Chapter 24 May My Angel smile
Mercedes age 10 1167
Mercedes was confused. Why were her mother and she leaving? Where was her little brother? Where was Emile? All this was confusing to the 10-year-old girl. It was her birthday today, yet she was forced to leave the one home that she knew. It was raining, yet her mother and she were out in the street, trying to escape her father's household, and her mother wouldn't tell her why.
"I want to go home," Mercedes said crying. Her mother didn't say anything, which worried the confused child. Her mother never did that. She hated being out here. She hated being away from her home. It was cold. She was soaked. Her feet hurt. It was supposed to be her birthday, a happy day, yet she was out in the rain, miserable.
"There are those who don't want us in their home, especially your father. I had to leave. I wish I could say more," the woman said, her voice breaking, barely able to keep her composure. Her inability to not cry showed that she wanted to, and the 10-year-old was able to pick up that her mother was crying and was trying to be strong for her.
"Why? What have we done wrong? Have I been bad? Why can't we go home? Why are we out here? Why, Mama?" asked Mercedes, a short-haired girl who couldn't understand for the life of her why things were so cruel in this world.
"You've done nothing wrong, dear," her mother said, but she didn't believe it. She couldn't understand why there had to be a reason why her mother married the man who was the father of her little brother. There had to be a reason, and it couldn't be just love. But if he loved her, why did he force them out like this?
"It's not fair," Mercedes said, crying. They were continuing to walk. There was a point where she wore the nicest clothes money could buy, but they were now dirty and soaked with the heavy rain. She looked around and saw children her own age in warm houses, even some celebrating their birthdays. They weren't nobles; they were just commoners. There was nothing special about them, and she wondered what it would be like just to be a normal child.
"I hate birthdays," Mercedes said. Her mother stopped and then looked at her with the saddest look she had ever seen from her mother, the blue-eyed woman whose hair was blonde. She embraced her, and Mercedes was confused. Why was she doing this in the rain?
"I'm so sorry, my angel. You should be in a home that's warm, and you should be surrounded by people who love you, not out like this. I'm so sorry, Mercie, my little angel, I am." The woman sobbed uncontrollably. Not only did this day cause Mercedes misery, but her own mother too. She hated the nobility it caused her family; nothing but pain. Her brother, what was he thinking now? Did he think his big sister abandoned him?
"I wish I had never been born with a crest," Mercedes said quietly. Her mother looked at her and understood only too well the burden that they both bore. What men coveted, they didn't care about them as people.
"Why can't Emile be with us? Why?" Mercedes asked, confused.
"I wish I could answer that," her mother said. This day was always hell for her. Nothing good ever happened on her birthday. She hated this day and being out in the rain with her mother, looking for a place where they could sleep for the night. She had never had a positive memory of birthdays. They were always associated with something bad, and this day was no exception.
"One day, someone will make you smile on your birthday, my dear child, and when they do, I hope this day becomes a distant memory." They didn't say anything else the rest of the day. The one thing she remembers was her mother's sad face.
Mercedes woke up. It was just a memory, she thought. Why was she thinking about that day? She didn't want to think about it, she didn't want to remember it. The day that she and her mother were forced to leave everything they knew behind, the day she was forced to leave her brother behind, the life that she knew. She never had pleasant memories on her birthdays. She always associated birthdays with something bad. On the day she was born, her father died. She may not remember her father's stuff because she was a newborn when it happened, but it doesn't change the fact that she was born the day her father died.
When she was four years old, she remembered her step-siblings tormenting her on her birthday. It was not a day she particularly loved at all. She hated it. Every other child was happy on their birthday, it felt like to her, but it was nothing like that for her. It was nothing but misery.
When she was 5, she remembers being gifted a toy by her brother Emile, who worked really hard to make it for her. Unfortunately, her step-siblings ruined it. She tried to hide her disappointment with a smile, but it didn't fool her brother or her mother; they both saw right through it. Underneath her smile was a crying and sad girl.
At the age of six, she had a fever and was miserable for the whole day. She wasn't able to do what she normally does. Her mother and brother kept her company so she wouldn't be alone.
At the age of seven and eight, it was the same. The tormentors of her childhood, her step-siblings, constantly rubbed it in that she wasn't part of their family, and they spent extra time torturing her on her birthday. She shrugged it off with a smile, despite the fact that she was crying when all was said and done, and she was alone. She doesn't remember her ninth birthday, nor does she want to. Nothing notable happened, but she was still not happy. The memory that she recalled just now was the worst of them when her stepfather revealed that he no longer needed Mercedes or her mother. He already had a child; he no longer had any use for them and cast them to the streets.
Every birthday after that, she hid her sadness and her depression. It was always birthdays that made her the saddest of any day because of what she associated them with. She didn't tell anyone about her birthday because she didn't want to be reminded of an awful day that she constantly remembered since the age of 10. She had not had one birthday that she could remember where she was truly happy. Her birthday would be tomorrow, and she wished she could just get it over with.
When she left her room, she couldn't show what she was feeling on the inside. Her friends couldn't see her sadness; she didn't want to ruin their mood. She wore a fake smile, a smile that only the people who know her best would know it's fake. The only people who could see right through it were her mother, her brother, and a few others.
to put her right hand where her heart was, yes, Sasuke would be able to see right through her. Their bond was too deep for her to hide anything from him. He knows about her birthday, and there are many conversations she doesn't know how he found out about, but he did. She hopes he doesn't go through the trouble for her. Mercedes is not worth the trouble. She's nowhere near worth the trouble. She'll smile for everyone else's sake, while deep down, she is dejected.
She got ready for the day and will act like nothing is wrong because who was going to see through her, other than the people that know her best?
Sasuke was working overtime to get the earrings done. He had to take a break; he was frustrated with the earrings not turning out the way he wanted them to. He wanted to make them perfect, to show Mercedes the love he put into them. He heard a knock on the door and hoped it wasn't someone trying to ask him for something. When he opened the door, he saw it was Annette, Mercedes' friend. They rarely got a chance to talk one on one, so he knew she wouldn't be at his quarters unless it was something serious.
"Sasuke, are you free for a moment?" asked Annette. Sasuke figured he could use the break from his lack of progress on the earrings.
"Yes, I could use a break right now, Annette-san," Sasuke said as he sat across from her on his chair while she sat on his bed. He wondered why she was in his room.
"It's about Mercie, Sasuke. I know you're going all out for her on her birthday, and I want you to know that because I've known her for a long time, I appreciate what you've done for her. I've never seen her smile like she has until she met you." Annette said with appreciation. Sasuke didn't know why she was telling him this alone when she could have told him when they were alone with her boyfriend.
"She may think she has me fooled, but I never pushed her because I never wanted to. She's always sad when her birthday is near; I can't explain it. I don't ask about why because I don't want to see her cry, and I don't think you do either. I've made many attempts over the years to try to get her to smile on her birthday, but I failed." Annette confessed, surprising Sasuke. He had no idea things were so bad. He knew she was sad when her birthday was ever brought up, but never like this.
"Why is she sad on a day like this?" Sasuke asked his friend. Annette was trying to come up with an answer, but she had none, from what Sasuke could gather.
"I don't know; you'll have to ask her yourself," Annette said, not knowing how to answer the question without revealing too much.
"I hate to admit this, Sasuke, but you have a bond with her that I never will have, despite being her best friend. There are things she won't even tell me." Annette paused, then continued, "Sasuke, can I ask you a question? I won't tell anyone, not even Felix."
Annette's face turned serious; she was going to ask him a question. What would it be?
"Do you love her, Sasuke? Answer truthfully; I won't tell anyone." Annette asked, her eyes awaiting his answer. He couldn't lie because she would see right through it. They had spent a lot of time together as friends outside of class, and he couldn't just outright tell her either.
"I wish to see her smile, and I wish to wipe away the tears from her eyes. My feelings are difficult to describe; I cannot tell her directly, and I cannot even properly protect her. If I can't do that, I cannot be worthy of her." Sasuke said, which caused Annette to have an annoyed expression.
"Love doesn't work like that, Sasuke. To be worthy of someone's love is to love them greatly and be willing to do whatever it takes to make them happy. Sasuke, I know you love her; I can tell by your actions, even if you're not ready to admit it out loud yet." Annette said with a serious look. Sasuke got up from his chair and looked at the earrings he was making. Annette noticed him in them.
She walked towards where the earrings were and looked at them with her eyes, inspecting them.
"I could tell you put a lot of love into making these. She'll love them because you made them with your own hands and your own heart and soul. It's through this, Sasuke, that makes you worthy. Because any man that doesn't go as far as you are isn't worthy in my opinion. I'm rooting for both of you," Annette said with a smile, but then it turned serious.
"If you do anything to hurt her, Sasuke, I do warn you, the retribution will be swift. She's been through enough hell; do not break her heart." She says with seriousness. Sasuke would never do that, but he understood everyone's protectiveness of her, considering the hell that she had been through. He doesn't know if he deserves her and doesn't believe he does. Someone pure like her doesn't deserve a tainted and pathetic coward like Sasuke Uchiha. He would never admit that out loud, as to do so would reaffirm what those who doubt his relationship with her feel.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone that you two are together, though you aren't really doing a good job hiding it." Annette said with her outgoing smile, which was a contrast to her serious expression from earlier.
"Thank you for coming here, Annette-san. Now, I'm determined more than ever to finish this." Sasuke said as he went back to resume his work. Annette quietly left the room. Sasuke was determined to finish this, even if he got little to no sleep. He wanted Mercedes to have a smile that would break the curse of her birthdays, which she hates so much.
Mercedes had barely slept. She looked at the time, and it was almost time for her to get up. Another memory, another reminder of how awful this day is. She looked at herself in the mirror; there were shadows in her eyes due to her lack of sleep. She went to her drawer and opened it, and used the makeup that her friend Annette gave her in order to cover up the little sleep she had. When she was done, she left the room. The last thing she wanted was for her boyfriend Sasuke to see her in this pathetic state.
She didn't want her friends to know what she was feeling, either. She couldn't ruin their day because of what this day was: the day of her birth, the day that always is associated with something bad. She walked out of the room and didn't pay attention to what she was hearing anyone say. Her goal was to just get through the day without anything bad happening. Was it really too much to ask? Could a goddess really give her at least one birthday that isn't like the others, especially like the one when she was five?
1162 Mercedes age 5
"Oh, look at that ugly bear," said one of her step-siblings, a girl who, at the time of the memory, was five years older than Mercedes. She had long brown hair and wore a long blue dress, while Mercedes, in contrast, had a simple yellow dress, and her hair was shoulder-length, tied with a ribbon that was her brother's favorite color, pink.
The bear, in particular, was nothing spectacular, but to Mercedes, it was a precious gift given to her by her brother, which her siblings were mocking because of how ugly they thought it looked. She didn't care.
"Please give it back." Mercedes bagged her older stepsister laughed.
"Why would you like this ugly thing? We can simply buy one from the market. It's ugly and not suitable for a noble girl like yourself." Her step sister said as she ripped off the Bear's head, she screamed, her siblings laughed, her older brothers. It wasn't just an object to her; it was a gift from her brother who had worked hard to make it for her. Why did they have to be so cruel? Why can't she have one day free from this family's cruelty? That five-year-old girl did not understand why children can be so cruel to others.
Her brother Emile went to her side, he was resisting the urge to cry himself. All the effort that he had put into making her gift, and their siblings laughed after her eldest sister destroyed it.
"I'm sorry, big sister. I wish I could protect you." Her little brother said this as she looked at him. She had to be strong and couldn't cry in front of him.
"It's not your fault, Emile," Mercedes said as she hugged him.
"I should be able to protect you. I'm too weak. I wish I could grow up and be big, so father and those children wouldn't hurt you again. I hate them." Her brother said this darkly. She wanted to cry even more, but she couldn't let him see her darker emotions, even though she also hated them. She had to protect his innocence, as she was his big sister.
Sasuke was beyond nervous; he had just stayed up all night trying to make the earrings that he had worked hard to make. Annette and Felix helped him get the materials needed, with some additional assistance from Hilda who Sasuke reluctantly accepted help for the materials whatever required. They went along their way, and Sasuke spun the days making the earrings that he wanted to make. He wanted to make them perfect.The first pair of earrings he didn't even get past the first stage of making it because it wasn't up to his standards; he threw it in the trash. The second he was almost done, but he screwed up a key area and tossed it into the trash.
He was on his third attempt it wasn't quite what he wanted but he did have at any time to make another one or the materials he was extremely careful this time he made sure to get every detail right. He was done he looked at the earrings he wasn't proud of them he wanted to make them absolutely perfect but he did have the time due to the limited amount of time he had available.
He was on his way to class when he ran into the professor of the Black Eagles, who had just returned from his duties. He didn't have time to do anything but get to his class, but before he did anything, he heard Byleth call him.
"Sasuke, I found these." Byleth said. Sasuke turned around and found the earrings that he had worked so hard to make, which were in a leather case, he felt stupid and foolish. Had it not been for the professor, his efforts would have been wasted.
"Thank you, Byleth San. I'm sorry; I didn't get enough sleep last night." He said embarrassed.
"Where did you spend all night doing anything?" he asked Sasuke curiously.
"Made a birthday present for a special friend, that's all." He said, hoping that he would ask no more questions.
"you mean your girlfriend."
He corrected.
"How did you?"
He asked, not believing it he could have sworn that he covered his tracks well was he slipping?
"It's a lucky guess; I won't tell anyone, but you should be more careful with that. You wouldn't want all that hard work to go to waste, would you?" He asked him.
"I owe you one,"Sasuke said to Byleth.
"It's not a problem Sasuke, you may not be my student but I will look after everyone all the same, especially if I'm able to help."the man said kindly.
"You know, Sasuke, if you want, you could be an assisted student for the month. If you wanted to have a chance to train with me, I would even allow your friend to come with you, if you know what I mean." Sasuke was tempted to take his offer, but he had to ask Mercedes about it first.
"Well, if it gets me away from that banshee for a month, that's definitely tempting." Sasuke thought, thinking about his offer.
"You should get to your class before you're late, just consider what I offered." Byleth headed to the Black Eagle's class while Sasuke headed to his, hoping he wasn't late. He made sure the earrings were safely in his pocket. He had a special plan for their date today and he wasn't going to let anything ruin it.
When Sasuke getting to his class, everyone was in their usual seats. Everyone was taking their lessons, regarding the history of the monastery, which was given additional commentary by Asuma, the new assistant who helped Manuela relieve the burden of teaching what he had explained about the history but not all outsiders were aware of it.
It was interesting to say the least Sasuke thought learning about the history of the monastery from the perspective of those who don't live in Fodlan. But the one thing that was on his mind most of all was his girlfriend and the gift that he had made only Dimitri, Felix and Annette are the only ones that know about it.
Sakura ever since she was humiliated in front of everyone by Mercedes she had kept her distance from everyone which was fine by Sasuke. He couldn't stand Sakura the way he treated his girlfriend in front of everyone. He was looking forward eagerly for the class to end so he can give her his gift. He asked Catherine for one day off of training in order to be able go on his birthday date with her to give her the gift that he had wanted to give her since he found out about her birthday 2 weeks ago.
It wasn't going to be lunch for too long. He wouldn't be able to give her his gift until after class; he felt nervous, but he still did. Would she like his gift? No, an Uchiha has to be confident if their partner doesn't like their gift; they've failed as a partner.
The bell rang, and lunch arrived. Sasuke ate with his friends, while Mercedes spent time with hers. This was her day; he'll have a chance to give her his gift. He just has to be patient.
Dimitri was eating lunch with Sasuke and Naruto. This wasn't the first time he ate with them alone, but this was the first time it was something serious. Sasuke looked nervous, beyond nervous, in fact. Naruto was able to sense it as well.
"Sasuke, you're a little tense. For me, man, what's going on?" Naruto asked, worried. Dimitri couldn't help but feel the same way.
"Naruto, can I ask you a question and answer me honestly?" Sasuke asked nervously as he took out a leather case. Naruto opened it gently, not wanting to ruin Sasuke's hard work, and was blown away by the way the earrings looked. Dimitri could tell, without even saying anything, the amount of time and effort Sasuke put into making them.
The amount of work Sasuke did was unknown to Dimitri if he would have the skill to be able to do it as well as Sasuke. The earrings had a triangular appearance; the top was pink, and the bottom was red. The shapes were that of a cherry blossom from Sasuke's homeland. It looked beautiful to Dimitri's eyes, though he knew Sasuke thought differently.
"I don't see anything wrong with this, Sasuke. Why are you nervous?" Naruto asked, mirroring what Dimitri was thinking.
"I just want to see her smile." Sasuke answered, not blushing like he normally does, with a serious look. Naruto did the same thing a few months ago for Hinata; he wasn't proud of the way the necklace looked, but Hinata wore it openly and proudly. She loved it and treated it as her most precious treasure. Naruto hasn't yet done it for Ingrid or Dorothea, but he knows he will in time, because that's the man Naruto is.
"You worry too much, seriously, just give her the damn earrings; she'll love them, I know it." Naruto said, which caused Sasuke to almost fall over.
"Wow, you should give a warning next time." Dimitri said, seriously considering the work that Sasuke put into the earrings.
"If she's not in love with you now, she definitely will be when she sees those. Believe it." Naruto said with full confidence. He wasn't faking it; he actually meant it. Sasuke was trying to save face by making him look confident due to his culture, which required showing confidence in the gift that they make. Otherwise, it wasn't a good gift if the person that made it didn't have faith in it.
"You really do worry too much." Dimitri said, playing dumb.
"I have to make it perfect. I'm going to ask her if she's free today. I'll be back." Sasuke said as he left the table. After a few moments, Naruto spoke.
"He couldn't make it more obvious if he tried," Naruto said with a smile.
"How's things going with you and your partners?" Dimitri asked, more for Hinata and Ingrid's sake than anyone else.
"We're still trying to figure it out. Things are going well so far. I'd be lying if I said having three partners wouldn't be a challenge, but I think it's worth it. Ultimately, I wouldn't trade them for anything." Naruto said, not really saying much. Dimitri couldn't help but think about what it would be like if he had someone. Did a beast like him even deserve to have someone? No, he put that thought aside, but he couldn't help but think in the back of his mind about the woman his father loved. Who was she? Why did he always look in the direction far from his home on December 20th? He always wanted to know why, but now he wouldn't know. There was someone that didn't know. He would ask Rodrigue, who was friends with his father and knew him best. But until he got a chance to talk to him again, he would still be left with questions.
"You all right, Dimitri? You're kind of spacing out." Naruto asked him concerned.
"I'm fine, Naruto. We should enjoy our lunch." Dimitri said, trying not to think about the one thing that had been on his mind for the past 5 years: unanswered questions about the woman his father loved and the woman who was never crowned. Who was she? What was her relation to him? Why did he feel like there was a reason why Rodrigue, in particular, wanted Hinata in the Blue Lions? There had to be a reason. He would find out the answers in the future. For now, he would just focus on lunch.
Mercedes couldn't believe it the food was better than normal which was good for her she never particularly liked her birthday because of what it reminded her of. The collapse of her father's house running away from her stepfather at the age of Ten all these things happened on her birthday she doesn't have a pleasant memory when it comes to birthdays at all. Despite her outer appearance of her smiling and being happy today she was anything but happy but she couldn't ruin her friend's day especially Hinata who was with her girlfriends laughing at a story Annette told them about what happened at the school of sorcery.
"Wow, I wouldn't want to be that person" said Dorothea, laughing at Annette who told her about how a girl used a spell in the wrong way, causing her hair to look like it was completely smoked.
"I kind of feel bad for the girl," said Hinata.
"She was kind of a bitch, so I don't know if I would really feel bad for her." said Mercedes in her rare instance where she cursed.
"At least she's not as bad as the banshee." said Hilda, who had personal run-ins with Sakura recently.
"How is your new class, Dorothea?" asked Annette.
"The people of the Golden Deer are really nice, except for one asshole named Sai who always pisses everyone off. Dorothea said she was disgusted with talking about him."
"I don't know, I think he's kind of cute if only his personality wasn't so weird." Said Ino.
"So how are you three sharing Naruto? I just find it weird" said Mercedes who still couldn't go over that Hinata had two girlfriends and a boyfriend.
"We haven't completely figured that out yet, but we're working it out as we come along." Dorothea answered.
"Well, I do know one thing: the guys at the monastery want to murder Naruto."
Hilda smiles, knowing that two of the most popular girls in the monastery are out of reach and Naruto has them both.
"I don't know, but Mercie still has a lot of admirers." said Annette. which caused her to tense she hated the very fact that she even had admirers considering they only saw what was on the surface.
"Well, Sasuke will cut them down if they even look at Mercedes the wrong way," Hilda added.
"I don't know what you mean," Mercedes said, playing dumb, not really wanting everyone except Ingrid to know that she and Sasuke were dating.
"Cut the crap, Mercedes. We all know Sasuke is your boyfriend. It's pretty obvious." said Ino bluntly. Causing her to blush crimson, how did so many people know? Could it be that they weren't covering their tracks?
"Naru Kun and I said nothing."said Ingrid knowing what she was thinking.
"Is it really that obvious?"Mercedes asked her friend's .
"Well, considering that I have two girlfriends and a boyfriend, Ann-chan also has one. It's kind of obvious, but don't worry; your secret is safe with us. I understand why you would want to keep it under wraps."
Hinata said supportively.
"Well, is he at least good in bed?" Dorothea joked.
"Dorothea, of all the?" Mercedes was deeply blushing.
"Can we not talk about our sex lives while we're eating?"
Annette, who was obviously the only virgin in the group, requested.
"Yeah, I think we should stop this conversation before more people come in and it gets awkward."
Hinata suggested as if on cue; Sasuke was approaching their table.
She wondered what he was going there for."Mercie, are you busy after class?"
Sasuke asked nervously. She didn't know why he was nervous?
"I'm not busy why do you ask?"Mercedes asked him.
"I just want to know there isn't anything getting in the way."Sasuke answered.
"Well, I am available after class. I'm not doing anything, but what are we doing?" she asked him.
"Can't tell you it's a surprise."Sasuke said with a smile.
She wondered what it was.
"See you after class, Sasuke-kun," Mercedes said to him affectionately. He went with his friends Dimitri, Sylvain, and Felix. Her affection wasn't unnoticed, along with Sasuke. "Wow! I didn't think Sasuke could be romantic." Ino said, disappointed that it wasn't her.
"What do you mean?" she asked, wanting to know more and to keep her mind off her feelings about her birthday.
"Sasuke back home was a loner. He lived alone with no one to greet him home, no mother, no father, no sibling. He lost his entire family at the age of 7; most of the fangirls back at home don't even look at that part of Sasuke; they just see a good-looking guy and nothing else. You broke the ice with him; you're one in a million. You're like his sun." Ino informed her that she didn't think about herself like that, she never did. She didn't consider how much Sasuke had changed since they met and since they talked; she never thought about it.
"I pray for the goddess to give him peace, to protect him from those nightmare-filled nights."
Mercedes confessed to everyone.
"You were the last person I would expect Sasuke to ever have his eyes on like I said you're one in a million all the fangirls back at home would be jealous if they knew you were the one that was dating him and not them." Ino was telling her how the village looks at Sasuke the girls didn't even see him as anything but a trophy." Ino said which angered Mercedes just thinking about all those fangirls who look at Sasuke like a piece of meat.
"The more I hear about these fangirls, the more I despise them." Mercedes said with fury.
"I like you, Mercedes. I really do, even though I once liked Sasuke. I think you are better for him than I will ever be, and I'm okay with that." Ino said with a smile.
"You know it's really nice all of us here; it's been 4 months since we came here, and I feel like I'm not the same person that I was when it first started. I feel like I'm the best version of myself that I've ever wanted to be; it's all thanks to everyone here. You Marianne Chan, Benedetta Chan, Dorothea Chan, Ingrid Chan, Edelgard Ann Chan, Dimitri, Byleth, and Naruto Kun. I became stronger in the past 4 months because of all of you. Thank you." Hinata said to everyone at the table.
Mercedes had no idea that she played a role in Hinata's confidence boost, but she was happy to play any part to help her friend.
"I'm happy to help my friends Hina." Mercedes said with her warm smile, which everyone had grown to love. Though she was disappointed when she heard the bell.
"You know we should really do what Naru Chan suggested one of these days." said Dorothea smiling at the thought.
"Forehead would definitely have a field day knowing her. It'll be another four or five months before she figures it out. I say, fuck with her for as long as possible, Mercie Chan. I think it's kind of funny." Ino said, laughing, while everyone else chimed in.Mercedes was tempted to do it out of spite.
"If I were petty, I wouldn't mind doing that, but you know what it involves the banshee, so I think a little petty fun wouldn't hurt." She said with a smile of mischief.
Mercedes and Annette said goodbye to their friends and attended their last classes of the day. she was eager to get this day over with as much as she hated this day she was looking forward to Sasuke's company and wondered what surprise he had for her.
Sasuke was anxious, he was at the bench where he normally meets Mercedes. He truly wanted to make this perfect, wanted to make her happy. He had to make this right; it was a day like this that he was grateful that Sakura stayed away from him. He wouldn't let anyone ruin this day, even if it was under a short notice, he wanted to make her the happiest that he could make anyone.
Before he could indulge in his thoughts, Mercedes showed up. She looked exhausted; she barely slept and she was depressed.
"I'm sorry, Sasuke Kun. I'm tired." She said apologetically.
"I just want this day to be over with." She said with a tone of sadness.
"Are you alright?" He asked worriedly.
"I just don't like birthdays because they remind me of bad times." Mercedes confessed.
"What do you mean?" Sasuke asked her.
"On the day I was born, my father died. I never knew him, but what I was told by my mother, she was sad; she truly loved him, but out of necessity, she was forced to marry another man."
He did not like where this was going.
"A year later, my mother gave birth to my little brother Emile. For a time, we were a happy family, but then one day we both found out that what my stepfather truly wanted was a child with a crest he saw us as expendable." This made Sasuke fume with anger; he saw Mercedes tears fall thinking of the memory.
"My mother and I were forced to flee. We had nowhere to go; we lost everything. Everything that I knew, friends that I had, I had to leave behind. I wasn't a devout follower of the goddess then, like I am now. I didn't know many things when I was a girl, but I do need one thing. I hated Crest. I hated the very thing that I was born with."
He stopped, patiently waiting for her to continue.
"I was an angry child. I wanted my little brother back. I wanted to go back home, but we couldn't ever go back because of that man my mother married. We went from church to church to find a place to live until we ultimately ended up in eastern Faerghus. The only thing I had was the Goddess Herself. I never prayed as much as I did until the first night I entered that Church I prayed for my mother and I to have a home, a place to live, where we didn't have to flee, and we didn't have to be scared of who we were, where nobody would ask about me or my crest."
He had no words.
"My sweet little brother Emile, I haven't seen him for over 10 years. I sent him letters, but I never received anything back. I feel like a terrible sister. I feel like I abandoned him."
Sasuke hugged Mercedes as she buried her face in his chest.
"All this on my birthday. Every single birthday I've had, I can think of. I go back to that day. I hate this day. All I can think of is what I've lost."
He continued to listen; he didn't say anything.
"There's something I want to give you, my angel." Sasuke said with love and tenderness. He took out a case that held the earrings he had made for her.
She realized what this was: "Sasuke-kun". She was speechless as she opened it. The earrings he made from what he could see in her eyes she thought they were perfect. He thought they were ugly, but he couldn't stand the way they looked. However, they came out the best he could under the circumstances and the time he had.
"I'm sorry that they aren't as pretty as" he didn't get a chance to finish as Mercedes kissed him fiercely. She pulled away and then smiled despite the tears that were falling.
" I love them Sasuke-kun," Mercedes said in Sasuke's language.
" I will treasure these as my most precious possessions; you make me happy."she continued to say it in his language, he was surprised that she was able to speak it fluently despite only being taught it in a few months.
" This is my way of thinking you for all you have done for me, Mercie -even if it's a small way- I want to protect your smile. You give my life purpose outside of revenge, thank you." Sasuke replied he didn't realize that tears were falling himself their faces were inches he had no words to say he was speechless.
"Can you make love to me tonight?" she asked him.
"Of course, anything for you, my angel." Sasuke said lovingly. He loves Mercedes deeply he would do anything to protect her smile. he lifted her up bridal style he made sure to support her as he went quickly to his room. he locked the door and made sure to do a sound seal jitsu in order to prevent anyone from over hearing them. before they can do anything Mercedes took the earrings that Sasuke made for her and put them on her ears when he looked at her with those earrings on she looked beautiful to him.
"I love them, Sasuke-kun, because you made them." Mercedes said as she kissed him. He did not hold back as he kissed her back. They have made love multiple times since they got together, but this was nothing like the first time when they were on their mission or the second time when they officially became partners.
This was different. He was going to tend to her needs, both physical and emotional. He would do exactly what Mercedes wanted. He would not focus on his own sexual pleasure; he would focus on his Angel because that's what mattered to him—her happiness and her smile. He kissed her on her collar, unlike previous times, wanting to savor this moment. He slowly removed her upper dress, then went down lower and lower to remove the lower dress next. He was gentle, considering they would have to go to class tomorrow. Little by little, he stripped her of her clothing until all that was left was her bra and her undergarments.
He lifted her head up by her chin, and she had a look of affection in her eyes. Sasuke waited for her request of what she wanted.
"Whatever pain you have gone through for every birthday before this one, I want to wash that away and make it into nothing more than a distant memory. Focus on me, even if it's for one day, my angel. I want you to only be in bliss. I will make you forget all those days, at least for tonight." Sasuke said with a loving tone. He kissed her lower collar, and she shivered. He made sure to be extremely gentle with her, knowing she doesn't mind him being rougher, but this was her day, not his.
He went lower to her chest and lifted her bra before he could do anything, his girlfriend assisted him. She sat up and removed her bra and tossed it to the floor.
"I don't care, Sasuke, be as rough as you want to be." Mercedes said with a smile; it was difficult for him to resist her request. She wanted him to be rough. He groped her breast and rubbed them both against each other; their faces were inches from each other. She groaned, not holding back.
"Aa" Just hearing her moaning was enough for Sasuke to lose himself. He was trying hard to focus strictly on her pleasure and not his own. He was rough but not too rough, and she told him to be even rougher. She requested it due to it being her birthday and it being her time, not his.
"Oh God," Mercedes screamed as liquids came out. Sasuke, not wanting to waste any of her breast milk, drank it. He didn't care how it tasted to him; it was amazing. Anything from her was amazing.
"Hearing your moans is like music to my ears, my angel. What else do you want me to do?" Sasuke asked. He used his right index finger to go under her underwear and fingered her vagina. The sudden surge of pleasure caused her to lose control, she almost fell on her back. Sasuke caught her with his left hand.
"You're really good with your hands," Mercedes said, caught off guard by how good Sasuke was at pleasuring her in that area. Sasuke smiled despite the situation. As much as he would like to become one with her, he wanted to tend to her needs first before his own. He went in and out of her pussy, just hearing her moaning his name was enough for him to continue. He was doing it instinctively, he was being neither gentle nor was he being too rough, just at the right pace that he was inserting his fingers in and out. The sexual stimulation caused his girlfriend to scream his name. It was a simple touch, she was much more sensitive than he thought.
He felt a tug at his crotch; he truly did want to become one with her and make her feel even better than she does now. It was driving him crazy; he was holding back up until this point. He had desperately just wanted to insert his rod inside of her, but he was focusing on her, not himself. Mercedes looked at him pleading, as if she could read his mind, that she desired the same thing.
She desperately wanted him to insert his rod into her. He removed her last piece of clothing and threw it to the floor, fully exposing herself. Before he could take anything further, she placed her index finger on his nose.
"Before we go further," she couldn't say anything. Sasuke, now aware of him being fully clothed, still removed his clothing until he was as naked as she was. She wanted to say something.
"I want to be on top." Mercedes said, almost in a commanding tone. Sasuke lay down on his back. She had never taken control before when they made love. It was exciting, but she was nervous. She wanted to be the one to please him, she wanted to show him how much she appreciated what he had been doing for her.
She grabbed his member and nervously inserted it inside of her. She groaned, feeling pleasure and ecstasy. She experienced it multiple times, but it was different this time, especially since she was on top. She felt Sasuke's hands on her hips. She looked at him with love and affection, wanting to help tend to his needs while also tending to her own. She moved her hips slowly, not wanting the lovemaking they were sharing to end too soon. She wanted it to be a memorable experience for both of them.
She felt Sasuke's rod move inside of her; she heard him moan. She smiled, knowing this wasn't like the other times, even if it was her birthday. She wanted to show the man she loves how much she appreciates him. Hearing her lover moaning her name made her go faster; she bounced on him quicker than she thought she was capable of. She felt her chest bouncing, and her hair was already messy and was getting in her face. This was nothing like she imagined her birthday turning out to be. Sasuke helped her move faster; they were both moaning each other's names. Sasuke thrust faster as she continued to ride him, and she begged him to go even faster. They were both sweating, and the taller woman continued to beg for him to increase his speed. She felt his hands on her back, and she continued to move faster, wanting to forget everything.
"Oh God, Mercie," Sasuke said in his native language.
"Sasuke Kun oh God."Mercedes mound she didn't want this to stop she wanted him to continue going she wanted not caring about the consequences. she didn't care if there was a class tomorrow she didn't care if she barely slept to her this was worth it she begged him to go even faster he did as she commanded she felt tears but not tears of sadness but happiness Sasuke looked at her in the eye and she saw tears falling from his eyes as well.
Every cruelty that she had suffered from on her birthday prior to this day didn't matter at the moment. The only thing that mattered was the person in front of her. She felt herself reaching her limit; Sasuke was about to as well. She didn't care about the dangers. She would let the goddess decide if she would be with child. After today, she would gladly bear Sasuke's child. As irrational and irresponsible as it was, she did not care.
She wrapped her legs around Sasuke, grabbed onto his back, and didn't want him to pull out. She wanted to feel everything. She looked into his eyes, and Sasuke looked into hers. They were about to climax, and Mercedes kissed Sasuke, who returned the kiss with the same passion. This was not lust; this was love. Even if it wasn't, it would hardly matter to Mercedes. They both screamed each other's names as they reached climax, slowly stopping and breathing heavily.
"I don't want this to end right now," Mercedes confessed. Sasuke smiled. They changed positions. This time, Sasuke was on top.
There was nothing sad for a moment until Sasuke moved his hips. He was rougher than he was normally. Their faces were close. She grabbed onto Sasuke's back, her face on his shoulder, her head up against the ceiling, screaming his name. She was grateful for the soundproof jutsu that Sasuke cast. They wouldn't be able to be as loud as they were otherwise. This kind of lovemaking, she didn't want anyone to know about.
She didn't pay attention to the time; she didn't even care if it was midnight. She didn't even care if there were classes in a few moments. All that mattered was this small moment she was having with the man that she has grown to love. She felt his rod push further into her insides, where her womb was. Her mother would not approve of what she was doing—sex before marriage. She pushed those thoughts aside. Her mother wasn't here, and her mother couldn't possibly understand the kind of love that she has experienced.
The bed was shaking hard. She didn't even realize how rough Sasuke's asking was. Their bodies were mashing against each other, not clumsily like the first two times they made love, but elegantly. Nothing else matters at that moment. She wouldn't even care that her boyfriend was 5 years younger than she was. All that mattered was the happiness that she was feeling. She felt herself climax again. She screamed Sasuke's name.
She knew he was getting close to his second climax for the night. Like the first time, he didn't pull out. Whatever force compelled them, he couldn't pull out. He didn't want to, nor did she want him to pull out. She didn't care about anything: social norms, the one thing that mattered at the moment was enjoying the moment of happiness that she didn't know she'd ever get again on her birthday.
Happiness on her birthday was something that had never happened, and this was the first time she wanted to experience this moment and think about it. Even now, she didn't think about it; she couldn't even consider it. Sasuke moaned as he thrust deep into her womb; she felt his seed inside of her. He pulled out.
They were both tired from their lack of sleep. They were in each other's arms, with Mercedes' face close to Sasuke's. Their hair was messy, and they were both covered in sweat. She knew they would both need to bathe in the morning. Their hands were wrapped firmly around each other, and it didn't seem real to Mercedes. It was like she was living in a fairy tale.
"That was amazing, thank you, Sasuke-kun. I..." She felt tears dropping. Sasuke wiped them from her face with his next finger.
"I don't want to see you cry unless it's in happiness. I don't ever want to see you sad; it was your smile that drove me to you. It's your smile that's beautiful. No other woman has ever looked beneath the surface like you have. You have become precious to me." Sasuke said with affection. Their faces were close, really close.
She felt her heart beating just hearing him call her that and him wishing her a happy birthday. Looking at his sleeping form, he looked so peaceful. She would do anything to never see him cry or sad again.
"Thank you, Sasuke-kun," Mercedes said in Sasuke's native language. She fell asleep with a smile, unlike her previous birthdays, this one was peaceful. To do the same thing for Sasuke when it's his birthday, she'll make him smile and forget the tragedy that took away his entire family. She fell asleep thinking about the future.
The reason for this revision being as extensive as it was is because the original version of this segment was way too short. I was originally going to have this be its own chapter, and I feel like not actually telling why Mercedes hates birthdays as much as she does undermines her relationship with Sasuke. Not to mention her brother in the game's canon; he and she were really close when they were children. I wanted to have a chapter that was Sasuke and Mercedes-centric because, as I've said on multiple occasions, this ship is my favorite to write. Taking the pure opposite has been a lot of fun to write, not to mention helping me learn how to be a better writer and how to write love stories.