I see a mountain at my gates
I see it more and more each day
What I give, it takes away
Whether I go or when I stay
-Foals, "Mountain At My Gates"

The moment the door closed behind her she let out a huge wuff of air that could only be described as a sigh, her back meeting with the solid oak construction. There was no one here, no one to see her, no one to bother her. No one to see how her eyes closed in silent defeat, how she stood trying to gather her will and determination. When her gaze opened anew there still wasn't anyone there, and like any other time that it happened before, she was silently happy for that.

But this time was different. This time it came with apprehension over the notion that she was truly that, alone. Walking in on Ami and Makoto of all people, while she had played it off, reminded her of everything she didn't have. There was no lover in her life to take it all away, to make her forget or perhaps the better phrase was … to allow her to forget. To tell her that she must, if only for her own good. She knew it was, but it was so much easier when there was someone else to tell you these things too.

One less decision she must make. She preferred it that way, honestly.

Pressing off of the door her hands scrubbed over her face, dragging skin in the wake of her hands. She was so tired, but with the Queen absent; curious that given that Artemis said she'd be here, and the Princess with her meant confusion and chaos where she was used to order. Not that she wanted the latter to be about honestly, but it was the idea. Why get uptight and pissy about the length of time it took her to return from Mars with someone who still did not completely know the nature of why she was even here if you were not going to be here to see to her successes? Was it because it took her so long in comparison to Mercury or Jupiter that the Queen was displeased?

There were a lot of things she did not know, despite her ability to bullshit and fake that she did. Shaking her head she ensured the door did not budge with her movement before she walked off down the hall. If anyone would know, it would be her second least favorite person. The two went together like soulmates half the time, but being both from Mau perhaps it explained their bond. It was another thing she didn't know and yet, it was one thing she didn't care to know as it were. She could tolerate Artemis where Luna … Luna was a completely different story.

A story that was hard to describe if she ever had to relate it to someone other than herself. As she didn't, she felt perfectly justified in leaving it alone and not thinking on it. It was enough that Luna apparently did not hassle Ami and Makoto, and it was only a matter of time before she learned of Rei's arrival.

The crux of the matter. Her step faltered for a second before continuing on down the hall that was still as void of guards and servants as it had been since her arrival. The Priestess was going to be here now, subjecting herself to what the rest of them did … what she had, what Ami and Makoto likely had. And there would not be any escape, there would be no way home … the Moon would be home, with all its snobs, all its quirks, all its false freedom and true slavery.

Maybe for her it would be easier than it had been for the rest. She had no real family to speak of. Certainly her father, the King, but she caught on quickly just what Rei really thought of the man. So much however went unsaid, unanswered, that really it was just a guess on her behalf that Rei and her father did not truly get along. There was no other family she knew of, save Phobos and Deimos, but they had come with her. Just … perhaps not as anyone anticipated they would.

The rest of them had family they left behind. It was only during events that they, as the heads of their planets, ever would attend the Moon. It was far too much to expect a royal to show up unannounced and dare say, unwelcomed. It wasn't like the Queen was closed off to visitors ... yet more than one monarch had arrived unexpected and spent days awaiting audience with her. Most did not have the days to spend in the first place, and to arrive and leave empty handed of their intentions made attempted visits less and less likely to occur.

She didn't deserve it. None of them really did. Bound by a vaguely worded prophecy and threat, there were times that even she had doubts over it. For the most part she was able to ignore it, burying it under the weight of duty. But that was before her trip to Mars, as ill-fated as she initially found it to be. She had been so tired of traveling, longing for nothing more than rest.

Yet now there was more than just simple rest on her wish list. Her steps slowed then stopped, opting to lean for a moment against a wall to merely think a moment. To reminisce about things and importantly, a person.

No, Rei did not deserve this life, but she had followed along regardless of not knowing everything. She had been quite truthful in her words; she had meant to tell Rei far more. There was just never enough time, not with everything going on. That though wasn't entirely true, if she must be so honest with herself. There was time, she just chose not to relate it, instead learning even if it was sometimes silently, about the raven haired Priestess. She had so very many opportunities and just let circumstance get her out of it.

The toe of her boot began to press against the floor, twisting and turning as though it could bore a hole. Her hands equally began to fidget before her, feeling her lips quirk to a smirk and a soft blush begin to heat her cheeks. Oh yes, she let circumstance get away with a lot.

She hadn't planned it honestly, but when Rei had walked into the room she woke up in after being stabbed by that fucker and tainted somehow with something vicious by his bitch, she knew she wanted her. What had been a simple infatuation of sorts grew in it's own unique fashion until there she was, sitting next to her without the weight of the immediate unknown or some warlord that wanted her. She was there, questioning her in her own way about who she was, shrewdly inquiring about why everyone gave Venusians their reputation.

And then she kissed her.

And then she touched her.

And from there, there wasn't any thought about telling Rei what perhaps, Makoto and Ami were relating to her right now. Their versions of course would be different in relying how they arrived. Neither planet was as impossible as Mars had been, neither had such … baggage to deal with. But neither incited her in the way the Martian had. Neither made her rethink her position, her life, or her considerations.

That was why she realized she was falling for her. It wasn't that she was incapable of love; hardly so! She was a Venusian after all, the embodiment of love and beauty, the essence of the Goddess herself. All forms of love she appreciated and she desired her own. The question however was how did Rei feel about it, or did she feel anything at all?

Lacking answers she released another sigh, pushing off the wall she had claimed to lean against. Not yet looking up, the vision of white shoes got her to pause, mind awhirl before she blinked, looking up into Artemis' hesitant features before he softly smiled.

"I was on my way to tell you-"

She cut him off, "That the Queen isn't here, nor is the Princess."

"Y-yes." He was a bit taken aback by her words, forceful when he caught her but moments before smiling softly, if not rather fondly, over a memory.

Rather though continue on she shook her head, shoulders slumping. She felt tired, the lack of sleep catching up with her. When was the last time? A few hours in the shuttle after having new stitches once more applied after being forced to make a point after what had been a most wonderful orgasm. It simply wasn't fair, the back and forth between good and far too trying. "I would prefer not to speak to Luna."

He understood, or at least was sympathetic enough to nod. "I met with her before I came to speak to you. The Queen and Princess won't be back for a week, with plans for a ball the night of their arrival. Luna believes it would be a good time for Rei to be introduced to both the Queen and Court. In the meantime, why don't you take the time to recoup from your travels and show everyone around? Training can begin the following day after the ball; it may take that long for the weaponsmiths to finish their work so that you are all armed."

It was so strange that he was being so … so … she didn't want to search for the word right now. It was far easier to just nod, turning a bit to walk off back towards the little sanctuary that it was before she turned back to face him anew. "Where did they go?"

"For some reason, they went to Earth."

She leaned back against the chair with a blink of her eyes, a hand rising absently to rub at either of them, before trying to focus once more on the screen before her. Still trying to get the hang of technology when she was far more used to pen and paper seemed to make the trade offs for quicker reporting hardly worth it. While she had started on her report on the shuttle, she hadn't gotten too far on it. It was no one's fault save her own; her thoughts refused to follow along with a recount of what had happened since she arrived on Mars. Instead, her mind found it far better to jump to the … for lack of better … good parts. The parts that revolved around Rei.

Oh to detail she could go on and on about how Rei looked, her mannerisms, the nature of her fiery disposition. Fuck, she could write pages upon pages about what she thought of her eyes. She wasn't ashamed of her attraction, rather she prefered to do what many perhaps also wanted to do. Keep Rei a secret, a treasure. All hers, no one else's. Prone to jealousy just as much as the next woman could be, there was part of her that found nothing at all wrong with the notion.

But none of that would help with her report. Releasing a sigh she wished once more the chair had some leeway to it, some means that she could rock in it, even a little. Alas it remained as straight backed as ever, a perfect companion to the slight frown that if it had its way, would mar her features permanently. The soft blue glow of the screen was what was making her tired, yet her report still lacked more. Far more. Not only was she to retrieve Rei; accomplished, she was to also find out the state of affairs there and the case of the missing emissaries.

That was a big failure. Maybe she should have inquired but fuck if there was really the time. She left that section blank before changing her mind, inputting something along the lines of her being unable to find due to unforeseen circumstances. It sounded great to her, even though she knew she'd need to refine that answer before submitting it. With the Queen gone however, she had more time than normal to work on such a daunting task, looking at the other sections that remained to be filled in if not expanded upon. The weather. State of a standing army, if any. Present trade goods, state of the economy … all the sorts of things that would have been common knowledge had Mars not decided to turn against communication.

But having a reason for that, her report was fairly well detailed in what was the cause. While she wished she had more information, she explained what she did know, between the visions that afflicted the religious populace, the two culprits behind it and their status; she was rather happy to write both were dead, and that the roving bands of warlords should once more be under control now that the King was back in control and his head warlord, whatever really his title was, once more brought under heel. Wisely she removed the part that she found him to be a bit of a pompous asshole; she didn't have much of a chance to create an impression other than the throne room, not because she couldn't be honest but because she couldn't justify it at all. A glance wasn't enough, try as she might.

Engrossing herself in her report she didn't even hear the door open, nor that there was a presence in the room with her. It wasn't until she felt a steady and soft breath against her face and something suspiciously like a sigh resounding that she startled into a jump, hands clasping the chair as she twisted about in its otherwise hampering and confining nature. The existence of a light source spilling into a room that wasn't the blue of the monitor made her blink, distorting her vision as she blinked to bring it back under control.

"Staedetler is his title. It means he is the Warlord. Titles typically are capitalized."

Fuck how could such an almost deadpanned voice sound so much like a heavenly choir? Her gaze brought back into focus she watched as Rei continued to read the screen.

"Most of the army was never one of these roving bands you described either. While there were quite a number of renegade bands, they were primarily around the region of Terra Cimerra, far to the east of Olympus Mons. There's a rather large market unaffected by the state of affairs in Daedalia Planum, to the south. Frequently goods are transported to Argyre Planitia before dispersed to outerworld shipments from Xanthe Terra, where the port was you were intending to head. Also, you arrived on the western side of Olympus Mons, around Amazonis Planitia."

She blinked. It was all she could do.

"Artemis arrived nearly six hours ago, stating that the Queen wasn't here and wouldn't be back for some time. Something further about a ball which according to Ami and Makoto, seems to be rather common place here." Finally she turned away from the screen to look at her, her face otherwise impassive but her eyes, fuck her eyes, shone in a light she couldn't rightly blame on the monitor screen. "If you didn't have someone to report to, then why weren't you with the rest of us?"

A question. She was far too caught up in the fact that Rei had read her report, filled in and expanded upon areas she couldn't and not from lack of paying attention, to realize the importance of it being a question. Place names whirled in her head; geography was never her strong suit. She could read a map yes, but retaining place names could be completely beyond her all the same. Obviously she knew her home planet, but as the time wore on she had further and further difficulty recalling it. What it was like to bask in the sunlight, hardly a care in the whole of the cosmos. The ability to relax, to laugh, to…

"Further, I could have helped you write your report had you simply asked."

She felt her mouth working, attempting to formulate words that her mind refused to grasp much less comprehend. Swallowing she felt like fidgeting, a trait from her childhood that try as she might, wouldn't go away. Goddess I can't believe she's here. Twice in one day was simply uncalled for. Completely unwarranted. Fuck she looks so serious and beautiful… An attempt was made to rally her thoughts, further pushing it on towards speaking. "My report…"

"The Queen isn't due to arrive for a week. You have that much time, as Artemis said your schedule had been cleared to, how did he put it, 'to recoup from your travels and show me around.' Nothing was said about this precious report of yours, other than it can wait."

Goddess at times she really couldn't figure out her emotional state regarding the Mau, and this was another of those times. She wanted to scream at him and possibly hug him at the same time. "I…" She attempted again, only to be once more cut off.

"You haven't slept in at least a day, Minako. Prior to that, you managed four hours of rest, after being out for nearly two hours in medical, and what … maybe two hours before your showing off with Staedetler? I won't even go into the rest of the instances before that."

This was beginning to sound far too close to a lecture, feeling her gaze begin to narrow. No one lectured her, not since she was a young girl facing the wrath of her mother's disapproval yet final acceptance to take up sword play. Rather than rise to the bait she plastered on one of her numerous fake smiles, watching the reaction as Rei blinked, hardly expecting it, switching off the monitor as she rose from her chair, only for hands to promptly shove her back into it.

"Stop being so damn stubborn and let us help you! Artemis said this is a common tactic of yours to-"

That was a line she shouldn't have crossed, the fake smile fell away as her features turned serious, hardening as they had the tendency to anytime she had to deal with a Lunarian who knew exactly who she was. "I have a report to write, regardless of when the Queen is to return. She could be gone a week just as she could be gone a day; there are numerous spies among the populace that thrives on such information for nefarious purposes. Until my report is complete, there's no such thing as recoupment. As for being shown around, I had such scheduled for tomorrow to allow you time to settle in from your trav-"

Lips pressed firmly to her own, halting at once the flow of words. Her thoughts fled her, vacating her mind all at once. Like a wave obliterated a structure built upon sand so did her defenses crumble like they didn't even exist in the first place. Something like relief, like longing … it wasn't even something she could find a word for to describe and at the very moment, she highly doubted it was something she even needed to worry about. When they left her own all she could do was blink through the haze that clouded her being.

"You're coming to bed." Was all Rei said, halfly leaning over her and the chair still. When her gaze darted to the turned off screen she felt hands tighten against her shoulders, a look of challenge existing for a moment within the other's eyes before she spoke once more. "I don't care if I have to carry you there."

Unbidden, or perhaps it was desired anyway, her lips quirked to half sort of smile, flirtatiously rising to the occasion as it was so kindly presented to her. "My feet are rather sore if you must know…"

It almost had the effect she had wanted, Rei rolled her eyes before releasing her, standing back to allow her from the chair. Before she could collect it however, the Priestess laid claim to her sword belt that had been left to hang from it rather than being caught up in the nature of construction. An eye was cast critically in her direction before she shook her head. "You look ridiculous in that get up that you're still wearing too. At least you had the decency to leave that stupid helmet behind. Please tell me you have something to wear other than that."

"Wouldn't you like to know? Maybe I ostentatiously walk about all day nude." She flashed a grin, one that grew wider as Rei didn't look away fast enough to hide the rising blush to her features. Try as she might to disguise it or play it off, there was no escaping a Venusian's gaze and certainly not hers. Taking a degree of pity on her however she still waited a few moments before she finally relented, giving the other quarter. "I don't, for whatever it's worth." Had she not been paying attention she would have missed it, the softly uttered 'Good' that escaped before the Priestess could recall the word. Instantly she honed in on it, latching onto it like it was a rope to save her from certain death and doom. "Ohh, what's that? Is that a note of possessiveness I detect?"

She was growing flustered, her features gave it all away in a mix of a blush and irritation, feigning the line of exactly that, possessiveness and the desired showing of annoyance. She could have let Rei off the hook so to speak, but she pressed on in her own selfish need to know the truth of matters. Without much effort she leaned forward, watching in mute satisfaction as the raven haired woman moved back until the small office allowed for no more. Trapped between a wall and a warm body, she could almost be right where she desired her to be at. Raising her hand, her fingertips trailed slowly down Rei's cheek, lingering at her chin before they skirted her throat, lingering to rest just below her collar bones. "You don't have to be shy… you can say that you want me…"

"S-stop it…"

"Whatever is there for me to stop Rei?" She softened her voice, breathily sighing the woman's name against her lips, going so far as to lean against her just to watch the reaction that much better. "You do want me, don't you?" It wasn't exactly fair to ask, nor was it exactly with flirtation in mind that caused the question to be brought to the light of day, or night as it were. She longed for the answer, she needed it, the truth amid a place that never came straight out and spoke the truth. Hiding it instead behind veiled pretenses and fake gestures.

More than one lover had told her she had an intoxicating effect on them, that she whisked away their senses, their rationality. That they simply couldn't think in her presence, try as they might. As she awaited a response from Rei; anything really, a touch of her hand against her face, a press of her lips to her, fuck … even just taking her in her arms and holding her would have given her heart something, she mentally braced herself from the rejection that sprung, politely stepping back while collecting her sword belt from the other's hands. Summoning up another fake smile she kept her voice cheery, "It's alright, you don't need to answer that."

Turning about she feigned spending far more time than was really necessary to belt her falchion back around her waist, blinking away the shattered hope. Completely and utterly missing that Rei had moved, that the door had shut rather soundly, leaving her in a suspected state of being alone until hands that were not her own jerked on the newly fastened belt, undoing it, a soft growl punctuating the gesture. "Maybe if you did walk about nude, I wouldn't have to spend so much time on this."