You aren't just a sword

A cozy warmth fills the apartment as the muffled sound of music playing in the background and cheerful laughs can be heard replacing the deafening silence that usually reigns in her apartment.

Tsubasa raises her eyes from the plastic cup she's holding in her hands to look at each one of the girls making this day so special, a soft smile playing on her lips as she sees them having fun and laughing happily.

She never thought that somebody like her, a sentinel, somebody used as a sword with the mere purpose to accomplish the riskiest missions and kill Noise or any other threat menacing to disturb the world's peace, could end up having such a wonderful group of friends, a group of people who ended up becoming what feels like a family to her.

She never thought she could end up feeling so appreciated and loved, especially as a person.

Her soft smile turns into a bashful one as she feels somebody squeezing her thigh, a pale slender hand bringing her back to reality, before she gazes into the turquoise eyes of its owner, seeing nothing but tenderness glinting in them.

Tsubasa blushes slightly, making Maria giggle quietly before their small intimate moment is interrupted by a very energetic and loud Hibiki.

- Tsubasa-san! It's time for you to open your gifts!

- Yes!

The auburn haired girl yells enthusiastically, quickly followed by an excited Kirika, and Tsubasa can't help but smile fondly at them, before she lets herself be dragged away to open her birthday gifts.

- I'm going Tachibana, there's no need to drag me – she tries to say seriously yet with no trace of sternness in her voice whatsoever, making the auburn haired girl giggle and scratch the back of her head.

- Ah, sorry Tsubasa-san hehe

Hibiki apologizes awkwardly and Tsubasa can only pat her head in comfort, before she sits on the floor surrounded by the girls that became a family to her and their gifts.

- Yeah, no need to rush, senpai knows my gift is the best one – Yukine says smugly, before Kirika chimes in.

- That's not true! Shirabe's and mine are the best ones! – the young girl exclaims in a lively way, bickering with Yukine, before Shirabe tugs at her shirt.

- Actually, Maria's gift might be the best one.

The petite raven haired girl states quietly, and Tsubasa can't help but look at Maria with an arched eyebrow, enjoying how cute she looks as she sees her blushing slightly before she coughs into her fist to clear her throat, trying like that to hide her embarrassment.

- A-anyways, just start opening the gifts already.

Tsubasa just chuckles at her cute reaction, before she finds a pair of orange and purple gifts respectively on her lap.

- These are from Miku and me! – Hibiki says cheerfully, while Miku just giggles quietly beside her.

- We hope you like them, Tsubasa-san.

Miku says with a soft smile on her face, and Tsubasa can only nod at them with a soft smile on her face, opening the gifts to see a great variety of food from Hibiki and some books from Miku.

They might be simple gifts, but for her, they're special.

- Thank you girls – she thanks them, before she quickly has another gift on her lap, looking up at an embarrassed Yukine.

- This one is mine, senpai – she mumbles before she goes back to her spot.

Tsubasa grins at her embarrassment and opens her gift, finding a pair of black boots.

- Thank you Yukine, they're wonderful.

- Y-you're welcome – Yukine mumbles while looking away to hide the blush tinting her cheeks, and Tsubasa doesn't have time to tease her about it before a big green with a pink ribbon gift is given to her.

She can't help but accept it wide-eyed, seeing a proud and grinning Kirika hand in hand with a shy Shirabe.

- This is our gift!

- We hope you like it, Tsubasa-san.

Tsubasa can only smile at them fondly as she unwraps their gift, finding a black motorbike helmet with light blue flashy decorations on it and a matching black leather jacket with a blue phoenix on its back.

She can't help but gasp, looking at the young pair with astonishment.

- Maria helped us to choose the design, so we hope you like it – Kirika and Shirabe say softly, making the smile on Tsubasa's face widen.

- Thank you girls, I love it.

She thanks them, seeing them smiling at one another before they go back to their spots, and a timid Elfnein approaches her with a small box in her hands.

- I hope you like it, Tsubasa-san – Elfnein says softly.

- I'm sure I will, Elfnein – Tsubasa says with a fond smile on her face before she carefully opens the gift to see a locket without any picture inside it, her mind instantly thinking about putting one of her and Maria in it – Thank you.

She thanks her softly and Elfnein can only smile at her timidly before she goes back to sit beside Kirika, bumping her fist awkwardly as they share a giggle.

Tsubasa then feels a long gift being placed on her lap, looking up to find herself getting trapped once again in a pair of mesmerizing turquoise eyes and a sweet smile.

- I hope you like it – Maria says softly, winking at her and making her blush slightly.

Tsubasa only nods and unwraps the gift to find an old sword from the Edo period. She can only gasp before she quickly turns to look at Maria stunned, hearing her giggling.

- I noticed you staring at it every single time we passed by the shop, so I thought it'd be a good gift for you – Maria says teasingly, winking at her once again to make the blush return to Tsubasa's cheeks upon have been caught eyeing the enthralling sword.

- Thank you, Maria.

She whispers touched, placing the sword aside before she's quickly surprised and engulfed into a tight group hug, happy laughs filling her apartment once again.

- Happy birthday Tsubasa!

They all yell in unison, and Tsubasa has to bite the inside of her cheek to keep trying to be strong and not cry, leaving that to Yukine.

They all stay for a bit longer chatting, before the girls have to leave to their respective apartments with Yukine being a responsible senpai accompanying Kirika and Shirabe to their apartment, while Miku and Hibiki accompany Elfnein to the headquarters, Maria being the only one staying behind to help Tsubasa clean and tidy the mess in the apartment.

- Maria, I've told you that you don't need to stay and help me to clean and tidy the apartment – Tsubasa exhales as she watches the pink haired girl collecting everything to throw the plastic cups and plates to the plastic trash can to recycle them.

- I know, but we both know how this place will stay if I don't help you – Maria retorts teasingly, seeing Tsubasa blushing and puffing out her cheeks in return before the blue haired girl begins to help her.

Soon enough, the both of them end cleaning and collecting everything around the apartment, and Tsubasa can't help but take a look at the heap of gifts in her living room, a couple of timid tears escaping her eyes as she recalls the whole day and feels her heart softening once again at the care and love she felt.

She doesn't notice Maria has been watching her, until she feels her soft hand wiping the tears away and sees her smiling at her tenderly.

- What's wrong? – she asks her softly, and Tsubasa can only shake her head, taking her hand in hers to squeeze it.

- Nothing.

- Tsubasa... – Maria exhales, and Tsubasa can only sigh because she doesn't seem as if she can hide anything from the older girl.

- I just... I didn't expect so much affection.

Maria can only look at her tenderly, lifting her other hand to caress her cheek.

- Well, it's your birthday, of course is normal.

Tsubasa doesn't say anything, she just looks at the floor.

- Is it? A sword shouldn't feel such affection. I'm not a person-

- Of course you're a person, silly! You deserve to feel all that affection and more!

Maria quickly cuts her off, reprimanding her for such thoughts as she cups her cheeks to stroke them with her thumbs.

- Tsubasa, you aren't just a sword, but a person, a very special and loved person.

Maria ends up saying, her eyes glinting with nothing but love and tenderness in them before she takes a step forward and leans in to kiss her. Tsubasa tenses up as soon as she feels her soft lips on hers, making Maria quickly pull away.

- I'm sorry, Tsubasa. I-

Tsubasa timidly silences her by pressing a finger on her lips, before she leans in to kiss her clumsily. Maria can only smile in it before she kisses her back and manages to guide the both of them to the bedroom between more kisses.

As they stop to catch their breaths, Maria begins to slowly undress Tsubasa, leaving her only in her undergarments and with a hard blush adorning her cheeks that does nothing but deepen as she sees Maria letting her pale blue dress fall to the floor, standing in front of her only in her undergarments too.

- M-Maria! – Tsubasa shrieks, covering her eyes with her hands before Maria takes them off her eyes, giggling at the young girl's sheepishness.

- You're truly adorable Tsubasa – Maria says with a smile on her face, leaving a kiss on Tsubasa's nose – Now, would you let me show you how special you are to me? Would you let me love you?

She asks her softly, staring into Tsubasa's blue-violet eyes as she cups and caresses her cheek, seeing her biting her lip before she nods timidly.

Maria simply smiles wider and begins to leave kisses all over Tsubasa's face, descending through her neck, feeling her pulse quickening against her mouth before she reaches her chest.

She stops for a moment, pulling away to admire Tsubasa, before she pushes her to the bed.

Tsubasa can only gasp as she falls onto the mattress, yet she lets Maria do whatever she wants with her body, seeing her crawling on top of her to kiss her again.

Soon enough, and without realizing, she finds herself stripped off her bra, blushing hard upon feeling a soft breeze colliding against her chest, before she realizes of it and quickly covers her breasts.

- Don't.

- But-

- You're beautiful, Tsubasa.

Maria tells her, her words seeming to have an effect on the blue haired girl as she bites her lip and slowly pulls her arms away to see Maria staring at her chest before she leans down and takes one of her breasts in her mouth, making Tsubasa bite her lip again to stifle a moan.

Maria upon noticing this, can't help but smirk against her breast, playing with it in her mouth while her hand massages her other breast.

- Maria! – Tsubasa squeaks embarrassedly, eliciting a giggle from Maria.

- You're just so cute – Maria teases her, her breath colliding against Tsubasa's nipple making it harden.

- Don't be bad – Tsubasa huffs and pouts, and Maria can only giggle more before she leans down to return sucking both of her breasts alternatively and massage them for a bit more, before she sits up straddling Tsubasa.

Then, she takes Tsubasa's hands in hers to unfasten her own bra.

- M-Maria, I... – Tsubasa trails off, looking away insecurely.

- What's wrong Tsubasa? – Maria asks her afraid to have oblige her to do something she didn't want to.

- I... I can't. I don't want to hurt you.

Tsubasa whispers and Maria exhales calmer, grabbing the younger girl's chin gently to oblige her to look at her.

- Tsubasa, you aren't going to hurt me. You aren't going to break me if that's what you're worried about.

She says softly, looking into Tsubasa's eyes to make her understand that neither she herself is fragile, nor that she's a sword only capable of hurting and breaking people.

Tsubasa smiles shyly, letting Maria kiss her again before she cups Maria's breasts guided by her.

She blushes but tries to imitate the older girl's previous actions the best she can, massaging and playing with them.

- Ah, Tsubasa.

Maria moans, making Tsubasa blush more, hypnotized by her breasts, their movement, their touch, their softness and beauty. Encouraged by Maria's moans, Tsubasa keeps massaging her breasts, alternating with taking them in her mouth, sucking and biting them lightly before the pink haired girl stops her almost out of breath and obliges her to lie down.

Maria's hands then travel through her abs before her mouth replaces them and she leaves more kisses and small nibbles all over her torso as she reaches the elastic of her underwear.

They both look at one another with bated breaths, before Tsubasa nods at Maria timidly and the older girl begins to pull it down.

Maria can only blush and bite her lip, inhaling deeply the sweet scent coming out of Tsubasa's core, seeing how cute she looks being completely flustered, leaning in to take a taste of her, but before she can, Tsubasa stops her, recoiling a bit on the mattress.

- W-wait – Tsubasa stops her, her voice an octave deeper, making Maria stop yet shiver.

- W-what's wrong?

- I… I… Can I…? – Tsubasa stammers timidly, one of her hands touching Maria's hip bone tentatively, playing with the elastic of her underwear as they both blush hard.

- Y-yeah.

Maria manages to say, before she feels Tsubasa's trembling hands slowly pulling her underwear down to take it off and stare at her in her full naked glory.

- D-don't stare! It's embarrassing.

Maria mumbles embarrassed, bringing Tsubasa out of her reverie who also blushes.

- S-sorry!

She apologizes awkwardly, before they share a giddily giggle and kiss.

Maria then obliges Tsubasa to lie down again and tentatively touches her, hearing Tsubasa gasp before she moans, feeling the wetness of her core.

Tsubasa, for her part, reaches tentatively Maria's core to mirror her actions, wetting her fingers with her fluids.

- Ah, Tsubasa.

Maria exhales, before the both of them keep touching the other, exploring their bodies tentatively.

- Tsu, please – Maria whispers, and Tsubasa can only nod, gulping before she introduces a finger in Maria – Tsu!

Maria moans, burying her head in Tsubasa's neck before she manages to also introduce a finger in Tsubasa.

- Ah, Maria.

Tsubasa moans, encouraging Maria to keep going, the both of them adding another finger to pump in and out of the other slowly between moans.

Maria can't help but bite Tsubasa's neck, leaving a mark on it, feeling how wet and tight the other girl is and Tsubasa can't help but curl her fingers, going deeper in Maria.

- Tsubasa! – Maria moans, going deeper in Tsubasa too as they increase their rhythms.

- M-Maria, I'm close.

Tsubasa pants, holding Maria closer before she finds herself pulled into a rough and passionate kiss that quiets another moan as Maria goes deeper in her.

- Together.

Maria pants out of breath, the both of them increasing their speeds and moving at the same rhythm, feeling their walls tightening around the fingers of the other before they climax together.

- Maria!

- Tsubasa!

They moan the other's name in unison, before Tsubasa holds Maria close to her body, letting her rest on top of her.

She can't help the rebel tears that escape her eyes, before she hears Maria giggling and feels her cupping her cheek to wipe them away and kiss her sweetly and deeply.

- Why are you crying now? – Maria asks her teasingly, yet with tears glimmering at the corners of her eyes.

- Because it's the first time I feel truly loved – Tsubasa confesses embarrassedly, wiping Maria's tears away as she hugs her tightly, making Maria giggle.

- Then if you let me, I'll make sure to always make you feel loved – Maria says softly, kissing her deeply again as Tsubasa wraps her tightly in her arms.

- I'll make sure to always make you feel loved too.

The blue haired girl answers her seriously as they share another kiss, giggling happily before they rest in the tight embrace of the other.

For the first time in her life, Tsubasa doesn't feel like a sword only capable to hurt and break people, but as a person capable to be loved and to love others, especially the beautiful pink haired girl in her arms.