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You and Idia had been dating for a couple weeks. “Dating” may be too strong a term for some, but basically you had expressed that you had feelings for each other and concluded that you should date. Idia, being the shut-in, people-phobic person he is, found it hard to go on actual dates in public with you, so instead, you would go on “virtual dates” consisting of gaming with each other from the privacy of your individual dorm rooms. At the very end of each date, Idia would say “Sweet dreams” in the smallest voice possible. You still heard him though. Though you couldn’t see it, he smiled and blushed wildly as he spoke and hung up the call. He was so content to have you play games with him, but he wasn’t outgoing enough to ask you to game with him in person, though he wanted to so badly.
After one of these gaming dates (you had them almost every night), after you beat the final boss of a game together, you told him to hold on a second before you said goodnight.
“W-what?,” he stuttered. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No, no,” you chuckled. “I was just wondering if I could ask you something…” You trailed off. You didn’t want to pressure him, but you really wanted to have a date in person, and maybe hug, or kiss? The thought was dizzying so you tried to bring yourself back to reality.
“Oh. Okay,” replied Idia, his voice sounding uncertain.
“Um, did you want to game together in person next time?” you asked hopefully, praying the answer wouldn’t be “no.”
There was silence on the other end, and you started to panic a little. “I mean, we don’t have to if you don’t want to! I just thought it would be more fun in person… But I’m happy to continue playing like this too!”
You thought you heard a stifled sob on the other end, but you couldn’t be sure. After a few more seconds of silence Idia finally spoke up.
“S-sure, we could play in person.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.” You bit your tongue. Maybe you shouldn’t have suggested it at all. You really liked Idia and you didn’t want to scare him off.
He cleared his throat. “No, I want to game with you in person too!” He sounded so enthusiastic all of a sudden.
“Really? Okay, let’s play together the day after tomorrow!”
With that, you said your goodnights and went to bed. Though Idia would stay up and continue his gaming into the night. He couldn’t sleep.
Two days later…
“Someone seems chipper today,” remarked Ace as you went into alchemy class.
You didn’t realize that you had a huge smile plastered on your face. Today was the day you were going over to Idia’s room for your first in-person date!
“Hm? Oh.. haha. Yeah,” you replied after a moment.
“Well, can you blame them? They’re going over to a boy’s room tonight,” said Deuce, winking.
You playfully punched his shoulder and a small blush covered your face. “Hey, it’s a big deal, especially for Idia.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m sure it’s a big deal for you too,” Ace replied.
You just rolled your eyes at your friends and then class started. Luckily, Professor Crewel’s class went by fast and you could get ready for your date.
But who thought it would be so difficult to figure out what to wear?! You had tried on almost every piece of clothing you owned but nothing seemed right. Grim was getting really annoyed with you throwing clothes everywhere.
“Hey, take it easy!”
“Grim, I don’t have time to put them all back! I just need to find something nice!” You yelled as you tried on outfit after outfit.
After about 45 minutes, you had decided on one. Grim said it looked good, but he could just be saying that because he wanted to get you to leave. Regardless, now you were ready and headed over to Idia’s dorm.
You knocked on Idia’s door and were greeted by Ortho as he opened the door for you.
“Hi Ortho!”
“Hello y/n! Welcome to Ignihyde! Brother has been eagerly waiting for you. His heart rate is almost 150 beats per minute!”
“Ortho! You don’t need to say that!” You heard Idia yell from inside his room.
You giggled, a small blush forming on your face. “Well, I am happy to see both of you as well!”
Ortho smiled back and motioned for you to enter the room. Idia was still trying to fix up his room as you walked in. It was messy but not nearly as messy as it was when you had brought him his homework once and caught a glimpse of it. He smiled nervously as you entered. He had cleaned up nicely as well. Someone might think that you were going to a restaurant or the movies for your date the way both of you were dressed. But no, you were just going to stay holed up in his room to play video games.
Before either of you could say anything, Ortho spoke, “Well, I need to go to my charging station. I’m feeling sleepy, so I’ll leave you two alone.”
Idia tensed up as Ortho went through the door. You both looked at each other without speaking for what seemed like ages before you broke the silence.
“You look very handsome, Idia.”
“Eep—Uh, Th-thanks y/n,” Idia jumped a little when you spoke. “Y-you look nice as well.” He avoided your eyes. His eyes then widened. “N-not that you ever don’t look nice! I like the way you look all the time!”
Idia blushed deeply, his hair turning a deep pink, after he realized what he had said. You blushed as well.
“Oh, why thank you!”
A few awkward moments of silence ensued.
“S-so you want to try out that new dungeon tonight?” Idia suggested.
“Yes!”
You and Idia started playing. Once you both got absorbed in the game, the awkwardness dissipated, and everything felt easier and how it is when you game together normally.
Once you got to a point where you could take a break, you sighed in relief. “Ah. It’s nice gaming without the headphones. They hurt my ears after a while.”
“I guess you don’t have proper gamer ears, noob.” Idia teased you.
You scoffed, acting offended. Everything felt comfortable once again, just like when you gamed with him remotely.
“LOL, what are ‘proper gamer ears’?? Weirdo.” You shot back. “Maybe if I had better quality headphones, they wouldn’t hurt.”
“Hmm, well I could find you a pair that are so soft, you won’t even notice you’re wearing them…” Idia pondered in response.
“Well getting me those legendary headphones would be a pro-boyfriend move, wouldn’t it?” You looked at him smugly.
That snapped him out of his cockiness. He blushed when you called him your boyfriend, even though that’s literally what he was. “Is that what you want?” he asked. “Cus our one-month anniversary is coming up…” You could see the cockiness coming back. “And me being the great boyfriend that I am, could bestow my greatest pair of headphones upon you as a present.” He smiled deviously as he did when he got excited about something.
You went along with it, knowing that cocky prideful showing of his is always one step away from utter embarrassment. “Oh yes! The bestest boyfriend in the world! I would be honored to have those headphones!”
Without thinking, you hugged him suddenly and nuzzled into him.
Idia immediately dropped his cocky veneer and tensed up. His hair went pink and his face beet red. He sputtered something but it was unintelligible. Congratulations, you broke him.
After realizing what had just happened, you pulled away.
Idia buried his face in his hands, and you got up and paced a little, unsure what to do…
“I’m sorry, Idia! I didn’t mean to. It just happened. I like you so much, I forgot that you need to take things slow. Are you okay? I’m so sorry!” You said everything altogether like word vomit.
Idia’s blush got worse when he heard you say that you liked him so much. He never thought that anyone would say that about him.
“N-no, no it’s okay,” Idia squeaked out, his face still hidden by his hands. He took a nearby pillow and stuffed his face into it. Though muffled, you’re sure you heard him say, “I like you too.”
It wasn’t long until Ortho burst through the door, thinking something was wrong.
“I was picking up signals of distress. Brother, are you okay?!”
Idia nodded; his face was still hidden by the pillow.
Ortho turned to you. “What happened?”
“I hugged him…” you said, somehow feeling guilty about it.
Ortho laughed. Idia looked up from his pillow at him.
“What gives, Ortho?” He muttered.
“I thought you were in danger, and you were just doing normal couple stuff!” Ortho blurted out still giggling. After that he simply left, and it was just you and Idia again.
You chuckled softly.
“What do you find so funny?” Idia looked at you. There were tears in his eyes. Was he worried that you would make fun of him for how he reacted? You would never do that. You thought he was amazing, just a little shy.
“Oh nothing, I just think it’s so cute how you and Ortho love and care about each other so much.”
Idia got serious and made room for you to sit next to him on the bed. You seemed a little confused but obliged and sat down, but not too close. His hair was still pink at the edges as he looked at you.
You looked into his eyes. “So, are you feeling calmer now? I’m sorry again for doing that out of the bl—”
Before you could finish your sentence, Idia had crashed his lips onto yours. Now it was your turn to feel shocked. Your eyes widened in surprise before slowly closing and you kissed him back.
Barely a second had passed after you two finally broke the kiss that a strange bright light started engulfing Idia. It was blinding and you could barely keep your eyes open.
“What happening?!” you questioned, trying your hardest to see Idia through all the light.
“I don’t know!” he replied, scrunching up his face. The light was blinding for him too.
Through peeks at Idia, you noticed the light concentrating on his hair. His hair, once fire, now was a bright white light.
“Idia! Your hair! It’s changing!” you exclaimed.
“My wh—”
The light dissipated slowly and you finally could see Idia clearly. He was leaning back on his hands, breathing heavily. You turned to him.
“Are you okay?!”
His breathing slowly settled. “Ah, yeah, I think so.” He craned his neck. “Ugh why does my head feel so heavy?”
You stared at him in bewilderment. His hair wasn’t fire anymore. It was still blue, but it was actual hair. It didn’t move on its own and odds are that it wouldn’t turn pink or red ever again. Your jaw dropped and you reached a hand to his hair.
He blushed as you did so, but his hair did indeed not change color.
“Wh-what are you— Eep!” Idia jumped as he put his own hand up to his hair.
“My hair! It’s not fire!” You couldn’t tell if Idia was elated or angry. You knew he had always been self-conscious about his hair. He felt it made him stick out too much and he didn’t want to be noticed by anyone. To be honest, his hair is the first thing that made you notice him. It intrigued you and led to you inquiring about him and dating him. You both owed a lot to his fiery hair.
“But how?!” Idia got up but was slightly dragged down by the weight of his new hair. “OMG this is so heavy.” He sat back down on the bed. You had the fleeting thought that this would make his posture worse.
“I have no idea,” you replied, still staring at him.
“Well, it happened after we… k-kissed…”
Technically, he kissed you, but you weren’t going to bring that up now.
You nodded.
“And then there was a light…”
You nodded again.
“And then my hair isn’t f— oh! The curse!”
Your eyes widened. Idia had explained to you why his hair was fire. It was a manifestation of a curse that plagued his family for generations since ancient times. Everyone in the Shroud family had this type of hair. It was part of their curse to keep the Underworld in addition to not being able to produce any blot which the curse would burn up. You remembered that bit of info and said, “Try doing some magic! Will you get blot?”
“Good idea!” he said and used some magic to move his controller. Sure enough, his magic pen now had a couple drops of blot in it.
Does this mean…? Idia’s family curse is … broken?
A couple moments later, Idia’s phone rang. It was his parents. His dad said that his hair had changed after a huge bright light hit him suddenly. It seemed like the Shroud family curse was broken. And you were the reason.
***
Idia’s parents had their experts look into the curse and they finally had found a loophole. They found that if a kiss of the purest form of true love was shared amongst a Shroud and someone of very distant lineage, then the curse could be broken. The term “distant” was pretty vague, but you were from an alternate universe, so that’s about as distant as it gets! Maybe someone from an alternate universe is what it took to break this curse and no one out of the Shroud family had ever encountered someone like that.
There were concerns about if the Shroud family could continue being the guardians of the Underworld given that they could now accumulate blot like everyone else. They would have to be more careful about their work at the very least. But they had been doing this for long, they were pros at this point, so fortunately, you didn’t cause one of the most powerful families in this world to go bankrupt.
It took some time for Idia to get used to his new hair. You had to teach him how to wash it, brush it, and generally care for it since he never had to do anything of the sort for his old hair. Although it was heavy, Idia insisted he kept his hair long, since that’s the style that made you fall for him.
Since it was determined that it was true love’s kiss that broke the curse, it was anticipated that you and Idia would be together forever. Since this was the case, Idia became a lot more comfortable around you. You both knew that one day you would get married and live out the rest of your days together. It was comforting knowing that you had both found your person. Idia, who was once so cynical about everything, including love, would now throw around the words “one true love” like it was nothing. At one point, he even changed your name in his phone to “OTL” for “one true love” instead of “Player 2” like he used to have it. But he changed it back after you saw it and called him a normie.
Sometimes Idia would act more bold around you, taking your hand, caressing your cheek, even wrapping an arm around your waist. Of course, he would only do those things if you were alone or if there weren’t many people around in public. He wanted to keep those sweet moments between the two of you but sometimes he couldn’t handle his emotions for you and just had to touch you to make sure you were real and that you were really there with him.
The most intimate moments shared between you was when you washed his hair for him. Before, people were afraid of touching his hair and he didn’t really know what it was like to have someone run their hands through it. He loved when you played with his hair and when you massaged shampoo into it. He melted like putty in your hands. If you were ever too busy to wash his hair, he’d pout and whine at you until you caved. You loved seeing Idia so happy and you were excited for all the future adventures you would have together.
Fin