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“Visiting hours are over, you know?”
The cheerful voice of Lemuen called, giving the impression that despite her words she had no qualms about a bit of rule breaking. She was always that way when they were younger, always knew what she should and shouldn’t do, but was right there with the troublemakers when they were breaking them. One of her very many charms was being able to rope those with uneasy feelings into mischief, Fiammetta knew that very well.
The Liberi girl scratched her head a bit with a laugh, pacing a few steps further into the dimly lit room. Even though she had second thoughts about sneaking in like this, there was nothing that could stop her heart from fluttering when she looked at Lemuen’s face. It was even more radiant in the moonlight; The woman always surprised her admirers by seeming increasingly beautiful every time they saw her.
“You know Mostima…” Fiametta started. That sentence contained enough information for one to understand quite clearly how things were. “She went on and on about me sneaking in here to get some extra time with you, insistent about it really. It’s not like I don’t always want more time with you, I do, but…”
Lemuen smiled back, god she was adorable. “It’s not like you’re leaving first thing in the morning, is it?”
“Don’t worry, we’re heading away soon, but not that soon. We’ll make sure to meet up to say goodbye before we go, I think I… wouldn’t be able to take it if I didn’t.”
“Have you not considered staying here with me then?” Her beloved Liberi had now made her way to the bedside, which meant it was the Sankta’s turn to see how she looked in the moonlight. “You’re beautiful by the way, Fiammetta~”
“I-I… umm, I… well…” The red feathered girl looked down, avoiding eye contact with Lemuen. For some reason, that girl could get her to melt with just the simplest of compliments. She really was too love-struck for her own good. “I would love to stay just for you… but, Mostima, she…”
“I know, I know, just teasing, dear.” Lemuen comforted her with a wink. “Mostima needs you, and you need her. It’s as simple as that.”
“That’s true, but…” Fiammetta turned to look straight on at her dear sweetheart's face, fighting back against her anxiety with the conviction of her feelings. “I need you too… I just, can’t stop finding myself longing for those days again. When it was you, and me, and her… Do, uhm, do you ever think that maybe one day the three of us will get to just live together, as a family?”
“My, oh, my. My darling Fiammetta wants to start a family with me, is that it?” Lemuen teased, smiling brightly with a wink for maximum effect. “How forward~”
“H-Huh!? W-Wha… T-That’s… not what I was saying…” The Liberi tried to hide her face in her plumage. She cursed herself for getting this embarrassed when she tried so hard to be steadfast. “I mean… maybe someday, that… wouldn’t be so bad. If it’s with you.”
“Hehe, a woman after my own heart. Although, maybe you already have it, if you don’t mind sharing that is~” In a moment her face lightened, a sudden sense of genuineness interrupting her teasing. “Then one day, we will have that. I promise you, we will.”
“Thank you, it’ll mean the world to me.”
A moment of peace fell over the two girls, warmly staring into each other's eyes. Sometimes, moments like these felt like you didn’t need any words, but… Fiammetta desperately wished she could be even more connected. Of course she knew Lemuen very well, but the ache in her heart that just any old Sankta with Empathy could go farther was painful to even consider.
Fiammetta was broken from her thoughts by Lemuen’s voice, coming out with a bit of frustration as she looked around the room.
“Anyways, where did that Mostima run off to?”
“Not sure… It’s funny, for someone who’s entire job is keeping an eye on her, there’s no real way to get good at it, that's for sure. Even with years and years of practice.”
“Hmph, well if she’s too much of a spoilsport to come see me, I’ll just ignore her until she comes crawling back.” Lemuen shrugged, knowing full well that Mostima, despite the image she liked to project, cared too much about them to stay away for too long. “So I’m stuck with my wonderful Fia, not a bad thing if I do say so myself. Although are you just going to keep standing there?”
“Ah, right. How careless of me.” Fiammetta responded with a second wind of confidence. She lightly reached over to grab Lemuen’s hand, and brought it up to her mouth. It was warm. She placed a gentle kiss tenderly on the back of her hand, before returning a warm smile to the angel before her.
“Not enough.”
“Hah, fine fine. You’re a hard lady to satisfy, you know that?” Fiammetta playfully rolled her eyes, before leaning down over the bed, closer and closer to her dear companion. A chaste kiss on the lips is all she gave, but there was no less love given for its brevity. When they parted a moment later, it was hard to not lose herself in her lover’s eyes.
“I’m just a lady who knows what she wants.” Lemuen declared. A moment later, she reached up to softly cup Fiammetta’s face in her hand, greedily taking in the sensation of her skin. She narrowed her eyes and gave a knowing glance. “More.”
“However much you need.” Fiammetta paralleled her love by bringing her own hand up to caress the pink haired girl’s cute cheeks. Gently with her thumb, she parted a bit of hair out of the woman’s eyes, staring into them as if they were everything.
She leaned back in again, closing her eyes as she gave Lemuen everything she wanted. She could hardly fault the Sankta’s greed when she took in the warm sensations of a loving kiss, there wasn’t much in this world that could compare. The time started to drift away, and the Liberi dared not part for one second until her Lemuen was satisfied. Even that was only filling a small ounce of what she owed.
For several minutes they stayed together in an exchange of feelings, a vulnerability only given to those one loves. Even though it was wonderful, Fiammetta couldn’t help but wish she could be even closer. Even more vulnerable. Give her entire self up, but she couldn’t, she wasn’t meant to, and that was that. For now, she would simply take what she could get. That was enough… right? It should be enough.
The two parted after Lemuen was satisfied, separating only a few inches apart as they both caught their breath. The Sankta’s hand was still cupping her dear, sweet, bird’s face, and she slowly brought her thumb over and pressed it into her open mouth. Fiammetta closed her mouth as carefully as she could, lightly sucking on the digit without any pressure from her teeth.
“Adorable…” The pink haired girl replied as she watched her beloved close her eyes and suck on her finger without any instruction at all. She pushed up with her thumb to pry open the girl’s mouth, heartedly taking in how malleable she was for her. Slowly sliding it out, she giggled a bit with glee when she saw Fiammetta’s eyes flutter open and a light hint of red in her cheeks.
“Lem…uen…” She softly uttered the words, unable to help herself from being as entranced as she was. However, there was the slightest bit of reason in the back of her mind that tried to come out in a situation like this. “I should probably head out and let you rest, right?”
“Oh? You don’t want to stay with me?”
“It’s not… that.” Fiametta frowned. “Could I file a request for you to stop teasing me so much?”
“Hmm, one sec. Gotta send that in for you. Yep. Yep. Hrmm, they’re looking at it right now. Oh, what’s this? Sorry, looks like your request got rejected…”
“Damn.”
“Oh, what’s this? There’s an assignment that’s just come in from the newest Cardinal Aide for one Ms. ‘Dawn Destroyer’.” The Sankta girl smiled at her own improv. “Looks like you have to spend all night at her side. Can’t ignore a mission like that, can you?”
Fiammetta sighed, relenting to her like she always did. “Fine, fine. Doesn’t look like I have much choice, do I? There’s a fine young woman who needs me to accompany her, after all.”
“My, when did you get so suave?” Lemuen chuckled to herself, and her lover couldn’t help but beam slightly alongside her. “So… Would you please be a dear and snuggle up alongside me? I’m feeling awfully cold all of a sudden.”
“Of course…” Fiammetta replied as she let Lemuen slide herself to the side to make room for the other girl. Even though this was far from the first night they spent together, for some reason the Liberi was burning up at the thought of resting so close to her again. Once proper room was made, Fiammetta remembered that she still needed to make herself ready for bed.
Without further ado, she pulled off her jacket and let it rest on the floor with a little bit too much abandon. However, as she slipped off her tie and hooked her fingers around the buttons to remove her undershirt, the Liberi woman was quickly interrupted.
“Wow, front row seat to a strip tease!”
“Quite down, someone might hear you.” Fiammetta frowned as she pulled off her shirt and tossed it haphazardly on top of her resting jacket. It didn’t take long to remove her skirt and her shoes, and she suddenly felt a lot colder in just her underwear. Fortunately(?), she warmed up quite a bit as soon as she realized how hard Lemuen was staring. “Lem…”
“You know, I forgot how big they were.” The Sankta girl stared intently at her lover’s chest. “Like, wow.”
“Could you stop staring…”
“No.”
“Okay.”
Fiammetta gave up, at this point she should know Lemuen well enough that this wasn’t much of a surprise. Despite her embarrassment, she still felt really happy at this moment; Especially once she slipped herself into bed alongside her sweetheart. The bed was comfortable enough, but what really provided her relief was when she rolled onto her side to find herself face to face with her angel.
“Come here.” Lemuen stated simply. The command was enough to get butterflies swirling in her stomach by itself.
Fiammetta obediently moved herself forward into Lemuen’s open arms, wrapping her own around her back and holding on tight. This warmth was unlike anything else in the world. It was grounding, reassuring, and so beautifully fragile. The embrace was wonderful. While in the past she often resisted out of insecurity, right here and right now she lowered her defenses and let herself fall into comfort.
They stayed like this wordlessly for a minute, nothing shared between them but their warmth and love. But Fiammetta didn’t want to be wordless. There was so much she had to say, so many things she needed to get out for her love to hear. Yet it felt like no matter how much she cried out, it would never be enough. An aching began to tear at her chest, an ache that always stemmed from love.
Tears began to pool up in Fiammetta’s eyes, she couldn’t stop it even though she kept telling herself not to cry. Thankfully, her feelings weren’t unnoticed by the woman holding her so tight, a concerned gasp ringing out when she noticed the water building up in her phoenix’s eyes.
“Fiammetta? What’s the matter?” Lemuen instantly queried in an intrinsic need to calm her beloved’s worries. She pulled apart enough to where she could bring a hand to Fiammetta’s face and tenderly wipe the tears away from her eyes. “Is something wrong? Please tell me…”
“I… don’t know…”
“Dear… I haven’t seen you cry since the day when I woke up. You’re usually so strong, despite everything you’ve been through. What could possibly hurt my sweet Fiammetta so?” She spoke softly as she gently caressed her lover’s face in her hand.
“I…” Fiammetta shook, not sure if she should even say the thoughts pouring out in her mind. She was afraid. Scared. For the very first time, she thanked the fact she didn’t have empathy, for she never wanted to spread this pain. “I love you. That’s why…”
“Wha…?”
“I love you so much. You’re everything to me, my rock, my world, a place to come back to, a place to belong… I love you, and Mostima, and everything you’ve given me. But…” She couldn’t control the emotions from spilling over, once the dam broke it was like a siphon pulling out her feelings. “For five agonizingly long years, everytime I woke up I fell apart when I remembered the fact I might never get to see you again. The love of my life, taken away from me, and I wasn’t even allowed to know why… Mostima, the only thing that could keep me together, was exiled from this land. Andoain, someone who used to be a true and honest friend, has become the one thing I hate the most in this world…”
“Fia, I…” Lemuen started, not sure how to comfort her. It stung at her heart, the realization that she was not sure how to be a proper lover to the special someone before her eyes.
“I know I should be satisfied that I’ve gotten as much back as I have. You woke up, and came into my life again, I can’t begin to say how much that means to me. I get to be with Mostima for my work, even though she should be separated from Laterano entirely. I’m so unbelievably lucky, but I can’t help but be greedy…” Fiammetta pushed herself forward, crying into the gentle warmth of Lemuen’s chest. Her embrace. Her existence. “When I’m with you like this, I start to think about those days we spent together, only to remember that they’re no more. The peaceful life in Laterano with you and Mostima by my side, it may one day come, perhaps we will be blessed with a family like that, but…”
“It will never be the perfect ending. I know, it hurts.” Lemuen softly caressed the back of Fiammetta’s hair, running her fingers through the woman’s hair. She was on the verge of tears herself, holding back so that she could be the one to offer her warmth. “There there, it’s okay.”
“...Because Andoain won’t be there with us. I-I can’t believe I’m saying that. There is nothing in this world I have as much pure vitriol for other than that man, but… When I think back on my happy memories of those days, he’s there too. If I try to take him away, it doesn’t feel as happy anymore, it feels… fake.” Fiammetta pulled herself back slightly, still remaining in Lemuen’s arms. She did her best to smile up into her angel’s eyes, her own thoroughly reddened. “I guess… I got it too good, life was too perfect, and it’s hard to accept that it won’t come back now that it's gone.”
“Fiammetta.” The Sankta woman started with a more serious tone to her voice. “I won’t try to speak to you more about Andoain, not tonight. Nor will I blame you for having these feelings, and wanting that perfect life back. I want it back too. But,” Lemuen kept her tone, but smiled brightly. A genuine smile. “You are a very strong girl. You’ve been through so much, more pain than even I could imagine. You are different, disconnected, but you’ve found your home here, in the people you love. I know those days make everything else seem imperfect, but I can’t stand the sight of you refusing to accept happiness.” A few tears dripped from her eyes, yet she smiled on through every word she spoke. “You feel joy and love being in my arms, don’t you? Then accept that, take it in, let it make you happy. Let me and Mostima be there for you, like you are always there for us.”
“Lemuen…”
“Shhh,” Lemuen lightly shushed her lover with a finger to her mouth. “We don’t need any more words, we don’t need Empathy, okay? Just lie in my arms, take in my love, and be happy for me. Can you do that, dear?”
“Y-Yes, thank you…” Fiammetta still felt conflicted, but in equal measure she was warm and fuzzy inside. “I love you, Lemuen…”
“And I love you too, Fiammetta. Never ever let yourself doubt that, mmkay?” She smirked, before once again pulling the Liberi in tightly.
Fiammetta did her best to let go of the apprehensions, no matter how hard it truly was. It may be an impossibility, but she had to try with all her heart. Lemuen brought her in for a passionate, loving kiss, before parting to hold Fiammetta peacefully in her embrace.
Slowly but surely, everything else slowly faded away, and Fiammetta drifted to sleep with thoughts of nothing but love.
“So, how long have you been listening out there?”
Once Fiammetta was peacefully sleeping in her arms, Lemuen turned her attention to the window near her bedside. It was partially cracked open, letting in the cool night’s breeze. However, it was also letting out every word of their prior conversation.
“Heh, and here I thought I would finally be able to escape your attention. You’re better than I thought, Lemuen.” A very familiar voice rang out from someone squatting on the windowsill outside the hospital room. After being exposed, the blue haired Fallen Sankta figured that it was finally time to show herself, standing up and coming into view of the window. “Mannn, feels nice to stretch my legs after that, yeesh.”
“Mostima, did you really intend on hiding yourself the entire time? My feelings are hurt, you know.” Lemuen teased, though quiet enough to not wake the sleeping bird in her arms.
“Aww, c’mon, the two of you were having a moment. Wouldn’t be right of me to interfere.” Mostima countered, accompanied by a quick laugh. She slid up the window far enough to lean herself in slightly over the top for easier communication.
“Oh, and eavesdropping the entire time was right of you?”
“Hey! I take offense to that, it wasn’t the entire time.” Mostima retorted. “I got in around the striptease part, was it? Wish I coulda stolen a glance but if Fiammetta saw me I think I would actually be dead right about now.”
“So you think it's better that you only eavesdropped on part of our chat?” Lemuen raised an eyebrow, regardless of how Mostima couldn’t see it from that angle.
“I do indeed consider it my right to hear what the two of you are up to. What if you were keeping secrets from me?”
“Like what?”
Mostima shrugged, and then rested her face on her arm. “I dunno, what if she knocked you up or something?”
“And… you think you wouldn’t be the first to know that?” Lemuen sighed. As much as she dearly loved Mostima, it was hard when she was so often… Mostima.
“Just spitballing here, geez.” Mostima rolled her eyes, also regardless of if Lemuen could see it. “Anyways, don’t wanna wake our little birdie up, so I better hurry on out of here. G’night.”
Lemuen rolled over slightly so she could stare daggers into Mostima’s eyes. “Where do you think you’re going, young lady?”
“To… bed?”
“Then crawl through the window and get in with us. It’s nice, warm, and full of love.” Lemuen’s voice was sweet, but there was a threatening nature hidden inside.
“What if I don’t wanna?”
Lemuen smiled brightly, pitching her voice up so it sounded even softer. “In that case, you’ll find out!”
“Y-Yes, ma’am.” Terrified, Mostima cleared her throat before crawling in through the open window. She did her best to do so as quietly as possible, out of fear of what either of the women would do to her if she woke Fiammetta up. “Soooo, do you want to see my striptease too…?”
“Get in bed, Mostima.”
The fallen angel sighed, before taking off her outer layers and tossing them on the floor just like her partner did. Although this time, she didn’t have an audience. Despite her protests, she couldn’t avoid noticing the excited pumping in her chest. It only increased more and more as she slipped into the covers on the other side of Lemuen, and rested her head gently against her back.
The three of them had a better night’s sleep than any of them have had in awhile. Mostima struggled with accepting the fact that while love was never easy, it was also always worth it.