Chapter 72

The problem started with a onesie.

Lisa stared at it like it had personally offended her entire bloodline.

It was bright yellow. Fluffy. And had a tiny duck face on the hood with a soft orange beak that flopped forward like it had no thoughts whatsoever.

Lisa crossed her arms. “Absolutely not.”

Across from her, Jennie sat on the bed, already halfway zipped into her own costume-a warm, oversized capybara onesie in soft brown, complete with little round ears and an embroidered sleepy face on the hood.

Jennie blinked at her, slow and calm, like she had all the time in the world. “You said you’d wear whatever I pick.”

Lisa scoffed. “I thought you meant something cool. Or at least… intimidating.”

Jennie tilted her head. “You think a duck can’t be intimidating?”

Lisa gave her a flat look. “That duck looks like it says ‘quack’ and then apologizes for it.”

Jennie gasped softly, clutching her chest. “You’re being mean to Duck Lili.”

“Don’t name it.”

“I already did.”

Lisa groaned, dragging a hand down her face. “Jen, everyone’s gonna be there. Jisoo’s probably gonna show up as something dramatic like a vampire queen or whatever, and Rosé-“

“-is dressing as a fairy,” Jennie cut in casually.

Lisa paused. “Of course she is.”

Jennie patted the space beside her. “Come on. We’ll match the vibe. Soft animals. Cozy Halloween. No stress.”

Lisa narrowed her eyes. “You’re manipulating me.”

Jennie smiled sweetly. “Yes.”

There was a long silence.

Then-

“…you’re lucky I love you.”

“I know,” Jennie said immediately.

Lisa pointed at her. “Don’t get used to this.”

Five minutes later, Lisa was inside the duck onesie.

And she hated how comfortable it was.

“This is… suspiciously soft,” she muttered, tugging at the sleeve.

Jennie perked up instantly. “Right?! It’s like being hugged by a cloud.”

Lisa zipped it up fully, then slowly pulled the hood over her head. The duck face flopped forward, slightly covering her eyes.

Jennie froze.

Lisa looked up. “What?”

Jennie made a small noise.

“Jennie.”

Another noise, louder this time.

Lisa blinked. “Why are you vibrating?”

Jennie launched forward and grabbed her cheeks. “YOU’RE SO CUTE.”

Lisa yelped. “HEY-“

Jennie squished her face gently. “Look at you! You’re a little duck! My little duck!”

“I’m not little-“

“Quack.”

Lisa gasped in betrayal. “You did not just-“

Jennie pulled her into a hug, burying her face into the soft yellow fabric. “I’m never letting you take this off.”

Lisa huffed, but her arms wrapped around Jennie anyway. “You’re impossible.”

Jennie leaned back, her capybara hood now up too, the little ears wobbling slightly. She grinned. “And you love it.”

“…unfortunately.”

–

By the time they arrived at the Halloween party, the reactions were immediate.

The door opened, and Rosé-complete with sparkly wings and a flower crown-gasped dramatically.

“OH MY GOD.”

Lisa froze. “Don’t.”

Rosé pointed. “You’re a DUCK.”

“I’m leaving.”

Jennie grabbed her sleeve. “No, you’re not.”

Jisoo appeared behind Rosé, dressed exactly as Lisa predicted: elegant, dramatic, and absolutely committed to her vampire queen aesthetic.

She took one look at them and burst out laughing.

“Jennie, what did you do to her?”

“I improved her life,” Jennie said proudly.

Lisa buried her face in her hands. “I hate all of you.”

“No you don’t,” Rosé sang, already circling Lisa like she’d discovered something rare. “Wait, wait, turn around.”

“I will not.”

“Turn around!”

Lisa sighed and slowly turned.

Rosé clutched her heart. “There’s a tiny tail.”

Jennie beamed. “I know.”

Jisoo wiped a tear from laughing too hard. “This is the best thing I’ve ever seen.”

Lisa pointed at Jennie. “This is her fault.”

Jennie just leaned against her, completely unbothered. “But you look so cute.”

Lisa opened her mouth to argue-

-and then paused.

Because Jennie, in her capybara onesie, looked ridiculously soft.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, her eyes bright, and the hood made her look even smaller somehow.

Lisa stared.

Jennie blinked. “What?”

“…nothing.”

Jisoo smirked. “Oh, she’s gone.”

Rosé nodded. “She’s in love.”

“I’m literally right here,” Lisa said.

“Exactly,” Rosé replied.

Jennie tilted her head. “Lisa?”

Lisa sighed, then gently tugged Jennie closer by the sleeve. “You’re cute too.”

Jennie’s entire face lit up.

“‘Too’?” Jisoo echoed. “She admitted it.”

Lisa groaned. “Can we change the subject?”

“Nope,” Rosé said. “This is the topic now.”

–

The night quickly turned into chaos.

At some point, there were snacks involved.

At another point, Jennie tried to “waddle like a capybara” and almost tripped, dragging Lisa down with her.

“You’re a hazard,” Lisa complained, steadying her.

Jennie giggled. “You caught me.”

“Obviously.”

Rosé snapped pictures nonstop. “These are blackmail material.”

Jisoo nodded. “Christmas cards.”

“Delete them,” Lisa said immediately.

“Never,” both of them replied.

Later, when things calmed down, Lisa found herself sitting on the couch with Jennie practically curled into her side.

The party buzzed around them, but for a moment, it felt quiet.

Lisa glanced down. “You comfy?”

Jennie nodded, nuzzling closer. “Very.”

Lisa adjusted the hood on Jennie’s head, fixing one of the tiny ears. “You look like you’re about to fall asleep.”

“Maybe I will,” Jennie mumbled.

Lisa smiled softly. “At a party?”

“Mm. With my duck.”

Lisa snorted. “You’re never letting that go, huh?”

“Nope.”

There was a pause.

Then Jennie looked up at her, eyes soft. “Thank you for wearing it.”

Lisa shrugged. “You wanted me to.”

Jennie poked her cheek. “You still did it.”

Lisa hesitated, then admitted quietly, “You looked excited.”

Jennie’s expression melted. “You’re so soft.”

“Don’t spread that around.”

“Too late.”

Lisa rolled her eyes but didn’t move when Jennie leaned closer.

Instead, she rested her head lightly against Jennie’s.

“…your onesie is softer than mine,” Lisa muttered.

Jennie gasped. “Betrayal.”

“It’s true.”

Jennie huffed. “Fine. We’ll get you a better one next time.”

Lisa blinked. “Next time?”

Jennie smiled, a little mischievous. “Matching onesies. Again.”

Lisa groaned. “What animal am I gonna be?”

Jennie pretended to think. “Hmm… maybe a bunny.”

“No.”

“A bear?”

“No.”

“A chick again?”

“Absolutely not.”

Jennie giggled. “We’ll see.”

Lisa shook her head, but there was no real resistance left.

Because honestly?

If it made Jennie look that happy-

Lisa glanced down at her again, at the way she was half-asleep, smiling softly in her capybara hood.

…maybe being a duck wasn’t so bad.

“…don’t tell anyone,” Lisa whispered.

Jennie mumbled, “Too late…”

Lisa sighed.

But she was smiling anyway.