Star shining...

you didn't know what led to this.

all you could recall was that you were laying on the couch out of boredom before chance dashed into the room, and he went on about some random challenge. if you were being sincere, you weren't even listening to their words. all you heard was 'challenge' and 'fun' before he questioned if you wanted to do it.

and you, idiotically, agreed.

you weren't aware of what the challenge was, but you agreed out of belief that it couldn't be anything bad. chance constantly did absurd stuff, so you assumed that it would be something along the lines of them doing something stupid, and you simply just assisted him in doing the foolish act.

yet your assumption was proven wrong as you now sat in front of chance—a pocky box discarded to the side while they held one of the sticks in between his fingers. a wide, taunting grin was on his face while fidgeted with it.

apparently, the challenge he wanted to do was the "pocky challenge." they had explained it to you before, but due to your not listening, you asked him to inform you about it just to "make sure you didn't mess anything up."

and when they explained the challenge, you couldn't help but feel your face grow warm at the description.

according to chance, the challenge was like a game of chicken. you both would put one end of the pocky in your mouths, and you'd take turns biting off portions of the snack until someone chickened out.

but the thing was that someone chickening out wasn't certain. if someone didn't pull back, the challenge would end in a kiss, and knowing how stubborn you and chance were, that ending was a high possibility.

and you also knew chance was aware of that.

although you couldn't see his eyes due to the sunglasses that resided on the bridge of their nose, you could still see the smirk on his face. you furrowed your eyebrows as you glanced from the stick to their sunglasses, and his grin seemingly got wider while he tilted his head.

"you ready, sweet thing?" his question was filled with taunt while they placed the coated end in his mouth, and they leaned forward. your gaze fell onto the end that was facing you, and for a moment, you debated answering.

you debated doing this whole challenge.

chance, despite being known for going all in without being aware of details, knew how this challenge could end. a part of you believed they wanted this challenge to end with your lips against his, but then again, you couldn't tell if they were just flirting or not.

was this just his definition of a joke, or were they just genuinely curious about this challenge?

you couldn't even answer your own questions as you leaned forward to put the end of the snack into your mouth.

a sweet sensation filled your taste buds, but you didn't have time to savour the feeling as chance took a bite from the stick. oddly enough, his first bite was a rather large one, and you resisted the urge to lean back out of shock.

why were they already taking such big bites? at this point, the snack wouldn't even last long.

instead of reciprocating his daring action, you took a small bite out of the stick, and you watched their lips twitch with a smirk. luckily for you, he ended up taking a tiny bite, and you paused for a moment.

you had two options. one, you could continue to let this teasing game linger on for longer, or two, you could attempt to put an end to it.

due to chance's prior bite, there wasn't much pocky left. the tension in the room was growing as you both noted the remainder of the stick.

earlier, chance had been bold, so why didn't you have a turn?

you partially surprised yourself as you moved forward to bite down on the pocky—your lips barely grazing his while you partially pulled back to chew up the snack.

despite you leaning back for a little bit of distance, chance only leaned forward to fill in that space, and the smile on their face faltered as you assumed he was looking at you through their sunglasses.

though, before you could question his stare, you felt their hand gently move to press against the back of your head as he crashed his lips against yours.

the kiss didn't wield any hesitance, for the way their lips moved against yours was filled with confidence. you slowly relaxed into the kiss as you lifted a hand to cup his cheek, and you mumbled against their lips.

"was this challenge—" your words were cut off as he continued to kiss you, and you let out a short hum before slightly pulling away. "was this challenge just an excuse for you to kiss me?"

chance's pause could've been considered an answer, yet the grin that sprawled on his face said a lot more than their silence.

"maybe..."

he raised a hand to take off their sunglasses, and the object was tossed aside. you attempted to turn your head to eye the glasses he had thrown, yet you were only met with the feeling of chance cupping your chin to make you keep your gaze on him.

you watched as their gaze flickered from your lips to your eyes, and he remained silent before speaking.

Longan only didn’t turn you to stone where you stood because, as you rose from a heap of shattered Eyes, weapon held tight in your hands, they thought you were a deity.

It simply doesn’t make sense — why would a mortal fight so fervently for a cause that was lost before they and their kind were even born?

Why would such a frail being fight tooth and nail for a meager lifespan equivalent to but a blink for a Dragon?

It drives them mad, thinking of you. The picture of your unwavering, unflinching challenge against the odds plagues their thoughts.

They will cull the herd, and the weak will not survive. You, while you aren’t exactly “strong” in their standards, are anything but weak. Longan can make you so much more.

They can make you powerful, like they are. They do not have to fulfill their destined duty alone. Not when potential like this knocks at their door.

Slumbering beneath the ocean for thousands of years tends to leave even the coldest of gods lonely.

It also tends to make one restless, especially when they awaken with a purpose. Longan will take great care to put you to bed comfortably in the nest they share with you, but once you are asleep, they take their leave.

However, if you happen to wake up during the night, they will retreat from their preparations to lie with you once more.

They dress you in fine silken robes that flow over your arms and sweep across the floor when you walk, and you’re adorned in heavy gold that shines like the stars themselves.

Their affection is told through silence. Longan will never sing your praises or admit their adoration, but they will hold you close and cup your head below their chin until you understand what goes unsaid.

You’re sort of a showpiece to Longan. They keep you close around the other Dragons, close enough that you’ll be constantly brushing up against them, and they’ll situate you in their lap and stroke your hair while they take up residence in their throne room.

Longan is possessive, but it increases tenfold when the other Dragons are around. You are to be treated as they would treat Longan. You are their mate, and Longan ensures that the others know it.

^^Even Lychee casts their gaze downward when they’re near you.

The other Dragons are painfully aware of Longan’s hypocrisy, but they are careful not to mention or even hint at it. They much prefer their innards remain inside their bodies.

Longan claims you have the soul of a Dragon, reborn from ancient times when Dragons ruled. They see it in the fire of your eyes.

While other mortals are referred to as “weak ones,” you are referred to as any number of variations on “[adjective] one.”

^^It’s “little one” as a default, “sweet one” when they hold you, “radiant one” when you’re donning gold, “darling one” when they’re alone with you, etc…

Their arrogant cadence and booming authority wanes when it comes to you. Instead, they speak to you in the softest of half-lidded murmurs.