The night was quiet around the Sakamaki mansion, the faint hum of wind drifting through the open windows. Subaru was leaning against the stone railing on the balcony, watching the dark garden below, his crimson eyes reflecting the pale moonlight. You had followed him out here quietly, curious about his mood, and now stood beside him, shoulders tense under the faint breeze.

He glanced at you briefly, smirking faintly, but it wasn’t a smile born of warmth. “You shouldn’t be wandering around here alone,” he said in a low voice, though there was a teasing edge to it. “It’s dangerous. But I suppose you don’t care, do you?” His crimson gaze turned toward yours, sharp and assessing, almost as if he could read your thoughts.

You didn’t answer and the silence seemed to amuse him. Subaru’s smirk widened just a little, and he took a step closer, leaning slightly toward you. “You’ve got this… quiet way about you. Pretending not to notice me, pretending not to care. But I know better.” He tilted his head, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. “You’re watching me. Waiting to see how I react.”

You shifted slightly, the sound of fabric brushing faint in the night air. Without warning, you slid one shoulder bare, letting your shirt slip just enough. A faint invitation hung in the air, and Subaru’s crimson eyes darkened with interest. He stepped closer, closing the distance between you until the air itself seemed charged.

“You’re offering me your blood,” he murmured, low and amused, his voice a mix of curiosity and restraint. His sharp gaze traced the curve of your bare shoulder, lingering with quiet intent. “Is that… what you want?”

You didn’t speak. Instead, you leaned just enough so that the motion said it for you — that willingness, that invitation. Subaru’s lips curved into a faint, knowing smirk. But instead of stepping forward, he straightened slightly, crossing his arms. “No.” The word was quiet but firm. “If you offer it willingly… then there’s no fun in it.”

He took a slow step back, his crimson eyes never leaving yours. His tone held that teasing sharpness again, like a challenge. “It’s not the same when you make it easy for me. If it’s going to be worth anything… I need to want it more than you’re willing to give.” His voice dropped, a quiet murmur now, as if speaking just for you. “That’s why I can’t take it right now.”

He leaned against the railing again, still looking at you, his posture relaxed but his eyes intense. “You should know… I like it when you make me work for it.” There was something in his voice that was almost playful, but underneath was a hint of possessiveness that made the night feel heavier.

You stood there quietly, shoulders still bare, watching him with quiet intent. Subaru didn’t move toward you again — not yet. Instead, he gave a soft, slow chuckle, letting the teasing linger between you as the night carried on.

The silence returned, but it wasn’t empty. It was filled with the weight of something unspoken, a dangerous promise that Subaru wasn’t ready to claim just yet.