Work Text:
Vivian sat on the edge of the sofa, her posture unnaturally straight. The black-and-white screen from the television, which was playing a monochrome movie, was casting a flickering glow across Wise's room.
The couple in the film stood on a rainy shore, their silhouettes became blurred in the old style of high-contrast cinematography. At the moment, they were no longer the target of her attention.
Vivian stole a glance at Wise. He was sitting next to her, looking fully relaxed as his back leaned against the headboard.
"What's the matter?"
Noticing her gaze, he asked. The question snapped Vivian back to reality in an instance.
"Oh! It...It's nothing, Lord Phaethon." She said quickly. Little tints of red on her ears seemed to betray those words. "I was just.....analyzing the movie. The use of dark shading to represent the protagonist's internal conflict is quite interesting."
Wise blinked, a knowing smile on his lips.
"It's a movie about a baker and a poet with a straightforward plotline. There isn't much internal conflict, they just want to be together."
Vivian felt the heat spread to her cheeks. Every single time. Even now, right in front of him, she couldn't even watch a romance movie properly without acting like she was showing interest in the topic.
"Yes." She whispered weakly. "They just want to be together."
The music on the screen turned up, a lone violin tune echoing among the sound of crashing waves. The poet took the baker's hand, their expressions filled with raw emotions. Wise shifted his weight to get more comfortable, his shoulder accidentally brushed Vivian's. It was a light graze, yet her body jolted as if stunned by a high-voltage shock.
With the actors on-screen gradually closed the gap between them, the air between them had somehow became very thin. Or maybe it was just her. Vivian had no idea if Wise was feeling the same, his eyes still fixed on the most important moment of the movie.
Vivian's heart no longer beat a steady pace, it thrummed faster. Her hands gripped tightly on the edge of her skirt, the passionate intensity for Lord Phaethon swelled up inside. She had tried to watch the movie, but her gaze kept drifting from the crying poet to the curve of Wise's jaw.
"Vivian?"
The silver color from the monochrome movie caught the depth in Wise's eyes. As he noticed the expectant look, emeralds torn away from the climax of the movie. It was the same look that had guided her through the darkest corners of the Hollows.
"Is the volume a bit loud?" He asked.
Vivian swallowed hard.
"Lord Phaethon." Her throat felt dry, her voice came out so small it was almost swallowed up by the violin.
Vivian looked at his lips, then to the curious pair of emeralds reflecting her face where there were too many hints of shyness taking over the expression. It would sound unbelievably ridiculous, but she still reached out, trembling fingers lightly tugged on his sleeve.
"Can I....." Vivian paused, like her breathing was slowly getting lost. She gestured toward the screen, where the actors were finally kissing. "Can I.....try that with you?"
Wise flinched, his eyebrows raised in genuine surprise.
"You.....uhm, you w-want to try that?"
She nodded. Wise couldn't help glancing away, sheepishly scratching his cheek.
"Well, we're just getting to the best part. The poet is about to recite the sonnet."
"I know, but...I can't." She blurted, the words came out before she could think of something else to say. "I mean, I'm watching it."
The scene from the TV no longer held her attention. However, the rainy shore, the kiss, the connection from its contact, the sight had seeped into Vivian's heart, filling her with an emotion so sudden it made her whole body tingle.
The movie was no longer reflected in her eyes, yet it successfully caught her in the moment of its climax through a different mean.
"It just feels so...wonderful." She admitted. "Seeing them like that, it makes me wonder."
The poet's sonnet blended into the strings of the violin. Wise waited for the next words, his focus fully shifted to her. The climax of the movie forgotten but a lasting impact seemed to linger without the need to see the credit roll.
"Just.....for a moment..."
Vivian leaned in, moistening her lips as the courage in her voice returned. Her eyes met his, wide and unguarded.
"Would it be alright for Lord Phaethon and me to try that?"
As those honest words hung in the air, Vivian's face turned red. Her breath hitched in anticipation for his answer.
"......"
Even though the same heat got to his cheeks, Wise's expression softened. Then, an awkward cough covered by his fist.
"Well, Vivian. Actually..." Wise said softly with a smile that made her weak in the knees. "I feel the same as you, too."
Gasp!
At his respond, her pupils lit up like stars. Wise didn't make her wait, he turned to her and began closing the distance on the sofa.
Vivian, however, didn't want to let him take the initiative. She simply couldn't wait.
...
...
For Vivian, the world seemed to have narrowed down to the faint scent of Wise's cologne, his warmth and his touch. The monochrome movie reduced to the background noises.
Her hands moved first, fingertips gently touched his jawline, slow and careful as if she was handling a polished jade. Wise had leaned in but she guided him closer, her gaze dropping to his lips before returning to his eyes. He shared the same look, still asking for a silent permission Vivian had always given the moment she stepped into his room.
Their lips met.
The contact didn't spark any colorful firework Vivian had imagined in her late-night daydreams. It was quiet. It was steady. It was the kind of longing emotion manifested into a physical sensation.
The music from the movie seemed to pulse in time with her heartbeats. It was certainly romantic.
And then...
And then...
HIC!
Her body betrayed her with a sudden jolt. The sound which left her lips was comically high-pitched like a startled feline.
Immediately, the contact broke as Vivian's head snapped back, eyes widened in horror.
"I...!" She started, her face already turned a shade of crimson that rivaled the color of her own eyes. "Lord Phaethon, I'm so sorr-!"
HIC!
The second one was much more prominent, it was louder as her entire torso spasmed.
"It's okay." Wise quickly said. Though, his voice was strained with an effort to remain composed. "It happens to everyone, Vivian. Just stay calm and breathe."
"I don't....HIC...understand." She gasped again, clutching her chest as if she wished to suppress her internal lungs. "I am well-trained in...HIC......advanced respiratory control for works! I can hold my...HIC....breath for more than five minutes!"
"I think your body is just a bit overwhelmed." Wise suggested, reaching out to steady her posture.
But Vivian's mind was already spiraling. She got the mood just right, things were supposed to go smoothly and yet, it had to be a hiccup! It came at the worst possible moment! It made her cause a scene in his room!
"What a....HIC...disaster." She moaned, burying her face in her hands. "I have ruined such....HIC....wonderful moment. Lord Phaethon, please cover your ears, I will resolve this shortly!"
She tried the scare tactic on herself, shouting "Hah!" at the top of her lungs to shock her system. It only resulted in a more violent hiccup that made her nearly bounce off the sofa.
"Vivian, look at me."
"I can't! I'm such an embarrassment....HIC....!"
"Vivian." He gently pried her hands away from her face, giving a reassuring smile. "It's alright, I'm going to help you."
She looked at him, the corners of her eyes began to swell up in tears. He gave Vivian's hands a tender squeeze before pulling her toward him, slowly like he was holding a fragile glass.
HIC!
Vivian's throat gave another hiccup, making her shoulders jump as she slumped into his chest.
"Breathe together with me." Wise whispered, his voice vibrated to her skin. "Inhale...exhale...one, two....inhale...exhale."
Vivian closed her eyes, feeling the bubble of air trapped somewhere deep in her frantic lungs. No, that would be the wrong thing to do. She needed to force her body to listen to him, focusing on the steady rise and fall of the warm chest she was leaning against. And by no means she was taking the chance to hug him. Slowly and surely, she would tune the rhythm of her body to his call.
Inhale. The breath she took was a bit shaky, the embarrassment still lingered. Exhale. She let it out, holding in the reflex to tense up for both the urge to spasm and hugging Wise.
Lucky for Vivian, her heart decided to listen. After a few minutes, the frantic signal of its beats was slowing down to match his. Wise's voice and his heartbeat helped winning over her body's clumsiness.
Soon, the tightness in her throat unraveled. It grew fainter, subsiding until the credit's song was no longer interrupted.
"You feeling better?" Wise asked. He had yet to move away.
Vivian let out a long sigh, shuddering a bit with his voice so close to her ear.
"Yes, I'm feeling better." She whispered softly into his sweater. "My apology, Lord Phaethon. This wasn't how I meant for this evening to go. I didn't want to cause you trouble."
Wise pulled back just enough to meet her gaze. There wasn't any hint of disappointment in his eyes, only a firm resolve to reassure her.
"Hey, it's no trouble at all. You know me, Vivian. Don't be hard on yourself just because of some hiccups, it always happens without a warning. I got them a few times, too."
The embarrassment that had flared up with the involuntarily spasms began to cool down, replaced by a sense of relief. As expected of the person she admired and loved.
"So, umm....." Wise trailed off. "Would you like to...try that again?"
Vivian blushed, but she didn't break the eye-contact.
"Of course, Lord Phaethon. I would love to..." She smiled.
This time, she.....no, they would make sure things were just right.
Vivian leaned forward first. Her heart no longer frantic, it filled with upbeat motions that fueled her courage. Wise responded with the same movement as the two closed the final inch of space between them.
Smooch.
With the movie already reached the end, there was no music to mask that lovely sound. When she kissed him this time, it was slow and certain.
/
[Extra]
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...
...
...
"I can't.....hic....believe this. Now I'm the one....hic.....with hiccups."
"Well, it seems the universe works in a strange way. Lord Phaethon, how about I cure you the same way you did to me?"
"I don't think it works, Vivian. I probably ate......hic....General Chop's spicy ramen too fast. Hang on, I'll try....hic.....holding my breath for a bit."
"Very well, please let me be your guide. Now take a deep breath, look at me and match my pace. One...two...three....inhale....exhale...one...two..."
"....hic..."
"Again, one...two...three....inhale...then exhale..."
"....hic..."
"Hmm, it doesn't seem to be effective much. Don't be discouraged, Lord Phaethon."
"It's fine, Vivian. My hiccups will go away eventually."
"Oh, I believe that won't do. You went out of your way to help me, it is clearly my turn to do the same. How about this? There's a specialized technique I learned from my odd job at a certain spa in Lumina Square. It requires substantial contact."
"Substantial contact? Like..hic...what kind?"
"For example~! You and I will hold hands, Lord Phaethon!"
"Just like that?"
"Yes! It is considered effective home remedy for hiccups by stimulating specific pressure points on your palms. And while we're at it, please focus on your breathing and relaxing your eyes."
"Okay."
Minutes passed as silence fell over the room.
"..."
"..."
"Hey, I think it worked! The hiccups sto-"
"Wait for it, my Lord."
Vivian's hands moved to his wrists.
"Uhm, it's definitely gone. Your technique sure is......wait, Vivian, why are you massaging my forearms?"
"This is to make sure the nerves are fully relaxed so the hiccups will never return to disturb you. Trust me on this!"
Vivian started reaching further. Wise pressed his lips together, endured the tickling sensation as her fingertips touched his jawbone.
/