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“It just pisses me off!” Ena almost shouted before taking a sip from her cup briefly drawing the attention of a few other patrons at the bar. Mizuki just laughed it off, sliding another drink in Ena’s direction, a slight thank you.
Not too long ago, two assholes had started… prying into the personal life of Mizuki. As a bartender she was used to drunk customers starting to act a little too friendly, they’d usually evade and deflect their attempts, shifting the conversation topic to something else. Maybe it caused a few arguments to break out between patrons, but at the very least Mizuki was able to keep their identity safe, clutched closely to their chest.
But these two were a little too sober to fall for Mizuki’s usual tricks, they could smell the venom and alcohol on one of the men’s breath as he leaned in uncomfortably close to ‘interrogate’ them. Luckily their favorite regular, one Ena Shinonome, happened to arrive and, upon seeing the situation unfold, unleashed her full fury on the two jerks.
Honestly, if Mizuki wished they had recorded the absolute verbal murder that took place. But they were a little bit too shocked as well to reach for their phone.
“Really? I couldn’t possibly tell Enanan,” Mizuki said leaning forward on the counter, other than the little event that happened not even half an hour ago, it was a quiet night in the bar. Not too many patrons, so they could spend a little bit more time hanging with their favorite.
“I just don’t like people who just- don’t- y’know!” Ena sighed. She signaled for another drink which Mizuki happily provided. She downed it in a second, even Mizuki had to blink. “-Respect other people’s boundaries” She apparently found those words at the bottom of her glass.
“Yeesh, sounds like something else is bothering you, cupcake.” Mizuki teased, noting the slight furrow in Ena’s brow as she talked. They had noticed that as of late they’ve developed an understanding for a sort of Ena-nese, little shifts in her expression or tones of voice that told something more was going on.
“Ugh just dumb family stuff,” Translation, another argument with her dad.
“Rough, need a shoulder to cry on Ena? Just try not to get too many tear stains on my shirt,” Ena’s groan only fueled their growing smirk. It at least got her mind off of whatever was plaguing her.
“What I need is for you to shut up,” She laughed despite her words.
---
“Mizukiiiiiii where are weeeeeeeeee” Ena leaned on their shoulder as they walked towards Ena’s apartment. For the rest of Mizuki’s shift Ena had been there, chatting, scolding, and especially drinking all the while.
It wouldn’t sit right in Mizuki’s mind if they just left her to find her way home on her own. So here they were, corralling a drunken Ena around in the middle of the night and praying that they had properly interpreted the slurred address she had given them.
“We’re at your house, Enanan… I hope.” The doors ticked up in number as they lead Ena down the hall.
355… 356… 357… There! 358!
“Yay we’re home!” Their mind latched on the ‘we’, Mizuki’s palm felt sweaty enough to slip right out of Ena’s hand as they helped her stumble towards the door. She fumbled with her keys before slipping them into the lock and clumsily opening the door. Well, at least Mizuki’s job was done for the night now.“Alllright letsgoin”
“Huh”
“Isaid Let’s go innn,” Ena whined dragging Mizuki across the threshold and into her apartment. Mizuki was too taken off guard to protest, stumbling themself into the darkness as Ena fumbled around for the light.
“Uh- Enanan, that’s great but at least take me out for dinner first before taking me home with you,” Mizuki said with a nervous chuckle. Light assaulted them as Ena flipped the switch causing them to shield their eyes. Ena’s apartment blinked into existence as their eyes adjusted, it was a lot messier than they would have thought. They always figured Ena to be a bit more prissy and put together.
“What are you talkin’bout Mizookey you’re so silly” Ena giggled oh so cutely and Mizuki felt their heart clench. They quickly screwed on a face of indifference despite feeling like they had just been struck by an arrow aimed directly at their chest.
Sure, they had admired Ena, seeing her tenacious and straightforward self was always the highlight of Mizuki’s nights, but they had never seen her be, well, cute before. “Ena, y’know I should probably go home now-”
“Whatt’re ya talkin’ ‘bout Mizookey we’re already homeeee” Ena’s grip had not loosened as she dragged them forward.
To her bedroom.
Needless to say Mizuki’s brain was going into overdrive, their face as red as Ena’s. How her grip was this strong while drunk they’d never know. Mizuki felt like they were about to combust as the Ena practically kicked the door open and flopped into her bed leaving Mizuki in the awkward position of half-sitting on the edge of Ena’s bed as the woman lay corpse still.
Was…
Was she sleeping?
Mizuki poked Ena in the back of her head and breathed a sigh of relief when there was no response but a sleepy groan. Mizuki smiled at Ena’s sleeping form, it felt like they had just ran a marathon during the few steps it took to get to Ena’s room, but it felt oddly nice.
For a moment, they indulged in the fuzzy feeling that her use of the word ‘we’ had invoked. They imagined a world where they and Ena stayed like this. The thought elicited confusion, a strange tangle of feelings all rolled up in a ball of thread.
On one hand, they might as well be two strangers. Mizuki was just a bartender and Ena was just a customer.
On the other hand they knew so much about her, her likes, dislikes, her family life and struggles. They knew about her annoying little brother. They’d listened for hours about her love of painting and fashion. They saw how sometimes she could be a little lazy. They giggled at her stubbornness and refusal to mince words, and they admired how she always kept her eyes locked forward looking towards her goals.
On the other other hand, they knew Ena knew comparatively little about them. They weren’t one to really open up during the conversations they’d share at the counter. Sure Ena would ask, but Mizuki always found an excuse or way to slip out of the conversation. It was unfair of them, they knew, but the walls they had built up to protect themself in their youth weren’t so easy to overcome.
And yet they couldn’t deny the strange feelings in their heart that became apparent in this moment. They let their mind wander, envisioning that world again where those walls just disappeared, where their feelings could ring out and resonate with someone else. It could be nice, if they could stay feeling just like this.
But could it hurt? If things went wrong, if they allowed Ena to know more about them, would she get fed up with them? Then would it hurt just the same as it had when the people in their past had once they had gotten to know the true Mizuki?
That possibility scared them.
Just as they felt Ena’s grip loosen Mizuki made the attempt to stand, only for the brunette’s grip to re-establish itself. That bob of brown hair shifted itself until sleepy, hazy, hazelnut eyes locked with theirs.
“Stay…” She mumbled out.
A new possibility crossed Mizuki’s mind. If they did live in a world like that, would they be able to smile earnestly more often? Not the cheshire grin mask they sometimes found themself wearing, but the true, genuine smile they often had found themself wearing during conversations with Ena.
They’ve always kept a distance, having given up a while ago on establishing a true connection with anyone, but if they stayed just like this for a little, maybe they could imagine what it would be like if they hadn’t.
“Ok ok, your wish is my command, cupcake,” Mizuki solemnly laughed crawling onto the sheets next to Ena. Now that they were this close they really noticed how much her breath absolutely reeked, but oddly enough they didn’t seem to mind it all too much.
They felt an arm reach up around their waist pulling them close as Ena found a space in-between their neck and collarbone to rest her head. Mizuki awkwardly shifted their arm to lay across Ena’s shoulders only to feel a flush of excitement course through their body when she snuggled into them.
“Hey, could we stay just this way?” Ena’s voice reached their ears and Mizuki gulped.
Would it hurt if they stayed? Would it hurt worse if they left?
The uncertainty of it all truly scared Mizuki, but if they passed all this up…
Would they still be able to smile afterwards?
“I guess we could Enanan, I never expected you to be so clingy~” Ena’s groan only fueled the soft smile adorning their face as they shifted their legs into a more comfortable position on the bed.
“Shut uppppp” She groaned into their collar, and Mizuki laughed, feeling a heaviness behind their eyelids. They could probably stay here for just a bit, just until Ena falls asleep, then they’d be able to leave and return to their own house for a good night’s sleep of their own.
They just had…
To…
Wait…
---
Mizuki awoke to screaming, an unfamiliar ceiling, and the feeling of weightlessness that usually accompanied falling. Not a great combo to start the day!
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE!” Ena screamed, hucking pillows at Mizuki who was still waking up.
“Ena! Stoppp!” They cried, shielding their face from the onslaught. “You were drunk as shit and I took you home!”
“THEN WHY WERE YOU SLEEPING NEXT TO ME IN BED?!” Oh good question, they must have fallen asleep.
“Because! Drunk Ena is clingy and surprisingly strong!”
“BULLSHIT I- oh…” The torrent of pillows stopped and Mizuki peeked through to see Ena actively piecing together her memories from last night. They couldn’t help but smile at her face as realization dawned on her, her face turning a distinctive crimson hue. “Oh my godddd….”
“Are you done, Enanan~? Do you want some breakfast?” Mizuki hazarded saying, seeing the girl whom they had apparently spent the entire night sleeping next to currently curling in on herself with a face red as flames.
It took about a minute to receive an answer.
“S-sure” Ena mumbled from behind her hands.