The soft glow of the bedside lamp bathed Lumine's room in warm light. Scaramouche lay sprawled across her bed, his head resting on one of her pillows while Snowball, Lumine's fluffy white cat, pawed curiously at his hand.
"You're awfully clingy, you know that?" Scaramouche muttered, letting Snowball nibble lightly on his fingers. The cat gave an innocent meow in response, tail swishing as if mocking him.
He sighed, his violet eyes flickering toward the door before closing briefly. "She's taking too long..." he murmured. Slowly, the exhaustion from the day caught up to him, and before he realized it, his eyelids grew heavy, and he drifted into sleep.
---
The dream began softly, like the faint notes of a piano carried by the wind. Scaramouche found himself standing in an open clearing under a vast night sky. The moon hung low, casting silver light across the scene. Fireflies danced around, their glow adding an ethereal touch to the atmosphere.
"Lumine�"
His voice was barely above a whisper, but she was thereâstanding just a few feet away in a flowing dress that shimmered under the moonlight. She turned to face him, her golden hair glowing faintly.
"You're here," she said softly, extending her hand towards him.
Without hesitation, Scaramouche stepped forward and took her hand in his. The world around them blurred as they began to dance. No music played, yet their steps were perfectly in sync. The way she smiled at him, the way her golden eyes reflected the moonâit felt surreal.
His free hand settled gently on her waist, pulling her closer. Lumine rested her hand lightly on his shoulder, her gaze never leaving his. The silence was comforting, the world reduced to just the two of them.
"Scaramoucheâ¦" Lumine whispered, her voice trembling slightly as their movements slowed.
He didn't reply, simply staring into her eyes, his usual sharp edges softened in this fleeting moment. The space between them grew smaller, the air thick with something unspoken.
And then, their lips met.
It was soft, hesitant, yet filled with a warmth that made his chest tighten. Time seemed to stop, the moon above them glowing even brighter as if blessing the fragile moment they shared.
But just as quickly as it began, the dream started to fade.
---
Scaramouche's eyes snapped open. His chest rose and fell unevenly as he stared at the ceiling, the ghost of the kiss still lingering on his lips. Snowball was curled up by his side, purring softly.
He sat up abruptly, running a hand through his hair. "What⦠was that?"
The dream felt so realâthe dance, her touch, the kiss. It all burned vividly in his mind.
The sound of the doorknob turning jolted him back to reality.
Lumine stepped into the room, a tired yet warm smile on her face. "Scaramouche? Why are you in my bed?"
He froze, turning away to hide the faint blush creeping up his cheeks. "Tch. Your cat was annoying me, so I stayed here. You took forever."
Lumine raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Alright, move over then. I need sleep."
As she climbed into bed beside him, Scaramouche stared at her from the corner of his eye. The dream still lingered in his mind, and for once, he found himself at a loss for words.
It was just a dream⦠right?
But as he closed his eyes again, he couldn't help but wonderâwhat if it wasnât?
---