I talked about it on X but I still can't stop thinking about late night talks with Sylus.
Having night talks and after movie talks with Sylus would be so interesting and stimulating. A live-changing experience really. Especially after watching a psychological/thriller films or a documentary on heavy topics.
Like I NEED to know how his brain works and what his opinions are on almost anything. Like as much as I find it funny and cute how he pesters MC sometimes with randow philosophical and deep thoughts and his smart mouth, while playing it cool, it activates some triggers in my head. And it makes me want to know more and hear more. Like give me all that thousands of years wisdom and knowledge so I can enhance my understanding of the world and its mysteries.
And he might quote books or poetry he had read or even maybe arts he's seen like concert or an art exhibition. And this sounds SO HOT to me. He looks, seems, and sounds so knowledgable. Have a man like that by your side, and you'll see the world in ways you've never even deemed possible.
I love when people speak their minds and give their opinion on things even if I don't agree, because it helps me understand other perspectives that I might have missed or not taken in consideration. And as much as I don’t like confrontation, I would LOVE to disagree with his ass or take the conversation even further just to see how much he think things through (and I know he thinks a LOT and he knows a lot, and his brain and thinking is so HOT to me)
And he speaks several LANGAGES TOO AODJDJJFF I NEED HIM
I wish you can write me a comforting Xavier fluff? I felt emotionally tired in the past few days of moments of things don't go well or as originally well planned. 😞
Hii you!
As a devoted Caleb stan, I may or may not have briefly short-circuited when I got your request for Xav fluff. But I’m also deeply honored you trust me with this mission. So here you go: 300ish words of Xav being sooooft. I tried to give you what your heart desires—with love, from a Caleb girl doing her best.
Hope you feel better soon,
Maps 🫶🏻
——————————————————————————
The apartment is quiet when you come in, your body heavy from the day. You don’t say anything—and you don’t need to.
Xavier’s already on the couch, his book resting unread in his hand. The soft golden glow of his Evol begins to light the room, warm and gentle, like it’s reaching out to you. “The lamp’s too harsh,” he says simply. “This is softer.”
You nod, too tired to speak, and sink down beside him. He shifts wordlessly, letting you curl into his side. His arm comes to rest behind you, not quite a hug, but close enough that you feel the intent.
His light wraps around you both, dim and steady. It doesn’t buzz or flicker—it hums quietly, like it knows this is what you need.
The weight of the day starts to fade. You feel his hand gently brush your hair back, the touch warm and unhurried, as if he’s afraid to disturb you. Then it lingers—his fingers moving slowly, drawing quiet circles against your back in a rhythm that calms your heart more than any words could.
“You don’t have to say anything,” he murmurs quietly. “Just rest. I’m here.”
You breathe in the warmth of him, the soft scent of clean cotton and something faintly sunlit. His hoodie brushes against your cheek, worn and familiar, and you sink into it like a sigh.
“You’re safe now,” he adds, his voice even softer than before. “You’ve done enough for today. You don’t have to carry it alone.”
Then, you feel it.
A soft kiss pressed to your forehead—slow and grounding. He lingers there, just long enough to make your chest ache.
“You can fall apart with me, if you need to,” he says, barely above a whisper. “I’ll hold the pieces.”
You drift.
And when you stir again, just for a moment, his head is leaning against yours. His Evol is still glowing softly, casting lazy golden patterns on the walls. His hand has never stopped moving—still tracing those gentle circles against your back.
He never moved. He stayed.
And somehow, that says everything.
——————————————————————————
── . ✦ WORD COUNT : 2, 214
── . ✦ PAIRING : Zayne x Fem!Reader
── . ✦ SUMMARY : You though you'd surprise Zayne with a nice, homemade meal after a long day at work, but judging by his reaction, it would've probably been better if you hadn't.
── . ✦ CONTENT WARNINGS : fem!reader, she/her pronouns are used for reader, use of 'y/n', angst + hurt/comfort + very brief fluff, husband!zayne, petnames (love, my love), crying, hurting your feelings.
── . ✦ AUTHOR'S NOTE : the amount of work that i can get done when locked in is insane XD
── . ✦ WANT TO SEE MORE? : Masterlist ⋮ 'Console Me' Masterlist
── . ✦ TAGLIST : @elegant-face-tree @vyntheria @cheesemachine44 @aluvrina @adeptustemptations @etckristel @seris-the-amious @babygirl-panda19 @paint3dros3s @babyblue0t7 @autumn2534 @just-a-shapeshifter08 @ryus3i @jupiterswrld @thewiselionessss @yakanadesuu-blog @kooidoom @taisha-san @avylea16 @zaynes-w @teewritessmth @rjreins @ilovelishen @ridox @d4wnbreaker @kyanmeai @rosiesareblu @pomegranatepip @littlepotaaatosimp @c-t-r-l14 @emneedshelp @krystallevine @everythingistaken00 @knorreine @peacedreamer14 @buggs-1 @kozumelise
Humming a soft tune to yourself, you stirred at the big pot of marinara on the hot stove with a wooden spoon and a soft, tranquil smile on your face. Zayne had texted you that he was on his way home after two gruelling back-to-back eight and six -hour surgeries, and to say that he was exhausted would be a massive understatement.
He’s been working significantly more these past few days — weeks now that you think about it —, coming home later and later after every shift, some days even after you’ve already gone to bed and missing each other completely. On some days, you would try to stay awake late enough to at least get to greet him, but you weren’t used to staying up so late, especially when you had to get up early in the morning to make it to the Hunters Association on time.
When he texted you that he was on his way home at 19:13 PM, you decided that there was still enough time for you to prepare a proper meal to welcome him home with, as well as enjoy the meal together for the first time in what felt like forever. You couldn’t recall when the last time you and Zayne ate a meal together that wasn’t something simple like ramen or a sandwich was, as Zayne’s late return from the hospital left barely any time to cook and eat said meal together.
Your humming came to a stop when you turned your head towards the sound of keys jingling outside the front door, turning and clicking inside the keyhole with the adept precision that only one person you know could have.
The door handle turned down and the front door opened, revealing your tired — no, utterly exhausted — husband with his shoulders slouched and his head down, causing his glasses to slip down the bridge of his nose.
“Welcome home, Zayne.” You tapped the wooden spoon against the rim of the pot a few times, excess droplets of sauce that was clinging to the wood splashed back into the bubbling ocean of red marinara.
“Hey, love.” He blinked slowly, the somnolence in his hazel green eyes was clear as day as he began to remove his creaseless, crisp white laboratory coat, throwing it over the back-post of one of the dining room chairs. If his eyes didn’t already express how exhausted he was, the fact that he just threw his laboratory coat — which he would normally hang on a clothing hanger the second he got home to avoid creasing and wrinkles — over the back of one of the dining room chairs, was another clear indicator that he was nearly at his breaking point.
“How was work?” You placed the wooden spoon down after tapping it against the rim of the pot a few more times, turning around and moving some of your hair that had fallen in your face while you were cooking back behind your ears. You walked around the kitchen island while taking in your husband’s exhausted appearance.
“Rough… and long,” He began, moving around the island as well to meet you halfway and pull you into his warm — cold — embrace, “I knew when I chose to become a surgeon that it would be excruciating work… but these back-to-back surgeries are starting to become ridiculous.” He leaned down to rest his mouth against your shoulder, placing a small, feather-light kiss against the fabric of your shirt, his arms tightening around your waist ever-so-slightly, closing even the smallest semblance of distance — if there even was any to begin with — between you and him.
He took in a deep breath, inhaling your comforting scent and immediately feeling some of the tension in his shoulders relax a bit.
“How was yours?” His voice was muffled by the fabric of your shirt.
“Same old, same old. Mostly encountered low-ranking Wanderers, so they were somewhat easy to deal with. Nothing too out of the ordinary.” You explained, running your hand through the short, black hair at the nape of his neck, and you felt him shudder at the action.
As much as you didn’t want to, you began to pull away from the hug, feeling Zayne’s grip on your waist faintly falter before he eventually let go, standing upright and taking your hands in his instead, gently rubbing his thumbs over your knuckles.
“You must be hungry,” You began to gently sway yours and Zayne’s hands from side to side, “we haven’t eaten a proper meal together in so long because of our clashing schedules, and when you texted me that you were coming home at a somewhat reasonable hour today,” You wiggled your hands out of Zayne’s grasp, causing his own hands to limply fall down by his sides, and stepped closer to the stove, gesturing to the large simmering pot of bubbling marinara with a bright smile, “I figured we could finally eat together!”
“Perhaps not tonight, love. I’m sorry. I’m exhausted… and all I want is to rest.” He muttered and his eyes fell shut while he pointed his head down, removing his glasses and folding up the temples before putting it in the breast pocket of his — also creaseless — white dress shirt.
“Oh…” Your arms dropped from their gesture to the simmering pot to awkwardly fiddle with your fingers over your abdomen. “Well… that’s alright, but… um… wouldn’t you like to eat dinner with me first? Before we go to bed?” You questioned awkwardly.
‘Shit.’ You thought to yourself. You should’ve known that he wouldn’t be in the mood to have dinner this later at night, especially not after two incredibly long back-to-back surgeries. You knew you should’ve asked him first, but you just assumed that he wouldn’t mind having dinner with you since he has also been complaining about barely ever seeing you anymore.
“Of course I would, love. You know it’s nothing against you personally. I’m just… not hungry right now.” He didn’t mean for his words to have the hostile undertones that they did, but he just wanted to sleep and his patience was quickly beginning to wear thin. Of course he’d like to eat with you, there’s nothing that he’d love more, but he could eat with you in the morning when he doesn’t feel like falling asleep where he’s stood, and he could’ve already been cozied in his bed with you in his arms, about to fall asleep.
“Oh… okay then… that’s fine…” You awkwardly turned around and picked up the spoon to continue stirring the marinara, “but what am I supposed to do about the food then? It’s not going to be fresh by the time the morning rolls around-” You were cut off by the sudden boom of Zayne’s voice.
“Y/N!” He snapped, his voice came out louder than he intended for it to be, “I don’t want to eat right now!" He paused and took a deep breath, "we can eat your food in the morning, just… please let me go to sleep, damn it.”
You fell silent, your hand stopped its stirring and you slowly turned around to face your husband. Did he just… yell at you? He’s never yelled at you before. He always promised that he wouldn’t. No matter how angry he got; no matter what the situation was, he always promised that he would never yell at you.
“I… Y/N…” Zayne stuttered once he realized what he’d just done. He, himself, could not believe that he just did that. ‘Why did I do that?’ He looked down, he noticed his fists were clenched at his sides, and he quickly unclenched them, hoping that you had not seen them. But you already had, you were looking directly at them in that very moment. Your eyes were wide, and he could see a slight gloss to them.
‘Did I just make her cry?’
You took your lip in between your teeth, your throat felt dry and your tongue felt like harsh, gravelly sandpaper against the roof of your mouth. “Okay.” You whispered and looked up with a curt nod, fearing that if you used your voice it would break. “Fine then. Leave the food. Throw it in the trash for all I care.” You stomped past him, unintentionally — but also intentionally — harshly bumping your shoulder against his own. This caught Zayne off guard as he stumbled backwards, scrambling to catch himself by grabbing onto the corner of the kitchen island, and watching your figure with wide eyes as you stomped away to your — shared — bedroom before slamming the door shut behind you without looking back.
Zayne exhaled a shaky breath, looking at the simmering pot on the stove and moved to turn the knob and turn the stove off, the bubbling of the marinara quietly echoed for a while after he turned off the stove. And it looked — and smelled — delicious.
"Fuck," He muttered under his breath and ran a hand through his hair, "I fucked up…" He dragged his feet to the couch and fell down with a heavy flop, the only sounds that could be heard throughout the apartment was the soft bubbling of the marinara cooling off and Linkon City’s usual city ambiance.
He wanted to go after you; to tell you that he didn’t mean for it to come off as if he didn’t appreciate your efforts, but he decided that it would be best to give you some time.
The clock on the wall read 20:31 PM.
The forgotten pot of marinara has now gone cold on the stove, the bowl holding the spaghetti was no longer steaming, and there was a heavy tension in the air as Zayne sat alone on the living room couch with his glasses in his hands, slowly turning them over betwixt his fingers as he stared at his slumped reflection in the dark TV screen.
He's given you enough time by now, right? He could try to talk to you now, right?
He put his glasses down beside his leg on the couch before standing up and turning to the bedroom door that was still closed and nervously rubbed his hands over each other. Why was he so nervous? It's not like this is the first time he's ever spoken to you, though he's never yelled at you before, so he didn't know how you'd react when you saw him again.
He slowly walked toward the door, taking note of how loud his polished, black oxford shoes sounded as they clicked against the wooden floors in the dead silent apartment.
He stopped outside the bedroom door, and he brought up his fist, hesitating a few centimetres away from the surface of the door, before he sucked it up and his knuckles made contact with the door to knock.
You didn't answer.
Of course you didn't answer, why would you?
You had every right to not want to answer him at that moment.
"Y/N?" Zayne's voice broke the silence. His hand gripped the door handle as he waited for a beat to see if you would answer to his call.
When you didn't answer, Zayne took a deep breath before pushing down the door handle, slowly pushing the door open until there was a small crack between the door and the doorframe that he could peek through. He saw you, fast asleep on the bed with his pillow tucked comfortably in your arms.
A soft smile found its way onto Zayne’s face, and he pushed the door open all the way, putting in the extra effort to not make a single sound as he tiptoed his way closer to your side of the bed. His smile immediately fell, however, when he noticed the dry tear tracks staining your cheeks and reflecting the full moon’s bright lucence outside the windows, and small, wet patch next to your face in your pillow.
‘I really did make her cry…’ Zayne felt his heart shatter into millions of pieces when the realization dawned on him that he caused this; he made you cry yourself to sleep.
Zayne quietly slipped off his shoes, leaving them next to his side of the bed and moving to lay down next to you. The sheets rustled in the silence, and he hoped that it wouldn’t be loud enough to wake you. Not even bothering to get out of his work attire, Zayne’s slender fingers moved to gently move a piece of hair behind your ear, and you stirred at the action.
“Zayne…?” Your raspy, sleepy voice broke the silence, and you squinted in the darkness to try and utilize the bright moon’s lucence make out his facial features — though, you didn’t really have a need to, since you’d already memorized every single feature on his face by now. From every single speck of gold in his eyes, to each individual eyelash lining his eyelids.
Zayne’s hand instinctively came up to cup your cheek, gently running his thumb over your cheekbone, and he smiled when he felt you lean into his touch.
“Thank you… for your troubles, my love. I really do appreciate it. I promise that I never meant to make you feel that I didn’t.”
© aeyuriameow. All rights reserved. DO NOT copy, modify, translate, plagiarize or repost ANY of my work on ANY social media platform. DO NOT claim my work as your own. DO NOT mention, promote or recommend my work on ANY social media platform outside of Tumblr. Violators will be prosecuted in accordance with the law. I currently ONLY post my work on Tumblr under the username @aeyuriameow.
Alright, guys! Your reaction to MC’s dramatic disappearance (and the even more dramatic meltdown from the LADs—especially Xavier 👀) has been absolutely wild! I can’t thank you enough! 💖
I couldn’t just ignore your cries of despair and leave you hanging, so... I wrote a continuation with Xavier. 😏🔥
If you didn’t suffer enough in the last part, well—buckle up. 😈 But seriously, I’m beyond grateful for all the love and engagement, and now I’ve got just one question... who’s next?! 👀💀
Previous Part
The door closes behind you with a quiet click.
Silence settles.
It doesn’t matter that the apartment is empty. Xavier is still here.
Not physically. But in the way the air still feels heavy with the weight of his words. In the way your phone stays too quiet, too still, despite how many times you check it. In the way his white hoodie—the one you never returned—hangs loosely around your shoulders, fabric slightly too big, smelling faintly of something cold, something distant, something unmistakably him.
You should take it off.
You don’t.
Not even when you curl up on the couch, pressing your face into the collar, trying to pretend that it doesn’t ache.
Trying to pretend that you don’t miss him.
But you do.
And it’s only been one night.
The apartment is too quiet. Too hollow. The kind of silence that isn’t empty, but suffocating—thick with the weight of something unspoken, something unfinished.
Xavier doesn’t message you.
Not in the morning. Not in the afternoon. Not even at night, when the absence of his voice becomes unbearable, pressing down on your chest like a phantom weight.
You tell yourself it’s fine. That this is what you wanted. That he deserved it.
And yet, every time you reach for your phone—every time your fingers hover over the screen, itching to type something—anything—you stop.
Because if you start, you might not be able to stop.
And if you see his name flash across the screen, if you hear his voice—cold, restrained, the way it was when he told you to ask him again in six days—you might break.
And you refuse to be the first to break.
You told yourself you wouldn't do this.
Wouldn't pace the apartment, wouldn't reach for the door only to stop before your fingers brush the handle, wouldn't let yourself hover by the window as if expecting to see him below, walking with that same unshakable stride, hands in his pockets, the night folding around him like a living shadow.
You bite the inside of your cheek and turn away. This is ridiculous.
But it doesn’t stop your mind from unraveling the last time you saw him, the words that still sit on your skin like a bruise, aching, pulsing.
"You did it again."
Your voice was tight, measured, but it carried that dangerous edge, the one that meant you weren’t just angry—you were done.
Xavier stood in the doorway, his coat draped loosely over his shoulders, blood darkening the sleeve where it stuck to his arm. His own.
And yet, his expression remained unchanged.
"I handled it."
Effortless. Dismissive. As if bleeding out in the doorway wasn’t a cause for concern.
Your hands curled into fists at your sides. "You went into the No-Hunt Zone alone."
He exhaled slowly, unbothered, unconcerned. "Yes."
You wanted to shake him. Wanted to rip through that maddening, unflinching calm that always seemed to turn every argument into a chess match—where he never lost control, never let emotion slip past the surface.
"You promised," you said, quieter now, not because the anger had left, but because it was worse—quieter meant sharper, meant it was sinking in.
His gaze flickered. Not quite hesitation, but something close. Something annoyingly unreadable.
"I never promised," he corrected. "I said I’d be careful."
"You almost died last time," you snapped. "Or did you forget?"
A slow blink. "I don’t forget anything."
The weight of that truth settled like ice in your stomach.
"Then remember this." Your voice wavered just slightly. "You’re not immortal, Xavier."
His lips twitched, a fraction of amusement in the gesture. "Debatable."
You took a step forward. "You think longevity makes you untouchable?"
"I think," he said, tilting his head slightly, "that I’ve survived worse."
You stared at him. At the blood drying against his skin. At the way he stood so still, so effortlessly unaffected.
And that’s when you understood.
He had already made peace with his own death. And he expected you to do the same.
The thought made something break inside you.
"You want me to be a widow before I even get to be a wife?"
It came out before you could stop it, before you could think.
A flicker of something crossed his face—not shock, not emotion, but stillness. A brief, split-second pause.
And then, he shut it down.
"You’re being dramatic."
You stepped back as if struck. You didn’t realize your hands were shaking until you curled them into fists.
And then you laughed—soft, hollow, bitter. "You’re unbelievable."
"I’m realistic," he corrected.
That was when you left. You turned on your heel and walked out, before the frustration, the helplessness, the aching, consuming anger could drag you under.
And he let you go.
***
Now, you’re the one left behind.
You should have told him then. Told him how much it terrified you, the thought of coming back one day only to find his body on a slab, cold, lifeless, just another statistic in the war against Wanderers.
But you didn’t. Instead, you left. And now you’re here.
Alone.
Your phone is still on the table.
You stare at it for too long, the words forming and dissolving in your mind. You should write to him. It’s always been easier to write than to say it out loud. Because words—especially the ones that matter—come with too much weight, too much risk of cracking, of unraveling.
You start to type.
📱 You: Xav, I—
Your fingers freeze. You stare at the unfinished message for too long.
Then you delete it.
You sigh, rubbing your hands over your face, trying to chase away the exhaustion clawing at your mind.
At some point, you fall onto the couch, curling into yourself. The hoodie is still wrapped around you, the fabric worn and familiar, carrying the last traces of him.
Your eyelids feel heavy. Just for a moment, you close them.
A sharp vibration against the glass table jolts you awake. For a brief, heart-stopping second, you think it’s him.
Your fingers scramble for the phone, your pulse hammering, already too desperate for his name to appear on the screen.
Instead—
A message from a random, meaningless system notification.
You let out a slow breath. Your hands are shaking.
Because you had been waiting for him. Because some part of you still hoped.
You curl deeper into the hoodie, pressing your face into the fabric. And finally—you let yourself admit that you miss him too much.
The knock is barely there. So soft, so hesitant, like a ghost of sound rather than something real.
For a fleeting second—your heart leaps.
You open the door. The hallway is empty.
A cold draft brushes against your skin, slipping under the fabric of his hoodie.
But there, at your feet—a small black bag.
You kneel. Fingers brush over the label.
Painkillers. Electrolyte supplements. Emergency field rations. The essentials.
Your phone vibrates.
📱 Xavier: Take these.
You stare at the message, breathing out slowly through your nose.
A moment. A hesitation. Then—you type.
📱 You: Didn’t realize you made house calls.
📱 Xavier: I don’t. But you looked like you were about to collapse.
The words sink in too fast. Too easily.
Because of course, he noticed. Because of course, he knew. Because even now—even after everything—he’s still watching.
Your grip tightens around the phone.
📱 You: So you’re keeping tabs on me now?
📱 Xavier: No need. I already know how reckless you are.
A pause.
Then—
📱 Xavier: Take the damn medicine.
You press your tongue against the raw sting of broken skin, the inside of your cheek already torn from the habit, fingers hovering over the screen.
You could ignore him. Could let the pills sit untouched, just to prove a point. Instead, you close your eyes. And swallow the first dose dry.
It’s not an apology. Not even close.
But it’s something.
And that’s why it hurts more.
***
The night stretches long and restless.
You wake in intervals—too hot, too cold, too aware of the ache in your chest that no amount of painkillers can dull.
Somewhere between sleep and waking, your fingers drift over the phone again.
You hesitate. Then type—
📱 You: You said six days.
A second passes. Another.
Then—
📱 Xavier: I did.
A breath catches in your throat.
He answered.
You don’t know why that surprises you. You don’t know why you expected silence.
📱 You: Then why are you here?
The response comes too quickly.
📱 Xavier: I’m not.
It shouldn’t sting.
It does.
***
Morning comes slow and suffocatingly heavy.
You don’t want to move. Don’t want to pull yourself from the warmth of the couch, the stale comfort of yesterday still clinging to the air.
But the world doesn’t stop just because your heart is cracked along the edges.
So you get up.
Force yourself into autopilot—shower, dress, coffee that you don’t even drink.
Your phone vibrates again.
📱 Xavier: Eat something real today.
You exhale sharply, tilting your head back against the kitchen counter.
Then—you type.
📱 You: Didn’t realize you were my dietitian now.
📱 Xavier: I’m not. But someone has to be.
Your jaw tightens.
📱 You: I’m fine, Xavier.
📱 Xavier: You’re lying, but okay.
The breath punches out of you before you even realize you’ve been holding it. Because he sees through you. He always does.
And you hate him for it.
You want to be angry. Want to tell him to back off. Want to remind him that he left first.
But instead—
📱 You: Did you eat?
A pause.
📱 Xavier: Of course.
You don’t believe him. But you let it go.
***
The day drags forward, sluggish and unforgiving.
By the time night falls again, you’ve checked your phone at least twenty times. You tell yourself it’s just habit.
It’s not.
You curl back into the couch, fingers ghosting over the hem of his hoodie, feeling the fabric twist between your hands.
You don’t know what you’re waiting for.
You don’t want to know.
The rain is relentless.
It starts while you're still at work—a slow, heavy downpour that turns the streets into rivers, neon lights smearing across the wet pavement. You watch it for a moment through the glass, jaw tightening when you realize you left your umbrella at home.
Perfect.
By the time you finally step outside, the water is already pooling at your feet, seeping into your boots, soaking through the edges of your sleeves. You shove your hands deeper into your pockets, hunching your shoulders against the cold, and walk.
It isn’t far. Just a few blocks. Just enough time for the silence to creep in again.
Your phone stays still. Xavier doesn’t message you. You don’t message him.
You’re not even sure what you would say.
The air in the apartment is thick with dampness when you finally push open the door, shaking the water from your fingers. You toe off your boots, leaving a faint trail of wet footprints across the floor.
You reach for a towel—and stop.
Because there, just by the door, is a folded dry sweatshirt.
Not yours.
A white hoodie.
His.
And next to it, a small, neatly sealed packet. Heat packs.
Your stomach twists.
Your hands tremble as you reach for your phone, wiping away the water still clinging to the screen.
📱 You: You’ve got to stop breaking into my apartment.
A pause.
Then—
📱 Xavier: I didn’t. But you always forget an umbrella when it rains.
You exhale sharply, pressing your tongue against the sting of broken skin inside your cheek.
📱 You: Right. You’re psychic now?
📱 Xavier: No. Just observant.
You hesitate, running your fingers over the fabric of the hoodie before pulling it over your head. It’s warm, slightly oversized, carrying the scent of him beneath the clean detergent—something golden, like sunlight caught in the fabric, soft and caramel-sweet at the edges, but beneath it, barely there, something sharper, something darker, like the last trace of dusk before night takes over. Unmistakably Xavier.
📱 You: You’re really committing to this whole passive-aggressive monitoring thing, huh?
📱 Xavier: Aggressive. There’s nothing passive about it.
The response is instant. Too quick. As if he’s been waiting.
Your chest tightens.
📱 You: And yet, for all your keen observation, you still don’t seem to notice when you do the exact same thing.
A longer pause this time.
📱 Xavier: Clarify.
You roll your eyes. Of course, he’s going to make you spell it out.
📱 You: No-Hunt Zone.
📱 Xavier: That’s different.
📱 You: Oh? Because it’s you?
📱 Xavier: Because it was necessary.
You let out a bitter breath, pressing the phone against your forehead for a moment, closing your eyes.
📱 You: Right. That word again.
📱 You: I suppose me being gone was necessary too, then?
📱 Xavier: That was a choice.
📱 You: So was yours.
Another long pause.
For a second, you think that’s the end of it. That he’s not going to reply.
Then—
📱 Xavier: You’re still wet. Change before you get sick.
A sharp inhale.
📱 You: That’s all you have to say?
📱 Xavier: For now.
You stare at the screen.
For now.
It isn’t an admission. It isn’t anything close to forgiveness. But it’s not a dismissal, either.
It’s an opening. A crack in the wall.
You exhale, curl deeper into the hoodie, and let your eyes slip shut.
For the first time in days, the silence doesn’t feel quite as heavy.
You don’t sleep.
You try. You close your eyes, shift positions, breathe slow and deep, count the seconds, then minutes, then hours. But your mind refuses to settle. The silence is unbearable, pressing into your skin, sinking into your bones.
By the time the sky begins to pale, the city just beginning to stir beyond your window, you give up.
The clock reads 6:04 AM when you lace up your running shoes.
The air is sharp, crisp with the last bite of night still lingering in the wind. The streets are nearly empty, save for the occasional early commuter, their footsteps swallowed by the sound of your own—steady, rhythmic, a heartbeat against the pavement.
You push yourself hard. Harder than you should.
It’s reckless, this need to move, to exhaust your body so completely that your mind has no room left to think.
Because when you think, you remember.
You remember the way Xavier looked at you that night. How his voice never wavered, how he turned away before you could say anything at all.
"Ask me again in six days."
You push faster.
Your breath burns in your throat. The ache in your legs spreads, deep and insistent, but you don’t stop. You can’t.
You run until the edges of your vision blur.
Until the exhaustion feels like something you can hold, something real, something that drowns out the ache in your chest.
Until the smell of coffee pulls you to a stop.
You’re standing in front of the café before you even realize it.
Your fingers curl against your palms, your breath still uneven. The air inside is warm, rich with the scent of espresso, cinnamon, something familiar.
Habit. Instinct. A mistake.
But still—you go inside. Still—you stand at the counter, order without thinking. Still—you reach for the cup, staring down at the neat label printed on the side.
Cappuccino. No sugar. Just how he likes it.
Your fingers tighten around the cup. You don’t hesitate. You walk straight back to his apartment, jaw clenched, pulse hammering in your ears.
And without a second thought—you leave the cup by his door.
You don’t knock. You don’t wait. You just leave.
Your hands still tremble when you reach your own door. You exhale, rubbing at your face, trying to push down the erratic rhythm of your pulse.
Then—you see it.
A second cup. Sitting neatly on your doorstep.
Your breath catches.
Fingers shake as you reach down, pressing against the warmth of the cup, the familiar weight of it. The label stares back at you, bold and unmistakable.
Latte. Just how you like it. From the same café.
The realization slams into you like a fist to the ribs. You were thinking of him. He was thinking of you.
At the same damn time.
Something twists, raw and sharp, in your chest. Then, as if he feels it—your phone buzzes.
📱 Xavier: Pushing yourself that hard after days of poor recovery is reckless.
Your fingers clench.
📱 Xavier: I suggest reading this.
A link. An article. Something about the dangers of sudden overexertion without proper conditioning.
A laugh bubbles up, breathless, bitter.
Of course. Of course he would turn this into a lecture.
📱 You: You’re unbelievable.
📱 Xavier: Clarify.
You wipe at your face, not even realizing your skin is damp, whether from sweat or something else.
📱 You: I’m not a civilian. I’m a Hunter. A trained fighter, just like you.
📱 You: I might not have your experience, but I’m not fragile. I don’t need a babysitter.
The response takes longer this time. A long, stretching pause.
Then—
📱 Xavier: Noted.
The words are too even. Too carefully chosen.
You see it immediately. He’s upset. But instead of fighting back, instead of defending himself, he just—withdraws.
It infuriates you.
📱 You: That’s it?
📱 Xavier: Would you prefer I argue?
Your teeth sink into your bottom lip, hard enough to sting.
📱 You: Maybe.
📱 Xavier: Why?
Because at least then it would feel like something. Because at least then he wouldn’t be slipping away from you, wouldn’t be treating you like you weren’t worth the effort.
You suck in a breath, trying to calm the wild, uneven rhythm of your heart. Then you do something stupid.
Something reckless. Something you’ll regret the second you hit send.
📱 You: Funny how you only care about my recklessness when it’s convenient for you.
Silence.
One second.
Two.
Then—
📱 Xavier: Understood.
Just that. No defense. No cold, razor-sharp argument. No more words at all.
You stare at the screen. Then you hurl the phone at the wall.
The crack is instant, the screen splintering on impact. It falls to the floor, dark, dead, useless.
Something burns behind your eyes, frustration, exhaustion, anger collapsing into something too heavy, too unbearable to name.
Your hands quiver. You press them to your face, breathe through the ache blooming in your chest.
Then—
You stand. You grab your coat. You don’t stop to think.
You need a new phone.
Because what if he messages you?
Because even now—after everything—you still want him to.
Silence should be a relief.
After four days of his constant, cold precision—the quiet should feel like a gift.
But it doesn’t.
It’s suffocating.
For the first time since he left you standing in that room, there’s nothing.
No message. No sarcastic remark. No quiet proof that, despite everything, he still gives a damn.
The absence cuts deeper than you expect.
You go to work anyway. Because you have to. Because stopping means thinking, and thinking means tearing yourself apart with what-ifs.
***
"Our agent successfully retrieved the Aethor Core." Captain Jenna’s voice carries through the room, steady, matter-of-fact.
A holographic map flickers to life above the conference table, casting shifting blue light against the faces of those seated around it.
Your mission. Your work. Your risk.
You keep your expression neutral, spine straight, hands folded in front of you.
"Undercover infiltration into the Vasquez Syndicate was a success."
Murmurs spread across the table. You don’t move. You feel him before you see him.
Xavier.
Seated across from you, back straight, jaw locked, completely, unnervingly still.
You make the mistake of looking up. And that’s when you see it.
Not his usual sharp, quiet calculation. Not cold detachment.
No.
This is something else. This is contained rage.
It sits just beneath the surface—controlled, measured, but undeniably lethal.
Your stomach twists.
The Vasquez Syndicate. A name that sends ripples of unease through even the most hardened Hunters.
And you had gone there alone.
Undercover.
Without telling him. Without telling anyone.
You lower your gaze back to the table. Captain Jenna continues.
"Their leader was eliminated. Aethor Core secured. Minimal collateral damage."
The words should be a victory. You should feel something. Instead, your phone vibrates against your leg.
Once.
Then again.
Then again.
A steady onslaught of incoming messages.
Your fingers tighten against your thigh. You don’t have to check. You already know.
📱 Xavier: You have a death wish, then?
📱 Xavier: That’s what this is?
📱 Xavier: Of course. That makes sense. Why else would you walk into Vasquez’s den ALONE?
📱 Xavier: Did you think you were being clever?
📱 Xavier: Or was it a game? A test to see how close you could get before you were skinned alive like his last five victims?
📱 Xavier: Tell me, did you at least get a look at the furniture?
📱 Xavier: I hear human leather is in this season.
The blood drains from your face. You type quickly.
📱 You: Xav, I—
More messages slam into your screen before you can hit send.
📱 Xavier: Or wait—
📱 Xavier: Was it worth it?
📱 Xavier: Was the thrill of playing martyr that exhilarating?
📱 Xavier: You must have loved the dramatics of it. Walking through their front door, knowing exactly what would happen if they figured you out. How noble. How self-sacrificing.
📱 Xavier: I’m sure they would’ve written songs about you.
📱 Xavier: Would you like me to start composing one now?
Your stomach twists into knots.
📱 You: Xavier, stop.
📱 Xavier: Why? Does it make you uncomfortable?
📱 Xavier: Wouldn’t want that. Not after you’ve made me spend the last six days believing you were DEAD.
The breath catches in your throat.
📱 You: I wasn’t—
📱 Xavier: No? You weren’t?
📱 Xavier: Oh, forgive me. I must have been mistaken. You must have sent me a message before walking into the hands of a man who decapitates people for sport.
📱 Xavier: Oh, wait. You didn’t.
📱 Xavier: Because you didn’t tell anyone.
📱 Xavier: Because you thought you could handle it.
📱 Xavier: Because you think you’re invincible.
📱 Xavier: Because you learned absolutely nothing.
📱 Xavier: Because you’re a fucking idiot.
Your chest tightens, fingers shaking as you try to respond.
📱 You: I retrieved the Core, didn’t I?
The moment you send it, you regret it. The reply is instant.
📱 Xavier: Ah.
📱 Xavier: So that’s how little your life is worth?
📱 Xavier: A glorified rock?
📱 Xavier: Good to know.
You glance up, breath unsteady, and realize your mistake.
Because Xavier is looking at you. And his expression is unreadable.
No sarcasm now. No amusement. Just something flat and cold, buried beneath something much darker.
Your fingers tighten around the edge of the table.
You stand.
Move toward him, as if closing the space between you will break whatever this is, will fix whatever new fracture you’ve carved into the already fragile thing between you.
But the moment you take a step closer—he moves. A single flick of his fingers. A gesture.
Dismissal.
Like you are nothing. Like you aren’t even worth the fight.
And in his eyes—that unreadable fire.
You open your mouth. Try to speak. He beats you to it.
"You think I’m mad?" His voice is low, quiet, lethal. "You think this is anger?"
A slow, sharp inhale. Then—he stands. Looks at you like you’re a stranger.
"If you ever do something that fucking stupid again—"
A pause. A razor-thin breath.
"Don’t come back."
Silence.
It lands like a blow. It shatters something you don’t even have a name for.
And then—he walks away.
And for the first time, you wonder if six days was a mercy.
Because now—
You’re not sure this will ever end.
The knock against his door is sharp, deliberate.
No answer.
Your fingers tighten, knuckles aching as you knock again, harder this time.
Still nothing.
The realization sinks in slow, cold. You know where he is.
No-Hunt Zone.
Of course. Of course.
The hypocrisy of it claws at your ribs, burns hot behind your eyes.
He spent days throwing your choices back in your face, dismantling them with surgical precision, making sure you felt every ounce of his anger. And yet—he’s doing the exact same thing.
Alone. Again.
Without backup. Without you.
The fury in your chest solidifies into something unshakable.
You don’t think. You move.
You tear off your civilian clothes, slip into the gear that feels like a second skin, strapping on your weapons with methodical ease. Your mind is calm. Your body is not.
This isn’t just anger.
This is something raw, something bitter, something that coils too tight in your chest.
Because what if this is the time he doesn’t make it back?
What if he never even planned to?
***
You move fast, weaving through the crumbling skeletons of abandoned buildings, the faint blue pulse of your Hunter’s bracelet flickering at your wrist.
The fluctuations come sharp and erratic.
A Wanderer is near.
And so is Xavier.
The realization barely has time to settle before a hand clamps over your mouth, an arm hooking around your waist, dragging you back into the shadows of a half-collapsed structure.
You react instantly, twisting in his grip, but his hold is unbreakable. His breath is warm against your ear. Too steady. Too controlled.
"Tell me—" His voice is low, measured, lethal in its restraint. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
You rip his hand away, shove him back, your pulse hammering against your ribs.
"Shouldn’t I be asking you the same damn thing?"
His expression flickers—something sharp, something dangerously close to breaking—before it smooths out again.
"You shouldn’t be here."
You let out a hollow laugh, shaking your head. "And you should?"
His fingers twitch at his sides, but he doesn’t argue.
The air crackles.
A pulse of energy shudders through the ruined cityscape, sending vibrations through your bracelet.
You both freeze.
The Wanderer is close. Too close.
And you were too distracted to notice.
A deafening shriek splits the air.
You barely have time to react before something massive crashes into view, sending debris flying, the force of it shaking the ground beneath you.
It’s huge.
Bigger than any you’ve ever seen. Darker. Hungrier.
And something is wrong.
Your Evol pulses—but weakly, like something is suppressing it.
You glance at Xavier, see the same realization in his eyes.
The Wanderer lunges.
You move at the same time.
Dodge. Shoot. Pivot. Strike.
Your movements are precise. Automatic. Perfectly in sync.
But something is missing.
Resonance.
You grit your teeth, adjusting your aim, but the energy won’t connect.
Because you’re too angry. Too furious with him to let yourself fall into sync.
And so is he.
Your focus wavers—just for a second, just long enough to throw your balance.
You stumble.
A mistake. A fraction of hesitation.
The Wanderer seizes it.
It moves faster than you expect, faster than anything that massive should be able to.
A pulse of energy collides against your chest, sending you sprawling.
A second strike is coming—you see it, but you’re too slow, your body still recovering from the impact—
And then Xavier is there. Between you and death.
His sword clashes against the incoming blow, deflecting it just enough to send the Wanderer skidding back.
His breathing is uneven. Not from exertion, but from something else.
Something like rage.
"Are you hurt?" His voice is taut, dangerous.
You shake your head, pushing yourself back up.
"I’m fine."
He doesn’t move. Doesn’t look away from you. Like he doesn’t quite believe you. Like he’s assessing whether he just almost lost you.
You don’t have time for this.
"You really think you would’ve made it out of this alive?" You fire, voice shaking with frustration. "Look at it. Look at the size of that thing. And you came here alone."
Xavier exhales slowly through his nose. Controlled. Restrained.
"You came after me," he says, voice like a blade, slicing through the tension.
You shake your head, jaw tight.
"Of course I did. That’s what you do when you—"
The words catch.
His eyes are on you. Steady. Unwavering.
The air between you is thick, charged, buzzing with everything unspoken, everything you haven’t let yourself say.
Your fingers tremble around the grip of your gun.
"I—"
The Wanderer screeches.
The ground shudders.
You don’t think. You react.
Your hand snaps forward, closing over Xavier’s.
The second you touch him—
Resonance explodes.
A flash of light. A rush of energy so intense it steals the breath from your lungs.
The Wanderer staggers. Its movements falter.
You see the opening. So does he.
Two strikes. One shot. One kill.
The Wanderer dissolves. The air stills. The only thing left is a single Protocore, pulsing softly in the dust.
You’re both breathing hard, hands still locked together, neither of you moving.
And then—
His fingers tighten.
The world tilts, just slightly.
Xavier doesn’t look at the Protocore. He looks at you.
And when he steps forward, you step back, heat creeping up your neck.
But he doesn’t let you run. He cups your face, tilting it up until you have no choice but to meet his gaze.
"Say it."
Your pulse pounds.
"Xav—"
"Say it." His voice is low, demanding.
You swallow hard. You already said it once.
But now—he’s listening.
Now, there’s nothing between you but everything you’ve been holding back.
Your throat tightens. And then—you break.
"I love you," you whisper.
His breath stutters, caught between control and something raw. His hands slide lower, fingers gripping your waist, pulling you in.
And then—he’s kissing you.
Hard. Desperate. Unforgiving.
Your weapons hit the ground. His sword, your guns—forgotten.
The only thing left is this. The only thing left is him.
His breath is ragged against your lips, his hands urgent, searching.
"What good are my eyes if they can't see you?" he murmurs against your mouth.
"What use are my hands if they can't touch you?"
"Why do I need lips if not to kiss you?"
His forehead presses against yours. His voice is steady. Unshaking.
"And if you don’t let me love you the way I do—what’s the point of living at all?"
You exhale, shuddering. A quiet, breathless sound escapes you—half a sob, half a laugh, because of course he would say something like this, because of course it would be him. Your hands tighten against his shirt, gripping hard enough to ground yourself, to keep yourself from falling apart.
And finally—you let yourself hold him back.
***
The world is quiet.
Not the heavy, suffocating kind of silence that has weighed on you for days, but something else. Something warm.
Your body feels boneless, satiated, exhausted in the best possible way. The bruises on your skin tell a story—some earned in battle, others left by a different kind of war, one fought in the dark, in whispers, in hands that refused to let go.
And then—you feel it. Eyes on you.
You blink against the soft golden light spilling through the curtains, twisting slightly to find him.
Xavier is propped up on his elbow beside you, one arm tucked beneath his head. His gaze is unreadable, too intense in the quiet morning light.
But he isn’t watching you. Not exactly.
His fingers trail absently over your skin, following the paths where the sunlight dances along your shoulder, your collarbone, the curve of your wrist. Mapping you.
The way his fingers move—it’s almost reverent. Like he’s committing this moment to memory, like he’s terrified it might slip through his grasp if he blinks.
You reach for his hand. But he beats you to it.
His fingers curl around yours, guiding your hand to his lips, pressing the softest, most devastatingly tender kiss to your fingertips.
It nearly steals the breath from your lungs.
You swallow hard, your voice coming out quieter than intended.
"Xav…"
His grip tightens, just slightly.
"When we met," he murmurs, voice low, steady, unshaking, "you promised me something."
Your brow furrows. You don’t move.
"You said I would be your partner," he continues, thumb brushing absently over your knuckles. "In everything. In battle. In your reckless plans. In life."
His eyes lift to yours, and the weight of his words settles deep into your chest.
You can’t look away. Not now. Not from this.
Your throat tightens. "Xavier—"
"Don’t apologize," he says smoothly, shaking his head before you can even start.
But you need to. Because you hurt him. Because you left.
Because even though you both made mistakes, you forced his hand.
He sees it in your eyes before you can say anything, and his fingers tighten just slightly around yours.
"This isn’t about apologies," he murmurs.
His other hand comes up, brushing along the curve of your cheek, pushing a stray strand of hair behind your ear.
"This is about what happens next."
You blink.
"I won’t force you to promise me anything," he continues, watching your reaction closely. "Not unless you mean it."
The warmth of his touch lingers against your skin, steady, grounding, heartbreakingly gentle.
"But I need you to understand something."
You hold your breath.
"I won’t make you worry again." His voice is softer now, more certain. More dangerous in its quiet conviction. "I won’t make you question whether I’ll come back. Because now I know how it feels."
Your eyes sting.
"Does that mean…" You hesitate, voice barely above a whisper. "No more No-Hunt Zone?"
The corner of his mouth twitches.
"Not exactly."
You open your mouth to argue, but he stops you with a single look. Before you can push him away, before you can get worked up, he leans in—pressing his forehead to yours.
His breath is warm against your lips.
"If I go," he murmurs, slow, careful, a promise wrapped in steel, "I take my partner with me."
Your chest tightens.
He’s serious.
This is his way of saying it.
His way of meeting you halfway.
His way of telling you that he’s not going anywhere without you.
You exhale slowly, pressing your forehead harder against his, letting the moment settle between you.
"...Okay."
The word is soft. Tentative.
But you mean it.
His fingers thread through yours, squeezing gently. The smallest, barest hint of a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.
"Good."
He kisses you once, slow and deep, searing the moment into your skin.
And for the first time in six days—you let yourself believe it.
— synopsis: you go to akso hospital to get your child their vaccine.
zayne was always the one to handle these things, but now that he's gone—
you don't know what to do.
— note/s: n/a
cross-posted on ao3! ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و ♡
i.
“mommy, are we gonna see daddy?”
you freeze with your hand on the car door, your child’s small voice cutting clean through the dull hum of the engine. there’s a soft rustling sound as they shift in their car seat, wide eyes peering at you expectantly from the rearview mirror.
you swallow. “no, baby.” you keep your voice steady, soft. careful. “we’re just going to the hospital to get your shots.”
their face scrunches up. “but daddy always gives me my shots.”
your chest tightens, a sharp pressure beneath your ribs. “i know.”
you don’t tell them why it’s different this time. you don’t tell them why daddy isn’t coming home.
you climb into the driver’s seat and close the door. the seatbelt clicks into place, and you adjust the mirror. you breathe. in and out. your wedding ring catches the light as you grip the steering wheel. zayne’s ring sits cool and heavy against your collarbone, hanging from the delicate chain around your neck. you reach up and press it between your fingers.
“mommy?”
you glance back at them. “yeah?”
“daddy’s gonna be proud of me for being brave, right?”
you smile. it’s thin. it wobbles at the edges. “yeah, baby. he’s always proud of you.”
ii.
the hospital smells like disinfectant and stale coffee. you adjust your child on your hip as you stand at the reception desk, the too-bright fluorescent lights making you feel exposed.
the receptionist glances up. “can i help you?”
“um.” you hesitate. “my child has a vaccine appointment?”
the receptionist taps at the keyboard. “name?”
you give it. the receptionist hums and scans the screen.
“do you have the vaccination record?”
you open your mouth. close it. “uh… no. sorry.”
“that’s okay.” she types a few more things. “we can look it up. when was the last time your child got their MMR booster?”
your mind blanks. “uh… i don’t know.”
the receptionist raises an eyebrow.
“my husband usually handled that stuff,” you add quickly.
the receptionist looks up at you then, a flicker of recognition sparking behind her eyes. her gaze drops to your ring and then to the chain around your neck. her face softens. “dr. zayne?”
your throat tightens. “yeah.”
a pause. “i’m… sorry for your loss.”
you nod stiffly. “thanks.”
she glances toward the back. “do you want to sit down? i’ll have someone come get you soon.”
“yeah. okay.”
you settle into one of the plastic chairs in the waiting area, your child curling against your side. they tug at your sleeve. “mommy?”
“yeah?”
“do you think daddy would be proud of me if i don’t cry?”
you press your lips together and kiss the top of their head. “he’d be proud of you no matter what.”
iii.
the nurse who calls you in knows you, too. you see the flash of recognition in her eyes when she reads the file.
“you’re dr. zayne’s wife?”
“yeah.”
“i’m sorry for your loss.”
you manage a thin smile. “thanks.”
she looks at your child. “alright, sweetheart. ready for your shot?”
their hand curls around your sleeve. “is daddy gonna do it?”
the nurse’s expression falters.
you stroke their hair. “no, honey. daddy’s not here right now. but this nice nurse is going to take care of you.”
their lip wobbles. “but… what if it hurts?”
“it might,” you say softly. “but you’re brave, remember?”
their eyes shine. “like daddy?”
“just like daddy.”
the nurse smiles kindly. “alright, big kid. let’s get this over with.”
your child squeezes their eyes shut as the needle goes in, their hand clutching yours. they don’t cry.
when it’s over, they beam up at you. “i was brave!”
you stroke their cheek. “so brave.”
“daddy’s gonna be proud of me!”
the nurse’s gaze flickers toward you. you know what she’s thinking, but you don’t say anything.
“yeah, baby.” your voice shakes. “he’s so proud.”
iv.
you walk back through the hospital corridors, your child skipping at your side. your wedding ring feels heavier than usual on your finger. zayne’s ring presses cold against your chest.
the hallways are familiar. too familiar. you pass by rooms zayne used to work in, faces zayne used to know. they all look at you with soft eyes and hushed voices. you hate it.
your child’s hand tugs at yours. “can we get ice cream now?”
you smile faintly. “yeah. we can do that.”
they light up. “can i get chocolate?”
“of course.”
“and can we tell daddy that i was brave?”
you don’t answer right away. your hand closes around the ring at your neck.
“he already knows,” you say quietly.
you walk through the automatic doors, stepping into the sharp brightness of the afternoon sun.
Can't stop thinking about how Sylus is implied to have been abandoned by his kin as a child. He was rejected and let down and hurt by every. single. person in his life bar one simply because he wasn't dragon enough for one group, and not human enough for the other. He was an outsider and an outcast from his earliest days. Only one person ever made him feel seen and cherished. And yet he was willing to let go of this sole person when that seemed to be what she wanted him to.
Let that sink in.
From childhood Sylus was discarded and unloved, and had more than likely not had a single truly happy day in his life until meeting MC. She was the first person he ever had that cared about him. The only one to love, accept, and want him unconditionally. MC represents everything good in his life. She is the person who taught him his worth and that he is not the monster he believed himself to be. The one who made him feel human for the first time in his life, who showed him what it is to love and be loved, who introduced him to the beauty of music and of life. The one who willingly shared half a soul with him to save his life, and who helped shape the person he is today.
MC is everything to Sylus. He spent the (most likely numerous) decades after coming back to life searching the cosmos for her. He built Onychinus and his empire with the intent of ruling it with her by his side. He dedicates himself to taking down the evil corporaation that harmed her as a child. So much of what he's done and still does is for her sake, and in hopes of building a happy life and future together. In a lot of ways, he lives for her. She is the living embodiment of his happiness.
And yet... he was and is willing to let her go if that is what she wants or what is best for her.
Because his love for her is pure. At his core, Sylus' heart is pure, in spite of everything that he has endured.
My heart bleeds when I think of all that he's been put through. But it is so healing to see him be loved, treasured, and happy now, his recent birthday event being a prime example of that. He is living the life he always deserved but was out of his reach for most of his life.
There is a place for Sylus in this warm, peaceful world 🩷
⭐️ silent cry
✦ pairing: xavier / gn!reader
✦ genre: hurt to comfort
✦ warnings: probably badly written breakdown, feeling of emptiness and loneliness
✦ word count: 1.6k words
ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ: there was never no need to hide your tears and feelings behind a fake smile. not when he was always there for you
⋆˙ ✦ note: as a huge stay and a silent cry lover, i couldn’t help myself but write this. this was probably the most fun i had while writing, though adding the lyrics into the story was harder than anticipated. stan stray kids y’all!! not proofread!
you had never been one to burden others with your feelings. perhaps it was that loud voice in your mind that kept on shouting to not annoy others around you, or just the fact that concerning people close to you filled you with guilt. you’ve always been told you were strong, and strong people don’t cry, right?
oh, how wrong everyone was. nobody knew that behind the smile you wore, behind every “i’m okay” you uttered, your poor heart was sobbing loudly. you dared not to show your vulnerability to anyone, not even the ones you considered friends, or even family. to be seen as disappointment was burdening your chest like an anvil.
that happy mask you always wore, simply to make others happy, seemed to shatter the moment you stepped foot in your dark room. the mental heaviness of your body and thoughts left you only sighing into the darkness, your frame harshly hitting the mattress. there was no joy in your eyes. you, who used to smile brightly, felt like you were slowly dying.
no one knew, yet a part of you felt glad. they didn’t deserve to be burdened by your troubles. even if no other person was there to listen to your nightly sobs and cries, you had made peace with that. for all you know, it was meant to be this way.
so there you were. in your room, dimly lit with the light radiating from your desk lamp, silently bawling your eyes out. your head laid on the pillow, the material of the sheet stained by the salty droplets of your tears. you weren’t aware of how long you had been crying, or why you even felt like it. it just happened, and there was no way to stop it. no matter how hard you tried, how much you tried to hold the tears in, it only made you cry more and harder.
your eyes burned, head was throbbing like it was repeatedly hit by a hard piece of metal. you could barely see the outlines of the furniture with how blurry your eyesight was. you wish you could just turn it off, to never feel again. or… to have someone you could cry to. but there wasn’t a person like that.
no one knew how you felt. at least, that was what you thought. one person knew all too well.
xavier was painfully aware of the pain in your eyes. the exhaustion behind your every smile. you were like a body without a soul, your gaze dull and almost empty. he wasn’t someone to notice other people’s feelings, moreover, he didn’t particularly care about the others.
but you weren’t just other person for him. you were special. he wanted to be your support, the shoulder to cry on. he was willing to be of help to you, no matter what would make you happy. truly happy.
yet you never approached him, and xavier couldn’t understand why. wouldn’t it be easier for you to let go of everything you held in? he would listen to your silent cry, that much was something he made clear to himself. your happiness was the most important thing to him, so why wasn’t it yours?
he was standing by your door, trying to listen to any sound coming from behind them. but your apartment was eerily quiet, as if you weren’t even there. but he knew better. he knew you were inside, suffering on your own.
as you laid on your bed, aggressively wiping the uncontrollable tears flowing down your cheeks, a knock erupted through the space of your abode. in panic, you jumped up, running to the bathroom to look at yourself.
the sight wasn’t pretty, it was anything but. your eyes were red, your hair a mess and face fully wet from tears. just the sight of yourself made you tear up even more. you bowed your head down, splashing handfuls of ice cold water on your face.
once you dried your face, you stumbled toward the door, possibly knocking something in the process. your hand made contact with the handle, and with a last deep breath, you swung the door open to reveal xavier.
“xavier! what are you doing here?” you mustered up the energy to smile brightly, hoping he would look over the red rim around your eyes.
you glanced down to notice a small box in his hand, and you immediately knew it were the macarons you liked the most. it was the packaging of it that gave away the content, and it made your heart flutter with genuine joy. even though it was a sparkle, it was enough.
“can i come in?” xavier asked with his usual calm tone.
the question surprised you, but you let him in anyway. with how dark your apartment was, his step to your room was careful, mindful of his surroundings. you quietly followed behind him, silently wishing he would explain his visit.
once you stood by your bed, xavier placed the box on the nightstand, right under the lit lamp before facing you. that was when you noticed the knot in between his eyebrows, not very far from a frown.
before you could say anything, his hand grabbed onto yours, giving it a gentle squeeze. your gaze fell down to your intertwined hands, then back at him. your eyes were round in surprise, and you barely bit back a gasp that threatened to fall from your mouth.
“why are you smiling when you don’t feel like it?” he whispered quietly, his free hand going up to cup your cheek.
he could feel the dried pathways of your tears beneath his palm. the cold water that you splashed your face with earlier didn’t get rid of the evidence of your tears fully, as it appeared. the pad of his thumb grazed ever so gently against your skin, drawing soothing circles over your cheekbone.
“what are you talking about? i’m okay,” you lied with a smile, though you could feel the tears prickling behind your eyelids.
“you always say that, but i can see how your heart sobs,” xavier’s voice was but a mere whisper as he drew you closer.
the forced smile began slowly faltering from your lips, and it was soon replaced by a quiver. without even realizing, a sob rippled through you, making it hard for you to hide your tears. one by one, like pearls falling from a torn necklace, tear droplets ran down your face. you couldn’t continue pretending to be alright, not when xavier was around.
a wave of relief washed over the man standing in front of you. he smiled softly as he engulfed you in a warm embrace, letting your tears stain his sweater. he didn’t mind. at least you weren’t alone in this, you had him now.
“don’t be the only one hurting,” he murmured into the crown of your head, earning a choked cry as a reply.
you tried to muster up a response, but nothing more than a sob came out. xavier shushed you gently, wordlessly saying that words weren’t needed.
careful with his movements, he settled on your bed. back leaning against the headboard, his arms reached out to pull you down on his lap. you had no energy to fight against it, in fact, you didn’t even want to. his warmth was soothing, and somehow nostalgic.
xavier’s arms held you tightly, like you’d slip away from his grasp if he let go. you cried and cried, body trembling and tears falling. loud sobs and pained whimpers filled the room, the dark place of all your deep sorrows.
even in his arms, it still hurt. why did it all have to hurt so much? and what was it that hurt? you weren’t even sure anymore. you couldn’t even tell if you had a reason to cry at all. it all felt useless, and utterly pointless. it felt unfair that xavier had to deal with your feelings, wrong even. you should push him away, right? you were a deepspace hunter, his partner. you were meant to be strong…right?
just as you were about to pull away, still crying heavily, you felt xavier’s slender fingers on the back of your head, gently pushing your head onto his chest.
“lean on me. i won’t let you go,” he whispered close to your ear, his lips brushing against your temple as he planted a gentle kiss on it.
xavier sat there with you, not uttering a sound as you let every tear out. his left hand gently caressed your hair, untangling the knots with a gentle touch, while the other drew soothing patterns on your back. his sweater was pretty much soaked by the time you were done, but he couldn’t care less. his favorite piece of clothing meant nothing compared to your happiness.
“thank you,” you managed to whisper, your voice hoarse and almost gone.
“you don’t have to thank me,” he shook his head, looking into your still teary eyes. “i’ll listen to your silent cry. always.”
his lips touched your forehead, calloused hands cupping your cheeks. he softly brushed the tear trails away, keeping his gaze on you. his touch was gentle, comforting. this man, the one who killed wanderers without mercy, treated you with upmost love and care. as if every crevice of your body was made of the most fragile glass.
“when you lose strength, i’ll hold you. i’ll say ‘it’s okay’ to you. just don’t cry alone, not when i’m here. not when i’m near,” xavier said in a quiet tone, leaning your head down to let you rest on his shoulder.
the heat of his body completely relaxed your muscles, putting your mind at ease. his chest slowly rose and fell as he breathed calmly, lulling you to sleep. your eyes began to close, and within a moment, you were asleep.
xavier didn’t leave your side, he wouldn’t dare. he stayed with you the whole night, occasionally waking up from his slumber to make sure you were sound asleep. as much as he valued his sleep, he valued you more.
he loved you more than anything.
© xaviers-star-tassel
xavier parenting au
A/n: rounding up the parenting au before all the fics and silly stuff, we got papa xavier and his 2, almost 3 children. (lumi was being a brat and demanded their release so you should thank little lumi) also Xavier's debut post! istg, i have a love-hate relationship with him because he keeps blocking zayne from coming home >:(
Primarily inspired by @tbaluver @starmocha and every xavier girl and boy dad thing I've seen since
Obligatory tag for Aly bc she's the kids godmother: @deusfoundry
cw/tw: family content, fluff, babies! very cute babies, pregnancy
wc: 732 words
Now now, papa xavier huh? This man sleeps more than your the children combined.
Xavier has collected all their plushies from the arcade, each child has a collection of plushies they sleep with.
He tries his best to cook meals for the kids but that didn't turn out good (He's gonna peel fruit from now on becuse cielo told him himself that he shouldn't cook, ever)
Anyways, Xavier is a father of 2 children . Well to put it accurately, 2 almost 3 children.
Cielo is the eldest child. He is 6 years old. His name means sky in Spanish, and you named him.
Looks like you but got Xavier's bright blue eyes and very relaxed personality.
As a baby, he was very quiet and sleepy, with the occasional fuss. Both you and Xavier had to constantly check on him to make sure he was breathing back then (he is don't worry).
When he's awake, he's a lively and smiley child. a little bit shy at first but he's cute
he's a little shit sometimes but that's okay his parents love him
hes a bit of an airhead sometimes
LOVES ALIENS (how do you feel about being part alien Cielo?)
He loves to read his father's comic book collection and sometimes copies the drawings
Reading his father's comic book collection had inspired him to write and draw things.
he loves his baby brother so muchhhh. he adores him since you had told him that he'll be a big brother
he read to altair (his little brother) as a baby
he's classmates with lumi, calebs middle child
he sometimes naps in class lol but is an all rounder
Is Lumi's secret-not so secret crush
Has the BIGGEST, FATTEST, CRUSH on Lumi but hes shy to tell her how he feels (maybe when theyre older)
wants to learn how to fight with a sword to protect his siblings too
meanwhile, his baby brother altair was named by xavier. He is currently 2 years old, thoughts and prayers to your both.
acts a lot like you, looks like xavier
the world's most fuzziest and crying baby
can not be left alone or he'll cry for mommy and daddy or cielo
he's very talkative and emotional
gets jealous when he sees lumi play with his big brother— always tries to sabotage it — well, as best as 2 year old can do
is the reason why you're pregnant, again. with a 3rd child. (hes jealous that his big brother is playing with lumi more than HIM). he basically demanded her into existence.
he's very cute like his brother too ! very respectful and gentle
likes being held
likes people reading to him, especially big brother Cielo
He loves animals! Really or stuffed toy otherwise
As mentioned, there is an upcoming child for Xavier, but it's still in the making.
it's a baby girl
whoops your having another baby again because your husband can't keep his hands off you, and baby altair is jealous that his big brother is playing with a girl instead him
The kids were with auntie Tara or Uncle Caleb and his kids when you got knocked up oopsies (you couldn't remember when because he fucked you STUPID and the sex was so good 10/10)
And now here we are :)
You're 5 months now Goodluck sweets
And this little miss is very active.
adores her father and brothers’ voice and touch
You have a name in mind, keeping how with the starry/constellation names
But for now? She's okay being a growing fetus.
Despite being a hunter, Xavier tries his best to come home uninjured or with injuries he can hide so that the kids won't worry too much.
On his days off, he spends most if not all of his time with the kids: playing, afternoon naps, going outside to enjoy hotpot dinners (cielo is an absolute fan of them), catching plushies, etc.
At the end of the day, he comes home from working, and sees them try their best to stay up, waiting for him. It brings a smile to his face. He puts his sword down, changes his boots into comfortable slippers, picks up Cielo and Altair in each arm and brings them to their beds for the night. After, he would enter your shared room to kiss you and the growing baby a simple goodnight before sleeping with you.
A/N: sigh. all of the introduction posts are done! everyone, please thank xia lumi for forcing me to post xavier and the kids (Shes playing with cielo now) i hope youre enjoying the au so far, feel free to request and ask more about this lovely au! i would love to yap more about the families and the little kids too! hope you like this one!
Hey guys! I come bringing tooth-rotting fluff. In this there's only Xavier and Raf (Separately) as I work on the other guys' fics, which will be in part 2 of this :)) Concept: A cosy morning with your boyfriend. Tags: Fluff, very fluffy, fem reader Word Count: 1060 in total Masterlist
Xavier
Music plays softly in the background as you sway to the beat. The sweet smell of pancakes permeates the air around you, the morning sunlight beaming through the open windows, the breeze cool on your skin. You flip the pancake in the pan before moving to prepare the fruit ready to top off your breakfast. Xavier’s hoodie hangs off of you like a dress, keeping you cozy in the morning daze, your hair still a mess, sticking up in odd places.
It’s the most beautiful sight he has ever seen. He wouldn’t mind waking up early every day if it meant he could see you like this, in his apartment, in his clothes, swaying to music, a carefree atmosphere surrounding you. His blue eyes, still hazy from sleep, track your movements as you move around his kitchen, the sunlight illuminating your figure. He leaned against the doorway, giving himself time to admire you.
You were ethereal, a goddess walking the earth. You chose him, again and again, in this life and in the past ones. He was the luckiest person in the world to have you by his side, he never doubted that. A gentle smile was etched into his face as he pushed off from the wall until his arms wrapped around your waist, his face pressed into your neck.
“Good morning love.” You smile sweetly, your voice was quiet in a way that added to the cozy atmosphere. His lips pulled into a full smile as he pressed a gentle kiss to the side of your neck.
“Good morning honey.” His voice was muffled, but the contentment that echoed through it was clear as day.
“Breakfast is nearly done, could you set the table?” He grumbled slightly about having to part from you, but the complaint was quickly chased away with a soft kiss to his lips. He did as you asked, making coffee and setting up the cutlery, before turning the music up on your phone.
You look at him curiously, turning the stove off once the last pancake landed on the stack.
He reached out his hand, grasping yours and pulling you into his embrace, swaying to the lyrics of the song. You giggled, wrapping your own arms around his neck as his snaked around your waist.
“The pancakes are gonna go cold.” You whisper, not willing to break the serene atmosphere that settled around the two of you. A grin spread across your lips, heart skipping a beat. Instead of a reply, you’re greeted with a slow gentle kiss, his arms tightening around you. You sigh into the kiss, unhurried, content with just holding each other as you move to the music. Pulling away, you gaze into his eyes, deep blue and filled with admiration, overflowing with the love he held for you.
Rafayel
The sky was still dark when you arrived on the beach, the waves crashing on the shore. You jogged ahead, pulling him along with you. The breeze hit you, chilly in the morning hour, fresh with the smell of the wide ocean in front of you. You take a moment to breathe, to take it all in, before turning to Rafayel, a wide grin already spread across your face. His smile is amused, an eyebrow arcing.
“Where’s all this energy coming from, Cutie?” He chuckled, letting himself be pulled along the sand until the two of you stood by where the waves greeted the land.
“Well, I’ve been wanting to see the sunrise with you for a while. This is the first time we’ve managed to get up on time, let me be excited about this!” You laugh, pressing yourself closer to his side, resting your cheek on his shoulder as you look up at him. You get a chuckle back in response, as he presses a kiss to your hairline before taking a sip of his coffee.
“Besides, you’ve been looking for inspiration right? Maybe this beautiful sunrise will help with that.” You say as you turn to look to the horizon, any minute now the sun will come up and will paint the sky into a stunning array of colours.
You adjust your scarf before taking a sip of your own coffee, letting the warmth spread through you, nuzzling closer to Rafayel. His arm rests across you back, the hand on your hip holding you close as a comfortable silence fills the air between you.
Within minutes, the first pinks and oranges spread across the sky, a breath getting stuck in your throat in awe. The sun rays finally peak across the ocean, showering the two of you in a golden light.
Rafayel’s eyes drop to you, as you admire the scenery. The view he’s more interested in is you, how the hue of the light brightens your face, how your eyes are full of joy, the small smile on your rosy lips. You are glowing, a blissful sort of comfort settles inside of him as he studies you.
You were here, with him. By his side. He had found you again, his beloved bride, his most devout follower, the person who held his heart. After so many tragedies in the past, he finally had his happy ending, the love of his life by his side. His sunset coloured eyes don’t leave your face for a second, even as you turn to look at him.
Oh. He has found his new favourite colour. Your eyes met his, shining with pure glee, before softening at the sight of him, a smile permanently planted on your lips. He must be making some sort of funny expression as all he receives is a soft laugh from you, before a gentle kiss is planted on his lips. Your soft lips glide across his for a moment, before you pull away, a hand coming to cradle his cheek.
“The view is over there, Love.” You say, a teasing tone in your voice. He huffed a laugh.
“I prefer the view over here.” He replies, a smirk appearing on his face, before his lips meet yours once again, his arm pulling you closer. The kiss was gentle, content. You bring your arms around his neck, pulling away to meet his eyes. His gaze was filled with mirth, full of love and joy and admiration. In that moment, he had found the inspiration he’s been searching for.
⭐ He is for those who need a sanctuary from the cacophony of the outside world; the noise, the crowds, the constant motion -- it is just too much some days. He offers solace from it all in the form of quiet and stillness, no questions asked.
⭐ He is for the homebodies, the ones who feel most comfortable when snuggling on the sofa with snacks and a movie. He has many soft blankets and pillows he can share with you.
⭐ He is for the ones whose minds are always going, going, going -- he soothes the anxieties with gentle whispers and fingers massaging your scalp, maybe even a kiss to the temple.
⭐ He is for the ones who appreciate rest. He is more than happy to join you for naps anytime and anywhere, though he does have a preference for your apartment over his -- he wants to meld into your life as much as possible.
⭐ He is for the ones who are satisfied with the simpler things in life, the ones who don't need anything more than a hug and a squishy plushie to be happy.
⭐ He is for the ones who enjoy their solitude. He is more than happy to give you space when you need -- but, please, let him know when you're ready for his presence again!
📖⬅⬅⬅
loyal to my man ~Xavier .... Life is delulu at this point and other fixations
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