Pov Gun:

When I woke up, first thing I felt was the warmth-his warmth. My cheek rested against his arm, my legs tangled with his, and the faintest stream of sunlight slipped through the curtains, landing right across my face. I blinked against it lazily, only to find myself staring straight into those familiar green eyes. His gaze was soft, like he'd been watching me before I even woke up. Just that sight made the corners of my lips lift into a smile before I even realized it.

He leaned forward, brushing a kiss against my forehead with such gentleness that I melted further into him. "Morning, sunshine," he whispered, his voice still husky from sleep.

I smiled wider, almost shyly. "Good morning, phi." My arms went around him instantly, hugging tighter, pressing my face into his chest as if I could hide there forever. My words came muffled against him, "Thank you... for protecting me."

His hand came up, stroking through my hair, "Don't thank me for that," he murmured. "It's my responsibility."

I stayed quiet for a while, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my ear. But in that silence, Sam's words from last night kept echoing at the back of my mind, clinging like a shadow I couldn't shake off. My chest tightened. I hesitated, my fingers curling against his shirt before I whispered, "P-Phi... d-do you... hate me because I-I was t-touched by them?"

The softness in his expression shifted instantly, his eyes sharpening, hardening in a way that made me both nervous and strangely safe. "Why would you ever think I would hate you, Gun?"

My throat felt dry as I tried to explain, my words breaking. "B-Because... because I was touched by someone else..."

His hand moved, firm but tender, guiding my chin upward so I couldn't look away. His green eyes locked onto mine, "Then I don't hate you," he said, voice low but fierce, "I hate the hands that touched you without your consent. And I will break every hand that ever dares to make my love uncomfortable."

My breath caught, a strange heat blooming in my chest. His words pushed away the weight I'd been carrying, warming me from the inside until my eyes stung. He didn't stop there. His voice softened again, but his conviction stayed just as strong. "What happened doesn't change anything. You're mine, Gun. You will always be mine. Nothing in this world could ever make me hate you."

Before I could respond, before I could even find the words, he leaned in and kissed me. It was gentle-soft enough to feel like he was afraid I might break but steady enough to burn away every poisonous word Sam had planted in my mind. Every doubt, every ugly thought vanished in that kiss. By the time he pulled back, I was already smiling without realizing it, my chest light for the first time since yesterday.

"I love you so much," he whispered, his thumb brushing against my cheek. "What happened yesterday, seeing you like that made me so angry. And when I saw that burn mark on your arm-" His jaw clenched, his voice dropping lower. "Gun, if it weren't for you, I would have killed those scumbags."

I quickly shook my head, pressing my forehead to his. "No, phi. Don't waste your anger on them. You don't need to dirty your hands for me. Let the law punish them."

His eyes searched mine, the storm still there, but after a moment, he exhaled slowly and nodded. "I know you wouldn't like it. That's the only reason those bastards are still breathing."

I lifted myself up just a little, pressing a kiss against his cheek to soften the tension gathering around him. "Don't be so angry, na, phi. Please?"

The hardness in his eyes finally cracked, replaced by the tender look I loved so much. "Fine," he said, voice gentler now. His fingers traced down my arm as he added, "Rest more. I'll make you breakfast."

I tightened my hold on him instantly, refusing to let go. "No. I want to stay like this."

He gave me that soft smile again, the one that made his green eyes glow faintly in the morning light. "You don't want to eat?"

"I do want to eat," I mumbled, burying myself closer, "but I want to cuddle you more."

He chuckled, the sound vibrating pleasantly against me. "Alright, a few more minutes. But then I'll make you pancakes."

That made me perk up immediately. "Pancakes?" My lips curved into a grin. "You know how to cook?"

His expression shifted in that overconfident way I knew too well. "Of course I know how to cook."

I squinted at him suspiciously, reading that little spark in his eyes. "It doesn't seem like that."

He arched a brow, smirking. "Are you challenging me?"

"Maybe," I teased back.

He gave a slow, exaggerated nod, as if sealing a promise. "I'll show you, love. I'll prove just how good of a cook your boyfriend is."

After a few more minutes of lingering under the blankets, he finally pulled away, slipping out with nothing but his boxers on. My eyes followed him before I realized, and heat rushed to my cheeks.

"Phi-wear some clothes!" I blurted out, flustered.

He laughed, tossing me a mischievous grin over his shoulder. "Why? Too hard to resist my charm?"

I pouted, glaring at him weakly. "You're teasing me again."

He chuckled, giving in with a shake of his head. "Alright, alright." Pulling open the cupboard, he slipped on a T-shirt before heading out toward the kitchen, still carrying that smug little smile.

And I lay there, staring after him, warmth blooming in my chest all over again. I felt safe. Completely, utterly safe.

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I stayed in the room alone for a few minutes, letting the quiet settle around me. Without him there, my mind couldn't stop replaying the events of yesterday. Every sharp memory, every moment of fear, the helplessness I felt, it all came back in fragments, hitting me again. I shifted on the bed, hugging my knees to my chest, my breathing uneven. The tears didn't take long to come, blurring my vision as I sat there for a while, feeling both exhausted and restless. Eventually, I forced myself to get up, brushing at my cheeks, though my heart still felt heavy, troubled by the replaying scenes I couldn't quite erase.

With hesitant steps, I made my way toward the kitchen, moving softly across the floor as if trying not to disturb anything. As soon as I saw him, my chest lightened a little. There he was, my phi, completely absorbed in his task, giving me the reassuring sense that I was safe. Relief washed over me in a quiet, warm rush. He was standing in front of the counter, a YouTube tutorial in front of him, brow furrowed in concentration as he attempted to follow each step. The kitchen was... a disaster. Flour was scattered across the floor, some clinging to his hair, utensils were strewn in disarray, and the cupboards seemed to have been opened and closed more times than I could count.

He opened cupboard after cupboard, muttering to himself, "What on earth is baking powder?" I suppressed a laugh, watching him frantically search, oblivious to my presence. The sight of him trying so hard just to make me happy made warmth bloom in my chest.

Then he paused the video and pulled out his phone, dialing someone on speaker. "Alex, I'm in trouble," he said dramatically.

A bored voice answered almost instantly, "What is it now, Leo?"

"I want to make a pancake," he explained, voice exaggerated, "I can't find baking powder. Can I put sugar powder instead? It looks the same."

I giggled softly from the corner, watching him bite his lip in exaggerated frustration.

"Seriously, Leo? I'm at work... this is your trouble," Alex replied, tone thick with mock annoyance.

"THIS is more important than your job! You don't understand, Gun challenged me to make pancakes. Hamilton dignity is at stake!" His voice rose slightly in dramatic flair, hands waving at the counter.

I laughed, stepping closer without making a sound, just watching him argue with the phone. "God help me... no, sugar powder is not the same as baking powder," Alex replied finally.

Leo let out a long, exaggerated sigh, tossing the phone slightly in the air before spotting the baking powder on a kitchen rack at the corner. "Oh! There it is, Alex! Found it!"

"Okay, put in a little quantity," Alex said lazily, already exasperated.

"I will hang up now," Alex said, Leo replied in overconfidence, cutting the call abruptly. "Fine, go. I don't need you."

Then he returned fully to the task at hand, mixing the batter with a careful hand, muttering steps to himself, consulting the YouTube tutorial now and then. I stepped closer again, curiosity and affection bubbling up inside me. Before he noticed, I wrapped my arms around him from behind.

He froze instantly, the spoon in his hand halting mid-air. "Oh... Gun! Why are you here? I'm still cooking!"

"I was feeling uncomfortable alone, so I came here," I whispered softly, nuzzling against his back. "And... it was kind of fun watching you make pancakes." I let out a soft, innocent giggle.

He turned slightly, a mixture of surprise and warmth in his expression. "Since when were you here?"

"Long enough," I said, grinning cheekily. "It was fun to watch you flail around in the kitchen."

He rolled his eyes, trying to hide a smile, and said, "Go take a seat. Your food will be ready soon."

I obeyed quietly, sliding onto a chair at the table, and watched him return to the pan on the stove. The batter was poured carefully, the pan warming over the flame, and the little tutorial video was playing again on the counter beside him. I watched the way he concentrated, tongue peeking out slightly in focus, occasionally glancing over his shoulder at me with that faint, shy smile that always made my chest squeeze.

The flour on his hands, the little smudge on his cheek, the focused crease in his brow-it all made him look impossibly endearing.

I stayed there, quietly observing, as he flipped the pancake with careful precision, unaware that I was just as mesmerized by him as the food he was making. It wasn't just pancakes, it was the way he cared, the way he moved, the way he made something simple feel like a promise that everything, for now, was going to be okay.

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Finally, it was ready. Phi carefully swirled a generous layer of whipped cream across the golden pancake, then topped it off with a single bright red cherry. He plated two servings, sliding one in front of me with an almost childlike pride.

"Here, see? I told you," he said, raising his brows as though daring me to find a flaw.

I gave a small, playful clap, my cheeks hurting from how hard I was smiling. "You won, Phi."

He sat across from me, hardly waiting for me to take the first bite before digging into his own. I lifted a forkful and, the second it touched my tongue, a soft, almost involuntary sound slipped from me. "Ohh, Phi-it's so good," I practically moaned, covering my mouth in embarrassment as I chewed.

He grinned, full of smugness, taking a bite of his own pancake. "Damn, see? I told you. I'm the best cook." He leaned back proudly, chin tilted, "Food tastes way better when it's made by me."

I laughed at his dramatic confidence, shaking my head. "No, Phi. Food tastes better when it's made with love. And this pancake-" I pressed my fork against the plate, smiling softly, "I can feel the love you put in it."

Something in his face softened. His teasing grin gave way to that rare, quiet look of sincerity. "Anything to make you happy," he said simply.

My heart clenched, the corners of my eyes prickling, because I could feel how much he meant it. "Phi," I whispered, my voice catching slightly, "I'm so lucky to have a Dom like you. I feel... so grateful."

He shook his head at that, a faint chuckle escaping, though his gaze never wavered from mine. "No," he said gently, "I'm the lucky one. To have such an adorable sub who looks at me the way you do. When I see you, I just... I want to spend my whole life with you. To wake up with you in my arms every day. To hear you say the most ridiculous, adorable things that somehow make my heart melt." He gave a small shrug, as if confessing a secret. "Being with you makes me the happiest man alive."

My fork stilled, my cheeks instantly heating up. I ducked my head a little, giggling nervously as my blush gave me away. "P-Phi, how do you always say things that make me blush like this?"

He leaned forward with that soft, unshakable calm of his. "But I'm just telling you the truth."

I stuffed another bite of pancake into my mouth to hide my face, but it didn't stop my lips from curving into a wide smile. "I love you so much, Phi," I murmured around the sweetness.

His response came without hesitation, "Love you more, my nerd."

We fell into a quiet that wasn't empty at all. The air between us felt heavy with warmth. I watched him as he ate, his presence filling every dark space that yesterday had carved into me. Sitting there with him, I realized again that being with Phi always made me feel safe-safe enough to laugh, to blush, to breathe without fear.

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