Work Text:
Dingdongdingdongdingdongdingdongdingdongdingdongdingdongdingdongdingdongdingdongdingdongdingdongdingdongdingdongdingdongdingdong
I rushed to the door and peeked through the peephole, confirming it was Rafayel before opening it.
“What are you doing here? I thought you said you were picking me up at eight. It’s only six-forty.” I stepped aside to let him in.
“Cutie, I called you ten times, and you didn’t pick up once.”
“I was doing my makeup. I slept late last night, so my face isn’t cooperating today.” I shot him a glare. “I wonder whose fault that is.”
“Hey now.” Rafayel raised both hands in surrender. “It’s not my fault you’re the only person online at three in the morning.”
“Yeah, I was about to go to sleep, but then your notification popped up. Of course, as a hardworking bodyguard, I had to check it.” I walked back toward my room. “What if you, I don’t know…got chased by cats during one of your midnight walks?”
“You make a good point.”
I sat down at my vanity, watching Rafayel settle onto my bed through the mirror.
I started applying foundation, only to wipe it off when it began caking. With a sigh, I reached for my primer and applied another layer before trying again.
“You’re using too much primer,” Rafayel said at last. “Sometimes it’s the products reacting to each other that causes caking.”
“I tried going without primer, but my bare face isn’t any better.”
Rafayel stood and walked over. He turned my chair to face him, poured makeup remover onto a cotton pad, and gently wiped my face clean.
“Then maybe you don’t need foundation,” he murmured, his attention fixed on my face. “You just need to embrace your bare skin.”
He reached for my makeup palette and, with quiet concentration, began painting my face as though it were his canvas.
At last, Rafayel turned my chair back towards the vanity and revealed his masterpiece.
I touched my face. “That’s…me?”
“Of course, who else could it be?”
“I should hire you to be my permanent stylist—I look like an idol!”
I hurriedly pulled out my phone and snapped a selfie. As someone blessed with the uncanny ability to look terrible in every photo, I almost dropped my phone when the picture actually came out gorgeous.
Before I could send it to Tara, Rafayel reached over, grabbed my makeup remover, and pressed a cotton pad against my cheek.
“Hey!” I jerked back. “What are you doing?”
“Redoing your makeup.”
“Why?”
“This is too—I don’t need everyone staring at you.”
I blinked. “Isn’t that kind of the point?”
He avoided my gaze, continuing to wipe away the foundation with careful, practiced strokes.
“I’ll do something more subtle.”
The corners of my mouth curled into a grin. “Are you…jealous?”
“What are you talking about?”
Unable to hold back my amusement, my smile grew wider. “Your ears are red.”
“…The lighting in here’s kinda bad.”
“Mmhmm.”
We arrived at the venue just in time.
Rafayel had redone my makeup. It was still beautiful—just a little softer than his first attempt.
The moment I spotted Tara, I hurried over and wrapped her in a hug.
“Happy birthday!”
“Thank you!” she laughed. As we pulled apart, her eyes widened. “Wait…new makeup style? This really suits you!”
“Thanks! Rafayel did it.”
Tara looked over at him with an amused grin. “Never underestimate an artist. Apparently that includes cosmetics.” She reached out a hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Rafayel.”
Rafayel shook it. “Just Rafayel is fine. Nice to meet you too.”
“Can I hire you to do my make up sometime?”
Rafayel glanced at me before responding. “Sorry, but I’m fully booked.”
Tara’s party is held at a karaoke bar. When Simone walked in with Andrew, the two of them each gave Tara a small hug. Not long after, Captain Jenna arrived alone in an elegant red dress and handed Tara a thick Red Envelope that clearly looked like it could fund her a six-month vacation.
“Wow.” Simone whistled. “Captain Jenna, are you giving Tara her salary for the next five years all at once?”
We all crowded around Tara as she opened the envelope, revealing a thick stack of hundred dollar bills.
“Thank you for your generosity!” Tara bowed, clutching the envelop to her chest.
Captain Jenna simply smiled and sat down at the table.
“[Y/N], I have a seat next to me. Come sit with us!” Simone patted the empty chair beside her.
I started to step away when I felt a gentle tug on the hem of my skirt.
I turned.
Rafayel was pinching the fabric between his fingers. His expression remained perfectly calm, as if he hadn’t done anything at all.
Anyone else would’ve missed it, but I knew him well enough to understand exactly what he meant.
“Here is fine.” I tell Simone.
“You sure?” She asked.
I nodded.
“Suit yourself then.” Simone turned back to Andrew and resumed their conversation.
Simone and Tara dominated the mics, singing their hearts out at almost every song on the queue. I joined in every now and then, but I wasn’t exactly the type to fight for the spotlight. However, that changed as soon as Rewrite the Stars came on. I practically jumped up and snatched the mic from Simone’s hands like it was a lifeline.
I do not play about this song.
I let Andrew sing the male verse and chorus, waiting impatiently for Zendaya’s part.
“No one can rewrite the stars
How can you say you'll be mine?”
However, at the bridge, it wasn’t Andrew’s voice that harmonized with me. Confused, I looked over at him, but he wasn’t holding the mic anymore.
Rafayel was.
His eyes weren't looking at the lyrics on the screen, they were fixed on me.
For a moment, the rest of the room seemed to disappear. It was just his voice blending effortlessly with mine, his gaze never leaving mine for a second.
The song ended.
Neither of us looked away.
Then…
Badass trigger, badass with a gun
I immediately whipped my head back to the screen. Who the heck added Improvised Flow? Whatever, that’s not the point right now. I eyed Tara and Simone. We all had the same smile on our faces.
I shouted the lyrics, off-key and out of tune, but that’s alright because Tara and Simone were doing the same beside me.
The party ended around midnight. Arms interlinked, Simone, Andrew, Tara, and I left the venue, laughing at some ridiculous inside joke.
"This is so stupid." I said between laughs. "Why are we laughing like we're drunk?"
"Drunk on friendship." Simone added.
"Guys I don't want to go home." Tara said. "You guys want to go to a bar? It'll be my treat, consider it an afterparty."
"That'd be fun!" Andrew chimed in.
Before I could agree, I felt a pair of hands grab my waist and pull me back, breaking the human chain we made.
"We have an early morning tomorrow." Rafayel cut in.
I blinked. "We do?"
"Yeah, I said I'd take you sightseeing tomorrow, remember?"
"You di—"
Rafayel covered my mouth before I could finish my sentence. "You guys go ahead without us, I'll treat you guys out next time."
"Alright then." Tara said. "Get home safe!"
In the car, before I could even get my seatbelt on, Rafayel was already leaned over, one hand cradling the back of my head, the other on my chin, his lips desperately kissing mine. I tried to push him away, to gasp for air, but he simply grabbed my hand and put it over his shoulder.
“Rafayel,” I gasped between breaths. “I need to breathe!”
Surprised, he actually pulled away, but I soon realized that it was only because I triggered our bond.
“You ignored me today. You left me all alone.”
“I—umm…” I searched for a reasonable excuse. “It’s Tara’s party. Today is all about her.”
“Really?” He leaned back into his seat. “Seems to me like it’s about her, Simone, and Andrew.”
“Well they’re my friends.”
“Your friends…” He said thoughtfully. “I see…”
Rafayel didn’t say anything else, and drove off, which honestly made me feel worse inside.
When we got back to my place, I kicked off my heels and went to my fridge to look for a drink. All that singing has really dried up my throat.
“Rafayel, do you want anything?”
“Yeah, you.” He said casually.
I rolled my eyes and was about to brush it off when a mischievous thought crossed my mind. I set my booze down on the counter before walking towards him.
“Is that so?” I pulled his tie so that his face was inches from mine.
Immediately, his cheeks flushed, and he looked away.
Resting two fingers on his chin, I guided his face back toward mine. “Eyes on me, pretty boy.”
“You…I was…” He stammered.
“What?” I teased. “Panicking because your flirting actually worked?” I gave him a peck on the cheek before walking back to the kitchen with a satisfied grin.
I chugged down the entire can in one go, before going back to my fridge for another one.
“Cutie, I don’t think that’s good for you.” Rafayel commented.
“You wouldn’t let me go to that bar with Tara.” I cracked open the second can. “Now, you won’t even let me drink in my own home?”
Before I could take a sip, Rafayel grabbed it and took a sip himself.
“Hey!” I tried reaching for it, but he held it high. “You could have just said you wanted some.”
I went back to my fridge and pulled out two more cans.
“You’ll get a hang over.”
“Whatever.” I shrugged. “I have tomorrow off anyway, I’ll just make you take care of me.”
Rafayel sighed but didn’t push further.
I don’t exactly remember how, but I suddenly found myself laying on Rafayel’s lap. He was sketching something on some scrap paper. I gently poked his cheek, and smiled like an idiot.
Rafayel looked away from his sketch and sighed. “You’re drunk.”
“Really?” I asked drowsily.
“Your cheeks are red.”
“Then I guess I am.” I yawned. “I don’t drink often.”
“That’s good. I can’t go around saying my bodyguard’s a drunkard.”
I pushed myself on Rafayel’s lap, arms resting on his shoulders. For a long moment, I simply looked at him. His eyes, the shape of his nose, as though I were trying to memorize every little detail.
Without thinking, I leaned forward and softly pressed my lips against his.
“Be honest.” I said. “Were you jealous today?”
He was quiet for a moment, before answering, “Who wouldn’t be?”
I smiled triumphantly. “I knew it.”
“It’s getting late, you should go take a shower now.”
“Later.” I rested my head on his shoulder. “I’m comfortable where I am right now.”
“[Y/N].” He gently nudged.
“Mmm.” I hummed, my consciousness slowly drifting away. “You help me shower then.”
“Wha—“
“I’ll cooperate.” I muttered.
“I spoil you too much.” Rafayel sighed. “Fine, but just this once.”
“Mmm.”