#boreum just worried she'll combust :')

[boreumdx]

the sun has long-since said it's farewells for the evening, bidding the world adieu as it slinked over the horizon. the warm glow that had been cast over the district in it's last few moments now replaced with an inky tinge of dark blue, slowly morphing into a stretch of jet black that's speckled with bright stars. it looks picturesque - especially with the golden curve of a waning crescent hanging in the sky, the epitome of a perfect autumn night, and boreum can't help but take in the sight, chocolate hues glued to the darkness hovering overhead.

truthfully, the trek from the diner to her apartment is nothing new - it's the same excursion she does daily, with the same streets that she travels down and the same buildings she passes. it's the same route, with the same time duration, but it feels different tonight. perhaps it's the drop in temperatures, or the fact that she's greeting the moon on her way home today when she's so used to having it join her on her walk to work. it could be that the stars seem to be burning a little brighter tonight for some reason, or perhaps the fact that the streets seem a little less bustling than usual - or maybe, just maybe, it's because the company she keeps tonight is different.

".. hm?" boreum blinks, broken from her trance at the sound of daehyun's voice. she tilts her head at his words, taking in his hooded figure as he matches pace at her side. he's nearly unrecognizable at a glance, billed hat pulled down over his eyes and hidden beneath the hood of his sweatshirt - she wouldn't have even known it was him had they not left the diner together. boreum found his attire a bit curious when they had been getting ready to leave, but hadn't questioned it, having chalked it up to the fact that it's now mid-october and the nights have steadily been getting colder and colder.

but despite the obvious chill in the air - the temperature bitter enough to see the slight outline of her breathe when she speaks - boreum finds herself burning. it starts out as a smoldering when she realizes how close he is now, having been so distracted by the moon and the stars that she hadn't noticed him inching closer. it then begins to singe at the sound of his tone, a countenance to it that is a little out of the ordinary compared to what she is used to with him. she has no time to question it though, as no sooner do the words pierce the air does she feel his warmth envelop her - larger digits wrapping around her own in a secure, albeit tender hold - and the request to stay close spills from his lips, igniting a fire that burns her cheeks and spreads through her whole being.

" .. o-okay," she musters out after a few seconds, breath hitching as her head begins spinning, thoughts racing, and heart drumming so loud in her chest that it drowns out everything else around them. she swallows down the lump forming in her throat, trying to desperately rationalize why he might have suddenly reached out to hold her hand. the two of them have grazed each other a few times now, whether it be when handing over takeout bags or if daehyun was assisting her with collecting the plates after his meal, but it's just been a brush of skin here and there - never invasive, never uncomfortable, and never longer than a few seconds. daehyun has slowly become a synonym with safety in boreum's everyday routine, a symbol of security and comfort - and it's not that she feels uncomfortable now by any means, it's just that this feels different.

boreum pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, nibbling on the flesh as though it'll keep her grounded. she feels the heat rush through her veins, and she worries that skin feels hot the touch, nervous that she might scorch him. she squeezes her eyes shut for a single second, hyperaware that her palms are sweating too. it's in this brief moment that her mind begins to think of all the possibilities for her current predicament, and she exhales through her nose as she tries to stop herself from reading too much into things. she's always had a bad habit of overthinking, and she'd hate to misinterpret his actions. so, she settles on the fact that daehyun is gently holding her hand and suggesting she stick close simply because of how it's well into the evening by now, and that she doesn't live in the best of neighborhoods. that must be it.

".. w-we'll be okay," she gathers all her courage to give his hand a light squeeze, wanting to reassure him that despite her apartment being in the south side, it wasn't that menacing. and truthfully, she's more worried now about how it feels like her heart will hammer itself right out of her ribcage, not about some unsavory character they might cross paths with on the street. "t-the neighborhood isn't really.. uh, t-that dangerous?" it's all she can manage out as the two of them turn down another street, the apartment building still a good handful of blocks away.

dinner and defenses

( @boreumdx )

he hummed in peace, a short and disconnected melody as he was walking, his steps were measured and at eased, the evening air cooling against his skin. he wasn't sure why he felt the urge to stay within her nearby proximity, to match her pace even when they were in no rush. perhaps it was the quiet comfort of her presence that soothed him. but he knew he couldn't blow his cover in public, not when he was living the life as an engineer for n.e.p.a. and acting out as a normal civilian. he glanced at her, only briefly, before pulling up his hood a little higher, carefully masking his features. he tugged his hat down to make sure that he got enough cover. literally.

still, he wasn't used to this, walking home with someone, sharing the quiet moments… it felt different, unsettling even, but not in a bad way. if anything, it made him more aware of the space between them, how close they were getting. he didn't need to feel the need to pull—the desperate need to stay close to someone. but in these scenarios, outings, he needed to protect her cautiously. he didn't want to put a target on her back because he was associated with her, n.e.p.a. couldn't find out anything about his personal life. he'd grown paranoid if they were spying on his activities outside work, but it was better to be safe than sorry. for, it was this very reason, he couldn't allow himself to socialize, aside, from his antisocial tendencies.

his face moved closer to hers but neither intentional or planned. he just wanted to see close enough to see her tiny details in her expression, just close enough that he could feel her warmth. he observed, but not in a cold way but in the kind of way that made him forget who he was, and why this was so risky. his life set him up differently, he had to be hyper-aware of the consequences.

"you look… happy." his voice was lower than usual, a quiet tease found in his words. he wasn't sure why he said it but maybe it was her happiness that infected him, an infectious happiness…? something that pulled him closer. daehyun reached for her hand, his finger wrapping gently but securely around hers. it wasn't a grand gesture but an instinctive act of protection. he kept his gaze ahead, his expression hinting at the slightest bit of worry but unreadable, rather stoic still. just a slight crumble, eyes beaming with heartfelt concern.

it was as if, that simple gesture, he could shield her from everything—the danger, the world, and even himself.

"it's safer this way," he whispered, his heart thudded a little harder in his chest. "stay close to me, okay?"