chryssaandthelads

[chryssaandthelads]

(( ... gun hazard babies 💀 ))

[chryssaandthelads]

🌊"From now on, you can only stay with me, with no other way out." | @artemis.sky

[chryssaandthelads]

A bit late to this party buuuuuttttt First impressions when Nocturnal Hunt was showcased~

Now, time to go take a look at the memory~

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i just know caleb gives the tightest, most reassuring hugs

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Mc being a sailor guardian and protecting Rafayel😂

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this will never not make me laugh

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of all the love interests, i think caleb has the clumsiest technique in the bedroom but he is so insanely, vocally, desperately into it that you come embarrassingly quickly anyway

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「 and you'll save all your dirtiest jokes for me 」

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petal dance ; our annual cherry blossom park date! // fluff. established relationship. divider by @/cafekitsune!

"turn your chin a liiiiittle to the left — no, not that much, just a liiiiittle —"

you break out of your pose to give rafayel the pout he was bracing for as he was watching your impatience growing through the viewfinder. "you're just messing with me, aren't you?"

"i promise you, i am not," he says, trying to hold back a laugh (because he isn't messing with you... not really). "just trust the process, alright?"

you give him a resigned look. he gives you an innocent smile.

"fine," you sigh before returning to how he had you standing — with your back towards him but not entirely, your head turned to look over your shoulder at a point slightly past him, and your hand positioned under the lowest branch of the cherry blossom tree, fingers just barely touching the petals.

"that's it! perfect!" he brings the camera to his face a little too quickly and it's probably gonna leave a mark on his nose bridge but he'll worry about it later. he's been trying to capture the perfect shot for the past five minutes with everything from the sun hiding behind the clouds to the birds in the trees getting in the shot preventing him from doing so, so he will not let this moment slip away.

"okay, don't move! one... two... three —"

a breeze comes through right then as he presses the shutter button, just as the wind sweeps your hair in front of your face.

"so?" you call over to him when he puts the camera down. he tries not to react as he brings up the image previews, praying that the shutter speed was fast enough to catch the moment before the stupid wind messed up your hair —

nope.

he clears his throat and runs a hand through his hair before meeting your waiting gaze. "okay, so, don't get mad, but —"

a stronger gust of wind rushes through, eliciting a collective gasp and giggles from everyone in the park.

everyone except rafayel. it's like some higher power is personally using the wind to mess with him. is this karma?

"raf, look!"

with an exasperated puff of air, he blows his bangs out of his eyes, and with his vision unobstructed...

he knows what you're telling him to look at, but it isn't as breathtaking as what he's seeing.

you're in awe of the scenery, but he's in awe of you.

you, in your pretty dress, twirling as you look skywards at the gently falling blossoms. the unbridled joy sparkling in your eyes as you reach out to let them land safely in your palm. your silvery laugh ringing through the air when a few kids run by, also trying to catch the falling petals. how the petals in your hair make you look like a forest fairy having descended from somewhere faraway to bless the humans with your presence.

this scene isn't entirely new. he's been visiting the park with you when the cherry blossoms bloom for a few years now, but these little petal storms will never not feel magical with every new enchanting moment he gets to witness.

as discrete as he tries to be, the shutter noises from his camera eventually draw your attention, and your panicked gaze finds him through the lens.

"sorry!" you gasp before you quickly say goodbye to the kids who gathered around you in hopes that you'd catch them a cherry blossom. "so did you get the shot?"

he quickly flips through the last three candid portraits of you. "uh, we did not."

"really?" you groan as you return to his side, but your expression changes slightly when his eyes meet yours and he angles the camera's display away from you. "why are you smiling like that?"

rafayel's cheek muscles relax. "i'm not smiling."

"yes you were," you laugh. you pick a petal off of his hair and blow it away. "are you hiding something from me?"

"hiding something? no, i'm not!"

you quirk your brow at him. he's never been really good at feigning nonchalance. and it's especially hard now when in his hand, on his camera, is his most favourite photo he's ever taken of you, aside from the one he uses as your contact photo on his phone. that one is just silly — you had slumped over into such an unnatural position after falling asleep on his couch when you were keeping him company during a late-night painting session.

but the one he took just now? it makes him feel like he's falling in love with you all over again.

so he does the next best thing he can think of and presses his lips to yours.

you hum and open your eyes slowly to meet his gaze when he pulls away. "you're definitely hiding something."

he smiles again, unable to help himself again. a petal falls away as he tucks a strand of hair behind your ear before cupping your face. "can i show you later?"

you cast your gaze sideways as if to really think about your answer. "fine," you sigh. "i guess this is part of 'trusting the process'."

"hey, i'm an artist," he chirps, "you're in good hands."

you put your hand over his. "i know."

"so we should probably try that pose again."

you groan, and spin away from him petulantly.

"we'll get it this time, you're a natural now!" he teases as you stomp back to your place under the tree.

"then hurry up and get the shot before the wind blows all the petals off the trees!"

though it takes a second for your serene expression to return, he gets the shot soon after.

chryssa chats: idk guys i look way too happy but he says i'm prettiest when i'm happy without a care in the world so i think that means i'd look even better if i could retire from my job early right?

[chryssaandthelads]

boys.

[chryssaandthelads]

mirror selfies! // fluff with a dash of angst. established relationship. divider by @/cafekitsune!

"what do you think of this?" you whirl around to show caleb the first of a few dresses you picked out.

while you hold it to your chest for size, he hums, crossing his arms and squinting as if trying to picture you wearing it. "maybe in a different colour."

you turn back to reassess yourself in the mirror. "yeah, you're right."

"aren't i always?"

your reflection gives him an unamused look before he turns away, probably to hide his snicker.

you set the dress back on a nearby rack and hold up your next pick. "what about this one?"

despite the casual glance he casts in your direction, you know him well enough to know that the way his eyes light up for a fraction of a second doesn't mean nothing.

"guess this is a maybe," you muse aloud, smiling to yourself when you catch a glimpse of the faint blush across his face before he turns away, trying to be nonchalant. "lemme ask the girls."

you quickly take a picture of your reflection with the dress in front of you and send it off to tara and simone. their replies are instant, urging you to actually try the dress on and say hi to caleb for us!!

you're confused as to how they knew he was with you until you check the photo and realize you've caught him in the background looking off in the distance, unaware yet somehow still handsome as ever.

your eyes instantly meet his the moment you look over at him. "they said hi," you tell him when he walks over.

he raises his brows and when you show him the picture zoomed into his face, he lets out a small amused huff. "this almost looks like a stalker photo."

"i learn from the best."

he tries to give your hair a ruffle for that but you dodge him in time.

"speaking of which, we haven't taken a picture together in a while," he says, and when you jokingly gesture to your phone with the stalker-esque photo, he shakes his head. "that doesn't count, silly!"

"well, you've also been away for a while, right?" you laugh softly as you set the dress aside on a rack.

"i know, i'm sorry."

caleb's tone is unexpectedly solemn ー well, it's not entirely unexpected coming from him, who's always worried about you, always itching to be together with you, always trying his best to make this work. and not that it isn't; sure, it's not the easiest with needing to spend time apart occasionally (an occupational hazard, sadly), but sometimes he forgets that he's not the only one in it.

"hey..." you warn unseriously, lightly jabbing your pointer finger into his sternum, "don't you go blaming yourself now."

the corner of his frown twitches. "i'm not."

"lies."

"fine." with a chuckle, he takes your hand from his chest and brings it to his lips, kissing your knuckles. "it's all your fault."

"hey!"

"'cuz you make it so hard to be away from you."

gosh, sometimes the things he says makes you want to cry.

"well, we're together now," you say, giving his cheek a playful pinch. "all that's left is to take a picture. easy peasy lemon squeezy."

the darkness in his eyes disappears like sunlight breaking dawn. you think it's one of the most wonderful things in the world to witness.

he gives your hand a squeeze. "shall we visit a photobooth then?"

"we don't need all of our photos to be fancy," you giggle. "smartphones have come a long way, gramps."

you're too slow to dodge a pinch to your own cheek, but he soothes it over with a kiss after.

you bring him over to the mirror and grin at his reflection. "a mirror selfie, to commemorate today's shopping trip."

he nods, then takes out his phone before you can get yours. "let's use mine."

"alright, but you better send them to me before you post them!"

"yeah, yeah," he laughs before positioning his phone in front of you both.

you pose, peace sign in front of your smile, waiting for him to count down, but a blitz of shutter noises come without warning.

"hey!" you protest. "you didn't say when!"

he holds his phone high above your head, grinning to himself as he inspects his work. "it's alright, we look good."

"what do you mean?! i wasn't ready!"

he shoves his phone in his pocket and takes both of your hands in his, giving you a look of gentle warning that gets you to settle with a hmph.

"trust me," he says with a kiss to your forehead. "you always look good."

[chryssaandthelads]

i'm at a party i don't wanna be at. // angsty fluff. unestablished relationship to almost??? established relationship???. mc is a little (very) insecure. divider by @/cafekitsune !

"enjoying yourself, miss bodyguard?"

you choke on your mocktail hearing rafayel's voice behind you. he was just standing across the room a minute ago before you took your eyes off him. "where did you come from?!"

"um, my place? same as you, we came here together —"

"not what i meant," you snap when the last of your coughs subside.

"oh no," he lilts and pinches your cheek. "sounds like you're not having a good time."

you swat his hand away. "should i be?"

he makes a face, taken aback by the hostile edge in your voice. "are you upset?"

"no," you huff. "i'm just... bored."

he leans in until all you can see is his face. "is that all?"

"yes."

something shifts in his eyes which tells you it doesn't escape him how quickly you replied.

clearing your throat, you angle yourself away from him and bring your glass to your lips. you are undeniably and unreasonably upset, and it's embarrassing that you aren't better at hiding your emotions.

but it's been a long night of watching him interact with just about every guest, wondering if you even needed to be here, and feeling very out of place. even with the pretty dress you have on tonight (that he bought after you told him you didn't have anything suitable for the all-white dress code) (darned fancy people and their fancy themed parties...), you're well aware that you stick out as the only non-socialite present.

"well, if you're sooooo bored..." he takes your glass and sets it on the tray of a passing server. then he holds out his hand, palm up.

you begin to reach for his hand, but uncertainty stops you. "w-what?"

he rolls his eyes but there's no exasperation on his face. clearing his throat, he asks, "may i have this dance?"

your cheeks warm at his charming smile, but it doesn't completely win you over. when you glance at the dance floor where other party guests are, dancing to the ballad being played by the live band, you can't help feeling self-conscious. "i don't think i should."

"then how about this?" he takes a step closer, hand still extended. "miss bodyguard, dance with me."

"i —"

"now you should, because as your employer, i'm asking you to."

you purse your lips, but take his hand after a moment. "that's abuse of power."

with a snort, he leads you away. "do you really think i'm that kind of employer?"

"sometimes it's hard to tell," you say as a joke, but when he tosses you a puppy-eyed pout over his shoulder, it compels you to tell the full truth. "but most of the time, you're not."

he shrugs with a small, smug noise, pleased with your answer.

he bows first and you curtsy in kind. he seems to sense your hesitation, but the sparkle in his eyes doesn't leave as he kindly waits for you to make the first move.

so you do, awkwardly placing one hand on his shoulder and letting him take the other before his other arm comes around the small of your back. thankfully the tempo of the music is slow enough for you to mirror his footwork without stepping all over his feet.

but as hard as you try not to be, you're hyper aware of the glances at you, the outsider who isn't part of the circle. rafayel and you come from two different worlds and while you're glad you met him, you don't know if you'll ever fit in —

with your thoughts swirling like a hazy mist making it harder to concentrate on matching rafayel's steps, you trip.

rafayel's arm tightens around you, keeping you upright.

"hey," he says quietly at the same time you mumble an apology. you've stopped swaying to the music, but he holds you just the same and gives you a concerned look. "you okay?"

when you don't answer him right away, he squeezes your hand. "don't lie to me."

you give him a look to which he smirks smugly, yet kindly. "just feeling a bit... nervous."

"why? this isn't a dance performance."

"people keep looking at us. at me."

"are they?" rafayel straightens like a meerkat to look around then until you smack his shoulder. "well, let them."

"no!" you hiss. "it makes me feel like i'm out of place."

the song ends then, so you let go of each other to join the applause. the band starts another song, this one slower. some guests excuse themselves and the remaining ones couple off, all holding each other in tighter embraces for a slow dance.

assuming this isn't a dance for you, you start to leave but rafayel stops you, gently grabbing your wrist.

"you're not out of place at all."

his expression is more intense than usual. you've only seen him this serious on missions where there was no room for humour or lightheartedness; only this time, there's a hint of something that makes your chest swell.

and when his grip loosens around your wrist and his palm finds yours, you think maybe, just maybe, what you see in his eyes is —

his other hand is suddenly on your shoulder, steering you out of the way of a couple who are starting to veer too close to you both. you mutter a thanks but he whispers your name in a way that almost sounds like a plea.

"your place is right here with me. by my side." again, there's no trace of mischief in his eyes.

you gulp. "you mean, as your bodyguard."

"no," he scoffs, "but even as my bodyguard, you should be by my side anyway."

"well, technically, i'm not by your side, i'm in front of you —"

"isn't my front side is still a side?" he chuckles, and it's when you feel his breath on your cheek that you realize that there's a lack of distance between you two, probably because you've both been keeping your voices low and drawing each other in.

well, it's not hard to be drawn towards him anyway.

and before you can stop yourself, your confession quietly escapes your lips. "i like being by your side."

his brows raise ever so slightly when you let go of him, but his grin returns when you nervously smooth your palms over his shoulders and clasp your hands behind his neck.

he slowly wraps his arms around your waist, still preserving that small space between your bodies as if to give you a chance to reconsider.

but you don't need to. not when being this close to him has you feeling the most comfortable you've felt all night.

so you close the gap and bury your face in the crook of his neck. you're close enough to hear the small gasp he lets out, to feel the warmth flowing up his neck and into his cheeks.

his arms tighten around you. "stay close to me, always," he whispers by your ear, his lips so close you think he might have kissed your temple.

"you'll always belong right here."

[chryssaandthelads]

this will make a great Christmas card.

[chryssaandthelads]

when you watch the waiter coming over in your direction with food ｡⁠◕⁠‿⁠◕⁠｡ then they walk past your table...˘⁠･⁠_⁠･⁠˘ to the group who placed their order after you did ಠ⁠︵⁠ಠ

[chryssaandthelads]

nOOOooo it's cuz we're about to head out and you NEED TO COVER UP CALEB COME ONNNNNN

[chryssaandthelads]

on the topic of having babies // fluff. divider by @/cafekitsune

"what are you looking at?"

"you."

"me?" xavier pouts playfully. "but what about her?"

as if on cue, the cat in his arms meows.

"shes demanding your attention, right?" he coos, then turns slightly to hold the stray cat closer to you. "how can you not look at her when she's this cute?"

"yes, yes, i know she's cute," you roll your eyes, waving him away to stop him from putting the cat's fluffy body right up to your face. "i'm the one who saw her first."

and he was the one who rescued her from the tree she was stuck in. and ever since bringing her back to your apartment she hasn't left his arms and it's just so. dang. adorable!

yet your eyes wander back to him, to the softness in his eyes, the tiny curve of his lips. even as he clicks his tongue to quietly scold the cat for squirming until she finds a more comfortable position in his arms, his look of adoration remains, like the cat can do no wrong. it's reminiscent of the way he gazes at you — his silent reminder that he loves you unconditionally. a wordless reassurance that he'll never leave your side. that he'd do anything to protect you at all costs.

and even though you're not on the receiving end of his affection, you can't help but smile at the slightly uncalled-for thought forming in your mind.

"you look like a natural."

he hums in question.

"at being a parent."

he gasps, ever so subtly. "you mean... pawrent?" he suggests with a laugh.

sensing his mild unease at the topic, you shake your head with a nervous laugh of your own. "never mind."

you think there's the hint of a smile with the quick glance he gives you before he returns his attention to the cat when she meows for him. you fall quiet, too embarrassed to say anything else, so you resort to watching him taunt the cat with his finger. perhaps it's too early in your relationship to bring up something like that so casually, but watching him now, you can't help but imagine a different tiny being in his arms...

"i think you'd be a natural too."

when you look up at him, he's giving you that soft look and it's melting your insides. "i... i dunno about that."

"well, we don't have to rush to find out," he jokes, but his tone switches quickly. "i mean, unless, you wanted to —"

"no! no. no. definitely not in a rush, like... biologically, i'm good. and finances? nowhere ready yet. oh and we still haven't gone on that trip we were talking about —"

he calms you with a kiss to your temple. "all good. we'll get there eventually."

"yeah," you breathe, lips pulling into a grin and your chest filling with warmth at the prospect of one day being parents together.

"for now," he sighs, turning his attention back to the cat who's now napping comfortably in his arms, "we'll be pawrents."

you rest your cheek on his shoulder, and his head rests on yours. "sounds good."

[chryssaandthelads]

happy birthday to the babygirliest babygirl that ever babygirled on land and sea!!!

forever grateful that you employed me despite all the times you made me do ridiculous non-bodyguard tasks ⁠♡ (⁠Ӧ⁠ｖ⁠Ӧ⁠｡⁠)