EROPA46: PLATFORM TERBAIK DI ASIA

If it wasn’t, you can’t tell from how Caleb’s currently acting. Right now he’s just being…well, Caleb. Not “your” Caleb, but “Caleb, Colonel of Farspace Fleet.”

Colonel “Caleb” is a deceptive creature. When it’s just the two of you, he’s one-for-one “your” Caleb. It’s all playful teases, genuine care, and bribes of braised chicken wings.

But Colonel “Caleb” does other things, too. His touch sears, pulsating with heat even after he’s long gone. His words dance and play, but at the drop of a hat—at any mention that you could be any better off without him; at least, whenever he thinks you imply it—they fan over your skin like hail, and it’s like you’re tied to a chair for interrogation. And his eyes…

You might just hate this eyes the most. They’re the perfect essence of Colonel “Caleb,” to you. Because it always seems like no matter what, even when he started to grow taller and taller, start to gather bulk, start to become a man, his eyes always stayed the same. There were also warm, soft, and rounded with a seemingly infinite supply of adoration. Always, always, always.

But there’s more the Colonel “Caleb’s” eyes than that. Of course there is.

Sometimes, when they look at you, you gulp at the vast emptiness in them. You freeze at the looks of intense, nearly rabid hunger. You nearly cry, even, when they look at you with sorrow like an iceberg; because you swear, every time you see it, that it edges closer and closer, that every time, the water recedes more and more, and you know just how deep Colonel “Caleb’s” agony goes. It’s almost enough to make you treat him like “your” Caleb.

But sorrow doesn’t exist in isolation. Sorrow, the stubborn thing, exists in harmony with other things, too. It exists within every faucet of emotion and thought, in fact. So for as much as you see that deep, deep sorrow, you also see just how deep everything else his. How endless his hunger is, and how much he truly, truly, truly doesn’t know; doesn’t know what to do, without you.

“The Colonel’s blowing off work, just like that? What sort of work culture does the Fleet pride itself on?” You hope he doesn’t feel your heart beat; or you hope he can excuse it for something…more agreeable, in his mind. Something you don’t want to really confront for yourself.

“Backstabbing, maggot-calling, endless laps and drills, and bland food,” Caleb says breezily. Falling into an old, familiar rythem of mutual poking and prodding. Pretending that this isn’t anything but normal.

“Sounds awful. Maybe you should get a vacation before they work you to the bone.”

“Is that worry I hear?” You can hear the grin in his voice, “Or is someone missing their personal chef?”

…But damnit. Because in the face of Colonel “Caleb,” you always want to go back to “your” Caleb. Want to go back to life with “your” Caleb, and pretend none of…this, ever happened at all.

“I can cook on my own, you know,” you pout, turning around to face him, face full of mirth, “I’m not as short sighted or greedy as you treat me as.”

“Caleb” cocks his head to the side, like a little, innocent puppy, “What’s wrong with that? I’ve never complained before, and I’m certainly not going to start to,” his smile softens, and he leans down to ruffle your hair, letting go of your hand, “And that’d make me a bit of a hypocrite, no?”

“…” you scan his smiling face, and frown. Your chest twinges.

He still smiles. It grows tighter, but still, he smiles at you endlessly.

“Hey,” he softly says, “Are you worried I won’t keep my promise?”

“…No,” you truthfully say, “You’ve never broken your promises.”

“That’s right,” he says, warm and soft, “So why do you keep testing them like this? Test me like this?” He taps the window and leans in, forcing your back to it.

Your heart drops to your stomach. “What are you talking about?”

His smile finally drops at that, but it’s just…it’s just…“your” Caleb’s face. He only raises an eyebrow, frowning at you like he would whenever you’d do something stupid and inevitably get hurt doing it.

Suddenly, an object thuds against the window sill. You look down and freeze, terrified of the bag threatening to be crushed by his Evol.

He frowns with a hardened glare, “Of course I’d notice you packing all these things, trying to leave me. Do you really think I don’t care about you enough to notice what you do?”

You jump, “Caleb—”

Your wrist is seized, “Even after all of this, you’re still trying to leave me?” He almost wheezes, like a pained animal, and you can almost believe that when he looks at you, you look at “your” Caleb, inextricably hurt.

Your lips draw into a thin line, “You can’t just—just keep me locked up like this, forever—”

“And I won’t,” he breathes. But his breathing starts to grow erratic, “I promised you that I wouldn’t. I promised you that we’d go outside this weekend; I’ve promised you that I’ll build you the most beautiful home you’ve ever seen; I’ve promised to you that I’d rid the world of any storms that’d get in your way—” his breath shudders, and he heaves like a starving man, “I’ll always stay by your side, [Name]. You know I don’t break my promises, so why? Why do you keep trying to make me break them?”

In this desperation, you both are practically flush against the window, and each other. Colonel “Caleb” looks like he might just cry, and maybe it’s because he still looks so much like “your” Caleb now, but you almost want to cry with him too.

But this isn’t “your” Caleb.

“I don’t think you need to lock me up to keep your promises,” you hiss, “And…and “my” Caleb made those promises, not the Colonel in front of me!”

“This? Again?” His mouth twitches, and a wide, open mouth smile of mania spreads, “How many times do I need to tell you? I’ve always been like this. I’ve told you about the cat, I’ve told you about the attic, and now I’ve done this—just when are you going to get this through your thick skull?”

. . .

(He’s right, but you don’t want to believe it. You can’t believe it.)

You must not say anything, because in the next moment, you can feel your body crash into the couch. “Caleb’s” Evol keeps you trapped in the soft cushions, and he lays on top of you, resting his head over your heart.

“You know…I did say I didn’t mind you being greedy,” he sighs, in someplace between content and sorrow, “And that’s true. If your hunger is a bottomless pit, I’ll still do anything to satiate it. I’ll let you devour and devour anything and everything endlessly, for the rest of your life. Whether you want to live quietly in the country, simply back in Bloomberg, or have the whole world at your feet…I’ll give it to you, like I’ve always done.”

His head lifts to meet your eyes. Your mouth is a twitching, bitter line, as you fight to hold back tears. You shake your head at whatever he wants to say; you don’t want to hear it.

But Colonel “Caleb” is a selfish, selfish, selfish beast.

“Anything, and I mean anything, is yours,” he promises, “But only when I’m by your side. And if you don’t want me by your side…” a sardonic smile alights on his face, “Well, I’ll just have to keep you right by my side,” he says like it’s a tease, says like he’s “your” Caleb, and not the stranger known as “Caleb.” “Safe, sound…and happy, even if it’ll take time. Even if it might take a long, long time.”

╰┈➤ . . . 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: Oooohhhh drama 👀 actually I don't see Mitsuya arguing with his darling, he ✨️ Gaslight ✨️ tho

💘 𝐃𝐞𝐫𝐞 💘

"[Y/N]..." Mitsuya's voice was soft as he called out your name, his presence clear on your side yet you refused to look at him and instead staring at the side, arms crossed over your chest "Don't." You scowled, trying to move away and looking anywhere but Mitsuya, knowing your boyfriend's worried expression would pain you and force you to give in as always... But not this time "I'm worried about you [Y/N], you know that. I just think that it isn't safe for you to stay out so late without me..." It's always you arguing, Mitsuya never dares say anything with a loud voice when he refers to you, but his behavior....

"I'm an adult Takashi, I've told you a million times that I can take care of myself. I don't need you to interrogate me every time I go out without telling you where, what and with who!" You shot back with a stern and louder tone, reaching up to carefully rub your face in frustration "I know that, but it doesn't make me worry any less darling... I wouldn't be asking all those questions if you texted me and told me you were safe beforehand." Mitsuya remained calmer than you, his attitude not only frustrated you when you were upset with him but added to the guilt ten fold when the problem was resolved, making you apologize and try to make it up to him in any way you can- Takashi was never the one to apologize "You know I don't like arguing with you, but you've been coming home so late these past few days. Without even calling me and telling where you are, you're not ignoring my calls and texts right? I'm just trying to make sure you're okay..."

You clenched your jaw when the smooth and gentle voice reached your ears, Mitsuya having inched closer again and gently rubbing your arm. Almost as if comforting you to open up. But his words "I know darling, sometimes you get a little excited and can't help yourself, it's cute don't get me wrong! But all the people that approach and that you choose to befriend seem like... A bad influence." It seemed like Mitsuya was talking to a child or someone who doesn't know anything. The way he'd smother you and explain things. He always took care of you, but it was reaching a point where he didn't let you make any decisions for yourself without inserting himself and his opinion- or flat out telling you to do something different "Takashi, when will you stop telling me that I can't make decisions for myself!?" You snapped, lifting your head up to glare at Mitsuya, as usual he was staring at you with that same patient and sad puppy look "I never said that-"

"You were implying it! I-I don't know, but whenever I do something you don't approve of you always seem to treat me like a child who doesn't know any better! You pick my outfits, meals, where I should go, what friends I should be around- which mind you are always people you need to know first, it's..." You bit the inside of your cheek, first time it had happened you felt ashamed for not knowing any better when Mitsuya gently pointed out the mistakes in your choices, then annoyed, you almost got used to it but now you were just angry "It's belittling." Mitsuya's eyes widened at your words, seeming panicked "I... [Y/N], I didn't know you took my words and advice like that, you know I'm just conce-"

"Maybe... Maybe we should take a break. I-I can stay at a friend's house... I want to leave." Your words made Mitusya visibly flinch "... I need to leave Takashi, this- this isn't making me happy... I feel crazy sometimes..." The confession you spat out seemed to hurt Mitsuya more than it hurt you, he quickly looked away and you caught glimpses of a serious expression on him "... I-I'll help you pack." You sighed, ignoring the gut feeling and more so glad Mitsuya agreed to it "Thank you."

❤ 𝐘𝐚𝐧 ❤️

And Mitsuya did help, with the awkward silence hanging around the entire time and Mitsuya avoiding to look at you "Here." You glanced at the glass of water he handed to you and nodded, drinking it quickly and grabbing your bag to leave already, only then for your body to give out and hit the floor "H-huh???" You starred at the floor in confusion, dread creeping up inside you from being unable to move "Wha..." Words were stuck in your throat as Mitsuya carefully lifted your torso from the floor, sitting you up and having you lean on his chest "Damn, that was a bad fall..."

"T-taka..." Your breathing was heavy, limbs barely twitching when seeing the uncaring and nonchalant expression on his face. Mitsuya didn't say anything as his eyes scanned your face "Least you didn't get any bruises here. I'll check your body later." And easily lifted you up in his arms "Must've been surprised huh darling? But as always you're acting stupid." The condescending tone had your chest tighten, looking at Mitsuya with wide and terrified eyes when he laid you on his bed, finally noticing how he was smirking, eyes holding a light mocking look as he patted your head "Thinking I'lll let you leave me. I'm not above using a few drugs to keep you still darling... Actually, I've stocked them for a while, just in case you did something especially dumb but this... Hah."

After he made sure you didn't get badly injured, you were only left to observe how Mitsuya unloaded your bags and threw a few of your clothes onto the floor instead "Always hated that... This too... The guy who gave you this for your birthday? Yeah he was an annoying fuck to deal with..." Your blood ran cold when Mitsuya, in a carefree and casual manner, started talking to you about what he has done "I was so mad when you bought this dear, wanted to burn it... Least now I can. Like I burned the person you bought it with, she was a bad influence anyways."

'What the fuck... What the fuck!?' You couldn't help the tears forming in your eyes when Mitsuya's words got more disturbing and his voice got even louder "Do you know how frustrating it is, darling? To deal with those bastards who approach you and say you need to think for yourself? Am I alone not enough!? Huh!?" Mitsuya turned to give you a heated glare "We were doing fine, you were leaning on me and letting me take care of you- but once those fuckers came to tell you to do stuff on your own everything was ruined, for months I had to pretend to smile and get along with them because my stupid little darling doesn't know when to take a hint."

Throwing the final shirt on the floor Mitsuya walked back to you, despite your best efforts to move away your body didn't budge, the scream caught in your throat as he sat next to your laying body and sighed, frowning in trouble "Look at the state I'm in, yelling at you like this..." He chuckled, giving a small smile as he cupped your face and kissed your forehead, wiping at your tears with a satisfied look "So don't say some bullshit like "We need a break" or "I'll leave" ever again, okay darling? After all, we don't want any more arguments to happen between us."

He stood above them. This poor person who was at the complete and utter mercy of Angel, whose touch could kill anyone if they touched long enough. His deep brown eyes lingered on their body while his hands hovered inches off of their face. Tears rolled down the person's face while they were forced to stare up at him.

"I'm going to ask again. You've already lost about a year of your life with your uneventful answers," Angel spoke. "Please, I've told you again and again, I don't know where [Y/N] is!" The feminine voice cried out quickly after Angel's statement. "But you do," Angel retorted, "[Y/N] has been seen in this apartment complex four times. That means walking by this door four times. Four encounters."

He was trying to piece together something, but you couldn't quite tell what it was. You hovered nearby for the sake of trying to find out what his game plan was, but at the expense of (almost) making your presence known... it wasn't easy getting into this apartment after Angel stepped in, but you wormed in and made yourself comfortable out of sight. You could only pray that he didn't see you, or hear you.

But there was something about all of this that you couldn't quite wrap your head around. Was he trying to figure out if you lived here? Because you didn't. No, your mentor lived here... and it was just normal for you to visit her when you had the time to, outside of work.

"I-I-I don't know..." the voice sobbed, "I have a family! Please don't keep doing this to me!"

It was sickening. Angel was repeatedly threatening this person's life by... touching her. No one could underestimate the power of his hands touching a mere human... even a simple grab of the hand could cost you two months. You could only bitterly imagine what it must've been like to be caressed by him. What it was like to have his face cup your hands. How much of your life would he take away then? You couldn't answer that question clearly, but the person he was interrogating, could.

"No, no no no, PLEASE!" She yelled, before a loud scream erupted from her lips while Angel's hands touched her face. Seconds pass, every one of them feeling like a grueling eternity that made your stomach churn. It was a total of ten seconds before Angel removed his hands. "You're in luck! I only took about a month away. We're nearing that threshold, though, and that can be scary ... so I would start talking now. So, I will ask this question again, Miss. Please answer it to the best of your ability."

He was growing too impatient to keep pestering this person, you could tell. Angel was lazy, and though he surprised you with the amount of effort he put into doing all of this, you knew he couldn't keep it up for long. Especially when it was reaching dead ends like it was now. Angel cleared his throat, "you may be aware of a person named [Y/N] [L/N] that comes into this apartment complex every Tuesday and Thursday around the same time in the afternoons. I know you see [Y/N] because you're a stay-at-home wife. So, I am asking you again. It's... early in the evening," he checked his watch before looking back down at the person. "And [Y/N] wasn't here today. Did something happen."

There was more silence to be followed before the person began to sob again... wail, really. It was distressing to hear. To know that someone was dying because of you really didn't sit well on your mind, or on your stomach.

"This will all be over soon. You've told me all I need to know." Angel's eyes hooded.

"N-n-no, please," the helpless voice uttered over Angel's, "I-I want to live! Please! I don't even know who [Y/N] [L/N] is!! PLEASE, NO!-" Their cries were ... blended, almost. If anyone could make aging be heard, it was Angel, while he took someone's life through simply touching their skin. You still couldn't quite wrap your head around that fact.

You stifled a cry and clamped your hand over your mouth to silence yourself, squeezing your eyes shut. Why? Why would he do this? What did this person do to deserve the touch of death? For just living here, was that it?

A yawn characteristically came from Angel's mouth before he stepped over the person's body, tucking his hands in his pockets as he stopped at the door. He stood there for a moment before he he turned his head, beautiful locks tumbling down his back as he looked around with narrowed eyes. You did your best to stay quiet in the corner you were in, you didn't want to draw attention to yourself and risk him knowing that you were here.

The longer he stayed at the door though, the more you found yourself beginning to question why you were even here in the first place... but you knew why. He was acting strange. He had been acting strange ever since that little date the two of you went on.

Ice cream. It wasn't a very romantic setting and it was actually one he and Aki Hayakawa frequented quite often, but something about this particular day happened to set him off. You treated him to something nice after he proved to be helpful against a devil you couldn't get close to—so it was just the two of you this time, Aki was nowhere in sight. A lot of the time you two spent together at that time was spent toward speaking about things, such as the ice cream you ate, how he saved your life, and how you were thankful that he helped you out.

Angel wanted to know so much about you after that—and was clingy, moreso than what you would've expected from someone like him, who seemed like he couldn't have gave a damn whether someone lived or died, as long as he wasn't bothered. In the days, maybe even weeks after leading up to now, he never really left you alone until you broke off from him to go home for the day. The days you went to visit your mentor, you linked up with him shortly after leaving the apartment complex, some ways away from it. You didn't quite think of it like you were thinking about it now, but looking back on it, there were clearly some things that were wrong here. How did he find out that you were coming to this apartment complex? Was he following you?

"I thought I heard something other than that woman when I walked inside."

"Gah!" You squeaked in fear, making your body jolt as your arm covered your face in self-defense. Angel found you, he finally found you. "F-fuck!"

"What are you doing here, [Y/N]?" He asked, "are you here to talk to whoever you're talking to?"

"W-why does that matter?" You stammer, as you find the courage to finally remove your arm from your face to look up at him. Why, he looked mental. His eyes looked like beads against his white sclera. What a terrifying expression to come back to—it made your heart leap into your throat. "I didn't feel like visiting my mentor today."

"Oh. Your mentor."

Silence between the two of you begins to pick up after that. Your heart felt like it was going to explode with how fast it was beating. So many questions had to be asked, but how could you ask them? You didn't even know what to say right now.

"Want to go get some ice cream?" He asked, as if everything that happened didn't just happen. You swallowed thickly at the question asked and looked around nervously. Did you beat around the bush? Agree, and act like nothing happened in this room? Or did you face the fact that what Angel did was unforgivable?

Another gap of silence.

"Angel, you just killed an innocent human being for no reason," you stated the obvious. Your brows furrowed and you stared at him. "Do you have any idea what this means?"

"Mm, no," Angel shook his head, "I'm sure I don't really care, either." He then pointed to the door. "Do you want to get ice cream with me, [Y/N]?"

"A-angel!" You pressed him with your words. "You... you killed an innocent human being!"

"...why do I care?" He gave you a blank stare. "I was doing her a favor. Now, do you want to get ice cream with me?" He extended his free hand in the direction of your body. "I know you're going home soon, since this is your day off."

You stared at him, horrified by the lack of humanity within him. Well, he was a devil... so of course he didn't have any shred of humanity, but still, didn't he feel even an ounce of remorse over what he just did? None at all? "Y-you killed her because of me," you reiterated in a more... significant light. "Why?"

"Because I didn't see you come into the building today, so I went around asking," he responded and sighed before he shoved his hands into his pockets. He would know better than to touch someone he cared for if he didn't want them to die. "She was mean to me, so she suffered the consequences."

Those words worried you. "What do you mean you went around and asked?" You narrowed your eyes. "Did you..."

"Only to those who were rude." Angel calmly stated, "not a lot of them were even subjected to what this woman went through. But I know she saw you... she saw you every time you came up on this floor. I know she did. She proceeded to lie about it, and for lying, she had to be killed." He tilted his head. "Have I answered your questions enough? Can we go get ice cream now?"

So many people had their lives threatened because of you. That was a tough pill to swallow, wasn't it?

The sound of the door opening made your heart beat quicken again. Your eyes shot to the door to see him standing in the doorway with his eyes still on you. "Come on. I want to go get ice cream."

"...why... why did you do it?" You weakly asked him as you stumbled forward to meet him. "Why would you subject all of these people to torture? A-and for... for me..?" It just didn't sound right.

"It may not be a lot, but it's honest work. I try my best to keep you safe. I have to know where you are at all times to do that though, right?" Angel shrugged his shoulders. "Think of me as your guardian angel, maybe that'll make the pill easier to swallow. ...so, can we go get ice cream?"

"N-no," you gently push him out of the way so that you can leave the building. "We won't be doing anything of the sort. I'm going to go to the hunter's association and ask to be reassigned to another devil."

Angel stumbled back, but was quick to grab your arm.

—PATRY ☀️

“wh a t?” he would sit there & stare you with raised eyebrows in confusion.

he has nothing to say and stays silent, going back to what he was doing and ignored your unusual request. “you would look so nice in a pink maid outfit. please, wear it for me?” “why do you want me to wear one so bad? have you gone crazy?”

he let out the loudest scoff when you showed him what you wanted him to wear and face palmed internally when you brought out white high heels. “there’s no way in hell am i ever wearing any of that y/n. you’ve got the wrong person.” he was very irritated when you pestered him for the rest of the day and gave in. “okay, okay! i’ll wear your damn maid outfit. now shut up and go away.”

the maid outfit you got was too small for patry so it ended up being a bit tight and short but of course this was no problem for you. he stood there in your guys’ room in front of your body mirror with folded arms and furrowed eyebrows, although he did admit to himself that he looked pretty nice. ;)

you went crazy and took a lot of pictures of him, you forced him to do a bunch of poses so you could get the best pictures. fana then would walk in on you two and would join in on the fan girling frustrating patry even more. “come on, not another insane person. i just want to relax, please leave me alone for god’s sake.”

after an hour of your shenanigans you finally let him free of his misery and he took the maid dress off the instant you said you were done bothering him. the high heels and stockings would end up who knows where in the room. “i, myself don’t know how i can tolerate with your bizarre behavior.”

—WILLIAM 🌳

william would laugh at you as he would think you were joking but his laughter would come to a stop when he saw your serious expression. “you’re joking, right?” “i’m not joking william.”

just like patry, he would sit there in silence and stare at you with widened eyes. he didn’t know what to say honestly, he knew you had all kinds of thoughts in your head but he was caught off guard.

“so? what do you say?” you said and your eyes sparkled as your hands held a maid dress with a collar. he sweat dropped and sighed, “okay, i’ll do it.”

he looked amazing in the maid dress. he let you do whatever you want since you looked very happy seeing him in the maid dress. 

“you are so pretty, maybe even prettier than me!” you exclaimed will admiring him in the maid outfit. “i guess i’ll receive that as a compliment. thanks.” he said calmly with a smile.

after a bit, you decided to let him free. he didn’t really mind your weird outbursts at times, he got used to it the more it happened.

“ya know.. you couldve said no if you wanted to will.” you watched as he changed into his regular home clothes. “i could’ve, yes. but i chose not to seeing as would it give you some source of entertainment. which… it did..”

you giggled and pulled him into a hug from behind, “you’ll never get rid of me.” “i wasn’t planning to anytime soon.”