Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When Caleb had found out that Zayne was her new doctor, not only one of the best in the business, but also their old friend, he’d thought he could rest easy. You would be taken care of by someone he could trust to help. It was one of the few things Caleb thought he didn’t have to worry about. He didn’t like that you had such a dangerous job but he also knew that he couldn’t keep you from your dream…not without you hating him. At least he knew someone could be trusted to patch you up and scold you in his place for not being more careful.

Or he thought he could trust him. He’d planned to just pick you up from the appointment, surprise you with a visit. He couldn’t get enough of your surprised face every time he came around, like you were finding out that he was alive all over again every time. A redo of the tragic discovery that had actually happened in Skyhaven. He’d planned to wait outside, but it started to rain so he’d moved into the lobby. He didn’t know if you’d told Zayne that he was alive and he didn’t want to give the guy a heart attack. And that’s when he saw it.

He was sitting in one of the waiting room chairs facing the front desk, his cap pulled low over his face just in case. You walked out with Dr. Zayne who was properly scolding you as he should for not being more careful and getting injured again. And then something happened. You both stopped, your eyes softening as you looked at each other. Your smile at his dry teasing lit up your eyes as you laughed and a soft smile crossed over Zayne’s face, his usually cold green-hazel eyes full of warmth. 

He knew that look. He’d given you that look so many times. You’d given him that look…..sometimes. When your eyes weren’t sliding past him because of the burdensome label of “brother”. When you weren’t worried about him every time you learned a crumb of what happened since he “died”. When you weren’t angry at him for keeping you safe… and all to himself .

Zayne reached out to take your hand, holding it gently but firmly, bringing a flush to your cheeks. Caleb could barely hear you talking over the rushing in his ears, his heart pounding in his chest as he grit his teeth. Something about plans for this weekend. Well sorry, pal, those are getting cancelled. Because I’m here now and you aren’t winning this. He needed to calm down. He couldn’t let you see him like this. He’d already shown you too much of his ugly side. Getting up abruptly, he stormed through the door, counting on the rain to cool his head.

“Is that…?” Confusion crossed your face as you watched someone burst out of the hospital into the rain. Someone who looked very familiar. “Sorry, Zayne. I need to go. We’ll talk later about trying out that new place, all right?”

“Of course.” Zayne nodded, watching you run off after the man who just left…..Someone Zayne thought he recognized. It couldn’t be, could it? 

“Caleb?” You called as you hurried outside and up to the man. You were right. You’d know him anywhere. “What are you doing here? I thought you wouldn’t be back for another week?”

Caleb managed a quick breath to compose himself. Not now. Not in front of her. He knew where Zayne worked. Hell, knowing that guy, that was pretty much as good as knowing where he lived. He plastered his usual smile on his face, stuffing those ugly feelings down for now.

“Whaaat? Did you get your dates mixed up, pipsqueak?” Caleb teased.

“No! I wrote it down!” You pulled out your phone to check your calendar. He snuck a glance and saw….a lot of appointments on it. Of course someone like you would have lots of friends….though Xavier didn’t sound like a girl’s name…

“There! Next Saturday, Caleb Visit!” You pointed out.

“Well, we finished up early. Is it a crime for me to want to come see you when I get a spare day?” Caleb lied. He’d told you the wrong date on purpose. To see your surprised, happy face. To make sure you cancelled whatever else was going on. To make sure you chose him.

“What, aren’t you happy to see me?” He teased, ruffling your hair.

“Of course I am!” You answered, swatting his hand away. “How long are you here for?”

“Just tonight and Saturday. The Fleet needs me back on Sunday.” Another lie. He was expected back on Monday, but you would obviously want to spend every moment together that you thought you could…and he needed to talk to Zayne alone. 

“Oh…” Your face fell in disappointment that the visit wasn’t longer.

“Hey, don’t be sad. That’s a whole day and a half. Unless you had other plans…” Caleb tested.

“No…I mean, I did, but I can move them. You’re here so rarely these days. That’s more important.” You answered.

Caleb fought to keep the smile on his face from turning into a cheshire grin as whatever her plans were with Zayne were tossed aside in his favor.

“Come on, pipsqueak. Let’s get some dinner.” He offered, moving closer. “You want me to pay or is your personal chef on duty tonight?”

“Oh, you know, I heard the chef just got back from his vacation and is making his famous braised chicken wings tonight. I just need to get some ingredients for him. I’m a very generous employer, you see!” You teased.

“Are you now? Well, I’m sure he’d be happy to make you anything you want then.” Caleb pulled out his umbrella, tugging you against him to keep you both dry. He’d deal with Zayne later. Right now, you deserved all of his attention and he was more than happy to take all of yours.

_____________________________________________________________________

Sunday

Zayne rubbed his eyes in his office as he finished another overnight shift, taking off his glasses. On the one hand, he was utterly exhausted. On the other hand, it meant that he didn’t have to deal with the dreams tonight. Even if they’d come for him when he finally got into bed. Still, he needed to get some sleep, however fitful it may be. Being too tired would make him a liability in the operating room and he could not allow that. He had plans with her in the afternoon too, so he should be able to get a good six hours if he went home now.

Just as he was packing up to leave, he got a call from the front desk to his office phone. He took a deep breath as he braced himself for another urgent case and picked it up.

“Yes?”

“Dr. Zayne?” The nurse asked, sounding concerned. “There’s someone here to see you. He says he’s a friend of the family? A Mr. Caleb? Should I send him back?”

Zayne’s blood froze in his veins. He’d convinced himself that he’d been mistaken that day. He knew Caleb was dead. He’d accompanied her to his funeral. He’d watched the casket get lowered into the grave, laid flowers at the tombstone. How? How was he alive?

“...Send him back.” He decided. Either it was him and he had something important to discuss…or it wasn’t and he needed to know just who thought it was funny to impersonate a dead man.

It didn’t take long for Caleb to arrive at his office, guided by the nurse. He gave her his trademark smile, sending her back with a charismatic wave and a thank you at the door. Zayne stood behind his desk, feeling like he was seeing one of his usual ghosts….but that wasn’t possible. Caleb hadn’t died in his dreams or on his operating table and he was clearly visible to the nurse.

“Long time no see, Zaynie.” Caleb teased, leaning in the doorway. “What, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“....How?”

“That’s a long story. And one that I’m not telling you.” Caleb answered, his voice steely as that natural charm drained right out of him…..as it often did around him. Ever since high school, whenever Caleb was alone with him, he was someone else…someone even colder than he was.

“Does she know?” Zayne asked.

“Some of it. She doesn’t need to know it all.” Caleb pushed off of the doorframe and shut the door behind him. “Speaking of her…just what are you doing with her?”

Zayne sighed. Of course that’s what this was about. That’s what it’s always about with him. “I’m her doctor.”

“Oh yeah? That all?” Caleb pushed. “I saw you two. The way you looked at each other, the way you touched her? Just what do you think you’re doing? Isn’t it illegal for a doctor to see one of his patients? I could report you to the board.”

“And if things get more serious, then I will transfer her to another doctor for all her non-cardiac care.” Zayne answered. “We aren’t there yet.”

“But you want to be?” Caleb tested.

“....Yes.” Zayne answered simply. 

Caleb’s jaw set with frustration, his hands balling into fists. Zayne could almost swear that he felt just a touch heavier, like the air on his shoulders was pressing down on him. Not enough to hurt, but enough to notice. He wasn’t sure if Caleb was doing it on purpose.

“Well, stop it. She doesn’t need someone like you.” Caleb spat.

“Because she has you?....Honestly, I thought you would approve.” Zayne shot back.

“What? Why the hell would I-?”

“I’ve known her for many years.” Zayne answered. “I care about her well-being. I can patch up any wound she might sustain and would do so with my last breath. And I have a surgeon’s salary which means that I can support us both easily if she decided to rely on me. By all counts, any parent or sibling would be happy to have someone like me with their child.”

Caleb grit his teeth, the weight on Zayne’s shoulders growing worse, enough that he needed to adjust his stance to bear it. 

“Yeah well, I’ve known her practically her whole life and she doesn’t need you.” Caleb shot back.

“Yes, you have. Because you’re her brother.” Zayne reminded him. “Though I sense that you don’t particularly like that term anymore.”

“W-What? Of course I-” Caleb faltered.

“I noticed in high school, Caleb. Around the same time you started having her “pretend” to be your girlfriend to drive off the throngs of other girls around you.” Zayne explained. “You aren’t as subtle as you think. She doesn’t notice because that’s how things have always been between you. She thinks it’s normal.”

“Shut up.”

“You’re going to have to choose. If you want her, you can join the competition, but you have to fight fair. Brother or boyfriend. You can’t be both. You can’t kick me out just because you can’t have her.”

“Shut up!” Caleb hissed, his hand flying out to bring his Evol to bear, driving Zayne to his knees with a startled groan of pain. Seeing Zayne drop made something deep inside him purr in satisfaction. The ugly part of him he liked to pretend wasn’t there. He held him there for a few seconds before letting go. 

“Stay away from her.” He ordered, the commanding voice of the Colonel slipping out easily.

“No.” Zayne refused, pulling himself up and straightening his tie. “I’m still her primary care physician. I assume you don’t want the only person who has studied her unique condition to stop looking after her.”

Caleb growled in frustration.

“As I said, this is a competition.” Zayne pressed. “Threatening me isn’t going to make me back down and you can’t harm me without putting her life in danger. I don’t want to fight you here, Caleb. It would hurt my patients if the hospital got damaged. Besides….we aren’t the only competitors.”

Caleb glared at Zayne, his gaze as heavy as his Evol. “Who else?”

“At least three.” 

Caleb’s eyes widened at the number. “Three?”

Zayne nodded. “Surely you did not think that you could keep someone like her all to yourself forever?”

Caleb’s fists clenched again along with his jaw, a growl on his lips, and this time, Zayne raised his hand, a small lance of ice ready. Just in case. 

“Who?” Caleb growled, forcing himself to take a deep breath and calm down. Zayne was right about one thing: he was the only person who could treat your heart.

“....I know one.” Zayne answered carefully, not letting his guard down. “He stayed here at the hospital a while ago after an injury. She visited him here. I saw them in the garden together while I was on my rounds that night.”

“Who, Zayne? I need a name.” The Colonel demanded.

“I don’t have that. He wasn’t my patient.” Zayne answered coldly, dismissing the ice in his hand. “Find out yourself.”

Caleb huffed, spinning on his heel for the door.

“She’ll hate you, you know.” Zayne pointed out, freezing Caleb in his tracks as surely as if he’d used his Evol. “If this is how you “protect” her, she’ll hate you.”

“........Don’t you think I know that?” Caleb hissed, slamming the door on his way out.

Chapter Text

Caleb flew back to Skyhaven, a black feeling swirling in his heart. He’d known that he’d have to deal with this someday, that once he wasn’t around to scare them off anymore, other guys would pick up on how perfect you were, how amazing, how beautiful. He’d always known that someone would come to take you away from him….but four?

Zayne wasn’t a big problem. He’d had him on his radar since high school. It had been a relief when he went off to college. He also knew that Zayne was slow. He’d let her make all the moves. He didn’t need to worry about him suddenly sweeping her off her feet. And as much as it put a bitter taste in his mouth to say it, he wasn’t wrong that he’s a good option if he has to let her go. But he knew nothing about these other three. 

Back in his home office, he started looking. He had one lead. A guy injured in Akso hospital that she visited. Finding him based on the injury was stupid. That’s what hospitals were for, but if he could get access to the visitation records…The best thing about everything being digital nowadays is that he could look this stuff up from the comfort of his home instead of having to risk breaking into the hospital…or trying to use his authority outside of Skyhaven. While he could do almost whatever he wanted here, back in Linkon, it was a different story. 

Thankfully, he’d learned a few new tricks since he came back. It took him some time, but he was able to get access into the visitation records and security camera footage. Finding her name on the visitation list wasn’t too difficult, just a simple spreadsheet search. And she was visiting…

”Rafayel…” The name was vaguely familiar. Had they met before? From the time in and time out on the record, he found when she entered and followed her through the building on the cams. She went into his room, carrying…an apple. He chuckled to himself at the irony. Logically, he knew that lots of people ate apples all the time, that it was a pretty standard fruit. But the illogical side of him grew bitter at the sight of “his” fruit being given to someone else.

There was no camera in the room itself so he was forced to watch the door. A nurse came in and left….then they left, slipping out into the garden as Zayne said. He paused as the man finally looked toward a camera. At last, he could see the guy’s face. The camera’s resolution wasn’t good enough to see a lot of details but violet hair wasn’t a common choice. He could use that. Again, he thought he seemed vaguely familiar. Where had he seen him before?

Figuring it couldn’t hurt anything, he tried searching up his name, figuring he’d find a random social media page that may or may not be him. Instead, he was flooded with reports and articles about the famous artist…and that violet hair with a cold smile that didn’t reach his eyes on every one. Reading further, it seemed he was known for being capricious, sometimes not turning up to his own exhibitions and switching between being sickly sweet and outright rude to the reporters and patrons who tried to discuss his art with him. So that's where he knew him. He’d probably seen him on an ad or something at some point.

So this was it…He knew that you weren’t the type to get blinded by fame or date someone who was a total ass…so what were you doing with him? Why visit this guy? How did you even know him? It didn’t look like he got out much.

Obviously, he couldn’t let someone so flighty be around you. You deserved better. You deserved the best. You deserved him. 

It was time to have a chat with this so-called “genius artiste”. 

_________________________________________________________________________

“I’m dying. I just know it. It’s really happening this time.” Rafayel whined, throwing a dramatic arm over his eyes from where he lay on his floor. He’d been locked in concentration for the last few days, working on his latest piece. 

And as usual, she’d come around to check on him after he stopped replying to her texts for a full day. He’d been fine, of course. Right up until she’d spoken to him, asked when he’d last slept, ate, anything.

Then it all came roaring back, his body finally able to get through to his brain that he was starving, exhausted, and dying of thirst all at once. On top of it all, his leg was asleep from sitting in the same position for the last….probably four hours. He wasn’t sure. He didn’t have any clocks in here for a reason.

“You’re not dying. You just need to eat something.” She laughed, pulling out the takeout she’d brought with her, having guessed correctly why exactly he’d stopped answering her messages.

“You heartless woman, laughing at my pain.” Rafayel teased, reaching for the large bottle of water and sucking most of it down in one long gulp until the plastic crinkled in his hand.

“Hey, slow down, you’ll make yourself sick.” She warned. 

Rafayel ignored her as he tore into the package of seafood rice she’d brought, humming in delight as the warm flavors coaxed him back to life. 

“Once you finish that, take a nap. I’m sure you haven’t slept in days.” She ordered.

“Fine, fine.” Rafayel chuckled, leaning over to press a kiss to her cheek. He felt his chest tighten with affection as she blushed. How were you always so cute? “Thanks, cutie.” He offered with a gentle smile.

“....You’re welcome. Besides, I don’t want to wake up to headlines that say “Famous Artist Starved to Death in his Studio: The Tragic Tale of Rafayel’s Final Masterpiece.” She chuckled, hiding her flush behind a joke.

“Oh please. I wouldn’t let it get that bad.” Rafayel insisted, looking back at his painting. “...This one’s almost done. I just need one more color to really make it shine…It’s taking some time to find.”

“Really? I think it looks fine.” She insisted, looking over the gorgeous painting of a palace under the waves.

“Exactly. It looks fine. It’s beautiful. It’s pretty. It’s….whatever. It’s not…real yet.” Rafayel explained. “Right now, it’s just a good piece of art. I need something else to give it life, a soul.”

He watched her look at it, some part of him wondering if she’d ever recognize the things he painted, if they’d ever feel familiar to her.

“Hmm…I guess I see what you mean. It doesn’t feel the same as your other stuff.” She conceded. “But if you need help getting reagents for the paint again, I’m in.”

“My loyal bodyguard, always on duty.” Rafayel teased. “This one’s taking some trial and error to find the right hue. I’ll let you know if I need help with getting more. For now, I’m going to bed. Come with me?”

“Sorry, I can only do a quick visit this time. I need to get back to work. Captain Jenna has me working on a special report about what happened in Skyhaven.” She apologized.

Rafayel groaned, flopping back onto the floor like a dead fish. “It’s always work with you. When do I get a turn?” He pouted, refusing to look at you.

“I promise to make it up to you this weekend.” She chuckled, unconcerned with his apparent anguish. This song and dance was familiar by now. “If your painting isn’t done by then, I’ll help you get reagents. And if it IS done, then we can do something more fun. Maybe….go to the arcade and get lunch?”

“.....Fine.” Rafayel conceded, dropping his act to look back at her. He reached out, cupping her cheek. “Come back to me soon, all right?”

“I always will. I promised, remember?” She held his hand in her own for a moment, returning the warmth in his two-tone eyes. 

“I remember.” He sighed, rubbing her cheek with his thumb. She nuzzled into his touch, kissing his palm before finally pulling away. If she didn’t go now, those puppy dog eyes were going to convince her to ditch again.

She stood up with a sigh, getting back into work mode. “Get some rest and I’ll be back before you know it.” She insisted, heading out the door.

“Yeah, yeah.” Rafayel waved, watching her go again. He let out a long sigh once she was gone. It was never enough time. Still, he had her promise. She was coming back. That calmed the restless wave in his heart, the one that was always worried that each parting might be the start of another era without her, not knowing when his torture would end and she’d come back into his life.

The click of the door made him sit up, wondering if she’d forgotten something. Any lingering warmth in his eyes went dark as he saw a man in the doorway instead. “This is private property, you know. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” He ordered coldly.

“The unlocked door and gate would suggest otherwise.” The man quipped back.

Caleb glared at the man sitting on the floor. If he hadn’t seen it, he wouldn’t have believed it. You’d never cared one way or the other about art and this guy was so useless that he made you come and take care of him. He even called you his “bodyguard”. Did he really make you protect him too? Putting yourself in danger for him? And yet….what he’d just watched through his giant windows had been a hell of a lot more than the look you’d given Zayne. It had taken everything he had not to break in and pry his hands off of you or levitate him into the ceiling. Why this guy? What could you possibly see in someone like this?

“Well, I don’t offer sneak peeks.” Rafayel dismissed, getting up from the floor. Something about this guy put him on edge. He noted his stance, the hand near his hip. He was used to fighting…and might have a gun. He’d probably been watching and waited for your “bodyguard” to leave. Now the question was what did he want? “If you’re a fan or something, you can wait until the next showing.”

Caleb scoffed. “Like I’d ever be your fan. I’m here about her. Just what are you doing with her?”

“What am I-?” Rafayel scoffed. “Courting her, what do you think? What are you supposed to be, her stalker or something? I know she doesn’t have a boyfriend. I checked.”

“I’m her b-” Caleb stopped himself before he said it. If she didn’t tell Zayne that he was alive, then she certainly hadn’t told anyone else. He was sure that everyone knew about his death though. “I’m an old friend.”

“Right….’ Rafayel answered suspiciously. “An old friend who’s here to threaten me for getting too close to her. Listen, it’s not my fault if you didn’t make a move sooner.”

“Just stay away from her. She doesn’t need someone like you around her.” Caleb spat.

“Someone like me? Now that sounds hurtful.” Rafayel replied, pressing a hand to his heart and pretending to be hurt. 

“You can barely take care of yourself and you’re using her as your bodyguard? She has enough to deal with without you adding to the pile. You’re only dragging her down… Like this.” Caleb raised his hand and he caught a satisfying look of surprise before Rafayel crumpled under the weight of his Evol pressing him into the floor.

Rafayel pushed against the weight on him, feeling like he was being crushed at the bottom of the deepest part of the ocean. Of course he’s an Evolver. Feels like Gravity type. He needed to get up, to do something. He wasn’t about to let this guy win.

Caleb stalked over to the man trapped on the floor, leaning over him. “I said stay away from her. Or this can get a lot worse.”

Rafayel glared up at him. “And if you do, she’s never speaking to you again.” He threatened. Clearly this man cared about her in his own twisted way.

“I wouldn’t kill you.” Caleb assured him. “But I don’t think an artist would do well with broken hands.”

“I’d tell her it was you. If I go down, I’m taking you with me.” Rafayel hissed, letting heat gather in his hand. He just needed an opening from this crushing weight…

“Yeah?” Caleb leaned in, grabbing Rafayel’s jaw. “It’d be hard to talk if I broke this.”

With his attention on his face, Rafayel flexed his hand, flames catching on the leg of the man’s pants.

Caleb swore as his pants caught fire, breaking his concentration and forcing him away while he tried to put it out. While he was distracted, Rafayel regained his footing, calling his dagger to his hand.

“Get out. Now. I won’t kill you just in case you actually are her friend.” He ordered, the voice of the Sea God slipping from his lips. 

Caleb scoffed at the threat, finally getting the fire out. “As if you could kill me.”

“You can try and find out.” Rafayel coldly answered, adjusting his grip on the knife.

Caleb fought with himself. He didn’t like backing down from a challenge, especially from someone like this. He’d made his point. This wasn’t meant to be an elimination….not yet.

“No…This is just a warning.” Caleb decided, his voice cold and empty. “But you’ll see me again if you stay with her and I won’t be so nice next time.”

“Neither will I.” Rafayel promised.

Caleb growled, his jaw set in irritation. He wanted to break his jaw, break his hands. Make sure he never touched her again. But he was right about one thing. If he told her what he’d done, she wouldn’t speak to him again. He couldn’t take that risk…not yet at least.  “...I heard there were others.”

Rafayel raised an eyebrow at the question. “Yeah, there are. You going to give them the welcome treatment too?”

Caleb didn’t answer that. “Tell me one of them and I’ll go. Enemy of my enemy and all.” He offered, figuring that Rafayel would want the competition taken out as much as he did.

Rafayel weighed his options. Either they kept fighting and risked her being mad at both of them, the man left empty-handed to track down another one, or he gave him a tip. It could buy him some time to look into him while he went after the competition.

“Going once.” Caleb threatened.

“Fine.” Rafayel answered quickly. “There’s another Hunter that goes on her more dangerous missions with her. His name is Xavier…She mentions him sometimes when she talks about work. And if I don't like the way she talks about him, I'm sure you won't either.”

“Pleasure doing business with you.’ Caleb glared. “Stay away from her. Don’t forget what I said.”

“Couldn’t if I tried.” Rafayel spat back.

Once Caleb turned for the door, Rafayel threw his dagger after him, aiming for his shoulder. It didn’t meet its mark. It hovered in the air just before its target, held in the grip of his gravity.

“Nice try.” Caleb didn’t even turn around, turning the dagger into a useless lump of metal with a flex of his fingers, letting it fall to the ground with a dull clank.

Rafayel watched him go, staying on his guard until he was gone. He swore, kicking over the paint near his feet, sending a spray of red over the white tile. Dark hair, violet eyes, one of her “old friends”...Time to do some research. If he really needed help, he could go to the Nest, but he’d rather not if he didn’t have to.

He moved to his computer, scrolling as far back into her social media as he could go. Looks like she’d made her account in high school…It only took a few minutes of flipping through to find a younger but familiar face in a lot of the pictures.

One of them had the caption “ Best brother ever!” and a tag for a Caleb. Wait….Caleb? He scrolled back up to the more recent posts.

“Looks like someone’s back from the dead…” He breathed, staring at the photo of his grave. He remembered that day, holding her as she cried after the funeral. So what was he doing here? And how? Looked like he’d be going back to the Nest after all.

Chapter Text

Caleb returned to his office for more reconnaissance, a bad taste in his mouth from his last meeting. This had been easy before. Encouraging some guy to focus on his studies more, suggesting that one of the girls near him ask out a guy near you, it had never taken much to scare someone off or redirect their attention. This time was different. He’d even gotten as far as getting violent with them both and neither of them had backed down. While he didn’t feel conflicted over what he’d done, he was worried about your reaction if he was found out. Zayne wasn’t wrong. You would hate him…and it would probably only push you towards one of these other guys if you found out. It’s possible you wouldn’t want to see him again… But what else was he supposed to do? He couldn’t tell you how he felt. No matter how sure he was that you felt the same, there was always the chance that you didn’t…and then you’d be disgusted by him and keep your distance. It would never be the same again. You wouldn’t let him into your life so easily or act so comfortable and casual around him anymore if you knew what he really wanted. There would be a barrier there that wasn’t there before, that he would notice every time he saw you.

Logically, he should be happy with what he had and wish you well with one of these guys. Maybe even steer you towards the one he wanted…which was probably Zayne if it really came down to that, even if he did feel that his busy schedule would leave you lonely and that the guy was too cold and closed off to give you the attention you needed. He wouldn’t treat you like he would.

He let out a long sigh, burying his face in his hands at his desk. It was all spinning out of control. The more he tried to hold onto himself, to her, the more he felt them both slipping away. He should stop here…He knew that. 

Just a quick look then. The next one was some other Hunter. If he was going on missions with you, he just needed to make sure that he was good enough to keep you safe. It was for your safety. That’s all. He couldn’t let you trust your back to someone who couldn’t protect you. If he looked good…he’d leave him be. He really would, he lied to himself.

Sitting up, he looked into the cameras and records at Hunter HQ. He knew that there was an indoor training ground. There had to be records of you using it and if he was your partner, he should be there with you. 

Checking the sign-in records, he was surprised to see that you were there now. Pulling up the camera, he felt his chest tighten seeing you there. You were doing well, using both techniques that he’d taught you and ones that you’d learned from your training. Your aim was good and your reflexes were fast. You’d grown so much…It was reassuring to see firsthand how well you could fend for yourself…but he could still see the gaps where something could slip in, where you could get hurt. Where he should be.

He saw you pause the simulation and turn around. The cameras didn’t have any sound so he could only guess that someone had walked in. You smiled and reset the simulation for two people. Finally, the intruder walked into view.

A young man with short, ash blond hair and a non-standard Hunter uniform. Caleb checked the logs and confirmed his suspicions. His name was now on the list with yours: Xavier. 

He watched the scenario reset, a blinding light flashing in the young man’s hand before fading into a sword. “The Light Evol, huh? That’s a rare one…” He muttered to himself. 

The signal blared for the simulation to begin and Caleb watched them fight, assessing their every move. The more he watched, the more his brow furrowed. You fought together…seamlessly. In every opening, he was there to cover you. If he charged in, it was only after he’d ensured he had your covering fire and he always knew where to position himself to not disrupt your aim. The way you fought with him was natural, instinctual, a delicate dance whose steps you both seemed to know effortlessly. It was as if you’d been fighting together for years, decades even. But that was impossible. You’d only been a Hunter for a year or two. There’s no way you should be this comfortable with him in such a short amount of time, even if he went on every mission with you which he knew he didn’t.

Leaning in closer, he watched more closely, saving the footage to analyze frame by frame. No…it wasn’t you. It was him. He knew your every move a half-second before you did it and knew exactly where he should be. Your resonance could account for some of this, like when he was able to toss you one of his lightblades for a combined strike, but not all of it. There was only one other person who was able to fight with you like this: himself. Somehow, someone who had only known you for a year or two could fight with you as well as someone who knew you your whole life, who had helped train you. 

Just how long had he been watching you -no, stalking you- to be able to do this? He didn’t look that old. He would have had to start when you were kids and he certainly would have noticed someone creeping around you back then. He was sure that he’d never seen him before today. Who was this Xavier? He had to know. Any thought of holding back or stopping here was obliterated as surely as the high score on the simulator. He watched as you high-fived him in delight, a gentle and easy smile on his face that lit up his blue eyes. 

Tapping into the hunter directory, Caleb looked up his address…and felt his heart stop. At first glance, he thought that his address was the same as yours, that he’d somehow moved in with you without him knowing about it. Looking again, he noted that the room number was slightly different, apartment 602 instead of 502. He lived directly above you. There is no way that was a coincidence. He must have moved so close to you to make stalking you easier.

The leather of his glove creaked as he clenched his fist. No, Xavier would not be your partner for much longer, no matter how good he was.

_________________________________________________________________________

Xavier walked you home after another mission, stretching his shoulder where a blow had landed wrong as he blocked it.

“I’m sorry, I should have been paying more attention.” You apologized, getting into the elevator to your apartment. “Let me get you an ice pack for that.”

“It’s fine. I’ll go to sleep and be better in the morning.” Xavier calmly insisted.

“I’m getting you the ice pack AND you can get some sleep.” You pressed. “One of these days a nap isn’t going to just fix it.”

“And you’ll take care of me if that happens. Right?” Xavier asked.

You felt a flush on your cheeks at the proposal, looking away from his soft blue eyes. “...Of course.” You responded quietly, earning a smile from him.

“Maybe I should get injured more often then…” He teased.

“You should not!!” You snapped, getting off the elevator and heading into your apartment with your new key. Xavier was right. You felt better with the physical key. It meant that you didn’t need to worry about the lock breaking because the power or the WiFi was out or that someone could hack the lock.

“Wait there.” You ordered once inside, going to fill a pack with ice and putting it on his shoulder. “There. Keep that there for a while before you fall asleep.”

“I could always sleep here. Then you could keep an eye on me.” Xavier offered, holding the pack in place.

You paused, briefly considering it. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d slept over but at least those other times had been accidents. Xavier just had a bad habit of nodding off when he got too comfortable…which happened a lot around you. You supposed you should take that as a compliment, that he felt safe around you. Still, letting him sleep over on purpose…felt like it was crossing a line…one you were still deciding on.

“It’s ok.” Xavier interrupted your thoughts, breaking you out of your little panic. “Thanks for the ice.” He offered with a smile that said there was no harm done. He headed upstairs to his apartment and you waited, holding your breath to listen for his door closing above you. One of these days, these guys were going to be the death of you. 

Xavier stepped into his apartment, locking the door behind him…and stopped. Something was wrong. He could sense someone else here. He turned around, looking around the apartment, keeping his guard up while hiding his trepidation. 

“Xavier, is it?” A cold voice called from the dark balcony, a man stepping out of the shadows. Xavier didn’t recognize him which meant it wasn’t one of his teammates. Ever maybe? He let the ice pack fall, his blade called to his hand in an instant.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Caleb pulled out one of his pistols, aiming at Xavier’s shoulder. “Let’s not do that. I don’t want her to overhear.” Caleb insisted, glancing down at the apartment below.

“What does she have to do with this?” Xavier demanded, not lowering his blade. 

“She has everything to do with this.” Caleb answered, stepping inside, his aim still trained on the blonde. Approaching the coffee table, he pulled out photos from his coat pocket of him with you at the training arena…as well as walking home together, all taken from the security cameras around town and in HQ. “What are you doing with her?”

“We work together and we live in the same building. I wasn’t aware that was a crime.” Xavier insisted, keeping his blade leveled at the intruder.

“No, no…That answer would be fine. I wouldn’t like it, but I’d understand. I’m talking about this.” Caleb pointed to the arena photos. “You fight with her like you belong there, like you know her every move before she’s about to make it. But you haven’t known her long enough to pull that off. Not unless you’d been watching for a long time. Long before you actually met.”

Xavier’s grip on his blade tightened. He couldn’t give him the real reason. He wouldn’t believe that you’d done this before, that he’d fought at your side for…he’d lost count of the years, the lifetimes. How many times he’d seen you die…and the one time he’d left so he wouldn’t have to. 

“So I’m right then.” Caleb answered, taking his silence as admission.

“You’re wrong.” Xavier insisted, his voice hard and cold as moonlight. “She has the Resonance Evol and-”

“I know that.” Caleb interrupted. “It doesn’t make something like this happen. Try again.”

Xavier pressed his lips together. He wasn’t worried about whether he could handle this man in a fight, but if that gun went off, you’d definitely hear it and come to help. He didn’t want you anywhere near this guy…and you suspected that neither did he.

“I’ve been studying swordplay my whole life. I’m good at adapting to my partner.” Xavier answered instead. “I haven’t been stalking her.”

“Then you live here, above her apartment, because…?”

“I lived here first. She moved in under me.” Xavier insisted. “You can check the apartment records.”

Caleb stared at him for a while, gauging his answer. He didn’t seem to be lying, but his face was also like a still lake. He’d barely shown any expression the entire exchange. 

“...Fine.” Caleb decided, lowering his gun. “You’re good at what you do and you just happened to live here. Total coincidence.”

“Right.” Xavier lowered his sword though his guard was still up. “Do I pass your test?”

“...No.” Caleb raised his free hand to crush Xavier into the floor just like he had with the other two. Xavier was forced to one knee for a moment before he blinked away, appearing behind him in the next instant.

“What do you want? Who are you?” Xavier demanded, the tip of his blade at his back.

Caleb felt the tip of a sword at his back and raised his hands in surrender. “I’m an old friend of hers. I’m just looking out for her. That’s all you need.”

“I don’t agree.” Xavier answered. “Tell me your name.”

“No.” Caleb winced as his answer drove the blade a bit deeper into his back.

“That wasn’t a question.” Xavier answered coldly. “Your name…or your promise to leave her alone. Whatever you think you’re doing, this isn’t protecting her. Or do you want me to stay home the next time she takes on a mission she can’t handle?”

Caleb grit his teeth. Despite his concerns about how close Xavier was to you, how effortlessly he had inserted himself into your life, he was a good partner for you at work. He’d seen him in the arena. He wouldn’t let anything happen to you. And he knew that he wouldn’t be around to fill in, no matter how much he wanted to be.

“She does that a lot. Just so you know. And I don’t remember you ever coming to help.” Xavier hissed. “She even went to the N109 Zone once. Alone. After I warned her about it.”

“She what? Why?” The icy standoff faltered as Caleb’s disbelief broke his composure. Why would you do that? What possible reason would you have to go there?

“...Someone she cared about died very suddenly in an explosion. She thought the culprit was there.” Xavier explained. “Something you would know if you’d been by her side.”

His death….She’d taken that absurd risk to look into his death. He wished he could say he was lying, but it sounded just like something you would do.

“And? Did she get hurt?”

“No…She met someone there who helped her out.” Xavier answered. When she’d disappeared into the N109 Zone, she hadn’t told him. Probably because he’d told her not to do it. A day went by with no contact from her. He’d asked Captain Jenna if she was sent on a mission. That’s when he was told where you’d gone…and that no one was permitted to go in after you. He didn’t listen of course, but it hadn’t done him any good. He hadn’t been able to find you and then…you’d returned. Totally unharmed, if tight-lipped about what had happened. You’d just mentioned that you’d met someone who helped.

“Now she goes back there sometimes…” Xavier admitted. He hated when she did that. Every time, she’d drop off the face of the earth and he had no idea where she was or if she was safe…and then she’d come back. He wasn’t sure what he’d do if you didn’t come back once.

Caleb thought about what he’d just been told, weighed the possibilities. “...How about a truce? You let me go and I look into the N109 Zone and who she might be meeting there. They seem like a bigger problem in all this.”

“Let you go?” Xavier huffed. “After you broke into my apartment?”

“I’ll tell you what I find. Let you know if it’s another guy.” Caleb offered, hoping he’d take the bait. If he could get them hunting each other, he could get some time to look into this. See if Xavier was right that he wasn’t stalking her and find out about this N109 Zone person. His gut was telling him that this was the fourth guy and if so…oh, you were going to get such an earful about hanging out with dangerous people like that.

“......” Xavier thought about it. He couldn’t fight here without alerting you…and he did want to know about what happened in the N109 Zone. He could look into the man in front of him while he was at it.

“Deal.” He decided, dismissing his blade. 

“Good choice.” Caleb smiled, turning around to face him. “I’ll let you know what I come up with.” He held out his hand for a handshake. Xavier did not take it. “Suit yourself.”

He strode past him to the balcony, hopping up onto the ledge and dropping off into the night.

________________________________________________________________________

Xavier didn’t stay long at his apartment. He needed to know who had just visited him, threatened him to stay away from the most important person in his life. Of course he knew that he wasn’t the only one who felt that way, but that didn’t mean he had to take this lying down. So he went to Philo. With a short greeting to Jeremiah, he demanded use of the greenhouse to look into whoever just came after him.

“Ok, ok, just….relax, will you? You’ve got a scary look on your face.” Jeremiah tried to calm him down as he pulled up the system. “There. Now who do you need to look into?”

“.....Someone she’s known for a long time. Dark brown hair, purple eyes. A guy.” Xavier explained.

“Another guy…That explains the scary look.” Jeremiah mumbled under his breath, having been the target of that glare before.

“What was that?”

“Nothing, Your Highness.” Jeremiah answered, the title earning him a huff of frustration from his leader. “Just looking through her social media, there’s some pictures of a guy like that from when she was in school.”

Xavier moved closer, staring at the photos and the person tagged in them….Caleb. “Wait…Caleb?” He remembered her disappearing into her room after he passed. He’d thought she was grieving so he’d kept his distance, bringing by takeout when it seemed like she wasn’t eating. Instead, she’d been researching the N109 zone.

“Yeah? There a problem?”

“He’s….dead.” Xavier explained.

“Ah…Let me check on something.” Jeremiah tapped at the computer, using the software’s facial searches to look for the same person. “Yeah, here’s his death certificate….and here-” He pulled up a personnel photo for the Farspace Fleet. “Is his current military ID. Date of issue well after his death. Honestly, it’s shoddy work. They didn’t even change his name. Did they think he just wouldn’t talk to anyone he knew again?”

“Can you look into this?” Xavier asked. “I need to know if he’s with Ever now. If he could hurt her…”

“I know…Anything for her.” Jeremiah answered sadly. “I’ll look into it.”

Chapter Text

Looking into the N109 Zone was like looking into a black hole. Any time he thought he had a lead, there was a dead end. But he’d managed to learn some things before he hit those walls. There was an organized crime organisation that practically ran the place: Onychinus. They dealt in weapons and modified protocores. That already put them in a higher pay grade than the usual crime circles dealing in drugs and sex. Of course there were no handy cameras in the area to peek into. Legally, it was deemed a no man’s land. No one was supposed to be living there, but the darker sides of society loved a place to hide. So of course they’d set up shop comfortably in a place where the law couldn’t reach. 

Just what could you have found there? Caleb wondered. He knew that you’d gone there to look into his death. He also knew that this place and these people had nothing to do with what happened. If clues had led here, then it was a frame job. Set up someone you want taken care of to take the blame for something you’ve done. Two birds, one stone. Exactly the kind of tactics he’d been taught and was using himself in the Fleet. So why would people like the Fleet and Professor Lucius care about these people? The protocores maybe? Or was there something else?

He shook his head. He could worry about the connection later. Right now, the concern was that someone involved with a dangerous crime organization was getting close to you. He couldn’t think of any reason why you would keep going back there after whatever business you had was done. Obviously, you’d gotten the information you’d wanted. It was likely how you’d ended up at the Fleet…how you were reunited. He wasn’t sure whether he should thank or curse the person who gave you the information. Without it, he didn’t know when he’d have seen you again, the world snapping back into clarity as soon as he saw you there in your stolen uniform…but it also meant that you’d seen him and what he’d become, something he hadn’t wanted. Not until it was safe for you to do so.

He sighed, pinching his brow. If you were going back there…they had to have something on you. Why else would you keep going back to this guy? Just what had you promised him… sold him in exchange for the information? His mind spun to the worst places and he had to take a breath to calm himself down as he felt the chip sting in his neck, opening his hands that he hadn’t noticed had clenched. He couldn’t let himself get too upset or he’d forget what he was doing here. You needed him to protect you. He couldn’t risk forgetting. If it was that bad…then he’d deal with them as he needed to. Right now, he had no evidence that was the case. You certainly didn’t seem to be behaving differently and he’d know if you were in trouble. He’d be able to tell…wouldn’t he? He still knew you like that…right?

He forced himself to step away and get some water. He had to keep control. Normally, it was so easy, but not with you. Never with you. Downing the glass and feeling the cold liquid chill his throat, he made himself compartmentalize. For now, you were just another case file on his desk, another mission to complete. Find the person hurting you and make sure they never did so again. Easy. He let the cold, emotionless thinking he’d been taught take over.

Now the question was how to get to them. The N109 Zone wasn’t mapped and he didn’t know where their base was. He also likely couldn’t find out without some in-person reconnaissance, thanks to the lack of cameras. While he couldn’t find any details on him, it was clear that the person in charge of Onychinus ran a tight ship. Finding a traitor or a loose piece of intel was proving impossible. He had two options: he could put a bug on her bike and wait until she went back, then follow the signal to their base. But that would only work if she was going to their base and not another meeting spot or location. It also meant that he’d be meeting them on their home turf. This wasn’t like with the other three. This person was dangerous, not just a civilian or a Hunter that he could talk to and threaten without concern for serious retaliation.

The other option would be to stage a purchase. They were weapons dealers and he was authorized to make such deals if needed for the Fleet. He wouldn’t need to find the base if he could get the boss alone. If anything, it would make things easier since he wouldn’t have his men around him, but the plan felt too simple. He was sure that plenty of people had thought of it, even tried it. The fact that he was still in charge proved that it didn’t work….But maybe he could strike a bargain. If the boss had something on you…could he offer something to pay down the debt? Would that be better than trying to kill him? Normally, he’d do more reconnaissance before heading into a showdown with a dangerous target, but there was another mission into the Deepspace Tunnel soon. He’d be unable to reach you for at least a week once they went in. He couldn’t leave you in this man’s clutches for a moment longer than necessary. However, he also couldn’t let himself be killed again. If getting involved with this was what you did the first time, you may not survive it if it happened again.

Caleb got to work enacting his plan over the next few days, setting up an order for the type of weapons only Onychinus could provide on short notice. Surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly, the Fleet already had some dealings with them and he was able to establish contact quickly. That explained why they’d wanted them blamed for the explosion that had “killed” him. He demanded to meet alone and in-person with the leader, to “ensure the integrity of the exchange”. Now he just needed to wait for the exchange…and prepare. 

_________________________________________________________________________

“No, you can’t come on this one, sweetie.” Sylus insisted, tapping your head. “They were very clear that they wanted to do this alone.”

“And what if its a trap? I should at least be nearby.” You returned. You knew Sylus’s life was dangerous and that he could handle himself. What you didn’t like was being left behind. You thought you had more than proven that you could keep up with him by now.

“Luke and Kieran will be nearby. And even if it is a trap, do you really think I would go down so easily?” Sylus pointed out. “You can stay here. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

You pouted stubbornly. “I could just follow you.”

“You could.” Sylus conceded. “But you’re going to be very bored if you do. It’s just an exchange, kitten. Either it goes off without an issue-” You scoffed at the idea as that almost never happened. “- or I handle it as I always do and it’ll be over before you can even enter the room.”

“......Fine.” You answered stiffly.

“Thank you.” Sylus nodded. He knew that you were lying. You were absolutely going to follow him to the meeting. You always did as you pleased, something he loved about you. So long as you weren’t caught and didn’t enter the room, it shouldn’t be an issue. Especially given who the client was.

Sylus hadn’t managed to build and run Onychinus for so long because he was stupid. He’d had dealings with the Fleet before, but never with this particular officer. He liked to know his contacts. This time, the request was from a certain Colonel Caleb. It hadn’t taken him long to put together who he was. A rising star in the fleet, newly recommended from the DAA…and also legally deceased in the explosion that had brought you to his doorstep. Knowing that he was connected to you made him dig further. It turned out that you were more than just friends, you were raised under the same roof. That certainly explained your desperation back then to know what had happened, even if you’d been led on a wild goose chase. 

Given the circumstances, he was sure that this was not going to be an ordinary weapons deal. This was likely a front for this “Caleb” to get him in the same room. The question then would be what did he want? Luckily, that was the one thing that was very, very easy for him to find out. More importantly, he needed to know if your lost brother was now in Ever’s pocket. If he was, he’d need to keep an eye on him and especially how much time he spent with you. They could not be allowed to discover what you now carried in your chest. It had been risky enough when you went to Skyhaven on your own. Something had happened there…You returned worried and gloomy and for several days, he’d lost all contact with you. If this Caleb was responsible…he may need to take matters into his own hands.

Sylus loaded up the cargo into his car, getting in and rolling down the window. “I’m going to say it one more time. Stay here.” He insisted to the beautiful woman standing just outside his car, his other half…not that you knew about that part. 

“I will, I will.” You answered, looking away from his red eyes.

Sylus smirked to himself. “All right then. See you in a few hours.” As he rolled up his window and drove off, he kept an eye on his rearview mirror. And in 3…2…1…

Just as he turned onto another road and was properly out of sight, he got the notification from Mephisto that you had left, an image attached of you on your motorbike. He chuckled to himself at your predictable stubbornness. He ordered Mephisto to keep an eye on you and let the twins know that while you could come along, you were not to enter the building. Not this time.

He pulled up to the meeting spot a while later, eying the aircraft on the roof of the building. So he came directly from Skyhaven instead of staying in the city and coming in. Someone was either cautious, in a hurry, or both. 

Sylus unloaded his cargo and stepped into the ruined building. Just as he was about to enter the room, Mephisto let him know that you were outside. With a smile to himself, he stepped into the agreed meeting room.

_________________________________________________________________________

Caleb was already seated at the negotiating table when the Onychinus leader entered. Sylus, he’d said. He remained seated as he entered, not giving him the courtesy of standing. He didn’t deserve that. He was already looking him over, getting an idea of which angle he should play. He was taller than him, with white hair and red eyes that didn’t look natural. He could almost swear one of them was glowing. He certainly looked every bit the crime lord, dressed in designer clothes from head to toe. He also couldn’t tell if he was armed, but the confidence in his stride implied it. Most notable was his aura. The man exuded both danger and confidence. He had no concerns about his safety or about this deal. Just another Thursday for him.

“Colonel Caleb.” Sylus greeted him sharply, sitting across from him and placing the case on the table. “You aren’t my usual Fleet contact. Change in personnel?”

“Your usual contact couldn’t make it. And this is my request in the first place. I like to handle my own affairs.” Caleb corrected, glaring at the man across from him.

“Indeed.” Sylus lowered his head with a smirk, keeping his hand on the case. “We can cut the charade here, Colonel. I know why you’re really here. You don’t care about the weapon in my hand. You’re here for me.”

Caleb had assumed that Sylus would be just as prepared for this meeting as he was. He wasn’t stupid. No need to beat around the bush then. “You’re right. I am.”

“And to what do I owe the pleasure of your attention?” Sylus drawled, leaning back in his chair to get comfortable. “Perhaps…a certain mutual acquaintance of ours?”

Caleb kept his face neutral, the mask he’d mastered at the Fleet plastered onto his face. “I want to know what the nature of your relationship is. She shouldn’t be associating with you. She has no reason to anymore. I want to know what you’ve done to her.”

Sylus scoffed at the accusation. “I’ve done nothing. We’re…friends.” He answered simply, though the word was sour on his lips. You were so much more than that, even if you didn’t remember it. “She came to me for help with a matter. She got what she needed. After that time passed, she decided to maintain contact with me.” The truth was a little more complicated. He’d made sure that he was “around” just enough that he couldn’t be easily removed from your life. A text here, a call there, a “just happened to be in the neighborhood” every few weeks. But always on your terms. He’d learned the hard way what he got if he pushed too hard. No, he had to let you come to him, just as he had before.

“I don’t believe you.” Caleb answered firmly. “If you have nothing on her, then you must want something from her to keep associating with her. Someone like you doesn’t do something for no reason.”

“I’m fascinated that you think you know me.” Sylus chuckled. “Fine. I do want more from her. And something tells me that it’s the same thing that you want from her.”

Caleb’s jaw tensed at the accusation ever so slightly, a reaction that just barely slipped through. “I don’t want anything from her. I want her to be safe. And that includes being away from men like you.”

“I see…” Sylus smirked at his obvious attempt to sidestep his correct guess. Though a guess was a weak word when the only desire rattling around in that head of his was your name. “Well, unfortunately for you, I don’t intend to end our association. She is not someone I am willing to let go.”

“I won’t let you have her.” Caleb growled, finally rising from his seat.

“You seem to be under the misunderstanding that I need your permission.” Sylus answered, remaining as relaxed as ever. 

Caleb didn’t hesitate this time. Someone like this didn’t need any mercy and any opening he gave him was his own neck on the line. Instead of slamming Sylus into the table, he turned gravity on its head, flipping him into the ceiling at a high speed. Those not used to it were more easily disoriented by weightlessness than the opposite. Instead of the satisfying sound of him slamming into the ceiling, he disappeared into a puff of crow feathers and red smoke.

He was reminded of the last time that happened and he wouldn’t fall for that trick again. As soon as he registered that Sylus was gone, he turned behind him, pulling his gun from his thigh and flicking off the safety in one smooth motion. The shot rang out through the night, shattering the window behind him.

“Nice try.” Sylus mocked from his side, a fist veiled in that same mist headed for his face. He stopped it with his Evol, gravity arresting its movement and forcing Sylus away from him. 

“Interesting. This might actually be fun.” Sylus chuckled, changing tactics. His red and black mist quickly wrapped itself around Caleb’s arms, pulling him up off the ground and forcing his guns to face the ceiling. 

Caleb struggled in his grip, the floor cracking underneath him as he tried to pull himself down, but whatever Sylus’s Evol was doing wasn’t affected by his gravity. One other option then. He focused all his attention on a point just behind Sylus, focusing all of his power on a single point in space and pulling it deeper. 

Sylus watched Caleb’s attention move from his face to behind him. A moment later, he felt a tug at his back. He kept his hold on the Colonel as he dissipated again, moving to the other side of the room to buy precious seconds as pure blackness and a roaring wind tore open the spot where he’d been standing. It was already sucking in the nearby furniture and collapsing the walls. This distance wouldn’t help him for long. He had to make him stop and he had to do it now. Even he wouldn’t get out of that thing if it pulled him in. With another lash of his Evol, he forced his mist inside Caleb’s body, squeezing his heart and lungs from the inside. 

Caleb jolted as a searing pressure took hold in his chest. He couldn’t breathe, he could barely move. Every breath he tried to take was refused as his chest refused to expand and his chest burned as his heart fought the pressure to keep beating. He was used to pain by now and held his concentration. If he could pull him in before this killed him…He could still win this. He could do this. He was used to pain, he was used to pressure, he was used to low air environments. It was just like his flight test, when he’d gotten stuck in the Deepspace Tunnel. Breathe as little as possible and focus. Push out the panic. Instead of thrashing and gasping, Caleb fell eerily still.

Sylus’s feet were starting to slide across the floor. He had to give it to him, the boy was as stubborn as you were and resourceful too. He hadn’t planned to kill him. If he did, you may never forgive him, but he wasn’t about to let himself die either. The floor was already crumbling, sucked into the force of the hole in space he’d opened. The adjacent wall was already gone alone with the case and all of the furniture. It wouldn’t be much longer before the building lost all integrity. He didn’t care about the building, but you had been standing right outside. If it came down, you might be caught in it. Worse, you could already be on your way up since that gunshot earlier.

Sylus pulled Caleb’s restrained form over to him, grabbing his chin. “Call it off now! That thing will tear this building apart!”

The glare in Caleb’s eyes was his answer for how much he cared about that. His lungs were burning, screaming in his chest as they begged for release from their cage. He told himself that it was no different than the G-forces during takeoff. He ignored it. Whatever it took to get this man away from you. Darkness was pressing into the edges of his vision, but he held on, focusing on that point of destruction.

“She’s in the building! Stop it now!” Sylus roared over the wind rushing into the hole Caleb had torn in space.

The hole closed almost instantly, leaving nothing behind but a ruined room and chunks torn out of the walls and floor around it. The sound of settling rubble and creaking wood filled the silence. There was no telling just how stable this room was anymore. 

Sylus released his Evol’s grip on Caleb’s chest, though he kept him restrained. He shouldn’t kill him, not if he wanted to stay in your good graces, but he could take him for himself. Find out just who he was working for now. A band of red wrapped around his neck, squeezing hard to knock him out.

Caleb had just managed to get a lungful of air when the pressure wrapped around his neck. He thrashed and struggled in his grip, his every attempt to throw Sylus against a wall or the ceiling negated as darkness crept into his vision despite his impressive lung capacity. That or his Evol was barely strong enough for him to feel now. It couldn’t end like this…He had to protect you. If he didn’t…what else was he here for?

“Sylus, stop!” 

Your voice cut through the room, a voice that filled him with dread. No…it was too dangerous. You had to run.

Your worried face was the last thing he saw before the world went dark.

Please don’t hurt her. 

Chapter Text

Caleb’s senses came back slowly from the darkness. First was the pain…as always. The familiar, constant pain in his arm first and then his head, pounding like a drum in time with his pulse. He knew that pain. He’d felt it before. It was from lack of oxygen. He’d passed out again. Now the question was where and in what situation.

He went down the list in his head that had been drilled into him in training. Was he still in the cockpit? Had he managed to land? Are any alarms going off? That was when things stopped making sense. He was laying down, not strapped into his cockpit. There were no alarms, just a dull hum like….a car? There was something soft under his head. He blinked his eyes open and found-

You. He assumed he must be dreaming. Why else would you be here?

“Caleb?” You called, his name sounding so much better from your lips. He didn’t answer, reaching for your face instead…and felt something cold and metal pull hard on his wrist instead. “Sylus, he’s waking up.”

“Keep him calm then. I don’t feel like getting into an accident.”

A deep voice called from the front of the…car? Yeah…he was in a car. He was laying in the backseat, his head in….your lap. The thought made his heart skip, bringing him further from the darkness, the memory of what happened coming back. Sylus…the room…his Evol choking him out…your voice telling him to stop…your face as he faded away. 

He pulled harder on whatever was holding his hands together, trying to sit up. Your steadying hand pressed on his chest.

“Don’t get up.” You ordered, stilling him immediately. “We’re going to one of Sylus’s houses to talk. We’ll explain there.”

Caleb wanted to protest, to demand answers now…but that would also mean that he’d have to sit up and get out of your lap. And he didn’t particularly want to do that.

“Just…tell me you’re safe.” He begged, his violet eyes filled with concern. Had he just made things worse for you? He couldn’t live with himself if he’d put you in danger.

“I’m safe.” You answered simply with a reassuring smile, brushing his hair from his eyes. “Sylus would never hurt me.” Not anymore, at least.

Caleb searched your face for any hint of a lie, any sign that you couldn’t speak freely with him here…He found nothing. “Fine…I trust you.”

The rest of the drive passed in silence. Caleb had a million questions about the situation between you two but they could wait. For now, he let himself enjoy being close to you again. The softness of your lap under his head and the gentle brush of your fingers as you ran them through his hair. He closed his eyes and pretended to sleep again, though he refused to nod off. He wanted to burn every moment of this into his memory so he’d never forget it.

The safe house they went to was on the edge of the N109 zone, just within Linkon City limits. Though “safe house” was far too humble a term for the sprawling mansion that they pulled up to. 

Caleb carefully maneuvered himself out of the car despite the cuffs on his hands. They seemed to be doing something to his Evol too. It left him feeling light, like gravity wasn’t working the same way on him. Luckily, he was used to that feeling. It was just like when he was cruising in his old jet.

His happy memory stopped as Sylus stepped around the car. He refused to believe that he had no ulterior motives with you. Someone like him didn’t have “friends”. He may have fooled you, but he wouldn’t be duped so easily. 

You followed Caleb out of the car, eying the cuffs on Caleb’s wrists. “Are those really necessary?” You pressed, looking to Sylus with a huff.

“When I think he isn’t going to try to crush me into paste the moment I take them off, then I’ll take them off.” Sylus insisted. “Hard to have a conversation that way.” 

Caleb knew he should try to make nice, but his glare said that Sylus’s caution was absolutely warranted.

“Besides, we’re having guests that I’m sure he’s not going to be happy to see.” Sylus smirked, leading the way inside. Two other cars were already in the driveway, ones that weren’t his own. You lingered behind, standing with Caleb as you watched Sylus go in.

“I’m sorry.” You offered. You debated taking the cuffs off yourself, but Sylus had the key. “He’s not usually like this.”

“Are you sure about that?” Caleb pressed coldly. “Because this seems to be exactly what he’s like. Don’t let him fool you, pipsqueak.”

With that warning, he stepped inside with you. ‘Guests he wouldn’t like’ brought to mind two possible options: Sylus’s goons here to punish him for attacking their boss or...Sylus knew who else he’d contacted the last few weeks. One of those options was significantly worse than the other. He could handle a beating or even torture….The other option led to the one outcome he couldn’t take.

As he stepped into the room he was led to, his stomach dropped to find the latter. Zayne sat at the end of a long table, looking over medical reports on his laptop. Rafayel lounged in the chair across from him, fiddling with a dagger in his hand, leaving marks in what was undoubtedly expensive wood. He almost missed Xavier standing at the back of the room. He was so still that it would have been easy to mistake him for part of the wall if he hadn’t been the exact opposite color. Sylus seemed to have a strong preference for black.

“What are you all doing here?” You asked tentatively, stepping inside just behind Caleb. You weren’t aware that they all knew each other…or at least they hadn’t before.

“I asked them to come.” Sylus answered, using his Evol to shut the doors behind him. “I’m not the only one that the Colonel has paid a visit to.”

“...Caleb, what is he talking about?” You asked him, doubt setting in. You knew that Caleb had always been protective, that letters left in your locker would go missing, that boys who showed an interest in you would suddenly drift to someone else, but you didn’t mind. You hadn’t been interested in them anyways so what was the harm? It was just schoolyard pranks…but then there was that night in Skyhaven. When he’d locked you in, said that he wanted to keep you with him, just to himself. You’d chalked it up to a lapse in judgement caused by the chip. He hadn’t done anything like that since then.

But Caleb couldn’t meet your eyes this time. He’d always known that he’d lose you one day, that someone would come to take you away from him. But that didn’t mean that he had to be ok with it and it didn’t mean that he was ready for it to happen. Not like this.

“He’s probably talking about when he came to my studio.” Rafayel answered sharply, cutting through the heavy silence and earning himself a glare that could poison the sea. “Told me that you didn’t need someone like me and….what was it again? Something about crushing my hands and how that’d be bad for an artist?” There was a sharp thud as Rafayel stabbed his dagger into the table again.

“Caleb…” You couldn’t believe what you were hearing. Caleb was overprotective, but not dangerous…Not your Caleb.

“I wasn’t going to do it.” Caleb defended. “It was just to scare him off. He wouldn’t back down so maybe I got a little carried away.”
“A little?” Rafayel scoffed. “You said if I told her it was you, you’d break my jaw next.”

“Again, it was just to scare him.” Caleb insisted, his stomach turning at the fearful look in your eyes.

“He accused me of stalking you.” Xavier chimed in, his blue eyes cold with hatred. “Said that we fight together ‘too well’ for two people who just met so I must have been following you. Told me that if I didn’t stop, he’d pay me another visit that ‘wouldn’t be as friendly’.” 

“And he conveniently leaves out the part where he got the upper hand and stabbed me in the back.” Caleb pointed out.

“You broke into my home.” Xavier shot back. “I defended myself.”

“You broke in?!” You could barely recognize the person you were hearing about.

“Broke in" is a strong word. He leaves his balcony door unlocked.” Caleb explained. “I just made use of it.”

“And I barely even drew blood.” Xavier mumbled.

“Wait, you actually stabbed him?!”

“Barely.” Xavier repeated.

Zayne was quiet, the room turning to him…including Caleb. Caleb had gotten good at hiding his expressions, but he’d known him longer than the others. He could see the panic building behind his steely violet eyes. This was his worst nightmare…losing you. He knew your good image of him wouldn’t survive this. Those eyes begged him not to drive the final nail in the coffin.

It was a request that he was inclined to ignore.

“He came to my office. Threatened to report our…relationship to the board to have me removed from Akso Hospital’s staff.” Zayne replied, closing his laptop. “He also used his Evol on me when he didn’t like what I had to say.”

“Caleb…is all of that really true?” You asked. You wished you could say that it didn’t sound like him, that he wouldn’t do things like that…but you also hadn’t thought that he would ever lock you in his house or give you pills to make you sleep. You’d told yourself that he hadn’t known that you intended to go out, that he just gave you the drowsy medication because it was late and he knew you needed to sleep…Now you weren’t so sure. 

Caleb couldn’t look at you. He wished the ground would open up to swallow him. Maybe he had crossed some lines, but you were never meant to know. He’d just wanted to keep you safe. How did it all go wrong? Why didn’t he know how to do that anymore? His head was starting to hurt even more than before with a stinging pain in his neck that warned him of what would happen if he let this keep going.

“Caleb?” You stepped closer, taking his face in your hand to make him look at you. The pleading look he gave you confirmed your suspicions. The others had no reason to lie…and Caleb wasn’t denying it. 

“I needed to keep you safe…” Caleb mumbled. “All of these guys are dangerous, pipsqueak. I’ve looked into them. Rafayel? Wanted by several criminal and business organizations.”

“Really just one, but it wears a lot of faces.” Rafayel cheerfully supplied. “And she already knew about that.”

Caleb glared at him and continued. “Xavier barely has a presence to begin with. He’s like a ghost. Just pops up here and there with a new identity every time.”

“And she knows the reason for that.” Xavier explained coldly.

“Even Zayne has some kind of secret research hidden in the Arctic that even I can’t get details on.”

“Because I ended it years ago. It’s not relevant anymore.” Zayne answered simply.

“Sylus is an actual crime lord.” Caleb insisted, growing increasingly frantic. “You can’t tell me that isn’t a problem, that he isn’t dangerous!”

“....He isn’t dangerous to me.” You repeated.

“Come on, pips. I know you aren’t this stupid. Are you really going to trust them over me? Me ?” His anger broke, his face falling. ” …Or is this it? You really don’t need me anymore? I’m the one overreacting to finding out that you’re surrounded by dangerous people? I’m just trying to keep you safe.”

“Liar.” Sylus cut in from his place near the door. “Tell her what you really want.”

Caleb shot him another glare, the architect of the end of his world. “Don’t.”

“Do it. Or I will.” Sylus threatened, his right eye just a little brighter in a way that made his head feel like it was splitting.

You had a sinking feeling that you knew what this was about. You’d seen a glimpse of it that night in his house, a tension that had been building for years that you both refused to speak of. Because once you did, once you acknowledged it, you both knew there would be no going back. 

“I can’t…” Caleb started, his voice tight with pain and anguish. “I can’t let them have you. I told myself that this was enough…that I was satisfied. But when I saw you with them-” He raised his head to look at the others in the room. “-I couldn’t take it. I can’t let anyone take you away from me.”

“Caleb, I’m not going anywhere.” You assured him. “You’ll always be part of my life. I would never abandon you. You’re my-” You paused, unsure just what he was to you now…or what you wanted him to be.

“Say it.” This time, it wasn’t Sylus who cut in, but Zayne. “I’ve watched you two dance around this for nearly a decade now. Just say it.”

“Shut up.” Caleb grit out through his clenched teeth.

“Say. It.” Zayne pushed. “You’ve gone so far as to threaten everyone in this room. If you can’t even tell her the truth about why, then you’re not only dangerous, you’re a coward. And you always have been.”

“Stop..!” Caleb winced, the buzzing in his ears growing louder. His arm felt like it was on fire, the pain rippling up his neck. The truth could ruin everything. He couldn’t take that chance, even if everything he wanted was on the other side. Because this was all or nothing and nothing….nothing would kill him. He knew it.

“Caleb…” Your gentle voice cut through the noise and the pain, cradling his head in your heads. You knew what the source of this pain was. It was the same as the source of your own. This had been a wonderful dream, playing pretend together, acting like everything was the same as always. But it was time to wake up now. It was going too far. “It’s ok. It’s going to be ok. You can tell me.”

“Pips…” Caleb searched your face for the answer, the assurance that it would be all right. He was able to do anything if you were at his side or if it was for your sake.  And finally, he uttered the words that he’d held back for so long, the ones that would bring this dream crashing down.

“...I love you.”

He’d said those words to you before…many times in fact. But you knew that they meant something else this time. 

“I know.” You answered simply, meeting the desperation in his eyes with the surety in yours. “I do too. I have for a long time. It’s ok.”

The relief of hearing that you felt the same way, that you didn’t think he was disgusting, that you wouldn’t abandon him for his desires was nearly too much for him to handle. You scrambled to catch him as his knees buckled, the tension he’d been holding for years finally snapping. You joined him on the floor as he reached for you, daring to pull you closer with his bound hands, but refusing to cross that final gap.

You had no such hesitation, crashing your lips against his in a kiss that had been building for a decade. Why had you waited so long to say anything? Despite everything, it was Caleb. Your Caleb. He had always been yours just as you had always been his. You couldn’t imagine your life without him…You’d gotten a taste of that life and hated it. No matter how difficult and even dangerous this new Caleb could be, it was still better than the alternative.

You both drowned in that kiss, the jagged edges of your affection finally coming together and slotting back into place in a new configuration, stronger than ever before. It was only when your lungs started to beg for air that you pulled back and Caleb chased you, desperate for more. He was a man starved and like hell was he letting you off so easily. You barely got in a breath before he was on you again, his hands clinging to your shirt like you’d disappear if he let go.

“Ahem.” Xavier cleared his throat, interrupting the moment. “I feel like there’s something else to discuss here.”

The two of you finally separated, a blush rising to your cheeks as you turned to face the rest of the room. The frigid vibes in the room could make even Zayne feel warm and you were pretty sure that Xavier was trying to find out if he could melt Caleb with his glare. Caleb’s grin was not helping. As far as he was concerned, he’d won. 

“Right…” You sighed, looking at each of the others. Each one was devastated in his own way at your apparent choice. Xavier’s face was a still lake, but the fists at his sides betrayed his feelings. Rafayel refused to look at you, not even trying to hide his feelings of betrayal and self-admonishment for believing that this time would be any different. Sylus looked about ready to try to kill Caleb again, your presence the only thing holding him back. Only Zayne was calm with a look of disappointed acceptance, like he’d always expected this outcome.

You’d been planning to tell them, but had wanted to make it special….and more importantly, private. Your dreams lately had been too vivid to ignore and when tied together with some of the things they’d said…made too much sense. There was only one way to get this to work, to get them to all understand. They were all too special to let go of. You took a deep breath, bracing yourself. 

“ Everyone…I remember.” 

The words felt like they sucked the air from the room, the only noise the clatter of Rafayel’s dagger dropping to the floor as it fell out of his hand. Rafayel, Xavier, and Sylus went still, their jealousy forgotten in the forbidden hope that now rose in their chests. Zayne furrowed his brow, waiting to see what you meant.

You approached Xavier first, meeting his wide blue eyes. “I remember Philos. I remember the Academy. I remember the promise you made me. I’m sorry that it cost you so much and that it’s taking so long.” You reached out to cup his cheek in your hand. “I promise that you didn’t fail me.”

“You-” Xavier started to speak and you stopped him with a kiss, gentle and soft. It took him only a moment to recover, the distance he always kept between you melting away into familiarity. His hand slipped into your hair, holding you closer. Before he could push further, as he often did, you pulled back, a silent promise in your eyes to talk more later.

Next was Rafayel. You knelt in front of where he sat, pouting at the lack of attention he was getting…and hiding the wavering hope in his eyes as he snuck glances at you.

“Rafayel…I remember the covenant. I remember what you sacrificed for me.” You took his hand, holding it tight. “It’s going to be different this time, I promise. Because this time, we’re going to look for the solution together. And I promise I won’t make you wait for me again.”

Rafayel watched you closely, tears rising in his two-tone eyes that he refused to let fall. His own memories of what they’d done, the lives they had led, were hazy, but her words reached into his chest and soothed some part of him that had lain bleeding since…since before he was born. An ancient and unhealing wound that he could only touch the edges of before flinching away.

“...Took you long enough.” He huffed before his expression softened, leaning down to claim his kiss. You may be his bride, but he belonged to you, body, mind, and soul. Rather than desperation, Rafayel’s kiss was full of relief, a weight unwinding from his shoulders that he hadn’t known he’d been carrying.

You pulled away to see his smile returned, your heart full. You returned his smile, rising to face Zayne’s confused look. You crossed to his side, taking his perpetually cold hand.

“Zayne…I know that you don’t remember, but I do. I remember what you’ve done for me and what you’ve sacrificed. We can talk more about it later, but know that I’m not going to let it happen again.” You swore, taking his face in your hands as you leaned down to meet his lips in a firm promise. He pressed his scarred hand against yours as he leaned up into your touch. He wasn’t sure what you were talking about, but some part of him ached at those words, like he’d been waiting to hear them, like they were the sole bloom of spring in his frozen world.

You pulled back, staring into his green eyes. “You’re staying with me this time. Do you hear me?” He nodded, resting his head against your chest before letting you go.

Finally, you turned to the one who had been most eagerly waiting for your answer, the one who had been trying to force this exact outcome since the moment he found you again. Sylus was desperately trying to keep his face neutral, but you could see the battle in his eyes between his blind hope and his fear of it being crushed again.

You crossed the room to him, reaching out to place your hand on his chest…the spot where your sword had run him through. He gasped at your touch, his brow furrowed in worry and pain.

You reached out to hold his face in your other hand, your thumb tracing along the line of his jaw where his scales had been. “My dragon…”

The sound that escaped from Sylus’s lips was somewhere between a laugh and a sob. He didn’t need the apologies or the speeches. Those two words told him everything. He pulled you in, his force of his embrace and his kiss crushing against you as he poured every ounce of love and hope that he’d buried back into you. He didn’t stop until you were squirming in his grip, desperate for air and still he hesitated before letting you go.

“Don’t ever do that to me again.” Sylus sighed, refusing to let go of your arms and resting his head on your shoulder, his breath shaking with relief.

“I won’t.” You promised, though you both knew that it was a promise you had no control over keeping. It took him a few more moments to finally let you go, assured that this wasn’t a dream or some fleeting lapse of your memory.

You turned back to all of them, each one with their own love for you and you for them. “I care about every single one of you. I can’t bear to let any of you go. I don’t know why fate decided to have us all here at the same time. I know it hasn’t been like this before, but I want to spend my life with each of you…If you’ll have it.”

Each of the men looked at each other, a silent resentment mixing with the recognition of each other. Caleb wasn’t sure what had just happened or what you were talking about with any of them, but their reactions told him that it was real enough…which made this a whole lot more difficult.

“While not what I’d had in mind, I can accept this outcome.” Zayne conceded, the first to break the silence.

“...As long as you don’t start ignoring me, I guess I can share.” Rafayel huffed, not ready to fully accept this, but willing to try if it meant not going back to the endless waiting.

“I know you’ll always come back to me…eventually.” Sylus teased, unconcerned with his competition.

Xavier and Caleb refused to answer, glaring at each other as they weighed their options.

“Please…don’t make me choose between you.” You begged, hitting them both with your patented puppy dog eyes. “You’re both important to me.”

Both of them faltered in the face of that look.

“....Fine.” Xavier answered stiffly. “As long as I don’t have to see any of them.”

“Same here.” Caleb agreed. “And you tell me right away if any of them give you trouble.”

“Of course.” You promised.

“So then…to the victor go the spoils.” Sylus teased with a smirk, looking down at you. “I hope you can handle it.”

It was only after you looked around at the needy and hungry gazes of the men around you that you realized the full extent of what you’d just asked for. 

“Maybe…we can take this slow?” You chuckled nervously.

Chapter Text

You sit in the room Sylus prepared for you both, one of his seemingly infinite “spare rooms” in this mansion of his. “Safe house” was a small word for it, but then again, Sylus never did anything small.

You glanced across the room to where Caleb was waiting, still knocked out from his confrontation with Sylus. He didn’t want to take chances so he’d insisted on fitting him with Evol-blocking handcuffs, tying him to the chair he was in. At least he’d trusted you enough to leave you the key before he stepped out…along with the reports.

Sylus wasn’t the only person that Caleb had gone to see. Zayne, Rafayel, Xavier…every man you’d gotten close to had earned themselves a visit. While these didn’t seem to be as…violent as when he met Sylus, they weren’t exactly pleasant. You may have anticipated that he would have a talk with them, even expected it. Caleb had always been overprotective and he’d always hated any guys getting close to you. You’d had guy friends, of course, but as soon as they showed an interest, they’d drift away…usually after Caleb had a talk with them.

You should have seen the signs earlier, but…it was Caleb. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt you…or you hadn’t thought he would. Skyhaven had changed everything, especially him.

You heard a groan as Caleb stirred, straining as he opened his eyes. It didn’t take long for him to put together the situation he was in. He pulled against the cuffs tying him down, the clatter echoing in the room. 

“Stay still.” You called firmly. “Those cuffs block Evol too. You’ll just give yourself a headache.”

“What is this?” Caleb growled, his voice in that new low tone that he used as the Colonel. “Are you on his side now?” 

“No. I just wanted to talk. Sylus insisted on the cuffs. At least until you calm down.” You explained.

“OK. I’m calm.” Caleb answered firmly. 

You gripped the key in your hand, pressing it into your palm.

“Why are you hesitating?” Caleb asked, looking at your hand. “What did he say to you?”

“....He told me everything.” You answered simply. “What you’ve been doing the last few weeks.”

Caleb hung his head with a dry, humorless chuckle. “So you know…”

“Caleb…just tell me why. I know you’ve never liked me getting close to other guys, but it's never gone this far. Why now?” You asked, getting up from your desk to stand in front of him.

“Because they’re a threat to you.” Caleb answered coldly, looking up at you. “That painter is wanted by multiple criminal and business organizations. Your “partner” is practically a ghost. Zayne has some kind of secret research in the Arctic that even I can’t get info on. And I don’t think I need to say anything about your other “friend”. You can’t tell me that none of that is suspicious, that none of them are going to drag you into trouble. So I decided to get them away from you before it became a problem.”

“Why didn’t you talk to me about it?” You countered. “If you were that worried, why didn’t you warn me? Why did you go to threaten them? Did you think I shouldn’t know? Or that I’d just blindly accept it if you said not to talk to them anymore? I’m not a child anymore, Caleb! I’m not going to just do what you say because you say so!” 

“...You used to.” Caleb answered stiffly, his face a mask against the pain. But you knew him better than that. You could see the struggle in his eyes. He never could take it when you were mad at him, not upset, not annoyed, but genuinely angry.

“What happened to you, Caleb? Is it because of that chip?” You asked quietly.

Caleb was quiet and you swore that you saw his arm twitch where it was pinned behind his back…his mechanical arm.

“I told you before…I was always like this.” He answered simply.

“That’s not true and you know it. I know you used to hide my love letters and tell guys to focus on their studies instead of me, but you weren’t like this. You never tried to hurt anyone.”

“Maybe this is just the first time that hurting someone was the best option.” Caleb defended.

“You’re dodging the question. What happened to you? The truth this time.” You pressed, kneeling in front of him to catch his eyes. “Please…I want to help you.” You reached out to cup his face in his hand, bringing a shaky breath to his lips as he leaned into your touch.

“You can’t…” Caleb answered shakily. “I can’t let you.”

“Why not? We’re supposed to be a team, Caleb. It’s always been the two of us. We can figure this out together, but not if you don’t tell me what’s going on.”

“....Because if I tell you, you’ll get involved. I can’t let you do that.” He insisted. “Not when I did this to keep it from happening.”

“Did what, Caleb?” You kept pushing.

“The explosion…” Caleb started, swallowing as he braced himself. “It was for you. They wanted you.”

You stood up, that one sentence making everything click into place. Based on the records that you’d gotten from Zayne and the information you’d dug up, you had assumed that the explosion was to get at Gran, to punish her for leaving. Caleb being caught in it was an accident. But if it was for you…then Gran was just a bonus, two birds with one stone…and Caleb still paid the price.

“So they took you instead… That’s what you meant back then. When you said that you had to join the Fleet or you’d be ‘abandoned’. They would have left you to die…and come back for me.”

“You always were smart, pipsqueak.” Caleb sighed.

Your eyes drifted to his right arm. It looked almost normal. It had fooled you before you knew what lay underneath that biomimetic skin. He’d probably lost the original in the blast…so they’d promised him his life and his arm back…in exchange for being their puppet and keeping their attention off of you. Your hands curled into fists at your sides, shaking at the injustice of it. They knew…They had to have known that Caleb would do anything for you and they took advantage of that.

“Well, I’m not letting them have you.” You insisted, stepping behind him to unlock the cuffs.

“Pips, you know I can’t just disappear. You don’t remember, but we’ve done this once before.” Caleb returned, rubbing his wrists now that he was free. 

“I do remember.” You answered firmly, coming back around to face him. “I remember everything.”

Caleb froze, looking up at you. “...Everything?”

You nodded. “Everything.”

Caleb chuckled derisively. “......I guess you regret it now. That Caleb was a lot nicer than this one.”

“I care about every Caleb.” You knelt again, taking his hands in your own. “You told me that if I don’t want you to drift too far away from me, that I have two options: run to you or grab onto you. Well, I’m doing both. I’m not letting you take this on alone anymore and from now on, when you have these doubts, when you think I’m in danger, you tell me first.”

“But-”

“No buts.” You insisted, pressing a finger to his lips. “You’ve done enough, Caleb. It’s time for me to protect you for once.”

“Pips…You don’t know what you’re up against. Just let me handle it.” Caleb insisted, taking your finger away and holding your hand.

“No, not this time.” You shook your head, squeezing his hand, his fake hand. “You’ve given up enough. We may not be able to take on the Fleet or Ever just yet, but I’m not leaving you like this. For now, whenever you have doubts, whenever it's too much, you come to me. All right? I won’t let you go astray and if you do, I’ll be there to pull you back.”

Caleb’s protests died in his throat, seeing the determination in your eyes. “....All right. I’ll come to you.”

“And no more threats to the others?” You pushed. “The things you found? I already knew about them and I know why. They aren’t dangerous, not to me. I’ll tell you about them later. If you give them a chance, you might even be friends.”

Caleb scoffed at the idea before he could catch himself.

“Caleb?”

“Fine. I trust you.” He answered simply. 

“We do this together from now on. Just like before. Got it?”

“Got it, pipsqueak.” Caleb nodded. 

“Good.” You accepted, pulling him out of his chair and into your arms. Hugging him tight, you listened to his heartbeat. The familiar feeling of his hand resting on your head and his arm around you soothed the fear that had taken hold since you’d found him again. He may have changed, but the core of him, his heart was still there…and you’d protect it with your life. You’d lost him once already. You couldn’t do it again.

“....I love you, Caleb. This Caleb.”

You felt his breath catch as you said it, the slightest crack before he relaxed again.

“Yeah…I love you too, pipsqueak.”

You shook your head, rubbing against his chest before looking up, meeting his eyes. “...I love you, Caleb.” You repeated, reaching up to hold his face.

This time, he understood what you meant, freezing against your touch, searching your face for confirmation. 

“...When?” He breathed, his heart racing in disbelief.

“When I lost you.” You explained. “I thought I always saw you as a brother, but then…you were gone. And it was so much more than that. And then you came back and everything happened…but I can’t take the risk. I can’t risk you disappearing again without telling you.” 

“Even now…?” He asked, his voice full of doubt.

“Even now.” You nodded, suddenly self-conscious that he hadn’t said it back. “Do you…?”

“Oh, pips…” Caleb smiled weakly with a sigh, gently cradling your face in his good hand so he could feel your warmth. “Of course I do…I have for…as long as I can remember.”

He stared into your eyes like you were the most precious thing in his world…because that’s exactly what you were. His anchor, his lifeline, his reason. Everything.

Finally, he leaned down, stopping just before he could press his lips against yours, giving you one final chance before he finally claimed you.

You didn’t hesitate as you stood on your tiptoes to meet him, throwing your arms around his neck. His grip tightened around you, sinking into the kiss he’d yearned for. You’d expected a rush, an excitement that couldn’t be tamed. Instead, it felt like everything was finally falling into place, like coming home, like it was always meant to end right here.

The world might be against you. Threats may be everywhere, but you would face them together. With him by your side…there was nothing you couldn’t do.