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It was the middle of the night when it's the final patrol. Soft, almost soundless footsteps were heard walking around the halls. Topaz eyes looking left and right, checking if everything is in order before finally getting to bed.
"Hmm... Everything is is order, might as well go back..." Lemon Zest whispers, before noticing the familiar red figure sitting by the corner. "Oh?"
The blond approaches the figure silently, noticing it's just Crushed Pepper asleep, leaning his body onto the wall, weapons just within hand's reach, just in case an emergency occur.
"Hmm, must've got himself lost finding his room again." Lemon Zest sighed, knowing the redhead's lack of sense of direction. Often getting lost. He wasn't mad. He finds it amusing at least. And it's quite easy for him to find him too. And this continues on in all the times the redhead visited the citadel just for the sake of seeing him.
The blond wonders why seeing him was that necessary. But he always end up in the same response.
"Seeing you is a highlight of my journey."
He had a feeling the other seemed to develop an infatuation towards him. A cute crush of some kind. That thought makes him laugh, a bit flattering. Lot of females and males have developed the same feelings towards him, probably because he's attractive in some way.
Maybe the redhead felt similar like that.
"Hmmm..." The blond wonders. "Should I leave him here, or should I wake him up?"
Lemon Zest knelt down, looking closer to the sleeping redhead. He had always been aware on how much muscular in build the other was compared to him, despite being skilled fighters. He's more into brute force, and himself being more flexible. During trainings, he finds himself noticing how easily the other can lift him up or grab him away from getting hit by any attack. Despite that strong physique, he felt the redhead is being careful when holding him.
Like he's delicate and might shatter if held improperly.
The blond noticed Crushed Pepper is leaning onto the side and about to tip over. A hand quickly reached up, catching the other's face. "Whoops, wouldn't let you have a big bump on your..." Lemon Zest paused, starting to look onto the other's face.
Being so deep into slumber, having a relaxed expression on that face. "Very handsome." He muttered, staring longer at the face. Vermillion colored bangs swept to the side, partly covering part of the face. He couldn't see those ruby red eyes as they were lightly shut. Lips also partly opened, making his eyes linger a bit more.
It's the first time he has seen the other in that way. Beyond being acquaintances, or friends, or comrades. More in a romantic way. He could see himself going out with the redhead a few times, really interested in whatever he talks about. Imagining himself being genuinely happy being with him. Being held into those warm, comforting arms and letting his head rest onto that chest, letting him hear the strong beating of the heart.
"Hehe..." Lemon Zest chuckles softly. Having those thoughts really amuses him. He didn't even know he could eventually have such feelings towards someone at all until now. He could feel something warm rising on his face, he feels he's blushing. Feeling his heart starts to beat a bit faster, just by those thoughts in his mind. "Does seeing my face makes you feel like this?" He whispers, lightly leaning closer to the other's face. "That's so... Fascinating..."
It's probably due to the heat of the moment, an impulsive decision was made as the blond smiles and leans in further, kissing the sleeping redhead on the lips. Just a soft, gentle touch...
... Was enough to wake up a sleeping beauty.
"Mmm?" Ruby eyes slowly opened up, noticing what the other has been doing. "Mmmmph???" Crushed Pepper tried to speak but his lips is still muffled by the other's lips. "Mmmmn...?" Instead of struggling, he ended up letting the other kiss him until they both pulled away, almost out of breath.
The blond smirks, licking his lips as if savoring every traces of the kiss as he looks at the redhead flushed red and confused on what just happened.
"You... And... I... I MEAN. We... Just??? We??? Ummm??? Did we just??? DID WE JUST???" Crushed Pepper couldn't even complete a sentence, a shocked expression present on his reddened face.
"Shhh... It's midnight. You should keep your voice down." Lemon Zest shushed him, placing a finger over his lips.
"Why?" The redhead managed to say one word as his thoughts are so jumbled right now.
A smirk formed on the blond's lips. "Seeing your face is now a highlight of my day."
It didn't register yet that the response mirrored the same answer to why he's been wanting to see the blond. But he did noticed the other has been looking at him in a gaze he couldn't understand.
It's soft, and flattering to see that gaze.
"Did you lost your way back to your room?" Lemon Zest asked.
"Yeah, a bit."
"So were you waiting for me to give you directions back?"
".... Maybe?"
"You must've been too tired. Alright I'll lead you to your room." The blond stands up, dusting his pants. "Unless... My room is closer so you want to sleep in my room?"
"AH!" The redhead blushed harder, mind still processing.
"Hahaha... Come on..." He grabbed the other's hand, helping him to get up and they walked back.
The two walked back in silence. Too quiet, excluding the sound of their footsteps. Lemon Zest looked back and noticed ruby eyes immediately looking away from him, as if shy of getting caught staring at him. He chuckled a bit, knowing the other is still shy about being kissed by him. Eventually, they reached a room and the blond turned around.
"You're very obedient on being quiet right now? Something the matter?" He asked.
"I.... Ummm..."
"Was it because of the kiss?"
"No, I mean... The kiss is... Amazing..." The other starts to blush again. "It's just... I... I haven't got kissed before."
"Oh come on, you haven't got kissed by a guy before, right?"
"I mean..."
"Oh..." Lemon Zest reacted, finally figured it out. "You haven't been kissed like that by anyone before?"
Crushed Pepper nodded softly.
"Ohhhh.... Guess I just stole your first kiss then?" The blond spoke. "You said it's amazing?"
"Ah... I... I did..."
"Well I guess there's no problem then~ It would be concerning if your first kiss isn't good. It'll bruise both our egos."
"Wait... What... What will happen to us? Like... What are we? Our relationship?" The redhead's stammering of words shows how confused he still was.
Lemon Zest approached Crushed Pepper, having his hand brush against the other's face. "Hmmm... I guess it's a question you can figure out the answer. And besides, you're very cute when being kissed right now."
"Oh..."
The blond opens the door to the room. Crushed Pepper noticed that it's a different room from where he's supposed to be.
"Uh... Zest? This isn't my room."
"I know. It's mine." The blond smirks, pulling the redhead closer. "I'll make sure you're getting kissed more than once tonight~" He whispers before kissing the other on the lips again.
"Mmm?!" He couldn't speak again as his mouth is busy and his body gets pulled by the blond into the soundproofed room, locking the door behind them.