caleb is the type of guy who gives you his first-found diamonds in minecraft and then nearly pees himself laughing when you fall into lava by accident or get killed by a mob. the smile only fades when you actually get upset at him, but there’s no flower he can’t use to fix things.
dude wasn’t lying when he said he wanted you to always rely on him, and that includes the virtual world. you don’t even have to lift a finger in the game, just chill and expand your farm, and he’ll provide you with every item in ridiculous amounts.
and then he gets jealous when you’d rather play than cuddle with him on the couch.
none of your worlds ever last longer than a week or two, because at some point caleb starts kissing you while you’re trying to build a cute farm, and he becomes unbearable about the lack of attention and affection.
So I nicknamed Caleb to Blaze Star in my game, as that star is a reoccurring supernova in the Corona Borealis constellation. Its been estimated to blow literally for the last year amd we should be seeing it soon.
Now I wonder if they were trying to time Caleb's main story update with that. Because ya know he likes to go boom.
he would even call it one of the many shades of his love language, a promise to cheer you up and draw you close whenever the few centimeters between you suddenly stretched into several meters. to lure out your touch when, playfully, you smacked his bicep or chest; a kiss if he was exceptionally lucky.
that’s why his next instinct, right after seeing your gloomy face when you return to the apartment, kissing your forehead and immediately preparing your favorite hot tea, is to tease.
he’s just millimeters away from you when you reach for the mug. giving you no chance to react when he grabs it before you and lifts it high, a boyish grin spelling out a sweet challenge.
“Caleb, give it back, please,” you say in a deflated voice that he absolutely does not like. you sound like cracked glass. a hollow shell of the person dearest to him.
but Caleb doesn’t give up that easily.
before, his teasing always reached that lovely brain of yours. whether it was accepting the challenge or his beloved “Caleb you dummy.” why should it be any different now?
“sure, buuut you have to grow a few centimeters first, pips.”
he regrets the words the moment they leave his lips.
the look you give him terrifies him. for a moment you just stare. lips pressed into a thin line, corners not twitching even in a hint of anger or anything else.
but your eyes... god, Caleb, you complete, stupid, foolish idiot.
they glisten weakly with a bitter, murky nebula of betrayal.
his heart races, ears roar with the realization that he’s just screwed up badly by choosing the wrong tactic. he should have known better, he should have...
“okay,” you say, neither in anger nor sadness nor hatred. it’s something worse than that trinity combined. uglier, uncontrollable.
anger was simple to handle. just like the silent treatment. it only took something adorably silly — notes slipped under the door, barking or meowing to spark your curiosity and lure you out of your room.
but this? always-in-control, good ol’ relatable Caleb suddenly freezes. the weight of your emotions overwhelms him, because he knows it is his fault that you surround yourself with this icy void.
his fault. always his fault. and he had promised himself he would never hurt you again, never be the cause of your suffering despite his loose screws.
his heart races, and this time he is the victim of the teasing. his own organ toys with him, mocks him — will the chip fry your brain before you get the chance to beg her on your knees for forgiveness?
you reach for the second mug, your fingers already brushing the least favorite piece of your ceramic collection (which only breaks his heart further), but you don’t get the chance to take the black sheep of the cups. strong, long arms wrap around you from behind and hold you close. tightly, a promise that there will be no more teasing. no more pretending. I am with you, this time truly. sincerely.
“M' sorry,” he whispers, voice unnaturally fragile but heavy with guilt. “I shouldn't have teased you. I truly thought I would make you feel better.” he presses his forehead against the top of your head and nuzzles slowly, just in case words alone weren't enough for forgiveness.
Caleb is lucky though. far too lucky for such a scoundrel. because he feels your hands on his forearms. they squeeze gently. not in forgiveness yet, but in something similarly soft — hope.
that doesn’t discourage him from continuing.
“I'm so, so sorry. I should have sensed right away that it wouldn’t work. I should have known.”
he doesn’t dare look you in the eyes. he isn’t worthy. not even when you try to meet his gaze, no matter how desperately he wants to look into your eyes and see whether that same nebula awaits him, or if its intensity has returned along with those ecstatic stars that used to shine beneath his eyelids every time he closed them.
“Caleb,” you begin. a little livelier than before, though still heavy with exhaustion. “it’s nothing, really. just... a hard day at work. I’m drained.”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry. I should have noticed...”
“next time I’ll tell you right away. it’s nothing.” you pat his forearm and lower your head to kiss his bicep. you don’t miss the way he shivered, as if he hadn’t expected any affection from you at all. as if he didn’t deserve it. “dummy,” you smile softly. “how about we make some tea and watch a show. I really, really, really need to cuddle with you. right now”
you shouldn’t be this kind to him, you shouldn’t, he didn’t deserve it...
“are you sure you don’t want to rest first?”
good thing he can’t see you rolling your eyes.
“as it so happens, your arms are my favorite place to rest.”
only now does he find the courage to look. to make eye contact. and when he sees that familiar colorful nebula and that weak but certain smile whispering "I know what I want", it’s hard for him to keep the corners of his mouth from rising.
“okay. we’ll do as you wish,” he kisses your temple. “but just so you know, I’ll remember that little fact about you very well”
“of course you will.”
you sigh, but quickly realize you’ve made a mistake.
“... am I even allowed in our bedroom tonight?”
“yes, if you bark five times.”
after the fifth bark, you can’t hold back a fleeting burst of laughter.
had horrible luck with caleb’s 3rd myth banner literally took all 150 pulls just to get both cards ☹️ and damn zayne cockblocked me too UGH but i finally got him!!!! not sure if i’ll pull more to r1 him but for now i’m satisfied
