Manifesting Lumiere...
The drive is calm. For once, Rafayel isnât dramatically complaining about how boring the scenery is, nor is he blasting music at full volume just to mess with you. Instead, heâs relaxed, one hand draped over the wheel, sunglasses perched on the bridge of his nose, humming lazily to himself.
You hand him his coffee.
âMm, thanks, cutie,â he purrs, taking it without looking, already lifting it to his lipsâ
Sip.
Pause.
His fingers tighten slightly.
Thenâ
The car swerves.
"RAFAYEL!"
With zero hesitation, he veers off the road and slams the brakes, the car jerking to a sudden, dramatic stop.
"WHAT THE HELLâ" you start, gripping the dashboard.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!"
Rafayel is staring at the cup like it just personally betrayed him. His eyes are huge, his fingers clamped so tightly around the cup that youâre genuinely worried it might crack.
He snatches off his sunglasses, turns to you, andâsays nothing.
Just breathes heavily.
Like heâs witnessed something cosmic.
You raise an eyebrow. "Something wrong, babe?"
He flips the cup toward you, jabbing at the words printed on the side.
Best Dad Ever.
"Is this a joke?" His voice cracks. âIS THIS A JOKE?!â
You bite back a laugh. "Nope."
His entire body freezes. His brain disconnects from reality.
Thenâ
He LAUNCHES himself out of the car.
âRAFAYEL, OH MY GODââ
He starts pacing.
Wildly.
Hand in his hair, fully spiraling.
"I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN!" He throws his arms in the air. "MY GENES ARE TOO POWERFULâTHIS WAS INEVITABLEâ"
You lean out the window, exasperated. "Can youâ"
"I CANâT BREATHEâ"
"Then inhale through your nose, genius."
"I AM. IT'S NOT ENOUGH."
He stops abruptly. Whips back toward you. Marches over to the car like a man with a mission, plants his hands on the doorframe, and leans inâ
"Youâre serious?" His voice is deadly quiet now.
You hold his gaze. âIâm serious.â
For a second, he just stares at you.
Then, suddenlyâ
He laughs.
At first, just a short breath. Thenâfull giddy, unfiltered joy. He grabs your face, kisses you sloppy and hard, and laughs against your lips like he canât believe it.
"I KNEW IT!" He pulls back just to yell into the sky. "I AM ABOUT TO CREATE THE MOST GORGEOUS CREATURE IN EXISTENCE. DO YOU UNDERSTAND? THIS IS HISTORIC. THIS CHILD WILL BE A CULTURAL ICONâ"
You groan. "Rafayelâ"
âI HAVE TO DOCUMENT THIS MOMENT.â
"âNo."
Heâs already reaching for his phone.
"âRAFAYEL, NOâ"
"WE NEED A PORTRAIT. A MONUMENT. A SERIES OF LIMITED-EDITION ART PRINTS."
You physically reach over and grab his wrist. "GET BACK IN THE DAMN CAR."
He gasps.
Dramatically.
Hand-on-heart levels of betrayal.
"You wouldnât deprive me of this joy?"
"I will deprive you of seeing your child if you donât start driving."
Instantlyâheâs back in the car.
Straightens his jacket. Adjusts his hair. Puts on his sunglasses.
"Holy sharks," he breathes, gripping the wheel. "I'm gonna be a dad."
You sigh, finally relaxing. "Yeah, babe. You are."
He exhales slowly.
Then, softer this time, he reaches out, brushing his fingers over your stomachâreverent now.
"You just made me the happiest being alive," he murmurs. His smirk is still there, but his voice is completely serious.
You smile, resting your hand over his. âI know.â
The moment lingersâsoft, intimate, perfect.
And thenâ
A wicked glint flashes in his eyes.
âOhhh,â he grins, leaning back lazily. âThis kid is gonna be a menace.â
You groan. "Rafayelâ"
"THEY WILL BE CHAOS INCARNATE."
"Stopâ"
"WE HAVE A DYNASTY TO BUILD."
And just like thatâyour entire future flashes before your eyes.
Itâs been a quiet drive, Sylus tapping his fingers against the steering wheel, humming along to the music. Heâs in a good mood. Relaxed. Smug, as usual, but easygoing.
You hand him his coffee.
He takes it, sips, lets out a pleased little humâ
And thenâ
The car jerks.
You barely have time to register what happened before he slams on the brakes, throwing an arm across your waist to stop you from lurching forward.
âSYLUSââ
"EXCUSE ME?!"
The wheels screech to a stop on the side of the road. A cloud of dust kicks up behind the car, but Sylus doesnât even look at it. Noâhis full, undivided attention is now locked onto the cup in his hand.
He turns it slowly, his crimson eyes glowing as he reads the words again. And again.
Best. Dad. Ever.
He blinks.
Then he grins.
Not just a smirkâa full, wicked, teeth-flashing, Sylus-style grin that immediately puts you on high alert.
âKitten,â he purrs, tilting his head, voice dangerously low. âIs this what I think it is?â
You cross your arms. âIf you think it means Iâm pregnant, then yes.â
He lets out a low whistle, tapping the cup against the steering wheel like he cannot believe his luck.
âOh-ho-ho,â he laughs, running a hand through his silver hair. âOh, kitten.â
ââŠWhy do you sound like you won something?â you ask, already regretting everything.
He takes another slow sip of coffee, relishing it, before placing the cup deliberately in the holder. Then he turns to you.
And justâstares.
His eyes gleam. His smirk deepens. And thenâ
âYou belong to me now,â he murmurs, voice soaked in satisfaction.
Oh. Oh no.
âDonâtââ
âYou were already mine,â he continues, ignoring your protest, fingers tracing slow circles on your knee. âBut this? This makes it official.â
You squint. âWhat the hell are you talking about?â
âOh, sweetheart,â he breathes, leaning in until his nose barely brushes yours. âYou are so trapped.â
Your breath catches.
His lips brush your jaw. Soft. Slow. Dangerous.
âOur baby,â he murmurs against your skin. âMy legacy.â
Okay, that makes you snort. âLegacy? Are you seriousââ
His fingers tighten on your thigh.
âI never joke about ownership, kitten.â
Your stomach flips. âSylus, I swearââ
âI am,â he continues, voice so dangerously pleased, âabout to be the most unbearable man alive.â
âYou already are.â
He chuckles, dark and smooth.
Then, with zero warning, he pulls your seat leverâfully reclines itâand cages you in with both arms.
âSYLUSââ
âYou think Iâm letting you out of this car without celebrating properly?â His knee presses between yours. His lips hover just over yours. âOh, kitten.â
A smug, deadly whisperâ
âYouâre not going anywhere.â
And just like thatâyou are so. Completely. Screwed.
The drive is quiet, smooth, the hum of the engine steady. Zayne is driving like he does everything elseâefficiently, precisely, with absolute control. One hand on the wheel, the other resting on the gear shift, his posture effortlessly composed.
You hand him his coffee.
He takes it automatically, barely looking away from the road as he lifts it to his lips.
Thenâ
The cup stops midair.
His fingers tighten.
His eyes flick down.
The muscles in his jaw shift.
You can see the exact second his mind starts processing.
His lips part slightly. His brows furrow just a fraction.
His eyes scan the words again, like data he needs to verify.
Best Dad Ever.
And just like thatâZayne enters full diagnostic mode.
His pupils dilate. His breathing adjusts. His shoulders tense in micro-movements.
Then, before you can speak, he muttersâ
âSeven weeks.â
You blink. âWhat?â
He doesnât answer. Heâs already calculating. His eyes flick to the dashboard clockâcounting back the exact number of days since your last cycle.
âNo, wait,â he mutters, more to himself than to you, âsix weeks, five days. That lines up better withââ
He cuts himself off, his grip on the wheel adjusting, his mind racing a mile a second.
Then he grabs his phone with one hand and immediately dials a number.
You stare at him. âZayne, what are youââ
âItâs Doctor Zayne, I need a full prenatal assessment scheduled immediately.â
âWhat?!â
He ignores you, listening intently. His tone is calm, clipped, entirely professional, as if heâs in the middle of a patient consultation.
âYes, priority level one.â His fingers tap against the wheel. âStandard screenings plus full genetic panel. I also want a full cardiovascular assessment given her recentââ
âZAYNE.â
His jaw tightens. He barely spares you a glance, still listening to whoeverâs on the other end.
âNo, reschedule that for tomorrow, Iâll be overseeing this personallyââ
You reach over and end the call.
Silence.
Zayne blinks once, slowly, as if rebooting.
Then he turns his head very carefully toward you.
ââŠDid you justââ
âYes.â
His eyelid twitches.
âYou,â he says, deadpan, âjust ended an emergency medical consultation with one of the most sought-after specialists in the Linkon-city.â
âYes.â
His lips press together tightly. His nostrils flare just a fraction.
Thenâthe cracks start showing.
His throat bobs. His fingers flex around the wheel. His chest rises with a sharp inhaleâ
And then, finally, he breaks.
His entire body sags forward as he presses his forehead to the steering wheel, exhaling shakily.
ââŠOh, fuck,â he mutters, voice completely wrecked.
You blink.
He takes another sharp breath, his hands gripping the wheel like heâs stabilizing himself.
ââŠI was fine,â he says, more to himself than to you.
You stare at him. âNo, you werenât.â
âI was,â he insists, head still against the wheel. âI had a plan. I was handling it.â
You tilt your head. âHandling it like a patient case?â
His fingers flex again. âItâs not the same.â
âZayne.â
He doesnât move.
âZay.â
Nothing.
So you reach out, fingers slipping into his hair, scratching lightly at his scalpâ
He lets out a breath that absolutely shatters you.
Like something inside him has finally collapsed.
Thenâwithout warningâhe turns and kisses you.
Itâs not like before. Not calculated, not measured, not careful.
Itâs desperate.
Like he needs to feel you, needs to know youâre here, with him, real.
When he pulls back, his forehead rests against yours, his hand coming up to cradle the back of your head.
âI canâtâŠâ He exhales slowly. âI canât lose control of this.â
Your chest tightens. âYou donât have to control everything, Zayne.â
His hand slips down, pressing gently against your stomach. His fingers splay, warm and reverent.
ââŠYouâre right.â His voice is quieter now.
Another pause.
Thenâ
A tiny, breathless laugh escapes him.
You raise an eyebrow. âWhat?â
His eyes flick to yours, golden-green and impossibly soft.
ââŠIâm going to be a dad.â
You smile. âYeah, you are.â
Another shaky exhale. Then, a full-blown smileârare, genuine, warm.
ââŠShit.â He laughs again, shaking his head. âI shouldâve seen this coming.â
You grin. âShould I be concerned that you can predict organ failure before it happens, but not this?â
His hand tightens just slightly over your stomach. His smirk is smaller now, more sincere.
âNo,â he murmurs. âBecause thisââ
He leans in, lips brushing just over your temple.
âThis is the best surprise Iâve ever had.â
Itâs a perfect driveâat least, for now. The sun is low, stretching golden light across the road, and Caleb is relaxed, one hand on the wheel, the other lazily resting on the armrest. Heâs humming to himself, terribly off-key, completely endearing, and utterly oblivious to the bomb youâre about to drop on him.
You hand him his coffee.
âThanks, pip-squeak,â he murmurs, taking it automatically, his eyes still on the road.
He takes a sip.
Thenâ
He stops.
His hand tightens around the cup.
His posture locks up.
And just like that, you realize youâve made a terrible mistake.
The car swerves.
âCALEB!â
With military precision, he pulls over so hard the tires skid, shifts into park, and slams the brakes.
He doesnât move.
He doesnât breathe.
You barely have time to process before he whirls toward you, holding up the cup like itâs an explosive device.
âWHAT. IS. THIS?!â
You blink. âUh. Coffee?â
His eye twitches. His chest rises in one sharp inhale.
Thenâhis voice drops to a whisper.
ââŠAre you messing with me right now?â
Your lips twitch. âNope.â
Silence.
Pure, deafening silence.
Thenâ
His entire soul leaves his body.
He throws the door open, jumps out of the car, and immediately crouches down with his hands on his knees.
You watch in real time as a fully grown man has a complete emotional crisis on the side of the road.
"OH FUCK. OH FUCK. OH FUCK."
âCALEB, GET BACK IN THE CAR.â
"I NEED A SECOND."
âYouâre going to get hit byââ
"I NEED A FUCKING SECOND."
You drop your head into your hands as he rakes his fingers through his hair, muttering to himself like heâs trying to process the meaning of life.
Thenâabruptlyâhe stops.
Stands up straight. Spins to face you.
ââŠHow long?â
You hesitate. âCalebââ
âHOW LONG?!â
You sigh. âA few weeks.â
His jaw clenches. His eyes dart down, scanning you, like heâs only just now realizing that oh shit, youâre actually pregnant.
Thenâhe yanks open the car door, sits back down, and buckles his seatbelt like it personally wronged him.
You blink. ââŠAre you okay?â
âNo,â he admits immediately.
He exhales sharply, presses his hands to his face, and justâ
Whimpers.
Not dramatically. Not in distress. Just the most overwhelmed, overjoyed, short-circuited noise youâve ever heard come out of him.
Then, suddenlyâhe laughs.
Not just any laughâa helpless, breathless, disbelieving laugh.
âOh, fuck.â He drags a hand down his face, his grin growing. âOh, fuck. Weâre having a baby.â
You grin back. âYeah, we are.â
He turns to you, and something changes.
The panic is still thereâbut beneath it? Something warm. Something so impossibly, devastatingly soft.
Thenâhe moves.
His hand presses to your stomach.
Just rests there.
Like heâs afraid to push too hard, afraid to shatter this moment.
His throat bobs. His fingers spread slightly.
And then, his voiceâsofter than youâve ever heard itâ
ââŠThatâs our baby.â
You nod.
His eyes flicker. His entire body tenses.
Then, without warningâ
You are no longer sitting.
You yelp as he hauls you into his lap, wrapping both arms around you and crushing you against his chest.
âCALEBââ
âNOPE.â His voice is muffled into your shoulder. âI NEED THIS. GIVE ME THIS. RIGHT NOW.â
You laugh. âYouâre squishing meââ
"YOUâRE PREGNANT WITH MY BABY AND I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS EMOTIONALLY, THANK YOU."
You let him have it.
For a long moment, he just holds you. His breath is shaky, his grip tight, like heâs trying to memorize every second of this before it slips away.
Thenâhe shifts slightly.
A deep breath. A pause.
Then, suddenlyâ
His grip tightens, and he leans back just enough to look at you dead in the eyes.
ââŠOkay butâwhat about me?â
You blink. âWhat?â
His ears start going red.
âI mean,â he clears his throat, gaze darting anywhere but your face now, âwhat about⊠you know.â
You smirk. âI donât know. Clarify.â
He groans, tilting his head back against the seat. âPip-squeak, come on.â
You hum, trailing your fingers over his shoulders, down his chest. âOhh. You meanââ
"YES." His grip tightens on your hips. "What happens now? Do I justâ" He gestures vaguely between you. "Forget about it? Nine months of nothing?"
You shrug innocently. âWell. There are other waysâŠâ
He freezes.
His eyes darken. His jaw clenches. His fingers twitch.
ââŠOther ways.â
You nod. âMhm.â
He stares. Processing.
Then, suddenlyâ
He grabs the steering wheel with both hands, stares straight ahead, and shifts into drive.
âOkay.â
You snort. âThatâs it?â
âI have to drive us home. Immediately.â His voice is far too serious. âThis is now a time-sensitive situation.â
You laugh. âCaleb, you are soââ
He shoots you a warning look, eyes still burning. âDo not finish that sentence unless you want me to pull over again.â
You grin wickedly. âAnd then what?â
His grip tightens on the wheel.
Then, low and darkâ
ââŠDonât test me, pip-squeak.â
And just like thatâ
You have created a monster.
The drive is smooth, effortless. Xavier handles the car the way he handles everything elseâcalmly, efficiently, like heâs already three steps ahead of reality. The road stretches endlessly ahead, the soft hum of the engine filling the silence between you.
You hand him his coffee.
âThank you, love,â he murmurs, taking it without looking, perfectly composed, as always.
He lifts it to his lips, takes a sipâ
Then stops.
His fingers tighten slightly around the cup.
You watch as his eyes flick down to the message.
Best Dad Ever.
For a moment, he doesnât react. Doesnât tense, doesnât flinch. JustâŠobserves.
Then, with deliberate ease, he tilts his head slightly in your direction.
ââŠVery funny.â
You blink. âExcuse me?â
He gestures toward the cup, lips twitching in amusement. âYou canât fool me, princess. I know you too well.â
He takes another slow sip, entirely unbothered.
âThis is a joke,â he continues, matter-of-factly. âYou wanted to see if Iâd panic. Clever, but predictable.â
You hum thoughtfully. âOh, yeah? What makes you so sure?â
His smirk grows. âBecause if it were real, youâd be significantly worse at hiding your anticipation.â
You tilt your head. âMm. Maybe.â
He chuckles softly, shaking his head as he shifts his focus back to the road. âYouâll have to do better than this next time.â
You shrug, lifting your own coffee to your lips.
He barely glances at it.
Thenâhe does a double take.
His brows furrow. His body stiffens slightly.
You see itâthe moment the wheels in his head start turning. The moment his brain connects the dots.
Best Mom Ever.
Of twins.
There is a pause. A deep, soul-crushing pause.
Then, slowly, very slowly, he takes one more sip of coffee.
And immediately chokes on it.
He coughs once, hard, sharp. His grip on the wheel tightens so fast his knuckles go white.
And thenâhe does the single most terrifying thing he has ever done in his entire existence.
He slowly eases his foot off the gas pedal.
Not jerking the car. Not slamming the brakes. Just gradually reducing speed with surgical precision.
His eyes are locked straight ahead, unblinking.
The car glides toward the shoulder of the road in complete, deafening silence.
Then, in eerie, methodical movements,
He puts the car in park.
Takes off his seatbelt.
Reaches over.
And plucks your coffee out of your hands.
You blink. âXavier?â
He says nothing.
Instead, he places both cups onto the dashboard.
Adjusts them. Lines them up perfectly so that the words are directly facing him.
Thenâ
He stares.
At the cups.
At the words.
At his entire future.
Silence.
Then, very quietlyâ
ââŠTwins.â
His throat bobs.
His hand comes up and presses against his temple.
Another beat of pure silence.
Thenâ
He laughs.
A single breathless, helpless laugh.
Then another.
And another.
Until suddenlyâ
He dissolves into a full-blown existential breakdown.
His entire body tips forward, forehead pressing against the steering wheel.
âTwins.â His voice is muffled, bordering on delirious. âIâtwins. Two. There are two.â
You bite your lip. âThere will be, yeah.â
He lets out a sound that is neither human nor machine.
Then, slowlyâhe lifts his head again.
His eyes are unfocused, like heâs calculating probabilities of survival in real-time.
Thenâ
His head turns toward you.
And you swear you see actual panic.
âHow,â he exhales, voice quiet, shaky, âdo we own two of something when we never needed to own one?â
You blink. âXav, whatâ?â
He gestures vaguely at the cups.
âHow do we prepare for twins if we were never prepared for a singular baby?â
You open your mouthâ
"WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TWO OF THE SAME PILLOW."
You freeze. âWhat.â
He gestures more aggressively now, looking absolutely unhinged.
âOUR BED.â He waves toward the back seat. âTHE PILLOWS. THEYâRE DIFFERENT. HOW DID WE GET TWO DIFFERENT PILLOWS? HOW DID I LET THIS HAPPEN?â
You stare at him.
âYouâre spiraling.â
âI AM LOGICALLY PROCESSING THE GRAVITY OF OUR SITUATION.â
âXavier.â
He inhales. Exhales.
Then, softer now, more real, more rawâ
ââŠWeâre going to have twins.â
You nod.
His shoulders drop. His eyes soften.
Thenâbefore you can react, he reaches out, pulls you into his lap, and buries his face into your neck.
For a long moment, he just holds you.
No overthinking. No calculations.
Just you.
When he finally speaks, his voice is low, warm, unshaken.
ââŠI am never going to recover from this information.â
You laugh softly. âYou will.â
He leans back just enough to meet your eyes. And finallyâfinallyâhis lips curve into a small, exhausted smile.
ââŠTheyâre going to be terrifyingly intelligent.â
You snicker. âOh, for sure.â
âAnd devastatingly attractive.â
âObviously.â
He hums. âI will be insufferable.â
âYou already are.â
His arms tighten around you, his lips brushing your forehead.
ââŠIâm going to be a father of twins.â
âYou are.â
ââŠThatâs the most terrifying thing Iâve ever heard in my life.â
You grin. âYouâll be fine.â
Another pause.
Thenâ
A mischievous glint sparks in his eyes.
ââŠTwins, you said?â
You narrow your eyes. âYes?â
His smirk returns, sharper this time.
âSo.â He tilts his head. âShall we test for a third?â
You shove him so hard the car rocks slightly. ****** More stories here: https://archiveofourown.org/users/Aleksa_Tia
After the Ithaca Saga, I believe that Odysseus thought he and Athena were officially done forever and would only occasionally see each other because she was mentoring Telemachus now. He really thinks there's no way they can reconnect anymore and attempt at a friendship this time, but he's fine with it, he can accept it.
That is until Telemachus goes up to him one day like:
"Hey father, can I ask you something?"
"Yes son, of course."
"You mentored under Athena before right? Do you happen to know a friend of hers?"
"Oh I... I wasn't aware Athena had friends before. She was very adamant about that "No Friends" rule back then... kind of stings."
"Oh really? She talks about him a lot."
"Does she now? *mumbling* must be so special about this fRieNd of Athena..."
"Yeah she told me about this one time he wanted to impress someone, so he climbed on all the way to the tree branch next to the balcony of their room and leaned against the trunk to look cool, but he kept talking to Athena in her owl appearance so he didn't notice the other person going to the balcony and he got so spooked when they called out to him, he turned too fast and lost balance, slipped, smacked his ass on the tree branch and broke his arm when he fell, so he had to wear a sling for 3 months and couldn't sit down for 2 weeks."
"....call Athena right now."
"Why-"
"ATHENA!!!"
The second Athena appeared, Odysseus threw himself at her, on one hand going "YOU CONSIDER ME YOUR FRIEND WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO!?!?!?!" and on the other going "WHY ARE YOU TELLING MY SON ALL MY EMBARRASSING STORIES!?!?! THAT WAS BETWEEN ME, PENELOPE AND YOU!!"
He was actually crying. Athena has absolutely no idea what is happening or what she should do. Telemachus just discovered a whole new side of his dad and might know where he gets it from now....
Xavier x Writer!Reader
A/N: This is the first time I ever write on Tumblr, and also the first time I wrote something in 2nd person about LADS. English is not my first language, so I'd appreciate any type of feedback to improve my writing c: thank you for reading!
Summary: Xavier is coming to your apartment to watch a movie. While waiting for you in the living room, he finds a notebook that ignites a flame at the idea that someone else had stolen your heart.
Tags: Pre-relationship, fluff, some angst (just a little), sfw, jealous Xavier, conflicted feelings.
Words: 2,6k
.đ„ Ę Ë âŠ â§âË â .đ„ Ę Ë âŠ .đ„ Ę Ë âŠ â§âË â .đ„ Ę Ë âŠ â§âË â
You had invited Xavier to come over to watch a movie, taking advantage of his day off. It was a regular activity you'd adopted since you'd become close after so much time being neighbors and coworkers. While you were in charge of cooking âsince you didn't fully trust Xavier's cooking skillsâ, he was in charge of buying drinks and some snacks for the movie.
While you were waiting for Xavier to arrive, you decided to take a quick shower. You made sure to send him a text letting him know he could come in freely to get comfortable until you were done.
Xavier always made sure to bring your favorite snack or dessert as compensation for you always cooking something delicious for him. He usually didn't pay too much attention to what he ate, too busy hunting Wanderers and sleeping, only eating instant noodles and simple dishes that Xavier managed to cook without making a mess, or just go to a hot pot restaurant if he didn't feel like settling for his poor cooking. Every time you invited him over to eat was like a gift to him.
He entered your apartment silently, one of his hands carrying a bag with snacks and drinks to share with you during the movie. The other was holding his phone, still with your chat on the screen. Knowing that you were busy taking a shower, he walked to your living room and settled on the couch to wait for you.
He wasn't a nosy person, he respected your privacy a lot even when sometimes he was dying to know what was going on in your mind. So, whatever kind of secret you had, he would respect it because he knew you would tell him when you felt comfortable enough.
When he saw the open notebook on the table next to the sofa, he couldn't help but feel curious. He didn't think it was something private considering it was open, it's content revealed to anyone to see.
He picked it up with curiosity and looked at it carefully. It was a scruffy, plain notebook, nothing flashy. Xavier remembered having seen that notebook in the past: In a cafeteria where you two had agreed to go, you were absentmindedly writing in that notebook, oblivious to Xavier's gaze, and when he reached your side, you smiled at him and closed the notebook immediately. Or when he saw you by chance in a plaza, you were eating some donuts while your eyes focused on the notebook and your hand moved non-stop. That time Xavier didn't make you stop writing, it was you who stopped writing, putting away the notebook and grabbing your things before looking up and encountering his gaze.
It was inevitable that he felt curious about the content. What was it that had you so focused on writing? He thought he might come across lists, date reminders, or things like that. Maybe even some drawing. But what he found were pages full of text, some scratches and corrections here and there. Your handwriting varied in shape and size, sometimes clear and neat, other times sloppy, abrupt, and confusing.
Despite how overwhelming the interior looked, Xavier tried to read the first line of a paragraph.
«He is kind, gentle, and chivalrous. He easily attracts attention even when he doesn't mean to. People couldn't help but gravitate toward him like moths to a flame. Akira was simply exceptional».
Nothing in that paragraph had caught his attention until he read what followed.
«Maybe that's why I liked him so much».
He stared at the text, reading that last line over and over again. It was as if he couldn't quite comprehend what he was reading, as if the words didn't quite make sense. When he was finally convinced that what he was reading was not a product of his imagination, he began to read a few more lines.
«I liked to take advantage of any situation to be by his side. He was dense enough not to notice my intentions.»
«One of my favorite places is the beach when it's about to rain. I realized that's the exact color of her eyes. Other times they were the color of the starry night sky.»
«...and his lips were the most tempting thing the universe could have created.»
Many things went through Xavier's head too quickly, thoughts that merged together and were too confusing to say out loud. Only one thing stood out from all his mental chaos.
Who is Akira?
His mind tried to recall all the workers he remembered from the Association. He tried to remember if he had ever read Akira's name anywhere or heard it in conversation. After failing at that, he tried to remember if any neighbors in the building had that name, maybe someone he hadn't met but you had. The more he searched, the less he found.
By the time you got out of the shower and walked back into the living room, dressed and arranged comfortably, Xavier had a thoughtful expression, the closed notebook on the table next to the sofa.
âHey,â you greeted him with a smile and approached the small table to see the contents of the bag he had brought. âAs expected of you, you brought my favorite.â
You called him to come to the dining room, since you had left the food ready for when he arrived.
He didn't move.
âXavier?â You called.
It took him a moment to snap out of his thoughtful state.
âOh. Coming.â
You ate and talked peacefully, you asked him questions from time to time and he answered gently and kindly. Still, it was inevitable to feel that his responses were more careful than usual.
Once you settled in to watch the movie, Xavier took on a serious expression that was out of place considering the movie was mostly a comedy. Still, you didn't question it, you knew Xavier was sometimes strange in his own way, so you didn't think anything of it.
After a few minutes of the film, Xavier was unable to hold it any longer. Although the way he started the conversation wasn't... subtle.
âDo you like someone?â
You turned to look at him instantly, unable to believe that he had actually asked something like that out of the blue.
âWhat?â
For some reason, that answer irritated him. He wanted to ask you so many things. Ask you about that "Akira" you mentioned so often in your notebook, ask you if you truly meant everything you said in those pages. Ask you if it were true, what you thought of him. Did you see him as just a friend? Coworker? Neighbor?
Suddenly he realized how easy it was to lose you over something as mundane as you falling in love with someone other than him. It was like a punch in the stomach when he realized he might have already lost you.
For a second, he had a flashback to a conversation in the past, who knows how many years ago.
You saying that maybe you had fallen in love with someone, him replying that it was a good thing. You asking if he wasn't curious to know who it was, and him having to take a moment to say that it didn't matter, that he was happy for you.
Too guilty for not being honest with you.
Too jealous to accept that someone else had your heart.
âDo you like someone?â He asked again, unable to continue thinking about how unpleasant the feeling of deja vu was.
âWhere does that question come from?â You laughed and he felt more irritation and his stomach turn over.
Was that a yes?
âLately I've noticed certain things,â he lied. He was good at lying, he had been doing it for a long time. He was especially good at lying to you, unfortunately. âYou smile more, your eyes sparkle... and we watch more romantic movies than usual.â
He said the last thing while pointing at the television with his chin. The main couple was in the middle of a romantic scene, looking at each other affectionately and sharing smiles.
âOh,â you said. âI hadn't realized that.â
Again, an answer he didn't like.
âSo? Is that a yes?â He settled back on the couch, turning his body to look directly at you. âWhoâs the lucky one?â
You laughed again, leaning over the living room table to reach for a snack. Xavier pressed his lips together.
You weren't taking him seriously.
âI have no idea how you came to that conclusion, but I assure you there is no one.â You smiled at him sincerely. âItâs all just a coincidence.â
Lie.
The fact that you didn't want to tell him directly was another blow to the gut. You didn't trust him? You didn't want him to know? Why?
There was a silence in which only the movie could be heard. Xavier was no longer listening and you only paid half attention to it. Then he spoke again.
âWho is Akira?â
When those words left his mouth, he immediately regretted saying them because he knew he had sounded desperate.
Until he saw the change in your expression. You didn't laugh. Your smile froze and there was something in your eyes that confirmed he had asked the right thing.
He saw alarm.
âWho?â You asked, but instead of genuine confusion, he heard caution.
You knew who he was talking about.
âAkira.â He responded softly, his eyes focused on you, looking for more information with any change in your expression.
âWhere did you hear that name?â
Faced with that question, Xavier had the decency to look away and look embarrassed. What was he supposed to tell you? That he'd snooped through your notebook without your permission while you weren't looking? What would that say about him? That would only prove you right that he was not trustworthy.
He couldn't bear the thought of breaking your trust. Not again.
Your gaze quickly searched for the table next to the sofa that was behind Xavier. It was closed, but you couldn't help but press your lips together, tense that it was within his reach.
As Xavier looked away, you stood up from the couch and leaned towards him. He immediately turned his gaze to you, eyes wide open as he watched you come closer. However, when he saw you step back with the notebook in your hand, he looked away.
âXavier...â You kept your gaze on your notebook, your hands gripping it tightly. After a moment, you looked up at him, tense. âDid you read my notebook?â
Xavier swallowed before looking at you.
âIt... wasnât my intention.â He told you with sincerity and heaviness.
Again you two fell silent. The film had been completely forgotten by both of you. You looked at Xavier like you didn't believe he was real and he looked at you like you were about to break his heart.
Then, against all odds, you laughed.
âMy god,â you gasped, staring at the ceiling in disbelief. âHow embarrassing.â
That wasn't the reaction he was expecting. He looked at you in confusion as you shook your head and looked back at him.
âItâs not what you think,â you said confidently. âI donât like any Akira.â
It took Xavier a moment to respond.
âI readââ
âYeah, I know.â You laughed again, this time rubbing your face with one hand. When you pulled away and Xavier could see your face again, he saw the slight blush on your cheeks. âBut what you read isn't my secret diary or anything like that. Itâs my writing notebook.â
Xavier remained silent, processing your answer. He went over your words again and again until he finally registered their weight.
âWriting notebook?â
âYeah,â you nod. âA notebook where I write down spontaneous ideas I have to write stories or longer projects in the future.â
Xavier continued to look at you intently as you opened the notebook to the first pages.
âHereâs my character index,â you explained as you carefully showed him the pages. âAkira is one of them. One of the main ones, in fact.â You flipped more pages to the middle and showed him more messy text. âThese are ideas that come to me out of nowhere. Sometimes they're full scenes, other times they're thoughts of a specific character.â
You looked up with a small smile.
âWhat you read were the thoughts of my main character about him at the climax of the story.â
With those words, Xavier breathed again. He let out a shaky sigh and looked away from your face. It was as if an invisible weight had been lifted from his shoulders and he couldn't help but bring his fist to his lips in an attempt to hide his embarrassed expression.
âI thought thatââ He said but stopped, thinking that maybe what he said would only embarrass him more.
This time you laughed out loud as Xavier tried to hide his embarrassment by grabbing a snack from the table. He ate without looking at you, incredulous that his apparent rival was a product of your imagination.
âWhy were you so curious to know if I liked Akira?â You asked between laughs, still not wanting to drop the subject.
âI justââ He took a moment to answer. âI was curious to know who was the person that you wrote so passionately about.â
âMmh...â
Entertained to see this side of Xavier, you decided to tease him a little.
âWell, do you wanna know a secret?â You leaned closer to him, voice quiet. âAkira is inspired by a real person.â
That was enough to get his attention. He looked at you again, his eyes fixed on you, attentive, alert, with tension ready to creep into his bones.
âWho?â
âNope!â You shook your head. âThat's a secret!â
You crossed your arms and raised your chin with a definitive gesture, giving drama to your words. Faced with his silence, you couldn't help but glance at him and seeing his expression âas if ready to seek out the one who had inspired such passionate writingâ, you smiled at him.
âHe is the most trusted and important person in the world to me. I am grateful to the universe for sending me such a wonderful star by my side.â
And your smile âGods, your smileâ was all he needed to realize your words. It felt like a shared secret. Like a confession.
His frown relaxed and he opened his mouth to speak, although at first he was unable to do so.
âAm I...?â
âThe movie!â You turned your full attention back to the television, too embarrassed to give him any more information than you had already.
Xavier didn't need anything else to understand, not when he saw the blush on your face and the way you were trying so desperately to distance yourself talking about the movie and interesting facts about it.
He let out a chuckle that made you blush even more and made you think that maybe you had shared much away. However, Xavier simply adjusted himself so that he was sitting closer to you and his pinky finger brushed against yours on the couch.
âI'd love to read more of... your main character's thoughts about âAkiraâ,â he said with a warm and sincere smile.
Xavier definitely wouldn't leave you alone until he had read absolutely everything you had written in your notebook, until you told him how or why you made certain decisions and, especially, why didn't you just use his name instead of Akira's.
âWhy did you name him Akira?â
âI didn't want to name him like anyone I knew.â
âYou could just use my name, you know. I would prefer that you... your main character thinks all that about me and not a stranger.â
âStopââ
.đ„ Ę Ë âŠ â§âË â .đ„ Ę Ë âŠ .đ„ Ę Ë âŠ â§âË â .đ„ Ę Ë âŠ â§âË â
A/N: Thank you for reading! I might write more about writer!reader with the other LIs. I'd appreciate any type of ideas for future fics ;>
Pairing: Xavier x mc
Cw: angst, mentions of captive bird, spoilers for Calebâs story, threats of violence, Xavier being protective, use of nickname Starlight, comfort, probably other stuff
A/n: I love Xavier so much, I just finished the Caleb story and the entire time I kept thinking that Xavier and Sylus would never do that. Zayne probs too but heâs not my favourite. Anywho, enjoy the Xavier fic, might write one about Sylus soon.
ââââââ
Xavierâs knee bounced. Up and down and up and down and up and down. His heart raced, faster and faster. Whether it be nerves or anxiety, he wasnât sure. Maybe both. He hadnât seen you for a week, the last he had heard from you was that you were going to Skyhaven for a mission and you would be back. Thatâs it. No other communication, nothing from Jenna, Tara had no clue where you were, and Simone wouldnât spill.
Over the past week, he had barely been able to sleep, he was so worried. After hearing about the explosion by the overpass, his anxiety spiraled further at the thought of you getting hurt. He knew you could handle yourself, his trust in you was beyond words, beyond measure even. He had seen you in countless fights, had seen you take down coutless wanderers, but he was always by your side. He was there to step in if you ever got hurt, and thatâs where his anxiety stemmed from. He needed you by his side, not for your own sake, but for his.
He on his couch, waiting for something. Today was supposed to be the day you were to come home. He also knew Skyhaven was hard for you, after all, your childhood best friend had lived there. His heart tinged a bit, some jealousy creeping up through the anxiety. He pushed it aside for now, he had bigger things to focus on than his petty jealousy. His phone dinged, a light melody that he only used for you. He picked it up immediately and checked the text.
âIâm back.â
âR U home?â His breath quickened, he needed to see you.
âYes.â
âCan I come see U?â
âPleaseâ
He stood up. He grabbed his wallet, the book he had been reading, and the two new stuffies had caught at the arcade while you were away. He still needed his teacher with him, even after his near fifty tries a day, he only caught the two. He teleported to your front door. He needed to see you as soon as possible. He needed to be close to you, and hear your voice, and be in your presence.
He knocked three times, and unlocked the door. He called out your name and saw you by your windowsill, look out at the sky, with a solemn look on your face. You looked over at him, and a small smile grew. He knew something was off. Your emotions were always easy for him to read, you never put any effort into hiding them when he was around. He put down your stuffies on the couch, along with his book and approached you.
âHow was your trip?â He stood next to you, trying to be a calm and comforting presence. Someone you could lean on. And you did, you leaned into his side a little and look into his soft blue eyes. You felt safe beside him. You felt a lump form at the back of your throat, and felt your eyes sting a little as you tried to hold back your tears.
âIt was rough,â you managed to get out. A singular tear fell, and he noticed it immediately. He wasnât sure what to do. He felt the panic creep up his throat, his eyes widened and he reached out to wipe it away.
âWhat happened?â His voice was measured and hardened. Ready to go after whatever had caused your pain. To stop whoever had hurt you. To protect you.
âCaleb⊠is alive.â More tears fell, your complicated emotions were clear on your face. Anger, fear, some resentment, longing, and pain. Xavier knew all of those well. He also knew what this would mean for you. Your childhood best friend, the one you had mourned, the one you had cried yourself to sleep over, was alive.
âWhat?â
âHe was alive this whole time Xavier, and heâs involved with Ever. And heâŠâ you trailed off. Xavierâs eyes quickly examined your face, and he knew something else had happened. He was not going to push, he was going to wait until you told him yourself. He, however, was more than ready to kill the bastard again if it meant keeping you safe.
âWhat did he do to you?â His voice, was comforting to you, and you wrapped your arms around his neck and let the tears flow. He held you tightly, unwilling to let you go. He didnât experience what you experienced, he knew something had happened. He did not want to let you go through it alone.
âHe drugged me with cold medicine. He trapped me in his house⊠he isnât the same person I grew up with. Heâs not my CalebâŠâ he stilled at that. His anger grew. You could feel a shift in Xavierâs demeanour, unlike with Caleb, you werenât scared. You knew Xavier like the back of your hand, you had spent so much time with him. You know him now like you used to know Caleb. You held on tighter to Xavier, afraid that if you let him go, he would become a different person too. That you would loose him. Xavierâs hold tightened exponentially, and he was ready to go, to hurt Caleb. Put him back into the ground because, what he did to you, the pain he had caused you is not okay. None of it was okay. Anyone who caused you pain, regardless of it being your childhood best friend, did not deserve to be in your presence ever again, breathe the same air as you, be near you. Xavier would expect the same if he ever did that to you.
âHe⊠did what?â He managed to ground out, through his clenched teeth, and his arms clutched you closer.
âHe wanted to protect me, he saidâŠâ you sobbed out.
âOh Starlight,â he tried to pull away a little but you wouldnât let him. You didnât want to see the pity on his face. âHurting you like that isnât protection.â
You nodded into his neck. He let go of you briefly a grabbed your legs to wrap them around his waist. He picked you and walked over to the couch. Beside the stuffies and all. Regardless of how he felt in the moment, the anger brewing under his skin making him feel like a restless animal, he knew you needed him more.
When he tried to pull away to see your face you let out another sob and clutched further. âPlease donât leave me Xavier.â
He huffed at that, and finally forced your face away from his neck. He placed his forehead against yours. Your bleary eyes stared back into his, deep sorrow and anger sketched into his features. There was no hint of pity. Your relief washed over you.
âI would never, in a million years leave you. You are the only one for me in the entire cosmos. I will always be by your side,â he cradled you close. âCan I kiss you?â He muttered so softly you almost missed it. You nodded.
He pressed his lips softly against yours. It was nice and peaceful, his touch was gentle. He pulled back, and pressed a kiss to your forehead. You sighed and leaned your head against his chest. He swayed you back and forth. When your breathing evened out, his suppressed anger came to the forefront. A man was about to die. Xavier was going to kill the man a second time, the man who dared to hurt you.
Friendly reminder that Solo Leveling has a sequel called Solo Leveling: Ragnarok and you should totally read it because
you can see glimpses of Daddy!Jinwoo
you get to watch Jinwoo's baby boy Suho growing up and being the hot shit that he is (like father like son)
but most importantly, you can finally have the sexy villain you've been waiting for.
he's cute
but also hot
he's sexy
but also freaky
he's obsessed with baby suho (FIRST BL SHIP IN SL ??????????)
and he's CRAZY powerful like actually god-like
and ofc we love a gaslight king
Save me Lumiere~
I talked about it on X but I still can't stop thinking about late night talks with Sylus.
Having night talks and after movie talks with Sylus would be so interesting and stimulating. A live-changing experience really. Especially after watching a psychological/thriller films or a documentary on heavy topics.
Like I NEED to know how his brain works and what his opinions are on almost anything. Like as much as I find it funny and cute how he pesters MC sometimes with randow philosophical and deep thoughts and his smart mouth, while playing it cool, it activates some triggers in my head. And it makes me want to know more and hear more. Like give me all that thousands of years wisdom and knowledge so I can enhance my understanding of the world and its mysteries.
And he might quote books or poetry he had read or even maybe arts he's seen like concert or an art exhibition. And this sounds SO HOT to me. He looks, seems, and sounds so knowledgable. Have a man like that by your side, and you'll see the world in ways you've never even deemed possible.
I love when people speak their minds and give their opinion on things even if I don't agree, because it helps me understand other perspectives that I might have missed or not taken in consideration. And as much as I donât like confrontation, I would LOVE to disagree with his ass or take the conversation even further just to see how much he think things through (and I know he thinks a LOT and he knows a lot, and his brain and thinking is so HOT to me)
And he speaks several LANGAGES TOO AODJDJJFF I NEED HIM
part 2 of the đ„&đđŹ + đđĄđđąđ« đđĄđąđ„đđ«đđ§ [other parts: zayne, rafayel, sylus]
â exploring Xavier as a father, both of your childrenâs relationships with you and their Dad, as well as delving into their passions and personalities
note: each LI has different MCs, meaning each child/ren of the other LIs have different mothers and aren't related
áŽáŽÉąê±: fluff, angst, hurt/comfort, crack; xavier has some insecurities and secrets, recessive genes (take this as it is trust me), maybe a little canon-divergent bc of some hc inserts of xavier's myth lore, canon-timeline inaccuracies (?) bc of pop culture references, dirty jokes/references
â„ a/n: finally posted đ this has been in the drafts for too long.. if u want a tag in the next part, which is rafayel's, just let me know!! im planning on a permanent taglist post soon but i wanna finish this mini series first đ«¶đŒ i apologize for the grammatical errors and if the character is a bit ooc as this is my interpretation of them. pls be nice c: and i absolutely appreciate every reblog and comments đ„șđ
0:03 âââ|ââââââââââââââââââââââââ
đđđđđđ has two sons, and definitely a present father to them. He never truly gave much thought about having kids with you in the first place, more content on having you all for himself. He wouldn't have a child unless you wanted one, seeing how you would look longingly at children and their families laughing together, and a part of him started to consider it as well. He's glad he did, because now he has his own personal constellation he calls home, you at the center, starlights that motivate him everyday. Given his own upbringing, he will never force his sons to do something they truly don't like and let them follow their heartâs desire. He had some insecurities at first, seeing he's never had a good relationship with his own father, fearing he might turn out the same as him. With enough reassurance from both you and his sons, he grew more confident that yes, he is a deserving dad and a great father despite the inevitable ups and downs.
The eldest son, looks a lot like Xavier mostly because he's got the same puppy eye shape and face structure, but oddly he doesn't get any of you or Xavier's eye colors
Xavier is taken aback the moment his son first opened his eyes, cradling him in his arms, his breath caught for a moment
It's something Xavier thought he'd hoped to never see again, ironically; a distant memory he's buried away, memory from home
But when Lance's eyesâa shade of forest green, gleaming into jade under the sunlight, like an eternal springâlook up at him with innocent wonder, the resemblance of his fatherâs eyes stops there.
Xavier can't help shedding a tear or two.
You didn't question it further, knowing enough about his past at this moment. The look of aching familiarity in Xavier's gaze was all it took to have some understanding
Xavier grew up being told he resembled his mother a lot moreâhis overall soft features and crystal blue eyesâsomething he was more grateful for, but genes sure are.. funny.
Lance loooooves Xavier's presence so much as a baby (even until his teen to adult but heâs never saying that out loud)
You would struggle putting him to sleep some nights alone when Xavier is somewhere on a solo mission
His cries seemed endless as you tried everything, from feeding him, to changing his diapers, to swaying him with a lullaby, yet nothing seems to work
Xavier comes home, utterly exhausted from his mission. He goes straight to Lance in your arms, sensing your own stress and exhaustion, wanting to help
You insist he needs to rest too, but the moment he's taken his son in his arms, the cries almost instantly settles down
âSshhh, Dad's home now, baby. Let's sleep now, okay?â Xavier whispers as he gently sways him, the movement you were trying to emulate. He places a feather-light kiss on Lance's forehead, and like magic, he's asleep.
You stare at Xavier in awe.
Since then, it's been kind of a thing that Lance immediately just falls asleep faster in his dad's hold
Even when he grows into a toddler, he treats his dad like a beanbag (Xavier doesn't mind, not at all. Itâs very welcome, encouraged even)
He would curl himself silently on his lap and immediately be knocked out. It was their shared routine.Â
You have a dedicated album for those moments thatâs honestly an accurate montage of Lanceâs growth. Every week there's a new wallpaper of them on your phone
Your personal favorite was when Lance is holding onto him like a koala bear and Xavier's splayed over the playmat like a starfish, sleeping without a care in the world
But then Lance hits puberty
So it gets awkward from then on, since he was growing taller by the day, gaining inches above Xavier's own height
âMy baby is so big now..â Xavier pouts playfully, ruffling his hair.
Lance sighs. âDad, can you not say that.. please..â But he makes no move to stop him anyways.
Xavier gets slightly upset over it. In his perspective, he can never be too old or too big to be his nap time buddy
You and Xavier call him your baby even well into his teens much to his dismay
The more he grows taller, the more he's a victim of being mistaken for Xavier's older brother
It's funny at first but Lance is like âđ€š Isnât he supposed to be 40 something?â
When both you and Xavier are away, toddler Lance was left to the trusty babysitter Uncle Jeremiah
It seemed like a hassle at first but Lance was so quiet, too quiet even sometimes just playing by himself.
Jeremiah would get him to open up by telling random stories from other planets and such
Lance's favorite was him talking about Lumiere's exploits, because it was so highly detailed unlike other stories.
Learned to make flower crowns from scraps. You get one every time you come to pick him up.
âLook, Mommy is princess!â Lance would say proudly as you hold him, wearing the daisy flower crown you received from him.Â
Xavier smiles, leaning to place a kiss on both you and your son's cheeks. âNo, Mommy is our queen, and you're our prince.âÂ
Best believe teen Lance is the no. 1 Hater when he catches you and Xavier being loveydovey. he just finds it so cringe.
He's giving you both a nasty side-eye as you laugh at his disgust
He's quite athletic, but he used to hop from sport to sport because he can't really a feel to what he likes the most
A natural genius, the one that sleeps at the back of the class but somehow still gets one of the highest grades in their batchÂ
He's unaware that he's the campus crush because of his weird intimidating but cool aura but in reality they have noooo idea he's a loser geek.
Itâs really just his bitch resting face (courtesy of his mother), which image shatters when he smiles, bunny teeth and a small dimple on his cheek.Â
Very reserved. Doesnât keep secrets but wonât share about himself until you ask. Like he would casually tell you he survived jumping off a cliff and give no context until you ask.
More of a listener than a yapper, so heâs seemingly dry to talk to but will remember every single thing you say
Heâs learned to read people really wellâan empath if you willâan ability he inevitably developed when his dad had a vault full of secrets and masked emotions.
He was bluntly honest as a kid, growing more tact as he matures later on
Although he can take hints about what others feel/think, it doesnât mean heâs a pushover if theyâre crossing a boundary, Heâs not a people pleaser in terms of heâs not trying to fit into whatever norm is going on, just doing his best to live true to himself
Other than napping, his favorite past time as a kid was sword fighting with the endless collection of lightsabers he's got, battling against you and/or Xavier
It kind of becomes actual training sometimes, and you BET Xavier's old ass be saying:
âWhen I was your age, I already know how to parry.â
You give Xavier a look. âHoney, he's 6.â
Star Wars becomes his personality for the inevitable part of his childhood
And you bet you were the one spoiling him with all that merch. Lance's favorite was the Millennium Falcon lego set. He cried opening that Christmas gift
Inherited his massive geekiness from youÂ
His core memory was sitting on Xavier's shoulders, his hands clutching his father's hair, you looping arms with Xavier side by side, as a Lego Star Wars parade marched on, fireworks in the background
Starstruck for an entire month after that
Loves it when you also tell stories about Lumiere at bedtime (unbeknownst to Xavier,) eyes twinkling and all.
Then he would also add his own stories he heard from Jeremiah, and you both just yap until you fall asleep
So respectful when he asks to borrow your Lumiere figurines.. and you LET him, which says a lot because those babies are expensive
Needless to say, Lance is also a talented swordsman, quite inspired to follow both of your footsteps as hunters
Your favorite memory of him was when you brought toddler Lance with you one time to the Hunter's Association, just to surprise Xavier for his birthday (yes, the man is still working, but you had a cake prepared for him and all)
The boy was a bundle of awe and wonder, loving how cool the hunters looked despite being shy to talk to them
He was literally being cooed and coaxed by your coworkers with candies and it was so cute to watch his round cheeks and ears become rosy from the attention
Xavier finally finished his mission, body growing heavy with exhaustion as he returned to HQ to fulfill his report. He settles down a bench, getting comfortable against the wall and about to lull into a nap when a loud voice echoes.
âSoooo, Lancey, who's your favorite hunter?â
Xavier shot up his seat, wide awake, the drowsy weight on his eyelids evaporated. He stumbled in his feet slightly from standing up too suddenly. Confusion knitted his brows. Why was his son here? Or was it another Lance?
He's now noticing the empty desks and his colleagues gathering around presumably his son. Slowly, he comes closer from behind, unnoticed by your officemates.Â
âBut I have more than one favorite..â Lance says, and Xavier's ears perched. He found himself tiptoeing over the crowd trying to spot Lance. A smile graces Xavierâs face after spotting Lanceâ eyes glued on the floor, hands fidgeting over the candies given to him. He was sitting on your lap, hugging him in place, and you were smiling from ear to ear, your gaze on your son. Lance was slowly getting more comfortable, the shyness seeping out of him.
âOohhh, so if you have to rank them then, what would it be?â someone quips, and your coworkers hit the dudeâs shoulder playfully for the âscandalousâ query.Â
But it gets everyone curious, even both you and Xavier.
âHmm.. it's Daddy and then Mommy and..â Lance mutters, and everyone is gasping dramatically, including you.
âMommyâs lower than Daddy in your list?â You pouted in mock sulking, and it had Lance panicking a little.
âN-noo, Daddy's in third, and then Mommy is second, and then first is Lumiere!âÂ
Everyone's laughing and hollering now.. except Xavier.
You finally notice him, standing as still as a statueâclear, utter, guttural, mind-shattering distraught in Xavier's face, and it unfortunately made you laugh harder that your stomach began to hurt. You swear his soul left his body.
Lance was confused why it was so funny to everyone, nervously laughing, then he also spots Xavier. He beams, a vibrant signature bunny smile with his two front teeth, and Xavier almost forgets he didnât just rip out his heart a few seconds ago.
âDad!â Lance hops off your lap, rushing over to embrace him around his waist. Everyone was cooing at them, greeting Xavier a happy birthday but he didn't really register them. His ears were still ringing from the revelation.
Xavier bends to his knees, giving him a proper embrace back. Lance looks up at him, still smiling, until he notices the pout on Xavierâs face.
âDad, don't be sad..â Lance pouts too, patting Xavier's had the same way his father would if he was upset. Xavier nuzzles against his tiny hands.
âBut why is Dad in third place..â Xavier asks, and you're dying at the back because his puppy eyes were at work. Everyone else was snickering to themselves.
But Lance wasnât Lance unless he says his truth.
Lance tilts his head, thinking to himself. âBecause.. um.. I don't know if Dad can beat Lumiere..?â
(Cue a series of âoooohhsâ, and you scold them, telling them to go back to their stations now, and they do after much persistence.)
âLanlanânow Dad's actually sad now.â You try to intervene before your son continuously bluntly destroys his Dad's heart.
âBut why? My dad is still the best Dad in the whole universe.â
Lance states it like an undisputed fact, and Xavier's heart swells so much it tightens his chest.
Because Lance wasn't Lance unless he's saying his truth.Â
(Cue a series of âawwwsâ from everyone in their desk cubicles.)
To him, that matters more than any hunter ranking. A deep part inside Xavier he's been holding for years is finally exhaled, filled in turn with relief. Lance never talks a lot, but when he does he really means it. In the void in Xavier's chest, was a star that burned brighter twinkling in the pattern of your laughter at that momentâhe is another major star in Xavier's personal constellation, unabashedly warm and tiny, spring in his jade eyes and Lepus in his smile, contained perfectly in his embrace.
âAh! I-Iâm sorryâNo cry!â Lance stammers as Xavier's eyes water, hands flailing on his face to wipe them, but Xavier thinks to himself that Lance has got nothing to apologize for.
Xavier just embraces him closer, face buried on his son's shoulder. He smelled of strawberry kids liquid soap and baby powderâhome.
âDad's very very happy, baby.â Xavier mutters, muffled by his clothes. âThank you.â
âHappy birthday, my love,â You greet, inching closer with a lit birthday cake. The radiance of your smile in that moment couldn't be dimmed by anything.
Lance jumps excitedly in his grasp. âOh yah! Happy birthday, Dad!âÂ
That declaration was the best birthday gift he could ever receive.Â
youngest son, born 10 years after Lance
An unplanned baby (because of Freakvier) and the reason why Lance would give the both of you a nasty side-eye when you're both too lovey-dovey
âI thought Axel's favorite sleep buddy would be me, but now Lance has a mini-Lance the Koala Bear, part two.â
âDon't worry, honey. You're still my favorite pillow.â Xavier leans to kiss you, tender and soft, swallowing your giggles and the âyouâre so cheesyâ you were about to say.
Lance walks in on that ill timing again, tangible disgust on his face, and with the meanest tone, he lets outâ
âEw.â
You're laughing, as Xavier pettily embraces you tighter, shameless that he's caught again. âYou can knock you know, baby.â he says.
âFirstly, this is the living room. Second, one sibling is enough, please.âÂ
âLance!â You throw a pillow at him, and he just catches it.
âIâm not joking, Mom!â
Incredibly touchy since birth, doesn't get lulled to sleep other than when he felt he was skin to skin contact every time
Axel is a mini you with freckles reaching until his back, matching your face structure and hair, big blue eyes like Xavier's, but a deeper shade, with hints of brown in the middle
The reason his nickname is Axel was because when he was in kindergarten to lower elementary, he kept misspelling his name as âAxelanderâ
You, Xavier, and Lance later understand it was because he is dyslexic
The nickname stuck because Lance was kind of a bully as a kid (aren't all older brothers really) and would never stop calling him that.
Axel never took it to heart though and finds it funny.
It takes a lot to actually upset him, because he's sometimes unnaturally optimistic about everything. Imagine Laios from Dungeon Meshi? Yeh. That.
Although Lance has absolutely 0 tolerance when other kids would bully him seriously with the nickname. That's only his privilege.
In actuality, Axel doesn't really realize he was being bullied at all and was just happy his peers were talking to him
Sandy was your nickname to him, because his favorite place in the playground park was the sandbox and he gets absolutely dusted quite literally.
Lance actually has multiple nicknames for him. These include but aren't limited to: âAxelander Sanderson the Great,â âSandman Eater,â (he ate sand at one point) and his favorite, âAxelotleâ
Does not care that you and Xavier call him their baby until his adulthood.Â
The most creative comeback this boy can muster is.. âUglancelotâ and âLame-cyâ which doesn't even offend him it's just funny attempts
Despite that, he's actually very close to his brother even between you and Xavier, since he's taking care of him when you're both away on a mission
Unlike his brother and father, isn't easily sleepy; a light-sleeper.
His favorite pastime as a kid was recreating WWE moments on the mattress with any of you three.
And he looooves taking the Wanderer roleplay when they play swordfight with lightsabers
Because this babyâs special interest is Wanderers!
He would be listening to Lance and You rambling about Lumiere and he would ask more about what kind of Wanderer he defeated.
The little man's treasure was an encyclopedia of Wanderers he received from Xavier in his 10th birthday
He cried, yes. You took a picture and it's Lance's favorite one of all time.
Axel would bug you, Xavier, or Lance with questions or just asking help if he can't read a word properly the entire time
He has the whole contents ingrained in his memory since then. He can and will recite it given the chance just to annoy Lance.
Of course he ended up with more and more Wanderer related things, from books to figures to actual pictures
Learns to be secretive as hell because Lance tends to be super nosy when it came to his business and can read anybody like a book, a pamphlet even
Like father, like son I suppose
He still gets busted by dear bro though
Needless to say, this boy is loser geek doubled
Would be competitive as hell with video games against his dad and brother
The King of Rhythm Games, no one can beat him in that field.
Actually more of a social butterfly than Lance, but sometimes assumes everyone is his friend even when they're questionable people (why Lance gets worried sometimes), it was worse as a kid
Is not a people pleaser but pleased around people type beat
His comfort movie series is How To Train Your Dragon
Influenced his ultimate dream of befriending a Wanderer, preferably also a Dragon-type
Horrible with swords, but a great marksman from almost any long ranged weapon`Â
Would playfully steal you away from Xavier when Lance is doing his đ face again at you both being.. sus
Has a trouble magnet streak, absolutely stressing the hell out of everyone, especially Xavier
But Axelâs puppy eyes are the puppiest to puppy eye no other puppy can actually eye, ever (this isn't making sense but that's the point), so he almost gets away with it every time
Like you think you already built a tolerance from both Xavier's and Lance's double kill puppy eyes when they're trying to get something they want
But Axel's puppy eyes are a whole other level. It was heartbreaking and knee buckling, and you know damn well that Lance and Xavier uses him as last strawÂ
And it still actually works to your dismay
The privilege as the youngest, Lance would grumble
Imagine having to live with three pleading puppy eyes everytime you say no. You must be a strong woman.
Xavier though? Well..
Xavier should be mad, really. He already knew this boyâs tactic very well. He can already hear both you and Lance berating him already in the future just after this.
Axel was left under Jeremiahâs care as per usual after school, as the boy absolutely loves the greenhouse and chattering with Jeremiah in general. You confirmed you would be home later than usual, Lance was preoccupied with training for the Hunter Licensure Examination, so that left Xavier with the task to pick him up from Philo. He planned to take Axel out to the arcade, something they havenât gone to in a while and the 11 year old has been insisting on getting the new plushie for you when you get back. Xavier even went on a quick trip from the store just to get him his favorite yogurt drink, a small smile on his face.
Which slowly dissipated after the scene Xavier witnessed just outside the flower shop window
By one of the lounging tables, Axel was sitting rigidly, had his head drooping down that his hair masked his face, and his knuckles paling from squeezing his own knees. Across the table was Jeremiah, palms rubbing all over his face in what seemed like exasperation.Â
When Xavier caught on his son slightly trembling, the confusion brewing in him quickly burned into something else.
âWhat am I supposed to tell your dadââ Jeremiah groans, but gets cut off by Xavier bolting inside, the welcoming jingles of his shop door rattling violently. The gardener paled before the all too familiar tempered glare Xavier was throwing him right now.
âTell me what?â Xavier spat, hurrying over Axelâs side, placing a careful hand on his back, but the sudden contact made Axel jolt, his face shooting up to look at himâbig eyes swollen red from tears and snotâand something was crumbling in Xavierâs ribcage, eliciting an eye twitch.
Slowly, he turned his head towards Jeremiah in an unnerving manner, a terrifying look in his eyes as he utters again, âTell me what?â
Jeremiah swears heâs had more close brushes with death whenever it comes to dealing with Xavier instead of actual apocalyptic cosmic threats, and this was no different. After an elongated sigh, he began to explain the situation.
Apparently, Axel found a way to get into the Hunterâs Association Database through Jeremiahâs computer for more in depth information of Wanderers, and apparently it alerted an alarm system from HQ sending Jeremiahâs computer a warning that it would seize everything that was in that deviceâall including some access to.. their past, if they did not stop and identify themselves. Xavier didnât need that part elaborated, knowing Jeremiahâs crucial role in their expedition, and in all honesty? Xavier didnât really care much about matters pertaining to that after everything he has now, until..
âHe used [Name]âs ID and account to log in.â
Axel stiffened, his arms wrapping around Xavierâs waist flinching into tension, face digging into his side. Xavierâs soothing caresses slowly drew to a stop when he registered what he just said. Dread crept in his nerves when he remembered earlier this morning how You were going frantic the entire time on where the hell You could have lost Your ID while running late.
âAxel..â Xavier sighed, petting his hair, â..baby, look at me right now.â
He didnât, shaking his head as he started to hiccup again, keeping his face stuck on his side now damp with tears. Xavier pulled him away slowly, kneeling down to meet his sonâs eyes, but now it was glued on the floor as he fidgeted in his seat in guilt.
âIâm not mad..â Xavier cupped his face, wiping his tears that slowly continued to tear in his heart. âJust tell me the truth and I will help, okay?â
âI-itâsâIââ hic, âI didâItâs true,â Axel sobbed, âI-Iâm sorryâSorry, Dadââ
âSshh, itâs gonna be fine, alright? Letâs go homeââ
âN-no!â he blurted, puffy, terrified eyes now meeting Xavierâs own. He clutched his fatherâs hands, shaking. âDonâtâdonât tell Mom, please?â
In all honesty, he was going to tell you the situation, as you both were past that stage in your relationship of keeping secretsâespecially this kind. You already knew about his past, your shared âhistoryâ with him, so this shouldnât be that much bigger right?
But there it was, a pleading gaze of a deep blueâspheres of weeping Neptunesâeyes anyone can drown in. It drove Xavierâs instincts to just cradle him in his arms for as long as he can away from everything overwhelmingâconsequences be damned.Â
He is a responsible father and a husband, but he is also just a man.
âDad, please? I-I promise Iâll make up for it..â Axel continued to plead, sealing the deal for Xavierâs left resistance.
âAlright. But Iâll hold onto that promise right now..â Xavier gave him a stern look. âDonât ever do something like this ever again, promise me, because I will tell your mother. Youâll have.. Different consequences for now, but.. I want you to remember this. Promise?â
âI promise.â Axel swore, calming down from his breakdown as Xavier pulled him into a proper embrace.
An exasperated sigh tore through their little moment, followed by a clearing throat. The two looked over to the source on the other side of the table.
âI think.. Thereâs also another one you need to say sorry to, baby.â Xavier nudged his son.
âIâm sorry, Uncle.. Please donât hate me.â
And who is Jeremiah to do so when he looks at him like a kicked puppy who can do no wrong? He is also just a man.
(The two leave the shop after Xavier secured Jeremiahâs secrecy, going for the ice cream and arcade hang out like Xavier planned. He also made sure to clarify and sort the alarm with HQ with a quick call along the way. At the end of the day, they both go home in a happy note like nothing ever happened as Xavier returned Your âfoundâ ID.)
12:28 ââââââââââââââââââââââââââ|ââ
ê°áŽÉŽ ê°áŽáŽáŽê± !!
Lepus is the Hare or Bunny constellation. It was a bird turned bunny by the goddess of spring, Ostara to escape the hunter. It rests under the foot of the Orion constellation.
Orion the Hunter is a huntsman in mythology and is often referenced due to the Orion's Belt. He is cursed to be a constellation, forever stuck in the sky, hunting something he can never reach alongside his two Canis Majoris and Minor hunting dogs, all because of his arrogance
Axel was born in the Winter Solstice (December 22)
You can take these facts however as you please âșïžđ.. àČĄâ  Íâ  â Êâ  â àČĄ
acc tags: @cordidy @dann-acalle thank you for your support and patience!!
xavier | 11:53 PM
"Xavier, is that you?"
"Yeah."
You hear the front door close gently, and it's immediately followed by the shuffle of heavy footsteps heading towards you. You look up from your phone, which you had been scrolling mindlessly on for the last hour, to see Xavier, still in his uniform, standing at the end of the sofa.
Before you can greet him, you see his knees buckle, and he falls face first onto the sofa, his face just landing next to your thigh, his long legs dangling from the arm rest.
You gingerly place your hand on his head, your fingers finding their way into his light hair.
"Xavier," you whisper his name, trying to stop him from falling asleep.
He grunts, the few syllables he tries to say muffled by the leather of the sofa. Then, you start to hear him snore.
"Xavier," you say, a little louder, giving the hair in between your fingers a soft tug.
He rolls his head to the side. "Tired," he mumbles, his eyes closed. "Sleep now."
"I know," you say, starting to get up from the sofa. "But you're still in uniform. Can you at least take a quick shower, get into some comfortable clothes and then go to bed?"
He gives you no answer. Instead, another soft snore escapes his lips, and you roll your eyes to yourself, before walking off.
There's a beat of silence before you hear his rushed, heavy footsteps.
---
"Xavier! Xavier, help!"
The door to the bathroom swings open, and you see Xavier, one hand gripping the handle, and the other the doorframe.
"What-"
Before he can say anything else, you rise from the side of the bathtub, and reach for his arm, pulling him into the bathroom. You close the door, and lock it behind you, preventing him from attempting escape.
Xavier stares at you, then his eyes flicker towards the bathtub, then back to you. You motion with your head towards the tub, which is covered in bubbles, with small tendrils of steam rising from it.
Xavier, having sensed your plan, sighs. "Are you serious?"
You press your back against the bathroom door. "Deadly. Get in the tub."
He shakes his head. It's dim in the bathroom, with only a few candles lighting the room, but you see a shy grin tug at the corners of his lips.
Wordlessly, he starts undressing, and you realize that you're still in the room with him. You inhale sharply, hoping that he doesn't notice, but his eyes meet yours, and he smirks.
"Are you going to watch me get naked?"
You immediately spin around, nose pressed against the door, hoping that he didn't see the flush spreading across your cheeks. You hear him chuckle as the last of his clothes fall to the ground. He lets out a soft hiss as he steps into the tub, and you hear the water splash at the sides of it.
"Oh... oh my..."
There are another few splashes as he submerges himself, and you turn again to see Xavier's head just slightly peaking out from the bubbles. He dunks his head into the water, then rises out of it again, his hair plastered to his forehead. He glances at you and gives you a drowsy grin.
"Thank you. This is heavenly"
You nod, and you turn to head out of the bathroom, but Xavier's arm shoots out of the tub and his soapy fingers wrap around your wrist. They're slippery, but his grip is tight.
"Can you... can you stay with me a little bit?"
You take a deep breath in before you give him a smile. "Of course."
You kneel at the edge of the tub, watch as his eyes start to flutter shut again. You reach for the shampoo bottle on the bathroom counter, pop it open, and squeeze some of it into your palm. You then shuffle around to the end of the tub where Xavier's head is, and you rub your hands together, producing some foam. You reach for his head, your fingers finding his hair once again. Xavier lets out a drawn out groan, which causes heat to spread across your cheeks, but you say nothing, and you continue massaging the shampoo into his hair.
You hear him start to snore again, and this time, you can't bring yourself to wake him up. You admire the small droplets of water that have formed on his eyelashes, the warm feeling going from your face to the pit of your stomach. His forehead is covered in suds, but you can't resist - you press your lips lightly against it, murmuring into his damp skin.
"Good night, Xavier."
loyal to my man ~Xavier .... Life is delulu at this point and other fixations
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