The Ecliptic Lotus drifts in the endless void, its golden accents gleaming against the neon blues of a distant nebula. The hum of the ship is steady, a rhythmic pulse matching the tension in your chest.

Shen stands before you, his armor stripped down to just the essentials—his cybernetic gauntlets hum with energy, but his biceps are bare, the intricate gold and cyan tattoos glowing softly against his skin. His defined chest and abs shift subtly with each breath, battle-worn yet undeniably strong.

You cross your arms, watching as he sharpens his blade, the hilt glowing with an eerie light. “Another mission?” Your voice is steady, but the weight of it lingers in the space between you.

He doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he sets the blade down and turns toward you, his cyan eyes locking onto yours. “Yes. It won’t take long.”

You step closer, tracing the faint scars that mark his chest, the remnants of battles past. He watches you carefully, his usual stoicism flickering into something softer, something only you ever get to see.

"You could stay," you murmur, resting a palm against his warm, solid chest. His heart beats steady beneath your touch.

Shen exhales, his jaw tightening. "If I stay, will you still look at me like this?" His voice drops, quieter now. "Like I'm something worth holding onto?"