Chapter Text
"You…you're sure of this, then? Mon Dieu…"
"Yeah…you know it's the only way, Vidocq."
Shaking his head, the Frenchman could only sigh. But she could tell it was a sigh of sorrow, and not of condescension. Ever since she'd finally proven herself, and been promoted to the command along with him as co-strategist, he'd been a lot more amiable–even though he still chastised her for forgetting certain formalities during meetings.
"At first, I wondered if this is just your way of trying to be a martyr…but ah, I suppose Oda Nobunaga…he was willing to go to any lengths to win, didn't he…"
He offered her a glass of wine, which surprised her–she barely drank, even now, but she supposed a little wouldn't hurt.
"…This war…I made up my mind when I joined DOGOO, that I would give it my everything. This is just…a part of it." She swirled the glass, before taking a sip—and immediately grimaced, much to the amusement of the other holder, and even Commander Iyo herself. "Ugh, how can anyone enjoy this…"
"It is an acquired taste, Miss Nobunagun. It's not meant to be chugged like some soft drink or other."
She wrinkled her nose, setting it down. "Well, thanks but no thanks. I think I'll stick to those soft drinks…"
"Sio Ogura…you understand, what it is you are about to embark on?" Strange how even though she spent much of her time with the alien and Command now, she still couldn't get used to it. "If you wish to take shore leave, that is understandable—"
"—No; no, it's…best if we don't keep dragging this out." It was getting harder and harder everyday…like digging her heels in against a landslide, and yet still slowly slipping forward. Forcing a smile, she thanked Vidocq for the wine, bowed to Commander Iyo and Dogoo, before heading for the decks to greet her platoon.
But first, she had to will her hands to stop shaking.
"Two AU balls—that's certainly something special, Sio-chan." Gandhi praised her as they returned, unclasping their helmets so they could actually breathe some real air. "But still, I can't think of a more fitting—or suitable—person for it. You truly are amazing, Sio."
"Ah, Gandhi-san…you don't have to keep praising me, it's…a little embarrassing, actually…" Even now with her newfound status, powers, and secondary e-gene, old habits died hard. "But, you're right…I'm really grateful to Dogoo and the Commander, for doing this…Asao-san, your wish to help others is really coming true…"
Gently she stroked her new AU ball, its designs just the same as her first one, its weight warm and comforting. It had all happened so fast, she'd barely had the time to mourn her loss before Command informed her of her new promotion, and then it was a whirlwind of plans, battles, and strategies. At least she still got to kick ass on the field with the rest of her platoon—though to a lesser extent now, which was something that she knew would make her parents rest easier, yet she wouldn't deny that she missed the thrill of the fight; the rush of adrenaline, going headlong into battle with everyone else…
"Sio? Something the matter?" She blinked, before realizing that Gandhi and Tell had headed off, and it was just her and him. The one who had stood by her through everything, even after that dreadful separation where they didn't see each other or even speak…
"Ah, Adam…just, uh…reminiscing…" She couldn't help but give him a sad little smile, and he nodded. "I…I guess, I'm glad Command's taking my words seriously now, but I gotta admit…I kinda miss being on the ground with everyone else…" Unconsciously she leaned towards him and he automatically pulled her tight. "Whenever I'm just watching you guys on the screen…I always wish I was down there with you…"
"Well I, for one, am glad that you're somewhere safe. 'S not pretty down there, what with those dinosaurs runnin' amok." She gave him a look and he sighed. "But I do admit, it isn't quite the same without your gun…Tell's a good fighter, but he thinks too highly of himself. Just because the man's a human jet…"
Two months were plenty of time for them to get used to working together, but it wasn't the same; two months of Dogoo pulling out its last stock of raw e-gene material, to transform Asao's DNA in record time because they couldn't afford to wait in the old manner, of another holder reborn into the bloodlines. It had been the hardest two months of her life, wondering if she was doing the right thing and yet hopeful that perhaps she and Asao would be able to see each other again, even if it was a different form. At first she'd been so numb and exhausted that she didn't have time to cry much, even after the funeral. 'I'll be fine' was what she said; at least, until she returned to her cabin each night, where he waited up no matter how late, and always, always held her in his arms while she cried herself to sleep.
Interesting how merely a year ago she would've freaked out at the idea of them even holding hands, and now they were sharing a room and even a bed and it was the most natural thing in the world.
"…Adam…I-I…" Her hands shook as she tried to undo her suit, the full weight of what was going to happen hitting her hard and fast now that they were out of prying eyes.
"Hush, love…you don't have to say anything." His voice was low and husky, movements slow as he helped her out of the suit, before she did the same for him. "Shh, Sio…it'll be all right…"
She couldn't help the tears. No matter how much better she'd gotten at hiding them now…when it was just him, she could let the mask drop. "Oh…oh, Adam…I…" She burrowed into his embrace, as she always did whenever she was scared. "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…!"
"Don't apologise, Sio. It's not your fault…" Gently he stroked her hair, kissing away each tear that fell. "Though…I'm not going to lie…I'll be missing you an awful lot…your face, your voice, the way you feel…"
Even as her tears fell, she could also feel her body heating up as his hands brushed her soothingly, before she removed the last of her clothing so she could feel her bare skin against his body heat. "Mmm…A-Adam…"
"Yes? What is it?" Lips brushing against her hair, trailing slow, sweet kisses all along her neck and shoulder. "Anything you want, Sio; just say the word…"
She gasped, relishing his touch. That sensation…it never failed to send sparks of electricity up her spine, causing her entire body tingle and that swirl of heat to pool low in her belly. "I…want…"
Slow and sensual, that was how she wanted it tonight. Some nights it was just fluff and cuddling, other times it was fast and rough, and others still were just dedicated to experimenting with different positions and testing to see what they liked. But the kind where they truly called it 'lovemaking', and not just sex…it was what she would probably miss the most.
Her breathing was reaching a pitch as he rolled over her, thrusting in and out at a good pace but still moderate enough so that she could feel every single movement. A wonderful warmth was building up deep inside her, but she didn't want it to end just yet. "C-Could…could you make this last…ah…"
"Of course…" He was nuzzling her, noses touching as they seemed to breathe in sync, lacing their fingers together in one hand as he cupped her face with the other. "Sio…I, love you…you know…"
Even with the slower pace, the pleasure was inevitably building. Everything about him—the hazy emeralds, how his snow-white strands were tangled with sweat as he breathed hard, her name falling in whispered moans between his words of love—it made her feel a swell of emotions that seemed to nearly burst from her chest.
To acknowledge that she might never get to experience this again…to her horror, she felt her desire dropping. "N-No…no…!"
"What's wrong, Sio?" He stopped momentarily, thinking he'd accidentally hurt her, but she grasped his shoulders and wound her legs around his waist, encouraging him. "What is it?"
"Ah…m-make me forget about…that…" She panted, eyes glistening with tears. "I don't want to think about anything else but you! Please…"
Maroons searched emeralds, and he closed them in understanding. There didn't need to be words, not anymore; she understood him just as he did her. Holding her closer, his lips closed on hers as the pace grew, hands pleasing her every sensitive spot. She moaned thickly into his mouth, tongue frantically searching for his as he pushed them both towards that zenith.
"Hah, hah, hah…A-Adam…Adam…! I love you…I love you so much!" Sparks of light were threatening her vision, but whether it was from her tears or her inevitable climax, she couldn't tell.
"Sio…P-Please, I want to come with you…" The words were laced with such a heavy double meaning, and yet the only thing she could feel was a long, heated stretch of pleasure that she proceeded to lose herself in for the rest of the night.
"You actually turned down a ride in a X-29? Hell, I think even I might've said yes…"
"Well then, how would you feel if I had said yes?"
"Oy there, better watch it, squirt."
The light bantering bringing back memories of their first missions together, especially the hurricane…she blushed and let herself bask in the glowing warmth of that memory.
The pilots had been overzealous, to say the least, and she did feel slightly bad for turning them down…but somehow, she knew that he was also the only choice. The ocean breeze was salty and cold, but somehow she didn't feel chilly at all in his embrace, razor-edged wings gliding along just as fast as any jet plane.
"H-Hey, Adam…" He gave her a downward glance, but otherwise didn't say a thing. "I…I don't, know…how soon I can, c-come back…" Despite her efforts to stay strong, to try and making this as painless as possible, her eyes were tearing up, lips trembling as each word became harder and harder to get out. "B-But, I-I promise…I swear, I'll return…"
His hold shifted so that she was pressed tighter against him, the faint pulse of his heartbeat that was so familiar now. "I know. Of course you'll be back…" Slowly, one hand traced her cheek as a tear fell. "Listen, Sio…don't you worry about the rest of us; we'll handle those monsters, an' when you come back, they'll all be gone. I promise you that. So don't…don't go down there frettin' and all that, all right? You're the most important thing…to this planet's future…and mine…"
"Y-Yeah…" She gulped, forcing herself to swallow her tears.
"When it's all said and done, I'll be waitin' for yeh, right here; so…s-so, you'd better come back, squirt…"
She chuckled at that nickname, that he so rarely called her by anymore. In the beginning she would've done anything just to hear him say her name once, and now, she actually found herself missing that little quirk a bit.
"You can count on it." They were nearing the drop zone, according to her radio. "U-Um, Adam…"
"…Eh?"
Just as he'd caught her off-guard on the hospital roof, she reached up and pulled him down, their lips brushing before sealing together in one, final promise. This warmth, this feeling…she wanted to return to it. To experience it again, hopefully…
"W-Well then…I'll be seein' yeh…" Teardrops fell, neither of them bothering to brush them away as he slowly, seemingly hesitating, before opening his arms.
"Yeah…I'll see you, on the other side…" Tears streaking, but she forced a smile because he was doing his best to smile for her as well, so that his beautiful emeralds were the last thing she would see, a final salute as she plunged to her duty.
'A-Ano, I'm…Ogura Sio…nice to meet you, Asao-san…'
'Sio-chan…just always remember, when you think you can't go any further, that there's someone who's got your back…'
'You know, that just now…wasn't on my e-gene's orders…'
The people she'd met, their smiles, hopes and dreams…this was what she was ultimately fighting for. For the sake of their futures…'and mine', she thought, just a fleeting daydream of what she might possibly look like all garbed in a white, complete with a lace veil… 'Asao-san, let's go!' There was a warm reassurance, and she knew that they would be all right.
'Adam…please, wait for me…because I'll come back, I know I will!'