A not-quite-expected idea written to LovelyLytton's prompt, "red red rose, Mars/Kunzite, SilMil", from long ago.
Sitting on the dressing table was a single red rose inside a glass dome. Infused with the Princess of Mars' magic, it didn't require sunlight, air, or water. The addition of the red rose in a room full of white lilies had intrigued the Moon Princess and the senshi, and for days, they pestered Mars the reason to its presence. Mars brushed off their curiosity by saying she had received the refreshing offering in her prayer fountain one day. A divergence from the usual bloodied weapons, dismembered body parts and enchantments, the rose had delighted the daughter of the god of war and passion immensely. Without any idea of when her worshippers would choose to send another rose, she resolved to keep the flower until it wilted.
What Mars hadn't told her friends was that Kunzite had given her the rose on one of her many journeys to Earth to fetch Serenity home. A perfect complement for an elegant warrior princess, said he. When before the sight of the flower would bring a smile to her lips, it now gave her grief.
The playful fingers of the night breeze tousled Mars' long hair and whipped the strands to her face. Pushing the errant locks away, she looked up from her meditation, the planet Earth unwittingly caught her eye. The blue and green orb shone like a colourful gem amidst the countless stars speckling in the dark expanse. Her thoughts drifted to a certain silver-haired shitennou. She wondered whether he had a woman in his bed tonight, or if he had to keep vigil for Prince Endymion.
She fisted the hem of her gown at the former.
Once upon a time, Mars had foolishly believed Kunzite was interested in her. His green eyes had lit up in admiration when he discovered her religious devotion to her heritage and her communion with the Great Fire of her planet. Despite being highborn, he would have entered priesthood had the Golden Kingdom's soothsayers not seen his place among the shitennou. He was a humble man who didn't wish for much other than the happiness of his Prince. He was a lot like her, and in him, Mars found a kindred spirit, someone who understood the futility to ignore destiny's call. Perhaps it was that unspoken bond that later found them exchanging prolonged glances, that the accidental brushes of their hands and arms caused strange stirrings in her belly.
Giving in to the urge to love him would have broken her sacred vow to her duty and risked losing everything close to her heart. Excommunication awaited those branded a traitor to the Temple of Mars. She would be banished from her planet, her crown passed to whoever her council selected. Her name also stood to be erased from Martian history. The stakes were too high, and that burden she couldn't lay on her people. It was that fear that she pushed Kunzite away and teleported back to the Moon as he pulled her into his arms and his lips sealed over hers before another shitennou could see her. The taste of peppermint had lingered in her mouth late into the morning.
When next she had to retrieve the renegade Princess, Mars had an apology ready on her tongue. Guilt and shame gnawed at her for her abrupt departure. Kunzite had always been nothing but kind, and courteous, the perfect gentleman. From what little she learnt about him in their friendship, the Terrans loved him for his virtues. They considered him a pillar of strength in unstable times. In short, he epitomized the ideal sovereign.
But then, Kunzite was only a mortal man, and men would always succumb to the temptation of the flesh. Perhaps that was why Mars didn't react when she found him fucking Venus under a tree in the moonlight.
Perhaps, deep inside her heart, she anticipated Venus would pursue Kunzite, too.
Rising from her kneeling position, Mars stepped out on to her balcony and inhaled the night air. There were times she envied Venus, the blonde's free will to pursue whoever she desired always topping the list. Coming from a planet that openly embraced promiscuity, Venus lacked the inhibitions that Mars had. The daughter of beauty and seduction was fiercely loyal to Princess Serenity down to the most trivial of matters. Mars had seen Venus scolding a maidservant to tears for forgetting the princess' favourite juice at tea. The poor girl was relegated to kitchen duty ever since.
The Venusian's dedication to her charge was without a doubt like a magnet to Kunzite. The silver shitennou would desire someone his equal, someone whose planet was said to be Earth's twin. Not someone like her despite their similarities. Bedding Venus was just one of many ways to spite Mars for rejecting his affections.
Gangly arms embraced Mars' shoulders and pulled her against a soft body. Honeysuckle and an almost imperceptible hint of spices assaulted her nose. Mars recognised the scent of spices as belonging to Kunzite. Her hands balled into fists at her sides. "You went to Kunzite again, didn't you?"
Venus laughed, the sound like silver bells, and nuzzled the side of Mars' neck. "Are you jealous, chéri?"
Mars shivered against her will. "Why would I be? Your affairs are your business."
"Because I was with a man than here talking with you when you are obviously upset over something."
"I am not."
"You are, dear. I can feel the negative vibes around you." If there was anything most people didn't expect of the leader of the senshi, it was the Venusian's hidden talent of intuition. "So tell me, why are you upset?"
Mars exhaled a sigh and closed her eyes. "It's nothing."
"We won't be having this conversation if it is," Venus said and squeezed Mars' shoulders. Mars watched their hair dance in the wind, but saw two bodies tangling under the moonlight and hear their breathy moans in her mind. "Does it have to do with Kunzite bedding me instead of you?" Venus whispered into her ear.
Every hair in Mars' body stood to attention. Cursing the flush that spread on her cheeks, she untangled the taller girl's arms and turned around. "I beg your pardon!"
The Venusian smirked without mirth. The expression transformed her face into one she usually reserved for training. "I know you saw us on Earth once and that you felt something for him. You don't have to hide it. Mercury knows too and was neither shy nor hesitant when she asked me about it."
"Does Serenity know as well? Jupiter?"
"Serenity practically introduced us. Jupiter probably knows too. It is not a secret we're involved. Even Endymion and his shitennou are aware that I visit Kunzite's bed chamber now and then."
Feeling the heat that stung her eyes, Mars wondered how stupid she had been to ever believe Kunzite would develop forbidden feelings for her and not know he was Venus' lover. She also wondered how callous Venus was to throw it in her face. "Why tell me this, Venus? Why not call me a fool for thinking I could have a chance with him?"
Venus' smirk dissolved and fire licked her blue eyes as she looked at Mars. "Because I'll never allow him to have you, chéri."
The statement caught Mars unawares. She sucked in a breath, frowning. "I don't understand."
"I can't have my senshi, least of all you, distracted in your duty."
"And yet you sleep with Kunzite."
Venus shrugged elegantly, disregarding the golden ribbon that fell off her shoulder. "He is a good lover in bed. It's also less of a scandal if I am found laying with a Terran than any of you, or even the princess."
"You commit treason against the Moon for going to him nonetheless."
"No, I haven't. I am a Venusian first despite my vow to serve the Alliance. Will you rat on the Princess for her clandestine meetings with Earth's Prince?"
Mars winced. Venus had made a point. Bound by her duty or not, Mars would never betray Serenity's confidence. She would lie for her princess and to the Alliance Council should they summon her to give her statement. The princess' secrets would follow her to the grave.
"I would rather it be me the Alliance punishes," Mars murmured.
She closed her eyes, her chin falling to her chest. The wind caressed her face, warm and soft as a mother's touch. Mars briefly entertained the thought that the wind spirits understood her feelings and they were soothing her with their tender kisses. She felt rather than saw Venus' arms enveloping her in a second embrace.
"Please not the sad face, chéri. I won't let the Alliance do that. Serenity won't allow it," Venus whispered into her hair and rubbed a hand up and down her back.
Mars shook her head. "You started it."
"And I expected you to rage and throw a fire arrow at me," Venus said lightly. "Please don't let Kunzite be a problem between us. I can't help what he has with me any more than you could help being chained by your vow of chastity."
The smile that answered Venus was brittle as Mars looked up at her friend. "You are cruel, Venus. You knew and had to rub it in my face for what I cannot have."
Venus' lips parted, but no words emerged. She frowned, released her arms and framed Mars' face in her palms. She touched her forehead to the dark-haired woman's. "I know and I'm not sorry about it." The corners of her mouth quirked before she pecked Mars on the lips. "Hate me if you want to, chéri, but I'm not sharing either of you."
Mars chortled as she grasped Venus' wrists. "I am not a possession."
Venus stole another kiss. "But you are one of my greatest treasures. Remember that."
After Venus had wished Mars good night and returned to her room, Mars removed the glass dome and seized the red rose. Its fragrance hadn't diminished even after five months. Plucking the crown, Mars lifted her magic and crushed the petals with her hand. At once the red faded to mud brown, the petals became brittle and some tumbled out of her hand. With a scowl, she swept the withered petals off her dressing table, her make up articles tumbling onto the carpeted floor in a succession of dull clunk and thuds.
Her chest heaving, Mars sat and buried her face in her palms. No tears came to the daughter of war and passion despite that she had lost a friend and sister tonight.
On the balcony, her heart lay bleeding.
