𝓐𝓷𝓽𝓲-𝓡𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓬

Shin Ryujin

...Tastes like Lemons...

WC:1654

Warnings: fluff, some angst, it's technically a slow-burn, some hints of enemies to lovers

Desc.: For quite some time now you've been trying to get the attention of Ryujin, the girl who is trying way too hard to hide her feelings from you, even when you're doing everything you can to be honest with her.

"Hey, Ryujin."

"Hmm?" You hear her hum impassively as you watch her lift a heavy-looking cardboard box onto an empty metal shelf.

"You like lemon flavor, right?" you ask while watching her work. She snorts as if she was annoyed, but despite her facing away from you, you can catch a glimpse of the smile she's wearing.

"Why do you keep bothering me with such trivial questions while I'm at work?" She counters with a question of her own, nothing out of the ordinary.

"Answer. I might have a surprise for you if you do."

"That's like you're trying to bribe me." She looks over her shoulder once, eyebrows raised up high, lips curled into a somewhat amused smile, before tending to the next box. She crouches down and opens the loose ends so she can check the contents, and after a few experienced looks she reaches for the package tape next to her and securely closes the box with skilled hands. You've watched her repeat this process over and over again multiple times in the past, still somehow you could never get tired of such simple actions. Not when they're carried out by her.

"Maybe I am," you answer nonchalantly. "But I can promise you it will pay off." You catch yourself grinning at the thought of your plan. Eventually, Ryujin sighs and gives in - probably more so because she just wants you to let her work in peace, than because she's curious what consequences her answer might have.

"I like it, yeah," she answers, then she picks up the box she just taped shut and lifts it onto the shelf in front of her. You watch how her shoulders go from tense to slumped over a bit after letting go of the heavy object, and then you see her straighten her back, before she turns around and takes a few steps towards you.

"Then you're gonna love what I got as a gift earlier today!" you say while she's still walking. She crosses her arms in front of her chest when she comes to a halt and gives you a challenging look, as if to tell you not to disappoint her. "Tadah!" You pull something out of your bag. "Lemon chapstick!" Ryujin snorts at the reveal, lifting her hand to cover her mouth as she lets out one short laugh.

"That's what you came here for?" she asks, unimpressed but not unamused. "Because someone gave you a chapstick?"

"A chapstick that not only smells, but also tastes like lemon!" you add.

"So?" Ryujin retorts, sounding savage as she lifts her chin up to look down on you. "Want me to take a bite or what?" You grin at her naive answer, fully aware that she must've gotten the hint but refuses to play along.

"I mean... I'm sure taking a bite out of a chapstick would make for an interesting experience... but..." you speak as you take off its cap and bring it to your lips, applying some of it, then you continue with your voice lowered. "Not quite what I was going for." The girl in front of you huffs, taking a step to the side while her hands find their way to the pockets of her jeans, but she only puts her thumbs in. With her gaze resting on some random shelf somewhere behind you, she takes a deep breath, before she makes eye contact with you, her pupils icy, as if she wanted to avoid showing you her real feelings.

"You really won't give up on trying to get me to kiss you, huh?" Again, that scrutinizing look you earn so often, whenever you find a new ridiculous excuse to distract her from whatever she's doing. Seeing her like this you'd think you would never have a chance with her, but experience tells you otherwise.