Chapter Text
“I dare you to kiss xyx!”
“ Well doll, seems I get to keep my promise hm?”
His deep verdant eyes bore into their soul, entrapping them within a lush forest of green, each green hue imitating the tall wooden pillars. They felt lost and yet found in them, the leaves were sharp yet welcoming, and the more they locked their eyes with him, the more and the harder they fell.
Within a sharp second, they closed their eyes, where, behind the dark screen, even for a moment, they searched for more willpower, something, anything, that will help them survive the impending kiss.
He always played this game of push and pull, the harder they pushed, denying even a fragment of a feeling, the more he pulled them in, trapping them within his vines. As time went on, and their bond grew, they began to master his game, battling him head-on, pulling him when he pulled them, leaving them both in an endless duel with spectators begging for either to complete the final pull.
But then he pushed.
He pushed them away when the tension was too thick, he pushed when the blade was at his throat, unknowing his opponent's next move. Will they end the duel with mercy as they pushed or end it in red, leaving him vulnerable and helpless?
Deep down he was afraid of that demanded final pull. It was fire he wanted to touch, to embrace its warmth but feared the burn.
He feared being vulnerable, having the flames eat him, burning his flesh and bone, leaving him with one thing and one thing alone. Weakness.
“ Seems so pretty boy, I hope there is some bite behind all that barking, I’m not one for empty promises.”
Pull.
“ Would you look at that neither am I, guess I have to prove I am an obedient pet and follow orders hm?”
Pull.
“ It seems to be that way, now be a good boy and bite.”
Pull.
“ Should the biting be literal or…?”
Fuck… uh…what was it we were doing again?
“ It seems my opponent is coming down with a fever and therefore we can’t participate, what an absolute shame.”
And there was that push.
However, a new opponent approaches in the form of…June?! They hastily made their way to the towering giant before them, shoving them both into a spare room, it seems that the spectators wanted blood on the battlefield.
“Nope, no, nu huh, you two are going to kiss and you will not leave this room till it happens. Now, less of this will they won’t they,” gesturing strangely at them both, “And more kissing!”
As if to punctuate their demand, the door slammed before them with a strength they have never witnessed before, thus leaving the two both confused and shocked at the circumstance and event before them.
The room was quiet, save for the distant shouting behind the locked door, there was nowhere for either to push the other away, and the pull was stronger with the close proximity.
As if to slice the tension, Xyx stepped away, striding to the other side and finally sitting on the comfortable bed, embracing its soft and plush texture.
“ Well, it seems I have some biting to do hm?” A small laugh broke out, though he had a talent for concealing his true feelings with a laugh so charming, aiming to please others with its fake nature, but they knew better. They knew him better.
Though he was faking it, so enchantingly did he laugh, it was as if he knew the effect his laugh had on them, how every tone and note of his voice struck their heart so impactfully, piercing their bleeding heart further and further.
He used his humour and saccharine laughter as a disguised push.
A push they had become acquainted with for oh so long.
And they were tired and exhausted of this game, and so, it was time.
So they pulled.
“Xyx, look, I. Damn, I don't know how to say this but I can't go on like this. This whole situation is, it's wonderful but I need to say that I-”
His eyes widened, was he afraid? Scared? Did their final pull become his final push?
They could already predict the excuse awaiting to be spoken, or yet another distraction.
They were tired of distractions.
And he pushed.
“Doll, isn’t this bed comfortable? I should ask Toaster where they get their-”
And they pulled. Knowing deep down, this was their cliff, where like a fool they will plummet, consumed by the satiation of passion and their ever-living infatuation. Unknowing of the fall that awaited, whether it was sharp stones preying and waiting to pierce their heart or the gentle, accepting flow of a stream.
“ Stop avoiding the subject. Please. I-I, look I like you. Romantically. And I don't expect you to like me back, to me your friendship is more than enough. Hell, just being with you and knowing you are happy brings me enough joy.”
They began to walk towards their cliff, sitting on the lush covers where their nails pierced its surface, hanging on to whatever safety they could before the fall as they felt the stones crumble in his eyes.
“ I know my timing is terrible but I just want you to know how wonderful you are. You are just so- what’s the word? Charismatic, yes! The way you charm people with your humour and intellect is so beautiful to me not to mention how much you care for those around you-”
“ Stop, please.”
There it was. The awaited rocky surface that patiently stood and gazed at them, waiting for the fall, piercing what little hope they had placed in this final push.
And they panicked.
They panicked because this was their death, the death of their relationship. The remnants of their bonds laying before them in pieces, and even when fools fall, they panic and fight for their life. They attempted to piece together the remnants in an anxious hurry.
“ Oh my god I’m so sorry thought I wouldn’t overstep any boundaries but here I am messing it up-”
Their hands had covered their face, shielding them behind the comforting wall of darkness where his piercing verdant eyes couldn’t penetrate their threshold and yet he did. With a soft touch, he held their hands in his own, tracing his thumbs across each knuckle as if analysing each curvature and bump.
“No doll, I just needed you to stop because…because I feel like I will burst if you go on. FYI, I like you too, probably more than I can admit.”
“ W-wait you do?!”
As they began to remove his hands, they remained firm in their grip, his hands holding theirs, further shielding them from witnessing his embarrassment.
“I think it's best you don’t look at me, I can’t break your cool image of me just yet.”
“You can't break the image if there wasn’t one already.”
The teasing tone emitted a chuckle out of him, even in such moments they didn’t lose their ability to tease him, and that’s what drew him to them.
The banters, the sarcastic remarks, the teasing tone, everything of theirs simply made his heart grow fonder with every interaction.
“ Oh haha, you are such a comedian I am practically rolling in laughter. If I can be frank-”
“But I thought you were Xyx.”
“ No, actually now I am legally Frank.”
“ Well then it's a pleasure Frank I am y/n.”
They began to laugh, and as if their masks fell, so did their hands fall from their face, but rather than parting, the pair held on, fearing to push the other away if even a finger was out of place.
Everything in this moment was perfect. It was a true showcase of their hidden feelings coming to light from where they had previously dwelled in the darkness of their desires.
“ This will sound sappy-”
“ Too bad I like it when you are sappy.”
A peculiar smile began to form on his face, one they haven’t seen before. It wasn’t one born from flirtatious teasing, nor his usual trollish remarks, but he had a soft smile, such a smile that engraves itself in your heart where it leaves its imprint for many years to come and lives on the very surface of their heart.
The heart-thumping kind of smile.
A smile outshining the sun itself.
It was his smile.
“I guess I have no choice but to be sappy huh love?”
They pushed him onto the bed, landing on top of him. His hands were pinned above his head thus leaving a confused but nonetheless pleased grin on his face, gone was the sappy smile from his face as mischief replaced it. It was alright though.
It was his smile after all.
“ I knew you had it bad for me but love, I didn’t know it was that bad. Can’t say I can’t get used to this view.~”
“ You just had to ruin this didn’t you?”
“ Yes I did.~”
Soon their banter ceased and a tickle war began. Historians say it was the dual of the century, where love plagued the air and our courageous heroes fought valiantly.
The match continued till both were out of breath and silent giggles replaced the booming laughter. Soon they found themselves resting on his chest, tracing small circles on his arms fearing this was all a dream, but they were slowly failing to stay awake as their eyes began to slowly shut as his heart beat with a steady rhythm. The melody formed their favourite lullaby, a song they could get used to for eternity and into as many lives as they could spend with one another.
“ Wait, what about the others? Aren’t we supposed to go back?” Their tone betrayed their state with a soft yawn at the end of their speech.
“ Nah they will be fine, besides,” he spoke and placed a soft peck on the inside of their wrist, “a gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”
“ A gentleman you say, well then I sure hope so after all, it would be a shame if someone were to attack said gentleman.~”
“ Love, it's a dangerous game you are playing~.”
They smacked his head lightly, eliciting a playful ‘Ow!’ from the man below.
“You are such a dork.”
“ But I’m your dork?”
“Yea you’re my dork. Guess what Xyx?”
“Hm?”
“I love you~.”
He shoved his face at the sheets, groaning at their sickly sweet tone, as his cheeks shone a deep crimson, betraying his supposed frustration at their declaration.
“ Lord help me.” the word barely audible as they were muffled by the soft sheets.
And soon they erupted into a fit of laughter as their smiles grew ever so fondly. After numerous attempts at pulling and receiving what seemed to be an endless amount of pushing, they finally won the game and pulled the ultimate prize. Love.
“ God that was cheesy.”
…….
“ CAN THE TWO OF YOU GET A ROOM?!”
“WE ARE ALREADY IN A ROOM!”