You walked through the barely collapsed Protocore Energy Converter. Suddenly, icicles uncontrollably fall out of nowhere, and a figure whose body is half frozen calls out to you, of course, is Zayne, who’s injured, half frozen from his own Evol.

You wake up abruptly, in a frosty-used-to-be clinic room, not knowing what happened before with a sharp icicle pierced through your arm, and you talk to Zayne about what happened about his absence to four straight days.

”Will you finally say something I want to hear?” You utter.

“I want to protect you. Dragging you in a dangerous situation is the last thing I would do.” Zayne replied in a slight melancholic tone, his dark brown coat covered in small ice shapes, a sign of his overwhelmed Evol he can’t control. Yet his expression remains stoic.

“I don’t want the person I like to get hurt.” He continued, but you cupped his cheek.

”But the person you like might not feel the same way.” You responded, your hand getting absorbed with white ice due to Zayne’s frozen cheek.

Zayne held your hand holding his cheek, kissing it gently, with a blank yet affectionate expression.

“Really…” He whispered. “I should’ve let you see me like this.” He rests down your hand.

”But I’ve already decided to face this with you. Unless… Unless you say you don’t need me.” You placed a hand on the side of his chest.

“How come… When we were apart these past few days, I was always thinking about you.” Zayne held your hand once more, staring at you.

“Whether or not you’ve been eating properly, taking care of yourself, and if you would be upset if we never saw each other again… You occupied my every thought.”

He puts your hand up his cheek momentarily, setting it down afterwards.

“If I hadn’t been missing you… Perhaps… I would’ve struggled to hold on until you found me.”

Zayne leaned in incredibly close, slowly. Wielding your cheek. “I need you. I never denied that. It’s just… It’s not the kind of need you think it is.”

Zayne kissed you. Gently pushing you down.