The Extra's Rise

I looked down at Reika's peaceful sleeping face, her violet hair spread across the small couch in my office like spilled amethyst. We had cleaned up after our intimate moment, and she had changed into the spare nightgown she kept in my office for occasions when work ran late. The exhaustion of the past week must have finally caught up with her.

She looked so young when she slept, the careful composure she maintained during waking hours replaced by soft vulnerability. It was a reminder that despite her lethal skills and unwavering loyalty, Reika was still only twenty-onr, barely older than me, carrying burdens that would have broken most people her age.

'She needs proper rest,' I thought, carefully gathering her into my arms. 'And Luna is probably wondering where I am.'

The guild headquarters was quiet at this late hour, most of the staff having gone home hours ago. Only the night security team remained, and they nodded respectfully as I carried Reika through the lobby toward the exit. If they found anything unusual about their guild master leaving with his unconscious vice-captain in his arms, they were too professional to comment.

The ride back to the penthouse was peaceful, Reika's steady breathing the only sound in the car's interior. She stirred slightly when we hit a bump, unconsciously pressing closer to my chest, but didn't wake. Whatever dreams she was having seemed content, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips.

The penthouse was dark when I arrived, the automatic lights dimming to their nighttime setting as I entered. My parents and Aria had clearly gone to bed hours ago—responsible adults who understood the concept of reasonable sleeping schedules, unlike their workaholic son.

I made my way quietly down the hallway, intending to settle Reika in the guest room before checking on Luna. But when I reached my childhood bedroom, I discovered it was already occupied.

Luna was curled up in the center of my bed, her dark hair spread across the pillow and her butterfly toy clutched tightly in her small arms. She wore the new pajamas my mother had bought her—soft pink fabric decorated with tiny stars that seemed to shimmer in the ambient light from the window.

Despite having her own beautifully decorated room just down the hall, she had chosen to wait for me here.

'She still doesn't feel secure sleeping alone,' I realized with a pang of protective tenderness. 'After eight years of laboratory cells and constant supervision, of course she'd want to stay close.'

The sight of her small form in my too-large bed made my chest tighten with emotion. This was what family looked like—not just sharing DNA or legal documents, but this instinctive need to be near the people who made you feel safe.

I looked down at Reika's sleeping face, then back at Luna. Making a decision that felt completely natural, I carefully settled Reika on the far side of the bed, tucking her under the covers with gentle precision. She murmured something unintelligible but didn't wake, automatically curling toward the warmth of the mattress.

After changing into my own sleepwear, I slipped into the space between them. Luna immediately sensed my presence, even in sleep, shifting closer until her small body was pressed against my side. Reika, guided by the same unconscious instincts, moved until her head found my shoulder.

'This is probably the most unconventional family arrangement in the Empire,' I thought with amusement, looking up at the ceiling of my childhood room. 'A reincarnated soul, an artificially created child, and a devoted sword, all sharing a bed like some sort of heartwarming storybook. And three princesses and daughter of a marquis as well.'

But it felt right. More right than anything had felt in longer than I could remember.

_____________________________

I woke to the sensation of being thoroughly entangled.

Luna had apparently decided during the night that I was in danger of escaping, because she had wrapped herself around my arm like a determined octopus. Her small form was pressed against my side, one leg thrown over my waist and both arms hugging my bicep with impressive determination. Her dark hair had escaped its braid during sleep, creating a silky curtain that tickled my shoulder.

"Daddy," she mumbled into my sleeve, still deep in dreams. "Don't go away again."

The words hit me like a physical blow, carrying all the abandonment and fear she'd experienced in her short life. Even in sleep, some part of her was terrified that the safety and love she'd found might disappear without warning.

'Never again,' I promised silently, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head. 'You're stuck with me now, sweetheart. Whether you like it or not.'

Reika had maintained her position against my shoulder throughout the night, her violet hair creating a protective curtain around her face. But I could tell from her breathing that she was starting to wake up, the subtle shift from deep sleep to drowsy awareness that came with years of combat training.

"Good morning," I whispered, careful not to wake Luna.

"Mmm," Reika responded intelligently, nuzzling closer to my neck. "Is this real, or am I dreaming about domestic bliss again?"

"Real," I confirmed, amused by her sleepy honesty. "Though I suspect domestic bliss with us will always be slightly more complicated than average."

"Because you collect dangerous people like some men collect vintage cars?"

"Because we're all beautifully broken in our own ways," I corrected gently. "And somehow, those broken pieces fit together perfectly."

Reika lifted her head to look at me, her violet eyes still soft with sleep but growing more alert by the moment. Her gaze shifted to Luna's determined grip on my arm, and her expression melted into something approaching maternal tenderness.

"She's holding on pretty tightly," she observed quietly.

"She has abandonment issues," I explained. "It's going to take time for her to believe that this is permanent."

"Then we'll give her time," Reika said with the same matter-of-fact certainty she brought to mission planning. "However long it takes."

The simple declaration, spoken with absolute conviction, made my heart clench with gratitude. This was why I loved her—not just her loyalty or her skills, but her instinctive understanding of what family meant. The way she automatically included herself in Luna's healing process, accepting responsibility for this child who wasn't biologically related to either of us.

"We should probably get up," I said reluctantly, noting the brightening light through the bedroom windows. "My mother will want to make Luna breakfast, and if we sleep too late, she'll start worrying."

"Five more minutes," Reika requested, settling back against my shoulder. "This is too perfect to interrupt just yet."

I couldn't argue with that logic. Outside our peaceful bubble, there would be guild responsibilities and political maneuvering, magical complications and potential threats. But here, in this moment, we were just a family enjoying a quiet morning together.

Luna stirred slightly, her grip on my arm tightening as consciousness began to return. "Daddy?" she mumbled, not opening her eyes. "Are you really here?"

"I'm really here, sweetheart," I assured her, my free hand gently smoothing her disheveled hair. "And I'm not going anywhere."

"Good," she said with sleepy satisfaction, apparently deciding that confirmation was sufficient. "Reika's here too. I can smell her shampoo."

"Very observant," Reika said with amusement, finally lifting her head to look at Luna properly. "How did you sleep?"

"Better," Luna admitted, finally opening her dark eyes to look between us. "It's nice having family close by. In the laboratory, I always slept alone. It was scary."

"You'll never have to sleep alone again if you don't want to," I promised. "This is your home now, Luna. Our home. And family takes care of each other."