The door to my quarters slid shut with a soft hiss, sealing out the world beyond. The hum of distant footsteps and low conversations in the hallway faded to a dull murmur, leaving only the faint buzz of the overhead lights and the soft rustle of fabric as I shrugged out of my jacket.

I tossed it onto the chair without thinking. My body felt heavier than it had any right to be, a slow, dragging weight that settled deep in my bones. No injury, just that sharp, familiar ache of exhaustion that refused to leave.

Jin followed close behind, quiet as a shadow. Her tail brushed lightly against the back of my leg with every step, a constant presence I’d grown used to faster than I’d like to admit.

“We’ve got about thirty minutes before the debrief,” I said, glancing over my shoulder at her. My voice was rough, thick with fatigue. “Plenty of time to rest.”

Her ears twitched, her gaze steady on me. She tilted her head just slightly, watching me the way she always did — sharp, observant, like she was measuring something. And, of course, almost unnervingly adoring.

I sat on the cot with a slow, deliberate exhale, letting myself feel the weight of the day settle in for just a second. Muscles groaned in protest, tight from drills and sparring, but the ache was familiar. Almost welcome. Jin didn’t wait for an invitation. She moved with quiet certainty, slipping onto the cot beside me and curling into my side like she’d always belonged there.

Her warmth hit me instantly. Steady. Constant. Her tail looped loosely around my leg, her horns brushing lightly against my collarbone as she settled in.

I wrapped an arm around her, fingers tracing slow, aimless patterns on her back. Her skin was soft and warm under my touch, the faint thrum of her breathing a steady, grounding rhythm. She let out a quiet hum, the kind of sound that could have meant anything but felt a lot like contentment.

“Comfortable?” I murmured, leaning my head back against the wall.

She pressed closer in response, her hand sliding up to rest against my chest. Her fingers curled faintly into my shirt, like she was anchoring herself there. Her claws didn’t press in—not like they used to when she was tense. Just the soft, steady weight of her touch.

Her horns shifted against me as she adjusted her head, brushing against my jaw in a way that could've been an accident but wasn’t.

“Careful,” I muttered, smirking faintly. “Gonna end up goring me.”

Her response was a low, contented hum, her fingers curling a little tighter against my shirt. She pressed her face closer, her breath warm against my collarbone.

I let my eyes close for a moment, letting the fog of exhaustion seep into the edges of my mind. My body felt heavy in the way that only hard drills could bring. The ache in my arms and legs dulled to a distant throb, my awareness narrowing to the warmth of Jin against me and the steady weight of her presence.

My thoughts wandered, unmoored, and I let them.

Five days.

That’s all it had been. Five days since I’d pulled her from that basement. Five days since I’d looked at her and made a choice. Take her back or watch her die.

I glanced down at her, taking in the way she’d nestled herself against me. Her breathing had slowed, her body relaxed in a way that was becoming more and more common. No more sharp-edged movements. No more skittish glances at the door. Just this. Just quiet.

Five days, I thought again, my fingers drifting slowly along her back. I couldn’t tell if that thought was a comfort or something else entirely.

Crone’s words rang sharp in my mind.

“You're basically getting the attachment and emotional bond you'd potentially form in a few months to years shoved into your head in under a week.”

She wasn’t wrong. I knew she wasn’t wrong. But knowing it didn’t make it feel any less real. It didn’t make it easier to separate the bond from everything else I felt.

Would I have felt this way without it? Would I have fought this hard for her, wanted her this much, without it?

My fingers curled against her back, not enough for her to notice, but enough for me to run my knuckles along her spine.

The bond didn’t create something out of nothing, Crone had said. It only amplified what was already there.

But how much of this was me? And how much of it was that soul-bond threading its way into the cracks in my heart, filling them up like cement?

Jin stirred, her horns brushing against my jaw again, sharper this time. I felt her shift, her body pressing more firmly against mine. Her hand tightened its grip on my chest, her claws pressing just slightly into the fabric. Her eyes stayed closed, but her face tilted up toward mine, her breath warm against my skin.

I exhaled slowly, letting my free hand move from her back to her cheek. My thumb brushed just under her eye, tracing the smooth line of her face. Her breathing hitched for a second, then settled back into its slow, steady rhythm.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I whispered softly. “You can rest.”

Her ears twitched, her eyes still closed, and she let out a slow breath. Her tail curled tighter around my leg, anchoring me in place.

Later, I thought. I’ll figure it out later.

----------------------------------------

The chime of my datapad cut through the quiet, sharp and jarring. My eyes snapped open, heart thudding hard in my chest as my mind scrambled to catch up.

Jin didn’t move much. She grumbled low, the sound barely a growl, her claws poking my chest. Her face stayed buried against me like she could block the sound out by sheer force of will.

I reached over, fumbling for the datapad on the shelf beside the cot. The glow of the screen lit up the dim room, throwing sharp lines of light over the walls.

“Time’s up,” I muttered, blinking away the fog of sleep as I tapped the alert away.

Jin shifted, her body curling tighter against me, her tail winding more firmly around my leg.

“Jin,” I said softly, brushing my hand through her hair. “We have to get up.”

Her response was a low, muffled hum—half complaint, half refusal.

“Come on,” I said, rubbing a hand down her back. “We’ll get through the debrief, and then we can come back here or even go home.”

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Her eyes flicked open, her gaze sharp despite the haze of sleep still clinging to her. She tilted her head up, looking at me like I’d just said something offensive.

Her ears twitched once, twice, then she moved.

Her tail loosened just enough to give her space, and before I could react, her weight shifted. Her hands pressed against my chest, claws poking my tits through the thin shirt, her body rising just enough to look me in the eye. Her pupils were blown wide, the edges of her pink irises barely visible.

Her hands slid up my chest towards my neck. I felt her claws graze the edge of my collarbone as she leaned in.

“Jin,” I warned, but my voice didn’t have much bite to it.

Her lips brushed against mine—light at first, then firm. I felt her claws retract as her hands moved to cup my face, her fingers threading into my hair. It wasn’t the kind of kiss meant to be playful or quick. It was slower, more focused.

I tilted into it for a moment—just a moment. My hands moved, one settling on her back, the other curling at her waist. She hummed softly against my lips, her tail curling tighter around my leg.

Troublemaker.

I pulled back, resting my forehead against hers. She huffed, her gaze locked onto mine, her breath warm and steady.

“Later,” I muttered, brushing a thumb along the edge of her jaw.

Her eyes narrowed at me, her hands pressing just a bit harder. Her fingers curled, tugging me forward just enough to make her point clear.

“Later,” I repeated, nudging her gently.

Her tail flicked in sharp defiance, but after a second, she relented, dropping her forehead against my shoulder with a small, frustrated growl.

I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, my lips lingering.

“Come on,” I murmured, tugging lightly at her hand. “We’ve gotta move.”

Her tail thumped the mattress in frustration, like she was telling me this wasn’t over.

Yeah, I got the message.

The quiet hum of the room settled in again, warm and soft like the final flickers of a hearth before it burned down to embers. The glow from my datapad still lingered on the walls, but I let it fade, dimming the room to that soft, comfortable low light. Jin hadn’t moved much after her little stunt, still draped over me with her head tucked against my shoulder.

Her horns pressed lightly into my collarbone, just enough to be noticeable but not uncomfortable. She shifted, her hands still firm on my chest, and I could feel her body press closer like she was trying to melt into me, keeping me down at any cost. Her tail’s slow curl around my leg was deliberate, almost possessive, as it looped and held firm like a serpent claiming its branch.

“Come on, love,” I muttered again, rubbing slow circles into her back. My fingers followed the gentle curve of her spine, feeling every shift of muscle beneath the warmth of her skin. “I’m serious. If we don’t move, Reaper’s gonna have both our heads.”

Her response was a long, slow exhale that tickled my neck. Her breath was hot, and for just a second, her lips brushed against the side of my throat. Not a kiss—just a reminder.

I blinked slowly, my breath hitching in my chest. Alright. She’s playing dirty now.

“Don’t,” I warned quietly, but I didn’t pull away.

Her lips moved again, this time more deliberate. A slow, trailing press of warmth along my neck, right under my jaw. My fingers paused against her back, and I felt her shift against me, her claws dragging gently down my chest. Not enough to hurt—just enough to be felt.

“Jin,” I said, firmer this time, tilting my head just enough to make space between us. “Not now.”

Her eyes flicked up to meet mine, sharp and half-lidded. The way she watched me was something else—like I was the only thing in the world that mattered. There was no hesitation in that gaze, no uncertainty. She knew exactly what she was doing, what she wanted.

Her lips parted, her breathing slow and measured as she dragged her gaze over me. Her hands rested just below my ribs, squeezing me like she was testing her grip. Her eyes were steady, fixed on mine with that quiet intensity I couldn't get enough of.

Her gaze dropped to my mouth.

I felt the tension shift. Like the air between us had gone denser, heavier. Her breathing wasn’t the slow, sleepy kind from earlier—it was sharper now, focused.

My heart thudded once, a little too loud in the quiet.

“You remember what I said,” I muttered, leaning in close enough that our foreheads nearly touched again. “Later.”

Her eyes narrowed at me, and I could see the flicker of defiance light up in her gaze. Her tail tightened on my leg, and her fingers pressed just a little harder against my chest. Not hard enough to hurt. Not quite.

“Later,” I repeated, lifting one hand to cup her cheek. My thumb brushed against her cheekbone, slow and deliberate, and I let my palm settle there for just a second. “We’ve already pushed it back once, remember?”

Her pupils dilated just a little more, the ring of pink barely visible around the dark expanse of them. Her ears flicked back, and her lips pressed into a faint, stubborn line.

But she didn’t push. Not this time.

Instead, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to mine—slow and firm. Not teasing. Not playful. She kissed me with the kind of patience that could wear someone down, her fingers sliding from my chest to the back of my neck, pulling me in just a little closer.

I let her have it. If that's what it takes to get her to move.

My hands settled on her hips, fingers pressing into the soft, warm curve of them. I kissed her back with just enough pressure to let her know I wasn’t retreating. Her hum was a low, pleased sound, vibrating faintly against my lips. She tasted like warmth and something faintly sweet—leftover fruit from the mess, maybe.

Her hands tugged at the back of my neck again, tilting my head just enough for her to deepen the kiss. My pulse kicked up a notch, warmth spreading through me faster than it should have. I squeezed her hip once, just to feel the way she pressed against me in response.

Her claws came out and dragged slowly along the nape of my neck, her fingers threading into my hair with a slow, deliberate pull. I felt every movement, every shift of her body against mine, the weight of her so certain in its place.

Her tail flicked once, curling tighter, and I knew I should stop it.

Just a little longer, I told myself, leaning into the kiss, letting her pull me in just a little more. My fingers tightened on her hips, not pulling her closer but not stopping her either. She felt it. I knew she did. Her breathing hitched, and she shifted forward, her thighs bracketing one of mine as her hips pressed down with more weight.

“Careful,” I muttered against her mouth, the words barely there, more breath than sound.

Her eyes opened just barely, and I caught the glint of challenge in them. Her claws flexed faintly against my neck, and her breath came out hot against my mouth.

We're gonna have a discussion about consent and time and place later. And maybe I need to grow a bit of a backbone when it comes to her.

“Jin,” I said softly, sliding one hand from her hip to her lower back. I felt the way she leaned into it, the soft press of her body against mine, and for a second, I considered just letting her win.

But I didn’t.

I leaned my forehead against hers, letting my breath steady. “Later,” I whispered, my voice quieter this time but no less firm. “We’ll have time.”

She didn’t pull away. Not at first. Her eyes stayed on mine, her breath steady but deep, and I knew she was weighing it. Testing me.

Her claws eased, slowly, and her hands slipped from the back of my neck to rest on my shoulders. Her gaze lingered for a moment longer before she finally exhaled. Her tail uncurled from my leg, a slow, deliberate movement that felt like a warning.

This isn’t over.

I let out a soft breath, fingers brushing one last slow line down her back before I pulled away.

“Come on,” I said quietly, shifting my weight so she had to move off me. “We’ve gotta move. Reaper’s patience is thinner than yours, and I’m not getting chewed out again today.”

She stayed close as I stood, her hands trailing down my arms before finally letting me go. Her gaze stayed on me the entire time as I reached for my jacket, and I could feel the weight of it without even looking.

I pulled the jacket on, shaking out the fabric as it settled on my shoulders. Jin was already up, adjusting her shirt and smoothing down her hair with quick, sharp motions. Her tail swayed low and slow behind her, her eyes flicking toward me every few seconds.

I caught her gaze, tilting my head toward the door. “Ready?”

The succubus stepped forward, close enough that her arm brushed against mine. Her tail wrapped lightly around my wrist, a quick, fleeting touch before it pulled away.

We stepped into the hall, the cool air hitting me hard after the warmth of the quarters. The shift in temperature made the ache in my muscles sharper, more present, but it also woke me up a little more.

Jin stayed close, her steps quiet but in sync with mine. Her gaze flicked to the side, catching the faint movement of someone walking ahead of us. I followed her gaze to spot Vivi's familiar dyed locs, strolling casually with their hands in their pockets like they hadn’t a care in the world.

They glanced back, spotting us with a grin that split their face like they’d just won a bet.

“Didn’t think you’d make it,” they called, turning to walk backward. Their grin only grew wider as their eyes flicked from me to Jin, their brow raising in quiet implication. “Cuddle session over already?”

“Bite me,” I muttered, shaking my head as I kept walking.

“Don’t tempt me,” they shot back, their grin sharp as ever.

I didn’t bother responding, just letting the sound of their laughter echo down the hall as the three of us made our way toward the debrief.

Later, I thought again. We’ll have time later.

But that heat in my chest wasn’t so easy to put out.