Pairing: Caine x gn! reader
Summary: Before going on any adventure, the ringmaster has to wish you good luck!
Tags: sfw, establish relationship, fluff, very cutesy and very soft, they/them pronouns for reader, they/them pronouns for Zooble, Caine I miss you
W.C: 1.3k ⟡ A/N: png credits at bottom of post. Coming backing from a writer's block, so I'm sorry if the fic feels 'stiff' but I need this after episode 8. My sweet boy!
The bright colours of the usual oval-shaped portal appear at the click of Caine's fingers, as he quickly shoves Zooble, who rightfully complains the whole time, through to participate in today's adventure, and thus kick-starts the wacky day you're about to experience.
"Have fun now, my superstars!" Caine cheerily chants as he floats above, supervising the group's departure.
You stand near the end of the group intentionally, sparing a secretive glance towards Caine before drifting back to watch Gangle and Kinger enter next. Your relationship with Caine is newly formed, and so far, it has been kept hidden from the others. You're not sure how they would react, and would rather not face any potential outlash. So, it's moments like these with them around that you're unsure of how to hold yourself.
You've said nice things towards Caine in front of them before; it's what caught Caine's attention. But now in a relationship, are you met to say ' bye, honey' as you’re leaving? You doubt that'll end well with Jax, Ragatha and Pomni still around. You slowly shuffle towards the portal, watching Ragatha walk towards it after sharing some reassurance to Pomni, which you were too zoned out to hear. But she gets tripped by Jax and lands with a thud on the ground.
"Oops," Jax snickered at Ragatha, entering the portal without bothering to help.
"Jax!" Ragatha shouts as you and Pomni help her up.
"Wow, that's the spirit! Showing some enthusiasm for the adventure! Off you go now!" Caine waves impatiently. His comment caused Ragatha and Pomni to share an unsure look as they didn’t want to correct Caine on Jax’s behavior. You can't help but to let your eyes narrow in suspicion as you take note that he seems pushy today. Well, more than usual. Meeting your eyes, Caine blinks innocently.
"You're coming?" Pomni ask, cutting off your train of thought. You turn to see that Ragatha is gone, leaving you as the last two.
"Yeah, I'll be right behind you." You nod reassuringly. Watching her hesitate as she glances towards Caine before leaving.
Now alone, you have your chance to act on those thoughts in the safety of privacy, but you're still unsure of what to do. You want to do something sweet, something couple-like, but you don’t want to take long enough that the others grow wary. Thankfully, you don't have to overthink it as Caine makes the choice for you.
"Not so fast!" Hands grab your waist in an instant, and pull you away from the portal with such speed that your feet stumble as you struggle to keep up.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Caine asks in a sing-song manner. He presses your back to his chest as he floats, lifting you up in his excitement, and spins you around before settling you back down. As your feet touch the ground, you realize your now facing towards him, you didn’t even noticed when, or how he flipped you. But you do notice his arms still firmly wrap around your waist.
"Um, I love you?" You answer, feeling your brain spinning from the act. That was definitely not what you had planned on saying, and the infliction in your voice at the end makes it sound more like a question being asked with the same clueless tone a husband would have on a forgotten anniversary.
"No, silly,-" Caine doesn't finish his tease as he suddenly blue screens. He becomes motionless, his arms locked around you as his eyes display a blue 'error' message. You have said these three magic words before, while confessing your feelings towards the ringmaster, and got the same reaction. You learnt that you can't escape his hold when he blue screens, no matter how hard you try to wiggle free. You spend this time waiting for him to return to normal by fiddling with his bow tie.
You lazily spin the bow tie, watching it spin as it lets out a circus tune.
"WOWIE!" He shakes himself awake, his eyes appearing to sparkle in adoration, "What display of bold affectio- Hey!" his eyes return to normal as he hears the familiar tone of his bow tie. He huffs in affectionate annoyance as he quickly compose himself, bringing a hand to stop his bow tie from spinning.
"Now, back to what I was saying!" he brings his hand back to your waist, "You're forgetting you're good luck kiss! Crucial for any successful adventure!” Caine happily explains and process to press his teeth against your face. It’s hard to tell if it’s the bottom or top row of teeth he's pressing against you as you squeeze your eyes shut in reflex. Feeling a smooth texture pressed onto the entirety of your face, followed by a loud, dramatic “Mwah!” for bonus effect.
Caine pulls back from the chaste kiss with the same dramatic flair he always carries, and it seems he's ready to send you off on the adventure. You watch as his chest rises as if taking a deep breath before launching into his next bit. You know for a fact that the breathing is solely for appearance's sake, and you're expecting to hear another joke. Or a cheerful goodbye with lots of energy, as he clumsily attempts at being 'charming' by saying odd nick names, that will still somehow have you swooning.
Instead, he watches you. A beat passes. You let out a confused chuckle as the air shifts. Then, in a hurry, murmur that sounds more for himself than for you; "Just one more." Caine leans in again for another kiss. Then another, and another, and another that you’re more than happy to return.
It's by Ragatha calling your name once the NPC has finish explaining the purpose of the adventure, she grabs the group's attention. Her gaze on the still-open portal in confusion before turning to the group, "Where are they?"
"They said they'll be right out." Pomni mumbles, coming to stand next to Ragatha. Right in time, as movement is seen by the portal.
"Oh, there they are! Hey!" Kinger waves as you exit the portal; it closing behind you.
"Hey, guys." You greet the group with a stiff smile. Doing your best to appear normal, and not like you had a quick make-out with the AI ringmaster. You are greeted with a tense silence and horror-streaked expressions instead. Everyone stares with comically wide eyes. Those with visible mouths have their jaw drops, you weren't aware that Jax's could drop to the literal ground.
Everyone appears in a state of shock that even Gangle's Comedy mask, which is wide eye as well, drops off and breaks upon impact on the ground. Revealing her Tragedy mask that is also, with eyes wide open.
"Um, is there something behind me?" You gulp. You never thought you would say those famous words as you mistake the groups staring at you for something behind you. Becoming suspicious that the good luck kiss from Caine was a bad omen instead of a cute gesture, but Jax, with his jaw in its rightful place, let out a loud scold that dismisses the thought.
"More like what's on your fu$:&^% face!" Zooble curses in disbelief. They knew they should have stayed in their room or at least hidden better.
"What happened?!" Ragatha loudly cries, sounding nervous for you.
"Um, Caine just wanted to wish me good luck." You reply smoothly, telling a half-truth.
"Are you serious?! Caine?! What? Is that how he says good luck now?" Jax mocks as he stares at the obnoxiously bright red lipstick stains covering your face. Too many emotions running through his mind for him to capitalise on the moment and poke fun at you.
"But how? He doesn't have lips…" Pomni voice the question on everyone's mind. As everyone studies the one giant lipstick stain covering nearly the entirety of your face, followed by a layer of multiple smaller kisses. Each overlaps the other as they cover your forehead, lips and cheeks. Exhibiting a make out session where the lip size doesn't match the corrupt… Nor does it make much sense.
"What?" You ask, yet no one answers as an NPC repeats their lines. The group silently decides it's best to avoid the topic, and move on to the adventure. Allowing you to remain oblivious to your lipstick-stained face, and to discover it on your own.
divider by @/omi-resources ⟡ Kiss png by @tulipdotcafe
I AM GOING TO EXPLODE i did not know this existed and i just randomly came across it in walmart ,, this is the first thing wreck-it ralph (and ESPECIALLY king candy) related thing ive seen in store since. a long time. and the tag said project peppermint... i dont know how i havent seen this before until now
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