#cute fall

It is way too hot to be thinking about Halloween already… You’ve been back on campus for less than a month and Caleb has already corralled your friend group into a project. Sigma Chi is hosting a massive Halloween festival, which means there’s an outrageous amount of work to do.

“Zayne, I swear, it won’t cut into your study time.” You’ve rarely seen Caleb beg, you’re enjoying every moment. 

“How long is the festival?” Zayne flips through his notebook, pretending to study.

“Two weeks. We’d only need you more during the planning process. You don’t have to be there everyday, just to do the safety checks.”

Zayne looks up, slowly lifting his hand to hook a finger on the bridge of his glasses to drag them down. He stares at Caleb over his glasses, giving the kind of look you’ve only seen a father give their unruly child. Zayne does “judgemental father” very well. 

“And…” Zayne narrows his eyes and Caleb crosses his arms.

“And… we might need to call you for emergencies or things and stuff.”

“Things and stuff?” 

Caleb drops his head to the table, the thud loud enough for the entire cafeteria to hear. Zayne chuckles, he… wait, he chuckles? You’ve never known Zayne to “chuckle” so you lean back, abandoning your pasta to watch with rapt attention. Sylus nudges your shoulder and offers you a sour candy like you’re at the movies. You suck on the tart treat and offer Caleb a shrug when he lifts his head to look for assistance from you. He rubs the red bump already forming on his forehead.

“Fine. The dean said Sigma Chi is getting one more chance to host a festival, but if some shit happens we won’t be given the permit again. I need someone who will take this seriously. So…”

He rolls his neck, wincing as his shoulders tense. 

“Please help me, Zayne.”

The silence is deafening. You glance around the table, Tara tries to hide her smirk behind Gideon’s arm wrapped around her shoulders. Xavier chews the straw in his empty drink. Sylus rolls his eyes and gives Zayne a knowing look. He can read Zayne the best, so he’s probably urging him to give Caleb a hand. At least that’s what it looks like. Rafayel snorts, his hand immediately covering his mouth, eyes nearly watering from holding himself back. Caleb glares at him.

“I’m sorry! I laugh during serious situations, I can’t help it!” Rafayel pleads, making the rest of the table break into a fit of laughter. Caleb throws his hands up.

“Nevermind then!” He stands to leave.

“Wait.” Zayne calls out, quieting the groups snickering. “I’ll do it on one condition.”

Caleb sits, the chair beneath him skidding across the floor.

“Anything!” Oh that is a dangerous promise to make.

“You said there’d be a hayride?” Caleb nods. “I… I want a private hayride. The night before Halloween.”

Everyone at the table falls quiet, clearly thrown off by his request. Caleb tilts his head, but quickly shakes it and reaches out his hand.

“Deal. One private hayride the night before Halloween.” 

The rest of dinner was spent in planning mode. Caleb sitting on the table, notebook in his lap, writing everyone’s names down next to their designated responsibility. 

Rafayel would paint the Haunted House sets. Xavier would help construct them. Tara would be the PR manager, creating the posters and running the social media page for the event. Gideon would be an actor for the Haunted House. Sylus would be security, with Mephisto his eyes in the sky. And you? Caleb hesitated, unsure if you would want to be involved in anything after last Halloween, but you assured him you wanted to help out. And that’s how you ended up being his assistant, being a second set of eyes for him in overseeing the project. 

After your summer misadventure, he made you promise to take breaks and drove you up a wall with his incessant check-ins. Sylus assured him that you would not overdo it and that he’d keep an eye on you. Little did Caleb know - or anyone in your friend group for that matter, Sylus was always keeping a close eye on you. You were spending nearly every free second together. It didn’t matter if you were studying, grabbing a coffee, taking a walk at sunset through the urban meadows, watching him tinker with Mephisto in his room at the Sigma Chi house, as long as you were together that was enough.

🍁🍂🎃🏈 

You haven’t had “the conversation” yet. Putting labels on things has always made you nervous. Like it was real, tangible, like the magic was lost. Not that you expect that feeling to disappear if you did put a label on whatever you and Sylus had become. The butterflies in your stomach, the way your head swims when he kisses your cheek, his magic can’t be dampened. But still, you didn’t want to force him into anything, the conversation or anything else for that matter.

“Why do you think Zayne wants a private hayride?” 

Sylus looks down at you, releasing his book to brush your cheek with his thumb. It’d been nearly an hour since he forced you to take a break from planning. Sitting on your notebook and patting his lap for you to use as a pillow. With your head on his thigh, he brushed through your hair with his fingers. The sun was starting to set and the early fall chill was settling around you, the subtle breeze refreshing. His relaxation methods had worked, up until now, your mind was racing with questions and theories and plans. You needed to do something, even if it was gossip. 

“I haven’t the foggiest.” Sylus smirks and returns his attention to his book.

Oh he knows something.

You sit up, startling him, turning on your hip, you look at him with determination.  Lurching forward you tug his beanie down over his eyes and end up falling into his lap. His book drops to the ground as his hands reach out to grab you. He laughs, his smile as mischievous as your own.

“Kitten… what are you doing?”

“You get your sight back when you tell me what you know!” 

Surprisingly, he humors you.

“What makes you think I know?”

“Sy, you’re Zayne’s best friend. Even if you don’t know for sure, I know you have a theory!”

He goes silent for a moment, his smirk dropping into a soft smile. 

“I am his best friend. And that is exactly why I shouldn’t tell you.”

“But I am in charge of planning the hayride! I should know! For… planning purposes…”

That does it, he rolls you over and pins you beneath him, your arms trapped between your bodies. He reaches up to take his beanie off, tossing it into the grass next to you. He huffs, clearly enjoying whatever shocked expression you have plastered to your face. 

“You’re shameless.” He whispers, his warm breath fanning your face.

“Maybe, but I have a good heart.” 

He kisses the tip of your nose, making you giggle. Rolling back over, he lifts you onto his lap, bringing his knee up for you to lean back. You try not to wiggle as his hands rest on your hips. You’re not used to this level of physical affection, your parents were more subdued, you’re pretty sure you never saw them kiss until you were in high school. You busy your hands playing with the zipper of his hoodie.

“Come on Sy, please?”

He closes his eyes, sighing in resignation. When his eyes open, you can tell you’ve won.

“Alright, but you can’t bring it up with anyone. Including Tara. And let Zayne tell you, don’t drop hints that you know. He’ll know I’m the one who told you.”

You nod eagerly, clapping your hands and bouncing with glee. Sylus gasps and his hands tighten around your waist, his ears and cheeks flushing almost instantly.

Oh god…

“Sorry, I… I’m sorry… Umm, I…” 

“Don’t. Don’t apologize.” 

He lifts his other knee, making you lean forward, your hands brace against his shoulders. When your eyes meet, your body goes limp. He kisses your neck gently, sending a shiver down your spine. His lips meet your jaw, sliding to reach the corner of your mouth before kissing your lips. You sigh into the kiss, the crickets and distant murmur of students walking to dinner fading into the background. Tucked under a giant oak tree on the outskirts of the urban meadows, it was your own little world. Just you, Sylus, nature, the cool air and occasional late season firefly fluttering around. As his hands slide up your back, you allow your body to press against his. A quiet groan sends vibrations through his body, radiating through his chest to yours. 

It’s the first kiss you’ve shared with him since that night on the dock. Since that night it’s been sweet kisses to your cheek, to your nose, even to the back of your hand. Hugs where his face would end up buried in your neck, inhaling your scent and squeezing you a little bit tighter. Caresses that would lead to quiet moments, just staring into each other’s eyes like you’re the leads in a cheesy rom-com. But not a kiss, not like this.

You’re both a mess, his tongue diving deeper, your elbows digging into his shoulders as your fingers climb through his hair. You force yourself to pull away, the sticky click of your mouths, your gasp for air, his eager lips dipping to trace your jaw once more before latching onto the soft flesh below your ear. A sound escapes your throat, something desperate and sensual, only pushing Sylus to sink his teeth in. You expected yourself to shout, to be angry that he fucking bit you, but instead you moan, fingernails digging into his scalp.

You tug at his hair, making him whine, but he finally slows down. He rests his head against the tree, eyes hazy and damn near crossed as he looks at you. You press your palm to his cheek, resting your forehead against his. Neither of you speak for what feels like hours, only the click of the light posts turning on let you know night has finally fallen. 

“Was that… too much?” He breathes.

Not enough. 

You smile, shaking your head and kissing his forehead. You want so much more, but have no idea how to say it. Is he even your boyfriend? Is it okay to want more so soon? So you settle for the safe route.

“No. It wasn’t. I… liked it.” 

He pulls you in for another kiss. Not as intense as the first, but still enough to steal your breath away and leave you shaking. 

“Good.” He looks around, as if suddenly realizing how dark it’s gotten. “I should get you back to your dorm, huh?”

He stands and helps you up, giving you your notebook back. He turns to hike up the hill to the sidewalk. You clear your throat, making him turn back. Your arms crossed, foot tapping, brow raised.

“Sylus.” He smiles innocently. “You can’t just kiss me to avoid telling me Zayne’s secret!”

His belly laugh echoes through the meadow, you can barely control yourself from joining him. He raises his hands and takes a step closer. 

“Fine, fine. Zayne wants a private hayride for a surprise. The day before Halloween is the birthday of the girl he’s been seeing. He’s going to ask her to be his girlfriend that night.”

Stunned. Speechless. Gobsmacked. All those big fancy words. 

You stand motionless, mouth hanging open as Sylus continues to laugh. He steps past you to kneel and retrieve his forgotten beanie, but instead of standing up straight, he turns and knocks the air out of you. You try to gather your bearings, slapping his back as his shoulder digs into your stomach.

“Sy-Sylus!”

“What? You looked like you needed a moment to process. It’s getting cold out, I wasn’t going to let you freeze.”

“It’s not that cold and – what do you mean ‘the girl he’s been seeing’?!”

🍁🍂🎃🏈 

Of course Tara noticed the bruise blossoming on your neck the next morning. She pointed it out like you’d been stabbed, poking it dramatically and barely suppressing a giggle. She didn’t press you for details, just gave you a look.

You were dying to tell her about how things have changed between you and Sylus, but you didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. You’ve enjoyed the private moments, the simplicity. Knowing Tara she probably already suspected something, but was waiting for you to bring it up. It might help, she has way more experience with this whole dating thing. The “are we a thing or not” thing. Just a little bit longer. 

Classes were relatively boring, mostly reading, filling out study guides, writing summaries, writing essays on the authors “intentions behind the plot” and all that. You’d never tell him, but Caleb was right, taking the required courses first made all the difference. You were neck deep in your major and coasting, it doesn’t feel like studying when you love the subject. It was truly the perfect semester to take on a project like the Sigma Chi festival. You had time to kill.

October was finally here, leaves were falling covering the ground in tri-colored splendor. The day you had to dig out your sweaters was a celebration. Your reward for surviving another brutally hot summer. It was time to step up the preparations for the festival. Xavier had finished building the panels that would be used in the haunted house, which meant Rafayel needed to paint them. And Caleb assigned you to monitor him to keep him focused.

Rafayel surprised you with a warm latte when you arrived at the Sigma Chi house early on a Saturday morning. The backyard had been turned into a painters paradise. Cans of paint everywhere, multiple blank panels, splattered tarps, paint brushes of all sizes, a stereo blasting Rafayel’s favorite music. Which you still find surprising, you wouldn’t have guessed he listened to opera while he painted. 

“What is this music from?” You ask between sips of your latte.

“The Magic Flute, my academy did a rendition during my final year. I may or may not have played the lead.” He smirks and clips his hair back from his face.

“Wait, you sing?!” 

He stops stirring the paint in front of him. Hesitating and considering his next words very carefully. You sit on the table to face him, poking his shoulder with a too-wide grin.

“Yes, I sing. I’m a connoisseur of all the arts actually. I just prefer painting.”

“Will you sing for me?” He shakes his head and you pout. “Why not?”

“I have to prepare if I’m to perform. I usually do warm ups and –”

“You’re telling me you never sing along while you paint? Just for fun? I’m not asking you to perform, I just want to hear you sing.”

He sighs. Handing you a paint brush and a cup of paint. 

“Start with the base coat and if your brush strokes are smooth I’ll consider it.”

You wield the brush like a battlesword, ready to take on the challenge. Dipping it in the cup, you begin to paint, eyeing Rafayel over your shoulder. He rolls his shoulders and joins you in applying the base coat to the panel next to you. Now’s the perfect time to get the details on something you’ve tiptoed around for weeks.

“So how are you and Xavier?”

Rafayel drops his paintbrush, smearing paint down the front of this sweater. He grumbles under his breath, picking up the brush and turning to get a new one and a rag for his shirt. You look away to hide your expression, you’ve never seen Rafayel nervous before so you’re eating it up. He steps up beside you and acts as though nothing happened, clearing his throat.

“Uh, I mean, we’re good. Why do you ask?”

“Oh, well I mean, you guys got pretty close over the summer at Camp Phoenix and you were roommates for a long time. I’m sure it’s been an adjustment with you moving into the Sigma Chi house, right?”

You risk a peek to find him staring at you. Shrugging casually, you play off your teasing.

“I just assumed you might miss him, is all.”

He crosses his arms, ignoring the paint dripping onto his sleeve from the brush in his hand. 

“What do you know?”

When you meet his gaze you can tell the jig is up. Giggling, you playfully nudge his shoulder.

“You guys are so cute together, I don’t know why you’re hiding it.”

His cheeks flush as his eyes widen, he blinks rapidly to center himself. 

“I don’t… we aren’t… well we haven’t… wait, you can’t say shit! Little Miss ‘Sylus and I are secretly dating’!”

Now it’s your turn to panic. You whirl around, sending another streak of paint flying across Rafayel’s sweater. You really hope it isn’t one of his fancy, designer sweaters cause it is damn near ruined now.

“Hey! We aren’t… why would you…?”

“Ohh…” He taps his lip with the end of the paintbrush. “You guys haven’t had the conversation yet, huh? Awkward.”

Your stomach drops. 

“What are you talking about? I don’t… that’s not… Hey! This isn’t about me! Stop dodging the question!”

“Like Sylus is dodging the conversation to make you his girlfriend?” 

Your jaw snaps closed making your teeth ache. His sarcastic response cut just a little too deep. Clearing your throat, you turn away and set down your paint cup.

“I’m going to get another latte.”

You don’t make it 10 steps before Rafayel is wrapping an arm around your waist and picking you up. You try to slap his arm and wiggle free, but he doesn’t loosen his grip. He carries you back to his workstation.

“Cutie, you know I didn’t mean it like that.” You hum. “Stop it! Stop being upset with me!”

“I’m not upset!” 

“Liar.”

“Rafayel, please just put me down.” 

“Nope, not until we’re friends again.”

“We’re still friends, silly!” You don’t hide your amusement, his pleading tone is rather satisfying. 

He reluctantly puts you down, pressing his hands to your shoulders to turn you to face him.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

He hands you the paint cup and nods to the panels. 

“Impressive work so far.”

You return to your position in front of the panel to start on a second layer. 

“So you’ll sing for me?” He chuckles, you can almost hear his eyes roll. “If you won’t sing, you could at least tell me what’s really going on with Xavier. We’re friends, friends talk about that stuff right?”

“Does that mean you’ll talk to me about Sylus?”

You pause. Would talking about it jinx it? Is your undefined relationship really worth a full conspiracy talk with Rafayel? You taste blood, reaching up you can feel your raw lip throb. You’re not really sure when you started chewing on your lips when you’re anxious. Rafayel notices, stepping closer to take your paint cup away and hand you a tissue.

“Fine, you don’t have to tell me. But you can, if you want to. It’s clear you guys are closer than before summer vacation. All I’ll say is that if he makes you happy, don’t let him run away from the conversation for too long. Chase after what you want.” 

You’re a mess. Holding a bloody tissue to your lip, paint splattered on your jeans, cheeks flushed from your efforts to wiggle free earlier. Your mind is racing with possibilities, outcomes to a conversation you’re terrified of having. Or rather, terrified of the outcome. What if Sylus isn’t ready for titles? 

“If it makes you feel better…” He sighs, the tips of his ears turning bright red. “I had to corner Xavier to ask where he wanted this to go. This being… uhm… me and him… us…”

He stammers for another minute before you rescue him. He takes your pat on his shoulder as his queue to shut up and hunches forward, breathing deeply.

“He’s just so, I don’t know, unbothered? I can’t get a read on him! One day he’s flirting, the next he’s acting like we’re just messing around. Then all of a sudden he’s jealous and…”

“Xavier? Jealous? Wait wait wait… rewind. I need details.”

Rafayel fills you in on the drama from a few days ago while you both continue painting. Before long, all of the panels are primed, sketched and Rafayel is perched on a step ladder adding some finishing touches.

“I kept telling him she’s in my photography class and was referring to our midterm, but he wasn’t listening. I was ready to toss my coffee and go to class early, but he pulled me into an empty classroom to –”

He stops abruptly, his full face matching the ruby stitching of his sweater. You giggle, perhaps a bit too loudly. He glares at you as he steps off the ladder.

“He… ambushed me, but I cornered him and got the answer I was looking for” You bat your eyelashes. “But that’s all you’re getting, ma’am.” 

🍁🍂🎃🏈 

Tara They’re saying it’s the last warm day Everybody better get their shit together and be at the farm in 15 minutes  Or I’ll curse you to fail your midterms!

“Tara, you could at least be specific when threatening the group chat. We’re here. Please don’t curse us, thanks so much.” 

You chuckle as Sylus pats Tara on the shoulder carefully, worried that any sudden movement will cause her fragile psyche to fully collapse. She waves him off, handing Gideon the camera and using your shoulder to balance as she climbs onto a hay bale to survey the area. 

“Okay, we’ll do some group shots, close ups of the barn, selfie style photos in the pumpkin patch and corn maze - and then…”

“Couples. We should get some photos of couples.” Gideon chirps and Tara claps.

“Yes! Should encourage the single brain cell boyfriends to buy tickets for a cute date.”

You’re suddenly very aware of your status. Even though Zayne and Yvonne aren’t official yet, they’re holding hands, barely aware of Tara’s comments. And then there’s Gideon and Tara and now Xavier and Rafayel. When the guys announced they were official, a fight almost broke out with how noisy you’d all been. Really it was Xavier’s fault for choosing to tell your rowdy group in the library of all places. 

No matter how much you might want Pinterest worthy photos, you still weren’t “official” yet. So you keep your eyes down, toeing the dirt.

“We’re here! We’re here… sorry…” Xavier calls out, dragging a disheveled looking Rafayel behind him. “Someone stayed up until 3am to work on a painting and was still asleep when I arrived to pick him up.”

“Inspiration is like a wave, it ebbs and flows and if I ignore it, I might miss out on something –”

“Truly magical.” Both men say in unison. Rafayel crosses his arms while Xavier fixes his hair for him. “Sorry, you’ve just been saying that since freshman year.”

Tara dives into mother-hen-mode, directing everyone into position and yelling for Gideon to set up the tripod in certain places. You fiddle with your scarf, purse your lips and tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. You’re too distracted trying to look the part of a happy-go-lucky college kid at a festival to notice Sylus watching your every move. 

The guys don spooky masks and pose in the entryway of the barn, careful not to show off too much of the interior you and Rafayel have spent hours preparing. You and Tara compare pumpkin boobs and Tara makes the guys form a pyramid with her perched on top like the queen she is. Once the promotional and “friendship” photos are taken, Tara gives the camera to Rafayel and blushes as Gideon picks her up to twirl her around.

Xavier sits with you and Sylus while Rafayel directs Gideon and Tara in a variety of couples poses. You try to distract yourself, listening to Xavier rave about a new movie coming out or Sylus detail his plans for a new upgrade for Mephisto. But seeing Gideon and Tara curl up on a palette surrounded by pumpkins and amber leaves, her legs tossed over his lap, a pumpkin held between them, their foreheads pressed together - it was getting harder to focus on anything other than your jealousy. When they kiss under a flutter of leaves, you stand suddenly, excusing yourself to refill your cider. 

Yvonne leaves the group to join you, paying for your refill before you get the chance to stop her. 

“Today’s been a lot of fun, thanks for letting me tag along.” 

You hold the cup up to your face, letting the steam warm your skin. The sharp scent washing over you, soothing your nerves. 

“I’m glad Zayne invited you, it was about time he introduced us to his… uhm… study partner?”

Yvonne giggles, her cheeks rosy at your subtle inclination. 

“Yeah, the last time we actually spoke was… not great.”

You recall the night you actually met Yvonne. You’re tried your best to avoid thinking about last Halloween, but as October drags on it’s gotten more difficult. Meeting Yvonne was one of the only good things about that night. She literally ran to the convenience store with Zayne to get Benadryl for you. Ever since, you just assumed she was an acquaintance or a friend, a fellow pre-med student. Zayne has kept her to himself, smart, given your friend group.

“I don’t know if I ever thanked you for that night.” You stare into your cup, heart pounding.

“You don’t have to, seriously. I just wish I had restocked my usuals, you would have felt better much sooner.”

Yeah, you can see why Zayne fell for her. Keeping a stock of various medications in her purse in case someone has a headache or allergic reaction? Very Zayne-coded. 

Strolling back to the group seated on the grass, you did your best to avoid asking about her birthday or how her relationship with Zayne is. You refused to be the reason Zayne’s surprise gets ruined. She returned to Zayne’s side under the maple tree, resting her head on his shoulder.

Rafayel and Xavier take a few cheesy photos as well. Xavier carrying Rafayel on his back through the haunted house, Rafayel’s face buried in Xavier’s neck to hide from Gideon in his mask. A sweet moment holding hands as they pick out a pumpkin. But when Tara points at the hayride to get a shot of them sharing a cute kiss in the bed of the truck, Rafayel just shakes his head and grabs Xavier’s hand to pull him towards the bus stop.

“No no no no… I… no!”

Xavier laughs, pulling him back to wrap and arm around his shoulder. He kisses Rafayel’s cheek, which makes Rafayel gasp and slap Xavier’s chest. 

“I never thought I’d see you shy about anything.” Rafayel glares at him. “I like it.”

Zayne and Yvonne join Rafyael and Xavier on the bus back to campus while Tara hops in Gideon’s car. 

“You guys want a ride back to campus? I’m meeting with Caleb to go over the photos!”

Sylus steps between you and the car, stopping you from reaching for the handle. 

“We’ll catch the next bus. I need to grab a few more pumpkins and could use some help. You’ll help me, right kitten?”

“I thought Rafayel had enough pumpkins for…”

He winks at you over his shoulder, making his intentions clear. 

“Shit, actually, yeah! We need more, for… the house. The haunted house.”

Tara hums and smiles at both of you, clearly not believing a word you’re saying. She doesn’t say a word as Gideon pulls away, but you do receive a text from her.

Tara 💏🍆💦🥵

You groan and turn your phone off, tucking it in your back pocket. Sylus taps your chin, directing your gaze.

“What’s wrong sweetie?”

“Nothing, I just, uhm… You wanted to stay?” He nods. “Why?”

“You told me a few days ago you wanted to carve a pumpkin this year. Not for the festival, but for yourself. Thought now’d be the perfect time to find one.”

You’d texted him that nearly two weeks ago. He remembered? 

“Yeah, I do.” 

Without another word, Sylus takes your hand and pulls you towards the pumpkin patch. As the sun starts to set, Sylus wraps his arm around your shoulder. A loud caw makes you jump, looking up you spot Mephisto circling. Sylus chuckles.

“He’s early.”

“Early for what?”

“I thought he could be our photographer, phone timers are unreliable.”

He leans down to pick up a pumpkin and hands it to you. Honestly, it’s the perfect pumpkin. You’re already brainstorming what to carve. He shoves his hands in his pockets as Mephisto lands on his shoulder. You examine the pumpkin, touching each indent and biting your lip.

“This is a good one! A few dents, but I could carve the eyes here. I don’t know where I’ll put it, but it’s still –”

As you turn the pumpkin you notice traces of paint on the backside. Once you turn it around fully, you nearly drop it. Your heart caught in your throat as you read the words. 

‘Will you be my girlfriend?’

You stare at Sylus as he places his hands over yours on the pumpkin. 

“I know it’s really cheesy. If you hate it, blame Tara, it was her suggestion.”

He had to ask for advice? His voice is strained, like he’s uncertain and worried. He’s nervous? Is he as nervous as you? 

“So…” 

You feel like you’re falling, your limbs numb, your skin breaking out in goosebumps. It takes Sylus touching your cheek to drag you back to reality. He opens his mouth but you damn near shout before he can say a word.

“Yes!” He blinks. “I… yes… I want to… yes…”

You move to reach up to hold onto him, completely forgetting you’re holding a pumpkin. You jerk forward and try to catch it, it seems Sylus had the same idea. Your forehead hits his chin and you both yelp and let the pumpkin fall to the ground, turning to mush at your feet.

“No! I’m sorry! I’m so so sorry, I didn’t mean to –” 

Sylus presses his palms to your cheeks and guides you to look up at him. He kisses your forehead, eliciting a quiet hiss as his lips brush the tender skin. His lips travel from your forehead to your cheek, over your nose, down to your jaw. You reach out and hold onto his jacket, fisting the leather. And when his lips meet yours, you sigh, shivering when his fingers glide into your hair to cradle the back of your head.

CAW CAW CAW

Sylus laughs against your lips. Your eyes flutter open to see Mephisto gliding overhead, swooping down to hover next to you. The sunset behind you, golden light slipping through the sliver of space between your lips as Sylus rests his forehead against yours.

“Is he…”

“Taking a photo of us? Yes. I know you like commemorating special moments.”

Your arms wrap around his neck, relishing the small gasp he makes as your bodies collide. His eyes widen as he holds your hips.

“Special indeed.”

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