Notes! The hat has spoken. Neptune and Pluto, it has demanded. And so it shall be.
Bruised
The iPod. It was a glorious thing, really, once one gets the hang of such things. Pluto stared down at the tiny screen, timeless emerald eyes squinting in an endearing mix of confusion and concentration. Haruka had gotten the damn thing working before, right? It couldn't be that hard.
Dark lips pursed as the guardian gave the device a vicious shake. The screen remained blank.
There was a loud thud down the hall, followed by the musical laughter of her aqua haired housemate.
Setsuna rolled her eyes as a muffled response from Haruka floated down the hall. Really? Again? Those two were like rabbits. Her features became a mask of grim determination. All the more reason to get her damn iPod working, as there were just some things she really didn't need to hear.
She mashed the doughnut ring of buttons across the music player's front. Another shake.
Nothing.
The laughter had subsided, and was quickly turning into something else, judging by the new noises. A blush tinted mocha cheeks.
"Please please…." she mumbled under her breath, fidgeting with yet another button on the top of the device. Success! The screen came to life, and her ears were immediately assaulted by loud, obnoxious pop music.
Setsuna scowled. Minako must have been tampering with it, judging by the musical selection. She sighed, and jacked up the volume. "I guess I'll take what I can get."
There were worse things, after all.
Three hours later, one would have thought that Setsuna was a teenaged girl. In the darkened house, long since its other occupants had gone to bed, the time guardian was unabashedly rocking out. Pop music, she decided, as she slid up onto the kitchen counter, wasn't that bad. It seemed to be happy endings for all, and the melodies themselves were delightfully catchy. She found herself singing along, as she rooted around in a cabinet, on the hunt for a bottle of fine wine she knew Michiru kept hidden. Ah. There it was. Behind cooking supplies, where Haruka's grubby little fingers wouldn't search.
She hopped down, grateful for the peace and quiet for once. No teasing. No weird looks. Her newfound secret obsession would be safe. As she poured herself a glass, she silently thanked the violinist for having such fine tastes.
The drink was warm, and already she felt more at ease. More importantly, however, there would be no sympathetic glances and hushed whispers.
She rolled her shoulders and sighed, releasing the tension stored in her muscles. Maybe, maybe it was going to be a good night.
Three glasses of wine later, Miss Mysterious and Aloof was gone, leaving a rather giddy Setsuna clad only in a button down dress shirt in her wake. She slid through the kitchen in bare feet through the dark, giggling like a five year old as she sang along with some fellow who apparently had his heart broken.
The kitchen light flicked on above her head and the time guardian froze, rooted in place. She blinked rapidly as her vision swam for a moment. Whoa. Too much wine?
"Now I've seen it all." A playful, melodious voice teased lightly. Spinning on her heels, and losing a bit of the drink she had so grown to love, Pluto moved to face the speaker. Cool droplets splashed across her toes, and Setsuna flushed a shade of dusty pink when she remembered her state of undress.
Garnet eyes slowly rose to meet sea green. "Hi."
"Hi." Michiru laughed, and it was achingly beautiful.
"So." Setsuna said evenly, shaking off her distress and setting her glass on the kitchen island between them with as much grace and dignity as she could muster. "Come here often?"
A fine eyebrow arched. "Really?"
Internally, the older woman cringed. There was a reason she didn't socialize, the biggest being her complete lack of people skills. She offered a small sheepish grin in response. "You caught me at a weird time."
"Agreed." The violinist mused, drifting around the islander. A delicate hand retrieved the glass on the counter, and Setsuna remained still, transfixed as Michiru raised the wine to her lips, taking a long sip.
The ear bud, still nestled firmly nestled in the time guardian's ear, began to play a more somber tune, but Setsuna's attention was still obviously affixed elsewhere. Her eyes flickered, following the younger girl's movements, and unwittingly holding in her breath as Michiru's black night dress slid up her thigh an inch or two.
The world won't turn until something breaks.
If she felt eyes on her, the violinist didn't show it. "I think you owe me another bottle."
Who will make the first last mistake?
The older woman nodded mutely as the glass was placed back on the islander.
They say that good things will come to those who wait…
Michiru was very close now, and she caught hold of the extra ear bud dangling free. She pressed it to her ear for a moment, cocking her head to one side as she listened.
Well I can't wait.
"What are you listening to?"
Setsuna shrugged almost dumbly.
The younger of the two smiled. "Pop music?"
"Something like that." the time guardian huffed. "I'm just glad I made it go."
"Me too." Michiru laughed, invading Setsuna's personal bubble and resting a hand on a mocha toned forearm.
Garnet eyes blinked in confusion. "I just…"
Like I care.
Time stopped as the soldier of the seas stood tiptoed, pressing a kiss to Setsuna's cheek. "It's adorable." Michiru breathed, almost a whisper.
The emerald haired woman flushed, and opened her mouth to reply, but Michiru was already gone, slipping back into the darkened hall.
Love just leaves you bruised.
Alone again in the kitchen, Setsuna let out a slow breath of air.
Pop music wasn't just good, she decided, it was awesome.