warnings: self-indulgent & canon divergent. a pinch of angst. yearning luuk (shocker!) and use of ichor that most likely contradicts canon. did i mention this is canon divergent? — explicit smut. soft & unprotected sex. cunnilingus. handjob. table sex. (kinda) praise kink. mid-coitus explicit confession. luuk loves it when you pull his hair. i think the aftercare is cute hehe <3 no fucking, just making love 🙂‍↔️ — not proofread!!

notes: FIRST EVER SMUT FIC !!! i’d been wanting to try writing smut for a while now & i think this turned out much better than i could’ve thought <3

notes 2.0: whimpering wastes ❌ whimpering luuk ✅ ugh… the only psychiatrist that makes me more mentally ill…… i need him

despite the far distance between the academy and your destination, you run your motorcycle at a leisurely pace, taking in the scenic landscape of lahai-roi bathed in the sunlight of spring and committing to memory as much of it as you can.

there’s a heaviness pressing down on your chest as you count down the days before you have to leave. you try your best to stay in the present, as per lucilla’s advice, and go through your remaining days one at a time. and you can attest to its effectiveness.

that is until you receive a message from luuk on wavesline.

luuk herssen: hi, golden girl.

luuk herssen: are you free?

luuk herssen: we haven’t had the chance to catch up. i’m at the “workspace” if you’re up for it.

you: as long as you have waffles

luuk herssen: consider it done.

you: then i’m on my way!

luuk herssen: haha. i’ll see you soon

luuk herssen: :-)

it’s only then that the full extent of your reality sinks in and you become painfully aware that despite the time you’ve spent with him, you’ve never addressed… well, non-threnodian-related matters.

and you can’t blame luuk either. none of the recent occurrences seemed to be the right time and place for your personal woes.

soon, you spot luuk’s silhouette from a distance where he waits by the shore just outside his secret workspace. you hit the gas and at the revving of your engine, luuk turns to your direction, immediately beaming at the sight of you.

“you didn’t have to wait for me out here,” you tell him as you hop off your motorcycle.

“i wanted to,” he says with a shrug. “hi.”

“hi.”

luuk steps aside, outstretching a hand towards the entrance that leads to his workspace. “after you.”

as soon as you’re inside, a odd sense of homesickness washes over you. your eyes roam the space, taking in the dim hallways faintly illuminated by the huge monitors scattered about, the thousands of books that crowd every shelf in the room and even more of them stacked on the floor. you’ve always been aware of them but it’s only now that you’re truly noticing.

having coming back from the voidspace renewed your perspective and brought about newfound appreciation for the most mundane of things. one wrong move can take every bit of their normalcy away from you.

you relish in the stillness of luuk’s private space, a stark dichotomy to the chaos that awaits you outside.

“i didn’t think i’d see this place again,” you speak, simply thinking out loud but luuk responds anyway.

“we all knew you’d make it back. it was just a matter of when.”

you grin at him. “you have too much faith in me. maybe i should do it again.”

“i’d prefer it if you didn’t,” luuk banters but there’s truth underneath his playful tone. still, it gets a chuckle out of you. then with conviction, he adds, “you know we’d all find a way to get you back, one way or another. no other outcome would do.”

luuk states it as if rescuing you was solely a collective goal—and it was. but when neither of you say anything after that, the silence hangs in the air and a voice nags at the back of luuk’s mind.

if i am to lose you someday, at least, let me choose how.

when the quiet becomes too much to bear, he changes the subject. “how’s aemeath?”

“she’s fine. better than i expected, actually. it’s like she was never gone.” you briefly pause to ponder over your next words, “she told me she’s going to stay in startorch for a while to finish her studies. can i ask you a favor?”

“i’ll look after her while you’re away,” luuk promises, already hearing your unspoken request.

“thank you.”

you smile at him warmly but luuk notices how it doesn’t quite reach your eyes. with a voice much quieter than before, he asks, “how are you?”

“i’m… okay. i mean, aemeath’s back so mission accomplished for now. but dealing with everything else, it gets heavy sometimes,” you admit, “but i also know i’m not carrying it alone.”

“never,” luuk promises.

you stare at each other, eyes charged with something both of you are too careful to name.

“i know you didn’t just ask me to come here for the waffles,” you jest. “what is it?”

luuk chuckles, mostly to himself. “it’s nothing.”

“you said it yourself, this place doesn’t have ears. you can talk to me.”

“i was just wondering how long before i see you again.”

seemingly embarrassed by his admission, his gaze drops to the floor as he digs his hands into the pockets of his coat. you hear the faint rustling of plastic wrappers and you realize he’s fiddling with the small stash of candy he carries everywhere, a futile attempt to release his nerves into something.

an epiphany dawns on you. for the first time in a long time, luuk, who is known for his steady calm and composure, looks completely vulnerable. so emotionally bare and unguarded in front of you.

“if it makes you feel better, i’m not forgetting you this time,” you quip in attempt to keep this conversation light—even you’re starting to crumble under the weight of your reality, if you’re being honest. but even if you can’t control the cards you’ve been dealt with, you can still choose how you play them. “luuk, i’m still here. we can still make the most of our time before i go. you can miss me later.”

with the courage he’s never been able to muster before, he reaches for your hand. “i’m afraid the second you walk out of here, i’ll miss you already.”

“you’re making it really hard for me to say goodbye, you know?”

luuk chuckles. “i wasn’t planning on making it easy.”

then as if an idea pops into his mind, luuk takes off his glove, revealing the tacet mark across his palm. you never really had a good look at it up to this very moment and to say you’re mesmerized is an understatement.

under what looks like an open wound, you see his golden blood flowing and radiating from within. you wait for an explanation from luuk but it doesn’t come. so with bated breath, you watch as he wills his ichor to take shape right before your very eyes. you throw a quick glance at his face but his expression remains neutral, gaze fixed on the aureate liquid as it solidifies in his hand.

you don’t get the chance to ask what it is because soon, held between his fingers is a gold ring.

luuk gives it a quick inspection until he’s satisfied with it before covering up his tacet mark with his glove once more. with your permission, he takes your hand and slips the band onto your ring finger with utmost care.

“luuk?”

he can’t help but grin at your confusion. “i’m not proposing. it’s just… something to remember me by.”

he knows solaris is far from seeing the end of the lament but without the threat of aleph-1 striking lahai-roi anytime soon, perhaps he can allow himself the indulgence in the thought of living a future where you’re both happy and free to give into your heart’s desires without the guilt for acting so selfishly. a future where neither of you still have to tiptoe around your feelings—it’s distant but not impossible.

and as long as you’re alive, there’s no reason for it to not exist.

maybe that sliver of hope can be enough for now.

“perfect fit,” luuk murmurs. he continues to toy with the gold ring on your finger before bringing it to his lips for a delicate kiss.

you twist your hand so your palm cradles his cheek and almost instinctively, he leans into your touch, basking in the one thing he begrudgingly craved since your reunion. at least, in the privacy of his workspace, he can let himself have that.

no words seem accurate for the emotions swirling inside you so you don’t say anything at all. you slide your hand to the back of his neck and pull him in for a chaste kiss. when you feel his breath hitch at your sudden gesture, you giggle against his lips.

just as you’re about to pull away, he recovers from his daze almost in the same instant, his hands immediately finding purchase on your face as he tilts his head to deepen the kiss. the second you match his fervor, his grip descends to your waist before it settles on the small of your back to pull you flush against him.

you gasp at the closeness, feeling the warmth eminating from him in a way you never have before, and luuk takes the opening to slide his tongue into your mouth, pouring all unspoken feelings into it.

for someone with hands so nimble and precise, luuk isn’t sure how to hold you, the tips of his fingers trembling along your curves as he maps out your body and burns it into his mind to the best of his abilities. not once in his life did he think he could ever have you so pliant in his hands.

“luuk…” you breathe out as you melt into his touch.

luuk backs you up to the nearest wall as his lips move away from yours, trailing down your jaw and along the expanse of your neck, his wet mouth leaving goosebumps in its wake. you raise a hand to the back of his head, tugging his hair at times as the pleasure spikes within you and he hisses at the delicious sting, reciprocating it immediately with a light nip at your skin before he soothes the spot with a stroke of his tongue.

a moan slips out of you and whatever it is that still tethers luuk to his sanity is now completely severed.

he pulls back for a brief moment and with his teeth, he takes off the glove that doesn’t conceal his tacet mark—despite your forgotten memories, you’re certain that it is the hottest thing you’ve ever seen in your long life. unable to contain your arousal, you take it upon yourself to bring your lips together once more, moaning into his mouth when he slides his bare hand between your legs.

“ngh….. luuk.. please……” you whine, gyrating against luuk’s fingers over your bottoms to chase your release but he’s perceptive to your needs. without pausing his ministrations on your core, his kisses move lower until he’s on his knees, his mouth just about where you need him the most.

with his face now level with your crotch, he groans at the sight of it glistening with your slick. he wastes no time ridding you of your lower garments completely and burying his face between your legs. he licks a fat stripe between your folds before his lips latch onto your clit, humming in satisfaction at the taste of you.

overcome with pleasure, your hands begin to pull at the tufts of luuk’s hair more aggressively and it only spurs him on. you almost double over at his vigor but he’s quick to lift your leg to his shoulder and stabilize you.

it doesn’t take long before you’re teetering over the edge, your climax fast approaching and it only intensifies when luuk slips his tongue inside you. you scream his name and it’s almost instinctive the way you’re pulling him further into your pussy and humping against his face. still, luuk’s pace doesn’t relent. along with the lewd cries that escape you, his groans and the smacking of his lips against your squelching cunt fill the room.

the last thing you feel is luuk’s hand squeezing your thigh—a signal for you to let go for him—then you’re cumming, gushing into his mouth which stays latched onto you as he slurps up your juices, down to the very last drop. only when you start whining from overstimulation that he pulls away from you.

setting your leg back down, luuk gets up on his feet and you’re grateful his hands don’t let go of you. otherwise, your knees would’ve given out.

you momentarily shut your eyes in exhaustion, resting your head on luuk’s shoulder as you try to catch your breath. you hear him whisper, “hold onto me.” so you do. you snake your arms around his neck and his hands move to the back of your thighs to lift you up.

next thing you know, he’s carrying you to another room and sitting you atop his desk. “tired?”

if you’re being honest, you are but you’re not going to tell him that. not when you feel his bulge poking at your thigh.

without a word, you simply slide your hands away from his neck, moving at a slow descent and over the ridges of his abs, relishing in the way his muscles contract under your touch. after a few agonizing seconds—for luuk—one of your hands settles on his belt while the other palms him through his trousers.

“take it off,” you tell luuk and he obliges in a heartbeat, pulling down the waist of his slacks along with his underwear just low enough to free his erection. the instant your grip closes around his girth, he lets out a guttural moan. he turns putty in your hand, leaning against your body as he nuzzles into you where he groans into your neck.

you give his cock a few pumps before he starts bucking up in your hand, lost in the pressure of your touch. with your free hand, you gently pull him by his hair so you’re face-to-face and you take in his current state—his glassy crimson eyes, his flushed cheeks and swollen lips, all beautifully framed by his blonde locks that now stick to his skin with sweat.

“you look so good like this,” you whisper in his left ear before giving his helix earring a soft tug with your teeth. something snaps in him at the praise and soon, he’s closing a hand over yours, guiding your grip to tighten around him. his head drops to your shoulder once more as occasional whimpers fall from his lips and straight to your core.

with your fingers in his hair, you rake your nails lightly against his scalp and his body immediately shivers at the sensation.

“hng…. feels so good,” he shamelessly moans as his hips speed up frantically. after a few more thrusts, you squeeze his cock, ultimately giving him the release he’s been chasing. as he spills into your hand, you feel his load spurt over your thighs.

you don’t let go of him but he doesn’t seem to mind as he stays snuggled into you, heavily panting against your skin. and the warmth of his breath does nothing but add to the ache you already feel in your nether lips.

desperate for any relief, you urge luuk to step even closer, bringing his tip to nudge against your clit and you both shiver at the contact. despite having just reached his climax, luuk grows hard once more. he removes your hand from his length, taking it upon himself to slide it between your folds, spreading his cum with it.

as you throw your head back in pleasure, luuk lies you down on his desk with his body hovering over you then he takes your swollen lips into a searing kiss. the friction of his cock against your core doesn’t cease and he happily swallows the moans you spill into his mouth.

“ngh.. luuk please…..”

“tell me what you want.”

you spread your legs wider, making as much room for him as you can. “put it in…”

luuk doesn’t need to be told twice. he slowly sinks into you and as soon as the head breaches your hole, you moan in unison. when he’s finally enveloped in your warmth, your back involuntarily arches at the same time luuk curls into you, both of your desires being taken to new heights.

“are you okay?” luuk forces the words through his teeth because truth be told, he’s not faring any better. while you take your sweet time getting used to his size, he’s losing his fucking mind at the tightness of your walls around him.

after a few seconds, you trap him between your legs again, locking your ankles together to keep him as close as possible before you’re motioning for him to move.

the first roll of luuk’s hips is slow, almost experimental. still, it almost knocks the wind out of you.

“does it hurt?” luuk asks through labored breaths.

you simply shake your head, pulling at his hair for the nth time just for the sake of holding onto something—anything—before you completely lose your wits and succumb to the fullness only he can provide. “keep going.”

luuk thrusts a few more times before the discomfort turns into unadulterated pleasure and he finds the rhythm that has you whimpering beneath him. a constant stream of curses spill from both your lips, the sounds of your skins slapping and your wanton moans now completely unrestrained and it doesn’t help that luuk eggs you on, “feels so good inside you……hng….”

“luuk…ngh…. just like that…” you babble on and on. the sight of you unraveling like this and it’s because of him awakens a new hunger in luuk. he grips your waist as he picks up the pace, eliciting more obscene noises from you, “fuck- right there… ahh!”

your grip on his hair doesn’t loosen even at the slightest and that’s enough to tell him he’s doing something right. he hits the same spot inside you over and over, the desk beneath your bodies scraping against the floor in time with his thrusts.

in the split second you regain lucidity, your focus shifts on the man before you. the man you never allowed yourself to adore until this moment. you can’t help but wonder what memories you chose to erase but maybe it’s true what people say—what the mind can forget, the heart never does.

it’s the only explanation you deem logical as to why after your “first” encounter, there was already a brewing connection you couldn’t resist and you’ve been irrevocably drawn to him ever since.

before you can contain your emotions, tears already well up in your eyes and luuk doesn’t fail to notice.

his movement slows down, his visage now etched with concern but you immediately ease his worries, pulling his face down to crash your lips together as you thrust up into him, making him gasp into your mouth. without a second thought, you blurt out, “i love you.”

luuk’s brain momentarily short-circuits at your direct confession. this isn’t the ideal situation he had in mind but he’ll be damned if he doesn’t say it back.

“i love you…” he resumes his pace with renewed passion as he rolls into you deeper. “i love you… fuck- ’m so in love with you…”

“ngh..love you….. so much….” you chant, as you repeatedly lift your hips to meet his thrusts.

keeping one hand on your waist, he brings the other hand to intertwine with yours.

his eyes once again land on your finger, now adorned by the glimmering gold that came from the very ichor that flows through his veins. a fleeting thought comes to mind—even if neither of you spoke your love for each other out loud, he wonders if words are truly needed at the moment. or even at all.

because what could be a bigger act of love than the irony of his blood being that of the gods yet here he is, completely at your mercy?

“i’m yours…” the words slip out of him before he can stop them. he captures your lips again, pouring into the kiss all the love he’s harbored for you, hoping it’s enough to make up for when you leave until you’re back in his arms—however long it takes. “i’m all yours...hng…. never been anyone else’s…”

his words only fuel your arousal and tears continue to fall from the corners of your eyes at the pleasure. as you inch closer to your climax, you wind your legs around luuk, digging your heels into his buttocks to push him even deeper into your cunt.

“luuk- ugh….‘m so close…“

“ngh…fuck… me too…” luuk begins to crumble under the overwhelming sensation of your pulsating walls, his hips becoming erratic as he continues to plow into you. his hand once holding your waist flies to your crotch as his thumb rubs fast circles on your clit. “let go for me…wanna feel it……..”

soon enough, you’re crying out from the toe-curling orgasm, coating luuk in your essence as you continue suck him in and his release shortly follows, pumping a few more times before his body tenses up and he spills inside you, filling you up with his seed.

as if all life has been sucked out of him, his body drops onto yours, almost smothering you with his weight but you’re too exhausted to care. for a moment, you bask in each other’s embrace in silence, save for the huffs from your lips.

luuk is the first to speak. “stay tonight.”

“okay.” you don’t think twice granting his wish. “i can’t go back to the academy looking like this anyway.”

luuk puffs out a laughter. “let me get something to clean you up with.”

he finally pulls out of you, giving you a quick peck on the lips in apology when you wince at the sudden emptiness.

for a moment, he leaves the room and comes back with a washcloth in hand. upon noticing his jeans already fastened back to his waist, you assume he’s cleaned himself up so you sit up to take the cloth from him and do it yourself but he moves it out of your reach. “just sit still for me.”

he leaves you no room to protest as he’s already crouching down before you and with delicate hands, he begins to wipe off your mixed fluids that have now dripped out of you and made a sticky mess between your legs.

as if his ichor-made ring is enough surprise for one day, he proves you wrong by suddenly fishing out your stained underwear from the pocket of his coat. you shoot him a look, an eye brow raised dubiously, but he just shrugs.

“i couldn’t just leave it there,” he explains, cocking his head to direction of the hallway where he just had his first taste of you. “the floor’s dirty. that’s unsanitary.”

the feigned seriousness in his tone pulls a hearty laugh out of you. “right. because everything we just did was so hygienic.”

right away, you notice he’s only wearing one glove.

“where’s the other one?” you ask with genuine confusion but he only looks at you knowingly, a ghost of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. glancing past him, you crane your head just far enough until you see his glove on the unsanitary floor of the hallway. you snort at his hypocrisy. “so much for being sanitary.”

“i only wear that on my hand. this, however…” he trails off, sliding the underwear up your legs for you, before he continues, “…goes here.” he shoots you a wink as he places a lingering kiss on a spot on your inner thigh that’s dangerously close to your crotch.

you’d be lying if you said you’re immune to his charms. judging by the boldness in his expression that only becomes more and more blatant with each passing second, you can tell that he, too, knows exactly his effect on you.

resisting the urge to jump his bones, you wilfully ignore the throb between your legs and give him a playful kick on the shoulder, creating some space between the two of you as he stumbles backwards. with a laugh, he holds onto your ankle for support before standing upright.

luuk leans into you, closing the distance with a kiss that’s more innocent this time. you can’t help but smile against his lips when you mumble, “you said you love me.”

“i do,” he reiterates in between kisses. he refuses to pull away until you take it upon yourself to break the kiss then a cheeky grin stretches across your face. “what is it?”

“i’m hungry.”

luuk is briefly stupefied before he’s smiling himself, amused by you. he simply shakes his head at your implied request but his gaze is nothing short of adoring.

“where have you been?” you ask, voice restrained to the best of your abilities so you don’t sound accusatory.

“i had to meet up with a client. it ran longer than i expected.”

“would it have taken so much of your time to send me one text?” you try your best to sound benign but a sharpness in your tone still slips out and it stops aalto in his tracks. “or did you forget that someone was waiting for you at home?”

“i told you not to wait up for me,” aalto retorts, starting to sound defensive and your scoff at his response only adds fuel to the fire. his patience is quickly running thin and he knows it’s the exhaustion seeping into him physically and mentally that’s making him act like this. still, he can’t help but snap. “you’ve known about my job since you met me. why are you questioning me now?”

there’s an immediate silence that follows.

“wow…” stunned by his argument, you simply gulp the rest of your drink before turning away from him. “sorry for wondering if my boyfriend is still fucking alive.”

the finality in your words reels aalto back to his senses but before he can stop you from walking away, you’ve already retreated to your bedroom.

aalto runs a hand through his hair, tugging at his silver locks in frustration as he curses himself. he waits for you to come out of the room so he can properly apologize. when he realizes you won’t, he heads to the bathroom for what’s supposed to be just a quick shower.

staring blankly at a wall, he’s stood still under the cool water in an attempt to wash away the icky feeling in his gut as he recalls the words he spat and left a bitter taste in his mouth. for a moment, he thinks the cold shower is effective until he shuts it off. now without the soft thuds of water hitting the bathroom floor and drowning out the voice in his head, his mind spirals once again with thoughts of you.

aalto puts on his clothes in a hurry, hoping you’re still up. he’s going to fix this before the days ends.

however, when he exits the bathroom, his initial plan is soon forgotten. you’re already back in the living room, setting up a makeshift bed on the couch. he doesn’t even think twice before vanishing into mist and reappearing on the cushion before you can make yourself comfortable.

you only look at him, unimpressed. your silence prompts him to speak first. “what’s all this?”

you assume his question to be rhetorical but aalto doesn’t move an inch until you answer him, “it’s late. i just want to sleep.”

“the bed’s more comfortable,” he reasons with you. his knack for persuasion has never failed him but this time, it’s ineffective. he hastily adds, “i can sleep here. besides, i have to leave first thing in the morning. i wouldn’t want to wake you up.”

“another client?” the bluntness in your tone is enough to make aalto wince, immediately reminded of your argument. “all the more reason for you to take the bed then. gotta make sure you’re well-rested.”

still, he doesn’t get off the couch. you sigh. “aalto, i’m tired.”

“then let’s go to bed,” aalto pleads. “baby, please…”

“we’ll talk tomorrow.”

when aalto realizes you won’t budge, he finally lets out a defeated sigh and vacates the couch. “okay… good night.”

“good night,” you say without looking at him. from your periphery, you can see him taking small and slow steps to your bedroom as if waiting for you to change your mind. you don’t.

the hours that pass aren’t too serene. apart from your heated argument replaying in your head, aalto walks out of the room from time to time for various reasons—excuses, rather. you know that’s his indirect way of checking if you’re still awake.

on the first hour, he “needed to use the bathroom.”

an hour later, he shuffled to the kitchen for a glass of water because he “was thirsty.” but it was still a failed attempt to get a reaction out of you.

now, it’s the third hour and aalto once again emerges from the bedroom but this time, he doesn’t seem to have an alibi. he simply lingers by the door as he gauges your mood. you’ve never seen him look so uncertain that for a second, you forget about your fight. “why are you still up?”

“so are you.”

you don’t reply to that but the tension in the air seems to have dissipated so aalto gathers the courage to approach you. he takes the spot on the center table right in front of you despite the large space on the sofa. he’s still assessing the situation but to his relief, when he takes your hand, you let him.

“i’m sorry,” he begins, soft but sincere, “what i said… that was a shitty thing to say. i was tired and i know that’s not an excuse. i didn’t mean any of it. i swear.”

you don’t answer right away as you ponder over your response. “i know you can’t tell me much about your work and i’m not asking you to. i don’t need to know what you do or who you’re with because i trust you. i just want to hear from you when you’re gone the whole day so i know you’re okay.” you briefly pause to release a shaky breath as you feel the tears well up in your eyes. when you speak again, the words come out weaker. “i just need to know you’re safe.”

you’ve been stellar at keeping your tears at bay but as soon as aalto wraps you in his arms, the dam breaks and your worries from the past few nights finally find it release through your sobs. aalto whispers into your hair, “i know. i’m so sorry.”

you stay that way for a bit, crying and relieving yourself of anxiety in his embrace as he continuously mutters apologies and assurances. when you finally calm down, aalto pulls away slightly, his hands finding purchase on your face as his thumbs gently swipe across your tear-stained cheeks.

“tell you what,” he says, his tone still tender but there’s a lightness to it now and the mischievous glint in his eye is ignited once again. “when all of this is over, i’ll tell you all about it. down to the smallest details, even if it takes me all night. after all, verbal tea is just as good as herbal, am i right?”

you giggle at his familiar cheekiness, the sound all nasal and wet but it’s the happiest you’ve felt in days. “where did you learn that?”

“i heard it from one of the kids in encore’s storybook club.” aalto’s genuine response gets a cackle out of you and it’s only then it hits him that this is the first time he’s heard your laughter since he got home tonight. completely powerless to the sudden urge to kiss you, he doesn’t even put up a fight and crashes his mouth onto yours. when he feels you smile against his lips, he whispers, “i missed that.”

“shit!” you accidentally spill tea on the papers on MORTEFI’s desk, prompting him to immediately get up before the drink can drip onto his coat.

you assumed he was going to pull another all-nighter, as he had been doing the previous nights, hunched over his table in the corner of your shared bedroom—only taking short breaks when he needed a quick meal, a quick nap, or a quick trip to the bathroom.

it was already late in the afternoon and mortefi has yet to express any signs that his work was close to completion so you decided you wanted to do something nice for him.

well, now you’re certain that his tasks are nowhere near done.

“i’m so so sorry,” you squeak out as mortefi salvages what he can from his work.

“i’ll take care of it,” he says without sparing you a glance but you insist.

“i’ll clean it up.”

this time, he looks at you.

“just go,” he utters, not hostile but clipped. you know that tone too well—this isn’t up for discussion. all you can do is leave, eyes brimmed with tears and your heart with guilt.

a few hours pass and he’s barely left the room. you also haven’t checked if he needed anything. in fact, you haven’t spoken to him since.

it’s close to midnight when you gently knock on your bedroom door before entering with caution, “i’ll just grab my things.”

mortefi looks up at the sound of your voice but maybe it’s the fatigue finally catching up to him because he doesn’t process your words right away, only following your movement with his eyes. when he realizes you’re reaching for your pillows and blanket, something in his brain finally clicks. “what are you doing?”

“i’m going to sleep on the couch,” you reply without looking at him as you pretend to busy yourself with your beddings.

“why?”

“you’ve been really busy. i don’t want to distract you.”

“i’m almost done,” he tells you. you finally look at him, bracing yourself for the moment he mentions the chunk of his research that you ruined but he doesn’t. it’s as if the very thing that’s been eating at you barely crossed his mind afterwards.

you only mutter a meek okay. but after a short stretch of silence, you speak again, “did you have to redo everything?”

with the feebleness lacing your voice, mortefi suddenly becomes fully aware of your body language—save for the pillow in your arms, you’re basically hugging yourself. like you’d hide from him if you could. that makes him get up on his feet en route to you.

as the distance between you gradually shrinks, you mumble, “i can help rewrite your notes.”

it’s a lame offer, you know it, but how else can you possibly make it up to him when you barely have any knowledge on his expertise? heck, even at times he explains his research in layman’s terms, it still doesn’t make it all any easier for you to comprehend.

the instant mortefi reaches you, he takes the cushion acting as a barrier between your bodies and tosses it back onto the bed. soon, you’re pulled into his comforting embrace. “it was an accident. it’s okay.”

knowing mortefi, he rarely grants his colleagues the privilege of being treated with such level of leniency and patience. and you would’ve found it funny how uncharacteristic it was of him to speak those words had it not been you who caused the accident.

“i’m sorry,” you mutter, unable to steady the quiver in your voice. you feel mortefi’s hand runs up and down your back at a soothing pace. “i should’ve been more careful.”

“it’s okay,” he repeats, “it was just a few pages.”

“are you sure?”

“yes.”

“you’re not mad anymore?”

“i never was,” he assures you, slightly pulling away so he’s looking at you directly. he feels a pang in his chest at the sight of your watery eyes. “it’s just been really hectic lately and i’m trying to meet a deadline. i’m sorry i took it out on you.”

still ridden with guilt, you can hardly tell if the pensiveness in his visage is from exhaustion, disappointment, or just his face. “you still look upset.”

“well, i’m not exactly ecstatic about it.” there’s no bite in his tone but nevertheless, the honesty stings and mortefi doesn’t miss the way you deflate at his words. he pulls you back into his arms and flush against his body, pressing a tender kiss on the top of your head in an attempt to ease your nerves then he reiterates, “i’m not upset.”

“promise?” your words are muffled as you nuzzle into him.

“i promise.”

“okay. but i am serious about rewriting your notes.”

“you look like you have something to say,” LUUK speaks up, breaking the prolonged but comfortable silence between the two of you. earlier, he invited you over for coffee and now here you are, sat across from the blond and peering over your cup as you admire him silently. “i don’t know what you mean,” you tell him but the playful smile on your lips says otherwise. luuk chortles at your blatant lie, “you do realize i read people for a living.” when luuk only gets a chuckle out of you, he asks again, “what is it?” “do you think i can hold the world in my hands?” your random question renders luuk absolutely stupefied with his mouth hanging open but not a single word comes out. with a giggle, you quip, “you asked.” despite his confusion, the ever so patient doctor decides to humor you anyway, “okay. show me.” his attention on you now is so steady that it’s starting to make you self-conscious at the cheesiness of it all but you still grant his request. you lean over the table with outstretched hands until they softly land on each side of his face and luuk is speechless once more, so uncharacteristically stunned. you await his reaction, expecting him to blush but instead, you catch his teeth digging into his bottom lip—he’s holding in a laugh. embarrassed, you pull away from him and settle back into your seat but you’re laughing yourself, “jerk. i was trying to be sweet.” at that, luuk finally laughs with you. “it is,” he says, reaching across the table to take your hand, “it was just unexpected, is all.” he brings your knuckles to his lips for a peck but not before teasing, “you’re always so serious.” you gasp in mock offense, “i can be fun!”

MORTEFI has been holed up in his lab for hours, a faint scowl—which looks almost identical to his resting face—etched on his visage as he stares at stacks of paperwork. “you busy?” it was a stupid question because he obviously is but he doesn’t seem to mind. he momentarily takes off his glasses to rub the strain from his eyes before he addresses you. “i have time. did you need something?” “well…” you act as if you’re deep in thought, “i’m conducting a study myself.” “oh?” he perks up at your statement and you feel a sense of satisfaction surge through you. “yup,” you proudly confirm, walking over to him as he follows you with expectant eyes, “i’m trying to see if i can hold the world in my hands.” before he gets the chance to ask, you’re already bringing up your hands to his face in a gentle touch. mortefi clearly is at a loss for words. he fails to come up with a response, resorting to a slight shake of his head but he’s obviously amused by you from the way a smile begins to tug at the corners of his lips. “you look really stressed lately. i just wanted to loosen you up a little,” you tell him almost apologetically for taking up his time but he only meets your gaze with soft eyes. there’s a gleam in them that oozes adoration but his tone remains neutral when he plays along with your jest, “i suppose the result of your experiment is rather… favorable.” “good,” you beam before giving him a peck on the nose, “now i’ll leave you to your actual research.” mortefi simply chuckles but before you can pull away and peel your hands from his skin, he leaves a tender kiss against your palm.

inaudible chatters start to buzz through the air as toman members disperse into smaller groups but baji makes a beeline for you.

“hey, captain,” you say with as much mirth as you can muster but he only gives you a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

“10 years is a long time…” his tone is sullen, so unlike him that you utter your next words without giving it much thought.

“what if i stay?”

it’s only then you realize how selfish it is of you to even consider it an option.

you’re not oblivious to the fact that the gang’s second division captain has a completely different standpoint from the man you’ve grown fond of. you’re also certain that he will always pick loyalty over self-interest.

ultimately, baji is toman’s before he is yours.

“i’m the one doing the waiting so don’t worry about it,” he tells you, though the reassurance sounds more directed at himself.

as your time together gradually runs out, the clearer it becomes in your mind how you two never truly had a chance.

despite his free spirit, baji’s been apprehensive of getting you involved with him because the last thing he needs is word about you going around and in turn, rival gangs using you to get to him. so your feelings stay as is—just feelings.

as you make the most of these last few minutes before you jump back to your present, you can’t find it in yourself to tie him down. not ever but especially not now.

“kei, promise me something.”

“anything.”

“promise me that if you meet someone–”

“it’ll still be you,” he cuts you off. he’s not about to hear you give him away before he’s even had the chance to be yours so he leans closer until there’s barely a millimeter between your lips. then he repeats himself with conviction, “it will still be you.”

before you can protest, baji closes the distance between the two of you in a searing kiss, triggering your 10-year time leap.

one second, it’s as if you’re surrounded by complete darkness then you’re suffering from a splitting headache the next. you suppose that’s a sign your time leap worked.

it takes you some time to regain your lucidity but just as the pain in your head is beginning to subside, you’re brought back to your senses by the shrill ringing from your phone.

still on the edge of your disoriented state, you fail to register the caller id. you simply take the call. “hello?”

“hi. i wanna see you.” your heart jumps at the voice and any sense of confusion in your system leaves your body. “are you home?”

baji.

your breath hitches but you quickly compose yourself before baji can detect any hint of hesitation from you. “uh… yeah, i’m home.”

“alright. see you soon.”

as soon as he hangs up, you pace around your apartment, letting various scenarios play out in your head so you don’t overlook any possible way this can go. sure, you always planned to find baji in this timeline. you just didn’t expect you’d get thrown into this situation immediately. however, you find it odd that baji doesn’t seem fazed at the very least. it’s almost as if no time has passed at all.

you start to doubt if you’ve truly arrived in your timeline but you don’t get to dwell on it any further because the doorbell soon rings throughout your home. when you swing the door open, you’re met with the immediate grin on baji’s face at the sight of you.

“hi there.” he holds up a small bag of takeout, leaning against the doorframe in a posture so lax which is an absolute contradiction to your frantic state. “i got you your favorite.”

“oh. you, uh…” not a single coherent thought is going through your mind right now. you don’t know what to ask. you don’t even know what to say at all. “you didn’t have to.”

“of course i did,” he counters, sauntering over to your dining room to set the tubs of food on the table. you don’t say anything else after that but you must’ve been quiet for a beat too long because baji unexpectedly looks at you with an inquisitive glint in his eye as he begins to examine your tense demeanor. you suppose he still has a knack for reading people. “you okay?”

“mhm,” you reply with a quick nod, a little too immediate for it to be a natural response.

baji doesn’t seem convinced. he walks over to you, putting a hand over your forehead before gently cupping your face to study your expression. “you seemed out of it on the phone. are you sure you’re okay?”

unfortunately for him, his question fails to earn an answer.

but fortunately for you, you finally find an opportunity to ogle and get a closer look at him.

he’s lost the baby fat in his cheeks—his jawline and cheekbones are now a bit more defined, making his face look more sculpted than it already was before. other than that, he still has the same long hair up in a ponytail, the shorter raven locks messily framing his features. same piercing eyes. same swoony smile.

god, was time incredibly kind to him.

“you look…” gorgeous, you want to tell him. instead, you say, “…the same? kind of. i mean, your face is… sharper?”

you want to kick yourself for your inability to think up some adjectives. despite being a decade older, you’re definitely not a year wiser.

it only takes baji a brief moment to catch on before a shit-eating grin is stretching across his face so brazenly that it makes you suspicious.

“kei?”

“so you’re back,” he drawls.

there’s the confirmation you needed—the time leap did work. but why is baji so chill about it?

“keisuke,” you say more sternly which elicits a deep chuckle from him. “what happened in ten years?”

“you know…” he begins with a cadence that makes you weak in the knees—you have to quickly remind yourself about the bigger matter at hand. “you usually call me babe.”

huh?

with your lack of response, baji takes it as his cue to continue, “do you wanna know what happened after we kissed? or should i just skip to our first date?”

our first-

“what?!” you shriek.

the utter shock in your face makes baji cackle.

“did you really think i was just gonna sit around and do nothing? turns out ten years is more than enough time to win you over,” he begins to explain, occasionally interrupted by his own laughter. “in my defense, i tried to wait. keep my distance and all, but you—” he emphasizes with an accusatory point of his index finger in your direction, “—couldn’t. apparently, you and other you have one thing in common. i’m your type.”

you’ve always deemed baji as the loyal one but right now, you might just give him a run for his money.

“i asked you out?”

“what?” baji sounds offended, almost competitive even, as if the very idea of it was ridiculous. “i asked you out. you just liked me back. what kind of man do you think i am?”

in that instant, you catch a glimpse of the younger baji. considering that the memory of your goodbyes is still clear and fresh in your mind, it almost makes you laugh—perhaps the boy you had to leave behind ten years ago is still somewhere inside the man standing before you now.

and deep down, you know you would’ve asked him out then if the circumstances were any different. for a brief moment, you let yourself wonder if he would’ve been just as offended.

“so… we’re dating?” the words feel weird on your tongue. not that you’re complaining.

“yup.”

“for how long?”

“a little over two years.”

you swear you feel your eyes bulge out of your skull at the revelation. “wow… okay.”

“you don’t look happy,” he teases.

“i am!” your rebuttal comes out a bit too defensively, prompting you to take a sharp inhale and reverting your voice to its neutral inflection. “i am,” you repeat. “it’s just… a lot to process.”

“take your time.”

baji presses a soft kiss on your forehead and that’s when it hits you.

“have we kissed…? since… you know…”

“not on the lips. i had to make up some no-kiss rule just in case—which other you hated, by the way—but now that you mention it…” he steps even closer, forcing you to walk backwards until you’re backed up against the kitchen counter and caged in his arms. “i’m gonna need you to refresh my memories.”

“what if i go back to the past?”

“i’ll kiss you there too,” he speaks with so much certainty it makes your heart flutter.

“then we’d just keep going back and forth,” you joke.

“then so be it.” with his face just merely inches away from yours, his voice dips in volume. just enough for you to still catch his words when he says, “i waited a long time. i think i deserve it.”

you roll your eyes but you don’t bother to fight the smile tugging at your lips. “it’s not waiting if we’re already together… babe.”

to be fair, rumi herself assumed the demon boyband had been thrown back to their realm and sealed off after that duel but a few nights had passed, jinu’s furry companions appeared once more on her balcony to relay another card which looked incredibly similar to the previous ones jinu had sent her prior to all their late night rendezvous.

so as much as her mind had tried to scream some common sense into her—after all, she did see jinu’s physical form vanish in front of her very eyes—she followed her gut and accepted the invitation, her heart filled to the brim with hope that it was him waiting for her at her destination.

rumi rode on the tiger’s back en route to the supposed meeting place which turned out to be an empty alleyway. it was dark out, taking rumi a few seconds to scan her surroundings before a man’s voice broke through the quiet.

rumi froze in place—she’d recognize that voice anywhere.

the man didn’t acknowledge her first as he cooed at his pet. “you found her? good job, buddy.”

“jinu?” rumi’s voice quivered and her knees buckled at the mere sight of him, the thread holding her together since his disappearance almost snapping.

jinu didn’t close the distance between them just yet, both staying where they stood but a smile began to curl at the corners of his lips as he joshed, “i’m not gonna lie. i’m expecting a hug this time.”

through her tears, rumi couldn’t help but laugh at his request but it was also out of relief. like a weight had been lifted off her chest, whatever she’d been holding in finally finding its release and she could breathe again.

she sprinted her way to jinu who easily caught her in his arms and for a moment, they stayed that way, finding solace in each other’s embrace.

“you’re back,” rumi uttered weakly before she completely succumbed to her emotions. while she sobbed, jinu couldn’t help but rub her back soothingly but not without a few chuckles which earned him a light jab on his chest. “stop laughing at me.”

“i’m not,” jinu countered but he was laughing harder. “i just didn’t think you’d miss me so much.”

“shut up,” rumi grumbled.

jinu never let go of rumi while she cried, only speaking once more when her sniffles began to subside, “thank you for saving me from gwi-ma.”

“i wouldn’t have done it if it weren’t for you,” rumi mumbled.

after gwi-ma’s defeat, jinu could no longer hear his voice ringing in his head yet everything he had done to aid the demon king in his schemes still played in his mind like a stark reminder of the lengths he’d gone to betray the woman before him. he’d given all he had left to make up for it yet he still couldn’t deem his sacrifice enough for his repentance.

jinu was mortified and ridden with guilt down to his core but having rumi in his arms, he realized it was a shame he didn’t feel burdened to carry. he’d do anything for her.

“i’d give you my soul again and again if i could,” jinu vowed. “it’s yours.”

unable to find the perfect words to say, rumi pulled away slightly, just far enough to look at his face and take in his features as if to sear his image into her brain should fate take him away from her again. her eyes traced the patterns that snake across his skin—from his neck, down to his arms and when her gaze settled on his wrist, another reminder came to mind.

“and i believe this is yours.” she reached into her pocket, fishing for the flower bracelet the old lady had gifted her. with everything else that had happened, that night felt like a distant memory now. rumi took jinu’s hand to put the bracelet on him before throwing him a lighthearted glare, “don’t lose it this time.”

jinu smiled. “i won’t.”

“so what do we do now?” rumi asked, her tone sounding more serious. “i have to tell the girls. i promised them—no more secrets.”

“then let’s do that,” jinu agreed a little too eagerly, much to rumi’s confusion. she was expecting him to be cautious, at the very least, yet he seemed… excited? “and tell them we said hi.”

whatever else rumi had planned to say instantly flew out the window. “‘we’…?”

“wow…” jinu drawled, a shit-eating grin now plastered on his face. “i know you were never a fan but acting like we never existed? you wound me, rumi.”

rumi was starting to perceive what he meant. she just needed him to say it explicitly but he only gave her a wink, blatantly amused by her confused state.

“don’t worry about it.” jinu ran a thumb over the wrinkle between her brows. “just talk to your friends.”

so here she is… about to talk to her friends.

ah, screw it.

“actually,” rumi speaks up, “i do have something to say.”

“please don’t release another single during couch time,” zoey whines.

“i won’t,” rumi says, chuckling.

zoey sighs in relief. “okay, go on.”

“so…” rumi pauses for a second to form the words in her head, “you already know about me being half-demon…”

“yeah…” mira confirms, slowly growing suspicious of her sugary tone. in that instance, rumi wishes mira wasn’t so perceptive sometimes.

“and you guys still love me…”

“of course, we do,” zoey replies.

“what did you do?” mira interrogates at the same time.

“don’t freak out,” rumi tells them slowly as she gently nudges them to take a seat. “okay. here goes….”

without saying another word, rumi goes to grab an empty bin from a corner and brings it to the middle of the room before she carefully sets it on the floor… all just to tip it over.

unsure of what they’re supposed to be seeing, mira and zoey are sat quietly, their snacks now forgotten as they watch rumi with the most dumbfounded expressions she’s ever seen on their faces.

for a few seconds, nothing is happening but before any of them can ask, a soft light begins to shape into a circle on the floor nearby, gradually growing brighter, and soon, a huge white tiger emerges from it along with its companion, a three-eyed hat-wearing bird.

rumi doesn’t explain but neither mira nor zoey can find it in themselves to ask anyway as they gape at the animals that just materialized from their floorboards. despite being accustomed to the life of a demon hunter, they wouldn’t have suspected that in a million years.

in complete contrast to the girls’ shock, the tiger doesn’t seem to pay any of them the slightest attention as it makes a beeline for the bin to put it upright repeatedly and failing every single time. it isn’t long before rumi lends a hand and the feline shifts its focus on mira and zoey.

they finally get on their feet. they don’t look terrified but they’re definitely on alert—well, mira is.

“what is that?!”

“this is derpy,” rumi calmly gestures to the tiger then she points to the bird, “and this is sussie.”

“oh my gosh! can i pet it?” zoey squeals, eyes blown to the size of saucers in wonder.

“zoey, no!” mira pulls her back. “they could be demons.” rumi’s lack of reaction ultimately confirms her suspicions. “THEY’RE DEMONS?!”

“well…” rumi momentarily considers if they are demons before deciding, “they were created with demon magic.”

“so you have demon magic?”

“not me… jinu.”

“jinu?” zoey looks puzzled. “from the saja boys?”

mira appears just as baffled. “okay, hold on. if he’s gone and those…” she gestures animatedly at derpy and sussie, “creatures only exist because of his magic, why are they still here?”

a forced grin stretches across rumi’s face which earns her a raise of an eyebrow from mira, “about that…“

“can we come out now?” a man’s voice comes from rumi’s room.

“what was that?” mira asks to no one in particular.

“pipe down,” another voice scolds, “she said she’d give us a signal.”

“that’s a different person,” zoey notes.

“rumi, what is going on?” mira questions, the natural sharpness in her gaze becoming even sharper yet not enough to cut through the thick tension in the air.

rumi slaps a hand over her face, squeezing her eyes shut as she pretends to ignore the inquisitive looks from her friends. she just wants to get this mess over with.

she finally addresses the boys in her room. “you guys can come out now.”

so the saja boys do, looking just as humanlike as the day huntrix first met them, save for their demon patterns that mirror the ones scattered all over rumi’s body. they’re not as striking as they used to be they’re still prominent.

with a gasp, mira turns to rumi accusingly. “you’ve been hiding them in your room?!”

“NO!” rumi shrieks defensively.

“then what the hell were they doing in there?!”

before rumi can get a word out, she can already hear how utterly stupid her answer is going to be, “i told them to enter through my balcony…”

“what were you thinking?!” mira hisses. “you couldn’t ask them to just meet us somewhere else instead of inviting them to where we live?!”

jinu chimes in, mostly in rumi’s defense. “we’re not here to cause any trouble. you have my word.”

mira glares at him. “i’m not talking to you.”

“if we met up with them in public, there could be a dating scandal,” rumi reasons with her.

“it wasn’t a problem when you were meeting up with him.” despite mira’s refusal to mention jinu’s name, she doesn’t sound hostile but she’s clearly light years away from enjoying this encounter.

“mira, please. i just need you to trust me on this one,” rumi pleads before she bargains, “if they betray us again, i’ll kill them myself. i promise.”

“what?” jinu squeaks.

mira’s gaze slides over to jinu as she continues to address rumi. “including him?”

“yes,” rumi answers in a heartbeat.

“rumi!” jinu protests but rumi gives him a look—just go with it.

mira smirks at him, a murderous glint flashing in her eyes but it immediately dims when she notices abby and romance making their way over.

“you know, a dating scandal could be fun,” abby cheekily suggests, “what do you think?”

“i think you should go to hell.”

“feisty,” romance comments as he gives mira a sultry once-over, “can’t wait to see a lot more of that.”

mira dramatically wretches as she retreats to her room but not before telling them, “don’t follow me.”

still, abby and romance trail after her until mystery is left alone with zoey.

“hey…” zoey says sheepishly.

“hi.” mystery’s greeting is brief but tender. zoey supposes that evil or not, he has always been the quiet one amongst the saja boys.

but she really, really hopes he’s not evil this time.

“i realized i’ve never really heard you talk before,” zoey tells him before she jokes in an attempt to break the ice, “i remember you growling and barking at the fans.”

her teasing doesn’t land as mystery sounds genuinely apologetic, “sorry.”

“no!” zoey’s voice rises in pitch as she backpedals then she clears her throat. “sorry. i mean, no. it’s fine. i was just kidding. actually, i should be the one saying sorry. i talk too much sometimes.”

when mystery doesn’t respond right away, zoey immediately assumes she’s weirded him out. she deflates at the thought of it, faking a giggle when she adds, “see?”

“i don’t mind,” mystery mumbles, his eyes cast downward as he refuses to meet zoey’s gaze. despite his hair covering half of his face, the blush across his cheeks isn’t hard to miss.

“oh.” zoey is stunned. she didn’t know what she was expecting him to say but it definitely wasn’t that. it’s the first time huntrix’s main lyricist is rendered absolutely speechless and by the looks of it, she’s a hair’s breadth from losing her sanity.

“keep it together, zo,” rumi jests which breaks her friend out of her daze.

“can we keep him?” zoey blurts out as if the saja boy in question isn’t standing right next to her.

rumi only laughs before she’s pulled away into a corner by jinu.

“hi there.”

“hi,” rumi reciprocates his coquetry before she quips, “so what part of ‘i’ll give you a signal’ did you guys not understand?”

“blame abby,” jinu retorts, “but you have to admit. that went well.”

rumi agrees. “probably the best way it could’ve gone.”

“but you were joking, right?”

“about what?”

“killing me. you’re not really gonna kill me,” jinu boldly claims but his brazenness instantly crumbles when rumi doesn’t respond, “you’re not gonna kill me, right?!”

“you look nervous,” rumi teases, “are you planning something?”

“n-no…” jinu stutters, seemingly caught red-handed. and just like that, he notices rumi’s body go rigid, her playful demeanor now gone and taking its place is a hint of a frown slowly manifesting on her visage. in a panic, he hastily admits, “it’s not what you think!”

upon seeing the look of concern on rumi’s face, jinu holds her close, not giving her a chance to inch away from him. “listen… how does a first date sound?”

it only takes rumi a second to understand what jinu means before she’s rolling her eyes but she’s elated. “i don’t know how you used to do it 400 years ago but that is not how you ask a girl out.”

“you put me on the spot!” laughing, jinu pulls her flush against his body. “you haven’t answered my question.”

rumi beams as she replies, “a first date sounds nice.”

out of the blue, zoey gasps as she exclaims, “he’s eating our food.”

rumi follows zoey’s line of sight and catches the culprit who seems unfazed by the accusation as he continues to go through their kitchen.

if there’s one thing huntrix will protect with their life other than their fans, it’s their food.