study, this was a big test coming up after all!…or perhaps it was to keep you company, to have an excuse to hang out with you alone..hm maybe even both!

Over the past hour his usual sharp focus had begun to slowly slip. You watched, thoroughly endeared as he fought a losing battle against his own exhaustion. His eyelids fluttered shut and his breathing would even out before he stubbornly jerked awake not even a moment later, blinking repeatedly at a spot on the wall before the cycle repeated itself. Occasionally he would let out a soft mutter, one that was meant to be a reply to questions you had asked but even that began to slow.

Finally, with one soft, quiet sigh that sounded entirely too vulnerable, he surrendered to his own exhaustion. His head tipped to the side for a moment before coming to rest against the plush back of the couch before eventually falling asleep

You hadn’t noticed as you were reading over some of your own notes, referencing one of the textbooks to make sure you had the correct information

“Ohhh…oh! Okay so I think I got it now, the queen of hearts would play croquet using flamingos for mallets and hedgehogs for balls..? Well what about…”

Slowly your voice trailed off as you finally looked over at him, expecting to see him wide awake instead you were met with the surprise of his sleeping figure. He looked truly ethereal as his chest slowly rose and fell, breathing evened out as he slept peacefully

Slowly you set the notes down, the urge to study was completely thrown out the window. Without the burden of his past weighing him down, his duties, and just the basic everyday stress that fell upon him to keep up with classes, his features were completely transformed into something that was the equivalent of calm..

The air in the room suddenly felt thicker, it was charged with unspoken tension that had been building up between the two of you for months before this

-The lingering looks that lasted for a second too long

-The “accidental” brush of hands in the halls as he walked you to your next class

-The way he seemed to gravitate toward you in a crowded room, completely ignoring everyone else around him

-The way he looked at you like you hung the moon just for him…a look he saved only for you.

All of these things others around you seemed to catch. They knew how you felt about him I mean you even knew how you felt about him! Your heart would always do a frantic little dance against your ribs just by him being in the same room as you!

You were almost certain he felt the same about you

Almost..

Your eyes traced the curve of his cheek, the shape of his nose, focusing on the tiny details on his skin as you smiled to yourself before letting out a soft sigh

You wanted to let him rest, you could finish up studying by yourself and hey, just having him here with you no matter if he was asleep while you studied wasn’t so bad!

Without thinking too much about it you shifted closer, slowly moving as to not make the old and rusty springs of the sofa cushions creak. You hovered just inches from him, close enough to feel the faint warmth radiating from his skin before you leaned in all the way, pressing a quick but oh so tender and lingering kiss to his skin..

============================

Riddle Rosehearts 🌹 (cheek)

The second your lips leave his cheek his eyes snap open. It takes him only a second to process that you the first person he’s ever pinned over just kissed him

That second that he process things he quickly bolts upright, so quickly in fact one could assume he’d just been electrocuted

His cheeks immediately flush, the color that dusts his cheeks and travels all the way up to his ears rivaled the red of his hair. His mouth slightly agape as he stares at you with wide eyes

"What..what on earth do you think you're doing!?" He stammers out quickly as his voice was an octave higher than usual. He wasn’t mad by any means! No no..he’s just completely flustered and it’s so painfully clear.

He scrambles backwards, pressing himself into the armrest of the sofa that creaks slightly under the sudden shift of his body, his hand finds it’s way to his cheek as he touches the spot you kissed

“One must not!…you simply cannot…unsolicited..!” He scrambles for words, blurting out anything that came to his mind but all he can think about is the kiss, one he wished he could’ve been fully awake for, one he wanted to initiate more than anything…not that he would admit it

There’s a furious fluttering of his heart, one that’s much too distracting as he completely gives up on trying to speak for a moment. Truthfully he didn’t know how his heart didn’t jump out of his chest and run out of the room right then and there!

The moment he registers that soft and amused look you’re giving him he let’s out a soft huff, gaze moving over to look at the table for a moment before looking back at you

"T-this is highly inappropriate and unacceptable for a study environment, prefect! If you do not wish to study anymore I will be taking my leave!" He mutters out as he stands up, frantically grabbing his notes and textbooks with trembling hands

His usual put together composer was…well it was completely broken!

Before he practically sprints out of the door he stops, his back faces you as he looks down at his feet for a moment, arms tightening around his books and notes

"Ahem, Prefect..I believe we can study another time. Please clear your schedule for this saturday. I would...like to host a private tea party. Just the two of us so l expect you not to be late!" With that..he takes his leave, he knew he’d have a lot to discuss with you the upcoming saturday and he was nervous…

Though past that nervousness the thought of opening a new chapter with you only made his heart flutter more

━☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ

Leona Kingscholar 🦁 (temple)

A fun little secret here..he wasn’t actually asleep! Fun right? He was simply resting his eyes, enjoying the quiet as you scribbled things down on a loose sheet of paper…that was until you leaned in

The second your lips brushed against his temple his hand swiftly shoots up, his fingers loosely but securely wrap around your wrist as he keeps his expression the same, his eyes not opening as he stays silent for a moment. His tail swishing slowly from side to side before stopping.

The passing moment was one that seemed much longer to you than it actually was

“Oi. You’re getting awfully bold, herbivore.” His voice is thick and vibrating with that smug satisfaction that makes your stomach flip

A triumphant smirk slowly tugs at his lips as he opens one eye to look at you, his gaze was more gentle than usual as he kept a hold of your wrist

A second passes before he lets out a soft chuff. You freeze at his touch, your cheeks heating up as you try to pull away only for him to not let go…Instead he gently tugs you forward with ease

He shifts his body with you so his back head is against the arm rest of the couch with you landing on top of him with a soft thud

Your head laid snug against his chest as he adjusted himself just a little more for your comfort and his

“Think you can just sneak up on me like that and get away with it?” He murmurs as he wraps one arm securely around your waist, both of his eyes are open now as he looks down at you

You can feel his eyes on you, slowly you look up just enough to meet his gaze, to your surprise THE leona kingscholar’s cheeks are flushed with a rosy pink, his pupils slightly blown as his tail wrapped around your leg protectively

He closes his eyes again, allowing his head to lay against the arm rest again as he let’s out a content sigh

“Look. Screw the studying I can always just give you the notes for this anyways. You owe me for this little stunt you pulled so just lay down. When we wake up we’re gonna have a long talk about this so don’t even think about moving.”

With that he goes silent for one last time before slipping into unconsciousness, his arm still wrapped around your waist as his tail stayed curled around your leg

The textbooks and notes were long forgotten on the table as you laid your head back down on his chest, you knew what he wanted to talk about and honestly? No words could explain how nervous you were…

Despite that you slowly followed in his footsteps as you felt yourself getting sleepier. Melting into his touch you drifted off in his arms

He’d never admit it but he’s also nervous…but also proud. Proud that he’d soon be able to call you his.

━☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ

Azul Ashengrotto 🐙 (forehead)

Due to his naturally cautious nature and the fact he’s a sensitive sleeper thanks to the fact he’s still not quite used to sleeping in places that aren’t hallow and hard he feels the shift in the air before you even lean in

By the time your lips press against his forehead, he’s very hyper aware of your every breath and movement, his body tensing up slightly as he keeps his eyes closed

You’d think he was a statue as he remains perfectly still, maintaining a flawless and almost oscar worthy illusion of a deep sleep…unfortunately for him the tips of his ears betray him as they burn a rosy pink, a shade that matches his flushed cheeks!

Internally, his mind is racing a million miles a second as he tries to calculate exactly what this means the both of you. Alongside that he wonders if you meant to do that..

Sure no one has really ever accidentally kissed someone else’s forehead like that but what if you did! What if it wasn’t an accident though? Did you do it as a way to taunt him? No..no that wasn’t you. He knew that wasn’t you but unfortunately those thoughts lingered at the back of his mind

It takes him ten agonizing minutes to pretend that he was waking up, he sprinkled in a soft groan and soft huff just to seal the illusion that he was fast asleep..

Even if you had seen right through it

When he sits up, he carefully adjusts his glasses with shaky hands as he let’s his eyes slowly open

“Ah..my apologies, prefect.” Azul clears his throat softly as he puts on his normal put together front. He looks down at the table, refusing to look directly into your eyes lest he dies of embarrassment

There was a passing moment as he sits up straighter than before, his hands folded neatly in his lap

“I seem to have dozen off. How terribly unprofessional of me.” He smoothes down his blazer, attempting to regain a sliver of his composer

His heart is practically throwing itself against his ribs as he builds up the confidence to meet your gaze, any nervousness covered up by a calm front

A small, sly smile eventually finds a way to his lips as he nods once at you

“I would be more than happy to leave my note guide with you free of charge! And well..considering the unparalleled hospitality you have shown me today, I feel it is only right to repay my debt.”

His voice is softer than usual as he speaks, he leans forward a bit to grab just a few textbooks before he slides a neat stack of notes in your direction on the table

“I would love to see you at the lounge tomorrow evening at seven. A complementary VIP dinner, just for us. Please consider it a…well a business negotiation regarding our future”

He gives you one last nod before standing up, straightening out his uniform as he takes his leave.

The second the door shuts behind him he’s more nervous than before, already going through the motions of planning out that…vip dinner…COUGHCOUGH DATE..

━☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ

Jamil Viper 🐍 (jaw)

As a notoriously light sleeper (much like azul) who’s always alert and extremely hyper vigilant, mostly due to the fact he has to be

He’s awake the very second you lean into his personal space, the shift he feels on the cushion sending him into high alert.

Despite this the sheer unprecedented shock of the kiss you placed on his jaw freezes him entirely in his place

For the first time in his life, his mind goes completely blank..

He waits until you turn your back to grab a book before he slowly sits up. He raises his hand, his fingertips tentatively touching the warm spot on his jaw where your lips were not even a few seconds ago

His eyes widen for a moment as he realizes that just happened. You just kissed him. His heart pounds dangerously hard against his ribs, loud enough he fears you might hear it

By the time you turn back around, he violently slams his usual calm and collected facade back into place, though his dark eyes seem softer than they normally are

“So do you make it a habit of startling people while they sleep?” He scolds, though his tone lacks any real bite

He crosses his arms as he looks away, looking at anything else in the room but you. There’s a tension as the two of you sit in silence. His body is tense but slowly relaxes as he shakes his head

“You let your guard down entirely too easily. If it was anyone else..they could’ve reacted poorly to that.” He turns his head to look in your direction

When you just smile at him, that smile that makes his heart melt every time he sees it, his mouth opens slightly before he closes it again

He only sighs before standing up, gathering his belongings in a calm manner

“You’re impossible you know that right? Look I hope studying helped. If you need anymore don’t hesitate to find me.”

With that he begins to make his way to the door, stopping infront of it as he turns his head just a little..just enough to look back at you

“Keep your schedule open next week. kalims been bugging me about throwing another banquet so chances are I’m going to be stuck preparing that and in the kitchen so..swing by. You can be my taste tester. I also have practice just in case you want to go watch.”

The second the steps out of ramshackle he takes a deep breath. He knows that if he’s going to have that conversation with you he wouldn’t want it to be here.

He knows it’s going to be difficult once you two talk, with him always being busy and well just his situation in whole he knows how much of an impact this would have on you but he does want this to work so so badly

━☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ

Vil Schoenheit 🎭 (cheek)

Now vil had never planned on falling asleep. He had gotten all of his usual hours that left him feeling refreshed and ready for the day so why had he suddenly been hit with a wave of exhaustion?

Perhaps it was the steady ticking of the clock and just the overall dingy atmosphere of ramshackle or perhaps…it was your presence. Either way he had fallen fast asleep as you went over your notes

The moment you pulled back from his cheek he shifted slightly, his movements as graceful as ever. His eyelids soon fluttered open, amethyst eyes quickly finding you..

Somehow he looked even more beautiful than ever..truly like a painting that had perfection in every brush stroke. His skin was clear and almost looked like porcelain, his makeup was flawless, his hair was perfectly in place as per usual

He really was the fairest of them all

Despite his calm and unbothered exterior, deep inside his heart skipped a beat

Vil does not flush or stammer, no. That’s simply not him. Instead a genuine and breathtakingly soft smile breaks through his typical poised outside

He let’s out a soft chuff, his gaze softened significantly as he kept his hands clasped together on his lap

“How charming. If you wanted to kiss me, potato, you should have simply asked.” He murmurs, his voice smooth like silk as his smile only softens

He would never allow anyone to kiss him unprompted. It was undignified and to do that to THE vil ​shoenheit? You must be out of your mind!

Though…when it comes to you? He could let it slide

He reaches out, his cool fingertips lingering on your jawline as he deliberately tucks a tray hair behind your ear slowly. His touch is gentle as he let’s his hand linger on your skin

The way he looks at you makes your heart flutter. His eyes look over your face for a moment and to him? It was like he was looking at the most beautiful work of art he’s ever seen.

“Though I suppose I can forgive your lack of decorum just this once.” He pauses for a moment, his finger tracing your jawline before he pulls his hand back

“I suppose the rustic charm of ramshackle does bring out one’s…baser instincts”

He stands up, soothing out his outfit that was already perfect so he didn’t really have to do it…his eyes seem to never leave yours

As charming as this was, he wants to be the one to initiate a kiss, he wants to take you out on a romantic evening and confess to you the proper way and while ramshackle does have it’s…well it’s own charms

He’d prefer to set the mood before, even just a romantic spa day at ​pomefiore would do it! There’s a pause before he holds his hand out to you, expecting you to take it

“Come along. You’ve already gotten the appropriate amount of studying in today and I’d like you to walk with me back to pomefiore.”

The moment you take his hand he gives a small nod, he gracefully picks up his belongings in the other and leads you to the door

The walk over to his dorm was calm and he truly enjoyed your presence. Now all he needed to do was plan a day just for the two of you.

Much like jamil he is busy…with him being a model and actor plus a student who takes his studies seriously there’s never really much free time for him besides personal care hours

And he knows pursuing a relationship with you would mean the public going crazy over it maybe there would even be headlines but..he wanted to make it work. To finally call you his

━☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ

Idia Shroud 👾 (cheek)

Idia wasn’t even really sure how he had gotten himself into this situation to begin with..

Maybe just maybe it was how you had mentioned that you had to study for this big history test, clearly stressing over it all while playing a new fps game with him in the safety of his room

The second those words left your mouth he practically leaped into the hero role

“Pftt…trein’s class is basically just an unskippable cutscene with a massive lore dump. My int stat for that class is basically maxed out so I could totally just slide you a guide and uh..help..you study i-if you want no pressure or uh anything like that!”

Ah! yeah..it was that..but hey he couldn’t help it! Somehow you managed to plant yourself into idias life and over time he grew to enjoy your company.

Given that ramshackle was also free of those god forsaken NPCS he wouldn’t be forced to interact with anyone he didn’t want to, he was practically in a safe zone!

It had been a few hours of studying and random conversations about some random gacha banners he had recently pulled from on his favorite game before he slumped against the armrest with his eyes closed

His social battery was almost entirely dead as he let himself fully relax..That was until you leaned into his personal space and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek

His eyes stayed shut in a desperate but to fake a deep sleep but his cheeks and hair betrayed him almost instantly, the flames of his hair flared up and the tips turned pink, one that matched the growing flush on his cheeks

He could practically hear his own heartbeat drumming deafeningly loud in his own ears as he tried so desperately to process the situation

A cold sweat broke out across the back of his neck as he sat there practically paralyzed, it wasn’t unwelcomed! No no it was just so sudden he didn’t have time to prepare himself

The second he heard your footsteps softly pad into the kitchen to grab a drink he moved with a surprising speed as he scrambled off of the couch not even bothering to pick up his notes as he almost tripped over his shoes

With that he bolted out the door so fast the hinges groaned in protest

For seven agonizing days you were left on read, every text you sent asking if he was okay, if you’d be able to swing by his room to play that one game you had recently taken interest in, if he wanted his notes back all simply seen without a reply

In person was even worse, the times that he didn’t go out he’d dodge you as quickly as he could, and honestly it kind of sucked

You had no explanation on what was happening and even asking ortho if he was okay seemed hopeless as well..he didn’t know what was wrong with his big brother either

On the evening of the eighth day though as you were trying to make a few repairs on ramshackle your phone buzzed

The moment you picked it up that’s when you saw a notification from idia, a rather long paragraph but hey it was still a reply! The second your eyes scanned over the text a smile tugged at your lips

“Hey…srry for being a total jerk and leaving u on read and also leaving randomly. U must hate me and I wouldn’t hold it against you. I totally threw that quick time event lol…srry. If u want to vc tn you know I’ll be online, I also got more of those drinks u like if u want to come over to my room and hang out in person..hope we’re cool now”

All you can do is smile at his words before he begins to type again

“Btw player 2 slot is permanently reserved for you jsyk.”

“…”

“That was so cringe ignore plz.”

While idia isn’t exactly too familiar with dating (most of his knowledge from how things happen come from those cheesy romance anime’s and visual novels that are kind of unrealistic but hey it’s still something!) he does want to try

He’s a bit awkward but willing work on that for you!

━☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ

Malleus Draconia 🐉 (forehead)

Tonight it seemed there was a heavy exhaustion hanging over the fae, the calm and quiet of the evening lulling him to sleep as he let his head rest against the back of the couch

He looked beautiful. His usual sharp features softened completely in his sleep..truly it was a sight to behold!

The moment you placed a soft lingering kiss on his forehead, right between his dark horns his eyes opened, the slitted pupils dilating as he adjusted to the dim lighting of the room

They fix on you shortly after with an ancient warmth that makes your breath completely catch in your throat. Truth be told he felt the shift of the couch cushion, he could sense you were inching closer but he trusted you.

He knew your intentions with him were never ill and neither were his. Malleus was always completely vulnerable with you and even he knew that. You’ve captured this faes heart!

When you pull back to look at him fully his eyes are glued onto yours. He doesn’t startle and he doesn’t pull away. No..

Instead a warm smile tugs at his lips, your unprompted action making his heart fluttering in his chest. He shifts his weight as he sits up just enough to reach out to you and gently cup your cheek in his hand

There’s a pause as he takes a second to admire you. Really admire you. He had always found himself captivated you and this time was no different

“Child of man.” He murmurs his voice was deep yet oh so soft as he spoke

“You…you continue to be the most wondrous surprise in my long existence.”

His words are genuine, they always are. He doesn’t look flustered at all, rather, he looks as though a centuries old puzzle has finally clicked into place

And for him it had. You were the last piece, one that he had spent centuries looking for and finally there you were.

He slowly leans forward just enough to rest his forehead against yours with such delicacy as to not hurt you with his horns. He closes his eyes as he traces your cheekbone gently with his thumb

“I have lived for many centuries. I have been feared, respected, and isolated…yet, no one has ever dared to show me such gentle and fearless affection as I lay.”

He continues his movement on your cheekbone, his thumb moving in a slow left and right movement. He slowly opens his eyes, his gaze was soft and something only reserved for you

There was also a hint of undeniable certainty as he pulled back, removing his hand from your face he gently took ahold of your hands and squeezed them just a little

“I find myself captivated by your spirit. I cannot and will not keep this feeling hidden in the shadows any longer. I am completely and entirely yours if you will have me. I want to be the one you are betrothed to..”

The moment you accept his feelings he’s over the moon. His hands gently squeeze yours once more as he brings one of them up to his mouth, leaving a kiss on your warm skin in return

Malleus looks forward to your new life together! He’s constantly at your side ready to do whatever you ask. He’s smitten and as the prince of briar valley he wants nothing more than to have you be his royal consort..

============================

Another small a/n:

============================

“Y/nnn are we there yet? I’m so excited I seriously can’t wait any longer!”

His hands were clamped firmly over his eyes even though you had tied a soft silk scarf around his head as a blindfold just to be safe

He was practically vibrating beside you as you carefully guided him down the quiet corridor. Truly you were nervous and excited

This would be the first time you’d be celebrating kalims birthday with him and you wanted everything to be perfect

“Patience” you laughed softly, keeping a steady hand on his waist

“Just a few more steps…and okay! Stay right there”

You let go of his waist, stepping forward to hit the small switch on the wall. A warm golden glow bathed the spare room

You had spent the last four hours transforming the space. Fairy lights were draped crisscrossed from the ceiling, plush cushions were arranged around a low table in the center of the room, and a slightly lopsided banner that was hand painted with ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY KALIM! :)’ in big letters hung proudly against the wall

“Can I look now? Pleaseee, albi?”, kalim dragged out his words, a wide smile plastered on his lips as he kept his hands over his…well already covered eyes

You could only chuckle a little before standing to the side, hands clasped together in front of your body

“Yes, you can look now”

The quickness at which he whipped the scarf off genuinely left you stunned, his white hair fluffed up in every direction as he scanned the room.

For three whole seconds the usually boisterous housewarden was completely and utterly silent. His wide, ruby eyes darted from the glittering lights, to the banner, then to the small table in the center of the room, and finally…they looked at you

“Wait..you did all of this..” He breathed, his voice dropping into that rare, incredibly soft register he only ever saved just for you..

“..for me?”

“Happy birthday” you smiled, your voice matching his tone as you walked over to him, taking both of his hands in yours

“I know you had the massive dorm banquet earlier with Jamil and..well basically the whole school but I just wanted us to have something more private…just the two of us yknow?

Kalim didn’t just smile, his entire face seemed to catch the light. Before you could even blink his arms wrapped tightly around your shoulders, lifting you a little off the floor in a dizzying hug

“It’s incredible! Albi this..this is the best surprise ever!” He said excitedly, burying his face into the crook of your neck for a moment before he looked back at the table

“Wait…WAIT. Is that a cake?!”

He set you back down, practically skittering over to the low table

Sitting on a polished wooden plate was a freshly baked cake. Sure it wasn’t a towering five tier masterpiece that kalim always had for celebrations at banquets..it was a humble, perfectly golden two layer cake covered in swirls of sweet buttercream and topped with fresh strawberries you snatched from the mostro lounge sevens help you when azul finds out. On top was a single candle that was already half burned

“I baked it myself” you said sheepishly, suddenly feeling a tiny spike of heat flush your cheeks

“Jamil didn’t get the kitchen and it’s definitely not professional pastry chef level, so if you’re worried about-“

“Are you kidding me??!?” Kalim cut you off with a gasp that was almost offended, his eyes scanned over the cake like it was the holy grail right in front of his eyes

He spun back to you with a surprising speed, his eyes were shining with genuine, unshed happy tears

“You did this all for me..you baked a whole cake all for me??! I’m not worried about anything! I trust you with my life and I bet this tastes better than any royal banquet in the world!” He beamed happily

“You haven’t even tasted it yet” you tasted, a soft chuckle slipping past your lips as your heart did a massive flip in your chest

“I don’t need to! I can already tell just by looking at it that it’s amazing! Plus it was made by you and anything made by you is always so sooo good!”

He dropped into the floor cushions, Patti g the spot right next to him

“C’mon! Sit, sit! We can blow out the candle together!”

“It’s your birthday, kalim” you said shaking your head a little as you made your way over to where he sat, plopping down next to him so close your legs touched

“You gotta make a wish”

“A wish? My wish already came true the second you opened that door!” He met your gaze for a moment, the flame from the candle adding another warm glow to his features before he closed his eyes. He clasped his hands together as he hummed softly, presumably making a wish in his head before blowing out the flame

Giving him a small applause you reached over to grab a fork, handing it to him as you let your fingers graze over his for a moment

The second he had it in his hands he took a generous bite, his cheeks puffing out like a very happy chipmunk. You watched him anxiously for a split second, watching for any signs that he might not have liked it before his eyes widened

“Mmm oh wow! Oh my gosh, this is sho good!” He muffled through the cake, swallowing hastily as he licked his lips a little

“The frosting is so sweet! Here, open up, sunshine you have to try it!”

Before you could even think of protesting he was tipping the fork towards your mouth with a piece that was…kind of a lot but regardless you let him feed you a bite, laughing a little as a tiny smudge of buttercream caught in the corner of your mouth

“Ah! Stay still for a second!” He murmured, the frantic energy suddenly melted out of him. He leaned in close, his thumb reaching to gently swipe the stray dab of frosting from your mouth

Instead of using a napkin, he popped his thumb into his mouth, eyes locking onto yours with a sudden breathless warmth

“…yeah, this is definitely the best frosting I’ve ever had…”

Your breath hitched slightly as you met his gaze, heart pounding in your chest as your cheeks flushed a little more, “surprisingly the smoothest talker in scarabia” you said with a soft giggle, hand finding his as you gently squeezed

“Hey! I’m just telling the truth!” He giggled, his own cheeks dusting a faint, rosy pink as he leaned his forehead against your shoulder, melting a little into you

“Well hold on, Mr. Birthday boy! Don’t get too comfy yet there’s one more thing I have for you”

With that, you let go of his hand and reached behind one of the cushions, pulling out a small rectangular box wrapped in simple red paper and tied with a golden ribbon

Kalim immediately sat up straight, his mouth opening slightly as glared at the box

“A gift? You’re spoiling me, sunshine!”

“Open it”

You watched as his fingers worked the ribbon loose with absolute reverence, it was a stark contrast to the way he usually ripped into any gifts he was given.

Honestly you were a little nervous for this, sure you knew whatever it was kalim would love it, that’s how he was…but he also had everything so there was a little nervousness that came with this

He took off the top and set it on the table, inside the box laid two handcrafted, braided leather bracelets. One was woven with deep crimson and gold threads while the other, also woven with a deep crimson had silver threads

“They’re matching” you explained quietly, your hands resting in your lap as you watched kalims expression

“It took a while but I made them so whenever we’re stuck in separate classes or just not with each other long periods of time, you’d still have a little piece of me with you and me with you”

Kalim stared down at the bracelets. For a second you thought he might actually start crying, instead he carefully lifted the silver one and gently worked the clasp closed around your wrist. Once it was secure it shoved his own wrist out towards you

“Put mine on me” he whispered, his voice was trembling just a little with pure adoration “please albi”

A smile tugged at the corner of your lips as you wrapped the crimson braid around his wrist, working the clasp closed. The moment it was secured, kalim brought his wrist up to his lips, placing a quick peck over the braided leather to show appreciation

“I’m never ever taking this off!” He declared fiercely, “not in the shower, not at magift practice, not ever! I’ll cherish it until it falls off and even then I’ll find a way to put it back on!”

“It might get a little ruined if you wear it in the shower” you chuckled softly

“I don’t care!” He threw his arms around you once more, tumbling the both of you sideways onto the plush floor cushions

He tucked your head under his chin, his heart thumping a fast yet joyful rhythm against your ear

“I really meant it y’know?”

He shifted, pressing a warm, sweet kiss to the crown of your head, holding you just a fraction tighter as he closed his eyes in contentment

“This is the best surprise I’ve ever had..thank you for celebrating with me.”

============================

The kitchen of heartslabyul carried the sweet scent of baked tarts, fruit, and the slight smell of black brewed tea just as it always did, the kitchen had become a simple hangout spot for you and a certain vicehousewarden

You’d always come by just to spend time with him and help him bake which he was eternally grateful for especially since he really enjoyed your company just as much as you enjoyed his!

The sounds of the stainless steel whisk hit the side of the ceramic bowl with a rhythmic and steady clink filled the air

You were currently behind him, ranting about your day before the scent of the whipped cream he was mixing distracted you from what you were trying to say, as per usual you moved closer to him, chin now resting on his shoulder as you tried to see what he was doing

“if you keep leaning over my shoulder like that, you’re going to end up with powdered sugar on your clothes”

Trey warned, though the inherent and effortless warmth in his voice was completely ruined any attempt at sounding stern

At his words, you didn’t move back. Instead your ears twitched and your tail gave a slow, sweeping swish in the air as you leaned just an inch closer, a smug smile plastered on your lips

Just as if it was routine it was at this point you caught the sleeve of his uniform jacket, you tilted your head slightly and opened your mouth, clamping your teeth down in a soft nip against his bicep

It didn’t hurt him at all! really it never hurt..There was always zero pressure behind your jaw, it was just the blunt press of your canines against wherever you decided to bite him that day!

As you held him there for two seconds before letting go, trey didn’t even break his whisking rhythm, he just let out a quiet yet amused sigh as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose with his shoulder

“The mont blanc won’t be ready for another forty minutes and I can promise you, gnawing on the chef won’t make the oven work any faster”

He said with a sideways glance, a hint of playfulness in his tone as he met your gaze.

“Yeah? Well I’m not trying to speed up the oven..” you mumbled softly, resting your crossed arms on the counter as you look up at trey

“Could’ve fooled me” he chuckled, that smile you love so much paints his lips as he sets the whisk down and grabbed a clean wooden spoon. He dipped the corner of it into the bowl of freshly whipped chestnut cream, he got a small size glob on the spoon before turning to hold it out to you almost like one would to a small impatient child

“Here, taste test this for me. Let me know if it needs more vanilla or not”

It was almost at an instant that your tail picked up it’s tempo in swaying side to side before letting out a happy hum. You leaned forward, neatly taking the dollop of cream off the spoon.

Your eyes lit up, it was just as amazing as you thought it would be! It was perfectly sweet and rich while still being light. It would be perfect for the upcoming unbirthday party

As if you were overcome with the sudden bubbly spike of pure appreciation you caught trey’s wrist with both hands, you quickly pulled it towards you and gave the side of his thumb another affectionate nip!

Trey..well he just stood still. He looked down at his thumb, then up at your beaming face, then down to his thumb once more

“Hm..I think it’s safe to say you like it”

He chuckled softly as he slowly set the spoon down on the countertop. He picked up a clean dish towel and he began to wipe his hands off carefully as he leaned back against the edge of the sink, crossing his arms over his chest

The typical smile of amusement he usually wore had shifted into a look of genuine and highly analytical curiosity, his head tilting slightly as he keeps his golden eyes on your figure

“Okay”

Trey said softly, a brow slightly raised, “I have to ask”

You blinked slowly for a moment, your ears swiveling forward as your tail began to slow its pace at which it swayed

“Hm? Ask what?”

“The nipping.” Me gestured vaguely to his own arm, he wasn’t upset by any means, his tone was more general curiosity than upset

“I noticed you do that a lot. To me specifically…At first I figured it was just a quirk you had especially being a beastman Y’know? Maybe it’s just excess energy or a sensory thing but then yesterday in the courtyard, I watched you talk to ace, deuce a yuu for an hour, and you didn’t try doing that to a single one of them” he said as a matter of factly

An icy spike of sudden panic shot straight down your spine, your tail went entirely ridged as you stared at him, mortified. Did you make him uncomfortable? Did he not return your feelings? Maybe he did actually know what you were attempting to do and he was just letting you court him without any reciprocated feelings..that wouldn’t be like him though right?

Trey didn’t really notice your internal crisis, he was to busy being practically minded and caught in his own thoughts for a moment

“So, I actually asked ruggie about it in the hallway this morning on the way to professer crewls class…just asking if beastmen tend to nip at their friends”

You stood there, mouth slightly agape, it took a moment for you to get words out but when you did…well it came out in a high, strangled squeak

“You asked…ruggie?”

“I did” Trey nodded, entirely innocent as he pushed his glasses up a little on the bridge of his nose

“He looked at me like I was an absolute lunatic, all he said was all beastmen are different but if someone who just so happens to be one bites you it means they’re either trying to establish dominance or they just downright have a problem with you” he let out an awkward chuckle, one of his hands finding the back of his neck

“The thing is…you do it when we’re just sitting in the library, or when I pass you a pencil, really anytime we’re hanging out…I mean even right now”

Trey tilted his head a little, his golden eyes completely sincere behind his lenses, “look I’m not mad, I promise! I’m just…a regular guy who doesn’t know a lot about fox beastmen…so why do you do that?”

“…”

The silence that fell over the kitchen was so profound you could hear a pin drop.

Your face was burning so hot it felt like at any given moment you could spontaneously combust right where you stood..your ears had pinned themselves flat against your head in chest and unadulterated mortification

He had no idea…

All these weeks. Every time he gave you a sweet smile, one so sweet you thought you’d get cavities right then and there, you’d give him a love nip. One that says ‘I think you’re the most wonderful man in all of twisted wonderland…I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you if you’ll let me!’

Who knows what was running through his head when you’d do that!

After a painfully long moment you spoke, “it’s..” you swallow hard, staring fixedly at a stray grain of sugar in the counter, eyes looming anywhere but at him

“I can promise you it’s not a dominance thing, trey”

He nods slowly, brows knitting together slightly as he thinks for a moment

“Okay…okay that’s good to know” he said patiently, he really was trying to understand your antics

“Then what is it?”

There was another long pause of silence before you took a deep breath

“It’s like…an excitement thing” you mumbled, voice quiet but loud enough just for him to hear “we tend to do that when we’re happy..with someone..”

He raised a brow, straightening his back slightly as he nodded

“So like a hug?”

“No..well maybe kind of depending on how you see it but no..” you squeezed your eyes shut for a moment, maybe it would just be better if you ripped off the bandaid? Who knows maybe he’d find it charming..maybe just maybe he’d feel the same!

“Trey, it’s a courting thing!”

Your voice came out louder than expected, you slightly cringed and prayed to the sevens that it didn’t weird him out

Just like that…the kitchen went dead silent again. You didn’t dare look up, how were you supposed to look the man who you had been courting for so long WITHOUT HIM EVEN REALIZING

You could practically hear the gears in his head screeching to a massive, spark throwing vault as his brain took that single piece of data and applied it to the last 4 months of his time with you

The time he fixed your collar for you and you nipped at his knuckle

The time he let you share his umbrella, giving you most of it while he was partially soaked and you bit his shoulder

Even the time he gave you the last strawberry tart, one he had saved just for you and you had practically tried to eat his arm

All of these moment and so many more suddenly made a little more sense with this newfound information

“Wait…”

Treys voice was suddenly an octave lower, completely stripped of its usual conposed rhythm as he thought for a long moment

“Hold on.”

You heard the rustle of his apron. Finally you looked up at him just a little, just in time to see trey taking his glasses off, and setting them down on the counter for a moment with a faint, clack, sound. All so he could punch the bridge of his nose

A furiously bright cherry red flush was rapidly crawling up from his collar, conquering his neck and blooming right across his cheeks

“You…”

Trey started, stopped, took a breath before grabbing his glasses again and sliding them on before meeting your gaze

“You’ve been trying to court me this whole time?”

“Yes! Trey I..I was! I thought maybe you’d catch on it’s been like 4 months!”

Your voice cracked slightly as your tail flailed behind you in pure embarrassment

“Everytime I did it you just kept laughing and you’d do that thing where you’d pet my head so I thought you were accepting my courting in your own way!”

“I was petting your head because I thought you were being playful!”

Trey blurted out, a genuine breathless laugh escaping him as he ran his hand through his hair

“Oh sevens I’m an idiot. I’m an actual idiot.”

“I’m just gonna go” you declared instantly, turning on your heels faster than you ever have in your life, your cheeks flushing with embarrassment

“Hey, hey no, no hold on, just stay here”

Before you could even take a step towards the kitchen door, treys hands were on your shoulders, gently but firmly turning you back around to face him. He stepped into your space, leaving little room between the two of you

When you forced yourself to look up at him, the massive blush on his face was still there but his eyes were so impossibly soft it made your breath catch in your throat

That playful and teasing attitude he had with you totally gone, this was just, trey, looking at you like you like you had just handed him a winning lottery ticket the didn’t know he bought

“Please don’t run away” he murmured, his thumbs lightly brushing against the fabric of your sleeves

“I’m not upset or anything if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m just…really, really stunned and honestly I feel like a total fool”

He let out a quiet and shaky exhale, a remarkably tender smile pulling at the corners of his mouth

“If I had known every single one of those nips was you trying to tell me you liked me I would’ve acted sooner”

Your ears gave a hopeful, tiny twitch upward

“You would’ve…?”

“Yes.” Trey slid one of his hands down your arm, his palm sliding over yours until his fingers gently laced through your own

“I would’ve told you that I’ve spent the last few months trying to figure out how to ask you out on a date without making things weird between us.”

Listening to his words, your heart did a violent backflip in your chest, your tail wagging quickly behind you as you gently squeezed his hand

“Really?”

“Really.”

He laughed softly, his thumb tracing the back of your knuckles. He looked down at your hand, his expression turning thoughtful and slightly mischievous yet so..so devastatingly warm

“Though, now it seems we have a bit of a cultural barrier to fix”

Your brow raised slightly as your ears perked up, “hm? What barrier?”

“Well” trey started, his voice dropping into that quiet, velvety register reserved entirely for things kept behind closed doors, he took a half step closer, his apron brushing against your knees

“If a fox beastman were to give someone nips to ask them to be theirs…how would that someone say that they return their feelings?”

Your breath hitched slightly as he lifted your hand up to his face. Slowly, keeping his eyes right on yours to make sure you wouldn’t bolt

He leaned down just a little bit and pressed his lips against the inside of your wrist, right over the exact spot where your pulse was currently hammering a million miles an hour

It wasn’t a quick kiss by any means…no, it was deliberate, warm, and lingering just enough to send a localized shockwave of pure electricity straight to your brain

The moment he pulled back, his eyes were shining with a quiet, triumphant sort of fondness as he watched your mouth fall slightly open

“Was that okay?” He whispered softly, hand squeezing yours gently.

You just stare at him for a moment, your tail frantically thumping against the counter which was entirely impossible to cover up even if you wanted to, you nodded slowly though, leaning slightly closer to him

“Yes!” You squeaked out, a smile tugging at your lips “that was more than okay..”

Trey let out a bright and genuine laugh, his chest rising and falling as he leaned his forehead gently against yours, the scent of warm vanilla and toasted sugar wrapping around you two like a heavy blanket

“Good” he smiled against your skin

“Now let’s finish this up and after I’ll plan a proper date. Just the two of us”

He said softly, pulling away from you but letting his hand linger on yours for a little longer…sure it had taken months for the realization to hit him but now you were his and that meant more to him than anything else ever could