Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Hey.”

You felt your eye begin twitching. This was the seventh time in ten minutes. Seventh.

“Hey. I’m talking to you.” He let out a huff of amusement as he leaned over, finger lightly brushing the top of your report and disrupting your careful work.

You ignored him.

“C’mon. Look at me, just once. Please?” His voice dripped with that insufferable charm you despised.

You squeezed your eyes shut, taking in a slow, deep breath and immediately regretted it as you caught the scent of smoke on him. You twisted your head away, stifling a cough and wrinkling your nose at the smell.

Seeing this, Dreadful_Day gave a light snicker as he leaned back. For a moment, a sheepish look flickered on his face as he waited for the smell to fade, although it quickly snapped back to his usual smug look.

“I’m asking so nicely. Just look at me. I’m not asking for much, am I?” His tone lowered, soft and lilting, the kind that made your grip tighten on your pen instinctively.

“Well, aren’t you persistent." You gritted your teeth, resisting the urge to roll your eyes. "I'm busy, Dreadful. Emotionless_Day put me on a deadline. I’ve got a million things to do that don’t involve you." You finally gave in, steering your gaze to glare at Dreadful_Day through a thin veil of irritation.

The smile that spread across his face made you want to punch it off.

“There you are. I was beginning to think I died and became a ghost.”

Dreadful_Day slid his hand from the paper, fingertips moving to brush your chin instead. The gesture was casual, almost lazy, but it made your shoulders rise anyways. His forefinger and thumb grasped the corner of your lips, moving to spread them into a forced smile.

“I got your eyes. Now, where’s that smile?”

Your eye twitched again, an involuntary response. Resisting the urge to snarl, you gave him a look of contempt as he snickered again.

“Don’t you have better things to do? Like your job?” You leaned back, rolling your eyes as his hand and smile fell to give way to a petulant sulk.

“I mean I could, but I’d rather be here with you.” Dreadful_Day leaned in closer, lips curling up in a smirk. Before you could move it, his hand closed down over yours, preventing you from lifting up your pen again.

The gesture made your chest tighten, feeling his warmth pressing down on yours.

“You’ve been working on this non-stop for four hours. Yes, I counted them all.” His digits slid between yours, lacing your fingers together. “It’s lunchtime anyways. I’ll treat you — if you agree to sit next to me this time, instead of the far end of the countertop.”

Your eyes dropped to where your fingers were entwined with his. The tightness in your chest loosened just a little, but only because the thought of free food was dangerously appealing.

…Fine. Free food was free food. And even if it pained you to admit, Dreadful_Day wasn’t completely unbearable to be around.

“I’ll go, but only if you promise not to smoke. I hate the smell.”

He grinned, completely unphased. “Deal. Oh, the things I do for you, mon trésor.”

Chapter Text

You could feel his stare piercing you like a knife.

“[OPERATIVE] Emotionless_Day, mon ami, you look different today.” Dreadful_Day drawled, his voice dripping with mock sweetness. His gaze roamed over you, that stupid smug smirk spreading on his face. “Did you get more attractive or did my standards lower?”

You gave a low, inaudible sigh. You had no time for this today.

“…Do you have any requisition forms with you, Operative Dreadful_Day?” You gritted your teeth, plastering your best customer service smile on and faking politeness as best as you could. “I’m afraid I’m currently busy with paperwork, so I have no time for your antics.”

“I could have sworn you looked more dead inside. Did you perhaps switch to a new shampoo? Or changed your diet?” Dreadful_Day continued, a mock tone of naivety lacing his voice. His eyes gleamed, unbothered by your lack of enthusiasm.

“...What do you want, Dreadful.”

“Mon cher! I could have sworn I saw someone else instead.” Dreadful_Day gave an exaggerated gasp of shock as he reached out, finger prodding your cheek as if making sure you were real. “This is a nice change of sights, I’ll say.”

You felt your eyebrows furrow again as a small scowl began building on your lips. This had no effect in deterring him as usual.

“Although I could have sworn, aren’t you supposed to be on the other side of the base?” Dreadful_Day tilted his head, his voice taking on a more curious tone as he moved to tilt your head towards him. “So what are you doing here, exactly?”

His eyes searched yours, waiting for your reply as his fingers lingered too long against your jaw. You could feel the pressure of his touch, like he was trying to pull something out of you.

“Emotionless_Day had to deal with an outbreak at his facility. I was only told about it when I got here this morning and he excused me from my usual duties to help take care of his paperwork while he’s away.” You could see the gears turning in his head as he took in the information, his thumb resting idly against your cheek.

“Is that so?” His gaze drifted to your lips for a moment before you turned your head away, breaking contact.

“Yes. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have actual work I need to get back to. So if you don’t have a requisition form that needs approval, I’d like you to leave.”

“Is there a requisition form for you?”

“Get out.”

“Okay, okay. I actually do have a requisition form.” Dreadful_Day gave a long sigh, pulling out his papers and casually handing them to you. “Feel free to take your time, I’ll be here enjoying the view.”

Dreadful_Day leaned against the back of your seat, settling comfortably as his head peered over your shoulder.

The only good thing about his form was his handwriting. It was surprisingly neat yet rushed, an endearing quality you’d never admit. Unfortunately, you weren’t familiar with the process of filing out forms. It wasn’t difficult to figure out, but it was time consuming.

Dreadful_Day didn’t make a sound throughout the process, to your surprise. He had quietly leaned down, his cheek brushing the top of your head as his presence quietened to an almost comforting pressure.

As you turned to give him the form, the snarky remarks you had prepared died down in your throat as you caught sight of his expression. A soft and fond look filled his eyes, his irritating grin giving way to a small, gentle smile.

Unfortunately, it didn’t last long. As soon as he saw that the papers had been filled out, that damn smirk returned.

“Finally, I was starting to worry you forgot how to even read.” Dreadful_Day took the papers back from you, making a show of looking over them thoroughly. “Good work for your first time. If you keep doing it, you might even level up to a primary reading level.”

“I’ve filled out your form, aren’t you supposed to be leaving now?” You rolled your eyes, flicking the paper to disrupt his reading. “Get back to work, you’ll get in trouble for talking to me again.”

“Can I at least requisition a kiss from you?” Dreadful_Day tilted his face and leaned closer to you, giving you a teasing yet expectant look.

“Do you always talk to your coworkers like this?” You couldn’t help but feel your cheeks redden with embarrassment, leaning away to put some distance between the two of you.

“Nope, they’re not as good-looking as you are.” He shot back without a beat, snickering as he finally straightened up and turned to leave.

“…Goodbye.” You gave a small nod, glancing away from him. You knew he was getting deployed later, meaning he wouldn’t be bringing you out for lunch today. “Stay safe.”

“I will.” His voice softened for a moment, his eyes searching yours for one last moment before he left.

Chapter Text

The clinking of silverware against delicate china broke your line of thought as you tore your gaze away from the glass display of pastries. Your own plate had been wiped clean long ago, yet it seemed your appetite still wasn’t quite satisfied.

“Seriously chérie, you want another one?” Dreadful_Day followed your gaze to the display, raising an eyebrow as he took in the sights of rows of cakes and croissants. He had an unlit cigarette in his hands, twirling it as if he wasn’t sure whether to light it or not.

“...I can’t afford another one.” You reluctantly admitted, eyes falling to your hands as the weight of your reality settled in. Embarrassingly, you had gone overboard on your last shopping trip and now you barely had enough for rent this month, let alone anything extra.

The only reason you hadn’t starved yet was because Dreadful_Day had always insisted on paying for you, but you didn’t feel like demanding more from him. He may be an asshole, but he always tried to help in his own way.

To your surprise, instead of making another remark he simply gave a non-committal hum as he leaned back against his seat.

“I’ll pay.”

“...What?” You blinked, not sure if you’d heard that right.

He let out a quiet sigh, almost bored. “It’s on me. Get whatever you want. No strings attached.” He didn’t even look up as he fiddled with his cigarette, making no effort to hide the faint amusement tugging at the corner of his lips.

You stared at him, unsure of what to make of it. “Are you sure there’s no catch?”

“No. Now hurry up and choose before I change my mind.” Dreadful_Day gave a sigh of mock irritation, though a subtle smile had slipped through his lips. He was staring down at the cigarette now, as if contemplating something.

There was a moment of hesitation before you shook your head, a wry smile tugging at your lips. “I’ll pay you back.”

“Don’t bother,” he muttered, tapping the end of the cigarette against the edge of the table. “I’m feeling generous today.”

You opened your mouth to protest, but the words stalled in your throat.

Sighing, you finally stood up, a little too quickly. Your legs had been cramping from sitting in one place for too long. “Alright, alright. I’ll get something small.” You shot him a sideways glance, a wry smile on your face. “You’re not gonna regret this, right?”

“I doubt I could ever regret anything when it comes to you.” he said, his tone soft with something that wasn’t quite sweetness.

“...That was cheesy as hell.” you muttered under your breath, despite the rising flush on your cheeks.

“Just go get something already.” He waved you off lazily, rolling his eyes with an amused yet affectionate expression.

You let out a small huff as you made your way to the pastry counter. The scent of fresh pastries wrapped around you like a warm embrace, welcoming you as you debated what to pick.

The decision felt more difficult now, a strange pressure on your chest, but you couldn’t quite place why.

“Back again with [OPERATIVE] Dreadful_Day, I see,” Benevolent’s voice broke through your thoughts, light and teasing. You gave him a small smile, though something about his tone made you wary.

“It’s nice to see you too, Benevolent_Day. What’s your cheapest bestseller?” You scanned the rows of display pastries, trying to find something you would both enjoy.

“The mango-lemon tart. I presume your… companion is paying for you again?” You gave a distracted nod, searching for the tart.

“You don’t have to restrain yourself. Dreadful_Day likes spoiling you.” You were snapped out of your thoughts by Benevolent_Day’s casual remark.

“What?” The words left your mouth before you could stop them, and you barely registered the heat creeping up your neck.

“It’s just an observation, but from what I’ve seen, Dreadful_Day doesn’t mind pouring money down the drain for you. Now that I think about it, he doesn’t mind doing a lot of things for you. He’s even trying to stop smoking because he saw how much you hated it.” Benevolent_Day gave a light chuckle, shaking his head.

You shot him a startled look. “That’s... that’s not true. He’s always trying to get on my nerves.”

“That’s because he wants your attention but doesn’t want to ask for it. He can be quite foolish in that sense.” Benevolent_Day sighed, a look of exasperation crossing his face as if he was watching a preventable train wreck unfold.

“No, you’ve got it all wrong,” you started, but even as you spoke, a nagging doubt began to grow. It was true that Dreadful_Day hadn’t lit up in months, and that was... strange, considering how much he used to enjoy showing off the smoke rings he could produce.

“Honestly, sometimes I think he’s trying to push you into a corner just so you can’t leave him. He gets so worked up when it comes to you. The other day, he was basically arguing with [EMOTIONLESS_DAY] about giving you earlier and longer lunch breaks.”

You froze, uncertain how to respond. Your brain was struggling to keep up, but the pieces were starting to click in a way you weren’t ready to accept.

“You’re reading too much into it,” you muttered weakly, but the seeds of doubt were already planted.

“And what, you think he’s just doing it to annoy you?” Benevolent’s voice was low and knowing as he glanced at you. “Please. He’s a fool, but not that much of one.”

Before you could say anything else, a cold voice broke through the tension.

“What are we discussing now?” Dreadful_Day stood behind you, eyes narrowed, his earlier air of casual detachment replaced by something sharper. He had a pack of gum in his hand, idly unwrapping it as he leaned into your side. “It’s been more than five minutes. I thought I told you to hurry.”

Benevolent_Day gave you a meaningful look before turning to Dreadful_Day with a polite, if slightly strained smile. “Good day to you too, [OPERATIVE] Dreadful_Day. I was just recommending my bestsellers.”

Dreadful_Day didn’t respond right away. He just popped a piece of gum in his mouth with a soft, dissatisfied grunt. He had tucked the cigarette behind his ear.

You sighed, shifting the conversation away from the tension. “Can I have some?” you asked, glancing at the gum with a raised eyebrow.

“Nah, it’s nicotine gum,” he muttered, eyes still scanning the display, refusing to meet your gaze.

“What’s your most expensive bestseller?” Dreadful_Day asked distractedly, his hand reaching to grab yours.

You stiffened, feeling your cheeks flush as you remembered Benevolent_Day’s words. As if reading your mind, the doctor shot you a look before answering Dreadful_Day.

“It’s the honey-glazed lemon cake with the macaroon side.”

“We’ll take one to eat here and one to take away.” Dreadful_Day hummed, his words slightly mumbled from the gum. You gave him a pointed look, which he ignored.

“We don’t do takeaways.” Benevolent_Day interjected, trying to smooth over the tension

“You do now. I’ll pay whatever extra amount you charge.”

“Actually, we’ll have one mango-lemon tart to eat here.” You interrupted, reaching out to tug his arm back. “Ignore him, I can speak for myself-“

“And I’m paying, so we’ll have two of those and have one to go.” Dreadful_Day barely flinched, his tone final.

“It’s my decision, so I get to choose. You said it yourself, I could decide what I wanted.”

“And I’ve decided to ignore that now too.”

“You can’t just change your mind like that,” you bit back, a scowl rising to your face.

“Actually, I can.” Dreadful_Day shot you an irritated yet half-hearted glare, leaning in closer.

You couldn’t hold back a sharp exhale. “You know, I’m getting sick of this.”

“Okay! How about this. Two pastries, one for you and one for him. And both of you get to decide!” Benevolent_Day cut in with a small huff, glancing between the two of you.

Dreadful_Day turned to face him, giving the baker a mean glare. “Excuse me, no one asked you-“

“This is my bakery, so either take your lovers’ quarrel out or decide here right now.” Benevolent_Day cut him off, fixing Dreadful_Day with a cold, knowing stare as he crossed his arms. “You’re making the customers nervous.”

Sure enough, most of the patrons here had quietened down, either staring at or whispering about you and Dreadful_Day.

“We can stay right where we are right now as long as we want.” Dreadful_Day relented, refusing to back down.

“Actually, that sounded pretty good to me.” You attempted to speak up. As expected Dreadful_Day shook his head.

“No, we don’t have to go anywhere and you don’t have to settle for less.“

“Then I supposed I don’t have to keep your little secret about that damn ring.“ Benevolent_Day had a dangerous glint in his eyes as he sent Dreadful_Day a sharp glare.

“What ring?” You raised an eyebrow, turning to give the Overseer a quizzical glance. His movements had stilled, speech faltering as he was rendered silent.

“..No ring. No nothing. Benevolent_Day is right, let’s go.” Dreadful_Day turned his head away from you, hiding his expression as he grabbed onto your wrist and gently pulled you with him out of the shop. “I’ll buy you food from some other place.”

“...You’re weird.”

Chapter Text

Dreadful_Day had been unnervingly quiet for the past few minutes. Although you’d normally welcome this change, something about it felt wrong to you. He hadn’t even uttered a sarcastic remark. The only thing he moved his mouth for was to chew his damn nicotine gum.

“...Dreadful?” You asked tentatively, glancing at him through the corner of your eye. He was leaning back against his seat, his fist clenched tightly around an unlit cigarette. You tried to ignore Benevolent_Day’s voice telling you why he hadn’t lit it.

“...’m fine. Just…” He trailed off, his eyes fixed on the cigarette, like it was a lifeline he couldn’t quite reach.

“I don’t mind it much if you smoke, just… don’t do it near me,” you said, trying to ease the tension, already understanding what he was struggling to admit.

“Non. If I do, you won’t want to sit next to me.” He muttered tensely, tinged with something close to resignation as he shifted his gaze away from the cancer stick.

You couldn’t exactly argue with that. No matter how hard he tried to cover it up, you could always smell traces of it on Dreadful_Day. It clung to his clothes like a sin and stank like hell.

“Yeah, but you’re not gonna drive me away just because of a little smoke. I’ve put up with worse,” you replied, attempting to sound more nonchalant than you actually felt.

Dreadful_Day's jaw twitched, and he let out a breath through his nose, like he was trying to keep himself from saying something sharp. He leaned forward slightly, still gripping the unlit cigarette, but his posture was less tense, if only marginally.

“I appreciate the gesture, but I can’t.” His reply caught you off guard. When you first met him, he used to enjoy annoying you by producing smoke rings until you left the room.

“You always avoid me after I smoke,” he continued, voice low and horse with something unspoken. “Doesn't matter how much you say you can ‘put up with worse.’ You leave, every damn time.”

A beat of silence hung between you two, and you felt a sudden heaviness settle in the pit of your stomach. You hadn’t expected him to get so bothered whenever you stormed off. He always seemed to take enjoyment in your irritation, yet this time there was something different about it.

“...I can stomach it, if you really want to. It’s not like I’ll die from inhaling the carbon monoxide traces anyways.” You attempted to joke, flashing a playful grin that turned out more like a dry smile.

Dreadful_Day seemed to narrow his eyes at your words, his scowl deepening. It was almost unnerving, seeing him so unlike his usual arrogant self.

“Don’t joke about that.” His voice was quiet as he gave a low exhale, sitting up properly. “I don’t like hearing jokes about your health.”

Hearing the genuine emotion in his voice shut you up. He had never admitted he cared for you before, at least not so openly.

“Well… Thank you then. For trying for me.” You couldn’t help but feel a tinge of fondness for the man next to you. As cocky and smug as he could get, he still cared. You hesitated for a second before reaching for his hand.

His fingers stayed clenched around the cigarette, but he didn’t stop you. He was always the one trying to reach for you, so to have the roles switch felt a little unusual.

You didn’t say anything more, just let the silence hang between you like a fragile thread.

The tension in the air shifted, almost imperceptibly. He didn’t pull away, didn’t make a snide remark. For once, he wasn’t trying to push you away with sharp words or sarcastic quips. Instead, he seemed… unsure. Like you’d caught him in a moment he wasn’t prepared for, and now he didn’t know what to do with it.

“You don’t have to thank me,” he said finally, voice rough but softer than usual. He gave a slight shrug, trying to act indifferent, but the tightness in his shoulders gave him away. “I don’t do anything for anyone, not really. But… whatever.” He let out a small, irritated sound in his throat, clearly uncomfortable with the vulnerability hanging in the air.

You gave his hand a gentle squeeze, deciding not to push him further. The fact that he was even admitting this much was enough for now. You could tell he was trying, in his own way. It stirred a warmth within you, not like you’d ever admit to it.

He cleared his throat, breaking the silence between you. “I found a new restaurant, near the north of the city. I was thinking we could go there tonight, try out the food and see if it’s any good.” Dreadful_Day stared down at the floor, tone unusually bashful. He tightened his grip on the cigarette before loosening it, as though trying to muster up courage.

You blinked in surprise, a soft laugh escaping you. You hadn’t expected him to change the subject so abruptly, but it was a welcome offer. “Alright, we can go after work.”

The city felt colder than usual, a by-product of the later months creeping in. Your standard-issue civilian coat was barely enough to withstand the chill, even a light breeze made you shiver. Your hands shook as you shoved them into your pockets, trying to ignore the way Dreadful_Day kept glancing at you.

“If you’re cold, tell me. I’ll give you my coat,” he prompted, nudging you with his elbow. “I don’t mind sharing—at a price, of course.”

You ignored him and the way he kept trying to test you. You weren’t unfamiliar with this routine, he was pushing your buttons, trying to get you to bite.

“How long is the walk again? You said the restaurant was nearby.” Your tone was cooler, sharper. The cold was starting to get to you, shortening the patience you usually had to deal with him.

“Just a few more minutes.” He backed off, thankfully.

“...Seriously, just say it and you can have my coat.” Nevermind.

“I’m not sharing a coat with you. You’re not my boyfriend or anything.” You snapped, rolling your eyes as irritation shot through you like a jolt of electricity.

The walk continued in silence, with only the rhythm of your footsteps breaking the silence.

Maybe you’d been too harsh.

Just as you turned to apologise, you felt something warm and soft fall across your shoulders. It took you a moment, but as you froze, you realised he had draped his coat over you. For a second, all you could focus on was how much better it was compared to your own. The day operatives were all given special custom made gear, and it had a clear difference in manufacturing and material quality.

“I’m not your boyfriend, but I’m not going to let you freeze just because you’re too angry to speak to me, chérie.” Dreadful_Day jabbed your forehead, his voice smooth and patronising. “Not that I mind the challenge.”

You gave an exasperated shake of your head, but the heat from the coat was starting to seep into you, your fingers warming as you flexed then beneath the coat.

“...You’re confusing sometimes, you know that right?.” You huffed, a reluctant smile pulling at your lips. You hadn’t realised how tense you were until your shoulders lowered.

“Good, never let them know your next move.” He gave a smug smirk, voice laced with amusement.

“Cringe.”

A gust of cold air was the first thing to hit you as you trailed behind Dreadful_Day, leaving the warmth of the restaurant behind you. The lull of conversation and scraping of utensils against platters faded in the sound of the city breeze, pulling you out of your thoughts.

“The food there was shit, I am never taking you back there.” Dreadful_Day scowled, his fingers tightening around your wrist as he gently tugged you out of the restaurant.

“I thought it was alright, actually.” You shrugged, stumbling at first before finding your rhythm and matching his stride. You’d long adjusted to his pace, it was almost second nature to keep up with. “It was a little dry, but still good.”

“Good? You have to be kidding me. Did you see the state of the pasta? The sauce was so thin and bland I thought I was drinking water.” He scoffed, his tone sharp with disapproval. “And since when do you think that was good? I thought you’d have better taste by now from all the meals I take you out to.”

You raised an eyebrow, shooting him an unamused look at his outburst. “Well, you could have said something instead of just sitting through the entire thing. You’re not really known for being tolerant.”

He gave you an exaggerated, over-the-top sigh. “Well, since you seemed to be enjoying the food oh so much, I decided to make a sacrifice and let you finish it in peace. Poor me, having to deal with terrible food. Oh, the things I do for you mon coeur."

“Well, maybe I thought you were enjoying the food too. Or that it would have been rude to just get up and walk away.” You shot back, feeling a rare sense of playfulness instead of the usual irritation. The food had put you in a good mood, and you still felt warm from the way he’d given you his coat.

You adjusted said coat over your shoulders as you felt a gust of wind blowing towards the two of you. It was really, really comfortable and had a hint of his cologne. You tried to push the flush from your cheeks at the discovery, shifting your attention from it.

Clearing your throat, you glanced away from him. Suddenly, a flash of colour caught your eye—a little stand tucked into an alleyway. It contained flowers, a rare burst of color and nature that was rarely seen now. Even the grass that grew in the cracks of the street lacked colour, taking on a dull green that barely stood out from the urban environment. Every plant that had been grown by the union always served a purpose, whether it was for food source or fuel. Decorative flowers were a luxury long gone from the streets.

The vendor’s voice rang out, hoarse but somehow hopeful. It was almost absurd–who even sold flowers now, especially in The Days City? And how had she even gotten a hold of them?

Dreadful_Day slowed his pace besides you, his gaze flickering towards the stall with an unreadable glint in his eyes. After a moment, he nudged you forwards lightly, a silent prompt to keep moving like he was trying to herd you along. He stepped forward without a word, leaning down to inspect the quality of the flowers.

The vendor was quick to react, pulling out more buds as she talked his ear off on the quality and types. You highly doubted he was listening as he gave an absent hum of agreement and nodded absentmindedly at whatever she said.

“How much for everything?” His voice was suddenly serious. He reached for his wallet, opening it and revealing a hefty handful of coins.

You watched in stunned silence as he handed the vendor the entire amount. This was more than you’d ever seen him spend in one go. She blinked, confused at first before she went wide-eyed with shock, staring at her new-found riches. He was already snatching up every single flower before she could say a word.

“Thanks,” he muttered, not even sparing a glance towards her as he turned back to you. His arms were piled high with a dozen or more flowers, clutched tightly as he offered them to you.

“...Are you serious?” You glanced between him and the flowers, somewhere between exasperated and flattered. Your arms were frozen, hands remaining firmly in your pockets.

“It’s nothing.” His face was impassive. “I just didn’t want her to be stuck carrying them all by herself.”

“Are you out of your mind? You spent all that for flowers?” You were unable to wrap your head around it. “You’re… insane!”

He shrugged nonchalantly, his trademark smirk curling up the side of his lips again. “So what? Not like I can afford it.” He shoved the bouquet into your arms with a casualness that didn’t match the weight behind it. By the time you processed it, Dreadful_Day had already begun walking away as if it meant nothing.

You glanced down at the bouquet, your fingers grazing over the petals as the weight of it all sank it. Benevolent’s voice was echoing in your head again, like an annoying pop up that kept returning. There was no way in hell he was saying the truth, was he?

“...Shit.”

Chapter Text

“Keep it.” He turned away, waving off your attempts at handing his coat back.

“What?” Your eyebrows scrunched in confusion, tilting your head as you processed his words. “But it’s yours. And expensive.” And you didn’t want him to waste more money on you than he already had.

“I can always get another one, it’s not like Great_Day can’t make another one of these. He just sits in his office all day, at least I’m giving him something to do.” Dreadful_Day answered dismissively, delivering a gentle but firm poke to your forehead. He glanced down at the coat in your arms, then flashed you another smirk. “Keep it as a reminder of how generous and kind I am, giving my coat to a poor, cold civilian.”

“...Wow, you’re so humble.” You deadpanned, tugging the warm fabric closer to you.

“I know, I’m really fantastic aren’t I?” He grinned, leaning casually against the doorway of your home. The sky was starting to darken now, with the streetlights flickering on one by one. He lingered for a moment, the silence stretching between the two of you, before adding— almost too softly to catch, “It looks good on you.”

That had been more than an hour ago. You lay on your couch, staring up at the ceiling as you clutched his coat.

It still smelt like him.

Fuck.

You wore it the next time he invited you to eat at Benevolent’s Bakery. Dreadful_Day didn’t comment on it, but he had looked you over as you neared him and his expression had somehow been replaced with an even more smug grin than usual.

He had replaced his coat with a suit jacket, although it didn’t look as comfortable. You considered giving it back, before realising he’d probably refuse again.

“Is it me or do you look nicer than usual?” His tone was infuriating and you instantly wanted to punch him. You resisted, opting to give him a tight-lipped smile.

“Must be the coat,” you replied dryly, your fingers gripping the fabric as you pulled it tighter around yourself. You weren’t about to let him have the satisfaction of getting under your skin again.

He cocked an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes. “So you admit that you’re dressing up for me now?”

“Sure, whatever. If that’s how you wanna interpret it.” You shook your head in exasperation, ignoring the way heat crept up on your cheeks. “Let’s just go. I’m hungry.”

Thankfully and somewhat surprisingly, he didn’t push it. “You can sit, I’ll grab something for you.” He gave you a soft nudge before turning to inspect the pastry displays, still wearing that smug look.

You resisted the urge to scoff as you made your way to your usual seats, a small table in the corner. It had an easy and direct path to it, ensuring you wouldn’t bump into anyone as you traversed the typically busy bakery.

The low hum of conversation in the bakery made for good background noise and you instinctively began tuning out as you dug into your pastry. The soft clinking of silverware blended with the rustle of napkins, a sound you had become familiar with over the course of meals Dreadful_Day had taken you to get here.

You could feel him watching you with a surprisingly focused expression, eyes guarded as though he was deep in thought. He was halfway through his espresso, fingers tapping on the side of his cup.

“...I know I normally don’t do sappy shit, and I don’t plan on it anytime soon, but I need to ask you something.” You were snapped out of your trance as the sound of Dreadful_Day’s voice broke through your thoughts. You raised an eyebrow, putting down your fork and turning to face him fully. You didn’t say anything, just waiting for him to continue.

“We’re complicated. Kind of a train wreck, if I’m being honest. And I know I’m not supposed to be into relationships as an operative and all, but…” He trailed off, his eyes flickering away as though he was searching for the right words. His usual arrogance was gone, replaced by something more vulnerable.

He fidgeted, pulling something out of his pocket but not quite revealing it, like he was hesitating to make the next move. “I’ve wanted to-”

“-[OPERATIVE] Dreadful_Day?” Dynamic_Day’s voice cut through the moment, breaking through the tension like a hot knife through butter. You flinched, feeling the tension in the air snap as you realized how close you'd been sitting to Dreadful_Day. Without thinking you leaned back and crossed your arms defensively, unable to look either of them in the eye.

“...[OPERATIVE] Dynamic_Day.” Dreadful_Day’s voice had already lost its softness, vulnerability vanishing as though it had never been there. You caught a flash of something metallic—was it a ring?—before he quickly shoved it back into his pocket. His eyes narrowed, irritation replacing whatever had been there before.

“[OPERATIVE] Dreadful_Day?” Radiant_Day’s voice joined the conversation and you wanted to melt into the floor. He had a cheerful smile on his face, but there was something knowing in it that unsettled you. “Fancy seeing you here! I had no idea you frequented Benevolent_Day’s bakery.”

“Are there any other operatives here?” Dreadful_Day’s tone was low and sharp, his lips curling into an almost imperceptible snarl as he glared at his coworkers.

“Unstable_Day is at the counter, we were with him before we saw you over here with…” Dynamic_Day glanced over at you, his eyes looking over you with a mix of confusion and suspicion.

“Are you on a-”

“No,” Dreadful_Day was quick to interrupt, his hand immediately moving to grab your hand underneath the table. His grip was firm yet gentle, as though afraid you’d pull away.

“You seem awfully defensive.” The comment from Dynamic_Day seemed harmless, but it struck a nerve in Dreadful_Day. His grip tightened on your hand and he straightened up, the aloof front he put had started to crack under the weight of their attention.

“Because you’re being annoying. Why are you so nosy? Go back to ordering your food. Unstable_Day is probably waiting for the two of you.” His voice was strained, trying to sound nonchalant, but the way his voice rose betrayed him.

“We’re just surprised. We don’t see you interacting with civilians much.” Dynamic_Day raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two of you.

“Is that your coat?” Radiant_Day’s offhand question did nothing to help the situation, his gaze shifting to your coat with a smile that made your skin crawl.

Dreadful_Day’s jaw clenched as he stood abruptly, pulling you up with him. “We’re leaving.”

“[OPERATIVE] DREADFUL_DAY HAS DATE??? HOW??” Unstable_Day had joined the scene, the erratic pilot staring at you with a look of wonder as if you were some kind of mythical creature. “HE THREATEN CIVILIAN INTO MEAL TOGETHER???”

You stood next to Dreadful_Day, frozen stiff with a mixture of hesitance and embarrassment. You were suddenly hyper aware of the silence in the bakery, the way all eyes seemed to be glued to you and Dreadful_Day. Even Benevolent_Day had left the counter and begun walking over with a look of concern.

You needed to leave.

Dreadful_Day had opened his mouth, but you were unable to hear what he said as you pulled away from his grasp. You were only aware of the sound the little bell attached to the bakery door ringing as you stepped outside and began speeding up your pace.

You’d never thought you’d be the type of person to run away from something as small as a social confrontation. Sure, you weren’t the most vocal or extroverted, and you were more likely to freeze than fight but you thought you could at least stand your ground when you came to it.

Most of the civilians passing by had shot you weird looks as you settled down on a bench, probably wondering why you were wearing an operative’s coat. You wished you had never accepted it, the attention it attracted was almost unsettling in its intensity. Wearing it was stupid mistake and you weren’t going to repeat it.

You were still slightly out of breath from running, feeling more hot than cold now even in the frigid temperature. Reaching up to tug his coat off, you were almost too distracted to notice the presence of another taking a seat next to you until he let out a polite cough.

It took everything in you to not jump up and scream, your head whipping around with wide eyes as you stared at Placid_Day. The acolyte’s expression was hidden due to his mask, but his body language was calm and told you he meant no harm.

“...I’m sorry, can I help you?” You forced your shoulders to lower, feeling another wave of embarrassment wash over you. You needed to get it together.

“Apologies, but I couldn’t help noticing you. I don’t mean to sound negative, but many operatives have been talking about you lately. More specifically, about you and Dreadful_Day.” Placid_Day’s tone was polite and distant, but you could feel the undertone of intrigue lingering in his voice.

You felt your stomach drop, your skin crawling as you imagined the operatives talking about you behind your back. Were they calling you names? Badmouthing you? You knew that you weren’t important in the grand scheme of things in the Union, nor were you exactly supposed to be so close to Dreadful_Day but you had hoped that you were at least unnoticeable.

“It’s nothing bad, we’re just curious about how he’s always taking you out, especially since he normally enjoys being mean to civilians. Not to mention, ever since he’s spent time around you, he’s changed. In a good way.” Placid_Day was quick to reassure, catching sight of the look on your face.

Not again. Benevolent_Day’s words echoed in your head, haunting you like a ghost. Dreadful_Day couldn’t really like you in that way, could he? You were just friends. Just because he gave you his coat didn’t mean anything, he was simply concerned for your well-being. Even if he hated anyone else touching his gear.

And he was probably just going to ask your opinion on something. Just because he brought up relationships didn’t mean it was about the two of you.

Damn it. You were doing a terrible job convincing yourself.

“He’s… my friend. Even if he does get on my nerves. I like his company.” You admitted, feeling your cheeks heating up again. “I don’t think there’s anything else beyond that. We’re just… really good friends, I guess.” Even if you spent the night curled up in his coat in hopes of memorising his cologne. He just had a really good one, that was all. It meant nothing.

“...Right.” Placid_Day’s tone told you he was unconvinced, but he didn’t push further. “Either way, it’s clear he likes you. He stopped smoking because he said you hated it, and Benevolent has been trying to get him to quit for years now. He talks about you too, all the time actually. Brings you up in every conversation.”

Placid_Day had to be fucking with you, there was no way any of this was actually true.

“He’s lucky Emotionless_Day hasn’t punished him yet. Operatives aren’t allowed to be in relationships, after all.”

That hit you like a punch to the stomach.

It wasn’t like you were unaware of that rule. Great_Day had made it clear that the day operatives were made to focus on accomplishing their tasks and goals, to have them be in a relationship would distract them from it. Still, you had tried not to think about it whenever you and Dreadful_Day hung out.

“Well, Dreadful shouldn’t be punished for anything. We’re not together.” You pushed back the memories of him lingering closer to you than he should have, holding your hand and pulling you towards him. “There’s nothing wrong with being friends, is there?”

“...Sure. Friends.” Placid_Day gave a polite nod, but the doubt in his voice was starting to get on your nerves.

You could feel the tension slipping back into your body. "Yeah. Friends," you repeated, but it sounded less convincing than you’d like.

Placid_Day didn’t respond immediately, his gaze shifting to the street ahead and watching the passer-bys. Most of them were firmly avoiding looking at the two of you, a natural response to the presence of an operative. His silence was almost too loud, like he was waiting for you to admit something you weren’t quite ready to.

You rubbed your temples, trying to focus on something, anything to stop the whirlwind of thoughts spinning inside your head. "He doesn’t- he’s not like that." You weren’t even sure if you believed your own words anymore.

Placid_Day remained passive, but his gaze flickered back to you. "You don’t have to convince me," he said softly, his voice calm but laced with an odd kind of sympathy. "I’m just telling you what I’ve seen. Dreadful_Day doesn't change for just anyone."

The weight of that statement lingered long after the words had been spoken. It felt like a small revelation, as though the pieces of a puzzle were slowly clicking into place, but you couldn’t quite figure out the full picture.

You sighed, staring down at Dreadful_Day’s coat. It was bunched up awkwardly in your hands, just like your feelings. The warmth from it seemed to mock you now, like it was a reminder of everything you were trying not to think about.

“Why do you even care?” you asked, forcing the question out more bluntly than you intended. “I’m not your problem. It’s not like you have to worry about me like how Dreadful-" You stopped yourself before you could finish that thought, realizing just how much you’d already said.

Placid_Day didn’t seem offended by your tone, although you couldn’t exactly tell how he felt through his eyes. He simply stared at you, his mask hiding any emotional response, albeit his posture remained relaxed.

“I don’t,” he clarified. “But I do care about how he acts, as my coworker and for the efficiency of the Union. And there’s clearly something going on here. He’s never been this way before, not with anyone. Not even with Radiant or Macabre.” His voice grew a bit quieter, and you caught the faintest hint of concern. “He’s distracted. Different.”

That made your stomach twist. "And you think I’m the reason?" you shot back, a little too sharply. The idea of being fully blamed for Dreadful_Day’s behavior felt both unfair and unsettling.

Placid_Day turned his head, his gaze shifting away from you as if contemplating something. "No," he finally said, but his voice carried an undertone that suggested he wasn’t entirely convinced of his own words. "But he needs to figure things out properly, before it starts affecting everyone around him."

The tension stretched out, thick and heavy before he added, almost as an afterthought.
"You should probably talk to him. Whatever’s going on between you two, it should be addressed."

"Addressed?" The word felt foreign in your mouth. You couldn't hide the sarcasm in your voice. "What, you think we need some heart-to-heart?"

"I think you need to figure out what you’re both doing. If you’re really just ‘friends,’ that’s fine. But don’t wait too long to figure it out, or you might find yourselves in a position neither of you like." Placid_Day’s voice held a hint of amusement, though it was overshadowed by his stoic tone.

You wanted to say something else, something to push back, but his last sentence hit too close to something you’d been avoiding for months now.

You shifted uncomfortably, suddenly wishing the ground would swallow you whole. "I don’t know what’s going on. And I don’t even know if I even want to talk about it." You muttered the words under your breath, more to yourself than to him, but he heard.

"Not everything needs to make sense," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "But when you’re thrown into something complicated, sometimes it’s better to face it head-on before it eats you whole."

The thought of facing Dreadful_Day head-on and talking to him about what the two of you were made your throat tighten. Were you ready for that?

Placid_Day stood up, brushing off his cloak as he turned to leave. "Just think about it," he said softly over his shoulder. "Sometimes, the answers you’re looking for are closer than you think."

You watched him go, feeling the weight of his words lingering in the air long after he had disappeared into the crowd.

You leaned back against the bench, staring at the sky as the clouds rolled by, blocking the sunlight out. You had a sinking feeling that your confrontation with him was inevitable. And the longer you stalled it, the harder it would be when it finally happened.

Your fingers gripped the coat once more, instinctively pulling it closer to your chest. The faint scent of his cologne drifted up and you closed your eyes for a moment, trying to block out the thoughts rushing in.

“...I didn’t finish my pastry.”