Crimson Bonds

Chapter 54: A Choice of Power

The weight of the artifact pressed against Babe's hand as he held it, the energy pulsating with an eerie glow. The room seemed darker, colder, as if the Leviathans' presence was already creeping in. Babe's heart raced, his mind swirling with the implications of what lay before them.

"We can't take this lightly, Babe," Billy said, standing by his side. His voice was steady, but the tension in his shoulders was unmistakable. "If we use this... There's no going back. It could make Pudding stronger, but it could also..."

"Unleash them," Babe finished, his voice barely above a whisper. He stared down at the artifact, feeling its power hum through his fingertips. It was like holding a loaded weapon, one wrong move and the Leviathans could break free, their darkness consuming everything.

Billy sighed and took a step closer, placing his hand gently on Babe's shoulder. "I don't want us to make this choice out of fear. But I also don't want to put Pudding in danger. This... this isn't just about us anymore."

Babe turned to him, his eyes filled with uncertainty. "I know," he murmured, the burden of their situation pressing harder against his chest. "But what if this is the only way to stop them? What if we need to do this, Billy?"

Billy's brow furrowed. "There's always another way. There has to be. We can't just risk everything on a gamble with something this powerful." His hand gently squeezed Babe's shoulder, grounding him, though Babe could see the fear flickering behind Billy's usually composed eyes.

Babe set the artifact down, stepping away from it like it was burning him. "But what if we don't have time?" His voice cracked slightly, the strain of the past few days finally starting to wear him down. "What if we're running out of options?"

Billy moved in front of Babe, forcing him to meet his gaze. "We don't have to decide this right now," he said softly. "We'll figure it out. We always do."

Babe looked up at Billy, feeling the warmth of his presence cut through the cold tension surrounding them. The uncertainty gnawed at him, but having Billy there helped to ease the storm in his mind, even if just for a moment.

Billy reached out, brushing a thumb gently across Babe's cheek. "Hey," he said, his voice dropping to a softer, more intimate tone. "We've been through a lot worse, right? And we made it. We're still here. Together."

Babe closed his eyes, leaning into the touch. The bond between them was like a lifeline, stronger than any force trying to pull them apart. He could feel it in every quiet moment, in every shared glance-it was what had kept them going through all the chaos, all the danger.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," Babe admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. He felt Billy's hand slip down to his waist, pulling him closer.

"You won't have to find out," Billy replied, his breath warm against Babe's skin. "Not ever."

They stood there in the quiet of the room, the dark magic swirling around them, but for that moment, it didn't matter. It was just them. Billy's hands found their way around Babe's waist, and in the space between their worries and fears, they found solace in each other.

Babe felt the tension melt away as Billy pulled him into a slow, gentle kiss. His lips were soft and familiar, a grounding force that reminded him of why they fought so hard-to protect this. To protect their love, their family.

As the kiss deepened, the world outside their connection blurred. The Leviathans, the prophecy, the chaos threatening to tear everything apart-it all faded as their breaths mingled and their bodies pressed closer. Babe could feel the warmth of Billy's body against his, their shared heartbeat pulsing between them.

"Mumu," Babe whispered against Billy's lips, a soft laugh escaping him despite the weight of their situation.

Billy chuckled, resting his forehead against Babe's. "Tofu," he murmured back, his voice low and filled with affection.

The exchange of their nicknames, even in such a serious moment, brought a lightness to the air. It was a reminder of who they were beneath all the supernatural chaos-two people in love, trying to protect their world and their child.

They pulled each other closer, the moment becoming more intimate, more urgent, as the tension between them gave way to a deep need for connection. Billy's hands slipped under Babe's shirt, his touch gentle but firm, and Babe sighed into the kiss, losing himself in the warmth and safety of Billy's arms.

As their bodies pressed together, their worries seemed to dissolve, if only for a short while. In that moment, it was just the two of them, anchored by the love that had carried them through so much already.

Billy's lips moved down Babe's neck, leaving a trail of soft kisses that sent shivers through him. Babe's hands tightened around Billy's shoulders, pulling him even closer as their breaths became ragged, their need for each other overwhelming the chaos outside.

"I love you," Billy whispered against Babe's skin, his voice rough with emotion.

"I love you too," Babe whispered back, his voice soft but filled with the same intensity. Their connection felt unbreakable in that moment, even as the darkness of the Leviathans loomed over them.

As their moment of intimacy continued, Babe felt a surge of power deep within him, a raw, untapped force that he knew was tied to both his own blood magic and the child they had created. He pulled away slightly, his breath shaky as he looked into Billy's eyes.

"Billy... the magic... it's-" Babe started, but before he could finish, the room seemed to shift around them. The air thickened with energy, and Babe could feel the pull of the artifact once again.

Their child's magic, unbridled and raw, flared to life, sending a shockwave through the room that caused the artifact to glow brighter, its power surging. The Leviathans' influence was palpable, hanging over them like a storm cloud ready to break.

Billy's eyes widened as he looked around the room. "Babe, it's happening... the power-"

Babe nodded, his breath still ragged from their intimate moment, but now his heart pounded with a different kind of urgency. "We don't have much time. If we're going to stop them... we need to act now."

Billy's grip tightened around Babe's waist as they stood together, facing the darkness that was closing in. The decision hung in the air between them-use the artifact to empower their child and risk the Leviathans' escape, or hold back and risk losing everything they loved.

But they both knew one thing for certain: whatever choice they made, they would face it together.

Always.