Chapter 73: Chapter 71: Midnight Rizz

The clock ticked past midnight, the soft hum of the city outside filling the otherwise quiet apartment. Aether had long since fallen asleep in the guest room, leaving Lumine alone in the living room with a certain midnight-furred feline stretched lazily across her lap.

Scaramouche, still in his cat form, peeked up at her with glowing golden eyes, his tail swishing slowly as if plotting something. Lumine absentmindedly scratched behind his ears while scrolling through her phone.

“You’re being unusually quiet tonight, Kuni,” she murmured, her voice soft.

At her words, Scaramouche let out a low, almost amused-sounding purr before hopping off her lap and padding across the room. His silhouette disappeared into the dim shadows of the hallway.

Lumine blinked, watching him vanish. “What now?”

Before she could follow, a faint shuffle behind her couch made her freeze.

“Enjoying your peace, princess?”

The voice was low, smooth, and unmistakably human. Lumine turned around sharply to see Scaramouche—now in his human form—leaning casually against the couch with his arms crossed and a sly smirk dancing on his lips. His messy indigo hair caught the faint glow from the streetlights filtering through the curtains, and his piercing violet eyes practically glowed in the dim room.

“You couldn’t just stay in your cat form, could you?” Lumine sighed, leaning back into the couch.

Scaramouche tilted his head slightly, his smirk widening. “Where’s the fun in that?”

He walked around the couch and sat down beside her, his arm draping casually along the back of the couch, his sharp eyes never leaving her face. Lumine glanced at him, one eyebrow raised.

“Don’t start acting cocky just because Aether’s asleep.”

Scaramouche chuckled lowly, his voice smooth like silk. “That’s exactly why I’m acting cocky.”

Rolling her eyes, Lumine turned back to her phone, but Scaramouche wasn’t done. He shifted closer, leaning toward her ear as his voice dropped to a whisper.

“You know, princess… you’re lucky I like being scratched behind the ears, or else I might start charging you for the privilege.”

Lumine paused, her cheeks heating slightly as she gave him an unimpressed side-eye. “Do you ever stop talking?”

“Not when I’m winning.”

“Winning what exactly?”

“Your attention.”

The words hung in the air, and for a brief moment, Lumine was quiet. Scaramouche leaned back slightly, his smirk softening into something more genuine.

Lumine sighed, shaking her head with a faint smile. “You’re impossible.”

“Only for everyone else. You? You get the deluxe package of my impossibility.”

Before Lumine could respond, Scaramouche smoothly plucked the phone from her hand, setting it aside on the coffee table. Her lips parted in mild protest, but Scaramouche was already leaning in, resting his head lightly on her shoulder.

“You’re warm,” he muttered softly, his cocky demeanor fading slightly.

Lumine blinked, her initial irritation giving way to something softer. Carefully, she reached up and ran her fingers through his indigo hair, her touch gentle.

For once, Scaramouche didn’t quip back or make a snarky remark. Instead, he closed his eyes, letting out a soft sigh as if the weight of his usual sharp-witted persona had finally been set aside.

The two sat there in silence, the faint glow of the city lights casting soft shadows across the room.

“…You’re staying like this until morning, aren’t you?” Lumine asked quietly.

Scaramouche smirked without opening his eyes. “You’d miss me if I left.”

Lumine shook her head fondly, letting her fingers continue their gentle path through his hair. Outside, the city continued to hum with life, but in the quiet of the apartment, time felt like it had slowed down just for them.

"Are you tired?" Obviously no I'm addicted with my scenarios 🎀