| Author POV |
Jay Jay was just about to let Angelo lift her off the railing when Drew, who was standing near the back and trying to look busy with his phone, muttered a little too loudly to Eren, "Man, she is such a headache today."
The air went still. Jay Jay's head snapped toward Drew, her eyes widening into huge, watery dinner plates.
"I heard it! đ" she wailed, her voice hitting a pitch that probably shattered glass in the cockpit. "He said I'm headache! I am a pain in the brains! đđđ„ș"
"No, no! I meantâ" Drew started, turning pale as he felt the collective death glare of four brothers Aries , Angelo, Percy,Ci.n and the entire Section E.
"You think my voice is like a hammer! đšđ" Jay Jay sobbed, clutching the railing again. "Being a 'headache' means to me that you want to put my head in a box and mail it to the moon! It means you want to take Advil because of my heart's feelings! đ„șđ«"
Keifer stepped forward, ignoring the chaos, and looked up at her with that rare, lopsided smile he only gave to her.
"Jay, look at me," he said, his voice a low, soothing rumble that cut through her shrieks. "He's right. You are a headache."
The room gasped. Jay Jay looked like she was about to explode into a million pink sparkles.
"KEIFER! đĄđ"
"But," Keifer added quickly, his eyes softening, "you're the headache I love the most. My head would be too quiet and lonely without the pain you give me. I don't want Advil, Jay. I just want you."
Jay Jay stopped mid-sob, her bottom lip quivering as she processed the "mafia logic."
"So... you like the hurting in your brain? đ„ș" she asked sniffly.
"I crave it," Keifer lied heroically. "It's my favorite song."
Jay Jay wiped her nose on her sleeve and looked down at Drew. "You hear that, Drew? I am a favorite song! You just have bad ears! "
She then turned back to Keifer and held out her arms like a toddler. "Okay, I'm coming down. But the headache is hungry. It wants the donuts with the pink frosting now. Right now."
Angelo quickly scooped her up before she could change her mind, whispering, "Yes, your Highness. One headache-cure donut coming right up."
Jay Jay's wails cut off instantly. A deep, bright crimson flooded her cheeks, turning her face even pinker than her hoodie. She tucked her chin into her collar, shyly peeking up at him through her lashes. "Oh..." she whispered, swaying slightly. "Hehe... đ€"
"Jay Jay, no!" Felix shouted from below, trying to stir the pot. "Don't let him get away with that! He literally just called you a brain-pain! Scream at him! Throw a shoe! Do the thing!"
"Yeah!" Mayo added, waving his arms. "Give him the 'AHHHHH' treatment! Defend your honor!"
Jay Jay looked at the boys, then back at Keifer, who was watching her with that intense, "only-for-you" gaze. She let out a tiny, bashful giggle and swatted at the air.
"No," she murmured, her voice like honey. "I love his tone. đ€ It sounded like... like a warm blanket made of growls. If I'm a headache, I'm a high-quality one! âš"
She practically floated down the stairs into Keifer's waiting arms, completely forgetting she was supposed to be "jumping." She booped his nose and whispered, "Am I a pretty headache?"
"The prettiest," Keifer muttered, finally exhaling as he handed her over to Angelo for the flight. "Now get on the ship before you find a reason to be a stomachache too."
In Jay Jay's room.
The room was silent, the plush leather seats and soft golden lighting creating a private sanctuary. Jay Jay, still tucked in Keifer's arms, looked out at the brothers and Section E standing in the aisle, all of them hovering with donuts and blankets.
She pouted, her eyes sleepy but firm. "Everyone just go," she mumbled, waving a tiny hand at them. "Shoo! I don't want the ninjas or the spicy brothers. I just want Keifer here. My brain needs only him."
Angelo opened his mouth to argue, but Yuri caught his arm, shaking his head. One by one, they obeyed, filing out of the cabin and into the hangar, leaving the two of them in absolute peace.
As the heavy jet door hissed shut, Jay Jay looked up at Keifer. The "tantrum monster" was gone, replaced by a soft, glowing girl. She reached up, cupping his jaw with her small hands.
"You're the bestest pillow," she whispered in her sweet baby talk. "And you have the bestest growls for my headache." She leaned in and pressed a lingering, cute kiss to his cheek. "I looooove youuuu, Keifer."
Then, she pulled back just a few inches, her eyes dropping to his lips. It had been four long, terrifying days since they had truly been closeâfour days of toxins, hospitals, and screaming. She leaned in again, and this time, her lips met his in a soft, desperate kiss.
Keifer let out a low, shaky breath, his arms tightening around her waist as he kissed her back deeply. It wasn't the kiss of a boss, it was the kiss of a man who had almost lost his soul.
"I missed my marshmallow," he murmured against her lips, his voice turning into that sweet, private rumble only she ever heard. "I missed your squishy face so much. Did the mean toxin hurt my baby?"
"It tried to steal my fluff," she whispered back, booping his nose. "But your kisses are like magic medicine. They make my heart go pitter-patter and my brain go sparkle."
"Is that so?" Keifer teased, kissing her forehead, then each of her cheeks. "Does the little headache need more medicine?"
"Yes," she giggled, snuggling into his chest as her eyes began to close. "A hundred more. But after I take a tiny nappie... I'm so sleepy from being a masterpiece, Keifer."
He tucked a soft cashmere blanket around her, rocking her gently. "Sleep, Jay. I've got you. No monsters, no stepfathers. Just us."