Daydream Believer – Chapter Five

by taitofan

Rated PG-13 for sexual situations

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.

Author's note: There's only one ship left to introduce. So, let's get to it! As a warning, the couple is already together here, but don't worry, a later chapter will look more into how it came to be.

If you have any CC, please share and I'll listen. Please read, review, and enjoy! Finished 05-27-14

Fiore had been in love with Mamoru for a long time—the other man had been his first friend and his first love, and even after he was defeated and drifted through space for several centuries, he had kept his feelings deep in his heart. He hadn't thought he'd ever have friends, and he'd known he'd never love another.

It had taken coming back to Earth again to change his attitude on both subjects.

He'd arrived on Earth during the age of Crystal Tokyo, and while he'd still been a bit weak, the silver crystal that protected the inhabitants of Crystal Tokyo gave him strength to finally return to the state he'd been before fighting Sailor Moon. However, just knowing that Mamoru was there, within the city… Then learning that he was now King Endymion, married and a father…

It hurt. Not as much as it had the last time he'd been on the planet, but it still hurt. Not having a place to live didn't help his plight, and the people of Crystal Tokyo were so used to their way of life that his exotic appearance had caused many to ignore him when he asked for assistance. It seemed that perhaps the perfect utopia he'd originally thought the crystal city to be wasn't quite so perfect after all.

But it hadn't mattered to him that not everything was perfect. He just hadn't wanted to be alone again. He hadn't want to leave Earth and float in space any longer! He'd wanted a home, flawed or not!

And he'd gotten one when a young white-haired man appeared before Fiore and told him of his destiny, if only he'd follow him to a realm known as Elysian. And well, what had Fiore had to lose? He'd allowed himself to be spirited away to the dream land, and he'd found that yes, he could have a home. He could have friends. He could even love someone and find love in return.

"Are you scared?" Fiore shook his head, not needing to ask what his companion was talking about.

"He has a wife and we're going there because Helios and Perle are marrying his daughter. No, I have nothing to be scared of. The queen forgave me long ago, and I don't love the king anymore…"

Scared, no. Nervous though… Apparently, Fisheye didn't fail to notice this, as he threaded their fingers together in a comforting gesture. He'd been told once, back when they first met, that Fisheye's hands had once been scaly and webbed. Now they were soft and smooth, and they fit perfectly within Fiore's.

"I loved him once too, you know," Fisheye reminded him, though there was really no need. That had been what they'd bonded over when Fiore had first arrived in Elysium, after all. They'd both loved Mamoru Chiba, they'd both fought Sailor Moon, and they'd both lost in battle and in love to her. But really, it didn't hurt anymore. Why should it, when they'd found love in each other in the end? "And even if I love you now… I dunno. It's going to be kinda weird living with him and the little pumpkin…"

"It's going to be weird if you called the queen a pumpkin," Fiore teased, chuckling when Fisheye stuck his tongue out at him.

They wouldn't be leaving Elysium forever quite yet, but this trip to Crystal Tokyo would be a taste of their new lives. Fiore had grown comfortable here, but he knew that he had to go with the others. He owed Helios so much, he could never leave his friends, and he would never even dream of leaving Fisheye. Helios didn't have to take him in. The trio didn't need to share their pasts. Fisheye didn't have to fall in love with him. But they had. They'd saved him from an eternity of loneliness—they were his family—and he loved them all dearly.

He supposed it didn't matter if his home changed its location, because as far as he was concerned, it would always be right where his family was.

"Helios and Perle are getting lucky tonight," Fisheye whispered in the most scandalous, singsong tone Fiore thought he was capable of. Well, he wasn't sure if things would progress that far when Small Lady's parents were there and she was still unmarried, but who knew? Fisheye knew more about this girl than he did.

Speaking of her parents… He looked up and saw Mamoru—King Endymion he corrected himself—looking at his wife, who was in turn looking at one of the women who'd arrived that day as well. Much to his relief, seeing his old friend hadn't revived any painful feelings. He still loved Fisheye more than the world, though he did find himself hoping that their friendship could be rekindled.

"Hey Fiore, you didn't see Hawk run off, did you?" He looked away from the royal couple, only to see that Hawk's Eye was indeed missing. For that matter, so was the white haired girl who he'd been fighting with ever since they'd arrived. Fisheye and Tiger's Eye had teased him mercilessly about his "flirting" with a young girl, but Fiore hadn't joined in. While he didn't doubt their friendship, sometimes he felt that he'd never truly be as close to his friends as the trio were to each other, despite their claims to the contrary. He just didn't feel comfortable saying the things they could easily say to each other…

Friendship and relationship were both more complicated than he'd originally thought, but he was at least sure that he was making progress. He wasn't, say, locking people up and trying to kill people anymore.

"That girl is gone too," was all he said. He wasn't keen on having any deep, soul-searching conversations in public. "Maybe they went somewhere to keep fighting and not bother anyone?"

"Or maybe to make out." Fisheye didn't even pose it as a question. "You know, that sounds like a really good idea…"

While it didn't seem very smart to give into all of Fisheye's winking and nudging, this trip was supposed to get them used to living in the castle… And everyone had seemed to go off to do their own things… And Fisheye was looking terribly cute at that moment…

He didn't know if the king or queen noticed them leave, or if they'd even care if they did. But as he slipped his hand into Fisheye's and let his lover lead him towards the guest rooms, he found himself hoping that they had. He wanted them to know that he'd found friends and family and love. He was happy, and it was thanks to their forgiveness.

He wanted to thank them for so much.

But he still had to find the courage to face them first.