Your POV

Sweat rolled down the side of your face while you tried your best to concentrate on decoding the cipher that stood before you. Currently Martha had been containing the hunter, while you, Naib and Aesop were decoding. There were two ciphers left and Martha had already been hit once.

Aesop ran up to you and began to aid you, he seemed as though it was hard for him to be around you as he tried to focus on decoding you could tell he was anxious as his hands were shaking lots.

You were unsure whether you could help him calm down and finish the cipher in time. Deciding on behalf of The Coordinator you'd keep on decoding, hoping to finish before she got struck again.

"Did you manage to run into Martha before?" you asked him, still somewhat unsure of how his skill worked.

He only 'mmm'ed in response. That was to be expected from him, Aesop was never one to really talk to anyone, he'd rather keep his distance from any living person and you understood that. While you were typing on the machine your hand brushed against his which caused him to jolt backwards in nervousness and the machine shocked you both for a second. The hunter was alerted to where you both are and if he gave up chasing the coordinator he'd surly be after you both next.

You glanced at him briefly only to see him gazing at his hands in disappointment.
"Hey it's okay, we all make mistakes. C'mon we're almost done!" you tried to reassure him. He couldn't bring himself to look you in the eyes, slowly holding his shaking hands upwards he tried to help you decode again.

The siren went off and you grabbed Aesop's hand, dragging him along with you to the exit gate. Quickly entering the passcode you opened the gate.

"I think the hunter has detention!" you glanced at him worriedly. Aesop seemed to be glancing at you but looking away anytime you'd notice. You found it rather cute, though you'd never say something like that to him. He'd probably run away from you if you did.

Naib came running towards you both at the gate but it seemed Martha had been chaired. Smiley stood near her chair so you knew he was camping.
"I'll go get her!" Naib exclaimed, ready to go save the coordinator.

"I'll come too then!" you started running in the direction of the girl and the hunter.

Aesop stood at the gate, unsure if he were to follow or get out.
Once you'd gotten close Smiley, he targeted you. Running after you and bonking you once, you were incapacitated.

Damn he did have detention.

While the hunter took you as bait Naib rescued Martha and they both made it near the gate so you knew they'd get out. The hunter came to pick you up but your body turned into black goo and suddenly you were reborn into a coffin near the gate. Aesop stood nearby, waiting for you to get out. You were confused but summed it up to this being his skill.

While you were being chased Aesop summoned a coffin and began embalming you since he could tell you'd sacrifice yourself for the others. It was as though he memorised every one of your features. He enjoyed embalming you, meticulously recreating you into the coffin.

"I-I was worried." he grabbed your hand and began pulling you with him.

Trying your best to hide your flushed state by covering your face with one hand while you ran, you hadn't expected him to boldly grab you.
You both made it to the gate with Martha and Naib. Wasting to time, you all got out and made it back to the Manor.

Aesop made a bee line straight to his room the moment he arrived but you grabbed his hand gently, which caused him to pull back frightened.

"Thank you for saving me earlier!" you gave him a heart warming smile. You couldn't tell but under his mask he was surely blushing different shades of red.

"N-no problem." his voice was deep but soft at the same time, he averted his eyes to the ground as to not stare at you directly.

"Would you like some tea? I could make some for us." you stretched out your hand, offering for him to grab it. The Embalmer nervously placed his hand in yours as you led him into the kitchen.

While you poured water in the kettle and placed it on the stove to boil, Aesop sat nearby fiddling with his fingers under the table.

You knew he was beyond nervous being around you, but him agreeing to come out with you was enough to know he wasn't all that anxious to be here.

"I hope you don't mind, I added a sugar by mistake." you handed him the cup of tea and sat next to him.

"It's okay." he graciously took the cup. You gazed at him as he pulled his mask down, admiring his features.

"About earlier, your skill is really awesome! I think it's pretty cool." you complimented him on how he saved you using his embalming.

"you do?" Aesop gawked at you, seemingly surprised. "you don't think it's weird..?"

"Not at all!" you smiled, he could feel his heart rate begin to accelerate. The silver haired male looked away from you in attempt to hide his expression.

He's so cute..

"T-thanks." he stuttered, you could barely hear him. For some reason you felt the urge to envelop his arm into a loose hug while you leaned onto his shoulder.

There was no denying that your face was adorned with a dust of pink. You felt something for him, there was an obvious attraction, but there was also fear of him rejecting your affection due to being scared of you.

"You're a really nice guy, Aesop." you clung onto him.
Out of nervousness he cleared his throat, about to say something but he held his tongue. Glancing over at you, the anxious embalmer placed his hand on your head, brushing back your hair gently.

"I think you are quite lovely aswell, (y/n)."

Hearing his words was somehow deathly, you hadn't expected him to be the least bit bold. Your heart began beating as if it would jump out of your chest. Beginning to feel warm all over you released yourself from his arm, giving yourself some room to calm down before he noticed how flustered you were.

While your hands were shaking you spilt some of the tea onto yourself and the table. You hissed at the pain of the hot liquid that burnt your hand. "S-sorry!" you exclaimed, as you hurried to try and clean the mess.

"Are you okay?" he stood up, instantly checking your hand. His usually expressionless face was now stuck with worry.

He held your hand gently as your eyes glossed over. Aesop gazed into your (e/c) orbs and tried his best to help ease the pain.

A tear made its way down your cheek and using his other hand he wiped it away. "It's okay (y/n). I'll get something cold for it." he stepped away as you face-palmed yourself.

How'd you manage to burn yourself? He must think you're an idiot!

"Y-you don't have to, I'll be okay." you attempted to push him away so he wouldn't trouble himself with your mess up.

"It's fine." he protested. Refusing to let you deal with it on your own. It made you realize he cared for you, in his own way. You couldn't contain the feeling that bubbled up in your chest, as through it was going to explode.

"Aesop I like you!" you blurted out without thinking. Nervousness seemed to consume him once more as he stopped dead in his tracks.

Something panged your heart and you regretted saying it instantly, knowing you probably overwhelmed him you retracted your hand. Unknowingly you began crying and it wasn't until he pulled you into a tight embrace did you even notice.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything!" you tried to pull away but he wouldn't let you.

"(y/n) don't be sorry, I like you too.." you heard the whispers of soft his voice in your ear. Somehow it calmed you, causing your tears to stop. Your arms made it around him.

"I thought you wouldn't.. If I'm being honest I thought I bothered you most of the times I tried to talk to you.." you admitted how you felt with a sigh at the end.

"I-I thought it was nice. You're an interesting person, but I thought you would find me weird.."

You looked at him in the eyes and placed your hand on the side of his face, cupping his cheek. He leaned into your palm and it made your heart melt.

"Not once did I think there was anything wrong with you!" a bright smile made its way onto your face.

Somewhere in the middle of this you saw the corner of his lips curled up into a subtle smile. It was enough to make you gittery.

"I-is your hand okay?" he brought you back to the current situation, you hadn't even felt any pain anymore. The feeling of your heart about to give in outshone anything else.

"It will be! Thank you for caring!" you placed a gentle kiss on his cheek and began to back away.

"O-of course, please be more careful.. I don't like seeing you get hurt." Aesop blushed furiously as his fingers gently traced over his cheek, still processing what happened.

"I'll see you later, Aesop." you gave him another ginger smile as you made it up the stairs and into your room quickly.

Jumping onto your bed you squealed excitedly into the pillows.

I can't believe it! He likes me too!!