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Caleb and Zayne were almost lovers. It was more than just a fling but also less than a steady commitment. Convenience of the moment, a strange attraction—addiction. Whenever Caleb was on land, Zayne was the only destination in his mind. The visit to the hospital or a surprise self-invitation into the doctor's home. Whenever Caleb was on land, Zayne's cold hand warmed up.
A certain pull was terrifyingly natural between them whenever they were near. Like how an apple would always inevitably fall to the ground. Once. Twice. Thrice. Maybe more than they could remember. Gravity pooled only from a single, reciprocating gaze towards each other—every time. And they were just body against body, tangled up in sheets, clothes strewn carelessly on the floor.
They were teeth and tongues and hands—and soft digs into flesh as they moved in tandem. They were soft groans and whining grunts amidst the sound of a creaking bed that threatened to break. Zayne was reduced to incoherent mewls and curled toes as he felt Caleb's weight on his back—his lips kissing the sweat out of Zayne's skin without ever letting up. Caleb would greedily inhale his scent, finding spots in his skin before he launched marks that would remain for days. Throes of I'm home, I'm home as Caleb buried himself deep into Zayne howled into the night of longing intimacy.
Whenever Caleb was on land, they were inseparable.
But his time on land could never compare to the time he spent venturing deep into space. His place was amongst the clouds of stars—riding the air, chasing dangers. If Caleb was a bird, Earth was the cage. And Zayne was the forgiving and understanding caretaker who would never lock him in a cage. Despite the fear of never seeing him again, Zayne would let him go whenever the sky called.
I'll be back, I'll be home soon, became a curse. A haunting nightmare that crawled into his bed and blanketed Zayne in trepidation. Zayne would never fail to believe that Caleb would be back nonetheless. He just didn't know if it was him or what was left of him. And the thought of holding a falling, dead bird terrified him. Zayne had seen countless cold bodies, but not his. Never his.
Regardless of the unpleasant, rising bile into the throat whenever he sent Caleb back into the sky, Zayne cherished the moment where he could hear Caleb's heart beating in his ear. He would kiss his chest gently every time, appreciating the calm rhythm that kept his soul tender and warm. Caleb would laugh and tease him about whether the 'heart surgeon' Zayne was attracted to him because of his healthy heart.
Zayne was never familiar with uncertainties. While he had grown acquainted with it now thanks to Caleb, it was still difficult to follow through without being able to predict the outcome. The things Zayne could be sure of were always laid out on the operating table. Not on his bed, with the limbs draped around him.
"Don't give me that look."
Caleb laughed softly, like breathing. His soft gaze stayed on Zayne's face. "What look?"
"That look."
Caleb tightened his arms around Zayne. He used the hand around Zayne's shoulder to lift his chin so they could see each other's faces clearly. His smile constricted Zayne's breath in his throat, a sudden swollen lump filling the passage. "And I will ask again. What look?"
The look that made Zayne think they could be something more, something steady—certain. A seed of hope in the soft gleam of Caleb's eyes that put a leash on Zayne's heart, rendering him to stay. But Zayne knew when tomorrow came, Caleb would once again venture among the stars. And he would wait and wait and wait.
"A stupid, puppy look asking for a treat."
Caleb cackled. The rumble was of amusement. "To be fair, you lost the bet, snowflake. I'm back within three days as promised. Unscathed! Where's my reward?"
"Your reward is tired and is going to sleep now."
"Aww, come on!"