Days passed before his brain had the chance to re-calibrate or process much of what he talked about with Venus, to rationalize away any tiny ounce of why in the days following he actively waited to feel that strange hum of magic that came with her arrival. For better or worse he was good at rationalizing. Kunzite could easily dismiss the hardest of things for some reason or another, whether it was made up or real, and have it sound logical. However, there was far too much about that night that he couldn't just rationalize away.
Kunzite could say the words that she'd played on his emotion for Endymion, that she was perhaps trying to sway him in their direction, that her kindness was some well played act, but for some reason he could not bring himself to believe it. Certainly not that he didn't want to know her name, didn't want to know if her lips were as sweet as he often dreamed they were, or how the way she leaned into their linked arms when they walked simply just wasn't close enough.
Kunzite took these things and buried them deep within himself. He let his emotions get the better of him, let her in far more than he ever should have. He'd catch himself rolling his eyes at his own stupidity, only glad that Serenity's absence didn't seem to be effecting Endymion at all. In fact the Prince appeared rejuvenated, perhaps a little too motivated at times. Trying to reason with Endymion about his affair with the Moon Princess and her presence on their planet seemed to help rebuild some of his own steely resolve even if it always ended up being in vain. Endymion would hear none of it. The King was hardly in his right mind after the Queen's passing and all of the Shitennou were busier than ever, it was not the time for the Prince to be so distracted.
It was roughly five days in that Jadeite said something in passing about the Princess and a Martian that tipped Kunzite off to the fact that there was something going on and potentially scandalous about their new arrangement. Apparently the Princess and only occasionally one of her guard had been there every night going on a week. The icy calmness of Kunzite terrified Jadeite, and rightfully so. They all knew it well when the Commander would grow too calm and appear understanding to the innocent party, knowing there was no saving the guilty one from his wrath. Something Endymion was made privy to the very next morning.
Per his usual routine, Kunzite readied himself for the day with a hard scowl. He didn't even stop for coffee, simply snatched the Prince's agenda from his desk and strode down the hall with heavy footfalls before the sun had even properly broken the horizon. Endymion would be sleeping no doubt, probably up late after another tryst with Serenity that had been kept secret from him. He allowed the heavy wooden door to slam open, jarring Endymion immediately before Kunzite slammed it shut again with a harsh thundering sound that rattled the windows.
"Long night?" He bit, practically crumbling the paper in his hands when he crossed his arms over his chest and tried to kill Endymion with his eyes.
"Kunzite what the Hell..." His voice was groggy, clearly from lack of sleep. Kunzite didn't miss the ridiculous state of his ebony hair, visible but light marks made by nails on his arms and chest and a few bruises on his neck created no doubt by a very appealing set of pouty lips.
"Don't 'what the Hell me,' YOUR HIGHNESS." He tossed the paper to Endymion's desk and began to pace. "She's back A WEEK and you're hiding things from me... worse yet you make my MEN hide things from me. So help me Endymion if you're FUCKING her now I think that's cause for tighter security and don't you DARE get her pregnant..."
"Kunzite..."
"For fucks sake! What are you thinking!? She's the Princess of the entire GALAXY you damned moron, figures somewhere along the line you stopped thinking with your head and more with your co-"
"KUNZITE!" Endymion paused, darker blue eyes set hard, he took a breath before speaking softly. "I love her."
He groaned and raked a hand down his face. He paced, trying to count backwards and control his breathing. His hands were shaking and all he wanted to do was scream. Kunzite's anger was something legendary, though typically controlled of course it was so rare now that he let it get the best of him. Did Endymion not know the power this girl's Mother held in the palm of her hand? The danger of it all... he thought he might actually punch his Prince but remained only just calm enough to keep the clenched fist at his side. It was no secret, least of all to him, that Endymion loved her. He knew this since the day he found Venus in their gardens, or maybe that night Serenity had so bluntly asked him if he had Lunar blood in him because of his hair and eye color.
Kunzite might have smiled at the memory if his blood wasn't boiling over. She'd sat so close beside him on the fountain, running a hand boldy through his silver hair in comparison of her own. A rather inappropriate action for a Princess but he didn't say a word, just allowed his jealous to Prince to warn her not to waste her attentions on him because he didn't speak more than three words at a time. Kunzite almost had a mind to to be embarrassed when Serenity called him beautiful, he hadn't known what to say in the moment so he only proved his Prince right by responding with a dry 'Thank you.'
It was easy to see why Endymion could fall so hard for her, Serenity was something very special. A unique soul for her status and probably the sweetest person Kunzite had ever met, completely adorable in her childlike curiosity and awe of their world. It didn't help that his Prince openly accepted and welcomed the ideals of a Venusian soulmate, an absolute kind of love, let alone love in general. It was only suited to a Prince in this sort of Kingdom. One responsible for bearing heirs and keeping the bloodline secured as well as the legendary Kingdom that ruled their world. Had he not loved Endymion the way he did, feared for his safety and the very sanctity of their world, he might have reacted even poorer than he was currently. Kunzite truly felt he was the only person taking this as seriously as it needed to be handled. Serenity could not be the one to bear Endymion's hiers, she could not be his bride, and by the time whatever plans the Venusian had in mind took place, he and his men would be dead, taken by old age or worse.
"You care so little about the risks I take... the risks my men take and have the audacity to ask them to hide this? As your Guardian do you trust me so little to ensure your safety, and hers? Yes...I would advise against such physical unions until better stances are made but you make a fool of me and a mockery of your people." The two men glared at each other, Endymion frowned and Kunzite fell defeated beneath it. "You know they think the Moon spies on us? Fear their magics so much that hey look to them as Gods instead of equals?" Kunzite sighed, exasperated and defeated. "Maybe they have a right to fear them, to fear us in the end."
"You know that's not true." Endymion rubbed his eyes, either out of grogginess or frustration, Kunzite was passed caring, sighing with enough of that frustration for both of them.
"What will you do to show your people this? You do know there are whole Kingdoms outside of Elysium don't you? My people... Nephrite's, Zoisite's, and Jadeite's people. All of them are blind to what truly lies beyond our atmosphere... and it is them you will have to answer to."
He stormed from the room, not bothering to slam the door shut again behind him when the Prince's eyes filled with emotion, no doubt prepared to make some valiant speech about love and how it would bind their worlds together. Kunzite knew Endymion would probably not be far behind him when he plopped heavily into his desk chair, knowing this conversation was far over he decided coffee was the only solution for the foggy rage he was swimming under. He swore he heard her voice as he leaned against the dark surface of his desk pinching the bridge of his nose with his first cup in hand.
'When you love someone... that's worth everything.'
Kunzite scoffed, remembering Zara's words as well.
"A silent predator indeed..." He muttered to no one, peering over at the sad blue eyes of the girl in his painting.
Kunzite was hardly through his first cup of coffee, still early when Endymion slunk into the library with his tail between his legs. He barely looked up from the documents in front of him, so close to resolving the issues between his and Nephrite's lands as well as some trade issue in another country under his realm. His steely stare was unamused when Endymion poured himself a cup of coffee and took a seat in the chair across from him, expression a familiar sheepish one Kunzite recognized from when he was younger.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you." He muttered, taking a careful drink of the hot bitter fluid in his mug. Kunzite exhaled slowly through his nose, setting his own cup down without shifting his eyes.
"As am I." Despite the shortness of his words, there were no shortage of curses running through his head. Deep slow breaths were all he could do from continuing to rant and rave at Endymion as he had earlier that morning. "I'm even more sorry that you swore even my own men to silence." Kunzite watched him visibly wince beneath his stare, deepening his frown in accordance to his next words. "So what am I to do now that I look like a fool to my inferiors? The very men I command due to the actions of the man I am supposed to guide and protect?" Endymion's eyes flashed with anger for a moment, but knew he had no place to be mad- Kunzite was very right in this instance.
"I thought merely enacting the plans you put in place would be enough. It's not like you parade around the palace announcing your conquests...Serenity is no conquest mind you, I mean it when I say that I love her. You've been taking more shifts lately, I thought you could use a break and things just sort of happened. Jadeite and Nephrite have guarded...I didn't think you needed to be alerted every time. Your plans are ironclad as always." Endymion frowned, arrogance taking over his brow. He knew the Prince was a surprisingly private person despite all that charisma, Kunzite could see it was just going to be one of those days that they simply didn't get along, and shifted his eyes back down to the paper he was working on.
"I came because I plan to request audience with Queen Serenity..and I need you and Zoisite to accompany me." Kunzite dropped the pen he wrote with, his eyes snapping up Endymion again almost white with fury. Ignoring him, the Prince took a blank parchment and a pen from beside the General who was clenching his fist on the desk with white knuckles.
"You may be my Liege, but you have the audacity to ask such a thing of me?"
"You have the audacity to disobey me? You may be a king of your own lands, but I assure you Kunzite these are not your lands." Endymion's shoulders sagged with a heavy regretful sigh at Kunzite's widening eyes. "Look I'm sorry...I'm nervous and I don't mean to be an asshole. My family and I have been requesting this audience for generations. I've already sent multiple letters over the weeks...each denied. It will work if I remain persistent, but I'll need you by my side on this. I certainly don't mean what I said, I look at these lands as yours as they are mine..."
"Throwing your title at me is no way to maintain my allegiance. I have given all to you without question and asked for nothing. Obeying every order and following this destiny that is to come with being one of the Heavenly Four, and I thought I had done so as a friend more than Guardian. This is not the King you are to become. I had thought your Mother taught you this." Endymion cringed, when Kunzite was right, he was damn right, and the General was currently on a roll this morning. The younger Prince often forgot that each of The Four had already served as Kings themselves, and all he knew was lessons taught from his parents and the Middle Eastern King in front of him. Kunzite still held that air of one, even if he was now reduced to a soldier, rank made higher than King only because he was one of The Four.
"I'm sorry.. you know I don't mean anything by it. I tend to lash out when I'm afraid... you know that best of all." Endymion muttered. Even then Kunzite had to envy his ability to express emotion, taking solace in the fact he'd never admit that to anyone else but him. He'd tried to teach Endymion the effects of showing weaknesses such as fear and letting it rule his emotions at an earlier age, it sadly never stuck and so he was left to often remind the Prince that it's how wars were often started. Fear was potent, and their humble little planet was full of fearstruck, innocent people who often acted foolish because of it. Kunzite sighed again, unable to stay angry at Endymion for long. He didn't regret his love for the younger Prince, but it was a constant reminder that love makes people weak.
"Endymion... you know you're forgiven. You are jumping into allegiances with the Silver Millennium after a few meetings with the Princess. Am I wrong to assume her lips have anything to do with this?" Kunzite raised a brow, sitting back in his chair and abandoning the document he was working on. Endymion was already drafting a letter, a slow blush rising on his cheeks.
"Her lips may have swayed my decision but her ideals solidified them. I think you know it's been a goal of mine for far longer than I've known her to better our relations with the Moon. If I am to be with her, then I need to do what is necessary. It needs to happen anyway and my Father is in no place to aid us." He muttered as the pen elegantly scrawled across the paper. "I don't know what it is Kunzite," He stopped writing and looked up at the General with a look that made his eyes want to roll from their sockets. "She sees such good and purity in everything. She makes everything so light and wonderful..."
"That is called naivety." Kunzite put simply. "She knows nothing of our world other than what is written in their books. Hell she knows nothing outside the walls of her own kingdom." He frowned and knew Endymion would defend her. He silently almost wished he'd go away- it was far too early for this and he needed to soothe some of the rage still creating that uncomfortable tension in his chest. Perhaps that was all this love talk causing him such unease.
"She knows more than she lets on Kunzite. I love her, I know you've never been in love but perhaps some day you'll meet someone you'd do anything for." Endymion grinned, and Kunzite really did roll his eyes this time, falling back to the paper in front of him without reading a word of it. He swallowed hard to keep a distracting notion from choking him. "Just you wait until the right woman comes along. You'll understand in time."
"Not going to happen." Kunzite frowned, "even if it does, some of us don't have the luxury. I'm choosing to look at the political side of this- and while you have my blessing, don't be surprised when your request is declined. Though it seems like it's too late for Queen Serenity to save her daughter's chastity. I hope she isn't promised for marriage, you would have robbed her husband the honor." Endymion flushed and shot him a look when he reached for an envelope.
"What are you doing up so early today anyway? Isn't today your day off?" Endymion folded the letter and set it in a tray for a servant to take for delivery along with various other documents Kunzite had been working on.
"It is, but I still have a whole Kingdom to tend to you realize. A Kingdom currently trying to decimate Nephrite's lands." Endymion nodded with a slight frown. He stood, heading for the door with a backward glance toward Kunzite who seemed to be distracted, twirling his pen in his fingers, grey eyes fixed with intensity on it.
"I am sorry Kunzite." Endymion spoke softly, his grey eyes lifting to the dark haired Prince he'd been so loyal to. They had been so close once, Kunzite feeling a small rift opening between them as of late with the budding forbidden romance he was so entangled with. Not to say they weren't close, Endymion really was sorry. He knew how badly he acted out when he was afraid, it was sometimes hard for him not to take it personally when it involved such dangerous terrain. "I promise I will find a way to make this better for everyone...to show our people that they are safe. Made safer still with our union to the Alliance."
"I know." He responded, lips quirking in a gentle smile he rarely offered anyone. Something genuine he could give Endymion and know he was forgiven. It didn't stop the varying thoughts that swam through his mind each letter he sent the Moon Queen. What if it WAS accepted one day? "Sneak a drink later?"
"After today I'm certain to need it. I owe you one anyway." Endymion's smile was infectious, he grabbed an apple from the fruit laid out on the sideboard, tossing Kunzite an orange.
"I won't argue that." He frowned down at the piece of fruit in his hand, something left ignored by the Prince. The light citrus smell of the fruit hit him as he knew it would, and he thought of sunlight. Kunzite thought of her smile.
"It's going to be a hot one today, try and not work too hard you should enjoy it." Endymion fussed with his armor slightly, a bead of sweat already sliding down his neck. "I think it's time to ditch the armor, I'll see you later." He stood already unclasping his chestplate as he left the room. Kunzite frowned at the letter, knowing this would set in motion something. Something extremely exciting and beneficial, or the beginning of the end. Kunzite hoped his requests would remain denied, that he could gain some modicum of control over the situation.
Kunzite decided to heed Endymion's word for once, it was indeed a hot one. He soaked it into his skin, basked in it where it would burden most others. He unbuttoned the thin linen shirt he wore on his way to the lake he so loved to swim in on days like this. It was silent by this lake and he could be free from the worries of his troubled King, wayward Prince, and gold Goddesses that liked to haunt his mind as he tried to make sense of her. Kunzite stopped drinking so much after his three mile hike to the temples and uncomfortable interaction with Beryl who seemed to linger around the palace more even after Endymion stopped entertaining her so much. He brought a bottle with him regardless, taking a long drink before he stripped down to constricting training shorts to go for a long swim.
Kunzite sprawled beneath the solitary tree, watching the grass blow in the humid breeze and the sky open up gradually to the stars. Half the bottle was gone by the time he dried enough to dress again, leaving his shirt open he chuckled to himself. Jadeite had been teasing him for the lack of women he'd been entertaining as well as the lack of his presence at their favorite taverns. His appetite for women hadn't changed, he appreciated their beauty but found himself comparing them, as if there were a comparison to her.
It was a stupid thing to do, the women were still beautiful and it had little to do with the unearthly appearance of Venus, but the manner in which she carried herself. She was wild and graceful and commanding all at once, a kind of freedom he'd never known before yet she carried so much weight. So much sadness behind her eyes that he felt like she might be some walking paradox he'd never figure out.
Other women only seemed to lust after his appearance, the status he could potentially provide them. They cared nothing for his devotion to Endymion, the love of his fellow Shitennou, and the Kingdom he protected. Kunzite could count on one hand the times he'd met Venus and she'd shown him respect, as well as devoted care for his Prince no doubt brought on by her love for Serenity. Of all the beings of Heaven and Earth, it was Venus that understood him where the idea of her, the idea of love still fell so short of his own understanding.
Venus clearly thought he didn't see, but after their long walk through the gardens, she took a simple gold ring from her finger and left it at the base of the Queen's statue, an offering like the Terrans that left her such gifts at her own fountain in the temples. The grounds keepers would have taken it to either sell or accidentally discard when the tended their private gardens and so Kunzite selfishly kept the ring. It was in the top drawer of his nightstand, locked with a few other precious items from the Middle East that he held as sentimental. He rarely opened it, but that act of tribute still touched him even now. That one of those Goddesses would regard a Terran Queen so highly as to leave such a priceless trinket in offering.
Kunzite's eyes began to drift shut, the hot breeze against his skin and drying hair, the lulling sound of cicadas and crickets lulling his exhaustion to take hold and pull him to sleep. His name being called in the near distance jarred him, heaving a tired and defeated sigh when he stood slowly in time to see Zoisite running toward him, his strawberry blonde curls bouncing wildly against his back. He should have known better than to think he'd be allowed a moments rest.
"Kunzite!" The mild tone of panic in his voice had him taking a few hurried steps toward the younger soldier, scrambling to strap his sword belt back onto his hip and step into his boots. "You're needed in Endymion's gardens, the Princess has a guard with her and Jadeite thinks she might harm him. He's there now, hurry!" Kunzite barely let Zoi finish his sentence before he was flying toward the gardens leaving him behind with wide green eyes. No one had ever seen Kunzite spring to action with promise of a true threat. Training was different, and for his larger size he was extremely agile and fast..
Zoisite was nearly right behind him of course, but he wasn't bound to wait. Kunzite didn't really think one of Serenity's guard would hurt Endymion, but given their current status and the escalation of his relationship with Serenity he couldn't be sure. When it came to Endymion's safety, Kunzite left nothing to chance. He was silent as ever in his approach over the familiar stone walkways, through the ivy laced entry to the courtyard of roses. Methodical so he could assess the situation before approaching it, hand readied on his sword.
Jadeite was standing off to the side of Venus and Endymion, his sword drawn and pointed at the long and graceful neck of the Venusian. Her gloved hand rest gently at Endymion's chest, and while he knew Venus to some extent, he couldn't be sure that she wasn't angry at his Prince for soiling her Princess with Terran hands. He remembered all too well the reports of those smiting beams she could summon from her fingertips and swallowed hard. A painful reminder how powerless he would be against a being like her, and seeing her again he knew he was already so powerless against her very presence.
Endymion gestured for probably the third or fourth time for Jadeite to stand down, and the situation seemed to unravel itself when Jadeite made a lewd pass at Venus and lowered his sword slowly. Kunzite rolled his eyes, he was almost proud of the Eastern King for standing his ground until he opened that mouth of his, and took advantage of the fact that no one else knew he was there yet. Endymion seemed to see him, and there was even the slightest bit of a smirk on Venus' lips suggesting she knew he was there as well. Her poker face was little to be desired and maybe the cutest thing he'd seen of her yet.
"Is there trouble Endymion?" Kunzite stepped from his shadowed hiding spot in a swift step, the sound of his commanding voice directly behind him making Jadeite jump out of his skin, turning toward him with wide blue eyes. He was only glad the younger man had sheathed his sword first because crass as the man was, Jadeite was a capable fighter.
"Dammit Kunzite you scared the shit out of me! Where the fuck did you come from anyway!?" Kunzite glared daggers at his Soldier and Jadeite mumbled a half assed apology about his language in front of Princesses. Serenity laughed as though she watched a funny play, springing to her feet she almost skipped over him to wrap her arms around his waist in a friendly hug that seemed to shock Jadeite and Zoisite who joined behind him. He noticed as Serenity released him to rejoin Endymion's side that the other two Shitennou were as enraptured by Venus as he was, standing beneath the direct light of the Moon in that short orange and white uniform. It was assumed they'd already met Serenity since she had been there so often as of late, probably already used to the girl's carefree way.
He took his place on his usual bench, seeking to tame the no doubt wild state of his hair in the presence of Goddesses regardless of how often he'd seen them. Kunzite hadn't seen Venus in many days, no doubt a result of the reports Zoi showed him in regards to her taking out at least a dozen intergalactic rebels on her own. The girl stayed busy for certain though it was so hard for him to see how much power she truly held in her petite frame, how such a hardened warrior appeared so light when she smiled and every movement she made was like part of a dance. He knew she'd been injured though you'd never know it now, her skin unflawed and luminous, body perfect if he'd ever seen perfection before. Kunzite didn't realize he had been staring, silently appraising her until their eyes met and she tore her gaze from his with a quickness.
Zoi was at least polite and introduced himself to the Venusian. The fascination held in his green eyes was almost amusing, the way he studied her in a clinical way Lepidopterists study butterflies and moths. She was as proper and diplomatic as he was, seeming relieved that Zoisite was a proper gentleman outside of his blatant staring that only someone like herself would be used to. Kunzite could see by the way he nervously rubbed the back of his own neck that he was overwhelmed by Venus and the Moon Princess simultaneously, and excused himself as he still had work to finish anyway, like Zoi ever stopped.
It was no surprise to him that Jadeite lingered probably too close to the Venusian with a hunger in his blue eyes, unmasked captivation that Kunzite himself had almost fallen to. Humorous to him because it had been Jadeite to start that fight between himself and Endymion with some lewd comment about how Martians might not be so bad after all. An accidental slip of tongue that one of the times Serenity had come to visit she brought a different guard with her, one with killer legs and worse temper. It was nearly impossible for Kunzite to keep an eye on Serenity and Endymion who were talking quietly with suggesting smiles, and Jadeite with Venus who he noted had a particularly deviant glint in her eye simultaneously.
Her lips were turned in a 'come hither' smirk that quickened his pulse and sought to devastate even him. Venus removed her gloves in a few sauntering steps toward Jadeite, all the while removing her long white gloves, draping them from a chain that clung to her absolutely hypnotic swaying hips. He watched Jadeite's entire body go rigid, refusing to explore the thought of anything below his waist that came to attention as well but the fire in his eyes so fixed on Venus, made him sick.
Kunzite's fist tightened at his side the more intimately she sidled up to Jadeite, running a hand through his careless blonde waves. He wanted to look away, but her eyes shifted to him with a knowing smirk when she kissed his soldier's cheek and he just couldn't. There was a hint of lust in those hooded blue eyes when they met his grey and Kunzite felt like a voyeur of sorts as she payed such attentions to another man, and yet she looked to him. Jadeite was left speechless of course, never having the courtesy to blush a day in his life, his cheeks turned a particular shade of deep crimson. Kunzite exhaled slowly through his nose when she stepped away from the other man slowly, trying to ease whatever beginnings of arousal she had instigated in himself with that mere look that stole the breath from his lungs and set his blood rushing. He could FEEL the heat in her eyes, feel the warm lust of her charms. Jadeite on the other hand, could do little to hide his own misery and Kunzite did not envy him.
"Thank you for being gracious enough to know that I'd never harm your Prince." Venus' long lashes fluttered just slightly and that fools grin began to spread over Jadeite's features with the light purr of her voice. Kunzite tried looking anywhere but at her when she glanced at him again, his brow was troubled but otherwise he did well to keep his expression solemn. He recognized it for what it was in that glance, payback for his sword at her throat. Kunzite could see, and feel, in that moment how her charms were far deadlier.
The next moments happened quite simultaneously, and very fast. While Kunzite, Jadeite, and Venus seemed to be locked in some quasi erotic standoff, Serenity and Endymion took it upon themselves to rush into the garden doors that lead into the castle, and directly to the Prince's rooms while they remained distracted. The very moment the door shut, Venus dropped whatever seductive facade she was wielding against his soldier and rushed forward to try and stop the royals before they could lock her out and failed miserably. As the Venusian moved away from the fountain to try and stop this, Jadeite made the move to try and wrap her in his arms with a devilish grin turned surprised as he fell into the cold waters of the fountain beside them, fumbling over his own boots. She was already feet away and pounding at the door, ready to bust it down when a light ward appeared on the carved wood with the Moon Kingdom's seal on it. It was all rather hilarious, like some scene in a Grecian comedy. Kunzite stifled his laughter into his palm, peering down at Jadeite in amusement while he sat in the fountain with a grim expression.
"Serves you right, if you're going to make it through your shift you needed to cool down anyway. I thought your trousers might bust a seam." Kunzite bit between amused chuckles. Jadeite stood slowly, giving him his 'You have no idea' expression and proceeded to stare at Venus like a starved beggar. She was too busy trying to use her own magic to break the ward, and being quite unsuccessful to notice his soldier's stare. "Jadeite, I think it's time for you to finish your rounds. I'll see to our guest."
Kunzite crossed his arms, issuing a cold glare in response to Jadeite's rather pained expression while he dragged himself sopping wet from the fountain. Day off or not, the Commander issued an order that the Eastern King was unable to disobey. Venus was not immune to Jadeite's wicked schemes however, taking advantage of the sopping wet, dripping mess that he was. His grey eyes widened, watching as the he pulled her into his completely drenched uniform and kissed her. It was the lightest, shortest brushes of lips that made her giggle in a rather flirtatious manner and push Jadeite away with a shake of her head and most brilliant smile.
Joke was on both men as she stepped away. Kunzite thought his nose might hemorrhage as her white uniform came away rather translucent. He thought Jadeite's eyes might fall out of his head, baffled that she really didn't seem to care how exposed she was when every other woman he knew would have been outraged. Kunzite made note to positively torture Jadeite the next morning in drills and tried to strike him dead with his eyes, subtly shifting to hide the mild agitation of his body.
"My Princess, this isn't the last you'll see of me, in any way, shape, or form." His blue eyes were dark, obviously taking her in the way they shifted over her. Kunzite wasn't sure what to make of it when Jadeite looked up at him and raised his eyebrows suggestively before he walked away. At least having the courtesy to turn his back before he so crudely adjusted the rather obvious state of his pants as he walked away. He could only pinch the bridge of his nose, shutting his eyes to avoid her with a promise that Jadeite would not live to see the next sunset.
"Well I'd say those two will be a while." Her hand gestured lazily toward Endymion's door, her entire demeanor shifting into something more familiar to him, more soldierly. Kunzite tried to avoid looking at her, knowing he would be struck dead by the sight of her though she was not shy about her appraisal of him. He'd completely forgotten his casual state in his rush to get there. Thin white shirt left open, sword belt buckled completely wrong in his haste and he wasn't entirely sure his pants were laced properly though he thanked whatever Gods held him in good graces he wore those training shorts to confine whatever Hell Venus just brought down upon his body and mind. Kunzite opened his mouth to apologize for Jadeite's crude behavior but she caught his eye with the first steps she took toward him, brushing against his arm in passing back toward the fountain. His nails bit into the heel of his palm to ground him from gawking at her in the same manner Jadeite had, the way those blue eyes flickered up at him in passing. "I apologize for ruining your night off, I guess I didn't count on more than one Heavenly King in the gardens tonight."
His blood was burning in his veins, trying to be the gentleman and not stare at her no matter how hard she made it for him not to. Venus plopped down on the edge of the fountain, leaning back on her hands and tipping her head back, exposing her neck and chest to the silver light of the Moon. The ends of her hair floated gold in the water behind her and he wished his painter was present to capture the erotic image she made, his resolve not to stare currently thrown out as soon as he had it. Kunzite had been dead set on maintaining his previous stance, being the silent and indifferent party to her commanding presence and merely keeping his post however, it was too late. Hell he had resolved to be angry with the situation and tension that developed between himself and Endymion. His resolve had broken the moment their eyes met and he could FEEL it.
"I am honored to have the pleasure of your company my Lady. My night's been far from ruined." That tension was thick on the air, his anger forgotten when her head lowered, chin on her shoulder and she looked at him. She seemed tired, the playful facade otherwise faded and yet she smiled anyway. Something about it bothered him and yet looking distracting as she did Venus looked off. A nonsensical mixture of sad, seductive, happy, and tired.
"Are you sure I'm not interrupting one of your brutish rendezvous?" Her eyes sparkled with teasing, lips curling into something of a more convincing smirk that made his throat run dry.
"No...I mean yes, I'm sure. Just the result of someone potentially harming Endymion. I didn't quite have time to make myself decent." She was infectious and he caught his lips quirking right back at her. "I'm sorry if my appearance offends."
"Not in the slightest." Her appraisal of him for a mere few seconds was almost worse than whatever she'd done to Jadeite mere moments ago, her too blue eyes slowly trailing down the length of his body. He tried to think of anything to keep his hormones and lack of said brutal rendezvous from becoming rather apparent to her.
"You're no better Princess. I suppose apologies are in order for Jadeite's behavior." Kunzite tried unsuccessfully not to stare back at her, though she either didn't care or didn't notice.
"Something tells me you aren't sorry." She quipped with a slight tilt of her head, still making no move to hide the state of her uniform which did little to dry in the rampant humidity. "It's all in good fun, isn't it? Besides I believe it was Jadeite to leave quite the impression on my Martian friend."
"Yes, he informed me Serenity has been by a few times. It's no surprise to me that he mentioned her. You'll have to extend apologies to Mars also I assume." Venus waved him off with a hand as if to say 'She'll get over it.' The mingling of their ranks was also a bit of concern to him knowing how charming his comrades were on a normal day, not counting encounters with women too beautiful for their world who were also far more charming themselves.
"The Queen has finally accepted Endymion's request." She bent down to unstrap her shoes, tucking them aside and turning to dip her feet into the fountain. Kunzite told himself he was breathless at her announcement, not because she began to splash and press the cool water onto her shapely legs. A distraction even with the confirmation of one of his greatest concerns. "I thought your Prince might need some guidance, he has the information you should see to it that he heeds it. Queen Serenity is a gracious leader but even she takes risk allowing him an audience in her palace."
"And we have you to thank again." His lips tugged downward some, unable to tear his grey eyes away from her and yet again it felt like she was manipulating this, taking control of the situation from him.
"No. Your Prince has sent in request after request since the Queen passed. When Queen Serenity asked my opinion I merely told her it was worth hearing him out if he is so insistent. She was under no obligation to accept though I'd be lying if I said I didn't think it was in the best interest of our situation." Venus paused, chewing her lip a second. "I merely thought it was smart to equip Endymion with as much information as possible if it's ever going to get anywhere."
"I see." Kunzite swallowed hard, running a hand through the pale silver of his hair to tame it. Once more made aware that he probably looked like he'd just fallen out of bed or worse. Venus rolled her eyes, that familiar annoyance with him peeking through her otherwise flirtatious demeanor.
"I thought we had discussed this. If it's going to happen then we need to take opportunity as it comes. If we fail then we fail completely and that, General, is not an option." He shifted on his feet at the formality and wanted to cringe. Her commanding tone made him feel how the other Shitennou probably felt under his direction and he kind of hated it. Her exasperated sigh caught his attention again as her mood shifted. Again. "Sometimes I think I'm a fool for doing this...we really shouldn't be here. It feels right though... doesn't it?"
"Your Princess says that often. She is here unguarded quite frequently you know, collected by the taller woman with brown hair." Venus exhaled, she'd never see the smallest of his smiles as he tilted his head to try and better see her face from behind a gold curtain of her hair. Kunzite clenched his fist a little tighter when she caught him.
"You've met Jupiter then." Venus replied simply, making his throat constrict when she so casually shifted her hair over one shoulder to allow him a better view while she brought some water to the back of her neck with a cupped hand further saturating her uniform. Kunzite felt certain she did this on purpose, he could feel the sweat begin to trail down his own neck.
"I believe it was Nephrite to meet the Jovian on his watch." Kunzite dared to step closer toward the fountain, her eyes shifting below his chin no doubt to follow the bead of sweat beginning to trail down his chest.
"I hope she didn't cause any trouble." He took another slow step, her eyes tearing away to stare into the fountain's clear water. Kunzite almost had a mind to join her and yet found himself without a brain in his skull with her near him. "I worry Serenity is unattended too often on my nights off. My apologies General, we're still getting used to this new arrangement. I'll have to tighten security."
"She was just unexpected I think. We needed the rain so I suppose we should be thankful." Venus laughed, a smile spreading to her features perhaps at the notion the Jovian warrior had been so nervous she quite accidentally provided them with a rainstorm. Nephrite hadn't been so amused initially, trying to view stars through his telescope when the strange clouds appeared out of nowhere but ended up taking shelter in his gazebo with the Jovian while their Prince and Princess danced in the rain like children. Kunzite wished he could have been there. Almost curious to meet these other Goddesses to see if any held the same fascination for him, a theory he felt almost desperate to explore. If only to provide him some other explanation for the intensity of the draw he felt to Venus.
"So there are four Generals to your Prince as there are four warriors to my Princess? Interesting coincidence don't you think?" Venus sought to kill him, palming water to the front of her neck and top of her chest, furthering the manner in which her uniform became less opaque. He regretted stepping so close to her, clenching his fist he struggled to keep his face from showing anything of the battle he waged, mind over body. Of course when she smirked the way she did Kunzite strongly considered throwing caution and restraint out the window.
"All due respect Venus, I don't think it's wise of us to discuss politics until we are in a better stance." It bit from his lips with a coldness before he could keep himself in check, a further testament that he had to focus a little too hard on restraint of his voice and expression. His logical side told him she was probably fishing for information, though he didn't feel as though she used any magics on him.
"Then tell me something we may discuss in our current stance General." Venus stood slowly, a light hearted if not challenging tone gracing her words. The indication that she used no magic was completely destructive to him the graceful way her leg swung over the ledge of the fountain so she could stand in front of him. Her allure was all natural. Kunzite became sucked into her command, her wandering blue eyes and the sheen of her skin from the water. The moment was getting away from him and he finally found his voice, mentally berating himself when it came out so soft and weak, but the question had been reeling in his mind for days.
"What is your real name?" Sadness flooded her eyes and she almost looked afraid. The confidence she seemed to carry that night slipping away and for the moment Kunzite's desire for her dwindled to a need to simply hold her when her eyes fell downward to her feet. He didn't know who moved closer, but their chests almost touched and his arms moved without his permission to brush the backs of her arms, as though he might urge her closer. She didn't move away from him this time, an appealing flush graced her cheeks when her eyes met his again, blue eyes so flooded with emotion that he couldn't place but wanted to discuss each one in depth so he could figure out this girl and crush the source of her sadness.
"Can you keep a secret?" He could feel her breath against his chest with her whisper, her fingers fidgeting nervously and Kunzite almost longed for her to touch him, to feel that hum of her on his skin. Her eyes didn't quite meet his, but all he needed just then was to know what was so bad about knowing her name. He'd keep any secret she wanted, locking it up tightly away to treasure.
"If that is what you wish." The tenderness in his voice surprised even him, she finally met his eyes and he kept his fingertips light on her arms. He thought he'd kiss her if she'd allow it, erase whatever stain Jadeite had left on her perfect lips and make her his own. It was a frightening notion for a man like him but it was almost like losing himself, and he was a man of control if nothing else. If speaking to her was a crime, would a kiss be a worse offense? Venus bit her lip in thought a moment, plush lips remained parted when she met his eyes again.
"My name is Mi-" There was a loud clash of the door slamming against the wall forcing him to rip his hands away from her, and Venus took a step backwards from him. A bundle of silver blonde hair and white dress collided with Venus, a mischievous laugh filling the air with hurried whispers of needing to return home.
"We must get back! It's sooooooo late! Why didn't you send Kunzie up for me!?" Serenity was dragging her Guardian along for a change, Venus could scarcely grab her shoes on their way toward the gate. Her smile was apologetic when she looked up at him, she appeared as ready to leave as he was ready to suffer her absence. Kunzite smiled in return, a genuine thing he didn't do too often but it was worth the flush on her cheeks. He didn't even cringe at the ever hated nickname Serenity insisted on calling him, he was too busy locking eyes with Venus until they were gone in a flash of gold.
"Fuck..." He muttered, raking a hand through his thick silver locks. Firstly he was never going to hear the end of it from Jadeite whom he owed some awful form of payback. The younger soldier no doubt abandoned his post to deal with his frustrations with the nearest maid. Second he found that he craved her presence which was a dangerous path considering they've had very little conversation outside the realms of their duties. They'd only met a handful of times after all yet Kunzite had already been witness to her command, her caring, and her flirtation. The only thing so consistent with her was her sadness, even when she appeared happy it was hidden in those blue eyes and it was that sadness that haunted him the same as the thought of her name.
Kunzite frowned, turning from the gardens down the familiar rounds the Shitennou took on their night duties, completing them on his night off. The last thing he made note of that evening was that Jadeite was a dead man.