[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Bond Progress with Nyssa: +5%
—Observation Tier Active
—Mood Detected: Heightened Interest.
—Proximity Suggested: Decrease Physical Distance.
—Optional: Gentle physical intimacy(eg:, brushing hand, shared object, lowered voice.)
I ignore the pop ups. Barely.
"You're staring" I said.
"She tilted her, seemingly unbothered. "So are you."
"...Yeah," I admitted. "Hard not to."
She didn't move. But something in her eyes flickered—like a switch had been flipped behind them.
"You're still wearing the same pants," she noted dryly.
"Didn't want to push my luck. New shirt's already a little snug."
Her gaze dipped—just for a second.
I noticed.
Apparently, so did the system.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
—Trait Upgrade Unlocked: Proxemic Read.
You can now instinctively sense comfort or resistance during close interactions.
Useful. Dangerous. Tempting.
"I'll get more clothes tomorrow," I said. "Unless you're secretly enjoying the view."
She didn't rise the bait immediately.
But then—gods help me—she smirked.
It was small. Barely there.
But it was real.
"You're lucky I'm tired," She said. "Or i'd make you regret that sentence."
"Oh?" I leaned forward slighlt. "And what would that regret involve?"
Nyssa rolled onto her side, facing the wal—but not before i caught the faintest flush at the tip of her ears.
"Sleep" She muttered. "Before i decided to suffocate you after all."
"I'm not sure i'd stop you."
Another beat passed. Just breathing. Just quiet.
And beneath it, something unsaid.
A low thrum of tension that hadn't been there a few days ago. Or maybe it had. Maybe we'd just ignored it until now.
I lay back on the cot, close enough to hear her shift under the blanket, close enough to feel the warmth she radiated between us.
Another moment of comfortable silence enveloped the room.
And then—
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
—Host is reluctant to follow the tutorial.
—Initiating forced progression.
I turned my head slightly on the cot, just enough to catch her silhouette in the dim light.
She hadn't moved much. Still curled beneath the blanket. Still facing away.
But her breathing wasn't quite steady anymore.
Neither was mine.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
—Heightened mutual awareness detected.
—Initiating Bond Resonance.
—Touch-Linked Feedback enabled for next physical interaction.
I closed my eyes. Willed the damn thing away.
But the air between us had already shifted—too thick, too charged to ignore now.
"Nyssa," I said, quieter this time.
She didn't answer right away. Just that rustle of fabric again—shoulders drawing slightly back. Like she was bracing for something. Or inviting it.
I sat up slowly, letting the mattress creak under my weight as I turned toward her.
"If I said I wasn't tired," I murmured, "would that be enough of a reason?"
She shifted onto her back, blanket slipping off her shoulder. Her hair fanned across the pillow in a way that looked far too deliberate for someone who claimed to want sleep.
"You talk too much," she whispered.
"Then shut me up."
That got her attention.
Her eyes met mine, sharp and gleaming. Not angry. Not mocking. Just intense. Focused.
Like a hunter deciding if the prey was worth the effort.
Then—without a word—she sat up.
The blanket slid down completely, leaving her in just her thin undershirt and loose pants. Her skin caught the moonlight from the crooked window, pale and marred with old scars. Real. Unapologetic.
I didn't move.
Not until she reached out.
Two fingers. Light. Brushed the edge of my jaw like she was still making up her mind.
Her thumb dragged along the line of my cheek. "You're warm," she said softly, almost surprised.
"So are you," I whispered back, voice dry.
Then she leaned in.
Not all the way—just close enough that I felt the heat of her breath on my mouth.
It would've been easy to close the gap.
But I waited.
Barely.
I watched her hesitate for the first time in hours.
And then—finally—she kissed me.
It wasn't tentative.
It wasn't shy.
It was like a dam breaking.
Her hand curled into my shirt, dragging me forward as her mouth crashed into mine—hungry, sharp, unfiltered. And I matched it. Matched her pace, her bite, the heat she hadn't let anyone see until now.
We broke apart for a breath, her forehead resting against mine. Our lips tingling, swollen from the kiss.
Her voice was rough now. "Don't make me regret this."
I smiled, brushing my hand along her waist, tugging her closer until our legs tangled on the cot.
"I won't."
And then I kissed her again—deeper this time.
Slower.
Her hand slid into my hair. Mine traced the edge of her hip, savoring the way she curved into my touch like she didn't want to stop.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
—Bond milestone reached: Threshold 30%
—Next Tier Unlock Pending…
I shoved the notification aside with my mind, barely registering it.
And this time, neither of us pulled away.