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“Have you come prepared to surrender, demon?”
The Harbinger of Order, Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame, levels her blade at the woman opposing her. Lifting such a blade with ease would be impressive enough on its own considering the heft a length of steel like this would have, but any cheers of praise sent Elizabeth’s way would solely come because of who she wields the sword against. Standing like a silhouette before a moonlit stage is the enemy of Justice.
“Oh, my! Shall I get on my knees and beg for your mercy, Lady Bloodflame?”
The Demon of Sound, Nerissa Ravencroft, bends forward to face her, ahem, weapons in Elizabeth’s direction. Her whole body trembles as she speaks, seemingly overwhelmed at the very notion of being taken by Elizabeth. In what manner, however, it’s impossible to tell. Unless you’re literally anyone of the several people who’re in close proximity to Nerissa on a regular basis—
“T-There will be no knee-scuffing should you agree to a peaceful capitulation!”
—except for Elizabeth.
Nerissa crosses her arms in front of her chest, puffing out her cheeks and lifting her breasts not-so-subtly. She makes her annoyance apparent as overdramatically as she pleases. “I’d much prefer a violent copulation, if you catch my meaning.”
“I— What sort of ‘meaning’ could I possibly not understand?!” Elizabeth blushes profusely. The nerve of this girl…! She dashes forward, swinging Thorn with inhuman speed.
Magic and the faint scent of rich berries coats the swordsman’s tongue as Nerissa flips backwards. The trail of feathers she leaves in her wake could be mistaken for a stage magician releasing a flock of doves, but there’s nothing deceptive in her performance. It is magic in its purest, most reviled state.
As light as the breeze, Nerissa glides clear of the blade’s swipe and seems to hover in the air. Wine red eyes glint like torches, blazing as they narrow on their desire. “How rude! I couldn’t possibly be captured by someone so brutish.” Nerissa giggles, but quickly stops when Elizabeth’s gaze falls low.
“You think me brutish?” Elizabeth frowns.
“No!” Nerissa gasps. “That’s not what I meant! Just the, uh, well—” the demon is overwhelmed and stumbles over her words as she rushes forward to console the enemy. Soothing words do what longing cannot, and fingers sate a desire to touch with a subtle placement on Elizabeth’s arm.
Elizabeth glances away, cocking her head to the side. “No, I’m far too much of a meathead to touch one such as yourself. Please, away with you, demon.” A light crack in her voice gives Elizabeth all the power over Nerissa in the world, but the smirk she hides belies her lack of offense.
“But I like your meat! I mean your… ah… muscles.” Nerissa’s words fade in and out of coherency as she tries— and fails— to soothe Elizabeth’s wounded pride. It’s difficult to say if she’s embarrassed or getting distracted, but considering the way her fingers linger as they trace over Elizabeth’s bicep, the way her nail gently scrapes across battle-hardened skin, it’s very likely the latter.
Elizabeth snorts as she fails to contain laughter, causing Nerissa to snap out of her trance. Her cheeks glow pink as she harmlessly slaps Elizabeth in the shoulder repeatedly.
“You’re so mean to me! I thought you were actually upset for a second!” Nerissa complains loudly.
Her cries are cut short as Elizabeth wraps her arms around the small of Nerissa’s back, pulling her in close. The Leader of Justice beams at her prized enemy. “Not for long enough! I could’ve held out for at least two more minutes.”
Nerissa’s blush deepens. Wings rustle as they adjust to the added pressure of a familiar hand, one with fingers that help smooth feathers into a comfortable position. It’s all the demon can do to keep herself from wrapping them around Elizabeth fully and leaping into her arms. “But you didn’t because you love me?”
“I-I, uh, yeah, something like that, I suppose… Demon.” The shoe is suddenly on the other foot in the embarrassment competition.
The raven-haired beauty coos affectionately as she sees just how strong of an effect she has on the woman in her arms. Little strokes the ego more than knowing one of the strongest warriors in the modern age, one tasked by the very gods of this world to carry out their chores, is putty in your hands. And who doesn’t love a little ego boost here and there?
Truer feelings than those of foes are shared as Elizabeth and Nerissa embrace in a mutual exchange of love. That said, Elizabeth is reticent about all this mushiness. Make no mistake: she loves Nerissa more than she can ever say. And in her lack of ability to share freely words so strongly felt lies the problem. It feels impossible. It’s the hardest thing Elizabeth’s ever done. She’s fought in wars, killed monsters that tower of her, slain beasts of far-away lands, but this devilish woman is her greatest weakness and greatest desire. And yet, she can’t bring herself to tell Nerissa the full extent of what she means, nor the strength and the purity with which the flame in Liz’s chest burns for the Demon of Sound. It’s as embarrassing as it is painful. Elizabeth wants to do more, but she can’t escape the terror that freezes her blood and prevents her from saying something as simple as “I love you.” For gods’ sake, she hasn’t even kissed her yet!
But perhaps it’s too soon for that. Such words shouldn’t come easily, especially not if Elizabeth intends to uphold the formality of her position. Beyond being the Leader of Justice, she is a ruler, and though her title may not amount to much, it carries a weight with it that Liz cannot ignore. Nerissa would claim it shouldn’t matter when they’re together. “I want you for who you are,” she’s said before. “A demon doesn’t concern herself with dated courtship rituals made for people with more dollars than sense.” But Elizabeth does, and cannot drop her life’s meaning at the drop of a hat. But oh, how Nerissa makes her want to throw it all away. To be near her, close enough to touch, smell, taste—
If all she does is keep thinking about her shortcomings, Elizabeth will be here for the entire day. The redhead tightens her hold on Nerissa, lifting her into her air ever so slightly as she brings their bodies together. She can feel warmth emanating from Nerissa. Her heartbeat pounds in her chest as if reaching out to Elizabeth’s as they draw closer. Suddenly, Liz feels incredibly self conscious about their positions, both physical and station. She places Nerissa back on her own two feet and dusts her off as if that’s a normal thing to do. “I think our compatriots should be plenty busy dealing with one another by this point. Shall we abscond for the time being?”
Despite being returned to the ground, Nerissa hangs on Elizabeth’s every word. “I think we shall! I hope they don’t have too much fun without us.”
“Bah, I’m sure they won’t. I’m surprised they agreed to this at all,” Liz says. She offers Nerissa her hand, who curtseys and accepts. The two hurry away together as if they fear being caught out in the open.
***
Elizabeth brings Nerissa to a small campsite. It’s secluded, far away from the usual battlegrounds they share. She made sure to place her belongings somewhere no one else would stumble across it unless they were hopelessly lost. A large tent, already set up and waiting for its hosts. Folding chairs next to a firepit with logs already placed in an orderly fashion. Not one, but two ice chests stuffed to bursting. Elizabeth overprepared, but she couldn’t help herself as she flipped between nervous and excited for tonight.
“Come, have a seat! Let me get the fire started. Are you hungry? Would you care for a drink?” Elizabeth asks as she ushers Nerissa into her campsite. Liz knows she needs to keep moving or else she might crash, and the last thing she wants to do is to ruin a date. If not for her sake, for Nerissa’s. Wasting a woman’s time like that simply won’t do.
Nerissa giggles as she’s seated. “You’re too kind! A drink would be nice.” She can’t help but fawn at Elizabeth’s enthusiasm. The way she flits between reserved and exuberant, the way she’s so guarded yet so soft… Nerissa wants her more with every passing second of every day. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, or so she hears, but such close proximity is utterly intoxicating and is much preferred.
“I can start on dinner too. It’s nothing fancy, but I packed sausages, and sandwiches if you don’t want that, and—” Elizabeth looks up from the ice chest to find Nerissa simply watching her, a pleased smile on her face. It’s far too much for the knight’s heart to bear. She buries her face back into her supplies, her voice growing quiet. “Perhaps just a drink for now, then.”
“This girl is too sweet,” Nerissa thinks. She knows voicing those thoughts too much will cause Elizabeth to totally withdraw into her own overactive mind, but she wishes she didn’t have to hold back so much. There’s too much work being put into this date for her to not want to shower this woman with praise and lavish her with affection. Elizabeth deserves it. She’s worth every risk. “I like your tent. Do you go camping often?”
Flames spark to life among the kindling as the fire ignites and sheds its warm glow over the surroundings. Elizabeth perks up rather quickly. “Oh, yes! Well, not so much these days, but I used to. I’ve only had time to test this once to make sure I knew how to set it up.” She looks like she has more she wants to say, and she does, but chooses to remain silent as she crouches next to the firepit.
Seems like it’s up to the Demon of Sound to drag her victim’s voice from her body. Nerissa puts her drink in the built-in cupholder and joins Elizabeth on the ground, basking in the silence and the company.
“...You’re going to get your clothes dirty. Leaves and such.” Elizabeth clears the grass around Nerissa’s feet in case she decides to shift around. If Liz had thought of it, she would’ve gotten a tarp instead of just a blanket. Maybe she could use the tent’s bag as something clean for Nerissa to sit on? No, it wouldn’t be long enough unless she cut it…
“I don’t mind.” Nerissa’s words penetrate Elizabeth’s rambling thoughts, and her gaze cuts straight to Elizabeth’s core. Her lips curl in a soft smile as she rests her head on her arms, gazing at Liz by the fire’s side.
Liz swallows hard. “W-Well, there’s no need to if you’d rather stay clean…”
“I’m fine, Liz,” Nerissa breathes. She shakes her head as she giggles, reaching out to the woman next to her. “Honestly, this is nice.”
She’s not certain Elizabeth will reciprocate her touch, but she wants it and wants to try. Nerissa knows that the Scarlet Queen is more of a fighter than a lover, but she needs to see more of that side of Liz. There’s so much going through her head, Nerissa knows it, but Liz is less than vocal about her own desires. They’re only dating because Nerissa asked, after all. She didn’t think Elizabeth would take her seriously after all of their battles, but her love is honest to a fault. Her love, her Harbinger of Order, her Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame. There’s something about it that stirs a twisted sensation in Nerissa’s guts, one that writhes inside her, aching to coil around Elizabeth in full. To touch her hands, grab her arms, scratch her back, bite her neck— make her know that she is Nerissa’s alone. But those unrepentant desires are what gets her into serious trouble.
Once upon a time, Nerissa might’ve taken who or what she wanted without a second’s hesitation. However, who would be left to clean up her mess other than the one she wants so badly? She holds back, if just for now, if just until Liz is sure she wants this. To throw away her perfect, beautiful life to be with a demon reviled by the gods. There’s a small part of her that longs to be rejected so she doesn’t have to see Liz put through even a fraction of what Nerissa herself has endured.
Elizabeth doesn’t pull away from the touch, allowing Nerissa to run fingers through her hair, tucking a stray lock behind her ear. She longs for more. “If you’re sure. Sorry. I’m a bit nervous.”
Nerissa laughs again. Her voice is music, no “like” to it. “Me too,” she lies. “But you’ve done a lot, so you don’t need to be. I mean, look at all this! It must’ve taken a while for you four to set it up.” She gestures at their camp, but stops when Elizabeth focuses her gaze on the fire instead of looking up. Even with the orange flame burning, Nerissa can see Liz’s cheeks burn red. “You… did all of this yourself, didn’t you?”
Liz nods slowly. “They offered to help when I told them of our plan, but, well…”
She trails off, but Nerissa understands already. “You don’t have to do everything yourself, darling. Didn’t you say they’re your family?” Nerissa slides closer to Liz, leaning her head into the shoulder that tries to carry all its burdens alone.
It’s frankly a miracle that Liz doesn’t stumble backwards, but she contains her reaction by way of practicing fire safety. It’s not like she enjoys feeling Nerissa rest against her. That would be… ah… just forget it. “It was my task, my desire. They needn’t be bothered. I should think that your family acted much the same, with you only managing to deny their offerings if they came while you were by your lonesome.”
Instead, Nerissa is the one who almost falls over. It’s usually just Shiori who reads Nerissa like a book, which seems fitting for the Archiver. It’s her own fault, but Nerissa forgets that Liz is probably just as smart and observant as Shiori. But all of this just makes her want Liz more. “Well, you caught me with my pants down.”
And oh, how the mortified look on Elizabeth’s face when something strikes her as peculiar is worth all the gold in the world. There’s nothing Nerissa could hope to trade to be treated to such unadulterated shock from anyone else. Liz is stoic and strong, but she’s the sweetest girl imaginable. It makes Nerissa want to ruin her, if just for a night.
“It’s just a figure of speech, darling.”
“I-I know that,” Elizabeth clears her throat. “But the manner in which you say it… It’s, well…”
Nerissa bats her eyes. “Charming? Lovely?”
The flirtation does nothing to diminish the horrors Elizabeth is apparently witnessing, judging by her expression. “Provocative.”
“Oh, I like the sound of that too.”
“That’s not a good thing! I mean, it can be, but—” For a strong and imposing warrior, Elizabeth folds like a wet napkin when presented with challenges beyond what is expected of the Leader of Justice: women. She stops talking so nothing else embarrassing spills out of her mouth and grumbles as if that reply would fly with most people.
Luckily for her, Nerissa is not ‘most people.’ The demon laughs as she leans back into Elizabeth’s shoulder, wrapping her arm around the redhead’s side. “I’ll stop teasing you about it on one condition.” She waits expectantly for approval, then continues when sad, red eyes turn her way. “Lay down with me? Just for a little while.” The playful yet demure lilt to her voice could send a lesser person into a frenzy.
Elizabeth isn’t a fool, she knows more or less what Nerissa is after, but… she doesn’t mind. And even if the demon’s intentions are innocent, such intimacy is still a bit beyond what Elizabeth is used to. Part of her isn’t sure it’s her place to provide comfort like that. “You’re dating her,” Elizabeth has to remind herself. “This is normal for couples. Normal.” Their relationship is anything but. Not that Elizabeth needs help remembering that fact. Sleepless nights seeing Nerissa’s eyes in every corner of her darkened room— and when she closes her eyes, the rest of Nerissa’s sculpted form— are reminder enough.
The back of her throat burns. Her heart feels like it’s going to burst. Elizabeth opens her mouth and lets her brain turn off. “...Alright. I’ll cook dinner later.” Elizabeth’s gaze turns elsewhere as quickly as it fell on Nerissa. Staring down the several steps it takes her to walk over, Elizabeth unzips the tent and crawls inside without any further comments or complaints.
This turn of events isn’t how she wants the night to go, but it’s not unexpected, either. There are just too many ways that Nerissa can throw Elizabeth off of her game. In honesty, that’s been part of the appeal. Nerissa keeps Elizabeth guessing. The Scarlet Queen has to keep guessing what the demon’s next move is going to be, and even if she guesses correctly, Nerissa always seems to have three steps to the left ready to go. If she’s not doting, she’s begging to be held. If not that, she’s as suave as possible. There’s always something new or exciting that— if her superiors are to be believed— reveals Nerissa’s uncontrollable and unpredictable nature as a demon. Something dangerous.
Elizabeth appreciates that sporadic nature. A woman who thinks on her feet even as they don’t touch the ground. Wild and pure, and forever free. She wants to keep Nerissa for herself, but that’s no better than her alleged purpose in Justice. A pang of guilt strikes Elizabeth as she lays down on the floor, staring up into space through the mesh skylight. It’s something she pushes from her mind. There will be time to unpack her nature as a jailer later.
Nerissa follows soon enough. She honestly thought Elizabeth would put up more of a fight, but she’s not about to complain when she’s getting her way. With the tent zipped closed, Nerissa lays next to Elizabeth, close enough to feel one another’s presence but far enough that they would need to reach to make anything beyond that happen. “Hey, Elizabeth?”
Worry stirs in Elizabeth’s guts. It’s not often Nerissa uses her full name. She especially loves little pet names. “Mm,” Liz grunts affirmatively.
“Will you touch me?”
Despite her embarrassment at such a request, Elizabeth obliges. She isn’t sure where to hold. Her shoulder? Hips? Waist? Her true strength is in her willpower to not bring Nerissa into a crushing hug from which she’ll never escape. Elizabeth settles for what she feels is far more chivalrous: brushing strands of hair behind the woman’s ear as Nerissa faces her, lying on her side.
“Is this alright?”
The way Nerissa melts into her hand, one might think Elizabeth’s entire being is heat itself like that of her namesake flame, and Nerissa a demon made of ice in both body and heart. However, she’s simply overwhelmed with emotion. Elizabeth’s gentle touch is to die, to kill for. “I’d love more, but this is very nice,” says Nerissa, underplaying her excitement so she doesn’t startle Liz. Some fires need to be coaxed into a blaze.
“Should I… hold you?” The light tremble of uncertainty in Elizabeth’s voice is no longer a joke, but instead genuine as she feels as though she’s stumbling forward blindly at all times. Perhaps it’s her own hypersensitivity, but she can feel Nerissa’s mood sour as she replies.
“I wish you would. You don’t need to be so reserved, you know.” Realizing that her annoyance with the constant need for reassurance was a bit too strong, Nerissa places her hand on Elizabeth’s cheek and quickly continues. “I know it’s hard, but I want you to do whatever you please with me. I’ve fallen in love with you, Liz. You don’t need to be so reserved.”
Easier said than done when you’re the one who takes the initiative anyway. Elizabeth nods, closing her eyes. The touch is nice. Far softer, kinder than anyone gives her credit for. “I promise, I’m trying. It’s… complicated. If I may speak freely…?”
The need to seek permission for something like that is rather silly to Nerissa, but she knows Elizabeth is accustomed to a more rigid structure in her life than what their relationship provides as it skirts the edges of convention and the rules of Elizabeth’s order. She’s Nerissa’s perfect little soldier, in need of clear instructions. “Always.”
“Words alone cannot properly express what you mean to me. Perhaps I simply lack the vocabulary for it, but you make me feel in ways I’m not sure I have before. All of which proves… difficult to process at times.”
Nerissa immediately feels her cheeks flush. She expected something direct, but this is far better than she could’ve possibly imagined. Her wings ruffle of their own accord, pleased. One curls around Elizabeth’s hip, cautiously, hesitant, testing the waters until no resistance is met and it can settle around the woman. “A warrior and a poet, Lady Bloodflame? You’re quite the catch.”
“Stop that…” Elizabeth grumbles. A barely-contained grin crests her lips, the motion of which does not go unnoticed by Nerissa as she giggles, watching Elizabeth’s gaze fall to cover her own embarrassment.
“I meant every word of it.” And she does, no teasing intended. “Where would I be without you?”
“Somewhere safe, far from here.”
Nerissa tenses. If there’s one thing that instantly sets her temper flaring, it’s this self-loathing side to her love. She’s glad Elizabeth’s gaze falls elsewhere, otherwise Nerissa might not have a chance to calm herself before Liz catches the fire burning in Nerissa’s eyes. She takes a quiet moment to calm herself before taking on a mildly demanding tone. “Put your arms around me, Liz.”
Elizabeth mumbles something barely coherent about being embarrassed, but does as instructed. It’s not like she wants to hold Nerissa in her arms and thinks about doing so on the daily but is far too afraid, too cautious, to ask herself. The hand she used to caress Nerissa’s cheek wraps around the demon’s back, bringing the two of them closer together. She slides the other under Nerissa, supporting and holding her close as they embrace fully.
“Do you think I feel unsafe here?” Nerissa breathes, face buried into Elizabeth’s neck. She wraps a leg around Liz’s as their bodies intertwine.
The words send a chill down Liz’s spine, making her clutch tighter around the warm body before her. A hand moves to hold the back of Nerissa’s head, firm and protective. She feels stupid being chided in such a manner, but maybe her self-deprecation was too much. “No.” Elizabeth pauses. Before she can even think about what else she could possibly say, words spill out on their own. “I do love you.”
Nerissa drinks it all in, the intimacy, the touch, the confession. Finally. Finally she gets to hear those words. And yet, she’s almost disappointed in herself. She doesn’t feel elated, or even excited. Just… warm. Nerissa needed to hear it from Liz herself, but she already knew she was loved. She hoped, anyway. The pang of doubt that ate at her heart was always there, but even that feels distant now. Burnt away by her gentle flame.
“Liz…?”
“Yes?”
Nerissa glances up, eyes alight. Her demonic blood gives them an almost unsettling glow no matter how dark the night may be, but her face is too perfectly illuminated in white and blue from the sky above and flames below. She aches, yearns for the touch of her lover, but no more words manage to come.
Elizabeth feels like her heart is about to burst. She can barely think, but she knows what she needs— wants, more than anything else— to do. If not now, then when? She can’t keep pussyfooting about forever, even if she’s afraid of the unknown that lies ahead of them. She’ll just have to charge forward as she always does, now with Nerissa by her side. Liz leans in, closer, closer. She can’t look away from the beauty in front of her. She’s truly fallen under the demon’s spell.
Under the stars, lips meet.