always. [rylan villanueva]

synopsis: Rylan and the hunter spend a night building puzzles.

Your legs are tangled, limbs intertwined with one another until there’s no differentiation between who’s who. It’s just you and Rylan, sprawled on the floor with the half-finished remains of a puzzle laying before you.

“You know I don’t have the patience for these kinds of things,” Rylan groans, picking up a piece with feigned distaste. They were into it at first, but after everything started looking the same, they quickly lost interest.

And by quickly, it was five minutes.

“But you want to spend time with me,” you counter.

Rylan pouts, but there’s no arguing with that. They’d do anything to spend time with you. Having known you for as long as they have, they still can’t get enough.

It’s never enough.

The kiss in the hallway before you leave to work. The smell of your favourite fragrance that lingers on every piece of furniture you two own. The cuddles at night, the way Rylan tugs you every night to pull you closer. You always protest to that one, but when your chest touches their back—or vice versa—you can’t muster up the strength to let go.

Rylan breathes you in like you’re oxygen and they’ll be damned if they ever let that go.

They watch you as you hum, tongue bit with concentration as you try to figure out where the next piece goes. They’ll admit they’ve done this more than help, but once in a while, they’ll feel smart enough to try to pitch in. Rylan’s deft hands weren’t made to do puzzles, as it seems.

“If you’re not going to help with the puzzle, could you grab some more snacks?” you ask.

Rylan shoots you a lopsided smile. “And leave you all cold?”

“I think my leg is going numb underneath you.” With your wry expression, it’s hard to tell if that’s true, but even so, Rylan unravels themself from you and stands up. They grab a blanket from the couch and drape it over your lower legs, earning a small smile from you before they leave for the kitchen.

The kitchen is littered with snacks. Most of them are as a cause of Rylan, who can be found chewing on something almost every hour of the day. They burn more calories than most, so their solution is simply to eat more meals.

Not that you mind. You get a kick out of the snacks too, or so, that’s what Rylan believes.

They eye a box of crackers and grin to themself, reminded of when they broke into your apartment. It’s tempting, but they end up grabbing two bowls of ice cream instead, sticking two mini spoons into the cold dessert.

When they get back, you’re still stuck on the same piece as before, eyes narrowed until you eventually let out a noise of triumph and place it down. The sight puts a smile on Rylan’s face. They place your bowl down and place a soft kiss on your cheek as they settle beside you.

“See, you don’t even need me. You can do this all on your own.”

“But who would provide my food then?” you reply, arching an eyebrow.

Rylan shrugs playfully. “I don’t know. You could probably pluck anyone off the street to do it for you. It’s not like it’s a hard job. Of course, no one’s going to know you as well as me, so you risk food poisoning here and there, but I’m replaceable.”

You laugh, tilting your head back and Rylan grins, relishing the noise. When that smile dies, however, they find themself wanting to ask something they probably shouldn’t. Surely it’s gotten redundant now, but they say it anyway.

“Do you ever get tired of this?”

“Hmm?” You glance up, looking caught off-guard by the question. “Get tired of what?”

“Puzzles, game night,” Rylan supplies. “Being smarter than I’ll ever be.”

You flick them on the thigh. “You know that’s not true.”

“I don’t mind admitting it, darling.” The pet name makes you flush with heat, something Rylan can feel even without touching your skin. The knowledge brings back their smile. Temporarily. “But do you? Do you think you’ll ever?”

You shake your head, eyes sincere. You know where this is coming from now. You’ve heard Rylan’s past, the issues they’ve had with trusting people and staying with them. Just because you’re dating doesn’t mean Rylan’s insecurities sometimes don’t think you’re the exception.

You rest a hand on their leg. “How could I, when I have you?”

Your answer is the reassurance Rylan needed; the strand of dark thoughts that had entered their head exits out again. They don’t like admitting it, but sometimes they need the reminder. One day they’ll be able to live without it, but in the early stages of their healing, the words help.

They take the hand that’s on their leg, holding it up and pressing their lips to your skin.

“You always will.”