Falling for them (love and deepspace X OC )

When We Are Together

It's 5:00 P.M., and a lecture titled "Life's Boundaries" is underway in Linkon University's largest lecture hall.Aside from medical students, students from other departments have taken a seat to listen.In the packed lecture hall, the speaker stands. His back faces a projection of a beating heart model, and his authoritative voice is steady. 

Long after the debate ends Spotting a few reporters approaching the lecture hall, I catch Zayne's eye and wave. I silently mouth a sentence. "Come here, Dr. Zayne."

Zayne glances in my direction, nods, and makes his way through the crowd of students.That will be all for today. Someone is waiting for me."

After helping Zayne dodge the reporters, we leave the university and stroll through the snow-covered streets bathed in evening's golden light.

"You're good at making complex topics clear and accessible, Dr. Zayne.If I were a few years younger, l'd sneak into your lectures every day."

"Really? What was the second key point from the third section?"Faced with Zayne's knowing smile, I sigh and turn to walk in the opposite direction. "Where are you going?"

"I need to find a time machine so I can hear your brilliant lecture from start to finish."

Three, two... Before I can finish my silent countdown, he grabs my hand. "Come back.I only saw you arrive near the end of the lecture. The time machine must've not been invented yet."Coffee in hand, I sit down on a roadside bench as Zayne hands me a weathered envelope." Here's the information you requested."The wax seal on the envelope is still intact. The documents themselves have small creases."

"Exchanging documents while sitting on a bench... We're like those secret agents trying to save the world in the 008 movies."

"Given what you've asked me to investigate, it is certainly a secret that concerns the fate of the world."I vaguely remember Zayne mentioning Dr.Noah's Arctic expedition research, which might be connected...The cryptic patterns etched into the key seem to point toward the traces of a primordial civilization. "Fourteen years ago, a research team ventured into the Arctic to study "life's boundaries." They made an unexpected discovery in an ice cave.According to the surviving documents, the pictographs they recorded in the ice cave bear a striking resemblance to the patterns on the biometric key.
Some members of the expedition team mysteriously disappeared. Others joined the Unicorn research team.Dr. Noah has a photocopy of the expedition journal. It's incomplete, but he hopes it can help you."

Signals from Deepspace, the Aether Core, the key... The clues form an intricate web in the darkness. It stretches across the boundaries of time and space.Almost unnoticeable, each strand is being woven into place. They're waiting for that singular moment when everything is taut.

"Please thank Dr. Noah for me... How is he doing? What about Pie and the others?"

"He and the animals are doing well. You remembered to ask about the animals... But have you forgotten something?

"Huh?It dawns on me.Do you need special attention too?"

"Do I look invincible to you?"

Thinking about how rare our meetings and calls have been lately, I feel a twinge of guilt.

"So how has Zayne been lately? Have you been sleeping well? Do you still have nightmares?"

"I'm doing well."For some reason, my words elicit a soft chuckle from Zayne. "You've already made time to pick me up after class. And since I'm on my way to work, why don't you walk with me? You can do it as you head back to the Hunters Association."

Traffic is at a standstill during the evening rush hour. Fortunately, Akso Hospital and the Association are within walking distance, so we decided to continue on foot.Snowflakes dance through the streets as the intersection's traffic light turns red. The flow of vehicles stops.
Pedestrians pause on the sidewalk, their heads tilted upward as they wait. They watch the massive holographic display flicker above the intersection. "Are Doctors Healing or Killing?" and "The Future of Protocore Syndrome"... These sensational headlines drift past my ears in quick succession.Despite being at the center of this media storm, Zayne doesn't even glance at the screen.

"The news keeps using that same stone-faced picture of you from Akso Hospital's website. It's basically decades old at this point."

"What, are you tired of looking at it?"

"I was just thinking... If Dr. Zayne had smiled even one pixel's worth in that photo, then maybe these rumors wouldn't have gotten far. Zayne tilts his head. As if he's playing along, he shows the tiniest hint of a smile. "But no matter what challenges or criticism you face, nothing seems to shake your decisions or judgment."

"What about you? Although you're not saying anything, I can tell something is on your mind. If it's a long story... Well, this path might be short, but we can always turn around and walk some more."Nothing ever escapes his notice, huh After hesitating for a moment, I tell him about what happened to me in the N109 Zone. The Gaia Research Center, the UnicornLaboratory, the collision chamber... and the Spatium Core I absorbed into my body.That man's final moments, filled with resentment and rage, remain vivid in my mind. I'm constantly reminded of one thing.I don't belong in the world that I thought I knew so well.

"So what you're saying is that they almost"
"put you down" in the N109 Zone.

"You didn't have to phrase it like that! He wanted to dispose of me like I was some kind of medical waste!"Zayne's lips curve into a slight smile as he tucks my cold fingers into his coat pocket. "I'm walking down this path now. It's strangely surreal."

"Are you more lost now? Or more certain?"

"I'm more certain. At least now I know who I am, and why EVER wants to use me.From now on, I'll have a better idea of what l'm hoping to achieve in my search for the Aether Core."

"Yes, I believe you."

"What if I end up destroying this world one day?"

"Give me a heads-up before you do. I'll make sure to use up all my vacation days first."

At the last intersection, our brief walk quickly comes to an end amidst a crowd.After we cross the street, we'll return to our work and face the challenges that life has in store for us.A wave of sadness washes over me because we have to say goodbye already. I force myself to smile.

"Let's do our best, Zayne."

"Wait."

Just as I take my hand away from his, he catches it again. Then he pulls me closer, and I'm almost completely enveloped in his coat.
Looking down, I notice he's carrying his laptop bag and a simple, understated gift bag.He takes out a scarf from it. The soft fabric gives off a gentle, warm glow under the street light.

"Today's not even a holiday. Why do you have a gift for me?"

"I didn't have a good excuse. But after hearing about your rather fascinating origin story..."He slightly leans down and carefully wraps the scarf around my shoulders. "Let's call it a celebration of your arrival in this world."

A mix of uncertain emotions wells up inside me.
They gradually melt away with the warmth of his touch.

"Did you find time in your busy schedule to knit this scarf, Dr. Zayne?"

"I picked it out. Is it not sincere enough?"He raises his hand to smooth my disheveled hair. The snowflakes that landed on his forehead slowly melt away."Whether it's EVER or something else, the path you've chosen will be full of challenges. You'll encounter many people with ill intentions.But more importantly, you must be confident about your own choices.There are certain things that you can never take back."

In the vast expanse of snow, neither of us takes a step forward.

"Then my first, correct choice for today must've been seeing you."

"thank you for choosing me."

With ten seconds left on the green light, he waves goodbye with his back turned before walking into the snowy, dusky blue twilight.
I watch his figure disappear into the distance before tightening my grip on the documents that stick out like a sore thumb.Looking around the bustling intersection, I'm surrounded by a constant flood of noise and information.It seems every sound and flash of a screen pushes people toward their next split-second decision With this key, I might finally unlock the secrets from fourteen years ago... They all involve the Aether Core-or rather, my own secret.I take a deep breath and turn toward the street that will lead me to the Association.