A/N: I don't like to say it, but I'll probably take a break from writing for a few months. I took way too long to get this out for my liking and I don't want to force myself into writing. Hopefully this isn't the start of a long hiatus, but nevertheless, thank you for all the support so far.

"Izetta!" Finé cries as she wraps her arms around Izetta who wobbles the moment Finé embraces her. Gently but vigorously rubbing Izetta's back, Finé blubbers, "You did it… You really did it… You really are the best…"

"Finé…" Izetta mutters as her shoulders sag, "You shouldn't… I'm all dirty…"

"I don't care," Finé asserts while pulling Izetta in closer. "You must be so tired. Come, you can lean on me."

Izetta's lips curl up as she does just that, with her arms loosely holding Finé as well. "What are you… doing here though…? Weren't you… in the meeting…?"

"We wrapped up quickly after the prince was flown to the hospital. A lot of things happened, so we'll reconvene next time. But even if they wanted to continue, I'd make up some excuse to step away." Stroking Izetta's head, Finé murmurs, "So that I can welcome my girlfriend back, especially after she's worked so incredibly hard. Come on, let's get you tucked into bed now."

Izetta nuzzles her head on Finé's shoulder. "Thank you… But I want to shower first… I feel so sticky underneath…"

"Mmm," Finé pats Izetta's back, "Sure, let's go."

As the couple separate and are about to hobble back to their room, Lotte comes out from a nearby room.

"Lady Izetta," she bows slightly, "I have prepared this room's shower for you along with a change of clothes. If you'd like, you can take your shower here."

"Ah…" Izetta waddles towards Lotte, Finé still keeping her arms near her. Because Izetta has the helmet on, they cannot see her droopy eyes that she has been fighting to keep open. "I'd like that actually… I think I'd fall asleep... on the way otherwise..."

"Come on in," Lotte gestures to the bathroom, "We'll help you get undressed as well."

Finé watches the maids start to unzip Izetta's suit as the door closes. She stands in place, not really moving until another maid approaches her.

"Princess, how about you use another room to change as well?"

"...O-Oh," Finé looks down at her clothes that are stained from the dirt Izetta had on her. "Right, sorry about this…"

"No problem," the maid replies as she ushers Finé out, "I'm sure Lady Izetta was really happy as well."

Soon after, the maids in the bathroom come out with the dirty suit, leaving Izetta alone in her underwear. With a heavy breath, she sluggishly takes them off and steps into the cubicle.

Hot water streams down Izetta as she keeps her eyes closed and head pointed towards the shower head. Her arms hang limply as she lets out a long exhale, her body slightly swaying from the soothing lull.

Then Izetta jolts, shaking her head and opening her eyes. '...How long have I been in here…? I'd better get started…'

Her hands go up to her hair, lazily scrubbing it. Her hands feel a prickle, but she tries to pay it no mind and rubs down the rest of her body. When she is finally done, she turns off the water and the heat dissipates. Another sigh escapes Izetta as she steps out of the cubicle with water dripping from all over her.

Izetta briefly wipes herself down with the towel prepared nearby. When she sees that water is no longer trickling down, she goes to put on the fresh set of underwear. Finally, her head pops through the door where she sees Finé who has changed into a nightgown along with a bunch of maids.

"...I'm done, please come in to help me put on the suit…" she mutters as she looks away from Finé. Although Finé can only see her head, Izetta is still aware that she is in her underwear in front of her girlfriend, but Izetta is too tired to put on the full body suit herself.

The maids nod and step towards the bathroom, with Izetta opening the door while still obscuring her body behind it. When the maids are in, Izetta looks at Finé one last time who gives a small wave and smile in return. Izetta feels her cheeks heat up as she waves back and closes the door.

Bringing a chair for Izetta to sit on, the maids begin to help Izetta put on a clean White Agent outfit in a manner that she does not have to move much. Lotte brings another towel, helping Izetta to dry her hair that is still damp.

"Lady Izetta," Lotte starts as most of the suit has been put on, "We noticed it earlier, but what happened to your bandages? Did you take them off before going out?"

"Ah…" Izetta absent-mindedly replies with her eyes closed from enjoying having her scalp scrubbed, "They disappeared when I transformed... I think they got considered as clothing since they were wrapped around my body… They should be back when I turn off my magic…"

"I see," Lotte gives Izetta one last rub and backs off to inspect her. "Well, we can change your bandages later. We can do it while you're asleep as well, so you can rest assured and sleep throughout."

"Oh…" Izetta's hand unconsciously brushes against her upper neck, "Mm…"

Lotte looks at the hickey Finé left on Izetta's neck earlier. "Don't worry, I'm sure if anybody has any inappropriate thoughts about you," she jokes, "The princess would have our heads for even thinking about her girlfriend like that."

Izetta's blushes furiously as she splutters, "W-What, no, I, I didn't think you would, b-but I was just… thinking… about… how Finé…" steam comes out of her ears, rendering unable to finish.

"Yeah yeah," Lotte pats her on the back, "You're all suited up, so go into the arms of your girlfriend now."

Izetta blinks as she looks down at herself. Although she was faintly aware of it happening such as her arms and legs being moved about, she is still surprised that almost everything has been put on already while she barely got off the chair. She turns to the sink, only to see that Lotte has already taken the helmet and hands it to her.

"T-Thank you, but…" Izetta's eyes shift away, but the maids lean in, ready to attend to any request. "Can you… put the helmet in our room…? I don't think I'll be able to walk if I turn off my magic now, but I want to… let Finé see me…"

The maids laugh at how red Izetta's cheeks are. "Okay okay," Lotte manages between chuckles, "I'll put it there, go ahead and make it back with Princess Finé at your own time."

Lotte comes out of the bathroom with the helmet in her hands, causing Finé's eyebrow to arch. Then Izetta comes out next and Finé rushes forward to embrace her.

"You okay?"

"Mmm…" Izetta holds Finé's back tightly. "I feel a little numb, but I'm just really tired…" She nuzzles her head into Finé's shoulder, "And now I want nothing more... than to climb into bed with you…"

Finé rubs Izetta's back tenderly. "Sure, let's go then."

The couple slowly head back to their room, with a pair of maids hanging behind them as lookouts. Although Izetta is mostly walking straight, she still has an arm over Finé while Finé has another arm around Izetta. If not for the support, they just want to feel that the other is there in this tranquil moment.

Their silent but comforting journey comes to an end as they shuffle through the door to their room and the guards close it behind them. As Lotte promised, Izetta's helmet is on the bedside table. The blanket is even folded to the bottom, so that Izetta can climb into bed directly.

Izetta pats Finé's shoulder and gives her a small smile. Finé lets Izetta walk on her own, but watches over her closely. When Izetta reaches the table and places her hands on the helmet, she lets out a content sigh before putting it on and clicking it into place.

As Izetta puts her hands down, Finé snuggles up to her from behind. "You made it back," Finé coaxes, "You can turn off your magic now, I'll lower you onto the bed and tuck you in."

"...Thank you," Izetta's hands go over Finé's. "But Finé, I want to do something… before I fall asleep…"

"What is it?"

"Can we…" Izetta's cheeks redden, "Kiss? Like, a lot… A whole lot..."

Finé nuzzles into Izetta's neck. "Sure, as much as you want."

Izetta smiles as a hand goes to the back of her neck. "Thank you," she murmurs to both her magic and Finé, causing her to transform back and slump into Finé from the wave of exhaustion that comes crashing down upon her.

Finé staggers onto the bed, all the while making sure that she has Izetta held tightly. With a heave, she gently places Izetta on it, although Izetta's body is still sprawled about. Finé gets to Izetta's legs first, tenderly lifting them onto the bed while keeping an arm around Izetta so that she does not roll about too much. Then Finé carefully raises Izetta's upper body up and with Izetta herself shuffling about as well, rests Izetta's head on a pillow.

"Finé…" Izetta breathes with half lidded eyes, her breathing slow and deep.

"Yeah," Finé leans in while wrapping her arms around Izetta, "I love you."

Finé seals Izetta's lips, both of them closing their eyes to fully take in the bliss. Finé's tongue goes in hesitantly, unsure if Izetta is conscious enough for it. But then she hears Izetta moan hungrily, with her own tongue responding in kind. With Izetta's arms clinging dearly to Finé as well, Finé rubs Izetta's head and deepens the kiss.

"Mmm, mmh..." Izetta moans without restraint. 'This feels so good… I don't want her to stop… And I want her to feel the same...' the last dregs of Izetta's consciousness float about, only focused on feeling every bit of Finé's touch, as well as kissing her back as much as possible.

Finé hears Izetta's unspoken words loud and clear, pushing her into the bed even more and intensifying the kiss even more. Izetta does not resist in the slightest, letting the pure ecstasy wash over her as her lips suckle about to capture more of Finé's.

Eventually, Izetta's arms fall off Finé and plop onto the bed where they lay unmoving. Finé feels light-headed as well and tentatively backs off, feeling Izetta's tongue weakly protest by still sliding off hers.

"...Finé…" Izetta mumbles between quick breaths, her eyes still closed. "...More… pleas-"

Finé subconsciously silences Izetta, her hands shooting over to intertwine with Izetta's outstretched hands as well. Their tongues swirl together thirstily once again, with Finé pushing Izetta into the bed even more, wanting to give Izetta as much as she can.

Izetta does not resist in the slightest, happily letting their feelings overwhelm her. She barely feels Finé's fingers tighten around her hands, making her want to return the blissful gesture as well. Her fingers twitch, but they do not exactly clasp onto Finé's. Yet Finé pays it no mind, only kissing Izetta with even more ferocity. Euphoria completely washes over Izetta and with her being too exhausted to even think at this point, Izetta's fingers fall back down.

After a long time of letting their instincts run wild, Finé feels Izetta's tongue slip back down. She gradually pulls her out, feeling Izetta's lips go slack. With a gasp, they finally break the kiss. Both of their chests are rapidly heaving, their lungs desperately taking in air after continuously deep kissing for an undefined amount of time. But Finé's lips curl up into a smile as she sees Izetta's heavenly expression. Even with her body sprawled out and eyes closed, Izetta is practically glowing.

"...Hug…" Izetta manages to pant out.

"Mm…" Finé eagerly nuzzles into Izetta's side, bringing Izetta's limp body close into her arms. Izetta lazily rolls into Finé, flopping an arm over her while the other lumbers across the bed to hold Finé.

Even while pressing their bodies into each other, the couple are still catching their breaths from the intense making out. As their chests heave into each other, they still shuffle into to each other, wanting to be ever so closer as they cuddle.

"Izetta…" Finé murmurs softly as her breathing starts to recover, "You should sleep… I'll kiss you more… tomorrow, and the day after… and even after that…"

Izetta's breathing slows to a steady pace as well. "Mmm… thank you… You make… everything… worth it…"

Finé feels Izetta's head droop into the pillow they are sharing. While rubbing Izetta's back, Finé whispers, "You gave it your all and more today… You can sleep easy now… You really deserve every bit of it and more..."

Izetta's arms go slack around Finé as she finally lets the inviting shroud of darkness take her. As Finé puts her forehead to Izetta's, her face falls slightly. 'I'm glad that I can make you happy, but you shouldn't have to push yourself so hard… I don't like to see you having to take on so much…'

In the quiet dead of the night, Izetta's eyebrows twitches ever so slightly. Her arms squeeze the form within them and upon feeling the familiar softness of Finé's form, she lets out a content hum. Feeling Finé clinging more to her, Izetta's eyes slowly flutter open.

"...Finé…" she smiles as she goes to rub Finé's back, though her hands prickle as her fingers contract, causing her eyes to widen slightly.

Finé's eyes snap open, making Izetta blink away her initial reaction. "Oh Izetta…" her voice cracks, you're finally awake…"

"Eh?" Izetta stares at Finé for a moment. Then her eyes shift to the side to see the darkness still enveloping the room. "What…?"

"You've been asleep for over a day," Finé sucks in a lungful of air as she huddles closer to Izetta. "They told me that you never called for anything and even when they left food and water on the table, it was never touched. I started to get scared… even though they said you were safely under observation… I…"

Izetta moves her arm, but this time she notices a tube inserted into it. Her eyes trail the tube to see the IV drip at the side that is sustaining her body although she has not eaten or drunk. Focusing back on Finé, Izetta pulls her in with both arms. "I'm sorry."

"No…" Finé wipes away the tears forming in her eyes, "Don't be. I'm just so glad that you're awake now…"

The couple spend minutes embracing each other tightly. Finé finds solace in every little movement Izetta makes, from her arms and legs wrapping around to her hair nuzzling into Finé. Izetta brushes her fingers against Finé, but keeps them mostly straight.

"...How are you feeling?" Finé asks after calming down. "You're probably still really tired, but is everything else okay?"

Izetta opens her mouth to say that she is fine, but then closes it. After seconds of silence, she quietly says, "If try to use my hands… they hurt…"

Finé's eyes snap open. A second later, she pushes herself off the bed and spins to the encased button.

"Wait Finé!" Izetta weakly lifts up a hand, "It's not that bad, don't hit the emergency button!"

Finé's hands stop on top of the lid. By only turning her head, she faces Izetta, "Really...?"

"Mm…" Izetta nods as her arm falls back down to the bed, with her hand following slowly after. "It's only like a prick, and only when I try to use them. But it definitely feels worse than the rest of my body, so I do want to get them checked out. Because… I know that you'll worry even more if I try to hide it and it gets worse…"

Finé's gaze softens. She presses the uncovered button underneath before going back to Izetta and cupping her cheek. "Let's go then, together."

"Isn't it late though...? You can go back to sleep... while they check if anything's wrong with me..."

"If I can do anything to help you recover, I will," Finé pecks Izetta's forehead. "You'll probably have to wait for some time for them to study the scans, and I don't want you to think that you have to face this alone. I want to be with you, at every step of the way."

Izetta nuzzles her cheek into Finé's palm. "I'd like that…"

Finé anxiously watches Izetta get hoisted onto the bed in the medical wing by two Royal Maids. After having her hands scanned in detail, Izetta was brought to the washroom. She had her bandages removed before they left her to do some business and sluggishly take a shower. Then the maids returned to reapply the bandages and help her brush her teeth since they wanted her to minimise the use of her hands.

After setting up another IV drip, the maids leave Izetta and Finé alone. Feeling her eyelids get heavier, Izetta closes her eyes and her breathing deepens. Finé shifts closer in her chair, but does not touch Izetta. She looks over Izetta's docile form over and over, unsure of what to do.

"...Finé…" Izetta murmurs, "Can you… hold my hand…?"

Finé reaches out, but stops herself short. "Are you sure? Won't your hands hurt? What if I had hurt you already because I was squeezing tightly?"

"You didn't…" Izetta gently shakes her head. "I'll speak up if it does, but…" Her eyes slowly open as she smiles, "It made me… very happy…"

Finé rears back slightly, then she beams and nods. Her fingers slide over Izetta's outstretched hand, deeply intertwining themselves within the gaps of Izetta's fingers.

Izetta's smile widens as she closes her eyes and rests the side of her head on the pillow. Although her fingers don't curl up, she moves them a tiny bit to caress Finé's hand.

With her own smile growing, Finé rubs Izetta's hand and goes in to peck her on the forehead. Even as she pulls back, she remains close to Izetta and keeps a firm yet tender clasp on her hand. Although Izetta does not move much, she lightly brushes her fingers against Finé's ever so often, to assure her that she is awake and happy.

The couple lose track of time, but the sound of footsteps approaching them gathers their attention. Blinking a few times to refocus her vision, Izetta sees the doctor and two maids drawing closer. Giving Izetta's hand one last squeeze, Finé stands up and addresses them.

"We've studied the scans of Lady Izetta's hands," the doctor shows the papers as the maids reveal two full hand braces that go up to the fingers, "And we've confirmed that her hands have internal injuries."

Finé's face falls. Although she had been trying to brace herself, actually hearing what she had feared still feels like a bombshell.

"You'll have to wear these braces for now. They'll keep your hands and fingers from contracting too much so that you don't aggravate your injuries. Apart from showering or cleaning up after yourself, I want you to keep them on, even when sleeping."

"...Okay…" Izetta accepts as the maids fit the braces onto her hands.

"Which of course means that you will not be going on missions or be doing any training until your hands have completely recovered. I've informed the Secret Service as well that you'll be out of commission for a few weeks."

"A few... weeks?!" Izetta's eyes pop out as she raises her head slightly.

"Lady Izetta," the doctor looks pointedly at her, "I hope you understand how dangerous it would be for you to exert your hands even more and damage them permanently. Even if the injury is minor now, not waiting for a full recovery will have dire consequences. I will not budge on this, nor will any of us. There is no way we will put you at even more risk after everything you've done."

Izetta's shoulders deflate. Then she looks to Finé who has placed her a hand on her braced hand, seeing the worry etched on her face. Izetta's head falls back onto the pillow and she resigns, "I understand. I'll won't force myself and rest until you give the green light."

The doctor's expression lightens up as she walks closer to the bed. "Thank you, Lady Izetta. But could you recall what happened back in the cave? When and where did you experience a sharp pain when you were extracting the prince?"

Izetta's eyes look upwards as she thinks back. "...I don't remember any sharp pain… I was tired yes, but that was my whole body... yet only my hands are injured now..."

"Yes, and the injury is quite unusual, so I'm trying to understand how it happened and help you prevent it from happening again."

Izetta closes her eyes and drones to herself, trying to remember more details.

Finé turns to the doctor. "What do you mean by the injury is unusual?"

"Well, usually internal injuries due to exertion happen on the muscle that is overexerted. But the injuries here," she points to the faint lines on the scans, "Are spread evenly throughout. If Lady Izetta hurt herself when pulling the prince up, I would expect the damage to be focused on points of her fingers, not this even spread that we see."

"...I can't think of any..." Izetta sighs as she looks back at the doctor. "My hands started to hurt… when I was grinding away the rock… but it was gradual and I don't recall any sharp pain…"

"Hmm…" the doctor looks at the scans again. "Is this the first time that you've used this much magic, and focused it on one area for so long?"

Izetta's eyes widen. "...Yes… Whenever I collapsed because my magic was low… Grandma would make sure I rested for a few days… telling others that I was sick…"

Finé, realising the implication, strokes Izetta's arm.

"I see…" the doctor mutters as she writes in her notepad. "I don't like it, but we'll have to chalk it up to you using way too much magic for now. Not to say that you shouldn't use it as you've been doing just fine until now, but you should be careful with it if you feel like you've used it a lot already. Your body still has its limits."

"Yeah…" Izetta looks to Finé with a smile, "I know…"

"Finé…" Izetta breathes as Finé climbs into their bed, "Are you tired…? You've been awake for so long… and you still have to work later…"

"It's fine, I can go later. I already told my father and the ministers that I have to take care of my girlfriend and they understand."

"Then… can we continue… kissing…?"

"...You're sure?" Finé rolls on top of Izetta, but keeps her distance. "If you're tired, you can go back to sleep first."

"I want to kiss…" Izetta puts her arms around Finé, "Especially after making you worry so much…"

"Oh Izetta…" Finé leans in, "You don't need to fret about that…"

The couple lock lips. Finé's hands hungrily travel around Izetta's back and head, savouring every touch and feel. Izetta herself pulls Finé in closer, doing what she can with the limited motion her hands are restricted to.

Finé then feels Izetta patting her on the back and pulls back. "What's... wrong?" she asks, slightly out of breath.

"...Do you feel… uncomfortable…" Izetta looks away, "With me hugging you with these… hard braces…?"

"No, never," Finé answers which such resolution that Izetta flicks back to her with shining eyes. "I didn't mind the bandages, and I don't mind the braces. I'm cuddling with you, and that's what matters."

Izetta's arms cling to Finé as she beams. "Mmm… You make me so happy… All the time..."

Finé gently lifts Izetta's chin. "Let's continue then, until you've had your fill and more."