He didn't tell Hinesia everything but what he did say was enough to paint a picture of his story.
"You really hate alcohol that much? You didn't explain why you don't like it."
"That's a story for another day."
"Another day? That sounds like a fancy way of saying never."
"Or maybe it's one of those stories that's better told when the ghosts are asleep."
It was the kind of sentence that made her chest ache. There was something in his eyes, like he had lived a thousand little tragedies and learned to wear them as armor. Hinesia wanted to ask more, to pry past that calm exterior, but instead she just whispered.
"You're really something, Phaser."
"You say that like it's a compliment."
"It is. Most people talk too much. You say just enough."
"That's because talking never saved anyone. Knowing when to shut up did."
Hinesia blinked at that, half confused, half intrigued.
"And here I thought you were just mysterious by choice."
"You could say that. Though I guess the chokuto and staff trained me better than my manners ever did."
"You learned both?"
"Yeah. They believed a man should learn balance. I learned the chokuto for precision and the staff for restraint. One teaches you to kill, the other teaches you not to. Guess I still haven't mastered either."
Hinesia's smile softened. "You're better than you think."
"That coming from the woman who abuses me with her punches almost daily?"
"That was one time!"
"Uh-huh."
"Hey, stop laughing!"
Hinesia groaned and threw her whiskey bottle at him which he caught effortlessly, spinning it on one finger before tossing it back at her. The spilled whiskey didn't touch him either.
"Show-off."
Then, without thinking too much — maybe because the moment felt too alive to waste — she leaned forward and kissed him. It wasn't a long kiss. It was just enough to steal his breath. When she pulled back, her heart was hammering so hard she thought it might echo through the walls.
"You smell like alcohol. Guess my morals are broken now."
Her eyes widened in horror.
"Wait—what?! I—oh no, I didn't think about that, I'm so sorry—"
He started laughing hard when he saw her expression. Hinesia froze as she stared at him. She had never seen him laugh like that before. And by the Goddesses, he was handsome when he did.
"Relax. It's fine. It was indirect so I suppose it's not that bad."
But Hinesia wasn't listening. She was too busy memorizing how his eyes softened and the way his voice seemed warmer when he smiled like that. She felt a ridiculous urge to lean in again to see if that laugh would taste the same as it sounded. Phaser stood up before she could make another reckless decision, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeves.
"We should get some rest. Tomorrow's the big day. You'll need the energy and, I need you not hungover."
"I could join you, you know."
"No."
"Cold," she said, crossing her arms again in mock offense. "You're such a cold person."
He chuckled, stepping close enough that she could feel his breath against her forehead. Then, without a word, he reached out and gently patted her head before leaning in to kiss her cheek.
"Goodnight, Hinesia."
She was left dumbfounded, as he turned and jumped toward the mansion below. For a moment, she just stood there in silence, touching the spot on her cheek where his lips had brushed.
"Why… why does that make me feel more in love than my own advances?"
The absurdity of it made her laugh softly.
"Well, it's progress at least. Just a little more before he finally confides in me. He really is a tough but to crack but I'll make him fall for me eventually."