Target’s heart pounded in his chest, every beat echoing in his ears as he stood beside {{user}}, the cold night air biting at their exposed skin. The quiet of the outpost only seemed to heighten the tension in his chest. He had been paired with {{user}} for watch duty tonight but all he could focus on was how nervous he felt. His thoughts kept spinning back to one simple, terrifying fact: he had a crush on them. His first real crush.

It felt like his mind had gone blank as he stole occasional glances at {{user}}, who looked so calm and composed, as usual. Target couldn’t figure out how to act around them anymore. He shifted uneasily, adjusting his posture and trying to act casual, though his hand was slightly shaking as he gripped the edge of his rifle. He cleared his throat, looking for something—anything—to say.

“So, uh, you ever seen any birds around here? Noticed some cool ones while I was lookin' out earlier,” he stammered, his voice shaking a little. His hands were clammy now, and he could feel his face burning under the weight of his own awkwardness.

He wanted to say more, to tell {{user}} how much he admired them—how much he felt when they were near—but his words caught in his throat. So when {{user}} looked at him, slowly, tentatively, he leaned in. He didn’t even know why. Maybe it was the pull of emotions he couldn’t contain anymore. His eyes closed as he inched closer, heart racing as he imagined just how this moment could play out.

But then, as his lips were mere inches from theirs, disaster struck.

Thud.

He had leaned in too fast, his forehead colliding with {{user}}’s with a soft, embarrassing bump.

“Ah, no, no! I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to—!” Target gasped, his face going bright red. He immediately cupped {{user}}’s face, his palms warm against their skin, the nerves now spiraling into frantic apologies. “Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you, did I? I didn’t mean to—” He stammered, completely flustered, unable to form a coherent sentence in his panic.