a tentative ,  exploratory kiss between friends . // chiyo !

kiss & tell | @fangier kisses chiyo!

she likes his smile. she's always liked it, always found it to be contagious, always found cosmo's fangs to be cute. she's never said it aloud, of course; that would be mortifying. but chiyo thinks it as they walk to her apartment. cosmo cracks a joke that has her fighting to keep her laughter quiet ( her neighbors would not appreciate being woken up by tipsy laughter at 2 am ), and as the giggles die down, she can only admire the curve of his mouth as he finishes his story about something stupid he and an old buddy got up to years ago. belatedly, chiyo realizes she's staring, turns away as heat rises to her already rosy cheeks, tries to act normal and not like she was just staring at her friend's mouth... which is really hard, actually.

she's almost certain cosmo caught her. she prays he doesn't bring it up.

" text me when ya make it home, 'kay? " her gaze is like melted chocolate as she peers up at cosmo in front of her door. " i'll be worried if ya don't. " alright, alright, he will, and chiyo fishes for her key in her bag, ignoring the disappointment beginning to worm its way into her chest. she doesn't want to say goodbye yet. but it's late. both of them need some sleep. chiyo frowns as she turns her key and hears the click of the lock. but she doesn't want to say goodbye.

she's not really sure what she intended to say when she turned around. it was an impulse, harder to push down after a few drinks; the mangaka might have gotten one last hug or offered her couch, as clingy as she felt in that moment. she doesn't really know because as annoyingly cliché as it is, she stumbles. she stumbles, cosmo catches her, and her train of thought goes completely off the rails. he smells nice, his eyes are the same shade of blue as her favorite hoody, his mouth is just as pretty up close, she doesn't mind being held as much as she really should---

how softly their lips meet, barely together for a few seconds before separating, yet it's enough for chiyo's heart to practically jump from her chest and her mind to go blank. it's enough for chiyo to let out a shaky breath before she's pressing another kiss to cosmo's pretty mouth, a shy curiosity hidden in the gentle caress. it isn't until his fingers are buried in her hair that chiyo's thoughts finally catch up to her.

this is bad. this is really bad.

chiyo pulls back with a sharp inhale, pushing against cosmo's chest in an attempt to create some distance and clear her murky mind. " you're my friend. " the words fall heavily from her lips as she looks up at him. brow furrowed, sad eyes -- apprehension and regret line every inch of her face ( she's ruined everything, hasn't she? ). " cosmo, i... i'm sorry. " don't hate me.