AN: So I'm (mostly) alive after an insanely intense last six months, and yeah, I said I'd try to be more regular about updates. That obviously didn't happen, sorry.
Disclaimer: A lot changed lately, but not THAT much. Still not mine.
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"It seems our people are more willing to accept you than we had anticipated," Mercury stated some weeks later.
Zoisite glanced up from the game laid out between them. The months since their first meeting had been filled with such days, barring their occasional return to their respective homes for various tasks. They had discovered a shared love of logic puzzles and games of strategy and often chose to occupy themselves with such activities if neither of them was needed elsewhere.
"I can only be grateful for that," Zoisite observed quietly. "My friends would be devastated if we were forced out, especially now that they know their love is returned."
The Senshi nodded her agreement. "The same could be said for the other girls. Serenity especially would be inconsolable."
"When do you expect their engagements to be made public?"
"For the prince and princess, I am unsure. I know the queen will announce that they are officially courting at tonight's ball, but a formal betrothal will have to wait until an appropriate amount of time has passed. Once the courtship is declared, though, the others may act as they will. As their worlds' indisputable heirs, no one can openly deny their decisions, though I am sure some will try."
He hummed in understanding as he finally moved a piece. The game was Martian, and thus unfamiliar to him, but he was determined to at least make a decent showing now that he grasped the basic concept. When he looked up, she smiled faintly.
"I made a terrible blunder, didn't I?" he asked with a sigh.
"Perhaps a small one," Mercury replied as she took his piece, ending the game. "Would you prefer to do something else?"
"I am, as ever, at your service."
She got to her feet as her gown faded into her uniform with a thought. "In that case, I have a project you might be able to assist me with."
"Indeed?" He rose as well, suddenly and intensely curious. "Lead on, my lady."
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"I know you have no experience with our technology, but I need an extra pair of hands."
Zoisite gaped at the room they'd just entered. The vast space was wall-to-wall computers, with other machines he could only guess the purpose of scattered throughout. A work table in the center was decked out with magnifying lamps, miniaturized tools, and piles of assorted parts and chips, all far smaller than he would have thought possible even after the incredible things he'd seen thus far.
"What exactly are you working on?" he asked, carefully skirting a moving gear that nearly caught his uniform slacks. Mercury's change of clothing suddenly made far more sense.
"My personal computer is too large and inefficient for field use. I am in the process of constructing a custom model, but it is a delicate process, and one that cannot be handled by a single person. Building and installing the transceiver needed for it to work with my visor and the Senshi's communicators alone will take several days' work even with help."
Zoisite nodded. "I would be happy to help, of course, but would it not be more prudent to enlist a trained assistant? I know nothing of such work, let alone something so specialized."
She blinked at him through her visor, which seemed thicker than he'd previously seen and appeared to be doubling as safety glasses. "There are no trained assistants for this, at least not here. I built everything in this room myself, and the small handful of scientists who can work at this level are all quite occupied with tasks of their own." She handed him a pair of goggles. "You are the only person I know who shows any aptitude for mechanical engineering, and learning about our technology is part of the reason you came here. I will train you, and you can assist me, solving both problems."
He slid the protective glasses on and joined her at the table as she explained the task. Even with his limited understanding of the subject, it seemed clear that the project she had planned was almost insanely ambitious, far beyond anything currently used in the Alliance. Mercury was very patient as she went over the names and functions of everything she had prepared, guiding him through a few basic steps as she worked on something she said would eventually be a holographic projector thirty times smaller than anything in existence.
Four hours later, Zoisite's powers were no longer able to withstand the constant struggle against eye strain and tiny nicks and burns. He set the circuit board he was so laboriously building aside, leaned against a nearby wall, and shut his eyes.
"I'm sorry; I am abusing your generous nature."
He smiled and shook his head, eyes still closed. "Not at all; this is endlessly fascinating. I am only tired. My eyes are not accustomed to working on such a scale."
Mercury set her own work down as her visor vanished. "That is understandable, and something I should have considered. I apologize. Perhaps it should be your turn to teach me?"
A lightning grin crossed his too-pretty face. "Perhaps. Do you know how to play piano?"
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Mercury was atypically hesitant as she slid onto the piano's narrow bench, and she couldn't help the way she flinched as Zoisite joined her. Thankfully, he seemed not to notice.
"I am glad your experience with your harp has already taught you to read music," he said briskly. "I would not want to anger my eyes further with endless black notes on white pages."
The blue-haired girl only nodded in response, watching as he shuffled through what she would have called children's music for its simplicity before finally setting a piece on the stand. She tried to swallow down her uncertainty as he arranged her fingers on the keys, strangely unwilling to tell him that while she did not play the piano, she did at least know that much.
The young general guided her through a couple of very simple tunes, though given their unfamiliarity she had to assume they were Terran. Perhaps sensing that she was done for the day, Zoisite then took the length of the keyboard and began to play an intense, haunting piece she had never heard before. She was content to simply listen as he coaxed complex harmonies from the instrument, almost as though he was using the music to weave a spell.
The piece ended entirely too soon, and she reluctantly got to her feet after checking the time. "That was lovely, but I need to go prepare for the ball."
"Shall I escort you again tonight?"
Mercury grimaced. "I wish you could," she admitted, "but my father has sent a suitor. I am required to accompany him this evening."
Zoisite barely suppressed a frown of his own. Instead, he walked her to the princesses' wing and bowed before teleporting himself to the guest quarters.
With the announcement of Endymion and Serenity's courtship, Mercury had told him the other princesses would be free to pursue their own romances. He thought of the small box hidden in the subspace pocket Mercury had so kindly helped him construct and sighed. Whether or not that freedom came, it was possible she would not care. Yes, his observations suggested that he was the only man she'd shown an interest in, but that hardly meant she would want anything so serious as marriage when he hadn't even been able to bring himself to hint at a future together.
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The ball was a celebration of the announcement that the Earth would be joining the Silver Alliance, furthered by the public reveal that the prince and princess were courting. Most were in favor of the match simply because it made their beloved princess happy, and those who were less impressed were still gracious about it. The few who openly disapproved were at least glad the conclusion of the negotiations meant the Terran delegation would shrink to a single ambassador, as the prince would need to return to his own world and would be unable to spend as much time on the Moon.
All the while, Zoisite was remembering his hatred of appearing at events unaccompanied, particularly with Terran rank meaning something once confirmed by the Alliance. His youth and looks, paired with his title, ensured a steady flow of ladies wanting a powerful husband. The Earth was still seen as inherently less by many, but all of the desirable men of other planets were either taken or confirmed scoundrels. Royalty, even minor Terran royalty, was a potent lure.
To compound his unhappiness, every revolution through the ballroom gave him a clear view of Mercury and her escort. The blue-haired princess wore her typical cool mask, but there were enough minute cues in body language and facial expression that one who knew her would immediately realize she was not enjoying her companion's presence. Certainly Lady Jupiter noticed the same as she strode up to him when the music ended, seamlessly cutting off his next would-be dance partner.
"Lord Zoisite, Lord Kunzite asked me to inform you that he will continue to guard the prince tonight, so you need not go on duty," she stated clearly. He blinked at her, bemused by the deception, as she whispered to him while she brushed by. "Go cut in already. You both look absolutely miserable."
Zoisite smiled his thanks and obeyed, threading his way through the crowded dance floor to where he estimated he would be able to intercept Mercury and her unwanted partner.
"Would you be willing to spare the princess for a dance or two, my lord?" he asked formally, knowing it would be highly impolitic for him to refuse one of the guests of honor.
The other man, older, taller, and clearly Mercurian, nodded in response, bowed to his princess, and seamlessly melted into the crowd. Zoisite offered Mercury his hand and smoothly guided her into the pattern.
"I appreciate the rescue," she said quietly.
"I do it gladly. Tell me, though, why did you need to be saved?"
The woman sighed tiredly. "I wish I knew. On a logical level, Lord Alesandro and I would be rather well suited."
"But?"
"I am not sure I can explain. Maybe we are too much alike, though I hope I do not seem as cold to others as he does to me."
"My dear lady, despite your element, 'cold' is not a word I would use to describe you."
Mercury flushed beet red. "Th-thank you. Still, Lord Alesandro is a good man. He would be a smart match and a strong king."
"Marriage should not be about smart matches and leadership qualities," the general observed. "It should be about what you want. Is he what you want?"
Her flush, if possible, deepened. "N-no, and usually that would be enough. The problem is that I must also consider my people. My duties keep me away far too often, and my world will need someone who can rule in my absence."
Zoisite shook his head. "Communication between the worlds is instantaneous, and the availability of transporters means you can return to Mercury quickly if any problems arise. Establish a trusted council, if one does not already exist, and let them handle any day-to-day concerns. That will eliminate the need for a spouse to take care of matters for you."
Mercury managed a weak smile. "You make it sound so simple."
"Simple? Goodness no. Finding people suited to the task is no small feat, and the amount of trust and cooperation required to be an effective unit is a battle in its own right. It took months for me to be comfortable leaving my council in charge for even a few days while I was away, and I still hesitate to be out of effective range for any length of time. Delegation, however, is required if I am to keep up with all of my allotted work."
The pair glided to a slow stop as the music ended, unknowingly keeping their hands linked. Mercury glanced around the room to locate her erstwhile partner, only to discover he was in a much more comfortable discussion with a young Jovian lady near the balcony doors. They made eye contact briefly, and he dipped his head in a courteous nod before returning his attention to the animated redhead so clearly enjoying his company.
"Princess!" a new voice exclaimed loudly not far from her ear. "If you are not currently dancing with this gentleman, perhaps I can steal you away from the cad! Surely that will be more agreeable for you!"
"Excuse me?" Zoisite said icily.
She turned to face the newcomer. He was Martian, she knew, and was one of Mars' younger cousins. As a member of the extended royal family, he had a reputation for taking whatever he wanted and had on their few encounters come across as very convinced of his own self-importance. He also had proven a very difficult irritant to dissuade.
"Lord Corban," she said coolly. "How lovely to see you again."
"Come, my little ice queen," he said in what he believed was a cajoling tone. "Spare this poor man a dance before you freeze his heart."
Mercury gritted her teeth. She had been forced to endure similar comments every time the two of them had been at the same event, and she was simply unwilling to tolerate another after having an already wearisome evening.
"Lord Corban, that is enough. You are being rude to one of our honored guests."
He blinked at Zoisite as though he'd forgotten the general was there. "Oh, he won't mind! It must be hard for him to deal with our rules after living in a lawless place all his life."
Zoisite cut in before the miscreant could bury himself any deeper. "My lord, I do believe your cousin the princess is in need of support. It seems someone is attempting to interfere with her enjoyment of the party, and I am sure she would appreciate a rescue."
Always glad for a chance to ingratiate himself to his future monarch and utterly unaware of how unwelcome his attempt would be, Corban immediately took himself off to save his cousin from her fiancé's advances. Mercury and Zoisite took a moment's cruel pleasure in enjoying how clear the fiery princess made her anger to the fool.
"Thank you," Mercury said as she turned back to her partner. "He has been an insufferable fool from the first time I met him. I am glad to have someone I actually care for to spend tonight with instead."
They both froze, Mercury in shock that she had said something so bold and Zoisite absolutely flabbergasted at having received a longed-for hint of possible deeper feelings.
He took a deep breath before speaking. "My lady, I do not think my heart could handle a misunderstanding, so I must ask you to be entirely truthful: Do you care for me as more than a friend? What am I to you?"
The princess's face was flaming scarlet and she averted her gaze to her shoes as though they held the answer the all of the universe's great questions. "I thought you knew how I felt about you."
"I am afraid that while I understand others' logic quite well, feelings have always eluded my understanding. Please, Mercury."
Hesitantly, she said, "The others are not the only ones who would be devastated if you left. I do not know how I would handle knowing I would not see you again. I… I have never felt like this before, but I think – I know – I am in love with you."
If she had been shocked by her own bold words, what happened next completely blew her away. The general dropped to his knees without hesitation, drawing a small box from the air and presenting it to her.
"Given a choice, you would never have to believe you will not see me again. Marry me, Mercury. I have never wanted anything more."
She could feel dozens of eyes on them, if not more, but for the first time in her life that did not make her uncomfortable. Their stares meant nothing when he was looking at her like she was the most precious thing in existence. Her hands were trembling as she reached for the box he was offering, but she had never been surer of a decision.
"Yes," Mercury whispered as she opened the box and saw the ring there, a single teardrop shaped sapphire on a plan silver band. Louder, more confident, she said it again: "Yes!"
The other Senshi might have catcalled and cheered to an almost inappropriate degree, but she barely realized. She was kissing the man who loved her for the first time, they would be married, and that was the only thing that mattered.
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AN: About 80% of this has been sitting here untouched for months. Sorry about that. I do still want to know what everyone thinks, so please leave a contribution in the little box! Till next time!