Fragments Of You(LAD BL FANFIC)

Rowan spent the morning pacing around the studio, his mind whirling with thoughts of the system that had appeared. The screen was still hanging in his peripheral vision, and every now and then, he'd catch a glimpse of his affinity percentage with Rafayel, which hadn't budged. He knew there was something more to this, something he hadn't fully figured out yet. How can I go back to my real world? he thought, trying to connect the dots. The more he pondered it, the more he realized that this "game" had rules he needed to understand, but he had no idea where to start.

His concentration was shattered when the sudden sound of the doorbell rang through the studio. Before he could react, a voice from outside shouted, "Rafayel! I know you're in there!"

Rowan looked over at Rafayel, who stiffened immediately. His usual sharp demeanor faltered for a split second, his silver-blue eyes narrowing. "That's her," he muttered under his breath.

Curious, Rowan leaned against the doorframe as Rafayel reluctantly stood up to answer it. The conversation outside was muffled at first, but Rowan could catch a few words through the thin walls.

"Come on, Rafayel. I'm not leaving until you talk to me!" the female voice insisted. The urgency in her tone was unmistakable, and Rowan, who had overheard enough, smirked.

"So that's her, huh?" Rowan whispered to himself. "The female lead."

He watched as Rafayel's usual composure slipped even further, his expression now a mixture of frustration and exasperation. His agitated body language made Rowan chuckle softly.

This guy's a total tsundere...

Rowan couldn't resist. He waited for the conversation to die down and heard the sound of footsteps retreating before the door closed. Rafayel, looking slightly flustered, returned to the room, his face the epitome of annoyance.

"Was that your chick?" Rowan teased, leaning back casually against the wall.

Rafayel rolled his eyes, brushing past him. "What are you, some kind of stalker?"

"I just know a tsundere when I see one," Rowan shot back with a grin.

Rafayel glared at him but didn't respond. Instead, he walked back to his easel and resumed his painting, clearly trying to pretend that nothing had happened.

Rowan, sensing an opportunity to have a bit of fun, plopped down on the couch, watching Rafayel intently. "You know," he began, his voice dripping with mock sincerity, "I think I could help you with your love life."

Rafayel paused for a moment, his brush hovering above the canvas. Without turning to face Rowan, he spoke dryly. "You? Help me with that?"

Rowan chuckled. "Oh, come on. It's obvious. You're terrible at this. I mean, I just watched you fumble through that conversation."

Rafayel finally turned, his expression deadpan. "I don't need your help, thanks."

But Rowan wasn't done. "Sure you do. You're a total mess when it comes to emotions. But hey, you've got me around, right? You can't escape."

Rafayel's lips twitched. "You're insufferable."

"I'm serious," Rowan continued, leaning forward with a grin. "You want some advice? You've got to stop being so prickly. Girls don't like being chased like that, you know?"

"Who says I'm chasing anyone?" Rafayel shot back, though his voice lacked the usual conviction.

Rowan raised an eyebrow. "Please. I can tell. The whole 'I'm not interested but I secretly care' act isn't fooling anyone."

Rafayel let out an exaggerated sigh and went back to painting. "Why are you so obsessed with my love life?"

Rowan smirked, relaxing into the couch again. "I'm just here to help. Besides, you're way too easy to tease."

For a long moment, Rafayel didn't answer. The silence was thick with tension, and Rowan could feel the atmosphere shift. After a while, though, Rafayel spoke again, his voice quieter, more serious.

"Alright, fine. Maybe... maybe you're not wrong. But that's none of your business."

Rowan gave a small shrug. "For now. But trust me, I could give you the best tips on how to navigate this whole... 'romantic drama' thing."

Rafayel's face flushed ever so slightly, but he quickly turned back to his painting, muttering, "Shut up, Rowan."

Rowan smiled, watching him for a moment before his expression grew more serious. He shifted in his seat and spoke up

"Anyway, remember what I told you yesterday? I'm not from here?"

Rafayel gave Rowan an incredulous look, as if the topic had never left his mind. "I thought we already went over this. You're from Earth, some other world, right? "

Rowan nodded, his eyes locking onto Rafayel's. "Yes, exactly. I don't belong here. I know it sounds crazy, but I swear, I'm not lying."

Rafayel crossed his arms, clearly unconvinced. "And why should I believe you? What do you expect me to do about it?"

Rowan let out a frustrated breath. "I don't know, but I need your help. This place, these people... it's all unfamiliar to me. I'm trying to figure out how to get back, but I don't know where to start. That's where you come in."

Rafayel raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a smirk. "And what makes you think I'm going to help you with this? You've got no proof, no magic to show me. Just your word."

Rowan leaned forward, hands on the table, his voice soft but earnest. "Look, I didn't ask for this. I don't want to be stuck here. I'm trying to make sense of everything, and you're the only person I can rely on, even if you don't want to admit it."

Rafayel's expression softened for a brief second, but then his face hardened again. "Even if what you're saying is true, I'm not your personal guide to fixing whatever mess you've gotten yourself into."

Rowan sighed, rubbing his temples. "I get it. You're not going to help me just like that. But I'm stuck here, Rafayel. I don't know who else to turn to."

Just as he was about to continue, a loud bang echoed through the room, shaking the walls. Both of them froze.

"What was that?" Rowan asked, standing up instinctively.

Rafayel didn't reply immediately. His eyes narrowed, and he stood up quickly, his expression now tense. "Stay here. I'll check it out."

"Wait!" Rowan called out, but Rafayel had already moved toward the door.

Rafayel paused before opening it, glancing back at Rowan. "We'll talk later. I don't have time for this right now."

Rowan followed Rafayel as they stepped outside the house, the air heavy with tension. The quiet of the city had been replaced by a strange, unnatural stillness. Something was off. Rowan could feel it in his gut.

He glanced up, and his breath caught in his throat.

Two massive creatures soared through the sky, their dark wings casting ominous shadows over the burning city. The monsters screeched as they circled above, their eyes glowing with malice.

Rowan's heart raced. He recognized them from the game. The monsters were no mere background enemies-they were powerful, and if the stories held true, they wouldn't stop until they caused destruction.

"Rafayel," Rowan started, his voice shaky, "we need to-"

But before he could finish, Rafayel was already moving. Without missing a beat, he raised his hand to the sky, his eyes burning with intensity.

Flames shot from his palm, erupting in a blaze that illuminated the darkened sky. The first monster howled in pain as the flames made contact, pushing it back, but not destroying it.

Rowan watched, stunned. He had always known Rafayel had power, but seeing it firsthand was a different experience altogether. The fire was so intense, it felt like it could burn the world down.

The second monster, not willing to let its comrade falter, dove down, narrowly avoiding another wave of flames from Rafayel.

"Get inside, now!" Rafayel shouted without turning to look at Rowan.

Rowan snapped back to reality, nodding quickly. "Right," he said, and they rushed back inside, the sound of battle echoing behind them.

Inside, Rowan leaned against the wall, his mind still reeling. He knew this world was chaotic, but seeing Rafayel in action made him realize just how much danger they were in-and how much more there was to uncover.

Before Rowan could speak, another screen popped up before him:

[Danger Level: High]

Monsters detected in the area. Immediate action required.

Rafayel's power: Fire manipulation, proficiency: Advanced.

Rowan stared at the message, his mind racing as he tried to process the situation. The air felt heavy with tension, and his eyes darted between Rafayel, who was standing firm against the monsters, and the message in front of him.

His fists clenched in determination. I have to help him, he thought. But how? I'm just... me.

He quickly scanned his surroundings, trying to figure out how he could make himself useful. Rafayel was powerful, no doubt about it, but Rowan couldn't just stand there. He had to contribute in some way, even if it was just a distraction to buy Rafayel time. The game hadn't prepared him for a real battle, but there had to be something he could do.

He swallowed his fear and looked at Rafayel, who was already preparing for the next move. I can't let him face this alone.