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The rooftop is louder than Fu expected.
Not in a bad way--just.. full. Full of voices, blankets, pillows, snacks, and the kind of chaotic energy he has yet to learn how to fit in with. The Cleaners have spread themselves across the rooftop space: Riyo wrapped in three blankets like a caterpillar, Enjin already half-asleep, August animatedly yapping to Eishia.
Fu decided to lay down all his blankets and pillow neatly near the railing.
The lights below flicker like stars. He watches them, listening to the distant hum of crowds, the occasional burst of laughter from groups sitting together on the rooftop. The blanket covering his lap is thin, but it doesn't bother him much--plus, he wanted to use the thicker blanket to lay on.
He's content. A whizz in the sky followed by a loud boom--streaks of blue and red ignited chrysanthemums of light. Beautiful, he thought, stars in his eyes as he stared captivatedly.
Then he hears footsteps approaching, and he forces himself out of his thoughts. He looks up to see Zanka--holding a cozy thick blanket with one arm and two pillows in the other.
"O-Oh, hi Zanka." He awkwardly waved. Zanka waved back, albeit less tense.
"You mind if I sit with you?" Zanka inquired.
"Yes- I mean no, no, I don't mind." He stumbled over his words, blushing now from embarrassment.
Zanka only smiled in response, not pointing out Fu's mistake. He set down his pillows next to Fu's, taking a seat as he laid his blanket over his lap. Fu scooted further over to the side to make room for Zanka.
Zanka shifts beside him, drawing his knees in as he looked up at the fireworks in the sky. "So, you excited for the New Year?"
Fu considers the question, before shrugging. "I think so. I-I mean I'm happy, I'm spending my first New Years with my new friends."
"First New Years?" Zanka questioned, tilting his head ever so slightly.
"I've never really celebrated New Years, it was more of just a day for me." Fu shrugged again.
Zanka huffed a laugh--soft, warm, the kind of sound that makes Fu's stomach fill with butterflies. His eyes darted to the ground, a small hue of red at the tip of his ears.
"Well, I guess 'yer get to spend your first celebration for New Years with us. Just don't tell Riyo that, she'll do everything in her power to make sure you get the full holidays experience." He remarked.
"Isn't that a good thing..?" Fu inquired.
"Yeah, but her methods can be.. extreme. I don't think 'yer would really like that." Zanka answered.
"Oh." Fu acknowledged in understanding, nodding his head slightly. Then another firework caught his attention, a beautiful mix of gold, red, and silver in the shape of a peony.
~
Members of the Vianders (Corvus invited the group to the Cleaners' New Years celebration, Fu heard) started to pass around hot chocolate and snacks. Fu watched with mild curiosity, Zanka watches them too, but his gaze keeps drifting back to Fu. He notices--he always notices--but he doesn’t know what it means.
Zanka shifts again. "Want me to go grab us some snacks?"
"Uh- yeah, sure." He nodded.
Zanka hummed in acknowledgment, standing up to go grab food for the both of them. Fu watched Zanka talk to one of the Vianders, by the time Zanka came back with snacks for them--Fu was watching the fireworks again.
"'Yer really like watching the fireworks, huh?" Zanka let out a small chuckle, placing down the tray of snacks in-between the empty space between them.
Fu looked down at the tray of snacks--brownies, chocolate-covered strawberries, several types of cookies, and two mugs of hot chocolate for the two of them--decorated with small marshmallows and whipped cream.
"Sorry, I've got a bit of a sweet tooth. And I figured you would probably like marshmallows and whipped cream in your hot chocolate." Zanka said, rubbing the back of his neck anxiously.
Fu smiled--a soft mellow yet timid thing, one that made Zanka blink in surprise and look away--Fu didn't notice this time. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it." Zanka shrugged off the thanks, his movements more tense than before.
Fu blinked, but didn't question the order. "Oh, right- um yeah, I really like watching the fireworks. They're so colorful and pretty, I've seen them before- but not this close.. so it's kind of new to me,"
"Yeah?" Zanka hummed.
"Yeah." Fu smiled.
"Honestly speaking, me and you are kind of the same. I've never really celebrated New Years like this--at least until I joined the Cleaners.. my family, New Years was more of a thing to motivate me to train more. With the Cleaners.." Zanka trailed off, smiling softly now.
"With the Cleaners?" Fu inquired.
"It's been a fun experience--New Years with them. So, I'm glad you get to have your first New Years celebration with us."
"I-I," Fu stammered, looking at Zanka's smile now--a blush spreading across his checks. Then he looked away. "I-I'm glad too." He cleared his throat.
~
30
The rooftop buzzes with anticipation, the countdown to a new year has already began--30 seconds in. The air feels like static, small fireworks have started exploding in the sky early--in preparation for the bigger ones.
29
Fu feels... strange.
28
It feels strange having someone he admires so deeply next to him, their shoulders brushing every few minutes when one of them shifts, their hands touching when one of them reaches for the same snack.
27
He's not scared.
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Or overwhelmed.
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Or intimidated.
24
He's.. aware.
23
The kind of aware that makes you feel tingly inside--butterflies flapping in your stomach when you look at that specific person--that specific person is Zanka, in Fu's case. He doesn't understand why, not fully.
22
He's aware of Zanka sitting close enough that their shoulders are nearly touching, that he could rest his head on Zanka's shoulder if he wanted--or had the guts to.
21
He's aware of the warmth radiating from Zanka beside him, helping warm the atmosphere around them.
20
He's aware of Zanka glancing at him then looking away just as quick--as if caught stealing candy.
19
He's aware of all these things, and he's also aware of the feeling slowly building in his chest--the longer he's with Zanka. He's never felt this way towards anyone or someone before--it's similar to the way he cares about Hii, but it's just not the same.
18
More fireworks go off in the distance--scattered across the city, and Fu is memorized by them. The rooftop is quiet--not eerie, just comfortable, even August has stopped talking at this point.
17
Fu looks up at the sky.
16
Then he looks at Zanka.
15
Zanka's face is turned towards the sky, illuminated by bursts of red and gold. His hair catches the light, and his blue eyes reflect the fireworks--warm, alive, glowing--as if Lovely Assistaff is activated--but Fu knows she's not, it's just the way the light reflects off his eyes.
14
There's a small smile on his lips, soft and unguarded--one that he has gotten used to seeing more often now. The butterflies in his stomach have gotten more intense, making him feel nauseous.
13
But he doesn't look away, because the sight of Zanka memorizes him--more memorizing than the fireworks themselves.
12
And Fu thinks--no--knows Zanka looks beautiful. Not in the way people describe waterfalls or the sun rising with a warm amber glow. Nothing can properly describe this feeling or word that Fu feels when he looks at Zanka.
10
So yeah, beautiful.
9
That's the closest word to describe Zanka. Beautiful.
8
Fu's breath hitches, catching in his throat. His chest tightens, the feeling in his chest has intensified to the point it feels suffocating. His fingers curl in the blanket, and he forces himself to look away from Zanka--back to the fireworks in the sky.
7
But his heart is still beating fast and hard, to the point he wonders if Zanka could hear it.
6
Zanka shifts slightly, to get a better view of the fireworks. His shoulder brush Fu's, and Fu nearly combusts.
5
A whizz in the sky, followed by a loud boom--and a firework explodes. Bright white. It lights up the rooftop--but more specially Zanka's face, in this way that makes Fu keep staring.
4
Then Zanka looks at him--their eyes meeting. Fu flushes, he didn't realize their faces were so close until now--his breath stutters and Zanka gives him a questioning look--as if asking what's wrong.
3
His heart is pounding, but he moves closer anyway.
2
Zanka's eyes widen and he realizes what Fu is doing. A blush appears on his cheeks, but he doesn't move.
1
Their lips meet.
0
Midnight.
~
A single heartbeat of contact, and he pulls back just as fast. His heart racing, eyes darting everywhere but Zanka's face, cheeks burning. He tries his best to ignore Zanka's look of surprise.
He opens his mouth to apologize--he thinks he should, he did something wrong-
Zanka leans back in and kisses him, their lips meeting again. Fireworks exploded in the background, cheers for the new year--but Fu and Zanka weren't focused on that.
This time the kiss was slower, warmer, hesitant--sure, but full of love.
Fu's eyes flutter shut.
Then they part, and Fu looks back up at Zanka--his cheeks are a hue of red, but he doesn't move away.
"Happy New Year, Fu."
...
"Happy New Year, Zanka."
~
That morning once everyone woke up, the news quickly spread of Fu and Zanka's midnight kiss. Zanka figured it was Riyo who spread the news, but he wasn't complaining.