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Rafayel listens to the conversations of the others backstage with a bored expression, his shoulder against the wall and his arms crossed over his chest. Having rejected several of Thomas’s pleas to attend this event in the first place, you fully expected a pouty fishie when he finally caved and agreed to show up. But clearly you underestimated just how pouty this fishie would get.
Glancing over as you approach, he shifts his weight back onto both feet, accepting the glass water bottle you hand him between three fingertips.
“At least you care about me, cutie. I’m absolutely parched and Thomas was going to allow me to walk out there under those vicious heat lamps without a single sip of water? How cruel, even for him.”
You shake your head, resisting a smile at the sound of his grumbling, knowing he is only partially serious under all the dramatics.
“Thomas does care about you, Raf. He’s just super busy. You know he has another client here today who he has to deal with.”
He takes a long gulp of water as you speak, his eyebrows furrowing at you in the meantime. When he finally lowers the glass, he grimaces.
“Don’t stick up for him and his negligence. He abandoned me here and left you to deal with the consequences,” he says, tugging at his tie, exasperated by Thomas’s audacity, “Ugh, how do people not suffocate with these collars on?”
“Just take it off, I don’t know why you put one on in the first place when you never wear one on a normal day,” you instruct, reaching up and brushing his hands aside so you can loosen the tie yourself. Feeling his eyes on you, you continue to work without looking up, “And I don’t know what ‘consequences’ you’re talking about. It’s going to take more than one grumpy fishie to scare me away. Or did you forget that I hunt Wanderers for a living when I’m not being paid to follow you around everywhere?”
Tugging on the end of the tie, the smooth fabric slides off his shoulder and into your hand. When you finally look up at him, he has a faint smile in his eyes.
Clearing his throat, he blushes softly and looks away, toward the clock that continues to count down to his introduction.
“Yeah, well…” he says, and you realize you’ve just encountered a rare treat: ‘speechless Rafayel’.
“Yeah, well…?” you tease, causing him to flush even deeper.
He shakes his head as if trying to snap out of a spell.
“I guess I’m lucky I have such a capable bodyguard,” he chuckles, brushing deep purple waves of hair out of his eyes with his fingers. You know he can feel you looking up at him, but he continues to avoid your gaze, “I’ll make it through this little soirée all because of you.
“I’m happy to help,” you chirp enthusiastically, causing him to look at you with a curious expression.
He doesn’t say a thing, but his eyes seem to be speaking at a million miles a minute and you just can’t look away.
“Mister Rafayel, you’re on in less than a minute,” a stranger’s voice breaks the magic you were under and Raf looks up, giving the man a brisk nod.
“No delaying now,” he flashes a smile and leans down to give you a swift peck of a kiss on the lips. However, still feeling the affect of whatever had been drawing you toward each other just moments before, you gently catch hold of his collar and keep him close. Pushing up onto your toes, you deepen your kiss and feel him lean in, hearing his sweet, contented sigh.
Only when you hear the ten-second countdown begin do you part.
“That’s me,” he breathes, then smiles, “You really know me well. I feel like my heart is singing.”
“Go on, then,” you say, giving him a nudge toward the stage.
He takes his cue perfectly and you hear his voice echo through the suddenly cozy arena. Reaching up, you place your cool hands on your warm cheeks. Feeling bubbles of euphoria rise up in your chest, you allow them to rise out of you in a blissful giggle.