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At some point, Chai had put up mistletoe. He must've thought he was being sneaky or something, pretending to do something else any time Peppermint looked his way. But it was obvious what he was up to. He couldn't be stealthy even if his life was on the line. She has proof.
She's not sure why he was trying to hide it from her, anyway. She doesn't really care. The hideout is busier than it once was, sure, but it's still only the two of them most of the time. It's in kind of a bad spot, too. In the back, dangling near the middle of the mural. Out of the way, where nobody really stands. She has no clue why he thought there would be a good spot for it. Suffice to say, no one is going to get caught under it.
...Well, normally.
Lately, she's found herself standing under it. Usually when she doesn't have much to do, or is lost in thought.
It's...stupid. And silly. But she keeps hoping someone (preferably Korsica) will walk up to her while she's there, and get caught.
So far? No dice. It's not like she was seriously expecting anything to happen, though...
That's what she thinks to herself now, standing under the mistletoe yet again. Until a voice and approaching footsteps derail her train of thought.
"Why do you keep standing over here lately? I know the mural's pretty, and you’re right to be proud of it n’ all, but you see it, like, every day," Chai says.
He stops right in front of her. Peppermint’s eyes widen.
She glances up.
...Just above their heads, the mistletoe gently sways...
She should be disappointed. Shouldn’t she...?
Peppermint decides she'll unpack that later.
Shaking her head to clear her mind of that matter, a smirk spreads across her face. She tries not to laugh.
"Chai."
"Yeah?"
She looks up again. This time, she tilts her head back. Tilting his own head, he follows her line of sight.
Their eyes meet a moment later. His are wider than saucers. Cheeks turning pink, he shifts from foot-to-foot. It's kinda...cute.
"How'd you get caught under your own mistletoe?"
A brief moment passes.
"I...uh...can I be honest?"
She quirks a brow.
"...I...sorta...maybe...forgot...?"
No longer able to hold it back, Peppermint bursts out laughing. His shoulders raise up to his ears and he looks away, his lips pursing.
“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up,” he mutters.
Ask, and ye shall receive; she laughs for a good while.
"Well,” she eventually says once she’s caught her breath, “that's too bad for you. Guess we gotta kiss now."
His Adam's apple bobs. "...Guess so."
Brows raising, she lets out a soft sound. Then, smirk returning, she shuts her eyes, leans up and in—
Chai meets her halfway. Once again, her brows go up.
...His lips are chapped.
They pull away a moment later.
Oh, he's redder than a tomato. She giggles. His eyes widen, and he huffs, crossing his arms.
“Quit laughing at me!”
“Sorry!” she says through her laughter.
“You’re not sorry at all!” he exclaims, though there’s a small smile on his face.
“I am! It’s just—“ Her own snickering cuts her off.
“Just what?”
“Oh, come on! You look like a tomato! If it were me getting all flustered, you’d be laughing, too!”
There’s a pause.
Then, rubbing the back of his neck, he sighs, still smiling, and says, “You’re not wrong.”