Work Text:
Rui was a flirt, you know this and others have warned you as such. He flirts easily, making every girl feel at home and loved. So when he openly flirts with you, it’s easy enough to brush it off as him just being his usual self. That is until he and Lyca rescued you from the hotel anomaly. There was genuine regret when he pulled his hand away, and your heart tugged towards him as Lyca carried you away from the scene, knowing he couldn’t physically touch you to ensure you were ok. Since then you’ve been getting more flustered at his attention, asking you on dates only to be interrupted by Haku or someone else.
When he steps out of the limo you can’t help but find him gorgeous, he winks at you and waves, introducing himself at a polite distance. You shake your head minutely, remembering you had to pretend not to know him, as you greeted him back earnestly. At the cocktail hour you set your sights on Jin who had told you to talk to him only for him to leave the area leaving you bereft of what you were supposed to do now.
“Hello, does someone want their favorite reaper to whisk them away?” His breath tickled your ear and you resisted the urge to shudder, looking at Rui who was smiling at you.
“How when you can’t touch me?” A sadness in his eyes flickered at the reminder as he kept his hands carefully at his sides.
“But you can touch me and this,” he takes out his artifact and swings it in front of you, “Can help us go into the shadows. Just think of the ratings boost as I steal the pearl before she can even talk to the other contestants?” He makes a good point, and you would honestly rather be with him than wandering around searching for Jin and risking annoying him. So you wrapped your arms around his waist as you snuck into a shadow, and with a swing of his scythe you disappeared into the darkness. You resurface far away from the party tent, where shadows were plentiful and the moonlight danced on the ocean's surface.
“Is it hot in that suit?” You asked, putting your hands behind you and looking at it with interest. Rui put his artefact away and gave you a smile.
“A little, but worth it given what the sun can do to me. What about you? I know you weren’t wanting to wear a bikini originally.” You blushed at him remembering your one off remark to him when you met up with him before stopping by the general store to ask for a bathing suit.
“It’s fine, I have the wrap after all.” You nervously wrapped it closer to you to hide the tattoo and Rui moved a little further from you.
“Sorry, I suppose me being close to you would worry you huh?” Realizing he mistook your actions for unease you moved closer to him.
“I’m not worried, I trust you.” You gave him a smile and he sighed softly, reaching a hand out only to pull it back to his side.
“To be honest, I really wish I could hug you right now. It can’t be easy having all this attention on you right?” You were touched at him noticing as you nodded, sitting on the sand and gesturing for him to join.
“Yeah it’s something I wasn’t expecting, that, and this doesn’t seem to apply to my curse.” You didn’t mean to vent, especially to Rui but also why not to Rui as he would get it.
“Has the mark changed at all?” You jolted at the question, making sure the cover was still on you and Rui narrowed his eyes at you.
“No, why is it supposed to?” You feigned ignorance and Rui frowned but thankfully seemed to know he wouldn’t get anything out of you.
“It can, Ed told me he offered to make you a vampire.” You raised your eyebrows at that, it seemed like he really did share everything with Rui.
“Yeah he did, but I want to stay human, that’s why I want to break this curse.” You grabbed a random stick and started drawing circles in the sand.
“I’m glad you didn’t, you being human is something you should cherish.” An air of melancholy settled around you and you poked him with a stick.
“If we can break my curse we can break yours, if you want to that is.” Rui brightened at that, taking the stick from you and poking you back.
“Maybe, let's take care of you first though.” You layed back to stare at the stars and Rui joined you, hands close but not enough to touch, a safe distance away.
“What would you do, if your curse was to be broken?” You ask looking over at him only to find him already looking at you.
“Promise not to laugh?”
“I can promise to try,” you offered, pleased when he huffed out a surprised laugh.
“I want to pet one of the cats on campus, it will be nice to pet soft and fluffy things again.” You were surprised he didn’t turn it into an instance to flirt with you but it felt genuine and honest so you smiled.
“Then I’ll make sure to find a cure for both of us,” you grabbed the stick back and held it out to him. “Want to shake on it?” This time he fully laughed as he grabbed the stick moving it up and down with you. You put it down and sit up, stretching, aware of Rui’s eyes on you so you try not to move in a way that your back will show.
“You know, I know you didn’t want to wear one but you look good in that, comfortable.” You blink your eyes at the compliment, blushing and looking out to the ocean instead of him.
“Why can’t you be serious?” You giggled after to show him you weren’t being serious but stopped when you felt Rui closer to you. You look back at him as he leans towards you. “I’m always serious when it comes to you.” Your heart beat faster at the proximity, keenly aware of the danger you were in and the restraint Rui was showcasing to not grab you. As his hands dig into the sand,
“Ok then, can we go on a date when we get back to campus then?” Rui raised an eyebrow at that, pulling away with a smile.
“Yeah of course, glad to finally get that yes.” You smiled back at him as you both enjoyed the moonlit glow and starry sky.