The station was quiet that night, the massive railgun above humming in low tones as if it were whispering to the stars. Most of the crew were either resting or busy maintaining the systems, but deep within the command level, in the heart of the station, Kiana moved with ghostlike graceâbarefoot, silent, purposeful.
Vermond sat alone in the observation lounge, the stars sprawling endlessly before him, his thoughts clouded with everything: the railgun, the war, the Federation, Jardâs theories⦠the cleanser, the way Stitch disappeared⦠and Kiana.
He didnât hear her come in. He didnât need to. He felt her before he saw herâlike the soft tug of gravity when something beautiful and dangerous pulls too close.
Then arms wrapped around his shoulders from behind. Gentle. Possessive.
"Big brother," her voice was soft, airy, a whisper that lingered longer than it shouldâve. "You're always here⦠thinking again. Planning again. But what about me?"
Vermond didnât move. âKiana, it's late. You should beââ
âIâm not tired,â she whispered, her fingers trailing along the side of his neck, tracing him like a map she had memorized a thousand times. âI just want to be near you.â
He turned slightly, meeting her eyes. Her emerald gaze glowed faintly in the dim lightâglowing with something more than soul energy. A hunger. A possessiveness that shimmered just beneath her soft smile.
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She moved in front of him and sat on his lap, without asking, straddling him with slow, deliberate confidence. Her white hair spilled over his shoulders like silk.
âYou keep forgetting,â she said, placing her hands on his chest. âIâm not your little sister, Vermond.â
He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. âKianaâ¦â
She leaned closer, her lips inches from his. âI love you, Big Brother. More than anyone. More than anything. More than this station, this galaxy, this⦠power. I donât care if you raise an army of a billion undead. Youâre still mine.â
âKiana, youââ
âI killed Stitch for you,â she whispered, her smile never fading. âYou think Iâll stop there? Anyone who wants you, touches you, even thinks about loving youâIâll erase them. Youâre not allowed to leave me. Not anymore.â
The words were terrifying. Beautiful. Unhinged. Obsessive. And yet... Vermond couldnât look away.
âI dreamed about you long before the powers,â she continued, voice sweet but chilling. âYou were always gentle. Always kind. Always distant. I hated that.â
Her fingers gently cupped his face. âSo Iâve decided. If I canât have a part of youâthen Iâll take all of you.â
Then she kissed him.
It wasnât soft. It wasnât innocent. It was deep, raw, consuming. It was a kiss that claimed him.
When she pulled back, her lips were flushed. âSee? You didnât stop me. You want this too. Donât you?â
Vermond stared at her, stunned into silence, heart pounding like never before. The railgun, the station, the galaxyâall of it felt far away.
âIâll protect you,â she whispered. âIâll love you. Iâll kill for you. But youâre never allowed to leave me. Not even in death.â
She leaned close again, her breath warm on his skin. âSay it.â
ââ¦Say what?â Vermondâs voice was weak, breathless.
âThat I belong to you. And you belong to me.â
For a moment, there was only silence⦠until Vermond closed his eyes and said, very softly:
ââ¦You belong to me. And I belong to you.â
Her smile turned divine. Her eyes closed, satisfied.
Then she hugged him tight, her heartbeat thudding against his. âGood boy,â she whispered.
Outside, the stars blinked cold and distant. But inside that room, the real danger wasnât the weapon above their headsâ¦
It was the girl in his arms.