zayne loves you and apparently your calico critters, too?
he vowed to always be accepting and supportive of your interest, whatever that may be. so, that included your love for small trinkets of adorable families of animals.
if you came across the calico critter blind bags or tiny keychains at check out while shopping, he had no problem with you slipping one into the basket. or two. three, maybe? he wasn’t watching you, but he could see your hand in the corner of his eye taking them off the shelf and trying to be sneaky. “add one more. in case you get a repeat, of course. i understand that, at times, it discourages you,” he’d say.
zayne was attentive. letting you browse the calico critter section of the store for twenty minutes if you needed it. “baby mermaid castle or playtime castle nursery?” you muttered to yourself. the two items were so adorable. either one would be a perfect addition to your collection and the space in your room you had dedicated to your trinkets.
“get them both,” zayne interrupted your thoughts. he’d been standing there watching you with his hands relaxed to his sides. there wasn’t a point in trying to decide. he’d get you anything within a heartbeat.
zayne had noticed there was a particular item that you always brushed your fingers over but never acknowledged. the touch that lingered told him it had drawn you in but you’re stubborn, you seemed to never have expressed your want for it. so, he’d come home early one night, a big box wrapped in a simple and plain white wrapping paper in his arms. “what is that?” you asked.
“why don’t you open it? it is for you after all.” he answered calmly, placing the box down onto the table and watching you waste no time tearing open the wrapping paper to reveal his gift to you. “what!” you screeched. “red roof country home? no way! zayne! you shouldn’t have!” you throw yourself into his arms in which he uses to envelop you immediately. his hand cradles the back of your head, stroking you gently as he places a kiss to your forehead.
zayne grins, murmuring against your skin, “your little animals have been nomads for far too long. i thought you might like to give them a proper home.”
Yay I'm so glad you decided to open your asks again! Of course, take all the time you need and DON'T feel pressured. Your life comes first!!
I have stowed away some request ideas for when you opened them again, but I'll start with just this one for now 🥺...
Could you do a reader x Zayne (could be pre-relationship if that sounds appealing) where the reader has a habit of subtlety putting themselves down through humor around friends/family? Just playing that sort of thing off casually until Zayne maybe notices how frequent and possibly damaging it can be? Hurt/comfort style? 🙂↕️
I imagine comments that are more subtle like "Oops, I'm stupid, haha" when misunderstanding something or something of that nature. Nothing super intense, but noticable. If that makes sense?? LOL
Anyway!!! Have a GREAT DAY!!!
- (•ө•) Anon
𐙚˙⋆.˚ zayne x gn!reader ꒰੭
𐙚˙⋆.˚ hurt/comfort! ꒰੭
𐙚˙⋆.˚ sfw! ꒰੭
𐙚˙⋆.˚ do not translate/copy/repost! ꒰੭
﹙♡﹚pre-relationship zayne has my heart. my man is a yearner, hence why writing this was so much sweeter ८ ◞ ◟ ⑅ ა thank you so much for requesting, baby! i might have extended myself a little bit, but you angels already know what happens when i write for my hubby! ♡
anyone else could've thought it was a cute little habit of yours.
“haha, i'm so dumb!”
“oh! sorry, what was that? i'm so stupid sometimes…”
“no, you're good! it was totally on me. my mind is a mess!”
but to zayne, it was a dangerous behaviour; one he knew would become detrimental to your self-esteem in no time.
he'd heard you putting yourself down countless times, and on most occasions, it happened over tiny things.
once, it was because you dropped some crumbs on the floor.
then, it was because you accidentally misspelled something.
the last time, it was because you bumped against a counter and felt the need to apologize… unnecessarily so.
to top it off, you weren't even conscious of it, almost as if your mouth moved before your brain could fully process the situation.
that could only mean one thing.
you wholeheartedly believed those words were true, or, at the very least, you felt the need to apologize for every little —and ordinary— mistake.
if you insulted yourself first, then you wouldn't give others the chance to insult you.
he didn't like that, and the fact that none of your friends or family members said anything about it was astonishing to him.
zayne, being as blunt as he was, couldn't really help himself anymore when he heard you talking to a friend on facetime.
you were just lounging around his office, ready to ask for your free monthly checkup, courtesy of dr. li, unaware that he had entered the room and overheard everything you had to say.
“wasn't that like… last year?” you asked, eyebrows knitting. “or wait, no, was it three years ago? ugh, my memory sucks.”
“no, hun, that was literally six months ago, what are you on?” your friend replied, chuckling softly.
you only sighed, then shook your head in disbelief.
“stupid me, the fact that i'm even considered a functioning adult is surprising,” you whispered. “okay, so, six months ago—”
all of a sudden, a cold, large hand settled on your shoulder, making you freeze in place.
your friend grinned wildly once they spotted zayne on your screen, and they decided to make up a dumb excuse just to hang up seconds later.
awesome.
“zayne!” you turned around to face him, your breathing slightly erratic. “you scared me! gosh… what's up?”
he stared down at you, blinking slowly.
“stop that,” he said bluntly, his voice calm enough to be considered a request rather than a demand.
you blinked back, head tilting to your left.
“calling, or…?” you looked down at your phone, then up at him. “was i being too loud, zayne?”
“you were being insulting.”
your eyes immediately went wide.
“oh! was i? really? i didn't even notice! do you think my friend was offend—”
“to yourself,” he interrupted, walking behind his desk to properly meet your gaze.
the room instantly turned quiet.
you didn't know what to say, how to react… so you smiled sheepishly.
“what— uh, what… makes you say that, zayne?” your voice softened, but not out of sweetness; it was out of embarrassment and the ugly feeling of someone seeing right through you, uninvited. “i wasn't insulting myself.”
“you were,” he answered without missing a beat, his hazel eyes refusing to let yours go. “it is not the first time you have done so.”
“well… it's not that bad, zayne! it's just a joke!” you laughed softly, then quickly looked away from him, your fingers fidgeting with your phone case. “i'm just not the smartest person in the room, that's all.”
the uncomfortable silence invaded the room once again, until his hand gently grabbed your wrist and stopped your nervous fidgeting.
“according to who?”
your eyes shot up, your whole body tensing up for just a few seconds.
“uh…” you parted your lips, trying to find the words. “i mean, i'm sometimes clumsy, and my mind just drifts a lot…”
“neither of those traits represent a lack of intelligence,” he leaned in, his hands now over the desk. “and even if they did, you should not use them as weapons against yourself.”
you felt a tiny lump forming in your throat.
“zayne… you don't have to be so serious about it,” you whispered. “it's just… a habit.”
“a bad one,” he added, his voice losing the clinical edge you were used to, instead becoming something softer. “one that is not becoming of you.”
well, great.
you lowered your head and crossed both arms over your chest.
“i don't mean those words…”
“then do not say them,” he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, finally looking away. “because i am starting to believe— or rather, i am certain that you truly think so lowly of yourself.”
“that's not true.”
zayne sighed, used to you contradicting him, but unwilling to let it pass without consequences.
he reached out, quietly lifting your chin up so that you would look at him without averting your gaze.
“you insulted your memory, yourself, and your abilities as an adult in less than two minutes,” he noted. “over forgetting a timeline, mind you.”
you felt your skin growing warmer almost instantly.
he was looking right into your soul, apparently.
“eavesdropping isn't nice,” your lips slightly pouted. “and… and i was just joking! my friends understand my humor!”
“you are teaching yourself that every little mistake is punishable.”
you went completely still, his words echoing.
“...every time you call yourself clumsy, useless, or stupid, you reinforce the idea that making mistakes makes you lesser,” he elaborated. “you do not even think before doing so.”
zayne leaned back, then walked until he was by your side. his hands clenched and unclenched by his sides.
gods, he wanted to pull you close.
he wanted to take those ugly words away from your mind.
but he couldn't lose control, nor would he allow his feelings to overpower his strong sense of duty.
“no one will punish you,” he whispered, his tone becoming softer, gentler, almost concerned. “no one will insult you first, and i can assure you that no one thinks you are stupid when you make mistakes.”
perhaps without him noticing, his thumb brushed the gentle curve of your cheekbone.
neither of you dared to talk.
you simply felt the slow circles he traced on your skin, and he then focused on your pretty eyes.
“...i can't stop, zaynie,” you finally whispered, the words coming out before your brain could process them; the very reason you had this bad habit in the first place. “i don't know how to. it just happens.”
he crouched down next to you, placing one hand on the armrest and the other on the desk.
“it is not easy to change something you do unconsciously,” he conceded. “let alone something you deem necessary.”
“but… do you think i'm doing it to protect myself?” you whispered, looking down at him. “like, deep down, that's what my brain is trying to do?”
he contemplated your words before fixing his glasses.
“i am no psychiatrist, so i am afraid i cannot affirm nor deny allegations of that nature,” he shook his head slightly. “but i… would not discard that theory.”
he paused, trying to find the right words.
“you do not have to change that overnight. in fact, i do not think it is plausible,” he mumbled. “but you can start by acknowledging the facts instead of categorizing them.”
your head tilted to the side, until your cheek met your shoulder.
there it was; that confused gaze zayne secretly adored so much.
“meaning…?”
“meaning that instead of calling yourself stupid after forgetting something, you can just say ‘sorry, i forgot’. instead of insulting your brain's capacity, you can say ‘come again? i did not understand’,” he explained, hoping it wouldn't be too hard to follow.
your expression softened, and your lips seemed to curl up slightly.
“without using ugly words?” you softly asked.
“there is no need, no,” he nodded gently, feeling a bit relieved now that you had another way of expressing yourself.
“that… that sounds easy enough, zaynie,” you whispered. “even for someone dumb like me!”
before you could even register what it was that you said, zayne's eyes narrowed.
you killed all hope instantly.
he stood up quietly, to which you quickly jumped, getting out of the chair.
“oh, zayne, wait! gosh, i didn't even— hey!”
when you looked up, he had a stack of papers (probably some documents) rolled into a tube; one he used to softly tap your forehead.
“try again,” he calmly said.
“you can't just—”
“again,” he gestured with the roll of paper. “go ahead.”
“i— i understand! i'll try not to… categorize anything, i swear!” you squealed, hoping for a little bit of mercy. “it sounds easy!”
he finally lowered the papers, sighing heavily.
“good. but it is not easy,” zayne mumbled. “so i will be alert. i must ensure you practice being gentler to yourself.”
you sighed in relief once he placed the papers over his desk, straightening them with his slender fingers.
you felt like a pup being trained, in a way.
“...is that part of your role as my doctor, zaynie, or do you just care too much about me?” your voice came out tentative, and when your eyes met, you could've sworn the tips of his ears turned red.
he cleared his throat and looked away.
“i am merely ensuring your stress levels remain low. good self-esteem and healthy emotional practices do contribute to that,” he picked up your file, tapping it with his knuckle. “now, let us go to the second floor. we will start with the blood work.”
“blood work…?” you frowned, before gasping. “oh, right! my checkup, i totally forgot! i'm such a—”
your words died down almost instantly when his hand quietly went back to the documents on his desk.
“i'm such… such a great patient! i mean— i will be the best patient ever!” you rushed to the door, quickly opening it. “i'll see you down there!”
and just as quickly as you left, his face became one of a man smitten.
what was he going to do with you, other than worry every day?
he stared at the door, and then moved towards it, slipping the efficient and focused mask of a man in his field of work.
but beneath his pristine lab coat, his heart raced and ached for the most perfect person in this world; someone he wouldn't let destroy their self-esteem and self-worth with such deprecating words.
not if he could stop it, one paper roll at a time.~
Synopsis: Zayne has been gone on a business trip, and the loneliness begins to eat at you. He returns early to find you wrapped in a bundle on his bed.
WC: 1.1k
A/N: Yayyyy my first fanfic, it finally happened.
It’s been two weeks. Sixteen days to be specific. Zayne’s been gone on a business trip with spotty internet connection, leaving you to fend for yourself. Not that you’d mind….normally. But here you are, a burrito of blankets and tissues, wishing he’d be home sooner. Four more days. Four more days of being on your own before your boyfriend returns.
You had been staying at your apartment while he was away, business as usual. Until tonight. Tonight, you had been tormented by a nightmare. Haunted by the thought of losing Zayne and not being able to do anything about it. You wanted nothing more than to call and hear his voice, or to run into his arms and collapse against him. Unable to console yourself, you drive to his house at 2am, hoping for some level of comfort. You creep into his house. Not the first time you’ve been here, far from it. But it’s not often you’re here without him. It’s unnervingly quiet.
Still teary eyed and shaking from your nightmare, you try to get settled to go to sleep. You set yourself up on his side of the bed, hoping his scent will ease your worries. As you pull out a sleep shirt from his hamper, you wrap it around a pillow, practically able to see him pinching the bridge of his nose at your actions. But you can’t help it. Wrapped up in his blankets, surrounded by the smell of him, your yearning only grows. As soft music plays in the room, the tears return to your eyes. You can’t help but recall your nightmare.
Sniffling and burying your face in Zayne’s pillow, you don’t hear the door quietly open. The shoes placed perfectly by the door, a huff escaping him as he moves your shoes into an orderly position beside his. Having seen your vehicle in the driveway, he situates himself with care so as not to wake you, placing his coat and bags in the corner of the entry way to be dealt with in the morning. As he heads toward the bedroom, he frowns. He hears the soft music floating from the room, the soft light shining from under the door. Far too late at night for you to be awake. Hand on the doorknob, he pauses, hearing a sniffle.
Concern rising, he cautiously opens the door. Entering the room, he’s met with the sight of a sniffling pile of blankets, clearly unaware of his early return. He walks slowly to your side. “Darling?” Zayne’s voice calls out, just above the soft music.
You jolt, having not heard his presence in the room.
“Zayne?” You stare in shock for a moment, certain you must be dreaming.
Moving slowly at first, you slowly peel yourself out of your blanket cocoon, moving to be closer to him. You stare at him cautiously for a moment, as if trying to convince yourself that he’s real. Then you surge towards him. Rushing at him and wrapping your arms tightly around his midsection, finally getting to bury your face in his chest and absorb his scent.
“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” His arms instantly come around you, holding you tight to him. He feels you hold tighter to him, beginning to tremble slightly.
“Nightmare…,” you respond, barely a whisper. You feel a kiss on the top of your forehead as his hand begins to caress your back.
“I’m here, my love,” Zayne whispers to you, knowing exactly what you need to hear. He stands, holding you tight and gently swaying along to the music, telling you how much he missed you. As you begin to calm down, you feel the drowsiness begin to creep in.
“Zaynie, can we go to bed?” you ask in a small voice, eyes beginning to droop shut.
“I need to get cleaned up first, but why don’t you lay down? I’ll be quick to come back to you,” he says with another kiss to the top of your head. Tightening your arms around him, unwilling to let him go, you let out a whine and bury your face deeper in his chest. He huffs out a slight laugh and pulls back, eyes wide with affection for you. He places his hand gently on your face, lightly caressing your cheek.
“How about joining me for a bath?” he asks softly, gazing adoringly at you. “I can carry you to bed if you fall asleep.” You laugh lightly, and nod into his chest.
You walk towards the bathroom, his arm around you while you lean into his side. When he leans forward to fill the tub, you wrap your arms around his midsection from behind, unwilling to let him go for even a moment. Zayne turns around and gently unwraps your arms from him as he begins to help you get undressed. He moves slowly and gently, peppering kisses across your forehead as he goes. He helps you into the bathtub before beginning to remove his clothes as well. He slips into the bath behind you, wrapping his body around yours.
“I missed you, Zaynie,” you say as you melt into his body behind you. You feel him pull you tight against his chest, lips at your ear.
“I missed you too, my love,” he whispers against your ear, mouth traveling slowly down as he presses gentle, yet deliberate, kisses to the back of your neck. You feel him reach for a washcloth, gently running it down your neck and shoulders as you slowly drift out of consciousness.
You wake to a feeling of relaxation and coolness, being lifted out of the water by Zayne’s arms. He supports you against him as he wraps you in a fluffy towel, carefully drying you off. He lifts you back in his arms and carries you to bed, tucking your body under the blankets while he goes to dress for bed and fetch clothes for you. Your eyes drift open, gazing at the span of his back as he puts his night shirt on. He turns around, your clothes in hand, to see a dopey smile on your face. The corners of his lips turn up slightly as he moves towards you.
Partway through helping you dress, a slight huff escapes him, catching sight of his used shirt laying crumpled atop a pillow. He helps to tuck you back into your side of the bed, before turning off the music and lights and sliding in beside you. You turn towards him and feel his arms wrap around you, pulling you into his chest. You breathe him in, feeling his hands tangling with your hair as he caresses the back of your head. You push one of your legs between his as you feel his lips touch the crown of your head.
“I still can't believe that you managed to lose your voice too,” you comment, pressing a soft peck to Zayne's burning forehead as you wrap the duvet tighter around your tangled bodies. You frown upon realising that his temperature hasn't faltered since you last checked it, hoping the medicine he's taken will take effect soon.
“I love you, you know that, right?” he whispers fondly, his voice barely audible over the dulcet pitter-patter of the rain falling outside your window. His eyes are soft at the edges as he peers at you, the area around his nose tinted a bright red from the number of times he's abused it with the tissues that now lay in a pile next to him. Yet, even in this disheveled state, you almost want to groan at how beautiful Zayne looks.
As if saying it once isn't enough, Zayne's hands reach under the duvet aimlessly until they find yours, interlocking your fingers together as he brings them up to his lips. He presses a delicate kiss to each of your knuckles before mumbling, “I love you so, so much.”
The sensation of his lips brushing against your fingers sends jolts through your chest, your heart warming at how gentle he is with you even after all this time.
“I love you too, but please stop talking because it's not going to make your voice any better,” you scold, taking notice of the growing scratchiness evident in his voice. The irony of having to lecture a doctor about taking care of himself isn't lost on you, but Zayne doesn't seem particularly inclined to listen.
“If you think me losing my voice is somehow going to stop me from saying how much I love you, you're wrong.”
A Medical Banquet where well renowned doctors from everywhere will be attending, an event Zayne will be attending himself as well. You being his fiance were to naturally attend as his plus one. In all honesty, Zayne wasn't a big fan of such fancy banquets and events and he could've very well avoided not attending this event as well. The only reason he was attending was because he was to present a speech about his recent discovery in Cardiology and Zayne was to receive an award as well. Something he got to know about a week prior to the event and the first person to know after was you. The overwhelming feeling of pride you felt was beyond anything. You were more excited than he was and to him that was his greatest joy.
The banquet was a large one and quite fancy at that. Almost everyone seemed to know Zayne. Only this time some of their expressions contorted into a very surprised one when he introduced his plus one as his fiance. “Never thought I'd get to see the day where Zayne would introduce his fiance to us.” One of his old classmates, who was also a very well known surgeon, from his college said followed by a shove from his own wife. “I was almost worried that he'd end up alone.” Dr. Noah, Zayne's superior said as took a sip of his drink. You noticed the shade of crimson his ears turned, a shy smile on his face and his hand resting on your waist. He felt proud to present you as his fiance to everyone in this room, you could see it in his eyes. He was never one to walk up to people at events and initiate a conversation, but this time he conversed with everyone just for the sake of making them known of your very presence.
It was time for the speech. Zayne had already left you a few minutes ago with a soft kiss on your cheek to prepare. You see him walk up to the stage and stand before the podium. The hall became quiet as he started to speak. His demeanor shifted and you see him talk about each and every aspect of his research meticulously. Not an ounce of anxiety or nervousness to be found, no imperfections. He was talking about something which was complex and not easily understandable by you, and yet you were mesmerized.
“Dr. Zayne really does live up to his name.” You heard someone say in a hushed tone from behind. “He is the youngest Cardiac Surgeon and has already achieved so much.” “I heard he went to medical college at only fourteen years old.” You shift your focus back to Zayne and see him receiving the prestigious award. Applause erupted from around you, yours being the loudest you hoped. Seeing him making such extraordinary achievements, filled your chest with pride. You were beyond happy for him and yet... Something weighed on your chest.
After the award ceremony, you saw Zayne getting praises and compliments from his seniors and superiors. A pat on his back, a shake of his hand, you saw how happy he was. This was his moment. But you suddenly felt so far away from him. As if there were a great distance between you two. Zayne was extraordinary there was no doubt about that. He worked his life off at a young age and has accomplished so much. But you? What have you achieved? Do you even deserve to stand beside him? No. You shouldn't think like this, not tonight, not now. This was his moment and he deserves every bit of it. But somewhere in the back of your mind the voices kept mocking you. Look at him and look at you.
The newly achieved award sits among the collection of awards and crests he has achieved. Every single one of them was a result of his hard work, these were his achievements. You could only dream of achieving even one crest in your life.
You weren't the golden child of your parents nor did you ever win a prize at school. In fact, you always felt like the dumb child at school. You always failed to understand the simplest of parts and got on with average grades while your sister made your parents proud each and every year. You always envied the students who got badges and medals while you stood there watching them, imagining what it would be like to for once in your life get something like them. To get applause from the teachers and students. You could only imagine.
You never felt smart nor did you feel like anything special. You struggled with everything you showed interest in. Anything you tried would result in a mess. Sometimes even creativity mocked you by blocking your thoughts and ideas. There would always be someone better than you. That constant thought broke you down so many times, you lost count now.
And now a new thought emerged. What does Zayne see in you? Why did he choose you? Why did he? When he could've been with someone so much better. Someone smarter and special, a better match for him. Better compatibility too maybe. You started to feel self conscious. Not because of him no, this isn't his fault, not at all. You were the problem. He was nothing but an encouraging, doting and loving partner who always catered to you needs.
You start to become distant. A dampened mood all the time, lost appetite and drained energy. Your thoughts were consuming you and you just became tired of everything. Zayne noticed it all too well for you were pushing him away, building a wall between you unconsciously.
Conversations with him got shorter, you went to bed early and slept maintaining a distance. It was as if you were drifting away from him. He knew you better than yourself sometimes, something that made you fall in love with him deeper because all you ever wanted was to be seen.
It was almost three in the morning when he woke up to an empty bed, your warmth gone from beside him. He found you in the living room sitting before the floor-to-ceiling window, moonlight illuminating your face. “Why are you awake?” His presence startled you causing you to jump a little. “Nothing. I just couldn't sleep,” you said quietly. He noticed your puffy and tired eyes and the slight tear stains on your cheek. “Cmon let's go.” You started to get up and walk past him when his hand caught on to your arm turning you to face him. “I need you to answer me honestly,” he said. Hazel green eyes looking intently into yours. His hands held tightly both of your arms so you wouldn't slip past him. You couldn't hold it in anymore. You looked down and your body started shaking.
“I'm such a loser Zayne.”
A thumb brushes over your hand as you hold his hand and let your tears fall. He wipes them away gently and gives your palm a gentle squeeze. “Why do you love me?,” you ask him through quiet sobs. “I'm such a loser.”
“It hurts me that you think of yourself in such a way, that you think so less of the one person I love so much.” His eyes soften, a hint of sadness evident in them. “You are so talented and special, you deserve someone better.”
When you confided in Zayne about how you felt, the emotions you bottled up to the point of self loathing, he couldn't help but feel his chest tighten at the thought that you were feeling this way and disappointed at himself that you had to keep this away from him, that you didn't feel safe enough.
“Do you know what I see when I look at you?” He said brushing his fingers over your cheek. “I see someone who finds joy even in the most mundane and simplest of things. Someone who never gives up and gives her all in every thing she does.” He takes your hand and places a soft kiss on your fingers. “You are the reason I find ease at times when things become difficult. Your encouragement is what keeps me going and gives me strength when I'm not confident in myself. You inspire me.” Your eyes were so tired from crying and yet tears start welling up in them again. “I love you because of not what you have or have not achieved. My love is not something that is reciprocated based on such matters. I love you because of who you are, the very reason for my achievements. You are my greatest achievement.” You close your eyes as his lips softly press against yours. He brushes away your tears and tastes them on your lips.
“And who says you haven't achieved anything. Academic achievements aren't the only ones. There are all sorts of achievements in life so much more important. You've achieved so much, you just fail to see them.” His words put you at ease and make you feel safe. “And you're not dumb, not to me or anyone. You're smarter than you think,” he whispers. “You see the world with such simplicity that complex things become easy when I face them with you. You notice the littlest of things that no one else does. You are special. You are very special to me.”
“The girl I love is different in the best way possible, so please don't put her down so easily. You are not a loser. You are unique.”
You bury your face in his chest. How can a person love you this much and think of you as if you were a star in the night sky?
“I love you and I want you to love you too.”
⤷ Not proofread. I just wanted to finish it. I feel like the last bit is badly written but I tried my best really. No hate to this please, I was feeling really down and ended up finally getting this out of my mind by writing it. This has been in my mind for a while now. I've been feeling like I'm not a good writer or write anything good. Hope you all like this.
hiii this is @snoozer-crow !!!! i saw your reblog of soft intimacy one-liners and i wanted to make a request if that's okay!!! no pressure though, take your time if you're busy!!!!
i was thinking either "Please don't hide yourself from me." with caleb or "You can lean on me, I don't mind." with zayne would be really good!!! whichever you're feeling most! thank you so much!!! <3333
Aaaaa hiiii! 💕 Thank you for the prompt! Decided to give some TLC to poor Zayne, to make up for all the times I've subjected him to Raf and Sy's nonsense. This got a teensy bit suggestive at the end. Snuck up on me honestly but what can you do! I wash my hands of it, I don't control him 😮💨
For Your Own Good
Zayne x Reader(gn!)
Summary: You plan a little surprise for your infuriatingly perfect doctor.
“You know… you can lean on me sometimes. I don’t mind.”
The platitude had been offered as Zayne speared a blueberry with his fork— chasing around his plate the sweeter elements of his breakfast with all the concentration of a game of Operation. He’d paused at your voice; he could be tweezers-deep in a chest cavity— warm or plastic— and still pause for that voice.
“I lean on you all the time,” he’d smiled, then pushed the blueberry into his mouth. It was chewed on pensively. Swallowed slowly. “I can’t imagine a day without you by my side. Your spirit, your strength… they are as essential to me as—”
“Sugar?” you’d asked as he dropped another lump of the stuff into his coffee.
His spoon had twirled, clinking the inside of his mug. “I was going to say ‘oxygen’, but yes.”
He’d leant over the table and kissed you, sweet for sugared fruit, and chaste with the innocence forced upon you by a morning routine. By the time you’d realised his hands were moving, collecting up plates, it was too late to stop them. “Ah, no. Zayne, let me. You don’t have to—”
A second kiss, and he’d pressed a smirk to your lips with a whispered: “Nonsense.”
That was the final straw, you’d decided, as he pulled away and moved to the sink. The tap was twisted, gushing over sickly-sticky crockery, and you’d thought to yourself: enough is enough.
So now you’re lying in wait. Well, sitting on the edge of your dining room table, in the midst of a scheme you’re calling 'an intervention’, so you won’t feel bad about the text.
You glance at your phone. You’d sent the text… half an hour ago? Zayne will be home any minute.
Perfect.
Piled around you is an indulgent spread of desserts: a collection from every one of Zayne’s favourite patisseries, all of which, conveniently, had very credible Wanderer sightings over the course of your afternoon patrol. Cakes, fluffy with buttercream. Soft, gooey cookies, and stacks of macarons.
The French toast this morning was vaguely respectable. This? Is something sprung from the imagination of a child with a sweet tooth, and unfettered access to crayons. It might actually land Zayne back in the hospital you’ve conspired so brilliantly to snatch him away from.
But it’s worth the risk. It’s been a long week, and your doctor is stubborn.
You pluck up one of the macarons and nibble on it as you wait— a selfless contribution to Zayne not ending up comatose on the floor of your home tonight. You’re not sure what he’s going to go for first. You, hopefully, but you wouldn’t put money on it. Fuck, these are good.
You’re an altruist, a martyr, and you’re about to go in for another one when the door flies open.
“Love,” Zayne gasps out, starved for breath, “I came as quickly as I could. What is it? What’s the… matter…?”
Hazel eyes slip down. Frost is crawling up from where his hand is wrapped around the doorknob; his body isn’t quite convinced you’re not in terrible danger yet. But… it’s catching up, bit by bit, as he takes in you. The cakes. You. The pastries. You. The macarons. The cookies. You.
The frost cracks like a leaf underfoot when the seasons turn cold— without any ceremony. His hand comes away from the door, flexing and warming as his loyalty is tested. “You called the hospital.”
“I did.”
“Said it was a matter of life and death.”
“It is.” You lean forward, hands gripped to the table for balance. “Death by… chocolate. Death by cake. Death by chocolate cake.”
Three heartbeat’s worth of betrayal as Zayne looks over the chocolate cake in question. Four. Five. “That,” he considers, with the ebbing tide of his professionalism, “is known to be a particularly aggressive condition. Incurable.”
He shrugs his jacket from his shoulders.
“And the studies?” you ask as he loosens his tie.
He’s walking towards you. “Extensive. Conclusive.”
With the first sigh he’s allowed himself all day, he steps between your legs and rests his forehead against yours. It’s slightly damp with sweat, and when you place your hand over his chest, his heart is still slowing down from its sprint. “You okay?” you chuckle, shifting back so you can peel strands of plastered hair from his face.
He nods, placing a kiss to the corner of your mouth, then slumping into the crook of your neck. “Mm. Tired.”
“You didn’t have to run all the way from—”
“No. Tired from everything. Not the run. It’s… been a long week.”
And you’ve got your sources at Akso. You stroke the back of Zayne’s head— slow scratches, trailing down from his scalp— and try not to fidget when his breath tickles the sensitive spot below your ear.
This is a serious moment. Don’t ruin it. “Thank you,” he murmurs.
“It’s okay.”
You’re having to bite your lip now. It really tickles.
A deliberate huff of warm air against you, and you cave, giggling, though the sound catches as Zayne’s hands close around your arms. No escape. No squirming away, or putting even an inch of distance between you. Warm breath becomes hot lips, right on the spot that makes your fingers tighten in his hair.
“Zayne…”
When he pulls back, he’s smug. Recompense for the heart attack you gave him; long overdue, and not even close to a satisfactory payment. Gradually, holding your gaze, he kisses his way down your body— your jaw, your neck, the last of your skin peeking out from your shirt, then lower, still. Easy and self-indulgent, but he ends up on his knees regardless.
His thumb is feathering over your ankle. He leans in.
