Work Text:
This isn’t happening! Mileena thought as she frantically walked down the gilded and decorative hallways.
“Princess Mileena?” She heard one guard say in a concern tone.
“I wish to be alone right now,” she responded, her heels stepping harder on the tiled floor as she focused her eyes on the door to her room.
Once she approached it, she grabbed the key, unlocked it within milliseconds, and swinging it open with furious, yet quick succession.
“It is simply not fair!” She slammed the door behind her and ran up to her bed, lying face down. “It’s just… not fair.”
Her tears made no hesitation to escape her eyes and land on the covers.
“Why? Why me?” She slowly crawled into a fetal position. “What did I do to deserve any of this?!”
Maybe those bothersome gossipers were right… maybe she wasn’t fit to be empress – it was too many rules, regulations, and responsibility for her to handle. Not to mention that if the people of Outworld knew about her infection and/or relationship with Tanya, her career was as good as dead.
“Damn it all…” she buried her head into her arms as she continued to cry.
…
After a few minutes, a knock came from the door which added irritation to Mileena’s sorrow.
“I wish to be alone!” She yelled.
“It is Tanya.”
“Tanya?” Mileena whispered to herself before wiping her tears and getting up from the bed.
She quickly opened the door and was met with the beautiful warrior attempting to let out a content smile and poised composure.
“May I come in?” Tanya gestured to her room.
“Yes, with haste,” Mileena said as she closed the door behind them. “What is it?”
“You and Princess Kitana left unexpectedly after the General’s comment,” Tanya started as she paced around the room, admiring the pink and gold regal furniture. “I had to make sure that you were okay.”
“It’s nothing, Tanya,” Mileena leaned against the door, watching the Umgadi with fondness. “Mother just wanted to have a discussion between family. You should not worry.”
“A discussion that left you in tears?” Tanya glanced back, paying attentively to the princess’s red and puffy eyes. “It is humorous that you thought I wouldn’t notice.”
“I told you it is nothing to worry about,” Mileena did a pointless attempt to wipe her eyes. “Sometimes when you yawn, you let out a tear or two.”
“By Argus, you are a terrible liar,” Tanya chuckled, turning her whole body to face her. “I figured you would either get better at it or tell me truth.”
“It is the truth,” Mileena turned her head away as a response, which prompted Tanya to return to her more stoic demeanor.
“Your eyes are like that from simply yawning? Surely, you jest. ‘It’s nothing, Tanya,’ ‘I’m fine, Tanya,’ ‘you shouldn’t worry about anything, Tanya.’ It is getting harder to take those suggestions seriously when you have been repeating them like a broken record.”
“Ugh...” Mileena tried to exit the door, but Tanya gently grabbed her arm. “Let me go.”
“How many variations must I hear for you to tell me the truth?”
“Until you can accept it and leave it be!”
“We both know that won’t happen,” Tanya smiled but only for a second. “Mileena, if my mother taught me anything is that suppressing your emotions to people you love is damaging in the long run. Sooner or later, you’re going to have to be vulnerable with me.”
After that statement, she let go of Mileena’s arm to await her next reaction. She did not try to leave, but she also did not know what to do when she was now hit with the realization. Her face could only soften up.
“Or is it that you do not trust me?” Tanya continued; her voice was genuinely showing a little distress.
The impertinent question made the princess approach her and held her hands in reassurance.
“Of course, I do, always!” She let out a smile of her own. “It’s just that... I don’t...”
The soreness that bothered her throat resurfaced as she breathed out a shaky exhale.
“I don’t want you to think less of me.”
“And why would you think that?” Tanya let go of Mileena’s hands, only to grab her chin and made her look at her, not minding one bit of her tearful eyes.
“Because it seems like everyone is going against me; praying to the gods that I fall. If I show you or any of them a hint of weakness, it only proves their point further that I am not fit for the throne. I can’t let that happen.”
“But do you have to become distant with me as a result?”
“I do not wish to do it, but it is the only way,” Mileena cupped Tanya’s face with her hands. “I do want to be closer to you, but I am afraid. Afraid of my role as future empress, afraid of the people of Outworld banishing me… afraid I might lose you.”
“Mileena…” Tanya smiled as she shook her head. She let go of her chin, only to wrap her arms around her waist. “You can be afraid, but you shouldn’t have to fight this battle alone, especially when I am still standing. I’ll see to it that the sorcerer will help us find a cure. I promise you.”
While it was subtle, Mileena’s face was beaming with optimism.
“By the gods, I wish I could kiss you,” she despondently said, emphasizing her desire by looking at Tanya’s lips. “But I am still not sure on how this infection is spread. What if I do and you have it?”
“That is a risk I am willing to take,” Tanya said as she planted her lips unto Mileena’s, catching the latter off-guard.
“Are you mad?!” Mileena quickly broke away from it.
Tanya smiled as a response and resumed.
Despite her reluctance, Mileena did not fight back this time. Quite the contrary, she kissed Tanya back harder, breathing out in bliss.
They knew they were meant to be lovers ever since Tanya was appointed to guard the Royal Family, but even after Mileena was affected with Tarkat, she was amazed that the Umgadi was standing by her side, aiding her in her time of need, and continued to be this intimate with her.
Yes, Tanya was mad, but it was not like Mileena was complaining; though, she could only pray that it did not have dire consequences.