he knew lyon was near, of course. it was hard to miss him when one was observant and smitten as hibiki was. he was attempting to act casual, but all attempts went immediately out the window once he felt an arm around his waist. perfect. it felt right, somehow, lyon behind so close. hibiki resisted the urge to lean into it — too much all at once. he was just thankful his job made it easier for him to hide his fluster so he wasn't so OPEN and OBVIOUS.

bookstore? lyon was whsipering sweet nothing in his ear, now. this was very forward for them. hibiki was...more than okay with.

Aphra v3

from this meme

though his heart felt all aflutter, hibiki tried his very best to not let it show. he hoped his time in the sun these days had colored his skin enough that it would hide the blush. the crown prince was always like this, ready to tell him flatteries and get hibiki flustered. and yet. it would be so much simpler if they were just flatteries.

but hibiki knew. bone-deep, the way any solid truth should feel in his skin. he knew it was the truth. and it was not arrogance that lead him to this truth, no. it was because he watched the crown prince lyon so often. he yearned for the stately figure. what a great king he will be one day. a handsome one as well. you see — hibiki knew it to be true, because the opposite was. every action hibiki took, every small betrayal, every flattery to the right person, every coin well spent — all of it was for prince lyon. and he had no regrets.

༄ ❚❙❘ Her eyes were drawn to him the second she had walked into the café. What a chance that this small shop in a town she happened to stroll into for a job was also one he had found himself in. The girl continued to the counter to order, stealing glances at his table while she waited for her drinks.

MEME // ACCEPTING

♫ ❚❙❘ Instinctively she reached out and pulled him close. Olexa wasn't sure why, but there was a part of herself that in this moment believed if she did hold onto him, she wouldn't get the chance ever again. That thought alone had her tighten the hug, his words only added to her need to comfort him further.

     ❝Don't... Don't say that...❞ The girl had heard rumors. Whispers alluded to events she never saw herself. She had always refused to believe it. To her, it was annoying gossip. Words that were spread off of fear and assumptions. No one speaking them knew him, least of all knew him the way she did. Yet, even if what they said was true, Olexa has long realized it wouldn't have mattered to her. Because she believed in the current Rogue.

     ❝You can't lose yourself. You'll always be you.❞ She pulled away slightly, her hands moving from around his torso up to his face. Cupping his cheeks ever so softly as she looked into his eyes. Eyes that were still full of warmth with a hint of fear. Whatever he thought he was becoming, she couldn't see it. He was still the kind soul she had met years ago and fell for. He wasn't someone to be tipped toed around until he turned into a monster.

     ❝You'll never be him.❞ It felt almost forbidden acknowledging that he existed. Acknowledging that there was an alternative world were he was the bad guy. And acknowledging she knew about it despite him never opening up about it himself. Olexa had always just waited for him to tell her instead of asking about it. Maybe after all this time it was just assumed she knew. However speaking of it still felt like she shouldn't despite the current circumstances.

     ❝You've grown right?❞ It was rhetorical. She might not have known his past, but she believed that version of him standing in front of her was this changed man. ❝You wouldn't be afraid to lose yourself otherwise.❞ Her thumb moved back and forth against his cheek in an idle motion. She still not letting go of him out of her own fear.