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Such a lovely day.
On the heels of a promise to this girl: a visit to the ocean once everything was over. Once the whole mess with the Consortium, with G, with C, with the Hinterland and everything that had revealed itself to the warrior that didn’t really care for any of it. What was it before? She had her entangleitis, her freelance work, and some regrets. And yet, the madness of the previous weeks made that all so small, so simple.
The one constant napped in her arms. Typical: she wanted to see the ocean, begged to be hugged, and fell asleep as soon as she was picked up. Still, the ocean breeze dancing on their faces made things seem peaceful, even if it was for a split second. Ann couldn’t help but smile at the peaceful look her dozing friend had.
And the split second ends.
“Hmmmm…? Darling?” Drowsy eyes open to a vision of Ann’s eyes surrounded by the endless blue sky.
“Hey, Ayane. Mind if I put you down now?”
“...Really? You couldn’t even hug me that long?”
“You’ve been out 30 minutes.”
The suddenly sheepish woman looks away, trying to scurry away from those stern eyes of judgment. “...Oh, sorry.”
As she was gently lowered back on her wheelchair, Ayane could not help but feel listless at not even being conscious for the one thing she asked for. It isn’t noticed by her taller friend who scoffs at the surrounding apparatus.
“I’m surprised that gaudy wheelchair works in the sand. You didn’t need to bring it here,” Ann asked, side-eying the red and green neon strips on the enormous wheels.
“Hey! Doctors said that it promotes circulation.”
“Your other chairs work just as well.”
“...Leave me and my LEDs alone!”
A frown and a pout from Ayane has Ann stretching her back and arms. 30 minutes of holding a person was a bit tiring, but not as much as she expected.
“Have you been eating right? You are lighter than before.” Ayane wondered if there was a hint of concern.
“I was stressed out, worried about you. The projection and all the surveillance had me too busy to eat.”
“Please eat healthy again. Don’t get sick on my account.”
“Got it! Guess I don’t have to tell you the same with those arms of yours showing through that shirt. Fighting everyone for weeks is quite the exercise regiment, huh?”
That sneaky smirk.
They have the act down pat: Ayane, the silly, crazy one; Ann, the stoic, serious one. Since the day they met, they became fast friends and, a daring confession later (no one believed Ayane’s story that it was Ann who confessed), they settled into their new life as a couple. Still, Ayane could not be still. She knew going in that Ann was not the expressive type, but the overly emotional woman wanted (craved) affection. Where she desired a torrent, she got a slow drip.
Desires that only got worse as Ann worked her freelancing job, training and fighting to be in perfect shape. Ayane did not complain one bit about the results.
Still, the purple haired woman forced out that bright, goofy grin of hers, reminiscing the previous weeks.
She remembers the slow boat ride to the Freight, mentioning never having seen the ocean in real life. A passing comment, not meant to be anything else as she slowly fell asleep while her hair projection was caressed on her lover’s lap.
Ann took it and made it the most romantic gesture she’s considered. Swearing to take her there once the chaos subsided. And, after defeating the dragon and Amok, they share a moment in the isolated beach, pushing a stick through the sand and watching the waves roll over.
Ann stayed true to her word, relieved that she could finally make good on that promise. Unbeknownst to her, Ayane was at her tipping point.
“...Ann, I was serious about before. Remember? If you’re tired of me and want to go our separate ways. I’ll always support you no matter what.”
The breeze ruffles the hair of the tall, quiet soldier.
“Geez even now you can’t show feelings? Just tell me, already. Tell me how irritating I am!”
The breeze ruffles the hair of the tall, silent soldier.
“Oh, seriously?! Can you just say–”
A quick sudden movement has Ann face to face with Ayane, who jerks back in shock.
“D-Darling?”
Ann grips the armrests of the wheelchair and reaches in for a kiss. It’s not fought. Ayane could never fight it. Ayane could never want to fight it.
“Mmmmm…mmmMMM?!” Eye shoot wide open as she feels a hand glide low.
“D-Darling wait people might see us and–”
“No one’s around for miles. Let me apologize.”
The surprised woman, for once, had to end it. “No wait, stop!”
Ann stood up straight, looking down on the now red-faced woman. It wasn’t until after their significant struggle of the past few weeks that she realized just why it was so difficult to process and display emotions. Being a bioweapon with fortuitous skills had her handled differently and, even with a foster family to encourage normal human emotional development, she sometimes struggled with what many took for granted.
She can’t lose the one person that overlooked all that. And it finally occurs to her that she needs to make sure she knows it.
“...Ayane, I’m sorry. I had so much on my mind. With Ryan, the entangleitis, Alan and the GROM suit. You deserve someone that tends to your needs better, and I want to make up for it. I want you to be… happy and proud of me.”
With tinges of red still on her cheeks, the shorter woman mostly held back a laugh. “You’re so silly! I have always been proud of you. I thought I was the burden. It’s tiring to be turned down so much, ya know? You have me starving for just a kiss at times.”
The soft grin, the one that Ayane loves, creeps across Ann’s face once again.
“Then it’s settled. Can we stop with the ‘leave me’ conversation then? Ayane Misuno is my girlfriend, and I want to keep it that way.” A quick caress of the shorter woman’s face has Ann brushing away an incoming tear. Ann wants to tell her how beautiful she found that face. Those markings, those eyes, those lips. But… she needs more time to open up.
Time that she hopes she has with her hacker friend.
“...I promise. Just… be more generous with your affection. I know you can do it for me.”
A quick reach in, surprising those familiar, beloved purple locks that backs into her seat. “I promise.”
Finally, relief for the woman that dreaded being separated from someone she saw fight and almost die the last few weeks. She knows that she couldn’t force emotions… but it couldn’t hurt to ask either. And, thankfully, she can still get her hugs and kisses from her lovely Ann.
But there’s always more to push for.
“Let’s go back to your place, darling. I haven’t been outside for this long in some time and it’s making me tired.”
The soldier nods with a slight grin, already knowing what she’ll be asked for once there. Not like she didn’t miss it, either.
“Can I get another kiss?”
The words hadn’t fully left before being pushed back in by a strong, stern tongue.