| I am in love and deepshit | 2
A tale of indulgence affections and vengeance.
Self aware AU, why choose trope, LADSxnonmc!reader, vengeful mc (rightfully so), Isekai genre.
AN: No warnings just fluff and crack to make up for not posting in forever.
CHAPTER 4; THE AFTERSHOCKS
Too much happened all at once, once again. It was a miracle that you still managed to hang on to your sanity. So they knew about youâŚall along. Not just the moment you entered the game, but way before that. You found it frightening and pretty confusing. They said they could only see you when you logged in to the game, that they had no idea how they became self-aware, and a huge part of you believed them. Why wouldn't you? Who else could you even rely on right now? Who else could help you make sense of this absurd and, quite truly, outlandish situation?
Your train of thought was derailed when a heavy helmet was put on your head, and you looked up to see none other than Sylus smirking down at you. You realised you had mindlessly followed him out since he was the one who was going to drop you off. Come to think of it, you turned your head to see that the rest of the guys were taking their leave in their own vehicles, and they looked pretty okay with Sylus taking you home, especially for people who were arguing about most of the things they talked about inside. Furthermore, what the hell was that schedule they came up with, and when? Did they somehow anticipate her coming?. So many questions and little to no answers.
âHey, what's going on in that pretty little head of yours?â he asked, tapping the visor of the helmet twice, grounding you back to reality. You blinked up at him, the tinted screen of the visor made your vision tinted blue as well. âNothing, I just feel like my brain got overcooked,â you replied with a little chuckle. Sylus's smile softens, from his smug grin to one of understanding. âThat's a given, considering your situation, it would be understandable if you were to, as you call it, crash out,â he says.
The engine purred to life beneath you, a low, powerful growl that rumbled under the sole of your shoes, thrumming up through your legs and straight into your chest. The sound alone was enough to make your heart race, but what really did it was the man sitting in front of you.
Sylus glanced back over his shoulder, his visor catching the faint shimmer of the city lights. âHold on,â he said, tone casual like it wasnât sending your nerves into a full-blown panic.
Your hands hovered uncertainly in the air. You didnât know where to put them-on his waist? On the seat? The bike was sleek and expensive, as expected from the richest guy in all of Linkon, with no handles or rails to save you from embarrassment. âIâm fine,â you muttered instead, curling your fingers around the edge of the seat and praying it would be enough.
Sylusâs chuckle told you he didnât believe you for a second. âSuit yourself,â he murmured, and before you could change your mind, the bike surged forward. The world tilted. The roar of the engine swallowed your gasp as instinct overrode hesitation-your hands flew to his waist, gripping tight as the scenery blurred around you..
He laughed, loud enough for you to feel its vibration coursing through his body. âYou okay there, kitten?â he called back, voice dripping with sass. âCouldâve sworn youâd rather fall off than risk it.â
You groaned, ducking your head, glad he wouldnât notice the heat crawling up your neck. His shoulders shook faintly under your palms, and you could feel the smug satisfaction radiating off him.
âRelax, sweetheart,â he drawled, leaning into a turn that made your stomach lurch-and your grip tighten. âYou know you are the safest when you are with me.â
The wind howled past your ears, but you could still hear the smirk in his voice. It wasnât cruelâjust teasing, sharp around the edges yet strangely reassuring. Beneath all that sarcasm, you couldnât shake the feeling that he liked it when you held on just a little tighter. That's Sylus for you.
It wasn't long before the scenery around you changed-not the way one would assume it to be, no, from the blurs of the barren land and the vast skies, you noticed streaks of shimmering green and gold, streaking along one after the other, till the surroundings morphed into what felt like a ripple through a stream, it was surreal, like a mirage about to unravel right before your eyes. You blinked once, then twice, trying to understand what you were looking at.Â
Your fingers curled around the fabric of his leather jacket, and you peeked over his shoulder into the rear-view mirror. He looked calm, steady as always, his composure served as an anchor for you to remain poised.
Your attention was back to the scenery that continued to warp in itself. You looked up at the sky that was once bright and sunny, now the colours bled into each other, the streaks of green and gold swirled, weaving themselves into the growing ripples, creating a silver spark that bursts outwards into brilliant lights. You closed your eyes and buried your face in his back, feeling it stiffen for a moment and straighten up even more-if that was even possible.
The ringing in your ears dulled into a low, vibrating hum, and you could feel the shift in the airâwarmer now, mildly charged with static energy. You didnât need to open your eyes to know the change was complete; you could feel it in the way the wind now carried the faint, artificial sweetness of Linkon City.
Still, when you blinked your eyes open, your breath hitched.
The barren wasteland was gone-replaced by familiar glass towers and floating lights, streets alive with motion, and that endless skyline now dimmed to nighttime. You knew this place. Youâd walked these streets, heard its noise, seen its brilliance not too long before, and yet its allure in the nighttime was nothing short of breathtaking.
The transition had been too sudden, but seamless-like a scene had shifted and snapped in between the scenes of a game.Â
Your fingers tightened around the back of his jacket, grounding yourself in something that felt real, before letting it go. The bike slowed as the cityâs neon reflections flickered across the metal panels around you, the engineâs growl echoing faintly and soon coming.Â
âThis doesnât make sense,â you whispered, voice barely audible. âWe were miles from here.â Sure, you were aware that things had gone far from anything making sense ever since you woke up in this world, but still, the curiosity of everything kept boggling you. The bright flash had you slightly disoriented; it was a mild discomfort at best.
Sylus noticed before you could pretend otherwise. The bike slowed, gliding to a stop in front of a small roadside diner, its flickering neon sign glared between towering glass buildings. He turned off the engine, the deep purr fading into the background hum of traffic.
âYou look pale,â he said, glancing back over his shoulder. âWeâll stop here for a bit.â
You blinked at the diner, half amused. âA diner? Didnât peg you for someone who eats at peasant places,â you joked.
He tilted his head slightly, the faintest glint of humor in his eyes. âIf thatâs your concern,â he said smoothly, âI can take you somewhere better. Thereâs a rooftop restaurant a few blocks away with a private chef-â
Your jaw dropped. âSylus, I was joking!â you blurted, hands waving around before you could stop yourself. âPlease donât casually suggest a five-course dinner like itâs takeout, I like greasy food better anyway.â
He studied you for a moment-long enough for you to feel the weight of his gaze-and then that smile appeared again, one that told he knew a lot more about you than he should. It was both unnerving and exhilarating, being unraveled before a man you were supposed to be meeting for the first time. âYouâll have to be careful when you tease me,â he said softly. âI tend to take things seriously⌠especially when you are concerned.â
You blinked, your brain catching up two steps too late. Heat crept into your face, and you laughedâtoo quickly, too awkwardly. âYou canât just say things like that so casually,â you said, almost exasperated, feeling the warmth of his words under your skin, a stark contrast to the chilly night air.
He tilted his head, eyes gleaming with absolute amusement. âWhy not?â
You huffed, crossing your arms, trying to reclaim your composure. âBecause you do realize you sound dangerously close to flirting, right?â
That earned a deep, rich chuckle, the kind that rumbles from his chest, causing you a sheer amount of butterflies in the stomach. âOnly close?â he murmured, already turning toward the diner. âThen I must be losing my touch.â
Sylus has been gone for a while now.
You tapped your fingers lightly against the table, glancing at the phone. Sylus had been gone a few minutes longer than expected, which, considering it was Sylus, probably meant he was terrorizing the staff over the quality of bottled water.
The thought made you snort quietly.
Just as you reached for your phone again, his familiar shadow fell over the table. You looked up to find him holding a takeout box and two cups balanced with his usual, effortless precision.Â
âTook you long enough,â you muttered, pretending to glare even as relief washed through you. He easily saw through it. âSorry about that,â he said, setting everything down. âThey didnât have the type of chicken shawarma wrap you like.â
You smiled up at him; his thoughtfulness was very much appreciated. You picked up the food and unwrapped it only to find that this was, in fact, a chicken shawarma wrap. You looked up at him questioningly.Â
âThis is only something close enough,â he replied to your non-verbal question.
You blinked, âIt's good enough, I am surprised you even know thi-â you paused to take a bite, and froze. The taste hit instantly: smoky chicken, a drizzle of garlic sauce, the exact spice blend that used to make your hands smell for hours back home. Your heart gave a weird little lurch... âWait⌠what? This is the one I like. Down to the sauce!!!â You said with a mouthful, covering your mouth with your fingers, chewing aggressively to gulp it down. âHow!!! Sylus, this is literally the same one I used to get from that tiny stall near-â
His lips curved slightly, giving you that cat-like expression, where he looked extremely pleased with himself. âI made them make it.â
You choked on your bite, quickly grabbing one of the cups to chase it down. âYouâŚwhat?!â you exasperated wide wide-eyed.
He was looking smug again, rightfully so. In fact, now that you think about it, he might be one of the only few men alive who should be looking this smug all the time, for valid reasonsâŚthe other being the rest of the LADS men, of course.
âSy-sylus, you didn't-â
He shrugged lightly, as though recreating your favorite street food from another world was a casual Tuesday task. âYou were missing home. I figured you could use something familiar.â he may seem casual about it, but for once, Sylus couldn't keep up the unbothered nonchalant front, his eyesâŚ.his damned ruby red eyes gave away everything.
The moment felt heavy in your chest; the warmth you felt wasn't from the food but from the man himself. His thoughtfulness and sensitivity in understanding your emotions without you having to share them. His attention to detail in something you must have told him in those conversations you thought were having with mindless bots. Today, each one of them helped you in their own way, but this took the cake.Â
You hadnât realized how much you missed that taste, that small, ordinary piece of your old world. For a second, the noise around you faded, and all you could think about was how the familiar flavors wrapped around a home you could no longer reach.
Your throat tightened, but you swallowed it down, forcing a grin. Tears had welled up, and you tried to blink them away, but still one rebelled and spilled down to your cheek. âHey, now,â Sylus instantly reached out, placing his hand on your head, and with that, your facade broke.
Soft sniffles and choked sobs erupted from you. Sylus said nothing, only patted your head gently, caressing your hair. You composed yourself quickly⌠at least tried to. âEhm-why aren't you eating Sylus?â you said to change the topic, unable to meet his eyes after displaying such a pathetic moment. âWell, I don't consume, as you call it, peasant foodâ
âGosh, you are exactly as I imagined youâd be,â you blurted out, finally looking up at him. His hand was still on your head, fingers gently threading through your hair cautiously; there was a reverence in his touch that was noticeable, as if he were afraid of hurting even a single strand. There was something in that touch, like he was trying to memorize you, to prove to himself this moment wasnât a dream, that you weren't a dream. Here for a moment only to slip away from his hands like specks of dandelion blown away by the wind.
His hand moved down to your face, gingerly cupping it. âAnd how did you imagine me?â he asked, his voice low trying his best to sound casual, even though he was clearly holding his breath. For all his composure, Sylus looked like a man teetering on the edge, half-afraid you might say something that would shatter him.
You let out a shaky breath, the corner of your mouth tugging upward as you met his eyes. The words left you softer than you intended. âI imagined youâd be just like this,â you said, voice low, a little unsteady. âSomeone who notices without asking⌠who doesnât need to be told when something hurts.â
Your gaze drifted to the wrap still in your hands before returning to him- those sharp, unreadable eyes, always so soft when they were on you, like even the neon light had learned to dim itself for him.
âSomeone who makes the world feel a little less cold,â you whispered. âAnd you are.â
For a moment, Sylus didnât say anything. He just stared at you, like really stared, as if memorizing the way your eyes looked under the faint neon glow, the curve of your smile when it trembled between shyness and honesty.
Then, his jaw tightened- the kind of subtle reaction only someone watching too closely would notice.
âYou give me too much credit,â he said finally, the words smooth but quiet, almost defensive. His gaze flickered down for a split second before finding yours again. âI just... pay attention.â
But even that was a lie, and you both knew it. The look in his eyes gave him away, that unmistakable warmth that broke through the steel of his demeanor, the one he tried so hard to hide behind discipline and control.
He reached forward then, brushing a thumb near the corner of your mouth- a simple gesture, like wiping away an imaginary smudge.
âEat before it gets cold,â he murmured, his voice lower now, rougher.
You smiled faintly, but it lingered between you- the tension, the affection, the silent admission that neither of you dared to speak aloud.
By the time you both finished eating, it had gotten very late, and the city had quieted into that strange, serene calm that comes after midnight. Streetlights cast long golden streaks across the polished roads, and the hum of passing vehicles filled the silence like white noise.
Sylus cleaned up the wrappers and cups with that same measured precision. You followed him as he led the way back to the bike, still feeling the warmth of the shawarma and his earlier words sitting somewhere in your chest.
When the engine rumbled to life, you swung your leg over and settled behind him. This time, you didnât hesitate. Your hands found their place around his waist, fingers brushing against the smooth fabric of his jacket. He didnât comment, but you could feel it in the subtle shift in his breathing, the quiet exhale that said more than words ever could.
The city rolled past you in ribbons of amber light and motion. The cool night air bit gently at your cheeks. Every turn, every acceleration felt steady, intentional- like he was aware of your every movement behind him.
When he finally slowed to a stop, the soft rumble of the engine faded into the stillness. You glanced up at the familiar glass-fronted building of yourâwell, the Selsâs to be fairâ apartment reflected the moonlight.
You slid off the bike, still holding onto the last bit of warmth that lingered on your palms. âThanks for⌠all of this,â you said, trying not to sound as small as you felt, once again gently pinching your earlobe that was tinted with hues of red..
Sylus turned slightly, his crimson eyes catching the light. âYou donât need to thank me,â he said earnestly, but his voice had softened. âYou were homesick. I couldnât ignore that.â
You looked down, smiling faintly. âStill⌠it meant more than you think.â
He nodded once, gaze lingering on you longer than necessary, before he pulled his helmet back on. âGet some rest,â he said quietly, the words carrying a kind of command that masked like care you knew he felt.
The engine came alive again, a low growl echoing down the street. You took a step back as he pulled away, the taillight casting a fleeting red glow against the pavement.
You stayed there for a while, hugging yourself, the taste of spice still on your tongue, and an odd flutter in your chest that you had felt for the fifth time today.
And when you lay in that unfamiliar bed that night, you felt guilt pool in your stomach for doubting him- doubting them for even a fraction of a second.
Chapter 5: THE NEVER ENDING CHAOS
Night wasnât very merciful for you, ruminating over everything once again. Losing control over your own sanity, not that you had much of it anyway, was making you antsy and anxious. It wasnât until you couldnât keep up with it and gave in to your mental exhaustion that you were finally able to fall asleep.
On the brighter side, you were feeling much better in the morningâŚwell, noon, since you woke up pretty late. You brushed your teeth using the extra one you had found in Selâs cabinet. You already felt so bad hogging her apartment and things, sure, the world itself, besides the guy, recognized you as the original mc, but you knew you werenât her. You couldnât be so selfish and self-absorbed to take her place as if you are reclaiming it as your rightful place when it really wasnât, at least thatâs how you saw it. How bizarre it would be if someone were to come and take your place if you were to go missing? That was the very reason you had slept in the guest room and not in her room. It was a breach of her privacy in a way that wasnât appropriate, no matter what.
The moment you entered the living room, you heard some movements and muffled sounds from outside your door. Scared, you inched closer to it, grabbing a random vase as you did so. Putting an ear to the door, you could hear the voice of someone familiar.
âI donât care if the deadline is in a week, it doesnât really matter- â
You opened the door, and it was Rafayel.
He was sitting by the door, looking up at your door, startled. Next to him was a bag that gave off the delicious aroma of baked goods. Rafayel clears his throat, hastily ending the call with presumably Thomas, and clears his throat. âWell, well, well, the sleeping beauty is finally up,â he says, regaining his composure and being back to his mischievous, charismatic self.
âRafayel, what are you even doing here this early in the morning?â you asked, bewildered at the man still sitting on the floor by your step. He raised a brow and tilted his head to the side, his lips quirked up at the side. âIt's 12:30 pm, cutie.â
Well, this was certainly embarrassing.
You immediately offered him your hand, which he quickly took. âOkay, but still, how long were you waiting? You could have called me, rang the doorbell, or anything,â you said as he got on his feet and picked up the bag he brought. âYou were sleeping, I didn't want to interrupt your beauty sleep,â he said casually, not hesitating to enter the apartment. âWait- how did you know?â he turned to look over his shoulder as he regarded you. âTell me when you have woken at a reasonable hour during day-offs, pretty sure you were up all night overthinking till your brain started to smoke out, and only you have slept.â You stand there dumbfounded, âwait, how did you know-â you tried asking the same question again, only to be cut off. Again. âJeez, cutie, so many questions.â
Annoyed at how he kept cutting you off, you followed him in the kitchen. He was setting out a variety of breakfast items on the table. âAt least let me finish my sentence,â you grumbled, to which he just smirked, picking up a croissant that looked freshly baked, judging by how warm it still was.
âHey, how long had you been waiting?ââ you asked curiously because it seemed like he had been waiting for a while. Rafayel finally sighed, wiped a crumb from the corner of his mouth, and said, âTwenty-ish minutes.â
â...You waited outside for twenty minutes? Didn't you get tired of waiting? You seriously should have called me, and I would have opened the door for you!!â you said, exasperated, feeling bad, but he seemed completely okay. If anything, the way his head tilted to the side, a small knowing smile on his supple lips, hinted at the eagerness that lived in between his heartbeats. Waiting and yearning for the next time he gets to be with her.
âIt was just 20 minutes, y/n. I could have waited 800 years if it were you behind the door,â he said with a playful wink before turning his back to you to continue what he was doing, while you stood there like an idiot.
How could he say something like that and expect you not to melt like a popsicle in the summer heat? He said it so easily, and here you were with your aching heart and weak knees, grateful he wasnât looking at your pathetic state.Â
You cleared your throat, heat blooming embarrassingly at the back of your neck, pink hues in your cheeks as well. âOkay, well⌠still. You didnât have to,â you said rather lamely.
âI wanted to,â he said simply.
He moved around the kitchen like he owned the place, opening lids, arranging pastries, humming some tune under his breath, even you hadn't become this comfortable moving around, but if you think about it, he was maybe far more familiar with this place, did he came here often, or was it because he generally walked around like he owned the world. In either case, it wasn't him who was the guest here. It was you, the actual outsider, not only in this apartment, but in this whole world.
You caught the faint shimmer of his evol warming the food- literal sparkles dancing at the edges of his fingers as steam rose again from the croissants.
ââŚAre you using your evol on pastries?â
He didnât look up. âOf course. Canât let my cutie eat a sad, lukewarm breakfast.â
You chuckled. âThat's such an intelligent use of evo, not gonna lie,â you said, and practically saw his ego getting inflated at the praise. âYeah, you know it gets pretty cold here in winter, I could be your personal, huggable heating pad too.â he wiggled his brow, and you rolled your eyes, albeit there was a goofy grin on your face as well, âsilly fishie.â
He froze. Actually, I froze.
Then he turned, slowly. Like they do in cartoons you used to watch on Sunday mornings
ââŚWhat did you just call me?â
You blinked innocently. âSilly fish.â
His expression went through at least four emotions in mere seconds. shock, delight, smugness, something dangerously close to swooning before he finally regained composure. âIf you wanted to flirt, darling, you couldâve just said so.â
âPlease sit down before I revoke the nickname.â
Breakfast turned into one of those slow mornings where you donât realize how much time passes because youâre too busy laughing. Rafayel is complaining about the annoying patrons and commission deadlines, and the other guys not being subtle about painting them as idiots. You shared how weird it felt being here, half-in and half-out of a life that wasnât technically yours. Rafayel just shrugged, told you that overthinking only ruins your food, and pushed another croissant toward you.
Rafayel talked. You listened. You talked. He pretended not to be soft and mushy about it.
It was warm and cozy and strangely⌠domestic. He kept stealing glances at you between bites, the corners of his mouth softening each time you laughed at something on TV. Eventually, you curled into the couch with your legs tucked under you, and he relaxed next to you, elbow propped on the backrest, watching you more than the screen. After what felt like too long, you were at peace, too much peace, so much peace you didn't notice what was going around you anymore.
You didnât notice when he angled his phone. Or when the soft shutter sound went off.
But you did notice when his phone began to vibrate violently on the coffee table.
âHey Rafayel, erm, your phone is ringing?â you state the very obvious.
He didnât answer. He simply leaned back with the most villainous, self-satisfied smirk a man has ever worn in the history of smirks.Â
Oh, he was definitely up to something. âRafayel, what did you do?â
Rafayel didnât even blink. âHm?â
He stared down at you like the worldâs most unconvincing innocent man. Well, he was conniving with others, maybe, but you? You saw right through his bullshit.
You narrowed your eyes. â...What did you do?â
âNothing,â he said. With a smile that meant: I absolutely did something.
Your instincts screamed at you, so you lunged before he could react and snatched his phone, which was vibrating so hard it almost vibrated itself off the coffee table as if to rid itself of the burden of those cruel notifications. He didnât even fight you. He just sat back, smug as hell.
A photo of you with messy hair, face mid-laugh, wrapped in the morning light like a scene straight out of a romantic movie where the viewers could see the very moment the protagonist falls in love.
Caption: breakfast with MY cutie đâ¨
Sent to a group chat titled: THE LADS.
You felt your soul leave your body.
Below it, the messages were already exploding:
Caleb: WHY ARE YOU IN HER APARTMENT?
Caleb: WHAT THE HELL IS THIS??? WHY DO YOU GET TO SEE HER FIRST THING IN THE MORNING
Zayne: Send the original schedule, stat.
You stared at the screen. Then at him. The messages went on and on with mostly Caleb losing his damn mind, Sylus trying to dissolve the damn roster they made, and Zayne agreeing wholeheartedly because it wasn't made with her say in it and was very obviously a joke, not that you understood a word of it.
âRafayel⌠why would you-argh!!â
You hit him with a pillow so fast he didnât even dodge it; he let it hit his face, and that stupid smirk only grew bigger after the impact. âUgh, why would you send that picture like that? Youâre impossible.â
He grabbed the pillow that landed on his lap and put it behind him, smirking. âYou love it,â he said with confidence that he fully believed what he said
You glared. You did not confirm. But you didnât deny either.
He nudged your knee lightly.
âBesides,â he added, voice softening a fraction, âyou looked happy. Couldnât waste that.â Your stomach did an Olympic-level flip you absolutely pretended didnât happen. âWhatever,â you muttered, sinking back into the cushions. âYouâre lucky the croissants were good.â
âThey were perfect,â he corrected. âBecause they were kept warm⌠with love.â
âAnd fire,â he added.
You grabbed another pillow to throw at him, but he caught your wrist before you could, laughing.
And just like that, the apartment felt warm again.Â
Because then it was overheated
You were halfway through your croissant when a soft knock echoed through the apartment. Rafayel didnât even look up from his mug of coffee he had just made, but you saw the subtle twitch of irritation on his eyebrow.
When you opened the door, Xavier stood there holding a small potted plant like it was a newborn fresh out of the womb. His hair was slightly messy, eyes half-lidded in that perma-sleepy expression he always wore, but his cheeks carried the faintest hint of pink. He looked⌠mildly guilty. Not enough to leave, but just enough to pretend he didnât plan this.
âI⌠um⌠thought you might need this,â he said quietly, lifting the plant a little higher. âItâs good for air quality. And⌠mental health. And⌠uh⌠existing.â
It was the worst excuse she ever heard in her 20-something years of life, but it was just as adorable as one as well, and he said it with such gentle sincerity you almost believed heâd spent all morning researching the therapeutic impact of houseplants just for you. But of course, if these men took pride in knowing you as well as they did. They should be aware that you were just on par with them.
No wonder he barely responded in the group chat; he was busy finding the perfect excuse to come over. Not even trying to be subtleÂ
Before you could respond, Rafayel appeared behind you with a tight smile that was only friendly if someone squinted really, really hard.
âWow, Xavier,â Rafayel drawled, leaning against the doorframe. âA plant. How thoughtful, but useless, okay bye now.â Rafayel pushed past her to close the door on Xavier and his plant but of course, Xavier held it before he could, sapphire eyes still on you only.
âIt's for better air quality,â Xavier spoke
âHer air quality is fine.â
While all that was going on, you squeezed past Rafayel momentarily, catching him off guard when your body brushed against his, making him still, and you took that opportunity to take control of the situation and open the door fully for the silver-haired boy. âBe nice to him, silly fish,â you spoke over your shoulder to the pink-cheeked lemurian who, for once, did not say anything back
Xavier didnât even look at him. âItâs low maintenance,â he continued softly. âLike⌠you donât have to do much. Just keep it near a window. And donât drown it. And⌠I donât know. I thought it would make you smile.â
You did smile. You couldnât help it. He was just too darn cute, âthank you, Xavier. I'll take care of it well. Come on in, let's find a suitable place for it, together,â you said, taking the plant from him. The words together made Xavier beam so bright at you that if it were an anime, it would be the scene where the MLâs smile exudes blinding light.
Rafayel, back in his senses, saw it and threw his head back dramatically. âUnbelievable. I slave over croissants and conversation, and he shows up with a cactus, and suddenly she glows like the sun,â he said that made you blush, and Xavier very happy.
âItâs not a cactus,â Xavier corrected, looking rather content, stepping inside after getting the invitation. âItâs an echeveria.â
âDo I look like I care?â Rafayel snapped.
You had to bite your lip to keep from laughing at their bickering that sounded so comical, but you could tell they were closer than they'd ever admit.
Rafayel crossed his arms. âRight. And tell me, Mr. Botany, did you bring this echi-whatever because you genuinely believe she needs more oxygen in her life, or because you couldnât handle being away from her for more than twenty-four hours?â
Xavier didnât miss a beat. âBoth.â
You choked a little. Rafayel looked personally offended, but Xavier did not care, not in the slightest, âConsider this your welcome gift, since technically you just moved in here.â he turned to you with the softest little nod, almost shy.
You shook your head fondly and carried the plant to the living room. âNot sure about that, I like to think I am just house sitting till Sel is back,â you expressed your earnest thoughts on the matter.
A silent look passed between the two men.
The moment was very brief yet very heavyâŚand you couldn't grasp the gravity of it. Not that day, at least,
But as soon as it passed, the lightness returned when Rafayel decided to call the plant ugly, and Xavier called him jealous. The men continued trailing after you. Xavier stayed close, hovering just a little behind your shoulder like he wanted to make sure you didnât drop his precious echeveria. Rafayel, on the other hand, walked with the defeated slouch of a man whose carefully curated morning date had just been invaded by a houseplant and its owner.
You placed the pot on the side table, stepping back to see how it looked. Xavier mirrored your movement like he was evaluating it, too. âPut it near the windowsill,â Xavier murmured, following you a little too closely. âIndirect light. Too much sun and itâll get stressed.â
Rafayel scoffed loudly. âOh, itâll get stressed? Should we also play classical music and tuck it in at night?â
âDepends,â Xavier said, completely unbothered. âDo you get stressed if someone doesnât do that for you?â Rafayel opened his mouth, paused,blinked and then pointed sharply at him. âDonât patronize me in my y/nâs apartment.â
âYour?â Xavier echoed softly, one eyebrow lifting. The air went tight for one second. You cleared your throat violently. âOkay! The plant goes here. Aaaand done!â You set it down, smoothing your hand over the leaves like you were crowning a tiny green royal. Xavier nodded, pleased. âIt looks good there.â
Rafayel huffed. âDebatableâ
âStill looks better than you in the morning,â Xavier replied in that same soft monotone that somehow made the insult land harder.
Rafayel snapped his head toward him, staring daggers. âSay that again.â
Xavier blinked. âDo you need it slower?â
âOh my god,â you muttered, rubbing your temples.
The energy in the room was becoming⌠unstable. Like two cats hissing but also refusing to break eye contact. You took a step back before the emotional shrapnel hit.
âTea,â you announced suddenly. âIâm making tea.â
âI can help,â says Xavier
âYouâll burn the kitchen.â replies Rafayel
Xavier shot him a flat stare. âShe literally makes food for herself daily. Why would she burn the kitchen?â
Rafayel looked personally offended. âI meant you, genius.â
Xavier frowned. ââŚOh.â he had a counter argument to that. Xavier's cheeks puffed ever so slightly, looking like those soft mochi you'd see on pinterest that were too pretty to eat. Not that it stopped you from fantasizing about taking a bite. You cleared your throat trying to dispel out those thoughts that had you so mushy. Tho you were fooling absolutely nobody.
You sighed, dragging a hand down your face. âAlright. Xavier helps me. Rafayel, go sit.â
Rafayel looked like you told him to eat nails. âWhy does he get to help?â
You shrugged. âBecause he brought a nice plant.â
Rafayel stared at you. Then the plant. Then Xavier.
âThatâs it,â he muttered under his breath. âIâm bringing a whole greenhouse next time.â
Xavier followed you to the kitchen with the tiniest smile of triumph tugging at his lips. He didnât gloat out loud, but every cell in his body screamed I won. Rafayel, realizing this, groaned into a pillow on your couch.
You sat back down on the couch to try and salvage your breakfast, but Rafayel slid in right beside you like you were a contested resource. Xavier claimed the armchair across from you, sinking into it with the softest exhale, eyes drifting over to you every couple of seconds like he was making sure you were still there. That you will not disappear in thin air beyond the pixelated walls like you did every time you logged out.
He leaned forward, planting an elbow on his knee. âSo,â he said, voice far too sweet to be genuine. âDid you bring anything else, Xavier? Or is your entire visit just to spite me?â
Xavier met his glare with an utterly blank expression. âI brought⌠myself.â
There was a pretty comical pause. You almost choked on air trying not to laugh.
Rafayel stared at him. âThat wasnât an improvement.â
âI disagree,â Xavier replied, already reaching for the plant to rotate it exactly one inch. âShe seems happy Iâm here.â
Your cheeks warmed betrayal-red at that, and Rafayel caught it instantly.
âOh, unbelievable,â he muttered, sliding even closer as though proximity would give him bonus points. âHe gives you a leaf in a pot, and suddenly youâre soft.â
âIâm not soft,â you said, but the smile you failed to hide did the opposite of backing you up.
Xavier looked very satisfied with himself. Not smug exactly, just quietly pleased, like a cat that had successfully placed its paw on your tummy without getting shooed away.
Rafayel narrowed his eyes. âI hate this plant.â
âIt can sense negativity,â Xavier said calmly.
âWhat is that supposed to mean?â
Xavier finally looked up at him, tone as gentle as always but sharp enough to slice: âIt means move to the other side. Youâre stressing it out.â
You swore you saw Rafayelâs eye twitch. He opened his mouth, closed it, then gripped his coffee mug as if to anchor onto its non-existent moral support.
You laughed then fully, freely, and their attention snapped back to you at the same time.
One utterly endeared. One utterly offended.
The plant just sat there, perfectly still, oblivious to the spiritual warfare it had ignited. Which progressively got worse when there was a knock on the door for the third time today.Â
The knock on the door was sharp, rapid, borderline panicked.
Rafayel groaned into the couch cushion. âIf thatâs another man with a plant, Iâm jumping out the window.â
Caleb practically fell into the apartment, chest heaving, hair windblown like he sprinted here from another part of the city. He pointed at you dramatically, then at the room, then back at you.
âThis is a rescue mission,â he declared, still catching his breath. âYour brain cells might have entirely disintegrated in the presence of those two morons.â Without wasting a single second, you let him in.
Xavier blinked slowly from the kitchen doorway. âHi, Caleb.â
âDonât âhiâ me, cryptid.â Caleb shoved past you, hands on his hips like a furious mom. âI sensed disturbance in the force,â you raised a brow, looking up at him, hands on your hips. âYeah, and what tingled your colonel's senses?âRafayel pushed himself up, one eyebrow raised. âColonel senses?â he asked. She had made a joke about Spider-Sense, and Caleb had insisted on having his own version, Colonel Sense.
Caleb ignored him, turning to you with all seriousness.
âListen. I saw Rafayel leaving the bakery at some ungodly hour. And I saw Xavier walking down the street holding a plant like it was his child. I put two and two together.â
âWait, why were you even watching us in the first place?â Xavier asked, looking puzzled, and Rafayel nodded in agreement, âYeah, why you freak?â
âThat's irrelevantâ Caleb says dismissivelyÂ
âAnywayssss pips, I am here for you now, do you feel better?â Caleb cut Rafayel off, throwing his arm over her shoulder, nuzzling his face in your hair as he took a deep breath. The act reminded you of your friend's big golden retriever that hugs and snuggles with anyone who would pat his head ... .except in Caleb's case, they were reserved just for you, as you know it. WellâŚ.he told you himselfâŚmany, many times
âYou have T-minus 3 seconds to back off from her,â a grave voice spoke up. It was Xavier. When you looked at him, he did not look like the cozy-looking bunny, but someone ready to strike at any given moment. looked up at Caleb, he didn't look threatened or willing to back down, but that was only until his amethyst eye turned to look down at you.
When your eyes met, he immediately softened, maybe because he saw the uneasiness that borders on fear in your eyes, and immediately, they all pushed their differences aside.
âEhm, as I was saying,â Caleb continued, letting you go.
âI needed to save you. I mean, look at them! Oneâs a sleep-deprived moron who speaks in three-word sentences. The other is a feral raccoon in human clothing and is two snarky comments away from combusting.â
Rafayel snapped, âI am not.â
Caleb turned to him. âYou literally hissed when I walked in.â
âYou made a noise,â Caleb shot back. âLike a pissed-off stray.â
Xavier nodded earnestly, looking serene again, as if nothing had happened. âIt did sound like that.â
You covered your mouth to hide a chuckle.
Caleb pointed at you again. âSee? This is why I came. To restore balance. To save what little sanity you have left.â
You crossed your arms. âOkay, hero. Do you want tea?â
Caleb paused, like the question personally offended him.
âI mean⌠yeah. If youâre offering. I basically ran a marathon for you.â
He sprawled onto the couch beside Rafayel, immediately taking up way too much space.
âMove,â Rafayel ordered.
âNo,â Caleb said, settling in. âI got here last. I deserve the most comfort.â
âThat's not how it works,â Rafayel muttered, shoving his leg against him.
Xavier watched them, expression soft. Then he looked at you and said quietly,
ââŚIt gets worse when weâre all together.â
You just sighed, amused and resigned. âYeah. I can tell.â
You barely had time to pass Caleb his tea before another knock sounded, this one crisp, evenly spaced, the kind of knock that carried discipline. You had an idea who it could be. I mean who else knew you in this world except themâŚwell technically there were other people whoâd know her, at least as sel but in your guts you knew none of them would be showing up at your door step at this hour on a random tuesday.
Rafayelâs head dropped into his hands. âNo. Absolutely not. I refuse.â
Caleb perked up. âBet you five bucks itâs Sylus doing that serial-killer knock.â
Xavier blinked slowly. âThree taps⌠one-second pause⌠yeah. Thatâs him.â
âAha! now pay up Rafâ
âI never participated in itâ
âSore fucking looserâ
â i said i never participated in it and we dont even know if its him-â
You opened the door. It was him.
Sylus stood there holding two neatly stacked containers of cut fruit and a thermos, âI was passing by,â he said, with the conviction of someone who absolutely was not passing by. âI brought fruitsâŚstraight from my fruit stall,â he said with a grin that you obviously returned. His âfruit businessâ, one she always teased him about, as well as exclaimed the wish to try sometime.
You stared at the assortment in his hands. âSylus, thatâs meal prep for a small army.â
He stepped inside like he'd been invited already, not that you had any reason to not let him in, especially considering how thoughtful he had been last night. âVitamin deficiencies can cause fatigue, irritability, and compromised cognitive performance.â You blinked up at him, did this guy take classes from Zayne or something? What's up with that medical jargon?
Caleb pointed at him. âJust say âI wanted to see you.â Itâs okay, weâre all doing it.â
Sylus paused, cleared his throat, and looked away. ââŚThat is an oversimplification.â
Rafayel groaned loudly. âWhy are you all here?â
Sylus placed the food on your counter with graceful movements. âBecause youâre here.â
Rafayelâs eyes twitched. âI am here because it's my day,â he said in an eerily calm tone that made everyone in the room unsettled except for you ofcourse you were looking at the fruits like you never say a banana before in your life. They were so fragrant and so fresh, heck have you had some fruits like this in your own damn world ? .
âFine, I am man enough to admit that I came to see her because I-â Sylus, the one who ruled onychinus and by that proxy, the whole N-109, stuttered briefly. âShe wasn't very well when I dropped her last night, so I was worried about her,â he admitted. Your heart swelled once again. He was just too sweet, always so caring. They all were.
âSee, not so hard,â Caleb grinned. Despite his smile, he didn't look too happy.
âYeah, well, that's why we had a schedule! A proper roster that you all are not even trying to follow!â the poor purple-haired artist exasperated. âI am precisely hair to take care of her.â You could see the anguish in his eyes, so you didn't hesitate to go comfort him, rubbing his back gently. The moment your palm made contact with the fabric of his back, he was melting into you.
âCutie, are you seeing this?â he says with the softest pout ever. You could really hear Caleb groan. But right now, you could only focus on how genuinely upset Rafayel looked. âYou guys, he isn't wrong here. Besides, what even was that roster system? I don't even remember.âÂ
Yesterday, you were so out of it that you barely remembered much. âLike⌠an actual schedule you all agreed on so you donât do⌠this?â The three intruders exchanged looks; they weren't guilty nor ashamed, they were just caught.
Caleb scratched the back of his head.
âOh. That? That was something we made up as a joke.â
Rafayel slammed his mug down loudly. âLIES.â
Sylus nodded calmly. âTechnically, it was a hypothetical scenario.â
âSo it wasnât real?â you asked.
Rafayel muttered something in Lemurian that was definitely not polite.
Caleb raised a finger. âOkay, so-â
âYouâre lying,â Rafayel cut in immediately.
âI didnât even say anything yet!â
âI know your lying face.â
Sylus leaned against the wall. âThe roster was conceptual.â
âA joke we made like⌠months ago,â Caleb admitted. â It was like that âwhat if she actually shows up in our livesâ kind of thing.â Hmm, so they used to meet up and talk about you? That was certainly something.
Rafayel scoffed loudly. âNO. It was a system. A decent one. A fair one. One that everyone conveniently ignores when itâs MY turn.â
Caleb placed a dramatic hand on his heart.
âBrother, we came with love.â
âYou came with LIES AND EXCUSES.â
Xavier gently raised a hand. âI came with a plant.â
Caleb snorted. âYeah, whatever you say, Sleeping Beauty.â
âYou think I am beautiful?â
â... shut the fuck up, dude.â
You pinched the bridge of your nose, laughing even though your sanity was clearly circling the drain.
You turned to Rafayel, âIt's okay, it's alright, it just means that the stupid little roster doesn't matter and you can come see me anytime you like,â you say in an attempt to cheer him up, and boy, cheered up he was.
Caleb opened his mouth in clear display of protest, but one sharp glare from you, and he closed it real quick.
Rafayel takes your hand and places it on his face. âYou are truly the only one who understands me cutie,â he says, and you feel your stomach flipping
And thatâs, of course, the moment the universe decides to add the final layer of chaos to complete the set of circus in what was supposed to beÂ
A knock, a very simple one.
A knock that said: I know exactly whatâs happening in there, and I am already judging it.
Rafayel, still holding your hand against his cheek, just lets out a depressed sigh. Xavier made it worse for him by speaking up, âOh, I was wondering when he would show up.â
No one needed to guess who it was.Â
âThe doors actually open!â you called out, pulling your hand away from the purple-haired artist's grasp. You had left it so because you, too, expected him to.
Zayne stepped in and shut it behind him, eyes scanning the scene like he was walking into a crime investigation.
Caleb with tea. Looking away from him sheepishly.
Sylus unpacking fruit like a disciplined housewife.
Xavier is petting the plant.
Rafayel sulking with a pout, looking one meltdown away from spontaneous human combustion.
And you, standing in the center of it all, looking unintentionally adorable and entirely overwhelmed.
Rafayel, having one more in him, burst out again, âOH FOR THE LOVE OFâ WHY ARE YOU HERE?! IT IS TUESDAY, MY- MY DAY. MY TURN. MY RIGHT. WHY. ARE. YOU. HERE.â
âRafyâŚWe just talked about this,â you said gentle parenting him. And he finally gives up, plopping down on the couch again, utterly defeated.
Zayne pointed at him without breaking eye contact with you. ââŚIs he okay?â
âNo,â everyone else said at the same time.
Zayne sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. âI was just coming to drop off-â but this time, you couldn't take any of those ridiculous excuses. You went and put a hand on his shoulder, making him pause, the other hand clutching your own heart
âZayne⌠Itâs okay,â you said quietly, looking up at him. âJust accept youâre here to see me. I cannot go through all that again.â
Then at your hand on his shoulder.
Then he blushed while looking very sheepish, adorably so.
Despite the blush Zayneâs face went blank, the kind of blank that meant there was too much emotion and his brain had unplugged itself for safety reasons.
Finally, he inhaled sharply, turned his gaze toward the others, and glared with Parent-level disappointment.
âGreat,â he muttered. âYou people broke her.â
Caleb raised a hand. âZayne, buddy, I think sheâs just tired-â
Zayne snapped. âSheâs not tired, sheâs traumatized.â
Rafayel huffed.âthats what happens when you intrude on someone else's dayâ he mumbles to himself
Xavier nodded sagely. âWe do tend to cause⌠overstimulation.â
Sylus, already cutting fruit with surgical precision, said, âI can prepare magnesium if needed.â still in his wife-cum-doctor role, who was he even trying to impress? Her or Zayne?
You, on the other hand, got a very enlightening thought, âhey wait a damn second, isn't it Tuesday today?â your brain just picked it up after Rafayel mentioned in his last outburst. Suddenly, they were all very quiet, and also looked embarrassed. âUh, no?â Xavier said, scratching his head.
âIt is. Rafayel keeps saying it's his day, and his day was Tuesdayâ you said your eyes narrowed as you looked at them all. You picked the phone on the table and checked to see that you were in fact correct.Â
âWait so you all are gathered here invading my apartment on a random tuesday? Don't you guys have those things that start with J and end with OBS?â
Rafayel sat up from his defeated slouch with new life suddenly injected into his soul. âYES. THANK YOU. EXACTLY. THAT IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN SAYING.â
Caleb coughed into his cup. âOkay, in our defenseâ
âThere IS no defense,â you said, narrowing your eyes even further. âItâs Tuesday. You all should be working. Or doing⌠something. Anything. Not-â you gestured to the collective disaster, â-THIS.â
Caleb mumbled, âWell technically-â he pauses unsure what to even say to that.
Xavier raised a finger timidly. âTo be fair⌠jobs donât exactly matter that much for us.â
Sylus nodded thoughtfully, as if delivering a quarterly report. âWe are, in essence, game characters. Our schedules are⌠flexible.â
Caleb slumped. âTranslation: we donât really have to clock in,â he throws in finger guns right at you, clearly expecting you to laugh but all you did was fall into deep thinking.
Rafayel gasped dramatically, betrayal shining in his eyes. âSo youâre telling me you ALL skipped your nonexistent jobs on MY day?!â
Zayne pinched the bridge of his nose. âRafayel. Nobody has a job. We are literally coded men. You canât skip something that doesnât actually exist, or at least truly matter.â
âBut it was MY TURN,â Rafayel insisted, voice cracking like a wounded noble Victorian maiden asking her betrothed to not run away with the village wench.
Sylus adjusted the angle of a fruit slice like he was preparing a royal banquet. âAlso,â he added calmly, âmy profession starts at night anyway. So I can be here.â
You blinked. ââŚYour profession?â
âRunning Onychinus,â he said, as if you were asking why water was wet. âThe Mafia Business doesnât open until after sunset. I am perfectly available during the daytime.â he said that with the same teasing grin that drove you to the brink of madness
Caleb threw his hands up. âSEE? This is why the roster didnât work. He has vampire business hours!â âI am not a vampire,â Sylus said smoothly. âMy blood consumption is recreational, not biological.not considering the mythsâ
Zayne groaned into his palm. âWhy would you say it like that?â
You exhaled through your nose, the last tiny thread of your sanity fraying at the ends. âSo let me get this straight-â All five men snapped their heads to you, straightening up more, you noticed how alert they would get any time you open your mouth to say anything. âYouâre in my apartment,â you said slowly, âon a Tuesday, with no jobs, no schedule, no actual reason-â
âLove,â Caleb said immediately.
âConcern,â Sylus corrected politely.
âCare,â Xavier murmured.
âMy RIGHT,â Rafayel emphasized again.
â-and youâre all here,â you continued, ignoring them, âjust cuz you wanted to hang out with me?â
Caleb shrugged. âPretty much.â
Xavier nodded looking at you with not-so-subtle intensity. âOur existence revolves around the player.â
Sylus added, âAnd subject to your whims.â
Zayne muttered, âWhich is why youâre exhausted. I apologise.â
You opened your mouth. closed it. Pressed your palms against your face, cupping your own cheeks and letting out a slow exhale. Your heart did something unbelievably, ridiculously stupid. Again. And the four idiots watched you like you were their sun, moon, and stars.
You finally decided to take back the reign over this apartment that you declared as its housesitter, so you herded them all into the living room with the kind of authority usually reserved for exhausted teachers.
âAlright,â you said, pointing at the couch like a commander assigning battle positions, âsince youâre all here anyway, make yourselves useful.â
Caleb sighed down dramatically. Sylus and Zayne sat like honor students, doing absolutely nothing to beat the teacherâs pet allegation. Xavier placed the potted plant on the table like a guest of honor. Rafayel plopped onto the carpet, still sulking. You disappeared into your room and returned with a massive whiteboard.
Caleb blinked. âOh god, sheâs serious.â
Xavier whispered, âThis feelsâŚlike a board room meeting.â
Zayne looked genuinely relieved. âFinally. A structured approach.â
You ignored them, grabbed a marker, and rolled the board in front of them, with the determination of someone who refused to go insane alone.
âRafayel,â you said, pointing sharply.
âYou take notes.â you said
He immediately scrambled for the notebook you handed him, straightened his back, and nodded obediently mirroring the determination etched on your face. He was glowing. Everyone in the room could see he was glowing. You uncapped the marker. âExplain, from the top. Everything. How does your world work when Iâm not in the game?â
Three of them exchanged a look. They looked as if they were already prepared to have this difficult conversation.
Sylus spoke first monotone and rehearsed âWe exist in a stable looped environment with pre-set parameters-â. You raised your hand to pause him âYou gotta dumb it down for me syâ you interjected quickly as all those words only meant something to you individually, but put together in that order, flew right over your head.
Xavier chimes in, his tone equally rehearsed. âDaily routes, repetitive backgrounds, minimal variation-â
âNope, try again,â you said again.
Caleb finished, deadpan but he did make it much more simple to understand. âBasically we wake up, work in whatever manner that makes the most sense, stand around looking like NPCs who forgot their own backstory, and wait for you.â You stared at him, something weighed down in your heart ââŚThat sounds depressing.â
âIt is, yeah!â Caleb said immediately, flashing a smile.
Sylus folded his arms, his voice softening. âThe only time anything shifts⌠anything matters⌠is when you log in.â
Rafayel added from the floor, quieter than usual, âItâs the highlight of our day.â He did not look up at you and for a moment the only sound that echoed in the room was of pen scratching on paper as he scribbles away on the note book you had given him.
Your cheeks warmed, once again the pink hues graced your cheeks a tender kiss from simple expressions of affection you had been deprived from. The four watched it happen, their eyes fixed on you with the intensity of wolves tracking prey, which only made you hotter. You cleared your throat aggressively and scribbled on the whiteboard.Â
They were living sad lives.Â
âR-right. Next question. Where is the original MC,Sel?â you said turning to them, the question instantly changed the whole vibe of the room, something you were grateful for.
They froze, few uneasy glances exchanged amongst them, even sylus looked a bit unsure on how.
Caleb scratched his cheek. âUhh⌠wellâŚabout thatâŚâ
Xavier tilted his head, being the first one to give the answer you were so desperately looking for the moment you understood the situation you were in. âShe wasnât⌠complete. Not in the way we areâ
Sylus nodded. âShe served as a vessel. A placeholder. You were the one making choices, forming bonds, shaping the routes. She was not whole, unable to exist without your presenceâŚmeaning, she had even less than we didâ.
Zayne, surprisingly gentle, added, âShe must be⌠enjoying her freedom. Separate from the narrative now.â
The revelation made you sadder, it was even more depressing to think of, it kind of made sense that she chose to ditch the whole thing the moment she got the opportunity to do so but you really, desperately needed her to speak once. Just once. After that you had no intentions of bothering her
You sighed. âI understand that but thatâs not an answer, I need to know where she could be there are things I need to ask her.â you said trying to coerce them into telling what they were hiding so clearly. They all avoided your gaze. Seeing that you weren't going anywhere with this. You decided to give up for now.
You wrote about Selâs whereabouts: ??? in dramatic letters.
âFine. Then how did I end up here?â
Sylus answered without looking at you. âWe believe the MC was the one who⌠brought you here.â
You nodded. You figured as much, initially you believed it could be Sylus but after last night your inclination was towards Sel. âHow? Why?â. Well you kind of guessed why, you were probably on the verge of death, Sel must have somehow resonated with you and brought your consciousness here. Was she trying to protect you? That gotta be it. Why else? UnlessâŚ
Something entirely else is at play.
Caleb whistled and stared at the ceiling. âUnknown phenomena! Crazy world!â Xavier pretended to be drowsy, probably the first time he actually wasn't sleepy at all. Rafayel pretended to be laser focused in his notebook, the scratching of pencil against the paper became louder..
You pinched the bridge of your nose. âGreat. Helpful.â
Then, quietly, you murmured, âI probably slipped into a coma.â with gentle resignation âmaybe i was on the brink of death and she somehow resonated with me? Brought my consciousness here? I mean all of this is too real to be a dream butâŚugh i dont even know what i am even saying anymore.â you slumped down on the chair next to the board your words had effect you didn't notice
A sadness flickered across all their faces. It was sharp, it was deep, and it was near devastation that curtained the previous bright demeanor entirely. Like a shadow passing over sunlight. It vanished just as fast before you could notice. âAnyway,â you sighed, âif I got here, Sel is the key. I need to find her.â
They panicked. You didnât see it. But you felt the tension.
Calebâs laugh was too loud. âHaha, no need to hunt anyone-â
Sylus cut in quickly, âShe will come to you.â
You looked up at him, not buying that for a minute that he was being truthful. At least not entirely.
Zayne cleared his throat, attempting stoicism and failing. âJust be patient, things will make sense as time slowly unravels.until then, we are here for youâ This was by far the most logical and soothing thing you were told today, and for that you were grateful for him
You narrowed your eyes but let it go.
Theories written all over the board, you stepped back, exhausted.
Sylus spoke first, softer than usual. âYou know⌠since you came here, everything feels different. The world is less⌠grey.â
Zayne nodded. âOur programmed routines used to feel like walking inside a cold loop. You being here⌠itâs the first time Iâve ever felt actual warmth from an actual person.â
He smirked looking away, his tone self deprecating. âNot bad for a bunch of codes.â
You turned to him, serious. There is no way you'd let them feel like that about themselves, not when they meant so much to you, to the point you have your game become sentient had your consciousness transferred to it, not to mention it could still very much be a coma-induced dream. They meant something to you. Something much deeper than you initially thought. You stalked towards him not hesitating to grab his face with both hands., his pale cheeks now much warmer in your palm, much redder too.
âNo. You are just as much of a person as I am.â you said staring in his green and gold eyes, one that reminded you of aurora borealis. You heard Xavier sigh âi wished i had said something dumb like thisâ he said but for now you ignored him
âYou each have distinct personalities, behaviors, emotions, thoughts and mannerism. More personality than half the humans I dealt with back home. And by your logic if youâre just code, then so am I. The difference is only binary versus genetics. If you are just a bunch of programming codes then I am also a bunch of genetic codes, â
They all looked up at you, not expecting you to say something like that,Â
Then melted. Softened eyes, dilated pupils and open mouths, those men sat and stared, wondering how it was possible to fall even deeper when they were already rolling in deep.
You pulled away from zayne and he almost reached out to pull you back in, not wanting to be separated so quickly, but then again he was a man of self-control so of course he didn't.
Calebâs ears went red, breathing uneven. Sylus ducked his head trying to hide the redness in his eyes that wasn't from the aether core. Xavier looked at you like he discovered sunrise for the first time in the form of you. Rafayel blinked rapidly to stop tearing up. Zayne pressed his knuckles to his mouth like he was physically holding himself together.
The emotional tension was unbearable.
Caleb clapped loudly. âOKAY- before we start crying like babies, letâs do something fun.â
Zayne cleared his throat âyou are about to cry, Caleb?â he asked and the man in question shook his head wildly â nuhuh i am not cryingâ Caleb said looking around to shift blame âare you crying Rafayelâ he asked and without missing a beat the merman responded âyeah i amâ
âAwh,â you coo, approaching him lifting up his chin, you gently wipe off one stray tear from under his eyes with the back of your finger. Xavier sighed again âI wish I had cried like a babyâ he said and this time you turned to him and smiled. âIf you want attention just says so-â
âI want attention,â Xavier says with zero hesitation whatsoever making you chuckle, you straighten up and just then Sylus was on his feet too, âcolonel sanders was right, before any more of you start crying like pathetic weaklings, lets do something funâ he announced as if they were declaring a turf war on a rival gang. Sylus points at you who was patting xavier by now and he was enjoying it a little too much then any sane person would like to admitâŚbut of course they weren't him, in fact they can never be him
âyou, ideasâ he said, you felt like you were suddenly handed a very big responsibility as his second in command. You snapped your fingers. âArcade.â
Their eyes widened, brimmed with primal fear.
Xavier whispered , âArcadeâŚâ
âItâs settled,â you said, already going to grab a jacket. âWeâre going.â and as if your word was law, they all stood up ready to move as soon as you did it. They began filing out the door like ducklings, and you suddenly remembered-
âRafayel? Let me see the notes.â
He paused. Visibly guilty, sheepish as if he was caught doing something naughty. Like a deer in headlights. âNotes?â he whispered, voice cracking.
You raised an eyebrow. âYes. The notebook I gave you.â
He tried to hide it behind his back. You stared palm out open beckoning to hand it over. He sighed dramatically and handed it over.
And your entire being felt as if it was elevated, heart beat thrumming inside your ribcage, in rhythm known to those who danced on the tunes of love.
Different poses. Different expressions. The tiniest details and microexpressions captured with obsessive tenderness. It wasn't just the work of an artist, but a man unraveled in love.
Not a single word of notes. None at all
Just you, drawn again and again and again.
Your face burned so violently you could feel steam leaving your ears.
Rafayel whispered, âI can explainâ
You snapped the notebook shut.
âNo. You really canât.â
And the look he gave you. absolutely ruined, smitten, adoring, almost knocked your heart out of your chest. âCome on,â you said, voice embarrassingly breathless. âLetâs go to the arcade.â you said walking past all of them to head out first, hyperaware of the eyes they reverently follows your every move, with one look shared among them they followed you out like lovesick puppies.
The arcade lights were way too bright for the kind of emotional damage this group was about to suffer.
Neon signs flickered violently, machines screamed in a symphony of beeps and special effects, and children darted past like gremlins set loose. And yet here you were, standing in front of a claw machine, surrounded by four fully grown men who, apparently, had collectively decided to wage war against a pile of stuffed animals.
Zayne stood a little behind you, arms crossed like a bouncer who regretted every life choice that led him here. âYou realize this is for kids, right?â
Caleb didnât skip a beat. âYeah, and yet youâre still here.â
âIâm supervising,â Zayne replied, stepping just a bit closer as Sylus inserted a token with the solemn look, he was prepared to give his all as he was prepared to get nothing back.
He narrowed his eyes and adjusted the joystick . Left. Right. Micro-adjustments as if he was handling something lethal, something that could destruct and blow up in his face. Caleb hovered way too close, self-appointed coach-slash-moral-support-slash-annoying commentator. âLeft-left-SYLUS, your other left-oh my god, how do you function in daily life-â.
âShut the fuck up or ill kill youâ sylus grumbled.
You knew exactly what Caleb was doing; he was being distracting on purpose. You could tell easily that his plan was to make all of them lose, but the question was, did he even need to do all that, because in your experience; they all, including him, sucked at this game.
The claw grazed the plush, hesitated, then dropped it like it suddenly remembered gravity existed. The failure clattered through the machine.
You pressed your lips together, trying not to laugh. âSo much for precision.â
Sylus stared at the mechanism like it had personally offended his bloodline. âThe mechanism is flawed.â
âSure,â Caleb said, cracking his knuckles âOr maybe it just needs a real man.â Sylus rolled his eyes up to the sky on that one, he knew what the outcome would be and he was absolutely right.
He stepped up with the swagger of someone who believed in his own superiority a little too much. One token. One movement. And-shockingly-the claw actually grabbed the toy⌠lifted it a whole inch⌠then let it fall like it was too disgusted to hold it.
Caleb blushed, very clearly embarrassed. âThatâs cheating. Itâs rigged. Burn it.â
Rafayel, who had been watching with thinly veiled disdain, let out a sigh. âOr maybe youâre all just bad at this.â
He didnât last long, though. Eventually, he caved-not that heâd EVER admit it. âFine. One try.â He played like someone being forced at gunpoint, and somehow managed to perform worse than every single person before him. When the claw released absolutely nothing, Rafayel turned away dramatically, flicking his hair. âThis game is beneath me.â Caleb only snorted in response, âThe grapes are quite sour today
Heâd been there the entire time, leaning against the side of the machine, half-asleep with a soda cup that was holding his consciousness together, dangling from his fingers. Each time the claw failed, he let out the softest, most defeated little sigh that broke your heart each time. How dare these plushies make him suffer?
You nudged him. âYour turn.â
He blinked at you, slow and foggy. âHuh? Oh⌠right. The⌠machine of despair.â
He put in a coin with all the enthusiasm of someone signing divorce papers. He moved the joystick lazily, almost carelessly, and somehow, the claw actually grabbed a plush and picked it up, dragging towards the drop box.
Everyone snapped to attention.
âNo way-â Caleb started.
But right before the claw could finish the job and anyone could celebrate, Xavier got a little too excited and let go too early. The plush slipped⌠fell⌠and vanished back into the pile.
Xavier nodded once, resigned. âYeah. That track.â
You were still laughing, unsure to tease them or console them or try it yourself when a tiny kid, barely 5, approached the machine next to yours. He put in a single coin, pressed the button without thinking, and the claw scooped up, no exaggeration, three plushies in one go.
You couldnât hold it anymore; you burst into laughter, leaning against the machine before you collapsed. The kid, apparently moved by your groupâs collective humiliation, hesitated, then shyly approached you.
âErm miss, i-i got threeâ he stated and you crouched down in front of the sweet boy to get on his eye-level âyou sure did champâ you say ruffling his already messy hair no doubt from playing around the arcade for too long.
The boy blushed further. âWell uhm, earlier I heard you wanted one as well and er none of your boyfriends got you anyâ said the kid giving the barrage of men defeated by a machine a stink eye, as if disappointed by the sheer lack of plushies in their hands. Like a grandpa, he shook his little head âmen these daysâÂ
You heard their offended gasps behind you and tried not to cry from holding back your laugh âthat's sweet, but they aren't my boyfriendsâ you told the kids and there was another even louder chorus of offended gasps. âWell thatâs good to knowâ the kid nodded solemnly.
Then he offered one of his prizes to you âplease have one, you can have the pink cowâ he said âi have one like this already i dont need itâ. The absurd cuteness of it almost took you out. You smiled, taking it gently. âThank you. Youâre very sweet.â you said and kissed the top of his head. Something, or well, someone staggered into the game machine.
The universe went completely silent.
Caleb blinked. âDid that just happen?â
Sylusâ jaw tightened. âIt's stupid, I could have bought like a thousand.â
Zayne looked wounded. âWe just lost. To a child.â
Rafayel stood one hand on the wall and the other on his chest clutching his shirt. â such humiliation. We should commit seppuku.â
âNo,â Caleb said, staring at the floor. âWe donât deserve dignified deaths.â
âYouâre all ridiculous,â you said between breaths.
Caleb looked up at you, his expression pained but still delighted to see you unbridled with joy, flashed you a grin even in this blatant display of humiliation he found a silver lining that it made you laugh like that. âYou love it.â
You rolled your eyes, trying to look unimpressed when your chest was annoyingly warm. âUnfortunately.â
As you all stepped out of the arcade, the neon lights fading behind you and the laughter still echoing in your ears, you couldnât help but glance at the men beside you. Loud, dramatic, chaotic as hell⌠and somehow impossibly real. Somewhere between the noise, the teasing, and the quiet moments like this, you realized, this world didnât feel so strange anymore.
It felt like home, trying to re-form itself around you, and one could only hope it was a good thing
They exit the arcade into the cool evening air. Their laughter fades as they fall into an easy silence, just walking, just existing, until two girls pass by them, talking a bit too loudly for how quiet the street is.
The first one, a petite blonde dressed in simple, almost outdated clothes, practically beams.
âI swear, today was the most fun Iâve had in like⌠I donât even knowâŚlike ever?!?!?!?,â she says, voice bubbling with genuine wonder. âIt felt like-like everything was brighter like i dont knowâŚ. More fullfillingâ
Her friend, a brown-haired girl in an equally plain outfit, nods rapidly, almost tripping over her own excitement.
âRight? I felt that too!â she says. âIt was like⌠like I was actually feeling something for once.â
She presses her hand to her chest as if trying to understand her own heartbeat. âItâs weird to say out loud, but everything was just more⌠real.â
The blonde slows for a moment, eyes darting around before she leans in conspiratorially.
âDo you think itâs because of that⌠that energy pulse thing they told us about in the news?â she whispers, even though the street is empty. âThe one from a few days ago? Everyone in Linkonâs been acting strange since then. Happier. More awake.â She glances around again, almost as if expecting the shadows to react to her revelations
The brown-haired girl gasps, not fearfully, but with the kind of excitement children have when they discover secrets. âOh my god, I thought it was just me,â she says. âBut yeah⌠everything feels shifted. I even picked out a different top today without thinking.â She tugs at her sleeve shyly. âI never do that. And Iâve been doing stuff outside my routine all day.â She giggles, half embarrassed, half thrilled. âMaybe your theory isnât crazy.â
They continue walking, the conversation drifting into hushed speculation, their footsteps growing softer as they disappear down the street.
Y/N slows, glancing back over her shoulder. She tilts her head, brows knitting lightly in curiosity. That strange pulse, it happened the same time she entered this world right?⌠everyone feeling alive after that?⌠huhâŚ
But the girlsâ voices were filled with nothing but warmth and joy for the first time at that, apparently.
Y/N smiles to herself and shakes her head softly.
Thereâs no way something that wholesome could be bad⌠right?
TAG LIST: @madam8 @the-hermit @huuvu @xmonita @satansdaughter123 @macaronnya @noxus123
Good God, I MISSED YOU GUYS I MISSED THIS FIC AND I MISSED WRITTING AND I MISSED LADS.
Gosh it's been a while, each time I tried getting back to it. Something would completely throw me off track, life studies work family drama blahhhh.
So I really did put a lot of care in this one making sure to not make as many mistakes as normally do in my fics. So I really hope you guys like it and enjoy it and pray that God gives me time and strength to see this through. Because I love the idea of the whole plot line inside my head I really badly need to write it all down and post it here and maybe on AO3 as well