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Blue like the waves of a sea on a planet she’s longed to find peace in. A planet she’s once failed to make peace in. Red that blazes in the setting sun…warmer than any star. Mercury, her home and also the color of-
President Miorine Rembran wonders if the next step in GUND-Arm’s medicinal ventures could be utilizing the GUND format to defeat the terror that are migraines.
She knew she was a little in over her head, running for the position. Even more, she knew that recovering in the aftermath of Quiet Zero, the Benerit Group’s power struggle, Quinharbor, the Space Assembly League, and so on would be difficult. Still, she figured that so long as that aftermath included an alive and healthy Suletta Mercury, the path she took would be worth it.
Nevertheless, Miorine wishes she could at least catch a break to see Suletta for more than a few moments. She thinks she deserves at least that after all that they’ve been through.
Deserve?
Looking over the demands of the Earthians neatly written on one of the papers she’s carefully organized on her desk, she is reminded of her…misguided…decisions with regards to her relationship with the pilot. Suletta, who had gone to visit her currently incarcerated mother. Her mother, and if all goes well still, Miorine’s future mother-in-law, who was responsible for Quinharbor’s destruction after Miorine foolishly trusted her.
Goodbye, my Mercurian bumpkin.
Suletta’s bright blue eyes wide in shock, tear-stained cheeks, and agonized cries flash in her mind.
I’ve apologized. Made it up to her. She’s forgiven me. We’ve moved on from that…
Has she?
Breathe. Miorine unlocks her desk cabinet, and takes out a small, Haro-shaped , velvet container. Screw her, the questionable design called out to her with all the endearment of a certain red-haired lover of all things cheesy.
The golden ring is, admittedly, simpler than she would’ve imagined. Adorned with a single aquamarine gem - brilliant, like her eyes - and intricately carved detailing along the band.
During one of her rare moments of downtime in-between meetings, when she especially missed the other woman, she bought the ring with her own pocket money.
“This time, I’ll do right by you.” Sighing, she shuts the Haro once more with the ring snug inside and places it in her pocket.
I want to leave this place. But where could I go?
She wasn’t going to get any work done at this point.
Ping! President Rembran, someone has come to s-
Bolting to her feet, Miorine doesn’t wait for the intercom to finish. A piece of scratch paper with scribblings of Miorine Mercury? Suletta Rembran?? Rembran-Mercury…? falls to the floor.
It’s decided. That’s where I’m going, then.
She nearly crashes into her fiancée at the door in her haste.
“Miorine! I-Bwah?!” Before Suletta can finish speaking, Miorine takes her by the wrist to a destination only the shorter love of her life knows.
“Come with me, please.”
The pair weave through busy employees crossing the hallways of the headquarters. Anxiety starts to gnaw at Miorine’s nerves.
“Miorine,” Suletta begins, her name on her tongue being a watchtower’s light leading Miorine out of the fog in her mind, “are we running away?”
They arrive at an empty space shuttle. Slightly trembling, a slim hand slides down Suletta’s wrist, intertwining with her hand.
“Just for now,” Miorine murmurs, “I…need you. Is that alright?” She releases a breath she didn’t know she was holding.
Soft, blue eyes glance from snow-white hair hiding a faint blush, down to intertwined hands. Suletta loosens her hold, traces smooth skin with her calloused one, rubs soothing circles on a much smaller palm, and fits her fingers once more in the spaces between Miorine’s.
“Lead the way!”
.
.
.
The beginnings of a starlit sky meet roaring blue waves at a point where the sun comes to die. It is sunset by the time two wandering souls find themselves at one of the last unmarred beaches on Earth.
Miorine Rembran, the bloodstained heir of the king of witch hunters.
Suletta Mercury, daughter of a witch among witches - a miracle, a fake, and a girl who loves and loves. Neither are her hands bloodless.
They aren’t quite sure yet what they’re doing there. Truthfully, Miorine Rembran can’t even believe it herself yet. That they could have this. A trip to Earth with no monster to leap at them from the shadows. A moment to finally, finally just be. Suletta breaks the silence between them.
“The sea is far less calm than I thought it'd be, Miorine!" She says, wild red hair whipping at her face in the breeze. "Do you think we could have the wedding here? Earth House would love being home, too."
At this, Miorine snaps out of her reverie. “I’m sure we could have it arranged.” Not really, she isn’t. Since things have been slowly sorted out after Quiet Zero, they haven’t had a moment to rest nor think about anything other than recovery. Heck, they shouldn’t even be here right now. But she needed to get out.
So she grabbed her fiancée and booked it to Earth on the first ship she hijacked found. Now? Now she isn’t sure what to do. So, while Suletta comes closer to the shore, she looks at the blue sea. And she sees.
The sun is nearly gone, swallowed by the waves, lost to the horizon. But unlike before, in its place isn’t darkness.No, she thought, light is all over us, right now. Above them, an imperfect, beautiful moon basks them in moonlight. In the water, various sea life glowed. And narrowly avoiding getting drenched by saltwater, the brightest light that shines among them all. Ethereal. In Suletta Mercury’s clear, blue eyes, she saw the sun. And Miorine Rembran wants.
She palms the container in her pocket, still here.
She turns to Suletta, impulse flooding her veins, igniting her nerves. Suletta, who was content to let Miorine have her peace, looks back. Patient and kind, like she always was. Even if Miorine didn't deserve it.
Miorine leans in.
Freezes.
There are words she wants to say, but for once in her life, her words get caught in her throat. She has stood on stage in a crowd of hundreds with a business proposal planned in 10 minutes. She’s been at the receiving end of a gun, multiple times, and she’s managed to pull through. The war was over. But, god, she was afraid. But she would never tell Suletta that. At least, not now.
"What is it?" Suletta asks, slowly returning to the other’s side. Though used to Miorine's more reserved nature, she couldn’t help but worry. "It's okay. We have all the time in the universe now, don't we? An extended vacation on Earth!" She searches glassy mercury eyes - perhaps there were things she could not tell her yet with words. And she finds...
Well, she's recently learned that there were things she didn't always need to do. That she could simply want. That it was fine to be a little selfish, sometimes. And Suletta Mercury wants.
I know the wedding won't be for a while but...I want to kiss you, now.
"May I kiss you?" "Do I deserve you?" Their voices overlap. "Huh?"
The sand beneath their feet shifts as Suletta crosses the small space left between her and Miorine. Gently, she holds her by the waist. Touch was something they were both a little greedier for, recently. "Why do you need to deserve me?"
Miorine breathes, "I...hurt you so badly, back then. What if I do it again? We've barely started on recovery work at the school - let alone the peace talks with the Earthians, and there's still - there's still so much to do! The wedding...I'll have to keep you waiting for so long, for a woman who dragged you here so suddenly..."
And Suletta smiles, so tenderly. "You're enough," she says. “You’re here now, and we’ve moved forward.”
Ocean blue meets mercury. Her home in her eyes. Isn’t this destiny?
"Um. I ran away with you, didn't I? And...as long as I'm with you...Miorine, we're in this together, right?" Silently, Miorine squeezes tightly on the hands that hold her. The waves themselves seem to have quieted down just for them.
In Suletta Mercury’s loving eyes, Miorine sees the sea, the planet she wants to come home to, and her future.
Suddenly, Miorine falls to one knee on the sand. Naturally, Suletta does so, too. Wait a sec!
A little startled by the unexpected action, Miorine fumbles with the Haro ring box. As she expected, amusement blooms on her fiancée’s face upon seeing it.
Emboldened, and slightly giddy, she reveals the ring snug in the Haro’s maw. "Well! Suletta Mercury, will you wait for me?" Miorine asks, a fire relit in molten silver eyes.
She continues, “I can’t promise you that I wouldn’t be difficult. But I want this life with you, and I want it to be on our terms. I choose you, Suletta. Can I…be yours? Will you choose me, too?”
Bewitched, Suletta does not reply. Instead, she closes her eyes.
You'll have to meet me halfway.
A ring finds its home on calloused skin.
This time, Miorine Rembran will not run away.