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.~

it had been raining horribly for days, and going outside was a questionable choice.

you were focused on your screen, watching a silly drama series while clutching a cushion, your eyebrows furrowed.

you truly needed the entertainment, or else you'd bore yourself after thirty-six hours of confinement.

“how dumb, why doesn't he just confess…?” you whispered to yourself, taking a sip of your sweet, warm tea without looking away from the unnecessarily heartbreaking scenes.

just then, you heard a knock on your door.

it was five past eleven, no one in their right mind would go out so late, let alone when it was raining like crazy.

you paused the series and went to your door with soft, hesitant steps, your eyes narrowing.

“...who is it?” you asked, not daring to open the door just yet.

a soft whining noise caught your attention, most likely a puppy's.

did someone abandon a pup on your doorstep?

oh gosh, who'd do such a thing?

you opened it immediately, and when you looked down, expecting to see a wet box with a poor little creature inside, you found a pair of polished yet soaked shoes instead.

“gotcha,” a voice echoed, making you jump and look up.

ah, of course.

valko, with a stupid grin on his face.

“you… what are you—?” the words died in your mouth as he stepped inside, drenched, water droplets falling onto your clean floor.

he discarded his coat and shook his entire body like a dog, not only making a mess, but getting you just as wet.

“valko!” you squeaked, covering your face in a pathetic attempt to protect yourself from the flying water.

he looked around briefly before sniffing the air, his nostrils flaring softly. he left muddy footprints all the way to the kitchen, his large frame looking out of place inside your cozy apartment.

you grunted under your breath, picking up his wet coat with the tips of your fingers, trying to avoid the small puddles he left carelessly behind.

he checked your pantry, then your fridge, his eyes slowly travelling around.

he only turned around when he sensed your presence behind him.

“you can't just come in and make a mess, valko!” you whined, crossing your arms over your chest. “what is this? why are you here so late? and… step away from the fridge, you're wet and you'll catch a cold!”

he straightened up and looked down at you.

“you don't have much protein,” he said, pointing back at the fridge before closing the door. “you need meat.”

you parted your lips to speak, then frowned.

what was this?

an inspection?

he kept walking around, and you followed despite yourself.

now, valko and you had… a thing.

you'd say it was casual, occasional.

you liked him, and he liked you, but you felt it'd be too rushed to invite him over to your sacred place, even though it'd been going on for months.

so, having him here, invading every inch as if he owned the place, was not in your plans.

he entered every room, analysing the furniture and your unmistakable scent.

he sat down on your bed, his large hands dragging one of your plushies over and holding it hostage against his chest.

that's when he finally addressed you.

“it's nice,” he nodded, leaning against the headboard. “it's big enough to have four or five pups running around.”

you immediately felt your skin turn hot, your eyes wide.

your heart almost gave out with how fast it was beating.

“v-valko?”

“okay, what about three?” he arched an eyebrow, tilting his head to the side. “and then three more when we move to my place. it's bigger.”

you finally had enough.

you stomped closer and yanked the plushie away, holding it close.

this man—

“you can't— you… first of all, you're getting my bed all wet! second of all, you…” you took a sharp inhale, closing your eyes briefly. “you can't just casually mention… c-children, valko.”

he looked down at the damp mattress before meeting your gaze again.

his fluffy ears emerged, and you hated when they did.

it was a vile tactic, a dirty move, especially when… when he made them go all droopy, and his golden eyes looked so sad…

oh, that sweet face…

no!

“stop, valko!” you turned around and closed your eyes. “bad boy, bad!”

seconds later, a pair of strong arms coiled around your waist, easily lifting you off the ground.

he nuzzled the back of your head and inhaled your scent, his tail swishing softly behind him.

“why didn't you tell me to come over sooner?” he asked, his breath brushing the shell of your ear.

you planned to squirm away and get out of his grasp, yet instead, you found yourself freezing in place.

you didn't expect him to ask that.

“why did i have to invite myself in?” he continued, his tone dropping even lower. “you didn't want me here, in your space?”

“valkie… isn't it too soon?” you whispered. “it's only been a couple of months…”

“soon?” he echoed, his fingers digging ever so slightly into your soft tummy. “it's been one hundred and fifty-seven days. that's five full moons, little bunny.”

your eyes fluttered, finally opening after a while. all you could see were your legs suspended in the air.

“we should be married by now. you, marked. me, claimed,” he nuzzled your jawline from behind, lingering there a little longer. “how much longer am i supposed to wait?”

“valko…”

“you keep saying my name. if you like it that much, use it to beg for me to make you mine.”

you gasped, his words making you feel a strange warmth in your chest, and a dizziness you couldn't explain.

he sat down all of a sudden, pulling you onto his lap. your back was against his chest, and he hid his face in your neck, as if it were his refuge.

you thought he'd grow uncontrollable, that you'd have to throw a cushion his way and make him calm down, that he'd mark you right then and there, taking what he saw as rightfully his.

but the seconds went by, slowly, and instead of the situation escalating, you heard a small whine, muffled and low.

his arms tightened around your body, refusing to let go.

“...please,” he whispered. “how much longer, bunny?”

your heart melted.

you didn't know if you were ready.

hell, you didn't even know if he was being serious about the six kids, and if he was, then you had lots of things to think about beforehand.

but the idea of being his, of being marked and claiming him as yours in return, wasn't strange.

you'd had a taste of what valko would be like as a partner for… a lot of days, as he so explicitly recalled, and you didn't regret a single moment spent with him.

“i… i'm not sure yet, valko,” you whispered, not daring to move an inch. “i can't give you a date.”

he sighed, and while you weren't looking at him, you knew his tail had dropped when you could no longer hear it thump against your bed anymore.

“but…” you continued.

one of his ears perked up with interest, his golden eyes now bright.

“but you… could stay the night. get to know where i live, and… explore my space.”

that's all it took for valko to stand up again, turn you around with ease, and pull you against his chest in a tight hug.

his tail wagged like a propeller, and he buried his nose in your hair, shamelessly taking deep breaths to carry your scent with him for longer.

“two more full moons at most,” he whispered, more to himself than to you. “no more.”

“valko, i just said—”

“i'll go clean up,” he kissed your lips, tilting your chin up with his index finger just to keep you in place. your eyes shut, and you instinctively returned the kiss, though it took you a few seconds to react.

when he pulled back, he brushed your lower lip with his thumb, noticing how it glistened with his saliva under the soft light of your lamp.

marked.

his.

“don't go anywhere,” he whispered, and that crooked, stupid grin came back to his face.

you were left speechless as he left your bedroom, his chest puffed out, and his fangs showing as he smirked.

you knew he'd take this as an opportunity to snoop around and mark his territory however he could, but instead of irritating you even more, you found it… somewhat adorable.

the rain kept falling outside, and your laptop had long since run out of battery, but you didn't mind.

the wet puppy now invading your space, checking whether you had enough food, whether your windows were secure enough, or whether your plushies were fluffier than him, was far more interesting than anything else.~

it took you some time to finally feel comfortable while using sylus' credit card.

it wasn't yours, hence why the money wasn't yours either, and you felt like a shameless opportunist.

sylus reminded you over and over again that he wanted you to use his card; anything that was his, was yours as well.

but what if he thought you just wanted him for his money?

or what if he got mad if you spent more than he expected?

that would hurt you deeply, and you tried to avoid that scenario at all costs.

however, with his gentle reassurance and constant nagging, you ended up taking his card everywhere, just in case you really wanted or needed something.

naturally, you limited yourself, spending as little as possible, and it was always on groceries or things both of you would enjoy.

one day, though, as sylus and you walked by a small street with lots of vendors, you stopped in your tracks.

there was this cute, little stand with the prettiest clay trinkets with shiny eyes, vibrant colors, and the cutest of expressions.

they were absolutely silly.

the seller had owls, puppies, cats… and one of them was a silvery-white kitty with shiny crimson eyes.

you immediately thought of your boyfriend.

how cute would it be if you bought one that looked like you, and the one that looked like him?

“hello…” you softly spoke, pointing at the two little figurines. “i would like to get these, please.”

the kind lady stood up and smiled at you, explaining a little bit about her art and the process behind it as she wrapped your purchase in pretty paper.

you listened intently and gasped softly when she gestured to some silly accessories she had also made, like witch hats, frog hats, goggles…

you wanted to buy them as well.

the small bag the seller was preparing soon became a small box with the two kitten figurines and the decorations you ended up getting.

sylus remained quiet the entire time, smiling down at you.

he didn't dare ruin the moment; it wasn't usual for you to go crazy and indulge yourself.

…but he did ruin the mood when you handed over his credit card with a hopeful smile once the lady told you the final price.

“hm, we are being quite greedy today, aren't we?” he softly chuckled, caressing your lower back in circles.

his voice was devoid of malice or anger. he was quite pleased, in fact.

but your smile tightened, your outstretched hand trembling.

the payment went through, and the seller thanked you profusely before sylus guided you away.

…greedy.

the final price had been slightly higher than you anticipated, but did that make you greedy?

you put the credit card away, your eyes remaining on the floor, your hands fidgeting with the box.

you spent a lot of money.

you took advantage of him.

the money wasn't yours, yet you threw it away on… trinkets.

you wanted to go back and return everything, but that would make the kind lady very sad, and it wasn't the right thing to do to a small business.

you bit your inner cheek, feeling your eyes sting.

you knew this would happen eventually; you'd go crazy and he'd scold you for being opportunistic.

even if he was smiling when he said it, the word greedy echoed in your mind, making all your insecurities worse.

you were a burden.

you were too much.

you didn't deserve his generosity, let alone the unlimited access to his wealth.

you stopped walking, your shoulders shaking as you clutched the box to your chest.

“i— i'm sorry, sy...” you whispered, a single tear rolling down your cheek.

sylus stopped immediately, turning to look at you.

“sorry?” he tilted his head, his eyebrows furrowing. he caressed your arms gently. “for what, sweetheart?”

“i'm sorry for… being greedy,” you sniffled quietly, lowering your head so no one in the crowd could see you. not even sylus. “i'll give it back, i'll… pay you back.”

sylus' hands froze.

the words he said to you had twisted into something hurtful.

the realization hit him hard.

he just wanted to tease you; to acknowledge how much you were enjoying yourself, but he forgot how self-conscious you were when it came to your own needs, and how hard it was for you to let him pamper you.

to make him feel even worse, he also remembered why you got so excited in the first place.

the clay kitten reminded you of him.

you were being “greedy” because you wanted something that reminded you of the man you loved.

he took a step back, and then he came closer again, his hands cupping your cheeks so that you would meet his gaze.

his crimson eyes were soft, apologetic, worried.

he wiped away your tears with his thumb, each little sniffle or shaky inhale breaking his heart a little more.

“sweetie, don't apologize,” he shook his head. “look at me.”

you hesitated.

“please.”

then, slowly, your eyes lifted.

he pressed a long, lingering kiss to your forehead, staying close to you.

his hand cradled the back of your head, and he pulled back to meet your gaze again.

“it was the wrong choice of words,” he admitted. “you weren't being greedy.”

“b-but, you were right, i spent—”

“no,” he gently interrupted. “don't defend me, darling.”

you remained quiet, your wet eyelashes fluttering slowly. you nodded shyly, while your heart thumped fast.

“i should be the one apologizing,” he continued, his free arm wrapping around your waist to keep you close and grounded. “i teased you without thinking, but i want you to know that, no matter how much you spend, you'll never be greedy in my eyes.”

you whined softly, not believing that.

“sy… that's not t—”

“it is true,” the hand that had been cradling the back of your head now travelled back to your cheek. “you could spend ten times that amount. a hundred, if you so wished. and every time, i would still wonder why you're holding back.”

“sylus…”

“sweetheart,” he whispered back, nuzzling the tip of your nose. “you flinch every time you buy something for yourself, as if it were forbidden. you only buy things that will benefit someone else.”

you closed your mouth, your throat feeling dry.

the crowd kept walking past the two of you, but it didn't matter.

no eyes were on you, except for sylus'.

“those silly kittens made you smile, did they not?”

you looked down at the box still clutched between your fingers, before nodding softly.

“as well as the tiny accessories?”

you looked at him and nodded again, no longer sniffling.

“then you're not greedy,” he leaned in, his lips gently brushing against yours. “you're lovely.”

his arms finally pulled you into a hug, your face hidden away from view, safe and secure.

“if i thought you wanted me for my money, i wouldn't have trusted you with my card in the first place.”

and you nodded quietly, because it made sense.

it would've been like giving a gun to someone who wanted him gone, and you definitely weren't that person.

“are you sure?” you mumbled, your voice muffled. “you're… not annoyed or mad at me?”

“absolutely certain, sweetie.”

“o… okay,” you whispered.

his words felt warm and genuine, almost like a shield against your insecurities.

you still felt a bit guilty, but there was no reason to.

you found your voice again after a few seconds, the joy you had felt when you first saw the kittens returning to your face.

“so we… can we put the kittens together once we get home? very close together?”

sylus stepped back, but refused to let go entirely, his arms still firmly circling your waist. he kissed your forehead, then your nose, and finally, your lips, completely smitten.

“mhm. and you may put the frog hat on my kitten,” he conceded, making you smile immediately.

“good… that's why i bought it,” you admitted softly, starting to walk once his hand found yours and his long legs moved with ease through the crowd.

the thought of the silly cats being placed together made the purchase even more meaningful.

it wasn't something that you bought solely for yourself, but… it made you feel happy.

and if there was one thing sylus would never regret spending his money on, it was seeing you enjoy yourself like that. he was the greedy one in that aspect.

he gave your hand a gentle squeeze, glancing down at the little box with quiet amusement, and your smile finally returned, sweet and genuine.

that alone was worth far more than anything his card could ever buy.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ caleb! ꒰੭

have a trip, they said.

it'll be fun, they said.

and, sure enough, the four of you boarded a plane, ready to explore the world for a few days.

it was a twelve-hour flight, so you were packed with toys, activity books, and plushies to keep the twins entertained.

you knew how annoying kids could be for… certain passengers, and the last thing you wanted was for your precious babies to get in trouble.

caleb placed the luggage in the overhead compartment, all while you settled your two-year-olds into their seats.

the twins said hello to every passenger who walked down the aisle before happily playing with their toys.

when most of the passengers were seated, you decided to go to the bathroom for just a few seconds to grab some toilet paper in case your twins made a mess.

caleb, on the other hand, turned to an older lady who was struggling with her luggage, and with an easy smile, he helped her.

“oh, you're such a sweetheart, dearie,” she sweetly said, patting his strong arm.

“no problem, ma'am,” he grinned back, turning around to sit down.

…

where were the twins?

caleb's eyes darted around frantically, and when you came back from the bathroom, your question made things even worse.

“lebbie? where are our babies?”

panic followed.

both of you looked around like crazy, hearts thumping.

this couldn't be happening, this couldn't—

“ladies and gentlemen, this is captain dianne chester. welcome aboard highland airlines, flight 1306…”

the flight attendants walked down the aisle, checking everyone's seats and seatbelts. when they saw you both standing, they politely told you to sit down.

before you could explain what was going on, the voice on the intercom shifted.

“oh, it appears we have two enthusiastic little ones who want to help with the announcement,” the captain said, her voice surprised but warm.

“hiiii!” one tiny voice echoed across the entire plane. “hi dada! hi mommy!”

“dada is a piwot too!” another voice chimed in. “he… fwies… big pwanes!”

you clutched your chest and closed your eyes in both relief and dread.

your twins would kill you.

caleb quickly told the flight attendant those were his kids, and they let both of you go to the cockpit immediately.

the twins were all over the captain, each one sitting on one of her thighs while holding the radio.

“the sky is pwetty like mommy!” one of them yelled, and the entire plane chuckled.

the captain smiled and turned to caleb once he entered.

the twins clapped excitedly.

“dada, dada!”

“we're— we're so sorry, captain. these little rascals are mine,” he mumbled, now looking at his kids. “miss, mister. apologize.”

the twins shared a glance before looking at captain chester with sweet grins.

“sowwy!”

as the captain handed them over to caleb, she looked at you with a playful expression.

“you have quite the pair here. they're enchanting, truly.”

you apologized profusely and followed caleb down the aisle, noticing the back of his neck had turned red.

he was embarrassed.

everyone on the plane was now staring at your little, chaotic family.

some of the passengers were smiling, some were giggling, some were just curious.

you sat by the window, placed the two babies beside you, and caleb sat by the aisle, making sure the little gremlins were securely buckled in.

they quickly got distracted with their toys, and you shared exhausted looks.

the happiness turned into panic, the panic into embarrassment, and the embarrassment into relief.

the flight hadn't even started, and the twins had already made their first mess.

you had nine hours left, enough caffeine in your system, and a husband who'd use his evol just to keep his babies glued to their seats if necessary.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ rafayel! ꒰੭

rafayel had to go to the mall to do some shopping, so he brought you and your three-year-old as well.

most of the time, your baby girl would be calm and simply point at the cute plushies or the shiny things displayed in the stores. sometimes, though, she'd like to run around and chase other little kids, but other than that, she was a very well-behaved princess.

however, she had a tiny little flaw.

whenever the attention wasn't on her, chaos ensued, and you knew for a fact she got that from her dada.

rafayel called you over just to check the price of an adorable pair of rain boots for your daughter, and you swore she was hugging your leg… until both of you turned around to measure her feet, and she was nowhere to be seen.

naturally, your first reaction was to panic, and rafayel's reaction was to think of the worst, most fatal, and heart-wrenching scenarios known to man.

“but— she was here just seconds ago, i swear!” you whimpered, looking around with your heart in your throat and your skin going cold.

rafayel moved like a madman, eyes darting around every corner, every suspicious person, and then, just then, a familiar and sweet voice echoed just a few meters away, attracting a crowd of people holding up their phones.

there she was, next to a fountain where some people were singing for money.

one of the singers was holding the microphone to her lips, all while she looked around with delight.

“i'm a wittle fishy! i can swim!” she chirped, beaming at the tiny crowd. “here is my taiw! here is my fin!”

rafayel stopped dead in his tracks, not knowing whether to cry out of relief or pull her away from the strangers.

she then threw her arms out dramatically, nearly stumbling over her own little shoes.

“when i wanna have fun wif my fwiends,” she sang at the top of her little lungs, “i wiggle my taiw and dive wight in!”

the people clapped and recorded with huge smiles, and she clumsily picked up the turned-over hat the singers used to collect tips.

much to your surprise, she walked by, shaking the hat with a huge grin and thanking whoever tossed a coin or a bill into it.

the singers were, of course, delighted with the amount of support.

you, on the other hand, quickly pushed through the crowd and picked her up in your shaky arms, returning the hat full of money almost immediately.

“my goodness, we're so sorry!” you blurted out, pulling your giggly daughter close.

rafayel too stepped closer, hugging his baby girl just to make sure she wasn't a fragment of his imagination.

he kissed her temple over and over, sighing shakily.

“oh, princess… that was absolutely marvelous, but please,” he took a deep breath. “please, my sweet girl, don't scare mama and dada like that ever again.”

you nuzzled her head and grounded yourself, trying to soothe your racing heart.

she squealed and clapped her hands, proud of her antics, totally unaware of the stress and panic she had caused by being a little charmer.

“i am a wittle fishy, i can swiiiiim!” she sang again in your arms, waving goodbye to the happy singers. “here is my taiw and here is my fin! lalalalalala, lalala!”

they waved back and cooed, all while rafayel's hand found your lower back to guide you back to the rain boots you were looking at earlier, both of you sharing relieved glances.

“i think this… little fishy needs a leash,” he whispered.

“urgently,” you breathed out, arms rocking the energetic toddler. “she's just like her dada.”

and that he could never disagree with.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ sylus! ꒰੭

sylus hosted a small reunion with some associates of his.

there was wine, expensive appetizers, and some gentlemen playing poker.

the twins offered to take care of your baby girl, and while you knew that always ended in trouble, you agreed at their insistence.

sylus and you chatted with the guests, escaping to the kitchen from time to time to gossip about some of them and to sneakily kiss since, apparently, you couldn't be away from each other.

when sylus backed away, one hand gently cradling your cheek, some sort of hushed discussion erupted outside.

you could hear confused murmurs, awkward coughs, and a softer voice trying to redirect whoever was causing the disruption.

when both of you went out to investigate what was going on, your breath hitched.

there she was, at the head of the table where her papa usually sat, with a bunch of chocolate coins replacing the colorful poker chips, and her sticky hands clutching some cards.

she looked serious, despite having her favorite binky, a kitten onesie, and her little crow slippers on; the ones the twins got for her.

…right.

the twins.

where the hell were they?

you looked around the room and found them peeking from the hallway entrance, their body language just as anxious as yours, if not more so.

you narrowed your eyes, ready to lecture them, but before you could even approach, sylus softly grabbed your waist and kept you in place, his head tilting to the side with amusement and… curiosity.

her tiny legs dangled from the chair, and she looked down at her cards, without understanding a thing, of course.

then, she pushed some coins to the center of the table, staring at the men with those huge, crimson eyes.

they all exchanged glances, unsure how to proceed.

one of them was ready to leave given how ridiculous everything was, but it seemed he remembered at the last minute it was sylus' little dove he'd be disrespecting, so he didn't move.

you too wished to grab your daughter and remove her from the situation.

one, she was clearly interrupting, and two, you didn't want your baby girl to… gamble from such an early age.

what kind of parent would that make you?

“sy, we should—” you whispered, only to be interrupted when your husband walked behind your daughter, leaning against the back of her chair.

“gentlemen,” he gestured with both hands. “do proceed.”

your baby giggled behind her binky, little feet bouncing softly.

the men cleared their throats and picked up their cards, pushing some poker chips next to the golden coins.

it was already a challenge not to dismiss sylus' daughter, but to now have his dangerous presence looming over them like the papa bear he was?

the air grew thick with tension and fear.

you could only watch the chaos unfold, your tension turning into amusement.

she didn't even know how to read, but she was an amazing copycat, and she'd seen how they all played.

she slammed her cards on the table and yelled incoherently, standing up on the chair and pulling all of the chips and coins closer to her.

the gentlemen wanted to interrupt and stop her, but one arch of sylus' eyebrow was enough to freeze them in place.

she had won, fair and square… allegedly.

while your baby jumped on her feet, you walked up to sylus and nuzzled his shoulder.

“how are we going to pay these lovely gents?”

he shrugged softly, pulling you closer.

“they should've known the house always wins.”

you sighed heavily and returned your baby's smile once she looked at you.

you already knew she was going to be spoiled, but to have her papa approving of and encouraging everything and anything she did, no matter how wild and without any shame at all?

that'd become a chaos you needed to prepare for.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ xavier! ꒰੭

for your baby's second birthday, you organized a full day at a beautiful camping spot with a fantastic view, child-friendly zones, and a picnic area.

xavier packed quite a lot of food, blankets, and toys, and drove all the way to the secluded forest.

upon your arrival, you spotted a lot of families with children, all of them having fun.

your toddler looked around with wide eyes, clinging to his father's neck.

it was always like this at first, until he loosened up and ended up running from side to side like an uncontrollable lightning bolt.

but as of right now, there were a lot of things going on, and you knew it would be best to place him near the picnic area, where most people were either eating or enjoying the warm sunshine.

xavier gently placed your baby boy down and laid out the pale lavender blanket with little stars over the soft grass. he then took the food containers out so that all of you could eat lunch.

“i'll go ask that family if they can lend us some napkins, i totally forgot to pack them,” you softly said, to which xavi nodded, focusing back on the paper cups and plates.

it really took a second for your son to disappear.

when you came back with a bunch of napkins and a smile on your face, xavier looked up at you, satisfied with his work.

you tilted your head slightly, your face falling.

“xavi, my love…” you whispered. “where's our baby?”

both of you silently stared at each other, and he looked at the empty space where your baby should've been.

“...fuck,” he whispered, quickly standing up, azure eyes studying every inch of the camping area.

you sighed heavily and set the napkins down, starting to call out your son's name.

“honey? honey! where are you?”

as panic began to rise in both of you, xavier sharply turned around when he heard some giggles and the unmistakable sound of his son's voice asking for more chicken wings.

the little rascal was comfortably sitting next to a large family, his greedy hands sticky and messy with bbq sauce.

he also had the nerve to peek inside the basket, his finger pointing at all the things he wanted.

anyone would assume he was a starving kid whose parents never fed him, and nothing could've been further from the truth.

when you saw the other family cooing and giggling over the boy's cuteness, you felt a wave of embarrassment wash over you.

you never ran faster in your life.

“hello! we're… we're his parents,” you breathed out, crouching down and picking up your baby. “my gosh, we're deeply sorry, ma'am. he is— he's like a little torpedo, and he has his father's appetite.”

almost as if on cue, xavier stepped behind the both of you, his hands carrying a container of stew and rice.

he handed it over like an offering, his gaze averted.

xavier wished the earth would swallow him whole and leave no trace.

“we apologize.”

thankfully, the family members were kind enough to laugh about it and accept the food before you three went back to your abandoned lavender blanket.

your son licked his hands earnestly, enjoying the remnants of the food; completely proud and satisfied with himself.

meanwhile, xavier and you moved quietly, as if scared to draw any more attention.

the baby ate just fine, as if he hadn't just eaten at least three chicken wings before you came.

well, now you knew your baby was social and charming enough to make friends without even trying, which was a relief.

but that also meant you'd have to deal with two insatiable boys who moved fast as lightning, made no noise, and ate as if there were no tomorrow…

you'd need more than just good luck.~

𐙚˙⋆.˚ zayne! ꒰੭

it was a cold day, and staying inside sounded cozy enough…

until zayne started to crave something sweet.

in his defense, dessert was always needed after lunch, and since your little boy agreed with everything his papa said, you all got your coats on and went to a bakery downtown.

zayne intertwined his hand with yours, while your little boy ran to the glass display cases filled with delicious and colorful pastries.

your husband and you took some time to choose, mostly because zayne couldn't decide whether to buy something creamy and sweet or something tangy and fresh.

“the lemon posset does look appetizing, but such fresh flavors are best during summertime,” he commented, his gaze travelling to the rest of the desserts. “and the sticky toffee pudding would be ideal, if the portion were bigger…”

ah, choices, choices.

so hard to decide.

as you comforted your indecisive hubby, your little boy sneaked his way into the kitchen, wanting to find out if they had any hidden secret pastries inside.

“why don't we buy both? i'll also get the toffee pudding and give you half of it,” you offered, and his hazel eyes lit up almost immediately.

“very well,” he nodded, lips finding your forehead.

he was like a kid in a candy store.

…

speaking of which, where was your son?

you softly turned back and noticed he wasn't looking around anymore, but since you hadn't heard the main door open again, you knew he had to be somewhere inside.

“pumpkin?” you softly called out, making zayne straighten up, immediately attentive to his surroundings.

he too looked around, calmly, but slightly unnerved by the sudden disappearance.

but, as he would say, panicking wouldn't solve anything.

“muffin? where are you, sweetie?”

just then, the cashier lady muffled a soft giggle and pointed inside the kitchen, making both you and zayne frown.

with hesitant steps, you went inside, only to freeze in the doorway.

your toddler was sitting on a counter, chubby cheeks stained with chocolate, hands holding what seemed like half a muffin.

an older lady gently offered him a cookie, waiting for his reaction, and when he put his little thumb up, she smiled.

“ah, so it is a good batch, then! thank you, dearie.”

“mama likes sprinkles… i like sprinkles too, but… but chocolate chips are better,” he rambled with a lisp, legs swinging rhythmically. “papa says… papa says cookies are bad at night… but he eats them sometimes.”

he talked, and talked, asking questions with no answers, taking shallow breaths before each sentence, and furrowing his little brows as if discussing something revolutionary.

“do you know my papa is afraid of carrots?” he whispered, to which the older lady only smiled, continuing to work with amusement.

zayne cleared his throat, and you covered your face with both hands so as not to laugh at how ridiculous and embarrassing this was.

your son squeaked and jumped off the counter, running to his dad.

“papa, papa! i found secret cookies!” he urged, pointing at the current batch the lady was taking out of the oven.

zayne's ears were cherry red, but not as red as his cheeks.

he picked up his son and kept him a few inches away to avoid getting chocolate or muffin crumbs on his pristine coat.

you smiled sheepishly and approached the lady, your apologetic expression sincere.

“we're so sorry, ma'am, we will pay for everything he's eaten,” you offered, and zayne nodded earnestly.

“we… we will. we are deeply sorry,” he quietly said, his voice strained.

the lady laughed and handed your messy boy a bag of cookies, her smile warmer and sweeter than any dessert on display.

“nonsense! it's been a while since we've had an expert taste tester 'round here.”

your baby boy grinned, and you once again apologized, guiding your husband outside.

he paid way more than necessary for the two pastries he wanted and the mess your son had caused, avoiding eye contact at all costs.

deep down, zayne knew he couldn't be too harsh on his baby. after all, if he were as small, chubby, and cute as his son, he would've taken the opportunity to get sweets from an older lady as well.

maybe he could learn how to be as straightforward and decisive as his little one, especially when it came to his beloved sweets.

but for now, he'd have to give him a bath, a long, boring lecture, and take away the bag of cookies.

they were bad at night… for kids, anyway.~