𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭.

How many people in their line of work got happy endings? Not many that Chris knew. They either died a hero on the field, or had too many aches and pains to fully enjoy life by the time retirement came around. At the age of thirty five, he’d never in his wildest dreams thought he’d be handing in his gun.. and yet, here he was— not a solider burdened by duty anymore, but a free man.

A fresh start was exactly what him and Jill both needed after Africa. When Jill proposed the idea they move to Paris? How could Chris possibly refuse? They’d booked the first flight over there once their visas had been approved— never looking back. There was nothing left for them in the States apart from twisted memories and broken dreams.. and a little sister that had permission to visit whenever she wanted.

Carrying the last of their boxes into their brand new three bedroom house, Chris placed them down in the living room for him and Jill to sort through later. Speaking of Jill.. where had she ran off to?

A quick search of the open kitchen and garden turned up dry.. but there was one more place he could think she’d be. Climbing the stairs up to their bedroom, a smile tugged at his lips when seeing her standing out on the balcony overlooking the pier. He didn’t waste any time in joining her out there. “Leaving me to do all the heavy lifting while you’re hard at work, I see.” The telltale smirk on his lips was a telltale sign he was being sarcastic.

She could hardly believed they were here now. In Paris, so far away from their old lives. A fresh start. They both needed it, earned it, after all they had gone through. They'd go back and visit often, see their old friends, but their home was here now.

The seemingly neverending pile of boxes to sort through was left unattended for a moment, Jill's attention caught by the view outside. From here, they could overlook the pier - unexpectedly calm, the sounds of the bustling life so different from what they were used to back in the States.

No surprise that Chris had joined her in the balcony soon after. Jill had vaguely registered his footsteps coming up the stairs. She used to be so attuned to her surroundings, on high alert for threats... It felt strange to let herself fully relax.

"It's called taking a break. I don't know if you've heard of it," she countered his teasing, her own tone just as playful. The irony of her words was not lost on her. They were equally as bad when it came to taking a step back from their work, even when they clearly needed it. The fact that they had retired, no city to save, no civilians to protect, was a little jarring at times; but Jill would be lying if she said she wasn't excited to see what their new life would look like.

Forbidden Kiss Prompts (“We’re not supposed to do this” but oops, we are)

a kiss in the shadows, hands clenched in fabric, trying to stay quiet because someone might hear.

“We can’t—if someone sees us…” — and then they kiss anyway, consequences be damned.

a stolen kiss through the bars of a prison cell, whispered promises of escape in between.

a “we’re on opposite sides” kiss during a truce, lips barely touching because if they kiss fully, they’ll never walk away.

a last-second kiss right before one of them is betrothed to someone else.

Angsty Reunion Kiss Prompts (“I thought I lost you” edition)

a kiss the second they see each other again—rough, breathless, and on the verge of falling apart.

a kiss interrupted by tears, hands holding like they’re afraid to let go.

“Why didn’t you come back?” whispered into their mouth between kisses.

a kiss where they pause halfway through just to look at each other, both a little older, a little more broken.

a kiss that tastes like salt and rain and survival.

Soft Domestic Kiss Prompts (Wholesome fluff to rest your soul)

a sleepy morning kiss, lazy and warm, exchanged without even opening their eyes.

a kiss planted absentmindedly on the top of the other’s head while making tea.

a kiss stolen while brushing their teeth together—foam and giggles included.

a soft kiss over a grocery list, mid-aisle, because “you looked too cute to ignore.”

the kind of kiss shared in bed while reading—just because one of them couldn’t help it anymore.

Post-Confession Kiss Prompts ( “Oh my god this is real” edition)

a kiss that stumbles right after the words “I love you,” like neither of them know what to do with their hands.

“You mean it?” — “Yeah.” — cue the most careful, reverent kiss of their lives.

a kiss that starts with laughter and ends in a dazed, overwhelmed silence.

one of them whispering, “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this,” right before kissing them senseless.

a kiss that comes too fast after the confession, clumsy and colliding—because they’ve waited too long.

First Kiss Prompts (that change everything)

a kiss that starts mid-sentence, because one of them couldn’t wait one more second.

the trembling, breath-held pause right before their lips finally touch—eyes wide, hearts racing.

“If I kiss you right now, will you hate me?” – they kiss them anyway.

the kiss that’s followed by shocked silence, and then one of them blurts, “Okay… wow.”

the hesitant brush of lips—barely there—until one of them pulls the other closer like they’ve made up their mind.

Comfort Kiss Prompts (Love as a safety net)

a kiss placed gently on a trembling hand.

a kiss offered like a promise—“I’m here. I’m staying.”

a forehead kiss given after a nightmare, while whispering soft reassurances.

“You don’t have to be okay right now.” – kissed on the temple like a prayer.

the quiet, slow kiss after a panic attack, grounded in breathing and touch.

Jealousy Kiss Prompts (when emotions boil over)

a sudden, possessive kiss that shocks both of them—especially because they weren’t “together.”

a kiss to shut someone up mid-flirt—“They’re with me.”

“You’ve been avoiding me.” – “Because I saw you flirting with them.” – followed by a sharp, angry, perfect kiss.

the kind of kiss that starts in fury but ends in breathless “I need you.”

a kiss that screams “You’re mine. Even if you don’t know it yet.”

Accidental / Surprise Kiss Prompts

tripping and falling directly into a kiss—then freezing in shock as realization sets in.

a practice kiss to “make it look real” that very much does not stay platonic.

a drunken kiss that was supposed to be a dare, but lingers just a second too long.

mistaking the other person for someone else in the dark—“oh… wait—” – “don’t stop.”

Leon barely had any time at all to properly admire her before she reclaimed his lips with a harsh tug of his arm back to her. Whatever had happened during today’s visit with Sherry.. it must’ve left Claire feeling lower than low, because even during her previous late night visits? She’d never been this needy for him. It wasn’t that they usually eased into it— they didn’t, but there was usually a little more conversation before they let their hands do the talking. Not that Leon was complaining.

His sweater had been discarded in an instant, pants and boxers to follow after Claire’s fingers scrambled to take care of them for him, Leon swift in kicking them both off to join the rest of their crumpled clothing in a pile on the floor. They didn’t do foreplay. Never had since they’d started hooking up— always quick to rush straight to the point. After all, this wasn’t about pleasure. For them, it was about forgetting.

Now that they were both bare, Leon adjusted his position, his hips finding their way between her legs as a hand guided one of them around his waist. With his other, he lined himself up with her and with a single thrust forward? He slid into her with a grunt.

“Claire..” Her name left his lips in a low moan right into her ear, his pace quickening with each steady rock of his hip against hers. There was no telling how long this would last— or if she’d even stay afterwards. She usually didn’t, much like himself when he showed up at her door. But tonight, Leon craved not only this, but her company. Unfortunately, he knew he didn’t possess the courage to ask that of her.

time to meet the cause of our misery.

there's hesitancy and doubt streaked through her tone. that's alright. she can deal with that, given that right now, compliance and her trust weren't the most important things. it was getting them out of here ALIVE. and the train, at the least, provided a means by which to give her that peace of mind, that distance, though, who knew what was waiting for them outside of the city limits. why did ada have a feeling it was something equally awful, looming, and ready? it'd be for them to have to explore soon enough, but it did nothing for them now. "it'll be alright. come on. let me get him up, then you help where you can. if he's too heavy, tell me quickly."

it's a whole BALANCING ACT between the pair of them. leon's body leaned in too hard, dead weight after he'd been suffering through his fever, though, she was relieved to say that it had broken by now. so he just needed a bit, sure that whatever had gotten ahold of him was clearing out. she hoped. having him as backup right now would have been pretty helpful... she's still on high alert as they slip from the door, and now down the hall. the both of them breathing heavy, the sound ratcheted up in the enclosed space.

oh - sherry's question hits hard, glancing at her from beneath the fan of her dark lashes. "to a point." down... then out! she'd be going down, they'd be making it out of here... "i have to get something. something that i have a feeling YOU MIGHT NEED." she has a suspicion, an awful, terrible one, about what's been done to this girl long before she'd ever entered the scene. it's sickening. it's terrible to have to acknowledge. and yet? it felt realer than she'd never expected it to be, an unfortunate truth, a terrible thing to know. "but i'll meet you once i've gotten it. if you're worried, you might have to stay in the train with the officer, and while i know it'll be safe..." she hesitates. the bombs. could she clear them out of here by then? "... i want you to have more than enough time to get out of here and somewhere safe. i know you're worried. but i know i'll be able to find it."

she wants to ask what it was that the woman is retrieving, what it has to do with her -- but she doesn't. sherry swallows the question that's dying to come out, afraid she'll be a nuisance, that she's wasting the other's time when it's clearly already running out. "okay." the word is croaked out with some difficulty, her grip on the police officer tightening. "i'll wait in the train." she won't leave until they're all safely reunited. it's a plan sherry doesn't want to say out loud, holding onto it tightly until the time comes. she doesn't want to disobey or risk the police officer's life... but it doesn't feel right to leave without her savior either.

the feeling that they might not see each other again festers uncomfortably in her stomach. if her parents don't make it out, what will happen to her? will she have to find a new home? it's not as though sherry was happy where she was before, but the fear of the unknown is just as suffocating. can't they all stay together? it's such a silly wish. sherry just met this woman. she doesn't even know her name - and yet she trusts her with her life, more than she does her own parents.

Was it bad that he found himself somewhat relieved when Claire said she didn’t want to talk about it? It’s not like he’d know the first thing to say to her anyway. How could he possibly offer any words of comfort when he too, was just as broken and couldn’t afford to put his own pieces back together, let alone hers? It would be straight up cruel of him to even try telling her everything would be okay when he knew damn well that they wouldn’t be.

The demanding kiss that followed sparked something within him— proving to Leon that he wasn’t as dead inside as he felt. Nights like these with her were the closest he felt to feeling alive these days, the overwhelming numbness momentarily forgotten about. It was why when Claire pulled away to spare him a moment to answer her question? Leon found himself chasing her lips with noticeable desperation.

“No.” He parroted just as their lips passionately clashed once more. Talking was overrated anyway, wasn’t it? Or at least that’s the lie he sold himself for all of this not to feel wrong.

Leaving no room for either of them to change their minds and think it through, Leon wrapped his arms around her and hoisted her up so that she could hook those long legs around him. Then using one foot to kick the door shut, he carried her into the living room where he soon collapsed on top of her on the couch, their lips still fighting for dominance. This wasn’t the way to deal with their trauma.. but Leon didn’t care.

The relief that came from Leon's refusal spread across her body in an instant, seamlessly overriding every bit of guilt. Claire would let herself worry about it when she inevitably went back home in the middle of the night, left alone with her thoughts once more.

A low grunt spilled into his lips as she fell backwards onto the couch, the impact not nearly as torturous as the distance that followed. If not for the promise of feeling his weight on top of her again if she did as she was told, Claire would've tried chasing his lips, desperate for that closeness. Instead, she was already shrugging off her jacket before Leon could finish his sentence.

She blindly tossed it to the floor the second she was free from it, her shirt and bra following suit. The sudden coldness sticking to her skin only registered for a moment, before Claire was already focusing on the next task. Her fingers fumbled with the zipper of her jeans for a moment, with little room to move when she refused to pull away any further. It felt like she wouldn't be able to breathe if there was any more distance between two.

The bottom half of her clothes was removed in one single motion, the soft thud as they dropped sounding so far away. Claire didn't spare a moment to think about how exposed she felt, in more ways than one, rushing to lose herself once more in his taste.