A/N: Sorry, this was somewhat a long time coming and I had to get it out of the way. My. My, Hayate is turning into quite the soulless bitch isn't she? Anyway, there is still much more to tell. Thanks to Elder Master like always.
(Obsidian Palace: Main gardens)
"Really, where did she run off to now? Damn Lady Hayate!" Teana said as she navigated the entrance to the gardens. She long knew Subaru's path of despair and was glad it was not during a function. To her credit, Subaru usually held her emotions well when in mixed company. But this whole 'scenario' had been taking its toll on both Subaru and the love that she and Teana shared. Declining to call to Subaru, Teana made haste around the hedges as she then found her.
"Subaru…" Teana said as she made her way closer.
"Please leave me." Subaru requested. "I am unsightly."
"If I must live with your 'unsightliness' then so be it. I would rather have you under conditions then not at all." Teana said as she pulled her skirt to the back of her legs and sat beside Subaru.
"Teana…" Subaru said as she turned towards Teana. "I … like this." Subaru said as she made use of her sleeve.
"You know, you are not a child any more." Teana said as she smiled softly retrieving the handkerchief from Subaru's visible pocket. "Using your sleeve is something a child does."
"That amounts to how I feel at the moment." Subaru said as she attempted to bite back any further words. The venom that filled her thoughts, however, was stronger. Subaru often wanted to give more to Teana and yet the latter took what she could give gratefully. But no woman wished to play second chair; Subaru knew this, yet could not stop herself.
"I am so sick and tired of this! How many more times must I bite my tongue?" Subaru lunged forward into a rigid stance as her anger thrummed through her once more. As the metaphoric rapier ran though Teana's heart she sat unflinching and supportive. Despite what she wished to scream at the top of her lungs. Usually, Subaru's naiveté was standard fair in the bitter daily buffet that Teana ingested without complaint. But Teana was quickly reaching her limit.
"Lady Nanoha needs help. She does not need to be the centerpiece in a drama! This is too much for me to bear!" Subaru continued to rail while Teana sat still as she felt the needles begin to pierce her entire body.
"Subaru…" Teana said before pausing for a moment. "Subaru, do you remember the last time you made love to me?" Teana wouldn't normally be so direct, but the throbbing in her mind finally drowned out her selfless concern.
"…Teana." Subaru said as her anger went cold. She now realized, at least for a moment, an inkling of the pain she had caused.
"Or even the last time you held me?" Teana asked as she continued to hold the writhing beast called emotion deep within her. The cries of the she-beast were no longer cries. "Or even the last time you thought of me before her." Jealousy, Lust, Sadness, Anger. All pushed though Teana's burning thoughts.
They were no longer cries, they were screams.
Teana could no longer hold her needs in check. She wanted, needed, wanted, needed, wanted …
"Do you love Lady Nanoha? Do you want to be … I cannot even say it…" Teana said as she thought that she would be sick.
"Teana…" Subaru trailed yet she kept her distance.
"You are horrible Subaru. Absolutely horrible! I stand by your side. I stand by your side and you ignore me. I support you without restriction. But I need and want…" Teana said as she hugged herself.
"I want you to think of me! Think of me! Instead of that cursed…" Teana trailed as she was pulled into Subaru's arms.
"It is not Lady Nanoha's fault. So do not curse her. If you must curse someone, if you must be angry at someone, let it be me. I am the one who mistreats you and neglects you." Subaru said as she was pushed away.
"Even now you defend her. I do not want to hear of her any longer! The thought of you ignoring me makes me ill. I only need two things, Subaru. To be wanted and to be loved and I …" Teana paused once more as her mask fatally cracked. "… I ..." Teana began to sob as Subaru tried once again to soothe her.
"Let me go! I do not want…"Teana fought herself free and then began to run in the other direction. Subaru didn't even attempt to chase after her.
"Teana…" Subaru said just above a whisper. And as she sat down, for once in a very long time she began to think of her love instead of her idol.
"You did not see how you were hurting her? Your devotion blinded you and now she pays the price. I sent her out her to calm you. But it would seem as if she could not take it. I apologize." Hayate said as she was pushed around the corner. Already dressed for the evening, Hayate pulled at the shawl around her shoulders weakly.
"It is your fault. This is all your fault." Subaru lashed out expectedly.
"All of this time. Even after a century you still do not understand." Hayate said. "If you must still blame me then so be it. But do you not think that Teana has suffered enough for your idolism?" Hayate said spearing the issue.
"Have we not all suffered from the cruelty you have brought forth?" Subaru shot back sharply.
"Cruel am I?" Hayate said flatly. "I will show you how cruel I can be then. For the foreseeable future you are no longer Nanoha's lady in waiting. That role will be filled by someone else. Now, begone." Hayate said with a truly hostile glint in her eyes.
"If it were not for Lady Nanoha I would …"
"You would what? You have been dismissed. Make haste." Vita said as she rounded the hedges. Subaru departed as instructed. Perhaps out of fear? Or perhaps out of respect for her Lady. The victory of a stare down was not Hayate's idea of an early evening discussion.
"Need she be watched?" Vita asked.
"No, that one is taxing. But she will obey out of respect for her Lady." Hayate said as she relaxed.
"Very well, the two young ones seem to be picking The Arts up rather quickly. It is as if they never forgot them." Vita said in reference to her training of Vivio and Einhart.
"Magic does not leave someone's soul, even if their mind forgets." Hayate said warmly.
"Lady Fate was looking for you, she wished to apologize." Vita stated as she heard a snort and then a giggle and before long Hayate was laughing loudly.
"Oh my, that is refreshing." Hayate said in between laughs.
"Milady, your breathing." Vita said as Hayate gasped for a moment.
"Refreshing indeed, Fate is still bright as the sun. Come now, we have things to do. Let us leave this matter where it lay. Those two will fix it themselves." Hayate said as she was wheeled out of the garden, the latter statement reminding her of hope's light.
(Obsidian Palace: Nanoha's apartment)
"… and then Einhart moved quicker then Lady Vita. Fast enough that Lady Vita missed her altogether and hit one of the pillars!" Vivio recited gleefully.
"Is Lady Vita still grumpy?" Nanoha asked as she laid back.
"Lady Vita is eternally grumpy." Vivio said as she fixed her posture.
"How is Einhart?" Nanoha asked as she enjoyed the conversation.
"Einhart is nearly as bad! She's so serious. But she is like a kitten in bed. It sounds like she purrs when I let her cuddle with me." Vivio said reflectively.
"Was Einhart always so serious?" Nanoha asked as her mind blanked out. Vivio made quickly past the lapse in memory.
"Indeed! It was that way even when we were small. Mama is so silly." Vivio stated.
"I am happy you came to talk to me … who were you again?" Nanoha asked.
"My name is Vivio. And you are Mama." Vivio said with a smile. The truth was Vivio had to do this a few times a day. It was odd that Nanoha could remember Lady Hayate and Lady Subaru's names but not hers. Not that she minded. Just because her Mama couldn't remember didn't mean she was any different a person.
"I see, I enjoy the stories you tell." Nanoha said honestly.
"I know, that is why I tell them." Vivio said as she noticed it getting dark. "Oh! I must go for now." Vivio stated as she placed the chair back where it was. She then leaned over and kissed 'Mama' on the forehead before walking over and turning to the door.
"I wish I could go out." Nanoha said with a pout.
"I will send sweets, certainly!" Vivio said as she exited the room.
"Must you always talk about me?" Einhart said with flushed cheeks.
"It's because Einhart is so interesting!" Vivio said as she took Einhart's hand and the pair made their way down the hall.