The soft rays of the sun tickled your nose as you rose from the sheets, blinking tiredly. Strands of your (H/C) hair stood tangled from your head.

When was the last time you had slept so well, peacefully and without the fear that it would be your last night?

You couldn't remember. Lost in thought, you let your fingers wander over the nape of your neck, down between your breasts where the killswitch was located.

Right by your heart. For some reason, this fact didn't worry you. Your mind was calm, sharpened. Myers was dead and with her the constant pressure was gone, the certainty that it was only a matter of time.

Now the fear was silent. All that remained was the feeling of triumph. A hint of your freedom had returned. It felt like a weight had fallen from your shoulders.

Closing your eyes, you wiped a few strands of hair from your face and took a deep breath. The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the apartment.

"Kurt?", you didn't open your eyes, just waited for an answer.

With a satisfied look in his eyes, he grabbed two cups and filled them with coffee. He drank his black. Then he prepared it for you the way he had observed over the years.

"You slept well?", he handed you the cup with a smile and then sank back into bed.

Immediately there was his warmth, the familiar smell of his cologne. The feeling of lying next to him in bed made you sigh softly.

"You're up late.", you realised with a glance at the clock.

It was almost midday. Usually, he had a strict routine based on his military days. He woke up early, discussed the most important things with Jago and Bennett and then patrolled Dogtown with a small squad. It gave him a sense of control and people knew who they had to obey.

Then he usually went back to bed to sleep a few hours longer. Most times until you woke up yourself. It hadn't worked for the past year because you'd been avoiding him, running from your own fear of dying next to him.

If there was one thing you didn't want, it was Kurt waking up next to your corpse. You could hardly imagine anything worse. And yet, you didn't want to see him die either.

If it had been up to you, you would both be immortal. Maybe that would even be possible thanks to Cynosure. But that could just as easily be childish hope that planted these thoughts in your head.

"Songbird needs time to familiarise with the tasks.", he took a sip of the pitch-black brew from his cup. "Jago takes care of the monthly finances."

"Bennett?", you asked and drank too.

Smirking, you looked at the contents of your cup. He had prepared it perfectly, just the way you liked it. Not too much of one but not too little either. It was just right.

It was a little frightening how well this man knew you. On the other hand, you thought you knew him better than he knew himself.

"Bennett is... running errands.", he curled his lips. "His words."

"He works for Hands.", your eyes travelled up to Kurt's face, looking at the small cut on his cheek that you had inflicted yesterday.

"I know we have enemies and that's why I'm careful. As soon as he's fed Hands enough, we'll wipe Bennett out. Hands will understand the warning."

"Then why keep feeding Bennett information? He could be dangerous... Dangerous to us.", you avoided his gaze as the word us crossed your lips.

This didn't happen often. Most of the time you tried to keep your distance. Even if it was just a lie you told yourself. In reality, you and Kurt had grown so close over the last seven years that you functioned as one and the same person.

You needed him to breathe. He needed you to survive.

Pride flashed in his eyes. A smile twitched at the corners of his mouth.

"I don't want Bennett to suspect that we're planning to get rid of him.", he said, taking a sip of coffee.

You sipped your own. The aromatic vapour brushed your nose.

"And Hands?"

"Let's say he'll get some information from Bennett... and because he can't resist... he'll have to pay up for his mistakes. Wonder what they call Mr. Hands once he doesn't have any no more."

A smile lit up your face. It was always refreshing to see what a sneaky bastard Kurt could be. After the façade of the great colonel, he trusted his people implicitly, appreciated loyalty and obedience. And when he caught them betraying him, he put a bullet in each one's head.

Just like he had done with Yuri. You appreciated that. The man had been a thorn in your side for a long time, now he had got what you had long foreseen.

"Very good~!", you purred and took a big sip.

The coffee was so hot it almost burned your throat. But it didn't matter. Nothing mattered at that moment.

You couldn't help but feel like there was nothing that could go wrong. Sighing, you let your head fall between your arms and listened to the silence.

Kurt's breath filled your ears. Suddenly, his knuckles stroked the curve of your spine. You trembled under his touch.

How could a man like him, cruel and pragmatic, treat a woman so lovingly?

Especially you. If anyone deserved hell, it was you. And yet. You loved him for everything he felt for you, all his cruelty and the charm with which he lied to people. If there was a hell, you would both burn there for eternity.

And you would enjoy it.

When you lifted your head again, your eyes met. He still had his hand on your lower back, gently caressing your (S/C) skin.

"What do you think?", he asked, leaning in to steal a kiss from your lips. "My Lady Sapphire deserves a treat."

You chuckled against his lips.

"Sounds like you want to show off.", you replied.

"With you? Any time. At a party, for example. Only the best for you."

You smiled in agreement, your eyes firmly locked with his.

"Let's celebrate, Kurt.", you kissed him. "So that everyone can see that we're back."