Chapter Text
Love was never in Lune's mind.
In a world where time was so limited, love was never an objective for her.
She had her own sexual endeavors, of course, she did; she was human. She naturally, at times, fell to that temptation.
But it was mutual.
A way to let loose some steam, frustration or to just feel something.
Logic and emotions, two ways of life...one choice.
Lune had devoted her entire life to research, to her parents' last desire and devotion.
Even as her siblings did not and lived and gommaged. She continued to learn. She learned to live with the grief that never quite left.
And even as she tried and did as she believed was necessary.
She could always see her in the crowd.
Lune, as hard as she tried, could never forget that moment they had shared at the crooked tower; the comfort, the warmth...all of it never quite left.
Memories of that moment, the laughs, the smiles, the tears always stayed at the back of her mind.
But she kept them away.
Pushing everyone was easier than she ever thought, distancing herself. Duty was everything to her.
Lune found a sort of...comfort with Gustave.
The two were very similar, devoted to their research; Gustave had even lost an arm for it.
They had even shared a few nights.
But Gustave's heart belonged to Sophie, no matter how long it had been since they split. And Lune's objective remained the same: Stop the Paintress, save their world.
Both of them kept it mutual
Friends with benefits.
Lune heard Sciel was joining the expedition...deep down, she wondered if it was because she was loyal to her cause or if she was just looking for an earlier death.
She wanted to talk to her, to say something.
But she couldn't.
Instead, she turned to look toward the Monolith; tomorrow would come.
That was all that mattered.
Everything goes to hell.
Their Expedition is slaughtered by an old man, and soon they were reduced to two. Her and Gustave.
They find the others...dead by the continent, others killed by the Nevron that live on that earth.
Gustave was trying to hold it together; she'd managed to stop him before he did anything drastic.
In some way, she sympathized with him. He'd lost the love of his life, and now he was lost out here in the chaos.
But they both knew the oath
When one falls, we continue
When
Everyone on the expedition was brutally aware of the reality of their lives.
Deep down, she supposed, all of them knew they were fighting a losing battle. People were getting younger and younger, and the Paintress kept existing.
All they had was hope...and the lives that gave them meaning.
They find Maelle, and she would be lying if her heart wasn't moved by the reunion she and Gustave had.
Maelle, just like her and Sciel, had lost her family from a young age. She had been alone all of her life before Gustave and Emma took her in.
And, in some way, she was their one hope. Should they fail and Gommage...Maelle would remain, she'd be alive and help the Expiditions that came after them.
They traverse the land, in awe of such beauty.
This was what had been kept from all their lives, what the Paintress denied them.
Should she be gone...they'd be able to live to their hearts' content, to explore, to learn.
How Lune yearned to learn Everything.
Soon they're led to the Gestrals-- and Sciel is found.
And before she turns around, all Lune can do is stare.
She was alive. She was smiling, and she was so bright.
Lune is the one to fight her.
It was a dance, both unrelenting, strong, and unwilling to let their opponent win.
Sciel is breathless. Beauty in mortal form, her cheeks are flushed red as she moves forward; She didn't want Lune to win.
Lune felt so amused by that; she was always so competitive.
But so was she.
The Gestrals cheered, and she could hear Maelle placing bets on her (Smart girl, she knew who would win)
The battle ends with her straddling Sciel; the other woman is stunned, red in the face
Sciel was confident, could flirt with ease...but when it was shoved back in her face?
She fumbled.
Terribly.
Lune tilted her head, her hair falling to the right as she leaned forward and whispered in Sciel's ear
"Sorry about this."
And then she proceeded to throw her into the wall.
Maelle let out a delighted laugh, and she could just feel Gustaves beweildered gaze.
But all she focuses on is Sciel's wide-eyed expression and watches in silent smugness as she turns red as Lune murmurs, just loud enough for her to hear
"All's fair in love and war."
And yes, she does manage to make it out of the arena before slapping her hands on her bright-red face.
Holy shit, I can't believe I just did that.
They continue to explore, and suddenly their group is filled with life.
Sciel has that effect, Lune thought softly.
Maelle gives her a look when Lune is caught staring too long at her. Lune merely scoffed when she got nudged with a teasing grin.
Gustave is no better, but he is much sadder.
"You should tell her."
Lune jolts and looks away. "That's not a choice I can make."
"It is," he spoke softly, "You just have to say the words."
"It's not that simple...not with what happened to Pierre."
Gustave hummed
"That's true...but it's never simple when it comes to love. It makes us do stupid things for something so wonderful," he smiled at the end.
Lune noted that he was staring at the monolith before he lowered his gaze.
"I know you probably won't listen, but I think you should let your feelings be known. In this world where our time can end so quickly...it's best to take the risk than to never know."
It's the last time they talk.
Gustave is killed, and they're joined by a mysterious man: Verso.
Lune keeps her head down, doesn't flinch at Maelle's anger; she knows better than anyone the anger that comes from grief.
Her friend's words echo, especially when she finds herself staring at Sciel.
They practically scream at her as they give Gustave a formal farewell.
She drops her walls and walks toward Sciel and Maelle.
Maelle's face is hidden on Sciel's neck as the older woman pulls her close; Lune appears like a shadow and brings the two close.
The two go still before they melt.
Her arms envelope the two, and she breathes out as she feels Sciel bury her head close to her neck, and as Maelle spins to hug the two, Maelle is crying, Sciel is silent, and Lune allows herself to drop down the walls she had formed.
Lune placed her head on top of Sciel and murmured
"When one falls...we continue."
For those who come after
0Oo
Lune opens up more to Maelle and Sciel.
They're all that remains of their expedition; they're all they have left.
It was nice.
Sciel's warmth, even if somewhat dimmed, comforted her. She had become their rock, their emotional support; she was the one person on the team who could function...even with all the scars she no doubt had.
Maelle wasn't as happy as she used to be. More solemn. It pains Lune's heart to see her like this.
They weren't close, but Lune did her best to keep her close; Gustave had given his life for her, he had been a close companion of hers, so in his stead she would keep his sister safe. No harm would come to her.
Verso was there as well.
The mysterious expeditioner from Expedition 0.
Lune didn't trust him.
She didn't like the way he tried too hard for them to like him, or the way his words flowed like water out of his mouth; his cool and collected nature bothered her to no end.
They were on the verge of being extinguished, and he has the nerve to be so relaxed.
And then there were the secrets. The number of things he knew that they didn't, the number of times he withheld information.
Lune couldn't stand him.
Especially with how close he was getting to Sciel.
He thought she was stupid, but she wasn't.
Verso was trying to butt his way into her heart.
That snake-
"I think you should tone it down on the glaring, no?"
Maelle deadpanned at her as she raised an eyebrow, seeming more amused than anything
Lune huffs, "He's untrustworthy."
"I could be exaggerating, but don't you think you're just jealous?" she teased lightly
"Jealous?" she hissed. "At what? Him?" There was an eyeroll. "No. Never."
"Right"
"Right"
"Of course"
"Maelle-"
"Okay, okay," she raised her hands in mock defense, "I'll stop."
Lune crossed her arms and frowned as Sciel let out a laugh at something Verso said
"...It feels like he's trying to win us over."
"And that worries you?"
"He's immortal," she gave the young girl a look. "You can't honestly put your full faith in him."
Maelle mused over that before shrugging, "He's helping. That's all that matters."
"And if it turns out to be wrong?"
The young girls blazed with anger. "Then we deal with it."
Lune nods, feeling proud
Unfortunately, it didn't last.
"You should just tell her."
She sighed
"You two are beginning to remind me of Gustave and Sophie," she mumbled, "Just grow a pair and tell her."
"Maelle"
The young girl merely laughed as she attempted to swat her.
Lune lifts her head and locks eyes with Sciel, who smiles at her
And, just like always, she smiled back at her.
"You've become softer."
Sciel teased her softly, watching as Lune covered Maelle with her coat. The other woman didn't respond and simply sat beside the young girl, bringing her close as she hummed
"Gustave entrusted her to us...the least we can do is honor his sacrifice."
"Yeah..." Sciel's smile turns sad as she sits beside Lune, staring up at the stars
"It's still there, that empty void that Verso's trying to fill."
"You feel it too, hm?"
Sciel snorts, "I didn't train in infiltration and negotiation for nothing, Lune. I know a liar when I see one."
Lune feels her lips twitch into a smirk.
Verso was a good liar; she'd give him that. But Sciel? Sciel was better than that, not as easily fooled.
Sciel's training was known by only two people, Allan and Lune, the commander and his second in command. They now knew if there would be a mutiny or betrayal along their journey.
How ironic that they didn't have to deal with that until basically everyone was gone
"So?"
"He's...lying, but he's also being honest. He wants to get rid of the paintress, but I feel like there's so much more to him. Something he's keeping close to his chest."
Lune stared at her and then glanced at Maelle
"Then we need to keep Maelle safe from him."
"Do you think he'd try anything?"
Lune frowned
"It's odd, isn't it?" she squeezed the young girl. "The way he just naturally draws himself to her...it's concerning."
"More concerning that Maelle is drifting toward him to." Sciel pointed out "...Especially with Gustave gone. She's coping in her own way."
They sat in silence
"We're getting close," Lune commented
"Yeah," Sciel nodded, "We're almost there, who would have thought, huh?"
"We might be the last expedition," she muttered in awe, "The last to go against the Paintress."
Sciel nudged her, "We'll be famous. Our names and faces are gonna be in the history books! Hey, they might even make statues of us!"
Lune snorted at that
"It will be a lot."
"Maelle is going to hate every moment of that."
They share a laugh, the girl in Lune's arms grumbling
"...I forgot what it was like"
"Hn?"
"To have a family."
Sciel went still beside her and looked at her with wide eyes. "You consider us family?"
Lune's ears flushed. "Well...yes, you and Maelle, I mean." She shrugged. "Going through catastrophes together, grief...anger. It's natural, no?"
The other woman stared at her and smiled, leaning her head on her shoulder.
"I suppose it is."
Lune relaxed
"...I wished for this, you know?"
"With Pierre?"
Sciel nodded
"Yeah," she sighed, "All of this time, I've felt this guilt in me. I lived...and they didn't."
Lune looked away
"How is it fair that I'm here and they aren't?" she asked softly. "I know life is cruel, but...I wish it were kinder to them."
"...Yeah, I do too," she nodded
"But. At least we have each other."
Sciel let out a chuff
"Yeah...we have each other."
Tomorrow, they would continue
Tomorrow, they would continue to fight
...and maybe tomorrow Lune would finally be able to be strong enough to look Sciel in the eye and tell her exactly how she felt.
But they never get that chance.
They and everyone in Lumiere begin to fade. She looks around frantically; her eyes find Sciel, who closes her eyes in acceptance.
"In this world where our time can end so quickly...it's best to take the risk than to never know."
Her feet slap against the floor
"Sciel!"
The other woman's eyes burst open.
Please make it in time, please make it in time--please don't let her be too late
Her hands extended toward her, and Sciel's hand tried to meet her--but she disappeared before Lune could grab her.
Lune fell to her knees, holding the petals that were once Sciel.
She let her head fall to the ground, breathing heavily as she felt her own body begin to disappear.
Maelle was nowhere near
...Gustave died long before she could open her heart to him.
Sciel was gone.
And Lune was alone
"I'm sorry,"
she whispered
"I'm so sorry."
For not telling you.
For pushing you away.
For being too late.
Lune's body fades away...filled with nothing but regret.
"How is she?"
Sciel sighed, "As well as someone can be when their brother betrays them...and pleads for death in front of them." She gave a weak wince at the end
Lune hummed
Verso's betrayal hurt, and she was angry...but she also felt bad for him.
But now, he was allowed to rest.
It had taken time, but Maelle had eventually been convinced to let the painted man go, to let him rest after decades of life. It would take time, but Lune was confident that in time she would learn to let go of that guilt that no doubt consumed her.
"I suppose it will take time before she's strong enough to bring everyone back," Lune murmured, "We shouldn't place too much on her shoulders."
Sciel smiled softly at her. "She'll be okay, we'll guide her and make sure she takes a break and all that."
Lune was nudged by her
"It will be worth it to see everyone again...and live our lives."
At that reminder, she swallowed and asked, "Sciel...what about Pierre?"
"...what about him?" Sciel tilted her head innocently.
Lune inhaled and closed her eyes. "Please don't make me say it."
"Say what?~."
Oh, now she was just having fun with this
"What are we?" she finally asked out loud. "I just...I'm not just imagining it, am I?' she asked, almost afraid of the answer
"Or...Or is it because you still love Pierre?" she whispered softly
"...I wanted Maelle to bring him back...But I think deep down it was less of me loving him and more of me feeling like I failed him."
Lune blinked
"He died...and instead of honoring him, I tried to follow him and...and instead took someone else's life," she murmured. "I never moved on from him. I felt selfish by living every day like it was my last."
She sighed
"I will always love him, but I'm not the same woman I was when we fell in love...and not to mention that if Maelle brings him, I will be far too old for him." She grinned at the end
Lune snorts
"Some people find that attractive."
"Oh, hush," Sciel smacked her, "And besides...I think you're forgetting something."
"Hm?"
"If we are something, then you have to at least ask."
"...Why can't you do it?"
Sciel laughed, "Because it would be too easy! It'd be no fun!"
"Oh?"
Lune's eye twitched at that
"Obviously! You were so clearly obsessed with me! I'm honestly impressed that you hadn't done anything about it. You avoided me like I was the plague and just kept looking at me with that sad kicked puppy look-"
Sciel is cut off, not by words but by action.
Lune's lips brushed against the other woman's, her arms wrapped around her waist, and as she pulled away, she watched in pure satisfaction as Sciel turned an impressive shade of red.
"Ewww"
She jumped and glanced at Maelle, who was giving them a look of horror and disgust. She rolled her eyes, "You're the one who said I should say something."
"Say. Not Do-"
"-That's further down the line-"
Sciel smacked Lune, "Lune!"
"She's not a child!"
"She's still young."
"Ew," Maelle deadpanned, "Just Ew."
Sciel Laugheed softly, still a bit flustered, she sobered up and asked her, "Are you alright now, dear?"
"...I will be." Maelle glanced to the side. "Can we just...be together? Before we start fixing things."
The two opened their arms, and the young girl raced forward, practically tackling them.
Lune squeezed the two and closed her eyes
Their world was broken, and the harsh truth was still something she would need to get used to, and they would have to rebuild from the ground up.
But with Sciel in her arms and Maelle in the middle, a child who needed someone to be there for her, she relaxed softly and glanced down.
Sciel was already staring at her, humming and kissing her softly.
Lune blinked but smiled back at her
"Come on," her newly dubbed lover nudged the two, "We should rest, tomorrow can wait for a little while."
"Okay," Maelle nodded
A pause
"But if I hear you two being gross, I will scream-"
Lune laughed
Both Sciel and Lune followed after the young Paintress.
Sciel extended her hand, and Lune reached right back.
"Tomorrow comes," Sciel murmured
"Together?" she asked softly
Lune watched as Sciel smiled softly at her, lifting their hands and kissing them
"Together"
So much to do, so much to rebuild...and yet Lune didn't feel scared.
And, regardless of the clear warning the future had in store for them, she knew they'd be able to stand against it.
They had each other after all.