#mr;ans

HURT / COMFORT : STARTERS

Many times. He had heard the word 'careful' a million times throughout his life, but with his condition, it was hard to be careful. Furthermore, the condition itself was not the problem but rather what could happen after losing consciousness. As summer receded and the cold wind of autumn entered, Ren was still not having a good time with the heat. He almost passed out while arriving at his apartment.

"I know. I know." Ren reassured him. Arguing back or contradicting people had never worked before, and instead, agreeing with them was the easy way. "It's still not as bad as it looks," he said, smiling. "Just a small cut and a bruise." He did his best to take care of the wound on his forearm, but it was scandalous nonetheless. Too scandalous for such a tiny injury.

kiss, sender kisses receiver.

"Done." Ren rubbed his hands together, brushing off the last bits of soil from the flower pots he’d helped Shadow carry into the store. He glanced at her list again to make sure everything was accounted for—flower pots, seeds, a few plants, and the specialized 'food' she tailored for each one. It had been an easy task, thankfully; his low blood pressure meant he couldn’t lift anything too heavy.

Standing by the table, he rested his hands on his hips, lifting his gaze to scan the room and double-check that everything was in order. Shadow, meanwhile, had already set out tea and a few sweet treats, her way of rewarding them for their 'hard work', as she liked to call it.

"We got everything on the list. Do you want to arrange it now or later?" Ren asked, but before the words had fully settled, she gave her answer—without speaking. She stepped toward him, closing the distance between them and gently placing her hands on his chest.

Ren smiled, careful not to get any dirt on her as he held her in return. "Alright, I get it—we’ll do it tomorrow," he said with a soft chuckle, only for it to be interrupted by a quick, unexpected peck on the lips.

Astonished, he took a moment to process it, then, on impulse, leaned in to return the kiss just as softly. "Yes... tomorrow," he whispered, the warmth of her closeness lingering in the air.

THE SHOULDER TOUCH.

Crossing one leg on top of the other, Ren scrolled down social media as he waited for Yongsun to arrive. He finished his classes early, but the students wouldn't have allowed him to leave if he hadn't been quick enough to rush to his office, grab his backpack, and leave the university.

The more immersed he became, the more he remembered why he didn't like social media. However, he used it as the perfect tool to have a public portfolio.

A cup of coffee was placed in front of him, and his eyes followed the hand that brought it. "Hi," he greeted the man he was waiting for, feeling his hand on his shoulder. It was a proud pat, and Ren appreciated it, but still, he pressed his lips together in disappointment. "That's all? I won an award for my exhibition, and you won't even give me a hug? Tsk." He clicked his tongue, looking up at him again with a smile. "The coffee doesn't make up for it, but thank you," he said with a chuckle.

Send a 'ʘ‿ʘ' if your muse finds my muse attractive.

Ren lowered his head and a faint smile graced his face. His long hair hid his reddening ears, and the smile didn't merely stop there; it widened. "Do you?" Ren asked, lifting his gaze to the other. "...I think the same about you."

send "you're not what i expected..." for my muse's reaction to your muse saying that to them.

Ren's smile faded a little after hearing Yongsun's words, "I'm not what you expected…?" He was confused and couldn't quite read the tone with which the other man had spoken.

He was usually good at connecting with people's emotions and feelings, but this time he was struggling. He went quiet for a moment, looking down at the ground before looking back at Yongsun and confessed, "I'm not sure what you mean." He brought a hand up to tuck a strand of hair behind his ear and asked, "Is it better now than before, or is it worse than before…?"

It was still so new, having him stay in her home. Her safe space, the area she had worked so hard to build into her place of comfort. But Ren seemed to fit in so beautifully.

"Good morning," Shadow greeted. She leaned over Ren's shoulder to smile at him. "Can I cook something for you? Anything you want, just name it."

Ren and Shadow had taken a long time to reach the point they were at. But they were both patient and committed to making it work. Ren was understanding, and Shadow seemed to see his genuine intentions. The man quickly grasped the boundaries set by the woman and respected them. As Shadow began to open up, the walls she had built around herself slowly disappeared. This was evident by the fact that Ren was welcomed into her home and even spent the night.

Ren was awakened by the slight weight on his shoulders. It took him a while to open his eyes as they adjusted to the sunlight filtering through the window. When he finally managed to open them, he saw Shadow close to him. The man smiled instantly, reaching out to touch one of her wrists slightly. "Good morning," he said in a husky voice. "I can be your assistant if you need one. We could have some omurice, perhaps."

🐝  *  ―  𝑵𝑶𝑵-𝑽𝑬𝑹𝑩𝑨𝑳 𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑺𝑻 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑴𝑷𝑻𝑺. [ inspection ] sender holds receiver's face while inspecting an injury they got

Minor injuries were common in Ren's life. Although less frequent during his adult years, they were not surprising to him; he also knew well when he could treat his wounds himself and when he should seek medical attention.

He lost consciousness as he came out of the bathroom after taking a shower and changing into comfortable clothes. Such incidents rarely happened, but he managed to compose himself. Ren felt something liquid running down his forehead, he immediately touched the area to see if it was water from his still-wet hair, but the liquid was red. What started as an afternoon of relaxation seemed like it would end in a visit to the emergency room.

He was in no shape to drive, so he called Shadow for help and to accompany him to the hospital. She was alarmed and the man couldn't blame her, even when she arrived at his house, she was agitated like he had never seen her before. Even as she examined the most visible wound, a couple of scratches on his cheek were also perceptible. "I'm fine. I just want to confirm if any stitches will be needed, but I'm fine. I promise," he reassured her with a smile, gently taking her wrist.

Merry Christmas -D

Ren was surprised when he walked into his office and saw a pochade. The sender didn't write much, but Ren quickly guessed the reason for the gift. He smiled and said to himself, "Ah, how did you read my mind? I really needed a new one." Ren wondered whether he should text or call the sender to express his gratitude, but he found it difficult to make a decision.