Kiss

While Leonid was talking on the phone, Charlotte silently stared at his back, completely calm compared to the sound of the rain intensifying outside.

"I know... but it's my day off."

His voice was sharp, colder than what she was used to hearing, which made her realize he was upset. She sighed silently and leaned against the wall, but suddenly, Leonid turned toward her and, without warning, reached out to wipe the raindrops from her cheeks.

Charlotte instinctively closed her eyes as his thumb brushed against her lashes and eyebrows, as though his touch was trying to offer her some warmth amid the chill.

"Got it, I'll come immediately."

Upon hearing Leonid's angry tone, she quickly opened her eyes and looked at him. His sharp features remained composed as usual, but he seemed angry or perhaps annoyed. Still, his hand continued to gently wipe the raindrops from her face, in stark contrast to his dry tone.

"I said I understood."

Leonid repeated coldly, then ended the call without waiting for a response from the other side. He put his phone in his jacket pocket, then used both hands to clear the rain from her forehead and cheeks.

"What's wrong with your skin? Were you crying in the rain?"

Charlotte blinked at his question, quickly shaking her head while placing her hands on his wrists.

"No."

Leonid watched her silently for a moment, then sighed.

"You're completely soaked."

"I'm sorry."

His hands paused for a moment, then he gently lifted her face between his palms and forced her to look at him. The dim light from the ceiling lamp reflected in her dark eyes, and his reflection mirrored inside them like a mirror. He studied her silently before smirking sarcastically.

"Are you apologizing to me now? How polite of you, darling~."

Suddenly, he pressed his thumbs and index fingers against her cheeks and pinched them lightly, but insistently.

"Ah, ouch!"

"You bit my finger first, then called me a Idiot, and finally labeled me a villain and a madman in front of your friend. After all this, you didn't even think about apologizing to me."

"I was upset with you earlier!"

Her cheeks turned even redder under the pressure of his fingers, but Charlotte didn't dare pull away, fearing he would double the punishment.

"But now I can apologize! Just, let me go for a little, and I'll do it... please, this hurts!"

"Hurts~?"

Leonid scoffed, enjoying her small discomfort. Finally, he was getting his revenge.

"Alright."

He said calmly, lifting his hands and leaving her face.

"But I don't want a verbal apology, I want a practical one."

"Practical? What's that...?"

As soon as he released her, Charlotte rubbed her flushed cheeks, trying to ease the pain.

Leonid smiled, leaned his arm against the wall behind her, and approached her quietly. He raised his other hand, placing the finger that had been injured because of her in front of her eyes.

"Yes, practical."

He played with his finger in front of her, as if explaining his idea.

"A practical apology comes through actions. For example, when someone is angry with you, you prepare their favorite food so they will forgive you."

"What does that mean?"

Charlotte furrowed her brows in confusion.

"I want a kiss."

Leonid whispered softly over her lips, his low voice brushing against her skin like a warm current. He was in a good mood again.

"A... kiss?!"

Charlotte shuddered and tried to back away, but she collided with the wall behind her, with no escape.

"Yes, darling~"

Leonid watched her with enjoyment, amused by how quickly her face turned a bright pink. He pulled back slightly and waved his finger in front of her lips, demanding a practical apology.

"But not as you imagine, all I want is a small kiss on my finger, which almost got severed because of your sharp teeth."

"A kiss... on your finger?!"

"Yes, now kiss my finger with your tempting lips, please, Charlotte~."

Leonid whispered warmly, far from his usual coldness.

In that moment, Charlotte felt like alarm bells were ringing inside her head, while an unfamiliar warmth crept onto her cheeks. It seemed like he was asking for a kiss to heal his injured finger and heart because of her.

In her eyes, she was in an unenviable position. Could she really kiss the finger that had just been bitten by her moments ago? And besides, she wasn't the type to show empathy through touch or physical closeness in such a smooth way.

"Come on~."

He urged her cheerfully, while her cheeks burned so red she could feel her embarrassment almost visibly. She clasped her hands together, fidgeting with her fingers, trying to calm her tension, but Leonid didn't notice.

"Let me heal quickly before I go to work."

"Your work?"

Charlotte slowly lifted her gaze and met his eyes.

"Yes, I've been urgently called in, but I won't leave until you give me a practical apology."

"You're really persistent!"

"And you're really stubborn."

Charlotte pressed her lips together, and Leonid responded with a slight shrug of his shoulders before bringing his finger closer.

"It's just a kiss, but you look like you're going to melt from embarrassment."

He poked her cheeks playfully, then bent down towards her, pressing his forehead against hers.

"Do you love me, Charlotte?"

It was a surprising question that made her heart race.

"Y... yes..."

"Then, can't you give me a simple kiss?"

Leonid whispered gently, then ran his finger softly over her lips, as if it were both a rebuke and admiration at once.

"I'm waiting for you."

That touch made Charlotte freeze, her nails digging into her skin without realizing it. Slowly, she lowered her head a little, opened her lips as if to say something, but quickly pressed them together again. In an unexpected move, she bent down and kissed his finger lightly.

A fleeting kiss, barely brushing her lips against the scar her teeth had left on him.

Leonid raised an eyebrow for a moment when he felt her soft lips on his finger, but he quickly smiled.

"I feel much better."

Leonid admitted, then added warmly.

"Your apology is accepted, darling. Thank you~."

He thanked her softly, then leaned down to place a kiss on the top of her head. He didn't stop there but gave her another kiss on her temple, as if appreciating the small gesture she had barely managed to make.

Charlotte remained still, her cheeks burning intensely, then quickly raised her hands to cover her eyes, trying to hide her flustered state. The sound of her racing heartbeat echoed in her ears, as if she could hear it more clearly than anything else.

"Are you shy after you did that?"

Leonid gently lifted her chin and moved her hands away from her face, forcing her to look directly at him.

"You'll have to get used to this, since we'll be living together later, and we'll be sharing more than just a kiss on my finger."

His tone was low but carried a clear implication.

"That's enough!"

Charlotte muttered with irritation, then pushed him slightly away.

"Didn't you say you were in a hurry? Go to work now!"

"Alright, alright."

Leonid raised his hands in surrender, then stepped back a little.

"I'm going to work now, but you need to return to your apartment. While I'm gone, stay inside and keep yourself warm so you don't catch a cold."

"Just go!"

Charlotte replied with annoyance, though the redness in her face betrayed her fluster.

"Alright, see you later."

Leonid waved at her and quickly began descending.

Charlotte watched him descend lightly down the stairs before calling out from above.

"Are you not going to use the elevator?"

He answered without stopping.

"No, I prefer the stairs."

He continued down smoothly while Charlotte began walking down towards the eighth floor, unsure whether she should leave or watch him until he reached the ground floor.

"Wait! You didn't take your umbrella!"

Leonid smiled lightly before responding indifferently.

"No need, I can walk in the rain... just like you did earlier on the roof."

Her cheeks immediately turned red as she remembered her own actions. She had really gotten carried away.

"Alright, see you soon!"

She shouted before entering the hallway, heading slowly towards her apartment. But she suddenly stopped when she noticed someone sitting on the floor.

Charlotte lifted her eyes and froze in place. Daniel was sitting on the floor, his skin pale and hair wet, staring at her with wide, terrified eyes. He looked as though he had seen a ghost.

But wait.

Charlotte narrowed her eyes and looked down, where the fur-covered animal was stuck to the ground, as though something had fallen on it. The floor was wet, and water was seeping through the windows someone had left open.

"What is this?"

Charlotte whispered softly, her eyes widening over time.

Her vision was weak, but somehow she managed to make out Hunter lying on the ground.

"Charlotte?!"

Daniel jumped up quickly and moved toward her with outstretched arms, as if trying to reach her before she rushed forward. Tears were streaming down his cheeks, his eyes full of worry and regret, as he tried to stop her before she ran to the lifeless puppy on the cold floor.

"I'm sorry... I should have come earlier."

"Daniel, please, stay away from me."

Charlotte tried to move forward, but Daniel grabbed her arm tightly, as though he couldn't let her move away.

"I'm sorry."

"What do you mean by sorry?! Let me go! Is that puppy Hunter? Daniel, please, answer me!"