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subliminalwish · 5 months ago

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A Blooming Predicament

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3

Sylus x Reader Summary: Imagine you're a humble flower shop employee, packing up for the night when an unexpected visitor walks through the door, a shock of white that's impossible to miss in the empty shop amid the rose and lilies. Outside, three men walk past to and fro, searching through windows. Looking for something. Someone. CW: reader is not MC, reader is female, mentions of blood & violence, may or may not be unfinished idk A/N: This is a result of me being left alone in an empty office floor surrounded by remnants of Valentine's Day bouquet samplers. Also, has anyone seen the new trailer?? Is everyone ok??

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You don’t usually get many customers this late.

The flower shop is small, tucked between a laundromat and a bookstore that never seems to have any customers. The warm glow from inside spills onto the quiet street, casting soft light against the pavement. Outside, the city hums with its usual late-evening rhythm – cars passing in the distance, the occasional chatter of pedestrians, the faint trill of a siren somewhere far away.

You’re in the middle of wrapping up for the night, tucking away stray stems and sweeping up loose petals when the door opens sharply. The chime above the entrance rings, too loud in the stillness.

The man who walks in doesn’t fit the usual clientele – no hesitant romantic fumbling over the right bouquet, no elderly woman looking for something bright for her windowsill, no hurried office worker grabbing a last-minute gift. Instead, he moves like someone who doesn’t expect to be here, like someone who’s made a mistake and walked into the wrong place.

His presence shifts the air immediately, drawing attention without trying. He’s tall, dressed in dark clothes, his black coat moving with him as he steps further inside. The contrast of his sharp features against the white of his hair makes him easy to notice. Even in a city like Linkon, where people know better than to stare, someone like him is impossible to ignore.

The long black coat he wears is left open, the dark fabric shifting as he moves deeper into the shop. He’s breathing heavier than normal, but it’s controlled, as if he’s forcing himself to slow down. He doesn’t look at you right away. His crimson eyes flick over the shelves of flowers, scanning, assessing. Not like a customer deciding between lilies or orchids, but like someone trained to notice the details of a room the second they enter. Like someone used to being hunted.

That’s when you notice the scent – something distinct beneath the smoky leathery notes and faint sweet spice of cologne.

Gunpowder. Blood.

Your fingers still against the counter.

You watch as your patron lingers around in the shop, pointedly avoiding the windows.

Outside, three men pass by. They walk slow, deliberate. Not aimless pedestrians, not curious window shoppers judging from the gleam of their concealed firearms when the coat of the men swishes open a little too wide.

One of them glances through the glass, his gaze sweeping over the rows of carefully arranged flowers before moving on. They don’t stop. Not yet.

It clicks into place.

The man in front of you is running from them.

Your heart thrums in your chest as you continue to count the seconds this man spends in the shop. If they come in here looking for him, there will be a mess. A violent, bloody mess that will get between the shelves of daisies and hydrangeas and cling to the petals like an unwanted stain.

The shelves and displays do little to conceal his height, offering only the illusion of cover. Despite his careful steps away from the windows, he’s still too visible – the men outside wouldn’t need much more than a passing glance to spot him through the glass.

You don’t have time to think.

He’s moving further inside, head tilted slightly as if listening for something beyond the walls. He doesn’t seem like he intends to stay long, a plan already forming behind those crimson eyes. You don’t let him make that choice.

“Looking for something?” Your voice is even, casual, as if you aren’t staring at someone who just came off a chase. “We have all kinds of arrangements for any occasion.”

He doesn’t answer at first, only casting you a glance. His eyes are sharp, too observant for someone pretending to be a regular customer. But he doesn’t ignore you.

You pick up a bouquet from the counter, shifting slightly to block the window’s view of him. “Here. I recommend this one.”

His expression remains unreadable. He doesn’t look at the bouquet.

You don’t have time for this.

“This smells amazing,” you say, raising it slightly toward him. Then, much quieter, you whisper, “Lean down.”

Just enough to disappear. Just enough to be swallowed by the flowers. Just enough to be unseen.

You take a step forward, biting the bullet.

A flicker of something passes through his gaze – is it curiosity, calculation, hesitation? You don’t have time to care. Up close, his gaze feels heavier. You don’t know what he sees in your expression, but he doesn’t walk away.

You hook a finger into the collar of his shirt and tug, just enough to urge him forward.

For a brief moment, his body resists, the tension beneath the fabric undeniable, but then he moves, obeys. His large frame dips lower, his breath warm as he lowers his face toward the flowers. He doesn’t break eye contact, doesn’t let you out of his sight. His scarlet eyes burn, seem to gaze into you.

You’ll never forget their shade of red for as long as you live.

Your finger brushes against his skin, and you fight for your life ignoring the way its heat makes your pulse stutter, ignore the way it makes something in your chest pull tight.

Outside, the men walk past again and you hold your breath. They walk past once more. And then… they move on.

Neither of you move immediately.

The realization is mutual. The danger is gone, for now. But your finger is still hooked in his collar, and his body is still too close, warm beneath the scent of gunpowder and leather.

His gaze lingers, unreadable, before a slow, amused smirk tugs at his lips.

It’s unfair, the effect it has.

You let go.

He straightens, rolling his shoulders slightly, as if shaking off whatever had just passed between you.

"Thank you," he says. His voice is low, gravelly, edged with something unreadable.

Before you can respond, his hand moves – quick, practiced, slipping something into the breast pocket of your uniform.

A feather. Black as ink, soft as silk.

"If you ever find yourself in need of assistance," he says, "call me."

And then, as quickly as he arrived, he’s gone.

The door swings shut, the chime rings again, and the scent of him lingers long after he disappears into the night.

A/N [18.02.2025]: Um, hello again. I was going over my drafts and noticed that I actually published a much earlier version of this chapter! It's only minor and I've corrected this now - I'm so sorry!

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deepspacexavier · 1 year ago

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“I trust you” - @lily-of-the-linkon

"Huh? What are you up to?" He closes his eyes.

Ask meme

#lily-of-the-linkon #★ inquiry #★ ask meme received

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rcvcgers · 3 months ago

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can you PLEASE write a fic where its like Caleb comforts us on a day where its really stressful and its too much... cuz I like love the way you write caleb so softly HEHEHE

soft caleb to the rescue !!!!!!

Taking Care of You

pairing: caleb x mc!reader

synopsis: work and grief leave you feeling dead inside. you lash out at caleb and he helps you feel better.

word count: 3.1k words

author's note: this was so comforting to write omg i hope that some of you find comfort in this!!!!

content warning: mentions of death, depression, injuries, passive death ideation, some vulgar language, slight self deprecating thoughts

“Gran? Are you there?” your voice is quiet. A bouquet of white lilies rests in your arms. Bees and butterflies fly around your head, wanting to land on the delicate white petals. You sniffle, wiping away a tear with the back of your dry hand.

The past few weeks have been rough. Work has been nothing but chaos with nonstop Wanderers taunting and destroying Linkon during the winter months. Your skin is so dry and cracked; no amount of hand lotion and moisturizer will be able to mend your skin back together until springtime rolls around. Purple bags hang under your eyes. The lack of sleep left you in limbo, constantly watching the snow ridden landscape from the comfort of your apartment. Your bones constantly felt chilled and you haven’t been able to warm up since your last fight with a Wanderer, which was two days ago.

Between the constant Wanderer attacks and building pressure from Jenna to protect the city, the weight on your shoulders has become too much to bear. You had officially become life’s favorite punching bag, literally, since you always came home to your cold and dark apartment with new wounds and injuries from the latest skirmish you found yourself in. Many of your coworkers were sent to the hospital after these fights, and some have found a permanent rest in the ground, and the guilt has slowly begun to build up on your chest, leaving you breathless, lungs clawing at the inside of your chest for relief.

Your phone vibrates in your pocket but you ignore it, knowing that it’s either Jenna calling about another sighing or your helicopter boyfriend wanting proof of life. You hug your jacket closer to your body, trying to keep as much body warmth as possible as snowflakes float down from the sky, quietly landing on your clothes before instantly melting.

You would give anything, anything, to become one of the floating snowflakes in the air. You desperately want to fall from the sky, being carried by the wind, a shape that only you inhabit, before melting away once you land on something warm.

“I…I really miss you, Gran,” you stutter. More tears fall from your eyes, chilling your face even more than it already is. The tip of your nose is numb and every time you flare your nostrils it feels like they take forever just to get back in place. Even your bouncy curls feel crunchy ever since you stepped out into the freezing air. “If you were here, you’d know what to do...you always did.”

Pushing through the pain of your aching muscles, you place the white flowers on top of Gran’s grave. You stay down, though, allowing your tears to freely fall from your eyes, immediately icing over when they come in contact with the icy surface. A sigh escapes your lips, the heat from the released air forming in a small plume before the cold air consumes it.

You close your eyes. The images of your fallen co-workers fills your mind. A sharp pain flashes across your chest, exhaling all of the air from your lungs.

“I’m trying my best to push through, I am, but it’s just…so god damn hard, Gran,” your shoulders slump over. You try your best to holds yourself together, to remain as calm as possible so the other visitors can mourn and grieve in peace. “I don’t know if I can go on. It’s all too much!”

The tears finally leave your body. You place your bare hand on top of the snow. Despite your body feeling perpetually cold, the large and hot gash that runs over the top of your hand feels nice in the icy breeze, your brown skin covered with bloody gauze, blood that has since dried up and is in need of a change.

You sigh. Just another thing to add to your never ending to-do list.

“Pip-squeak?” Caleb’s voice pulls you from purgatory. You stay low to the ground, still bent at the knee while your boots bury themselves into the ground. “What are you doing out here? It’s freezin’! You’re gonna catch a cold!”

Warmth envelops your body, Caleb’s large parka jacket swallowing you whole. You close your eyes, fighting away the tears, as annoyance shifts through your body. Through the thick fabric of his jacket, his hands curl around your shoulders, bringing you back up.

And you let him. You’re unable to fight back against his touch, unable to argue or bicker with him, to push him away and yell and scream. Nothing. Maybe the numbness from the winter season has finally seeped into your soul, leaving you feeling nothing.

Caleb turns you around, a charming smile on his face. His smile quickly dies, though, when he sees the depressed and dead look on your face. His hands don’t leave your shoulders, keeping you in place, as he looks you up and down.

“Are you okay?” Caleb asks, voice suddenly low and filled with worry.

“What are you doing here?” you sigh.

“You weren’t answering my calls or texts. I was worried about you,” he reasons. He grabs the open parka and brings the two sides together. He moves to zip it up when you throw it off of your shoulders. The navy blue fabric falls to the ground, barely making a dent into the snowy ground. “Hey! Where are you goin’?”

You walk away. The snow crunches beneath your feet, leaving a trail of your footsteps behind you. Caleb grabs the jacket, quickly following behind with the jacket hanging over his arm. You lick your cracked lips, feeling the chapped skin burn from the gust of wind that hits you. You hiss and hug your jacket closer to yourself, trying not to slip on the icy ground.

“Hey! Wait for—”

“What do you want, Caleb?!” You snap, turning to look at him. The man slips in the snow but quickly catches himself, looking down at you with those big, purple, puppy dog eyes of his. It’s almost enough to melt your cold heart.

Almost.

“Are you okay? You’re acting so—”

“So what? Different?!” You finish his sentence for him. He holds his hands up, shaking his head. No words come out of his mouth fast enough, though, and you hold your wounded hand up to stop him. “Caleb, I’m fine! You don’t need to fucking hover around me!”

“No, you’re not fine,” his lips press into a thin line. You glare at him and his look of disappointment. “What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong?!” You unconsciously raise your voice at him.

He doesn’t flinch and instead stands even taller than before, waiting to appear strong against your sudden anger even though it kills him that he can’t be of any relief to you just yet.

“I just visited Gran’s grave, Caleb! It’s her birthday and I really fucking miss her, okay?!” your voice cracks, “Work has been complete shit with all of the Wanderer sightings! Every single day and night I’m called away to go on a wild chase and I get the beat shit out of me in the process! I’m overworked, under appreciated, and whenever I do manage to get rid of one of the Wanderers, I’m chastised for how slow it took me compared to others! I’m beaten and tired and I haven’t slept in five days and I swear on my life if you tell me to just sleep it off, I will punch you! I can’t help but feel so alone…and Gran always knew what to do and I thought coming here would help me but it only makes me want to scream and cry and avenge her and everyone I've lost but I can’t! I can’t do anything without something going wrong or someone getting hurt because of me! So just fuck off and leave me alone! I can’t deal with disappointing another person!”

You didn’t even realize that your tears are now freely flowing from your eyes, staining your cheeks. Your fingernails dig into the palms of your hand, scraping underneath the dry and flaky skin, causing your hands to become red and prickled with blood. Your curly hair sticks to your cheeks. A frustrated yell flees your lips as you rip your hair out of your face, the ticklish feeling only making you angrier.

You hunch over and bury your face into your hands. The salty tears from your eyes cause the rips in your skin to sting, leaving you in more pain than relief. Your body trembles and racks over from your loud and defeated sobs. Before you can crumble to the ground, Caleb swoops you up off your feet. You instinctually wrap your legs around his torso and he somehow manages to fit the warm parka over your shoulders, his hands keeping the back of your legs tucked into the fabric.

“It’s okay,” Caleb coos into your ear. He presses a kiss to your temple as your body shakes against his sturdy build. “Let it all out, pips, you’ll feel better.”

Before you know it, you’re being carried inside your apartment building. The warmth from the heaters soothes your chilled skin. It tingles as you slowly begin to thaw out. Your cries have stopped, tiring yourself out while Caleb took you home, and you can’t help but feel dead on the inside.

You know that as soon as you get to your apartment, Caleb’s going to be asking you a million and one questions about work, how you feel, and if there’s anything that he can do to help you feel better. You’re afraid, though, that nothing will make you feel better. That the hole in your chest will only grow bigger and bigger, sucking away all of your happiness and joy.

How can you tell someone you love so much that you don’t feel like yourself? That you feel like a shell of a human being in a world that expects so much from you?

How can you tell the one person who makes you feel so alive that not even he can make you feel something again?

The apartment door’s lock clicks open. Your face pulls away from his shoulder, looking up with red eyes and swollen cheeks into the familiar environment. It almost pains you to be back home, a place where you’re supposed to feel safe and secure, but it only brings you misery knowing that you won’t be able to rest until you’re thrown out to the wolves yet again.

Neither you or Caleb talk. He gently sits you down on your bed and kneels before you. You mentally prepare yourself to be interrogated by him but are met with silence. Caleb doesn’t say a word.

Instead, he slips the parka off of your body, tossing the wet and cold material to the side. His hands are warm on your legs, fingers traveling down your shins as he begins to untangle the knot in your shoelaces. He doesn’t make a quirky comment or joke about how messy they’re tied or how easy it was for him to undo. He tosses your boots to the side and sighs, turning around to the nearby dresser. He rummages through for a brief moment before pulling out a fresh pair of fuzzy and warm pajamas alongside a fresh pair of panties.

Caleb stands and places the clothes beside you. With one simple movement, he lifts your arms in the air, snaking the damp jacket and shirt off of your body. He removes your bra, unfazed by your nakedness and more shocked to see the enormous bruises on your body, and slips your arms through the soft material, and quickly buttons the shirt.

He moves to your pants, which he admittedly has a much harder time removing the soggy jean material from your bronze legs. Scratches and bruises litter your legs. The purple and yellow hues mark your brown skin, mocking Caleb. Caleb’s heart shrivels at the sight, aching from the realization that he wasn’t there to protect you. He tosses the wet pants to the side, immediately leaning in and pressing gentle and tender kisses to your skin.

Your heart flutters. The feeling of his own cracked lips sends shivers across your skin, your body warming up from his kisses. You rest a trembling hand on his broad shoulder as he shifts you close to the edge of the bed, slipping the old pair of panties from your legs, quickly replacing it with a new cotton pair. You stand on unsteady legs, ready to collapse at any moment, and slowly step through the fuzzy pant legs. Caleb helps ease you into the clothes, his hands lingering on your chilled skin just so you can warm up even faster.

Caleb picks you back up into his arms. You cling to him, silent tears falling down your cheeks from his sudden gentleness. You press a weak kiss to his cheek, feeling him lean into it, and listen to the rustling of your bed’s sheets. He slowly leans down, placing you on the bed, quickly covering you with the sheets.

Caleb turns to walk away but you grab his hand, the old gauze coming in contact with the warm and calloused skin of his hand. He looks at your conjoined hands, a small yet reassuring smile forming on his face.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he steps back to you. He brings your hand to his lips, pressing kisses onto the border of the gauze, his lips pressing into the material and your chapped skin. “I’ll be right back, okay?”

You weakly nod. Caleb nods back and gives your injured hand one last kiss before he vanishes from your bedroom. You relax into the pillows and blankets. You grab a nearby plushie, one of a blue and yellow airplane, and hug it close to your chest. Your eyes flutter shut and time passes you by, sleep just about to take your body when the door opens up.

Caleb walks inside, tray in hand. Slowly, you sit up in bed, placing the airplane plushie back next to the apple (one that Caleb always steals from you to take to Skyhaven), and look at him with tired eyes. He places the tray onto your lap. You slowly inhale the smell of freshly cooked soup, matched with a steaming cup of hot chocolate and warm bread rolls.

Tears fill your eyes. You wipe them away, unable to control the sudden surge of sadness that overtakes your body. Caleb is quick to circle the bed. He slips under the covers beside you, pulling you and the tray between his legs. Your back rests against his chest and the tray hovers in front of you.

“Caleb, I…” your voice falls off, cracking under the pressure.

“It’s okay, honey, just eat up, okay?” Caleb presses a kiss into your cheek.

You grab the spoon with your good hand, one that isn’t covered in gauze. You melt into Caleb’s body heat. He gently takes your injured hand in his, plucking a small metal box from the tray. You watch as he slowly removes the old gauze. A hiss escapes your lips as the gauze is peeled away from the large gash.

“I know, baby,” Caleb quietly coos, his mouth peppering kisses onto the top of your head, “we need to replace it before it gets worse.”

You slowly take a sip from the broth of the soup. The heat from the food spreads across your chest, the inside of your throat no longer feeling sore. The hot chocolate is decadent, Caleb having added a smidge more chocolate for you, to make it easier going down.

Caleb gently spreads a fresh layer of medicine and ointment over your open gash. He pulls your skin together, your body tensing, your hand threatening to pull away, but he’s quick with the butterfly bandage.

“My princess is so strong,” he sighs, “look at you being so brave.” He carefully wraps fresh gauze around your hand. Once he’s done, his Evol carries the supplies away, and he presses a gentle kiss to the palm of your hand, then the back, then each one of your fingertips gets their own individual kiss.

His purple eyes glance down at the tray. The soup is half eaten, which he’s honestly just grateful that you ate, and there’s no more hot chocolate in the mug he bought you from the Coelum Express gift shop. The man plucks one of the bread rolls from the side of your soup bowl, ripping a piece off and hovering it in front of your mouth. You look back at him and he wears the same goofy grin he usually does.

“What? You still like bread, right?” he jokes. A small smile flashes across your face before it fades. You stare at the fluffy piece he ripped off and lean forward, quickly taking it from his hand without another word. He chuckles, his chest moving you up and down with every inflation. “Are you feeling better?”

“Yes,” you breathe out, voice still meek and quiet. “I…Caleb, I just want to say sorry—”

“No, I’m going to stop you right there,” Caleb says. His Evol carries the tray of food to your desk that’s nearby. His hands wrap around your body, palms flattening against your stomach. He places his chin on your shoulder and nuzzles into you, trying to bring your body back to life. “You never have to apologize for having a bad day or lashing out at me. I can take it. It won’t hurt me. You are my top priority, not my feelings, okay, sweetheart?”

Caleb slowly places kisses along the skin of your neck and jaw, moving to the other side so it can get some love as well. You sniffle, tears falling from your face.

What did you do to deserve a man as caring and kind and sweet and gentle as him?

“I love you,” Caleb slowly pulls you back down into the bed, pulling you into his arms. You face the bedroom window and feel his chest against your back, his strong arms keeping you in place, making you feel so secure and so loved. “I love you so much. Nothing is ever going to change that.”

“I love you too,” you respond. You turn your head and look back at him, a weak smile on your lips. He leans forward and kisses you. It’s a short and sweet kiss, tender enough to lull you back towards sleep.

You melt into the mattress. You look outside the bedroom window. It’s dark outside but the lights of Linkon city illuminates the low hanging clouds. In the light from the apartment building, you watch each snowflake descend out of your view, being whisked away by gravity and the wind.

Your eyes droop, Caleb’s breath hot against the skin of your neck, sleep whisking you away to a place where your anxiety and sadness melt just like the snowflakes outside.

likes, comments, and reblogs are highly appreciated! <3 i love seeing what you all have to say <3

masterlist of works

#caleb x reader #caleb x mc #caleb x fem reader #caleb x you #caleb xia #lads caleb #love and deepspace caleb #lnds caleb #caleb lads #xia yizhou #caleb angst #caleb comfort #rcvcgers writings #rcvcgers requests

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crxlrei-888 · 5 months ago

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LOVE AND DEEP SPACE HAREM

@crxlrei-888

art not mine

ᯓᡣ𐭩 lnds x reader

ᯓᡣ𐭩 nsfw/18+

ᯓᡣ𐭩 violence

❛ i dont mind being shared.. ❜

❀⋆❀⋆❀⋆❀⋆❀⋆❀⋆❀⋆❀⋆❀⋆❀⋆❀⋆❀⋆

In the quiet evening of Linkon City, the air had the scent of blooming lilies, and the soft hum of distant crickets provided the only music. Inside Gran's quaint cottage, the gentle tick-tock of the grandfather clock echoed through the hallways, a rhythmic lullaby for the night.

Gran, with her silver hair and a shawl wrapped around her shoulders, dozed peacefully in her favorite rocking chair, the steady creak a testament to years of comfort it had brought her.

Caleb, tall and fit, his black hair styled in a way that made his purple eyes pop, had just returned from his long journey. Farspace had left him with a newfound sense of adventure, but also an unexpected craving for the familiar. He stepped into the house, his heart racing with excitement to see you - his childhood friend. He had thought about you often during his travels, and the anticipation of your reunion had fueled many a lonely night.

You on the other hand, had been busy preparing dinner. You had always been a good cook, and tonight you wanted to make something special.

"You sure you don't need any help there, (Y/N)?" Grandma Josephine asked peering at the oven, " I see you're going all out."

"It's been so long," You blushed, putting the stove on. Finally you put the last curry to be prepared and all that's left to do is tidying up, "I want to show him I prepared all this on my own."

"Ah I see..." Grandma pouted, " You don't want me to take any credit at all... as if I don't exist."

"Oh Gran!" You laughed, kissing her forehead, "Don't think like that."

"Mhm," Gran smiled, "I'll at least help you clean up. Is that fine?"

You nod with a blush.

"Good. I was going to help you anyway." Gran starts wiping the dishes, "Have you given Caleb a hint of what you wanted to tell him all these years?"

Your thoughts swirled around an oath you had made to yourself before Caleb had left for work at the Deepspace Aviation Administration — to confess your love to Caleb when he returned. But you had no idea how he'd react. Would he feel the same way? Would it be awkward? You hoped not. You missed him alot. Probably too much you could handle.

You've both grown up seeing each other's flaws and strengths. Nothing was unfamiliar to the two of you. You grew up together as two adopted kids for Gran, living under the same roof and all.

He worried about you alot. Wayyy too much. Even if you guys weren't dating or anything official- everyone else would think otherwise. Gran would even tease the two of you - she was like your number one shipper from the start. Caleb never left you alone and you'd always follow him.

But what if things changed now? What if he changed after working? It's possible maybe he found someone he likes at work?

Someone he didn't need to take care of?

Suddenly the door opened and a familiar voice snapped you out of your daze and your heart skipped a beat.

"Pipsqueak! Gran! Guess whose back!?"

You dump the soap filled dishes back in the sink and jolted out the kitchen startling Gran who laughed at your instictive reaction. Your legs didn't stop until you reached the open door where the purple eyes young man stood gripping unto several gift bags.You launch yourself at him, wrapping your arms around his torso which caused him to step back as you tackled yourself in a hug.

"Hey Hey hey! You'll break the gifts!" Caleb panicked, his fingers barely holding all the gift bag handles as he held his posture to stand. He smiles as you snuggle into his chest.

"Shut up." I mumbled into his shirt, "Are you saying the gifts are more important than me?"

"Of course not." Caleb laughed, wrapping his arms around you, gifts still in his hands, "But my ribcages are. You're squeezing the air outta me pipsqueak!"

"Hmph!" You shove him aside and fold your arms. By the time, Gran had already entered the room as she pinched his and your cheeks.

"You two never change will you?"

"Nope." You both say in unison but his eyes locks on your (E/C) eyes and you smile at each other for no odd reason.

The dinner was a delightful affair, filled with laughter and Caleb's experience at work. Gran listened with rapt attention, her eyes gleaming with pride as you listened attentively, inspecting each word that left his mouth - you know... in case he let a slip of word of a possible girl he likes back at work.

"Gideon forgot to get his girl some gifts" Caleb explained while chewing a piece of pork chops, "So we went shopping."

"Aw~" You smiled. The thought that Gideon's girlfriend getting spoilt was sweet. She was a nice girl. You only met her once.

Back at Caleb's and Gideon's graduation. She was really pretty and had an adorable and childlike personality. Caleb points to gifts on the couch, "Got a bunch of things for you and Gran, pipsqueak. You haven't even opened one yet."

"I'll open it after dinner."

"You open gifts when you receive it! Maybe you should've opened it when I arrived! There's a bunch of cool pretty stuff!"

"Sorry."

"Haha- But seriously, you better check it out before bed. I took a loooong time hand picking everything for you."

Gran smiled as she watched the two of you. Two of you stared at each other, longingness and comfort in each other's presence. Soon however you realised you were too focused on his lips moving that you weren't listening to a thing.

"Hey (Y/N) ? You good?" He blinked, waving his arm at your face.

"Yeah!" You say flustered and hastily look at the empty plates on the table, "I'll clean up!"

Gran's eyelids grew heavy, she excused herself to bed. Caleb offered to help clean up, his eyes never leaving you.

The moment the door to Gran's bedroom clicked shut, the air in the kitchen changed. The tension between you grew palpable, a silent symphony of desire. Caleb's gaze traveled down your body, taking in your figure and the way the soft light kissed your skin. He had always found you attractive, but tonight you looked absolutely irresistible.

Feeling his gaze sharply runs a tingling sensation up your back as you stood at the sink. You wore a tube top with your mini pajama pants that flared out just bellow your butt. You wore this plenty of times, however, something made you a little nervous about wearing it today.

"That pj... is looking quiet small pipsqueak?" Caleb raised his eyebrow, setting down the bowls, "You better get bigger sizes next time."

"Are you telling me my size is a problem?" You flushed pouting.

"You did gain a bit of weight...pfft" Caleb tried to hold in his laugh which pissed you off. Immediately you grab hold of the washer pipe of the kitchen sink and spray water in his direction. Swiftly he raised his hands causing the water to stay mid air. This annoyed you even more - he was using his gravitational evol!

"Nice try." Caleb smirks. You start chasing him around the kitchen counter while the splashes of water remained mid air.

"You're mean!" You hissed annoyed glaring at Caleb who grinned cheekily.

"How's it my fault you're gaining weight!?"

"I haven't gained weight!"

"Your Hunter uniform probably squeezed everything to perfect shape but that mini pj's ain't cutting pipsqueak. I can clearly see your panties."

"Liar."

"Your (F/C) is flashing for me." He teases, raising his brows amused.

You flushed a shade of red embarrassed. He wasn't lying. You consciously tug at your hem of your pj pants, it was still failing to cover your panties.

"Look at you all conscious now." Caleb teased, "I've seen your panties before. Matter of fact they used to be in the laundry - I remember drying them too."

"CALEB!"

"Hey shush!" Caleb meekly put a finger on his lips, "Grans sleeping."

"Hmph!" You folded your arms defiantly causing him to gush at your cute reaction.

Cheekily, he deactivated his power, causing the water that was in the air to fall on you. Your drenched (H/c) clasped onto your face, as you felt the icy water rush along your skin as you gasped for air at the sudden splash.

His laughter filled the kitchen, your own following soon after. His chest heaved as he calmed down and throws a towel on your head. Casually, like back in your childhood, his fingers massaged into your scalp. The towel tangling strands of your (H/C) hair and he pats your back.

"Let's go to the lounge. I'll dry it off like the good ol' days."

"I'm not a kid anymore." You whined but Caleb was already shoving you towards the lounge.

You huffed in defiance, sinking into the soft sofa and allowed him to continue as he stood behind the sofa.

"Not a kid anymore but you got an attitude like one. Why don' you open the gifts now"

You held your tongue from retorting anything and decided to open it anywhere.

As (Y/N) picked up each gift, your heart raced. What could they be? The anticipation grew with every box she uncovered.

First gift was a novel book - Kitten by S.

"Oooo," You raised an eyebrow, turning the pages, "Have you read the book?"

"Nope." Caleb chimed, "Apparently it's the latest romance novel in Linkon. Author remains anonymous yet owns the biggest library in Linkon. Heard no one's ever seen him."

As I flipped the pages, the breeze smelled faintly of distant lands. I lay it down and dig into the next gift. A stuffed animal that seemed to hold a secret life of its own.

"Awww this is a cutie!" You hold out a mini penguin over your head and Caleb laughs.

"Just like you! " Caleb cheers and puts the towel over his shoulder, "Check the last gift. You're gonna love it!"

Your hand reached out and grabbed a box.

Your cheeks burn embarassed. A sleek, black device, nestled in velvet, that could only be one thing. The room grew still, the only sound the crackle of the fire. You looked up at him, her eyes wide and unsure. Caleb's smile faltered.

"Oh crap-" he said cursing himself as his ears turned red.

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deepspacexavier · 1 year ago

Note

If food was involved, his interest was piqued. It was still too warm for his favorite foods, and he'd somewhat interested in what kinds of locations she would offer on her own.

"There is a coffee and milk tea blend I've been wanting to try. I wonder if that kind of combination is any good?"

He watches the numbers on the elevator go up, dreading that her floor is first.

"Find something good for us then."

❛ you shouldn’t be out here by yourself. ❜

Send me a prompt!

Normally, Lily tries to be fully aware of her surroundings. Working as a Hunter means she shouldn't let her guard down, especially when by herself. Who knows what threats are just waiting for a chance to strike, after all?

Though normally, Lily doesn't have to resort to late night walks to try and clear her mind so that she can sleep.

Suddenly hearing a voice nearby startles her out of her own thoughts, immediately setting her on alert. Her head whipped around towards the source, her posture tense and ready for a fight. Once she finally recognized Xavier, she let out a slow breath that ended in a sheepish laugh.

"Xavier!" She half-greeted, half-scolded.

Once she finally processed his warning, she offered what she hoped came across as a reassuring smile. "I know, I know. But I'm a big girl, I can handle going for a little starlit walk before bed." She teased, running her fingers through her hair in an attempt to calm herself down further so her heart wasn't pounding so hard in her chest.

"What about you? You're out rather late too."

#★ rp #lily-of-the-linkon

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lily-jaxk · 4 months ago

Text

Part TWWOO of me yapping to the LADS men if I was in Linkon as myself and not MC

(if you cannot tell I'm trying to heal from alien stage)

Me: Ok so I know you said mpreg isn't possible for you but I gotta ask. If we do have kids, will I give birth to eggs?

Rafayel: Cutie what

Me: It's just a QUESTION DON'T JUDGE ME FISH BOY

Zayne: Lily. . . .what are you doing?

Me: *looks up from computer* Writing a fanfiction

Zayne: . . . . About Caleb and I?

Me: Look. I love you, and I know you love me, but Caleb is right there you cannot TELL ME you haven't thought about kissing him at least once.

Caleb: Pipsqueak why did you get an email about your 'Zayne x Caleb' fanfiction? You're writing a fanfiction about Zayne and I?? Together??

Me: . . . . Why do you have my email? Did I give you?

Caleb: I asked you first

Me: I asked you second

. . . .

Caleb: Am I at least the one on top?

Me: You switch

Me: Ok so. I have an idea babe

Xaiver: I'm listening?

Me: We order take out and watch Parents Trap. I'm too tired to cook.

Xaiver: Oh! I can cook for you -

Me: If you take one step towards my kitchen I will end you.

Me: . . . . Dragon eggs?

Sylus: No.

Me: Oh thank goodness. I mean if it was dragon eggs then sure, but like, pregnancy is scary enough with human babies imagine with eggs.

...I think I'm funny

#love and deepspace #zayne love and deepspace #lads #love and deepspace caleb #love and deepspace zayne #l&ds zayne #lads zayne #lads sylus #lnds zayne #lnds #lads rafayel #xaiver #xavier lads #xavier love and deepspace #lads xavier #xaiver love and deepspace #rafayel love and deepspace #rafayel lnds #lnds rafayel

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love-and-deepspace-fanfic · 11 months ago

Text

Another delulu for our fishie! And this time of course will be for his newest steamy card “Omnipotent Perception”!

This will be the lighter version with different approach (suggested by LnD contest theme) but I hope to still be able to capture Rafayel’s complexity and profound feelings.

This personally is my favorite card (I know I know I had so many favs now huhu) but definitely on par with Private Trip and Floral Promise for me.

This journey of discovering Rafayel inner feelings has been quite a treat for me and I look forward to seeing more of these in the future.

Hands up to LnD dev team! Excellent job as always ❤️❤️❤️❤️

PS: I would also appreciate if you can check out the post on X as well!

Now is the time for our delulu!

Rafayel and I were enjoying our vacation on an island miles away from where the Lemurian ruins were discovered then fate found the better of us…

The Unspoken Feelings

"Today’s forecast: Sunny and breezy, perfect for picnics and outdoor sightseeing..."

The ding of a text message with a weather alert pulled me from my slumber. As I looked around the unfamiliar room, I realized I was on an island southeast of Linkon City, about miles from the discovered Lemurian ruins. Rafayel and I had come here for a summer vacation. A big yawn reminded me of how well-rested I felt thanks to him. Last weekend was hectic, but now I can relax and enjoy my vacation with Rafayel, with whom I want to spend the rest of my remaining time.

Even though this was my third day waking up to the colorful sunlight filtering through the blue-tinted windows of my room, as if I were submerged in the sea, I still couldn't stop marveling at this place.

An island surrounded by the sea, like a lone oasis in a desert. I'd heard rumors of mermaids living here, but only those who'd seen them could confirm the truth.

Not only the island itself but also the way someone had furnished this guesthouse intrigued me. It was very nautical, or rather, very Rafayel.

In my bedroom, beside the large blue-tinted windows, small sea-themed decorations were scattered on the shelves: seashells, pearls, coral, scented candles that smelled of the ocean, an hourglass, and a pot of bright red lilies.

If someone told me this was Rafayel's house, I wouldn't hesitate to believe them.

But when I asked if he had lived here for a long time because this kind of decor is usually found in places for people with long residences, he simply said that a friend had given him the house, so maybe that friend had decorated it in his style and left it there in case he needed it in the future.

I knew this was his usual way of avoiding an answer if he wanted to hide something. And it made sense. Why would Rafayel have a house on such a remote island, except for the local residents or curious people who wanted to explore the Lemurian ruins? If that were the case, it meant he had a past he hadn't told me about. I suddenly realized I might not know him as well as I thought.

When my phone buzzed a third time, I realized I'd been spacing out for quite a while. Grabbing my phone from the nightstand, I could immediately guess who had been texting me all morning. It was Rafayel who kept asking if I wanted a seafood breakfast, and really, only he would suggest something like that so early in the morning. Just as I was about to touch the screen to reply, I heard the door open, and the smell of the ocean mixed with his distinct scent and food filled the room. When Rafayel saw my dazed expression, still lying in bed, he chuckled and said,

'Cutie, it seems your sleep is about to turn into a fairy tale about a sleeping beauty.'

Without waiting for me to speak, he went straight to the round table by the corner of the wall, carrying the plate of food he had in his hand. The faint smell and vapors from the food also let me know that this was something he had just prepared. Before I could say anything, he went straight to the bathroom. The sound of running water echoed, and a moment later, a wet towel was draped over his arm along with a basin of water. His fluid movements left me stunned as I could only watch. Rafayel chuckled at my naive and silly expression. He sat down beside me and lifted my face to gently wipe it.

As he traced the lines of my face, Rafayel looked at me and teased, 'Haiz, I think I'm losing money on this deal. I hired you as my bodyguard, but it turns out I do more serving you than you do for me. I wonder if I can get a refund.'

I was silent, enjoying his gentle care, until I caught the distinctive salty smell of the sea.

'It's your honor to serve me, Mr. Rafayel. Now tell me why you got up so early this morning to go to the beach. You're not usually the type to wake up early, are you?'

'Silly girl, don't underestimate me! I need to exercise too, especially when I have the chance to come back here. Watching the sunrise and then immersing myself in the sea. The feeling of sinking into the water and forgetting all my troubles is the best way to de-stress.'

Rafayel flicked my forehead. 'If you're still feeling troubled by work, you should try it. I'll do my best to accompany you.'

I hit Rafayel, and he reflexively yelled. But before he could complain, I immediately pointed out a flaw in what he had just said.

'Rafayel, didn’t you always say you wanted to watch the sea or the sunset with me? So why didn’t you invite me this time? And by the way, what do you mean by getting de-stress?'

Rafayel sighed, looked at me, and stroked my hair from my temples to my face, then gently pinched my cheek.

‘You’re overthinking it, it’s just simply because I saw you sleeping so soundly, and I didn't want to wake you up, so while I was waiting for you to wake up, I had to do it by myself and for de-stressing, maybe from…not getting enough attention from you?’

Noticing a slight irregularity in Rafayel's voice, before he could finish, I quickly grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly, then looked straight into his bright cerulean blue eyes covered in fiery red with a determined expression and said,

"I want to do that with you from now until the end. So next time, don't forget to take me with you, no matter what happens, okay?"

Rafayel was momentarily surprised, but then he smiled softly, leaned down close to my cheek, and placed a kiss on it, watching the blush spread from my cheeks to my ears.

When satisfied with his handiwork, Rafayel replied, "Okay."

After we finished eating, it was time to carry out the plan that Rafayel had already set up, and the reason I emphasized that this plan was personally arranged by Rafayel was that he was determined to let me relax without a care in the world. It was in executing this plan that I realized Rafayel was more familiar with this place than I'd thought.

And that surprised me because he usually would proactively tell me things I needed to know, but perhaps this land, along with the buried past here, was something he didn't want me to touch. Not only that, deep in his eyes, there was a nameless sadness, like a fleeting nostalgia that quickly passed like a fish's tail gliding quickly across the palm of my hand, leaving me no time to grasp. Maybe I didn't understand Rafayel as much as I thought. I thought I understood a large part of him, but the chain of events of the past few days had revealed to me that I still had a long way to go.

I tried to learn more about what he hadn't revealed, but whenever I wanted to mention a part of that past, he would just pass it over with a calm tone as if it were just one of those trivial matters that didn't need to be mentioned - from the villages he had been to, to the streets he had walked. Everything he told me was like a third-person narration, not from the direct perspective of someone who had experienced it. I also asked if he was really happy when talking about those past times, and fortunately, because I knew he was a truthful person, instead of glossing over it, his answer through silence was proof of what I had guessed.

And that made me want to know more and more about him. So when I looked at the schedule for the last day, packed with places to go, from the harbor to the art gallery to the night market, I suddenly felt that I didn't want him to keep reminiscing about the unhappy memories anymore. I wanted to see him in a place where, although there was still a hint of nostalgia, he wouldn't feel suffocated. And that place was the guest house where we were staying.

That meant there was a possibility that today, both he and I would do nothing but look at each other. When he heard my suggestion, Rafayel was quite surprised and observed me for a moment as if trying to find something different about me, until he sighed and agreed.

"If you want, cutie..." he took my hand and gently kissed it. "I don't mind spending the whole day with you without doing anything. Luckily for us, I just found a flyer stating that there will be a seaside market near the shore around the afternoon when the fishermen have finished fishing, and they will also hold a small festival to celebrate the summer, so there will be fireworks by the shore. What do you think? That's also like doing nothing in this place, right?"

Fireworks and a seaside market? That's a great idea! I'm sure Rafayel would love it!

So I agreed immediately without hesitation.

The detailed plan for today was simplified drastically to "sit idly at home until there is a seaside market and fireworks in the late afternoon."

**************************************************************************************

The sounds of fishermen and vendors mingled with the excited chatter of shoppers, signaling to Rafayel and me that it was time for the seaside market. Conveniently, the market was located right next to the guesthouse Rafayel had arranged.

Hand in hand, we wandered towards the tents set up for the festival. It was quite different from what I had expected. Instead of just selling seafood, there was a wide variety of other items characteristic of the region. From seashells to thatched hut decorations, necklaces and bracelets made of pearls and stones, created mysterious sea colors. To emphasize the summer atmosphere, a multitude of Hawaiian-style shirts were sold everywhere in the stalls. Before I could tear my eyes away from all the goods, Rafayel had placed a straw hat on my head, having bought it from a nearby stall without me noticing.

“You’ll need this when walking by the sea in the afternoon, or you’ll end up like a dried fish,” he said with a smile. Seeing him wearing a similar hat, I couldn’t resist taking a photo of this memorable moment.

“Then I have to save a picture of you before you turn into dried fish too!” I teased. Rafayel grabbed my phone. “If we share the fun, we have to share the misfortune!”

Our laughter somewhat eased my mind as I thought about the part of Rafayel I didn't know. I told myself perhaps now wasn’t the right time to delve deeper.

But fate had other plans.

As we took photos, a heated argument erupted at a nearby stall. A customer, with a fierce expression, was holding a pearl and was berating the young boy behind the counter. “A trivial pearl like this, and you dare to say it’s priceless and charge a sky-high price? Do you know the price of pearls is going down? If you don’t sell it cheap, no one will buy it!”

The boy, almost tearful, replied, “No...this pearl is truly priceless...very precious...I can't sell it to you like that…”

Just as the customer was about to get physical, Rafayel intervened, grabbing the customer's hand and examining the pearl.

“Hmm, a very fine, aged pearl. Truly priceless, not something you can buy with money. Unlike someone who didn’t even know its true worth and still dared to make himself a bargain.”

Rafayel glanced at the customer and with a force only the man could feel, he snatched the pearl, wiped it with his sleeve, and handed it back to the boy.

“You're right. This pearl is priceless, and priceless things shouldn't be sold carelessly.”

The boy stammered, “But...I need money to…”

“Alright,” Rafayel interrupted, “if you want to sell, I can buy it and give it back to you, and of course, I won’t do it for free. So the condition for returning it is that you let me meet the owner of this shop, is that okay?”

The boy looked from Rafayel to me and then to the angry customer. After a moment's hesitation, he nodded and said he would tell the owner.

When the owner met Rafayel, I felt indescribable, as if they were old acquaintances who hadn't seen each other in a very long time. As they went into the hut behind to talk, I grabbed the boy and asked about the stall owner.

The boy called the owner “Grandpa”. Grandpa was the one who had taken care of him as he once lived in an orphanage. The boy also said that “Grandpa” was very knowledgeable about the island, everything from tides to weather. He loved “Grandpa” very much, but “Grandpa’s” health had been declining lately as if he was sick even though Grandpa always told him there was nothing to worry about. With his small mind, he only knew that if “Grandpa” was ill, he would have to see a doctor, which would require a lot of money. But “Grandpa” rarely asked for help, especially from people wearing white coats, and Grandpa also forbade him from selling anything except for what Grandpa caught or made, and the money earned from those small items was very little. So while Grandpa was resting behind the stall, he had tried to sell the gift the man had given him: a pearl as bright as the moonlight shining on the sky when the tides ebb and flow. That's how we were able to encounter the scene today.

After putting everything together, I had a feeling of who the stall owner was. There may be some things I need to ask to clarify.

As I finished my conversation with the boy, Rafayel and the stall owner emerged. Before I could speak, Rafayel took my hand and said,

"Let's go, there are still many other stalls waiting."

He turned to the stall owner and said in a serious tone, "As the old saying goes, if you need anything, we're still here."

The stall owner laughed as if this was something he often heard. "I know, I know. If you keep saying that, you'll become an old man. But let me have a few words with this young lady."

Rafayel looked at me as if asking for permission, and I nodded without hesitation.

As I approached, the stall owner looked at me for a long time and sighed, "That boy, although he talks a lot and has quite a sharp tongue, still withholds a gentle nature. So would you mind taking care of him?"

"Don't worry, that's my plan!" I proudly replied. Seeing my sparkling eyes, the old man sighed as if a weight had been lifted from his heart. He looked directly at Rafayel and me and suddenly bowed, surprising me a little.

But before I could stop him, he looked at us and said, "Well, I wish you both a happy outing. Be careful because..." He whispered, "It will rain tonight, so you'll have to find something else to do."

To my surprise, the old man and the boy waved goodbye as Rafayel held my hand and led me away from the stall, leaving behind a multitude of unanswered questions.

The sun was setting, turning the sky a deep red. The stalls were winding down as people eagerly awaited the evening's fireworks. Yet, between Rafayel and me, there seemed to be an invisible divide.

Since our encounter with the mysterious stall owner, who seemed to be an old acquaintance of Rafayel's, his mood had been down, despite his attempts to hide it by avoiding more profound questions.

He could explain the stall owner's background but seemed reluctant to discuss the man's current condition or why he was on the island in the first place.

There were too many intertwined secrets, and I had an intuition that these secrets held the key to understanding Rafayel's true self, a facet of him I had yet to discover.

This led me to bolder speculations. Perhaps this was the true emotion he had always held, and I had only realized it now because he had hidden it so well. While I acknowledged that his genuine, happy smiles were always associated with the moments he spent with me, it was only when he mentioned his "past," the time before we met, when he was still in Lemuria, that he seemed distant. And it was largely due to my inattentiveness; I hadn't truly focused on learning more about him.

Determined, I decided it was time for Rafayel and me to break through this invisible veil. I wanted to understand him better, including the things that might have hurt him in the past and the scars he tried to hide from me.

I wanted to know everything, to understand him better, only because I loved him as much as he had, was, and would love me.

Taking a deep breath, I took Rafayel's hand, who was still busy introducing the stalls in front of us. A determined look in my eyes conveyed my steadfastness, catching him off guard for a moment. But finally, he sighed in defeat. He squeezed my hand and stroked my palm gently as he said.,

"There's an open space on the other side of the dunes. Would you like to sit and watch the sunset while we wait for the fireworks?"

I nodded gently. The four footprints treaded side by side towards the base of a tree on the other side of the dunes.

The gentle breeze carried the salty scent of the blue sea mixed with the sand, creating a slightly itchy damp feeling, like rolling in the sand while still wet. It was uncomfortable and stuffy. Perhaps that was also the feeling the Lemurians had to face and adapt to when they first hesitantly set foot on the shore.

We both remained silent, watching the sun gradually set on the horizon until I decided to break it.

"Rafayel, you don't have to tell me more details. But at least you can share the basics about you. After all, those basics will help me understand you and your origins better."

Rafayel rested his head on his hand and looked at me intently. "What do you mean by basics?"

I took a deep breath and looked straight at him. "By basics, I mean things revolving around your daily life or at least how you feel. For example, how did you, as a merman, feel when you first stepped onto land? Did your feet, accustomed to swimming, hurt when you first learned to walk? Or did you feel lonely in a strange place? You may not need to tell me what happened, but at least how you felt when experiencing those."

Rafayel's eyes seemed covered in darkness immediately after hearing my questions. He lowered his head and let out a bitter chuckle before looking back at the sky, which was gradually darkening as the sun had set.

"So if I say it hurts, or I'm lonely, what will you do? I'm not naive. Who's to say that those past experiences and feelings weren't all fabricated by me to trap you?"

"Rafayel!"

I took his chin and pulled him to face me. "Look into my eyes."

Rafayel, startled, slowly turned his gaze from the dark sky to meet mine. "...Why? Why do you insist on knowing this? Isn't it easier to not know?"

Just as I was about to reply, a loud clap of thunder echoed through the sky, followed by heavy rain. Oh...just like the old man said...it's raining...

Before I could react, Rafayel quickly wrapped his arms around me, trying to shield me from the pouring rain. But the rain was coming down so hard that everyone had to seek shelter in the stalls being cleaned up, except for me, who was still in Rafayel's arms and protected by him.

But I didn't want to be protected like this...I wanted to face it with him.

My impulsiveness caused me to act faster than I thought. Amid the heavy rain, I grabbed Rafayel's hand and ran straight towards the guesthouse.

The sound of the rain pattering on the ground seemed to separate Rafayel and me from the outside world. This separation became even clearer when we finally reached the door and got inside. It was just him and me in our own space.

The heavy breaths mingled with the raindrops gradually falling to the ground made the atmosphere around us change invisibly.

When my sudden sneeze broke the silence, Rafayel quickly grabbed my hand and led me towards the bathroom. The sound of running water carried the warmth that gradually emanated from the bathtub. While Rafayel was still focused on preparing the bath, I continued to look at him and said what I hadn't been able to say in the downpour earlier.

"I want to know, Rafayel. Because I love you and want to understand you better, including the aspects you consider ugly and not worth mentioning."

After a long silence, Rafayel sighed. He approached me, touched my cheek, and said with a gentle voice.

"Alright, I can start by writing a book or telling you 1001 stories of the Lemurian people. Now go to the bathtub and rest, I'll wait for you.”

As Rafayel was about to leave after ensuring I was settled in the tub, my hand quickly grabbed his wrist and pulled him back. My sudden action caused Rafayel to pause, and before he could pry my hand away, he lost his balance and fell into the bathtub.

Silence enveloped us until Rafayel took a deep breath and chuckled as if he had no choice.

Rafayel leaned against the side of the tub opposite me. The hem of his bathrobe was askew, almost like an invitation.

"So you want me to stay here? In this state? Just to find the answer to what you've always wondered?"

I looked at him and reached out to where his heart was beating. "Yes, I want to know more about you."

Rafayel took my hand and rubbed it gently on his cheek. "So what do you want to know?"

"You don't have to be specific, but you could start with...how your Lemurian people express affection?" I firmly acclaimed.

"You really want to know?" Rafayel moved his hand from my wrist to my fingers and gently placed a kiss on it, slowly saying, "When Lemurians fall in love with someone…All our senses are committed to perceiving them without questions."

Before he could finish, I moved my finger to touch his lips and stroked them. "You mean...like this?"

Rafayel chuckled. "Your way of triggering my “sense” has only touched the surface."

I chuckled too. Because, of course, this touch didn't stop there. To prove my point, my hand gradually traced along his neck and went down to where I had touched earlier.

Rafayel's body stiffened with each movement of my finger, signaling that he was also becoming tense. "You...are all humans so foolish...this isn't just about touching..."

Before he could finish, my finger went even deeper to places I wouldn't usually wander. And by now, even Rafayel couldn't stay calm. His eyes darkened, only faintly lighting up when lightning flashed across the dark sky, illuminating the entire space for a moment, revealing shades of deep blue and fiery red. Before I could react, he pushed me onto my back while holding himself above me with his arms. My whole body was submerged in water, enveloped by his strong body.

Rafayel looked straight at me with a frown.

"Do you know what you're doing?"

With his words, the thunder roared continuously, signaling something big was about to happen. I knew what it was, and I was the one who was looking forward to it. "I know. And I know you're looking forward to it, too."

Rafayel looked at me intently with eyes I'd never seen before. It was as if I were prey being watched by a predator, and in the blink of an eye, I could be attacked without a chance to fight back.

Our heartbeat gradually filled the silent air, drowning out the thunder outside. Even I couldn't tell whose heartbeat was so strong, mine or the person I loved who was facing me. But no matter who it belonged to, I knew the hidden intention.

Rafayel finally spoke after his hand gently stroked my lips. "I'm looking forward to it because it's from you."

His entire body leaned down as he pressed his lips against mine. A warm sensation appeared between our lips. From the familiar, it gradually turned strange. This kiss...was different...so intense...so passionate...and so unfamiliar... Could this also be another part of him?

Our heavy breathing continued after the passionate kiss he had given. It was frantic, as if devouring. There was no more thinking or reason. Only passion and intensity. My warmth caused him, a merman, to exclaim, "And you’re warm, I like that."

Somehow, those words touched my heart. They recalled many legends I had once heard, and one vaguely mentioned how mermen didn't like the heat and how difficult it was for them to adapt to the warmth. But for him to say that he loved my warmth, how much had he had to endure to adapt to that extent?

When Rafayel looked at me intently after the passionate kiss ended, I couldn't help but reach out, hold his face within my two palms, and gently caress it, which was unfamiliar and slightly different from usual. I uttered the words that I thought from the bottom of my heart.

"Rafayel...this different side of you...is it still you?"

Immediately after hearing that question, his eyes sadly looked down for a moment, but as if reassuring himself, after a moment, he looked up at me and said, his voice mixed with a little self-doubt and a touch of pleading, "So will you still love me no matter what I become?"

I suddenly realized. It turned out that he was worried about me no longer loving him after discovering his past?

Silly Rafayel, how can I tell him that my love for him can no longer be taken back?

Ignoring all reason, my body acted on the most primal instinct. I grabbed the necklace around his neck and pulled him down hard, leaving a bite mark on it. I bit down fiercely as if to leave a strong and unfaded mark, a mark to say that he belonged to me no matter what might happen.

And to his surprise, I reached out and touched the bite mark, uttering the crazy words I had hidden deep in my heart and now had the opportunity to express. "Rafayel, just to let you know, when you’re madly in love, human often have the urge to mark their territory. And this mark of yours is no different."

His eyes were filled with a thousand emotions, and one of them I could see was relief. It seemed that he, too, understood my feelings for him as much as he had always had for me.

So Rafayel, please don’t be hesitant to open yourself up to me as well.

As if reading my mind, Rafayel pressed his body against mine again and whispered a word only he could understand the depth of. "If you say so, then join me. Let’s drown in the ocean. Together."

Despite the pouring rain and the constant thunder in the sky, in that room, only two minds were sinking together into the current of the waves of love.

**********************************************************************

On that unforgettable night, as I drifted off to sleep, I heard Rafayel's faint voice telling me the first story he had promised in the collection of 1001 Lemurian stories. As mentioned in his first story, I vaguely recalled the image of the Sea God in the dream I had afterward.

Like in a film, I saw the image of that sea god swimming from under the sea to the shore. Then, from the shore, he wandered aimlessly in the endless night. I desperately wanted to reach out but couldn't get close. And that scene repeated over and over until I finally took on a definite form, the form of a traveler standing on the shore after my countless silent prayers just to get closer to that sea god. But instead of the Sea God, in front of my traveler form was the image of a merman whose eyes I was familiar with. And even before the merman raised his singing voice, I rushed forward and grabbed his hand, his cold, lonely hand, and hugged him tightly and gave him the warmth only I could give. And in return, I received from him a warmth that comforted my soul despite all the chaotic melodies in the outside world.

A breeze blew past me, carrying the salty scent of the sea, gradually waking me up from the bittersweet dream I was encountering. Facing me was the sunrise on the horizon hidden behind the seashore. And I was wrapped in warm blankets and cuddled deep in Rafayel's warmth.

Rafayel….he always remembered…no matter what I said despite how nonsensical they were sometimes.

Thank you, Rafayel, for always keeping your promise to me.

So this time, let me also make an unbreakable promise.

Lying quietly in Rafayel's arms and watching the sunrise, I made a silent wish.

I hope that you and I will always be together.

Forever. Despite all obstacles.

All for love.

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