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“you almost mauled me to claim the window seat for yourself, and now you're not even taking advantage of it? should i demand a rematch?”
outside the neglected window, city grids and skyscrapers shine through the night. but your eyes are fixed on the seat in front of you. the image is shaking, somehow, but you won’t discern whether it's from turbulence or your own fears. it’s not a priority right now.
“i think i left my stove on.”
“what?”
“before we boarded. i think i left my stove on.”
beside you, sylus raises a brow. “i’m sure you didn’t. everyone forgets things, but i’ve never known you to be careless, sweetie.”
trembling hands chafe your thighs. “but i don’t know if i did or not. i don't remember. i should have taken a picture before i left.”
frowning, now, he faces you fully. “all right. let’s say you did leave it on. what would happen then?”
“fire.” you swallow. “all of my stuff will burn. i won’t have a home.”
“you’ll always have a home with me.”
it’s like you don’t hear him. “the furniture can be replaced, but…my birth certificate. all of our pictures together. and what if it spreads before they can put it out? what if it spreads, and the whole building…”
your heart batters your ribcage. when your voice cuts out, sylus pulls out his phone.
“mephisto is in the area. i had already assigned him to…house sit for you while we were away. i’ll have him check, and if it’s on, he can turn it off with his beak. it’s surprisingly compatible with technology. he’s put in my passcode with it before.”
shivering in your sweater, you nod at him vacantly.
he pulls you into his side. “don’t worry, sweetie. problems have solutions, don’t they?”
do they?
as you debate yourself, he raises his phone in triumph. “mephisto just sent the photo back. see? everything is turned off. you have to trust yourself, kitten.”
sylus says it’s okay. you trust sylus. you love sylus. and sylus says it’s okay.
just as the warmth of reassurance flickers inside you, something rattles the cabin. this time, it’s turbulence for sure.
protected by loving hands, your head begins to spin.
was that a sign you were wrong? was mephisto too far away to capture the stove light, still flashing in warning?
you bite your lip. “can i see it again?”
immediately, sylus catches the renewed quiver in your voice. his eyes narrow. “why?”
“just…so i can be sure,” you whisper.
“something tells me that even if i show you again, you still won’t be sure. you might end up staring at my phone for the rest of our flight.”
he’s always been perceptive. sometimes, a bit too much.
“but—”
“we’re passing over the ocean now. isn’t it magnificent?”
on instinct, your head whips to the side. he isn't wrong. even in the dark, the water shimmers and ripples.
after a moment of admiration, you face forward again. “yes, but—”
“ah-ah. you need to fully appreciate its beauty. we won’t be able to see it like this forever,” he murmurs. “while we can, why don’t you keep looking?”
squirming slightly, you force your gaze back out the window, discomfort creeping up your body.
but as the minutes pass, your heartbeat slows, and your hands steady. the noise begins to fade.
did you leave your stove on? you don’t think you did, but you’re not really sure. but somehow, the thought isn’t as immobilizing as it was before.
you’ll always have a home with sylus.