Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Clingy

The afternoon sun filtered softly through the curtains of Lumine’s living room as she unlocked the front door and stepped inside, followed closely by Scaramouche—still in his human form. His indigo eyes scanned the cozy space before he casually kicked off his shoes and flopped onto the couch like he owned the place.

Lumine sighed softly, setting her bag down and stretching her arms above her head. “Make yourself at home, I guess…” she muttered, watching him claim her couch.

Scaramouche patted the space next to him without even glancing at her. “Come sit,” he said simply, his voice low and soft.

She hesitated for a moment but eventually walked over and sat beside him. As soon as she did, Scaramouche shifted slightly, resting his head gently on her shoulder. His indigo hair brushed against her cheek, and his presence felt warm and steady.

“Are you… tired?” Lumine asked softly, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.

“Not really,” he replied, voice muffled as he kept his head against her. “Just… comfortable.”

A soft smile tugged at her lips as she let herself relax into the moment. The world outside felt distant, and the quiet of the room wrapped around them like a warm blanket.

But the peaceful silence was interrupted by the buzzing of Lumine’s phone on the table. The sound broke the stillness, causing her to shift slightly and reach for it.

“Hold on, let me just—”

Before she could fully stand up, Scaramouche’s hand shot out, catching her wrist. With one firm but gentle pull, she found herself stumbling back—not onto the couch this time, but right into his lap.

“W-Wait, Scaramouche—!”

Her voice caught in her throat as his arms wrapped around her waist, securing her in place. His chin came to rest lightly on her shoulder, his breath warm against her neck.

“Stay,” he murmured, the word almost a plea as his grip tightened slightly—but still gentle, careful, and deliberate.

Lumine froze, her heart hammering in her chest as she processed the sudden shift. Scaramouche wasn’t meeting her gaze; instead, he closed his eyes briefly, his expression calmer now that she was in his hold.

“You’re… really clingy today,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Maybe I am,” he replied without hesitation. His fingers lightly traced small circles on the fabric of her shirt, just above her waist. “But I don’t care.”

Lumine bit her lip, feeling her face heat up. Despite the possessiveness in his hold, there was something undeniably vulnerable about the way he clung to her—like he was afraid she’d slip away if he let go.

Her phone buzzed again from the table, but neither of them made a move to pick it up. The sound was distant now, unimportant compared to the way Scaramouche was holding her, keeping her close.

“Scaramouche…” she began hesitantly, her voice softer this time.

“What?” he asked, finally opening his eyes and tilting his head slightly to meet her gaze. His deep indigo eyes searched hers, filled with an emotion she couldn’t quite place.

Lumine hesitated, her lips parting slightly before she spoke. “Why… Why are you like this all of a sudden?”

He smirked faintly, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Do I need a reason to want you close?”

She felt her face grow even warmer, her hands instinctively moving to his shoulders as if to steady herself. “You’re impossible…”

“And yet, here you are. Sitting exactly where I want you.”

His chin returned to her shoulder, and he let out a quiet sigh, his grip on her waist remaining firm but still gentle. It felt like he was savoring the moment, refusing to let it slip away.

They stayed like that for what felt like forever. The only sounds in the room were the faint ticking of a nearby clock and their steady breathing. Lumine found herself slowly relaxing against him, her shoulders losing their tension as she allowed herself to rest in his embrace.

Her phone buzzed again, but neither of them moved.

“Are you just going to hold me hostage like this forever?” Lumine eventually asked, her voice laced with a hint of amusement.

Scaramouche smirked against her shoulder. “Would that be such a bad thing?”

Lumine rolled her eyes, though her smile softened. “You’re lucky I don’t have anywhere else to be today.”

“Good,” he murmured, his voice low and content.

The afternoon sun continued to stream through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the two of them. For Scaramouche, this moment felt fragile yet perfect—a rare peace he wasn’t willing to let slip away just yet.

And for Lumine, despite the clinginess and possessiveness, she couldn’t bring herself to pull away either. In that warm silence, they both stayed exactly where they were—wrapped in each other’s presence, the rest of the world fading away.

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