we're taking a walk together when th*y pull out a small box of cigarettes. catching muis staring, th*y shrug th*ir shoulders lightly, halfheartedly offering muis one th*y've pulled from the half-empty pack. when wei hesitate, th*ir eyebrows furrow. wei explain that wei've never smoked before, and th*y ask if wei want to try it. muir answer remains hesitant.
th*y tuck the cigarette th*y pulled out between th*ir lips and light it using a lighter wei hadnt noticed in th*ir hand. th*y take a few drags from the cigarette.
then, out of nothing, th*y ask if wei think th*y're hot. red flowers bloom from muir cheeks. were wei that obvious?
of course, wei answer. yes. th*y chuckle and pick one of the flowers sprouting from muis, looking at it for a moment with a small smile. wei pluck the other one off muirselves and put it in muir pocket to help muis remember later the events occuring now.
then, th*y offer muis a chance to th*ir cig. wei accept th*m on th*ir suggestion this time, cautiously bringing it to muir lips and pulling a breath through. th*y laugh a breathy chuckle when wei double-over in a fit of coughs. wei recover rather quickly though and return to th*m th*ir cig, staring at th*m while th*ir eyes flutter closed and th*y visibly relax.
after a bit of silence, th*y prompt muis again, dangling the cig between two pretty fingers, tilting it towards muis. once more, wei accept, and this time, wei dont enter a coughing fit. noticing this, th*y pull the cigarette box out again from th*ir coat pocket and pick another cig out. as th*y move to grab th*ir lighter, th*ir eyes flicker up to muir halo with a smirk. we come to a stop on the sidewalk, and th*y lean into muis, tilting th*ir head up so the cig between th*ir lips collides with muir halo.
nothing happens, and th*y frown, so wei raise a pointer finger to draw th*ir attention and silently plead th*m to wait a moment before raising up onto muir tippytoes and twisting muir head softly to scrape muir horns against the halo. this creates a spark, and th*y quickly light the cigarette that way, clearly pleased with muis and muir actions. wei wonder if th*y know that this means muir horns are now a hundredth of a millimeter thinner. it doesnt matter much to muis, wei convince muirselves; wei'd shave off more than that for th*m.
th*y inspect the newly lit cig for a moment, noting the odd color illuminating the tip. with a pleasant expression, th*y replace the cig in th*ir mouth with the new one wei lit for th*m and hand muis the other one. we keep walking, chatting idly.
th*y make th*ir way through the cig surprisingly quickly. wei've taken a few breaths from muirs, but it's not particularly appealing; it certainly isnt enough to keep muis from feeling butterfly nerves in muir insides around th*m. so wei have little use for it, really.
when th*y finish th*irs, th*y stub out the cig against the wall, tossing the butt of it into the next trash can we come across. after having disposed of th*ir own, th*y notice muirs and give muis a confused look as to why wei havent done much with it. wei offer it to th*m wordlessly, and th*y accept, taking a few puffs.
another minute or two passes, and wei know wei're about to reach the end of our walk. th*y're about done with the cig and are reaching th*ir hand out to stub it out on the building next to th*m when wei stop th*m.
quietly, wei ask (or really, encourage) th*m to put the cigarette out on muis. th*y raise an eyebrow. peonies bloom on muir cheeks, but wei dont back out. slowly, th*y curve th*ir arm around muir waist and press the cig against muir right hip. the burning feeling presses sharply into muir bones. despite expecting it, wei still jump at the sensation and tear up at the pain. th*y dont say anything, just breathe smoke in muir face and grin when wei smile at th*m.
