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That night, the rain poured mercilessly.
The wooden shack hidden deep in the mountains—where they had been hiding out for the past two days—finally gave in: the roof started leaking.
“Fantastic,” Shin grumbled, holding a bucket under the dripping ceiling. “We’re being hunted by a newborn assassin organization, stuck in some haunted hut, and now this—leaky roof. What’s next? Talking chickens?”
Seba sat cross-legged on the floor, calmly wrapping a bandage around the minor wound on his arm with whatever he could find. He shrugged.
“If chickens could talk, I bet they’d be less chatty than you.”
Shin snapped his head around. “What?!”
“Forget it,” Seba replied calmly, not even looking up from his wound. But the corner of his lips curled slightly—barely noticeable.
Shin sighed, loudly. He was annoyed. But deep down, he was relieved. If Seba could still joke, it meant he was okay… despite getting shot two days ago.
Shin sat near the small fireplace, stretching to shake off the cold.
“Sleep, Shin,” Seba said as he stood up and draped his jacket over Shin’s shoulders without asking. “It’s cold. You’re shivering.”
Shin opened his mouth to protest—but stayed quiet.
The jacket was warm. And it smelled like Seba—faintly of soap, a bit earthy, and somehow… comforting.
“Tch, damn you…” he mumbled, lowering his head so Seba wouldn’t see his slightly flushed cheeks.
Seba sat back down, gripping a broken broomstick he had repurposed as a makeshift weapon. He didn’t talk much. But from the way he kept his eyes on the door, Shin knew: Seba was going to keep watch all night. For him.
It was strange—despite being a year younger, Seba never let Shin take the night watch, even when Seba himself was half-dead.
The night deepened. The wind bit harder.
The fire in the small fireplace was dying down, even though they’d piled on as much wood as they could.
Shin shivered. Even with Seba’s jacket on his shoulders, the cold crept through the cracks in the wooden windows, digging into his bones.
Seba, leaning against the wall, stared into the fire with half-lidded eyes. But when he heard Shin’s teeth chattering, he slowly opened his eyes.
“…Feeling cold?”
“No,” Shin said reflexively. “My body’s just practicing Morse code. Don’t freak out.”
Seba stood up. Without saying anything, he opened his weapons bag, pulled out bits of plastic and rubber, and began assembling something. Within minutes, he’d crafted a thin inflatable sleeping bag.
“Get in.”
Shin frowned. “Huh? You should use it. You’re still hurt.”
“I slept last night. You didn’t. You’re freezing. Get in.”
Seba’s tone remained flat, but it carried an undeniable firmness.
Shin grumbled under his breath but eventually stood and dragged himself into the sleeping bag.
But then—
He froze— when Seba slipped in from the other side.
“HEY HEY HEY—!” Shin yelped in panic. “WHY ARE YOU GETTING IN TOO?!”
Seba, with his usual deadpan face, replied calmly,
“It’s the only way to stay warm. We need to share body heat.”
Shin fell silent, unable to find the right words to protest. But his entire body language screamed discomfort.
Seba turned to face him, his eyes clear and unbothered.
“Do you want to freeze to death?”
Shin opened his mouth, ready to argue—but the wind answered first, cold as hell.
And Seba’s body… was warm.
That warmth seeped into him, relaxing the tightness in his muscles.
He muttered quietly, “Damn it… Don’t you feel awkward being this close?”
“No.” Seba inched a little closer. Their noses nearly touched.
“Do I make you uncomfortable, Shin?”
Shin held his breath. His face burned, his heart pounded like a war drum, and Seba? Still calm as ever, completely unaware of the emotional chaos he was stirring in Shin.
“…Sleep, Shin.”
Seba’s voice was soft, almost a whisper. His obsidian eyes looked straight into Shin’s.
Shin mumbled, “Don’t get so close…”
But he didn’t move away. He ended up turning his back to Seba, pretending to sleep—but his mind was far from calm. The more he tried to ignore it, the more restless he became.
“Shin,” Seba’s voice came again, low and gentle—enough to make Shin melt.
“…What.”
“Are you… comfortable?”
“No,” Shin snapped, without turning around.
Seba didn’t respond. But slowly, carefully, he moved closer—not aggressively, more like someone trying to offer warmth without forcing it.
“Come here.”
Just two words, spoken softly but firmly.
Shin turned around.
Their eyes met. Seba’s face was just inches away. In the dim light, his black eyes looked deeper—like they held something unsaid.
“Why are you suddenly so quiet?” Shin whispered, half curious.
“I don’t know what to say,” Seba replied honestly. “I just… want to be close.” His voice trembled slightly.
Shin noticed the faint blush on Seba’s cheeks and let out a short laugh. “This is weird. You’re usually the calmest one.”
Seba didn’t respond. Instead, he leaned in slowly, hesitantly—giving Shin the chance to pull away if he wanted.
But Shin didn’t. He stayed still, eyes barely open, trying to make sure this wasn’t a dream or a mistake.
And when Seba’s lips met his—lightly, slowly, with both uncertainty and bottled-up longing—the world outside that little room disappeared.
The kiss was brief, but warm. Not rushed. Like tasting something that had been waiting quietly all along.
When they parted, Shin whispered, “…Was that your first kiss?”
Seba nodded slowly. A faint blush spread across his handsome face, but he didn’t look away. His eyes stayed locked on Shin’s. “Yeah.”
Pfft… No wonder! Shin stifled a laugh, his shoulders trembling.
“That's too idiot… How could I be blushing because of that clumsy little kiss?”
Seba let out a quiet sigh. “Hey, I had to summon all my courage to do that.”
Shin looked at him with a knowing smile and turned his back again.
“I didn’t expect much from a mechanical nerd like you. But that little move just now… totally exceeded my expectations.”
Seba closed the distance between them, gently this time. Shin let him rest his forehead against his shoulder.
And in that silence, Shin closed his eyes—not to sleep, but to preserve the warmth spreading through his chest. A warmth that annoyed him… in the most delightful way.
-FIN