When the Dawn Hesitates, the Light Trembles | Oneshot
shen xinghui | xavier x reader
synopsis:
Despite growing up as close companions from childhood, you've always been attuned to the difference in status that separates you and the prince. And yet, as rational as your mind is, your heart on the other hand is an unruly beast that you cannot fully control. With his wedding and departure to a foreign kingdom looming on the horizon, the question still remains on how you'll let go of your feelings and live in a future without him. And if he's willing to do the same.
tags: childhoodfriends!au, royalty!au, mild? angst with a fluffy ending (this is probs the fluffiest/non-dark themes this blog will ever see), unrequited love that's actually requited, prince!xavier x knight!reader
word count: 6.5k
a/n: thank you everyone for the support for the first chapter of my caleb fic! here's a oneshot that was actually written for my friend's bday as evidence that I also write for the other LIs hehe and a throwback to my days writing royalty!aus on tumblr! :> as always, please feel free to send in asks/request!!
You had encountered the prince for the first time as a little girl. He was quiet with the maturity of an adult, despite only being a year older than you. Your mama was his wet nurse. It was only natural for her to introduce you to him.
You remember that your first thought was that he was beautiful—the light of the early spring sun had casted his hair silver, and his eyes were the shade of blue you had heard about only in the fairytales your mama had whispered to you before you fell asleep. He looked exactly like the young prince in the one book your older sister had pointed out when you had passed the bookstore in the square.
You remember pointing at his hair and shouting, “Look, his hair glows like light!”
His gaze, which had looked uninterested, suddenly turned to look at you. Those blue eyes came to life then, and something had shown in them that you, back then, had viewed as mockery rather than amusement. “Is it always your first instinct for you to comment on others’ appearances?”
With a burning heat to your face, you had realized that he was teasing you. You had glowered at him then, and in a fit of childish immaturity, you grabbed a fistful of dirt from the ground and flung it straight onto him. Not your best moment.
Now, many years later, you don’t really remember how your mama spanked your butt red that night and how you had sobbed and said you’d never do it again and how she had forced you to kneel and apologize to the prince and then reverently express gratitude when he had just shrugged it off, when really he had the right to kill of your entire family.
But you do remember how his skin had turned red in his fluster, how his hair still glowed despite the dirt, and how his lips had twitched in agitation. You remember how his eyes had still dazzled you then—emotion, even if it was surprise, had made them a startling azure. These were all things you would always remember, for however long time would pass.
You wouldn’t ever dare say any of these words aloud to anyone. No, these were memories that only you were the keeper of, that you were certain of.
🌙✨
“Haven’t you heard? The King has sent out a declaration that Prince Xavier is getting married!” a maid clamored, as she rushed down the hallway with her friend.
“To who?” her friend gasped.
“To the princess of the neighboring Lucis Kingdom. Oh, I heard she’s a beauty! A perfect match for our prince! He deserves it, after he won over those hordes of wanderers at our border and made a glorious return!”
Her friend tittered in response. “My, perfect might be too strong a word! I bet even a fair princess would have difficulty trying to enthrall our unfeeling prince! I doubt he knows anything beyond the sword.”
She was the first to turn the corner of a hallway, when she collided into a force. “I’m so sorry—,” she was in the middle of her words when she looked up. Her mouth fell open, and her face flushed a bright red.
You had the unfortunate pleasure of being the wall that the maid had bumped into. And, as she probed your face to determine whether you had heard what she had just said (which you had), you opened up your mouth and slowly spoke, “I would be cautious of the words we say aloud in the palace, just as much as we are to be careful while turning the corners.”
The maid looked like she was cowering. But really, you thought, for what reason?
Yes, it was true that you were infamous in the palace for your quickness to anger, especially when it came to the prince. When the royal seamstress had said that Prince Xavier looked less flattering in red, you had threatened to use the blunt edge of your sword and destroy her supplies. But in all honesty, with how calm you had sounded, there really was no reason for her to be looking at you like you were some smoke-breathing dragon.
The maid quickly bobbed her head up and down in agreement. And then her gaze fell to the person behind you, and her face paled white like a sheet. “G-greetings, Y-Your Highness!” she jolted straight up before quickly falling into a bow, and her friend quickly followed her.
You peered around your shoulder, and when you saw a familiar presence lurking behind you, your mouth flattened into a straight line. “Your Highness,” you said flatly, bowing your head down.
He held your gaze, firmly. Your mouth felt dry all of a sudden, and you felt your face redden. This damn temper of yours! And he overheard it all!
But the two of you grew up together. He must’ve been used to your bouts of anger, even now. You don’t even know why you felt heat crawling up your neck. You turned your head away in indignation.
His eyes travelled beyond you to the two maids, and he nodded once. “You may go.” His tone was disinterested, and the maids hastily bowed again before scurrying away past him.
When they left, it was just the two of you left in the hallway. It was tense, and you felt yourself ready to run away, right behind the maids. You tipped your head and was about to turn away when-.
“I didn’t know you still defended me.” His voice was softer this time, unlike the more frigid tone he had used with the maids. “Are we still friends then, I presume?”
Your lips pursed. Memories of last night flooded through your head. You downing the pint of ale. You furiously pointing a finger at him and shouting at him how he could have been so foolish to have thrown himself at you to push you out of the way during battle and get hurt by the sword of the wanderer when it should have been you protecting him and not the other way around. Him yelling back at you—though, what he said and what happened after, your mind could barely remember over the jumble of your brain buzzing with alcohol and anger. You just remember waking up the next day, head pounding and vowing to never drink again.
And here he went again, with that cursed word. Friends. How could you ever be friends? He was a prince, and you were just some lowly ranked girl whose only luck was that her mother had raised him at her bosom. Other than that, you were nothing. You had only your knight title. Nothing like the precious princess of a wealthy kingdom.
You were about to bite out a vicious comment that reflected something along those lines, but something stopped you from spewing out the first vowel.
He would be leaving soon after his wedding. He didn’t have to stay in this kingdom, not when his older brother was already set to sit on the throne. And you wouldn’t follow, not when it would tear you apart to see them together, to keep seeking above your station when you knew it was unfeasible. So friend, that horrible ill-fitting term, you would hold onto until you couldn’t. You felt yourself wilt in response, and you were certain he had picked up that something was odd about you today.
So you sucked in a deep breath and nodded. “Friends, if you can say that, Your Highness.”
The corners of his lips tugged up in amusement. “So you’ll stop calling me Your Highness then? You know my name. Use it.”
Your mouth was dry all over again, and you felt like you were going to heave all over the floor. It must’ve been the leftover ale brewing in your stomach. It must’ve.
You forced a smile. It probably looked menacing. “People will overhear, and it’s not good for someone like me to be calling you by your name when you’ll be mar-.”
His gaze remained steady.
You swallowed. Fuck.
“Is it an order?” you murmured. Your rude tone, if the head palace maid had heard you, would have sent you straight to a flogging. But Prince Xavier, aside from when you had thrown dirt on his head as a little girl and...and last night, was magnanimous. Nothing could unsettle him, well...maybe except for you.
You did remember that time one of the other knights-in-trainings had been spewing insults about your background and yes, you maybe thought then about swinging your sword down on him (blunt or non-blunt side unconfirmed) but you wouldn’t have done it, not when it would have put your own position as a trainee at risk and left you unable to stay by Xavier’s side.
Xavier had been different though. He had challenged that knight-in-training in a duel during practice and left him black-and-blue. And then that trainee had somehow been removed from the ranks and ended up leaving back to his hometown.
But maybe that was all just wishful thinking on your part.
Hearing no response, your eyes shifted back to him briefly. He just stood there, looking almost pitiful. And it seemed like he had turned slightly so that the bandaged part of his arm was even more obvious to you. A prince? Pitiful? You could guffaw in amusement.
You let out a long sigh.
“Xavier,” your voice was barely above a hush.
He gave you one of those rare smiles of his, the kind that had you breathless as a little girl and breathless even now. On days when he did smile at you, you could never fall asleep. Whenever you closed your eyes, you would see his smile and the way his blue eyes had shone. Oh, tonight would be no different.
You needed fresh air.
You swiftly turned on your heel and headed out towards the pathway to the gardens. His footsteps sounded after you, even as you quickened your pace. But let him follow you—it wasn’t any of your business what he was up to in his free time. And honestly, you didn’t even have a destination in mind.
As the sun warmed up your skin and the smell of flowers sweetened the air, you felt yourself reminiscing. These days would be long gone soon. It was already against propriety for the two of you to still be this close, especially after both of you had come of age. Maybe, maybe it would be good for you to leave all of this behind when Xavier left. So that you didn’t spend the rest of your days an old bitter hag surrounded by reminders of the past.
You were lost in your thoughts as you ambled your way. You were about to take a step forward when you felt a tug at your sleeve, and suddenly, you were falling back. Your back hit a firm chest, and you winced at the collision.
“Ow! What’d you do that for?” you grumbled. You turned your head back, about to bite out another complaint, but your mouth hinged open when you realized that your face was much tooclose to his. You could see the flecks of light blue in his eyes, the way his light-colored eyelashes were trembling, and the slight reddening tint to his skin. He was somehow warmer than the spring air, his body heat seeping against your back. And he smelled like soap and something deeper that you couldn’t quite put your finger on.
You turned and pushed him away by the chest, stumbling back and crashing right into the trunk of a tree.
As you swore under your breath, you heard the sound of laughter. You looked over, irritated. He had his finger raised, pointing right behind you. His other hand attempted to cover his face but you could catch a glimpse of his smile.
“You were about to bump into a tree. I was trying to,” he huffed in a shaky breath, “to stop you from falling.”
Your mouth opened in protest, and you swiftly clamped it shut. Some knight you were. You could take down wanderers of any size and difficulty, but a mere tree was apparently your biggest opponent.
And suddenly you were laughing now too. All the anger, resentment, and bitterness from earlier seemed to fade away. You didn’t think of the past. You didn’t think of the future, of him wedding a beautiful princess and raising heirs with his silver hair and her colored eyes, of you never seeing him again for the rest of your lifetimes. All you thought that it felt good to be standing here with him.
🌙✨
The queen was a beautiful woman. With her long silver hair coiled up in an intricate hairdo and her silver eyes, she looked like a celestial beauty that had fallen onto earth in a gown of deep blue. You could see that Xavier had gotten his looks from her. But while Xavier had the mild temperament of the King underneath his seemingly cold exterior, the Queen was all fire and ice.
“Your Majesty,” you kneeled down onto a knee in a deep bow. She was silent for a long time, taking a long sip of tea from her cup. It was one of the petty tricks that she often played when she was displeased. But you were a knight—what was kneeling on a plush carpet for a little bit compared to sleeping on the cold ground of a forest, unable to rest properly in case a wanderer appeared?
After a seemingly endless time passed, you heard her set down her cup. Her voice tinkled out like bells. “Rise, Dame.”
You rose to your feet. You kept your head bowed.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten a good look at you,” she spoke, “Raise your head.”
You tilted your head up but kept your gaze lowered. She hummed out. You could hear the bracelets that adorned her wrists clinking together as she tapped a finger thoughtfully onto her bottom lip.
“You’ve become more beautiful these years. One wouldn’t expect you to be born from a mere commoner. Even unwomanly duties such as knighthood have not tarnished you.”
“This lowly servant is not worthy of Your Majesty’s praise,” you spoke, as you lowered your head again. You felt unsettled. Compliments from the Queen always had another purpose.
“Hush, child. I can see why even my son has softened towards you.” She hummed, her voice light and airy. “You see, when I married His Majesty, I was a year younger than you are now. I had lived as the princess of a small kingdom, so when his proposal came, there was no choice for me other than to agree. But I tried anyways.”
You remained silent.
“You see, the foolish me of my youth had loved a knight then and wanted to elope with him.” She laughed. “But when I tried to run away with him, my father caught me and had the knight stripped of his titles, tortured, and banished. All those years he had spent in service of our kingdom, and look what he threw away for a fleeting passion.” You felt her gaze fall back onto you. It felt sharp, like a blade.
“You understand my meaning, don’t you? Xavier is set to wed a princess. A political alliance with the Lucis Kingdom will be beneficial for everyone’s sake. A commoner like you.” She paused to laugh again. “Well, I am pleased that you have been able to make a knight of yourself. But make no mistake, that’s as high as you can climb up.”
She gestured a hand out, and you saw a wooden chest enter your periphery. “This is more than enough money to support you and any other ambitions you may have. You’d never have the opportunity to get your lowly hands on this much money. Take this money, and leave. Leave the palace as soon as you can, before the end of this season, so that Xavier does not hesitate in his upcoming nuptials with Lucis’s Princess.”
You raised your head to make direct eye contact with her then. Your eyes were fierce as you sternly shook your head. “Your Majesty, this lowly servant is well aware of her own station and does not dare to go beyond it. This lowly servant is not worthy of your noble gift, for her lowly hands would tarnish its value.” You dipped into a bow again before swiftly turning on your heel and marching out of the room.
You heard the crash of her cup hitting the wall from behind you, but you kept marching forward. Though you felt pity for the maids who would have to deal with her wrath, you knew that it would not have done you any good to have accepted her money.
You had been truthful with the Queen. You did know your station, and you also knew that you would never be able to go beyond it.
Your decision had been made long before you stepped into the room. In fact, it had been made even before you had heard news of Xavier’s nuptials.
It was final then. You would leave on your own terms, using your own money.
🌙✨
You knew you couldn’t stay in the capital. Linkon was a place full of reminders. If you peeked close enough, you could see the alleyways where you and Xavier had snuck bags of toasted walnuts when he was still young and still looked sweet enough to hide his stubbornness—though now, this sweetness had melted into a mildness that still hid his stubbornness well. You could remember the place Xavier had gifted you a small flower pin from the day you were admitted to knight training. And you could remember on one of those excursions where your cape had gone loose and he had reached out to tie it—the brush of his fingers against your lapel and the way your head had swelled up in a rush of blood...How could you stay in a place with all these reminders?
Sure, your family would miss you a little, but after your parents passed away and your siblings grew up, they were more worried about making a living and taking care of their own families. And besides, you could always visit them some time in the distant future.
No, you wanted to go somewhere peaceful and isolated, where nothing from the past could affect you.
As Linkon prepared to send its prince off to a wedding, you spent your time preparing for your own plans. When you weren’t training or taking on missions to take down wanderers, you found yourself perusing over a map that you had bought off a passing merchant.
The nearby city was too close, barely a day’s ride away by horse.
The region to the East looked good on paper, but you knew the noble families that had their territories there had close ties with the Queen. It wouldn’t be good for you to stay in a place where it would be easy for her to keep tabs on you. After all, you wanted to leave for the sake of your own freedom away from any royal’s influence.
Your pointer finger skimmed towards a small town to the West. It was about a week’s ride from the capital, 6 days if you pushed your horse, and near the border, so it was often experiencing unrest from stray wanderers. You could keep making some money there by going on small missions. And with the wages you had saved up and the money you could get from pawning off the uselessly luxurious gifts Xavier had given you over the years, even when you were old and unable to make money off of fighting wanderers, you could still live quite comfortably.
When you made your final decision, you quickly sprung into action. But when you asked Xavier for some time off, he had peered over his documents and looked at you skeptically. You could see why he saw it odd—you hadn’t taken a day off the moment you had entered knight’s training. But with the issue at the border contained, you were able to convince him that it was for the sake of spending some time traveling to get your head back on right. With reluctance, he stamped his seal of approval on your request.
You set off the following day. You didn’t need to prepare much—just enough money for food and your lodgings. But you felt odd as you went from city to city and then eventually from city to town.
It felt like someone was tailing you. The feeling started the moment you had left the gates of the capital, and even when you were deep into the crowds of an inn, you still felt a gaze on you. But whenever you looked, you would see the faint white of a cloak before it vanished.
It must’ve been one of the Queen’s people. So when you were about to reach your next town, only a day’s travel away from your intended destination, you decided to veer off course. Instead of going straight through the main road, you sharply turned off into the woods and urged your horse deep into the undergrowth. You then quickly dismounted and let your horse stray.
By the time the person following you entered the woods and saw your horse by itself, it was too late. You swung them off their horse, shoving them right into the dirt, and pressed your blade against their throat.
“Did the Queen send y-?” You hissed, reaching out to yank the hood down. The rest of the words you were about to say died in your throat as you squinted down at the familiar face. “Xavier?”
He looked at you with the firm steady look in his eyes, as if that was enough to convince you of whatever lie he had spun. But his ears flushed red—a clear giveaway. “What a coincidence...I was planning on checking the state of the borders, and we happen to be headed the same way.”
You laughed dryly. “Certainly, Xavier. Then you don’t mind if we part ways at the next town. I’m planning on taking a restful and slow vacation, and you must be in a hurry to get to the border then.”
He shamelessly shook his head. “I mean, the issue at the border is settled and wouldn’t change in less than a fortnight. They don’t need to see me there that urgently.” His lips curled up faintly at the corner.
You scowled. This prince! He was lying right to your face, and he didn’t seem like he had an ounce of guilt about it. “Well, what would other people think about us then? Only a married couple would be traveling together. Do you want people to presume about our relationship, Your Highness?” You threw your hands up. “And what about your safety? There isn’t a single other knight here from the squad!”
He shrugged his shoulders lightly. “Well, that’s for them to assume. And if you call me by my name, then no one would know who I am, and I wouldn’t be in danger. Besides, I don’t need other knights either. We’re already a good team, aren’t we, Partner?”
You huffed and spun around on your heel, about to start your search for your horse. There was no winning with him. As you found your mare and hoisted yourself up onto her, you squinted down at Xavier, who still looked idle.
“And where’s your horse?” you crossed your arms.
He looked around for a second and then looked back up at you. “It looks like it left. You don’t mind me riding with you, right? Besides...,” his voice softened, and his eyes looked sleepy all of a sudden, “Sleeping these past nights haven’t been too restful for me. I worried that I’d wake up and you would be already gone. I can catch up on some sleep if we ride together.”
Before you could protest, he had already settled himself behind you. His arms looped around your waist. When you turned around to gape at him, flabbergasted, he already had his head tilted down and his eyes closed.
You turned back and grabbed the reins, urging your mare back to the main road. When you were certain that he was actually asleep, you let yourself relax for a bit. You’d drop him off at the next inn and send a carrier back to the palace. By the time he woke up the next morning (or noon, with how his sleeping schedule was), you’d already be almost to your destination.
You were lost in thought and didn’t notice his grip around you tense a bit, not until you heard his voice murmur from behind you. “What did you mean about my mother? I heard she had forced you to meet with her as of late...What did she do?” Despite its softness, you could hear a slight edge to his voice.
You bit your bottom lip, trying to decide what to say to him. “She didn’t say or do anything. Just that, you know...she helped me realize that it would be good for me to start thinking about my future, beyond the castle.”
There was a pause.
“And how are you planning on doing that?”
You cleared your throat. “I mean...I only became a knight because it was a good way for me to help the kingdom and to stay by your side. Now that you’re getting married and leaving, I...I can’t say I know what my next steps are. But it’d be good for me to see more of the world, beyond fighting wanderers and...and as much as I enjoyed it...beyond being your childhood friend.”
After all, you had naively thought you could have stayed by his side forever. How naive of you.
It was silent. Seconds and then minutes and then more passed. You assumed then that he had fallen asleep.
But even as the ride was quiet, both of you slightly swaying with the movement of your horse and his eyes were closed, you didn’t even notice that his fingers were trembling.
🌙✨
The next town was exceptionally quaint. The two of you had reached it right after when the sky was almost beginning to dim and the heat of the sweltering sun had finally dissipated. There was the smoky smell of meat grilling, and groups of children ran past the two of you laughing and pushing each other around. You could hear string music just ahead, and a crowd was gathered around a skit.
Xavier and you talked little as the two of you traversed the space. Only when you had been planning on buying a skewer of lamb had he gently nudged your fingers away from your coin pouch and placed his own coins down. “Allow me,” he hummed. The two of you walked in silence as you nibbled on the meat—even though it originally came from a more rough cut, the way the vendor had cooked it had made it tender and fragrant.
As you scanned the trinkets of the vendor, your fingers lingered on a small hairpin. It was a white flower with a blue gem in the middle, the same shade of blue as Xavier’s eyes, attached to a fragile silver stick. You thought about purchasing it then. A little trinket, that you could carry around as a memory of the night.
Your fingers flexed, as if to grab hold of it.
And then you dropped them. No, it wouldn’t be good for you to carry around all these reminders. You gave an apologetic smile to the vendor and turned away, carrying on to the next stall.
“Why didn’t you buy it?”
You turned around at the sound of Xavier’s voice and bumped into him. You knew he had been following you, but you didn’t know when he had gotten so close—maybe it was the crowd jostling the two of you together. But, as you scanned the surroundings, most of the crowd had already wandered off to gather around a stage where a play was taking place.
“I just,” you felt flustered at having been caught. “It’s not the most fitting for me. It just seems-,” you swallowed dryly, “like it’s beyond my station.”
The two of you had stepped off into a small quiet corner. Despite how dim the lighting was, you could still see the flecks of light in his eyes. He was quiet for a moment before pulling out something from his pocket.
When you saw the glint of blue, you sputtered out, “W-what! Xavier, you shouldn’t have!”
He tilted his head to look down at you, in a way that made every nerve of yours prickle. His gaze was intense. He reached out with a hesitant hand and placed it tenderly against the side of your head. “May I?” his voice was low.
You relented, nodding.
He nudged your head so that it would turn. With quick nimble fingers, he coiled your hair and slid the hairpin through. But even when he was done, his hand hadn’t left you. It instead slid down so that it was cupping your chin.
“I just remembered how you used to wear the flower pin all the time. But then one day you stopped.”
His thumb softly brushed against your skin. God, your throat was dry again.
“Why?” his voice was searching.
Of course, you knew why. You loved that pin. You still love that pin. And even when you had gone on wanderer excursions you had kept it on you still, tucked under your clothes. But the day you had heard news of his engagement, you had thrown it away.
But you couldn’t say that. Instead, you shrugged your shoulders and reached up to push his hand off you. You couldn’t look straight at him.
“I...I don’t know. It just...fell out of use.”
He hummed out a sound that sounded like disappointment. “Is that like us? Do you think we fell out of use too?”
You jolted and looked at him. “No...Xavier, I’m...I’m not someone who deserves to be close to you. You’re...”
“I’m what?” He sounded almost desperate now. But he couldn’t have been desperate about you, could he?
And you didn’t know what to say, but you knew what you wanted to say: You’re getting married. You’re leaving. You can’t keep giving me false hope that I’m special.
But you didn’t say anything of that. And maybe what you said next was worst than all of those statements combined. You just looked at him, with something that you were certain was akin to anguish in your eyes.
“I love you, Xavier.” And when you started, you couldn’t stop. “I have loved you since the moment I saw you. But...you’re...You’re not mine, Xavier. And you’ll never be.”
The moment you registered what you said, you were horrified. Your hands flew to your mouth and before you knew what you were doing, you had turned and started sprinting.
Your mind was spinning. Screw the waiting until the next morning. You couldn’t keep seeing him any longer. Now that you said everything that you shouldn’t have. You didn’t even look at where you were going but you knew you just had to be away, to gather your thoughts and dignity that the next time you saw him again, you could laugh and pretend that it was just the sips of ale that you had taken earlier and you were actually talking about a different Xavier.
Before you could fully slip away, you felt hands wrap around your shoulder and pull you back. You turned sharply, just in time to miss colliding with a group of kids that had tumbled out of seemingly nowhere.
“You can’t just,” Xavier’s fingers were firm, but you could feel them trembling around your skin, “say that and leave.”
Your eyes darted around your surroundings. God, the play had ended and the crowd was already dispersing. You didn’t want to attract any more attention, but you were frantic with distress. You let him pull you away from the crowd and set you down to a seat, staying silent until you were certain there were no other eyes on you.
“I’m, I, I just can’t,” you were shaking now too. Or had you already been shaking? “Can you just forget it, everything I said?”
He laughed. It sounded sarcastic. “Like I was meant to forget what you had said that night when you were drunk, how you said you would never leave my side for the rest of your life.” His voice softened then. “And how I was meant to forget that you had kissed me.”
You buried your face into your hands and let out a groan. “I’m...I did that? Of course, I said something foolish like that.”
And then you registered his second sentence. You bolted up to a standing position. “I kissed you?!”
He seemed calm, but you knew every detail about him—his ears were flushed red, and you could see that his face was hazy with a soft pink. Oh, how foolish were you?
“My sincerest apologies!” you blurted out. “I should have never, I would have never. I said that? I did that?!”
You were hysterical now. Perhaps you should grab your sword now and stab yourself through the heart with it. Your hand was about to reach for your sheath when a hand stopped you.
“If you had not decided to run away before you could listen, to hear my response to your promise,” he spoke firmly, “you would have known that I have shared the same feelings as you.”
You stopped.
“The moment we met, the moment I saw that girl and had her fling dirt on me and how even when she apologized for doing so there was a fire in her that showed that she didn’t think what she did was any wrong,” he laughed. His hands moved up, until they rested on your waist, “I have to admit that I have been hopelessly captured by her. The way she smiles when she finds the dishes she likes and frowns when they aren’t up to par, the way she falls asleep deeply in a second with her mouth wide open, the way she never hesitates to rush in to defend someone with her sword.”
His hands then dragged up until they were once again cupping your face.
“And how I have never been courageous enough to tell her all of these things. That behind it all, when it comes to her I am just a cowardly man. That I get anxious when she doesn’t talk to me, when she decides to do something she’s never done, to such an extent that I become a foolish man who can’t even say a word out of fear of losing her. Because to me, she is my most beloved.”
He swiped his thumb against your bottom lip. His face was getting closer to you. You didn’t push him away.
The kiss was soft and gentle. It felt like sunlight brushing against your lips. You melted under his touch. Prickles of heat surged underneath your skin.
When you finally parted, he asked, his voice slightly strained, “Will you forget about this too?”
You hadn’t even registered that you were tearing up until you felt him brush away the first drop as it hit your cheek. “I -I must. You are engaged. You will marry another.”
He shook his head. “And in doing so, lose my beloved? Those were all rumors that the Queen had made to force me into this engagement, because she recognized that I love another. That I love you. That I would only marry one, if she would have me.”
You wanted to implore more then. To ask more questions about what it meant for you to say yes and whether it was truly moral for you to allow your Prince to cast aside his duty for you and would it even be worth it.
But you had spent a long time overthinking and asking yourself all sorts of questions. You didn’t want to worry about the future, about the consequences, and what it meant for you to fully defy the Queen’s orders.
All you thought about was how, out of all the questions you have ever had, he had answered the first one.
That memory of the first time you met, he too was a keeper of them. The feelings of those simpler days, when the two of you were young and not quite aware of the difference in status between you and you had kept watch for the head tutors when he would skip his classes to sleep under the great tree but found your own eyes slipping back to him, surged through you.
And to you, that was enough to let you close your eyes and pull him in for another kiss.
Whatever came tomorrow came tomorrow. If you chose to stay, if you chose to leave, rather than uncertainty plaguing you like it had before, you felt certain that this warmth would never leave your side.
✨Extra✨:
He had been careful to not spoil the surprise. It was the day that you would finally start knight training, and he had spent the last couple of days carefully stitching each petal together onto the hairpin.
He had always acquired skills easily, but even though the tutor had complimented his work, he still felt a little embarrassed of the quality. Sure, you would look beautiful in it because you looked beautiful in anything. But was it good enough for you? Would you like that it came from him?
He felt the pin in his pocket again. Should he wait for you to be done? Where should he wait for you?
You had found him the second you were done, your skin flushed and glowing with sweat. His mouth felt a little dry then as you beamed at him.
“We just started training to boost our stamina but pretty soon I’ll have the sword in hand and we’ll be defeating wanderers left and right!” you motioned a sword with your arms. “But training is pretty intense, as you can remember, Sir Head Knight. I won’t be able to come find you like I usually do.”
He didn’t remember how he got to presenting to you with the pin, but as he placed it in your hands, he remembered his mind went blank and suddenly he spoke: “I bought it just now. It’s not the best quality, so if you don’t wear it, it’s alright.”
You had already snatched the pin from his hands and was already working it into your hair. When you were done, you gestured wildly at it and grinned. “A gift for your future accomplice?”
He swallowed again. You really did look even more beautiful than he could have imagined.
Before he knew it, he had come closer. A thick strand of your hair had fallen out of the hairstyle, and he had it in his clutch, pressing a soft kiss on it. Your smile went stiff.
“No, it’s a gift for my future partner.”
A/N: let me know your thoughts! fics are always unedited so if any grammar mistakes or run-on sentences catch your eye...uhhhh no they didn't! and as always, my inbox is open!
🤣🤣🤣
Lets glitch together while having chips in a flower shop
😉🤣😂
MC: “Do you think we’re just NPCs of someones gameplay?”
Xavier: “And that someone is another NPC of another someone’s play through. Like an infinite gameplay…”
Jeremiah: “If that is right why the hell are you both programmed to lay down in the middle of my shop EATING CHIPS???? YOU’RE SCARING MY CUSTOMERS!”
MC: “We are simply…”
Xavier “glitching.”
Pair: Xavier x reader
Wc:2k
Includes: Fluff, established relationship
"Stay right there," Xavier says, backing away from you. You turn to him with a confused expression. "No, don't move." With the second command, you grow anxious. If Xavier was this insistent on you staying still, there was most likely a Wanderer nearby. You curse. Today was your day-off so you hadn't brought your weapon with you.
"Xavier," you whisper his name in a worried tone. When he doesn't respond, your eyes scan the park for anything that can be used as a weapon. You hear a click, and your body acts fast. You roll off the trail and grab as many stones as you can carry.
"MC?" Xavier calls out for you. You body shoots up and your arm is reared back.
"Where's the Wanderer?" You ask.
"Wanderer?" Xavier shakes his head. "There's no Wanderer." You look around and notice that the park is still as peaceful as when you entered it. You drop the rocks.
"But...why did you tell me to stop walking?" You ask. Xavier pulls out his phone and shows it to you.
"There was a nice breeze that shook the leaves," He says. "And the sun was shining down on you so nicely, I had to take a picture." You look at the photo Xavier took. It looked better than the photo booths one you would take.
"Xavier, this is...wow," He managed to take a photo of you that, despite looking confused, made it seem as though you were posing professionally.
"I'm glad you like it," He smiles. He begins to scroll through his gallery. "I try to take pictures of you whenever we spend time together." His gallery is filled with pictures of you laughing, concentrating while playing kitty cards, and the claw machine and even aftermaths of your Wanderer fights. Xavier was able to catch the perfect moment of when you landed the last blows in those fights. You looked like an action movie star.
"They're so many photos," you say.
"Yeah. You look so good at everything you do. I wanted to make the moments last forever." Xavier says.
You kiss Xavier's cheek. "You dork." You take out your phone and hold it high above your head. You snap a photo of Xavier's warm smile and blushing face. You show it to Xavier.
"Perfect, now I have a wonderful moment to keep forever."
Jacked and Kind
Their reaction after you ask them to do the TikTok trend "Slim Pickins" where they had to lift you on their shoulder.
content: soft, fluff, teasing, playful love
you can request, just comment! ( I'm still
trying to get the hang of tumblr)
now playing: Out Of My League by Fitz and The Tantrums
“You already know I’m the only one who can handle you.”
The moment you even mention the trend to Sylus, he doesn't just smirk—he practically grins. The look on his face is the kind that makes your stomach flutter in the worst—and best—ways.
“Oh, this?” he says, waving his hand dismissively, already sizing you up. “I could do this with my eyes closed.”
You raise an eyebrow. “Oh, really? So you think you can lift me?”
“I know I can,” he replies, his tone dripping with arrogance.
Without another word, he steps toward you, his fingers brushing yours for just a moment before he pulls you into his arms. You have no time to protest or even think—he just does it.
His grip is firm, like a confident god of strength who knows exactly what he’s doing. When he lifts you, it’s with a fluid, almost lazy motion that has you gasping. The way he spins you, though? Pure grace—a showman, a professional. He moves like a man who’s done this a thousand times, completely in control.
And then—he looks at you. Really looks at you, his eyes narrowing in a playful challenge as he spins you once more.
“Told you,” he says with a cocky smirk. “I’m built different.”
The way he says it, you almost believe him. And when he sets you down, he doesn’t release you immediately. No, he holds you a moment longer, as if savoring the power he has over you—he knows how you feel. He knows you’re already slipping deeper.
When the video’s over, Sylus doesn’t bother to check it for perfection. He already knows it’s flawless. Instead, he watches it back, not for the usual reasons, but to admire the way his jawline looks when he lifts you, and the way you’re gazing up at him. The look on your face? It drives him crazy.
“I might let you try again,” he says casually, tossing the phone aside, “but you’ll have to earn it.”
“I’ll always catch you.”
When you mention the “Slim Pickins” trend to Xavier, there’s a long pause. He tilts his head, evaluating you like you just gave him an equation to solve, but with a flicker of curiosity behind his eyes. It’s not so much about whether he can do it—it’s about how effortlessly he can dominate the moment.
“Lift you?” he says, voice almost amused, “If I’m going to do this, it’ll be right. You’re not going to just spin around like some amusement park ride.”
You grin, but the look in his eyes tells you he’s not playing. He’s calculating. There’s a certain type of precision Xavier brings to everything, and this won’t be any different.
Without asking for further instruction, he strides toward you, grabbing your waist in a way that makes it feel like it’s both deliberate and instinctive. No warnings. No dramatic buildup. Just his firm, steady grip on you as he effortlessly lifts you off the floor, bringing you flush against his shoulder.
Your breath hitches, but you can’t even be surprised. The man doesn’t do things halfway. When he spins you, it’s smooth. Measured. You can tell by the way he moves, the way he holds you, that this isn’t about performing for an audience—it’s about you.
He keeps his eyes locked on you the entire time, his gaze softening just slightly—because this moment is just for the two of you. You can feel it in the way his hands don’t falter, even as he twirls you once, slow, savoring the moment.
“I’ll always catch you,” he murmurs, voice barely above a whisper, his lips almost brushing your ear.
The spin ends. You’re dizzy, breathless, caught in the gravity of Xavier’s touch, but it’s the quiet look he gives you after that leaves your heart hammering. You swear you see something soft in his eyes, just for a second, before he’s back to his usual cool composure.
“Perfect,” he says, straightening himself up. “That’s how it’s done.”
Later, when he watches the video, Xavier doesn’t act overly impressed—of course not. But he does run his fingers through his hair, catching a glimpse of the way his jawline looks in the frame, and then you catch him replaying it, just once more. His eyes linger on the way you looked at him, his lips twisting into a small, satisfied smile.
“I told you,” he mutters quietly to himself, “I’ve got this.”
But when he turns to you, there’s no smugness, no cocky grin. Just a quiet confidence, the kind that only Xavier knows how to wear.
“Don’t tempt me if you’re not ready for the consequences.”
When you mention the trend to Rafayel, he just grins. That grin. You know it’s coming—the one that means he’s already making a plan in his head. A plan where he’s the center of attention. He’s the star, the drama, the flair, the whole damn show.
“You want me to lift you? Spin you? Sweetheart, you’re gonna need to be ready for me to make this unforgettable.”
You laugh at his cockiness, but it’s clear—he’s all in.
Without another word, he takes your hand and pulls you toward the center of the room. His eyes shine with mischief as he shuffles his feet, getting into position, and you can’t help but notice the way he’s casually flexing—like he’s preparing for a performance.
“Stand still. Let me show you how it’s done.”
You barely have time to blink before his arms are around you. His grip is secure, but there’s still a fluidity to his movements, like he’s done this a hundred times in his head—but now, it’s for real.
He spins you with the smoothness of a dancer, his laugh melodic as your feet leave the ground. The camera shakes slightly, but it’s nothing compared to the way your heart beats as you look up at him. That look he gives you? Pure mischief and challenge, like he knows you’re already falling harder. And you are.
“I told you,” he murmurs, his lips brushing your ear as he spins you again, just a little too fast. “No one can lift you like I can.”
And then, with one final dramatic flourish, he dips you low—so low you’re sure he’s about to kiss you. Instead, he pulls away just as quickly and gives you a teasing smile.
“You’re welcome, babe.”
The video is pure art, and when it’s posted, it gets way more attention than you anticipated. Rafayel doesn’t care, though. He adores it. Every comment, every heart. But more than that, he loves the way you look at him, like you’re seeing him for the masterpiece he truly is.
Later that night, he’s already planning the next “performance.” He looks at you with that grin.
“You’re doing it with me next, right? You wouldn’t want to miss out on the magic, would you?”
“Don’t fall for me. Too late.”
You bring up the "Slim Pickins" trend, and Zayne doesn't immediately react. Instead, he raises an eyebrow like he's trying to figure out if this is a joke or a test of some kind.
“You want me to spin you?” he asks, voice flat. “I don’t know... sounds like a recipe for disaster.”
But his eyes are already scanning the room, sizing up where he’ll stand, making sure the space is clear. He crosses his arms, leaning against the wall, but it’s clear that he’s not going to let this go untested.
“Fine. But don’t expect me to do some over-the-top move. This isn’t one of those ‘show-off’ TikTok trends.”
You grab your phone, get into position, and wait for him to come closer. He studies you for a second, then steps into the right stance—his usual controlled precision showing as he holds out his hand. You take it, feeling the strength there, but there’s no teasing smile, no playful taunt. Just a simple, low key statement from him:
“I don’t need to be flashy. Just trust me.”
And when he lifts you, it’s effortless. His grip is firm but not overbearing, his stance calculated as he holds you easily. You don’t feel a single ounce of uncertainty, only the surprising softness in his expression that he rarely lets anyone see.
As he spins you, slow and steady, you realize this isn’t just a casual lift—this is his version of intimacy. No fanfare, no public displays—just you, him, and the soft whisper of his breath in your ear as he keeps his gaze focused on you the entire time.
“You alright?” he asks, voice quiet.
You nod, breathless. The TikTok ends, and he sets you down with a gentle ease that feels almost too gentle for the Zayne you know.
Afterward, he doesn’t act like it’s a big deal—no smug smile, no victory dance. But later, when you're going over the video together, you catch him rewinding the clip, watching it closely. His lips twitch upward slightly, the faintest hint of pride, before he looks away quickly, as if trying to hide it.
“Next time, warn me when you’re going to ask for something ridiculous.”
But you see it. The way he looks at you in the video, like he’s ready to fight anyone who dares challenge his place beside you.
“This is the best day of my LIFE!”
When you mention doing the “Slim Pickins” trend, Caleb practically jumps off the couch. No hesitation. No questions. Just excitement.
“Wait, really? YES! I’ve been waiting for something like this!” His voice is so full of energy it makes you laugh.
He’s already in motion, practically dragging you to the center of the room before you can even explain what you need. The excitement is infectious, and you can feel your own heart start to race as he pulls you closer.
“Okay, okay, okay—here we go! Hold on tight!” he says, his voice just a little too over-the-top as he lifts you like it’s the easiest thing in the world.
There’s no fear, no hesitation, just sheer joy as he spins you—fast, maybe a little too fast—but it’s all in good fun. His laugh is contagious, and when you both stop, slightly dizzy from the spinning, you realize he’s absolutely beaming at you.
“Did you see that? Was that good? I swear, I could lift you forever.”
The video is a mess—you're both laughing too hard, the camera shaking, but that doesn’t stop Caleb from loving it. He insists on redoing it because, as he puts it:
“I didn’t get my hair right. Let me try again.”
Every time he spins you, he gives you the biggest grin, his eyes practically glowing. This isn’t just about the trend—this is Caleb, enjoying the moment, living in it with you. And when the final video is done, he posts it, captioning it with:
If you think this is fun, just wait until I pick her up for real.
You can’t help but laugh. He’s so genuine, so infectious in his energy. And when you watch the video together, you notice how incredibly proud he is—like he’s just won a trophy, and you’re the prize.
Wazzup, thanks for reading! If you have any suggestions, comment down bellow:) (been experimenting with them banners, lmao) byeee - Zane 𖹭
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
Sometimes maybe you're just the Juliet to his Romeo. Nothing more than a tragic love story, but what if you could rewrite the stars? pt. 1 here A/N: Before you fight me just read okay? Kisses 💋
Self-Aware!Xavier who's been blinding you with your screen brightness lately “Since when can you do that?” “I was testing the limits of my evol recently and figured it out cool right?” “Yes very cool but please stop blinding me it hurts”
It only took asking once for Xavier to stop adjusting your screen brightness. However he has been acting strange. It feels like he's hiding something; not necessarily something he can't tell you about more like something doesn't want to tell you about. Checking the app turned into a more frequent occurrence when he started disappearing constantly. You would often open the app to find the home screen cafe empty.
“Xavier!” the screen flashes and you see him appear with that same soft smile directed right at you “I’m here what do you need?” you stared at him unsure if you should accuse him of anything due to his strange actions lately. You didn't want to argue with him so you pushed your feelings down and sighed “Nothing just wondered where you went”
“I’m right here I'll always be here” He moved closer to the screen to get a better look at your eyes. “Is that all you were wondering?” You couldn't help, but sigh heavily as your curiosity got the best of you. “What have you been doing lately?” Stupid. Stupid. You mentally kicked yourself as the words rolled off your tongue before you could stop them. Why are you so jealous that he might be with in-game MC? It’s not like you can actually be with him. “Like I told you before I've been testing my evol” it still felt like he was hiding something under that soft gaze of his. You narrowed your eyes at hime “Xav if you want to spend more time with MC you don’t need to hide it from me” you could feel that terrible lump forming in your throat as reality set in that no matter how much you loved him; he’s not yours and never will be. Before he could answer you shook your head willing your tears to stay at bay “I have to go I'll be back later” you closed the app right as his mouth opened to say something.
You stopped opening the app after that. You thought that maybe if you stayed away long enough things would go back to normal and he wouldn’t be able to talk to you anymore. How do you grieve someone who doesn’t exist?
1 week later....
Since that conversation you’re not sure if you’ve become more sensitive to light or if you just happen to keep getting glares in your eyes because you’re just unlucky enough to be right where one can shine right in your eyes. You kept the lights in your house low or even just off to keep the light from blinding you. These constant blinding flashes of light were killing your head so you started wearing sunglasses everywhere and even using the walls to be your guide around your place because it was easier to just walk around in the dark.
Tonight was different though as you made your way to your bedroom your head was fuzzy along with your vision “I need to go to the eye doctor my vision may be getting worse” staggering to your bed you fell face first onto your bed and passed out. Your body felt weightless as if you were floating on a cloud. Your eyes fluttered open to see an expanse of stars and milky ways as far as the eye can see. “Y/N”
There was a voice, but it sounded as if it was underwater. “Y/N?” Words failed you as you tried to answer “I'm…. tired…..” you words were slurred and your eyelids were heavy. “Let’s go home together” the voice was much clearer now. “Xav….ier?” succumbing to the drowsiness that had you in a vice grip, your head fell back as everything went dark.
You jolted awake only to immediately be blinded by the sun shining in through the window. “At least it didn't give me a headache this time” You mumbled to yourself as you yawned into a big stretch. Your vision was clear again a stark contrast from what you fell asleep with. You started to take in your surroundings taking note that this wasn’t your room “Am I lucid dreaming?”
“The sun is too bright turn it off” a groggy voice whined next to you. Without thinking you kicked your leg out connecting directly with the strangers crotch who audibly groaned in pain. You sprinted out of the room only to realize you had no clue where you were. Rustling could be heard from the bedroom so there was no time to waste as long as you made it out of here as quick as possible. Freedom was within reach as you came up on the front door or at least you hoped it was the front door; only to be grabbed by your forearm and yanked back.
“I will scream bloody murder!” You yelled as you fought against this persons iron grip. “It’s me! Y/N it’s me open your eyes” not even realizing you were already screaming bloody murder with your eyes closed ; you opened them to see those deep blue eyes you’d dreamt about. “Xavier? Am I hallucinating?” You pulled your arm again and Xavier let go this time. You rapidly scanned the room and noticed this place looked exactly how it did in the game “There’s no way i’m standing in your apartment right now” You pinched the back of your hand and winced in pain.
Xavier rubbed the back of his neck as he nodded “Welcome to my home” you circled him skeptically eyeing him up and down. “Explain yourself”
“I was testing if I could manipulate the light in your world and it turned out that I could” That’s when it hit you that it was Xavier who’d been blinding you with light. You weren’t sure if you were pissed or flattered that he was trying to get your attention while you were ignoring him. No he literally made your life a living hell with that of course you were pissed. You took deep breaths as you tried to gather your thoughts. “So it was you that kept blinding me Xavier that gave me such insane headaches why would you do that?” You threw your arms up in exasperation as you began to pace. “I wanted your attention and you wouldn’t talk to me” He approached you with careful steps as you backed up at the same time. All those repressed feelings you had for the last week quickly surfaced just from looking at him. His face became blurry as your eyes filled with tears; just as you went to turn away you bumped into the kitchen counter. You stumbled to a stop as Xavier trapped you between himself and the counter. “Why did you leave me?” His lips pressed together in a thin line and you could tell he was trying to keep himself calm as well.
“Because we can’t be together Xav….” Your voice cut off as you choked up trying to keep your tears from falling. “Why not I'm right here” he had a point, but you don’t belong here; this isn’t your home and Xavier already has someone he was literally made to be with. “I can’t stay here Xav I can’t come between you and-” You yelped as he lifted you onto the counter and slotted himself between your soft thighs that were still bare from going to bed in a large t-shirt and spandex shorts. “I cut through time, space and reality to have you in front of me” His hands lingered on your thighs softly drawing circles with his thumbs. "Do you truly believe I want anyone other than you?" You went slack-jawed at his confession of how he managed to bring you here “You what?”
He dropped his head and exhaled a raspy chuckle, but there was no amusement in it “I was so lost when you stopped coming to see me I thought I was losing my mind” This man really did the impossible to get to you; there’s no way you could ever tell a single soul about this or you’ll be thrown head first into a mental asylum. The feeling of Xavier’s hand on your cheek pulled you from your spiraling thoughts. He gently wiped away a stray tear that you hadn’t even realized escaped. “You’re breathtaking in person” The blue in his irises was damn near non-existent as he studied your face almost as if he was trying to permanently burn the image into his mind. His stare was so intense it was like he couldn’t take his eyes off of you or you’d disappear.
You softly pushed his shoulder you try and get some distance because it felt like you couldn’t breathe with him this close. “Xavier please….” Your voice trailed off into nothing, but a breathy whisper. You didn’t know what you were asking him for; words seemed to be escaping you. His fingers wrapped around your wrist and held it next to your head as he leaned in closer. Your lips parted as your breath became heavy and his gaze immediately dropped to your lips. “Please what?”
Fuck it.
You wriggled your wrist free and grabbed him by the back of his neck slamming your lips onto his. Xavier wasted no time kissing you back, his arms wrapping about your waist pulling you tight against his toned body. Xavier kissed you like a man starved the way he parted your lips to allow his tongue in along with the quick nips and sucks to your bottom lip your mind was going fuzzy as you fell into him with reckless abandon. You drew back gasping for air and Xavier chased your lips pulling you back into a heated makeout session. Before you fell back under his spell you broke away and pressed your fingertips to his lips when he tried to chase you again. His breath was ragged and you could see his rapid pulse fluttering on his neck. Seeing him completely flushed with red cheeks and hot ears gave you butterflies “We should slow down we just met” You teased with a giggle. Xavier rolled his eyes and kissed your nose as he took a step back. You didn’t miss how he quickly adjusted his pants tucking himself into his waistband. “I’m sure you have many questions go ahead I'll answer all of them truthfully”
Sequel to Love Beyond the Surface (part 1)
Words: 3220 Warning: hint of suicide, slow burn, reader is not MC, parallel universe(isekai), grammar & spelling
INTRO: Your fingers lingered on the book as you handed it, the soft glance you gave without meaning to. Just this time, can he borrow your heart… for a little while?
✦.───────── ˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗ ───────── .✦
You mutter a quiet curse under your breath as you bend down to pick up the scattered books, carefully arranging them back onto the shelf.
The familiar scent of aged paper and ink surrounds you, but it does little to calm the frustration bubbling inside.
Why is she here?
Your fingers pause for a brief moment as your gaze shifts toward the girl standing just a few feet away. Or should you call her the MC? The main character of this whole ordeal. She shouldn’t be here, at least, not in the library, not during your shift.
Of all the times she could have chosen to appear, why now?
You shrink back, pressing yourself against the bookshelf. Maybe if you stay perfectly still, she won’t notice you. You are just a background character, a random human in the grand narrative of her life. Nothing more, nothing less.
I am an NPC. I am just an NPC. I am not here.
You repeat the mantra in your head like a desperate prayer, silently urging the universe to redirect her attention elsewhere.
Time stretches unbearably, turning seconds into minutes, maybe even hours in your mind. And then, finally, she starts walking away.
You exhale sharply, relief washing over you like a cool breeze. Please leave. Please leave.
But then recognition flickers across her face. Her lips part, and then…
"Xavier?"
You groan, already feeling a headache forming. Without thinking, you grab the nearest book and lightly bump your forehead against it, as if that could somehow knock this entire situation out of existence.
"Oh, it's you."
Xavier’s voice is casual, but there’s a slight hesitation, a pause just long enough to make your stomach twist. You watch as his gaze flickers around the library, scanning the shelves, the tables, the spaces between them. Searching.
For what?
For who?
Panic grips you before logic can. Without thinking, you drop into a crouch and scramble beneath the nearest table, pressing yourself into the shadows like your life depends on it.
From your hiding spot under the table, you can hear her voice light up with excitement the moment she sees him. She starts talking fast, animated, rambling about something you can’t quite make out.
Xavier, on the other hand, replies in short, clipped responses. His voice is steady, neutral, maybe even a little disinterested.
That’s… weird.
This is the moment where he’s supposed to be captivated by her every word, yet, right now, he looks almost… distracted. And then, just for a second, his eyes flicker away from her to the side, toward the table.
Your stomach drops.
He couldn’t be looking for you… right? There’s no reason, no logical reason.
You watch as his gaze lingers for a moment too long, scanning the shelves, the tables, your hiding spot. Your pulse pounds in your ears as you press yourself tighter against the wooden legs of the table.
Meanwhile, she’s still talking, completely oblivious. You can’t even focus on her words anymore. He shifts. Take a step. But just as he moves, she tugs at his sleeve, dragging his attention back to her.
"Hey, are you even listening?" The girl huffs.
Xavier blinks, as if snapped out of a daze. "Yeah. Sorry. What were you saying?"
You hold your breath, waiting, hoping.
She sighs. "We should get going." Her voice is light and casual.
Footsteps shuffle against the library floor, and for a moment, you think it's over. They're leaving. You're safe… for now.
────── ♡ ──────
The rhythmic tapping of keys and the quiet hum of the library fill the air as you scan books at the checkout desk, barely looking up as the next person steps forward.
"Just put your books here." You say, reaching for the scanner.
A familiar voice responds, softer than usual. "Okay…"
Your fingers pause for the briefest moment before you force yourself to look up.
Shjt–
Stay calm. Stay calm. He won’t recognize me… right? Please don’t recognize me.
Xavier stands before you, shifting his weight slightly, a few books stacked in his arms. But that’s not what catches your attention. It’s the faint bruise along his cheekbone. It’s subtle, but up close, the lighting highlights the uneven coloration, just enough to make it noticeable.
You narrow your eyes slightly. "…What happens to your face–" Your hands fly up, covering your mouth. Idiot. You were supposed to avoid drawing attention.
He blinks, as if caught off guard by your question. Then he lifts a hand, fingers brushing absently against the bruise before dropping them. "This? It’s nothing."
You don’t respond right away. Just stare at him.
Xavier exhales, shifting the books in his arms. "Just ran into some trouble, that’s all." His voice is casual, too dismissive.
You don’t take the bait. Instead, you scan the book in his hand and slide it back toward him. "Did you at least put something on it?"
For a moment, he doesn’t answer. Then a low chuckle. Not his usual sharp, teasing kind. It’s softer, almost amused. "Are you worried about me?"
You roll your eyes and push the next book through the scanner. "Forget I asked."
"Too late." His voice is quieter now, a little too pleased.
You huff, choosing to ignore him as you finish scanning his books.
────── ♡ ──────
The library is quiet, the steady rhythm of shelving books filling the air. You barely glance up until you catch movement from the corner of your eye.
Xavier stands in front of a tall bookshelf, reaching for a book just out of grasp. His fingers brush the spine, but he hesitates, his arm stiff, a faint wince crossing his face before he tries again.
You sigh and step over. "Here." Easily, you pull the book down and hand it to him.
Xavier blinks, as if surprised you even noticed, then takes it. "…Thanks."
You watch him for a second. "You shouldn’t be reaching like that if you’re hurt."
Silence…
"… You work here often?" He asks, shifting slightly, like he’s trying to steer the conversation into something more natural.
"Just part-time." You reply carefully.
"Oh." His grip tightens a fraction more, then loosens again, as if he’s catching himself. "So you’re not always here."
"That’s kind of how part-time works." You say dryly, hoping to cut this conversation short.
But instead of taking the hint, he exhales softly, almost like that wasn’t the answer he wanted. "Right."
For a moment, neither of you speak. You should walk away. You should.
"You turned me down pretty fast last time."
Your stomach twists slightly.
"Because you had the wrong person."
"I know." His voice is calm, even. "I just thought..." He stops himself, shaking his head slightly. "Never mind."
A strange tightness coils in your chest. You don’t know why, but the way he says that, like something fragile, makes you uneasy.
────── ♡ ──────
You can still remember, the first time you two met, Xavier behaved more… different.
He looked completely shocked, standing in the middle of the street like he had just seen a ghost. You hadn’t even realized he was nearby at first. If you had, you would have taken a different path, avoiding him entirely.
Back then, you had been terrified. Not just because he had seen you, but because you didn’t know what he knew. Did he know you weren’t supposed to be here? That you weren’t from this world?
The thought alone had sent a chill down your spine. You had feared that he might follow you, that he would demand answers… answers you didn’t have.
You had no idea how he would react.
You steal a glance at him from across the library, pretending to be busy stacking books.
He’s here. Again.
Ever since that encounter, Xavier has started coming around more often. Too often. You don’t know if it’s a coincidence or if he’s deliberately showing up, but either way, it’s unfortunate for you.
Because now, you have a new problem.
There is no way you can keep working here, not when the risk of him figuring out your secret keeps growing by the day. If he hasn’t already started piecing things together, it’s only a matter of time.
Which means you need a new job.
And more importantly, you need to cut him off.
You’ve tried to brush it off, to tell yourself you’re just being paranoid, but the facts won’t let you.. Based on everything you’ve learned from the game… Xavier doesn’t react well to things he can’t explain. And you’re that something.
All you want is to go unnoticed, to stay out of his sight. Even though you love him, his story, his character, the way he was written to be compelling and complex. As a character, he was fascinating. But in reality? In your reality? He was dangerous.
Who knows?
Maybe one day, instead of just appearing in the library, he’ll show up somewhere worse. Like your apartment. Probably with a sword in his hand and your head on the ground.
And that? That’s not a risk you’re willing to take.
Your fingers hover over the small stone hidden in your pocket, its smooth surface unnervingly cool against your skin. You’ve only ever known of the protocore in standard colors, you don't know why this one turn black.
A cold shiver runs down your spine as you think back to that day. It happened in your first week here, when you're still not familiar with the traffic.
The truck had been coming straight for you, too fast, too close. You remember the blinding headlights, the deafening screech of tires, the sheer terror of knowing you couldn’t move in time.
And then—nothing.
The truck had passed right through you, like you weren’t even there. Like you were just a ghost.
You never figured out what happened that day or what that stone did. And you never wanted to find out.
Because if you did… It would mean admitting that something was deeply wrong with your presence here.
You sigh, pushing those thoughts to the back of your mind. Dwelling on them won’t help.
────── ♡ ──────
"Okay… and you’re good to go." You slide the book across the counter, offering a polite nod.
But the man on the other side doesn’t move. He just… stares at you.
Your fingers tighten slightly around the scanner. "… You need something else sir?"
He keeps staring. A slow, creeping smirk tugs at his lips.
Is he… flirting?
You honestly can’t tell. If he is, it’s bad. Like, uncomfortably bad. The kind of bad that makes you want to disappear under the desk and pretend this interaction never happened.
Your grip tightens on the scanner as you force a strained smile. "…Do you need anything else?"
The man tilts his head slightly, eyes still locked onto you. "Nah," he drawls, amusement lacing his tone. "Just… taking my time."
Oh, great. I love when customers do that.
You resist the urge to groan. "Well then can you please take your time somewhere else." You say, keeping your voice perfectly polite.
The man doesn’t leave. Of course he doesn’t.
Instead, he just stands there, staring at you like you’re some kind of puzzle he’s trying to figure out. His smirk lingers, his posture relaxed but unnervingly present.
You grip the edge of the counter, debating whether to just pretend he doesn’t exist.
A shadow falls over your desk.
"Is there a problem here?"
Xavier’s voice is casual, but there’s an underlying edge to it, subtle, sharp. You blink, barely processing his sudden appearance. When did he even get here?
The man glances at him, and for the first time, his smirk falters just a little. "Nah, no problem." He says, though his tone isn’t as confident as before.
Xavier doesn’t respond right away. He just stares, his expression unreadable, his presence somehow making the air feel heavier.
The man shifts uncomfortably. Then, finally, finally, he mutters something under his breath, turns on his heel, and walks away.
You let out a slow breath, shoulders relaxing slightly. You narrow your eyes at him next. Suspicious.
"You’re here a lot." You point out. "Don’t you have something better to do?"
He tilts his head slightly, considering. "Not really."
Great.
You sigh, rubbing your temple. "Look, thanks for the whole 'intimidating presence thing', but I’m fine. You don’t have to keep showing up here like some…" You wave a hand vaguely. " …library cryptid."
Xavier raises an eyebrow. "Library cryptid?"
"You know what I mean." You huff. "If you’re just here to loiter, I’m going to have to ask you to check out a book or leave."
For a moment, he just watches you, unreadable as ever. Then, he reaches for a book from a nearby shelf.
You blink as he sets it on the counter.
"…?"
"You said I had to check something out," He says smoothly. "I’m just following the rules."
You glance at the book’s cover. The Beginner’s Guide to Cooking.
Slowly, you lift your gaze back to him, deadpan. "Seriously?"
Xavier meets your eyes, completely unfazed. "What? I’m expanding my interests."
You sigh and scan the book, going through the motions. "Remember to return it on time," you say, sliding it across the counter.
Xavier reaches for it, but then he pauses.
Your brows furrow slightly, and you glance up at him, only to catch his gaze locked onto your wrist.
More specifically… the faint, almost unreal lines tracing along your skin.
Your stomach drops.
Oh no.
You turn pale, heart lurching as you realize what he’s seeing. In your rush today, had you forgotten to cover it?
Quickly, you set the book down on the table beside him and pull your hand back, tucking it out of sight. Your heart pounds in your chest, but you force your voice to stay steady. "Something wrong?"
Xavier’s expression flickers, too fast to read. Then, he looks up, meeting your eyes.
"…No." He says smoothly, picking up the book. "Nothing at all."
You watch as he picks up the book, his movements smooth, controlled, too controlled. Then, he simply says. "See you around." and walks away. ────── ♡ ────── The next morning, you call in sick.
And the day after that.
And the day after that.
A full week passes, and you still haven’t set foot in the library. You know you’re being paranoid. Xavier hasn’t done anything, hasn’t confronted you.
But the memory of his eyes lingering on your wrist, that brief pause, it’s enough to keep you away.
So you stay holed up in your apartment, staring at the black protocore on your desk, fingers hovering over it but never quite touching. You should be figuring out a new job, making a plan, doing something.
Lincoln City isn’t exactly kind to people without proper documentation.
And by people, you mean you.
Most jobs require some kind of passport, ID, or legal paperwork, things you, an entity from another world, very much do not have.
Yay…
So, here you are, scanning every job advertisement you can find. Which, as it turns out, isn’t much.
You sigh, rubbing your temple. Looks like it’s going to be another long week of avoiding certain people and figuring out how to survive in a world that doesn’t think you exist.
────── ♡ ────── "He's looking for you."
You blink, frowning at your colleague. "What?"
The words catch you off guard. You were just here to formally quit your library job… politely, of course. Luckily, the woman in charge is reasonable, not the type to make a fuss.
Your supervisor barely glances up from her computer, fingers still tapping at the keyboard. "That guy. Xavier, was it?" She tilts her head slightly. "He’s been asking about you. Came by a few times this week."
Your stomach twists.
You keep your expression neutral, though your mind is already racing. Why? What does he want?
"…What did you tell him?" you ask carefully.
She shrugs. "Just that you’ve been out sick. He didn’t ask much else, but he didn’t look convinced either." She finally looks up, raising an eyebrow. "You in some kind of trouble?"
You force a laugh. "No, nothing like that."
She doesn’t look entirely convinced, but she doesn’t push. "Well, if you're here to quit, just sign this, and you’re good to go."
You nod, taking the paper with slightly unsteady hands.
Xavier is looking for you.
"The library gets more crowded when he's here." Your supervisor adds idly, tapping at her keyboard. "Those loud girls who can't keep their gossip to themselves… it's unbearable."
Of course, he is handsome, after all. You suppose it was only a matter of time before people started hovering around him like moths to a flame.
Not my problem anymore.
────── ♡ ────── Xavier leans back in his chair, staring blankly at the paperwork spread across his desk. It’s not that he can’t focus, he just doesn’t see the point. The words blur together, the numbers meaningless.
"Didn’t you mess up your shoulder last week?""
The voice pulls him out of his thoughts. His colleague stands in the doorway, arms crossed, one brow raised.
Xavier barely reacts. He shifts slightly, rolling his shoulder with ease. Right. That.
"Heals fast." He mutters, flipping a page in the report.
"Uh-huh." There’s skepticism in the tone. "Looked pretty bad to me. Thought you were gonna need a sling."
Xavier exhales, resisting the urge to rub his temple. He should’ve expected this. He had leaned into the whole thing just enough, winced at the right moments, let his grip falter slightly, made sure she noticed. And she did. She had looked at him. Talked to him.
But now she is gone. And pretending didn’t matter anymore.
"You think too much." Xavier says simply, turning his attention back to the paperwork.
A scoff. "Sure. And you don’t think enough." His colleague lingers for a second before stepping away.
His jaw tightens. His gaze flicks toward the stack of books on the edge of his desk, the ones he never actually needed, just an excuse to be there. Some had been recommended by her, offhand suggestions he pretended not to care about at the time.
He hopes she’s okay.
That mark on her wrist… He hadn’t meant to notice it. It was only a fleeting glimpse when she pulled her hand away, but the image stuck with him. The raw redness of irritated skin, the faint lines of something beneath it. Some new. Some old.
The thought doesn’t sit well with him. It lingers, festering, gnawing at the edges of his mind.
Despite that, she still noticed him. Every time.
Even when she tried to keep her distance, her eyes would flicker toward him whenever he had a new injury, small glances, subtle frowns. She never asked, but he saw the way her fingers twitched, like she wanted to reach out but held herself back.
With a sigh, he reaches for those book, flipping it open absentmindedly. A small slip of paper flutters out, landing on his desk.
His eyes narrow.
It’s a pharmacy receipt, nothing serious, just something over-the-counter, painkillers maybe, with the pharmacy’s name is printed at the top..
She must have bought it before vanishing. Maybe she even went there often.
His grip tightens around the paper.
An accident. A careless mistake.
But now, it’s his lead.
✦.───────── ˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗ ───────── .✦ Art work and char: belong to Infold Game ✦.───────── ˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗ ───────── .✦
xavier rafayel sylus zayne caleb
cw; self harm, razor blades, hurt comfort, angst, fluffy ending, reader/mc is slightly hinted at being chubby (body dysmorphia + negative body image), self-isolation (reader/mc), dddne (proceed with caution).
authors note: this is a mere work of fiction and i do not condone or am encouraging people to inflict bodily harm upon themselves. if the contents in this ff will trigger you in any sort of way, please do not read it!! as a person that is/was going through similar situations shown in this ff, i want to raise awareness and help support others in need.
this rough patch in our lives will soon pass <3
ps: the sh in this ff is very vague and up for interpretation. there is no exact place mentioned for where the sh is taking place on the body, nor where the scars are. i tried to make everything very vague so it's easier for everyone to relate to. it is HINTED!!! at that reader/mc in this ff is slightly “chubby” and/or has body dysmorphia. this can be interpreted however you like :)
also, in this ff the boys haven’t had any major sexual intimacy with reader/mc due to the scars, it's explained further in the fic.
xavier: 2.2k wrds
stress ridden, you frantically fled through the hallways of the hunter’s association, your mind in shambles.
there was a rapid influx of wanderers flooding into Linkon, thus causing mass chaos among the citizens.
this led to more and more being added onto your plate, more missions, which led to more paperwork, more unorganized files, ect, ect.
and most importantly, as the days went on your mental health slowly deteriorated. eyes constantly wandering to that tucked away box within your cabinet that would give you temporary relief.
it wasn't until a particular day until you caved into your cravings, your desire to feel the rush of blood, the rush of adrenaline, your little secret, your little safe haven.
the feeling you ravaged at like a man starved, the place you resided as the blade cut through the awfully abused skin, the sensation of the bathroom’s cool hard-tiles contrasted the pounding of your head.
the feeling of shame after. the feeling while cleaning up. the feeling of shame as you stood under the shower head and blood pooled.
the stinging sensation as the water trickled down your skin, the signs of your voluntary abuse was permanently etched onto your skin.
the hot tears that pooled down your face as you looked at your own reflection. the image of your body frightened you no matter what anyone told you. the newfound scars only heightened your insecurities.
and since that box was opened the cycle would repeat, over and over again.
rot, repent, repeat.
over and over again.
when will it be over?
the next day at work was the same, wanderers were relentless and your coworkers were restless.
“new missions”
“new paperwork”
“new deadlines”
when will this stop?
it was truly suffocating, and painful. the talking of your subordinates that filled the room, half assed conversations on your end, all while the fabric pulled and tugged on your raw skin.
a battle where a wanderer ripped your uniform, the scars barely visible but it was enough to put you on edge for the rest of the day.
walking back to the dreary office building that was filled with a vast amount of high tech, you hurriedly maneuvered past people, avoiding conversation at all costs.
your little plan was going well until you saw him.
the person you considered your lover, the one that always knew how you were feeling solely based upon observational skills was standing right infront of you.
you couldn’t bear to meet his eyes. it was so obvious with your demeanor that something was off with you the entire week.
your phone has been shut off for days on end. sometimes, if someone sent you a somewhat important message, you’d send them a quick thumbs up to show that you're acknowledging their presence.
xavier’s gentle voice called out for you as you hurriedly scurried away from his gaze, exiting the building in the same fashion you entered it.
it wasn’t until you got home you had realized a good 75% of your belongings had been left behind at the office building.
you shuddered at the thought of willingly walking into that horrid building again, not on your one day off.
your phone was left at the building, but it wasn’t like you had much use for it anymore.
you fled into the bathroom before freshening up, replacing the haphazardly placed bandages over your fresh wound.
the bathroom was dark. you didn’t want to see any of it, you didn’t want to see yourself.
the thought of doing more damage crossed your mind, before you quickly dropped the thought, and the box. shame slowly creeped up your shoulder, reminding you of the feeling of cleaning up after yourself, and basking in the sadness of your own mistakes.
finishing up bandaging your wound, you simply put the box of your tools on the bathroom counter, before moving back into your disarranged room.
clothes were askew on the floor, the lighting was dark, the windows only opened enough to see what was in front of you.
moving under the bed covers, you began to close your eyes, basking in the silence.
however, that silence was quickly broken after a series of knocks cascaded at your door.
you tried to ignore it, but loud knocking every 2 minutes was a horrendous sound to sleep too.
groggily getting up from your bed, you exited the room and made your way to the door.
you slightly cracked open the door to see xavier in all his glory standing there.
his soft blue eyed gaze landed directly on your face, his eyes held a warmth that was hidden for you soley. your bag from work was hung over his shoulder, all of your belongings resided within the bag.
a sense of adoration fluttered in your heart as you looked at him, his face slightly flushed due to the weather, his serene complexion that contrasted the pink dusting his cheeks.
it wasn't until a few moments after xavier basked in your presence he spoke.
“have you been okay? you left in a rush today, and your phone has been off” xavier’s voice came out hesitant as he asked you, his brows furrowing as he attempted at asking without sounding too brash.
“no i've been fine, thanks for getting my stuff xavi” you rushed out the words before hastily grabbing the bag that xavier had extended out to you.
you attempted to shut the door before xavier’s hand grabbed a hold of the door.
“can i..stay? just for a bit i promise. just want to make sure your okay” xavier spoke to you softly as his eyes raked over your figure, your eyebags had become darker as the days went on, the skin around your eyes looked slightly irritated as if you had been rubbing it.
you looked at him blankly before nodding and walking away from the door.
“sorry its a little messy in here, just haven’t had enough time to clean up, you know?” your attempt at enthusiasm didn’t go well, your voice slightly shaking as you spoke.
you were uncovered, the bandages covering up your fresh wounds did little to hide the rest of the scars you had accumulated over the years.
you felt xavier’s gaze on your skin. hurriedly you began to make your way back into your own bedroom before saying,
“i'll be right back—just stay put for a while. I need to get changed” your voice came out more harshly then you had intended, your shaky hand lifting to open the door before closing it shut.
xavier’s eyes widened in shock, a pang of sadness reverberated throughout his heart as he saw the marks upon your skin. what had been going on that you didn’t want to tell him?
fumbling through your dressers, you immediately found something that covered up the scars on your body, your mind was in a haze, your body moving on autopilot as you changed.
when you exited the bedroom, xavier was nowhere to be seen, that was until you saw the bathroom light shining, the light from underneath the door casting a glow onto the living room floor.
you began to move onto the couch, pulling one of the many blankets that littered the couch over yourself.
a slow click resounded throughout the room as xavier exited your bathroom, the atmosphere was tense and dreary as he sat next to you on the couch.
xavier called out your name before speaking,
“have i done anything wrong? recently?” xavier’s question rang out in your ears as your eyes blankly met his.
“no xavi you didn’t do anything, i've just been a bit busy lately” your voice sounded hesitant, as if you were lying. your eyes avoided his gaze as you began to look away to another part of the room.
you knew xavier well, he craved your presence, a few days without you and he was better off dead. it had been a week before the two of you had sat down and had a conversation, a week since you simply sat in each other's company.
well enough time had passed for you to fall into your bad habits again.
“i went into the bathroom, i saw everything, the gauze, the razors, your scars. how long were you planning to let this go on for?” xavier’s voice stated this gently, with a firm undertone to it.
xavier’s body moved closer to yours, his body heat burned your skin. but you still felt yourself subconsciously moving closer to him, his comforting scent filling your nose, making you feel more at ease.
“xavier, it's really not a big deal. it's just skin, it will eventually heal.” you responded with a half-assed lie. with every mark you made on your body, a scar always remained.
your insecurities just grew and grew as the days went on. you began to question if you really deserved xavier, he was handsome and strong willed. while here you were, a person with a fragile heart that shattered at every moment and every situation.
“it's a big deal to me. i don’t want to see you like this, you don’t have to suffer alone.” xavier responded sincerely, he cupped your face, moving your gaze back to his eyes. his eyes were gentle as he held your face with care, as if you were fragile porcelain that would break at any given moment.
hot tears pooled down your cheeks as you heard his words. the sincerity in his voice, the soft touches, everything warmed your heart.
xavier’s thumbs wiped away your tears before he leaned in close to your face, before giving a soft kiss on your cheek, where the tears once resided.
everything made sense to him now, why you always turned down his advances, your nights together that always ended at a few kisses down your neck, it all made sense.
“my star, don’t feel forced to do anything. i’m sorry i didn’t notice this this sooner” xavier’s arms wrapped around you as his neck craned down to your shoulder
“xavi it's okay, it’s not your fault, don’t blame yourself for my mistake” you responded to him, your voice coming out nasally due to the tears prior.
the word mistake rang through xavier’s ears. his head bolted up from your shoulder to look you in the eyes once more.
“no—it's not a mistake, these scars just make you more beautiful. there is nothing wrong with them. as long as if it's you i’m with, no marks will define who you are to me” xavier said sincerely, beginning to move his face closer to yours
“may i?” xavier inquired, his gaze flickering from your eyes down to your lips
you nodded, before melting into the kiss. it was different from the ones you usually shared, it was soft and gentle. xavier’s hand made its way through your hair, gently brushing his hands through it as the kiss slightly deepened.
your lips disconnected as xavier’s mouth left soft kisses down your body, whispering praises onto your skin each time his lips disconnected.
his lips hovered over the area where your scarred skin was, lifting the fabric of your clothing and pressing his lips on the scars, a glint of adoration filled his features as he basked in the sensation of your skin.
“perfect, my perfect pretty girl.” xavier’s lips left a warm sensation over your scarred skin, it was like the pain and shame went away in an instant. it felt as if a weight was lifted from your shoulders as he whispered multiple praises against the area.
xavier’s negative thoughts were soothed when you didn’t jerk away from him, your hands simply ran through his hair as you looked down at him with the same admiration he had given you.
he eventually stopped, resting his head on your lap, his arms wrapped tightly around your waist as his eyes looked up at you.
your hands ran through his lightly colored hair, playing with the strands as xavier began to leave kisses along your stomach.
“xavi stop that tickles!” your giggles echoed throughout the dimly lit living room, as xavier simply just smiled at you.
he eventually stopped, getting up from his lying position, freeing your lower body from his torment of kisses.
when he returned to his sitting position, he was suddenly shoved back onto the couch. his back was pressed against the cushiony material as your lips crashed onto his. a sudden abrupt movement that caused his eyes to widen, and his cheeks to flush even more.
as you pulled away from the kiss, his normally pale complexion was a rosey shade of pink, his ears were also shaded a dark red.
xavier pulled you down onto him, suddenly crashing into his arms. he left an array of kisses on the top of your head, and your face.
“don’t leave me again please. nothing physical will make me want to separate from you. i just want it to be you, your most authentic self is all i want.” xavier’s words were said softly as he whispered them into your ear, leaving a few soft kisses along your neck before pulling you into another soft kiss.
the rest of the afternoon was filled with love, and acceptance as you stayed in xavier’s soft embrace, his hands tracing along the scars, his body enveloping you in his sweet, secure, embrace.
Pairing: Xavier x mc
Cw: angst, mentions of captive bird, spoilers for Caleb’s story, threats of violence, Xavier being protective, use of nickname Starlight, comfort, probably other stuff
A/n: I love Xavier so much, I just finished the Caleb story and the entire time I kept thinking that Xavier and Sylus would never do that. Zayne probs too but he’s not my favourite. Anywho, enjoy the Xavier fic, might write one about Sylus soon.
——————
Xavier’s knee bounced. Up and down and up and down and up and down. His heart raced, faster and faster. Whether it be nerves or anxiety, he wasn’t sure. Maybe both. He hadn’t seen you for a week, the last he had heard from you was that you were going to Skyhaven for a mission and you would be back. That’s it. No other communication, nothing from Jenna, Tara had no clue where you were, and Simone wouldn’t spill.
Over the past week, he had barely been able to sleep, he was so worried. After hearing about the explosion by the overpass, his anxiety spiraled further at the thought of you getting hurt. He knew you could handle yourself, his trust in you was beyond words, beyond measure even. He had seen you in countless fights, had seen you take down coutless wanderers, but he was always by your side. He was there to step in if you ever got hurt, and that’s where his anxiety stemmed from. He needed you by his side, not for your own sake, but for his.
He on his couch, waiting for something. Today was supposed to be the day you were to come home. He also knew Skyhaven was hard for you, after all, your childhood best friend had lived there. His heart tinged a bit, some jealousy creeping up through the anxiety. He pushed it aside for now, he had bigger things to focus on than his petty jealousy. His phone dinged, a light melody that he only used for you. He picked it up immediately and checked the text.
“I’m back.”
“R U home?” His breath quickened, he needed to see you.
“Yes.”
“Can I come see U?”
“Please”
He stood up. He grabbed his wallet, the book he had been reading, and the two new stuffies had caught at the arcade while you were away. He still needed his teacher with him, even after his near fifty tries a day, he only caught the two. He teleported to your front door. He needed to see you as soon as possible. He needed to be close to you, and hear your voice, and be in your presence.
He knocked three times, and unlocked the door. He called out your name and saw you by your windowsill, look out at the sky, with a solemn look on your face. You looked over at him, and a small smile grew. He knew something was off. Your emotions were always easy for him to read, you never put any effort into hiding them when he was around. He put down your stuffies on the couch, along with his book and approached you.
“How was your trip?” He stood next to you, trying to be a calm and comforting presence. Someone you could lean on. And you did, you leaned into his side a little and look into his soft blue eyes. You felt safe beside him. You felt a lump form at the back of your throat, and felt your eyes sting a little as you tried to hold back your tears.
“It was rough,” you managed to get out. A singular tear fell, and he noticed it immediately. He wasn’t sure what to do. He felt the panic creep up his throat, his eyes widened and he reached out to wipe it away.
“What happened?” His voice was measured and hardened. Ready to go after whatever had caused your pain. To stop whoever had hurt you. To protect you.
“Caleb… is alive.” More tears fell, your complicated emotions were clear on your face. Anger, fear, some resentment, longing, and pain. Xavier knew all of those well. He also knew what this would mean for you. Your childhood best friend, the one you had mourned, the one you had cried yourself to sleep over, was alive.
“What?”
“He was alive this whole time Xavier, and he’s involved with Ever. And he…” you trailed off. Xavier’s eyes quickly examined your face, and he knew something else had happened. He was not going to push, he was going to wait until you told him yourself. He, however, was more than ready to kill the bastard again if it meant keeping you safe.
“What did he do to you?” His voice, was comforting to you, and you wrapped your arms around his neck and let the tears flow. He held you tightly, unwilling to let you go. He didn’t experience what you experienced, he knew something had happened. He did not want to let you go through it alone.
“He drugged me with cold medicine. He trapped me in his house… he isn’t the same person I grew up with. He’s not my Caleb…” he stilled at that. His anger grew. You could feel a shift in Xavier’s demeanour, unlike with Caleb, you weren’t scared. You knew Xavier like the back of your hand, you had spent so much time with him. You know him now like you used to know Caleb. You held on tighter to Xavier, afraid that if you let him go, he would become a different person too. That you would loose him. Xavier’s hold tightened exponentially, and he was ready to go, to hurt Caleb. Put him back into the ground because, what he did to you, the pain he had caused you is not okay. None of it was okay. Anyone who caused you pain, regardless of it being your childhood best friend, did not deserve to be in your presence ever again, breathe the same air as you, be near you. Xavier would expect the same if he ever did that to you.
“He… did what?” He managed to ground out, through his clenched teeth, and his arms clutched you closer.
“He wanted to protect me, he said…” you sobbed out.
“Oh Starlight,” he tried to pull away a little but you wouldn’t let him. You didn’t want to see the pity on his face. “Hurting you like that isn’t protection.”
You nodded into his neck. He let go of you briefly a grabbed your legs to wrap them around his waist. He picked you and walked over to the couch. Beside the stuffies and all. Regardless of how he felt in the moment, the anger brewing under his skin making him feel like a restless animal, he knew you needed him more.
When he tried to pull away to see your face you let out another sob and clutched further. “Please don’t leave me Xavier.”
He huffed at that, and finally forced your face away from his neck. He placed his forehead against yours. Your bleary eyes stared back into his, deep sorrow and anger sketched into his features. There was no hint of pity. Your relief washed over you.
“I would never, in a million years leave you. You are the only one for me in the entire cosmos. I will always be by your side,” he cradled you close. “Can I kiss you?” He muttered so softly you almost missed it. You nodded.
He pressed his lips softly against yours. It was nice and peaceful, his touch was gentle. He pulled back, and pressed a kiss to your forehead. You sighed and leaned your head against his chest. He swayed you back and forth. When your breathing evened out, his suppressed anger came to the forefront. A man was about to die. Xavier was going to kill the man a second time, the man who dared to hurt you.
pairings: Xavier x female reader (MC)
genre: fluff
summary: Xavier is a prince (crowned prince of Philos), you are a princess of a neighboring kingdom, your parents forced you to marry him (arranged marriage for formality and status, reputational.), he loves someone else, her name is unknown, only he knows, unfortunately, the one he loves has no royal blood and her reputation as a knight will destroy Xavier's family, soon after your marriage, the girl tries to kill you or make Xavier abandon you since she's jealous, but she fails and angers Xavier, when he snapped, he made his guards lock her up in the dungeons, in the end, he ends up confessing his feelings for you, for the longest time you've waited and longed to hear the words of love and affection from him.
warnings: this might be cheesy since this is inspired by my character.AI AUs, bear with me
It was time - your marriage that you didn't want to be in, or even get married, you walked down the aisle, Xavier, your soon-to-be husband for a few more minutes, and your marriage will be official. Xavier watched, a blank expression that he rarely wore, he always was smiling, or just looking gently at someone he loved-but it wasn't you, he loved someone else-his knight, he always watched her train in the garden, but now, he was getting married to someone he barely knew or loved.
As you approached the altar, the priest started preparing you both for your marriage, as you both said and told your vows, it was time to accept that he was your husband now, and he had forced himself to say, "I do." when the priest asked if he accepted you as his wife.
After a good amount of time of your wedding, you didn't sleep with him in your shared room, instead you slept alone in your own bed and room. Until one night, he knocked on your room, asking softly, "Hey, are you in there? We need to talk ...", when you heard him, you were in your bed, sitting while reading a novel, as you heard him speak, you put your book aside and open the door, your hair was in a braided bun (you know what hairstyle I mean, right?), he looked at you, he had to admit to himself, you were very beautiful, he walked inside the room, taking notice of the organization, it was neat, neater than his own room and office, you waited for him to speak, he finally spoke up after a good few minutes, "I know it's been...awkward and tough since that day...but I want to make things more comfortable and make things feel like home to you...so, will you let me help you feel like you're at home?", you felt.. butterflies in your stomach as he said that your mind reeling with indecisiveness and comfort, as you nodded, he smiled softly, when you looked at his smiling face, your heart fluttered softly, seeing him smile for the first time was heartwarming, he spoke once again, "I'm glad you're letting me do this for you, I'll see you later'', he walked away and out of your room.
One night, you were in the garden, looking up at the starry night sky, you loved looking at the stars, you could see constellations and other stars that reminded you of your family when you were younger-when you didn't have to be in this mess yet, you heard soft footsteps from behind you, you turned to look, it was Xavier, he approached you softly, sitting beside you on the bench, looking at the stars too, somehow, both of you seemed to like looking at the stars, he spoke up, breaking the silence, ''Since when did you like looking at stars like me too? I love looking stars, even from a young age'', he waited for your reply, you soon started to open your mouth, your voice raspy from the lack of voice usage, ''I started from a young age too, I found comfort in stargazing more than I found it in humans ...'', he looked at you, his gaze softening, he did find more comfort in stargazing mire than finding it in humans, he had to agree with you on that.
Ever since that night, you started warming up to him, also finding comfort in him, he was like a shining star to your dark sky, you were the dark, gray sky that needed light in its galaxy.
One starry night on a full moon, you were on the balcony this time, to get a better view of the sky, the stars shone bright along with the full moon, you heard sharp footsteps behind you, it didn't match with Xavier's steps, it wasn't as gentle and calm as his. You turned around, expecting a guard or Xavier, but you saw the female knight he loved, she had an irritated expression her face, she stepped forward, closer to you, you stepped back, each forward step she made, made you go backward until you were pressed on the railing of the balcony, centimeters- no, millimeters away from getting pushed off, she grabbed you by the neck, strangling you, she spoke in a deep, menacing tone, ''You stole him away from me... he was mine, I was his first love, not you, so snap out of your some sort of dreamland and wake up-he's mine...or I can just end it all and push you off and I can be his again...'', she said as she strangled you harder, pushing you closer to the edge-if it was even possible anymore, you let out grunts and struggled groans, until there were soft footsteps behind you both, it was Xavier.
Xavier spoke; his anger was evident in his voice "what are you doing? don't touch her-hurt her I'll throw you in the dungeons for touching my wife ...'', the knight was stunned, her hand shaking with anger and disbelief of what he said, she gripped your neck harder, as if she was trying to force your soul out of you through your throat.
Xavier couldn't take it anymore and pulled her away from you, yelling at the guards to throw her in the dungeons cell, she protested, kicking and screaming like a child throwing a tantrum, before taking her away, the words she managed to say were only ''I was your first love! Not her! Take me back!''.
As she disappeared into the distance, her screams fading, Xavier put his attention to you, dropping to his knees, tears welling in his eyes, he helped you up, he spoke once more, ''are you okay, my love? I should've done that to her a long time ago, I should've known she was jealous of you-'', you shush him, hugging him tight, you spoke weakly, your throat dry and soar from the strangling, ''it's okay, Xavier, it's not your fault, she was the one who started it... so please, don't blame yourself.'', he hugged you back tightly, softly whispering in your ear; ''I love you...to the moon and back'', your eyes widened, hearing the words from his mouth, you spoke as well, whispering back, ''For so Long I've Waited...I longed for you to say that...and, I love you too...''
A RANT
I just realized something as i am on tumblr and on insta. .. it physically hurts me that i can't reblog LADS fic or art or comic ... any content on lads on instagram ..... 🙂🙂🙂 and here
I have become so confident and shameless at this point ..... its concerning 😆😆
Cuz at first i was afraid and scared to either reblog write or comment on any fic but then i realized
~ Wait .... they r writers and readers tooo.. and as a writer and reader i would love if anyone commented or liked or reblogged ny works.. so whats stopping me
So
Yes
Thats my rant
Thank you for coming to my rant 😉🤣😆😂😂
And be prepared for me to find posts and comment on them ... 🤪🤪
loyal to my man ~Xavier .... Life is delulu at this point and other fixations
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