Hair tied back, sunglasses on her face, and a white swimsuit with black accents, Shiro watches the clear blue sky while laying down on a blanket. The heat of the sand is unable to penetrate through as she takes all the time in the world to get comfy, stretching her body and feeling the bones pop with a satisfying crack.
Ah. Such a good feeling. She can feel her mind relax from the sounds of the crashing waves, the sun shining down her body, and the succulent juice she has in her hand.
It's been so long since the last time she's been at the beach. She could still remember when her old man tried to ride a jetski only to be lurched away the moment it even moved.
His face and embarrassment at the time was pitiful but priceless. He refused to ride on anything ever again since then.
It's still funny to this day.
With a little chuckle and smile on her face, she lies upon the blanket. Nothing to disturb her, nothing to put her out of her vib-
"Oi, Master. Need a little help here."
Only for a pair of boobs to block her vision.
"Av-Avenger!"
"What's with the surprise?"
Sitting up suddenly, Shiro looks at the pale servant before her. A sleek design, Avenger's swimsuit bears pink flame patterns and a black colour accented with the same colour as the flame as well as a jacket to go along with the rest of the attire. One she had custom-made for herself.
Though the gloves seem a bit unnecessary in her opinion.
"What is it…?"
"Can you help me with the sunscreen? The sun is getting on my nerves, literally." She waves the bottle of lotion in her hand.
"That's it? Can't you… do it on your own?"
"I would, if I wasn't feeling lazy so… do it for me."
"But-"
"Please."
Avenger's yellow eyes gazed at her with a hint of plead, enough to make her submit to her words.
She can't resist whenever she does that look, and Avenger knows it.
A subtle mischievous smile appears ever so slightly on Avenger's face before it disappears in a blink as Shiro sighs.
"Fine."
"Yay, you're the best Master there is!"
"Shut up!"
Avenger gives a slight chuckle before taking off her jacket, untying her bra while she lies face down on the blanket, the straps falling to the sides as she glances at Shiro from her position.
Shiro stares at the flawless pale skin, the white hair parting away to reveal her back, her body glistening with sweat as it rises with each breath, the bra untied and loose beneath her, exposing the sides of her breasts.
She gulps. Her cheeks slightly heating up with a tinge of red.
Just looking at her gives her… a wide variety of shameful thoughts.
Avenger, still staring at her, gives her a smile.
"I'm ready, Master."
Well… here goes nothing.
She squeezes the lotion onto her hand and rubs it together, then she slowly brings it to Avenger's back.
Avenger's back tingles against her touch, she can hear her let out a small breath as the cold lotion starts to spread around her back.
It only serves to fuel her thoughts more.
Another gulp as she applies the lotion from her back to her legs, feeling the plum flesh almost squishing under her hands.
Avenger let out another quick breath as though she's doing it on purpose. Even so, it makes the reddening on her cheeks more prominent than before.
She tries to close out her thoughts, to think nothing of the softness on her palms, all she's doing is applying sunscreen, that's it. No matter how much she wants to admire her body, nope.
It's nothing at all…
Nothing… at… all…
"Oh? You're done already? I expected it to be longer."
Her thoughts are interrupted by Avenger's sudden voice as she looks back at her, the lotion fully applied to her body in what seems like seconds.
It felt more like an eternity to her.
Avenger hums to herself as she ties her bra back on and puts on her jacket, sitting up from her prone position with an expression of odd boredom. The way her half-lidded eyes combined with the lotion glossy appearance makes for a sight that makes her mind once again delve into the dark depths.
Just don't think about it, don't think about it…
As Shiro struggles to get her mind back under control, Avenger grabs hold of the sunscreen and glances over Shiro's body. Then, a glint appears in her gaze.
"Say… Your sunscreen is running out soon, right?"
"Hmm?"
Shiro looks over at herself before turning back to Avenger. "Maybe. Why?"
Avenger waves the bottle with a smirk on her face. "Why not let me apply it for you?"
Shiro holds up her hand. "No."
"Come on, Master, it's called an equivalent exchange. Nothing wrong with that now, right? After all you've done for me, at least let me do this one thing for you… please."
Avenger said with a glimmer in her eyes, the subtle hint of pleading stubbornness that she can't say no to.
Even now.
A little moment of silence before she gives out a resigned sigh.
"Fine… here."
Shiro turns around, her back to Avenger as she hears a little cheer coming from her.
She breathes in, hearing the squeezing of the bottle behind her.
Then, she feels the fluid on her back. Rubbing against her skin, the soft palms of Avenger's now ungloved hands move in a swift yet delicate manner, one that seems uncharacteristic of her considering her personality.
She feels her mind wander as she relaxes. It's rare for her to let anyone do anything like this for her because she always wants to do it alone, not wanting to be a bother to people, with the only exception being Sakura.
It's the same way when helping others. She doesn't mind if no one helps her, but it bothers her to not be of help to someone else.
Is it odd to be that way? Now, with Avenger applying something as simple as sunscreen for her, it feels… weird.
She lets out a subtle sigh.
Maybe it's just her thinking that way, who knows.
As her mind gradually plunges deeper into thought, it is interrupted by a single tap on her shoulder as she glances back with a curious gaze.
"Avenger?"
"Don't jump."
Hm?
"What do you-"
Then a sudden cold feeling burst on her abdomen, "-mean?!"
She looks down and sees Avenger holding her from behind. Her breath on her nape, her hands stained with the sunscreen roams around her like a slippery reptile, leaving behind tingles everywhere they go.
"Avenger?!"
Thank God there's no one else here to see what's happening right now.
"Come on, don't be a baby. It's just a little rub, that's all~"
Though her face leaves no hints, her voice alone makes it all clear that she's teasing her.
But still, the way she's going about it, is it really necessary?
"Avenger, stop!"
Despite her cries, Avenger shows no signs of stopping, continuing her journey from her abdomen to her chest all the while a smile is plastered on her face.
She continues upward, seeming like it won't stop until-
Avenger's fingers stop. The tingles that she felt are now gone, as if they were seemingly halted by something like…
She glances down her chest.
A scar.
Avenger's hand lay there, on top the scar that spreads on the left side of her chest, directly where the heart is.
Her smile is also gone, replaced by a solemn silence.
"Avenger…"
"...Do you still feel it?"
"...Not anymore."
"..."
It's been awhile since anyone has seen it. The scar, it acts as a sort of reminder of what she's been through.
She could still remember the pain, feel it even despite the numbness, occasionally.
The fear, the life draining away from her, it felt… like a nightmare.
Though the memory of that time has almost faded, it still haunts her nonetheless.
Avenger's arms wrap around her in an act of comfort, bringing her closer to her, her head now over her shoulder.
…It feels nice.
Shiro grabs hold of Avenger's hand on her chest, leaning back on her.
"You sure you don't feel it?"
"It's nothing, really. I moved on from it a long time ago."
"...Heh."
A small laugh exits the pale servant's lips. Her face now a mirror of a forlorn memory.
"If only I could do the same."
"Avenger?"
"Forget it. Was just remembering a bad memory."
Shiro squeezes Avenger's hand gently. "You don't have to hide it. We both have our own share of bad memories."
"Yeah, maybe… but I don't feel like talking about it right now."
"...If you want to talk about it, remember that I'm here for you, no matter what."
"I know."
Of course, Shiro knows exactly what kind of memory she's talking about. Of that cross and the flame.
But, she's letting Avenger decide if she wants to unravel the pain in her heart and move on from it, like how she did with the fire and the scar.
…Sometimes, she wonders if they're more similar than she thought.
She sighs, leaning further into Avenger who just holds her tightly, her actions forgotten as they watch the waves together.
"The ocean looks beautiful today."
"Yeah."
She wonders if these kinds of moments will still be commonplace in the future.
…Hopefully it will last a long time.