#lnds oneshot

[mephisto-reporting]

I Love You : Sylus Edition

Premise: The plot was also inspired by one of his memories

Trope: Angst to fluff.

Pairing: Reader x Sylus

Note: Reader and the men are NOT in a relationship. but there is implied mutual attraction.My inbox is open for prompts and requests :)

The days had been slow, drawn-out, and suffocating. Every morning, you'd checked your phone, hoping for a message from Sylus or at least a notification. Nothing. The anxious knot in your stomach tightened with each unanswered call and every unread text. The silence was unbearable. It wasn’t the first time Sylus had gone radio silent, but this time was different. It had stretched on for days—too many days—and you couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

You had become accustomed to his presence, even if it often frustrated you. His teasing, his cocky smirk, the way he’d effortlessly control every room he entered, even when he wasn’t trying. But more than that, there was something you couldn’t ignore: the soft way he’d treat you when no one else was watching. Those tender moments between him and you, when he’d pull you close, call you his "kitten," and joke around until all the tension in the air vanished. But now? Now, all you could do was wait.

It was moments like these, your anxiety running rampant, that you regretted not having Luke or Kieran’s contact details. You had always pushed them away, telling yourself you could handle things alone. But right now, more than anything, you wanted someone to reassure you that he was okay. It felt like you were walking in a fog, each day more uncertain than the last. At night, you stared at your phone, wondering if it was broken or if he was simply ignoring you. You hated that you couldn’t even call him, hated that he was out there somewhere, unreachable.

That night, after days of waiting, you made a decision. Your heart skipped a beat when the idea hit you: the Onychinus base. It was risky, but you'd do anything to find answers. You couldn't sit idly by anymore. You knew you had to go to the Onychinus base, even if you didn't have the slightest idea of what you’d find. You knocked on the door, then knocked again, but no one opened. A cold dread settled over you as you stood there, staring at the imposing walls, the silence swallowing your voice.

Where was he? What was happening?

I miss you, you thought, a silent confession you refused to say aloud. It hurt more than you expected, and you couldn't understand why.

Two more days pass and it was driving you insane. You needed a distraction, possibly a new mission, outside Linkon. The rumble of your motorbike against the open highway barely matched the relentless thud of your heart. It had been days—agonizing, nerve-wracking days—since you'd last heard from Sylus. Messages had gone unanswered, and for all his taunting, all his smug calls to remind you he was still lurking in the shadows, now there was… nothing. Just silence. You hated it—hated that his absence gnawed at you in ways you hadn’t anticipated. You hadn’t realized how much you’d gotten used to him, his cocky grins, his infuriating taunts. His voice was a presence in your life you’d come to crave despite yourself. But now, with each mile passing under your tires, you still felt a flicker of worry that he might not come back.

The sound of another engine roared beside you, and your pulse quickened as you glanced sideways, a dark figure matching your speed. That profile—it was him. It had to be.

You yanked the bike to a stop at the side of the road, helmet barely hitting the seat before you spun to face him. Sylus had pulled up, his helmet already in hand, revealing that smirk of his, like he hadn’t just vanished without a word.

Before he could get a word in, you started.

“Where the hell have you been?” you shouted. You could feel your voice tremble, frustration blending with relief. “No calls, no texts! I was just supposed to sit around wondering if you were—if you were…” You trailed off, refusing to say it out loud. “You’ve been gone for days, and I’ve been losing my mind trying to figure out what happened to you! You can’t just… just disappear like that! Do you have any idea—”

He listened, eyes gleaming with amusement, lips twitching as if he couldn’t resist toying with you, even now.  Sylus’s lips curled into a teasing smirk, his eyes gleaming mischievously as he interrupted. “Careful, kitten,” he drawled, stepping closer. “I might start thinking you actually care about me.”

You glared at him, furious but relieved to see him in one piece. “I do care about you, you idiot!” you snapped back, the words slipping out faster than you could stop them. “I can’t just sit around not knowing where the hell you’ve gone, what you’ve been doing, whether you’re dead or alive!”

“Oh, really?” he replied, feigning mock surprise as he leaned forward, his smirk deepening, eyes dark and playful. "Come on, sweetie. You’re really losing sleep over the big bad criminal of the N109 Zone? You had no reason to care for someone like me. Not unless you were just bored. Or maybe you’ve taken a liking to getting under my skin. Which, I won’t lie,” he said, chuckling softly, “I find adorable.”

The heat of your anger mixed with a surge of emotion you couldn’t keep inside anymore. Tears welled up in your eyes, your hands shaking as you wiped them away furiously, but nothing could stop the words from tumbling out, raw and unfiltered.

“The reason,” you yelled, your voice cracking, “is because I love you! That’s why!

The admission hung in the air, loud and unmistakable, and the tears that you’d been holding back prickled at your eyes. You half expected him to brush it off, to laugh at you, maybe even just get back on his bike. The world seemed to stop for a moment. Sylus stood frozen, his eyes wide with shock, his usually smug expression completely wiped off his face. His mouth parted, as though searching for the right words but coming up empty.

You stood there, heart thumping wildly in your chest, hoping to hell he wouldn’t just turn and leave, or worse, laugh at your confession. Instead, he was… completely and utterly still, his eyes locked on yours, stunned into silence. His expression softened, a flicker of vulnerability flickering across his face. He took a step closer, lifting a hand, and before you knew it, his thumb was brushing a tear from your cheek.

“Say that again, sweetie” he murmured, his voice unusually quiet, vulnerable. “I didn’t hear you.”

Your chest tightened, but you repeated yourself, more firmly this time. “I love you, Sylus. I love you.”

“You mean that?” he whispered, a rare moment of sincerity breaking through his usual bravado. “You… love me?”

You nodded, biting your lip to keep it from trembling. “Yes. I was terrified you were gone forever, Sylus. You make my life… complicated, but you make it better, too.”

He didn’t move for a second, just stared, processing every word. Then a slow, genuine smile spread across his face as he took your chin in his hand, bringing you closer. “I love you too, sweetie. Believe me, I didn’t think I’d hear it back. But… damn.” He chuckled, shaking his head, and then pulled you against him, his arms wrapping around you with a warmth you hadn’t expected.

“You’re insane, you know that, kitten? I didn’t think you’d ever say it.” He cupped your face gently, his thumb brushing across your cheek. “But I’m glad you did. Because I... I love you too.”

For a brief, shining moment, it felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off your shoulders. Sylus, the man who had always played with control and power, had let himself be vulnerable, and you could see it in his eyes now. He wasn’t pulling away. He wasn’t running. He was here, and he cared. His lips brushed against your forehead in a rare, tender gesture, the warmth of his touch grounding you, calming the storm of emotions in your chest.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I didn’t mean to make you worry like that. But don’t think for a second that I don’t care about you. I do. More than you know.”

You looked at him through your wet lashes, still struggling with the emotions that had bubbled up so suddenly.

Sylus’s smirk returned, though this time it had a different edge to it. “So much for not resonating with me when we first met,” he teased, a glint of mischief flickering in his eyes. “I guess I’ve won, huh?”

You nudged him with your elbow, still trying to process everything, your heart hammering in your chest.

He leaned down, his breath warm against your ear as he whispered, “I love you, sweetie. More than you think I do. You’re mine now.”

A blush crept up your neck, and before you could even respond, Sylus was tugging you closer, pulling you into an embrace that was more tender than anything you’d ever expected from the man who thrived on power and control.

“I’m not letting you go,” he murmured, his lips brushing the top of your head. “Not tonight. Not ever again. Guess that makes me one lucky criminal.” he murmured, squeezing you just a little tighter. He held you like he never wanted to let go, and for the first time in days, everything felt right again.

AN: reblogs, feedback and opinions are appreciated!

[loveanddeepthroat]

Come Home

Pairing - Sylus x f!MC

Summary - Sylus has headed out to deal with some business, leaving you concerned for him as he doesn’t return when he told you he would. Fluff and a bit of angst. Sylus and MC aren’t yet in a relationship.

Word count - 2k

A/N - Hi! This is my first little one shot for LADS, and I hope you enjoy it. I do accept requests and look forward to writing more for this fandom 🖤

It had been hours since you last heard from him.

You tried to tell yourself that you didn’t need to worry. That he was more than capable and has always returned in one piece. That your worry is wasted on him anyway, considering the fact that you weren’t even supposed to like him.

But you felt sick.

It was almost impossible not to be concerned. No matter where he was or what he was doing, he has always been reachable. You’ve tried his phone so many times that the battery eventually gave up on your futile attempts and went to sleep—which is what you should be doing at this hour. 

Mephisto had accompanied him on his outing, Luke and Kieran staying at the base with you under Sylus’s orders. They didn’t seem at all bothered by the fact that it was currently three hours past the time Sylus had told them he’d be back. They know him better than you do, but their constant reassurance did little to soothe the panic starting to show.

“Please,” you practically beg. “I have this awful feeling that something has happened to him. Please go and look for him.”

Kieran groaned at her, tired of having to repeat himself once more. “We already told you.”

“Boss’s orders are non-negotiable,” Luke chimes in from where he’s lounging in an armchair.

“He’d have our heads as soon as we walked out the door.”

You were becoming more irritated each second by their nonchalant attitude. They didn’t even seem to give a shit, and you weren’t currently in the right mindset to delve into why you gave so much of a shit.

He was a criminal. A man who had such questionable intentions and motives that you didn’t even want to know the bare minimum of what he got up to whenever he headed out alone.

If something had happened to him, however, you wanted names.

As poorly as your acquaintance with him had begun, you found him to be more intriguing with every moment spent in his presence. His likes and dislikes, his attentive nature whenever you’re around, the way he chooses a vinyl record based on the type of mood he’s in—even the way he dresses has you analysing his every six feet and two inches of pure, solid muscle.

He wasn’t bad on the eye, especially when he was looking at you. You couldn’t fully figure it out, but there was a very subtle tenderness to his presence when he was around you. Subtle in a way that didn’t overshadow his ability to be the biggest asshole you’d ever met.

“If you keep pacing like that then I’m going to throw up,” Luke complains.

You shoot him a harsh glare. “If you don’t like it then get out and find your boss,” you grit back.

With an exaggerated huff, he pulls himself out of his seat, stretching his arms over his head. You feel a glimmer of hope, only for it to be shot down almost immediately. “I’ll let you know if I pass by him in my dreams,” he teases, walking out of the lounge and towards his own room.

You wanted to drag him back and push him out of the front door, but the man could probably put you to sleep with a snap of his skilled fingers. Instead, you growl angrily as his chuckles sound from the hallway.

Kieran stood up, too, mimicking his twin with his stretching. He paused for a moment, and you waited for his addition to his brother's teasing.

“He’ll be back,” he assured, surprising you. “If he’s not back by morning, we’ll figure something out. Just go to sleep.”

He doesn’t wait for a response from you as he follows after Luke, both of them turning in for the night. Sleep sounded like pure bliss, but you weren’t going to be able to do so.

You couldn’t even sit down, your legs automatically taking you around every single piece of furniture so many times that you were starting to get dizzy. 

“Please come back,” you chanted quietly to yourself quietly, if only to keep your pacing on track and your mind alert. 

“Please come back. Please come back.”

You weren’t sure how long it had been, but as soon as you heard the front door, you bolted for it on unsteady legs.

He came in quietly, which was completely overshadowed by your crashing into things on your way to get a visual on him. You practically fell through the door that led to the entry hall, where he looked only mildly bewildered and wholly amused.

There were no visual signs of any injury, but light blood splatters dotted across his white shirt, indicating an altercation. Mephisto sat happily on his shoulder, cawing as soon as he laid his mysterious little red eyes on you. The damn bird was never too happy whenever you were around.

Sylus raised an eyebrow at you. “Expecting someone?” 

That asshole.

He dropped off the face of the earth for hours, and had the audacity to greet you with sarcasm. 

Before your brain could warn you about the threat of putting your hands on him, you sprang forward, striking his chest with the palm of your hand. Then again. And again.

It was pathetically weak from your exhaustion, and he didn’t so much as blink as you assaulted his blood-spattered shirt. Mephisto, however, took to fighting back immediately, pecking at your hands and screeching.

Sylus shooed him away quickly, and the mechanical crow reluctantly took his leave. He proceeded to just stand there as his winged companion flew away, entirely unbothered by your outburst.

Your movements were quickly faltering, the already feeble slaps to his torso becoming far and few between. Still, he did not move. Did not speak. He was the most feared man in the N109 Zone, and he was letting you lash out on him.

Your hand finally stopped on the lapel of his coat, gripping it for a second to catch your breath. He waited for you to finally take a step back, your arms crossing over your chest immediately so you could fully close in on yourself. You were certain that your little outburst was going to bring some repercussions.

Unable to fight it, your bottom lip started to tremble. You had been walking around that lounge for so long that you had convinced yourself he was not coming back. That the wrong person had finally found him and gotten the better of him.

And you just know what he would’ve said if you indulged him in that speculation. What a silly little thought, sweetie.

He closed the space between you, your head automatically dropping to avoid his crimson gaze. You couldn’t bear it, the anticipation of what he was going to do. Your ass was likely headed back to Linkon on foot.

Warm fingers curled beneath your chin, lifting your gaze back up to his. He was towering over you, but you strangely didn’t feel intimidated. All you could feel was his warmth, and your wave of emotions crashing into their withering barrier.

His face gave nothing away as he studied you, still holding your trembling chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Are you finished?”

He didn’t ask it sarcastically. He was giving you an opening. If you weren’t, he’d allow you to resume until you got it all out of your system.

But you were done, your arms feeling like jelly to the point that crossing them was taking a big effort from you. You nod, feeling wetness pooling in your eyes. This all felt ridiculous. He didn’t owe you phone calls or explanations, you both barely considered each other friends. 

The surprisingly soft pad of his thumb brushed gently across your shaking lip, his eyes following the movement. “I’m sorry.”

In any other circumstance, those two words would have shocked you enough to make you fall over. But you were a little too far on the delusional side of exhaustion, your body running on the fumes of your panic.

Your eyes flicker away, the wetness tipping over the edge and dripping off of your lashes. He turned your drifting head back to him to lock eyes with you again. He never did like it when you broke his gaze.

“Things got a bit out of hand,” he explained quietly, not needing an explanation for why you were so upset. “You shouldn’t worry.”

“I wasn’t,” you lie, earning an amused chuckle from him.

He brushed his knuckle across your cheek to rid you of your tears. “No? Why else would a kitten get her claws out, then? Did Luke and Kieran forget to feed you?”

You scoffed at his teasing, following his lead back into the ease of your strange companionship. “They’re terrible babysitters,” you say, sniffling away the last of your upset. 

He smirked, moving his hand to cup the back of your neck. He pulled you towards him, embracing you gently with a deep inhale. You almost swore he was smelling your hair, but you shut that thought down. It was far too complicated for such a tired mind to dwell over.

It wasn’t the first time you’ve both embraced, but this instance did feel quite different. It felt comforting, rather than nerve wracking. Nobody embraces a man like Sylus without at least a modicum of fear beneath the surface.

“You could have called,” you whispered. “Or…or at least answered my calls.”

He sighed, the blow of breath tickling your hairline. “There isn’t a good signal where I went tonight,” he explains. “I should have mentioned that. I didn’t want to call once I did have service in case you were sleeping. I apologise.”

An overwhelming warmth filled your chest, different to the one emanating off of his body. You look up at him, lifting a hand to his forehead. He humours you by allowing it, his eyes trained on yours as you felt the cool skin beneath the hair falling over his face.

“Are you coming down with something? You’ve apologised to me twice now,” you say, half serious.

He didn’t laugh or tease, his face slipping back into that easy nonchalant expression. “I assure you, I’m not coming down with anything. I could ask you the same thing, though. Since when did you become a worrier, kitten?”

You didn’t know how to answer that. It was something you yourself had to figure out. Caring for him wasn’t on your bingo cards when you first met. If anything, the very first day you met, you’d have been relieved if he hadn’t returned.

“Don’t get used to it,” you murmur, his smirk returning at your half-assed response.

“I’ll try, but I do get attached,” he whispers, tucking your hair behind your ear. He looks as though he’s contemplating something, and it takes a moment before he speaks again. “I’ll get us some better communication devices. Something you can carry around that I can alert you on.”

A slight sense of guilt washed over you. “No, it’s okay. You don’t need to be concerned about my insecurities, I shouldn’t be keeping tabs on you.”

Sylus shook his head, his mind already made up. He taps a finger against your temple. “My concern about what goes on in there is for me to deal with. If some better technology eases your troubles, then it eases mine too.”

There it was. That side of him that kept you so very intrigued and made you feel a sense of…home? He often used words that didn’t m quite mean the same as his intentions, but you could see it in him.

He cares.

He rubs a firm hand up and down your back before turning you around, lightly pushing you away from the front door.

“It’s about time we got some sleep,” he says, barely above a whisper. 

You let him guide you through the halls, his lips dropping to your ear as he whispered again.

“Feel free to monitor me.”

[reshinless]

sylus is a girl dad.

sylus whose daughter loves telling everyone hi, with a wave and a cheeky smile (in hopes to find a mom and a wife for her papa)

she, who bumps into you while running around the candy isle.

"oh sweetheart, are you okay?" she immediately gets up to see who she bumped into-

"oh wow.. you're so pretty, lady!" she cheers as you pick her up. "mmhm? where's your parents, honey?" you search signs for any parents.bmaybe she was just wandering?

no no, a kid with this type of fashion would not just 'be roaming around'. she had a necklace with her own name on it.

"my daddy would like you." the small white-haired little girl looked at you with awe. playing with your hair as she leaned onto your chest, as if she was ready to call you mom.

you started to walk around the store, asking around if they'd seen her parents. but every stranger you met- to no avail did you get to find any clue. let alone the man himself.

"sweetheart, do you know what you're papa looked like?" tucking in one of her stray strands of hair behind her ears as she nods her head. "yeah, handsome and very nice. he is very tall too! and.. ummm... he has my hair!" huh.. you couldn't find anyone else that seemed to have similar hair to hers.

"ah, there you are scarlett. don't roam around aimlessly. you heard a low voice coming from behind you. oh this must be her father.

oh- wow. he was definitely a lot more different than expected. you expected an appearance similar to the way his little girl had dressed. "papa! look i found pretty woman!" she pulled on your collar, asking you to get closer.

'you.. you're her dad?" you looked back at the little pearl you had in your arms, she was wearing all pink and a dash of white. and compared it to the man in front of you's look. a black suit paired with a few touches of red here and there.

you chuckled at first, getting to converse a little deeper with the tall man, although he looked scary, he was not as unfriendly as he seemed.

"you're good with kids, hmm?" the white-haired male hummed, looking into your e/c eyes, he definitely could hold it. "I suppose!" you cheer as you watch the small girl run back and forth, grabbing unhealthiness off the shelves.

"miss! can you pretty please buy this for me?" she grinned, oh what a cute little smile! sylus suddenly stopped you by your shoulder; "I'm really sorry for her behavior, she doesn't usually act like this. scarlett, go put it back." the last of his sentence almost sounded nice, but a twinge of anger in it. well, understandably..

"don't worry, i can buy it for her. which one did you want again?" you stepped closer, kneeling down to her level, watching her point out what chocolate bar she wanted.

he had to marry you.

after a quick trip to the counter, the small girl happily munched on her candy, smiling a teethy grin at you. bits of chocolate over her mouth. "hey, careful now, chocolate can stain easily.." you walked to her, wiping her mouth with a part of your clothing.

"hey- you didn't have to do that." sylus was too late to stop you, the mocha already stained onto your shirt. "huh? oh it's nothing much really, I'm fine. they're just clothes anyway."

"let me repay you."

"no, no need really!"

"let me."

"no! it's fine!"

he grabbed your hand not too roughly, but places what looked like at least one-thousand dollars?!

by the time you looked up from counting the money, he had already gone. oh, what's this? a note?

"call me XXXX-XXX-XXX when you find something." huh. his number? now that's interesting!

[beneathashadytree]

JEALOUS MUCH? - TEXTING THE LOVE AND DEEPSPACE MEN

Warnings : subtle suggestiveness, reader is gender-neutral!

Genre : fluff for shits n giggles

Additional notes : Another adorable request I loved making to show just how horrendously down bad they all are for MC🙏🏽 Hope y’all enjoy it!!🫶🏽

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[trappolia]

rafayel misses you.

it's ridiculous, given that you and him occupy the same space. his head has made an imprint upon your lap from how long he has been laying upon it, and your body instinctively curls over his as if to defend him — him, of all creatures — from the big bad things out there in the world.

it's a rare occurence, surely, considering the line of your work, and rafayel knows that he should feel some semblance of gratitude for you— but there is a selfish part of him that wonders why this is so rare. why is it that he should feel grateful that you only occasionally take time off to spend it with him instead of running after wanderer tracks like some headless chicken.

what irks rafayel the most is that even now, your mind is elsewhere; pondering about your next work day, your next course of action in your investigations regarding the aether core, everything in between— but never him.

"do you love me?" he blurts out suddenly.

rafayel hears you hum, and the dappled shade your frame casts over him where he lays upon your lap shifts as you look down at him. there's a soft smile upon your face, though your eyes shine with a glint of curiosity— puzzlement.

"of course i do," you say, as if it were obvious— as if rafayel could feel it.

and he does. he knows it, deep down in his heart and in his soul, that you love him as surely as the wave comes back to shore; you'll always come back to him at the end of the day, and rafayel thinks that it should matter.

it should matter. it should. that's what he tells himself then as he closes his eyes, turning his head to bury it in the soft of your stomach— and will all his wretched thoughts away.

[blaire-apricity]

Possessive Desires

𝙿𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚝: 𝙳𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝙶𝚊𝚖𝚎

xᴀᴠɪᴇʀ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

ᯓ❅ ┆ 𝘴𝘺𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘴 ┆ : 𝘉𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

ᯓ❅ ┆ 𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘴 ┆ : 𝘕𝘚𝘍𝘞, 18+ 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺, 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘖𝘖𝘊, 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘩 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴, 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘮 (𝘧𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨), 𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵 (𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦) & 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦.

─────────────── ˗ˏˋ ❅｡˚ ☁︎ ˚｡⋆｡˚☽ ˎˊ˗ ────────────────

His fingers traced a tantalizing path down to her thighs, then slowly moved along her inner thighs, sending waves of pleasure and anticipation coursing through her. "One more word," he murmured, his tone dark and promising, "and I'll show you exactly who you belong to."

His statement enticed her, an undercurrent of danger making her heart race, yet she couldn't help but be drawn to it. She looked at him, her eyes glazed with desire, a sly smirk tugging at her lips as she decided to pull his last strings. "You're adorable, Lumi."

His jaw clenched at the use of that teasing nickname, his grip on her waist tightening possessively. Without warning, he lifted her effortlessly from the seat, his strong arms enveloping her in a firm embrace.

In one fluid motion, he spun her around and pressed her back against the wall, his body a solid barrier of strength and desire that trapped her in place.

"Oh, you have no idea the game you're playing, sweetheart," he purred, his voice a velvety mix of menace and lust. His eyes blazed with a hungry flame as his fingers tangled in her hair, securing her firmly as his mouth descended upon hers once more.

She squeaked as he pushed her against the wall, his body melding with hers, the pressure both exhilarating and overwhelming. Perhaps her teasing had gone too far, but it was too late to turn back now. His kiss was demanding and fervent, eliciting a soft groan from her lips, "mm.." The intensity of his desire left her breathless and completely at his mercy.

Xavier deepened the kiss, his tongue entwining with hers in a passionate, intoxicating dance. His body pressed even closer, the heat of his skin seeping into hers, creating an electric connection. His hand glided down her side, tracing the curve of her waist, over her hip, and down to her thigh.

He shifted slightly, lifting her leg just enough to press his hips snugly against her, the hard evidence of his desire unmistakable. His kiss was possessive, each stroke of his tongue a clear declaration of ownership.

"H-Hya—!" Her gasp was soft and breathless as he lifted her leg, exposing her to a more vulnerable position, especially since she was only wearing a skirt. The sensation was both thrilling and overwhelming, making her feel acutely aware of every point of contact between them.

As her gasp escaped her lips, he continued to devour her mouth, his body pinning her securely against the wall. The heat between them grew more intense, his kisses becoming harder and more demanding, filled with an insatiable hunger.

The hand gripping her waist trailed down to her legs, his fingers gently caressing her thigh, tracing small, tantalizing circles over her smooth skin. His thumb slipped under the edge of her skirt, brushing against the top of her thigh-high stocking, teasing her with each subtle movement.

"M-Nn.." She closed her eyes, struggling to maintain her composure as she felt his fingers at the edge of her skirt. The combination of his touch and his kisses sent shivers through her body, making it increasingly difficult to think clearly. The intensity of his desire, combined with the vulnerability of her position, left her breathless and yearning for more.

He smiled slightly at her struggle, the soft sounds escaping her lips only fueling his desire. His thumb brushed upward along her inner thigh, slipping under her skirt, his touch growing bolder and more insistent.

He broke the kiss, his mouth finding the delicate flesh of her throat. He trailed a path of hot, possessive kisses down the sensitive skin, his lips leaving a burning trail in their wake. His teeth nipped gently at her collarbone, a sharp contrast to the soothing caress of his tongue as it followed, erasing the sting.

"A-Aah..!" Y/n gasped, the sensation causing her to lift her chin slightly, subconsciously giving Xavier more access to her neck.

Taking full advantage of her responsive arch, his mouth continued its seductive path down her neck. His tongue lapped at her skin, savoring the taste, while his teeth grazed over the tender flesh. He found a particularly sensitive spot at the base of her throat and sucked on it, intent on marking her as his own.

His hand slid higher, fingers deftly slipping beneath her panties to explore her heat. "You're so soft, sweetheart," he murmured against her skin, his breath warm and his voice thick with undeniable desire.

His fingers traced along her intimate folds, each touch sending jolts of pleasure through her body. He found her most sensitive bud and pressed gently against it, earning a sharp gasp from her lips.

He continued his sensual assault, kissing a path down her chest. His teeth caught the neckline of her top, pulling it down to expose her generous cleavage to his hungry gaze. His body pushed further into hers, his growing excitement pressing firmly against her, making his desire abundantly clear. His kisses grew more fervent, each one a testament to his possessive need to claim every inch of her.

"H-Haa... M-Mn.." Y/n’s whimpers grew more frequent and urgent as Xavier continued his relentless actions, each touch and kiss pulling more helpless sounds from her.

He captured her mouth once more in a heated kiss, his lips bruising hers as he tasted every moan she made. His fingers continued their exploration of her heat, teasing and taunting her sensitive bud with gentle, torturous circles. He relished in the small, pleading noises she made, drinking them in like the finest ambrosia.

Shifting his stance slightly, the movement caused his hardness to press even closer, the friction nearly overwhelming him. His need for her was a roaring inferno, an all-consuming desire that demanded satisfaction.

He pushed her harder against the wall, his body melding into hers with an urgency that left no room for doubt. His fingers slipped down, slowly teasing her entrance, the tips brushing over her slick folds with deliberate care. Breaking the kiss, his breath hot and heavy against her lips, he murmured, "You're mine, alright?"

Before Y/n could respond, in one swift motion, he lifted both of her legs, hiking her thighs up to drape over his hips, opening her even more to his touch. His finger slipped inside her heat, and a low, primal groan escaped his throat at the sensation.

"A-Aah..!" Y/n arched her back immediately, the sudden intrusion making her feel incredibly exposed and vulnerable. She panted lightly, her gaze half-lidded, her expression a tantalizing mix of arousal and surrender that sent waves of heat coursing through Xavier.

His finger curled inside her, rubbing against her inner walls with practiced precision. "Y/n, you're soaked," he whispered huskily, his voice thick with ravenous desire and a hint of teasing satisfaction.

His touch grew bolder with every response he elicited, his fingers moving with increasing confidence and intent. He added another finger, carefully stretching her, his movements designed to bring her to the peak of pleasure.

His mouth found her neck again, his teeth grazing over the sensitive skin, leaving possessive marks in their wake. His kisses trailed down to her collarbone, each one more fervent than the last, as he claimed every inch of her with insatiable need.

"Mmhhm-! Aa-aah..~!" Y/n's moans grew louder, each sound a testament to the intense pleasure Xavier was eliciting from her. She was losing her composure completely, her body tightening around his fingers as her pleasure built to an almost unbearable peak.

Encouraged by her moans, Xavier continued his ministrations, moving his fingers deeper and faster within her. His thumb found her sensitive bud again, rubbing it with precise, rhythmic circles. He wanted to see her come undone, wanted to be the one to drive her over the edge.

His words became more heated, his voice thick with desire. "Let go for me, sweetheart."

"A-Aahh! X-Xavier..— Haa-..~!" Y/n moaned out, her voice trembling as she felt herself nearing the edge, her mind going blank with each thrust of his fingers.

Hearing his name spill from her lips like a reverent prayer drove him further. He moved his fingers faster and deeper, relentlessly seeking to draw out her climax, while his thumb maintained its rhythm on her sensitive bud.

He nipped at her earlobe, then whispered against her ear, his breath warm and laden with desire. "That's right. Say my name again." His voice carried a dominating edge that sent shivers down her spine.

Her world narrowed to the sensation of his fingers deep and curling inside her, making her back arch even more. She was drunk with pleasure, feeling herself teetering on the brink. "X-Xavier..—"

A shiver ran down his spine at the sound of his name on her lips, breathless and full of need. He kissed her neck, his teeth grazing the flesh, before whispering against her skin. "I need to hear you scream my name when you come."

His fingers twisted suddenly, increasing in speed and pressure. His sole focus was on her pleasure, her release. He wanted nothing more than to be the one to send her over the edge.

Y/n's breath hitched as she felt the intensity of his movements. Her body tightened, and with a final, desperate cry of "X-Xavier!" she shattered, her climax ripping through her with an intensity that left her trembling. Xavier held her through it, his fingers gentle now, coaxing every last wave of pleasure from her.

He watched her with a fierce, possessive satisfaction, knowing he had claimed her completely at that moment.

Her release hit like a tidal wave, drowning her in an ocean of bliss. Her body shuddered uncontrollably against his, her head tilting back as she rode the relentless waves of pleasure. Her cries grew louder, his name spilling from her lips in an unrestrained moan. Xavier's fingers didn't stop; although his thrusts slowed and grew gentler, they prolonged her climax, dragging it out until she was left trembling and gasping for him.

He finally withdrew his fingers, bringing them to his mouth to taste her essence. His breath was quick and deep, but a satisfied smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he took in her spent form.

His eyes fixated on her flushed face, her half-lidded expression making her look even more delectable. Shifting his grip, he supported her limp body against him, before leaning in to capture her panting lips in a gentle, lingering kiss.

She tasted divine, an intoxicating blend of sweetness and desire. Y/n panted heavily, her body sagging into his arms, her head resting on his shoulder as she struggled to regulate her irregular breathing.

He held her tightly, his fingers tenderly caressing her flushed cheek. The heat radiating from her body matched his own, creating a shared warmth that enveloped them both. His lips pressed gently to her temple, and he murmured softly against her skin, "You're incredibly beautiful. Just... breathtakingly so."

His thumb traced the faint mark he'd left on her neck, a small love bite that filled him with possessive satisfaction. The sight of the mark on her skin was a silent declaration of his claim, and it stirred a deep sense of pride within him.

As her breathing gradually evened out, he continued to hold her close, offering her a moment to come back to reality. Then, with a smirk, he leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Are you gonna apologize for your little teasing game, sweetheart? Or are you gonna keep testing me?"

·❆　　　❆　❅　　　　•　　　　.　　　　　❆❆• 　·　.　　　❅

𝐴𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟'𝑠 𝑁𝑜𝑡����: 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑. 𝐼 ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑒𝑒𝑡𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑦 𝑓𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑋𝑎𝑣𝑖 𝑔𝑖𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠! 𝑀𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑠 𝐼 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑖𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑; 𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑦 𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑡!

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞: 𝐜𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐞

[onlinekitsune]

LOST IN A ROOM

“boy, what did I tell you? love makes you a dead fool.”

— #RAFAYEL: LOVE AND DEEP SPACE

— PAIRING, GENRE, WARNINGS: rafayel x gnc!reader, mainly fluff, with a bit of flirting and banter, implied nsfw things but nothing specifically stated, no warnings!!

— SYNOPSIS: after a work trip, you return to a pouty and dramatic rafayel. you attempt to make up for your absence by surprising him with a sudden visit. but end up… having a different way of catching up.

— WRITER’S NOTE: long time, no post. hiii besties, i found this in my google doc’s and decided to finish it. i haven’t been too inspired to write lately so my bad. i stole the title from a song by rome hero foxes. uhhmmm not proofread per usual. enjoy and take care of yourself, mwah mwah ♡

It had been a while since you were able to go to Rafayel’s studio. It wasn’t intentional, it had just been a busy week. A week that was quickly reaching two and he wasn’t shy to remind you almost constantly.

“Aren’t you my bodyguard? You’re supposed to be checking up on me too.”

You rolled your eyes, hearing his voice vacant your head again. To make up for your absence, you decided to surprise him with a visit. You quietly opened the door, trying your best to sneak through. It was hard to do since it was so silent, the only sound being a soft flutter of a curtain from an opened window. You searched each room, anticipating Rafayel, but was met with disappointment. It wasn’t until you reached his living room where you saw him. He was laid out on his couch, his breath slow and calm. You walked closer, making sure you stayed silent. Your hands hovered over him before caressing his face with your finger tips.

“Hm… you’re cute even when you’re sleeping.” You scoffed, brushing your hand down his face. You moved a stray hair from his face, taking another second just gazing at him. “I’ll let you get your rest.”

You let out a soft breath, going to turn towards the door. You didn’t even make it a step further before, Rafayel quickly grabs your wrist, pulling you back into the couch causing you to fall into his arms. He wraps them around you before gently placing his head into the crook of your neck.

“Y-You were awake?” You gasped, flipping your head towards him. His eyes were still closed, with the same calm expression as before.

“Mm... no need to be so loud.” He grumbled, pulling you even closer. You were basically just his plushie at this point. “Surprised you even remembered that I’m alive.” His eyes remained closed but now accompanied by a pout. Your hands moved towards his, now realizing they were placed on your waist.

“Rafayel… I was busy. I did tell you this time. And I came here to surprise you. Surely that counts for something.” You softly sighed, brushing your thumb across his hand.

“Hmph.” He continued to pout. “What are you going to do to make it up for me?”

“Was coming over not enough?”

“Not at all.” He whined, finally opening his eyes. “That’s your duty, a long awaited one at that.” You shake your head and let out a small laugh.

“Fine. What can I do to make it up to you then?”

“Prove that you're sorry.”

“And how do I do that? I already apologized to you.”

Rafayel huffed, before slightly shrugging. “That’s for you to figure out. It wouldn’t be genuine if I told you what to do, now would it?”

You stayed there in silence for a moment, contemplating on what to do. You managed to turn around to face him. Rafayel made a face at you but continued to look at you curiously.

“You’re such a baby, you know?” You laughed, reaching towards his face. You slowly leaned in to kiss him, but instead placing it on his cheek.

“Now you’re just mocking me.”

“You’re so dramatic, Raf. Do you want a kiss that badly?” You teased, half joking. He suddenly pulled you even closer. You were almost on top of him at this point. Your leg rested on the top of his thigh.

“I do. Is that so wrong?” He asked, sliding his hand underneath your chin to the back of your neck. Your words were caught in your throat, unaware of this side of him. “Can I kiss you, Miss bodyguard?”

Your words continued to be stuck, only able to nod continuously. Rafayel slowly leaned in, placing a soft kiss against your lips. You melted against his softness and the warmth coming from him. You came to after a second wrapping an arm around his neck. You were hungry for more. His kiss was too addicting, you would have gotten mad if you could think straight. The soft kiss evolved into desperation and need. You softly bit his lip, in hopes that he’d slightly part them. And he did. He knew your body language all too well just from the encounters with wanderers.

“Now who’s so dramatic?” He chuckled, pulling away. You pout, looking up at him. “Come on, don’t you wanna tell me about your trip?” Rafayel smirked, sitting up straight. Your brows slightly furrowed. You’d forgot how cocky he could act.

“That can wait… stop acting so unaffected. I can see how flushed your face is! We have… catching up to do.” You muttered, pulling him back towards you. He returned without a second thought. Chuckling on his way down seeing your sudden switch.

[kykyonthemoon]

Oasis Tale

After the events in Sea of Golden Sands, Rafayel rewrites his story on a secluded oasis.

ಇ. Rafayel x MC (Female Reader) - written in his pov.

ಇ. Tags: oneshot, fluff with light angst, secret wedding, inspired by Arabian/Middle East wedding cultures, Rafayel's pov, mentioned of his myths (Sea of Golden Sand), Talia.

ಇ. Word count: ~1k2

ಇ. Requested by Na Sa

ಇ. Masterlist ♡ Request a fic

The entrance of the great tent opened, allowing a gentle breeze from the lake in the distance within. I sat on the edge of the bed strewn with red flower petals, gazing at Talia, who had just arrived.

“What is it that you want to tell me?” I inquired after considering that Talia's eyes seemed to convey countless unspoken thoughts. 

“What else can I say? You have already made your decision.” 

Talia responded with a sigh. I beckoned her over and said, “Then come and give me your blessing.”

Talia was my sole remaining family in the world. If it were not for her, I certainly would not be here, at this moment. I bowed my head, receiving Talia's blessing as the representative of my ancestors. She departed soon after, with a reminder:

"One night. You two only have one night.”

I nodded slightly. One night was enough.

Once Talia's footprints were covered by the wind and sand, I stepped out of the tent. The sunset covered the cool water in the middle of the oasis, a magnificent crimson as I stepped down. I waited. I waited for the moment when the bell-like sound of the jewelry adorning that one young maiden rang out. Then I turned around. 

She stood in all of the colors that I appreciated of this world. A fiery dress with gold and pearl jewelry - those had belonged to her for a long time, then given to her once more on this special day. Her bare feet glided across the verdancy of the oasis. Her face was obscured by a thin layer of cloth the same color as her dress, which fluttered in the breeze with every step she took.

She stopped at the edge of the lake, seemingly wondering about something. I reached out a hand and she took it. The water hugged her legs, rising gradually to her exposed waist. Her body was painted with traditional Lemurian insignia, precisely like mine. They were an indication that she was my bride.

I had been waiting for this moment for a long time. Since the ocean had not yet dried.

My trembling hands, with all clumsiness, grasped her veil and removed it. Her rosy cheeks emerged. These eyes penetrated my soul. Akin to when we had first exchanged our vows.

She did not recall. How wrenching it was! Only I, doomed to live without a heart, must remember all. She once kissed me; she once pierced through my heart. I wanted her to remember, yet hoped she would forever not. Love was a misfortune to any Lemurian foolish enough. And I was such Lemurian, the one who gave his heart to her.

Countless lives had passed, I had lived without a true heart. I had waited until the day I saw her again. I had waited until the day she called my name once more. 

“Rafayel.”

From the moment her lips uttered my name, I deliberately bound myself to her for eternity.

I smiled at her, addressing her in Lemurian. “My bride.”

The wheel of fate spun again, and the threads of our destiny were intertwined once more. I saw her again. She found me. I could not stop the torrent in my heart when I stood in front of her; was it hatred or was it love? I only knew one thing, that my heart was throbbing in her chest. She was my heart, my life.

Yet, I was no longer the God of the Sea, and she was no longer a Princess. Even when she reincarnated, even when I erased her memories of us in this life, she still found me.

Then, we were in the midst of an oasis, bathing in pristine water and reciting our vows. This sacred ceremony involved only the two of us. Sparkling drops fell through her fingers, down on my hair. Then it was my turn to catch the water and soak her hair. She trembled slightly. 

“Rafayel,” every time she called my name, my hollow chest seemed to retrieve its rhythm. “Why are you crying?”

Only then did I realize the pearls were falling from the corners of my eyes. Her delicate hands reached out to catch them. She let them float in the water and then caressed my cheek.

"Have I forgotten something, about you, about us?"

I grabbed her wrist, buried my face in her palm, and pulled her a little closer. Her body carried a distinct flowery aroma that I always recalled.

"Nothing. You did not forget anything significant." I responded. I did not wish her to remember the tragedies of the life we ​​had gone through. Yet, in the end, those memories were gradually finding their way back to her.

She spoke again:

“Perhaps I have not recalled all the things we went through together yet. But what I know is that you are in front of me at this moment.”

I gazed at her for a while. Her scent, her breath, her every touch were so real. She was real. Her hand on my face shifted gently. She grasped my hand and placed it on her chest.

“If I ever forget you again, even just seeing you, I shall give my heart to you once more. I know I will always do the same thing.”

Her heart was beating consistently, full of vitality and unending fire. It once belonged to me, now it was hers, forever. I knew the Lemurians out there were awaiting me to seize that heart out of her body. I knew I must sacrifice the person I loved the most in exchange for the restoration of a golden Lemuria. Yet I knew that I would not accept such a fate. Being here with her was proof that we were already writing a different story, forging a different path.

I was not certain how long she and I could go on this path. But I must try. I lifted her hand and placed a kiss on it. I whispered to her:

"Do not say that. Do not claim you will surrender your heart to me anymore. I merely wish it to stay with you.”

The sound of her laughter reverberated in my ears. She responded:

“You once said, Lemurians must rewrite their own stories, with their own hands. I believe in you.” 

She lifted my hands and clasped them together. 

“This time, let me rewrite it with you.”

Her hands entwined with mine. She moved forward and sealed her eyes. Her lips parted. The sun had completely set and the lanterns floating on the lake lit up by my power. The two of us were basking in a pond of stars. 

The tip of my nose met hers. In my mind, a storm was brewing; the burden of lost Lemuria on my shoulders, the happiness of a lifetime that she was willing to offer me. Yet I feared no longer. For as my lips found her kiss, I knew our tale had been rewritten, beginning with that night.

-The end-

[the-xolotl]

Thundering Rain

Qí Yù | Rafayel x Reader

𝒮𝓊𝓂𝓂𝒶𝓇𝓎: You and Rafayel cozy up during a cold storm to enjoy each other’s company when you realize he got up for something but didn’t come back to cuddle you.

—• TAGS: Domestic fluff, kinda ooc Rafayel (? if you squint), no use of Y/N, use of the pet name my love, beta read (imagine that)

A thunderstorm had been raging outside for hours now and you are thankful, for once, about the harsh seasonal changes because not just did you enjoy the rain and the majestic flashing of light that occasionally lit up the otherwise dark gray sky, you didn’t have to go to work. You could enjoy a leisure day indoors, listening to the calming sound of the rain hitting the window and the deep thunder clapping after each rapid flash of light with a warm blanket and hot beverages.

It’s true you loved your job, loved the adrenaline of being a hunter, the thrill of battle, but it was nice to sit back and relax for a bit. And some reprieve was definitely due after these past few weeks, Linkon City had been seeing more and more Wanderers roaming inside the more civilian populated areas, your team along with some back ups had been dispatched as first responders almost every time; it’s been busy to say the least.

And Rafayel had definitely not appreciated your constant absence. You don’t blame him, you missed him too. Because your job wasn’t just turning monsters to dust and protecting innocent people; each attack meant a lot of paperwork, desk work, meetings. It meant time away from home and away from your already clingy, needy lover.

Who, speaking of, had suspiciously gotten up from cuddling you in the sofa and hadn’t come back.

The now cool spot behind you made you realize his absence. But as you were about to get up to look for the purple-head you heard his voice, “Stay where you are, how you are, for another 30 minutes…” Rafa trailed off.

He didn’t even ask politely yet you remained on your spot no questions asked and turned your head back to look outside the large, tall window that gave the perfect view to the backyard. “So that’s where you’ve been the whole time,” you chuckled softly, of course he was.

“Inspiration should never be wasted or ignored. The best master pieces ever created were in spontaneous bursts of creativity,” He stated as if it was the most honest to god truth. Yeah, alright.

Amused you simply retorted, “Is that a fact?”

“Most likely,” he shot back before taking a small pause, “Besides, you barely noticed after almost an entire hour I didn’t come back beside you.”

The last part sounded more begrudging, you didn’t have to look at him to know he’s pouting. You couldn’t help but giggle, “Yeah, my back was getting cold. That’s how I noticed you were still gone.” Rafa let out the most offended scoff, he didn’t even dignify with an answer.

The room falls silent again save for the rhythmic pattering of rain, it’s then you realize he’s actually concentrating and you can’t help the little leap your heart makes. “Are you painting me?”

“As I was coming back from the kitchen the scene and atmosphere looked perfect so I just had to capture it,” he explains, “I haven’t had the opportunity to play around with darker tones or paints in a while and I recently acquired some very high quality materials to produce stunning shades. Very rare finds, honestly.” The Lemurian continued on to explain how and where he’d manage to obtain them, of course pointedly mentioning that he needed something to do in your absence because it was just so so boring.

More than half an hour had past, that’s for sure, as you filled the time with more banter and teasing remarks.

“Rafa can I move now? I’m going to have neck pain and be stuck in this position forever if I don’t get up soon,” you whine loudly, “The painting won’t be needed to immortalize this moment then.” He only tsk’s at you, calling you over to see the painting.

“Holy shit you weren’t kidding, the pigments are so rich!” You know little to nothing about art, any scattered knowledge or artsy lingo has definitely come from listening to your boyfriend talk about art. You study the painting detail by detail, from top to bottom. He really does deserve the fame, not that you’re biased.

Rafayel smiles big like a satisfied cat (ironically) at your praise and expression of awe.

Though the more you steady the painting the more you realize the gloomy tempest going out outside was definitely not the focus of this piece like you had originally thought, despite the fact that the oversized window gave the perfect opportunity to capture it so.

Instead you realize most of the spotlight was you. Rafayel had clearly taken his time; each curve of your features was perfectly drawn and shaded, the way the light made light and dark contrasts against the little skin that was not covered by the quilt, the shine in your eyes that reflected the lighting that occasionally flashed and the hair that framed your face. The content of your expression clearly denoting how engrossed you’ve been on the weather outside, he even included the faintest curl of the corner of your lip. And you looked cozy as hell with the blanket all the way tucked up to your chest and your hands wrapped around the (then) steaming mug of coffee.

A heat crept up your cheeks and chest. Is this how he saw you? Is this what his eyes see when he looks at you? Truly? You must’ve had your thoughts written in your face because he breaks the long silence with in a soft voice, “You are the inspiration of the painting, my love,” circling back to one of his earlier comments. You turn to face him fully, meeting eyes as he was already looking at you, as soft smile that matched the softness of his voice spread across his lips.

“It’s going to be part of the next exhibit, on a very special spot.”

“I’m sorry what?” You lamely ask, astonished but still in a monotone.

Rafayel had the audacity to laugh in your face as he gave the cavas a few strokes with the brush to accentuate some shadows. “It’s not finished yet, of course. I will accept no less than perfection,” he says slowly, words as methodical as his painting technique, “Specially when it comes to you.”

If you weren’t blushing before you sure are now. You shove him gently when he takes the brush off the painting, attempting and failing to hide how much he managed to fluster you.

Another long pause passed, but this felt more intimate, watching him closely add some details, switch between different size brushes for finer details. Rafayel sure went into his own bubble when he worked, yet he is always somehow very aware of his surroundings. At least at the moment he was.

“Not a lot of people get the privilege to watch me like this, so up close, let alone live. Are you feeling how privileged you are?” The tone of playful arrogance brings you back and pops the bubble of comfortable silence. But it does make you giggle.

These little moments make you fall deeper in love with him.

⟢ A/N: feels kinda funny posting my writing for the first time in the internet tbh. i usually only write for my friends/myself so i hope you enjoy my lil rot. it’s been raining so much in my area it gives me a very cozy vibe.

—

© 2024 the-xolotl — all rights reserved. do NOT alter, translate, or repost my works on any platform without my consent, do not claim my content as yours.

—

⤷ dividers : cafekitsune ✰

[calxvace]

Sylus | a silly dream

— sylus becomes more clingy than he is today.

Sylus was never a fan of early mornings, he'd usually prefer businesses at dawn so you were shocked to be woken up by him looking at you, just admiring your beauty presented by the soft strand of sunlight running through your cheeks. Not saying anything, he tucks a strand of your hair and caresses your cheeks while giving you his tender smile.

Mornings with sylus was either him still sleeping and you preparing to leave, but today it was one of those slow mornings every once in a while. You hadn't said anything and just indulge in this version of sylus; mild, warm, cuddly.

You stretch your arms out to invite him into a hug, he nods as if saying you knew what he wanted. Embracing you with all of his arms felt like calm waters you touch whenever you see a pond, serenity.

"i love you" he says slowly tightening his embrace.

"i love you" a hand back to your cheeks the tip of his thumb almost touching your eyelashes as he moves it slowly, a gently peck you received. You see his eyes wandering on your face before landing yours, "I'd live for you honey"

'Oh to be stuck at this moment forever' Sylus is affectionate yes, but this soft? You'd blow up mountains just to see this again.

Bringing your palms to his chest you say, "and i love you too, sylus, everyday and everywhere." That made him give out the sweetest, the most tender look making your heart flutter and eventually blush making you cover your face. Seeing this made him chuckle.

This would last forever but your stomach steals the show and grumbles. He let out a chuckle and stood up stretching out his hands to you. "How about a classic breakfast? How do you like your eggs miss?" showing you his iconic smirk that got you smitten, the both of you wen on your way to the kitchen.

"so..., what could be the reason you are this sweet? Are you dying?" you joked sitting by the kitchen aisle.

"Sweetie where did you get that? Can't I just dote on my lover? Don't you like it this way?" "I mean sure, I do love it but I saw you how you watch me on my sleep"

You know sylus, every face he makes, the replies he would say and more. A small shift on his face and you'd notice it in a second and this time, you saw how sad his eyes were, almost as if he's grieving.

"Did I look like a creep? Im sorry babe, anyone with a goddess sleeping beside them would do the same." you knew he'd play it out like this, classic sylus who does not want you to worry over things.

Cracking eggs on the hot pan, you stepped down and went to give him a back hug, "You looked like you were about to cry, anyone would do that? I think no. Come on tell me what's wrong"

"Its really nothing honey, my body just aches that's why I looked a little sad. I think the eggs are done, could you toast the bread please?"

"Sylus I know you, even if your body is halved that's not the face you make. Honey I'm here, please?" you said worriedly, even though sylus always assure you about anything, its actually not helping your relationship specially when he's like this, refusing to talk about it if he knows its "not" your concern. He removed your arms around his waist and faced you putting both his hands on your shoulders, "You really... are quite stubborn" "well yeah? Didn't you knew that before bagging me?" He smiled at your light joke but then sighed, you furrowed your eyebrows gesturing' what's wrong' "I didn't really want to concern you about this but the queen gets what she wants" removing his hands on your shoulders, he slowly worked his way close to you and rested his head on the crook of your neck.

"I had a bad dream, it felt so real I woke up in cold sweat and tears in my cheeks" you could hear how much he tries not to sound really said as to not worry you. "Tell me about, there was a saying that says if you tell someone about your bad dream, it makes it disappear" tapping his back area gently, you went and make him face you.

Looking at his eyes, you nodded and let him tell you his silly dream. "We were working together on a mission to find out how these so called aether cores work. To get our answer, I'd have to kill you" His voice breaks lightly because he was having a hard time to tell you about it. You get it now, why he didn't want to tell you, because look at you now you're tearing up. "Ah, this is why, don't worry honey, in my dream I couldn't do it and instead-"

"You killed yourself?! No!" you said wiping your tears.  

He hugs you to calm you down, it wasn't really about how you are sad but you remembered what happened a millennium year ago. "woops I over reacted there" you said smiling to him. He just flashed you with another confused laugh. It doesn't matter to him how quirky you look he just accepts it while he gives you his affectionate smile. Wow you scored big, this man just accepts you as who you are. "Okay! Since you told me about your dream, it will not happen anymore!" "Ha ha ha, what a silly theory you got there, but thank you honey" he said booping your nose and hands you a plate with freshly cooked eggs over avocado toast. Did you forget he asked you to toast the bread? Did he just did it himself because you're too busy listening to him? Uhm yes? "I'm so lucky I went to that fireworks show and bumped into you"

"Well I don't believe in destinies and I still think you stalked me" its obvious that he's teasing you, he's got that smug look. "Aw you caught me! But I found you didn't I?" you went with his teasing "Yes, you found me" Talking about how you guys met and how your relationship progressed was the topic the whole breakfast, in those moments you really thanked the heavens for letting the two of you meet again. You finally fulfilled your promise to him back when he was still the leader of onychinus, back when you risked your life for him to finally find the last piece to the aether core rabbit hole.

[beneathashadytree]

ACCIDENTAL CONFESSIONS - TEXTING THE LOVE AND DEEPSPACE MEN

Warnings : none I think, reader is gender-neutral!

Genre : fluff!!

Additional notes : This was an adorable request I’d received!! I love the trope of accidentally confessing to someone (because it’s literally something I’d do—) so I hope I did it justice with this!!

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[trappolia]

thinking about soft domestic zayne as a father. no matter how you came to be with child (whether it was through your own pregnancy, surrogacy or adoption) best believe this man is by your side throughout the entire process. though a chronic overworker, he understands that he is needed by your side more often now and finds some way to delegate most of his tasks to other doctors he deems capable. he worries about the staff handling more complicated cases, but it's more often than not overshadowed by his concern for you, who is most beloved and dear to him.

his concern is more so on being a good father; certainly he handles both health and legal matters with meticulous care and a cool head, but it is the act of raising a child that makes him wary. while he has no doubt of your capabilities as a parent, he worries that he may come off as too... tense or standoffish to the child you will call your own. he finds himself poring over parenting books as often as he does medical journals-- perhaps even more so.

[blaire-apricity]

hiiii :3 i have a request for a short fanfic for our bunny boy xavier hehe <3 let’s say reader gets a tattoo of xavier’s sword (like the design behind his latest promise outfit) all the way down their back ;) i would die to see how he would react to this 😝

this can be fluff or whatever you’re comfy with ! tqsm 💗

Tethered by Ink

xᴀᴠɪᴇʀ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

ᯓ❅ ┆ 𝘴𝘺𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘴 ┆ : 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘟𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬?

ᯓ❅ ┆ 𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘴 ┆ : 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘧𝘧(?), 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 & 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘖𝘖𝘊.

─────────────── ˗ˏˋ ❅｡˚ ☁︎ ˚｡⋆｡˚☽ ˎˊ˗ ────────────────

You stood before the full-length mirror, the silky nightgown clinging to your body in delicate waves, accentuating every curve. Slowly, you turned, glancing over your shoulder to admire the tattoo that now graced the small of your back—an intricate design inspired by Xavier's sword. The fine details mirrored his blade’s sharp yet elegant craftsmanship, making you smile at the thought of him permanently etched into your skin, a part of him that you would carry always.

Your eyes flickered back to the mirror just as the bathroom door opened with a soft creak, steam spilling into the room like a veil of mist. Xavier emerged, fresh from the shower, wrapped in a bathrobe, a towel in hand as he casually dried his damp hair. His movements paused the moment he caught sight of your tattoo.

Right, he hadn’t seen it yet.

He stood still, his eyes widening slightly, taking in the sight. For a fleeting moment, his usual calm demeanor faltered. The expression he wore was one of silent awe, like a rare moment when the world around him slowed, leaving him utterly captivated. You blinked, mirroring his reaction, uncertainty settling in as you wondered if he approved.

“Do you like it?” you asked softly, your voice barely above a whisper as you turned to face him. Your hand instinctively rested over your chest, fingers clutching the fabric nervously as the silence between you grew heavier.

His answer wasn’t immediate. Instead, time seemed to stretch endlessly as he closed the distance between you. He moved with purpose, gently wrapping one arm around your waist. His broad chest pressed warmly against your back, and his free hand trailed along the curve of your spine, where the inked design was now part of you. His fingers brushed over your skin, featherlight and deliberate, tracing the lines as though memorizing each one.

His lips hovered just above your ear, his breath fanning across your skin, sending a rush of warmth through your body. “I love it,” he murmured, his voice low and full of affection, each word punctuated by the intimate proximity of his mouth to your ear. The gentle, teasing brush of his breath caused your pulse to quicken, a rush of heat spreading through your cheeks as you caught sight of yourself in the mirror, blushing.

He hadn’t moved far, still standing close enough that his scent, fresh from the shower, engulfed you. It was intoxicating, a blend of clean soap and something uniquely him that made your knees feel weaker. You lowered your gaze to the reflection in the mirror, catching a glimpse of your own flushed face, the soft pink hue betraying the rapid beat of your heart, while Xavier’s gaze remained fixed on your back, a mix of admiration and something deeper—possessiveness.

You tried to steady your breathing, but the intensity of the moment only heightened when his hand, resting against your waist, tightened slightly. “Did it hurt?” His voice was barely a murmur, almost a hum, his thumb continuing to lazily draw soft, aimless patterns against your skin.

You blinked, snapping out of the daze. “Huh? Oh—no, not really.” You shook your head lightly, remembering the brief discomfort of the tattoo, which paled in comparison to the battle scars you bore as a hunter. The pain had been fleeting, but his concern warmed you. Despite everything you endured, it was sweet that he still cared about something as minor as this.

Xavier hummed, clearly pleased with your answer, though his gaze never left your tattoo, his fascination evident. The air between you felt charged, as though he were absorbing every detail of the ink that now marked your body in his name. He caught your eye in the mirror, his expression shifting slightly, his brows knitting together as if contemplating something. Without warning, he leaned down, the hand on your waist tightening once more as his lips brushed the top of your spine.

The sensation sent a jolt through you. His kisses were featherlight, yet they lingered, their soft warmth leaving a trail of sensation that made your breath hitch. He was gentle, his thumb continuing its soothing motions, ensuring you were never overwhelmed. But there was no mistaking the possessive pride in the way his lips caressed the design—this mark of him on your body.

Even though the tattoo would often be hidden beneath your clothes, he knew it was there, and that knowledge filled him with satisfaction. This symbol—his sword—was now a part of you. A silent claim. And the thought that others might never see it, but he would, especially in your most intimate moments, sparked something possessive in him. His lips hovered over your skin, and though he never said the words, you could feel it in his touch.

The next time he held you, he knew this new view of your back would be something he’d look forward to, a reminder that you were his—deeply, unmistakably his.

─────────────── ˗ˏˋ ❅｡˚ ☁︎ ˚｡⋆｡˚☽ ˎˊ˗ ────────────────

𝐴𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟'𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑒: 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑏𝑜𝑥 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒- 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑙𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦, 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝐴𝑛𝑜𝑛! 𝐼 ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑡, 𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑗𝑜𝑦𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑜.

𝐼 𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑜 𝑎𝑛 𝑁𝑆𝐹𝑊 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑛'𝑡 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 (𝑖𝑓 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑁𝑆𝐹𝑊) 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠, ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠~

[ndisalover]

LOVE & DEEPSPACE

“Xavier, a mysterious hunter, Rafayel, a passionate artist, Zayne, a talented cardiac surgeon and Sylus, the leader of Onychinus”

xavier

>fics

>oneshots - flickering beat

>headcannons

zayne

>fics

>oneshots

>headcannons

rafayel

>fics

>oneshots

>headcannons

sylus

>fics

>oneshots

>headcannons

[kykyonthemoon]

Once upon a time, there was a jasmine garden in Elysium.

Once upon a time in Elysium, there was a garden, two hearts, and one life.

This story sets in an alternative universe.

ಇ. Zayne x MC (Female Reader)

ಇ. Warnings and tags: major character death, angst, hurt, emotional hurt, a little comfort, mental and health issues, childhood friends

ಇ. Word count: 3k

ಇ. Masterlist

ಇ. Request

ಇ. See the end of this post for author's notes.

She was sent to Elysium from a very young age.

It was a special place, for special children like her. She was unwell, and she was aware of it. She was concerned before being brought here, but she later felt fortunate because not every ill child could afford the luxury to stay in such a wonderful place.

There, she received treatment for her heart disease. She made a second home, where medical experts attended to her with great care and tenderness. She made friends, not many, and most were just short and intermittent periods of time before they were taken out of the gate and disappeared forever. Still, she had a vast garden with grass reaching to the horizon and plenty of vibrant blossoms for companionship.

Then, some time after arriving at Elysium, another friend came to stay in room number ten next to hers.

With cautiousness she opened her chamber door a little. Through a tiny crevice, she caught a glimpse of a towering lad who appeared to be a few years older than her. He dressed discreetly and in many layers despite the fact that the weather had gradually turned to summer. His pale face revealed both panic and restraint not to let it overwhelm him. His fists clenched over the handle of his suitcase, and she could see little snow-white particles presenting on those hands.

The man who accompanied him was a familiar doctor. She had seen him come here a few times but had never spoken to him. She heard something unclear in the exchange between him and the chief nurse. Her attention was drawn to the peculiar kid who would become her peer in the next room. At last, as if he sensed her keen interest from a distance, he lifted his head slightly. And then, his eyes found hers.

The friend in room number ten was extremely quiet. He did not sit and eat with the other children, instead sat alone in silence at the corner with the least amount of sunshine and the fewest number of people. He did not participate in daily activities like the rest. Most of the time he locked himself in his room, or perhaps was confined there. He did not converse with anyone other than the special nurses who were solely responsible for his care. Occasionally, the doctor, who was also his father, paid him a visit. But he frequently departed looking incredibly haggard, with little cuts on his hands or face.

Sometimes, the boy's room grew cold so unnaturally.

It was in the middle of the night, while sleeping soundly on her soft bed, surrounded by the warmth of freshly laundered blankets and her beloved plushies, she was suddenly awakened by the noises echoing from the other side of the wall. She was startled awake by noises echoing from the other side of the wall. She heard clanking and yelling, but they appeared to be muffled by something. Then, ice began to coat the wall that separated room number nine and ten.

She got up. Bare feet met the ground, freezing. When she opened the door to step out, a group of night nurses raced into the adjacent room. The door opened. The scene within had frozen her.

That child was encased in a thick sheet of ice that extended from his palm, forming a cocoon around his writhing body on the ground. A nurse had to use her fire Evol to shatter the ice before two others dragged him out. On his chest was an ice blossom that resembled crystal. It damaged him, and she saw only the anguish he was experiencing.

“Go back to your room.” Someone chased her away. Before the door to room number ten closed, she vaguely saw the nurses pinning him down on the hospital bed, with his wrists and ankles bound securely.

He did not show up the following day, or the day after that. Her room was no longer frigid, but every time she lay down on the bed, she wondered how he was doing. Was he still in pain? Was he still cold? Was he lonely?

She got up again. She grabbed the little white and red snowman plushie in her hand, then walked out. It was midnight. She knocked on the door of room number ten.

There was no response. She knocked again. Then again. There was a gentle noise within, letting her know that the boy was still present. But he did not open the door or answer. She placed the snowman in the aisle and murmured:

“I'll give you this plushie. If it hurts too much, just hug it, okay? Warm Snowman will help you overcome the pain and cold.”

After that, she dashed back to her room. She kept the door open, at times peeping out to check if he had accepted the gift. A long time later, when her legs started to get weary and her eyelids heavy, she caught the door to the adjacent room open. A pale arm grabbed Warm Snowman and brought him inside.

She grinned with delight. That night, she had quite a good sleep.

One day, she caught him in a corner of the garden, where a lot of jasmine bloomed. He sat on the grass, gently reaching out to touch a branch. As soon as he saw its green hue covered by a thin layer of ice, he quickly withdrew his fingers.

That was when she decided to come forward and start a conversation.

"Hello there." She spoke a few words to introduce herself. He simply sat and listened, without commenting. The longer he remained silent, the more determined she became to get him to speak. "Do you like jasmine?"

He nodded. For some reason, he always felt attracted to those pure white flowers.

“I planted them.” She said with a look of pride that she could not hide on her face. “Since I first came here, I have helped the gardener cultivate a lot of flowers. I'm the best gardener here, they say.”

She laughed. He merely glanced at her, his face showing a little surprise.

“Hmm… May I ask the reason why you're staying here?” She could not suppress her curiosity any longer.

He glanced down at his hands, then quickly concealed them in the pocket of his thick coat.

“Let me guess…” Even if he did not say it, she had a general idea what was going on with him. “Is your illness related to the ice Evol?”

He nodded slightly.

“Hmmm… Then I don't know how to help you. I have a heart disease..." She pointed to where her heart was beating. “There's something in here… It makes me unwell…”

Both were silent for a long while. There were melodies from the birds in the dew-still morning garden. Finally, he spoke to her for the first time:

“Do you… wish to get better?”

“Hmm?” She tilted her head slightly. “What a strange question! Of course, nobody wants to be sick... It would be great if we could live healthy and happy for the rest of our lives..."

"…Understood." He whispered. The tranquility of the garden was broken by the nurse's call to him. Before departing, he gazed back at her and said:

“My name… is Zayne.”

Since then, she became a friend of Zayne’s. The two often ran out to play in the garden, where they handily assisted the gardener in caring for the plants. Zayne had opened up more, at least to her. Soon, summer came, bringing with it an abundance of wildflowers that blanketed the plains around Elysium's garden. They both sat there enjoying the brisk air.

She made him a wreath from plants and flowers, said:

“Zayne, please lower your head a bit.”

Even when seated, he appeared considerably larger than her. Zayne bended slightly so she could lay a colorful garland on his jet black hair. He stated:

“Flowers each have their own meaning. Do you know?"

Daisies represented friendship, simple delight, and good wishes.

Queen Anne's Laces represented calm and sanctuary.

Jasmine represented pure and devoted love.

Zayne weaved her one out of solely white jasmine. He put it on her hair. The afternoon wind carried the fragrance of flowers and grass. He shared with her his future plan:

“In the future, I will become a doctor.”

“Like your father?”

"No." Zayne halted for some time before continuing. “I will be better than that. I will be able to cure other people's ailments... To cure yours."

“What about you? Zayne is also unwell, right?” She persisted in her naïve inquiry.

Zayne glanced at her, the corners of his lips curled slightly. She realized he was smiling.

"You come first."

At last, Zayne's wish came true. Even if it separated him from her for a considerable amount of time.

Room number ten had been vacant since Zayne's departure. He passed through the grand gate of Elysium, and like every other friend who had left before, she was afraid he too, would not come back.

Ever since she met him, she started to fear staying here all alone. Forever.

Even though he lived so far away, he sent her flowers every week. Every time the gardener came to see her, she always brought a bouquet of fresh flowers and announced so loudly: "Flowers for the young lady in room number nine!" which made the girl giggle a lot. She created new garlands from his gifts. She knew all too well that he was trying his best, to become the best, so he could heal her; yet, she hoped he would first cure himself.

Many years had passed, and when they met again, he was Doctor Zayne from Akso Hospital.

He was considerably taller than she had imagined a boy would be. But she would recognize him immediately no matter where he was or what the circumstances were. She would recognize the brilliant eyes but always glanced down in such a humble manner. She would recognize the scarred hand that she once held dearly like it was a life of her own every time his Evol got out of control. She would realize that his eyes always searched for her the moment he entered the room; and then when he found her, the corners of his lips would expand into a delicate grin.

He accompanied her on another stroll around the Elysium campus, stopping to admire the jasmine bushes and greet the gardener. He sat calmly, listening to her fascinating stories about the other patients here after he had left. She remembered each and every one of them, since after many years of calling this place home, she had learnt how to care for ill children like herself. And she told him, how much she was missing the friend in room number ten!

As the day gradually ended, Zayne held out a bag of jasmine seeds in front of her. He said:

“This is for you. Please help me plant a lot in the garden, okay? When you completely recover from your illness, they will bloom in time to congratulate you."

"Yes. I'll plant— Oh wait..." She came to a quick halt as she realized what Zayne was implying. “You said, when I completely recover?”

Zayne smiled. He looked much fresher than she could remember.

“Yes. You shall be cured. I have found a method for your condition.”

She was so ecstatic that she nearly sprang up and spilled the seeds.

On the day of her operation, Zayne clutched her hand tightly outside the operating room. He reassured her:

“You will be okay. You will recover. Once you're healed, live well like the way you've always wanted, okay?"

She felt no fear at all, since his warm touch had always kept her safe.

“When I get better,” she said. “I want to weave a wreath with Zayne. I want to get out of here and start a new life… Zayne… Do you wish to come with me?”

Zayne did not respond right away, instead staring at her in silence for a while. So long. With tenderness he bent down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

“When you wake up, I will always be here waiting for you.”

She awoke in a modest, familiar room. A tap on the door outside , and a few seconds later, the gardener's face appeared.

“Flowers for the young lady in room nine.”

She smiled and took the bouquet of fresh flowers from her hands. The jasmine flowers welcomed her with a fragrant hug.

“Are they from the seeds I planted?”

"They are." The gardener spoke while sitting in a neighboring chair. “But how are you feeling now?”

“Much better. Tomorrow I can leave Elysium right away! But… have you seen Zayne?”

“Zayne?” The gardener's expression conveyed astonishment and dismay. The girl asked again:

"Yes. Zayne? I haven't seen him since after the surgery."

“They haven't told you anything, have they?”

The gardener's concerned demeanor scared her. “What happened to him?”

The gardener remained silent for a minute, as if she was deciding which words she should say to the girl.

“Zayne… is gone. He is no longer here.”

“No longer in Elysium? Where did he go? If I travel to Akso Hospital, can I see him again?”

The gardener swiftly grasped her hand. Her voice was quiet and tearful:

“They hid it from you, poor girl. But since you're better now, maybe I should tell you the truth, so you can move on with your life..."

Zayne never returned to Elysium.

He was dead.

After finishing his studies and becoming the youngest Chief of the Cardiology Department at Akso Hospital, Zayne threw himself into researching ways to treat special hearts such as the one in her chest. Since her protocore contained too much power, it drained her heart and damaged her health. For a long time, there was no cure for this kind of ailment. Being transferred to Elysium was simply an attempt for her to spend her very last days in peace.

Zayne did everything to save her. He succeeded. But the price was too great, for both the girl and him.

After years of traveling around the world searching for a cure for her,he overlooked his own issue. When he realized the consequences, it was a little too late. Zayne accepted everything and had it all planned out well in advance, before his time came.

One day, they discovered him collapsed over his desk. The body, frozen. Icy. The warmth was drained by the ice flower blooming in the middle of his chest. In his hand still a bag of seeds with her name on.

After many years of research, he had found a way to cure her and it was also his will.

He never returned to Elysium. Yet his heart did. It was pounding in her chest, reminding her of all the good old days spent with him, telling her that he forever stayed. With her.

Nobody knew how she got over this loss, only that she lingered in room ten for several days. Zayne had never come back. She never saw him again. The days leading up to her operation were a dream. An illusion. Had she gone mad? Yet everything seemed so real! His voice, his warm embrace, his steady hand and his tender kiss… Why did everyone tell her it was not real? He was no longer real?

Perhaps; him, this room, the jasmine garden, and Elysium, they all existed only in her head.

“Poor girl, stop wasting your time here. Zayne gave you his heart so you might begin a new life, but you instead chose to slowly let it die here?”

The gardener's words echoed in the empty room, jolting her awake from her unending nightmares. She was hurt, severely, as if someone had carved a large hole in her chest that could not be filled. Yet they also put in that Zayne's strong heart, it helped her regain control of her power, it gave her another reason to live on.

“I'm sorry… I just… I just don't want to leave the place where he once existed…”

Elysium was a place filled with memories of her and Zayne. She wished not to step out of that gate. She wished not to start a new life without him.

She made her own decision. She would fulfill Zayne's wish, as well as hers.

Many physicians concluded that, while her body had recovered, her mind was still not stable. Others saw her as insane. Perhaps so; she would embrace the notion that she was insane, if it meant she could find him in all the things she did day by day in this place.

She saw him in the early morning, when she was the only one awake in Elysium, bare feet gliding across the grass to the jasmine garden and realized how long he had been there. She saw him standing in the middle of a group of children holding hands, forming a bustling circle of laughter. She saw him in every wreath of wildflowers she weaved, every plushie she placed in front of the children's rooms. She saw him sharing a nice cup of afternoon tea with the gardener. She saw him, in every breath she drew.

Room number ten greeted a new patient, a boy quite similar to him from the past. She was no longer in room number nine but had transferred to the staff area. She was then a trainee nurse and gardener. The children treated her with tremendous fondness. She was in charge of both children in rooms nine and ten. One day, she caught the girl in room number nine saying this to the boy in the adjacent room:

“If you're in pain, hold onto this snowman, okay? My nurse gave this plushie to me. She said that if I hugged it, I would feel less pain."

Her eyes stung as she watched the two children holding hands, walking back to their rooms. Perhaps she caught Zayne's familiar figure walking right beside them. Then, with a turn of his head, he sent his warm smile at her.

Author's notes:

The original plot of this story came to me after getting the flower wreath from Zayne's Promise. It was a soft romance between a young master and his little gardener. Somehow, it turned out to be the story you've just read.

Elysium is a place related closely to Akso Hospital. It's where patients with special cases (mostly untreatable) are sent to so that they can leave this world in peace. Elysium sounds a lot like "asylum", which was also my first intention to make the fic darker. But I like the way it turned out to be.

Since Foreseer myths mentions countless of jasmine blooms represents countless lives of Zayne and MC, it would be nice to consider this "Elysium" life to be one of those too.

Was this real, or was this all in MC's head? I shall leave it to my dear readers to decide.

Thank you so much for your support <3

[arcadia-of-pluto]

Help with Sylus's one-shot

Hey guys! So I'm going to post ToF's next chapter tomorrow, but I need a bit of help concerning my "tropes" series. I'm not 100% sure if I like Sylus's trope being "fake dating", so I came up with a few more that I could do instead and I'd really like your help in choosing which yall would like to see!

The name of it is going to be "Eros(ive) Love", so Eros meaning "a romantic and passionate love" and erosive "worn away/down by friction", if that helps sway your decisions at all!

I'll explain them first and then post the poll!

So, for the "fake dating" trope, I had a few ideas. There's a highschool reunion coming up and your ex and his girlfriend (who is your ex best friend, who he cheated on you with) are going to be there. You don't want to look like you're still not over him, so you want to find someone to be your boyfriend without actually dating you. So you either go to a bar, get drunk, and ask the first hot guy you see (who is Sylus and you wake up in his bed the next morning– you didn't have sex yet, you were just black out drunk) and you learn he's actually a CEO for a publishing company. So very rich and you have no idea why he said yes to your stupid plan. (He could be someone who had a crush on you in highschool, idk I didn't think this far–). Or you ask your best friend Sylus to go with you and he agrees, having a one-sided crush on you. (I'm not really feeling this idea much anymore tbh)

The other trope I had in mind was a mix of "co-star romance" and "rekindled romance" so exes working together in a movie and having to act out scenes as a couple. This could be a regular movie or a high quality porn set!

The third and final trope I had was "one night stand", but add a dash of "unexpected pregnancy". The idea behind this one would be that either you're a stripper and Sylus is a wealthy customer or you're at a strip club for the first time and stripper! Sylus catches your eye. Either way, a one night stand ensues and you get pregnant. Maybe it flashes forward to a few years later, you have your little baby who has Sylus's hair or eye colour (not both bc you're also the mother) and now the trope turns into "that's my baby" "...no it's not." (Note; I could cut out the accidental pregnancy entirely and have it just be a pregnancy scare bc I really don't want kids lmao but I wanna write about a cute little baby girl so idk tbh. I'd probably name her Mephi and she'd have Sylus's hair and your eyes).

Anyways, to the polls!