Sylar's body was slumped against the wall, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He looked up at Su Zhan, fear and confusion mingling in his eyes. "Don't kill me," he pleaded, the bravado gone from his voice. "I just wanted to know why you let her go, why you didn't take her ability. I never meant to hurt her."
Su Zhan's lips curled into a faint, cold smile. "Really? Because I distinctly heard you say you wanted to cut open her head to see how her ability worked."
Sylar shook his head frantically, desperation creeping into his tone. "You have to understand, people like us are special. We have gifts, and it's a waste to let them rot in the hands of mediocrities. Why shouldn't we use these powers for something greater? God gave us these abilities for a reason. We can't let them be wasted."
Su Zhan nodded thoughtfully, as if considering Sylar's words. "That makes a lot of sense."
Sylar's eyes lit up with hope, thinking he had found an ally. He pressed on, eager to convince Su Zhan. But before he could speak further, Su Zhan's voice dropped to a whisper. "But the thing is, I already have someone with that ability. I don't need another."
Sylar's mouth opened and closed, speechless. He could not find the words to respond.
"Nothing more to say?" Su Zhan said quietly, his tone final. "Then don't say anything at all."
With a flick of his wrist, Su Zhan sent Sylar crashing into the wall. The impact was brutal; the wall shook, and Sylar's head lolled to the side, dazed and bleeding. Su Zhan pulled him forward with a gesture, holding him upright by sheer force of will.
"Your ability… I'll take it now," Su Zhan said, placing his hand on Sylar's head. The process was difficult, more so than usual. His body was still recovering, and his original powers had not fully returned. But he pressed on, determined. He could not let Sylar go, not after everything that had happened.
It took a long time, longer than Su Zhan expected. Sweat beaded on his brow, and his hand trembled from the effort. But finally, he felt the rush of Sylar's power merging with his own. He released his grip, and Sylar's limp body slid to the floor.
Su Zhan walked slowly to the living room, his breathing heavy. He glanced at Eden, who stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes wide with shock.
"Pack your things," Su Zhan said, his voice gentle but urgent. "The police will come soon, and while I can handle it, it will be a hassle."
Eden nodded and hurried to the bedroom, throwing her belongings into a backpack and suitcase. She worked quickly, her movements efficient and precise. Within minutes, she was ready.
"Is that all?" Su Zhan asked, glancing at the bags.
Eden nodded, then looked around and realized she had everything she needed. Before she could speak, Su Zhan scooped her up and, without hesitation, leapt out the window.
"What are you doing? Wait—" Eden gasped, fear flashing across her face as she remembered Sylar's fall only moments before.
Su Zhan held her securely, a layer of dark green energy enveloping them both. They hovered in the air, high above the street. Eden looked down, her heart pounding, then shook her head and pressed closer to Su Zhan.
"No, nothing. I'm fine," she whispered.
"Let's go," Su Zhan replied, and together they soared across the city, landing softly at the hotel.
Back in the suite, Su Zhan set Eden's bags down and poured her a glass of wine. She stood there for a long moment, still processing everything that had happened, until Su Zhan pressed the glass into her hand. She drank without thinking, the wine calming her nerves.
"Where do I stay?" Eden asked, her voice steadying as she regained her composure.
Su Zhan gestured around the spacious suite. "This place is huge. Isn't it enough?"
Eden's lips curled into a wry smile. "Let's be clear. I'm your secretary, not your lover. So you'd better not get any ideas."
Su Zhan grinned, stepping closer. "Ideas? Like this?"
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her gently to him. The softness and warmth of her body surprised him, and for a moment, the world seemed to shrink to just the two of them. Eden let out a soft gasp, her hands instinctively resting on his waist. The pose was intimate, almost as if she were the one embracing him.
Su Zhan leaned in, his face close to hers. The air between them grew thick with tension. Eden met his gaze, her confidence wavering. "You… you won't make me do anything I don't want to do, will you?"
Su Zhan's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Don't you often make others do things they don't want to do?"
Eden hesitated, then let out a nervous laugh. "I suppose this is just thanks for saving me."
She stood on tiptoe and pressed a quick, soft kiss to his lips. The gesture was sudden, catching Su Zhan off guard. Before he could react, Eden pulled away, cheeks flushed.
"What a beautiful woman," Su Zhan murmured, touching his lips with a smile.
He snapped his fingers, and a set of pajamas appeared in his hand. "You don't want the clothes I bought today? Try this one on for me."
Eden glanced at the garment and raised an eyebrow. "These are pajamas."
Su Zhan nodded, feigning innocence. "It's nighttime, isn't it? Of course you should wear pajamas to sleep. What, would you rather wear an evening dress?"
Eden held up the pajamas, examining the sheer fabric and the black stockings that came with it. "These are see-through. And what's with the stockings? Don't tell me you expect me to sleep in these."
Su Zhan shrugged, a playful grin on his face. "It's just a suggestion. Maybe it'll look good. Why not try it?"
Eden rolled her eyes and snatched the clothes from his hand, ignoring the stockings. "You want to wear them, you wear them," she called over her shoulder as she disappeared into the bathroom.
Su Zhan laughed, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "It's a shame. I think they'd look good together."
He settled onto the sofa, still smiling. Eden was clever, quick-witted, and beautiful. He realized with satisfaction that life during his recovery would not be boring at all.