DonatellaRose

The pink blooms from the trees loomed over the path winding through the cherry blossom garden. With a gentle tug on your hand, Johnny pulled you to a stop as he lifted a drooping brach out of your way.

"Thanks, Johnny. Why is this branch growing down?"

"Not sure, let me ask it."

He studied the tree with a serious gleam in his eye before nodding thoughtfully.

"Oh, I see."

"Well, what is it?"

"It's a secret."

"Johnny!"

A gust of wind carried your laughter away as cherry blossom petals scattered all around both of you. Sweeping the stray petals from your shoulder, you rose on your toes to pluck another petal from his mohawk. 

"I'll keep this one to use as a bookmark."

"A memento from our date in the most beautiful place seems fitting. The location is almost as beautiful as the company, yeah?"

Glancing up at him as you twirled the petal between your fingers, you caught the teasing adoration in his ocean eyes.

"Yeah, it is."

Just as you leaned up for a kiss, nature seemed to have other plans. 

A squirrel leaping from branch to branch caused a flurry of pink petals to cascade over you. Acting on instinct, Johnny tugged you into his chest. Holding one hand over your head to try to shield you, you could only smile up at him.

"Whenever you want to protect something, you always make sure you protect it well. Even if it is only from flowers."

Rafayel (inspired by Wait for Me from Hadestown)

The sheets were still hopelessly tangled around you, Rafayel's hand banded across your ribcage with his leg hitched over yours. Your boyfriend either slept spread out like a starfish or clung to you like an octopus. Today, it was the latter. His breath was slow and even against your shoulder, but it was just steady enough for you to gather that he was awake.

Rolling to face him, he reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind your ear. His touch lingered on your cheek as a soft smile lit up his still waking features.

"Perfect. This will be my inspiration for my next masterpiece."

"Raf, you always say that I'm your muse every time you see me."

"It's true."

With a sleepy laugh, he buried his head in the crook of your neck to trail lazy kisses along your collarbone. Each press of his lips against your bare skin ignited a new trail of fire just as he had last night. With one final kiss to the tender spot were your pulse thrummed for him, he lazily sat up and stretched, the sheets pooling around his waist like sand. The moment you reached for him, he quickly returned to your side,

"You know I'll follow you to the end of the earth and time itself. This I vow with all my heart."

His cotton candy gaze flicked to the ring on your finger, a faint tremble in his touch as he reverently caressed the pearls surrounding the sparkling diamond of your engagement ring. The most chaste brush of his lips against the jewelry he had eased onto your finger no less than a week ago before his arms were around you once again. Lazily running your fingers through his hair, you let his head rest on your chest while his breathing synched up to yours. Minutes later when you started to pull away, he moved as well.

"Wait for me, I’m coming with you "

"I was going to wash my face."

"Let me."

"I think we'll both end up looking we just emerged from the ocean, but you can certainly try."

Within seconds of your approval, his arms were wrapped around you before he carried you into the bathroom like a precious pearl. Even when he put you down so you could both brush your teeth, he hugged you from behind as if the brief minute he wasn't touching you was too long.

A dollop of your face wash was gently lathered between his palms, a cotton headband holding your hair away from your wet face before a feather light touch massaged the suds across your cheeks and forehead. Though your eyes were closed, you knew what Rafayel would do. As if proving your point, he leaned in and stole a kiss, only to pull back with a laugh.

"You taste like bubbles. And home."

Caleb (inspired by Never Ever Getting Rid Of Me from Waitress)

"Caleb, let go."

With laughter spilling from your lips, you halfheartedly smacked at the arms currently in a vice grip around your waist. Your boyfriend only squeezed tighter as he hugged you from behind, resting his chin on your shoulder. He hadn't even bothered to change out of his Colonel uniform, the hat lazily tossed onto the steps of his plane he had descended down.

"Negative. You know that I don't want you far from me after a mission. Wherever you go, I won't be far to follow."

Reaching behind to cup his cheek, you felt him nuzzle into your palm before pressing a kiss to the center of it. His hands shifted on your waist to spin you to face him before his lips seized yours in a greedy kiss. He stole your breathe just to gave it back to you. Only when you broke the kiss to take a gasp of air did his arms release their hold, shifting under your knees to scoop you up and cradle you close to his chest.

"Did the mission go well? You seemed to get home faster than usual."

"Maybe I just flew faster than the speed of sound to get home to you."

Sure and steady footsteps carried you over to the porch swing in front of your home. Gently setting you against the apple shaped pillow, he sank next to you. Draping one arm over your shoulder, he lightly tucked you into his side as his feet lightly pushed off the earth in an easy back and forth swing. 

"Couldn't you use your Evol for this?"

"Maybe, but somethings I like to do myself. Like carrying you to bed when you fall asleep on the couch."

His thumb traced light patterns over your shoulder as he watched the clouds float by with you. A gloved finger pointed out one that looked like an apple tree, while your own traced the shape of a paper plane a few minutes later. You didn't even notice when three words with eight letters fell from your lips in a content sigh. Caleb grazed a feather soft kiss to your temple.

"Careful, I love you means you're never ever ever getting rid of me."

His arm around you grew tighter as the sky gradually faded to darker navy hues with a touch of purple as a few twinkling stars made their appearance known. 

"Caleb, take me home."

"Yes ma'am."

Sylus (inspired by Cell Block Tango from Chicago)

Though you and your boyfriend were from different worlds, that had never been an issue for any of your public outings in Linkon or the N109 Zone.

Until today. 

Your fellow Hunters were not supposed to be on patrol outside the fine dining restaurant in Linkon where you and Sylus were having dinner. You were not even halfway through the main course when you glanced out the windows and stiffened. As Sylus turned to look, you quickly grabbed his hand.

"Don't move."

Crimson eyes narrowed as Sylus caught the meaning of your words. Tossing a handful of bills on the table, the sum nearly triple what the total price of your meal was, he offered his hand to you. You recognized the determination in his features, it was the look of someone who would burn the entire world to keep you safe. With a nod, you took his hand and followed his sure steps out the back door. 

"Do you have a plan?"

His head merely dipped slightly in acknowledgment before suddenly his frame was pressing yours back against the stone wall. Both arms came up to lightly cage you in, blocking your view of the outside world. A finger quickly pressing against your lips to silence the question he could read in your eyes. 

The answer came a few seconds later. The familiar steps of the boots you wore every day at work came near as your fellow Hunters neared the side alley. As panic flooded your system, he leaned even closer to graze his lips against the shell of your ear.

"Did I ever tell you what happened at the base yesterday? Well, you know how people have these little habits that get you down? Like Dimitri! Dimitri liked to chew gum. No, not chew. Pop!"

"Sylus, is there a point to this?"

"Shh, don't interrupt. I walked into Onychinus one day and there's Dimitri, laying on the couch chewing, no, not chewing, popping! So I said "Dimitri, you pop that gum one more time. And he did. So I fired two warning shots."

"Sylus!"

With an amused glint in his eyes, he shook off the hand you had clamped over his mouth to muffle the rest of his story. Though you could guess how it would end, for now you had plausible deniability. 

"He had it coming. Besides, the story served its purpose. Your thoughts were back on me instead of the other things lurking in the shadows."

Before you could scold him, his lips crashed into yours with the intent to claim all your thoughts from now until forever.

Zayne (inspired by Doctor's Orders from Catch Me If You Can)

"Hey doctor, are you on call? I’m not feeling so well at all."

Zayne's gaze quickly shot to where you lazily sprawled over the couch, his trained eye quickly scanning every inch of you. Only when his brow furrowed when he was unable to locate the caused of your distress did you stop trying to hide your teasing smile. With a slight shake of his head, he pinched the bridge of his nose before adjusting his glasses.

"You. If you are feeling ill, it would benefit me to know your symptoms."

"I kept thinking about you, I couldn't sleep a wink last night. I need a checkup to make sure everything is all right."

"But didn't you have an apple with lunch today? I've heard that keeps doctors away."

"Zayne! But I’m ready to take doctor's orders."

With a dramatic sigh, you pretend to sneeze into your elbow before peering weakly up into his soft gaze. A gentle shake of his head before he moved closer and knelt by the couch, hands hovering beside you before his index and middle finger pressed against your wrist to check your pulse. 

"Your heart rate is elevated."

"Maybe I'm nervous."

"Hmmm, unlike you, your body has never lied to me."

Lithe fingers trailed along your arm before lingering on the snowflake necklace resting on your collarbone. His gaze seemed to soften as he admired the sparkling diamonds that he had given you on your first anniversary a few weeks ago. After pressing a reverent kiss to the symbol resting at the base of your throat, his lips skittered along your neck.

"Zayne, you tease!"

"I'm taking advantage of the situation."

Each word was punctuated with a kiss before he hovered over your lips. Merely a whisper away, he pulled back just as you leaned towards him. A click of his tongue paired with a shake of his head as he looked down at you with mock disapproval. 

"When someone feeling under the weather, the last thing they need is physical exertion. I'm afraid only a week of bedrest will do."

"I'm fine now. See?"

You tried to sit up, but a gentle press from his hand had you sinking back into the couch. His thumb lightly tugged at your lower lip, a hint of a smile causing his eyes to crinkle in amusement. Moving closer to you at a glacial pace, he finally gave you the kiss you had been longing for. 

"There. I'd agree, a kiss is the best medicine."

Xavier (inspired by It Only Takes a Taste from Waitress)

Xavier's steady hand in yours was the only guiding starlight, the late morning air ruffling your clothes as your shoes crunched over grass. The fresh, floral smell of poppies, lavender and other blossoms hinted that you were in the meadow on the far side of the park, but the blindfold hindering your vision made it impossible to see if your suspicion was true. 

"Just a few more steps. And you can look now."

His fingers gently eased the blindfold from your face, shifting before you to block the harsh rays of the sun. Just behind him sat two large picnic baskets resting on top of a soft purple picnic blanket with shimmering silver embroidery of constellations. Once he was carefully settled on the small star pillow, he offered his hand to help you nestle against him.

"Xavi, when do you find the time to get everything for a picnic?"

"What if I said a little birdie helped me?"

"I hope it wasn't Puffball."

His laughter floated to you on a gentle breeze as he began to carefully pull out the feast he had prepared. You recognized the packaging from the new bakery that had opened up next to the deli the pair of you would frequent after late night missions. Once all the sandwiches were neatly lined up, he carefully removed two pie tins with names elegantly scrawled across the lid. Popping the top from the closest one, your mouth watered at the sweet aroma.

"In the dark dark chocolate pie. Marshmallow mermaid pie. I almost want to start with dessert."

"That seems like a bad idea."

His actions countered his words as he carefully served a pie slice on the paper plate. Quickly picking up a fork, you scooped up the piece with the most whipped cream and took a bite, immediately humming your approval.

"You know they say you can tell the whole story with a taste."

"And what story is being told to you right now? Do you need more?"

"It only takes a taste when it's something special."

Setting down your fork, you reached over to brush your thumb over his cheekbone. He nuzzled into your touch, pressing a kiss into the center of your palm. 

"Once upon a time in a land far, far away, there was a very special prince. All the stars in the galaxy loved him."

"But he only had eyes for one."

Leaning forward his lips brushed against yours in another silent promise. His eyes, and his heart, would forever be only yours 

Valko (inspired by Revenge Party from Mean Girls)

Meet me at midnight.

The note he'd left on your pillow only had four words scrawled in his blocky script, but you knew exactly where to find him. Glancing out on your screened porch, Valko had already set up a blanket fort to watch the meteor shower. He perked up as soon as he caught your scent, glancing over his shoulder at you.

"Do you want to talk about what your friend did? Going to bed angry is bad, the stars can help you plot your revenge."

He gently tugged you into his chest, nuzzling his cheek against your hair as you let out a heavy sigh. It was one thing to lose a friend over some petty drama, but it was another for that same friend to reveal some of your innermost secrets in a so called burn book.

"I guess I just feel foolish. I trusted them and for what."

'Well, friends should have your back and be fun to be around. They scored negative on both areas. I can help you."

"Find new friends?"

"With revenge. Think of a proper revenge party as a party that ends with somebody crushed, alone, and ugly crying."

"Valko!"

"I'm just saying, if you hurt what I hold close to my heart, there will be consequences."

With a not so innocent shrug, he reached up to cup your cheek as his amber gaze trailed over every dried tear stain that had streaked down your cheek. Closing the distance, his lips kissed away every mark from your cheek to the few that had rolled down to your jaw. With a laugh, you pulled back slightly as his canines teasingly nipped at your throat.

"Stop, that tickles!"

"There she is."

Soft eyes full of adoration and loyalty searched yours before he leaned in to lightly rest his forehead against yours. Your hand shifted to press against the center of his chest, the steady thrum of his heart under your touch slowly matching pace with your own. Valko gently brushed his nose against yours before pulling back.

"Better?"

With a nod, you shift against his side. His arm instinctively wrapped around you once more, a gentle finger slipping under your chin to guide your gaze up towards him. Melting into his touch, you brushed your lips softly against his. Once, twice, three times before he placed the final kiss on your forehead. 

"Anything for my girl."

Gideon (inspired by Big Fun from Heathers)

The night was not off to a good start. On the way to the party, your blind date, who was already getting on your last nerve, hit the brakes too soon when the car took a sharp turn around the bend resulting in a trip to the emergency room. When he finally came back to reception, he pointed at his bandaged arm like it was a badge of honor. 

As you both entered the party, the date only went from bad to worse. You were quickly left to fend for yourself while your date mingled with everyone, laughing a bit too loudly at unfunny jokes and hyping up an evening of big fun since the house was theirs for the night. Though you offered a few friendly smiles, there was not a soul at the party that you knew. Resigning yourself to a miserable evening, you found an out of the way spot to fiddle with your phone until a warm familiar voice cut through the noise.

"There you are, sweetheart, sorry I'm late. I was looking everywhere for you"

Your date rushed back to your side from across the room to glare daggers at Gideon, but you could only offer a smile to the man who once again came to your rescue. If there was a prince in in a dark green shirt, it would be him. His dark gaze sparkled as he scooped up your hand to press a lingering kiss along your knuckles, your failed date leaving the room in a huff. 

Gideon would always walk you out to your car after late nights at the DAA, or sneaking your favorite granola bar onto your desk in the research department when you mentioned in passing that it would be another late night. With a grateful smile, you glanced up at him.

"I owe you one. Again."

"Do you want to leave? Or stay? It's your call."

"Can we just go?"

With a nod and a gentle smile, his hand found your lower back as he guided you outside into the peaceful night air. So much time had passed that the sun was just beginning to appear over the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and red. The tension melted from your shoulders as you admired the sight.

"It's so beautiful."

"I agree."

Out of the corner of your eye, while you were watching the sunrise, you caught Gideon gazing at you. Quietly reach over to lace your fingers with his, you gave his hand a gentle squeeze. His thumb swept soothingly along your hand as he guided you to his waiting plane.

"I'm glad you left with me."

"Gideon, I'll always choose you."

And two week later, you give the same answer when Gideon asked you to be his girlfriend. 

Lemurian Sea God! Rafayel (inspired by Pied Piper by BTS)

The sound of crashing waves outside your palace window would often lure you to sleep every night, but over the past week or so, the soft melody from a flute accompanied it.

Tonight, that sound seemed to coax you out on your balcony as it tugged at threads of a memory from your youth. A childhood friend with purple hair who loved to spend every waking moment in the sea, humming a song just like this. Your sweetheart who left seashells by your pillow and lulled you to sleep with stories of ancient myths from the sea. Only to disappear one day, rumors around the castle insisting that he had turned to sea foam.

Your hands rested on the stone railing as you peered curiously down at the source. The most beautiful man you'd ever seen was perched on a rock, the waves lapping over his shimmering tail as he played a conch like a musical instrument. Long lilac locks were tousled by the sea breeze as if kissed by the ocean itself. His sunset eyes found yours and it was as if you two were the only beings in the world, a pang of familiarity bursting from your heart.

"Follow this song. It's a bit dangerous but I'm so sweet."

Even his voice was melodic as his shimmering tail transformed into human legs. The sea seemed to still as he closed the distance and glided onto the shore, barely leaving footprints in the sand. Your heart couldn't help but long for this ethereal being who looked like a wish come to life. 

Turning to return to your bed, you smacked into him. His arms wound around your waist to steady you before the soft "oof" had fallen from your lips. 

"You called me. See? I'm so sweet."

"How did you get up here so fast? I didn't even see you move."

"Is that really the question you should be asking?"

"Why are you here?"

"I'm here to save you. Or ruin you."

His hand slid over your cheek to guide your gaze up to him, those watercolor eyes flicking briefly to your lips before tracking the spot where your pulse thrummed. It was as if an invisible string was pulling you closer as you chased every movement he made. His free hand slid down your arm to lace with yours as he leisurely strolled backwards towards the edge of your balcony. 

You weren't sure how or when he had moved you both, but suddenly the waves lapped at your ankles and his lips crashed into yours. The intensity froze the air in your lungs as you could only melt into his embrace. His heated gaze raked over you as if you were an offering on his altar as he pulled back to cradle your face. 

"If I'm ruining you right now, please forgive me because I can't live without you." 

Tamino and Rafayel (inspired by Blood,Sweat & Tears by BTS)

After months of coaxing, Rafayel had finally managed to convince you to attend one of his house parties. You weren't against them, per say, you just preferred to go out downtown as opposed to a private residence where the party could end any second because of annoyed neighbors. 

The bottle in the center of the small group spun around and around. A modified version of spin the bottle that ended with seven minutes in a small guest bedroom. So far the occupants had been merely kissing or doing much more like the last pair who had reentered the room with their shirts on backwards. 

With a clink, the bottle stopped between two people. But it wasn't pointing at you and Rafayel, but Rafayel and the man on his other side. Rafayel's friend Tamino was his opposite in every way. If Rafayel could be considered ethereal, Tamino was the angel who had lost his wings and strove to bring everything in his path to ruin.

You'd only seen Tamino a few times, but the moment his fingers grazed yours when he was returning your dropped keys had been enough to put hearts in your eyes. He was at all Rafayel's painting exhibitions, you'd even seen the pair of them swimming in the ocean where the sight of water tricking down his toned frame had made you nearly drop your ice cream. When you'd finally confessed to Rafayel that you had a crush on Tamino, the amused glint in those cotton candy eyes should have been an indicator that plans were being set in motion.

Tamino dragged a hand through his shaggy wolf cut, the black leather fingerless glove matching his black leather jacket while his gazed raked over you. Beside him, Rafayel's gaze found yours before he pointedly looked at the ring pop candy on your finger.. Rafayel knew about your crush on Tamino, and he was giving you a chance you might never get again. Your fingers closed around the pink ring and tossed it into the ocean blue basin where it joined countless other discarded rings, your voice calm despite how your heart raced. 

"Rule of threes."

One of the house rules Rafayel had come up with to try and play cupid. Everyone was given a plastic ring with a candy gem on it. Tossing it into the dish meant you would join the couple for seven minutes in heaven. And what happened in the room, stayed in the room. 

Taking Rafayel's offered hand, you followed the two men into the bedroom. Tamino was already reclining back on the bed, resting on his elbows like he owned the place. The black earrings dangling from his ears swayed as he cocked his head to look at you. His gaze flicked questioningly to Rafayel who was leaning against the wall opposite him then back to where you hovered by the door A smile twitched at the corner of Tamino's lips as he pushed himself from the bed to prowl towards you.

"Nervous? Your poor thing. Relax, we're all friends here. No need to waste any more time. Kiss me, it will be our little secret."

With one last questioning look at Rafayel, you finally nodded before closing the distance to Tamino. Your lips found his, surprisingly soft for one with such a harsh reputation. The initial awkwardness quickly faded, the kiss almost ending as soon as it began. Tamino reached up to trace your lower lip with his thumb, as if contemplating how to spend the next 6 minutes. His voice finally broke the silence, low and slightly strained with want. 

"You're too sweet."

You could feel Rafayel smile against the crook of your neck, as if pleased with his matchmaking efforts before he nipped at the edge of your tank top and worked the strap off your shoulder to give himself a bigger canvas to work with. While bruises blossomed like flowers along your neck and shoulder, you raised to chin slightly and smirked up at Tamino, feeling emboldened. 

"Kiss me, I don't care if it hurts."

With the invitation, Tamino descended on you like a wave. His lips crashed into yours, tongue flicking against your mouth in a request for entry, one which you quickly granted. With a firm bite, his teeth dug into your lower lip hard enough to draw blood, pulling a collective moan from you both. It was as if a punishing spell had been cast over you, designed to kill you softly with every breath. 

When he finally broke the kiss for air, Rafayel redirected your gaze with a gentle brush of his thumb along your cheek. His gaze darkened as he took in the blood staining your lips. While Tamino lavished countless kisses and bites to the other side of your neck, Rafayel inched closer before gently kissing the blood away. Pulling back, he lightly rested his forehead against yours.

"The last dance is mine, yeah?"