Archive of Our Own

"Did you seriously misspell you're?"

"It's an easy mistake to make."

"Maybe you should stop trying to kick me off my throne and take some spelling lessons instead."

Ajax rolled his eyes at her. "Throne? What are you, five?"

"Still two months older than you, actually."

Two months that she liked to take advantage of. It would be less than three weeks until he'd catch up to her twenty years of age, but teasing him about it was just too entertaining not to. Especially when he threatened to battle her for the top of the class, which she had to admit, made her immaturely competitive.

"Should I be careful switching tabs here?"

He snickered ar her snide comment. "I don't leave those open, don't worry."

"If you say so. I don't like that font." Her eyes flickered over the screen of his laptop as she scrolled, reading over the text he prepared this study session. Both of them were taking a special class on Leylines and their functions, and just happened to be paired in a project about it over the summer. Though, Lumine still strongly believed her professor did it on purpose. Whatever. 

"Fine," he scoffed, "hand it over then."

She sat up and reached the device on her lap to his, then fell back into the couch. There was space for about one person left between them, both of their feet pulled up on the cushions. While Lumine shared an on campus dorm room with two other people and attended their school on a scholarship, Ajax's godfather had bought him his very own apartment and provided all the mora he needed. His place was far more spacious than he'd ever make use of, given that he wasn't one to throw parties in his own home, but quite nicely furnished. During their few "hangouts" (i.e. them bickering about various points of their project instead of actually getting things done), she had only been in his livingspace and the guest bathroom to go pee once or twice. Her friends never failed to make comments about her going to a "totally hot guy's apartment alone", and that there was "no way nothing ever happened". Despite their speculation, they really hadn't gone further than her smacking him in the chest for making stupid suggestions on purpose. Ajax found great joy in that.

"Is there anything you do like about the text?"

"The structuring could take a few more alterations, but I think it's solid overall."

"How gracious."

"As always."

He shook his head at her grin and hid his face behind his screen once more. Quiet tapping ensued as she returned to her own notes, crossing off things that they'd gotten done today. 

Finally decide if this should be an essay or a presentation. Check. 

("No way, if we do that I'll be the one doing all the talking!"

"Oh shut up, you're acting like I'm mute or something!"

"Remember the last time you got your way out of presenting?"

"That's not relevant right now.")

They eventually decided to make it an essay. Specifically on how Teyvat's major cities could use the devices to their advantage, ranging from energy production to possible teleportation. 

Lumine set her notebook down with a heavy sigh and turned in her seat, resting her head on her palm and gazing out of a large window. Sumeru city never failed to be bustling and full of life, even this late in the evening. Mona was probably out at some party right now, getting wasted and only paying her friend pitiful thoughts for being stuck with this nuisance of a partner. Actually, that may be false. Even though Lumine denied it every single time she was accused, Mona was still of the strong belief that her and the redhead had a thing for eachother. Which couldn't be more false!...

"Tired of working already?"

"Are you not?" She looked up at him, crossing her legs.

"Eh, I guess. But I don't have any plans today anyway, so I can at least spend my time on something important."

"Really? Didn't get invited to anything good?"

"Oh, I did. Just chose not to go."

She tilted her head. Ajax- the life of every room he set foot in, like, ever- Novikov, decided he would rather stay home and work with her than to go out? "Did you catch a cold or something?"

"Huh?"

"You were suspiciously compliant when I called you up to study today."

"Believe it or not," his piercing blue gaze found her over the top of the screen, "I actually don't despise your presence."

"Aaaww!"

"Shut up before I change my mind."

Lumine giggled and went back on her phone, scrolling through the compilation of images and sources they gathered already. An activity she quickly grew tired of. 

"I'm bored."

"I see that."

"Ugh," she murmured, looking through her friend's stories and chats, blowing her slightly sweaty bangs out of her face every now and then with a pout. It surprised her that it wasn't cooler in his place, given that he was from Snezhnaya, but she'd have to endure it. Of course it could get hot in Mondstadt too, but the smothering humidity in the rainforest ever since her and Aether moved absolutely killed her. Even in a tanktop and shorts it was unbearable.

"Texting your boyfriend?"

"Nope." She put her cell to the side and examined what she could make of his face. "Why is that any of your interest?"

"I dunno," he shrugged, "just curious."

"Curious? For what reason?"

"To be entirely honest, some of the other guys are wondering if you'll ever loosen up."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"

"Admit it, you're a total prude."

She gasped. "I'm not!"

"Is that so?"

"Mhm!"

The sparkle in his eyes already told her of his next comment before he even said it out loud.

"Prove it."

Lumine grabbed a pillow and fired it into his face, then stood up and sat at one of his dining chairs, giving him the cold shoulder. "Are you one of those guys that collect girl's virginities or something? You probably have a little guest book they all sign into. Maybe it's some kind of bet, like: who can get Lumine into bed the fastest?"

He scoffed loudly behind her. "What kind of person do you take me for? Besides, my interest in you goes far beyond your virginity."

She chose to ignore that comment, even though it sent a tingle down her body. A guy, nearly twenty, probably stressed out of his mind from school with a certain charm and devilishly good looks she hated to acknowledge. 

"..I..I don't know. But you seem like the type. I mean, most of the other guys you hang around-"

"Ouch. I wonder what your brother thinks about this, given that we're friends with the same people..."

"Aether isn't like that!"

"How would you know? You never stay around for the frisky parts. Either way– a lot of the religious students are abstaining, but you're not. Right? People are just wondering why you're making such a big deal of it."

"Because...ugh, gods, I can't stand you!" She hid her blushed face in her hands. Okay, maybe he was right. Despite Mona telling incredibly detailed stories of all kinds of encounters, she never personally warmed up to the topic. Some of it seemed down right disturbing to her. A few months ago someone must've overheard a conversation she had with a friend and spread around the information that she'd never had sex, just adding to her very...reserved reputation- which had her dealing with an obnoxious amount of creepy guys afterwards. 

"I'll admit, I haven't done it either."

Lumine's head flew up in his direction. "You haven't?"

"Nope," he drawled and ended the word with a soft pop.

"Oh."

Oh? What kind of oh was that? She couldn't quite tell. 

"It's not like I never had the opportunity," he closed his laptop and slid it onto the coffee table, "I just never took it."

She sat up in her chair, slightly cocking her head.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Don't tell me you're secretly a freak or something." A slight blush appeared on his pale features.

"I'm not, I guess I'm just...surprised."

His sudden direct eye contact made her shiver. 

"Surprised that I haven't lost my virginity?"

"Well.., y-yeah!"

All former bashfullness faded from his face too quickly for her to fully register it. "So you do think I'm handsome~"

The girl rolled her eyes at him and groaned when she saw his wide smirk. Deafening silence surrounded them for a few moments, which were filled with her turbulent thoughts. All of the times she'd imagined what he would look like above someone else, what kind of mark his teeth would leave on another girl's skin, how his moans would vibrate through his throat- not a single time had she even considered that he didn't know either. Admittedly, sometimes she looked at the women he interacted with and wondered if they'd ever been intimate. The completely unjustified sting of jealousy this made her feel was something she liked to pretend didn't exist. Majority of the girls she knew were into him, so if he really wanted to, he could have a free pick.

"Have you ever been kissed?"

Oh fuck. 

The words were out of her mouth before she even had time to process it. Goosebumps spread all over her body and by the time she worked up the confidence to look at him, she caught a slight shaking of his head. Her heart pounded in her chest so hard that she could've sworn it was about to tear through her ribcage as she stood up, shakily making her way over to the couch. This was the perfect opportunity to prove to him that she wasn't a prude, or anxious, or totally freaking out right now because oh my gods she was about to have her first kiss!

Lumine leaned over him slightly, placing her trembling hands at either sides of his head on the backrest he was sat up against. 

"Do you...want to be kissed?"

Her breath shook with anticipation as his eyes wandered down to her chapped lips and his Adam's apple bobbed. "I wouldn't mind that."

She let her eyes flutter half shut and lowered herself until their foreheads leaned together, taking a moment to adjust to the sensation of his face touching hers. And then she pressed her lips against his, like she'd seen it in the movies or performed by other people. Her mouth lingered there for a second before she repeated the movement, her hand subconciously wandering down to his shoulder. Eventually she broke away and caught her frantic breath, avoiding his eyes. 

"That was terrible."

"Shut up."

"You can try again if you want." His teasing yet genuine tone brought a small smirk to her face, so she took both hands to his head and leaned in again. It was somewhat more confident this time and she opened her mouth slightly to get a deeper feeling of him, almost too distracted to notice her own sneaky fingers draw through his hair. Gods, it was so soft. What did he need such soft hair for?

Her entire body tingled when he let out a quiet sigh, parting his lips further. Suddenly his hands were on her hips and she squealed, but he quickly soothed her startled state with a slight caress of her back. Lumine could've sworn her knees were about to give out when she sank onto his lap, far too focused on the sudden flick of his tongue against her teeth to be flustered about their close touch. Look at that, she was slowly getting a hang of it. Time for a step further? Risky, but who cares. She slid her tongue against his bottom lip, waiting until he adjusted to this change to latch onto it. Her mind raced because, truly, she had no idea what she was doing. It just felt right. His fingers pushed under the fabric of her shirt, feeling up her sides as she worked her mouth on his. Then, their tongues met, warm flesh pushing against another. She broke away from him to inhale deeply, quickly furrowing her brows as she wiped the string of saliva off her cheek. 

"That was better," he breathed, not letting the chance to glance at her cleavage pass. His thin bottom lip looked a little bit red from her doing, shining plump with her affection. 

Lumine wasted no time in diving back into him, this time trailing her lips to his cheekbone and ear. This newfound addiction had her completely delirious. Ajax leaned back his head with a satisfied sigh, giving her better access to the underside of his jaw and throat. The soft hums he let out drove her completely feral, only motivating her to try herself on more new tricks. She shot up when his thumb brushed the underside of her chest, bare under her tanktop. A look of concern overtook him for a second.

"Do you not want me to touch there?"

"No, that's not, I do-..hmph."

He grinned softly at her noise of frustration. "Then relax. You're acting like this is an exam or something."

She swallowed hard as he gave her another reassuring look and dove under, reciprocating her previous doing while his large hands continued exploring her torso.

How the hell did this happen? Just half an hour ago they were nothing more than partners on a project, now being eachother's first. First kiss of course, just that! Surely this wouldn't go beyond it...or would she want it to? Whatever her answer to that may be, it was getting way too hot in here. She felt his tongue roll against her neck after an especially long kiss, dropping her hands to the hem of her top. Ajax must've noticed her hesitation, stopping what he was doing to look up at her. 

"This isn't some kind of sick plan is it? You really haven't done this before?", she whispered, coyly gazing back at him through half lidded eyes.

"Of course not. You have no idea how nervous I am right now.." He let out a shy laugh, and the boyish grin on his face made her ease up a little. Then his eyes flew to the fingers she curled around the edge of her top, yet weren't moving. "I won't judge you, you know."

"I'm not insecure about my body," she rolled her eyes at him, "I've just never shared it with anyone."

"I would be very flattered if you did."

Lumine took in a deep breath and pulled the shirt over her head, keeping her view down as she placed it on the couch beside them. 

"Wow."

Her wide eyes met his again for a split second before his gaze wandered over her body, from where the elastic of her shorts squished her hips a tiny bit to her collarbones. Ajax brought his lips to her throat again, gently sucking on the soft flesh. He cupped one of her breasts in the palm of his hand, the other still roaming her sides. 

"Mhm..."

A quick gasp escaped her when his lips caught her left nipple, carefully tugging on it. She looked down when he stopped, with that same slightly concerned expression. 

"Don't mind me just...just go on."

It wasn't an unknown sensation, just not anything someone other than herself had ever caused. Gods, he learned quickly if he really hadn't done this before. Lumine ground herself down on his thigh as his tongue swirled around her sweet spots, letting her head fall back with a soft moan. 

"You know, girlie, I was starting to worry I may never see this side of you."

Lumine payed no mind to this confession, instead leaning into the hand he raised to her head, pulling his fingers through her blond locks. He curled his fist around a few strands at the back of her hand, tilting her skull slightly upwards. Though his moves were already more confident than hers, there was still a sense of uncertainty to it. She writhed her plump chest against his face, placed both legs at either side of his hips and scooted further against his groin. Perhaps she should feel shameful, or less natural in this state, but she didn't. They were adults after all, and this drive for pleasure was nothing strange.

Ajax let out a low groan when her crotch came into contact with his erection, slightly pulling on her hair.

Lumine seperated from him, leaning back a little to watch the lustful shine of his eyes. "Have you ever been touched?"

"Yes, I would like for you to touch me."

A quiet laugh bubbled out of her throat when he predicted her plan, glancing down at the zipper of his jeans. The boy swallowed hard once more and let go of her to undo the button and fly, pulling his waistband down to his thighs to expose the large bulge in his boxers. Lumine gave him a quick questioning look before reaching down, cautiously pushing her hand under the elastic. Her fingertips brushed past a dusting of hair, then found the curve of his hard cock.

Ajax sucked in a sharp breath and pushed his hips forward, leaning his head against the backrest. 

He wasn't even paying attention anymore, this was on her now. She blinked at him shortly, then curled her hand around his width. A satisfied smile tugged at his lips at the first stroke, mouth slightly parted with heavy breaths. Lumine, developing a steady pace with her hand (best she could while restricted by the fabric of his underwear anyway), leaned into him and latched onto his throat. She nipped at his skin, at the same time beginning to grind herself onto his leg again. To be entirely honest, she was fully relying on her knowledge from somewhat sexual movies right now. Sure, you're not supposed to use erotica as a tutorial, at least that's what she'd heard, but right now it was her best bet.

"Fuck, Lumi...", Ajax groaned quietly.

Any other time she would've given him at least a smack for calling her by that nickname, but today...today it honestly turned her on even more. An odd sense of bravery overcame her and she lowered her head, raising his shirt to bunch it up over his chest and placed a few kisses over his pecs. Ajax fully took it off in response and let it join her tanktop. 

Lumine paused and sat up. Then, she removed her hand from his groin and glanced behind her, sliding onto the floor in between his legs. His brows pinched together tightly when he picked up his head to look at her, arms still splayed over the backrest to his sides. "Wait, what're you..?"

"Proving to you that I'm not a prude."

"That was a joke, you really don't have to-"

"I want to, Ajax." She reached up for the elastic in his underwear. "Are you going to let me?"

He seemed a bit startled at first, but eventually gave her a strong nod and leaned his head back again. Good, having him watch her during this may give her a panic attack. Lumine inhaled deeply and pulled his pants to his knees, watching with widened golden eyes as his cock sprung out at her. Even though genitalia on its own never excited her, together with his bare body it painted a pleasant picture to look at. What were dicks even supposed to look like in real life, outside of media and fiction? She wasn't quite sure, but to her this one seemed above average. Not gasp-enducing, but definitely impressive. Her eyes caught his gaze when she glanced up at him for a split second and realized that she'd just been staring at him for gods know how long.

"It's...nice!"

"..T-thank you?"

"Um, can you maybe look away again?"

He chuckled a little and returned his head to its former position.

Lumine sat up and curled her fingers around him, leading his tip to her lips, when reality set in. Was this really going to be her first ever sexual encounter? In no world had she imagined it on the floor in front of Ajax of all people. "Do you clean this thing?"

"What?"

"I mean, do I have to worry about it being dirty or something-"

"I took a shower before you came over." He shook his head at her with a loud sigh, the kind you hear a dog give off when you bother them too much. For a few more moments she sat there silently, until he straightened in his seat. "Listen, it's okay if you changed your mind, but in that case I'd like to put my pants back o- nngh.."

His comment came just a little too late, she'd already taken him in her mouth. It felt kind of strange at first, but Lumine did her best to adjust to the feeling and swirled her tongue around his tip. She gagged as she made first attempts at bobbing forwards and backwards on him, one hand still at his base. Her clouded gaze wandered up the trail of ginger hair by his abdomen, gliding past every defined muscle in his torso up to his head. The shoulders he laid over the backrest flexed with every of her movements, until he brought one hand to the back of her head. Ajax picked some hair out of her face to hold it up, watching her through the open slit of his eyes. The movements he supported her with were incredibly gentle.

Lumine pulled back to catch her breath, grimacing at the string of fluid that pulled from her lips and blinking water out of her eyes. "Hah..."

"Here," he lowered his second hand as well, guiding her much smaller fingers and using them to stroke himself, "like that."

"Are you supposed to actually suck or is that just something you say?"

"I have no idea."

She nodded with a light chuckle, then licked her lips and took him in her mouth again. The hand he had at the back of her head supported her, then made her squeal when he shoved himself further into her throat with a strong snap of his hips. Hell, if she was in his position and it really felt that good, she probably wouldn't have been able to keep being so gentle either. Her own fingers continued the movements he'd taught her, stroking his base and eliciting the sweetest whimpers from him. Not a noise she ever would've imagined from the ginger, like a wild growl or something of the sort. No, this was vulnerable, shy and so entirely under her control that it gave her quite the rush. 

"Fuuck..."

Lumine swallowed the gathered up saliva and precum he leaked, giggling around him at the loud moan he let out. Maybe she was actually doing a good job, maybe he was just easy to please. Her bet was on the latter. She seperated from him once more to clean her mouth and kissed his head, dragging her tongue across the pinkish skin that somewhat reminded her of the corners of his lips. Apparently sucking wasn't just a way to describe this act, at least that's what his reaction told her when she closed her mouth around him even more tightly and caused a good bit of suction. Her confidence was an act in its entirety, but he seemed not to notice. Yay to reading that book Mona recommended to her one time?

"Lumine, shit, I'm going to cum soon-"

She had to fight the urge to tell him "good", instead just murmuring an acknowledgement. It was kind of hard to talk with this thing in her mouth. The pace of his hips increased and he let out a soft whimper, looking more disheveled than she had ever seen him. Her eyes followed the pearl of sweat that trickled down his forehead, running all the way down to his bare chest. 

Lumine would have to thank his godfather for that gym membership.

A surprised squeak left her when he released all of a sudden, emptying the warm liquid into her throat, and the raspy groan he let out sent a shiver down her spine. She pulled back from him one final time and parted her lips, taking in the unfamiliar taste, as thick strings pulled in between them. Ajax's hand fell from her head to her cheek, thumb softly drawing over her skin as a happy little sigh left him. Lumine flinched at the affectionate gesture, feeling the heat rise to her face. 

"Um, so-" She wiped her mouth and her eyes shifted through the room as awkward silence ensued. The ginger didn't seem to have any more of a clue what they were supposed to do now than her, just blinking down at her spot between his long legs. "Uh, would you mind if I got a cup of water in from kitchen?.."

"Not at all, take whatever you need."

The blonde gave a slight nod and got up from the floor, glancing at him before she turned and walked away. Dear archons, the way he was splayed over that couch still took her breath away. She quickly made her way over to the kitchen, peeking through the glass door before she entered and dug through his cabinets for a cup. They were surprisingly well organized. A quiet gasp escaped her when she saw her reflection in the glass and noticed she forgot to put on her shirt, frantically looking around and covering her chest with her arm. Where was that confidence from a minute ago? Lumine honestly had no idea. 

Brief commotion came from the bathroom as she sipped on her tapwater and flushed down the lingering taste in her mouth. Not shortly after, he appeared behind her and grabbed a half empty water bottle from the counter, chugging down a few heavy gulps. Neither of them said anything until his eyes wandered over her body again and she turned away from him in offense. 

"Oh come on", he scoffed. Her glare was only countered with a dramatic rolling of his eyes. "You sucked me off like it was some kind of competition like five minutes ago, and now you're embarrassed about me seeing you shirtless?.."

"W-well, yes! I'm not used to this."

Lumine's head whirled around when he softly touched her shoulder and his gaze had already lost its venom when she met it. "Do you want me to get your shirt?"

"That'd be sweet."

Ajax gave her a quick smile and then left the room, returning shortly after with her tank in his hands and his own t-shirt put back on. She accepted it gratefully and set her now empty cup down to pull the shirt over her head, letting out a quiet sigh once she was covered again. "Thank you.."

"No problem." He made a dismissive gesture with his hand. "So, um, I doubt you want to go back to work?"

Lumine laughed and shook her head. "Not really."

"What do you want to do instead?"

Awkward silence once more. Fantastic. They really had a talent for this.

She just replied with a shrug. 

The boy licked his lips and her heart rate picked up an inhuman pace again when he approached slowly, placing his hands at the edge of the counter she was leaning against, locking her in place. His lips found their way back to her neck, placing soft kisses along her throat and collarbones. Oh gods, there it was again. That thought-scrambling sensation he caused. His hot breath sent shivers through her body like surges of lightning every time he took a break from sucking and licking- sucking and licking! "Hey!"

"Mph-?!" 

Lumine shoved him off her, gasping when she brought her fingers to the bruise at the base of her throat. "What the hell man, somebody is going to see that!"

Ajax just groaned and rolled his eyes at her, leaning his head back. "It's just a hickey. You're an adult, for archon's sake."

She just grumbled. He wasn't wrong, but having to explain a sudden mark after spending the day with a guy she'd been denying having feelings for wasn't something she felt like doing. 

He backed off and drew his fingers through his hair with a sigh. "Should I bring you home?"

"No, that's not- listen, I don't want to leave, I'm just nervous and stuff.."

"So you do want to...go further?"

She gave him a bashful nod.

"Just not right now?"

Another nod.

A look of confliction settled on his features and he tapped his index finger on his biceps repeatedly. Then, an idea lit up his face:

"Have you ever been on a motorbike?"

°~♡~°

"Ugh, I feel like I'm in a sauna..." Lumine scrunched her nose and tugged at the heavy clothing he lent her. They actually had to secure it with ties, since his size hung off her like a tent. 

"The wind will cool you down, don't worry." His own clothes were a much better fit on his own body and Lumine had to resist the urge to bite her lip. He handed her a helmet once he secured his own, helping with the clasp and knocking her on the head through the thick material. Though she didn't fail to glare at him, a soft giggle broke through her pursed lips. "Alright, hop on!"

The girl watched him sit down on the black leather seat of the large silver and blue vehicle and scoot forward a little, taking in a deep breath before she followed. 

"Better hold on tight or you might fall off~"

"That's not funny!" Despite her protests, she tied her arms around his waist. One of her thin brows flicked upwards when he handed her a small earbud. "Music? That doesn't seem safe.."

"Don't worrie girlie, you'll get the right one. I'll hear enough."

"Aawww!"

Ajax grinned widely and she put in the device, watching over his shoulder as he put on some music. It was slow for now, but she could smell the dramatic beat drop from a mile away. The bike came to life with a low rumbling sound and he rolled them out of the garage, laughing at the quiet squeal she let out. "Oh come on, this is nothing!"

"How fast does this thing go, exactly?"

"Very fast."

"Oh gods.."

Another laugh. She hit him in the side. 

They briefly stopped at a crossover to wait for the traffic lights to turn green until he put the bike to work, picking up speed as they left the busy part of town. Music blared in one of her ears and wind in the other, squinting her eyes into his shoulder. Apparently he was going for the port, though straying past the brightly lit buildings in the city's center. Whenever they slowed down and the air stopped whirling her hair around like a tornado, her eyes wandered to observe the streets around them. Neon lights and brightly lit buildings shone through the black night, groups of people gathered around them. The rhythm of the song he chose picked up as Ajax redirected them to the water, driving until he found an empty road. He sped up, his cheerful laugh drowned out by the wind as she shrieked. The methodicaly placed streetlamps on the water's side of this road flashed past her view, painting lights into the insides of her eyelids. 

Lumine buried her face in his shoulder as the song reached its climax, so perfectly timed that she could've sworn this was a movie sequence. 

By the time she looked up again a new title was playing and they were driving out of the town, headed for thee hills surrounding the outskirts of Sumeru City. "Where in the world are you taking me?!"

"My favorite spot!"

Her heart skipped a beat when he took a land road uphill, putting in a final amount of speed until they reached the very top. The girl climbed off the second he stopped the machine at a circular gravel spot and bent over with her hands on her knees, gasping for air. "I hope you get a ticket!"

Ajax threw his head back once he took off his helmet and shook his hair, letting the copper strands frame his face with a stupidly wide smirk. "Did you not have fun?" He pressed a button on his phone and turned off the music, then started heading for the very top of the hill. 

Lumine only murmured something incoherent under her breath while she followed him, stepping over a few rocks before finally falling into the soft grass. A long sigh escaped her strained lungs as they laid side by side and she took off her helmet as well, setting it on the soft ground beneath them. Her eyes wandered from the distant city lights to the myriad of stars in the night sky, then down to her companion's. His deep azure sight was slowly following a constellation as her heart fluttered and she nudged him, catching his attention. Lumine turned onto her side and met his gaze, briefly counting the tan freckles on his skin before she leaned in. The boy happily welcomed her kiss, bringing one gloved hand to the back of her head. "Mhhm.."

Sweat had built up under her heavy clothes and she removed the thick jacket she was wearing, lazily throwing it to the side. Ajax's tongue brushed against her plump bottom lip and she opened her mouth, moaning softly as her hand wandered over his stomach and their movements became one. There was already a sense of familiarity with him now, and the nervosity she previously felt started to fade away. He broke away from her and gave her a smile that put her already overworked heart in the grave. 

"I never imagined it like this," Lumine said and rolled onto her back, gazing up at the sparkly freckles in the sky.

"Hm?"

"My first time, I mean."

"How'd you think it was going to happen?" Ajax propped himself up on one elbow, one if his hands still resting by her jaw and gently caressing it. This time, she didn't flinch away. 

"I don't know, maybe being picked up by some older guy at a party or something."

"That doesn't sound all that romantic."

"Does it have to be? I mean, technically it's just sex."

"If you look at it that way, sure."

"Do you not?" She glanced over at him, one eyebrow raised.

"Not really. I guess I always imagined it as something more intimate than that. Heh, not sure if you can describe what we did on the couch as romantic..."

"Hmm, yeah, maybe that's a bit far."

They chuckled in unison and Ajax leaned over her, taking her face in his large hand as he kissed her. Now this, this was most definitely intimate. But how intimate were they supposed to act with each other? They'd never been more than friends- at best- before this, and now it suddenly felt as if they were way more than friends who just happened to hook up on his couch once.

"I can still drop you off at your place if you want."

"No, let's go back to yours." Lumine sat up. 

"Really?"

"I thought I might try riding something other than a bike."

By the time she got up and looked back, he had the most dramatic stunned expression on his face she'd ever seen. "Okay, I made a dirty joke. You can stop looking so shocked."

Once they were back by his bike he was still laughing, and Lumine wished he'd go back to his startled silence. She put on her helmet again with a big pout and held onto his waist once they drove off, anticipation, the speed they were going at, and a slight panic joining together to make her stomach churn. This time he didn't make any detours, only stopping by a gas station outside of the city. Lumine gave him a questioning look when he parked her in a free space and hopped off the vehicle, handing her his helmet.

"What are you doing?"

"Would you rather I don't use protection?"

"Oh! Nope, go get some. I kind of assumed you had some at your place already."

Ajax let out a loud sigh as he walked away and shook his head at her. "Oh girlie, you really don't know me."

A few minutes of patient waiting later he returned, carefully putting what looked like around five wrappers into his pocket. "Five? That's ambitious."

"We don't have to use them all today~"

She rolled her eyes at his smirk. 

The rest of the drive back was calm, her mind was now far too frantic to even pay attention to her surroundings. Gods, why was she so nervous? 

°~♡~°

Ajax put away both of their helmets in the storage by the entrance of his apartment, taking her jacket as well as his and hanging them up. He fished the condoms out of his pocket and cleared his throat, already having lost his former confidence. 

Lumine sighed with determination and threw her arms around his neck, meeting his lips with a shuddering breath. The ginger lost no time reciprocating this affection, letting his hands wander from her hips to the string that kept his pants on her body and loosening it. She nibbled on his bottom lip when he squeezed her butt and picked her off the ground, holding her up as she tied her legs around his waist. They stumbled their way to his bedroom as her fingers grabbed at his hair, not even bothering to turn the lights on, sighing quietly while he threw the protection onto his nightstand and put her down on the soft covers. His kisses became as ravenous as they were on the couch, trailing down her throat to the edge of her tanktop as he perched over her, still standing in front of the edge of the bed she was laid on. A quiet moan escaped her when he ground himself in between her legs, letting his hands slip under her top once more. 

Lumine threw her head back and her eyelids fluttered shut, drowning in the sweet sensation of the friction he caused and the feeling of his lips all over her body. 

Then his fingers pushed under the tight elastic of her shorts and she squealed, shooting up on the mattress. Ajax and her shared a startled look and she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, stuttering slighty. "Um, can you maybe wash your hands? Because we were outside and stuff-"

"Oh, of course." He cleared his throat and let go of her, headed for a door she assumed to lead to his private bathroom. 

She let out a noise of frustration, mostly directed at herself, and slipped out of his pants. Once she was only in her shorts and top she crawled fully onto the comfortable bed, laying on her side nervously and listening to the noises of a toilet flushing and a sink running for a generous amount of time. From what she could make out in the dark, the room she was in had the same neutral walls as the rest of his place. The sheets were a deep blue, like the part of the ocean only a few strings of light could reach. His dresser and bedframe were of the same dark wood as the rest of this apartment. It was surprisingly organized.

Her mind rushed with anxious thoughts. She always shaved in summer anyway, so he wouldn't have any trouble finding the goods. Would it even bother him if she wasn't shaved? Apparently for some men it wasn't a big deal, but he may not even know it himself. Oh gods. She'd have to go to a doctor and get her heart checked the next day.

Ajax returned, mentally adjusting to her new position before he went around the bed and got down next to her, letting his hot breath hit her nape. Her fingers grabbed at the thin sheets when his lips explored the crook of her neck and upper back, one hand caressing her side. It moved lower when she released a soft noise of approval and he groped her ass a little, lower fingers brushing against the inside of her thighs. 

"You seem nervous."

"I am."

"We can still stop if you want."

Something about the genuine care in his voice warmed her chest. "No," she whispered, "please don't stop." Her breath hitched as his hand slid in between her legs, applying pressure to her crotch and rubbing small circles. "When you're a teenager you have an excuse for the first time to be bad, you know? But now were adults and obviously have an idea of how it's supposed to go, and- I don't know, I guess I'm just afraid I'll do something wrong.."

"Even if you did something wrong," he drawled the word as if to annunciate its absurdity, "I wouldn't be able to tell."

"Yeah, you're right." Lumine let out a small sigh of relief, then glanced over her shoulder to watch him create a small bruise at the base of her nape. His hand hadn't lost its movement, but wasn't hitting quite the spot she wanted it at. "You can reach into my pants."

The boy paused and met her gaze, mouth still standing slightly agape. He then brought his fingers back to the top of her shorts and Lumine turned her head in the opposite direction again as they pushed under the tight fabric. She let her fingers follow his once they reached the warm spot right where her panties were a little wet, directing them higher until he found her steadily pulsing clit. His fingertips drew over the sweet spot and she mewled, returning her hand to the surface and letting him do his thing. Arousal was already pooled up in her core, spreading even more heat through her already sweating body. Ajax brought one hand under her neck and grabbed her jaw, so confidently that it made her feel things. The hand at her groin pulled her closer, pressing her against his front and crotch, slowly grinding himself into her. His growing erection pushed against the curve of her butt, telling her that he was very much enjoying this.  

"Please," she begged quietly and spread her thighs apart, "touch me."

One of her partner's fingers slipped under her panties at that, and she heard a tremble in his breath when it drew through her liquid arousal. Lumine squeezed her muscles around his touch, breathing through her open mouth as he tugged her underwear to the side. Soon, he'd gathered the soft strings of her pleasure on his skin and finally parted her folds, pushing his middle finger inside of her. She squirmed when his limb explored her tight walls, slipping out of her just to slide back in.

"Come on, Lumi," he murmured into her ear, "show me how to please you."

Lumine blinked and licked her lips, reaching for her thighs to tug her pants down a little, giving him more space to work with. She reached her hand into her underwear as well with a slight shudder, grabbing his hand and guiding her index finger along his to let it glide into her cunt, making the movements she wanted him to copy. He was a quick learner, catching on without struggle and curling his finger as is went in and out, in and out. Lumine pulled away and let her own fingers dance over her clit instead, giving out soft moans as her breath grew rapid. It really wasn't difficult to please her, she knew that well enough from the time she spent with herself. 

"..Ah...fuck.."

"Should I try a second?"

Ajax chuckled at her enthusiastic nod and added his ringfinger, becoming more direct with his motions. At one point he dug them in deeper, making her gasp when they found just the spot to touch. Other than the quiet gushy noise from her groin and the heavy breathing from both of them, the silence weighed over her like a thick, dense blanket. Lumine rolled onto her back and pulled her knees up, removing her fingers from her body to slide her shorts and panties up to her knees. Ajax's eyes widened at the new view, turning her head to kiss her passionately when she shot him a shy look. They shared a few moments of intense eye contact and the speed of his hand increased as she rolled her hips into his touch, the pad of his thumb pressing against her clit as he pumped in and out of her, rubbing his still clothed cock against her hips. 

She squeezed her eyes shut and rolled on top of him with a brittle moan, pinning the wrist he'd had at her jaw to the pillow his head was laid on. "My turn."

"Cocky, are we?"

"Mhm...I want to hear you whimper again." 

Ajax swallowed hard at her devilish smirk, yet submitted to this new position without protest. He pulled his fingers out of her and rested them by his head as well, staining the covers as she pinned this arm down too. Lumine ground herself onto his growing bulge, spreading her arousal over his clothing. She released his arms for a moment and made him take off his shirt, doing the same shortly after. A satisfied glimmer let his eyes light up at the view, a smug grin tugging at his lips. 

"Hah, I wish I could engrave this picture into my mind forever..."

"Oh?"

"Mhm.."

"Take a closer look, then."

She leaned into him, sighing softly as his lips trailed down the valley of her breast to her nipples. Her hands wandered down to his pants and she tugged at the thick waistband, lifting herself a little to slide them down to his knees. Ajax returned his attention to her doing and watched with wide eyes as she stripped out of her last clothing as well, carelessly throwing them to the side. Her bashful gaze stayed glued to his upper body as he ran his hands over her sides and let out a quiet breath.

"You're a work of art."

Even though Lumine felt terribly exposed, his compliment sent a tingle down her spine. She swallowed and looked down at his underwear, doing her best to regulate her breath when she pulled it down. He was solid as rock at this point and his dick rose against his toned stomach, a string of precum already dribbling off his tip. Her breath hitched as she reached for the condoms, tearing one wrapper off the bunch and pulling it open. Ajax raised an eyebrow when she handed it to him, though took without complaint and began rolling it over his shaft. 

"Hey, can you not stare at me while I do this? It's awkward."

Lumine nodded and raised her head to look at the ceiling, whistling a quiet tune while she waited.

"Alright, now you're overdoing it."

He poked her in the side when she giggled and she lowered her view again to observe if the latex was put on correctly (or what she assumed to be correct), then licked her lips in anticipation as she lifted herself. 

"Is the blood a myth? I mean, on a girl's first time."

"Uh, I'm not sure...I mean, I've never had anything up there other than my fingers, um-"

"I'm sure it'll be fine," he digressed and gave her a reassuring smile.

Lumine took in a deep breath and took him in her hand, shivering when his head pushed against her entrance. A quiet gasp escaped her at the unfamiliar intrusion when she sank onto him, incredibly grateful for the natural lubricant her body to provided. A slight grimace appeared on her face at the initial discomfort, but her distress was quickly soothed when she noticed the face her partner made. The noise he produced motivated her to start moving, slowly lifting herself just to sink back down. Ajax's fingers dug into her sides and he let his head fall back with a breathy groan, thrusting his hips upwards in a slightly wobbly pace. Lumine leaned forward and grabbed onto his headboard, breathing rapidly as he built up a steady rhythm. And after a few minutes of uncertainty, it actually felt pretty good. Still, while the boy was far too busy to notice, Lumine scowled a little.

Of course it was intimate, insanely so, but nothing like the mind blowing, brain-chemistry-altering experience some people made it out to be.

She looked down at him, smiling as she whispered, "What in the world are we supposed to do now..?"

"Um, dirty talk? I have no idea."

"Alright, let's hear it then."

Ajax squinted his eyes a little before a teasing smirk formed on his lips. "Do you want me to call you kitten or something?"

Lumine made a playful attempt to get off him, but he laughed and pressed her back down on his cock. 

"Agh!"

His amusement faded at her grimace, pinching his auburn brows together. "Too hard?"

"Yeah, m-maybe be a little more gentle.."

"Sorry."

"It's alright," she sighed and adjusted her position, moaning softly as they returned to their former rhythm and her pain was overshadowed. 

"Jokes aside, you feel incredible."

"You don't feel terrible either."

The boy smacked her ass and she squealed, jumping forward and widening her eyes when they came face to face. His dreamy look flew down to her lips again and she brushed their noses together before catching his mouth with hers. Soon enough she let her face sink into his shoulder, whispering small pleading words into his ear that Ajax gladly obliged to. He increased his speed, at the same time grazing his teeth over the soft skin by the curve of her jaw. At this point Lumine didn't care to stop him, he could leave as many markings on her as he wanted. 

"Ah, Ajax!.."

"Again," he ordered and she squeaked from another powerful thrust, "say my name again."

Lumine didn't resist this request, mumbling the word into his ear over and over: Ajax, Ajax, Ajax.

Dear archons, it was too easy to get lost in this. Their bodies joined together to create one moving-moaning-sweating mess, made her give up all attempts at staying alert. In this moment they were dedicated to one another, and one another only. Lumine bid farewell to any sense of time passing, banishing the worried thoughts of what Mona might think if she didn't return in time, or how long they'd spent together already. This moment had no place for this- only pleasure and peace. 

"Fuck, I'm close-"

And that was that.

Unlike him, she was not. It's not that she didn't feel satisfied, but not the bursting-at-the-seams satisfied that came before an orgasm. Her partner's snaps of his hips grew helpless as they both panted, his fingertips digging into her sides so hard that she bet there'd be bruises later. Gods, this man had a lot of self control. Weren't guys supposed to finish in like five minutes the first time?

A chuckle nearly escaped her when at that very thought his dick twitched and he pressed himself into her as deep as he could go, groaned and released. It became even harder to hold in her laugh when she observed the dazed look on his face, her breathing steadily slowing as he adjusted. Ajax kissed her again and she lifted herself off him, sliding into his lap as his hands went to rest on her butt. 

"Your turn."

They shared a quick nod after he took a moment to collect himself, though he looked to be a bit indecisive.

"Use your fingers." Lumine nudged his cheek with her nose and led his hand downwards, slightly rising off his hips as he sat up so he'd have space to work with. She squealed when he grabbed her and put her on all fours sideways over his lap, quickly pulling off the used condom before placing one hand around her jaw and the other in the small of her back. He grinned at her startled expression and slowly let his hand wander in between her thighs, waiting until she relaxed and leaned down on her forearms. 

"I feel silly with my butt in the air like this."

Ajax only laughed in reply and slipped one finger into her first, swiftly returning to the pace she enjoyed before all of this went down. A second soon joined and she helplessly squeezed her thighs together, reaching under her body to play with her desperate clit. The rosy bundle of nerves ached as his fingers reached deep enough to make her gasp, finding that tiny spot that managed to send a shiver through her entire body. 

"You like that?"

"Yes- ah- yes, please...faster.."

A low chuckle rumbled through his chest. Lumine thought to herself how much fun he must be having, with a pretty girl squirming in his arms like a mess and begging for his touch. 

"I really love the noises you make," he rasped. "C'mon girlie, let me hear you moan properly."

She didn't mind being a little dramatic for him, but there wasn't much acting she even had to do- he caught onto her body incredibly quickly, and it felt fairly close to the most recent times she'd played with herself. Perhaps she just didn't know herself that well. Her attention wandered to the fingers that rested by her mouth, sticking out her tongue to latch onto them. A loud moan tore through her when he pulled his fingers out of her soaked pussy, lightly squeezing her clit in between his middle and ring finger.

"Ah!"

Ajax caught her fingers in between his and led them further down, making them glide into herself as he whispered, "Help me out a little."

What a great thing that she knew how to make herself cum. He was definitely not doing a bad job, but wasn't anywhere as confident in his skill as he made out to be. Lumine taught him just the way to touch her, trembling as she let her face sink into the soft mattress. "F-faster! Faster, please-"

Ajax followed her orders, increasing the pace of his fingers until her core unravelled, his slender fingers still deep inside of her. Her knees gave out and she dropped her hips into his bare lap, clawing at the sheets as she panted. Drool dripped down her cheek when he removed his fingers from her mouth, wiping the saliva away with a low chuckle. Lumine rolled onto her side and slid her wet fingers up her belly, resting her hand on her stomach as she watched a pearl of sweat roll down his strong neck, completely mesmerized at the lazy smile on his face. "That was a lot better than I thought it would be..", she mumbled once she'd caught her breath.

"Sounds like I had higher hopes than you."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like it is much easier for a guy to have a good first time."

"You're not wrong," he shrugged, "but I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, anyway."

"Mhhm, me too~" Lumine giggled and stretched, then turned on the mattress to lay next to him. Her eyes wandered upwards, where Ajax was quietly staring at his heavily arousal-coated fingers. Thick strings of the liquid pulled in between his skin when he turned his hand, seemingly trying to figure out what to do with it.

"Would wiping it off be rude?"

"Yes. I would be deeply offended."

He rolled his eyes, and before she knew it he'd raised his glistening fingers to his lips. She gasped and sat up, watching in horror as he stuck his tongue out and dragged it over his skin quickly. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest as he furrowed his brows for a split second before he licked his lips.

"...What's it like?"

"Odd. Kind of sweet, in a way, but odd." Ajax held his hand up to her mouth and she flinched back.

"No way!"

"Have you really never tasted yourself? Not even out of curiosity?"

"I've been curious," she grumbled, "but not that curious."

Even at that he didn't lower his fingers, instead continuing to watch her like a cautious fox. 

"Ugh, fine." The girl rolled her eyes and leaned forward slightly, dashing her tongue against his fingertip as quickly as possible. 

"That's what you call tasting? I dunno girlie.."

She scrunched her face when he stuck his finger into her mouth, only laughing at her when she swatted at him and scrambled off the bed. "Hey!" The taste was exactly as he described it- not necessarily bad, but strange. While Lumine scurried off into the bathroom, the boy called out to her. 

"Where are you going?"

"To pee."

She pressed down the doorhandle and gasped when she was greeted with a luxurious, large bathtub once she turned the light on. 

"What do you look so surprised for?", Ajax questioned, throwing the condom into the small silver trashcan by his sink.

"Are you kidding?! I don't even have my own shower!"

He laughed and stepped to the side of the bath. "Do you wanna get in?"

"Um- together?"

"...Yes, obviously."

"You know what, sure! Give me a second." That already felt a lot more intimate than what her heart could take. She walked over to the toilet, staring at him as he turned on the water until her eyes flickered down his bare body. He'd fully shed his pants, only his socks remaining on his feet.

"Did you seriously not take them off?"

"Was I supposed to?"

"It looks silly with only them on."

"Alright, whatever you say- what is it?"

"I need to pee."

"So pee."

"Are you not going to leave?"

He let out a frustrated groan and gestured at the bedroom, but left nonetheless. That is, not without shaking his head at her. Lumine sat down on the cold porcelain seat and grimaced slightly at the mild uncomfortable feeling, quickly finishing up and flushing. "You can come in!"

Ajax, now sockless, returned to the room and they waited in silence until the bath was full. He got in first and she joined shortly after, sitting in between his legs with her back to his front. A slight shiver ran through her body when she sank into the hot pool all the way to her hairline, seeing him watch her with a quiet smile once she looked up. Lumine sighed and snuggled herself against his chest again, reaching one hand in between her thighs to wash away the sticky, sore feeling. The sudden sensation of his lips against her forehead all affectionately made her scramble forwards. "What the hell?!"

"Huh-"

"You- you can't just kiss me on the forehead after I lost my virginity to you! That- that's mean!"

Sheer confusion was written on his face.

"That's something a boyfriend would do, you're not- we aren't like-.."

Her nervous eyes met his.

"..What exactly are we now?" 

"Depends what you want us to be."

"That doesn't help, at all!"

"Oh my god," he let his head fall back with a frustrated groan, "how oblivious can someone be?"

Lumine blinked at him.

"I like you. I have for a while," he grumbled, turning his head to the side to avoid her eyes.

Oh-

"I- I didn't know! I mean, all we ever do is argue, I just didn't think you'd-"

"I argue with you because it's the only way you'll talk to me." 

Right now, Lumine wasn't capable of anything other than blinking.

"Oh."

"Oh? Is oh all I get?"

She stared at him blankly, struggling to find words as her mind raced. Eventually she just sank back into the water, leaning her head against his abdomen. 

"I can call an uber for you," Ajax cleared his throat. 

"No, I'd like to stay here, if that's fine by you." Their eyes met briefly and Lumine's small smile seemed to rush the warmth right into his face.

"Great, now I'm just confused again."

Lumine may not ready to admit her feelings for him just yet, but took another step forward. "You can take me out if you want."

"Really?"

"Yes. But no showing off, just a chance! And I wouldn't mind if we repeated this sometime..."

"I'll gladly take that."

Her heart finally returned to a less concerning pace and she sighed, feeling his soft lips explore the crook of her neck and jawline. "Fuck, I'll have to let Mona know I won't be back tonight."

"I bet she'll be very interested in our study session tomorrow."

"Ugh, we'll have to finish the project eventually..."

"I wouldn't mind if you hung around my place more. Lots of time for lots of studying."

"Studying, exactly," Lumine snorted. The two of them stayed in the water for a little while longer, washing eachother up and chatting away. He lent her a towel once they got out and returned to his bedroom, where she sat down on the covers and held the soft fabric against her chest. "Can I borrow some clothes from you? Mine are all sweaty.."

"Of course." Ajax walked over to his wardrobe, towel lazily wrapped around his waist, and took out a t-shirt and a pair of boxers. Her eyes flew down his body once he threw the clothes to her and removed his covering. 

"I can't believe that thing was inside of me."

Ajax laughed.

Lumine giggled a little and got dressed, inhaling slowly when the smooth material slid over her still damp skin. Both items were much too big on her.

"Do you want anything to eat or drink?"

"What do you have?"

"Uhh..water, cereal...I really need to get groceries tomorrow."

"Cereal sounds nice."

Apparently he had decided to stay in his underwear, and with the humidity in his room she couldn't blame him. They made their way over to the kitchen and he took out two bowls and cups, filling each with chocolate flakes while she waited patiently. A few yawns escaped her before they sat down at his dining table, sharing their meal in comfortable silence. Somehow she hadn't noticed how thirsty she was until now.

"Tired?"

"Yeah," she mumbled, raising her spoon to her lips as she typed a message to Mona into her phone with the other hand. Once it was sent and received she turned her phone off, already sighing at the storm of messages she knew to expect by the morning. 

"Mhm, me too." Ajax finished his meal before her, waiting silently until her bowl was empty as well. "You can go to bed already, I'll put the dishes away."

Lumine got up and kissed him on the cheek as thanks, smiling at the way his face lit up. She fell into bed with an exhausted huff, scrunching her nose at the still lingering smell of their act. He'd probably wash the sheets tomorrow. Would she still be around by then? When would she even go home? Sure, she allowed him to take her on a date and confirmed that they'd be doing this more often, but that didn't mean she'd be hanging around his place constantly. To be fair though, having a more private place to stay at didn't sound all that terrible...

Her remaining attention was caught by her partner entering the room, walking around the bed and falling into the soft mattress next to her with a loud sigh. Lumine turned and cuddled up to him, resting her head on his toned chest. Okay, the physical affection was nice. She had to admit that.

"I have a question."

He hummed.

"How'd you last so long?"

Ajax let out an embarrassed chuckle, raising one hand to pull it over his face. "I guess you could call it practice."

"Did you, like, train yourself?" Lumine grinned at him as she pushed herself onto her arms, observing his bashful expression. His lack of answer was answer enough. "You did!"

The boy squinted his eyes at her and turned his head, covering his face with his hands. She took the opportunity to climb on top of him, pinning him to the bed with her thighs and grabbing his hands, forcing him to look at her. "Come on, now I need to know the details!"

"Well- uh, sometimes when I...you know, I'd just see how long I could hold out..", he muttered. 

Lumine just blinked at him, holding back her amusement. 

"Is that weird?"

"No, I don't think it is! I'm just kind of confused, I guess. Why'd you do that?"

"Because certain people," he poked her in the chest as he drawled the words, "have really high expectations about me for some reason. I didn't want to disappoint anyone." 

"You definitely didn't disappoint me." She leaned down and gave him a peck on the nose. That seemed to soothe him.  

The blonde rolled off him again, snuggled back against his side and let her eyelids flutter half shut. "Did you ever fantasize about me?"

"On occasion."

"Heh."

"What about you?"

"...You don't need to know that."

"That's a shame, because I have more questions."

"Alright, you get to ask one."

"Do you really not own any toys?"

"Nope. I've shared a room with my brother my entire life, that would've been really awkward. My imagination is usually enough."

"Same. I mean, some kind of prompt is helpful, but I don't need much after that." Ajax quieted down, but a light chuckle seeped through his voice when he resumed talking. "We do still have four condoms to use, if you want to make anything a reality.."

"Maybe tomorrow," she mumbled, burying her face in his chest. He put his arm around her and tugged her closer, breathing against the top of her head.

"Sleep well."

"You too."

And with that, Lumine took the most peaceful nap of her entire life.