Chapter 33: Mice on Venus

A/N: This chapter contains strong sexual themes.

I pushed open the door, and stepped inside Alex's room.

She was sitting on a wooden staircase, which served as a rudimentary chair, while her crossed legs were resting on a table in front of her. Behind the table was a window that offered a clear view of the starry sky.

"Hello," I greeted hesitantly, after closing the door behind me.

"Hi," she responded shortly afterwards. Unsure of what to do, I took a seat on the long side of her bed.

"Are you okay?"

Without taking her eyes off the window, she sighed.

"I think so. I can't imagine how that could have possibly gone any better."

"...Yeah, I think I can agree with that."

The brief silence that followed gave me time to take a proper look at her room. It was relatively fancy, from her bed, to her ornaments, and even to the use of a redstone lamp for lighting, instead of torches. I wondered whether the next leader would try to claim this room as their own.

On a final note, I spotted the drawing of the cyan rose I had given her. She had placed it on an item frame, and hung it next to her bed. I smiled at the sight.

Once enough time passed, I asked aloud, "Do you want me to leave you alone for now? I'd understand if you want to rest."

She made eye contact with me for the first time since I stepped inside, before sitting upright.

"No, I'd like you to stay if you don't mind. I enjoy your company."

"Alright, then."

...

"Thank you for standing by me while I was giving my speech, by the way."

"I didn't really do anything special, though."

"Your presence helped regardless. I felt assured to know you were there for me."

"...No problem."

...

It felt as though something was holding both of us back from speaking openly, so I made an attempt to push past it.

"So, what are you thinking of?"

"To be honest, not much. Mostly what to do tomorrow."

"Wanna share your thoughts?"

She got off the chair, and sat on my right.

"There isn't much to say that I haven't already told you. What I want to know is what you're thinking."

This was the moment. This is what I had come here for, so I had to be as precise and as honest as I could. Keeping Matilda's word of advice at the back of my mind, I told her what I wanted to say.

"I want to stay with you."

"...what?"

"I want to stay with you. For now; and tomorrow; and the day after; and so on. That's what I'm thinking."

She looked at me as though I had grown a second head.

"Wh-what are you saying?"

"Why do you sound so surprised? Isn't this what you asked of me? To stay? Well, that's what I want to do."

A look of indecisiveness smeared her face.

"I...I don't know if I can believe that..." she admitted dejectedly.

"Why not?"

"It's just that...sometimes I feel like you aren't being honest with me. Like you're holding back your thoughts. I don't mean to offend you, but that's just how I perceive it."

I couldn't believe what she was saying. Even after all the reassurance I gave her last night, she was still having second thoughts? It was almost like a cloud of doubt was shrouding her mind, and just wouldn't let go.

Alright, in retrospect, I couldn't really act as if I hadn't had these feelings just earlier that day. Most importantly, though, I remembered the way she described her experiences with this world after we got separated. The way she was treated, and the difficulties she had to overcome…

When was the last time someone gave her a word of comfort? A loving hug? A shoulder to lean on? She probably didn't have anyone that could offer these things. Her underlings certainly couldn't have been in such a position… In cases like this, who wouldn't be at least a little untrusting?

That's why I needed and wanted to become someone she could open her heart to. Someone who could help dispel that cloud of doubt.

"You want me to be honest with you? Is that it?"

She nodded sternly.

"Very well, then," I replied similarly.

I took hold of her shoulders, and she stared intently at me. I could sense the anticipation that was hiding behind her bated breath. Subconsciously, my gaze softened, as I told her the truth.

"I love you."

She didn't display any reaction at first. Either she was letting that information sink in, or she was probably just scrutinizing me, trying to find any clues that could suggest I was kidding.

"...Oh, you're not kidding, are you?"

Called it, although I wished I was proven wrong.

"Alex, come on now; you're insulting me. After all this time that you've known me, all this time that...we spent and lived together, do you really think I'd ever joke around with matters like this?"

Soon enough, a hardly noticeable smile tugged at her lips. Had I been sitting any farther away, I probably wouldn't have noticed.

"You're right. You would not...You would not!"

She wrapped her arms around me, and squeezed me tight. It may have taken some time, but in the end, the result was worth it. We were together again, like we were meant to be.

"Oh, Steve...I...I can't describe how happy you've made me!" she declared after letting go of me.

"Really?"

"Really. I can't describe it...but...maybe..." she averted her gaze.

"..."

"Maybe, I could show you, if you'd like~"

There was a certain glint of smugness in her eyes, and a tone of mischievousness in her voice. It was strangely...alluring, and I couldn't help but grin at the implication.

"Go ahead."

With soft, yet confident movements, she pushed me, causing me to fall back on the pillows behind us. I got into position, and she climbed on top of me. She gently ran a hand through my hair, as I slid mine down her waist.

It was then that she leaned in, and went for a kiss. Unlike last time, I didn't hesitate to reciprocate. It felt firmer than the previous one she had given me, not to mention longer. I had honestly missed this feeling. This intimacy. It felt sweet. It felt good. But most importantly, it felt right.

When she broke away, I felt her hot breaths coming my way. I looked at her in the eyes, and saw a sense of desire, or perhaps longing, in them. Her cheeks were flushed, although mine probably were, too.

Wordlessly, she sat up and started taking off her clothes, one by one. I followed suit, and once all that was said and done, I drank in the sight of her nude figure as she sat sideways. The arousal that had started to build up within me, was accompanied by genuine amazement and admiration.

Her body was firm and toned, much like mine. I mentally noted all the similarities between us, like her chiseled abs. Her arms and legs, while not quite as thick as mine, were still clearly strong and well-maintained.

I also noticed with ease the difference between our skin tones; mine seemed so much darker compared to hers. Lastly, I let my attention slowly trail down to the patch of red pubic hair she had, right below which was the outline of her vulva. Simply looking at it made me feel stiff.

Our eyes met once more, and needless to say, she looked rather proud of herself.

"Any comments?"

I took a moment just to make sure my words would be coherent.

"...You're beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous."

"You flatter me."

"I mean it…"

I slowly lifted my hands, and asked her for permission.

"May I?"

"Feel free."

Once she gave me the go-ahead, I softly caressed her chest. I was delighted to learn just how soft and tender it was, even more so when compared to the rest of her rugged body. She giggled quietly from the touch.

"Our world is filled with so much beauty…" I started. "From the brilliant starry sky, to a vibrant valley filled with flowers and even to a lush, underground cave. But you, Alex, are by far the most beautiful sight I've ever laid my eyes on."

I had let go of her breasts to cup her warm face. She seemed taken aback, if her rubbing her arm was any indication.

"I wish I was as good with words as you are..."

"You can always give it a shot, you know? Here, what was the first phrase that popped into your mind when you saw me like this?"

"..."

"..."

"You're hot... Hey, don't laugh!"

"...Forgive me. I appreciate your adequate compliment."

She hesitated for a moment.

"Here. Let me try again."

She placed her hands on my shoulders. Her voice sounded sincere, but not as confident as it usually did.

"I think you're...truly handsome. Your sturdy arms," she slowly noted while rubbing my biceps. "Your broad chest...Your eyes…"

"What about them?"

"They're...they're marvelous. Like the sky."

"..."

I was truly left in awe, but my lack of apparent reaction was misinterpreted.

"I tried. I prefer actions to words, anyway."

"N-No, don't be harsh on yourself! Have some confidence! I found your words touching," I assured her, but she didn't appear convinced. Well, I couldn't expect her insecurities to just instantly fade away… We had to take it one step at a time.

She pursed her lips, as she removed the hair tie that was keeping her hair in a ponytail, and let her fiery mane cascade down her shoulders. Slowly, she let her fingertips slide upwards along my abs, before hugging me tight once more. She planted a kiss on my neck, which caused me to shiver.

From this distance, I spotted a small array of freckles that were dotting her shoulders. I could have sworn she was becoming more attractive by the heartbeat. I took in her scent, which reminded me of an oak forest. It suited her perfectly.

She began to kiss my neck affectionately, even going as far as to leave a few gentle bites here and there. I gulped. Her hands were caressing my sides, while mine gravitated towards her rear. I squeezed it gently, and it felt unsurprisingly stiff. A quiet, almost held back moan slipped past her lips, and made its way to my ears.

She started grinding herself against my penis, which caused my breathing to hitch. As I was planting kisses along her shoulders and collarbones however, she whispered, without lifting her head from my shoulder, or stopping.

"I forgot to tell you this, but...I love you, too, Steve. More than anything. I'm just...so happy that...even after everything...we're together again. It's good to have you back with me."

I let go of her rear to pat her back. After kissing her on the cheek, I responded.

"It's good to be back, Alex. I just want you to know that I'll stay with you until you get sick of me."

"Ha ha! You'll be stuck with me for a long time if that's the case!"

"I'll manage."

Her chuckles caused the hair on my nape to stand on its end.

Not too long after that, we resumed making out, only with reinvigorated passion. I don't want to go into further detail on what happened afterwards, but this was the second night in a row where we didn't get a whole lot of sleep.

…

…

Sleeping with a loved one is something truly special. And yet, I'd say that having the opportunity to wake up next to that person is just as gratifying, in a way. Groggily, I looked to my left, and saw Alex slumbering peacefully.

I couldn't pinpoint the exact reason why, but that moment, that image, filled me with so much glee. Maybe it was the pink tint that the morning sun casted over the room. Perhaps, it was the tranquil silence that had blanketed the environment.

Or, most likely, it was the actual person in question that made me feel this way. Seeing her so...vulnerable...so carefree. It truly felt like each and every cold, aloof wall she had raised to hide her heart had crumbled away, exposing her true, innermost self.

I quietly played with one of her messy locks, and noticed a short stream of drool flowing from her slightly parted lips, and trickling down her pillow. In spite of that - or rather, because of that, I was once again blown away by her beauty.

Accidentally running one of my fingers through a knot, I caused her to grumble and stir awake. She hadn't opened her eyes yet, but if her furrowed eyebrows were any indication, she was a bit cranky.

Using one arm to support herself, she wiped her mouth with the other, making a sound of disgust. She fluttered her eyes open at the sound of my chuckle, and her expression sweetened.

"Good morning," I said.

"Good morning to you, too."

She reached over to where she had strewn her clothes and began dressing, but let her hair untied, interestingly enough. After setting down a cauldron, and filling it with water, she washed herself up.

"I'm going to the office for some breakfast. Feel free to join me if you want."

"...I'll swing by later."

"As you wish. Oh, and by the way."

She gave my rear two light smacks, which made me jolt in surprise.

"You did a good job last night, soldier."

"Ha ha, at your service, ma'am."

"I'll keep that in mind~"

I soon registered the sound of the door opening and closing, and once I reopened my eyes, I saw that the room had gone empty. Turning around to lay on my back, I drew a sigh of satisfaction.

So, then. That was it. The choice that had been serving as a constant weight on my conscience for days on end, was made. Pointing out every single emotion that was coursing through me wasn't an easy task, but relief for the conclusion and excitement for what the future would bring were certainly the most prominent ones.

So...why did it feel like something was off?

I lingered on that thought for a little longer, yet I couldn't quite put my finger on the answer. It could have simply been the fact that I wasn't really in my comfort zone yet. Perhaps now that things would start settling down, the faint discomfort would go away...

Going along with that assumption, I shifted my focus to the more pressing matter at hand, such as my grumbling stomach. I knew I was going to figure it all out soon enough.

We ultimately had to eat our breakfast in the courtyard, because the office was occupied by the captain of the illagers, who was conducting administrative paperwork of some kind. That unexpected turn of events served as a reminder for how things were going to be from here on, in regards to our role in the mansion.

On a bright note, the clear weather allowed my mind to function with more clarity, so maybe it was actually for the best.

"So," I asked between sips of water, "how does it feel to be a free woman?"

"To be honest...I feel lazy. It's almost like there's something I'm supposed to be doing, but…there's nothing," she clarified once she ate the last slice of her apple.

I could understand where she was coming from with that mindset, since she had brought up at some point that being a leader was the lifestyle she was used to.

"I don't think you should feel lazy, though. No one's forcing you to do anything, and there are no tasks you have to tend to. In a way, it's kind of like how it was in the Sky dimension."

"Yes, I know that, but still; it's almost innate. Maybe...maybe it's because I still don't really know what I should focus on going forward."

"Hmm... I may have an idea."

She perked up at that.

"Really?"

"Yes. How about we...settle down somewhere? We could search for a suitable location and build a nice house together. Doesn't that sound good?"

She stared off into the grass, and a dreamy look overtook her.

"It does... It sounds lovely!"

More thoughts were coming my way, which led me to daydream. We could try and uncover every nook and cranny of this world, and maybe find out if it was truly infinite or not. That way, we could stumble upon some of our old builds, and potentially finish them. Perhaps we'd even remember more aspects of our old life, and intertwine them with our current one!

As I was mulling over the seemingly endless possibilities, an unsettling realization came to mind. I figured out what was making me uncomfortable before. It was the following scenario: What if Rana really was somewhere out there, looking for me?

If she were to actually stumble upon this mansion like Matilda had hypothesized, how would she react to seeing me with someone else? Wouldn't she feel betrayed? Mentally evaluating my previous interactions with her really made me feel like I had led her on.

Of course, I couldn't have possibly known that things would turn out like this, nor did I regret my decision to stay with Alex, but those two things didn't solve the problem at hand. Not to mention, I still cared about Rana's wellbeing. All she had asked of me when we first met was to be her friend...

"Is something the matter?"

"..."

If I wanted to have a healthy relationship with Alex, I knew I had to be honest with her.

"...Alex, there's something I must tell you."

She appeared curious, if not a little apprehensive at my sudden change in demeanor. I gently clasped her hands.

"Before that, however, I need you to know that I love you. Do you believe that?"

Despite the evident confusion that was framing her face, she nodded.

"Good. Because it's true. Which is precisely why I have to tell you this."

I let go of her hands, and cleared my throat.

"Before the raid, when I was living in Cornelia, there was a woman I used to hang out with."

Her eyes subtly narrowed, but only for a fleeting moment.

"Right," she said. "Wasn't she called 'Rana'?"

"That's right- Wait, how do you know that?"

"I used to send spies to Cornelia during preparations for the raid," she admitted nonchalantly. "Anyway, what about her?"

I plucked out a few blades of grass, while searching for the right words, by which I mean the ones that weren't going to paint a target on my back.

"Well... we were close. Really close, in fact. While I don't love her the same way I love you, I still care about her."

"Okay...Where are you going with this?"

"It would mean a lot to me if you'd let me find her, and tell her the truth."

She raised an eyebrow.

"That being?"

"That...I can't reciprocate her feelings."

She leaned against the wall of the fountain behind us, and darted her eyes up to the sky.

"Is that all?"

"I believe so, yes."

"Why do you want to go to such lengths just for that?"

That question made me pause for a while, before I could find a proper answer.

"...If she's somewhere out there, wondering where I may be, or worrying about me, I want to assuage her concerns."

She looked at me with narrowed eyes.

"Say, for instance, that you are correct - that this girl is really longing for you. Is it really worth it to go out of your way, just to break her heart?" she asked sternly.

A part of me believed she had a point, but the thought of Rana getting in danger because of me was just too strong to brush off. Then again, I could have simply been overestimating her commitment, but I somehow doubted that possibility.

"I think she deserves to know the truth. If anything, so she can move on with her life."

She closed her eyes, and crossed her arms. I waited at the edge of my seat for her response which was preceded by a sigh.

"Fine. I have no problem with you going."

"Really!?"

"Under one condition."

"...What is it?"

She finally opened her eyes, and looked at me earnestly.

"I want to come with you."

I was about to say something, but she managed to add, "Don't get me wrong; it's not that I don't trust you. It's just that...I believe this is the perfect way to start searching for that ideal location to build our house on, like you said," she stated, smiling.

"Of course! I'd love to have you with me! When do you want us to get going?"

"Perhaps tomorrow? The sooner we get started, the better."

"Fine, then. Tomorrow it is."

She stood up, and stretched.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but I need some time for myself now."

Although that may have surprised me, I respected her request nonetheless. In any case, I could have used some time for myself, too.

A part of me wondered if Alex was secretly upset at my decision, somehow. While that was something I'd keep an eye out for, I was actually relieved I shared my thoughts with her, not to mention glad she seemingly took it so well.

It was truly fortunate that I had such an understanding person for a partner.