Fragments Of You(LAD BL FANFIC)

Rowan stared at Rafayel, unsure whether to be impressed or confused. The man was fascinating in a way that made Rowan feel like he was trying to catch a slippery fish he couldn't quite get a grip on him. Still, there was something undeniably magnetic about him.

"So, Earth?" Rafayel raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but skeptical. "Explain that. How do you get dropped into a place like this?"

Rowan scratched the back of his head. "Well, it's kind of... hard to explain. I was just playing a game, and then I... woke up here. Honestly, I don't even know how it happened. Feels like I'm still stuck in some weird dream."

Rafayel tilted his head, studying Rowan with an amused expression. "A game, huh? Sure you didn't fall into the wrong dimension or something? Maybe this place is your new... reality?"

Rowan sighed, rubbing his temples. "I really hope not."

"Hey, it's not the worst place to end up." Rafayel grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You could be stuck somewhere boring."

Rowan couldn't argue with that. Still, he was struggling to wrap his mind around everything, and Rafayel wasn't exactly helping.

The other man's eyes gleamed with curiosity, as if he'd been toying with an idea for a while. "Alright, I'll make you a deal. You look like you need a change of scenery, and I have something that could be interesting for both of us. Come see my studio. It's far from here, but you'll get to see what I'm really about."

Rowan raised an eyebrow. "Why would you want to show me your studio?"

Rafayel smirked. "Why not? You look like you've never seen real art before. It's a little... different around here."

Despite his hesitation, Rowan felt a spark of curiosity. "Fine. Lead the way, then."

---

Rowan stepped forward, still a little unsure of himself. He had been following Rafayel for a while now, trying to make sense of this strange place he'd ended up in. When Rafayel had mentioned his studio, it felt like an opportunity to get some answers. Maybe even understand how he'd landed here.

"I'm Rowan," he said, giving a half-hearted wave as he stood in front of Rafayel, trying to sound confident.

Rafayel raised an eyebrow, eyeing him up and down with a sly grin. "Rowan, huh? That's a name I can work with. I'm Rafayel," he said smoothly, extending his hand.

I know Rowan said on his mind.

--

The journey was longer than Rowan had anticipated. They walked through dense forests, leaving the shore behind them. The further they went, the quieter the world became, the hum of the ocean retreating into the distance.

Finally, they arrived at Rafayel's studio a simple, open structure perched on a high cliff overlooking the endless sea. The walls inside were adorned with paintings, some abstract and chaotic, others calm and serene, each a reflection of the ocean's different moods.

Rowan wandered through the space, mesmerized by the intensity of the colors and the life in each piece. He stopped in front of a particular painting a furious storm at sea, waves crashing violently against each other. "This one's incredible," he muttered. "It's like... the ocean's alive."

Rafayel's expression shifted from playful to proud as he walked over.

"Well, I am a genius,"

he said, flashing a confident grin. "But yeah, I guess you could say the ocean's been my greatest teacher."

Rowan chuckled, shaking his head. "I didn't say that, but... I guess I can see why you'd think so."

Rafayel tilted his head, clearly amused. "Not many get it. I like that you're not pretending to be some art critic."

Rowan grinned, genuinely impressed. "I mean, you've definitely got talent. This one" he pointed to a painting of calm waves at sunset " it's... peaceful. It kind of makes me want to just sit by the water."

Rafayel smirked again. "It's nice, isn't it? But trust me, peace doesn't last long. It never does, not when the sea's involved."

Rowan frowned slightly, but before he could ask anything more, Rafayel waved it off. "Anyway, enough about that. You came here to figure things out. Tell me again what happened to you. How exactly did you end up in this... place?"

Rowan shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how much to share. "I told you. I was just playing this game. It felt real, and then... I woke up here. I don't know why. I don't know how."

Rafayel stared at him, clearly skeptical. "Sounds like a pretty convenient excuse, don't you think?"

Rowan let out a long breath, frustration creeping in. "Look, I know it doesn't make sense, but it's the truth."

Rafayel crossed his arms, his lips curling into a smirk. "Yeah, sure. The truth." He didn't seem convinced, but he wasn't pressing further. "You're lucky I have a soft spot for lost souls."

Rafayel leaned against a nearby pillar, giving him a sly smile. "Well, figuring things out is kind of my thing, but you've gotta keep up. You might be in for more than you're bargaining for, Rowan."

Rowan swallowed, unsure if he should say it. But it had been nagging at him ever since he arrived. Finally, he blurted it out. "I know what you are, Rafayel. I know you were once a merman."

Rafayel froze, his eyes widening for a brief moment before his usual smirk returned, albeit with a touch of uncertainty. He stepped back, looking Rowan over as if trying to figure out whether he was serious. "Excuse me? A merman? That's the best you've got?"

Rowan's gaze didn't waver, his voice firm as he continued. "I know your story. I know that you were part of the sea once. And I know something has changed, something big."

For a long moment, Rafayel just stared at him, his expression unreadable. Then, in a flash, he shook his head with a soft laugh, as though Rowan's words were some kind of joke. "Yeah, sure. A merman. You've been reading too many fantasy books, haven't you?" He brushed his hair back, a slight edge creeping into his voice.

Rowan didn't back down. "I'm serious. I'm not making this up. You can deny it all you want, but I know what I know."

Rafayel scoffed, but there was something almost protective in the way he turned away, like he didn't want Rowan to see more than he was willing to show. He gave a small, dismissive wave. "Alright, alright, enough with the fairy tale. You're probably just tired from all this confusion. You look like you could use some rest."

Rowan wasn't quite sure what to make of Rafayel's reaction. Before he could press further, Rafayel spoke again.

"Look," Rafayel said, his voice shifting, trying to ease the tension, "I don't know what's going on with you, but you're probably not in the best state to keep digging into all this. Why don't you take a rest? I have a place where you can lie down for a bit. Might clear your head."

Rowan hesitated but finally nodded. "Alright. The rest sounds good."

Rafayel's expression softened slightly as he led the way, gesturing toward a nearby room. "Come on. Just take it easy for a while. We'll figure things out later."

Rowan followed him, feeling the weight of the unanswered questions still hanging in the air. But for now, he decided to let it go.