anyone else could've thought it was a cute little habit of yours.

“haha, i'm so dumb!”

“oh! sorry, what was that? i'm so stupid sometimes…”

“no, you're good! it was totally on me. my mind is a mess!”

but to zayne, it was a dangerous behaviour; one he knew would become detrimental to your self-esteem in no time.

he'd heard you putting yourself down countless times, and on most occasions, it happened over tiny things.

once, it was because you dropped some crumbs on the floor.

then, it was because you accidentally misspelled something.

the last time, it was because you bumped against a counter and felt the need to apologize… unnecessarily so.

to top it off, you weren't even conscious of it, almost as if your mouth moved before your brain could fully process the situation.

that could only mean one thing.

you wholeheartedly believed those words were true, or, at the very least, you felt the need to apologize for every little —and ordinary— mistake.

if you insulted yourself first, then you wouldn't give others the chance to insult you.

he didn't like that, and the fact that none of your friends or family members said anything about it was astonishing to him.

zayne, being as blunt as he was, couldn't really help himself anymore when he heard you talking to a friend on facetime.

you were just lounging around his office, ready to ask for your free monthly checkup, courtesy of dr. li, unaware that he had entered the room and overheard everything you had to say.

“wasn't that like… last year?” you asked, eyebrows knitting. “or wait, no, was it three years ago? ugh, my memory sucks.”

“no, hun, that was literally six months ago, what are you on?” your friend replied, chuckling softly.

you only sighed, then shook your head in disbelief.

“stupid me, the fact that i'm even considered a functioning adult is surprising,” you whispered. “okay, so, six months ago—”

all of a sudden, a cold, large hand settled on your shoulder, making you freeze in place.

your friend grinned wildly once they spotted zayne on your screen, and they decided to make up a dumb excuse just to hang up seconds later.

awesome.

“zayne!” you turned around to face him, your breathing slightly erratic. “you scared me! gosh… what's up?”

he stared down at you, blinking slowly.

“stop that,” he said bluntly, his voice calm enough to be considered a request rather than a demand.

you blinked back, head tilting to your left.

“calling, or…?” you looked down at your phone, then up at him. “was i being too loud, zayne?”

“you were being insulting.”

your eyes immediately went wide.

“oh! was i? really? i didn't even notice! do you think my friend was offend—”

“to yourself,” he interrupted, walking behind his desk to properly meet your gaze.

the room instantly turned quiet.

you didn't know what to say, how to react… so you smiled sheepishly.

“what— uh, what… makes you say that, zayne?” your voice softened, but not out of sweetness; it was out of embarrassment and the ugly feeling of someone seeing right through you, uninvited. “i wasn't insulting myself.”

“you were,” he answered without missing a beat, his hazel eyes refusing to let yours go. “it is not the first time you have done so.”

“well… it's not that bad, zayne! it's just a joke!” you laughed softly, then quickly looked away from him, your fingers fidgeting with your phone case. “i'm just not the smartest person in the room, that's all.”

the uncomfortable silence invaded the room once again, until his hand gently grabbed your wrist and stopped your nervous fidgeting.

“according to who?”

your eyes shot up, your whole body tensing up for just a few seconds.

“uh…” you parted your lips, trying to find the words. “i mean, i'm sometimes clumsy, and my mind just drifts a lot…”

“neither of those traits represent a lack of intelligence,” he leaned in, his hands now over the desk. “and even if they did, you should not use them as weapons against yourself.”

you felt a tiny lump forming in your throat.

“zayne… you don't have to be so serious about it,” you whispered. “it's just… a habit.”

“a bad one,” he added, his voice losing the clinical edge you were used to, instead becoming something softer. “one that is not becoming of you.”

well, great.

you lowered your head and crossed both arms over your chest.

“i don't mean those words…”

“then do not say them,” he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, finally looking away. “because i am starting to believe— or rather, i am certain that you truly think so lowly of yourself.”

“that's not true.”

zayne sighed, used to you contradicting him, but unwilling to let it pass without consequences.

he reached out, quietly lifting your chin up so that you would look at him without averting your gaze.

“you insulted your memory, yourself, and your abilities as an adult in less than two minutes,” he noted. “over forgetting a timeline, mind you.”

you felt your skin growing warmer almost instantly.

he was looking right into your soul, apparently.

“eavesdropping isn't nice,” your lips slightly pouted. “and… and i was just joking! my friends understand my humor!”

“you are teaching yourself that every little mistake is punishable.”

you went completely still, his words echoing.

“...every time you call yourself clumsy, useless, or stupid, you reinforce the idea that making mistakes makes you lesser,” he elaborated. “you do not even think before doing so.”

zayne leaned back, then walked until he was by your side. his hands clenched and unclenched by his sides.

gods, he wanted to pull you close.

he wanted to take those ugly words away from your mind.

but he couldn't lose control, nor would he allow his feelings to overpower his strong sense of duty.

“no one will punish you,” he whispered, his tone becoming softer, gentler, almost concerned. “no one will insult you first, and i can assure you that no one thinks you are stupid when you make mistakes.”

perhaps without him noticing, his thumb brushed the gentle curve of your cheekbone.

neither of you dared to talk.

you simply felt the slow circles he traced on your skin, and he then focused on your pretty eyes.

“...i can't stop, zaynie,” you finally whispered, the words coming out before your brain could process them; the very reason you had this bad habit in the first place. “i don't know how to. it just happens.”

he crouched down next to you, placing one hand on the armrest and the other on the desk.

“it is not easy to change something you do unconsciously,” he conceded. “let alone something you deem necessary.”

“but… do you think i'm doing it to protect myself?” you whispered, looking down at him. “like, deep down, that's what my brain is trying to do?”

he contemplated your words before fixing his glasses.

“i am no psychiatrist, so i am afraid i cannot affirm nor deny allegations of that nature,” he shook his head slightly. “but i… would not discard that theory.”

he paused, trying to find the right words.

“you do not have to change that overnight. in fact, i do not think it is plausible,” he mumbled. “but you can start by acknowledging the facts instead of categorizing them.”

your head tilted to the side, until your cheek met your shoulder.

there it was; that confused gaze zayne secretly adored so much.

“meaning…?”

“meaning that instead of calling yourself stupid after forgetting something, you can just say ‘sorry, i forgot’. instead of insulting your brain's capacity, you can say ‘come again? i did not understand’,” he explained, hoping it wouldn't be too hard to follow.

your expression softened, and your lips seemed to curl up slightly.

“without using ugly words?” you softly asked.

“there is no need, no,” he nodded gently, feeling a bit relieved now that you had another way of expressing yourself.

“that… that sounds easy enough, zaynie,” you whispered. “even for someone dumb like me!”

before you could even register what it was that you said, zayne's eyes narrowed.

you killed all hope instantly.

he stood up quietly, to which you quickly jumped, getting out of the chair.

“oh, zayne, wait! gosh, i didn't even— hey!”

when you looked up, he had a stack of papers (probably some documents) rolled into a tube; one he used to softly tap your forehead.

“try again,” he calmly said.

“you can't just—”

“again,” he gestured with the roll of paper. “go ahead.”

“i— i understand! i'll try not to… categorize anything, i swear!” you squealed, hoping for a little bit of mercy. “it sounds easy!”

he finally lowered the papers, sighing heavily.

“good. but it is not easy,” zayne mumbled. “so i will be alert. i must ensure you practice being gentler to yourself.”

you sighed in relief once he placed the papers over his desk, straightening them with his slender fingers.

you felt like a pup being trained, in a way.

“...is that part of your role as my doctor, zaynie, or do you just care too much about me?” your voice came out tentative, and when your eyes met, you could've sworn the tips of his ears turned red.

he cleared his throat and looked away.

“i am merely ensuring your stress levels remain low. good self-esteem and healthy emotional practices do contribute to that,” he picked up your file, tapping it with his knuckle. “now, let us go to the second floor. we will start with the blood work.”

“blood work…?” you frowned, before gasping. “oh, right! my checkup, i totally forgot! i'm such a—”

your words died down almost instantly when his hand quietly went back to the documents on his desk.

“i'm such… such a great patient! i mean— i will be the best patient ever!” you rushed to the door, quickly opening it. “i'll see you down there!”

and just as quickly as you left, his face became one of a man smitten.

what was he going to do with you, other than worry every day?

he stared at the door, and then moved towards it, slipping the efficient and focused mask of a man in his field of work.

but beneath his pristine lab coat, his heart raced and ached for the most perfect person in this world; someone he wouldn't let destroy their self-esteem and self-worth with such deprecating words.

not if he could stop it, one paper roll at a time.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ rafayel! ꒰੭

﹙♡﹚rafayel can talk enough for the both of you, so you never have to feel bad if you're out together and don't have the energy to contribute much. he's more than happy to keep the conversations flowing.~

﹙♡﹚beware, though. he will tease you from time to time about being so quiet. “oh? i got… twelve words in less than five hours? we must frame this achievement, cutie. perhaps set a new record?”

﹙♡﹚but in reality, he doesn't mind at all, nor does he keep count. there's beauty in silence, and he knows your communication skills and social battery have nothing to do with how much you love him.

﹙♡﹚once raffy understands that, sometimes, it's not that you don't want to talk, but that you feel physically drained after doing so, he becomes very attentive and protective of your limits, especially in public.

﹙♡﹚ he starts rescuing you from conversations the second your social battery begins running low. he excels in coming up with dramatic excuses and completely fake emergencies. he'll say whatever gets his cutie out of there, and convincingly so!

﹙♡﹚ besides, since rafayel is incredibly observant, he eventually memorizes the difference between your comfortable silence and the silence that means you're reaching your limit. and yes, that includes recognizing your subtle facial expressions, or even your posture. he can and will take you away if he feels like you're done.

﹙♡﹚ instead of expecting conversation all the time, he'll communicate in other ways, like with little and cutesy sketches, handwritten notes, smoochy faces, or even through texts… but you do have to reply quickly, otherwise he'll whine nonstop.

﹙♡﹚when your social battery is out, he'll practically forbid everyone from approaching you. no one is to disturb his precious pearl, and you best believe he'll stay quiet as a tomb once you're back home.

﹙♡﹚ despite being quite expressive, as the artist he is, he never mistakes your quietness for boredom. he knows when you are listening to him and when you're enjoying yourself, even if your pretty face doesn't say it.

﹙♡﹚ also, on those days when your battery is completely empty, he'll happily spend hours beside you painting, cooking, or working while the two of you barely exchange words. it's fine. as long as he gets to be close and knows that you're comfortable, he doesn't mind the silence. ♡

𐙚˙⋆.˚ xavier! ꒰੭

﹙♡﹚please, he doesn't even realize you're that quiet until he hears it from other people. he isn't exactly a yapper by nature, so he thinks the short conversations between the two of you are more than enough.

﹙♡﹚ since he genuinely enjoys silence, being with you never feels "too quiet." to xavi, simply existing in the same room as you is already quality time.~

﹙♡﹚ he would never pressure you to keep a conversation going. if you only have the energy to answer with a nod, a small hum, or a tiny smile, that's more than fine (it's not as if he doesn't do the same anyway).

﹙♡﹚however, when xavier realizes that talking for too long leaves you physically exhausted or triggers migraines, he quietly starts protecting your social battery without making that obvious. he knows that you don't want to make someone feel bad, so he treads carefully.

﹙♡﹚ if someone keeps talking your ear off, he'll step into the conversation and answer for both of you until you're able to rest. people rarely notice what he's doing, and if they do, they don't really want to mess with xavier's blunt words and expressionless eyes.

﹙♡﹚ he learns your subtle warning signs before you do. those shorter replies, or the way your gaze starts drifting, make him automatically say he's taking you home. no further explanation needed.

﹙♡﹚ date time with xavi often means doing different things… in the same space. you can scroll on your phone while he reads, or you can play a video game while he rests his head on your shoulder, and he'll be having the time of his life.

﹙♡﹚ he does get worried when you get actual migraines. he hates when you get to that point, so he'll do anything and everything to get you to rest… and then take a little nap himself. you can't blame him, though.~

﹙♡﹚ xavier never makes you feel guilty over setting boundaries. if you don't want to talk, or don't want to stay out, you don't have to. if you take him out to a social gathering, but then start regretting it, he'll take you back home instantly.

﹙♡﹚he truly only cares about you and your happiness, and he just so happens to enjoy quiet time and being at home, so… the silence works perfectly for the both of you. ♡

𐙚˙⋆.˚ caleb! ꒰੭

caleb knew where to push, what to shift, and how to make that vulnerable side of yours show.

naturally, he didn't do it out of cruelty; he loved you way too much to be that mean. however, there was something in your softness and your neediness that made him feel useful in your life, and, from time to time, he tried to chase that high in subtle ways.

today, for example, he thought it'd be an amazing idea to make you watch a scary movie.

you were reluctant at first, but since it was bright outside, and he was going to stay home the entire week, you figured you'd feel safe.

he sat next to you, his arm coiled around your waist, those sunset-like eyes glinting with anticipation.

the movie started, and you were already tensed up, leaning against his side.

“based on a true story.”

that was all you needed to read for your body to recoil with a bad feeling.

without noticing, you gripped his thigh, pupils darting from side to side.

caleb pressed a soft kiss to your forehead, his eyes focused on your reactions rather than the movie itself.

when the scenes became gruesome and terrifying, your body jolted.

you climbed onto his lap without a second thought, simply clinging to him and hiding your face in his neck, as if that could also shield you from the shrieking music.

caleb's strong arms were ready to hold you, his steady hands rubbing circles on your waist.

“i've got you, baby. there's nothin' to be scared of when you're with me, yeah?” he whispered, his voice soft and comforting.

and, in a way, his embrace truly felt like the only safe thing in the room. his scent calmed you down, and his grip made you feel untouchable and out of harm's way.

that didn't stop you from screaming and jumping when the loud jump scares appeared on screen, though, and that only made caleb pull you closer to him.

when the credits rolled, you were still shaking, heart beating fast, hands clutching his shirt for dear life.

it didn't feel like it was over; it felt like you'd become the next victim and relive all of the horrors now engraved in your head.

your boyfriend could tell you were affected by the movie, perhaps more than he had anticipated.

but instead of coming clean and apologizing, thus making you angry at him, he decided to be your guardian angel.

logically, if you got mad at him, you'd go away and then feel exposed and lonely.

he wouldn't let that happen, especially not when you were already on edge.

“angel, hey,” he softly called out, tilting your chin up so that you'd meet his gaze. “i won't let anythin' happen to you, hm? never. not even in your dreams.”

you only found certainty in his eyes, the kind that made you trust him a hundred percent, even when you knew your fears were irrational.

“...yeah,” you whispered, nodding. “i know, but…”

you could still see the scenes when you closed your eyes, and your fingers were gripping his collar so tightly that the fabric was already stretching.

“c'mere,” he pulled you back to his chest, cradling your head against the crook of his neck.

when you immediately melted, he couldn't help but sigh in relief and contentment.

the guilt was starting to emerge, but he expertly shoved it back. he would apologize in his own way, and that was by comforting you.

“trust me, baby,” caleb's chin rested on top of your head, all while he rubbed lazy circles on your back. “those directors lie all the time. what are the odds all horror films are based on real stories, hm?”

you nuzzled into his neck and blinked softly, thinking about it.

“hm… you're right,” you whispered.

“‘course i am,” he hummed, kissing the top of your head. “and even if they were true, the protagonists didn't have a boyfriend like me.”

you managed a soft chuckle, looking up at him.

“you're so dumb… the boyfriends get killed all the time.”

caleb shook his head and pulled you even closer.

“well, that's not happenin' here. i'm not goin' anywhere, baby,” he sighed, nuzzling your head. “you best believe that, yeah? i'll always protect you.”

and when you realized you were already calm and floating inside a warm, safe bubble, you couldn't imagine yourself going back to the uncertainty and the darkness.

you looked up and gently kissed him, wrapping your arms around his neck.

you didn't know you had to endure the horrors of fake blood and unnecessary screaming because of him, and he wouldn't tell you, either.

you'd just stay with the warm, fuzzy feeling of being safe in your boyfriend's embrace.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ rafayel! ꒰੭

oh, he thought it'd be so, so romantic!

the way you'd cling to him, the way you'd look at him as if he were your prince charming…

you didn't notice the way he patted the spot next to him a little too eagerly, or how he muffled a laugh before whispering about how scary he'd heard the movie was.

you weren't so sure about the whole ordeal, but rafayel seemed genuinely excited, and you wanted to spend some time with him, so you ended up sitting next to him.

he patiently waited, enduring the gruesome scenes just to get at least a minute of your clinginess.

horror films weren't exactly his cup of tea, considering there was a lot of screaming and blood, and little time to process the artistry behind the scenography… but oh well, anything to get you close.~

finally, when the screams and the disturbing sequence of scenes became way too overwhelming, you had no choice but to cling to your ecstatic boyfriend.

you trembled in his lap, wrapping your arms and legs around him like your life depended on it.

the movie continued, and he subtly played with your thighs and waist, fondling your skin to his heart's content.

however, you just couldn't take it anymore.

the violence and horror were too much for you, and you turned away from the screen sharply.

“raffy… raffy, please turn it off,” you whimpered, hiding your face where rafayel's neck met his shoulder.

he cooed, his slender, pointy finger tilting your chin up so you'd look at him.

“oh, my sweet pearl, getting scared so soon?” he nuzzled your nose, thinking you were just being adorable and clingy.

however, your body was trembling, and you gripped his arms as if you were ready to either fight or flee.

his smile faded little by little.

“i… yes, i— didn't think it'd be that scary,” he quickly added, immediately grabbing the remote and turning the tv off. “it's off, my darling. look at me…”

his heart broke the moment you met his gaze, looking genuinely terrified and eager to just bolt and hide somewhere safe, where your brain wouldn't have to witness such scenes.

idiot, idiot, he was the biggest idiot on planet earth, and he deserved to perish in the most agonizing way… or so he thought.

“i— i don't understand how people can imagine such gruesome stories,” he shook his head, as if watching this movie hadn't been his idea to begin with. “they should be ashamed of themselves, ashamed! look at what they did to you, oh…”

he pulled you closer, effectively hiding your face against his chest, and now that you weren't paying attention, he looked up at the sky and begged for forgiveness under his breath.

after some seconds, he cupped your cheeks tenderly, his pretty eyes sad and guilty.

“my pearl, we'll never watch something like that ever again, i swear,” he pressed his nose against yours. “never, ever again…”

you leaned against his touch, but no matter how hard you tried, the haunting music kept echoing inside your mind.

you clung to him even more, seeking his warmth and comforting touch.

it was exactly what he wanted, only he didn't expect to feel so guilty about it.

“cutie, i— i hope you can forgive me,” he whispered. “i should've never tried to taint your pretty mind with those horrifying things. i don't know what i was thinking.”

“tried?” you echoed.

rafayel's breath hitched.

“…so you planned this?” you looked up at him, your eyebrows knitting together in a way that made his heart clench. “you're so mean.”

“no, no… no, my pearl, i mean, yes! i did, but i never, ever wanted to see you so distressed,” he nuzzled your head, closing his eyes to avoid seeing the accusation in yours.

you sighed heavily, but you didn't pull away; you wanted his comfort, even if he was the reason you needed it in the first place.

“you dragged me into this unnecessary mess, so now you have to take care of it,” you whispered, poking his closed eyelid firmly enough to make him jump.

“ah! i— i shall! i will fill your mind with the prettiest of memories until you forget that awful excuse of a movie!” he pulled back and lifted you up in his arms. “anything you ask of me, i promise i'll do. you deserve a lifetime's worth of apologies, and then some, my pearl.”

as he held you, he finally looked like a real prince charming, even if he knew you'd make him bend, kneel, and probably even crawl just to reset your mind.

he'd have to paint over the black and crimson memories with pretty, soft colors until his conscience felt clean again.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ sylus! ꒰੭

it was a stupid idea.

sylus didn't need to scare you to have you close; he could just pull you into his lap without question, sparing the extra, unnecessary steps.

however, he wouldn't deny that the idea was cute, and since the twins wouldn't stop insisting, he decided to give it a try.

you eagerly sat next to him, munching on some snacks as he browsed through the different streaming platforms and the movies they had to offer.

after some minutes, he chose the one with the highest rating, even when you quietly tugged at his sleeve with your clean hand.

“uh, sy? i heard that one is… very scary,” you whispered, not quite refusing to watch it, but not showing much excitement either.

“well, sweetheart,” he turned to you, his crimson eyes betraying nothing. “given its rating, it better be.”

you swallowed thickly and nodded, looking back at the screen.

the beginning was awful.

the eerie piano notes, the playful nursery song, the horrific trail of blood…

you shifted, your hands freezing on the snack bowl.

sylus didn't even flinch when the screaming started, whereas you were gripping the cushions beneath you.

then, a loud, creepy jumpscare made you jolt, sending snacks flying everywhere.

instead of returning to your seat, you climbed on top of sylus, your limbs wrapped around his strong figure.

he let out a soft, amused sigh, but he naturally pulled you against his chest to keep you safe, absentmindedly caressing your scalp as if he were petting a kitten.

weren't you the cutest little thing?

not even twenty minutes in, and you were already avoiding the screen.

the screams turned gut-wrenching, and you tensed up like never before, clenching your jaw and digging your fingertips into his forearm.

when a weak, terrified whimper escaped your lips, sylus immediately grabbed the remote and paused the movie, remaining quiet just to hear and feel you better.

your rapid heartbeat, your breathing, the way you shifted the more you shivered…

it was almost as if your body interpreted the movie as a real-life threat, with real-life consequences and the instinctive rush of adrenaline.

this wasn't a cute reaction; you were petrified.

“sweetheart,” he called out, his voice soft so as not to startle you further. “it's over.”

you looked up carefully, glancing at the paused movie before meeting his gaze.

“but… we haven't—”

“it's over,” he repeated, his warm palm finding your cheek to caress it with his thumb. “you don't have to see any more of it.”

you sighed out of sheer relief, nuzzling his neck.

“thank you, sy… i didn't really like where things were going,” you softly said, your voice muffled against his warm skin.

he was a brute.

he felt genuinely awful, seeing you so shaken up over something he could've avoided from the very beginning.

“you're far too precious for a movie like that,” he whispered, kissing the shell of your ear, and then the soft curve of your jawline. “i should've known.”

you clung to him, and then focused on the scattered snacks and the mess you'd made after your big scare.

“sorry,” you mumbled, ready to pull away from him and start cleaning. “i didn't mean to ruin movie night, but i'll make it up to you!”

he didn't let you move a single inch, of course.

the twins could clean up; this had been their idea, after all.

“the only one who should be making amends is me, kitten,” he wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling your chest closer to his. “i never meant to scare you like that.”

you softly smiled.

“you didn't scare me, sylus. the movie did!”

he looked at you, and then kissed the tip of your nose.

“the movie that i intentionally chose, mind you,” he whispered. “just to have you close, as if i couldn't just ask for it.”

your eyes softened in realization, and you cupped his warm cheeks.

“so... the big, bad sylus had to put on a scary movie just to keep me close?” you gasped dramatically. “that archaic idea didn't come out of your amazing brain, right?”

he sighed, his face full of tenderness and immediate regret.

“what do you think, sweetie?”

you giggled and hugged him tighter.

the fact that he went along with what the twins had to say spoke volumes.

he really wanted to have you close, huh?

“well… since 'your' plan backfired, and i'm probably going to have awful dreams tonight, how will you make it up to me, hmmm?”

“oh? that's simple,” he hummed. “i'll do anything you ask of me, kitten. consider me your slave.”

ah, straight to the point.

like he said, it was simple; the best way to get what he wanted, like he always did.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ valko! ꒰੭

a scary movie, his big arms offering comfort, you gratefully kissing him… great success!

he had it all under control. all he needed to do was act natural, though it was difficult when you looked so innocently eager to spend time with him.

“hey! what are we watching tonight, valkie?” you put your head on his shoulder.

his heart thumped quite hard, but he smoothly slid his arm around your shoulders, keeping his cool.

“hm? nothing special… just this new movie. they say it's scary as hell; traumatizes people and all.”

your smile faded faintly.

“oh… fun,” you looked up at him, now feeling a bit unsure.

he noticed your reaction, and his smile faltered.

but no, no.

the plan was amazing.

he had to keep going.

“hey, it'll be fine! you have me to protect you, bunny,” he kissed your temple, pulling you closer to his side. “besides, people love to exaggerate all the time! it can't be that bad.”

you shifted slightly, still a bit cautious.

however, how could you not trust his big, dumb smile?

he eventually put on the movie, glancing at you from the corner of his golden eyes from time to time.

you were a bit fidgety, but whenever he gently nudged your shoulder, you smiled at him to hide your nerves.

things had been going well so far…

until the scary part actually started, and you clung to his arm.

valko tilted his head slightly, noticing your wide eyes and bitten lip.

okay… you would be all over him in no time, and he'd protect you, just as he expected!

unfortunately for him, though, the minutes went by, and you only dug your nails further into his skin.

your heartbeat was fast, and your breathing was ragged; he could feel it. before he could even pause to ask if you were okay, you screamed and crawled into his lap with urgency, your grip tight and unforgiving.

“no!” you shrieked in terror, and valko immediately looked for the remote, his movements clumsy as he tried to turn the tv off.

“no, no, sorry! i'm sorry, bunny—” he quickly said, one hand caressing your back while the other finally pressed the red button after multiple failed attempts.

when the living room was finally quiet, except for your ragged breathing, he took a deep, shaky breath.

“hey, hey, pretty bunny,” he gently tilted your head toward his, meeting your wide eyes and trembling lips. “no, it's— it's okay, honeybee.”

you buried your face against his chest, and your hands clenched his shirt until your knuckles turned white.

valko felt awful and so, so guilty.

this wasn't what he had intended at all.

he just wanted you to cling to him, not to actually be traumatized.

when he looked back at your trembling frame, his heart melted and shattered into a million tiny pieces.

“i'm so, so sorry,” he mumbled, his warm fingers caressing your skin in a frantic attempt to comfort you.

his eyes looked impossibly sad, almost to the point of turning watery.

“valkie…” you whispered, meeting his worried gaze.

he quickly perked up, his hands now holding your waist to keep you steady.

“yes? yes? tell me, please— what do you need, hm?” he was so concerned that he didn't notice when his ears emerged, pressed flat against his head.

you quietly reached out to touch them, sniffling a little bit, but already feeling distracted.

valko leaned into your touch, closing his eyes and letting out a soft sigh of relief, although the guilt was still there, pretty much eating him alive.

“can we, like… never watch horror movies again?” you asked, scratching behind his ears.

he nodded far too quickly, letting you know he agreed a hundred percent.

“never. never again, bunny,” he promised. “i don't know what the hell i was thinking, but i swear it won't happen again.”

satisfied with the answer, you nuzzled his chest, taking deep breaths to regulate yourself.

after some minutes, he gently tapped the tip of his nose against your head to get your attention.

“are you still scared, bunny?” he asked, his voice still hesitant.

you shook your head and hugged him back.

“a little… but i feel safe with you.”

valko practically melted right there.

“good… i'll always keep you safe. always,” he nuzzled his face into your neck, breathing in your calming scent.

to think that he could've breached that trust with a single, stupid plan made his heart clench painfully.

but he had a better one now; one he knew wouldn't fail, since he wouldn't be the one in control.

he'd just hold you, kiss you all night long if necessary, and let you seek comfort however you pleased, because it was his duty to fix his… great failure.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ xavier! ꒰੭

he didn't understand why someone would purposely scare their partner just to become their hero.

they said it felt amazing, but xavier could name a thousand other ways to be romantic without traumatizing your beloved or subjecting them to a bad time.

however, the stars apparently aligned that day, and movie night became the perfect opportunity to test that theory.

he initially thought of watching a romance movie, but most of them looked boring, and you'd already watched the others.

action movies were also a good choice, but after minutes of trying to decide, xavi ended up pressing the ‘random movie' option.

…it wasn't technically his choice, but he didn't offer to change it either once you both found out it was a scary one.

he didn't think much about the plot or the scenes, because he soon noticed you were scooting closer to him.

and closer.

and closer…

your arm coiled around his, your face was partially hidden against his arm, and then, you intertwined your fingers with his so tightly, he thought you might yank them away.

he looked down at you and pulled you to his side, his lips finding your forehead.

“hm?”

“oh! sorry… it's just a bit scary,” you whispered, slightly embarrassed now that he had noticed your state.

xavier remained quiet, but something about the way you sought comfort in him made his chest feel warm and extremely protective.

so it was true, then?

it really felt like this?

perhaps it wasn't so bad after all.

but then, just when the guilt was starting to dissipate, the screen turned black, and then this horrific face appeared, followed by a screech that made you scream.

you jumped on top of your boyfriend's lap, breathing heavily and wrapping both your legs and arms around him like a koala.

xavier's eyes went wide, his heart racing when your soft body pressed against him.

he wasn't a fool; given your reaction, he could tell you were absolutely horrified, and while it hadn't been his fault, he did feel guilty for enjoying it.

“starlight—”

“xavier!” you whimpered, cutting him off. you looked back at the tv, only to tremble even more.

“my star,” he whispered, his voice a bit raspy and low, but firm enough to get your attention. “look at me, forget the screen.”

you hesitated, but when you met those pretty eyes, your expression shifted from scared to utterly vulnerable.

you sniffled and buried your face in his neck, trying to hide your cries.

yet xavier could hear them, and they broke his heart.

he turned the tv off, causing the living room to become completely dark. however, he didn't let you look up; he just kept you in place, his large hand cradling your head so that you would melt into the warm cocoon he was providing.

how could he possibly have enjoyed this, even if the satisfaction had lasted less than two minutes?

he was so disappointed in himself, but, at the same time, he was determined to actually protect you this time, out of the willingness of his heart and not the dumb necessity of confirming a theory.

before you knew it, xavier was carrying you to the bedroom, his chin resting over your head. the bed was always a safe space, and being under the covers would bring you some peace.

he gently placed you on the mattress, and his strong body lay right behind you, spooning you until your cries turned into soft, shaky sighs.

“so warm,” you whispered, shifting even closer.

he kissed the back of your head and caressed your belly, taking the time to think of a proper apology.

“i should've changed it sooner,” he quietly said, his voice muffled. “i like having you close, but not like that.”

“like what?” you closed your eyes, caressing his hand with slow circles. “shivering and crying?”

xavier hummed in response.

you smiled faintly, dabbing your eyes with one closed fist.

“well… but you made me feel safe, xavi.”

“yes, but for the wrong reasons. i don't want that to happen again, my star,” he tightened his grip around your waist. “i'm sorry.”

you turned around little by little, and when you were finally face to face, you pressed a soft kiss to his nose.

“as long as you hold me lots, i don't mind watching scary movies,” you smiled.

he didn't.

“no,” he shook his head. “i'd rather just ask to hold you. you'd smile then... not cry.”

a soft grin adorned your lips, and you hugged him tight, enjoying his warmth and his truly protective embrace.

those idiots didn't know what they were talking about; xavi now knew being like this was far better than becoming the reason you needed a hero in the first place.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ zayne! ꒰੭

it wasn't his idea, obviously.

why would he ever purposely scare you just to get a little bit of intimacy?

it was unproductive, unnecessary, and cruel.

besides, he thought you were perfectly capable of watching a scary movie without needing to hide, so greyson's words died down as quickly as they came.

…however, once something got stuck in zayne's brain, there was little to nothing that could make him forget it, and the way greyson had insisted on how cute it would be for the icy doctor to turn into this strong, protective savior got engraved deep within his mind.

he thought the opportunity would never come, but when you insisted on watching a movie with him after days of not seeing each other, zayne agreed.

“it's your turn to pick a movie, zaynie!” you chirped, patting his thigh with excitement.

he could've chosen something light.

he could've chosen a documentary.

he could've chosen… anything, really.

yet instead, there he was, picking a horrific and bloody movie you thought he'd never voluntarily choose.

zayne thought nothing would happen.

you'd probably jump from time to time, or maybe even gasp, but he was sure he wouldn't become a guardian angel of sorts, nor would it be necessary for him to step in and save you.

…but he wouldn't deny that it was a very cute scenario to think about.

he tried to focus on the movie, and on how ridiculous it was.

the acting was bad, the blood looked fake, and the places where the killer stabbed wouldn't cause guts to spill all over like they did.

please, who were they trying to scar—

“no!” you suddenly shrieked, moving like a little flash of lightning the moment you clung to zayne and refused to look back at the screen. “make it stop, zayne! stop!”

oh.

his eyes went momentarily wide, his hands hovering in the air since he didn't expect this to happen.

you were shaking like a little chihuahua, and you panted as if you had just run a marathon.

“just make it stop, zayne… please,” you whispered, squeezing your eyes shut as if trying to erase the horrifying images from your head.

he obeyed, naturally, though he was still processing.

you were scared.

the scary movie did what it was meant to do, and you did what greyson told him you'd do.

“my love,” he called out, but his voice came out slightly shaky.

he could feel your frantic heartbeat against his chest, making it seem like he was the one panicking.

words wouldn't work; your mind wouldn't be able to reason when fear and panic took over, but if there was something your mind could recognize as safe, it was his comforting touch.

his hands quietly caressed your back up and down, and he nuzzled the top of your head, leaving soft kisses in their wake.

his own breathing became slower and easier to mimic, inviting you to take deep breaths and let them out slowly.

he never thought this would happen.

or if it miraculously did, he genuinely expected a sweet, silly outcome.

but seeing you in genuine distress made him break like never before.

zayne pulled you closer, as if he could somehow absorb your distress and replace it with his calmness.

it was hard.

sure, he was a doctor; he knew how to calm patients down, but when it came to you, he wanted to become the gentlest man on earth.

“my flower,” he kissed your cheek faintly, allowing you to ground yourself by clutching his shirt. “shh, i am here. i am here.”

you rested your soft cheek against his chest, staring at the wall with a blank expression.

“...that was awful,” you whispered.

“it was utterly grotesque,” he conceded, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “and i do owe you an apology. it was a careless decision on my part.”

and now that he looked into your pretty eyes, he couldn't believe he had almost let his mild curiosity override his care for you.

he felt like a monster, one who wanted to spoil you for the rest of the night.

“would you like me to carry you to bed, love? perhaps i could read something to you?” he offered, his thumb caressing your cheekbone.

you just nodded, wanting anything but to continue watching that horrific thing on tv.

zayne's expression softened finally, though the guilt was still there like a heavy weight on his shoulders.

you were just so precious.

and he'd never let you watch a horror movie again, nor would he try to watch one with you.

he would love to protect you and hold you, but during real emergencies, that was.

your precious heart didn't deserve the strain; just happy things and his unwavering, stubborn… and sometimes dangerously curious love.~

sylus always made sure to plan the best dates. they were always fun, thrilling, and memorable.

but, from time to time, he wanted to simply enjoy your presence with some soft music, good food, and a cozy ambiance.

when he picked you up and took you to his place, you noticed right away just how much effort he had poured into making his dining room feel and look romantic.

the food smelled amazing, and he looked at you as if you were the most beautiful being on earth.

however, after a while, he stood up and walked to the kitchen before turning to face you.

“would you like some wine, sweetie?”

you looked up, a bit startled.

okay, so… a romantic dinner, lit candles…

drinking wine was the best choice. otherwise, what else were you supposed to drink?

water, juice?

no way.

“uh, yeah! sure,” you smiled, resting your chin in the palm of your hands, elbows on the table.

“red or white?”

you blinked.

wasn't all wine red?

“i… i think red would be great, yes,” you nodded softly.

sylus' eyes softened as he met your perplexed gaze. he could see the gears turning in your head, but he didn't comment on it.

a few moments later, he peeked around the kitchen doorframe.

“cabernet sauvignon, or pinot noir, kitten?”

you stared at him.

"...who?”

“the wine, sweetie,” sylus' lips curled up immediately, and he crossed his arms over his chest, gesturing toward the kitchen. “though if dry wine isn't your thing, i have something sweeter.”

dry wine.

...wasn't all wine wet?

you leaned back in your chair, biting your lip as if you were carefully weighing the options.

“no, no, yeah... totally. something sweet sounds better,” you whispered, now feeling inadequate. you shifted slightly, looking down at the delicious but untouched food.

he had to know.

you had never drunk wine around him, and you could tell he had already caught on to your confusion.

at least this wasn't happening at a high-end restaurant in front of other people and a waiter.

finally, after what felt like forever, sylus came back with two glasses; one for you, and one for him.

you thanked him, relaxing just a tiny bit as you thought you'd start eating and finally let it go.

however, when he started swirling his glass like you'd seen him do before, you just had to do it too.

you tried your best not to be clumsy and spill it everywhere.

when he smelled it, you smelled it too.

when he took a sip, you took a sip as well.

you swallowed the liquid, trying your best to look elegant, but an involuntary frown gave you away.

it was sweet… but it also had an acidity to it that reminded you what wine essentially was.

fermented grapes crushed by feet, or at least traditionally.

…yum.

sylus didn't miss it, naturally.

he never missed anything when it came to you.

he set his glass down and walked up to you, his hand slipping over yours, gently guiding your fingers from the bowl to the thin, delicate crystal stem.

“here, kitten. if you hold the bowl, the heat from your hand will change the temperature of the wine,” he softly said, his fingers brushing against your warm skin.

you bit your lower lip, meeting his gaze from beneath your lashes.

“i didn't know that,” you whispered.

he didn't tell you he already knew that.

he would never call you out like that.

“that's okay, darling. you didn't have to know,” he sighed tenderly, his smile carrying both amusement and that insane amount of adoration reserved just for you. “and you don't have to keep drinking it. you'll give yourself a headache before we even get to dessert.”

“but… this is a romantic date, sy,” you objected weakly, your eyebrows knitting together. “wine is like, the epitome of romance.”

“hm, is that so?” he arched an eyebrow.

“well, yeah… according to the movies.”

sylus couldn't help but chuckle, his fingers traveling to your cheek to softly squeeze it.

“in that case, the lit candles and the jazz music are far more… appealing, don't you think?”

you looked around briefly.

it did feel romantic, even before the wine.

“yeah. i guess so,” you offered a soft smile, watching as he stood up.

he took your hands and guided you to your feet as well, so that he could wrap an arm around your waist.

“watching you drink something you don't quite enjoy is the last thing i'd like to do,” he brushed a strand of hair away from your face. “and i know there are other wines you'd probably enjoy, but i didn't bring you here to test them.”

you smiled faintly, your arms wrapping around his neck.

“yes, but… i'd like to learn. it's something you enjoy, and i would love to sound as sophisticated and snobby as you do one day.”

he tilted his head and smirked.

“snobby?” he echoed slowly, almost as if tasting your playful choice of words.

“refined,” you quickly corrected, grinning sheepishly. “...with a tiiiiny bit of snobbery.”

he kissed your forehead and then squished your cheeks again.

“i'll teach you, kitten. if that is what you want, then i'll make sure to be the best teacher,” he mumbled against your skin. “now, let's get you something you actually enjoy before our food gets cold. a cocktail, perhaps? or some homemade lemonade?”

you smiled brightly at the different options; options you actually knew and had tasted before.

instead of answering, you guided him to the kitchen to explore all the kinds of beverages he had in store.

sure, the wine was romantic, passionate, the expected thing to drink.

but with sylus, you didn't have to do what was expected; you only had to do… whatever it was you wanted to.

and today, you wanted to enjoy this cute date night with your boyfriend, and, for the love of god, never be asked to choose between a cabernet sauvignon and a pinot noir ever again.

you were subtle with it; eating smaller portions, saying you already had some snacks outside, promising you'd eat later…

the first two times weren't concerning.

the third and fourth raised suspicion.

the fifth?

caleb knew something was wrong.

he focused on the amount of spoonfuls you had, on how many times you chewed, on every single grain of rice and noodle you brought to your lips, and they weren't enough.

they simply weren't enough for a mature adult to have enough energy, let alone to nourish their body and brain.

and caleb would do anything to keep you from hurting yourself, even if that meant overstepping boundaries and making you hate him for it.

as long as he kept you safe, he didn't care.

so, eventually, he started placing snack plates next to you as you worked.

he made you try the food as he cooked, making sure you had several spoonfuls.

he sat right in front of you and watched you intently as you ate, with an almost gentle smile on his face and his eyes crinkling as he asked if it was good.

to further calm himself down and give himself some peace of mind, he hand-fed you from time to time, because that way, he could make sure you were eating.

you didn't have time to react before he was offering an apple slice or gently pushing a tangerine segment past your lips.

you wanted to refuse, but how could you when you literally had no escape route?

you even began questioning why he insisted on feeding you so much, wholeheartedly believing he was trying to make you gain weight for some reason.

but his answers were always caring and honest, not once related to your appearance in any way.

“you are gettin' dizzy more often, angel. you need nutrients,” or “i like it when you ask for seconds 'cause it means you liked my food.”

you didn't know he already knew about your situation, and that his worry was growing deeper and deeper, to the point where he grew desperate to save you from your own mind.

“here you go, baby,” he placed a plate full of warm food in front of you, making you hesitate almost immediately.

you knew you had to take at least six spoonfuls for his shoulders to relax and his hands to stop clutching his fork.

but despite not feeling full, you gently pushed the plate aside and patted your belly.

“it was delicious, leb, thanks…”

silence.

caleb looked down at the almost untouched food, and then up at you.

“you're done, angel?” he simply asked, his voice steady enough not to reveal his inner worry.

“mhm, it's just a lot of food…”

he nodded, took a bite of his food, then stood up.

you followed him until he crouched beside you, pulling the plate closer.

“that's okay,” he whispered, and then his eyes met yours. “you don't have to finish it, but…”

he used the knife to push some veggies onto the spoon before bringing it to your lips.

“i'd like you to have a few more bites, hm?” he tilted his head, his lips curling up in that smile that made your breath hitch.

“but caleb,” you whispered, staring at the spoon. the food looked delicious indeed, but the numbers invaded your brain.

weight, calories, pounds…

you couldn't.

“for me, yeah? just one,” he tilted the spoon ever so slightly, his tone tender.

hopeful.

desperate.

it took you a few seconds, but you finally leaned forward to accept it.

the relief was almost unbearable. his body relaxed, and he let out a breathless chuckle, his lips finding your arm to kiss your soft, warm skin.

“there we go, baby,” he whispered shakily. “thank you…”

it was almost as if you had done him a favor by simply eating.

when he offered a second spoonful, you didn't question it. you didn't remind him that he said you'd only eat one more.

the third came, then the fourth, then the fifth, and the food was halfway gone.

that's when you quietly pushed the plate away again, meeting his gaze.

he took a napkin and dabbed at your lips before putting the spoon down and standing up a few seconds later.

“that's it. no more,” he promised, his warm hand cupping your cheek. “just a few bites, see? you did so good for me.”

your body was already thanking you; replacing the hollow ache with something warm, something nourishing caleb had prepared just for you.

you leaned against his touch and sighed, unable to contain your quiet laughter.

“you fed me like i was going to disappear or something,” you jokingly whispered, making caleb flinch slightly.

his jaw tensed, his muscles coiled.

disappear.

he guided you to your feet, his arms immediately wrapping around your waist with desperate strength.

“don't… don't say that,” he pressed his forehead against yours. “don't suggest that, angel. that's not happenin'.”

“caleb—”

“you can't disappear, yeah?” his voice cracked despite the smile he tried to keep on his face. “that's... that's why i take care of you.”

his arms tightened around your waist for only a second before relaxing again, as if he was afraid of holding you too tightly.

“you've been gettin' dizzy.” he swallowed loudly. “you've been so tired lately. you barely smile after meals anymore, and i know you love my cookin'.”

you stayed quiet, because you'd heard all of this before.

his worries, his fears.

however, he then continued.

“i know somethin' is hurtin' you,” he nuzzled your nose. “i'm not stupid, angel.”

you closed your eyes.

so he knew.

“leb, i'm sorry… i didn't mean to worry you, but it's just—” you took a deep, shaky breath, your voice coming out softer and weaker than you anticipated. “i just want to look better, that's all. for me, for you...”

he pulled back to look at you, almost frozen in place.

but you were always breathtaking.

no matter how, when, or where, you looked amazing in his eyes. every change, every fluctuation, every difference was worthy of praise.

but caleb knew not to mention your appearance, because you'd find a way to say you could look better; that being skinnier was your goal, and that you wouldn't feel complete until that day.

a day he knew would never come, because you'd find something else to focus on and try to change, punishing yourself if you couldn't do it.

“i don't care,” he finally mumbled, his voice lower than before. “i don't care, baby. you've been neglecting yourself, and—”

“caleb, you can't say you don't care…” you interjected, the insecurities taking over your mind.

you were tired of the same “you're perfect” speech you'd heard in movies, books, and the media.

“physical attraction is very important, and—” you couldn't continue, as he interrupted you the same way.

“i don't care about that,” he stated, both hands flying up to cup your cheeks. “wanna know what i care about?”

his breath mingled with yours, his eyes so intense they no longer resembled a warm sunset, but rather a dark, stormy night.

“i care about your hands not shakin' anymore. i care about you not gettin' dizzy as soon as you stand up,” he closed his eyes before stepping away from you, his arms falling to his sides. “i care about your heart gettin' enough energy to keep fuckin' beatin'...”

you stood there, your skin immediately missing his warmth.

his words pierced through you.

“do you wanna know what goes through my head every time you sway on your feet or tremble?” he didn't look up. he just couldn't meet your gaze.

the silence stretched until his lips parted again.

“that one day, i'm gonna be too late...”

late.

late for him to help you, or perhaps too late to save you.

your hands were shaky, but not from hunger or a lack of energy; it was from sheer fear and heartbreak.

something as “silly” as just wanting to eat less was caleb's worst nightmare happening right in front of his eyes, and you didn't even notice.

you looked down at your feet, the tears falling one after another onto the polished floor.

“i'm sorry…” you whimpered, your voice as quiet as a whisper. “i'm so sorry, lebbie. i didn't think—”

caleb was in front of you before you could finish the sentence.

he pulled you against his chest without another word, wrapping both arms around you until there wasn't a single inch of space left between you.

right there, with your cheek pressed against his firm body, you could hear his fast, unsteady heartbeat.

“i'm not mad,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “no, angel, i'm not mad at you. i'm scared.”

he buried his face in your hair, breathing you in just to make sure you were still there.

“i've been scared every single day,” he tilted your chin up to wipe away your tears as carefully as he could. “but you… you don't have to say sorry to me, baby.”

you tilted your head slightly, sniffling.

“if there's someone you have to be kinder to, someone who needs an apology… that's you.”

you closed your eyes when his lips found your forehead, and you held his wrists in place, not letting his warmth leave your wet cheeks.

“it's… it's so hard,” you admitted, followed by a broken sob. “it's so hard, caleb, because i don't like what i see, and i don't think i'll ever… fully like myself.”

“i know, i know…” he said desperately, pulling you closer so that he could kiss your head, your forehead, your temple. “i know, angel. it is hard. and i know you've been tryin'...”

you desperately looked up, lips parting.

“you've been tryin', and i'm proud of you, baby… but you can't just wake up one day and suddenly love everythin' about yourself. i know it doesn't work like that.”

he gently took one of your hands and caressed your knuckles with his thumb.

“so… until then, let me help you, yeah?” he lowered himself to look at you, his eyes brighter, clearer.

“let me love you enough for the two of us, and then some. let me take care of you, let me remind you that you do deserve to nourish your body, your soul… please,” he brushed his lips against your cheek, making you shudder. “please, angel. until you slowly become kinder and more forgivin' with yourself, let me help you.”

you shakily breathed in and out, letting his words plant themselves inside your mind.

after what felt like an eternity, you nodded.

you wouldn't just start loving yourself after this, you certainly wouldn't start eating without a care in the world, nor would the doubts vanish from your brain as if they hadn't even existed.

but you wanted to try, and you wanted your heart to keep beating, because you knew if it stopped… caleb would stop with it.

you wouldn't let that happen.

as he sighed in relief and carried you in his arms as if you were something precious, you understood how much he needed you to give him a chance to save you.

and you knew he would succeed right on time, as he always did.~

“so… what do we do with that thing?” rafayel asked, hidden behind a column as he stared at the beast from afar.

valko narrowed his eyes slightly.

his instincts were sharp, but his sense of duty and royalty were stronger.

“we take care of it,” he whispered. “like we were asked to do.”

both men stared at the creature with unease, unsure of how to proceed.

it all started when you asked the two guys you trusted the most to take care of your beloved best friend, since you had to leave for two days.

your best friend was… well, your cat.

rafayel would rather swallow two liters of paint, but valko was surprisingly eager, promising to do his best.

when they both got inside your home, rafayel was already cautious, looking around in case the furry beast attacked.

valko, though, was curious, sniffing the air and wagging his tail.

if the cat was your best friend, it could become his best friend too!

they found the pretty baby fast asleep on the couch, and, without thinking much, valko approached and knelt before it, gently poking its tiny head.

rafayel retreated just in time as the cat woke up, startled, immediately hissing at the stranger and swatting at him.

valko whimpered in pain when the claws hit his nose.

he fell back, eyes wide, ears flattening.

the cat ran away, and rafayel shook his head in terror.

“why would you do that?! don't you know they're vicious creatures?” he helped the giant man up, already regretting being here.

“i… well, damn,” valko grunted, touching the bloody tip of his nose with shaky fingers. “how are we supposed to take care of that… little rascal now?”

rafayel took a deep breath and sat down heavily, rubbing his temples.

“just… put food in its bowl, water, clean the litter box,” he listed, nose scrunching in disgust.

“litter box?” valko tilted his head. “can't we just take it outside and let it… do its thing?”

rafayel looked up, blinking softly.

not only was valko too trusting.

he was also dumb.

“oh gods,” rafayel whispered, covering his face in sheer distress. “if the cat doesn't kill me, i think you will.”

both men remained quiet, defeated.

until you sent a message asking how things were going.

rafayel was ready to exaggerate and describe how your cat almost murdered valko out of sheer spite.

valko, however, said things were going oh so smoothly.

“your cat is an angel, bunny,” valko typed. “we good.”

“we can't just lie!” rafayel read the screen and stood up, shaking his head. “what if that thing kills us?”

valko scratched the back of his neck before looking down at the screen.

no.

you mustn't worry.

“that's not happening, yeah? you're overreacting…” he sighed. “we'll just lock ourselves somewhere, let it wander around, and survive! no biggie.”

rafayel stared at him.

yup.

he'd die today, and not in your arms, as he wished.

he'd die next to a dumb dog and a ferocious cat.

thankfully, your cat wasn't fond of the two strange men, so it hid most of the time.

when it came out to eat, though, rafayel froze and slapped valko's head, who was half asleep on the couch.

“shh! there it is!” rafayel urged, making valko jump.

they both watched as the cat walked over to its bowl and pawed at it.

then, your cat mewled expectantly.

“...what does it want? the food is literally right there,” rafayel whispered.

“perhaps it wants more?”

the cat kept mewling, staring directly at the men.

rafayel quickly went through your texts and instructions again, in case he had missed something.

“feed twice a day, keep the water bowl clean. and do not fall for those eyes! my baby can't eat more than necessary…?” he whispered. “okay, so then what— valko, no!”

said man was approaching, already pouring more kibble and opening a can of wet cat food.

“we must take the diplomatic route, raf,” valko said with an easy grin, which only froze when your cat rubbed against his legs, purring loudly.

“no way,” rafayel breathed out. “what— what does that mean?”

valko looked at the cat and then at the food.

“i think…” valko whispered, staying still. “i've been accepted.”

the cat let out another pleased purr before dramatically flopping onto one side.

“this is exactly what the text told us not to do. we can't fall for this trickery just so it gets more food.”

valko, however, was already crouching down, his hand reaching out to touch the baby's soft belly.

“it wants belly rubs…” valko whispered.

“no!” rafayel hissed, smacking his arm away. “bad dog, bad! it's a trap! i've seen it before!”

valko looked between rafayel and the cat, clearly conflicted.

the cat blinked once, then twice…

and finally reached out with one small paw, patting valko's hand.

it purred loudly.

“raf—”

“no.”

“but it didn't try to—”

“don't.”

“i think the food helped as a peace offering—”

“it is manipulating you. trust me, i should know,” rafayel mumbled, narrowing his eyes.

valko grunted and placed the food on the floor before sitting down beside it.

his tail softly thumped against the floor.

the cat reached for the bowl of food first, happily eating as if it knew it was forbidden but had gotten away with it anyway.

when the furry baby finished, it stretched and approached valko's lap, sniffing softly before settling down.

valko grinned, canines showing.

“can't bite the hand that feeds you, huh?” he mumbled, clumsily patting the cat's head as if it were a puppy.

rafayel sat down on a stool, legs folded beneath him as a security measure.

he couldn't trust that vicious cat.

“you should come, raf. i think this baby got scared because it doesn't know us… but things are fine now.”

“hard pass,” rafayel shook his head. “if we base this solely on instincts, you are safe. wolves are above cats in the food chain. fish, however…”

valko thought about it for a minute, and in that time, the cat suddenly turned its attention to raffy.

it sniffed the air, then approached.

rafayel froze, then perched on the stool, ready to bolt.

“what— what is it doing?” he whispered.

“perhaps it wants to be your friend too?”

“or perhaps it wants sushi,” raffy mumbled, growing desperate when the cat stood on its hind legs and stretched against the stool. “your tuna is over there, buddy!”

the cat suddenly leaped, and rafayel's screech could be heard all over the building.

valko couldn't even react, since he was too busy taking pictures so he could send them to you.

things were going absolutely fine in his eyes!

and if you found a body in your apartment, well… that's just how nature worked!

it'd be the two longest days of their lives, for sure, but they'd do anything for you.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ caleb! ꒰੭

caleb had surrendered long ago.

in fact, he surrendered the moment she was born.

he adored her; he'd move any and every mountain for her, he'd rather jump out of his aircraft with no parachute before saying something that could make her cry.

so, if his princess wanted to paint his nails, how on earth could he say no to her?

he sat down on the floor, legs crossed underneath him, hands outstretched as his little girl focused on painting each of his nails.

sunset orange, crimson apple, sky-blue nail polish… and glitter.

lots of glitter.

naturally, his three-year-old had the hands of a shaky old lady, painting his skin, cuticles, and even his knuckles whenever she got distracted.

but it didn't matter, really.

her brows were furrowed, her nose scrunched up, and she squealed in sheer delight every time she finished painting one nail.

“another!” she clapped her little hands, moving from side to side to fetch a different color, repeating the process ten times.

caleb stared down at his long fingers, his manly, calloused fingertips and… his now shiny, colorful fingernails with a fond smile.

they were a mess.

but they were his daughter's mess, which automatically made them beautiful.

“great job, pumpkin,” he kissed her cheek repeatedly, making her giggle and squeak like a little mouse. “now dada is beautiful, just like you.”

she squirmed and jumped in front of him, pointing at his feet with a wide smile.

“toesies!” she exclaimed, grabbing her little bottles of nail polish, ready to keep going until her little heart was completely happy.

caleb parted his lips to protest, but he soon closed them.

instead, he stretched out his legs, his fingers hooking under the elastic of his socks.

of course.

he totally forgot he had unconsciously signed up for a mani-pedi… and anything else his daughter wanted to do.

but since something as simple as painting his nails made his baby apple the happiest, giggliest bundle of joy, he'd grow twenty more fingers just to put a smile on her tiny face.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ rafayel! ꒰੭

rafayel absolutely loved his little pebble's games, especially those that required him to relax and stay still.

he lay down on the couch, closing his eyes as his pretty girl ran from side to side, carrying lotions, creams, and cucumber slices.

she wanted to give her papa a spa day, and that meant rafayel would be pampered while getting some quality time with his princess.

how could he resist?

at first, he enjoyed the feeling of the soft, fragrant creams being massaged into his cheeks…

but he seemed to forget something little kids love doing.

potions.

a mix of creams, water, shampoo, liquid soap, and, uh, some expired liquid they found somewhere.

his little pebble was an expert in that field, with lots of pretty bottles filled with colorful concoctions whose ingredients she couldn't remember.

when she placed cucumber slices over his eyelids and then poured something a bit slimy and pungent over his face, he tensed up.

“pebble? what… uh, what is that, hm?” he tried to smile, convincing himself this was still a good idea.

“facial cream!” she shrugged, even though he couldn't see her, peeking inside the bottle with delight.

that tone was far too excited for his liking.

something was fishy.

rafayel took the slices off and blinked, his eyes immediately spotting her sticky, gross fingers.

“is… is that mud?” he whispered, almost breathlessly.

“yeah! and sparkles! and my strawberry shampoo, and papa's paint!”

paint…?

“oh, princess, paint isn't supposed to—!”

he tried to move, but she quickly pushed him back, telling him that he needed to stay very still for the facial.

his heart melted a little, but his skin started to burn.

he felt like a fish being marinated.

however, he sighed in theatrical defeat, letting her continue anyway with his eyes closed.

this was good for her creative development, he thought.

the slimy mix wasn't disgusting, he thought.

his baby was happy, he thought.

if he was destined to have a reddened, irritated, sparkly face, courtesy of his precious little pebble, then he'd give in.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ sylus! ꒰੭

there was no such thing as an unnecessary gift in sylus' eyes.

his twin girls deserved the world, and if they asked for drones, robots, dolls, or make-up, he'd get them for them in the blink of an eye.

today, though, sylus questioned his choices as one of the twins almost poked his eye out with a mascara wand, and the other pulled his hair while trying to give him ponytails.

luke and kieran didn't dare laugh, because they knew they'd be next.

sylus' lips were glossy, his eyelids were black and shimmering, and his eyelashes were long and luscious.

his hair, on the other hand, was a mix of small braids, tiny ponytails, and hair clips.

“no! use red!” one of the twins said, pointing at her sister.

“nuh-uh! dada looks best in black!” the taller one answered, squinting her crimson eyes. “that ponytail is all wobbly!”

“you do it, then!”

ah, his favorite symphony.

his daughters getting along.

“perhaps you could blend both colors, my doves?” he suggested, only to be met by shrieks and harsh disapproval.

they were the experts, not him.

“hush, dada! we know what we're doing!”

he just sighed, and then offered a slow nod.

“of course you do,” he conceded, both hands traveling up to pat their heads with nothing but affection.

they poked, tugged, brushed, and stained.

thankfully, sylus had a great pain tolerance, so it felt as though he was being tickled.

after an hour, or maybe a bit more, the girls stepped back and clapped in delight, admiring their masterpiece.

sylus looked like a neglected barbie doll, yet his princesses were so, so proud of their work.

“papa looks so pretty!” the shorter one said, bouncing up and down.

“so, so pretty! look!”

sylus didn't dare look at himself when they held up a hand mirror.

he just smiled and pulled them close, kissing each of their foreheads.

“gorgeous, my little doves. i've never looked better.”

and when they beamed and hugged each other, being best friends again, he was more sure than ever.

they deserved it all.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ valko! ꒰੭

things were way too quiet in your household, and that was almost always a bad sign.

the girls were either doing something they shouldn't, or they were taking naps during the day, which totally messed up their sleep at night.

however, this time, they were quiet for a very, very wholesome reason.

they were taking care of their papa's ears and tail.~

while the youngest daughter rested in your arms, happily asleep, the two-year-old triplets were brushing valko's tail, and adding cutesy bows to his fluffy ears.

they weren't very gentle, but he didn't mind; a little bit of roughhousing meant bonding time.

“papa, no wag…” one of them said, her big, golden eyes narrowing slightly.

she couldn't brush his tail properly if he kept moving it from side to side.

he nodded solemnly, saluting like an obedient soldier.

“yes, ma'am.”

the other two growled at each other, accidentally tugging on his ears as they fought over bows.

“gimme bwue!”

“no! mine!”

“bwue!”

“no!”

valko stayed still, flinching and closing his eyes whenever their tiny fingers clutched or yanked them too hard.

but when their whines, growls, and screeches made the sleeping baby girl stir in your arms, he straightened up and puffed out his chest.

“okay, cocoa pups, what did we say about sharing?”

the two identical girls jumped, exchanged glances, and then gave their best puppy eyes.

“we shawe, we good pups…” they echoed, lips pouty.

valko's heart tightened.

they had him wrapped around their little fingers.

“mhm, good girls,” he sighed tenderly, caressing behind their fluffy, tiny ears. “you three are very good pups.”

soon enough, the other one finished brushing his tail, showing him how much crimson fur he had shed.

“papa! fwuffy!”

valko gasped dramatically, his eyes wide with feigned horror.

“oh no! papa's getting bald!”

the three girls squealed, and hugged him tight, their little heads nuzzling his cheeks and shoulders.

his ears had colorful —and uncomfortably placed— accessories, and the fur on his tail was matted, but his four cocoa pups were safe and happy.

he couldn't ask for anything else.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ xavier! ꒰੭

xavier usually sat his baby on top of the piano, letting her squeal in joy as he played a song just for her.

but when she turned six, she insisted on learning, and he was more than happy to teach her.

every time he played, she sat on his lap and watched intently, trying to memorize the order of the keys.

although now she felt confident and wanted to give it a try without any help.

“sunshine, are you sure—”

“yeah!” she eagerly nodded, taking a deep breath. the first notes of “twinkle twinkle little star” came out tentatively but accurately.

the more she played, though…

xavier flinched almost imperceptibly.

she stopped abruptly and turned to look at her dada, her lips a bit pouty and her eyebrows furrowed.

“it's okay, my little star,” he assured, pressing his lips to her forehead. “we can try again.”

and she did.

again.

and again…

after multiple failed attempts, she stomped her little foot like an angry bunny, but since her legs were dangling from her father's lap, her heel bumped xavier's leg.

“sunshine,” he breathed out in pain, taking a few seconds to compose himself before pulling her closer.

she shifted and clung to him, hiding her face against his chest.

“i'll never play the piano like you, dada!”

he caressed her soft hair and took a deep breath before starting to play for her.

c, c, g, g, a, a, g…

and then he hit the wrong note, making her jump.

he started over… and made another fatal mistake.

her eyes glimmered with confusion, but then she smiled brightly.

“papa! you got it wrong!” she quickly turned around and guided his hands, and this time, she got the notes right. “see? like that!”

xavier smiled fondly.

she didn't even notice she had memorized the song by “helping” out her dada.

“well done, little star,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head. “see? we play the same way.”

she smiled and automatically beamed, clapping her hands in delight.

she loved being like her dada, and her dada would do anything to see her always smile brighter than the sun itself.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ zayne! ꒰੭

stickers.

they were just stickers.

harmless, unless swallowed, but pretty safe overall.

…until they covered the entirety of zayne's office at the hospital.

what was once considered a professional, minimalistic space was now a sanctuary of pretty stickers.

kittens, spaceships, motivational quotes, even some barcode stickers from god knows where.

his desk, the back of his laptop, the flower pot, his stethoscope…

“little jasmine, this is my office. it is not appropriate to—” but it was useless. his words died down as soon as she looked up at him with those big eyes, her lower lip threatening to quiver.

he was so easy to manipulate.

he just let her sit down and stick whatever she liked wherever she wanted, even if it became a little harsh on the eyes.

however, she started including him more and more, pointing to places she couldn't reach so that her dada could help her.

and he did, every time.

the doors and window frames had no free space left, and when she noticed she had no available canvases for her artistic vision, she started decorating something far more precious.

her dada!

he walked around the hospital halls with stickers on his forehead, his badge, and his lab coat.

hell, if she could, she would've stuck them all over his face!

thankfully, the staff and patients got used to it fairly quickly, without asking many questions.

when she officially ran out of options and still had thousands of stickers left, zayne allowed her toddler to decorate some of the patients' casts, as long as they agreed.

furthermore, he found out the young patients loved having stickers all over their arms and hands, so his little jasmine brought them some joy while they stayed inside the clinical, white rooms.

it was chaotic, anti-hygienic to some extent… but it brought warmth, color, and joy to everyone.

his job was no longer just a place where he had to focus; it was also living proof of how precious innocence was, and of how his baby muffin made his heart feel full, even when she wasn't around.~

there he was, lying on the floor with his eyes closed, and pink, glittery bandages all over his face and fingers.

apparently, he had to give birth to a plush bunny, a teddy bear, and… a penguin, all of which were hidden under his shirt.

yet somehow, his doctor was checking his knees, his eyes, and his mouth.

“you will be a dada soon!” his little girl exclaimed, wearing a cute lab coat, huge glasses that made her eyes look like two big marbles, and a glittery stethoscope.

zayne remained still.

he didn't blink, he didn't talk.

he just let the prestigious four-year-old doctor do a full body scan on him.

she stuck her tongue out, leaning in to tap his knees with a little toy hammer.

“hm… but you are very sick! sick and pregnant!” she announced, crossing her arms with a tiny frown.

ah, what a tragedy.

he looked at her, trying his best not to smile.

“is the prognosis grim, doctor?” he quietly asked.

she tilted her head and turned to you with questioning eyes.

you, watching everything from the couch, gently called out.

“he's asking if he'll be alright, sweetie.”

your little girl quickly nodded and turned to her patient.

“oh! yes! but no jumping on the bed… and take a big nap right now!”

zayne nodded, looking down at his gigantic belly.

“what about the… babies?”

his daughter quickly walked to his side and looked under his shirt, counting the three plushies.

“they are sleeping, shhhh!” she shushed him, straightening up. “dada has to be good, okay? or you will stay here for a million years!”

zayne's eyes met yours across the room.

“listen to the doctor, zaynie,” you only nodded with a serious expression.

so he had no other choice, then.

your daughter crouched next to her dada's head, gently pushing his eyelids closed with her tiny fingers.

“sleep, sleep lots... until the babies come out!”

zayne let out a soft, contented sigh, his eyes closing for real this time.

he was usually so professional, so composed, yet he became a playground for his daughter, no matter how tired he was or how weird her games were.

you watched the scene with a warm smile, standing up from the couch to approach them.

“doctor? you should get ready for bathtime,” you softly announced, caressing the back of her raven hair.

she squealed, took off the glasses, and ran with clumsy little steps to the bathroom.

once alone, you kneeled beside zayne, your hand going to his tummy to caress the bundle of plushies resting underneath his shirt.

“triplets, hm?” you teased. “you have to follow her orders, future dada. you have to deliver… our babies without any issues.”

he blushed faintly, refusing to open his eyes.

“yes. i do. and since i should be asleep, it is not ideal for you to be talking to me,” he mumbled, his voice deep but clearly flustered.

you laughed softly, leaning down to kiss his forehead.

“you're a very brave patient, zayne.”

“for her, i am,” he finally opened one eye, looking up at you with a small, genuine smile.

suddenly, the bathroom door opened and your little one's voice echoed across the hall.

“can i play mermaids in the bathtub?!” she cheerfully asked, bouncing on her toes.

zayne nodded in her direction.

“your turn to play, my love,” he whispered, settling in and getting comfortable for a very well-deserved nap.

“of course it is…” you whispered back, your eyes narrowing playfully. “coming, my princess!”

you stood up and walked to her, ready to be the victim of her strict rules and fantastic imagination.

zayne soon fell into a peaceful sleep, not only because he was a miraculous case of nature and needed to rest, but because he was blessed with a loving family, and the time to make the two loves of his life happy.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ caleb! ꒰੭

hearing your singing voice was already a gift for caleb, but to have you so close; so intimately close, and, on top of that, singing such a sweet song just for him?

it was heaven.

his sunset-like eyes were intently focused on yours, the tips of his ears hot to the touch.

you were straddling his lap, enjoying the low-volume melody coming from your phone.

as you cupped his cheeks, his hands subconsciously held your wrists to keep you there, even when you had no intention of leaning back.

“i could spend my life in this sweet surrender, i could stay lost in this moment forever,” your voice echoed low and sweet, as if it was only his to hear. “every moment spent with you is a moment i treasure.”

there was a faint smile on his lips, one he didn't even realize was there.

when your thumbs brushed the warm tips of his ears, he shuddered, leaning closer to you as if gravity itself was pulling him in.

“don't wanna close my eyes, i don't wanna fall asleep, cause i'd miss you, baby,” you smiled, softly shaking your head. “and i don't wanna miss a thing...”

the note lingered in the small, almost minimal space between your bodies, and he could feel your warm breath against his skin.

caleb wanted to close the windows, lock the doors, anything to trap the sweet echo of your voice inside those four walls, so that he could be the only one to ever hear it.

his grip on your wrists tightened ever so slightly, pressing your warm palms against his until your skin melted into his.

“...don't stop,” he whispered, pleaded, begged, his voice so soft for the man who could command entire fleets.

if the song was already over, he wanted to hear it again.

if the song repeated the same verses, he wanted to memorize them all, because you chose to sing them to him for a reason.

when your voice filled the room again, enveloping his entire being, his eyes fluttered shut for just a few seconds.

after all, he didn't want to miss a single blink of your pretty eyes.

the song continued, and he committed every note and tiny tremble in your voice to memory, as if he was the only one allowed to keep them.

there was no force in the universe powerful enough to break this moment or pull him out of your orbit, and caleb would make sure that was always the case.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ rafayel! ꒰੭

for an artist like rafayel, there was beauty in every corner of the world.

however, he was now convinced there was nothing more beautiful than this moment, as you both lay side by side.

you shifted closer to him, the tip of your nose almost touching his.

the silence was peaceful, a tender beauty of its own.

but when you softly hummed, his lips curled up in a gentle smile.

he knew the melody, and he wanted to join you, yet when the hums turned into sweet words, time seemed to stop.

“...when you kiss me, heaven sighs, and though i close my eyes, i see la vie en rose.”

like a siren's call, your voice seemed to trap him inside a bubble where time was perfect, and things were meant to be.

“when you press me to your heart, i'm in a world apart,” your nose gently nuzzled his, earning you a soft, breathless chuckle from him. “a world where roses bloom…”

his eyelashes refused to flutter; he didn't want to miss the way your words seemed to color everything around you, almost in a tender, soft shade of pink.

pink like pretty corals, pink like a conch shell under the sun, pink like your lips.

“and when you speak, angels sing from above,” your fingers brushed his soft, deep violet locks, making rafayel shudder. “everyday words seem to turn into love songs.~”

as your voice drifted through the room, your lips finally met his, soft and sweet.

he didn't move.

he couldn't.

he just let the sensation of your lips wash over him like a warm tide that promised more to come.

when you parted, you stayed close enough for your breath to mingle with his and your eyelashes to brush against his flushed cheeks.

“give your heart and soul to me, and life will always be la vie en rose,” you whispered, allowing the melody to slowly drift away and rafayel's heart to stop beating so fast.

could he be more lost in love?

he refused to burst the bubble around you, so he made no sound.

after all, there were no words, sentences, or phrases good enough to praise not only your beautiful, hypnotizing voice, but also the mix of tender feelings you so seamlessly ignited within him.

you went for another gentle kiss, and he whimpered quietly, his watery eyes closing to let you in; to let you color his world like only you ever could… with colors no artist could ever hope to recreate.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ sylus! ꒰੭

sylus was used to hearing you either singing or humming as you walked around the house.

you did it so often, in fact, that he no longer had to play music in the background, since your beautiful voice was enough to soothe and entertain him.

today, as he was reading, you were by his side, humming a silly, mindless tune without much thought.

he chuckled in amusement, knowing his leisure time would be light and entertaining.

but after some seconds, you decided to tap his shoulder, immediately shifting his attention from the yellowed pages to your sweet gaze.

he thought you'd say something or ask for a kiss, like you usually did, but when your hands came to cup his cheeks, his eyes softened.

what he didn't expect, though, was for you to start singing for him.

not to fill the silence, not to entertain yourself; you were about to dedicate a song to him because you thought he was worthy of it.

“truly, madly, deeply, i am foolishly, completely falling,” the first notes filled the space with an agonizing tenderness, one that took him by surprise.

sylus blinked.

slowly.

he gently placed his book aside, dedicating every second of his time to this unexpected but not unwelcome twist of events.

“and somehow you caved all my walls in, so baby say you'll always keep me,” the words came out quietly, like a whisper as soft as your fingers brushing the skin beneath his eyes.

for a moment, sylus just stared, taking in the way the lyrics left your lips, and the way you were looking at him like never before.

“truly, madly, crazy, deeply in love with you,” your gaze didn't waver, and neither did his. “in love with you…”

then, it hit him.

his eyebrows furrowed slightly; something he unconsciously did whenever his feelings overruled his mind, and his heart threatened to soften his entire being.

in other words, what always happened when he was with you.

it made his hands hover over your waist, unsure, gentle, broken, all in the best way, until he finally pulled you into his lap, his arms coiled around you.

how dare you?

how dare you disarm him so easily, and with that sweet, loving smile on your face?

he pressed your foreheads together, listening to you like he always did, except this time, he feared he'd always crave this kind of attention… even when you didn't need to sing the words for sylus to know you loved him endlessly.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ valko! ꒰੭

you both were already lovey-dovey, tickling each other, cuddling oh so close, and stealing loud, quick pecks.

he huffed in contentment, aggressively rubbing one of his cheeks against the top of your head, messing up your hair.

but you didn't mind at all.

it was a price you were willing to pay just to keep enjoying his warmth and his sheer happiness.

when things quieted down, and it was only you looking at him, and him staring back with hazy eyes and a lovestruck face, you leaned in to kiss the tip of his nose.

his eyelids fluttered, his tail wagging gently behind him.

he was beyond happy.

he was ecstatic.

there couldn't be anything better than this…

until you started to sing.

his ears perked up, and he opened his eyes with curiosity and a hint of surprise.

“...and they called it puppy love,” the melody came out smoothly, beautifully. “oh, i guess they'll never know… how a young heart really feels, and why i love him so.”

you booped his nose carefully, giggling afterwards at his entranced reaction.

his lips parted, his golden eyes widening.

he was attentive, almost frozen in place, taking in each word and the meaning behind it.

“tell them all it, please tell them it isn't fair to take away my only dream…” your fingers now gently scratched behind his fluffy ears, making him whine quietly.

he had to be under a spell; he was certain.

it felt like being lured in by the moon itself, by something so bright and warm, so inviting and magical…

so you.

“i hope and i'll pray that maybe someday you'll be back, in my arms once again,” your body shifted closer to his, and his immediate response was to engulf you in his strong arms, his tail thumping out a rhythmic beat that was much faster than the song you were singing.

your voice was muffled against his chest, since he refused to let a single gust of wind come between your bodies, and while he did want to hear the entire song, he also wanted to feel your skin.

you hummed the rest of the song and just let him hold you close.

when the silence returned, he leaned back to look at you, his eyes pleading.

“...again?” he whispered, his voice incredibly soft.

and he didn't just mean the song.

he wanted to feel the closeness, the warmth, and the way your eyes looked at him like he was the best in the world.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ xavier! ꒰੭

xavier was still asleep, his face peaceful and undisturbed.

you traced the delicate line of his nose, then the outline of his lips, and the soft shape of his eyebrows.

his eyelashes fluttered, and when he woke up, his eyes took a few seconds to focus.

once they did, he softly smiled at you, pulling you closer to his bare chest.

you didn't say a word; the silence was still comfortable, and xavier's mind was still processing everything around him.

instead, you looked into his eyes and cradled his warm cheeks, feeling a sudden urge to turn an ordinary morning into a moment of pure, raw love and tenderness.

besides, you loved seeing him get flustered and all mushy.~

“...why do stars fall down from the sky every time you walk by?” the sudden, soft sound of your singing voice caught him off guard. “just like me, they long to be close to you…”

his bright, azure eyes followed the soft movement of your lips, and the playful glint in your gaze.

his face grew warmer and warmer beneath your hands, a clear sign of just how much this was affecting him.

“on the day that you were born, the angels got together and decided to create a dream come true,” you smiled, squishing his supple cheeks.

xavier averted his gaze, feeling his heart thumping hard against his ribs. still, he couldn't stay away.

he leaned into your palm, simply listening.

“so they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold, and starlight in your eyes of blue,” you leaned in to kiss his eyelids, making him blush furiously, his arms suddenly trapping you until you had almost no air to breathe.

you were singing this song to him.

a song about stars, about his blue eyes.

about him.

“that is why—” before you could continue, xavier pressed his lips to yours, with an intensity that reflected the overwhelming amount of feelings blooming in his heart.

you gave in, naturally, your hands tangling with his soft, light locks, until the kiss stole the melody from your lips.

when you both finally parted, completely breathless, his forehead rested against yours.

his eyes were shining with quiet embarrassment and adoration, both making his face bright pink.

he hid his face in the crook of your neck, wondering if, perhaps, this was still a dream.

if it was, he'd hold on to this moment forever, hoping he'd feel the same warmth and sparks when he woke up and saw your pretty face again.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ zayne! ꒰੭

moments of peace were rare between you and your busy boyfriend.

but when you finally had the chance to just sit down and caress each other's skin, you made sure to stretch those hours and make them last forever.

when he came home after a long shift, you sat on his lap, your chest pressed against his, and your fingers tracing indistinguishable shapes on his back.

he held you close, simply resting his chin on your shoulder, taking in every second without pressure.

the songs playing on the radio were slow, melodic ballads, so as not to oversaturate the space with noise and loud, unpredictable beats.

sensing his stress and his need to distract himself, you gently pulled back to face him, and you used your fingers to tilt his chin up.

those hazel eyes were tired, but they softened with pure love when they saw you.

when you parted your lips, he expected encouraging words, or perhaps something sweet.

however, you not only lowered your already gentle voice; you started to sing for him, your tone as gentle as your caresses.

“when the rain is blowing in your face, and the whole world is on your case,” the words came out like a soothing balm, causing his shoulders to drop unconsciously. “i could offer you a warm embrace, to make you feel my love.”

when you paused to let the piano echo, he leaned into your fingertips, asking for more warmth like a touch-starved kitten.

his mind was now entirely focused on you, on your beautiful voice, on the way you sang the lyrics not just with accuracy, but because you meant them.

“when the evening shadows and the stars appear, and there is no one there to dry your tears,” you softly pressed your forehead against his, whispering the next words against his lips. “i could hold you for a million years, to make you feel my love.”

he wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you into him as if you were the only thing keeping him grounded.

he didn't say he loved you, or at least not with words, but the way he hid his head in the crook of your neck and held you tight said everything.

you felt something warm and wet on your skin, but you didn't dare ask.

you knew he felt exhausted, and on top of that, unworthy of such affection.

you hummed, nuzzling the top of his head, allowing him to simply enjoy the vibrations of your voice against his body.

it wasn't a grand gesture, yet it managed to quiet down the outside world, leaving just the two of you, skin to skin, and heart to heart.

zayne couldn't possibly ask for anything else.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ caleb! ꒰੭

caleb held your pliant body in his arms, mindful of your hanging head and your giggly state.

you had… a couple of bottles while you were out with friends, and they called your amazing boyfriend who just so happened to be lurking around “in case you needed him”.

he took you back home, gently placing you down on your shared bed, and kissing your forehead with an amused smile on his lips.

“easy there, angel. you had lots of fun, didn't you?” he whispered, brushing some strands away from your forehead. “i'll bring you some water, yeah?”

you looked up at the spinning ceiling above you and smiled, biting your lower lip softly.

“hm… spit in my mouth insteaaaad,” you mumbled, parting your lips. “aaaah~”

caleb just stared at you.

he considered it, at least for a few seconds, but then shook his head, gently squishing your flushed cheek.

“water. won't take long, hm?” he grinned, leaving you breathless and even more giddy.

“come back soon, handsome!” you called out, following his amazing retreating figure. “mhm, holy cake…”

after some minutes that felt like hours, he returned with a glass of water.

he held your head up and brought the glass to your lips, making sure you took small sips.

as you did, you couldn't help but look into his eyes.

“you're so handsome,” you mumbled, your hand coming up to, supposedly, trace his strong jawline.

instead, your finger clumsily poked his cheek, and then his cheekbone.

“i'd give you five gorgeous kids…” you whispered as if sharing a secret, your nose nuzzling his neck. “they'd all look like you… they'd have your gorgeous eyes.”

he sighed softly, simply looking at you with a cocky grin on his lips.

“you reckon?” his tone was teasing, naturally. how could he not let it get to his head?

you were staring at him like a teenager with a crush on a fictional character, after all.

“yeah… yeah, i wanna have lots of babies with you,” you babbled, not really conscious of what you were saying. “and like… like, they'd— they'd be tall, and they'd be gorgeous… huh, is that a weird thing to say about my own kids?”

he chuckled, now helping you lie back down again, placing the cup of water on the bedside table.

“oh god, will i become a weird boy mom? promise you'll lock me up if i do—” you whined, eyes wide with terror.

“you won't, angel,” he whispered, kissing your forehead. “our kids will look like you, yeah? and they'll be smart.”

you smiled, relieved, nodding your head slowly.

“yeah… but i wanna have mini copies of you too,” you insisted. “i wanna have a big, happy family and for everyone to know you're mine, mine alone.”

“well, for that to happen, we'll have to try lots and lots of times,” he whispered, placing a soft kiss on your forehead.

you smirked and looked at him with a suggestive expression.

“lots of times? oh yeah, i love that idea…” you purred, practically melting under his gaze.

“mhm. i know you do, baby,” he cupped your cheek and pulled a blanket over your body. “but once you're sober and conscious.”

your eyes went wide open, and you tried to sit up, but he kept you in place by putting one hand on your shoulder, making you huff.

“you're the meanest ever!” you weakly kicked under the covers, to which he only grinned.

“you've got no idea,” he conceded, nodding his head softly. “so, so mean.”

you closed your eyes with a pout on your lips, your arms crossing over your chest.

“meanie… a big, tall… muscular, hot meanie,” and as your words trailed off and your eyelashes stopped fluttering, caleb stood up as quietly as possible, his eyes lingering on your peaceful form.

the pout dissolved when your lips parted and you let out soft huffs and puffs.

he pictured the big family you babbled about; the little copies of him, the tiny copies of you, and a soft smile adorned his face.

he didn't know whether the intoxication made your wishes far more exaggerated than they truly were, but… even if you just wanted a single kid, he'd be the happiest man alive.

he'd let you rest, but once you were awake and conscious, he'd absolutely bring up the entire conversation just to see you squirm a little bit.

it wasn't every day he got to hear your earnest, soft, and heartwarming wishes so openly, and he'd make sure you knew how much he treasured them.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ rafayel! ꒰੭

rafayel underestimated how much you'd like the wine.

one glass, two glasses, then five…

his cheeks were a bit flushed, but other than that, he was still in his right mind.

you, on the other hand, were giggling uncontrollably, your head barely able to stay up.

you bit your lip as you looked at him, feeling a sudden heat traveling across your body.

“hm, raffy…” you whispered, crawling closer to him over the couch, letting all of your weight fall onto his lap.

he leaned back slightly, his arms coiling around you securely, though his eyes showed his surprise.

“oh?” he tilted his chin up, looking into your eyes with amusement. “why, hello there, cutie.”

you kissed his cheek lazily, leaving a wet trail of wine on his pale skin.

“you smell so good,” you mumbled, words slurred. “i could just eat you up…”

he softly smiled, keeping you close.

“is that a promise, dearest?”

“yeah…” you hiccuped softly, melting against him. you kept peppering his cheeks and jaw with soft kisses until they became wet and sloppy.

raffy closed his eyes and flinched as the tip of your nose practically stabbed him in the eye not one, not two, but six times.

oh, well.

“okay, my pearl, my pearl!” he called out, holding your shoulders to keep you at a distance, even when you whined.

ah, you looked adorable…

your eyes were glossy, your lips were a bit stained, your breathing was ragged.

“i'll… i'll do the kissing, how's that?” he offered instead, immediately making you smile.

“okay…” you closed your eyes and leaned in, happily receiving his softer, naturally more refined and totally-not-messy kisses.

he gently pulled away and caressed your nape with his slender fingers, bringing you back to the present.

“raffy,” you whispered, eyelids droopy.

“yes, my precious pearl?” he nuzzled the tip of your nose.

“i wanna have your babies…”

time seemed to stop.

rafayel's smile faltered, not because he didn't like the idea, but because you'd caught him so, so off guard.

“...come again, cutie?”

“babies!” you cheered softly, your tone devoid of hesitation thanks to the alcohol. “we could repopulate lemuria—”

he covered your lips with the palm of his hand, looking appalled.

despite his shock, you had unconsciously voiced one of his most precious wishes; not to restore an entire civilization, but for him to have someone to teach the language of the sea to.

“we'd need like… at least fifty babies, cutie. that's fifty pregnancies.”

“not if we have triplets… or quadruplets!” you insisted, your voice a bit shaky.

he needed more wine.

urgently.

“come oooon, raffy,” you purred sweetly, rubbing your cheek against his collarbone. “you're so pretty, like… like a pufferfish with chubby cheeks! we could have even prettier fishies.”

before your finger could trace a line down his exposed chest, he held your hand and intertwined your fingers, a frown appearing on his face.

“a… a pufferfish?”

this couldn't be happening to him right now.

“so, i'm not pretty like a painting, like a sculpture, like a landscape… but like a pufferfish?” he narrowed his eyes, offended by the comparison. “and to think i was starting to consider your offer…”

you gasped and clumsily pulled your hand free from his grasp to clutch his cheeks.

“noooo, raffy, don't be like that…” you puckered your lips and bounced on top of him. “i'm so sorry, raaaaaffy, raffy, raaaaaaaffyyyyyy!”

he huffed, but still held you so that you wouldn't accidentally fall off the couch.

“okay, okay!” he faced you and rolled his eyes playfully. “i'll take the compliment, but that doesn't mean i like it.”

you whimpered like a grounded pup, your face falling.

“are you still giving me babies?”

he took a sharp breath.

“...if you ask me that question while sober, then i'll think about it, cutie.”

you seemed satisfied with that answer, since you grinned and, once again, melted like ice against his warm body.

“hmm… so many pretty fishies,” you whispered, eyes shutting closed. “pretty… pretty fishies…”

…and you were out, drool already starting to pool on his chest.

he gently caressed your scalp, although his cheeks grew redder when he recalled your words.

repopulating lemuria.

it was impossible, he was aware, but the fact that you were so eager and open to the idea caused his mind to wander to dangerous places, especially now that he was tipsy.

he could only hope you'd pop the question while sober, but if you didn't… he'd make sure to plant that idea back into your mind until you said it out loud again.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ sylus! ꒰੭

while you waited for sylus to come back home, you tried to distract yourself by getting as comfortable as you could.

you put on his robe, went to the kitchen as if you owned the place (you did), and took out the expensive bottles of alcohol just to… feel fancy.

you tried one; didn't like it.

you tried another one; you gagged.

by the third one, after you took a shot, your throat burned so badly you decided to try mixing it with something sweeter.

it was the worst idea ever.

you ended up finishing almost an entire bottle mixed with sweet juice and syrup, effectively getting drunk.

when sylus came home, your clumsy but hurried footsteps approached him from behind.

as soon as your arms wrapped around his torso and your cheek nuzzled his strong back, he smiled, his warm hands gently caressing your forearms.

“well, hello there,” he turned to look over his shoulder, and you hugged him tighter.

“sy…” you happily mumbled, closing your eyes in bliss. “i missed you sooooooo much…”

ah.

the slurred speech, the faint scent of alcohol, the way he could feel the warmth of your skin through his clothes.

you were drunk.

“i missed you as well,” he quietly turned to face you, one of his eyebrows raising. “and what exactly did you do today, kitten?”

you giggled and took his hands, swaying softly from side to side.

“nothing… just missing you, your voice, your kisses,” you smiled dreamily. “you're so gorgeous…”

he sighed, pulling one of your hands to his lips so that he could kiss your knuckles.

“and you are breathtaking,” he mumbled against your skin, unable to reprimand you for your current state since you were being so cute.

however, that cuteness soon turned into mischief.

you stepped closer to him and played with the buttons on his shirt.

“you know… i could get even more breathtaking, sy,” you looked up at him through your eyelashes, batting them softly, almost too innocently.

he narrowed his crimson eyes, but you had his entire attention now.

“is that so?”

“mhmmm…” you smiled and stepped on your tippy toes, getting closer to the shell of his ear. “i'd be much prettier if i carried your babies.~”

the silence that followed was heavy.

you were blinking slowly at him; he was studying your pretty face.

he had to tread carefully, mainly to avoid getting you all worked up.

“i agree, kitten,” he softly nodded, helping you back onto your feet. “but we will cross that bridge when you are able to stand without swaying.”

his heart was beating so fast, despite the amused expression he wore.

you smiled and bounced on your toes, feeling elated. you only heard the “i agree” part, much to your convenience.

“they'd have your eyes! or maybe mine… but they'd be so little!” you cooed, losing your balance when you jumped again.

sylus decided it would be best to carry you back to your shared bedroom so that you could lie down and, hopefully, fall asleep.

deep down, he was already picturing a mini version of you running around his halls, and he knew that one day, this wouldn't just be a drunken request.

“we could have four babies… while we take care of two, the twins can take care of the other two…” you mumbled, your train of thought already drifting into something softer, more imaginative. “...what if we had twins of our own? and then two other sets of twins…? would we have our own army?”

he wanted that.

he wanted everything you were saying.

in fact, he was already planning where he'd build the rooms, and how he'd teach kieran and luke to be good nannies.

“so… many babies with sy,” you whispered, already falling asleep. “many, many babies…”

once your breathing calmed down, sylus allowed himself to yearn and explore the possibilities behind your drunk, sweet words.

he caressed your flushed cheeks, your lower lip, your eyelids.

“you'd look breathtaking, sweetheart,” he whispered, his nose brushing against your cheek. “we will have as many as you wish for. whenever you wish.”

the promise lingered in the air, interrupted by your soft snoring and your incoherent babbling.

he discarded his clothes and lay by your side, pulling you closer to his chest.

you immediately clung to him, drawn to his warmth.

whenever you wished to, he'd be ready, because he knew those words didn't come out of nowhere; there had to be a little seed somewhere in your brain.

and he'd make that little seed flourish as soon as your pretty —and hopefully sober— lips opened up.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ xavier! ꒰੭

game nights always meant two things; good food and good drinks.

xavier truly enjoyed the calm, fun environment, and that he got to spend some alone time with you without the unnecessary chaos of the streets, or the unwanted attention of strangers.

just you, him, a warm blanket over your laps, endless laughter that could last all night long… and an unlimited supply of drinks.

now, here is the thing. game nights never lasted long enough for either of you to get drunk or even tipsy.

most of the time, xavi and you would go to bed by midnight, eager to get all cuddly and warm under the sheets.

but today's game was particularly intense, and neither of you could seem to stop.

you confidently threw a blue nine card over a blue five card, grinning from ear to ear.

“uno!”

however, xavier only looked at you with quiet intensity; the confidence of a man who could ruin you with a single move.

time seemed to slow down when you caught a glimpse of a black card, the +4 hitting you straight in the gut.

things ended.

you lost.

xavier threw down his last card, claiming victory, but you wouldn't let that slide.

you lunged forward, making his back hit the soft sofa. you shook his shoulders, attacked him with tickles, and pinched his skin until he couldn't stop laughing.

when both of you were breathless and no longer wound up from the intense uno game, you softened up.

the alcohol made you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

you squished his soft cheeks and nuzzled the tip of his nose, studying his eyes up close.

“xavi… you're very mean,” you whispered, before smiling. “but so cute…”

he blinked softly, and then looked away, his pale face turning slightly pink.

“i wonder if our babies would look like you,” you giggled, tracing his jawline with gentle kisses. “if they'd be as sleepy, if they'd be as cuddly…”

his eyes went back to yours almost immediately, wide like planets.

babies.

…babies?

you weren't even asking if you could have them, you were already assuming you would.

“let's have them… let's have lots of them,” you smiled, straddling his lap. “right now, xavi!”

xavier could barely react before you slipped your hands under his sweater.

he thanked the skies you guys weren't bunnies, otherwise, he would've started something neither of you would've been able to stop, not even if the sun rose.

his hands gently held your wrists, and he quietly sat up, ignoring your disappointed little whines and those sad eyes.

he wanted to.

he really did.

he was fighting himself not to give in and let you do whatever you wanted with him.

but you weren't in your right mind, and he wouldn't let you wake up tomorrow with a headache and a tiny xavi on the way.

“you're drunk.”

“i'm not!” you pouted, leaning in to press your forehead against his. “i'm very… very sure! give me babies, xavi!”

he let out a shaky sigh, his heart hammering against his ribs.

his pretty eyes met yours, and he shook his head silently.

“please, please… they'll be so cute,” you insisted, your voice becoming softer. “xavi, take me to our room and fu—”

suddenly, he held an uno skip card against your lips, silencing you.

“no.”

you squeaked and fell onto the sofa, flopping around like a fish out of water.

“so not fair! first your betrayal, and now your lack of love! what's next?”

he stood up and stared at you, his lips curling into a soft smile.

he kissed your forehead, making you stop with a frown and pouty lips.

“next is a mandatory and involuntary nap,” he quietly said, outstretching his arms. “let's go, starlight.”

you hesitated before putting your arms up, letting him carry you.

on the way, you tried to stay mad, but you soon forgot what you were even arguing about. you clung to him and rubbed your cheek against his shoulder, your eyelids closing on their own.

“smell… so good,” you mumbled, sighing happily. “warm… soft…”

he placed a kiss on your forehead and tried to calm down as he settled the two of you under the fluffy blankets.

once your soft snores filled the room, xavier brushed your hair behind your ear, unable to hide his smile.

“one day,” he whispered, his thumb caressing your cheek.

when your mind was clear like a sunny sky, when the stars aligned, and when your heart yearned for those dreams to become a reality, he'd happily give you what you wished for.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ valko! ꒰੭

he wanted to try different flavors from a newly released vodka brand, and you had no choice but to tag along.

watermelon, cherry, green apple…

shot after shot, valko either grunted in disgust or hummed in delight, letting you have a try as well.

it… didn't end up well.

while valko was still in his right mind, you were staring at the ceiling, questioning all of your life choices.

valko noticed the shift in your behavior right away. your body temperature was higher, your eyes were glossy, your heart was beating faster than usual.

“you're so wasted,” he grinned, wrapping an arm around your shoulders to pull you closer.

you hummed in response, closing your eyes and leaning against him.

“...yeah,” you whispered. then, you smiled faintly. “i think so.”

he nuzzled the top of your head and took a shot of a new bottle of vodka; lime flavored.

his face scrunched up in sheer disgust, a whine escaping from his throat.

you opened your eyes and giggled loudly, finding his expression incredibly funny, especially in your state.

“well, fuck,” he groaned, wiping his lips with the back of his hand.

“not good?” you smiled, tilting your head softly.

“it's an abomination,” his voice came out a little raspy, and he then offered you the small shot glass. “want some?”

you shook your head immediately, and he smirked, turning to the last bottle of vodka.

chocolate-flavored.

“now this… is promising,” he carefully poured himself some and downed it in one go.

his eyes went wide, fluffy ears popping out, his tail wagging like crazy.

“oh… oh yeah,” he whispered in pure bliss. “this one's a sweet baby.”

you couldn't help but stare at him attentively.

his mouth kept moving, but you weren't listening.

he was so cute.

so, so adorable.

his ears were so fluffy and soft, his reactions were so lively and honest, his biceps flexed so deliciously…

damn.

he was also hot.

“...and the chocolate one definitely takes first place for me. what about you, bunny?”

bla, bla, bla.

you leaned in and kissed his lips, making his ears perk up and his eyes go wide momentarily.

seconds later, his hands were holding you by the hips, his lips eagerly returning the kiss; no questions asked.

when you pulled back, you licked your lips, tasting the mix of chocolate and alcohol.

“valkie,” you purred, tracing a vein running down his muscular arm.

“yes, ma'am?” he whispered, looking down at your lips, wondering when you'd kiss him again.

“you know… you're very handsome,” you looked up at him, eyes hazy. “and i think…”

“yeah?” he urged softly, his tail swishing behind him.

“...that you and me…” you continued, your hands traveling down his torso.

“uh-huh?” he nodded, now tilting his head.

“...would have the prettiest pups.”

his tail stopped moving, but his ears perked up again.

pups.

your pups, his and yours.

everything was quiet, too quiet, until he growled involuntarily, holding you even closer with a heated gaze.

“damn straight,” he whispered, picking you up with ease, ready to take you to the bedroom.

however, something clicked in his brain, and he stopped in the middle of the hallway, remembering one little detail.

you were drunk, and while he knew drunk people were honest (mostly), you were in no position to give consent or agree to anything.

but valko didn't get mad, nor disappointed.

he just sighed and pressed his forehead against yours.

“i'm sorry, bunny,” he said, much to your surprise. “while i do agree we'd make the prettiest babies ever, that'll have to wait for another occasion.”

“but valkie—” you whined, but he shushed you.

“trust me,” he whispered, kissing your lips and lingering against them a second longer than necessary. “i'd love to give you every single baby you asked me for.”

your eyes lit up with hope, even when he set you down on the bed and wrapped a blanket around your flushed skin.

“but i want you conscious and aware of everything i'll do to you, my pretty bunny,” he whispered, gently nibbling the shell of your ear before retreating. “stay. be a good girl.”

you whimpered and watched him leave, but didn't move.

his words made your heart beat faster, and you had to close your eyes to imagine just how good he'd make you feel once you were yourself again.

you could only sleep for now and hope his promise was true, because, no matter if it took you some time to find the courage while sober, you'd ask him for many pretty babies.

and he would have to deliver.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ zayne! ꒰੭

your friends dropped you off at the hospital, making sure you were safely inside before leaving.

you'd been asking for zayne for the past hour, ever since you got drunk and the warmth started to spread through your body.

you ignored yvonne's questioning look as you stumbled your way to the elevator, humming and smiling like a fool in love.

“zaynie, my zaynie,” you sang to yourself, miraculously pressing the right button for the floor he was on.

when you arrived, you knocked on his door and called out for him with a sweet voice, and it was safe to say that zayne was confused.

weren't you supposed to be out with your friends?

he stood up, opened the door, and was greeted by a tight hug and messy kisses that didn't reach his lips.

“mmmmwah! my zaynie… mmmmwah! i missed you sooooo… mmmmwah! much!”

he blinked rapidly, making sure to guide you inside seconds later so that he could close the door behind you.

“my love? i did not expect you—”

“i'm so sorry, but i missed you lots!” you quickly interrupted, pouting your lips. “are you mad at me? don't be, i love you!”

you kept trying to kiss him, but he gently held you in place, knowing his face would end up covered in drool.

“no, my flower. i am not mad at you,” he reassured, tilting your chin up so that he could look at you properly.

dilated pupils, warm skin to the touch, hazy eyes.

“hehe, do i look pretty?” you giggled, leaning in like a touch-starved kitten.

his lips curled up faintly, and he pressed a kiss to your forehead.

“very much so, yes. but it seems you are under the influence,” he commented. “did your friends bring you here?”

“mmmmhm!”

he nodded, relieved.

“good. i shall thank them later. now, come sit down with me, love.”

naturally, you followed like a puppy, waiting for him to sit down before plopping onto his lap.

you looked into his eyes lovingly, smiling so brightly your cheeks were starting to hurt.

he opened one of his drawers, pulled out a bottle of water, and took the cap off.

“here. drink this,” he offered, guiding the bottle to your lips.

you, however, were too entranced to obey. instead of leaning in and taking a few sips, you cupped his cheeks and sighed.

“you'd be such an amazing father,” you smiled.

he softened up, lowering the water bottle.

but then, you kept going, bouncing on his legs.

“i wanna give you so many babies, zayne, so, so many!”

his hand became shaky, and he had to set the bottle down on his desk so that he wouldn't spill it everywhere.

“flower—”

“i'd give you as many kids as you wanted, zaynie. we could try aaaall night, every night!”

his throat felt dry.

you were just going and going, until this poor man's heart couldn't take it anymore.

“my love,” he cleared his throat lightly, averting his gaze. “we should discuss this back at home.”

he knew you'd fall asleep by then, so it was an excellent strategy to get you distracted.

you smiled and nodded happily, leaning your forehead against his shoulder.

“yeah, and… and we can cuddle, and kiss… and then we can make pretty babies!”

he closed his eyes, tilting his head back.

the tips of his ears were turning bright red, and his usually steady hands trembled enough to show how affected he was.

“absolutely, my flower.”

seemingly happy with that, you mumbled a few more “i love yous,” kissed whichever inches of skin you could get your lips on, and closed your eyes.

you drifted off in a matter of seconds, lulled by his scent and the soft hum of his laptop.

once again, the office was quiet.

he took the coat draped over the back of his chair and wrapped it around you, keeping you warm.

…

babies.

you wanted babies.

his hand caressed your back up and down, and he looked at the ceiling, processing what had just happened.

he let out a quiet sigh, one hand covering his flushed face behind the safety of his glasses.

what a reckless thing to say, especially to him.

you would remember none of it by morning, yet every word had already carved itself into his beating, already sensitive heart.

still, a small smile found his lips as he looked down at your sleeping face.

"if that is truly what you want someday," he whispered, brushing your hair aside, "i would be happy to build that future with you.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

his thumb caressed the soft curve of your cheekbone.

he couldn't stay; he knew it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

how could anyone try to keep him away from you?

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

he sighed.

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

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

your breath hitched.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

your fingers clung to him for dear life.

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

but you refused to let him go.

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

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

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

no, he wasn't.

you wouldn't let him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ever.

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

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

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