You didn’t think it’d affect him like that.

Honestly, all you wanted was a little affection—just something soft and playful. So, you padded up behind him, standing on your toes, palms pressed lightly to his chest for balance. He was in the middle of reading, half-focused and wholly unbothered by your presence… until—

You leaned in. Kissed him.

Not just a quick peck. No—your lips lingered, and maybe—maybe—your tongue grazed his lower lip before you pulled back.

His book hit the floor.

Thud.

You blinked up at him innocently.

He stood there frozen—absolutely frozen—like his brain had hit a full system error. One hand came up to cover part of his face, as if shielding himself from how violently the blush was creeping across his cheeks. His fingers pressed to the bridge of his nose in what could only be described as mental damage control.

"..."

Still silent. Still blushing.

Your oh-so-composed, unflappable Scribe of Sumeru looked like he’d been hit by a truck full of emotions he didn’t have the script for.

“…Alhaitham?”

He inhaled deeply. Exhaled slower.

“I wasn’t… prepared for that,” he muttered behind his hand, voice tight.

And you? Oh, you were thrilled.

You discovered something rare. Precious. A glitch in his matrix.

Apparently, all it took to dismantle the great Alhaitham was one unexpectedly intimate kiss.

Noted. You’d absolutely be using that again. And again. And—ah, yep. His ears were red now.

Perfect.