Work Text:
Sylus' wife, technically, was you. But it'd been only on paper.
Sylus, in the years you'd known him, had never shown any signs that he loved you. He'd never touched you, caressed your body, or even kissed you. And when the two of you had gotten married in a private ceremony to merely sign the marriage license, you hadn't developed feelings for him either.
"Are you sure about this?" Sylus asked one last time before he signed the papers.
"I am. We both know what we're getting ourselves into. It'll work out and we'll be fine. I'm sure of it."
And it had been. You'd both found benefits to your marriage. With your reputation as the most feared assassin with an evol that had been deemed unstoppable and Sylus, the leader of Onychinus — the strongest faction in the area — together, it'd struck fear into the entirety of the N109 zone.
You had both bloomed a beautiful friendship into a loveless marriage. A marriage that was intended to remain loveless.
In the beginning, Sylus had told you that his heart belonged elsewhere and that was fine with you. You didn't need his love and affection. You needed his reputation. So you'd agreed to show off as husband and wife at public events — a feasible assignment considering how close you'd become as friends over the years — and act as you pleased otherwise. It was perfect.
But you'd wondered when your feelings shifted. Was it after an event and the two of you had walked into the house quietly laughing with each other? The first night you decided to stay up late when he was out on business? When he had your favorites prepared for you after a bad day?
You couldn't pin point it.
When did you first feel that strange itch in the back of your throat that led to a bad cough, a flower petal in the palm of your hand? Hanahaki; A rare disease caused by unrequited love.
At first, you couldn't believe your eyes. You couldn't have hanahaki. You didn't love anyone. But when you felt petals creep up the same day while spending time with Sylus, you realized who they'd came from.
The illness was deadly. You couldn't waste time, so you booked the doctor's appointment. There was no need to tell him. There was never supposed to be romance between the two of you anyway.
Two days later, Luke dropped you off at the hospital and Kieran picked you up the day after. Sylus knew you'd gone in for a small operation, but you never told him the details. That wasn't something he needed on his plate until after it was said and done.
You'd gotten operated on early, so most of your memories of him were still in tact, although they were fuzzy, along with the reason you'd gone into surgery in the first place. All things the doctor warned you about beforehand.
After getting back from the operation and with you having gone in your room to rest, Kieran handed Sylus a small planter box that he'd been instructed to give to Sylus by the nurses.
"Apparently Boss Lady had hanahaki for you." He said, handing the box over. "She doesn't remember that anymore though."
Sylus was shocked but it didn't show on his face, "Did she?"
"Yeah, that's the flower. Her memories of you will be fuzzy for a while, but Docs said if you can make it bloom, she'll have the ability to fall in love with you again."
Sylus took careful care of the flower. Never knowing if he wanted it to fully wilt or bloom.
Even after Emcee came into the picture four months after your procedure.
It just so happened that you'd been away on business when Emcee reappeared in his life. Even with everything Sylus went through to get Emcee to remember him; from having her find the broach he had made for her, to the night at the auction, he made sure he watered the plant every day.
"What's with the flower?" Emcee asked one evening. She'd been in the N109 Zone again for work. This would mark the sixth month since she reentered his life. "Should I bring you a new one the next time I stop by? Xavier's best friend, Jeremiah, runs a flower shop. I'm sure he'd have something that'd survive here."
"It's not dead, merely doesn't bloom." Sylus answered.
"It's a hanahaki flower then, isn't it?" Emcee questioned softly. "From your wife."
"It is. You can tell?"
"Not exactly, but you've taken such good care of it and since I've looked into hanahaki before, you saying it doesn't bloom connected the dots for me. Are you trying to get it to bloom again?"
Sylus didn't have an answer for her. He merely looked towards the planter on the windowsill.
"Sylus..." Emcee sighed. She moved closer to the taller man and leaned on the back of his desk to take his hand, hoping, focusing his attention on her. The seriousness of her next words seeped through her actions. "I love Xavier, so much. And he loves me just as much in return. I know the two of us have this connection, but somehow... I'm certain I've had other lives with Xavier as well. You should be able to have the same thing. You're allowed to have the same thing, Sylus. Find a love of your own in this life. Be happy like Xavier and I are. After all, our connection is the only thing holding you back, isn't it? You're not letting that plant wither and die because you do love her, don't you? You're not letting that plant wither and die because you've fallen in love with her. Don't let our past lives hold you back in this one. Go ahead and let yourself love her fully and truthfully, it's okay. And if you can't, let her go. Let the plant wither, hell, maybe even get a divorce but Sylus, I'll say it again. It's okay to love someone else."
Emcee left not long after that. She'd finished everything she needed to in the N109 Zone. It was time for her to go home, where her boyfriend was waiting her for.
Sylus moved the plant from his office to his bedroom where he took better care of it. But not only that, he realized nurturing just the plant itself would do nothing.
"What're your plans for tomorrow?" Sylus asked after their so called dinner one morning.
"Nothing special, planned to stay in and relax a bit. What's up?"
"Would you like to go on a date with me?"
"A date..?" You asked confused. He'd never called your outings 'dates' before.
"That's right. It'd be a private dinner and after, my favorite view of the city."
"Is there a business that I'm not aware of?"
"No, Fox. There's no business. I simply wish to take you out on a date, so long as you want to join me."
"Sure, alright, let's go on a date, husband."
Sylus couldn't suppress his smile even if he wanted to (which he didn't). "Good, I'll let you know the exact details within the hour. I'm going to finalize the reservations."
The date was more fun than you'd ever expect. The two of you had an excellent time. You couldn't really remember if you two had gone on dates before your surgery.
The two of you spent time together as friends all the time. After all, you live together. But these dates, as Sylus had called them, felt similar to what you vaguely remember from that time before. The same feeling with a different name. Yet, there's been something different about Sylus. A recent change. One that took place after Emcee left. You're not sure what exactly changed, but Sylus seemed more free and open. Like he didn't hold back anymore.
"Sylus, what is all this? What's with all these dates?" You finally asked one evening. The two of you were relaxed in the living room. Technically not on a date.
"Is it wrong to take my wife out?"
"No, it's not. But we aren't like that. We've never been like that. Besides, you're in love with Emcee."
"I was, yes." Sylus said honestly. He had no reason to lie, nor would he. If there was a chance you could love him again, he wanted it to be built on truth and honesty. "But I'm not anymore. I haven't been for a while. Likely before I met her in this life again."
"So, then what changed? Why all the dates now?"
"She and I talked. She helped me realize that fate doesn't always work out how you expect it to, and that's okay. Maybe this is fate and I didn't know it."
"I don't think anyone knows what fate is. It's fate after all, no one is supposed to know their own fate."
The night ended quiet. You and Sylus switched to a lighter conversation after a moment of comfortable silence. Meanwhile, the flower on the windowsill of Sylus' bedroom began to develop a bud.
Sylus couldn't believe it when he saw it had grown.
He wondered if it was cheating somehow, having a physical representation of your feelings.
From then on Sylus tried not to dwell too much on the state of the bud. He watered the plant thoughtfully while trying not to stare. Sylus wanted to hear your feelings from you, not a flower.
"Sylus!" You called to him after breakfast one evening. It was light with undertones of happiness, almost like it was laced with love. He hadn't heard you call his name like that in over a year, since the surgery. Sylus missed you calling him like that, but he didn't know how much until now. "Are you doing anything after midnight?"
"I'm not. Would you like to do something together?"
"There's a movie I've been wanting to watch and I finally got it. Do you want to watch it with me?"
"Of course. Come find me when you're ready to watch it?"
"Perfect. I'll see you later, Sy!"
The movie turned out to be good. Sylus didn't know what he expected going into it, just that it was one you were excited to see. Not only was it good, you were smiling. Now, it wasn't that you weren't happy after the surgery, it simply wasn't directed at him. Not like it was before, not like it was now. And he was so happy it was directed at him again. This time when he sees you smiling and he has the erge to kiss you, he doesn't push it down and try to ignore it or get rid of it, he simply lets it be. Let's it simmer in his chest with the feelings he has for you. Not once thinking it's wrong.
The want to kiss you came to a boil a week later. The intention of drinking wine together out on the balcony. But the bottle of wine remains unopened as the two of you lean against the railing looking out at the skyline. At least you are. Sylus has his gaze directed towards you.
"You haven't taken your eyes off me all night you know." You said without needing to look at Sylus, you just knew.
"You're more beautiful than the view." Sylus stated honestly. "Would you rather I didn't?"
"No, I don't mind. As long as you don't mind me starring back."
"I'm not starring, Sweetheart, I'm admiring."
"Sweetheart? That's a new one."
"Do you not like it?"
"No, it's not that. It's soft. I like it, a lot."
"Sweetheart."
"Hmm, Handsome, Sweetness, Honey, Baby. Which do you like best?"
"Husband, call me your husband." Sylus said quietly, almost like a whisper.
"You are my husband, aren't you Sylus?" You said putting your arms around his neck, moving closer.
"I am. Let me properly be your husband?" Sylus answered wrapping one arm around you while you moved his hand to your cheek.
"Why should I, husband?" you teased.
"Because I love you."
Not expecting such a confession you froze. Sylus could feel how you tensed, but you weren't running. You aren't pushing him away.
"I love you." Sylus said again. "Only you."
"Sylus. You mean it? You really mean it?"
"Of course, my love."
Starring up at him, you could see the truth in eyes, in the softness of his features, in the smile on his face. And when you spoke your voice was quiet, small, like somehow you shouldn't be able to tell these words to him. "I love you."
Sylus heard. Of course he heard them. It's all he's been wanting to hear for months now. "Say it again." His thumb stroking your cheek.
"I love you, Sylus." Your words coming out stronger this time. Fully meaning the weight behind them. "Kiss me, Sylus."
There was no hesitation as Sylus leaned down to kiss you. He didn't want to waste any time to feel your lips on his. And with the way you chased his lips, Sylus knew you enjoyed the feeling just as much.
Meanwhile, a lone flower sitting on the window in Sylus' bedroom, fully bloomed.