Hello, I'm EssenceOfCherryBlossoms. I usually only use Tumblr for reading and writing fanfics. Currently, all my fanfics involve the franchise "Love and Deepspace", but I'll probably write for other fandoms, too.
「"The trauma we can't forget, the happiness we cling to, and the future we hope for."」
About me:
I'm 19.
I'm an I.N.F.J.
I like anime, music, animals, baking, drawing, cooking, fashion design, teaching English, Eastern Asian dramas.
My Zodiac is Cancer.
My favorite colors are pastel pink and white.
My fictional characters crushes, and the one I'll probably write about the most, are.. Morally questionable.. 😅
...
Sylus and Caleb(Love and Deepspace)
Lucifer and Satan(Obey Me!)
Ruka(Wicked Wolves)
Faust and Theo(Ikemen Vampire)
Mistsuhide and Kicho(Ikemen Sengoku)
While interacting with my blog, please respect all the others people here; If you disrespect anyone's race, religion, sexualtiy, interests, or homelife, or anything else, I will block you.
Hello everyone. I'm sorry for the delay in finishing the 14th part of Onychinus' Kitten. There have been a couple of personal issues that kind of soured my "Wholesome episode" mood.Also,I have a confession to make. I was hoping this wouldn't happen, but I can't keep stalling for time. Not only if it unfair to keep you all waiting even longer, but soon I'll have to worry about cameras that will soon be installed. Furthermore, I'm pretty sure you've all noticed by now that I've been elusive.As you know in the 11th-to-13th parts of "Onychinus' Kitten" I alluded that the reader would attend a surprised event that was very significant. 7 months ago, I had this scenario planned out in detail. However, as lot of things have occurred since than, and I'm unable to remember what this plan was even after re-reading all sections to try to remember it. Due to this, I'm adjusting the storyline. I'm very sorry for this mistake. Hopefully, this type of issue won't occur again.
Hello, everyone! As you are all aware, my current situation is strained to say the least. And things are getting more intense, however, I am still working on my fanficions. I wrote two prompts whitch convey different emotions for the 14th part of Onychinus' Kitten. Please choose your favorite.
Hello, everyone! As you are all aware, my current situation is strained to say the least. And things are getting more intense, however, I am still working on my fanficions. I wrote two prompts whitch convey different emotions for the 14th part of Onychinus' Kitten. Please choose your favorite.
Hello everyone, this is an official update regarding my current hiatus.
First, I want to say how incredibly grateful I am for all of you. The past year has been unforgettable becauseof all of you, and your support has meant more to me than I can properly put into words. I’m also sorry for my recent absence.
For those of you looking for a direct update about my fanfictions:
I won’t be able to continue my works for an unknown amount of time. When things in my life become more stable and safe, I will do my best to at least finish "Onychinus’ Kitten" if nothing eles.
For those who would like a bit more information:
As some of you know, my current situation isn’t ideal, and I’ve been working toward changing it. Unfortunately, the plan I was pursuing fell through. Because of that(and a few other complications)I need to be more strategic about my next steps.If my life were one of my fanficions, this chapter would be called “The Long Game.” The previous one was “Expose and Wager" and that one came with a few plot twists. Hopefully, the next chapter will involve getting back to writing. 🤣
But back to being serious, thank you again for your patience and support.
Happy Valentines' day, happy Lunar New Year, happy Ramadan, and any other holidays I may have missed! 🩷
This is an official post announcing my upcoming absence from Tumblr.
Please know, that I'm okay and will one day return.
As you all are vaguely aware, my current situation isn't a very healthy or happy one.
I've decided that from now on, I'm going to use my limited time if privacy to accumulate an income that I have control of so that I can live independently and improve my lifestyle.
Thank you everyone for everything you all have done for me. I hope to see all of you soon.
I would like to thank all of you once again for all the support you all have given me this past year. Taking a part of the fanficion-community has truly been life-changing. I've grown so much in confidence, and have loved making something that makes others happy.
I hope the new year brings to everyone personal-success, good health, and many joyful moments!
(As well as beauty, good music, cheap events for otome games, and yummy snacks!)
Tumblr has "Drafts"(which are apparently unfinished/unpublished posts).
If I write, and save my works here, then I wouldn't have to worry about my mom finding them.(Unless she found my account, and if that happened; It wouldn't matter if she found them)
If I'm able to use "Drafts" to write in sections without losing my work, I'll be able to write fanficions!
Sylus and Y/N are connected by a shared past life. In that former timeline, both were hybrids; Sylus a crow-hybrid and Y/N a cat-hybrid. This history is the root of Sylus’s intense hatred for hybrid laboratories in the present. During their past lives, hybrids had no legal rights and were legally seen as property. Unlike the present timeline-where minimal protections exist only to prevent “property damage”-the owners who controlled Sylus and Y/N were exceptionally sadistic. Sylus and Y/N were held by an organization that enslaved hybrids for the sole purpose of forcing them to fight professionally.(Similar to organized dog fighting). Before Sylus met Y/N, he was originally designated to be “Bait,” a role given to the weakest hybrid in a match to be sacrificed. Because he was a bird-hybrid, the organization assumed he would be frail. Instead, Sylus slaughtered every other hybrid in the arena. His unexpected strength shattered their assumptions about hybrid types and earned him favoritism. He became a legend within the organization, received special treatment, and was eventually claimed as the personal hybrid of the organization’s director. As a result of Sylus’s dominance, the organization altered its system. Each hybrid would undergo brutal one-on-one “pre-training,” followed by a free-for-all match. The weakest survivor would then be labeled as Bait. By this point, Sylus was no longer just a fighter- He was forced into the role of trainer, tasked with breaking other hybrids and molding them into ruthless killers. It was during one of these training sessions that he met Y/N. Y/N was significantly younger than the others and visibly the weakest. Sylus immediately understood her fate; She would either be killed or condemned to become Bait. Already desperate to escape his own existence, Sylus decided to flee, and to save Y/N with him. They successfully escaped together. Afterward, Sylus returned to the organization multiple times, risking his life to help other hybrids escape as well(Inspired by Harriet Tubman). To punish Sylus, crush his resistance, and deter any future escape attempts from any of the hybrids, the organization retaliated by capturing Y/N and tortured her to death to make an example of of both her and Sylus. Unable to live with the loss and the guilt, Sylus eventually took his own life.
In the present-life, the story between Sylus and Y/N was basically a Shoūjo with a lot of action and trauma.
Thank you everyone for the time and support you've given me. I hope to see you all once I'm living a better life. 🩷
Note: If I'm able to, I'll edit the fanficions I posted yesterday. But I can't have anything on my phone long-term anymore.
Death. Dehumanization/Objectification of idols(not supporting it, but referring to it). Bombs. The reader is dating Sylus but is still in love with Caleb.
♡{Notes:}♡
This was edited in rushed sections, so it may not be adequate.
Sylus is referred to as a good man and boyfriend. (So, if you don't like Sylus, this isn't for you)
This was going to have a second part, but my personal-life may not allow for that.
♡{Song used for inspiration:}♡
" Figure you out" by "Voìla".
You and Caleb first met as trainees.
The company you were both signed to allowed interaction between male and female trainees—honestly, it was often required for assignments, practice, shows, different challenges, ect.
Over the years you two spent training to become the best idols you could be, you and Caleb went viral multiple times for being “shipped” together by fan.
People swore the way you two looked at each other was romantic, and fans were convinced you treated each other a little too well for "Just friends".
A few moments between you and Caleb had gone especially viral-
The time you fell off the stage after a performance; The staff members barely had time to gasp before Caleb lunged forward, catching you.
For a second, the world stopped. His arms stayed wrapped around you a beat too long, his eyes wide with worry, and fans swore the way you two looked at each other afterward said everything- Even though "Thank you" and "No problem" were the only words spoken.
Then there was the incident at the photoshoot; Caleb, only sixteen, had been handed a vest with no shirt underneath.You called over the AirPlanez manager, calling them out about the lack of protection for male-idols.
Caleb stood behind you, red-faced, watching you boldly defend him dispite your usual sweet, soft, submissive demeanor.
People said he looked at you like you put the planets in orbit.
And of course, no one would ever forget the dance practice clip; The spicy choreography.. The way you two moved together—
Close, breathless, smiling like you shared a secret—
His grip on your hips.
The way he pulled you closer- Firm, but not forceful.
The way his fingertips grazed your exposed shoulder- Like he was showing-off his greatest treasure-
The way you placed your hand on his chest for just a second- Short, yet claiming-
The way you two looked into each other's eyes- Like you were looking at an apex of an entire galaxy-
The internet went into meltdown.
Fans replayed the moment his hand hesitated on your waist, or the way you bit your lip with a smile when he whispered something that made you blush.
But the most viral clips were always the quiet ones—
The soft glances on stage..
The way his eyes searched for you in the crowd..
The instinctive way you two found each other after a performance, bowing your heads in congratulations..
The way Caleb handed you a pillow to place on your lap when your skirt was uncomfortablely short..
The way you smiled when he was praised by an interviewer..
These moments weren’t dramatic or scandalous. They were just…
Genuine.
They were real.
Just little glimpses of a bond neither of you ever admitted out loud.
This attention caused problems more than once, especially since dating was strictly forbidden by the company. Both of you had to make public statements more than once just to clear your names.
Caleb eventually debuted in a boy group called "AirPlanez", with a fanbase named "Pipsqueaks"- A playful reference to an aircraft’s navigation system.
And, you debuted in a girl group called "ApplePie", with a fanbase known as "Apples".
Both rookie groups were off to a strong start, and despite everything, you and Caleb remained close friends.
One night, everything changed.
AirPlanez had just taken the stage.
From the dressing room, where you and your the rest of the members of ApplePie were getting ready, the opening notes of their newest song “Starlight” could be heard, it's upbeat tempo and a bass-beat went to mimic the sound of fireworks booming through the air.
A staff member adjusted your hair while the vocals rang out with the refreshing feeling of cold sodapop on a hot summer's day.
“You! You guide my way—! Like the starlight~! Burning brighter after midnight! こっち見てください! …よ! I—”
Then—
A thunderous explosion-
The floor shook beneath you.
Screams tore through the hallway.
Someone dropped a clipboard- or maybe it was a hairbrush-
Chaos swallowed everything in an instant.
Before you could think, you were already running for the stage—but three bodyguards bursted through the door, shouting for everyone to evacuate through the opposite back exit that was reserved from the public.
You pushed, pleaded, tried to break through, but they corralled every idol and staff member into a frantic stream toward the reserved vehicles outside.
You helped to usher your members into the black van, making sure they all were safe, but as it was your turn to get in, you turned- Sprinting toward the stadium, once more.
You weren't going to just leave-
You couldn’t just leave. Not without knowing if everyone was okay.. Not without knowing if he was okay.
You ran toward the same door you left from.
Bodyguard: “Ma’am, you need to go with everyone else. It’s not safe.”
A massive man blocked the doorway, his arms outstretched like a steel gate ro block you.
Y/N: “Sir, I know you’re doing your job—but please. My best friend is on that stage. Please, let me through!”
With all the matham-
Shouts, sirens, frantic footsteps-
Everything blurred-
You were on the brink of a panic-attack.
Bodyguard: “No. Leave now.”
He grabbed your shoulders and spun you around, shoving you away.
Y/N: “Sir, please—!”
You tried again.
Bodyguard: “No! Go with the others.”
He cut you off sternly.
Y/N: “…Fine...”
You pretend to walk towards the vehicles—But turned and ran toward the front of the stadium instead.
Weaving through panicked crowds desperately, hoping that you could still get in—
A hand seized your hair and yanked you backward.
“Y/N!”
It was your manager.
Manager: “What the hell are you doing!? We’ve been searching for you! We need to go!”
Her grip tightened as she dragged you toward the van.
Your scalp burned, but the pain barely registered through the panic-
Tears poured hotly from your eyes, mascara ruined.
You panted.
Y/N: “Please—please, I have to make sure- Hah- Everone- heh, That- Hah, Caleb— H-he’s—”
Manager: “Shut up! Get in the van before you get us all killed!”
She pulled harder, your apple-shaped hair clip snapped loose and fell onto the pavement— Abandoned, as you were dragged away.
It was like you were being ripped away from everything you cared about.
Days later, it was disclosed that a bomb had been detonated during the performance.
News outlets buzzed with the discovery..
"Only six of the seven members' of the boy-group "AirPlanez" bodies had been recovered."
...And none of them was Caleb's...
Days, turned to weeks.
Weeks, turned to months.
Months, turned to a year.
The person who detonated the bomb was never found, and neither was Caleb's body.
No one seemed to have answers- Not the police, not his manager, nit the company, not the security team- No one.
Six months after the explosion, a funeral was held. And since Caleb hadn't been seen since, he was announced to be deceased.
~♡~♡~Timeskip; 2 Years:~♡~♡~
After ApplePie disbanded, you slipped quietly into a new chapter of your life and began pursuing acting.
Your first role was a small one; A soft-spoken side character in a school-romance, slice-of-life drama titled "A Love That Blooms Like a Flower". Even with limited screen time, viewers noticed the warmth you brought to each scene.
Your next appearance was in the thriller "Bad Fortune", where you played a sharp-eyed shopkeeper's daughter who seemed to know more than she ever said aloudas she kept trying to convince the main characters to leave the eerie shrine while her mother continued to convince them to explore the sacred temples. It was a brief, tense role, but your subtle expressions added depth that stuck with the audience, with directors, and with talent agencies.
Then came a minor part in a fantasy film, where you transformed into an injured fairy rescued by the protagonist- Cloaked in shimmering wings and ethereal makeup. You delivered a fragile, otherworldly performance that left a surprising emotional impact.
Slowly, your popularity grew. You were recognized for your ability to channel any emotion with startling authenticity. And beyond the cameras, you became known for something even more precious; Your quiet kindness on set, the way you treated everyone, from co-stars to crew members, with genuine warmth.
It was during your first anti-protagonist role that you met Sylus Qin.
He was casted as the leading man in a comedy, enemies-to-lovers romance drama called "Corporate Connection". In it, Sylus portrayed a brooding mafia boss with a hidden soft side-stern on the surface, unexpectedly tender beneath the shadows. You, on the other hand, played the sharp-tongued, cunning daughter of his family’s rival: A manipulative schemer who tried to force him into a relationship for her own gain and threatened the life of the female-lead on the daily.
It was a jarring shift for you; You weren’t used to playing characters who thrived on cruelty and deception. But Sylus, with his tall, broad frame and intimidating presence, was often casted for those roles in particular. Off set, he patiently mentored you, showing you how to step into the mindset of a villain- How to smirk with intention, how to deliver a threat with velvetly-softness, how to let confidence settle into your posture and eluminte your aura, how to smile with the coldness of a sharpened-dagger's blade, how to giggle with seductive danger as if you were swirling your tounge around the tip of a nail..
As filming went on, what began as awkward rehearsals turned into easy conversations, inside jokes, and a quiet trust. By the time the series reached its final episode, you had grown closer in ways you hadn’t expected. And then, just before the last day wrapped, Sylus asked you out-
Your heart stuttered-
A part of you still held onto Caleb- Those memories, that grief, the love you never fully let go of...
..But he was gone.
Caleb had been gone for years.
And no matter how much it hurt, life wasn’t waiting for your heart to catch up. You needed to move forward. You needed to live again; So you said yes.
Sylus was a good man. A truly good man. Kind, steady, intelligent, hardworking, respectful in every way that mattered. And you loved him— You really did. You loved the gentleness in his words, the quiet stability he offered, the way he always tried to understand you even when you weren’t sure you understood yourself. But he wasn’t Caleb.
He didn’t move like Caleb. He didn’t absentmindedly pat your head the way Caleb used to. He didn’t have Caleb’s ridiculous tolerance for sour candy, or that bright laugh that felt like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. He didn’t ramble endlessly about strange little fixations, or start playful pillow-fights out of nowhere, or look at you with that reckless, warm, infuriating, softness that Caleb once did.
Sylus was an amazing man—
The kind any woman would feel lucky to have. And you were lucky. But no matter how tightly you held onto the present, some fragile, stubborn part of your heart was still clung to the past.
Because Sylus wasn’t Caleb.
And Caleb was dead.
You couldn’t have him back.
You would never have him back.
So you told yourself you’d rather choose a good man- A decent, stable, loving man- Over a memory with remains you couldn't even cradle in your arms.
But even as you whispered those words in your head every time kissing Sylus felt like a lie, every time holding his hand while cameras flashed felt like a act of betrayal, every time, the words "I love you, Sylus" sounded as hollow as a the sound on a coin falling into an empty well- Your heart still ached, still reached, still clung to a boy who no longer existed in this world.
You never told Sylus about Caleb. You never let his name leave your lips, never let his shadow touch the life you were trying so desperately to build. You told yourself you had no reason to, nobody asked after all- But you sometimes felt like you weren't talking about him so you became it made you feel like you could move on easier.
When people did ask about Caleb- Interviewers in the following months, fans seeking information, news outlets hungery for a story- Nobody asked about Caleb. They asked about the Center of AirPlanez. Not Caleb. They asked about the idol. They asked about the brand. They asked about the commodity they had consumed so carelessly- Nobody asked about Caleb.
Nobody asked what was his favorite of ice cream was- The one he always stole from your bowl.
Nobody asked what his favorite movie was- The movie he watched so many times he could quote it line-for-line.
Nobody asked what he's last words to you were- "We're going on now! Wish us luck, Pips!"- Words that egoed in your head and bruised your heart.
Nobody asked about Caleb.
They only asked about the idol.
That's all they cared about.
They asked about the Center of AirPlanez. The idol.
The product.
The item to be bought and sold.
Not the boy.
Not the person.
Not the heart that beat.
Not the mouth that laughed.
The the human being who had feelings, who had dreams, who had nightmares, who held you when you cried.
They only cared about the spectacle.
Everyone acted like they cared about his “private life” only when they thought the two of you were dating. Like when everyone was obsessing over the moment you gave him that dogtag-necklace with the apple pendant on debut day- Replaying it like a crime scene.
But none of them thought to ask if that mere piece of silver was the only part of him left in the world after his body disappeared.
Caleb’s death became nothing more than a cautionary tale about security protocols, another tragedy consumed and forgotten the moment it stopped being “Breaking News.”
And worst of all?
AirPlanez became a joke, a punchline, a slur, a weapon strangers hurled at whichever idol they felt like destroying next- Whichever group was trendy to hate on that month.
“You should be bombed too! 😭”
“Next AirPlanez plz.”
"Wheres bomb when ya need one?? 💣💣💣"
"PLZ next AirPlanez!! 🤣"
"Next AirPlanez???"
Cruel, lazy, misspelled mockery, casual violence spat out by people never cared about the people behind the videos and pictures they clicked the "Thumbs down" button on
They didn’t care that these idols had dreams.
They didn’t care that these idols had fears.
They didn't care that idols- that these idols were people-
Misspelled cruelty, casual violence, thrown into comment sections like it cost them nothing-
Like these lives hadn’t been real-
Like Caleb hadn’t been real.
Like he hadn’t been loved.
~♡~♡~Timeskip; 8 Months:~♡~♡~
You were overseas at lavish resort. You were still riding the dizzying high of being casted as the lead in the live-action adaptation of a popular shoūjo anime- One even you've watched.
The whole place shimmered with excitement. Music drifted across the open-air courtyard, mingling with laughter and the gentle crash of distant waves. The charity event taking place was technically formal, but with the glowing lanterns, clinking glasses, and bright chatter, the fancy attire everone wore, it felt far more like an extravagant party.
You spent most of your time with Tara, the actress playing your on-screen best friend. She was easy to be around— Warm, effortlessly pretty, and genuine, supportive, cheerful. You had become good friends.
The two of you wandered through the glowing hallways and bustling patios together, sharing jokes, whispering about the show, posing for photographers, and enjoying your time.
As you and Tara wandered down one of the quieter resort hallways— Definitely not hiding from the crowd because your social batteries were draining by the minute— You slowed to a stop. A tall poster-banner stood near the wall, its glossy surface catching the warm glow of the overhead lights.
The colors were dark and intimate; A dull borbon red apple sitting on what looked like a dark silver tiled-floor, the shadowed background was a mistic mixture of foggy laptis blue, grey, and a blurred swirl of sun-set orange, with silver glitter throughout it.
White letters lined with blue read:
「 Tonight!
Yizhou
Buy the latest album "Obsession", now!」
...
You froze-
The air around you seemed to thin, tightening like invisible fists clinching around your ribs
That name-
That apple-
The world tilted, colors blurring at the edges as your heart slammed against your chest.
Caleb.
It was impossible-
Absurd-
Completely-
Absolutely-
Cruelly familiar...
That single word-
That single name-
Unraveled you in an instant.
Digging up memories you’d spent years trying to bury.
For a moment, you couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move— Only stare; Wide-eyed and trembling.
The past you swore you were over clawed its way back into the present- With a single poster.
Tara: "Hey, Y/N, girl, are you okay?"
Concern laced her voice, her question startling you.
Y/N: "Uh- No. I.. I'm not sure. Do.. Do you know him?"
It couldn’t be Caleb.
It couldn’t.
"Yizhou" Wasn’t an uncommon name-
Just a simple word meaning midsummer, nothing special-
And the apple..
It..
It was just an apple. A symbol anyone could use.
And the poster being in his favorite colors- Those exact shades he loved-
That had to be coincidence.
It had to be.
Your mind clawed for logic, for any explanation that didn’t feel like the ground cracking open beneath your feet. Because it couldn’t be Caleb.
Caleb is dead.
You told yourself that again and again, like a mantra. You hoped Tara would say yes, hoped she eould say she knew him- Say he wasn't any like Caleb- Maybe he had green hair- Maybe he had red eyes- Maybe he had skin the color of dark chocolate- Because has wasn't Caleb-
"No. I don't know him. I've heard a little about him though."
Tara said softly, simply- But her casual tone didn't suit the hurricane in your heart.
Tara: "I think he's younger than us.."
She said, placing her pointer-finger on her chin in thought.
Salvation-
Your mind grasped at it like a drowning hand reaching for anything solid.
It’s not Caleb.
It can’t be Caleb. Caleb was older than both of you.
See?
See?
Of course it’s not him.
Of course you’re just overthinking, just spiraling again, letting ghosts wear the faces of the living.
You repeat the logic like a lifeline, like it might anchor you, even as something inside you trembles violently at the edges.
Y/N: "Oh! I see. Yeah."
You laugh it off.
Tara: "Uh.. Okay.."
Tara didn't seem convinced. Before she could ask anything more, you stated walking towards the lobby again.
Y/N: "We should get going! Don't wanna' worry everyone!"
Tara followed behind you, returning to the event.
The night drifted on uneventfully at first; Cameras flashing in rhythmic bursts, polished smiles exchanged like currency, crystal glasses lifted in cheers, jewelry glittered under chandeliers- Typical, predictable, the kind of polished glamour these events were built on.
Then, just as the conversations began to blur together, a small group of casually dressed staff slipped into the venue. They moved with quiet purpose, clearing a wide space in the center of the room.
One by one, they brought in a microphone stand, a guitar, a simple leather stool, and two compact speakers.
The shift in atmosphere was subtle but unmistakable. A performance was coming—something meant to cut through the glitter and poise, something meant to change the air.
A woman in a sparkling emerald green dress walked to the center of the clearing.
"Hello, everyone. I hope you're all enjoying the evening."
She spoke clearly and confidently, with a air if professionalism.
"We are so thankful to have you all here. Because of all of you, this event has been extraordinarily successful."
Flattery.
"Now, in celebration of his newest album- Preforming tonight- My good friend, Yizhou!"
Time seemed to splinter around you, every sound in the room fading into a distant, muffled hum. Anticipation coiled tight in your chest, sharp enough to hurt.
This was it-
The moment of truth.
The moment where everything you’d been denying and avoiding would be forced into the light.
It was time to see the face behind the name. Time to see who dared to share his name.
Because it couldn’t be Caleb. It couldn’t.
And yet, your heart thrashed as if it already. knew the answer you refused to accept.
A tall figure emerged from the crowd, draped in the velvety black of a perfectly cut formal suit. His dark brown hair caught the low, amber lighting as he moved-
Unhurried, deliberate, composed.
Conversations dimmed in his wake, the air tightening with something you couldn’t quite name.
He approached the woman at the middle, offered her a quiet, polite, "Thank you", and then wrapped his fingers around the microphone in a casual stance.
You froze—
Your entire body going weightless, untethered, your breath catching your throat-
It felt as if reality itself had slipped out from under you. Because you knew him. You knew the man standing under those golden lights.
You knew the man standing before you.
That soft, chocolate-brown hair, tousled just enough to look effortless. Those amethyst eyes laced with honeyed-gold shimmering under the warm lighting- Eyes you had seen in dreams so many times you’d forgotten which memories were real and which were grief’s cruel rewrites.
His sun-kissed skin, that warm, gentle glow you had sworn you’d never see again.
And that aura-
Calm, warm, steady, quietly dominant-
So unmistakably, achingly his.
But it couldn’t be.
It shouldn’t be.
It wasn't possible.
Yet the world around you blurred, melted at the edges, as if you were watching from underwater.
Because the man on that stage— Breathing, standing, alive— Was Caleb.
Three years dead.
Three years gone.
And somehow, impossibly, terrifyingly-
He was here.
Caleb was here.
Caleb was standing before you.
Caleb: "Hello, everyone. Thank you for being here. Your support has truly been the catalyst of my muse."
His greeting was polite, professional.
He gave a bow before sitting on the stool.
The melody started..
「"I heard he got you a penthouse- On the westside when will he learnThat you're afraid of heights?"」
「"Heard he got you a new Benz, with the white wheels, when will he learn? That you like to tandem-bike?"」
Something twisted violently in your chest, sharp and nauseating, like your heart was trying to reject what your ears were hearing.
The odds were impossible.
Impossible.
Just a year ago, Sylus had gently urged the two of you to move in together- And you couldn’t bring yourself to stand near the wide glass windows of the penthouse he bought for you both, couldn’t step close without your hands scrambling for something solid to cling to, your pulse roaring with a fear from the sheer hight of the building.
And, three months ago, Sylus had surprised you with a white-wheeled Benz for your anniversary...
You loved Sylus' generous nature, but you weren't really the type of person who liked lavish things.
So how could Caleb be singing about it now?
"It’s a coincidence."
"It has to be."
Your mind latches onto the thought like a lifeline.
Your fingers dig into your palms until you can no-longer feel the pain.
This is already too much—
Already insane enough—
That Caleb is standing there alive after three years of death.
That alone defies reason, defies grief, defies everything you buried to keep breathing.
But this?
No.
There’s no way.
The world isn't that cruel.
It has to be coincidence.
"Just stray details, meaningless overlaps, your mind reaching for patterns where there are none."
You mentally repeat it to yourself again and again.
"It’s just a coincidence. That’s all it is."
And yet, your heart refuses to believe.
「"And I hate that-! I could love you with my eyes closed. Kiss you with a blindfold. Figure you out! I might hold you with my hands tied- Show you I'm the right guy to figure you out! na-na-na, na, na, Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-oohI heard he got you some new friends,with some big dreams. When will he learn? That you already got your own? Oh, I heard he got you the front rowAt the rap show, when will he learn? That you like The Rolling Stones?"」
"How did-...?"
Each lyric felt like a quiet blow to the ribs, each reference too precise, too intimate to be coincidence..
Your mind raced, grasping desperately for logic, for distance, for denial—but the words kept coming, threading through moments that Caleb couldn't possibly have known.
The room tilted. Your breath came shallow. Because this wasn’t just similar-
It was exact-
It was personal.
And suddenly, the impossible didn’t feel impossible at all. It felt like it was standing on a stage, singing directly to you.
Caleb..
He..
He was impossible right now.
「"And I've been thinking, Of all the little things, that you've been missing, When will you learn?"」
Caleb’s gaze shifted. Slowly, deliberately, he turned his head to the side—
And his eyes found you. Not past you. Not through the crowd.
You.
As he sat there singing, the room seemed to narrow until nothing else existed but that single, unbearable point of connection. Your heart stuttered violently, missing a beat as if it had forgotten how to function.
It felt like being seen after years of silence, like a wound being touched before it had ever healed. For a fleeting, terrifying second, it was as if the song wasn’t meant for the audience at all— But for you alone.
「"I could love you with my eyes closed- Kiss you with a blindfold, Figure you out (figure you out) (yeah)I might hold you with my hands tiedShow you I'm the right guy, To figure you out na-na-na, na, na, Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh (figure you out)Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh (figure you out)I could treat you so much better- I've known you forever, figured you out, Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, I could love you with my eyes closed- Kiss you with a blindfold, Figure you out (figure you out) (yeah)I might hold you with my hands tied- Show you I'm the right guy, To figure you out na-na-na, na, na, Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh (figure you out)Ooh-ooh-ooh-oohOoh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh."」
As the final note faded and applause swelled through the room, you felt something inside you fracture. Caleb lifted the water bottle to his lips, calm and unbothered, preparing for another song-
As if he hadn’t just shattered your reality.
That was it.
You couldn’t stand there another second.
You couldn’t keep staring at this impossible truth.
This absurd, cruel miracle.
Not when he was supposed to be dead.
Not when you still loved him.
Not when, just 34 hours ago, you had kissed another man goodbye before boarding the plane to be here.
You turned to leave.
Before you could slip away, Tara’s hand caught your wrist.Tara: "Hey—what’s wrong?”
She asked, her brows knitting together in genuine concern.
Your chest tightened.
You scrambled for an excuse, anything to anchor yourself.
Y/N: " I—I need to go."
You stammered.
Y/N: "I… I promised Sylus I’d call him when it was his lunch break.”
You lifted your wrist, showing her your wrist-watch.
(11:07 p.m.)
Y/N: "He eats early.”
You added too quickly, words tumbling over each other.
Y/N: "So it’s almost time. I really need to go. S-sorry… enjoy the party, Tara.”
The lie tasted bitter the moment it left your mouth.
You had promised to call Sylus, but it was 10:07 a.m. where he was— Far too early for his lunch break, which he never took before 1:00pm.
You hated yourself for lying to her, for using his name as a shield. But you needed distance. Needed air. Needed an escape.
Tara: "Oh.. Okay.."
You fled before she could say anything else.
And when you were finally alone in your hotel room, with you Heart racing, and hands shaking...
You lied in bed, staring at the pearl-white ceiling until you fell asleep.
You didn’t call Sylus that night. You couldn’t.
You didn't know what to do anymore.
Soon you'd return home. Return to that penthouse. Return to Sylus. Return to a world where Caleb is legally pronounced deceased.
There were rumors that Sylus plans to propose to you after you return. You'd be expected to say yes. It'd break Sylus' heart if you didn't.
♡{"It's Beginning To Look Feel A Lot Like Christmas"; Sylus Qin X Reader:}♡
♡{Content Tags:}♡
Fluff. Established relationship.
♡{Content Warning:}♡
Y/N sleeps in the car, while Sylus drives. But Y/N trusts him.
Sylus picks Y/N up twice. (I'm not sure if the game has disclosed how much weight Sylus can lift)
♡{Notes:}♡
This was edited in a rush, so it may not be adequate.
I haven't been to a mall, or a cabin before. Nor have I decorated for Christmas.. It also doesn't snow(much) where I live.. So all of this is made-up with the help of of my friend who tolerances my 500 questions.
This fanficion wasn't even halfway finished but due to personal reasons and the fact that Christmas is already over, it ended.
This fanficion was made as a gift for my friend, so it's based on their tases and less generalized.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For you, Christmas was always more of an concept rather than an actual holiday.
For a lot of reasons, you never really celebrated it- Not the way people in movies did at least.
It wasn’t that you "Disliked Christmas", You actually loved it- You often wondered why, to be honest- But you never got to experience it the way you wished you could.
It always ended up feeling bittersweet.
Most holidays were like that for you; You adored them in theory..
..Scrolling through Pinterest moodboards.. Seeing the festival colors.. The pictures of snowmen.. Getting lost in the soft glow of the Christmas lights..
-All the whimsical happiness of others.
Not yours.
Reality seeped in.
When the aesthetic reel ended, when the holiday movie was over, you walked awsy from a particular display, when phone powered off.. The holiday spirit faded into something dull and heavy..
This quiet, pessimistic, kind of realism.
That's just how life is.
You didn't expect anything else.
But...
Someone else had a different plan.
It was the day before Christmas Eve when Sylus called you.
“Meet me at the central mall in Linkon.”
He said, his voice low and deliberate, threaded with something unreadable.
"Come when the moon reaches its highest peak.”
"Oh, and prepare to be out of Linkon for a few days."
Before you could ask a single question, the line went dead.
You tried calling back- Once, twice- Only to be met with silence.
Your messages fared no better: Left on read, or answered with nothing but a single, infuriatingly cheeky emoji- As if he were smiling to himself on the other end.
It wasn’t until relentless nagging that you managed to wring a vague, maddeningly unhelpful reply from him;
"Patience, Kitten. You'll see it for yourself tonight... Isn't patience a key trait for a hunter? How else would you catch Wanderers when they're most distracted?"
You could hear his damned smirk.
By the time you clocked out of work, the sky had already begun to darken, dusk bleeding into night as cold air settled over the city.
You went home and got ready, your movements deliberate but your thoughts restless, a quiet anticipation tightening in your chest. Whatever Sylus was planning, it was waiting for you beneath the winter moon-
And you had a feeling this Christmas would be anything but ordinary.
You arrive at the closed mall just as moonlight spills from the sky, pale and unbroken, washing the empty grounds in silver. Your shadow stretches long across the concrete, weaving and warping with every step, as if it has a will of its own.
From the outside, the mall is a hollow silhouette- Rows of windows sunk in pitch-black darkness, lifeless; Which makes sense as the establishment closed hours prior.
The parking lot is eerily still, vast and deserted.
But then you see it..
A sleek black car waits near the entrance, its polished surface catching fragments of moonlight like a blade. And there he is;
Sylus sits in the driver’s seat, one arm draped lazily out the door, the window rolled down- He's obviously been expecting you all along.
The glow of the moon traces the sharp lines of his profile, crimson eyes lifting to meet yours with a knowing gleam. The engine hums low beneath the silence, a quiet promise- Or a warning, knowing him- Hanging in the air.
Y/N: “Sylus…”
You call his name softly, your voice barely more than a breath- As the air is so quiet that even the click of a pen would have shattered the stillness of this winter night.
The air feels suspended, hushed, as though the world itself is holding its breath.
Sylus: “Hey, Kitten.”
You trot over to the car and lean in close, lowering your voice to a whisper.
Y/N: “Aren’t there cameras here? Or… did you…?”
Your gaze flicks to the security camera above the entrance. The familiar blue indicator light is dark.
Slowly, Sylus’s lips curve into a knowing smirk.
Sylus: “What are you implying, sweetie?”
His voice drips with amusement.
Sylus: "Do you really think I’d deliberately pull a few strings just so we could have this place all to ourselves tonight?”
The way he says it tells you everything.
He absolutely did- 100%, without a doubt-
He did.
You lift a brow in mock suspicion, lips tugging upward despite yourself.
Y/N: “Didn’t you?”
The car door opens, and Sylus steps out, straightening as he turns toward you as confidence rolls off him in waves.
Sylus: “Why don’t we go inside?”
He says, eyes glinting in the moonlight.
Sylus: "And perhaps you’ll find out, hm?”
He holds his hand out and you slip your fingers into his without hesitation, his grip warm and steady as he guides you forward.
Together, you step through the entrance of the vast building.
However-
It isn’t what you expected.
Instead of darkness and abandonment, the mall greets you in a sudden wash of light. Every overhead fixture is on, flooding the space with a soft, golden glow. Strings of Christmas lights wind along railings and storefronts, draping the halls in shimmering reds, greens, and warm whites. They flicker gently, casting festive reflections across the polished floors.
Your surprise deepens as you look closer; The storefront windows have been carefully covered- Layered sheets of matté black paper sealing off whatever lies inside.
No wonder the mall looked dark from the outside.
It was as if the world outside these walls has been intentionally erased.
The contrast is striking; Celebration, festivity, and romance on the inside- Darkness, silence, and empty stillness on the outside.
Y/N: "Oh-..!"
You look around in awe.
Y/N: "Sylus.. Did you.. Do you do all this?"
You look at his face, he wears a warm, genuine, smile.
Sylus: "Let's go. We wouldn't want to miss of everything here before it's time to go again, would we?"
Y/N: ".. "Go again"? Are we going somewhere else after this?"
Sylus brought a single finger to his lips- Hushing you with a smirk.
Excitement bubbled within your chest, you nodded.
You two ventured further into the mall, starting the journey that would be this night.
Every storefront glowed warmly, displays lit as though it were the height of the holiday rush. Christmas lights shimmered along railings and balconies, garlands draped elegantly over banisters, and towering trees sparkled beneath vaulted ceilings. Soft music echoed faintly through the open space- Festive and gentle.
And yet; There was no one else.
No footsteps.
No chatter.
No crowds weaving past.
No crying children.
No rude people.
You creepy men staring from a far.
Just you and Sylus.
Just Sylus and you.
Your presence the only disturbance in a place that felt frozen in a beautiful, impossible moment.
Y/N: "Sylus…"
You whispered; In such a quiet place, you worried you voice would come out at a booming volume.
Y/N: "How is this place even..?"
Sylus: "Operating as if it were open?”
He finished softly, watching your reaction with smug satisfaction.
Sylus: "Surely, you don't doubt me so much, that you honestly believe that I'd be unable to do something as simple as this, right?"
The confidence was practically dripping off of him.
You laughed, your fingers curled into the sleeve of his coat as affection rippled through you.
Y/N: "It’s like the world paused just for us.”
You said as you looked around the ethereal atmosphere.
Sylus' gaze softened.
Sylus: "That was the idea.”
Hand in hand, you two wandered deeper into the mall, your footsteps echoing gently against polished floors.
Store windows reflected the glow of lights and the way you leaned instinctively toward him, laughter slipping easily from your lips as you pointed out decorations you loved; Wreaths, delicate snowflake displays, colorful twinkling Christmas lights, a massive tree crowned with a shining star at top, red ribbons, and poles made to look like candy-canes.
When you reached the arcade, your excitement was immediate as the bold, whimsical LED lights flashed.
You smiled in expectation, looking to Sylus. He sighed with a smile. You laughed, tugging him inside.
You challenged him to Kitty-Cards.
Laughter rang through the empty arcade as the cards scattered wildly across the table.
~♡~♡~Timeskip; Mid-game:~♡~♡~
“You’re cheating!"
You accused, grinning.
Sylus: “I’m winning."
Sylus corrected smoothly.
You stuck your tongue out at him, only to gasp when he scored again.
Y/N: "Rematch!"
You demanded in mock-fury.
Later after the rematch, you played the claw-machines.
You focus intensely on the plush toys inside the glass enclosure as Sylus leaned casually against a machine, arms crossed, watching you with fond amusement.
Sylus: "You’re enjoying this far too much.”
He remarked.
Y/N: "I’m making memories.”
You replied, glancing back at him with a smile so bright it nearly stole his breath- Although he'd never admit it.
~♡~♡~Timeskip~♡~♡~
Eventually, hunger drew you away from the arcade.
Sylus led you to the food-court-
A cozy, restaurant-like arrangement awaited. With candles that Sylus lit the moment you sat down, two glass plates with a picture of a mistletoe on them, stirling silverware tucked inside bold-red napkins.
Y/N: "Sylus- How- How did you set this all up? In a food-court, nevertheless!"
Sylus: "You're lack of faith wounds me, Kitten."
Sylus had you sit down before leaving. He returned with one of your favorite dishes.
You shared warm food and quiet conversations.
As you both sat, eating side-by-side, your knees brushing beneath the table, his thumb absentmindedly tracing circles over your hand.
Y/N: "This is…"
You hesitated, feeling kind of shy. Yet your eyes shimmer as you softly smile.
Y/N: " This is the best Christmas I’ve ever experienced.”
Sylus squeezed your fingers gently.
Sylus: “Good. I intend to keep that keep ownership of that award.”
~♡~♡~Timeskip~♡~♡~
After finishing your meal, you two continued to wander the mall. Slower now, as the excitement settling into a comfortable warmth.
You two talked about everything and nothing; Stories, future plans, fleeting thoughts, jokes-
Your voices low, intimate, echoing softly through the vast, festive space.
Eventually, your steps faltered, Sylus noticed immediately.
Sylus: “You’re tired.”
Y/N: "I’m fine."
You insisted weakly, stifling a yawn that betrayed you.
He raised a brow, fond and unconvinced.
Sylus: "Mm-hm.”
Before you could protest, he stopped and turned to you. “Come here, Sweetie.”
Y/N: "Sylusss-!” you laughed softly, but your words dissolved into a surprised gasp as he scooped you up effortlessly, carrying you with one arm.
Y/N: " “You’re carrying me again? You don't need to do that, I can walk.”
You said feeling kind of like Sylus gas given you too much already. Dispite that feeling you relaxing against him.
Sylus: "Of course, Kitten. You’ve had a long night.”
He replied.
You nestled closer, resting your head against his chest as he carried you out into the cold night air, and toward the waiting car.
Snowflakes drifted lazily around you, catching in your lashes.
Y/N: "Are we going back to the base?"
You asked, feeling slightly disappointed that the night was already ending.
Sylus opened the car door, setting you down inside the car, buckling you in with careful hands.
Sylus: "No, don't you remember? We have another location to go to."
He smiled warmly, clearly being cryptic intentionally.
Y/N: "Where?"
You smiled in excitement, although you didn't actually expect an answer.
Sylus grabbed a red-and-black plad blanket from the backseat and wrapped it around you.
Sylus: "You'll see. Right now, you need to rest. I'll wake you up once we get there."
You pouted.
Y/N: "Come on, give me one hint?"
You batted your eyes- A fruitless attempt, you knew.
Sylus flicked your forehead lightly.
Sylus: "What a naughty Kitten, it seems I have indulged you a bit too much."
He smirked in amusement.
Y/N: "It's your fault."
Sylus: "And I intend to take full responsibility."
You both laughed.
Sylus kissed you, beffore brushing a strand of hair from your face.
Sylus: “Take a nap. I’ll wake you when we get there.”
He said lovingly.
You smiled sleepily.
Y/N: "Are you going to be okay? Have you slept at all?"
Sylus: "I'll be alright, Kitten. Don't worry."
He closed the car-door, circling the car to enter thr driver's seat.
Y/N: "Are you sure?"
You asked the moment he sat down.
Sylus: "I wouldn't have planed this if I was unsure if I could pull it off."
Based on the look on his face, and the serious tone of his voice, you knew Sylus had put a lot of effort in planning this night for you. And you weren't going to burn a hole in all his hard work.
Y/N: "Okay. Just.. Make sure to get some sleep tomorrow.. I'll.. I'll see to it that you do."
You said the last part eith mock-sterness.
Sylus: "How could I not rest eith a fearsome hunter watching me so closely?"
He joked
The car hummed to life.
Sylus: "Goodnight, my Beloved."
Y/N: "Goodnight."
You two kissed once more, before you retracted the passenger seat.
With warmth wrapped around you, your eyes fluttered closed-
Safe, cherished, and completely unaware of just how magical the next destination would be.
"Kitten.."
"Sweetie.."
"Hey.."
"Kitten.."
"Wake up.."
A soft, familiar voice drifted gently into your dreamless rest, threading warmth through the quiet dark of your subconscious until it coaxed you awake.
You stirred, wrapped in a cocoon of comforting heat, though a crisp, wintry chill brushed acrossed your cheeks and nipping the tip of your nose.
Your lashes fluttered open.
Sylus hovered above you, his expression tender and unguarded, lips curved into a smile so gentle it felt like it belonged only to you.
Y/N: "Mn…?"
You murmured sleepily.
Behind Sylus, stretched a breathtaking expanse of snow-laced forest trees standing tall and proud, their branches dusted in shimmering white. The ground glittered beneath the pale morning-light, as though the earth itself had been sprinkled with stardust and moonpowder.
As you pushed yourself upright, Sylus was already moving. In one smooth motion, he scooped you into his arms, bridal-style. He tucked the blanket securely around you to keep you warm.
You instinctively leaned into his chest, fitting there as if you’d always belonged.
Sylus: “Good morning, Kitten.”
He murmured, his voice low and affectionate.
Sylus: “And merry… Christmas Eve.”
He chuckled slightly from his own joke.
Your breath caught as you looked around-
A grand log cabin stood nearby, its wooden frame glowing softly beneath strands of soon-to-be-twinkling Christmas lights. Snow sparkled like scattered diamonds across the ground, sturdy evergreens stretching endlessly into the distance.
In front of the cabin, a swing set swayed gently in the breeze, its frame adorned with lights that would cast warm, colorful hues of green, red, and gold against the snow in the evening hours.
Y/N: “Sylus…”
Your voice trembled in awe.
Y/N: "Did… did you do all this?”
Before you lay a winter wonderland straight from a dream-
A picturesque, bewitching, impossibly perfect, dream.
Your smile bloomed bright and unrestrained, but your eyes burned with unshed tears. Love overflowed everywhere you looked; Within his gaze, in the careful way he held you, in the thought poured into this moment, and in the quiet devotion he showed you every single day, even in the smallest, most unspoken ways. His love had the depth and strength of the current from the strongest hurricane.
You laughed softly, freeing your arms from the blanket to wrap them around his neck.
Sylus: "Do you like it, Sweetie?”
He asked, hope flickering warmly in his eyes.
Y/N: “I love it!"
You hugged him again, tighter this time.
Sylus adjusted his hold, one arm cradling your head protectively as he pulled you closer, still carrying you with effortless strength. Holding you as if you were his most precious gift, wrapped in winter light and love.
Your excitement bubbling over and impossible to contain, you wriggled in Sylus’s arms, as your eyes sparkle looking at the snow-dusted clearing.
Y/N: "He, he, loook at it, Sylus!"
You said breathlessly.
Y/N: "It’s perfect! Let's bulid a snowman!”
He followed your gaze, then glanced back at you with amusement dancing in his eyes, though his hold remained firm and protective.
Sylus: "Absolutely not."
He replied smoothly.
Sylus: "Not before breakfast, and not in these clothes.”
Your brows knit together as you turned to him, lips pushing into an exaggerated pout.
Y/N: "But the snow is right there!”
You protested.
Y/N: “Come on, one snowman?”
Sylus chuckled softly, shifting you higher in his arms.
Sylus: “The snow will still be there after you eat. You, however, will not be going anywhere near it until you’re warm, fed, and properly dressed for the cold.”
You huffed, crossing your arms dramatically beneath the blanket.
Y/N: “You’re being mean.”
Sylus: “I’m being responsible.”
He countered, leaning in just close enough for his nose to brush yours.
Sylus: "There’s a difference.”
You stared at him for a moment, then sighed in defeat- Alhough the smile tugging at your lips betrayed you.
Y/N: “Fine.”
You relentedY/N: "But only because I want breakfast.”
Sylus: “That’s what I thought,”
Sylus said, smugly.
Sylus carried you up the wooden steps, they creaked under the weight. In front of you was a well-sanded wooden door with a large wreath on it. Sylus got keys out of his pocket with his free-hand, then unlocked the door.
Once inside the cabin, a rush of warmth that instantly chased away the cold enveloped you both.
A soft glow filled the space. Christmas lights strung along the wooden beams and the window frames, casting flickering gold, green and crimson reflections across the walls and onto polished floors.
Garlands, wreaths, and festive trinkets adorned every corner. The air was filled with the scent of pine, cinnamon, and something sweet like vanilla or sugar.
The cabin felt alive; Cozy, welcoming, and brimming with quiet joy.
Your gaze darted everywhere, taking it all in.
Y/N: "Sylus… It’s beautiful.”
You whispered in awe, appreciation and love bubbling in your chest like soda-pop.
Sylus set you gently on your feet, watching your reaction with fond attention.
Y/N: "I.. I can't believe you did all this.."
You felt your eyes water again.
Sylus: “I’m glad you like it.”
Your eyes landed on the Christmas tree standing proudly in the middle of the main room; Tall and full, yet completely bare.
No lights, no ornaments. Just waiting.
You turned back to Sylus, already smiling.
Y/N: "Are we...?"
You asked, expectantly and with a hint of mischief.
Sylus’s smile softened with a dash of exasperation, yet warm and knowing.
Sylus: “Of course. Later."
You laughed, heart swelling as you leaned into him, surrounded by warmth, light, and love. Already knowing this Christmas Eve would be one you’d never forget.
I have unfortunately news, due to personal issues, I will no longer be able to write fanficions.
I'm very sorry to everone who enjoys my work. It's been amazing knowing that I'm making something that has made so many people smile.
I have about an hour, so I will publish my unfinished Christmas Fanficion, my unedited "Caleb X Reader", and describe the ending on "Onychinus' Kitten", and post a few ideas I had for works.
If anyone wishes to take over these work as their own, I give full permission. Just please don't turn my fanficions into something to hurt the people reading(such as making them homophobic).
I'm so glad I net all of you, and happy holidays. I hope you all see happiness in 2026!
Mentions of past-trauma(Do you really expect any less at this point?). Low-key romantic tension. Self-loathing. Crying.
~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~
「WARNING:
Experiment Terminated. This experiment is not to be renewed.
Proceed with caution.
[Okay, I understand]
」
The instant the file loaded a crimson-red warning was written in pixel.
“…What.. ?..That’s… That’s a little concerning,”
You muttered, pulse quickening.
You hesitated, before clicking the “Okay” button.
The massive red square vanished— Too quickly, like it didn’t want to give you time to reconsider.
「NOTICE: This experiment has been indefinitely terminated due to hazardous results. It is not to be renewed.」
Another warning. This one at the very top of the document.
“Holy shit… How many warnings does one experiment need?.. What the hell was this experiment?”
You thought, a tight paranoia began to coil in your chest.
For a company that trafficked humans and hybrids, manufactured hybrids unnaturally, and made those hybrids into literal living-weapon.. What on earth could make them panic?
Sylus watched you from the corner of his eye as he drove. He notated how puffed- Or piloerected- Your tail was between you and the backrest of the passenger seat, and how your shoulders seemed to "curl" inwards towards each other slightly.
He wondered if that was the partially-human version of the way a cat arches its back when scared...
But all of that was unknown to you as you continued to read seemingly hand-typed file.
「Biological Cognitive Override Trial:
This experiment was designed to address the functional limitations observed in the current generation of hybrid specimens.
The central hypothesis posits that selective attenuation of the subjects' human-like highly-developed forebrain activity, combined with targeted suppression of the hybrid’s empathic cognitive system, will likely result in a significantly more efficient combat-oriented entity.
Through the coordinated efforts of clinical physicians, genetic engineers, behavioral psychologists, and the research division at HYBE-CO, a preliminary theoretical framework has been established.
Based on the available data, a structured series of experimental-trials has been developed to induce a controlled state of heightened instability while simultaneously reinforcing a behavioral profile centered on obedience. Henceforth, creating the ideal weapon.」
Your stomach churned so violently it felt like the ground beneath you was breaking into a crater.
A sick, hollow weight settled in your chest as the pixelated words on the screen blurred, blurring into each other passing shadows.
“..Was that the goal..?”
You thought, even in your head your voice came out cracked- A fragile thing fighting to hold itself together.
“When they tortured us— When they practically killed us— While saying that all the suffering ‘would make us better’…?”
Your throat tightened around the memory.
Every blow.
Every scream.
Every drop of blood.
Every moment they told you to endure because it was all “For your own improvement"-
“They were just trying— Literally trying— To make us go insane?”
You thought, disbelief and fury twisting through your brain.
“Slowly' Methodically- Piece by piece... They wanted us to go insane… But in a way they could control.”
Your mentally spiraled.
Your breath shuddered.
“A ‘controlled’ version of madness so we’d still obey their whims? So we’d still follow orders like good little weapons?”
Your hands trembled so hard the tablet between your fingers quivered.
“They wanted to make us less human than we already are… To carve away everything merciful.. Anything caring.. Anything loving.. They wanted to strip out the very things that proved we were still people.”
Your lungs tightened with ever thought until every inhale felt like it scraped.
“That’s why they did it? That’s why I react like I do? Why I’ve become… This? They wanted me to become a monster. And I… I did.”
The silence in the vehicle was thick, heavy, enough to crush solid rock.
Sylus saw everything—
Saw the shift in your energy, the way your breaths came too fast, too sharp, like each one was a fight.
He saw your eyes shine, tears gathering despite the way you kept blinking them back.
His hand twitched, wanting to reach for you. To ground you. To pull the tablet away before its containents could hurt you any further.
“Don’t continue reading.”
The plea echoed through his mind, raw and desperate.
“I hate seeing you like this."
But he didn’t speak it aloud.
He just sat there, driving, his heart twisting painfully, watching you fall apart under the weight of truths you should never have had to carry.
Your breath hitched again as your eyes remaind glued to the page, vision swimming. But before you could read the next line, a hand closed gently— Yet firmly— Over your wrist.
“Stop.”
The word wasn’t loud, but it cut through the air like a blade.
You froze.
You forgot how close Sylus sat, his shadow falling over you as a redult of the street-lamps when he took another turn.
The tablet's rubber indented softly under his grip as he took the device.
Sylus: "Don’t read any more of that.”
His voice was low, deep, steady, but threaded with something that made your chest tighten— Fear, anger, and something achingly protective.
Sylus: "You’ve read enough."
You tried to pull the tablet back instinctively, because part of you felt like you needed to know. Needed the truth, even if it hurt.
But Sylus didn’t let go.
Sylus: "Look at me."
He said.
Slowly, reluctantly, you lifted your eyes to his.
And it wasn’t the stern, cold-hearted, bloody-handed, dangerous, menacing, leader of Onychinus you found staring back..
It was Sylus.
The one who watched over you since the moment you entered the base, the one who touched you with a gentleness you've never experienced before as he applied gloss to your lips, the one who smiled exasperatidly when you goofed-off with the twins, the one who smirked proudly when you pinned him in a sparring match-
The Sylus you've come to love.
Sylus' breath trembled once before he steadied it-
He had read that file. He read it over and over again.
He knew what the rest of it said, but there was one thing he didn't know..
Sylus: “Answer me this. What that file depicts, were you one of the subjects mentioned?”
The question struck the air like a blade. His crimson-red eyes locked onto yours, burning with a ferocity that made your heartbeat stutter. It felt as though he was searching through you—
Not just your expression, but the shadows behind it, the truth buried in your soul before he looked back at the road ahead.
His grip on your wrist eased, fingers loosening, but his touch remained-
Like he was afraid you might disappear if he let go completely.
You dropped your gaze, your throat tightening.
Y/N: “I… I was.”
The confession escaped in a fractured whisper.
Your voice cracked like something fragile breaking, and a shuddering breath trembled out of you before you forced yourself to look at him again.
Y/N: “I’m the last one. The rest… They.. They were killed.”
Sylus’s hand slid from your wrist, falling away as if the weight of your words severed the connection.
Sylus: “When you battle…”
His voice was low, controlled- Too controlled for the situation. Like he was either used to this type of thing, or he was trying to keep himself composed.
Sylus: "You lose focus the more intense it gets. And your eyes.. They glow.”
You turned toward the windshield, trying to hide the way your vision blurred. The city lights smeared into streaks of color— Black, red, blue, gold— Bleeding together as tears spilled free.
Y/N: “I didn’t— I didn’t know you noticed... I didn’t want you to— to notice... I’m— I’m not— I’ve become— I- I am-”
You sputtered, unable to find the words.
Sylus: “You didn’t become anything.”
His reply cut clean through your unraveling panic— Sharp, decisive, unshakable.
Sylus: “They tortured you. They tore at you emotionally, mentally, physically. They built a life meant to break you; Piece by piece. That’s not your becoming.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched, his voice tightening.
Sylus: "That’s their doing.”
You stared at him as he faced forward again, the faint glow of the dashboard catching in his eyes. His brows pulled together— Not in anger at you, but something you couldn't quite decipher.
Y/N: “I…”
Sylus: “You’re not a monster, Y/N. And even if you were, this world is overflowing with monsters. Driven by survival, selfishness, instinct, fear- It doesn’t matter.”
His voice deepened, resolute.
“The only difference is how much people let their pathetic morals convince them they’re still human. And the people who claim to be the at highest peak if humanity? They'reusually the worst kinds of monsters.”
A trembling exhale escaped you, the kind that hollowed out your chest.
Y/N: “Sylus…”
He leaned back, taking the tablet— The file, your past- And placed it gently in the backseat.
Sylus: “It’s alright.”
His voice dropped, sincerely.
Sylus: “Let me take the tablet for tonight. Just tonight. You can look again later if you need to. We’re almost at the N109-Zone territory line. So prepare yourself. Anything could happen out here. They say that shadows cling to the places where the light breaks the dark.”
This time, you didn’t argue.
You turned back to the window, watching the city stretch around you; Lights flickering like distant ghosts, the world shifting as the car crossed into even more danger.
If Sylus had known what the file said all this time…
And you’d just confirmed, out loud, that you were one of the subjects they warned about…
Then what did that truly mean?
Had he accepted you from the very beginning- Not in ignorance, not by accident- But with full awareness of what lived inside you?
The instability.
The volatility.
The blood-lust.
The possibility that at any moment, the wrong trigger, the wrong surge of adrenaline, the wrong flicker of memory... Could turn you into something you couldn’t control.
Was that what he’d seen when he looked at you?
Not the facade you tried so desperately to maintain- But the truth beneath it?
The truth you’ve spent years choking down, hiding, fearing, hating?
And if so…
Why hadn’t he recoiled?
Why hadn’t he killed you the second he realized what you were capable of?
A slow, unsettling realization sank into your chest like a stone dropped into deep water-
Sylus knew.
He knew the danger, the unpredictability, the fracture-line that ran through you..
.. And he stayed anyway.
He chose to stay within reach of the very thing you feared about yourself.
He accepted you…
Not despite the truth, but with it.
And somehow, that was more terrifying, more unnerving, than any secret you’d ever kept-
What kind of person willingly saves, employs, and lives with, a possibly murderous abomination?
