- ̗̀ 𝒹𝒾𝓋𝒾𝓃𝒾𝓉𝓎.

THE GLEAM THERE IN HIS EYES softened just a bit when hana leaned forward to place a hand over his heart. she knew exactly how to snare him in, how to wrap him around her fingers and get him to put his armor down just for her. for hana, melting his heart was an incredibly easy feat. briefly, he let a genuine and gentle smile touch his lips, but the soft look on his features morphed into something more playful once more at her words.

it was like a game between the two of them. it didn’t matter that they both knew how much they meant to each other, how in their private moments they shared their most intimate thoughts with each other and gave their hearts to the other without reservation. anyone who looked closely enough would be able to see that even here, in public, playing their little game, their hearts belonged in each other’s hands. but it was fun, to pretend that they were in it for the game, to play cat and mouse and tease the hell out of each other where everyone can see.

cassius grinned, taking hana’s hand in his when she snatched the paper away from him. “are you not going to let me read your work?” then, letting go off her hand, he let his fingers creep up her arm, and finally rested them just under her chin. “you and i both know the answer to that question, princess,” he responded smoothly, tilting her chin up to make her look at him. “i’d take you home and spoil you. first, i’ll make you sit down while i make you dinner. then i’ll let you kiss me all over my jaw before feeding you. then… well, you know the rest of the story.”

never mind that her entire office were right there watching it.

EVEN AFTER KNOWING CASSIUS for several years, he always managed to surprise her. the expected and unexpected ran parallel in every aspect of their relationship, and it was something she looked forward to seeing unfold every day they spent together. hana felt a shiver work its way down her spine as he titled her chin up, her eyes lidding as they made eye contact. “i don’t want you to read my work, you should be paying attention to me right now.” she replied playfully. right then, everything faded to the background — her work and anxieties were white noise in that moment. only she and cassius existed in a world of their own making. 

“mmm, while that sounds lovely,” she purred, leaning closer to breathe out into the shell of cassius’ ear, “what if i’d rather have dessert first? don’t i deserve a reward for working so hard?” she tugged on his earlobe teasingly, before pulling away. “take me home, cassius.” 

THERE WAS MIRTH in cassius’ eyes when hana pulled him close. he couldn’t help himself — he leaned in for a second kiss. he was never good at hiding any affection he felt for hana, not even when they were younger and they were nothing more than ‘just friends’. now that they were older and together, he had made it an even bigger deal to make sure she knew just how fond he was of her. and if the gleam in his eyes and the kiss were not enough, there was also a grin playing across cassius’ lips at the sight of hana’s smirk.

“i’m hurt, moon,” he teased back, pulling away from hana to place a hand over his heart in mock hurt. if any of hana’s employees were watching the charade that the two of them were playing, cassius didn’t notice. his eyes were only for his girlfriend. 

he grabbed a sheet of paper off hana’s desk, skimming over it before going, “come on, i wouldn’t believe you if you said that this is more entertaining than i am.” then after a brief pause, he suggestively added, “or we could do something else that’s more to your liking. anything other than you abandoning me to go on a date with your news.”

HANA’S HAND INSTINCTIVELY MOVED to cover cassius’ own when he placed it over his heart. she wondered for a brief moment if he knew just how entirely she was his — how easily she melted at his words and touch, an experience she had never gone through before him. deep down she knew he must just as she knew that knowledge probably made him smug. 

hana snatched the paper from his hand and set it back down onto her desk before turning back to him with a smirk. “and what would you have us do if we didn’t go out on our date? would you take me home instead?” she questioned, knowing full well where he would take her. 

date: september 22, 03:06 pm. location: the fairview times.

AS A GENERAL RULE, anyone who had spent more than five minutes with cassius would know that yes, he was in fact taken and yes, he loved his girlfriend with all his heart. the sentiment seemed to apply vice versa, too. and anyone who had been in the near vicinity of both cassius and hana would probably be well aware — too well, in fact — that they had a fondness for public display of affection.

something that, most of hana’s employees were very familiar with.

yet cassius strode into the fairview times with no shame, head held high as a smirk twisted across his lips when he spotted his girlfriend. it was no news that he acted like he owned the place almost as much as hana did, and that he belonged — never mind that he didn’t even know the first thing about running a newspaper. his eyes lit up as he leaned down to peck hana right on the lips in full view of her entire office, before pulling back to hum out, “well, are you going to stay cooped up in here all night or will you actually spare me your precious time to accompany me to the festivities?”

ONCE HANA CAME TO WORK it was nearly impossible to pry her away from it. if there was one thing she prided herself on, it was her work ethic and she took her job very seriously; even if half of the paper was lies. she was hardly naïve – sex and gossip sold best and most days lies were the only thing keeping the doors open. there was never an issue with being called a liar or manipulator – she knew what she did best.

cassius had a reputation for doing the unfeasible around the office, if only because he was the only person to date to successfully attract hana away from her desk. he was always a welcome distraction, and it was apparent to not only everyone at the fairview times, but quite possibly all of fairview, that hana viewed him in a different light from others.

wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling her body close to his, hana teased out, “mmm, i don’t know if i have precious time to spare for you.” a smirk played on her lips mirroring his own. “but i might make some if you say please and thank you.”

“How do people run marathons? I feel like I might heave out my lungs and I’ve got this cramp in my side…” Sam exhaled a slightly pained breath before finally glancing up to face her company. “You know what? You’re probably not here to talk about my mediocre running abilities.” Patting the bench beside herself, she made additional room for them if they wished to join her. “So which is it: you have a story for me or do you just want to talk?”

WITH A SCULPTED EYEBROW RAISED and arms crossed against her chest, hana stared as awkward silence descended amongst them. she let it hold for a few more beats, before dryly going, “you’re right, i’m hardly here to talk about your running abilities or my day. are you always this way with by-passers?” amusement was evident from her tone, but hana would let samantha decide whether it was at her expense or not. “i’m here to ask you about what you’re currently working on. i’m assuming you’re covering the festival, correct?”