Captured by the Yandere Space Pirates-Chapter 23 -

The cafeteria hummed with a sparse, scattered energy, its low crowd a stark contrast to the frenetic bustle Syn had left behind in the control room. Brunch was an odd hour, the tables dotted with only a handful of pirates nursing cold drinks or picking at leftovers, their voices a muted murmur beneath the ship's ambient drone.

Syn sat alone at a corner table, the metal chair creaking faintly under him, the space around him a buffer no one breached. Eyes flicked his way—wary, curious, some edged with lingering suspicion—but no one approached, their avoidance a silent gift. He welcomed it, the solitude a shield against questions he wasn't ready to face, his presence still a riddle to those who might not yet know how he'd swayed the Kingdom's hand.

His fingers rolled the cold coffee can between his palms, the condensation slick against his skin as he stared at its dented surface, lost in thought. The chill seeped into his hands, grounding him as his mind churned over the crossroads ahead. Returning to the Kingdom felt like a fading option—pointless, even. The commander's stern face now knew his own, his anonymity shattered by that tense standoff on the bridge.

He'd left an impression, a mark that could brand him a traitor or a wildcard if he went back. But staying here, with Vera, Aster, and Pako, was no sanctuary either. They were exhausting—clingy in a way that tugged at his edges, reckless in a way that set his nerves alight. With the resources they'd amassed—the ship, the hostages, the leverage—they were a growing storm, a threat to the Kingdom that could spiral beyond control. He didn't belong to either world now, caught in a limbo he couldn't navigate.

A strong arm slid around his neck from behind, loose but firm, jolting him from his daze. Long, straight blonde hair cascaded past his face, brushing his cheek with a familiar softness, and then the weight of Aster's head settled on his shoulder, her chin resting there as she peered at him from the corner of her eye. Her warmth pressed against his back, a sudden anchor in his drifting thoughts. "I knew you'd be here," she said, her voice bright with a cheer that lit the dim cafeteria, and before he could respond, she leaned in, planting a quick, firm kiss on his cheek, her lips leaving a faint tingle.

"Good morning, Aster," Syn said, his tone steady but laced with a faint warmth, a reflex to her infectious energy. "You sound chipper."

"Yes, I am—I'm really happy today," she chirped, her grin audible as she squeezed his shoulder lightly, her arm still draped around him. "I was a bit miffed waking up alone, you know—thought maybe it was all a dream. But seeing you here? Now I know yesterday was real. How could I not be thrilled?" Her hand slid from his shoulder to his jaw, turning his head gently but insistently until their eyes met, and then she kissed him full on the lips—a bold, unhesitant press that caught him off guard.

Syn tensed, the peering gazes of the few pirates sharpening into pinpricks against his skin, but he didn't pull away. Morning wasn't the time to stoke her temper, not when her joy was this palpable, so he leaned into it, letting her warmth wash over him despite the audience. Her lips lingered, soft yet demanding, and when she finally drew back, she glanced around with a casual sweep, unbothered by the stares. Dragging a chair over with a metallic scrape, she plopped down beside him, her elbow propped on the table, her head resting on her hand as she faced him, her eyes alight with a lingering spark.

"So—how was last night?" she asked, her voice dipping into a teasing lilt, the question bold and immediate as she fixed him with an expectant stare.

A cough sounded somewhere behind them, sharp and deliberate, and Syn's ears burned as he ducked his head, his fingers tightening around the coffee can. "It was, fine," he said slowly, his voice measured as he kept his gaze low, dodging the weight of her intensity. "Slept well—nice mattress." The words felt flat, a safe retreat from the intimacy she was probing, his exhaustion still a dull ache beneath his ribs.

Aster's lips pursed, a flicker of dissatisfaction crossing her face, though her gaze didn't waver, still locked on him with a quiet insistence. "Well, I slept great too," she said, her tone softening into a satisfied hum, a small smile curving her mouth. "Had a good dream—best rest I've had in ages." Her fingers tapped lightly on the table, a rhythmic echo of her contentment, but her eyes held a hint of expectation he couldn't meet.

Syn nodded faintly, seizing the chance to shift the focus. "Did you see Vera?" he asked after a beat of quiet, his voice steadying as he lifted his head. "She looked rough up there—could use your help."

Aster tilted her head, her blonde hair spilling over her shoulder as she considered his words. "Yeah, I passed her on the way," she said, her tone turning casual, almost dismissive. "She didn't sleep a wink last night, I bet. Guess the Kingdom's refusal got under her skin." She shrugged, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Looks like we'll just keep them as prisoners here—put them to work or whatever suits us."

Syn swallowed hard, the coffee can creaking faintly in his grip as her words sank in, a cold knot tightening in his stomach. The idea of his former comrades—Elara's crew—shackled here, pawns in the pirates' hands, stirred a unease he couldn't shake. "Anyway," Aster continued, her smirk widening as she plucked the can from his hands, her fingers brushing his with a playful nudge, "the raid wasn't really about that useless princess. It was about snagging you." She took a sip, her eyes glinting over the rim, a spark of mischief dancing there as she handed it back.

His brow furrowed, doubt creeping into his voice as he took the can, the cold metal grounding him against her revelation. "How'd you even find me?" he asked, leaning forward slightly, his tone sharpening with suspicion. He'd assumed the raid was a stroke of chance, a collision of fates when Vera's crew hit Elara's ship—but Aster's words hinted at something deliberate, a thread he hadn't seen.

Her smirk turned mischievous, a glint of secrets lighting her eyes as she leaned in, her elbow sliding closer on the table. "Follow me," she said, her voice a conspiratorial whisper, a promise of answers laced with intrigue. "I've got something to show you." She stood abruptly, her chair scraping back as she gestured for him to rise, her towering frame casting a shadow over him. Syn hesitated, then pushed himself up, the coffee can clinking softly as he set it down, curiosity outweighing the fatigue tugging at his limbs.

She led him out of the cafeteria, her strides long and purposeful, her blonde hair swaying with each step as they wove through the ship's corridors. The hum of machinery followed them, a constant pulse beneath their boots, until they reached a quieter section—the soldiers' quarters, a row of nondescript doors stretching into the gloom. Aster stopped at one, her fingers dancing over a keypad with a practiced rhythm, and the door hissed open, exhaling a breath of stale air as it revealed a dark interior.

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Syn followed her inside, the threshold swallowing them into shadow, the faint glow from the corridor snuffed out as the door sealed behind. The room was a void, its contours hidden until Aster's hand found a switch, her fingers brushing the wall with a soft click. Light flooded in, sharp and sudden, banishing the darkness as the room snapped into view.