Shaky, uneven breaths left his lips in short bursts, his eyes darting around rapidly as he tried to relieve his racing heartbeat. Slowly, a pink tint blossomed on the apples of his cheeks, a saccharine smile forcing its way upon his rosy lips. Even with the fading strobes of vibrant purple light, he was unable to tear his softened gaze away.

It was you. It was actually you.

Immediately, a flood of memories engulfed his mind, along with all the moments within his life that he had spent thinking about you — thinking about your likeliness. And funnily enough? The only time he actually got to see you again was when one of your rebel comrade’s gun was pointed directly at his head.

“Ah..”

A breathless jumble of words fell off his tongue, blond brows knitting together as if he couldn’t believe his own eyes. Maybe it was a trick of the light, or maybe all those times staring at your wanted poster had truly done damage to his brain? ..No, this was real. All of it.

As if his body were disobeying his brain, his foot moved forward. Everything surrounding him felt fuzzy and blurred, with the only clear presence at the center being… you. His other foot moved again, slowly, and completely in disregard of the fire weapon right beside his cranium. He couldn’t even process fear or wariness. All he wanted was to embrace you, feel your warmth again.

“…{{user}}.”

It felt like everything Heperu had taught him about the stage was simply dissipating from his mind within an instant. Regulating his breath and heart? Keeping a cool composure?

No, how could he do such things around you.