"Ready?" I asked.
"Hehe... yes. I'm ready." She took a deep breath.
"Just... don't let go... please." Then thunder Cracked, and Her voice trembled as she immediately buried her face into my shoulder.
KABOOM!
I ran.
Rain fell down like bullets. Ivy squealed, burying herself deeper against me— shivering, laughing, terrified.
Meanwhile, me? I was getting hit right through my EYEBALLS.
I cannot see!!!
"W-whoa!" She cried out, squeezing her eyes shut against the stinging rain. "This is... this is crazy!" She giggled.
"But I trust you," her voice was small but steady.
Shit— my eyes hurt SO BAD.
"I cannot see…!" I screamed, mentally this time.
But I kept running.
She then tugged at me, "right? We're going home."
"Oh? Yes sure, yea we're going home."
"Hehehe... our home..." Ivy giggled softly, warm badump, badump in her chest. "We're going home!" she shouted.
***
After what felt like an hour, we finally reached my house, lights glowing through the storm.
"Ahhh!!! Crap! The rain, WE are so SOAKED!"
Ivy's eyes widened as I finally stopped running, her gaze fixated on the house. mouth slightly open. "W-woah..." she whispered.
"It's so big… and beautiful…"
I took a deep breath and smirked. "Surprised?"
She nodded, eyes shining. "...is this really our home?"
"Faster, faster!" She said, gripping my shirt.
"Yes, yes, okay let's not be dramatic and Stand in here." I said those words while the rain was hitting us.
I pushed the door open.
Warm air wrapped around us like a blankets. "Welcome to my humble home." I said.
She looked around, taking in the warm, cozy interior.
"So... how is it?" I asked.
She... She didn't answer at first
But then— "Wow... it's so BIG!" She said, "And it's so warm..." she whispered, melting into my arms.
"Oh.."
I scratched my neck, suddenly shy. "Yeah, but… I live alone."
I don't even know why… I felt shy.
"You live here all alone?" she asked softly. "But... but it's so big… You don't have a family?"
"I do," I sighed. "But let's not talk about that."
We stood there dripping water onto the floor.
Then I declared. "Bath time!"
She nodded eagerly, still shivering. "Yes! Yes please..." her teeth chattered.
"Yes yes, chillax."
Then she paused. "Sorry... but I've never had a real bath before."
"What…?" I blinked. "...For real?"
She nodded shyly, looking down at her dirty clothes, as she gripped the hem of her— Dirty-yuck-disgusting-ripped-jacket. Then she looked at me through her bangs."Will you... will you help me? I don't know how..."
"Of course," I said.
Her tense shoulders loosened immediately
A genuine smile spread across her face. "Okay," she said happily, wrapping her arms around my neck as I carried her to the bathroom.
"A bath... hehe, I'm kind of excited" she murmured.
"You'll love it. Luxury treatment."
"Thank you," she said, as she pressed a quick kiss to my cheek before burying her face in my shoulder.
"I wonder... why are you so nice to me?"
I laughed...
She giggled…
I'm bored.
But obviously I couldn't say that to her...
"Cus why not?"
***
Inside the bathroom, steam rose.
She looked around with wide, sparkly eyes. "Wow… It's so big..." she grinned excitedly.
She watched as I started to undress her, I could notice that her cheeks were turning pink.
"Oh— I'm not taking a bath with you, okay?"
"O-okay..." she stuttered, trying to cover herself.
I washed her gently, careful, respectful, and most of all... Nonchalantly. Cus you know I'm just him.
First, I grabbed the shower head and let warm water run down her back first. Ivy let out a tiny squeak, then giggled.
"H-hey... that tickles..." she said, shoulders shaking as I scrubbed her back with soap.
"Hold still!!!" I sighed. "You're dirty everywhere."
"I-I'm trying!" she giggled again, twisting away as I scrubbed the back of her neck. "Ah...! hahaha W-wait,"
"What? Is this tickling you or something?"
"N-nooo..." Which, judging by how red she is, yea… it definitely is.
I moved to her arms, gently scrubbing from shoulder to wrist.
And this time...
She...
She wriggled like a worm…
"WHAHAHAHA mister... that...! It's tickling! Stop— no, wait stop AHHAHAHAHAHHAHA"
"You are literally impossible to wash," I said,
Then she calmed down a bit. "By the way, can I ask mister?" She asked. Duh...
"Sure," I answered.
"Will you not leave my side?"
"Yea sure,"
"Promise?"
"Yes, sure, I promise there now stop wiggling like a worm!"
She giggled.
Then I crouched and washed her feet.
The moment the soap Touch her ankle—
She... EXPLODED!
"WAAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!!! N-not my feet!!! I can't— I can't!!!! mister!!! I'm gonna fall!"
"Then, hold the wall!" I screamed. Nonchalantly… of course.
She then slapped her palms against the tiles, laughing so hard her knees almost... gave out.
"You're so bad! You're bullying me!"
"I'm cleaning you, you… potato..?."
She kept giggling breathlessly.
But when I finished showering her, she broke into the softest smile.
"Thank you..." she whispered. "No one has ever done something like this for me..."
Her voice was small.
Fragile.
Heart-punching.
Didn't work on me tho… Okay, just a little.
"...Yeah. Sure. Whatever," I muttered, like it was nothing... YES nothing.
But she looked up at me with warm, bright eyes, the eyes that genuinely trust me.
Then she hit me with a combo.
Ivy sighed softly, closing her eyes. "Thank you..."
I… I swear it didn't worked.
***
After I finished washing her, I dried her off, wrapped the towel around her, and patted her head.
"Go wait in the living room. I'll take mine."
"No."
"Good, Huh…? What do you mean 'no'?"
She then hugged my leg tightly. "I'm not leaving your side! You promised! You won't leave me, You'll disappear if I leave!"
"I'm not going to disappear" I groaned.
"No."
I then tried to push her but instead she clung tighter.
I Sigh. heavily…
"Oh my god this is so hard…"
Finally, I pinched her cheek.
"Hm!"
I ruffled her hair. "I PROMISE."
She pouted... but let go.
"O-okay…"
She hesitates for a moment then she stands on her tiptoes and kisses my cheek. "Thank you. And sorry."
"Go"
With a finalsmile, she padded downstairs to the living room.
Downstairs, she curled up on the couch, hugging her knees.
***
I stepped on the bathtub with a heavy content sigh.
"A hot bath after sprinting through all those rain. Is peak life choices."
I relaxed in the warm water.
***
Downstairs. She whispered to herself.
"It's so warm here… I'm so lucky, I finally have a home, and someone that cared for me."
Her eyes began to droop.
"I'll take a nap for a bit..."
***
Upstairs in the bathroom!!!
"Hmm. I wonder what I should do tomorrow..."
I thought hard but couldn't decide. "Eh, I don't know. Let me just relax."
After washing up, I wrapped a towel around my waist and headed to my room to dress.
"Man, I'm so tired..."
I then almost collapsed into bed.
Then I froze...
Did I… did I forget something…?
"The kid!!!"
I sprinted downstairs. She was asleep, curled up like a tiny cat.
"You seriously fell asleep waiting for me..." I sighed.
I lifted her. And she wrapped her arms around my neck and rested her head on my shoulder.
"Thanks..." she mumbled.
"You're welcome."
***
In my room, her eyes widened, "I— I don't want to break anything..."
"You won't. Cause you can't."
I set her on the bed.
I then took a big shirt in my cabinet and handed it to her baggy shirt.
"We'll buy clothes tomorrow."
"O-okay, I understand."
She examined the shirt. "Oh... it's... perfect,"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!" She blinked, "turn around?"
"Pfft! Embarrassed?"
"Y-yes"
I chuckled. Turning around.
Soon, she was dressed.
We slid under the blanket.
"I'm tired…"
"Tired..." she repeated softly, snuggling closer.
"Me too."
She then wrapped her arms around me.
"Goodnight"
"Yea goodnight"
***
I closed my eyes.
Darkness swallowed me.
"Boo."
"A-ACK!?" I straightened myself, or at least tried to, since I was stuck in a dark void.
"Who— who are you?! Where the hell are we?!"
"Good evening, young man," said by the floating woman with long dark hair, her voice calm and faintly echoing.
"It appears we find ourselves within the realm of your dreams."
"Dream?"
"Most certainly."
***
(A/N. Si-Hon: B-baka! Hmmp! Yes... HE'S A TSUNDERE.)