featherbrain ☆ l.jn ☆ ayakashi series | ✔

jeno [twenty]

A bright and happy jingle greeted you as you opened the door to Lenticular Café. Tonight was another patrol night. The Wraiths had been oddly quiet lately, and knowing that they were under Mark's control made all of you rather uneasy. You tried your best to push that to the back of your mind, too excited to think about much else.

When you walked in, your eyes immediately scanned the room to see who was there. Jungwoo, Sungchan, Johnny, Sicheng, and Yuta. Yuta's presence brought a bright smile to your face. It was nice to have him back. The 'Ayakashi Avengers' finally felt complete again.

"Hey, guys," you sidled up to where the three were standing around a table, Taeyong not far behind you.

"Hello, Lady Onmyoji," Jungwoo bowed his head politely in greeting as Yuta pulled you into a hug and ruffled up your hair, which Johnny then fixed for you.

Taeyong still habitually bristled at Yuta apparent 'scenting' of you, but you didn't pay it any mind. The two of them would have to put their petty marking of you behind them. There was someone else who had you, and you had him.

Right then, the bell rang again, and you spun around to see who it was. You couldn't help the bright grin that immediately came to your features at the figure who'd entered.

You met Jeno halfway, throwing your arms around his neck in a tight embrace. He hugged you back, chuckling slightly at your enthusiasm.

"You're hugging me like Jaemin now," he teased, but pecked your cheek in greeting nevertheless.

"Are you complaining?" You scoffed in his ear, pulling back enough to let him see the doubtful eyebrow you had raised.

He pecked your lips this time, "Nope."

"We're going to be leaving a little later tonight," Johnny announced to everyone, starting back towards the kitchens. "Renjun has an assignment due at midnight that he just told me about ten minutes ago; he's finishing it up right now. Anybody want something to eat?"

While everyone else gave their answers, instead of rejoining the others, Jeno guided you towards a booth off to the side. You sat on the same side as him, perfectly content with sitting there together, his arm around your shoulders as you swapped summaries of your days.

Johnny returned not much later with some snacks for those who wanted them. You and Jeno had gone quiet, a peaceful silence as you simply enjoyed each other's company and your snacks in that moment.

The others were having a conversation that you were more than happy to eavesdrop on—since they were clearly trying to hide it from you, their backs angled towards you.

"This is the longest I've seen Jeno go without yawning," Johnny commented quietly.

"How long has it been? Ten minutes?" Taeyong questioned, fervently glancing in your direction.

"A month."

"Wow," Sicheng breathed out.

"I know."

Jungwoo spoke up this time, pride in his voice, as he admitted, "I can confirm he has not visited me for my apothecary skills in quite some time."

Taeyong asked, "You think it's Y/N?"

"Oh yeah, pretty kitty," Yuta scoffed, as if not believing that Taeyong would even question that. "It's absolutely because of her."

You leaned over to whisper to Jeno, "They're talking about us."

"I don't mind," Jeno murmured back, pressing a light kiss to the shell of your ear. "It's all true."

☆

"What did he do on your first date?" Jaemin asked, arms crossed as you stood in the quad one morning.

You'd finally told him that you and Jeno were together. The two of you had discussed it last night and you'd decided that you should be the one to do it; Jaemin and you had been best friends since you were little and told each other everything. This was your cross to bear.

And so far, he was taking it with great suspicion and hesitation.

You were debating what to count as your first date: when Jeno took you flying, or the first date you went on after confessing to each other.

The latter would be easier to explain, "We went to the fair that was in town recently and—"

"You guys went to a fair without me?" Jaemin gasped loudly, throwing a hand over his chest.

"Oh my god you are so dramatic," you rolled your eyes, looking to your other two friends for some assistance.

Jaehyun, meanwhile, had a shit-eating grin on his face. Probably reveling in the fact that he 'knew' before Jaemin did. He didn't; you and Jeno weren't together when Jaehyun misinterpreted that phone call. But you had bigger fish to fry right now in the form of Na Jaemin.

Yuta was also watching on with amusement. He'd already gone through the five stages of grief a few weeks ago when he saw you and Jeno kiss for the first time.

"This is the ultimate betrayal," he declared. "Going to a fair without me."

"You are ridiculous, Jaemin."

"Did he at least win you something?"

"Yeah, a little plush bird," a fond smile came to your face as you remembered it.

He swore he hadn't cheated when he seemingly miraculously got enough points for the black cartoon raven plush that you had jokingly pointed out reminded you of him. Either way, it was now sitting in the corner of your couch.

Jaemin regarded your answer with narrowed eyes, "Mm, alright."

"Is that it?"

"For now."

You scoffed, glancing at the time on your phone, "Oh, time to go to class! Bye, guys!"

Jaehyun followed you from the group with a chuckle, "Jaemin means well."

"I know. Doesn't mean he's not annoying and melodramatic," you retorted, leading the way across campus.

"So did you do the assignment?"

"What assignment?" You turned to him with wide eyes.

He snickered at your alarm, mussing up your hair, "I'm only kidding, there's no assignment."

As you fixed your hair with a scowl on your face, you briefly thought to yourself that this was nice. Being with your friends, having a good, normal, daily routine and life.