POV: Lyra
Three hours later, my recovery sleep started subsiding, neural pathways reconnecting to conscious thought. My senses slowly brought me back to reality. I could tell I was lying flat on a sleep platform, the thermal covering pulled to chest-level. When I slowly opened my eyes, I realized my right hand was interlaced with something rough and warm. I gasped, my body shooting up in panic.
Void! Who—
"Hey, hey. What's wrong?" Orion asked softly. He'd heard my gasp, felt the tugging of my smaller, smoother hand in his larger, rougher one.
I let out a sigh of relief when I saw him. His pathways were pulsing with concern, purple-tinged with exhaustion. "It's just you. I'm functional. Sorry about that."
Why am I apologizing? He's the one in my quarters without permission.
He shook his head. "Don't be." He cautiously moved onto the platform beside me, his hands finding my arms, stroking them soothingly. "It's so good to hear your voice." Then he pressed his lips to my cheek.
Too intimate. Too fast. But... it doesn't feel wrong.
I looked down at myself under the thermal covering and instantly noticed my bio-suit wasn't the one I'd worn after the battle at Jewel Station. Heat rushed to my face—my skin probably shifting to embarrassed purple. I couldn't meet his gaze, thinking he might have been the one who changed my suit.
If he undressed me while unconscious, I'll—
Orion seemed to read my expression. "Hale and Felicity helped cleanse you and change your suit."
Relief washed away the anxiety. I smiled and nodded acknowledgment. Then memories started flooding back—the battle, the Rogue Lyrokans, the aftermath. Suddenly I looked around frantically. "What cycle-time is it? How long was I unconscious? Where's my comm device?" I lifted the covering, searching, ready to leave the platform.
Orion caught both my hands, stopping me. His voice stayed soft, gentle. "Hey, slow down. You just reactivated. Let me get it." He positioned me back on the platform before walking to the storage surface for my comm.
Walking back, he said, "It's almost mid-cycle. You were in recovery for about six hours. Here." He handed me the device, sat back on the platform, and kissed my forehead. "How are you feeling?"
"Better. Thanks for asking, and for staying with me." My voice was stronger, which made his pathways brighten with relief.
Why does he care so much? We've known each other three days.
He smiled, kissing my cheek again. "Star-heart, I'm your match. You don't have to thank me for showing concern."
When heat flooded my face—I could feel my skin shifting colors despite my pale complexion—I tried getting up again.
Orion's pathways flashed with panic. "Where are you going?"
Does he think I'm running from him?
"I was unconscious for six hours. I need to use the refresher." Matter-of-fact tone.
Understanding dawned on his face. He chuckled softly before helping me up. I went straight to the refresher, closing the portal behind me. Through the wall, I heard him contacting Juan through comm—Juan's relief was audible even from here. The Commander could finally achieve rest without worry.
When I emerged, Orion crossed the space in two strides and pulled me against him, his face buried in my hair, inhaling deeply.
He's scenting me. Like I'm already his. Like the rejection won't happen.
For a while, we just stood there in silence. His pathways pulsed contentedly against my consciousness.
Then my palms pressed against his chest—solid muscle under his bio-suit—and I created space between us. Orion only pulled back enough for our eyes to meet. When I noticed the dark circles under his eyes, the exhaustion in his pathways, I noted, "Now you look depleted. You should rest. I'm functional now. You should return to your residence."
Give him an out. Let him leave before this gets more complicated.
Orion smiled, but pain flickered through his pathways. "Are you trying to get rid of me, my love?"
I rolled my eyes. "Orion, if I wanted to get rid of you, I'd use more direct words. You can rest here too, if you want. I can be quiet, or I can leave if you prefer to—"
"No." Before I could finish, he pressed our bodies back together, muttering, "Don't leave." Another kiss to my hair.
Why does he keep doing that? Why does it feel... nice?
When I pulled away, I said, "Okay. Then take the platform. I'll be quiet on the seating module."
A thought crossed his features, his pathways shifting mischievously. "I have a request."
"Which is?" I tilted my head, curious despite myself.
His smile widened, taking my hands. "I stayed by your side while you slept. Stay by mine while I sleep?"
I shrugged like it meant nothing. "Sure, why not? I can be quiet. Just... let me get a data pad first. Uh..."
He chuckled, releasing my hands.
"What's the humor?" I asked, walking to the seating module where three data pads were stacked.
He didn't answer, just watched me move, his pathways pulsing with something I couldn't identify. When I selected a pad and walked toward the support frame he'd sat on while I slept, he slipped his arm around my waist, pulling me against him. I gasped at the sudden contact. His purple eyes bore into mine, voice dropping low: "There's no humor. You're just adorable."
Adorable? Me? The scarred Commander from mining colonies?
My eyebrows furrowed. I looked down at the plain training shirt and loose utility pants I wore, then met his affectionate gaze again. He was still smiling. "You really need to rest, Orion. You're probably experiencing hallucinations already."
Before he could respond, I walked to the platform and pulled back the thermal covering, motioning him over. "C'mon."
He obliged with that smile. He positioned himself slightly to the far side of the platform. Odd, but I didn't comment. When I started to cover him, he leaned over, catching my hands.
"Can you stay beside me on the platform with me?" He stroked my hands as he asked.
"But..." I pointed to the support frame. "Didn't you sit there while I slept?"
"I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable while you slept, and I didn't want to alarm you if you woke to find me on the platform with you." Then he actually pouted—the Emperor of the galaxy pouted. "But I feel more comfortable having you on the platform with me. Please?"
The Void Killer Emperor is pouting at me. What is my life?
Surprised by his words, I could only nod. Orion's pathways blazed bright purple as he positioned my cushion against the headrest. I sat there before covering his body and my own legs with the thermal covering. He kept gazing at me, so I asked, "Better?"
"Yes, thank you." He kissed my forearm, which was right beside him.
"Good. Rest before the hallucinations worsen."
"Why didn't you believe me when I said you're adorable, star-heart?"
I sighed. "Orion, you need to rest. Save questions for after you wake."
"Just this one question, I promise."
I looked away, uneasy, voice going small. "All I did was agree to stay while you rested and said I'd get a data pad. I don't see how that's adorable."
Nobody's ever called me adorable. Strong, yes. Capable, sure. Stubborn, definitely. But adorable?
He kissed my forearm again. "You are many things, Lyra. What you are at any given moment depends on what you're doing. You're fierce, strong, noble, courageous, beautiful, and a whole list of other things, one being adorable. When you said that the way you did, you were being adorable." He took my hand, kissing my fingers. "You can't see it, but I can."
I blinked, processing his words before saying softly, "Rest now, my Emperor. Let's see if you can make sense of your own words after you wake." I stroked his hair, and his pathways pulsed with pure contentment.
He's not hallucinating. He actually sees me that way. How?
He definitely wasn't hallucinating. I just couldn't see myself as he saw me. Couldn't see how certain things I did appeared "innocently cute" to him. That cluelessness, apparently, was another "adorable" thing. He didn't argue further—probably knowing I'd dismiss his compliments as sleep deprivation.
Orion moved closer, his arms wrapping around my thighs, holding them tightly. I gasped at the action but didn't pull away. His eyelids dropped, and he kissed the side of my thigh through my pants once before snuggling as close as possible.
What is he, a youngling seeking comfort?
When my hand left his hair, he groaned in frustration. Eyes still closed, his hand searched for mine before placing it back on his head. Satisfied my fingers were buried in his hair again, he smiled as he drifted off. I smiled too, laughing internally.
He's acting like a child, I thought, continuing to stroke his hair.
Orion fell asleep easily and woke four hours later. His arm still circled my thighs. My thumb still stroked his hair slowly, lovingly—when had it become loving? His pathways radiated pure joy. Through our neural link, I felt him consider pretending to sleep longer just to enjoy my touch.
Ridiculous Emperor. I know you're awake.
As much as he craved the touch—I could feel that through our link—he wanted to see me more. His eyes opened, purple and warm, finding mine immediately.
And now what? What happens when he realizes I'm not worth all this attention?