#incubus!renxreader

Crunch.

“Stop it.”

That was what your boyfriend of two years, Ren Amamiya said, looking up from the book he was reading.

The white, red, and green-striped candy cane was crunched between your teeth, your eyes meeting the glasses-framed stare of your significant other.

You smirked as Ren tilted his head to the side, glasses glinting underneath the living room’s light a barely-there frown touched his lips.

“Stop what, dear~?”

Crunch.

“That.”

The familiar taste of peppermint lingered on your tongue, red and green melding together and besmirching the white candy cane as it was rolled across your tongue, clattering against your teeth as you smiled.

“You mean stop doing this?”

The telltale crunch as the candy cane was bitten into resulted in a stare from your boyfriend, narrowing his eyes as your toothy smirk twitched, quirking at the corners as it threatened to widen.

The frizzy-haired demon breathed a sigh, shaking his head.

Ever since you had decided that today was as good a day as any to put away the Christmas decorations, the tree included, he had to put up with the crinkling of plastic wrapping, and the painfully familiar noise as the colourful peppermint-flavoured candy stick was bitten into.

He quietly cursed himself for doing as you asked him to at the beginning of December.

Ren Amamiya was cursing himself for caving in to your request of purchasing two boxes of candy canes.

It hadn’t taken you long to work your way through half of one of the two boxes as you both took down and put away the decorations.

At first you ignored Ren’s subtle glances aimed squarely at you, staring at you out the corner of his eye.

At first you disregarded the way his brows twitched, onyx irises flashing with signs of irritation as you finished crunching your way through one candy cane, and quickly working your way through another.

Unfortunately, there came a point in time where you no longer ignored Ren’s quiet annoyance bubbling to the surface.

There came a point in time where you looked forward to your boyfriend’s reactions.

There came a point in time where you knowingly—and willingly—antagonized Ren.

You watched him in your peripheral vision, quietly observing—and delighting—in each of his reactions.

Crunch.

A brow twitched.

Crunch.

A lukewarm stare—a stare that was almost a glare, almost—was pointed your way.

Crunch.

The crisp noise as a page was turned, pausing to toss you a stare that was cold enough to frost the windows of the two-storey house you both called “home”. For all you knew, Ren’s chilly askance could start a full-blown ice age with little effort, if any trouble whatsoever.

Crunch—

The fourth crunch was what broke the dam and resulted in a tsunami of water rushing to greet you with arms wide open, as it were. The dam being Ren’s resistance to your nonchalant teasing, and the water being Ren’s patience as it snapped.

A quiet growl was all the forewarning you received. The thick novel Ren was reading hit the rug covering the floor around the couch with a dull thump; the couch’s springs wailed as they were relieved of Ren’s weight. Hands pushed you to the armrest; arms caged you in; black-framed glasses glinted as obsidian eyes flashed marigold.

“Something wrong, RenRen~?” you said, cooing your boyfriend’s nickname.

“As a matter of fact: yes. There is something wrong.”

He was practically hissing the words, heat fanning your face as Ren leaned in.

“And what’s bugging you? Can’t take my form of teasing?”

Feeling cattish, you stuck out your tongue. A small piece of what remained of your candy cane was there, reduced to a small and sticky ball of red, green, and white.

But it was what happened in the seconds following that caught you off-guard.

It was Ren’s lips pressing to yours.

The kiss was so sudden that your jaw fell open in surprise. Ren took that window of opportunity to slip his tongue past your lips, the moist organ scooping up the small saccharine ball of peppermint candy. He pulled back, strings of saliva connecting your lips to his mouth.

“…Maybe not, but…”

A chill shot down your spine, hitting your tailbone before it wormed back up to your nape, possessing your shoulders with a shiver. It wasn’t an unpleasant sensation, not if the familiar hint of embarrassing heat shading your cheeks with a rosy hue was anything to go by.

“…It appears you can’t handle my teasing either, sweetheart.”

Ren stuck his tongue out and for a moment, you thought he was letting his inner child shine through—but when you looked, actually looked, you narrowed your eyes.

There, on the tip of his tongue, was the same rolled ball that had once been the rest of your candy cane; the red, green and white colours mixing, intertwining was obvious to spot to your critical-eyed leer.

“Maybe, maybe not,” you said, making sure to lace your voice with a low, teasing croon. “But…”

Ren’s eyes flashed marigold, watching as you edged yourself closer to him and you, in due kindness, watched as his mouth was closed. The small sphere of peppermint-flavoured candy was seen for a moment and then, not seen the next.

“Perhaps I don’t mind egging you on?”

Ren smirked; his lukewarm onyx irises were slowly, oh so slowly engulfed by a hue of molten gold.

“Is that so…? Then…”

He leaned down, pressing a kiss to your lips. His mouth was a bit sticky from the round ball that no doubt was still on the tip of his tongue, literally. You take in a breath, inhaling the vague but brisk hint of peppermint lingering on his breath as he exhaled, chuckling in your face.

OOC: Hello and good evening, my-arietta! I hope you’re well, and that today’s been a good day for you so far!

Fufu~! Join in on the fun indeed! No complaints here; the more the merrier, after all!

My, what a prompt order; I like that, and your manners are a pleasant touch as well!

You certainly may have a serving of RenRen! Do enjoy, dear customer!

To everyone else: Please sit back, relax with your favourite beverage, and indulge in some sweet chills with Ren! ☕

“Did you hear that? There’s something outside…!”

Breathe in. Breathe out.

The words echoed through your mind, stuck on permanent repeat as your eyes remained fixated on the flickering TV screen. Unconsciously, your fingers clutched onto the sleeve of Ren’s black shirt, gently curling into the cotton material as you took in a soft exhale.

It was no big deal. Just an outdated, B-rated-at-best movie from the mid 2000s era. A movie that wasn’t anything special. The plot was to be expected, no matter how cringe worthy you quietly labelled it as being. Teenage couples seeking a weekend getaway from parents, schoolwork, and responsibilities, indulging themselves in various illegal substances, sex, and alcohol.

Calm down. Calm down.

It was just a really bad movie, and that was being nice about it—or so you had originally thought, anyway.

It was your typical cheesy, hack-and-slash horror flick. It had everything from poor visual effects, low-budget camera lighting, noises that were either too quiet to distinguish or loud enough to make your ears ring, and above all, poorly developed characters and multiple plot holes.

You have to prove him wrong. You have to prove Ren wrong!

All in all, it certainly wasn’t anything special. Nothing you hadn’t seen before.

At least, that was what you tried to silently reassure yourself of, anyway.

Key word being tried.

As much as you tried to will back the shudder that shook your shoulders, it still did. As much as you tried to stop a chill from dancing up and down your spine, it still did. As much as you tried to mentally assure yourself that it was just a movie, you still clung to your husband, staying as close as you possibly could to Ren.

No matter how hard you tried to ignore how much the girls’ giggles grated your ears.

No matter how hard you tried to dismiss the cabin’s wooden floor groaning, the soft flickering of a crackling fireplace.

No matter how hard you tried to distance yourself from the constant on-edge feeling that possessed you, that had you in its cold, vice-like grip…

You couldn’t.

Your wide eyes, your attentive expression remained pointed at the flickering TV screen. You remained vigilant for any clues, any hint that the bloodbath would begin.

However…

There weren’t any.

Silently, you couldn’t help but feel slightly jealous of Ren’s unflappable personality, keeping a blank stare pointed on the scene as it unfolded. The frizzy-haired man’s stare was calm, coolly collected as he spared you the most fleeting of glances.

You couldn’t help yourself from feeling the tiniest tingles of the green-eyed-monster as it travelled through your veins, pursing your lips as you quietly mused over Ren’s matter-of-fact assumptions about the movie—and his hunches about you—before you both curled up on the couch.

“It’s tasteless.”

“Humans find common ground in the strangest things…”

“I would be intrigued if their interests weren’t so… questionable at times.”

“Going by what happened last time, am I correct in guessing that you’ll hide in the pillow again, dear?”

“Sh-Shut up, Ren! It’s just a horror movie! I can handle it! You’ll see!”

The mere memory of his face as he stared at you, his black-framed glasses glinting as they were removed… It was obvious that he didn’t believe you, despite how confident you looked and sounded.

It was almost cute that you thought you could prove him wrong. Almost.

You wanted to prove your husband, Ren Amamiya, wrong for once.

You wanted to prove that, yes, you could indeed watch a hash-and-slash horror flick to its conclusion, no matter how cheesy or how outdated it was, and yet…

Despite your bravado earlier, here he was, on the verge of being right in his assertions. Again. It was taking everything you had, everything, to refrain from burying your face into his shoulder or into a pillow, at least.

Despite how indifferent he appeared outwardly, as poker-faced as he may have appeared to be, the onyx-eyed incubus still kept an arm looped around your shoulders. He still kept you as close as he possibly could—in the event of it being a necessity, something that he quietly guessed would be the case.

Slowly, it was becoming more and more obvious that Ren’s prediction was coming to pass, and his spot-on observations would bear fruit sooner or later, though…

It was looking more and more that your squeamish reactions would show sooner as opposed to, say, bursting to the surface later.

He could see it in the way you shivered, how your fingers clutched and curled into the long black sleeve of his shirt. He felt it in how you unconsciously shifted closer to him, your shoulder digging uncomfortably into the side of his arm.

You can’t get closer to me any more than you already are, dear.

Despite the thought that just crossed his mind, Ren didn’t push you away; no, in fact, the arm looped around your shoulders gently ushered you closer.

You reacted instinctively. The cotton leggings of your pyjamas rubbed against Ren’s lounge wear, and for a few moments, the bare stubs of your toes stroked his before you pulled away, curling your feet toward yourself.

You took in a breath, the inhale hitching as the teenage characters—especially the girls—screamed as the lights flickered before going out, blanketing them in darkness. The blackness that was broken only by the reddish orange of the fireplace, and the glaring beams of flashlights as they turned on, scouring the shadows.

“C’mon, stop being such whiny little bitches. It’s only—”

A sudden flash of lightning stopped one of the teens from speaking. He swallowed while flicking a glance around, his eyes bouncing around erratically before he spoke agian.

“It’s only a power outage. I’ll go out back to check it out. Anyone wanna come with?”

A noise made you shudder, but it wasn’t a sound from the movie.

It was Ren’s chuckle.

You knew that laugh. That soft little snicker. It was a sound he made whenever he knew some ill fate was to befall some poor soul, especially in a tasteless horror movie.

Nervously, you swallowed, scooting a bit closer to the noiret, obsidian-eyed demon, your nails digging through the thin cotton material of his shirt, clutching at the skin of his forearm.

You drew in a breath as your eyes watched as one of the girls up from the cushioned chair she sat in.

“Fine. You guys stay here. We’ll be back.”

“No, you won’t,” Ren muttered, his onyx irises flashing marigold.

The characters’ footsteps thumping over the wooden floor, the groaning creak of the cabin door as it was opened, and the distant rumble of thunder that came from the flickering TV screen caused you to take in another short breath.

You blinked, and in that instant, a flash of lightning made you bury your head into Ren’s shoulder. A few moments later, your judgement proved to be correct as a hair-raising chorus of screams erupted from the cabin dwellers.

You didn’t look when the first of the teenagers were cut down.

You didn’t look as the telltale sound of a machete striking vulnerable flesh was heard.

You didn’t look when a teen boy’s pleas for mercy were abruptly cut off.

You didn’t look when an unsettling silence fell over the scene.

“…Are you going to hide in my shoulder the whole time? Or actually watch the movie?”

Ren’s questions earned him a quick smack to the shoulder, and a soft hiss of “shut up” from you.

Silence, and then…

“The murderer was a friend that they thought they killed, if you wanted to know who the culprit was.”

“Shut up, Ren, and just… Stop gloating and pick another movie already!”

OOC: Hello and good afternoon, Summer. This Barista hopes you’re well, and that your day is nothing but smooth sailing so far!

Precise and to-the-point as always, aren’t you? I love orders like this.

Certainly! One combo order coming right up, dear! Please enjoy!

To everyone else: enjoy this quadruple serving as well. Cheers, dears!

Lastly, credit goes to the amazing @the-corgi-persona for helping me out with Arsène’s bit. So thank you, corgi dear! You’re a saint!☕

Akira Kurusu

Recently, you’d been laid off from your job. It wasn’t just you, but more than half of your fellow co-workers had been notified that, unfortunately, due to over-staffing and the recent shuffling of roles, they could no longer work there.

For two whole months, you sent out résumés to wherever you could think of. You see a “now hiring” billboard outside the business? You pass in a résumé. You see a “help wanted” sign in the window of a coffee shop? You hand in arésuméto the manager.

You snagged an interview here and there, but never got past putting your foot in the door.

No matter how many times you heard the words, “You’ll hear from us in a few days” from the head manager of the place you scouted out, you never did.

Needless to say, you were beginning to feel a bit disheartened. You felt that you’d never get anywhere.

Fortunately, there were two shining rays of hope presented to you.

The first was the ever-constant presence of your live-in boyfriend, Akira Kurusu.

He was there when you shuffled in after a long day of passing out résumé after another, looking as downtrodden as you felt. He was there with a steaming plate of curry and a hot cup of coffee or tea, ready to serve with a dazzling, award-winning smile curling his lips. He was there to hold you close, kiss you, and tenderly whisper, “Don’t get discouraged, dear. I’m sure you’ll get somewhere. Please keep trying.”

The second ray of hope showed itself in the form of a “help wanted” sign in the window of the Huggamug Café one early fall morning.Akira’s eyes lit up the moment he saw it, punching in the necessary information and sending it to you via a text message.

It took some convincing on Akira’s part, but the next day during his shift, he watched as you stood in front of the manager, EiraRundström. Everything from your trembling figure, to your wide eyes, to the beads of sweat dripping down your face screamed, “I’m anxious!” as you handed in a résumé.

The day after you showed up and handed in a résumé, Eira called you, asking when was a good time for your interview. Nervous, you spluttered out a random date and time.

The day of your interview, you were a nervous wreck. Your hands dripped with sweat as they shook, fingers clutching the tacky dress pants that covered your legs as Eira asked question after question.

Afterwards, you couldn’t hide your low spirits as the all too familiar words of the manager echoed in your mind. “I’ll be in touch.” However, the day after your interview, much to your surprise…

The manager contacted you, asking you when you could begin working at the coffee shop. Still surprised, you asked her, “T-Thank you. I can begin as soon as possible, but… Why am I the lucky candidate? You had other interviews, didn’t you?”

It took a few moments for the young woman to reply, but finally…

“You’re that idiot’s partner, right? Someone needs to keep an eye on him when I can’t deal with him. The other women didn’t care for work, or the café’s policy; they care more for Akira. I don’t have the time or patience to entertain the nonsensical whims of people like that, not when I have a business to run.”

For a few moments, the manager was silent before adding, “So… Is tomorrow morning a good time for you? Eight o’clock sharp. There’s no excuses you can give me that I’ll accept.”

Behind you, standing in front of the sink and washing the dishes, Akira snuck a glance at you, watching as a pleased grin pulled on your lips.

He smiled as your voice rang out, clear as a church bell. “Tomorrow morning is fine! Thank you very much for your time, Ms.Rundström!”

No sooner had you hung up the phone, a giddy smile curling your lips, you felt arms encircling your waist as a voice crooned in your ear. “See, darling? Didn’t your handsome devil tell you? I told you you’d get somewhere.”

You giggled as Akira pressed a few kisses to your neck, murmuring, “Congratulations, love. I’m proud of you. It’ll be such a pleasure to work with you~.”

Ren Amamiya

“You’re fired.”

The words still managed to worm their way into your thoughts whenever you were alone, thinking back to the incident that caused you to lose your job.

You hadn’t been late. You stuck to the strict protocol of the business, following the rules and orders of your superiors to the letter. You addressed any concerns the guests brought to your attention. You got along with your co-workers, some of whom were your friends outside of work.

No, in fact, the incident in question occurred during an extravagant dinner that was hosted by the hotel you previously worked in. Apparently, some big-wig up-and-coming politician was aiming for the biggest office in the country: the Prime Minister’s office.

A rug. The up-turned end of a rug had resulted in you tripping as you headed toward the table where several man sat, talking and laughing. Unfortunately, it resulted in the contents of the serving tray to be sent flying, splattering across the men’s faces, to stain their expensive tailor-made suits. The lavish tablecloth quickly became stained as wine spilled over the edges, soaking the bland surface.

Clearly furious, the man whirled around you, face set into a scowl as he spat angrily, “You clumsy simpleton! I’ll have your job for this!”

You could still remember when your manager called you into his office, eyes full of shame as he spoke the words you hadn’t wanted to hear.

“You’re fired.”

Since you were let go, it had been extremely difficult to get an interview, and even if you did, the moment your would-be employer learned how you managed to lose your job… Despite his or her promises to stay in touch, you’d get a call saying someone more reliable had been selected instead of you.

Day in and day out, that was your routine for a whole month. Passing out résumés, roping in an interview here and there, and being constantly denied the position you were aiming for.You were beginning to feel downtrodden, walked on and walked over, ignored despite your best efforts.

Ren couldn’t bear to see you returning home in such low spirits; he was the one who brought home suggestions of where you should start snagging interviews, after all.

Fortunately, lady luck soon smiled down upon you. It just so happened that as he walked into work one day that he spotted his manager, Eira, setting up a "now hiring” sign outside the Huggamug Café. The noiret’s glasses glinted as, suddenly, he was hit with a bright idea. If you were seeking work, surely his boss would at least give you a chance when no one else would.

So it was much to your surprise that after returning home from another failed interview, Ren greeted you with a small smile and dinner waiting for you at the table. “My boss is looking for new hirelings. Interested, darling?”

You couldn’t help but to allow an excited, hopeful gleam to sparkle in your eyes. You nodded eagerly in response to your boyfriend’s suggestion. However, soon, the feeling of uncertainty wrapped itself around you.

“You really think she’ll give me a chance, Ren?”

“Focus on snagging the interview first, then worry about what comes after.”

Invigorated by your boyfriend’s confidence in you, you nodded as you both sat down to enjoy a quiet, relaxing dinner, enjoying a quaint, stress-free evening together afterwards.

To say that you were a bundle of quivering nerves as, the next morning, you stood in front of a certain café was an understatement. Despite its warm, welcoming exterior and interior, the Huggamug Cafémay as well be the Diet Building to you.

It didn’t help that you soon directly in front of the manager of the coffee shop: Eira Rundström. Swallowing a gulp that was the size of a baseball, you nervously greeted yourself, résuméin hand, sweating bullets as the icy gaze of the young manager fell upon you.

“Welcome to the Huggamug Café. How may I help you today?”

“I’m… I’m here about the sign out front. You’re interviewing candidates?”

Ren couldn’t help but smile as Eira took your résumé, adding, “I can’t promise you anything, but I’ll look over yourrésuméduring break, and if all looks good, I’ll schedule an interview.”

You nodded, watching as the dark-haired manager walked away. However, the moment she was out of your sight, you sighed as your shoulders slumped. Then, you felt a hand resting on your shoulder, and you glanced up to see Ren’s smile, his onyx irises staring at you as he talked.

“Don’t worry too much. I know the Boss has a good feeling about you.”

ArsèneLupin

“Hey, Arsène… Is that café you work at hiring?”

“Ah, the Boss was saying that she was looking for help. Why do you ask?”

“J-Just wondering… That’s all.”

Arsènewasn’t a fool; he could see right through your little white lie. Sometimes, you were easier to read than an open book.

“…You want to work with me?”

The surprise in Arsène’s voice was obvious. His obsidian gaze stared into your eyes, but the surprise was just as palpable in his irises as it was in his voice. There was also a faint trace of amusement, too.

“Yeah. I mean, you always come home after your shift pleased, and I have yet to hear anything bad about this café. Sounds like it’s a good place to work.”

Smirking,Arsènewas quick to reply. “Perhaps it’s because there are so many wonderful customers who visit. My employer is quite easy on the eyes as well.”

You took a moment to roll your eyes heavenward, breathing a sarcastic “haha” immediately afterwards.

“Ohh,” he drawled, looking positively amused. “Is someone jealous?”

“Of course not!” you said, denying his teasing accusation with a huff.

Seeing Arsène’s tooth-filled smirk irritated you, causing you to add, “Why would I be jealous when I’m the only woman you’re with, right? Unless your proposal was just sugarcoated bullshit?”

To prove your point you raised the hand in question, its ring finger wrapped in a golden, diamond-encrusted engagement ring.

“Hmm,” he hummed, pausing only to add, “Touché, my dear rose.”

“Anyway, jokes aside,” you said, pausing as Arsène chuckled. 

“Do you think your boss would hire me? I mean, it’s been a while since I worked anywhere… Three months…”

Slightly disheartened by what you said, you lowered your head, staring at the plate of food that was in front of you. You gripped a fork in your hand, absentmindedly picking at the side dish as your thoughts strayed back to your former workplace.

It had its ups and downs, just as every other place did, but part of you was glad that you weren’t working there anymore. It had been nothing short of a godsend when your manager informed you of being let go.

For the past three months, you’d been receiving unemployment income. You had to get somewhere, find a place to work at, and fast. Soon, the income was bound to dry up, more quickly than you’d realize.

You looked up the moment you felt a hand clasp yours, a thumb gently stroking your slim knuckles. A smile curled Arsène’s lips, but there was a short pause before he spoke.

“I will talk to the manager first thing tomorrow, dear.”

“R-Really? You’d do that?”

“For you, my dear, I’d do anything. I’d even go up against the Devil himself, if it appeased you.”

“L-Let’s not go that far, Arsène.”

Eira Rundström 

“Pink slip, huh?”

You glanced up as a cup of your favourite hot beverage was set down in front of you. Small wisps of steam wafted up from inside the cup’s rounded interior, hinting of its piping hot contents.

To polish off her question, the head barista set a plate of your favourite dessert down in front of you; a fork and a serviette completed her efforts of offering you her quiet condolences.

You breathed a sigh, smiling as you nodded. “Was it that obvious?”

Eira smiled slightly as she nodded, her bangs–dyed black–brushing across her skin along with the nodding motion of her head.

“Maybe. Maybe it’s because I couldn’t help but notice that, to you, the world might as well be ending.”

In response to her words, you voiced a laugh that was half-sarcastic, half-sincere.

“If it does end today, at least I’ll go out eating something you personally made.”

There was a quiet clatter as you picked up the fork, sliding it through the generous slice of dessert that innocently sat on the plate. You popped the piece past your lips.

Eira busied herself with tending to other customers, pausing only to order a certain frizzy-haired, bespectacled barista to get back to work as you ate your dessert. You were savouring your journey through your steaming hot drink when Eira returned.

She looked a bit worried; her furrowed brows, coupled with her pursed lips, told you that she was concerned for you.

“…So what happened?”

You breathed a sigh, setting down the cup of coffee with a quiet clink as its rounded rim touched the saucer.

“It’s… nothing,” you muttered, blinking owlishly as Eira frowned.

“It’s not ‘nothing’ if you got sacked, is it?”

“…I was framed.” Eira said nothing; she merely waited for you to continue talking.

“Someone was taking money from the register. Since I was one of the last ones on duty, the boss assumed it was me. She didn’t have any evidence, but I was fired on the spot when I went into work earlier.”

Again, the blue-eyed manager didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to; she knew you well enough that you wouldn’t risk your job, your hard-earned job, just for some extra pocket money.

“…Hey,” you began, glancing up from the warm depth of your hot drink to stare into ice-blue irises. “Can I work here, Ei? I’ll pull my own weight. I’ll pull twice my own weight.”

Silence permeated the area of the café you and Eira stood and sat in, silence that was broken only by the clinks of forks and spoons, the laid-back chatter and associating laughter of the other customers, but finally…

OOC: Hello and good morning again, Kai! I hope you’ve been well, and that today’s been a good day for you so far!

Ooh. A prompt order as always; much obliged for your straightforwardness.

Certainly! That’s not a problem, and I guess I’ll go with Ren for this one. I need to flex him out a bit.  I apologize that it’s so short, but I’ll do better with the next Halloween order.☕

To be fair, Ren had expected picking up a pumpkin would entail a trip to the store.

He expected to find himself amongst humans, men, women, children kicking and screaming their mothers while demanding treats, and babies wailing from their carriers.

He expected to find himself standing underneath bright fluorescent lights, watching as you fussed over the appearance of the pumpkins.

That was what the majority of humans did, after all.

Or so he heard, and witnessed on occasion.

There weren’t very many humans who’d go to a farmer’s market to pick up a pumpkin, or an actual farm for that matter.

However…

“Let’s go pick pumpkins, Ren!”

That was what you suggested after dinner, causing the frizzy-haired demon to glance at you, his hands dunk beneath the warm water that was full of dishes. He gripped a wet sponge in one hand, and a dinner plate in the other, scrubbing off the curry sauce that was caked to the dish.

“Okay.”

That was his reply, nodding in affirmation with your suggestion, frizzy bangs brushing across his skin with the motion of his head bobbing up and down in silent agreement.

What he hadn’t expected was for you to ask him to drive you elsewhere, a new location in order to select a pumpkin worthy of introducing to your carving knife.

Instead of making a quick pit stop for a pumpkin at the grocery store that was close to your house, you opted to going to a farmer’s market for a “change of scenery,” as you’d so eloquently put it to him.

“There’s a farmer market that just opened up. Can we go there?”

“…Why?”

“Because it’s more convenient!”

“Do we really have to go to a pumpkin patch? Can’t we just buy one at a store?”

Unfortunately, his words may as well have fallen on deaf ears.

Worse, he couldn’t say “no” to you. He didn’t have the heart to turn down your suggestion.

Not when you glanced up at him with a tender gaze, lips pursed just so right to form the cutest pout he’d ever known, latching onto his arm as you lazily drawled, “Please, RenRen?”

So here he was, black-framed glasses glinting as he stood at your side, watching as you stopped to crouch down in front of a new patch of pumpkins.

Here he was, hands stuffed into the pockets of his fall coat, the various irate hums and displeased clicks of your tongue reaching his ears.

If it was too small, you’d put it back.

If it was too bulky, you didn’t spare it a second glance.

If it was misshapen in any way, shape, or form, your lips would purse as you breathed a huff of disappointment.

The tiniest error to your critical eye would cause you to frown, pursing your lips.

“What about this one?”

“Ren, no!”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s too small, that’s what’s wrong with it! Put it back.”

He complied, breathing the softest of sighs as the pumpkin back where it had been.

“Darling, I hate to sound like I’m rushing you, but we’ve been here for an hour and a half.”

“I’ll be done soon, Ren. I promise.”

You said that 90 minutes ago, dear.

He kept his thoughts to himself, shifting from foot to foot as he raised a hand, toying with a fringe of frizzy black hair.

He had the feeling that you’d want to stay at the farmer’s market until you found the perfect pumpkin.

Ren breathed a soft sigh, furrowing his brows as his glasses glinted.

OOC:Greetings and good day/evening, dear anon. I’m terribly sorry aboutmy absence, so I hope to make up for it by answering requests.

Got to honour Spicy Saturday and Sinday after all, no?Fufu~.

I’m going to go with Ren for this one, if that’s alright with you? I hope it’s to your satisfaction. Thank you for your order, anon. This got a bit angsty for a bit, so I’m sorry for that. I hope the sweetness balances out with the slight bitterness. Do enjoy. Cheers!

Credit goes to the amazing @the-corgi-persona for helping this Barista out with a certain part. Jealous Ren is the best Ren~. ☕

Ren Amamiya was never one for words.

He was a firm believer in “actions speak louder thanwords”, and his beliefs certainly shone through when it came to anysort of PDA with you, his partner. Holding your hand was fine.Slipping an arm around your waist was fine, but…

When it came to other, far more affectionate mannerisms, RenAmamiya…

Became a bit cold.

If you eyed him curiously as he stared at you, stone-cold pokerface and all…

He looked as though you just asked him to convert to areligion, knowing what he was.

“I’m sorry… You want a what?”

“A kiss, Ren.”

A request. A suggestion. A quiet but clear plea for some publicaffection that didn’t involve holding hands, a request for somepublic affection that didn’t involve arms being slipped around yourwaist.

“…We’re in public.”

“And?”

A sigh left Ren’s lips, his onyx irises shimmering with anemotion that you couldn’t readily identify. You tilted your head tothe side, pursing your lips as his arm slipped down from where it wasaround your waist.

Was he annoyed?

Had your request bothered him, even if it was only slightly?

You couldn’t tell. 

Try as you might, you couldn’t discern any identifiableemotions from Ren’s expressionless stare, no more so than could youpick out any feeling in the noiret’s obsidiangaze.

The warm onyx no longer looked as enchanting.

The gentle obsidian you loved no longer appeared as warm,as welcoming.

Cold. Empty. Dark.

The flashing lights of the theatre you two were approaching madeitself known, the latest must-see movie’s title appearing above theentrance as you and Ren drew near.

You didn’t speak. 

No, you couldn’t speak.

It was as though a hand had silently wrapped around your throat,robbing you of your ability to speak, to whisper, to form a simplesentence, no matter how short. Finally, something else shattered thesilence that, to you, didn’t seem to be broken by anything but yourfootsteps, as well as Ren’s.

“…Ren…?”

Your voice broke the silence that, suddenly, seemed quite tense, suffocating, and distant.

“I’ll go purchase our order. Wait here.”

“…Yes, Ren.”

You breathed a huff once the noiret was out of earshot, almostglaring daggers into the young man’s back when he was far enoughway that you felt you could get away with it.

What’s his deal? Seriously… It’s just a kiss! you hissed mentally, puffing your cheeks as you breathed a second huff.

Thus, you stood and wait, tapping the heel of your foot every now and then, your hands stuffed in your pockets, flicking a glance around, hoping to spot a head of frizzy noiret hair or a pair of onyx irises.

However, the collective laughter of men caused you to glance in their direction, watching them as they steadily began to approach you. There were four in total, tall, handsome, and yet…

Compared to a certain someone, they may as well have just crawled out of a pool of sewage waste. To you, their chuckles sounded reminiscent of nails being dragged across a chalkboard, and you could have sworn that your ears rang shrilly.

Once their eyes fell on you, you took notice of the way they smirked and smiled, moving their eyes up and down your stationary form.

“Hey sweet thing, you lonely?”

You didn’t answer.

“Ah, the shy type, huh?”

You still didn’t answer.

“Hey, are you deaf? We’re talking to you.”

“What do you want?” you asked at last, pursing your lips.

“So she speaks. Why didn’t you say something?”

“Because I didn’t think it was necessary to answer you, that’s why.”

“Huh?”

Shit. Me and my big mouth! you silently hissed, but you kept a brave face on.

Indeed, the telltale signs of a scowl pulled at your face, standing where you stood, as though roots secured you in place.

You would be lying if you said you weren’t intimidated as the men started to approach you, scowls of their own pulling at their faces.

Your breath hitched as one of the men’s hands shot forward, grasping your forearm, baring his teeth to you as he snarled.

“Listen here, you little bitch-”

You felt your hand clench to a fist, your teeth grit as you prepared to not only insult the man, but physically retaliate, but…

A sharp “hey!” stopped you from carrying out your intentions, as your eyes—and the eyes of the men—fell upon a certain frizzy-haired, onyx-eyed young man as he approached.

He carried an assortment of goodies: a bag of popcorn, packets of sweets, and two drinks. However, there was no way to miss the small, barely-there glare that pinched Ren’s face, and it became more and more clear the closer he got to you.

“The movie will start soon. Shall we go?” Ren asked, nonchalantly nudging himself between you and the men.

The man who’d been holding you released your forearm without a second thought, but not before passing your boyfriend the most scathing look that was humanly possible.

“Y-Yes,” you said, swallowing a gulp.

Various bags crinkled and shifted as the junk food was passed onto you and, pausing only to spare the men one last scowl, Ren’s arm slipped around your waist, leading you away from the male quartet.

In the cramped darkness of the theatre, you sat and watched the movie as it played, indulging yourself in the snacks Ren had purchased earlier.

Or so it seemed, at least.

Your body mimicked movements such as stuffing your mouth with popcorn, candy, or sipping your tall, ice-cold drink as your eyes ogled the large screen, and yet…

Your mind was miles away from the present, despite outward appearances.

Indeed, your mind always thought back to what had recently transpired.

You remembered how tense, straight, and rigid Ren’s posture had been.

You recalled the way his eyes narrowed, how his jaw became set.

You visualized the way Ren’s obsidian irises glared icy daggers into the men.

In all honesty, he reminded you of a wild animal as it approached trespassers on its territory, minus the raised hackles and bared teeth.

You would be lying if you claimed to have never considered asking Ren, half-jokingly, if he considered you to be his territory.

Your gaze watched as the credits began to roll, just as you polished off the last of your snack food. swallowing a small glob of caramel coated in chocolate, and washing it down with a few last slurps of your soda.

As the last of the bubbly liquid washed across your tongue, as it tickled your esophagus as it was swallowed, you flicked a glance at Ren. He sat on your right, staring straight ahead, arms folded across his chest.

Soon, his gaze inclined towards you. For a moment, and only a moment, the corners of his lips twitched as a hand reached for yours. You felt your mouth quirk to form a smile, feeling the noiret’s thumb slowly, carefully rubbing circles around the edge of your knuckles.

“…I’m sorry,” you spoke at last, staring at your boyfriend.

Ren voiced a simple “hm?” in response.

“About earlier… I should’ve… I could’ve handled it better… Sorry that you had to step in.”

“…Don’t apologize.”

That was all he said as he raised your hand to his mouth, pressing a kiss to your knuckles.

“But I… I must have looked seriously lame, like some damsel in distress, huh?”

“Sweetie, I would never think that.”

As he talked, Ren’s lips pressed kisses to your knuckles, polishing the flourish of gentle kisses with a barely-there brush of his mouth running across your skin.

“What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t look out for my girlfriend?”

That was a point you couldn’t deny.

You and Ren left the theatre, hand in hand, a smile pulling across your lips as you two stepped out into the early evening—until your eyes caught glimpse of four familiar men, that is.

Seeing the four men from earlier, the ones who had been bothering you, resulted in a chill worming its way down your spine. Your shoulders grew tense, flicking a glance at Ren as you and he walked.

Your eyes widened, however, noticing the mischievous glint in his onyx eyes, the corner of his lips curling to form a smirk.

“Ren…?” 

You watched as the noiret spared a glance at you, smirk still on his lips, the telltale glint of mischief shining in his irises.

“Would you object to a kiss, my little minx?”

“H-Huh?”

That was all you could get out as Ren paused in the middle of the sidewalk, using the arm that was still slung around your waist to pull you in closer. His free hand was raised, holding your chin with his fingers as your face, your gaze was angled so that you stared up at him.

Soon, you felt the familiar warmth of his lips pressing against yours once, twice, three times in smooth, affectionate precision.

“Huh… So she’s taken.”

“She could’ve said so.”

“C’mon, let’s go.”

You giggled into the fourth kiss, feeling Ren pressing his lips to yours especially hard as you breathed a second laugh into his mouth.

“My, my. Was my boyfriend jealous?” you asked, smiling as Ren pulled away.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, love,” he said, still smirking slightly.

And yet… Despite his words…

There was absolutely no way you missed the brief flash of crimson that shone in his irises, and you chuckled again, albeit nervously.

OOC: Hello again, Kai dear! Glad to hear, er, read that you liked your request! I’d be lying if I said that Code: Realize’s Arsène Lupin didn’t play a part in your ask. Because he did.

I sat and thought to myself, “Hm. What would that goof do in this sort of situation?” And bam! Inspiration hit me.

I wish I could feel that inspired more often. I would be cranking out so many replies and posts, none of my dear customers would know what hit them!

Ohoho! So dear Ren-Ren strikes your fancy now, does he? Interesting, interesting! I will see what I can do! Thanks again for the ask, Kai! I hope it’s to your liking! Cheers, dear! ☕

“Good evening. I hope that I’m not disturbing you.”

“If you will take the time to listen, I have something on my mind…”

“It’s about something I was going to bring up a few weeks ago, actually.”

“Please don’t be alarmed, but… It concerns you.”

“When you told me that you liked me…”

“Did you mean it?”

“I know you just went through an unpleasant break-up, but…”

“…”

“I mean more to you than a simple rebound, right?”

“Am I not more than a considerate friend to you?”

“Did I not stay the night and comfort you as you cried into my chest?”

“Did I not wipe your tears away and fix your favourite meals?”

“Did I not respect your right to privacy and slept on the couch, just as you asked me to on the night I visited you?”

“Please answer me truthfully… Do you love me?”

“If so, are you simply too shy to say it?”

“Is it too soon, considering the way your previous lover treated you toward the end of your relationship?”

“If that is so, then…”

“I will wait for you. I will wait for you to tell me how you truly feel about me, for as long as it takes.”

“Please know and understand that I love you. I love you more than a friend.”

“In my eyes… You are the stars in the night sky. You are the moon that hangs on the nocturnal horizon. You are as radiant as the sun itself.”

OOC:Greetings, corgi!anon dear. It’s always a delight for this Baristato see an order from you. So, Ren-Ren tickles your fancy today, doeshe? This should be interesting, very interestingindeed!

Understood. One order of Ren coming right up! Please enjoyand come again! I apologize in advance if this is a bit short. I willdo my best to accommodate your request/order, though! Cheers,dear! ☕

“Hah? “Just tell her how you feel”?That’s easy for you to say, Boss. You don’t know her like I do.“Describe her”? “What’s she like”? Well, she’s… A lot of things. Kind, compassionate,but… As tempered as a knife put to a blacksmith’s forge. Herdetermination when her mind is set is… refreshing. What am Isupposed to do? Text her to meet me and ask her out to dinner?”

“…”

“Oh, um… I… I must haveaccidentally sent that message to you.”

“If I’m not troubling you…Could you meet me after work? I have something to ask you. It’simportant, and…”

OOC: Greetings, my dear Ai~! It’s always a thrill to see an ask/a message from you pop up in my inbox!

Since I’m in such a lovey-dovey mood right now, I’ll do the boys for this one.

Credit goes to the super amazing @the-corgi-persona, for helping this barista with Arsène’s bit. Here’s to you, dear! Much obliged!

Please enjoy this order, my lovely customers!☕

Akira Kurusu:

Ahh, love. Truly a wonderful experience in anyone’s life. Anyone who happened to be under the throes of its spell, that is.

For Akira Kurusu, nothing pleased him more than when he first discovered it… What being in love felt like.

Surely, he would be the laughingstock of the infernal realm should it ever reach back to his brethren that he, Akira Kurusu, fell head over heels for a human. However… He couldn’t care less about what they’d think of the situation he found himself in.

Indeed… He couldn’t find it within him to care, not when he had the most beautiful person by his side as his partner.

They had their flaws, as did everybody else, of course…

However, such flaws only added to their allure in his eyes.

If his partner saw nothing but a scratched jewel when they looked in the mirror, staring at their reflection, mentally and verbally nitpicking each and every little that made them ugly, then…

Such an assessment only caused Akira to become more enamoured with them, if such a thing was possible.

If they thought of themselves as ugly, he would whisper how beautiful they were to him. If they spoke of how much of a flawed, miserable person they were, he’d be there to coo sweet whispers of praise and approval in their ear.

“I’m ugly.”

“No, my love. You shine like a wonderful gem.”

“I’m a neat freak.”

“You prefer a clean leisure space.”

“I’m always early, even for unimportant things.”

“You’re punctual, and it shows.”

“Who could love someone like me?”

“I love you, my Treasure. Nobody can convince me otherwise.”

Ren Amamiya:

Ren was never one for words. He was a firm believer in “actions speak louder than words,” so when he found a partner who could be his voice… He was surprised how the signs of him falling for his “other half” went unnoticed by him.

What, specifically, caused him to notice the one who would end up being his significant other to begin with?

He could only guess the reasons behind his love sickness, but…

Did it have anything to do with something simple to their appearance, such as the colour of their hair? He always did like that particular shade, and that particular length.

Perhaps it was the colour of their eyes? Maybe so… That particular colour that filled their irises looked reminiscent of gleaming jewels when his partner smiled, laughed, and yes, even when their irises glistened with tears… Ren saw them as nothing more than stunning gemstones.

Maybe it was how their personality complimented his in its own quirky ways? He was content with sitting away from people, quietly observing them, noting the occasional oddity here and there, and yet… And yet…

He couldn’t help himself from smiling slightly, bearing the tiniest of grins as his partner teasingly chastised him for being so “closed off,” all but hauling him off of the chair and leading him over to meet their friends.

However… It was whenever they were alone that Ren felt he could express himself honestly.

“…I admire you.”

“You do?”

“Yes. The way you carry yourself… You don’t care how others will perceive you. You’re a free spirit; you aren’t chained to anyone’s expectations.”

“…Ren, I… I don’t know what to say.”

“No, please… Let me finish. There’s so much more I have to say. You may not think so, but… You’re just… so unbelievable, so amazing, so perfect. I… I think I…”

“Yes?”

“…I love you.”

ArsèneLupin:

W A S T E D

He’s done for. The mightyArsènehas died, and gone back to the infernal realm. The end.

Nah, I’m just messing with you, dear customer.

In all sincerity, the moment that Arsène’s gaze fell uponthe one who would end up being his partner, he was immediately intrigued by this particular human.

It wasn’t common for humans to disregard his charms, so when he discovered that this particular human rebuffed his sugarcoated remarks, he was taken aback, and yet…

He was so amused at the same time.

Their comeback to his remark the first time he met them, the first time his gaze landed on their form…

It surprised him, and he was someone who wasn’t surprised so easily.

“Did it hurt when you fell from Heaven, dear?”

Without missing a beat, the customer smiled slightly.

“Perhaps it did, but you’re here to catch me. So even if I fall for you too hard, I think I’ll be fine.”

Smiling thinly, Arsène’s eyes shone with amusement. The flirtatious comments were thrown out and returned two-fold until, finally…

“Look,” they began, still smiling softly. “You’re sweet, but I’m going to have to say no.”

“…’No’?”

“Yes, you see… There’s a time for flirting, and there’s a time for other things.”

“When will there be a time for ‘other things’, my dear?”

“I don’t know… Try to surprise me, maybe?”

“Surprise me, maybe.” They hadn’t fully rebuked him, but they wanted to see what he’d do, testing the waters.

Challenge accepted, dearest.

Easier said than done even for you, oh mighty Arsène. 

He tried everything to gauge a reaction out of this interesting human, the one who had caught his eye.

They laughed whenever he tripped as he opened the café’sdoor for them, pausing only to teasingly croon, “Thank you, Arsène. You’re so cute when you trip like that.”

Their irises shone as he showed off in front of them, whenever they managed to snag a seat at the service counter. Indeed, the way their eyes shimmered with joy as they watched him displaying his latest form of latte art, setting a cup down in front of them…

It was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. It was even better when he knew that their eyes were on him, and only him.

“Thank you, Arsène. Show off.”

A breathy chuckle and a retort of, “Only for you, angel” was his reply.

A pause, a blink, and then a laugh.

“Flirtatious as always, aren’t you? When will you stop?”

“When you stare at what’s on the top of your latte.”

“…What?”

Curious, they stared, blinking owlishly as they ogled Arsène’s latest form of latte art.

It was cliché, so terribly cliché, but on top of the drink was a heart with an arrow pierced through it.

“A-Arsène…”

A hand slowly, carefully was placed over theirs, and fingers smoothly rubbed circles over their knuckles. He quietly rejoiced upon noticing the light pink that coloured their cheeks.