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"Scoot over!"
Puk barely has time to react before Mera starts forcing her way into the hatch with them, closing the trapdoor behind her. Their limbs are all too long and all too awkward in the limited space, and Puk can only hope their attempts at fitting together don't tug an important wire out of place.
They hear the door slam open not long after. Loud, armoured footsteps grow closer, and Puk feels, rather than hears, Mera gulp.
Her grip on their shirt couldn't be tighter. Even in this situation, Puk can't help but feel a bit nostalgic that Mera's habit of clinging to others when she's scared hasn't changed.
Hoping to comfort her, just a bit, they wrap their free arm around her.
The knights make a ruckus outside, looking through crates for some reason or another. Puk can't help but wince at the sound of something heavy being carelessly tossed to the ground. They can only hope it's a crate of candy and not something more fragile.
Puk and Mera hold their breaths longer than feels possible, before finally, the knights conclude they're not finding anyone or anything out of the ordinary. The nuisances leave, grumbling under their breath about wasting their time on stupid lovesick students instead of hunting for rebels.
Puk can't help but snicker.
"Joke's on them. You can be a lovesick student and a rebel at the same time."
Mera squeaks in embarrassment next to them, and suddenly, Puk's wishing they could see what face she's wearing right now.
Taking in a shuddering breath, Mera quickly changes the subject, asking if they're okay.
And, well, Puk can't lie. As bad as the situation has been and continues to be… Getting stuck in a small hole with their girlfriend's pretty sweet.
When they tell her as such, Mera squeaks again.
"I-I didn't mean to! This was just, it was the only thing I could think of!!"
"And now, this is the only thing I can think of."
They pull closer to her, until their lips are just about brushing. Mera's breath hitches, and Puk can't help but smile.
With a nervous chuckle, Mera asks, "wh… what were you thinking of?"
There's no doubt that they both know the answer, but Puk spells it out for her anyways.
"You, mostly. It's been like that for a while now."
"O-oh…!" Mera says, and Puk can feel her heartbeat accelerate.
They're sick and tired of these moments being stolen away from them.
Their Gala date nearly ruined by everything that had happened, having to cut conversations short because a knight or a professor got too close for comfort, having no privacy even in the hideout…
…it's not fair. After almost seven years of cutting everything else out of their life for their dream, they deserve a little joy, don't they? They should be living out the last months before graduation without a care, but the world just had to fall apart around them.
It's not fair that the weight of the world is falling on their shoulders. It's not fair that their everyday happiness has been stolen from them, but Puk won't let this moment escape too.
"Can I please kiss you already?"
Mera sputters for a moment, a couple "um"s and "uh"s leaving her lips before she manages a coherent "o-okay—!"
Puk doesn't wait a second longer.
They kiss her greedily, like it's the last kiss they'll ever get. Who knows, with the way things are going, they might not get another chance for a while. They can taste sugar on her lips, no doubt remnants of her favourite cakes and cookies.
(Can she taste sour apple on their tongue the same way?)
Far too soon, it's over. Mera needs a moment to breathe, and Puk gives it to her.
(Did she forget to breathe because she was so nervous, or had she never learned how to make out with someone without asphyxiating? Either one seems plausible.)
Still, though. When Puk cups her cheek in their hand, runs their thumb over her swollen lips, they can't help the satisfied smirk on their own lips.
"I should have done this much sooner."
Mera giggles against their hand, giddy and flustered in equal measure. Puk can feel the warmth in her face as she says, "I mean… we could always do some catching up now. If you want."
Oh, Puk wants to. But, they are well aware that if they did everything they wanted to, well…
The two of them wouldn't be getting out of that hole for a long time, then.
But there are a million reasons they shouldn't. Like the fact that Puk can't feel their foot, that there are too many delicate wires and metal poking out for any of this to be safe, and it's still far too dark to be able to see Mera's reactions.
It is with a heavy heart and mournful tone that Puk says they should probably climb out of the hole. Mera jolts, having absolutely forgotten about the circumstances until then, before practically scrambling out.
The two of them spend far too long trying to get Puk unstuck and out of the hatch, and a moment longer is spent on Puk remembering how to stand. They breathe in relief when everything turns out fine, and then…
They put their arm back where it belongs: around Mera's waist. Mera lets out a little gasp as Puk pulls her close, her hands coming up to shield her embarrassed face.
Too cute.
Grinning, Puk says, "now, where were we?"
They can spot Mera's timid smile between her fingers as she giggles, before she answers, "oh, darn… I forgot." Her hands find their way behind Puk's head, pulling them closer to her as she adds, "…could you remind me?"
The daring confidence in her eyes is a pleasant surprise. As cute as Mera is when she's squeaky and shy, Puk's gotta admit, it's hot when she takes charge.
"With pleasure," Puk says, already drawing closer to her.
