Set sometime after Ryuko's rejection of Junketsu and her defeat of Harime Nui. When exactly, is up to you.
The colours fit her perfectly, you think; the black is dark and deep, matching the depths of her soul and the infinity of her emotions, and the red is bright and alive, showing off her incredible vitality and the unquenchable flame of her spirit that burns bright inside her.
Ryuko Matoi is beautiful; this is something you've thought to yourself many a time before. You remember the first time she defied you, as you stared down at her from your lofty perch. The sheer fire in her words and attitude sent answering shocks racing down your spine (awerespectbeauty), and when you tested her by belittiling her, the surging of that fire almost took your breath away. You remember your first battle with her; when you locked gazes with her blazing blue eyes, the fury and unbreakable spirit within called to you like a kindred soul (lustwantneedlustpowerwant), even as your blade and hers strained against each other and Junketsu howled madly on the other side of hearing. It has been a long time since that day, but you still remember the warmth of her body playing over your own and her breath blasting across your face as she shouts her defiance at you.
It's the closest you've ever been to kissing her – in every way that could be meant.
Unbidden, you feel the familiar pooling of heat, burning inside you (needwantneedwant), a feeling you thought you'd never have, not after what Ragyo – not Mother, not for a long time – has done to you (hatehateangerhatepainlovesorrow). Pain stabs through you, and you crush it down viciously. You have no right to feel like this anymore; you have no right to still think of her with (lust) love like that, not anymore.
Taking a breath, you crush your forbidden twisted feelings (lustlovesomuchlovesomuchwantsomuchneed) down hard and step forward beside her.
"How are you feeling, little sister?" you say, and cannot repress the smallest of smiles at her flustered face and her struggles to answer.
Ryuko Matoi will never love (lust) you, not the way you love (need) her - the way you should not love (desire) her.
But that is alright.
Now that you know the truth, you will never let her go, never lose her, never be away from her again - and if all you can do is just watch her and love (somuchmorethanjustlove) her for the rest of your life, then that is enough (notenoughnoteverenough).
There will be a Part 2, with Ryuko's perspective on this moment.
With thanks to Magery for his invaluable advice and help. Check his stuff out, he's eons better than me.
This fic is dedicated to my friend and Queen, the beautiful, amazing, and unmatchable Inkfire.