Twst Fluff - Blog Posts

Adopted by papa crewel

It was a normal Friday afternoon and class was ending as y/n walked past Mr. Crewels desk he spoke up “Y/N I need you to stay after for a second” Mr. Crewel said as he continued to grade papers. Y/n waved bye to her friends and grim as she stayed behind in the classroom. “Am I in trouble?” Y/n asked as she pulled up a chair. “No” Mr. Crewel answered 

“Did grim do something?” Y/n

“No” crewel 

“Did ace and deuce do something?” Y/n

“No” crewel 

Mr. Crewel just smiled slightly as he placed his pen down and looked at y/n who was trying to figure out why she had to stay behind. “I wanted to ask you something important” crewel started y/n looked at him before slightly tilting her head. “Go on” y/n said with a confused smile, crewel sighed before placing a piece of paper in front of y/n. It was a adoption paper, y/n looked up at crewel in shock “before you say anything let me explain. I know you want to back home but it's just for now or if sadly there is no way back. Like for breaks you'll have somewhere to go instead of staying on campus. It's ok if you want you don't want to but-” “you actually want me as your daughter?” Y/n had interrupted crewel. Crewel looked at her and saw she had tears in her eyes. “Of course you like a daughter I've never had but always wanted. Your smart, brave, Hella stubborn and more” crewel said standing up and walking over to her. Y/n jumped up and hugged him crewel froze before wrapping his arms around her “But even if you say yes I won't give you any special treatment at school anyway” crewel said with a laugh y/n laughed as well. 

Back home y/n was normal always by herself but here she has friends and now someone who wants to adopt her. Y/n pulled away from the hug and looked up at crewel “are you sure about this?” Y/n asked one last time crewel put a hand on her head “Yes my daughter” he replied y/n smiled and signed the paper. Crewel couldn't be happier one he has a daughter (and a devil cat) and two he gets to put Crowley through more hell. “Am I aloud to tell anyone?” Y/n asked crewel nodded as he picked up the paper “Yes I want all those bad pups to know if they mess with you they get to deal with me. Plus grim will have to know as well since he goes with you everywhere” crewel said with a proud smile. Y/n smiled again hugging him before running off to tell her friends the good (not so good for them) news.

Hugging them for the first time pt4

Ignihyde & Diasomnia

Y/n has been at NRC for a while and she's never hugged anyone (besides grim) until today. Y/n took in a deep breath before walking out the door of the ramshackle dorm with grim on her shoulder.

Idia Shroud: Instant blue screen and pink hair. His mind will race between what's happening?, She's hugging me!!, Did I forget a special day?, and Why would she want to hug me? He won’t hug back unless ortho comes in and tells him to hug back and ortho takes a picture of y/n and Idia hugging. Once y/n leaves Idia has a huge smile on his face as he collapses onto his bed letting out the breath he didn’t know he was holding.

Lilia Vanrouge: Just hold your arms out when you see him and he’ll gladly accept. Y/n saw Lilia when she was leaving history “Lilia!” Y/n called out Lilia looked up from his DS (he’s a gamer you can’t tell me he has a ds or a switch) to see y/n told her arms out making him chuckle before disappearing then reappearing in front of her before wrapping his arms around her before they were both floating upside down in the air y/n was giggling as she held onto his small form. He may be small but remember he was a general and he is a fae. Once the hug was over he smiled as he watched y/n walk off humans never stop surprising him.

Silver Vanrouge: (ik just let me have this one!) He was found walking towards a tree probably where he can most likely always be found when he sleeps. Y/n quickly caught up with silver, “hey silver heading to your normal nap stop?” y/n asked silver nodded “yawn* yeah.. Is something wrong?” silver asked yawning y/n just shock her head before they stopped under the tree before silver could say anything else y/n hugged him making him chuckle before hugging her back “ your so warm” silver yawned as he fell asleep standing in her arms but y/n was ready and slowly placed him down on the ground.

Malleus Draconia: HUG!THIS!MAN! (you know Astarion from bg3 think about his hug) He was excited to see his child of man like he always is on their nightly walks. Before he could even say hello y/n smiled and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist he froze up before slowly wrapping his arms around y/ns puddy from. He needed this hug and y/n was happy to give it.They stood there for awhile by the time mallues had released y/n he realized she had fallen asleep. Mallues picked y/n up and teleported to the ramshack before gently placing her down on her bed “thank you child of man” mallues whispered before leaving (should i do the staff?)

Hugging them for the first time pt3

Octavinelle & Scarabia ( Azul, Jade, Floyd, Kalim, and Jamil)

Y/n has been at NRC for a while and she's never hugged anyone (besides grim) until today. Y/n took in a deep breath before walking out the door of the ramshackle dorm with grim on her shoulder. {some are shorter than others}

Azul Ashengrotto: Hug him and he’ll melt into your arms and might start crying so pls do it behind closed doors. Y/n was waiting in Azul’s office for the deal maker, soon enough the door of the office opened “Y/n its good to see you! What brings you to my office today?” Azul asked, walking in before closing the door. Azul trusted y/n enough that he didn’t need to have the tweels in the room with them. Once Azul was close enough y/n hugged him and Azul basically collapsed into her arms y/n felt something wet landed on her shoulder. Azul felt bad he was crying on y/n's shoulder but the hug was nice and well needed. “What do you want in return?” Azul asked as he pulled away from her expecting she wanted something in return “Nothing i just wanted to give you a hug” y/n said with a huff crossing her arms before she walked out of the office waving bye to azul making him shake his head and smile. He did really like the hug though now he’s thinking about what to give y/n in return.

Jade Leech: Hug and run! y/n saw Jade washing dishes in the kitchen, so y/n thought it would be fun so just surprise hug him and that’s what she did. She quietly walked up behind the eel and wrapped her arms around him making him stop moving and with that y/n quickly let go and ran out of the kitchen. Jade watched y/n run out of the kitchen she surprised him, the jade leech he was impressed. He will get Y/n back, that's a promise.

Floyd Leech: This can go two ways depending on his mood if he's in a bad mood he’ll probably grunt as y/n hugs him before patting her head before wanting to be let go but will come running for a hug later or if he’s in a good mood y/n isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, his shrimpy hugged him for the first time this eel is excited now he’s going to hold you until he’s bored. As y/n ran out of the kitchen she saw Floyd looking down, she knew the two ways this would end but she still wanted to hug him. Y/n walked up to him “hi floyd you alright?” y/n asked Floyd quickly looked down at her “hi shrimpy just a bad day” he huffed “do you want a shrimpy hug?” y/n asked expecting him to say no but he lit up like a firework before picking her up and spinning her around “oh shrimpy!!!” Floyd happily yelled y/n just laughed as she hugged him. Everyone in the mostro lounge was thankful for y/n because now floyd was in a better mood. Y/n got ALOT of free food to take home that day.

Kalim Al-Asim: Just hold your arms out when you see him he’ll come running. Y/n was walking through the halls when she saw Kalim and Jamil “Y/n!” Kalim yelled waving at her with a big smile making y/n smile back at him and she opened her arms Jamil looked shocked and Kalim looked excited before he started running towards her very excitedly. He ran full force into her arm laughing the entire time. Once they pulled away from each other y/n saw Jamil had walked over to them.

Jamil Viper: Before Jamil could say anything y/n hugged him as well making him freeze before he hugged her back. Y/n did hug him a second longer than she hugged Kalim so Jamil was really happy and petty about the hug.

hugging them for the first time pt1

The first years (Ace, Deuce, Jack, Epel, Sebek, and Ortho)

Y/n has been at NRC for a while and she's never hugged anyone (besides grim) until today. Y/n took in a deep breath before walking out the door of the ramshackle dorm with grim on her shoulder. {ps y/n is pudgy since thats what i am)

Ace Trappola: Ace is the first person y/n saw this morning “hey y/n what's with that face?” Ace teased as she got closer before he could say anything else y/n wrapped her arms around his torso his face slowly turned red as he stood there shocked he wasn't expecting a hug he expected a punch to the shoulder like they do every morning before walking together to find the rest of the group. As quick as he became shocked is as quick it turned to cocky. “Oh couldn't keep your hands to yourself” he teased as he hugged her back before she huffed and pushed him away making him laugh before walking away. “Wait no come back!” he laughed as he followed behind her.

Deuce Spade: Deuce was running a bit late this morning but he soon caught up with y/n, grim and ace. “Sorry i’m late-” Deuce was cut off by y/n hugging him. He stood there frozen for a good minute before he hugged her and held her gently as if she was made of glass. “Deuce why you making such a ugly face man” ace and grim laughed making Deuce snap out of the wonderful moment “oi shove off!” he yelled at them while covering y/n's ears. Ace and grim looked at each other before they started mocking deuce, which ended in deuce gently pulling away from y/n, and charging after the two. Y/n just smiled, and shock her head before walking towards class and on the way maybe find her next huggable victim.

Jack Howl: Now since Jack is a beast man his senses are higher so sneaking up on him would be a little bit hard but not impossible, (but that's not going to happen this time) Jack was standing in the normal meeting spot near the fountain and his ears perked up when he heard grim and aces screams. He watched unamused as Ace, grim and deuce ran past him. Y/n stood beside jack as they watched ace and grim avoid a angry deuce, “‘sigh’ a normal monday'' Jack sighed looking down at y/n only to see her smiling up at him before hugging him, Jacks tail started wagging very quickly it looked like it could make a tiny tornado. Y/n could see Jack's face was very red “what is this for?” Jack asked, trying to act serious y/n shrugged and let go of him, which he patted her head gently in return before they went to follow the troublemakers.

Epel Felmier: He will try to fight because he doesn't want to be seen as cute, Epel meet the four near the cafeteria y/n walked up to him first and hugged him from behind making freeze up and raise his fist before looking over to see y/n hugging him “you all right?” was his first question, He liked the hug but he thought something was wrong. “Nothing wrong, i just wanted a hug” y/n said letting him go he turned around before hugging her back. Y/n smiled and hugged him again before epel dragged her into the cafeteria since everyone else already went in.

Sebek Zigvolt: We all know Sebek he yells (his words he just talks loudly) but now he is silent. Sebek was waiting outside Treins classroom for his friends he rarely eats breakfast with them; he wants to be near mallues at all times, from the corner of his eye he saw all six walking up to him. “ABOUT TIME YOU SHOWED-” sebek stopped mid shout and froze as he felt y/n hug him, everyone was ready for him to start shouting louder. Sebek slowly looked down at his friend before he brought his left hand up to the back of her head and patted it “ let's get to class” he said normally everyone looked at him in shock making him gently push y/n away before he walked into the classroom. Everyone slowly followed in after him y/n was worried she broke him because he was silent the entire lesson. “Sebek i’m sorry-” y/n started as she chased after sebek after class before he turned to look at her “ you did nothing wrong it felt nice thank you” he bowed everyone was still shocked at this and grim smirked “ aww look sebek is a softie” grim teased making sebek shot back up “THIS SOFTIE WILL END YOU!” sebek yelled with a red face, everyone covered their ears but laughed he was back to his normal self at least.

Ortho Shroud: HUG!THIS!BOY! (i wanna hug him! And squeeze him!) Ortho was excitedly looking for his friends “Ortho!!” y/n shouted as she ran towards her little robot friend, Ortho turned when he heard his name only to be wrapped into a warm hug, making him squeal as she swung him around as she held him in a tight hug. He loved hugs from people he cared for. “y/n! Your hugs are very warm, you should hug my brother too!” the boy happily stated

Forgot that I had this little Idia and Azul doodle 😗

dyed hair :)

(read from left to right!)

- inspired from this post.

TWST Incorrect quotes#671 ALL THE RIGHTS-

Yuu: Look, you had no right to-

Vil*bites lip his lower lip*

Yuu:-tell me

Vil*smirks sd he flutters his eyelashes effortlessly beautifully*

Yuu:-who I should-

Vil*places hand on thigh*

Yuu: -date

Vil*literally already on top of you're lap*

Yuu:...

Vil*Wrapping his arms around your neck* You were saying?~

Yuu: You have all rights, you have right over me, my body, my mind and my soul*happy bliss, Giggling as he squishes you're face and starts to pepper your face in kisses*

The easiest way to find Sebek is to walk around the Night Raven campus, going "where's my Sebek?"

It elicits odd stares and plenty of snickers from the other students, but it gets the job done. You'll know when he's nearby. After repeating this phrase enough times and in multiple places around campus, you'll hear a familiar thundering cry.

"I am not your Sebek!"

The shout is eventually followed by the man himself. You can tell what direction he's in by the heavy stomps, thudding against the ground almost as loud as his voice. His frown is as sharp as his furrowed brows. The slight tinge of embarrassment colors his face.

"Human! How dare you..."

The familiar face makes you smile with joy. "There you are! There's my Sebek."

He falters. It's clear he has so much to say, but can't find the right words to get out first. They pile up in his mouth while he stammers. You fear you may have traumatized him until the verbal barrage bursts out like a dam.

"How dare you! You know I serve none other than the great heir to Briar Valley. To even imply that I am yours? A mere human's? Inconceivable! Your absurdity knows no bounds!"

He sounds as energetic as ever. You decide to interrupt the angry monologue before he really gets going.

"Sebek, I wanted to know if we're still having lunch together."

"To insult the very essence of my being! As if you..."

It takes a hot second for your inquiry to reach his ears, but when he catches it, the rambling drifts off. He grows oddly quiet. He balls his hands into fists and unclenches them several times in quick succession, testing the limits of his uniform gloves. This would already have delved into a physical fight if you were any other student.

Despite your inane actions, you're practically harmless. Any great guard should easily be able to ignore petty taunts. It's best to consider this a test. Sebek clears his throat.

"Of course we are. You didn't have to come find me just for that. I always keep my word." The redness of his ear tips peeking out from under his hair remind you of a Christmas tree.

"Great! Can't wait."

You stick out your hand for a parting high five. Sebek subverts expectations by grabbing your palm. His gloves are warm and a little sweaty after rushing to find you, and his grip is anything but soft in a boyish display of dominance.

"Do not do this again," he says. He's stern, but after that warning his voice drops to a normal level and he sounds almost gentle. "Just... text me, like a normal person. You have my number."

A Night to Remember

★ CHARACTER ─ Malleus Draconia

✦ GENRE ─ fluff

★ WARNING ─ none

✦ SUMMARY ─ In the ballroom of NBC, glancing amongst the crowd, you noticed him. This was your chance.

Note: I think this takes place after they sang "Make a Wish"? I don't really know... Im probably not the only one who got this idea, but I just really wanted to write this one. It came to me while I was listening to "Ma Meilleure Ennemie" on loop

The ballroom of Noble Bell College glimmered under the soft light of the chandeliers. The elegance of the surroundings seemed to amplify the elegance of every guest present. Gowns swirled like blooming flowers and tuxedos glided across the polished floors, all accompanied by the hum of music and laughter. You stepped into the room, your attire fitting perfectly for the occasion—a vision of grace amidst the crowd.

Your eyes scanned the room, drawn instinctively to him. Malleus Draconia stood near the edge of the ballroom, his striking masquerade attire radiating an air of majesty that left onlookers hesitant to approach. Sebek stood honorably by his side, his intense gaze warding off any who might muster the courage to engage the heir of Briar Valley.

But not you.

You wove your way through the crowd, your heart racing with anticipation as Malleus’s gaze found yours. His eyes seemed to soften, the imposing presence he carried melting into something more gentle. With a small, almost unnoticeable smile, he stepped away from Sebek and began moving towards you.

The music shifted, signaling the start of a dance. The crowd parted slightly, as if the world itself made space for the moment between you and him. You reached him just as the first notes echoed through the hall, and he offered you his gloved hand.

"May I have this dance?" his voice, calm and smooth, a gentle smile that just warms your heart.

"Of course," you replied, placing your hand in his.

The dance began. He moved with an elegance that seemed almost otherworldly, his steps perfectly measured and graceful. You, however, let the music guide you, your style freer and more expressive. At first, it felt like a mismatch, but then you noticed something extraordinary—Malleus was slowly mimicking your movements, his usually precise steps loosening to mirror your fluidity.

A laugh bubbled from your lips, and he smiled—a genuine, delighted expression that lit up his face. Together, you danced, your contrasting styles blending into something uniquely yours. The crowd around you blurred, the music your only anchor to reality.

He twirled you around, his grip steady yet gentle, and you couldn’t help but laugh again, the sound light and free as it mingled with the melody. As you spun back into his arms, the world seemed to pause for a heartbeat; eyes locking onto yours.

Later, you found yourselves on the balcony, the cool night air brushing against your skin. The stars above stretched endlessly, their light casting a faint glow over the gardens below. The muffled sounds of the ballroom drifted through the open doors, but out here, it felt as though you were in an entirely different world.

Laughter bubbled up from your chest, and Malleus gave you a look of amused curiosity, his emerald eyes alight with a rare glimmer of playfulness.

"How’d you know how to dance like that?" you teased, referencing his loose, carefree movements that had mirrored your own.

"I didn’t," he replied smoothly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

You blinked. “You’re saying you were just winging it?”

“Of course,” he said, tilting his head slightly. “I followed your lead. If it seemed otherwise, perhaps you’re a better guide than you realize.”

The sincerity in his voice made your chest ache in the best way. "Well," you said softly, "I think you’re a natural. But next time, maybe don’t outshine me at my own style.."

...

"I never imagined I would enjoy myself so much tonight," he admitted, his voice softer now, almost vulnerable. "You’ve shown me something new—something wonderful."

You leaned against the balcony rail, looking at him. "I enjoyed every moment, too..."

He turned toward you fully, his gaze unwavering. "I’ve often been surrounded by people yet felt entirely alone. But with you, I’ve felt… seen." His words touched something deep within you, and before you could respond, his smile widened—a genuine, heartfelt expression that seemed almost out of place on someone so regal.

"I'm grateful," he said simply, his voice filled with warmth. You smiled back, feeling a sense of connection you hadn’t thought possible. In that moment, under the starlit sky, it felt like the rest of the world had faded away, leaving only the two of you and the quiet, unspoken promise of something more.

I haven't been writing since I was busy with school, and also been kinda focused on drawing more... so I feel like im not as good? but so far I like this Idea more than the rest..

Soo... how was it? GOOD? BAD? It feels rushed.. OH NOO!

I feel like it didn't really turned out on how I wanted it to, but I barely even remember it

I think im gonna try to focus on twst more :•)

⭒ Just a Nickname; Plus More ⭒

⭒ The one-braincell duo is completely stunned at how carelessly fearless you act with Malleus. Calling the big bad dragon heir a nickname and inviting him out for friendly outings? You must be out of your little human mind...

⭒ Genre: Platonic Fluff! 

⭒ Word Count: 1644.

“Tsunotaro!”

“Let’s go out again today, alright?” 

“I had so much fun, didn’t you Tsunotaro?” 

“See you again soon!” 

These, all normal things you said to the person you knew as ‘Tsunotaro’. Even after spending so much time with the mysterious man, you hadn’t worked out his true identity. Not even batting an eye at the way people recoiled from the both of you when you walked on school grounds or in shopping strips. Sure the horns were something you’d questioned before, but you didn’t know if it was a sensitive topic for him, so you never really asked. 

Moving to the present time, you sat on a dark wooden bench near the fence of the Ramshackle dorm, swinging your feet carelessly. Your gaze directed toward the sky glossing over different shapes of fluffy white clouds. The color of the sky was a vibrant pink mixed with warm undertones of orange and red, creating a rather breathtaking sunset. Your hands resided in your lap, folded in waiting. 

Your eyes suddenly caught on a light green flash from the left side of your peripherals. Turning your head to gaze at the scattering fireflies a small smile made its way onto your lips. There Malleus Draconia stood, his gaze locked on yours, eyes riddled with surprise. 

“You’re early, Y/N.” He remarked, slowly starting to walk over to you. 

You nodded as curiosity filled your senses. “I finally found out how you get here so easily..” 

As Malleus reached the bench his eyes trained on you as he waited for your next move. Would this finally be the moment you realized who he truly was? How much power he really held? But no such moment came as he suddenly heard the footsteps of two others, carried along the wind. 

You, of course, heard nothing yet as you didn’t posses anywhere near the abilities he did. So you still sat in wonder before letting out a long drawn out sigh. “I still can’t figure out who you are, Tsunotaro.” 

The male smiled as his eyes narrowed into a smug expression. He crossed his arms before turning his head towards the beaten path that lead to Ramshackle. In the distance, he could easily recognize two figures from Heartslabyul. 

“Well, I believe those two you spend your time with most are coming over, perhaps you could ask them.” Malleus responded, the wording coming out seemingly as if he was jealous. 

Your head turned towards the path and your gaze directed towards the both of their faces. Ace and Deuce, turned to each other making jokes and laughing. Ace teasing poor Deuce, who was normally always subjected to the playful remarks. Their uniforms worn in the usual fashion, Ace’s seeming to be more undone and disheveled then usual. 

“Hey you two!” You called from your seat on the bench as they began to near closer. 

They turned their attention to where you were seated, Malleus stood directly beside you. Suddenly stopping in their tracks, gazes trained on the man beside you. You tilted your head in confusion before standing up and looking over at Malleus. 

His eyes seemed to be narrowed and giving off a faint glow of green light. He was, quite literally, the text book definition of intimidating. Shaking your head, you reached up waving a hand in front of his face to break his gaze from the two completely stunned males. His eyes loosing the faint flow of iridescent green as he directed his gaze down to you. 

“What’s the matter?” You asked. 

The horned-male simply shook his head as a smirk made its way to his features. “Nothing, nothing at all.” He then slowly reached out and placed a gloved hand on your head, offering a few small pats. “You worry too much.”

You simply shook your head and sported a now bashful smile. Looking down to avoid the males gaze you quickly turned around to go greet your friends instead. Once you’d arrived in front of them, they looked as if they’d just seen a ghost. 

“Are you guys alright..?” You asked slowly, gaze darting back and forth between the two.

“Do.. Do you even know who that is!?” Ace whisper-yelled as he leveled his face with yours to properly look you in the eyes. “You have to be out of your mind!” 

You looked over to Deuce who seemed to be thinking the same thing as he was hurriedly nodding after every word Ace said. You sighed before speaking, “No, I don’t know his real name so I just call him Tsunotaro. Why..? Should I know who he is?” 

Now the both of them looked at you like you had two heads or maybe even three. Ace leaned in closer to you before placing both of his hands on your shoulder blades. “That’s Malleus Draconia.” 

Your eyes widened for a split second before drawing in a breath. You shrugged him off before nodding and placing a hand on your chin. “That actually makes a lot of sense.” 

“How can you be so calm about this!?” Ace responds with an appalled expression. 

“Well he hasn’t hurt me at all yet or even tried to.” You paused as you turned to the side, eyes gazing at the dark-haired male who was now seated on the bench you previously were. “I see no reason to treat him any differently.” 

The two males shook their heads before Ace began to speak again. “I’m assuming Grim is inside, yeah? Well then I’ll let myself in.” 

With no second thought, he walked past you leaving you with Deuce. Deuce looked like he wanted to follow after the red-haired boy, but he turned to you first. “Make sure to let me.. us.. know if he tries anything odd okay?” 

You give Deuce a look before waving your hand in front of your face. “I’ll be fine Deuce, thank you though.” 

He nodded once more before starting after Ace. You turned and watched the two males walk through the gate before slowly closing it behind them. Walking back over to Malleus you let out a rather large sigh before sitting down beside him. 

“I finally figured out who you really are, Tsunotaro.” 

The horned-male beside you tilted his head before letting out a chuckle under his breath. “Yet you still continue to call me by that silly nickname you came up with.” 

“Would you like me to call you by your real name?” You asked after a short moment of silence. “Malleus Draconia.” The name felt odd on your tongue in comparison to Tsunotaro. 

A smirk tugged at his lips before he responded. “You know no fear, child of man. You still continue to speak to me without a care in the world, despite knowing my identity. You’re either oblivious to what I’m truly capable of, or plain foolish.” 

You stifled a laugh at his last comment. “No no, don’t get me wrong it’s surprising that you’re that Malleus Draconia. But I just don’t feel the need to shy away from you simply because I know who you are now.” You shifted around on the bench so you were facing the male slightly. “I guess I’m just saying that I trust you by now.” 

Malleus’s eyes widened at your words, he nearly look perplexed at them even. “Trust me?” 

“Well yeah, if you wanted to do anything I feel like you already would have. Besides, why risk me actually finding out who you really are if you wanted to hurt me.” You responded with a lazy shrug.

“Hm. I suppose you have a point there.” He responded before looking up at the now darkened sky. “But I certainly would’ve thought you would be more apprehensive when around me after finding out.” 

“Again, you being all mighty and powerful doesn’t matter to me.” You said, probably a little too relaxed. “I know you could easily kick my ass in a fight, even without being Malleus Draconia. I have no magic after all. You’ve also helped me a good bit thus far, so thanks for that too.” 

He stared at you in thought for a moment before standing up. “Well I suppose I’ll see you tomorrow then. Maybe we could venture out to the shopping district, I found a rather quaint café out there I believe you’d like.” 

“Are you inviting me out now, Malleus?” You responded, feigning surprise. 

“Consider it my treat for not running away screaming, Y/N.” He responded with a smirk. 

You let a pleased smile lay itself upon your lips before raising your hand to wave goodbye. “I’ll see you tomorrow Tsunotaro!” 

Malleus let out one final chuckle before vanishing in a flurry of green fireflies once more. 

“Yes, tomorrow is sure to hold something wonderful for the two of us.”

© Aruchemihq - 2022

"I Love You"

When the words "I love you" spill from the prefect's lips, how do the Housewardens react?

Part 2

TW: Kissing in Leona's part, mentions of insecurities (Fluff)

Part 1 (Separate): Riddle Rosehearts, Leona Kingscholar, Azul Ashengrotto

ᥫ᭡. Riddle Rosehearts ᥫ᭡.

Like the thorns on a rose bush, Riddle's words were piercing and harsh. A follower of rules and also a preacher. Even so, what rules could he apply to you? You who was from another world entirely, you who understood little of his world yet were so brave, and you who broke his rules but never angered him. He was so utterly confused. He wasn't sure what he felt, really, you were far from perfect- mother wouldn't approve . Still, he couldn' t deny how his cheeks flared up when you walked into the same room, how he'd slightly fumble his words, and especially how his warnings were much tamer when you broke a rule. It all had to mean something or maybe he was going crazy. How could he like you, even a little- but how could he not?

But he had priorities and you weren't supposed to be one of them, you weren't meant to be a worry, you weren't supposed to be anything. But he cared. So much so, he didn't mind when you broke his rules, it felt right. It was the opposite to all that he was taught, something was amiss. It felt like a fresh breath of air, akin to sunlight engulfing him in a warm embrace. He felt at peace when you were nearby, as if he needn't be so uptight. Maybe it was alright for a few rules to be broken, to enjoy what life had to offer, to allow himself to relax.

He really was grateful for your calming presence, reminiscent to a fresh cup of herbal tea- with a slight hint of cinnamon, subtly spicy. Just like you were, not quite sweet but not sour, maybe spicy was the right term? So earthy and full of life, different from his dull self. But with you near him, he didn't feel so dull even he could be fun- at least you enjoyed his presence, it was enough.

Despite that, you weren't fair- why did he feel so warm when you came close? What right did you have making his face go red, and not from anger? Who allowed you to be so ethereal?

It wasn't fair.

How you were so insufferably pretty, and the way you'd willingly spend time with such a hot-head like him, trying your best to follow the rules of his dorm. You'd try to accommodate yourself to him, you'd really do that for him? He could just melt in your arms. The way you didn't mind when he lectured you for your recklessness, not speaking up but simply eyeing him with wide eyes- how was he even supposed to speak? You'd study alongside him, let him tutor you and afterwords you'd always stay for a cup of tea. He got used to it- your company and your mannerisms. Different from him, yet truly appreciated.

It was another tutoring session when something unforseen took place. Your hand was raveled in your hair as you grumbled and groaned, you hadn't expected the study packets Riddle provided to be so difficult. You had a test in two-weeks, it was time you started practicing practical magic, lucky you having Riddle by your side.

It was a tough night full of nit-picking, you'd say he was mean but you could see how he was trying his best to be tame with his words- how they were harsh but not mean, truly, this was also a challenge for him.

Hours went by, the moon rose in the sky and you were a tired mess, at least Riddle's tutoring helped. You were just about to thank him when the words spilled out of your mouth, unknowingly. Sleepy eyes looked up at him while a soft smile played at your lips.

"I love you, you know?"

How cruel of you to simply doze of afterwards, would you not even listen to what he had to say? Maybe it was for the best, if you were awake he wouldn't be able to meet your gaze. After all, his face was even redder than before, butterflies in his stomach as he simply stood there- had he been dreaming? He hoped not, it would be sadistic of life to play such a joke. He only realized it wasn't a dream when your head touched his hand, you were asleep and comfortable- you felt safe around him, trusted him. It was endearing.

Nevertheless, it was improper for you to doze off all of a sudden. But, just for today, he'd allow you- 'rules are meant to be broken', was what you always said. This was his form of breaking a rule, such a rebel he was. His hand traveled to your face, cupping you cheek gently before he draped a blanket over you- red like roses and Riddle himself.

"I love you too.."

A whisper, he hoped you heard it. Maybe you did and maybe you didn't- he might say it once more, after you awake. Till then, just let him admire you who looked so serene.

ᥫ᭡. Leona Kingscholar ᥫ᭡.

You're really gonna keep trying, aren't ya herbivore? Always trying to push him to go to class, to set his life straight. Really, why do you even care? Every time he pushes you away, orders you to bring him a snack, tells you to remain his pillow. You do it. Why do you stay? No one else would- he's a prince, is that it? His wealth, his influence, the power he holds. Is that what you want a part of? Everyone else had, just to ditch him after.

If you do, he doesn't mind- just stay, please don't go.

He wouldn't admit it but he liked your presence, the way you constantly clung to him, tried to lend a hand to help him who was strong while you were so weak. He might just go to class now, and he does, much more than before. You're a motivation he works for, it brings a smile on your little face. He wants it to stay, he doesn't even know why.

What really affects him is when he realizes, that you stay not for his money, nor his power and influence. You just like him. You enjoy his company, him as a person, an individual. He's not 'the second prince of Sunset Savannah' to you. No, he's Leona Kingscholar to you- not a second option, not someone you'll leave any time soon, and someone you genuinely care for.

Fine then, if his herbivore stays for him- he'll work them. You are a motivation to him, with your sweet words and the time you willingly spend- he too will work for you and be your reason to remain in Twisted Wonderland.

Was it selfish of him to want you to stay, no matter the cost? Maybe, but he is a prince- some habits don't leave, especially not when he's found his reasoning to move forward. He'll change some of his ways for you, it's cute when your face lights up as you notice him heading to class.

He doesn't change every one of his ways though. Why would he, when those ways of his allow him to see your face? You being pulled by Ruggie and towards him to wake him up, and you do- soft nothings spill from your lips as your try to wake the lazy lion before you. Of course he's awake, it's clear he is when he pulls you beside him. His weight stops you from moving, it's a usual now.

"Just stay for a bit, yeah? I promise I'll go to next class after, so just stay with me."

You do, it's comforting but so confusing. It's not appropriate for you to have feelings for someone like him, a prince of another world- you might have to go back to your won, though, you don't really want tot leave when Leona's around. It feels as though you're doing something meant for 'more than friends', something wrong. None of you confront it. It's serene in this silence, his warmth, in his embrace. It's a mutual feeling of safety, a haven. Let it last while it does, he'll make sure it's forever.

"I love you."

And the words spill out of your mouth, no ones near, just him and you. One of his eyes open, a neutral look on his face- you're not sure what to make of it. You don't have to, he's just shocked, not that he'll admit it. He didn't expect his herbivore to be so bold, he likes it, he likes you- loves you too. A grin soon flashes on his face, sharp canines flashing before he pulls you closer. You know what he's insinuating, you abide. He has a hold on the back of your head, hand intertwined in your hair.

It's a surprisingly soft kiss, it makes you want to melt- this is his answer, his reciprocation to your declaration of love. He's too smug to say anything.

Then the both of remain, safe in each others embrace. Your legs are entangled and chest touching the other's, you both relax.

"Love you too herbivore."

It's fleeting words, so soft that you barely heard them and if you did, you're not sure it's reality. As you seem to doze off, there's one thing in your mind. Where else would you go other than his embrace? This was your home.

ᥫ᭡. Azul Ashengrotto ᥫ᭡.

A swindler in the flesh and a contract that binds one to the other. Azul wishes it were that easy, but it's not. The last thing he wishes for is your hatred, you're already wary of him. The interactions he does manage to secure, somehow quite frequently, always render you even more skeptical of him. So guarded and cautious, his reputation's not the best but he isn't a monster, so why are you always scurrying off? Just let him speak, please?

But fate has another plan in mind for you always seem to bump into the swindler that you seem to avoid so- match made in heaven? As if. You won't believe his sweet lies, you won't sign a contract with him- but that's not what it's about. He doesn't wish for a contract, just some of your time.

As your interactions with him increase, you're introduced to very many versions of Azul. Being a swindler was just one part of him, the one that made wary. Nonetheless, he wasn't a monster- quite sweet actually, once you spent the much needed time with him. Words were exchanged, and you were warming up to him, slowly but gradually. Placed on his palm is your trust for safekeeping, you hope he doesn't break it.

As time goes by, you realize the swindler isn't at all what he seems- he has his own walls guarding him, his own insecurities. It's not what you expected, yet it adds to his character- it makes him human, he has a heart. The parts he hides are what attracts you to him- he sees it as a moth to a flame, hiding his failures. Yet, you look at it as a bee to a flower, so dainty a bond but so sweet.

Days go by and you notice how shy he can be, the smallest things can fluster him who seemed so sly. It's endearing, really. Your walls slowly break down, revealing your true person while he allows you to see glimpses of his own self, slow but steady. You don't mind, you both can take your time- walk hand in hand towards trust.

It's another night in his office, spent with him working on contracts. He truly is a hard worker, ambitious too. You admire those qualities, maybe not all the work he does but him as an individual is what you like. You don't seem to notice how the three words roll off your tongue, hand tangled in his locks of gray, seemingly playing with his hair; until you do, in fact, realize.

"Azul, I love you.."

Ink is spilled everywhere, the black coating the table and contracts on it. The pitter patter of the liquid allows him time to realize what you really said.

Those words that spilled of your tongue- so sugary sweet, could it be true? No contract needed, no form of force just his presence alone would suffice? He was enough.

His hand clutched yours tightly, ocean eyes looking up at you from his seat, tears spill from his eyes. He was so vulnerable in that moment, you found his true self as he had found yours. It's a nod from you that shows him that it's not a joke but reality.

"I-I love you too.."

He fumbles the words out too, a faint blush coating his cheeks as he looks away and to the ground. A giggle escapes your lips as you plant a kiss on his cheek.

Maybe the swindler was swindled by your love, except there was no catch- just your love, all for him.

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Sweet Dreams

Lilia Vanrouge x GN!Reader

Synopsis: Lilia was certainly strange, visiting you out of the blue- saying things you could easily mistake for something loving. Truly, he was peculiar. Yet, it wasn't yet another prank- he had his reasons. After all, he couldn't see you suffer. Thus, he didn't let you suffer. With a sweet song and a bit of magic, you were lulled into his comforting arms.

TW: None, just fluff! (a little bittersweet at the end though, maybe-)

A serene morning; raven's cawing outside, Grim yawning as he clings to you, and the ghosts chattering outside your room. This was the usual for Ramshackle mornings, well except for the questionable singing outside. You'd just awoken, lashes fluttering open as you tried to pry Grim off of you. You sighed as his form wouldn't budge, sleepy rambles of tuna spilling from his mouth.

You stretched your tired body trying to accommodate to the chilly morning. Still, what was that strange noise- no, singing outside? It wasn't ghastly, quite the opposite actually. it sounded as though someone was singing lullabies- whoever it was must've been confused about the time of day, it was clearly morning.

Raising a brow in confusion you woke grim up who huffed angrily and complained about how lovely his dream was.

"Huh!? My tuna! W-where is my tuna and my servants!?" Grim exclaimed before you picked him up by the scruff.

"It was a dream, Grim. We have stranger things to worry about than tuna and you having servants." You said nonchalantly, a yawn escaping your lips.

"There's someone singing something outside." You spoke to wish Grim's ears twitched as if he was trying to listen.

"Henchman, you're right! But why're they singin' a lullaby in the morning?" Grim asked, his paw's rising up to jab you- commanding you to let him go. You sighed as you released him- he etched towards the nearest window to go peek at who was outside, and yell at them to stop.

"There's nothin' here." he said, to which you responded with a raised brow. You began to march over to the window too, certainly there was someone or something outside- music didn't just spawn without a source.

"What do you mean there's nothing? There has to be someone-" He was right, no one was outside neither was there something that could generate music. You and Grim glanced at each other in confusion then looked outside the window once more, in sync.

Out of the blue, a head popped up in front of you- upside down.

"Good morning, how's the day for you two?" You both only shrieked in response, backing away from the window- you swore your heart thumped three times faster. That is until you realized, that was Lilia and not one of the ghosts playing a prank on you- it didn't make the ache on your bum any better from falling down though.

"Lilia!? Why are you- what are you doing here," You said, quickly pausing to glance at the old clock to check the time before continuing. "at seven in the morning?" You asked with a huff, Grim nodding at your side- both your and Grim's arms crossed in sync, to which Lilia heartily laughed. He quickly got off your roof and began to float outside your window- this wasn't the morning you were expecting and you did mind, sort of.

"Well I merely thought it would be a lovely idea to visit you, isn't that what you do with loved ones?" He said, his tone filled with mischief and a cheeky warmth. At his mention of 'loved ones' your cheeks flared up, a wide-eyed stare following suit. Nevertheless, you brushed it off, realizing that he could very well mean a dear friend.

That stung.

"Not by scaring them first thing when they wake up, anyways-" You began after composing yourself, only to be cut off by Grim.

"Hey, were you the one singin' outside?"

"I certainly was, good ears." He winked before continuing once more. "I thought it would be a lovely gift for the prefect. I've heard that singing for the one you love is a form of endearment, no?" With that, he disappeared with another, cheekier, wink.

Grim simply nodded, still half-asleep- you did too, for a second that is, until you realized what he said. His words played in your mind: 'the one you love'. A soft blush coated your face yet you said nothing. You probably misunderstood him, he meant friend- that was it for sure. You should stop getting these wried thoughts.

Just a friend. Right?

A sigh escaped your lips as you got ready for classes, Grim draped across the couch as he napped for a while.

After your classes, the Adeuce duo's shenanigans, random tasks from Crowley, reminders that overblots could still take place, and Grim's constant yapping about tuna- you were simply tired.

You were ready to go back to ramshackle, climb into bed and not get up till late- mainly because there were no classes tomorrow, you couldn't remember why. With a tired smile you left a talkative Grim at Heartslabyul for the night as you treaded for Ramshackle yourself, ready to plop onto your bed and forget everything that took place around you.

The urge to just disappear from all your problems.

Upon entering Ramshackle, you felt so comfortable- not like you normally didn't, but there was something different. You weren't sure exactly what it was, but your dusty old room- it felt mystic. It was as if someone or something magical has visited your room, blessing it it with a sweet sleep spell. You were tired, yes, but rather than groggily falling asleep, you felt as if you were lulled to sleep.

As if someone was singing you a lullaby, cradling you in comforting arms.

Tired eyes fluttered, struggling to stay awake, scared to miss something- someone. A small yawn escaped your lips as you began to fall from the need to sleep.

Endearing.

Before you could fall on the hard ground, a pair of arms caught you- a cheeky smile etched onto Lilia's lips as he held your sleeping from. A soft sigh released as he continued to sing, only now actually entering your chambers. After all, what kind of lover would let his beloved fall?

A sweet hum left his lips as he finished his song, his arms cradling you one last time before placing you on your bed. A soft kiss was planted on your forehead, a kiss to keep away nightmares.

He'd felt wrong in the past, entering your chambers as he cradled you to sleep- his beloved crying in his arms. It could be immoral to enter someone's room, yet how could he leave? Nightmares plagued you every single night, Grim noticed too- thus clinging to you in desperation to comfort you, when sleeping at Ramshackle.

With no choice left, A sleeping spell was cast in the dorm by Lilia, ever since the day he noticed how these horrid dreams affected you. You'd toss and turn, cry and mumble in sleep. Maybe fear from overblots? Perhaps homesickness? Or maybe it was pure lonlieless.

Whatever it was, Lilia was there- whether you realized it or not. A soft, blessed, tune to sing you to sleep.

As his usual night routine went, tucking you to bed and leaving- he propped himself up from your bed as he prepared to return back to Diasomnia. Yet, a soft tug at his sleeve stopped him; an incoherent mumble from your lips as your brows furrowed- still asleep.

Therefore, a kiss was placed on your lips- a spell.

Now your nightmares were his to keep, a gift in his eyes- for as long as you didn't suffer, he'd remain content.

Before leaving, he sung one last song.

"Sweet dreams"

Note: If you enjoyed this, please interact with this post, my blog, and reblog! Any kind gestures are greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Note 2: Please reblog, even if you don't press like on the post. Reblogs help a ton more!

Note 3: Just realized I spelt his name wrong- fixed it.

Love is a Waste of Time

Kalim Al-Asim x GN!Reader

Happy Birthday to my love, Kalim! Hopefully it's enjoyable!

Synopsis: Kalim's strange new habits confuse him. Why is he so inclined on everything that is you? Is he sick!? Or maybe it's a curse? After a night of crestfallen sobbing, Jamil finds poor Kalim in such a state- in need of guidance. After said guidance, Kalim know's what he suffers from is not a disease but love- love for you. How will Kalim confess- will you even accept? After all, "love is a waste of time."

TW: None, just fluff! + bonding with Jamil (!?)

Crimson eyes bore at you once more, hoping you don't catch the culprit as he peers at what you're doing. He doesn't understand why he's so inclined on looking at you- simply staring. Useless, that's what it is. He's not getting any work done nor is he even speaking to you. What's the point? He doesn't know, yet, he still gapes at you. He doesn't know why he's content with just looking at you.

When he finally gets the chance to speak to you, he simply listens. Eyes wide at what you're saying- such interest in whatever dumb topic you've brought up. You're sure no one else would so vividly attentive to what you have to say- endearing, that's what he is.

He ignores his work to listen in to your conversations- who are you talking to and what you like talking about. His attention constantly wavers when you're there; he can't help it. He doesn't understand why. He follows you around, clumsy steps after yours. He hopes you'll allow him to tag along, he means no harm. He doesn't even know why he's so inclined on following you.

A soft blush coats his face- frustration. What's happening to to him? Is he sick? Did he catch the flu? Does he have a disease?

The disease he suffers from, has your name.

Soft tears pool in his eyes- what if he's been cursed? He looks around his room, silken sheets draped across him as he sobs in silence. It's something so stupid too; how is he supposed to ask doctors to cure him when he's so shy to speak up? He doesn't know why he's shy, his milky hair tousled as his hands rake through it in confusion.

A knock on his door wakes him up from his pondering thoughts. Jamil opens the door carrying a glass of water, the same observant look in his eyes. Kalim quickly wipes his eyes, a soft smile on his lips.

"Jamil, it's you.." He says a sigh of relief following after his words. He thanks Jamil for the water as he urges him to take a seat right next to him.

"Kalim, something's up- don't try to lie." Jamil says as he takes a seat on the edge of Kalim's bed. It was unusual seeing the sunshine boy be so glum. As much as Jamil liked the idea of Kalim toning himself down, he didn't find the current Kalim appeasing.

"Jamil, I have request- if you don't mind." Kalim says, ruby eyes peering up at Jamil with a helpless gleam.

"Go on Kalim- if it's about ordering elephants for next week's party then it's a "no". We can't order those elephant's again, they caused quite a ruckus last-"

Jamil was cut off by a panicked Kalim. "No, no! Don't worry it's not that.." Kalim said, a certain innocence in his voice. Jamil was confused by his current demure disposition.

"I- it's about someone. You know the prefect, right?" He asked, a bashful expression coating his face. Jamil simply nodded, a hand running through his braided hair.

"I think i have a disease or a curse related to them. They're in my head, constantly. When I sleep, they're in my dreams and when I wake up they are the first thing I see. I want to speak to them but for some reason the words don't come out of my mouth- it frustrates me. My face feels warm when they're near me and my stomach- my stomach seems to have monkeys dancing in them! Have I been cursed!? Or have they been cursed? Can we save them?" He blurted out, his thoughts escalating to various heights. Truly an overthinker.

Jamil sighed after Kalim's monologue- this was bound to happen one day but Jamil never expected Kalim's love to be reminiscent of a puppy's.

"Kalim, before you say it- no, you nor the prefect will die. You haven't been cursed either and neither have they." Jamil sighed after speaking, his hands traveling to caress his forehead.

"Then!? What else could it be?" Kalim asked, concern and confusion etched on his face. "No, don't say it- it's a disease, isn't it?" Kalim spoke up in panic, his hands covering his ears to block out what Jamil had to say.

"Kalim you're in love." Jamil said, an air of blasé surrounding him as he removed Kalim's hands from his ears. Kalim was wide-eyed at Jamil's answer, a dumbfounded expression plastered on his face as if he was still comprehending what he had been told.

"Kalim, did you hear me? You're in love." Restated Jamil while looking at him Kalim with certainty.

"I'm in love...?" He asked himself before pausing- his movement reduced to zero. He blinked a few time before a large Cheshire grin plastered across his face.

"Ha! Why didn't I think of that? It was so simple- I'm in love!" He exclaimed, a hum of content following suit. Kalim clung onto Jamil in delight desperately thanking Jamil for his words of wisdom. Jamil simply pat Kalim's back before leaving the boy to his thoughts.

That night Kalim was content- truly, he was lucky to love someone like you. It was an honor.

Then, he begun the same routine once more- to peer at you as sneakily possible, to listen to you ramble on and on as he took notes of your likes, and to follow where you went in hopes of having your attention solely on him. Such a tiring routine.

Sometimes he wondered how you felt- was it truly okay for him to follow you around? He hoped he wasn't being clingy- a nuisance.

It was strange for you to have him follow you- you didn't mind. The little gifts he'd send were over-the-top but they made you smile, although you returned most of them due to how pricey they were. The way he'd listen so wholeheartedly to whatever you had to say- it made your heart thump a little faster. Oh, and how he always had or made time for you; it made you feel privileged

Little by little a strange set of nerves took over your heart- what was this feeling? You sat there smiling for no reason- your thoughts filled with but Kalim. A bizarre flood of fuzzy nothings filled your mind- your heart sprinting away in fluster at the mere thought of him. A blush crept up your face whenever he was around- why were you so nervous?

You felt like flying yet also falling; the need to scream as loud as you could by merely spotting him was truly a bother. You'd surely gone mad.

A rush of emotions crept up your spine when he was around, running away the only answer. Your eyes could never meet his gaze; he only wondered what he'd done wrong. Nights were spent hugging your pillow in frustration as you bit your nails pondering over how to avoid him and talk to him at the same time. Your unusual behavior meant no harm, you were simply a bit crazy in-love yet also too flustered to act upon it. You weren't ready to face your feelings.

Nevertheless, Kalim took it wrongly, his carmine eyes dimming down in sorrow. Tears pooled in his eyes as he held a rose you didn't accept. A smile soon inched onto his face- fake.

"I'm sorry prefect- sorry for bothering you." He said, hiding the rose behind his back as he prepared to walk off. His eyes refused to make contact with yours while his heart hammered in his chest- he was a fool.

"Wait!" You said, a desperate wail as you rushed over to catch his sleeve. You were flustered, confused too. You didn't reject him- no, the words just couldn't come out of your throat.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't silent because I didn't accept- I just couldn't believe this was happening." You confessed, your hand holding his sleeve in place- you couldn't let go.

"I don't know what you've done. I can't get you out of my head but I don't hate it. When you're around me I can't speak- I want to, but the words don't come out. It's as if my heart's being restrained and my head is filled with nothing- my mind goes blank. I wanna look at you and I want to hold you. I know this is all really stupid coming from me but I don't know what to do. I wasn't trying to reject you- no, not at all. I thought I was daydreaming. Kalim, I don't know what you've done to me." You gushed, a shaky breath following suit.

Your eyes couldn't meet his and your mind was in a frenzy. Your body felt as if it was on fire and you felt so embarrassed- you still didn't know what he did to you. Though, you had a hunch.

A smile graced Kalim's lips- such a pretty smile it was. He patted your back, making you look up at him.

"It's love." He simply said.

"What?" You were not expecting such a bold or to-the-point answer. You blinked a few times, a smile creeping up your lips- it was such a "Kalim" answer. Truly, he was precious.

"Jamil told me- I thought it was a disease or a curse; but no, it's love. I also had the same, erm, symptoms?" He said with a grin, confusion etching his features when he tried explaining what you were going through.

"Love, really?" You said- a rhetorical question. A hum of delight left your lips as you took in a serene breath.

"Well, love is a waste of time." You stated, earning a hurt expression from Kalim. A panicked set of hands clung onto you, bringing you back from your serene state.

"No, it's not a waste of time." He said, his brows furrowing as if he was offended. "It may feel like it's useless to love because you're stuck doing absolutely nothing. But, isn't there a beauty in that? Isn't it so lovely to be so enamored that you're stunned every time you lay your eyes on a person. Isn't that something worthy to spend your time on?" He asked, teary-eyed. His hands clutched your arms desperately as a quivering sigh escaped his lips. He wanted to show you that loving someone was worth-it, it wasn't as trifling as you thought it was. His description, although not very convincing, was able to convince you.

A small giggle escaped your lips before it turned into a full-on laugh. Kalim looked confused- why were you laughing? What was so funny? Did you think he was joking? If so, he really wasn't- loving you, it made him happy, elated even.

"Kalim, I said love was a waste of time but I never said that I wouldn't waste my time on love." You spoke gently drawing a grin from Kalim. Your eyes studied him, a warm feeling nestling in your heart. Just looking at him soothed your heart.

"I think, at least once in my life, I'd like to waste my time." You spoke, the sun peeking in from the window as if to embrace you both.

He looked at you, frenzied- he hoped you were referring to him.

"Who else is better to waste my time with than with you?" You cooed, a soft whisper tickling his ear. It was as if you were letting him onto a secret, his eyes lighting up in delight. He peered at you sheepishly, a bumbling smile on his lips.

Truly, love was a waste of time- here you both were, wasting your time in each other's presence. Still, it was a good waste of time.

A waste of time that was worth wasting your time for.

"Love is a waste of time, but I love this waste of time."

Note: Inspo from the song "Love is a Waste of Time" from the movie PK.

Note 2: I hope I was able to show Jamil and Kalim's "bonding". I firmly believe that there are and have been moments in which Jamil has cared for Kalim wholeheartedly, albeit the fact that he can be very "detached" or cold (I'm so bad at explaining this-).

Note 3: If you enjoyed this, please interact with this post, my blog, and reblog! Any kind gestures are greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Bumbling Fools

Kalim Al-Asim x GN!Reader

TW: None, just fluff!

The sun set in the west, illuminating everything an ethereal golden. Pretty garnet eyes sought you through the nearly vacant halls, a fumbling grin plastered across his lips upon noticing you.

He sped towards you, in his hand an opulent card perhaps an invitation that he longed to hand over to you. His eyes shimmered with a sort of childish joy as he took in your features once more. A nervous grin danced across his lips, one he wishes would simply leave, as he parted them to speak.

"Prefect.." He said hesitantly, a sort of reluctance present within his voice, eyes glancing over you nervously as if you'd shun him away.

"Please come to my party, won't you..?"

He said, the words finally slipping out of his lips, an elated sigh leaving his lips after he could finally rid himself of the anxiety he felt. His hand practically slammed into yours as he quickly placed the card into it, a skittish chuckle following suit. It was a rare sight honestly considering Kalim was not a shy person, ever. In fact, he was the most extroverted person anyone might've known.

Needless to say, you were a bit confused by the sudden hesitance in his voice, something you were recently seeing build more off. Luckily for him, your obliviousness to such things was a blessing. At least it would be if he himself knew of his feelings, for he was oblivious to them.

It was honestly laughable how his sunny persona would fade into a stuttering mess in mere seconds upon the mere mention of your name. It was something even he couldn't pinpoint himself.

Thankfully, you couldn't either.

Upon gazing at you, he felt even more confused. He didn't know why but whenever he saw you, he felt as if he was messing everything up. But even if he was, just why did be care so much?

He didn't like the feeling, but at the same time he couldn't help but relish in your presence, in your company. He was confused, he couldn't comprehend why speaking with you made him into a bumbling fool, why his words would come out funny, and why his face felt so awfully warm. Maybe he'd figure it out if he saw the fluster of his face, the deep blush of his cheeks.

"It's nothing big this time, I promise. It's not even a party really...just some time in Scarabia, you and me, alone..?" He asked, his voice shaky, crimson eyes holding only admiration as nervous words spilled out of his lips.

He felt stupid, and it felt worse because he didn't even know why. It wasn't as if he said something dumb, not that he'd know what you'd consider dumb as you did always humor him. So why was it that whenever you came into his vision, his heart would race so incredibly fast? Why would his words come out either too slow or too fast?

And, just why was his mind clouded with one singular thought?

The need to engulf you in his arms, bask in your comforting warmth as he worshipped your very presence. The desire to spend time with you, alone, away from others. The childish want to be able to cuddle you, hold you whenever he pleased. The yearning to be able to call you his, kiss you like a prince would in a dreamy fairytale.

Was he going mad? It was surely that.

Jamil was right, he was an idiot, an idiot who was going mad and was somehow fixated on you. That must've been it. And for the most part it was, he was an idiot but not the usual deranged fool.

He was just another idiot in love, something he didn't realize himself.

He was awoken form his frenzy of thoughts as you suddenly spoke, a cheery tone surrounding your words as you looked at him so fondly. For some reason, that made him so awfully happy, so content.

"That's very sweet of you Kalim.." You started, eyes crinkling as a soft smile played at your lips, hands gently holding the opulent invitation. You opened it, reading the contents serenely.

"I'd love to go, and we can definitely stargaze together.." You said, a giggle following suit as you referred to the part of the invite in which he asked if you'd like stargazing. You did think it was a bit peculiar how he brought an invitation that didn't include a time, but the idea itself was quite endearing.

His eyes immediately lit up, the nervousness engulfing him almost disappearing. Almost.

"Let's go then, I'll even get Jamil to prepare some sweets for us..Oh! And we can go on a carpet ride too..!"

His words were so beautifully endearing, as if they conveyed how much he liked you, how much he cherished any of the time you both spent together. His hands fidgeted together as he awaited your response, innocent eyes gazing into yours with a gleeful smile painted across his lips.

"Then, let's go. It's been long since I saw the Scarabia moon.." You spoke, your words gently touching him at the positivity.

"And I'll definitely take you up on the offer of Jamil making some sweets.." You said, a childish chuckle escaping your pretty lips. His eyes only fixated on you; how ethereal you looked as the golden rays of sunshine basked you in their fleeting form. It was as if his breath was taken away from him, a breeze tousling his pristine hair as he only stared.

Then you both walked, his body following behind yours as if you were the one inviting him over. He could only stare, words not daring to leave his lips, sealed away in his heart. He might've finally understood what this gut wrenching feeling may have been, and he was so awfully scared of rejection.

His hand gently cradled yours upon arriving at Scarabia, Jamil sighing in relief upon Kalim's return. Curt greetings were exchanged between all of you, Kalim practically hugging Jamil when he already had sweets prepared. Kalim then whisked you away, one hand eagerly holding yours, hoping you'd dismiss it while the other held the tray of snacks.

There you both sat, underneath the stars as you exchanged words, laughter surrounding the room as the stars twinkled so brightly. You twirled underneath the celestial trinkets decorating the sky, the sweet hum of a song escaping your lips.

You looked up, gaze fixed on the stars while he looked at you, staring as if you were the stars.

He didn't know how he suddenly gained the courage, but he did. His hand held yours, bodies close next to each other as you danced underneath the glittering stars, no words were exchanged as soft music played in the background.

Garnet jewels were fixed on you, shimmering so beautifully. His pristine white hair was tousled so perfectly, his headband and ornaments jingling as you both moved. A sheepish smile danced on his lips, mischief hiding underneath the nervous grin. He hoped to not mess this up, to not mumble out a stupid phrase.

He only hoped to let this moment keep going on, make it timeless.

Maybe it was how the both of you danced or maybe the close proximity, but now he knew it. He was an idiot, not a deranged fool but a lovesick idiot.

And he loved it, because being in love with someone like you was nothing short of an honor.

Soon, his hands tightened ever so slightly around your waist, your eyes widening as his head rested in the crook of your neck. The movements were slow as he carefully guided you to a divan. The room was lit only by the stars and the gleaming moon, his tresses of white matching with the celestial bodies.

The same sheepish smile returned to his face, shyness hidden not so discreetly as he simply held you. It was a fragile moment, a gentle one. It felt nice, his eyes holding the purest form of what you could only register as admiration for you. A blush, the color of his eyes, now adorning your cheeks as the usually sunny boy held you like some prince in a fairytale.

"Prefect, I think I love you.."

His words were boyish, a childish smile adorning his lips. The roles were switched, now there he was acting so carefree while all you could do was fumble upon the sight of him. Your eyes could only widen at his words, your gaze averting to anything but him as you struggled to focus.

Then it happened, a magical moment, one which you could only describe as whimsical.

He leaned closer, ever so slightly, your hand in his as he pressed a soft kiss to your knuckles. A playful smile was etched across his lips, eyes studying you as if you were the most precious treasure one could lay eyes upon.

"May I..?"

He asked, leaning closer once more, this time to your lips. His free hand now held the back of your head, fingers spun around your locks. You nodded slowly, a little confused and a bit too flustered for your liking.

His lips finally met yours and everything seemed to stop. Your eyes closed and so did his, your face flushing more than you knew it could. The soft music in the background only made this moment even dreamier than you could imagine. His gentle hands carefully caressed you, his fingers locked around your hair as his other hand interlocked with one of your own.

The kiss was a fleeting one, one that was so awfully pure that it made your heart yearn. Both of your eyes opened at the same time, a blush coating both of your faces as he looked away in embarrassment. He turned his gaze back at you slowly, hoping he did the right thing. His hand was still interlocked with your own while his other one left your hair and was now caressing your cheek.

"Prefect, you are far sweeter than any of Jamil's sweets.."

He said, an endearing smile on his face as you only averted your gaze, forgetting to even speak. He made you feel so fuzzy, so blissfully dreamy that you couldn't help but lean into his embrace, closing in any space between you.

He was an idiot in love but his foolishness was infectious, infecting you so quaintly.

Now there were two idiots in love. Two little bumbling fools.

Note: If you enjoyed this, please interact with this post and reblog! Thank you! Any kind gestures are greatly appreciated!

Note 2: Kalim is the love of my life (づ > ᴗ < )づᡣ𐭩

(Edit) Note 3: Just edited it and proofread it :)

Pairing: Jamil x GN!Reader Genre: Fantasy, Fluff A/N: This fic is set in modern-day Japan where the NRC boys are magicless and you are the magical being. :^) I'm also today years-old when I realized I really put Ace as a side character for all of my fics.

Growing up, Jamil used to wish upon a star.

That star was always the brightest one in the night sky, yet it never seemed to stay up there for very long. But Jamil never minded that because to him, it was like that star disappeared to work on his wishes every time.

After some time, as Jamil grew older and became more preoccupied with the challenges life provided him, he stopped making wishes.

Long forgotten was the brightest star in the sky — though it continued to sparkle, watching over Jamil every night as if it was a sort of guardian angel.

He didn’t even notice that the star never left the sky anymore after he’d stopped making wishes.

That is, until one day, Jamil finally remembered the star.

It’s just past sunset on a Thursday evening when Jamil’s friend Ace comes strutting into his shared dorm room. He’s twirling a set of keys in his index finger while the other hand is shoved inside the pocket of his denim pants.

“Hey,” Ace greets as he leans against the wall next to Jamil’s desk. “Are you busy tonight?”

Jamil hums in response without taking his eyes off his laptop. He remains silent while his fingers are busy rapidly typing the last sentences to his history paper.

“Okay,” Jamil breathes out as he finally shuts off his laptop with a sharp click. He briefly rubs circles on his temple before glancing over at Ace. “What were you saying?”

“Are you free tonight? Deuce wants us to accompany him tonight for a project for his planet-something class,” Ace waves his hand dismissively in the air, the keys in his hand jingling along with the motion.

“We’re architecture majors. Why would he ask us for help?” Jamil asks as his face twists into a mixture of confusion and disgust.

“No, not help— unless he really wants to fail his class. He has to go look at some constellations or something, and he doesn’t want to do it alone. So can you come or not?”

Jamil chews on his lower lip as he thinks. He’d just finished the last assignment that’s due this week and he’s got no other plans for the weekend besides to catch up on sleep.

“Fine, I’m in,” Jamil rolls his eyes before getting up and trailing behind a much-too-giddy Ace.

He follows the male out of the dormitory to where his car is parked. In the backseat is seated a napping Deuce whose head is resting on Lilia’s shoulder. Meanwhile, Lilia is busy playing a game on his phone, and Jamil has to wonder how Deuce’s able to sleep when Lilia’s arms are shaking at 50 kilometers per hour.

“Sevens, Lilia. Could you be any more aggressive?” Ace asks once he’s situated in the driver’s seat.

“Sorry,” Lilia grins without a hint of guilt on his face. “Hey, Jamil.”

“Hey,” Jamil nods towards the older male after securing his seatbelt across his chest. “So… where are we going, exactly?”

“Shizuoka prefecture. It’s going to be quite the drive, so feel free to take a nap if you need it. I’m loaded on Red Bull too,” Ace enters the coordinates into his GPS before propping his phone up on a car phone mount.

Accompanying the monotone voice of the GPS is a playlist filled with piano covers of Studio Ghibli movies’ soundtracks.

It doesn’t take long for the gentle melodies to lull Jamil to sleep. His head gently and rhythmically taps against the cold surface of the car window as Ace cruises past the few hours’ drive to Gekko Observatory.

It feels like only a handful of minutes have passed by when Jamil is shaken awake by Ace. He groans as he stretches his arms out from his sides, his eyes blinking rapidly until his vision finally adjusts to the dark surroundings.

“We’re here?” Jamil asks, his voice still hoarse from sleep.

“Yes, we’re here. You wouldn’t wake up earlier, so I gave you an extra ten minutes,” Ace steps back and closes the car door once Jamil finally stumbles out of his seat. “Come on. Let’s go before I forget where Deuce dragged us off to.”

Jamil follows Ace as he makes his way past the main observatory buildings. They walk away from the well lit areas towards a much darker space, somewhere that allows them to see the stars in the night sky that much better.

They slowly approach a relatively large red tent set up in the middle of a grassy field. Beside it lay a still-gaming Lilia and Deuce setting up his telescope.

“Is this allowed?” Jamil asks as he plops down onto the grass next to Lilia.

“Yeah! As long as we don’t disturb the youth camp, I’m sure there’s no problem,” Deuce briefly nudges his head to the left before turning his attention back to his telescope.

Everyone sits in silence for a few minutes. For the small group of four, the silence is uncommon but it isn’t uncomfortable.

It gives them the chance to take in the fresh air and peaceful atmosphere that’s a stark contrast to life at university.

Jamil could hear crickets chirping, and it’s accompanied by the distant sound of children’s yells and laughter. The mental image of their carefree spirit brings a smile to his face without him even realizing it.

“So… what is it that you’re looking for, Deuce?” Lilia’s question cuts through the quietness first.

“Stars, Lilia. I’m looking for stars,” Deuce chuckles as he peers through the eyepiece of the telescope.

Jamil lays down onto the grass, his ears completely blocking out Lilia’s onslaught of questions for Deuce and his eyes trained on the dark night sky.

And there it was: a familiar bright twinkle in the sky.

Out of all the stars that he could see — and yes, there were many — that one shines the brightest of them all.

Then Jamil remembers that particular habit he had of wishing upon a star when he was younger. It’s been such a long time that he’d almost forgotten all about it.

But he feels certain that that star is the same star from his childhood.

A small smile plays on Jamil’s lips as he thinks back to all the wishes he’s made in the past. Most of them were silly, he was only a child after all.

His very first wish was for a plate of sushi in the middle of the night when he was only 7 years-old. It was on a night when he couldn’t fall asleep and decided to find his father who was still working in his home office.

“Dad?” Jamil whispers as he carefully opens the door and peeks into the dimly lit room.

Jamil’s father glances up from the pile of paperwork he’d been sorting through and smiles softly when he sees Jamil standing awkwardly at the entrance of his office, “hey, how long have you been standing there for? Come in, son.”

“I’m sorry… I couldn’t sleep,” Jamil scratches at the nape of his neck, a nervous habit he’d picked up on recently.

“That’s alright, I was just about done here anyways,” his father shakes his head and closes a thick manila folder shut. “How about we go out back? Maybe it’ll help you clear your head.”

“‘Clear my head’?” Jamil echoes, the curiosity clearly etched onto his face.

“Yes. Sometimes when I can’t sleep, it’s because I’m thinking too much about something. So we have to do something to help fix that,” Jamil’s father gets up from his seat and holds a hand out towards Jamil.

“Okay, what are we doing?” Jamil places his hand in his father’s much larger one and follows the man out of his home office.

They walk towards the back of the house, towards the French doors that open up to a generously spacious backyard.

Jamil and his father take a seat on one of the benches there, and for a moment, no one says anything.

But, unlike how he is today, 7 year-old Jamil cannot sit still — at least, not in silence — for very long. Not even when there’s an ensemble of crickets surrounding him.

“Dad?” Jamil pokes at his father’s shoulder, “what are we doing out here?”

“Well…” his father sighs before gazing up at the night sky. Jamil’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion before he followed his father’s gaze. “We’re stargazing.”

“Why?” the question comes out sounding a bit meaner than Jamil intended it to. He shakes his head quickly, as if to dismiss the question. “I—I’m sorry, I mean…”

His father chuckles before placing a hand on Jamil’s shoulder, “it’s okay, I understand what you meant. Have you heard about making wishes on stars?”

“Like that one song? From Cinderella?” he tries to say it rather nonchalantly, but due to his younger sister’s recent obsession with Disney princesses and their movies, Jamil begrudgingly has the song lyrics memorized at this point.

“Just like that,” his father chuckles again, his eyes sparkling in amusement as if he could read Jamil’s thoughts. “Sometimes, when I can’t sleep, I’ll just sit out here and look at the stars. It’s very relaxing to me. And sometimes, maybe on the days when I feel too stressed out about something, I’ll make a wish on one.”

“Why are you stressed out, dad?” Jamil inquires with a prominent frown to his face.

“Because… of adult things that you don’t have to worry about for now.”

“Oh… but can I still make a wish anyways?”

“Of course, you can. Just pick a star and think about your wish. You can’t say it out loud or it won’t come true,” his father ruffles his hair and gives him a kind smile before returning his attention back to the sky.

Jamil also looks up at the sky where a bright star immediately catches his attention. Perhaps it was because he didn’t take the time to look elsewhere, but he could have sworn that one was the brightest of them all.

He wasn’t sure what he wanted to wish for. Heck, he wasn’t even sure he believed in wishing on a star.

But there’s a first for everything, right?

So, with his dark orbs fixed on that bright star and his stomach inaudibly grumbling, Jamil wishes for the first thing that comes to mind: sushi.

He didn’t say it out loud and there weren't any special occasions coming up that would warrant it — but when Jamil woke up the next morning, he found a wide assortment of sushi rolls laid out on the kitchen table.

He thought that there was no way it could have been a coincidence, that the star must have heard him and granted him his wish. That moment made him a believer, and he began to make wishes more frequently.

“Deuce, what’s the name of that star? That really bright one,” Jamil asks without thinking, the question interrupting the conversation his friends had been having.

“Which one?” Deuce looks towards the sky, trying to pinpoint exactly where Jamil’s index finger was gesturing towards. “I think you may be looking at Arcturus. It’s the brightest star in the Boötes constellation.”

“So that’s its name,” Jamil mumbles to himself.

“What was that?” Deuce asks with his head tilted slightly.

“No, it’s nothing. Thank you,” Jamil shakes his head dismissively.

His silence after that is enough of a signal to his friends that he was done with the brief conversation. If he tries to explain his attachment to the star, would his friends think that he was being silly?

He thinks even Deuce, the one who is absolutely in love with them, would think that it was weird.

So, Jamil keeps the star as a secret to himself.

Perhaps he isn’t afraid of his friends thinking of him as foolish. No, perhaps it is merely a part of his selfishness that if the star could truly grant wishes, he wanted to keep that ability all to himself.

That brings him to a wish that suddenly blossoms inside his heart. He’s not sure when the seed was planted there, but a sudden thought occurs to him.

If the star could really hear me now, I wish I could meet them and say ‘thank you’ to them.

Jamil has to fight the sudden urge to slap himself because of how silly he finds the thought. Where did it even come from?

The lack of sleep and feelings of nostalgia must be causing him to think irrationally.

He finally sits up and scoots himself closer to the small circle his friends have formed around Deuce’s telescope.

“Do you want to take a look?” Deuce asks when he notices the thoughtful look on Jamil’s face. His body is slightly turned towards him as he nudges his telescope’s eyepiece aside. “At the stars, I mean.”

“Can I?”

“Sure. If it was Lilia, I’d think twice.”

“Hey! I’m not the one that spilled spaghetti on Ace’s laptop!” Lilia protests loudly which causes the other three men to shush him before they receive a complaint. He grimaces before lowering his voice, “sorry, sorry.”

“I only spilled it because someone decided it was the perfect time to body slam me in the cafeteria,” Jamil jokingly bites back before getting up and making his way towards Deuce.

“Arcturus, right? I adjusted the telescope so if you look, you can see it even more closely,” Deuce takes a seat on a short bench besides the telescope, watching as Jamil closes one eye and peers through the eyepiece with the other.

“Whoa,” Jamil says in awe under his breath once his eyes have adjusted to the new way of seeing the night sky, “it’s even prettier through a telescope. I can see why you enjoy this so much.”

“It’s never too late to change your major if you want to join the dark side,” Deuce chuckles as his head tilts back to look at the sky as well.

“In your dreams,” Jamil mumbles with a grin on his face when he finally leans away from the telescope. “Plus, Ace would literally bury me ten feet under if I left him in the program by himself.”

“I heard that,” Ace calls out before chucking a handful of grass towards Jamil’s head that falls down almost as quickly as it was sent up.

Deuce laughs again and sends Ace an apologetic look, “don’t worry, your best friend is safe and sound in the architecture department with you.”

Ace immediately makes a gagging sound at the mention of “best friend” before turning his attention back to the game he and Lilia were busy playing.

“Well, I’m just about done here. Maybe another hour and we can start heading back,” Deuce announces. “And… thanks for coming out here with me tonight, guys.”

The news is met with an unanimous “okay” from the rest of the group. Jamil moves away from the telescope so Deuce could take his place and continue whatever project he’d been working on prior.

“Huh, that’s weird. Arcturus is gone,” Deuce says aloud, mostly to himself, but the words capture Jamil’s attention.

Jamil’s gaze trails up to where he’d been captivated by the bright star mere moments ago, only to find that it was truly gone.

Just like before. How strange…

❥

The following Monday, there’s someone Jamil has never seen before sitting at the seat next to his usual one in one of his classes. He makes eye contact with them almost immediately after walking into the room and thinks they definitely must be a new student.

There’s no way I’d forget such an attractive face like that.

Someone behind Jamil clears their throat, signaling for him to move, because he’s blocking the flow of traffic by standing right in the middle of the doorway.

“Oh, sorry,” Jamil mumbles and bows his head apologetically.

He makes his way towards his seat with his eyes glued to his shoes, all of his usual confidence slowly leaking out. He’s not sure why the unknown person beside him is making him feel so nervous, and he’s not quite sure how to deal with it.

Lucky for Jamil, he doesn’t have to make the first move today.

“Um… excuse me?”

Jamil feels a poke on his upper arm. It makes him look up and make eye contact with you once again.

“Yes?” Jamil answers, his voice barely above a whisper.

You laugh lightheartedly and lower your voice’s volume to match his, “Jamil Viper, right? I’m Arcturus, but you can call me y/n.”

Jamil blinks rapidly while his mouth continuously opens and closes. He’s clearly caught off guard by the mention of the bright star, but you seem completely unphased by his reaction.

“You’re pranking me, right? Did Ace tell you to say that?”

“Who— ah, your friend with the heart marking? No, he didn’t.”

“Then Deuce did?”

“Not him either. This isn’t a prank, Jamil. I’m really Arcturus,” you state firmly.

The man narrows his eyes suspiciously at you, “prove it.”

“Hm… let’s see,” you tap your chin as you mentally sort through the many wishes Jamil has made as a child. “Ah! When you were 10 years-old, you wished for a pet tyrannosaurus rex after watching the Jurassic Park movies.”

“That’s a lucky guess.”

“Fine. Wouldn’t it be better if you made a wish now and I grant it? You can’t tell me I just got lucky then.”

“Are you tricking me into making a wish? Are you sure you’re not just a sneaky little genie?” Jamil asks playfully.

“I can see why you’d think that I’m a genie, but as you can see: there’s no magic lamps involved here,” you state with a bright smile, one that doesn’t do justice to how brightly you shine in the sky. “And I wouldn’t trick you like they would either. Just tell me your wishes as they come to your heart, and I’ll make them come true. That’s what I’ve always done, right?”

Jamil wasn’t expecting for you to answer so genuinely. They were just rhetorical questions he asked without thinking, but he could tell that you were being truthful.

Still, a big part of him is suspicious.

In what world would a star become a human? And out of all the things they could do, why would they come and find him?

The other, smaller part of him wants to believe you. So he plays along and decides to humor you.

“Just like that?” Jamil asks with an eyebrow cocked up apprehensively.

“Well, you know, there are rules. But yes: just like that.”

“Okay… and what are the rules?”

“They’re exactly what you’d think they’d be: nothing illegal, nothing that can harm others— which, uh, I guess ties into the first rule.”

“And how many do I get?”

“Three.”

“Ahah, so you admit that you’re a genie.”

“Not a genie,” you giggle before tapping the tip of Jamil’s nose gently. “So, what would you like to wish for first?”

“That’s a very important decision, Arct—”

“Y/n,” you quickly interrupt the man to correct him.

“Y/n,” Jamil articulates with a raise of his eyebrows and a nod, “you’ll have to give me some time to think. I’m not even sure what I want to wish for yet.”

“Boo!” you whine, leaning over the long desk with your arms stretched out in front of you. “Well, if I have to wait then it shouldn’t be in the middle of a boring history lecture.”

As if on cue, the screen of Jamil’s phone lights up to indicate that he has a missed notification. He narrows his eyes at you one last time before unlocking his phone.

“Huh,” Jamil makes a sound that's mixed with surprise and confusion when he reads a new email on his phone. “My professor has never canceled class before. Did you… did you do this?”

You shrug when Jamil points his phone at you accusingly. But you’re pleased to see that he seems to believe you a bit more now.

There’s loud shuffling noises coming from all around you as students busy themselves by cheering for their canceled lecture and packing up their untouched laptops.

“So?” you ask, an expectant look on your face.

Jamil bites on his lower lip and taps the cap of a pen on the desk rhythmically. He stares off into space, seemingly deep in thought, and you wait patiently for him to sort through his predictably long lists of possibilities.

“Would it…” you start, poking at Jamil’s forearm to make him look at you. “Would it help if I mention that you can still make wishes even after the three?”

“What do you mean?” Jamil tilts his head, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

“I mean, I only came down here because hanging out in the sky all night long is so boring. You try doing it for a countless amount of centuries, then trust me — you’ll understand,” you wave your hands dismissively. “Anyways, that’s besides the point. The point is: you had unlimited wishes when you were a child, and you’ll still have unlimited wishes after I finish granting the three here.”

Jamil nods in understanding before abruptly standing up and slinging a backpack strap over his shoulder, “you should’ve led with that, y/n.”

“I’m sorry, I’m not used to speaking to humans directly,” you say before your eyes shift between Jamil’s face and the hand he’s holding out towards you. “What?”

“I think I might know what my first wish is, so come on,” Jamil inches his hand closer to you, a signal for you to place yours in his.

You comply, allowing the man to pull you out of the empty classroom and towards an unknown location.

It’s a sunny day, a perfect day for an afternoon stroll. And despite it being the middle of the fall semester, there’s more than a handful of students frolicking in the spacious college yard instead of studying.

The sight of them being so happy and carefree brings a smile to your face. It’s rare for you to see humans during the day time — and even more rare for you to see them not stressed out by something when you do get the chance.

Really, most of the time the bright sun rays block the sight of earth from you. It restricts you to only observing them during the nighttime, when most of the population is already asleep.

Soon, the large crowds of students become much more sparse until only a few of them are left hanging around.

“Um, Jamil? Where are we going exactly?” you chime up.

It takes a few more minutes of walking before Jamil finally stops, and your shoulder accidentally bumps into his back from your lack of attention.

“Here,” Jamil turns around to face you, his ears completely blocking out your murmured apology.

You lean over to the side to peek behind Jamil only to straighten up and raise an eyebrow at the man a second after, “and what are we doing standing by this long stretch of pavement?”

“We’re here for my first wish: I wish to learn how to roller skate.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“That’s… a very tame wish,” you state plainly.

You take Jamil’s backpack off his shoulder before squatting down and unzipping it. Your hand digs into the textbook filled space and pulls out a pair of roller skates.

Jamil’s eyes practically bulge out in shock when he sees them, because there’s no way something like that could have fit inside his small backpack.

“But as you wish,” you grin as you hold the roller skates up towards Jamil.

“Whoa, how’d you do that?” Jamil gasps as he takes them from you.

“Do you believe me now?” you counter, crossing your arms and watching as Jamil hurries to replace his tennis shoes.

“I’m ninety-nine percent convinced. Just depends on how quickly I learn how to roller skate now.”

“You know that I’m not a miracle worker, right?” you stand up quickly, your arms reaching out just in time to catch Jamil as he slips forward.

When the man turns his head, your faces are so close to one-another that the tips of your noses touch.

“S—sorry. Tha—thank you,” Jamil manages to stammer out, his ears immediately turning a bright shade of red from embarrassment as he straightens up.

You’re undeterred from the close proximity, human feelings of embarrassment or shyness not a part of your vocabulary. So you giggle and merely find Jamil’s reaction dramatic and adorable.

“Don’t be so jumpy. How am I supposed to teach you if you don’t let me get close enough to do so?” you stand behind Jamil’s wobbly frame, your hands placed on either side of his waist to steady him.

“Well, I thought you’d snap your fingers and I’d just magically know,” Jamil mumbles.

“I could, but that’s no fun, Jamil. And I came here to have fun.”

“I thought you came here to grant my wishes.”

“Oh, that too,” you nod, though the carefree tone of your voice does nothing to convince Jamil of your intentions. “Now, we’ll start off by teaching you the correct posture. The most important thing here is balance, so I’ll have to let you go now.”

“Perfect,” Jamil’s body stiffens once he feels your warmth leave his body.

The chilly autumn air does nothing to help him from missing your earlier proximity. But the more you try to coach him through the basics of roller skating, the warmer his body gets.

To anyone on the outside looking in, it may seem that Jamil is a natural at the sport. But, as fast a learner Jamil is regularly, there is no way he’s able to pick up on things as quickly as he did today.

Not to mention, his friends have already tried multiple times to teach him how to roller skate before with minimal success.

Who would have thought all-rounder Jamil Viper actually had a weakness?

Now it feels as if Jamil is moving off of muscle memory. The things that you instruct him to do sounds unfamiliar to his ears, but his body follows everything to a T.

You watch like a proud parent while Jamil glides up and down the long walk of pavement as if he’s been doing it his entire life. The sound of his gleeful laughter ringing through the air makes you smile brightly in response.

“Should we try doing some tricks now?” you ask as Jamil passes by you again.

At your question, Jamil presses down hard on his right toe to break and gives you a panicked look, “are you serious?”

“I’m serious and I haven’t failed you yet,” you place your hands on your hips, the determined look on your face telling Jamil that he couldn’t back down now.

“If you can actually teach me how to do tricks by the end of the day, then I’ll believe you.”

“Oh, done deal!” you clap in excitement, “let’s get started then!”

❥

“Remind me again why we’re here, Jamil?” you ask as you gaze up at the intricate entrance to the Centre Pompidou.

“I’m studying architecture. I wanted to see all the famous monuments of France for my studies since my classmate Rook wouldn’t stop talking about it,” Jamil replies, his hands busy taking pictures of the complex building with his phone.

“And here I thought you were just making any excuse to miss your classes.”

“Would you judge me if I say that’s kind of true?”

“No, I wouldn’t,” you shake your head before holding your hands out. “Here: do you want me to take a picture for you?”

“Oh, sure. Thank you,” Jamil hands you his phone before jogging a few feet forward and facing you.

With a few clicks of the Camera app, you complete the routine that’s been established for the past few days since you’ve arrived in Paris, France.

Jamil’s second wish was quickly made the day after you taught him how to roller skate. After spending the night thinking about all the things he never got the chance to do, he went out to find you again.

It wasn’t hard for him to, you’d already told him that you’d be hanging around one of the many coffee shops surrounding the college campus.

“Oh, thank goodness you found me. I was starting to get bored,” you sigh in relief when you look up from your laptop to find Jamil sliding into the seat across from yours.

He doesn’t bother to ask where your laptop came from, or how you have the money to pay for the mocha latte in your hands. At this point, he believes that you’re capable of more things than he could possibly ever understand.

“Are you okay? Is there something on my face?” you ask when Jamil doesn’t say anything.

You gently pat your cheeks in search of anything that feels out of place, assuming that’s why Jamil is staring at you wordlessly.

“What? Oh. No. Sorry, no. You, uh, you— you look great,” Jamil shakes his head quickly before he presses his lips into a thin line and averts his eyes down to the coffee table. “I didn’t mean to stare.”

You know that Jamil is usually not shy, usually not someone who stammers unless he’s nervous — it’s a rare occurrence.

So, you think perhaps he finds you intimidating: a celestial body who could probably strike him down if he’s not being too careful with himself.

It could explain why he treats you like one of his friends one minute but becomes flustered the next.

“You know that I’m not going to strike you down with lightning, right?” you lean forward with your arms crossed on the table and your lips curved up into an amused smile.

“L—lightning?” Jamil asks nervously as he scratches the nape of his neck. “Would you be able to? Strike me with lightning, I mean.”

“My name isn’t ‘Malleus’, but yes: I could if I really wanted to,” you shrug nonchalantly. A horrified look appears on Jamil’s face, and you would have found it comical if he didn’t look exactly like a deer in headlights. “But you haven’t done anything to warrant that, so don’t be so scared.”

“I’m not scared. It’s just that you’re… kind of intimidating,” Jamil huffs.

“Are you intimidated because I’m not actually human, or because your charmingly good looks don’t have any affect on me?”

“Um…” Jamil looks at you in the same way a guilty child would look at their parents during a scolding: with wide puppy dog eyes and lips jutting out into a pout. “The first one?”

“You mean the second one,” you correct the man confidently. “It’s not the first option because you still don’t believe me yet, but you will soon.

“Speaking of which,” you clear your throat before leaning in closer and lowering your voice, “do you have any ideas for your second wish?”

“Oh. Actually, y—yeah, I do,” Jamil says slowly, almost hesitantly.

“You don’t sound very confident about that.”

“Well, it’s a very big wish. I, uh… I wish I could go to France.”

“Now that’s the kind of wish I’ve been waiting for,” you nod in approval before taking your last sip of coffee and firmly placing the cup down. “Let’s go.”

“What, now?” Jamil emphasizes the last word with the raise of his eyebrows. “Y/n, you’re always in a rush, aren’t you?”

“I’m sorry, I’m just used to getting these wishes done right away. So… not right now?”

“Oh, no, we can go today. I’d just need to pack some stuff first.”

“Ah, that’s right,” your mouth opens into a small ‘o’ when you realize you’ve been rushing to get moving without thinking first. “Yes, go pack whatever you need and come find me again when you’re ready to go.”

“Okay. I’ll see you later?” Jamil is already up from his chair before he could finish the question.

The excitement he exudes is contagious and you couldn’t hold back the giggle bubbling up in your chest.

“You know where to find me,” you wave the man off, gesturing for him to leave the coffee shop quickly.

Less than a week has passed since Jamil made the wish that has you turning into a tourist, but it feels like you’ve spent at least a month together.

You spend every day in the same fashion as you did today: head off to a famous French monument that was in a far too long list Rook provided Jamil, he takes who knows how many pictures for future references, and then you offer to take his pictures.

You have the steadiest hands out of anyone you know — which, to be fair, isn’t that many humans in the first place — yet those pictures always turn out somewhat blurry.

Today’s pictures at the Centre Pompidou is no exception to this.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I bother anymore. You should just delete those,” you sigh, your shoulders drooping in defeat as you watch Jamil swipe through his camera roll.

Despite you telling him that every single time, Jamil always keeps the pictures that you take of him.

Then, when you aren’t looking, when you’re busy taking in the beautiful sights around you, Jamil sneaks in a few pictures of you.

He’s not sure what will happen to them once you’re gone. Would they stay on his phone and you simply become a J. Doe to the rest of the world? Or would they disappear forever as if you were never there to begin with?

He bets if he asked you nicely, you’d allow him to keep those memories with him.

“So, shall we go inside?” you ask as you shove your hands into the pockets of your wool overcoat.

Your question interrupts Jamil’s brief thoughts, who merely blinks before he turns his attention to you, “I’m sorry, what?”

“Do you want to go inside?” you reword and repeat your question.

“Oh. Yeah, let’s go,” Jamil nods and holds a hand out towards you.

You hesitate for only a moment before you take a hand out of your pocket and place it in his. Your skin feels cold against Jamil’s, though it’s uncertain if it’s because of the weather or something else.

Still, in an attempt to keep you warm, Jamil intertwines his fingers with yours and sticks your hands into his kangaroo pocket.

How did Jamil get from jumpy and intimidated to becoming comfortable enough to hold your hands in a matter of a week? Even he wouldn’t be able to give you an answer for that.

Perhaps his courage is influenced by the atmosphere that the city of love provides; it’s where couples in love roam freely, they hold hands and sneak in kisses whenever they can.

Jamil tells himself that the two of you are merely blending in with the crowd — that there’s no way he has a crush on you.

But as he watches you studying the artwork displayed neatly along cream-colored walls, he finds that he’d prefer to look at you instead of the exhibitions.

Snap out of it, Jamil Viper.

As if you could read his thoughts, you defy him, appearing in front of the man like an unexpected dream. Like always, there’s a beautifully wide smile on your face that makes Jamil’s heart skip a beat just at the sight of it.

“Are you okay? You’re all spaced out today.”

“What? No, I’m not,” Jamil huffs before he steps aside to let a group of tourists walk past.

“No, you’re not okay or no, you’re not spacing out?”

“No, I’m not spacing out. I was just deep in thought— yeah, deep in thoughts of what this painting could possibly mean,” Jamil gestures towards a medium-sized canvas to his right without really looking at it.

“That’s a painting of the Mona Lisa holding a chubby ginger cat. I’m not really sure that there’s any special meaning to it,” you chuckle briefly before you reach out to gently tug at the sleeve of Jamil’s hoodie. “Come on, mister, let’s go.”

“Where are we going, exactly?” Jamil asks as he uncrosses his arms and allows you to drag him past the long and heavily populated hallways of the art gallery.

“I figured you could use a change of pace from all the art museums and history— not that there’s anything wrong with any of those places. But I planned a little surprise for you.”

“You did?” Jamil’s eyebrows quirk up in surprise.

“Okay, I admit the idea just popped into my head,” you glare playfully at the man. “But I’m not the one trying to find a deeper meaning to a cat painting.”

Jamil doesn’t say anything in response, doesn’t try to tell you that he finds you even more mesmerizing than all the artwork in the building combined — and that he’d been staring at you this entire time.

He just lets out a short laugh and nods in agreement.

You stop in front of an emergency exit door before turning around to face Jamil. The serious look on your face is a rare sight to see and the man knows that he should take your next words seriously.

“Don’t freak out when I open this door,” you say slowly, making sure to enunciate every word.

Jamil nods again before his eyes trail up to the bright exit sign above the door, “are we… going to trigger the fire alarm for fun?”

“Definitely not. I’m sure that actually goes against both of my rules,” you take a few steps backwards until your back is pressed against the push pad of the exit device.

Jamil braces himself for bright flashing lights and loud alarms when you push the door open, but he’s met with neither of those things.

Instead, he sees beautiful shades of orange on the other side of the door. There’s a generously wide and long stretch of grass lined with various types of trees, and both locals and tourists lounging about the large space.

“Don’t worry, we’re here for a picnic,” you nod your head towards the scene, waiting for Jamil to walk past the threshold of the door to follow him out.

Jamil glances back when the door softly shuts behind you, the surprise evident on his face when he finds that it’s been replaced by a black Peugeot 208.

“Sometimes I forget that you’re actually a magical being who can do stuff like that.”

“And you don’t seem as shocked as you should be for a human being,” you shoot back with a grin. “Not that I’m complaining. I’d much prefer that to you screaming in fear.”

Jamil looks unamused at your last sentence. He knows exactly what you are referring to: the first time he experienced the unexplainable things that you are capable of.

That experience was similar to what you’d done just now, and it was what solidified his belief in you.

“Okay, but you didn’t warn me that opening the door to a washroom was going to lead me to the top of the Eiffel Tower. This is a lot more acceptable.”

“Well, I figured we could make the journey a lot easier and faster by doing that,” you shrug, the contents of the picnic basket in your hands making soft shuffling noises as you move. “Now, let’s go find an open space to sit.”

You follow closely behind Jamil as he maneuvers around small clusters of chatty folks, most of which doesn't hear his muttered “excuse me.”

You follow him until you reach nearly the end of the grassy terrain where there is a decent amount of available space for you to lay a blanket on top.

“Where are we anyways?” Jamil asks once you’re situated on top of the thick blanket protecting your clothes from the damp grass.

“The Luxembourg Gardens. I overheard someone saying that it’s the perfect spot for a picnic, and figured you could use the change in scenery.”

Jamil has to admit that you’re right about that.

The much needed fresh air aside, Jamil finds that he surprisingly enjoys seeing all the beauty that nature has to offer as much as he enjoys studying the intricate ways buildings can be made.

Or, at least, he used to enjoy it.

That was before he decided to take on as many classes as he could in a single semester when he started college. All his time is spent on studying and making sure he got all his assignments done on time.

Somewhere along the way, he even managed to secure an internship that took up even more of his time and attention.

What little free time he earned would be spent on making sure his friends knew that he was still a functioning member of society. Even then, Jamil would spend the entire time thinking about both the assignments he’s already completed and the ones he left for later.

Ace would say that he’s burned out and needs to step foot outside of the college grounds more often.

Now he’s really taken that advice to heart, because how much farther away from college could he get than Paris, France?

“Clear your head and eat a carrot, Jamil,” you interrupt the man’s thoughts by waving a baby carrot in front of his face.

“Veggies,” Jamil groans before a look of utter disgust overtakes his features.

“What?” you ask in the most innocent tone you could muster up and bring the carrot closer to Jamil’s face.

“Please, I’ll literally eat anything else,” Jamil sticks his tongue out in a mock gagging motion as he leans further away from your hand.

“You mean you’ll eat anything that’s not fruits or vegetables, right? That’s bad, you know,” you click your tongue in disapproval before taking a small bite of the baby carrot. “Maybe you should use your last wish to make all of it taste like pasta.”

“Can you do that?”

“I could but I won’t.”

“Why not?!”

“Because I will not be the person responsible for you getting tired of eating pasta. You’ll hate me forever and I don’t want that.”

“Well, I’ll hate you anyways if there’s no pasta in that basket,” Jamil says jokingly, his teasing causing you to throw the baby carrot towards his chest in retaliation. “Okay, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

You narrow your eyes at the man before you stick a hand inside the picnic basket and pull out a plastic container filled with chicken alfredo. Jamil lets out a loud cheer at the sight and smell of the food, his abrupt holler earning him a few glances from nearby visitors.

“You get so excited about food, Jamil. I remember you used to wish for sushi and ramen all the time as a child,” you giggle, watching with sparkling eyes as Jamil takes the container from your hands and hurriedly opens it.

“Well, the purpose of life is to eat and enjoy as much food as you can, you know?”

“Oh, is it now?”

“It sure as heck is the purpose of mine,” Jamil nods firmly.

You hum in response and curl up into a loose ball with your arms hugging your legs and chin resting on top of your knees. Your eyes flutter shut just as a gentle breeze begins to blow.

The sun is setting behind Jamil’s hunched over figure, the warm sunlight illuminating your figure and making you appear nearly ethereal in Jamil’s eyes.

You’re so beautiful.

Jamil averts his eyes just as quickly as the thought enters his mind; and as he shoves forkfuls of pasta into his mouth, he tries hard to ignore the warm feeling igniting inside his chest.

❥

“This is a dream, isn’t it?”

“What?” you ask, turning your head to look at Jamil who is laying towards the opposite direction of you but with his head resting right by yours.

“I keep thinking that this entire trip — and you — are all just part of a really long dream,” Jamil sighs before he also turns his head towards you.

“Would you like me to pinch you? Isn’t that what people do when they think they’re dreaming?”

Jamil laughs at your questions, his warm breath fanning across your face and his eyes curving into rainbows. He knows that you’re genuinely asking, but he still finds you too innocent and adorable for your own good.

“No, I think I’d like to stay inside this dream. But thank you for the offer.”

“You’re welcome.”

Comfortable silence blankets over the two of you as you resume your previous activities of stargazing. At least, an attempt is made because there aren't as many stars in the Paris night sky as you’d like there to be.

Regardless of that, Jamil tries to savor every moment of relaxation he’s been awarded since you’ve come into his life.

He can’t remember the last time he’s been able to take a step back to just breathe like this.

His normal life has no time for hobbies — there isn’t any time to spare to learn how to ice skate, roller skate, snowboard, or any other fun activities his friends like to do.

This is the first time he’s been able to travel out of the country, for vacation no less, and he isn’t even stressed out about the schoolwork he’s probably missing out on right now.

It feels like a dream: being able to lay on the grass of the Luxembourg Gardens with no worries and with you by his side.

“I wish that this dream would last forever,” Jamil whispers, his voice barely audible but you’re close enough that you can still hear him. “Can you make that happen?”

“You’ll have to be more specific, Jamil.”

“It’s just that… since you came along, I feel like I can finally breathe again. This is the most relaxed and carefree I’ve felt in a very long time. I didn’t even realize how stressed out I was before, and—and I don’t want to go back. ”

You had an inkling that Jamil may have gotten attached to you, may have gotten used to having your constant presence by his side. That’s why he feels so comfortable around you now — at least, enough to make jokes and tease you when he could.

It never occurred to you that he may want to keep you by his side when you’re not able to do so. Not until now.

“I wish…”

You hold your breath as you wait for Jamil to continue his sentence. You know that once he makes his third and final wish, you’ll immediately and completely disappear from his life.

Perhaps, it is for the better that he’ll have no recollection of you besides as a star in the sky.

“I wish I could continue to feel this way. I wish, among all the stress and madness, I’ll also have the time to be free and enjoy life,” Jamil laughs at himself, finding himself silly for saying the words out loud. He turns to you with a soft smile on his face, “can you make that happen? It’s a pretty tall order.”

You nod slowly, refusing to look at the man as you mumble, “as you wish.”

With those words, your body begins to emit a gentle white glow.

At first, Jamil thinks it’s a reaction of you granting his wish. But as your body becomes more and more transparent, the panic settles more and more inside his heart.

“Y/n?” Jamil calls out, his voice shaky as he reaches out to cup your cheek. His hand passes through your disappearing body, causing him to panic even more and the volume of his voice rising as he calls out for you again. “Y/n!”

A final burst of bright white light makes Jamil shut his eyes tightly and shield them with his hands. Just as quickly as the light came, he finds himself surrounded by darkness and quiet once again.

When Jamil finally opens his eyes, he finds himself lying down in the backseat of Ace’s car. He groans, carefully getting up without moving Lilia’s sleeping figure too much.

He rests his friend’s head on his shoulder after he sits up and looks out the car window, “where are we?”

“Oh, you’re up?” Ace replies as he glances up at the rear-view mirror to look at Jamil’s dark silhouette.

“Yeah, I had the strangest dream: I was in Paris.”

“You must have been hanging out with some mimes because you were laughing a lot in your sleep.”

“Was I?” Jamil raises an eyebrow skeptically. “I can’t even remember what the dream was about anymore. All I remember is standing on top of the Eiffel Tower.”

“Well, don’t go back to sleep because we’re about half an hour away from the dorm now.”

“Sure,” Jamil adjusts his position so he can prop his elbow and chin up on an arm rest.

He watches as they drive past a handful of traffic lights and countless street lights, a strange feeling of being out of place poking at him.

But he pushes the feeling away for the remainder of the drive back to the dorms. He continues to push it away when he sinks into his dorm bed in exhaustion 30 minutes later and dreams of seeing Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower.

The next morning, Jamil wakes up to about a dozen emails that all include some sort of revision to the class syllabi.

“What in the world?” Jamil asks, his voice groggy from sleep and his eyes blinking against the bright light of his phone screen.

Once his eyes have adjusted, Jamil scrolls through the emails before logging into every student portal available to him. He double, triple, and quadruple-checks every platform to make sure his professors weren’t simply playing a trick on him.

“Good morning, Jamil!” a familiar voice gleefully calls out.

Light pours into the room as the door is opened by none other than a smiling Ace. His cheerful demeanor further confirms that Jamil wasn’t simply imagining the emails.

“Did you hear the good news yet?” Ace ignores the protests of Jamil’s roommate as he prances into the room and plops down on the edge of his friend’s bed. He doesn’t wait for Jamil to answer before he continues talking, “now we have all this free time outside of getting our major projects done. What are we gonna do with ourselves?”

Despite still being half-asleep, Jamil can’t deny that he’s also filled with delight at the unexpected news. His mind is already going through all the things he’s been holding off on doing — but he can’t seem to wave off a major sense of déjà vu as he does so.

“Oh, wait. How about we finally teach you how to roller skate?” Ace pats Jamil’s shoulder to catch his attention.

“No offense, Ace, but you’re way too energetic in the morning,” Jamil groans and pulls his blanket up to his chin. He squints at Ace’s unwavering grin for a few silent seconds before he finally sighs and rolls his eyes. “Okay, I’m in.”

“That’s the spirit! I’ll let the guys know,” Ace silently cheers, saving Jamil’s roommate from the unwelcomed noise before he saunters out just as quickly as he came in.

On a normal day, even if Jamil said that he was in, he still wouldn’t have enough free time to actually learn anything besides the basics — if that.

So it’s a nice change of pace when, less than an hour later, he meets his friends besides the same stretch of pavement as where you granted him his first wish.

He doesn’t remember those events in detail, only as fleeting events of a strange dream, and dismisses his sense of déjà vu as having been at this spot many times before.

“You still remember the basics, right?” his friend Kalim asks as he holds his arms out towards Jamil.

Jamil gratefully grabs onto the long limbs for support as he slowly gets up, his legs wobbling while he tries to balance himself on the roller skates.

“Have you been practicing without us?” Lilia asks with his gaze fixed on Jamil’s legs.

It’s a harmless question that’s only asked because Jamil’s not very big on balance. No, usually he and Kalim would have to keep a close eye on their friend to make sure his legs aren’t floundering like fish on dry land.

But today, Jamil seems stable on his own, and they step back and watch in surprise as Jamil glides freely without them.

“Oh, Ace’s not going to believe this,” Lilia laughs before dragging Jamil’s backpack to his side and rummaging through the pockets for his phone.

Lilia unlocks the phone with every intent to take a video of Jamil acing the Basics of Roller Skating 101. But a recent picture displayed on the lower left hand corner of the Camera app catches his attention.

“Jamil, do you have a partner? They’re cute,” Lilia comments after he’s clicked on the display and enlarges the photograph. “I mean, thanks a lot for not telling us though.”

“What? Where? Who?” Kalim quickly appears behind Lilia to peer over the shorter man’s shoulder.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. When do I have the time for a partner?” Jamil furrows his eyebrows in confusion as he makes his way over to his huddled up friends.

Kalim and Lilia exchange looks of disbelief before Lilia holds the phone out so Jamil could look at what’s displayed on the screen.

His breath hitches when he sees a picture of you.

They’re the same photographs that you didn’t know he’d taken of you. They’re proof that you were real — and you existed in this world briefly although Jamil has no recollection of who you are.

And if you’d known those pictures existed, they’d have been erased from Jamil’s memory just like everything else had been.

“I… I have no idea who this is,” Jamil says unconvincingly as he takes his phone away from Lilia.

He can’t bring himself to tear his eyes away from the still of your face. The bright smile you’ve always graced him with is permanently captured within a photograph of a J. Doe.

Jamil can’t remember meeting someone with your face. He certainly doesn’t remember your name or why he would have your picture on his phone.

But the longer he stares at the pictures, the farther the warmth igniting in his chest spreads throughout his body.

A single, short thought enters his mind.

Thank you.

And although he doesn’t know why he thought that, he has the sneaking suspicion it has something to do with the person in the photographs.

Roller skating at Skate City. That was your boyfriend’s bright idea when you told him that you’d let him choose where to go for your next date night.

It’s not that you had a problem with how relatively lowkey the activity is. No, it’s more so that the last time you tried doing something like this, both you two and your friends ended the night with mouthfuls of ice.

But still, you couldn’t deny all the fun that was had, so the night was fondly known as The Christmas Ice Skating Disaster amongst your friends.

All this to say that you can only imagine this date night ending with more than a couple of bruises on your shins.

“Come on, y/n!” Trey calls out, one hand stretched out towards you while the other is holding onto the rink barrier. He notices the skeptical look on your face as you stumble towards him and rolls his eyes, “I promise that you’re going to be okay.”

“Hold on, I’m coming,” you huff, your voice barely audible above the loud old-school pop music playing.

Your eyes are fixed on the carpet below you as you focus on trying not to slip on the glow-in-the dark material. You feel a hand grab onto the bend of your elbow and look up in confusion to find Trey standing beside you.

“You were taking too long. I’ll help you,” Trey explains with a teasing tone in his voice.

He sticks his tongue out before moving to stand behind you and pushing you towards the skating rink. You had half the mind to scold him for endangering you, but the words die in your throat when you realize that you were moving without a single stumble.

Well, that’s a pleasant surprise.

“Come on, baby,” Trey repeats, mimicking his earlier actions after he’s stepped inside the rink.

“Should I be concerned that you’re acting really confident for someone who sucks at skating?” you ask half-jokingly but place your hand in your boyfriend’s outstretched one anyways.

“That was ice skating. This is roller skating,” Trey grins as he watches you stumble ungracefully. “Which — no offense, babe — you definitely suck at more than me.”

“Uh… I definitely take offense to th— ah!” you let out a yelp as your feet suddenly slip back, causing your upper body to lurch forward.

You squeeze your eyes shut, bracing yourself for the fall that never came. Instead, you fell straight into Trey’s waiting arms and your hands instinctively clutch onto his sweater’s sleeve. You open one eye to peek at your boyfriend, who has a relatively proud look about him.

“So… are you planning to stay glued to my side the whole day?” Trey asks with another cheeky grin, “or should I let you flounder around the skating rink on your own?”

Now it was your turn to roll your eyes, “okay, just because you haven’t fallen over yet doesn’t mean you’re the better skater— okay, wait! I’m sorry!”

Your grip on Trey’s sleeve tightens when he makes a move to pull his arms back. You both know that he would never actually let go of you, but your body reacted out of pure survival instincts. In this case, you wanted to save yourself from an embarrassing public face plant.

“Glued to my side it is!” Trey chuckles as he loosely wraps his arms around your waist from behind. “Don’t worry, baby. I got you.”

“Y/n?”

The seemingly empty classroom is briefly illuminated followed by the sharp, loud crack of thunder. The shockwaves cause the floor beneath Jamil’s feet to shudder, and he hears the faint sound of a whimper coming from the farthest corner of the room.

“Y/n,” Jamil repeats before making his way to the small space beside a long row of lockers at the back of the classroom.

There, he found you curled into yourself with your hands pressed firmly against your ears and your eyes tightly shut.

He was only gone for a second to retrieve the cleaning supplies from the janitor’s closet. But he’d underestimated how bad the thunderstorm had been, because a particular boom of thunder caused the lights in the nearly vacant school to shut off without warning.

It’s also just his luck that you have a fear of both the dark and thunderstorms. He’s not sure why he’d suddenly felt guilty for leaving you by yourself, but his feet didn’t hesitate to turn on their heels and run back to the classroom where you awaited.

He stands there, waiting patiently for a few minutes to see if you’d calm down on your own.

It becomes quite apparent that the answer is no.

“I’m coming down,” Jamil sighs before sliding his back down the wall until he’s seated in a similar position as you.

You still haven’t moved an inch, but he can tell that your body is a lot less tense than before. But how can he comfort you?

A sudden thought pops into his head: a scene from a romance anime that Kalim had forced him to watch with him this summer. Would it work?

He decides to give it a shot.

Jamil shrugs his school blazer off and drapes it over your heads. The heavy material turns everything in your line of vision black, and you finally work up the courage to lift your head properly.

You don’t realize how close your faces are until you feel Jamil’s warm breath fanning across your cheeks.

“W—what are you doing?” you manage to squeak out, trying to scoot away despite your back being pressed against the lockers already.

“I’m distracting you,” Jamil answers as if it should have been the most obvious thing. “Is it working?”

“Um… kind of?” you can’t say that the close proximity isn’t making you feel like a cage of butterflies have been released in your stomach.

A few moments of silence pass before another boom of thunder strikes, causing the goosebumps on your arms to rise and you instinctively reach out to grasp Jamil’s arms. You’re surprised that he doesn’t move away immediately.

“I want to try something,” Jamil declares.

“Right now?” you ask in disbelief. “What is it?”

You feel his arms shifting in your grasp before his cold hands are cupping your cheeks, and you hold your breath as you wait for his next move.

Without any hesitation, Jamil leans forward and presses his soft lips against yours.

To say that you’re surprised is an understatement, but you respond to his touch anyways. Your lips move against one another, hesitantly at first, before Jamil makes the first move to deepen it.

You don’t realize just how fast your heart is racing until you finally break apart.

“Um…” you gasp, your fingertips running across your lips. “What was that?”

In that moment, Jamil’s glad that the darkness provided by his blazer is hiding how deep red his ears have turned. He clears his throat before simply answering, “a distraction.”