Falling for them (love and deepspace X OC )

Shoulder to Shoulder

Just as Zayne enters the house, I finish roasting the tangerines he bought.When I glance out the window, I realize the snow has finally stopped.

"Did your relative leave already? He must have a strict family." I asked

"Yes, he needs to go home and write his reflection paper."

There's a distant quality to Zayne's voice. I sit down beside him and hold out one of the roasted
tangerines.

"The weather is perfect for roasted tangerines. Try it."

He stares at me for a long time before finally eating a piece of the tangerine.

You don't want to know what happened during the past few days when I"disappeared"?

"If the explanation is going to be filled with medical jargon, then no. As for the rest... Zayne will tell me when he wants to. And if he doesn't want to, that's his "choice."

He can't help but smile at my deliberate emphasis on those last words. He takes the half-peeled tangerine from my hands.
Soon after, a warm orange slice is brought to my lips.

"I said goodbye three days ago because I had accepted Carter's invitation.I'll be joining The Fountain of Atei research project."

"Huh?"

Seeing me choke and cough several times, Zayne raises his hand to pat my back.

"It's ultimately an excuse. Something unexpected happened, and the nightmare arrived before I could carry out my plans.Lately, Akso Hospital has received a large influx of unusual cases involving Protocore Syndrome patients.Some died shortly after hospitalization. Others transformed within a month and became-"

"An Alterum."

Zayne nods. All these patients had "recovered" at Val Sanatorium after entering a medical pod called the Rebirth Cocoon." Val Sanatorium, according to the news report this morning, is the first phase of The Fountain of Atei. "Carter told me that EVER will soon hold a press conference to demonstrate the Rebirth Cocoon's effectiveness to the public."

"Wouldn't that mean more unsuspecting protocore Syndrome patients will go to Val Sanatorium?"

"We can't let them do as they please. I want to stop EVER's plans not just for the Protocore Syndrome patients. There's..."Zayne trails off as he lowers his gaze. I want to make amends for a mistake, one that should have been corrected years ago. Yet it still haunts me to this day.I realize that for Zayne, this carries a greater, more painful significance. "My love.I know I disappeared without a word before, but...Will you come with me this time?"

"Asking me like that isn't fair"I know he helped me so many times before, and I'd agree to any request he makes. It's just..."still need a reason."Now that he's finally revealing everything to me, I won't let him have his way so easily. "What's in it for me? The whereabouts of the Aether Core, dirt on EVER, or more leads about that biometric key?A few sweet words aren't enough to make me risk my life with you."I tap his chest. "Do you have anything else that might interest me?"

"I want you to come with me."He grabs my wrist and gently moves his hand to press my fingers into his palm. And I selfishly believe that if I asked you, you'd do it."

Dazed, I see something flicker out of the corner of my eye: a fluffy white tail.Zayne and I turn around at the same time.

"Shiqi! Aren't you supposed to be with your owner?"

Crouched near the robot vacuum, shiqi whimpers. Those clear, innocent round eyes look at me first and then at Zayne.

"You're staying here to watch the house."