Blisteringly Romantic

Quinn refused to be put down.

But unlike her usual excuses, this time she was entirely justified.

“My feet are sore.”

She refused to release her hold around his neck as they entered the apartment building. She didn’t let go when he headed for the stairs, reconsidered, and turned toward the lift instead. She didn’t let go as they walked down the hallway.

And, as per tradition, they didn’t make it to the apartment door.

Because Sayang’s door flew open.

Out popped Sayang herself, smiling like she’d been waiting there the whole time.

“Been out for some exercise, dears?”

Jarel exhaled deeply, heart still racing from the jump scare he should’ve been used to by now.

“Oh, Aunty Sayang… I swear, how do you always know when I’m coming home?”

She smiled wistfully.

“Secret cameras.”

He hated that he couldn’t tell whether she was joking.

“Well, maybe give me a bit of warning before you pop out next time?”

She nodded cheerfully.

“Sorry, dear. Now, how was your outing?”

“It went well.”

Sayang’s gaze shifted to Quinn, who had her chin resting on the arm wrapped loosely around Jarel’s neck. She was short enough that the angle didn’t strain her at all.

“Are you alright, dearie?”

Quinn attempted to nod, failed due to physics, and settled for speaking.

“My feet hurt.”

Sayang’s eyes dropped instantly.

“Dearie… why aren’t you wearing any shoes?”

Quinn mumbled into Jarel’s shoulder.

“I don’t have any.”

Sayang’s gaze snapped to Jarel. The warmth drained just enough to make him stand a little straighter.

“Dear. Why does your fiancée not have any shoes?”

He stiffened.

“Because I only noticed today.”

Sayang studied him for a moment, then softened slightly.

“You should take better care of your wife-to-be.”

He nodded automatically.

And then realized he wasn’t just doing it to appease the feisty old woman.

He was doing it for the demon on his back too.

He could feel the steady thump of her heart against him. It was muted, but present - softened slightly by the generous advantage she’d been gifted in the chest department. He very deliberately chose not to question the design choices of the cosmic being that had put her together.

Sayang smiled again, satisfied.

“Well then. Tomorrow, we go shopping.”

“For shoes?” he asked carefully.

“For shoes,” she confirmed. “And perhaps a few other things.”

Quinn lifted her head just enough to nod before resting it again.

“But for now,” Sayang continued, “you need to rest. My nephew will take good care of you. You can continue ruining his life tomorrow.”

Quinn gave a weak nod.

Sayang winked.

“And once you’re better, I’ll start teaching you how to cook.”

She pointed between them.

“But only if I see some good romance on our shopping trip.”

Jarel’s heart stopped.

“W-wait. Our?”

Sayang’s wink sharpened.

“Of course. I’m coming. Did you think I’d miss this?”

He opened his mouth.

Closed it.

Had nothing.

Sayang giggled.

“Good. And Jinxia will be there too. Consider it… a test.”

Before either of them could protest, she turned on her heel, giving a little wave over her shoulder.

“Rest well!”

And just like that, she disappeared back into her apartment.

The door clicked shut.

Quinn’s heartbeat was more prominent now.

“A test?”

He nodded, still processing.

“Yeah. I think so.”

She was quiet for a moment.

“Am I going to win?”

He smiled. From the corner of his eye he could just see the tip of her nose and a few strands of silver hair.

“I’m sure.”

A second passed.

Then she squeezed her legs tighter around his waist.

“I want to go inside.”

He nodded.

“Sorry.”

It took a few minutes to actually get there. Jarel quickly discovered that putting a key in a lock while carrying a demon on your back was significantly harder than it looked. Attempting to guide her hand toward the keyhole without dropping her was worse. Eventually she figured it out herself without ever dismounting, and the door clicked open.

Following her quiet directions, he walked her to the couch and carefully set her down.

She sat upright, eyes questioning.

“What now?”

He shrugged.

“I suppose I can take a look.”

She frowned slightly.

“Do you have a-”

“I do not have a fetish.”

She stared at him. Then shrugged and lifted her feet anyway.

He knelt and examined them. They were dirty - that was obvious - and several blisters were forming along the soles and sides. Aside from that, nothing catastrophic.

“You’ve got quite a few blisters.”

She blinked.

“What are blisters?”

“Places where the skin bubbles because fluid builds up underneath.”

She shivered.

“That sounds unpleasant.”

“They heal,” he assured her.

Then a thought struck him.

“Do you have healing magic?”

She shook her head.

“I didn’t think I’d need it.”

He stared at her for a second. Who shows up to a new world without healing magic? But he let it go.

“Well, I can bandage them. You’ll just need to take it easy for a few days.”

Her expression fell.

“But then I can’t make you lazy.”

He smiled faintly.

“You also don’t want them to burst and get infected.”

She went slightly green at the word burst, but nodded.

“Okay…”

He retrieved the first aid kit, cleaned her feet carefully - which earned a few ticklish protests - and wrapped them gently in bandages. When he finished, he sat back on his heels and exhaled.

“I guess I’ll have to carry you tomorrow.”

She shifted nervously.

“I’m… alright with that.”

He looked at her, doing his best to disguise his surprise.

“You’re okay with me exerting myself to carry you?”

She gave a small nod.

“B-because then I’ll get closer to getting the cookie recipe…”

He smiled warmly.

“True. But only if we…”

He trailed off.

She lifted her head slightly, red eyes locking onto his.

“I don’t know what she wants. You have to teach me.”

He considered asking how a literal demon didn’t understand pre-marital romance, but decided some mysteries were better left alone.

“I…”

He sighed.

“She wants us to do cute things together.”

She tilted her head.

“Like?”

He braced himself.

“Like holding hands. Sitting close. Saying things that make each other smile. Getting lost in our own world.”

She frowned slightly.

“How do we get lost in our own world?”

“Well… we ignore everyone else and only focus on each other. Talk and laugh about things no one else would understand. That kind of thing. Does that make sense?”

She covered her mouth and giggled.

“Oh. I thought we went to a completely new world and physically got lost there.”

He couldn’t suppress his grin - and didn’t try to.

“You’re hopeless.”

Her expression shifted instantly to horror.

He laughed.

“No, I meant that as a joke…”

She relaxed, then laughed too.

“Oh Hell, you’re right...”

Their shared laughter warmed the already warm apartment. The tension dissolved into something softer, gentler.

As evening faded into night, Jarel found himself watching her when she wasn’t looking.

She was changing.

Not in the dramatic, world-ending way he’d expected.

But in small ways.

Intentional ways.

And not for the first time since she’d knocked on his door, he wasn’t just curious about what tomorrow would bring.

He was looking forward to it.