The coming days grew busier, a welcome distraction from her unkind mind that felt necessary to remind her every other moment of that split second decision she made that night on the terrace. What if she had let him kiss her? Would curiosity be sated and the beautiful General made to be just another man left mystified by her? The thought was somehow appalling to her. Kunzite didn't appear to be a man ruled by emotion or spur of the moment whims, if anything he was hard to read. He seemed like a cautious man, down to the very subjects he allowed to be discussed and did so with such easy command.
"Venus." Her name being called snapped her out of her daydream, having her step quickly away from the railing of the balcony she'd been leaning against when she probably had work to do. Mercury approached with an urgency in her step, blue bob of hair bouncing with her hurried gait and her eyes were set with determination that Venus rarely saw. She extended a letter received on her transmitter only moments prior, something familiar and with bad timing, but a welcome relief from her prior thoughts . "They've been spotted. I know relations are tense with the Martian council but the Duke Ryo sent this himself."
"You're sure?" Venus unfolded the paper, eyes dancing over the words carefully creating a tension on her lips. "Mars and Jupiter have both taken leave back home haven't they?"
"Yes, and I'll be required here for Serenity's lessons and a meeting with the Mercurian council." Venus chewed her lip. She'd been searching for one of the primary leaders of the Silver Millennium's opposition for months and Ryo, bitter with her as he might be, gave her the perfect opening with promise of no retaliation from the Martian council if she could capture him. Venus couldn't pass this up, and Mercury gave her a disapproving frown knowing exactly what she was thinking. "It's too dangerous."
"It's more dangerous not to act. We might not have another chance like this for months, and how many others should get hurt or worse because no one will make a move? Is this not what I was born for?" Her voice was hard, perhaps more bitter than she meant it to be, and Mercury had no room to argue. This would be another mission her Queen would have to discipline her for later because there was no time to plan, and opportunities didn't rise like this every day.
They were part of a traveling circus, of course, and the gypsy like nomads didn't ever announce where they would pop up. They would do a show, send assassins to interrogate whatever poor Silver Alliance supporting noble that had any modicum of power to find out what events the Princess would attend, or the next gala or event. Two of these Silver Alliance supporters had turned up dead and another three missing. She had to believe they were probably dead as well. There were too many places to hide a body in space.
"I will abandon post to come with you then, you shouldn't do this alone."
"No... we don't want to rise suspicion. Besides no sense in you getting in trouble too, and I can handle this." Mercury sighed but nodded, uncertainty laced her wise blue eyes. Venus placed gloved hands on the girl's shoulder and smiled with confidence. "Relax, I'll be back before they even know I was gone!"
Venus kissed the girl's cheek causing her to flush as usual, offering a wink before she jogged down the hallway, simultaneously plugging coordinates into her communicator so she could teleport out before Artemis would notice she was gone. The whole ordeal escalated quickly into a battle like she'd never fought before. Truly she should have brought backup but the fight was thrilling, the first time she felt the Goddess-like power truly burn through her blood with such potency that their hordes could scarcely touch her. Venus saw fear in their eyes with each movement of her chain, the homing like nature of the crescent beams she shot from fingers and manipulated at her will and it was intoxicating. Not to say that she didn't come out of it unscathed, their swordsmen were talented, and some of their powers worked well against her own magics but her chain dispatched them easily enough. What her chain could not reach, her Crescent Beam attack was more than enough to send them into oblivion. Death was an unfortunate reality of her mission and her life.
"You think you can ambush one of Queen Serenity's elite?" She growled, wiping blood from her cheek with her glove. Her eyes burned gold down at the man she was coming for who lay on his back in a comical red and green jester costume, his mask long fallen away. Her chain held him, wrapped around his ankles and torso, pinning his arms to his body. "Make one wrong move and I will tear you limb from limb but see to it that you live. You have questions to answer for yet. What is your name?"
"Zirconia." Venus' eyes widened noting that the strong and handsome ringleader was a woman who spit up at her and missed. She tightened her chain just slightly.
"Do you dream love Goddess?" The woman's voice was deeper but laced with sweetness suddenly and the girlish giggle she produced made Venus' skin crawl. "I bet the Goddess of Love has the most beautiful dreams."
"Stop Speaking. You have no place reading anyone's hearts or dreams. You're as bad as the Princes of Diamond's and Sapphires, perhaps worse." Her lips tugged to a frown and she glared harshly at the woman who had finally stopped struggling against her chain.
"My dreams are beautiful, my dreams have yet to pass. Yours never will." She cackled then and Venus rolled her eyes and saw to it that her chain was secure. "Unlike you, Silver Girl, I dream in mirrors and GOLD."
"Well you have much to answer for. I don't think you'll be seeing the light of the Sun for a very long time." Venus raised her brow, Zirconia laughed with a knowing gleam in her eye she had to pretend didn't unnerve her. She flipped open her communicator and sent word to the Queen and Artemis to send transport for her and the Ringleader and for a troop to be dispatched to try and locate the few that got away from her. The Queen's tone told her she was in trouble, but Venus smiled to herself regardless because Serenity was a little safer, and yet she was having a hard time thinking of how she could ask Queen Serenity for anything now that she had yet again acted on her own without orders.
Her shoulder burned from a nasty spear wound when they came from her, a wicked slash across her back and minor cuts and scrapes over her legs and cheeks sent her directly to the healers while the Elite Lunar Guard did whatever they were going to do with Zirconia who kept spitting the typical evil scum phrases at her the entire time mixed with cryptic promises that ran ice through her veins. Venus was sure it would indeed be the last she saw of Zirconia though of course the scumbag swore she hadn't, all she could do to keep the strange woman from getting under her skin.
The healer always dreaded seeing her, knowing Venus would strip down and he would have to put his hands on her, but Venus had long accepted the reaction people had to her as normal. She actually enjoyed the healers, knowing he would mend her wounds and massage the tough soreness from her muscles and Venus could finally THINK. It was this predicament with Endymion and Serenity and their budding romance that plagued her while the healer worked his magic on her, feeling like she played a game of chess and wished she'd payed closer attention when Mercury tried to teach her. She knew one wrong move could prove devastating to their worlds, she just had to be patient until she was able to move her Queen, and patience was never on her side.
Venus was ordered a brief house arrest, a mere week really, which only meant more paperwork and extra studies- a punishment in itself. All of this in addition to a severe scolding first from her Queen, then another from Artemis who had been ever more protective after her first encounter. Worse now that she'd been injured. She took the slap on the wrist gratefully of course, the Sovereign of Love did more spur of the moment than whole teams would have been able to achieve with weeks of planning and the punishment could have been far more severe. Venus was proud if not bordering boastful about it to the dismay of Mars who was typically her partner in crime on these dangerous missions, irritated that she missed out on the glory.
Ryo surprisingly had her back as well, sending explanation that her punishment was not warranted since she acted at his mercy since one of the dead diplomats recovered was a childhood friend of his. He wasn't able to completely spare her wrath from her superiors, but Venus was grateful all the same, even longed to speak with Ryo again. She wasn't sorry for what she did to him, and the damage his words caused her proved to be irreparable. Venus was only sorry things ended so bitterly between them, relieved to see he was still able to put his faith in her as a protector if nothing else.
She needed to fully recover. Healed as her body was it took a great toll on someone to expel that much power and force their body to heal the way she did. Venus was more exhausted than she ever remembered being, and so she spent the time thinking. Venus thought of nothing but how to get Queen Serenity to at least meet Endymion. A diplomatic visit to check in since the Queen was gone? Rumors spread throughout the Universe that Earth's King had fallen to despair and while he still ruled as King, most executive decisions came from Endymion himself so it just might be enough... he HAD sent in several requests for an audience in the past weeks but Queen Serenity didn't seem interested in the slightest.
Scarcely enough time had passed for her to build any sort of case with the Queen about Endymion. Aside from the obvious mythology around him and the Heavenly Kings that guard him and his increased popularity with his people in the King's absence there was hardly anything substantial for her to bring up. Elysian Royalty had always been held in high regard with their people, Venus did her homework there too, each King prior to Adrian was well loved and Endymion proving to be no exception. With little to go off of, Venus obsessed over how she could even bring it up in casual conversation, like she had any grounds to ask Queen Serenity for anything.
Venus was pouty when she reported for tea with the Queen. She was just coming off her punishment, the Queens silver eyes lifting with amusement when she dragged her feet into the parlor. She'd been requested to go over guard detail as it had been slim in recent nights, no doubt a certain Princess to blame for it. Queen Serenity was always on the fence with Venus after she pulled a stunt like that, always a bit more curt but appreciative, especially when she provided the Queen with such detailed reports and guard realignments.
"Something troubling you Venus?" She took a sip of tea, ever the proper lady and Venus wondered if she had ever been like the young Princess. So wild, carefree and careless. "You'll be pleased to know that Ryo has aggressively begun work on eradicating the rebels and improving reaction times."
"Of course I'm pleased. It will make my job better to manage." She added a few cubes of sugar to her own tea, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. Venus so wanted to bring up Earth but didn't know how, the annoyance rather present in her tone. Her clear frustration seemed to amuse the Silver Queen.
"You'll have to try harder if you are going to fool me. What's on your mind?"
Her lips were parted to speak when Artemis joined the room, tugging her half ponytail playfully when he passed to deliver a familiar looking envelope to Queen Serenity's hand with an expression that read 'Yes, he sent another one." Her coin-like silver eyes glanced up at her in an almost weary fashion at the red and gold seal of a rose, marking the crest of Elysium on the front. With a deep exhale through her lips she broke the seal, her eyes darting over the words not once, but twice. Venus had the mind to be grateful of the timing, as well as Endymion's relentlessness.
"Well then... the Terran Prince is persistent if nothing else. I'm quite impressed actually." She tossed the note on the table in her direction, allowing her to pick it up and Venus began to read with a hard swallow.
"Your Royal Highness of the Silver Millenium, Queen Serenity,
I write again in the absence of our Terran King Adrian of Elysium who remains indisposed at the loss of our Queen. It is with a humbleness that I once more request permission for audience in your court. I know of the tension between my Kingdom and your Great Alliance, there should be no reason for our relationship not to be both beneficial and civil. I wish to further discuss the future of the Terran race in regards to your vision of peace as I feel you will be surprised how mutual that vision is. I ask only an audience for myself, and the head of the Golden Army, my Guardian, the Heavenly King Kunzite as well as my strategist and advisor the Heavenly King Zoisite. My request is at a date and time of your choosing with my humble gratitude of this chance for diplomacy and peace. I sincerely hope you consider meeting with me.
With kindest regards,
Crowned Prince of the Golden Kingdom of Elysium: Endymion
Venus' blue eyes clashed with the silver of her Queen who looked at her in an almost knowing fashion. Sometimes she thought the Moon Queen might very well already know what's been transpiring between her daughter and this Earthen Prince. If she did, she showed no indication of it as though she had some plan in mind herself. Queen Serenity looked tired though, smile defeated when she regarded the young Venusian warrior.
"What does your heart tell you? Endymion appears to be a very ambitious sort of man. Certainly persistent..." Her eyes seemed to be boring into her own, and Venus knew she'd have to choose her next words wisely. She cursed Endymion silently, forcing her to plead his case without much of a case to plead.
"Grant him the audience." She blurted out, staring at a spot on the table, she'd spoken before her brain could process it. Venus had to feign confidence, lifting her determined gaze to the Queen who looked nearly shocked at the bluntness of her words. Thankfully Venus was often blunt anyway. "As a qualified member of the Royal family, acting in his Father's place already, perhaps we should try and bridge some of the tense gap between us. If he is so certain their goals align with yours, perhaps we should at least hear him out. I think they're truly harmless, I could squander the entirety of the Golden Army on my own if needed. They'd stand no chance."
"You underestimate your potential foes Venus." Serenity's lips quirked in mild amusement, but there was a misplaced fear in her eye she tried to hide by glancing down at the letter. "The Golden Army is ranked above Mercury's in skill alone. Since the Shitennou have been found they only appear to grow stronger so they are more capable than you know. There are forces out there that might take the strength of both the Silver and the Golden Crystals to keep at bay..." The sigh that deflated her shoulders was defeated. Serenity ran a hand through the gold of Venus' hair in a graceful and Motherly motion, sometimes forgetting how much the soldier contrasted to the elegant whites and silvers of her Kingdom. The parlor with the high windows overlooking the gardens was no exception in it's elegant baroque designs.
"This could give us a chance to partner with them early then. Hone Endymion's power and if it is as they say, and the Prince has magic, we could help him harness that power and gain our most powerful ally from it." Venus knew damned well the Prince had magic. He was possibly as powerful as the elder Goddess in front of her, and yet their utter neglect of Earth had probably robbed him the chance to meet that potential. But they could still help him get close.
"Terrans are unpredictable. They don't think they way that we do, the ideas of immortality and power terrify them. It's well known that frightened Earthen people are far more dangerous than reliable. They wage war against their own kind and shed blood until there is a victor. Harmony is not in their nature. They take offense to our protection, that they are not included. At this point they will just turn against us."
"My studies tell me that Terrans do fear us, but they also worship us. They send my soldiers gifts if we grace them with love, wisdom, and strength. They wage wars in our names from passion and hatred because of fear. What if they had nothing to fear of us? What if when needed, we aided them- taught them that their Elysian royals were mortal but not much different from ourselves."
"You raise a valid point- however when a darker force offers them the same power, do you not think they could harness that against us? Do you think the Terran Prince would turn on his own people to protect the sanctity of our arrangement?" Venus swallowed hard, somewhat stumped because how would she know what Endymion would do? What his people WILL do when things shift? Prince of the Earthen world or not, he was one man with four at his back against countless of their kind. And what of these darker forces Serenity spoke of?
"I think that if a man has something worth fighting for... he could do anything My Queen. If he is devoted to his people as he is loved by them...I think that we should at least hear him out." Venus gave a matter-of-fact nod, gracing her Queen with the gentlest of smiles and a warm hand on her shoulder. She couldn't ever express that Endymion had the most precious thing to fight for, the purest of true loves, the other half of his own soul in her daughter. "I understand the risks, but we are not agreeing to anything right away. I'm willing to stay prepared for whatever happens."
"I will grant him the audience, but I will promise no solution. The diplomats of the allying planets will be none too pleased about his presence here but you raise good points and I would like to hear him out as well." Serenity scribed a very fast return letter and handed it to Venus to get to the Prince. "If it gets the Golden Crystal on our side, it could very well be worth the risk." Venus took the letter in a gloved hand and gave a bow, leaving the room with precious cargo in her hands, trying to not seem too eager or excited on her way out the door. She wanted to deliver the letter in person, something Artemis strongly declined of course, insisting he have it delivered traditionally. Of course she called a meeting with the girls- this had to go off without a hitch.
The intense butterflies in her stomach and pounding heart prevented her from getting much sleep after dinner which landed her on an early guard detail with Jupiter on stand by for the inevitable. Venus heaved a heavy sigh, after her fifth round of the castle she'd given up hope that Serenity would try and make her great escape. She paused if only for a moment to lean against one of the many balcony railings to gaze up at the swirling clouds on Earth. It felt like a lifetime since she'd been there, knowing Serenity still snuck there regularly. Venus stayed busy on purpose to keep her mind from drifting to memories of a leisurely stroll through the gardens on the arm of the Silver Brute himself.
She found herself thinking about him on accident in random intervals throughout the past days. Most of the time it was a silly, stupid daydream about that moment by the sea. The Moon hanging bright in the sky over the dark waters of the ocean, and he stood so close to her that she could feel his breath on her skin. The light touches of his fingers on her arms or as they ran through her hair as though he was somehow supposed to do so. He'd become so much more beautiful by that point because he showed her his laughter, his smiles. A thing made so much more precious in its rarity. It made her want to touch his silver hair which was luminous and she felt perhaps jealous by the notion that it might be nicer than her own. Above all she had to admit it was the intensity of his eyes, and the fine sculpt of his face and lips that held her so fascinated though she was sure the rest of him was just as gorgeous.
It was a moment she found herself breathless beneath the fluttering in her chest that she realized that feeling wasn't only the mere memory of the strange General but the little pop of power that came with Serenity's teleport. It was late, but the chase was on, Venus was already a few minutes behind at this point and scolded herself as she followed. This was why she needed to be so careful, certain things were a distraction to her duties and she couldn't afford to be distracted in these errands.
Venus teleported to her usual spot, her time away made her almost choke on the thicker air and intense heat here and she immediately began to sweat. The air was almost drinkable in its humidity, heavy like the natural gravity that disoriented her. Serenity was giggling wildy in Endymion's courtyard which was cut off sharply by what she could only guess was the mouth of the Prince himself based on the sharp wave of desire she felt through the thick hedges. Normally Venus wouldn't have been one to interrupt but it was so important that she speak with Endymion about business for once. She straightened her back, striding through the gate with the air of a soldier, stopping just before the fountain in the center. Her lips fell into a straight line, something between amusement, jealousy, and protectiveness washed over her in seeing the way Endymion kissed Serenity. The way her hands migrated to the bare planes of his chest through the open white shirt he wore and the bold positioning of his hand a little too close to her breast.
She cleared her throat loudly, making the lovers jump apart with a quickness, eyes wide and lips swollen. Venus laughed then, the casually dressed Prince sighed in relief with a roll of his eyes when he saw it was only her, trying in vain to look dignified as he could being caught in a forbidden tryst with a rather impressive tent in his pants. It bothered her a moment that his guard appeared to be so absent, occurring that the Prince and Princess tried to meet so privately even still with their new agreements. Serenity pouted beside him, the straps of her dress had fallen low over her shoulders and she crossed her arms defiantly.
"I thought Jupiter was on night guard tonight." She nearly whined and Venus's eyes rolled skyward before she could beg for deliverance for the annoyance on her features. It turned into a hard glare, knowing that she still snuck out to steal away to the Prince's bed without a guard.
"We switched because I knew what you were up to silly rabbit." She teased, lips turning into a good humored smirk. She'd probably do the same had she the opportunity to fall in love with the person that completed her soul. Her eyes shifted and warmed in amusement at Endymion who was practicing deep breathing to get his body to calm down with hard eyes fixed onto the stone beneath his boots. "I needed to speak with you as well."
"You could have at least given me the courtesy of requesting an audience formally." His eyes were intense when they landed on her, his tone not condescending or rude but matter of factly. There was a spark of amusement undertoning the annoyance that tensed his lips because she was afterall, interrupting.
"If there were more time I would have perhaps requested you attention the traditional way though that's hardly a normal practice considering the forbidden nature of this planet to me." She bit back and he seemed to ease up in understanding. "It's in regards to your request to our Queen and the current...affair with the Princess I'm charged with protecting. You know... her daughter. Daughter of an ancient and all powerful goddess." She reminded him in annoyance of her own, wondering if Terran men truly were as dense as Mars seemed to think. "I came to tell you that my Queen has accepted your audience, the formal invite is en route to you."
"I could have waited for the correspondence." His eyes seemed to sparkle with hidden excitement and Venus couldn't help but think he could take some lessons from the head of his own guard to hide it better. He smirked, deep ebony hair falling over his eyes with the motion of his head and she wanted to smack him for his arrogance suddenly
"My Queen needs to buy your proposals with no doubts or the interaction will have been in vain, and I will be forced to do everything in my power to make sure that you never see Serenity again." Her voice was curt, easy for Endymion to see the head of his own guard in the tone. Arrogance melted from his features immediately, the Prince's gaze shifted to Serenity who had her skirts lifted enough to put her feet in the cool waters of the fountain. "I have written it down for you, her concerns, so that you may address them completely, and HONESTLY." She emphasized the last bit and produced a folded note, extending it to him between gloved fingers. He took it slowly nodding when his intensely blue eyes met her own again. Against everything she had ever been taught, she trusted him.
Serenity suddenly splashed at her guardian with a giggle and Venus's disposition melted into a genuine and beautiful smile. Even Endymion's breath was taken by the Goddess of Love herself, twice over when he realized how similar the two were. Venus was a little older, her figure curved into a man's lewd fantasy, hair golden instead of silvery blonde and her eyes held a golden sheen to Serenity's silver. Her personality however, he respected but she was so tightly wound it seemed, and he was suddenly sad as he understood that she was in the same place as Kunzite, and the Goddess of Love herself was left to a burdened life without the luxury of romance that he had indulge in with her Princess. To make matters worse, she was helping him in the endeavor to win over the Queen of the Moon herself, basically committing treason for the sake of love.
"I apologize for my tone earlier, you have done so much for me and I thank you with my arrogance. A less endearing quality of mine I'm told by my Generals and hardly a way to regard a Princess." He bowed deeply and Venus shifted her eyes toward him, stepping forward with intense eyes as only his Father had seen from Aphrodite at her birth. She had a manner about her, intimidating and ever more alluring, that read well in Endymion's eyes that widened at her approach.
"My status does not determine how you treat me Your Highness. You should be kind always, as you were when I first saw you with my Serenity." She placed a bold gloved hand on his chest, his eyes widened further but never left her own. Serenity huffed behind his shoulder with jealousy and Venus fought the urge to tease her. "Do not ever lose that kindness Endymion. Carry it with you as you carry your love for my Princess because her purity will require that kindness of you. I have been gracious thus far in allowing her to be with you, but if anyone presents her harm I will not hesitate-"
"Step away." The tip of someone's sword suddenly pressed lightly into her neck, coming from seemingly nowhere along with the accented and commanding voice that came with it. Venus hadn't heard this voice before, knowing she'd have to be so careful, her lips quirked in an alluring smirk, calling forth the smallest bit of her power just in case. Endymion swallowed hard, the faintest flush creeping over his cheeks as he lifted a hand to tell her assailant to back down as she saw him do to Kunzite that first night.
Her own blue eyes shifted without the movement of her head, not exactly wanting to cut her neck, to see a man slightly shorter than the Prince but of similar build. His blonde hair was cropped short like Endymion's in careless but appealing waves. His darker blue eyes spoke of mischief and appreciation despite the hardened glare he gave her at the prospect she might hurt his Prince. Judging by his uniform and striking appearance alone he was no doubt another of the Heavenly Four and judging by his accent and manner he carried himself, the soldier Mars complained about only a few days prior.
"Stand down Jadeite, she means me no harm." Endymion reached out to gingerly push the blade away from her neck, and the man exhaled deeply, coming out of a distracted trance it seemed to sheath the sword back into his belt. This other man was beautiful as well, features sharp and angular. He could have easily blended in with the natives on Venus with the gold of his hair and the carefree demeanor that overtook him as he admired her almost too openly for her own taste. Jadeite was appealing in the opposite way that Kunzite was, he was animated even as he stood there appraising her with arms crossed and a charming and perfect smile.
"Apologies Endymion, it looked like a threat. I've alerted Kunzite as well, poor bastard. Oh well, I'll trade you places if you like...I'd gladly be threatened by her. I believe I can die happy now if you are who I can only assume you are my Goddess?" He grinned wolfishly, bowing deeply. He took her hand to plant a firm kiss on her glove. Venus giggled, and Jadeite assumed it was flirtation of course, but it was more or less because she'd been watching for a few moments now as Kunzite stepped carefully into the courtyard. Endymion seemed to grin for the very same reason as he too was looking at the very tall silver haired General walk up silently behind Jadeite.
"Is there trouble Endymion?" Kunzite asked directly behind the younger General who nearly jumped out of his skin. Venus had to fight not to snort a laugh, it was made all the more amusing by the absolute stone-like expression on Kunzite's face. Jadeite dropped her hand, jumping to the side to clutch his heart dramatically in fear with wide blue eyes.
"Dammit Kunzite you scared the shit out of me! Where the fuck did you come from anyway!?" The glare Kunzite gave him should have killed him in wait for the mumbled apology that followed. Her eyes danced between the two men, further amused when Jadeite smirked devilishly and issued Kunzite a one fingered salute behind his back as he stepped away. There was another man behind Kunzite, shorter and closer to her own age if she had to guess, perhaps younger. His green eyes struggled to look back at her clearly, but they were striking and Venus couldn't look away. His features were gentler, aristocratic and but there was still a sharpness about him, an air of propriety and intelligence.
Serenity was laughing at the scene in the background as though she were simply watching a comedy. She maybe should have scolded her or been shocked when she launched herself at Kunzite in a warm hug that was purely Serenity, but she didn't. The nervous adoration in his eyes was not missed by Venus and she wondered what her Princess was becoming to these men if such a man as he allowed such casual and intimate advances. Depending on who was on the receiving end, Serenity was of age, yet still a child in many ways, made woman by the Prince of this very planet in the ways of intimacy. She wasn't literate in the prudish expectations of women on this planet, or the barbaric and wanton nature of their counterparts.
Kunzite took his place on a bench he seemed to have claimed since it was the one she'd found him peeling apples on and she thought yet again that he could have Lunar blood. He reminded her of a white wolf, piercing and intense light grey eyes and pale silver hair that he fell to smoothing with his fingers since it was a bit tousled no doubt in his rush to get there. All in contrast with creamy tanned skin that was a few shades darker than the rest of theirs, perhaps darker still by the time spent in the Sun. She hadn't noticed she was staring until their eyes met and she was faced with the same stone like and cold expression. Of course she looked away immediately and chewed on her bottom lip, unsure why she thought there would be warmth in his face.
"Lady Venus, my name is Zoisite. It is my pleasure to finally meet you." The younger man bowed causing a cascade of radiant strawberry blonde curls to fall over his shoulder. She'd seen his hair was careless but understood why as the long curls were only held loosely by a green ribbon. She studied him a moment, his coloring striking and made more adorable by the flush that graced his ears. He seemed to study her as well, or try to, but not like most men. She felt no lust from this one even as his green eyes flickered over her with a keen unwanting fascination. Truly it was almost refreshing.
"Pleasure is mine." Venus nodded with her offered amused smile, furthering his flush. Zoisite looked like he wanted to speak but coughed into his fist instead, his green eyes trailing downward and off to the side away from her.
"Apologies I cannot stay and speak further, there are still matters that need my attention, but I have a great many questions..."
"Another time then." She smiled further, wanting to hug the young King the way he spoke with such conviction, seeming to become frustrated at himself that he couldn't hold her stare for long. "I look forward to it."
"Goodnight then." He glanced at her, his own smile more charming than he probably even knew. Venus could tell he was a confident man, perhaps just a bit shy. She watched Zoisite bid the others goodnight as well, anything to ignore Jadeite's quite obvious staring beside her. His lust was unrestrained, there was a lot of that in this garden currently which gave her an idea for payback. Venus told herself she'd just tease him a little for no reason other than his sword at her throat, or maybe for whatever he'd done to set Mars off that one time. Surely not to make another man jealous...
She turned to better face the others, one of her best seductive smiles quirking her lips in her few steps toward Jadeite, her hips moving with purpose to distract. Venus removed her gloves slowly, hooking them over the chain at her hip so they wouldn't be lost. Everything on Jadeite's body went rigid when she sidled up to him, the lust she felt intensified and it wasn't just from him. His deep blue eyes fixed on her mouth when she ran a hand through feather soft blonde waves, her eyes drifting in time to meet Kunzite's grey ones across the garden, his adam's apple bobbed telling of a hard swallow and yet his face revealed little otherwise. She kissed Jadeite's cheek, his skin from the neck up a very flushed red and wasn't surprised to feel his agitated state from the belt down when she pressed against him. It was the smallest bit of her charm used, not meant to be harmful in any way.
"Thank you for being gracious enough to know that I'd never harm your Prince." The blonde soldier began to smile, his eyes drifting over her face and Venus took the moment to gaze back toward Kunzite who as indifferent as he looked, appeared almost annoyed if not slightly amused as though he knew her games. Jadeite said something in response, but she didn't hear him because as she looked over to Kunzite she noticed the immediate absence of Endymion and Serenity. A door opened somewhere and Venus whipped around just in time to see the silver slip of Serenity's hair disappear through the entrance to the castle she could only assume lead directly to Endymion's rooms.
Pulling herself from Jadeite, ignoring the commotion and splashing behind her she rushed forward to try prying the door open to no avail. Venus burst into action, springing forward toward the door now locked and sealed by a powerful ward created by her darling Princess and trying to break it down. Behind her, poor Jadeite had lost his footing in efforts to attempt a seduction of his own and found himself stumbling with a gurgling splash into the cold water of the fountain itself. Venus was vaguely aware of Kunzite's laugh behind her telling his General he needed to 'cool down anyway' between her own pounding fist against the door, repelled each time by magic until it rattled the bones in her hand. Most of their conversation muddled beneath the sound of her fist hitting the door.
Venus released the deepest sigh through her lips, glaring at the door as she turned to head back toward the comical scene behind her as Jadeite stepped from the fountain a dripping mess. The two exchanged a look, she knew the one on Kunzite's face well for she gave it to Serenity often when she argued about her studies. Jadeite on the other hand, regarded her with that mischief in his eye she saw earlier in the evening and found herself pulled into his arms with a surprised squeak, the fountain's cold water soaking through her uniform immediately. He kissed her, the lightest brush of warm lips that had her pushing him away before he could get any further ideas. Venus laughed of course, becoming further amused by the expressions of both men when her uniform came away rather translucent in its saturation.
"My Princess, this isn't the last you'll see of me, in any way, shape, or form." Jadeite promised, dark blue eyes practically bugging out of his head. He exchanged another look with his Commander, brows hitting his hairline as he walked away with an appreciative whistle. Venus didn't care about her rather displayed body, until she noticed that Kunzite could see her and somehow that was different than anyone else. He'd stood again of course, either to help Jadeite from the fountain or intimidate him away judging by his stance, but regardless she noticed he too was dressed rather casually and somewhat disgruntled. Venus smirked, sauntering her way back over to the fountain now that it was just the two of them, the motion forcing his steel like stare back to her where he'd avoided looking at her before.
"Well I'd say those two will be a while." She sighed, suddenly tired with the notion that she'd probably interrupted the General's own night of passion with some beautiful woman no doubt judging by the way his belt was thrown on. She sat down on the ledge and leaned back on her hands, allowing her hair to drift in the waters of the fountain behind her so she could gaze at the stars. "I apologize for ruining your night off, I guess I didn't count on more than one Heavenly King in the gardens tonight."
"I am honored to have the pleasure of your company my Lady. My night's been far from ruined." Venus offered a tired smile, her head heavy from her hair when she rest her chin on her shoulder to gaze back at the man she knew had been staring all along. He normally looked so well put together that in this state of dress he looked utterly wild. Kunzite's belt was clearly put on wrong, his pants hung low on his rather well defined hips because perhaps they weren't put on correctly either. She could see he at least adjusted his boots while he sat, and attempted to tame his hair with little success.
"Are you sure i'm not interrupting one of your brutish rendezvous?" Venus teased lightly, her smile becoming a bit more genuine in memory of their prior conversation. She thought of that night so often, it had become such a beautiful memory.
""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." Kunzite's lips twitched, eyes becoming amused at the quip, remembering his own messy state of dress. "I'm sorry if my appearance offends. "
"Not in the slightest." Venus hadn't meant for her voice to come out as suggestive as it did, though she did allow herself the moment to appreciate his disheveled appearance. His whole body was all long limbs and finely toned muscle, scarred as she knew it would be, but it all somehow added to the refined ruggedness of his features. A reminder that he had seen hard battle, where the rest of his men probably hadn't. Most men on Venus weren't as bronzed and sculpted as he was and she tried to stop her appraisal from going lower than the belt that was buckled wrong.
"You're no better off Princess. I suppose apologies are in order for Jadeite's behavior." She snapped her eyes back up to his, feeling something tangible building in the space between them. Venus couldn't quite place it other than she'd never experienced it before, like a very dangerous tug toward him.
"Something tells me you aren't sorry." She bit her lip with a playful smile, tilting her head just so. Neither had stopped their appraisal of the other, both just did a better job of concealing it. "It's all in good fun, isn't it? Besides I believe it was Jadeite that left 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 it off. Firstly Mars was more annoyed than normal, and secondly, she was concerned that her guard got along too well with Endymion's guard. Like she was any better the way she'd flirted and carried on this evening alone. It was only concerning because Venus felt something beneath the annoyance Mars expressed, and she shouldn't have felt anything unrelated to the heart.
"The Queen has finally accepted Endymion's request." Seeking to relieve herself some of the heat, she removed her shoes so she could put her feet in the cool water behind her, hoping to also find relief from the heat of his stare. "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 risks allowing him an audience in her palace."
"And we have you to thank again." Her back stiffened at the cold tone of his voice, grateful where she should have been offended because it caused anger to flare within her. Venusians were so often accused of mind manipulation where most people didn't understand how it worked. It became clear to her that Kunzite still did not trust her, It was better this way.
"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." She dared peek behind her to watch his fingers glide through the silver of his hair and she rolled her eyes in annoyance. Kunzite had the audacity to resort back to his bored two, to three word answers. Curtly answering her, looking so bored and having the nerve to be so gorgeous while doing so.
"I thought we 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." Venus actually felt like she was scolding Serenity, not bothering to hide the tired frustration of her voice. Her shoulders deflated with a great sigh. Coming to Earth was becoming the most frustrating and addicting thing, and this sordid affair Serenity was having the most stressful and exhausting. "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." She sighed again. Irritated that she was so left out of the happenings within this arrangement and yet grateful that Jupiter and Mars had been so vigilant in reigning their Princess in. Mercury had still been to frightened to make the journey, or too busy since she did so much work on her projects at night. Venus glanced over her shoulder, seeing him shift on his feet in her direction. There was amusement in his eyes, a faint glimmer of it as he tried to watch her.
"You've met Jupiter then." She kept her voice calm, stomach clenching and heart fluttering as she shifted her thick long hair over one shoulder so that Kunzite could see her better if he wanted. Pleased she could stay so nonchalant in a weak attempt at seduction without the use of her charms. Venus cupped the water into her palms and began to press it into her neck and chest, thinking she might just bathe in the water entirely to escape the stifling heat and yet this way, she seemed to affect him. His desire was so restrained, with good reason of course, and yet the self control he harnessed was almost as heavy as the air around them.
"I hope she didn't cause any trouble." Kunzite shifted closer to her, she could almost smell the bourbon on him or that spicy scent that seemed to be all his own. "I worry Serenity is left unattended too often on my nights off. My apologies General, we're still getting used to this new arrangement. I'll have to tighten my security."
"She was just unexpected I think. We needed the rain so I suppose we should be thankful." Venus laughed, knowing one of two things happened. Jupiter had become so frightened by something that she so easily manipulated the clouds, turning the heavy damp air into rain with, or she saw too many dried up plants and decided to be of help. Jupiter was caring in that fashion, but not nearly as cautious as herself. Kunzite appeared lost in thought, almost amused himself at some memory even if his face gave so little away. Venus thought she might be learning the small nuances of his expression, what each quirk of his brow or lips might mean, that his grey eyes would sometimes give him away when he didn't mean to let on his amusement, or anger. No one else seemed to notice though, a notion that made her smirk more to herself than anything else.
"So there are four generals to your Prince as there are four warriors to my Princess? Interesting coincidence don't you think?" She drew some more water with her hands, letting it spill down her neck with such bliss that she didn't quite think of her white uniform. In true Venusian fashion she was far more concerned with dying of exposure to the heat than the translucent state of her uniform. The air was thick and hard for her to breathe, and yet somehow Kunzite got even closer to her still and she swore she felt the weight of his eyes. It wasn't as it had been with that soldier on Venus, she didn't feel violated or exposed. Perhaps Kunzite just didn't look at her the way he did, maybe that's why she felt so at ease with it.
"All due respect Venus, I don't think it's wise of us to discuss politics until we are in a better stance." He seemed irritated suddenly, like a bucket of ice water being thrown over her head. She would have much preferred that. It amused her as she learned things that put him at unease, or that he was such the diplomat that despite the desire she felt slipping from his very grasp seep into her that his resolve was so iron. She slipped from the fountain, dripping on the stones at her feet to stand almost directly in front of him, unsure when he'd moved so close toward the fountain when he'd normally have kept his distance.
"Then tell me something we may discuss in our current stance General." Venus mused, gazing up at how tall he was, allowing her eyes to wander now that he was so close over the sheen of sweat on his bronzed complexion, the silver scars she thought might tell stories of his life, the muscle she longed to trace and explore.
"What is your real name?" The question so direct, caught her completely off guard. Her eyes widened and snapped up to his, something about the question causing that prickling, burning behind her own eyes. Here she stood so directly in front of him, body practically bared to him and it would be nothing for him to touch her, he stood so close. Kunzite seemed to move closer still as though in a trance but there was concern in his grey stare, not desire, or some blatant need to own her like every other man she encountered. It made her chest grow tight, and when his fingers traced her arms so lightly Venus became terrified with a thought that there was so little she would deny him and she knew very little about him still.
"Can you keep a secret?" The steady trickle of the fountain beside them was almost louder than her whisper, her heart thundering in her chest almost louder than that. Venus decided to trust, it was no secret that her name had become a forbidden word to the Alliance. Everything so forbidden and for little reason other than over important symbolism, something that supposedly made her status all the more important. Venus hadn't heard her own name in a few years now.
"If that is what you wish." His fingers trailed up and down her arms lightly, it might have tickled if it wasn't so comforting, and the soft emotion in his voice had her bringing her eyes back up to meet his. The warmth, the gentleness of them was foreign to her even it didn't reach his mouth. Venus had to stop herself from chewing on her lip, biting it so briefly with hesitation. She swore his fingertips pressed into the backs of her arms with more pressure as though he wanted her to step into him further and she felt her chest tighten even more until it was hard to breathe. Her lips parted, mostly to speak but perhaps there was invitation in it the way she glanced at his own lips as they seemed to untense.
"My name is Mi-" The palace door crashed open, Serenity flying through with wild hair and disgruntled dress, wrinkled and falling from her arms and making Kunzite withdrawal his hands all too quickly. The young Princess crashed into her with a wild giggle.
"We must get back! It's sooooooo late! Why didn't you send Kunzie up for me!?" Venus could scarcely grab her shoes, the insistent girl pulling her toward the gates with hurried whispers. She allowed herself a moment to glance back at Kunzite, left staring after them with an expression half amused and half frustrated, probably by the nickname he so hated. She offered an apologetic smile, and when his lips curled into something warm and genuine she had the grace to flush. It was the last thing she saw before she was teleported home, and greeted by Serenity's white rooms.
"So what was that about?" Excitement sparkled in her big blue eyes and Venus's lips tightened in an annoyed grimace, Serenity's cheeks turning pink in appraisal of her wet uniform. It was cold suddenly so Venus crossed her arms over her chest. "Are you two..."
"No." She bit too quickly. Thankfully Serenity was a little gullible and the sly grin slipped from her lips in confusion. "I fell into the fountain, General Kunzite was only kind enough to help me out. You'll do well to hide that mark tomorrow Princess."
"Right... " Serenity peeked in a mirror and grimaced at the deep purple mark on her neck, seeming to forget Venus right away. She exhaled in relief slowly, and turned to leave, insides churning.
"Goodnight Serenity... do tell Endymion to be more careful. He'll be joining us on the Moon soon... he'd do well to not forget his place." Venus frowned, leaving the room quickly because she was cold, and also because she needed to groan at herself in self loathing. What the Hell had she even been thinking almost telling him her name like they hadn't broken at least ten laws in merely speaking to each other. Venus wondered if the situation would be made worse by other laws being broken, they were already damned if someone found out.
She shivered, telling herself it was only from the cold, detransforming the moment she was in her rooms and pulled on a silk night dress as well as her satin robe for warmth. As often as she gazed at the planet beyond her windows and longed for its fragrant gardens and endless beauties, there was something different. Something tangible was building between herself and the stoic General that she could feel. He himself was an anomaly of a man, more fascinated by her name and maintaining diplomacy than her perhaps poor attempt at seduction considering she used no powers. Venus thought again with amusement that he might prefer men but her amusement fell when she did remember feeling his desire, how it was reigned back, how he denied himself and suppressed. Perhaps he was just like her.
Venus turned her back defiantly, fingers gripping the red satin sheets he told herself like an addict that she felt nothing. The flirtation must end, she had a mission to focus on and it involved very intricate weaving of a red thread of fate so tight and straight and fragile that it could snap with the wrong movement. It would be so easy for her to fail in this if the Earth could not be tied to the Silver Millenium. Legend implied that Endymion was the key to either tie it together, or bring about the end, and it was Sailor Venus said to lift the Alliance to their potential. She could not fail Serenity, couldn't fail them all, and her duties could seal their very fate. Failure just simply wasn't an option, even if it meant losing it all to achieve the end goal.