Tender is the night
Lying by your side
Tender is the touch
Of someone that you love too much
Tender is the day
The demons go away
Lord, I need to find
Someone who can heal my mind
"Tender" Blur
Haruka woke to the sound of children's cartoons playing on the TV. It took her a moment to realize that she left the TV on before passing out on the couch. She fell asleep sitting on the comfortable loveseat while watching the late-night news. She replayed the events of last night from her memory.
Last night had them dealing with a late-night Daimon attack. Haruka could never figure out the pattern of how the Deathbusters selected their prey for pure hearts. This time it was at a restaurant. The target was a passionate french-style chef celebrating his first opening night at a local haute-cuisine bistro. The moment he reached for the champagne did the trap release itself. The object morphed into a human-sized champagne bottle-shaped Daimon yelling out 'Champagne' in the worst French accent imaginable. Haruka did her best not to laugh as she avoided its caviar attack. The best way she could phonetically describe the pronunciation was 'Sham-Pog-Nee.' Michiru felt incensed at this parody of fine cuisine. It was an affront to all things good about that particular region in France. However, if anyone asked, she preferred Prosecco. To Michiru, it was the principal of it all.
During the fight, the monster seemed to fixate on Haruka than Michiru. This was annoying but strategy-wise it worked out for both of them. The worst of it was when Haruka got sprayed by the champagne demon. Some of it got into her mouth, it tasted gross - flat and acidic. That must've been was the second part of the monster's attack: a disappointing taste that seared her mouth for the next hour or two. Not even toothpaste could rid the taste from her tongue. When Haruka got sprayed, the pressure of the blast sent her against a metal rack. The impact was enough for a large stainless steel pot to fall over on her head, obscuring her vision.
Haruka wasn't sure what was worse - the terrible tasting champagne or the fact that the fight took place inside a very cramped kitchen line. Thankfully, a lot of the cooks and dishwashers took the cue and ran like hell out of the kitchen. That left three individuals and one unconscious body slumped over the Garde Manger station. It felt too restricted to do any movement. Thanks to the Daimon picking on Haruka, Michiru finished it off while it was in mid-air launching towards the pot-headed Haruka.
The chef didn't carry a pure heart crystal and returned to consciousness once the pure heart was returned. They didn't bother to stick around and made the trek back to Haruka's motorcycle. Haruka wondered how Michiru handled doing this by herself for over a year. The several months they'd spent working together revealed a lot about Michiru. Her strength and resilience in battle shined, she was so calm under pressure. Haruka felt like she was always on her toes in comparison. Never knowing what to expect from a Daimon attack.
Where the attack occurred it was located on the opposite side of the city, far enough away from Haruka's apartment and even further from Michiru's home. They were both tired, it was pushing towards three in the morning after the battle was won. As much as Haruka wanted to race home on her motorcycle, having a passenger holding on pushed Haruka to drive a little more carefully and on high alert. It didn't help that she was feeling sleepy but she didn't want to cause an accident with Michiru holding on. She would push through her fatigue as best as possible, Haruka offered Michiru to stay at her place. Haruka would sleep on the couch and Michiru could take her bed. The aqua-haired girl agreed to the arrangement, finding the offer more than acceptable.
Haruka managed to make it to her apartment in decent time and paranoia kept her alert enough to her surroundings. Haruka gave a quiet sigh of relief as they arrived home to her apartment complex safely.
Home sweet home.
She remembered taking her shoes off and setting the keys and helmet on the counter. She moved into the bathroom and took a quick shower, the blonde still smelled like flat nasty champagne. Feeling refreshed and tired, she put on fresh pajamas and grabbed a set for Michiru to wear. She knew they would be a little large for the smaller girl but it was better than nothing. Haruka went back out to the living room and handed Michiru the pajamas. Not bothering with grabbing any pillows or blankets, she plopped herself on the couch and turned on the TV. Michiru excused herself to the bathroom while Haruka watched the night-time news. She wanted to know if there was anything else happening around the area. The little she gathered indicated the Senshi were busy with whatever it was they were preventing. As long as they stayed away from their mission, all was fine in the world. They handled their business, Haruka and Michiru handled their own.
Haruka's sleepiness and focus on the television distracted her from noticing the weight depressing on the couch cushions next to her. Haruka lazily turned her head to see Michiru. Her hair was wrapped up in a towel and dressed in the pajamas Haruka gave her. They were definitely a smidge too large for her, the neck of the shirt falling to her shoulder. It was cute. She looked good, Haruka mused in her sleepy state.
"You ok?" Haruka asked, Michiru only nodded in response. Haruka noticed how close Michiru was sitting to her on the couch. Haruka didn't mind it. She didn't mind it one bit. She turned back to the television while the meteorologist read the weather report. It was going to be a mostly rainy Sunday. The kind of rainy Sunday where normal people curled up with a good book or film while enjoying the ambiance of the rain. Normal people, huh. Maybe if she had time, she'd watch something beyond the news. If she had time.
The weight of her eyes felt too heavy to keep open. It seemed Michiru was also in the same boat, she felt Michiru's head lay on her shoulder right as Haruka closed her eyes and slumbered off to dream world.
For the first time in a while, she didn't experience a nightmare about the apocalypse. Strange. But nice.
Coming back to the present, Haruka looked around the apartment. Noting the sounds of obnoxious toy commercials and the soft pitter-patter of raindrops falling filled the room. Overcast obscured the sunlight and blue skies. Haruka realized that while she fell asleep sitting, her body fell back into the seat cushion. The upper half laying on the couch and while her feet remained planted on the floor. It was an awkward sleeping position. Haruka noticed Michiru's head laid on her chest and her arm draped lazily across Haruka's stomach. Haruka could not help but smile. Despite the awkward position it felt strangely comfortable. She moved her attention to stare at the ceiling. Her mind didn't wander anywhere. She remained mindful of the feeling of Michiru's body against hers, the television, and the rain. It was so simple and peaceful - she wished all days could be like this. She wondered if they would have a future. Not only a future where they prevented an apocalypse but a future between the two of them. Haruka moved her hand to brush some hair from Michiru's face, she looked so cute while sleeping. Haruka could get used to this view. A future with Michiru was a future worth fighting for, she resolved.
The light touch was enough to stir Michiru awake, she stretched and lifted her head to greet Haruka, "Sorry I fell asleep on you." Her voice was scratchy and groggy, managing to form a sleepy smile at Haruka. Haruka returned the smile, "It's fine, how did you sleep?"
Michiru lifted herself and stretched her arms out over her head, "Good." she yawned out and reclined into the couch. Michiru stared out at the window, "It's raining today?"
Haruka nodded, "Yeah, I think the last thing I remember before sleeping was the weather report saying it was gonna rain all day."
"Despite the rain, the sea seems calm."
"Yeah, but it may be too early to tell."
"Of course, we'll be ready either way."
A comfortable silence filled between them, Haruka sat up on the couch. She still felt tired, if kid's cartoons were playing that meant it was still morning time. They must not have slept for very long.
"I didn't have any nightmares last night." Haruka blurted. Michiru's interest piqued at her confession, waiting for her to continue. "For once. I'd been having nothing but nightmares for a while, sometimes I'd wake up feeling anxious or full of dread. Even the times that I wouldn't dream about anything, I'd wake up with that same feeling."
"How are you feeling right now?" Michiru asked.
"Fine. I'm still tired but fine."
"Me too. As if the visions during the day aren't enough, I get nightmares too."
"And did you…?" Haruka didn't need to finish her sentence for Michiru to pick up what she was implying.
"No. I woke up feeling fine. Refreshed, even."
Haruka smirked, "Lucky you, I need at least a pot of coffee right now."
Michiru rubbed her stomach, "I am feeling a bit peckish. I could go for some breakfast."
"'Peckish?' Of course you'd use that word." Haruka laughed, Michiru playfully swatted her arm and joined in - Haruka's laughter was so infectious to Michiru. They found themselves staring at each other once the laughter died down, they were both smiling and looking into each other's eyes. Haruka didn't know what came over her but before she could allow any type of rationale to stop herself, her hand caressed Michiru's cheek and closed the gap between them. It was a light and soft kiss, and Michiru returned it. Just as light, just as soft. Their hearts melting at the sensation of feather-light kisses. As much as Michiru tried to rationalize that they had no time for romance, she knew she'd bend like a twig the moment Haruka kissed her. After the time Michiru confessed her feelings, she wanted-no, needed-Haruka to kiss her. She wanted to know if there was something there, despite the apocalypse. The future still felt up in the air. While everything was uncertain and chaotic, at least the present was bearable.
Sleeping on the couch felt like a confirmation. No nightmares, only pleasant sleeping. The visions would never stop but it felt like a missing puzzle piece put in place, one where they'd find comfort in sleep. Haruka pressed her forehead against Michiru's and stared deep into her eyes. Her arms wrapped around the shorter girl's waist, pulling close. Michiru wrapped her arms around Haruka's shoulder, running her fingers through the blonde's hair.
"Was that okay?" Haruka asked. Michiru smiled and nodded, "More than okay."
Michiru had been waiting for this moment. She never knew how it would ever happen but was glad it happened this way. She didn't need a grand gesture or affirmation from Haruka, she would never ask for anything like that. She was happy with anything the tall blonde did for her that was a genuine expression of affection - from the lightest of touches to letting Michiru fall asleep with her on the couch.
Haruka thought to herself, maybe they can try to be normal. Only for this one day, barring any surprise attacks. They could try. Haruka got an idea and pulled back to look at Michiru.
"Do you want to order some breakfast and watch some movies?"
Michiru smiled and nodded at the invitation. Michiru liked the idea of a lazy, rainy day Sunday. She hoped for today to be quiet. It'd be nice to have a day off to spend it with Haruka. They could eat, stream some movies, and if the mood struck them: take a nap. Michiru gave Haruka a peck on the cheek, they both sat back into the cushions. Michiru rested her head on Haruka's shoulder and smiled. She pulled out her phone to look up places that delivered breakfast while Haruka looked for a movie.