Falling for them (love and deepspace X OC )

Beyond the Snow

It's already the next morning when I wake up.Groggy, I prop myself up and press my temples to clear my mind.Beside me, Zayne is still asleep. It's a rare sight at this hour.I lean closer and slowly become aware of his steady breathing. I watch as it slightly stirs the fabric across his chest.

"This is payback for making me haul you home through the heavy snow yesterday.And that's for freezing my hand to the wall." Holding back my laughter, I give Zayne's nose a gentle pinch. It really hurt when you froze my wrist, so I'll pinch your nose for that.

"Is messing around with people while they sleep a habit of yours?"

I feel his warm breath on the top of my head. My breath hitches as I meet his slightly weary gaze.

"
Zayne?"
The morning light filters through the curtains and falls onto his tousled hair.Looking into those eyes, I can tell that familiar Zayne has "returned."

"Yes."

Joy wells up inside me as I wave my hand in front of his face. "Are you finally "awake" from your nightmare?"He nods. And as he stretches his neck, I see the black ice on his body has completely disappeared. "You're actually back to normal!"

"You could phrase that differently."

Before he can say more, I embrace him. He doesn't pull away and gently wraps his arms around my waist.

"Congratulations. I'm the first person you saw when you woke up."

"Yesterday... When I was in that nightmarish state, did I trouble you?"

"Maybe a little...? But you were kind of cute. Especially when I pinned you under the blanket."

"You could only see the blanket. How was that cute?"

Seeing that cold and willful side of Zayne, even for one night, reminded me of when we barely knew each other.I feel at ease as everything falls into place. A moment passes, and I into his eyes again.

"How much do you remember about yesterday?"

Zayne rubs his temples and sits up. "It's a little hazy, but I remember most of it."

"Including how you froze my electronic devices and hand to the wall? And how you even told me to not be nosy?"

He glances away for a moment before his gaze calmly returns to me. "I also remember how you stacked blankets on me and did a test with carrot juice."

".Your memory is impeccable. So, when did these nightmares start?"

"They became more frequent after I returned from Chansia City. And in those dreams, I always forget who I am and what I'm supposed to be doing.The me in my dreams, however, has his own mission to complete."

He presses his lips into a thin line and looks at me. The guilt he feels is clear.For some reason, the scene from last night flashes through my mind again. It stirs up emotions I can't quite name.

"Well... There's no more black ice on your neck and hands. Your palms are warm, too. It's safe to say that you passed the physical examination.Welcome back to reality, Zayne."I open my arms and wait for him to initiate the hug this time.

Zayne hesitates before leaning down. Then he wraps his arms around me. His warm breath brushes against my neck. "Good morning."

Before taking Zayne home, he accompanies me to the Association. I'm going to update them on my progress in the Alterum investigation.Dawnbreaker vanished overnight. Some people on the forums joked that he had been broken by the dawn. The police investigation has hit a dead end, and the relentless snowfall is still the biggest obstacle for gathering evidence at the crime scene.
While waiting for Zayne to finish shopping, I sit in the car and look at today's news. Sensing my troubled thoughts, the white creature pushes his fluffy self from the back seat to settle on my lap.

"Are you trying to comfort me? Thank you."When Zayne woke up, I asked about the animal.He said it belonged to some distant relatives.
As for why he got lost, stole my scarf, and refuses to leave Zayne's side... Zayne says he's not sure. "So... what kind of creature are you?
I decided to take out my phone and use its image recognitionfeature.
As the screen refreshes, it shows a majestic— "Bai Ze, the divine beast of antiquity, knows all beneath heaven and earth..."
With trembling hands, I cup his face. My gaze travels from his clear eyes... to the tiny horns protruding like fresh sprouts near his ears.
As I struggle to find the right words, Zayne returns to the car. He has a bag of chocolates and dog food. "Since you bought dog food, why don't you keep him?After all, your robot vacuum is the only other living thing in your house...Shouldn't it have a friend?""That won't be necessary. My robot vacuum has its own social life."Through the windshield, the warm glow of our headlights cuts through the heavy, snowy gloom.A figure is looking around while standing near
Zayne's house.It's a young boy in plain clothes. He's holding books in his arms.As soon as we get out of the car, the boy's face lights up with excitement and anticipation. He spreads his arms wide. Forgotten, the books fall to the ground.

"Emissary!"