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It was just the two of them.
Diya had sought refuge in their bed hours ago and Akarsha was curled up asleep in an armchair.
Moments when they were alone were rare, even though they’ve been dating for years now.
The four of them had realized some time ago that they all shared feelings for each other. It was strange, and took a long time to adjust to, but they’re here now. Sharing an apartment and their lives.
Despite all of this, Min and Noelle have never explored their relationship, not really. They call each other partner tentatively. They went from enemies to a couple very fast and never had much time to adjust. Diya and Akarsha were always there, they didn’t need to.
But they’re not right now.
They were sitting on opposite ends of the couch, Min half heartedly watching a movie and Noelle working on some college assignment.
11:43. Min could feel herself starting to doze off and they all had to get up early for their respective jobs and classes.
“S’late.”
Noelle hums, “I suppose. I need to finish this first though.”
Min turns to face Noelle and scoots closer to her, not quite making contact but almost, “Whatcha working on?”
“I have to code this… this thing for one of my classes but it’s really complex and difficult. I’m not enjoying myself but it has to be done.”
“Sounds dumb.”
“You could call it that, yes.”
“I’d help but I’m kinda dumb myself.”
Noelle scoffs, “Don’t say that. Booksmarts aren't everything.”
“Really? Since when did your weirdo brain become able to make that sentence?”
“I’ve actually been doing a lot of self-reflection lately. Being with you three and not my… mother… has helped me not be so…”
“Stuck up. Weird. Freakish. Robotic. Insane.”
“Stuck up, yes.”
Min smiles, happy to help.
Noelle turns her head and gives Min a small, closed mouth smile in return. Looking down, Min reaches a hand out towards Noelle’s hair.
“Do you ever take your hair out of this thing? Give it a break?”
Noelle brings her hand up towards her braid, hovering over Min’s, “Every night, yes. Why?”
Instead of answering, Min carefully pulls Noelle’s hair free of the elastic holding it together, it all falling in loose waves to frame her face and fall past her shoulders down her back. The light from her computer screen makes her eyes sparkle, and she’s blushing, but only a little bit.
“You’re really pretty. Like this with your hair down, curly and… whatever.”
Noelle hesitates a bit before speaking, “Are you tired, Yang?”
Min giggles. “A little.”
Their eyes meet, and Noelle is suddenly hit with all of the ways Diya and Akarsha have talked about Min in the past, always saying she’s incredibly charming and sweet. She never really understood these claims as she’d never seen it happen herself, but now she does.
She’s gentle. She’s so gentle it doesn’t make sense, lightly running her fingers through Noelle’s hair. She smells of vanilla, something that would normally bother Noelle but right now it doesn’t at all.
Noelle’s face gets warmer with every inch Min gets closer. She feels as if she’s going to explode, she kind of wishes she would. Instinctively, she grabs hold of her laptop to assure it doesn’t fall.
“Can I kiss you?”
Noelle’s face reaches dangerous levels of heat. Part of her wants to say no, fearing she may pass out, but the side of her she’s been working on, the side of her that allows her to accept love, that allows her to let go, is telling her yes.
Noelle nods, “You don’t need to ask.”
Min rolls her eyes, and presses their lips together.
Everything is warm.
Min cups Noelle’s face in her palms. Shakily, Noelle places her free hand gingerly on Min’s neck, feeling her pulse to ground herself. To tell herself that this is real.
Min-seo is so real.
And it’s comical, how much she’s enjoying herself. If she had known only a few years ago where she’d be now, she wouldn’t believe it. It was so far from her own ideas of what was and wasn’t possible, but she’s here now.
She wishes she could stay like this forever. No worries or threats, just Min.
But it’s hard to stay one way forever when a pillow gets thrown at your face.
“Can you two stop being gay? Some of us are trying to sleep.”
Akarsha.
Min turns to Akarsha and smirks, smug as ever. Noelle now remembers that she doesn’t like Min.
“Yes,” Noelle closes her laptop and places it on the coffee table, standing, “Sleep is necessary and I’m going to go do it. Now.” She stumbles off the couch, speed walking towards their room. What was that? What was that?”
“Hey-!” Min grabs Noelle’s hand. To Noelle’s dismay, it’s as soft as she was previously, “Wait up.” Min smiles at Noelle, all teeth and earnesty. It’s soft, too soft. She doesn’t understand how a person can be this soft.
But she would like to.
She practically melts onto a puddle of goo on the floor before nodding.
“Oh. My. GOD.” Akarsha stands and stomps towards the pair, picking up the pillow she previously threw at them on her way there. “Go to bed! Go to bed or I’m calling the homo police.” She begins to mercilessly beat them with the pillow.
They all laugh, Noelle and Min begging forgiveness before pulling Akarsha with them into their room. The trio all fall into bed around Diya, trying their hardest not to wake her with their laughter. One by one, they all fall asleep.
And it’s soft and warm.
Forever.