I'm so gonna win this.

6:14 am. Writing a Sunphis Story, just incase people didn't like my sussie idea. i'm sorry just please enjoy i'm tired

Sunlight filtered through the curtains, spilling onto the bed.

The warmth of it was pleasant, but not as pleasant as the warmth of the person beside him.

Sunny stirred, slowly opening his eyes, only to find a pair of silver ones already watching him. Nephis was lying on her side, propped up on one elbow, her long hair cascading over her shoulder like a silken waterfall. 

He blinked, groggy but aware. "You're staring."

Nephis didn't move, her expression as unreadable as ever. "So are you."

A smirk tugged at his lips. "Hard not to when I wake up to this view."

Her lips parted slightly, as if she was about to say something, but instead, she closed the small distance between them. The kiss was soft at first, but then her fingers found his jaw, tilting his face toward hers, and the hesitation melted away.

Sunny responded immediately, deepening the kiss as he reached for her, his hand skimming over the bare skin of her arm before tangling in her hair. Nephis made a small sound, barely audible, but enough to send a spark of heat down his spine.

She shifted closer, pressing into him, and he felt the steady rhythm of her heart against his chest. There was something raw in the way she kissed him, something desperate.

Like she was trying to tell him something without words.

When they finally pulled away, both slightly breathless, she lingered close, her forehead resting against his.

Sunny chuckled, voice low. "That was a nice way to wake up."

Nephis hummed, tracing a lazy circle on his collarbone with her fingertip. "You should get up."

He raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Should I?"

She leaned back slightly, regarding him with that cool, unreadable gaze of hers, except, this time, he swore he saw something softer hidden beneath it. "Yes," she said simply. "I'm making breakfast."

Sunny blinked. "You cook?"

Her lips curved just slightly, almost teasing. "You'll find out soon enough."

She slipped out of bed, the morning light catching on her silver hair as she moved. For a moment, he just watched her, appreciating the way she moved so effortlessly, as if she wasn't quite bound to the same rules of existence as the rest of them.

A part of him wanted to pull her back into bed, kiss her again, and see how far he could push things before she finally snapped and lost control. But another part of him… liked seeing this side of her.

With a sigh, he rolled out of bed and followed her into the kitchen.

******

The kitchen was quiet, save for the occasional sound of something sizzling on the stove. Sunny leaned against the counter, arms crossed, watching Nephis with mild curiosity.

She stood with perfect posture, focused, carefully tending to whatever was in the pan. The sight was almost surreal, Nephis, the cold, untouchable warrior, making breakfast like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Sunny smirked. "So? What's on the menu?"

Nephis glanced at him briefly. "Eggs. Toast."

He waited, but she didn't elaborate. "That's it?"

She gave him a look. "Would you rather cook?"

Sunny held up his hands in surrender. "No, no. I trust you."

Her lips twitched, like she was amused, but she didn't say anything.

After a moment, she turned back to the stove, and Sunny watched her quietly. There was something strangely intimate about this, about seeing her like this, in a quiet moment, doing something so… normal.

He stepped closer, slipping his arms around her waist from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. "You know," he murmured, "this is kind of nice."

She stiffened slightly at first, then relaxed against him. "Cooking?"

"Mm. This. You. Me."

Nephis was silent for a moment, then, so quietly he almost didn't hear it, she said, "I know."

Something about the way she said it made his chest tighten.

He pressed a lingering kiss to her shoulder before finally letting go, stepping back as she plated the food. She turned, handing him a plate, and he took it with a grin.

"You're spoiling me," he said, settling into a chair.

Nephis sat across from him, her gaze steady. "Maybe."

Sunny chuckled, shaking his head. "I think I could get used to this."

Nephis tilted her head slightly, watching him. "Good."

And for the first time in a long time, he felt like maybe, just maybe, he didn't have to be lost. Not when she was here, looking at him like that.

Sunny took a bite of his toast, chewing thoughtfully before glancing at Nephis. She was eating with her usual quiet precision, silver eyes calm and distant as if lost in thought.

"So," he started, breaking the comfortable silence. "Are we actually doing this?"

Nephis looked up. "Doing what?"

"The tennis match." He leaned back in his chair, smirking. "Because, honestly, I don't see you as the type to run around hitting a ball with a racket."

She blinked, then tilted her head slightly. "You don't see me as athletic?"

Sunny chuckled. "Oh no, I know you're athletic. I just didn't think you'd care about something as… trivial as tennis."

Nephis considered his words, then shrugged. "Effie challenged me."

Sunny let out a groan, rubbing his temple. "Of course she did."

Nephis took a small bite of her eggs before speaking again. "And Kai said he wouldn't play unless I did."

Sunny rolled his eyes. "That sounds about right. He probably just wants to watch you destroy Effie."

She paused, then, with the faintest trace of amusement, said, "I intend to."

Sunny laughed, shaking his head. "So you're taking this seriously?"

Nephis nodded. "A challenge is a challenge."

"Right." He took another bite before smirking. "And Cassie?"

"She's playing too."

Sunny raised an eyebrow. "Cassie? Playing tennis?" He frowned. "Isn't that a little unfair?"

"She insisted."

Sunny exhaled, shaking his head. "So let me get this straight. We're all about to step onto a tennis court, and we're supposed to believe this is going to be a normal, casual game?"

Nephis didn't answer right away. Instead, she set down her fork and met his gaze. "Nothing we do is normal, Sunny."

He stared at her for a second, then burst out laughing. "Fair point."

Nephis took a sip of her water, then said, "Are you ready?"

Sunny leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "For tennis?"

She nodded.

"Neph," he drawled, "I don't think you understand something. I was born to win at petty competitions." He grinned. "I am so ready."

Nephis raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You're short."

Sunny's grin faltered. "Excuse me?"

"Tennis players are usually tall," she said matter-of-factly.

Sunny gaped at her. "Did you just... did you just call me short?"

Nephis simply picked up her fork again and resumed eating, her expression calm, her posture poised.

Sunny narrowed his eyes. "Oh, it's on now."

She glanced at him. "It was always on."

Sunny exhaled sharply, muttering under his breath. "I swear, if I lose this game, I'm never hearing the end of it."

Nephis simply smirked.

And just like that, the tennis match had become something more than just a casual game—it had become a battle. A war.

And Sunny?

Sunny was not going to lose.