#you were my new dream. // stingslikeabee

[strongfuck]

Melissa didn't have the same abilities to scan another being as Rhys possessed - but she could read the man very well after being at his side for all these years. First, as a misguided priestess of a made-up religion; then later, as a reformed bounty hunter and glorified healer.

Now, if all went according to plan - a good subject for study and inspiration, too. Smiling softly and running a hand over the side of Rhys' face, Melissa softly titled his chin up, forcing their eyes to meet. Not that the CEO had been hiding from her - but it was just so easy to see his hesitation and even concern. In many ways, it was endearing that he cared so much.

"Rhys, it's going to be alright. I volunteered, remember? And besides, your science team was handpicked for this - I am sure you didn't accidentally allowed some Nakayama clone to participate," the brunette grinned to lighten up the mood, knowing that Hyperion had its fair share of crazy, unethical scientists - maybe the original Atlas had those too; but the new version of it, with Rhys at the helm, was not the same thing.

Melissa knew and she was terribly proud to contribute in any way she could to the good work that it tried to offer back to the universe.

"Now, give your wife a kiss and tell me I look good in these dull hospital gowns. I will be back from the tests before you miss me."

For all that Rhys loves logic (in a lot of cases, logic is hysterically freeing), the knowledge that there is literally nothing for him to worry about regarding Melissa's examination is suddenly absolutely not enough.

The night before he hadn't slept much-- nothing new, of course, considering Rhys' proclivity for hard work-- and now, having had two big mugs of coffee, his mind is running wild with possibilities. This is unfair to many people: to his scientists, because they're professionals; to himself, because he'd hired them; and, perhaps more importantly, to Melissa... because he trusts her, he really does, and yet somehow that trust isn't enough to keep him from fearing the worst.

It is the most uncool thing in the world that he ends up pouting at her, leaning into her touch with his bottom lip jutting out. If he were a normal person (if, perhaps, he could manage being away from Melissa knowing she's going into testing like this), her comfort would be enough. But because there's something fundamentally screwed with him-- and an age-old mix of possessiveness and protectiveness of his wife to boot-- her attempts to ease him only make him frown.

"You look good in anything," he says, sounding more petulant than he intends. "But that isn't...

"Ugh, I just hope you don't get hurt."

She might get hurt anyway, even with all the promises of well-being. Rhys has seen the list of tests done to her and knows it won't all just be scanning in the comforts of a simple container. There will be needles (more than one, even), there will be some light drugging, there will be some potential radioactivity, and... oh, why did he have to have a superhero for a wife?

"Or hurt enough that I'm gonna want to hug you. I already want to hug you. I'm--" Rhys does just that, arms wrapping around Melissa for a squeeze. His cybernetic hand touches the back of her head as he kisses her temple, then her cheek, and finally, just as she'd asked, he pulls his head back enough to press a kiss to her lips, too.

Rhys' forehead meets hers, and quietly, he whispers, "...if anyone does anything weird, I will kill them."

A beat.

"I love you. You're the strongest person I know, and... and you're gonna be okay. You'll be okay."

So he pulls away, drags his teeth over his lip, and gives Melissa one last, longing look. One last, ridiculous kiss, because he knows it's all they can afford before the tests start becoming delayed.

"Bold of you to think I won't miss you as soon as I let you go, though."

And true enough, as Melissa is led away, Rhys feels immeasurably colder. He'll be able to watch every test through glass, and he'll be taking note of each completed step with his eye, but the absolute lack of control he has in what's to come makes him sick to his stomach all the same.

It'll be fine. It'll be fine.

But, God, if he isn't going to be cranky until it's all over.

[dojimakaichou]

SENT FROM @stingslikeabee​ ―             ( unprompted / always accepting )

"Come here, anata - give me your hand," Melissa said as Daigo approached, and shifted a bit over the cushions that had been added to the couch so the witch could lay there with a bit more of comfort. These were the last weeks - according to Morticia and Eudora, her first child was due very shortly, even with the potential abilities that he would have once he was born given his parentage. (Melissa was also confident it was a son - when Daigo asked how she knew, the woman merely smiled and attributed her certainty to the powers of her bloodline; a witch always knew things.) The creature did as told, taking a spot near his wife and guiding himself by touch - the brunette helped by placing his fingers over the top of her belly, particularly where their first and unborn kid had been most active until a moment before. Considering that Daigo was so sensitive to touch and saw things differently, the witch had a preference to keep him in contact with his offspring as often as she was able. They stayed like that for a while - and when the boy moved again, Melissa's eyes were not on the baby bump, but rather on the features of the father-to-be, and how emotion showed in his deep black eyes with the loveliest gold sheen over them. Because it was so close to the arrival of their first, Daigo had been making an effort to stay indoors and in human form, merely because walking over to the caves was a trek Melissa had been advised not to take in the last weeks. The witch knew it wasn't ideal - but hopefully would be manageable, and their basement a substitute for some of the days; but Melissa hoped that feeling his unborn child and her gratitude were good rewards for now; through their joined hands, they required no spoken language to communicate, and her thoughts and intentions were shared with her husband thanks to her own gift. 'Thank you for being here. I hope our children take after you, anata. Having witch blood and the protection of your kind would be so very precious - I cannot wait to meet them all.' Them - plural; and when Daigo raised his face to look at Melissa despite not using his eyes for such function, she couldn't help but smiling. Perhaps it was a certainty of some kind fueled by the dreams and visions she had since a kid - but motherhood had been ingrained in her very bones; the boy was just the first, she was sure of it. 'I know it, my love. Between my goddess and your mother, they surely have plans for us - I do think we are destined to have many more lovely spiderlings.'

★. ―

Daigo heard Melissa's request from afar. His ears were so terribly sensitive ; no matter where he was, the witch's soft voice came to him. He smiled from the kitchen and walked into the sitting area. It was easy for him to find his way : there were practically paths worn into the floor from room to room where Daigo memorized how to navigate around their home. Counting the steps he took in his head limited his chances of bumping into furniture or stumbling.

The creature was correct in assuming that his wife was resting, as she certainly deserved to. He could vaguely make out her figure on the furniture. Daigo's grin deepened at the feeling of her fingers on his upper arm, gently guiding him down. These little motions, practiced and perfected, gave him confidence in his new life.

Since Melissa arrived on his stoop, the entity felt . . . comfortable. More than he ever had been ― even as a human. That feeling of contentment and safety persisted with every moment that Daigo spent with her. He loved her, more than anything else in the world ; she was his everything.

Daigo sat gingerly, afraid of disturbing her, and ran his palm over the cushion as Melissa adjusted herself. Soon, the witch grasped his hand again. She brought it to her stomach, guiding him to where their child was. Daigo dipped his head thoughtfully.

The baby. It still scared him. Not just the thought of fatherhood, which was something he hadn't reconciled with yet, but the fear of what the child would be. When Melissa shared the news of the pregnancy with him, he immediately was afraid. Would an offspring of his hurt her as it grew? Potentially be hazardous to deliver? Emerge spider - like? Thankfully, as their son ( Melissa insisted ) developed, she and her mother, Eudora, soothed Daigo's nerves with the promise that the baby seemed entirely human. Though the ex - yakuza believed them, it helped immensely that Melissa also encouraged him to interact with her belly frequently. They learned early in the process that Daigo could sense the child very uniquely. Its thrumming heart, kicks and punches, movements in the womb ― Daigo could see his child, strong and sure. He was able to confirm this way that Eudora and Melissa were correct. Their son was fantastically average, if maybe a bit of a large baby ; however, Daigo couldn't help that prick of worry. The thought of something going wrong with the process and causing Melissa to suffer haunted him. There was no existence without her : he would carve out his mother's eye as many times as it took for his flesh to fall to ruin if Melissa was taken from him.

Daigo splayed out his hand and relaxed into their time together. The creature's fingers were coarse from the existence he lived before her. He clicked his tongue softly, once, twice, and started when the child responded by kicking toward Daigo's palm. His father's slight jump was emphasized by how he shuddered. That brief glimpse of the baby brought a sense of relief to Daigo in spite of how his vocalization changed. It lowered almost admonishingly, as if he were scolding the child for striking Melissa.

Then, the witch's unspoken words washed over him. Daigo raised his features at the mention of all. Somehow, he hadn't considered the possibility they would have additional children. Getting through this pregnancy seemed monumental enough.

' I . . . WOULD LIKE THAT, ' Daigo finally answered, claws curling into the fabric of her dress. She favored looser pieces these days given how advanced her condition was.

The creature leaned in toward his wife, nuzzling into her neck. His sharp teeth grazed over the curve of her throat ; he longed to be closer to her. ' MY MOTHER ― ' Daigo started to say, but he froze. Slowly, he drifted back, and Melissa caught a glimpse of gold in his mouth. Shaking fingers released the witch. Her husband made a wretched gargling sound.

Melissa tenderly tucked his hair behind his ears, humming soothingly. She sent her beloved messages of encouragement, unable to help the awe she felt at the glimpse of what he could do. It was delightfully painful from this body and not nearly as neat as what he produced in his true form, but there was a beauty to that, too. The witch cradled her stomach with one arm and her spider with the other. Daigo convulsed, retched, and a knot of thin, shimmering threads tumbled past his lips.

Breathing heavily, the creature started to weave. Melissa's sweet handling of him aided Daigo greatly. Unafraid of his environment, he worked at a furious pace. When he needed more strands, Daigo simply pulled at the tendril set carefully between his teeth. He groaned at the sensation of it. Gradually, the image he ( and his mother ) wished for came to life in his lap. It was Melissa, standing peacefully, with an infant in her arms. Not the future ― he wasn't capable of that ― but what Daigo wanted to share. His vision of the witch. Melissa stroked his gray - streaked locks. Their child's activity increased while Daigo wove, which inherently excited her. Maybe, his eldritch grandmother was reaching out to both of her boys.

Inevitably, Daigo cut the thread on a tooth and swallowed the remainder back. Melissa propped herself up to the best of her ability. Her husband's trembling fingers returned to her belly, cupping it with her. The evidence of his love for her spread over his lap and toward the floor.

' YOU'RE GOING TO BE A GREAT MOTHER, ' Daigo intoned. ' TO . . . ALL OF THEM. '

Melissa pressed her cheek into his arm and sighed adoringly. ' ― AND YOU WILL BE A LOVELY FATHER, MY MONSTER. I CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH YOU WITH THEM. '

[strongfuck]

"I made a decision," the woman murmured all of a sudden, rolling over to her side so there was a better angle to look at Rhys (so strange to think he had another name - it was taking her some time to adapt and use the right one), a hand going to touch his face with the same gentleness that the brunette had reserved when she genuinely believed the man to be made of divine energy.

Well - in many ways, he was still godly in Melissa's eyes.

"I'm keeping the name you gave me - 'Melissa'," she said, inhaling softly before closing the gap between their faces, but enough just for a brief kiss - nothing that would distract them both from the actual conversation, "I've looked it up and it's Greek, isn't it? Named after bees and honey; you made me to be sweet, kind and loving. I like Melissa better than the person I used to be before you."

The memories had returned - but frankly, they felt like a dream; the strength of the ideas and desires that Rhys had accidentally imprinted on the former bounty hunter was still very significant, but she was able to remember things now. Melissa knew who she had been, what she had done... And the role she had within Rhys and Atlas now. There was no doubt in her mind.

"Accident or not, you made me into someone with purpose - I'm not giving that up for anything. Not even the name," the woman chuckled, linking her fingers with his, flesh against flesh as if he somehow could feel her sincerity better through skin rather than his other hand, "I can still call you 'my lord' if you miss it, though. It still feels appropriate... In the bedroom."

It's funny how much someone can change and how much you can still love them. Melissa's much different now compared to who she was the first time they'd met-- wiser, for one thing, and better adjusted. She's much more adept at surviving the danger that comes with living in the Borderlands in general, too.

Melissa doesn't look to him for everything any more, and in fact she hasn't for a while. She's more independent. More sure of herself. More... full as a person, which isn't to say she'd ever been lacking, but there were times where Rhys knew exactly what was on her mind because he'd written her that way. Now, he only knows her as one would a lover instead of a creator; he knows her because of the time they've spent together and everything they've done, and he's fallen for her over and over again all throughout.

Some things are the same, granted, like the way Melissa touches him, always so reverent even after the confession of his humanity. The way she speaks to him, sweet like fucking honey-- the press of her lips to his, always so good but always leaving him wanting more. Even now, Rhys has to resist the urge to lean over and kiss her again, having put the book he was reading down the moment she'd started speaking. He wants her as much as he always has all these years, and he's sure that isn't going to change any time soon. At least, not in any way that doesn't involve wanting her more.

The point is that he wouldn't have minded if being Lily Drysdell was what she chose for herself (and, boy, if finding old records of Lily's existence following the analysis of Melissa's genetic makeup hadn't been something). As she understood herself more, and as she grew into whatever she wanted to be, Rhys had been by her side every time she'd let him be there. As she evolved, and changed, and became herself, Rhys found that whatever old fear he might've felt that she'd leave him once she discovered his lies had faded with it.

And now, hearing the love of his life tell him that she prefers the purpose he'd written for her, prefers the name... well, even the old guilt he used to have stays buried in its grave.

What can he say to that, really? What can you say to someone who thinks you've saved her life when she's saved so many more? Looking at Melissa now-- and it's Melissa for certain, Melissa forever-- and seeing the adoration in her eyes makes his heart swell with love both familiar and new. The playfulness that trickles into her expression only makes her more beautiful, and Rhys finds it impossible not to smile in return.

His hand squeezes hers where they're entwined. His cybernetic fingers caress her face in a mirror of her touch on his. More important than words is to kiss his woman again, relishing in her warmth, her softness, her genuineness. More important than anything is to tell her he loves her after.

So he does, the words quiet and rumbling from deep in his chest. "I love you, you know..." And, because she's decided, he hums a content: "Melissa."

Then Rhys grins, bright and confident, and presses another soft kiss to her lips.

"And if my sunbeam still wants to call me her lord," he purrs, lips brushing hers with each word, "who am I to tell her 'no'?"

[strongfuck]

✏️ it is my duty to keep this meme going on now

► from this meme.

Melissa: Rhys, can I speak to you for a minute? In private. Rhys: Ooh, someone's in trouble. It's me. I don't know why I did that.

Melissa: If we’re in trouble, just throw Lord Rhayeon at the problem, and hope for the best.

Rhys: I wish I had more enemies. Melissa: I’m sure you will someday, honey.

Melissa: You have to apologize to them Rhys. Rhys: Fine! But I must warn you that this might make me a better, nicer person and that is NOT the person you fell in love with!

Melissa: A mosquito tried to bite me and I slapped it and killed it. Melissa: And I started thinking. Melissa: Like, it was just trying to get food. Melissa: What if I went to the fridge and it just slammed the door shut and snapped my neck? Rhys: Are you ok?