My Hands Are Not Strong Enough to Hold Her (Please Lend Me Your Hand)

by heartsweets

Summary:

“I’ll be at the hospital in twenty-five minutes, if traffic cooperates,” Zayne said, “I’ll let Yvonne know to expect you.” You cringed, the implication of his emphasis not lost on you, even with how the pain clouded your mind. A small tug of your arm confirmed that the odd tether inexplicably tying you to Sylus was still present, though it at least allowed enough distance for him to drive the car without you also having your hand on the wheel.

 

“Will it be okay for me to have my friend with me?”

 

“Your friend?” Zayne’s voice was dubious, and you could imagine the subtle downward tilt of his eyebrows as he continued, “He can stay in the waiting area, if he must.” Sylus glanced at you and tugged his own arm, pulling at the band of energy.

 

“I’d be happy to wait for you, kitten, but,” he trailed off, dropping his connected hand back to your thigh.

 

or

Your Aether core decides to act up while you're working with Sylus, forcing two halves of your world to collide, leaving you breathless in the aftermath.

Chapter 1: Chapter 1

You huffed and slumped further into the plush seat of Sylus’ car, chest tight as you patted around for your phone. The road passed by in a blur, though you couldn’t tell if that was because of your vision swimming or the speed with which Sylus was pushing the car down the busy road. He weaved through the traffic, occasionally swerving into the oncoming lane to a chorus of angry honking.

With great effort, you pulled your phone from your back pocket and slid open the screen. A halo of pulsing light obscured your vision, making navigating your phone nearly impossible, but you were able to blindly find the contact information you needed. You hoped beyond hope that the infinitely busy man you were calling was at least free enough to answer the phone.

Your chest ached with each unanswered ring, the tone barely reaching you as your arms struggled to keep the device pressed to your ear. You coughed, trying to dislodge a blockage you knew wasn’t there, when a familiar voice called out to you from the other line.

“Are you alright? Hello?”

“Zayne,” you gasped out, air a luxury your body couldn’t afford with the way your heart and lungs burned. You heard movement on the other side of the line, as if he had stood suddenly.

“Where are you,” he asked, and though his tone was even, you could hear the underlying concern and the jingle of his car keys. You opened your mouth to reply, but the air got stuck deep behind your ribs, a strange groaning wheeze being your only response. Zayne called your name, the sound tinged with urgency. Pulling another deep breath, you tried to respond again when the phone was pulled from your weakening grip.

“We’re on the way to Akso Hospital,” Sylus said, using one hand to set the phone on speaker, “Though I would have preferred to handle this in house.” He sat the phone on your knee and gave your thigh a comforting squeeze before returning his hand back to the wheel.

“But, my house doesn’t have the world’s leading cardiac surgeon,” he continued, “not yet, anyways.” Though you couldn’t really see him through the lights dancing across your vision, you could tell that Sylus was stressed by the creak of the steering wheel under his fingers. Zayne made a displeased noise, clearly surprised by the unknown voice accompanying you in a time of vulnerability.

“Any way I can get an appointment, Doctor,” you asked, breathing deep after every few words. It was so difficult to breathe, but talking helped to keep you focused, helped to keep the panic down, and you didn’t want Zayne to worry more than he already was.

“I’ll be at the hospital in twenty-five minutes, if traffic cooperates,” Zayne said, “I’ll let Yvonne know to expect you.” You cringed, the implication of his emphasis not lost on you, even with how the pain clouded your mind. A small tug of your arm confirmed that the odd tether inexplicably tying you to Sylus was still present, though it at least allowed enough distance for him to drive the car without you also having your hand on the wheel.

“Will it be okay for me to have my friend with me?”

“Your friend?” Zayne’s voice was dubious, and you could imagine the subtle downward tilt of his eyebrows as he continued, “He can stay in the waiting area, if he must.” Sylus glanced at you and tugged his own arm, pulling at the band of energy.

“I’d be happy to wait for you, kitten, but,” he trailed off, dropping his connected hand back to your thigh. His thumb rubbed against your skin in soothing stripes. Your phone slid across your lap as Sylus turned a corner too quick and you reached for it before it could hit the floor.

“I’d really prefer it if he came with me, Zayne,” you said, holding the phone closer to your face, “Please let that be okay.”

“Take me off speaker,” his voice was firm, “I won’t discuss your healthcare in front of others.” Sylus, with a smile you could barely see, hit the button for you. The phone was propped against your shoulder, arms too fatigued to continue holding it, when he spoke again.

“Are you in danger,” Zayne whispered, “Mention your most recent appointment if you are.”

“No more than usual, Doctor.”

“That is not reassuring.” You laughed, the sound a few wasted puffs of air that ended on a loud, dragging inhale.

“I promise I’m only a normal amount of distressed.” Zayne sighed into the receiver.

“That is also not reassuring.” You grunted as another flash of light overtook your vision and your chest burned with pain. Through the ache, you felt Sylus’ grip on your thigh tighten to a near painful degree. It gave you something easier to focus on, a pain that comforts instead of scares. As you closed your eyes you imagined his large hands wrapping instead around your pulsing heart, condensing the wild energy whipping around your chest into a manageable mass.

“I’ll explain, I promise” you said once you reigned in your breathing, and Zayne sighed again. It was obvious he was unhappy with your answers, but he knew he didn't have the time to press you.

“Fine,” he said after a pause, “But if someone is presenting a clear and present danger to you, I will not hesitate to act.” You nodded, then made a noise of affirmation.

“See you in a bit, Zayne,” you said, then dropped the phone from your shoulder when you heard the tone indicating that he ended the call. It tumbled into the seat, then bounced onto the floor, but you didn’t bother to retrieve it, just putting your foot over it so that it wouldn't slide around while Sylus maneuvered the car.

“He’s respectably cautious,” Sylus said, having to slow the car as they got deeper into Linkon, the traffic thicker now that they were off of the highway. It was dangerous, how he swerved between cars with not even enough space to pass a sheet of paper between his tail-lights and the other cars’ bumpers. But with the hospital in sight, he refused to relent, ready to physically move anyone out of his way if needed, either with his car or his evol.

“Yeah,” you agreed as your head lolled with the movement of the car, “He’s a good doctor. And a very good friend.” You rolled your head to face Sylus, blinking through the haze to level him with a serious look. “So you need to be on your best behavior.” He met your look with a chuckle, pulling the car into the lot outside of the towering hospital. In a blur, he was out of the car and at your door, hooking his arms under your knees and behind your back.

Were you to have more air in your lungs, you would have protested the public humiliation of being carried in his arms that way, but you said nothing as he used his evol to plant you both at the main entrance. You guided him past the main lobby, to the elevator, where he propped you up with one strong arm, using his free hand to hit the button for the floor of Zayne’s office. The door dinged open to reveal Yvonne waiting on the other side.

“Miss Hunt—” she stopped, startled by the red eyes that met hers as Sylus exited the elevator. She cleared her throat and stepped to the side. “Dr. Li wants you to go straight to his office. Follow me, please.”

Sylus carried you down the hall, following Yvonne to an open door. She knocked on the frame, but Zayne was already standing in front of his desk, eyes trained on the doorway. He called for you and Sylus to enter the room, gesturing to the sofa near the window as he walked to the door. The click of the lock resounded through the room, nearly drowned out by the sound of your labored breaths.

Setting you gently on the cushions, Sylus sat next to you, allowing you to rest against his shoulder. He held you up with an arm behind your back, slowly stroking your arm. Zayne approached and dropped to a knee in front of you, one hand on your shoulder just above where Sylus’ was rubbing, the other pressing a stethoscope to your chest.

Zayne moved around you silently, barely sparing a glance to Sylus as he measured your erratic pulse. The feel of his fingers against the inside of your wrist was a comfort, a concrete reassurance that you were safely in the hands of a man who could help you, who would do anything to see you alright again. His focus was singular—you. It nearly overwhelmed you with the warmth that washed across your body, and you would have flushed if your heart weren’t busy tumbling around in your rib cage.

“It’s her Aether Core,” Sylus finally broke the tense silence, Zayne’s eyes flicking to him for a moment before he moved back to his desk. He returned, hands gloved, with a small rolling table covered in medical tools. An antiseptic wipe passed over the inner crook of your elbow, followed by the cold pressure of a needle. The burn of the injection was lost in the sea of pain you were already drowning in, but almost instantly a wave of relief rolled through you.

Gulping air like water, you took your first fulfilling breath in hours, slumping back in Sylus’ arm. You blinked a few times to clear your vision, and for a moment you could clearly see Zayne’s seemingly impassive face looking down at you. Smiling at him was difficult with how fatigued you were, muscles aching as if you had sprinted all the way here from the N109 zone, but you owed him your gratitude.

Dark splotches floated into your vision, and where you thought you would receive clarity of mind, the relief instead pulled your eyelids closed. You could hear faint talking, a familiar voice rumbling next to you as your head thumped against Sylus’ shoulder, but the words slipped away from you as you finally fully relaxed and drifted off.

Chapter 2: Chapter 2

“What did you give her,” Sylus asked, gently lowering your body against the soft pillows of the sofa. He turned back to Zayne, red eyes locking with hazel as the temperature in the room plummeted. His lips quirked at one corner, sitting comfortable under Zayne’s appraising glare. Chuckling, Sylus made a show of spreading his knees and leaning back next to you, posture casual and unthreatened.

“Careful, Doctor,” he drawled, “If I were anyone else you might have frozen me to my seat with that icy look.” Zayne tilted his head back slightly, frowning down his nose at the man in front of him.

“I will ask this only once, and please do not lie to me. Who are you?”

“I’m her friend,” Sylus replied easily, smile widening at the nearly imperceptible sneer Zayne gave him in return. He shrugged helplessly. “It’s not a lie. She even called me that herself.”

“How do you know about the Aether core?” That earned a raise of Sylus’ brow, one arm crossing over his chest and the other hand lightly tapping against his temple. Of course her doctor, one of the most award-winning cardiac surgeons in all of Linkon—or maybe the whole world, as far as Sylus knew—would know about her Aether core. The room was chilling by the second as Zayne visually bore down on him.

“Let’s just say that I know things of value when I see them,” he replied, purposefully vague, if only to further anger the doctor standing over him. Which may have been a mistake, he realized, as ice began to creep over his shoes and up his ankles.

“Are you associated with Onychinus?” Sylus laughed, using his evol to easily crush the ice rising over his shins. More ice rose to replace it, thicker. Murderous potential was thick in the air, wafting off of Zayne in cold waves as the ice crawled up Sylus’ pant leg.

“Perhaps. But I can guarantee that I personally pose no ‘clear and present danger’ to your patient. In fact,” he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees, “I have a deep and vested interest in her health and safety.” He looked away from Zayne to drag his gaze over your sleeping figure, allowing a vulnerable softness to fall upon his features for a moment.

Your chest rose with each breath, unlabored and full. The low collar of your top exposed the slowly flushing expanse of your skin—Sylus felt the power resting underneath and his teeth nearly ached with the need to bite. Smoothing his expression, he turned back to the doctor.

“That’s why we’re here now. Yours,” Sylus tilted his chin towards Zayne, “was the first name she called out when she collapsed. And as much as I did not like that, I trust that she knows how to best take care of herself.” He leaned back again, allowing the ice to continue its climb.

“How do you know about her Aether core,” Sylus asked, crossing his arms and tilting his head. Zayne squinted and took a step closer to the man seated before him.

“You’re not in a position to be asking questions.”

“I’m always in the position to ask questions,” Sylus replied, right eye flashing as he locked onto Zayne’s. He pushed his way into Zayne’s mind, rooting around with heavy fingers through his wants until something caught. “And I’ve got a few of my own.”

Zayne, knocked off guard, rocked back on his heel but did not retreat. He felt Sylus’ prodding behind his eyes, the pressure building like a rising migraine, and for a moment he worried that it would strangle his optic nerve.

Images of you fluttered through his vision like sheets from an unbound book, each one catching just long enough for him to register your face and the compromised positions you were in. A cacophony of your voice surrounded him—layers of you calling out his name, panting, begging, crying.

“Oh,” Sylus murmured with amusement, letting the sound drag as he stood, “What interesting desires.” He pulled his legs free from Zayne’s ice, the distraction preventing him from creating more, and closed the distance between them. “It doesn’t seem that you’re satisfied with just being her physician.”

Zayne’s fantasies were laid bare before him, pulled to the surface by a man who was quickly wearing through his patience. A man who seemed to have intimate knowledge of you, and who he quickly decided he was no longer willing to tolerate, even for your sake. Grunting, he forced his eyes closed and placed his palm on Sylus’ chest. Frost bloomed under his palm, but Sylus grabbed his wrist and pulled it away before the crystals could pierce his skin.

Black mist swirled around Zayne’s feet while sparkling ice spikes rose from the floor around Sylus’, both men nearly nose to nose as the distrust between them thickened. Silence filled the room, cut only by the cracking of ice as it grew higher. Zayne reopened his eyes and met Sylus with stoic defiance.

Sylus’ shoulder jerked back, surprising them both. Zayne, assuming Sylus was rearing back to attack, used his long legs to step out of reach. But, instead of throwing a punch, Sylus turned to face you, now awake and clearly distressed. You pulled him backwards by the tether until he was close enough for you to grab with your hands, urging him to sit.

“I asked you to behave,” you said in a rush, fatigue slurring your words. Sylus dropped onto the seat beside you and pulled your tired body against his side, hand wrapping around your waist to support you. With a smile meant to disarm, he gestured to Zayne, still standing a few steps away.

“I was behaving, sweetie,” his voice was saccharine—you knew then that he very much was not—as he pressed a palm over your sternum, “Perhaps you should ask your doctor to do the same.” Zayne scoffed quietly, returning to the pair of you sitting on the sofa. His ice spikes had retracted the moment he saw your distraught expression, but he couldn’t bring himself to fully relax—your breath formed white clouds of mist from how cold the room remained.

“I was just doing my job. As your physician, I am determined to remove the cause of your problems where I can, not just treat the symptoms.” You frowned up at him while Sylus laughed, deep throated and entirely amused.

“Am I the problem, then,” he asked with a curious tilt of his head. Zayne returned his smile with a displeased squint of his eyes before he turned to you, hand reaching for your wrist. His fingers wrapped around it, just below the glowing band of energy that connected you to Sylus, and he pressed into your pulse.

“How are you feeling now?” His gaze was on you, sliding down the high slope of his nose in a way that comforted and unnerved you. You felt entirely safe here in his hand, but danger thickened the air of the room, and you looked between the two men.

They both pointedly ignored each other and focused on you, like two animals who had just been fighting trying to hide the carnage from their owner. You had the suspicion that if you looked away for too long there would be blood.

It was a terrible idea to bring Sylus here, you decided. But you didn't really have a choice; Zayne was the only one who had the means to help you when the Aether core in your heart malfunctioned, and Sylus was still stuck to you.

It had been days—three whole days spent within arms reach of your maybe-boyfriend, definite-headache—and though you could call in sick to work, he, in his words, 'had appointments to keep.'

So you were dragged along to card games and meetings-turned-shootouts, fighting side by side with Sylus with fists and lead. It was honestly fun, dancing with him on the battlefield as though the gunshots were drumbeats and your opponents persistent suitors hoping to cut in on your waltz.

It was in his arms, having pulled you away from a chunk of flying debris, that your heart gave its first warning of something wrong. A missed beat, like a sour note during an otherwise perfect performance. You tried to play it off, claiming exhaustion, however there was nothing about you that Sylus didn't notice. But, he trusted you, valuing your autonomy more than any of the weapons in his many hidden vaults.

Then, moments later, you dropped to your knees, fist thumping against your chest as if it would knock loose the air stuck in your lungs. He dropped with you and you gasped out to him the only thing you could think of:

"Dr. Li—Akso—Heart—"

Now you were sat between them, Sylus with his hand over your waist and Zayne with his around your wrist, tension thick enough to stick to your teeth. The room was freezing, but Zayne's hand was warm where it slid between the energy cuff and your skin.

"What is this," he asked, pulling against it with a crooked finger, "Handcuffs?" You shook your head, but before you could clarify he spoke again. "What are you doing attached to a member of Onychinus?"

"He's not a member of Onychinus," you rushed, a bit too loud to not be suspicious. One of Zayne's eyebrows raised and you felt admonished by the small movement.

"He's already admitted to being associated with the group," he started, your eyes bulging as they darted to Sylus, "So, if he's not a member, then who is he? The leader?" Your mouth hung open but Sylus just shrugged one shoulder, unfazed by Zayne's quick and precise deduction.

"Wow, he really is smart," Sylus said with a smile, finally looking up at Zayne. Their eyes met silently and the temperature dropped again as if in warning. Frost spiraled up the window behind you, crackling.

You broke their eye contact with your body, standing between them with your back to Sylus and a hand hovering over Zayne's shoulder. "Hold on, please! I said I would explain!"

"Well, then," Zayne tilted his head back and you shivered at being on the receiving end of such a stern look, "explain."

Notes:

I want them to kiss, you want them to kiss, we all want them to kiss. And they will, but they're probably gonna try to kill each other first. But that's okay, boys are hotter when they're a little beat up.

Chapter 3: Chapter 3

How the hell were you supposed to explain this to Zayne without sounding like you had completely lost your mind? Had you completely lost your mind? You had definitely asked yourself that more often now that you'd spent so much time with Sylus, but he had the uncanny ability to make every wild thing you did with him seem banal.

You were no stranger to combat—your job as a Deepspace Hunter gave you plenty of experience with your guns—but protocore auctions where he would have you throw out millions in casual bids? Multi-car high-speed chases? Jumping from a plane over the city?

Zayne would be deeply concerned, and perhaps a bit disappointed, by your high-risk extracurriculars, especially when he barely medically cleared you for your day job. And now you'd shown up in his office, rattling out agonal breaths like you were seconds away from becoming a memory, physically connected to a very dangerous man and defending him.

You didn't fault Zayne for his caution. In fact, you were grateful for it, grateful that he would be so willing to protect you, even from someone as intimidating as Sylus. Though you had been thoroughly charmed by the infuriating man at your back, you hadn't completely forgotten your first encounter with him.

It was rocky at best, and considering no one had drawn blood, you figured their meeting had gone as well as it could have given the circumstances.

"Is there perhaps any way we can do this at my apartment? I don't think it's a great idea to have this conversation here at the hospital," you asked, finally setting your hand on Zayne's shoulder. He looked at you, then over your shoulder at Sylus, who was rubbing the side of your thigh soothingly.

"You feel safe having him know where you live?" He looked back at you and you couldn't stop the blush that crept up your cheeks. Eyes anywhere but his face, you responded.

"He's uh, been there a few times before."

"Has he now?" Your breath puffed into little clouds and you wrapped your arms around yourself. It was going to start snowing in the office if you didn't get this sorted. Nodding, you gestured for Sylus to stand.

"So, we can talk there. I'll explain everything I can, but you both have to promise me something." They hummed—one curious, the other unhappy.

"Please, no fighting."

---

Sylus made himself comfortable on your couch, only throwing out the usual complaint of it being too small once. You were seated next to him—no other choice considering you two were still bound—and Zayne sat stiffly on the chair off to the side. You kept your body positioned between them so that they weren't directly in each other's lines of sight.

This wasn't going to be fun, easy, or simple, you thought as you looked around your apartment. Sylus' hand hadn't left your body since you woke in Zayne's office, resting now on the top of your knee as your leg bounced. And Zayne's eyes burned against the side of your head as if they could part your scalp, bore through your skull, and pluck an explanation straight from your grey matter.

"Okay," you breathed deep and leaned back so that you could hold your hands out between them, "Sylus, this is Zayne. A childhood friend and currently my primary care doctor." Zayne nodded his head slowly as you turned to him.

"Zayne, this is Sylus. He's the leader of Onychinus and my—," you paused suddenly, voice hesitant when you spoke again, "my boyfriend?" A pleased sound rumbled out of Sylus as he leaned forward, catching your hand with his own.

"Your boyfriend? You haven't called me that before," his eyes crinkled at the corners for just a moment, "What a great night this has turned out to be for me." Zayne frowned, the small downturn of his lips loud on his otherwise placid face.

"The head of the most dangerous group of organized criminals does not seem like a wise choice for romantic partners," he admonished, and you suddenly felt defensive.

"Maybe not," you returned his frown, "but he was still my choice." Zayne, sensing your upset, softened his expression and raised his hand.

"I didn't mean to offend. I'm just," he paused, contemplating his next word carefully, "concerned." You sighed, lowering your hackles as quickly as they raised. Pinching the bridge of your nose, you collapsed against the back of your couch and huffed.

"I can't really blame you for that." Sylus entwined his fingers with yours, seemingly as pleased as could be while you struggled internally to unravel this knotted situation.

You never thought these parts of your life would come together. In all honesty, you thought that keeping your actions in the N109 zone separate from your life in Linkon would be easy. Obviously there would be overlap, like your foray at The Nest and 'Skye' the fruit vendor crashing karaoke with your coworkers. But dragging Sylus deep into Linkon to meet the ever-observant, highly-protective Dr. Zayne Li?

If it weren't literally a matter of life or death for you, it would have never been an option.

"The last time we spoke about Onychinus," Zayne began slowly, as if worried he would unsettle the already rocky armistice in the room, "you believed that they were behind the explosions in the Bloomshore district." You nodded, but Zayne continued, "And, that they were likely after the Aether core in your heart." You nodded again, sitting up so that you could face him properly.

"Now you're telling me that you are dating," the word dripped from his lips like it tasted foul, "the man who heads that group. Obviously I am missing something important. And you are not obligated to tell me the full details—" He leaned forward at the waist suddenly, voice dipping into a command that had your back straightening, "But, now that you have me involved, I would like to be fully aware of the situation you are in."

It was phrased like a request, one that you could deny if you wanted to. But, Zayne's eyes were clear and his tone made no room for argument. Sylus began to rise from the couch but stopped when Zayne cut his eyes to him so sharply that it was nearly audible. He held his hands up, palms facing Zayne in an act of faux supplication.

The band of energy connecting your wrists suddenly snapped as he moved, the sound loud like the pop of an incandescent bulb. You looked at the empty space between you and Sylus and sighed heavily.

"Ah, perfect. Don't worry, doctor" he said, and you shivered at the pleasure soaking his voice, "I was just going to look for a drink. It's going to be a long night, and we all might need something to help us relax." Shaking your head, you pulled out your phone and typed.

"Zayne doesn't drink," you answered for him, turning to Zayne as Sylus walked to your kitchen, "but it's apparently not too late to order some boba. Would you like some?" He narrowed his eyes at Sylus' retreating figure, and it was blatant how unhappy he was at the casual way Sylus inhabited your space. But, his expression was much softer when he turned to you, an almost-smile gracing his lips.

"That would be nice, thank you." You tapped away on your phone, already knowing his regular order; having brought him a sweet drink many times as an excuse to visit him at the hospital worked to your advantage. The visits were always brief, but you were grateful for even a minute of Zayne's time, happy to have a man you cared deeply for back in your life after such a long absence.

As you paid for the order, you thought about how heartbroken you would be if you lost Zayne again. You were desperate to make this work, unable to bear the loss or pain of either man, and so you steeled your resolve.

By the end of the night, they were going to like each other. Or at least be past the point of silent stare-downs and veiled threats. You would make sure of it.

Notes:

This chapter was hard and awkward but that's how introductions usually are anyways so I'm just gonna say it's thematic.

Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Sunlight cut a sharp line across your apartment as if it were a barrier separating you from the two men sitting in front of you. The sun had crested the skyline by the time you finished pacing, alternating between sips of over-sweetened tea and a wine older than you that Sylus once had delivered as a 'just because' present.

You were exhausted, nerves wrung dry and body still recovering from the way your heart had acted up nearly twelves hours earlier, but you spilled everything you could. Answering Zayne's questions and ignoring Sylus' provocations left you more frazzled than you wanted to admit, but once it was done, you felt surprisingly lighter.

Though you omitted some of the most unsavory bits, such as the painful forced resonating and strange visions you saw during your first meeting, the way that Zayne listened to you was comforting. He sat still, eyes never leaving you even when you rose from the couch to gesture animatedly with tea in one hand and wine in the other.

Calm, asking clarifying questions during your few lulls as to not interrupt, ignoring Sylus completely any time he made a confirming noise or correction. You felt less like he wanted to understand the situation he was in and more how you had ended up in it, as if maybe there was a way to save you from it.

You didn't need saving, and wanted it even less, but it touched you deeply how far his concern carried him. At his prompting, the words poured from you like they were liquid, and by the time the sun rose you were empty of all your Sylus-related secrets.

Sitting the empty plastic cup on the coffee table, you pointed to Sylus with the bottom of the wine bottle you were wielding one-handed like a baseball bat.

"Did I miss anything important?" He frowned in thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"Small details, but nothing worth any more of your sleep. You look tired, kitten," he said as he reached across the table to grab the glass bottle from you. You considered snatching it out of his reach, but it was gone from your hand before the impulse reached your fingers. Looking down, you expected to see it in Sylus' hand, but it was instead wrapped in Zayne's long fingers, sitting just under his nose as he gave it an experimental sniff.

"Yes," Zayne said with a small wrinkle of his nose—you were struck suddenly by how cute the expression was—as he sat the bottle down, "You have explained yourself to my satisfaction. At least for now. You should get some sleep." Sylus' hand hung in the air for a second before he pivoted, taking your hand instead and standing. He moved to guide you to your bedroom, speaking as he walked.

"Let's get you to bed. I can walk the doctor out for you—"

"Wait, no," you said, turning on your heel to return to the living room, surprised how quickly he had gotten you nearly in your bed. You gently grabbed Zayne's wrist as he stood and called out to Sylus.

"He's my guest! I can walk him out." Sylus sighed behind you, but stayed in the doorway, leaning against the frame as he waited for you. Zayne looked down at where your fingers looped around his wrist but made no comment, standing stiff at your side.

"There's no need to see me off," he finally spoke, voice weary. His broad shoulders slumped slightly, their downturn so unnatural to you that it made him seem like a completely different man. It finally hit you that he must also be completely worn out. You jolted, gripping him tighter, and his eyes widened fractionally.

"Oh my god, you've got to be exhausted," your eyes traced the sunken skin under his, "Why don't you take a nap here for a little while? I don't want you driving tired." You could see a refusal forming on his lips and you squinted at him. Before he could reject your offer you ushered him back towards the couch.

"Someone once told me driving tired is nearly as dangerous as driving intoxicated," you said as you pushed against his shoulders. He plopped unceremoniously onto the couch, looking up at you with widened eyes and lips parted.

Another cute expression that you didn't expect. Blinking, you turned away in search of a spare blanket and pillow, opting to pull them from your own bed. You passed Sylus on your way back into the living room and he barely moved to give you space, brushing his hand across your waist as you walked back to Zayne. His palm was warm as it dragged against your shirt, the sensation so pleasant it could have made you fall asleep mid-step if your weren't so focused.

"Here," you handed Zayne the blanket and tucked the pillow against the far arm rest, "please sleep for a little while at least. You can wake me up before you leave." He held up a hand, expression smoothed and grateful.

"I wouldn't want to interrupt your rest. I can let the door lock behind me when I leave." You flitted around the room, hip bumping against the back of the couch as you moved to pull the curtains closed tighter. Walking to the kitchen, your knee knocked against the corner of the island and you cursed quietly.

"Would you at least text me when you get home," you asked as you brought him a glass of water, setting it down on the side table near the pillow. He was still sitting up when you finally made your way back to your bedroom, nodding to you when you turned back to him.

"Of course. Please sleep well." He looked over your shoulder at Sylus still standing as a silent sentinel in your doorway. He was cast in a deep shadow, the morning light struggling to pierce the curtains and drag itself across your apartment, only one red eye visible above your head.

Zayne met his gaze unflinchingly, not surprised when the heavy sensation of meddling pressed against the backs of his eyes again. A brief flash of your face—flush, just your silhouette visible as his scarred hand grips your hair and presses your cheek against scattered papers on his desk—passed over his vision. He blinked the sight away, prepared this time to be faced with his 'desires'.

He had remembered what Sylus said in his office, how he had pulled some of Zayne's most shameful reveries from his sleeve like an illicit magician, presenting them to him in both threat and delight. He would not be outdone in his own mind, and so Zayne queued another image behind your face.

His own hands outstretched, scalpel poised in a practiced grip. A body splayed before him, chest open and ribs held wide with a sternal retractor cranked to an unprofessional degree. A heart pumps sluggishly, exposed to the chilled air of the operating room. His gaze sweeps over the body, revealing thick straps digging into taut muscles, the person on the table clearly awake and pulling against the restraints.

The squeak of the leather and the steady beeping of the monitor fill the fantasy, and finally his eyes glance at the face of the man strapped to his table. Sylus stares back at him, expression unreadable but body completely at Zayne's mercy. He focuses back on the heart still pulsing under his hands.

Adjusting his grip on the scalpel so that it points down in his closed fist, Zayne slowly pushes it into the muscle. With agonizing patience, Zayne digs the instrument into Sylus' heart millimeter by millimeter until its heat presses against the side of his fist, throbbing pathetically until it ceases. When he felt Sylus' prodding retract he blinked the image away, satisfied.

A sharp smile, all teeth and mirth, cut through the shadow behind you, catching on the soft light creeping through the living room. Sylus huffed a laugh, but when you turned back to him, he looked down at you with kind eyes. His arm wrapped around your waist, resting over your back and guiding you into your room. You disappeared into the darkness, hidden behind Sylus' large frame as he filled the doorway.

He looked over his shoulder at Zayne still sat on the couch, but where Zayne expected a smug smirk he found instead a perfectly amused smile. And, infuriatingly, a sly wink as the door closed.

---

You woke hours later, sun hanging heavy over the skyline as it prepared to fully descend. Sylus was nearby, sitting as comfortably as he could on the ottoman at the foot of your bed with one long leg crossed over the other. He held his phone to his ear and spoke quietly, but you could still feel the comforting rumble of his voice from where you laid.

Grabbing blindly for your phone in the dim room, you knocked against it, sending it to the floor. You pulled yourself to the edge of your bed with a grumble and patted around the floor for the device. With a sleepy whine, you dropped your face against the bed and reached out to Sylus.

"My phone," you mumbled, hoping that he could hear you even though half your face was pressed against your covers. He looked up at you from the foot of the bed and flicked his free wrist, your phone dropping into your outstretched hand, red mist brushing feather-light against your wrist before it dissipated.

The screen was bright, lighting the room and stunning you like a flash-bang. Squinting, you looked through your notifications for a message from Zayne, finding one delivered a few hours after you had fallen asleep. He thanked you for your hospitality, and for trusting him with everything that you had told him. His final message stuck with you the most.

Dr. Zaynie (9:43): Your safety is my highest concern, and I will do whatever necessary to guarantee it. Please do not hesitate to lean on me should you ever find yourself in a dangerous situation.

You smiled sleepily at your screen, texting him back a sticker of a happy snowman before sitting up. It was well past six in the afternoon and you assumed that Zayne was busy at work, so it was was a surprise when your phone pinged seconds later.

Dr. Zaynie (18:39): Will you be home for the night?

You (18:40): I've gotta work tomorrow unforch so yeah, I'm planning on staying in. Everything okay?

Time dragged as you waited for his response, Sylus hanging up and moving to your side, sitting on the edge of the bed. He brushed your hair behind your ear and kissed your temple, lingering there even as your phone pinged again.

Dr. Zaynie (18:45): Yes. I ordered the new almond sweet crème petit fours from the bakery near Akso. They should be delivered within an hour.

Dr. Zaynie (18:46): To thank you for your honesty.

Bubbles bounced on the screen and you waited for his next message to come. They danced for a full minute before disappearing. You began your own message but stopped when another from Zayne popped up.

Dr. Zaynie (18:48): Please enjoy them. Have a good night.

You (18:48): Thank you! I'll let you know how they are. I hope you have a good night too!

You closed you phone and turned into Sylus, pressing your lips against his cheek. He hummed as he leaned his face against yours and slipped his hand from the back of you head to rest it along your jaw.

"How are you feeling, sweetie?" He pulled away and regarded you with warmth, voice quiet. You sat your hand over your chest and focused on the pulse of your heart; it was steady and rhythmic, and your lungs filled with ease.

"Good," you smiled and leaned forward to press a kiss against the exposed skin of his collarbone, "Thank you." You kissed there again, feeling the heat of his skin and his pleased rumble against your lips. Your hands found themselves fingering the buttons of his shirt, popping another open to reveal even more of his chest to you.

"Careful," he warned, gently pushing your face away from his body, "Don't start something we can't finish." You pouted up at him, another button slipping free under your pawing. He scooped both of your wrists in one of his large hands and pulled them up to his face, placing kisses on your knuckles.

"I unfortunately have some things to take care of back in the N109 zone. As much as I would love to take you back home with me, I believe you have to work tomorrow, correct?" You rolled your eyes in annoyance but nodded.

"Will I see you soon?" He kissed your lips and you could feel him smile against you.

"As soon as you come find me," he said against your mouth, hovering just above it for a breath before he disappeared in a swirl of mist, his laugh the last thing you heard before he was gone.

Notes:

Zayne: imagines stabbing Sylus in the heart while he's strapped to a surgical table
Sylus: OooOoOOO I think he likes meeeee

Also: I wasn't really feeling how short my chapters were so I hope this one being a smidge longer is good for y'all <3

Also Also: American football is back in season and my GF has me watching with her so I fought to get this finished before our team's kickoff (go Lions wooo)