he lost eric . don’t ask him how because merlin knows he’s been fairly observant of his surroundings and it HAD to be the other boy’s fault he was stuck awkwardly half-bouncing to the music with clement zhao of all people , unable to stand still long enough without a goal in mind . ( no , not really , it was completely his own fault ) .
“ hey , ” he starts off lamely , mouth opening to say more until he realizes his mind is pretty empty , lips pursing almost immediately after . he bops his head to the beat and looks around the room , eyes washing over a scene he’s not really taking in . clement . . . well , he’s seen daniel at some of his worst , stuttering and stumbling , embarrassment flushing hot in his body because there’s something about the other that invokes his worst senses , a force keen on making him mortified and forced to scurry off and take note that clement zhao was TO BE AVOIDED and AT ALL COSTS . yet , despite himself and all the warning bells going off in his head , the moment his eyes turn back to his new companion at his side , his gaze zooms almost immediately to the dreaded spot .
his ears .
he swallows quietly , wills himself to move in any direction , to find eric or something as equally distracting because dear GOD , he’s gonna do it — he’s gonna do it and never look the other in the face again , and — oh . too late .
the realization more or less settles in after he’s already pinching the other’s ears , the whole moment almost anti-climatic . he should probably let go , or at least try to phrase the humiliation that should be running through his veins at that very moment . INSTEAD , instead he stays in his spot , nodding slowly as if in thought . “ i’ve always wanted to do that . ” he smiles . “ so cute . ”
he’s gonna hate himself in the morning . ( @psikey )