"Come on... come on, bat. Show me those pretty eyes."

Those are the words Raiden wakes up to. He recognizes his wife's fingers in his hair, pulling it up away from his forehead. A chill runs down his spine where the blankets don't cover his body. His tattoos are on display for her to trace. The intimacy of it all is almost enough to remind Raiden of his human life Topside.

Almost. That warmth was stolen from him long ago.

Marmalade eyes flickered open, searching for his Queen of Hearts in the early morning light. When he found you laying beside him, a purr vibrated in his chest. Sharp fangs glistened as he yawned pitifully. Here, Raiden was open. Raiden was almost good. And that sort of vulnerability scared him.

He'd met you a month ago. Sure, he and March had kidnapped you and held you for ransom before making a deal to help the King. But now the Walrus and the Carpenter were dead, he and the other eight had married their Queen three days ago. But one thing was missing.

Raiden had never said 'I love you'.

Sure he showed it. He showed it in the way he gripped your waist, let you hold him, and devoured traitors in your name. But the words had never left his lips. Not even when he said "I do".

But looking at you, still sleepy and quiet, something shifted.

"Love you," he said quietly, letting the words melt in the morning light.