#gris x reader

Y/n pov

I wake up to warm and something in front and behind, and I open my eyes to see enjin asleep and I trun to see gris asleep as well and I wonder why but I thought they might be drunk and my apartment was dark so they didn't know but still weird and I slowly get out of there grip without them waking up and I go to living room and Ave was still asleep and I go to kitchen and I open and look in the refrigerator and saw eggs and bacon and I thought it was a simple breakfast (again no idea what they eat).

started cooking, and I heard someone and saw Ave up, and she leaned against the table and said "morning bunny." And I nodded, and she said," Where are those two foxes? " And I look at her and say " in my bed." And she looked at me, and her eyes got bigger, and she said,"u-u guys didn't." And a couple seconds go, and I understand what she means, and I feel the heat on my face, and I quickly say,"n-no no they j-just cuddle me i-i."*I clover my face, and Ave laughed and patted my back and said," ok ok, I understand, bunny." And I started to calm down and continued cooking, and then I heard enjin and gris walk in, and they said," Good morning." And I nod, and Ave said," Morning foxes." And enjin said," Why do you keep calling us foxes." And Ave said " because I can." And I plate everyone food.

We all eat in quiet, late Ave left to go to a fight and enjin and gris left because Semiu was calling there chokers and I wave bye and i get in a shower and wash everything and get dry off and I get in clothes before going run errands and I want to make simple meal for dinner like rice and chicken but I need more food for snow and for some reason I know this day wasn't going to be good.

Enjin pov

Me and gris get to base, and Semiu said, " So where." And I said "y/n place ." And she nodded and said "gris I need you to go with ryio for a mission and enjin. You got a free day." And I nod and said bye to gris before walking to my room and I close it and I sit on my bed and I miss her touch and her voice and I had a big dirty secret from everyone but gris knew and I get up and walk to my closet and open it before pulling out a box and open it and it was different clothes y/n didn't wear any more or I steal and I pull out a shirt and sit on my bed before and I sniff her shirt and I just want her to be me and gris girl and just hold her.

WARMING ENJIN BEING FREAKY (but when is he not 😑)

I lay back and think about different ways of telling her that your our girl and that we love her and of way to touch and hold her and hear her voice calling mine or gris name and her hands all over my body and different things to do to her in and out of bed, and my hand slowly go down and before I could do anything, someone knock and I hear gris voice ", enjin." And he open it and see me with y/n shirt and he look and step in and close and lock the door and said "mission got done early and I thought you be in here asleep not..this." And I roll my eyes and said," like we didn't break in her apartment together to steal her clothes." And he sits on my bed.

He looked at me and said, "..I want to ask her out." And I smile and nod and said " ya I been thinking about how to ask our girl out." And we both thinking about how to ask her out and I said " let's just go up and ask ok?." And he nod and then we eat dinner before going on a drive but something feel wrong but why?

Y/n pov

After what it feel like hours and hours of running around and doing stuff I was walking home tired but it was dark and not all of people were out and I want to go home and put on my pj and cuddle with snow and sleep in late because I have nothing planned for tomorrow but I had this feeling again that something was wrong but I couldn't tell and I continue walking until I hear someone behind me and trun to see a man there and he walk up and said " hey there beautiful." And his voice was ruff and sound dirty but I didn't say anything and he walked closer and said " It's rud to not answer someone pretty women." And I said," I am not interested."

WARMING UNCONSENSUAL TOUCHING AND KISSING (yes, you can skip for your heath)

He stop and look at me and had this sick smile before walking closer and I step back but he grab my arm and pull you closer and said" now now your just meet me and need to understand that how rud you are not getting to know me." And I try push him off but he pin me to the wall and I try to scream but he clover my mouth and he chuckle and I feel his sick and discussing hand on me and his breath down my neck and I feel tears down my cheeks and he said " aww you crying because a big man touch you sweetheart." And I feel his hand touch my chest and he kiss my neck and I close my eyes and try to think but i couldn't was so scared to do anything

(Sorry for all my readers who got uncomfortable 🙏🫶)

Someone rip the man off me and I was to scared to move and look but my knees gave out and I was on the ground and I couldn't hear anything but my heart rise in my chest and I feel someone hand on my shoulder and someone said "...y/n...Y/N" And I look to see enjin and he let out a breath and said "hey you good now we here ok." And he pull me in to a hug and I look over to see gris on top of the creepy man and punch him over and over and over again and I couldn't look anymore and I hide my face in his shoulder and enjin said "gris that enough." And then I hear gris footsteps, and then he gently touched me, and I looked at him and said," You're safe now." And then enjin pick me up and in bridal carry and they walk and then gris open the car door and put me down and then enjin put his jacket on me.

They knees in front of me, and they ask me questions. Enjin, " Did you know him?" And I shake my head no and gris said " have you ever seen him before." And I shake my head again, and they both gently grab my hands, and I look at them, they said," we will protect you y/n." And I feel like crying because they care about me not about my body or my gender but me and gris hold me but enjin stand up and his taps his choker but I didn't listen and later I see two cars pull up and a motorcycle and I see ave get of the motorcycle and run over and she pull gris out of way and hug me and quickly ask the same question but I see some cleaners like follo walk to the beating up man and tomme check on me before I see eishia walk up and check up and nothing bad happened to my body and ave thank gris for pulling the man off of me in time and Semiu walk over before kneeling and hugging me and I cry in her shoulder and she pats my head.

Enjin pov

I was driving to y/n apartment but awhile driving something feel wrong and when I look out the window I see y/n with a man on her and before I could do anything gris got out and run over and pull him off her and start to beat him and I quickly got out and run over and saw her fall down the wall and she as shaking and I said her name over and over and then she look at me and i said "hey you good now we here ok" and then I hug her and clam she down and I feel her hide her face in my shoulder and then I look at gris who was sit on top of his man and punching him and I see gris hands are bloody and how much I would let gris continue but y/n need comfort and I said " gris that enough".

Gris looked at me, but he looked at y/n before getting off and walking over and kneeling down and saying, "You're safe now." And he hug her and then I pick her up bridal carry and girs open the car door and I put her there and take off my jacket and put it on her and we kneel in front of her and we ask simply question and all we got was he was a creep and grab her hand and said " we will protect you y/n." And she look like she wanted to cry and I when to call the others and get eishia down here to check on y/n and I also call some cleaners y/n was close with and Ave and they all come down here and we all check on her and I watch follo look at the bloody man on ground barely breathing and Semiu walk over and look at the men before going to y/n and hugging her and y/n crying.

Later y/n pov

I was asking some questions before enjin and gris drop me at my apartment but I held their arms and they looked at me and I said" please... don't leave me alone."And they look at each other before walking inside and I sit on the couch and gris ask " have u eaten dinner?"and I shake my head and he nod and started cooking and enjin rud my back and didn't say anything, later gris put down a blow of rice with some chicken and I eat it and after gris clean up the mess in the kitchen before enjin bring me to my room and I lay on my bed and he was about to leave before I grab his shirt and he look at me before saying"i won't leave until you sleep honey."And he kneels at the bed and slowly brushes my head before I fall asleep.

How we feeling:D

Chapter one. Chapter third

Two years pass and I been friends with the cleaners but I rarely talk to everyone and Ave wasn't a big fan of enjin and gris and, she called them both foxes and I chuckle and found it cute but today i am at coffee shop but, I was reading a book over different diamonds and crystals because people want that and, Ave been on my ass saying that my stuff is too cheap for how much money I spend to make but, I didn't care and I feel someone some staring at me and see bro and dear and I wave and they sit with me.

Bro "hey y/n what you reading about."And I look at him and show them and said " different diamonds and crystals for my shop." He nods and dear, look at the macaroon on my plate, and I look at bro and he nods, and i give macaroon and dear quickly eat it, and i chuckle and Said "slow down dear." And bro ordered some drinks for him and dear.

we share some stories, but I feel something or someone looking at me and looking around but nothing and the feeling when always, and bro was telling me about what team child did and then he ask me "any rud customers."And I nod and said,"This lady tried to return a ring, but it was all burned and beat up, and I told her I couldn't. I got yelled at, and then she left."And bro, try not to laugh, but I feel a hand on my shoulder and jump and trun to see enjin, and he laughs and says," Thank you for keeping her distracted bro." And gris sit next to me, and, I didn't even see or hear until he pulled out his chair and enjin sit next to me.

Later gris and enjin walk me to my shop and I said "you know you don't have to."And enjin smile snd said"we can't have our girl getting hit on or get overwhelmed."I feel some heat on my face from the word 'our girl' we never said anything out lou but I like them but, they were both hard to read so I never understand if they were joking or not and I hear gris say " he right we just don't want you get overwhelmed and have a anxiety attack." And we get to my door, and I unlock my door, and gris said." Would you be ok if we stop by to eat lunch with you.", and I think for a second and nod snd they both smile before leaving.

Enjin pov

I was walking and saw y/n reading something and she wave at bro and dear and I was about to go over until I feel someone pull me back and hand over my mouth and look up to see gris and he was watching y/n and then he let go and I look at him before saying "what hell was that for." And he said," she almost saw us." And I look at him before saying "your following her, aren't you? " And he looked at me before looking away in shame, and it was quiet before I said,"we both care about her and love her, correct?" And he nodded, and I said,"Then we both make sure she safe ok." And blow some smoke from my cigarette and he look at me and gris said" anytime we follow we tell each other."

I walk in and quiet walk and bro saw me before I put my finger to my lip and he ask her about her costumers and he try not to laugh before I scare her and I said "thank you for keeping her distracted bro." And gris sit down and so do I and I wasn't paying much attention to everyone but, her and her voice and how cute she look talking about her books, later we walk her to her shop and she said "you know you don't have to." And I smiled and said,"we can't let our girl get hit on or get overwhelmed."And I watch her blush from my words, and gris said,"he right we just don't want you get overwhelmed and, have a anxiety attack."And we get to her shop before gris ask if we can have lunch with her and she agreed and we smile before leaving.

We walk to the car before I said " remember that rud bitch that yell at her." And gris nod and I look at him and said " weird that women dissappear." And gris look at me and I chuckle and said " next time let me join because she did call our y/n a slut." And gris let out a deep breath and said " what next time if it happens but we should go back before Semiu get angry that we been gone again."and I nod before getting in the car and drive.

Y/n pov

I was making new jewelry with a crystal and I heard the front door open and I heard a voice say " Will isn't my big sister." And it trun around to see oily and his boyfriend, and I put down my jewelry and said," Oily, you should have told me you were in town." And I walk over and hug him, and he said," I want to surprise you and look at your cool jewelry." And I smile and he smile and I look at his boyfriend and his boyfriend said " hi my name is marcus." I nod and said,"Will have fun looking around and let me know if you find anything you want." They nod before i go back to making new jewelry.

Couple minutes and they got a matching necklace, and I said, " 4 . " Marcus looked at me confused and said, "But the sign says 8?" And I said " family discount." And he nodded and paid and they left and I put out new jewelry and read a book awhile waiting for costumers and my choker rings and it was Ave and she said Привет, зайчик! (Hey bunny) and I said hi Ave, need something?." And she said what can I not call you.....but ya I going to bar later and am inviting you and no you can't back out bye." And she hung up and I sat there with her words in my head and couple hours later I saw gris and enjin walk in and gris had a take out bag and we walked to the back.

Gris pull out gyoza for me(I don't know what people on ground eat ok😞) and we ear and enjin said "have any plans later" and I said "Ave invited me to go to a bar."And they nod before asking at same time."Can we go?"snd, I think for a second before nodding, and they smile.

Later

At the bar, I sat next to a slight angry Ave and gris, and enjin was on the other side of the table and said Вы, лисы, я вас раскусил, и если вы причините ей вред, я оторву вам голову. (You foxes am on to you, and if you hurt her, i rip your head off)and I try not to laugh because they both look confused at Ave words and our drinks arrived and we all drink and I was slight more drunk then the others and Ave chuckle before saying "alright bunny that enough."And we walk to my apartment because it was the closest and Ave unlocked my door before closing it and passing out on my couch and gris put a blanket over her and enjin help me to bed and I lay on my bed and sleep.

Enjin pov

Me and gris watch Ave say something in different languages and y/n laugh but we drink and y/n was more drunk and Ave took away her drink but called her bunny, I like that nickname bunny but we walk to her apartment and I saw snow before putting y/n to bed and me and gris look at her and then each other and I said "she does have a big bed.."And we look at her again before gris said,"if she asked why we said we got drunk and didn't know."we get in her bed and cuddle her, I got her front and grid had her back and we smile and I look at gris and kiss his cheek and y/n forehead and gris kiss my forehead and y/n and then we sleep.

I thought of this because English is my second language! Also, if it is already to ask, how many languages can you speak?

Thank you so much for your time to read this!

Note: I love this request! As for your question, I speak two fluently. English and Spanish. Funny enough English is also my second language. Is this appropriate to say sorry if this is bad, English isn't my first language? 👀

IN OTHER WORDS, I LOVE YOU

Pairing: Enjin x Reader; Gris x Reader (2nd POV) Word Count: Enjin (3k), Gris (6.3k) Synopsis: There will always be love in a language barrier. <3 Warnings/Tags/Notes: your language isnt specified (in italics), Fluff, cuteness, kinda favored Gris but thats okay Inspirations: - 🎶 En nuit: Videoclub - 🎶 Cariño: The Marías - 🎶 Hatachi no koi: Lamp - 🎶 Angel - Take 7: Elvis Presley - 🎶 Fall in Love: Cindy

ENJIN

Canvas Town always had the best clubs to go to. The usual party-heavy atmosphere multiplied tenfold during the weeks of any specific celebration. People of all kinds, inhabitants and travelers all became night animals. Many spent their money away on alcohol, gambling, or pretty women. Some gained new memories with friends. While others were on the hunt for love. 

Enjin was the first and second type. He could never pass up a good opportunity to get drunk, cheat people on cards, swoon a hot woman off her feet, and have a fun time with his coworkers. 

It was like he had a checklist of his goals. He wasn't drunk yet. He cheated a couple of times on cards, made empty promises to some women in the club, and of course, spent a good amount of time with the others. He needed more women. He was waiting for this grand being to outshine all the others that threw themselves at him. 

It became his mission to find someone worthy of him. With a final gulp of his beer, he set off from the group. He moved skillfully between groups of people, letting unknown hands grasp and paw and his body as he went by, but none of them spoke to him. 

Enjin had nearly convinced himself tonight was a waste. None of them interested him. They were too obvious and way too easy for him.

He sighed through his nose. "Come on..." he muttered to himself. Surely there had to be someone worth his time.

His eyes scanned the sea of people once more before he saw you. You weren't dancing beneath the lights. You weren't draped over someone's shoulder or trying to catch wandering eyes.

Instead, you sat tucked away in one of the corner booths with several women around your age. A half-finished drink rested untouched before you while your friends chatted animatedly amongst themselves. You listened more than you spoke, your attention wandering over the crowded club every so often as though you enjoyed watching people more than participating. It was refreshing.

His gaze lingered and as if sensing it, you looked up. Your eyes met him across the room. For a long second, neither of you looked away. The look of realization crossed your face. Your eyes widened just enough to notice before you quickly leaned toward the woman sitting beside you. You whispered something into her ear.

Every woman at the table immediately looked at him. Giggles erupted between them. Even through the deafening music, Enjin could recognize laughter.

His grin spread effortlessly. Without another thought, he started toward your booth. The crowd seemed to part naturally around him as he slipped between dancers with practiced ease. The closer he came, the more clearly he could make out your features beneath the shifting lights.

Pretty. Very pretty. More importantly, you looked nervous. That was adorable.

He stopped beside the booth, resting one arm casually against the edge of the table as though he belonged there.

"Evening," he greeted smoothly, his voice carrying easily despite the music. "Mind if I borrow you for a drink?"

Your friends looked between the two of you. Another round of laughter followed. One nudged your shoulder. Another hid a grin behind her hand before standing. Within moments every single one of them was climbing out of the booth.

One gave you a playful pat on the back as she squeezed past. Another flashed you an encouraging smile. Before you had the chance to stop them, they disappeared into the mass of dancing bodies, abandoning you entirely.

Your eyes followed them for only a second before drifting back toward the handsome stranger now occupying the seat next to you. He smiled; A bright, confident smile that suggested this sort of thing happened to him often. You offered one of your own in return before he spoke again. His lips moved naturally. The words flowed with effortless confidence.

You listened carefully. One sentence after another, but not a single word made sense. Your smile slowly faltered. Maybe the music was too loud. You leaned forward slightly, hoping hearing him more clearly would somehow help.

It didn't. The sounds were crisp and perfectly audible, yet perfectly incomprehensible. A crease formed between your brows. Your lips parted and closed again. How were you supposed to explain this?

You looked everywhere except at him for the briefest moment, desperately searching your mind for even one familiar word from his language. Nothing, absolutely nothing. When your eyes returned to his, an apologetic expression had replaced your earlier smile. You hesitated before lightly pointing at yourself.

"I…" Your voice sounded embarrassingly small compared to the pounding music. You shook your head with an awkward laugh. "I don't understand," The sentence came naturally in your own language.

Enjin's confident smile froze, "...Huh?" That wasn't his language. He tried again, slower this time. "Can... I buy... you... a drink?"

Each word was exaggerated as though speaking carefully would somehow make an entirely different language understandable. You stared at him just as lost as before. You answered again with different words but that same language you spoke. He understood absolutely none of it. Silence settled between you despite the chaos surrounding the booth. For perhaps the first time all night, maybe the first time in weeks, Enjin had no idea what to say.

"...Seriously?" You tilted your head. He sighed through his nose before rubbing the back of his neck. 

An idea struck him. He pointed at himself, "Enjin." His voice carried a little more confidence again. He tapped his own chest again. "Enjin."

Understanding flickered across your face. "...Oh." A smile returned. You mimicked the gesture, placing a hand lightly against your chest before telling him your name. The unfamiliar sounds rolled off your tongue beautifully.

He repeated it very poorly. The pronunciation was so catastrophically wrong that you couldn't help it. A laugh escaped you before you managed to cover your mouth. Your shoulders shook as you tried, and failed, to hold it in.

"...Was it that bad?" Enjin asked, despite the mild embarrassment.

You had no idea what he asked. Still laughing, you nodded anyway. He stared at you for another second before he laughed too. Neither of you understood a single word the other was saying. Yet somehow, this was already the most interesting conversation either of you had all night.

Three days later, Enjin walked into headquarters after taking a small moment to go outside and examine the weather. He expected to see Semiu at the front, but he didn’t.

"...You,” he stopped in the doorway.

You looked up from where you sat next to Semiu’s empty spot. Recognition flashed across your face almost instantly, followed by a bright smile that he recognized even before you spoke. A string of familiar, but completely incomprehensible, words left your lips.

"You work here?" He questioned, leaning against the desk. 

You tilted your head. You had no idea what he'd said. “Right,” A laugh escaped him. Of course you didn't understand him. A language barrier doesn’t simply disappear in three days.

Before either of you could stumble through another awkward exchange, Corvus appeared from the hallway with Semiu. "I see you've met already," He momentarily paused, watching Enjin and you, "She's the new Cleaner."

That earned a much longer stare from Enjin. "You recruited her?"

"I did."

"...And you neglected to mention this?"

Corvus shook his head, “Neglect is a strong word. I was going to properly introduce her to everyone, but she didn’t want that. Let her meet people at her own pace.” Corvus left before Enjin could question him any further. 

When he finally looked back at you, you were already watching him with obvious curiosity. "Guess we're coworkers," he mumbled.

You answered with another sentence in your own language. Neither of you understood the other. Somehow, that made him grin.

 𑣲⋆‧°⊹˚

Word spread through headquarters faster than either of you expected. Not because there was a new Cleaner, but because there was a new, attractive Cleaner. Within hours everyone had found an excuse to introduce themselves.

Riyo eagerly showed you around headquarters despite understanding perhaps three words you said. Zanka attempted conversation through increasingly exaggerated hand gestures. Rudo somehow communicated almost entirely through dramatic facial expressions. How fitting! Even Corvus checked in more often than usual, patiently listening while you explained things he clearly couldn't understand or maybe he did. Enjin didn’t know.

It became routine before anyone realized it. Someone was always with you. Someone was eating breakfast with you. Someone volunteered to partner with you as you learned your way around the headquarters. Whether it was genuine friendliness or simple curiosity, the result was always the same. You were rarely by yourself. Enjin found it mildly irritating. Every time he finally had a chance to speak with you, someone else got there first.

He folded his arms as he watched Semiu chatting with you across the lobby. Neither of you understood each other, but neither of you seemed to care.

Gris walked past, catching the look on his face, "You waiting your turn?"

"I don't know what you're talking about,” Enjin blew out smoke from his cigarette.

"You've been circling around her like a hungry stray all week."

"I have not. You're blind,” Before Enjin could argue further, Semiu excused herself from the conversation.

That was his golden opportunity. He was beside you in seconds. You looked up immediately and he noticed how your face lit up.

"Found you, girl," he said.

Your attention immediately shifted to him. Recognition lit up your face and, just like every time before, you greeted him with a warm smile, "...Good morning."

The familiar sounds of your language flowed effortlessly from your lips. He caught none of it. "...Yeah," Enjin sighed through his nose, rubbing the back of his neck. "Still don't understand a damn thing."

You tilted your head, waiting patiently. When he didn't continue, you offered another sentence, slower this time, as though speaking more carefully might somehow bridge the impossible gap between your languages. It didn't. The silence stretched for a moment before Enjin suddenly snapped his fingers.

"I've got it." He rubbed his hands together, proud of himself for such an idea. "This is how we're gonna do this."

Naturally, you had absolutely no idea what he'd just declared, but the confident grin spreading across his face made you curious enough to stay exactly where you were. Without another word, he reached over and picked up the mug sitting abandoned on Semiu's desk.

Holding it between both hands, he looked directly at you. "Cup,” He tapped it with his finger. "Cup."

Realization slowly spread across your face. You pointed at the mug yourself before saying the word in your own language. The unfamiliar syllables rolled off your tongue smoothly. Enjin repeated them immediately. They came out horribly. You stared at him for a second before laughter burst free. You covered your mouth with both hands, but it did absolutely nothing to stop it.

"...Was I even close?" he asked.

You had no clue what he'd said, but judging from the hopeful look on his face, probably not. Still laughing, you shook your head.

He held up the mug again. You repeated the word more slowly. He watched your mouth carefully this time before he tried again. He did better this time, but it still needed a lot of work. Encouraged, Enjin looked around headquarters in search of another object.

His eyes landed on a chair. He marched over, slapped the backrest dramatically, and looked back at you. "Chair."

You walked over beside him, resting your fingertips against the wood. “Chair.”

He repeated it. This time, the pronunciation was somehow even worse. You laughed so hard you had to grab the chair to steady yourself.

"Oh, come on," he huffed. "You're enjoying this too much."

You smiled innocently, as though you had no idea what he was accusing you of. For the next several minutes, the two of you wandered around headquarters like children discovering the world for the first time. He pointed at many objects: tables, doors, windows, the floor, the ceiling. Anything within arm's reach became today's lesson.

Every object earned two names. One from him. One from you. Sometimes he managed a word well enough that your eyes lit up with excitement, and you rewarded him with an eager nod. Other times, his pronunciation wandered so far from the original that you dissolved into another fit of laughter.

Oddly enough, he didn't mind. Normally, being laughed at would've irritated him. With you though, he found himself chasing that sound. Each time you laughed, he'd deliberately butcher the next word just to hear it again. 

"This?" He held it up. "Cigarette."

You repeated the word carefully before pointing at it yourself and giving him the equivalent in your language. He attempted it and you laughed at him, again.

"...Worth it," he muttered with a satisfied grin.

 𑣲⋆‧°⊹˚

Months had passed since that first disastrous conversation in Canvas Town's loudest club. Back then, every interaction had been an exercise in patience. Pointing at random objects, acting out entire conversations with exaggerated gestures, repeating the same word until one of them finally understood. More often than not, neither of you did. It was awkward, frustrating, and somehow one of the most entertaining things either of you had ever experienced.

Neither of you had noticed when it stopped feeling like work. There hadn't been some grand breakthrough where everything suddenly clicked. Instead, the conversations simply grew longer. The pauses between them became shorter. You learned to read each other's expressions before the words even came. Enjin never stopped speaking his own language, and you never abandoned yours. Somewhere between shared missions, late-night dinners, and notebooks filled with new vocabulary, understanding had become second nature.

By now, it was normal. You answered him in your language, he answered in his, and neither of you thought twice about it.

The headquarters had settled into its usual evening quiet by the time you found yourself outside Enjin's room. Most of the Cleaners had already disappeared for the night, leaving only the occasional footstep echoing through the halls. You knocked once before letting yourself in, something no one, not even Enjin, questioned anymore. At some point, his room had simply become another place you gravitated toward after a long day.

He glanced up from where he sat against the headboard, a cigarette balanced lazily between two fingers. Judging by the untouched ash threatening to fall onto his shirt, he'd been staring at the same page of the report in his lap for several minutes.

"How you doin'?" he asked, setting the papers aside.

"You looked tired today."

"I was," He rolled one shoulder until it popped, "Corvus kept us running all afternoon."

You smiled to yourself as you slipped your shoes off near the door, "The west sector?"

He gave you an incredulous look, "How'd you know?"

"I told you yesterday he'd send you there."

A groan escaped him before he leaned his head back against the wall. "Don't remind me."

You couldn't help laughing, "You hate admitting I'm right."

"Because you're insufferable when you are."

Without another word, you climbed onto the bed beside him. The mattress dipped beneath your weight as you settled into your usual spot, tucking one leg beneath yourself. It was a familiar routine by now. No awkward hesitation, no asking permission. Just the quiet assumption that there was room for you there.

For a while, neither of you spoke. The silence wasn't something that needed filling anymore. Once, every quiet moment had felt like another reminder that you didn't share a language. Now it was simply comfortable. Outside, someone walked past the room before disappearing down the hallway, leaving the building quiet once again.

Enjin glanced over and caught you absentmindedly rubbing at the cuff of your sleeve, "You're thinking about something."

You looked up. "Am I?"

"You get that look. That one where your eyebrows scrunch together."

Almost immediately, your brows furrowed in confusion. The second you realized what you'd done, you reached over and gave his shoulder a light smack.

He laughed, "Exactly that one."

You rolled your eyes, though the smile tugging at your lips gave you away.

Still chuckling, Enjin shifted closer until your shoulders brushed. It wasn't something either of you consciously thought about anymore. His arm slipped comfortably around your waist, and without hesitation, you leaned into him, resting your head against his chest. He absentmindedly traced slow circles against your side while the room settled back into silence.

Looking down at you, he found himself remembering the first night you'd met. Back then, all he'd really noticed was that you were pretty enough to catch his attention from across a crowded club. If someone had told him that months later he'd be sitting here with you curled against his side, arguing over patrol routes and vocabulary words in two different languages, he would've laughed them out of the room.

His gaze lingered a little longer than he realized.

"What?" you asked.

"Nothin'."

"You're staring. Why are you staring at me like that?"

He shrugged one shoulder, "Just thinkin'." A quiet huff of amusement escaped him, "About how weird this is."

You tipped your head back to look at him. "Weird?"

"First time we met, I couldn't understand a single thing you said," He smiled to himself. "Now I don't even notice what language you're speaking."

Your expression softened. "Neither do I."

He looked at you for a moment before shaking his head with a quiet laugh, "Guess we figured it out."

"Eventually. Took a while though," you whispered. “Your pronunciation was horrible.”

“It’s the thought that counts,” Enjin hushed your fact. 

You shook your head, still smiling, and settled comfortably against him again. His hand resumed its lazy circles against your side as the room fell quiet once more.

Neither of you had planned for any of this. It had started with two strangers who couldn't exchange more than their names without embarrassing themselves. Somewhere between all the failed pronunciations, shared notebooks, and patient corrections, the language barrier had stopped feeling like a barrier at all.

It was simply part of the way the two of you loved each other.

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

GRIS

Everyone at Headquarters knew one thing about Gris.

He had a wife.

It wasn't a secret, nor was it something he deliberately announced. It simply came up so often in conversation that it became impossible not to know. Gris spoke about his wife the way most people spoke about the weather or the day's work in passing, without thinking.

"My wife would complain if she saw me eating like this."

"My wife makes it better than this."

"I should bring some back for her."

They were small, ordinary comments that slipped naturally into conversation, carrying a quiet fondness that never sounded rehearsed. To Gris, they were simply facts. To everyone else, they became a familiar part of daily life.

Strangely, despite hearing about her so often, no one actually knew who she was. No one knew what she looked like, what she sounded like, or even how the two of them had met. Whenever someone tried to ask for details, Gris's answers became frustratingly brief.

"She works at the South Branch."

"She's a Supporter."

After that, the conversation usually ended. Even Enjin, who had known Gris for years, couldn't claim to know much more than anyone else. More than once, he'd tried to convince him to bring his wife to Headquarters.

"Come on," he would say with a grin. "Everyone's curious. Introduce her already."

Gris always gave the same answer.

"No, sorry. Maybe next time?" But the next time never came.

It wasn't because he was embarrassed, nor because he wanted to hide her. If anything, it was the opposite. His wife was precious to him. She wasn't someone he wanted turned into the latest topic of conversation or surrounded by endless questions from curious coworkers. He preferred to keep that part of his life quiet, where it belonged.

That never stopped everyone else from thinking about her. The younger Cleaners adored the idea of Gris's mysterious wife. Whenever he mentioned he was visiting the South Branch, they would rush over with little gifts clutched in their hands, a drawing they had made, a handmade charm, or an interesting trinket they thought she might like.

"Give this to your wife!"

Gris never refused. He accepted every gift with the same care he gave to mission reports or treasured belongings, promising each child that he would make sure it reached her. Watching the normally stoic man carefully tuck away crayon drawings and tiny handmade keepsakes never failed to earn a smile from those around him.

It also made people wonder. What kind of person could make someone like Gris smile so effortlessly? Who was the woman worth traveling all the way to the South Branch just to spend a little more time with?

As it turned out, everyone at Headquarters wasn't the only one who had once wondered about the other. Long before she became his wife, she had simply been a stranger who couldn't understand a single word he said. And he had been a stranger who couldn't understand her.

The story hadn't begun with a confession, a grand gesture, or love at first sight.

It had begun with two people separated by a language neither of them could speak and the quiet dedication to understand each other.

𑣲⋆‧°⊹˚

The first time Gris saw you, he didn't know your name.

He didn't know your voice, or that years later, you would become the person he searched for after every difficult day; the one whose presence alone could quiet the noise in his mind. Back then, you were simply a girl standing at the bottom of a staircase. Seventeen years old and a newly appointed Supporter. 

The town was unusually lively that afternoon. A large group of newly assigned Supporters had gathered during their day off, grateful for a rare chance to enjoy themselves without a mission waiting around the corner. Laughter echoed through the streets as friends wandered from shop to shop, filling the square with easy conversation.

Gris walked among a few of his own companions, listening more than speaking. He had almost tuned out the chatter when something caught his eye.

You stood several steps away from the crowd, staring silently at a long flight of stone stairs. At first, he assumed you were waiting for someone, but then he noticed the crutches beneath your arms.

A moment later, he spotted your friends already standing at the top of the staircase, calling for you to hurry without realizing why you hadn't moved. Your broken leg looked fresh. Every shift of your weight was careful, yet you never looked around for help. Instead, you studied the stairs with a determined expression, as though trying to solve a problem no one else had noticed.

Gris recognized that look immediately. It was the expression of someone who had already decided they could manage on their own.

You adjusted your grip on your crutches and stepped forward. A few people nearby slowed to watch. Some exchanged worried glances, but no one approached. They were waiting to see if you would ask for help.

Gris doubted you would. The moment you reached for the next step, he saw your balance falter. One crutch slipped against the stone and your body pitched forward. Before you could hit the ground, a pair of steady hands caught you. Gris held you firmly until he was certain you were steady again before easing his grip.

"You shouldn't do that,” The words left him before he thought about how blunt they sounded.

Your only response was a quiet murmur he couldn't understand. Assuming you were simply shaken, Gris guided you to the nearest step and waited until you were seated safely before retrieving your fallen crutches. He returned them to you, making sure you had a secure hold before speaking again.

"Are you going up with your friends?"

You only stared at him with brows furrowed in confusion. Gris frowned slightly. He repeated the question more slowly, pointing toward the staircase before gesturing to the group waiting above. Again, you looked at him without comprehension as you answered in a language he had never heard before.

The realization settled between you almost instantly. You couldn't understand him. And he couldn't understand you. Surprisingly, the discovery didn't frustrate him. Instead, Gris simply pointed toward the top of the stairs, then toward you, silently asking the question without words.

Your gaze followed his gesture. After a brief pause, you nodded. That was enough. You shifted your crutches beneath your arms and tried to stand.

Gris reached out before you could take another step. "No."

You couldn't understand the word, but you understood the firm shake of his head. He sighed quietly. There was no easy way to explain himself, and he had no idea whether what he was about to do would embarrass you. Even so, he couldn't stand by and watch you risk another fall.

He offered a quiet apology that you couldn't understand as he bent down and lifted you into his arms. A startled gasp escaped you as your feet left the ground. Instinctively, your hands reached for the nearest support, wrapping around his neck.

Gris stiffened for only a heartbeat, he hadn't expected you to hold onto him so tightly. He adjusted his grip until you were secure, tucked your crutches beneath one arm, and started up the stairs. By the time Gris reached the top, your friends were already hurrying toward you.

Relief flooded their faces.

"Oh, thank goodness!"

"Are you okay?"

"What happened?"

Their questions tumbled over one another before they turned to Gris, surprise quickly giving way to gratitude.

"Thank you."

"We really appreciate it."

"We should've gone back for her."

Gris acknowledged them with a small nod, but his attention drifted back to you almost immediately. His eyes searched your face for any sign that you had been hurt when you stumbled, "Are you okay?"

You didn't understand the words, but you understood the concern. Only then did the embarrassment finally catch up to you. You remembered how close you had been, how your arms had been wrapped around his neck, how effortlessly he had carried you as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Warmth rushed into your cheeks. You lowered your gaze, suddenly finding your crutches far more interesting than meeting his eyes.

Gris noticed. He tilted his head slightly, puzzled by the sudden change. A moment ago, you had looked so determined enough to challenge a staircase despite your injury. Now, you looked almost shy.

He didn't mention it. He didn't tease you or ask what was wrong. He simply filed the expression away in his memory. He still didn't know your name and couldn't understand a single word you spoke. But for reasons he couldn't explain, he found himself wanting to.

For the first time that day, the language between you no longer felt like a barrier. It felt like a reason to come back.

𑣲⋆‧°⊹˚

The morning at Headquarters was no different from any other. Cards were tossed over tables, conversations drifted lazily through the room, and the younger Cleaners were arguing over whose turn it was to organize the storage room.

Gris sat at his usual place on the couch, quietly thinking about his next move for the game. Just as he was about to place his next card, his collar buzzed. He answered it without thought.

"Gris," Semiu’s voice filled his ears, “A truck is entering. You might wanna be out soon."

A glimmer in his eyes appeared and he put his cards down before standing up, "I'll be right there."

No one thought much of it. Headquarters and the South Branch exchanged personnel often enough that visitors weren't unusual. Gris excused himself and headed toward the entrance. Only after he'd disappeared through the doors did Bro glance up, "...Since when do Supporters from the South ask for Gris personally?"

Enjin shrugged, "Probably paperwork."

The low rumble of an engine rolled through Headquarters' dry courtyard, drawing little attention. Deliveries and visitors came often enough that no one bothered looking up. Gris did this time. The familiar truck eased to a stop near the entrance. Before the engine had fully died, the driver's door swung open.

You climbed down with far more enthusiasm than dignity. The moment your shoes hit the ground, your eyes found him.

A smile spread across your face. "There you are!"

You didn't bother walking toward him, instead you ran. Several heads inside Headquarters turned at the sound of your laughter just in time to watch you throw yourself into Gris's arms. He caught you without hesitation. The force of your momentum barely moved him. One arm settled around your waist while the other slipped beneath your thighs, lifting you clean off the ground as effortlessly as he had years ago. 

You wrapped your arms around his neck, grinning. "I missed you." 

"I saw you five days ago,” Gris answered in your language, the pronunciation carrying the familiar accent he'd never quite managed to lose.

"So?"

"So..." His thumb brushed absentmindedly against your side. "You are dramatic."

“As dramatic as I may be, it never once stopped you from loving me.”

The noise of Headquarters seemed to fade behind the warmth of the familiar embrace. The distant voices, the footsteps, the clatter of everyday life, all of it became something far away. Gris simply stood there, holding you as if he had all the time in the world.

He had always been someone who carried the weight of others quietly. Someone who offered a hand before anyone had to ask, who noticed the little things people tried to hide, who made a place feel safer simply by being there. And somehow, after all this time, you were still the one person who made him forget to be careful.

His expression softened, the usual calmness in his eyes turning into something almost boyish, “You ran across an entire courtyard just to prove you missed me?”

You smiled against his shoulder, “Yes.”

There was no hesitation in your answer. That alone made him chuckle. “You have not changed.”

“Neither have you.”

His gaze lowered to you, and for a brief second, there was a quiet sadness hidden beneath his smile. Not because he was unhappy to see you, but because he understood how much time had passed. How many things had changed. How many moments he had missed. Yet you were here and above all, you were still speaking to him in the language that once took him so much effort to learn.

The language that used to make him stumble over every sentence, repeating words under his breath until he could say them properly. The language he practiced because he wanted to understand you, not just the words you spoke, but the feelings behind them. Now, it came naturally.

“I remember when you used to get frustrated because you could not pronounce my name correctly.”

Gris blinked, then looked away with the faintest hint of embarrassment. “That was a long time ago. You have a very pretty name and I did not want to ruin it with my pronunciation.”

You laughed softly, and Gris watched you with an expression that said more than his words ever could. He liked that sound. He liked that he was the reason for it.

His hand gently adjusted where he was holding you, making sure you were comfortable rather than simply keeping you close. Even now, even in a moment where he had every reason to be selfish, his first instinct was still to take care of you.

“You should have told me you were coming earlier than expected.”

“Then you would have waited at the entrance.”

“Yes and I will always do that for you”

The simple honesty of his answer caught you off guard. He did not deny it. He did not pretend he would have been too busy or that it would not have mattered. Because to Gris, it would have mattered; A lot.

“I wanted to surprise you.”

His eyes softened, “And a surprise you did give me.”

You rested your head against him, and Gris looked down at you. For someone who had spent so much of his life surrounded by noise, conflict, and people who needed him, this quiet moment was something precious.

It was something he wanted to remember. Maybe it was because you knew moments like this were rare. Maybe it was because, despite everything that had happened, being with Gris still felt strangely easy. Like no amount of distance or time could change the comfort you found in each other.

You pulled back just enough to look at him. The familiar calm expression. The gentle blue eyes. The way he still carried himself like someone who would rather make sure everyone else was okay before thinking about himself. Part of you still saw that young man that helped you up the stairs.

A quiet laugh escaped you, “You really have not changed.”

Gris tilted his head slightly, “Is that a good thing?”

Instead of answering, you looked him over once more, a small smile playing on your lips. Then you reached up, lightly grabbing the front of his shirt and pulling him closer.

His eyes softened almost immediately, and his hands found your waist without hesitation. He held you carefully, like he always did. Even now, after everything, he was still making sure you were comfortable.

Before either of you could say anything else, you leaned in. The kiss was gentle. Just a small, familiar reminder that the two of you were here, together, in the same place again.

For a brief moment, Gris looked almost caught off guard by how happy he felt, but his eyes closed, and he allowed himself to simply enjoy it.

Of course, Headquarters could never stay quiet for long.

A loud whistle cut through the air, “Well, well.”

You both broke away from the kiss. Slowly, you turned your head.

Enjin stood near the entrance with an amused expression, one hand raised casually as the others gathered behind him. Bro, along with several of the other Cleaners, had clearly abandoned whatever they were doing the moment they noticed something interesting happening outside.

Gris sighed, a little embarrassed of having his coworkers see such a private moment, “We were having a moment.”

Enjin grinned, “Yeah. We noticed.”

The others exchanged looks, trying and failing to hide their smiles. Despite the interruption, despite the embarrassment, despite the entire Headquarters now being aware of the reunion happening in front of them, he smiled. The kind that only appeared when he was around the people he treasured most.

And as he gently kept an arm around you, Gris seemed perfectly content. But it could only last so long before someone found a way to ruin the peace.

𑣲⋆‧°⊹˚

“Ten years together is crazy,” Enjin muttered, fiddling with a flimsy poker card. “And what? Only three years dating? Someone wasted no time going from zero to sixty.” 

Gris merely smiled at that, not at all offended by what he was trying to say. “I knew she was the one then and I still think she is. We're happy together.”

“Even if you don't live together?” Bro questioned. 

To be fair, it didn't make sense to anyone. Gris was married, yet didn’t live with his wife. To some, it brought up concerns. Others didn't care. But at the time, you needed to stay there in the South and Gris needed to stay in this headquarters. Maybe now that years have gone by there could be something to be done. That's a conversation for later. 

“It was hard at first,” Gris acknowledged. There were times where the separation got the best of you. Many nights did you call him upset about him not being there and all he could offer was words of reassurance. “But it was something we created a routine for. That's why I leave every weekend.”

“Interesting. Very interesting,” Enjin noted, wanting to skip all the boring, lovey dovey stuff and dip straight into the things everyone had questions about. “So about that language thing with her and you. How do you bang?”

Gris sat there for a moment, letting the question settle in his brain as his ears tinted a faint pink. “…She knows English, Enjin,” he answered after a beat. “And I know her language.”

Enjin stared at him with an understanding expression, “…Right. Yeah, that was a pretty stupid question.” A sheepish chuckle escaped him as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I don't know, man. I was expecting some groundbreaking answer.”

“You expected a tutorial?” Bro deadpanned.

“I was curious!” Enjin defended himself. “Is it good at least? When was the last-”

“I think I need to check up on her,” Gris interrupted Enjin from his lewd rambling. “She might be done settling in and is waiting for me to spend some time with her,” he stood up from his place on the couch in the lounge room, “Excuse me.” 

Maybe having Enjin meet you was a really bad idea.

𑣲⋆‧°⊹˚

The door clicked shut behind him.

You looked up from where you'd been absentmindedly smoothing the blanket over your legs, your expression brightening the moment your eyes landed on him. Sitting up, you tucked one leg beneath yourself, making room before he even crossed the room.

"Back so soon?" you murmured with a soft smile.

Gris returned it without hesitation, "Fortunately, yes."

He slipped off his gloves and set them neatly on the bedside table before taking his usual place beside you. The mattress dipped beneath his weight, familiar enough that you instinctively leaned just a little closer. There was no rush to fill the silence. After so many years together, quiet moments had become just as meaningful as conversations.

His gaze wandered over you for a second, lingering on the fresh clothes, the damp strands of hair framing your face, "You got settled in."

"I did." You nodded. "Your room is exactly how you describe it."

"I made it, so it mirrored yours."

A small laugh escaped you, "You did that for me? Why?"

"Just so you can find anything if you're here," His shoulders lifted in a tiny shrug. "Save you the trouble of asking me."

Gris really did think about everything. He put effort into changing the room for your comfort and maybe also for his, aware of how little time he spent with you, he did it so he could have a piece of you with him.

It felt like home.

You reached over, absentmindedly straightening the collar of his uniform where it'd become crooked sometime during the day. He watched your hands without saying anything, the corners of his lips curling upward.

"I thought you'd spend more time with them," you trailed your hand to his chin, feeling the scratchy stubble. "Did Enjin say something? He seems like the type." You narrowed your eyes ever so slightly, catching the faint color dusting his ears.

Gris let out a quiet sigh through his nose, "He did." His gaze drifted toward the opposite wall for a moment, as though the answer might be written there instead. The pink creeping across the tips of his ears spread a little further onto his cheeks. "...He asked how we..." He paused, clearing his throat, "...How we have sex despite the language barrier."

"He asked you that?"

"He did and he didn't ease into it."

You covered your mouth as an incredulous laugh escaped you, somewhere between amusement and disbelief.

"I told him you speak English," He rubbed the back of his neck, still visibly warm in the face. "And that I learned your language, which is all true, but I wasn’t going to explain it in more depth. He seemed disappointed."

You stifled a laugh, "Disappointed?"

"I believe he expected..." Gris searched for the right wording, his expression becoming increasingly sheepish. "...Something more crazy."

You couldn't help it. You laughed outright, shoulders shaking as you leaned into him. "Poor Enjin. He’s a rather curious man."

"I don't think he deserves your sympathy."

Your laughter gradually faded into a smile as you looked at him. He really had survived Enjin's interrogation. Still smiling, you reached up and brushed a stray lock of blonde hair away from his face. Your fingertips lingered against his temple before trailing down to cup his cheek.

Gris's breath hitched almost imperceptibly.

"What?" you asked, amused.

"...Nothing."

"It doesn't look like nothing." Your thumb swept across the faint blush still warming his skin. He leaned into the touch before he seemed to realize he was doing it, his ears turning an even deeper shade of pink.

"You keep looking at me like that." His hand came up to rest over yours, holding it against his cheek, "You only look at me like this when you're about to kiss me."

"And?"

"...And usually that means you want something."

You laughed quietly, "I always want something?"

"Not always," He met your gaze, the smallest smile appearing. "But I know that look."

His eyes flickered to your lips for the briefest moment before returning to yours, waiting. You closed the remaining distance, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead instead.

"...Oh.” The soft, disappointed sound he made was enough to send another laugh bubbling from your chest.

"Were you expecting something else?"

"I..." Gris cleared his throat, looking everywhere but directly at you. "...Perhaps. I may have misunderstood the situation."

Unable to resist, you kissed the corner of his mouth this time, just long enough to make his shoulders relax. As you settled back against the headboard, your eyes wandered across the room, eventually catching on a familiar notebook tucked neatly between a stack of reports on his shelf.

Your expression softened, "...You still have it."

Gris followed your gaze to the worn notebook. Its once-dark cover had faded with age, the corners bent from being carried nearly everywhere. Even from across the room, you could picture the pages inside; awkward handwriting, crossed-out phrases, hastily scribbled translations, little drawings meant to make up for words neither of you knew.

A smile found his face, "There was never a reason to throw it away. I told you I'd keep it."

Without another word, you slipped off the bed and crossed the room. The notebook was lighter than you remembered, though the softened cover and bent corners betrayed just how often it'd been carried around all those years ago. Your thumb brushed over the front before you turned back.

Gris had shifted upright while you were away, making room beside him without thinking. It was instinct by now. You climbed back onto the bed, settling against his side with the notebook resting across your lap. The moment you got comfortable, his arm found its place around your shoulders.

You smiled to yourself as you leaned into him, feeling his hand give your upper arm a gentle squeeze.

Gris looked down at the weathered cover. "...I used to carry this everywhere. I was terrified of losing it."

You laughed softly, "I was, too."

Because if that notebook disappeared, so did your words.

Your fingers traced the worn edge of the cover before finally lifting it open. The first page greeted you with uneven handwriting, crossed-out vocabulary, hastily scribbled pronunciations, and little sketches meant to explain what neither of you knew how to say. The ink had smudged, but the memory hadn't.

Ten years earlier, the notebook rarely left Gris's side.

From the day you gave it to him, it found a permanent home inside his coat, its worn cover softened by constant use. Whenever work offered even the smallest excuse to travel to the South Ward, he made sure it came with him. Those assignments were frustratingly rare, once every other week if fortune smiled on him, sometimes only once a month, but he never complained. Every visit meant another chance to learn.

The days belonged to work. The nights belonged to you.

Long after the rest of the branch had gone quiet, a single light still glowed beneath your door. What had begun as a simple favor slowly became a ritual neither of you ever questioned. Your desk transformed into an improvised classroom, scattered with loose pages covered in awkward vocabulary lists, clumsy pronunciation guides, crossed-out translations, and tiny sketches made whenever neither of you knew the right word.

You spoke, Gris repeated, and you corrected him.

He scribbled the word down again, crossed it out, rewrote it more neatly, then repeated it until his tongue finally agreed to cooperate. Some evenings, you would point to random objects around the room, challenging him to name them. He guessed with complete confidence, only for you to dissolve into quiet laughter when he was hopelessly wrong. With an exaggerated sigh, he'd dutifully write the correct word three more times while pretending your amusement was deeply unfair.

Other nights, the lesson collapsed into frantic drawings and hand gestures as the two of you struggled to explain ideas that neither language seemed capable of expressing. It was slow and often frustrating, but every time Gris returned back to his branch, he carried a little more of your language with him than before. Sleep quickly became an inconvenience. There were never enough hours before morning came and he had to leave again.

It didn't take long for people to notice. At first, no one paid much attention. Both branches worked together often enough, and visiting Cleaners wasn't unusual. Gris had been sent south before. Then he came back and then he came back again. Eventually, his visits became familiar enough that people stopped asking whether his ward would send him at all. Instead, they began wondering when Gris would return.

The answer was never often enough for him. Every assignment followed the same comfortable rhythm. The day's work ended and dinner passed. Sooner or later, Gris disappeared down the hallway with his weathered notebook tucked beneath one arm until your door clicked softly shut behind him.

Hours later, the light beneath it still burned. No one interrupted. At first, it was simply out of courtesy. Eventually, curiosity became much more entertaining. Nobody knew what happened behind that closed door, and imagination filled in the blanks far more dramatically than reality ever could.

"They have to be dating."

"No."

"Then why does he spend every evening in her room?"

"...Maybe she's tutoring him."

"Until early-early morning?"

"...Fair enough."

The whispers spread through the branch with every passing month, growing more elaborate with each retelling. The truth; however, was much sweeter.

Most nights were spent leaning over the same cluttered desk, laughing over impossible pronunciations or arguing about whether a particular word sounded right. Entire evenings disappeared into repeating the same sentence until Gris finally mastered it, only to stumble over the very next one. Whenever neither of you knew how to explain something, another hastily drawn sketch joined the growing pile of papers between you.

It wasn't glamorous nor was it scandalous. It was simply two people patiently meeting each other halfway. As the seasons passed, the hesitant distance that had once existed between you quietly disappeared. You no longer thought twice before sitting beside him. Gris no longer stumbled through every conversation.

The awkward pauses that once filled your lessons slowly transformed into comfortable silences, the kind that no longer needed to be filled with words at all. Sometimes you'd both become so absorbed in the notebook between you that neither of you noticed how late it had become until the first traces of dawn threatened to brighten the curtains.

Without either of you realizing it, being together had become effortless. The rest of the branch noticed long before you did, especially Gris. For all the confidence he had gained in speaking your language, he remained completely oblivious to the way he gravitated toward you.

Whenever he arrived at the Southern branch, his eyes instinctively searched for you first. If he spotted you across the room, his feet carried him over before he'd consciously decided to move. If you were already talking with someone else, he simply slipped into the conversation at your side as though that was where he naturally belonged.

Sometimes, while asking about a word he'd practiced during the weeks apart, he'd absentmindedly rest an arm across your shoulders, too focused on his notebook to notice what he'd done. Other times, he'd lean over to read what you were writing, close enough that your shoulders brushed together without either of you pulling away.

To him, it never felt unusual. Somewhere along the way, your presence had simply become familiar. He had spent so many evenings beside you that reaching for you had become instinct before either of you ever recognized it. 

The first time someone behind him cleared their throat a little too loudly, Gris glanced over with a puzzled frown, "What?"

Several people exchanged knowing looks. "...Nothing."

His confusion only deepened. "Why are you all looking at me like that?"

No one answered, mostly because none of them believed he genuinely didn't understand. When they finally wandered off, Gris merely turned back to you as though nothing had happened. "...Anyway," he said, tapping the notebook in your hands, "how do you pronounce this one again?"

You hid your smile behind the page. By then, even you had begun to notice him. The way he always found you first. The way he drifted a little closer without ever thinking about it. The way his hand would settle briefly against your shoulder before he even realized it had moved.

There was no grand confession. Just countless quiet evenings, shared laughter over misplaced words, and the gentle comfort of two people who had become each other's favorite place without ever saying it aloud. Everyone around you could see the shape those memories were quietly taking. Only the two of you remained blissfully unaware that, little by little, Gris's world had begun to revolve around yours.

Also, somewhere along the way, neither of you could remember exactly when your lessons had migrated from the desk to the bed. Perhaps it was because hours spent hunched over the little wooden table always ended with aching backs. Perhaps the growing stacks of loose papers had claimed every inch of space. Or perhaps the answer was much simpler.

The bed was just more comfortable. It became your new classroom without either of you ever discussing it.

You rested against the headboard with your legs stretched across the blankets while Gris settled beside you, one knee drawn up to support the familiar notebook balanced against it. He had reached the very last page. Instead of writing, he simply stared at the empty sheet, his fingers resting lightly against it as though the blank page carried more weight than every one before it.

Finally, he began to write slowly. Painfully slower than what you were used to. Every letter was formed with painstaking care. Sometimes he paused to whisper the pronunciation beneath his breath before committing the word to paper. Other times he crossed a word entirely, only to begin it again. From the corner of your eye, you watched him. His brow was furrowed in concentration, his lips moving soundlessly as he tested each word before allowing it to settle onto the page.

Curiosity got the better of you, and you leaned ever so slightly, trying to peek around his shoulder.

Without looking up, Gris tilted the notebook away, "No."

You were taken aback, "No?"

"You have to wait."

"Since when do you keep secrets from me?"

"Since tonight. And only tonight."

The room slipped back into silence. Outside the open window, distant voices drifted through the warm evening air before fading into the night. Beside you, the steady scratching of ink continued until, at last, it stopped.

Gris didn't move. His thumb rested gently over the final line he'd written as he read the page again and again, checking every word with the same care he'd shown throughout the past year. He drew a slow breath, then another, as though gathering every ounce of courage he possessed. Only then did he close the notebook. He held it out to you.

Your smile softened, "Can I read it now?"

He nodded once, "...Please."

The single word sounded impossibly vulnerable. You had seen Gris face beasts without hesitation. You had watched him walk into danger with unwavering resolve, yet offering you that notebook seemed to frighten him far more than any battle ever had. You accepted it carefully and opened to the final page.

The first thing you noticed was his handwriting. It wasn't perfect. A few letters still leaned awkwardly, and faint smudge marks lingered where he'd changed his mind.

But compared to the uncertain writing on the first page, it was beautiful. You smiled as you began to read.

When I first met you, I wanted to learn your language because I wanted us to understand each other. I thought words were the only thing between us. I was very wrong. Every time I came here, I wanted found myself wanting to stay longer. Every time I left, I hoped wished I did not have to. I started learning for the language. But somewhere along the way, I realized I was learning because of you. You are patient with me. You laugh with me. You never make me feel embarrassed when I make mistakes. You make me want to become someone better than I was yesterday. I can’t think of anyone else who had made me experience this besides you.  I do not know when it happened. I only know that every new word I learned became another reason to speak with you. Every visit became another reason to see you. Somewhere between the first page of this notebook… and this last one... I fell in love with you.

The letter blurred with each passing sentence. You blinked once, then again, but the tears gathering in your eyes refused to clear. At the bottom of the page, written with more care than anything else in the notebook, was his signature.

— Gris Rubion

Beneath it was one final sentence, written in your language.

I love you.

You couldn't find your voice. Not because there was nothing to say, but because every word you knew suddenly felt too small for what you held in your hands.

Across from you, Gris sat perfectly still. His hands were clasped tightly together in his lap, his shoulders held stiff with nervous anticipation. His eyes searched your face, waiting. For someone so fearless, he looked impossibly fragile. Waiting for your answer was the most frightened you had ever seen him.

Slowly, you lowered the notebook into your lap and looked at him. He met your gaze with quiet hope.

"...Did I spell everything correctly?" he asked.

A watery laugh escaped before you could stop it. Of course, only Gris would worry about his grammar after pouring his heart onto the page. You closed the notebook carefully, your fingers trembling against the worn cover.

"...Almost."

His expression fell for the briefest instant, "I forgot something?"

You shook your head, smiling through your tears. "You forgot..." Before doubt could steal your courage, you reached forward and gently cupped his face in both hands, "...to let me tell you that I love you, too."

His eyes widened, every trace of fear melting into quiet wonder. And before another word could be spoken, you leaned forward and kissed him. The notebook slipped from your hands and landed forgotten among the blankets.

Once, it had been nothing more than a bridge between two strangers separated by different languages. Now, it had carried both of your hearts to the same place.

At last, neither of you needed its pages to understand each other anymore.

{Gris, the baby needs to be breastfed.}

Summary: You decide to pull a harmless prank on Gris, first thing in the morning. Purely wholesome family shenanigans. Nothing sensitive, unless you feel queasy at the mention of breastfeeding idk lol.

Authors Note: I don’t take requests. The gender of the reader and infant is up for the reader to interpret. Grammar errors highly likely, since I was rushing to have something posted today lol.

You stir awake at the sound of something beginning to fuss. Your body already knows what to do before your brain even processes it. The infant instantly relaxes upon being picked out of the crib and cradled.

You were in full autopilot, about to head to the kitchen for the usual ritual of making baby formula and coffee for your beloved. However, you stopped dead in your tracks when you glance towards Gris’ sleeping form. Eyes wide and definitely awake now.

Damn! You keep forgetting just how big his pectorals are. Like golly! Someone hand this man a bra! You spend a nice long minute to appreciate how beautiful he looks in the morning glow and ahem those big tatas peeking out of the blanket. It wasn’t until the infant began to fuss again that you snap out of it…but also have a hilarious idea.

“Gris, my love. Need you to wake up.” Fortunately, he wakes up quite easily. Although, this cutie pie never actually wakes up wakes up until he’s at least had a cup of coffee. He calmly sits up and gives you that deep hum of acknowledgment. You can’t help but grin mischievously, not that he would be able to process it anyway.

“Gris, the baby needs to be breastfed.” You swallow down the urge to bust out laughing as you watch Gris carefully take the baby from you. He didn’t question your words, just giving a tired “mhm” as he brings the infant close to his chest.

You honestly deserve a gold medal for how well you are keeping in your laughter. Even as you quite literally watch this man hold one of his pectorals and urging the infant to eat. You decide to let them be and continue the morning ritual while giggling to yourself.

You return with the baby formula in one hand and coffee for Gris in the other. To your surprise…Gris’ pectorals are big and fat enough to fool even a baby. You hand him his coffee, silently cackling to yourself. Gris gives you a tired smile and thank you as he takes the cup.

It was truly a hilarious, but wholesome sight. Watching Gris contently sigh after each sip. All while still cradling the infant that’s contently latched onto him.

You plop down beside him, patiently waiting for his coffee to kick in while you still hold the baby formula in your lap. After ten minutes, he finally becomes aware and awake. Gris looks down, then at you in disbelief.

You both laugh together as you take back the baby, ready to actually feed the infant. Gris gets up, ready to go make breakfast for the two of you like he always does. Only to stop in slight panic as the infant begins to have a loud fit.

You’re both staring at each other wide eyed, as your baby refuses to latch onto the bottle and continues to throw a fit. Looks like you unintentionally caused the baby to have a preference.

━━ ❝ can they handle you throwing ass on them? maybe, maybe not. ❞

✦ content. . . suggestive content, lowkey silly, follo nearly cums in his shorts, goka just straight up does, perverted thoughts, ft. corvus, enjin, semiu, bro, tamsy, gris, follo, tomme, august, zodyl, jabber, bundus, and goka

✦ note. . . i had too much fun writing this im not gonna lie, i love doing headcanons like this, thank you to anonnie who asked for this MUAH!! the music notes are youtube links to the songs i listened to+ think fit each character's scenario, and jabber has too because. i said so

arhka c. ♬.ᐟ : 4/10 | "ah…sorry, i wasn't listening, baby, hard to focus when you're moving like…l-like this."

this poor man is struggling the second he hears you scream 'oh my god, i love this song' and you immediately have your ass pressed against his front. his hands at least know to go right to your hips, holding them firmly as his brain tries to catch up with your ass rubbing into him. corvus' brain is buffering, so he's not really moving much, just letting you rub against him as you twerk against him, so he's not really…catching anything. it's not his fault, he's really mesmerized by you. but at least he's got his hands on you instead of just standing there like a board.

enjin ♬.ᐟ : 6/10 | "fuck, we keep this up, boo, an' we're gonna end up fuckin' on the dance floor…"

oh, he's a professional at catching ass, don't get me wrong. enjin can easily move with you like the slut he is. the two of you always have but enjin gets so fucking into it that he genuinely starts forgetting that you're dancing on him. of course, you're just as bad as he is, shifting from twerking to the song to just pressing back into his hips, the way he's moving feeling…oddly familiar in ways that aren't appropriate for the dance floor. if it weren't for him getting hard as fuck on the dance floor to the point he has to pull you away to a more private area to shove his tongue down your throat while your leg is hitched up around his hip so he can grind into you, his score might be a little higher.