Haylan was sitting at his desk in his office. Staring off into space as he tangled his fingers into his long red hair. Torturing himself stewing over his overreaction and stupid lingering insecurities. Haylan really did try most days to logically think past what the Dursleys had beaten into him for years. That he wasn't actually useless, that there were people that loved him and he was deserving of that love. That someone as amazing as Blaise wouldn't just use him to sleep with him and then move on to his next conquest. Haylan really did try, but he was still a teenager that had been abused for the majority of his childhood. Some things were harder to move past than others.

Trying to think of how to write to Blaise to explain what had happened on their date, to apologize for his insecurities. Before Haylan could put quill to parchment, he heard shouting from the hall out in front of his office.

"Sirius Orion Black What Did You Do?!" A voice screeched, Haylan would take a guess that this was Narcissa finally losing her calm pureblood mask to finally throttle Sirius.

"Now Cissa-" Sirius clearly didn't value his life.

"Do Not 'Cissa' Me! What The Fuck Did You Do?!" Narcissa cussing was never a good sign.

"I was just protecting him…" That excuse was never going to fly with Lady Malfoy.

"Bullshit." Just as Haylan thought.

"He is my godson I have every right to try and protect him!" Sirius was yelling now and wait… this argument was about him? Haylan really didn't want to get in between the Black cousins.

"You don't even know what happened! You cannot be interfering prematurely Sirius. I thought you swore you were over impulsive decisions!" Oh, Narcissa was big mad now.

"Someone has to put Harry first!" Oh hell, it never goes well when Sirius calls him by his old name.

"Haylan is almost an adult! He must start taking care of these things on his own. He is going to officially be Emperor in a month! He doesn't need you to be sheltering him from the slightest wrong turn! I highly doubt he asked you to intercept Heir Zabini's owls." Haylan could picture Narcissa sneering vividly. Oh shit, Sirius interfered with Blaise after he got upset… shit.

"I almost lost Harry once already! I lost Regulus. I lost James. I lost Everyone! I will protect Harry from anything I am able to. He deserves to be protected!" Sirius half screamed half sobbed out. Haylan knew he had to get involved now.

Stepping out into the hall he cleared his throat to get the attention of both Blacks. Sirius' hair was out of place and tears were streaming from red puffy eyes. Narcissa looked like she was clinging onto his mask of indifference by the skin of her teeth. Both of them were exuding stressed-out magic around them making the air smell of ozone.

"Let's take some deep breaths and come into my office to talk civilly," Haylan ordered. Corralling the cousins into his office and making them sit across from each other in his comfortable winged back chairs.

"Do you two want to start with what that display in the hall was all about? Or shall I just jump into how my personal affairs are neither of your business to interfere with?" Haylan's voice was calm, controlled, cold as ice yet still exhausted having to treat the adults around him with kid gloves.

"We are just worried about you kiddo," Sirius murmured.

"I appreciate your concern, Sirius. I still value you as my family. But that gives you no right to stick your nose into my relationships or business. Now you will leave me what you sent to Blaise and go to your wing to meditate. I need you to be focused as we approach the coronation. My enemies will be coming out of the woodwork here soon." Haylan dismissed Sirius with a sad smile, turning to Narcissa. "Here to lecture me Cissa?"

"No. Blaise is just confused and upset. He doesn't know what he did wrong." Narcissa's tone was softer but still reprimanding.

"Andy and I already talked this morning. I overreacted, I will admit that. But I will make up with Blaise and apologize on my own time and means. I do not need you to hold my hand to do that. Go home and spend time with your husband and son. I am sure they miss having you around the house." Haylan dismissed her as well. Feeling calmer and more centered as both Sirius and Narcissa left him alone in his office.

Now he just had a boy to apologize to and beg to forgive him.

Heir Zabini.

Blaise, I really must apologize for my actions during the end of our date. You did nothing wrong. A stranger at the bar confronted me about your past dating history and I did not respond very well, definitely not in the way an Emperor should respond.

I was childish and let my own insecurities ruin a wonderful night with you. It was wonderful. I have never enjoyed myself as much as I had on our date. I know I do not deserve it, but I would beg for your forgiveness and a second chance with you.

I know we cannot go into any serious relationship without proper communication and no secrets, of which I currently have many. I would ask you to be patient with me as we get to know each other better if you allow me. I want very much to make this more than just a summer fling. I hope you are of the same mind and that I haven't wasted my chance with you.

Please let me know your thoughts and ignore any correspondence from one Sirius Black. He is not actually the head of my security. Just an overprotective relative trying to do the right thing by me and failing.

-Heir Haylan Caliban

Haylan,

I will admit I was unsure if I was going to reply to your letter or not. I am still undecided as I write this if I want to. But while I was a Slytherin, I am no coward.

Will you explain who confronted you and with what proof did they show you? I told you before that I had been quite the playboy for fear my Mother would soon trap me with a marriage contract and I wouldn't get to explore my sexuality the way I wanted to. What did they show you to make you leave in such distress? I am just trying to understand what happened Haylan.

I agree that we shouldn't be jumping into any kind of relationship without understanding that communication is key to a stable partnership and trust is essential for a strong and lasting relationship.

I will not lie and say I did not hope that you would be the one for me. I would like to give us another chance but I am wary of scaring you off again. How will I trust that you will not run off again?

I enjoyed being in your presence immensely. You are so easy to talk to and I believe we have quite a lot in common. I love your smile and the way you laugh so freely. I want to truly get to know you better in hopes of something more serious and lasting but I cannot do that if you will not trust me and talk to me.

I hope you will agree, I want to see you again soon.

-Heir Blaise Zabini

Blaise,

I understand. Meet me at the attached coordinates tomorrow so we can talk more in person? So I can explain myself in person that is.

I know I do not deserve it but please accept this invitation and understand I will be trusting you with quite sensitive information about myself.

I didn't want to tell you any of these problems until we were much further into our relationship, but I fear my issues will not allow me to wait.

I am sorry, I hope to see you soon.

-Haylan

Haylan was pacing. He was pretty sure he was going to wear a new path into the ground of his garden if he kept pacing.

Haylan was nervous for more than one reason. Not only did he not know if Blaise would be showing up at all, or if he was really willing to make a second go at whatever they could be together. But he also had never given out the coordinates of his private home away from Caliban Castle.

Villa Caliban was an old home, not as old as the Castle but still quite old. While Castle Caliban was located in his ancestors' home turf of Romania in the Carpathian Mountains, Villa Caliban was located on the island of Mallorca in Spain. It too was hidden in the mountains there, overlooking the sea, and heavily warded against any magical or muggle from finding its location. The small but beautiful home and the amazing inherent magic in the land was the only reason Haylan made any effort in dealing with the Spanish Monarchy anymore.

Villa Caliban has always been a retreat. It is a home the way a home should be. The Castle isn't a home, merely a means to an end to present a powerful enough front to the masses. The first time Haylan laid eyes on Villa Caliban, built into the side of the Mountains looking out at that true blue sea, he fell in love with the home. It was more than he ever dreamed of having. It was warm and it was his. None of the Black relatives have been here, not even Sirius or Narcissa had been invited back to Haylan's private sanctuary.

But here was Haylan inviting a near stranger into his home.

He knew that Blaise was practically a stranger and even more so vice versa. They barely knew each other, and Haylan was keeping many secrets. But Haylan knew he was already addicted to the sweet spiciness of Blaise's magic and the soothing feeling of his aura against Haylan's. He would do a lot to be able to bask in the presence of that magic once more.

Haylan wasn't sure if he believed in fate or in soulmates, but if he ever did then fate had screwed him over so many times it at least owed him this. A perfect soulmate for him and him alone.

There was a pop of apparition and suddenly Haylan was staring into the eyes of Blaise Zabini once more.

"Hello, Blaise…" Haylan spoke softly and was unsure of his own welcome.

"Hello again Haylan." Blaise didn't smile, but he didn't look angry either. He looked around Haylan's small interior garden at the center of his home. It was filled with a wild assortment of flowers, bushes, and trees. None of them terribly useful for potions or medicine. Merely just pretty to look at.

"Do you want to sit down and have tea for this conversation?" Haylan decided to start with.

"Tea would be good. I imagine we both have a lot to say to one another. Be best if we don't get parched." Blaise smirked and Haylan wasn't sure if he was teasing him or not.

Haylan had to resist the urge to play with his hair just for his hands to have something to do. He had pulled his long red hair back into a braid for this reason, so he wouldn't use his hair as a distraction from the uncomfortable conversation they were about to have.

Leading Blaise over to a small metal table in the center of his garden, he thankfully already had tea and biscuits places out for them. He let Blaise sit first before sitting across from him, pouring sugar and a little bit of milk into his tea as a distraction.

"Haylan, please look at me." Blaise's tone was soft and comforting. Haylan couldn't have looked away if he wanted to. "I am not going to yell at you Haylan, no need to be worried." Blaise tried to comfort him.

"I really am sorry Blaise." Haylan decided to start off with.

"I can see that you are. You want to tell me what happened?" Blaise urged.

"I-It's going to seem stupid once I say it out loud," Haylan whispered ashamed.

"I won't ever understand if you don't tell me." Blaise reasoned. Haylan hated that he was being so calm and reasonable when Haylan felt like he would explode from nerves alone.

"You went up to get us drinks, and there was a woman at a table next to ours. She felt it was her duty to inform me that once you got me into your bed that you would dump me like you had countless others. I didn't believe her at first! But I might have taken a small peak into her mind and didn't like what I saw there…" Haylan explained while staring into his tea, not daring to look up at Blaise.

"So you were turned off by how many people I had been with?" Blaise asked confused.

"No! No, you already told me about that, and as I said before I understand. I just, I had a bad childhood, Blaise. Before I learned about this power and the empire I was set to inherit I was just an abused kid. My relatives spent most of my childhood telling me that I was worthless, that I would amount to nothing, and nobody would love me. That I would be used like a whore and I would never find love because someone like me didn't deserve it. Being confronted with images of you dumping these other people just brought my own fears and insecurities to the front of my mind and I am already so invested in you I couldn't stand if you had said any of those things to me. It wasn't you I swear." Haylan pleaded for Blaise to understand, to not blame himself for Haylan's own problems.

Blaise seemed to be considering his words seriously but Haylan still saw the indecision in his eyes.

Haylan closed his own eyes to brace himself for Blaise to say it wasn't enough.

But Blaise was quiet.

And then Haylan felt a soft hand on his cheek making his eyes fly open.

Blaise let his thumb rub softly over Haylan's cheek, to help him calm down.

"It's okay Haylan. While I do not personally understand, I am willing to trust you and your sincerity. Let's start over new, shall we?" Blaise's voice was like honey and comfort. Haylan could only nod, if he talked he might cry.

Blaise pulled Haylan into his arms, hugging him. Haylan had never felt so safe ever. The warmth and comfort in Blaise's strong arms just felt like coming home. Nothing had ever felt as right as being held by Blaise.

Haylan would do anything to stay within the comfort of those arms.