#so this morse code made me write something and I love it thank you that-one-scoundrel

[mapsthewanderer]

Caleb’s headcanon -

The Vanguard

Synopsis: You are about to attend a practical exam proving your marksmanship. (Short. Caleb being Caleb, fluff, using Morse code)

Taking aim

The air is electric. The scent of gunpowder lingers thickly in the air, blending with the raw energy of the crowd. People are shouting, cheering, the sharp cracks of gunfire punctuating the noise like a war drum. The exam hall is a coliseum of contenders, each vying for their place among the elite.

Your throat feels tight, your hands clenched into fists at your sides. Your pulse pounds so loudly in your ears that it almost drowns out the chaos around you. Almost.

Then—warm fingers brush against yours.

Caleb’s hand finds your own, steady and sure, and before you can react, he begins to tap. A soft rhythm against your skin, light yet deliberate. It will be alright.

You look up, breath catching. His violet eyes gleam under the fluorescent lights, filled with something unshakable—something you wish you had right now. You tap back hesitantly, your fingers barely pressing against his palm. Really?

He nods, his smile slow and confident, like he’s never doubted you for even a second.

“Come on,” he murmurs, though the words are almost swallowed by the noise. His fingers curl slightly around yours, giving them a reassuring squeeze before he taps again, firmer this time. You can do it.

You don’t know if you believe that. Not yet.

Before you can respond, he pulls you into a hug, his arms wrapping around you like a shield. His breath is warm against your hair, and just when you think that’s all there is—he starts tapping again. Soft, slow, just between your shoulder blades. A message meant only for you.

I love you.

You freeze.

Did he—?

No. You must be imagining things. The tension, the nerves, they’re playing tricks on you. But still, the ghost of his touch lingers, the rhythm echoing in your mind even as he pulls back.

He holds your shoulders for a moment, studying you, then mouths something so clearly that even with all the noise, you understand.

“Go get them, pip”

And just like that, the weight in your chest lightens.

You smile, truly smile, and step forward toward your fate—toward the gunfire, the challenge, the test that will determine everything.

But even as you go, the warmth of his touch stays with you, the secret Morse message etched into your skin.

Writer’s note: It was bound to happen, peepz. I just had to start meddling with the current timeline and not some AU like my other fic ‘The Vermillion bird’. I’ll mark my own canon’s for Caleb as ‘Caleb’s headcanon, The Vanguard’ from now on (I’m betting 20 wishes that I’ll write more because I love exploring this lol). Hope you like it 🫶🏻