Ling was watching the screen, but she wasn't really watching it anymore.
Rhea's hand slowly lifted, hesitant at first, fingers brushing Ling's jaw like she wasn't sure she was allowed to touch her anymore. Ling felt it instantly—every nerve waking up. She froze for half a second, breath catching.
Rhea tilted her head back just enough to look at her. No teasing this time. No sarcasm. Just quiet, serious Rhea.
Her thumb traced Ling's jawline softly. "You're thinking too much," Rhea murmured.
Ling swallowed. "You started it."
Rhea didn't answer. She leaned up instead and pressed a small, gentle kiss to Ling's jaw—right where she'd been holding all her emotions together.
Ling's eyes closed.
That was it.
She turned Rhea toward her, one hand firm at her waist, pulling her closer so there was no space left to doubt anything. "Don't do that if you don't mean it," Ling said quietly.
Rhea looked at her, lips parted. "I mean it."
Ling didn't tease. Didn't joke. She leaned down and kissed Rhea—slow, deliberate, like she was afraid of breaking something fragile between them.
Rhea stiffened for just a heartbeat, then melted into it, her hands sliding up Ling's shoulders, gripping the fabric there like she needed the contact to stay grounded.
Ling pulled back just a fraction, forehead resting against Rhea's. "You're real," she said, not asking.
Rhea breathed out. "I'm here, aren't I?"
Ling kissed her again, softer this time. "You scare me."
Rhea whispered, "You scare me too."
Ling huffed a quiet laugh against her lips. "Good. Then we're even."
Rhea smiled faintly, brushing her nose against Ling's. "You still owe me for the emotional damage of this movie."
Ling glanced at the paused screen. "I warned you not to talk."
Rhea kissed her once more, quick and light. "Worth it."
Ling pulled her back into her arms, chin resting on Rhea's shoulder, holding her like she wasn't letting go tonight—or any night after that.
After a while she reached for the remote and switched the TV off completely. The sudden silence felt loud.
Rhea leaned back against her chest. "Hey— I was emotionally recovering."
Ling's arms tightened around her. "No more movies. We need to talk."
Rhea groaned dramatically. "That sentence has never led to anything good."
Ling tilted her head, lips near Rhea's ear. "Liar. You love when I talk."
Rhea smirked. "Only when you flirt."
Ling scoffed. "I don't flirt."
Rhea turned halfway, eyebrow raised. "You climbed a millionaire mansion wall twice, injured your hand, emotionally tortured my mother, and think you don't flirt?"
Ling clicked her tongue. "That was commitment."
"To harassment," Rhea shot back.
Ling laughed, low and soft, the kind she only used with Rhea. "See? You're smiling. You were mad ten minutes ago."
Rhea sighed, fingers tracing absent lines on Ling's arm. "I'm still mad."
"Liar again."
Rhea glanced up. "I can be mad and still want to sit here."
Ling hummed approvingly. "Good choice."
Rhea poked her ribs. "Don't get proud."
Ling caught her hand easily, intertwining their fingers. "You came all this way. Snuck. Fell. Lied. Almost got caught. That's not anger—that's attachment."
Rhea rolled her eyes. "I came because you're stupid."
Ling grinned. "Romantic."
Rhea leaned her head back on Ling's shoulder. "You didn't reply. You disconnected my call."
Ling's teasing expression softened. "Because if I answered, I would've come back. And I was angry."
Rhea muttered, "You left anyway."
Ling corrected gently, "I walked away so I wouldn't say something worse."
Rhea was quiet for a beat. Then, softer, "I didn't mean what I said."
"I know," Ling replied immediately. "But you hurt me anyway."
Rhea swallowed. "I panicked."
Ling's thumb rubbed slow circles on the back of Rhea's hand. "You always do when things feel real."
Rhea glanced at her. "You say that like you've studied me."
Ling smirked. "I have. You pretend to be sharp so no one sees you're scared."
Rhea scoffed. "And you pretend to be reckless so no one sees you're careful."
Ling blinked, caught. "That was uncalled for."
Rhea smiled faintly. "Accurate, though."
Ling leaned in, voice low and playful again. "So… we're done fighting?"
Rhea tilted her head. "Define done."
Ling nudged her knee with hers. "No leaving. No windows. No dramatics."
Rhea laughed. "You're the dramatic one."
Ling gasped. "Excuse me?"
"You literally announced you'd fall to impress my mother."
Ling shrugged. "Did it work?"
Rhea snorted. "She's still deciding whether to disown me."
Ling beamed. "Progress."
Rhea shook her head, then turned more fully, sitting sideways now. "Why do you tease so much?"
Ling met her gaze. "Because when you're annoyed, you're honest."
Rhea narrowed her eyes. "You provoke me on purpose."
"Always," Ling admitted shamelessly.
Rhea leaned closer. "Dangerous habit."
Ling's lips curved. "You still came."
Rhea paused, then quietly, "Yes."
Ling lifted her free hand, brushing Rhea's hair back from her face. "Stay tonight."
"I already am."
"No," Ling said softly. "Stay—mentally."
Rhea exhaled, resting her forehead against Ling's. "Then stop doing things that scare me."
Ling answered just as quietly. "Then stop pretending you don't care."
They stayed like that for a moment, breathing the same air.
Then Rhea broke it, grinning. "So… since you turned the movie off—what now?"
Ling raised an eyebrow. "Conversation. Teasing. Flirting."
Rhea pretended to think. "Hmm. Flirting how?"
Ling leaned in, voice low, confident again. "Like this— you look better when you're not running away."
Rhea scoffed, cheeks warm. "That was terrible."
Ling smiled. "You blushed."
Rhea poked her chest. "Try again."
Ling didn't hesitate. "You came to my room limping just to argue with me. That's the most dangerous kind of loyalty."
Rhea swallowed. "…Better."
Ling smirked. "My turn to tease— you took mirror selfies in my shirt, didn't you?"
Rhea froze. "How do you—"
Ling laughed. "Your silence answered."
Rhea groaned and buried her face in Ling's shoulder. "I hate you."
Ling kissed her hair. "No, you don't."
Rhea muttered, "Annoyingly correct."
Ling pulled her closer again, relaxed now. "Good. Because we're talking all night."
Rhea sighed, content despite herself. "Fine. But if you tease too much—"
Ling cut in smoothly, "—you'll still stay."
Rhea smiled into her shoulder. "Unfortunately… yes."