yo 25 yr old (she/her). I get hyper fixated on things so I made this blog to yap about them. current hyperfixation is LADs but I feel like BTS I also making a comeback
(I saw the movie leaks and I was INSTANTLY thrusted back into ATLA hyperfixation and I wanted to give it a go at drawing one of my all time favorite characters because Toph's story is so wonderfully done and theres so much nuance that I HAD to draw em out. This is a two parter piece AND I still have more ideas so buckle up)
The mood seemed to alleviate with the temporary reconciliation between the group on that cold night in the outer forest edges of town.
Nothing was without its awkwardness, especially when the group now learned that they had been traveling with esteemed royalty and a royal commander who was famed for his tactical ruthlessness to end the civil wars that had been brewing for years.
Still, nonmc tried to appear as she always had been, trying to speak freely and letting them do the same.
It was only when it was the day of festival, the morning bustle of town much livelier now as people commerce and decorated the streets with all the intention of celebration, that the group could let go of this air of caution. At least with the fact that this would be their last day with nonmc and Caleb.
With the festivities not in full swing yet until the sun would begin to set, Krista and Penelope took that opportunity to take nonmc with them in order to do some shopping before then. Something about buying new dresses and accessories in order to welcome such a joyous day.
Nonmc was a bit concerned about using her meager funds to buy such things, but the two women insisted she should. After all, a loose cotton tunic and trousers were no 'festival garb'.
After much persuasion, she let them lead her along to one of the more considerably fancier clothing shops within the city. One that was known for getting new textiles and fabrics every month.
It had been a long while since nonmc could feel the happiness of donning fancy wear and dressing up for special occasions. Her memories of being pampered by castle maids who readied her for balls were mere echoes at this point.
Even still, she much preferred this moment of having the ones who she considered friends to be putting up dresses in front of her, babbling on about the pros and cons of each outfit. Not even the fact that she had to enter a fitting room all by herself to tug on a dress or tighten her own ribbons could deter her.
If anything, there was a sense of autonomy. She wasn't a doll to be dressed up for family pride and values in front of others. This was for herself and no one but that.
While nonmc was smiling away at this delightful revelation in a clothing shop filled with many other women searching for their festival outfits, Caleb was not far behind from her.
Ever since the group had accepted them back, Caleb had made it clear that he was keeping his promise to nonmc about never leaving her again.
He was her personal knight, therefore being within her vicinity at all times was a given to him. Even if the group was giving odd looks to him acting far more protective of her than before, they wouldn't mention it outright.
It didn't help that with the knowledge of who they truly were no longer being a secret, Caleb felt he had no reason to act in a way that would hide his thoughts.
His stares were cold, if not even more so, unless his gaze was turned to nonmc who silently chided him for frowning at others when she wasn't looking. He hovered often in those past few days, choosing that every waking hour should be dedicated to lingering in her presence with a vigilance toward everyone around her. Not even the group was safe from his wariness.
Even now, Caleb chooses to sit in a bench across the street that faced the clothing shop, his arms crossed over his leather gear while his heavy cloak barely hid the sheathed sword readied at his hip.
He would have followed along into the clothing shop with nonmc, but it was only at her request that he obliged to stay outside to keep watch. Obviously she wanted a moment with her friends alone without prying eyes, so he'd accept that much for the moment.
That left him with Fen seated a reasonable distance from him, who was either brave or clueless enough to accompany the women for their little errands alongside him. Jareth and Quinn, not wanting to cause Caleb's metaphorical hackles to rise, chose to focus on the business ventures until they would meet up with them later once the festival began.
With the eerie silence between them a stark contrast to the laughs and lighthearted conversations of passing city goers, perhaps Jareth and Quinn made the right choice.
It had been normal for Fen to accompany the women before Caleb's return, finding enjoyment in the friendly banter that followed them. This, however, was nothing like those times.
Caleb was not eager for conversation, with him especially. Fen had no idea why there was a sudden tension between them, but he figured after wringing his hands a few times over the bench, he couldn't continue this until the shopping was finished.
"So..." Fen starts, clearing his throat a bit more than necessary, "Quite the surprise to hear that you two were actually engaged this whole time."
Caleb adjusted himself against the bench, his armor and leather creaking as he shifted his crossed arms.
"It was for her safety."
"Right, yeah, I get that." Fen nods along, pursing his lips and stealing a glance over to him, "It's just... it looked like you were both running from the engagement. Her, in particular."
"...What is that supposed to mean?" Caleb questions, the tone bordering on defensive.
"Well, I... I'm just wondering if there's a reason she didn't want to marry you. I don't know much about the politics, but maybe there was something about noble relations and all that, you know."
Caleb huffs a long sigh through his nose, eyes still trained on the front window of the clothing shop, waiting to see if he could even get a glimpse of her among the women meandering around inside.
"She has her own reasons and I have mine. Either way, that's a personal matter."
Fen's attempt at a friendly smile faltered, realizing he was stepping into dangerous territory. This was a far cry from the Caleb that they knew of before, even if that wasn't as particularly approachable either.
Well, changing the subject would be better if Fen wanted to keep his head, he supposed.
"Uh... You must've known her for a long time then?" Fen tries again.
"Hm. I knew of her since we were young. She wasn't my charge at any time. Knights in particular weren't allowed to involve themselves with unwedded royalty."
"Ah. R-Right. I guess being friends with princesses wouldn't be appropriate. I've been friends with Penelope and Krista for so long, I didn't even think about it like that. That'd explain why nonmc was caught off guard since we've met with her."
Caleb's jaw tightens in reaction, a subtle twitch in his uninterested eye.
He understands that nonmc asked to not be treated differently with these people, let alone be called in the title she has, but the way Fen spoke of her so casually... he didn't particularly like it.
"You're asking a lot about her." Caleb notes, almost accusatively.
"H-Huh? Is that not normal..?"
"People ask things like that when it interests them."
It takes Fen a few seconds to understand what he meant, before he suddenly raised his eyebrows at the implication.
"Oh. Oh..! No, no, I mean... she's a really nice and kind friend. I don't mean anything by it. Honest."
Caleb finally flits his eyes away from the clothing shop to look over at Fen, the purple darkened with dangerous intent that Fen wasn't sure he'd like to see the outcome of.
"I know you spent a lot of time keeping her company, Fen. Running errands with her, spending afternoons with her..."
"Well, we all did. It wasn't just me." Fen quickly retorts, a nervous edge in his voice.
The stare-down was far too intense that Fen had no choice but to gaze away, letting out a wary laugh and shrug of his shoulders.
"Besides it doesn't matter now, she's leaving with you after the festival."
"Yes, she will." Caleb answers readily, "Because the only one who can protect her is me."
The answer was rigid, completely said without further question.
Caleb meant it and he was leaving no room for Fen to argue otherwise.
Fen kept quiet as soon it was said, only finding relief once the three women eventually appeared through the shop's front doorway. He was quick to get to his feet to avoid any more tension, ushering the three over from above the many heads of people passing by.
Caleb got up slowly, letting out a groan as waited for them to emerge to their side of the street. Penelope and Krista were the first to arrive, dressed in colorful dresses and embellished boots.
He only spares a momentary glance at them, noting the more expensive styles they usually didn't wear, before locking onto nonmc who side-stepped from behind the two of them.
There was an expectation that nonmc would be dressed similarly to the others, refined and somehow rural, yet he was not prepared for the breathtaking view that stood in front of him.
It was nothing like the layered, extravagant gowns of noble women, and even then he was awe struck on how a simple flower patterned corset and flowy stark white dress could make her seem like the princess she was always to be.
[Nonmc's outfit]
She was like a budding flower, the morning light basking her in this pure golden glow. Her long hair wisped behind her in a beautiful cascade, some resting over the delicate skin of her exposed collarbones and neck.
Caleb hadn't even realized she was turning her attention away from the others until her upturned eyes softly gazed over to him, her boots shuffling closer.
"I almost forgot what it was like to wear a corset." She mentions with a quiet laugh, before furrowing her eyebrows at his lack of response, "Is there something wrong, Caleb? Does it... look bad..?"
Why? Why was it difficult to look at her without feeling as though he was looking directly in the sun?
"N-No, it's... fine."
She offers him a brief smile, humming in appreciation, before looking over at the others with a questioning tilt.
"Where are we going next?"
"Hm. I think we'll need some ribbons and flowers for our hair to really put everything together." Penelope answers enthusiastically, swaying about in her newly bought dress, "Come on, there's a shop just a short walk from here."
Nonmc nods along, allowing the others to walk in front while she took her place to trail at Caleb's side.
With their own personal reconciliation between them, nonmc had become more receptive to Caleb's presence. Rather than fear how she could be viewed by him through words or actions, she instead goes full on in her friendlier approach since then.
He was her friend now, the one who has saved her numerous times, and she would treat him as such.
"Have you ever been to a festival before?" She asks in a quiet tone, keeping their conversation for them only.
"Only one in passing. We didn't stay long since it was merely a rest point between battlefields. What about you? I heard they have the occasional yearly festivals for holidays and stuff."
"They did but... my siblings and I weren't allowed to go into the city. They'd always try to sneak out those nights without my parents knowing. Some got away with it, while others got caught."
A ghost of a smile appears on his lips, his mood slowly alleviating into something warmer.
"I'm guessing you didn't bother." He muses, making her nod subtly.
"I was afraid to. The punishment was lashes to the back of our calves. The thought always scared me."
"...Your family seems really strict. I mean, not letting you enjoy the festivities of the province your family governs seems... unfair."
Nonmc shrugs, glancing his way as they continued a steady pace behind the trio who were bantering heartily.
"I didn't want to disappoint my parents. But... I suppose it doesn't matter now at this point. I've done so many times now already."
Caleb frowns at her dejected conclusion. Disappointment? Was that all nobles ever cared about?
"...They've really done a number on you, huh." He mutters.
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"Well, they've got you believing that your unworthy of things or that bothering to ask made you selfish."
She raises her eyebrows, blinking in surprise at how readily he was taking her side. It was one thing for him to have listened to her ramble on about her familial issues on that night, but for him to truly take it in...
"I've... only done what was asked of me, Caleb."
"I know. But you're not there anymore. You're here, with me. And I'm not going to stop you from doing things you like."
Her lips part with further bewilderment, the crowd so densely close around them just a mere muffle to the thoughts racing in her head.
He was understanding of her? Protective of her freedom?
"You... You realize that ever since you've told those knights off back to the kingdom, you've subjected yourself to becoming an accomplice to my rash decisions? Your merits and accomplishments may never have the same weight now if you go back."
"So what? I didn't do it for praise or fame. I just... wanted to be good at something. To feel useful to people, you know."
"And... do you feel that way with me? Useful?"
"Hm. Your orders aren't as demanding soooo I’d say you're better than my superior officers, that's for sure."
Nonmc couldn't help but snort at his logic, bringing a hand over her lips to hide its widening smile. Was this what it was like to be friends with him? It was quite refreshing.
"You don't find it ridiculous being here in the middle of nowhere? Following us around while we shop for silly ribbons and such?"
"Not really. It feels like a vacation after everything. Besides, your company isn't bad either."
"Hmph. And here I thought you hated me."
"Hey." He voices out sternly, as though offended, "Not once did I think that, okay? I could never."
There was pause in their steps as the crowd made way for an intersecting street, giving his words that serious weight it needed to have.
His unwavering gaze never left hers as they waited, hoping his eyes could convey his sincerity. All she could do was cough inwardly, nodding in understanding before the crowd moved along once again.
Soon enough, the sun had sunk down into the horizon, alighting the city in a myriad of bright colors and sights. Music moved along the busy streets of stalls and games like an endless wave, creating this immersive atmosphere that otherwise would have stayed within a nightly tavern.
With the group having met all together at this point, nonmc had returned to Penelope and Krista's side, their arms linked together as they pointed in exclamation at the activities in store for them.
Savory smells of grilled meat, the sweet aroma of butter and sugar...
The clunk of wood hitting against throwing pins and dart boards...
Boots thumping against dirt and brick as people danced around to the bands playing in tiny city squares...
Noble parties could not hold a candle to something as boisterous and exciting as this.
Nonmc was laughing along to something Krista had said until the numerous shouts of a small audience gathered by a throwing axe game got their attention. Slowly they weaved their way through the crowd, getting a view from one side.
Her eyes widened as she saw four men standing at the front of a wooden counter, shirtless and beading sweat in the firelight of lanterns or torches. A quiet gasp left her as one man swung an arm back, their cords of muscle tightening as they released the axe towards the already battered dart board.
There was a whoop of celebration when the man managed to get the axe near perfect to the bullseye, numerous claps following right after.
"Look at all those burly men!" Penelope whispered over to Krista and nonmc with the utmost glee, "I'd imagine they could carry one of us easily."
Krista nudges Penelope's shoulder playfully, holding back an agreeable grin to her assessment. Nonmc on the other hand was staring agape at the view.
Even when knights trained in her family's castle courtyard, she had not once seen the exposed expanses of muscle and chest hair like this. Perhaps the knights knew that nobles could end up seeing such things, so sights like this would be considerably inappropriate.
Nonmc understood why now.
Women were swooning at the sidelines, their teeth biting into their bottoms lips as they watched the men flex their skills and bodies. It was eye-opening for sure, something to stir the heart.
She may be many years past her coming-of-age ceremony, yet even this was beyond her comprehension.
"Oh my..." She mumbles to herself, her free hand coming up to her reddening cheek.
Penelope, ever the observant one, snickers conspiratorially.
"Oh, someone's enjoying the game, aren't they?"
"W-What?" Nonmc squeaks out in a flustered tone, blinking rapidly.
"Come onnn. Which one's got your eye? The blue-eyed man? Ooh, or the one with the tan? You've got a type, don't you?"
"I-- I don't--"
Her explanation wouldn't even come into fruition as she suddenly felt a heavy cloak settle over her shoulders, her eyes darting over to Caleb who was walking past them towards the wooden counter.
The man in charge of the game raises his eyebrows as Caleb approached, gesturing a hand over to him who was eyeing the axes with a discerning gaze.
"You sir! You look like a strong young man! Give it a try!"
The crowd murmurs at the appearance of a very tall man with dark brown hair and purple eyes, suspecting that he must have a muscled figure based on how his armor and gear formed around his body. Even while fully clothed, he was quickly becoming the talk of these swooning women and jealous men.
The shirtless men already at the counter let out subtle harrumphs through their noses, rolling their shoulders and continuing their axe throws. They weren't about to be outshined by this man.
Despite their wishes, their confidence would be short-lived as Caleb easily throws the axes into the bullseye without much strain, even breaking the wooden handle of another axe already on the board. It was a scary sight to see how accurate he was, enough to put a fright in the group who knew how he could actually be like.
The oblivious crowd clamored and cheered as the last axe is thrown forward by this mysterious man, women whistling in congratulations in the hopes that they could catch his attention.
It would however be for naught as the sole person that fell over his gaze as he walked back was nonmc, who followed his approaching form with wide eyes sparkling in awe.
Caleb brings a hand up in front of her, dangling the goodie bag of gold and trinkets he had won from earning first place.
"For you."
"Huh?"
His lips curved upward at her stupor, his hand guiding her palm up so he could place the prize down. With little fanfare, he gestures a chin out to the city's streets for them to move, as if he didn't just annihilate his competition like nothing.
Nonmc was left stunned as the group started heading over to some food stalls further down the city, her lips nibbling idly on the apple strudel that Caleb insisted he would pay for her.
"...Good?" His voice registers in her mind after some time, making her hum around the pastry in flustered realization.
He huffs a laugh, darting his eyes around to make sure the others in the group were either not paying attention to them or further away before tilting his head in a playful manner.
"You haven't said much since that game."
She whips her head up, crumbs peppered around the corners of her mouth.
"You..! I just... didn't know you could do that." She murmurs as she pouts into the strudel.
He holds back a snort, easily finding amusement at her stammering.
"My brigade had recreational activities like that to pass the time. It wasn't that different from what I was used to."
"Hm. So you had an unfair advantage."
"Hah, I guess you could say that. But it seemed like you were rooting for those shirtless men rather than your own personal knight."
Nonmc huffs in annoyance, scrunching her eyebrows at him.
"I was not!"
"No? You were ogling them for a veryyy long time."
"I..!" She sputters, turning her face even if her reddened ears peeking from under her hair gave her away, "It's not my fault they were shirtless. I never saw men as under dressed in my whole life."
"Not once?"
"...No!" She harrumphs, biting into her apple strudel like an angry hamster.
He snickers, giving her mercy by looking around the city instead of her flushed face.
"Such innocence at a big age."
Nonmc grumbles to herself at his last comment, unsure if she liked this new side to Caleb he was showing her. He was acting like a school boy! A cute one at that, but she would never dare tell him.
After a few bites, she glanced down at her eaten strudel, the last half still wrapped in its parchment. Her eyes flickered away from the buttery pastry to Caleb's profile, her lips pursing in contemplation.
"Here." She states, holding the apple strudel up to his face, "Have the other half."
He turns to her with confused blinks, eyebrows raised.
"Huh? You don't want it?"
"It's not that. I want you to have it. As your reward for winning the game earlier. Unless... do you not like apples or sweets..?"
"No, I do. I just wasn't expecting..."
"I know. I've actually never shared a treat with a friend before. It's was always considered uncouth to do so. But we're not in the capital anymore."
Caleb moves his gaze between her and the apple strudel for a few moments, watching her earnestly wait in anticipation, before finally taking the offering with an appreciative nod.
Her eyes continued to study him as he took his first bite, her soft smile turning further upward when she hears him hum in response to the tasty bite.
"It's delicious, isn't it?"
"Hm. Very."
Nonmc giggles quietly, her eyes crinkling happily at garnering such a positive response. His chewing slowed significantly as he took in her reaction, how different it was to the scowls and pouts he had gotten used to.
He... liked this reaction better.
The interludes of night only made the city run rampant rather than slow down. Drinks were being downed while the current drunkards yelled boisterously with linked arms and hands to the beat of the rambunctious music. Going to bed early seemed like an afterthought.
Which worked in nonmc's favor. it meant she could spend a bit more time with the group before they would eventually part.
At the moment, she chose to cradle a tankard of delicious ale while sitting at a table with Fen, both of them watching on as Krista and Penelope were trying to get Quinn to loosen up and dance more wildly like the rest of the crowd.
It put a smile to their faces, their shared laughter muffled by the many voices surrounding them.
For Fen, this was also the only time he found relief in nonmc's presence, since Caleb reluctantly left to find a restroom. At least until he returns, the two of them could act as they had before.
"You're not going to dance?" Fen asks through the commotion, turning to her as he sipped his own ale.
"Hm, I don't know. I wanted to rest my feet for a little while."
"Fair enough."
Nonmc gives a small smile in return, her mind wandering to other thoughts the longer she stared at Fen, now that this may be the last time she'll see him.
To think there was a time she believed something potential could have happened between them. A friendship that could have budded into something more.
It was a first for her, to see herself imagining what could have been.
With Fen, with those three weeks of a future she saw as a part of their group... There was no pre-planning, no royal order in place.
Now... Now she didn't see it anymore.
Risking their business and a group that's known each other since childhood felt wrong at this point. Which is why now the imaginations ceased.
She was partly saddened by the thought, but rather than mourn it, she wanted to cherish this small time period she had with them all.
Friendships, crushes... and freedom to choose all of that. She would never forget those things in her entire lifetime.
"Krista's over there." She eventually mentions, gesturing her eyes over to the impromptu dance floor, "Why not ask her for a dance?"
"Krista? Hah, no, it'd be weird."
"Why?"
"We've been friends for so long. Asking her would be, uh..."
"You never thought of her as something more?"
"Maybe for a small while when we were kids, but I kind of outgrew it. She's my best friend at this point, I'm not sure if it'll make things awkward for trying something out of the ordinary."
"Well... You won't know unless you give it a try. Especially when you have all the time in the world. You should take chances while you still can."
Her words of encouragement seemed to have a bittersweet feeling attached to it, one that made Fen scrunch his eyebrows sympathetically at her.
"Yeah... Yeah, maybe you're right." He nods along, letting out a long exhale, "It's too bad you won't be around anymore. It would've been nice to tell you if Krista and I worked out or not."
Nonmc laughs a bit, offering a similarly wistful expression.
"I can always send a letter if I ever settle down somewhere eventually. Or... if I go back to my home on my terms."
"In that case... I wish you luck, nonmc, wherever you go."
"I wish the same for you too, Fen."
They let the small pause linger, unsaid farewells held between them, before Fen took that chance to stand up from his seat to walk his way through the dancing crowd.
Nonmc watched as he soon reached Krista's side, who in drunkenly enthusiastic fashion wraps an arm around his shoulder at his arrival. She laughed a bit to herself when she sees Penelope try and get Quinn to mimic the other duo's dancing, the chaotic circle of friends fading into the throngs of people.
With the group essentially lost to the haze of alcohol and celebration, she let out a heavy sigh as she took a longer sip of her ale, letting the burn distract her from any sadness she was now left with.
She was too sentimental for her own good, over what could be considered trivial. It was a short venture along the journey, people were bound to come and go. And yet, she wished it wasn't so.
Such was the price of her title and the royal blood that would always flow through her veins. Her family's castle, the kingdom... No matter how many miles she puts herself between that life, it was like a shadow that'll follow her endlessly.
Where does her future lead? Will she have to eventually return back there? What does that mean for her and Caleb?
"...I thought you would have wanted to be around them still." Caleb's voice breaks through her melancholy as he takes a seat next to her, making her blink back into focus.
"Ah, you're back. And I did, but the drinks seemed to have run their course so... the night is pretty much over. Besides, I've said my goodbyes as much as I could already."
"Yet you still seem sad for such merry festivities."
"...Can you blame me?" She sighs, setting her half-empty tankard down after having little desire to drink it anymore, "I know, I know. It's stupid for me to feel this way. They're people I barely met. I guess even knowing that, I'll still miss them once tomorrow comes. Miss... this."
Nonmc didn't know what encouraged her to speak from the heart like that. Maybe it was the ale making her loose-lipped or the somber mood looming over her like a thundering cloud.
Either way, feeling shame in front of him didn't seem to matter much to her anymore. He would've easily guessed how she felt by simply looking at her face anyways.
"Let's go." He merely answers, getting up from the very seat he barely sat on.
"Huh..? Go where?"
"You haven't gotten to dance yet with someone, right?"
"Well, earlier I had danced a little with Krista and Penelope by this table--"
"Not what I meant. With someone." He reiterates, holding his hand up in offer.
She gapes at the outstretched hand held up, scoffing halfheartedly.
"Caleb, you... I've only ever seen you dance sparingly in balls. The same goes for me."
"I know. I haven't done spontaneous dances like this before either. Which makes us both beginners, right? So why not practice together?"
"Wha... We'll look foolish, Caleb."
"So what? At least we'll be foolish together, I don't care. Besides, everyone's probably too drunk to care what we're up to."
"Caleb... Are you sure..?"
"More than anything. Come onnn, stop worrying and have some fun. Don't you hear how lively the music is getting?"
Nonmc had to admit that he was right, the songs were quite catchy and getting more exciting.
With a short huff through her nose, she places her hand into his own, allowing him to pull her up from her seat and towards the crowd. Within seconds, they find an empty spot for themselves, both of them gazing around to see how they should be positioned.
Her heart leapt when she felt his other hand snake around her back, his palm laying flat against her corset. Once he secured their joined hands, he takes the initiative to move his feet in tandem with the song's upbeat rhythm.
Their steps start out awkward, clunky even, but they eventually find a flow that had them both laughing despite the disorderly way they went about it.
His cloak, that she longed forgotten was still wrapped around her, swayed with each twirl of their hands and arms. Her hair curled around the apples of her cheeks, her wide smile rounding them further.
Emboldened by her carefree expression, his arms loosened from her, only to use them to gather up her legs to twirl her upward above him.
"Caleb..!" She gasps out between embarrassed laughter, "We'll fall!"
"Don't worry, I've got you!"
Nonmc clung onto him by the shoulders, her upper body having no choice but to be pressed against his face. He could feel her warmth through the midsection of her corset, the sweet floral smell that lingered on her skin.
Caleb never paid much attention to how real and vibrant she was, this person he had never expected to become so entangled in his life. It was unexpected, and even then he only regrets not learning about her truly before.
After a few spins, he carefully set her down back onto her feet, his gaze discerning her carefully.
"Feeling all right?"
"I am. I am also a little woozy."
He chuckles, his hands drifting overtop the fabric by her hips before letting her go.
"Sorry about that."
"Don't be." She shakes her head with breathless laughter, "I'm having fun."
They eventually return back to the inn after a short hour more of dancing, letting themselves decompress with baths and dressing in lighter wear.
Nonmc, after finishing her usage of the communal bathing room, ends up outside on the inn's upper floor balcony. She stared up at the endless night, the starry sky so much like a ceiling painting.
A minute later, she hears a knock against one of the doorways, signaling Caleb's arrival after a refreshing bath.
"It's getting chilly out here. You going to head back in soon?" He asks, making her aware that she had inevitably returned his cloak back to him after arriving at the inn.
"Yeah, in a minute."
He hums in response, choosing to walk past the threshold to stand by her side. Her eyes glance over at his hands leaning against the wooden railing, his gaze mimicking hers that had been lifted up at the stars.
"...Caleb?"
"Hm?"
"Thank you for trying to make me feel better tonight. I know I haven't been easy."
"It's nothing. It's what friends do."
She smiles inwardly at his reassurance, her fingers tapping lightly against the wood.
"You know, to be honest, I was one of those people who misjudged you." She admits, steeling her nerves as he flitted his eyes to her.
"Oh? How so?"
"It's just... Everyone thought you were simply this brave knight with a personality as strong as your armor. But... you're also a normal person."
"Uh, thanks..?"
Nonmc barks out a soft laugh, shaking her head.
"What I'm saying is that you're more than those rumors. Ladies in the royal court saw your accolades and accomplishments after so many grueling months in battle. But not as you, the person. And I don't think that's fair."
At her heartfelt explanation, he offers a grateful nod, leaning subconsciously closer to her.
"What about you then?" He ponders in turn, "Did you actually hate your lessons growing up? Being in the royal capital all the time?"
"Sometimes. I loved being with my friends but... I hated knowing what we were all there for, you know." She clears her throat after, waving her hands up in dismissal, "That's not to say I'm against marriage or anything. Just how it's done, I suppose."
He gives an understandable hum, tilting his head in thought.
"What kind of person would you marry then if you had a choice?"
"Well... Someone kind and caring. One that I can have companionship beyond duties. I see too often that the noblewomen are merely putting up with their husbands for years on end."
"Hm. Noble life does sound tough, in its own way. What about your parents then? Wasn't that arranged?"
"It was. I suppose my mother still loves my father in the end despite that being the case. Though, she's very much in the belief that she needed to be the one to support whoever her husband was, regardless of her own wishes."
She sighs, idly tapping the tip of her slipper against the bottom of the wooden railing before continuing.
"My father isn't a bad man per say, he's just... tough. Wanting what's best for my family in his own strict and planned way. A man with a heart made of cold iron."
"Yeah, I did get that impression from your father. He was the one who made the final order for me to get you. Something about wounding a man's pride and all that. He said it was for my own good, but I think he meant mostly for himself."
Nonmc huffs an empty laugh, looking over at him with a weary smile.
"It's awful, isn't it?"
"It is. I've seen too many men act in that sort of way. To them, it's second nature." He glances downward, frowning at the idea, "But... when I think about it, I don't regret going out to look for you."
"Hm? Why? Is it because you pity me?"
He shakes his head immediately, turning to her with a sincere stare.
"It's not like that. It wasn't pride or pity, I was... worried what would have happened to you. No one was racing to get on a horse or a carriage to find you. They were just..."
"Annoyed that it happened at all?" She finished for him.
"...Yeah."
"Well... I'm used to it. I was timid for royal court to begin with. And as one of youngest, I didn't expect much support for anything I did."
Caleb frowns at that, stepping further to the point his hand could almost reach hers against the railing.
"Rely on me, okay? Don't hold it in until the point you want to burst into tears."
"And if I do want to cry?"
"Then use my shoulder to cry on. Either way, let me be there for you."
"Hah, all right. Only if you promise to do the same."
"Deal. Should we pinky promise on it?"
Nonmc snorts, scrunching her nose at him.
"What're you, a child?"
"This is a very serious matter. Which is why we need it."
She groans dramatically but nonetheless offers her pinky up to his, intertwining them together. A simple touch, barely shared in warmth...
It was the most comforting thing she felt in a long time.
(if I forgot to mention anyone please let me know)
CHAPTER 10: THE AFTERMATH
You stood there staring at the spot where she vanished before you were grabbed and turned by a furious Rafayel with tears in his eyes. “y/n…you..you stupid” he looked like he wanted to scold you, yell at you, and give you hell, but all he did was sink to his knees and cried, his face buried in your tummy. The metal piece fell from your hand with a loud clank. “Hey..” You ran your fingers through his hair, trying to soothe him. Just then, a presence behind her, just as you tried to crane your neck, a hand came from there and wrapped around your throat. “Don't,” the word was spoken firmly with pleading undertones, his hand clasped around her wound, pressing on the wound. You noticed he was actually holding a handkerchief, applying pressure on your wound as the pristine cloth soaks up your blood. You looked up, and Zayne was rushing to grab the bag he had brought. Caleb was making a makeshift bed already, probably on Zayne's order, and Xavier…
Oh, poor Xavier.
He was crouched on the floor, clutching his chest, he coughs rather harshly and a splutter of blood coats his hand, and yet when he looked up, he only looked worried for you, “is..is she gonna be oka” he asked, his voice worn out, surely he must have sustained the most damage considering he was keeping up the shield and fighting at once.
In hindsight, it was a bit funny when you recalled thinking how Zayne was prepared to conduct surgery on a moment's notice. Caleb held several phones using their torch’s light to help Zayne see better. Sylus and Rafayel all huddled together as Zayne tended to your wound; his hands were ever so steady, and his eyes calm. It was as if, right now, for the sake of his own sanity, he had become detached from the situation.
All four of them were here, but not Xavier, and you were getting worried. You tried to speak, but it pained you when you did so.
“Xav-” you rasped
“Not now, pipsqueak, please.”
“But xav-”
“Kitten, for once. Listen to us.”
“Xavier is hurt-”
“y/n please, I need you to stay still for me right now.” Zayne’s voice was stern, brokering no room for arguments.
But you couldn't, you were uneasy and restless, noting that Rafayel squeezed your hand, placing a soft kiss on it, “he will be fine, he is strong enough to pull through it, my love, right now he is just sulking because he doesn't want to be seen as weak in front of you, “ he explains.
Caleb saw you won't rest till you make sure he is fine, so he calls out, “Xavier, bring your sorry ass back, she is worried.”
From some corners of the warehouse, his voice spoke up, “Tell Starlight I am fine, I just need to-woah- CALEB!!”
A struggling Xavier dangles, suspended in the air as he is brought closer to where they were from his initial hiding spot. Apparently, Caleb wasn't having any of it, and if Xavier was what you needed to get comfortable right now, then that's what he would present at your feet.
Once Zayne was satisfied, he exhaled deeply. Give one last once-over to your bandage; he had disinfected the wound and sutured it. “The wound was a little deep, but nothing threatening. I will suggest minimal conversations to not put a strain on your throat or the suture”.
All the guys also looked marginally relieved. “Great, now let's focus on getting the hell out of here. Who knows when she gets back?” Rafayel muttered under his breath. Sylus helps you sit, and you immediately grab Zayne's collar. “Check Xavier, now please, your voice was a little more intense than intended. Xavier tried to downplay once again, but you shut him down with a menacing glare; you were not having it right now. Too tired for any argument.
Zayne breaks into a small, sweet smile and shakes his head, taking your hand away from his collar and pressing a kiss “on it”.
Now that some of the tensions had eased, especially since they had made it very clear you weren't off the hook yet, and they would round back to your little stunt once they are out of this spooky as hell place and somewhere safe with you well fed and cleaned. Another one of those moments where you feel absolutely cared for.
“So she sealed off all exits…why??” Rafayel groaned once Sylus and Caleb confirmed after conducting a complete surveillance of the area, “probably out of spite,” Caleb grumbled. “She sealed them all, including the gaping holes we burst through,” Sylus sighed that bordered on an annoyed growl.
“Even the door that Zayne was nagging about,” Rafayel asked again
“I- I wasn't nagging about it, I was simply stating its existence that all of you rudely ignored.”
“Well, the door seemed locked now, it's awfully tricky lock,” Caleb says as he scrutinizes it, then shrugs, “not something I can't manage.” Caleb's tone was cocky even in this predicament. Rafayel rolled his eyes, “freak,” he grumbled, making the purple-eyed man gasp in offence, “who are you calling freak, freak?”
“Both of you calling each other freaks reminds me of that Spiderman meme y/n likes so much,” Sylus says with tired loopsided grins.
Yawning, you rubbed your eyes, understandably weary. Your voice was still hoarse, but it didn't stop you from yapping, “guys, guys, chill, we're all freaks.” You didn't even realize what you said till they all looked at you, even Zayne and Xavier, who were both sitting on the floor as Zayne checked up on him. The other guys sustained injuries, too, but he needed more attention.
“What,” they said in unison
“Whaat…” you replied softly, innocently.
“No, no, don't give me those eyes, you said what you said. We all heard it, we all really heard it right!!! right!!!!!!” Caleb was getting too psyched about it “Tell me I haven't lost it completely, sh-’ sylus puts his hand on Caleb's face and pushed him back toward the dorr with a technical lock on it, the obstacle in their freedom.” open the damn lock” he said then pointed straight at you “we will circle back on that too, later”
You were left flustered and opened your mouth to defend your honor when Rafayel slung his arm over your shoulder “save, it cute, you know what you got yourself into” he winked. “Also stop talking please, doc says thats a no go and we must listen to him” he says with solemnity
Oh so now they wanna listen to him.
—
Caleb had been trying to get to the lock, sylus was standing next to him criticizing anything he does including the way he was breathing, you stood in between them to refrain another fight from happening between two seasoned rage-baiters, Xavier was resting against the wall and zayne was now checking up rafayel who when asked where it hurts the most replied with “everything”. He wascurrently sprawled in front of the doctor whining about everything and anything.
“pips tel this old geezer to get out of my face” caleb groaned sylus scoffed “please you were being so cocky earlier you cant even undo a lock, pathetic”
“Its advanced”
“Bohoo, too hard for your pea sized brain”
You chuckle a little caleb was clearly agitated, he already hated that you were here in such col-damp place while being hurt, and ever extra second you spend here grated on his nerves and no amount of soothing head pats were helping.
“Its just-” he huffed “ too damn dark in here” he grumbled then turned to xavier “he flashlight, you still dont feel strong enough?” he asked xavier who was already looking down looked away as he tries to form an orb of light but couldnt “...no” he said dejected at his own failure
“Just great” caleb grumoled
“ i may have an idea to bring light…” Sylus spoke, “but no one's gonna like it”
“Just do it sy, whatever it is we can live through it,” you said softly, trying to be careful and not hurt your throat. You could feel Zayne's glaring stare at the back of her head
Caleb agreed, “Yeah, if you have some genius plan then do it our phones out of batery, xaviers out of his light juice and rafayels fire more hazardous then useful” he ranted.
“Hey, it'll be plenty useful when i set your ass on fire” rafayel commented still sprawled, his head in zaynes lap…wait what even was going on there?
Sylus looked conflicted when he turned to you, you stared up at him doe eyed and encouraging. He let out a defeated sigh and picked you up, earning a gasp from you “Whoa, wait-”, one hand around your waist and hoisted you up, walking towards where Xavier was. That alone told you what his plan was. He drops you into Xavier's lap. Catching the blue-eyed boy off guard. “Only you can fix him” he said
Xavier, thou held your waist, glared at him, “ i am not broke that id need to be fixed” he spat at sylus’ retroeting figure. Good thing you were right there you cup his face leaning up to kiss his cheek” others guys all busy to notice.
Oh poor xavier
He was all frozen, looking at you wide-eyed. His blue bell eyes glisten for a second and the puffiness of his cheek where kissed dusted pink that spread upto his ears, he quicjkly looked away “why would you do that…i didnt deserve that” he said in his soft mellow voice tinged with disappintment in himself “my sheiled wasnt str-” you silence him by hugging him “you did great xav, you held the barrier while fighting so many wanderes that must have taken a huge toll on you sweetheart and yet you pushed through till the end of the battle” you said softly only for him to hear. “B-but this never happened before…before when we fought wanderers i wouldnt even break sweat i dont know why today i just…” he trails off, “today i feel so weak…” you soothinly rub his back. You knew why it happened mc had told you enough and the rest you figured out yourself. But you decided to keep it till they come clean with what they knew later.
“Shh-its okay, its all okay…she probably enhanced the wanderers to make them extra stronger xavier you still did so well” you pat his head fingers combing through his fluffy hair, a dream cam tru moment for both of you xavier fully relaxed almost forgetting the whole thing as he ,melts in your embrace “you are probably right…” he sighs pressing his face in the crook of your neck. Now was the chance…
You leaned in his ear and spoke “you did so much better then lumiere”
And there was light (1:3)
—-----------
“Hurry up, caleb!!!1”
“I am doing fast as i can, rafayel!!!!”
“Luke and kieran would have gotten us out here 30 minutes ago”
“I just started 20 minutes ago???!!!”
“You should just let a real man handle this”
“Oh yeah sylus? Last i check you trying to blow up the door didnt work either”
Caleb was clearly agitated, and rafayel and sylus flanking him as they patronize him further and further. “Seriously i am doing my best here and i maybe would have been done if you two wont be ganging up on me” he exasperated
“I cant help it i cant stand it any more!!!!” rafayel cries out stomping his feet, caleb looked at the indiginant purple haired man “and you think i can stand any more of this-” he said wildly gesturing towards you.
You who were nestled in xaviers embrace while the man in question glowed, literally. He was illuminating the space with bright soothing light, enough to allow caleb to work with ease. Xavier, who was completely serene, squeezed you and nuzzel further in your chest, zayne sat beside you his hand covering your eyes, he insisted it was important to protect your eyes, he himself had his trusty sunglasses on.
Much to rafayels horror, he bites his knuckle and lets out a hushed scream his other hand gripping sylus’ bicep
“He is squeezing and nuzzling!! he is squeezing and nuzzling!!” he boderline shrieks
“Get your slimy hands off of me gutterfish”
Caleb seethes with pure unadultered envy. “Was this your only plan sylus?” he asked snapping his head towards the guy in question who was now patting his mechanical bird “i warned no ones going to like it didnt i, besides it solved our lights crisis so get on with it and do your job.”
At last..
The door opened and freedom greeted you, some hunters had just arived too now and they escorted you back to safety, you caught a glimpse of few familiar faces of your “friends” from the association. Before the exhaustion of the whole ordeal took over. And you collapsed in one of the guys arms.
—---
When you opened your eyes the smell of antiseptic greeted you in a not-so-polite way, followed by a sound of groaning, at first you didnt understand why you were easily passing out and slept for long times in curiously deep slumber but now you know.
A beutiful face greeted you first thing “ah miss hunter is awake” you blinked at the woman
“Its fine you are a bit disoriented, i am Yevonee,” the nurse says, her kind empathetic eyes brimming with understanding. You recognized her quickly after that “oh Yevonne, yes!” you tried to speak but your voice couldnt go up much loud so you spoke in soft gentle tone
“ Hi! How have you been” you ask trying to sit up but she gestures you to keep lying down, “its fine, rest… you guys just got here” she says “and…no talking”
From your peripheral vision you could see the other guys also in beds you turned your face to look at either side on your left was caleb and next to him, rafayel. On your right sylus and the xavier who was napping.
“We were told you guys were suddenly attacked by wanderers and brough thier. You put a great fight as always miss hunter, take your rest. You deserve it” she says her voice soft and soothing. You had no heart to tell that she was wrong, that she wasn't the brave and strong hunter every one mistook you to be. You were just…you.
It seemed like she wanted to say something more but the door opens and Zayne enters just then “yevone, ill take it from here” he says with that professional tone of his that lind of made you raise a brow. Yevonne nods and leaves without another word.
“So I am going to check up on all of you one by one, left to right.” zayne said, approaching Rafayel, who seemed genuinely relieved. “thank god, I thought you'd never come to check up on me…you can't be that busy with other patients.”
Zayne was checking his latest reports on his vitals. “Everything seems good here, you are stable, do you feel any pain anywhere? “
“Yeah its so bad, my right pinky hurts- hey, where are you going??!!”
Zayne had already moved along leaving Rafayel grumbling how his painting hand needed special attention.
Zayne reached Caleb, his eyes narrowed, looking as if he was prepared for a stubborn child. Zayne takes a deep breath first, then opens his mouth to speak, “Caleb, how-”
“I am fine! I keep saying this, but you won't listen to me!” Caleb huffed, “You are coddling me like a child. I am all good, so let me discharge so I can get to the bottom of this,” he complained.
“Caleb, you sustained internal injuries as well as physical, and you are not cooperating with the staff.”
“I am co-operating just fine-”
“Why are you not wearing your splint then?” Zayne said, picking up the discarded splint by the foot of his bed, and gave Caleb a pointed look.
“My ankle is fine, I don't need it.”
Zayne gives him a cold glare. “Do you plan on falling face-first next time you try to run?”
Caleb huffed but couldn't argue, “It's… it's just so itchy,” he took it back, “I'll get you an ointment for that.” Zayne said briefly before walking away. Finally, he was by your side his expression softened completely.
“Hey,” he says, his voice takes a very soothing tone. He reaches out to touch your forehead, brushing away the hair. “Does your throat hurt?” he asked, and you shook your head with a smile.
“Good,” Zayne murmured after you shook your head. Though his eyes made it obvious he still did not fully believe you. His fingers brushed lightly along your jaw before moving lower, careful and featherlight around your throat. You could barely feel the touch, yet somehow it still made heat creep into your face.
His brows furrowed slightly as he examined the marks. Not angry exactly. More… restrained. Like he was holding back the urge to personally strangle whoever had hurt you, despite already knowing exactly who did it.
“You should still avoid speaking for now,” he said quietly. “Your throat has been strained enough already.”
You nodded obediently this time, mostly because the soreness really was becoming more noticeable the more awake you got.
Satisfied for the moment, Zayne adjusted your blanket properly around you before standing up. The movement drew Sylus’ attention instantly from the bed beside yours. Since Zayne was going to each bed in turn, one would assume he would go to bed, but that doesn't happen. Zayne skips Sylus entirely, going to Xavier's bed instead.
“What’s this?” Sylus placed a hand dramatically over his chest. “You check on her and then skip right past me? Ouch, doc. You wound me. I thought I was more important to you than this.”
Without missing a beat, Zayne replied while writing something onto the clipboard in his hands, “Unfortunately, your ego appears perfectly healthy.”
Caleb snorted from the other side of the room while Rafayel outright laughed.
Sylus only clicked his tongue. “Cruel. After all we’ve been through together, too.”
“You survived. Tragically.”
“See? Flirting with me again.”
Zayne ignored him with the long-suffering patience of a man deeply reconsidering his life choices and instead walked toward Xavier’s bed.
The room quieted slightly at that.
Xavier was still asleep, soft silver hair messy against the pillow, his expression finally relaxed for the first time since you had seen him in that warehouse. Even sleeping, he looked exhausted. Zayne carefully checked the readings beside him, then placed two fingers lightly against his wrist.
Your chest tightened unconsciously while watching.
Zayne noticed immediately, because of course he did.
“He’s doing well,” he said without even looking back at you, yet somehow still speaking directly to you. “His energy levels are stabilizing. He simply overexerted himself. All he needs is a good long sleep.”
Relief loosened something painful inside your chest.
Zayne scribbled down more notes before finally moving to Sylus’ bed at last. The man looked unbearably smug about finally receiving attention.
“There we go,” Sylus drawled lazily, leaning back against the raised hospital bed. “I was beginning to think you liked the others more.”
“I do,” Zayne replied dryly while checking his pulse.
Sylus grinned. “And yet here your hands are all over me anyway.”
“Kindly shut up.”
Rafayel gagged dramatically from his bed. “Please stop whatever this weird tension is before I actually throw up.”
“You’re just jealous no one flirts with you at the hospital,” Caleb muttered.
“Excuse you? Nurses adore me.”
“They probably think you’re a public health risk.”
While the others bickered, Zayne continued examining Sylus with practiced ease. Honestly, the whole checkup felt less like a doctor seeing a patient and more like two men finding increasingly creative ways to insult each other affectionately.
“You’re healing unusually fast,” Zayne noted.
Sylus shrugged. “Maybe I’m just built different.”
“Well, self- healing is a perk of your evol.”
“Hm. Keep talking like that and people will start thinking you care about me, doctor.”
Zayne finally closed the file with a soft snap. “You are completely fine. Which means you’re only still admitted because you refuse to leave.”
Sylus looked entirely unapologetic. “And miss the opportunity to stay in the same room as kitten? Absolutely not.”
Your face warmed instantly.
Zayne sighed the sigh of a deeply tired man before turning to leave for the next patient file.
“Zay—”
The sound came out rough and hoarse enough to make everyone look at you immediately.
Zayne turned right back around with visible disapproval. “No talking.”
You frowned slightly. Gosh, you hated this rule
His expression softened almost immediately afterward. “Use the notepad.”
He gestured toward the small notebook and pen sitting on the bedside table.
Quickly, you grabbed them and scribbled something down before shoving the paper toward Caleb since your arms were closest to him. Caleb looked at it, then barked out a laugh before reading it aloud for everyone.
“‘Zaynie~~, you got hurt too. Why aren’t you admitted or even resting?” he said, mimicking your way of speaking. You threw the pen at his head
The room fell quiet for exactly one second.
Then Rafayel sat up dramatically. “Wait, actually, yeah. Seriously, dude. How are you still walking around as if nothing happened?”
“You were literally fighting the entire time, too,” Caleb added, frowning now.
Even Sylus narrowed his eyes slightly. “You do look suspiciously functional.”
Zayne paused by the doorway, one hand still resting against the frame. For a moment, he simply looked at all of you with that same calm composure he always carried so effortlessly.
Then, finally, a small smirk tugged at his lips.
“Because,” he said smoothly over his shoulder, “I am Doctor Lee Zayne.”
With that, he exited the room with poise and grace.
“Okay, that was hot as hell.”
—-----
Zayne stepped out of the semi-private ward, letting the door click shut softly behind him. The muffled sound of bickering immediately dulled behind the barrier, replaced by the quiet hum of hospital lights and distant footsteps echoing through the corridor.
For a moment, he simply stood there.
Then his composure cracked.
A sharp ache pulsed through his ribs hard enough to make him inhale quietly. His hand came up almost instinctively, pressing against his side beneath the white coat. The bandages wrapped tightly around his torso strained with the movement. Exhaustion settled heavily into his shoulders now that he was no longer inside, reassuring everyone else.
A nurse, who seemed exhausted and overworked, passing by, slowed to a stop when she noticed him leaning slightly against the wall.
“Doctor Zayne…” her brows furrowed with concern. “You haven’t rested at all. You’ve been running around taking care of everyone else since you got here.” Her eyes flickered toward the hand pressed against his ribs. “You’re injured too.”
Zayne looked up at her.
For a second, the exhaustion in his eyes became visible. Not the physical kind alone, but the sort that settled deep into the bones after fear. After almost losing someone.
Then, as always, he smoothed it away behind a small, gentle smile.
“I’ll rest later,” he said quietly.
The nurse looked unconvinced. “Doctor—”
“The people need me more right now.”
His voice remained calm and steady, but when his gaze drifted briefly toward the closed ward door, something softer slipped through. Something painfully human.
Because for those few horrifying moments in that warehouse, he truly thought he had lost you.
And Zayne wasn’t entirely sure his heart had recovered from that yet.
The nurse could only nod in understanding. She walked away, shaking her head, “What a horrible day. First, the sudden earthquake, and then the wanderer attack on those poor people,” she says to no one in particular, but Zayne heard it. And he was sure that these two incidents weren’t not unrelated.
An:
Don't look at me like that I know it was supposed to come weeks earlier I am sorry 😭😭 but things came up an the first draft of this part didn't sit right with me so I scratched and wrote a whole new thing
Tumblr is inconsistent in my country, and many vpns are banned as well I hate it here 😭😭
Guys I am gonna take break from this fic to focus on some other. I love this one soooo much but i feel like I need to take a break from this one to write something else for a while, because I am out of proper ideas for this one right now so I need this hap. I can only do so much with little time I get. I don't know when I'll resume it, but res assured it's not the last of this fic. I hope you guys understand and give love to other fics I'd write just as much as you give lobe to this one.
THE HEIGHT DIFFERENCE??!!!??!?!?!
HE IS SO SO BIG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG
I NEED AANG TO GRAB ME BY THE WAISTTTTT
I NEED THAT GIANT TREE TRUNK BUILT ASS MAN TO LOOK DOWN AT ME WITH THOSE STUPID SWEET EYES
I NEED TO HOLD ONTO HIS SHOULDERS LIKE MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT
WHY IS HE SO TALLLLLLL WHY IS HE SO BROADDDDDD WHY DOES HE LOOK LIKE HE GIVES BONE CRUSHING HUGS
I JUST KNOW THAT MAN RUNS HOT TOO
HE LOOK LIKE HE SMELLS GOOD ALL THE TIME
WHY ARE HIS HANDS SO FUCKING BIGGGGGGGGG
If I may ask, could we get more details on the lads boys relationship between each other? I love how you write how they talk to each other and it seems they constantly fight each other for reader’s attention but I do question if any of them are tolerant enough of the others that they may like team up together to win reader over? Like which ones can you not throw in a room with them killing each other and blood spilling on the floor? And which ones you throw in a room and come back 15 minutes later and see they are in a deep discussion and there’s no blood on the floors? (Also which ones are quickly teaming up together win reader’s heart.)
I imagine since Caleb and zayne knew each other since they were kids that they are tolerant of each other at least.
Rafayel I feel like is either going for Sylus or Xavier throats since he seems to not like them that much?
(Ok now I’m just thinking of them tag teaming reader in a different way 😳)
Now when I start answering this. I need you all to keep one thing in mind. The lads men do not go by the og script of the game. So Caleb and zayne aren't exactly childhood friends, they didn't exactly experience childhood like that. Whatever they know comes from the script, and that lasted only till they become self aware, after having that "awakening" the main story dynamic didn't apply to them.
That being said. Now let's deep dive into it.
When they first meet you, they were obviously suspicious they didn't know whomst the heck you were (won't elaborate further cuz it all will be in future parts) but as time went on and they got to know the actual you, they started falling in love with you because they were no longer in forced to follow the script, they realized what they felt for mc wasn't real as nothing itself was real.
Thier friendship started as soon as they were awakened, because they were the only ones with proper conscious so they interacted with each other and shared their experiences it was almost very normal mad natural at that point, and initially that included mc as well but due to many reasons that didn't last (again won't elaborate on it it's for future parts in the fic)
It was only when real feelings got involved did the. dynamics begin to shift, though they decided it was foolish to fight over you when at that point they thought there was no way in hell they can actually have you, so the best they are ever going to get is have these stolen moments from your time. They feared the day you'd completely uninstall the game so they wanted to make the most of whatever time they had. So they all joined forces to rebuild the game around you entirely. They added better chat features and all the things explained in first part happens.
Then the accident happens.
It was something they hadn't calculated in and now you were here in this world right there with them tangible. Present.
And thats how the competition started, they want your attention they need it. And they are greedy enough to take it any means necessary but also understanding enough to share. They build this new game environment for you spent countless hours talking about you coming up with scenarios or share whatever cute things they did that day. Thier bond strengthen because of the love they all had for you.
So considering all that, they can't truly hate each other. Yes they get mad they pissy, petty annoyed and who knows one tried to actually kill another who knows. But deep down they know as much as they want you to themselves they also know the other loves you very much, and even in the middle of the competition for your love and attention on case of emergency where your lofe was on the line, they were all united front to protect you getting in synch with each other (which is also why they were more friendlier in the hospital scene...kinda??)
If you choose one they won't get in the way but...it's a why-choose-trope sooo 🤭🤭🤭
Now I don't know why I yapped so much lmfaooo so here is a brief summary of dynamics each li has with the other.
Zayne tolerates everyone, is actually most caring towards Xavier and with the rest three he shares a lively banger with. Yes he is low key the in named leader because all the boys listens to him.nsimce he is calm on any situation he finds a way to connect with them since he is extremely patient and composed.
Caleb does NOT get along with Rafayel actually even in beginning they would argue a lot be cause the seasoned ragebaiter would rage bait Rafayel to hell and back and Rafayel isn't the most kindest of the bunch so they would nicker a lot. Caleb and sylus on the other hand join forces against zayne trying to get a reaction out of him (they fail). And to no one's surprise Caleb and Xavier shares understanding with each other due to their possessive tendencies towards you. They respect it.
Sylus...do I even neeeeed to explain? He cares about them all but would eat a broken glass then admit it. He respects love in it's purest form and he knows the other guys have it for you so he can't Hate them for it though he thoroughly annoyed. He shares his likeness for fancy things with Rafayel they join forces to spoil you rotten with fancy things with Caleb he got this tech bro thing going on and with Xavier he has more of a subdue dynamic like when they are together they would be doing their thing and would be mostly silent but they would both ho home after having a pleasant time. He respects zayne immensely but as we know it he loves to tease him a lot, low-key flirts with him even if its only platonic and playful (or is it👀)
Xavier, Xavier have no clue why zayne is so kind to Jim but he appreciates it and returns it it like wise. Xav and raf both are like those buddies that can not be put together in the same room and be expected to behave that's just not happening. They would be bickering one moment and then checking if you can actually make potatoes explode.
And Rafayel...my boy doesn't discriminate he would bother annoy, whine and complain whoever is there IF he is on the mood low key cares but like sylus he rather put his head through a wall then admit it. He is the kind to be like "I am not helping because I care I am doing it because I want to see y/n happy" it's the same excuse he would use every time.
I think I defined them all? Did I miss a pairing? I did try not to make it redundant sooo.
Let me know if you have any more questions. It's 3am as I writes this lol gonna go to bed now good nighttttt
(if I forgot to mention anyone please let me know)
CHAPTER 10: THE AFTERMATH
You stood there staring at the spot where she vanished before you were grabbed and turned by a furious Rafayel with tears in his eyes. “y/n…you..you stupid” he looked like he wanted to scold you, yell at you, and give you hell, but all he did was sink to his knees and cried, his face buried in your tummy. The metal piece fell from your hand with a loud clank. “Hey..” You ran your fingers through his hair, trying to soothe him. Just then, a presence behind her, just as you tried to crane your neck, a hand came from there and wrapped around your throat. “Don't,” the word was spoken firmly with pleading undertones, his hand clasped around her wound, pressing on the wound. You noticed he was actually holding a handkerchief, applying pressure on your wound as the pristine cloth soaks up your blood. You looked up, and Zayne was rushing to grab the bag he had brought. Caleb was making a makeshift bed already, probably on Zayne's order, and Xavier…
Oh, poor Xavier.
He was crouched on the floor, clutching his chest, he coughs rather harshly and a splutter of blood coats his hand, and yet when he looked up, he only looked worried for you, “is..is she gonna be oka” he asked, his voice worn out, surely he must have sustained the most damage considering he was keeping up the shield and fighting at once.
In hindsight, it was a bit funny when you recalled thinking how Zayne was prepared to conduct surgery on a moment's notice. Caleb held several phones using their torch’s light to help Zayne see better. Sylus and Rafayel all huddled together as Zayne tended to your wound; his hands were ever so steady, and his eyes calm. It was as if, right now, for the sake of his own sanity, he had become detached from the situation.
All four of them were here, but not Xavier, and you were getting worried. You tried to speak, but it pained you when you did so.
“Xav-” you rasped
“Not now, pipsqueak, please.”
“But xav-”
“Kitten, for once. Listen to us.”
“Xavier is hurt-”
“y/n please, I need you to stay still for me right now.” Zayne’s voice was stern, brokering no room for arguments.
But you couldn't, you were uneasy and restless, noting that Rafayel squeezed your hand, placing a soft kiss on it, “he will be fine, he is strong enough to pull through it, my love, right now he is just sulking because he doesn't want to be seen as weak in front of you, “ he explains.
Caleb saw you won't rest till you make sure he is fine, so he calls out, “Xavier, bring your sorry ass back, she is worried.”
From some corners of the warehouse, his voice spoke up, “Tell Starlight I am fine, I just need to-woah- CALEB!!”
A struggling Xavier dangles, suspended in the air as he is brought closer to where they were from his initial hiding spot. Apparently, Caleb wasn't having any of it, and if Xavier was what you needed to get comfortable right now, then that's what he would present at your feet.
Once Zayne was satisfied, he exhaled deeply. Give one last once-over to your bandage; he had disinfected the wound and sutured it. “The wound was a little deep, but nothing threatening. I will suggest minimal conversations to not put a strain on your throat or the suture”.
All the guys also looked marginally relieved. “Great, now let's focus on getting the hell out of here. Who knows when she gets back?” Rafayel muttered under his breath. Sylus helps you sit, and you immediately grab Zayne's collar. “Check Xavier, now please, your voice was a little more intense than intended. Xavier tried to downplay once again, but you shut him down with a menacing glare; you were not having it right now. Too tired for any argument.
Zayne breaks into a small, sweet smile and shakes his head, taking your hand away from his collar and pressing a kiss “on it”.
Now that some of the tensions had eased, especially since they had made it very clear you weren't off the hook yet, and they would round back to your little stunt once they are out of this spooky as hell place and somewhere safe with you well fed and cleaned. Another one of those moments where you feel absolutely cared for.
“So she sealed off all exits…why??” Rafayel groaned once Sylus and Caleb confirmed after conducting a complete surveillance of the area, “probably out of spite,” Caleb grumbled. “She sealed them all, including the gaping holes we burst through,” Sylus sighed that bordered on an annoyed growl.
“Even the door that Zayne was nagging about,” Rafayel asked again
“I- I wasn't nagging about it, I was simply stating its existence that all of you rudely ignored.”
“Well, the door seemed locked now, it's awfully tricky lock,” Caleb says as he scrutinizes it, then shrugs, “not something I can't manage.” Caleb's tone was cocky even in this predicament. Rafayel rolled his eyes, “freak,” he grumbled, making the purple-eyed man gasp in offence, “who are you calling freak, freak?”
“Both of you calling each other freaks reminds me of that Spiderman meme y/n likes so much,” Sylus says with tired loopsided grins.
Yawning, you rubbed your eyes, understandably weary. Your voice was still hoarse, but it didn't stop you from yapping, “guys, guys, chill, we're all freaks.” You didn't even realize what you said till they all looked at you, even Zayne and Xavier, who were both sitting on the floor as Zayne checked up on him. The other guys sustained injuries, too, but he needed more attention.
“What,” they said in unison
“Whaat…” you replied softly, innocently.
“No, no, don't give me those eyes, you said what you said. We all heard it, we all really heard it right!!! right!!!!!!” Caleb was getting too psyched about it “Tell me I haven't lost it completely, sh-’ sylus puts his hand on Caleb's face and pushed him back toward the dorr with a technical lock on it, the obstacle in their freedom.” open the damn lock” he said then pointed straight at you “we will circle back on that too, later”
You were left flustered and opened your mouth to defend your honor when Rafayel slung his arm over your shoulder “save, it cute, you know what you got yourself into” he winked. “Also stop talking please, doc says thats a no go and we must listen to him” he says with solemnity
Oh so now they wanna listen to him.
—
Caleb had been trying to get to the lock, sylus was standing next to him criticizing anything he does including the way he was breathing, you stood in between them to refrain another fight from happening between two seasoned rage-baiters, Xavier was resting against the wall and zayne was now checking up rafayel who when asked where it hurts the most replied with “everything”. He wascurrently sprawled in front of the doctor whining about everything and anything.
“pips tel this old geezer to get out of my face” caleb groaned sylus scoffed “please you were being so cocky earlier you cant even undo a lock, pathetic”
“Its advanced”
“Bohoo, too hard for your pea sized brain”
You chuckle a little caleb was clearly agitated, he already hated that you were here in such col-damp place while being hurt, and ever extra second you spend here grated on his nerves and no amount of soothing head pats were helping.
“Its just-” he huffed “ too damn dark in here” he grumbled then turned to xavier “he flashlight, you still dont feel strong enough?” he asked xavier who was already looking down looked away as he tries to form an orb of light but couldnt “...no” he said dejected at his own failure
“Just great” caleb grumoled
“ i may have an idea to bring light…” Sylus spoke, “but no one's gonna like it”
“Just do it sy, whatever it is we can live through it,” you said softly, trying to be careful and not hurt your throat. You could feel Zayne's glaring stare at the back of her head
Caleb agreed, “Yeah, if you have some genius plan then do it our phones out of batery, xaviers out of his light juice and rafayels fire more hazardous then useful” he ranted.
“Hey, it'll be plenty useful when i set your ass on fire” rafayel commented still sprawled, his head in zaynes lap…wait what even was going on there?
Sylus looked conflicted when he turned to you, you stared up at him doe eyed and encouraging. He let out a defeated sigh and picked you up, earning a gasp from you “Whoa, wait-”, one hand around your waist and hoisted you up, walking towards where Xavier was. That alone told you what his plan was. He drops you into Xavier's lap. Catching the blue-eyed boy off guard. “Only you can fix him” he said
Xavier, thou held your waist, glared at him, “ i am not broke that id need to be fixed” he spat at sylus’ retroeting figure. Good thing you were right there you cup his face leaning up to kiss his cheek” others guys all busy to notice.
Oh poor xavier
He was all frozen, looking at you wide-eyed. His blue bell eyes glisten for a second and the puffiness of his cheek where kissed dusted pink that spread upto his ears, he quicjkly looked away “why would you do that…i didnt deserve that” he said in his soft mellow voice tinged with disappintment in himself “my sheiled wasnt str-” you silence him by hugging him “you did great xav, you held the barrier while fighting so many wanderes that must have taken a huge toll on you sweetheart and yet you pushed through till the end of the battle” you said softly only for him to hear. “B-but this never happened before…before when we fought wanderers i wouldnt even break sweat i dont know why today i just…” he trails off, “today i feel so weak…” you soothinly rub his back. You knew why it happened mc had told you enough and the rest you figured out yourself. But you decided to keep it till they come clean with what they knew later.
“Shh-its okay, its all okay…she probably enhanced the wanderers to make them extra stronger xavier you still did so well” you pat his head fingers combing through his fluffy hair, a dream cam tru moment for both of you xavier fully relaxed almost forgetting the whole thing as he ,melts in your embrace “you are probably right…” he sighs pressing his face in the crook of your neck. Now was the chance…
You leaned in his ear and spoke “you did so much better then lumiere”
And there was light (1:3)
—-----------
“Hurry up, caleb!!!1”
“I am doing fast as i can, rafayel!!!!”
“Luke and kieran would have gotten us out here 30 minutes ago”
“I just started 20 minutes ago???!!!”
“You should just let a real man handle this”
“Oh yeah sylus? Last i check you trying to blow up the door didnt work either”
Caleb was clearly agitated, and rafayel and sylus flanking him as they patronize him further and further. “Seriously i am doing my best here and i maybe would have been done if you two wont be ganging up on me” he exasperated
“I cant help it i cant stand it any more!!!!” rafayel cries out stomping his feet, caleb looked at the indiginant purple haired man “and you think i can stand any more of this-” he said wildly gesturing towards you.
You who were nestled in xaviers embrace while the man in question glowed, literally. He was illuminating the space with bright soothing light, enough to allow caleb to work with ease. Xavier, who was completely serene, squeezed you and nuzzel further in your chest, zayne sat beside you his hand covering your eyes, he insisted it was important to protect your eyes, he himself had his trusty sunglasses on.
Much to rafayels horror, he bites his knuckle and lets out a hushed scream his other hand gripping sylus’ bicep
“He is squeezing and nuzzling!! he is squeezing and nuzzling!!” he boderline shrieks
“Get your slimy hands off of me gutterfish”
Caleb seethes with pure unadultered envy. “Was this your only plan sylus?” he asked snapping his head towards the guy in question who was now patting his mechanical bird “i warned no ones going to like it didnt i, besides it solved our lights crisis so get on with it and do your job.”
At last..
The door opened and freedom greeted you, some hunters had just arived too now and they escorted you back to safety, you caught a glimpse of few familiar faces of your “friends” from the association. Before the exhaustion of the whole ordeal took over. And you collapsed in one of the guys arms.
—---
When you opened your eyes the smell of antiseptic greeted you in a not-so-polite way, followed by a sound of groaning, at first you didnt understand why you were easily passing out and slept for long times in curiously deep slumber but now you know.
A beutiful face greeted you first thing “ah miss hunter is awake” you blinked at the woman
“Its fine you are a bit disoriented, i am Yevonee,” the nurse says, her kind empathetic eyes brimming with understanding. You recognized her quickly after that “oh Yevonne, yes!” you tried to speak but your voice couldnt go up much loud so you spoke in soft gentle tone
“ Hi! How have you been” you ask trying to sit up but she gestures you to keep lying down, “its fine, rest… you guys just got here” she says “and…no talking”
From your peripheral vision you could see the other guys also in beds you turned your face to look at either side on your left was caleb and next to him, rafayel. On your right sylus and the xavier who was napping.
“We were told you guys were suddenly attacked by wanderers and brough thier. You put a great fight as always miss hunter, take your rest. You deserve it” she says her voice soft and soothing. You had no heart to tell that she was wrong, that she wasn't the brave and strong hunter every one mistook you to be. You were just…you.
It seemed like she wanted to say something more but the door opens and Zayne enters just then “yevone, ill take it from here” he says with that professional tone of his that lind of made you raise a brow. Yevonne nods and leaves without another word.
“So I am going to check up on all of you one by one, left to right.” zayne said, approaching Rafayel, who seemed genuinely relieved. “thank god, I thought you'd never come to check up on me…you can't be that busy with other patients.”
Zayne was checking his latest reports on his vitals. “Everything seems good here, you are stable, do you feel any pain anywhere? “
“Yeah its so bad, my right pinky hurts- hey, where are you going??!!”
Zayne had already moved along leaving Rafayel grumbling how his painting hand needed special attention.
Zayne reached Caleb, his eyes narrowed, looking as if he was prepared for a stubborn child. Zayne takes a deep breath first, then opens his mouth to speak, “Caleb, how-”
“I am fine! I keep saying this, but you won't listen to me!” Caleb huffed, “You are coddling me like a child. I am all good, so let me discharge so I can get to the bottom of this,” he complained.
“Caleb, you sustained internal injuries as well as physical, and you are not cooperating with the staff.”
“I am co-operating just fine-”
“Why are you not wearing your splint then?” Zayne said, picking up the discarded splint by the foot of his bed, and gave Caleb a pointed look.
“My ankle is fine, I don't need it.”
Zayne gives him a cold glare. “Do you plan on falling face-first next time you try to run?”
Caleb huffed but couldn't argue, “It's… it's just so itchy,” he took it back, “I'll get you an ointment for that.” Zayne said briefly before walking away. Finally, he was by your side his expression softened completely.
“Hey,” he says, his voice takes a very soothing tone. He reaches out to touch your forehead, brushing away the hair. “Does your throat hurt?” he asked, and you shook your head with a smile.
“Good,” Zayne murmured after you shook your head. Though his eyes made it obvious he still did not fully believe you. His fingers brushed lightly along your jaw before moving lower, careful and featherlight around your throat. You could barely feel the touch, yet somehow it still made heat creep into your face.
His brows furrowed slightly as he examined the marks. Not angry exactly. More… restrained. Like he was holding back the urge to personally strangle whoever had hurt you, despite already knowing exactly who did it.
“You should still avoid speaking for now,” he said quietly. “Your throat has been strained enough already.”
You nodded obediently this time, mostly because the soreness really was becoming more noticeable the more awake you got.
Satisfied for the moment, Zayne adjusted your blanket properly around you before standing up. The movement drew Sylus’ attention instantly from the bed beside yours. Since Zayne was going to each bed in turn, one would assume he would go to bed, but that doesn't happen. Zayne skips Sylus entirely, going to Xavier's bed instead.
“What’s this?” Sylus placed a hand dramatically over his chest. “You check on her and then skip right past me? Ouch, doc. You wound me. I thought I was more important to you than this.”
Without missing a beat, Zayne replied while writing something onto the clipboard in his hands, “Unfortunately, your ego appears perfectly healthy.”
Caleb snorted from the other side of the room while Rafayel outright laughed.
Sylus only clicked his tongue. “Cruel. After all we’ve been through together, too.”
“You survived. Tragically.”
“See? Flirting with me again.”
Zayne ignored him with the long-suffering patience of a man deeply reconsidering his life choices and instead walked toward Xavier’s bed.
The room quieted slightly at that.
Xavier was still asleep, soft silver hair messy against the pillow, his expression finally relaxed for the first time since you had seen him in that warehouse. Even sleeping, he looked exhausted. Zayne carefully checked the readings beside him, then placed two fingers lightly against his wrist.
Your chest tightened unconsciously while watching.
Zayne noticed immediately, because of course he did.
“He’s doing well,” he said without even looking back at you, yet somehow still speaking directly to you. “His energy levels are stabilizing. He simply overexerted himself. All he needs is a good long sleep.”
Relief loosened something painful inside your chest.
Zayne scribbled down more notes before finally moving to Sylus’ bed at last. The man looked unbearably smug about finally receiving attention.
“There we go,” Sylus drawled lazily, leaning back against the raised hospital bed. “I was beginning to think you liked the others more.”
“I do,” Zayne replied dryly while checking his pulse.
Sylus grinned. “And yet here your hands are all over me anyway.”
“Kindly shut up.”
Rafayel gagged dramatically from his bed. “Please stop whatever this weird tension is before I actually throw up.”
“You’re just jealous no one flirts with you at the hospital,” Caleb muttered.
“Excuse you? Nurses adore me.”
“They probably think you’re a public health risk.”
While the others bickered, Zayne continued examining Sylus with practiced ease. Honestly, the whole checkup felt less like a doctor seeing a patient and more like two men finding increasingly creative ways to insult each other affectionately.
“You’re healing unusually fast,” Zayne noted.
Sylus shrugged. “Maybe I’m just built different.”
“Well, self- healing is a perk of your evol.”
“Hm. Keep talking like that and people will start thinking you care about me, doctor.”
Zayne finally closed the file with a soft snap. “You are completely fine. Which means you’re only still admitted because you refuse to leave.”
Sylus looked entirely unapologetic. “And miss the opportunity to stay in the same room as kitten? Absolutely not.”
Your face warmed instantly.
Zayne sighed the sigh of a deeply tired man before turning to leave for the next patient file.
“Zay—”
The sound came out rough and hoarse enough to make everyone look at you immediately.
Zayne turned right back around with visible disapproval. “No talking.”
You frowned slightly. Gosh, you hated this rule
His expression softened almost immediately afterward. “Use the notepad.”
He gestured toward the small notebook and pen sitting on the bedside table.
Quickly, you grabbed them and scribbled something down before shoving the paper toward Caleb since your arms were closest to him. Caleb looked at it, then barked out a laugh before reading it aloud for everyone.
“‘Zaynie~~, you got hurt too. Why aren’t you admitted or even resting?” he said, mimicking your way of speaking. You threw the pen at his head
The room fell quiet for exactly one second.
Then Rafayel sat up dramatically. “Wait, actually, yeah. Seriously, dude. How are you still walking around as if nothing happened?”
“You were literally fighting the entire time, too,” Caleb added, frowning now.
Even Sylus narrowed his eyes slightly. “You do look suspiciously functional.”
Zayne paused by the doorway, one hand still resting against the frame. For a moment, he simply looked at all of you with that same calm composure he always carried so effortlessly.
Then, finally, a small smirk tugged at his lips.
“Because,” he said smoothly over his shoulder, “I am Doctor Lee Zayne.”
With that, he exited the room with poise and grace.
“Okay, that was hot as hell.”
—-----
Zayne stepped out of the semi-private ward, letting the door click shut softly behind him. The muffled sound of bickering immediately dulled behind the barrier, replaced by the quiet hum of hospital lights and distant footsteps echoing through the corridor.
For a moment, he simply stood there.
Then his composure cracked.
A sharp ache pulsed through his ribs hard enough to make him inhale quietly. His hand came up almost instinctively, pressing against his side beneath the white coat. The bandages wrapped tightly around his torso strained with the movement. Exhaustion settled heavily into his shoulders now that he was no longer inside, reassuring everyone else.
A nurse, who seemed exhausted and overworked, passing by, slowed to a stop when she noticed him leaning slightly against the wall.
“Doctor Zayne…” her brows furrowed with concern. “You haven’t rested at all. You’ve been running around taking care of everyone else since you got here.” Her eyes flickered toward the hand pressed against his ribs. “You’re injured too.”
Zayne looked up at her.
For a second, the exhaustion in his eyes became visible. Not the physical kind alone, but the sort that settled deep into the bones after fear. After almost losing someone.
Then, as always, he smoothed it away behind a small, gentle smile.
“I’ll rest later,” he said quietly.
The nurse looked unconvinced. “Doctor—”
“The people need me more right now.”
His voice remained calm and steady, but when his gaze drifted briefly toward the closed ward door, something softer slipped through. Something painfully human.
Because for those few horrifying moments in that warehouse, he truly thought he had lost you.
And Zayne wasn’t entirely sure his heart had recovered from that yet.
The nurse could only nod in understanding. She walked away, shaking her head, “What a horrible day. First, the sudden earthquake, and then the wanderer attack on those poor people,” she says to no one in particular, but Zayne heard it. And he was sure that these two incidents weren’t not unrelated.
An:
Don't look at me like that I know it was supposed to come weeks earlier I am sorry 😭😭 but things came up an the first draft of this part didn't sit right with me so I scratched and wrote a whole new thing
Tumblr is inconsistent in my country, and many vpns are banned as well I hate it here 😭😭
Those words were like magic. One moment you feared for your life, the other you were crying tears of relief. Mephisto deep-dived straight at MC, squawking and attacking.
“Argh, stupid fucking crow,” she yelled at the bird that unrelentlessly attacked MC, taking up all her attention. And right at that moment, there was a loud explosion. The cold floor vibrated with its intensity as the dust and debris wafted through the air. You were once again knocked off your feet, involuntarily curling yourself into a fetal position.
When the dust settled down, you raised your head.
In between the rubble stood Sylus, black and red tendrils of mist surrounding him.
“Sylus,” MC chirped in her saccharine tone, “what happened to your little ragtag team of dingdongs?”
Sylus didn’t reply to her question. He only scanned the vast space till his eyes landed on you. “Spotted,” was all he said. And just then, a door that wasn’t too far from Sylus’s spot opened, and Zayne stepped in, looking weary.
“There was a perfectly functional unlocked door right here, Sylus,” he said, holding what seemed to be a briefcase.
MC didn’t seem to be surprised or even unnerved. “Okay, so there are two—”
“Look up,” Sylus said.
MC, kind of confused, looked up, and just then the roof burst open with a fiery explosion. Rafayel dropped down on his feet, followed by Caleb, who ever so gracefully landed right beside him.
“There you are, cutie. Had us running around all over the place like maniacs.”
“I am getting you a better tracker, pips.”
“Again, the door is right here. I... I even opened it.”
MC had jumped from her spot and a little away from you. She was glaring at them. You could tell by now what she was thinking or doing, even if she had no expressionable features to give it away.,
In hindsight, that was one of the biggest hints you missed, how could you understand her so well you met her properly for like what? 20 minutes even if it felt like a very long time. But the truth didn't come out until much, much later.. She was headcounting them. “So all of you dingdongs are here.”
“Real mature, MC. Real mature,” Caleb said. “But you are missing one.”
He said, and Rafayel shrugged and added, “Don’t blame you, he is pretty forgettable.”
MC was quick to realize her mistake.
Xavier…
“He is behind me, isn’t he?”
Just then, as she turned, lo and behold, the man in question was there, looking livid. His cold fury really beckoned in his eyes, and yet his voice was as calm as ever when he said, “Hey,” and swung at her with the hilt of his sword.
And that’s when all hell broke loose.
Sylus took the opportunity created by Xavier and added to the attack as he barked, “Cover Zayne. He must check up on her.” Before he could finish, Xavier had already made a bubble of protective shield around you, and a moving one for Zayne, who, once he got the opening, didn’t waste a second to rush to your side. Entering the bubble on Xavier’s will, he got on his knees next to you, cradling your face with utmost gentleness and caution.
“Speak to me.” It would have sounded like an order if his eyes didn’t hold urgency and desperation. “Speak to me, darling. Tell me, can you see me, hear me? Does it hurt somewhere?” he said. His observant, sharp eyes did spot the few minor bruises here and there, and especially on your neck, as you were still in those clothes you were wearing at the beach.
You smiled, genuinely so. You had been relieved to see them. Yes, you felt some grievances over the kept secrets, but right now they were all here, joined together as a united front to protect you, to take you back to safety. You couldn’t be mad at the moment. Especially when the man in front of you, who was supposed to be the pinnacle of composure, seemed to be on the verge of breaking.
“I am fine, Zayne. I do have some bruises, but nothing hurts too much.”
“So something does hurt. Where is it?” he asked urgently, not completely convinced, as he continued to check up on you, opening the bag that had sutures and stuff. Jeez, was this man prepared to conduct surgery at the drop of a hat?
As he shuffled through his bag for something, you grabbed his face with both of your hands and made him look at you. “I am fine,” you said, punctuating each word with sincerity. “I was scared, really scared, but you guys showed up, and now I know I’ll be fine.”
Zayne exhaled deeply. His body sagged completely, his hands now covering yours, allowing himself to feel them press against his warm skin.
As you two shared a moment, in the background the four guys were locked in a fierce battle, coordinating with effortless ease. Phrases like “on your 3 o’clock,” “block her,” and “assist me” were thrown here and there as you were entranced by the scene unfolding. The thrill of fear once again unfurled in your chest.
A thump sound made you look up, and it was Caleb standing on the barrier, glaring at Zayne. “Who’s getting too touchy now?” Caleb said.
Zayne only smirked. One arm snaked around your waist. “You were the one who said I am not touchy enough.”
Caleb’s eye twitched. “What kind of medical care is this?”
“The effective kind,” Zayne replied.
Before Caleb could lose more of his mind, Rafayel screamed at him, “Get your loser ass back in here.” Begrudgingly, Caleb left.
You sat there, noticing how strong MC was. Considering her opponents, she was still pulling through. You could also see the guys trying to talk to her. You couldn’t make out what they were saying, but you could see Rafayel trying to reach her, not attacking as much, as if he was trying to reason. Sylus also seemed agitated, something you never thought you’d see. When Caleb got back, even he tried to get something across, trying to slow her down so she would just once listen.
MC’s maniacal laugh still rang through. Even if she had taken quite a few hits, it seemed like shedding whatever held her back had made her a more ruthless fighter. But how much can you do with four formidable men?
“Aren’t you going to help? I am fine,” you asked Zayne, who had just finished putting bandages on a few cuts here and there.
“No. They will be fine. I am not that strong anyway.”
What? Who is this guy fooling??
But then a thought came to you. “How is that possible? Is it because I didn’t get the right protocol? I am sorry, I just don’t get the hang of those things. They were so complicated with power-ups and attack and crit damage, crit and secondary attributes, and—”
You paused when Zayne ruffled your hair. “Silly girl,” he chuckled softly.
“No, it’s nothing of the sort. It’s none of your fault, and those things don’t even matter,” he said, then added sheepishly, “I only said that because I didn’t want to leave you. I am guarding you. That’s the most important job.”
You shook your head, of course. You turned your head right back to them. “They are so well coordinated. I have never seen them getting along so well,” you commented.
“They are united under the same cause,” Zayne said knowingly. His eyes, that hadn’t left you until now, finally looked towards them. “When it comes to you, all differences among us are cast aside.”
You didn’t know how to react, how to reply, or how not to blush. In that moment of brief silence, the feeling you were trying to suppress also made itself known through your mouth. “Even for lying.”
Zayne froze. His head snapped to you. He didn’t try to deflect or play dumb. Now, he wouldn’t do that to you. He just looked regretful. Guilty. He looked down, ashamed. “I am sorry… on behalf of all of us,” he said.
You shook your head. “No. I can’t accept it without a full explanation, Zayne,” you said.
For a moment, Zayne looked crushed, but he nodded in understanding. That sweet moment dissolved into one of melancholic anticipation.
On the other side of the barrier, MC was finally cornered, panting and breathless. She was backed to one side, the four of them standing in front of her.
“Stand down now, MC. This has gone too far,” Xavier said, his sword still pointed at her.
“This is getting tiresome now, so if your theatrics are over, we would like to take her home,” Sylus added.
MC just scoffed. “Oh boohoo, my little human wasn’t covered in fluffy blankets and spoon-fed foreign delicacy. She would wither and die,” she said mockingly.
“You are not funny,” the red-eyed man glowered.
“Actually, that was a little funny,” Caleb mumbled softly, only to be glared at by the rest.
“Seriously, you need to stop this. This won’t get you what you want, and you know that. She has nothing to do with any of it,” Rafayel said on your behalf.
That made her more pissed off. Once again, an iridescent glow of her powers came to life.
“Stand down. You are tired and outnumbered,” Caleb said, this time seriously.
MC cocked her head to the side. “Oh yeah, you are right. This is unfair. Four big men against one little old me,” she said. Her tone brought a foreboding feeling in all four of them.
The floor rumbled. They could all feel it. You and Zayne could feel it. Several holes appeared on the ground, opening into voids. Purple mist oozed from them, and instantly you knew.
“Oh dang it!!”
“Fuck.”
“Oh, this just got very interesting.”
“More like, annoying.”
You could barely hear who said what as your heart rate dropped. Zayne’s hand instinctively reached out for you, shielding you subconsciously. He inhaled sharply. “Wanderers.”
Loud, ear-piercing shrieks and thunderous roars blended to form a horrifying chorus that instilled a deep, bone-chilling fear inside you. All that warm relief you were feeling was now gone, completely replaced by a depressing pressure of foreboding. Big, monstrous creatures spawned from the pitch-black voids.
“Hey, doc. I think it’s high time you leave that cozy cocoon,” Sylus spoke as they all got ready.
Zayne looked hesitant. “What about Y/N?” he said, but couldn’t deny the need for manpower.
“Go… please,” you said.
He looked at you, solemn. Nodding, he got up and left the barrier with Xavier’s help, who sealed it off again, making it stronger. Zayne even surrounded it with long icy spikes.
When he joined them, he took off his coat, earning a whistle from Sylus that he ignored.
“Alright, Sylus, Rafayel, and I on the offense. Caleb, Xavier, defense,” Zayne said, very surprisingly, for you.
They all acknowledged and agreed.
“You got it, big boss.”
“Let’s take positions.”
“Snowy, over here, taking charge… I like it.”
“Let’s dance..uggos.”
MC, on the other hand, giggled in glee. “Now isn’t this going to be something worth watching?”
You spoke, who knows where, because you couldn’t spot her, feeling nauseous at the sight in front of you.
And so the battle commenced.
The first wanderer lunged before anyone could finish speaking, tearing itself out of the void like something that had no business existing. Its jagged limbs twisted unnaturally as a warped scream split through the air, charging straight for the barrier without hesitation.
It didn’t make it.
A beam of blinding light cut clean across the space, precise and controlled, and the creature disintegrated mid-lunge. Its body broke apart into particles that dissolved before they could even hit the ground. Xavier lowered his arm slowly, his expression unchanged.
“Focus,” he said quietly, because that had only been the first.
More wanderers attacked, cracks splitting outward as more wanderers crawled their way through. Three, then five, then more, spilling into the warehouse in waves. Some were massive, others quick and erratic, their forms flickering like unstable code. The air grew heavy with their presence, thick enough to feel in your lungs.
“Alright,” Caleb cracked his neck as he stepped forward, a grin tugging at his lips, “now this is more like it.”
The moment one leapt, the air itself shifted. The creature froze mid-motion, not halted by ice or time, but by something far heavier. Gravity bent around it, compressing its body inward unnaturally as its limbs buckled under invisible force. With a violent slam, it crashed into the ground hard enough to fracture the concrete beneath it.
“Stay down,” Caleb muttered, though he already knew it wouldn’t.
“tsk,” Sylus clicked his tongue as energy flared around him, red and black currents spiraling violently from his hands. When he moved, there was nothing human about it. He stepped forward and tore through two wanderers at once, raw force ripping them apart as their forms destabilized on contact.
“Zayne.”
“I see it.”
At the far end of the warehouse, something larger began to rise, its body pulsing as if it were still forming. Zayne lifted his hand, and the temperature dropped instantly. Frost spread across the ground in a rapid surge, ice crystallizing up the creature’s limbs before it could fully stabilize. It struggled, roaring as fractures spread across its body.
“Now.”
“Already on it.”
Rafayel’s laugh cut through the tension, sharp and almost delighted, as fire ignited around him in controlled spirals. He moved like he was dancing, stepping into the frozen path Zayne had created, flames coiling around his arm before he drove them forward. Ice held the creature in place just long enough for fire to consume it completely, steam exploding outward as heat clashed violently with frost.
“Perfect timing,” Rafayel smirked.
“As always,” Zayne replied flatly.
Another shriek tore through the air, this one faster, sharper, slipping past Sylus and Rafayel before anyone could intercept it. It darted straight for you, its distorted form flickering as it closed the distance in seconds.
Your breath caught as the barrier flared just in time, taking the full impact. The force cracked against it, the surface flickering dangerously as the creature clawed at it, screeching, its form glitching in and out as if forcing itself through reality.
“Xavier.”
“I know.”
Light surged instantly, reinforcing the shield before it could give way. A second later, the creature was gone. Sylus had it by the throat, his grip unyielding as energy pulsed violently through his arm.
“Wrong direction,” he said coldly, and the wanderer didn’t even get the chance to scream before it was obliterated.
But the silence didn’t last. It never did.
More were already coming.
“Left side!” Caleb called out, shifting his stance.
“I’ve got it,” Rafayel responded, already moving.
“No, you don’t—”
Too late. Rafayel surged forward, flames bursting outward in a wide arc that cleared space in an instant, only for another wanderer to emerge right behind him, silent and ready to strike.
“Careless.”
A blade of light pierced straight through it before it could touch him. Rafayel glanced back over his shoulder, and Xavier didn’t even spare him a look.
“…I had that handled.”
“You didn’t.”
A brief pause passed before Rafayel exhaled, conceding, “…okay, maybe not that one.”
“Children,” Zayne muttered under his breath.
The ground trembled again, but this time it was different. Slower. Heavier. From the largest rupture yet, something else began to emerge, not frantic or unstable like the others, but controlled. Its presence alone made the air feel wrong, like the space itself was resisting it.
“…That’s new,” Caleb said, quieter now.
Even Sylus stilled slightly, his gaze sharpening. “Stay sharp.”
The creature stepped fully into view, and for the first time since the fight began, none of them moved immediately. It wasn’t just another wave. It was watching them back, you recognized this one as it was the one whom you hated the most, Alterum Benedict.
Then it smiled.
“Great,” Caleb exhaled, “it’s this bitch. That’s exactly what we needed.”
Rafayel rolled his shoulders, flames flickering higher. “Oh, relax, how bad could it—”
Before he could finish, the creature vanished and reappeared between them. Everything exploded into motion at once.
“Move!” Xavier snapped as light burst outward, forcing distance. Sylus surged forward head-on, energy colliding with the creature’s strike in a violent clash that sent a shockwave through the entire warehouse.
Zayne didn’t hesitate. Ice shot upward, locking its legs in place for half a second, and that was all they needed.
“Caleb.”
“On it.”
Gravity slammed down with crushing force, forcing the creature to its knees as its body buckled under the pressure. Rafayel’s fire followed instantly, engulfing it in a blazing vortex while Xavier’s light pierced straight through its core. For a moment, it held, resisting, cracking under the combined assault before finally detonating outward.
The blast forced all of them back a step as smoke curled into the air, thick and suffocating.
For a brief second, nothing moved.
Then Caleb let out a breath. “…Okay, that one actually almost had me.”
Behind them, the barrier flickered softly, still intact, still holding.
Still protecting you.
Zayne spared a glance back, just for a second, just to make sure, and that was all it took. The others shifted back into position without needing to be told, falling into place like they had done this a thousand times before.
Because no matter how chaotic it got, no matter how many came, they were in sync.
And they weren’t letting anything through to get to you.
—--------
The aftermath of the explosion barely had time to settle before something shifted again.
A low, echoing laugh threaded through the warehouse, slipping between the cracks of the crumbling space like something alive. It didn’t come from any one direction, and yet it was everywhere at once, curling around the edges of the fight, pressing into the minds of everyone present.
“Oh, this is getting good,” MC’s voice rang out, layered and distorted, amusement dripping from every syllable. The air thinned, prickling inside your lungs like a thousand needles. Your eyes darted everywhere to spot her till you did right in the open, perched atop a broken slab of concrete like she had been there the entire time, watching.
Waiting.
“Such a pretty little performance,” she tilted her head, her faceless gaze sweeping across them. “You boys really do put on a show when you’re desperate.”
“End this nonsense?,” Sylus snapped, energy flaring sharply around him.
“Or what?” she laughed, light and cruel. “You’ll stop me?”
Before he could respond, the ground split again. Wanderers poured out in a violent wave, faster, more aggressive, their forms more stable than before. They didn’t scatter aimlessly this time.
They moved with intent.
Toward the barrier, towards you.
Xavier’s jaw tightened as he reinforced it, light pouring from his hands in steady waves, but even he was beginning to strain. “They’re targeting the barrier,” he called out, voice sharp but controlled.
“Yeah, no shit,” Caleb snapped back, twisting his wrist as gravity warped around a lunging creature, crushing it into the ground before it could reach Zayne. Your stomach dropped as you pathetically crawled back into the corner till your back pressed against the wall.
“Xavier!” Zayne called out sharply.
“I am holding it,” he responded instantly, reinforcing the shield as the first wave slammed into it.
The impact was brutal.
You felt it before you fully registered it. A deep, violent shudder that rattled through the floor and climbed up your spine. The translucent shield around you flickered, light bending and distorting where massive claws dragged across its surface. A screech followed, sharp and grating, the kind that made your teeth clench, and your chest tighten.
Another hit. Harder.
Cracks of light splintered across the barrier like fractured glass.
Your breath hitched and gaze flickered across the battlefield, mind racing faster than your body could keep up. Zayne’s ice surged in controlled bursts, freezing limbs mid-strike. Rafayel’s flames roared in arcs, cutting through the dark mass of creatures. Xavier’s light flashed, precise and lethal, while Caleb distorted gravity itself, crushing wanderers into the ground. Sylus stood at the center of it all, energy pulsing around him like a storm barely contained, hitting any target in an unbiased fashion.
Once again, your eyes caught her, now observing from a high vantage point, unmoving. Her head tilted to the side, and her arms crossed her face cradled in her hand, like a show put on just for her.
In that moment, the world is still. Your feelings numbed only for something else to ripple; it was faint, but alive. And it came from her. You don't know how you knew that, you just did. Realization washed over you like ice-cold water. This…is just a tableau, she didn't want to kill you…not yet, she just wanted you to suffer. For her own amusement. You got back up on your feet, not looking away from her, something that caught her attention as she straightened. In that moment, you did not care for the barrier that was going to break, deaf to the screeching of the wanderers or words shouted by the guys who were putting their lives on the line.
“Xavier,” Caleb warned.
“I see it,” he replied through clenched teeth.
Sylus didn’t even look back. His hands burned with volatile energy as he tore through two creatures at once, his voice cutting through the noise. “Then fix it faster.”
“I am,” Xavier snapped.
Another hit.
The crack deepened.
And then it shattered.
The sound rang out like glass exploding, fragments of light dissolving into nothing as the barrier collapsed completely. For a split second, everything stilled. Every head turned to you. Wanderers snarled but didn't attack as one would assume they should
“Y/N, don’t move-” Zayne started.
But adrenaline had already taken over. You ran
“Y/N!” Rafayel screamed
“Pips, what the hell are you doing?!”
“Get back here!” Zayne pleaded
Their voices collided behind you, panic breaking through their composure for the first time, but you didn’t stop. Your lungs burned as you sprinted across the fractured concrete, heart hammering violently against your ribs. A shadow lunged toward you from the side, massive and grotesque, and missed.
You stumbled, barely keeping your footing, eyes wide as the creature’s claws scraped the ground where you had just been. It didn’t follow through. It didn’t strike again. Instead, it moved to your side, cutting off your path.
Another dropped in front of you. They weren't trying to hurt you. They were herding you in corners.
Your theory was right.
You swallowed hard, forcing your body to keep moving. One wrong move and this would all fall apart. Another wanderer lunged, slower this time, deliberate, giving you just enough space to react. You dropped low, sliding beneath its reach, your hand scraping across the ground until your fingers closed around something sharp.
A broken shard of metal. Jagged. Solid.
Good enough.
You didn’t hesitate.
You ran straight toward her.
“Are you insane?!” Caleb’s voice cracked behind you.
“Y/N, stop!” Xavier shouted.
“What in the seven seas is wrong with you!!” Rafayel yelled, on the verge of collapsing
Even Sylus swore under his breath, something dark and furious threading through his tone.
But you didn’t stop.
You reached her.
MC barely moved as you approached, her head tilting in mild curiosity, as if she were watching something mildly entertaining. Her voice slipped out, layered and mocking. “Awh… What are you going to do with that? Hit me with it? You think that pathetic thing can hurt me?”
You didn’t answer. You raised the shard and pressed it against your own throat.
Everything froze.
The shift was immediate. Absolute.
The guys went still.
“Y/N… don’t,” Zayne said, his voice low, controlled, but you could hear the strain beneath it.
“Put that down,” Sylus added, his tone sharper, dangerous.
“That’s not funny,” Caleb snapped, though there was nothing light in his expression.
Xavier didn’t speak, but the way his light flickered told you enough.
“Seriosuly, what the heck is wrong with her?!!”
MC, however, only scoffed.
“I don’t care,” she said flatly. “You think I’d stop you? Go ahead.”
But you felt it.
That flicker.
That hesitation.
You stepped closer to her, pressing the metal just enough for it to bite into your skin. A thin line of red welled up instantly.
“Yes, you do,” you said quietly, your voice steady despite the way your hands trembled. “You don’t want me dead. Not now.”
She stilled.
“You would’ve killed me already if you did,” you continued, each word landing sharper than the last. “We wouldn’t be standing here. We wouldn’t be talking. I would’ve been gone the moment you brought me here-fucking hell you wouldn’t have brought me here”
Her head twitched slightly.
“You want me alive,” you said, taking another step forward, forcing her back this time. “You need me alive. Because this—” you gestured faintly with the hand holding the shard, despite the danger “—this is your game. Your entertainment.”
Her breathing hitched. Barely noticeable. But there.
“You don’t want it to end so quickly,” you finished softly.
For the first time, MC looked… shaken.
“No, that’s not—” she started, her voice overlapping, glitching between tones. “That’s not why—”
“It is,” you cut in, firmer now. “And you know it.”
Silence stretched, thick and suffocating.
Then you pushed the shard just a little deeper.
“Call them off,” you said.
Behind you, the battle had slowed, the wanderers hesitating, their movements faltering as if awaiting a command.
“Make them disappear.”
MC staggered back a step, her composure fracturing. “You- you wouldn’t- ”
“Try me, bitch.”
Another drop of blood slid down your throat.
That did it.
Her form flickered violently, like a broken signal. “Fine,” she snapped, her voice splintering. “Fine!”
The effect was immediate.
The wanderers stilled.
Then, one by one, they dissolved, their grotesque forms collapsing into wisps of dark mist that vanished into the air. The pressure lifted, the noise dying down until the warehouse fell into an eerie, ringing silence.
MC shot you one last look, a clear promise of return, and with that, she was gone.
AN:
A -comparatively- quick update???by me????during my final exams that's is??? *gasps and points gun at reflection"
Who am I and what have I done to myself?!?!?!
---
Ok now that I got that out of my system we have a little competition.
You may have read some dialogues in the fic and must have wondered "hmm who the heck said that?!?"
Well...that's for youuuuu to guess!! those of you who can guess the who said the below dialogues, yes both portions,would get a mini reward.
The dialogues are (hint: it's obviously not zayne because I had to specify his dialogues both time)
1- " oh dang it!!"
"fuck"
" oh, this just got very interesting "
" more like, annoying"
2- "you got it big boss"
" let's take positions"
"snowy over here taking charge...I like
it"
" let's dance...uggos"
Reward: A short highly personalized reaction/Imagine with your chosen LI.
First three to guess right will get it. Sooo comment your answers to take part!!
