( He is unusable. She is impractical. )

Title: Reigning Rules
Theme: Acquaintances_Queen Serenity (2d), usako_mamoru, 2nd anniversary
Character-A-Day, Day 31: Queen Serenity, sm_monthly, March 2008
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG

Serenity sighed against Endymion's lips.

"I have to go."

His kiss insisted she did not.

Licking her parted lips, she spoke as he withdrew, her words falling onto his skin. "I have to go. My mother-"

"Already knows." Queen Serenity spoke without anger, without annoyance, and without light.

Instead of separating them, her presence did nothing to their stature, for they neither sprung apart or clung together more tightly. Emerging from the shadows, she lifted both eyebrows in question, waiting for one of them to move.

Serenity tried first. "Mother-"

"No, Serenity," the queen interrupted smoothly. "We're leaving."

Serenity made to move, but Endymion tightened his hold.

Queen Serenity watched the gesture closely. "You've had your fun."

Princess Serenity could not believe that the fullness of Endymion's presence, the calming of his touches, the loneliness of being without, was being summed up to 'fun.'

"I love him." She said it in a convincing voice, emphatic of her emotions. She had to reach her mother, convince her that this was not 'fun,' this was-

It seemed like the queen almost snorted. Instead, she tilted her chin up. "Serenity-"

"I love him!" as if shouting it would make it mean more. As if yelling it would make it more true.

The queen tried Endymion. "Please step away."

She was never going to let him see Serenity again. She had purposely let them meet so they could be together one last time. But, now, she planned on interfering.

"We-"

"There is no 'we!' There is you and there is her and that is done," Queen Serenity stressed, tapping her foot and shifting her weight.

Endymion turned, keeping Serenity in his arms, shielding her slightly from her mother. He felt her shaking.

This was not a daughter who believed in her mother's benevolence.

Queen Serenity flicked her hand towards Endymion, slightly shaking her head. He stumbled backwards, hand on his chest as he struggled to breathe. He lowered himself to his knees, trying to swallow air. Serenity cried out, placing her hands all over his back, trying to help through touch alone.

"He's fine, Serenity," she said impassively. "There are rules in place for a reason. You _cannot_ be here. Not anymore. You've had your small adventure; it's time to return to the moon."

"I love him." Serenity whispered now, knowing that saying it or feeling it changed nothing. That only she and Endymion believed it mattered. That love was unusable and impractical in a world where strength in rules reigned.

That in the larger scheme of things, hate mattered more than love.

And never in her life, did Serenity hate as she hated her mother then.

end

x-posted to "Anniversary 2007"