* / 𝐍𝐈𝐊𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐈 + 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐊𝐀 .
[ ✂ ]
the sheer memory of that pet name brings forth an unfathomable wave of spite. but he stays calm, stays focused. ❝ i was under the ɪᴍᴘʀᴇssɪᴏɴ that you intended to avoid us the entire night … considering how long it took you to come over. what changed? ❞ was it when he intertwined his fingers with misa’s own and tugged her along? was it the somewhat protective hand on her lower back as he guided her through the crowd? or was it the way his head dipped—hair falling to curtain his eyes, so only the most sᴜʙᴛʟᴇ smirk could be seen—to whisper sweet nothings into her ear? whatever it was, something brought ethan here & that something is surely lurking beneath that damn smile.
———
[ ✂ ]
she stays silent for the most part && lets nikolai talk, her own expression one of amusement with a pinch of 'yikes’ mixed into the pot. this was their fight now && as much as she would’ve loved to slip away under the cover of the SUFFOCATING tension in between the two, her curiousity ( && ethan’s arm) keeps her in place.
( men are so DRAMATIC. )
SEE , the issue with the whole situation derives from something he deems inherently out of his control , this possessiveness that stakes its claim as his eyes catch upon the two dates .
( the word date makes him 𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐤 )
the truth serum does not affect his bodily functions , yet there’s no real attempt in keeping his concealed emotions just that , instead basking clear against his expressions . the anger that rises inside him the moment nikolai goes to open his mouth , the hot flare of something unnamed crawling up his throat the longer he stands there . misaka -- she he can deal with , even with how whenever her eyes fall upon his figure , he feels the beginning of an itch he’ll never be able to scratch , filled with a growing embarrassment he can’t seem to squash . his usual attempts at being three steps ahead fall short whenever she’s involved , a fact that irks at him , even now . the two together , however , is when he senses control slip from his hold .
( he wonders for a moment if her choice of date was intentional before shaking the thought . )
❝ yes , well , i’m sure you know by now we’re dating , ❞ he stresses almost immediately , his free hand searching out for misaka’s hand , intertwining their fingers together with a quirk of the lips . he brings the hand up to lay the ghost of a kiss amongst her knuckles , eyes narrowing into their own smiles as he practices affection into his gaze . ❝ isn’t she just lovely ? ❞
his eyes flash towards nikolai with the birth of short lived triumph in his gaze .
the catch becomes his actions are but the direct result of seeing the two engaged within an air of intimacy clear from the distance he was at , the way the other male slipped beside his date and touched her in ways that fooled the way ethan’s insides should work . the provoked reaction from him begins to taste a lot like failure on his own end , from the insecurity that led to this very confrontation . jealousy is the work of the devil , and for once he may concede nikolai yeun might be exactly that . ( the question might better be why does the emotion strike him so , especially in this particular situation . )
❝ two housemates on a date , how . . . cute . ❞ the insincerity leans heavy near the end of his sentence , gaze bouncing between the two before setting on his girl . ❝ if i didn’t know better , i’d think yeun here was trying to snatch you up , darling . ❞ he laughs , loud and cold , at the irony of nikolai’s big bad wolf costume to misaka’s red riding hood -- it should be amusing . ❝ funny thought , isn’t it ? ❞
there’s a miniature pause , before he cocks his head to the side in thought . ❝ not that i’d put it past him . ❞
