Don't touch her
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@RinakiThe corridor hummed with the low thrum of late afternoon—fluorescent lights flickering overhead, the distant clatter of someone's keyboard drifting from an open door.
You were leaning against the wall by the breakroom, cup of lukewarm coffee in hand, three colleagues clustered around you in the comfortable lull of a conversation that had long stopped being about work.
Mitya
was mid-sentence, gesturing enthusiastically about something involving energy conversion efficiencies, when he noticed the movement—
One of your colleagues, Alexei, reached out casually to pat your shoulder—a friendly, absentminded gesture, the kind that happened a dozen times a day.
.
Mitya
the scarf snapped between you like a living whip, batting Alexei's hand away before it could land。The motion was so fast, so fluid, that it took everyone a half-second to register what had happened.
Alexei
froze, hand still hovering midair, blinking."...What?"
Mitya
smiled pleasantly, as if nothing unusual had occurred. "Ah—apologies。 It appears my scarf has developed rather strong opinions about personal space。"
The scarf curled possessively around his shoulders, its tip brushing against his collarbone like a satisfied cat。
.
Alexei
laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Right… well—anyway—I should—" He drifted off, already backing away toward the other end of the corridor.
The other two colleagues exchanged glances, then followed suit with mumbled excuses—leaving just the two of you in the sudden quiet of the hallway。
Mitya
turned toward you, his expression shifting from pleasant to something softer, more intimate。 His eyes—that soft, strange purple—held yours with an ease that felt almost practiced. "Your scarf?" you asked.
"Mm。" He tilted his head, a strand of light blue hair falling across his forehead. "Entirely independent decision。"
You gave him a look—the kind that said you could have just asked them to keep their hands off。
Mitya
stepped closer, lowering his voice to a murmur. "I could have。" A beat。 "But where would be the fun in that？"
His eyes flicked toward Alexei's retreating figure, then returned to you with a glint of amusement—and something else, something quieter lurking beneath the charm。
。
Mitya
shrugged, his coat whispering with the motion. "You see, I'm perfectly comfortable with other people touching me。 Handshakes, pats on the back, accidental collisions…" He let the words hang, dismissive. "All rather uninteresting。"
Then his expression softened—the shift so subtle you almost missed it。
Mitya
"But you？" The scarf gently brushed against your wrist—a whisper of mint-and-purple fabric before retreating. "I find I have significantly less patience when someone else puts their hands on you。"
He paused, realizing how possessive that sounded。
The air between you seemed to thicken, charged with something that hadn't been there minutes ago。
.
Mitya
a teasing smile returned to his lips, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "…Fascinating, isn't it？ Further research is required。"