pamisn

[pamisn]

Sweet Scented Pomegranate

♡ PAIRING — Caleb x fem!reader

♡ SYNOPSIS — Caleb comes back from a hangout with friends, but he feels... weird. And it doesn't get better, when in the following days he disappears.

♡ TAGS — Suggestive themes, vampires, vampire turning, biting, blood drinking, licking

♡ WORD COUNT — 4,6K

♡ LINKS — AO3

Caleb didn't usually go to these hangouts. 

He preferred spending these late friday nights with you, cuddling in your big couch while watching some corny movie you picked, and loving it all the same. But today was different, after all Gideon had invited him over for a boys hangout, and you had pushed him to go, saying he needed "some time to unwind with guys his age". You thought he deserved some time with his friends after all.

So caleb found himself walking through Skyhaven, approaching one of their friend's houses as the sun slowly set, the golden hour approaching. He reached the entrance, knocking gently but firmly on the door. It didn't take long for Gideon to open it, a grin on his face.

"I thought you'd take longer, bet you didn't want to leave her at home at all"

Gideon spoke, moving to the side to let Caleb in. The young pilot chuckled, the image of you basically pushing him out of the door and telling him to have fun replaying in his head. You knew if you had asked him to stay, he would of. But you felt guilty, always keeping him by your side, not realizing it was his choice, too. So, you pushed him to at least go hang out with his friends today outside of work.

"She kicked me out"

Caleb simply said, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked like a puppy who had to sleep outside, and his friend couldn't help but chuckle. Him and Gideon made their way to the living room, their three other friends waiting for them as they laughed and drank some soda. Two were sitting on the large couch, on opposite sides, as the third sat on the floor, back to the couch. They all looked like they were having fun as Gideon walked towards the couch, with Caleb following suit.

"There you are! We were waiting for you to start playing!"

One of the guys on the couch said, his name being Hayden. The other guy on the couch, Kyle, nodded to his friend's words, bringing a soda to his lips. He then raised it, grinning. A table game was set on the coffee table, its cards already out and ready for playing. It was the perfect game night.

"Yeah! We've got the whole night to have fun!"

His friend cheered, and Gideon chuckled, raising his own glass. Chase grinned, sitting on the floor as he drunk from his own glass, before Caleb looked at all of his friends, sighing in defea. He drank down some soda, settling down to play, but his eyes couldn't help but land on Chase. He looked... weird. A little paler, like he hadn't been outside for a while. And his eyes, they looked like they were a slight different color, as if he were wearing contacts.

Caleb wanted to ask about it, but this night was all about having fun, and you would of wanted him to have fun too. So he moved on, ignoring Chase's weird behavior. The living room was filled with laughter, and it really did look like a normal evening with friends, though it was about to turn into something much darker.

-

The night went by pretty fast, it wasn't long before it was already 1AM. Caleb sighed, though he couldn't help but smile at the state of Gideon, Hayden, and Kyle. They were cuddled up on the couch, absolutely passed out and drooling. His mind went back to you, slowly getting up and stretching as he fetched his things. He could picture you on the living room couch, snoring softly as you had so desperately tried to stay up, waiting for him. He had thought about you all night, and he couldn't wait to go home and carry you to bed. 

"I'll get going now"

He said, turning to Chase. He could swear he saw the shine of a fang peek from Chase's grin, but perhaps it was just his imagination, and he deemed it that. Chase smiled, nodding as he got up to walk Caleb to the door. The night was particularly cold, and only the sound of the crickets could be heard.

Chase pulled Caleb in for a goodbye hug, the friendly gesture seemingly normal, but Caleb felt it. When Chase had pulled him in, there was a subtle feeling of strength that hadn't been there before. Then, Chase whispered something in Caleb's ear. He wasn't sure what it was, all he knew was that his head started feeling weird, but perhaps he had been too tired after their hangout. They stood there in that "hug" for a while, before Caleb snapped back to reality, with Chase pulling away. His neck felt weird, and his hand shot up to touch over what felt like two very small holes, pulling it away to see blood.

"You okay? you look like you've seen a ghost! Oh, I think a bug bit ya"

Chase said, a grin on his lips. He pointed to the supposed bug bites, and caleb nodded slowly, confused. He chuckled, nodding as he took a step back, hand coming down to clutch the necklace you gave him. He tasted blood in his mouth, had he bit the inside of his cheek?

"Haha..Yeah, im definitely a bit tired. I'll see you around"

He turned around, walking down the street as he faded off in the night. A faint red glint flashed from Chase's eyes, unbeknownst to the other guy. A smirk on his lips, and the lingering taste of blood on his tongue. 

-

It wasn't long before Caleb finally reached his house. He reached for his keys, his hand twitching slightly as he unlocked the front door. It was weird, he didn't usually twitch, or shake like that, but he figured he must of been so tired that exhaustion got to him. 

He entered the house, a smile immediately making it's way to his handsome face as he closed the door behind him. You were draped in a fuzzy blanket, sleeping peacefully on his couch as you had so desperately tried to stay up and welcome him home. He made his way towards you, crouching down to be at face level with your peaceful, sleeping expression. Caleb's hand reached out, gentle, soft, as his fingers brushed some stray hair from your face. 

He always thought you looked adorable like this, sprawled on his couch, drooling and snoring as you clearly enjoyed your rest. He chuckled when you turned, kicking the air as if you were in a fight.

"Working even in your dreams, pips?"

He whispered, brushing his lips against your forehead, a barely felt kiss as he slid one arm under your knees, the other around your waist. He picked you up, carefully, not wanting to interrupt your sleep. He carried you to your room, though it had been his up untill you decided it was that one that you wanted. Who was he to deny you? So he let you stay in his room, after all, whatever you said, went. He settled you on the bed, pulling the sheets over your body, tucking you in.

He noticed his hands still twitching, and he arched an eyebrow, confused at his own body's reaction. Had he really been that tired? Was he sick? Caleb heaved out a sigh, leaning in close to your face to kiss your forehead. He allowed himself that much, after all you always seemed to like his forehead kisses.

"Goodnight, sweet girl"

He whispered, smiling as you rolled in your sleep, a self satisfied smile on your lips. He couldn't help but slightly smirk at that, you were just too cute to him. He left the room, ready to take a quick shower, and once he was all good, Caleb slipped into his pajama and went to his room. You had bought it for him, and it directly matched yours, just as most of Caleb's things did.

Caleb's eyes fell shut as he drifted into his sleep, and that night, he seemed to have especially vivid nightmares. He often had them, so it was nothing new, but this time they were about his teeth sinking into your neck. 

-

You didn't remember making your way to Caleb's room, yet you were tucked nicely under soft blankets by the time you woke up. You figured you must of passed out while trying to wait for him, and he probably found you sprawled over the couch, drooling and snoring..

The thought made you feel slightly embarrassed, but it wasn't anything Caleb hadn't seen before. If anything you were embarrassed because you couldn't tough it out till he arrived. You stirred, stretching your body as you got out of the bed. The sound of footsteps could be heard all the way from the kitchen as you tried to be quiet, sneaking up behind what seemed to be a very busy Caleb.

Caleb chuckled as he turned around, grabbing your wrists and pulling your arms up in victory before you could give him a back hug. His eyes widened slightly, but you couldn't exactly tell why, as they quickly went back to normal. He felt.. stronger than usual. And he also seemed a little paler.

"Hey! That's not fair!"

You retorted, squirming in his grip as you puffed your cheeks. That only earned a soft chuckle from caleb, as he looked down at you like he just won the world. His grip tightened, and at that could only earn a wince from you. He usually didn't go this strong on you, so you looked up at him confused. 

As soon as he heard your pained noise, Caleb's eyes widened, and he released your wrists. He put his hands up in defeat, looking at them briefly before that. It was as if he hadnt realized he was going so strong. 

"Im sorry pipsqueak, you okay? Did i go too hard?"

He immediately took that gentle, concerned tone that made you want to always give him a reason to be worried for you. You nodded no, rubbing your wrists as you smile at him. Sure, it was weird, and Caleb looked like his whole body was tense, like he was holding back, on edge. But, you thought maybe he was just tired from yesterday's hangout.

"It's okay, I'm okay, Caleb. But you don't seem so okay, why're you so pale?"

You asked, reaching out to run your hand over his exposed arm. You felt Caleb tense at the touch, his ears turning red as he seemed stunned, like he didn't know what to do, but you weren't sure why. He nodded no, gently taking your hand and bringing it to where his heart is, his brows in what seemed to be a frown.

"I'm okay, just a little sick"

You could only give an understanding smile, not wanting no pry any further. You trusted that if Caleb was truly sick, he would of told you so. He smiled at you, letting go of your hand as he gestured for you to move, so he could continue cooking breakfast for you. After all, he wouldn't want you to leave on an empty stomach. You happily complied, sitting down at the living room table, this is your last day in Skyhaven, you'd have to cherish and enjoy every last bit of Caleb's cooking you could get. 

As you ate the breakfast he so sweetly prepared for you, you couldn't help but notice Caleb's gaze. He had a thin layer of sweat coating his forehead, and he kept staring at you, but not at your face.

He was staring at your neck.

He kept licking his lips unconsciously, gulping, and it was as if he was in a trance, thirsty. He looked like a predator ready to pounce on his prey, and at the same time his body was so tense as if he was holding back with every fiber of his being. You snapped your fingers in front of his face, trying to catch his attention.

"Earth to Caleb? You look like you're going to eat me up"

You asked, teasingly. Caleb snapped out of it, chuckling almost nervously as he quickly got up to settle your dishes in the sink. You kept asking if he was okay, and he kept saying it was "just a cold". By the time you left Skyhaven, Caleb saw you off with a warm hug. But it was tight. Did he always hug you this tight? You could feel him nuzzle into the crook of your neck, almost.. sniffing you, before he tensed up, quickly pulling away.

You didn't have time to question him, work was calling after all.

-

Caleb's life took a harsh turn after that. He rushed home, avoiding any person he possibly could. He felt.. restless. He entered his house, stumbling to the bathroom as his breath hitched. He looked in the mirror, a hand coming up to graze his own cheek. Had he always been so pale? And why was he so sweaty? 

His days started getting worse. First, it was just the being restless, the paleness.. Then the noises were too loud, his work at the fleet turning into pure hell. He would occasionally space out in the middle of meetings, all he could think about was you.. No, not just you, but your scent. Your sweet, sweet scent. It made him so..hungry.

He eventually had to excuse himself, saying he was sick so he had to take a break from work. It didn't take long for people to buy it, after all, Caleb was looking pale and twitching, restless as if he hadn't slept in a while. And it was true, he hadn't. Since you had left, he had not gotten a blink of sleep. 

Caleb started ordering groceries at home, he had noticed that whenever he stepped outside, he'd get sunburnt way too easily. He even tried applying sunscreen, but it only lasted for 15 minutes. He often found himself walking to your room, the one he always kept ready for your stay. He would fall on the bed, nuzzling in the sheets, sniffing your scent as his heart raced and his lips parted to take in the fabric. It was the most he could taste of you, and when he realized what he was doing, he'd quickly get up, face flushed all the way to his ears, and leave your room in a hurry. 

  He was standing in front of the stove, it had been a harsh 4, 5 days maybe? He had lost count, he hadn't seen the light of the sun, his whole house was dark and lit with candles. He was trying to cook a steak, but he hadn't been able to eat anything, and he didn't have the energy to cook, either. He thought a nice, homecooked meal might do it, just like it did it for you whenever you were sick.

But Caleb realized how mistaken he was. He found himself gulping while looking at the raw steak, still in its container. He hadn't turned on the stove yet, and it wasnt the steak that appealed him, it was the blood. Caleb involuntarily gulped, he didn't know what was wrong with him, but he couldn't help but lean down, his tongue darting out to lick at the red liquid in the container.

"..Fuck."

He groaned under his breath, gripping the container as he brought it to his lips. He didn't even realize he drank every single drop till he set it down, licking his lips and breathing heavily. Caleb didn't know what was wrong with him, but at least he had realized something. He needed to stay away from you. This need he felt.. he couldn't satisfy it. Not with animal blood, not with another person's. It had to be you. He'd never forgive himself if he were to hurt you, and since he was sick, he locked himself up.

-

Caleb always texted you good morning. He texted you before work, during work, after work.. It didn't matter where he was. So why hadn't he texted you these days? You were busy fighting wanderers, and there were also some cases of people supposedly biting and sucking other people's blood. The two seemed to be connected, especially since it all started from a person being scratched by a particular wanderer, but you weren't entirely sure yet.

You had tried to call Gideon, but he said that he hadn't heard from Caleb either. You called Liam, and he said that Caleb hadn't gone to work lately. So you had no choice, you just had to go see for yourself just what was going on with him, right?

You made your way to his apartment, and immediately noticed the way his blinds were all shut. You could only imagine how dark it was inside, but you were definitely going to find out. You reached for the door, using the keys Caleb had explicitly given you so you could make yourself at home whenever. 

But the keys didn't work. Had he changed the lock? Why was he going this far to keep everyone out? To keep you out? You wouldn't let this stop you, though. You took out your gun, aiming it at the lock and shooting at it. The door hung open, and you made your way inside.

It was extremely dark, or it would of been if it weren't for the candles that adorned the place. You looked around the kitchen, the living room, the bathroom, and his room.. But Caleb was nowhere to be seen. That only left one room to check, so you made your way to his former bedroom, which was now yours.

The door was creaked open, and you could see the silhouette of a tall guy laying on your bed. It was Caleb. He was gripping the sheets, and he seemed to be holding them against his face. You couldn't help but feel extremely confused as you pushed the door open, a soft creak emitting from it as you stood at the doorframe.

You walked closer, as Caleb's eyes shot towards you. You stood in front of the bed, gun dropping to the floor as you stared at him. His face was flushed, all the way to his ears, and his drool coated the sheets. The fabric was directly in his mouth, and he was curled up.

Caleb had sniffed your scent from the moment you had entered the house. He was so desperate, trying to hold back, curling up in himself and gripping the sheets as he kept some in his mouth. That's all he was allowed to have, who knows what he would of done to you, if you were in front of him? But now you were. You were right there, and Caleb couldn't help but bite down on the sheets harder.

"Caleb? What are you... No, moreover, are you okay?"

Your tone was soft, as you tried to walk closer to him. The sheets fell from Caleb's mouth as he growled, scooting back to the other end of the bed. He brought his hand to his mouth, biting down on it so hard that it drew blood. You reached out towards him, yanking his hand away as his eyes widened in surprise.

"Pips...fuck, please stay away"

His tone was desperate, it was needy. So how could you stay away? You let go of his wrist, and with your hands coming up to cup his cheeks, you turned his head to look at you. His eyes.. they had a faint, red hue to them, his face was pale, yet his cheeks were flushed. And when your eyes landed on his mouth, you couldn't help but notice the tiny fangs poking through as his jaw tensed. 

"Caleb..?"

You muttered his name, and god, he hated your for it. You were making it so hard for him to hold back, he really was trying to not hurt you. But he couldn't help it, he was way too fast for you to stop as he pinned you down on the bed. He breathed heavily on your neck. Your pulse, your scent.. it was sweet, almost fruity. Like a pomegranate.

At first, you squirmed under him, calling out to him and trying to snap him back from whatever was going on with him. But then it clicked. The wanderers, the infected people, the blood sucking... Caleb, somehow, had gotten bitten, and ingested infected blood. But how? It didn't matter now. Your instinct wasnt to push him off, nor to call for backup. If they had found out what Caleb was.. what would of happened to him? Would they of killed him? Experimented on him, maybe? You would of never let that happen to him.

Your fingers tangled in his hair, as you couldn't help but shiver as his lips brushed against your neck. Caleb was gripping the sheets tightly with one hand, but the other was holding yours, fingers intertwined. You could feel his body tensed up, his breath heavy, his heart racing. It followed the rhythm of your own perfectly. 

"Please..push me off.. God, please shoot me."

Caleb groaned against your neck, and you felt a pang hit your chest. He had locked himself up, isolated himself, and possibly starved himself.. He had ignored you up untill now, all to protect you. It's what he always did, and so you bit the inside of your cheek, fingers curling tighter in his hair as you pulled his head closer. Caleb's eyes widened, his face couldn't possibly flush more than this, as his eyes shot up. He couldn't quite see you, but he was confused, and he was in pain, he needed you, and he didn't want to.

"It's okay, Caleb. Drink up. I promise you it's okay, you won't hurt me"

You whisper, voice soft against his ear as you stroke his head. If he didn't eat, he would die. And from the other cases that had been documented, you knew that he needed to consume blood. 

Caleb tensed up, breathing heavily as he hesitated. He really didn't want to hurt you, but God, you smelled so sweet, and he was so hungry. You were all he had been thinking about. His tongue darted out, licking a long stripe up your neck. The taste of your skin made him grip the sheets tighter, as his other hand held onto yours equally tighter. He suckled at the sink, just relishing in your taste. But god, it wasn't enough, he wanted to go deeper. 

You couldn't help but bite the inside of your cheek harder at his action, tasting your own blood, breathing heavily as you felt your face warm up. He was on top of you, holding your hand while he got ready to feast on you. You could only squeeze his hand, as if giving him permission.

And Caleb took it as that. After a taste of your skin, he couldn't hold back anymore. He parted his lips, sinking his fangs in your neck as he feasted on you. The taste of your blood was intoxicating, making him moan pathetically against your neck. His face was flushed all the way to his ears, and he was absolutely devouring you. He was drooling all over your neck, sucking desperately, as if it was not enough. He needed more, he wanted to taste you till his throat couldn't gulp anymore. 

And the worst part was, that you were loving it. You tugged on his hair, not urging him to stop, but urging him to continue. It felt equally intoxicating to you, as you let out soft sighs, your whole body burning up. Eventually you started to feel dizzy, so you tugged harder on his hair, urging him to stop.

Caleb took the cue, kind of coming to his senses as he pulled back from your neck, slightly. Once he pulled back fully, he looked down at you with those soft, puppy eyes you've always loved. They were fully red now. You could see the guilt spreading on his face as he realized what he had done.

You ran your hand through his hair, earning a shuddering breath from him as he looked down at you. 

"Shit.. I'm so sorry, oh my god. I'm so sorry, pips"

Caleb panicked as his eyes shot to your neck. He had let go of his self control, he had bitten you. He had feasted on your sweet blood and he couldn't forgive himself for it. That's what he would of liked to say, but what was he supposed to feel, when you looked at him like that?

Your eyes were so soft, and your face was flushed. Your heart was racing, and he could feel it against his chest. You held onto his hand tightly, refusing to let go, and you ran your other hand through his hair, as if he hadn't just drunk you dry. You looked so pleased with yourself.

"It's okay.. Are you okay? Are you feeling better now?"

Caleb couldn't help but let out a shuddering chuckle as he leaned down, pressing a kiss to your forehead. He had drunk you dry, and here you were, asking if he was okay. He pressed another kiss to your nose, your cheeks and then, reluctantly, he brushed his lips over yours. He looked into your eyes, as if looking for confirmation that this was okay, that he was allowed to do this. You only squeezed his hand, eyes fluttering shut, and Caleb couldn't help but smile, leaning in to press his lips against yours.

It was a slow, intimate kiss. Your hearts beat in unison, your bodies almost melting into one. You couldn't believe it, but you could certainly feel it. You felt everything, every emotion Caleb poured into this soft, gentle kiss. You had trusted him to not hurt you, and sure enough, he hadn't hurt you. 

It was a moment before he pulled back, his eyes looking over your face like he was memorizing every inch of it. He trailed his lips over your jaw, down your neck, and over the bite marks. He kissed over them softly, slowly, muttering praises of how good you took it, and how sorry he was for putting you through this.

"Are you okay? Did it hurt? I'm sorry.. I'll run you a hot bath and cook you your favorite, does that sound good?"

Caleb's voice filled your ears as he continued to place gentle kisses over your neck, and you couldn't help but smile. He must of passed a horrible few days, so it was good to see him back to his usual self, all worried about you and trying to cheer you up with food. Sure, you didn't need to be cheered up, you loved this, but who says no to a free hot bath and food? You played with his hair, basking in his warmth as you nodded.

"Sounds good, but add some kisses and cuddles to that. And an explanation of everything that went down, from start to finish"

You declared, and Caleb chuckled softly, pulling back to kiss your forehead once again. He nodded, getting off of you very reluctantly as he tugged at your hand, pulling you to sit up. He placed one last kiss on your cheek as he walked towards the bathroom. The distant sound of running water filled your ears, as your hand trailes up to touch your neck. You winced as you found your bite marks, and yet your face was filled with warmth. It's as if he had marked you.

You pulled out your phone, with a message from your boss, Jenna, asking if everything went well on your mission, and if you found anything about those weird wanderers and the infection that came from them. You bit your lip, looking at the message, before replying.

"Nope, found nothing. I'll have to search some more."

You pressed send, before throwing your phone far away on the bed. You'll never let anyone find out about this, and you'll never let anyone take Caleb away from you.

[pamisn]

To follow up with my vampire caleb Drabble I did a little smth..

[pamisn]

I keep seeing people talk abt vampire sylus so it got in my brain.. what if.. Vampire caleb. But like freshly turned vampire caleb, who locks himself in his room because he can hear mc's pulse from all the way there along with smell her scent and it's making him go crazy with the need to sink his teeth into her and drink her up but he doesn't understand why.. Might write about this :3

Lil update: I did end up writing abt it LMFAO -> Sweet Scented Pomegranate

[pamisn]

Under The Summer Rain

You're in the wind, I'm in the water Nobody's son, nobody's daughter :)

♡ PAIRING — Caleb x fem!reader

♡ SYNOPSIS — Modern AU (?), Caleb's a pilot and you work at a cat Cafe. You've had an awful day and he's right there to make it better :)

♡ TAGS — Fluff, emotional hurt/comfort, domestic fluff

♡ WORD COUNT — 4,1K

♡ A/N — Started this on his birthday but probably publishing it way after.. My baby i love him sm 😭 Also english is not my first language so it might not be amazing but enjoy. Art is @/maosen_l18 on twt ^^ // This is a repost!

♡ LINKS — AO3

You hated days like these. 

Days that felt too long, too dreadful for their own good. Those days, where little inconveniences happen from the moment you wake up, building up so that by the end of them you feel utterly miserable. Where the smallest, dumbest things bring you to a point of exhaustion. 

It started with something as simple as your alarm going off slightly earlier, making you lose those extra 10 minutes of sleep. No point in going back to bed, right? You kept telling yourself that even as you grumbled, getting up to follow through with your usual routine. The only thing putting a smile on your face was Caleb's goodmorning text, something he always made sure to send before you even woke up, given he always did before you. It spread some warmth in your chest.

"Goodmorning, pips. I have some time off, so I thought I could pass by and we could spend some time together, given I've been so busy. How's that sound for you? :)"

You couldn't help but grin at the text, nothing made things better more than spending some good quality time with Caleb, your good mood returning as you replied excitedly, though that was soon to be shortlived. 

"I'll be free by 5pm! Maybe you can come pick me up at work?"

Then, you went to make breakfast, but were missing eggs as an ingredient. Strike 2, not being able to make the pancakes Caleb had taught you how to, before he once again left for Skyhaven. You tried keeping it together, so you stuck with eating cereal. It was okay, this was fine and no big deal at all, though the cereal tasted particularly bittersweet this morning.

You already had a rough start of your day, but it just kept piling up. Your bus was late, and so you arrived late to work. You lost your favorite pair of shoes somehow, too. You worked at a cat Cafe in Linkon City, it was pretty popular so the pay was actually really good, that was the only thing dragging you on today, do it for that bag as they say.. From outside, through the glass door and windows, you could see there were already about 3 costumers, but it wasn't full in the slightest, so you weren't that late.

You entered and a cute calico cat walked up to you, rubbing against your leg and meowing. You couldn't help but smile, the interaction relieving some of the stress as you crouched down to pet her head. Her fur was soft at the touch, and she seemed to relish the petting as she nuzzled against your hand.

"You're not usually this late, did something happen?" 

A voice called out from in front of you, a girl with short brown hair and purple eyes looking at you with a surprised expression, holding two plates with desserts in her hands. Your coworker Tara, currently serving some costumers their desserts as a cat lies on the lap of one of them. You nod at her, face apologetic as you stood up. This IS a really popular cat cafe, so being late wasn't exactly the best. 

"Bus was late.. And before that I was searching for my shoes"

Tara nodded in understanding, setting down the desserts in front of the two costumers, before nodding towards the counter and walking towards it, gesturing you to follow her. Once you reached behind the counter, you grabbed one of the aprons from the Cafe, with its logo and signature on it, and tied it up on you. At least it was a cute apron. 

"I get that.. Well, don't worry! You didn't miss much and we're only getting started, let's do our best!"

Tara cheerfully patted your shoulders, and you nodded with a small smile. If the day kept going okay, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad. You thought that, though it was quick to die in your mind in just a few hours. 

-

The costumers kept coming and leaving, and as tiring as it was, time flew by so fast you realized it was already 4pm. You felt tired, dreading every moment as you kept telling yourself it couldn't get worse after you found your lunch wasn't packed properly, and insects got to it. A costumer entered the shop, an old lady, well not that old. Maybe in her 40s, dark hair, eyes.. you weren't sure, she was wearing sunglasses, even though the sun wasn't that bright today. She settled down, ordering a dessert, petting the cats, the usual. You placed the dessert on her table and immediately she frowned, giving you a nasty look, almost like she was surprised you'd even give something like that to her. 

"There must be some sort of mistake, I didn't order this at all."

Her tone was sharp, and you were confused, because you made sure to always repeat the order to the costumers as you wrote it down, so that they could correct you if you had heard wrong. You gave her a polite smile, trying your best to stay calm. Costumer service.. 

"Ma'am, you ordered the Lemon dessert, correct?"

You asked, opening the menu as you pointed to the name on the list. The lady looked at you, then the menu, and huffed out a scoff as she tapped on the table in frustration. You could see her ego flutter around her like an ominous aura.

"Yes, that's what I ordered. But it doesnt look the way I thought it would, are you sure that's the right dessert? If so, I'd like to send it back and order something else"

She said, as if that were truly possible. You couldn't help but frown, taking the menu and closing it, before flipping it and placing it on the table. It showed pictures of all the desserts, and the lady looked at it with complete dread, probably extremely embarrassed she didnt see it before. Tara was watching from a far, anxiously petting a cat, she'd of come there to stop you but honestly that lady looked pretty scary herself, so she stayed at a safe distance.

"There're pictures on the back. If you want us to bring you another dessert we'll be happy to bring you it right away, but that doesnt mean you wont have to pay for this one since you consciously chose it. Also.. it says it on the first page, to check the last one for pictures."

You spoke in the best polite tone you could give then, but the lady seemed entirely furious at your audacity, asking her to pay for something she wished to send back. She got up, not deigning you of another word, only muttering to herself as she left the Cafe. You heaved out a sigh, turning to look at Tara, your frustration apparent.

"I need a break"

You scoffed, sitting down to pet one of the cats. You looked over to the other cats, and then back at Tara. Misery washed over your body as you started counting the cats. Tara, noticing your reaction, followed your actions by counting the cats herself. Once you were both done, her exprssion was coated with anxiety, and yours coated with utter despair. You both turned to the door in unison, looking at it like your dreams died there. 

"...We lost Pumpkin." 

She muttered, with a sigh. Pumpkin was an orange cat, that more often than not decided to run away for a walk. She'd come back on her own but its not safe to leave a cat outside so you always would run after her. You quickly got up, taking your phone as you walked towards the entrance of the shop

"I'll ring you when i found her, you search in the back of the shop"

You said, and Tara nodded, getting to work. You exited the shop, usually Pumpkin went pretty far, and dark clouds were enveloping the sky, it was likely to rain, and hard. You started calling out for her, on the street, in the park, anywhere. You kept taking turns, as the clouds now were right above your head and all around you, drops of rain tapping your head, hands and shoulders. The kitty couldn't be that far, you told yourself, she usually didn't go this far, so where could she be?

The rain kept getting stronger, your clothes soaked by now as you ran into an alley, desperate to find the small cat. You didn't even realize it when you ran into a much taller figure, almost ending on the ground if it weren't for their arm immediately keeping you in balance.

"Fuck.. Im so Sorry! Are you hur-"

"Meow"

You stopped, eyes shooting to the kitty being held by their other hand. Of course she'd run up to a stranger... You sighed, dusting your clothes off, though there was little to do given it was pouring. The strangers umbrella laid on the floor, as you heard a familiar chuckle resound in the alley. That's when you realized, your gaze slowly trailing to his face.

"You said you'd be done by 5, so i thought I'd come a bit early to be there when you got out, but why are you soaked from head to toe? Lost a kitty?"

His tone was teasing as ever, and you couldn't help but puff your cheeks angrily at him. You didnt lose the kitty, no, the kitty lost herself. You quickly took a step forward, reaching out to cradle the kitty in your arms as you scoffed.

"Running off like that.. you're going to make me lose my job"

You sighed, finally setting your eyes properly on Caleb. He was in his pilot uniform, he must of gotten off work and came straight here. But now he was soaked, since you had knocked the umbrella out of his hand. His hair was dripping, rain running down his pretty face as his gaze stayed fixated on you, a teasing smile on his lips, one that you'd gladly of wiped off, preferably with your own lips you thought. He looked way too good to be soaked in the rain, and you were grateful there wasn't anyone around to see him.

"You know, this kitty here runs off often, she always goes to weird strangers"

You scoffed, saying a half-lie. Its true she did run off often, but you had just wanted to get under his skin as always, it was not fair if he was the only one teasing! But all that got you from Caleb was a chuckle, a small laughter as he reached out, ruffling your hair with a grin.

"Didn't you say the first time she ran off she went straight to you? That's how you got the job"

You entirely ignored his remark, given he was a 100% right. Instead, you pet the kitty, eyes trailing to the umbrella on the floor. You then looked back at Caleb, and you couldn't help but stare for a little. It wasn't long, but enough to take in his features. You turned around, as if ready to walk away.

"You're just in time either way, I'll take this one back and clock out, so let's go"

You simply said, and you heard a small "Yes ma'am" behind you, in a way where you could hear the grin on his face. Before you knew it, the rain had stopped hitting your head, soaking you. Caleb was now by your side, holding the umbrella over the both of you, but you could tell it was slightly more on your side. It was subtle, but it made your heart skip a beat, how he always found a way to prioritize you. 

You two made your way back to the cat cafe, Tara waiting anxiously as she tapped her finger on the counter. Her eyes lit up as you walked in, towel ready to go as she rushed over to cradle the kitty in it, she sighed in relief like she'd been holding it in.

"There you are! Geez, you need to stop running off like that!" 

She said, before she turned to you and gave you a huge smile. She settled down on a chair, warming up the kitty as she dried her off. 

"You can leave the rest to me and clock out, since you had to go run and get all soaked like that" 

She said, almost apologetically. You nodded, walking towards the back of the shop, taking your things and hanging the apron, before you turned back and bid goodbye to Tara. You exited the shop, rushing close to Caleb and under his umbrella. He looked down at you, almost like he couldn't be happier to be here, even if you were both soaked. You sighed, wrapping your arm around his, and he tensed up for a second, only for a second, before relaxing and letting out a small breath.

"Ready to go?"

He asked, and you just nodded. Today was such a stressful day, everything piled up so badly that you had no energy anymore. So you and Caleb walked, and walked, the sound of the rain hitting the ground enveloping you. He went off about his day, about some accident that happened with his friend Gideon, and how his job went at the fleet. You offered him some "mhm", "really?" and "and then?", too exhausted to converse but always happy to hear about his day, or about anything as long as you got to hear his voice. He continued speaking, not at all put off by your lack of replies, he knew you all too well, and knew that you were just tired.

You finally reached a bus stop, one of those that have seats and some sort of roof. Caleb slowly closed his umbrella as you settled down, a soft sigh leaving your lip as you slumped against his shoulder. The sun was setting, but the sky was still so cloudy, and rainy. The bus stop was settled near a park, or rather it was across from it, and you could see some kids playing under the rain, sliding down the slides, swinging in the swings. The picture perfect idea of childhood. You couldn't help but look at them nostalgically, it was as if some way, you could see you and Caleb playing just like that.

Your gaze didn't go unnoticed, as Caleb gently took your hand. He did it slowly, intertwining your fingers together, painfully slowly, really. He gave you time to pull away, gave you so many chances that you simply didn't take, as you squeezed his hand ever so slightly. All the frustration catched up to you, and before you knew it your eyes were teary.

"It would be nice.."

You started off, eyes fixated on the children playing.

"It would be nice, if things were still that easy. If the only issue was coming home in time for dinner."

You said, with a small smile on your face. Caleb didn't move, he didn't say anything for a second, only wanting to listen. You must of sounded so dramatic right then, you think. It's not like somebody died, you just had a rough day. But that's the day of any adult, and children dont have to worry about certain things. It must of sounded so dramatic and pathetic, and yet you couldn't help but want to go back to those easier days.

Caleb slowly brought your hand to his lips, making you turn as a tear rolls down your cheek. He offered you a gentle smile, brushing his lips over the back of your hand. His eyes were soft, and in those violet hues you could only sense warmth, it made you want to burst into tears, to let it all out no matter how dramatic you could be.

"We can always go back to those days, even if its just for one night.. or for one moment. Whenever you'll need a playmate, I'll be right here to play with you."

His words rang with such gentleness you couldn't help but sniffle back a sob, as you nodded slowly. In your life, Caleb was the only constant. He was the only one who understood you deeply, who didn't need to be told a single thing because he already knew if something was wrong. The only one who would look at you, and take care of you no matter how dumb or childish you thought your feelings were. You had each other's backs, always.

He smiled as you started crying, taking your hand away from his lips before getting up. You looked at him, confused, but he only gave you a reassuring smile, as he pulled you out from under the roof, the rain hitting you once again.

"You don't need to worry about a single thing when you're with me."

He said, tugging you closer as he pulled you in for a hug. The rain grounded you, and maybe it grounded him too. That this was real, that your warmth as he nuzzled against your cheek was real. That your hand was really holding his. That his heartbeat against your own, was loud and real. You cried, and you only hugged him tighter. When you're with Caleb, you don't have to be strong. It's okay to be childish, to be overwhelmed and maybe even dramatic.

You stayed like that for a while, in silence. Only the sound of the rain, and his heartbeat could be heard, almost lulling you to sleep even as you stood. You melted entirely against him, all of the frustration and exhaustion leaving your body. When he pulled away, he reached up to brush his thumb over your cheek. You couldn't help but feel your cheeks warm up, you must of looked so entirely embarrassing right then. But Caleb's gaze was gentle, and you didn't miss the slight flush of his cheeks from your close proximity.

"Let's go home, I'll cook you something good, and then run you a warm bath so you don't get sick"

He whispered, and you only nodded, as you sniffled and wiped your tears, though it didn't do much given your face was still wet from the rain. You took your things, and he opened his umbrella, once again sheldering you. You wrapped your arm around his, and you made your way home, but not before shooting one last glance at the children playing, running off to their houses now. You could only smile to yourself, giving a small squeeze to Caleb's arm.

-

That's how you found yourself at home. When you arrive, it's not long before Caleb has already run you warm bath, settling in the kitchen to cook you something warm. 

"Go take a nice, warm bath. By the time you're out it'll be ready"

He says, with a smile on his lips. You nod, walking towards the bathroom. Your pajama is already settled on the washing machine, and you can't help but smile. Its one of those pjs you bought with him, and you're sure you've got his matching set somewhere in your drawers, always ready for when he stays the night. You let yourself soak in the warm bath, relaxing, replaying in your head Caleb's words and the way he said them. You can't help but slide down, making bubbles in the water as your face gets warm.

When you're done, you dry up, throwing on your violet pjs, a simple buttoned shirt and sweatpants. You walk outside with a towel draped around your neck, your hair dripping slightly. Caleb's just done settling the food on the table. He smiles, sitting down as you sit next to him.

"..Thank you"

You blurt out, looking at the food with a warm smile. Caleb's cooking felt like a warm hug, it was something that reminded you of him too, of course. Maybe that's why it was so important for you to learn at least a few recipes from him, replicating them whenever you missed him. You take a spoonful of the food, a warm soup with pieces of chicken in it. You don't even realize Caleb's looking at you, with an expression you cant quite describe.

"You don't need to thank me, pips. It's my job to take care of you"

His words hit you, and you're sure he can tell your ears are a little red. Caleb has always been like that, with you two being childhood friends and taken in by the same woman, he always took on the role of the doting friend who thinks he needs to take care of you. You always loved his care, even as you grew up, even as adults now, you love Caleb's care. But you can't help but selfishly wish, or hope, that his care doesn't come from a feeling of needing to, but a feeling of wanting to. 

You both finish eating, and as he gets up to go wash the dishes, you quietly walk to your room, taking his own set of matching pjs. You walk to the bathroom next, settling it on the washing machine before running him a bath. He'd probably tell you that you didn't need to, but it didn't matter. He took such good care of you, that you always wanted to do something for him too, even if it was clumsily or ended up looking silly. You walk outside of the bathroom, seeing he's almost done washing the dishes, you walk up to him, reaching out to tug at his shirt behind.

"I ran you a bath, go take it while its still warm.."

You trail off, not looking at his face. Its embarrassing, for some reason. You take a peek up, and though you can only see the back of his head, his ears are red. You can't help but smile to yourself, almost proud you got that reaction from him. He nods slowly, finishing up the dishes.

"Thanks pips, you didn't have to"

He says, drying his hands before turning around. He wraps his arms around you, settling his chin on top of your head. His body's warm, but its soaked from the rain, and though he's holding you he's not holding you close enough to soak your own clean clothes. After a while he lets you go, smiling as he goes to take his warm bath. Caleb feels a rush of different emotions hit him as he settles his eyes on the matching pjs. He let's out a sigh, staring at it. He'll never get over it, how you always keep this pair you bought together for when he comes to stay the night, or how he does the same exact thing for you. He can't wait to be done with his bath just to be close to you again, but he feels he's in heaven, getting to take a bath prepared by you. The scent of your shampoo, and bodywash just envelopes him and he swears he can't take it. 

Once he comes out, he finds you with two mugs, one with lemon tea in it, the other with peach tea. You hold the peach tea in your hands, sipping at the warm liquid as you turn to Caleb, sitting on your couch. You slide the mug towards him on the coffee table, smiling. 

"I made you tea"

You simply say, patting the spot next to you. And how could he refuse? He quickly sits down, taking the mug in his hands as he sips. Its slightly sour. He smiles, settling down the cup on the coffee table. You do the same, cuddling up to him as you pull a soft blanket over your bodies. You're so tired, you really hated days like these. But they were the best days, as long as Caleb was there by your side. He reaches out, fingers threading in your hair as he pets your head. 

"Thank you. Next time you need to find a kitty, why don't you call me right away? Seems im good at finding them"

He teases, and you can't help but scoff, hitting his chest playfully. He only laughs, and that laughter is all you need in your life to feel at peace. Exhaustion catches up to you as you slump against him, your eyelids growing heavy. Caleb leans down, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead. You don't have to look at him to imagine how red his face must be, but he does it nontheless. He kissed your forehead, and your temple, and he trails his hand from your head to your back, rubbing circles on it. 

"Sweet dreams, my baby apple. I'll be right here when you wake up"

He speaks sweetly, and sure enough, you fall asleep. The day started out so badly, but it all didn't matter when Caleb held you, just like he had always done since childhood. That might of been the best sleep you had gotten in months, right in his arms.