The night had settled fully over the valley, painting everything in soft silver and deep shadow. The waterfall's roar was gentler in the dark, mist curling around the cliffs, reflecting moonlight in faint ribbons. Warm air carried the faint scent of flowers and damp stone.
Lunaria leaned against the balcony railing, silver hair swaying lightly with the breeze, half-cut now, soft against his cheeks. The warmth of the evening made the skin of his arms and legs glow faintly, the contrast between the softness of his features and the lingering tension of his S-rank aura enough to draw attention without effort.
Ash stepped beside him, silent at first, just watching. There was a strange weight in his gaze, an intensity that Lunaria could feel even without words.
"You know," Ash began, his voice low and careful, "I've been watching you. Not just because I'm supposed to, or because we fight side by side. I watch you because… I can't stop myself."
Lunaria stiffened slightly, though he tried to hide it. His hands tightened around the railing.
Ash continued, unbothered by the subtle reaction. "I see the way you carry yourself. Calm, almost untouchable when you face enemies. Yet when no one is looking… I see how fragile you can be. The moments you let your guard down—they haunt me. They make me… think about you all the time."
Lunaria blinked, cheeks warming already.
"You don't notice," Ash said softly, tilting his head. "But every look, every movement, every breath you take—drives me insane. I've tried to ignore it, I swear, but I can't. You've changed me. My heart doesn't behave the way it used to. I… I can't focus when you're near, and I can't stop thinking about what you mean to me."
Lunaria's entire face flushed bright red. Heat rushed through him, burning ears, neck, and chest. His lips parted slightly, breath uneven.
Ash leaned in closer, just a step, but the air seemed to compress around them. "I want you to know… I want you. Not just your power, not just your presence—but you. Who you are. Who you can be. Every part of you."
Lunaria's heart raced violently. His hands trembled slightly on the railing. His usual composure, the calm he wore like armor, was cracking under the sheer weight of Ash's words.
Ash didn't hesitate. With both hands, he cupped Lunaria's face, warm and firm. Their eyes met fully, and the world seemed to vanish. The waterfall, the valley, the moon—they all faded into a single point of focus: Ash's face, and the unrelenting intensity of his gaze.
"I've wanted to tell you for so long," Ash whispered. "And every day I've spent with you—your love, your presence, your… everything—it's been driving me insane. I can't wait anymore."
Before Lunaria could respond, Ash leaned in and kissed him deeply.
It was not gentle. It was not cautious. It was demanding, relentless, consuming. Lunaria's breath caught, eyes widening at the force and intensity, and then—instinctively—he reciprocated. Hands found Ash's shoulders, pulling closer as his own desire and fear collided. Silver hair brushed against Ash's chest as they pressed together, the warm night air thick with tension and fire.
When Ash broke the kiss just enough to breathe, Lunaria gasped, chest heaving.
"You're… insane," Lunaria managed, voice muffled and weak.
Ash only smiled against his lips before pulling him in again. The second kiss was more deliberate—slower, savoring every second. Their breaths mingled, hearts racing in tandem. Ash's hands traced lightly along Lunaria's jaw, down to the neck, holding him closer without letting him go. Lunaria melted against him, reciprocating with equal fervor, letting his blush deepen further as warmth pooled in his chest and stomach.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ash pulled back just enough to look into Lunaria's wide, red-streaked eyes. His forehead rested against Lunaria's, breaths mingling. "You… you're mine to drive crazy," he whispered with a playful edge, though his eyes betrayed a depth of emotion that made Lunaria shiver.
Lunaria's face flamed brighter, and he pulled back slightly, shaking his head. "Ash… I—"
But Ash leaned forward once more, capturing his lips in a soft, lingering kiss—a third, fleeting one that tasted of heat and desperation and unspoken promises. When he finally pulled away, it was slow, deliberate, leaving their foreheads together.
Lunaria's chest heaved violently. He stepped back, flushed to the roots of his hair. "G-goodnight!" he stammered, his voice cracking.
Before Ash could respond, Lunaria turned and bolted inside, leaving a faint trail of warmth and scent in the cool night air.
Ash stood on the balcony a moment longer, watching him retreat, a soft smile spreading across his face. "Goodnight, Lunaria," he whispered under his breath, voice caught between amusement, affection, and the thrill of something new—something dangerous, something real.
The waterfall's roar echoed in response, a gentle applause for a night where words had burned hotter than flames, and hearts had been left wide open under the moonlight.