Work Text:
Water droplets run down your neck and disappear under your robe as you dry your hair with a towel. You make your way back to the living room, looking at the sky outside. It was getting darker and darker with grey clouds, threatening to start pouring at any minute.
You overheard your colleagues talking about how shitty the weather was supposed to get later in the day, but fortunately you had finished your work for the day in time to not get caught in it.
Sitting down on the sofa, you turn the TV on only to get hit with breaking news about an explosion in a motel. Weird, there hadn’t been many wanderer attacks recently, so what was this about? Was it related to The Nest? Suddenly you feel a knot in your throat as your thoughts rush to one person: Sylus. The man should only be waking up now, according to his nocturnal ways, but…
Your attention is brought back to reality as you hear something hitting the balcony glass door. Outside you see Mephisto, cawing as his eyes scout the room. Was he checking if someone was in there with her? Maybe the mechanical crow was worried about getting wet. Actually, could he malfunction if he got wet? Sylus should’ve used some kind of waterproof coating, surely.
“What now?” You sigh, getting up to approach the glass. “Are you afraid of a little water? Why don’t you fly back to your boss?”
Mephisto cawed back a few times, apparently trying to argue with you even though you didn’t talk bird. Suddenly the doorbell rang, catching your attention. You weren’t expecting any visitors or any packages…
You drop your hair towel on the sofa, moving towards the hallway. Throwing a glance at the balcony, you notice Mephisto was gone. What a surprise, the bird had actually listened to you this time.
The doorbell rang a few more times. Whoever it was, apparently it was urgent. Maybe it was a neighbor seeking help? “Coming!” You open the door towards you and gasp as a tall figure that was leaning against it falls towards you. You struggle to hold their weight, but suddenly a familiar scent of cologne hits you, and as your eyes scan the body and find white hair, you realize exactly who it is. “Sylus?!”
He brings his hand to the door, closing it before he leans his back against it once more, his jacket falling from his shoulders. As it does, you notice how he clutches his left side, blood under his hand. “Sorry to intrude, kitten.”
“You’re… you’re bleeding.” Your voice leaves your lips in a whisper, dread filling all of you. “How…What happened?” Hooking his free arm on your shoulders so he could lean onto you, you help him inside, heading straight to the bathroom.
Passing by the living room, Sylus manages to catch the news on the TV. “Well, I guess you already know.” He scoffs but it only wins him a glare. There wasn’t anything funny about this situation. “A job didn’t go exactly as planned. I’m ok, just need a quick fix.”
“And you decide to just drop by my apartment? I thought you had safe houses everywhere.”
“Well you don’t live that far away from the job location. And you were alone so I decided to visit, sweetie.” Even close to your ear, you can hear the smile on his voice.
Alone. He knew you were alone. Mephisto, of course. You groan, frustrated, turning on the bathroom light. You were going to kill that damn bird of his. “You need to stop stalking me with your pet.” Stepping away from Sylus, you grab a small first aid kit from the cabinet.
He lets out a small chuckle before hissing from the pain. “I’m just making sure you’re alright and safe.” Stopping in front of the sink, he starts unbuttoning his black shirt before letting it fall to the floor. You’re too busy scanning his upper body for other injuries to notice his eyes on you through the mirror. “You don’t need to worry.”
“Really?” You leave the first aid box on top of the sink, opening it with shaky hands. “You appear at my doorstep all bloodied and you don’t want me to worry?”
Sylus was about to grab the alcohol swabs to clean the wound at his side but you beat him to it. He inhales sharply at the sting, facing you. Frustration was starting to build up inside you, but you try to keep it at bay. “Why aren’t you using your Evol to heal anyways?”
“It’s not as if I can do it all the time, it takes a big toll on me.” He groans at the pain on his side. Looking down at you he tries to decipher your facial expression, but you refuse to stare at him, keeping your eyes on his injury. He does, however, notice your body language: tensed, your lips pressed in a straight line. “You’re angry at me.”
Picking up the gauze, you start rolling it around his waist, bandaging the wound carefully. “Why wouldn’t I be? You don’t care at all about what happens to you.”
Sylus sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I can’t die, we’ve been through this, swe-”
“But you still feel pain!” You shout, cutting him off and glaring at him. Fighting the tears that were starting to build up in your eyes, you swallow hard and bring your eyes back down to the bandage. “You’re always making sure you’re one step ahead when it comes to Onychinus, but you’re so careless when it’s about yourself.”
As you finish bandaging his wound, you rest your forehead against his chest. “I hate this. I hate seeing you hurt. You want to keep me safe, but what about the other way around?”
You feel his body go stiff, silence surrounding both of you. You slowly raise your gaze, only to find his eyes staring into the void, lost deep in thought. What was he thinking about? Something from his past? “Sylus?”
His name is enough to bring him back to the present, a smile on his lips but with a pinch of sadness. Sylus’s forehead meets yours as he stares down at you, his voice toned down to a whisper, trying not to shatter this moment. “I’m sorry. I guess now I have a reason to be more careful.”
Reacting immediately to his tone, your heart races. “Am I the reason?” You raise a brow.
Sylus smirks. “What do you think?”
You break eye contact, putting the tools back in the box. From the heat rushing to your face, you can only imagine how hard you’re blushing. Sylus lets out a small chuckle before both of you clean your hands. As both of you make your way to the living room, you pick up his black shirt and jacket, frowning as you shove them inside a bag.
“I don’t think my clothes will fit you, you know.”
“Don’t worry.” He sits down on the sofa, slowly, trying not to open the wound again. His eyes focus on the sky outside. While you were patching him up, rain had already started crashing down in Linkon City, the city lights glowing in the darkness. “I’ll ping Luke and Kieran for new clothes.”
Perks of being the boss of an organization and having lackeys, you guess. Shrugging, you move to the small kitchenette. With all the adrenaline, you had forgotten all about dinner. “Just try to get some rest, I’ll have food ready in a bit.”
You hear him from the sofa. “I’m in your debt, sweetie.”
As you place the food on the small dining table, you glance at Sylus, only to find him apparently asleep. You can’t help the small smile that creeps on your lips, approaching and stopping right in front of him. The soft glow from the lamp bouncing on his skin and the sound of heavy rain hitting the glass somehow make this moment feel…cozy.
Bringing yourself closer to him, you try to wake him from his short slumber. “Sylus?” You keep your voice low, not wanting to startle him. With no reply, you brush your fingers against his face, calling for him once more.
You yelp as suddenly his hands find purchase on your thighs, pulling you to him. As you were now straddling him, the corners of his lips turned upright into a satisfied smile, kissing your wrist without opening his eyes.
“Sylus!” You try to complain but it was useless, shivering as he kissed your neck.
He inhaled deeply, humming. “You changed your shampoo.”
You carefully push him away against the sofa. “How do you know? Were you looking around my bathroom while I was helping you?”
“I have a good nose, sweetie.” Sylus smirked, one of his hands travelling upwards to the ribbon of your robe, only to get immediately stopped by you. It was comical to see this powerful man frown at you like a kid.
“Stop, you’re hurt. Besides,” You glance at the table. “the food will go cold.”
He grabs your chin, bringing your attention back to him as he hugs you with his free arm. “We can reheat it. Stay a little while with me, just like this.”
Those words make your heart drum against your chest. The sound of heavy rain encircles you, muting the noise coming from the TV. His warm breath hits you, mingling with yours, and you swear you can feel your body grow hotter. You two stay like that for a while, the air cackling with tension from this intimate moment.
“You’re so entitled.” You tease before you capture his lips, kissing him slowly, seeking to taste all of him, as you raise your hands to his hair.
You notice a low groan leave his throat before he breaks the kiss, smirking at you. “You wanted to be let in into my world, kitten. So now you have to accept all of it.”
And with his sentence given, Sylus kisses you hard, his hand going from your chin to the back of your neck. He completely consumes you, bringing your body against his naked torso, not wanting to let you go.
As if you wanted to.