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The following is a fan-based
FICTION
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Snippet 9: A heartful time with Joy, or 'how a simple talk turned into something more complicated'.
Warning: It gets wholesome really fast
"I'm sorry. For my sister."
I blinked. It's been three hours now since Ambar came to put an end to this whole mess and... I have been safely relocated to a guarded location for the sake of avoiding any 'awkward' rage moments from Naerie. The girl had been very invested into that sneaky attempt, so, it was only legitimate to imagine she would get particularly furious the moment she realized what happened. So, here I was, stuck in a small bedroom in an undisclosed location with a single guard. A single guard that I trusted a lot considering her mindset.
Joy Ravenhurst was Hope's younger sister and, differently from the kinky lady I was avoiding as of recent years, she was a no-smut kind of gal. The tomboy wasn't completely into the frigid side of the lewd force, but not as 'jump the bones and fuck the guy into oblivion' kind of girl. A true relief, but it sure felt awkward how reduced the space was. It was a room, with a small bathroom on the left corner by the bed and... only a bed. No TV, no tables, no chairs- nothing but a bed.
"Ah, it's alright. Plus, it's not really your fault."
"Yeah..." The girl admitted, and this was actually the first time I saw her so mortified about something. It was unheard of that Joy could ever go this low for this kind of matter. It felt rather unusual and... I was curious.
"So, what got you upset about it?" I asked, and the Knight huffed.
"H-How do you even know I'm upset about it?"
"You're less apologetic than that. Plus, I know for a fact that you would take this chance to take shots at your sis rather than 'apologize' for her," I argued, narrowing my eyes at her. "So, there has to be something else. And I know it's pretty big, so I would like to know what got you this nervous."
Her mouth opened, seemingly ready to shoot back with the usual fierceness Joy was known to employ in these circumstances. But, she stopped short from opening her mouth, actually pausing to think about it and... she changed approach.
"Can you... promise me to not tease me about this?"
I frowned. "Why should I tease you? I had many chances to do it when you decided to go out with Drake and-"
"I'm... it's actually about this."
Pausing at that interruption, I could feel my frown deepening at this uneasy look on her face. "What's up?"
"I... I chickened out when Drake asked me to go to bed with him."
...
It wasn't that shocking of a news. Not when I knew how Joy was really 'jumpy' about the whole romance/sex package that is part of adulthood. She was more stuck into fighting, training, protecting people- a no-nonsense individual that focused more on her job rather than herself and her bonds. So, in a way, she was one of the most inexperienced individuals when it came to social interactions, especially lewd ones.
"And?"
"And this is s-stupid!" She exclaimed, stretching her arms up in exasperation. "I was able to go through the 'niceties' of dating, of being there to kiss him from time to time- I also got down to the whole 'hugging and cuddling' thing but-"
The girl stopped, noticing the odd look I was giving her.
"W-What?"
"I'm about to ask you a really serious question. Not a 'it is fine to just shrug it off' kind of question, a 'I want the truth' kind of question."
My comment drew a perplexed look out of her. "What about?"
"Do you feel forced into this relationship, Joy?"
Her jaw dropped. " 'Forced'? Th-That's stupid. I love Drake-"
"It felt more like an imposition, than anything else."
"It's not!" The girl exclaimed fiercely. "Why the hell would you even consider that?"
"Beyond the fact you treat these aspects of dating as a chore?" I rebuked flatly, her posture stiffening at the truthful approach. "Joy, do you think of me as a friend?"
A bit stunned by the unrelated question, the girl nodded slowly. "Yeah?"
"And you can trust me when I say, as seriously as I can, that I'm not trying to tease or hurt you with this conversation, but I can see you need to vent out some of that stress you got going, right?"
... "Y-yes."
I smiled. "Joy, do you feel like... you would lose Drake if you weren't dating him?"
Her lips twitched, her pink-eyed gaze moved to her legs and... she hummed.
"...Yes."
Sighing, I nodded. "That's what I suspected. Is it because of Hope's flirting with him?"
"Yes." More determined, angrier too.
I couldn't blame her, not when I could see in their interactions how having a big sister like Hope around tended to really thin out the possible friend materials on the block. Male or female, Human or Narakhan or Prime, the older girl didn't have any limits in some instances. And it really poked some frustration into Joy's limited patience.
"If that's the case, then you should drop the romantic relationship you have with him."
Her gaze gained shock. "What? No!"
"Do you think he cares for you as a friend?"
"Yeah-"
"And he was there all the time you were out on missions to make sure you were fine, that you were never left alone and all of that."
"Yes, but-"
"Then why shouldn't he still be your friend if Hope got to him?" I argued. "It's not like I'm a lost cause to you now, am I?"
"You- You are different," Joy rebuked weakly. "You were with Hope first and then we became friends."
"Still not seeing the point of how a chronological difference could change things, hun. I ask for honesty, not excuses."
She opened her mouth to shoot back at that accusation, but even she could feel that this was a pointless effort. Especially when I was giving her a hard look.
...
"I guess I'm just... I don't want to lose him. I love him. A lot. But as a... friend."
"Friendship isn't worth losing this much about yourself. Sacrificing a chance to greater happiness such as love for the sake of friendship is... stupid. You are entitled, like everyone in this crazy world, to find your happiest future and live it as you want it through hard work and dedication," I hummed with a kind smile, deciding to add a little tease to it. "And from those abs, I can tell you're no lazy butt."
Her lips twitched, her cheeks burned a brief red and... she nodded.
"I'm no slacker like Hope."
Chuckling, I nodded in agreement and... I noticed that this boredom was finally getting to me.
"So, Ambar said that you are to keep by my side 24/7 until the situation is over, right?"
Joy frowned and nodded, interested in what I was planning to do about this.
"There is some place to play co-op stuff nearby. How about we... hit the arcades?
"...I don't have any money?"
"Which is why you should praise me for giving you my presence and the cash needed to play at least ten sessions of pure amusement!"
"You have money on yourself?" She questioned, her eyes widening in surprise as I shook my wallet out of my pocket before her expression morphed
"I'm going to kick your ass."
"Bring it, goat-girl~!"
Joy smiled at the insult and soon we were on the run for some gaming competition.
She was smiling eye to eye, almost ignoring the fact her heart beat had increased the moment she realized she was holding my hand as I led her to that crazy game battling spree.
AN
I was planning for something lewder, but I got too deep with the wholesome fluff. And I regret nothing of it.
