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It had hardly come as a surprise to Black Swan when Acheron had asked her to come to the Galaxy Ranger’s room in Penacony so that they could talk.
A face-to-face conversation was unquestionably due. Their last parting had seen her seemingly abandon Acheron in the midst of battle, whisking both Stelle and herself away to speak with Aventurine regarding his proposal for the two of them. Even though it hadn’t been intended as one, it was easy to see why Acheron might have seen it as a betrayal of her trust, especially after that wonderful night they’d spent together mere days beforehand.
As for why Acheron had requested that meeting to take place in her own room rather than in Black Swan’s, or any other location…well, that went without saying. Given her utter lack of anything resembling navigational skills, Acheron may well have ended up wandering the halls for hours - or longer - before she managed to stumble across their arranged meeting place. It was better for each of them that Black Swan be the one finding her, rather than the other way around.
She arrived at Acheron’s room just as the clock struck the appointed hour of their reunion. Before she could knock a single time, the door swung open. If her reason for coming had been any different, Black Swan may well have chosen to tease her for being so eager in waiting for her arrival. In this context, though, she doubted such a jest would have been appreciated.
After standing in the doorway for a few moments with a faint glower adorning her features, Acheron stepped to the side, vaguely gesturing for Black Swan to enter. The room’s electronic lock clicked into place not long after as each found their way to a seat on either side of a table.
A quick glance around the room showed it to be nearly barren, with only her sheathed sword resting in arm’s reach of the unmade bed speaking to her having been here at all, along with a folded paper umbrella just beside the door. It didn’t come as a surprise that Acheron was a light packer. One who roamed the stars as she did seldom stayed in one place for long, after all, and the more belongings one had, the more they had to pack and unpack each time they ventured elsewhere. Even so, Black Swan certainly hadn’t expected to see such emptiness. She found decorum stilling her tongue for a second time, leaving the burning question of ‘why’ unspoken as she returned her full attention to the woman across from her.
Neither said anything for a time, only the sound of Acheron’s heel clacking against the floor filling the room as she bounced her leg up and down. When they’d first sat down, Black Swan had intended to grant Acheron the first word, allowing her to guide the conversation. As the silence stretched further and further, though, she realized that continuing to do so would be fruitless. “Greetings, Acheron. I must say, it is a blessing to see you like this once again.”
“Is that so? Funny for you to say that.” The bouncing of her leg came to an abrupt halt. “Running away and taking Stelle with you, leaving me to face…whatever that Stellaron Hunter was called, I forget their name - alone? Pretty dirty trick.” Her voice remained casual, but there was no mistaking the hurt in her eyes.
“Sam was his name, as I recall.” If Acheron was going to get straight to the point, then Black Swan saw no reason not to do so as well. “I admit that it was, and, in an ideal world, I would have had the opportunity to inform you of my plans ahead of time. However, no such opportunity arose, and I had every confidence that you had the situation in hand even without a warning. After all, was it not you who decided to fight him without so much as drawing your sword? If you truly were in dire straits, was it not well within your grasp to do so?”
Acheron shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Even though Black Swan couldn’t divine the reason behind Acheron’s reluctance to use her blade, that it was a touchy subject could not have been more apparent. Failing to use it once was a choice, but twice? That was a habit, and Black Swan yearned to unveil whatever rationale lay at its core. She’d said when they first met that she wanted to learn every tantalizing secret and memory of Acheron’s being, and this one was no exception.
In due time, though. When she was comfortable enough to do so, Acheron would open up to Black Swan of her own accord. Of that, she had no doubts. To hurry her in that process would be an abuse of the bond they’d formed in this short time since their first meeting, and she cherished that bond far too much to endanger it for so trite a reason as mere curiosity.
Thus, even though she sensed no deep resentment behind Acheron’s words, it was important to Black Swan that she make amends. Not right this instant, though. First, Acheron deserved the chance to get the full extent of her thoughts off her chest.
Which she did, after a deep breath. “I just…that night we met at the hotel was…special to me. Precious. Not just because of how much I enjoyed the time we spent together, but because of how clear it remained in my memory even as the days passed by. I know I forget things, and I know I’ll never get back what I’ve lost, so I always hold onto anything that I do remember as best I can.”
“Which brings me to why you leaving me as you did hurt as much as it did. As much as it still does.” Her leg started bouncing again as she looked down, pausing before she continued. “Not only did I truly fall for you that night, but I could remember falling for you, every step of the way, with perfect clarity. It’s been…so long since I’ve been able to say that about anything, or anyone. It felt like this - us - was meant to be. Call it romantic or hasty if you like, but that’s genuinely how I felt.”
“I also remembered you mentioning more than once that the only way that I’d forget you was if you made me forget you. At the time you said it, it came across as flirtation or…dirty talk, I suppose is what it’s called. After you’d left, though…I couldn’t help fearing that maybe you’d been serious after all. That you actually had meant to take away one of the few memories I can recall with perfect clarity.”
It wasn’t often that Black Swan was incorrect in her evaluations of a person. Even fleeting glimpses into one’s memories simplified the process significantly, and as a Memokeeper of the Garden of Recollection, she saw far more than mere glimpses in most people. Despite Acheron being one of the few anomalies whose fates were entirely unknown to her, she’d thought she’d had a good grasp on how she would react.
As it turned out, she couldn’t have been more wrong. The last thing she’d wanted to do was cause such distress to someone who she held so dear.
Black Swan rose to her feet, crossed over to Acheron, and sat beside her as best she could, placing a comforting hand upon her cheek. “Acheron, let me assure you here and now, upon my very existence, that I would never do such a thing. Every aspect of one’s personality, along with their hopes, dreams, and fears, can be traced back to a memory in some capacity. So, to my perspective, knowingly taking those memories may as well be taking away part of the person themself. To do so would go against both my ethos and my sense of aesthetic.”
“However, I can understand how mere words might not allay your worries. Words are so easily given, but living up to them can be quite difficult by comparison. As such, I would ask if there is anything at all that I might do for you to serve as an apology. So long as it is within my power, it shall be done.”
“...Anything I want?”
“Anything you want.”
Acheron’s gaze grew distant as her left hand started twirling her hair, the light of the room dancing across its deep indigo with every movement. On more than one occasion she shook her head ever so slightly, no doubt dismissing some idea or another each time she did.
A minute passed as Acheron remained deep in her contemplative state, then another. Soon enough, though, she let out a heaving sigh and returned her focus back to Black Swan. “The only thing I could ever want from you… is you. Just promise that, even if we end up going our separate ways, that I’ll always have at least the memory of you.”
It was such a simple, earnest response that Black Swan couldn’t help melting upon hearing it. She leaned in close, letting the heat of her breath wash over Acheron’s neck as she spoke. “You want me? Then you shall have all of me, for as long as you would like. Both today, and forever more.”
Acheron shivered under her as a hint of red rose to her cheeks. “You know that’s not how I meant it.”
“Oh, I’m aware.” Black Swan laughed as she traced the outline of Acheron’s lips with her thumb. “But that is what you desire, is it not? For us to make more precious, unforgettable memories together?”
Was it fair of her to ask that question as she ran her teeth down the shell of Acheron’s ear? Perhaps not. Fairness was about the furthest thing from her mind at the moment, though, especially after a shaky moan left Acheron’s lips when she gently bit down on her earlobe.
“Has anyone ever told you - fuck - just how incorrigible you are?” Despite the complaint, Acheron’s hand made its way to Black Swan’s waist, pulling her gently closer as she continued lavishing Acheron’s ear with affection.
“Hmm, perhaps a time or two. I’m afraid I can’t recall the specifics, though.”
Acheron shook her head with an amused huff, the movement causing her hair to tickle the side of Black Swan’s face. “You, forgetting? Seems like I might be rubbing off on you more than I’d thought.”
“Indeed it does. If you’d like to take us over to your bed, it’d be my pleasure to respond in kind.”
“Once again, you know that’s not how I meant it.” The slight upturn of the corner of her lips made it evident her response wasn’t meant to be taken seriously. Sure enough, after a moment spent stretching her arms overhead, she hooked her left arm securely around Black Swan, then picked her up as she simultaneously rose to her feet. Her positioning saw Black Swan have unfettered access to Acheron’s neck, and she took advantage as best she could for the short walk from the chair to the bed, adorning it with as many not-so-gentle kisses as she could manage in the limited time she had.
With the hand that wasn’t holding Black Swan up, Acheron picked up her sword and moved it to the side so that it wouldn’t get in the way of what was to come. As her fingers closed around its hilt, Black Swan could’ve sworn that her hair faded into a brilliant white, just for an instant. Before she could say for certain, though, Acheron had already released it, and her hair had returned to its usual vibrant purple. As she was laid down upon the bed, she made a mental note to ask about it at some appropriate point in the future.
In other words, at a time when she wasn’t drinking in the wonderful sight of Acheron’s midriff, so readily available for her to take in. As Acheron straddled Black Swan, the weight of her hips coming to rest just above Black Swan’s own, it was all she could do not to stare at her tight abs. In her eyes, the marvel before her may as well have been sculpted by the Aeons themselves, such was their perfection.
And then those hips started rolling against her own. Neither of them had undressed yet, sure, but the thin fabric of Black Swan’s bodysuit provided scant protection against the stimulation. The pleasure welling up inside her saw her bite her lip, not yet wanting to reward Acheron’s efforts with a moan.
As though sensing Black Swan’s minor act of defiance, Acheron took that opportunity to trail her hands up the contour of Black Swan’s body, starting at her hips, then to her waist, before cupping and kneading her breasts. Without breaking her rhythm, she bowed her head, ghosting her lips across Black Swan’s collarbone. Her voice a husky whisper, she said, “This time, I’ll be taking the lead. After all, you said you wanted new memories, didn’t you?”
“Yes. Yes, I did. Very well, then - I shall entrust myself to you.” In a rarity for her, what with her divinations, Black Swan had no idea what to anticipate - a prospect which she found entirely too enticing to pass up. Would Acheron be tender as she gently, carefully stoked the flames of her arousal? Would she instead go for a more ruthless approach, working her up relentlessly and mercilessly time and time again, only to let her simmer down so that she could begin anew? Or would she go for something else altogether?
Whatever awaited her, Black Swan knew just one thing - she certainly wouldn’t be disappointed, if the hunger in Acheron’s eyes was anything to go by.
Without pausing the rolling of her hips, she sat back upright and began removing her clothes, one painfully slow piece at a time. Her eyes stayed locked onto Black Swan’s as she undid the button holding her jacket in place, flaunting that damningly sensual midriff of hers as she cast it aside. She tugged at the top of her bodice teasingly before trailing her hands down her body towards her belt. Deft movements saw it unbuckled and unfurled from around her waist, then joining her jacket in a pile beside her bed. Her gauntlet and boots soon followed suit.
When those hands finally returned to her top and began peeling it up just a bit further with each sway of Acheron’s body, Black Swan became more and more captivated by the second. By the time the entirety of her full, firm breasts were exposed for her to see, she was spellbound, unable to do anything more than stare as Acheron gyrated against her.
So enraptured was she that it took a few moments for her to realize once Acheron had stopped and rocked back so that she was resting on her heels. Before Black Swan could think to ask why, Acheron had unbuttoned her shorts and hooked her thumb in the waistband as if to pull it down. She went no further before stopping, eliciting a small whimper from Black Swan’s lips. “On second thought, I think I’ll leave these on for now, until you earn the privilege of seeing me take them off.”
“How?” There was no thought of hiding her desperation, no attempt at playing coy. Lust dominated Black Swan’s mind, and anything that might have gotten in the way of satisfying said lust was swept away in its wake.
“You can start by being a good girl for me, and helping me with getting your clothes off.”
Black Swan needed no further encouragement. Neither heaven nor earth nor anything else could have impeded her, such was the intensity of her desperation. Between that and the fact that the two of them were working as one towards that common goal, she’d been stripped from head to toe in no time at all.
Once she was entirely laid bare before her, Acheron cautiously rolled Black Swan onto her front, then guided her onto her hands and knees. Gloved fingers glided across her back as Acheron settled behind her, her hips pressed firm against the bare skin of Black Swan’s ass. Once she was satisfied with her positioning, she coiled around her, wrapping her arms around Black Swan such that one hand snaked between the Memokeeper’s legs while the other took hold around her stomach. The breasts and midriff that she’d so lovingly ogled earlier were now pressed flush against her back.
Being so thoroughly enveloped was more than Black Swan could handle. Her body burned all over, and only grew hotter with each passing minute. She was so aroused that she could hardly breathe, let alone move. “Please, Acheron. I need you.”
Unaffected by Black Swan’s plea, Acheron’s finger traced the outside of her pussy, teasing without entering. She whimpered at the touch, eliciting a chuckle from Acheron. “Getting desperate, are we? Good. But remember, we’re moving at my pace this time.” As though to reinforce her point, she teased at her entrance with that damned finger, delving in just enough to be felt without providing any stimulation, before pulling it away entirely.
When that gloved finger, glistening from Black Swan’s arousal, appeared before her and pushed against her lips, she needed no instruction as to what to do next. She took it into her mouth, bobbing her head up and down as she sucked it clean from tip to base. It was the first time Black Swan had ever tasted her own wetness in such a manner, and it was far more intoxicating than it had any business being.
Not helping her enraptured state was Acheron’s voice, low and growling, ever-present in her ear. “Is this what you were after the entire time with your misbehaving, Memokeeper? To rile me up so that you could get fucked silly?”
That hadn’t been her plan, no, though she wouldn’t deny it being a nice bonus. With Black Swan’s mouth occupied as it was, though, she couldn’t speak against it even if she wanted to, and to shake her head would mean interrupting her rhythm - unthinkable. Thus, her only response was to keep sucking at the digit between her lips with renewed fervor, curling her tongue around it as she did.
An act which Acheron seemed to take as an affirmation. The finger shoved in ever so slightly further, causing Black Swan to gag as Acheron spoke. “I see. Next time, you need only ask. I’ll happily oblige. No need to dance around the subject with unnecessary schemes and convoluted plans.”
Acheron’s finger lingered deep in Black Swan’s mouth for some more seconds before being pulled away, the smooth leather of the glove now shimmering only from her saliva. A quick wipe across each of Black Swan’s cheeks saw it dried off before it withdrew from her field of view, returning to between her legs. In that same whisper as before, Acheron said, “Normally, this is where I’d say to prepare yourself, but you’re already so needy that I don’t think you need the heads-up.”
Black Swan could only manage a gasp as Acheron finally slipped inside her pussy, the first finger entering on its own before being quickly joined by a second. She can feel every twist, every curl, every thrust of Acheron’s fingers inside her as she starts off slow, cycling through technique after technique to hone in on how Black Swan responded to each.
Not that the variation was necessary in her hypersensitive state, though - every touch, every hot breath against her neck, every beat of Acheron’s heart against her back set her further and further ablaze. On more than one occasion, she had to consciously remember to re-assert her physical form, the overwhelming pleasure eroding the focus that allowed a mimetic being such as herself to have an actual body. Her quivering arms struggled to hold up their combined weight as Acheron remained draped across her as she kept working her fingers inside of Black Swan’s pussy.
When a particular thrust saw Acheron’s fingers hit just the right spot, those trembling arms of hers gave out entirely, leaving her face buried in Acheron’s pillow as she moaned in ecstasy. Only Acheron’s arm, still maintaining a strong hold around her midsection, kept her hips propped up into the air.
Even after she collapsed, though, Acheron showed no mercy, relentlessly pushing her ever closer to her orgasm. Her voice brushed across Black Swan’s ear, but she could no longer make out the words that were being said, especially after a third finger slipped inside her, pushing harder, deeper, faster with each thrust. Soft lips descend upon her neck, kissing her again and again.
It was more than she, or anyone, could bear. She could feel it building between her legs, welling up closer and closer to the brink, the tension inside her rising to meet the waves of pleasure that assailed her. Acheron’s arm unwove itself from her midsection only to take a firm grip on her hair and yanked, hard , just as those fingers thrusted and curled inside her.
And then the world around her faded to a beautiful white - the same white she swore she’d seen Acheron’s hair change to earlier. A distant cry was wrung from her throat, but she couldn’t hear it, along with anything else. All that remained was the wonderful buzzing she felt course through her body, fading slowly with each beat of her heart.
When her vision finally cleared, she realized that she’d been rolled over onto her back, a gentle hand now combing through her hair. A warm, plush body was nuzzled beside her, wrapping her in a reassuring, comforting warmth. She looked over to see Acheron’s lidded amethyst eyes looking upon her, a blend of affection and satisfaction intermingling within them. “Ah, there you are. I was wondering if I’d maybe gone a bit overboard at the end.”
“Holy shit.” It was the same words that Acheron had uttered after her first orgasm in their prior rendezvous, and never before had Black Swan so wholeheartedly agreed with a sentiment.
“I believe that’s my line.” A smug grin pulled at Acheron’s lips. “If you’re stealing it, though, I take it that means I have the Memokeeper seal of approval? That our encounter does indeed qualify as a - how have you called them again - precious memory?”
“Yes. Oh heavens, yes.” Assuming Acheron hadn’t just said it as dirty talk, Black Swan would have to take her up on the offer to have this done to her again.
Not now, though. Another round of that here and now genuinely would see her fade away, which wouldn’t be to either of their liking. Sure, she could reform herself sooner rather than later, but having one’s partner disappear in the middle of sex tended to have a way of killing the mood in a way few things could.
“Glad to hear it.” Acheron stroked her hair one final time, then dropped her hand down to her side.
Only then did Black Swan realize that Acheron was fully naked now. “That said, that doesn’t need to be the end of our time together, if you so wish.” She’d had her climax, yes, but Acheron hadn’t yet reached her own peak tonight.
Much to her surprise, Acheron shook her head at the invitation. “Not today. Just a look at you tells me you’re done for the day. If the lack of reciprocity bothers you, we can make it up some other time. I only took the rest of my clothes off because I promised I would if you earned it, and well, a promise is a promise.”
As tantalizing as the sight of Acheron’s body was and as appreciative she was of the fact that she was a woman of her word, Black Swan would be lying if she said she wasn’t thankful for her restraint. “Fine. Mark my words, though, I shall take you up on that promise of making it up at some other time. Pleasure is best when it’s shared, after all.”
“Is it now?” Acheron ran a thumb across her cheek. “I’ll try my best to remember that for the future. But enough of that - get some rest, alright?”
Black Swan didn’t need the prompt. Even now, her eyes grew heavy, her breathing more regular. Buried in the warmth of Acheron’s body and the sheet, she fell to a restful slumber in no time at all.
As she slept, she dreamt of a world of white, with only a drop of pure crimson falling from the sky.