Aurella Svaldes

29 {MDNI🔞} | She/They | bi+nb | Love and Deepspace ❄️🐦‍⬛| @AuraCoraZayne on Twitter NEW BLOG: httpa://tumblr.com/auracorazayne

[aurellas]

⭐ MOVED TO @auracorazayne ⭐

HELLO FRIENDS

I decided I wanted my Love and Deepspace blog to be a main blog instead of a side blog for interactiveness, so I have moved this blog over to @auracorazayne - this one will stay up but be inactive

[aurellas]

Zayne's called us good girl, but what if we flip the script? A drabble, kind of

--------------------------------

After several grueling weeks full of overtime hours for the both of you, you have a rare weekend off with Zayne that you planned to spend quietly at home, prioritizing your mutual rest and recovery.

That Friday, however, he ends up home incredibly late, an 18 hour shift under his belt. When you feel him finally slide into bed several hours after you fell asleep waiting for him, you can't help but sleepily pull him close, knowing he must be ragged with exhaustion.

You fall asleep together with your fingers running through his hair, thinking to yourself that at least you both get to sleep in tomorrow.

But when you wake a few short hours later to roll over, all you find in your room is the gray, hazy light of a very early dawn. As you tiptoe into the hall to investigate, the faint sounds of typing reach your ears from the cracked door of his office.

You quietly knock twice and lean against the door frame. "Did you get any sleep?"

He turns a quarter in his swivel chair and gives you his signature microsmile, his exhaustion achingly evident as he pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "A few hours, which were very restful with you by my side."

You sighed through your nose with exasperated fondness. As you open your mouth to gently chastise him, he cuts in.

"A few reports came up that needed review, I figured I could take care of them quickly and return to bed. I'll be done soon, you should go back to sleep."

You level him with an incredulous look as if to say, 'yeah, right, I've heard that before,' before walking to him to drop a gentle kiss to his hair. He gives your hip a squeeze as your eyes meet, your thumb brushing across his cheek with warm affection.

"You won't be doing anyone any favors if you run yourself into the ground, my love. Make sure you spend your weekend of rest actually resting," you chide softly with another brief kiss to his temple.

With that, you pull away and return to bed alone, drifting off to sleep with your face buried in his pillow.

When you open your eyes again several hours later, the sun has fully emerged and the world outside has joined you in waking. And once again, you find the bed distinctly lacking a snowman.

Just like earlier that morning, you find him still typing away in his office. Approaching his chair from behind, you wordlessly wrap your arms around his shoulders and tuck your face into the crook of his neck, leaving a few tender kisses.

His hand comes up to rest on your forearm, thumb brushing softly back and forth. "I'm sorry, darling, there were more reports than I realized," he says, sensing your impending finger wagging.

With no plans to extract yourself from him any time soon, you press a kiss just below his ear and murmur, "And is there a reason why they can't be reviewed by members of the department that are actually on the clock today? Doctors that already got their R and R while you were working overtime?"

There's a beat of silence and you can feel the way he ever so slightly tenses under you. "....No, I suppose there's no reason not to leave these to my colleagues..." An unspoken 'but' hangs heavy in the air.

"...but you want to feel helpful, and like you're not abandoning your team or your patients when you take time off for yourself," you finish for him, intimately familiar with this internal struggle he faces from time to time.

His only response is a tired sigh through his nose, his thumb still brushing circles on your arm.

You place a lingering kiss to his cheek. "It's helpful to your team to be rested and refreshed when you return to work. You cover for them when they're resting, let them return the favor like a team is meant to."

He sighs, heavier this time, and after a brief moment, opens a chat window on his computer to send a brief sign off message and put the machine to sleep.

He spins his chair, swiveling within your embrace to face you fully.

You smile brightly at him and lightly trace your knuckle along his jaw. "Good boy."

How does he react?

[littlefrenchiestar]

Prompt: drawing on the lads men while they sleep -> part.1 (Xavier,Zayne) Warnings: suggestive (hehe) A/N: I've been stuck on this prompt for a while, so I decided to just post what I had written so far. Part 2 coming later! Hope you enjoy, cuties! 💕

Xavier💫 -> 681 words

“I’m home,” you said loudly as you closed the door behind you. It had been a long day at work, and all you wanted was to cuddle with your sweet boyfriend and the couch.

“Xavier ?” You took off your shoes before walking into the living room, looking for him. Weird—he usually reads a book on the couch while waiting for you to come back.

“Babe?” you called softly, walking down the corridor toward your bedroom and opening the door gently. And there he was, in all his sleepy beauty — the sun caressing his angelic face, his t-shirt slightly raised as his hand rested beneath it. You let your gaze linger on him for a few seconds before walking over to his side of the bed.

Letting your bag drop to the floor, you sat at the edge of the mattress, gently brushing away the few sweaty strands from his forehead. He nuzzles his face into your hand, still in a deep sleep, he was really cute like that, you thought before a mischievous idea came into your mind. 

You leaned to grab your bag,rummaging around, before pulling out a pen.Removing the cork with your teeth before gently taking his hand, the one that wasn't under his shirt, placing it on your thigh so you could have some support. You started by drawing some stars on his hands, adding a bunny hopping on them before focusing on your final masterpiece, a small doodle of Lumière. 

You must have chuckled a little bit too loudly because you start to feel his hand squeeze slightly your thigh.  

“Hi,” Xavier’s voice was rough as he pulled himself from sleep. A smile slowly crept across his face as he took in your figure, squeezing you a little tighter.

“Hi,” you said, trying to hide your mischievous act behind a bright smile as you leaned in to kiss him. He eased into the kiss, his hand sliding from your thigh to your hair, pulling you toward him as close as he could, before suddendly pulling back.

“What did you do ?” he asked, looking at you suspiciously, eyeing you up and down. 

“Nothing!” you giggled, straddling him and moving his hand to your back. 

He moved his head to the crook of your neck, placing his lips right where your pulse beat the strongest. You felt a shiver run down your spine as he nipped at the skin.

“You’re lying.” “Did you just—” “Yes, I did. And you’re either lying or arou—”

You planted your hand over his mouth. “Xavier you can’t say things like that !” You felt him smile beneath your palm before he slid his hand from your back to take yours away. 

It was then that he noticed the small drawings on his hand, and his smile grew wider—until his eyes fell on the drawing of Lumière. His smile disappeared, and his eyebrows furrowed.

You didn’t have time to open your mouth to defend yourself before Xavier’s arms wrapped around you, twirling you around. Your back hit the mattress where it had been just seconds before, and you could still feel the warmth of his body against the sheets.

Your eyes settled on his almost feverish gaze and the way only one of his hands caressed your body while he let the other dangle as if it were no longer part of him.

“You had to draw him on my dominant hand, princess. Well, that’s going to be a little more difficult than usual, but there’s no way I’d let him touch you.”

“Babe, Xavier, that’s literally yo—ah!” You felt a small pinch on your side, not enough to really hurt but enough to stop you from finishing your sentence. “Did you just pinch me?!” you asked with a chuckle.

“Yes, I did, and you are in no position to make a complaint, Miss Hunter,” he said as he leaned in to kiss you again. And when you kissed him back and he caught your lip between his teeth, you knew you were in for a ride.

Zayne❄️→ 833 words

You had decided to surprise Zayne at his work; he had been overworking himself for quite some time and barely had time to rest. You missed spending time with him, he was working on some project to improve the hospital’s management and patient reception, as well as create a  better space for families so they can be close to their sick loved ones while feeling comfortable and supported.

Behind his cold demeanor, he truly had a heart of gold, and your job as an incredible girlfriend was to take care of him just as much as he took care of his patients and you.

That’s why you were currently heading to the hospital, as the sun was setting over the city, your footsteps echoing through the deserted streets as you took the final turn leading to the hospital. You were wrapped in a thick coat, carrying two bowls of soup and several cupcakes you had taken the time to prepare earlier that afternoon.

You walked through the sliding doors, offering a polite hello toward the front desk before stepping into the elevator, which had just opened to reveal a few familiar doctors you'd seen before. You gave them a small smile before entering. The ascent was quick, the soft sound of jazz filling the small space.

You were so excited to see him you couldn’t stop smiling as you walked toward the door of his office.

You knocked enthusiastically. “Zayne?”

No response. You knocked again. Still nothing.

You turned the doorknob, hoping you weren’t disturbing him.

"Zayne?" you called again, taking careful steps into the room before noticing him in the corner — slouched in his armchair, his legs casually stretched out on the footrest. He had changed into something more comfortable — a plain black cotton t-shirt and pajama shorts. He was probably planning to sleep there, even though his shift was over. Your eyes settled on his long legs, marked with a few thin scars, and an idea began to form in your mind.

You grabbed a pen and the rolling stool, sliding over to him with a smile on your lips and settling beside him. You used the stool’s lever to lower yourself as much as possible, letting your arm rest on the edge of the footrest. Then, you began to draw, focusing on the shape of climbing ivy and the snowflakes you traced along his leg, making sure each one was unique. You added seals on each knee, and they were sending kisses to each other -so cute. 

After a few minutes, you became lost in your inspiration; drawing snowflakes was truly relaxing. Then, a hand came to rest on your head, gently caressing your hair.

“Are you having fun ?” He asked rhetorically, looking at you with a “Are you serious?” kind of expression, but with a hint of tenderness still in his eyes.

“Yes, a lot actually,” you answered, letting your head rest on his legs, his hand still tangled in your hair. “I brought back soup and cupcakes”

“You didn’t have to.” Zayne twirled a strand of your hair around his finger. “I know, but I missed you and wanted to take care of you.” “That’s why you broke into my office to commit your mischief,” he said, pinching your cheek. “It’s not breaking and entering if the door isn’t locked,” you retorted, trying to playfully pull away from his grasp. 

He let out a small laugh before scanning your drawings on his legs. “I can see those are snowflakes, but what is this on my knee?”

“Those are clearly seals!” you exclaimed, standing up indignantly before he caught your arm, pulling you toward him, making you land on his lap. “I know, I’m joking, love.” You weren’t sure if he really meant it or if it was just to stop you from sulking.He gently touched your cheek. “By the way, you should have waited for it to dry before resting your head on my legs.” You now had pieces of snowflakes and some ivy leaves on your cheek—the ink had smudged a little on your skin. 

“At least we match” you chuckled, putting your cheek against his. “At least…” His hand came gently under your chin, turning your face toward his, pulling you into a quick kiss.

“What’s that for?” you asked, a blush spreading across your face, your lips still hovering over each other. Zayne raised an eyebrow playfully. “Do I need a reason to kiss my girlfriend?” You opened your mouth to respond, but he beat you to it. “And if I even needed one, which I don’t, you brought  sweets.” As he spoke, he guided one of your legs to straddle him.

“Yes, I put them on your des—”

“I wasn’t talking about the food,” he started to trail kisses down your neck.

“Oh.” your hand found its place on his shoulder squeezing the muscle slightly as he nipped on your collarbone.

Maybe you were going to spend the night here too.

[wolfofcelestia]

i wonder if we’d have a stage after devotion for the affinity. i wanna be able to call my husband “husband” in-game :’))

I definitely hope so because the way we got the rings at affinity 100 felt like it was just another accessory, not something that symbolizes them actually proposing to us??

We should've gotten a whole proposal scene!!

The placements of the rings are the actual engagement/wedding ring placements in Chinese culture so it's not like a promise ring kind of thing. It's the real deal

So why did we just fish the ring out of Zayne's pocket when he had his hands full ajdksjskshsk

Can't believe Zayne would really tell us to "do it yourself" for something so important as an engagement ring. This might be leftover from his release personality where he's basically emotionless but the Zayne we know now is much more romantic than... Whatever this is

There's space on their fingers for a second ring though, and that ring category in the accessories box is awfully empty, so we SHOULD get a new affinity benchmark with a second ring at least

[aurellas]

If I'm not mistaken, the middle finger is actually usually used to show someone is dating or engaged and then move to the ring finger when they're actually married, which is why I think they're more nonchalant about these and only refer to them as couples rings. They feel more akin to, like, friend bracelets in terms of significance lol. Engagements and proposals also tend to work a little differently than Western cultures too I think, though seems like younger couples are picking it up more. But I wouldn't be surprised if this is the closest we get to an engagement phase before a possible wedding banner somewhere down the road that might feel a bit abrupt to some of us more used to Western engagements. It's also possible Infold would put out some kind of proposal event in between there for the cash, who knows lol. I do agree though, I'd like more of an advancement level and omfg I'd KILL to get a proposal banner let alone a wedding banner 💀 Zayne said he wants to spend the next decade with us HE BETTER MAKE IT HAPPEN LET'S GO

[aurellas]

OKAY I have a headcanon request for any Love and Deepspace writers looking for any...

The boys reactions to you pulling your bra off through your shirt??? 👀

If anyone has any links to anything like this that already exists, I'd be forever in your debt 💜🥰

[sodapopkiss6]

LAD guys at a Mexican party

(This is based on mine and some general experiences. Ofc not everyone have the exact same. This is just some fun hcs 🙏😋 Translation * and context at the end)

Zayne

Your family loves the fact that hes a doctor, sometimes they walk up to him to ask questions. But he doesn't mind, professionally, he answers them. He gets teased a bit for how tense and quiet he is at first, but after some visits they get him to relax and have fun.

This time when the two of you walk into the party he instantly gets pulled away by the tías for a debate. Asking for his professional input. While talking he gets offered sweet drinks, which of course has alcohol in them. But they taste so sweet and good he can't find the will to not drink them.

When you stop by to check on him his dazed eyes and flushed cheeks tell you all you need to know. You take his hands and guide him away, making the tías giggle.

You plan to take him home, but instead he pulls you close as some bachata plays. His body presses against yours, lips lazily kissing your cheek and neck. What catches you off guard though, is when you hear him sing softly into your ear, his pronunciation almost perfect. You're instantly flustered, making him smirk victoriously.

"Let's go home" his hand sneaks down to gently squeeze your hip "Mi amor*"

Sylus

He always talks to everyone, he knows how important family is to you. He always leaves a good impression, showing them that you are very loved and safe. He's quickly welcomed into the family, getting along well with them.

He hangs out a lot with your older cousins, accepting the drinks that were offered to him. You watch them talk, smiling at how at ease he looks.

The night progresses and he feels a little too calm. He's usually more mindful of how much he drinks. He felt needy, like a part of him was missing, excusing himself, he searched for you.

You suddenly feel strong arms wrap around you in a hug.

"Missed you, love you"

You hold back a giggle, patting his head that is now nuzzling into your neck.

"Aw my poor baby" you peck his forehead "let's go home, you can have me all to yourself"

"What do you have in mind princesa*?"

Your breath hitches at the nickname, "why don't you come and find out?" You walk away before he can see the blush that's adorned your cheeks.

The two of you quickly and safely make it home.

Xavier

The first couple times you brought him to your family gatherings you could tell he was a little overwhelmed. He got used to it over time but still the parties could be a bit too overestimating.

He wasn't the only one though, some of your younger cousins and nephews felt the the same. So everytime after he said his greetings and made some small talk he would go to hang out with your cousins and nephews. They would play videogames, board games or watch TV.

This time though when you went in to check up on him he wasn't in the room with them. You looked around the house until finally you found him in a bedroom, he was lying down and next to him was a small baby, one of your nephews. He kept the baby close and protected, the two of them sleeping peacefully.

Your heart melts at the sight. Closing the door, you walk over to the bed and lay on the other side, the baby between you both. Xavier instinctively pulls the baby towards him and opens his eyes, alarmed. However, he relaxes as soon as he meets your eyes. Silently, he pulls you close as well, careful to not squish the baby. He goes back to sleep while guarding you both.

You quietly laugh and close your eyes, falling asleep. You'd talk to Xavier later about the idea of having your own little one.

Rafayel

He normally stays near you, but when the tías pull him aside to ask about his work you know he'll be stuck in a conversation for hours. Your family likes his pieces and even commission some. But of course while talking he gets offered drinks, he makes sure to not pass his limit though. Spotting you he walks over.

"Hey cutie, do you know where the water is?"

"Water" you think for a second "probably in one of the coolers"

The two of you check them one by one. You quietly laugh when Rafayel groans.

"There's just beer!"

"Why don't you drink the melted ice in the cooler, same thing" you snicker

"Gross" he pouts "cutie I'm thiirstyy"

"Okay okay" you laugh "how about soda?"

He crosses his arms "finee"

You take his hand "come on, let's go to the kitchen"

His fingers interlace with yours, holding on to you tighter. With a smile he follows you inside.

Caleb

He loves going to the parties with you, seeing you so at ease and happy him happy. He also has fun at them, every one is so inviting and cheerful it makes him feel like he belongs too. One of the things he loves most of these parties though is dancing with you. He practiced hard to be the perfect partner for you, and also so you wouldn't dance with others but that's besides the point.

When 'payaso de rodeo*' starts to play he spawns in next to you. You raise an eyebrow at him, looking at the sombrero on his head.

"A gift" he smiles.

"It looks good on you" you smile back.

The two of you keep talking while you dance, occasionally singing along. Towards the end of the dance you take the sombrero off of him and place it on your head. He chuckles in response, not thinking much about it at first. But then the song ends and adjusting the sombrero you walk away, looking back once to wink at him. He blinks confused for a second then chuckles darkly in realization.

He runs up to you to capture you in his arms "Where do you think you're going?"

"Home, I want to go to sleep" you bite down a smile.

"Ay mi vida*" his voice lowers to a whisper "you're not getting any sleep tonight... isn't that why you took this?" He taps the sombrero.

"You figured it out"

"You're not exactly subtle"

"So what's your answer?"

He doesn't respond, instead picking you up bridal style, carrying you to his car.

Translation/Context:

Mi amor: My love

Princesa: Princess

Context for Xavier: A lot of times in parties at houses you will find sleeping babies in bedrooms. You'll just be looking for a place to chill, walk in and see a baby on the bed.

Context for Rafayel: There is water but it's hard to find at parties. Everyone usually drinks alcohol, soda or coffee. So when you check the coolers there's just beer.

Payaso de rodeo: A popular song that almost everyone knows the steps to. When it starts to play everyone runs to the dance floor.

Ay mi vida: oh my life (affectionate nickname)

Context for Caleb: Taking the sombrero off a man and putting it on can mean different things depending on context, culture etc. In this case it means MC/You find him attractive and want to go home with him.

Holy essay✌️😭 i think this is one of my longer ones. But ngl it was pretty fun. I js know these men would get caught off guard at first and ts so funny to me. Anyways always remember to

Drink responsibly and don't drive if you drink 🗣🔥‼️

MC was sober and was the one driving the guys home😌

Aight that's it for now

[aurellas]

Omfg I was JUST thinking about something similar like 2 hours ago! I'm Cuban and was just thinking about how poor Zayne would handle a boisterous family get together and this pretty much nailed it 😂 but oh my lord if this man started speaking Spanish in my ear? I'd be dead on the floor in an INSTANT, holy shit

[pegging-satan]

Ok I’ll say it Zayne’s definitely the kind to very subtly, insistently tease you in public until you’re a MESS. And then he acts all innocent like “what? This is inappropriate” etc etc. and he loves doing it because he loves seeing you like that. He’ll never admit it. But when you initiate something? Bonus points if it’s in a public/semi-public place? Oh he’s not stopping you 😋

[lads-in-too-deep]

😍😍

[lyricelli]

Dr. Zayne is Oblivious

Summary: MC is trying so hard to pursue (seduce??) Zayne but he is just so oblivious to her antics it's almost painful

unresolved sexual tension. minors DNI please

Ao3 link

-----

"Hello Miss Hunter! It's good to see you again. You don't have an appointment today do you? I don't see you on the schedule."

"Hey Yvonne!" Her cheerful voice echoed down the hallway. "I've just here to have lunch with Dr. Zayne."

She had insisted on doing so as a way to pay him back for treating her to pastries a few days prior. Thankfully the Saturday shift so far had been quiet, so Zayne was looking forward to a proper lunch break.

He looks over to the doorway expectantly. She arrives a moment later, one hand carrying a plastic bag, and the other carefully balancing a takeout tray of 2 boba teas. She's wearing a tight low-cut black dress with spaghetti straps that accentuates her curves beautifully.

"Ah, let me help you." He rushes over to take the tray out of her hand and places it gently on his desk.

Zayne can't help but wonder if she has a date with a man after. This dress reveals so much skin that he feels a knot of jealousy over whoever got so lucky to win her attention.

"Thanks again for bringing lunch. What did you end up choosing?" He settles back down into his chair.

"It's grilled chicken curry with rice. It's one of my favorites! The restaurant is really close to my apartment so I get their takeout often. We can go together sometime, if you'd like?"

She sets the bag down on her side of the desk, and leans over to undo the knot on the plastic bag. From this angle her voluptuous breasts are front and center, cleavage dramatically imposing on his vision.

"Let me try it first," Zayne responds with a blush as he looks back at the report on his monitor for a moment to keep the unclean thoughts at bay.

She sits dowwn across from him and hands him his tray. The curry looks and tastes absolutely delicious, and it indeed deserves the praise. Zayne is hungry from skipping his usual mid-morning snacks, so he focuses on eating quickly as they chat about the recent movie that has been a huge hit. He tries so hard to be respectful and not glance over at her cleavage.

"I brought you jasmine tea boba for dessert. That's the one you like right? I asked them for 150% sugar, but is that too much? Should I have asked for 100%?" she asks as she hands his over to him.

"No, this is perfect. Thank you."

She has both her hands clasped around her cup, as if savoring the cool touch. But this pose is dangerous - it's lifting her breasts and plumping up her cleavage even more. As he looks back at her face, he realizes she caught him sneaking a glance. His ears turn red but he doesn't know what to say. His eyes are locked on her, watching her every move. She glances down at her cup for a moment to place her left hand on the straw. She locks eyes with him as she wiggles the straw up and down, as if to mix the ice and flavors inside. It's such an innocent gesture, isn't it? One that should not warrant any notice, but she is just so… captivating. It's unfair. The blue nail polish on her perfectly manicured fingertips. The way her chest gently rises and falls with each measured breath. Her pink lips slightly parted.

Her eyes glitter as she looks at him expectantly. She raises the cup towards her and takes a sip. As she does so, a drop of condensation falls onto her breast.

"Excuse me a moment. I need to use the restroom." He dashes off. The unholy thoughts won.

-----

Thanks for reading! This is my first fic but I am actually really happy with how it turned out. LMK what you think :D

[aurellas]

"Zayne can't help but wonder if she has a date with a man after," SIR, SHE COULD AND THAT MAN COULD BE YOU 🗣️😂

I love pre-relationship tension and oblivious Zayne, so good 👌

[snowvee]

──── 𝑭𝑹𝑨𝑮𝑹𝑨𝑵𝑻 𝑷𝑶𝑺𝑺𝑬𝑺𝑺𝑰𝑶𝑵

╰ 𝒁𝒂𝒚𝒏𝒆 LOVE AND DEEPSPACE: SPRING AND FLOWERS

[aurellas]

When I see Zayne sleeping at the cafe, I'm filled with the overwhelming desire to gently stroke his hair and wake him up with a kiss to his temple, a kiss to his cheek, until he's sleepily blinking at me.

Switching this scenario to be at home, I'd wordlessly set his laptop aside on the coffee table, take his hand, and guide him to the bedroom. I'd make him sit down at the edge and slowly help him undress while he's still groggy with sleep, placing a few gentle kisses as I go.

Then I'd grab him his PJs, fluff his pillows, and tuck him in to bed with another kiss to his temple before joining him and snuggling up together under the covers 🩵

I'm narcoleptic, I'm literally a medically diagnosed Sleepy Bitch, so sleeping with Zayne is on my mind 24/7. I just know it would be SO relaxing to fall asleep with him, either with my head on his chest and his fingers running through my hair, or vice versa when his exhaustion needs taking care of 🥰

[sweetcalebb]

zayne is jealouss !

you're at a study session with zayne and a few other classmates. you think everything is fine, but zayne is completely losing it <3

college au!

⋆˙⟡

Zayne was never one for jealousy. Never. He had nothing to be jealous of.

So for a moment, he couldn't tell what it was he felt when he watched you, giggling at something your classmate said. Couldn't name the disgusting churning in his gut, or the even worse tightening in his chest.

Just knew it wasn't... right. Unfamiliar.

Zayne swallowed hard, adjusting the collar of his shirt as if that might beat back the heat crawling up his neck and turning back to his laptop.

He should’ve stayed home. Said he was busy. Anything to get out of this. He worked better when he was alone, anyway.

Well..

He worked better alone. With you.

His eyes darted up to you. Quick. Fast. The kind of look anyone would miss if they didn't know Zayne well enough. He looked away, jaw ticking.

Get a grip.

Zayne had no right to feel this... whatever it was. You weren't his.

But you kept laughing.

Kept getting distracted from your work.

Kept distracting Zayne from his work.

He sat there, eyes skimming over the pages like he was actually reading, but he wasn't. He couldn't. Everything was just a jumble of letters and broken syllables.

Then he said something again—another joke probably. And you laughed. Again. Zayne's grip on his pen tightened, knuckles turning white.

What could possibly be so funny, anyway?

Quiet conversations buzzed around him. Classmates helping each other, talking about the latest lectures, but he was focused on you.

You with the upward curl of your lips and crinkle of your eyes.

Zayne wasn't looking at you. He couldn't.

But he could picture it. Because he knew that look. Seen it a thousand times and burned it into his mind and now some other guy was—

Zayne sighed, bringing his fingers up to his temple and rubbing small circles. He couldn't think right. And it was all because of you. Because you were sitting across from him, sounding sickeningly comfortable with someone else.

"Zaaayne."

Zayne blinked, turning to the girl beside him.

"Where did you get that answer?"

He blinked, his gaze drifting toward you. You were already looking at him, that sweet smile pulling at your lips. The devastating kind.

Zayne swallowed hard, turning back toward the girl. "Page 45."

The girl grinned. "Thank you!"

"Mm."

Zayne looked at you again. He hated himself for it, but he couldn't help himself. And there it was again, that smile that made his breath catch and his chest squeeze.

You shouldn't have such an effect on him. Because while he was losing his mind thinking about you and the little things he tried so hard to forget but just couldn't, you were completely oblivious. Unbothered.

He wanted to be unbothered too.

Zayne's throat worked around nothing as he stood up. He couldn't do this anymore.

Your eyes followed him. "Are you heading back now?"

Zayne didn't look at you. Just nodded a quiet, "Yeah," as he shoved his laptop into his bag a little too hard. He didn't mean to.

And of course, you decided to leave with him.

The walk back to your dorm was quiet. Zayne was quieter. He was still reeling, still feeling the sting of your laughter deep in his gut.

"Did I do something?"

Zayne blinked down at you, his lips parting on a silent breath. "Why do you ask?"

"I don't know.." You shrugged. "You're just.. quieter than usual."

Zayne sighed, his brows pinching together slightly. "No. You didn't do anything."

"Okay, then what's wrong?"

Zayne hesitated. Because what was he supposed to say? 'I didn't like the way you laughed for another guy.' That was obsessive. Borderline toxic, if he really squinted.

"Nothing."

He could feel your stare boring into the side of his head, but he didn't look. If he did, he'd crack.

"Zayne."

His pulse jumped. His name sounded different this time. Stern. A warning disguised as softness.

Zayne let out a soft exhale. "It..." He paused, heart pounding in his chest. "It just got loud."

Your steps slowed. "Loud..?"

There was a beat of silence, the cold air nipping at his skin as he waited for something else, for you to call out his bullshit again, even if he wasn't completely lying.

"You mean.. me? Was I being too loud?"

Silence.

"Zayne."

"You just.." His sentence trailed off when he looked at you again. You looked upset—brows furrowed together, lips pursed with a frown, eyes a little softer. He bit the inside of his cheek before tearing his gaze away. "It’s not important."

He shoved his hands in his coat, letting them fist into tight balls, as if that might help keep everything down. "You did nothing."

Then silence again. But it was uncomfortable now. Heavy, like both of you were just waiting to snap.

"I'm not your boyfriend."

The world seemed to still. Because what the hell possessed him to blurt that out? To say something so brazen and so mortifyingly embarrassing?

"..What?"

That was all you could say.

Zayne's head spun. He couldn't stop now. For all the restraint he'd worked so hard for, he was still weak.

"I don't have any right to feel.. the way I feel when you.." The words died on his tongue. "I know I shouldn't.."

"Feel what, Zayne? You're not.." You paused—and then your lips curled into a slow, dawning smile. And Zayne saw it from the corner of his eye, the way you finally seemed to get it.

A blush crept up his cheeks. Red. Warm.

"Wait. Are you.. jealous?"

Zayne stared at you. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. He was blanking. He was blanking so hard. Before he could make himself look any dumber, he turned away. "Don't look at me like that."

You couldn't help the squeal that bubbled out of your chest. Zayne should've been annoyed, should've reminded you that you guys were on campus, but he didn't.

"You're jealous!"

"It's not a big deal," Zayne muttered, his cheeks growing hotter as he stepped into the dorm building with you.

"Not a big deal?" you scoffed. "Zayne has a little crush on me and I'm supposed to act normal?"

A subtle smile tugged at his lips. You were cute. Infuriatingly cute.

"Don't get ahead of yourself." His smile faltered when he realized you guys were at your dorm already. He inhaled, a pang of disappointment settling in his chest.

You stopped outside, smiling. Zayne was cute when he was flustered. "Zayne."

"Yes?"

"You have every right to be jealous." Zayne froze, his heart stuttering in his chest. He couldn't read your tone. Couldn't tell whether you were joking or if this was a confession.

"Because I've been jealous too. For months. And I didn't know if I was allowed to be."

You were going to ruin him. Zayne knew it then when you told him that, all soft and pleading. And honestly? He knew he'd let you. Would willingly fall right into it.

And as if he wasn't already reeling, you continued, "I wanted to be."

A small silence settled over you. Zayne was still trying to process everything, and you were trying to fight back the furious blush spreading across your cheeks. Then, slowly, you leaned up, cupped his face, and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"Goodnight, Zayne."

Zayne blinked, lips parting. "Hm—Uh—Goodnight.."

He stood there for a second after you closed the door, blinking.

Your face flashed in his mind. The sweet little smile that curled your lips. The pretty pink tint of your lips. Then the way you squealed when he admitted he was jealous.

You liked him. You actually liked him back.

Zayne let out a huff, his chest swelling.

You liked him.

[xaviesstarlight]

Infold needs to release a Cat Caretaker Part II where MC is the one who’s cursed by the kitty evol. I can just imagine how the LIs would react:

Rafayel

Absolutely waking up to his worst nightmare. His beloved bride is a cat, a horrible monster.

But she would be his cat. He would take care of MC and make sure she has everything she needs while staying with him for the week.

No painting would be done to Thomas’s dismay. MC is chasing seagulls down the beach and constantly knocking over Rafayel’s paint brushes when inside (when she’s not trying to fish Reddit out of the fish tank).

Rafayel just gives up getting any work done and cooks MC a seafood feast.

The worst part for him is that MC refuses to get in the water when he tries to get them both to take a bath. He is distraught that he cannot share his favorite time of day with her anymore.

Xavier

You think Xavier forgot how MC left him while he was cursed as a cat? Think again. He would make sure MC doesn’t forget and will stay by her side 24/7. Xavier wouldn’t abandon his kitty.

Their days are full of nonstop sleeping. Xavier already has the sleeping habits of a cat. He is in heaven being able to cuddle and nap with MC all day.

That is until she gets super hyper and is running around the apartment at 3 am and wanting to play video games.

Xavier decides he is going to cook fish for MC. Of course it is inedible to even a cat, so they just get take out again.

Zayne

For the man who loves cats, he is living the dream to take on the caretaker role for MC.

They cuddle in bed, he makes sure she is healthy and comfortable in her current state, and he buys MC snacks to satisfy her kitty cravings, including sharing super sweet desserts.

Of course, MC doesn’t forget how Zayne didn’t let her pet his kitty ears. She takes revenge by doing the same to him.

Zayne sighs in quiet resignation to not being able to pet her ears. MC eventually gives in and allows him to do so.

She also visits Zayne at work and surprises the kids in pediatrics. Everyone loves seeing her ears.

Sylus

We all know Sylus loves taking care of cats and his kitten. When MC shows up at his place with cat ears, he immediately demands she stays with him until she recovers.

He constantly smirks when calling MC his kitten, which happens a lot more than usual.

Sylus does panic when MC begins chasing after Mephisto around the base.

MC also sits in Sylus’s lap, kneading his stomach while he’s trying to work in his office.

His kitten is a distraction, but she’s a welcomed distraction.

Caleb

MC decides to stay with Caleb in Skyhaven while recovering from the curse.

Of course, we already know he would take care of her so she wouldn’t have to lift a finger.

They would watch movies while cuddling on the couch, and MC would follow Caleb everywhere around the apartment. He wouldn’t be able to even shower alone without MC being in the bathroom with him (not that he’d mind).

But watch out though. Caleb would keep his promise from the main story to put a bell on her so she couldn’t run away.

[deepspace-scenarios]

[scenario/drabble] Take a bite

LIs react when you have a squabble with them and use "bite me" as a retort. (You give them an opportunity, and they gladly take it) Genre: Fluff, TW: suggestiveness

SYLUS

The argument over which movie to watch dissolves into playful bickering, and Sylus lounges on the couch with that infuriating smirk.

He agreed to watch your pick right after casually commenting on how it is overrated.

"Bite me," you huff, crossing your arms. His crimson eyes darken instantly. 

"Oh, kitten," he murmurs, closing the distance between you languidly. "You shouldn't make that sort of threat."

Before you can react, his teeth graze your neck- just sharp enough to make you gasp. He pulls back slightly, and you feel his tongue dart out to soothe the skin. "Still feeling stubborn?" 

His hand slides up the back of your neck. "Or should I leave more marks to prove my point?" 

A thrilling wave of excitement curls through you, and you can't hide the grin that spreads over your face. “Is that a threat or a promise?”

He exhales, slow and measured, backing you into the corner of the couch. “It can be anything, kitten... But I can see that you want it. So it doesn’t change what I’m going to do,”

You tilt your chin up in a challenge. “Go ahead then, I’d love to see you prove your point,”

“As you wish,” he murmurs, lips touching your pulse point before he sinks his teeth into the soft skin, letting out a low hum when your fingers thread into his silver locks. 

“Someone's enjoying themselves,” he purrs, warm breath fanning over your skin as he nips at the sensitive patch again. 

Then the warmth vanishes, along with his looming presence. He reappears, leaning back against the couch just next to you.

Red-black mist coils around your waist, and you find yourself being seated, facing the TV, on his lap.

“Regardless, we still have to watch the movie,”

You scramble off with a huff, then straddle his lap- facing him this time. “I'm not watching any stupid movie when you are doing all that. Like you said, I was enjoying myself there-”

He smirks, hands finding their way around your waist.

“It's good to see you being honest about it, kitten. I like that.” His lips graze your collarbone, and you let out a shaky breath as he starts creating one out of many red imprints that bloom on your skin.

_____

XAVIER

The groceries on the counter are separated into two neat piles- yours, his. Not that it matters too much, you two are in each other's apartments often enough that snacks are always shared. But the groceries aren't for tonight, since it'll be your weekly night out with Xavier.

You’re debating the best BBQ restaurant in the city, and he is stubbornly saying nothing can compare to wagyu yakiniku when you snap, "Bite me!" 

Xavier blinks, then tilts his head like you’ve presented him with a fascinating riddle. 

"If you insist," he murmurs, and in less than a blink he is lifting your wrist to his mouth. His teeth press gently into your skin, more a caress than a bite. 

When he pulls back slightly, his lips brush the spot. "There," he muses. 

“Xavi!” You laugh, half-heartedly flicking his forehead.

"Done as requested.”

“But Xavi,” you argue, unaware of the heat in his downcast eyes. “K-BBQ is still the best to me,”

“Alright,” he says placidly, fingers tracing your skin, gaze still on your wrist.

Then he bites.

You gasp, instinctively yanking your hand back- but his grip is tight.

“Isn't this what you asked me to do?” He asks, blue eyes finally meeting yours in that familiar soft, innocent gaze.

But you know better.

You narrow your eyes at him, “Don't you gaslight me,”

“I concede, whatever you choose is better,” he says distractedly, eyes dark as he pulls you closer. “If you let me have just one more bite- I'll agree to go to whichever restaurant you pick,”

He lets you pick the restaurant- but he also leaves far more than just one bite.

____

ZAYNE  

It’s a weekend where Zayne has both days off, and he’s at yours, planning out your day. Visiting a bookstore, then a stroll in the park, grocery shopping, then dinner. Problem is, he doesn’t want to go to the new cafe despite its stellar reviews for both sweets and drinks.

"Bite me," you grumble after losing yet another debate on why the cafe’s carrot cakes are worth a try. It’s the third attempt this week at persuading him to go.

Even if you’d put a slideshow together on reasons why it’s worth, he probably wouldn’t budge. 

Zayne glances at you, his gaze cool and tinged with the slight judgement. "Unhygienic." But then his grip tightens on your waist, pulling you flush against him. 

"However," he says, voice dropping, "if you’re requesting a demonstration of my jaw strength-" 

His teeth sink into your shoulder, just shy of painful. You yelp, arching against him, and he smirks against your skin. 

Dammit. He really hates carrots enough to play dirty- and now you have another problem. You like it.

"I can stop." He murmurs, lips brushing where he'd just bitten.

You inhale a shaky breath as you grip his arms. “Zayne-”

“Mm?”

“Do it again,” you whisper, letting your fingers trail up his forearms.

His breath hitches, and his eyes turn sharper. “I wasn't expecting such a strong effect,”

“You're the one changing the independent variable, doctor Zayne,”

He sits you on the kitchen counter and mouths at another patch of skin- just near your collarbone, “More data is needed to support this hypothesis, then,”

Between kisses and bites, you hazily think- maybe your effort in persuading him is worth it in the end.

_____

RAFAYEL 

There’s no doubt Rafayel had incredible talent, but the price of art could be baffling at times. Especially the amounts people were willing to shell out during auctions. 

You took a playful jab at him about his abstract painting just as you were unwrapping a few sandwiches and pastries to share with him. This led to the food being forgotten, and Rafayel’s passionate vent on why abstract art had its place. 

You play along, genuinely interested in his perspective- but enjoying his reactions even more.

"Bite me!" you retort mid-argument.

Rafayel gasps, clutching his chest. "Savage!" 

Then he grins, wicked. "But since you asked so boldly..." In a flash, he’s pinned you to the couch, nipping at your collarbone.

You squirm, trying to kick at him half-heartedly.

"Mmm, delicious," he hums against your skin.

“Don’t eat me, food’s right there!”

His laughter is bright as you shove him off, but he's quick to hook an arm around your waist and bring you onto his lap. “Food can wait,” he says before biting down lightly on your skin again.

When you try to flick him on the forehead, he catches your wrist. “Hey now, you tried to talk smack about art, and now you’re going back on your word- that’s two strikes in one shift, Miss Bodyguard,”

You drop a quick kiss onto his forehead, and he lets out a small huff. “That wasn’t your bodyguard speaking, she’s very professional. It’s just me now,”

“In that case, cutie-” His lips capture yours in a kiss, his eyes promising he’s far from done. “I hope you’re ready for more.”

_____

CALEB 

It was one time that you got lost on the way to meet him, and Caleb has never let you live it down ever since. He has his car keys in hand, ready to leave home, when you tell him you can guide him to the new ramen shop. And here he is, grinning at you with his arms crossed.

Your sense of direction is perfectly fine.

"Bite me," you challenge. 

Caleb’s grin turns wolfish. "You sure?" he asks, already crowding you against the wall. 

You nod- of course you know your way around the city. He can't keep holding a single incident against you.

Caleb, however, has other things on his mind. He ducks his head, his teeth scraping your earlobe. 

“Caleb- what are you doing?!”

“You told me to,” he murmurs, his breath hot against your skin. You find yourself suppressing a shiver.

“Not literally!” You yelp when he bites again, this time at the soft skin below your ear.

"Damn, pips," he murmurs, "Should’ve remembered you taste this good-”

You feel your face heat up from hearing his voice, low and rough- the way it gets when he's ready to toss aside any plans for you- what follows is usually dizzying pleasure.

“You're getting all quiet now,” he teases, pulling you in.

“Caleb- wait, dinner-”

His hands roam lower, pulling you in. "Do you really think I’d pass up on a chance like this? Now... where else should I bite?"

(Note: this was inspired by how it's technically canon that Sylus is bitey and I thought hm well what if something made all of them want to bite? and it turned out very fun to write teehee thanks for reading <3)

[aurellas]

I need Zayne to bite my neck so bad

[aurellas]

Just mentioned this thought on Twitter but bringing it over here too

...There's an implication in Death and Rebirth that Zayne has some influence over the weather, and also a loose implication in Absolute Zeal I think, but both were snow.

Absolute Zeal takes place in winter so it could have just been winter weather, but there was language that kinda suggested the amount of snow that fell that night was unusually high. Death and Rebirth, that snow was definitely unseasonal and supernatural but it could possibly be argued that it's more related to the little boy than Dawnbreaker? It's not clear.

But what if the spontaneous rain and thunder that appears in Fragrant Possession is also him, as a result of his jealousy?

Obviously it could just be temperamental spring weather written in perfect coincidence to enhance the moment, but Master of Fate definitely shows us that Zayne's powers go well beyond just having ice control. We may not know exactly in what way, but his powers generally seem to have some earthy/seasonal/cycle of life themes going on, implying that something happened at some point that every other version we see of him is all ice and dead bramble vines.

MC might have some influence on his ability to (knowingly or unknowingly) tap into the more spring/growth side of his powers. He also has at least two other cards that feature him and MC getting caught in sudden downpours on dates lol.

Not sure if it's just a romance trope/visual motif the writers are using for fun for his character, or if there's something more there.

There's been lots of discussion about Zayne (especially Master of Fate) having a lot of connections to the traditional lóng dragon, which is very related to rain/weather/winds/seasons. They're also usually depicted has holding either a pearl or a ball of jade; we've obviously seen jade connected to him a bunch already, but he DOES happen to have pearls on his shirt in Fragrant Possession, and pearls are pretty specifically associated with dragons, rain/thunder, and also spiritual power in Chinese mythology.

Again, might be a stretch, but I could see some potential connections or bread crumbs there 🤷🏽‍♀️ either way, I'm excited for new myths this year lol I need more lore

Tell me your thoughts!

[aurellas]

Coming back to add to this lmao

I was reminded while running through Abyssal Chaos today that Master of Fate's skills have callbacks to these same things. The resonance skill is called [Orchid Metamorphosis], which then turns into your passive skill called [Piercing Rain]. [Orchid Metamorphosis] gives the enemy the [Shattered Jade] debuff, which triggers his passive skill called [Jadesunder].

I think the Jade references specifically have already been brought up as evidence in the Loong dragon conversations a bunch, but forgot that there was also an explicit reference to rain with MoF as well.

Orchids in Chinese culture are very heavily associated with a disciplined and steadfast pursuit of knowledge and/or virtuosity, they're symbols of scholars and holy men, they very much speak to Zayne's archetype.

On top of that, there's a concept in Chinese tradition called The Four Gentlemen which refer to four plants that symbolize similar virtues, and are also representative of the four seasons.

Orchids and Bamboo are two out of those four plants. Orchids represent virtuosity and discipline as mentioned above and stand in for the season of Spring. Bamboo represents perseverance and humility given its ability to bend without breaking in a storm, and is a stand in for the season of Summer.

The Bamboo is important to note because Master of Fate's Ardent Oath is called Bamboo Mirage.

The other two flowers that make up the Four Gentlemen are Plum Blossoms and Chrysanthemums, representing Winter and Fall respectively. Plum blossoms are associated with perseverance and a strong spirit as well given their ability to bloom in harsh winter conditions. Chrysanthemums are associated with vitality/bodily health due to their medicinal qualities, and also associated with nobility.

I can't recall any mentions of either of these flowers in any of his cards, but I could be forgetting something. Chrysanthemums are very much in season during his birthday though so maybe we'll see them come up.

I know both Chrysanthemums and Loong dragons have associations with the number 9 as well, which has some significance in Chinese culture but I'm less knowledgeable on that. As far as I know, it has a connection to longevity or eternity and is considered a good luck number for that reason, but there might be more to it than that. Either way, it also made me think that Zayne's birthday falling in September might have been on purpose (and now kinda makes me curious about potential numerological meanings of all their birthdays lol).

Just really interesting to see all the symbolism layered in here! I'm sure a lot of it is just for aesthetic, but I'm a lore fiend, and with new myths on the horizon, it's fun to speculate on little Easter eggs. If nothing else, they're very fun and pretty motifs lol

[aurellas]

Just mentioned this thought on Twitter but bringing it over here too

...There's an implication in Death and Rebirth that Zayne has some influence over the weather, and also a loose implication in Absolute Zeal I think, but both were snow.

Absolute Zeal takes place in winter so it could have just been winter weather, but there was language that kinda suggested the amount of snow that fell that night was unusually high. Death and Rebirth, that snow was definitely unseasonal and supernatural but it could possibly be argued that it's more related to the little boy than Dawnbreaker? It's not clear.

But what if the spontaneous rain and thunder that appears in Fragrant Possession is also him, as a result of his jealousy?

Obviously it could just be temperamental spring weather written in perfect coincidence to enhance the moment, but Master of Fate definitely shows us that Zayne's powers go well beyond just having ice control. We may not know exactly in what way, but his powers generally seem to have some earthy/seasonal/cycle of life themes going on, implying that something happened at some point that every other version we see of him is all ice and dead bramble vines.

MC might have some influence on his ability to (knowingly or unknowingly) tap into the more spring/growth side of his powers. He also has at least two other cards that feature him and MC getting caught in sudden downpours on dates lol.

Not sure if it's just a romance trope/visual motif the writers are using for fun for his character, or if there's something more there.

There's been lots of discussion about Zayne (especially Master of Fate) having a lot of connections to the traditional lóng dragon, which is very related to rain/weather/winds/seasons. They're also usually depicted has holding either a pearl or a ball of jade; we've obviously seen jade connected to him a bunch already, but he DOES happen to have pearls on his shirt in Fragrant Possession, and pearls are pretty specifically associated with dragons, rain/thunder, and also spiritual power in Chinese mythology.

Again, might be a stretch, but I could see some potential connections or bread crumbs there 🤷🏽‍♀️ either way, I'm excited for new myths this year lol I need more lore

Tell me your thoughts!

[mephisto-reporting]

Husband?

About: How does he react when you accidentally call him your 'husband'? Pairing: Reader x Xavier, Zayne, Rafayel, Sylus (Seperate) Note: Reader and the men are in a relationship. My inbox is open for prompts and requests :)

RAFAYEL

The evening was going smoother than expected, considering Rafayel had dragged you along to one of his many gallery showings. He had made a big deal about how you should be the one showing off his work to the public, claiming he didn’t want to deal with the “art-snobs." Yet, the second you both arrived, he quickly preoccupied himself on his phone, leaving you to handle most of the small talk.

One of the visitors, a curious older woman, was admiring a painting of his, a chaotic burst of color with soft hints of golden light. You were discussing Rafayel’s "creative process" (whatever that was—he hadn't told you much before retreating to his phone), when she asked how long you’d been working with him.

“Oh, it’s been a while now. It’s honestly amazing seeing him grow like this—my husb—” You froze mid-sentence, realizing the slip just as it left your mouth.

"Husband?"

The word hung in the air for barely a second before you felt Rafayel’s presence shift. His head shot up like a bolt of lightning, his playful, cunning eyes locking onto yours. You could practically feel his grin before you even dared to glance over. You didn’t even need to turn around to feel his gaze burning into you, practically shouting, Oh? Husband, you say?

“Husband, huh?” Rafayel drawled, pocketing his phone and sauntering toward you with that signature smirk of his. “I didn’t realize we were making things official tonight. If I’d known, I’d have worn something even more dazzling.”

You flushed, attempting to stammer out a correction, but he was far too pleased to let you off the hook that easily. He leaned casually against the gallery wall, one arm crossing his chest as he dramatically placed a hand over his heart.

He gently took your hand in his, his dramatic flair dialed up to maximum as he pressed an exaggerated kiss to your knuckles, clearly relishing the moment. "I mean, I can’t say I’m surprised. Who wouldn’t want to marry someone as charming as me?"

The visitor chuckled awkwardly, clearly not sure whether to stay or go, but Rafayel was already having way too much fun. “Of course, as your loving husband,” he continued, drawing out the word in a singsong voice, “it’s only fitting that I’m showered with even more attention now, isn’t it? I expect lots of praise, darling. I mean, just look at me." He struck a faux thought-provoking pose, tilting his head and flipping a lock of his perfectly tousled hair.

You felt your cheeks burn with embarrassment, but at the same time, his antics made you laugh. “I didn’t mean to—"

"Oh no, no,” he interrupted, wagging his finger playfully. “You can’t take it back now. The word’s out, Miss Bodyguard. You’ve called me your husband. That means you’re stuck with me. Forever.” There was a mischievous glint in his eyes as he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper. “Does this mean I get to cheat at board games forever too?”

You groaned, rolling your eyes as you playfully swatted at his shoulder. “As if you needed a reason to cheat more!”

Rafayel laughed, that familiar bratty grin plastered across his face. “Well, if I’m your husband now, I think it’s only fair I get first dibs on everything. Cards, claw machines—oh, and don’t forget, I demand the comfiest seat when we binge-watch our shows.”

Despite his teasing, the warmth in his eyes made your heart skip a beat. You could see the genuine delight he took in your slip-up, how pleased he was at the thought, even if he’d never admit it outright.

“Fine, fine,” you sighed dramatically, playing along. “But don’t expect me to let you win at everything, ‘husband.’”

Rafayel beamed, and for a moment, that bratty, carefree mask of his slipped, just a little. He tugged you closer, his voice softening as he murmured, “Deal.” Then, just as quickly, he switched back to his usual, cheeky self. “Now, let’s go, wife. You’re required to be by my side while I survive this boring night. ”

Shaking your head, you laughed, unable to hide the smile creeping onto your lips. “You’re impossible.”

The woman, watching the scene unfold with a warm smile, laughed. “You two make quite the pair.”

“Oh, we do, don’t we?” Rafayel quipped before lowering his voice just enough for only you to hear, leaning in ever so slightly. “You’ve really outdone yourself, calling me that in front of witnesses. Now they’ll all expect a wedding invitation.”

Your face burned as you tried to shush him, but he was loving every second of it. He tilted his head, his hair catching the light as his smile softened into something more genuine, the bratty exterior fading just a bit. “Still… I can’t say I hate the sound of it,” he murmured, brushing a finger lightly under your chin before pulling back with a playful wink. “I might just get used to hearing it.”

You could only manage a huff of exasperation, but deep down, you couldn’t help but feel a flutter at the way his teasing had just a hint of sincerity behind it.

Rafayel, always dramatic, and yet somehow, just when you least expected it, a little bit sweet.

ZAYNE

You and Zayne were in the middle of your usual weekly grocery run, efficiently dividing and conquering your list to save time. He’d taken off towards the produce section while you headed for the rice aisle. As you browsed the different varieties, a middle-aged man beside you struggled with lifting a heavy bag of rice.

"Need a hand?" you asked, stepping in to help. The man smiled gratefully as you hoisted the bag into his cart with ease.

"Thank you, young lady," he said, rubbing his wrist. "My arthritis is flaring up today. Getting old’s no fun."

You offered him a sympathetic smile. “No problem at all. My husband’s a doctor, actually. I’m sure he’d tell you to take it easy on that wrist."

The man nodded in agreement, offering you one last thanks before heading off. You turned back to your cart, completely unaware of the word you had just let slip—husband—or the fact that Zayne had returned in time to hear it.

You felt him step up behind you, his presence calm yet undeniably magnetic. When you finally glanced over, he was standing there, hands in his pockets, a small, amused smile playing at the corner of his lips.

"Husband, hmm?" he said softly, his tone more curious than teasing. "That's... new."

You froze for a second, eyes widening as you realized what you’d said.  You opened your mouth, the words tripping over each other in a rush. “I didn’t— I mean, it just—slipped out. We’re not actually—I mean, obviously, we’re not—” You could feel the heat creeping up your neck, and no amount of backpedaling was helping.

Zayne didn’t seem in a rush to let you off the hook. His hand found yours, fingers intertwining with an ease that made your heart stutter. “You know,” he said, voice as calm as ever, “if this is your way of bringing it up, there are smoother ways to do it.” His teasing was subtle, barely perceptible if you didn’t know him well, but it was there in the gentle tug of his smile.

You groaned, pressing a hand to your forehead. “Zayne, I didn’t mean to—”

But Zayne, ever level-headed, merely took your hand in his, his thumb gently brushing against your knuckles. “Relax,” he said, his voice low and soothing. “It’s not like I mind the idea.”

Your heart skipped a beat at that, and you looked up at him in surprise. There was a softness in his usually stoic gaze, the kind that made your stomach flip. He continued, his voice measured but affectionate, “Seems like the next logical step, doesn’t it? My parents have been asking me when I’m going to take that step with you for a while now.”

His calm tone made the statement feel both casual and monumental at the same time. “Wait, your parents…?” you started, blinking as your brain processed this new information.

“Mhm,” Zayne replied, still holding your hand as though it was the most natural thing in the world. “They’ve been pretty vocal about it, actually. But I’ve been waiting for the right moment.”

The right moment. Those words hung in the air, and you could feel the weight of what he was saying. He was serious—calm and casual, as always, but serious. Your breath caught, and for a moment, the world around you seemed to fade into the background. It was just you and Zayne in that grocery aisle, hands linked, talking about a future you hadn’t even realized you both wanted.

“Only if you wanted to, of course,” he added, his thumb still tracing soft circles on your hand. “I wouldn’t do anything unless we both agreed.”

You stared at him, a smile slowly spreading across your face despite the initial shock. “You’re really suggesting this now? In the middle of a grocery store?”

Zayne smirked, his usual pragmatic self. “Well, we’re already talking about it. Might as well make use of the time.” He glanced down at your joined hands, his tone softening again. “Besides, I think it’s worth discussing what our future looks like, don’t you?”

Your heart swelled at his words, and the warmth of his hand in yours was enough to make you feel grounded, no matter how your emotions were spinning. “Yeah,” you said, smiling as you squeezed his hand gently. “I think it’s definitely worth talking about.”

Zayne leaned in closer, his lips brushing your temple in a rare public display of affection. “Good,” he murmured, his voice filled with a quiet kind of affection that made your chest tighten. “We’ll talk more later.”

He pulled away just as smoothly, picking up the cart with a practiced ease, as though he hadn’t just suggested the two of you start planning your future together. His eyes twinkled, a subtle tease hiding behind that usual calm exterior of his.

“And for the record,” he added, as the two of you moved on to the next aisle, “I wouldn’t mind hearing you call me ‘husband’ again.”

Your cheeks heated again, but this time, you didn’t bother trying to hide your smile. “Guess you’ll have to earn it first, doctor.”

Zayne chuckled softly, that familiar, grounded confidence in his voice. “I’ll be sure to work on that.”

SYLUS

The desert sun was relentless, and you could feel its heat pressing down on you as you stood beside Sylus, waiting to be seated inside the restaurant. He had dragged you out of Linkon on one of his mysterious ventures—no explanation, no warning, just the two of you thrust into the desert with little more than his cryptic directions. And while Sylus might have thrived in the N109 Zone's shadowy world, he was decidedly out of place here in the glaring sunlight,already starting to show hints of discomfort.

You glanced over at him, squinting slightly under the bright light. His expression was carefully controlled as always, but you noticed how his hand twitched subtly as if annoyed by the heat. The two of you had been waiting to be seated inside for a while now, and you decided it was time to speed things up.

Catching the attention of a passing waitress, you waved her over, putting on your best expression of concern. “Excuse me, my husband and I were hoping to be seated inside. I’m feeling a little faint under the harsh sun,” you said smoothly, the lie of you feeling faint rolling off your tongue with ease.

The word husband had slipped out so naturally, you didn’t even realize your mistake until the waitress nodded sympathetically and promised to get you a table indoors right away. As she walked off, you felt a cold gaze slide over you, and you turned to see Sylus staring down at you, one brow raised, a slow, dangerous smile creeping across his face.

“Husband?” His voice was smooth, but there was a teasing lilt beneath it. “Did I miss a wedding, wife?”

Your breath caught in your throat. "Wait—no, I didn't mean—" You started to stammer, heat rising to your cheeks, but before you could backtrack any further, Sylus’ arm slid around your waist, pulling you closer to his side. His grip was firm, possessive, and you could feel the smug amusement radiating off of him.

“I like the sound of that,” he murmured, leaning in just close enough for you to catch the scent of the desert air still clinging to his clothes. His lips ghosted near your ear, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. “Maybe this is a sign I should make it official.”

You swallowed hard, heart racing as you tried to keep your composure. “Official?” you echoed, your voice coming out a little more breathless than you intended. “What—what are you talking about?”

Sylus’ smirk widened, his amber eyes gleaming in the sun. “Oh? Cat got your tongue, Sweetie?” he teased, his tone dripping with amusement as he let his fingers trace a light circle on your hip. “You seemed so sure a moment ago, wife. But now? Speechless.”

You blinked, trying to gather your wits, but the sheer cockiness in his tone was making it hard to think straight. “I…I was just…helping us get a table,” you protested weakly, trying to pull away from his grip, but his hold only tightened.

“Oh, I’m sure you were,” he drawled, clearly reveling in your flustered state. “But now that you’ve set the bar so high, don’t tell me you’re going to back out on me. After all, you made quite the declaration back there.”

“I wasn’t—” You huffed, narrowing your eyes at him as you regained a sliver of your usual confidence. “You know it was a slip-up, Sylus. Don’t start getting ideas.”

He chuckled darkly, the sound sending a shiver down your spine. “Ideas? Sweetie, I live for ideas.” His grip loosened just enough to let you step back, but the way he looked at you made it clear he wasn’t about to let you wriggle out of this one easily. “But let’s be honest, you didn’t hate it. Calling me your husband.”

Your face flushed again, but this time, you managed to meet his gaze without faltering. “I didn’t hate it,” you admitted, folding your arms, “but don’t go thinking you’ve won. I’m not about to sign any papers just because you liked hearing it.”

Sylus tilted his head, the playful smile never leaving his lips. “We’ll see about that, kitten” he said, the threat—or promise—hanging in the air between you as the waitress returned to guide you inside.

You rolled your eyes, trying to ignore the butterflies in your stomach. “Please, Sylus. You couldn’t handle being married to me.”

He raised an eyebrow, leaning in with that infuriating smirk. “Oh, I think I could handle you just fine, sweetheart. You’re the one who might need to keep up.”

You shot back, “Keep up? I’d be carrying you the whole way.”

“Careful, Sweetie. That sounds an awful lot like a challenge.” He chuckled, his hand brushing against yours again. “Now that’s a tempting thought.”

“Tempting? Try exhausting,” you quipped.

As you walked beside him, you felt his arm brush against yours, and the sensation lingered far longer than it should have. Sylus, of course, said nothing, though the smug expression never quite left his face.

This was clearly far from over. And judging by the glint in his eye, Sylus was going to make sure you never forgot your little slip-up.

XAVIER

The café was quiet, filled with the soft murmur of patrons and the comforting smell of fresh pastries. You and Xavier had settled in for a peaceful afternoon, your table already adorned with a delightful array of treats. He had requested a simple drink—no whipped cream. The barista returned, placing his drink in front of him with an impressive mountain of whipped cream on top. Xavier, as calm and indifferent as ever, simply blinked at it, showing no signs of complaint. He wasn’t going to say a word about it, but that didn’t mean you were going to let it slide.

Excusing yourself, you raised a hand and called over a passing staff member. “Excuse me,” you began, with a polite smile. “My husband asked for no whipped cream on his drink, but it looks like there’s some here by mistake. Would it be alright for us to get it changed?”

The words tumbled out so smoothly that you didn’t even realize your slip-up until the staff member nodded apologetically and hurried back to fix the order. It was only when you turned back around that you saw Xavier sitting there, looking unusually... stunned.

He was blinking slowly at you, his expression softened by a hint of confusion and—was that amusement? “Husband?” he repeated, his soft voice barely more than a murmur.

Your face flushed as you fumbled for an explanation. “Oh, no, wait—! I didn’t mean—” You stammered, desperately trying to backtrack. “That just slipped out! I meant to say…uh my boyfriend? Partner? Date? Not—well, not husband, obviously…”

Xavier continued to blink, his face now showing just a little more expression than usual. The faintest curl of a smile played on his lips, and he tilted his head, considering your words. “I must’ve missed that chapter in the 'Guide to a Healthy Relationship,'” he said in that calm, unruffled way of his. “I didn’t know we’d moved on to the husband-and-wife stage.”

You groaned inwardly, burying your face in your hands. “I swear, it was an accident. Just ignore what I said.”

But Xavier was clearly in no mood to let it go. “So, dear wife,” he continued, completely unfazed by your protests, “do you think we’ll have matching mugs in our future? Maybe get a nice house, with a small garden and a picket fence?”

You shot him a playful glare, but the way he was looking at you made it impossible to stay annoyed. “Very funny,” you muttered, though your lips were twitching at the corners, betraying your amusement.

“I think it has a nice ring to it,” Xavier said, leaning back in his chair, clearly enjoying this far more than you expected. “I wonder how long it would take for people in the association to start sending us wedding gifts. Or perhaps they'd just send weapons... you know, as a gesture of goodwill.”

You couldn’t help but laugh. “I don’t think wedding gifts are really their style, Xavier.”

“Hmm, you’re probably right,” he said thoughtfully, then leaned in slightly, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “But you did call me your husband in public. Shouldn’t we at least play the part now?”

Your cheeks were burning, but you couldn’t resist playing along with his ridiculousness. “Fine,” you said, crossing your arms and raising an eyebrow. “But just so you know, dear husband, you’ll be the one doing the dishes.”

Xavier chuckled softly, the sound rare and surprisingly warm. “As long as you take care of meals. A fair trade.”

You were about to retort when the waitress returned with Xavier’s newly corrected drink—this time, free of whipped cream. She set it down with a smile, glancing between the two of you as if she’d picked up on the playful atmosphere. “Here you go,” she said. “No whipped cream this time, sir.”

Xavier’s eyes glinted as he thanked her with a nod, and after she left, he looked back at you with a satisfied expression. “See? Husband perks,” he teased, taking a sip of his drink.

You rolled your eyes, but you couldn’t hide the smile spreading across your face. “You’re an idiot.”

“And you’re adorable when you’re flustered,” he said, the teasing lilt in his voice gentler now. He took your hand under the table, his thumb brushing over your knuckles. “But... thank you,” he added after a beat, his voice softer and more sincere. “For speaking up for me.”

You blinked at him, momentarily thrown off by the gratitude in his tone. “Of course,” you said, squeezing his hand in return. “That’s what wives do, right?”

Xavier let out a soft laugh. “I suppose so,” he murmured, his lips quirking into a rare, genuine smile that made your heart skip a beat.

In that moment, with his hand in yours and the gentle teasing in the air, it was easy to forget the world outside the café. Just the two of you, playing pretend—but maybe, just maybe, something more.

AN: reblogs, feedback and opinions are appreciated!

[aurellas]

These are all SO FUCKING CUTE