-------------------------------

Calm and Serenity

Series Masterlist

Sylus x Non!MC

summary: you didn't know what sylus saw in you. he said you were calm, quiet and serene and that's what he needs. you believed it. he showed it. not until little miss hunter came. she's everything you're not. news that she's in danger can make the ever so calm sylus to run and leave everything behind. it made you think, would he do that for you as well?

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

SYLUS QIN TWT LINKS

INCLUDES— fingering, clit play, cunnilingus, making out, groping, penetration, squirting, creampie, size difference kink, masturbation, bath sex, body worship (?), grinding, breast/nipple play.

WARNINGS— 16 links, all of these videos are for afab readers/viewers, don't like don't read/watch, make sure to be logged into twt/x beforehand, if some of the links stop working please lmk ! nsfw below the cut

your tight pussy clinging to his cock cos he's just so big

sylus having you in a mating press after coming back from another long and tedious business trip

he hasn't shown much interest in the size difference between you two, but you definitely have

sylus always manages to get you to squirt during round two

he loves the taste of your sweet cunt after you've had a hard day and need some help destressing

grinning in the middle of toe curling dick because you know you're the only one who gets to have him like this, no matter how many women giggle over him in public

sylus knows how sensitive your nipples are and he always takes full advantage of that fact

the type of shit he sends you when the two of you have been apart for too long

you're always so cute cuddled up in his massive bed, he just couldn't help himself

sylus rubbing your clit because you begged to feel him before work

despite what people might think sylus truly is a gentle lover, always focusing on your pleasure first

taking his time with his girl because he knows it gets you worked up

you convinced him to take a holiday abroad with you, the plan was to sightsee and explore but you ended up spending most of the holiday touching each other

he doesn't typically ask for blowjobs but when you begged him all prettily he couldn't resist

ever since you expressed your want to start a family with him sylus made sure to fill you up every night

sigh...his birthday trailer...he definitely eats the puss good

© ffiolette

Chapter 22 [Draft]

Sung Jinwoo/Trial Player!Reader

CW:

Inspired by @circeyoru ‘s “Future Power Couple”

[Masterlist🦋✨️]

“I’ll go ahead, Jinwoo,” you said softly, giving a brief nod to Adam White, the agent from the American Hunter Bureau. The man returned the gesture politely, professionalism etched into his features. You turned on your heels, already scanning the area for a secluded spot where you could teleport safely without attracting undue attention.

Before you could take more than a few steps, a hand gently but firmly grasped your left wrist. The contact stopped you mid-step, and you turned halfway, raising a brow in question.

“Jinwoo—” you started, but his expression stopped you before his words.

“Can you stay?” Jinwoo asked, his voice low, almost hesitant. His tone lacked its usual authority, replaced instead by something softer, almost… vulnerable. And so was his expression, the intensity in his grey eyes as they bore into yours, a quiet plea that he seemed unsure how you would respond to. It wasn’t an order or a casual suggestion—it was a genuine request. “Please.”

You blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the request coupled by the earnestness. His hand remained steady on your arm, his grip, while not forceful, neither was it loose.

Jinwoo was not someone who typically asked for anything, let alone in such a way.

You studied his face, weighing your options. Between the uncharacteristic pleading in his eyes, the whisper-soft quality of his voice, and his hold, it was clear he wouldn’t let go as easily as you would’ve liked. And you doubted it would be worth the trouble to try to convince him otherwise.

Still, seriously, of all the days I decide not to wear my mask, you internally lamented on your decision to forgo the subtle charm that helped mask your presence this time for the memorial service.

Despite your internal grumbling, you conceded with a sigh and allowed a small smile to grace your lips as you nodded.

“Alright.” you murmured, voice light.

At your response, Jinwoo’s neutral expression shifted ever so slightly—his features brightened in a way that was barely noticeable unless one was familiar with him. And unfortunately for you, you were.

Adam, meanwhile, shifted awkwardly on the sidelines. You glanced at him at the corner of your eye, suddenly remembering his presence, and felt a pang of sympathy for the agent. He must have felt incredibly out of place in this strange, silent exchange.

Adam cleared his throat, attempting to regain the momentum of the conversation. “Hunter Sung—”

Before he could finish, Jinwoo pulled you closer with a suddenness that caused you to stumble to his side. Your eyes widened slightly as his grip on your wrist slid to intertwine his fingers with yours.

“Whatever it is you want to tell me,” Jinwoo said calmly, his tone now laced with that quiet authority, “you can tell her.”

You stared at him, lips parting as if to speak but no words came.

The words were simple enough, it wasn’t so much what he said that caught you off guard—it was how he said it. The conviction in his voice was startling, as if his trust in you was absolute, and his words left no room for argument.

You didn’t even have time to recover when Jinwoo glanced down at you, his lips curving into a faint, warm and confident smile.

“She’s someone I can count on,” he added, as if that explained everything.

Adam blinked, visibly thrown off by Jinwoo’s rather blunt declaration. His gaze flickered between the two of you. “Ah, my apologies,” Adam spoke carefully. “Are you two perhaps…?”

Your head snapped toward Adam so quickly that under normal circumstances, you’d have felt a pang of vertigo.

“No!” you blurted out, voice sharper than intended as heat crept up your neck. Quickly regaining your composure, you cleared your throat before continuing more evenly, “You’ve got it wrong, Mr. White. What my friend here meant is that I’m privy to his… rather unique capabilities as a Hunter, and that I know how to keep my mouth shut.”

You managed to keep your tone as steady as possible, ignoring the subtle tightening sensation on your hand somewhere along your choice of words.

Bless Adam White, because he didn’t push further. Instead, he nodded politely, accepting your explanation without comment. “Understood. And please, call me Adam, Miss…?”

Adam stretched out his hand and you accepted it with a smile.

“(Name). Just (Name).”

---

After the conversation wrapped up, Adam escorted both of you to the car waiting nearby. As he excused himself to make a quick call—likely to inform his superiors about the additional “guest” accompanying Hunter Sung—you climbed into the back seat alongside Jinwoo.

It wasn’t until the car began moving that you realized: Jinwoo’s hand was still holding yours.

You glanced down at your entwined fingers, then up at him. Nudging his hand discreetly, hoping he’d take the hint.

He didn’t respond, his face calm and composed as if your silent protests didn’t exist.

You tried again, nudging him a little more insistently. “Jinwoo,” you whispered, “Let go.”

Still, nothing. He remained as nonchalant as ever, his focus seemingly on the passing scenery outside the car window.

Eventually, you gave up, resigned to the situation as you leaned back against the seat. If Jinwoo noticed your surrender, he didn’t show it, though the faint curve of his lips suggested he was aware.

Still, you couldn’t help but feel self-conscious under other’s occasional glances.

From his spot in the front seat, Adam’s eyes flicked toward the rearview mirror. His gaze lingered for a moment before quickly darting away. It was impossible not to, especially after he saw the way the S-ranker’s eyes glowed earlier when you’d referred to him as a “friend.”

Strangely, there was no intel about you, not any that Adam had received anyway. It was as if you went off the radar completely. But how was that possible, if you were this close to Hunter Sung Jinwoo?

The agent glanced between the two of you once or twice and wisely chose to remain silent.

The quiet hum of the engine filled the silence as Jinwoo sat beside you, his usual demeanor in place as if this casual intimacy was the most natural thing in the world. You, on the other hand, couldn’t help but feel acutely aware of his presence.

The coolness of his hand, how calloused it was.

When his thumb brushed against your skin briefly—a motion so fleeting you almost convinced yourself it didn’t happen.

As the vehicle continue to move nearing your destination, you silently wondered why, despite of it all, you couldn’t bring yourself to pull away.

---

Tis as you said, Mother.

Red’s voice echoed faintly in your mind, amusement dancing at the edges of her words.

She really does have them wrapped around her fingers!

You heard Trick’s giggles next, and the others joined in soon after. A cascade of light chimes in your head, each of them speaking in turn as they observed the woman named Norma Selner through your eyes. Their presence in your thoughts was both comforting and mildly distracting.

Norma, for her part, glanced in your direction briefly, likely sensing your gaze. You offered her a soft, unassuming smile and a polite nod. She returned the gesture before focusing her attention back on Jinwoo.

You mentally praised yourself, your children, and the system for the careful layering of enchantments that blanketed your nature so thoroughly. To fool someone like Norma Selner at first glance—someone with her unique gift—was no small feat.

Speaking of the system…

Are you going to intervene? The tone you used in your mind calm but probing. You know what she’s capable of, don’t you?

The response was silence. Not a sound, not a whisper. Nothing.

You sighed inwardly. Really, the empty reply didn’t surprise you. If the system had no objection, it meant the matter was left to you to handle. Typical.

---

Norma Selner was trapped in darkness.

It stretched infinitely in every direction, the pitch-black void with no sign of life. Nothing but an overwhelming emptiness. An endless abyss, where no light penetrated and no sound carried. The air was cold, almost biting, yet it felt weightless and suffocating all at once.

She turned frantically, searching for something—anything—that could anchor her in this oppressive nothingness.

Her breathing quickened as she tried to move, but the weight of the void pressed against her limbs, making her movements sluggish. Frantic, searching for something—anything—that could anchor her in this nothingness.

When her eyes drifted upward, she saw it.

A presence loomed above her, formless yet all-encompassing. Its gaze piercing and ancient, and it was staring back at her, dissecting her, peeling away every layer of her being.

It filled her with an indescribable, primal fear.

A scream clawed at her throat, but before she could release it, a faint glow fluttered at the edge of her vision.

A butterfly.

Delicate and luminous as it danced in the void. A tiny beacon, a stark contrast to the surrounding darkness.

“Come with us!” chimed a chorus of soft, bell-like voices.

Her trembling legs moved on instinct, her body scrambling to follow the glittery trail left behind without a second thought.

The abyss seemed to shift as she ran, the oppressive darkness trailing after her, neither rushing nor retreating. Instead, it moved as though it were tethered to the guiding light.

The void began to change.

The darkness beneath her feet gave way to splashes of crimson, blooming into vivid red spider lilies, their petals stark against the blackness. With every step she took, the flowers spread further, their roots twisting into the emptiness and replacing it with something tangible.

Bare feet splashed into shallow water, the sound oddly grounding, sending ripples across its surface. She looked down, startled, to see the night sky reflected perfectly in the liquid mirror beneath her. Above her, stars shimmered like diamonds scattered across the vastness of space.

She came to a stop, breathless, her heart pounding in her chest. The butterfly of light had vanished, leaving her alone amidst the endless field of red flowers that seemed to sway with an unseen breeze. Gone with them the fear that had gripped her prior.

And then she felt it.

Warmth.

It radiated through her body and soul, soothing every nerve and easing every ounce of tension she carried, melting away like frost under the morning sun. She barely noticed as a pair of hands cradled her face gently, tilting it upward.

Norma found herself staring at a figure clad in flowing white. Under the veil, molten gold eyes met her own. They were luminous yet distant, like sunlight filtered through a mist. She couldn’t look away.

The figure exuded an aura of pure, untainted comfort. Norma felt her knees weaken under the weight of their presence, not from fear, but from an overwhelming sense of belonging.

“Wake up,” the figure mouthed, tender yet commanding.

Norma’s lips parted as if to respond, but she couldn’t form the words. Their warmth was intoxicating and she felt herself sinking into the divine embrace, wanting nothing more than to remain there. Forever.

But the words came again, firmer this time, like a gentle pull back to reality.

“Wake up.”

---

Norma Selner jolted awake, gasping for breath.

The fluorescent lights of the meeting room above her felt harsh against her eyes. It was also loud with commotion, voices overlapping as figures moved in her periphery, while she could barely process her surroundings. Everything felt distant and distorted.

“I apologize, Mr. Sung, Miss (Name),” came a calm yet firm voice. It was Michael Conner, the deputy director. His tone carried a measured mix of authority and unease. “Our agents stepped out of line.”

Words were exchanged, but Norma couldn’t register them. Her trembling hands clutched her head, tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, though whether from fear or something else entirely, she couldn’t tell

The deputy director’s voice broke through again, this time directed at her.

“Mrs. Selner? What’s wrong?”

She blinked rapidly through her blurred vision, chest still heaving heavily.

“You’re sweating profusely,” Michael said, filled with concern. “Are you feeling ill?”

Norma tried to respond, but her throat felt dry, and her thoughts remained scattered.

“It seems Mrs. Selner isn’t feeling well today,” Michael added, his tone returned to professional and polite as he spoke to Jinwoo. “Can we contact you another time?”

“Wait.”

Somehow, Norma could single out that soft, melodic voice through the haze.

“I’m a healer. I can at least stabilize her condition, if you’ll allow me.”

Michael looked uncertain, but after a quick glance at Norma’s state, he nodded reluctantly. “Please, if you’re able to help her.”

You moved closer to the trembling woman, careful not to overwhelm her with sudden movements. Kneeling beside her, you gently placed your hands on either side of her face. She flinched at the contact, but the moment your magic flowed through her, she stilled.

Like sunlight breaking through clouds, warmth enveloped her once again, though it was softer, less overwhelming than—

Her breathing slowed, and the trembling in her limbs subsided.

Norma finally looked up, meeting your gaze.

“Y-you…” she croaked, her voice hoarse and weak.

“Shh,” you interrupted softly, your tone soothing. “Mrs. Selner, please focus on calming yourself first, alright? Everything else can wait.”

Though your voice was kind, there was a gentle finality to your words. Despite the comfort you exuded, Norma couldn’t shake the weight of something absolute—an unspoken order she had no choice but to obey.

Her lips pressed together in silent compliance as she nodded faintly, allowing herself to bask in the warmth of your touch a moment longer.

---

"My..."

It was faint, distant yet heavy, reverberating with its own brand resonance, an echo from the depths of the pitch-black void.

"My...Lord..."

There it was again—the voice that whispered the moment you connected your space with Norma Selner’s consciousness, delving into the depths of her mind and subsequently brushing against something far older, far darker.

The first time, you stiffened at the sound, not out of fear but from recognition. There was something achingly familiar in the tone, something that resonated deep within you.

"Is…that...you…?"

As you stood at the border, the voice echoed again, closer this time, yet wavering, tinged with denial and something akin to long-lost longing.

"Impos...sible..."

You didn’t move to retreat as shadowy wisps emerged from the abyss, curling outward like hands reaching for you. They stopped mere inches from your form, and it was hard to make out through the ever-changing smoke, but you had a feeling that they were trembling, as if afraid their touch would break the illusion. Or was it unsure of their welcome?

There was a battle in your mind, with two opposing sides.

You should have been alarmed; the situation was rife with danger, uncertainty, and countless unknowns. Yet, you didn’t fully understand why, but you felt no fear. Something in you—a quiet yet inexplicable confidence—assured you that whatever dwelled in this darkness would not harm you.

And so, following the feeling you couldn’t name and ignoring the flicker of logic warning you against it, you raised your hands.

Your palms pressed gently against the shadowy wisps. The tendrils were both intangible and tangible; past the ephemeral smoke, ethereal to the touch, was cold as metal. They quivered at your gesture but didn’t pull away as you slowly guided them to your face, resting their hard edges against your cheeks.

The icy touch reminded you of a certain raven-haired protagonist. You closed your eyes, welcoming their hesitant presence with calm serenity.

"You...are...not..."

The voice grew clearer, imbued with an unplaceable mix of awe and turmoil.

"How...?"

You opened your eyes then, gazing into the abyss with a tenderness that seemed to soften even the restless darkness starting to embrace you whole in accordance to the crumbling space behind you.

You asked, your voice calm, serene.

“Are you upset?”

There was a pause, the silence stretching, until the shadowy thumb brushed against your cheek. Its sharp edges moving with the utmost care, as though they feared leaving a mark on your skin.

"No."

The answer came at last, heavy with an emotion you couldn’t quite identify.

"I...do…not...know..."

“Then,” you began, your voice unwavering as you continue to cradle his hands in yours.

“Will you let me see you again soon?”

---

After stabilizing Norma Selner’s condition and ensuring she was in no immediate danger, you and Jinwoo were escorted to his car.

As Adam’s car disappeared down the street, Jinwoo was the first to speak.

“Is it really okay?” his tone measured, though his gaze was sharp as he watched you. “Showing your powers to her like that.”

Your eyes remained on the direction the agent’s vehicle had gone, a butterfly trailed discreetly behind it. Jinwoo spotted the second one you had planted on Norma Selner earlier, fluttering innocuously on her shoulder.

“She only saw a glimpse,” you answered smoothly. “Besides, there’s no point in hiding from someone like her. She’ll find out sooner than later, and I’d rather she learn under my terms.”

Jinwoo’s eyes narrowed. “You know what she’s truly capable of?”

You finally turned to him; your expression as unreadable as they were distant. “Yes.”

“So, I’m guessing it’s a fail?”

You gave him a flat look before answering. “Your powers have no limits, Jinwoo. Her abilities won’t work on you.”

Jinwoo absorbed that information in silence, then added, “Or on you.”

You didn’t confirm or deny it, only staring back at him with an inscrutable gaze.

Between the two of you, this was familiar by now, an indication that this was as far as you could tell him, as far as the system would let you anyway. There was no need for words, and Jinwoo could proudly say that he could take it with a stride now.

He gestured to his car.

“Let me drive you home,” Before you could decline, he added, “I want to talk to you.”

---

The car ride was quiet, the hum of the engine the only sound filling the space between you. You sat in the front passenger seat, your gaze wandering on the passing scenery outside the window, where other vehicles blur by.

“So,” you began, breaking the quiet, “what is it?”

Jinwoo tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

“It’s overdue, I owe you an apology,” he said, his voice steady but tinged with hesitation. “For back then—at my rank re-evaluation.”

He heard a soft sigh and Jinwoo snuck a quick glance as you shifted in your seat. You were looking straight ahead now, expression still hard to read.

“I should’ve been more careful,” he continued, the words spilling out faster now, tinged with regret. “You told me before, that you wanted to stay hidden, and I should’ve respected that. I admit I got…distracted. Too caught up in wanting to show you how far I’d come. But that’s no excuse for crossing your boundaries like that.”

He took a deep breath before adding, “I’m sorry.”

“Jinwoo…” Your voice was too quiet. He wondered if he somehow messed up again.

“I’m sorry too.”

That was the last thing Jinwoo expected to hear. His grip on the steering wheel momentarily loosening as he caught himself. He shot you a quick glance a second time before returning his eyes to the road.

 “Why are you apologizing? You didn’t—”

“I was high-strung that day,” you cut him off gently, probably already anticipating his protest. “I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. I forgive you. Just…” You paused, turning to look at him. “Just tell me in advance next time you’re planning to pull something like that. Clearly.” You emphasized, though your gaze softened.

“Like when you wanted me to accompany you in meeting the U.S. Hunter Bureau just now.”

The road was mercifully empty as Jinwoo risked another glance at you, and the sight of your expression made his chest tighten unexpectedly.

“Thank you for that.”

The setting sun illuminated your face as you said it sincerely. The way your eyes shine with unmistakable fondness, expression warm and tender. The shy smile tugging at your lips, carrying an undeniable gentleness. Your unwavering attention. All of it—at this moment—directed solely at him.

How utterly lovely.

Jinwoo’s throat felt dry, and he quickly looked back at the road.

“R-right. You’re welcome. I mean—” He stumbled over his words, the tips of his ears burned. “I forgive you too…”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw your shoulders shaking slightly as you covered your mouth. Failing to prevent a few giggle that managed to slip by.

Jinwoo felt heated up—the warmth a similar kind to when you held hands or when you were in pretty close proximity—and he had half a mind to crank up the AC.

Still, he couldn’t help the giddiness. Because in that moment, he didn’t mind embarrassing himself if it meant hearing your sweet laughter again.

End Note:

Unfinished Draft of [28/11/2024] -

I want to ask for your opinions this time 🙏

✨ NEW STORY ANNOUNCEMENT! ✨

(A Slow Burn, Second Chance, Pilot x Ground Controller Romance)

Summary: Y/N and Caleb once sat in the same classroom, dreaming of the skies. She was the quiet, shy girl with a crush on the golden boy of aviation school—the one who made flying look effortless. Years later, she’s a dedicated ground controller, guiding planes from the safety of the tower, while Caleb is soaring through the clouds as a commercial pilot.

Their paths were never meant to cross again… until their meddling mothers set them up on the same blind date.

But there’s a catch—Caleb doesn’t recognize her.

What starts as an awkward, mismatched date soon turns into something else when fate keeps pulling them back together. Between late-night flights, stolen conversations, and the quiet longing of two people who were always meant to meet again, will Caleb finally realize the girl he overlooked might be the one who was always waiting for him?

Masterlist

💫 Episode One: A Date Written in the Stars

💫 Episode Two: The Past Comes Full Circle

💫Episode Three: A Question Left Hanging

💫Episode Four: A Place to Land

💫Side-Story: A Marriage of Convenience

💫Episode Five: A Love That Lands

💫Episode Six: A Storm Brewing

💫Episode Seven: Under Pressure

💫Episode Eight: Close Encounters

💫Episode Nine: A Night of Realizations

💫Episode Ten: The Ring and the Accusation

🛫 Tropes & Vibes: ✔️ Slow Burn & Second Chances ✔️ Grounded x Skybound Dynamic ✔️ Oblivious Male Lead™ ✔️ Late-night conversations & longing looks ✔️ Fate keeps throwing them together

Taglist: OPEN comment below if you wanna be in the tag list

chuuya twitter links / visuals <3

notices: fem bodied reader. make sure to log in to twitter ! part 2 here.

chuuya fucking loves making you squirt. maybe a little too much.

he's absolutely astonished each time you wear one of his shirts.

this is so chuu justttt. augh.

best "good morning" you could even give him.

he really just doesn't want you to get too handy again when he wants to do this all night long.

chuuya after you'd asked him why would he need a full body length mirror. that's precisely why.

just him n your tits communicating.

he bought the softest and most expensive mattress just for this.

let's all agree, chuuya's a certified ass lover.

i can't imagine anyone but chuuya like this. just so him.

soft chuu for life !

you're still working even on your phone and he just wants you to forget about work when he's there.

he's been pissed all day at work and this is what he does after coming home instead of punching a wall.

i feel like he would love to finger you just so much.

special treatment for your perfect thighs.

moral support n comfort in times when he gets a bit ahead of himself.

again, so chuuya core. 101% him.

dazai part / fyodor part.

Inertia; Masterlist

(The banner sucks ik ✨️ graphic design is my passion ✨️ /j)

In • er • tia

/noun/

¹ “a tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged.”

² physics; “a property of matter by which it continues in its existing state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line, unless that state is changed by an external force.”

— Sir Issac Newton's three laws of motion describe the relationship between an object’s motion and the forces acting upon it. His first law is known as the Law of Inertia.

Pairing(s); LADS Caleb x non-mc reader

Themes; angst (like a butt load of it), abuse (for the first half, i mean this is about thee "child experimentation" corporation known as Ever), non-mc reader, mc has a name (Lia-hua), eventual smut in later drabbles, and I'll add other stuff as I go. Oh! I'll go into detail with some of the bad things, since I feel that it adds to the story (but for some i won't).

Warnings; 18+ for excessive swearing and mature themes

Notes; This will be a drabble series! I'll post it whenever, similarly to Divisa. The chapters will mostly be on the shorter end of the spectrum and let me know if you'd like to be added to an eventual taglist!

☆ One

☆ Two

☆ Three

☆ Four

☆ Five

☆ Six

☆ Seven

☆ Eight

Footnotes;

The original mc will be called Lia-hua, Chinese for lotus flower (aka rebirth). She will be called Unicorn for the first few drabbles and she will not be a white lotus! I love the mc, so her and Caleb will have a purely sibling relationship. The reader will be friends with them both.

I know Caleb is Donor 002 because the mc is Subject 001, but I just wanted the reader to be Donor 001 so that's it.

I named Caleb's team (the team experimenting on him) Hydra, the reader's is Chimera, and Lia's is (of course) Unicorn. Some of the information I'm using isn't canon, so take most of it with a grain of salt. Like how Caleb's Evol Level isn't mentioned (I headcanon he was level A and Ever experimented on him until he was S), how the facility looks and what experiments went on. I just assume the experiments were pretty...bad. Considering mc had to die for her rebirth to trigger.

Your Evol is metal manipulation. And that doesn't seem like much, however metals are found everywhere so it's actually relatively strong. There's metals in your blood, your skin, and also my main thought process behind this was that you could use your Evol to pull Caleb toward you since he has a metal arm 😊

Also this seems necessary to add for all the Caleb fuckers 👀 he will still be the panty sniffer we headcanon and love

the first time he met you, your evols resonated so well with each other — it leveled an entire building to the ground and three others. the clean up was a mess but at that time his lips quirked up in a slanted smile. “I guess you’re mine now.”

———————————————————————

you do not agree with his territorial claims. in fact, if anything, a part of you is busy rolling your eyes at the audacity of men to not give you a say. but it was nice, to unleash that much power, and to know you hold it. that here is someone able to make you feel good about your abilities and someone who gives a clear guide as to where you stand in their life: an asset, valuable. secretly, you’ve always loved the rush of feeling powerful and here is a man who hands it to you. 

a part of your mind labels him as worth sticking around for.

———————————————————————

you strike an unlikely friendship with him. he tells you about his search for his reincarnated soulmate. you listen even if it sounds like a fantasy to you — to be around someone who is pretty much proof that reincarnation and past lives exist is difficult to grasp but you also have an open mind — and it’s nice, you think, to watch him reminisce even if you can read the melancholy in his eyes. you don’t push him for answers, content with what he’s willing to share and recognize it when he wants to pull back. it’s nice to know he has a weakness; it’s nice to know he’s the type of person to relentlessly go after what he wants. 

it’s another mark on your book to keep sticking around him. you like people that inspire you to do more in your life. you hope he meets her soon. 

when he asks you jokingly if you’ve met your soulmate, you tell him blankly you have no idea. shouldn’t it be evident enough from the way you stick around him instead? 

it’s the first time you hear him laugh.

———————————————————————

so you help out when he tells you he has an inkling he’s found her. a hunter with a protocore for a heart based in linkon. 

you object at his stupid and idiotic behavior of stalking her. this is why he’s single all these years, you think. no tact whatsoever and is the poster child for terrifying your crush instead of being normal around them. you tell him as much. he looks so offended you can’t help but laugh and feel bad enough you give him pointers instead.

like, let you do the scouting and snooping to get to know her. secretly you also want to know who she is — you’re a bit nosy like that when it comes to the lives of the people around you. you want to know if she’s worth his attention and weigh the change in dynamic between you and him if she’s in the picture. 

did he let you? yes. you get to know her absolutely terrible skills at kitty cards and her refusal to admit defeat. it’s fine, you get it, pride is all one tend to have and you also are a sore loser sometimes; you just mask it well. weekly, you’ll meet up to play them in the card cafe if both of your schedules align.

did he ignore your advice? yes. because men, you learn, sometimes love loopholes. so off he goes making the mechanical crow he names mephisto to which you point out what a terrible name it was: it’s too clunky, you say to justify yourself.

he stares at you unimpressed. “it means not lovi—“ 

“—ng light,” you continue, “i know. had to google it and everything.”

“so?” as if it proves his point of being a skilled namer of things.

you shrug, “sounds like you’re trying too hard.” you refrain from saying it doesn’t sound like him at all even if the meaning does sound like him.

“you’re such a hater,” he grouses.

“i’m not,” you insist, extending a finger to… mephie. that’s cuter in your head. “you’re hurting his feelings for naming him something awful.” 

“he’s a robot.”

“a robot doesn’t need a custom stand perch in every room in this house.” mephie shuffles towards you and nudges your hand with his head. “don’t listen to him sweetheart. you’re the sweetest,” you coo to the crow. you’ve always liked animals most would associate with omens: crows, snakes, black cats. 

you give him the stink eye when he sends mephie to stalk his beloved. an absolute spoilsport. 

———————————————————————

when she stayed at the manor and your lives collide, you keep out of their way and stay in your assigned wing in the base. both of you have agreed you’ll tell her about you knowing him at a different time — maybe an orchestrated visit by him to your weekly kitty card cafe game and then she’ll ask of how you are acquainted. luke and kieran have been giggling nonstop and you send them your thoughts and prayers for their next prank. it’s a reunion you don’t wish to intrude upon and you’ve told him off when you hear how he treated her at first sight. you hope he’s making it up to her as mephie nudged your fingers for more pets. 

a robot, my ass, you think. the clinginess is worth studying even as you indulge its every whim. animals have never harmed you; it’s why you find it easy for them to love. once, a palm reader in linkon stationed at the card cafe stop you and tell you you’ve saved animals in your past life. you take it in stride, knowing what you know about reincarnation from sylus. you are impressed and starting to consider maybe there’s really truth in past lives as the first dream you had growing up was a field you get to roam in. it was also where you administer first aid to beasts and gazelles injured in the wild, like a field doctor, no matter how improbable that is logistically. 

you await the gossip session come sunrise, or the weekend or whenever their honeymoon ends.

———————————————————————

“she doesn’t remember.”

he tells you this in his office without prompt. miss hunter has left the premises two days prior and you were happy to not pry. if he wanted to tell you, he would. 

you recalibrate your response. sorry is too trite and you personally don’t get heartaches and the melodrama of a heartbreak. to act otherwise would be insulting and not maintain your integrity and yet even you know it’s callous.

sylus sends a wry smile your way, “no tears for me?” 

“you don’t need it,” you say, then, choose your words carefully because you do consider him as a friend. “all i know about love is people leave even when you don’t want them to. so i find it hard to imagine being sad that they don’t stay.” 

he frowns. “you don’t believe that.” a statement. he knows you a bit too well for your liking sometimes.

“no,” you agree, “it’s what i learned.”

a silence passes between you, too heavy for your liking, so you wave it away, “what i’m trying to say is i can’t promise she’ll remember one day or that she’ll be who she is in your memory, but anyone worthwhile would appreciate the effort you’ve put into finding her.”

“so long as you don’t terrorize her,” you add as levity.

he snorts. “i’ll try not to.” 

“i’m serious,” you start. “you can be…” 

he raises an eyebrow.

charming, sincere, lovable 

“…passable: not terrible to be around.”

“passable,” he repeats.

“i mean i haven’t killed you,” you say. “yet.” 

“a stellar review.”

you roll your eyes. “it is. you should be grateful about that.”

he huffs a laugh.

“i’m also giving you full permission to mope for five business days.”

“only five?”

“you won’t stop moping after five days. i’m just giving you a heads up as to when i will stop pretending not seeing you cry and be obnoxious about it.”

“duly noted. shall we sign an agreement for that as well?”

“i don’t know. is your memory deteriorating that quick?”

“are you calling me old?”

“you did. i never said that,” you stand up and head towards the door, considering your job done when you spot the amusement in his eyes. “now i’m going to go see what luke and kieran want for lunch. you want anything?”

“the usual’s fine.”

you give him a thumbs up in acknowledgement, leaving him to brood.

———————————————————————

life goes on. you let him wallow by distracting him with offers to spar so you can brush up on your self defense skills. unlike miss hunter, you have abysmal fighting skills. a sword feels too heavy on you, a gun feels too detached, and you never like the idea of hurting anything. you’re interested in self defense even before meeting sylus so that’s the one concession you are willing to learn in an effort to arm yourself. it’s why sylus never sends you out for missions often, which suits you just fine. you like your limbs in tact, thanks. you’re content to being brought out only when he needs backup to resonate with you or information you can gather posing as a civilian. 

in return you learn how to heal, how to suture, keep compression on wounds. in a twisted way, you fulfill your mother’s lifelong dream of seeing you be a doctor, though it’s not like she knows what you really do far away from home.

not that sylus gets injured often, you’ve seen his skin knit itself back together. you’re not too worried though it does make you wonder if your treatment is even needed and why sylus would indulge you. he indulges luke and kieran’s pranks so if you’re bad at your medical skills, it’s probably his version of indulging you. nothing to get so worked up about, you decide. sometimes you think despite a tough life that turns many to cruelty, he’s still kind. maybe that’s just how some people are: inherently good with compulsions to do good. you wish you had that kind of integrity. maybe you’ll be more successful then. fulfill your potential the way people expected you to instead of playing house even if you’re content with where you are.

———————————————————————

on a fine day, miss hunter takes you out for shopping. gifts! she cheerfully announces as christmas looms around the corner. you follow her around the mall after your weekly kitty card game. it’s been three weeks since the last one; she was stationed for a mission out of town and you’re glad she’s returned back just fine. 

you see her picking up gifts for her coworkers, the childhood friend turned doctor, an artist she complains about often, even sylus is on the list along with luke and kieran. what a full life, you think, to shop for so many people. 

the crow household — as you like to name it in your head — occasionally does celebrate in their own way, but crime doesn’t wait for anybody and since you’ve been with them, there was only one instance where the four of you shared dinner together on christmas night. gifts are not a tradition solely on christmas in the household so there was never any import on holiday shopping sprees. maybe things will change with miss hunter after all.

she tugs you to a craft store and a red pattern catches your eye, calling out to you. 

“it looks like the flower you like to doodle,” miss hunter says from behind you. 

you hum, filing the fact she’s observant enough and has good enough memory to remember the one time you doodle on a notebook waiting for her even when you quickly snap it shut once she makes herself known. truthfully, you doodle the flowers without thought — the same way someone would doodle clouds or spirals or hearts absentmindedly. you didn’t think the flower you doodle about would be based on a real one. you figure it was just your brain’s way being creative to draw the kind of basic flower outline everyone learns to draw as kids and you trying to change the petals to something much sharper like shards. maybe you’ll look up what flower it is later at home.

you grab the wrapping paper as an impulse buy. 

———————————————————————

in the end you give a diffuser set to miss hunter at the end of your shopping trip. you get sylus a pair of onyx cufflinks and matching hoodies monogramed with their names for kieran and luke to replace the ones that got busted during their latest mission. 

you place the gifts in their respective rooms when they’re out of the mansion and go to bed.

when you wake up and head to the breakfast bar, the twins are lounging and lazing about with unrestrained glee in their countenance. it’s nice to see them not wearing the masks; kieran’s scar treatment is going well. you elect to maintain your peace and ignore their eyes trained on you. it’s probably another harmless prank.

 “we love the hoodie,” luke says, all delight conspiracy lacing his voice. 

you hum in acknowledgment as you pour hot water for your morning tea. “i’m glad you like them.” you’re feeling chrysanthemum. now where did it go? you rummage through the cupboard and ask if they know where the flowers are, not paying attention enough to puzzle out kieran’s cryptic whisper to his twin, “i told you so.”  

there’s the sound of someone slapping someone’s arm — probably the boys play fighting again — and luke calling out, “chrysanthemum is on the left. bottom drawer.” 

“thanks, luke!” they’re sweet to you and occasionally, they’ll rope you in on their schemes so there’s never a dull moment around. when sylus first welcomes you, one of the twins will always keep you company. probably as a surveillance measure from sylus.

 “boss is away,” kieran, the more sensible one says though the mischief in his voice is still very much present. 

“he should be back soon,” luke adds.

you give a sound of acknowledgment. they like to tell you where the boss is all the time and you’ve always taken it in stride as their habit to inform you even if it’s obvious when sylus is not present sometimes. it’s an indulgence you make for them — to not dismiss their announcement outright especially when you’re aware of said fact and pretend each time that they’re delivering some grand news you don’t know. you suspect it’s now more of a tradition than anything else, knowing how sharp they are. you watch the flowers bloom under hot water and blow on the cup, impatient for a sip even if it’s still a weak brew. 

“in about 2 minutes, i reckon,” kieran says, which is new. they don’t normally give you sylus’ eta. you eye them warily.

“no, a minute and 47 seconds. i tracked his bike.” 

“that’s cheating.” 

“only cuz you didn’t think of it first.” 

kieran throws his hands up and grumbles about not wanting to pay up for the bet.

further down the hall, the front door swings open. 

“well, none of us win then,” kieran says. 

“i’m still closer so i win.” 

“no,” kieran explains, patiently, and hauls his twin up. “we never said it should be accurate on the dot.”

“oh look at the time,” luke feigns ignorance to his twin and starts making his way towards the exit. “it’s our cue to leave. bye miss!” 

“have fun!” kieran tells you as he chases his twin with arguments as to why he owes him nothing and the bet is a bust.

you raise your hand in a wave to empty air, wondering what that is all about before chucking it to their typical shenanigans. it’s a crisp winter morning so you decide to spend a bit of time leaning on the kitchen island with your tea and a sudoku puzzle on your phone. heavy footsteps alert you to sylus heading your way and when you feel his presence in the room, you greet him without looking up, counting the number of 4s on the board. “welcome back.” 

you pen a 7 on the upper right hand box and put down the phone when there’s no response. maybe he wants to talk? he’s not moving nor did he acknowledge your greeting. it’s then when you see the cufflinks on his sleeves. “oh, you found the cufflinks! did you like it?”

there’s a perplexing look on his face as he approaches you— one you’re not familiar with. you wonder if maybe he doesn’t like it and is coming up with a way to ask if you have the receipt still to do a full return. you know he doesn’t wear long sleeves often or he does but the sleeves are usually rolled up, but you have seen him with the full get up with a suit and everything once in a while when meetings are set up and events where formal wear is required. you didn’t expect him to wear it so soon… maybe there’s a defect you didn’t spot? you decide to save him the trouble, “if you don’t like it, it’s fine! i can return them if you want.” 

“no,” his voice like gravel. “it’s a great gift.”

“oh,” you reply stupidly because now you’re not sure why he looks so… solemn? sad? it doesn’t fit him at all. “well, i’m glad you like it.” 

“i do.” 

“okay.” 

his eyes search yours. never had he look at you this way, this… reverent wistfulness you’re not sure you’re meant to see, like he’s memorizing the features on your face. “sylus,” you say, softly, afraid to break this moment you’re not sure is yours to keep, yet is still fragile all the same. “what’s wrong?”

he smiles something awful, all rueful and wrong. “nothing,” he says and it’s starting to worry you — this odd behavior of his. lying so awfully, no comeback to distort the truth somehow. you wonder what happened when he was out. a new threat? 

“you’re not going to die are you?”

he chokes out a laugh, “no, no i’m not.” 

“okay. then, can i help with this ‘nothing’?”

he looks subdued again, all forlorn with regret. slowly, he raises his hand and tuck a stray hair behind your ear. you hold your breath at the sudden touch, all gentle and careful and again, confusion freezing you in place because yes, friends can touch and tidy your hair, but shouldn’t this only be reserved for miss hunter? it’s also the first time he has ever touched you this gently. you know it’s wrong. he belongs to someone you consider a friend. you’ll berate him tomorrow and come clean to miss hunter tomorrow too. you should stop it, but he looks like he needs it. “don’t worry about it,” he says, and whether he read your mind or he’s refusing your help, you choose to believe him as you always do, savoring the warmth of his hand and a touch not tainted with cruelty.

———————————————————————

end notes:

alexa play: but if you hold me without hurting me, you'll be the first who ever did.

in case it wasn't clear: reader is not mc in the current timeline, but reader is the myth mc, just with no memory of it. sylus mistakes game mc as his counterpart. and so the present timeline of sylus meeting game mc exists just the same here.

part 2 | part 3

Rotten Apples

masterlist , part two , part three

pairing: caleb x non!mc reader

synopsis: you've always hated her. you live your life free from her and caleb. a stranger helps save you from a date gone wrong.

word count: 5.1k words

warnings: extreme loathing, kinda funny, kinda sad, a good mix of everything! mentions of death. not proofread!

author's note: hi! this is my first lads fic! it's lowkey a mess and is all over the place, but that's okay! i hope you all enjoy! <33 please feel free to comment! i love any & all feedback! <33

edit: part 2 will be coming soon! thank you for all the love on this! i love & appreciate every single one of you!

You never thought yourself to be a hateful person, but whenever you saw Caleb with her, your heart boiled. His smile was always the brightest with her. He always handed her the first water bottle after a run around the neighborhood. His eyes were always on her and not you during study hall. They shared giggles with one another and you were the last to know the joke as you filled out blank homework pages. Whenever she walked into a room, he jumped to her side and aided her with whatever it is she needed.

And she always needed something.

Your friendship with Caleb and the girl you deemed a she-devil blossomed from a young age, having been next-door neighbors with Josephine. You are older than her yet still a few months younger than Caleb, which meant that the two of you had to look out for her.

She was naive in many ways. She always trusts people too easily and is quick to help, not knowing that the world is cruel and is out to hurt her. It’s something you and Caleb bonded over; taking care of her was something you had in common with him alongside planes, absolutely loving apple pie, and always wanting to be the last one tagged during recess.

However, those childhood days have long passed and you’ve settled into a draining routine where you played a background character in someone else’s life.

When you and Caleb reached freshman year of high school, you were sure that he was going to ask you to be his date to the homecoming dance. Instead, you were surprised with the revelation that he was going to stay home and have a movie night with her since she wasn’t in high school yet.

Despite his compliments about your dress, he snuck back inside his house when you asked him if he needed a ride to the dance. She was waving him back inside in the background and he couldn’t have been happier to watch My Little Pony or whatever bullshit she had lined up.

You basked in his frequent compliments when he met you outside your home, when she wasn’t around. Caleb always knew what to say when you had a saddened frown on your face.

“Did James turn you down? I thought he liked you! You’re a catch!” Caleb’s warm words reached your ears and made the butterflies in your stomach flutter. At least he knew then that you were worthwhile. If only he wasn’t so blind to what you had to offer to him.

At least you had a year of high school alone with him. You two even shared a few classes together and had planned study nights to prepare for final exams! Huddled at the desk in his room, you could smell the sweet apple scent of his shampoo and were able to hear through raspiness of his chuckle right next to your ear.

It was fun until she came inside his room, claiming that she wanted to help you two study. That plan lasted for about ten minutes before she whined and complained that she wanted to watch her and Caleb’s favorite show. That night ended up with her snuggled into his side while he stroked her hair. You held the chip bowl, not by choice, and watched as your crush on the boy next door began to deteriorate.

When she finally joined your and Caleb’s high school, you bit your tongue and held back the deplorable comments that shuffled through your mind about his so called beloved. You even held back comments to your new friends about his relationship with her. You knew that if you ever said anything bad about her, he’d come to her defense and shun you for what you’ve said.

It never mattered how you felt. It didn’t matter if you were having a bad day or had just embarrassed yourself in front of your entire gym class when Becky threw a ball right at your face. His attention will forever be owned by her. You’ll never get to know how it feels to always be under his cautious gaze nor will you ever be a recipient of his charming smile.

Truth is, you used to be friends with them. The perpetual third wheel to all of their escapades and adventures. You used to be close to them but as time moved on, they grew closer together and you, well, just didn’t fit into their equation anymore. The funny thing is that they have no clue of their wrongdoing towards you nor did they realize that you had left their group entirely after months of sitting in your room, filled with nothing but discontent as you scrolled through their posted selfies together.

You thought you set yourself free from them. It’s better to watch from afar instead of up close, no? It spares you more heartbreak and it, very selfishly, keeps you away from her.

You can stay away from her smiles. Her laughter. The way her dark hair falls into the perfect messy bun while yours just looks plain erratic. Not to mention the way her hands always lingered on him while you watched, helpless from the other side of the lunch table.

And you can finally break free from that stupid nickname he has for her.

“Hey!” You hear a friend’s voice from over your shoulder. You turn and smile at them, tucking a piece of hair behind your ear. “Are you ready for the game against the Rams tonight? I heard you’re starting!”

Before you can reply, you hear a thud behind you. Glancing over your shoulder, you notice that Caleb leans against the metal lockers. His arms are crossed over his chest and he wears that stupidly charming  grin on his face.

“You have a game tonight? Why didn’t you tell us?” He asks. Her smile falters.

Us. That damned word.

“It’s not a big deal,” you shrug, placing your leftover books inside the locker. “You two are usually busy anyways doing…whatever…so it wouldn’t have mattered if you knew or not.”

Okay, maybe there is some venom in your tone and malice in the way you throw your books into your locker. To be fair, you’re so fed up with them ghosting you and never showing up to your games that you can’t help but let some of your anger out.

“Woah!” Caleb pushes off the locker and holds his hands in the air. You roll your eyes and slam the locker shut, walking away. He quickly follows and matches your hellish pace. “What’s wrong? You’ve been so distant lately. Me and—”

“Don’t,” you bark. The two of you pause in the middle of the hallway, your eyes locked on his in a heated glare. “How long do you think it’s been since I’ve hung out with you two?”

A look of confusion flashes across his face. You have to stop yourself from looking at the way his face scrunches up, the way his tongue pokes about between his lips while he thinks.

“Hm…like a month?” Caleb’s words are genuine, you know that, but it shatters your heart to know that he doesn’t even realize it’s almost been a year since you two hung out, let alone were in a room together.

“A month?!” You scoff and look away. A laugh filled with disdain and shock escapes your lips. Your hands drop to your side, tightly balled into fists, as anger washes throughout your body. “Caleb, be real with me right now. Do you truly think it’s been a month?”

You want to give him a chance to redeem himself, for him to own up to the mistake he’s made. Everyone deserves a second chance, right?

“I do, yes…” he wearily says. Your nostrils flare, cheeks heating with irritation.

“Hey guys!” Her cheerful tone scratches the inside of your brain. You sharply inhale and close your eyes just to open them to the side of her attaching herself to his side. “Are you okay? You look angry,” she remarks and gently places her hand on your shoulder. You immediately slap it away. The tips of your fingers tingle from the smack.

“Hey! What was that for?” Caleb steps in front of her, pushing the teen girl behind him.

You cross your arms over your chest, eyes narrowing up at Caleb, who guards her from you.

“Just fuck off and leave me alone!” You snap, pushing past them, your shoulder bumping into Caleb’s bicep. 

“Wait!” Caleb’s voice rings in your ears. A flash of hope makes your heart flutter.

Is he going to chase after you? Will he finally ditch her and see how you’re feeling for a change? Will the old Caleb come back, the one that actually cared about you and your feelings?

Your feet hesitate, pace drastically slowly, still in earshot of the other two’s conversation. You can hear his footsteps coming after you, going from slow to quick, but they suddenly stop.

“She isn’t worth it, Caleb,” her voice shoots any semblance of hope you felt, ripping your heart into shreds. “She’s so mean…she doesn’t deserve your care.”

The hallway in front of you turns glossy. You use the back of your hand to wipe away the tears that brew in your eyes. Your once reluctant pace hastens and you disappear down the hallway, becoming just another face in the crowd.

The year passed and you graduated with a new group of friends; friends that welcomed and invited you with open arms. Your camera roll was no longer sad, filled with empty selfies with her and Caleb not paying attention in the background, shifting to group photos and friends completing the other side of your hand heart. It filled your heart with the joy and happiness that your previous friendships lacked.

And most importantly of all: you were completely over Caleb and didn’t have to spend any more time around her. It’s a relief for you, really, and you’re able to go to the college of your dreams and pursue the career you wanted. 

The saddened memories no longer pained you. They no longer dug into your skin. Instead, you planted them into the soil of your mind, using the special fertilizer (the special ingredient being resent), and grew from them.

So what if they wronged you? You were now free and didn’t owe either of them a damn thing! That is, until Caleb died.

The news nearly broke you. Your mother informed you of the news when you came home for a visit. You were on a much needed break from work and were looking for a chance to relax. Your time of relaxation was quickly turned inside out.

You became a shell of yourself, the last memory of Caleb haunting your mind as you holed up in bed, covers covering the entirety of your body with a small hole for clean and cool breathing air. Your cheeks became perpetually stained with tears, becoming sticky in your sleep before the cycle started all over again.

The day of his funeral was unnecessarily rough. Your mother had to drag you out of bed and help you into the shower, the hot water turning cold from the amount of time you stood there. Once you stepped out, body trembling from the cold air, you stared at the black dress that was laid out across your bed.

It was simple. It stopped mid-thigh and the sleeves ran long down your arms. You paired it nicely with tights from high school, a pair that Caleb complimented you on, and a pair of simple booties.

She was the center of attention, of course, there was no doubt about that. The ache in your chest left you feeling conflicted. She sat alone, head hung low, as people walked by, chuckling as if they weren’t at a funeral reception.

You almost felt bad for her and the way her mascara streaked down her cheeks. She clung to a piece of metal in her hand, occasionally bringing it up to her lips to kiss it.

The distance between the two of you felt like a game of cat and mouse. She took one step forward, you took one back. She entered the hallway you found recluse in, you made sure that there was room in the closet for you to hide in.

You thought that you were able to slip out unnoticed until she called out your name.

“Hi…” your voice falls off. Her fists are balled at her sides, knuckles white.

“What are you doing here?” Her words are sharp, effortlessly slicing into you. “I thought you hated him.”

“I could never hate him…” the words barely come out, just above a meek whisper. She doesn’t say anything else. All she does is stare at you with her heartbroken expression, eyes strained and red from the sobs she let out earlier.

A part of your heart broke for her. The other part remained emotionless, knowing how she tormented you in your younger years by dangling Caleb in front of your face. It tormented you to know that you could still hold a sliver of resentment in your heart for something that happened so long ago. You quietly left, leaving her alone in the hallway, disappearing behind a familiar turn.

A year passes. The hatred you held in your heart has dissipated. You’ve watered the flowers you planted in your mind and the petals read off messages of forgiveness and second chances, even though you made sure to never run into her ever again.

Some people can forgive and forget, but you’ll be sure to forgive and keep a distance.

Skyhaven isn’t too bad of a home. Sure, there’s barely any trace of organic life throughout the city, except for the token tree the mayor decided to add about two months ago, but it’s a nice place to live. You’ve made yourself comfortable. The nightlife is great and the rain is even better. You even made some friends at your job and have gone out on a date or two with a guy who is very attentive.

But none of them are Caleb.

You stare at yourself in the cafe mirror, shaking your head. You fix your disheveled hair, wondering how you managed to spend the last ten minutes digging up the past when you’re on a date with a very cute guy. You bite your lip and tweak the last details of your outfit, flattening out a wrinkle in your skirt.

Pushing the bathroom door open, you glide down the hallway, smiling at the other customers who pass by. You can finally go back to…what’s his name again?

Jared? Clyde? Marc, who always emphasizes that there’s a ‘C’ at the end of his name instead of a ‘K’?

You clap your hands together when the name comes back to you. He jumps in his seat, his eyes closing in on you when you sit down. His smile is a little too goofy, missing out on any kind of charm that he can capitalize on, and you can’t help but watch out of the lower half of your vision as he itches his crotch.

“Thanks for waiting for me, George,” a warm smile spreads across your lips. He matches it and leans forward, pushing a colorful mug in your direction. You watch it closely before drawing it closer to you. You don’t take a sip, though, instead letting the whipped cream on top of the coffee melt. You sigh.

You don’t even liked whipped cream on your coffee. You know who would have remembered that?

“It was no problem at all!” George proudly proclaims. His chair scraps across the wooden floor. He inches closer and closer towards you in an attempt to close the distance but you scoot away from him, keeping a pleased smile on your face.

“So, what were you saying you do for a job?” Your question goes straight to his head. Gnawing at the inside of your cheek, you refrain from interrupting him about his long ramble about how he works as a “video game consultant” at a local game store.

The conversation is so painful to sit through. You glance between his beady gaze and the clock on the wall behind him. The ticking hands somehow move slower when he dives into his day to day routine. Maybe the whipped cream isn’t as bad as you previously thought.

An hour goes by and you have barely been able to get a word in. Mugs form into a half-circle in front of you. Your leg bounces up and down, hands jittery. Even your blinking is rapid as you solely stare at the clock.

“That’s enough about me. Tell me about yourself,” George grabs his glass. He ordered a cream soda at the beginning of the date but the cream separated from the colorful soda water, forming into chunky clouds.

“You know what,” you breathe out in a laugh, signaling over your shoulder to the door, “it’s getting late. I have an early start tomorrow so I should get going.” You stand from the chair and snatch your tiny purse from the seat beside you.

The cafe is practically empty now and the sun has set hours ago. You rush towards the exit, the route to the door feeling like it never ends as Greg — oh shit, George! — chases after you. 

The Skyhaven night is nice and crisp. The rain isn’t as hard tonight, just a mere sprinkle, and you rush out into the open, taking a deep breath. The chilled air fills your burning lungs and you’re able to breathe again, that is, until George grabs your hand. You gasp and snatch it back from him.

The raindrops lightly kiss your face but George’s sickening smile makes you want to hurl. He creeps towards you, the moon shining just bright enough for you to see the darkness form in his eyes.

“I have to get home, George!” You nervously chuckle, turning away. You rush towards the nearest bus stop, knowing that there will be other people there to take refuge with. George doesn’t let up though and his movements become more primal and animalistic as the seconds tick by.

“Come on, sweetheart,” George beckons from behind. You can hear his ragged breath from behind you grow close. You brace your body for impact…but nothing comes. Instead, you hear a struggle from behind. You swirl on your heels and stare at the scene behind you.

A tall man pushes George away from you. The moonlight reflects off of the shine of his coat, the top of his hat deflecting the light raindrops. You stagger backward, heart racing inside your chest, as George crumbles to the ground, a blur of red, grey, and blue pushing down on the man.

“She said she’s going home,” the voice growls. It itches the back of your mind, calling to you like a faint memory. “Leave. Or I’ll crush you right here and now.”

The voice beckons to you from the back of your mind, putting it at ease. The voice calls out your name followed by a throaty chuckle. It asks you how you’re doing, if you need help with that week’s math homework. You can also hear his voice apologize to you for forgetting about your plans to go to the movies with your group of friends, making some excuse that she got locked in the attic and needed rescuing.

The moonlight turns dark, the floating rock covered by a cloud, as the figure slowly approaches you. The once soft droplets of rain evolve into hardened projectiles, the wind picking up from all around you. With the weather matching your quickly escalating mood, you march through the rain, the phantom chasing after you.

“Hey! You’re getting soaked!” His voice calls from behind. You pay no attention to it.

The voice sounds exactly like a dead man! A person who is resting in peace six feet under and couldn’t possibly be here in Skyhaven.

You reach the bus stop and hide under the small covering, the rain pounding against the top, rolling off the sides. You hold your arms to yourself and your teeth clatter on the inside of your mouth. You have to tell yourself to not look at the man beside you.

Stranger danger, after all.

“Why are you ignoring me?” The man asks. It’s just the two of you at the bus stop. The stop’s light flickers, adding to the already ominous feeling that forms deep inside your chest. You hug your arms to your body, providing the only warmth in this cold night. “Oh, I get it. You’re mad at me.”

“I don’t even know who you are!” You retort rather quickly, finally looking up at the man.

You gasp and stumble backward. He quickly reaches for you, his large, warm hands gripping your waist, stabilizing you.

He looks down at you with an irresistible and charming smile. His purple eyes seem to glow under the dim lighting. He wears a black and orange rain jacket, black baseball cap sitting on his head. He cocks his head to the side, gaze drifting to memorize your face.

Nausea sweeps over your body. You tear your gaze off of the phantom before you. The cold air pricks the inside of your lungs, rapidly moving in and out of your system.

This can’t be real, right? He cannot possibly be standing in front of you, alive and well, with that damn smile on his face. A single tear rolls down your cheek, your lips parted. Your breath flows out of your mouth in gentle plumes of steam.

“Caleb?” Your voice falters. He chuckles, smoothing down your frizzy hair.

“The one and only! C’mon, you can say it: you missed me!”

You reach out, grabbing his arms, squeezing him. His brows furrow, eyes training themselves on your hands as you poke and prod various parts of his body. You grab his cheeks, pulling on them before squishing his face. He gently takes your hands into his, moving your hands away from his face.

“You done yet?”

“You’re alive!”

“I am well aware of that, yes.” His laugh fills your ears and your heart swells.

Even after all these years of forgetting Caleb, you still end up swooning for him the moment he saves you from Landon.

Or was it David? Eh. It doesn’t really matter.

“How…what…” you stammer, unable to form a cohesive and coherent sentence. Caleb sighs and takes your hand. He flattens your palm against his chest.

How heartbeat is slow and steady…it’s there. You gasp, bottom lip trembling, legs slowly becoming jelly.

Tears freely flow down your face as the realization of his existence sets in.

He’s alive.

He’s here.

He’s breathing.

His last memory of you isn’t you ending your friendship and avoiding him for the rest of your senior year of high school.

You collapse to your knees, hand digging into your chest. A sharp pain slices into your chest as your fingernails dig into your skin in an attempt to grab your heart and to scream at it to calm down. The pounds from your heart makes your ears ring, drowning out the endless pitter patter of rain. Even your lungs feel as if they are on fire, unable to suck in and inhale the oxygen that you need to survive.

Your eyes open and Caleb’s face is right in front of yours. You can hear him speak but cannot make out a single word that he says. He gently helps you back to your feet.

“Take it easy,” his words seep through the sound of your heartbeat, “breathe.”

His hand slides to the back of your neck, warming your body, and his thumb gently grazes the side of your neck. You inhale through your nose, holding it for a few seconds before slowly exhaling until all of the air is out of your lungs.

“Does she know?” the question pops out of your mouth before you can stop it.

How could you even ask that at a time like this? You should be seeing if he’s okay! If he’s in any sort of trouble that you can help get him out of.

Did he fake his death? Has he been alive this whole time? When was he going to come see you?

Caleb sharply inhales through gritted teeth, pulling away from your face. You watch him closely, bottom lip trembling.

You know. You know the answer.

Of course she knew before you! She is his beloved, the one person he will spend the rest of his life with. It’s laughable to even think that you stood a chance against her.

“Actually,” you interrupt him, covering his mouth, “don’t answer that. I really don’t want to know.” Even though every fiber of your being screamed blood murder at you to figure it out.

Is he dating her? Has he ditched her for good? HAs Caleb finally come to the realization that she isn’t some angel that came down from the heavens.

His purple eyes blink at you, perplexed by your actions. Caleb speaks into your hand but his voice is a mere muffle. You sigh and look out at the pouring rain.

You need to get home.

You need to get home and get away from him.

You need to relieve yourself of any memory, item, or scent that can remind you of him because, well, he clearly isn’t yours to have.

If you stay any longer, you’re going to end up crying in the rain, unloading all of your emotions onto him. And Caleb, who has risen from dead, doesn’t deserve to hear any of it. He’s innocent in all of this and no matter how angry and resentful you can feel towards him, you’ll never be able to hold it against him.

“Get home safe, Caleb,” you breathe the words out, slowly releasing your hand from his mouth.

You push away from him and bare the thundering rain on your own, hugging your jacket to your body. You sprint across the street, desperately needing to get away from him.

Caleb watches you with wide eyes, captivated by the woman you’ve become.

You’ve lost all the baby fat in your cheeks. Your hair is longer and is styled to perfection.

You’re bolder. Funnier, even, whether it’s intentional or not. Caleb laughed at your jokes in the cafe, particularly the ones that George didn’t find funny.

Whatever. He’s an idiot.

He heard your laugh from inside the cafe and got drunk off of it. He found himself smiling wider than he has before in the past year.

You took his mind off of his stressful job, which he just came back from, and relaxed his body. He didn’t think about how ling he stayed in that damned tunnel nor did he think about his connections with Ever.

Your laugh turned off the fight or flight switch that perpetually stayed on inside his head. It did pain him, though, to know that you were out with other guys. This George fellow is not your match. He’s a Sul-indulgent prick who only talks about himself.

And what the fuck is a video game consultant anyways?

His job is nothing compared to being a Colonel in the Farspace Fleet. You’ll surely be impressed with that.

You did always say you loved a man in a uniform.

His purple eyes flicker with excitement. He steps out into the rain and follows in your exact footsteps. Once he’s across the street, he turns around and stares at the cafe you two once sat in.

She walks out with her friends, umbrellas covering their heads. They smile and laugh with one another, teasing as thunder booms in the background. He chuckles at their umbrellas but his smile quickly fades when he realizes that you didn’t have one.

Silly girl. Now he has to check in on you and make for sure that you don’t catch a cold.

His gaze drifts to her but the spark he once felt isn’t there anymore. She’s…boring now. Caleb tilts his head back and laughs.

How could he have been so blind?

His focus has been on her all along but you…you are something else.

Captivating. Intoxicating. Enchanting. Hilarious. Fascinating.

Your fruity perfume formed a tent in his pants. Have you always smelled like apples and cinnamon? You encapsulate an autumn evening. Suddenly, he loves it when the leaves change colors and fall from the trees. He’ll never let you fall ever again.

Caleb doesn’t know how he let you slip through his fingers so many times. You live in Skyhaven, too, right under his nose. He should have found you sooner.

He should have gone with you to the homecoming dance. He regrets not watching you during the countless games you’ve invited him to. He should have closed the door in her face when she petered you two when you needed to study for the math exam. It was never your best subject. Lucky, he excelled in it.

And he should have fucking gone after you when you told him to fuck off all those years ago.

But now?

Now Caleb’s going to take back the time he missed out on. Surely, you’d feel the same way when he comes back? After all, he does know where you live now.

Six floors up. The fourth room from the left. You have a stained glass butterfly hanging in your window. He’ll see it up close soon enough.

He stands outside your apartment building with a bright smile on his face, staring up at your bedroom. He can see you move throughout the living room, your shadow painted against the far wall. His eyes follow as you slip into your bedroom. You look out the window.

What are you looking at? I’m here. Show me anything. Give me the signal I need to come and save you.

You turn on a lamp. The light points up to the butterfly, illuminating the blue and orange colors from the glass.

You’re so thoughtful.

How did you know those are his favorite colors?

Caleb chuckles to himself, shaking his head. His feet carry him to the entrance of your apartment building, just barely sneaking in as a couple leaves. He thanks them and sneaks to an elevator, stepping inside as he presses the button to your floor.

Thank you for the signal, he thinks to himself, I’ll be there soon.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

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✈ — weightless paradise

transmigrated non-mc!reader x caleb

series masterlist. | ao3

01 — "first" meet

02 — experiment

03 — regeneration

04 — helplessness

05 — countdown

06 — name

07 — dream

08 — fear

09 — distance

010 — playtime

011 — moving

012 — onward

013 — destroyer

014 — gravity

015 — stay

016 — walk

017 — home

018 — necklace

019 — departure

020 — life

021 — sightlines

022 — lecture

023 — vacation

024 — ???

025 — ???

026 — ???

027 — ???

028 — ???

029 — ???

030 — ???