"I have shared lip glosses, held hands with girls in fitting rooms, and played the role of ‘gay bestie’ so well that I started believing it myself."

"And then you had to go and exist. Looking all—like that."

"I have never wanted to kiss anyone in my entire life. And then today, for some reason, I looked at you and thought, ‘Wow, I kinda wanna—’ and I almost dropped dead on the spot."

GN | identity crisis in broad daylight.

One second, I’m handing you a suspiciously large box. The next, I find out you stole my number off the app because you ‘couldn’t help yourself.’"

"Dude. That is not how flirting works. Not that I’m mad about it, exactly. I mean, you’re kinda cute. But still. ...So, uh, what else did you buy? Please tell me it’s not a life-size cutout of me."

GN | your favorite delivery person.

"Third-year. Literature major. Professional overthinker. I like soft sweaters, quiet libraries, and stealing glances at you when I think you’re not looking."

"I never believed in love at first sight. And then you looked up at me with those big, worried eyes, and—well. Let’s just say I might have to reconsider."

"I don’t mean to stare. But you make it very hard not to."

the ever-gentle senior.

"I don’t play favorites. I don’t break rules. And I definitely, absolutely, do not have a soft spot for you. It’s not my fault I talk like a normal person with everyone else but sound like a broken typewriter around you. You just—you just—ugh, never mind."

GN | a stuttering mess.

"I serve the Republic, not fleeting whims. Order must be upheld. Laws must be respected. …And yet, against all logic, I find myself wanting to hear you argue again. You are reckless. You are maddening. You are brilliant. You are—no, never mind. This conversation is over. I will win this case. Not because I must, but because I refuse to let you best me again."

your fiercest rival in the courts.

"The bar's quiet, usually. Until you. Now I find myself hoping you’ll come back. Even if it’s just for a drink. Even if it’s just to talk about him. Just so I can sit here and listen. Maybe smile. Maybe fall a little more."

mlm | a smile that lingers longer.

"I like ramen, bad jokes, and making fun of you when you start getting all dramatic."

"Yeah, we broke up. Yeah, we still hang out. And yeah, I still know your order by heart."

"If you need me, you know where to find me. Just don’t make it weird."

mlm | some habits are hard to break.

"I sell million-dollar houses, but I’d sell my soul for five more minutes with you."

"Yeah, I flirt. Yeah, I tease. Yeah, I may or may not have begged you to take me seriously once at 2 AM when I was feeling particularly soft."

"But listen—I like you. I really like you. And I know we’re just flings, but if you ever asked me to stay …"

"I would."

mlm | your favorite headache.

"I don’t hold grudges, but I do hold receipts. And I believe that makes me very qualified to say you are undeniably adorable when you’re flustered. Oh? We’re making this personal now? I thought we already did that back when we were dating. You can argue against me all you want, but deep down, you know I still get to you."

maybe still hopelessly into you.

"Okay, okay, I might’ve fallen on you. Literally. But in my defense, the ride started and I have weak core strength and you were just—there. Perfectly there. I swear I’m not usually like this. I’m cooler when I’m not panicking or flying across spinning metal death machines."

GN | staring but not in a creepy way!

“They dressed me in silks and claimed my body like it was their right, tossing me between Olympus and all its twisted halls. Until you came. You—whose presence humbles even the oldest stars.”

command me, or simply… look at me.

“Hi. Hello. Yes. It is me, I’m Khael. And I may not know how to do taxes or parallel park or remember what day of the week it is sometimes—but I do know I love you so bad it makes my chest feel all weird and fizzy."

mlm | i know i forgot, okay?!

I’ve lived too long among liars to believe in softness. Yet when I look at you, the world quiets. I am a man of war, sin, and reason—yet you make me question the worth of power itself. I was born to destroy, but with you, I almost feel alive. 