candybox | OPEN POST: Makoto Niijima

[She leans into that hand against her cheek, wondering absently if he can feel how warm she is, her cheeks are practically on fire. Even so, it's a flush of excitement more than embarrassment now, when their bodies are pressed as close as this. Just like when she first heard the voice of her Persona, she realises she just needs to let go, to be honest with herself.

Still, she has to come up for air sooner rather than later, and when she does she looks up at him.]

This feeling, when you touch me... I've never felt anything like it.

[Her voice is barely above a whisper.]

[He can feel it.

[Even if he couldn't, he can see the rosy flush in her cheeks as soon as she pulls away, and ... he probably looks a little pink himself, judging by how warm he feels.]

I feel it too.

[She laughs, lightly, fingertips reaching up to ghost against his jaw.]

You can-- keep going, if you want.

[She stammers only briefly. She may have fantasised about this a little since sending that initial text, even if she'd never actually expected it to come to this.]

[There's a little shift in his posture, his head tilting to lean into her touch.]

You're sure?

[He didn't expect they'd get here tonight either ... but he does want this. He's wanted this -- wanted her for a long time, and this is a moment he's thought about even before that text.

[There's no uncertainty in his eyes, or his voice, or the way he's holding her. He knows what he wants. He just wants to be sure beyond any doubt that she is too.]

[She didn't think it would get this far this fast either. Beyond every glance exchanged that made her heart skip a beat, beyond things like Joker protecting her in Futaba's Palace, or letting her cling to him when she was scared of the dark, or all the times they'd spent time alone around the city...

Well, she never dared to believe it could mean more. Now she has it, she can't possibly let go.]

Yes. [She nods, certainty reflected in her eyes.] I'm absolutely sure.

[Seeing that look in her eyes, that surety ... there's something magnetic about it. Something that holds him there for a second or two, so that he can just savor the sight of her in that moment.

[Makoto. His ... His girlfriend, now, looking as confident and happy as he's ever seen her.

[And then he leans in to kiss her again.

[Its still gentle and tender, but there's a little something more behind it this time. After a few seconds, his lips part and his tongue swipes across her lower lip.]

[Her eyes close and she lets out a noise somewhere between surprise and quiet pleading.]

Mmm...

[She still doesn't know what to do in response, but she's trying not to overthink things like she usually does, and so she instinctively parts her lips. The hand that had been touching his jaw moves to the nape of his neck, fingers twining in unruly dark hair.]

[The fingers on the hand resting on the small of her back curl, digging lightly into the fabric of her coat as he feels that pleading noise tingle across his lips.

[When her lips part, his tongue slowly trails across her lower lip again, pushing in just enough to brush the tip of her tongue.]

[His tongue is hot against hers, and though she's tentative at first, she's also utterly entranced, sliding her tongue against his. That burning feeling slowly spreading in her body is settling in the pit of her stomach, urging her on, pressing her body even closer to him.]

[When she reciprocates, running her tongue over his, he presses in a little deeper, exploring her mouth with his tongue. The hand resting on her cheek drifts towards the back of her neck.

[There's a certain ... urgency that starts to creep in the longer the kiss lingers. His lips move just a little faster over hers, and his tongue probes further.]

[Her hand slides down to his bicep, feeling lean, firm muscle under the material. The kiss deepens and she lets out a quiet, needy sound, at once needing to pause for air but not wanting to stop.

She soon has to, though, breathless and flushed, Ren's taste lingering on her lips.]

S-sorry, um... Should we... sit?

[And she should take her coat off. It's getting awfully warm in here, all things considered.]

Yeah. [He nods, a little breathless himself.] Yeah, that sounds good.

[He turns to look back towards the couch, but as his eyes sweep across the room ... they land on the bed first. They hold there for a beat before he glances back to Makoto, and indicates the bed with a small nod back over his shoulder.

[Shall we?]

O-oh, of course.

[She pulls off her coat and shoes, storing them by the stairs, before moving to join him over at the bed. She's dressed in a simple but elegant white blouse, with a black skirt and black leggings. She sits, straightening her skirt out of force of habit, even if she's sure Ren won't care if she doesn't look perfectly prim and proper.]

I guess... We both wanted this a lot more than we let on.

[While she removes her jacket and shoes, he moves over to the bed. He'll have to apologize to Mona later for closing the window on him while he was out, but, well ...

[Tonight was between him and Makoto. He didn't want anything getting in the way of that.

[So he slides the window shut, clicks the latch into place, and finds a seat on the edge of the bed - shifting over a little bit to make room for Makoto..]

It's been on my mind for a little while.

I'm still so happy things ended up like this.

[She scoots to sit right next to him until their shoulders are touching. Then, blush deepening once again, she lays her head on his shoulder.]

This might sound crazy, but I'd like to stay here for tonight. If... that's okay with you, I mean.

[Sae would go ballistic if she knew, but she'll likely be out all evening. And besides, Makoto's rebellious streak shows no signs of letting up now.]

I was hoping you would.

[He leans into her, resting his head on top of hers and letting his eyes drift shut for a moment.]

Waking up next to you sounds really, really nice.

I think so, too. [She relaxes like that for a moment, enjoying the feeling of just being close to someone. She doesn't even remember the last time Sae did something as simple as give her a hug, maybe she's been a little starved for affection. And Ren is probably the same, too, thrown out by his parents to a city he didn't know...

She's startled by a sudden thought, though--]

Oh! But I didn't bring any pyjamas. If it's not too much trouble, is there anything of yours I can borrow?

Yeah, I'm sure I've got something.

[He's bound to have a spare shirt and an extra pair of sweatpants, but he's not making a move to go and dig them out just yet.

[She's right. About him being starved for affection. He just ... He didn't really notice until now.

[He wasn't exactly a hugger. He didn't have a problem with that sort of physical contact, he just didn't seek it out or initiate it very often.

[But right now, feeling Makoto leaning against him, the gentle warmth radiating from her, breathing in her scent ...?

[He's realizing how much he missed it. How much he needed it from time to time in a way that he just hadn't gotten in a while.]

Thanks.

[That's a relief. But since he seems to just be enjoying being with her for now, she'll lay off that very Makoto thing of pestering about practicalities.

Instead, she takes his hand, twining their fingers together once more. And she says, barely above a whisper, as though it's just for him to hear and him only--]

Ren... I... I love you.

[His fingers curl around hers. She won't be able to see it given he has his head resting on top of hers ... but she might feel his expression shift as his smile slowly spreads across his face.]

I love you too.

[Even speaking as softly as she is, there's no mistaking the warmth in his voice. The affection, the contentment ... the pure, total happiness he's feeling in this moment.]

[She's sure she didn't even need to say it, nor did he need to say it in return. It feels like they're already in tune with one another a lot more than she expected... Maybe not just because of all the time they've spent together until now, but because of all the similarities they have. Still, voicing it out loud cements it. She's serious, not acting like this is some little girl crush.

Her lips curve and she smiles mischievously, grabbing the front of Ren's shirt and pulling him down with surprising strength, lying back so Ren is sitting over her.]

So... If I'm staying over, how shall we spend tonight?

[How strong she is isn't a surprise - he's seen how hard she hits - but the move itself catches him off guard. It's the sort of confidence and forwardness she doesn't show much when they're outside the Metaverse.

[It's pretty clear from the look on Ren's face as he suddenly finds himself over her that he wasn't expecting it ... but that initial surprise fades quickly, and gives way to a coquettish grin. Turns out he kinda likes that side of her.]

Didn't this all start because you had something in mind?

[He teases, one eyebrow arching above his glasses.]

[Makoto can't even believe she's being this forward, but now they're on this train there's no getting off. She bites her lip, and reaches up to take off his glasses, before folding them and setting them aside -- it's not like he needs them to see anyway.]

Yes, but also... I wondered if maybe you had something in mind, too. I've already imposed myself on you this much...

[It's only right she should do something for him, too.]

You're assuming I wouldn't enjoy that too.

[And that's a big assumption.]

Then, I think know where we can start.

[She tugs him down a little further, until her lips can meet his again. That making out thing was pretty great, after all.]

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