Fragments Of You(LAD BL FANFIC)

Rafayel sat in a quaint café, its ambiance warm and inviting, yet his mind was far from settled. Across from him sat his first love, Liora, a figure from his past who still managed to stir something deep within him. Liora's presence was a gentle reminder of a time when Rafayel allowed himself to feel without reservation.

"You've changed, Raf," Liora said, her voice soft but teasing, her eyes scanning him with a familiarity that made him feel both comforted and vulnerable. "But not entirely. You're still guarded, aren't you?"

Rafayel gave a small chuckle, looking down at his untouched coffee.

"Some habits die hard," he admitted. "But enough about me. How have you been?"

Their conversation flowed easily, a nostalgic mix of shared memories and updates on their lives. Liora's laughter filled the space between them, a melody Rafayel had missed. And yet, amidst the laughter and warmth, something gnawed at him. Rowan's face kept flashing in his mind, unbidden and intrusive.

What is he doing now? Rafayel wondered, picturing Rowan in his studio, likely messing around with some ridiculous idea. For reasons he couldn't explain, the thought of Rowan's antics brought a faint smile to his lips.

"Earth to Rafayel?" Liora's voice broke through his thoughts. "You're distracted."

Rafayel blinked, focusing back on her. "Sorry. Just… a lot on my mind."

Liora tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Is it work? Or something… someone?"

Her question struck a nerve, and Rafayel's defenses immediately went up. "It's nothing," he said, forcing a smile. "Really."

"If you say so," Liora replied, though the doubt in her expression was clear. Still, she let the matter drop, steering the conversation back to lighter topics.

Rafayel did his best to stay present, but the questions in his mind refused to quiet. Why was Rowan's face haunting him? What was Rowan doing now? Was he okay? The confusion only deepened, making Rafayel feel unsettled in a way Liora's company couldn't entirely soothe.

---

When Rafayel returned to his studio, the silence was deafening. It was unnervingly quiet, devoid of the usual energy Rowan seemed to bring wherever he went. Frowning, Rafayel checked the rooms, but there was no sign of him.

Reaching for his phone, Rafayel texted Thomas. *Is Rowan with you?*

Thomas replied almost immediately:

*Yeah, he's here. He's enjoying himself at the pool.*

Rafayel sighed, rolling his eyes. He grabbed his car keys and headed out again, muttering under his breath. "Swimming at Thomas' house? Really? Since when did they get so close?"

As he drove, the irritation bubbling inside him turned into an almost comical rant. "He's supposed to be at the studio. What does he even think he's doing? And enjoying himself? At Thomas' pool? Unbelievable."

By the time Rafayel reached Thomas' house, he found Thomas waiting for him outside. "He's at the pool," Thomas said simply, pointing in the direction.

Rafayel didn't waste time with pleasantries, heading straight for the pool area. He had half a mind to scold Rowan thoroughly, but the words caught in his throat as soon as he saw him.

Rowan was swimming laps with a focus that was almost hypnotic. His movements were fluid and graceful, each stroke cutting through the water with ease. But what truly caught Rafayel's attention was the tattoo on Rowan's back. It was a pair of butterfly wings, so intricately detailed and lifelike that for a moment, it seemed as if Rowan truly had wings. The design was mesmerizing, the subtle play of colors giving it an ethereal quality.

Rafayel stood frozen, unable to tear his gaze away. Something about the tattoo struck a chord deep within him, and he didn't even realize he'd gulped until Rowan finally noticed him.

"Oh, hey!" Rowan called, waving as he swam to the edge of the pool. He pulled himself out, water cascading down his body in rivulets. His toned but lean physique was on full display, and his waist narrow for a guy only added to his almost delicate yet undeniably attractive appearance. Rafayel's eyes involuntarily traced the curve of his back and the intricate tattoo before snapping to Rowan's face.

"What are you doing here?" Rowan asked, grabbing a towel to dry off. He didn't seem to notice Rafayel's lingering gaze, too busy rubbing his hair dry.

Rafayel cleared his throat, willing himself to look anywhere but at Rowan's body. "You didn't tell me you were leaving the studio," he said, his voice sharper than intended.

Rowan smirked, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Are you concerned?"

"No," Rafayel snapped. "It's just common courtesy to let someone know where you're going."

"Sure," Rowan drawled, clearly not taking him seriously.

Rafayel launched into a tirade, his words tumbling out in a mix of annoyance and something he couldn't quite identify. Rowan, meanwhile, listened with an amused expression, shaking his head and smirking as if Rafayel's frustration was the most entertaining thing he'd seen all day.

Finally, Rowan raised a hand, signaling Rafayel to stop. "Come here for a second," he said.

Rafayel frowned but stepped closer, his brow furrowed. "What now?"

Before he could say another word, Rowan grabbed his arm and pulled him forward. The sudden contact with Rowan's cold, damp skin sent a shiver through Rafayel, but before he could react, Rowan gave him a firm shove straight into the pool.

"What the—!" Rafayel sputtered as he surfaced, glaring at Rowan, who was doubled over with laughter. "You're dead!"

"You needed to cool off," Rowan teased, grinning. "You're way too uptight."

Rafayel smirked darkly, his eyes narrowing. "Oh, you're going to regret that."

With a flick of his fingers, he activated his evol, the water around Rowan heating up rapidly.

"Hey! What the… it's hot!" Rowan yelped, flailing as he tried to move away from the heat. "Damn it, Rafayel! Turn it off!"

Rafayel leaned against the edge of the pool, a triumphant smile on his face. "Deserved."

--

Thomas leaned against the doorframe of the pool entrance, his arms crossed and an amused smirk playing on his lips. He watched Rowan twisting, jumping, and twirling in an attempt to cool down from the heat Rafayel had inflicted. The younger man's antics were both ridiculous and oddly endearing.

A chuckle escaped Thomas as he shifted his gaze to Rafayel, who stood poolside with a self-satisfied smirk plastered across his face. There was a distinct air of triumph around him, and Thomas couldn't help but find it both comical and surprising.

Thomas narrowed his eyes, observing Rafayel's expression. The once aloof and disdainful man, who had always kept humans at arm's length, now seemed oddly... involved. Rafayel had always detested mortals. But Rowan? Rowan was an anomaly.

Thomas tilted his head thoughtfully, glancing back at Rowan, who was now running his hands through his wet hair, water dripping from his chin as he caught his breath from all the movement. There was something undeniably magnetic about him something that made you pay attention, even when he wasn't trying.

Rafayel's gaze flickered momentarily toward Rowan, a subtle twitch of his lips betraying his amusement, before hardening once more. Thomas caught that brief softness, and his curiosity deepened.

His thoughts turned inward as he muttered to himself, "What an amazing guy... You make Rafayel trust you so easily. Just who are you, Rowan?"

Thomas's voice was soft, almost drowned out by the sound of Rowan's cursing and the gentle splashing of water. Yet, even as he voiced his wonder, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more at play a connection forming between Rafayel and Rowan that was as unexpected as it was inevitable.