Captured by the Yandere Space Pirates

A faint shuffle by the door pricked Syn's senses, a shadow shifting beyond the frosted panel.

He froze, soap dripping from his elbow as he snapped, "Aster, don't try anything funny—I can hear you out there!" His voice echoed off the walls, sharp with a mix of irritation and modesty, but the door slid open anyway, a rush of cooler air cutting through the steam.

Syn's head whipped around, ready to protest, but it wasn't Aster who stepped inside—it was Vera, cloaked in a white towel that hugged her frame, her purple hair loose and cascading over her shoulders, her skin glowing in the dim light.

Her face was lit up with a happiness he hadn't seen in weeks, a radiant contrast to the exhaustion that had shadowed her all month, her sharp eyes soft with a rare, unguarded joy.

"Vera?" Syn blinked, his hands pausing mid-scrub, suds clinging to his fingers. "Wait—I'm bathing right now. I'll be done soon, give me a minute." His tone was flustered, his hazel eyes darting to the towel shielding her form.

"Syn~" she sang, her voice a lilting melody that danced through the steam, her smile widening as she stepped closer, her bare feet silent against the tiles.

The playful note in her tone threw him off, a stark shift from the weary captain he'd grown used to since the past month.

"What happened?" he asked, his confusion melting into curiosity as he tilted his head, water dripping from his dark hair onto his shoulders. "You look happy—something good happened?"

Vera nodded, a cute bob of her head that sent her purple locks swaying, her smile infectious as she crouched beside him, her towel rustling faintly.

"What?" he pressed, leaning forward slightly, his voice softening with intrigue.

She shook her head, her grin teasing as she leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"It's a secret—I'll tell you soon, once your legs are fixed." Her purple eyes sparkled, a promise glinting in their depths, but Syn's brow furrowed, impatience flickering across his face.

"Come on, tell me now—you know I hate suspense," he insisted, his tone edging into a plea as he reached for her arm, his wet fingers brushing her skin.

Vera hesitated, her smile faltering as she bit her lip, then relented, her voice low and earnest. "I figured out a way for you to enter the Kingdom."

She paused for a dramatic effect, letting the weight of it sink in, her eyes searching his.

"I've been talking to my pirates there—your face hasn't been plastered anywhere as a wanted pirate, no bounty, nothing. That day with the Commander, I guess they were too caught up in their own mess to snap a picture of you. So I've made arrangements—carefully planned it out. You'll go in, meet up with our contacts inside, and they'll help you dig up evidence on the shapeshifters."

Syn's eyes widened, a jolt of joy surging through him as he processed her words, his mouth parting in disbelief.

"Wow! Thank you, Vera!" he shouted in joy and surprise, his voice ringing off the walls as he lunged forward, aiming to wrap her in a hug.

His ankles betrayed him, buckling under the sudden move, and he toppled forward, landing squarely against her chest, his face buried in the soft curve of her bosom beneath the towel. Vera's arms shot out, catching him with a startled laugh, her hands steadying his shoulders.

"Careful," she chided, her voice warm with amusement as she held him upright, her purple hair brushing his cheek. "It took me a whole month of work—sleepless nights, endless calls—but that look on your face? Totally worth it."

Syn lifted his head, a grin splitting his face as he met her gaze, his voice high with excitement. "I don't know what to say—I'm just so happy, Vera. I didn't think you'd ever let me back to the Kingdom. I promise I'll bring results." He grabbed her hands, his wet fingers lacing with hers, his grip firm with resolve. "We'll take down the King—together."

"Yes, we will, Syn," she replied, her voice steady as she squeezed his hands back, her purple eyes locking with his hazel ones.

They held the moment, a silent pact sealed in the steam, their breaths mingling as the tub's water lapped faintly behind them.

Vera's lips twitched, a tease breaking the stillness. "I don't like how your brother's staring at me," she said, her tone playful as she glanced downward.

Syn blinked, confusion flashing across his face for a second before realization hit, his cheeks flushing crimson as he yanked his hands free and covered his groin—his "brother"—with a hasty shield of palms.

Vera seized the moment with a swift, breathless urgency, closing the space between them. Her hands cradled his face with aching gentleness as her lips met his, pressing him back against the warm wall of the tub's edge.

Syn tensed for a heartbeat, surprised, his breath catching in his throat—but then he melted into her touch, his resistance dissolving like steam on skin. He leaned into her kiss.

It wasn't rough or frantic. It was slow, aching, sensual—each movement infused with a yearning that words could never capture. A kiss full of quiet confession.

Her lips moved with intent, coaxing his open, and when her tongue slipped between them, the taste of him made her sigh softly into his mouth.

She explored him with a patience that belied the heat simmering beneath her skin, and he responded in kind, their tongues dancing in a rhythm only they could hear.

Vera shifted closer, straddling him with slow, sensual grace. The towel clinging to her loosened, falling away unnoticed as she sank onto his lap, skin meeting skin beneath the warm mist.

She pressed against him, her body fitting to his like it had always belonged there, the curve of her hips, the softness of her thighs, the heat of her breath—all of it wrapping around him, claiming him.