Captured by the Yandere Space Pirates-Chapter 19 -

Time slipped away in the dim cell, the cold metal walls fading into a blur as Aster's lips pressed against Syn's with a wild, untamed fervor. Her kisses were a storm—fierce yet tempered, each one a burst of passion she reined in just short of overwhelming him.

Her hands roamed his shoulders, his chest, her fingers tracing the lines of his frame with a caress that was both reckless and gentle, as if testing the boundaries of his exhaustion without crossing them. Syn leaned into her, his breath ragged between kisses, caught in the whirlwind of her affection, her warmth a stark contrast to the chill seeping from the prison floor.

After a while, she pulled back, her blonde hair tousled and spilling over her shoulders, her cheeks flushed with a rosy glow. "Are you tired?" she asked, her voice softening with genuine concern as she brushed a strand from his face, her fingers lingering near his temple. Her eyes searched his, a flicker of worry creasing her brow.

"Mhmm..." Syn nodded weakly, his head dipping as a faint hum escaped his lips. Fatigue weighed on him like a shroud—he hadn't had a moment to recover since the raid on the spaceship, a relentless cascade of chaos tumbling him from one mess to the next. Vera's games, the empty cells, Aster's chokehold—it all pressed down on him, his body aching, his mind frayed. This moment, pinned beneath her affection, was just the latest in a string of trials he hadn't had the strength to outrun.

Aster's expression softened, a tender resolve settling over her features. "Then we should get you to bed early," she said, her tone firm yet caring as she slid off his lap, rising to her feet with a graceful stretch. She extended a hand toward him, her broad palm open and inviting. Syn hesitated, then took it, his fingers curling around hers as she pulled him up. His legs wobbled briefly, the soreness from her earlier weight still lingering, but her grip steadied him, strong and sure.

She turned to the cell door, her voice sharp as she called out, "Guard!" A lanky pirate shuffled forward, his boots scuffing the floor as he fumbled with the keys, unlocking the barred gate with a metallic clank. Aster led Syn out, her hand still clasped around his as they stepped into the corridor, the prison's oppressive air giving way to the hum of the elevator ahead. The doors slid open with a soft chime, and they entered, the small space closing around them as it began its ascent.

"You don't need to come with me," Syn said, his voice rough with weariness as he leaned against the wall, the cool metal a balm against his aching back. "I know the way to my bed." He gestured vaguely toward Vera's bedroom, where his narrow cot sat in the corner—the same spot where he'd been trapped in the forcefield just two hours ago, a prisoner in a gilded cage.

Aster narrowed her eyes, her gaze sharpening as she studied him, her hand tightening briefly around his. Syn caught the look, the unspoken question in her stare, and sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Don't worry," he said, his tone laced with defeat, "I'm done fighting. There's no one left to save but myself now—and I'm too tired for that." His smirk was faint, a flicker of resignation more than defiance, the weight of his failure settling over him like a leaden cloak.

"Oh!" Aster blinked, her expression shifting as a flush crept up her cheeks. "I wasn't even thinking about that." She laughed, a quick, bright sound that cut through the elevator's hum, her hand waving dismissively. "I was gonna ask if you'd come to my ship instead—but then I remembered Pako and Mia took it for the negotiations." Her lips quirked into a sheepish grin, her earlier intensity melting into something softer, almost shy.

Syn chuckled faintly, the sound hoarse but genuine. "I wouldn't have made it anyway," he said, lifting a finger to point at his legs, still tingling from her weight. "Too tired to trek that far." His smile widened, teasing now, a spark of their old rapport flaring through the haze of fatigue.

Aster huffed, turning her face away as a tinge of blush deepened on her cheeks. "I'm not that heavy," she muttered, her voice a mix of indignation and embarrassment, her arms crossing over her chest as if to shield herself from the jest. Syn's smile lingered, warm and quiet, a rare moment of levity easing the ache in his bones.

They arrived to the room, its doors parting to reveal Vera's sprawling bedroom—crimson curtains swaying faintly, the massive bed dominating the center like a throne. Syn stepped out, his boots scuffing the polished floor as he turned to Aster. "Good night," he said, his voice a weary murmur as he shuffled toward his cot.

But Aster followed, her steps light despite her size, her presence filling the room as she matched his pace. "I'm sleepy too," she said brightly, her tone brooking no argument as they crossed the threshold together. "Let's sleep together." Her eyes sparkled with a playful insistence, her earlier concern now laced with a familiar mischief.

Syn paused, halfway to his bed, and glanced back at her. "But... my bed..." He gestured at the narrow cot, its thin mattress barely wide enough for him alone. "It's not big enough for both of us." His protest was feeble, a token resistance as he tugged the blanket tighter, his exhaustion dulling his resolve.

Aster smirked, already perched on the edge of Vera's vast bed, kicking off her boots with a casual thud. "Don't worry about that," she said, her voice teasing as she smoothed her uniform and turned to face him, her legs crossed. "Vera's bed is huge—plenty of room. Ever wonder why it's so big?"

Syn climbed onto his cot, sinking into the familiar dip as he wrapped the blanket around himself, his movements sluggish. "Because she's the captain?" he guessed, his tone flat but curious, his head tilting slightly as he settled in.

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Aster laughed, a rich, rolling sound that filled the room as she stood, her boots abandoned beside the bed. "Not just Vera's," she said, her voice dipping into a conspiratorial whisper as she padded toward him, her shadow stretching across the floor. "Pako and I have huge beds too—it's no competition." She paused beside his cot, her towering figure casting a silhouette over him, her blonde hair catching the light like a halo.

"No?" Syn arched an eyebrow, his voice muffled by the blanket as he peered up at her, curiosity piqued despite the heaviness tugging at his eyelids.

"No," she replied, her smile softening into something tender, her eyes locking onto his with a quiet intensity. "It's because we knew one day we'd find you—bring you back to us." Her words hung there, a simple truth wrapped in years of longing, and Syn fell silent, his breath catching as he stared at her, her shadow enveloping him.

"And when that day came," she continued, her voice a gentle murmur, "we'd all sleep together again—like we used to." Her smile widened, a flicker of nostalgia softening her features as she bent down, scooping him up from the cot in one swift motion. Syn yelped faintly, the blanket tangling around him like a cocoon as she cradled him in her arms, his legs dangling helplessly. She carried him effortlessly, her strength a quiet marvel, and laid him gently onto Vera's bed, the crimson sheets soft beneath him.

Aster slid in beside him, the mattress dipping under her weight as she stretched out, her broad frame dwarfing his slighter one. Syn shifted, the blanket still wrapped around him, and met her gaze, a faint realization dawning. This was her plan all along—a return to the nights they'd shared as kids, huddled together under makeshift shelters, a closeness he'd nearly forgotten. There was no reason to resist; it was a comfort he'd once known, a piece of their past that felt right despite everything.

"Don't try anything funny," he mumbled, his eyes half-closed as he sank into the pillow, his voice thick with fatigue. "I'm seriously wiped out."

"Relax, relax," she said, her tone playful yet soothing as she draped an arm over his waist, her hand resting lightly there. "I won't do a thing—just sleep." She tugged herself closer, her warmth pressing against him, her breath steadying as she nestled in. "Just this," she added, a quiet promise as she watched his eyes flutter shut, his face slackening into repose. Her own lids drifted closed, following him into the stillness, and as sleep claimed her, a contented smile curved her lips. It was the best sleep she'd had in a long, long while.