"I think we just mentally scarred that kid." Casca observed once Serpico and Isidro had shut the door.
"Sure, we scarred him, not the demon orgy he fought, or the pseudo apostles, or the trolls, or the-"
"Hey, I get it," Casca laughed, "Kid's seen some messed up stuff, but this was different."
"It was different," Guts was grinning now, "This makes 991 times to go."
Casca blushed despite herself, "You're really keeping count? And what's with that number, we've only-"
"Would you count today as as just one?"
"Well, I mean, I don't know, if by encounters…"
"Definitely more than one."
"Okay then. It's your count." Casca said, and then curiosity getting the better of her asked, "What are you going to do when we've been together 1000 times?"
"I dunno, reevaluate maybe," He said it with a nonchalance that she figured must be fake, "We'll probably be really good, since we'd have so much practice, so I'd probably want another 1000 or maybe 2000," He grinned, "But that's just an estimate.
"It might get old." She argued. It was still strange, this much devotion to her as a woman. Guts was the first one to love her, as, well, a lover, she wasn't sure how any of this was supposed to work.
"I don't see that happening."
"We could get sick of eachother."
"Mmmhmm..."
"It might get worse rather than better."
He laughed, "Unless I lose a certain body part I find that highly unlikely."
"Good."
She crouched and gave him a kiss before going to gather up her clothes. "We should probably get dressed, they'll start to worry."
"Yeah…" He turned to search for his shirt.
"You need to get some new clothes," Casca commented holding up his tank top and poking her finger through one of the many holes in the worn material. "The elves could've got you loaded."
"I already got everything I could ever ask for from them." He said sincerely, "I couldn't ask for more."
She smiled, handing him the shirt. "Maybe we can mend it later." He nodded and accepted it. Casca found her pants and tunic, pulling them on. "Uhg, I'll need to take a bath later thanks to you."
"You're welcome."
"Shut up."
"I'll need to take a bath too, we could save water by-"
"You are insatiable."
"Is that a no?"
"It's a maybe we shouldn't be so rude to our hosts, this is big boat, but it's not like we have much privacy."
Guts grumbled in defeat and stood pulling on his pants. "Once we're on the road we'll have even less."
Changing notes, Casca asked, "How much do they- did they know?"
"I dunno, didn't really talk about that stuff. They know you're precious to me." She wasn't surprised by that. Guts had always kept to himself; why would now be any different?
"So they don't know that-"
"Yes, I didn't advertise we were lovers."
"I'm not mad about that, I just don't want to surprise them too bad."
"You don't want to hurt Farnese's feelings."
"Did you just try to avoid hurting someone's feelings?"
"I'm right, right?"
Casca sighed, "I know you don't care, but Farnese has been nothing but good to me, I don't want to ruin that."
"I don't think she thinks I'm worth that, but okay."
"You're a fool, even Schierke has a crush on you, it's kind of cute."
"She does? Poor kid."
"Yeah, for her first love to be such a fool, are you going to do anything about that?"
"What can I do?"
"Talk to her about it."
Guts grumbled again.
Casca laughed, "Or not, I can see why you wouldn't."
"I mean it isn't causing any problems and she'll probably grow out of it."
"Like I grew out of my first love?"
"It's not like that, I'm not-"
"Nevermind." Casca found she didn't want to rehash that again and asked about their most pressing issue, "What are you going to tell Serpico?"
"The truth."
"Which is?" She pressed.
"It was exactly what it looked like and how I would appreciate it if he didn't tell anyone."
"And Isidro?"
"He's your student."
"So I get the emotionally scarred kid and you get the grown adult?"
"Yep."
"Sometimes I despise you." But she smiled and accepted the kiss on the cheek he gave. "You owe me one."
He smiled in response.
"When should we tell them?"
"Do we have to tell them at all? I mean people seemed to know you and I would be good together before even we did."
"You're not wrong. Maybe we could wait for it to come up." Casca suggested, she wasn't eager to have that conversation either.
"You should have words with Isidro, if you do think we scarred him, because two people who love each other having sex is sooo traumatic."
"Oh shut up." Casca said.
"Make me." Guts challenged.
Casca thought about for a few seconds before deciding, "I would love to, but now we are fully dressed and have friends who are looking for us." She winked at him, "Maybe later." She sauntered out of the door, looking behind to to ask, "Coming?"
"Yeah, yeah," Guts followed her, leaving the cloak as it needed a wash, and hefted up his sword.
"You go see what Farnese wants and I'll go try and find Isidro, give him a surprise test."
"Yes ma'am." Why did he insist on calling her that? She was only his boss for one operation. Was it his idea of a term of endearment? Actually, knowing him, it might be.
"Guts?" Casca asked, holding back a smile.
"Yeah?"
"You're an idiot." They shared one more kiss in their last moments of privacy, "but I love you."