Come Back To Me // Multi X Reader

Save me Lumiere~

I have read this myltiple times and its one of my fav stories to reaf

Ahhhhhhhhh.. its too goooddddd

Thank you author

👻💌👻

Soiree

There have been recent sightings of a new savior in Linkon City named Soiree. Xavier was pretty much ignorant of the news until he encountered the said heroine.

Pair: Xavier x MC

A/N: A birthday gift for the Xavier girlies! Advance Happy Birthday Xavier! I really like that scene of Xavier getting jealous lmao

Word count: 3,350

Tags: Disguises, Lumiere hello, minor injuries and violence, MC being stubborn, being jealous

“There have been recent sightings of a new savior in Linkon City! Blending in darkness to fight for justice!” says the man on the radio. While preparing dinner and Xavier is doing the dishes, you two are listening to the city news as background noise and as awareness of what is happening.

“A new Lumiere on the loose?” You said, smiling a bit. Xavier gave you a look before the radio continued.

“This mysterious savior this time is a lady who blends in the shadows after skillfully defeating wanderers and evildoers roaming around, especially at night,” he said. “The other savior that graced us was Lumiere, who defeated powerful wanderers last sighted many years ago,”

“And there he is,” You chuckled, showing your appreciation for your hero. Xavier puffed his face in response.

“Her name is Soiree, a complement to the savior in the dark to the savior in the light,” The voice said on the radio.

“It has been a while since Lumiere was last seen,” You pondered. “I miss my knight so much,”

“Well, maybe he doesn’t need to show up,” Xavier said with a puffed face as he finished the dishes and turned off the radio to play music. “Maybe he has more important priorities at the moment,”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know… Maybe being with his beloved,”

You blushed.

You remembered the trick you did for Xavier to admit many years ago. You appreciate that he saved you twice in that identity, but you are more grateful he saved you so many times as the love of your life, Xavier, your favorite dummy who gets jealous and sulks whenever you talk about Lumiere.

“I wonder why this Soiree is showing up lately…” Xavier pondered. “Maybe because of the recent crime rates and wanderers rising in the city,” You suggested. The past months were no better, there’s just been much work lately in the Association.

“It’s going to be fine, she doesn’t have to do that,” Xavier said. “Anyway, time for your medication,” he ordered. You groaned as a complaint. Because of the recent events, your heart has been under a lot of stress lately. Hence, you currently have less workload in the meantime and are under the watchful eyes of Xavier.

“Same to you in changing your bandage,” You retorted back. “I will after you take your medicine,” he said in return. You’ve been worried about him the past weeks, he was often gone to do his duties as a Hunter. He goes home bruised and needs first aid. You feel bad for not helping him that much. Sometimes you miss him because he had to go away for days for missions.

“You’re doing that face again,” Xavier said. “You do not have to worry about me. You should focus on recovering more…” He placed a pill on your palm, which is your heart medicine, and then offered you a glass of water.

“I want to help you, your body has taken much damage lately,” You swallowed the pill before drinking the water.

“Focusing on your health more is already a help for me, the sooner you get better, the sooner we can be partners again,” He smiled. You sighed and smiled back. “Okay, okay,” He patted your head.

Suddenly, several warning beeps are heard in your watch and his. Your eyes widened.

“High leveled wanderers!” You exclaimed. “But Alpha hunters are currently fighting on the other side-” Xavier quickly gets ready to fight. “Xavier?” You stand up and realize. “You’re taking all of them?!”

“I can handle it, I don’t have a partner but I’ll manage,” he said. Then he stopped. “And no, you can’t, end of discussion,”

You know Xavier is strong but not in his state and in that many. You followed him but he only stopped you, and kissed you before leaving. You wanted to follow him but he wouldn’t want that.

Xavier dodged the attack as several wanderers were going in his direction. He summoned multiple light-fused swords and charged at them. He panted as he still had bruises and recovering from the last battle. He barely dodged an incoming attack and he flew to the ground. Despite the pain and his sight went blurry, he still gets up and kneels. He has to fight, someone is waiting for him back home.

He breathes, summoning more light to his sword. The wanderers rush towards him and anticipate the blow of their attacks.

Dark swords rush through from a distance as a black-clad figure gets down. Xavier gets up and runs to the wanderers, slicing through them. The swords are different and seem customized as he observed. In landing back to the ground, the wanderers are extinguished. Xavier looked at the figure, a woman wearing a black coat, covering her body. He stared at her eyes looking at the finished wanderers before she looked back at him. Her eyes widened.

“Soiree?” he said. The figure jumps and runs, he quickly turns into specks of light but as he appears near her, she quickly goes to the alley and vanishes in the dark.

After seeing she was completely gone, Xavier took deep breaths, taking internal information about what happened. He looked at his watch as he finished the mission, he saw your location, you were back in his room, waiting for him. He smiled as he returned.

“There have been reports that the mysterious individual that did the recent clearings of wanderers can be Soiree…” as the voice heard on the radio. You noticed Xavier tilted his head as if he was interested. You were tending to his wounds by putting on fresh bandages. The last mission was successful, but he was battered badly.

“I guess we got a new Lumiere,” You hummed. Xavier seemed to be deep in thought. “I saw her,”

“Huh?”

“I saw Soiree in the last mission,” he said. You gasped in response. “Oh! What does she look like? What did she do?”

“She… She helped me,” he replied. You raised your eyebrow, he seemed to be deep in thought. “I did warn you about the last mission…” You sighed. “But I’m just glad you are alright,” He is still deep in thought but smiles after. “How was she? Was she as good as the news said?” You asked further.

“She is a good swordswoman, that I can say,” he replied.

Footsteps are heard in the dark alley as Soiree finishes another slaying of the wanderers. She is panting as she sheathes her sword. She can hear her heart pounding hard as she runs to the other street to fight another set of wanderers. At the end of the alley, she saw a familiar figure running towards them. She runs faster and presses a button in her sleeve causing her to teleport.

Xavier can feel the toll on his body as he keeps on fighting wanderers nonstop this week. He sleeps all the time and longer whenever he manages to go home, to keep you from getting worried. But this is for your own good, he prefers dealing with it all than seeing you hurt in battle. In his peripheral vision, he saw swords going towards the wanderers. He turns to see Soiree, who has been around the past weeks, getting rid of the wanderers. He tries to get in contact with her, but she vanishes before he can do so.

He slashes using his sword and sees Soiree fighting as a wanderer gets closer to her. Xavier transforms into balls of light and speeds towards her, grabbing her body away from the wanderer’s smash. They tumbled down from a distance, Xavier quickly summoned a barrage of light swords, ending the wanderer. He shielded Soiree before looking at her again, she also looked exhausted even if all he could see were her eyes.

“Are you alright?” he asked. Soiree quickly got up and seated away from him. She only managed to nod in response. Soiree stood up and ran. “Wait!” Xavier called but she was already gone, blending in the darkness of the alley. He could’ve teleported to her, but she looked really tired. He understood that. He looked at his watch, checking on how you’ve been, the dot on the screen representing you is in his kitchen. He smiled.

Xavier went home and smiled as you greeted him. “Welcome home!” you said as you hugged him. “I’m back… I also got some takeout for dinner,” he said, hugging you back and offering a bag of food. Your eyes lightened up. “Yay! I’m starving!” You grabbed the bag and started to set the table. After a few minutes, Xavier returns, wearing fresh, comfortable clothes. “You look tired. You should rest for a bit,” you said as you got a spoon to scoop some rice. “Same as you,” he replied. “Are you okay? You look sleepy,”

“Huh?” You blinked. “It’s probably the heart medicine, a side effect,” you replied and took a spoonful. He chuckled, as you looked adorable. The radio is turned on and hearing reports about Soiree saving the city today. You looked at him, he seemed engrossed in the news now.

“Someone is interested in the city heroine now,” you teased. Xavier looked at you, confused but his eyes showed something else you couldn’t pinpoint.

“No, I’m not… She is fighting a lot lately,” he said. “I don’t see her purpose on why she is doing this,”

You hummed. “I mean, what was your purpose when you were Lumiere?” Xavier stopped eating at the question and looked down. “Lumiere just wants to protect someone he cares about,”

You’re touched at his response, cheeks slightly went pink. “I think it would be the same for Soiree,” you said. “Maybe she just wants to protect someone… The people she loves,”

Xavier chuckled. “Hmm… Honestly, you reminded me of Soiree,”

You blinked, a bit stunned. Then you returned to eating a piece of dumpling. “How so?”

“Well, she is good with the sword,” he commented. “She is a reserved person, though,” You pouted while he smiled. You know that they come across multiple times, you can’t help but miss the action… And miss battling alongside him. The way he talks about Soiree, it is a compliment but you can’t help but to feel things.

After that wonderful dinner, you two cuddled on the bed. Xavier slept so fast that he was really tired. You stared at him, basking in his features. You were worried about him, you felt he was also fighting on your behalf, as you are currently out on medical leave.

You watched him sleeping soundly, missing his presence. You just wanted him to be beside you, and you beside him. He had a knack for leaving, with or without notice, in the past. So many coincidences of your wishes and hopes being granted, often in your worries about wanderers getting frequent and the next day, it was all normal. He did everything that he could for you, it made you feel you wanted to do the same for him.

Your watch suddenly beeped a warning, a wanderer was sighting in a nearby town. You panicked and looked at Xavier, he was still sleeping soundly.

You run to the darkest alleys to get to the town. You saw the vast electrified cloud in the distance, spawning out wanderers. A voice was heard in your earpiece. “You can’t keep doing this, you’re not well enough for this type of wanderer!”

“Not now, Jeremiah! I can do this!” You yelled and summoned your sword. You start summoning more swords spinning around you as you get closer.

“Get back! The only Hunter that defeated this kind of wanderer was Lumiere!” He reported.

“Well, Lumiere isn’t coming back! I won’t allow it,” You started to slash as the swords around you went straight at the wanderer. You dodged the incoming attack but the wanderer was fast and pounded its fists on the ground, creating shockwaves as you were swept away. You got slammed on the wall, sight being dizzy and heart pounding. You stand up and barely dodge the attack. You ran and hid behind the alley wall, noticing you couldn’t lift your arm without causing so much pain. You use your other arm to hold your sword, using your Evol to enhance the sword, summoning multiple swords all at once to stab. You keep your distance as you continue to summon, and your heart starts to beat harder causing pain and making you dizzy. You stumbled as the wanderer gathered his fists again to create a shockwave towards you.

A tiny light appeared above and increased brighter, speeding to the wanderer and a huge illusion of a sword shoots down on it. It screamed in pain as it stumbled back. The figure gets down on the ground and flicks his sword.

You are stunned as he moves his head slightly, showing his mask. ‘Xavier… Lumiere?’ He didn’t speak, he returned his focus to the hostile wanderer. You saw him dance around the enemy and slash with accuracy. Your sight gets blurrier as you see him rush towards the enemy, you hear a roar before a complete silence, only the noises of the rubble. The bright figure dispels his sword as you try to stand and move. You only see sparkles of light that become warm arms before your sight turns dark.

You stirred and opened your eyes, your eyelids felt heavy but you had enough energy to function. You felt sore, in moderate pain and you still can’t move your arm. As you get up, you realize you are on the side of a building, watching the people below doing a clean-up and investigating the matter. You felt the mask fabric around your face, hence you convinced yourself that your face was not exposed.

“How are you feeling, Miss Soiree?” You snapped and looked, seeing Xavier- Lumiere beside you, as his face was covered by his mask and wearing the Lumiere outfit. You took a peek to his eyes, the cerulean orbs staring at yours intently, a lot more icier than usual. He is mad, mad.

“I’m okay,” you spoke softly, praying that he won’t notice anything, or even think anything beyond Soiree.

“I will accompany you for a medical assessment afterward and make sure you are well. What you are doing is dangerous,” He said sternly. You did remember Xavier saying that Lumiere is like a knight, handsome and gentle, while he is harsh and cruel. Well, he is wrong, as this Lumiere can be the other way around now.

“I can handle it… I’ve been worse,” You replied, still hesitant. Your answer ticked something to Lumiere.

“Miss Soiree, you almost died… People who love you would be devastated to hear that, especially… The one who wants to protect you,” he replied. Despite his mask obscuring his face, his tone and eyes feel like they would stab an enemy. You looked away, concluding to somewhat come clean by responding to his statement.

“He does, always,” You hugged your knees, unaware you said ‘him’, which surprised Lumiere. “I did this because I want to protect him. He… He has been away so much lately,”

Lumiere looked away as if he was feeling guilty.

“I felt I’m not helping him enough, in a direct manner,” you continued. “I thought, maybe if I can finish without constraints, maybe he would be around more,” There was silence afterward, while the moonlight shone on them.

“Maybe you can just ask him,” Lumiere said. “Seeing you being unresponsive earlier, it scared me… What more of him? You almost left him,”

“I’m scared he might leave me too,” you responded as your deep anxiety opened. You can see his eyes widen in a split second before looking away. 

“I just… I just want him to-”

Before you can react, he pulls down your mask as he leans close to kiss you. You were stunned, but you closed your eyes, basking in the warmth of the kiss as you placed your hands on his chest. You two parted, panting to such an intense kiss, as it has been a while.

You stared at his eyes, you saw there were so many emotions all at once. Your hand went to his cheek, then gently to his mask, his brow knitted, wanting to pull back, but when he didn’t look like he was opposing, you removed it. You can see his handsome face, Xavier’s, in full view. He was deeply worried as he pulled you closer to him for an embrace. His breathing is jagged, desperate to feel you again.

“I am still upset,” he whispered. “But I’m glad you’re okay,”

You leaned closer to feel Xavier’s chest. You can feel his breathing flowing near your ear. “I’m sorry… I’m really sorry,”

Xavier laid his head on your shoulder for rest and comfort, especially in hearing your heartbeat being steady. The awful memory of you being hit in the attack when he arrived, he lost his control.

He did release you after a few minutes, as he remembered that you were still injured. “Let’s go… I’ll bring you to the hospital,” You opened your mouth. “No buts,” he said, pouting. You quickly surrendered, you’re still not in the clear after all.

You were under the monitor now after being confined for a couple of days at the hospital. Xavier seemed to not be entertaining any conversation other than your well-being. He didn’t leave and tendered to your healing process. So much that…

“Ugh, healing porridge again,” You said in disgust.

“You need to recover and this is doctor’s order… I’m just simply imposing it,” Xavier said as he crossed his arms. He then sat beside you. “This wouldn’t happen if Miss Soiree just behaved herself,” his face is neutral but calm.

So he is opening it now, as you thought. “How…” you trailed off. “When did you know?”

He looked confused at first. “The moment you saved me,” He said. You were shocked. “Huh?!” That early! He went closer to you.

“I know those pretty eyes,” Xavier replied as you stared at him. “I know how you fight too,” You blushed in response as you looked away. “I was just trying to…” You stuttered.

“I understand… I’m sorry I keep going away,” he then looked away, rubbing his nape.

“It’s alright, sorry that I did… This,” you apologized. “You were really working yourself to the limit,”

“I’d rather do that than see you struggling and hurt. You were ordered to rest and now it was extended because of what happened. Your doctor even scolded you,” Xavier said and smiled a bit. “Still, I acknowledge my lapses. Just… Please don’t do this again. You can be Soiree again if you want… Just let me know,”

You can see his deep concern, he just thinks about your well-being as the top priority. You simply nodded and moved your head onto his shoulder.

“I know Jeremiah helped you,” he spoke.

“Uhh… Yeah,” You sheepishly responded. “Please don’t be too hard on him, I asked him-”

“Too late,” he hummed. You sighed, you have to make it up to him as well as you can just imagine what Xavier did to the poor florist.

“You modified your tracker synced in mine so you’ll be always at the house, despite you were actually outside,” he continued. “Soiree is clever, Lumiere would be impressed,”

You pouted. Xavier noticed your expression. He suddenly carried you to his lap. “Xavier!” you squeaked.

“What? Is someone jealous because I was giving compliments to the ‘savior in the darkness’, Soiree?” he smirked, feeling vindicated to what he felt about Lumiere.

You crossed your arms. “You were complimenting her a lot,” Xavier chuckled.

“Who do you like more - Me or Soiree?”

Xavier was a bit surprised at the question, then chuckled again. He touched your face and leaned closer for a kiss. Your foreheads are close together afterward, feeling the warmth of each other.

“My favorite… The dummy who was so stubborn that I had to call Lumiere to save her,”

dating xavier means naps, good food, cuddles, playing games, more good food, more cuddles, and just cozy vibes overall. comfy clothes, slow sleepy mornings, all that good stuff.

09/29/24; 02:45pm

{ drabbles / headcanons }

[ when you’re on your period ]

featuring: sylus, zayne, xavier, rafayel + bonus

when sylus found you curled up in bed, unable to move or utter a sentence that didn't begin with a whimper-

he knew that it was that time of the month once more, causing you to trap yourself in a cocoon made from your blankets while surrounded by your favorite plushies. after finishing his routine for the day, sylus adjusts his tie, rufescent eyes filled with sympathy for you. with a gentle hum of your name, he settles himself beside your cocoon, feeling his added weight make the mattress dip in response.

you weakly peek at him from beneath the confines of your comforter, making sylus chuckle in response as he gently brushed back your hair. "hey sweetheart, how are you feeling?"

"i could be better..." cue another whimper escaping from you, the sudden jolt of pain felt rippling across your abdomen as you curled up even further into your cocoon. with a sigh of your name, sylus leans forward to press a lingering kiss against your hair.

"i know how painful this is for you, so you just remain in bed for as long as you need to. alert luke or kieran if you need anything, and i'll make sure mephisto keeps an eye on you as well."

"don't you think that's overkill, sy?" your grumbling words manages to earn a chuckle from sylus, with him leaning down to press another lingering kiss against your hair.

"please, nothing is too over the top for me, especially when it comes to you, darling."

while sylus wished for nothing more than to remain by your side as you went through so much pain, he had a busy day ahead of him and responsibilities he could not quite drop at the last minute. with his itinerary in mind, he says his goodbyes to you once more before leaving your shared bedroom.

while leaving the mansion, he gives luke and kieran strict orders to leave you alone and remain on their best behavior, reminding them that they were only allowed to enter his bedroom if and when you needed anything. the twins both give him a mock salute, promising him that they would take care of you and protect you when needed.

the hours go by, and despite the several meetings and conferences he attended with potential clients, his mind would always inevitably go back to you. when moving from place to place, sylus would stop by a gift shop or store, picking up some items he knew you would need.

by the late evening, sylus returns home with numerous bags in his hand. kieran was the first to greet him, letting out a low whistle. "wow, can i just say whipped much?"

"shut it." sylus grunts at him, demanding that he alert the cooks so that they can prepare dinner for you. giving him another mock salute, kieran's laughter was heard echoing throughout the hallways, making a vein pop against his forehead.

taking great strides towards the room, he opens the door, feeling his prior annoyance disappear and the way his heart melts with empathy for you. you were still settled in bed, with the blankets wrapped around you. "i'm home, sweetheart."

"sylus...!" happiness was seen in your gaze when you get out of your cocoon, making his heart race at the mere sight of you. he joins you in bed, pulling you into his lap while giving you the various bags. you giggle, setting aside the feminine pads, eyes taking in the various snacks he had bought for you. upon feeling an ice cold carton, your mood becomes significantly better seeing your favorite flavor of ice cream. you end up grabbing the ice cream as you tossed aside the lid and dug into it with the provided spoon.

your lover chuckles in amusement, tracing the tip of his nose against your hair, "do you feel better now?"

"yes." you answer him with a giggle, cuddling your body even closer to his as you felt the aches and pain of your period slowly melt away while in his embrace.

"ah, i see that you are menstruating."

heat was felt against your cheeks when zayne notices your sour mood and the blood stains seen against the sheets. this was your first month living together with him, and despite how you couldn't help or control the intensity of your cycle, you still felt embarrassed.

"s-sorry, i should have slept with a towel beneath me. i'll be sure to wash-"

but zayne cuts off your nervous rants while saying your name in a stern (but gentle) tone, "there's no need to feel embarrassed. what you're going through is just part of a female's anatomy. it's something you can't control, and i'm not upset with you at all."

you pout at him, hiding your face beneath the blankets while speaking to zayne, almost dejectedly, "i guess you're right."

zayne sighs, looking away from you all while adjusting his tie. "i have to work soon, will you be alright by yourself?"

you meet his gaze, your heart racing with anticipation. deep down, you wanted to experience what it was like to be in zayne's embrace, having him comfort you through your pain and discomfort that came with your cycle. yet, you didn't want to be a selfish girlfriend, or have him dislike you when your relationship was still so fresh and new to you and him both.

"n-no, i think i'll be fine, zayne. i'll see you tonight, okay?"

zayne gives you a stiff nod, already closing the door to your bedroom before stepping outside. you felt a little disappointed, watching as zayne left you with little hesitation. with plans to pout yourself to sleep, you let out a huff and ducked your head beneath the covers, curling into a fetal position to help with easing the excruciating pain that came with your cramps.

you were ready to close your eyes when the door opens once more, revealing zayne. sitting up in bed, you run a hand through your hair, trying to hide your pout, "what is it? did you forget something?"

he shakes his head in response, "no, it didn't feel right to leave you here all alone. even if i did go to work, my mind would be preoccupied with you and your sad face."

you were about to deny that you felt sad at the thought of him leaving, yet the words refused to come out of your mouth. instead, you watch as zayne takes off his tie, unbuttoning his shirt before rejoining you in bed.

"don't worry." a soft chuckle was heard against your ear, "i already called in and decided to use one of my pto days. another surgeon will take my place for the day, and i'll come back in a few days, when you feel better."

it takes you a herculean effort to hide your grin, and when you couldn't handle it anymore, you hid your face within his chest. "but you're the best cardiac surgeon akso hospital has."

"and there are other competent surgeons as well." zayne answers you, and you could hear the smile in his voice.

as he rubs comforting circles against your abdomen, you felt your eyelids grow heavier. unable to remain awake, you fell into a peaceful slumber while in zayne's embrace, smiling in your sleep when you felt something soft pressed against your hair.

a soft moan was the sole form of communication you could manage when xavier wakes up in the middle of the night, feeling your jostling movements against the shared bed.

"hey, what is it? what's wrong?" his voice was thick with sleep, blue eyes lazily looking down at you and how you were practically clinging to him. another whimper was heard coming from you, with your body practically curling up against his.

"sorry, these cramps seem to hit me at the worst times." you manage to admit to your hunter boyfriend, making his eyes go wide when he sees the spot of blood against his sheets. he hears another whimper coming from you, and finally decides to pull you even closer to him. knowing that you were in pain makes xavier hyper-focused on helping you feel better.

"sssh, it's okay, i'm here, i'm here." xavier adjusts his hold on you, purposely cradling your body against his. with your back pressed against his chest, he allows the palm of his hand to flatten against your abdomen, trying to massage the cramps that you felt.

with his gentle massages and soft words of reassurance, you visibly began to relax, letting out a soft moan while pressing yourself even closer to his chest. no words were spoken as xavier continues to comfort you. "it's late at night, so there's not much i can do, but when morning comes, i can take you out to get breakfast at your favorite café."

your pain manages to ease up, allowing you to practically melt against him. feeling drowsy now, you give xavier a nod, turning around so that you could hide your face within his chest. "mhmm, sounds good... xavier."

the young hunter chuckles, pressing one last kiss against your forehead, taking a moment to admire your sleeping features before closing his eyes once more, not daring to let you go as he keeps you pressed against him.

rafayel was able to sense when it was that time of the month for you. you didn't have to complain about your pain or how uncomfortable it was.

in fact, your lover actually takes a break from work, setting his artworks to the side while tending to your every need. him spoiling you so much makes you utterly giddy, unable to contain your happiness as rafayel took care of you during your time of need.

from ordering all of your favorite foods, to hand feeding you your favorite desserts, it was easy to say that he treated you like a queen while in his care. and it was thanks to his thorough care that you found your monthly cycles to be much more bearable.

at the end of the day, rafayel keeps you in his embrace, stripping both you and him of your clothes before preparing a bath for you. while the porcelain tub fills with water, the artist takes a moment to select your favorite scented bubbles before pouring it into the warm waters.

as the bubbles began to multiply with the rapidly filling water, rafayel shuts off the faucet, giving you a mischievous grin before entering the tub with you still in his arms. your giggles echo throughout the bathroom, and you felt so content and happy while hiding your face within the base of his throat.

with a hum of your name, rafayel places the palm of his hand against your naked abdomen, his touch becoming much warmer than usual. even though the slight heat was something that was new to you, you basked in it, allowing the heat to course through you, taking away the pain.

"rafayel... what- what are you doing?"

you feel the way your boyfriend shrugs, pressing a kiss against your damp hair, "i used a bit of my evol to warm my hands... it's something that i've been trying to perfect to help you in situations like this."

you were now filled with love for him, eyes gazing at him with absolute adoration. with your body practically seeking rafayel's warm touch, you eagerly press yourself closer to him, basking in his rich chuckles as he meets your gaze, leaning down to give you a searing kiss that conveys the depths of his love for you.

"don't you think you're being a bit too overdramatic?" caleb calls out your name in an exasperated manner, but you could only manage a weak glare at him in response.

"i am not being too overdramatic, i'm in serious pain right now, caleb! but of course, you wouldn't know since you never had to deal with this type of pain." your words send a wave of empathy through him, and he figured that you were right, that he didn't know what you were going through.

your boyfriend lets out a sigh, eyes trailing over your figure as you remained hunched over and curled up in bed. knowing that you were probably in too much pain to move, he starts searching through your apartment, grabbing the necessary items before bringing them to you.

"alright, time to scoot over." you grumble and whine some more, making room for caleb all while letting out soft whines here and there. caleb manages to place you within his arms, taking advantage of his strength when he sits up in bed, placing you on his lap while allowing you to cling to him.

he opens the cold bottle of water, offering you two tablets of your pain medicine to take. even through your pouts, you take the medication and swallow both tablets while draining the water bottle. along with the medicine, he offers you a bag of snacks he had bought for you earlier, unwrapping them for you. as he offers one of the snack cakes to you, his smile widens, watching as you cutely bite into it.

"that's my good girl." he teases you, cooing at you as you could feel the heat against your cheeks. enjoying just how close you were to him, caleb presses several kisses against your cheek, not stopping until you were left a giggling mess.

"how about we just stay indoors, and i can order some chinese takeout for both of us for dinner tonight?" your boyfriend asks you all while gently massaging at your tender abdomen.

you hum in agreement to his plans, already opening a chocolate bar as you bit into it, all while leaning into his form. basking in his warmth, you relax while in his embrace, already feeling better as your lover spent the entire day taking care of you without a single complaint.

and you couldn't have been happier at the fact that you had managed to capture the heart of someone so perfect.

end notes: i am on my period;;; and i am d y i n g 🫠 i would love to have these lads men spoil me in my time of need,,,,,, currently unedited but i’ll make any changes once this is posted ♡

all stories are written by rei; please do not repost, plagiarize, or translate my works!!

“lads boys with a clingy partner”

hi bunnies sorry for not posting🥹 happy easter to all the ones who celebrate!

content: fluff, mentions of nightmares

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Sylus

the morning air in onychinus is cold, but not cold enough to keep you from crawling onto Sylus’ lap while he’s trying to go through files. he sits on the velvet couch, his black blazer draped over his shoulders, one hand holding a holopad and the other gripping a steaming mug. you’re practically glued to him, arms around his waist, cheek against his chest

he exhales sharply, but it’s not annoyance—it’s more like the sound of someone trying very hard not to indulge you too fast

“i can’t feel my legs,” he mutters, not even looking down “you’ve been clinging to me for the past forty minutes”

“you love it,” you murmur into his shirt, fingers playing with the fabric “i’m your favorite parasite”

he finally looks down, crimson eyes glinting in amusement “if i had a favorite parasite, you’d be it, yes”

his hand moves from the mug to your back, fingers tracing lazy circles against your spine. he doesn’t push you away. of course he doesn’t. Sylus complains, but he never actually means it. you’ve figured that out by now

“you could’ve kicked me off,” you tease

“i could’ve,” he says dryly “but i’m indulging your clinginess. it’s charming. pathetic, but charming”

you pout up at him “mean.”

“accurate.”

but he softens, just a little, when you don’t move. when your breathing evens out against him, and your fingers curl slightly like you’re afraid he’ll disappear if you let go

his voice drops to a murmur “what’s gotten into you?”

“nothing,” you say “just wanna stay close”

he hums “you’ve been like this all week”

you don’t respond right away. instead, you tug his blazer tighter around the both of you and nuzzle in

after a beat, Sylus speaks again, quieter this time

“did you have another nightmare?”

you hesitate, then nod

he sets the holopad aside with a sigh and cups your face, guiding your head up until you meet his gaze

“you need to tell me these things,” he says “i can’t drag them out of you while you cling to me like an octopus”

“i’m not an octopus”

“you’re worse. you’re cute. and you know i can’t say no when you’re like this”

you blink up at him “so you do like it.”

he narrows his eyes “i didn’t say that.”

you smirk “you implied it.”

he kisses you before you can get cocky. just once, light and brief, but enough to silence your teasing

“you can cling to me all you want,” he murmurs, his voice low “just don’t keep things from me”

“i wasn’t trying to hide it,” you say softly “just didn’t wanna make you worry”

he lets out a soft chuckle, barely audible “i worry when you don’t cling to me”

you blink “you do?”

“mmh” he leans back, tugging you closer, settling you against him like you’re meant to be there “you’re always holding onto me like you’re afraid i’ll vanish. if you stop… i’ll know something’s wrong”

you bite your lip, warmth blooming in your chest

“besides,” he adds, lips brushing your hair, “i’ve grown fond of being your emotional support villain”

you snort “you’re more like an emotional support dragon”

“same thing”

you shift slightly, enough to peek up at him through your lashes “so you won’t get tired of me being clingy?”

he smirks, brushing your hair back “not unless you start following me into the shower”

“i’ve done that before”

“and i had to bribe you out with chocolate”

you grin, smug “you bought my favorite kind”

he rolls his eyes “you’re impossible.”

but then he presses a long, quiet kiss to your temple, and when you melt into him again, he doesn’t complain. doesn’t even pretend to

because the truth is—Sylus likes it. likes you. every stubborn, clingy, affectionate part

and if holding you close is the price for your peace of mind, he’ll let you stay right there for as long as you need

Zayne

Zayne doesn’t look up right away when you wrap your arms around him from behind. he’s seated at his desk, posture perfect, pen gliding across a patient chart with that same practiced precision. his hair falls slightly over his glasses, and the gentle ticking of his desk clock fills the silence of the office

you rest your cheek between his shoulder blades, eyes closed, arms locked snugly around his torso like you might float away if you let go

“you know this is the third time you’ve interrupted me in the last hour,” he says, not turning around “you’ve brought me tea, asked if i liked the scent of your shampoo, and now… this.”

you hum softly “you didn’t answer about the shampoo”

“lavender,” he mutters “i took note the second you walked in”

a small smile curves your lips. he did notice

Zayne sets the pen down at last and exhales, head tilting slightly toward you “i take it you’re feeling clingy again”

“is that a problem?”

he doesn’t respond right away. instead, he reaches for your hand and gently tugs you around to his side. you let him guide you, limbs loose and obedient as he pulls you onto his lap. one of his arms wraps around your waist, the other settles over your hand where it rests on his chest

“if it were a problem,” he says softly “i wouldn’t be holding you right now”

you sigh contentedly and tuck your face into his neck “i missed you”

“i saw you this morning”

“still missed you”

Zayne’s lips curve into the faintest smile “you’ve been unusually attached lately”

you shift slightly “do you want me to stop?”

he’s quiet for a second, then murmurs

“no. not really.”

you lift your head, surprised “really?”

he sighs again, but this time it’s the fond kind—the tired, helpless kind that only comes out when he’s too in love to argue “i’ve been waking up with your arm draped across my chest every night for the past week. i can’t reach for my alarm without peeling you off me. and somehow, i don’t mind”

you look at him with wide eyes “so you like it?”

“i didn’t say that” he adjusts his glasses with one hand “but if you stopped, i’d probably assume you were hiding something”

you frown slightly “i’m not hiding anything”

“then why the sudden surge in affection?”

you hesitate, then quietly say “you’ve been working more hours lately. i just… i don’t want to feel like i’m losing time with you”

his expression softens instantly

“i’m sorry,” he says “i should’ve noticed sooner”

you shake your head “i get it. your patients need you”

“and so do you.”

Zayne leans forward and presses his forehead to yours. his eyes, usually sharp and unreadable, are soft now. tired, yes—but open in a way only you ever get to see

“tell me when you feel like this,” he says gently “don’t just cling. i can handle honesty better than surprise cuddles in the middle of surgery prep”

you laugh under your breath “you did scold me that time”

“because you nearly knocked over an IV stand”

you nuzzle closer “worth it”

he shakes his head but doesn’t push you away. instead, he shifts the chair slightly, pulling a blanket from the side cabinet and draping it over both of you

“i have three more files to go through,” he says “but if you promise not to fall asleep and drool on my tie again, you can stay right here.”

you blink “again?!”

“you think i keep spare ties in my desk for fashion?”

you grin “you secretly love it.”

“i am a man of science,” Zayne replies, deadpan “i don’t love being drooled on”

but he kisses your cheek anyway. warm. soft. and when you rest your head against his chest again, his arms tighten just a little

he lets you stay for the rest of the evening, finishing his files one by one while you curl in his lap like a content cat. and every so often, he pauses—just to run his fingers through your hair, or to press a kiss to your temple, like he needs the reminder too

Caleb

Caleb’s halfway through refueling his aircraft when he hears rapid footsteps behind him—light, familiar ones that don’t belong to any mechanic on the tarmac. he doesn’t need to turn around to know it’s you

“don’t say anything,” you huff, wrapping your arms tight around his waist from behind “just… stand there”

he chuckles under his breath, lowering the nozzle and tilting his head back slightly “that bad of a day, huh?”

“no,” you mumble against his back “i just missed you”

he grins, lips twitching at the corners as he sets the nozzle down and lets his hands rest over yours “you saw me this morning”

“doesn’t count. you left before i was awake”

“technically, i kissed your forehead before i left,” he says, voice playful “that counts for something”

you hug him tighter “i want a do-over”

Caleb turns slowly in your arms, the scent of jet fuel clinging faintly to his jacket. his eyes, that soft violet hue you’ve always loved, lock on yours with warmth and just a hint of mischief

“you’re clingy today” he says with a knowing smile

“is that a problem?”

he leans in a little, brows raised “have i ever said no to you clinging?”

you look up at him, teasing “you get smug about it”

“because i like it,” he says, pulling you in without hesitation “i like that you want to be close. that you run straight to me when you’re feeling needy”

you bury your face in his jacket “i’m not needy”

“you literally followed me to the plane, mid-shift, and clung to me like a baby koala”

you pout “are you calling me a koala now?”

he laughs and lifts you slightly off the ground in a warm, secure hug, spinning you in a slow circle despite the busy hangar

“a very cute koala,” he murmurs “with a death grip”

you hum contentedly, resting your chin on his shoulder “i just didn’t feel like being alone today”

he immediately softens at that, arms wrapping tighter around you

“you never have to be.”

“but you’re always working”

“so are you,” he says, brushing your hair back gently “and yet, here you are, glued to me in the middle of a military-grade launch pad. not exactly subtle”

“you love it”

“of course i do”

his voice lowers a little, quieter against the sound of nearby aircraft and voices

“i think about you all the time when i’m flying,” he confesses “when i hit turbulence, when the sky goes quiet, when the alarms go off in my headset… you’re the one i think of. and then when i land, i hope you’re here”

you blink, caught off guard by how soft he’s being “you do?”

he nods, gaze never leaving yours “every time”

you smile into his chest “then maybe i should start hiding in your cockpit”

he snorts “you’d get arrested”

“you’d bail me out”

“yeah,” he says without hesitation “i would.”

you stay there for a while, wrapped in him, ignoring the curious glances of nearby engineers. Caleb doesn’t care. he never does. even when his superiors are around, even when he’s supposed to be the strict Colonel on duty—when it comes to you, his arms are always open

“how long until you take off?” you ask, voice small

“forty minutes”

you tug on his jacket sleeve “stay with me ‘til then?”

he doesn’t even hesitate “you got it.”

he guides you over to the edge of the hangar, where the sun hits the floor in golden beams. you sit together, shoulder to shoulder, legs stretched out, your head resting against his. the world keeps moving—pilots shouting, aircraft humming—but in that little moment, everything feels still

Caleb intertwines your fingers with his

“you can be clingy all you want,” he murmurs “i signed up for that the moment i fell in love with you”

you squeeze his hand “what if i’m clingy forever?”

he grins “then i guess you’re stuck with me forever too.”

Rafayel

Rafayel’s house is bathed in warm light, the windows cracked open just enough to let in the city breeze. classical music plays softly from hidden speakers, the scent of white tea and citrus lingering in the air. he’s lounging on his favorite cream-colored couch, wearing a silk robe loosely tied over a half-buttoned shirt, swirling a glass of wine in one hand while reading something on his holo-tablet

and you? you’re practically draped over him like a second robe

“you’re heavy,” he drawls, though there’s absolutely zero heat in his voice “are you attempting to fuse with me?”

you bury your face into his chest “maybe”

he sighs—dramatically, as always—and sets his tablet aside “is this how it’s going to be now? i can’t even sip my wine without being used as a human mattress?”

you peek up at him, pouting “don’t act like you don’t love it”

he raises a perfectly shaped brow, eyes flicking down to where your legs are tangled with his

“i love many things. vintage wines, rare artifacts, silk pillows… and, unfortunately for me, you”

you grin, not the least bit offended “so i can stay here?”

he exhales, then tilts your chin up with one finger “i would sooner burn this apartment to the ground than move you”

you blink “…romantic”

“i try”

you stay quiet for a moment, tracing absent shapes on his chest through his shirt. he watches you for a beat, then softly asks “what’s this about, dove?”

you glance away “i just missed you.”

he hums “you saw me two hours ago.”

“i still missed you.”

his hand finds your hair, long fingers combing through it gently “you’ve been a bit… clingier than usual”

you wince “too much?”

he snorts “please. if i didn’t enjoy it, do you think you’d still be breathing right now?”

you laugh, muffled against him

he brushes a kiss to the top of your head “i’m not complaining, darling. i’m simply curious. your usual clinginess is adorable—this level borders on concerning”

you don’t answer right away, just sink further into his embrace like the answer’s hidden somewhere in his heartbeat

he softens, all teasing gone from his voice “talk to me”

“i had a dream,” you finally say “that you left”

he frowns “left how?”

“just… disappeared. no note, no goodbye. i woke up and you weren’t there, and it felt so real”

Rafayel is silent for a moment. then, he slides his glass onto the side table and pulls you into his lap properly, wrapping his arms around you with rare, unguarded tenderness

“i’m not going anywhere,” he says “you’d have to banish me yourself. even then, i’d find my way back”

“what if you got bored of me?”

he scoffs “impossible. you’re chaos in a pretty package. and you cling to me like ivy. how could i ever get bored?”

“some people don’t like clingy”

“those people have no taste”

you laugh again, and Rafayel leans in to kiss the corner of your mouth, then your cheek, then your forehead. his lips linger there, his breath warm and steady

“do you know how many people want my attention?” he murmurs “and how few actually have it?”

you nod slowly “a lot. and almost none.”

he smiles “exactly. you’re not just the exception. you’re the rule-breaker. you cling, and i let you. you pout, and i cave. you crawl into my lap during my very important wine therapy session, and instead of throwing you off—I hold you tighter”

you blink “…that might be the most romantic thing you’ve ever said”

“don’t get used to it”

“too late”

he chuckles and lets his head fall back against the couch, arms still snug around you. you curl up there, completely content, as the music shifts to something slower, more intimate

“stay here tonight,” he says softly “cling all you want. hell, cling in your sleep. drool on my robe. claim me like a pillow. i’ll allow it.”

“you’re spoiling me”

“no,” he says, kissing your temple again “i’m keeping you.”

Xavier

Xavier’s apartment is dim and quiet, lit mostly by the flicker of neon lights outside the window. the soft hum of rain hits the glass, steady and calming. he’s stretched out on the couch in an oversized hoodie, one arm draped behind his head, the other flipping lazily through a book he’s already read twice. every few pages, his eyes flick down to the weight pressed against his side

you.

curled up against him like a second blanket, arms wrapped around his torso, cheek smushed into his chest. you haven’t said much, just let out a satisfied sigh every now and then like you’re recharging on physical contact alone

“you’ve been stuck to me all night” he murmurs, voice quiet but amused

“i know,” you mumble “i’m comfy”

he glances down at you “clingy today, huh?”

“a little.”

he closes the book with one hand and sets it aside “you were clingy this morning. and this afternoon. and when i tried to go take a shower”

you lift your head slightly “you still went”

“yeah. with you sitting on the sink counter like some judgmental little gremlin watching my every move”

“someone had to make sure you didn’t slip”

he huffs a laugh, but it’s warm. he reaches over and brushes your hair out of your face with the tips of his fingers, his touch careful—almost hesitant, like he still can’t believe you let him do this. like he still feels lucky every time

“you gonna tell me what’s going on?” he asks softly

you blink “what do you mean?”

“this level of clinginess usually has a reason. not that i mind,” he adds quickly “just… you’re usually a little more subtle”

you hesitate, then bury your face back into his hoodie. it smells like clean laundry and something distinctly him—cold metal, warm skin, and comfort

“i just missed you” you say into the fabric

“you saw me yesterday.”

“i know. i still missed you.”

Xavier is quiet for a moment. you can feel the way his chest rises and falls under your cheek, steady and calm

“okay” he says

you blink “okay?”

“yeah” his arm wraps around you, pulling you a little closer “if you missed me, then this is where you belong.”

you tilt your head up to look at him “you’re really letting me get away with this?”

he smirks “getting away with it implies i’d ever stop you”

“you’ve definitely tried before”

“yeah, and every time you look at me like i just kicked a puppy”

“you hate it when i do that”

“obviously,” he mutters “you weaponize your pretty face”

“you love my face”

he rolls his eyes, but there’s a soft flush on his cheeks “unfortunately.”

you smile and cuddle back into him. the rain continues tapping against the window, and the sound of his heartbeat fills your ears, steady and grounding. he runs his fingers gently up and down your spine, over the fabric of your hoodie, the rhythm almost hypnotic

“you can be clingy whenever you want,” he murmurs “just give me a heads-up if you plan to fuse with my ribcage”

you snort “no promises”

“figured”

you both go quiet again for a while. he shifts a little to reach for the remote, flipping the TV on low—just soft background noise, some slow documentary you’re not really watching. the screen casts a gentle glow over both of you, and his thumb traces little circles on your arm

“you know,” he says after a moment “i used to think i needed a lot of space”

“you still do”

“yeah. but… i don’t mind when it’s you taking it”

your heart stutters “you mean that?”

“i wouldn’t say it if i didn’t” he pauses “you make it easier. being around you doesn’t feel like noise. it feels like… quiet. the kind of quiet i don’t want to end”

you stay silent, overwhelmed for a second. then you shift up just enough to press a kiss to his jaw. his skin is warm, and you feel him freeze, then relax under the touch

“i love you, Xavier”

he doesn’t say it back right away—but you’ve learned not to expect it from him every time. not because he doesn’t feel it, but because he shows it more than he says it. and right now, he’s holding you like the world could fall apart and he wouldn’t notice as long as you were still in his arms

“…i know,” he murmurs eventually “and i love you, too. now stop moving. you’re warm”

you smile, eyes closing “fine. i’ll stay. forever.”

“good,” he whispers “i was hoping you would.”

SOMEBODY SAID IT AT LAST... SCREAM THIS OUT LOUD

Xavier deserves more love.

There! I said it!

The man has loved mc for three life times now, made a deal with the devil (Ever), traveled across time and space, moved planets, lived on Earth for a few hundred years to save find her, and prevent catastrophe from happening to her, fuck even saving her as Lumiere when she was young.

She is the only one that sees him as himself. As Xavier.

He is kind, and comfortable, and selfless. He deals with immense survivors guilt and loves so deeply.

We talk about Rafayel and Caleb being the yearners and clingers. But have you seen Xavier? He is clingy as fuck, and wants nothing but her. Nothing.

I feel like he gets overlooked so often, partially because he’s not as showy as the rest of LIs. I’m sure some might see him as boring, but he is safe. His relationship with MC is one of closest she has, aside from Caleb. They’re neighbours, and colleagues, and best friends. He is deeply ingrained in her life, and a foundational pilar of support for her.

Put some respect on his name.

"Hey, I can't sleep..."

Xavier mumbles something in reply, totally incoherent to you. He reaches for the lamp on the nightstand next to his side of the bed, and a warm glow fills the room. He yawns, and he sits up in bed, leaning against the headboard, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Okay, come here, then."

He pats his lap twice. You stare at him, and then at where he was patting.

"You want me to sit on you?"

He raises an eyebrow. "No. Come put your head here."

You oblige and lie down with your head in his lap. He reaches for something else on the nightstand - it's a book. He flips open to a page and clears his throat.

"Once upon a time–"

You can't help but laugh out loud, and you end up shaking the whole bed. Xavier clicks his tongue and shushes you.

"I'm trying to read you a bedtime story, if you don't mind."

"Okay, okay," you concede. "I'll be quiet. So quiet."

Xavier continues, putting on a storyteller voice. "There was a young girl whose mother had sadly died, and she lived with her father whom she loved dearly..."

He continues with the story of Cinderella, and you're enthralled by all the voices he puts on for the different characters. They sound ridiculous and ill-fitting, but you're entertained nonetheless. All the while, one of his hands is in your hair, gently brushing his fingers through it. The other holds the book, and in the moments where he takes the hand in your hair to flip a page, you instantly miss it - you would be happy for him to read a page over and over again if it meant keeping his hand right where it is. There are a couple of times where he yawns, and it's contagious - you yawn along with him.

"... and they all lived happily ever after. The end."

Xavier closes the book, but you turn over in his lap to look up at him. You push your bottom lip out in what you hope is a cute pout. "Can you read me another one, please?"

He rolls his eyes, but obliges, and opens the book again. He flips around for a little bit before clearing his throat again. "This is the story of Sleeping Beauty..."

You're not sure when it is that you doze off, but the next time you wake, sunlight is streaming through the gaps in the curtains. Your head is still in Xavier's lap, his hand still resting in your hair. The book he was holding is next to him on the bed, opened to a random page, and you can hear him snoring lightly. You turn, just a little bit, to take a look at him. His eyelids are twitching just so slightly, his mouth moving as if in conversation with someone in a dream. You feel a warmth spread across your chest, your heart beating just a little faster. Sleeping Beauty indeed.

Spring arrives... bringing... Lumiere!! ( •̀ ᴗ •́ ) و ✨

📖⬅⬅⬅

The night is still young... and here i am sitting and rethinking everything ... i love xavier... and like him before i even played the game and i couldn't pin point exactly what drew me to him the most .. even after sylus and caleb came out ... i am loyal to this man ... a bit too much

And now i can play the game and ya .. just..

It is very well written about his characteristics and his personality and i do know and have seen to tumblr how people mischaracterize him ..

Well.. after everything .. the man underneath all the mask is who i resonate and relate to and love as well.. even if he is a game character .. he bring comfort and joy to me and lightens up my day even if by 10 per cent ..

I would say.. this man is also an introvert and doesnt really like talking about himself therefore ..

The original person whose writing i am reblogging

Hats off in trying to understand him and put it so beautifully in words ...

Enjoy my rant about this man

As much as I also laugh and joke about Xavier being jealous of Lumiere, I also absolutely get it. So be prepared because I have THOUGHTS.

✨ In defense of Xavier ✨

I cannot speak for all his jealousy, but I can speak on my own interpretation. Unfortunately, since I joined in October, I completely missed his Lumiere myth. I also don’t want to spoil myself too much in case I get the rerun, so some of this is just my own interpretation based on his character.

But I don’t think Xavier is explicitly jealous of *himself,* guys. I think when he asks “Who do you like more, me or Lumiere?” He’s not asking it literally. He is asking the main character, he is asking us as the player, “Do you like me or do you like the mask I wear?”

Now, I’m biased. I actually wrote a drabble on this concept for Victoria with her first (and still canon!) love interest from Ninjago, Lloyd. There’s some character parallels here I won’t go into detail with. But that was a topic the two had to navigate at first. Being the object of so many peoples’ affections while in an alter ego can absolutely raise a lot of questions. And in this example, Lloyd was wondering if Victoria was in love with the persona he has to put up for public perception, or the person he truly was. Of course Victoria loved him for him, not for the mask.

I think Xavier is doing the same here.

Xavier is a crown prince. He’s a vigilante. He’s a hero. But at the end of the day he is XAVIER. He’s gone through so many jobs, so many roles, he’s worn down many different masks. Someone falling in love with the mask is the last thing he wants. I was discussing this with my therapist the other day, that’s something that drew me to both Rafayel and Xavier.

They both have masks, literal and figurative, that they hide behind. Falling in love with the mask does nothing. It’s the person underneath that’s more important. It’s why Rafayel asks “Will you still love me, no matter who I become?” It’s why Xavier asks who the main character prefers, him or Lumiere. It speaks to my own life as someone placed on a pedestal, constantly wearing a mask of perfection and untouchability. It irritates me when people claim to have feelings for me when they haven’t found the person behind the mask. It shows they’ve fallen in love with an idea of me, not with who I am as a person.

I’ll gladly make jokes about his own jealousy too, but there’s a lot more to it. It frustrates me to see all of the love interests mischaracterized or even outright demonized.

So, in defense of Xavier, when he asks if you like him or Lumiere more, keep in mind.

Are you in love with the man, or the mask?

Writing sometimes feels like a strange disorder you just kind of cope with by being creative. Like your brain randomly decides to dump a million-piece puzzle in front of you and says, 'Solve this or we will never think of anything else, ever.' You toil away for years and by some miracle you solve it, and it's the most fulfilling, exhilarating feeling in the world. It's perfect. You did it. And your brain is like, 'OK, here's my idea for three sequels and a spinoff.'