lover. [rylan villanueva] (Patreon)

synopsis: Rylan comes to pick up the hunter after work.

note: two Rylan drabbles in a row, huh? missing my half-vampire i see. can't say i blame you guys.

Sometimes Rylan dreams about you. They dream about stolen kisses in a shared apartment before you go to work. They dream about laughing until their sides hurt, kisses on both their cheeks and over their face as you attempt to calm them down. They dream about looping an arm and leg over you when you’re cuddling in bed, pulling you closer until you’re practically intertwined.

When Rylan wakes up, they have to remind themself that some of these aren’t dreams—they’re memories. Memories so joyful that they’ve found their way into their dreams, replacing the nightmares that used to haunt them.

Quite a deal, if they do say so themself.

Dating a hunter has its downsides though. As an ex-bounty, Rylan still gets nervous when standing outside your building, waiting for your shift to end. They’ve yet to be called out for their past (falsely accused) crime, but the suspicious looks they get say everything.

They have no doubt that it’s even worse for you. All the talking behind your back must be exhausting, but you have yet to break up with them for it. Rylan wouldn’t blame you if you did. They brace themself for the conversation every night, knowing that eventually, this bliss and paradise will end, but it never comes.

Maybe it never will. It’ll take them some time to adjust to that idea.

They glance down at their phone, checking the time. You should be any second now.

Just as they think that, they see you. You’re obviously tired, weighed down by your physical bag and emotional one, but when the two of you make eye contact, you immediately brighten.

“Hi lover,” Rylan greets, pressing a quick kiss to your cheek.

“Lover? That’s new.”

“Do you like it?”

You accept their offer to take your bag and trade it for the pastry they offer, something they picked up along the way here. “Hmm, I don’t know. Whatever happened to darling?”

“I can switch back if you like. Maybe I can try out kitten. Puppy? My little demon?”

Having taken a bite of your snack, you nearly spit out your food. “I’m starting to regret saying anything. Lover is fine.”

Rylan taps their chin. They jump in front of you, walking backwards so you can see their eyes. “No, it’s unoriginal, you’re right. I need to come up with something. Cinnamon roll? Muffin? Hunter who fell in love with their oh so charming bounty?”

“I beg to differ. You’re the one who fell in love with me, Villanueva.”

Rylan grins. “Is that so?”

“Oh yeah. The moment you broke into my apartment, it was over for you.” You take another bite, waving your hand around jokingly. “You never stood a chance.”

That feels like ages ago, eons. It’s true that Rylan thought you were attractive from the moment you two met, but it wasn’t until later that they developed real feelings. There were so many small moments, giant hints that they should have taken, but Rylan was oblivious.

Oblivious to their own feelings.

It was you that brought them back down to earth. They lived years with their head in the clouds, barely registering anything that was in front of them, but the more you spent time together, the more Rylan felt like they had something to be on the ground for.

Someone.

Rylan steps forward, stopping you in your tracks. Your eyes widen as you halt to an abrupt stop, crashing into Rylan—but they’re prepared. They put their hands in front of them, cushioning the two of you before they go in for a kiss.

PDA has never bothered them, but maybe doing it right outside your work is a little much.

Still, they don’t care. All they can focus on is their lips on yours, the way you melt into their arms and kiss them back with as much passion as they do—maybe even more, though Rylan will always disagree.

“I love you.”

You grin. “I love you too.”

Rylan beams harder at the words and pokes your cheek. “I used to hate IAOS  because they put a bounty on my head. Now I hate them for taking you away from me for so many hours a day.”

”You can’t keep me all to yourself. I’m very in demand.”

”As always, my little demon. Race you to the end of the parking lot?”

They take off before you can say anything, but it doesn’t take long for you to start running after them.

“I thought we agreed on not using that one!” you call out.

Rylan laughs but doesn’t reply. It doesn’t matter what they call you, because whatever name they give you, they all mean the same thing. 

Their darling lover. Their forever person.