Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“It might be nice to live a peaceful life as a family of three, don’t you think?”

“What?”

—✩—

Michiru took leaving Hotaru with her father harder than expected. It had only been a week at most she had spent caring for the newborn—or rather, reborn—infant. And she had grown attached to her.

She never thought of it often, growing up. She didn’t want a husband. But a child—children—perhaps. Her and Haruka couldn’t. Caring for Hotaru with Haruka reminded her of what they were robbed of. She unclasped her hands, looking at Haruka.

“Michiru?”

She moved closer, reaching for one of Haruka’s hand, slipping her fingers through them.

“Do you think she’s alright?”

“She’ll be alright, I think… she survived before…” Haruka said.

“I miss her.”

“I know,” she said, kissing one of Michiru’s hands. “If I could give you a child,” she took Michiru’s other hand, kissing her wrist, “You’d make an amazing mother, I’m sure.”

“...I do too…” she said softly, “Even if we could… we’re sailor guardians.”

“I know,” she said, kissing Michiru’s forearm. “All the same.”

Michiru reached for one of Haruka’s hands, kissing it back, “At least things are peaceful, for the time being.”

—✩—

The periods of Michiru’s melancholy about Hotaru slowly faded over the weeks. The topic came up again at an unexpected time; she was kissing Michiru, pressing her back, pulling her towards her. Michiru had been in one of her other moods—the mood where she couldn’t get enough of Haruka; a far more frequent one that the blonde did not mind at all. When she released all control to Haruka, sure that the woman would satisfy her lust.

Haruka’s hand had stayed firmly on her waist, and Michiru’s hand had wandered to Haruka’s waist, to her hip, to her crotch. Michiru had been talking and her voice had caught, just briefly enough for Haruka to know she had felt that she was packing. It was a habit Michiru didn’t mind; Haruka had been a bit nervous about it, at first. She had been nervous about everything—how Michiru would deal with the reality of seeing her as a woman, but then—how Michiru would feel faced with the reality of her masculinity. Michiru loved both, the in between, all of it; the first time seeing in her a skirt had the opposite effect it usually had on girls, unable to stop stealing glances at the blonde's slim legs; likewise, she loved this bit of Haruka; there was something so arousing, knowing half the reason for the firmness between Haruka’s legs was there purely to be used on her, purely for her pleasure. She knew that wasn’t the only reason Haruka wore it—but it was the only reason she used it on Michiru.

“Haruka,” she said, “I think we should go back to your car.”

She stood, leaving no room for objection. Her steps betrayed none of what she felt, heels clicking one in front of the other. She turned to Haruka, reaching for her suit jacket.

“Do you have any idea what you do me…?” she asked.

”I think so…”

”I want that. Now.”

“Now?” she said, sounding almost dumbfounded.

“Mmhm.”

Fuck , it was enough to make Haruka’s brain shortcircuit even more. They had fucked in the car before, Michiru riding her in the driver’s seat, and eventually dragging her to the backseat to return the favor. How Michiru was endlessly horny for her, she couldn’t quite understand. But then she could, watching Michiru slide into the backseat, shapely legs exposed by her short skirt. She couldn’t stand it sometimes when Michiru wore such clothing—she didn’t care what others saw but it could prove to be such a distraction.

She slid in after Michiru.

“Haruka…” she said, leaning up, kissing her, grabbing onto her suit jacket. The linen fabric was always unexpectedly light, unexpectedly soft. Haruka grasped back, pushing her back onto the backseat, finding herself tugged close to her again, Michiru kissing her. One hand wandered to her chest, and then her shoulder underneath, squeezing. “I don’t want to wait.”

Haruka detached herself, briefly. She chuckled as she undid her pants, watching Michiru’s hands grab for hers, “Allow me.” Her manicured nails slid the zipper down, and then pushed her pants down far enough to expose the strap, twisting it into its proper orientation, stroking it once, for effect. The silicone blueness of it was velvety smooth and slightly soft. “Did you think about me, putting it on this morning?”

Her response was the same as ever—“I’m always thinking about you, Michiru.”

“You’re so hard,” Michiru ran her tongue over her teeth, running her hand under Haruka’s shirt, looking at her. Haruka let out a strangled noise, Michiru ran her hand over it a second time, “Will you help me, too?”

“Of course,” she laughed again, softly. She pushed Michiru’s skirt up until it exposed her panties. She tugged them off, looking between Michiru’s legs. She was wet—of course she was, Haruka told herself. She took her other hand, going to touch her.

“Don’t lose them.”

She set them on the seat behind Michiru, “There,” she bit her lip as she slipped a finger into Michiru. She was so open, so wet for her. She couldn’t keep in a pleased noise, flushing. She swallowed, and looked up at Michiru, “You felt like this, while we were in the cafe?”

“You made me feel like this, and then I felt… it…”

“You needed it?”

“Mmhm…”

“Needed me?” Her voice dripped with arousal.

Michiru still struggled to admit she needed Haruka sometimes, but right now, the words flow off her lips easily, “I needed you.”

“I’m here…” she smiled. She loved it when Michiru was like this—not just receptive to her, but so vulnerable to her; when coy flirtation dissolved into desire and love and wanting .

Michiru could have finished right there purely on the feeling in her chest. It’s not the kind of language for fucking in the back Haruka’s sports cars, and she leaned up to kiss Haruka, hoping she won’t say anything else.

Haruka had mercy on her, kissing her, slipping a second finger in, smearing her wetness up, circling her clit, “I’m going to give it to you.”

“Please do…”

She felt Michiru’s hands on her chest again, unbuttoning her shirt, wanting more access to Haruka, to feel her heart beating, to feel how alive she was. She slipped her hand away, causing Michiru to groan at the loss of sensation.

And then it was replaced by the fullness of Haruka’s strap, pressing into her, and the feeling of her hips between her legs.

“Haruka—”

She leaned forward, kissing Michiru again, slowly moving her hips. Michiru’s hips tilted back into her, legs trying to keep here there, pull her closer. She rested one forearm on the seat beside Michiru, “It’s a good thing the windows are tinted… I wouldn’t want anyone else to see you…”

“Or you…” she moved her hand to Haruka’s chest again. She slipped her hand under the snug sports bra. Michiru’s hand sought more skin, more flesh, more contact as Haruka thrusted into her, slowly finding a pace that made Michiru gasp.

“Haruka… Mmm—” her hand on Haruka's shoulder tightened, fighting to stop more moans from slipping out between heavy breaths.

“Fuck, Michiru—” the word slipped out easily, “You like my cock?”

“Do you need to ask—”

“I want to hear how much you’re enjoying this,” she said, “Like no one can hear us.” She hoped no one could. She slipped her hand down, feeling how Michiru was spread around her between deep thrusts, stroking her gently with her middle finger.

Michiru moaned, a breathy noise that sounded like it might break if Haruka stopped. “Haruka— Don’t stop… Just stay inside me, please…”

“I want to cum inside you, so part of me would always be inside you—” the confession slipped out too easily between thrusts, and Haruka couldn’t take it back, grinding into her.

“I want that, too,” Michiru said, illogically, “Please.”

Haruka ground into her, hard, enough to make Michiru cry out her name between quick gasps for air. She grabbed tightly to Haruka, thighs and hips jerking.

Haruka slowed, “You really want that..?”

“Yes…”

“I’d give you a baby,” Haruka said, grasping her shirt. Her hand slipped away from Michiru’s pelvis to grab Michiru’s hand. She wondered if she’d be able to finish, purely from the friction of the strap—it happened on rare occasions. The way Michiru was right now had her throbbing, soaking against the thin fabric barrier between her and the silicone base, and throwing all logic to the wind made her quite certain she would.

“H-Haruka…”

“Michiru,” she groaned, and at the sound of her name like that, Michiru’s lip trembled.

“Please…”

Haruka ground and bucked into her. She wasn’t sure when she became frustrated she couldn’t, but she’s aware of it now, fucking her girlfriend, the one person who seems to understand her and doesn’t try to limit her. She gasped, hips jerking. “Michiru…”

“Haruka…”

She pushed herself up, shakily, and felt Michiru’s hands on the side of her face, running her hand along her cheek and jaw.

“Sorry, I got carried away…”

“No… it’s fine,” she said, softly, “So did I…”

Haruka slowly sat up, and watched Michiru grab her underwear, glancing at Haruka. It stood between them, the topic again.

“I didn’t mean to bring it up.”

“It’s fine,” Michiru said, leaning up to kiss Haruka’s cheek, “We both got… a bit carried away. Let’s go home…”

Chapter Text

—✩ flashback ✩—

Michiru was in front of her, reaching back for Haruka’s hair behind her. Her body was so receptive, pliant to her touches. Her skirt has been wrinkled up above her waist for some time now; it will need to be washed and pressed before it can be worn in public again. More so if things continued the way they were, a mess that Haruka would delight in making. Her fingers thrusted slowly—she was already dripping around her fingers.

Michiru took such good care of her—it was only fair Haruka returned the favor, meeting Michiru’s needy cries with harder thrusts, bringing her other hand around to stroke her. She liked it best like this, holding Michiru against her until she came. She enjoyed feeling her shake and gasp, and the way she pushed back into Haruka after, dazed from coming and wanting to be pressed closer to Haruka, turning to try to face her, anything to bring the two closer. It wouldn’t be long now, she was already trying to cover her mouth.

Haruka couldn’t be bothered to stop her, “Come for me, Michiru…”

She did. She would do anything to please Haruka sometimes, she thought.

She felt Michiru turn into her. Her mugen academy uniform had hardly been taken off of her, tie loose round her neck.

“Even the uniforms feel evil, you could could have bothered to take it off,” she slipped off the now quite sweaty white undershirt and went to unbutton her skirt. “You look so good in the boy’s uniform, bizarre as the coloring is.”

“Michiru,” she said, her wet hand just out of sight.

“Hmm?” she undid the tie slowly.

“Do you ever wish I was a man?”

“No,” she didn’t even think about it, and then tried to expand on her answer at Haruka’s silence, continuing to slide her tie down “I think you wouldn’t believe me if I said I never thought of having a husband. I did. It would have been the right way…” she unbuttoned the top of Haruka’s shirt slowly. She had thought of it, too, as Haruka easily blended into Mugen Academy as a boy. It might be easier for her to race, it might be easier for her not to be harassed. She might have more opportunities. She would accept it if Haruka was, she knew as much, but she preferred Haruka as she was now. “But, I was never destined for a normal life… And…” she touched Haruka’s chest, reaching down. There was no strap there, but Michiru added for emphasis, “I like when you wear it, though… knowing it’s just because you want me to feel good…”

The ocean was boundless—so was Michiru’s desire.

“That you’ll satisfy me…”

Haruka let out a low, pleased noise, “Michi…”

“No one else can…” she toyed with Haruka’s belt buckle.

—✩—

She was grateful Haruka arrived the day before her. She would meet her at the airport and drive her home. She walked through customs to the luggage area and saw her. It took everything in her to not burst into a deadsprint, walking quickly towards her. Haruka turned, and saw Michiru. She didn’t have the self control, moving towards Michiru fast.

She had her arms around Michiru first, and could feel Michiru’s arms latch tighter, head tilting down into her chest. The deep sea guardian was exhausted from her trip—even if it had been spent entirely in first class and she had rested for half of it, but there was a burst of energy, being reunited with her partner. She rubbed her thumb gently on Haruka’s back, sighing blissfully. They shouldn’t spent too long like this, she knew as much—paparazzi could arrive, anything could happen. They’d be spotted soon enough. Haruka’s hand took hers though, as they went to fetch her luggage.

They were used to spending time apart—but the ever increasing sense of living on borrowed time made them both needier. Haruka lifted the teal suitcase, “Let’s go home.”

“Mmm…”

—✩—

Michiru leaned over the driver’s console, kissing Haruka, hard. “I missed you…”

“I missed you, too, I…” she reached for Michiru’s hair, running her hands through it, “I… I bought something for you when I was in America…”

“Oh, did you?” she smiled, “I got you some gifts, too…”

Haruka kissed Michiru’s cheek, looking at her.

“I want to take a shower, when we get home, if you’d like to join me?” Michiru asked, tilting her head into Haruka’s hand.

“I’d never say no.” (*)

—✩—

Michiru came in after Haruka, taking the outstretched hand. The oversized rainfall shower was perfect for times like these. Michiru had insisted on it when they had remodeled the bathroom; the note on the house was in her name. She came close, and Haruka realized after a few moments Michiru just wanted to be held and to hold her. She tightened her arms around Michiru, feeling her head fall forward onto her chest, lips brushing and then a soft sigh.

She wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, bodies brushing and Michiru’s hands running along Haruka’s back until she finally separated to wash herself. Michiru’s collection of soaps sat unmoved since she had left. A variety of bars and bottles that ranged from cheap to mind-numbingly expensive.

“I can help…” Haruka said, stepping closer.

Michiru smiled knowingly as Haruka stole the bottle from her hands. Lavender.

She squeezed some on her hands, starting with Michiru’s arms.

“I missed having you like this…” she slipped her hand to Michiru’s breast, squeezing lightly, and then slipping back, spreading the lather. Michiru reached forward, spreading the lather on her hand to Haruka’s chest. “I kept thinking of you.”

They had called, many times. Usually by phone—sometimes Haruka would use her communicator, or Michiru would leave her short messages there, or short recordings of her playing.

”Did you—?”

“—Yes. I bought a new… toy to use on you…” she said, and she felt Michiru’s body stiffen in anticipation.

Michiru seemed to be struck silent for several seconds, Haruka lowering herself to continue, until she finally settled on, “I missed your hands.”

Haruka let out a soft, whining noise, hands slipping down to Michiru’s hips.

“I ought to have taken it with me, but knowing you… you were wearing it. Hopefully, no other girl caught your fancy?”

Fuck, Michiru was using that tone again.

“No…” there was hardly any soap left on her hands or Michiru’s body, but she kept moving her hands down Michiru’s thighs.

“Are you done?”

“I…” she slipped her hand up, and could feel Michiru tense. She smiled, going to touch her. “No. I’m not…”

She slipped her hand back, standing all the way again, feeling Michiru’s center, fingers slipping over her.

“Did you really—” she pushed her hips into Haruka’s hand, “Get a new toy?”

“Yes,” she smiled, hooking a single finger into Michiru’s wetness.

“I want to see it…” she rocked forward, “I want you to use it.” She managed to pry herself from Haruka, an effort that took monumental control, “I think you’re done washing me.”

Haruka followed her out of the shower, hands brushing Michiru’s arms, “Michi…”

Michiru smiled, reaching for a towel, not bothering to dry herself and heading straight for the bedroom. Water dripped off of her, and she turned to face Haruka, who had managed to get her towel around her waist.

“Where is it?”

Haruka was pink in the face, reaching for the non-descript box on top of her suitcase, bringing it over for Michiru.

Haruka rarely changed the strap she used. She didn’t see a reason to—Michiru was quite satisfied as things were—not to mention how difficult it was to acquire one in the first place. The first one—flesh-colored and slim and not too realistic—sat in the bottom of the nightstand drawer, left unused for quite some time. Haruka still occasionally used it to pack, a fact Michiru was aware of. The navy one was still in Haruka’s suitcase.

Michiru placed the towel on the bed side, sitting on it. She took it, and Haruka’s hand went to her leg, sitting beside her. A hand looped behind her for her hip, and her other hand creeped up her thigh as Michiru opened it. Large English lettering read ‘Pop! BY Tantus!” Michiru took the smaller box out, clearly opened.

She had practiced with it, a fact she would never tell Michiru. How does one announce to your girlfriend you practiced ‘blowing loads’ beforehand? She had cleaned it, returning it to the box, alongside the new harness she had purchased. The toy slipped out, pale blue and a syringe and tube attached to it.

“Haruka, is this, I,” she held it up, “ Oh my god.”

The image on the side of the box provided a very clear depiction of what it was for, if Michiru had not arrived at that conclusion immediately.

Haruka’s thumb circled on Michiru’s thigh.

“There’s a new harness, too… I…” she was red in the face, suddenly more bashful. She had felt completely confident when purchasing it, and felt no shame about it. But now, in front of Michiru, telling her what she wanted, “I want to fuck you with it, I’ve been thinking about it…”

There was also part of her that wanted to prove she could do everything a man could do; she had done everything else, and did a better job.

“I gathered…” she looked at Haruka.

“Do you want that?”

“I did miss having you inside me,” she said, pushing the toy into Haruka’s prying hand, reaching for the harness and setting it in the blonde’s lap.

Fuck . Michiru’s assertiveness, her vulgar words delivered in the same elegant tone as everything else never failed to turn Haruka on in a way she hadn’t known she could before Michiru.

“I already told you I wanted that, or did you forget already?” she smiled, reaching to touch Haruka’s stomach, “Did you forget anything else?”

“I don’t think so…” Haruka’s face flashed with anxiety, trying to remember anything else.

“Good,” she smiled, looking at the lubricant bottle at the bottom, blinking, and handed that to Haruka, too. 

Haruka stood, slipping the harness on under Michiru’s watchful eyes. She was grateful she had tried putting it on before. She wasn’t sure she could manage to focus on figuring out the straps when Michiru adjusted the towel on the bed, laying back and still watching her; she was flushed from the shower still, but nearly dry except her hair, and between her hips, where Michiru’s hand slipped down to.

“Did you really miss me that much?”

“Yes… I was busy… but when I was alone in my hotel room, I missed you being in bed beside you.”

Filling the syringe was an affair Haruka was careful with, but still managed to spill some of the white fluid on her hand. She climbed onto the bed, reaching between Michiru’s legs with it, slipping her hand under Michiru’s. “Just this?”

“No. I missed sleeping beside you. I missed…” she felt Haruka’s fingers slip into her. “I missed looking at you.”

“I’ll have to send you off with a picture next time.”

Michiru let out a soft laugh, reaching to touch Haruka’s face. “It’s not the same.”

Haruka’s face was never as soft as when she looked at Michiru when they were alone. She flexed her fingers inside Michiru, letting out a soft groan, “I missed you, too…”

“Just this?”

“No. I missed, this,” she struggled with her words, “I missed, uh, watching you eat breakfast.” She missed it, when she took breakfast in her hotel room alone before a race, and sharing whatever Michiru ordered. She had considered ordering something she would order, but it felt wrong, having a plate of things your girlfriend usually ordered just because you missed her.

Michiru’s hand reached between Haruka’s legs to feel the silicone cock waiting for her. She loved, how even though it wasn’t physically part of her, it was part of her . She slipped her hand underneath. Haruka was soaked—not just from the shower, but from arousal.

Haruka whined obscenely, and whined again when Michiru removed her hand, stroking the silicone cock slowly. Her hand tugged at it. She had almost laughed at the absurdity of it the first time she had done it, but Haruka had loved it, watching wide-eyed as her girlfriend stroked her . Michiru’s body was unresisting, receptive in her hand as she slipped her fingers away.

She moved closer, leaning up to kiss her again. Michiru’s legs latched onto Haruka, trying to pull her closer. She reached a hand back for the harness. Expensive leather and soft skin felt good under her palm, grasping it.

“Please Haruka,” desire dripped from her voice, dripped between her legs.

Haruka held it in her hand, other hand propping herself up, slipping into Michiru. Michiru let out a soft noise. It was similar to the other one—how Haruka managed to select something so well suited for her—large enough to be filling but not to be uncomfortable was lost on her; or perhaps she would suit whatever Haruka had to offer. She tugged at the harness again, leaning up to kiss Haruka, pulling her down with her until they were flush, chests and hips pressed together, Haruka’s mouth sucking at hers.

Her hips moved languidly at first, unsuiting of the wind guardian. She followed what she imagined was the pace of the waves before the torrents of wind stirred them up.

“Do you like it?” her voice was higher and needier than she expected.

“What… do you think?”

Haruka reached to touch Michiru’s face, thrusting harder, “I want to know you’re enjoying this…”

“Yes…” she said, finally, tilting her hips back, “Harder.”

Haruka grinned, pulling them apart slightly, taking Michiru’s hand off her hip and threading their fingers together. It was a habit that was impossible to break. At her request—she thrust harder, pulling the hand to her lips to kiss.

Michiru moaned, feeling Haruka’s hand on her other thigh for purchase.

It gave her confidence, “I’ll do that. I’ll fuck you hard, I’m going to fuck you until I want to finish inside you.” She had a feeling it wouldn’t be as long as she wanted it to be. The idea of Michiru, cum (albeit fake) splattered and dripping out of her, with that wrecked and exhausted look on her face she so often had after Haruka roughly fucked her, reaching for her, when she would gently touch Haruka, hands running down her arms until her breathing steadied and she would slip herself between Haruka’s thighs, slipping the harness down. The image of it spurred her on.

“Haruka—”

The sea turned rough, dark waves cresting into foam as they smashed into each other. She cried out for her again, feeling Haruka’s hips press into her again and again and again . Only Haruka could satisfy her completely, the wind completely unsettling the sea. It didn’t frighten her when it was like this. It had been too long. She made it possible to forget about being a guardian, made her feel like she was just a girl with all her flirting and casualness.

She gasped, shaking as the sea roared and realized Haruka’s other hand was between their legs, stroking. She took her focus from the past, from the sea, brought it back here. She couldn’t remember how many times she heard Haruka ask, Stay here with me , and Don’t go in your own world without me.

“Haruka— Uranus —”

“It feels good, doesn’t it? Come for me, then…”

She already was, unable to completely process Haruka’s words, hips pushing back into Haruka, trying to take her deeper. She felt herself drifting away in the aftershocks of orgasm, Haruka grinding into her, and then felt Haruka’s lips on her hand again, and was anchored back to the present.

Haruka thrusted harder again; the sea was all hers now, Michiru releasing whatever control she had. Moans poured out more readily, breathing hard as Haruka fucked her to another crest, crying out her name again.

Tears formed in the corners of her eyes as Haruka fucked her through it, pulling her hand closer, determined to pull Haruka closer, to keep them together. She couldn’t think about anything else, just keeping the two of them close.

Haruka couldn’t wait any longer, fumbling for the syringe. She slowed her thrusts slightly, “I’m going to come inside you…”

Michiru distantly registered it, before she felt it. The feeling of suddenly being wetter, and Haruka’s pleased noise. It was dripping everywhere—Haruka had used a rather obscene amount. Michiru, graceful and elegant was absolutely wrecked. 

She slowed her thrusts, looking at the cum dripping all over her cock inside of Michiru. Her body took so well whatever the wind guardian brought to her; this had been no exception apparently.

“You…”

“I came inside you,” she grinned, rather stupidly. The novelty of it was amusing; the power trip was exhilarating. She kissed Michiru’s hand, “Fuck, did you like that?”

Michiru almost rolled her eyes; it was enough to gather herself. She ran a hand down Haruka’s abdomen, feeling it tense, the jerk of her hips inside her. “I did… I think there’s something else I’d like.”

“Mmm?”

“I want you to come in my mouth,” she smiled, “Not with this,” she slipped her hand down under the harness. Haruka let out a choked noise, hips jerking again. Michiru just smiled, “I came more than once. It’s only fair you do, too…”

Her hands slid down Haruka’s arms, urging the blonde to roll back.

“Maybe another time, though, I’ll let you… use my mouth for this .”

Haruka’s brain short-circuited, as she rolled to her side, “What?”

Michiru tugged at the toy and reached to undo some of the fastenings, dragging it down Haruka’s long legs, sliding back up them and leaning down to kiss her. Haruka’s body jerked when Michiru finally kissed her, deepening it to a longing, suck at her, tongue pushing down and slightly in—not too far. Just enough to make Haruka’s eyes jerk down at her as she slid back up.

Haruka’s hands reached for her hair, one of Michiru’s hands going over it. She did as she promised—sucking and licking—just as Haruka imagined she would. The orgasm was yanked from her like a riptide, unrelenting as she sucked at her clit until she laid there, gasping.

She moved up, smiling, reaching for Haruka’s hands to pull it between her legs, “you made a real mess.”

The cum had gotten everywhere, Haruka dully realized. It was still dripping out, all over the place, on her thighs and on the towel, and on Haruka’s legs, and now on her hand.

”Did you like it, though?”

”What do you think?”

”I think you like my mess…”

”Perhaps…”

”You like being dirty,” she grinned, slipping her hand away. She could feel Michiru’s reaction, the sharp intake of breath. “Good thoughts on the towel…. I really hope this isn’t something you had a precognition about.”

“Sometimes I am just lucky,” she smiled, leaning down to kiss Haruka’s nose, slipping her leg between Haruka’s.

“Oh?”

“Mmhm…”

She was a lucky girl. They both were, to find each other again and again.

Chapter Text

She sank forward, laying on Haruka, “I know it’s midday and you’ve had time to rest…”

“It’s alright…” she sighed, running a hand through Michiru’s still-damp hair, “I’ll help you clean up, then you can rest. Heh, it’s only fair since I made this mess.”

“As long as you come back…”

“Of course,” she smiled, rolling them on their sides so she could pull away, hands lingering with Michiru’s. She disappeared into the bathroom, offering Michiru a damp washcloth, and her robe, “Here.”

“You aren’t enjoying looking at me?”

“You looked cold.”

“You could warm me up yourself…” she reached for the washcloth, smiling when Haruka’s cheeks flushed. She wiped off the residue on her legs.

“What happened to resting?”

“Soon,” she smiled, wrapping the robe around herself and chucking both towels towards the hamper. She wrapped her arms back around Haruka, tugging the blonde towards her, lying back on the bed, kissing Haruka’s cheek again. “I want to fall asleep in your arms. I missed them…”

“Did you?”

Michiru blinked, “Yes.”

“I missed having you there. Or when, uh, you hold me, too,” she said, looking at Michiru. She shifted them to their sides, looping her arm back over Michiru.

“I missed that, too,” she smiled, moving closer until they were flush, sticking her face into Haruka’s shoulder. It was her favorite place, in times like these. A place that she remembered in all her memories. When she would stand in front of Uranus, hide her face in her shoulder at the end of a long battle when Uranus finally saw Neptune beyond the flawless warrior and sea goddess; she was those things, but the depth beyond that was as limitless as the seas she wielded. She could keep Neptune, the sea, safe underneath her, the sky, for a little while. She remembered the first time she hid her face there when Haruka pulled her close the first time they were caught wandering the halls. Suddenly, pulled flush she had no reason to hide her desire to hide inside the blonde’s arms. And now, when they were in bed or alone—she could hide here as long as she wanted. Haruka always talked about her disappearing into her own world without her—but that’s all she wanted sometimes. To disappear; to not have to be . Haruka always found her when she did, eventually. She promised not to leave her alone, even though Michiru still feared the day she would be alone again.

“Michiru…”

“Hmm?”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she smiled. Haruka could still make her feel like a giddy teenager. She stayed like that, occasionally mumbling about the trip back, saying she wished the helicopters could travel long distances and about long layovers in fancy airport lounges. Haruka whispered about wishing Michiru had been there at the end of the day, after her races.

She fell asleep, and Haruka slowly pulled away, fussing with a pillow and the blanket until Michiru looked comfortable, leaning down to kiss her hand.

“Don’t disappear while I’m not here.”

She separated from Michiru—she had planned to go on a run—but a romp with Michiru had relieved the tension enough for the time being to unpack, to retrieve Michiru’s suitcases from the car. She smiled as she carried her violin back to Michiru’s music room. Part of her cosmetics collection had migrated to the small table by the door from preparing for recitals; the couch still had a blanket draped over it from when Haruka had fallen asleep listening to Michiru play and Michiru’s hadn’t the strength to wake her. She shut the door, returning to Michiru.

She leaned down, kissing her. “Hey, sleeping beauty…”

Michiru leaned back up, sleepily kissing her back, and then sank back.

“I ordered in last night. We need to get groceries…” she whispered.

Domestic life was a gift of the aftermath. Time like this together. Making love, sleeping, groceries, even. All of it. And of course, teasing and flirting, which came more easily fully rested— Michiru slowly sat up, “Will you help me get dressed?”

“If you help me,” Haruka chuckled, glancing at Michiru’s hand pulling her robe back. Michiru smiled, slipping out of the bed and facing Haruka, tugging her towards the closet.

“I don’t know how much help I’ll be…” she smiled.

Haruka looked around the closet, and back at Michiru, she undid Michiru’s robe, too. Michiru released her, and turned around, looking through her clothes. She searched through her underwear, slipping it on, glancing to meet Haruka’s eyes. She smiled, slipping on a skirt, and buttoning her blouse. She turned away, holding the two ends of the skirt sash.

“Haruka…” she purred, “would you tie this for me?”

Haruka was behind her in an instant, taking them, and tied it, hands slipping forward to linger on her waist.

“I miss when you wore your tie… I loved tying it for you…” she turned around, placing her hand on Haruka’s chest, over her chest. She had put her binder on, Michiru realized, and left her hand there, tilting her head.

“I’m surprised you never tried to tie me up with it.”

“Oh, I did think about it,” she poked Haruka’s nose, smiling, “Or dragging you around with it, or with that necklace you wear…”

“Fuck, Michiru… I’ll wear a tie if you talk like that.”

Haruka buttoned the top button of her shirt, searching among her smaller things for a tie—she didn’t have many. The Mugen Academy’s plaid ones had been buried under her racing suits. She produced a navy one, offering it to Michiru.

Michiru smiled, wrapping it around Haruka’s neck, slowly folding the knot and sliding it up, leaning up to kiss her. “There… Can I drive?”

Haruka could only manage a nod, Michiru’s hand taking hers and pulling her down the stairs to their cars.

—✩—

Michiru insisted on pushing the cart—Haruka obliged.  Their cart was predictable. Michiru selected a variety of fish and vegetables; Haruka was far less organized—of course, racing and running forced her to have some degree of direction, mainly in the form of salad and tofu. She had developed a liking for American food lately, something Michiru didn’t completely understand.

—✩—

Michiru smiled, adjusting the bags in her hands, “Haruka…”

“Hmm?” she opened the trunk of the car, taking them.

“Thank you.”