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When you brought the pathetic-looking little blob of a creature you found in the street into your home, this isn’t what you expected at all.
That isn’t to say you’re unhappy with how things have turned out. It’s just… Unexpected, that’s all.
“Are you sure you don’t want something to eat?”
“Tch… I already told you, I don’t need any of that crap.”
That’s definitely not what he was saying when you first brought him home and he scarfed down an entire ham bigger than he was, but you know better than to fight it.
Envy is a strange person. He doesn’t seem to eat or sleep, at least not when you’ve been around to see it. Even the name ‘Envy’ is strange, but that’s what he told you his name is and who are you to argue with something like that?
You picked up a little weird lizard creature that was shivering and crying off the streets and ended up with a handsome boy who seems to hate you.
Names seem irrelevant compared to that.
“Alright, then… But I’ll leave some for you in case you change your mind.”
You focus on your own dinner. Envy doesn’t say a word, just stays curled up in a corner trying to pretend he’s not glancing at you out of the corner of his eye when he thinks you’re not looking, almost like he wants you to forget he’s even there.
It’s almost like having a cat. Even though he acts aloof and grumpy, like he wants nothing to do with you, he’s still hanging around. It’s not like he has any reason to, if he doesn’t eat or sleep, and you’re not exactly holding him prisoner.
Maybe he’s just not good with people. Or maybe there’s something in his past that makes it hard for him to express himself.
After you wash the dishes, it’s time for a bath and to get ready for bed— but when you turn to leave, just out of the corner of your eye you see Envy going for the plate of food you left for him, once he thinks you’re no longer watching.
Yes— very much like having a cat.
Days pass by. Envy is still there, and even though you don’t ask him why he hasn’t left yet (because the last thing you want is to give him a reason to think you don’t want him there anymore), you still wonder why, if he seems to not want anything to do with you.
One day you spot something in a shop that makes you think of him— a cute scarf that you think perfectly matches the colour of his eyes— and you pick it up on your way home.
“What is this?”
“It’s to keep you warm. The weather is supposed to start getting cold soon.”
“Tch, I don’t need something like that. Why don’t you get that already?”
He throws the scarf on the floor. Before you met him, something like that would have hurt your feelings, but it’s just something you’ve gotten used to ever since you woke up and found that the little creature you brought home turned into a boy overnight.
Still, it stings just a little as you lean over to pick it up.
“Well… I just thought it would look cute on you, that’s all. See? It’s the same colour as your eyes.”
You hold it up to demonstrate that— even though it’s not like Envy can see the colour of his own eyes without a mirror.
He snatches the scarf out of your hands— but this time he doesn’t throw it away.
“Well… I suppose you have good taste, even if you’re not too bright.”
That makes you smile, even though it’s an insult.
And, even though you know it’s probably not a good idea, you can’t resist the urge to tease him— just a little.
“You know, the way you’re turning red right now… That’s cute on you, too.”
“Shut up!”
Even though that makes Envy jump up and storm off (you don’t miss the fact that he takes the scarf with him when he goes), you can’t help but feel happy.
He really does look cute when he’s blushing, after all.
It’s a cold winter this year. Even in the city, people are bundled up tightly and smoke rises from every chimney.
One night you get home late from work because the trolley was delayed by the snow, and the first thing you notice is that the house is nice and warm.
Envy is home all day, of course, but he’s always quick to remind you that he doesn’t feel hot and cold the way you do, so it’s not like he lit the fire for his own sake.
But you’re not about to look a gift horse in the mouth as you’re able to strip off your cold, soggy outerwear and kick off your boots as soon as you walk in the door.
“You’re late, Y/N.”
“Ah, sorry about that. Thanks for warming the place up for me.”
Envy snorts and this is usually around the time he would slink off and make himself scarce, but this time he just sort of… Hovers.
You’re not sure if you’re allowed to call attention to it, so you don’t. Instead you just go about your routine as you normally would— and Envy sort of follows you around at a distance the whole time.
You actually forget he’s there for a moment when you wander over to the fireplace that Envy’s helpfully lit so you can warm your cold hands— until you feel a hand on the back of your neck.
“Did you go out without a scarf?”
Envy doesn’t eat or drink anything. He doesn’t sleep. The clothes he wears are unusual, and definitely not suited to the season, and yet he never seems to get cold.
And yet… His hand feels warm.
Is that just because, like he said, you went out without a scarf this morning not realizing how cold it was going to be?
Or is it something more than that?
Whatever it is, Envy doesn’t give you a chance to say anything before he snorts and wanders off as he usually does— leaving you standing by the fire feeling confused, yet… Warm.
“I’m heading out!”
You don’t know what Envy does to amuse himself all day while you’re at work, but whatever it is, he must enjoy it a lot because he usually disappears after breakfast and doesn’t reappear until after you get home from work— if at all, some nights.
But this time, he surprises you by appearing suddenly as soon as you call out to let him know you’re leaving.
He doesn’t say anything as he reaches up and puts his hand on the back of your neck to get you to dip your head closer to his height— and your faces are so close that for a second you think he’s going to—
Put the scarf you bought for him around your neck?
You blink a few times as he casually wraps the scarf around your neck, and Envy just shakes his head.
“Now you won’t go and catch some sort of deadly illness or whatever it is you humans do when you get too cold,” he says, rolling his eyes.
“Ah… Thank you?”
“I just like living in your house,” he says, and you’re pretty sure he’s skipped a few lines there about how he only cares about you because he doesn’t want to leave or whatever, but it’s still pretty adorable. “Don’t think about it too much. And besides… That colour looks good on you.”
You still haven’t had the chance to raise your head after he’s pulled you down because you’re too busy trying to figure out what’s going on, but apparently Envy sees this as some kind of opportunity— because now he decides to give you that kiss you thought he was going to give you before.
It’s quick, and for a second you’re not sure if it actually happened or not because he’s already turned to walk away before you can say anything.
A door closes somewhere in your house.
It’s cold outside, and you need to get to work.
The scarf around your neck, as you step out the door to greet the day, is nice and warm.