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It was a warm, sunny afternoon in Ragunna, which meant it was prime time for Abby to drag Rover to Margherita’s, order everything on the menu, and scarf it all down while Rover footed the bill.
“It’s not like you use your shell credits for much else,” Abby retorted when Rover had started protesting. “When’s the last time you used them?”
Rover opened her mouth.
“Aside from examining all those echo frequencies you have,” Abby added. “Or training your abilities.”
“Both of those are important.”
“So is food! I, Abby, trusted sidekick of Lady Arbiter and Leader of the Black Shores, need my fill!” Abby smiled smugly, crossing its arms. “Remember that time I saved you from that dragon? Hmm~?”
So Rover had sighed, fished out her shell credits (the food really didn’t make much of a dent in her wallet, she admitted) and lounged on the plush seats outside while Abby ate its fill. She did at least order a drink for herself, though.
And in the time it took for Rover to bring the glass up to her lips, take a sip, and place it back down, Carlotta had appeared in front of her.
“Carlotta?!” Rover cleared her throat, gesturing towards the seats nearby, inviting Carlotta to join her. Her heart rate spiked, though only because she’d been startled by Carlotta’s appearance, and not because Carlotta had taken the seat next to her instead of the other ones further away. Certainly not.
“‘Ello,” Abby greeted around a mouthful of pizza, and then went back to eating. Though not before shooting Rover a look that she didn’t quite understand.
“Hello, Abby.” Carlotta smiled, waving. She turned back towards Rover, those iridescent eyes of hers distracting Rover enough that she only caught the latter half of her sentence. “---to thank you for all that you’ve done. For my family and all of Ragunna.”
Surprisingly, some part of Rover’s brain kicked into gear. “It was nothing. I’m always happy to help.”
Carlotta laughed gently. Forget her aperitif, Rover could get drunk on the sound. Carlotta’s voice was light, elegant, and deadly—just like everything else about her. “You really are so reliable. Still, I insist on repaying you.”
Rover frowned. She had quite enough already. Money, weapons, echoes—she supposed she wouldn’t turn down a prime echo from Averardo Vault, but she also didn’t really need it. She had quite a hefty amount of Monnaie, too.
“I appreciate the offer, Carlotta, but I really don’t—”
“A banquet,” Carlotta interrupted. She’d leaned in slightly, one hand on the couch resting precariously near Rover’s knee. Perhaps she should’ve moved, but Rover relished in their sudden closeness. At this distance, Rover caught a whiff of her perfume: an enchanting floral scent, obviously expensive. “A banquet to, ahem, celebrate your accomplishments.”
Rover pursed her lips. “Something that big is unnecessary—”
“It’ll just be the two of us in attendance,” Carlotta continued. Rover thought she heard something like a laugh coming from Abby, but when she turned to look, it coughed and continued stuffing its face. Rover faced Carlotta again, who looked uncharacteristically nervous all of a sudden, or at least as much nervousness as Carlotta could show. She had her eyes downturned, the slightest furrow between her perfect eyebrows. “It can be anywhere you like, any venue of your choosing. I’ve heard you’ve been collecting musicflies of late—I can arrange for Aria Mummers to play music while we eat together, and we can even dance after dinner. If you want.”
Carlotta fell silent, and Rover thought she noticed the slightest bit of a grimace on her face, but then it vanished. Rover had the absurd thought that Carlotta had been rambling, but that didn’t make much sense. Carlotta was always so confident, self-assured, graceful, in both battle and conversations. Why would all that disappear now?
“I have missed you quite a lot since we last met,” Rover admitted softly, rubbing the back of her head with her hand. Carlotta looked up in surprise, then a small smile bloomed on her face. Rover’s chest warmed at the sight of it, spurring her to continue. “I would love to spend more time with you.”
“Really?” Carlotta’s voice was quiet, then she sat up straight, adding distance between them, much to Rover’s slight disappointment. “Excellent! I–thank you. Anyway,” Carlotta cleared her throat, and just like that, she was back to the demeanor Rover recognized. Those cool, calculating eyes, that smile that hid something behind it. “Did you have somewhere specific you wanted to go?”
“Not really.” Rover brought up a hand to her chin as she thought about it. She’d been travelling all over Rinascita as of late, but it’s not like there were a lot of restaurants in the wilds. “I’ve become rather fond of Egla Town, if that’s anything. I’ll trust your judgement on the rest.”
“Egla Town, hm…” Carlotta nodded. “As you wish.” She stood up from the couch and curtsied, making direct eye contact once again as she brought her head back up. “Meet me there at…” Carlotta cut herself off suddenly, her eyes darting around Rover’s face, then her smile softened. “Meet me there around the golden hour of the day.”
Rover agreed, and off Carlotta went. Rover watched her go, and as soon as she disappeared behind a building, Abby flew right in her face.
“Well, well!” Abby smirked. “Guess who has a—’scuse me.” It burped into its fist, then continued, “Guess who has a date? Not surprised, really. Even Brant saw the chemistry between the two of ya. I wonder how she found the time with all the Montelli stuff she’s got—”
“Wait, wait, wait.” Rover held up a hand, her face heating. “It’s not a date.”
Abby huffed, placing its hands on its hips. The hair tuft on its head stuck straight up, resembling an exclamation point. “Uh, yeah it is! It’s going to be just the two of you, hello! If that’s not a date, then what is it, huh? Huh?”
“Something to say thank you?” Rover protested weakly.
“...I think that dragon hit you a bit too hard when it knocked you out.”
———
Rover hadn’t believed Abby’s little theory, but as Egla Town came into view and she dove down, somersaulting as she landed, she suddenly felt nervous. She glanced down at herself, eyeing her outfit.
It wasn’t a date. But why did she always wear this outfit all the damn time? It wasn’t dirty or damaged, was it? Rover began checking herself. She had fought some TD’s on the way, but she wasn’t injured.
Carlotta would look nice, but Carlotta always looked nice. Everyone in Rinascita dressed nice, actually. Professionally. Tailored suits, fitted dresses, even the Order of the Deep had a clean look going on. In contrast, Rover wore a mostly black outfit that would be impossible to see considering she was going to be with Carlotta for most of sundown and later.
“Now look who’s fretting,” said Abby from inside Rover’s Tacet Mark. “I told ya so.”
Rover brought her hand up to frown down at the Mark. “I thought you were sleeping.”
“All your worrying woke me up,” Abby said, yawning. “Look, there she is!”
Rover shot her head up. Nobody was in sight. The crops inside the farms of Egla Town snapped suddenly in the breeze, as if laughing at her.
“Hehe.” Abby yawned again, louder this time. “Alrighty, I’m going back to…sleep…”
Rover heaved a sigh. Well, no sense in just waiting around on the outskirts of town. Rover started to head into the town proper, keeping an eye out for any flashes of bright magenta and white hair.
The sun had just started to dip into the horizon, turning the sky a brilliant gold. Rover stood in the town’s main square, staring up at a street lamp illuminating the fountain in the middle. The town’s…peculiarities didn’t start until late in the night, but Rover still found herself trying to spot a ghostly little face in the street lamp’s light. She could almost hear its silly little song, if she concentrated…
Whap! Something gentle hit her shoulder and Rover turned, finding Carlotta leaning in towards her with a grin.
“Hello, Rover,” Carlotta said softly. Gloved fingers trailed lightly up Rover’s arm, causing a blush to immediately erupt onto her face, before Carlotta tucked her arm into the crook of Rover’s elbow. “I won’t keep you waiting any longer. Shall we go?”
Rover nodded dumbly, her brain having gone somewhere else in Solaris-3 at the moment. She blinked herself back to reality after several long moments, just in time to realize they had walked and reached their destination.
She really hoped Carlotta hadn’t been talking that entire time she’d zoned out, and she’d been ignoring her.
“Here we are,” Carlotta said, as they stood in front of a quaint little building. In the time it took for Carlotta to slide out her arm to intertwine Rover’s fingers with her own, she managed to catch the name of the restaurant: The Knight’s Delights. Then her brain shutdown again, feeling the warmth of Carlotta’s hand through her glove, and her awareness came back once they were both seated with a menu in front of them, the waiter already walking away.
Rover looked around. They sat at a two-top at the edge of the restaurant, which had a gorgeous view of the Nimbus Sanctum just over the cliff sides to their right. For a celebratory banquet, it was surprisingly more quiet and…intimate than Rover expected. Especially from someone like Carlotta, who was always about the flash and flair.
Because it’s a date! She imagined Abby insisting, even though she could tell it was still asleep. Rover glanced at her Tacet Mark, which was a mistake, because she realized her hand was still holding onto Carlotta’s, resting on the table.
“Is something wrong?” Carlotta frowned, leaning in over the table slightly, eyes worried. Rover met her eyes, and she was suddenly transported back to when they had last parted, a couple weeks ago.
The token nestled into her palm, glinting golden at her in the sunlight. The rain had slowed to naught but a small drizzle, a rainbow coating the sky.
“I know someone like you won’t stay just for me,” Carlotta said quietly, smiling sadly, “and joining the Montelli family might not be in your plans just yet.”
She’d turned away, walking back to her grandfather, and Rover suppressed the urge to grab her wrist, to stay by her side. No–they both had responsibilities to take care of. So Rover watched, heart aching something awful, as Carlotta walked slowly but steadily away.
Wait a minute. Yet? Just yet? Rover replayed that sentence over and over in her mind. What did that mean? Had Carlotta been inviting her into the family?
No, no way. She probably just meant as a friend, as a temporary member, like her identity as Cat’s Eye.
“...Rover?” Carlotta asked, bringing her out of her thoughts. She looked even more anxious now, those beautiful eyes of hers flitting about. “Is the food not to your liking? I can always—”
“No,” Rover said. Carlotta’s face fell, and she added hastily, “I mean, yes. No, as in nothing’s wrong. I was just…thinking about you.”
“About me?” Carlotta wondered, then that mysterious smile of hers was back, the one Rover could never read. “I’m right here, you know. Though I think about you quite often as well.”
“What? You do?”
“Of course.” Carlotta squeezed Rover’s hand gently, and she used her other hand to prop her chin up as she stared at her. “Especially those eyes of yours, Cat’s Eye.” She winked, and Rover felt her face heat. “Your eyes are so intensely beautiful. When you’re focused, when you’re in battle, even right now…their luster shines like nothing else.” Carlotta averted her gaze, adding, “I selfishly find myself wishing they’ll sparkle even brighter when you look at me.”
...What was happening right now? Was Carlotta flirting? Was she just being complimentary? Rover opened her mouth, though she had absolutely nothing ready to say. Thankfully the waiter came back right at that moment.
“Have we decided on what to have on this fine evening?” He asked.
“Oh!” Carlotta removed her hand from Rover’s to pick up the menu. “My apologies. We haven’t decided yet. Give us a few minutes, will you?”
The waiter bowed. “Of course. Take your time, ladies.”
Rover held the menu in front of her face and stared at the words on the page, not really reading any of it. She used it to gather her bearings, because surely nothing good would come about if Carlotta saw how red her face was becoming.
———
The next couple hours somehow passed smoothly without incident. Their conversation turned towards other topics: how Carlotta was faring with getting the Montelli’s in order, what Rover thought of Rinascita, speculation on what the Order was hiding when it came to the Sentinel, so on and so forth. The food came, it was excellent, (Rover was mildly surprised but also relieved when Abby didn’t pop up to eat all of hers), and the night started to wind down.
“My, you certainly have been busy these past weeks,” said Carlotta, once Rover had finished speaking on her travels throughout Rinascita’s many regions. “I have to wonder, though, I’ve heard reports you’ve been running around purposely inhaling those hallucinatory flowers.” Carlotta raised an eyebrow. “I do hope you have a good reason for that.”
Rover smiled sheepishly, shrugging. “It’s hard to explain.”
“Naturally.” Carlotta’s lips were quirked up in amusement, but Rover got the sense it wasn’t done mockingly. She wasn’t laughing at her, but rather laughing fondly. “I hope you never saw anything particularly frightening.”
“No,” said Rover. “Most of them have been quite beautiful, in fact. I once hallucinated that I flew across the skies with Lorelei as someone sang ethereally in my ears.”
Carlotta blinked rapidly, her forehead pinching in confusion. Rover had the sudden thought such an expression was rather cute on Carlotta’s face.
The waiter came over with the check (which Carlotta paid, no matter how much Rover protested) and the two left their table, beginning a walk outside the town, near the edges that dropped off towards the Nimbus Sanctum below.
“It’s time for the final event of the night,” Carlotta said, and brought her fingers up to her mouth to whistle. Rover’s heart sank a little at the word ‘final,” but her curiosity won over as a Wingray soared into view, flapping above them just a little ways away. “Our next stop is the Nimbus Sanctum.”
Rover reached behind and took out her Terminal, selecting the proper utility. She put her Terminal away and looked around, but there really was only one Wingray. “Are we taking turns using that echo to fly down?”
“No.” Carlotta shot her a sideways glance, eyes sparkling. “I’ll make sure to hold you tight.”
Rover was no stranger to flying through the air, whether from using her grapple, her glider, her wings, or a Wingray. But it was decidedly harder to focus on not crashing into the ground when she had the beautiful new heiress of the Montelli family wrapping her arms around her waist, lips occasionally brushing her shoulder, hair tickling the bare skin of her arms, and the fragrance of her perfume filling her nose as they soared downwards.
Needless to say, Rover was in a distracted state when they reached the Sanctum’s gondola port and as a result, almost fell into the sea of clouds.
It was worth it though, because Carlotta was laughing. “Careful now,” she said, accepting Rover’s hand for balance as she stepped onto the gondola, Rover following. “When I said fall for me, I didn’t mean it quite like that.”
Rover closed her eyes momentarily to gather herself, or else she would’ve really fallen off just from sitting down. Once both of them were seated, the echo set off, gliding smoothly and gently through the water.
The two sat in comfortable silence, admiring the views of the Sanctum and the night sky above. An Aria Mummer was positioned on some far shore, its music carrying easily over the water. The tune sounded like an aria, or maybe a waltz…whatever it was, it sounded romantic.
Rover couldn’t take it anymore. She faced Carlotta, who apparently had been staring at her this whole time, took a deep breath, and blurted:
“Is this a date?”
“Yes, obviously,” Carlotta said immediately.
What. “What?”
“Rover,” Carlotta began in that hypnotically beautiful accent of hers, “Do you think I do all this for everyone I want to thank? Zani gets quite a bit of paid vacation time—well, when she eventually uses it—but I don’t go with her.” She smiled, amused, but it quickly faded into something like horror when Rover just continued sitting there, frozen. “Oh. You…didn’t know, did you.”
Rover didn’t know what to say. “I thought you were just thanking me.” Wrong thing to say.
“It’s–I–it’s fine.” Carlotta managed another smile, and Rover hated the sight of it. It wasn’t her usual smile, nor was it the one she wore in battle. It was tentative, and looked like it was going to shatter any moment. Her eyes no longer sparkled, and she looked away. Rover had seen this expression on her face before. It was one of fear, of uncertainty, the same one she’d seen on Carlotta’s face when she’d broken into the Sonoro Sphere that had trapped her, the same one she’d worn until Rover had brought out her grandfather’s gun and given it to her.
“We were a good team,” Carlotta said quietly, looking at nothing in particular in the distance. “I thought we had synergy together, and I couldn’t help but want something more between us than just being partners in crime, but–”
“I’ve stared at my Cat’s Eye token every day since you gave it to me,” Rover interrupted. She leaned forward to rest the tips of her fingers against Carlotta’s glove, desperately wishing for her to look back. When she did, Rover continued, “I’ve missed you every second since we parted ways. I’ve imagined you next to me, fighting by my side as I’ve wandered Rinascita. I’ve replayed every single moment we’ve spent together: the Carnevale, as we danced at the Troupe’s hideout, when we stole the Terminal core back from your uncle, and I’ve still hungered for more time with you.”
Carlotta stared at her, expression flickering. Eventually, hesitantly, she spoke. “I’d gladly have Cat’s Eye in my family’s future, if you were willing.”
“When the world allows us both to breathe and settle down, I’ll happily accept.”
Water lapped gently at their gondola. The echo cooed. After a few more seconds of silence, Carlotta pressed her face into her hands, sighing heavily.
“You’re so dreadful, you know that?” Carlotta accused, one eye peeking out from between her fingers. “I nearly had a heart attack just now!”
“I’m sorry,” said Rover. Her cheeks hurt. She was smiling so widely. “If it means anything,” she said, as Carlotta returned to sit back against the gondola seats, “you’ve been a detriment to my heart all day.”
“I did notice you blushing quite a bit today,” Carlotta said, her lips curved affectionately. Her next words rang out across the waters and dissipated within the soft clouds, so the only one who could’ve heard it was the person the words were meant for. “Come and kiss me already, Rover.”
She didn’t need to be told twice. Rover was already addicted to how her name sounded coming from Carlotta’s lips. She knelt by Carlotta’s feet, yanking off her gloves while she did so, because she wanted to feel the warmth of her skin properly. She reached her hands upward, brushing her fingers over Carlotta’s shoulders, her neck, the edge of her jawline, until finally hooking her hands behind her ears, fingers brushing into her impossibly soft hair.
Carlotta’s eyelids drooped as Rover brought her face closer. “You don’t need to kneel, you know,” she whispered, gaze lowered.
Rover smiled. “You’re shorter than me, my lady.” She pressed her lips softly against hers. It took monumental effort to stop after kissing her just once. “If we were standing, I’d have to hoist you up.”
“Hmm, I wouldn’t really mind,” Carlotta murmured, and wrapped her arms around Rover’s neck.
When Carlotta initiated the kiss this time, it was perfection, just like everything about her. Her lips were so sweet, so soft, so insistent against her own. Rover’s heart skipped, danced, her breath stuttered and started and left completely. She ran her thumbs over Carlotta’s cheeks, tangling her fingers into her hair, pressing herself closer and closer. She dimly realized Carlotta’s legs were on either side of her now, her thighs pressing against her waist.
The Aria Mummer’s music in the background became a distant memory. Rover’s ears hungrily clung onto every breath Carlotta made, every soft sigh escaping her lips, every hum of pleasure. She let one hand trail down the exposed skin of Carlotta’s back, fingertips skating over her spine, feeling Carlotta shiver against her. When Rover reached the Tacet Mark on her lower back, Carlotta made a particular sound, high and sweet, that was music to her ears.
Carlotta pulled back, chest heaving, and Rover took the opportunity to press her lips alongside her jaw and down her neck. “I won’t—” her breath hitched as Rover kissed a spot just below her ear. “I won’t see you for awhile,” Carlotta continued, automatically tilting her head to the side to give Rover better access.
“That’s okay.” Carlotta’s collar was in the way. Rover kissed downwards until her lips hit its edge, then lifted the bottom flap to sink her teeth gently into the juncture of her neck and shoulder.
“Rover!” Carlotta admonished, though her hands had slid down to rest on Rover’s shoulders, and her fingernails had briefly dug into Rover’s skin.
“It’s covered by your clothing,” Rover mumbled, now unbuttoning the front of the collar to press a long, slow kiss on her pulse point. She smiled at the racing beat underneath her lips.
“I won’t see you for a while because I still have things to take care of within the family,” Carlotta said, though her voice was weak. Rover nudged Carlotta’s chin up, taking the opportunity to run her tongue up her neck. Carlotta whined, then pushed back on her shoulders. Rover leaned back, resting her hands on Carlotta’s thighs.
“I’m trying to speak,” Carlotta huffed, though her voice had no anger in it. She had a beautiful flush on her face. Her hands idly played with Rover’s ponytail as she continued, “I have family duties, and we’re still on the lookout for Cartethyia. I probably won’t see you again until I have more news to share about her. I’m sorry,” she finished softly, sadly.
“Carlotta.” Rover leaned in to kiss her gently. She pulled away with a smile, waiting for Carlotta’s eyes to flutter back open. “I said it’s okay. Let’s enjoy every moment we’ll be able to snag together until then. There’s no rush.”
“Hmm. You’re right, darling.” Carlotta smiled as Rover blushed from the pet name. “Right now, there’s no Cat’s Eye, no Opal.” Carlotta brushed Rover’s bangs aside, staring lovingly into her eyes. “There’s just you and me.”