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The city lights of Linkon City pulsed and shimmered like constellations against the dimmed glow of the setting sun, creating a warm, dusky hue that drifted into Akari's small but cozy apartment. Her home was cluttered just slightly with tokens of her life—a claw machine stuffed toy perched beside her gaming console, a collection of kitty cards fanned out on her coffee table, and framed photos of her exploits as a Deepspace Hunter. She should have been tending to one of her missions right now, but instead, she found herself glued to her bathroom floor.
The air felt static, though her heart hammered like it was trying to escape the confines of her chest. Two small white plastic sticks sat on the counter, their electronic screens screaming a truth at her that was both exhilarating and terrifying. Positive.
Positive.
It was hard to breathe, her world shifting in its orbit. Akari leaned her head back against the wall, letting out a shuddered exhale. A bright smile began to bloom across her face, though her hands trembled like leaves caught in the wind. For two years, she had danced through the razor-sharp world of Linkon City with Sylus by her side—a man as formidable as he was lethal. He ruled the N109 Zone with charisma and cruelty in equal measure, but with her, Sylus was different. He called her "kitten" with a teasing lilt, or "Miss Hunter" when he was feigning formality. To others, he was a tempest; to her, an anchor.
But could a man like him—dangerous and untamable—want this? Want... a family?
Her fingers hovered over her phone, the twin images of the test results already saved in her gallery. She gnawed at her lip, fighting back a swell of nerves. And then, with a determination that surprised even herself, she pressed send.
~
Sylus stood in a warehouse-turned-command post that overlooked the chaotic sprawl of N109. His sharp red eyes flickered over a list of the protocores he had been discussing. Luke and Kieran, his crow-masked henchmen, stood towards the back of the room, their occasional giggles betraying their usual eccentricity even in the face of serious talks. but they would blame the sweat the other men were doing when Sylus stared at them.
And then it happened—a small vibration from his Phone. Sylus glanced down, his expression unreadable, but the shift in his posture was immediate. His eyes narrowed, his thumb flicking over the screen to reveal Akari's message. The image of two positive pregnancy tests stared back at him, like tiny beacons of uncharted territory.
For the briefest of moments, the glacial leadership in his features faltered. No words left his mouth, but his chest rose sharply as if breathing had become an effort. Then, in typical Sylus fashion, he snapped back into control.
"Meeting’s over," he announced briskly, his voice cutting like a blade.
"But Mr. Sylus—" the Man began with an exaggerated worry, only to be silenced by the stormy glare the leader of Onychinus sent his way.
"Out."
Kieran nudged Luke amusingly, and the twins exchanged looks, whispering something unintelligible as they filed out. Even Mephisto, Sylus's mechanical crow, gave a small beep of approval before fluttering to perch on the corner of Sylus’s desk, letting the room fall silent as its master departed.
~
It felt like hours, though it was minutes before Akari heard the knock at her door. Nervous energy thrummed in her veins like electricity as she approached the door, her hands fumbling with the lock.
The moment the door cracked open, there he was. Sylus. His silver hair glinted in the hallway light, his striking red eyes locking onto hers in an instant. Before she could even manage a breath, he was on her.
“Sy—!”
His hands framed her face, his lips capturing hers in a balanced dance of ferocity and tenderness. His kiss was urgent, nearly devouring her, but his touch was reverent, as though he was afraid she’d break. He stole her breath away before she could protest—not that she wanted to. When his lips finally parted from hers, she found herself gasping for air.
"Sweetie," he rasped, his deep voice tinged with an unfamiliar emotion. "You could've just called me."
Before she could respond, Sylus had leaned down, sweeping her into his arms as though she weighed nothing at all. He pulled her close, cradling her like she was the most precious thing in the world, his heartbeat pounding against her ear where her head rested.
"Put me down, you brute!" she protested weakly, though her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkled with amusement.
"No," he replied simply, his usual sarcasm giving way to raw sincerity. "Not when you're carrying my child. Not when..." His voice trailed off as he walked them both into her home, gently kicking the door shut behind him. He eased her onto the couch like she was made of glass, kneeling before her. "Not when you're giving me something I never even dared to dream of."
Her lips parted, and her throat felt tight with emotion. For someone known for his sharp wit and brutal practicality, Sylus looked almost... vulnerable. The hand that reached to rest over her stomach was trembling, just slightly. His gaze softened, crimson eyes scanning hers for confirmation.
"It's real?" he murmured.
"It’s real," she whispered back, placing her hand atop his.
He let out a shaky chuckle, tilting his head back slightly as though he couldn’t believe it. "I swear, kitten, you never cease to surprise me." His eyes returned to her, now alight with something she’d never seen before. Hope.
~
Minutes turned into hours as they sat together, Sylus no longer Sylus the leader of Onychinus but simply a man, lost in the idea of what could be. His teasing barbs turned soft, recounting moments between them where he had started to suspect there was more to their connection than just fleeting passion.
“You know," he said, smirking playfully, "I was starting to think you weren’t feeling well just to get out of your job. But this? This is diabolical."
Akari threw a pillow at him, laughing despite herself. "Don’t make me regret telling you, Sylus," she huffed, though her tone was anything but harsh.
His hands came up in surrender, a rare glimpse of mock innocence as he grinned. "Trust me, kitten, I’m never letting you regret anything. You’re stuck with me now."
Her heartbeat raced at that declaration, warmth spreading from her chest down to her toes. For all his flaws—his ruthlessness, his dangerous edge—there was no doubting how much Sylus cared.
"I think I might be okay with being stuck," she murmured.
Sylus leaned closer, a rare tenderness in his expression. It was a look reserved only for her, and now, for the life they’d created.
As the city hummed quietly outside, life going on, two people were chatting away at the idea of becoming parents for the first time.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Don't tell anyone your pregnant"
"why not?"
"because I want to be the only one spoiling you with attention"
"......really"
"Yes...now lets go to the new restaurant that opened I just bought it"
"of course you did."