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WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCEPT XD's OFFER?
CURRENT SELECTION: DECLINE OFFER| [ YES ] ❥ [NO]
—— YOU TOOK SOME TIME to catch up on your breathing, turning your head down and staring at the floor in order to organize your thoughts. what would it feel like to be in a dream world? i trust XD but would i want to have any form of control over me? what's gonna happen if i- your ears began ringing and ringing, thoughts becoming overwhelming. you squeezed at XD's hands as a coping mechanism, feeling yourself slowly calming down your anxiety-ridden brain. one particularly morbid thought really stuck out though in a hushed whisper that sounded terrifying if it had no context: what if i can't wake up?
you felt fresh tears surfacing your eyelids, causing your shoulders to droop. you took a moment to compose yourself, taking slow, deep breaths and keeping in your tears by rubbing your eyes and letting out a sniffle. you got the courage to bring your head back up, gazing back at XD and noticing how he hasn't moved at all like a statue, awaiting for your signal to unfreeze. "i um..." you started off, breath shaky again. you bit your lip, rattling your brain for any other excuses or interjections but it was completely silent, a sign that you've settled with a final conclusion. "i thank you for the offer but- i- i don't wanna do it." you admitted fearfully, shaking your head. you felt your breath slowly hitch to the back of your throat, awaiting for a firm reaction from XD.
you watched him straighten his posture. you couldn't tell if he was surprised or neutral. either way, the silence that settled in the air felt like thick tension, making you slightly squeamish. please don't be mad at me. you anxiously thought, trying to mentally prepare yourself for the worst. then finally, you watched him give you a nod. "that is okay, y/n. i will never force you." he affirms calmly. you felt yourself relax, letting out a heavy breath of relief you didn't know you were holding in. you felt him let go of your intertwined hands and begin to slowly reach out towards your head, enlacing his fingers within your soft hair. he examined the locks carefully, inspecting each strand precisely and with fascination. he felt the random need to play with your hair, feeling himself taking on a sporadic interest that may sound quite unusual to you.
his eyes wavered towards your face, stirring up a bizarre sense in him. he tilted his head at you curiously. "why so nervous? you'll be okay." he reassured, finding that your expression held an almost traumatized look, eyes sparkling as if not being able to fathom the fact that he was being so kind towards you. he could also sense that your body was still somewhat shaking and your hands were clammy, definite signs of nervousness or anxiety that may have been egged on from earlier. he decided to step up his comforting game, pulling away from your hair in order to outstretch his arms, gesturing for a hug. when he saw your eyes light up, he quickly adjusted himself so he was sitting crisscrossed, surprisingly having a set of legs.
you began to crawl over to him, sitting in his lap and feeling his arms entrap you in a unique warmth that you never felt before. it reminded you of hot chocolate and blankets. you felt like you wanted to sob again — this time perhaps out of joy. but nothing came out of you. you just wanted to stay within his warmth, both of you encasing the other in security with arms hugging, your head resting on his chest to listen to the slow rhythm of his heart. for once, XD finally felt your muscles relax against him, your energy radiating serenity. he felt himself sigh in satisfaction, happy at the fact that he was able to give you comfort and company. he proceeded to reach up and play with your hair once more, feeling his fingers run through tangled strands in order to separate them.
you felt XD's chin eventually rest at the crown of your head and play with the hair residing on your back/back of your head [if you have shorter hair. if you don't have hair, ignore this and say he's rubbing your back or let the server god rub your bald head like buddha's belly idk]. with your sinuses slowly clearing the longer you sat within his lap, your nose captured his scent: he smelt mainly of peppermint with faint traces of vanilla and ginger. it was an odd yet tender aroma that put your breathing and heart rate at ease, allowing yourself to dig your face further into his chest, hugging him tighter. he chuckled at your antics while staring down at you, gladly being able to hug you for however long you requested. he allowed the two of you to bask in the moment some more before his voice began speaking again.
"hey y/n?"
"yes?"
"you can stay here for as long as you like. i'll always be here for you."
upon hearing those words, you felt yourself open your eyes and pull away slightly, still clinging onto him but wanting to see his mask. you felt a genuine smile rub against your lips. "thank you, XD."
