#ae.drabble

he presses down on the screen. the line starts to ring. his heart is beating quickly, and he feels guiltier as each ring finishes. he's about to hang up and just leave it be when your voice comes through from the other end, croaky and thick with sleep.

"zayne? hello?"

"sorry," he mutters. "did i wake you?"

"well, yes," you chuckle. "it's almost two in the morning. what's wrong?"

"forget it," he says quickly. "sorry to disturb you. go back to sleep."

"no, it's okay. i'm awake now anyway. what's up?"

silence. zayne is thinking of what to say.

"i just... wanted to hear your voice."

you pause for a moment.

"like... like this?"

he smiles to himself. "yes. just like this."

"tough shift at the hospital?"

"yes."

"well, i'm glad you called me."

"you are?"

"sure. it's nice to know that i'm the first person you thought to call."

his smile grows wider. his shoulders feel lighter, his chest feeling less tight. "thank you," he whispers. "i'll let you go back to sleep."

"are you sure? i don't mind staying on the line a little longer."

xavier immediately goes on his phone to look up hairstyles that will suit your new haircut and tries them out with you until you find ones that you like. helps you do them whenever you get ready until you get used to doing them yourself.

zayne tries to comfort you by saying that it'll grow out, and then goes out and buys you all sorts accessories: headbands, hats, clips, etc. and he spends the day with you trying them out, and even lets you play with his hair, knowing that it'll make you feel better.

rafayel wants to confront your hairdresser (you plead with him not to). he ends up watching tutorials online on what you want, takes a pair of scissors, and fixes your hair himself.

sylus immediately sends stylists to your place, and arrives with them, staying the entire time, making sure you get exactly what you want.

"Mmmm," he hums, his eyes on your hand. "I thought you'd like it. I forgot about it until I saw it in the closet last night. I figured it would have been perfect for tonight."

He's paired the shirt with a delicate gold chain that rests against his skin. Your mouth waters as your hand goes up to it, tempted to use it to yank him towards you. But you have to be out the door in the next five minutes or else both of you will be late to the opera. You've both been invited to a performance of Tristan und Isolde and cannot afford to be late. You would embarrass both yourselves and your host.

"We have to go," Rafayel breathes, his voice husky. He seems to be thinking the same thing you are. "The show starts soon."

"Just... just a second," you tell him, your brows furrowing. You peel back the collar slightly, leaning down to place your lips on his skin. You aim for a place that's just hidden by the collar of the shirt, between his clavicle and his pec. Rafayel hisses in surprise as your teeth graze his skin, but he doesn't stop you. Your teeth latch onto him, and you suckle at his flesh, eliciting a surprised gasp from him. You lean back and admire your work, watching as his fair skin starts to turn red from your bite. It's definitely going to bruise.

He looks at you, eyes glazed over, panting softly, his mouth hanging open slightly. You fold the collar back over his skin, pleased with yourself. You're aware that part of the bruise will be peeking past the edge of the shirt. Exactly how you want it. You pat him on the chest quickly, giving him a wink.

xavier would pause as you reach up, and he'd let you run your hand through his hair and push it away from his face. but at the same time, his hand would be trailing slowly down your sternum, down your torso and would go under your shirt and lightly start grazing your skin underneath it, all while maintaining eye contact. if you are going to tease him, then without a doubt, he is teasing you in retaliation. neither of you want to be the one to give in first.

zayne would pull away slightly to give you more leverage to push his hair back, but as soon as you let go, he returns the favor by weaving his fingers through yours as well. he would then grip you by the hair and pull you in again for the kiss, keeping his hand in your hair while the other pulls you in by the neck, digging into your skin so hard that you feel like it might bruise.

rafayel would melt the second your hand is in his hair. he would lean into your grip, like a cat rubbing up against the hand patting it. he would moan, and you would be inclined to do it again and again, enjoying the way he reacts to your touch. the moment you pull away, he'd pull you in again for this kiss, with more heat and desperation than before.

sylus would go absolutely still and let you run your hand all the way through his hair. he'd look at you through half-closed eyelids, with a small smirk on his face. before you can pull away, he'd grab you by the wrist and start trailing kisses from your wrist and up your arm, biting your flesh in some places. he'd listen to your breathing get heavier, while you're practically pulling him in, desperate to have his lips on your neck.

"hey, i thought you didn't like the crunchy ones."

xavier blinks at you. "huh? i do. i like them a lot."

you frown. "then why do you pawn them off to me every time we share fries?"