#sethos fluff

You must have been crazy. You must have been absolutely insane to fall for Sethos's scheme. All you said was you were bored and he responded that he had an idea. And you decided you’d do it, no questions asked.

Now, what you had prepared for was maybe a cafe date. There were a couple of new desserts at your favorite cafe that you wanted to try with him. Or you could have also handled a picnic. It would be super cozy and romantic to sit next to him on a blanket in the grass and talk about anything and everything. Heck, you were even chill with just staying in, cuddling on the couch and just being lazy all day.

Not hiking.

You definitely weren’t expecting hiking.

However, when you first arrived at the base of the large hill that the two of you were going to trek, you were a little excited. It didn’t look like it would be that long or that difficult. You could easily manage a task of this proportion. And if you needed some encouragement, you had Sethos to help. You knew it was probably going to be more fun than you first thought.

Honestly, by now you should really just listen to what Past You said about not wanting to hike. You were heaving and trudging woefully behind Sethos. You knew you were out of shape but you didn’t expect it to be this bad. Not only that, but you were almost out of water and your throat was begging for something to aid its dryness. What irked you even more was that Sethos hadn’t even broken a sweat yet. He was cheerfully walking at a brisk pace, barely even stopping to take a sip of water. Never have you loathed him more than in this moment right here.

“Not to be that guy,” You called out, “but is it okay if we take a break? I’m practically dying.”

Sethos turned to look at you before chuckling. “We’re almost at the halfway point. Think you can hold off a little longer till we arrive?”

You put your hands on your knees, trying to stop panting for a little bit. “You know, contrary to popular belief, I’m not some muscular God such as yourself.”

This made him laugh harder. “Okay, I never said I was a God.”

Glancing up at him, you frowned. “Well you certainly look like one.”

He smirked at you before clearing his throat. “Alright, c’mon, it’ll only take us two minutes until we’re halfway there. There’ll be a rest station where you can go to the bathroom and fill your water bottle, okay? I promise it’ll only take two minutes tops.”

You sighed before standing up straighter. “Fine, but if it takes longer, I get to whine about it.”

“Fine. Let's go.”

The two minutes it took to get to the rest station felt like two hours. Nevertheless, you both kept your words. It only took two minutes and you didn’t whine about it, though you certainly wanted to.

Upon reaching the rest station, you filled your water bottle, went to the bathroom, and flopped onto a nearby bench with a groan. Sethos laughed at you as you sneered up at him. “You’re laughing at me! I’m in all this pain and exhaustion, and my own boyfriend is laughing at me! What did I ever do to receive your torment?”

“Nothing, nothing.” He shook his head. “You’re just adorable that’s all.”

“Yeah? Well when I regain the ability to move properly I’ll show you just how adorable I can be.” You tried to threaten, though your heart wasn’t in it.

Again he chuckled before saying, “Are you ready to go then?”

“Now?” You whined.

“Yes now.” He mimicked your whining voice.

With a groan you got up. “Oh, I suppose.”

“It’s not going to take long.” He replied with a roll of his eyes. “At least, if you can keep up.”

“I suppose I’ll try.”

You couldn’t keep up.

Of course he had set a brisk pace that you matched for a good minute or two before your legs started to hurt once more. Soon it felt like you were walking through peanut butter to get to the top of this mountain, though Sethos claimed it was just a hill. It certainly didn’t feel like just a hill to you.

Sethos noticed you lagging behind and slowed the pace a bit so he was right next to you. “You’re slowing down.”

“Really?” You panted with a scoff. “I hadn’t noticed.”

He shook his head. “Do you just want to turn around and go home?”

“Well, how much longer do we have?” Frankly, you didn’t really want to go because it seemed like he was having fun. You didn’t want to be an awful partner and squash his joy, even if you weren’t built for hiking.

“A couple minutes. Really the top should be around this next curve.” He explained.

You nodded. “Then let’s go.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” You weren’t sure. But it’s the thought that counts.

So you pushed through the last leg of the hike before all but collapsing on the summit. You were beyond tired. This was not fun for you. You were ready to accept the fact that this was the hill you were literally going to die on.

“This is my life now. I have climbed this hill and now I will die upon it.” You dramatically sighed.

“Oh would you shut up? We’ve been hiking for 20 minutes.” Sethos laughed. “Besides, you’re missing the view.”

“Seth, if I wanted to look at you, I could have done that at home.” You whined.

He let out a soft chuckle as he made his way over to you and offered out his hand. “Not me, you weirdo, the other view.”

Helping you to your feet, he showed you the view from the top of the hill. There you could see Sumeru spread out and shining in the afternoon sun. It was actually very picturesque. You gazed in awe at the trees swaying in the breeze and the birds soaring through the beautiful blue sky. You marveled at the puffy white clouds and the sun shining high overhead. It almost made the trip to the top worth it.

“It is stunning.” You breathed as he threw an arm over your shoulder and pulled you close.

“Reminds me of you.” He murmured.

You rolled your eyes. “Yeah, sure, whatever you say, you cheeseball.”

“But you still love me right?” He teased you.

“I suppose so.” You pecked his cheek.

The two of you stayed like that, admiring the view. It was the perfect moment. Nothing could spoil it. Absolutely nothing.

“You do realize we have to hike back down again, right?”

A low growl echoed from a nearby alleyway, stopping him in mid-swing. His heart raced as he landed silently on the rooftop above the alley, scanning the shadows below. The source of the sound emerged—a hulking, grotesque creature, its skin mottled with scales and oozing a thick, black sludge. Its yellow eyes glowed faintly in the dark, locking onto the hero with a predatory gleam.

The Green Ghost narrowed his eyes behind his mask, feeling the adrenaline surge through him. This wasn’t the first time he’d come across one of these monsters. In fact, they were becoming more frequent and more dangerous with each appearance. He knew this fight would be brutal, but he couldn’t let it roam the streets unchecked.

With a swift motion, he leapt from the rooftop, flipping through the air with precision and landing directly in front of the creature. It roared, its powerful arms swiping at him with surprising speed. He dodged the attack with a roll, immediately following up with a sharp kick to its side. The impact reverberated through the monster’s thick hide, but it barely flinched.

The creature lunged again, this time faster, its claws slashing through the air. The Green Ghost barely avoided it, but the force of the attack sent him stumbling back. He regained his footing and shot out a web, aiming for the monster’s eyes to blind it. The sticky webbing splattered across the creature’s face, momentarily disorienting it.

Taking advantage of the brief opening, he rushed forward, landing a series of rapid punches and kicks, each blow landing with the precision of a trained fighter. The creature snarled in frustration, swiping wildly at him, but the Green Ghost was always a step ahead, dodging with acrobatic grace.

Just as he prepared to go in for another strike, the monster caught him off guard with a swipe of its tail. The blow struck him squarely in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Pain shot through his body as he stumbled backward, clutching his side. He glanced down and saw the blood trickling through his fingers. The hit had been worse than he thought.

He grated his teeth, refusing to let the pain slow him down. The monster, sensing his momentary weakness, charged forward with a deafening roar. The Green Ghost barely had time to react, throwing up his arm to block the next attack. The force sent him flying backward, crashing into the wall of a nearby building. He gasped, feeling the shockwave of pain from his already injured stomach, but there was no time to rest.

The creature lunged again, and this time he was ready. With a sharp breath, he somersaulted over its head, landing nimbly behind it. He shot out two webs, securing the monster's legs to the ground before delivering a powerful kick to its back. The monster roared in anger, thrashing against the webbing, but the Green Ghost had already moved again.

But with every movement, the wound in his stomach throbbed, slowing him down bit by bit. His vision blurred momentarily, and he had to lean against a wall for support. The creature was breaking free, and he knew he had to finish this quickly. Summoning the last of his strength, he swung forward, feet first, delivering a devastating blow to the creature’s head.

The force of the attack sent the creature crashing to the ground, its body limp and defeated. The Green Ghost landed in a crouch, panting heavily. His side screamed in pain, and he pressed a hand to the wound, feeling the warm blood seeping through his suit.

But before he could catch his breath, the sound of sirens in the distance caught his attention. He couldn’t stay here. Not in this condition. With a final glance at the unconscious creature, he shot a web to the nearest building and disappeared into the night, the pain in his stomach growing worse with each swing.

Kinich landed in a dark, narrow alley, the sound of his boots hitting the pavement echoing faintly in the silence. His breath came in shallow gasps as the pain in his stomach flared with each step. He reached for his mask, pulling it off with a shaky hand, and in an instant, the familiar green suit faded away, leaving him in his school uniform, his face slick with sweat. The wound pulsed under his hand, and he grimaced, feeling the warmth of the blood still flowing through his fingers.

Gritting his teeth, he leaned heavily against the cold brick wall, clutching his side tighter. "Damn it," he hissed under his breath, cursing both the monster and his own carelessness. His vision swam, but he blinked rapidly, forcing himself to stay upright. He couldn’t afford to pass out here, not when he had to make it back in one piece.

As he took a moment to steady himself, a familiar, high-pitched cackle echoed through the alley, grating on his already frayed nerves. "Ah, what a pitiful sight!" the voice sneered, the sound slithering around him like a snake.

Kinich’s jaw clenched as he ignored the voice, focusing instead on keeping pressure on his wound. His hand was sticky with blood, and each breath was becoming more labored. But ignoring the taunting presence wasn’t easy, especially when it came from him.

From the shadows, Ajaw slithered forward, his pixelated, dragon-like form flickering with a sickly yellow-green glow. The creature hovered lazily in front of Kinich, its glowing eyes narrowing in mock sympathy. His appearance was like something out of an 8-bit nightmare, with jagged edges and blocky lines, making him look both out of place and menacing in the modern world. His serpentine body twisted and coiled in the air, and his oversized, toothy grin only added to the malevolent aura that surrounded him.

“You look like you're about to bleed out any second now," Ajaw crooned, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction. His sharp and shrill laugh cut through the quiet alley as if relishing the scene in front of him. "Perhaps this is the end for you, little hero. I’d say it’s about time someone else took over—someone with a bit more... resilience.” The last word was spat out with a taunting emphasis, as Ajaw circled Kinich like a vulture waiting for its prey to give in.

Kinich exhaled sharply, pushing off the wall slightly to regain his balance. His eyes glinted with defiance despite the pain ravaging his body. He glared at Ajaw, refusing to give the creature the satisfaction of seeing him break. "It's way too early for me to die," Kinich spat, his voice rough but resolute. "I’ve still got unfinished business. And I’m not about to let you decide when I’m done."

Ajaw’s eyes narrowed into slits, his smile growing wider. “Oh? Still clinging to that pitiful hope? I expected more from you,” he sneered, though his amusement didn’t falter. He coiled around Kinich like a viper, leaning in closer. “You’ve cheated death for now, but how long until it catches up to you? How long until you fail?” The dragon’s voice was venomous, every word calculated to undermine Kinich's confidence.

Kinich ignored the bitter sting of Ajaw’s words, using the wall as support as he pushed himself upright. "Not today," he muttered under his breath, brushing off Ajaw’s taunts as best as he could. His vision swam again, but he clenched his fists, focusing on steadying his breathing. He knew he couldn’t show any weakness, not in front of Ajaw. The creature thrived on fear and doubt, and Kinich wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing either.

Ajaw huffed, his form glitching slightly as he pulled away, a look of dissatisfaction crossing his jagged features. "We’ll see about that, hero. We’ll see.” His voice lingered, echoing in the alley as he flickered and vanished into the shadows, leaving Kinich alone once more.

Kinich exhaled slowly, his body sagging slightly now that Ajaw was gone. He felt the sting of exhaustion creeping in, but he knew he had to keep moving. The wound in his stomach was bad, but not fatal—at least, not yet. He had to get to safety, somewhere he could rest and patch himself up before anyone noticed.

"I can't believe he’s not here today!" she whined, her voice full of exasperation as she walked through the courtyard behind the school. Sethos was trailing slightly behind her, hands stuffed in his pockets, listening to her complaints. "I was going to bug him all day, y'know? Make him squirm and roll his eyes. It was going to be fun!"

As the adrenaline began to wear off, the full weight of the pain crashed down on him, but he refused to give in to it. He had been in worse situations before, and he wasn’t going to let a monster—let alone Ajaw—bring him down. Gritting his teeth, he took a shaky breath and forced himself to walk, each step more painful than the last. But he had survived for this long, and he wasn’t about to stop now.

The next morning, as the bell rang, signaling the start of break time, [Y/N] dragged herself out of the classroom, her lips twisted in a pout. She had been looking forward to seeing Kinich all morning, but her hopes were dashed when one of their classmates nonchalantly mentioned that he hadn’t shown up to school today because he was "sick." The word felt off, making her question it for a moment, but her disappointment took over.

She sighed dramatically, her steps slower than usual as she walked next to Sethos. Unable to contain her need for comfort, she grabbed onto his arm, clinging to him like a lifeline. Sethos blinked in surprise but quickly recovered, a small smirk tugging at his lips. Despite her whining about Kinich, the fact that she was holding onto him felt... nice.

"Well, I’m here," Sethos said, trying to sound nonchalant, though a part of him was secretly thrilled. "I’ll let you bug me all you want." He gave her a playful nudge with his shoulder, trying to lighten her mood.

[Y/N] glanced up at him with a soft grin, but her mind was still on Kinich. "Yeah, but it’s not the same," she muttered, sighing again. "Kinich is all serious and grumpy, you know? I like teasing him because he gets so flustered. You’re just... you. You don’t mind."

Sethos bit back a laugh, amused by her casual dismissal of him. "Gee, thanks. I’ll try to be grumpier next time just for you."

Still, as much as he joked, the moment was a rare one. With Kinich out of the picture for the day, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. For once, he had [Y/N] all to himself and no one to split her attention with. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her a little closer as they continued to walk behind the school.

"I guess you’ll have to survive without bothering him for one day, huh?" he teased, but underneath, his heart pounded slightly faster. "But hey, I’m here to keep you company. We can do whatever you want. I’ll even let you tease me—just not too much."

[Y/N] groaned in playful defeat, leaning more into his side. "Fine, I guess you’ll have to do for today," she said, her voice dripping with mock resignation.

Sethos smiled, knowing he was the one she was stuck with today—and for now, that was enough.

"That's my girl," Sethos grinned, his voice full of warmth as he playfully pinched her cheek with the arm slung around her shoulder. He straightened up slightly, his expression shifting to one of exaggerated importance. "Now, where does the princess want to eat? Whatever you want, I'll pay for it." His smile widened as if the offer were a royal decree.

[Y/N]'s face lit up at his words, a spark of excitement flashing in her eyes. "Ramen!" she exclaimed almost immediately, her mouth practically watering at the thought. "I haven’t had ramen in ages!" Her enthusiasm bubbled over as she clutched his arm tighter.

Sethos chuckled, shaking his head in amusement as he watched her salivate over the idea of her meal. "Ramen it is, then," he agreed with a grin. "How could I deny the princess her favorite food?" His teasing tone was laced with genuine affection, and although it was just lunch, he couldn’t help but enjoy how easily she smiled when he was around.

They changed direction, making their way toward the nearby ramen shop. Sethos watched her excitedly chatter about what toppings she was going to get, the way her eyes sparkled with each detail. He allowed himself a moment to soak in her happiness, knowing today was a rare day where he didn’t have to share her attention with Kinich.

Once inside the ramen shop, the comforting aroma of broth and spices filled the air, and [Y/N]'s stomach growled in anticipation. Sethos gave her a playful nudge. "Go find us a seat, princess," he said, grinning. "I’ll handle the ordering."

[Y/N] paused for a moment, raising an eyebrow. "Do you even know my usual order?"

Sethos rolled his eyes with a smirk. "Of course I do. Been eating with you long enough to have it memorized by now."

Satisfied, she flashed him a thumbs-up before heading off to find a nearby booth by the window. She sat down, pulling out her phone and tapping into the Messenger app. Without hesitating, she typed a quick message to Kinich, filling it with cute emoticons as if trying to cheer him up from afar: "Why didn’t you tell me you were sick, Kinich?? 😠😢 Get well soon, okay? I miss annoying you! 🥺"

As she waited for his reply, she rested her chin on her hand and looked outside, watching people walk by and listening to the clattering of bowls and chopsticks in the shop. A few minutes passed, and her phone buzzed. She quickly unlocked it to see Kinich’s response:

"Sorry for not telling you. It was unexpected. I was too weak to mention it earlier. I’ll be fine soon."

The message was short, formal, and to the point, just like him. But something about his tone felt distant, and [Y/N] pouted slightly at the screen. "He could’ve at least said he missed me too," she thought, sulking as she reread his message. But knowing Kinich, this was as much as she could expect from him—detached yet always sincere.

Before she could reply, Sethos returned, placing their bowls of steaming ramen on the table with a satisfied grin. "Here you go, your highness," he teased, sliding into the seat across from her. "Just the way you like it."

Distracted for a moment by the smell of the ramen, [Y/N] smiled and put her phone down. “Thanks, Seth. You really do know me well.” She was still thinking about Kinich, but right now, she had Sethos and a hot bowl of ramen in front of her to take her mind off things.

She picked up her chopsticks, skillfully separating them with a crisp snap before swirling the noodles in her bowl. The rich, savory broth coated the strands of ramen as she gently lifted them, steam curling into the air. Without wasting another moment, she took a large bite, her eyes fluttering closed as she moaned softly in satisfaction.

“Oh my gosh, this is so good,” she mumbled through her mouthful, completely absorbed in the delicious warmth of the meal. The flavors danced on her tongue, and she happily slurped another bite, clearly enjoying herself. It had been a long time since she’d indulged in a proper bowl of ramen, and right now, it was absolute bliss.

Sethos, sitting across from her, hadn't even touched his own bowl. Instead, he leaned back slightly, his arms crossed as a soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He wasn’t focused on the ramen—he was watching her, savoring the moment in a way she didn’t notice. The way her nose crinkled when she took a particularly hot bite, the small satisfied noises she made between slurps, the pure joy on her face. She was completely herself, carefree and unguarded, and he loved watching that side of her emerge.

For a moment, Sethos forgot about everything else—the teasing, the playful banter, even his usual quips. He was simply caught in the quiet charm of the scene unfolding in front of him. He’d always known [Y/N] was special, but moments like this, when she was just enjoying the little things in life, made his heart swell with affection.

She was his best friend, sure, but there was something more—something deeper. He couldn’t deny the way his chest tightened as he admired her, the way his heart raced when her smile lit up her whole face. There was an almost magnetic pull between them that made it hard for him to look away.

"You're staring again," [Y/N] said suddenly, breaking the silence as she glanced up, noodles still hanging from her mouth. She blinked, half-amused, half-curious, and Sethos quickly snapped out of his daze, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.

“Am I not allowed to admire a princess enjoying her royal feast?” he teased, raising an eyebrow as he finally picked up his chopsticks, twirling them between his fingers.

[Y/N] rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t hide the blush creeping up her cheeks. “You’re such a dork, Seth.” She gave him a playful smirk before turning back to her ramen, still blissfully unaware of the depth behind his gaze.

As they sat there, sharing ramen and playful banter, Sethos couldn’t help but wonder how long he could keep this up—being the supportive best friend, hiding his feelings, and watching her look at someone else. He wanted to tell her the truth, but he was afraid of ruining their friendship. So for now, he would continue to cherish these moments with her, even if it meant keeping his feelings a secret.

As [Y/N] slurped down her noodles, savoring the rich, salty broth and tender pork slices, Sethos leaned forward, his chopsticks idly stirring his own bowl. His eyes flickered toward her, watching how she was fully immersed in her meal, and he couldn’t help but smile. “Hey,” he began, his voice casual, “are you free during the week?”

[Y/N], mid-bite, raised her eyebrows but nodded, still chewing her food. She swallowed before responding, “Probably. Why? What’s up?”

Sethos leaned back in his seat, playing it cool, though his fingers drummed nervously against the side of the bowl. He couldn’t help but feel a little eager, but he masked it with a laid-back tone. “So, I’ve got another basketball match coming up,” he explained. “It’s against one of the top schools in the area. Anyway, they’re giving us extra tickets for our family or friends, you know, for support.” He paused before glancing at her meaningfully, the corner of his lips curving into a small smile. “And, well... since my grandpa’s too busy with work, I figured I’d give the ticket to you.”

[Y/N] looked surprised for a moment, then smiled back at him, her expression teasing. “Aww, are you asking me out, Seth?” She nudged his leg playfully under the table.

Sethos laughed, shaking his head as if she had missed the point, though the way his heart skipped at her teasing didn’t go unnoticed. “I mean, who else would I ask?” He shot her a grin. “You’re always at my games, cheering me on like you’re my personal cheerleader.”

At that, [Y/N] groaned, immediately reminded of the time she had, without thinking, yelled at the top of her lungs during one of his previous games. "Go, Seth! That’s my boy!” she had screamed, her voice echoing through the entire gym, making heads turn. She had been mortified when the entire crowd went silent for a split second, only for laughter to ripple through the stands. Sethos had looked up from the court with a huge grin, flashing her a thumbs-up, clearly unbothered by the attention she had drawn to herself.

Her face burned as she remembered the teasing she had endured from him afterward. “Ugh, don’t remind me of that!” she whined, covering her face with her hand, her cheeks flushing pink.

Sethos couldn’t help but chuckle, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Hey, you were cute! I didn’t mind one bit,” he said, giving her a playful nudge. “Honestly, your cheering was the highlight of the game.”

She slapped his arm playfully, though her embarrassment was evident in the way she was avoiding his gaze. “Yeah, well... you owe me for making me look like a total dork in front of the whole school.”

Sethos just smirked, leaning closer. “Dork? Nah. More like my good luck charm. How could I win without you screaming your head off?”

[Y/N] groaned, but a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She couldn’t stay annoyed at him for long. “Okay, okay, fine. I’ll come to your game. Happy?”

“Very,” Sethos replied, giving her a warm smile, his voice a little softer. “It wouldn’t feel right without you there, anyway.”

As she giggled at his response, a thought crossed her mind, making her perk up. “Hey, do you think Kinich could come too?” she asked, already imagining the three of them hanging out together. “It’d be fun if all of us were there. You know, like old times.”

Sethos’s expression faltered for the briefest moment, and a twinge of jealousy flared up inside him, though he quickly masked it. Of course, she’d want to invite Kinich. It was always about Kinich. Even here, even now, when he was trying to have a moment with her. The thought of watching them together, of seeing the way her eyes would light up around Kinich, made his stomach twist.

But he wasn’t about to let her see that. Instead, he shrugged nonchalantly, pushing the feeling down as best as he could. “Sure,” he muttered, his voice casual despite the slight edge. “It’s up to him, I guess.”

[Y/N] was already pulling out her phone, tapping away to text Kinich about the game. Sethos watched her out of the corner of his eye, forcing himself to focus on his food as he lifted his chopsticks. He twirled the noodles absently, suddenly feeling a little less hungry, but he took a bite anyway, the rich flavor now tasting somewhat bland. As [Y/N] waited for Kinich’s reply, her face lit up with excitement, and for a moment, Sethos let himself simmer the bitterness of jealousy that threatened to bubble up inside him.

He leaned forward, lightly tapping his chopsticks against her bowl of ramen, catching her attention. "Hey, princess," he said with a teasing lilt in his voice. "Eat your ramen now, text later. It’s going to get cold if you keep staring at your phone."

[Y/N] blinked, realizing she’d been so wrapped up in texting Kinich that she’d completely forgotten about the food in front of her. “Oh! Right,” she replied sheepishly, putting her phone down with a guilty smile. “Can’t let this deliciousness go to waste.”

She picked up her chopsticks again and swirled them into the ramen, lifting the steaming noodles to her lips. Sethos watched as she eagerly resumed eating, and a feeling of satisfaction settled in his chest.

"That's more like it," Sethos said, grinning as he finally started eating his bowl. "Can’t let your favorite ramen be ignored, now can we?" He watched her from the corner of his eye, savoring her enjoying her meal, momentarily forgetting the text she was waiting for.

in the heart of a bustling desert nestled among ancient ruins, where the sun painted the sky in hue of gold, there lived two children whose destinies were intertwined by fate and prophecies. 

young sethos, with his soft curls and mischievous grin, was the son of the revered high priest of the temple of silence. despite his playful nature, there’s a wisdom in his eyes that hinted at the weight of his future responsibilities once he’s old enough. opposite of him, is you. a spirited child known for your gentle heart and intellect. you were chosen from birth to become the next priestess of the temple, to hold and protect the ancient secrets. 

the paths first cross during the annual festival of the sun, where several families gather to celebrate unity and renewal in the temple. amidst the laughter and joyous music, you found yourself standing before sethos, a boy whose presence seemed to show with a quiet strength for his young age. 

“sethos”, your mentor, the current high priestess, said with a knowing smile, “i see you’ve met the future priestess, she will be your wife when the day comes, as well as your partner in protecting and continuing our traditions”. 

surprised by the statement, you glanced at sethos, whose expression mirrored yours. both are too young to understand the meaning behind the current high priestess’ words and the weight of their respective roles. in the moment, curiosity bloomed between the young future guardians. 

sethos broke the silence first, extending his hand to reach yours with a shy smile, “would you mind if uhm..should we uh..let’s hold hands?”

you thought that sethos stuttering was cute, being all shy with you. your heart skipped a beat as you laced your small hand in his, intertwining effortlessly. 

the current high priestess watches you both walk away and talk to yourselves, whispering to herself, “our temple is in good hands”.

sethos leaned close to you and whispered, “we’ll protect the temple together, don’t we?”.

you nodded and gaze at him, “..and everything else that matters for the temple”.

through laughter and occasional disagreements, your bond with sethos grew stronger – eventually blossomed to something deeper, a love that mirrored the harmony of the temple. as the day of the ceremony comes, you and sethos stand before your families and pledge hearts to one another, promising to honor your roles as guardians of the temple of silence. 

“Get over here!” 

The urgency in his voice has you standing up from your spot, brushing off our clothes for any dirt that had gotten stuck while you laid down. The boy was just a bit below the small hill,  clearly hiding something behind his back. Even if you were staying all the way back, you can see the mischievous grin creeping up his face. 

“Do I have to?” You grumbled. The heat of the sun was enough to make you stay in your comfortable little place. 

“Uh–Yeah? Don’t be so annoyed now, we came here to hang out, not to just sleep everywhere.” He shouts, “You know what? Just… don’t come here if you really find your spot more enticing than me.”

You roll your eyes but get up anyway, stretching your arms above your head as you walk toward him. “I’m already up, too late for all that nonsense.”

He smiles, stepping aside as he shows the bundle of small flowers he picked all afternoon. A handful are yellow and red, a few being white, and some being pink. He looks so proud of it that you almost feel bad for being so hesitant to get up.

“...Is this what you’ve been up to?” You ask, crossing your arms. The wind makes a few of the small flowers fly away, but Sethos is quick to catch them and reach his hand out to give it to you.

“Yup. ‘Cause unlike you, I got somethin’ planned for us today.” 

“The last time you had something planned for us, I almost got caught by the king.” You point a finger at him accusingly, your tone stern yet teasing. “You’ve got nothing but trouble again, I bet.”

He shakes his head, throwing his hands up in defeat. “No. Just flower crowns, see?” He brushes a few flowers to the side, separating to convince you that yes, there is nothing in here. Don’t worry. 

You roll your eyes at his gesture, finding your spot in the grass and sitting down. Not without a grumble though–to which Sethos laughs at. He lets you pick out your bunch of flowers, you carefully choose the perfect color combination and all you leave for him is a mess of jumbled colors. He doesn’t complain, simply smiling and letting you work in silence.

“Already halfway done?” The boy asks, his voice breaking the quiet air between the two of you. You nod, although somewhat frustrated. You’ve been trying to tie the string together so the crown wouldn’t suddenly fall apart–but it’s proving to be quite difficult. Not only is the string too thin, but the flowers couldn’t hold up everytime you fiddled with it, a few of them would always fall apart when you tried to fix it.

“I’m so close to giving up on this.” You admit, letting the incomplete flower crown fall to your lap.

He reaches for your hands to grip on it gently, slightly encouraging you. “Can’t tie the string, hm? I’ll teach ‘ya.”

He moves to sit next to you, nudging your shoulder and your knees touching as he inched closer. Clearly, he might as well be using this as an excuse to be near you. But you don’t speak. 

Sethos grabs both ends of the string, carefully looping it slowly and pushing his fingers out of the way to show you every step. You try to follow along, making an X, loop, another X, and another loop. Eventually, after multiple failed tries, you’ve successfully tied the crown together.

You smile, cheerfully exclaiming about your hard earned achievement. I finally got it! The crown is done! 

He can’t help but appreciate how you’ve outshone the sun in his eyes. His breath catches in his throat whenever he looks at you, this is just another one of those moments.  A moment of tranquility in the kingdom of Vehero–with their future ruler, at that. Your smile brighter than anything he’d ever seen–then, you notice. Quickly trying to hide your face from him, embarrassed.

“...What is it? Do I have something on my face?” You ask, completely oblivious that you were the reason his heart raced–he shook his head, smiling back at you.

“No, it’s nothing.” He mumbled. “Just… uh, admiring your skills. You’re quite talented at makin’ the flower crowns. Are you sure it’s your first time?”

“I mean, yeah. The maids always made this for me, I wanted to try it myself for the longest time.” 

Sethos clears his throat, bringing a hand to his mouth before raising your flower crown up–pretending to admire it just to focus the attention back on you instead of him. “For a beginner though, this is impressive. You’re a natural at this.”

You laugh at the compliment, trying to brush it off–though you will admit, your flower crown does look pretty good.  The wind picks up–giving you some cold air on a hot afternoon day. The rustling of leaves  is heard, a simple sound you’ve grown to love, and a few of the flower petals go along with the air. A flower had unexpectedly landed right on top of your head, yet you haven’t realized it.

“Oh, stay still. You’ve got something on your hair.” He says, leaning towards you to reach out for it, unknowingly, you reach for the spot as well– brushing your fingers accidentally. He freezes for a split second. Sethos has held your hand multiple times as kids, even until now. What makes this any different? He quickly withdraws his hand, once again, clearing his throat.  “Sorry, I–uh, I didn’t mean to…”

You notice his awkwardness, yet you think nothing of it–clearly, you weren’t as affected by the feelings that almost consumed him whole. “Careful, or else I  might think you’re trying to get too familiar, Sethos.” You tease, yet it does nothing to calm his poor heart.

“No such thing, your highness.” He laughs, although strained, and he brings his hand to his flower crown–laid forgotten on his lap. “...Unless, you want it to be.” 

“Ahh,” Jokingly, you  nudged his shoulder. “You can be flirtatious if you really wanted to! Good to know. No wonder you’re popular with women.” 

He shrugged, “I try my best.” 

The flower crowns have been completed. Yours were in your favorite color–thanks to Sethos making the effort and scouring the entire forest just to finish your crown. His were… a mix of everything. Yellow, white, pink, and purple, yet he found a way to make it all work together.

“Look, Sethos.” You raise your crown, showing it off. “It’s adorable! Unlike yours, mine actually has a proper color coding, thank you very much.” 

He laughs, shaking his head. “I don’t know about that, highness. Mine’s got more colors, it’s livelier.” 

“Not at all, Tighnari said that having a theme with your flowers is better.” 

“So now you and him are great friends? Have I been abandoned? This is a fate worse than death!” He shouts, falling down on the grass below him while the back of his hand is pressed to his forehead. You give him a questioning look–because how dramatic of him to think that you’d prioritize other people over your best friend. (Who is now pretending he died simply because you had mentioned the name of the botanist.)

You take one more look at his flower crown, all the colors jumbled up with no specific order at all.  Yet, a voice in you says that his actually–somehow–looked better, despite being a mess. 

“It’s not that bad, I suppose…” You say, looking everywhere but in his direction.  “Put it on me, your future ruler says so.” 

He opens one of his eyes, a grin splayed out on his stupid face. “Oh? And what if I don’t want to?” 

“I command you to!”

“Fine, fine.” He sits up, gesturing  you to move closer. “C’mere, your highness. You’re quite hard to please.”

Gently, he picks up his crown and puts it on the top of your head–trying to suppress the giddiness you felt. His hand lingers a little more than necessary, leaving you to wonder what exactly he was doing. So you open your eyes, and when you finally look at him, he brushes a stray strand of hair from your face and tucks it behind your ear. Grinning, Sethos leans back and admires his work, letting out a satisfied hum.

“There. Now you’re actually fit for royalty. No ‘thank you, Sethos?’ “ The boy nudges your arm, laughing. You weren’t ignorant enough to not notice the way his voice slightly shook when he spoke, the slight tint of red dusting his cheeks. All your efforts to hide your appreciation disappears–and you find yourself freely smiling at him. 

“...It’s perfect.” Sethos tries to adjust the flower crown for it to be placed on the center, wishing he had some sort of camera to showcase this moment–his hardwork on his life's greatest wish, his biggest what-if, and his only love.

“Oh, so now you’re calling me perfect?”

“I was talking about the flower crown, your highness.” He grinned, pushing your forehead with a single finger playfully. “I guess the same could be said about you too. ‘I guess’” 

He doubts repeating the word in a mocking manner would even help break the thoughts most likely forming in your head–does he like you, or does he not? The relationship between the two of you confuses you to no end. One day, he’s doing everything he can to get your attention, and he’s gone back to pretending everything he said was just because he was teasing you.

Naturally, you hesitate, thinking about what to say before the sun had started to set. When the orange glow casts on your face, you could only give him a faint whisper–thank you, Sethos.

It barely reached his ears. He had to strain to hear it, but he was glad he leaned in a little closer. His quick thinking made him come up with one more excuse. Saying there was one more stray flower petal on your head, when in truth, he had hoped to hear another three words that had held as much meaning as the ones you had just said.

@ knnichs 2023 ﹑ do not repost, republish, translate, feed to ai or modify any of my works. doing so can and will result into me blocking you.

reblogs with comments are INCREDIBLY appreciated! go scream go feral idc i will eat all of them up and run away with a familiarly shaped reblog in my mouth, thank you.

"you two would make a very cute couple." Cyno smirked as you walked away "What!" Sethos shouted.

"Their obviously into you."

"No they're not Cyno."

Cyno scoffed at his persistence, he knew that you were into him. One, you'd tole him and two, it was incredibly obvious to anyone around. Even Tighnari had asked about the both of you. Still you both continued to deny the allegations of dating. But deep down you both knew there was something there .

One day a few weeks after the comment Cyno had made, you both were walking in the Sumeru desert. Your hands had brushed together a few times, but ultimately you decided to ignore it. There may have been a little sparks, but maybe that was just for you.

"Sethos?"

"Yeah y/n?"

"People think were dating right?"

"Yeah they do?"

"Well do you like me like that."

He stiffened at your words. He hasn't really thought that deeply about it. Not until Cyno had really bought it up. But every time he'd thought about you he couldn't stop getting butterflies. And archons had he thought of you a lot lately. It was never ending.

People swore you liked you liked him the same way but he still was scared. What if they were just rumors?

"Yeah I suppose..."

"You suppose?"

"Well I do like you okay."

"So they weren't rumors?"

"No. Not at all."

"Well so... So we like each other?"

"It seems so!"

You both stood awkwardly as the silence grew longer. Till Sethos grabbed your hand silently. He turned to face you, and seeing the blush on your face, let out a chuckle. He dragged you to his favorite spot, just bordering on the desert.

He leaned a head on your shoulder, tightening his grip on your hand. Neither of you wanted this peaceful moment to end.

[Y/N], who had just barely recovered from the sheer embarrassment of her earlier shameless staring, almost jolted at the question. She nodded quickly, trying to keep her voice neutral. “Yeah! It’s over there.” She motioned to her vanity table, where the hair blower was placed.

Kinich strode over and picked it up, plugging it into the nearby socket. He turned it on, first setting it to the lowest temperature as a test before cranking it up to the highest setting to cut drying time short. The soft but strong whir of the blower filled the room as warm air ruffled through his hair, lifting the strands with each pass of his fingers.

[Y/N] didn’t mean to stare.

But she did.

The way his slightly tousled black hair, laced with those subtle blue undertones, moved under the blower’s heat was… unfairly mesmerizing. His fingers raked through the damp locks, pushing them back before letting them fall into their natural shape. His sharp jawline became more visible whenever he tilted his head slightly, making sure no part of his hair remained wet.

She had always known Kinich had an effortlessly cool demeanor, but there was something about this simple, domestic action that made him even more captivating. Maybe it was how nonchalant he was, completely unaware of how he looked in the moment. Or maybe it was the fact that this was such a rare sight—him being at ease, doing something mundane instead of constantly being so nonchalant and blunt.

Realizing that she had been watching him for far too long, [Y/N] quickly turned away, busying herself with anything—her phone, a stray piece of lint on her sleeve, literally anything to keep herself from combusting on the spot.

Kinich, of course, remained oblivious. He switched the blower off once his hair was adequately dry, setting it down before shaking his head a little to fluff it up. “Done,” he muttered, glancing at her.

[Y/N] only hummed in response, still refusing to look directly at him.

Kinich raised an eyebrow. "…You’re acting weird again.”

“I’m not!” she denied immediately, her voice a little too high-pitched.

He eyed her for a moment before shrugging. “Whatever you say.” Then, stretching his arms slightly, he flopped onto her bed with a sigh. “Man, I forgot how nice it is to not feel like I have to be somewhere else for once.”

[Y/N] risked a glance at him, watching as he absentmindedly rubbed the towel over his hair one last time. She couldn’t deny it—seeing him like this, relaxed and unguarded, only made her heart pound harder.

She really was down bad for him.

As soon as she heard her mother’s voice calling them for dinner, [Y/N] practically shot up from her seat. It was the perfect escape—before her thoughts spiraled further into dangerous, smitten territory that would surely lead to an embarrassing slip-up. She had already humiliated herself enough for one night.

She cleared her throat, schooling her expression into something neutral before motioning toward the door. “C’mon, let’s go eat.”

Kinich, who was still lounging on her bed like he owned the place, gave a nonchalant nod. “Yeah, yeah, I’m coming.” He stretched his arms above his head before lazily pushing himself off the bed, following her out of the room.

As they walked down the stairs, something odd hit her senses. A familiar scent—her shampoo. She blinked, realizing that Kinich must’ve used it during his shower.

Well, of course, he did. What else was he supposed to use?

But… why did it smell so different on him?

It was the same brand, the same floral scent she’d used for ages, but when she caught a whiff of it from Kinich, it was like she was smelling it for the first time. Maybe it was the way his natural scent mixed with it, or maybe it was just her hopelessly infatuated brain playing tricks on her, but whatever it was, it had her stomach doing an unnecessary flip.

She shook her head, trying to push away the ridiculous thought. Get a grip, [Y/N]. It’s just shampoo.

Yet, as they reached the dining table, she still found herself a little too aware of Kinich standing beside her, that scent lingering in the air, making it increasingly harder to ignore.

Her mother had already set the table, and the comforting aroma of home-cooked food filled the dining room. Plates of steaming rice, savory dishes, and warm soup sat invitingly at the center. [Y/N] quickly pulled out a chair and sat down, desperate to distract herself from the lingering scent of her shampoo on Kinich.

Kinich, on the other hand, didn’t seem fazed. He slid into the seat beside her with his usual casual demeanor, grabbing a glass of water and taking a sip. Her mother, however, had other plans—her sharp eyes scanned the boy up and down before a knowing smirk crept onto her lips.

"You look much better now," she commented as she placed a bowl of soup in front of him. "Clean, well-fed, and I bet you even smell nice."

[Y/N] choked on air.

Kinich, as dense as he could be, barely reacted. He just lifted a brow before shrugging. "Uh, thanks?" He didn’t seem to catch the teasing tone, but her mother certainly did, and she wasn’t going to let this go.

"Well, of course! You used [Y/N]’s shampoo, didn’t you?" Her mother hummed, her smirk deepening. "No wonder my daughter’s been acting weird."

[Y/N] snapped her head toward her mother, eyes wide in horror. "Mom!"

Kinich finally seemed to process what was happening, pausing mid-bite. He glanced at [Y/N], then back at her mother, his brows furrowing slightly. "Huh?"

Her mother waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, nothing, dear. Eat up."

[Y/N] groaned, slumping in her seat as she picked at her rice. This was it. This was the moment she wished she could vanish into thin air. She could already feel the heat rising up her neck, and she refused—absolutely refused—to look at Kinich now.

Meanwhile, Kinich simply shook his head, not entirely sure what just happened but deciding it wasn’t worth questioning. He focused on his food, oblivious to the way [Y/N] was practically dying of embarrassment beside him.

A few minutes later, Kinich set down his utensils after finishing his meal and turned toward [Y/N]’s mother, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "Where am I sleeping tonight?" he asked, his tone casual but expectant.

[Y/N] froze mid-sip of her water. Her mother, on the other hand, tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm, let’s see…"

She glanced toward the extra bedroom, her lips pursing. "Well, that room is out of the question. It’s filled with storage boxes, and the dust in there is thick enough to choke a person." She shook her head. "Cleaning it up would take too much time."

Kinich hummed, leaning back in his chair. "Then the couch?"

[Y/N]’s mother gave him a sharp look. "Absolutely not. You’re a guest, and I’m not about to let you sleep uncomfortably like some stray."

[Y/N] held her breath, dreading what was about to be said next.

Her mother’s face suddenly lit up with realization. "Ah! You’ll sleep in [Y/N]’s room, then."

[Y/N] nearly spat out her water. "What?!"

Kinich blinked, his expression blank. "Come again?"

Her mother waved them both off nonchalantly. "Relax. I’ll bring out an extra mattress for you. You’re obviously not sharing the bed with my daughter, so you’ll just sleep on the floor." She smirked slightly. "Unless you want to sleep on the couch after all?"

Kinich frowned. "No."

"Then it’s settled!" Her mother clapped her hands together, pleased with her own decision.

[Y/N] slumped in her seat, her face burning. "Mom, are you serious? My room isn’t that big—"

"Oh, hush," her mother interrupted, grinning. "It’s the most practical choice."

Kinich, ever pragmatic, just shrugged. "Fine by me."

[Y/N] turned to him in disbelief. "You’re really okay with this?"

He raised an eyebrow. "It’s just one night, [Y/N]."

She groaned, dragging a hand down her face. Nooooooooooo.

After dinner, [Y/N] found herself pacing in her room as Kinich was downstairs helping her mother clean up. She stared at the spot where the extra mattress would go, right beside her bed, and groaned internally.

How did it come to this?

She wasn’t a stranger to having Kinich over—before everything changed, they used to have sleepovers all the time, playing games and doing homework together. But now, after everything that had happened, with her emotions still raw and the lingering sense of loss hanging over them, it felt… different.

A knock on the door snapped her out of her spiraling thoughts.

"Hey, I got the mattress." Kinich’s voice came from behind the door.

She quickly composed herself before opening it, watching as he carried the folded mattress inside with ease. She couldn't help but glance at the way his sleeves were rolled up, revealing his forearms, still faintly damp from earlier.

She swallowed and stepped aside. "Uh… just put it here."

Kinich nodded and set it down, rolling it out before grabbing a pillow and blanket that her mother had also provided. He worked silently, efficiently, like this was just another mission for him to complete.

Once he was done, he sat on the edge of the mattress and leaned back on his hands. "There. That should do it."

[Y/N] stood awkwardly near her bed, fidgeting with the hem of her oversized pajama shirt. "Um… are you sure you’ll be comfortable?"

He shot her a pointed look. "It’s better than the couch, isn’t it?"

"Yeah, but—"

"Relax," he cut her off, his voice softer now. "I’m fine, [Y/N]."

She bit her lip, hesitating before finally exhaling. "Alright… if you say so."

As she climbed into her own bed, she turned off the bedside lamp, plunging the room into a comfortable dimness. For a moment, the only sound was the distant hum of the city outside and the faint rustling of blankets.

Then Kinich spoke again.

"[Y/N]?"

She turned on her side to face him, barely able to see his silhouette in the dark. "Yeah?"

There was a pause.

"…Thanks."

She blinked. "For what?"

"For letting me stay." His voice was quieter now, almost hesitant. "I know I don’t say it much, but… it means a lot."

Her chest tightened at his words. She knew how hard it was for him to be vulnerable, to let his guard down, even just a little.

A small, fond smile formed on her lips. "You’re an idiot if you thought I’d let you be alone after everything."

Kinich let out a small chuckle. "Guess I am."

Silence settled again, but this time, it was warm. Safe.

Then, a suggestion in mind bloomed; she reached down, her head peeking out on the bed with an expectant grin as she gently dangled his hand to grab his attention. "Want to visit Sethos tomorrow?" she asked.

Kinich, who had just started to relax, cracked one eye open at her sudden question. He groaned, turning his head slightly on the pillow. “You’re really bringing him up right before we sleep?”

[Y/N] huffed. “What’s wrong with that?” She squeezed his hand again, her thumb idly brushing against his. “You haven’t seen him in a while, right? And you know he’s probably wondering what happened to you.”

Kinich exhaled through his nose, staring up at the ceiling. He knew she wasn’t wrong—Sethos was likely worried sick, but Kinich had been avoiding the inevitable. Seeing Sethos meant answering questions he wasn’t ready to answer.

He shut his eyes. “I’ll think about it.”

[Y/N] pouted but didn’t push. She knew better than anyone how stubborn Kinich could be. Instead, she gave his hand another gentle tug. “Well, if you don’t come, I’ll just go alone and tell Sethos you’re being all broody again.”

Kinich snorted. “Like he doesn’t already know that.”

She giggled, her laughter soft in the dimly lit room. “True.”

For a moment, neither of them said anything. Their hands remained intertwined, a small source of comfort in the quiet night.

Then, just as Kinich was beginning to drift off, he heard her mumble, barely above a whisper.

“I think he’d be happy to see you, you know.”

Kinich’s grip tightened slightly before he let out a tired sigh. “Yeah… I know.”

And with that, sleep finally claimed them both.

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting soft golden hues across the room. Kinich stirred first, blinking groggily as he adjusted to the light. He turned his head slightly, feeling a warmth against his arm—[Y/N] had somehow ended up closer to him in her sleep, her face resting peacefully on the edge of the bed, their hands still loosely clasped together from the night before.

Kinich exhaled softly, taking a moment to study her sleeping face. She looked… calm, unlike the worried expression she had worn for most of the night. His fingers twitched slightly, debating whether he should wake her up or just let her sleep a little longer.

Unfortunately, the choice was made for him when [Y/N] stirred, a sleepy groan escaping her lips as she slowly cracked one eye open. Her gaze met his, and for a brief second, silence hung between them.

Then she gasped.

[Y/N] shot up from the bed, her hair a mess as she quickly looked away, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “Oh my god—why didn’t you wake me up?!”

Kinich, still lying on his mattress, stretched lazily, his voice laced with amusement. “You looked peaceful. I thought I’d let you drool in peace.”

She gasped again, throwing a pillow at him. “I do not drool, you jerk!”

Kinich dodged effortlessly, smirking. “If you say so.”

Before she could argue back, a knock on the door interrupted them. “[Y/N], Kinich, breakfast is ready!” her mother’s voice called from outside.

[Y/N] groaned, still flustered, but got up anyway. “I’m going to wash my face first. You better fix your hair; it’s a mess.”

Kinich scoffed as he ran a hand through his dark locks, the blue undertones glinting under the morning light. “Tch. It’s called style.”

[Y/N] rolled her eyes before heading to the bathroom, leaving Kinich alone for a moment. He sat up, rubbing his face before glancing down at his hand—the one that had held hers all night.

A strange warmth lingered there.

Then, without thinking, Kinich lifted his hand to his lips, his eyes fluttering shut for a brief moment. The warmth wasn’t just from their shared touch—it was something deeper, something he couldn’t quite name. It was the kind of warmth that crept into his chest, seeping through the cracks he didn’t even realize were there.

His fingers curled slightly as if trying to hold onto the feeling before reality settled back in.

With a sharp inhale, Kinich shook his head, snapping himself out of whatever trance had momentarily taken over. The hell... He wasn’t supposed to dwell on things like this—especially when there were more pressing matters ahead.

He flexed his fingers one last time before letting his hand drop to his side, scoffing at himself under his breath.

Just then, the bathroom door creaked open, and [Y/N] peeked out with a towel in her hand. "The bathroom’s free if you need to freshen up.”

Kinich nodded, quickly masking whatever had just passed through his mind. “Yeah. Be down in a sec.”

As he stepped past her, he refused to acknowledge the slight tingle still lingering in his fingertips.

Shortly after Kinich finished freshening up, he made his way downstairs, the scent of warm breakfast filling the air. The quiet clinking of utensils and the occasional sizzle from the kitchen set a peaceful morning atmosphere. He stepped into the dining area, where [Y/N] and her mother were already seated, their plates filled with freshly cooked food.

“Good morning,” he greeted, his voice still carrying a slight drowsiness from sleep.

“Morning, Kinich.” [Y/N]’s mother smiled, setting down a cup of tea before motioning for him to take a seat.

He nodded in thanks, sliding onto the chair next to [Y/N]. “Thanks for the food,” he muttered before digging in, his hunger finally catching up to him.

As they ate, conversation naturally flowed between them, mostly [Y/N] and her mother talking while Kinich listened in, occasionally adding a comment or nodding in agreement. Then, at some point, [Y/N] perked up, as if remembering something.

“Oh! Mom, Kinich and I are visiting Sethos today,” she announced, casually reaching for her glass of juice.

Her mother paused mid-bite, then sighed knowingly, setting her spoon down. “You’ve been going to the hospital a lot lately, sweetie. You know it’s not the most sanitary place, right?” Her brows furrowed with concern. “I just don’t want you catching anything.”

[Y/N] quickly reassured her, waving a hand dismissively. “I’ll be fine, Mom. I’ve been careful every time—I always wash my hands and wear a mask.” She gave her mother a pleading look. “I can’t just not check on him. You know how worried I get.”

Her mother sighed again but relented with a small nod. “Alright, alright. Just don’t overdo it, okay? And Kinich,” she turned her gaze toward him, “please make sure she doesn’t tire herself out.”

Kinich, who had been silently observing the exchange, simply nodded. “I will.”

Satisfied, [Y/N]’s mother returned to eating, while [Y/N] beamed, glad to have her plans approved.

[Y/N]’s mother watched with quiet amusement as Kinich moved with familiarity, collecting the empty plates and stacking them neatly. He wasn’t the type to chat idly, but his actions spoke enough—his silent way of expressing gratitude.

“You’re quite handy,” she remarked, taking the plates from him to rinse in the sink. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were already part of the family.”

Kinich paused for a fraction of a second before continuing to wipe the table, his expression unreadable. “Just a habit,” he replied nonchalantly.

Her mother chuckled, shaking her head. “Well, it’s a good one.”

Once everything was cleaned up, Kinich made his way to the living room, waiting for [Y/N] to finish getting ready. He took a seat on the couch, arms crossed, as he absentmindedly glanced around. The house was quiet, save for the occasional rustling sounds from upstairs.

A few minutes passed before [Y/N] came rushing down the stairs, fully dressed and ready to go. Her hair was neatly styled, her bag slung over her shoulder, and her expression was bright with anticipation.

However, as soon as she reached the bottom step, she halted in her tracks.

Her gaze landed on Kinich—who, to her disbelief, was still wearing the same clothes from last night. His black hoodie was slightly wrinkled, and while he looked cleaner after freshening up, his outfit screamed, "I just rolled out of bed and didn't bother changing."

She narrowed her eyes.

“…Kinich.”

He lazily tilted his head toward her, eyebrows slightly raised. “What?”

“You need to change,” she stated firmly, hands on her hips.

Kinich blinked at her, then glanced down at himself before shrugging. “I’m fine.”

[Y/N]’s eye twitched. “No, you’re not. You’re wearing the same thing from last night.”

He let out a quiet sigh, leaning his head against the couch. “It’s too bothersome.”

[Y/N] gasped as if he had personally offended her. “Excuse me?! Kinich, you literally just took a shower! What’s the point of freshening up if you’re just going to wear the same thing again?”

He exhaled through his nose, clearly unmoved by her argument. “It’s comfortable.”

[Y/N] huffed before crossing her arms. “That’s not an excuse. If we’re going out, you can’t just look like you rolled off the sidewalk.”

Kinich shot her a deadpan stare. “I don’t care about looks.”

[Y/N] mirrored his stare before, very deliberately, pouting.

She even went the extra mile, puffing her cheeks slightly and staring at him with the most exaggeratedly upset expression she could muster. “Kinich, please?”

Kinich stared at her. Then blinked. Then stared some more.

A long silence stretched between them as he refused to react to her shameless display of persuasion.

[Y/N], however, was relentless.

“…Kinich,” she whined, dragging out his name in the most dramatic way possible.

Kinich groaned, already regretting every decision that led him to this moment. He rubbed the back of his neck, looking away as if trying to physically escape her persistence.

“Fine,” he grumbled. “I’ll change.”

[Y/N] immediately brightened up, beaming at him. “Yay! See? That wasn’t so hard.”

Kinich shot her an unimpressed look before standing up, stretching his arms slightly. “Do you at least have spare clothes I can borrow?”

[Y/N] grinned. “Yep! Wait here; I’ll get them.”

She rushed back upstairs, leaving Kinich standing in the living room, feeling mildly betrayed by herself for giving in so easily.

A few moments later, she returned, holding a neatly folded set of clothes—again, her dad’s old clothes that he had left behind.

“Here,” she said, handing them over. “They should fit you just fine.”

Kinich took the clothes, eyeing them for a second before glancing back at her. “You’re not going to stand there and watch me change, are you?”

[Y/N] scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Obviously not, dummy. Go to the bathroom.”

He shook his head but didn’t argue, walking off to change.

A few minutes later…

Kinich returned, now dressed in a clean, well-fitted button-up shirt and casual black pants. His dark, slightly blue-tinted hair was still damp but slightly tousled, giving him an effortlessly put-together look.

[Y/N] blinked.

She wasn’t expecting him to actually look good.

Like, really good.

She quickly shook herself out of it, clearing her throat. “See? Doesn’t that feel better?”

Kinich adjusted his sleeves, giving her a flat look. “It feels the same.”

[Y/N] huffed but chose to ignore his stubbornness. “Whatever. Let’s go before Sethos starts thinking we forgot about him.”

With that, they grabbed their things and headed out (of course not without informing her mother that they're both leaving)—one of them feeling victorious, the other questioning why he let himself get talked into this.

The sky was a muted shade of gray by the time they arrived at Bubu Hospital, with faint streaks of sunlight peeking through the clouds. The building stood tall yet welcoming, its glass doors sliding open with a soft whoosh as Kinich and [Y/N] stepped inside. The familiar scent of antiseptic, mixed with the faint aroma of herbal remedies, lingered in the air—a distinct yet oddly comforting smell that [Y/N] had grown used to over the past few weeks.

As expected, the lobby was bustling with activity. Patients sat in the waiting area, some quietly flipping through outdated magazines while others scrolled on their phones or conversed in hushed tones. A few nurses walked briskly past them, their rubber shoes barely making a sound against the tiled floor.

As they approached the front desk, a familiar face lit up.

“Ah, [Y/N]! You’re here again,” Barbara, the ever-smiling receptionist, greeted cheerfully.

[Y/N] grinned, already used to the warm reception she received every time she visited. “Of course! I can’t just leave Sethos alone here, can I?”

Barbara chuckled, adjusting the files on her desk. “That boy’s lucky to have you. He keeps asking the nurses if you’re coming whenever his fever spikes.”

[Y/N] laughed softly, shaking her head. “That sounds like him.”

It was a lighthearted exchange, one that [Y/N] was used to—but beside her, Kinich remained silent.

He stood slightly behind her, hands stuffed into his pockets, his expression unreadable as his sharp eyes flicked over the receptionist, then back to the hospital interior. Unlike [Y/N], who was accustomed to these interactions, Kinich had never met Barbara before and saw no need to involve himself in the conversation.

Barbara, however, didn’t fail to notice him.

Her gaze shifted toward the stoic boy standing beside [Y/N], her lips curving into a knowing smile. “And who’s this?”

“Oh!” [Y/N] blinked before gesturing toward Kinich. “This is Kinich, my friend. He’s visiting Sethos with me today.”

Barbara hummed in amusement, resting her chin on her palm. “Friend, huh?”

[Y/N] didn’t miss the playful glint in her eyes, but she chose to ignore it.

Kinich, however, simply nodded in acknowledgment. “...Yeah.”

That was the only word he spoke, his voice quiet but firm. He had no intention of engaging in small talk—his focus was solely on why they were here in the first place.

Barbara didn’t seem offended by his silence. If anything, she found it amusing.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Kinich. Sethos is in Room 217, as usual. The elevator’s down the hall.”

[Y/N] gave Barbara an appreciative nod. “Thanks, Barbara! We’ll be heading up now.”

“Take care, you two.”

With that, [Y/N] and Kinich made their way toward the elevators.

The elevator slowed, another soft ‘ding’ sounding as the doors opened to the second floor.

Without another word, the two stepped out, making their way toward Room 217—where Sethos was waiting.

As the door creaked open, [Y/N] didn’t hesitate.

The moment her eyes landed on Sethos, she beamed and jogged straight toward his bed, arms outstretched in excitement.

“Sethos!” she chirped, enveloping him in a warm hug.

Sethos barely had time to react before her warmth crashed into him, the familiar feeling of her embrace pulling a genuine grin from him. His arms wrapped around her just as tightly, as if he never wanted to let go.

“I missed you,” she murmured against his shoulder.

Sethos let out a soft chuckle, though his heart clenched.

“You saw me yesterday,” he teased, but his voice was gentle, almost wistful.

Still, he allowed himself to bury his face in her hair, inhaling the sweet, familiar scent of her shampoo. It was a scent he had come to associate with comfort, with home, with her.

He wanted to stay like this a little longer—to savor the moment.

But then, something caught his attention.

His eyes snapped open.

And there, standing in the doorway, was Kinich.

Sethos’ grin almost faltered.

Kinich stood still, his expression unreadable, shoulders slightly tense as if he weren’t sure whether to step forward or just leave. His presence was unmistakable—tall, silent, and very much alive.

Relief and frustration tangled in Sethos’ chest.

Kinich had been missing for days after the incident at the stadium. No calls, no texts—just gone. [Y/N] had been worried sick, and Sethos himself had wondered if something had happened. Yet here Kinich was, standing there as if nothing happened, as if he hadn’t just resurfaced after leaving them all in the dark.

And worst of all…

He was the one [Y/N] admired.

The one who always seemed to capture her attention, even when Sethos wished—desperately wished—that it was him instead.

Still, he forced himself to swallow the knot in his throat.

The hug broke as [Y/N] pulled back, her usual radiant smile still present.

Sethos hesitated for only a second before letting out a weak chuckle.

“…Kinich,” he finally said, his voice light but laced with unspoken relief.

Yet… there was a slight disappointment beneath his tone that was left unnoticed.

“Guess you’re alive after all.”