In sweetness, there is strength

You start with careful strokes, brushing a deep orange eyeshadow into the empty spaces of a snapdragon around his elbow. Shinso’s breath shifts when the bristles graze his skin, barely noticeable, but you catch it. “Ticklish?”, you tease quietly. He scoffs. “No”. You brush again, on its inner side, and he shudders. “Okay, maybe a little”. As you work, he starts talking. Not much but more than usual, little comments and half-thoughts. “That shade’s nice”, he says after a moment. “Looks like something out of the Roppongi tunnel". “What a reference, my guy”. Now you’re applying green glitter gloss on a stylized dinosaur. “Hard not to when you purposefully reroute our bike rides to random art displays". In a whispers he adds “But I like seeing what catches your eye”. He adjusts without you asking, rolling his wrist so you can reach a tricky curve. “You never get this serious when you’re doing your makeup”. “This is important”, you reply trying to sound offended. A tiny smirk tugs at his mouth. “I know. That’s why I like it.” You pause. “Being treated as a coloring book?”, you mock. “Watching you being absorbed in something you love. Your focus on me”. His tone is low, deep elderberry eyes lidded and honest, sinking through you. Your hand stills for half a second before you keep going, feeling your cheeks burn. Shinso melts like a sleepy cat in a sunshine spot while keeping curious watch. The way your brows knit when you’re concentrating. How you lean closer without realizing it. There’s a softness in his eyes that he doesn’t bother hiding. “If you ever wanna design one for real”, he adds, casual but sincere, “I’d let you”. You laugh, flustered. “That’s a big commitment”. “So is letting someone color on you with eyeshadow and glitter”, he replies in a gentle smirk. “I don’t do that for just anyone, kitten”. When you pull back, satisfied, he admires the work. Then look back up at you. “Yeah”, his voice is so warm now. “I like it better when you make it yours”. He snaps a few pictures that are going straight to the folder in his phone that’s filled with you.

It’s a few months later, you’re folding the laundry when Shinso calls for you fro the living room. The way he’s sitting on the couch is odd: shirt a little looser than usual, posture weirdly crouched. He waits for you to get closer and then turns slightly, just enough for you to see it. On his left side, just below his pecs: a clean, smooth patch of skin, framed by fresh black ink. Not a design or a symbol. Just a thin, elegant border, like a picture frame waiting to be filled. “What’s that?”. “For you”, he simply says. Your brain doesn’t process the words right away. “For me how?”. He shrugs, but there’s a nervousness under it. “You’re always filling the same shapes and worry you’ll ruin my tattoos. So I figured I’d give you somewhere to express your creativity”. You step closer without thinking, fingers hovering near the frame, not touching it yet. “You got a tattoo that’s… empty?”. “Yeah”. He meets your eyes. “Blank canvas. Permanent border. Everything inside is yours”. Your voice is shaky as you chuckle "You're mad". When you finally touch him, just the pads of your fingers tracing the edge of the ink, he exhales like he’s been holding that breath since he called you. He settles his hands on your waist, pulling you closer. “It’ll be fun! We can come up with themes a few days a week and you can get crazy with the eyeliner. None of that sticky kiwi gloss though, it took forever to get it out last time", his nose crinkles at the memory. “You trust my taste?”. “I trust you with me”, he corrects gently. He lets a few second pass before adding “But yeah, you also have a good sense of color-coding”. You're speechless as you trace the borders of the frame. If you stop and press slightly you can feel the faint thump of his heart. “You don’t have to draw now”, he adds, bringing you back with him, “or ever. I just wanted you to know you have space”. You look up at him, eyes shining. “How silly can you be?”. Shinso lands a kiss that’s more of a nuzzle. “The amount it takes to make you smile”.

TYSM!!

i absolutely loooovveddd her in her little black dress in the future episode :,)