Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of its characters. All original characters, however, are mine.
Solstice
Chapter 12- Fight
"What do you think, Bunny?"
Usagi blinked in surprise. "It's very…white."
She and Titan stood inside a grand penthouse apartment. Whoever had designed this place obviously put a lot of thought into it. The whole design was very contemporary and modern: a style that suited Titan very well. According to the information packet, the apartment had undergone massive renovation. Gone were the confining walls and old appliances. Here stood a dramatically open space with glass doors and two beautiful terraces. It was a clean white box ready to be molded to the owner's whim.
Usagi's fists clenched. She wondered if Titan thought of her as something to be molded.
"We can paint the walls." He insisted. "I hated the interior designer my wife used for our duplex. Absolutely no taste. But I know someone who'd be perfect for the job. And we'll need more furniture to fill this place up. There's an art gallery in Akasaka that I want to raid and, of course, the National Museum. They owe me favors."
Titan sounded like a housewife. Usagi would be amused if she wasn't so angry at him. But she must be hiding it well because he continued talking as if everything was okay. As if he wasn't a manipulative bastard. As if he wasn't just using her to get back at his wife.
"Bunny?" Titan was looking at Usagi expectantly.
"I can't afford furniture." She replied through a gritted smile.
He chuckled. "Money isn't an issue here."
That's right, Usagi thought. Titan was manipulative and arrogant. Why couldn't she have found someone normal? A simple man who did not have an inflated ego and millions of yen to burn?
"So what do you think?" Titan asked again. He sounded nervous this time. "Do you like it? Because if not-,"
Usagi pressed her lips against Titan's mouth. She sucked on his tongue just the way he liked and received an appreciative groan in response. Good. She planned on using his body like he'd used hers. But Usagi had to admit it was difficult to stay cool. Titan was just so handsome. Sometimes, her heart stopped when she looked at him. Cheekbones to make a sculptor weep with joy. Sun-kissed skin. Silky hair that seemed perfectly messy. And his body!
Usagi whimpered into the kiss while pawing Titan's chest. Even through the vest of his tailored three-piece suit, she could feel nothing except hard abs and smooth skin.
Titan broke away first. He was panting when he kissed Usagi's temples and then murmured into her ear. "You're angry."
"Nani?"
"You're angry, I can tell." Titan insisted. His eyes were filled with loving concern. "What's wrong, Bunny? Do you feel rushed? I know us living together would be a big step after Mamoru. But I think we're ready."
He looked so hopeful, so eager to start embarking on a happier future. Usagi steeled herself against those beautiful eyes of his. Her plan was to seduce him. She wanted him writhing on the carpeted floor. And as soon as Titan neared climax, Usagi would kick him off of her. She'd then reveal her knowledge of his grand plan: his intention to purposely impregnate her but act as if it were an accident.
"I know a way we can be together…without you breaking up with Mamoru first or your friends' interference."
Usagi's fists clenched at the memory. How could she be so stupid? How could she not have realized it sooner?
Titan didn't have a conscience. He played with people's hopes and expectations to either amuse himself or get something he wanted. He was well aware that Usagi wanted children someday. He knew exactly what turned Usagi on, what drove her wild. He knew she'd do anything for her child. The plan was not to find some brilliant way to save Usagi but to make her leave Mamoru.
"Are you okay, angel?"
That dark, deceptive nature was bad boy allure at its finest. He was laughing beneath that worried expression. Laughing!
"This may come as a shock but," Usagi smiled thinly. "I'm pregnant."
Titan looked stunned. And then, slowly, a satisfied smile spread across his mouth. "That's wonderful!"
Crack!
She slapped him hard across the face.
"According to yesterday's reports, the emperor and moon princess remain madly in love. They shower each other with affection as well as promises for the future. She has yet to tell the Divine One about her pregnancy."
"I wonder why..." Lord Charon mused quietly in response to Nox's report. "One would think Serenity would eagerly divulge the news."
"Perhaps the princess doesn't receive the idea of motherhood well. Plenty of women her age do not."
"Why so?"
Nox broke eye contact, not sure how her master would receive her next words. "It is different than in the past. Nowadays, Terran women have more opportunities than marriage and motherhood. They have the same level of schooling as men. They pursue work. Sometimes even political office."
"Interesting…."
Charon turned his attention to the city. His resurrected Solaria grew quickly. From where he stood on a high hill outside the city walls, Lord Charon could peer down into the newly erected forum and beyond it to the palace. If he turned to face the other way, he could look across a geometric settlement of housing and smaller market areas all the way to the southernmost wall. Charon had loved Old Solaria with a fierce passion alien to his nature, which tended to be cool and detached. What better way to honor his beloved city, and fulfill his patriotic obligations, than by supervising her eminent return?
But fortune was not always with Old Solaria and the same could be said for her current existence. The winds were changing. New words from resurrected rivals were aimed at curtailing Charon's plans for the future. They accused him of not acting in the empire's interests. They refused to believe His Supreme Majesty's reincarnation lived only a dimension away. Worst of all, they were undermining his support from the people. If the people were not pleased with the progress Charon was making, then progress would halt altogether for no other man would volunteer to be New Solaria's architect.
"You and I have much more pressing matters which deserve our attention. To begin, how do the troops fare?"
From atop his magnificent white stallion, he cast a careful eye over the sea of tents located outside the city walls. After his initial recovery, Charon and all his faithful Mordae combined energies to cast a massive resurrection spell. 20,000 Terran prisoners had been sacrificed to revive 20,000 Solarian citizens. Half of that number consisted of the soldiers Charon was now carefully nurturing into a cohesive unit.
"The urban cohort has done well in keeping order but we lack capable archers to patrol the city walls." Nox rode on a strong brown mare. She urged her steed into a cantor as she followed her master towards the camp. "Ajax, meanwhile, complains about the lack of ogres."
Charon nodded in acknowledgement towards a squadron of soldiers who saluted him. To Nox, he quietly replied, "Tell Ajax that ogres cost too much to feed. He must make do with just the one."
"Yes, my lord. Have you decided how to solve our pecuniary matter?"
New Solaria's economy was fragile. The gold supply commandeered from the enemy was nearly gone. Runaway Terrans made trade difficult by plundering traveling merchants. Slaves sentenced to the fields fell short of producing enough crops to feed both soldiers and citizenry. Astrologists predicted a severe drought that would shorten already limited quantities of grain and water. And on top of those issues, the other six of The Seven were recovering their fortunes but only one had pledged support to aid reconstruction.
Nox silently swore she would have those useless aristocrats' heads on a platter. They withheld support in the hope of seeing the House of Aventi fall to hungry masses. One day soon, they would rue their choice.
"Yes. Elysian now offers limited resources much of which is taken up by our friends." The last word was spoken with grim sarcasm. "So we shall begin proscriptions on earth: a land of far greater wealth."
Her eyes gleamed. "A wise decision."
Their horses reached Charon's tent, which was located in the center of the campsite. It was a complicated structure. Although not ostensibly grandiose, the general's quarters were more than twice the size of one belonging to a foot soldier. It housed secretaries and some members of his private guard, Nox included.
"We shall target Terrans of extraordinary wealth. Once they are dead, seize their monetary assets and convert the currency to gold. Do not stop until the city's coffers are full."
The Mordae Queen shivered in anticipation. "As you wish, Lord Charon."
"I deserved that." Titan cocked his head and looked at Usagi as if he were seeing her for the first time. "How did you figure it out?"
"You never forget anything. You wore a condom or gave me the pill every time we had sex."
"Until last Sunday." Titan now looked to be berating himself. But Usagi knew he didn't regret his actions. He would have seduced her again, and again, until she became pregnant.
"Why? I give myself to you because…because…" The moon princess struggled to keep her voice steady. "Why would you take advantage of that?"
"Do you want an honest answer?"
She slapped him again and didn't flinch when those beautiful eyes shimmered with anger. Too bad. He didn't get to play the dominant partner now. "Iie! I'd prefer if you lied to me!" Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "I mean, it is what you do best!"
Titan stiffened, adopting the posture of a general about to go to war. He stared at Usagi coolly. "Because it was easy."
At first, Usagi said nothing. Of course, he had manipulated her but to sound so callous about it all…Easy? Easy? What did that mean?
The blonde tried to form a reply. She knew she looked less wronged woman than sputtering fish. But those three words from Titan left her speechless. Those three words made her feel like a whore. A stupid teenage whore who let her heart get broken by every man she'd ever loved.
"I-I…I don't-,"
Although Usagi looked ready to collapse, Titan kept being brutally honest. "I know you love me. But I also know that, deep down, you still love Mamoru. He's been your first in everything. Your first kiss. Your first boyfriend. Your first lover even though I…" He hesitated but then continued, "You'd never leave Mamoru despite begging me to get rid of him. You're too loyal, Bunny. You put others' needs above your own. Always." He ran a hand through his hair and let out a long sigh. "When I realized that, inspiration struck. Then I came up with a plan."
Titan didn't need to spell out the plan. He had correctly reasoned that Usagi would willingly drop everything, and everyone, to give their baby the best life possible. And he was right. Within an hour of being told about the life growing inside her, Usagi had sold her soul to Lord Charon. She went against all her values, all her vows as Champion of Love and Justice. Just for this baby!
"Believe me. I would have liked to conceive under better circumstances." Titan strung an arm around Usagi's waist, propping her up. "But I can't lose you, angel. So let's just-,"
"Just what? Be together?" Suddenly enraged again, Usagi pulled away. "You have to be joking!"
"Iie. But obviously you are to even suggest-,"
"How can we be together when I can't even trust you?!"
"You can trust me, Bunny." He sighed as if bored. "You're the only person who can say that."
Usagi frowned. "I can't. Maybe in the past, I could. But we both know you're a genius and a fucking sociopath. I thought I was the exception to your little games. That you loved me too much to play me for a fool but I guessed wrong, didn't I?"
"You have always known who I am." He tried to embrace Usagi again and grimaced when the blonde stepped away. "Please. Don't let one mistake tear us apart."
"From pawn to mistake. Our poor child." The blonde let out a bitter chuckle. "Here I thought you'd be a great father!"
"Bunny…."
He sounded frustrated and more than a little panicked. His eyes began shifting between her and the door. Titan didn't want her to leave. But Usagi knew she had to go. She needed to leave and she needed to think somewhere else. Usagi wanted to be somewhere away from the drama that was her life.
She told him this.
"I agree. Let me come with you!" Titan implored. "I can have a jet ready in an hour. We can go wherever you want, darling."
Usagi shook her head. She needed to be alone.
"Bunny, I understand you're upset but the only thing I've ever wanted is you. Ever since I first saw you in the Crown Arcade, you've been the light of my life! I love you and I want to marry you! I want to raise our baby!"
She raised a hand. "Don't. Just don't."
Usagi felt extremely disheartened. She couldn't believe a word that came out of Titan's mouth. Just yesterday, this man had made her feel like a queen. Now she, Princess of the Moon, stood feeling like a piece of garbage.
"Didn't you hear me, Bunny? I SAID I LOVE YOU!"
She slammed the door in his face.
Author's Note: Sorry for the late update but I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Next chapter: Titan's identity revealed!
