Work Text:
A loud clap of thunder echoed everywhere before a flash of lightning temporarily brightening the dark sky. Rain started to pour in heavily, making everyone who were still out rush to find shelter.
To others, the initial thought of being wrapped up in a blanket and holding a cup of warm tea or coffee would be appropriate for this weather. However, to Crushed Pepper, it's not. He instead sat down on the floor of his room, meditating. There's nothing much else to do anyway. Mealtime is already over. He already done the rest of his tasks. And then he was about to head out for an evening walk when the storm started.
And in his room he stayed. Steadily breathing while relaxing himself. He doesn't really much bothered by the coldness of his surroundings to get a blanket. The redhead felt like it wasn't necessary since the room he was in has a heater. Then he intentionally raised the temperature of make himself at home.
Though by doing so he rarely get any visitors in his room. Anyone who enters his room, would come out already sweating even for a few minutes. That's why he prefers approaching others instead of anyone approaching him. Probably the others would be tired of him explaining for the umpteenth time why he raised the temperature of his room. Probably it's for the best.
And that's why he felt his heart jump momentarily when he hears the sound of the door knocking.
*knock knock knock*
"Who is it?" Crushed Pepper glanced at the door. Hoping that he didn't misheard the knocking and it's really on his door.
"It's me. May I come in?" A familiar voice responded.
"Sure, the door is unlocked."
The door swung open a bit, letting the visitor in. The bright yellow cloak swaying towards the redhead started to stand out against the reds and oranges of his room. Bright yellow eyes looked directly at him in amusement. Then immediately noticed what the redhead has been doing. "Ah... Sorry I had to interrupt your meditation." Lemon Zest immediately apologized.
"No no! It's really fine! There's... Not really much to do anyways. What's up?" Crushed Pepper waived it off.
"Well, the room next to mine had been way too noisy so I have been looking.... A place for me to finish up this report I'm doing..." The blond replies, holding up a thick journal book and a pen. "I was wondering if..."
"Oh! You can stay here if you want to! Though you don't mind me? You did say I have a loud voice." The redhead asked, laughing awkwardly.
"You were quiet moments before I knocked on your door. I believe you'll end up bored after staring at me working for a few minutes and resume back to your meditation. It'll be fine!"
"You seem like you read me that easily, haha!"
"And besides..." Lemon Zest looked around. "This room felt like a good temperature for me to stay in while it's freezing cold outside. The others haven't thought about it though while arguing about the blankets."
Of course the others are fighting for the comfiest blankets. It would end up in chaos though and the blond decided to bail from the shenanigans.
"Ohhh, I see. There's a small desk for you to work. Feel free to use it."
"You don't mind me using your things? How generous." The blond smiled. "Thanks, I appreciate it." He then approached the desk, opening his journal and continued writing.
o-o
The both of them liked the silence. The soft regulated breathing, the light scribbling of the pen on paper, combined with the raindrops hitting the ground and the light thunder sounds from afar. It felt like a very comfortable atmosphere the both of them shared.
That is until there's a bright flash of lightning and something alike to an explosion occurred that caused the electricity to be cut off the entire place.
"NOOOOO!!!!" The sound of exasperation from the outside was heard. Cue in lots of footsteps rushing from the outside in panic, trying to calm the younger ones down or figure a way to fix whatever happened with the explosion.
The two in the room were still calm. Crushed Pepper pulled out some candlesticks from the nearby cabinet and started to light them up, sticking them onto small fancy holders as he walked around the room.
He placed one candle to the desk where Lemon Zest was sitting at. "Here, so you can finish your work." The redhead whispered, still noticing the blond paused his work since the power went out.
"Oh... Thanks."
It's a shown form of respect for each other, it seems. They do talk to each other sometimes but still with others around. They rarely had time just the two of them. It's either because of missions or training or something else. As if their schedules rarely aligned.
The redhead sat down on his bed, observing the outside. It's still raining. He can hear some croaking of the frogs from afar. There's still chaos outside but the volume has been lowered. The only sources of light they have are the candle flames. Then he looked at the blond.
His appearance still stands out in the room. The lemon yellow cloak drapes down from the blond, down to the floor. Topaz eyes focused on the journal he's writing on. The pen moves quick while writing down important things. He hums a bit but catches it. As if stopping himself just to continue his thoughts.
It's like the first time he has seen the blond this busy, so unlike the easygoing nature he has seen him most of the time.
Then the redhead caught that slight shiver. The coldness started to spread into the room. He picked up the neatly folded blanket sheet he has lying on his pillow, silently approached the busy blond while unfolding the fabric.
Lemon Zest felt a soft blanket draped across his shoulder. "Hm?" He looked at his side and he noticed ruby eyes staring back at him.
"Ah, sorry, I just thought you were getting cold."
"I have a cloak on though..."
"But I saw you shivering already. Warm yourself up."
The blond just relented and accepted the gesture. The temperature started to drop since the power went out anyways. He glanced as the redhead heads back to sitting on the bed again, observing him instead. Normally he would be bothered by it and give out an honest response to stop looking at him.
But for some reason, he couldn't.
Maybe he's in the redhead's room that he isn't entitled to privacy. Or he would feel bad to push him away when all he did was being so nice.
o-o
It wasn't long until the blond finally realized he had finished his report. He sighed relief as he slammed the journal shut. "Well, I'm finished." He stretched his arms and leaves the desk, approaching the redhead who's still sitting on the bed, now staring listlessly outside.
When Lemon Zest sat down next to Crushed Pepper, he stared at the other quietly for a while. The redhead being this quiet felt new to him. Something akin to being vulnerable close to him. Then he slightly rubbed his hands a bit and gently reached his finger over the redhead's cheek, as if to poke...
... But the static electricity got first and it sparked between the gap between the skin of the finger and on the cheek.
"AH!" The redhead gasped, causing the blond to snicker.
"I like it when I catch you off guard."
"Oh, you're already done?" Crushed Pepper asked.
"Yeah, you haven't heard me saying I'm finished moments ago?"
"Hahaha... Nope sorry I haven't."
"You probably spaced out for a while. That's alright."
"Right...right..."
"Oh um... Thanks for letting me stay in your room."
"No worries!"
"And... The blanket. Though you're not covering yourself with a blanket. Are you sure you don't need it?" Lemon Zest asked curiously.
"Yeah I'm really fine!" Crushed Pepper reacted. "This kind of cold doesn't affect me after all! I mean.... I don't particularly like cold things..." He kept talking and stammering while he didn't notice the blond inched his hand closer to his arm. "... Also some had told me when someone touches me, my temperature is a bit-WOAH!" He caught himself off guard when he felt cold hands holding his arm.
"Hmm you're temperature is higher than mine. You sure you're not catching a fever?" Lemon Zest asked again, now leaning his head towards the redhead's shoulder.
"No not a fever! It's been my temperature all along."
"So you can be a walking heater all along, hahaha... Well that's convenient."
The redhead noticed the blond is still a bit cold and how suddenly he's clinging onto him. "Uh, you know you can just hug me, right?"
"Oh! That won't be necessary."
"I insist! You're definitely still cold!"
"The blanket is enough-"
"I think it isn't!"
The two debated a bit but in the end, Lemon Zest finds himself lying down, just above Crushed Pepper, with a blanket covering the both of them. The blond felt strong arms holding him securely, not too tight, making him unable to slip away. They stayed there for a while, somehow relaxing into each other despite the awkwardness of the situation.
It felt really warm.
"I plan to leave after I said thank you." Lemon Zest spoke. "I probably bothered you too much."
"No, you don't. I'm quite happy you did came here. I wouldn't mind if you'd come here more often."
The blond looked up to the redhead with a puzzled look, as if registering the subtle invitation. "Hmm... Maybe I would." He sighed, burying his head on the other's chest. "You're warm... Pepper... It's making me feel sleepy."
"You can take a nap here. Who knows when the power would come back, or the weather getting better." The redhead replies, lightly brushing the blond's head with his hand, unintentionally tugging the yellow cloak hood down. "Ah, your hood..."
"Leave it down. I don't mind." He hears him whisper.
"Okay..." Crushed Pepper nodded, leaning his chin over the blond's head. "Your hair feels soft and smells good, by the way..." He blurted out, unable to not notice the sweet citrusy scent he unintentionally inhaled.
"Thanks, I made it."
"Pfft. You really want to make this funny, Zest."
"Well I did make my hair this way." The blond lifted himself up, just to see the red head's face.
And it suddenly felt like the wrong move.
Finally realizing that two people lying on top of each other would bring up misunderstandings if someone would accidentally walk in to see them. As their eyes meet, they can notice each other's faces despite the limited light from the candles. It's like they're blushing. And the way their torsos are pressed against each other is making it easier to notice their heartbeats quicken.
What is this feeling? The one that makes you feel like your heart skips a beat, one that makes you feel there's butterflies in the stomach, the want this moment to never end.
"I'll take a nap..." The blond laid down on top of the redhead again, trying his best not to show his reddened face.
"Sure.. I'll wake you up when the power's back. Sounds good?" The redhead coughed, trying to calm his racing heart down.
"Mhm..."
That abrupt deflection was enough to snap those fantasies away. It's way too early for them.
Lemon Zest can feel himself relaxing once more, feeling a hand gently brushing his head, the warmth seemingly pulling him into sleep. He closes his eyes, feeling his consciousness slowly drift away. This warmth felt so comfortable and secure, he could feel vulnerable at this moment.
He could have sworn he heard Crushed Pepper said something before he finally falls asleep.
"Goodnight, my Zest."
o-o
It was the middle of the night when Lemon Zest wakes up again. The power is back on, bringing a bright glare into the room. The weather is still dark but not raining anymore. And the heater was also turned off. It's still cold.
"I should head back to my room..." He muttered, attempting to get off when he realized something.
Instead of lying on top of the redhead, he's now lying beside the redhead on the bed. And he couldn't leave either. Those strong arms are keeping him in place. Even one nudge makes the arms go tighter and closer to the redhead.
Lemon Zest had no other option but to only stare at Crushed Pepper sleeping.
But that option seems not too bad at all.
Seeing the redhead also relaxed and asleep too makes him look so innocent. And actually observe how attractive he could be. And that's is a rare opportunity to have. The blond couldn't help but gently cup that pretty face with his hand before quickly pulling away as the redhead shifted a bit, making both of them closer.
"Hmm..." He ends up nuzzling his head on the other's chest again. He changed his mind. "Maybe I should visit here more often..." He mutters before welcoming a more comfortable sleep.
o-o-o