Tell me all the things I'm supposed to like
What you want to hear, what you think is right
-Joywave, "Doubt"
The name hung in the air, suspended by countless factors of tension. Each with their own name, their own implications. A simple name held power, like legends of old concerning the ability to control. To know someone's name gave you an edge over them. Your name was your identity, who you were. It was yours and yours alone, until the day you met someone else who shared with you your name. The sense of uncontrollable animosity rose, completely ubidden. How dare this doppelganger have your name, for it was your name first.
The name hung, unmoving. It brought a silence to them all, sharing only looks. Looks that spoke volumes all the same, just as heavily as the mention of that name did.
"Beryl is…?" It was Rei who finally broke the silence, the query given actual life preceding her mug of coffee reaching the table top. Leave it to the Martian to actually like coffee; considerate as Makoto was, coffee was the last thing she wanted to drink right now.
"The Terran Chancellor, apparently now Queen." She shook her head, knowing full well if they went to dwell on this it would give them answers but at a cost she wasn't prepared to give yet. "It's three. We're expected shortly after dawn in the throne room."
"But … but whatta mean? We jus' found out the secrets and you're tellin' us we gotta wait?"
"I mean exactly that Makoto. As much as I would like to find out all the secrets, all the information that has been kept from us, now is not the time." Her voice took a hard line, staunch in its delivery. "We're expected in a few hours in the throne room, as per the Queen. I suggest you all get whatever rest you can in that amount of time." Knowing full well that repeating herself could be considered a cop out she shook her head. "I want to find out as much as the rest of you do. Now though isn't the time." Trust was key to leadership, her hand placed the folded missive on the table top. It had been left on the outside of the door; she found it when she had gone to look for Rei. Now if that wasn't something… what if she hadn't gone outside, how would she have known about it? Really, the fucking logic sometimes that was presented here. It was like being set up for failure…
Maybe her words pacified the Jovian, maybe it didn't. It was Ami though who picked up the note, her brow instantly furrowing before she looked back at her. "How were we supposed to know about this? If Rei hadn't left, if you hadn't gone after her…" The Mercurian merely vocalized her own thoughts.
She sighed, running a hand through her hair. A nervous habit at times, rubbing her face hard for a moment. "I don't know. We're presented with more questions than we have answers for yet again." She was too tired for this, always too tired. It was compounding itself more and more.
"Why the throne room…" Despite it being signed by the Queen, it was still a question to be asked. Silence followed in the wake of the query, four sets of eyes, green like a lush forest, blue as a deep lake, purple as the dusk sky, and another shade of blue like the sky exchanged notions unvocalized. Ideas of what could be, hints of what was, each a worthy attempt of answering the curiosity that drove the reason.
She finally shook her head, pushing up to her feet. Sleep wasn't likely to come, but sometimes leadership by example was the best way. Else, they would all sit around and find out the answer, albeit exhausted, and then have the surprise of the Queen awaiting them. Best to have some form of rest, regardless of how little it was, find out what it was, and then delve into their long awaited answers.
Eyes followed her movements, and finally with it actions. Ami closed the lid to her computer, rising to push her chair in. Closely behind her was Makoto, a silent look exchanged with Rei towards the burning candles, before both took their leave with a nod.
"Are you going to sleep or sit and brood over this?"
It was even a question, causing a small smile to pull at her lips. She lightly shook her head, "No, even two hours of sleep is better than none at all."
"Good." Was all the response the Martian had to give her, rising to extinguish all but one of the candles. It was taken in hand, the other reached to grasp her hand. "C'mon, I know how you fake sleeping as it is. This way I'll know you actually rest."
It truly didn't matter that it was not too terribly long ago that they were in the throne room. Each of them were currently there, outside of the doors. It didn't feel right though, an emotion that she couldn't quite pinpoint, much less name. They were there though, standing outside of its doors, armed. That was something new; in the presence of the Queen, those times she had been summoned to the throne room, she never went armed. Yet here they were, carrying their weapons.
Their weapons were one thing she guessed somehow, the clothes they were wearing were not.
A white bodysuit, save that it was more like a modesty swimsuit that a prude would wear. Save that even that wasn't true, for they each sported skirts that maybe came to mid thigh. Ok, so maybe a reformed prude... A bow was set to the small of their back, a collar that dipped to, at the least, her cleavage. A bow was equally spread out over her breasts, blue she noted. White gloves that went to her elbows and sandals the same as hue as her skirt; that was yellow.
Maybe that explained the emotion; trepidation. To be armed; her falchion belted at her waist and dressed in something that certainly yes, her ego said she could flaunt very, very well. A familiarity and an unknown.
They were all like that, her eyes and her mind somehow accepting it as normal, nothing at all standing out. In recollection, she couldn't even recall what colors Rei had, or Ami, or Makoto. It mattered; she felt like it did. It mattered that there was something around their throats, something across their brows. It mattered and yet… and yet...
Look around. They will all betray you. Flee screaming into the black forest.
Answers.
She needed answers though. Answers more than anything.
Didn't she deserve such?
For the longest time, that was her driving notion, this feeling of entitlement. It was only really on the way back from Mars, on the day - wasn't that yesterday? that she had changed, that they all had changed that it was even less about herself and more about them.
Her friends, her comrades … her lover yet not named as such but she swore to protect Rei, just as she vowed to protect the Princess.
Each of them, the epiphany hitting her as it were was still akin to a bucket of ice water, was someone she'd protect and die for. Why? Simply because they deserved better.
The guilt was wearing on her as they stood in front of the door, as three sets of eyes rested on her, waiting for her actions.
Her hand reached for the door handle, pushing it downwards to push in as well. The cool metal felt solid enough in her grasp, cool to the touch despite that she wore gloves.
Your light sputters out.
That … that was not her thought.
The stars sweep chill currents that make men shiver in the dark.
Her breath came fast, rapid… her heart presented an unmerciful tempo in her ears. Pounding like drums, like the hooves of horses, the boots of faceless armies that chased on her heels. Feelings of dread, overwhelming and suffocating wrapped tightly around her. It squeezed, pulsating like a living thing. It was a living thing, feasting from her body.
At last, the feeding hour.
A gasp.
A hand was gripping her shoulder, shaking.
"Minako?"
Words, a voice… a voice that she knew. Words. Her name. Her name … the hand on her shoulder was more insistent. The voice was just as insistent, maybe more so.
"Minako!"
A blink. It didn't stop the scene. Really, if anything, it make it worse. So much worse. She was frozen, unmoving, not breathing, no blood beat through her veins in the life giving rhythm. There was nothing.
Nothing but fear.
"Minako! Minako dammit! MINAKO!"
Her eyes opened with a start, looking blankly for more than a few moments before beginning their act of focusing on the raven haired woman who leaned over her. Hair, as black as sin that was messy from sleep. Eyes, a perfect yet flawed representation of the sky at dusk fought against the notion of being filled by drowsiness, instead shining with a worried clarity. Her hand felt warm against her bare skin.
What the fuck just happened?
"You were thrashing in your sleep." Rei finally answered, not yet sitting back. Her voice didn't sound right at all to her ears; it sounded strained. Strained and … and something. She remained hovered for a moment longer before silencing the alarm that chimed in its fashion that it was time for them to get up if they were to meet with the Queen at the appointed hour and still have a chance to be not only presentable, but fed as well.
The Queen… was it all a dream? It had to be, her hand going to the side of her face before she sighed. Her dreams were far too literal for her own good, a shiver following that had nothing to do with the fact that she wore the Martian's eyes and nothing more. A dream. Voices and feelings. Sights that made no sense and yet did in a fashion she couldn't comprehend. Her mind clicked it together, the same voice from before, on Mars… before.
Before…
"I…" She started, trying to take in a deep breath to calm herself. A ploy really, a falseness that was just like everything else. It was so fake it was far too easy to believe it was real.
Release your grip on hope.
No… The breath attempted turned to a choked sob, burying her face against Rei's shoulder. She couldn't even formulate the words, any words if she got right down to it. All she could offer were tears, the emotions too much as they tore at her sanity. Her dreams were real, far too real to be anything but an omen. How absolutely fucking ironic that was, she who was hardly the mystic, hardly the devout unless it was to her Goddess, would be the one with premonitions.
Her tears didn't seem to phase Rei, at least outwardly. There was a hesitation yes, for a split second, but that was as long as it lasted. She felt a hand against her hair, smoothing it in a comforting fashion. She was so warm, always so warm despite that it was just a sheet tangled around their lower bodies at this point. Saying nothing, just being there as her mind fought for coherency. A comforting presence that she so direly needed.
It was a couple minutes later that her shoulders finally stopped shaking and she felt she could take a breath without tears falling. A few more after that before she raised her head, looking into the eyes that offered no judgment. They were just her, just Rei, and right now that was all that mattered.
"...I had a dream, that we were already awake. We were standing outside of the throne room. We… we were armed but the clothes, they ...they weren't what we wear now yet they felt familiar. I had thoughts, doubts given a voice. I … I thought that none of you deserved this, that you didn't deserve to be standing outside of a throne room to someone that … that I feared. I heard voices then, the same voice that I heard on Mars… before I-"
"Shh." She watched and felt a finger against her lips, stopping the flow of words. Her head gave a shake though, dislodging the gesture. She appreciated it for what it was but it was important what she had to say. Maybe Rei sensed it, her finger instead brushing back her bangs as she waited to listen to the rest.
"I." Another rally was made on her breathing, another attempt to calm her heart that wasn't really in the mood for it. "You all are here because of me. I took you each, from your homes, and here you are. Surrounded by hateful people, changed in ways that no one has bothered to explain to us, held back by secrets." She felt another sniffle come on … this was absurd. Absurd and ridiculous. Here she was, a woman, someone who had fought and killed and loved and had a meeting to go to shortly with a figure that she swore her loyalty to and all she could feel was an overwhelming notion that it was all a mistake.
"Maybe. You could be right, you probably are. I said I'd keep an eye on you however. Ami and Makoto probably would say the same." Rei's fingers went to her chin, tilting her head upwards to have their eyes meet. "We're here for you, fearless leader." There was a smirk. "And we'll all learn together what it all means."
They hadn't left yet, lingering a few minutes more in their sanctuary while they still could. None of them looked refreshed in any fashion, heavy eyes offset by heavier signs of wear under them. They would play the part though, acting as though nothing was wrong. That is what they made showers for, splashes of cold water, and even that hated coffee.
She was never a fan of it, preferring tea if she was going to drink a hot beverage in the first place. It was slightly funny, in that sort of way that she couldn't explain the humor of, that Rei would like it. She took to it like she was well familiar with it; she assured them all that she wasn't, but it seemed rather far fetched.
Why focus on something like that? Perhaps because it was safer.
The emotions in the room were running rampant in countless directions. There were easy ones to pick out and name; exhaustion and irritation. Curiosity and anger followed close behind. A hint of fear, a smaller one of joy, and still countless more that she couldn't grasp easily. It was rare the times that she found comfort in being an empath and this certainly was not one of them. Her hands went to her head, rubbing her palms against her eyes to quell the wayward feelings before they became worse.
While she wouldn't consider it inane chatter, their voices were setting her off. That it was light conversation, even simple things as asking for something to be passed and its acknowledgement of the actions grated on her nerves like a nail against certain surfaces. Her hands fell to her lap, completely unnoticed by any of the three, seething as she stared into her cup of coffee. So very rare for her to lose her temper and yet here it was, so easily slipping from her grasp.
Questions were posed, something was said. The conversation had ceased as she accurately felt they eyes. Judging, weighing, measuring.
Her irritation instantly spiked beyond what it had ever reached in her life, at the least what she could so easily recall. The feeling of her nails pressing sharply to her palms was a jolt of pain, drawing her attention out of the spiral it was rapidly descending to, just as the hand at her shoulder. The actions were enough for her to calm down. Closing her eyes she drew in a deep breath, well aware of the looks that were still being passed despite that she couldn't see them. Another breath, deeper this time and the feeling slowly lessened. It was still five more before she finally opened her eyes, a sense of balance; no matter truly its instability, filling her.
"Are you alright Minako?" It was Ami's hand on her shoulder, crouching next to her at her right. Behind her was Makoto, equally concerned. She didn't have to look, all she had to feel, and knew that Rei was at her left. She found it better to take another breath, like she hadn't taken in so many ones before, shaking her head but contradicting it with a nod.
"No and yes. There's … there's too many emotions here, each of them fighting for dominance." Abruptly she pushed her mug of coffee back. It wasn't the cause but it was an excuse. The hand at her shoulder left as Ami rose back to her full height, backing away to allow her room. She knew they were worried, she could feel that after all. It was stifling, the whole room was stifling. Their sanctuary wasn't much of one, not now. It felt like it had been violated and more than anything, she wanted to be out from under a roof and away from walls.
"Let's find out what the Queen wants. If it's nothing too drastic, we'll skip practice today. I want you all to do something that doesn't involve the Lunar court, its people, its principles, or anything of the sort. I don't care what it is, just do something relaxing." Her directive set she rose from the chair, pushing it in against the table. Thank the Goddess they hadn't questioned her, just followed into step as they left what was once a peaceful room away from it all.
"You all look as though you had a rough night. Did you not sleep well?"
The throne room was surprisingly, or perhaps not so, empty. Save for the Queen and themselves, not a single soul was there with them. That was the surprising thing, for she couldn't readily recall the last time that it had ever been empty. There was always someone milling about, or someones… Her thoughts would easily betray her if she let them, reining them back with a sharp tug as she answered for them all. "Your summons came as a surprise, Your Majesty. We weren't informed of it until very early this morning."
It was a tactful way of answering, desperately snatching the protocol lessons of her youth lest she snap and ask the questions that burned on the tip of her tongue. In the beginning it had been easy, respecting the Queen as she was so respected in turn. She lived to reach that bar set, striving with every action to not only be perfect but to be the embodiment of it. It never occurred to her that she was over-reaching; she was already the Embodiment of Love and Beauty, she was the Essence of her Goddess. Why then, must she be perfection as well? The only answer for that was that it was the reputation that preceded her, that announced her like a herald.
She was a Venusian, after all.
The feeling though from her dream and their meeting area for an excuse of breakfast, the trepidation, hadn't left yet. Increasing instead the closer they approached the throne room, flaring dramatically once they were inside. If it was possible, it tipped the imaginary scale when the Queen was waiting for them, looking serene. Not a single care in the world. It made no sense. It tore at her notions of reality.
"That is most unfortunate." A pause before she continued. "I shall be brief then, for you shall all have quite the busy day. Fortunately, one with a prime opportunity to rest."
Collectively, she knew they all had to groan internally.
"The Prince of Earth with his Four Generals, has invited the Princess back to visit. She so enjoyed our time there, the Prince misses her so that it would be a boon for her to return again. As you are her Guardians, and as none of you have been to Earth, it makes perfect sense to agree to his request. This way, you may find that your fears regarding Earth are well intended, but unfounded."
Protocol be damned, her eyes widened. She was willing to forsake sleep for the rest of her life to know that she was also correct that their eyes had all done the same.
"The trip will last for two weeks. The Prince has assured me there will be a ball; perhaps not as grand as the ones we hold here, but a wonderful one nonetheless. I have informed the tailors of such and the appropriate gowns will be packed by them for your wear. The Prince also has a request; it seems his Four Generals are quite curious of your skills in the martial arts. They wish an exhibition, a spar between them that is to be a private affair seen only by the four of you, the four of them, the Prince and mine daughter."
Laughter, perhaps it should have set them at ease save for it just wasn't right. Not the right pitch, not the right notes. It lingered too long, cutting off just as abruptly as it began. The first word that came to mind was eerie. Eerie did not begin to describe it. Eerie could not describe it. "I am assured that you shall each win." The Queen stated so easily, "The honor of our Kingdom is at stake, after all. I know you shall each not let me or our people down."
All she could offer was a nod, a dumb nod. She felt numb, numb and shocked and countless more similar words that she couldn't even begin to grasp right now.
"In light of your travel I authorize you to pause your training until you arrive on the Earth, for today you shall need to pack. Your shuttle shall leave at 6 this evening; Luna will assist Serenity in packing her own things. I suggest that once you are done, you each find a better opportunity to rest, for she shall be most excited to see the Prince again."
And she turned and left the throne room with nary a concern.
All they could do was blink as the slow, sinking feeling of disbelief crept over them.
It was more comforting to hold her head in her hands than it was to pace. She had already done that, after all. It was amazing at times that a pathway had not been worn into the smooth marble surface, until you considered the fact it was rather rare for her to be in her room to even pace in the first place. It was not until her return from Mars that she had even spent more than an hour in here; to count the hours, the days really, that she was so blessed to experience within was remarkable.
Her things were packed already, her scabbarded and belted falchion were leaning against the wall, the finely wrought chain draped over the hilt. Her breastplate was there too, minus the helmet. Honestly she felt silly wearing it; the plume was impractical as fuck but she had to respect that it saved her life. That had taken some debate, unsure if she should bring it along before she groaned, rising to retrieve it and set it alongside her things.
Fuck. She might as well.
Flopping back down on the bed she stared at everything and nothing in particular. They were going to Terra, a place that she never thought she would ever set foot on. For that matter, she never thought she would have ever gone to Neptune, or Mercury, or Jupiter, or Mars. The Moon was it she had long since believed, remembering that she had told herself that much when she was stepping onto the shuttle that would take her from Venus.
Terra.
The Queen was sending them there, at the bequest of the Prince. They were leaving tonight, leaving before they could question the Chancellor turned Queen. The Queen knew of it, she knew they had countless questions, each valid in its own fashion. They wanted answers, they needed them…
Her door opened bringing her eyes back into focus, watching timidly as Ami, Makoto, and Rei stepped inside. The timidness came from entering unannounced, because she was pretty damn sure there hadn't been a knock. Unaware that she had been keeping a breath, she released it before nodding to them to finish coming in, one of their hands closing the door.
It would be awkward for her to sit while they stood, and they knew that. But with a sense of familiarity, they each took a seat next to her on the bed; at least she had made it when she came back to pack. Her clothes were gathered to the laundry; it was an illusion like everything else that everything was alright.
"She knows. She knows and she's sending us to Terra to prevent our confrontation with the Chancellor. She likely will be telling the Mau shortly, if she hasn't already. They are going to worry, citing their concern of last night. The Queen is purposely keeping us from seeing the Chancellor." It was the facts, pure and simple and in her opinion.
"It's a faster transport that we'll be taking than the one you took to Mars. The Princess should hopefully be asleep by the fourth hour in." The rest went unsaid by Ami. One of them would need to keep an eye on their charge, sleeping or not. They would have to fill back in everything discovered, but it was an uninterrupted chance to begin delving into the secrets kept.
"I don't like this… The fight that the Queen was talkin' about. It feels like a test." While Makoto was known for her bravado, she never backed down from a friendly spar. She understood instantly where she was coming from.
All that was left was Rei to chime in with her thoughts. The three words though were not what she was expecting to hear. "Phobos and Deimos."
They all looked at the Martian, their own concerns forgotten for a moment. Rei's companions, the two men devoted to keeping her from harm, left now as ravens after a wizard's spell that so far, no one on the Lunar surface could dispel. Ami spent hours pouring over her computer, looking for a technological answer to an arcane problem.
"We can ask Captain Dharius; he is Martian after all. Or the Mau. I … hardly trust them, but Artemis at the least knows of their importance. He would have related that to Luna by now. It would be too dangerous to have them on Terra and Serenity…" She sighed, shaking her head but she had to account for the Princess' immaturity. "Serenity will squell the entire time thinking that you've been keeping cute pets from her."
At once Rei's eyes flared in indignant rage that someone would consider either raven a pet. Her hand rose, stopping her before she began to sputter forth her rage in a worded form. "I know they're not, but you have to understand. The Princess is 15; to her all things that are, in appearance, an animal, is a pet. One that she wants to grab and smother. Neither of them deserve that. They have been dealt a fate we are all trying to undo, one that … one that I should not have caused yet did. At the least, let me prevent this from befalling them. No one, certainly not them, deserve to be treated that way by the Princess."
It seemed to help, the rage slow to leave or perhaps it was just reduced to a shimmer. One thing after another, was there ever a time things were simple? Maybe there was but wallowing in pity right now would do her no good. "I'll go with you to talk to the Mau, they're likely the best to handle it anyway. Have you all packed?" At their nods she found another breath in dire need of being released.
"Rest then. Let's all meet again at four; it's ten now so even if you do whatever, that gives you six hours to do it in. I want to establish a rotating guard shift while we are on Terra in regards to the Princess."
"Why though. Is that necessary."
Oh yes, Rei was still her ragey Martian self. It was Makoto of all people who answered. "Well, yeah it is. Dun want the two of them alone." At Rei's blank look she continued, "Ya got the Prince, who the Princess was goin' on and on about when she got back. Then ya got the Princess whose 15 and prolly gonna get sweet talked into checking out the view from her back."
"Oh-oh ok." That took the wind from her sheets. Sails? Sheets or sails whatever, Rei at least understood.
"I don't want her alone with him. As for his boy trope, I don't want them to run interference on either the Prince or the Princess' behalf. We'll come up with a plan when we meet this afternoon."
Their steps were slow moving back through the halls. Both Luna and Artemis were in that state of shocked honor, hardly expecting to be asked to watch over Phobos and Deimos while they were away. Rei would bring both before they left for the transport.
They tried to bring up their concerns regarding Terra but she cut them off with a wave of her hand. The less that planet was mentioned the better she would feel. It was easier to just say they would handle it and ignore all other queries until both the Mau finally got the hint and let the matter go.
It was in silence that they were making their way back. She felt exhausted; everything was catching up again. They had time, time at least for her plans. It was so incredibly selfish but right now, she didn't care. Rei caught the door this time, opening it for them both before giving it a solid closing.
No one was here. Packs belonging to the Mercurian and Jovian were neatly placed on their couch, but their respective owners were nowhere to be found. She had a very good idea of where and what they were doing; she didn't need to be empathic at all for that.
With a sudden smile she turned to look at Rei, shifting to a slight smirk for catching her off guard. "I want you."
"Wha-what?"
Oh yes, off guard. It was hardly any effort to move the smirk to a better smile. If that didn't indicate, then the fact her body was pressing against Rei's own should. Her fingertips reached, brushing slowly down her face to stop one at her lips, the others curling to rest against her palm. "I said, I want you. Ideally not here but if that's my only option then I'll take it."
While Rei might give her a quizzical look, the arm that was wrapped tightly around her waist said otherwise. Her fingertip traced the woman's lips, laughing softly as a nip was levied to it, caught between teeth for a moment before released. "Are you sure you're feeling alright?"
"No, but I can't dwell on it. I'll miss you, despite you being right there, and two weeks is two weeks too long to be without you Sparky."
"Sparky?" At the least, the raven haired woman was bemused by the nickname given to her. "Something related to fire sounds more appropriate if you're going to give me a nickname."
"Mm." It sounded like a good sound to make, if she had to vocalize anything. To be honest, she was happy just in the moment, their eyes connected. She liked when Rei smiled; it lit up her features and made her feel better about countless things. "I suppose I could call you Priestess again and you can call me irritation." Lightly she jested, recalling when that particular name was dropped. The timing had to be perfect, the moment the words left her lips she reached, grasping her hands tightly in the uniform jacket that the woman wore, erasing the space that existed between their mouths.
It was cheating sure, but she desired to kiss her then and there, not to listen to a sputter about joking pet names. Her timing was exactly how she wanted, her mouth captured Rei's before she could utter a word. It was prime opportunity for her sly tongue to engage with the others, tightening her hands in the material they beheld. This was far better to feel if her empathy was going to be a bitch about things, desire was always better than anger.
How long they stood their making out she didn't know and didn't care, it was only when the need for a breath that couldn't be obtained in normal means that they finally parted. Her hands had shifted position from the jacket to instead lace her fingers around the back of Rei's neck, feeling that same arm around her waist and a hand that was dangerously close to being a full on grope of her ass. It made her lips, already pleasantly swollen, pull into a saucy grin. Who would have thought honestly… it was a wonderful surprise.
"You are an irritation though…" Rei managed, her voice anything but steady. It made her ego grow, a dangerous thing that. "But you're also a Princess so… that seems more appropriate."
At once she felt a blush blaze across her features, her eyes dropping as she looked down in an attempt to keep the blush at bay. It did absolutely no good, more so when fingers at her chin lightly drew her head back up. "Your ears are so red…" Rei's voice was a whisper, a thumb brushing across her cheek. It wasn't going to make the blush go away, not by any means. It almost set it to a further intensity as she swallowed roughly. She wasn't one really for her titles; some were personal to her because of who bestowed them, all of them she lived up to somehow. To hear that though from Rei was something she found she savoured, tasting the word on the air like it was the finest of wines from her home.
For some time neither said anything, just lost in looking at each other. Finally the Martian moved and not how she was expecting. An arm dropped to catch under her legs, the other firmly at her back and she was lifted. At once her eyes flew wide, arms scrabbling to grasp better their hold around Rei's neck. "Rei!" She almost squealed, her grip had to be everything for a white knuckled variety.
"It's appropriate. Besides, I don't want to be walked in on."
Be that as it may, her eyes remained wide. More so once Rei started actually carrying her. It was completely unexpected and dare say, out of place. No one had carried her in her life, other than her parents when she was far younger. Like everyone else, she was oblivious to when she had been set to her feet that she'd never be lifted again. Words weren't available to her beyond the squeal she had given.
Wasn't that something; she couldn't recall when the last time was she made such a sound.
It was hardly that far that Rei had to travel before she ran into the supreme obstacle that it was - the door. It was slight bemusement to work its way through her feelings that such a thing would completely stymie someone like the Martian. The longer they stood there before it, the more her humor took over. "Aww what's the matter Rei? Is the big bad door too much for you?"
"I swear to the Gods Minako you're such an irritation." Came the grunted reply. She really was trying to figure out how to handle both the door and herself.
That simply wouldn't do.
Rei was not paying attention to her beyond little shifts here and there, as if the right angle was all the solution she needed. Her lips curled to devious intentions; the benefit of having worn this uniform far longer than the rest of them meant she knew it inside and out. Her arm slipped from its hold around Rei's neck, completely undetected. A slight bit of awkwardness followed but she would succeed, she just knew it.
Carefully, oh so carefully she reached, her hand following the nature of material instead of flesh. Just a bit more and… there! With her grin in place her fingers closed about in a sharp pinch.
It instantly brought a reaction.
"MINAKO," She was practically roaring, dropping her to her feet with a glare that would likely strip the polish off her armor if she was wearing it. She answered with the cutest smile she could, rocking back and forth on her heels with her hands behind her back. "What was that for!"
"You weren't paying attention to me."
"I was trying to open the door! This thing right here!" The Martian's hand rose to thwap against it, as though that was a solid reason why she shouldn't be pinched. "Or did that not cross your mind."
Her own hand reached out, turning the handle with well practiced movements. A simple push with her fingertips sent it to open. "Door's open Priestess. What's your excuse now?" A lilting purr was her issuance of the words, leaning back just so against the door frame. Countless memories of protocol and Venusian heritage echoed in each of her actions. From how she stood to the angle of her head as she looked at Rei.
The woman was quiet for a moment, unreadable for a split second longer before she smirked. Her hand came to rest on the doorframe above her head, their bodies ridiculously close but not as close as she desired. "I was distracted."
"Is that so? I'll have to do something about that." Their voices were low; there was no one else nearby but it never crossed their minds that they could speak louder. It would ruin the moment, after all.
"And … what might that be…" She leaned in closer to her, lips a breath of air apart.
Hers curled a smile that would spell disaster, fingers trailing with, to all appearances, absent minded destinations. It was all purposeful though; everything always was. They rose, spreading before only her fingertips remained. A gentle push, the directive clear - inside. "You'll … find out."
The hint was taken, Rei stepped past the threshold so she could as well. She made sure the door was not only closed but locked as well. Like fuck she would let anything interrupt this. Turning she stood unabashed in the glory of the Martian staring at her. She kept the self assured smug smile she had going on, fingers casual as they began parting Rei's jacket from her. As hands came up to do the same to her she shook her head. "No."
"N-no?" It caught her off guard, given that it was a legit question.
"I can't have you distracted, after all Priestess. You'll have to keep your hands to yourself for a time. Is that clear?" She asked, the jacket divested and dropped to the floor without a care. Hands went next to her belted pants, a twist this way and that before snaking the belt out with a flourish.
"...Yes."
"Yes what?" Oh now that was cheating she knew, tossing the belt to the bed. She watched as Rei's eyes followed it, questioning before looking back at her. Meeting her gaze fully her fingers nimbly undid the pants, letting them fall around her booted feet. In half clothes, panties and a shirt she looked quite irresistible. She paused, waiting for her answer with a slowly raised eyebrow.
"...Yes, Princess."
The reward was a brilliant smile, one that would light up anything. It stayed, even as she knelt to, her mind, such perfection. It caught Rei off guard, not that she gave an outward sign. Kneeling, she carefully pulled off each boot, socks to follow, her pants at last next. They all joined her jacket, creating the clothes party it was going to turn out to be.
Her lips found idly random places along her legs to press, along her calf, the side of her knee, up her thigh. Reaching the edge of her panties, red of course, her mouth followed the boundary between material and skin. Her scent was unmistakable, even as she kissed her hip bone. Breaths were catching; it simply wouldn't do, her nose nuzzled just above her mound before her teeth grasped the material, drawing it down her legs with tugs.
It got the reaction she wanted, the other off balance and looking at her as though she was partially crazed. Oh, there was so much more there in that gaze but she liked, she enjoyed that she surprised the other so greatly. Rising fully, she stuffed Rei's panties to her pocket.
"What… what are you doing."
"I need them. You'll see." That was all she was going to supply, well aware that she looked like a pervert stealing her lover's panties. It wasn't like Rei hadn't stolen hers; she had after all, after getting her drunk when she was supposed to be working on her report. Martian energy drink her ass…
It seems to go over well, or well enough given that Rei didn't question her when her fingers collected the hem of her shirt, pulling it up and over her head. It too joined the clothes party currently underway and she just basked in the view.
It truly was a sin to hide such a body. Goddess how was it such ever one.
"Do you trust me?" She asked, waiting for an answer. There wasn't any hesitation as she received a nod in return. "Lay back on the bed." The directions given she watched, her own hands going to her jacket. Tossed to the pile, she balanced on a foot while undoing her boots, kicking them aside so she could tug off each sock. Wearing Rei's eyes her belt joined the other on the bed, the uncertainty growing but it didn't stop her, letting her pants fall in their own accord so she could step from them while pulling her shirt off.
She knelt for a moment, collecting her claimed prize before drawing her own panties off; most certainly orange. Both in hand she approached the bed, a soft moment of debate before reaching to collect one of their belts. "Tell me no, and I won't." She repeated the same soft words she had said what felt like a lifetime ago, before she had touched her. When all that was between them was a soft kiss and unresolved notions of who they were.
"How could I tell you no?"
Softly she had to laugh, belting Rei's wrists to her headboard with both belts and panties. Not that the cloth was going to do much to cushion but it was better than nothing for preventing what she planned to be a chafing experience. "I want you to remember that, because there's gonna be countless times that you're going to wish you told me no." She surveyed her handiwork, it wasn't the best but for the sake of improvisation, she wasn't going to complain. "Make sure you keep your palms pointing up." Her victim looked at her hands, not understanding, before back at her.
"Why?"
"Your shoulders will thank you." She left it cryptically as that, having no more desire to speak she moved to the foot of the bed. Presentation was just as important as performance, feeling Rei's eyes as she slinked slowly down to crawl up her body. Her fingers followed closely behind, nails raking ever so slowly in her wake up her leg. It could almost be described lazy save that everything was purposeful. Like a bare scratch to the back of a knee to tease the nerve, rewarding herself with the sudden spasm of Rei's leg and bending knee. The creak of leather and wood followed, but it wasn't the drawn in breath that she wanted to hear.
Her fingers trailed upwards still, following along her thigh. That's where her attention was, not looking to see the reaction that the Martian's features would give. Her body would tell her everything she wanted and needed to know right now, creating a path up to her hip before stopping at her navel. She turned her head then, capturing Rei's lips swiftly with hers as she moved to balance carefully over there. Not yet touching yet, a tease if there ever could be one, before she relaxed fully. The sound that was given she absorbed greedily, her hand skimming to cup the woman's breast with a devious flick of her thumb. Here was a good reason why Rei should adhere to her advice, feeling the movement as their tongues met.
A hand firmly against the bed, her other was quite enjoying itself squeezing and massaging the supple flesh it beheld. A crime, hiding a body like this… it likely turned her possessive, finger and thumb giving her nipple a slight, soft twist before pinching. Instantly Rei's hips rose into her own, feeling her breath hike from the induction of pleasurable pain. It gave her every reason to deepen their kiss that much more, finally relenting for the sake of both their breaths. Hooded eyes regarded each other, lips swollen as air passed between them, an inhale for each exhale. There wasn't a need for words, not when they communicated so well without them right now.
Softly she kissed her again, twice … three times before her lips found the side of her face. She could have easily let this go for hours, in reality she should have but her need was winning out. To her earlobe she went, drawing it into the heat of her mouth to suck on all for the sake of hearing the gasps that were brought on by her actions. Her hands switched their roles, fingers digging into the material of her bedding as though she was the one tied up. Along her neck her mouth went next, so tempted to leave a mark but it would demean the proud Martian, especially when Terra would be so soon upon them. Not that it was ok that the Mercurian and Jovian teased her for it, but it was different. It just was in a way she couldn't explain and right now, wouldn't.
Her collar bones were next, the tip of her tongue flicking between them, in their created hollow. She felt a leg against hers, the frustration of lack of upper body movement finally getting to be annoying. Rising up slightly she looked at the woman, not bothering to stop her hand that was enjoying its placement too much. The look she received told her she better not stop, smirking at that. Lowering her head she attacked her breasts with unrelented actions, drawing a sound from the woman. A flick of her tongue, the parting of her lips and she left a mark to the inner swell of them. Like hell anyone but her would see it, a territorial mark of her possession.
Legs brushed against her again before they finally succeeded, pressing to either side of her hips. She felt them squeeze but that was hardly anything to get her to stop, her mouth wanted to be right where it was and so that was where she stayed, paying equal attention between them. Each breath taken was catching, a soft sound of one sort on the inhale, a different one on the ragged exhale. The sensitivity was spiking upwards she could tell, Rei tugging more and more on her restraints. She wasn't going anywhere, but it was reaffirming to hear her try.
At last she was rewarded with what she wanted, the sudden inhale, the tightening of her legs before Rei softly cried out. Her body shuddered, perhaps awkwardly save that it was beautiful to her. Giving her a chance to recover wasn't in her plans, slipping easily through her legs, golden hair trailing against skin that was flush with desire. She settled easily between her thighs, a kiss to the inside of either one, moving ever so higher. Curling her hand, she brought it to part her lips, her tongue instantly moving to collect her taste.
It brought another sound, another shudder of her body. Her mouth was there for it all, eyes closing as, while there was much to see, right now the sense of touch would reign absolutely supreme. Curling her tongue she pressed it against her, flicking upwards to her clit to flick at before repeating her actions. Once she knew Rei was following her rhythm she changed it up, stopping to gather the completely sensitive nub within her lips to pull, teeth grinding just barely.
The headboard was protesting each thing she did, the legs to either side of her head kept threatening to close. Her lover's hips rose in their futile attempt to regulate what was going on to her body, something that she wouldn't allow. A simple turn of her hand brought a single finger to slip within her, her mouth sucking on her in time with each thrust within and out. Her harmony found she moved with Rei's canting body, curling her finger to further touch upon her, pressing just right as Rei cried again, releasing in a spastic sin of movement.
It was still some time before her hand withdrew itself to be found cleaned by a nimble tongue. A gentle kiss was left to her sex, another just above, before she crawled up and over her body. Rei's eyes were closed, lost in the daze, processing everything that had just happened. Carefully she undid one hand, kissing the inside of her wrist gently before carefully bringing it down to her side. By the time she got to the other one, eyes were upon her. Knowing full well what she was doing she met her gaze, passing the leather through its metaling binding hoop on the way to undoing.
"I don't see … how I could … ever want … to tell you no." Came a breathless confession.
She smiled, perhaps not as cheekily as she had before, but it was hardly diminished. The belt undone brought a hand to the side of her face, fingers not quite working for a moment before they brushed back her hair, curling to the back of her head. Drawn in, Rei's lips were soft against hers, having little hesitation for being there given everything that had just happened. She drew back slightly, long enough to be able to formulate words, "Then I shall endeavor never to give you a reason to."
"We'll do rotations of six hours each; the Terrans do have to sleep at some point. I want someone with the Princess at all times. I don't really care how they might bitch about it or whatever excuse they give that passes as safety."
It was just after five, four packs and a wayward helmet lingered by the door. Three heads nodded in agreement, each dressed alike but hardly at all.
"I've downloaded all the information I could on Terra that was accessible. As long as we can use the ship at least once during the stay, the battery will hold. If we can't, then I packed a spare for an emergency." Ami rarely gave any indication to what she did with Makoto, but it wasn't hard to notice that it was ultimately along the lines of what her and Rei had. There was always that glint in her eye, beguiling the the genius mind was perverted as fuck.
A shimmering scale shirt covered her torso, its hue like a frozen lake. It complimented her features well, her cloak pinned off to the side and over her shoulders. She was armed, either tonfa she was willing to bet was honed to an edge that would slice through flesh without care. They gave her the shifts that would be spent mostly with the Princess asleep, as it was the best opportunity for her to access everything she could without interruption.
Makoto didn't say much, her attention on her spear that she was checking the bindings on. There were a few times that she wondered if the Jovian wanted to bring along another weapon; a spear had range sure but in close quarters there wasn't much that could be done. Then again, the fact that she wore metal studded gloves, reinforced especially over the knuckles, meant that when push came to shove, Makoto would just punch her way out of the situation.
A studded leather jerkin looked out of place against their uniforms but there was fat chance that they would go anywhere without some degree of protection. It was time for them to stand and deliver, all their training and skills to be tested not only in protecting the Princess, but also the stupid as fuck exhibition match between four dumbasses. Really, who the fuck invited someone, and their guard, and then dropped the "oh by the way, we wanna see what you got" card? It certainly had to be some bullshit Terran thing.
She'd almost believe that save that it was too similar to what happened here.
Rei said nothing, though she did snort at the helmet when she brought it out to rest by their packs. Coyly she winked at her, earning her a roll of stormy eyes. Perhaps the least armored of them all, the contrasting extra to her uniform was a pair of black leather gauntlets, riveted together in red iron circles. When given them, she waved off the explanation with the truth; she had them made before she sat the first night to work on her report, after Artemis had dropped the news that the Queen and Princess were not present.
Every so often she could see Rei flex her fingers in them, no doubt getting used to their feel. She knew who made them and knew that, despite being new, they would already have that "broken in" quality to them. Rei would take the second shift after Ami, relieved then by Makoto, and finally herself. It seemed as sensible as they could make it without knowing exactly what the Terrans had planned.
Shortly after they rose to collect their packs, Rei leaving to retrieve both Phobos and Deimos. They'd stop along the way to the hanger bay to entrust them with the Mau, before escorting the Princess to the awaiting shuttle.
In hindsight, it seemed so well of a plan that nothing and everything could go wrong.
The Princess was going to be the death of her, she just knew it. After escorting her the shuttle, the crew finished their preparations of stocking. The gowns, she mused before shaking her head. That accounted for a small portion of it; the rest were unknowns. Their own personal gear had been last on board, carried on by themselves and stowed out of the way.
She hated flying so much.
"Princess, we can't leave until you're in your seat and buckled in." She swore if, for some reason she were to ever have children, they would learn to be self-sufficient. At least she kept her eyes from rolling; that had to account for something.
The other three were already in their seats; once again it was just waiting for someone else. There wasn't much to the ship if the lack of accommodations was any indication. Not even a place to sleep outside of their seats. Her gaze moved to Ami who shrugged. "It's not Mercurian."
"Mother got us a new ship!" The Princess promptly exclaimed, all progress made towards their departure halted as multitasking was not something apparently picked up on yet.
"Princess…" She tried again. Really. Two fucking weeks of this?
"Oh right… Anyway! Mother said she got us a faster ship so that's why we're taking it! I can't believe he wants to see me again. And he invited you all too! His friends are really nice, they're just like you! Oh!" Suddenly a sly look was developed, but at least she was strapped in. "Maybe you could marry them!"
Makoto could barely keep herself from choking, Ami scowled hard enough to rival a Martian, and Rei looked like she was ready to set fire to the ship, the Princess, and perhaps the Moon itself.
She had slept with men before; she was a Venusian after all. Pleasure came from both genders and it was important to explore to find out what you liked. Typically though she preferred women and above all else, one in particular. "Let's not entertain such notions."
"Well… I guess you're right. Besides, I'd miss you all if you did!"
"Why's that?" She felt the ship lurch; she hated flying, her hands tightening on the seat arms with a death grip.
"It's simple really, his guards are all in charge of different parts of the planet so… if you did marry them, I wouldn't get to see you that often!"
"The Prince doesn't retain his guards?" Ami perked up, pausing in what she was looking at. It didn't stop her from typing though, a file going of everything Earth related they could learn.
"No. He says it's silly that I do. He suggested to Mother that you all should go home but she didn't like his idea. It doesn't make sense though, it's not like someone's gonna come to the Moon. We're important! And Mother lives there and she made the Alliance!" The Princess looked at them all, like it was the first time she had ever seen them. "You all must be terribly bored all the time. Training and looking for things to attack."
It was a half smile, hardly meant but the Princess didn't know that. She suspected that Rei did, if the look she gave her was any indication. "We're here to protect you Princess from anything that could happen." Or die in the process.
"Maybe Mother was right…" The Princess trailed off, her hands playing with her dress as she looked out the window. Of course she had to have a window seat. The Lunar surface was growing fainter and fainter; supposedly this new ship would get them there in a matter of hours, an amazing twenty if she heard correctly.
That would be twenty down, three hundred and change to go.
She hated space flight, she hated take offs, she hated landings. She hated the sheer notion of it, perhaps for legitimate reasons and perhaps not. They were solid reasons though to her and no one thought to question her on. Be it of choice or simply not thinking to, and she was appreciative ultimately of it. The Princess fell asleep by the third hour in; she should have bet with Ami. The rest of them dropped off shortly after; Makoto by the fifth hour, Ami a half hour after that. Rei took longer, lingering to the seventh before even she nodded off.
She couldn't sleep. She should, she knew that, in rather dire need of it, but sleep was going to elude her. Managing a few hours of sleep with Rei after their fun didn't do much to replenish her, but the longer her gaze stayed looking at the countless stars around them, the blue and green orb of Earth coming closer and closer into view, the worse the feelings from what felt like ages ago kept coming back. Stronger and stronger, perhaps because there was no escape, there was no distractions to keep them at bay.
The Queen addressed nothing. Nothing about what happened to them after the ball, nothing about why she wanted them to avoid the Chancellor of Earth. Nothing that would soothe their concerns and fear. Strict obedience instead, a far fetched story that the Prince dearly missed the Princess. A snort followed at that thought; the Prince missed the opportunity of a young ripe body. She wasn't stupid, none of them were.
Here they were though, treated as such.
The only comfort was that she wasn't alone in this. Ami and Makoto and Rei. The lucky ones to get to share in the experiences with her. It still wasn't fair for them; guilt was starting to take its center stage in her feelings. Trying to will herself to calm her fingers curled tightly around the arm rests in her gloves. The beat of her heart sped up, her breathing turning rapid. She was going to have a fucking anxiety attack at the rate this was going.
Forcing herself to take a deep breath, she grabbed the chain that hung from her belt on the same side as her sheathed falchion. Grasping it she pulled, as though she intended to force the links apart. They didn't give, she knew they wouldn't, and it was what she needed. Something solid. It still took minutes before she finally let go of it, panting hard, but in control.
She'd take it.
The pilot's voice buzzed back to them, announcing their arrival in minutes. It jolted her from a fitful sleep, her neck stiff from how her head was propped up in her hand. Working it from left to right she watched as the others were fitfully doing the same, all save the Princess who looked ecstatic at the notion. A glance out the window told her that Earth was green, there were clouds and rivers and shit for signs of buildings, much less civilization. A frown followed, peering closely and seeing nothing that didn't leave her to believe that maybe…
Maybe this was a mistake.
The intercom sounded again, prepare to land. Land where? Where the fuck were they? A clearing with what looked to be a flattened earth landing pad… even Jupiter had better areas than this, and that planet was full of storms upon more storms. Fuck, Mars was better! Sure it was red dust and mountains and roving bands but … but what the fuck was going on? There was no obvious paths, there was nothing but trees. Trees as far as she could see, a forest so densely packed it was pitch darkness inside.
With a slight lurch though it touched down; sharing a look with Ami about how that seemed impossible. It seemed to take just a moment and the shuttle doors were opening, whining softly from the depressurization with a hiss before they were silenced. The whole craft was silent for that matter, save for the sound of hands at buckles and booted feet against the floorboards.
"Serenity wait!" Makoto suddenly called out, causing her to look up and see a flash of the Princess leaving the craft.
"Fucking hell…!" She tore at the belt, growling in frustration as the buckles did not want to work in her hands. "Go after her!" Yelling at the others who didn't have the issues that she did, she watched as Ami sprinted out, followed by Rei. Makoto gave her a look; she nodded, before the Jovian grasped the belt in her hands. A grit of her teeth and she tore it from the seat, throwing it aside before racing after them. She was hot on her heels, stopping at once to the sound of a bow string.
A bow string released and a gargle. Their pilot who had been outside by the door, helping the Princess to step from the craft fell to the ground, an arrow protruding from his eye.
Oh fuck. They had the same reaction, Makoto wrenched Serenity behind her. The Princess gasped, her hands rising to cover her mouth as she stared in that shocked sort of numbness at the body. Voices followed, angry voices, male voices. Screaming something. She couldn't understand it but she could understand that it was rage.
"GET THEM!"
Oh … fuck.
From the surrounding tree line they came, seeming to materialize before their very eyes. A rag tag force that right now translated to an armored force by the factors of surprise and sheer numbers. Two score she quickly picked out, swords, axes, and spears. They rushed to form a semi-circle around them, shouting who really knew what in their guttural Terran language. She scanned as fast as she could, looking for the damn archer. They were sitting targets out here, if their pilot was any indication.
There, a short haired blonde on horseback, holding a bow, behind the ranks of foot soldiers. He pointed at them with his free hand. "Don't harm the Princess!"
Oh like fuck that was going to happen.
Ami had already drawn her tonfas, Rei her two short swords. Both were ready for a fight without hesitation and murder the first fool that wanted to rush forward. Yanking her falchion from her scabbard her other hand grasped the chain, turning to screamed at Makoto. "Get her inside now! Ami, get this ship going!" Her gaze went to Rei, sharing a nod as they quickly moved to provide cover to their companions and charge.
She heard the scramble of footsteps back into the shuttle from Ami, the grunt from Makoto who shielded the Princess and drug her bodily inside.
"Where do you think you're going?" A calmer voice, a different voice, as another horse came into view. This one blonde as well, though a quick glance she almost mistook him for a woman. This one carried a mace, the horse stopping like a compass point from the archer.
"You don't think you'll get away, do you?" Yet another of these fuckers, brown hair on this one and carrying a large axe in hand with his horse's reins in the other. He stopped opposite of the feminine man.
"We've been expecting you." The fourth, silver haired. A sword. He was by the archer.
The fuck.
"I've been waiting for you, my love."
A gasp from the Princess, Makoto not quite yet having her inside and to a safer position that the shuttle could provide. "Endymion…"
...Fuck.