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Chapter 77: Moments Like This

  Nikushimi

  Chapter 77:

  Moments Like This

  (Lucas's POV, Slight Smut)

  "That's it..." Elizabeth's voice whispered heavily in my ear, "Just like that..."

  Her body pressed against mine from behind, her arms wrapped around me as she guided my fingers the way she wanted. I could hardly think, let along concentrate as I was overly conscious of how soft her breasts felt as she purposefully pushed against me.

  "Slowly..." she continued, the beating of my heart quickening, "Ease into it...just like that. Good. Now...pull."

  With her finger on mine, I squeezed the trigger of the gun I had aimed down at the target. The sound of a gun firing went off, the bullet completely missing its mark as it imbedded itself into the backstop, dirt flying everywhere.

  "Damn it..." I muttered, grumbling to myself, "I was doing just fine until someone decided to tease me."

  I gred up at Elizabeth who acted innocent, looking down at me with doe-like eyes.

  "Me?" she asked, knowing damn well it was her, "You were the one who asked for help. I was just...helping."

  "Uh-huh," I replied, not at all convinced, "So, you pressing yourself against me like that...was helping?"

  "Well, it helped me," she smirked, mischief glinting in her eyes, "Come on, love. Don't be upset. I haven't seen you in days, and I truly do want to help you."

  I sighed, shaking my head at her. "I'm not really be upset..." I thought to myself, "Just a little disgruntled..." I took a deep breath and set the gun down on he table of the firing range. She had brought me to Aegis HQ to give me some practice, as I had previously asked her a while ago to help teach me how to defend myself. Since I wasn't a Pyer, it would be difficult for me to face any type of monster from inside of a gate, as most weapons not infused with aether or created with special materials could really harm them.

  That's why Aegis had been developing specialized ammunitions that everyday citizens could use if an outbreak did happen. The unfortunate thing, despite Elizabeth's best attempts, is that it was still rather expensive to produce and so the cost wasn't nearly as affordable as she had hoped. Of course, there was also the issue of keeping it from being misused. That came with its own problems, but Aegis Arms, the Weapons Manufacturing Division, handled most of that.

  "Who said I was upset?" I asked, wrapping my arms around her, gazing lovingly up into her arms, "I missed you as well, I just want to be able to actually hit a target, but the only target I can think of now...is you."

  "Oh?" she smiled devilishly, "Do you think you can hit your mark?"

  "Please," I gave her a skeptical gnce, "I always hit that mark."

  "Indeed you do," she giggled as I pulled her into a deep kiss, pulling away ever so briefly as she whispered in my ear, "I'm gd I requested the range to myself..."

  "As if you didn't pn this..." I replied breathily with a hint of pyfulness, her hands already undressing me.

  Pressing me against the table, I gave in to the sensation of her touch. Every kiss a shot of ecstasy. I closed my eyes, feeling her move down on me, the warmth of her mouth enveloping all of me as I shuddered. She certainly pyed dirty, but two could py at that game.

  Running my fingers through her hair, I gripped tight, holding her there until she was pleading for air. Gasping, she smirked up with lustful eyes.

  "Naughty~..." she breathed, renewing her vigor as I lost myself, soon shooting more than just bullets after several moments, but I wasn't done and neither was she.

  After swallowing everything, she looked triumphant and proud, but as I stood and switched positions with her, that look of pride turned to one of enticement. Inviting me in, I pulled aside only what I needed to gain access to her. With a single thrust, I found my mark, a sharp gasp of pleasure escaping her lips. Her fingers dug into my back as I thrust, legs locking in pce around my back.

  Our two bodies entwined in their lust for each other, and for the moment, we lost our senses to the pleasure of our love. She had wanted this, and I was more than happy to oblige, not stopping until her entire body quivered, eyes glossed over with content as I had finished inside of her, for she had not relented until I did. Afterwards, she lovingly caressed my cheek, running her hands through my hair in a daze.

  "Now that hit the spot," she muttered happily.

  "Did it, now?" I chuckled, kissing her gently upon the neck, "I told you, always hit that mark."

  "Indeed you do," she murmured, practically purring, "Do you think you can hit that target, now?"

  She pointed back with her thumb at the still un-marked target I had constantly been missing due to her interference. She appeared amused at her teasing, locking her legs around me as I tried to move away from her.

  "Seriously?" I asked, feeling her press her hips against mine as I tried to restrain a moan.

  "Seriously," she replied, looking up at me seductively, "If you can hit this target, then you can hit that target."

  "Those are two totally different things," I scowled, taking my revenge by pushing myself as far as I could, causing her to gasp in delight.

  "There will always be distractions," she answered, beginning to grind her hips once more, "I'm ready for round two, are you?"

  "Ellie..." I growled, thinking I had finally been freed, but it seems she wanted to py more.

  It wasn't like she was wrong. If an outbreak did happen, there would be chaos everywhere. I had to be able to focus, but this..."Damn it," I grumbled to myself, already losing focus as Elizabeth wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling herself up against me as she moved her hips even more passionately.

  "Fuck!" I growled, unable to resist her, but also using that motivation and frustration to grab the pistol from the table and aim at the target.

  As Elizabeth moved herself against me, grinding harder and faster, I gred over her shoulder with precision, all emotion focused on one thing...hit the target. In my mind, I saw fshes of moments from a past that were my own. Moments that, if I hesitated, everything I loved and cared for would come crashing down around me.

  My head was killing me, but I didn't care and pushed through. With each movement Elizabeth made, and each sound of pleasure, I pulled the trigger. Eventually, overcome by the adrenaline of it all, I grabbed her by the throat and pushed her down. Her moans of ecstasy never wavered, gripping my arm that choked her with desire, urging me to continue as I thrust inside of her, using one hand now to empty the magazine into the target, and eventually, my own into her.

  I breathed heavily, shuddering as I finished, her body locking around me as she quivered herself, a light moan of pleasure rising from her throat. After that...silence. It fell upon us like a bnket, reality setting back in as I realized what I had just done. Releasing her, I gnced down apologetically, but was met with the eyes of a yandere. She had enjoyed that thoroughly, reaching up towards my hand which held the gun, and took it from me gently.

  "Now that was fun~," she said with passionate delight, "Wouldn't you say, my love?"

  I could do nothing except blush deeply, trying to hide my embarrassment as she finally removed me from her and sat up, though she pulled me into a close embrace with one arm and pressed the button to bring the target back to the table with the other. I had to admit that I didn't hate what just happened, but I refused to admit it. Her fingers caressed the back of my neck as she examined the target.

  "Well, would you look at that," she whispered with pride, turning my head to see, "I don't think there's a center left."

  "What the fuck..." I muttered in disbelief, "How the hell did that work?"

  Elizabeth smiled widely with even more pride, smothering me into her chest as I continued to gnce at the piece of paper in her hands. The target, with several concentric circles, was missing the entire center, bullet holes having ripped it to pieces. Somehow, through all that...I had hit the bullseye every single time.

  "Fucking witchcraft..." I grumbled and Elizabeth ughed, the silvery sound filling my ears and heart.

  "Maybe," she teased, "Or, maybe I just know what motivates you."

  "Hrm..." I hid my face in her chest, not wanting to admit that she might be right as my face burned heavily with embarrassment.

  Laughing some more, Elizabeth fawned over the target, happy at the results. It's not like I could fuck her every time I needed to shoot a gun, but it had been effective. The things she knew was terrifying...but now my head hurt like crazy and I felt rather faint.

  "I'm sorry, my love," Elizabeth spoke softly, "It was a little rough, wasn't it?"

  "Just a little, but I'm okay..." I replied, though I felt dizzy, "Just some...memories, not memories. It's gone now, but..."

  "Here," she lifted my chin and opened my mouth with her thumb, "Drink."

  She produced a vial of some kind of liquid, like the time she did when we had first met in this life. I drank of it as she held it for me, almost immediately feeling he pressure on my head lessen. However, I felt the familiar warmth of blood trickle down my nose. Not missing a single beat, she tilted my head towards her and before I could stop her, licked it clean.

  I stared at her in shock and awe, her expression holding that familiar obsessiveness. Before I could say anything else, she took from her inventory a piece of cloth and tilted my head forward, holding my nose carefully in her hand as she soothed me against her shoulder. It was grateful for this, as I felt myself turning red.

  "Better?" she asked gently, and I nodded, "Good. Take it easy, I pushed you a bit there, didn't I?"

  "It's okay," I replied, trying to calm my rapidly beating heart, "As long as you're okay."

  Wrapping my arms around her, I rexed in her embrace.

  "Oh, I'm more than okay~," she answered with that devilish delight of hers, "I can't wait for physical training. I'm very flexible, you know~."

  I swallowed hard, knowing very well how flexible she was. I know I had asked her to help train me, but perhaps that had been a mistake considering how insatiable she was. Would I even learn anything? "Well...I did hit the target." I scoffed with amusement to myself, shaking my head in disbelief. Her methods were certainly...interesting. Can't say I could really compin.

  -----

  (Lucas's POV, Later that day)

  Memories of the shooting range and what had happened there permeated my mind, unable to forget, not that I wanted to. It simply made concentrating...difficult, as it was the only thing on my mind, like a hauntingly beautiful melody. The hold it had on me felt like ice, cool and comforting, yet burned like fire inside of me, hot and enticing.

  "Fuck..." I thought, biting my lower lip as I contempted recent events, "That was...hot."

  I could still feel her hands on my arm gripping me, urging me to choke her harder. The feeling of cold iron in my hand as I squeezed the trigger with every thrust...I couldn't get it out of my mind, and now I was sitting within the cubby of a window in one of the niches of the penthouse. I stared absently out at the city below in an attempt to clear my mind.

  It wasn't working.

  "She's dangerous..." I whispered to myself, holding the back of my hand up to my mouth in a vain attempt to hide the blush I felt rising in my face, "How did I even do that?"

  I had never shot a gun before, let alone fucked while doing it. Yet, somehow, I had been able to hit every single shot...and not just the bullets. Something inside of me had come to the surface, rising to take control of the situation, and the way in which Elizabeth had simply...given in caused the blood in my body to rush down into parts I would rather remain sleeping.

  Shifting in my seat to adjust, I pondered it. She did something to me that caused me to question myself. If I saw her now, I felt like I might push her down again and take her like I did in that moment. "Perhaps that's what she wants..." I reasoned, knowing her personality. She liked when I was more dominant, but enjoyed it when I was obedient and gentle.

  "There's really no escape," I chuckled, shaking my head, "As if I'd want to, but damn..."

  I didn't know what was becoming of me ever since she had showed up in my life..."Well, in this life." I corrected myself silently, amused by the thought. Though, a part of me now was a little concerned. In that moment of our love, memories flooded into me. Memories that I thought were locked away...which caused another fit of mine to happen.

  Elizabeth helped me through it as she always did, gentle and loving. My nose bled, and she wiped it away...albeit rather sensually as she licked it up.

  "I can't believe she actually did that..." I muttered, feeling the embarrassment return.

  In the depths of my thoughts, I was oblivious to the approaching footfalls of one light on their feet...and silent upon the air. That was until they made their presence known.

  "Azure found Lucas!" Azure's voice came through happily in my mind, "Bring Friend Maya!"

  I gnced up to see Azure floating excitedly in the air, practically dancing around Maya who stopped as I looked up.

  "Did Azure give me away?" she asked with a knowing, soft smile as she gnced at the prancing Drake.

  "I'm afraid so, yeah," I replied with a small smile of my own, "Seems he was just excited."

  Azure, sensing that we were talking about him, stopped in the air and tilted his head, appearing to look confused.

  "A..Azure. Do. Wrong?" his mouth moved, speaking with broken words out loud, a recent development.

  "Heh, no," I shook my head, motioning for him to approach as I held out my hand, "It was a good surprise. You did well."

  "Azure. Happy!" he flew towards me with intent, nuzzling against my hand as he purred.

  Gncing back at Maya, I noticed that she held a tray in her hands, and upon it were two cups and two bowls.

  "Ah, sorry," I quickly moved to stand, but she just shook her head.

  "Sit," she told me softly and I remained where I was.

  Azure looked up as Maya walked over to us, curiously tilting his head once more.

  "He's learning habits from you," she teased, giving Azure a small smile.

  "Is that a bad thing?" I inquired pyfully.

  "No," she chuckled, "It's cute, though right now..."

  She gave Azure a meaningful gnce full of intent. His ears perked up and he suddenly rose into the air.

  "Azure. Leave." he spoke out loud, giving me a quick lick on the face before flying away, "Did. Job. Fun!"

  I could only ugh, left there a little confused, but quickly understood that he had only been meant to bring Maya here, but now...it was just the two of us.

  "So, what do you have pnned?" I inquired, shifting myself in the alcove of the window.

  "Pnning?" she asked, feigning offense, "I would never."

  "Mhm," I smiled, raising an eyebrow skeptically.

  Making her way closer, she made a foldable table appear from nothing, most likely pulled from her inventory with but a thought. Setting it before me, she pced the tray down upon it and gnced at me with a wry expression.

  "Well, maybe a little," she smirked and shooed my feet away so that she could sit down, "I thought I could share a meal with you, if that's okay?"

  "Of course it is," I told her, as it wasn't even a question, "You know you can."

  "I know," she nodded with a sly smile, "I simply wanted to hear you say it."

  "Heh, okay, so..." I sat up a bit more, dangling my legs over the edge of the nook, "What's on the menu?"

  "Depends," she said, looking at me out of the corner of her eye, "Do you want dessert first, or the main course?"

  The question caused my mind to short-circuit for a brief moment. Her tone said that she was flirting, but knowing how easily she could just be teasing me and acting nonchant...made me question reality for a second. Was she talking about the food...or herself? I didn't know how to respond.

  "Cat got your tongue?" she asked, stifling a ugh as she covered her mouth with her hand, "It's too easy to tease you, but it's always so fun."

  "I knew it!" I suddenly excimed, "So you were talking about the food!"

  "I'm food to you?" she asked with a curious raised eyebrow, causing the second short-circuit of my brain.

  "N-No, I mean...what?" I didn't know how to properly respond, "Yes? Maybe. I don't..."

  My words trailed off as her ughter filled my ears and eased the tension in my heart, though did nothing for my embarrassment as I felt my face burn up like crazy.

  "I'm sorry, Sir," she said quietly, a bit of ughter still in her voice, "It really is just too easy. I did mean the food, though..."

  She paused for a moment before tucking her hair delicately behind her ear, a light pink to her cheeks. She had allowed her hair to grow as of te, now just above her jawline, and in that moment her face was revealed, it was like the first time I saw her. "Wow..." my breath was caught in my throat as I realized how enamored I was by her. The faint light from outside filtered in to give her an otherworldly glow.

  She somehow seemed so young in that moment. As if this was suddenly another life, and we were just two school kids sitting on a bench in spring, nervous to be eating lunch together. It was a moment so brief, though one that I couldn't help but wonder at. If our lives had been different...would we have met in a time that was less...chaotic? Would she have been able to live a normal life?

  "I wouldn't mind if you..." her words interrupted my thoughts, bringing me back to reality, "Tasted a little bit."

  Her eyes suddenly shifted and locked with mine. I couldn't look away from her suddenly intense, honest gaze. "What was I thinking?" I chided myself, drawn into her violet eyes filled with such gentle love, "There's nothing wrong with starting here..." I found myself smiling dumbly, averting my gaze with bashful reluctance.

  "Heh, did Ellie talk to you?" I muttered, finding it difficult to catch my breath, "I take it you know what happened."

  "She may have said something about it," Maya admitted with a gentle tone, "Is that what's bothering you?"

  "...So, you know, and yet you tease me," I grumbled, covering my face with my hand, only gncing at her through the gaps of my fingers, "You're both relentless."

  "Who said I was teasing?" she inquired with a serious tone, "I meant what I said. All of it. From the food...to me."

  She said the st part with a seductive undertone, and all I could do was grumble under my breath and growl a bit in frustration. "These two women would be the death of me...figuratively, of course," I knew how saying that would make them feel, even if I was teasing, and so I kept it to myself.

  "All that aside, Sir," Maya continued, adjusting herself next to me as she cleared her throat, "I was hoping to distract you from it, knowing how you can get, but I found myself..."

  She paused for a moment, seeming unsure if she should say the next thing on her mind. Shifting slightly, she seemed...frustrated, but before I could ask, she huffed and all pretense of stoicism went out of the window as she crossed her arms and pouted.

  "I guess...I was just a little jealous," she finally admitted, much to my surprise, "I know we're taking things slow, and I love that. I just...god, she was so smug!"

  "Wh-What?" I was taken aback by the sudden accusation, letting out a short ugh before I caught myself.

  Maya gred at me with a childish scowl that I've never seen before. It was almost cute in its genuine nature. She wasn't angry at me, but slightly offended that I ughed at her.

  "I'm sorry, I just..." I held up my hand as I looked at her incredulously, "You're...jealous, and she was smug?"

  "Yes!" she excimed, pouting even more, "You don't have to rub it in."

  "I'm not, I'm not," I assured her, trying to hold in my ugh, "It's just...it's kind of cute how jealous you are. I rarely see you so...animated."

  "Well..." her face suddenly went flush, gncing away with bashful avoidance, "I can't help it, okay? Seeing how smug she was about it, and how we haven't...done anything yet, I just...wanted to make her jealous."

  "Do you...want to do something?" I asked tentatively, genuinely curious, "I just...we were going slow, and I...don't want to pressure you."

  Her eyes widened for a brief moment, perhaps in surprise or pleasant intrigue, I couldn't tell. It sted only a brief moment, and was gone before I could figure it out.

  "You really..." she muttered, leaving left unsaid what was on her mind as a small smile, soft and warm, crept upon her lips, "Perhaps one day, but you're right...thank you for being so patient with me."

  "Not at all," I dismissed, reaching for her hand as I grasped it upon the seat between us, "You're worth it, and I'd never want to make you uncomfortable."

  She gnced down at our hands together, her smile deepening as she returned my hold on her with a firm grasp of her own.

  "Never," she whispered, shaking her head, "I'm the most comfortable when I'm with you. I feel like I can truly be myself."

  "You can," I told her, feeling my heart warm at her words, "Always."

  A moment of tender silence fell upon us as we basked in each other's presence, and as I watched her staring down at our hands in what appeared like tranquil bliss, I felt a certain...tug at my heart. As if a string was pulling me forward, and I followed it. Leaning forward, I reached up to her chin, taking it gently between my fingers.

  "You know..." I whispered with pyful desire, "I can wait for as long as you need, but I think I'll take you up on that taste you mentioned. You said you were jealous, yes?"

  As I tilted her chin to look at me, her eyes shimmered with anticipation, allowing herself to be pushed back against the wall of the windowed nook. Her hand gripped mine tighter as I leaned over her. Her breath quickened as her chest rose and fall in tune with the sharp intake of breath that she took.

  "We can't have that, now can we?" I smiled lovingly, as charming as I could be, and before I could say anything more, she reached up and grabbed the back of my head with her free hand.

  "No, we can't," she told me with hungry longing, her fingers tightening on my hair.

  She pulled me close as I leaned in willingly. Our lips locked in mutual desire, devouring the others taste and imprinting it into our very minds. Her lips were sweet, tasting of berries from the balm she used. Soft and tender were her lips that I lost myself to them, my body pressing against her, supple yet strong. It gave way to me, inviting me to get closer.

  I didn't know how long I was there, nor did I care. All that mattered is that new memories of today were overtaking my mind, and I lost myself to them as I did the shooting range. There was no entwining of flesh between us, no...that would be for another day, if it ever came.

  The only thing that joined together were our hearts in mutual love and comfort of the other. She had come to quell the anxiety of my heart, and in doing so, I found myself pulled further into the web of these two women who had such a hold on me that I would never see the light of day again, but when faced with the depth of their love like the infinite starry expanse of night, and the warmth of their embrace like the radiance of the moon...I was more than content to never see the break of day again.

  Yet, the break of day would have to come, though that came with its own reward. As I tried to catch my breath, I could see her flustered face and desperate eyes so filled with obsessive devotion. We stayed there like that for a moment before I looked away sheepishly.

  "I guess I had dessert first..." I muttered with a soft chuckle, "Though, that might have been the whole course."

  Maya's ughter was short, yet sweet as we sat up and adjusted ourselves.

  "No," she replied, mischief tinging her words, "If you think that was the whole course, just you wait...Luke~."

  The way she said my name lingered in my ears and made my whole body tremble at the insinuation upon it. I had definitely been drawn from my dilemma of Elizabeth and the shooting range into the dilemma another. From this, I simply gave in. I would never be able to win against my desire for either of them, and they knew that.

  "Honestly, what am I worried for?" I could only admonish myself, for this is what they wanted. It was somehow a breath of fresh air to be reminded of this, and just like that, the worry of my desire faded and was repced with a content appreciation for how truly blessed I was.

  Still, they pyed a dangerous game, and if given the chance...I wouldn't miss.

  "Shall we eat?" I asked, putting the thought from my mind, "It's probably gotten cold by now."

  "That's alright," she assured me, producing from her inventory a big pot of food, steaming and ready to be served, "You didn't think I came unprepared, did you?"

  "Ha! Of course, you didn't even serve the food yet..." I could only ugh at how foolish I had been, "You're both too dangerous for your own good."

  "Speak for yourself, Sir," she replied with a look of passion in her eyes; taking from her inventory a bottle of ice gold fruit juice, "Shall we eat?"

  I nodded, and she served up a delicious helping of rice with a cheese sauce and vegetables. It paired well with the juice, and before I knew it, we had eaten it all. Of course, Maya ate most of it, and as always, I was impressed with the appetite of a Pyer, looking fondly upon her as she devoured her food.

  I remembered a time where she was hesitant to show her appetite, but now she didn't hide anything, ensuring that she ate as much as she wanted. This warmed my heart, and when she was done, we went on to join Elizabeth who quietly assessed us with catlike scrutiny, as if she already knew what had happened between us.

  Yet, she didn't say a single word. Instead, we settled in for the rest of the day upon the luxurious pull-out couch. Elizabeth to my right, and Maya to my left. Azure joined as well, ciming my legs as we enjoyed several movie marathons before, for the first time, we all fell asleep together.

  It was peaceful and so precious of a memory. I wished it could st forever, or at the very least...I would be able to enjoy more moments like this again.

  -----

  (Lucas's POV)

  Of course, nothing sts forever, as much as I wished it to. The news came after several tranquil days together, most of which had been spent simply enjoying the company of Elizabeth and Maya, with a few moments of self-defense training. This time without the...motivation that Elizabeth had given me previously. Not that I was compining, but it was good to actually focus, and I was able to get better.

  That said, I now faced another goodbye.

  "It's you, this time," I sighed, looking into Maya's eyes like a lost puppy, "Do you really have to go?"

  Elizabeth had received a call from Aegis. There was talk of something happening over in Irend, but had soon spread to other parts of what remained of the United Kingdom. Something weird was happening where people cimed to open a door in their house, only to find themselves in a completely different pce. Sometimes, it was their own house, other times, it was a completely different building.

  At first, it was dismissed as just strange dreams, but when more and more people started to encounter this, the guilds of Irend and the UK began to investigate. What they found is that this phenomenon was a real thing, and they suspected a Gate or perhaps a monster within one of the Wild Zones to be responsible. However, they had hit a dead-end and were asking for help.

  That's why Elizabeth had tasked Maya with heading there and finding out what was going on, however...I felt like there was something they weren't telling me.

  "I do," Maya told me with a nod, "I would stay if I could, but this is important. Miss Falcrest has tasked me with this, and as much as I would like to stay, I have to do this."

  I looked into her eyes for any hint of what she wasn't telling me. She looked determined, and something in my gut was screaming at me. I knew I couldn't stop her if she was this determined, but it hurt to see her go so suddenly. I didn't want Elizabeth to go either, and wished that the both of them would just stay, but it's not like I could be that selfish, as much as I wanted to be.

  "Promise me, you'll be safe?" I asked, gripping her hands tighter in mine as I held them firmly between mine, "I know it's silly of me to say that, but still. Promise me."

  Maya's gaze softened as she returned the gesture of squeezing my hands, her touch was warm and sincere.

  "I promise you, Luke," she said softly, her words holding a sense of warmth as she uttered my name, "I have a good reason to return, you know."

  "You better," I forced a chuckle, still uneasy, "Do you know what you'll find there?"

  It was brief, but Maya gnced over my shoulder at Elizabeth who was waiting nearby before looking back at me. I could sense it then and knew for sure...

  "They're hiding something from me," I sighed, trying to dismiss this awful feeling in my stomach. I knew that whatever it was, they were doing it for me. I still didn't like it, and couldn't hold my tongue anymore.

  "Why?" I finally asked, steeling my resolve, "Why do you two continue to do this?"

  "What...do you mean?" Maya asked, trying to remain nonchant, but I saw it; a crack in her armor, "I've been given a mission that I must-"

  "No," I shook my head, interrupting her, "Not that. I know that you both have to do things. The world depends on you, I depend on you."

  I hated feeling so helpless in the face of all of this, but there wasn't much I could do when it came to what only they, as Pyers, could do.

  "I'm talking about keeping secrets again," I told them point bnk, gncing over my shoulder at Elizabeth with an accusatory gre, "You said you'd tell me everything."

  "I..." Elizabeth balked at that, for it wasn't untrue, though I knew it was unfair to throw that in her face; after a moment, she took a breath and made her way over to me, "You know that I wouldn't do this if it wasn't necessary, Lucas."

  She pced her hands gently upon my shoulder, though despite how gentle she was, there was firmness behind it. Not out of malice, but out of concern and comfort. She wished to ground me in the moment and calm my unsteady heart.

  "I know I've been selfish," she told me quietly, "I've asked some pretty unreasonable things of you."

  "That's not...entirely true," I replied, a little taken off-guard by her words.

  "Isn't it?" she asked with a small smile, "Well, that's just like you to think it's not unreasonable to just blindly trust me."

  "I wouldn't say I blindly trust you," I countered, feeling the momentum I had built begin to crumble, "I love you, Ellie, I truly do. I know you only want what's best for me...as well as for you. I just...why can't you tell me what's going on?"

  Elizabeth shared a quiet gnce with Maya who simply shrugged.

  "I warned you," Maya told her, "He's more perceptive than you think."

  "No," Elizabeth sighed rather fondly, "I know exactly how perceptive he can be...and it's rather infuriating the moments it kicks in."

  "Hey!" I excimed, unsure whether to be insulted or proud, "I...notice things!"

  "I know you do," Elizabeth chuckled, wrapping her arms around me as she pulled me close, "It's just, there's times when I wish you wouldn't."

  "Well, excuse me," I muttered sarcastically, but was pleased to be in her arms, "When you both act so suspicious, it's hard not to notice. Especially because you were dodgy about my question reted to this event."

  "He's got you there, El," Maya agreed with me.

  "Tch, don't side with him!" Elizabeth excimed with mock betrayal in her voice, "You also agreed to this!"

  "You did?" I asked Maya, raising an eyebrow, "So, both of you agreed to not tell me?"

  Maya looked away innocently at my accusation, which while cute, was a little frustrating.

  "Will one of you please tell me what's going on?" I finally submitted and went with my foolproof pn of pleading with them, "You don't want me to be upset, do you?"

  I sprinkled in a dash of guilt, because if they could use my love for them against me, I could py that same game. Sure enough, both of them flinched at that and looked at me with pleading eyes of their own, as if asking me to not say anything more.

  "Lucas..." Elizabeth pleaded, love and agony tinging her tone, "Of course we don't want you to be upset. I just..."

  Her words trailed off as she suddenly held me closer. At the same time, Maya pressed against me from the front, becoming closer than ever before. All the while, she never let go of my hands. I felt a little dizzy, suddenly surrounded by their warmth, and somehow by sheer will...I held on.

  "It's not that we don't want to tell you..." Maya muttered into my shoulder as she rested her head against it.

  "It's more that we don't know," Elizabeth admitted a little dejectedly, "And I don't want to get your hopes up after I made you that promise."

  "Which one?" I asked, looking up at her.

  At the same time, I freed my hands from Maya's and wrapped my arms around her. Maya returned the gesture by clinging to me, and for the moment the three of us were entwined in a tender, warm embrace.

  "Back on the pne," Elizabeth answered, her hold on me tightening, "I said I had a cure for what ails you...or rather, that I had to gather materials for one."

  "Yeah, I remember," I nodded slowly, "Though, I don't know why that has to be a secret. You already told me about that, so...why the sudden shift?"

  "Well..." Elizabeth hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath, "That's not the secret, and it's not really a secret that we're keeping."

  "Then...what is it?" I prodded for more answers, feeling Maya's arms clench tighter around me as if she didn't want to let go, "Is there an ingredient in Irend?"

  "There is," Elizabeth answered a little sheepishly.

  "And you couldn't tell me...why?" I was never really mad at them, just...worried for them, "You both seemed anxious about this. I really thought something was wrong."

  "I'm sorry, my love," Elizabeth replied, giving me a gentle kiss on the top of my head, "You were worried for us, while we were worried for you."

  "Story of our lives," I chuckled, caressing the back of Maya's head, "So, tell me...what has you so anxious?"

  Maya finally gnced up at me with a bashful expression, but soon turned to warmth as her gaze locked with mine.

  "Hope," she whispered softly.

  "Hope?" I was definitely confused as I repeated the word back to her quizzically.

  "Yes," Elizabeth followed up as Maya continued to stare at me with those warmth filled eyes of hers, "The more ingredients I retrieve, the more you will begin to hope...and the more we will begin to hope."

  It was like everything clicked into pce for me. I understood their anxiety and could only chide them for it.

  "And you both call me foolish," I scolded them with a click of my tongue, "Honestly...tell me these things, damn it. You incorrigible Yanderes."

  I reached up and flicked both of them on the forehead lovingly. Not with enough for to hurt, but enough to make sure they felt it. As they both held their foreheads and looked at me in surprise, I simply shook my head and gave them each a kiss.

  "It's my job to comfort you when you need it," I told them firmly, "Just as it is yours when I need it, but I can't do that if you don't tell me these things."

  I sighed, pulling Maya closer to me and leaning back further into Elizabeth.

  "You're worried about the unknown," I stated, hitting the nail on the head as both of them grimaced, "The hidden timer ticking down. So am I, you know."

  I spoke gentle to them as they held onto me desperately, as if they could hold me there forever. As if they were telling the entire world to fuck off and leave me alone. It was all too precious, and all too sorrowful.

  "You idiots..." I chided lovingly, "Stop taking on everything by yourself. Let me take on some of it too, you know. What I can, at least."

  "We're sorry, we just..." Maya began, but I shut her up with a kiss.

  "That's enough," I told her as I pulled reluctantly away, "It's okay. I'll fight as hard as I can, you know. Do you think I want to give this up?"

  "Of course not," Maya replied, a bit of pink to her cheeks.

  "Exactly," I nodded with a gentle smile.

  "What about me?" Elizabeth asked, pouting slightly.

  "Yes, yes," I chuckled, reaching up and pulling her down into a long, sensual kiss full of my deepest emotions, and as I pulled away, I held her there for a moment, staring lovingly into her eyes, "So...why don't you tell me what else is on your mind?"

  "Damn your stupid uncanny perceptiveness..." Elizabeth grumbled, her face red, "Can't you be oblivious when I need you to be?"

  "Nope," I ughed, shaking my head, "Spill."

  "Well..." she sighed, taking my hand in hers and held it close, "While I know the ingredients to use...there is a chance it might not work, yet I told you I had a cure."

  "Ah..." I figured that something like this might be the case, considered she still looked worried, "So, you get all of the ingredients and make the cure, but it doesn't work."

  "Mhm," she nodded, the fear and pain in her eyes tearing at my heart, "So, you know why I didn't want to say anything, I-"

  "Shhh," I told her, pulling her into another, tender kiss, not stopping until her body melted against mine, and only then did I reluctantly pull away, "What I know is how terrifyingly scary keeping that to yourself is. You've been holding these burdens alone for so long...you don't need to do that anymore."

  Elizabeth's eyes filled to the brim with tears at my words. I could only imagine how hard it had been for her, and while we had talked about such things before, it wasn't easy to fully break free of a cycle you have been in for so long.

  "Old habits..." she replied with a shrug, biting into her lower lip.

  Reaching up with my thumb, I stopped her from tearing at the skin.

  "...Die hard," I finished her sentence, causing her to blush with fluster, "I know, and that's why I'm here to remind you."

  Elizabeth smiled and ughed as if a great weight had been cleared from her chest. Reaching up, I cleared the tears from her eyes with my sleeve, gentle wiping them away.

  "No matter how many times, I will remind you," I told Elizabeth before gncing down at Maya who was watching us both with a warmth in her eyes, "That goes for you too, missy."

  "I don't know what you're talking about..." Maya looked away nonchantly, "I've done nothing wrong."

  "Mhm," I muttered doubtfully as I gripped her chin in my fingers ever so gently, yet firm enough to turn her head towards me, "What did you tell me before"

  "I don't recall," she feigned ignorance, turning her eyes away.

  "Let me remind you," I smirked, feeling a little devilish, "You try to take it on by yourself. Don't do that."

  "Hmm, memory is a bit foggy..." she pretended to think about it, but I knew what she was after.

  "Then let me clear it for you," I smiled and kissed her again, this time much deeper than before.

  She gave in, leaning against me. Elizabeth and Maya were a handful, each wanting as much as the other, and Maya feigning ignorance just to get it. I couldn't help but think it was adorable, but I did mean what I said, just as she had meant what she said back when she had cried in my arms.

  None of us had to bear the burden of worry alone.

  "There," I said as I pulled away after drinking deeply of her lips, "Does that spark your memory."

  "Mhm," she smiled in a daze, nodding happily, "I remember, and I never forgot."

  "I know you didn't," I gave her a pyful push on the arm, "You two are insatiable. You know you can just kiss me whenever, right?"

  "Where's the fun in that?" Maya asked with Elizabeth making a sound of agreement.

  "Honestly..." I chuckled and for a brief moment, was able to enjoy what little time I had left before Maya really had to leave, "Truly, be safe, Maya. Whatever comes of this cure...we'll figure it out. I believe in Ellie's research, so you both need to believe in it as well."

  "Look at you," Elizabeth teased, pinching my cheek, "Ordering us around and all."

  "Will you stop," I pushed her hand away and gred at her pyfully as she ughed, "You'd think you'd be more confident."

  "I am," she stated adamantly, "That doesn't mean I'm immune to worry. I-"

  I cut her off with a finger to her lips, seeing the depths of her lives in those eyes.

  "I know..." I spoke softly, gentle, "It'll be different this time, I'm sure of it."

  "Yes, it will," Elizabeth nodded, and even if it was a lie we told ourselves, it was one we both had to believe, "Thank you."

  "No need," I smiled tenderly and turned my attention to Maya, "Return to us, Maya. I'll be waiting."

  Instead of an answer, Maya flung her arms around me one more time and kissed me deeply. She etched herself into my mind as she didn't say goodbye, but left with a flourish and a promise. In a swirl of petals, she left the fragrance of cherry blossoms, a silent pledge and a reminder.

  "...What other fragrances do I like..." I muttered to myself with a ugh, "You'll have to return to find out. You sneaky woman."

  "Oh?" Elizabeth's interest was piqued, "What's that about fragrances?"

  "Ah..." it was too te to realize my mistake as I had spoken out loud, "Well, you see..."

  I pretended like I was going to tell her, but in my embarrassment, and at the st second, turned and booked it instead, running from her down the hall in order to keep my secrets. The chase was on.

  "You can run, but you can't hide!" she called after me, her voice pyfully echoing throughout the penthouse.

  Azure, thinking it was a game as well, joined us as Elizabeth chased me for some answers. She eventually caught me, of course, and I spilled all of my embarrassing secrets, but I liked to think I put up somewhat of a fight. Even in the darkest of our days, there was always light.

  As sure as precious moments were fleeting, they returned upon a gentle breeze. Never far from our hearts.

  -----

  Nikushimi

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