݁❀₊lia⋆𐙚 ˖°

“valkie, where are you going?” you whispered, your hands clutching his bicep in an attempt to make him stay.

he turned to you, his head cocking to the left.

his warm palm came up to cup your cheek, and you immediately nuzzled it, leaning against his touch.

“it's late, bunny. i have to go,” he explained, his smile easy, but his golden eyes betraying hesitation.

you frowned slightly, looking down at the floor, only to lift your eyes seconds later and meet his again.

“yeah, but… you just came,” you insisted, your voice turning frail, almost desperate. “stay? a little while, please.”

his thumb caressed the soft curve of your cheekbone.

he couldn't stay; he knew it.

but he couldn't leave you alone, either, not when you were looking at him with those pleading eyes, clinging to him as if you needed his existence to keep breathing.

“honeybun, i wish i could, but…” he trailed off, his resolve growing weaker.

“please…” you mumbled, your arms now coiling around his torso. you nuzzled his strong chest, trying to commit his scent and warmth to memory.

if he was going to leave so soon, you wanted to take as much of him with you as you could.

he leaned down, his chin now resting atop your head.

his hands hesitated before resting on your lower back, pulling you closer to him, making your bodies almost melt together.

you whined softly and shut your eyes so tightly that you couldn't perceive the light or shadows anymore.

you didn't want to think of anything else that wasn't this moment.

you wanted to recognize him by his scent; his manly, musky perfume, so that when you were lost, you could find your way back to him with all of your senses.

you didn't notice you were trembling until he lifted your head, his expression soft but concerned.

he leaned closer, his warm lips catching a tear as it rolled down your cheek. valko lingered, the tip of his nose warm against your skin, his mouth pressed gently to your tear-streaked face.

how could anyone try to keep him away from you?

“valkie,” you sniffled, your hands travelling up his chest until they rested on his shoulders. “will you come back…?”

he sighed.

his lips left your skin as he pulled back, but he remained close, pressing your foreheads together.

“i won't need to come back,” he mumbled, his arms wrapping around your waist in a way that left little to no room for you to move. “because i won't leave, little bunny.”

your breath hitched.

you searched his gaze for any hint of deceit, or perhaps pity; a pity that would make him tell sweet lies as long as you stopped crying.

but those golden pools held nothing but resolve and tenderness; a mate promising his beloved he wouldn't dare leave as long as he lived.

he couldn't do it, he wouldn't survive if he left. his heart wouldn't make it if he didn't have yours beating close to it.

“you— really? you promise?” you whispered, your fingers gently caressing the smooth undershave at his nape, perhaps to ground yourself, perhaps to comfort him as well.

he kneeled right there in front of you, his chin tilting up so he could meet your gaze.

he took your hands in his and kissed each and every one of your knuckles. he then turned your hands over and nuzzled your warm palms, closing his eyes in pure bliss.

“i promise,” he assured, looking up through his thick eyelashes.

you cupped his cheeks and caressed his warm skin with the tips of your fingers, your eyes still glistening with unshed tears.

you traced the bridge of his nose, his eyebrows, his jawline, trying to memorize their shape, their texture, their softness and sharpness all at once.

it was almost as if you were scared of him disappearing.

scared of him going, scared of him leaving, and scared your mind wouldn't be able to recall anything you could hold on to.

he followed your hands with his eyes until he captured your fingers, pressing soft, wet kisses to them.

then, he stood up, towering over you in a way that never once felt threatening.

he picked you up in his arms with painful gentleness, treating you like the most delicate and fragile treasure, and held you against his chest, his body curling inward just to keep you surrounded by him.

his limbs, his scent, his breathing, and his clothes all brushed against your skin.

your fingers clung to him for dear life.

his long legs carried both of you to your bedroom, where he finally placed you down.

but you refused to let him go.

you stubbornly kept your limbs wrapped around his body, so he had no choice but to lie on top of you as carefully as he could, then gently roll the two of you over so that you'd be resting on his chest.

he lowered his hands until they reached the small of your back, and he pressed a lingering, soft kiss to your forehead the moment your pretty eyes looked up at him.

“i'm here, my bunny,” he whispered, his low voice rumbling in his chest. “i'm not going anywhere.”

no, he wasn't.

you wouldn't let him.

you shook your head softly and nuzzled his neck, sniffing his scent the way he taught you to; soft little sniffs to recognize where his scent was the strongest, then three long, slow inhales to take it in and commit it to memory.

the mix of pine, sandalwood, and the natural scent of his skin made you feel drowsy; the fear of him leaving replaced by his grounding promise.

you kissed the warm spot that brought you comfort, and let your consciousness drift away.

valko remained quiet, but he watched attentively as your eyelashes stopped fluttering, and your chest rose and fell calmly against his.

he nuzzled the top of your head and pulled a blanket over the two of you, almost as if to keep you both beneath a protective barrier the rest of the world couldn't break.

he knew not to make promises he could break, but… you were fighting so hard to cling to him, to remember him.

and if your heart, body, and soul were already memorizing every inch of his skin, he wouldn't truly be gone from your world.

ever.

he closed his eyes and buried his face deeper in your hair.

maybe fate would ask impossible things of him one day, maybe the world would try to pull him away.

but, if it ever did, he would spend every lifetime finding his way back to the little bunny who knew his scent by heart.~

“you hungry? I can order us some dinner,” you stay quiet at his words, your face buried in his chest as you let out quiet sobs.

“everything fucking sucks val,” you manage out, stepping back and angrily wiping your tears, “i finally had something i was so excited for and they just-” your voice cracks on the last word, valko wants to kill whoever made you this upset.

you bury your face in your hands, body shaking as you try and calm yourself down. valko doesn’t hesitate to sweep you up into his arms, biceps flexing as he cradles you. instinctively, your arms wraps around his neck, letting your head rest on his shoulder as you sniffle.

valko doesn’t say anything as he carries you to the bathroom, shifting you to carry you in one arm as he turns the water on for you.

“w-what are you doing?” you ask quietly, wiggling slightly as a sign for him to put you down. he complies immediately, gingerly lowering you until your feet are firm on the ground.

“didn’t you tell me there wasn’t anything a warm shower couldn’t fix after i couldn’t get my research right?” there’s the slightest teasing lilt to his voice, you want to roll your eyes at him.

“well yeah but-” you try and protest, valko raises his eyebrows, your rebuttal dies on your lips.

“and you’re using the expensive body wash i got you, no buts” he smiles, stifling his laughter when you grumble at his words. he waits for a moment before turning to step out of the bathroom, immediately halting when he feels your hand on his wrist. “what is dollface?”

you stare into his amber eyes for a second, stomach flipping at the concern swimming in them. “do you think… can you stay with me?” valko can’t stop his ears and tail from popping out, tail wagging incessantly at your words.

“i will always stay with you, no matter what.” the conviction and firmness in his voice make your eyes water once more, and his steadfast façade shatters immediately. his arms are around you before you can process anything, pulling you into his chest and squeezing you. “don’t cry baby, I’m right here, I’ll always be right here,” the waver in his voice makes you smile slightly.

god he’s so helpless. you love him.

valko wastes no time in helping you undress, he taps your arms gently, a signal for you to lift them up as he takes your shirt off. you blush as his breath catches in his throat when he sees you.

“you act like you don’t see me naked everyday,” you huff, goosebumps rising on your skin as his fingertips ghost over your skin before unhooking your bra.

he places a feathery kiss to your shoulder, slowly slipping the strap down your arm and sniffing at your neck. he hums as he kisses your jaw. “does a sunset get less breathtaking because you’ve seen it the day before?” you can’t stop the smile that breaks onto your face, cheeks heating up.

“stupid wolf,” you smile, holding onto his broad shoulders as he helps you out of your bottoms. he nips at your thighs, giggling as he sinks his sharp canines gently into your skin, not enough to even leave a mark.

“your stupid wolf.”

you roll your eyes, “yes, my stupid wolf.”

valko helps you into the shower, rinsing your hair and helping you shampoo, gently washing your body as you ramble to him of what’s bothering you. he listens attentively, nodding along to your words and pouting when your voice wavers again. whether out of anger or sadness, maybe a mix of both, fresh tears spill out of your eyes.

“maybe it’s stupid for me to be so upset about it, but i was really excited,” you murmur, letting the hot water hit your skin and sighing sadly.

“nothing you feel is ever stupid, it’s okay to feel how you do, it’s normal.” his voice is even as ever, squeezing the last bit of conditioner out of your hair before reaching over you and shampooing his own hair quickly. you stare at him with a small smile and gleaming eyes.

you giggle as he rinses his hair quickly, shaking his head rapidly to get as much water off him as possible.

you’re both quiet as he helps you out of the shower, drying you with a fluffy towel before wrapping you in it, carrying you to your shared bed and setting you down. he hums softly as he opens your closet and drawers, grabbing your favorite pajamas and handing them to you.

“gonna place the order for food and I’ll be back, okay?” you nod in response, smiling when he blows a kiss your way with an over exaggerated ‘MWAH!’ before leaving you to your own devices.

the silence of your bedroom is consuming, but the hollowness that once filled your heart is filled.

you don’t feel sad as valko walks in minutes later with a horrible wolf pun. you smile as he drowns you in cuddles and kisses, his tail wagging wildly at the sound of your giggles. your heart is warm and your mind at ease as he pulls you closer to him, sweet nothings leaving his lips as he comforts you.

“when you have a bad day, i hope you can find comfort in the fact ill still be here for you, waiting for you to come home to me.”

masterlist

it had been raining horribly for days, and going outside was a questionable choice.

you were focused on your screen, watching a silly drama series while clutching a cushion, your eyebrows furrowed.

you truly needed the entertainment, or else you'd bore yourself after thirty-six hours of confinement.

“how dumb, why doesn't he just confess…?” you whispered to yourself, taking a sip of your sweet, warm tea without looking away from the unnecessarily heartbreaking scenes.

just then, you heard a knock on your door.

it was five past eleven, no one in their right mind would go out so late, let alone when it was raining like crazy.

you paused the series and went to your door with soft, hesitant steps, your eyes narrowing.

“...who is it?” you asked, not daring to open the door just yet.

a soft whining noise caught your attention, most likely a puppy's.

did someone abandon a pup on your doorstep?

oh gosh, who'd do such a thing?

you opened it immediately, and when you looked down, expecting to see a wet box with a poor little creature inside, you found a pair of polished yet soaked shoes instead.

“gotcha,” a voice echoed, making you jump and look up.

ah, of course.

valko, with a stupid grin on his face.

“you… what are you—?” the words died in your mouth as he stepped inside, drenched, water droplets falling onto your clean floor.

he discarded his coat and shook his entire body like a dog, not only making a mess, but getting you just as wet.

“valko!” you squeaked, covering your face in a pathetic attempt to protect yourself from the flying water.

he looked around briefly before sniffing the air, his nostrils flaring softly. he left muddy footprints all the way to the kitchen, his large frame looking out of place inside your cozy apartment.

you grunted under your breath, picking up his wet coat with the tips of your fingers, trying to avoid the small puddles he left carelessly behind.

he checked your pantry, then your fridge, his eyes slowly travelling around.

he only turned around when he sensed your presence behind him.

“you can't just come in and make a mess, valko!” you whined, crossing your arms over your chest. “what is this? why are you here so late? and… step away from the fridge, you're wet and you'll catch a cold!”

he straightened up and looked down at you.

“you don't have much protein,” he said, pointing back at the fridge before closing the door. “you need meat.”

you parted your lips to speak, then frowned.

what was this?

an inspection?

he kept walking around, and you followed despite yourself.

now, valko and you had… a thing.

you'd say it was casual, occasional.

you liked him, and he liked you, but you felt it'd be too rushed to invite him over to your sacred place, even though it'd been going on for months.

so, having him here, invading every inch as if he owned the place, was not in your plans.

he entered every room, analysing the furniture and your unmistakable scent.

he sat down on your bed, his large hands dragging one of your plushies over and holding it hostage against his chest.

that's when he finally addressed you.

“it's nice,” he nodded, leaning against the headboard. “it's big enough to have four or five pups running around.”

you immediately felt your skin turn hot, your eyes wide.

your heart almost gave out with how fast it was beating.

“v-valko?”

“okay, what about three?” he arched an eyebrow, tilting his head to the side. “and then three more when we move to my place. it's bigger.”

you finally had enough.

you stomped closer and yanked the plushie away, holding it close.

this man—

“you can't— you… first of all, you're getting my bed all wet! second of all, you…” you took a sharp inhale, closing your eyes briefly. “you can't just casually mention… c-children, valko.”

he looked down at the damp mattress before meeting your gaze again.

his fluffy ears emerged, and you hated when they did.

it was a vile tactic, a dirty move, especially when… when he made them go all droopy, and his golden eyes looked so sad…

oh, that sweet face…

no!

“stop, valko!” you turned around and closed your eyes. “bad boy, bad!”

seconds later, a pair of strong arms coiled around your waist, easily lifting you off the ground.

he nuzzled the back of your head and inhaled your scent, his tail swishing softly behind him.

“why didn't you tell me to come over sooner?” he asked, his breath brushing the shell of your ear.

you planned to squirm away and get out of his grasp, yet instead, you found yourself freezing in place.

you didn't expect him to ask that.

“why did i have to invite myself in?” he continued, his tone dropping even lower. “you didn't want me here, in your space?”

“valkie… isn't it too soon?” you whispered. “it's only been a couple of months…”

“soon?” he echoed, his fingers digging ever so slightly into your soft tummy. “it's been one hundred and fifty-seven days. that's five full moons, little bunny.”

your eyes fluttered, finally opening after a while. all you could see were your legs suspended in the air.

“we should be married by now. you, marked. me, claimed,” he nuzzled your jawline from behind, lingering there a little longer. “how much longer am i supposed to wait?”

“valko…”

“you keep saying my name. if you like it that much, use it to beg for me to make you mine.”

you gasped, his words making you feel a strange warmth in your chest, and a dizziness you couldn't explain.

he sat down all of a sudden, pulling you onto his lap. your back was against his chest, and he hid his face in your neck, as if it were his refuge.

you thought he'd grow uncontrollable, that you'd have to throw a cushion his way and make him calm down, that he'd mark you right then and there, taking what he saw as rightfully his.

but the seconds went by, slowly, and instead of the situation escalating, you heard a small whine, muffled and low.

his arms tightened around your body, refusing to let go.

“...please,” he whispered. “how much longer, bunny?”

your heart melted.

you didn't know if you were ready.

hell, you didn't even know if he was being serious about the six kids, and if he was, then you had lots of things to think about beforehand.

but the idea of being his, of being marked and claiming him as yours in return, wasn't strange.

you'd had a taste of what valko would be like as a partner for… a lot of days, as he so explicitly recalled, and you didn't regret a single moment spent with him.

“i… i'm not sure yet, valko,” you whispered, not daring to move an inch. “i can't give you a date.”

he sighed, and while you weren't looking at him, you knew his tail had dropped when you could no longer hear it thump against your bed anymore.

“but…” you continued.

one of his ears perked up with interest, his golden eyes now bright.

“but you… could stay the night. get to know where i live, and… explore my space.”

that's all it took for valko to stand up again, turn you around with ease, and pull you against his chest in a tight hug.

his tail wagged like a propeller, and he buried his nose in your hair, shamelessly taking deep breaths to carry your scent with him for longer.

“two more full moons at most,” he whispered, more to himself than to you. “no more.”

“valko, i just said—”

“i'll go clean up,” he kissed your lips, tilting your chin up with his index finger just to keep you in place. your eyes shut, and you instinctively returned the kiss, though it took you a few seconds to react.

when he pulled back, he brushed your lower lip with his thumb, noticing how it glistened with his saliva under the soft light of your lamp.

marked.

his.

“don't go anywhere,” he whispered, and that crooked, stupid grin came back to his face.

you were left speechless as he left your bedroom, his chest puffed out, and his fangs showing as he smirked.

you knew he'd take this as an opportunity to snoop around and mark his territory however he could, but instead of irritating you even more, you found it… somewhat adorable.

the rain kept falling outside, and your laptop had long since run out of battery, but you didn't mind.

the wet puppy now invading your space, checking whether you had enough food, whether your windows were secure enough, or whether your plushies were fluffier than him, was far more interesting than anything else.~

The words land heavy between you, thick with possession, wrapping around your throat like a collar you didn't know you wanted to wear.

Your breath catches. Heat floods your cheeks- and lower. You try to hold onto your anger, but the way he says it, possessive and raw, makes your thighs press together involuntarily.

"You're impossible," you breathe, lips barely an inch from his.

A low, needy growl escapes him as his hips grind against you once, deliberately, letting you feel the rigid proof of his restraint fraying. One hand slides up your back, tracing lightly along your spine in a path of fire while the other keeps a bruising grip on your waist, holding you exactly where he wants as if he'd break anyone who tried to take you from him.

"Say it back." His voice is thick, desperate. "Tell me you're my woman. Tell me you understand why I'll chain the moon itself if it keeps you safe."

His forehead stays pressed to yours, golden eyes burning with hunger and something deeper- raw, vulnerable devotion wrapped in feral need that makes your stomach flip and your nipples tighten into hard peaks beneath your shirt.

"I am yours," you say softly, your voice trembling "I always have been. But you need to stop your meddling."

His jaw tightens. A low, frustrated sound rumbles from his chest- not quite a growl, not quite a sigh. He pulls back just enough to shake his head, slow and deliberate, a stubborn set to his mouth that makes him look almost petulant but does nothing to diminish the fire in his gaze.

"No," he says flatly. "Not that. Anything but that."

"Valko-"

"You want me to stand by while you're in the crosshairs? While a bullet has your name on it? While some rogue shifter with a grudge decides you'd make a pretty trophy?" His voice drops, rougher now- not with anger, but with an anxious frenzy that makes his hands tighten on you convulsively, as if he's imagining the very scenario and it's driving him mad. "I can't. Don't ask me to."

Your lips part to argue, but he doesn't let you.

He kisses you.

Not gently. Not hesitantly. His mouth claims yours with a brutal, consuming hunger that steals the breath from your lungs and leaves you gasping against his lips. One hand tangles in your hair, gripping hard enough to tilt your head back and expose the vulnerable column of your throat, while the other slides down to grip the curve of your hip, fingers digging into the flesh like he's branding you through the fabric. He kisses you like he's been starving for days and you are the first meal he's allowed himself- deep, devouring, his tongue sweeping into your mouth to taste every corner, his teeth grazing your lower lip with a sharp nip that makes you moan.

The protest dies in your throat. Your hands, still fisted in his shirt, loosen without your permission and flatten against the burning heat of his chest, feeling his heart thunder beneath your palms. Your knees go weak, and he feels it- catches you, pulls you tighter, deepens the kiss until there is nothing but the heat of his mouth, the scrape of his stubble, the desperate little sounds he makes against your lips.

The fight drains out of you in waves. The anger. The frustration. All of it leaches away, replaced by something molten and aching, that has nothing to do with battle and everything to do with the way he worships your mouth, the way he groans when your fingers find the waistband of his slacks, the way his whole body shudders when you pull him closer still.

You kiss him back.

You hate that you do. You hate how easily he does this- how one press of his lips and your carefully built walls crumble to dust and leave you open, wanting, desperate for more of that devastating intensity. But right now, with his tongue sweeping against yours and his hands mapping the curve of your spine before sliding lower to palm your backside and lift you against him, you can't bring yourself to care.

His mouth trails down your jaw, teeth scraping over your pulse point, and you feel the wet heat of his tongue soothe the sting as he growls against your skin, "I'm going to make you forget every reason you had to be angry. I'm going to take you apart until the only word you remember is my name."

He walks you backward, step by step, his body a relentless force driving you toward the bedroom, and you feel every hard inch of him pressed against your softening curves- the breadth of his shoulders, the ridges of his abdomen, the insistent jut of his arousal grinding against your hip with each step.

Seven weeks.

That's all the time Caleb has. Until what, one might ask? His first anniversary, of course!

Skyhaven golden boy Caleb Xia has been dating Linkon's finest artist Rafayel Qi for 10 months and 13 days (yes, he's been counting), and he's still unable to wrap his head around the fact that not only does he have a boyfriend, said boyfriend is also one of the most coveted and well-known men on Mother Earth. Money, fame, glamour; you name it, Rafayel has it. So what is one supposed to get as an anniversary gift for the man who can get, well, anything?

The answer comes to him in the form of a social media ad.

Linkon Art Museum

Ever wanted to try your hand at the visual arts? Join classes at the Linkon Art Museum today!

You can't get the perfect gift for someone who can get everything, but you can sure as hell make one.

———

For someone known for being so confident, Caleb is feeling extremely jittery and nervous as he slips into his chair in the museum's conference room.

"Welcome, welcome! Everybody, welcome to our very first class! Today, we'll be covering the basics of watercolor, and at the end of these six weeks, you'll have yourself your very own watercolor painting!" The eccentric art teacher claps her hands and starts class.

And so begins the next 90 minutes of mental torture.

The very first lesson consists of familiarizing themselves with art and canvas techniques: wet-on-wet, color gradients, and simply learning how to use water on paper. He's crumpling up his sixth failed attempt at a sunset gradient when the instructor strolled over and took a seat across from him.

"Need any help?"

Caleb gives her an unimpressed look, "I'm a pilot. I excel in the sciences, not… whatever's happening here." He vaguely waves his hands over the mess on his table before running them through his hair in clear frustration.

She nods her head in agreement, "I can see why you're struggling. Why don't you take a break and tell me about yourself and why you joined the class?"

And take a break, he does. For the next ten minutes, he talks about his job, his boyfriend, but most of all, his fears that he won't be able to make their anniversary special.

"I just- I'm worried he won't like it. I know I'm just making myself paranoid and that he'd probably still appreciate the effort, but it's our very first anniversary, and I want to make it memorable for us," the pilot groans, evidently on the verge of tears.

"Well, don't worry! That's what I'm here for," the lady beams at him and rubs his hand to comfort him. "I'm not gonna let you down, and you don't want to let your boyfriend down, so why don't we work together to make this the artistic masterpiece you're dreaming of?"

———

For the next few weeks, Caleb attends class diligently and uses all 200% of his energy to focus on his angel of an art teacher's lessons on painting techniques. He almost feels bad for taking up all of her time during the classes, but he quickly gets rid of those thoughts by thinking of the look on Rafayel's face when he finally shows him the artwork he's been working on for so long. He's also been spending almost all of his free time watching videos and trying to master the art of watercolor.

Yeah, he really wants this to work.

Caleb is heading out for yet another session when he hears Rafayel's voice drift over from the living room, "Leaving again?"

"Yeah haha, you know how the friend group gets on the weekends," Caleb is praying to anyone who will listen that his panic doesn't escape through his voice.

Rafayel walks over and frowns, "I just feel like you haven't been spending any time with me lately. You're always either at work or with your friends instead of just taking a rest day with me."

"If I spent a whole day with you, neither of us would be getting any rest," he smirks and kisses the Lemurian on the top of his head. "I'll be back in a couple of hours. I love you."

Caleb catches a faint I love you too from inside before he slams the door shut on his way to his final class.

———

Caleb's best friend picked up after a couple rings, "Hey Rafayel! Haven't heard from you in a while! What's up?"

Rafayel chuckles, "Hi Gideon. I just wanted to check in on you and Caleb and everyone else. He said you guys were hanging out today?"

"No we're not… I actually haven't seen him in-person in a while. Even when we talk, it's just a few texts before he goes MIA again."

"W-what?" Rafayel's brain (and mouth) is going at 100 miles per minute. "He literally just left the house in a hurry like 'You know how the group meets up on weekends' or whatever bullshit he said."

"Have you tried checking his location?"

"I would if he didn't have it turned off every time he left the fucking house! Our anniversary is literally in a few da-"

Gideon starts panicking, "Okay, how about we take a deep breath? Maybe he's just out preparing a surprise gift?"

"For TWO months?" Rafayel screeches.

"You know how he is!" Gideon's grasping at straws. "Just- Just give him some time and confront him after tomorrow. I can promise you, it is absolutely not what you're thinking."

"Okay." he hangs up and flops onto his bed, letting out a deep groan.

———

The next time Caleb heads out for his lesson, Rafayel is prepared. With his handy sidekick, no less.

Emcee sighs, "Trust me, you're just overthinking it! Caleb is not that kind of person."

She's met with a nasty side-eye, "Well, you try basically being long-distance with your pilot boyfriend, and now that you finally have him, he's leaving all the time!"

"I think I know my brother better than you. You're literally wasting gas by just waiting in the car for him to show up."

"I think the fuck no- wait he's leaving."

As soon as they spot Caleb's car, the two commence their… investigation and immediately begin tailing him.

Ding! Caleb glances at his phone.

pipsqueak 🍎: ABORT ABORT

pipsqueak 🍎: WE'RE LITEARLLY FOLOWOING YOU

pipsqueak 🍎: ABORT MISSION

pipsqueak 🍎: I REPEAT

pipsqueak 🍎: ABORT MISSION !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shit.

Meanwhile, Rafayel sneakily tries to peek at Emcee's phone, "Who ya texting?"

"Nunya," she turns his head away. "Keep your eyes on the road."

"Meanie," he huffs.

As Caleb attempts to lose his spies, he turns into an unassuming neighborhood, much to his lover's devastation.

"He probably has a friend here! Please don't cry," Emcee rubs Rafayel's back as she tries to comfort her friend.

"You know what," he immediately stops crying and glows as if he had an epiphany. "We don't need men! Fuck men!"

Emcee cheerfully nods in agreement, only to internally curse her brother out and lament her entire situation.

———

Luckily for Caleb, he managed to escape from them and still make it to his final-ever class on time.

Caleb holds up his finished watercolor painting: a breathtaking ocean in a sunset, a metaphor for his and Rafayel's bond and relationship.

"I knew you could do it! I'm truly so happy for you," his beloved art teacher gives him a quick squeeze on the shoulder before drifting away to praise the other students.

Finally. His hours and hours of anguish and frustration had paid off, and he'd created (what he thought) was the perfect gift for the love of his life. He was already giddy just thinking about how he was going to reveal it, completely unaware of the storm brewing in his boyfriend's mind.

———

Rafayel's aloof mood hasn't escaped Caleb, as he repeatedly questions him on the drive home from their dinner date.

"Caleb, I told you I'm fine! I just didn't sleep well last night," Rafayel exasperatedly answers.

"No, this isn't you not sleeping well. This is something else entirely. You've been so quiet all day, it feels like you didn't even want to celebrate today," Caleb pulls into the driveway and turns to look at the man in the passenger seat. "Please. Tell me. What's going on?"

"Well, maybe you should be telling me 'what's going on,'" Rafayel jumps out of the car, eager to get away from his boyfriend.

Caleb freezes in shock, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You tell me!" Rafayel throws his hands up in annoyance. "You've been the one lying to me about where you've been going for the last couple of months. You've barely been spending time with me. I mean, what are we doing? What's going on?"

Oh.

Oh.

Oh no.

It hits Caleb like a bucket of bricks.

"No. Nononono you've got it all wrong I promise. Let's just go inside and I'll show you what I've been working on."

Caleb leads Rafayel to a little corner in their closet, where he pulls out the framed watercolor painting he had been working on.

"W-what's this?" Rafayel speaks through his tears.

Caleb rubs the back of his neck, looking a little sheepish, "It's my gift to you. I wanted to make you something, and I wanted to keep it a surprise, so I lied to you instead. Sorry."

"Caleb, this is beautiful!" The artist chokes out. "This is a masterp- hold on I'm gonna hang this up in our bedroom first."

"Don't lie to me! It's not that good!" Caleb laughs and pulls the artist back.

"Lies. This is objectively better than anything I've ever made." Rafayel punctuates his statement with a kiss on Caleb's lips.

After hanging up the painting, he isn't able to hold back his contagious giggles.

"What's so funny?" Caleb asks with a chuckle of his own.

"It's just," Rafayel pushes Caleb towards the opposite corner of the closet. "If you'd looked around a little, you would've found your own gift."

The pilot raises an eyebrow, only to raise the other one too when he sees what his boyfriend got for him.

"No. Fucking. Way. Where'd you even find this?" Caleb stares at him in awe as he sees the limited-edition model airplane he's been wanting for ages.

Rafayel holds a finger up to his lips, "Magicians don't reveal their secrets."

"I love you so much," Caleb emphasized with a passionate kiss.

Later in the night, after they set the plane on display right next to the painting, Rafayel embraces Caleb from behind and kisses the back of his head.

"You know, for someone so book smart, you're sure as hell pretty stupid.”

"Wha-," Caleb turns around, a scandalized look on his face. "You're pretty stupid."

Rafayel pouts, "Well, if you'd let me finish, I would have said that you could've drawn me a crayon stick figure and I'd still love it."

"Absolutely not," Caleb kisses his forehead. "The love of my life deserves nothing less than the best."

"I guess I lucked out then. I already have the best."

The two lovers end their night with interlocked lips and starry eyes.

a/n pt.2: anyone catch the tucker carlson snl sneak…

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