The Professor|| Sylus

I am not a kitten!

As Sylus stepped outside, he spotted Mei sitting on the porch, her head resting in her hands. The sight of her distress ignited a fierce protectiveness within him, and he moved towards her with purposeful strides, ignoring the sting from his fresh wound.

"Mei," he said, his voice steady and commanding. She looked up, eyes wide with a mix of fear and uncertainty.

"I didn't want to hear that," she confessed, her voice trembling. "I thought I was at least safe despite everything that had happened."

"Safety is an illusion," Sylus replied bluntly, sitting beside her to meet her gaze with an intensity that brooked no argument. "You need to understand that the moment you got involved with me, that changed."

She flinched at his words, but he continued, his tone leaving no room for softness. "Ryoichi is not someone you can underestimate. A bounty means every person can come after you, and that makes it personal for me. I won't let them take you."

Mei looked back at the old home "Are you going to kill Marcus?" her voice barely above a whisper.

"Kieran and Luke will handle things from here," Sylus replied, his tone firm but devoid of any hesitation.

Mei let out a sigh, feeling the weight of the situation settle heavily on her. But then her gaze fell on the blood soaking through his shirt, the crimson spreading steadily. "S-Sylus, you're bleeding!"

He glanced down, nonchalant. "Oh, I guess the stitch got loose."

"Let's go home!" Mei urged, panic creeping into her voice.

Before she could react, Sylus leaned against her shoulder with his head, a chuckle escaping his lips. "Yes...we will go home," he said, his voice low and teasing, a stark contrast to the tension surrounding them.

"Sylus!" Mei exclaimed, a mix of frustration and concern in her tone.

"Relax, kitten. I'm tougher than I look," he teased, though the seriousness of his wound didn't escape her.

As they walked back to the bike, the bond between them palpable even in the face of danger. He might be tough, but there was an undeniable connection that neither could ignore.

"Just don't let me bleed out before we get back," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Mei shot him a disapproving look, but the corners of her mouth tugged upward despite her worry. "You're infuriating."

"Maybe," he said, a smirk playing on his lips. "But I'll always have your back."

As Sylus drove them back, the silence of the empty house enveloped them.

Sylus "Rita had left already at this hour" Mei then decided to call Dr. Gregory using the business card he had given her.

Time passed slowly, and soon Dr. Gregory arrived. After a quick assessment, he began to patch up Sylus's wound again, his expression a mix of frustration and concern.

"I wish that all my instructions were clear and should be followed," Dr. Gregory said, shaking his head as he cleaned the area around the stitches. "This isn't the first time I've had to fix you up again and again..."

Sylus offered a nonchalant shrug, a hint of a smirk on his lips. "I appreciate your concern, but sometimes the job doesn't allow for carefulness."

Dr. Gregory sighed, clearly exasperated. "And yet, it's my job to deal with the consequences. You need to take better care of yourself, Sylus. You're no good to anyone bleeding out on the floor."

"Noted," Sylus replied, his tone light despite the seriousness of the situation.

Mei watched the exchange, feeling a mixture of gratitude and worry. "How long will it take to heal this time?" she asked, concern etched on her face.