#jabberwock

Unbothered Kings

Tohma: 

You open the door without knocking. Big mistake. “I see,” Tohma says calmly. “I still have much to teach you.”  “I-I’m sorry.” You leave immediately.  For a while there’s only silence.  Then, a quiet laugh escapes from the other side.  “Pfft...What an expression.”   

Alan:

You open the door.  And immediately freeze.  Alan looks up.  For a few seconds, the two of you just stare at each other??? Being half-dressed around Vagastrom is nothing new to him.  But the way you’re looking at him (or more like his abs), is making him feel a little flustered too.  “...You gonna keep staring?”  “No! I wasn’t— or I didn’t mean to—”  You cover your face.  “Sorry!” And escape as quickly as possible. 

Ritsu: 

You open the door. “Oh, MC.” Ritsu glances up at you, then down at himself, evaluating the situation.  “It’s common courtesy to knock.”  You turn quickly.  “Y-you’re right. I’m sorry.”  You grab the handle. “Where are you going? I’m not finished.” HUH??? “I must educate you on the laws regarding trespassing.”  OH. Fabric shuffles as he dresses.  “Entering private spaces without warning can lead to many misunderstandings but there’s also legal implications to consider—”  He pauses. "MC." "Y-Yes?" "Please look at me when I'm talking to you." He waits for you to turn around to continue. "As I was saying..." He doesn’t let you leave till he’s finished. 

Haru:

You open the door. He flinches in surprise. But immediately smiles. “You’re here early.” “S-Sorry.” ... “Gahaha! What’s that look on your face? You gonna watch me change too?”

Visible Blush Damage

Kaito: 

You open the door. “KYAAA!” Before you could process what's happened, Kaito put on his clothes with lightning speed.   “D-Did you see anything? “N-No?”  “Good." He scratches his neck. "J-Just so you know, my bodyisn’t in the best shape right now.”  "...I didn't see anything."

Lucas:

You open the door. “M-MC.”  "Sorry!" You turn around quickly. He also turns away, covering himself.   The tips of his ears are red. “W-What can I help you with?” 

Rui: 

You open the door. He’s genuinely flustered.  “Wait! Wait! Wait! You can’t see me right now! I haven’t worked on my beach body yet!”  "Sorry?" Afterwards... He keeps casually bringing up old surfing photos. "That one was last year." "Don't I look so cool in this one!" "This angle's bad but you get the idea."

Zenji:

You open the door. “Ah— Girl.” He covers himself shyly. Blushing a deep red. “I see you’ve come to see art. But I am not a gallery.”  lol.

Lyca:

You open the door and enter without looking.  “What are you doing here?”  When you see him, you gasp.  “S-Sorry!”  “Whatever. It’s not a big deal." Thankfully, it seems he didn’t take it too seriously.  But afterwards, when he walks out, he’s bright red. His ears tucked back.  “...Let’s go.” 

Mio:

You swing the door open. “Oh.” “Oh.”  Silence.  “I can tell you’re a craftsman.”  Wait. Did you just say that out loud? Mio’s eyes widen. His cheeks blush.  “Thanks?”  You leave immediately.

Reverse Uno

Haku: 

The door opens. You take one step in and you hear a soft awkward laugh. “Haha. Just wait outside. I'll be done soon." Your eyes widen.  “Oh! Sorry!”  You shut the door fast.  Silence. “So...did you enjoy the view?”  “I didn’t see anything.”  You can’t see it, but you know he’s smirking. “Mm. Sure you didn’t”  “Haku…” 

Leo: 

You don’t even have a chance to react.  “Wow.” You freeze.  “I didn’t know the honor roll was such a perv.”  Your soul leaves your body.  “I–I didn’t mean to!”  Leo smirks, completely unbothered.  “You just walked right in. Didn’t even hesitate.” “I thought no one was in here.”  “Mmhm.”  “I swear!”  “Are you dragging this conversation out just to get a few more peeps in?”  You turn and leave with a grunt.  He doesn’t let it go for the rest of the day.  “You knew I was changing in there, didn’t you?” 

Sho:

You swing the door open without thinking. Half-naked Sho blinks at you. Frozen. “Oh– Sorry!”  You flip around and exit immediately.  For a moment there’s only silence.  Then the door opens.  “Senpai.”  You freeze.  Sho leans against the doorframe casually, a few of his buttons left undone. “If you wanted to see me naked, you could’ve just asked.” 

Since You're Here...

Jin: 

You open the door. It’s a mistake you realize immediately. “Don’t you know how to knock?”  “S-Sorry.”  You turn to leave when— “Stop.” You slowly glance back.  Jin takes a seat on his couch, half-dressed, looking amused.  “What are you doing servant? Come here.”  “I—no, I really should–”  “Help me change.”  Your brain stalls.  His lips curl into a smirk.   “That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?” 

Jiro:

You open the door.  “Hello.”  You gasp.  “S-Sorry. I didn't see you there.” He glances down at himself. "...I don't really mind." He looks at his shirt.  He walks over to you. “Could you help me with these buttons?” 

Ed:

You open the door.  He looks at you like he expected you to be there. “S-Sorry.”  You turn to leave but– “Now, now. Don’t be in such a rush.” He purposefully slips the shirt off his shoulders, showing off his pale skin.  “Help this old man with his clothes, will you?"

Elias: 

You open the door.  You freeze. “Inspector...Are you here for a performance?”  “S-Sorry.” “Oh, I really don’t mind if you stay.”  “N-No thank you.”  He chuckles. “Well…that’s a shame.” 

Jo:

You walk in.  You see what you see.  And immediately cover your eyes.  “I’m sorry! I didn’t know you were changing in here.”  Jo simply chuckles.  “Don’t worry. Come. You can change here too.”  "What? I couldn't possibly..." They transform into the women form.  “Does this help?”  You blush even harder.  “...No. It doesn’t.”

No Escape

Taiga:

You open the door.  “Brave of you,” Taiga says lazily, “to come in without warning.” Your brain blanks.  “I’m sorry. I’ll leave.”  You turn. Open the door.  But he shuts it just as quickly.  You look back to find he's already behind you.  “...Taiga.”  With his hands pressed against the door, he leans in closer.  “You can’t just come in and leave whenever you want. This is my territory.”  Instinctively you step back but there’s nowhere left to go.  “Come on,” his voice drags, “Entertain me, kitty-cat.”  

Towa:

You open the door. His face lights up.  “Towa?!”  “Dandelion~”  “S-Sorry. I didn’t mean to walk in.”  You turn to leave.  “Dandelion!”  You look back to see he’s already lunging at you. You escape out of the room just in time, but you hear rapid footsteps from behind.  He laughs, chasing you with no shirt on and just underwear.  “Why are you running?”  “BECAUSE YOU’RE CHASING ME!” Despite the head-start, he catches up easily.  He hugs you from behind, twirling you around.  “Got you!”  “TOWA!”  

Shion:

You open the door. Shion stands menacingly in the middle of the room.  “S-Sorry.”  You try to leave but– “Vepar.”  You switch places with the cardboard box right next to him.  “Shion–” “You barged in and try to leave? How irresponsible..”  He pulls you closer by the wrist. “I like that look on your face. Show me more of it.” 

Permanent Memory

Subaru: 

The moment the door opens, something moves.  Fast.  You blink.  Was it a mouse? A cockroach? “Subaru? Are you in here?”   You scan the room for the source of the sound.  Finally you look down at the corner. Beneath a desk. Subaru crouching. He covers his chest with the shirt.  "I'm sorry!" he blurts. "I should've put a sign! Or locked the doors! Or-" “Don’t apologize, I’m the one who barged in!" ... And for the rest of the day, Subaru doesn’t stop apologizing. "I'm sorry you had to see that." “I hope your eyes are ok.” 

Yuri:

You open the door. He freezes. Reddens. And nearly collapses.   When you try to help him, he gets even redder.  “You insolent, indecent worm. Leave at once!”  ... Every time your eyes meet after that, he looks away quickly, immediately red. 

Ren: 

“S-S-S-Senpai???”  “S-Sorry. Haru said that–” Before you can utter another word— “GET OUT!”  He pushes you out himself and slams the door.  … He’s in a terrible mood for the rest of the day.

Romeo:

🌸 ————————————————— 🌸

Haku Kusanagi:

It wasn't even a serious argument.

That was probably what made it so frustrating.

You'd spent the last two weeks juggling inspections, paperwork, late-night reports, and helping Kaito with his own assignments whenever he inevitably got overwhelmed. On top of that, Haku had been buried under Hotarubi work and Zenji's endless requests for help editing videos, meaning the two of you had barely seen each other. Every conversation lately had been interrupted by someone needing one of you.

So when he canceled your plans for the fourth time that week...

You finally snapped.

"I know you're busy, Haku, but I'm busy too. And we’re both finally free today!"

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I know, Princess."

"No, I don't think you do."

"I said I know."

"You keep saying that!" Your voice cracked despite yourself. "You say you know, but then you keep pushing me further down your list!"

Haku frowned.

"That's not fair."

"It isn't?"

"No." His voice remained calm. Too calm. "I've been trying my best."

"So have I!" The words came out louder than intended. "I've been trying my best too!"

You were breathing harder than you realized and your vision blurred for just a second. Haku noticed immediately. "...Princess?"

You ignored him. "You don't even realize how exhausted I—" You never got to finish your sentence. One second you were standing, the next, your knees gave out.

"...Princess?!" Haku lunged forward on pure instinct, catching you before your head could hit the floor. Your body went completely limp in his arms.

"H-Hey." Nothing. "Princess?" Nothing. The teasing smile that almost always lingered on his face disappeared so quickly it was frightening.

He gently shook your shoulder.

"...Hey."

Silence.

His heartbeat became deafening. For one terrifying moment… He genuinely thought you'd died.

By the time Yuri finished examining you, Haku hadn't left your bedside once.

"Physical exhaustion," Yuri finally concluded. "And severe sleep deprivation."

Haku looked up.

"...That's it?"

"That's it?"

Yuri glared at him.

"Do you have any idea how overworked they are?"

"..."

"They've been sleeping three to four hours a night."

Haku froze.

"What?"

"They've skipped meals."

"What?"

"They've been pushing through migraines."

"..."

"And apparently still insisted on helping everyone else. Much to my displeasure."

Every sentence felt like another punch. Because Haku hadn't noticed. He noticed when you changed shampoo. He noticed when you were pretending to enjoy food you secretly disliked. He noticed every tiny expression on your face. So how...

How had he missed this?

Later that evening, your eyes slowly fluttered open. The first thing you saw was Haku. Still sitting beside your bed and still holding your hand. He looked awful. His hair was messier than usual and dark circles rested beneath his eyes.

"...Haku?"

He immediately leaned forward.

"I'm here."

"I'm sorry." The words were barely louder than a whisper. "I worried you..."

His grip tightened.

"...Don't. Don't apologize."

His forehead rested gently against yours. His voice so quiet it almost broke.

"I should've noticed. I'm supposed to notice these things."

You weakly smiled.

"You can't read minds."

"No."

He laughed bitterly.

"But I should've realized the woman I love was collapsing right in front of me."

A tear slipped down his cheek before he could stop it.

"...You scared me, Princess."

You reached up with trembling fingers and brushed it away.

"I'll be okay."

"..."

"But..."

Your thumb lingered against his cheek.

"...Can we both start taking better care of ourselves?"

For the first time all day...

Haku smiled.

A real one.

"...Deal."

⛓️ —————————————————⛓️

Sho Haizono:

Sho hated unfinished arguments. He liked solving problems immediately, talking things out, and getting everything off his chest.

Which was exactly why he'd followed you into the hallway after you abruptly walked away.

"Senpai."

You didn't answer.

"Senpai."

"I'm listening."

"No, you're not."

You stopped and turned around.

"What?"

"You've been avoiding me all week."

"I haven't."

"You have."

"I've just been busy."

"Busy enough to skip meals?"

"..."

"Busy enough to leave your lunch untouched?"

You frowned.

"Seriously?"

"What?"

"We're arguing because I didn't eat?"

"We're arguing because you've been treating yourself like crap."

You rolled your eyes.

"I'm fine."

"Bull—"

Your body suddenly swayed.

Sho frowned.

"...Senpai?"

"I'm..."

You blinked. The hallway tilted and everything went black. Sho barely managed to catch you before you hit the ground.

"...MC?!"

Later, when Jiro explained what had happened, Sho looked genuinely furious. Not at you, at himself. "She skipped how many meals?"

Jiro adjusted his glasses. "I lost count after seven."

Sho went completely silent. And anyone who knew Sho knew silence was infinitely more dangerous than yelling.

The next morning, when you woke up, the first thing you smelled was fresh food. Real food. Warm homemade food.

Sho was sitting beside your bed with his arms crossed.

"...Morning."

You blinked.

"...Hi."

"Eat."

"...Sho—"

"Eat."

"..."

"Then yell at me. But you're not skipping another meal while I'm around."

You stared, then noticed the containers spread out on the table. Soup, rice, vegetables, and fruit. Everything carefully prepared, everything still warm.

"...You made all this?"

"Yeah."

"For me?"

"Obviously." He looked away. "...You always finish everything I cook." His ears had turned slightly red. "So… I figured..." He scratched the back of his neck. "You deserve something decent."

Your eyes watered.

"...Hey."

Sho immediately panicked.

"Don't cry."

"I'm not—"

"You are."

"I'm happy."

"...Good." He awkwardly shoved a spoon into your hand. "...Still."

"What?"

"Scared the shit outta me, Senpai."

🐰 ————————————————— 🐰

Ren Shiranami:

"You always do this!"

"I don't!"

"You disappear for days!"

"I'M PLAYING GAMES!"

"Exactly!"

"They're ranked matches!"

"Ren."

"What?!"

"...Listen to yourself."

"They can't pause! Other people are playing it at the same time!"

"..."

"..."

You pinched the bridge of your nose. "I just wanted one evening together."

"I said after this game."

"You said that yesterday."

"Well-"

"And the day before."

"..."

"And last week."

"..." Ren looked guilty, very guilty. "...I..."

You sighed.

"I'm tired."

"I know."

"No."

Your voice softened.

"I'm really tired."

Ren opened his mouth. Then closed it. Because something about your face looked...

Wrong.

"...Hey?"

You smiled weakly.

"...Sorry."

Before he could respond—

You collapsed forward.

Ren's brain completely shut down.

"..."

"..."

"...AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

His scream echoed through the dorm as he caught you with shaking arms. Immediately convinced you'd died.

"OH MY GOD!"

Another scream.

"SOMEBODY! ANYBODY! WHERE’S THAT CLOWN WHEN YOU NEED HIM?!"

By the time you woke up several hours later...

Ren was still there. Curled up in the chair beside your bed, his eyes swollen.

"...Ren?"

He practically launched himself at you.

"W-WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!"

"..."

"You—" His voice cracked. "You scared me..."

"..."

"I thought..." Another sniffle. "...I thought you were gone."

You reached over, carefully taking his hand.

"...I'm sorry."

"No!"

"What...?"

"You don't get to apologize!"

“Ren…”

"I should've..." His shoulders shook. "...I should've logged off. I'm an idiot."

You smiled weakly.

"...A little."

"H-Hey."

"But..." You squeezed his hand. "...You're my idiot."

His entire face turned bright red.

"...Don't say embarrassing things when I'm crying."

"...Too late."

"..."

"...I love you."

Ren immediately buried his burning face into the blanket.

"...You're literally impossible."

"But you're smiling."

"...Shut up."

❄️ ————————————————— ❄️

Jin Kamurai:

"I told you to let someone else handle it."

"And I told you I had it handled."

"Bullshit."

"I completed the mission."

"Barely."

Your patience finally snapped.

"I'm standing here, aren't I?"

"For now."

"..."

"You look terrible."

"I'm fine."

"You've said that six times today."

"Because I am."

"You can barely stand."

"I said—" You stopped. Your vision doubled. “I…I said…”

Jin frowned immediately.

"...Hey."

"I'm..."

Your knees buckled. Jin caught you before you even realized you were falling.

"...Hey."

Nothing.

His expression changed instantly.

"...MC."

Nothing.

"Open your eyes."

Nothing.

"...Dammit."

After Jiro explained everything, Jin was unusually quiet.

Too quiet.

"..."

"...Jin?"

"...How long?"

"They've been running themselves into the ground for weeks."

"..."

"You should've stopped them."

Jin laughed once, humorlessly.

"...Yeah."

He should have. He always expected you to tell him when something was wrong. Instead…you simply carried everything yourself.

When you woke up, Jin was sitting beside you reading over paperwork. wow hes actually doing his duties for once

"...You're working."

"I'm canceling half your schedule."

"What? You can't."

"I already did."

"Jin."

"You don't get a vote. You passed out. So congratulations." He finally looked up. "You've officially lost arguing privileges."

You couldn't help laughing. "...That's not how that works."

"It is now." He reached over, carefully brushing your hair away from your forehead. His touch was impossibly gentle. "...Don't do that again. I don't care how capable you are. You don't have to carry everything alone."

For someone like Jin...

That was practically a love confession all over again.

🌙 ————————————————— 🌙

Rui Mizuki:

The argument had started because Rui refused to take a break. Ironic, isn’t it?

"You've been working for eleven hours."

"I'm fine, cutie."

"You literally cannot get tired."

"Exactly."

"That doesn't mean you should overwork yourself!"

Rui smiled.

"You sound cute when you worry."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

"No, you're flirting."

"It's working."

"It is not!"

You threw your hands into the air.

"...You're impossible."

"So I've been told."

You groaned loudly.

"...Forget it."

You turned away, only to stumble.

"...Hm?"

Rui's smile vanished.

"...Cutie?"

"I'm..." Your voice sounded strangely distant. "...Really dizzy..."

Before you could finish—

Everything disappeared.

Rui caught you instantly.

"...Cutie?"

Nothing.

His heart sank.

"...No." He'd watched people die before. Far too many. He knew exactly how terrifying limp bodies felt in his arms. "...Please." His voice became almost pleading. "...Wake up."

When Yuri eventually assured him you'd simply collapsed from exhaustion and stress...

Rui didn't look relieved. In fact, he looked guilty.

"...I knew."

Yuri blinked.

"What?"

"I knew she was tired. I just..." He smiled sadly. "...Thought she’d tell me when it became too much." That smile hurt more than any tears could have.

When you opened your eyes...

Rui was asleep beside your bed, head resting awkwardly against the mattress. Still holding your hand. You gently squeezed it and his eyes flew open immediately.

"...Cutie?"

"...Hi."

For three whole seconds, he simply stared. Then he wrapped his arms around you so carefully it almost hurt.

"...You scared me."

"I'm sorry."

"I know."

"..."

"But..." He laughed weakly. "...Maybe next time...let's both stop pretending we're okay."

You buried your face into his shoulder.

"...Deal."

He kissed the top of your head.

"Good."

Then, after a brief pause—

"...Also..."

"Hm?"

"You're banned from overworking yourself."

You laughed.

"Who made that rule?"

"I did."

"Can I appeal it?"

"Nope."

"Even as your girlfriend?"

"Especially as my girlfriend."

"...That's favoritism."

"It absolutely is. ...I'm keeping you around for a very, very long time, cutie."

And somehow...

Wrapped safely in his arms...

You believed him.

~~~~

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