His touch wasâit brought fire with it, the heat settling just beneath the surface of her skin lest it burn them both. Even if she found the flames of her Persona to be soothing, this was different. There was no SP involved, not even so much as a breath of the Metaverse involved. It was merely the starting point, and nothing more. If that other world were to vanish tomorrow? This feeling would still be here, engulfing her heart as if his presence drenched it in gasoline before his touch set it all alight. How was he doing this?! Ann didnât know, and yet somehow⌠she didnât want it to stop.
Impossibly, her cheeks somehow flushed brighter when he answered her question. She swore her heart skipped a beat, as a matter of fact, since no matter the Velveeta-esque nature of his words⌠his conviction made it all real. The Lovers chuckled weakly.
âYouâre a flatterer, Akira.â
That chastisement was a murmur as she found herself drawn in that little bit closer, her arms moving to enfold around his shoulders. Paying no heed to the music whatsoever, she allowed his rhythm to guide her. They were so close, so close that she could barely breathe from the force of it. She was caught in the Foolâs undeniable gravity, and it was up to him as to what he wanted to do with her now that she was well within his grasp. If he went off of what he could see in her gaze, though⌠well, it was clear that she wanted more than what he was giving her in the moment.
âFlattery implies insincerity,â he teased, that daring, playful smile of his dancing over his lips. âIâm just telling the truth.â
Now the stage was set. Everything seemed to be in place. The mood had created itself.
He wanted to. It was a perfect opportunity.
Akira hadnât planned for things to turn out like thisâhe hadnât planned much at all, reallyâbut there was a spark to their interactions that made things more enticing tonight than ever.
Was it finally time to cross that bridge? His heart hammered against his chest. Once his feelings were laid out bare for her, there would be no going back. But who was he to shy away from a challenge? After all, he was Joker. Brave, daring, confidentâa gambler. It would be no problem for him to take the plunge.
Akira didnât want to intrude upon Annâs boundaries. As one of his best friends, he respected her far too much to make her uncomfortable. But her body language was inviting: her cheeks were dusted with an adorable flush, her gaze peering up at him with fire through half-lidded eyes, her lips parted with uneven breaths, and to say that Ann was in close proximity would be an understatement.
Belatedly, Akira realized that he was already leaning in to close the distance, as though compelled by the gravitation between them.
Annâs lips were as soft, like he always thought they would be.
izzy806
ellievsbear
blakekathryn
origamiaround
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
kianamaiart
