Work Text:
The sun had set for quite a while when Admire Groove steps into her house. Commute has left her feeling a tad more weary than usual today. She was told at work that there are multiple maintenances along the road she usually takes the bus through. Instead of taking a detour with the train, she decided to just ran home instead.
But even as an umamusume, running back for kilometres after a gruelling 8 hours at work ought to make her fatigued.
A lovely smell greets her when she opens her front door. Her weariness elevates a little, prompting her lips to crack into a small smile as she takes off her shoes.
"I'm home."
"Welcome back."
Her ears flick happily at the soft voice greeting her. She takes off her blazer and work shirt, sticky with sweat, throwing them to the couch while sauntering towards the kitchen. She finds another umamusume with reddish brown mane, apparently cooking something on the stove. With a smile, Admire Groove walks closer, before proceeding to wrap her arms around the other umamusume's waist and drops her entire bodyweight on her.
Laughter from the smaller umamusume fills her ears, sending warmth throughout her body.
"Hi, stinky." Still in Love chuckles, leaning back against Admire Groove and puts her free hand over the ones holding her stomach. "You're late. Did you get lost on your way back?"
Admire Groove grumbles to her hair. "Road work. The bus can't get through so I just ran."
"You ran all the way back from Tracen? That's impressive for your age."
"You said it as if I'm already senile."
Still in Love laughs again, then squeals when Admire Groove spins her on her feet. The taller umamusume leans in to capture her lips in a kiss right after, causing Still in Love to giggle into the kiss before humming in contentment. One of her hands reaches up to hold on the back of Admire Groove's head and the other rests over her naked chest.
"Aru-chan, you won't get dinner if you keep bothering me," says Still in Love when she feels a hand slipping under her dress. She smiles when Admire Groove steps back with a grumble. Her sweaty skin looks glossy under their kitchen lamp, and Still in Love allows herself to enjoy the view for a while before pushing Admire Groove away. "I've prepared your bath. Now go. I mean it when I said you stink."
Admire Groove steals another quick peck to Still in Love's lips before she heeds the latter's instruction.
Stepping into the bathtub, Admire Groove exhales at the touch of warm water on her skin. It's a bit colder than usual, as she had arrived later, so she turns on the hot water tap. Still in Love never fill the bathtub to the brim, as to, quoting her, allow Admire Groove to add more water to her liking. As she leans back, she catches sight of her night clothes, neatly tucked on the rack just beside the bathtub.
Admire Groove closes her eyes. She traces the golden ring around her left ring-finger, feeling warmth coursing through her chest.
It has been years since she married Still in Love.
It's been even longer since the latter retired from Tracen Academy, then proceeded to disappear.
Admire Groove once thought Still in Love just wanted rest after winning the Triple Tiara. But, after a year of not hearing news about Still in Love, she started to fear the worst—especially after Still in Love's old trainer left Tracen as well. She went through every student directory, through every mail sent from and to the Academy, trying to track her old rival's trace no matter what the cost.
It took Admire Groove half a year to even got a clue of Still in Love's whereabouts. Another three months for her to actually find Still in Love. The mare had reclined to a secluded village somewhere in Southern Japan, hiding herself from the rest of the world. She did that to try and tame her 'instinct', as she was deeply disturbed by her own thoughts after she lost from Admire Groove at Queen Elizabeth II Cup.
While Still in Love never told Admire Groove what she had thought at her defeat, her behavior around Admire Groove allowed her to catch on rather quickly. It saddened her to know that the only umamusume she regarded as her rival had grown to fear her. Her lust to win turned into something more sinister after losing—causing Still in Love, in her consciousness, feared if she'd hurt any of them had she lost another race.
And so, if finding her was hard, then taking her back to Tokyo was almost impossible.
If it was the Admire Groove at the start of their rivalry, who never cared about others and work only for herself, then she might have left the very moment Still in Love slammed the door in her face.
But the Admire Groove who searched for Still in Love was the Admire Groove who had grown fond of her. The Admire Groove who had grown to look forward to race with her, and the Admire Groove who had missed her in her absence. She wouldn't lose Still in Love the second time.
Her stubbornness paid well at the end. Still in Love finally accepted her presence, and agreed to return to Tokyo after almost a year of convincing. Her mental state was far better than it was during their time at Tracen Academy. As Still in Love never raced anymore, her 'instinct' dulled down a lot, slowly dissipating as she learned to live at ease even after she returned to Tokyo. It never truly left, as Admire Groove would sometimes still witness it rearing its competitive head, but it was never serious.
After all, only Admire Groove can taunt Still in Love now.
"Aru-chan, are you asleep?"
A knock on the door jolts her awake. Her bath water is still a little warm. But she never usually takes long baths, so it's expected for Still in Love to grow worried of her.
"If you don't answer, I'll come in."
Admire Groove keeps her silence, only looking up with a smile when her wife enters the bathroom. Still in Love pouts when she sees Admire Groove awake. Her eyes, now more vermillion than the blood red they were before, squint at Admire Groove.
"Don't you want to have dinner with me?"
Admire Groove raises a hand. Despite her pout, Still in Love kneels beside the bath tub, taking Admire Groove's hand with her own and places it on her cheek. Admire Groove leans in to kiss her, savoring the softness of her lips and the slightly sweet taste lingering on them.
Still in Love must've made hot cocoa.
"What if I want you for dinner instead?" Admire Groove whispers. She swipes her thumb over Still in Love's lower lip, shivering when the latter sticks her tongue out just a bit to lick her.
Still in Love then bites her thumb with lightning speed, causing Admire Groove to yelp. She smirks at the sight of Admire Groove grimacing as she holds her reddening thumb. "Nice try, but I'm not taking you to the hospital for another gastric ulcer."
Admire Groove sighs. While her work as one of the teachers in Tracen Academy is not too demanding, she has a bad habit of skipping her meal whenever she's engrossed in her work. Even after Still in Love started packing lunch for her, and called her during lunch time to remind her to eat, she might still sometimes forget to do it. That habit had earned her a lasting problem in her stomach, one that once forced her to bedrest when it flared badly.
"Alright, alright. Whatever the wife says." Admire Groove agrees with a teasing lilt in her voice. She chuckles when Still in Love glares at her, receiving the offered towel and rises up from the bathtub. "I'll be ready in a few minutes."
Still in Love leaves then, and she dries herself up before wearing the clothes Still in Love had prepared for her.
Hot corn soup greets Admire Groove on the dining table, causing her stomach to growl urgently at the sight. She kisses Still in Love again, thanking her for the food, and they spend their dinnertime in pleasant silence. Admire Groove takes her turn to clean the dishes despite Still in Love's protest. She's not that tired, unlike Still in Love's belief, and the warm bath had freshened her up, so doing a small chore isn't going to cause her to keel in fatigue.
When it's time for them to sleep, the rain starts falling.
Admire Groove watches the rain from behind the window. Still in Love hugs her from behind, resting her head between Admire Groove's shoulder blades. Her ears swing back and forth, tickled by the stray ends of Admire Groove's short cerulean mane.
"It is expected to rain throughout tomorrow," she says, barely above a whisper. "Call in sick if you can't catch a ride."
Admire Groove chuckles. "It's not that easy, sweetheart."
Still in Love shivers when Admire Groove swings her tail to lightly wrap around her leg, before turning on her back. She takes the smaller mare into her arms, kissing the top of her head before resting her chin on it.
"But if it doesn't rain tomorrow, would you like to run with me to Tracen?"
Still in Love perks up. She steps back, looking up at her wife with hope in her eyes.
"Can I, really?"
Admire Groove nods. "I miss running with you. It's been a while since we ran together. It's not like a race, of course, but I'd enjoy it better if you run with me. You can still take the bus back to your flower shop. It's a little detour but it's not too far."
Giggling, Still in Love buries herself deeper into Admire Groove's chest. She inhales deeply, enjoying the subtle smell of Admire Groove's leftover musky perfume and her own natural scent. "Of course, darling. I'd love to run with you."
Admire Groove lifts her chin between her fingers and kisses her. Still in Love wraps her own arms over the taller mare's neck, combing her fingers through cerulean strands. A gentle nudge on her knee prompts her to move backward, and she falls to her back just after her calf hits the edge of their bed. Admire Groove climbs above her, trapping her between her hands, before surging downwards and claims her lips in another loving kiss.
It's way past their usual sleeping time when Admire Groove kisses the back of Still in Love's neck, littered with new marks she had made just few moments prior. Her own shoulders are marred with scratches and bitemarks—those that sting when the red glow in Still in Love's eyes reappears. Her arms are wrapped around the latter's slim waist while all four of their legs and two tails tangle over each other. Still in Love plays with the only part of cerulean mane left untrimmed, rubbing them between her fingers.
"Still."
"Mhm?"
Admire Groove tightens her embrace, burying her face between reddish brown mane. "I love you."
Still in Love chuckles. "I love you too, Aruv."
The pitter-patter of the rain accompanies them as they drift to slumber. Admire Groove mutters a series of 'I love you's on her way to sleep, prompting Still in Love to sigh and smile. Her heart swells with joy.
Long ago, she'd never dared to dream for someone to love her. For someone to truly see her for what she is—not only for her ability to race. Someone who doesn't shy away from the darker part of her, and embraces her instead. Someone who is never scared of her and keeps on challenging her.
Someone like Admire Groove, where she finally finds a place for her to belong.