Natarle's Apartment

April 8th

"It's not very much, but it's kind of home." Natarle said sheepishly, gesturing nervously to her small apartment, examining Justin's expressions carefully. He seemed honestly intrigued, glancing around and letting his eyes stray on her bookshelf. She idly folded her hands together and glanced at the floor, waiting for his condemnation. Murrue had been quick to groan but she'd eased up lately on it.

"It's great, a hell of a lot better than my place." Justin grinned broadly at her, every word sincere and his tone earnest to please. He noticed how she immediately looked at the floor, face pink and the shy smile gracing her lips. Reaching out, he casually ruffled her hair and earned a soft squeak of surprise, before dropping his arm around her waist.

"You live on your ship, I'd hope it was better than your place." Natarle pointed out gently, elbowing him in the ribs. He snorted but didn't argue, instead he dropped his head and pressed a kiss to her ruffled hair before casually smoothing it out. She didn't really mind the attention, wondering why it already felt natural to be held against his chest.

"Been here since you got back?" Justin asked conversationally as he made himself at home on her request, sprawling out on one of the pale couches, again at her insistence. She didn't seem that hesitant about joining him though, but that had been at his insistence this time, and now she was sitting beside him, unconsciously leaning towards him.

"Yeah I have, Murrue settled me in, along with Erica... There wasn't much to move honestly, I kind of just nicked the furniture." Natarle smiled sheepishly, remembering the first time Murrue visited after everything was arranged. She'd groaned and tsked a few times, enough to get her point across, but she didn't bring it up in direct conversation. She knew her friend wanted something more domestic, but to be honest she liked it how it was.

"Where do you work?"

"Didn't Murrue tell you?" Natarle shot back with a raised eyebrow, folding her arms over her stomach and looking at him with a faux-smile. She hadn't given it any thought before, but now that she had some time to think she knew that her former captain had been the one to set it up, it made enough sense to her now.

Justin grinned without a hint of apology, though he did look slightly embarrassed. He reached up to poke her nose and then explained in a cheery voice, "Caught red-handed. Yeah I asked Murrue a few questions but I wanna know from you. You work in an office, right?"

"Yeah, secretary basically. I get all the paperwork that isn't important enough for Erica but is more important then the mechs like Murrue. So basically I'm the middle-woman." Natarle couldn't help a smile, she was happy to know that things she did now were going towards a better cause then when she'd been in military service. The job was also familiar enough to not really need much more practise as well, she was comfortable.

"Nice enough." Justin agreed almost grudgingly, nuzzling again into her neck and breathing in the scent of mint that clung to her. She sighed contentedly and he chuckled quietly against her dark hair, wrapping his arm tighter around her. He mused over the list of questions he'd had prepared for her, but they always slid out of his grasp when she moved unconsciously to get closer or more comfortable."What else have you been up to?"

"Going out with the girls, they've been wanting me to go someplace almost every weekend. They're plotting against me." Natarle laughed softly, knowing that the two women only had her best interests at heart. She loved them both for it, Murrue made the meetings quite fun, and she had begun to look forward to the time she got to spend with them. "Clubs, cards, normal stuff."

"Sounds like fun, glad you've been getting out more." Justin chuckled, this time actually sounding quite pleased. He grinned broadly when she snuck a peek up at him, and gave her a swift kiss on the cheek. He playfully teased, emerald eyes sparkling with mirth and pride, "I told you that ORB would be good for you." He poked her sides, "And you didn't want to go."

"I never said I didn't want to go." Natarle grumbled under her breath, looking away and frowning at the wall because she knew he was right. He had the uncanny ability to read her like the books she loved, and for another odd reason she didn't mind that as much as she used to. "I just wanted to know your opinion on the subject, that doesn't mean anything. And don't you dare say that it did, I can kick you out whenever I want."

"Yes ma'am." Justin mock saluted her order, grinning broadly from ear to ear, his emerald eyes still bright with laughter. She rolled her eyes to the ceiling in a very familiar gesture, but the little smile she wore gave her real emotions away and he chuckled again. His expression became serious after a moment, and he asked quietly, "How've you been healing...?"

"Oh? Fine actually, thanks for asking." Natarle answered honestly, smiling a little at him when she saw his relieved expression. She wasn't placating him, she had actually made good progress in her healing, the wounds didn't bother her anymore. He arched one eyebrow and she laughed a little, rolling up her sleeve and revealing the little knot of healing tissue on her shoulder. "See? It's perfectly fine."

Justin unexpectedly reached out to gently brush his fingertip across the healing wound, barely skimming the surface of her skin. She inhaled sharply, and he almost instinctively drew his hand back before he noted that her eyes were closed and her expression didn't mirror pain. Encouraged by this, he moved closer and gently kissed the scar, earning a soft sigh of pleasure.

He seemed to know her injuries off by heart, he didn't need direction when his hands travelled down her sides to lift her shirt, revealing the second wound on her side. She didn't argue against his intentions either, closing her eyes and allowing him to have complete access to her body. His lips brushed against the raised skin there now, before he had shifted even lower to get at the scar on her leg. He'd finished his exploration before she opened her eyes again, but then it didn't matter when he kissed her, they closed almost at once.

She was barely aware of him lifting her into his arms and carrying her to his room, the kiss never broke while they moved. She felt the soft mattress underneath her when he set her down, felt the crisp sheets below but she didn't care. All that concerned her at the moment was the man hovering above her, kissing her, caressing her.

He was gentle despite the hunger that basically radiated off of them both, and even with his earnest he carefully removed her clothes. She wasn't awkward now, something had calmed her nervousness and she woke the inner seductress that lived inside of her. She'd tug him closer when he moved too far away for her liking, he never argued once with her direction. It was new to her, but at the same time all too familiar. Common sense wasn't needed, instinct took over and did the rest that she didn't understand.

The world could wait.

I can feel you all around me,

thickening the air I'm breathing.

Holding onto what I'm feeling,

savouring this heart that's healing.

Murrue's Apartment

Murrue wasn't surprised when she peeked into her room, seeing her fiancé fast asleep in the bed, tangled up in the sheets and snoring quietly into the pillow. She giggled into her hand, holding her coffee straight so the hot beverage wouldn't spill. She leaned on the doorframe, smiling a little as she watched him sleep.

He was a restless sleeper, always tossing and turning in the bed and mumbling incoherently. She wondered how she managed to sleep with him, from what she knew she wasn't that restless and she was a fairly easy sleeper, it didn't take much to wake her up. But somehow every time she woke up after being snuggled in his arms, it was always the best sleep she'd ever had.

She stood there for a little while, gaze sweeping over what parts of him that weren't obscured by the sheets that were tangled around his limbs. His face was practically hidden by his hair, which was growing at a shockingly fast speed, and also buried in the pillow. The sheets wound around his legs and chest, and his arms were empty and she was sure that would wake him up soon enough. He always seemed to know when she left the bed.

He shifted with a loud groan, rolling over onto his side and scrunching up into a bit of a ball. Murrue bit her lower lip to smother a giggle. She watched his legs for a long moment, seeing the red streaks that still took up residence there. She winced inwardly, fresh pain washing over her at the sight of his wounds.

'My fault...'

"Haha! Didn't I tell you I could make the impossible, possible!?"

She cringed again. The memory was still fresh, it still whipped out cruelly at her adding to the crushing grief that nearly brought tears to her eyes. She knew he was there, within her reach, she could touch him if she wanted and prove it. She watched him sleep peacefully, and sighed shakily, moving to perch herself on the edge of the bed.

They hadn't spoken much about it, she'd avoided the topic as much as she possibly could. It was impossible to ignore though, she saw the affects of the incident almost every single day. He did a good job of ignoring them himself, working his body as hard as it could possibly go, getting stronger with each passing day. She was proud of him, but the feeling was bittersweet. Her fault. He was like this because of her.

She felt the cold tear make its way down her cheek, and with shivering fingers she reached to brush it away. Her hand never made it there.

She looked up in surprise, seeing a pair of intense azure eyes staring worriedly into hers, his hand wrapped firmly around her wrist. He gently pushed her hand into her lap, and took care of the tear himself, brushing it aside with his thumb. She closed her eyes, letting him take care of the others that had snuck through.

She felt his fingertips brush along her cheek, along the drying trails that her tears had taken. She thought of his arms wrapped securely around her, cradling her to his chest and then he was there, as if responding to her silent hopes. She breathed shakily, her entire body wracked with the guilt and pain. She whispered into his skin, eyes closed tightly against the tears that were beginning for an exit, "I'm sorry."

"What are you apologizing for?" Mu asked in confusion, moving her to fit more snugly into his lap. He could feel her shivering, her entire lithe body consumed by it. He wrapped his arms tighter around her in hopes to stop it but it didn't work. She wound her arms around his shoulders and buried her face in his chest, shoulders heaving as she sobbed into his shirt.

"It's my fault you're like this! I should have been stronger, I should have seen what was going to happen! If I'd been a better captain you wouldn't be like this!"

Mu blinked in alarm, certainly not expecting this outburst at all. She sobbed uselessly, her tears soaking his shirt but he didn't mind, her hands weakly gripping his shoulders to hold him closer. He sat there silently, letting her cry herself out, knowing she wouldn't listen to reason until the hysteria passed. He rubbed gentle circles into her back, murmuring her name into her hair as his thoughts ran wild.

'What the hell brought this on...?' He kissed her hair gently, listening to her sobs as they slowly but surely began to dwindle to soft hiccups and sniffles. The understanding was like a hammer to the gut, and he cringed away from it as the logic of her tears came to mind. 'She blames herself for this.' He was confused even despite the knowledge that if he wanted to, he could in fact blame her for what had happened. But the confusion lingered, he'd never even considered the thought while he laboured through the physiotherapy, never even wondered on where the blame lied as he cursed himself blue while he ran through the pain.

"I'm sorry." She whispered again hoarsely, the tears still choked her throat, made it difficult to catch a breath. Her heart hammered loudly in her ears, and she felt the torn urges to draw away from him, as far as she could go. And then to stay in his arms and push herself closer until she didn't know where she ended and he began. She murmured brokenly, the guilt becoming too much as she pulled herself out of his loose embrace, "I understand if you..." The words were bile, sending another bolt of agony through her stomach, something she almost gladly accepted. It was what she deserved. "If you hate me."

"Hate you?" Mu repeated numbly, now entirely bewildered by the abrupt change of her mood. Her marigold eyes were dark with unshed tears, with guilt and self-loathing. He couldn't find the strength to tug her back into his arms and tell her the words that were shouting in his head, the confusion was too much. "What..."

"You deserve better than me." Murrue murmured again, forcing herself to speak the words that made her heart cry out in agony as it split down the middle. The pain was intense, she could literally feel another half of her breaking. She stepped away from him, wondering if she'd be able to make it out the door without collapsing.

"Murrue, don't say that." Mu managed to finally get his head around the confusion, standing up and reaching towards her. She cringed out of his reach but that didn't stop him, only hardening his resolve to have her listen to reason. He caught her around the waist, spinning her around roughly so she was facing him. She made to wriggle out of his arms but he trapped her against his chest, placing his hand under her chin so she had little choice but to look up at him. "It wasn't your fault. None of this is your fault. If anything, it's mine for being an idiot, which you never hesitate to call me. So please, don't blame yourself for all of this, I love you. I need you."

"But..." Murrue tried to protest but he wouldn't let her, his azure eyes narrowed a fraction and grew so intense she closed her mouth without hesitation. The ferocity in his expression caught her off guard, and she meekly bowed her head as he tightened his grip on her waist and nuzzled into her hair. "Mu..."

"You're really an idiot to think that I'd blame this mess on you." Mu grumbled into her neck, forcing a sigh out of him so the tension in his chest would leave. He sat down on the edge of the bed, pulling her down with him into his lap and curling her into his arms. "What the hell possessed you?"

Murrue didn't answer, not entirely sure of that herself. The thought of the scars that crisscrossed her lover's body still pricked her conscience and the blame continued to seep through her bloodstream. But she tried to ignore it, knowing that Mu would get annoyed if he could see the thoughts in her mind, and sighed shakily. She understood where he was coming from, and the logic worked its way through the mire of her thoughts and she snuggled deeper into the warmth and security of his embrace.

"I love you, you know that?" Mu sighed, kissing her cheek and drawing away so she could sneak a peek up at him. Her marigold eyes were wide and still sparkling with unshed tears, and she didn't dare look away. Mu sighed softly in exasperation, before kissing away the lone tear that escaped. "I love you. And nothing will ever change that."

"I know." Murrue murmured back, the truth in his words were impossible to ignore, as real and strong as the arms that locked her in. She hugged him closer, hating herself for ever doubting him and was incredibly glad when he returned the embrace and kissed the crown of her hair again. "I'm sorry... I'm an idiot..."

"Yeah, you are. But so am I, it works out." Mu tried for a weak joke, but it fell oddly flat and he groaned a curse before nuzzling into her neck tenderly. She laughed quietly at the ticklish sensation, squirming away from him but he didn't let her go, his deep chuckle mixing in with her girlish laughter.

In a flash he'd pinned her down to the bed, tickling her sides as she squirmed under him, shrieking in laughter. "No, no, let me go, that tickles!" Mu snorted loudly in victory, continuing the torture until tears of mirth were beginning to trickle down her cheeks and she was squirming crazily under him. "Mu!"

AN

Lousy ending, I know but I wanted to make it somewhat cheerful... Anyway, the song I used was "All Around Me" by Flyleaf (I love it) and also yeah, implied smuts XD. Anywhosit, review please, and random note IT'S MY BDAY AGAIN! XD Sweet sixteen!

Sky