“You think we should go back?” 

“H-Huh?"

Something was off with Taeyeon today. She was spacing out more, and Tiffany definitely caught her staring when they were waiting to cross the road to the park. “He’s tuckered out,” said Tiffany, gesturing at the puppy who was splayed out at their feet. “Should we go back?"

“Oh. Right. Ginger, how are you doing, baby?"

Tiffany watched for a moment, as Taeyeon picked Ginger up and cradled him like a baby, before blinking out of it. She put the leash and the toys back into her backpack and zipped it up while Taeyeon hummed softly to the little dog. 

The walk home was uneventful. No cars, just a quiet walk punctuated with occasional interruptions of, “Look, Ginger, it’s your buddy! Say hi to Maxie!” and “Poor baby, yes, I know you’re sleepy”. It was soothing, light and easy, and judging from Taeyeon’s face, it wasn’t just Tiffany who was feeling that way. 

As they waited for the lift in the lobby, even indoors, the feeling remained. Tiffany found herself trying to subtly look at Taeyeon. Which was dumb, because Taeyeon was holding Ginger and it was perfectly okay to look at Ginger, who was adorably asleep. And yet, when Taeyeon’s eyes met her own, Tiffany felt like she was almost — so close — to reading something in that expression.

A chime broke the silence. 

Tiffany waited until Taeyeon had gotten into the lift before following. She pressed the button, glanced over at Taeyeon, and then: it just happened. 

She barely saw anything except Taeyeon’s face, her unreadable expression; and before she could really process what she was about to do, Tiffany already had a hand under Taeyeon’s chin and there was no rejection in Taeyeon’s eyes so Tiffany bent, just slightly, above Ginger’s head, and met Taeyeon in a kiss. 

She felt Taeyeon turn slightly to face her, felt her lips shift with the movement, felt her lean into the kiss. There was nothing else in Tiffany’s mind in the moment except Taeyeon and the taste of Taeyeon and the touch of Taeyeon’s skin under her fingertips. Taeyeon, Taeyeon, Taeyeon. 

At the end of it, they pulled away at the same time, just as the lift doors opened in front of their apartment.