TWO-FACED LOVER!
Once a blind man experiences the light, he will discard the stick that has guided him through the darkness.
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Word Count: 3.7k Author's note: Wow this has been in my drafts since like May 1 2 1 2 3 release em !! There will be a part two where another LI starts taking an interest in you... but which LI.. ohoohohoh ( i can't stop writing this trope pls restrain me ) obligatory tag for @noxellaa Desc: Caleb x f!Reader, mentions of Caleb x MC, a little bit of fluff, angst no comfort, comfort will be in part 2, weirdo behaviour by caleb, arguing
Your evening was going terrible. You were on your way home after a long day, and it had suddenly started pouring even though the weather forecast had suggested otherwise. Looking up, you groaned in misery. The gloomy grey sky reflected your mood, clouds blocking the setting sun as droplets of rain became more and more frequent. And it was just your luck, you had just missed the last bus and your umbrella fell victim to the billowing wind around you.
Cursing at the sky, you were weighing your options: book an outrageously overpriced uber, or let your wallet breathe and run home in the pouring rain. You were pulling out your phone to check the most sheltered route home when you heard footsteps behind you.
Alarmed, you whipped your head around, prepared to attack. "Woah, woah woah. I'm not here to hurt you." A tall figure said, raising both his hands up as a form of surrender. Your eyes widened as you took him in: broad shoulders which were accentuated by his jacket, cocoa brown hair parted at the side, slightly tousled from running over, and striking violet eyes crinkling at the sides due to the smirk curling at the corner of his lips. Damn -- he was absolutely stunning.
He seemed to take your shocked silence as a sign to continue. "I'm Caleb, a pilot in the DAA. I have an extra umbrella here with me, and I saw you stranded here, sooo, I figured you could use it." Caleb says, holding out a red umbrella to you. "Oh, thank you!" You said, fumbling to grab it. You profusely thanked him before opening the umbrella and walking towards your house, only to realise that Caleb was heading in the same direction.
"Looks like we're going the same way, hmm? How about I walk you home? Can't have a lovely lady like you walking home alone in the pitch black." He suggests, cocking his head to the side. The both of you stop in your tracks, and you eye him cautiously. Sure, he was astronomically good-looking, but that doesn't mean you should automatically trust him. You guys just met!
You must have been giving him a lethal stink-eye, because his eyes widened as he quickly stumbled over his words, "Wait- no, I just realised how weird that sounded. I promise I have no bad intentions, but if you don't want me to-" "No, it's okay, I'm fine with it." You cut him off, continuing to walk forward. As he was rambling, you noticed his genuine nature and he didn't seem to have any malicious intent, so you were willing to let this random guy - Caleb- walk you to your house. (You may or may not have chuckled slightly at the way his demeanor suddenly changed from suave to nervous at the drop of a hat.)
The trainee pilot rambled all the way to your house about various things, from his job to friends he had when he was younger. "Oh, there was this one friend I had when I was younger, MC." He said. His tone was different from earlier, more forlorn, but you didn't press. You noticed the faraway look in his eyes, and quickly changed the topic to your own occupation. Caleb's eyes seemed to light up again as he bombarded you with questions about your job and life, making you crack a small smile. Even though your socks were getting wet from the deep puddles in the ground, his inquisitive questions and genuine interest in your replies managed to brighten your surroundings just the slightest bit.
When you stopped in front of your apartment, you shook off the umbrella at the side and held it out to return it to him. "Thanks for walking me home, Caleb. Here's your umbrella." You thanked him politely, securing the strap wrapped around the umbrella. "Oh, no, you can just keep it." Caleb said casually, pushing the umbrella back into your hands. "Save it for the next rainy day. See you around!" He jovially continues, jogging away from your apartment while waving. You wave back with a genuine grin.
After that day, you kept coincidentally bumping into Caleb. You met him while buying pastries at a bakery a few days after the incident, his loud, cheerful voice startling you initially. "Well, if it isn't the umbrella girl! What'cha buying today?" He exclaimed. You hold out your tray to him, with a few of your select favourite confectioneries. "This one's my absolute favourite, the ratio of butter to flour is so perfect it basically melts in your mouth." You tell him, pointing to a specific pastry on your tray. Caleb's periwinkle eyes seem to sparkle at your recommendation, and he used a pair of tongs to plop another one on your tray.
You looked at him in confusion, before he took the tray from your grasp and walked towards the cashier. "Wait, Caleb-" You start, desperately reaching out towards his jacket to stop him from paying for your food. "It's fine, it's on me." He says, swiftly pressing his card onto the scanner before you could grab his arm to halt his movements. You thank him profusely for the second time, while he just shook his head and handed you your baked goods.
The both of you didn't even make it out of the door before half of the pastry Caleb was holding was gone, the tall man happily munching on it. "Woah, this tastes like heaven." He says, crumbs falling off his lips. You chuckle at the sight, reaching out with a tissue to brush them off. His gaze turns towards you, his ears the slightest shade of pink. "Thanks, __." Caleb mumbled, voice uncharacteristically timid.
The second time you met him, it was on a random Thursday evening, while you were taking a stroll through your neighbourhood. Rocks and leaves crunched under your feet, the soft breeze caressing your cheeks. It was always nice to have some alone time once in awhile, the world seeming to quiet down for those few hours.
"Hey, __!" A now familiar upbeat voice calls out from behind you, the force of his steps causing some stray leaves on the floor to drift upwards. You find a smile appearing on your face unconciously. "Fancy seeing you here, umbrella boy." You teased, pausing your walking for him to catch up with you. Caleb chuckles, and over the next few minutes, the two of you fell into easy conversation, the summer air seeping into your skin.
Suddenly, your foot comes into contact with a stray rock in your path, and you unceremoniously trip over it. Holding out your arms, you braced yourself for the grating impact of the concrete walkway. However, you never made contact with the grey path, and instead, strong arms wrapped around your torso, pulling you back up onto your feet. You looked up at Caleb, ready to thank him for what seemed like the thousandth time. But when your gaze finally raised to reach his, a tightening feeling grew in your chest at the sight of him.
The amber hues from the sunset painted his face artistically, every dip and curve of his face highlighted by shadows. You then noticed how his once solid violet eyes now had flecks of yellow and pink in them, sparkling in the evening radiance. He cocked his head at you, expecting you to say something. Once you realised this, you jumped, hastily stammering out a 'thank you' and continued walking at a pace far too fast to be comfortable. The rest of the walk was spent in a mostly comfortable silence, with just the slightest tinge of tension lingering in the air.
You can't exactly pinpoint the moment you started to fall for him. It was less of a 'tumbling headfirst' situation, and more of a 'not realising until you were in too deep' situation. The minor chance meet-ups and interactions you had made you realise how genuine Caleb was, how gentle he was while talking to others and how dedicated he was to his work. The gentle pats on your head, the brushing of your hands, the quiet moments, all of it was enough to make you fall in love with the pilot.
Over the next few months, the both of you only grew closer. You watched him get promoted to colonel, and watched him suffer through the impacts of the toring chip and mechanical arm. And you stood by his side through it all, as some sort of comforting anchor when things got too tough for him to handle alone.
Sometimes, you thought you could see a hint of blush in his cheeks when you leaned in closer than usual, and his eyes darting away nervously to think of a witty response when you sent a flirty comment his way. There were times when you thought that you had a shot, that he actually might reciprocate your feelings.
One fateful day, the both of you were sitting at a dock late at night, the weathered floorboards creaking with each movement you made. Caleb had been silent for an unusually long period of time, prompting you to look over to check up on him. But you were surprised to say the least when you saw him gazing intensely at you, the tips of his ears turning crimson . You leaned on his shoulder, unable to come up with a playful remark to throw at him. He had tilted your chin upwards with his hands that night, asking for your permission bashfully before kissing you. It was gentle and fervent all at once, built-up feelings and emotions crashing into each other like opposing waves.
From then on, you felt like the happiest girl in the world. Caleb was a spectacular lover, attentive and caring. Dates were often, him bringing you to new places and diners to try new things.
However, after a few months, you noticed he had started acting the slightest bit different. More distant, more consumed in his work. Documents piled up on his kitchen counter, and the lights in his office remained turned on even into the late hours of the night. Of course, you didn't immediately jump to the worst possible conclusion - Caleb never gave you a reason to, after all.
You just started paying more attention: silently leaving a cup of coffee on his desk when he got up for a short break, turning on the heater before he even steps foot into the shower to ensure the water is already warmed, picking up stray pieces of scrap paper strewn around his apartment. You never pushed, never demanded attention from him. You were just there, your presence a comforting warmth that Caleb would wordlessly accept with open arms.
Until one day, you came home to see something you wouldn't have expected. "Caleb, I'm home." You call out tiredly, your work being more draining than usual today, and the gloomy weather not helping in the slightest. The fatigue seeps into your bones, and your limbs feel like dead weight as you drag yourself into the living room.
To your surprise, you see an unfamiliar girl sitting down on the living room couch, with Caleb opposite her. The atmosphere is strangely tense, like a big fight had just happened. Honey brown eyes lock with your own, but the contact doesn't last as she hurriedly looks down at her feet. "Caleb, who's this?" She asks, arms still wrapped tightly around herself. Caleb huffs, seemingly annoyed. You notice he's still in his colonel uniform.
After a few beats of silence, you take it upon yourself to answer instead. "I'm __, Caleb's g-" you begin.
"She's __, my close friend. She's just staying here for the time being." Caleb cuts you off sternly, foot tapping against the floor with no rhythm. You're confused - close friend? Unless you were sorely mistaken, you are unequivocally sure that you are indeed Caleb Xia's significant other. You don't push - maybe this is a person involved in one of his missions? But why would she be in your home...
Glancing at your perplexed expression, Caleb's voice softens as he tries to fill the silence. "Ahem, this is pips-MC. I'm sure you've heard of her before." He says. You don't miss the way he almost calls her a nickname. MC looks up at him with a furious expression, fists clenching at her side. "Why did you bring me here, Xia Yizhou?" She mutters. Caleb replies, not missing a beat. "It's for your own safety."
What on earth was happening?
"Caleb, I thought you said you lost contact with MC? Why is she suddenly here in the house?" You inquire, head cocking to the side. He huffs yet again, briefly explaining how she was 'looking for danger' in the N109 zone, and how he had brought her here to keep her safe. "Caleb, I'm not a kid anymore!" MC growls, now standing up to her full height. Your boyfriend still towers over her, unfazed. "You'll always be a little kid to me." He replies solemnly, putting a hand on her head which she immediately smacks off.
After that incident, MC slowly started warming up to the environment around her, including you. She was quite abrasive at first, even trying to escape a few times. However, the two of you actually ended up growing quite close. On days where your work didn't require you to come to the office, the both of you would spend time chatting over a meal. And on days which you did have work at the office, you would shoot her a text asking if she wanted any tidbits or whether she was craving any food.
But you noticed something strange - the stronger your bond with MC grew, the weaker your bond with Caleb became. He started acting colder, more distant, having an expression on his face that signaled to not speak to him unless you were MC. The longer MC stayed in the apartment, the more Caleb acted like a stranger to you. However, it wasn't as if he was busy with work. It was more like he was growing increasingly busier fussing over the new resident in your shared home.
Caleb would constantly check up on MC, much to her annoyance. He would also take extra precautions to ensure she didn't escape, even going so far as to install locks on the handles of her windows. You tried to brush his absurd behaviour off, trying to give him the benefit of the doubt by assuming that he was just overly worried about his childhood best friend. I mean, they were separated for so long - who wouldn't be concerned? You tried to justify to yourself one night, rolling over to the other side of the empty bed.
Caleb's questionable behaviour only went from bad to worse in the span of a few weeks. From constant meddling to obsessive worrying, it became clear to you that this show of 'concern' was clearly not normal. You tried to bring up your frustrations to him sometimes, expressing that you were uncomfortable with the way he treated MC like a captive bird instead of a living human, only to get brushed off and ignored. Your boyfriend's cold demeanor only added on to your anger, and it wasn't long before your low, simmering annoyance boiled over into indescribable rage. He didn't even try to act like he wanted to be your boyfriend anymore, often choosing MC's company over yours.
From rejecting your offers to have a dinner date in favour of staying home to cook MC's favourites dishes, to standing you up at the movie theatre just because MC had a slight fever - these incidents gnawed at you constantly, making you feel insecure about yourself.
It all happened in a blur. One fateful night, you had just come back from a uneventful day at work, briefly greeting MC in her room before deciding you wanted to do some cleaning up around the house. MC immediately stood up when she saw you holding a duster and offered to help, but you politely turned down her offer, insisting you could handle it by yourself.
Humming, you reached for the top of the shelves in the living room, only to accidentally knock a book over. You sigh, bending down to pick it up, only to notice that a small chunk had been carved out of the spine. "What the hell..." You squint your eyes into the miniscule hole, and you were horrified to see a tiny camera blinking red back at you. "What the hell?!" You repeated loudly, causing MC to stumble out of her room.
"What happened? Are you hurt?" She asked, bending down to get a good look at the book you were holding. "The book... there's a camera in it..." You muttered, handing it over to her. MC's expression is complicated - she looked displeased, but definitely not surprised. She merely let out a sigh and shoved the book back into the shelf, making sure it's spine was facing inwards. "Stop spying on me, Caleb!" She huffs in frustration, walking back to her room like it was no big deal. You, however, were stunned - if there was a hidden camera in one of your books, who's to say there aren't many more scattered around the house?
Suddenly, the heavy wooden door creaked open, revealing Caleb Xia in his full colonel uniform. He glances at your shocked state kneeling on the floor, feather duster long forgotten by your side. "Doin' some spring cleaning?" He muses, peeling off his gloves. Caleb's casual tone only served to irritate you further, and that was when you reached your tipping point.
"Caleb, we need to talk." You said seriously, getting up from the floor. Your boyfriend sighs like every word spoken to you would take a decade off of his lifespan.
"I'm swamped, ___. I'm sure we can find another time-"
"I'm serious, Xia Yizhou."
Sensing that you were genuinely upset, he leans back onto the kitchen counter and folds his arms, waiting to hear what you had to say. "Your recent behaviour, Caleb - it's insane. First, you have to do routine checks on MC, then you lock up her windows and prevent any chance of escape, and look what I just found today!" You exclaim, yanking the book from the shelf and tossing it at him.
Caleb catches it swiftly, simply smirking when he realised what was lodged inside.
"These have been here forever, ___. Surprised you just noticed 'em."
"Them? Like, there's multiple?" You question incredulously.
Caleb's calm demeanor and casual tone sent you into a state of disbelief.
"Calm down, I'm just looking out for MC. I've known her forever."
"First, you invite a girl I've literally never met to live in OUR home, and refuse to introduce me as your girlfriend. Then you display this type of obsessive, downright freakish behaviour over her, and you expect me to just go about like it's a normal Tuesday?!" You spat, volume increasing with direct proportion to the amount of fury you felt in your heart.
Caleb looks personally offended, like you just cursed his whole bloodline with the black plague.
"She's not jus' some stranger I picked off the street, y'know. She's MC. My MC." He begins. "I've already lost her once. I won't let her slip out of my grasp again."
"What the fuck, Caleb. I understand that you're afraid of losing MC, but don't you think this is taking it too far?! Just- go to therapy or something!" You try to reason with him, trying your hardest into ignoring her that he called MC his. He hadn't called you a pet name since she moved in.
He pauses for a moment, the silence allowing the both of you to pick up on shuffling coming from the guest room- MC's room. It was clear she could hear the conversation between the two of you, but chose not to get involved.
"... I can only ensure her safety if I take every possible precaution. I'm her protector."
At this point, you just laugh. What the fuck? It's like he didn't even hear a word you said.
"You're a fucking joke is what you are, Caleb Xia." You spat, eyes brimming with tears. "Since her safety's such an important priority in your life that you barely even act like my boyfriend anymore, I'll leave so you can devote allll your time to making sure she's safe and sound."
Without thinking, you wrench open the half-open door with way too much force and angrily stomp out, rushing down flights of stairs clumsily. Only then did Caleb seem to realise the gravity of the situation and dashed to chase after you after a few seconds of standing frozen in place.
You ran, and ran, and ran. The twinkling stars and moon were the only things that illuminated your path, leading you away from that cursed apartment complex. What was once your safe space quickly turned into a hurtful reminder that you would never measure up to MC in Caleb's eyes.
You could feel him close behind, heavy leather boots slamming down onto concrete. Thump, thump, thump.
I can't let him catch up to me. You put all of your previous training and spontaneous workout sessions to good use, and pushed a little bit more. You could feel your legs burning, your lungs desperate for oxygen, your blood rushing to your muscles instead of your head - you couldn't even tell where you were going.
You ran until your ears recognised the familiar creaking of wood - you were on the dock where Caleb had confessed to you. It only made your heart ache even more, like your subconscious was drawing you towards him.
Now, even more disoriented and desperate to escape, you pushed yourself even harder to the brink of collapse, only to realise you were running straight for the ocean, and it was too late to stop.
"___!" Caleb calls out in a panic, and you can hear that he was only at the start of the dock, while you were fast approaching the edge.
With a heavy heart and a barely functioning brain at that point, you could only register water engulfing your form completely, and sinking, sinking, sinking... until the black expanse of the abyss claimed your consciousness.
"This is where it all ends for me, isn't it?"
Part 2 coming soon! Likes, reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated <3