a/n: End of a round trip. Thank you for tuning in.
Solid waves.
Deep blue water.
Champagne and caviar on the top deck. A fancy, ivory white yacht out on the ocean. Civilization. Or what at least seemed like it. There were people again, mingling about with liquor glasses.
Feeling calm and modest, Amy wore a sailor's shirt, white with a bright blue collar. Feeling bold, Rouge styled herself in a cotton blouse, knotted at the back above her stomach and opened at the front. That 'gaudy pink brassiere with the silly ribbons', in her words, was on display.
Rouge took a bite of caviar on a brittle cracker.
"There it is," she said with her eyes closed. "That's the ticket, right there. Premium grade."
"Yeah?" Amy took a cracker and scooped a spoonful of caviar onto it. She bit into it, swallowed, and closed her eyes.
"Trust me, it's definitely high grade."
"Mm. Tastes like it. I was a bit worried after that last time."
"Oh, yeah. That was trash, disgusting. This is real caviar. Or it's real good, anyways. Could be fake, but it's fine."
"Mm-hm. I love it."
"Good idea or good idea?"
"Good idea."
"Of course."
Rouge took a glass of sparkling champagne from the nearby tray. The glasses were nice and deep, just as she liked them.
"Drink?" she asked Amy.
"I'm fine."
She nodded and started on her way out, Amy following. They descended a level and headed towards the bow of the yacht.
It was another sunny afternoon. Ocean was spread out for several miles around, the waters moving serenely. In the distance were mountain ranges and small islands. The faint skyline of a city sat far off. Wispy clouds moved through the sky, high in the atmosphere.
A light breeze blew past them both.
"I think we finally made it."
"Where?"
"Somewhere."
"Hm." Amy tilted her head to one side as she looked out at the water. In the next moment, she tilted it back.
"What are you thinking?"
"That you're right. We're somewhere. Which is good."
"Yeah. It is."
"You starting to pull yourself together?"
"Yeah. Honestly, it was easier than I thought. I was expecting more of a nightmare scenario. After I opened up, you know?"
"Well...you've had nothing but time and space. Healing is a lot easier that way."
"I also had you."
"Rouge..."
"I'm being honest. Thanks for taking so much time to help me...become myself again."
"It's no problem," Amy said with a blush. "Anything for you, Rouge."
"I know. And I'll make sure to take advantage of that," she said with a playful wink.
"You're awful."
"I know."
"But you're good to me. And that's what matters."
"You always say that."
"I don't want you to forget it."
"You think I will?"
"Probably. We lead terrible lives, us two."
"We do."
"Mm."
"You want to do this forever?"
"Yeah. But we can't. Well, not yet."
"Not yet, eh?"
"Not yet. Still things we gotta do," Amy said with a stretch of her arms. "Still things to take care of."
"Horribly depressing."
"Someone's gotta be responsible. Adults make the world go 'round."
"Yeah."
"And you love it anyways."
"Don't you?"
"Give me time. I'll let you know in a few years. Rookie, remember?"
"I keep forgetting. You look like a vet as it is."
"That's a compliment, right?"
"It's a compliment. I've always wanted a capable partner," Rouge said with a warm smile. Amy felt herself blushing again, but didn't hide it.
Rouge downed her glass of wine and started on her way back up to the gathering. Amy followed again faithfully.
"Guardians of the free fuckin' world," Rouge said. Amy shook her head and smiled. The woman she fell in love with had a delightful vulgarity to her. Attitude and spirit. She realized that she still had her own innocence, and that somehow was fine. It tempered Rouge a little bit, at least.
No compulsion to change her, though. That world of darkness and indecent sentiments was hers now, too. Marveling at the world from that angle was comfortable and freeing.
It was from that first glimpse of Rouge's shifting world that she understood the meaninglessness of appearances.
Overrated.
That sounded right.
They reached the open bar again. Amy doubled back to grab another bite of caviar. Closed her eyes and savoured it.
Premium stuff.
"Am I getting you hooked to that stuff?"
"Yeah. It's awful," she said as she licked her lips.
"Well, I've got tons of it at home. Shadow doesn't eat it much and Omega...yeah."
"Tons, you say?"
"I like to live the high life. And sometimes the, uh...high life. Munchies and all."
"Subtle."
"Bite me. It helps undo all the knots after missions."
"I can do that for you."
"What, undo the knots?"
"That too."
"Dirty girl."
"I followed you into the mud."
"How is it so far?"
"I don't wanna wash off yet."
Rouge smiled and tipped the barkeep before taking her glass. She gulped down half of it quickly.
"I think all the pointless questions have been answered," Rouge said suddenly.
"Hm?"
"About the relationship, I mean."
"Ah, yeah. You think so?"
She shrugged and leaned back against the bar, swirling the liquid in her glass. "I think so. I mean...what is there left to say?"
"I couldn't tell you."
"Maybe that's a good thing. There are a whole lot of maybes, aren't there?"
"Seems like it."
"Nature of life?"
"Nature of life," Amy affirmed.
Rouge downed the next quarter of her drink.
"I'm gonna miss this."
Amy nodded. "Me too."
"Rosie?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks. For everything."
"I should be thanking you, Rouge."
"I still have to get used to that. Being thanked."
"You will," Amy said with a smile.
"Probably."
Rouge downed the last quarter of her drink. She set it down on the bar and called for another.
"Wanna get me one?" Amy asked.
"Sure. Make it two, hon," she said to the barkeep. He nodded and started on a second drink. Rouge tipped him and handed Amy her glass.
"Well."
"Yeah."
They knocked their glasses together in a silent toast. Then in a single gulp, knocked them all the way back. A pause and a simultaneous breath. They set the glasses down on the bar behind them.
"Life," Amy said sagely.
"Oy fuckin' vey."
Amy sighed.
"Yeah. That sounds about right, doesn't it?"
"But..."
"Well, yeah."
A smile.
"Did you know, Rouge?"
Rouge looked ahead, an amused smile on her face.
"Know what, hon?"
"An adventure's no fun if it's too easy."