The desert wind howled faintly but inside the shelter it was warm. Almost too quite.
The humming of the Genesis System had faded into a steady background rhythm, like a mechanical heartbeat. A soft blue glow pulsed gently along the walls of the livingquarters, illuminating two sleeping figures tangled under a light thermal sheet.
Kartikey lay on his back, one arm lazily thrown over Kanika breast, the other resting near his side. His torso was bare, scars from old lab accidents and combat simulations barely visible under the soft light. Calm, unbothered, his breathing was steady. The world could fall apart outside, and he'd still sleep through it.
Beside him, Kanika shifted.
She stirred slowly, blinking against the faint light. Her bare legs stretched out from under the blanket as she sat up, wearing nothing but her thin black bra and matching panties. Her silver braid had loosened during the night, cascading around her shoulder like moonlight.
She rubbed her eyes, glanced at the sleeping figure beside her… and smiled.
"Still sleeping like a rock," she whispered.
Sliding out from under the sheet, she padded across the smooth alloy floor and poured herself a small cup of recycled water. The system registered the action silently.
[Hydration – 200ml Dispensed]
She took a slow sip, eyes drifting back toward the bed. The warmth from earlier still lingered in the air. Not just physical heat but something else. A quiet trust. A comfort that could only exist between two people who had seen the end of time together.
Kanika tilted her head slightly and smirked.
"Let's see if genius boy is really asleep."
She walked back toward the bed, deliberately slow, every step light on her toes. Then grinning like a thief she slid under the covers, her cold hands slipping around Kartikey warm torso.
He groaned lightly in his sleep.
"Mmm.... Kanika?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she ran a finger slowly across his chest, tracing the lines of a faded scar.
"I was thirsty," she said innocently, her breath teasing his ear, "but now I think I'm curious."
His eyes cracked open. Still half-asleep, but not missing her tone. "Curious about what?"
She pretended to think. "About what happens if I poke your ribs three times in a row."
He groaned again. "That's biological torture."
She leaned in closer. "But done with love."
And then she did it three fast pokes to his side.
Kartikey flinched, grabbed her wrist mid-poke, and in one swift motion, rolled over and pinned her beneath him. Her laugh was immediate and uncontrolled.
"You asked for it," he whispered, nose almost touching hers.
"I always do."
But he didn't kiss her not yet. Instead, he just stared into her eyes for a moment, memorizing her. The way she smiled when no one else was around. The way she looked when the world wasn't watching. The version of her that only he got to see.
"Then slowly he start to slide his hand under Kanika bra."
with a teasing tone Kanika said "someone is being bold today, but i like it"
☀️ Morning – Hours Later
The desert sun had risen outside the dome, but inside, time moved slower.
Still in bed, Kanika reached out first, brushing her fingers across his cheek. "Good morning, sleepyhead."
Kartikey smiled and pulled her closer. "Morning, troublemaker."
They kissed softly no words, just connection. Familiar. Warm. The kind of kiss that said we survived another day.
But soon after, the system chimed.
[Daybreak – Fabrication Mode Available]▸ Task: Initiate Mecha Core Construction▸ Resources Scanned: 32%▸ Estimated Build Time: Variable
Kanika stretched, groaning as she rolled out of bed. "Well, the honeymoon is officially over."
Kartikey sat up, tossing on his underlayer suit. "Ya it is but, it was quite a night yesterday wasn't it. I mean we were just sleeping but because of your teasing we end up doing sex."
They walked together to the Fabrication Bay, which now glowed with readiness. Blueprints hovered in mid-air like sacred texts, filled with thousands of sub-routines, design protocols, and mechanical schematics.
[Genesis System – Mecha Build: Project 'Astra-01' Initialized]▸ Core Type: Energy Compression▸ Frame: Humanoid, Combat-Grade▸ Height: 11.4 meters▸ Modules: Not Installed▸ Pilot System: Neural Sync – Dual Compatible
Kanika tapped a rotating 3D model of the mech core. "We build this first. No weapons, no systems. Just the frame, heart, and legs. One step at a time."
Kartikey nodded, already summoning resource crates via the nearby console. "We build it our way. Fast, clean, efficient."
They got to work side by side. Sparks flew. Alloy panels snapped together with precision. Nanobots crawled across the floor, forming seamless welds. They moved in sync, like dancers in a routine they'd perfected years ago.
And in the middle of it all, amidst the hum of systems and the rising mech frame—there was laughter. Teasing. Soft glances. Fingers brushing.
Two engineers in love.Two warriors building the future.One mecha rising from the ashes of a dead world.
But Kartikey didn't stopped messing with Kanika work. Some time he spam her hip, then other moment he pinch her waist or so on. But they still kept on doing the work with little flirting.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
To Be Continued.