#caleb ff

it showed you and caleb xia, a member of your rival band ABLAZE, seemingly wrapped in a hug.

in reality, you had been shoving him away, after he and his bandmates had the nerve to brag about how his group had done so much better than yours. even your bandmates had seen exactly what happened, so how on earth had the picture been so badly misinterpreted?

and the biggest question of all — how had a fan even manage to snap the damn thing? it happened behind the curtains!

“that was taken completely out of context! we’ve got to do something. i don’t even like him!” you blurted out.

“you say that,” your manager replied, eyes fixed on the red light, ready to speed off again, “but yet less than a day after the photo surfaced, it spread like wildfire. it’s been three days and it’s still not dying down. every other tiktok video is discussing the so-called relationship between the stars of the two rising groups.”

“well, since we know its not true,” rosé, another bandmate, chimed in from beside you. “couldn’t the company just release a statement saying its a false rumour? why do we even need to meet the ABLAZE boys?”

you’d tried asking the same thing earlier, but all you got in response were mumbled reassurances about “handling it” and a half-hearted rundown of the general meeting that was being arranged.

you couldn’t even rest in peace after the show that night. by the time everyone was finally free to head home, it was already past 11pm. and then this stunt had been pulled on you.

it was moments like this that made you hate being in the spotlight. things like this happened far more often than people realised — the difference was that the company usually shut the rumours down quietly. so why involve the big bosses now?

jenna was still rambling on, her voice laced with frustration and disbelief as she complained about how people loved to twist the smallest things into “trendy” topics. you were only half listening. your eyelids grew heavy, drifting to the kind of sleep you had been craving all day. despite the speeding, the car’s steady motion felt like a lullaby — until it slowed to a stop.

before you knew it, you’d arrived at your company building.

“come on, hurry. everyone should be there by now.” jenna urged, practically sprinting inside.

being part of one of the biggest entertainment companies in the country meant that security was always tight.

“this is not the time!” she shouted, slapping the security scanner in vexation. it wasn’t the first time she lost it on the equipment, but it still somehow made you stifle a laugh.

the elevator hummed as it climbed, the wait excruciating. every floor that passed felt like it took an eternity and you could see the tension etched into everyone’s faces. reaching the top floor meant facing the executives, and judging by the hour, this wasn’t going to be a simple meeting about a rumour — it was definitely something bigger.

“…i think that might be the best idea. it benefits both of them.”

you caught the tailend of the muffled discussion as you stepped into the massive meeting room.

“ah, there you girls are!” your company ceo, mr lee, said as he looked up. “now we just have to wait for the ABLAZE boys to arrive before we begin.”

“we’re here.”

the voice was unmistakable — clear, firm and far too close for comfort.

you turned sharply, coming face-to-chest with caleb xia himself. the very reason you were standing in this room in the first place.

“perfect!” both ceos said in unison. “let’s start this meeting and get it over with.”

“we called this meeting as soon as we came to an agreement on how to resolve the situation.” your boss began. “the dating rumours involving y/n and caleb have been circulating nonstop for the past few days. given that you're both rising in popularity both domestically and internationally, we decided immediate damage control was necessary.”

they spoke so calmly, that you weren’t prepared for what came next.

“that’s right.” ABLAZE’s ceo, mr chen, continued smoothly. “after careful consideration, we’ve decided that the best course of action is to release a statement confirming that the two of you are, in fact, dating.”

you let out a breath you hadn’t realised you were holding. relief washed over you for half a second before his words fully sank in.

wait.

what?

DATING?

your head snapped immediately from your ceo to caleb, nearly giving yourself whiplash. confusion written plainly on both your faces.

“we included everyone in this meeting because this decision extends beyond just the two of you.” mr lee continued, unfazed. “with more groups debuting, staying at the top has become increasingly competive. you and caleb are both popular — together, you draw more attention. we’re also considering a collaboration, perhaps a single or even mini album, to promote this relationship.”

this was your life decision they’re making, so why are they playing like it’s nothing?

“im sorry,” you said, your voice thick with disbelief, “but how is this damage control? our fandoms hate each other. if anything, this sounds like it’ll create more problems.”

“y/n, you need to understand that yes, some fans might not approve,” mr chen admitted calmly. “but many already support the pairing. you’ve been shipped together for a long time, and since the photo went viral, the majority response has been positive. this could benefit both your careers.”

maybe that was true. but it didn’t mean you liked it.

you could feel all your members’ eyes on you. when you turned to look back at them, their expressions mirrored your own shock.

what on earth have you gotten yourself into?

the ABLAZE boys, on the other hand, looked completely unfazed — as if this was mildly entertaining. it wasn’t surprising, though. they loved a good challenge, and they clearly found this more amusing than troublesome.

“i feel heartbroken y/n,” caleb said, dramatically, tilting his head while pressing a hand to his chest, his signature puppy eyes making an appearance. “don’t you want to be in a fake relationship with me?”

“that’s all that this is going to be, caleb. don’t even start.” you shot back, side-eyeing at him.

you hated how calm he looked. hated that he could still joke about something like this when it could just ruin your lives.

“well!” your ceo clapped his hands together, signalling the end of the meeting. “your managers will coordinate the official statements, and your next public appearance together!”

as soon as the executives left the room, you rounded on caleb.

“what’s wrong with you?” you demanded. “how could you agree so easily? don’t you have any questions?”

“woah,” caleb chucked. “a ball of sunshine, aren’t you?”

caleb turned his head to face you. “i don’t want this any more than you do.” he admitted. “but, he wasn’t wrong that it’s getting harder to compete in this industry. i want to stay at the top. don’t you?”

“…of course i do.” you muttered, glaring at him.

“that settles it, then,” he said with a smirk. “and really — how bad can dating me be? i think this’ll be fun.”

he walked out before you could respond.

“fun my ass.” you murmured, following your manager back toward the car.

just like that, you were dating caleb xia. words you never thought you’d say.

A/N thank you for reading the first chapter of smile for the cameras ! while i was writing the fic, my laptop crashed and i lost an hour's worth of the stuff i wrote. but it's okay HAHA we come back stronger ( ◡̀_◡́)ᕤ (hopefully). its my first time writing for caleb so hopefully throughout the series i'll be able to write his character well. i've been wanting to write a multi-part fic for a long time so here it is ! i'm aiming for about 8 - 9 parts, but we'll see where this story goes. i hope you enjoyed the first chapter and thank you for supporting sftc ᥫ᭡

𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘴, 𝘳𝘣𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 <3

taglist: open; just send an ask! ⁀જ➣ track 2 > rivals meant to go viral ⁀જ➣ masterlist

Instantly you relax, and then your gut pulls tight with anticipation, curiosity lacing your words as you step further into the apartment, closing the door behind you.

"Caleb?"

"You'll address me as Colonel, and nothing else," He steps forward, voice hard and authoritative, brandishing something silver that gleams even in the low light, "hold out your hands. I need to ask you some questions, and it will be better for you if you are restrained,"

Oh, you think, so this is what we're doing. "Yes, Colonel," is your reply, excitement bubbling deep in your gut, warmth dusting your cheeks. You should have known Caleb would do something like this as soon as you told him how sexy you found him in his new uniform.

Holding out your hands as told, Caleb clips one of the cuffs onto your wrist, leaving the other free before dragging you over to the waiting chair behind him. He tugs you, roughly, into the chair before moving around to your back and cuffing your hands. You're mostly immobile, except for your legs of course, and you're attached to the chair thanks to the cuffs. It's a concept that would probably frighten some people - being restricted in such a way - but for you, it only manages to fan the flames flickering to life in your stomach, the warmth travelling between your legs and through your thighs.

When Caleb steps back to the spot in front of you, he kicks your feet so your knees part for him. He gazes down at you, though thanks to the low lighting in the room, you can't see much of his face under his cap. Just the slight tilt of his lips, a smirk that seems to mock you in your submissive state.

You're sweating.

Bending at the waist, he lifts a hand to cup your face, squeezing your cheeks in the leather claps of his gloves. His eyes are dark, heated as he trails a look over your face before moving lower, lingering on the way your thighs are draped either side of him. You can already feel how wet you are, underwear clinging uncomfortably to the skin between your legs, but you play along.

"Colonel, I don't understand -"

Caleb's hand shifts slightly, his thumb pressing against your lips to keep them closed, "I don't remember saying you could talk," his eyes drift from yours to land on your parted lips beneath his thumb. He watches closely as he slowly parts your lips further, forcing his thumb into your mouth. You gasp, the taste of the leather hitting your tongue as Caleb caresses it, pushing further, just enough to have you on the edge of gagging.

"Are you going to be obedient?" He asks, his fingers digging into your face just a little more as he removes his thumb from your mouth, smearing your lipstick with your own saliva. You nod, eyes bleary as your thighs shift around Caleb's legs, itching to press together and soothe the ache between them. He watches the whole thing, scoffing quietly before moving away and waving his hand. Instantly, his evol parts your thighs again, holding them open, almost uncomfortably so. Your skirt rides up, and you know by now your underwear is probably exposed to his wandering eyes.

Caleb moves away for a moment, his evol still gripping you tight, keeping your legs parted despite your attempts to shift. Sweat begins to mist your skin as your gut squeezes like a fist, pulling down and down. Your clit throbs, begging for mercy, a touch to sooth the persistent ache.

When Caleb turns back to face you again, he's holding his baton. The long, thin weapon is usually closed up, hanging from his belt, but he has opened it to its full span, holding the object out and pressing under your chin. He lifts your face to greet his own, his body bending so he can kiss you sloppily, his tongue licking heat into your mouth. You gasp into the kiss, already eager for this torture to end and for Caleb to fuck you already.

He shows no signs of giving into such demands yet, however, as he pulls away, leaving your lips wet and shiny in the low light of the room. His violet eyes appear almost black as he watches you beneath heavy lids. Instead, he steps forward, hand dropping to your shirt as he begins to undo each button deftly with nimble fingers, even in the thick leather gloves. Soon, your bra is bared to him, breasts heaving to escape the confines of the black lace.

"You think I haven't noticed how you act when I am wearing this?" He murmurs, bringing the baton up until its resting on your lower lip, "Suck. Get it wet,"

You oblige only too eagerly, wishing it was him instead, allowing your eyes to meet so Caleb can imagine you suckling just as greedily and messily on his cock. His jaw clenches, eyes hazy for a second as if the idea might be enough to tempt him into giving up this whole charade, but the expression fades just as quick as it appeared. He drags the baton from your lips, the wet tip of it tracing a path down between your breasts, over your stomach. It stops briefly at your skirt, and Caleb's lips twitch at the way your hips shift slightly.

"Cale- Colonel, please," You whine, and Caleb tilts his head, "please touch me. Please do something,"

"Watch your mouth," He replies, voice lethally soft, "I never said you could speak," he tuts gently, lifting the baton and bringing it down quickly against your thigh. Pain flashes hot against your skin, melting into something liquid, something addictive. You moan softly.

"So disobedient," Caleb murmurs. He drops the baton, kneeling at your feet, quite unlike the cold colonel. His leather-clad hands find your thighs in a rough grip, hard enough to leave marks, and you hope they do. Caleb lifts your skirt, giving him a clear view of your black underwear, the lace so damp now that he can see the wet spot on the seat below, "Messy too,"

You try not to beg him, trying to keep silent and stay obedient so that he might touch you. His lips grow wet as he drags his tongue over them, staring intently at your parted thighs like he might wish to lick you clean himself, though he doesn't move. His hand makes its way up your thigh, over the reddened mark where he'd smacked you with the baton. The skin, sensitive now, hums under his tough as he runs a thumb over it, a soothing gesture cutting through his act.

"You've thought about this a lot," He says, voice softer now, "I have noticed every time your eyes watch me when I leave. Whenever I wear this uniform your eyes seem to glaze over like you're in the middle of a daydream," his hand moves further towards your clothed pussy, the leather soft and cool on your heated skin, "Is this what you were thinking about?"

You nod eagerly, unsure if he will stop if you were to speak. He smiles, almost looking like the Caleb you know again, though the grin soon sharpens with an edge as his fingers meet their mark. He presses hard against your clit, rubbing the wet lace against your skin in a slow, taunting circle. He does this twice, taking his touch away and observing the shiny wetness on his gloves. He pauses, like he might bring the fingers to his own lips for a taste, but instead he lifts them to your own mouth, pushing them past the seam of your lips.

"Taste it," He speaks, gruffer than a moment ago, "Taste the mess you've made,"

You moan around his gloved fingers, the familiar bitter taste of the leather soothed slightly by the salty tang of your own arousal. You lick every drop, sucking hard until your cheeks hollow, and Caleb's lips part to accommodate a low, quiet moan. When he pulls his fingers out, he returns them in a swift movement, rubbing your clit again and again.

"Come," He grits out, watching your face hungrily, the cool, calm pretence from earlier vanishing with each second, "Fuck, come nice and quick for me and I'll reward you with my cock,"

Your thighs tremble against the hold his evol still has on you, hips barely managing to chase his fingers, though you seem to crash into your climax unexpectedly. The force of it takes the air from your lungs leaving your lips parted on a silent moan before you drag in a broken gasp, "Oh- oh god, fuck, Caleb -"

"Good," He says, dazed, "So good, you did so good for me,"

His evol vanishes, your thighs clamping around his hand as he continues to rub and rub and rub until you're leaning forward, biting into the material of his jacket to quell the scream building in your throat. When you come a second time, Caleb seems to moan with you, so attuned to your body that he can feel your pleasure for himself.

He stands as you begin to gather yourself, panting in the chair and watching his movements with teary eyes. He doesn't bother removing his uniform, pulling out his cock through the slit in his trousers. It's hard, almost angrily red and shiny - your mouth waters with the need to taste, and thankfully, Caleb doesn't keep you waiting. He parts your lips with the head, gripping your hair in one hand while the other braces on the back of the chair you're sitting on.

"Oh fuck, oh god -" He's throbbing in your mouth already, hips stuttering as he shallowly fucks into your mouth, "Gonna come, oh fuck, gonna come. Yeah, yeah -" you suck hard, hollowing out your cheeks in order to bring about his release quicker. He comes with a broken groan of your name, chair creaking in his vice-like grip, and he uses the hold on your hair to pull you up and down his cock slowly, dragging out every thick rope of come he has to give.

When you're both panting, Caleb braces himself on the kitchen counter, dragging in deep lungfuls of air before he walks over on shaky legs to uncuff you. When you're both feeling human again, he brushes your hair from your face and looks down at you with wide, glassy eyes.

"Did I do good?" He says, "Did you like it?"

You shake your head, laughing, "You did really good, believe me,"

chapter 7

Caleb stood still. The whole party moved in slow motion, and everything turned into a blur except for her and the man in front of her. The man that wasn’t him. He was too far to stop him, but he wondered if he was even at a place to be able to. 

He thought about who he really was to her. Her childhood friend, her best friend, her closest friend. Nothing more than just a friend. So who would he be to disrupt this for her. He wondered if she wanted Lucky to kiss her. He thought about how wide her smile was when she introduced him, and how it was the complete opposite reaction towards him the past few days. There was that voice in the back of his mind again, telling him that if he really cared, he’d let her live her life however and with whoever she wanted. That if he was a good friend, he would loosen his grip on her that only he knew about.

But he wasn’t a good friend. And he didn’t want to be her friend anymore. 

Shoving his drink into Gideon’s hand, who was also watching everything unravel with him, Caleb started taking long and quick strides towards her. As he pushed past the people, his eyes were glued on her. Lucky’s hand on her waist pulling her closer towards him, her eyes looking up at him, still bumping to the music. Caleb didn’t think he was going to make it until he saw her put her hand on Lucky’s chest and pushed him away. The strobe lights hit her face perfectly for Caleb to see a frown on her face as she stopped dancing. 

And then their eyes met. He didn’t know how, but she saw him in the crowd, heading towards her in the massive living room. His mouth was agape as he looked at her and then she turned away, rushing away from Lucky who tried calling out to her. She went off in the opposite direction from Caleb, but he was quick. He chased after her, paying no mind to whose drinks he may have spilled and what couples he disrupted.

She walked down a hallway, probably looking for the restroom again, when Caleb caught up to her. He opened a random room and grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her into it before slamming the door shut. 

The room turned out to be a laundry room, and it was a spacious one at that. He locked the door, sandwiching her in between it and him.

She huffed, avoiding all eye contact with him. Her arms straight by her side, her face turned to the right. “What do you want, Caleb?” Her voice seemed nervous, yet still upset.

“Do you like him?” He put his hand on the door, beside her head, to steady himself. “That…guy.” He spat through his teeth. Caleb wanted to keep his composure, but the idea of another man touching her and trying to do more made him lose it. It was one thing to imagine the future of her being with other people, but to see it happen in front of him was unbearable. He wanted to keep it a nightmare instead of reality.

She glared up at him, “He has a name…and what if I say yes?” She tilted her head, mocking him.

He leaned down closer to her, feeling a slight twinge of deja vu. “If you liked Lucky so much, you would have let him kiss you.” His eyes flickered down to her lips, lingering for too long before going back to her eyes. “He’s not even your type…” A bitter chuckle left him.

She looked back down to the ground, her forehead bumping into his chin. “My type wouldn’t have rejected me…”

Caleb’s eyes widened and all the anger dissipated from his body. “Pip…but you said we were just friends. You said it was all for practice. Do yo-” 

He was cut off by her looking back up at him, her eyes holding tears that were threatening to spill. “You said it first! You told me to use you for practice, and I thought that that was the only chance I had with you…” Her voice trailed off as she finished her sentence. A tear ran down her cheek which she instantly wiped away with the back of her hand. “Everyone always told me you liked me, but you never actually did anything…” She let out a shaky breath, another tear falling. “I gave up…but you kept confusing me.” She groaned into her hands. 

Caleb wondered if she was just hiding more tears behind her hands, but he couldn’t move. He felt like an idiot for being so oblivious.

“I thought that maybe I could move on completely if I started dating. Then you had me move in with you…and then you told me to practice with you. I always wanted you to be my first and last everything, I ended up playing along…thinking that maybe you’d fall for me too after. And then when you rejected me…I was just so humiliated.” She let her hands fall from her face, her cheeks streaked with tears.

He stared at her in awe. She did the exact same things he did. She thought the same thoughts she did. If he thought he was sick for using practice as an excuse, she was on the same sick boat as him. He couldn’t suppress the bubble of laughter that left his chest. Caleb dropped down into a squatting position, his head nearly in between his knees as he let out a laugh of relief and astonishment. He heard a scoff from her and then felt a hand push on his shoulder, making him fall onto his bottom.

“I basically just confessed to you, and now you’re laughing…?” She asked, shocked.

He lifted his head to look up at her, tears falling from his eyes too. He didn’t know if it was from laughing or from genuine cries of relief. “Sorry, pip. I’m just so in shock right now.” He stood up from the ground, dusting himself off before stepping closer to her again. Caleb grabbed her face with both his hands, wiping the tears away from the corner of her eyes with his thumbs. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before speaking again. “Don’t you remember how weirdly serious I was when I told you to practice with me? I know you were weirded out.” His smile kept growing as he studied her confused face. “You kept talking big about dating other people, it was killing me. I was saying just anything to delay it. I didn’t think you’d actually take me up on that offer. It was a shot in the dark.” He pressed a kiss to the corner of her eye, attempting to hold himself back from skipping the explanation altogether. “And then you asked me to kiss you. I also thought that…if we practiced enough, you’d only want me. I tried to please you as best as I could so no one would ever live up to it. And so that you’d be just for me.” He pressed their foreheads together. 

“Really?” She sniffled, looking right into his eyes, her arms wrapping around his wrists. Their breaths mingled with each other’s. “You l-like me?”

“I’ve been in love with you for so long…I guess we’ve both just been a couple of cowards, huh?” He let out a soft laugh before realizing what he said. “Oh, you don’t have to say it like that, though. I-”

Her hand let go of his wrist and instead gripped his necklace, pulling him further in for a kiss. It was a soft, loving kiss. She kissed him as if she was afraid his lips would break if she moved too much, and then she pulled away. Both of their eyes fluttered open, meeting each other. “I love you, too.”

Caleb swore he exploded. It was like someone just pressed a button, and everything he knew was just wiped and the only thing that remained was her. His hands let go of her face, placing themselves on her hips. And he dove back in for a deeper kiss. Exploring her with fervor, moaning into it. His hands trailed up her exposed back, her skin feeling like fire under his fingertips. 

He pulled away just slightly, their lips still touching and he said, “You’re mine…” And he kissed her again, moving her arms to loop around his neck. They kissed deeply, and he felt like the two of them could melt into each other. 

Then someone banged on the door she was leaned up against. “Is someone in here?” Someone yelled over the faint thumping of the music. Caleb almost forgot they were at a party. 

He put a finger to his mouth, motioning for her to be quiet and then placed her behind the door, so whoever was on the other side wouldn’t see her when he opened it. 

It was Jackson. Which made sense to Caleb, he understood that he would want to know why someone was in his laundry room. “Oh h-hey man, sorry. I just had to take a call. I’ll be out soon.”

Jackson didn’t look like he believed him. “Uh-huh. Gideon told me you’ve been trying to take this ‘call’ for a while now. You finally made a move, huh?” He smirked at Caleb, throwing a playful punch to his shoulder. “Hey, congrats and all, but if I let you guys do it in this room, the other couples are gonna get the same idea.”

Caleb turned bright red, “I-”

Jackson laughed, “Just come out soon, I’m expecting you two to take a shot with me in five minutes.” And then he walked away.

He shut the door and looked at the equally red girl. “How am I supposed to take a shot with him after this?” She asked, exasperated. 

Chuckling, he pulled her in by the waist, placing a soft kiss on her cheek. “The alcohol might help. We’ll continue this later, let’s go.” He adjusted himself in his pants, hoping that any sign of his arousal wouldn’t be obvious in the dim lights. When he turned around, her exposed back was towards him, and he didn’t know what came over him except for the need to leave a mark on her. 

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her back slightly towards him. He placed his other hand over her eyes, making her yelp. And then he bent down, placing a kiss on the middle of her back, strongly sucking on the skin. The movement made her squirm in his hands, a soft moan left her lips that didn’t go unnoticed by Caleb. When he was satisfied, he pulled away to check. 

Caleb let go of her, flashing his phone screen over the kiss mark to make sure it was visible. He traced it with his finger, damp with his spit. “Just in case someone wanted to look…they’ll know you’re taken.” He smirked.

Caleb drops his head forward as he clings to that last perfect image he had of his adopted sister all grown up, right outside their childhood home. He tries to overwrite his haunting memory of nearly being consumed in flames with the stubborn jut of her chin and those bright determined eyes flashing at him just seconds before the incident.

“You can’t protect me forever.”

When she held his gaze and spoke her truth aloud, Caleb had some choice words to say in response. But he bit his tongue instead, conceded to her as he always had. 

And now? Things were different, and he’d be handling business on his own terms.

Thinking back, he wouldn’t have hesitated to forfeit Josephine’s life again to shield his sister completely from the blast. Although losing the woman who raised them no doubt caused the girl grief, there was nothing he would’ve done differently because she came out of it in one piece.

In his brief coma that followed, there wasn’t a second that went by where his subconscious thoughts weren’t filled with her. It was like he was watching an endless loop of their childhood memories bleeding together behind his heavy eyelids.

Some memories felt like home and others didn’t belong– white walls stained with red, endless syringes, the stench of death lingering in the air.

By the time he awoke on his deathbed, he was barely able to make sense of Lucius’ offer in exchange for his survival. In spite of his broken body, he found that he couldn’t quite let go. Not yet. 

In his most tumultuous moments, the common thread of devotion that tethered him to her always remained true.  

Relinquishing his freedom to the Ever Group for a chance at power to keep her safe was the easiest choice to make in his life. And now, he could make himself even more useful, redirecting Ever’s attention off her by molding himself into the ideal vessel for the conglomerate's most groundbreaking project in the works.

Once a pilot in training, he resigned to forfeit his life to the infinite darkness within the Deep Space tunnel. Now having returned to the cosmos that nearly swallowed him whole as the Farspace Fleet’s Colonel, he’d find a way to conquer it.

Caleb fights to steel himself, eyes narrowing in the dark as he kneads his throat. It’s dry and scratchy like he had been talking in his sleep again. Probably screaming. Luckily for him, the dense steel walls that made up his living quarters on the FSCV-01 were soundproof. 

Nightmares always left him disoriented beyond belief upon waking. He should’ve felt relief once he broke out of his dreamscape, but he doesn’t, not entirely. It’s not often he experiences fear while awake, but the effects of his dreams still linger in his nerves. 

Terror is an insidious thing, never failing to discriminate his state of consciousness to impose itself on him.

It made a home in his marrow, housed there since his childhood, festering from endless days spent in laboratories and surgical rooms that seemed like a blur.

He once felt trapped in loss and grief— a seemingly endless cycle when she would reappear in front of him after each experiment as if she were just meeting him for the first time. 

It’s a phenomenon that only occurs when she’s involved. A sensation exacerbated beyond belief by the mere thought of losing the only soul who affirms his miserable existence. An existence that grows more numb by the day...

Suddenly, the Toring chip finally feels like it’s doing its job to regulate his pulse. He breathes easier, but just barely.

Caleb spares a glance over his shoulder; the faint white glow of his alarm clock indicates that it’s just past four in the morning.

It would be unproductive to force himself back to sleep despite feeling like he’s gotten zero rest. By 0600 the starship would reach a point in their voyage that branches off into several different pathways, all marked for exploration.

A seemingly standard mission disguised as a trap set by the fleet’s old guard. Nothing to overly concern himself with aside from guarding his life with vigilance. He'd see to it that the mission would be completed regardless.

‘Just get moving.’

Caleb reaches for a thin silver remote on his bedside table and taps it. When he moves to stand, the floor feels like ice penetrating the soles of his feet but it wakes him up a fair bit.

A massive panel of smooth frosted glass flickers to reveal the inky cosmos swirling with glowing stardust as the starship continues on its set path through the Deep Space Tunnel. Filtered low light fills his otherwise dark room, slightly brightening the space for him to walk through with ease.

The bathroom lights activate to reveal his blurred reflection in the mirror. Ignoring it, he leans over to run the faucet and gathers a handful of frigid water to soothe his throat.

He washes away the sleep from his eyes before flicking droplets from his fingers. When he’s ready to face the state of himself, he lifts his head, bracing his hands on either side of the polished sink.

Dark amethyst eyes bore back at him briefly before they traced down to his bare collarbone. Unkempt tendrils of dark hair are plastered to his cheekbones and curl around the base of his neck.

Caleb hadn’t bothered to cut his hair since the day he was nearly wiped off the face of the earth. Guess he was lucky to still have a full head of hair in the first place after an explosion like that.

A wet sheen of perspiration coating his upper body just confirms his dire need for a routine cold shower.

He wastes no time in shedding his loose black sweatpants and turning the water temperature dial to cold before stepping under the rainfall shower.

Water pelts part of his skin like shards but it briefly soothes the throbbing behind his eyes. Beneath the spray of water, he flexes his right hand absentmindedly, the limb completely numb...

A small but mighty fist raps insistently at the wooden bathroom door. “Caleb you’re taking forever, quit hogging all the hot water!” He rolls his eyes at her insistence but quickly rinses suds from his hair. “I’m taking a cold shower, dummy, and it’s only been five minutes–” “Liar, it’s been twenty!” “Seriously, stop trying to barge in,” his voice drones over the splashing of water. He smirks when his accusation earns an affronted gasp from the younger girl. It's more than easy to picture her cute features scrunched in disgust. “Ew! I am not trying to barge in!”

Caleb scoffs as water trickles into his lashes, then the scene shifts imperceptibly. A sudsy head of hair suddenly leans into his touch, that familiar delicate slope of shoulders tight beneath his fingertips. Tense from combat training and in need of his usual service, he presumes– until she intentionally presses back against him.

Caleb nearly jumps out of his skin, blinking water out of his eyes, and realizes he’s staring at the smooth white wall.

Oh. A flicker of a daydream first thing in the morning was not a good sign. 

Guilt forms in a thick knot within his throat. He releases a sharp breath and pumps body wash into his palm before roughly scrubbing down. Of course, these memories choose to plague him this morning, of all mornings.

Maybe he should have just slid back into bed, endured the nightmares, and allowed his alarm clock to wake him up an hour from now.

Still, his mind threatened to linger there in the comfort of familiarity. Similar to how dark vines used to the shadows twist across a slab of stone warmed by the sun. Nostalgia had a way of suspending him in reverie more than he should’ve allowed. 

Within a few minutes, Caleb emerges from the bathroom with a towel tucked around his waist and icy breath. A double tap on the remote shifts the lighting to something more ambient, subtly revealing streamlined furnishings dipped in black and lustrous silver.

Everything in his quarters was impersonal from the lack of decor on the walls down to the missing photos of a certain someone that belonged on his bedside table. The kitchenette tucked away in the corner was seldom used except to brew coffee when he required a jolt of energy. It’d been a long time since he cooked anything.

The reality was that he only slept and ate on these excursions in rare stints; typical of his schedule even when he was a mere cadet.

Still, if the ruthless girl plaguing his daydreams caught wind of his slacking, his culinary skills would be under scrutiny– but it was futile wish to even entertain.

His hand waves across the air, revealing the luminescence of her hologram portrait. He's only half aware of how his shoulders unwind as he takes in her smile, the perfect balance of amiability and professionalism. So unlike the brat he raised. Caleb’s gaze softens, a rare sight these days.

The girl’s eyes lacked the gleam they once held, her gaze steeled from her experiences. That practiced smile of hers didn't fool him. She looked far from jaded but he could tell she'd been through it.

He had let her go through it all alone.

Would she resent him if she ever discovered he’d been alive all this time? Knowing he let her fend for herself?

Over the past year, he saved every piece of media he could get his hands on whenever she made the headlines as a Hunter. Soundbites of her voice, photos, and interview clips. Especially videos of her whereabouts outside of work, recorded by his private surveillance drones.

Nothing instilled more pride in his heart than seeing how far she’s come in her career. But the more she grows, the closer she gets to the truth…

Wherever whispers of an Aether Core begin, she would inevitably follow without realizing the dangers that lie ahead.

The hologram portrait disappears and dims his features as he drops his hand, fist clenching tight.

If she ever came within the vicinity of the fleet, he would resort to any and all methods to ensure her safety. No matter the cost. He made up his mind about it a long time ago. 

Caleb moves to retrieve the layers of garments that made up his uniform from his closet, slipping them over his taut muscles one by one. 

Black. Grey. Tie. More black. 

Caleb’s almost mindless as he fastens buttons and buckles in place, both human and synthetic skin efficiently hidden by a heavy garb that straightens his subordinate's spines when they lay eyes on it.

He’s worn a myriad of uniforms throughout his twenty-five years, but this was certainly the most prestigious one yet. Most people his age commonly experience bouts of impostor syndrome at an early point in their careers. 

Considering he was fast-tracked into this position by Ever’s influence, he should be the ultimate victim of it. And yet, he’s never wavered about his purpose since stepping foot into this role.

The first time Caleb wore this uniform, he embraced its suffocating weight knowing it would allow him to keep her safe in the only way he knew how.

Lucius silently circled the tall, dark-haired man, observing the way he donned the Farspace Fleet’s Colonel uniform as if he had done so for his entire life. Those who have worked to attain the rank of Colonel were often twice his age. He’d be an anomaly within the fleet, but it did not matter. There was nothing anybody could say or do to evict the new Colonel from his position. The uniform was flawlessly tailored to broad shoulders that would carry out Ever Group’s plans to infiltrate one of the many fleets to come.  Lucius was the kind of scientist who preferred to play to his experiment’s strengths and enhance them to the fullest. Selecting Caleb Xia for this task was a no-brainer for the Professor. Even he could recognize how the uniform conformed to Caleb’s brawn, making him appear more like an otherworldly entity than a pawn to be trifled with. Though, many would try.  The young man’s imposing stature, intelligence, and prowess as a pilot pointed him down this revered avenue of opportunity. Not to mention the underlying grit beneath that exterior of calm, stemming from his past as a child experiment. Whatever lies in his past may be a weakness to exploit later down the line, as needed. But above all, his gravity Evol rendered him practically untouchable. It was the sort of ability Ever lusted over, and now, they finally reclaimed one of two missing experiments they thought they’d lost in the Chronorift Catastrophe all those years ago. In due time they would obtain the other. Leading the simple life of a DAA pilot would have been a complete and utter waste of Caleb’s potential. Surely the boy can see it himself. With the best modifications and the Toring Chip’s influence, he’ll certainly give the fleet’s old guard a run for their money. The dogs may bitch and cry about it before being shipped off to Atley Island, but Caleb Xia will serve as a stark reminder of the power that Ever possesses across timelines.  A testament to Lucius’ great work– but their plan was still just beginning. Something twisted emanated from the Professor who merely inclined his chin towards the young Colonel. Caleb silently acknowledged that from here on out, he would be scrutinized by all from head to toe. He could hide nothing from his masters and enemies, one and the same. But he'd continue to hide it all from her, and if it came down to it, keep her hidden away from the world itself.

The metallic clinking of his regalia pulls Caleb out of the memory, his brows knit tight and that migraine back with a vengeance.

With a slow roll of his shoulders, a heft of gold chains brush against accents of maroon and navy. It settles across his chest, distinguishing him from the rest of his crew.

Pressed white trousers are swiftly tucked inside black leather boots that settle above his calves. A tactical holster containing his personal effects seamlessly clicks into place around his left thigh and his hip.

The Farspace Fleet’s insignia seems to sharpen beneath the overhead lights as he slides the hat into place. Black leather gloves cover up the last of his cold skin.

Caleb is already bound for the command bridge one and a half hours earlier than what's stated on his schedule. His crew will just have to learn to adapt to his time swiftly. 

The starship lurches violently, nearly knocking Caleb off his feet if he hadn’t half the mind to activate his Evol. The abrupt sensation reminds him of when he was trapped in his fighter jet in Deep Space and endured bouts of intense turbulence.

A different era entirely.

Obnoxious sirens swirl in flashes of red throughout the halls causing his head to pound even more incessantly. Caleb remains unfazed and continues to move forward.

Either it was interstellar turbulence or the attempts on his life had begun. If it's the latter, it wouldn’t be the first time he’s a target, nor the last.

At the his will, vantablack swirls split through the plane of space outside the paneled windows of the corridor. The strategically placed vortexes immediately influence the magnetic waves of FSCV-01’s flight path. For now, they'll stabilize the starship’s wild tremors until he can rule out the cause.

Caleb had a feeling he managed to execute something similar on a smaller scale while unconscious inside the belly of the Deep Space Tunnel years ago. Since entering the fleet, he's performed the skill countless times even as a cadet, and would always manage to smooth out the flight path of any vessel he was aboard.

Even without Ever Group pulling the strings for his promotion, the Farspace Fleet would have been stupid not to consider him an eventual candidate for Colonel.

At this point, Caleb was used to the universe's attempts to snuff him out of existence. Would a few extra power-hungry fleet dogs thrown into the mix make a difference?

Caleb fixes his stoic gaze ahead and continues to the brig, mentally shuffling through everything that could’ve gone wrong with the engine, personnel, or weather conditions. Whatever it may be, he'll ensure his starship’s return to Earth.

Because even now, light years away from his home planet, he feels an inexplicable ache within his chest.

Caleb knows he’s but a memory to her.

She’s already moved on. As for him?

with the carpet in its signature champagne-gold hue, it was decided you would wear a simple, short, strapless black dress with a train that flowed elegantly to meet your black stilettos. you adorned the cartier love pendant, resting lightly around your neck. on your right hand was a delicate clash de cartier ring, and on your left, the classic juste un clou bracelet. your stylist finished the look with a loosely tied side bun, soft tendrils framing your face.

evening came faster than expected. fans and photographers crowded the area, shouting and waving. the flashes from cameras were relentess the moment you stepped out of the car. for a brief second, it felt like you were walking onto a concert stage, with all the lights, the chaos and the energy.

“y/n, y/n! look here!”

“over here! this way!”

“y/n! right here, please!”

you struck a signature pose at the end of the carpet, maintaining composure as best as you could. fans screamed caleb’s name — some even shouted for you to break up with him. supportive comments were plentiful, yet the negative ones crept in all the same. you were used to online criticism, but it still stung. caleb wasn’t even your real boyfriend. if the media reacted this way to a fake relationship, what would happen if you ever revealed a real one?

the question lingered as your photos wrapped up, following you as you were escorted into the venue. the room was dimly lit, alive with photographers capturing every detail. tables filled with guests chatting or quietly observing after the long day.

as you walked through the room, reporters stopped you with routine questions.

“good evening y/n, how have you been?” one asked.

“i’ve been good, thank you for asking. and you?” you replied, keeping your tone calm.

questions flowed from there, about your outfit, the jewlry you wore, even about your group’s upcoming album. then came the questions everyone had been waiting for.

“so, you’ve announced the relationship with caleb. how do you handle the balance between your personal lives and public appearances?”

you froze for a heartbeat, then steadied yourself and replied as rehearsed: “we try to keep our personal lives separate from work, but at the same time, we really appreciate the support from fans. it's really about being respectful of each other and the people around us.”

microphones pressed in from every direction as you spoke, and you could feel your hands begin to sweat.

“y/n! come take a picture, please!” a photographer waved you over for a group photo with several well-known actors and singers.

thank god, you thought, grateful for the distraction as you said goodbye to the reporters.

they made room for you, and you posed with the group before gradually splitting into smaller clusters. you chatted briefly with zoe saldana, whom you'd met on a music video set, when someone tapped you on the shoulder.

caleb xia.

“we need to take some photos,” he said, tilting his head towards the photographers waiting impatiently.

it was the first time you saw him in his outfit, and you couldn’t lie — he looked incredible. a tailored deep-v black suit with subtle gold embroidery on the cuffs, polished black leather so clean you could see your reflection in them. his ensemble perfectly complemented yours. a silver santos de cartier watch lay on his right wrist, while a rose-gold clash de cartier bracelet adorned his left. a white-gold half-paved love pendant rested flat against his exposed chest. his hair was slicked back slightly, exposing a rare glimpse of his forehead.

“y/n! caleb! over here!”

“look this way!”

you postitioned yourself beside him, forcing a sweet smile, aware of the small gap between you.

“come on, stand closer!” a photographer called.

“caleb, put your arm around her waist!”

the poses became more intimate with every click. one photographer adjusted caleb’s arm to rest on your waist, drawing you closer than planned.

not that it made me uncomfortable. not at all.

“there we go! perfect!”

“just like that!”

you tried to smile naturally, but your focus drifted to the elevated rhythm of caleb’s heartbeat against the back of your head.

you looked up at him.

“makin’ you nervous, am i?” you said, smugly, giving him a small wink.

his eyes met yours, calm but intense.

“yeah, right,” he replied, mouth pressed to a thin line, clearly not impressed.

“THAT’S THE POSE!”

“DON’T MOVE, YOU TWO!”

photographers shouted over the chaos. arms crossed, you held his gaze, into those deep purple eyes. eyes like polished amethyst, impossible to look away from.

“ask the photographers for a picture. it’ll last longer, sunshine,” caleb murmured, smirking. you frowned, rolling your eyes at the nickname then leaned forward slightly, resting a hand lightly on your hip, adding a touch of boldness without breaking composure.

after the photo session, you moved to the dinner area. cartier had seated you and caleb separately, placing you beside jacob elordi, a favourite since the kissing booth. as the evening wore on, you made easy conversation with your tablemates, exchanging instagrams handles and sharing laughs before the night came to a close.

it was seven a.m. when jenna blew up your phone. messages flooded in before she started calling. eyes still half-closed and voice slurred, you picked up and put the phone on speaker.

“y/n! wake up! you have to see the news from yesterday’s event!”

“what about it?” you asked, squinting at the bright morning light.

“you have to see for yourself! open the link i sent!” jenna said before hanging up.

still delirious, you tapped open one of the many links she'd sent you.

your eyes widened. the front page featured a picture of you and caleb, looking at each other with his hand resting comfortably on your waist. you clicked through multiple articles — every photo from the carpet to the dinner, every detail of your outfit meticulously noted.

“acting completely smitten with each other (see image above), y/n and caleb have set the music scene on fire with their ultimate face cards.”

you let out a small chuckle. “ultimate face cards, huh? why thank you, penny giordano.”

you set your phone down on the mattress, the glow of the screen still lingering behind your eyes.

every article said the same thing, just in different fonts.

effortless.

natural.

completely smitten.

none of it was real. and yet, somehow, the world believed it was.

your phone buzzed again.

caleb: mission accomplished, don't you think? told ya it'd be fun.

you stared at the message for a long moment before replying.

yeah, yeah, you typed.

can't believe we fooled them so easily.

A/N ahh finally done with the second chapter. sorry this took me way too long to upload. i was on a week-long holiday and lost motivation to write while on the trip. this didn't really turn out the way i was hoping, but i hope it was an enjoyable read either way. hopefully you guys liked this one, and i will try to post the next few soon ! thank you so much for reading sftc ᥫ᭡

𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘴, 𝘳𝘣𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 <3

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