Chapter 193: Lists, Love, And Looming Shadows

Cyrus returned to the table, his expression carefully neutral. "Ready?"

Kane nodded, following him out to the car. The silence stretched between them like a chasm as Cyrus started the engine.

The drive to the BSA felt endless. Kane watched Cyrus’s profile, noting the tight set of his jaw and the way his knuckles stood out white against the steering wheel.

Finally, Kane couldn’t stand it anymore.

"You want to get married."

It wasn’t a question.

Cyrus’s grip tightened further. "Does it matter what I want?"

"Of course it matters." Kane twisted in his seat to face him. "Cyrus, look at me."

"I’m driving."

"Pull over."

"We’re almost—"

"Pull over."

Cyrus sighed but guided the car into a parking lot of a quiet strip mall. He cut the engine but kept his eyes fixed forward.

"You called it a social construct," Cyrus said quietly.

Kane felt a deep ache in his chest at the quiet hurt expressed in Cyrus’s voice. "I was caught off guard. Rina put me on the spot."

"So you don’t actually think marriage is meaningless?"

Kane reached for Cyrus’s hand, relieved when the dragon didn’t pull away. "Not with you. Nothing with you is meaningless."

Cyrus finally looked at him, crimson eyes searching Kane’s face.

Kane struggled to find the words, his thumb tracing over Cyrus’s knuckles. "I’ve never... I don’t know how to do this."

"Do what?"

"Be someone’s boyfriend." Kane’s cheeks flushed.

"I mean, we went from a karmic debt to soul-bonded lovers in, like, what, a few months? Maybe we should experience the mundane stuff first."

Cyrus tilted his head. "What do you mean by mundane?"

"You know, normal couple things. Before we jump to marriage." Kane fumbled through his explanation.

"Like... dating without life-threatening situations interrupting us. Grocery shopping together. Meeting each other’s friends—well, you’ve met mine. Fighting over what to watch on TV."

A small smile tugged at Cyrus’s lips. "What haven’t we done together?"

Kane blinked. "What?"

"We’ve shared meals, slept in the same bed, fought side by side, I saved your life multiple times." Cyrus’s voice warmed.

"We’ve been grocery shopping. We’ve been to a theme park. We’ve watched movies. We’ve met each other’s... associates."

"But we’ve never just... existed together peacefully. Without supernatural chaos."

Cyrus brought Kane’s hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to his palm. "You want ordinary."

"Not ordinary," Kane clarified, watching Cyrus’s thumb trace over his knuckles. "I know our lives will never be ordinary. We’re a dragon and a nine-tailed fox."

Cyrus’s soft laugh rumbled through the car.

"I just want... intentional moments. Ones that aren’t because we’re looking for something or saving someone."

Cyrus was quiet for a moment, considering. "Do you have a list?"

"A list?"

"Things you want to do together. Places you want to go." Cyrus turned their joined hands over, studying Kane’s palm. "A relationship bucket list, if you will."

Kane’s heart skipped. "You’d really want to do that?"

"Kane." Cyrus’s voice was serious now.

"I spent centuries alone. Every moment with you feels stolen from time. If you want to experience normal couple activities before we discuss marriage, then we’ll experience them."

"Even the boring ones?"

"Especially the boring ones." Cyrus lifted Kane’s hand to his lips again. "So. What’s first on this hypothetical list?"

Kane grinned, feeling lighter than he had all afternoon. "I honestly never thought about it before, but it sounds fun."

"Good." Cyrus released Kane’s hand and restarted the engine. "We should get you back before Commander Qi sends out a search party."

As they pulled back onto the street, Kane found himself already mentally cataloging possibilities.

A real vacation somewhere warm. Lazy Sunday mornings without apocalyptic emergencies. Teaching Cyrus to cook something more complex than coffee.

"I’ll think about it," Kane said, watching the familiar BSA building come into view. "Make an actual list."

Cyrus pulled into the parking lot, navigating around Ginsei’s obnoxiously bright Viper. "Take your time. We have centuries to work through it."

The casual mention of their extended lifespan made Kane’s stomach flutter with anticipation rather than anxiety for the first time.

"I’ll pick you up after work," Cyrus continued, putting the car in park.

Kane leaned over to kiss him, quick and sweet.

He made his way back through the BSA lobby, still tasting the lingering sweetness of their kiss.

The familiar chaos of agents shuffling paperwork and the hum of fluorescent lights felt oddly grounding after the emotional conversation in the car.

"Well, well." Ginsei’s voice cut through Kane’s thoughts as he approached their shared workspace. "You smell like Korean barbecue."

Kane dropped into his desk chair, stretching. "Rina and I went to K-pop Kitchen."

Ginsei’s pen froze mid-signature on whatever form he’d been completing. His pale green eyes narrowed with theatrical offense.

"You went to K-pop Kitchen? Without me?" Ginsei’s voice pitched higher with indignation. "That’s our place, Kane. We discovered their bulgogi together."

"We went separately," Kane clarified, pulling up his computer. "Just happened to run into each other there."

"That’s even worse." Ginsei slumped back in his chair dramatically.

"Random Korean barbecue encounters, and I’m stuck here filing incident reports about rogue pixies."

Kane grinned, swiveling to face his partner.

"Weren’t you always the one bragging about getting actual field work? Something about ’finally being appreciated for my investigative skills’"

Ginsei’s sulk faltered. "That was different."

"How?"

"Because that was dangerous and exciting. Korean barbecue is delicious and relaxing." Ginsei gestured emphatically with his pen.

"Completely different categories of entertainment."

"We should go there again once we capture Elias," Kane said, turning back to his computer. "Make it a proper celebration."

Ginsei perked up immediately. "Now you’re talking. I want the premium cuts this time, not whatever budget option you probably ordered today."

"I didn’t order budget—"

"Speaking of Elias," Ginsei interrupted, his tone shifting to something more serious. He glanced around the workspace, then leaned closer to Kane’s desk.

"I found something when I was out earlier."

Kane’s fingers stilled over his keyboard. "Found what?"

Ginsei pulled out his phone, swiping through photos before angling the screen toward Kane.