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Mei had plans for today.
Emphasis on 'had.'
She was going to finish the dishes, then pop down to the grocery store. She was going to call Bronya and later Adam to see how they were doing. She had intended to research bonsai trees as a means to pass the time. She had even considered whittling away the evening reading one of her books.
All of that had gone out the window, because there was now a cat a girlfriend resting on her lap.
Not that Mei minded in the slightest, oh no. But it was certainly impossible for her to even consider doing anything else when Kiana's head was resting atop her thighs. To move would mean waking her, and that was just unacceptable.
Of course, Kiana did this rather regularly, but that wasn't the point! The point was that Kiana had decided to use Mei as a pillow this afternoon, and it was up to Mei to be the best damn pillow in the world.
The former Herrscher of Thunder gently ran her fingers through her girlfriend's stark white locks, smiling when the woman began purring.
It was moments like these that made everything worth it. All the pain and sacrifice they had to endure, the hardships and compromises, the loss and betrayals, everything was justified when Mei could sit with her girlfriend napping in her lap in their quiet, quaint living room. The raven-haired woman had the dopiest grin as she caressed Kiana’s face oh-so tenderly, brushing a few stray, unruly locks out of the way.
Mei didn’t know how long they sat there, but she didn’t really care. She did care, however, when a deep rumble from Kiana’s belly rang out mere moments before the woman herself stirred. Somehow, Mei’s smile got even wider and brighter as her lover’s eyes fluttered open and she turned to look upwards.
“Mmmm…” She groaned quietly. “Meeeeeii, I’m hungry…” The Kaslana woman whined.
Mei giggled quietly. “I could tell. Your stomach always wakes up before you.”
Pouting slightly, Kiana wiggled around until she was sitting face-to-face with her girlfriend on said girlfriend’s lap. Being so close to Mei’s lips, however, instantly brightened the Kaslana's mood, grogginess and hunger momentarily forgotten at the prospect of stealing a kiss.
Mei couldn’t suppress her widening smile as Kiana did exactly that. “What would you like for dinner tonight?”
“Mmm…” Kiana contemplated with theatrical flair, tapping her chin as though she didn’t already have her mind set on something. Then with a grin, she said, “I want Mei’s fried chickey!”
Mei rustled her lover’s hair and pecked her on the forehead. “Go wash up and I’ll get started.” Naturally, the only thing that could get Kiana off of Mei in a timely manner was food, and nary a second after the former lightning queen had finished her sentence did the Kaslana take off running.
It was a simple task to prepare the kitchen for some deep-frying action. Never mind the fact that Kiana requested it at least once, if not twice, a week; the former Herrschers’ home was well-equipped for the culinary exploits of Raiden Mei. Though it had been quite some time since… everything, Mei was always thankful she took the time to continue sharpening her skills even when she worked for World Serpent.
She thought back briefly to those days as she battered up her chosen chicken legs. How distant they seemed now. Mei would be lying if she claimed she was unaffected by her brief employment with the terrorist organization. Every now and again, she was afraid to sleep, in fear of waking up back in one of their training rooms, or worse, back in the Elysian Realm.
Mei paused her train of thought as she carefully measured out the oil (she didn’t want to be wasteful) and brought the heat up. Her musings continued as she double-breaded the chicken (Kiana loved the extra crunch), this time dwelling on the inhabitants of that little snippet of the previous era. Even now, the woman wasn’t quite sure how to feel about the experience as a whole. She’d gotten answers, but it wasn’t nearly as straight-forward as she would have hoped.
Thank goodness Kiana isn’t nearly as vague as Kevin… even if she’s just as stubborn. Both the real and the simulated Kevin were, decidedly, unhelpful back then. The other Flame Chasers, in spite of being mere simulacra, were also painfully obstructive or just plain frustrating at times. Still, Mei did grow fond of a select few… but that didn’t stop her from wanting to pull her hair out whenever they withheld information. It was hard to not see the similarities between Kiana and Elysia, prompting Mei to wonder if her girlfriend was actually a descendant of the pink elf lady rather than the stone-cold leader of World Serpent.
Kiana was not Elysia, though. She wasn’t Kevin, she wasn’t Bianka, she wasn’t K-423. Kiana was Kiana, and Kiana was hers. Mei was Kiana’s. Even though everything, they belonged to one another, and even when she had to leave her, the ruler of thunder never had a single day where she stopped thinking about her love. Really, that singular drive is probably the only reason she made it out of the Elysian Realm in one piece, and mostly sane to boot.
The loud crackling of boiling-hot oil drowned out nearly all other sounds, at least until Mei put a lid over it. Introspection like this was a bad habit of Mei’s. Honestly, it was harder for her to not look back every so often, given how much she’s done in her admittedly short life so far. It didn’t help that she could basically make fried chicken with her eyes closed and both hands tied behind her back, so that left her with little to do besides stew in her own thoughts.
That changed when the tell-tale pattering of a certain Kaslana’s footsteps made their way down the hall and all the way behind her. It was impossible to not smile when she felt Kiana’s arms around her waist. All of the memories of the Flame Chasers and World Serpent were washed away in a mere instant, pale in comparison to the present.
“Mmm, smells good!” Kiana exclaimed, slightly muffled as she buried her face into Mei’s back. “Is it done yet?”
“Hardly.” Mei giggled.
“But I’m hungry noooooow.” The white-haired drama-queen whined as though she was moments away from perishing via malnutrition.
“There’s some crackers on the table if you want something to nibble on.” The raven-haired woman replied.
“Okaaaay.” Kiana released her girlfriend reluctantly, slinking over to the dinner table to pick at the aforementioned crackers. She also picked up her handheld console and started tapping away at it. It took a few moments, but she suddenly got very focused on her game. Bronya probably logged in, Mei mused. Satisfied her partner would be occupied for a while, she went back to tending the fried chicken.
The rest of the evening passed (relatively) quietly. Kiana tore into the chicken when it was finished, and Mei had to wonder just how she managed to not burn her tongue. Maybe it was those Parvati genes from Kevin that kept her cool. Maybe it was her affinity for fire, given her status as the (former) Herrscher of Flamescion. Or maybe Kiana was just too stubborn to let a burnt tongue stop her from enjoying Mei’s cooking.
Regardless, the payment for meals was always the same; hugs, kisses, and lots of snuggles. It was right back to the couch once dinner was done (and after Kiana cleaned up in the kitchen), though this time they turned on the TV for some background noise.
The Kaslana’s head was back in Mei’s lap, turned upwards and paying very close attention to her game. Mei, meanwhile, was only half paying attention to the television. While a commercial for Raven’s new (lesbian) bar played, she lazily absorbed the current chapter of her novel. A perfect evening, if either woman was prompted for their opinion.
Eventually Kiana started to get sleepy again, eyelids drooping as she slowly lost the strength to keep her arms extended with game console in hand. This time they retired to their room properly, enjoyed a fairly unproductive shower, and crawled beneath the covers. Kiana wasted no time latching onto her partner, and Mei wouldn’t have it any other way.
...
It’s quiet. Peaceful. The clouds rumble but do not crackle. Rain patters on the windowsill of their room, providing a comfortable ambiance to the moment. As slumber takes her, Mei’s thoughts do not linger on her journey.
Raiden Mei had worn many titles and many masks throughout her life, in spite of how comparatively short it was next to the likes of those like Kevin or Fu Hua. From student to Herrscher, to Valkyrie and back again. Traitor, sinner, Ruler of Thunder; all of these and more are utterly meaningless to Mei in this moment, embracing Kiana in the comfort of their own home.
The only title she bears now, and will ever need, is ‘Kiana’s beloved.’
That was her destination. Her reason. And even if Mei were to awaken tomorrow back in World Serpent HQ or deep in the Elysian Realm, this little taste of happiness is all she would ever need to keep pushing forward.
Mei planned for tomorrow. She’d wake up and go pick up some groceries. Maybe give Bronya and Adam a call. Find new hobbies.
Mei planned. As she fell asleep, she wore a smile, knowing Kiana would de-rail those plans.
She couldn’t help it; Kiana had a habit of inflicting change. Mei was living proof.
spinnerasterite Sun 31 Jul 2022 05:08PM UTC
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Kei (Guest) Sun 31 Jul 2022 08:22PM UTC
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01Nameless Fri 21 Oct 2022 03:13AM UTC
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