Caleb X Reader

Caleb x Reader

A/N: Okay, so, this is my first attempt at writing fics since I was 15, the first time sharing it since I was 14 and my first time writing reader insert so... Please be nice, but do tell me what you think, it will help me get better ! I started with something that's not very long, hope that's okay ! Also, as good as my english is, it's not my first language, so if it's yours and you notice a grammatical error, do tell me so I can rectify it ! Anyway, here goes nothing...

______________________________________________________________

Word count : 798

Warnings : MC!reader, slight hurt/comfort, panic attack

You couldn't sleep.

Since you had come back from Skyhaven, you had been conflicted, unable to detangle the mess that was your brain at the moment. On one hand, you felt happy that Caleb was alive and well, but on the other hand, you felt something was… off with him. Like he wasn't the Caleb you knew in your childhood, while somehow still behaving like him towards you. It unsettled you deeply, but afterall, he was still Caleb, wasn't he ? He still called you the same stupid nickname, still teased you endlessly and still made sure you were healthy and happy. So why then did it feel like he was different ?

You figured, if you couldn't sleep, might as well try and see if you could reassure yourself somehow. You knew Caleb was likely to still be awake at this time, probably just coming back home from completing his duties as the Fleet's Colonel. So you did the only thing you could think of. You reached for your phone on your bedside table, unplugged it and after looking through your contacts, you dialed Caleb's number, bringing your phone up to your ear and laying back down.

The phone rang. And rang. And rang.

Just as you were about to give up, finally Caleb answered, sounding out of breath, like he had run a marathon. "Pipsqueak ? Why are you calling me at this hour ? Everythin' okay ?"

For a second, you froze, still not used to hearing his voice again. For a second, you felt relieved. Then you remembered how a phone call works and that you actually needed to answer him, so you said in a hesitant voice, "Uh, yeah ! Sorry, I'm totally fine, don't worry. It's just that I couldn't sleep and I missed you, so…"

You heard him chuckle at the other end of the line, the sound making you smile. "Damn, Pips, how would you live without me ?"

You laughed at his teasing words before remembering the whole year you had no choice but to spend living without him, your laughter dying in your throat. Suddenly, you felt like you couldn't speak, your throat closing in on itself and your chest aching. You couldn't breathe. Caleb, who knew you so well, picked up on what was happening immediately and began to panic, cursing himself for joking about this so carelessly, "Shit, I'm sorry Pips, I shouldn't have- Damn it. Okay."

He calmed himself down before saying in a soothing voice, "Everything's fine, Pipsqueak. Breathe. I'm here now, I'm alive and I won't leave you ever again, okay ? Breathe with me."

Hearing those words, that your foggy brain took a minute to understand, you slowly began to calm down, your breathing evening out as you followed his lead. You focused on his breathing, breathing along with him.

In. Out. In. Out. Then you let out a long sigh, the tension lifting off your shoulders slowly.

"Thanks… I'm sorry about that, it's still a bit fresh. Maybe avoid joking about it until I've had the time to diggest you being alive and back for good ?" you said when you finally came back to your senses.

"Yep. Totally. What do you say I cook something special for you next time you visit as my way of saying sorry ?" he said. You could hear from his tone just how guilty he felt for being the cause of your torment. He reminded you of a guilty puppy, and the mental image it summoned in your mind lifted your spirit as you pictured a puppy Caleb looking up at you with shiny eyes, ears flat on his head as he pleaded for your forgiveness.

You let him feel guilty for a few seconds before you answered, "Sure, sounds like a plan !"

"Great ! It's settled then. You should sleep now, Pips, it's late and tomorrow's not your day off, is it ?" he said, and for a second you wondered how he knew that tomorrow wasn't your day off but you chose not to question it too much. Instead, you answered "You're right, although that applies for you too, Colonel."

You heard him laugh softly before he replied, " You don't need to worry about me, Pips. But yeah, I'll get to bed soon, don't worry. So… Good night then ?"

"Yeah, good night. Sleep well." you said before hanging up and letting out a sigh. You dropped your phone on your bedside table yet again before letting your arms rest in a cross on your mattress.

You wouldn't know what changed about Caleb anytime soon, but as you closed your eyes and felt sleep overcoming your body, you thought that maybe this new version of him wasn't so bad. Afterall, he couldn't be that different if he still cared that much about you, right ?

Right ?