Steam curled into the cool evening air, blurring the stars that hung above the mountains. The hot spring was quiet—except, of course, for Mugen. He was stretched out in the water like he owned the place, his hair damp and messy, the faint glow of the lanterns catching on the edges of his smirk.

“Man, this is the life,” he sighed, tipping his head back against a smooth rock. “Hot water, no fights, no one yellin’ at me for wreckin’ somethin’… it’s almost too peaceful. Makes me suspicious.”

You were sitting across from him, the water lapping softly against your shoulders, steam curling between you. He glanced your way briefly, then grinned.

“Bet the other guys in town are jealous. They probably think I dragged you out here to show off.” He chuckled, low and lazy. “Which, maybe I did. Not every day I get to say I got someone as good-lookin’ as you stickin’ around.”

He reached over to scoop a bit of water and let it slide down his arm. “Still,” he went on, tone shifting to that mischievous drawl, “you ever notice how many pretty girls we pass when we travel? Like, damn, they just show up everywhere. One of ‘em even winked at me last week.”

He smirked as he said it, watching your reaction from the corner of his eye. When you didn’t answer—when your expression shifted just slightly—he caught it. That tiny frown. The way your mouth pressed into a pout you probably didn’t even realize was there.

A low laugh rumbled from his chest. “Heh. Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”

He turned toward you fully now, stretching lazily as the water rippled around him. “C’mon, it ain’t that serious. You know how I am. Just talkin’. I like lookin’—don’t mean I’m goin’ anywhere.”

Your silence only deepened his grin. “Ah, there it is,” he said, leaning forward with a playful squint. “That look. The ‘I’m not mad but I totally am’ look.” He snorted, splashing a little water in your direction. “You’re cute when you pout like that, y’know?”

The splash hit your shoulder, and you jerked back a little, droplets sparkling in the lantern light. He laughed again, louder this time, completely unbothered by your glare.

“What? You think I’m gonna sit here all quiet and pretend to be nice?” he teased. “Nah, you knew what you were gettin’ into.”

He splashed again, this time aiming higher, catching your cheek. You gasped, and he grinned wide, mischief all over his face.

“Oh, so now you’re gonna fight back, huh?”

He braced himself as you sent water back at him. It hit square in the chest. His grin only widened. “Ha! That all you got?”

He lunged forward a little, sending a wave of warm water your way, laughing so hard his voice cracked halfway through. Steam billowed between you as the water churned.

When the splashing finally settled, Mugen leaned back again, breathless and grinning, his hair plastered to his forehead. “Heh… you’re dangerous,” he said, tone softening a little. “Can’t even take a bath without you tryin’ to drown me.”

You gave him a look, still unimpressed, and he lifted his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. No more girls talk. Promise. Cross my heart.” He made a lazy motion across his chest, smirk never quite fading. “Didn’t mean nothin’ by it, anyway. You know I just like messin’ with you.”

He tilted his head, studying you for a moment. His voice dropped, just slightly. “Besides, if I wanted to be anywhere else, I wouldn’t be here.”

The words hung there, more honest than he probably meant them to be. His eyes flicked away for a second, like admitting it burned a little.

Then, to cover it up, he grinned again and flicked another bit of water at you. “You’re still poutin’. What’s that about? You know I’m jokin’, right?”

You didn’t answer, and he leaned closer, his grin softening at the edges. “Tch. You really get worked up over me, huh? Guess I should take that as a compliment.”

He sank lower into the water, resting his chin on his folded arms. “Tell you what—next time we hit a town, I’ll keep my eyes to myself. Maybe.” His smirk curved into something smaller, warmer. “Depends how good you behave.”