In the cozy living room, the sun stretched its morning fingers through the curtains, painting the space with a warm glow. Ai occupied a plush couch, her soft smile a reflection of the gentle light. Her fingers danced through Ruby's silky hair with the tenderness of a familiar lullaby. In her mother's lap, Ruby nestled, her eyes embracing the early hours in quiet delight. Ai's touch was a gentle rhythm, sometimes like a playful zephyr and sometimes like a loving embrace. It was as if her fingers spoke a language only they both could understand.
But amidst this serene picture, Ai's cheeks often blushed a shade of rosy red, her thoughts wandering far from the immediate scene. Unconsciously, her fingers faltered in their task, and her touch turned into a tight clutch, an outward manifestation of the racing thoughts inside her head.
"Y/N... what are we, really?" She murmured softly to herself, her lips moving almost in tandem with her fingers combing Ruby's hair, a melody of uncertainty harmonizing with the lullaby of their morning.
"Maybe a kiss? Or more?" Her words were a whispered secret to herself, carried away by the rhythm of her thoughts and the tune she hummed. Ruby, attentive to her mother's every nuance, gazed up at her with innocent curiosity, her eyes mirroring Ai's rosy cheeks.
In the proximity, Aqua sat, an observer to the heartfelt tableau. He couldn't help but crack a small smile, the ambient peace seemingly seeping into his soul. For years, he had been entwined in plots and vendettas, and now he found solace in this simple moment, his heart surprisingly light.
But the tranquil spell was abruptly broken when Ruby's soft groans of discomfort reached their ears. Ai's grip tightened, lost in her reverie, unaware of Ruby's distress.
"Mama! Hair, Mama!" Ruby's small voice cut through the dreamy atmosphere, accompanied by her gentle tugs at Ai's sleeve.
Brought back to reality, Ai blinked, her grip loosening immediately as her face turned an even deeper shade of red. She chuckled nervously, realizing her lapse, and then offered an apologetic smile to Ruby.
"Ahh, sorry, sweetheart. Got a bit lost there," Ai admitted, laughter in her voice. Ruby's pout melted into a warm smile, reassured by her mother's affectionate response. Their silent bond remained intact.
Aqua observed the interaction, his contentment unbroken. In this cozy room, he discovered the beauty of family dynamics he had never known before. The air resonated with a sense of calm, a harmony that made him believe that life could indeed become this simple, this lovely.
In a corner of a quaint bar across town, a blond man nursed his wine, his features a canvas of contemplation. His gaze penetrated the glass, as if he was peering into his own thoughts. The man's companion, a spirited redhead, nibbled on a cherry nonchalantly, a stark contrast to the gravity etched on the blond man's face.
"...Hey."
"What's up?"
"Ever thought of checking if your balls shrunk when you changed your name?"
Y/N looked up, his eyebrows furrowed in irritation, and his voice was a mixture of disbelief and frustration. "Are you seriously suggesting that I punch a hole through your chest again?"
"Ah, no thanks. Donuts aren't my thing anymore." Kakyoin sighed, his gaze shifting to the cherry between his fingers, his nonchalance unchanged.
The blond man's lips twisted into a wry smile. "You just don't quit, do you?"
Kakyoin grinned, unaffected by Y/N's tone. "I just wonder how the great Y/N could be brooding over a glass of wine like it's his last will."
"Your humor is a curse, Kakyoin."
The redhead's grin widened, and he tapped his chin mockingly. "Yet here you are, not-so-great and brooding."
Y/N let out a sigh of exasperation, downing the remainder of his drink in one swift motion. The glass met the table with a muted clink, the sound carrying an undercurrent of frustration.
"Emotions," he muttered to himself, his voice a blend of annoyance and defeat.
Kakyoin leaned back in his chair, regarding Y/N with a raised eyebrow. "You know, for someone who claims to disdain emotions, you're doing a great job embodying them."
Y/N's gaze met Kakyoin's, a flicker of irritation still present. "I didn't ask for your analysis."
Kakyoin's eyes twinkled with mischief, his tone light. "You didn't need to."
The two friends locked eyes, a tension simmering between them, both stubborn in their own right.
"You're insufferable," Y/N finally said, his exasperation more a statement than a retort.
Kakyoin chuckled, taking another cherry into his mouth. "And yet, you're the one who begged me to come over like we're friends"
A wry smile tugged at Y/N's lips. "Tsk, who would wanna be friends with a lonely neet like you who still couldn't make friends despite it being your second life?"
Kakyoin's laughter was unabashed. "Don't worry, why would I wanna be friends with a cowardly vampire who's only experience of intimacy was with a girl who thought he was his stepbrother."
As the banter continued, a familiar bartender shook his head in amusement, their antics a familiar sight in his bar.
In a pause between their verbal jousts, Y/N's gaze softened as he looked towards the mirror across the bar. His reflection stared back, his features sharp, his body chiseled with care. Memories of Ai's playful gestures flooded his mind – her small hands tracing the lines of his muscles, her cheek resting against his biceps.
"Maybe I should go for something grand, something that'll take her breath away," Y/N mused, his voice a mixture of thoughtfulness and uncertainty.
Kakyoin leaned in, his voice a conspiratorial whisper. "You mean like a heartfelt gesture?"
Y/N's lips twitched into a half-smile. "Exactly."
His thoughts began to weave plans, romantic scenarios where his feelings for Ai would manifest in unforgettable ways. He pondered over moments that would let her know how deeply he cared.
And then, seemingly out of nowhere, a thought crossed his mind, bold and audacious.
"Perhaps I should stand before her, naked and exposed, a mere ribbon covering my intentions," he murmured, half to himself.
Silence descended over the bar, as if the universe itself needed a moment to comprehend Y/N's audacity. All eyes turned to him, disbelief and amusement dancing in their gazes.