Ronan's lungs deflated furiously as he let out a deep sigh. "I demand to know why you've been hiding from me." His voice exploded angrily as I stood before him in the throne room. "What is your pathetic story this time for avoiding me?"
Ronan tilted up my chin to face his violet eyes. "Do you not love me anymore, Johannah?"
I nodded sincerely, my head in his tight grasp. "I love you so much, Ronan."
Ronan sighed again, freeing my chin. "Then why have you been acting like this? Is this about the orb again? Do you think it has taken your place again in my heart?"
"No, it's not about the orb!" I shouted defensively.
"Do not LIE to me!" Ronan roared, crossing the room to me in a flurry of black. I flinched away from him, terrified of his infamous temper.
"Please!" I cried out, frightened. "Don't hurt me. I wouldn't lie to you."
Ronan took a deep breath, attempting to control his rage. "Tell me the truth, know that I would not harm you...but you are making this very difficult for me. I do not know how much longer I can contain my fury."
The room remained deathly still and unmoving.
Ronan took another sharp breath into his lungs, vexed by my silence. "You are testing my patience, Johannah. It's simple. Just tell me the truth."
He grabbed my arm quickly and forced me to remove my gaze from the floor and peer into his eyes once more.
"Please, Ronan..." I begged. "Please don't hurt the baby. Please don't hurt our child..." My wavering voice gave out, and I fell to my knees sobbing uncontrollably.
Ronan's glare softened and he put the Universal Weapon on the ground next to him as he leaned over me. "Johannah, do not be afraid."
He reached for me but I jerked away frantically, petrified that he would hurt me.
Ronan sighed dramatically. "Johannah, listen to me. I told you that I would not harm you. I love you. Now that I know you are with my child, I must protect you as I would protect the orb."
I looked into his eyes and saw that he was genuine. I moved closer to him and Ronan cupped my cheek gently. "I wanted to tell you about the baby. I really did but..."
"But what, Johannah? You can tell me anything. I have been worried about you. I have not seen you for days and I thought you were betraying me with another man." Ronan caressed my face, urging me to continue.
"I thought you would have me killed. I love you but I was so scared that you only thought of me as a one night stand. That you would take our baby away as your heir and kill me." I weeped into his chest.
Ronan lifted my chin up to meet his eyes. "I love you, Johannah. I love the child we have made together. If anything happened to you, it would devastate me. I would never harm you. If anyone ever dared to harm you, they must go through me and I would see to it that they suffer to their last breath. Our child means the end of the reign of Thanos. You must both be kept safe."
He smiled rarely down at me and captured my lips with his. I deepened the kiss and Ronan slipped his tongue in my mouth. Our tongues danced together until we separated a few moments later. Ronan took a deep breath before sealing another kiss on my lips and pulled apart from me only to puff another lungful of air.
Ronan coughed, clearing his lungs from breathlessness. He smirked and hoisted me up from the floor. "Would you care to be alone with me?"
I nodded, smiling. "I love you, Ronan."
"I love you, Johannah." Ronan replied, giving me a small kiss on the mouth.
The rest of my evening was spent screaming out in ecstasy from Ronan's bed where the entire Dark Aster could hear me.