And good afternoon, Cross Ange archive!
Normally, I don't post work until I've got my story completed, but, I'm only a couple thousand words away from finishing up, so I'm making an exception :) I quickly fell in love with Cross Ange and its cast of characters, and after all they go through in the series, this fic seemed necessary. Sure, there is that brief summation of post-series events at the end of episode 25, but I really could have used an OVA or something. So, if you wish, consider this MY OVA for Cross Ange ^_^
As usual, I do not own Cross Ange, I simply think it is awesome, and hope you enjoy :)
"Tusk!" Ange called out as she lay back on their bed, her arms tightly wrapped around her lover's body, keeping him pressed against her curves. Her right hand was sewn into his hair, pushing his face into the nape of her neck. It was a truly wonderful experience to be with him, and every single time he left her breathless, even a little dizzy. Especially as they were now, their bodies pressed firmly together, their arms around one another. It was love in its purest physical form, the perfect compliment to the love they already knew.
She wore a satisfied smile as she gathered her breath, never relinquishing her grip, when suddenly there was a noise. A muffled groan came from Tusk to which she asked, "Hmmm?"
The groan became a panicked growl, and as she finally let him up, he shouted, "AIR!"
Ange let out a soft chuckle as Tusk righted himself above her and gasped for breath. After getting his breath back, he smiled for her, "I think I'm going to need to start training with you and the others; I can barely keep up with you!"
Still lying flat on the bed, she reached out to his abs, gently running her fingertips along them. "You're body is perfect," she said. Her hands slid upwards to his chest and continued, "Maybe work on cardio to improve your… endurance."
"You could always not suffocate me too, you know."
She pushed herself up and wrapped her arms around his back, never breaking their connection as she sat up on his lap. "But I love the feeling of your lips on me," she said before placing her lips on his neck.
His eyes fluttered up in their lids as Ange ran her tongue along his collar. His hands slid along her thighs, around her hips, and up her back, and she responded by turning her attention to his lips. They shared a long and delicate kiss, and finally, after several minutes their lips broke, though they were still joined at the hips. They stared into each other's eyes, and it would be Ange who spoke first, "Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me, Ange-chan, we're-"
"Not for that, stupid!" she interrupted, quickly settling back into a smile. "Thank you for never abandoning me. For always coming for me, and rescuing me. Thank you for being my knight, Tusk," she finished, placing another kiss on his lips.
"Ange's knight is invincible," Tusk said with a smile. "I'll always be there for you."
They both simply smiled for one another, and tightly wrapped each other in a hug. Though he'd never say anything about it, he'd never be anything but amazed at the sensation of having Ange's small, yet curvaceous body pressed up against him. Conversely, she'd never grow tired of the way he held her, the way he made her feel, or the warmth he filled her with. Their love was finally complete, and with the war over, they could finally enjoy their lives together.
However.
As her eyes diverted to a clock on the nightstand, she pulled away from him once again. Still smiling, though she said nothing, and strangely, Tusk commented as though they'd had a complete conversation, "I see."
"Do you mind?" she asked with a grin.
"Did I not satisfy you?" he asked, also grinning.
"While I wouldn't mind a second go, there is someone else who could probably stand to be satisfied tonight," she said.
Tusk smiled and leaned forward to place a kiss on her lips. "Don't stay up too late," he requested.
"Keep the bed warm for me," she replied before finally separating herself from him.
He watched her as she stepped away from the bed, always delighted to observe her bare body. She wrapped herself in nothing more than a robe, and tied off the front. After giving Tusk just one more kiss, she set out of their room, closing the door behind her. Tusk in turn fell forward on the bed; his face flat on the pillow Ange just lay on. He took a deep breath, inhaling her scent from the fabric with a wide smile on his lips. "Ange," he said. "Beautiful, wonderful, amazing, Ange."
Her destination was a short walk for Ange, and there was a quiet but noticeable spring in her step along the way. Ever since they had eliminated Embryo and ceased the space and time merger, all of the women of Arzenal -not just Ange- were considered royalty, and therefore, they all had a comfortable home within the palace. She came to the room she sought, and quietly slid the shoji to the side. It took a while for some of them to get used to the living arrangements, but none outright objected to it. Not much could be worse than the conditions in Arzenal; a futon on tatami was plenty comfortable by comparison.
Two steps into the room, Ange quietly shut the door behind her, and rounded another screen, which kept the sleeping area from open view of the door. Hilda's cherry-red hair was splayed all about her pillow and bedding. She laid on her side, away from Ange, her hands nestled beneath her pillow as she slumbered. Ange smiled at the serene sight, and undid the knot on her robe. She let the garment fall to the ground, and knelt down, delicately worming her way beneath the blanket. All at once, Ange pulled her body firmly against Hilda's back, and wrapped her hand around her waist.
Immediately, Hilda's lips perked up, though her eyes remained shut. She had grown to know the feeling of Ange's body well, though still asked with a smile, "Is that you, burn princess?"
Ange placed kisses along Hilda's exposed bicep, up to her shoulder, and finally into her hair. Hilda grinned and twisted onto her back, and having her anxious pink lips in reach, Ange leaned forward and claimed them as well. Where Ange was the one to hold onto Tusk as tightly as she could, Hilda wrapped her arm behind Ange's neck, keeping their lips tightly locked. Just as Ange relented from the kiss, Hilda slid her hand down Ange's arm, and in an instant, flipped her princess onto her back, pinning her wrists to the futon beneath her.
Months ago, Ange may have resisted, shouted, or complained, but now, she simply smiled. Hilda too smirked, deviously, as she stared into her lover's eyes. "Was your knight incapable of satisfying you tonight?" Hilda asked.
"It was almost more than I could take," Ange said, still grinning.
This caused Hilda's smile to vanish. "Hmph," she grumbled. "Are you challenging me to exceed that limit, Ange?"
"Not at all," she replied. In a flash, Ange's arms shot out to her sides, dropping Hilda's body onto hers. The red head's cheeks turned a bright pink simply having Ange's warm body pressed up against her own. Without giving Hilda time to react, Ange kept her arms straight, and swung them beside her head, all the while bringing Hilda's arms with them. Finally, Ange rolled them over, pinning Hilda beneath her. Ange still grinned contently, though Hilda wore her hunger all over her face. "Ange," she said, her voice laced with longing, and with that, Ange lowered her lips to Hilda's, giving her another warm, and full kiss.
"No need for you to try my limits this evening, Hilda," Ange said. She let one of Hilda's wrists loose, and slid her hand down her arm. Grazing her armpit, she continued to slide her fingertips along Hilda's bountiful form, until finally finding her target, bringing Hilda's eyes to close, and a crack to escape her lips. Ange smiled at the reaction, and spoke, "I was, however, thinking about testing yours." She proceeded to test Hilda, and as she watched her squirm from her touch, Ange asked, "Do you object?"
She let up for a moment, and with tears in her eyes, Hilda spoke once again, "Ange."
Ange let Hilda's other wrist go, settling her weight on her elbow, and running her fingers gently along Hilda's face. Her thumb settled on Hilda's lips, and as she gently pulled her lower lip with her thumb, she requested, "Get comfortable; this could take all night."
She placed one last kiss on Hilda's lips, and slowly worked her way down her chest, her toned stomach, finally settling where her attentions were most needed, and Hilda let out a shriek in response.
Just outside Hilda's room, Rosalie and Chris walked down the hall, hand-in-hand on their way to the kitchen for a snack. At hearing their friend's pleasure laced shriek, they turned to one another and chuckled. Dressed in their typical hues, Rosalie wore a frilly yellow nightgown, while Chris wore a similar green garment. Chris leaned her head onto Rosalie's shoulder as they walked, and even though the mood was just lightened, Chris quickly found a frown. "Rosalie?" she asked. Her lover looked to her, and she continued, "I'm sor-"
"If you say you're sorry again, I will give you something to be sorry for," Rosalie sternly interrupted. "Sorry brings no one back, but we all see the pain you feel just seeing the graveyard." Rosalie stopped them, and with her thumb and pointer finger, lifted Chris' chin and placed a kiss on her lips. "I love you, Chris. I couldn't not love you, no matter how hard I tried."
"Thank you?" Chris half-asked, tears in her eyes.
Rosalie said nothing more, she took her lover's hand back into her own, and they continued down the hall.
"Quiz time!" Vivian shouted, her enthusiasm for life unending as she approached the palace kitchen. "Who is cooking some incredible smelling food?" She set foot into the kitchen and after spying the cooks, she called out, "The answer is Momoka-chan, and Ersha-chan!" At the ovens, Ersha wore a white maid's apron over an orange tank top and pink shorts, while Ange's top maid stood beside her, clad as usual in her uniform, her unfailing smile practically a part of her attire.
"Vivi-chan!" Ersha said with a smile. "What are you doing up so late?"
"You really think I could sleep with this smell going down the hall to my room?" Vivian asked, dressed in a pink jumper with blue jean shorts. She approached the stew pots with closed eyes and inhaled deeply, "Mmmm…Ersha's curry is amazing. But, Momoka's curry is amazing too. If Ersha and Momoka were to make curry together, could it be the best curry ever made?"
"Only one way to find out!" Rosalie said as she came into the kitchen with Chris.
"Rosalie! Chris!" Vivian cheered. "It's like we're all here! Someone should get Ange, Hilda, and Salia!"
Rosalie and Chris sat at a table behind the stoves, and Chris explained with a grin, "Ange and Hilda are…" she cleared her throat, "…indisposed."
"Ah! You mean evening intercourse?" a sixth voice called from the rear of the kitchen. All eyes turned to find Princess Salamandinay approaching, also wearing a smile.
"Salamandinay!" Vivian called. She greeted the princess with a tight hug, which Salamandinay reciprocated gently. "What are you doing here?"
"I smelled the curry and I couldn't resist," Salamandinay explained.
"It's a new recipe Momoka and I are preparing to unveil at the café tomorrow," Ersha explained.
"I take it the cook books we gave you were useful?" Salamandinay asked as she sat at the table with Rosalie and Chris, followed by Vivian.
"Yes!" Momoka enthusiastically replied. "Not only have we learned of some of the errors we may have been making in our curry, we've found new ways to prepare it that may be even better."
The group shared a collective gasp, and Vivian asked, "Better? Is it really possible?"
"It's ready," Ersha said as she turned to the table, setting the pan down on a trivet. Immediately all eyes were on the red-orange sauce of this new dish. "It's called Tikka Masala," she explained. "It can be made any number of ways, but we've prepared ours with chicken, and cubed cheese."
Momoka handed out plates and utensils, and then ladled a portion for everyone. The room was quickly filled with sounds of ecstasy filled culinary enjoyment, moans and groans of absolute delight of the delectable meal.
"Oh! One more thing!" Ersha called as she stepped to another oven. She removed several round and thin pieces of bread from the oven, just about the size of serving plates, and cut them into slices. "Try this with the sauce and chicken!" she exclaimed as she passed the plate of bread to her friends.
As they all took slices of the bread, it would be Vivian who again commented, "Its bread, but…" she looked to the bright pink hue in the middle of the bread and took a bit. Her eyes lit up and she shouted, "…its full of cherries! And coconut!"
"Have it with the sauce!" Momoka insisted. "The combination was said to be one of the greatest combinations of flavor in the world."
Rosalie and Chris were the first to make the dip, and take the first bite. Their eyes lit up as well, and Chris commented in awe, "It's like…falling in love…all over again."
"Hey!" Rosalie spat. Chris smiled and leaned to give Rosalie a kiss, quelling her dissatisfaction, then Rosalie spoke of the food as well, "It is sublime. If only we'd had these books on Arzenal. What we were all used to eating, and liked eating; to think that it could have been this good with just a little more."
"And now we can have it whenever we want at Tusk and Ange's cafe!" Vivian exclaimed, her fork high in the air.
Salamandinay perked up at that last comment. She set her fork down, centered on Momoka, Ersha, and Vivian, and asked, "Speaking of the café, are you three prepared for tomorrow?"
"You bet!" Momoka said.
"The baked goods are just finishing now, and we have everything set aside to create a much larger portion of this meal for tomorrow," Ersha added.
Salamandinay smiled, and Rosalie asked as she lowered her fork, "Are you sure about this?"
"It is a matter of our pride, Rosalie," Salamandinay explained with a grin. "What has begun must be concluded."
"But, is it really necessary?" Chris asked. "Can't you just…can't you just call it a draw?"
Again Salamandinay grinned, and gave a wink, "Do you think Ange would ever allow a draw?"
In Hilda's room, the red head lay on her back, her hands held down above her head, and her lips pouting for air. Beside her, Ange lay on her side, propped up on her elbow, her left hand gently holding Hilda's wrists together. The blonde smiled happily at Hilda's exhausted reaction, and asked, "So, about those limits?"
Hilda smiled through her heavy breathing, and finally opened her eyes to observe Ange's smiling face. "I never thought this could happen, Ange," she said. "Us, together, outside of Arzenal, and in a world that accepts us for who, and what we are."
Ange's face took on a more serious expression and she asked, "Are you sure you're okay with the relationship we share?"
Hilda too settled her face somewhat as she replied. "Of course I'd be happiest of all to have you to myself. But, it's hardly fair for me to keep you from someone you want, especially if that someone doesn't mind sharing you with another woman."
Ange lowered her lips to Hilda's and placed her right hand on the red head's cheek, gently caressing her. She pulled away a second later and explained, "If he were to disapprove, I would simply tell him, it is this arrangement, or none at all."
"Ange, I-"
She placed a finger to Hilda's lips and interrupted, "I told you I would need you in this world too, Hilda, and I meant it." Again Hilda's eyes filled with tears and Ange carefully wiped them. "Don't cry," she said with a smile. "There is nothing more to fear in this life, and nothing more to want for. Do you know what life is when it is spent free, and in the company of those who love you?"
"What?" Hilda asked with a smile.
"Paradise, of course," Ange replied, placing a final kiss on her lips this evening. "Now, get some rest; tomorrow we go to war."
With that, Ange let go of Hilda's wrists, and stood from the tatami. Just as Tusk had earlier, Hilda watched as Ange slipped her robe on, and tied it in front. She offered Hilda one last smile, and as she got to the door, called back to her, "Good night, Hilda."
"Good night, Ange," Hilda replied.
Ange stepped through the door, and after sliding it closed behind her, leaned back against the wall beside the door, her head tilted back to the wall as well. She smiled in complete contentment of her evening, when she heard the less pleasant sound of a woman crying. Her expression dulled and she followed the sound, not that she needed to. She knew exactly where those cries came from, and two doors away, gave a knock.
"Salia?" Ange quietly asked at the door.
A scuffle came from within the room, and a moment later, the shoji slid open, revealing Salia's face. Her cheeks were red, her eyes bloodshot, though she spoke as confidently as she could, "Hello, Ange. It's late, is there something-"
"Are you okay?" Ange interrupted.
"I'm fine," she said, her face selling her out completely.
"You can talk to us, Salia," Ange said. "You don't have to get through this alone."
"Yes, I do," she said, turning her eyes from Ange. "It was my blindness, my stubbornness that allowed this to happen; the responsibility is mine."
"No," Ange sternly said, her eyes flaring in anger. Salia looked up to her as she spoke, "Blame for Jill's death can be placed on any number of heads, my own included. Embryo got inside your head; we all made it easy for him. None of us appreciated you for the leader you were, and for that I am sorry."
"I should have known more about the world we were in. About Villkiss, about you, and why you were able to control it so well," Salia said. "That alone, maybe…" her tears betrayed her as she continued, "…maybe it would have changed things. Changed my attitude towards you and…her."
"It was a mistake for both of us to not tell you, and I'm sorry," Ange said.
They were silent for a moment, and it would be Salia who broke that silence. "She was happy in the end," she said. "She told me she was sorry for the way she treated me, but, right up until the end, it seemed that the last thing to concern her was the war." Ange looked to her inquisitively, and Salia finished her thought, "I think she knew, that if I had brought her back, and all of us were together once more…" Salia wiped her tears and smile, "…I think she knew we would win, no matter what."
Ange stepped to the threshold and wrapped her arms around Salia, and Salia did the same to Ange. "She knew, Ange. She knew, and because of that, she closed her eyes in peace."
Ange too let tears from her eyes as she held her friend. "Her dream was secure. What she wanted most in life, she knew we would give her."
"I miss her so much, Ange!" Salia cried aloud.
Ange held her tighter still, and shut her eyes as she spoke, "I do too." She relinquished her grip on Salia, and held her by her shoulders, looking into her eyes, "When my mother died, she told me to keep on living no matter what; I think that is what Jill… Alektra, would have wanted for you, Salia. The greatest way you can honor her memory is to live the life of freedom she wanted for us all."
Salia shut her eyes tight, squeezing the tears out, and replied, "I will. Of course I will."
"Get some rest," Ange said. "Tomorrow, I will need you." Salia looked to her in amazement and Ange explained, "You didn't really think I'd allow a man to compete with five girls, did you?"
"Thank you, Ange," Salia said, her head bowed low.
Ange placed a kiss on Salia's forehead, causing her eyes to burst open, and Ange commented, "Get some rest."
Salia nodded and as Ange stepped back from the door, Salia offered, "Good night, Ange."
"You too, Salia."
At long last, Ange snuck back into her room, a full ninety minutes later. Once again, she slid her robe off and joined her lover on their futon. Tusk was long asleep, and deeply so at that. She wondered for a moment if she should wake him. She truly could have gone for that second round, though after her conversation with Salia, she was feeling just a bit more somber. Perhaps just enough to ignore her wants, and focus on the memories of a woman, an enemy, a leader, and most of all, a fallen friend.
And thus ends chapter one :) More to come in the next few days :) A big thanks to The Horsemen for giving this a read, as always ^_^
Thanks for reading, and see you soon,
-jm