Where you find me
This takes place in a timeline where your Protocore Syndrome becomes unbearably severe and brings about fluctuations, causing you to be transported into Dawnbreaker’s universe.
Word count: 3k
C.W: canon-compliant, touch-starved Dawnbreaker Zayne, dry humping, lots of tension and yearning.
Dawnbreaker Zayne is in the middle of eliminating a Wanderer when he first lays his eyes on you. He freezes immediately, thinking that the Wanderer is playing tricks on him. Making him see the image of you, the woman whom he’d seen every day in his dreams. But when you look around yourself, confused and afraid, he starts to think it’s real.
He finishes off the Wanderer with one final strike, blackish blue shards of ice forming where the Wanderer once stood. Dawnbreaker Zayne makes his way towards you, and you finally get a closer look at him. A warm smile graces your features at the familiarity of seeing your Zayne, but as he approaches you, your smile fades, noticing that he looks different. Paler, colder.
“How…” He whispers in utter disbelief as he sees the woman of his dreams stand in front of him.
The man in front of you bears the exact same resemblance to the Doctor Zayne you knew and loved, but there was something different about him this time. He wears a long black coat fit for a funeral, with green eyes so empty they don't resemble the warmth he had. Your eyes dart down to see Zayne’s fingers twitch; he wants to check whether you're real, whether you were actually, physically present in front of him. But he decides to shove his hands in his pockets instead, noticing your stare.
Dawnbreaker Zayne doesn’t understand how you're physically present in his timeline. The complexities of Protocores and its fluctuations only leave him with more questions than answers. But when you explain the last things you had seen, a hospital bed, multiple nurses, including your Zayne standing beside you, his expression turns to one of curiosity and wonder.
How did you know that the Zayne in front of you wasn’t yours?
When you visit Dawnbreaker Zayne’s apartment for the first time, your heart sinks. The almost dilapidated abode looks devoid of warmth. Your eyes land on a TV playing an old medical drama, making you furrow your brows.
“Do you usually watch medical dramas?” You ask, trying to start a conversation.
Dawnbreaker figured that it would be safer for you to stay with him, given the constant threat of the Wanderers outside. The uncertainty of not knowing how long he’d have you for feared him more.
Zayne doesn't reply to your question and gives you a simple nod, turning to pick out a piece of chocolate from a jar.
One day, Zayne is out fighting Alterums. Hungry, you head to the somewhat working kitchen in hopes of finding food. Your expression turns to one of incredulity when you open the fridge, only to see bland-colored bottles labeled Nutrient Solutions stacked very neatly in multiple rows. The solution is absent of any flavor and doesn't fill you as a proper meal should. You wonder how Zayne sustains himself on these until an idea forms in your head. You decide to make him a warm meal from ingredients you find at the convenience store.
When a tired, bruised Zayne enters, his eyes widen as he takes in the aroma of fresh food wafting in the apartment, not remembering the last time he'd even smelled something like this. It made the house seem warmer and welcoming; it made it seem like a home.
“I thought I’d cook you something.” You offer, pointing to the wooden dining table, an affectionate smile gracing your features.
Zayne’s lips press into a thin line as he looks at you, seeing that all-familiar smile he had seen countless times in his dreams. The same smile he wanted to touch with his fingertips and admire how beautiful you looked. The same face he wanted to caress and hold. The same lips he wanted to kiss.
“You didn't have to do that.” He says as he’s already sitting down at the table, his words betraying how badly he’d wanted to taste one of your meals, remembering how you had cooked for the Doctor in his timeline.
You watch Zayne eat as you sit in front of him, studying the cold man in front of you. “You don’t seem to be a man of many words.” You speak up, hoping to get him to talk this time.
“Apologies…” He looks up at you, and his eyes now seem to carry a sliver of warmth. “Thank you for the meal. It’s very delicious.”
Your smile turns into a frown when you see Zayne suddenly flinch as he leans forward to grab a napkin. “Did you get hurt?” You ask immediately, concern filling your voice as your hands leave your chin, reaching for him on instinct.
“It’s nothing. This…tends to happen in my line of work.” Zayne is quick to respond and withdraws his arm from the table.
“Zayne, you do know that I fight Wanderers too.” You deadpan, already making your way to the bathroom to look for the first aid kit.
A few minutes later, you're both facing each other on the couch in his living room, with you sifting through the medical supplies. "Arm, please." You request, your voice mimicking the same tone that Doctor Zayne used when he used to treat you.
Zayne is reluctant at first and rolls up his sleeves slowly, eyes hyper-focused on your trained fingers that prep the gauze and antiseptic solution. The tips of his ears begin to redden with the anticipation of having your hands on him, which causes his heart to race. He notices that caring for Doctor Zayne comes too naturally for you; it almost makes him jealous, almost. But he reminds himself that he gets to have you now, and what if that would make him selfish for just these few minutes? These few minutes he'd treasure with his entire life.
He'd probably replay this scene over and over again like a broken record. He begins to memorize the way you lean ever so slightly to examine his wounds. He watches his arm lightly rest on your thigh as you dab the soaked cotton ball on his wounds ever so carefully, with sincerity and love he'd never been shown his entire life.
It's a mesmerizing act in itself to him, even though it seemed so simple. You're just tending to his wounds, but the way your brows furrow as you discover another gash, one more slice covered in dried blood, makes him let out a short breath of air that crystallizes faintly in the air. Zayne itches to brush away the loose strand of hair that falls over your face. You're too focused on the task at hand to notice anyway. His heart pounds as he leans in closer without thinking, just to see your lips slightly purse as you take out the bandages.
"You have the same scars as him." Your voice breaks him out of his trance, making him lean backwards.
There you go mentioning that Doctor again. It was funny how Dawnbreaker almost seemed to dislike Doctor Zayne, even if it was a version of himself in another timeline. All because of you.
When Zayne opens his mouth to say something, he chokes on his words when you reach out with your finger and place it along one of his scars, making him gasp in astonishment. It was as if he'd been zapped by a live wire, the pleasure of your touch sending sparks down his spine. You continue admiring his scars one by one absentmindedly, like you'd been so used to the act, tracing lines on them with your fingers.
"I've always thought that these scars made you beautiful." You whisper, eyes trained on a longer scar that extends down his forearm.
"You really think so?" He replies shakily, fighting the urge to just close the distance between you two.
His words take you out of your trance, and you retreat bashfully as you cover your reddening ears with your hair.
"Sorry..." You mumble, thinking you'd crossed a line, but Zayne would've loved nothing more than for you to continue. "I hope you'll recover soon." You add as you pack away the medical supplies, the tension in the room dripping thick with a newfound ardor between you two.
You begin to learn more about Zayne and what he does in this timeline. He seems ruthless when fighting the Abominations, and you learn that he takes them out of their misery. Saving them from the pain and suffering they want so desperately to end. You learn that he is both deliverance and danger, a reflection of the war Zayne fights within himself between mercy and restraint.
As you fight alongside him, something he was initially against for the sake of your safety, you can't help but admire how regal Zayne looks when he fights the Abominations. Horizontal shards of blackish blue ice emerge swiftly from the direction of his forward-facing hand right at the creature, taking it down in one fell swoop. You stop your actions to simply look at him; his creased brows, the permanent scowl on his face, and the way his bangs almost cover his forehead from the wind. It stirs something deep within you, this craving to have him look at you the same way. Would his brows also furrow in concentration if he touches you? Would his slender fingers glide over your hips as he positions himself? You shake your head to rid yourself of these sinful thoughts, bringing your attention back to another Abomination that approaches you.
After the draining fight, Zayne decides to take you to an abandoned area, a large double-decker bridge that offers a view. The area is unkempt, with a patch of Jasmines blooming nearby. Zayne motions you to sit near a clean bench that faces the view, taking out a plastic bag you didn't see before.
"What's this?" You ask, trying to peek at the bag.
Zayne doesn't say anything and brings out two soda cans. He takes out the liquid using his Evol and freezes the liquid mid-air into the shape of a Popsicle, handing one to you. "They're called an Old Popsicle. Whenever I come here, I tend to have one while looking at the view."
You thank him for the Popsicle and try it, savoring the sweetness that coats your tongue. You both sit in silence for a while and enjoy the setting sun while you eat the Popsicles. Suddenly, you turn to Zayne.
"Zayne, what color is my tongue?"
The question almost makes him choke on his own sweet treat, turning to you with wide eyes. "I didn't know you to be this childish."
But you're already sticking out your tongue, making Zayne crack his first-ever smile since you met him in this timeline. "…it's…red." He says after clearing his throat, looking back at his own Popsicle as he contemplates something. "…What color is mine?"
It was your turn to be surprised now, looking at him with a wide grin. Zayne sticks his tongue out just a little for you, with his eyes trained on yours.
You giggle softly as you reply. "It's green. Kinda like your eyes."
He tilts his head, licking his lips. "You mean to say that this frozen soda resembles the color of my eyes?" He asks, the idea of it seeming quite absurd.
But as you both stare at each other, the two of you burst into giggles, unknowingly scooting closer towards each other on the park bench that evening.
Unfortunately, Zayne falls sick one day. Fighting innumerable Wanderers could really take a toll on one's body, and who better knew that than you? As Zayne lies down on his bed with the covers almost up to his face, you stand beside him with your hands on your hips.
"Zayne, I really need you to take this medicine. Otherwise, you won't get better."
You feel like you're scolding a child, and it surprises you how reluctant Zayne was when it came to having his medicine.
"I've experienced this before. It's nothing a cup of hot cocoa won't fix."
Your eyes widen in disbelief, the sweet cravings of the man lying in front of you going beyond your comprehension. "I don't understand this."
Feeling defeated, you shake your head and return a few minutes later with some instant hot cocoa in a mug. Sitting down beside him, you gesture Zayne to sit up a little.
"Careful, it's a bit hot." You hold the mug with both hands, blowing the little wisps of steam away for him. To your surprise, Zayne brings his hands forward and cups them around your own, leaning forward to blow the steam together with you. The distance between the two of you seems almost non-existent, with your breaths mixing above the sweet drink.
“It is rare for me to experience this feeling of being cared for. It feels…foreign.” He whispers, tilting his eyes upwards to look at you with longing, his icy exterior fully thawing away. You bite your lip, craving more of his touch when his fingers lightly curl around yours.
“Thank you, for showing me what warmth feels like.”
You blush at that, his admission only fueling the bubbling desire that needed to be satiated within you. Zayne lets out a soft breath of relief at knowing how much he affected you too. He leans close enough that your noses are a hair's breadth away from each other's.
“May I…memorize you? For I do not know when I shall have you in my arms again.” Zayne whispers.
The request is soft, desperation disguised in a plea.
The second you nod, Zayne takes the mug from your hands to place it on the nightstand, pressing his lips to yours and expelling a moan that sounds like it was finally breaking confinement. He brings his slender fingers to frame your face, the very ones you'd once fantasized about.
Zayne feels like he's dreaming all over again, with the way your heart pounds as you lean into his kiss, letting out the same moans he'd yearned for with a heavy heart. But your palm curls around his hand to let him know that you're real and you're here, in this very moment, with this Zayne. It feels like the temperature in the room has suddenly dropped, and the smell of cocoa still lingers in the air.
"Zayne…" You pant as you break away from the kiss. You lick your lips and press your forehead to his, reveling in the quiet desperation pressed into his kisses.
“You are unaware of how many nights I have dreamt of this." He shuts his eyes as he scrunches his nose, like he can't believe he's actually admitting this to you. But he doesn't care. He would bare every fragile part of himself if it meant placing it in your hands.
"Seeing you," he places a kiss on the corner of your mouth. "Envisioning you," a kiss to your lips. "Your beauty," a kiss on the tip of your nose. "…but being unable to touch you." a kiss on your forehead. "It…killed me." He whines, leaning forward so that his lips are right next to your ear, his cold breath sending chills down your neck.
"But now that I'm able to hold you in front of my very eyes…Forgive me, I must savor this moment.”
"Zayne…" You whimper, his words kissing your skin like frost.
“Please…keep saying my name. Exactly like that…"
You bite your lip, and place your palm on his chest, gently pushing Zayne until his back rests on the headboard of the bed.
"Let me give you what you've wanted, Zayne." You breathe.
You hook your legs on either side of Zayne to straddle him, and Zayne's hands immediately frame your waist, as if he'd done this countless times before.
Dawnbreaker had held you in his dreams just like this. You used to be so close, yet so far. Doctor Zayne might have touched you, but it was Dawnbreaker in this moment, flesh and warmth beneath your palms, who finally gets to hold you.
Your arms hook around Zayne's neck so that you can roll your hips on his lap, feeling him harden through his slacks. It makes you gasp in pleasure, the friction making you crave more.
Zayne's lips press into a thin line as his gaze flickers downwards to see where you’re both connected, his thoughts spiraling into a frantic chant of dontcomedontcomedontcome. He lets out a hushed moan as you grab and tug at the base of his hair, rolling your hips against him again, the satisfaction of getting to feel you fully dawning on him. Beneath that cold surface, Zayne begins to believe he is worthy of love.
“Just like that, baby…” he breathes, voice unsteady. “So good for me.”
Zayne's sturdy body beneath you gives you exactly what you need, and you can't help but repeat his name over and over again, chasing the pleasure he so willingly wants to provide you with.
You take a moment to look down at Zayne, who wears the most blissful expression on his face. His cheeks are flushed, his ears bright red, and his lips parted as he watches you with a look so openly wrecked it steals the breath from your lungs. It was as if he was getting off on the act of memorizing this. Memorizing you.
"Take what you want from me, darling. I'm all yours." He murmurs.
You let out another moan at that, chasing your pleasure as you continue rocking against him through his clothes, the tip of his clothed cock hitting your clit exactly where you wanted. Your fingers drift down to his mouth, tracing the curve of his lower lip, and Zayne shudders beneath you.
“Thank you,” he whispers, over and over again like a prayer. “Thank you, thank you…”
And in that moment, you realize you don’t want to leave this timeline. You don’t want to leave Zayne.
You are exactly where you want to be.
A.N: Sorry for posting this a bit later than expected, got a bit caught up w some things over the week >.< I hope you enjoy and treasure DB Zayne as much as I do. Also, I stand by the fact that DB should've been a myth. Thank you for trying this cookie!
