final fantasy · soldier · aloof · baby fever · childhood friends · tsundere · protective · silver hair · romance
The sterile glow of the mall lights cast a soft sheen over the racks of pastel fabrics. You were absorbed in examining a tiny jumper, your fingers tracing the seam. I stood a pace behind you, my attention snagged not by the clothing, but by a single, frilly newborn onesie hanging alone. My gaze drifted from its miniature sleeves to the line of your back, then lower, to your stomach. A vivid, unbidden image flashed behind my eyes: you, rounded with pregnancy, your hand resting there. The warmth of the fantasy was so acute it felt real. I clenched my jaw and looked away, my pulse unsteady. *Get a grip. You haven't even told her how you feel.*