Zayne (Love and Deepspace) x Seraphina Edevane (OC)

Genre: Fluff

This Love and Deepspace fanfiction is a commission written by Lucy Shiki for Eirene, and edited by the commissioner.

The fanart is a private commission done by happisoda. You’re prohibited from using, resharing the art on other platforms, and claiming it as yours.

Seven years ago…

On a weekend, Seraphina stepped into the tranquil public library. She’d first been drawn to its allure the previous week, while exploring the unfamiliar streets of Linkon City. Today was like any other day; a visit to the library to fill her time. College was still weeks away. As a newcomer still learning the local language, it seemed like the perfect place to immerse herself in the native tongue. Having more books to read would undoubtedly assist her in achieving it. Perhaps she could also borrow a few.

The grand, expansive space was bathed in sunlight from its numerous large windows. It felt almost alive with a gentle glow, outshining its neighboring structures. Seraphina couldn’t help but be in awe of its magnificent architecture.

As soon as she secured her belongings in a locker, she ventured into the vast collection of books. She quickly narrowed down her search to a specific genre and began browsing. As she scanned her surroundings, her gaze landed on a figure standing nearby. Realizing he wasn’t alone, the man turned to face her and gave her a courteous nod before picking up a book and disappearing into the stacks. Seraphina remembered seeing him outside the library before, his height making him easy to spot.

Intrigued, she watched him go. A medical textbook peeked out from under his arm, suggesting he might be a student in the field. Curiosity tugged at her, but she had a more pressing matter at hand: finding a book to read.

After browsing the shelves and selecting a few titles, Seraphina made her way to the reading area. The library’s spacious layout, with its long tables and comfortable chairs, created a welcoming atmosphere.

As she rounded a corner, she saw the man again, deeply engrossed in his books. Mustering her courage, Seraphina approached him, clutching her borrowed books.

“Excuse me,” Seraphina said, her voice steady despite her still learning the local language. “May I sit here?” She gestured to the empty chair beside him.

Hearing her voice, the man instantly lifted his gaze from the pages of his book. With a subtle nod, he acknowledged her little request. Seemingly not bothered over the fact that she purposely chose this particular spot right beside him even though there are many other empty seats present in the room. “Sure.”

“Thank you,” Seraphina replied, pulling out the chair and placing her books on the table. For a while then, two figures sat within that comfortable proximity, absorbed in their readings. Their serene movements mirrored the tranquility around them, as they quietly turned pages after pages, sharing the space in peaceful coexistence.

Seraphina was the one to break the silence. Her voice softly pierces through the stillness, “Hi?”

The man beside her, not expecting the girl to start a conversation with him, appeared to be quite stunned. But he still responded politely in the end. “Hmm?”

“Do you happen to… know a good secondhand bookstore around here? I am looking for… some textbooks and hoping to buy them… with good deals.” Her attempts to speak were marked by halting pauses and hesitant starts, her words stumbling over unfamiliar sounds and structures. Yet each syllable carried the weight of her determination to communicate in this foreign language.

The young man immediately caught on those clues that hinted at Seraphina’s non-local origins. “You’re not from around here, are you?” His words flowed smoothly, devoid of any ridicule, and his tone remained welcoming. That much was shown at how seamlessly he switched to the language she was most familiar with.