Disclaimer: I do not own MGLN but my girlfriend reckons she should!
Author's Notes: A mega thank you to ZonaRose; Lance58; kurosunoiku; LC Rina; Derka; FateKitty; SapphoSensei and Guest's one and two for you amazing reviews as well as all those who are following the story. You guys are awesome!
Lance58: Hope your thesis is going ok. The White Devil mode will come later… until then more cliff hangers to look forward to :-P Alcohol can make us do some pretty amazing things :-)
LC Rina: "plutonic" is indeed a very different word to "platonic" the one I wanted to use lol the power of one letter. Thank you for pointing it out :-) Was it Quattro?... The answer lies below :-D
Derka: Hahaha hope you didn't loose too much blood. How Nanoha will react to Fate's identity is the million dollar question but I am afraid it won't be revealed in this chapter :-P Hope you got some sleep and the hangover wasn't too bad :-P
Guest (1): Hope you had a great birthday and were spoilt rotten :-)
SapphoSensei: Thank you for spotting my typos. It definitely helps me improve. You know the feeling when you read something like a hundred times looking specifically for typos and simply read over them missing them completely lol? That definitely happened with Ch 18 (well probably with most chapters…). The last chapter has definitely left a lot of questions for Nanoha as well as for Fate with her attraction to Nanoha. I am looking forward to making them explore and seek the answers :-)
And now the revelation chapter to who the mystery person is… :-)
WARNING: Mild profanity!
Chapter 19
Vulnerable
** Flashbacks in italics.
Fate's POV.
Everything happened so fast.
Ahh my head. I feel so dizzy. I need to gain back control but I can't get up.
"Fate. What happened?" Is that Nanoha? I open my eyes at the cool welcoming feeling of something wet placed on my lip. What happened?
The world and all its problems melted away as I hold Nanoha as close to my body as possible. I want her so badly. I have never wanted something or rather someone so much in my entire life apart from mother's happiness but even that seems a millions miles away. Her smell and nearness is intoxicating. No one has ever touched me so gently yet so seductively before. At this moment she is the sole occupant of my mind, heart and body. My head feels so light and almost dizzy.
I brush my lips to her soft and tempting neck.
Oh my God this is beyond my wildest dreams. She tastes heavenly. I want more. Nanoha… what are you doing to me? My heart is beating to her heart's rhythm. Her entire being is driving me mad with desire for her and she knows it. We both shift slightly. I want to capture her lips and make them mine. What am I thinking? This is so unlike me. What is going on? My desires are taking over. My inhibitions are gone. Nanoha, Nanoha, Nanoha.
Ouff. What the…? Someone bumped into us. I look towards the retreating figure who didn't even care to apologise. No! It can't be! That hair looks identical. What is she doing here?
I stand and help Nanoha up. "Are you alright?" I ask. She nods back. Thank goodness. I look back towards the person who seems to be entering the women's bathroom.
"Excuse me. I will be right back." I say to Nanoha as I proceed to follow the familiar figure into the bathroom. I feel so dizzy. What is wrong with me? Control Fate, control. I need to maintain control. My legs feel like jelly. I don't think I am even walking straight.
I make it into the bathroom and right at the far side I see Quattro smirking. She is leaning against the wall with one leg propped up against it.
"Fancy meeting you here Fate."
I move closer to her. "What are you doing here?" My head feels so light. I hold onto the nearest sink for support.
"I came to party of course and would you have it coincidently 'bumped' into you hahaha."
"There are no coincidences with you Quattro." I manage to say as I move closer to her. I am a metre away. Quattro closes the distance, a look of victory evident on her face.
A wave of nausea floods my body. I stumble forward but quickly regain my footing.
"Look at the state of you. What would your mother say?"
Anger rushes through my body. I grab her by the shirt. "You leave mother out of this. This is between you and I." My head spins wildly. Quattro is getting blurry in front of me. I can't help leaning slightly into her. Control yourself Fate. What is wrong with me?
"Hahaha so defensive my dear Fate. Want to know a secret? No? Well I will tell you anyway. I came here to fuck with you but it looked like you were well on your way to that hahaha. First with that man then with that girl. You know you are just like your mother. A whore."
"No, she isn't." I say louder than I have ever spoken for what seems like an eternity. My voice doesn't sound like my own. A few women using the bathroom start distancing themselves from us.
"Maybe I can get a piece of the action too." In a swift movement Quattro grabs my hands on her shirt, spins me around and violently pushes me against the wall. The action makes my head spin madly. I close my eyes in hope that it will ease the chaotic whirling. The entire room seems to be moving as if a violent earthquake is taking place. What is happening to me?
My thoughts are ripped out of my mind with an aggressive sensation on my lips. I open my eyes and see Quattro's face directly in front of mine. With all the power I can muster I push her off me as hard as I can. Everything feels surreal. Quattro upon getting pushed bites down on my bottom lip. She collides forcefully with the mirror, smashing some of it in the process.
A new wave of nausea takes hold of my body and my stomach's content comes rushing out onto the bathroom floor. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and taste the warm metallic taste of blood mixed with vomit. I lean against the wall. My body feels much too heavy.
I feel Quattro's presence next to me. She must have had something to do with my current state.
"Hahaha Fate, you surprise me. As much as I'd like to finish this it seems you are in no condition. Want to know why?" At this Quattro leans in close to my ear and whispers. "Because I added a little something special to your drink." Shit that drink was from her. How could I be so careless? I can hear her snicker. "I have always despised you. I do not know why the Project bothers with you but I will show them who the best is. Bye-bye for now Fate." With those parting words Quattro makes her exit.
I try and walk. Nothing seems to be standing still through my eyes. I stumble again and fall into a toilet door that pushes open sending me tumbling back and landing on my backside.
"My drink was spiked." I am so very stupid. I completely ignored my training. I close my eyes. I suddenly feel a warm soothing hand that moves from my temple to my cheek.
"Don't worry Fate, I will look after you."
Nanoha…
… "What happened to her?"… Is that Linith? Did I pass out?...
"Let's get her up and back home, Nanoha take her one hand and I will take the other." I feel light as I am lifted. "Fate can you help us?" I will try but which way is up or down? My head is such a mess. With my arms around Nanoha's and Linith's shoulder I place one foot tentatively in front of the other. Without their support I would have never even made it up. The room is still spinning. I close my eyes and move with their assistance. I hear Hayate in front of us.
"So sorry." I manage to say. Even speaking seems like a chore.
"It's not your fault Fate. It's the fault of whoever spiked your drink." Nanoha answers squeezing my hand in the process.
"Wow that girl is wasted." Someone says on my left. I must look awful…
… That breeze on my face feels nice. Are we outside already? I don't even remember making it out of the club. How did we make it down those stairs?...
… Where are we? Is this our apartment block already?
"Very sorry."
"Hahaha Fate, don't sweat it, shit happens." Must be Hayate who said that…
… "Lets put her on her bed." I don't even remember getting into our apartment. I feel my body being directed onto the bed. Wait. There is still too much spinning. Don't let me go. I will fall. I wildly grab the nearest thing to hold onto to noticing it is very warm and remarkably grounding in this sea of chaos whirling in my mind and body.
I am so weak. I am so weak and so useless.
"Oh dear. I am sorry Nanoha. It doesn't look like she will let go."
"I don't think she minds."
"Hayate!… although she is right. I don't mind. Would it be alright if I stayed with her?"
"Of course. I will bring you a bucket in case she needs to vomit and some water. She needs to rehydrate."
"And I will bring you a change of clothes Nanoha and check on Yuuno. Also do you mind if I crash at your place?"
"Thank you and you don't have to ask."
"Awesome, hey Linith fancy a night cap?"…
…I am so weak… so very weak …
…"I shouldn't… have… ignored… my training."
"What was that Fate? What training?" that sounds like Nanoha but I can't be sure. The raging storm in my mind is too loud.
"My head." I was so careless. Stop spinning, please stop. I place my hands on my temple. I can't seem to focus on anything.
"Oh my God Fate is that bruising on your hip. They look like finger marks. What happened?"
I am so dirty. I had completely forgotten about Regius. I sit up too fast and fall off what I assume is the bed. I must get rid of these clothes. I can smell him on me. I can feel him on me.
"Regius." I blurt out.
"Who is Regius? Is he the one who made those bruises? Fate you are unsteady, you will fall, come sit." Ha her voice sounds angry.
"NO! I am… filthy." I can still smell him on me. I must get rid of these clothes. I start unbuckling my belt. I stumble and fall but quickly stand again leaning with my back against the wall. I can feel his hands crawl all over me. I fling my arms out. Satisfied I have gotten rid of the image of him in front of my face I continue getting rid of my dirty clothes.
"Fate." Why is she calling me? Can't she see these clothes are tainted? Off, they need to come off. Ah finally I feel the coolness of the air on my legs. I sit on the floor and pull my pants off my feet with my boots.
"Um.. Fate?" Not now I need to get rid of Regius. I stand. The room spins more when I stand. I place both hands flat on the wall and lean my back against it. If I can't trust me eyes I will trust the feeling of the wall.
"Almost." I breathe deeply. I slowly remove one hand from the wall. Still standing, good. Now remove the other. Yes! I quickly discard the shirt I am wearing. His hold was suffocating me. I feel freer now. I throw the shirt away from me. I close my eyes and lean against the solid wall and slide down it to drop on the ground. I hug myself with my arms. I cannot feel him anymore on me.
"Heya I got your change of clothes… oh… um…okay…what is going on? Why is she in her underwear?"
"I am not sure. She isn't making much sense."
"Nanoha I got you a bucket and…Fate?"
"He is gone now."
"Linith do you know who she is taking about? She has these weird bruises on her hips too. Do you know when and how this happened?"
"It's complicated…"
"Are you angry with me?" She must be I can hear it in Nanoha's voice.
"Oh no not at you Fate. I am angry at whoever dared to touch and bruise you but not at you. Remember no one has the right to touch you without your permission." I feel Nanoha's hand on my knee.
"Oh dear, this is definitely not what it sounds like."…
…It is so hot in this room. Why are so many people in here? The Project wouldn't allow so many people in this room. The Project…Mother…Nanoha…Why has everything become so confusing lately?...
…"I think it best if I stay with her. Maybe you both should go get some sleep."
"No," I panic "Please stay." I do not want to be alone. You help keep some of the demons at bay. I grip the hand on my knee and hold onto it.
"I am not going anywhere Fate. Is that alright with you Linith?"
"If it is what Fate wants then it's alright."
"I could use that night cap right about now Linith and from the looks of it you too, come on, Nanoha has everything under control and we are just a room away should she need us."…
…"Fate? Fate are you awake? Come you need some clothes and a soft bed." Nanoha gently takes both my hands and helps me stand. I lose my balance and fall forward but am caught by warm, reassuring arms.
"I am sorry."
"It is alright Fate, you haven't done anything wrong." We move together slowly and I feel myself being lowered onto the bed. I sit on the soft mattress. I feel Nanoha kneeling in front of me.
"Right Fate, where do you keep your pjs?" I stand and feel Nanoha grab hold of my hand so I do not fall. I point towards a small cupboard. "I will get them for you Fate. Why don't you sit here for me?" Nanoha is so nice to me. I sit slumped waiting. The room isn't spinning quite as badly anymore. I close my eyes. I hear the cupboard open then nothing. Will she leave? Has she already left? I feel a hand on my knee again. I sigh deeply. She hasn't left me.
"Here Fate I have a singlet for you and pants. Do you need me to help you?" I shake my head from side to side. Ah yes must take bra off first. Damn clasp won't come undone. It doesn't help that the room won't stand still either.
"Can I help undo the clasp? Turn around for me Fate." My concerns about my state of undress in front of Nanoha flew out with my inhibitions from the drink spiking. I pivot on my hip facing my back to her.
I hear her gasp.
To be continued…
