Chapter Text
It’d been a week now since Yves got back from Skyhaven. Although she knew the dangers and risks that came with the mission that led her there, she never thought in her wildest dreams that everything that actually transpired would happen.
Yes, Yves missed Caleb like hell, which was also what it felt like after the explosion happened. She thought of him everyday, her first thought when she woke up and her last when she slept, but she never imagined he’d actually… come back. And definitely not in the way he did or.. how he was.
Simply put, Yves was overwhelmed with a myriad of emotions. Honestly, she was probably feeling every emotion under the sun right now, so she did what she always does during periods of high emotions.
She worked.
She threw herself into being a hunter, killing wanderers non-stop since she got back. The same thing she did after the explosion. Yves couldn’t help it, it was the only thing that provided her mental relief and allowed her to take a break from thinking.
Of course, this didn’t go unnoticed by the people around her.
“Yves, you just came back after a high risk mission and you haven’t taken any off days yet, you’ve been working yourself to the bone. I can’t have you injured or sick, so I’m ordering you to be on mandatory leave for a week.” was what Jenna had told her after she came back from an assignment. Before she could even argue, Jenna continued. “Also, head over to Akso Hospital. You’re long overdue for a check-up, and your doctor requested for an appointment to which I approved. Don’t come back until you’ve gotten a full check-up.”
Jenna was still her boss, and even though she didn’t really want to go, not being able to return to work was even worse so she listened.
Not really having anything to do, she decided to go the next day. Yves hadn’t seen Zayne since Skyhaven, and she’d only sent a few short replies to him since then, so she was slightly nervous at seeing him again. He wasn’t the type to get mad, but then again, Yves wasn’t also in the mood right now to really talk about anything, especially about caleb, so she didn’t know what exactly to say.
She spent a bit of time in front of the mirror getting ready, trying her best to look presentable and the least depressed she could possibly look. Her hair had the tendency to get frizzy if she didn’t dry them properly, so she took the time to dry it with her hairdryer and brushed it as thoroughly as she could. Weirdly enough, she could never dry and brush her hair as well as Caleb could. Before her thoughts drifted back to Caleb, she shook her head and grounded herself back into reality.
“Yves.” Zayne greeted her as she entered the room. She gave him a nod and a small, polite smile, sitting down opposite him like routine.
“How have you been feeling?” He asked, going into his usual doctor mode as his gaze scanned her face down to her body. She, on the other hand, avoided his eyes and shrugged.
“I’m doing alright. I’ve been doing fine since Skyhaven. I’ve been able to take on lots of assignments, if that isn’t me being on peak health then I don’t know what is.” Yves cringed slightly at her tone, she knew she was sounding overtly defensive.
“You’re burying yourself in your work again, just like you did before.” Zayne calmly pointed out. Yves opened her mouth to argue, but found herself unable to deny his words. He was right, and there was no point in denying it.
“Sorry, I just..” Yves sighed. “It’s my coping mechanism. It helps me clear my mind.”
“I know.” Zayne nodded curtly before getting up to walk around his desk and stand in front of her. He bent down on one knee so they’d be face-to-face on the same level, and reached out to hold her hands she didn’t even realize were all cold and clammy until now. “As your doctor, I’ll have to do the routine full check-up to see if you are truly fit to work again, both physically and mentally. As Zayne…”
He looked down at their hands and gave a comforting rub. “I’m here if you need a break. I may not be a wanderer you can beat up, but I’m sure I could find plenty of other ways to ease your mind if you’d let me.” His voice was soft and tender, his words practically an unspoken promise of I’m here, i would do anything for you.
Yves could only blink at him as a memory of Caleb crouching before her flashed in her mind. She flinched, pulling her hands from his hold and looking away. What did she ever do to deserve Zayne? Her heart was heavy with guilt.
“I’m sure, but I wouldn’t want to steal your time away from people who may need you more. I’m really fine, so you don’t have to worry.” She reassured him, trying to sound as convincing as she could.
Zayne stayed in his position for a few moments longer, his eyes unreadable as he looked at his hands, before pulling back and standing back up again.
“If you say so. However, you do still owe me some time together as you said back on Sky haven.”
Yves nodded mutely, guilt gnawing at her heart.
“Of course. Anyway, go on and do what you have to do. I’m all yours right now, doctor.” She flashed a fake grin at him, hoping it was convincing enough.
“All mine?” He echoed, his eyebrows ever so slightly raised and his eyes full of… some emotion Yves couldn’t — didn’t want to — identify.
“As your patient.” She clarified, shifting in her seat awkwardly.
“Of course. I know what you meant.” Zayne’s voice was still soft and calm, yet his tone carried a more resigned air that was unlike the tenderness earlier.
It wasn’t until much later when she walked out of the hospital that Yves could finally breathe freely. There was so much tension in the room earlier, she wasn’t sure how she got through it without losing her mind. Before the recent happenings in Skyhaven, her relationship with Zayne had been the best it was since they’d been children. It was the closest they’d been, and if she was being honest, he was probably second to Caleb in terms of people she felt safest and comfortable with due to their long history. For the longest time, Caleb and Grandma were the only ones she truly considered as family but Zayne and his family had always treated her like she was part of them too. A second family who always welcomed her with open arms.
Yet that same closeness is also exactly the reason why it was so hard now for her to face Zayne. She couldn’t even tell him that Caleb is alive.
Yves grunted as she stuffed her face into her hands, suddenly remembering how she got into this mess.
It was another long day for Yves, one of her many overtimes she’d clocked since the explosion. She was walking out of the building when she bumped into Tara who coincidentally did overtime as well that day due to a sudden influx of wanderers in the area.
“Yves!” Tara called out, running up to her side. Yves gave her a tired smile, raising her hand in greeting.
“You worked overtime as well?” She knew the answer, but there wasn’t really anything else for her to say so she just asked for the sake of small talk.
“Yep! And it’s your.. well.. I don’t think you haven’t not worked an overtime since forever. I don’t know how you do it.” Tara shook her head, her voice mixed with both admiration and concern. It wasn’t new to Yves, it’s not the first time someone showed concern since the explosion happened.
“Can’t help it, I’m just a workaholic at heart.” She shrugged in reply. Tara pursed her lips and looked at her for a few moments before suddenly grabbing her by the hand.
“Well either way! It’s been a while since we ate out together, let’s go have dinner right now. I know this restaurant nearby that sells really good ramen and don’t worry, it’s my treat tonight!” She was dragged away before she could even object.
When they got there, there was surprisingly quite a few people despite it not being rush hour anymore and way past the usual dinner time for most. Not really having that much of an appetite, Yves let Tara choose for her.
While waiting, Tara propped her face in between her palms as she smiled at Yves, clearly trying to lighten the mood.
“I’ve got a question. Have you dated before?”
Yves broke out into a cough.
“What?”
“You heard me. Have you dated before? or been in a relationship?” Tara asked, her voice and stare unwavering. Yves shifted in her seat uncomfortably.
The only man that Yves had in her life constantly was Caleb. He was the closest person, not just man, to her. He was her brother, her guardian and her… well… they did pretend to be lovers a lot back then in school to ward off both their admirers but mainly Caleb’s due to his popularity. However… it wasn’t a real official relationship so surely it wasn’t considered?
“ It was never really my priority. I was honestly laser focused on becoming a hunter.” Technically, it wasn’t a lie because it was mainly her priority throughout her school days to ultimately become a hunter. It just wasn’t the full truth as to why.
“Sooo you’ve been single forever?”
“I… guess so?” Yves shrugged. It was never really a big deal to her, especially when she had Caleb anyway.
“Then that’s it!” Tara perked up.
“What’s it?” Yves tilted her head in confusion, her eyebrows knit together.
“Instead of just blindly overworking yourself, you need to put yourself out there and have fun. Explore. Meet people.” Yves’ eyes widened as she realised what Tara was saying.
“Oh. No, no, no. I don’t have time for that.” She shook her head and her hands, refusing the idea immediately.
“Yes, actually this is when you have the most time for it. You’re never going to be in your 20s again, and besides you’ve still got your 30s and 40s and 50s to slave off and overwork yourself until you retire or be forced to retire.” Tara reached out to hold her hands. “This is the time where you should be building your network of connections and meeting people, dating people, having fun. I promise, flirting and dating will distract you just as much as overworking but in a more fun and less physically strenuous way.”
Yves gave her a look of dubious consideration, her cheekbones raised in doubt.
“Come on, just give it a shot. If it doesn’t work out, then at least you have something else to think about. Right? What else have you got to lose?”
That was where she got her.
What else did she have to lose? She already lost everything anyway. Caleb, Grandma and the home she’d known her whole life. What else could she lose that would be worse than what she’d already lost?
“Alright, fine. You got me.” She threw her hands up in surrender and nodded. “I’ll try.”
Before she knew it, she’d reached her apartment. The flashback really did a number on her. So many things had happened since then, and not a single one the her back then would’ve expected. Just as she was about to open her door, she noticed a basket sitting on her doorstep. She bent down to pick it up and realized there was a note attached to the handle.
‘Heard U were on a week long leave. Here are some snacks so U dont forget to eat - Xavier’
It was a care package. Xavier had sent her a care package filled with snacks and fruits he knew she liked, likely an attempt to make contact with her while still giving ample space. Even though she never told him explicitly that she needed space, it was probably highly obvious with the way she avoided him at work and take some time to reply his messages. To be fair, she rarely replied anyone anymore these days. It’d take her hours or days to have the energy to reply.
Yet, this was something she couldn’t just ignore. She wasn’t completely heartless, and she’d liked Xavier enough to at least not give him a cold shoulder after being this considerate to her.
After she got in her house and finished her normal routine upon getting home. Yves fished out her phone that was often neglected now and sent a message to Xavier.
‘Got the package. Thank you. Come’
Yves hesitated at inviting Xavier over anytime. She wasn’t ready yet to have anyone in her space, she still had a lot to think about and process, but she was willing to see him at least once this week.
‘Got the package. Thank you. Let’s eat outside this week when you have free time.’ She opted the offer to eat out instead and pressed send. Almost as if he had been waiting, a reply came instantly.
‘No problem. Im free tomorrow or the day after’
‘Wednesday then?’
‘Okay Ill look up where we can eat Unless U got somewhere U want to go’
‘I trust you ^^’
‘Thnx’
Heaving a sigh, Yves collapsed backwards on her bed. She stared up at her ceiling, her dark blue eyes lost in the white, slightly peeling, drywall as she tried to keep her mind blank.
After a few minutes, she gave in. Yves lifted her phone up once more and sent another text message but this time to none other than Caleb. A weak woman as always, it wasn’t the first time she’d sent a message to him but so far it’d just been short messages.
‘Guess what, I got a week off..’
Unlike Xavier, it took him slightly longer to reply. Probably because he was busy with his colonel duties and all. Probably.
‘why? are you sick?’
‘No, but I think I look like i am lol but i’m not, dont worry. Captain Jenna just wanted me to take time off because I’ve been working overtime alot’
‘good, as you should. as in you should rest and take care of your health. have you gotten a checkup recently?’
‘I did, just now’
‘good girl :) I might have some free time this week as well, I’ll be goin back to Linkon to do some stuff. you need anything from skyhaven?’
‘Will you come see me?’
‘Can I?’
Yves stared at his message. Despite her tumultuous feelings since his comeback, she could never really say no to him.
‘We can eat out or you could come over and cook for me’
‘then I’ll be there early so we can do both’
‘Ok ^^’
‘I’ll be busy again in a bit, I’ll text you when I’m free’
Knowing he won’t reply again and not really liking when she’s the last message, Yves reacted instead to his message as acknowledgement.
Already, her weak heart was looking forward to seeing him again.