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missrosiesworld · 3 days ago

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A New Year's Embrace

Warning: This story features an original character (Astraea Lunaris) in a romantic pairing with Harumasa from Zenless Zone Zero. If you’re not a fan of OC x Canon pairings, this story may not be for you. Please read with an open mind and enjoy! 💫

The apartment was steeped in a quiet warmth, the kind that only winter evenings could bring. Outside, snow fell steadily, blanketing New Eridu in a pristine white hush. The glow of streetlights reflected off the icy ground, painting the city in soft hues of silver and gold. From the wide windows in the kitchen, Astraea could see faint plumes of smoke rising from chimneys and the occasional silhouette of someone hurrying home through the cold. The world outside looked almost ethereal, as if touched by some celestial magic.

Inside, the atmosphere was a stark but welcome contrast. The small fireplace crackled softly, its golden light flickering across the walls and casting long, dancing shadows. The scent of spiced cider wafted through the air, mingling with the faint, smoky aroma of the firewood. The apartment felt like a world of its own—cozy, intimate, and untouched by the chaos that usually swirled through New Eridu’s streets.

Harumasa was sprawled on the couch, his lean frame draped across the cushions in a picture of nonchalance. One arm rested lazily on the backrest, while the other cradled a half-filled glass of wine that he swirled idly. His tie hung discarded over the armrest, and the top few buttons of his crisp white shirt were undone, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of his collarbone. He looked completely at ease, though the faint, ever-present smirk curling at the corners of his lips betrayed him. Harumasa wasn’t just lounging—he was waiting, his golden eyes gleaming with the promise of mischief.

“You’re staring,” he said, his tone light and teasing as he brought the glass of wine to his lips, his golden eyes fixed on her.

Astraea, standing by the kitchen counter, glanced up from the platter of snacks she was arranging. Her radiant presence was a sharp contrast to the wintry scene outside. She wore a deep sapphire-blue sweater, soft and oversized, with a plunging V-neck that revealed the delicate line of her collarbone and just a hint of the smooth tan skin beneath. The long sleeves brushed against her hands, the relaxed fit giving her an effortlessly cozy appearance. The rich color made her starlit pupils gleam, their faint iridescent glow catching the firelight like scattered constellations.

Her silver-blue hair was swept into a loose braid, a few strands escaping to frame her face in soft waves that shimmered in the warm light. A pair of fitted black leggings hugged her legs, accentuating her graceful frame, and her feet were wrapped in thick, fluffy socks

“You’re imagining things,” she replied, arching an eyebrow as a faint smile tugged at her lips. She didn’t look away, letting the comfortable heat of his gaze wash over her.

“Am I?” he drawled as he lowered the glass. His eyes never left hers, the warm gold of his gaze now smoldering in the flickering light. “Because if I had a Denny for every time you got lost in my dazzling looks—”

“You’d have exactly zero Dennies,” she interrupted smoothly, her voice cutting through his teasing with practiced ease. Picking up the platter, she began walking toward the couch, the soft sound of her steps filling the space between them. “Your overconfidence is showing again, Harumasa.”

His grin widened, lazy and unrepentant, as he straightened slightly and patted the cushion beside him in an exaggerated gesture of invitation. The firelight flickered across his face, highlighting the sharp curve of his smirk and the teasing glint in his golden eyes.

“Overconfidence?” he repeated, his tone a mockery of shock as he leaned back against the couch, one arm draping across the backrest. “It’s not overconfidence—it’s part of my charm. And admit it,” he added, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur as his gaze locked onto hers, “you love it.”

Astraea rolled her eyes, though the fondness in her expression was unmistakable as she set the platter down on the coffee table. The careful arrangement of slices of fresh fruit, assorted crackers, and small cubes of cheese showed her thoughtful touch, each piece meticulously placed as though she were creating a small, edible masterpiece. The soft glow of the firelight danced across the glossy fruit and the edges of the golden crackers, making the humble offering feel somehow luxurious.

She settled onto the couch beside Harumasa, tucking her legs beneath her as she leaned into the cozy warmth of the fire. The deep V-neck of her sapphire-blue sweater dipped slightly as she adjusted herself, the movement catching Harumasa’s eye for a moment before he leaned back with an air of exaggerated nonchalance.

“I tolerate it,” she said at last, her voice carrying a teasing lilt, though the affection beneath was impossible to miss.

Harumasa chuckled, his golden eyes glinting as he regarded her with a look that was both amused and content. “Whatever you need to tell yourself,” he replied smoothly, reaching for a piece of fruit from the platter. He popped it into his mouth, savoring it with a satisfied hum as though it were the most decadent thing he’d ever tasted.

The television played softly in the background, the countdown to midnight ticking away in a corner of the screen. Astraea glanced at it briefly, noting there were still about twenty minutes left before the fireworks would begin. The city outside was still for now, its usual hum muted beneath the snowfall, but Astraea knew the quiet wouldn’t last. Soon, the night sky would explode in a kaleidoscope of colors, the celebrations bursting forth with the energy of a city that never truly slept.

“So,” Harumasa began, his voice cutting through the comfortable quiet like the crackle of the fire, “what’s the deal with New Year’s resolutions, anyway? You make one, and then you spend the rest of the year breaking it.”

He leaned back with a relaxed air, his golden eyes glinting with mischief as he popped another piece of fruit into his mouth. The firelight danced across his features, casting flickering shadows that softened his usual sharpness. There was something inherently easy about him in this moment—something Astraea found both infuriating and endearing.

Astraea turned her head to look at him, one eyebrow arching in amusement and challenge. The glow from the fire reflected faintly in her iridescent pupils, their shimmering starlight hue catching his attention briefly before she spoke. “Not if you’re serious about it,” she countered, her tone carrying an effortless confidence as she nudged him lightly with her elbow. “Do you even have a resolution?”

Harumasa feigned a thoughtful expression, tapping his chin with exaggerated deliberation before placing a hand dramatically over his heart. “Of course, I have one,” he said, his voice dripping with mock indignation. “I resolve to stay just as charming and irresistible as I’ve always been.”

Astraea let out a laugh, warm and genuine, her shoulders shaking slightly as she leaned back against the couch. Her silver-blue hair, still loosely braided, shimmered faintly in the light, and her expression softened with an affection she didn’t bother to hide. “Wow,” she said, her voice laced with playful disbelief as she shook her head. “Aim high, why don’t you?”

“I prefer to think of it as maintaining perfection,” he replied smoothly, his grin widening as he leaned closer to her. The teasing curve of his lips was highlighted by the firelight, the sharp edges of his smirk softened just enough to be disarming. “Fine,” he said, his tone shifting to a mock-seriousness that made her laugh again. “What’s yours, then?”

For a moment, Astraea didn’t answer. Her gaze drifted toward the sliding doors, where the snowfall outside had intensified, each flake catching the golden glow of the city lights as they tumbled through the darkened sky. The faint hum of the city beyond was muted, leaving the room steeped in a tranquil stillness punctuated only by the soft crackle of the fire and the rhythmic ticking of the countdown clock on the television.

Her expression shifted, the teasing light in her eyes giving way to something softer, more contemplative. “I resolve to make the most of every moment,” she said finally, her voice quiet but steady. “To spend more time with the people I care about.”

Harumasa’s smirk faded, the teasing light in his golden eyes giving way to uncharacteristic sincerity. His gaze softened, steady and unguarded as it rested on hers, mirroring the quiet earnestness she’d shown. Without breaking eye contact, he reached for her hand, his fingers brushing hers before lacing them together with deliberate care. The warmth of his touch was steady and grounding, a silent assurance that spoke louder than any words he could have offered.

“Not bad,” he murmured, his voice low and quiet, as though he were afraid to disturb the moment. His gaze held hers, the flickering light of the fire casting shadows across his face. “Guess I’ll have to stick around to make sure you follow through.”

Astraea smiled at that, her own hand tightening slightly around his. “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she replied, her voice barely more than a whisper, the words carrying a weight that needed no further explanation.

As the clock ticked closer to midnight, a soft stillness settled over the room, broken only by the rhythmic crackle of the fire. Astraea shifted, sitting up slightly, her starlit pupils glimmering faintly as they caught the warm glow of the flames. Her gaze wandered toward the sliding doors, where the snow-covered streets of New Eridu stretched out in quiet tranquility. The world outside seemed suspended in time, cloaked in a serene silence that felt almost otherworldly.

Harumasa leaned back on the couch, his golden eyes resting on her with a quiet fondness. He was no stranger to the warmth that bloomed in his chest whenever he looked at her—he’d felt it countless times before, and it was as familiar to him now as the sound of her laugh or the way she always claimed the fluffiest socks as her own. Yet, it still managed to catch him off guard, a gentle ache of affection that he’d stopped trying to fight long ago.

Without a word, Astraea rose from the couch, the soft padding of her fuzzy socks—both a pale cream that perfectly complemented her sapphire-blue sweater—barely making a sound against the wooden floor. Her sweater swayed gently with her movements, the loose V-neckline hinting at the elegant line of her collarbone. The cozy, oversized fabric seemed to envelop her, a striking contrast to the ethereal glow of her starlit pupils and the graceful confidence in her stride.

She stopped in front of the sliding doors, her hands resting lightly on the cool glass. The city beyond was quiet, the snow reflecting the faint glow of streetlights and giving the darkened streets an almost magical sheen. Astraea gazed out at the serene scene, her breath fogging the glass slightly as she leaned closer, her expression thoughtful and serene.

Harumasa stood after her without hesitation, the creak of the floorboards marking his approach. He slid his hands into his pockets as he stopped just behind her, his gaze briefly catching her reflection in the glass. There was something grounding in moments like this—seeing her surrounded by the world she seemed so effortlessly connected to and knowing she chose to share it with him.

“You know,” he began softly, his voice cutting through the quiet but carrying no urgency, “I didn’t really do this kind of stuff before. Celebrating. It always felt… pointless.”

Astraea turned her head slightly, her brows knitting together as she studied him. Her gaze searched his face, the vulnerability in his tone drawing her full attention. “What changed?” she asked softly.

His golden eyes met hers, steady and unflinching, though a hint of something raw flickered beneath the surface. “You,” he said simply, the weight of the word hanging between them like the spark before a firework. “You made it feel like it matters. Like I matter.”

Her breath hitched at the honesty in his voice. She reached up without hesitation, her fingers brushing gently against his cheek before her hand settled there, cradling his face. Her thumb traced a soft line along his cheekbone, the tender gesture grounding both of them. “You do matter, Harumasa,” she said, her voice low and filled with quiet conviction. “To me. More than you know.”

He leaned into her touch, his eyes closing briefly as he let her words sink in. When he opened them again, a small, genuine smile played on his lips, the kind of smile that rarely broke through his usual smirking façade. “Guess I’ve got a resolution after all,” he murmured.

Astraea tilted her head, her lips curving slightly as she asked, “Oh? What’s that?”

“To keep making you happy,” he replied, his voice soft but steady, a quiet promise carried in the words. “And to stop pretending like this isn’t the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Her heart clenched, her hand slipping from his cheek to rest lightly against his chest. The sincerity in his tone was almost overwhelming, and for a moment, she was speechless. Before she could find the words to respond, the clock on the television struck midnight, and the first burst of fireworks lit up the sky.

The cascade of colors reflected in the glass before them, illuminating the room in bursts of red, gold, and blue. The sound of the fireworks echoed through the night, but neither of them moved. Harumasa leaned forward, his forehead pressing lightly against hers, their shared breath fogging the window slightly.

“Happy New Year, Astraea,” he whispered, his voice barely audible over the celebrations outside.

She smiled, her starlit pupils shimmering as her lips curved. “Happy New Year, Harumasa,” she replied, her voice warm and filled with quiet sincerity.

He didn’t wait any longer. The moment hung suspended, like the stars above, as he leaned in, closing the distance between them. When his lips met hers, it was slow and deliberate, carrying the weight of everything he couldn’t put into words. The warmth of the kiss spread like a flame, chasing away the cold of the snowy night outside.

Harumasa’s hand slid gently to her waist, his fingers brushing against the soft fabric of her sweater before settling there with a firm but tender hold. With a quiet intensity, he guided her backward, turning her until her back met the cool surface of the sliding glass door. The contrast between the icy glass and the warmth radiating from him sent a shiver through her, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she let herself be drawn closer, her body melting into his as though they were two pieces of a puzzle fitting perfectly together.

His hand at her waist tightened slightly, anchoring her in place, while his other hand moved to cradle her face. His thumb brushed lightly along her jawline, the tender gesture a stark contrast to the intensity of the kiss. Astraea’s fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, gripping it tightly as if to anchor herself to him, her heart pounding against her ribcage in a rhythm that matched his.

The cool glass at her back and the warmth of his body pressing against hers created a perfect dichotomy, grounding her in the moment while the world around them blurred into insignificance. The crackle of the fire and the faint echoes of distant fireworks dissolved into the background, leaving only the sound of their mingled breaths and the rapid beats of their hearts.

When they finally broke apart, their foreheads rested together, their breaths mingling in the small, heated space between them. Astraea’s starlit pupils shimmered, reflecting the faint glow of the fogged glass behind her. The firelight from the room flickered over their faces, illuminating the lingering flush on her cheeks and the slightly uneven rise and fall of Harumasa’s chest.

“So,” she said after a moment, her voice soft and laced with warmth, “do you think you’ll keep that resolution?”

Harumasa chuckled, the sound low and rough as he leaned back just enough to meet her gaze fully. His golden eyes held a steady certainty as his fingers moved, sliding into her silver-blue hair. He began undoing her braid, letting the shimmering strands fall free past her shoulders. “I don’t break promises,” he murmured, his hand brushing through her now-loose hair with deliberate tenderness. “Especially not to you.”

Before she could respond, he leaned in again, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was no longer slow and measured but hungry and desperate, as though he couldn’t stand the thought of any space between them. His hand moved from her hair to her waist, gripping her firmly as he pressed her back against the glass with a renewed intensity.

Astraea responded in kind, her arms looping around his neck as her fingers tangled in his hair. The kiss deepened, their shared breaths coming faster, each moment charged with an electric intensity that seemed to reverberate through the room. When Harumasa’s hands slid to her thighs, lifting her effortlessly, she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist. The movement brought them impossibly closer, her body molding to his as he supported her easily, his grip secure and grounding.

The soft pads of her fingers brushed against his scalp, her touch sending a shiver through him as he tightened his hold on her. His hands rested firmly on her bottom, steadying her as he turned from the window. Their lips never broke contact as he carried her toward the couch, each step deliberate, his focus entirely on her. The fire crackled softly in the background, its warm glow bathing them in a golden light.

When he reached the couch, he lowered them both with careful ease, their kisses unbroken and their movements fluid. Astraea’s breath hitched as his lips trailed along her jawline, his name spilling from her lips in a breathless murmur. He responded in kind, her name a quiet prayer against her skin, his tone raw with affection and need.

The world outside faded entirely as they lost themselves in each other, the gentle hum of their whispered words and the soft sounds of their shared passion filling the room. Gasps, quiet laughter, and murmured declarations of love wove together, creating a symphony that was entirely their own. The night stretched out ahead of them, each moment more intimate and meaningful than the last, until the fire burned low, casting faint embers that danced in the hearth, and the city outside stirred with the first whispers of dawn. Wrapped in each other’s arms, the world around them felt distant, the only reality that mattered found in the warmth of their shared embrace.

Harumasa traced lazy circles on Astraea’s back, her head resting against his chest, her breath soft and even. His golden eyes, half-lidded but still watchful, caught the faint glow of her starlit pupils as she tilted her head up to meet his gaze.

“Happy New Year,” she whispered, her voice tender, as though the words themselves carried a quiet promise.

“Happy New Year,” he murmured back, leaning down to press a lingering kiss to her temple. “And here’s to all the ones we’ll spend together.”

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