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It was evening in Gridania. The smells of the flora and fauna of the Twelveswood, as well as petrichor, were in the air. Mir, Zhloe, Khloe, and T’kebbe had just finished eating dinner and were now splitting off into two inn rooms for the night. Mir and Zhloe going to a reserved room that the Warrior of Light has at every city-state. One of the few perks to being the savior of the realm that she actually allowed herself to have simply for the convenience. The room may be free, but she does leave a good tip for the waitstaff when she leaves, though.
Khloe and T’kebbe went to a separate room. They hadn’t told Mir they were a couple, but she’s had suspicions. Those two had always been close for as long as she had known them, so it wasn’t terribly surprising when she returned from the First to find they were even closer.
Mir’s private room at the The Roost was a large, well lit space with oak walls, a wardrobe, orchestrion, bed big enough for two, and other amenities common the expensive inn rooms. Everything you could need for an overnight stay with far more empty space than Mir felt was necessary. The group had gone to Gridania to celebrate Mir’s return from the First and the Twelveswood just happened to be Zhloe’s favorite place.
“I know I’ve been in this room before, but it still surprises me how big it is.” says Zhloe, with her mouth hanging in awe at the massive room. “You could fit my entire shop in here!”
Mir shrugs, exasperated, “I keep trying to tell them I don’t need the biggest room they have, but they always insist. They claim if the Warrior of Light was seen in anything but the best room people might think I was being treated poorly. Or something like that.” She sets down her adventuring pack and all the stuff they bought at the market near the entrance.
Zhloe was lost in thought,“I suppose I can see the logic there. I hate to admit it, but people were more likely to buy the stuff you made for the shop than anything else we had for sale.” The Miqo’te woman was visibly deflated after admitting that thought out loud. “Sorry, I know you don’t like to abuse your fame for this sort of thing.”
The Warrior of Light swiftly approached Zhloe and embraced her. “I came to help you with keeping the shop and Menphina’s Arms going. If that meant using my name, then so be it. An orphanage is easily the best reason I’ve had to abuse my name.” Zhloe returns the warmth of her embrace, “Thank you.”
“Although I do have a question about Menphina’s Arms, now that I think about it. I know we talked about moving you three to my house in Shirogane after I get Shtola and the other Scions back here, but what do you want to do about the orphanage and your shop?”
Zhloe pulls back from the embrace and takes a moment to think, pacing back and forth with a thumb and finger against her chin, “I was so excited when you first mentioned moving into your house that I hadn’t even thought about that.”
“We still have time, so you don’t need to come to a decision right now.”
“I’d love to at least continue the business—I did really come to enjoy it once things started turning around—but I’m not really sure how we’d run an orphanage from your house. The shop I could probably find space in Kugane to run it, but kids need a lot of space.”
“‘Tis not a matter of logistics, Zhloe. If you want to run an orphanage, we will make it happen. Together.” Mir says to her while looking directly into her eyes and kissing the back of her hand. “My only concern is that you’d wind up taking care of a bunch of children all on your own for long periods of time while I’m off with the Scions saving the world again.”
“I’d hardly be alone. Khloe and Kebbe would be more than happy to help.”
“You’re right. They’re not kids anymore…which is gonna take some time to get used to.”
“Their growth spurt started shortly after you were last here, so it’s been an adjustment for me, too. ”
“…and once again I am the shortest non-lalafell I know.”
“Do you dislike being short?”
“Not really. ‘Twas more of an observation than a complaint. I like being little spoon!” she says as a giggle escapes her lips. Zhloe’s lips break into a smile, “And I love being the big spoon for you!”
As Mir heads over to the wardrobe to grab a spare set of pajamas she playfully adds, “Well…you may have to fight Shtola for that position once she’s back.”
“On a more serious note, I do have something I want to show you now, since you’re going to see it eventually anyways.”
Curiosity piqued, Zhloe responds, “Oh? What’s that?”
The Au Ra woman snaps her fingers and the lights in the room go out, making hard to tell where she is. “A side effect of the Phoenix powers I was granted years ago.” In the reduced lighting, it’s difficult to make out much besides the sounds of rustled clothing. Shortly after what sounds like clothes hitting the ground, fiery orange marks appear along Mir’s silhouette. A ring around both of forearms, a flame symbol on the inside of both elbows, coils coming up from her backside towards her chest, and a collar around her neck.
Zhloe is taken aback, but quickly regains her composure, “Does it hurt?”
“It hurt briefly when I first got them. The most I notice now is some warmth when they’re ignited. There’s also some more…”
She turns around and Zhloe sees a phoenix emblazoned across her back, with the body dimmed where her chest wrap was.
“Is this why you’re always wearing so much clothing? To hide it when you use your powers?”
“Not really, no. I just don’t want the added attention. I stick out enough as it is.”
“You seem to be able to control when it shows up, so how is that a problem?”
The silhouette shrugs, “I didn’t have the same control over it when I first got it…made for some awkward times trying to fall asleep with Shtola when I was shining like a lamp at night.”
“The bright orange and red of your clothes sticks out plenty enough as it is.”
“That’s true, but I originally chose the color scheme because of the pet name Shtola uses for me and now I don’t want to wear any other colors.”
“You’ve never mentioned that before…what does she call you?”
A snap of her finger and the lights return to the room, her tattoos fade away. She scratches the back of her head, a bit embarrassed. “…Little Phoenix.”
“She named you after the tattoo on your back?”
“Believe it or not, that came later. Do you recall when I told Kebbe I died and was brought back to life?”
“That actually happened?!”
“…did you think I was lying to her when I said that?”
Zhloe looks down at the floor.
“No, but I did think you were stretching the truth a bit to help lift her spirits…to make her believe that you were invincible, or something like that, so she wouldn’t fear losing you.”
“It actually happened. As I mentioned when you popped out from behind the flower bed: I meant every word I said. It did still manage to convince her, did it not? She accepted me even knowing I regularly go off to fight things far stronger than the beastkin in Dravania her parents fought.”
Zhloe approaches the Warrior of Light and wraps her arms around her. “And so did I. Khloe as well. We have confidence you’ll always come back…even if it takes a while.”
Mir returns her embrace as Zhloe nuzzles into the Au Ra’s horn, their eyes closed. “It’s that faith in me that keeps me going, Zhloe.”
The mage pulls her in closer and their lips meet. Zhloe puts her hands behind Mir’s head and kisses her back, hungry for more. The Miqo’te’s hands start to wander down the Warrior of Light’s body until they meet her breasts. Mir’s eyes immediately snap open, “Zhloe.”
Lost in the moment, the cat-like woman keeps going.
“Zhloe, please list—”
Another kiss. Not knowing what else to do, Mir gets her arms out from Zhloe’s hold and puts her in a bear hug.
“Zhloe, STOP!” she exclaims, shaking as she holds her from doing anything else. “…Please.”
“Wh-what’s wrong? Why are you shaking?”
Her breathing is ragged, “I…I wish I knew. All I do know is every time someone starts touching me like that my body screams out that it’s wrong and I need to stop it immediately.”
“I’m so sorry! I just assumed you’d had sex before and—”
Mir motions for her to stop.
“It’s…it’s okay Zhloe. You didn’t know. How could you know? Who would guess that the Warrior of Light doesn’t like to be touched like that, or that she’s never had sex with her wife?”
“I had assumed you’d at least done it with Y’shtola…”
“We’ve tried. We’ve been together for…gods, around six years or so now and the furthest I’ve gotten is cuddling in my smallclothes. It doesn’t help that I just…don’t feel attracted to people in that way.”
“What do you mean by ‘in that way’?”
“Please don’t take this the wrong way. No matter how in love I am with Shtola or you, I’ve never once felt a desire to have sex. I love physical affection—it is easily my biggest love language. I could kiss, hug, or cuddle you all day, but going any further has never once occurred to me…is that going to be a problem for you?”
Zhloe pulls away and sheepishly says, “I…I can’t say I wasn’t looking forward to it…”
“Oh…” Her eyes glisten as she looks at the floor. ”I’m…I’m sorry to disappoint.”
“…But it’s not a deal-breaker for me, Mir! I love you far too much to just walk away because of something like that.” She holds the sobbing woman again. “Please believe me when I say I’m not going anywhere.”
“I—I do, Zhloe…I believe you.” Mir moves her arms back around Zhloe, her demeanor slowly returning to normal. “Thank you for saying that. I know you wouldn’t leave, but it’s reassuring to hear it.”
“I’ll say it as often as you need to hear it.” She starts to purr and rub her face against Mir’s forehead while petting the back of her head. “There’s no one else I’d rather be with. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.”
Mir melts into Zhloe’s embrace. “I like the sound of that.”
After a few minutes of enjoying each other's warmth, Zhloe asks, “We should probably get ready for bed…unless you were planning to go to sleep like that?”
Mir snaps out of the trance-like state she was in and responds, “Oh! Yeah. Sorry, I was enjoying that so much I didn’t want to stop.”
“Hehe, we can always pick up where we left off once we’re in bed. It’ll feel even better when we’re in clean clothes and lying down.”
Her lips bend upwards. “It sure will.”
After they change into their pajamas, Mir sits down on the bed, her expression one of discomfort.
“All of this wouldn’t be so bad if not for the reaction to being touched like that. I don’t mind the lack of attraction on its own, but it does feel isolating.”
Zhloe sits beside her. “Is it okay if I hold you?”
“I think it should be fine…thank you for asking.”
Carefully, slowly, she wraps her arm around Mir’s shoulder, mindful of where her hand sits, and pulls Mir into her. Mir rests her horn against Zhloe’s shoulder.
“Would you like to talk about it? I’m here to listen as long as you need.”
She’s still a bit shaken, but manages to say, “It’s everywhere, Zhloe. No matter where you go, there’s always someone talking about it. Directly or with innuendo. Something they want to do, are going to do, or have done. And everyone just assumes you’re in on it, because most people are…”
The tremors worsen.
“…I’ve never understood it. I’ve never felt like that towards anyone. I thought maybe I just hadn’t found the right person, but even after I started dating Shtola there was nothing. Even worse, we quickly found out what you got to see a few moments ago: absolute rejection of that form of intimacy. I can’t even do it with the people I love more than anything else in this world, which is what hurts the most. Am…am I broken? I feel like I’m the only person who’s like this.”
Her cheeks are wet from tears as she starts to choke up.
Zhloe turns her body towards the trembling little Au Ra next to her and wraps her free arm around her.
“You are not broken, Mir. Regardless of what anyone else says, Y’shtola and I will never leave you over this. Khloe and Kebbe wouldn’t either.”
Once Mir calms down, Zhloe adds, “Thank you for telling me, Mir. It was a surprise to be sure. Since it never came up before, I just assumed you didn’t like to talk about it.”
Mir places her hand on Zhloe’s.
“To be fair, we’ve never talked publicly about anything we’ve attempted together. I’ve always been worried about what people would say if they found out the Warrior of Light has never had sex before.”
“I don’t think any less of you. It’s admirable that you keep trying for her despite the reaction. I’m curious, though, why do you think people would react so poorly?”
“You may not notice it since it’s so normal to talk about, but people have made a lot of assumptions about me simply because I’m powerful. They really love to talk about how I could have anyone at any time and how they’re jealous of me for it. I don’t know how people would react to the fact that it’s taken me about six years to do what most manage in the first ten minutes. There are plenty who see being good at sex and getting it with many people as some kind of indicator of status.”
The Warrior of Light squeezes Zhloe’s hand.
“Part of the reason we had such a public wedding was to hopefully cut down on how much people talked about it…now they just gossip about how often they think I’m doing it with Shtola. A small step up, I suppose. Who knows what people will think when they eventually find I have a second partner.”
Zhloe starts purring.
“On the bright side: when that does happen you’ll have two loving partners to help you through it.”
She rubs her head into Mir’s horn again.
“You’re right.” The tension in her body lessens and she leans into Zhloe’s touch. “Between the two of you, I think I’ll manage just fine.”
The two of them lie down facing each other, legs and tails intertwined.
“If Y’shtola calls you Little Phoenix, what do you call her?”
“Tsuki.”
“Tsuki? I’ve never heard that word before.”
“It’s the Hingan word for moon. I used to love stargazing when I was a kid. It was always a calming presence in my life and I decided to call Shtola that…because that’s what she is for me.”
“Wow, that’s a really thoughtful choice, Mir. If you were to pick a name for me, what do you think it would be?”
“Hmmm….”
Mir looks off the side, lost in thought for a little while.
“Well, since you are a similar presence in my life, and also because it seems perfect when I think about it…Menphina.”
Zhloe is surprised by that answer.
“You’d name me after a goddess? Why?”
“For starters, she’s the Eorzean goddess of the moon. Secondly, you mentioned before that I talk about Shtola like she’s a goddess and I want you to feel the same way. Also, it means we can say you are the arms of Menphina's Arms. If you decide you want to continue running the orphanage, that is.”
“I..that’s so sweet, Mir. Regardless of what I decide on, I’ll do what I can to be worthy of the name!”
“You already are, Menphina.”
The two of them kiss, then Mir asks, “Since we're on the topic…what do you think you’d call me?”
Zhloe takes a moment to think.
“I’ve said before that your presence is like the sun. You make every day brighter when you’re there, so if we stick to how Y’shtola addresses you...Little Sun?”
Mir rolls on to her back and laughs so hard she starts crying.
“What? I thought it was a really good name!”
Zhloe hits her with the pillow.
“I’m sorry! I’m not laughing at you. It’s just that…”
She tells Zhloe about the time Magnai got verbally destroyed by Y’shtola in the Azim Steppe.
“Oh…” Zhloe deflates a bit. “So is it a bad name, then?”
The Warrior of Light kisses her on the forehead.
“Quite the contrary, my love. Despite how funny the coincidence is, I can tell you truly meant it when you gave your reasoning and I'm glad that my presence makes you feel that way. I think it's a fine name…just be prepared for Shtola to laugh when she first hears it, too, okay? I’m afraid she might find the irony of using her own insult as an affectionate name a bit too funny to hold herself back.”
“Now that I know to expect it, I don’t think it will be a problem.”
“Glad to hear it. Now, we should get some sleep…and I would very much like to fall asleep in Menphina’s arms.”
“There’s no other way I’d want it, Little Sun.”