!~oracular vernacular~!

xavier - his hoodie (word count: 347)

date night had somehow turned into another movie marathon. neither of you were complaining though. halfway through the second film, a chill crept through the apartment.

"i'm cold," you mumbled, rubbing the goosebumps on your arms.

you slipped off the couch going to your bedroom. xavier barely looked away from the screen.

a minute later, you returned bundled in an oversized hoodie, sleeves hanging past your hands as you settled back against him.

without thinking, xavier wrapped an arm around your shoulders.

"you warm now?"

"mhm." you mumbled against his chest

he smiled, content to sink back into the couch. it wasn't until you reached for the popcorn that he noticed the embroidered constellation on the sleeve. his constellation. his hoodie. his favorite one actually. one he had been sworn got lost while he was doing laundry.

he lightly grabbed your wrist bringing the sleeve closer, "that's mine."

you looked down, "it is?"

"you grabbed the wrong one."

you laughed, tugging the hood over your head.

"i guess i did. i should probably change. "

before you could fully manage to pull it completely off he tugged the hem back down to your waist. "you can keep wearing it. i like it."

the words came so simply that your heart skipped.

"you do?"

he nodded, his expression as soft as ever.

"it looks more comfortable on you."

a small smile tugged at your lips, "i think it's a little too big."

he pulled you closer until you were tucked against his side again.

"it makes you easier to cuddle."

"that's your reasoning?"

he rested his cheek lightly against the top of your head.

"and..." his voice grew quieter. "it smells like us. i like that too."

you felt your face warm up as you completely settled against him again. then, as the movie continued playing in the background, he intertwined your fingers with his and gave your hand a gentle squeeze.

"you can borrow my hoodies whenever you're cold."

after a brief pause, the corner of his mouth lifted into a sleepy smile.

"or even when you're not."

zayne - his button up shirt (word count: 400)

you'd been excited about this dress for weeks. it was the perfect mix of elegant and comfortable—a crisp white shirt dress with an oversized fit that somehow managed to look effortlessly chic. you'd imagined pairing it with knee-high boots for date night with some chunky accessories.

so, without thinking much of it, you reached into the closet and grabbed what you assumed was the dress hanging in the garment bag.

only...it wasn't until you'd buttoned it nearly to the top and rolled the sleeves that you noticed it felt a little longer and baggier than when you first tried it out.

you frowned at your reflection, "wait. something isn't right."

the bathroom door opened before you could investigate further. zayne stepped inside, fresh from his shower, towel slung over one shoulder. his damp hair framed his face, and he paused the second he saw you. then the faintest smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"i think," he said, voice calm as ever, "you have something that belongs to me."

your gaze dropped to the embroidered initials on the cuff. heat rushed to your face.

"oh. well that makes more sense"

you buried your face in your hands with a laugh. "i grabbed the wrong thing."

"i can see that" he said stepping closer to you

you held your arms up showing him how the cuffs fell way over your hands, "i was wondering why the sleeves were so long."

still laughing, you reached for the top button. "i'll change. give me two minutes."

before you could undo it, gentle fingers wrapped around your wrists. you looked up and zayne had stepped close enough that you could smell the clean scent of his soap.

"you don't have to."

"but what about your shirt? don't you want to wear it tonight." you frowned

"i own more than one."

his hands slid from your wrists to your waist, pulling you a little closer. his eyes lingered on the oversized sleeves that nearly swallowed your hands before settling on your face.

"i can't say i mind. i think it suits you better."

he adjusted your collar with practiced precision before smoothing an invisible wrinkle from the front of the shirt.

"i guess my new dress can wait."

he leaned down, pressing a brief kiss to your forehead.

"it can besides," he murmured, "i like knowing you're wearing something of mine."

rafayel - his cardigan (word count: 306)

you weren't the most keen on having couple items since your style differed from rafayels. you prefered simple, oversized items whereas he could be a little more...embellished. he picked you up for a date one day carrying two gift boxes wrapped up in a cute bow.

"they're not matching," he'd say with a perfectly straight face. "they just happen to be from the same collection."

sure...you gave him the benefit of the doubt. despite the identical pearl buttons. despite the tiny embroidered fish hidden near the cuff. the only difference being your's was cream and his was navy.

after spending the afternoon at his studio, you didn't think twice about grabbing the one hanging on a hook beside the door on your way out.

it wasn't until you got home that your phone buzzed.

rafayel: comfortable?

you: yeah?

a picture came through moments later. your cream cardigan hung neatly on the back of his chair. exactly where you had actually left it.

you looked down — navy sleeves. pearl buttons.

"oops."

before you could type an apology, your phone started ringing.

"you stole my cardigan!" rafayel declared the second you answered.

"i stole it by accident. i thought it was mine."

"you could have just told me you liked the blue one better i would have switched with you."

you laughed, "it's not like that!"

"you know..." his voice softened into that teasing lilt you knew so well. "i think i like mine better on you."

"you just want an excuse to keep buying us matching clothes."

"i have no idea what you're talking about."

you shook your head, smiling despite yourself.

"so... should i bring it back?"

"no. i'll just wear yours until i see you again."

you could practically hear the grin in his voice.

"then everyone will know we're a matching set."

sylus - his jacket (word count: 322)

you hadn't even realized you'd grabbed the wrong jacket. running late for work, you'd reached for the black leather hanging by the door and shrugged it on without a second thought. it was a little oversized, the sleeves covering half your hands, but paired with your fitted top and skirt, it somehow worked.

you'd gotten more compliments than usual that day and by the time your shift ended, sylus was already waiting outside, leaning against his motorcycle.

the second he looked up, his eyes settled on you. he had that mischevious glimmer that made you twitch with nervousness.

"why are you staring at me?" you asked, smoothing your hair.

a slow grin spread across his face, "no reason."

which, coming from sylus, meant absolutely something.

he pushed himself off the bike, holding out another leather jacket.

"here."

you stared between the jacket in his hand and the one on your shoulders.

"wait." you looked down at yourself. "this one is yours?"

"i was wondering where it disappeared to this morning."

you quickly shrugged it off, laughing. "sorry! i didn't even notice."

before you could hand it over, sylus simply folded his arms.

"keep it."

"but you'll freeze!"

he lifted the jacket in his hand, "i brought yours."

he chuckled, trying to slip your actual jacket over one shoulder.

your face warmed.

"so...you came all the way here just to swap jackets?"

"i came to pick up my girlfriend."

his gaze swept over you one more time, completely unashamed.

"though now," he admitted with a smirk, "i'd squeeze into yours if i could."

you laughed, "why?"

"because mine looks a hell of a lot better on you."

the confidence in his voice made your heart stumble. he stepped closer, tugging lightly at the collar of his jacket still draped over your shoulders.

"keep stealing my clothes." his smile turned just a little softer. "i like seeing everyone know who you belong with."

caleb - his sweatpants (word count: 328)

you'd borrowed the gray sweatpants so many times that you never questioned whether they were yours anymore.

they were your designated lazy-day pants—soft, ridiculously oversized, and perfect for curling up on the couch. although...you did have to keep hiking them back up every few minutes.

"were these always this loose?" you muttered, rolling the waistband over again. even after cinching the drawstrings as tight as they would go, they still threatened to slide right off your hips.

the legs weren't much better. the hems pooled over your feet, and you'd nearly tripped over them twice just walking from the kitchen to the living room.

"did i stretch them out somehow?"

caleb looked up from where he was making lunch.

his eyes landed on you, then slowly traveled down to the comically oversized sweatpants swallowing your legs. a grin spread across his face.

"what?"

he crossed the room without answering. before you could ask again, he hooked a finger through one of the belt loops and gently tugged you toward him.

"come here."

"caleb—"

he folded the waistband down just enough to peek at the tag sewn inside.

a laugh escaped him almost immediately.

"there it is!"

"what?"

"they're mine."

he held the waistband out from your body with both hands, shaking his head as another laugh slipped free.

"i was wondering where these went."

you looked down at yourself in horror.

"i've been wearing your sweatpants all day?"

your face flushed. "i seriously thought they were mine."

"i know." he couldn't stop smiling. "that's the funny part."

he gave the waistband another playful tug before letting it snap gently back against you.

"i swear i could fit two of you in these."

you huffed, trying—and failing—not to smile.

his expression softened as he looked at you, practically disappearing inside clothes that were never meant to fit you in the first place.

"they're kind of cute on you, though. even if they are a hazard."

valko - his t-shirt (word count: 326)

the apartment was quiet when valko got home. the only light came from the moon filtering through the bedroom curtains.

he eased the door shut behind him, careful not to wake you. before he even reached the bed, a familiar scent drifted toward him — his laundry detergent. his cologne.

he smiled to himself. "no way."

as his golden eyes adjusted to the dark, he finally made out your sleeping form, curled beneath the blankets.

you were wearing one of his t-shirts. the oversized fabric bunched around your shoulders, the sleeves nearly reaching your elbows, and the hem disappeared beneath the comforter.

something in his chest completely caved. you hadn't borrowed it to make a statement. you'd simply fallen asleep in it, surrounded by something that reminded you of him while he was away on business.

his heart melted. he brushed a strand of hair away from your face before pressing the gentlest kiss to your forehead.

"you're too cute," he whispered, mostly to himself.

the next morning, the smell of breakfast pulled him into the kitchen. you stood at the stove, humming softly, still wearing the same oversized shirt. his shirt.

without a word, he walked up behind you and wrapped his arms around your waist, resting his chin on your shoulder.

you smiled. "morning."

"morning." he nuzzled into your neck, breathing in the familiar scent that had somehow become uniquely yours overnight.

"nice shirt."

you glanced down before laughing.

"oh. i forgot i was wearing yours. you don't mind do you?"

he let out a quiet laugh, squeezing you a little closer.

"mind?" his lips brushed your temple. "i don't think i've ever liked one of my shirts this much."

you turned in his arms, smiling up at him. "so i can keep it?"

he didn't hesitate. "you can keep every shirt i own."

then, after a beat, he added with a grin, "just...leave me one so i have something to wear to work."