#personally i think it would be funny to see sylus get confused

[valberryventi]

if sylus tries reading my mind he'll either see worldbuilding or academics or other personal stuff in my brain but also the occasional song which unfortunately gets stuck in his head

just imagining sylus starting to hum the song that got stuck in your head so it ranges from songs in full or just One Lyric of a song which he gets a headache from

[basket-of-cats-and-witches]

Tidbit Tuesdays: Sometimes Sylus Deserves to Get Punched

....in sparring. Usually.

Tidbit Tuesdays is where I share little bits from my WIPs or pieces that I'm particularly proud of. In this case, it's mostly just funny segments where Sylus spars with Kit (or AUs where she hates him) with a surprise extra!

Obviously warnings for blood and violence.

If you liked this, it would be wonderful if you could leave a like or reblog. It lets me know that people like what I'm doing, and encourages me to keep writing!

Side note, I think because Sylus is so tall, he's occasionally thrown off by fighting people who are also tall. It doesn't happen often, but Kit's 5'11, sooooo.

Notes:

First up is AU where Kit is the MC. There's another tidbit further down that you'll see that mirrors this one, and it's because this one is the best parts of that...thing condensed and changed into something else. Sometimes when you write, you just have to Frankenstein it into a different piece entirely.

⭐

This kitten is vicious.

Her foot crashes into his cheek, swift and unrelenting.

It's been long enough since he's fought someone who's almost his height that he's nearly thrown off by it.

Sylus whips around, using his evol in an attempt to pin her down.

“Cheap,” she snarls. “Having to resort to your stupid red shit.”

He scoffs, spitting blood. The injury is already beginning to heal. “I'm merely using the tools at my disposal.”

She writhes violently, her eyes gleaming with a feral light.

The twins are off in the distance, the shouts of their prey quickly being cut off.

“Hold still or this will hurt.” His warning only causes her to fight harder, and Sylus sighs.

His evol tightens, making her face him.

The bright flare of his eye is reflected in hers, and she looks confused. Pain lances through her face.

The blade whips out almost faster than he can predict it, slicing into his cheek.

“Is that how you treat your host?” He asks, and she tenses as the cut heals. “It looks like you really don't remember anything."

���

Notes: This is an fake/pretend marriage WIP that I really should get back to. I pulled it up for this post and remembered how much I loved it. Not much to say here except researching sparring/self defense is fun.

Edit: I looked further, this is one of my first Kit/Sylus fics before I'd nailed down personalities! How cute! I always thought Kieran was the chatty one...

-

A week later, Luke and Kieran appeared during their daily sparring match.

“We have presents!”

Sylus looked up from putting Kit in a headlock, his hold tight as she writhed and scrabbled at his wrist.

“Oh?” He glanced back down. “Kit, we talked about this. Wedge your hands and chin, step under and away.”

“It would be easier if I just bit you,” she grunted, yanking forcefully out of his grip. Sylus went to grab her hair, dragging her back towards him, and she used the momentum to slam her head into his gut, making him cough.

One stomp on the instep later, and she'd whirled a short distance away, panting heavily.

Sylus nodded. “Good. You're getting better.” He glanced towards the twins, gesturing them over. “What is it?”

Kieran handed him two tiny boxes, and he smirked. “Good. Kit, come here.”

She trotted over, wiping her face with a towel.

“Hold out your hand, sweetie.” Sylus opened one of the boxes, slipping something onto her ring finger.

She glanced down and her eyes widened. “Boss-”

“Sylus. You were doing so well. You're going to have to get into practice for this mission.” He arched a brow. “Unless you want them to think we have a different sort of relationship.”

Blushing violently, Kit corrected herself. “Sylus. Right. I didn't…I didn't actually expect you to get it.” She looked up at him, confused, completely unaware that the twins were fixated on this exchange. “It's just for a single mission. It doesn't- “ she swallowed hard. “It doesn't mean anything.”

Sylus hummed, considering his response. “You liked it,” he said simply. “Kieran and Luke are easy to please, but you're allergic to any sort of gifts. Unless they're weapons, of course. Consider it a sign of my appreciation for your service. It's yours to keep.”

Kit felt her heart stutter, her skin heating. The weight of something so small felt so odd, the ruby shimmering in the gym lights like a particular glint she knew so well.

She cleared her throat shakily. “Thank you, Bo- Sylus. It's beautiful.”

He gave her a strangely tender look, accompanied by an odd smile. “Of course. You never ask for anything. It's my pleasure. Now, it's your turn.” He held out the other box.

She shot him a confused look, opening it.

Inside was a heavy rose gold band, subtle geometric shapes patterning its surface. She gasped as she noticed the most dazzling element- a strip of amethyst inlaid in the middle.

Sylus chuckled. “Well? Are you going to do the honors?” He held out his hand.

Kit pulled the ring out gingerly, ignoring Kieran’s snickering.

“I'm pretty sure if she blushes anymore she'll turn into a tomato,” he whispered to Luke.

Luke elbowed his twin sharply and shushed him.

It was strangely simple, the act of sliding a ring on Sylus's finger. His hand was warm and sturdy, the rough calluses of his skin scratching against hers in a way that made her involuntarily shiver.

Kit glanced up to see Sylus smiling. “There we go,” he murmured. “Easy as could be.”

Her lips parted in surprise. Why were his ears turning pink?

⭐

Notes: This one is pretty damn suggestive. Which is the reason I never posted it, because it's borderline NSFW. It's mostly inspired by the very first scene where MC is hunting for the brooch and Sylus is just. In a towel. I imagine when you're that close to the boss, you're bound to get an eyeful at some point.

Notes:

-

“Come in.”

Kit walked into the bedroom, looking around. “Boss…?”

A glass door clicked open, steam billowing into the room. Sylus poked his head out, his skin flushed from the heat. “Here, Kit. Report. How did it go?”

She froze in place, eyes wide. A few droplets of water slid down the column of his neck, dipping into his collarbone and caressing the line of muscles as it trickled down, towards his-

Kit turned scarlet and immediately whipped around, making a strangled sound as she pressed her palms to her face.

A warm, loud chuckle sounded from behind her. “Oh, come on. Our little assassin is afraid of a little nudity? I'm sure you've killed people in worse conditions, sweetie.”

“Usually I wait until I can't see their dick,” she hissed sharply.

He snickered. “Perhaps not as expert an assassin as I thought, if that's all that stops you.”

Kit whipped around, lunging at him with blade in hand, pressing it to the slick skin of his neck. He simply tilted his chin up, glancing down at her.

“Just because I'm inexperienced in some matters doesn't mean I won't push through for the job,” she growled at him.

Sylus quirked a brow at her. The heat and humidity coming off of him pressed against her thin houseclothes, and she quickly became aware of how close certain parts of him were to her.

“Wow,” he commented. “I've never seen someone turn into a tomato in real time before.” In a flash, the blade clattered to the ground, and he pinned her up against the glass barrier that separated the bathroom from the bedroom.

Kit felt her heart rate spike as his damp skin came into full contact with her, his hands sliding up to entwine his fingers with hers.

She could feel her thin shirt growing wet, the water droplets on his skin turning the white fabric translucent in places.

His face was too close to hers, his breath warming her face as he spoke. “It's my bedroom, kitten. You should be prepared for what you're likely to see when you walk in, next time.”

⭐

Notes: Ah, the misunderstandings fic. Also our bonus OC for this post. Depending on when I decide to post it (or the ADHD kicks in and I forgot I put this here, because I schedule these) you may see the WIP as an actual fic posted before this one comes out. Anyway, Kiri, being the actual MC, genuinely doesn't like Sylus because she's best friends with Kit. Go figure. Kiri will always be a Zayne girlie, and more power to her.

-

Sylus catches the fist before it hits him.

Cold, steely blue eyes glare sharply at him, and he's impressed by the sheer extent of the rage on Kiri’s face.

“If you've hurt her,” Kiri snarls.

He doesn't give her the chance to continue. “Our spat will have to wait, honey,” he bites out, sickly sweet. “I have to go resolve a misunderstanding.”

A hard boot slams into his shin, and he grunts in pain. Sylus flicks his fingers and launches her gently out the bedroom doors. They swing open on his command. “Get out. I'm not in the mood to play.”

“She's my fucking friend, asshole!” Kiri snaps back. “What the hell are you doing to her? Why did she look so…so…”

“Heartbroken?” He supplies. His voice is quiet as he walks past, not bothering to help her up. “I'm sure you're smart enough to figure that out.”

Kiri surges to her feet, following after him. “You were the one who insisted we resonate!”

“And it didn't work,” he calls over his shoulder. Two people walk out into the hallway, see Sylus, and immediately duck back into whatever room they came from. He ignores them, continuing. “We'll have to find another way.”

She stiffens. “If hand-holding was your first method, the next one better not be-”

“Don't flatter yourself. There's only one woman I want, and right now she's filled her head with all sorts of ideas. Stay here.” As she opens her mouth to protest, red mist gathers around her, depositing her neatly into the twins outstretched arms.

“Sylus!” Kiri yells. He's already gone.

⭐

Not every fic gets abandoned because I was procrastinating or didn't feel like finishing it. Sometimes, like this one, it's because I recognized that it would be relatively incomprehensive to most people. In any case, assassin AU (Kit's already an assassin, that's not the AU part) where she accidentally gets MC's memories for some reason.

That's why they're in bold vs hers in italics. As I said, incomprehensive.

-

She is standing with her hands wrapped around a blade, covered in blood. Not her memories, but somehow they are.

Red mist slams her against a wall, and she coughs, the air forced from her lungs. She fights wildly against the bindings as the man stalks forward. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knows that he's bare of any clothing, but survival is forefront.

She has to kill him. Stab him.

Right through the heart.

Right through the heart.

She is present, and memories that aren't hers drag at her consciousness, forcing her back under, like sirens at sea pulling a sailor down to his doom.

“This is a surprise,” he purrs. That voice is achingly familiar, but she can't afford to dwell on it. It's her or him. “You did well to get this far, kitten.”

“Seven?” The red eyed demon says, unimpressed. “That's not a name. That's a number. I'll call you Kitty. You hiss and spit like one.”

“You can't just ask for someone's name and decide you don't like it!” She snaps back. “I'm not going by that!”

He smirks. “You'll learn to respond to it if you want my help. A thing doesn't need assistance. A person, on the other hand, can beg for it.”

Kit snarls, swinging a leg out. She manages to clip him across the jaw.

He touches the cut left behind, smearing blood, and it fades away like dust.

Horror sinks in her gut like a rock. Bridget was right. She should have never taken this mission.

The red mist tightens around her throat, and she feels tears prick at the corner of her eyes, her head going floaty as she struggles to breathe.

“A waste of your talents,” he says evenly. “If you want to hurt me, you'll have to try harder than that.”

The man steps closer, and Kit seizes her opportunity. She grabs a blade from her boot and slams it through his bare chest.

It wounds her more than it does him, a feedback loop that rips through her mind with a piercing whining scream.

She is holding a blade, and hands wrap around hers. Are they claws? Fingers? She can't be sure. Despair and terror slam through her, leaving her breathless.

“You must press on.” The voice is pained, struggling.

“No,” Kit gasps. She's crying now, she knows it. Something throbs in her chest, like her heart is slamming against the prison bars of her ribcage, trying to get out.

The man - Sylus - scoffs. “What's wrong, cold feet? The little assassin can't stomach killing a man?” He grabs her hand, wrapped around the blade, and forces it in more. “Try harder.”

She recoils, even as spots begin to dance at the edge of her vision. “Sylus, stop!” Kit cries out. “Please, not like this!”

He flinches. “What did you just-”

It's too late, though. She used the last of her air to yell, and everything goes black.

= later in the same fic =

Sylus, on the other hand, is quiet. He meets her gaze dead-on, searching for something in her expression. For what, she doesn't know.

Kit already prepares herself for what's to come, letting herself go numb. Assassins like her do not survive.

“You're not going to tell me anything.” He states. He seems almost…impressed, despite himself. There's an understanding there, like recognizing like in this awful world they occupy.

Kit drains the cup, setting it on the side table next to the bed. She turns to face him. “The only thing I'll give you is that I'm a professional. And if you're any good, you know what that means.”

He sighs, shaking his head. “This will hurt.” Oddly, it feels like a warning.

She braces herself.

A large hand grasps her chin, forcing her to maintain eye contact with him.

“What are you-” his eye glows, cutting her off.

It is the most unpleasant sensation. Like ants crawling through her mind, skittering across her thoughts and scratching at the insides of her ears.

She shrieks and fights him, but his grip is too strong. Every time her nails rake across his wrist, trying to force him away, the scratches heal instantaneously.

It feels like he's forced his fingers inside her skull and cracked it open to examine the blackened insides.

The smell of blood and fire fills her senses, leaving her nose burning from the inside, and she screams, feeling copper spatter on her tongue.

In the awful, bloody end, it's Hector who brings her back.

The sharp memory of him gripping her hair and hissing, “Endure or die.”

Kit brings her knee up and slams Sylus in the jaw, forcing his mouth shut with an awful click, and slots herself back against the very corner of the bed, pressed up against the wall.

He spits blood onto the floor and gazes at her sidelong.

“Come work for me,” Sylus says bluntly. “Ever is a dead man’s game.”

Kit stares at him.

“What?” She whispers hoarsely. “Are you on drugs? I tried to-” her voice gives out, finally petering out to nothingness. She coughs into her hand. There's a smear of red.

Sylus snaps his fingers, and a handkerchief is placed in it. He hands it to her. “I know. That's why I want you. No one else would be crazy enough to try, let alone skilled enough to almost succeed.”

She looks at him suspiciously, and it's almost as if he can read her mind. He snorts.

“I'm not desperate, sweetie. If I wanted you as my bed warmer, we wouldn't be having this conversation. And it would be because you wanted it, not because I forced you.” Sylus stands, stretching, his back popping with the motion. He sighs pleasantly. “You're good at your job, clearly. So do it for me. I'll pay well. We can discuss your contract when you're healed up. For now, rest.”

If she had a voice, she'd snap at him for being so overconfident.

For now, however, she doesn't have a choice. Kit’s out of options. She can't afford to bite this particular hand.

Not yet.

⭐

As usual, thanks for reading! I know this post was a meaty one, but I had a blast writing these and so I thought they were worth the share.

Enjoy your Tuesday!