WARNING: This chapter is nsfw due to sensuality.

NOTE: I hope everyone enjoyed this thing. If you aren't a Tales fan and you read it anyway, an extra little thanks to you! Happy Yule/Hanukkah!

Jessex

CHAPTER FOUR

It took Tear fully five seconds to form a response to that proposal. The first two were spent trying to figure out what she meant, and the next two on trying to gauge whether or not Natalia could possibly be serious. The final second was used to find her voice again.

"Erased- are you- do you mean that we should really-?"

"Shhh," Natalia bade her, free hand alighting on Tear's lips. "It's just an idea. You can tell me I'm disgusting and leave right now. Believe me, I definitely understand why it would not appeal to you!"

After a few more seconds ticked by, she managed to whisper, "Natalia, we're both women. I don't… I mean, it's not completely unheard of, but you- you wanted to pursue Luke! Or Asch! So why… would you settle for me?"

"'Settle'? Oh, Tear…" Her eyes were sad as the fingertips moved to cup her cheek. "You're not a consolation prize. You're a wonderful person! I just… well, I'll admit I'm not really sure how we would- there's a LOT that's confusing about- well, anyway, I think… if you wanted to try…"

They were both afraid of what it might mean should they move beyond friendship. Even if they had already tested those waters, it was under somewhat false pretenses. This would be openly acknowledging that, despite it not being criminally penalised anywhere in Auldrant, the behaviour was at least deviant. But there was one thing Tear needed to do before she could do anything more.

"What?" Natalia asked when she reached up. "What are you-"

"Testing you," she breathed, pulling out the pins holding the wig to her scalp. Once it was resting on the chest of drawers, she fluffed out her real hair before her hands fell to the buttons at the collar of Asch's uniform. "Or, well… both of us. Not just you."

Natalia took a step away, watching as Tear stripped off the cape, the ornamental tunic and the armour underneath. Once that was gone, her own form was revealed, wearing a simple grey shirt to protect her skin from the cold metal. She kept going, removing the gloves and boots to leave behind maroon leggings that complemented her shirt.

"A-are you through?" Natalia asked nervously. "Because if you keep going, I m-may have to avert my eyes. It's indecent."

"All of this is indecent. But… yes, I'm through."

"Oh. So… what's the test, exactly?"

Tear stepped closer, until they were inches apart. Now that the boots were off, she stood very nominally shorter than Natalia; it felt a lot more significant given that she was very nominally taller than her while in costume, enjoying the typical "male" height advantage.

"Can you accept me like this?" she whispered, gazing up into her green irises. "Even just for a night, or for longer, or… or at all. I'm a woman, Natalia."

"You really are," she remarked softly, staring down between them at their chests. "Much more of one than I am."

Tear dipped her head self-consciously, cheeks instantly warmer. Comments about her large breasts always caught her off-guard that way. "N-not what I meant."

"Plus I'm taller. Should I be the one wearing the costume?" Tear's embarrassed little smile made her laugh, even as she rested her hands on Tear's gently-flaring hips. "That's better. And… though I'm pretending I don't know what you mean, I do."

"Really? So… so what… I mean, how do-"

"I don't know. But I'm really starting to feel okay with finding out firsthand."

Her cheeks pink and her eyes wide, Tear whispered, "You… really should be wearing the costume. It's traditionally the man's role to be the decisive one. To… approach the lady, and begin the… the…"

The bemused grin preceded Natalia whispering, "You're so cute."

"M-me? Cute?" Tear loved cute things, but never had considered she might be one of them.

"Of course! But I've thought that before. I just didn't have a personal investment in whether or not you're cute until tonight."

"Really?"

The hand returned to her cheek, and this time she leaned into it, feeling helpless and lost and grateful for the comfort. It took Natalia a moment to answer. "Oh… this is so… it's so different than I expected, but I think… I don't mind. You're sweeter than honey."

Every word was making Tear's pulse pound harder behind her ears, her breath come in shallow gasps and tingles to shoot through the backs of her knees. Somehow, even though Natalia had never been someone she considered from a romantic standpoint before the past days, she had come to outshine any man who had ever caught her eye. It felt safer with her. It felt right.

"Tear?"

"Yes?"

Instead of a question, Natalia's lips formed a seal on Tear's, gently plying at them. Much more careful and exploratory than before, she pulled her face closer, delighting in the contact. Tear delighted with her. Every kiss before this had been a rehearsal for this one true performance. Now that Tear wasn't afraid, wasn't trying to be someone she wasn't, she could give herself over to it entirely without fear of recriminations or rejection.

As she had barely dared hope, Natalia took care of her this time. Before, she had thought she was kissing a strong man who needed no such considerations; now, she cradled Tear close as if she were spun glass. It would have angered her if not for the contrast from the last time. She didn't want to be treated like a man. She wanted to be loved for who she was, and cherished.

When they parted, she discovered that her back was draped over Natalia's forearms, head tilted back to gaze toward the ceiling. Natalia was bent over her and blinking down into her eyes. When had she been dipped so elegantly? The memory literally escaped her.

"You're really a woman!" she burst out, making Tear smile again. As she gently pulled her back to standing, her hand found the nape of Tear's neck. "Goodness…"

"And you're really- well, n-not a man! But… you know exactly what to… what I mean is, how do you know how to treat a woman like a lady this well?"

At that, Natalia grinned. "Finishing school. I mean, we were taught what to expect from a gentleman caller, to better prepare us for how we should respond. So I mean… well, I never expected that I'd need to, but I remember both sides of the lessons."

"Oh."

The anxiety in her voice shone through clearly. "So… I'm doing alright?"

"You're doing wonderful." Her hand came up to brush over Natalia's jawline. "But you don't have to be my 'gentleman caller'. We can just be who we already are."

"I am. The steps are helping me figure out how to treat you the way you deserve to be treated, that's all; it's still me."

"Still you…" Her hand passed over Natalia's shoulder, rustling her sleeve. Then she chuckled.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh, nothing. Well…" She could tell Natalia wanted an answer, so she embarrassed herself further by admitting her train of thought. "The nightie you wore last night. Where did you find that?"

Cheeks flushing a deeper shade, the princess admitted, "Here in town. I've never owned anything like that before — please believe me!"

"I do, I do. But it was very…"

"Yes, it was. Do… I mean, did you… like it?"

"To borrow or to watch you in it?"

"Either one, I guess. This is so confusing!" As they both giggled, Natalia shrugged. "If you want me to wear it, I could… change."

Tear felt panic trying to rise in her chest, but she forced it down. "S-sure. But I won't watch you change; I don't think I'm ready for… well, I'm just not ready."

So Natalia kissed Tear on the forehead, then trotted over to her luggage. Even the one tiny kiss made her giddy. Were they really doing this? Minutes ago, she had been trying to confess she could never return to her, and now they were contemplating kisses becoming part of their regular routine! The fact that most members of polite society would view it as taboo somehow did nothing to dissuade her. In fact, it only made the indiscretion all the more appealing.

"I'm ready, Ric."

Rolling her eyes at the name she chose, she turned around… and tried to pretend the sight of Natalia in the sheer nightie didn't set her pulse skyrocketing. But she managed to only squeak, "Y-yes. Ric approves. Also, Ric does not wish to be called 'Ric' anymore."

"Well, 'Ric' should have thought of that before telling me I could use 'Ric'," she giggled, pacing back over and grasping Tear's hands, pulling her toward the bed. But Tear dug in her heels. "What's wrong?"

"O-oh, I- no, nothing, I'm- I didn't think we…" Swallowing hard, she glanced toward the window, then back at Natalia's curious features. "Are we… going to bed? Together?"

"I thought we could lay down together. And maybe… find out what happens when we do."

By now, Tear felt like she was boiling, and was secretly grateful she had shed the heavy armour. As she tugged at the neckline of her tunic, Natalia released her and sat down on her own instead. She crossed her legs, watching Tear's eyes follow the movements. She knew exactly how much leg she was showing off in that moment and didn't seem to mind in the slightest.

"What?" she finally prompted.

"Natalia, you… don't give yourself credit. You're every bit the woman I am, and more."

Her smile was obviously pleased. But Tear still couldn't seem to drag her eyes upward. In reality, it was because she felt too guilty to look at her torso or her face in that moment. However, Natalia seemed to misinterpret the gaze. "Tear, there is… something else I've been wondering about. And you wouldn't comment on it when I came to you the next morning."

"What?"

"This." Her leg raised and she poked her stomach with her toes, causing Tear to back up a step and clutch the prodded area. Natalia laughed, "Sorry."

"My stomach?"

"No, no! I meant… when I was crying, and you kissed my foot. I didn't know… what I mean is, I wasn't sure why you chose to do that to make me feel better."

Tear nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Sorry. I don't know, either. It just seemed… I don't know, I wanted you to know I meant it. And the words alone weren't enough."

"But you could have kissed my cheek — or pet my shoulder, or my back."

"Oh… I guess so."

"It's alright," she assured her when it became obvious Tear had no idea what to say, lying on her side on the bed comfortably. That position did set her at ease, even if she couldn't bring herself to join her. "I just wondered if that was some kind of Malkuthian ritual I didn't know about that Asch had picked up in his travels."

"Really?" Tear asked, surprised. "That's funny, because… I was worried it was a Kimlascan thing!"

"What? But you're the one that did it!"

Laughing now, she held her arms behind her back shyly. "Yes, but… you made such a big deal out of it and I didn't know why, so I was worried I had accidentally asked for your hand in marriage. Or your foot, I guess." They both chuckled a little. "But y-you're right, it was a strange choice."

"I see. Well, it doesn't matter; you don't have to degrade yourself like that again just to make me feel better."

"Degrade myself? Oh, don't exaggerate; it was fine. And it seemed to make you feel better, so I have no regrets."

"It's not degrading to literally fall at my feet?"

"Not when they're the perfect feet of a princess, no." The instant she had said it, she slapped a hand over her mouth. "O-oh, I… that wasn't supposed to sound so…"

But Natalia was equally embarrassed. "What do you mean, perfect? I mean… my feet are just feet."

"They are perfect. I mean, all of you is." But Natalia seemed to be waiting for more, so she sank to her knees beside the bed and poked one of Natalia's ankles. "You have the cutest toes."

"Oh… well, I guess that makes more sense now. You're such a fan of cute things." Tear bent down, and Natalia began to ask, "What are you d-"

But the kiss against her toes came before she could finish the question, cutting off her words. Not that Tear didn't already feel completely foolish for doing it, but it was important that Natalia know she was serious. More kisses followed, Tear hoping to show her so much affection that she would never question it again. When she felt toes twitch under her lips, she pulled away, turning to see her reaction.

Natalia was definitely a blushing mess. But she was also smiling. "Wow. Tear Grants, you are… smoother than you give yourself credit for."

"What?! I'm… I'm smooth?"

"Definitely. My cute toes agree with me. You made us feel very cherished just now." When Tear only bit her lip, uncertain about what she should do next, Natalia's smile widened and she reached out a hand. "Come up here with me. Come on."

So Tear climbed onto the bed next to her. At first, she was straddling her hips, but they both seemed to realise that was unseemly and shifted a moment later so they were lying on their sides, gazing into each other's eyes. One of Tear's hands came up to comb gently through Natalia's soft hair, earning her a hum from deep in the princess's throat.

"This is crazy," Tear whispered as she felt two knees wrap around one of her own. "Are we really…?"

One of Natalia's shoulders rose up toward her rosy cheek. "I guess we are. But… it's alright, isn't it?"

"Yeah. I think it is. Does… that make us…?"

"I don't know what it makes us. Maybe nothing. Maybe… everything."

Their lips met again, and this time Tear was able to give her the level of desire she gave her before she had been revealed. Natalia shocked her even more by responding — not only with gratitude, but with an incredible level of sheer willpower. This was important to her now. To both of them, but Natalia seemed to be trying even harder to prove something to her.

Before she knew it, she felt their hips shifting. A thigh was pressing between her own, and she knew one of hers was between Natalia's. Could feel the heat seeping through layers of fabric. This was far beyond anything she had imagined ever doing at all, much less with a woman! The few times she had dared imagine something remotely close, it was Luke — not that she would have ever admitted it to him, or anyone else.

And then there was Natalia Luzu Kimlasca-Lanvaldear. How could a princess be the tiniest bit interested in some Order of Lorelei reject? She could have princes and kings falling into her lap, and there she was, welcoming her into her bed. And it was all happening so fast! It made her own daydreams seem pathetic.

"O-oh," Natalia finally gasped as they broke apart, panting for breath. "Do you… feel that? Is it just me?"

"Not just you," Tear assured her, petting over her cheek and neck. "Are we… i-is this-"

"Is it?"

Licking her lips, she whispered frantically, "But we're women, what will we…?"

"Well… this seems to be working so far." Natalia gave a few more firm thrusts against the thigh clamped between both of her own, and her luxurious eyelashes fluttered. "O-ohhh… oh, Tear…"

Maybe that was enough. It was not, according to everything she had learned about the birds and the bees in school. But Natalia certainly didn't seem to need anything more. So she began to thrust in tandem, moaning into the pillow at the sensations assaulting her. Even through her leggings, it was overwhelming! As they grew accustomed to the actions, to the results of them, they began to move faster, more roughly.

"Natalia," she panted some minutes later, kissing down her jawline to her neck.

"Oh!" she gasped out, arching her back when she felt teeth raking along it. "Nnhh, oh that's so good…"

"Mmhh… yes!"

One hand drifted up from her back to pet up and down her chest. The sensation made Tear flinch out of instinct, but then the fear gave way to pleasure once she got past the initial reticence. That definitely added something to their encounter.

"You like that?" When she could only nod weakly, Natalia squeezed one of her breasts and prompted a long moan. "You do…"

After another few squeezes and further grinding of their hips, Tear managed to whimper, "How are you… doing this to me? Are you even… real?"

"I could ask you the same thing! This morning, I thought… some mysterious stranger was falling for me…" Her lips pushed up and into her neck. "But instead, it turned out to be my best friend."

"I'm your best… best friend?"

Letting out a breathy chuckle, she demanded, "Who else could it be? Anise?!"

"Stop," she laughed, and the laugh turned into a long moan at a particularly firm grope. "O-ooh… m-my…"

They both fell silent for a few minutes — that is to say, in terms of words. In terms of sounds, the room was filled with grunts and sighs, the occasional half-scream. And their hips were shifting faster than ever before, causing the rustling of fabric to nearly overpower their other noises.

"Can I… take these off?" Natalia finally asked, her hand falling down to tug at Tear's waistband. When Tear nodded, they both shucked the leggings so fast that she felt nails raking down her calf, and honestly couldn't tell which of them was the culprit. Then they resumed, both sets of legs nude as they entwined.

"OH!"

Nodding into Tear's shoulder, she whispered, "Yeah! It's so much more! I can feel… feel how wet you are…"

Completely mortified, Tear pushed her face into Natalia's hair to hide. The sounds her body was making were so undignified! But gentle hands on her back and combing through her hair soothed her until she felt less ashamed of how eager her body was for Natalia to sate its needs. It also helped that she could feel much the same through the princess's undergarment, but she didn't dare mention that. No matter how heated their dance had become.

"Natalia!" she finally panted some minutes later. "Something's… I d-don't know, I'm… nhh!"

After a few more thrusts, she seemed to focus on Tear's outcry. "Are you close?"

"Close to… what?"

"Oh honey…" Her hands moved up to rest gently against Tear's collarbone. "It's your first? Well… I can help you with that. Here, let's set the scene properly…" Gentle hands removed her grey tunic, as well, leaving her entirely bare. Though her hands fell to hide her body, Natalia gently held her arms away.

"N-no…"

"Yes, Tear. You're so beautiful! You don't have anything to be ashamed of."

Her eyes watered as she gazed up into the green ones, saw Natalia's pink lips pull into a smile. Her heart was already trying to thrash its way out of her chest, but now she felt a twisting in her stomach along for the ride. Her lungs burned as she tried to think of what to say.

"So are you. B-beautiful." It was woefully inadequate, but she had to try.

"Thank you," she said with a lilting titter. "Now… come for me."

"What?" But Natalia began to grind her leg into her wetness again with twice the vigor from before, and she lost all power of speech. "A-AH!"

That was the last thing she could say that resembled a word for many minutes. Natalia's skill was unimpeachable as she assaulted her body with more glorious sensations than she ever thought possible. The pleasure built and increased until she felt that something approaching once more, but this time when her cries got louder, Natalia only sped up instead of slowing down to wait.

"Come for me!" she whispered heatedly into her sweat-dampened brunette locks.

"Natalia! Yes! I… I…!"

And she did. The squeal that ripped its way out of her throat when she reached her first orgasm was high and piercing, but she couldn't even care. That was what Natalia was trying to do: bring her fully into the sorority of womanhood. And in the arms of a princess.

"Almost!" Natalia started panting, even before Tear's aftershocks faded. "I'm… alm- I'm almost- almost there!"

So now it was her turn. Tear began to rake her hands up and down Natalia's back, hoping it would do something to spur her on. The sounds seemed to suggest it was working. Her teeth again fell to her neck, raking down to collarbone before she let her tongue slip out to trail its way back upward. One hand came to perch on Natalia's backside, gripping hard.

"OH! Ooh, I- I don't know how I feel about that!"

"I'm sorry!" Tear breathed fearfully, jerking the hand away.

"No, it's… I might have liked it, but I can't… it's so much!"

Tear sensed that she needed very slightly more. Running her hands up and down again, she then snatched up the hem of her nightie and began pulling it up and off. Natalia cooperated, allowing her body to be exposed much more readily than Tear had.

And there were the pert peaks she had glimpsed poking at her through the nightgown. They were small and pink, and to her way of thinking, much cuter than her own larger, darker nipples. Once they returned to their frenzied pace, she watched in awe as they bounced up and down - or rather, from side to side - thinking that her own had been doing the same and wondering if Natalia was watching them.

She was. When she saw the green eyes pointed that way, she smiled slightly and whispered, "You… like these?"

"Huh? O-oh, I… yeah…" Her face was already too flushed and sweat-coated for this to make any difference, but the way she ducked her head still portrayed her shame clearly enough. "Always was a little… jealous of your body… but now it's…"

Jealous? There was no call for that. So as they writhed, Tear pulled Natalia's face down to nestle between her breasts.

"Wait! What are… mmhh…" It took very little time for her to relax, nuzzling the valley between Tear's ample mounds. And not long after that for her open and panting mouth to leave wet kisses all over its skin. The actions threatened to get Tear going again, but she forced herself to focus on bringing her friend as much pleasure as she possibly could.

It didn't take long after that. Another minute or so of writhing, and Natalia was hissing, "I'm gonna come! I… I want to, I want to do this with you!"

"Yes…" One of her hands wound into Natalia's short hair and gripped, and the princess seemed to melt for a moment. "Is this alright? Are you alright?"

"Yes! It feels so incredible!"

"Mmmmhhh… then come for me, Natalia!" Swallowing her shyness, her uncertainty that anything she was doing could backfire on her, she added, "I want… I want to hear you moan my name!"

That had the desired effect. As her hips rolled faster than ever, she panted, "TEAR! Yes, Tear, yes! NNHAAAHHH!"

Tear held her body close, clutching at her back as she rode out the waves of pleasure in her arms. It was one of the strangest things she had ever experienced, even compared with watching whole continents sink into the Qliphoth. But the princess was a vision — a goddess unmade. Sweat gleamed all over her body as she cried out, back arching and trim stomach flexing with every movement. Then, little by little, she sank down sideways into the bed.

Minutes ticked by as they regained their breath. Then Tear whispered, "Natalia… we…"

"I know," she breathed back, eyes fluttering open again. "We did."

"What does it mean? I… I've never felt anything like that… before…"

A delicate hand came up to comb through the hair that had fallen into her eyes. "Mmmhh… it means whatever we want it to mean. For now, I just… am really, really happy we did this." When Tear's face pulled into a bashful smile, she nuzzled in closer. "And for how cute you are."

"N-no I'm not," she whispered, which only made Natalia nuzzle more, and her smile widened. "You really think so? I've had so many people tell me I'm… cold. A 'bitch'."

"Well, you are, in terms of how you treat the average person. But that's not all of who you are."

"Oh," she breathed softly, smile falling. But immediately, lips were pushing into the corner of her mouth. "Wha-?"

"You're very kind, and thoughtful. You just become all-business when it's important to be all-business, and some people don't know how to take that coming from a woman. That serious, tactical mind has saved our lives so many times!" Her lips moved to her jawline, leaving a string of little kisses all the way to her earlobe before lapping at it gently, earning a soft mewling from its owner. "Then, when you don't have to charge into battle or take care of a dire problem, you turn into this sweet little kitten."

Her heart was pounding again. "I do? Really? No one has ever…"

"You do."

Throwing her arms around Natalia, she pushed her eyes into the side of her neck as she trembled. "I-is it alright if I never leave you, ever again? Because… no one's ever said anything like this to me! Or made me feel like I have any value besides as a fighter and a healer! I feel s-so…"

Lips pushed into the crown of her head as gentle hands caressed her sweat-dampened back, trying to soothe her sobbing lover. "Shhhh, it's okay. It's okay, Tear; I've got you right here. And I'm never going anywhere."

They stayed like that for quite some time. When they finally realised the hour grew late, Tear sat up to take her leave, feeling arms slide around her from behind and smiling.

"It's amazing we resisted for so long," Natalia admitted. "I feel magnetically drawn to you."

Giggling, she glanced down at the hands so near her chest. "I think you're just magnetically drawn to my breasts." The hands raised to grope them roughly, and she let out a shaky, "Ohhh…"

"Maybe you're right."

Tear could feel arousal building again after a few moments of fondling. Somehow, the sensation of two little pink peaks against her own back only added to the heat it created. A thumb and forefinger pressed into either side of one of her own, and she sucked in a sharp breath.

"Tear? Is- are you alright?"

"Yes, I… nnhh, it's too much…" The hands vanished, and she breathed a sigh of mingled relief and disappointment. "Wow."

"Sorry." Her face edged around Tear's side and kissed the nipple in question. "All better?"

With a blast of exasperated laughter, she said, "You know that's only making it worse." Natalia held her gaze as she wrapped both lips around it, and Tear's smile faded as her eyes slid closed. "A-ah…"

That went on for longer than either of them would care to admit. Natalia seemed content to try, and Tear couldn't muster the willpower to fight her off. After a moment, she switched to the other peak, and Tear wound a hand into her hair to hold her there. It was strange, but she had a feeling that just about any partner she had taken to her bed would have attempted the same, given her bust size.

"Y-you don't have to stop," she whispered when Natalia sat back and tucked a flaxen strand behind her ear, clearing her throat in embarrassment. "Not if you're, um… enjoying that."

But the princess only shook her head. "It's getting really late. And it's probably strange that I just spent so much time on your breasts when I didn't think I had any interest in them before. Any breasts!"

"Don't worry about it too much. All of this is strange for both of us."

"You're right about that!"

Almost afraid of the answer, she whispered, "You really… like them? Mine."

"Almost as much as you like my cute little princess toes," she joked. But when Tear only dipped her head further in shame, Natalia kissed the side of her breast before sitting up more to stroke her cheek. "I was only teasing. Sorry."

"I-it's alright. I do think they're cute. And so are your breasts, by the way; I didn't really comment, but… I… where are you going?"

Though she had been afraid Natalia was leaving, she released that fear when she saw her kneeling on the floor. "Nowhere."

"Oh. Then what are- Natalia!"

A storm of different emotions welled up in her when she felt the princess's lips meet the tip of her big toe. Mostly shame that she was doing that for her, but also gratitude that she was so sweet and kind. Shock that someone of such high standing was doing something so servile and degrading. She tried to curl her toes away from her, to cease such a ridiculously unnecessary display of affection, but Natalia raised her calf enough to kiss the tip of each toe even with them curled. What a stubborn Lanvaldear she was.

"A-alright, I get it," she finally laughed nervously when she felt her switch to the other foot, kissing under the toes, down along the arch. "You want us to be even."

"I want you to know your toes are cute, too," she said as she moved up the ankle to the calf. "That I'm not 'the beautiful one'. You are so beautiful!"

"Natalia, you don't have t… oh. Are you going f-"

Fingertips pressing into the insides of her thighs until they parted cut off all further words. From that moment on, she couldn't speak; lips were tugging on the fur above her obscenely wet sex. They didn't stay there long, trailing downward, and she threw a forearm over her eyes as if it would help block out what was happening next.

"Ah!" she gasped, falling backward onto the bed.

"You're so sweet," Natalia purred before kissing again. There! Why would she want to put her mouth on one of the few places that had to be dirtier than her feet? But the lips pressed into other lips again, sliding amongst them, parting them just enough so that a wayward tongue could experience her sweetness again. "Nnhhh… thank you."

"Mnah?" she managed to ask. Not that it was truly a word.

"For this feast. Thank you, Tear. I want to devour all of you."

Everything bled together after that. Tear raised her legs, balanced them on Natalia's back as she felt the tongue bringing her even more pleasure than riding her thigh had done. She couldn't even tell how long they had been at it when another finish burst over her and shot into every bone, every vein. But it was fantastic.

"Don't…" Clearing her throat, she pushed up onto her elbows, the simple action causing her far more difficulty than it should have. "Don't tell me… you learned that at finishing school!"

"I didn't," she giggled, licking her lips clear of essence that Tear couldn't believe was there. "But I heard things. Enough to have an idea of what to try."

"Maybe… I can try that on you… another time?"

Cheeks already flushed but her eyes and shy smile now matching the redness, Natalia whispered, "I would love that. But I can't expect it from you tonight; not after I wore you out so badly."

"Thank you for… for understanding."

The time had come for Tear to dress and return to her room. Natalia dressed her, taking great care to kiss any area that was about to be covered up, and Tear found her eyes welling with tears from the careful treatment. By the end of it, there weren't many places that Natalia's lips hadn't been.

Natalia only pulled on her nightgown to see her to the door. Tear wanted to repeat the same actions, kissing soft peaks and tapering legs, but found she was still too winded; that would be a debt owed until another night. They shared a brief kiss on the inside of it before they eased the barrier to the outside world open.

"I'll see you in the morning," Natalia promised with a small smile. "And for a lot of mornings after that."

Bowing very slightly, she whispered, "Okay." Then she put the wig back on. "I feel stupid wearing this now."

"Hey, it was kind of sexy for a minute," she chuckled under her breath. "But yeah, I'm pretty sure we don't need that anymore. We can just be ourselves."

"Ourselves." Darting in, she left another brief kiss on Natalia's lips that gave her a head rush, because the door was technically open. Not that anyone was up that late. "Sleep well."

"Goodnight, Ric." Then she closed the door before Tear could complain about the nickname, a giggle floating out from the other side.

~ o ~

"I still don't see why we have to stop at Nam Cobanda Isle again!" Luke was complaining as they rode the elevator up. Mieu was sitting on his shoulder, happy as a clam to be there. "There's nothing important here; just a bunch of theater weirdos and Fon machines!"

"Fon machines," Guy droned in a trancelike voice, drool emerging at the corner of his mouth.

"Be quiet, all of you," Natalia warned as the car came to a stop, the door hissing open. "Do whatever you want; Tear and I have to drop something off. Maybe go play that game-machine with the dragon."

Anise sighed, arms behind her head as she walked along. "Boooo, that thing is so annoying. Every time I get to the final boss, he kicks my butt!"

As they left the elevator room, Jade said, "Hmm." Once Tear had turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow, he said, "I wonder if the Keterburg Hotel has an infestation of some kind."

"Why do you say that?" Natalia asked.

"Both of you have similar red marks on your necks. If there is a pestilence in the hotel, the staff ought to be notified so they can rectify the problem. A high-class establishment such as that can't afford such a blow to their reputation."

Immediately, Anise was turning wide eyes on Tear and Natalia, a budding smile on her lips. Guy and Luke looked completely oblivious, the former already wandering off to look at the Fon machinery. Jade, on the other hand, was intensely suspicious as always, and Tear had to carefully compose her face to keep from giving the shrewd man anything more to latch onto.

"Who knows?" Natalia said easily, and Tear admired her ability to stay cool under duress. "Maybe we're both allergic to the tea."

Carrying the package between them, Tear and Natalia left the others behind and made their way between stalls and displays until they found the costuming department again. Every few minutes, they exchanged a smile or a giggle; it had been that way since they met for breakfast, and while making ready for departure. Every spare moment was used to share a stolen kiss. Neither of them were ready for the rest of the team to find out they were intimately linked… but they saw no reason that should mean denying themselves such simple pleasures.

"Ah!" The woman was still in her overalls when she spotted Tear and the package. Either that, or she owned several pairs. "Returning the costume already, I see. That was fast!"

"Thank you very much," she told her with a slight bow as Natalia handed it over.

"Did you get everything you wanted out of it?"

"Yes," she said with a slight smile, glancing in Natalia's direction. "I did. But you were right; it served its purpose and now someone else can make use of it. Tell Noir it's perfect."

All was quiet as the two newly-awakened lovers enjoyed a shared moment. Though Tear had been deathly afraid her idea would backfire, and it had, the end result was beyond her wildest dreams. In trying to help a friend, she gained someone to share her life with.

Then the woman muttered just loud enough for them to hear, "Which one of you wore it?"

"Hm?"

"Which one? I have a feeling it was you, blue-eyes, but I guess it could have been the blonde."

"I'm s-sure we don't know what you're talking about," Natalia told the sly-eyed woman.

"Ohhh, I'm sure you do. I've seen that spark of young love many times over the years, and when this one came in-" She indicated Tear with a nod, who dipped her head in shame "-she had all the obvious signs. Even if she probably had no idea herself."

Leaning in, Tear desperately pleaded, "Keep your voice down! We… I mean, this isn't- I don't want anyone to think-"

"Oh, don't worry, I won't go blabbing it around elsewhere. I know how stuffy and repressive some of the other cities can be. But nobody in Nam Cobanda would care about two young ladies finding each other in this mixed-up, crazy world, I can promise ya that!"

"Thank you," Natalia told her even more urgently with several bows, face white as a sheet. "Not that I'm confirming what you're accusing us of, but I… thank you for your discretion!"

Laughing merrily, she got the costume and wig laid aside and reached up to pat a cheek on each face. "Happiness and prosperity to the both of you. Nothing would thrill me more than to know I helped a young couple beat the odds — especially when they're so much bigger odds than usual." Then she turned away as if she had decided she were done with them. "Come back soon!"

As they made their way toward the Albiore, Tear walked a little closer to Natalia and whispered, "How could she know? I mean — th-that's so… I never said a word!"

"Maybe she has psychic powers," Natalia mused, eyes wide with disbelief. "With everything we've seen, that's not completely unrealistic."

"Yes. I'm worried she could be a threat to us."

"Oh, don't be silly; she just wants us to be happy." Her hand slipped into Tear's, and though she tensed, a moment later she forced herself to relax. "And I am happy, my shadow in the night."

Face beet red, she hissed, "Please, please stop calling me that, Tiara-Toes. It's the only thing worse than 'Ric'!"

The silly title she fired back with did make Natalia laugh, but didn't embarrass her equally to the nicknames she had for her. "Alright, Mystearica. Whatever my Midnight Lover wants."

The blushing didn't fade at all, but Natalia's lips pushing into Tear's red cheek at least brought a smile to her face that lasted all the way to the elevator, and even lingered once back on the ship. True joy tended to do that to a person. Besides, Tear could never stay mad at her princess.

THE END