[A/N]: You madlads smashed the first goal, so expect the bonus chapters soon! Next goal is 400 Powerstones for two more bonus chapters. As always comment, share, and gift stones if you're enjoying the story!
Back at the Savage Land base, morning came slowly and reluctantly. Like it knew better than to rush them.
Jay woke first, his internal clock pulling him from sleep despite his exhaustion. Domino was still pressed against him, her breathing deep and even. He stayed still, not wanting to wake her, taking the rare moment to just exist.
Eventually, her eyes opened. She looked at him, and a slow smile spread across her face.
"Hey," she said softly.
"Hey, yourself."
"We fell asleep outside?"
"Yeah."
"My neck's gonna be pissed about that later."
"Mine too."
They stayed there a moment longer before finally getting up. The waterfall continued its endless cascade behind them, prehistoric birds called in the distance, and for a brief, precious moment, the world wasn't demanding anything from them.
They sat on their balcony, watching pterodactyls fly by in herds, their wings catching thermals, massive shadows crossing the valley floor. The coffee was strong, the toast was perfect, and the Savage Land stretched out before them in all its impossible glory.
Domino spoke first. "So..."
Jay smiled. "So..."
A comfortable silence stretched between them. The kind that came from not needing to fill every moment with words. Domino sipped her coffee; Jay watched the jungle, and neither rushed.
Finally, Domino set her cup down. Her voice dropped, quieter and more vulnerable than she usually allowed.. "Jay, you don't have to worry about me all the time. Like yesterday. I hate it when you get all worked up and rage out on my account. That's not you. That's not the guy I fell for."
Jay set down his coffee. His hand found her chin, gently tilting her face toward him, letting their eyes meet. "Dom, look at me. I love you more than anything in this fucked-up multiverse. You brought excitement and actual happiness to my monotone, always-anxious, always-planning existence. I wouldn't know what the hell to do if you suddenly disappeared." His thumb brushed her cheek. "I'll always worry about you. Especially when some bastard hurts you and nearly kills you hundreds of times in minutes."
Domino's eyes went misty, and she hugged him quickly and tightly, like she could hide the tears by pressing her face into his shoulder. "Yeah, it's all that asshole Jamie's fault anyway." She shifted the topic; she didn't do sappy well. "When he called you those things, those racist fucking things, I wanted to put a bullet in his skull. I'm surprised you let him off so easy."
Jay recognized the deflection, but he let her have it. "Although my blood boiled, Jamie had been through a lot. Especially after what Selene did to him and his brother. With me taking away his power and not returning it, he wasn't in his right mind."
Domino tilted her head, studying him. "Yeah, about that. It's not like you to take others' powers so blatantly. Usually, you at least pretend to have a reason."
Jay sighed. "The Ancient One specifically directed me not to give him his powers back. To avoid a very, very dark future. And seeing his attitude toward others before he was kidnapped by Selene, it was best I kept them."
Domino moved closer, curiosity evident. Her knee brushed against his "But don't you have Mad Jim Jasper's power? From what you've told me, Jamie's powers are only weaker versions of that. Why keep both?"
Jay's smile turned mischievous look she both loved and was wary of. "Who said anything about me needing this power?"
Domino blinked. "If it's not for you, then..." Her eyes widened as it clicked. "Jay, you are not thinking what I think you're thinking?"
Jay laughed. "Oh, I'm thinking exactly what you think I'm thinking."
"Jay, that's too fucking much. I can't handle reality-warping powers. I don't think..." Domino protested, her voice rising slightly.
Jay put a finger to her lips. "Shh. You always put yourself down too much. You're ready for this, although I'll have to mold and change it to let it acclimate to your body."
Domino wanted to protest more, but just as she opened her mouth to rant, Jay stole a kiss from her lips. Long enough to shut her up and calm her down. When he released her, there was only blush and heavy breathing on her face.
Jay smiled, enjoying her flustered state. "Choose one. Healing factor or tachyon field. Which one are you willing to keep?"
Domino caught her breath, still buzzed from Jay's assertiveness. Her cheeks flushed hot as she hated that he could do this to her. Loved it, but hated it. "You know that's not fair. But I guess safety first, so... healing factor, I suppose."
Jay hummed and, holding her hand, took the tachyon field back gently. It flowed into him like coming home.
Then he activated his Adaptive Power perk and drew on new reaches of his Power Theft ability to put restraints, limits, safeguards and conscious control over Jamie's Quantum String Reality Warping. Made it something a human mind could handle without fracturing, and with another kiss, longer this time, deeper, he transferred the power into her.
He watched carefully, scanning her with his healing aura, constantly checking her cellular structure, neural pathways and genetic code. Looking for rejection, corruption and a thousand other ways this could go wrong.
Ten minutes passed like that.
Domino sweated profusely. Her skin flushed hot, then cold, then hot again. Her breathing went shallow, then deep and erratic. His healing aura pulsed around her, adjusting, compensating, guiding the power as it integrated into her biology.
Finally, he sighed in relief.
Domino's eyes opened, and they now held hints of scarlet light within them like embers under ash.
Just as she let out a breath, scarlet strings emerged from around her, then spread from her fingertips, her eyes, her very presence, reaching out, touching and connecting to everything. Jay immediately reached out with his Null Field to suppress the power, but before he could act, the threads shifted. They wove, melted together and finally transformed.
[Image here]
A dress wrapped around Domino. It was red and flowing with the fabric looking like liquid silk touched by starlight. It hugged her curves perfectly, elegant and alluring at once. The neckline plunged dramatically, almost scandalously low, showing pale skin and the curve of her breasts. One shoulder was bare, the dress draping asymmetrically across her body. The skirt flowed like water, slit high on one side to show her leg. Behind her, the fabric extended into an Art Nouveau pattern. This was the kind of dress you'd see at a high-stakes casino or exclusive gala. It made her look absolutely stunning.
Domino looked down at her new dress. "What the fuck? This is... I was just thinking about..."
Jay could only stutter, completely infatuated by Domino's appearance, his brain short-circuited.
Domino caught it. She grinned, confidence returning as she teased him mercilessly. "Oh, looks like someone likes the dress? Now, roleplays could be more fun." She struck a pose, hand on her hip. "Like what you see, handsome?"
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