He closed his eyes, waiting for the impact. But instead of slapping him, I reached out and pinched both of his cheeks.
His eyes shot open, startled, before he glared at me. I couldn't help it — laughter burst out of me. "Why do you always take things so seriously? I told you it's fine."
He caught my hands and gently pushed them away, clearing his throat as he looked to the side. "I take things seriously to ensure there are no slip-ups."
That tone was all discipline and composure, but I didn't notice the faint blush coloring the tips of his ears.
"Anyways, are you ready?" Kairos asked, his tone returning to its usual composed calm.
"Yeah," I nodded.
"Good." He rose smoothly to his feet, dusting off his coat. "Follow me. Magellan's already waiting for us."
I followed him through the dim forest trail, the faint sunlight flickering through the canopy. Eventually, I spotted Magellan leaning lazily against a tree, waving as soon as he saw me.
