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felinewanderer · 2 hours ago

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midnight oil.

The text displayed on the datapad seared deep into Seren’s eyes, making the already dim party car of the Express seem even darker by comparison. It was late, far past a healthy bedtime, and yet she wasn’t tired- at least, not in the way that would allow her to sleep. With little else to do at this hour, she thought checking the news would be boring enough to make her sleepy- but it was just boring.

Seren paused and rubbed her eyes. They were dry and irritated from the brightness of her datapad, and she hadn’t thought to bring any snacks or drinks as a refresher.

Then came a timely clink as something was set upon her table. Seren’s eyes shot open- she hadn’t heard footsteps approaching, and her fight-or-flight instinct kicked in immediately.

“Burning the midnight oil, eh?” spoke a warm, gentle voice.

She was surprised to see Welt of all people, standing there with a steaming mug in his hand. Its partner was set on the table in front of her, like an offering. She blinked, first at the mug, then at him.

“Mr. Yang?”

He nodded at her, then gestured to a nearby seat. “Mind if I join you?”

“Oh- not at all, go ahead.”

He sighed as he took the seat adjacent to her, crossing one leg over the other. Seren’s hand tensed on the datapad- she rarely ever spent time alone with Welt, and instead they maintained a professionally distant relationship. While he was a comforting presence to most of the Trailblazers, she herself did not know how to approach him, let alone speak to him. Granted, that was how she felt about most people, but Welt… he was unshakable, and that made her wary.

He tilted his mug up to his lips and took a sip without blowing off the steam. He seemed to savor the drink, then swallowed. Seren didn’t realize she had been staring at him this whole time.

He looked at her from over the rims of his glasses. “I find a hot drink helps, if you can’t sleep.”

“I… oh.” She finally tore away her gaze, running a hand through her hair. She hated how anxious she had become- she was supposed to be the unshakable one. She took up the mug in her hands, letting the warmth of it set in her skin as she tried to regain composure. Then came a sigh, and she drank.

Green tea. Welt was right, it was a little soothing, and ended in a comfortable, warm feeling in her stomach that helped her nerves settle somewhat. A dry laugh escaped her- was that all it took?

“Thanks.” She glanced at Welt, and he raised his mug to her in response.

“Anything in particular keeping you up?” He asked after a sip of his own mug. His voice was low, with a soft rasp that Seren found oddly pleasing to listen to. Why was it that she had avoided him all this time..?

The question he posed, however, was a difficult one for her, so she evaded it. “Just… can’t sleep. It happens, sometimes.”

“I understand. It happens to me a lot, too. Sometimes, inspiration strikes at the oddest hours.”

Seren nodded along, staring into the pale green tea that remained in her mug.

Welt continued. “Other times, it’s the memories that resurface.”

Oh. That’s why. Seren suddenly felt cold. “Yeah… memories.” she mumbled.

Welt paused, leaning forward, his elbows rested atop his uncrossed knees, his mug balanced between his hands. He seemed to consider what to say next, and looked in her direction.

“When that happens, it helps to remember that I have friends here.”

She was afraid to look back at him, now. She knew he was searching for her eyes. She pulled her legs up onto the booth couch, folding them in front of her, as if they were a wall she’d erect between herself and Welt, keeping him out. He seemed to sense this, and pressed no further.

“I’m sorry,” came her voice, dry and slightly jittery, “I really just… can’t sleep.”

“That’s alright. I know.”

She peeked at him.

“I know.” He repeated, nodding his head just slightly.

Seren brought her mug to her lips without realizing her hands had been shaking. She downed the rest of her tea in one go, holding the mug there a moment to hide part of her face. She doubted she could conceal how she truly felt from a person like Welt, who had seen too much of too many worlds- and still lived to tell the tale. And now he was trying to coax her out of her own shell, which she had long and desperately clung to in order to survive.

Yet, in this moment, he felt safe. Could she really unload her burdens just this once?

No… she wasn’t going to let him win.

“You don’t know,” she seethed, clenching the mug in her fists. “I have… no one… and still life finds things to take away from me.”

Her breaths came sharply, and her teeth were grit tight. She squeezed her eyes shut, heat rising in her face. She wished she hadn’t said that. That was too much.

Welt remained silent. She put down her glass and leaned sidelong against the back of the couch, pointed away from him. She was still afraid to look at him, but after several minutes of silence passed, she grew curious. She peeked again, and in that moment, the bot Shush had come by bearing a platter with two drinks on it, both bubbly and garnished with slices of lime. Welt thanked the bot, who had departed graciously without souring the mood further with one of its tasteless puns.

“I just realized, that tea might have some caffeine in it.” He said, taking one of the drinks for himself. “This might help, instead.”

“Alcohol?” Seren perked up.

“Mhm.”

“Good.”

Seren eagerly grabbed a drink. It was fizzy, the bubbles rising up through the liquid and into the air, tickling her nostrils. She took a breath, then a gulp- it was ginger ale, mixed with vodka, and a hint of lime added in for good measure.

A few more drinks of her cup, and she started to visibly relax, muttering ��that’s more like it’ under her breath. Welt chuckled, letting her have her moment while he attended his own drink. Finally, she leaned her legs to one side, letting down one metaphorical wall, and eased into a more comfortable sitting position.

“I’m, uh… sorry. About that.”

“About what?” Welt raised an eyebrow at her.

“That little… outburst. It was uncalled for. I’m trying, you know. With my moods.”

He smiled at her, soft, yet crooked. “I know. It’s alright. I was being presumptuous, anyway.”

“No, you’re right. I do have friends.” She gestured at him with her cup, “You guys… and some other folks too, I guess.”

“I’m glad you think of us that way.”

Seren chuckled dryly, then went to sip her drink. She had gone through it pretty quickly, however, and found nothing waiting for her at the bottom of her cup. She frowned, setting it aside. Welt took notice of this, drained the last of his own cup, and waved Shush down for a refill.

“Was this the only reason you came over?” Seren eventually asked.

“It is one,” Welt admitted, “but not the only.”

“Well then, why?”

“Does it bother you?”

Seren shrugged. “No, not really. We just… never talk. I don’t know why you’d want to…”

“Simple: it’s because we don’t. Don’t think I haven’t given Dan Heng similar treatment in the past.”

She felt a little more at ease, then, and laughed. Shush came by, bringing the drink platter. Atop it were two similar cups as before, but this time each were filled with drinks of layered colors- a proverbial rainbow in a cup.

Seren lofted her brows, impressed. “Those look tasty.”

“And they taste look-y!” Shush chimed with pride. Seren’s expression fell flat, and the bot laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of its head with one of its arms.

“I’m still working on that one.”

“Go on, then, Shush.” Welt chuckled, waving the bot away. With its departure, the pair sighed in relief.

“Need to get that thing reprogrammed…” Seren murmured, collecting her glass.

“I don’t know. I find it charming, in a way.”

Seren chuffed, then took a drink. This one was sweet, each layer bringing its own subtle flavor one after the next. She hummed contentedly, shutting her eyes as the drink went down. Just as before, she didn’t pace herself, yet this one seemed to last just a little longer, enough for Welt to almost keep up.

She gasped for breath, her hand fluttering over her face as she tried to collect herself. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Welt’s amusement.

“What?!” she snapped at him.

“You ought to pace yourself, you know.”

“I’m pacing just fine.” She waved him off. “It’s you who should be worried.”

“Oh? Do you think I can’t handle my alcohol?”

“I don’t think you can keep up with me.”

Seren leaned over towards him, setting her cup down on the table just hard enough for it to make a clunk. As if meeting her challenge, Welt also set down its cup- emptied, to her surprise. She looked back at his face. He didn’t seem flushed or even the slightest bit tipsy. But maybe, she thought, maybe he was good at hiding it.

“Try me.” He said, a competitive edge to his normally gentle voice.

Seren grinned, snapping her fingers in the air to call Shush back over. The bot expressed its surprise at being called back so soon, but she interrupted it and ordered another round.

And so their game began.

The rounds came and the night ticked on, filled with laughter and plenty of hiccups. Seren quickly became drunk by her third round, while Welt’s condition remained a mystery to her for quite a while after that. He really was good at hiding it.

Welt thought it wise to slow down the flow of drinks by exchanging questions, and Seren readily agreed, the alcohol already working to lower her inhibitions. He asked her about her time with the Galaxy Rangers, about what worlds she had visited and sights she had seen. She regaled him with tales of her exploits, spinning her stories as though she were a righteous hero righting wrongs across the galaxy. Her alcohol-induced flamboyant storytelling method amused him to no end, and tickled his fancy for adventure.

Then it was her turn. She asked Welt about his previous life, about the state of the world he left behind and what sort of things he had experienced were different from the way they are now. Welt told her about the affliction of the old world, about how people from many different backgrounds came together to combat an otherworldly, cosmic force that threatened to destroy humanity itself. He made parallels to their current situation, the Trailblaze, and the Stellarons, and Seren understood.

Despite some serious turns of conversation, her mood was blithe and carefree in that moment. A sort of relief overtook her- finally she had taken steps to get to know someone without making a complete ass of herself. She had overcome the most difficult part, and the rest would surely flow like water.

Or alcohol. After the fifth round, Welt took Shush aside and canceled the rest of their orders for the sake of good sense, then sent the bot off to rest. He turned back to Seren, who was too busy laughing at a joke he had made earlier to notice.

“Ah…” she breathed, trying to come down from her fit, “you really have seen it all, haven’t you?”

“I don’t know about it all,” Welt chuckled, “but certainly a lot.”

“Definitely a lot.”

Welt smirked. “Do I really look that old?”

“Not at all.” Seren scoffed. “You’re actually pretty easy on the eyes.”

That made him laugh. “Easy on the eyes?”

“Oh, aeons…” Seren turned red in an instant, and clapped her hands over her face to hide it. “I can’t believe I said that...”

He snorted, amused at her honesty. Bravely reaching over, he tried to pry one of her hands away from her face, revealing one eye wide with embarrassment and fear. Her red cheeks and pinched lips endeared him.

“Well, aren’t you cute.”

“Mr. Yang!...” She jerked her hand back, covering her face again. He couldn’t help but laugh, and even felt a little flushed in the face. He hadn’t made it obvious to her yet, but his drink had long since settled in, too.

“That isn’t fair…”

“Why not?”

She went silent for a moment, the space between filled with her hurried breaths.

“... You’re trying to provoke me.”

“I’m only meeting your challenge.”

She slapped her hands down to her lap, her hands tangling with the fabric of her shirt.

“It’s… it’s not a challenge, I mean it. You look nice. Not like, old… but you’ve got that rugged charm- what the fuck am I saying?!”

Welt burst out laughing, and Seren quickly turned her head to hide her face behind her hair.

“You really are cute.”

“Stop it, Mr. Yang!”

“Don’t call me ‘Mr. Yang’ while saying things like that.”

The heat grew in her face and seeped down to her core. Was she mistaken, or was that a provocative edge to his voice? And really, what was she saying but nonsense freed from its constraints by alcohol?

Unfortunately for her, she really wanted to find out.

“Welt…”

She felt him edge closer, the top of his knee touching hers now. A hand brushed the ends of her hair and cupped her chin, turning her head towards his. She began to wonder if this was genuinely him, or if he was also affected by the drink.

She met his gaze, his stare intense. It was almost too much to look at- but she was brave, and she wasn’t about to back down from a challenge.

“Do you really want me to stop?”

Her breathing quickened. No. Yes. No. Yes…

“No…”

That was all he needed. He leaned over and pressed his lips to hers. His breath was hot, tickling her cheek as he angled his head, kissing her deeply. She groaned, her fists tightening around the hem of her shirt. He pulled back for but a second, and moved in again, kissing her a second time. Then a third. Then a fourth. Then he moved back again, and this time, she moved in, planting her hands on the edge of the couch to balance herself. She kissed him, her tongue pressing at the entrance to his mouth, which he readily took in and allowed to mingle with his own. She smelled something cinnamon, most likely an additive from a drink he had earlier, and it further served to intoxicate her.

He pulled back, but kept his lips locked to hers, encouraging her to come over to him. She did abide, and crawled across the couch to his side, where she settled on his lap. Her legs straddled him, and it was his turn to groan as he savored the heat of her upon him. Seren ran her hands up his coat to his shoulders, gripping hard as she pulled herself into position, and he slid his arms across her lower back, holding her firmly in place.

They groped aimlessly at each other, lips meeting again and again in feverish kisses. She grazed his lower lip with her teeth, and that caused him to rake his hands down her back as he sucked in air, then close the gap between them immediately after. Her soft moans pushed him further, and he began sliding his hands lower, until they were cupped tightly around her rear. She made no complaint, and even bucked her hips slightly, encouraged by his touch. That in turn caused him to groan, and he pressed his hips up against hers. There was an unmistakable firmness in his lap, and she was the one who had gotten him there.

Seren giggled a little as she tugged at his lip, and he closed over her mouth with his own. Now they were grinding against each other, and Seren had already begun to loosen his coat with her busy hands.

Feeling her palm slip down his neckline prompted Welt to finally pull back, panting all the while. She looked at him with dazed eyes, her mouth blushed and open, waiting for him.

“Let’s not be too hasty…” he smirked up at her, “we’ll be seen.”

Seren paused, searching his face as if it had the answer. “... your room or mine?”

He ran a curled finger down her cheek, then across her lower lip.

“I’ll tell you what…”

He kissed her again, then leaned back against the couch, a husky laugh escaping him.

“I need to sit here for a minute. You head to your room, and I’ll meet you there in ten. Alright?”

Seren looked at him confused, so he answered her wordless question with a gentle buck from his hips. That firmness of his pushed up between her legs and made her gasp.

“Oh!”

Hurriedly, she climbed off of him, stumbling off the couch. She ran her hand along his arm, and he took it, handing her her nearly-forgotten datapad. Seren giggled and hurried off.

Welt leaned his head back and laughed breathlessly. He rubbed at his face, feeling the places where her lips had been, then slung his arms off the top edge of the couch while he waited for his body to relax. Just what had he gotten himself into this time?

#🎨;; artists on tumblr #reblogged; not mine

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