#Love and Deepspace Xavier

[earthsrirshaart]

Xavier x KPOPDEMONHUNTERS

As I totally forgot that the version 4.0 announcement is this Friday so I’ll post Caleb and Rafayel tomorrow but in a seperate post 🥹

[sweetstrawberrysky]

Prompt; The LADS and how they respond when mc is hungry in the middle of the night.

Caleb - Your insistent nudging is what wakes up. “Mh…” He sighs before his eyes even open, “Let me guess. You’re hungry.” You don’t even get to ask him how the hell he knew before he switches into a groggy lecture mode, “I told you, you didn’t eat enough today. You didn’t finish the breakfast I made and you barely picked at your dinner.” You huff and he chuckles. “Come on,” Your gathered into his arms and lifted off the mattress before you can pick a fight. “What kind of boyfriend would I be if I let you go to bed grumpy and hungry? Let’s get you something light to eat, then I can make a hearty breakfast in the morning.”

Rafayel - To say he doesn’t appreciate being awoken is an understatement. He’s whiny and grumbly in his half conscious state, holding you tightly, and mumbling at you to stop thrashing. “I’m--” Your stomach growls, “…hungry.” A silence follows until his eyes open up. The way he looks at you has your ears feeling hot. He sighs, “I get that I’m a fish, but you don’t have to fantasize about eating me.” You scoff and hit his chest. “Ouch! I yield, I yield! Please spare me and I’ll make you the yummiest sandwich imaginable, I promise!” Though his dramatics are endearing, the hangry part of you nips at his cheek.

Zayne - When he’s awoken to your quiet, “Zayne, I’m hungry.” He wordlessly opens his tired eyes and looks over at you. After what feels like an eternity of a stare down he says, “I’m not sure what you want me to do about it.” You frown at him, “I wanted a companion in the kitchen with me.” He sits up and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Maintaining balanced eating throughout the day would help so this doesn’t happen again in the future.” You blink up at him, “Right… remind me what’s so balanced about eating pastries and drinking milk tea throughout the day?” His own stomach growls and it really drives home the checkmate you just served. At least he accepts his defeat with grace.

Xavier - Very quietly, you slip out of bed. Very quietly, you’re mindful of all your actions that lead you to the kitchen. You avoid the squeaky parts of the floor, you open and close everything extremely slowly, and most importantly you don’t make a peep. Neither does Xavier, hence why you feel your soul leave your body and curse in surprise when the kitchen light suddenly turns on. “What are you doing?” He stands there, menacingly, and observes you. “Xavier! Geez! I-I’m just hungry.” He frowns a little at this, “…You could have told me. I can make something for you--” You’re quick to cut him off, “No, no! That’s okay, thank you. I’ve got it.” He closes in on your personal space to hug your waist and nuzzles your neck. “Then I’ll keep you company.”

Sylus - He’s awake, you’re awake. Both of you are awake. Your sleep schedules are shit. You’re mindlessly watching him with heavy eyelids while he cleans his gun. His shoulder nudges your’s, “If you’re tired you should get some sleep.” You mumble back, “I’m too hungry to sleep.” He pauses, regards you, then gets to his feet. “I don’t want your cooking.” You can hear him click his tongue from the kitchen, his tone amused, “Oh, no? That’s too bad, considering the chef isn’t back until noon.” You fire back, “I can wait until then.” Sylus merely hums. “Alright. Then I’ll only make enough for myself.” He’s bluffing, you can feel it in your bones. Regardless, you regrettably glance his way just to be met with his stupid smug grin and two servings of food being prepared.

[bananabreads]

Dad!lads and their children not wanting them to 'steal' your attention ⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 .𖥔˚

Dad!Rafayel, Dad!Caleb, Dad!Sylus, Dad!Zayne, Dad!Xavier — <⁠(⁠￣⁠︶⁠￣⁠)⁠>

RAFAYEL — "my turn!"

You sat comfortably on the couch, a gentle smile tugging at your lips as Seraphina rested in your lap, arms loosely wrapped around you like a koala, her tiny high pitched voice filling the room with endless stories about her day.

"...and then, uncle thomas' daughter, she brought this bubble wand! like big bubbles, mommy! Like, bigger than my face!" Seraphina exclaimed, eyes wide and expressive. "And then I tried to pop it with my nose, but it popped before I got there, so I think I need a faster nose."

You chuckled, brushing your fingers through her soft hair. "A faster nose, huh? Sounds like we need to train it.”

She gasped in mock seriousness, "Yeah, like nose push ups!"

The two of you giggled in sync just as Rafayel wandered in, paint smudged slightly on his forearm and his energy softened by the effort of his most recent piece. He spotted the two of you—your daughter cuddled close to your chest, your eyes so tender as you listened, and something in him just melted immediately. Without a word, he came to sit beside you, exhaling softly.

Seraphina barely acknowledged him, too caught up in recounting how she tried to race a random squirrel in the park and “almost won.”

Rafayel leaned his head against your shoulder, closing his eyes for a moment. You welcomed his touch and leaned into him, your cheek pressing gently against his forehead. He wrapped an arm around your waist, holding you with the quiet clinginess of someone who’d missed you, maybe not for long, but long enough to feel it in his chest.

You kissed his forehead without needing to say a word. He sighed again, content.

That is, until a tiny hand poked his cheek.

Seraphina turned her head just slightly, squinting at her father with narrowed, suspicious eyes. But when you hummed again, encouraging her to continue, she ignored him, for now.

Rafayel shifted closer, his head now tucked into the crook of your neck. He pressed a warm, tender kiss to your skin, inhaling your scent with a kind of reverence that made you blush a little. His arm around you tightened just slightly, like he was grounding himself.

Unfortunately, Seraphina was not having it.

She made an annoyed noise and shuffled, a little more squished now between the two of you. She tried to scoot back into your lap further like she was trying to reclaim lost ground.

“Daddy,” she huffed. “Go away…! I want mommy!”

Rafayel chuckled against your skin, low and amused, ruffling Seraphina’s hair as she pouted.

“Hey now..” he teased, “I was here first in spirit.”

Seraphina scowled and smacked his hand away weakly, “Daddy! Stop stealing mommy!”

She wrapped her arms around your middle now, glaring at her father like he was the villain of her princess story. Her small hands gripped your shirt as she dramatically clung to you. You gave her a kiss on the forehead to soothe her, gently laughing. “There’s enough of mommy to share, princess.”

“No!” she insisted, “It’s my turn!”

Rafayel’s arms didn’t budge. Instead, he pulled both of you closer and nuzzled against your neck again.

“Can’t help it,” he murmured, voice smooth but sleepy. “She’s my wife. I need her touch to recharge,” he added.

“She’s my mommy!” Seraphina growled with as much authority as a four year old could muster. With surprising determination, she carefully stood up on your lap and went between you and rafayel, trying to push him away with her little hands.

“Daddy, move! It’s my turn with mommy!” she declared.

You nearly burst out laughing at the sight, your daughter trying to push her father away, trying to weakly shove him off the couch while Rafayel just laid there dramatically, acting like Seraphina actually pushed him away, and his arms spread out like he’d been defeated in battle.

“Ahh, the betrayal…” he jokingly said. “Wounded by my own daughter.”

“Daaaaddyyyy!” she whined louder now, clearly not in the mood for games.

“Alright, alright,” you said through your laughter, scooping her gently in your arms before she ended up headbutting someone. “Let’s make a deal, five more minutes of mommy time, and then daddy gets one kiss. Fair?”

Seraphina crossed her arms, glaring at Rafayel. “...Fine. But only one. And it has to be a quiet kiss.”

You turned to Rafayel who raised his brows playfully, “Didn’t know kisses came with volume settings.”

“Daaaaddy!” she whined again.

You laughed again, leaning in to kiss him softly, sweet, and warm, short enough to appease Seraphina but just long enough to make Rafayel sigh in mock defeat once more.

CALEB — little drama queen

You were sitting in the living room, legs folded comfortably, while your daughter lay flat on her stomach in front of you, muttering something about gymnastics and how “her spine felt like spaghetti now.”

She’d been trying to do backflips all morning. On the couch. On the floor. Off the edge of the bed. Caleb told her she needed supervision, and a mat, and maybe a coach, but she wasn’t having it. Now here she was, exhausted, grumbling, and insisting you massage her poor, hardworking back.

“You didn’t stretch, baby,” you reminded her gently as your fingers worked slow circles down her spine.

“I did! I touched my toes twice,” she mumbled into the throw pillow.

You bit back a laugh. “Not enough.”

After a while, her protests faded into little hums, her breathing slowed, and her eyes started fluttering shut. She was clearly fighting sleep, but it wasn’t a fair fight anymore.

You lifted her gently and placed her down on the side of the couch where there was already pillows, carefully tucking the fluffy blanket over her tiny body. She melted into it, arms splayed, cheek smushed against the pillow. You ran your fingers through her hair once more, and finally, she was out.

“Perfect execution, honey.” came a familiar, quiet voice.

You to find Caleb leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, watching the scene with a small, proud smirk.

“And just like that… our little beast sleeps,” he whispered.

You playfully glared at him. “She’s not a beast.”

“She tried to backflip off the stairs,” he deadpanned.

“Fair point.” you said as you softly chuckled.

He pushed off the doorway and walked toward you, stepping around your daughter’s kingdom of plushies and toys. He gave the couch a quick glance, eyes narrowing just slightly as he made sure her breathing was deep and even. Satisfied she was truly asleep, Caleb turned to you with a raised brow and a sly grin.

“I’ve calculated that we have exactly,” he glanced at the clock, “ten, maybe twelve minutes of uninterrupted peace.”

You raised an eyebrow. “That’s generous.”

He leaned down, cupping your face with one hand and brushing a kiss to your forehead. “Let’s not waste it.”

You quietly laughed, and he stood up again, taking your hand. “Come on. While she’s out. 15 minute window.”

You followed him into the kitchen, where he slid his arms around your waist and pulled you close. “No interruptions. No flips. Just me and my very pretty wife, who owes me a kiss for being the parent who caught her mid air dive off the sofa earlier.”

You rolled your eyes but leaned in, hands gently resting on his chest. “One kiss?”

Caleb quickly replied, “At least ten.”

But just as his lips brushed against yours—

Thud!

You both froze.

Another thud.

Then—

“Mommyyyy…” came the most tragically theatrical voice imaginable from the couch. “I’m cold… and lonely… and no one loves me anymore…”

You peeked over Caleb’s shoulder to see your daughter had rolled right off the couch, on purpose, and was now lying face down on the floor like a fallen soldier.

She didn’t even look hurt. She was just flopped there like she’d been abandoned for centuries.

Caleb groaned, dropping his forehead to your shoulder. “No way..”

“She’s doing the dramatic faint again,” you whispered, trying not to laugh.

Your daughter slowly rolled over the two of you, looking up at you with big watery eyes and a pout that could end worlds. “I couldn't feel you anymore, and my back still hurts a little.. and daddy stole you..”

Caleb stepped out beside you, arms crossed, looking very serious. “Hey, hey, don’t pin this on me. I was just—”

“You stole mommy with kisses,” she said, pointing at him accusingly. “You were kissing.”

“Mommyyyyy…” your daughter whimpered again, now dragging the blanket and crawling toward you like a starved kitten.

You sighed, your heart melting.

You smiled and crouched down, scooping her up. She nuzzled into your shoulder instantly, letting out a content sigh.

But she didn’t stop there.

Still in your arms, she turned her head toward Caleb and gave him the cutest sleepy glare. “You have to wait your turn, Daddy.”

Caleb put a hand on his chest, feigning heartbreak. “She’s turning you against me.”

“No, she’s just attached to me,” you said, kissing your daughter’s temple.

He walked closer, brushing her hair back and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. She didn't do anything and just gave a big yawn.

SYLUS — "you have to wait, daddy!"

Caleb grinned, wrapping his arms around both of you in a loose, cozy hug.

The scent of fruit scented markers, children jewelry, and faint smell from your daughter’s favorite lotion lingered in the living room. You were seated cross legged on the soft rug, a pastel pink blanket draped over your shoulders like a royal cape. In your lap sat your four year old daughter, ball of sparkle and drama, carefully applying stickers to your cheeks like you were the guest of honor at a royal coronation.

“This one means you’re brave,” she said, pressing a glittery unicorn sticker near your jaw. “And this one is for beauty. Because you're the prettiest queen ever, Mommy.”

You smiled, tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ear. “High praise, coming from the princess herself.”

Your daughter giggled, her tiny legs kicking playfully as she adjusted the plastic tiara on her head for the fiftieth time. “We match!”

That’s when the door opened.

The lock clicked softly, followed by the subtle weight of Sylus' footsteps. You didn’t need to look to know it was him, you felt the shift in the air. He never entered a room loudly, but there was a kind of presence to him. A calm that followed wherever he went.

He had just returned from a quick business deal. His suit jacket was draped over one arm, tie slightly loosened, and the light from the hallway framed him in quiet gold as he stepped into your world of dolls and dressed up.

He paused when he saw you both,his eyes flicking to your daughter, then to you, noting the stickers on your face, the tiara, the slight smudge of pink on your cheek.

“Looks like I missed a coronation,” he said lowly, a rare warmth in his voice.

Your daughter perked up but didn’t move from your lap. “Daddy!” she grinned, but then quickly turned serious as she threw her arms around your waist protectively. “Wait—no! Mommy's still mine right now!”

Sylus blinked and had that teasing voice, “Is that so?”

“We’re not done with the royal coronation!” she explained with the utmost importance, pointing to the sticker sheet. “She needs her magic star sticker and her sparkle serum, or she’ll lose her powers!”

You gave Sylus a look that barely concealed your laughter. He raised an eyebrow, unbothered, and stepped closer.

“I see,” he murmured, setting his jacket gently over a nearby chair. “Should I come back when the queen regains her powers?”

Your daughter nodded gravely. “Yes. Or you might interrupt the spell.”

Sylus crouched beside you quietly, one knee down on the rug, and looked straight at your daughter.

“Then I’ll be careful,” he said. “But I did come home early… because I missed your mommy.”

Your daughter's lip puffed out as she turned her whole body toward you, her sparkly bracelet clinking softly. “But I missed mommy all day! I haven’t even had princess tea with her yet!”

Sylus didn’t argue. He simply reached forward and gently brushed your hair back, letting his knuckles graze your cheek where a heart-shaped sticker sparkled. His touch lingered there, eyes on you, not demanding, not impatient. Just… waiting.

You tilted your head slightly toward his hand, and your daughter let out a little gasp, scandalized.

“Daddy!” she whisper yelled. “You’re breaking the sparkle bond!”

Sylus drew back instantly, lips twitching into the smallest amused smile. “Forgive me, Princess.”

She frowned at him, then looked back at you. “Don’t move, Mommy. We’re almost done. I’ll let Daddy hug you after the ceremony.”

Sylus stood again, brushing imaginary dust off his slacks like he was waiting for a boardroom verdict. “Understood. I’ll be in the audience.”

He didn’t leave, though. He sat on the edge of the couch behind you, resting an arm along the backrest—close enough to touch you, but he didn’t. He just sat there, watching you both, eyes soft, content to let your daughter have her moment.

Eventually, your daughter pressed the final sticker on your hand and declared, “The queen is restored!”

You leaned back into Sylus, who wasted no time reaching forward and wrapping an arm around your waist. You felt the quiet relief in his touch, even if he didn’t say a word.

Your looked up at him and said thoughtfully, “Okay, you can have Mommy now. But only a little bit.”

Sylus met her gaze, calm as ever. “I don’t need much.”

And with that, he leaned forward and kissed your temple—slow, grateful.

ZAYNE — silent demands

Your daughter didn’t interrupt this time. She was too busy arranging her dolls for her tea party and arranging new stickers that she'll be using for her father next.

You were sitting on the couch, Jasmine sitting peacefully on your lap, her small hands clutching her stuffed penguin as her cheek pressed against your chest.

You weren’t doing much, just sitting with her, brushing her hair with your fingers as she hummed softly, occasionally pointing to the stars beginning to appear outside the window.

“Mommy,” she whispered, “that one looks like a flower.”

You followed her gaze, smiling as you kissed the top of her head. “It kind of does, doesn’t it?”

She nodded, settling in deeper into your warmth, like she was trying to melt into you. Her voice was always gentle like that, soft, quiet, never loud even when excited. Her affection didn’t come with squeals, but with long glances, small gestures, and her whole body leaning into yours like your presence cradled her.

Zayne entered a few moments later, his steps quiet as ever. He’d just finished with a call in his study, sleeves rolled up, his watch now resting on the side table. He stood by the doorway for a moment, watching you both in silence, before making his way over.

Jasmine saw him, but didn’t say anything. She just held her penguin a little tighter.

Zayne sat beside you, the couch dipping under his weight. He didn’t say anything right away, just let out a soft exhale and gently placed a hand on your leg, fingers curling there.

You looked at him, smiling softly. “Tired?”

“A bit,” he murmured, his voice low and close. “But this helps.”

He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to your forehead, slow and deliberate. Jasmine’s arms around her penguin tightened.

Zayne leaned in more now, wrapping an arm around you as he rested his forehead against your temple. “Missed you both today.”

You hummed, returning the sentiment with a gentle squeeze of his hand. But you felt it, Jasmine shifting ever so slightly in your lap, tucking herself closer like she was afraid he might pull you away.

Zayne noticed too.

His eyes glanced toward her, and he moved back just enough to see her face.

“Hey, sweetie..” he said gently. “I’m not taking mommy away.”

Jasmine didn’t respond. She just shook her head a little and held her penguin closer, her eyes downcast.

“I… I just want mommy a little more,” she said softly, barely above a whisper.

Zayne blinked, then slowly let out a breath as if the quiet request had tugged his heartstrings.

He nodded. “Alright. I understand.”

He brushed his hand over her head lightly, then leaned down to press a soft kiss to her hair. “You’ve been waiting all day, haven’t you?”

Jasmine gave a tiny nod, still holding you close, her face gently tucked beneath your chin now. She wasn’t pushing him away, not really, she just didn’t want to be forgotten. She wasn’t loud about it, but the message was there, tender and clear: 'I need her, too.'

You rocked her slowly, wrapping your arms around her.

Zayne didn’t press further. He didn’t joke or tease, he just shifted so he could lay his head on your other shoulder, careful not to take any space Jasmine needed. His hand found yours again, his touch steady, grounding.

The three of you sat like that for a long while, the silence soft and full.

Eventually, Jasmine whispered, “You can have mommy after I fall asleep...”

Zayne smiled, his voice a quiet promise. “Then I’ll wait.”

And he did.

Even as her breathing slowed and her body relaxed against you, Zayne didn’t rush the moment. He stayed there beside you, hand in yours, content to love you both, in different ways, but just as deeply.

XAVIER - son's territory

The room was comfortably dim, the curtains letting in just enough of the Saturday afternoon light to cast everything in a soft golden haze. You, Xavier, and your son were all sprawled across the bed, enjoying the rare peace of a quiet day.

Your son was nestled right between you and Xavier, arms wrapped tightly around your own like it was the most precious pillow in the world. His little cheek was smushed against your arm, breaths deep and even. Xavier, meanwhile, had already fallen into a heavy sleep not long after lying down, face half buried in the blanket, one arm tossed lazily across the bed as if reaching for you even in his dreams.

At some point, Xavier started shifting closer in his sleep. His arm landed across your son’s back, and his leg crept a little too close. Your son let out a tiny, muffled grumble but didn’t fully wake. Instead, he clung to your arm tighter like it was the only safe thing left in this slowly shrinking cuddle space. Xavier, still asleep, moved again, accidentally squishing the poor kid even more in his unconscious attempt to cuddle you.

That was when your son had had enough.

With a tiny huff, he stirred awake and sat up groggily, rubbing one eye with the back of his hand while the other hand reached for his favorite stuffed animal. He didn't cry or whine, just blinked slowly and began his mission with quiet determination.

He started crawling around the bed like a little general preparing for war, gathering plushies, pillows, and even tugging half the blanket along with him. He worked in silence, occasionally looking back to make sure Xavier was still knocked out.

You blinked awake when you felt the small weight returning, your son had crawled right back into your arms, snuggling into your side with a sleepy little sigh. You smiled down at him, brushing his hair from his forehead, your heart instantly melting at the sight.

But then you noticed it.

A wall—no, a barricade, had appeared.

Your son had carefully arranged his plushies and pillows into a full body barrier between himself and Xavier. The stuffed animals were stacked like sleepy guards, a fortress of soft limbs and squishy faces that formed an unmistakable boundary. A makeshift torso. Even a pillow “head.” He’d crafted an entire decoy dad to keep the real one from sneaking past his defenses.

You let out a soft laugh, covering your mouth so you wouldn’t wake either of them.

Your son, sensing you were awake, peeked up at you with drowsy, half lidded eyes. “Mommy…” he mumbled, already sinking back into sleep.

On the other side of the barricade, Xavier snored softly, completely oblivious to the pillow decoy that had replaced your warmth.

“mommy's just right here, buddy..,” you whispered, kissing the top of his head.

[snowvee]

ᯓ★ 𝑾𝑰𝑻𝑵𝑬𝑺𝑺𝑬𝑫 𝑩𝒀 𝑫𝑬𝑬𝑷𝑺𝑷𝑨𝑪𝑬

╰ 𝑿𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒓 LOVE AND DEEPSPACE: WITNESSED BY DEEPSPACE

[yeosatinyngz]

I’M SO HUNGRY

↳GN Reader: Their reaction to you pulling the “I’m so hungry I could eat *listing their traits/appearance*” prank

[synne-ful]

Good luck to everyone pulling for Lumiere! ♪(^∇^*)

[ladsaplenty]

Heard.

I have to admit, I'm someone who has been sleeping on Xavier, unintentionally at first, and then intentionally because while I was maining Zayne and Caleb, both Sylus and Raf started getting their claws and fins into me respectively and I do NOT make enough money to be a harem player right now.

When I started playing, Xavier just felt too much like those aloof, emotionally unavailable guys I used to date where I was never sure how they really felt. By the time I noticed he was actually really loving, consistent, and a straight up FREAK in bed, I was already about to put a ring on Zayne and spiraling into toxic co-dependency with Caleb.

But maybe it's time to surrender to the harem. My RNG already loves Xavier, so why fight it?

Xavier deserves more love.

There! I said it!

The man has loved mc for three life times now, made a deal with the devil (Ever), traveled across time and space, moved planets, lived on Earth for a few hundred years to save / find her, and prevent catastrophe from happening to her, fuck even saving her as Lumiere when she was young.

She is the only one that sees him as himself. As Xavier.

He is kind, and comfortable, and selfless. He deals with immense survivors guilt and loves so deeply.

We talk about Rafayel and Caleb being the yearners and clingers. But have you seen Xavier? He is clingy as fuck, and wants nothing but her. Nothing.

Some fun things I love about him, he has one of the biggest appetites but cannot cook for shit. He is unironically hilarious, when he starts telling his little horror stories or ghost stories trying to scare MC, it’s so funny.

I feel like he gets overlooked so often, partially because he’s not as showy as the rest of LIs. I’m sure some might see him as boring, but he is safe. His relationship with MC is one of closest she has, aside from Caleb. They’re neighbours, and colleagues, and best friends. He is deeply ingrained in her life, and a foundational pilar of support for her.

Put some respect on his name.

[moodiimellow]

I'm on my knees and ready to repent father

Art by @eliasgeit on twitter

[t-lostinworlds]

XAVIER: So.. Is it possible for you to stay with me until the end of time?

LOVE AND DEEPSPACE — Witnessed by Deepspace

↳ CALEB | RAFAYEL | XAVIER | ZAYNE | SYLUS

[vxnillabxn]

Can I request headcanons for all 5 lads men reacting to his gn s/o telling him how you never kissed anyone before please?

𐙚˙⋆.˚ mainfive! x gn!reader ꒰੭

𐙚˙⋆.˚ fluff! ꒰੭

𐙚˙⋆.˚ sfw! ꒰੭

𐙚˙⋆.˚ do not translate/copy/repost! ꒰੭

﹙♡﹚AH! i hope i got your request right! thanks so much, this made me feel all fuzzy and warm inside, i need to kiss them !! and ik it's long, but pls bear with me TT.TT

𐙚˙⋆.˚ caleb! ꒰੭

there's not a single thing you can hide from him.

he knows how you feel after just a brief glance. he knows how many hours you've slept based on your mood. he knows if you're having intrusive thoughts, and he definitely knows what you're craving just by noticing your food patterns lately.

he knows exactly what you've been through, your first achievements and your latest ones. hell, he was there on your first day of kindergarten, both of you holding your tiny hands together. you didn't even have to mention your inexperience —he already knew.

needless to say, he never joked about it. in fact, he waited for you to open up, and when you finally did, he couldn't help but blush. hearing it from your pretty lips was a whole different experience.

when it happened, it was late at night; you were both holding hands, and you saw a cute couple walking past. they kissed, and your gaze lingered.

“everything okay, pips?”

he says softly, looking down at you with curiosity.

you nod.

“yeah, i was just… nevermind.”

he knows. he notices the brief glimmer in your eyes at the sweet, fleeting gesture between the couple, and he notices the subtle lick to your lips before you bite them ever so gently.

you're imagining what it would feel like to be kissed, and when your mind replaces the couple with caleb and yourself instead, you can't help but feel even more nervous. sure, you two know each other better than anyone, but now, under this different context, it feels… strange.

you walk a bit more until he buys your favorite treat and hands it to you. you sit down on a small bench facing the moonlit lake.

you rest your head on his shoulder; he kisses the top of your head. will a kiss on the lips feel as comforting as this one? will his lips feel as warm?

you look up at him, and he lowers his head to meet your gaze.

he smiles.

“so?” he asks, wrapping his arm around your shoulders.

“so… what?”

he sighs, chuckling lightly.

“tell me what's on your mind, pips.”

it takes a few minutes in silence, with just the soft breeze and the cars passing behind you, before you gather up enough courage.

“promise me you won't laugh.”

“i would never laugh at you,” he says gently, but you catch a serious undertone in his voice.

“well, i… never kissed anyone before.”

you say it quick, fast, like ripping off a bandaid. or at least, it feels that drastic to you.

he, on the other hand, finds it absolutely adorable. you're so serious about something so trivial —that he was already aware of— and he can't help but kiss your cheek like a cat owner kisses their cat. lots of quick, playful kisses, making you laugh.

“stop!” you gently push him away, and his bright violet gaze tells you everything you need to know.

he's smitten.

he leans in and ruffles your hair.

“i know, pips.”

obviously, he'll never admit that he kind of made sure you never kissed anyone back in high school or college. it was impossible for your classmates to even look your way when they saw a tall, looming presence watching over you like a biblically accurate guardian angel.

before you can ask how he knows, he leans forward even more to whisper in your ear.

“if it makes you feel better, i haven't kissed anyone before either.”

hasn't he? but he was so popular back in high school. you figured he must have kissed someone but kept it private.

“i've been… keeping it safe for someone special.”

your eyes brighten with wonder, but deep inside, there's no doubt in your heart.

the way he looks down at your lips, the way his eyes are genuine and loving, the way his cheeks are slightly flushed, reminding you of when he's feverish.

he's been saving his first kiss for you, and you only. and that makes you feel warm and cared for.

plus, you trust him more than enough to give him your first one too.

and all of your firsts, for that matter.

𐙚˙⋆.˚ rafayel! ꒰੭

you two have been together for a few months now, officially.

rafayel wasn't pushy, nor was he excessively cuddly —unless he was being dramatic about something and needed your attention.

however, you did notice his lingering gaze on your lips. the way he'd stop and stare at you whenever you were just sitting around, even if you were basically doing nothing.

he would take the cups you'd been drinking from and sip on them too, and he would use your chapstick both in secret and right in front of you.

you were starting to catch on to what was going on, but you didn't know how to address it without sounding awkward or immature.

you wanted to kiss him, of course. his lips were always so inviting, his gaze so adoring, and his gentle caresses late at night made you crave fusing your body with his —if only it were humanly possible.

but, obviously, being with a popular and romantic guy like rafayel meant he probably had experience, or at least, that's what you assumed. not that it bothered you, but it made you feel a bit overwhelmed.

what if he thinks your kiss sucks?

what if you poke him in the eye with your nose?

the thought of messing up something so simple, yet so complex at the same time, was eating at you.

and now that he was literally showing you what he wanted —but never pushing— you finally had to tell him.

so, one quiet afternoon, you two were having lunch, sitting barefoot on the cold marble floor, skin still warm from being under the sun earlier that day.

“raf?”

you call his name before taking a bite of your food. he looks up and smiles.

“yes, cutie?”

you swallow, then take a sip of water. you're clearly nervous.

“so… recently, you've been a bit more… forward.”

he nods, as if that was obvious.

“well, yeah. now that we're together, i can finally shower my muse with affection. why? is it too much for you?”

you quickly shake your head.

“no, raf, it's just…”

his lips turn a bit pouty, and he soon stands up.

“don't you like it? am i being too pushy? shall i punish myself for causing you distress? do you think i'm weird? am i weird?”

you stand up behind him, trying not to laugh. he's pacing around, pressing the back of his hand dramatically against his forehead as if he's about to faint.

“rafayel, stop!”

you hug him from behind and giggle, soon making him turn to face you.

“gosh, relax! i just wanted to say something very, very silly.”

you take a deep breath before looking into his eyes.

“raf, i've never kissed anyone before. i know you want to kiss me, and i really want you to. i just don't want to mess it up or… well, make a fool out of myself.”

he's dumbfounded.

offended, even.

his brows furrow, as if you'd just insulted his entire lineage.

“cutie… what are you saying?”

he steps closer and gently takes both your hands, entwining your fingers.

“even if you were purposely trying to be a fool, you'd still be mesmerizing in my eyes. there's nothing you could do that would make me think you'd messed up.”

you arch an eyebrow.

“...okay, yeah, maybe ignoring me for hours or not returning my calls might be a huge mistake on your part. but that's not the point!” he quickly adds, finally stepping closer until your chests press together.

“look, i'll wait. if you don't feel ready for a kiss on the lips, i'll kiss your whole body instead. or your cheeks, or your hands, or anywhere you feel comfortable.”

he reassures you, though he quickly adds more.

“i won't lie, i really want to kiss you, but if that doesn't make you comfortable, i promise i'll find more ways to love you. and that's going to be easy, trust me.”

you smile warmly and nod. you're so grateful for him.

“don't worry, raf. just give me more time, because i really want our first kiss to be special. i'll practice with a pillow or someth—”

“no!”

he backs away immediately.

“practice with me! i'll cover my face! or… or, damn, i'll make a sculpture of myself, give me two weeks!”

“rafayel—!”

he's already running out of the room to gather materials.

and you know for a fact it will take him less than two weeks, but you'll probably kiss him before that.

he's earned it by being so cute.

𐙚˙⋆.˚ sylus! ꒰੭

this man makes you nervous.

sure, you are the only one who dares defy him (playfully). you are also the only one who can make this man do whatever you say, because he lives to satisfy you, and only you.

he also lives to worship you. when you two aren't bantering or playfully challenging each other, he is lovingly staring, tenderly caressing your back, trailing kisses along your skin —all while keeping his gaze locked on you.

obviously, this makes you go crazy. crazy and self-conscious.

it is crystal clear how much he wants you, how much he loves you, how much he's waiting for you.

but you are just… you. you want him too, yes, but you don't know how to show the same quiet intensity he does.

naturally, he notices your hesitation. whenever he gets too close to your lips, you quickly avert your gaze and make him focus on your jawline instead.

when he brushes your lower lip with his thumb and has you right where he wants you, —your lips parting, your cheeks warming— you quickly pull his hand away and hug him instead.

he can't lie: he thinks that's endearing, especially since you're not pushing him away completely. you just gently change his focus, or so you think.

today, he wants to settle this matter.

you look up at him briefly before following, clearly intrigued by whatever it is he has to say.

“sweetie, won't you be a darling and come with me?”

you two walk up to his room, and he sits down before spreading his legs. he pats his thigh twice.

“come, kitten.”

oh, this is serious. you walk up to him and sit on top of his leg, wrapping your arms around his shoulders.

“care to explain what is going on in that pretty little mind of yours?”

you sigh, knowing where this is going.

“what do you mean, sy?”

he hums quietly as a response.

he stays silent, but his red eyes glow just a tiny, tiny bit.

you really can't hide anything from him, can you?

“fine! fine. look, it's nothing serious, okay? you don’t have to worry about it.”

“tell me.”

“sy, i know you want to… to kiss me.”

he is unfazed.

“indeed, kitten.”

gosh, this man…

“well, i don't think i'm… ready, sy.”

he tilts his head ever so slightly. it's barely visible.

“i shall wait, then,” he states, matter-of-factly.

now you have to spit it out, or else he'll think you're not ready because of nervousness, and not because of your lack of experience —though both are true.

“no, sylus. i mean… i've never kissed anyone before.”

he just looks at you, silently. but then his gaze softens, and he gently caresses your waist.

“ah, so that was it, kitten?”

his lips curl up in a grin, and you look away.

“it's not funny…”

but he quickly holds your chin and makes you look back at him, exploring your embarrassed face with delight.

“i never said it was, sweetie… my, aren't you just adorable?”

your cheeks heat up, and you squirm under his scrutiny.

“sylus!”

he clicks his tongue, soon making you straddle him. despite his playful demeanor, he remains gentle overall.

he kisses your forehead, his lips lingering.

“i mean it. i don't find it funny... though, had you said so before, i would've been much more understanding.”

you sigh, knowing he’s right. you rest against his chest, nuzzling your cheek against it.

“sorry… i mean, it made me really self-conscious, and i didn't want to make a big deal about it.”

he kisses the crown of your head before massaging your shoulders.

“hm. you should make a big deal about it, my love. anything that dares hurt your pride is to be destroyed. if you don't feel strong enough to do it, you have me.”

you look up at him as your brows knit together.

“sylus…”

“always,” he adds to his previous statement.

you smile, leaning in to kiss his cheek.

“but, i must admit… the idea of claiming your first kiss is very much tempting, kitten.”

you groan and gently push his chest, jumping away from his lap.

“good night, you big birdbrain!”

and he lets you go, very amused.

but he never lets you go too far, so you better hurry if you don’t want him to catch you.

though he will.

he always does.

𐙚˙⋆.˚ xavier! ꒰੭

you two organized a small gathering with mutual friends. he was next to you, enjoying the way you laughed, the way you were so at ease and carefree.

his hand rested on top of yours, and upon feeling his warmth, you felt even better. you laughed, ate some snacks and shared funny anecdotes until your friends eventually started to leave.

now, only xavier and you remained, and neither of you wanted to clean up.

xavier wanted to cuddle, and you two obviously did, nuzzling against each other on the soft couch.

however, surprisingly enough, he wasn't sleepy. he wanted to do something, anything. the night is still young, he said.

so you two decided to play “two truths, one lie.”

as the name indicates, you had to say three statements: two truthful ones, and a false one. he had to guess which one was not true.

“hm, okay… the first one, i skipped training before, and not because of sickness. the second one, i've never cuddled a bear, and third… i've never kissed anyone before.”

he chuckles, gently poking your cheek.

“okay, that's easy.”

you arch your eyebrow, clearly in a playful yet challenging gesture.

“ah, yeah? prove it to me then, xav.”

he grins and puffs his chest.

“obviously, you've never cuddled a bear, otherwise you wouldn't be here to tell it. that's the truth.”

you grin, chuckling with him.

“okay, smarty-pants. you got yourself one point. next!”

he now ponders, averting his gaze as he thinks about your two other statements.

“hm, considering how much you love training, and how you're basically the best, i would have to say that you've never actually skipped it. that's the lie.”

you grin, shaking your head quickly.

his eyes go a bit wide.

“wait, you've skipped training… willingly?”

“mhm. once. there was this webtoon i had been wanting to read for so long, and it just so happened to be published early in the morning. i just had to skip training…”

he smiles, now poking your other cheek as he did before.

“naughty... now i know where your priorities lie.”

“oh, come on! you would have done the same if a book you wanted to read was finally being published after years in the making!”

and he doesn't deny it.

there's a comfortable silence between you two, before he finally shifts, his gaze now curious.

“so… does that mean that your last statement was true?”

“hm?” you tilt your head. then, you remember. “ah! yeah, i've never kissed anyone before. what, is that lame?”

you giggle.

he doesn't.

he suddenly cups your cheek tenderly, and you look at him, puzzled.

“xav…?”

he leans in just a bit, enough for both your breaths to mix together.

“so… if i were to kiss you one day, would that make me your first?”

your cheeks feel suddenly hotter.

you quietly nod, and he smiles.

“good.”

and just like that, he pulls back, now sitting on the couch.

you sit up too, now looking at him as if he was an alien. is he crazy?

“xavier, where are you going?”

he shrugs, starting to pick up everything. from the dirty cups to the almost empty plates of snacks.

“i want to clean up. i'm energized already.”

you just stare. but his words come back to you. if he was to kiss you one day…

so, he wants to kiss you.

oh god, he wants to kiss you.

and you, without noticing, already accepted it beforehand.

you lie down and cover your face with a cushion, trying not to panic.

and he stares from the kitchen door with a soft smile on his lips.

if you're this flustered just by thinking about your first kiss ever, and you already and oh-so-casually agreed to it…

how flustered will you get once it happens?

now he has something new to dream about, so he rushes to clean everything up so he can finally go to sleep with you.

𐙚˙⋆.˚ zayne! ꒰੭

to be honest, ever since you two started dating, nothing really has changed from when you were friends.

well, only a couple things. for example, he'd scold you more, and he is definitely more petty during arguments.

and also, he hugs you. not from behind yet, but you know he wants to, especially when you two go to sleep. and how could you forget his forehead kisses? he likes those, a lot.

now, you were fine with it. he was also seemingly fine with this, and you two enjoyed each other's company while he worked, so there is nothing to complain about, right?

right.

as you read a romance novel quietly, he typed on his computer. you didn't notice his longing gaze, his occasional sighs, the way his eyes would travel down to your parted lips as you read so intently.

you didn't know how zayne felt. you were unaware of how much he wanted to be affectionate, of how much he wanted to just do and not think too much about it afterwards.

he wanted to furiously make out, to hug you until you were breathless, to hold you while you slept and memorize every single scent of yours; from your shampoo to your perfume, to the lingering scent of detergent and even down to your pheromones.

he wanted everything.

soon enough, you look up when the room falls silent, and also because you read the cheesiest scene ever, and you wanted to share. zayne had stopped typing, looking down as his thoughts grew wilder.

“zaynie! what do you think of this scene?”

you get up and approach him, showing him the page.

he finally looks up and reads said paragraph. it is a kissing scene. it describes how explosive it feels to finally kiss the person you love. it also says how it all makes sense afterwards.

“does kissing really feel like that?” you quietly ask. he knows everything after all.

he's like your own search engine.

he fixes his glasses and looks back at his screen.

“how would i know?”

his voice is a bit strained, but he keeps composed.

you sigh, gently smacking his forearm.

“oh, come on! i know you're not a hopeless romantic or anything, but don't you know what kissing is like?”

he stops typing. is that what you think of him?

all this time, you've thought of him as a cold man? or, worse. as someone who doesn't really enjoy physical affection?

he tenses up from head to toe.

this can't be.

“zaynie, i've never kissed before either, so don't feel embarrassed to—”

he stands up, and his chair rides back, away from his desk.

oh, maybe that offended him.

“zayne, that was a joke, i didn't—”

and all of the sudden, your view is blocked.

he hugged you.

both his arms are surrounding you and pulling you closer to his chest. tight, desperate, even more needy after knowing you haven't kissed anyone.

he'll be your first, as much as you'll be his.

he inhales the sweet scent of your shampoo, he presses his cheek against your head.

even when he isn't kissing you, it feels explosive. it makes everything purposeful, worthy.

like the book described a kiss to feel, or rather, what love feels like.

you hesitantly hug him back, but you quickly feel comfortable. his scent, his soft shirt, everything feels just right.

“what page are you reading?”

he quietly asks. you are a bit confused, but you answer anyway.

“chapter 3, page 77. why?”

he hums and steps back ever so slightly, not wanting to fully let go.

“bookmark it.”

you narrow your eyes, but he quickly explains.

“we'll figure out the answer to your question together.”

and your eyes go a bit wide.

“as in… doing research?”

there's a small smile on his lips now, barely noticeable.

“you could say so.”

you nod. you trust his methods, and something tells you you'll even come to enjoy them.

zayne also knows he'll wait. he'll wait until you willingly express and consent for anything to happen, even if it's allowing him a simple kiss on the cheek.

because, if he acts by his own will, he'd never, ever let you go from his side, let alone from his arms.

which were made for you alone.

[lunashewolf117]

If you can't find you man that threats you like these guys do then that man doesn't deserve you!

i can't even find a decent guy to date how am I supposed to find a husband when these men are the standards now💀

[tbaluver]

WERE GETTING MARRIED! CONGRATS TO ALL OF US HAPPY BRIDES

[sayangrafayel]

Xavier: I guess you can say I'm a chicken magnet.

MC: Don't you mean 'Chick Magnet'?

The sound of chicken clucking getting louder

Xavier:

Xavier: No.

[bibbysstuff]

Mc in Lingeries, Li addition

[bananabreads]

Dad!lads with their children after their kindergarten classes (⁠ ⁠◜⁠‿⁠◝⁠ ⁠)⁠♡

A short one shot of each lads guy with their child ♥︎ Dad!Rafayel, Dad!Caleb, Dad!Sylus, Dad!Zayne, Dad!Xavier.

| I may or may not have a slight favoritism towards Seraphina.... | Dad!Rafayel and Filo!Caleb short one shot will be posted tomorrow or later! (>ᴗ•) !

RAFAYEL — ice cream after school

The low sound of a luxurious sports car engine echoed down the quiet kindergarten street. Rafayel had just pulled up, one arm resting on the wheel, sunglasses perched on his nose, wearing a casual white button down and rolled sleeves.

Inside the classroom, Seraphina perked up immediately at the familiar sound. Her big, curious eyes darted to the window, and within seconds, her tiny body was rushing toward it. She pressed her face against the glass, cheeks adorably squished as she waved both hands with all her might.

“Daddy! Daddy!” she cried out, her little voice muffled behind the glass.

The other kids gathered around her, a mix of awe and disbelief on their faces.

“That’s your dad?!”

“He has a cool car!”

“He looks like a prince!”

Even the teacher chuckled softly, gently ushering the kids away. “Alright, class, let’s give Seraphina some space. Her daddy’s here.”

The door opened and Seraphina ran out like a rocket. Rafayel had just stepped out of the car when she flung herself into his arms. He caught her easily, scooping her up and lifting her high.

“There’s my little guppy,” Rafayel murmured fondly, placing a soft kiss on her temple. “How was school?”

“I drew you today! But I accidentally gave you blue hair 'cause I ran out of purple,” she giggled.

“blue's not bad,” Rafayel said thoughtfully. “I might have to try it sometime.”

She nodded very seriously. “You’d look like a wizard.”

He chuckled at her response, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

He helped her into the passenger seat, custom fitted with a booster seat that matched the car's plush leather interior. He even buckled her in himself, tightening the strap with care before tapping her nose gently.

With a smooth start, the car glided away from the kindergarten as Seraphina swung her legs and hummed her favorite melody, making up silly lyrics as she went. Rafayel glanced at her through the rearview mirror, one hand on the wheel and the other extended back just enough for her to hold his pinky.

“Mommy’s still at work,” he said. “So how about we steal a little time together?”

Her eyes quickly perked up, “Does that mean... ice cream?"

Rafayel smirked. “Of course. But only if you tell me what kind of secret mission you were on today.”

“I was on the Princess Operation. I had to build a castle out of marshmallows and glue.”

He chuckled at her enthusiasm “Sounds like hard work.”

“I got glue on my tongue,” she whispered.

He laughed, low and genuine. “You’re braver than I thought.”

The two ended up at a quiet, beachside gelato place—Seraphina’s favorite. She sat across from Rafayel on a high stool, her tiny feet swinging while she dug into a cup of bubblegum ice cream with rainbow sprinkles.

CALEB — nonstop story teller

The second the kindergarten doors opened, she bolted.

“DADDYYYYY!”

Caleb barely had time to turn before his daughter hurled herself into his arms, arms wrapping tightly around his neck, little sneakers dangling in the air.

He caught her with ease, chuckling as he spun her in a circle. “There’s my princess. Missed me that much, huh?”

Her voice was filled with excitement, “Yes! Daddy, SO MUCH HAPPENED IN SCHOOL!”

She barely let him buckle her in the car before the words began pouring out, nonstop, back to back, no punctuation in sight.

“So first we made paper puppets and I made mine a sky princess named SKY like a cloud and she can fly so high she touches the stars and then she has a pet bird named birdy and a baby hawk named hawky and they can talk, Daddy, they TALK—”

Caleb listened, eyes flicking from the road to the rearview mirror just to catch the wild hand gestures she was making.

“Then we played Freeze Dance and I WON and everyone said I was the best at the silly moves and Teacher said I was like a shooting star because I moved so fast! And then at snack time—”

This continued. All. The. Way. Home.

And once they were inside, it didn’t stop. Not while she was taking off her shoes, not while she was drawing sky, birdy, and hawky on the living room floor, not even while Caleb was heating up her after school snacks.

“And then Seraphina said my puppet looked like a cloud but I said ‘No she’s a sky warrior, sera!’—and I showed her the backstory I made. Do you wanna hear it, Daddy?”

“I would love nothing more,” Caleb grinned, already bracing himself for Act II.

She stood on the couch and posed dramatically, arms outstretched like wings. “Sky was born on top of a storm cloud and raised by swallows and her bird has glowing feathers that light up when danger is near and—”

He watched her with nothing but awe. Like she was the only thing in the world worth watching. And to him, she was.

By the time you came home, exhausted but smiling, the first thing you heard was your daughter gasping like she’d just discovered treasure.

“MOMMY!!!” she shouted, racing to the door and nearly tripping over her sock. “You’re home!!”

You barely had time to drop your bag before she took your hand and started dragging you into the living room. “I have to tell you something! A lot of somethings!”

Caleb, sitting on the couch now with crumbs from her snack still on his shirt, gave you a smirk and mouthed, "It’s starting again."

“I made a puppet named Sky—wait no, I’ll start from the beginning!”

You sat down beside Caleb, already pulling your daughter into your lap as she flipped open her sketchpad to show off the drawings of Sky, birdy, and hawky.

“And THEN she saved a village from a sky fire, and hawky the hawk flew super fast and brought her water from the stars—are you listening, Mommy? Because this is the best part!”

You quickly reassured her, “I’m listening, baby.”

And you were. Every word.

Because watching her glow like that, retelling her sky high adventures with her whole heart, was its own kind of magic.

And Caleb? He just leaned back and watched the two of you, arms folded, heart full, thinking

This. This is everything he would ever wish for.

SYLUS — She's shy around people her age (⁠ᗒ⁠ᗩ⁠ᗕ⁠)

Most of the kids sprinted out, laughing and loud, bouncing around in little clusters. Sylus stood near the gate, quietly observing from behind dark sunglasses, hands in his pockets.

And then, there she was.

His daughter.

Quiet. Small. Lingering near the door, watching from the corner with those soft eyes that reminded him of you.

But not today.

Today, she spotted him and immediately lit up, her entire face brightening as if someone flipped a switch in her chest.

“Daddy!” she squeaked, voice full of excitement and joy.

Sylus barely had time to take a step forward before she ran straight into him, her tiny arms flinging around his legs.

He bent down instantly, gathering her up into his arms in one smooth motion.

“Well, there you are,” he said, his voice warm, his expression softer than anyone else ever got to see. “You missed me?”

She nodded furiously against his shoulder, giggling. “So much!”

Sylus smiled into her hair. “You had fun today?”

She leaned back in his arms, breathless and glowing, eyes wide with excitement. “I won!”

“You did?” he asked, adjusting her backpack so it didn’t slip.

“Musical chairs!” she beamed, holding out her hand. A golden star sticker shimmered slightly against her skin. “I won the whole game, Daddy! And everyone clapped for me! Even Teacher said I was fast.”

Sylus blinked, surprised, but proud.

“You’re usually not one to rush into things,” he teased gently.

“I know!” she grinned. “But I really wanted to try today.”

He opened the car door, setting her down in her seat, and she kept talking—quieter now, but rapid, nonstop.

“and I didn’t even fall when the music stopped, and I got to sit next to jasmine, and she said I was good at dodging the chairs, and Teacher gave me a star, look! and I wasn’t scared today, not even when I talked to someone new—”

She paused as he reached over to buckle her in.

“And I wanted to tell you first,” she added in a whisper, eyes shining. “Before I tell Mommy. Because… daddy picking me up is my favorite part of the day.”

Sylus stopped for a second.

His hand rested over the buckle, fingers still.

Then he leaned forward and pressed a quiet kiss to her forehead.

“You’re mine too, little one.”

ZAYNE — future doctor

Zayne’s office was its usual haven of calm, clean, softly lit, and scented faintly of lavender from the diffuser he’d placed months ago after Jasmine said hospitals “smelled like alcohol spray.”

But it wasn’t just a doctor’s office anymore.

Tucked into one corner was a child sized desk, light wood, rounded edges, and a tiny matching chair. The bottom shelf of Zayne’s bookshelf now held coloring books, a few storybooks, a worn olaf plushie, and a box of crayons organized by color. Nothing too loud. Nothing too flashy. Just enough to say, this space is hers, too.

Jasmine sat at her desk now, feet not quite touching the floor, her tongue slightly poking out in concentration as she worked on her school assignment:

“Draw who you want to be when you grow up.”

Her crayon gripped tight, she looked up occasionally, brow furrowed, gazing at her father across the room like an artist studying her model.

Zayne was seated at his own desk, reviewing a medical file. He’d taken off his coat but was still dressed in his usual neat shirt and slacks. His sleeves were rolled just once, pen in hand, posture perfect.

“Daddy,” Jasmine said suddenly, holding up her sketchpad. “Do you think this looks like you?”

Zayne glanced up.

In her drawing was a small figure with a stethoscope, tiny glasses even though he didn’t wear any, and neatly parted dark hair. Beside him was another version—shorter, with pigtails and the same coat, the same serious expression. Herself.

Zayne walked over, crouching beside her to get a closer look.

“You drew me with glasses again,” he noted gently and lightly chuckled.

“You just look smarter with them,” Jasmine replied like it was a matter of fact. “And I want to be smart like daddy.”

He paused for a second.

“You want to be a doctor?” he asked, though he already knew the answer.

Jasmine nodded slowly. “I want to fix people like you do. And have a desk. And drink coffee.”

Zayne tilted his head slightly, eyes softening. “Do you want the paperwork too?”

Jasmine blinked. “uhm..… Maybe just the healing part.”

He chuckled under his breath.

She gave a bright smile, “Daddy, when I grow up.. I’m gonna have a desk like yours. But mine’s gonna have stickers.”

Zayne glanced at her tiny desk, already decorated with a snowflake shaped sticker and a crooked cat drawing taped to the side. “Looks like you’ve got a head start.”

Jasmine giggled, leaning over to carefully draw a lanyard around the neck of her little doctor self.

“That’s your ID badge,” she said, showing it off. “I’m gonna have one too. And mine’s gonna say Dr. Jasmine!”

Zayne crouched again beside her, resting his hand on the edge of her tiny desk. “I think it suits you.”

She tilted her head thoughtfully. “When I’m big, can I still sit here in your office sometimes?”

He nodded without hesitation. “As long as you want to.”

She didn’t say anything after that. She just smiled again, sleepy this time,and went back to coloring in the soft gray floor under her characters.

XAVIER — a new friend

It was quiet when Xavier arrived at the school gate.

Most of the kids were still running around the yard to get to their parents, some playing tag, and some laughing at who knows what. And in the middle of it all, at the waiting area of the kindergarten, sat his son, legs tucked neatly underneath him, small hands resting in his lap, gaze pointed toward the trees.

He wasn’t lonely.

Just… still. Observing. Like always.

Xavier approached with his usual slow stride, posture relaxed but eyes trained on his son.

“Hey, buddy,” he greeted gently.

His son looked up, that familiar face lighting up instantly with a small smile, the kind he reserved only for the people he felt safe with. “Hi, Daddy.”

Xavier crouched down in front of him, brushing a stray leaf off his shoulder. “Good day?”

The boy hesitated… then gave a tiny nod.

Xavier raised an eyebrow. “Just ‘good’?”

Another pause. Then..

“I made a friend.”

Xavier blinked.

You could’ve told him the moon fell out of the sky, and he might’ve had the same reaction.

“…A friend?” he repeated, this time softer.

His son nodded again. A little firmer this time. “Her name is Seraphina.. she has an ariel lunchbox. We sat together today. She gave me one of her cookies.”

Xavier felt something pinch gently at his heart.

His son wasn’t loud or bold. He didn’t climb fences or scream across the yard like the other kids. He was the type to watch the sky and ask questions no one had answers for yet. Sweet. Quiet. Thoughtful. Not shy, but rarely first.

So for him to say he made a friend? That was everything.

“That’s awesome, kiddo. Mommy's definitely going to be excited to hear that,” Xavier said, running a hand gently through his son’s hair. “You proud of yourself?”

His son shrugged, but he smiled. That small, bashful, almost secret kind of smile. The one that meant yes.

“Did you talk a lot?”

“Some,” the boy replied. “She likes mermaids and says that she's a mermaid... and also like stars. I told her about the moon rocks you showed me"

Xavier gave a hum of approval, standing up and offering his hand.

“Well then,” he said, “you ready to go home, Mr. Social?”

His son giggled quietly and slipped his hand into Xavier’s without hesitation.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, just the two of them, fingers gently laced.

Xavier didn’t press for more. He didn’t need to.

Because his son didn’t chatter.

He shared.

And today… he shared something big.