Epics of Noche 1, Anchor

EON CH 93

PHONE CALL.

1774, NOVEMBER 13th SUNDAY 8:00 pm.

Noche and Varen exited the movie theatre to a clear night sky.

"Looks like the rain let up," Noche said.

"Finally!" Varen exhaled and smiled.

His eyes lingered on Noche's neck as his face reddened.

"What? What is it!"

"You, uuuuhh... Got some hickeys on your-"

Noche's hand slammed to her skin. "NO I DON'T!"

The blushing blonde turned towards a nearby window and scanned her reflection. Her face went crimson when she confirmed he wasn't lying.

"We really weren't paying attention to that movie, huh?"

"SH-SHUT UP!" Noche covered her neck with both hands, "Oh gods, there's so many. How did you leave so many!"

"With that choker on, I had to get creative."

Noche managed to turn redder – Varen laughed.

"Man, I've wanted to do this since graduation."

Noche forced her eyes to look up into his. "Why didn't you?"

"At first I wanted to give you your space," Varen rubbed the back of his head. "Every time I got the courage to ask later, you were off doing missions or busy training."

"A-Aaaahh."

"I mean – I've been busy too, so I understand... But I was starting to think maybe I did something wrong and you were avoiding me." He muttered. "That maybe, you really hated our first kiss." 

The memory of her suicide attempt emerged in her mind.

"Yeah, let's not tell him I killed myself a few minutes after we kissed," Noche thought.

"That's not the case. I've just been... Processing everything that happened," Noche said. "Trying to make sure it never happens again."

They stayed quiet for a moment, Noche grabbed his hand and interlocked her fingers between his.

"M-Moron," she whispered.

Varen blinked. "Are you a tsundere?"

"W-WHAT?! NO!"

He laughed. "So seriously, what made you attracted to me?"

Various images of Varen being shirtless popped into her mind.

"Don't say rippling muscles, don't say rippling muscles," she thought.

"Y-Your kindness and fun personality," she said. "What about me?"

Varen's eyes rose to the sky as his hand rested under his chin.

"Your rippling muscles," he said.

"OK! What the fuck!" Noche laughed. "Wait – wait, when we met I was a stick."

"OH! You meant back then! Well as a side note, your muscles are really hot," he grinned. "But what I've always liked about you is your fierce determination to get something done."

His eyes fell back down onto Noche's – warmth spread to her face.

"I've never met someone as focused and as hardworking as you."

Noche was sure the temperature warmed up by ten degrees.

"S-Speaking of hot... When you slammed Hectare into the gym wall. I didn't know you were that strong."