one thing you’ve never understood was oral. no matter what the context was, it made your body itch. in those porno videos when their partner would go down, suck his cock—everyone makes jokes about blowjobs honestly.
when a woman was given oral? it looked so intimate so…overstimulating. like their partner was nearly taking their soul along with their next orgasm.
this feeling got even worse after getting into a relationship, xavier, the every do innocent man you found in the hunters association. he didn’t even talk about his own sexual preferences, he didn’t care about anatomy—nothing!
when you complained about your thighs getting softer and your curves more prominent, he’d come behind you with a tight hug, ruffling his head into your neck, “i love you like that, so cute and mine.”
or when you said that him carrying you up the stairs was hot after you got tired, he’d laugh with a “why thank you, my star,” placing his hand on the back of your head to rest, “shh sleep baby, i’ll get us home safe.”
even when you’d change in front of him, he’d look up and softly ask, “do you wanna try this new lotion out? it’s really nice.”
one night, you and xavier were playing a spicy card game. you know, the sexy truth or dare? xavier bought it one day whilst buying…new bedroom toys and the two of you never even tried it.
now that you had the chance, the game was in session!
the rules were simple, ask your partner truth or dare:
if they say truth? ask a question.
if they say dare? do the dare.
however, if they don’t answer or do the dare after choosing, you strip a layer of clothing.
halfway through the deck, xavier was in his shorts, his sleeveless shirt and jumper was gone ages ago. you were in your shirt and underwear, 80% of your clothes gone in the first three rounds alone.
“okay xavier! truth or dare?”
he giggled, “dare.”
excited, you picked a card from the dare pile, flipping it over before reading it in your head first.
xavier watched your face drop slightly as if something on the card was disturbing you, “what is it?”
your head turned to him and then back at the card, crossing your legs and pressing your thighs together, “eat your girl out or cook her any thing she wants… i mean you’re not going to the kitchen, but the other option…that’s quiet weird?”
xavier who was sitting opposite you on the bed, leaning back, his head tilted, as if offended, “what do you mean weird? it’s the same thing as a blowjob no?
the cards in his hand were placed to the side, joining them with the pack once more. sitting up, your eyes staring down at the cards that had a matching side on the back, “not really,”
he sat up, gently pulling you into his lap with a quick kiss to your forehead, his chin on your chest, staring up at you with a confused look, “how exactly? i think they’re the same.”
your hands wrapped around xaveir neck, staring down at the blonde man who only looked so…sexy staring at you. yet it took you a while to respond, there was a feeling in between yours legs. the dsame feeling you always get before xavier fucks you, “…i mean, you’re just like…licking it? i don’t know how to explain but i don’t think it’s something the person giving it would like. nevermind getting any pleasure from it too.”
xavier hummed, then his eyes turned to yours a dark gaze, full of a certain lair you’ve never seen before. his ears turned a soft red.
normally, you’d be the one blushing and being ready to bring out a nmore kinky side to the bedroom. however having xavier being the red one? it didn’t normally happen.
xavier lifted his hands from your hips, patting your thighs, his voice coming out rough, “i would.”
“no, xavier. have you seen it?—“
“i have and to be honest they aren’t doing it right. is that how you feel? that i wouldn’t enjoy putting my mouth on your sweet pussy?” xavier scolded, his hands moving up to your breasts, fiddling your breasts, “that i would feel disgusted? baby, if i ever don’t want to touch your pussy, kill me on the spot.”
you gasped, pushing his shoulders away, “xavier! what’s up with you?”
“i always thought that you weren’t comfortable with it? just to know that you think it’s bad for me—absolutely not.”
suddenly, your position was flipped, xavier hovering over you, “xavi! i didn’t mean that i thought…it’s bad for you, but it’s just…you don’t have to.”
“i want to. can i?” a hand came to the stripe of your underwear, ready to pull them down instantly, “if not, i can just finger you,”
“no…we can try, i don’t mind.”
xavier smirked, “okay baby, lay back.”
“xavi!-ahh! shit! oh my gosh! you’re so good!!”
slurps and wet slaps came from the man below, his blonde locks the only thing you could see coming from the space in between your legs, his tongue reaching into your pussy every few seconds, “fuck—gimme more, my good girl…”
“mhhm—xavier—“ you cried, holding onto the bed with a painful grip, the greedy man making out with your pussy like there was no tomorrow. his dick sore and twitching against the bed, his hips grinding into the soft duvet, “xavier please — i’m too — i’m too sensitive !”
sadly, your begs and pleases fell onto deaf ears, xavier was way too focused on pleasuring you than slowing down at all. his hands found your hips, pulling your body more to meet his every lick and suck — passionate, long, rough. xavier turned his head, biting your thigh and sucking on your skin, licking the throbbing spot after, “i can’t get enough of you…you’re gorgeous…i—i can’t help it.”
xavier lips continued to lick and tear your hole, digging deeper and deeper into your centre, your sweet slick coating his lips more and more. xavier didn’t even have to sweat, his mouth was naturally made to eat pussy it was crazy. strong hands wrapped around your plush thighs, squeezing your flesh and pulling you down the bed.
meanwhile, xavier was already hard. his cock rutting hard into the mattress, hips grinding with every lick he gave you. the bed creamed with every intense movement, the headboard nearly banging on the wall, your bed was already dirtied with your juices — which had travelled down from your pussy to your ass then onto the bedsheets. the room smelt like pure sex, it was nasty but god was it so good.
xavier’s head lifted from your pussy finally, staring down at your wet clenching hole, “…you’re so wet, so good for me hm?” gathering up spit, he spat right into your pussy before spreading your folds with his index and middle finger. letting out a small laugh, you knee that xavier was being driven by his cock at this point. his hands tapped his shoulders, staring dead at you, “legs.” was all he said, that tone of pure mischief.
obeying, you gathered up your strength and placed your legs onto his shoulders, giving xavier a wider space to eat you more, “good girl, you want me to make you cum?”
nodding, you whined out, “yeah—please..? i wanna cum xavi—ah!”
before you could finish, his head went back down, licking and kissing your pussy, his other hand went down — finally free from holding your legs — his index finger pumping in and out of your hole, “ah! fuck! xavi—mmhhh! nghhh! more! m-more!”
your hands grasped at everything, trying to hold onto something— anything!
his lips sucked harder on your clit, pulling away with a grunt once again, “you wanna hold my hand baby?” his voice was deep with lust and possessiveness, your trembling hand holding his, your soft skin making him go deal. xavier’s head lowered once more, kissign and sucking on your pussy. “ahh!—oh shit—“
his grip tightened, as if an reminder to stay still, his head rubbing your thighs when they clenched around his head. your head flew back, moaning and growing, “i can’t—please! oh my gosh—“ the tension in your stomach grew, your head falling into the soft mattress below, xavier continued to assault your poor sensitive cunt. his hips thrusted into the mattress, pounding the poor mattress in line with his kisses and licks.
trying to keep yourself still, your hands tightened around his, loud moans leaving your mouth. your second, maybe even third, orgasm slowly building up in your stomach. instead of that normal gradual build up, xavier wasn’t wasting any time. his fast tongue brought you to your release quickly.
his cock rubbed against the sheets, his hand gripping your hip, “ahh! xavier! nnghhh! how the fuck do u do this?!”
you felt his lips turn into a smile, his head rose to see yours, “who couldn’t?…actually, i don’t want anyone else to do this.” xavier groaned at the thought, lowering his gaze back to your wet slick. now fully concentrating to pleasuring you,
yet that feeling..so familiar yet so different. your head lifted up, drowsy and weak, and then your soft voice cooed in his ear whining, “nghh!—xaveir, it feels d-diffferent! h-hahh! wait wait wait—“
“you’re not gonna pee, just—“ kiss “just cum for me.”
“no! i can’t! i feels like i’m gonna pee, xavi—“ you whimpered.
xavier kissed your hole, not wasting a second when his free hand rubbing tight circles on yourclit, “it’s okay, you’re not gonna pee, my love. cum, right on my tongue.”
and you did.
“aahh! c—cumming!” you screamed, mot even caring about your volume anymore, the knot in your stomach snapping quick. sending your cum onto his mouth. the tension too much for you to handle, your poor thighs shaking around his head, “oooh—shit.”
the man below you laughed softly, “you’ve never done that before, good job.”
you whined, feeling xavier kick every single drop of cum from your pussy. willing his mouth clean with his tongue and a satisfied grunt. he moved upwards, “…stained the bed, fuck i love this pussy so much.”
a hand slapped at his chest, out of more embarrassment than anger, “…you sicko..! what if i actually peed then you freak..”
xavier shrugged, his lips kissing your inner thigh then biting at your skin, taking in your yelps, “my honest opinion? i wouldn’t mind—“
“xavier!” you gasped,
your hands went to his hair, “you’re so…!” out of breath, the intensity of your release taking the breath out of your lungs.
“amazing? loving? obsessed?” the blonde man came between your legs, his arms caging you in, “guilty as charged. infact…”
he tapped his hard cock on your pussy, the tip red and throbbing for you, “i’ll show you how much i love this pussy tonight, i’m not done yet..”
KINKTOBER 2025 @ alyakhq, do not plagiarise, copy or translate my work pls :)
Your marriage to the king of Philos wasn’t one born from love and affection. Politics had brought the two of you together to strengthen a crumbling alliance. After weeks of conflict and denial, something changes, and Xavier finally dares open up and admit that needing someone isn’t a sign of weakness…
☆ ☆ ☆ King!Xavier x Queen!Reader
☆ ☆ ☆ Read on ao3 ll Word count: 4.1k
☆ ☆ ☆ Royalty au, arranged marriage, delayed consummation of marriage (it’s not their wedding night), smut, sexual inexperience, shared first times, piv, love confessions, fluff
Disclaimer – this was originally part of a series but I have altered it slightly so it can be read as a standalone piece
“Are you familiar with what comes next?” Xavier gently questions as he scatters light kisses along your neck. The feeling is new and exciting as the sensation of his lips cascades through your body.
“Not entirely, no. I have been given brief instructions on the physical task of creating a child, but through whispers and gossip I have come to learn that the act can be so much more.”
You feel yourself violently blush and the previously pleasant warmth from the fire, trapped within the heavy stone walls of the King’s chambers, is quickly becoming rather unbearable. “It is quite warm in here, is it not?”
Xavier pulls away and for a moment you fear he assumed he had caused you discomfort. But then a gentle tug at your back tells you he has begun unlacing your dress.
Each slightly impatient pull has you shivering with anticipation. His gentle touch on your back is warm and the stark contrast to your suddenly chilled skin triggers goosebumps along your body.
It hits you then; you will be naked soon. You will be naked in front of a man and his bare skin will be on yours. How much would he be able to feel? How sensitive is a humans sense of touch when he is bare on top of another? Would he be able to find the scar on your lower back without searching for it with his eyes?
Once the laces come undone you aid him in slipping the heavy garment off your shoulders allowing it to pool at your feet. He takes your hand and guides you backwards until your legs buckle against his bed. Bending down on one knee, he folds your linen petticoat over your lap to slip your shoes off your feet. He touches you like you’re something precious and delicate, as if you would break like fragile porcelain should he treat you too roughly. You both know you are more resilient than that, but in this moment, when your nerves threaten to drown you slowly, his tender affection is warmly welcomed.
Feeling very exposed, you quickly tuck your legs up and wrap your arms protectively around them. Resting your chin on your knees, you watch intently with wide eyes taking in every detail of the man in front of you as he too begins to shed his many layers.
Then he is left in only linen undergarments revealing most of his body to you, except for that part of a man which has always been a secret. A part you can only vaguely see the shape of through the remaining fabric that still keeps it mostly hidden. The married women spoke of the pain this foreign body part could produce, how the size of the man was an important factor. But you had no way of comparing Xavier’s bulge to any other as he was your only reference.
The mattress dips next to you and he tenderly caresses your naked calf. One would not need to know you well to see that you were scared. Xavier knew you well enough to see that you were not only scared, but perhaps even frightened. In this moment it was like he could read your mind. He knew he was large, larger than most others. Now that he was seated, he did his best to conceal his erection with the hand that was not trying to comfort you.
“We can just sleep if that is what you would prefer?”
“No.” You reply too quickly, catching you both by surprise.
You were unsure if there was any hint of arousal left in you anymore or if it had all been replaced by this aching nervousness and fear of the unknown territory you were about to enter. An unintentional glance down to his lap sent a new wave of something through your stomach as the thin material did little to conceal what was hidden underneath. Shifting your gaze away from the most perplexing part of the male body, you take in his naked torso. Firm, angular and utterly breathtaking.
Regardless of the strange concoction of unnamed feelings and sensations brewing inside you, there was a need and a want to finally be close to him. Was it love? The child in you who wished for a fairytale would say that this was far from it, but the adult you grew to become had begun questioning what you once assumed was the only way love would present itself.
To convince him you were ready to proceed you shuffled your way back toward the plush pillows at the head of his bed. He took a deep breath before he got on his knees and moved closer.
Blue eyes were locked on yours as he spread your legs enough to position himself between them. Constantly checking for any doubts or obvious discomfort, whilst also giving himself some time to adjust to the new level of intimacy he never imagined he would want to share with anyone.
“Can I take this off?” He whispered as his shaky hands lingered around the hem of your shift that had gathered around your upper thighs.
You nodded in silent agreement as you braced yourself for this new level of exposure. Yet his hands did not move. Sensing his uncertainty you quickly wrap your hands around his as they cling to the last barrier between him and your naked body.
“Xavier?”
“I apologize for my hesitation. I want to make this a pleasant experience for you, but I find myself hindered by nerves.”
Comforted by the fact that he was not reconsidering, you move your joined hands along your sides – revealing yourself to his captivated gaze, inch by inch. His breath hitched, and his muscles tensed at the sight of your bare breasts. Feeling vulnerable, you reach for his nape, lowering his body to meet yours. Hopefully your participation can reassure him and also shield you from his curious gaze. He let himself sink into your embrace as his hands made their way beneath your body to pull you in for a desperate kiss.
Lips that were once timid and hesitant now burned with a fiery passion most people would likely never understand. A connection that was not yet clear to the two of you either and that would require more time than what little you had been given thus far.
Xavier shuddered at the sensation of your body pressed so tightly against his. The warmth of your skin felt like returning to something he didn’t know he ever lost but he was certain he could never live without again. Your leg instinctively wrapped around him closing whatever distance remained between your aching core and the hardness between his legs. Constricted sounds of pleasure erupted from somewhere deep inside him causing his roaming hands to hungrily grab at your skin.
You lose yourselves to this newly discovered intimacy with increasingly flushed complexions and clumsy grinding movements. What remained of flimsy clothing that protected your modesty disappeared, leaving just you and him, enthralled by unfamiliar passion and aching desire.
His throbbing cock finds its way between your folds as if pulled by a magnet and nudges against the most sensitive part of you. The sudden shock of arousal inciting loud shaky moans from both of you breaking the spell you were under.
As your stuttering breaths mingle you take a moment to bask in each other's gazes and just feel.
“I think it might be beneficial to the process for me to t-touch you. It should help prepare your body to take me.” Xavier shyly stumbles over the words as his eyes briefly flicker away from yours.
You had forgotten that particularly integral part; he was supposed to fit inside you. Somehow you managed to get this far without laying your eyes on it. A quick glance down at your tightly knit bodies still kept the size of him a secret, but you could feel him, warm and slick resting against your lower abdomen.
“Touch me?” You whisper whilst you secretly curse every married woman you have ever interacted with for not preparing you better for this moment.
He nods softly and takes your hand in his, guiding it down to the spot between your thighs that yearns for him the most. Your eyes subtly widen as your joined hands create enough space between you for your eyes to finally see all of him.
“Have you touched yourself like this before?” Your silence mixed with a look of uncertainty gives him your answer. “Will you tell me to stop if my touch is not to your liking?” He asks, moving his body to hover directly above yours.
You gulp but nod again. There is a mutual trust surrounding you both and with each considerate touch and question he offers you, you feel your curiosity stepping forward eager to explore alongside him, your husband.
The gentle touch of the tips of his fingers adds more fuel to the fire he already ignited within you. Your hips buck against his hand giving him the confidence to continue his movements with the addition of lazy kisses along your jawline and down your neck.
Xavier soon realizes that the biggest hurdle he must overcome might not be getting your body ready, but keeping his own under control. Your sweet whimpers, each needy roll of your hips, your hands growing bolder as they slowly glide down his back… He was losing it. Cock twitching uncomfortably against his wrist, threatening to disrupt the rhythm of his fingers. That could not happen, not when you seemed to enjoy his current pace and pressure so greatly.
“Xavier… Xavi –” His name seemed stuck somewhere between shallow breaths and tense muscles and you were not entirely certain of what message you were trying to convey. “Xavier, I do no – ah!”
Were you already heading toward your climax? Surely not… He had not even had time to put his fingers inside you! Shit, he was struggling. Your touch, your voice, your face adorned with a look of pure pleasure glazed in a thin layer of sweat. If you did not come soon, he would.
Suddenly your hand wraps around his wrist pulling his fingers away from your most intimate area causing him to lose his balance. He barely catches himself before your heads smack against each other, instead landing face first in the pillow. Then he hears it; you are laughing. He does not know why, but the warmth of it invites him to join you.
“I am sorry, Xavier. I swear I am not laughing at you.”
“What? Does my lack of balance not amuse you? And here I thought you pulled at my arm because you had a craving for mocking my inexperience.” He leans down to nuzzle his nose against yours before placing a gentle kiss to the tip of it. Once the giggles have mostly settled he dares to ask. “Well then, why did you stop me?”
“There was this… Feeling… It was growing in intensity, and I feared I might explode. I did not dare let it evolve further.” You pause for a much-needed deep breath. “Was I about to have an… orgasm?”
“I understand your worry. It is not an easy feat to simply let go and give in when it feels like your body is acting without consulting with your mind first.” A feeling that both of you are far too familiar with and frequently battle against. “I hope it might bring you some comfort to know that you are safe with me.”
He pauses for a moment, thinking back to that faithful day where your vows were exchanged; a day neither of you had wanted to partake in. Here he was, a few weeks later with his wife who now trusted him enough to share this moment with him. “I will never be able to change our wedding day, no matter how hard I wish I was able to go back and give you the day you deserved. I know you searched for comfort and that you could not find it in me. I hope that if we would have gotten married tomorrow instead I would have been able to provide you with that comfort. And I hope that you might at least be able to find it in me now.”
You smiled at his declaration, although his words made you wonder if your presence could ever offer him what he now offers you. Ever since your first proper conversation he had made it very clear that he did not need anything or anyone. Any emotion that required him to show his caring nature was hidden behind the cold facade of a lonely King. He had reluctantly allowed you to see more, but would he ever be ready to rely on you for anything?
“Xavier, do you feel safe with me? Would you dare to ‘simply let go’ if I am there with you?”
He observes your face attentively, seemingly in deep thought. But he already knows his answer, part of him has known for quite some time already and it makes him wonder if now in fact might be the time for him to let go and be bold, like his Queen.
He silently leans down to capture your lips in an affectionate kiss filled with trust and promises. His warm breath cradles the whispered words against your ear before descending down the side of your neck along with his lips dragging across your soft skin. “Yes, my love. I feel safe with you.”
My love…
“Do you think you are ready?” Soft pressure from his lips trail down your collarbone and renders you speechless. The tingling sensation of a light touch along your inner thigh encourages you to allow your legs to part, leaving you open to him in your entirety.
“Tell me if it hurts.” He says with a caring sternness.
Bracing yourself for the impending pain you had been warned about, you wrap one hand firmly around his bicep and shut your eyes so hard you swear you can see stars.
Xavier leans down to scatter gentle pecks all over your scrunched-up face. He whispers ‘relax, just relax’ over and over and you are unsure of if he is talking to you or to himself.
After fumbling around for the correct location, he finally positions himself just right and slowly presses into you. A burning sting erupts, and you instinctively tense up. An involuntary whimper of pain escapes you, and he immediately stops.
“No, no… My love.” He retracts immediately. “I will not continue. I cannot bear it.”
“I want to. Please, keep trying.”
Considering your words carefully, he returns to his previous position. One arm bracing himself next to your head, the other carefully working his cock back inside you. Once he is almost certain he can manage not to slip out, he moves his fingers to your clit working with that same pressure and pace you seemed to enjoy earlier.
Suddenly, you were breathing again, letting out all the tension you were harbouring out of fear. Xavier felt himself gliding more easily into your welcoming warmth and let out a relieved sigh of pleasure.
The knights he had spent time with in battle encampments spoke of the intense satisfaction of being enveloped by their spouses. He had never imagined it would feel like this.
You still felt the sting of him as he slipped further and further inside, but whatever magic he was performing with his fingers greatly eased your discomfort. Beyond the pain, a promise of pleasure began revealing itself, like the moon would replace the sun, shielding you from the scorching rays.
Not fully trusting your voice, you placed a hand on his lower back, pressing slightly encouraging him to move faster.
“Okay… Okay…” He gulped against the crook of your neck.
His fingers reluctantly abandoned you, but Xavier was certain he would need both his arms to carry his body through the following movements. Up until now, he had been so caught up in the possibility of inflicting pain on his beloved wife, forgetting everything about his own pleasure.
Your hands were still roaming over his hips and lower back, trembling as you succumbed to impatience. Why was he still hesitating when you had been so clear you were ready for more?! Unwilling to wait any longer, you wrapped your legs around his waist, closing the remaining distance between your hips.
“Ah!” He gasped, momentarily overcome by the intense pleasure. “Careful, my love. I do not wish to hurt you.”
“I am aching, Xavier. Please move. Please.” Restless and needy, you begin rolling your hips up to meet his that still refused to budge.
Unbeknownst to you, he had his reasons for remaining still. He was close, again. The small movements you were producing underneath him threatened to be his undoing.
“I must beg of you, my love. Do. Not. Move.” Fearful you had done something wrong, something he disapproved of, you stopped.
He was staring down at you now, almost touching his forehead to yours. You opened your mouth to speak, but no words came out. All you could manage was the smallest, most pathetically whispered ‘sorry’ before you closed your eyes to discourage any tears.
“You feel too good.” He said before kissing you tenderly. “Once I reach my peak, my body will not be able to contribute like this for a while. I would have to use other methods to help you reach yours.” He kisses you again before gazing down at you almost apologetically. “I do not consider myself to be a selfish man, but right now, I cannot give you what you want. Give me a moment, then I will resume. I promise I will make it worth the wait.”
Reassured that you had, in fact not made any major mistakes, you forced your hips to remain still. Instead, you reached up and tugged his neck down so you could reach it, leaving slow, unintentionally sensual kisses along his flushed skin. Hopefully, he would appreciate your kisses to his neck the way you enjoyed his.
“Mhmmm.” He moaned against your ear as he slowly began moving his hips.
The feeling was overwhelming. He reached far deeper than you had been able to when he was stagnant above you. A steady pace of deep thrusts had you shivering beneath him.
Surely this must be it, right? A few reassuring words and tender touches were all it took for you to fully surrender yourself to this man. Trust, security, and the occasional challenges that always left you wanting to pull him closer. Did you love him? Did he love you?
With uneven breaths and shy hums of pleasure, you feel your thighs tighten around him. That intense feeling you were so fearful of was making a return. This time, you dare welcome it knowing you are safe in your husband's embrace.
You clench around him, daring to let out the embarrassing noises you had attempted to restrain. The changes in your body and breathing alerted him to your impending release and further accelerated the pressure of his own.
Xavier mumbled hushed praises into your skin as the steady rhythm he had maintained began to falter.
“S’okey, you’re safe. Let go, my love. Relax”
Your body responded to his words instantly, as if he had given you a simple task to complete. Nothing about this was simple, but he had made it easier. Your back arched, pressing your breasts against his glazed skin as a final unrestrained moan echoed against the stone walls.
Still coming down from the aftershocks of your climax, you shakily whisper words of encouragement like he had done for you.
“Thank you, my love. You’re doing so well. I’ve got you, let go for me.”
He responded just as eagerly as you did as he thrusted deep inside you a few more times. You felt his release against your insides before his body went limp on top of yours. Your arms instantly enveloped him, and your legs remained securely latched together behind his back, not willing to part with him just yet, if ever…
Bathed in a mixture of heavy breathing, sweat, satisfaction and safety, you felt like you were home for the first time since you left Linkon several months ago.
After a few more moments of shared silence, Xavier bravely reclaimed control of his arms, lifting his body enough to take in your blissful expression. You met his attentive gaze with a loving smile, and he graced you with one of his own in return.
“Are you alright?” He asks. You know he means well, but you cannot help but ponder the stupidity of the question. Had your body not made it obvious enough to him that you were, in fact, doing quite well?
As your smile only continues to grow, he dares make assumptions regarding your answer. He giggles, and you are convinced no sound will ever fill you with this much joy ever again.
Yes. This was it.
“Xavier.”
“Mhm?”
“I love you.”
The room goes quiet. His smile disappears instantly, and for each passing second yours fades too.
Panic and shock wash over him. Instinct tells him to ‘flee’, but his attempt to do so fails when he realizes your body is shackling him to you. So you let him go…
Emptiness overcomes you, and the exposed feeling you thought belonged to the past returns to haunt you once more. You sit up against the pillows and pull your legs toward you, wincing slightly from the sore ache between your legs.
“Sorry… I shall gather my things and return to my chambers.”
Before you have time to shuffle off the bed, his hand shoots out to stop you.
“Don’t. Please, stay.”
Suddenly, the confusing labyrinth you thought you had escaped weeks ago stood before you again, proudly hiding your husband in its darkness. You needed his light to guide you back, but it was too dim to properly illuminate your path.
His shaky exhale made you hopeful he was ready to speak, but then his lips pressed together in a thin line, and his eyes closed. He looked like he was in pain. Pain caused by your unwanted confession…
“I…” His grip on your arm was so tight you began to worry you would bruise. But you did not care. You would give him whatever he wanted just to hear him say it.
“Say it, Xavier. Please, trust me. You are safe with me. Dare to be bold.”
He knew. He knew he felt the same as you and that he had for quite some time already. Why could he not simply say it? Coward…
Bare skin, tangled hair, ruined sheets stained with the evidence of your joined pleasure. He could still see the smile on your face with his eyes closed. If he opened his eyes, it would be lost. He needed to see you smile like that again, and he wanted to be the cause of it. Always.
“Do you not —”
Xavier shuffled closer to your naked body and stared into your eyes with the kind of passion reserved for imagined love stories that only exist on paper.
“I do. More than I will ever be able to understand. And I hope that one day I will not be so afraid to show you the depths of my affection.”
Then he reached out and pulled you close again. Your body had gone surprisingly cold, almost making him shiver at the contact. After those agonizing minutes of silence you were finally able to breathe again and relaxed into him instantly.
You wanted to praise him for being honest, for daring to speak his truth, but you feared that if you spoke, he might remain silent so that he could listen to you instead of himself.
With you safely tucked against his chest under the soft sheets, Xavier felt like he had finally found his home. Not this castle. Not Philos. No, his true home was next to you. Once his battles had been fought and won, he would show you how devoted to you he truly is. That was his promise to himself. Be bold…
“I love you, Starlight.”
AN: This was my first attempt at writing smut and was originally a chapter in Every vanquished foe that was posted back in august, but I wanted to share it separately as well since it could almost be read as a standalone fic anyways ⭐️ Thanks for reading! Likes, comments and reblogs are highly appreciated! If anyone is interested in being added to the taglist, let me know!
《YOU and your companions manage to finish your mission of saving the stars. Now, you arrive on an unknown planet, with politics, revenge, and love all coming ahead. You do your best to survive it all.》
{Xavier: Eulogy of Light / Scientist NON!MC Reader}
(Warnings: Threats, possible violence, trauma. Inspired by Project Hailmary, Iorn Lung, BloodMary ship, and Xavier card.)
[Part 2]
-
It had been some time since the Hail Mary had arrived on the planet. Your ship had brought the attention of many, causing their own military ships to guide you down to their surface.
Forced to meet their ruler, shackled in high-tech chains. Your cardigan almost falls off your shoulder as you tremble a bit in fear. A young woman stands atop a throne. Eyeing you coldly as you gulp down the bile wanting to rise from your throat.
Thankfully the planets atmosphere was similar to Earth, rather than Erid.
"Speak." The woman spoke, her regal clothes doing nothing to ease you.
The left guard shoves you forward as you stumbled to your knees. Wincing at the carpeted ground as what you assumed, a few council men look at you in disgust.
"U-um.. It's nice.. Too meet you, ma'am?"
You state, the room becomes quiet as all eyes remain on you.
"I.. I'm... [Last Name] from.. Well, it's a long story..."
The woman gesture from the guards to bring you closer. Dragging you along towards her as you freeze, a familiar memory surfacing.
Dragged by your arms, you glance up at Miss Stratt as you see her smile sadly. As if hoping to bring comfort to you as tears welled up in your eyes.
You could see your tears stain the carpeted floors.
Maybe.. Maybe you should of stayed on Erid with Grace, Rocky and Simon..
"Cease." The guards stop, letting you fall back on your behind as you sniffle. Looking up at her in terror as she frowns, standing up. She waves a hand, signally to someone.
"I shall deal with this."
-
It had been quite awhile since that day, now, you owned a lab underneath the castle's halls. No team yet, but endless support from The Empress.
She had placed you in a private meeting room, then letting you explain your journey amongst the stars. With data, backing you up and old footage Dr. Grace took of the process.
Deciding to take a gamble, she appointed you as Head Scientist of The Cosmic Empire.
Which included...
Figuring out how to help this beautiful stranger inside some space pod!
Empress's Orders! Yay...
The art starship, while beautiful, did not help your nerves as the Empress opens the pod. With a soft click, it opens with a small sound.
You hold out a arm in front of the Empress, shielding her as you gaze down in amazement at the young man.
C.. Could he be from Earth? Or Mars like Simon?
You step closer, leaning down to his chest. Hoping for a heart beat.
Small, but loud pumps of the heart cause you to sign in relief.
"Okay... Okay... He's okay, not dead. That's good." You give a thumbs up to the royal as she hides her smile with cough.
"But to awake him?"
"Oh! Uhm.. Maybe.."
You lean close once again, hand on his shoulder, and start lightly shaking.
"Mn..."
Blue sapphire eyes greet your gaze as you move away once more. Arms spread like a starfish in front of the Empress in an attempt to be a 'knight'.
The young man uses his sword to stand, a groan leaves him as he eyes the two of you wearily.
"H.. Hello."
You speak up, slowly, tip-toeing closer, as your arms lower.
"I'm Doctor [Last Name], it's nice to meet y-"
"Impudent."
His soft voice was harsh, glaring at your naive presence. Sword still at his side as you feel sweat on your back.
The click of a gun causes you to tense up as you glance at the Empress. Firearm in hand as she aims at him calmly.
"If I were you, I'd set that blade down and politely thank the person that saved you."
You block between both of him, "Hold on! Guns down! Weapons down! Let's talk about this calmly AND patiently, please!"
The Empress smirks at the male, unimpressed. "He's been in stasis far too long to even hold his own in a fight against me."
You throw her a light glare.
"He still has a giant glowy-sword thingy!" You whisper angrily, hands raised in a peaceful attempt between both parties. You had a strange feeling that this would be something you would have to do constantly.
"If I wanted you dead, I would have ignored Dr. [Last Name] and not let you on this ship."
"Not helping!"
The air becomes heavy as the man used his weapon to force himself up right. Ignoring your safety, you rush over to steady him.
"Hey.. Hey.. I got you." You speak calmly, the man doesn't have enough strength to push you away. But his scowl is gut-punching.
Once seeing that he's stable, you let go.
As he starts to walk away...
"Xavier, where are you going?" The Empress asks as you watch.
"To the both of you, when you address royalty, you should follow proper etiquette."
"S-should I bow?" You ask him thoughtfully, scratching at your neck nervously. Slowly starting to get in a kneeling position as the Empress grabs the back of your shirt to stop you.
The woman let's go and crossed her arms with a raised brow. "Are you saying the Empress of The Cosmic Empire should honor a commoner?"
Your eyes flicker between the two as you decided to just sit. The events far to nerve-wracking for the moment as you take a deep breath.
"What year is it?"
"Cosmic Year 649, your dynasty fell 300 Years ago."
The Empress continues, glancing at where you seated on the ground for a brief moment.
"You're no longer a prince, and the Empire is no longer one you remember."
His eyes find yours, you smile at him awkwardly.
"Escort me." He commands you, gazing down at you.
"Well I-"
"You wish. You woke up, cold and hostile, I'm already regretting saving you." The Empress tells him, she takes ahold of your arm, ready to pull you away.
The Prince grabs ahold of your other arm, trying to tug you too.
"That's not what I did." He almost smiles, while you try to fidget out of both their grasps.
"I have cryosickness because I spent too much time in the Pod. I feel nauseous." The grip on you lessen as his eyes slowly flutter, trying to stay open.
"Take me back to the Empire. I'm willing too..."
His voice trails off before he could finish, the Prince loses his strength as he collapsed on top of you.
A whimper leaves your throat as The Empress let's go of your arm.
You eye the man sleeping in between your chest, his face nuzzling far too close as your skin grows warm.
"Empress! We heard a commotion!" The Empress sighs at the lady in waiting. "Tell none of what happened here today."
You let out a small huff as you feel his arms slowly intertwine your bodies closer. His quiet breaths almost eased you, which causes you to laugh at the thought.
-
[Yeah, I know the once upon a banner is out, and Valko, I will write for those hopefully. I just wanted to write a small experiment piece, cause phm has been over by brain cells lately, space operas are really intriguing! Comments and reblogs are appreciated! See you! Thanks for reading!]
Prince Xavier was without a doubt magnificent—hair cut short and silver, reflecting the light in a way that seemed to almost create a halo around his head. His face handsome and regal, eyes blue and shining with purpose, resembling the aquamarine that rested against your chest, that now rose and fell quickly with the way your heart was beating aggressively against it.
His voice was nothing short of angelic too, yet the soft timbre that made you laugh and blush during your first encounter, when you had yet to know who he really was, and what he was about to do, was now making the hair at your nape stand straight.
Because angels usually wish for peace, not urge to start chaos and bloodshed.
“…If they do not agree to our terms, there is no point in waiting. Our men are ready. We will take what rightfully belongs to us before the Earth orbits the Sun again.” His voice although gentle, cut through the tension in the air as if it was a deadly weapon. You gasped and touched your father’s arm, urging him to say something, anything to disapprove. To cut the prince’s plan short. “The support of your army is not needed, Your Highness, but would surely be appreciated. Our kingdoms are to become united, thus I feel the need to inform you about, and include you in our future actions.” Xavier’s eyes met yours and you gulped nervously, not recognizing the man before you. Your gaze fixed on your father, hand squeezing his formal wear, urging him to speak.
But the words that left his mouth were not what you expected them to be.
“You have our permission and full support, Your Highness. We will wait for further instructions.” Your father said and your mouth opened in shock, your whole body trembling.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Your marriage, the one that had been arranged a while ago, was supposed to bring peace. It was supposed to be a happy union, and it surely seemed like it with the way prince Xavier looked at you, with the way he spoke to you, and touched you as if you were the most precious of gems, the woman he would build kingdoms for, not destroy—
“No!” You exclaimed, making the eyes of the whole room turn your way. The eyes of the most important officials of your lands, as well as the eyes of the one that you were arranged to marry.
For peace. For freedom and peaceful future, not for the war and mayhem.
“Our land will not start another useless war. I will not allow it.” You took a step towards the prince, his eyes never leaving yours even for a second. Your father wanted to grab your hand and pull you to his side, but you quickly dodged his attempts. “As long as I live, I will not let you bring this upon us. Upon our people.”
Xavier was quiet for a moment, his blue eyes studied your face with intention, gaze that before was filled with quiet adoration and a promise of utmost devotion, now filled with something akin to pity. You hated that look—it made you feel like a child, like someone who would not be taken seriously. And you still find it hard to believe that he even proposed an armed conflict. From your brief but meaningful exchanges throughout these months you believed that he was someone gentle and kind, not striving for violence.
It turns out you must’ve been mistaken this whole time. And it broke your heart in two.
“I mean no harm, my princess. I simply want what’s best for the kingdom of Philos, I want to do it for us, for our people—” He took a step toward you and you flinched, his brows furrowing in response. You shook your head and although the tears wanted to fill your eyes, you refused to show the people around you your fragility.
“No.” You answered and held your head up high, looking at the man who was supposed to be your future husband as if you saw him for the first time. “The war is never for the people. The war is what people fear, the reason they lose sleep. The war is for you, for all of you, selfish, greedy people who don’t even attempt to find another way to ease the conflict.” Your whole body was shaking and the prince noticed, his hands going straight to take off his huge cape. Yet when he wanted to offer you to wear it, you dismissed him with a shake of your hand.
“Forgive my daughter, Your Highness, she doesn’t know what—”
“I know what I am talking about, father! I always knew and you never took me seriously, and now you want to marry me off to someone who will put our people in despair—”
“My dear, you have to understand me. The war is the only way, I am doing this for us, I am doing this for you—” Xavier started, his hands coming over to grab yours but you were quick to shake him off, making the officers around you gasp. His touch seemed to burn you, the shock and disgust you felt upon hearing his plans was irreversible, shaking the ground beneath your feet and changing the way you thought of him before.
You knew you shouldn’t act this way. You shouldn’t show such disrespect for the crowned prince, and you shouldn’t even be a part of this conversation. But you refused to stay silent and let the people of your land fight wars for the things they had no control over.
You couldn’t let them die for the battles that weren’t theirs. And fortunately, you still had a way to save them.
“You are not doing this for me, Your Highness. For us. And you will not have to anymore.” You said with certainty, your shaking hands gripping the fabric of your dress, one of your favorite ones, worn today specifically for him to admire. Now, his thoughts and affections became meaningless to you, your heart suddenly turned to stone, the loyalty to your people a balm to your breaking heart.
“What do you mean, my princess? What are you—” Through your blurred vision you saw his panicked gaze, and you took a deep breath and let one of your tears finally fall. He moved as if he wanted to catch it. But it was already too late.
“I can’t marry you. I refuse to marry you and let our kingdom fall alongside yours.” His face fell and mouth snapped shut, spine straightening and hands clenching at the sides. His jaw tensed and he looked as if he was struck by lightning. And although the heartbreak on his face hurt you, you couldn’t look away. “Because no matter the outcome, the war will take away the lives of many, and I refuse to be the one who made that happen. Our union was supposed to unite and protect, not bring violence and madness.” He stayed silent and you didn’t even hear him breathe. Your father stirred behind you and grabbed your arm, and you stopped fighting him. Nothing he would do or say now will change your decision.
“My princess, please calm down, I—” Xavier started speaking quietly but you shook your head, everyone was waiting for your answer with a held breath.
“I am calm, Your Highness. And I am breaking off our engagement right here, right now.” The room was completely quiet and you hated how devastated he looked, even though he wanted to hide it from the others. “By agreeing to this union I thought I would be marrying a gentle man, not a ruthless warrior. I cannot let my people suffer because of our fathers’ choices and my own heart’s desire. I refuse to be so selfish.” More tears fell and his frown deepened, the grip of your father’s hand on your arm bruising. But before anyone could say anything, you turned to your parent, your king, and looked straight into his eyes.
“I know this isn’t what we agreed upon, my king. But I cannot do this. I will never marry this man. My words are final.” Your voice strong despite the tremble of your shoulders, and you heard the prince grunt few steps behind you. “And if he wants me—”
“I do.” Xavier said so loudly and surely his voice bounced off of the walls and rang in your ears.
“He will have to take me by force.” Voice full of venom, you turned one last time to see the man you started to get accustomed to through all these months. Your heart throbbed painfully, knowing well that you weren’t near him just out of obligation, but adoration that formed and settled deep into your very being.
You bowed to him, the movement slow and much more formal that you were used to by now. And when you saw his hand reaching for you, you did what all the damsels in distress were best at.
You run away. Quickly and surely, tears streaming down your face, the wind swiping them straight into your ears.
And that was the day the chaos ensued, and among it all stood prince Xavier, heart full of ache and desperation not to lose you—the one he longed for, and the one he loved, terribly so, for as long as he remembered.
Hey guys! this is my first time actually putting in the effort to write and post for the first time on here so please be nice to me! Anyways here is my first official fanfiction, it's a Caleb x F!Reader Royal AU where Caleb is the reader's knight. NOOOO MORE SPOILERSSSS it's still WIP so please ignore any errors and or changes that will come in the future! Enjoy!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They say when two souls meet, and they're meant to be together they immediately know. In this case the souls happen to be two people of different social places.
Caleb Xia, the son of the knight in command of The kingdom of Linkoln.
The boy has been practically training since the age of 8 so he could one day lead the knight guard like his father does. At first he hated everything knightly, sword training, hand to hand combat, the early waking up, he hated it all, until he met her. Y/N Shen, the princess and second in line for the throne. He was 15 when he first saw her, he still remembers that day, as if a day hadn't passed. It was a warm sunny afternoon, the last rays of sun for that day spilled in through the palace's murals, coloring the light and gently kissing the cold marble floor, people were mingling, chatting, sipping their drinks, everyone in gowns and expensive garments. He hated that, the royal life, the shallow conversations, if only his father didn't drag him to this stupid ball, he claimed that it would benefit his “connections” yeah right.
But then when he looked around his eyes met hers. Something in his chest thumped, he was captivated, was she real? She had to be, because this moment seemed like it came straight from a book he’s read in his spare time a few years ago. Y/N Shen walked down the marble stairs that lead to the ballroom. The ball in question was held for her, specifically for her 14th birthday. She walked down the stairs with elegance, she seemed nervous. Her older brother, Xavier, standing next to her, he had one of his hands on the small of her back as if reassuring her that she wasn't alone.
Caleb turned his gaze away, he felt like his cheeks were on fire, this feeling was strange to him, what the hell?? Why was his heart pounding like this?
Y/N stayed by her brother’s side. Xavier Shen was the heir to the throne, the first in line after their father. He was the one in charge of the invitation list for this ball, he knew who was around and who wasn't. The girl was used to attending balls and royal gatherings yes, however she wasn't used to having all the attention on her. Her brother was aware, hence why there were a lot more guards and knights around, to help her keep her mind at ease. The princess was always reserved and mostly stayed inside so big crowded places made her uncomfortable. Thankfully with her brother by her side she did end up feeling safe and the ball went well. Ever since that evening and every time Caleb happened to be in the same room as her for one reason or another his eyes kept on her, as if she was magnetic.
Three years went on and Caleb’s attraction to the young princess never faltered. He kept climbing the ranks of the knightly hierarchy, kept working hard so he could, one day, hopefully have the privilege of being the one protecting Y/N. Over the years the two grew close, since they were close to the same age and shared some common interests such as horseback riding and reading. Well, Caleb only picked up the habit of reading to get closer to her, he had read a book or two growing up, yes, but he decided that sharing his book thoughts with her would benefit him. The two would spend hours upon hours in the royal gardens, reading, chatting and laughing together, so much so that Xavier caught wind of the young knight’s feelings toward his little sister. If a rumor came out, even just a few words, the King would be furious.
“Caleb?” The princess lowered her book slightly, just enough so she could look at the knight sitting on the grass against the marble fountain.
“Hm?” Caleb hummed out a reply, not looking up from his book.
“Do you think such things exist?”
“Things? Like…mad scientists with experiments that come to life? No, Millady” He couldn't help but chuckle slightly. “Such things only exist because we humans are creative, our minds are wonderful, don't you think?”
“I suppose…” The princess looked away, a soft sigh escaping her lips as she scrunched her nose slightly.
“What’s on your mind Milady? You seem troubled” Caleb fought the urge to reach his fingers over to her cheek and turn her head back towards him.
“I am alright, really, I just wish we could get out of this place…see the world outside of the palace gates…”
Ah. That was what was bothering her then.
“I see…Well, how about we get out of here? When I become the head of the knights I will take you outside of the gates, I will make sure of it” His eyes were lost into hers once again. The sincerity in his eyes made her blink once, after processing his words for a second a soft smile crept up on her lips.
“You promise?”
“I swear”
YAYAYAYYY VERY SHORT PROLOGUE BUT I HOPE YOU ENJOYED!!!
Synopsis: You got into Yale, your dream school. You had no idea the international students living across the hall would be so... very ... attractive. A models son, an art prodigy, a medical legacy and a literal prince. Your best friend tells you to be careful, but finds the group pleasant enough. Your first semester at Yale is certainly one to remember.
AN: Based on this post by PomeRinn aka @waterrinmelonn -their idea? All the LADs boys are modern rich kids going to a prestigious university. And they’re all international students. My addition(s) - they’re attending Yale, an Ivy League University in the American Northeast. They're all the same age. My FMC will end up with only one of them in the end.
Content Warnings: Mildly Suggestive & Explicit Language. Mostly fluff & angst. Romance will happen eventually. Most likely only 1-2 parts will have any smut. To be safe, 18+ MDNI
Word Count: 6.6k
Of all the things you expected from move-in day at Yale, you couldn’t possibly have predicted a housing crisis. The dorm room you were assigned to was overbooked. When you arrived to find every bunk taken and four girls staring at you with raised brows, you panicked. Luckily, they directed you to their resident advisor before you hit the floor.
“Wait, you’re sure they assigned you 121? Lawrance Hall?”
You nod and she taps her chin. She motions for you to follow her and you pick up your suitcase to waddle through the narrow door, your backpack almost slipping off your shoulder.
“Did your things get delivered to 121?”
“Yeah, the girls said they’d keep it all safe until I get this sorted.”
The girl nods, her long legs outpacing yours by a mile. She rushes up to a faculty member and explains the situation. The elderly woman smiles sympathetically as she gives you a once over. Your flushed cheeks, sweat dampening your bangs, you’ve had a hell of a first day. When she approaches, you hold your breath, half convinced she is going to tell you to go home - all those years of busting your ass for nothing. Just to get kicked out because of a housing mistake. The woman quickly reaches out to retrieve your backpack, slinging it over her shoulder instead.
“I’m Ms. Dudley, I’m so sorry about the mix up. Come on then, we’ll find you another room immediately.” You really should stop doomspiraling like that.
You follow her to the Student Affairs building and wait while she works to find another room for you. She returns with a wide smile.
“We found someone without a roommate in Durfee Hall. It is on the co-ed floor, if you’re alright with that?”
Nodding without thinking, you eagerly stand and follow her back outside. You’ll gladly deal with rowdy male neighbors if it means you have a place to stay.
She ushers you into Durfee Hall and up the stairs to the fourth floor. You’re out of breath as she pushes open the doors to reveal the long hallway, filled with people running back and forth. A group of girls circle around Ms. Dudley.
“Since when is Durfee Hall a co-ed dorm? It was all-male last year!”
“The first two floors are still all male! It reeks of testosterone!”
Ms. Dudley shushes the girls and turns to you, passing you your backpack and a room key.
“You’re in room 27, dear. Your roommate's name is Tara. I’ll organize the movers to bring your things and check on you in a little while!”
And just like that, you’re on your own. Ms. Dudley walks off down the hall with the gaggle of girls to discuss their concerns. You shuffle forward, lugging your suitcase behind you. Room 27, two doors down from the shower room. Oh god… Is the shower room shared as well? Before you can spiral down that rabbithole, you fumble with the key, completely missing the lock and dropping it along with your backpack.
“Oh for fucks sake…” You mumble under your breath.
“Need some help?” A low voice rumbles behind you.
You stand up straight and whip your head around. Your backpack slips right off your shoulder again, slamming onto your foot. The man in front of you, leaning oh so casually against the wall next to the door across the hall, is drop dead gorgeous. Tall, ashen hair, perfectly disheveled, a fitted black tank top showing off a fit figure and broad shoulders, dark jeans with strategically placed rips along the knee and thigh, combat boots with loose laces and that face. A sharp jawline, prominent nose, plump lips with a deep cupid’s bow that makes your knees weak, and his ruby red eyes sparkling with amusement.
You’re staring. And you’ve been caught.
“Uhhh… ye-yea, that would… that… yes.”
He chuckles and pushes off the wall to pick up your backpack. His fingers brush yours as he takes your suitcase from your hand, freeing both of your hands. You quickly open the door to find the room half filled, but your roommate nowhere to be seen.
A group of students in matching brightly colored t-shirts approach you. You immediately recognize the boxes and suitcases in their hands.
“Room 27, right?”
You nod and they begin to file in one at a time, placing your things on the floor next to the empty bed. You step back to let them work, bumping into the handsome stranger in the process.
“I’m Sylus, by the way. I live across the hall.”
You watch as he nods his head in the direction of the closed door directly across from yours. Room 29. You squint and lean against the wall next to your room.
“Are you locked out or…”
“Oh, ha… My roommate is doing a, what did he call it, an evaluation.”
He sets down your bags and props up his arm on the wall next to your head to lean towards you. His bicep flexes as he moves. You swallow and cross your arms, suddenly very aware of how sweaty you are.
“He’s really just checking the mattresses for bedbugs.”
You gasp and look over your shoulder at your bare mattress, skin already itching at the thought. Sylus chuckles and you return your attention to him.
“Ms. Dudley assured him they replaced all the mattresses this summer since these floors were going co-ed. He’s just ‘making sure.’” His air quotes are clumsy, sarcastic… cute. You shake your head to refocus.
“Gotcha. I’m Y/N, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you, neighbor. Zayne should be almost finished. Unless you want him to fumigate your room too? I’m pretty sure he’s going to offer his services to the whole floor.”
You giggle and shake your head. The movers have finished bringing your belongings in and jog down the hall to “help” a group of girls waving at them with coy smiles. You jump as a door opens and your jaw aches from how hard you clench to keep it from dropping open.
Another man stands in the doorway across the hall. A bit shorter than Sylus, but tall enough for you to drool over. Dark hair, neatly combed and cut, brilliant green eyes, the loose long sleeve shirt and jeans he wears doesn’t hide his impressive build. His choice of shirt makes you raise a brow, with the sweltering heat of summer lingering you’re sure he must be hot. You catch a glimpse of his forearms where his sleeves are rolled up, they’re covered in scars. He pulls his sleeves down hastily and you realize, once again, that you’re staring. Blinking and blushing, you look up to meet his gaze. Oh great, he’s not only well-built, but his face is the sweetest thing. Glasses slipping down his nose, cheeks slightly flushed, dark brows framing gentle eyes. You thrust your hand forward before you can stop yourself.
“Hi! I’m Y/N, you must be Zayne.”
He raises a brow and glances at Sylus, who huffs a laugh. Zayne takes your hand and gives it a firm shake. His skin is cooler than you expected. He forces a small smile.
“Yes, I’m Zayne. I assume you are one of our neighbors?”
You point to the room behind you with your thumb and nod sheepishly, suddenly very aware of your predicament. You are going to be living across the hall from two incredibly attractive men all year. And who knows who else lives further down the hall. Maybe you should have waited for a different room after all.
“Oh my god!” A shrill shriek pierces the air making all three of you jump. “Are you my roomie?!”
Stepping forward to look past Sylus, you see a slender woman with short hair and an adorable expression. She hurries forward, the books piled up in her arms nearly tumbling to the ground. Zayne reaches out a hand to grab them, restacking them as she thanks him profusely.
“I was wondering if anyone would get assigned! When I checked online, I thought they’d accidentally given me a single room. I’m Tara!”
You introduce yourself and catch Tara sending Sylus a sly smirk.
“I see you’ve met our resident lurker. He’s been standing in the hallway since before I left for the bookstore. I’m guessing you’re Zayne, the roomie inspecting the mattresses?”
Zayne rubs the back of his neck and Tara giggles. Sylus steps through the circle and loops an arm around Zayne’s shoulders, catching him by surprise.
“Yep, I am so grateful to have a roomie willing to irradicate those nasty fuckers.”
Zayne laughs, or what you assume is a laugh, and Tara rolls her eyes.
“I better help you settle in, looks like your stuff got delivered!”
She skips past you, waving to Zayne and Sylus as she backs into your room. You give the pair one last look, steeling your nerves.
“It was nice to meet you both.”
“We’ll see you around, I’m sure.” Sylus winks and you squeak, closing the door quickly, letting his chuckle turn muffled behind the barrier of oak.
🍁🍂🎃🏈
Tara gets right to work, diving into your boxes and suitcases. She puts on a peppy playlist and points out the door for your closet. You welcome her help, it’s been a hell of a day. Before long, you’re chatting away like old friends. Tara is ridiculously easy to talk to and you say a silent prayer that this dynamic remains.
“Okay, spill. Which one do you think is hotter?”
You unfold your plush pink comforter and spread it across your bed.
“Who?”
“Our sexy neighbors, of course! I saw Zayne moving in before Sylus arrived and nearly fainted on the spot to be honest.”
You giggle, thankful someone else has similar physical reactions as you do. She looks down at you from her precarious position on her desk, her hands stretched above her holding a set of string lights. You pass her another pin and lean against the desk next to her.
“They’re both… attractive.”
“Oh girl, you don’t even know the half of it! When I left to pick up my book order, I talked to Sylus for a minute and found out both him and Zayne are international students!”
You tense, your legs feeling like jelly all over again.
“Apparently, Zayne is from China, where both of his parents are prestigious surgeons. And Sylus is from South Korea, his dad owns Che Enterprises, which is already crazy. Like, he has to be the richest kid on campus - aside from that Rockefeller kid - but when he told me who his mom is? I almost screamed.”
“Who’s his mom?”
She hops down off her desk and opens the top drawer. She pulls out a stack of fashion magazines and flips to the centerfold. A tall woman with luscious blonde hair, curvy hips and perfectly tanned skin lies draped over an equally attractive man who holds an expensive looking bottle of perfume. Tara points to the woman.
“That’s his mom.”
“Katya Artyomov is his MOTHER?” Tara giggles wildly.
“I know! I KNOW! I could tell he immediately regretted telling me though, so don’t bring it up unless he does, okay? I don’t want to scare him off because I think his mom is hot.”
You laugh with her. So your neighbors are international students. Hot. International. Students. Great. Love that for you.
Your phone dings and you flop down on your bed. 7 unread texts and 2 missed calls from Caleb, shit, you promised him you’d reach out once you were settled. You quickly press the dial button and he answers before the second ring.
“Pips! Holy fuck… I went to Lawrance Hall and they said you don’t live there. What the hell happened?”
You explain the situation and he calms down. But when he finds out you got a room in Durfee Hall, he goes silent. His voice is noticeably harsher when he speaks again.
“So you’re on one of the co-ed floors?” You pinch the bridge of your nose, there he is, your childhood best friend, still as protective as ever.
“Yes, Caleb. And I’m fine, okay? Don’t worry.” He sighs. “You can visit, if you want, if my roomie is okay with it.”
Tara looks over and gives a thumbs up. You didn’t even need to ask, her trusting nature is sweet but you have a feeling you’ll be looking out for her. A crash sounds from Caleb’s end and you wince. He groans and then sighs.
“One of my suite mates just broke the coffee table in the common room… I’ll visit another night. Just text me, okay?”
You agree and hang up, letting him go deal with the chaos his roommates are causing. Tara digs out two water bottles from her mini fridge and tosses one to you.
“Brother?”
You shake your head and down at least half of the water.
“He lived next door to me growing up. We went to the same prep school and graduated together. He convinced me to apply to Yale. I didn’t think I’d get accepted, but then we both got our acceptance letters on the same day.”
“Aww cute! So… you’re dating?”
Again, you shake your head. She pouts, glaring at you.
“So if you’re not dating him, are you dating anyone?” She wiggles her eyebrows and smirks.
When you shake your head, yet again, she nearly drops her bottle of water to clap her hands.
“Great! So I can work on setting you up with one of the hotties across the hall, right?”
Water dribbles down your chin as you slap your hand over your mouth to avoid spitting. Tara laughs so loudly, you’re sure the whole floor can hear it. She falls over onto her bed and giggles into her pillow. Clearly, your shock was very amusing. Your roomie is definitely going to get you in trouble this year, isn’t she?
🍁🍂🎃🏈
You weren’t going to go, but then Tara dragged you out of bed.
“You have to join a club or a team or something! Live a little! Meet people!”
You told yourself you wouldn’t repeat the mistakes you made in high school. You wasted two years doing the bare minimum before you realized colleges looked at extra curriculars and volunteer activities, not just grades. By the time you started to enjoy yourself, graduation was around the corner. So, yes, you were going to join a club or a team or something.
You throw on a breezy sundress, a light pastel pink with lace detailing along the hem. Slipping on your converse and hooking your bag over your shoulder. You decide to forgo doing anything with your hair, it’s way too hot, your messy half-up do will have to… do.
The quad is buzzing with activity, booths line the sidewalk decorated with bright signs. Girls in tiny skirts waving pom poms jump up and down, gaining the attention of almost every guy walking past. You spot Tara at the “French Club” booth - she’d mentioned her mom was from France and she spent every summer there since she was three.
A flash of white catches your attention, followed by that low, rumbling laugh. You finally find Sylus in the crowd, he points to something on the ground and claps with a wide smile. As you get closer you see an array of small robots whirling around. Sylus looks up and you wave, he smiles and tips his chin in response. You quickly move past the crowd of rowdy nerds to find another long line of booths. Another small crowd circles a pair engaged in a dual. The clang and clash of foils draws you closer, a fencing club?
“He’s got to be a professional!”
“No way he beats the captain!”
“Who is that guy?”
As you approach, you hear the whispers and praise for one of the competitors. Breaking through the crowd, you watch the masked men step and bend. With a swift jab, the taller of the two scores a point and the crowd erupts in applause. Both men take off their masks and shake hands, the loser bowing to the winner in awe. You rise to your toes to try to see the winner, but with his back to you all you can see is blonde hair.
“Tell me what I have to do to get you to join. Consider it done. We need you, man!”
There’s a breathy chuckle, the winner lifts a hand to the back of his neck.
“If someone beats me, I’ll join.”
His voice is soft, with the hint of an accent. European? Sounds like he’s trying to cover it up, but it bleeds through. The crowd thins as the loser, who everyone is referring to as “Cap,” makes his rounds. When you don’t back up or look away, he stops, giving you a once over. You were definitely not dressed for a dual, but you couldn’t pass up the opportunity to hold a foil again.
You’d been hesitant to join your high school fencing team, but the prospect of holding a sword won you over in the end. You felt powerful, like a knight. You liked the concept of being your own knight in shining armor, so you decided to train like one. Turns out, you’re a natural. Perceptive, limber, daring when it counts. Winning the state championship was a boost to your college applications and your ego.
“Care to give it a go, miss?”
You knew he was being polite, probably thought he was being such a gentleman. But you never liked being called “miss” - it always felt like a backhand somehow. You stand up straight and shrug.
“Sure, why not?”
The captain smiles, handing you the mask and draping a padded chest piece over you. When you look up, you see your opponent has already donned his mask once more. You quickly secure your own and take the foil offered to you. Your movement will be limited, but given what you witnessed at the end of the last fight, the reigning champion was precise, not necessarily swift. If you could side step at the perfect moment, he’d leave himself open.
“Positions!” The captain shouts.
You and your opponent stand at the ready. Your cheeks ache from how wide your smile is, you’ve missed this. You lift your foil to salute and wait for the captain’s command.
"Pret? Allez!"
Just as you suspected, blondie is precise, methodical. Formally trained, for sure. You had just a few months of training, but your team was made up of cheaters, always finding ways to bend the rules and challenge your skills. You maintain your stance, stepping slowly and swaying out of the way just as he thrust forward. A giggle escapes your lips and your opponents huffs. Not angry, amused.
Another lunge and you’re leaping to the left, allowing him to step too far forward. You’re tempted to swat his ass with your foil, but you doubt the captain of the Yale fencing club would appreciate that. He spins and you take your chance, darting forward to stab the padding at the center of his chest. Point.
The crowd is silent, but you can tell people are whispering about you. You can feel it. Removing your mask and tucking it under your arm, you extend your hand to your opponent. Your smile falls as you feel the crowd eyeing you. And then he pulls off his mask, smiling as he closes his hand around yours.
Oh for fucks sake…Those rumors your girlfriends in high school talked about are true. College guys are hotter.
He runs a hand through his slightly damp blonde hair, letting it fall back down over his forehead. His t-shirt had a subtle sweat stain around the collar, the hem of his cargo pants dirty from kicking up dirt and grass. You can tell his sneakers were once a pristine white, they must be his favorite. When you meet his eyes, oh lord, a blue so clear you audibly gasped. His smile widens and you internally slapped yourself for being so reactive.
“Your footwork is excellent.” There’s that hint of an accent again. “I’m Xavier, and you are?”
You introduce yourself before the captain approaches and pops your little bubble. He puts a hand on each of your shoulders, bringing you both closer together.
“Listen, I just had two of my best members graduate last year, I’m begging here…”
Xavier glances at you and shrugs.
“If she’s in, so am I.”
It feels like you swallowed your tongue. The captain turns to you, queuing up his puppy dog eyes to signify his desperation. You clear your throat.
“I’m in.”
🍁🍂🎃🏈
This semester was relatively simple class-wise. You focused on knocking out some of your least favorite gen-ed requirements. Math was kicking your ass… Thankfully, Sylus was a math wizard. When he mentioned his major was mechanical engineering, you swiftly asked if he could help you with your math homework. He didn’t hesitate to agree.
Tara became known as the coffee guru of the fourth floor. The only payment she requested for making a cup using her fancy machine was coffee beans and a glowing review on Snapchat. Zayne was the only one who requested tea and Tara happily obliged. He bought a box of Jasmine tea and since he didn’t have Snapchat, she requested he sit in your dorm room while he drank it.
“I’ll only make it if you promise to socialize. Sit with us, bring a book or your laptop to study. But you’re not allowed to take the mug back to your room.”
After a long pause, Zayne agreed and coffee almost spurted out of Sylus’s nose. Sylus was used to being Zayne’s only friend and source of socialization. The look of pride on his face when Zayne agreed was comical, but sweet.
The fencing club met every Thursday evening after dinner. You began to look forward to meeting up with Xavier, who had essentially “claimed” you as his practice partner. He never practiced with anyone else and you never complained. He challenged you with his skill while you surprised him with your antics. Your unpredictability helped him improve and the first time the club competed, he easily won every round.
Xavier occasionally brought his roommate, Rafayel, with him to practice. Rafayel claimed it was for his drawing class. So he could practice drawing athletic movements and muscular builds. But you could tell he really just enjoyed watching his roommate lose. Dropping his pencil to point at you and clap, your personal cheerleader. After practice, you would sit and look through some of his drawings. He was incredibly talented, not to mention incredibly handsome.
Rafayel was lean, but when you caught a glimpse of his abs when he would pull off his hoodie before sitting down to draw, you’d feel your heart skip a beat. His style certainly stood out amongst the American Northeast Ivy League sweaters and jeans. But given the fact he grew up on the fashion forward streets in Japan, he wouldn’t dare tone down his style. Or his hair. His shaggy mullet was a gorgeous shade of purple, closer to mauve but with a blue undertone that reminded you of mixed berries. It nearly matched his eyes, a stunning deep blue that shone pink in the sun. When you described them to Tara you used the words “the beach at sunset” and she immediately stole your phone to try to invite him over.
When you learned about Rafayel and Xavier also being International students, you immediately thought of introducing them to Zayne and Sylus. You couldn’t imagine the culture shock, linking up might be a source of comfort. Then again, Xavier spent a lot of time in London with his aunt and uncle. Which is still very different, but at least there’s not a language barrier. Well, given some of the phrases you’ve heard him say… He may have learned to hide his accent, but when he says things like:
“Do you think practice will end early tonight? I’m knackered…”
You nearly peed your pants from giggling.
You organized for all the guys to meet up at the dining hall. You even invited Caleb since you knew he’d be able to chat Xavier’s ear off. With Xavier being an Astrophysics Major and Caleb an Aerospace Engineering Major, you were sure they’d get along. Sure enough, they ended up talking about their black hole theories all throughout dinner. While Rafayel, Tara and Sylus argued over the recent change in art style for an anime they all watch. You and Zayne spent the evening rating the dining hall's desserts. For a premed student, Zayne sure likes his sugary treats.
Football season was well underway and while Caleb was a huge fan, your new group of friends were extremely unfamiliar with the sport. Xavier took every opportunity to bring up “real football” when you’d mention it. Which only turned into a back and forth of fake British accents and light hearted mockery.
The final game before winter break was rapidly approaching and you realized you hadn't been to a single one. It took some convincing, but everyone agreed to go to the tailgate party and enjoy a good ole American football game together.
🍁🍂🎃🏈
“When’s sundown?”
You can hear Zayne sigh from across the hall. Leaning back from your closet, you look through the open door and give him a pleading look. He looks up from his book, resting in his lap, and pushes his glasses up.
“5:05 pm, exactly an hour after ‘kickoff’ and 3 hours after the ‘tailgate’ event starts.” The way he said ‘kickoff’ and ‘tailgate’ never fails to make you smile. Like he’s half disgusted, half intrigued.
“So I shouldn’t wear my cut offs then?” Tara mumbles while halfway buried in her closet.
“It is inadvisable to wear shorts in November in this part of the country.”
His deadpan expression, the logical advice, he’s the dad of the friend group and he doesn’t even realize it. Bless him.
You settle on an oversized Yale hoodie and lightwash jeans with pink bows down the outseam. You sit on the edge of your desk to lace up your white converse, you didn’t want to wake Caleb from his nap by bouncing on your bed. He was convinced he’d oversleep, so he arrived early and crashed in your dorm. It was quite a sight actually, not one you’re unfamiliar with, but it’s always funny to see him curled up in a pink blanket with a mermaid plushie against his chest.
“Zayne, you can’t bring a book with you to the party.” Rafayel’s voice was unmistakable.
Leaning against the doorframe, you watch the boys file into Zayne and Sylus’s room. Zayne groans as Rafayel snatches the book from his hands and slides the bookmark in place, depositing it on his bedside table. Xavier snoops through their minifridge and swipes an energy drink. Looks like Zayne’s warnings didn’t deter Sylus from his newest addiction. A whistle from down the hall draws your attention, a group of girls lingers outside the bathroom , twirling their hair and smiling. They certainly aren’t dressed for a November football game, but what can you… oh…
Sylus emerges from the bathroom and gives the girls a polite nod. He rubs his hair with a towel as he walks toward his room. He never listens to the RAs when they tell him to dress in the bathroom, preferring to walk the short distance to his room and risk the write up. A second towel is wrapped around his hips, dangerously loose.
You’ve successfully avoided seeing him shirtless, knowing how you have zero self-preservation skills and a lackluster poker face. Well, you were successful, until today… He was just as well built as you imagined he’d be. But as your eyes roamed, you noticed the metal piercing his nipples. Your jaw fell open. To quote Xavier, you were positively gobsmacked.
“What are you staring at?” Tara pops up beside you and before you can answer she lets out a small giggle as she eyes Sylus. “Oh, first time?” You elbow her in the ribs.
“I can almost hear you purring, kitten.” Sylus teases.
You’re not sure when he started using the nickname or when you stopped giving him shit for it, but the way he was looking at you, while looking like that… Zayne huffs and you notice he’s behind Sylus now, shoving him into the room to finish getting ready.
“I don’t know how you’re always the last one to start getting ready.” He mutters softly, loud enough for you and Tara to hear and giggle in response.
“And yet, I still look amazing every time.” Sylus calls out from somewhere in his room.
He’s not wrong.
Once Sylus is ready, you gently wake Caleb. He tosses the plushie to the side ignoring your smirk to slide his shoes on. Unlike you, he’s already declared his major, but he followed your advice to get his least favorite gen-ed classes out of the way first. He hated writing essays in high school, you always helped him proofread and even pulled a few all-nighters with him. This time around, you made sure he did the bulk of the work. So while you slept through the night, he stayed up to write his final paper. Hence, the impromptu nap before the game.
“Let me guess, it’s ass.”
You slap his shoulder and pick up the paper off your desk. Leafing through the pages, you try to count how many notes you left, or grammatical corrections you made, but the higher the number went you decided to just keep it to yourself.
“It’s not bad. Just needs some fine tuning. You can make these changes in less than an hour and turn it in tonight.”
He stands quickly and wraps his arms around you, squeezing you to his chest. You grunt, but return his hug.
“Thanks Pipsqueak. You’re a lifesaver.”
He places his hands on your shoulders and gives you his signature smile with that little head tilt. You try to regain your composure to scold him.
“I told you, no more ‘Pipsqueak’ - we’re in college now, it’s embarrassing!”
He ruffles your hair and you gasp in mock-horror. He raises his hands in surrender and smoothes out the strays.
“But I’ve called you that forever! What about ‘Pips’? Is ‘Pips’ still okay?”
You snarl, but it comes out as a pitiful grumble. Rolling your eyes, you nod.
“Fine. But try to call me by my name when we’re in big crowds, okay?” He nods and pulls you into another hug.
“We better get going, I can hear the music from here!” Tara finishes her makeup and stands from her desk, batting her lashes. “Caleb… you’ll carry my hoodie for me for a while, right?”
Tara was smitten with Caleb the moment she saw him. You couldn’t blame her, Caleb was handsome. Tall, strong, chestnut hair that falls down his forehead over those eyes… You remember the first time you really looked into his eyes and didn’t see the scrawny kid you grew up with. Golden specs floating through a deep purple, it made you feel like you were looking at the night sky during a meteor shower. You were used to girls surrounding him, flirting and giggling like idiots. Tara knew you were self-conscious about your childhood bestie, so her flirting was always exaggerated. She’d never cross that line unless you gave her the go-ahead.
“Yes, Tara, I’ll carry your hoodie for you.” Caleb snickers and grabs her matching Yale hoodie off her bed.
It takes about 10 minutes to walk from your dorm to the parking lot where the tailgate party is being held. Music blares, the scent of hot dogs and burgers gets stronger making your stomach growl. The lot was packed, volunteers manned the food tent and upperclassmen were already cracking beers open.
“I’ll find a spot for us to sit!” Xavier grabs Rafayel by the collar and drags him along. You’re not sure what they’re fighting about but it’s been going on for almost two weeks.
“Caleb, you want to help me grab some food?” Sylus runs a hand through his hair as he turns toward the food tent.
“Sure. Dog or burger?”
“Burger please!” You smile as he hands Tara her hoodie.
“I’ll come too!” Tara calls out, her head stuck in her hoodie. You help her escape and she rushes after the boys.
You move closer to Zayne as the crowd gets rowdy. He extends his elbow and you suppress the urge to say “aww” - eagerly looping your arm with his. You point to a smaller tent selling cookies and pull him along behind you. Unfortunately, a group of stereotypical frat boys cut you off, one of which you immediately recognize. Mark Blakely, the thorn in your side, yet another reason you despised your math class.
“And you told me you weren’t dating anyone. Sweetheart, I’m hurt, truly.”
You roll your eyes and try to move past him, but he blocks your path. Zayne tenses, keeping you close. He doesn’t speak up to correct Mark, and you’re grateful.
“I don’t believe she’s interested in speaking with you.” Zayne says, his tone calm.
“I don’t believe I asked for your opinion, smartass.”
“Mark, fuck off.”
“You’ve dodged me all semester, come on, just one date. You won’t be disappointed.” He tucks his thumbs in his waistband and winks. Bile rises to the back of your throat.
“If my calculations are correct, given your height, posture and hand measurements, I’m fairly certain she would definitely be disappointed.”
You are simply too stunned to speak, all you can do is stare at Zayne. He tilts his head, challenging Mark to say something else, his quick wit begging for a good stretch. Mark’s jaw clenches, his hands sinking into his pockets.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Mark takes a step forward.
“Li Shen, I go by Zayne. But for you, I’m sure one day you’ll refer to me as your doctor while I repair your organs after years of drinking to soothe your fragile ego.”
Oh he’ll never recover.
Mark’s face flushes as his anger builds. He reaches out to grab a fistful of Zayne’s hoodie. You hold onto his arm, allowing yourself to get dragged forward as Mark pulls. But before Mark can say a word, two large hands clap down on his shoulders.
One is Sylus’s, the other Caleb’s. Mark looks over his shoulder at the men, scowling as they tighten their grip.
“If you wouldn’t mind, let go of my friend.” Sylus growls.
“Now.” You didn’t know Caleb could even sound like that.
Mark lets Zayne go and backs up, his friends standing beside him with angry glares of their own. Zayne doesn’t make a sound, but as you wrap your hands around his forearm you see his lips curve into a smile. When Mark finally stalks off with his buddies, Sylus, Caleb and Tara, who is struggling to balance styrofoam containers of food on her own, circle around you and Zayne.
“What the hell happened?” Caleb says, trying his best to stay calm.
“Mark was being a dick. Looks like he couldn’t handle getting put in his place.”
Sylus crosses his arms and smiles wide.
“Finally, someone else has seen Zayne’s dark side, not just me. He’s brutal isn’t he?”
You laugh and pull Zayne into a hug, he tenses.
“Thank you.” You whisper in his ear, he relaxes. His arms creeping around you to return the gentle hug.
“My pleasure.”
When you all finally find Xavier and Rafayel, they stop their bickering just long enough to ask what happened. Both of them bounce between anger and shock at the revelation that an asshole bothered you, but that Zayne shut him down. Tara distributes the food before Caleb asks Zayne to come with him to get drinks for everyone. Almost as soon as they leave, Xavier and Rafayel begin arguing again.
“Okay, what gives? Why are you two at each other’s throats?” Tara shouts over them.
You lean back and feel Sylus behind you. Before you can jolt forward, his hand rests on your shoulder. He eases you back, letting you use his shoulder as a backrest. You’re thankful he’s behind you so he can’t see how red your cheeks have gotten.
“Rafayel decided to use me as a model without telling me. Now there’s a portrait of me sleeping, framed, in the art gallery. But that’s not the worst part.”
Rafayel covers his mouth, but you already saw his smile. He’s proud of his little stunt.
“He named it ‘Sleeping Prince’ and now people are asking me if ‘the rumors are true’…”
Xavier had told you about his royal connection, but never shared details. You had no idea if he was a distant cousin or if he really was a prince. Given his expression, it looks like there is more validity in the ‘rumors’ than you realize.
“In my defense, I didn’t know you were actually–” Xavier slaps a hand over Rafayel’s mouth.
You feel Sylus’s shoulder shake behind you as he laughs.
“So, the rumors are true then?” He asks.
Xavier drops his hand and focuses on his food, his ears a dark red. Tara moves to sit next to him on the grass, she puts a hand on his shoulder.
“We’ll keep it a secret, okay? Oh! I have an idea! Rafayel, you start a new rumor.”
Rafayel motions for Tara to continue. Caleb and Zayne arrive with your drinks just in time to hear her grand scheme.
“Start a rumor that Sylus bleaches his hair.”
“But I don’t.” Sylus mumbles, his mouth full.
“I know, but it’s the kind of rumor that doesn’t hurt anyone. If people keep talking about the Xavier rumor, it could make things harder for him.”
“Fine by me.” Sylus offers.
“You don’t have to do that.” Xavier mumbles. “But… thank you.”
🍁🍂🎃🏈
After the game that night, Tara tells you more about the rumor. Xavier’s mother is a Spanish princess, making him a legitimate prince. The bits and pieces Xavier has told you about his upbringing starts to make a lot more sense. He had mentioned running away as a teen to live with his aunt and uncle, guess the royal life wasn’t for him? You decide to keep it to yourself, no reason to make Xavier feel more awkward by telling him you know.
The game itself was boring, but listening to Caleb explain how the game worked to the other guys was pretty entertaining. You’d splurged on extra desserts from the concession stand, forcing Zayne to accept your gratitude via sugary goodness. He didn’t argue too much. Rafayel worked his magic and started spreading the new rumor to the students around him. Sylus had people eyeing him the rest of the night. Tara ended up falling asleep against Sylus’s shoulder before half-time. He carried her back to the dorm when the game ended and lingered in the hallway with you before going your separate ways.
You won’t deny it, Sylus is attractive and charming. Sure, you have a crush. But you also don’t want to pursue anything, at least not right now. Your freshman year was for you, no one else. It didn’t make his flirty remarks and teasing any less tempting. Rafayel and Xavier had flirted as well, even Zayne had started complimenting you while his cheeks turned rosy. And Caleb… You’re never sure with him. Your best friend, your first kiss… Neither of you ever brought it up, but he’s always been extra critical of anyone you tried to date after that.
None of that changes the fact that you’re determined to make the most of your college years. Experience everything. Have fun, try to stay responsible and make as many memories as you possibly can.
🍁🍂🎃🏈
𝕿𝖆𝖌𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙: (If you'd like to be added to the Ivy League taglist comment a🎓)
@trishiepo0
@not-so-quite-human
@kitsunetori
@babyx91
@libriomancer
@lilyadora
@crowskitten22
@letharue
@silverbrain
@alastor-simp
@drama-trauma
@0tterteeth
@mysticcollectionvoid
@godzillaglitter
@godoffuckedupcats
@klmpun
@ariallaisawesome
@spidy-spider01
@ankitavminkook
@m00nchildwrites
@plsdonttakemyname
@hauntedbysmutm0
@withering-dream
@lostwingz2236
@simpfortheseven
@bubbleteakittyy
@stellar-seas
@babylilxc
@havenhope-art
@lly5duck
@freddy-2002-blog
@sylus-hunter
AN: I was in college back in 2013, so it's been a HOT MINUTE. Not everything will be super modern as I am drawing from experience. However, I did not graduate, so this is also a healing fanfic for me. I'm living vicariously through the FMC and rewriting my past. With hot international students. Yay.
