Work Text:
The dorm was quiet, except for the occasional murmur from your phone and the soft grunting from the floor. Caleb had promised to take you to the fair later that afternoon, once the heat had finally settled. With the morning's stickiness still clinging to your skin, you dropped your belongings the moment you stepped into the dorm, grateful to finally rest after a morning spent running errands with him.
Falling into a synchronised rhythm, you lay on his bed while Caleb finished the rest of his workout. Your back propped against his headboard, legs crossed, while scrolling through your phone.
"Caleb, come and look at this funny video"
Caleb didn't respond. Your body dangled off his bed, shaking your phone aggressively to grab his attention. "Caleb—"
Your face frowned at his lack of interest. Annoyed at having to leave your comfortable spot, you dragged yourself up and planted yourself in front of him. His eyes unmoved, as he pressed himself up again. The quiet clink of his chain brushed against your foot as he rose.
"Caleb."
....
"Hellooo? I'm speaking to you."
Another grunt.
"Are you seriously ignoring me right now?" you sulked.
Your foot wrapped around his earphones, angrily yanking them out. "What the—"
"Did I do something to make you mad?" you snapped.
Pausing the playlist that you brazenly interrupted, he explained, "Sorry, music was too loud."
"I've been calling you for ages," you frowned, arms tucked into your sides, "is there something bothering you?"
"It's nothing, don't worry about it," he retorted.
Your expression tightened. Caleb had an annoying habit of avoiding certain topics. Moments like these frustrated you, especially when it sounded like he was trying to convince himself of something more than you. If beating around the bush were a competition, he'd easily take first place.
His chest rose and fell as he sank back down, wincing at the stiffness trapped in his upper body. He stretched his arm out, soothing the tightness in his muscles, letting out a soft groan at the relief. A surge of warmth flushed your cheeks.
You bit the inside of your cheek, hard. "Well, it's clearly something. You've been acting distant with me since this morning."
Your patience was running thin. The Hunter's Academy had pushed you to your limits, both physically and mentally, with its rigorous training. Your visit to Skyhaven was something you'd been looking forward to for weeks. It was your brief taste of freedom before returning to the torturous cycle of endless body pains. Selfishly enough, the last thing you wanted was to let his sour mood ruin one of the rare occasions both of your schedules had aligned.
The man in front of you remained stiff as ever, staring out the window, lost in thought, still avoiding your gaze. You sighed, rubbing your temples in frustration as you tried to sieve through today's events.
'Seriously... what is his issue?'
Earlier that morning
The morning heat was beginning to wear on you, the sun's rays pressing down relentlessly. Caleb guided you to a patch of shade before heading off to find something to cool you down. As you settled in the shade, you pulled out a few of the things you'd just bought—a book and the new set of hair clips Caleb had picked out for you. They were silver, each adorned with a tiny red apple charm.
As you fixed one of them in your hair, a shadow approached, tentative and unsure.
"Excuse me... is that book by Yvette Moreau?" a voice asked hesitantly, breaking the silence.
The man in front of you gestured to the book in your lap, eyes beaming with charm and curiosity.
"Yes! It's her latest release. I just got it today." You couldn't help but smile, immediately lighting up at the topic.
You signalled to the empty patch beside you, "It's one of her signed copies. Do you want to take a look?"
The conversation flowed easily as you both dove into a discussion about shared interests, favourite titles and book recommendations, the warm breeze and quiet chatter blending together in a moment of unexpected connection.
A drink appeared from the side of your head, and you looked up to see Caleb standing there.
"Here you go, pipsqueak. Apple refresher," he said, holding it out to you. His interruption brought a pause to the conversation. His eyes briefly flicked to the guy beside you. His smile was polite—charming even, but underneath his genteel manner, you caught a faint stiffness behind it.
"Is this one of your friends? I don't believe we've met," he asked cooly.
The guy smiled brightly. "Oh, I was just passing by and happened to catch a glimpse of the book she was reading. She's one of my favourite authors, so I thought I might say hi. It's rare to come across another fan."
"Can you believe it, Caleb?" you chimed in, nudging him playfully as you took a sip. "Another fan like me. Maybe this is your sign to finally start reading them."
"Maybe I will," he replied flatly.
The guy checked his phone, cursing, "Crap, I've gotta bounce. I promised my grandma I'd meet her at noon."
He quickly gathered his things, glancing back at you. "You got my user ID, right? Let me know what you think of that book I recommended. I think you'll like it." He gave a cheeky wink.
"Hope I see you around."
You waved after him, before turning back to Caleb. "Took you long enough."
"Yeah, there was a long queue," he replied shortly, watching the guy's figure disappear in the distance.
"You wanna start heading back to your place?" you chirped.
He didn't answer, just nodded as he picked up your things and stood up. Without a word, he started walking, his long strides putting distance between you faster than expected.
"Caleb—wait!"
You grabbed your phone and hurried to catch, instinctively clinging to his arm. His muscles were stiff, and you could feel the tension in how his jaw shifted ever so slightly. His eyes fixed straight ahead, saying nothing.
Jeez, what's up with him...
You took another sip of your drink, letting the cool taste of apple dance on your tongue.
------
A sly smirk stretched across your face.
"Wait... don't tell me you're actually upset because of that guy that approached me earlier," you teased, playfully raising a brow.
Caleb looked to the side, a restrained pout betraying his face. He’d been caught. You giggled into your hands. His workout seemed to mask the hint of colour creeping up his ears as he tried to remain cool. This behaviour would’ve annoyed you when you were younger, but now, you couldn’t help but feel endearment.
"I have to admit he was nice and sweet, and I can see how he'd be good-looking to others, but he's not my type."
His jaw tightened, his head still refusing to meet your gaze. You crouched down to his level, forcing him to look at you. You have to admit you liked seeing this side of Caleb.
"Honestly, Caleb, with how busy we are with training, do you think I have spare time to be going out on dates at my leisure?"
You watch his chest heave up and down. Feeling your words settle in, you poked the side of his stomach. It seemed to comfort him. Your words must've struck a chord, because he finally met your eyes. He smirked, as if sensing the ridiculousness of his behaviour.
His hands fell to his knees before stretching out his hand as a sign of truce. He hoisted you both up, hands hovering at your side as your legs wobbled from the numbness. He was now looking down on you.
Even with the distance between you, the smell of fresh sweat was dizzying. It was intoxicating enough for you to take a step back before your face had a chance to betray your thoughts. You caught glimpse of a strand of hair clinging fiercely to his head, before trailing down to the damp patches on his shirt where the fabric clung onto him in all the wrong places.
A bead of sweat trailed down his temple, gliding along his jaw before disappearing into the dip of his neck.
Focus.
The sight burned into your brain.
Was he... always this distracting?
You needed to slap yourself. Turning your head and exhaled slowly, a rather weak attempt to catch your breath. Heat crawled up your cheeks, a faint indication of how flustered you were by his appearance. His eyes fixed on you as you looked away, his voice steady with sincerity, yet tinged with a hint of guilt.
"I'm sorry for making you worry."
You rolled your eyes and let out a sharp sigh.
"You know, sometimes you can be really frustrating"
You rested your hand on your hip and stared up at him. There was a silent determination in your gaze, as if trying to make your point clear.
"We promised there would be no secrets between us. Tell me next time if there's something bothering you. I don't like it when you hide things from me."
"You're right," he admitted defeatedly.
His head fell back, rubbing the back of his neck as your words sank in, "I was being immature."
You pinched the inside of your arm after catching yourself focusing more on the stretch of his triceps than his words. Caleb reached for your hand and gently wrapped his pinky around yours. He brought them to his lips, pressing a soft kiss against your finger.
"I promise."
His grip was firm, and you could tell he meant every word. Your stomach was doing cartwheels.
"Besides, I like it when you worry about me", he ruffled your hair.
"Do you think about me often?" he smiled cheekily, flashing you a boyish smile.
You dropped your hand forcibly and huffed loudly. You patted your hair down, not bothering to hide how annoyed you were by his habit.
"No, but if you do that again, I might consider taking up his offer. You're insufferable, you know that?"
The words hung in the air before you realised what you'd said. Slowly, you stopped fixing your hair, letting the weight of your words sink in. You've said harsher things before, but perhaps the timing was a bit too soon. Instantly, regret followed, and you bit your lip as if you could somehow take them back. A side glance confirmed the damage, the effect of your words settling between you both.
His body stiffened, a barely noticeable shift in his posture. His expression immediately fell flat. His lips pressed into a thin line, and you could see the gears turning in his head. A sense of unease settled over you as the atmosphere in the room shifted. You could almost feel the tension radiating off him, making the room feel smaller.
Shit
Being with Caleb meant the most unfiltered version of you came out. And more often than you'd like, you found words leaving your mouth before you could even process them.
He took a step closer, shortening the distance between you. You nearly choked on your breath. You fought hard not to stare at his pecs, which were now practically in your face. The warmth radiating off his chest was insufferable. As if your face wasn't enough, the way your breath quickened only made your vulnerability more obvious. His lips curled into a twisted, almost mocking smile. You were mentally preparing for another one of Caleb's lectures—not whatever this was.
"Don't tell me our pipsqueak has ulterior motives for visiting me in Skyhaven", his voice oozed with smoothness.
You knew better than to test Caleb—it was a losing battle. He never played fair.
His face revealed how much he enjoyed seeing you caught off guard. His hand snaked against your arm, hovering just below your elbow. Your breath hitched as his legs guided you until you could feel the cold press of the wall. Your legs trembled at the unexpected position, however, his hand shifted swiftly to capture your lower back.
In your panic, your hand searched against the wall, desperately looking for something to anchor yourself against. He must have found your reaction amusing because Caleb brought your hand above his heart.
You inhaled sharply as your fingertips grazed the hardness of his chest. He tilted his head, his voice a tone deeper than usual, yet still playful. He was toying with you.
"I have to say I'm quite hurt," he cooed.
He used one of his fingers to press your palm down even further. You could feel just how warm he was.
"And here I was thinking that my pipsqueak wanted to spend some time with me."
He leaned his arm against the side of your head. There was no hiding the effect he had on you. Your breathing grew erratic, cursing your failed attempt to steady it. Your body was betraying all forms of senselessness. You might as well have been running a marathon with how hot and flushed your face was.
You straightened your back and cleared your throat, attempting to regain some control in this game of tug-of-war. But it was no match against his charm. He knew all your weaknesses and exactly what buttons to press.
He brushed a strand of hair away from your ear, and you felt yourself falter again. Your eyes followed his movements as his head dipped to your side. Any fool could have seen how red you were. Caleb seemed satisfied by how his gentle touches provoked such an intense reaction from you.
You glanced at the window, silently wishing for some outside saviour to rescue you. But his position kept you trapped. His legs were slightly spread, encasing yours, and his grip on your waist stayed firm, reminding you that escape wasn’t an option.
You groaned mentally. How did you even end up in this position? It was your fault, really—you should've seen it coming. Caleb had always come off as humble. He wasn't the type to brag, but he was well aware of his talents and carried that confidence with him. To everyone else, he was annoyingly gifted, and despite how irritating his skills could be, no one could stay mad at him for long. Five minutes in a room with him and they'd fall for him regardless. His charm. His charisma. His stupid smile. People just liked him, even when they didn't want to.
You'd always admired him, too, though you'd never care to admit it. You made sure to sprinkle your compliments, just enough to keep his ego in check. But he always seemed to have that look—like he was expecting more. You never gave in. Not because he didn't deserve it, but because you were scared of what it'd do to him... and maybe a little scared of what it'd do to you.
Yet somehow today, you unconsciously made the grave decision of chipping at his ego. This was what happened when you played with fire. You teased him first, now, you were the one flustered, cornered, cursing yourself for thinking he wouldn't bite back. You could only catch a glimpse of his smirk before a warm breath landed gently on your ear.
"I should be blaming myself, really, you've gotten so used to me spoiling you."
"You know, pipsqueak, if you wanted to start seeing other guys—I wouldn't mind."
Liar
"You're all grown up now. It's only natural for you to want to explore other options. If—that's what you really want."
"All you have to do is say the word and I'll back off."
He chewed through the last few words as if testing to see your reaction. It was working because his dizzying words only made you crave him more. Caleb had made it painfully clear before that he didn’t like sharing your attention, though what you couldn't admit was how the thought of sharing him unsettled you just as much.
You wished you had the Caleb who was ignoring you again, not the version who was smug and strategic. He was teetering on the edge of something, and you weren't sure if you were ready to explore that. He was the one constant thing in your life you didn't want to lose. The idea of him offering himself to you was enough to make your thoughts stumble. Because deep down, you knew—you wouldn't be able to turn him away.
Caleb had always indulged your selfish tendencies growing up. On the rare occasions he didn't let you win, you'd sulk and dramatically swear to never play with him again. It always got to him more than you expected. The rest of the day would be spent with him trying to make it up to you, offering snacks, silly apologies, or distractions he knew you liked.
Back then, he made it his life's mission to learn everything about you. All your likes, dislikes, the things that made you laugh, and the things that made you cry.
There was one time he made you so mad—swooping in and stealing the win in kitty cards after you'd been leading the entire game. You didn't speak to him until dinner. He'd spent the whole afternoon trying to get in your good graces, but you were far too stubborn for your own good.
You ended up playing by yourself, sulking, until a small, roughly folded red paper crane landed in your lap. Caleb held a small green one and spoke in a silly voice, pretending as if he were the crane, begging for forgiveness.
"Did you know that once cranes find their mate, they stick together for life? I have someone special too, you know. But right now, I've done something to upset her. Still, I made a promise to her that no matter what, I'd always stay by her side!"
You felt guilty after that. The truth was your anger had already dissipated; you just missed talking to him. You could never stay mad at Caleb for long. That wasn't the only occasion either. There were plenty of moments when you'd sulk and pretend to hold a grudge, even when all you wanted was to give in. But you did. You always did.
Only that was back then. You were grown now, and you were trying hard to resist. The quiet ache, the feeling you never dared to name, was starting to creep closer to the surface. You'd drawn the line in your mind, clear and firm, but it began to blur a little more each time the thought lingered. And you wondered if it would really be so wrong to let yourself slip, just a little, and be selfish one more time.
Your eyes shut, as if shielding yourself from the thought. But with each second, you could feel the precipice of your resolve dissolving. All you could see was him, and you knew, deep down, you were already lost.
"I-I..."
"I-I'm not interested in meeting with other guys," the words barely leaving your lips.
Time seemed stretched as you waited for his reaction. His breath caught for a moment, and then, slowly, he pulled back. He was so close, you could feel the warmth of his breath, a soft caress against your cheek.
"Say that again."
Your cheeks were on fire. You stared at his necklace, deliberately avoiding his eyes, your fingers tightening around the hem of your skirt.
He was driving you crazy.
The corner of his mouth curved ever so slightly, as if savouring your reaction. His fingers brushed lightly against your chin, guiding you gently to face him.
You were exposing yourself now, and worse, at his will. Yet all you could focus on was how you couldn't picture letting yourself act this way with anyone else.
You pinched yourself for giving in so easily.
You hated this version of Caleb the most—because no matter what he said or did, you knew you could never deny him. Was this how he felt every day with you? Caleb had never been one to turn you down. Even when you pushed, testing the limits just to see how far he'd go, all he'd ever give you was a sceptical look before giving in anyway.
His eyes roamed your face, lingering on your lips before returning to your gaze. The air felt heavy, buzzing with something unspoken. Beneath his playful charm, there was something quieter, almost fragile.
You recognised it instantly, that silent kind of yearning. He wasn't trying to fluster you just because he could. No—a flicker of desperation lived in his eyes. There was a deeper need, a silent plea that only you could understand. You saw a longing for reassurance, a need to know that, maybe, you felt even a fraction of what he felt for you each day.
You wanted to lock this version of Caleb away. You wanted to be the only one to see him like this. How many times had he seen both the good and ugly sides of you? This side of him, rarely seen, was something you wanted to hold on to. He was always so good at hiding things, shielding you from things he didn't want you to know.
When he was alone, you'd catch the slightest furrow in his brow. Whenever he saw you, it'd vanish just as quickly, before replacing it with that familiar, reassuring smile.
You'd frown whenever you thought about the parts Caleb kept hidden from you. He was always there to ease your worries, but if hurt knowing he didn't want to anguish you with his. You couldn't help but fear that, one day, he'd drift away, flying off and leaving you behind.
Maybe, in some twisted way, sharing his pain would be your way of keeping him tethered. If you could understand every corner of his soul, perhaps the distance wouldn't feel so threatening. A piece of him would always remain with you, anchored in a way that no time or space could undo.
You'll never stop wanting to be a part of him. Maybe this was his way of letting you in, answering the unspoken fears between you—his and yours.
It was as if he feared asking permission to be selfish, to indulge. He wondered—if he offered this forbidden fruit, would you take a bite too?
For once, he wasn't hiding. He was reaching out to you, like he wanted you to tell him the answer.
Like he needed you to tell him.
All sense of pride was long gone out the window. It eased something deep inside you, knowing only you could quiet his doubt.
A surge of bravery coursed through you. Your gaze softened as you reached up, your fingers tracing the outline of his face. His skin was warm beneath your touch, and he leaned into it. Slowly, his eyes fluttered shut, allowing himself to melt into the feeling.
You were always so familiar with each other, yet this time it felt different. Despite the corner you found yourselves in, it was as if the power quietly shifted into your hands.
Your head rested against his arm as you studied his facial features. You were always annoyed at how ridiculously long his eyelashes were growing up, but now you saw how perfectly they framed his eyes. Your gaze drifted lower, tracing the soft curves of his cheeks, where the sunlight highlighted a freckle—barely noticeable from a distance, but now impossible to miss.
You first noticed them when you found him asleep on the couch, visiting a day earlier than planned. He looked so peaceful, you couldn't help but stare. You wished you had been more gentle, because he stirred awake before you could finish counting them. You still remember the sleepy smile he greeted you with and the stir it made in your stomach.
His lips parted ever so slightly, and you noticed the cracks along them. You made a quiet note to pick up chapstick the next time you visited. Still, they always felt soft whenever he pressed a kiss to your forehead—like everything about Caleb, soft and rough in all the right ways. He'd earned his calluses over time. You remember tracing them once when you were playing with his fingers. They never felt rough against your skin—only warm, only familiar.
"I promise, I'm not interested in meeting other guys. Besides, why would I when I have you in my life?"
It was more than reassurance—it was a silent confession. You didn't want anyone else tangled in your life but him.
A smile crept across his face, wide and boyish—almost puppy-like. A gentle murmur bloomed in your chest. There was a softness in his expression that he never seemed to show anyone else. You knew, because you'd always paid attention to how his face changed depending on who he was with.
But when it was just the two of you, that look never seemed to fade. You felt selfish for how much you cherished it. A few first dates had made you realise—no one else could look at you like that. And it hit you, only now, that you never wanted him to look at anyone else that way either.
He cradled the back of your head gently, guiding you closer before pressing a soft kiss to the edge of your forehead, lingering just a little longer than usual. He adored the way you smelled.
Time seemed to slow, the world falling away as you both existed in that moment. You wished you could stay like this forever, carve out this moment and freeze it in place. He took his time, breathing you in like he didn't want to forget. When he finally pulled away, the warmth lingered—your skin still tingling where his lips had been.
A warm blush crept up to your cheeks again. This kiss felt different. There was something deeper this time, a promise woven into his touch—an unspoken reminder that, in this moment, you were the most important thing in his life.
He spoke with such warmth and reassurance, a tone only he could carry, ensuring his words resonated within your soul.
"Good—because when you're here with me, I'm the only one who deserves all your attention. No one else gets to have that privilege."
You swear, you would have crumbled right then and there if it weren't for his hand steadying your back. He ruffled your hair, slipping effortlessly back into his usual self. You couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy at how easily he shifted, while you were still catching your breath. His smile hinted at the little mess he'd made of you, as if he knew exactly the effect he had. You couldn't believe how quickly you unravelled in his presence.
With a smirk, he leaned back, grabbing a towel from the chair beside him. He made his way to the bathroom, a grin pulling a little too wide at his lips.
"Give me ten minutes, and we can start heading down to that fair. Don't take too long getting ready."
You watched him go, the quiet buzz of his presence lingering in the air long after he was gone. A silent promise passed between you, one neither of you needed to define.
Your heart gave a little leap, filling your chest with a burst of energy. You smiled as you glanced in the mirror, only for it to fade quickly when you noticed the mess he'd made of your hair.
"Caleb!!"
Your voice was drowned out by the sound of water splashing against the tiles and the soft humming from behind the door.
You were gonna kill him later.
But right now, all you could feel was the comfort of being exactly where you needed to be, with him. And somehow, you knew you weren’t walking away from that anytime soon.