"Nghh...mmm, yes...a little lower please..." (Ilina)
My lips twist into an amused smirk as I watch Ilina shift excitedly under me. I slide my hands further down her back, pressing my thumbs into the muscle around her lower spine and rolling them generously. Without hesitation, she lets out another soft groan of appreciation.
"Nghhh...yes, right there...gods I needed this." (Ilina)
I let out a soft chuckle as I study her adorable state with no small amount of amusement. Since Nina fell asleep in the bed after our...err, session, Ilina and I are on the large, plushy couch nearby in our room. She's laid out on her stomach underneath me, resting her head on her arms, with her eyes closed and a dopey smile on her face. Meanwhile, I have the distinct pleasure of using her toned tushy as a seat cushion as I give her the back massage she demand-...err, I mean politely requested.
Apparently, she's had a long day, so I didn't actually mind.
I study her as I continue massaging, noting the way her beautiful, silver hair is pooling on the couch cushion beside her. It's quite striking against the background of the black couch and the white, silk nightgown she's wearing. Inevitably, my eyes end up admiring the way her nightgown hugs her curves.
I smirk.
"You know, this would probably feel better if you took off your night dress. The gown makes it harder to see where your muscles are, and it's silk is slippery." (Mizuki)
Ilina snorts disdainfully, not even opening her eyes.
"I'll pass. After the day I had, this massage feels amazing. And if I do as you ask, it would be over shortly after." (Ilina)
Uh oh...busted. No need to admit that though!
"Oh? You don't have any self-control?" (Mizuki)
My tone is distinctly teasing. Ilina opens one eye to cut me a glare, clearly provoked.
"I'm obviously referring to you...I have plenty of self control." (Ilina)
Ilina closes her eyes, feeling she's made her point. My grin turns mischievous.
"Is that so..." (Mizuki)
Without waiting for a response, I begin slowly altering the path of my massage, inching further down her back with each iteration. As it takes me closer and closer to my seat cushion, I feel her body getting inexplicably more tense, and her breathing quickening. I glance at her face, noticing her mouth pressed into a tight, determined line. My grin widens.
I turn around in my seat and begin massaging her legs, repeating my strategy. As my path takes me further and further up her thighs, I feel her shift underneath me.
I pause my massage, my lips twisting into a vicious smirk, but I make sure my voice oozes innocent confusion.
"Hmm? Everything okay? Do you need me to stop?" (Mizuki)
Her voice is terse.
"I'm fine..." (Ilina)
I smile, and continue my massage without another word. As I keep inching up her thighs, her squirms become more frequent, but I ignore them. Eventually, as my hands once again near my seat cushion, I press my thumbs into her inner thighs and massage deeply.
A startled moan escapes Ilina's lips as I feel her body tense underneath me, and I can't hold it in any longer...I begin laughing hysterically.
"Pahahahahahaha-" (Mizuki)
Alas, my amusement is cut short as a vicious change in gravity rips me from my rather comfy seat. It slams me into the floor beside the couch, back first. I blink, trying to make sense of what just happened, when Ilina suddenly lands on top of me, pinning me to the floor.
My eyes widen in surprise, and I meet her gaze, only to find her grey eyes staring back at me with a burning accusation in them. Her lips are pressed into a thin, annoyed line. But...that only causes me to grin smugly.
"What's the matt-" (Mizuki)
Before I can finish that snide remark, her lips press into mine, cutting me off.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Some time later...
Ilina and I lay tangled in a mess of blankets on the floor, bare-skinned, with her resting on my chest. My finger traces the small of her back as I admire her with a satisfied smirk on my face. As if sensing it, she looks up at me, resting her chin on my sternum. Hey eyes narrow suspiciously, her voice thick with accusation.
"I'm going to get you back for that, you know...what if Nina had woken up?" (Ilina)
I grin shamelessly.
"Worth it. Besides, she only has one rule, and we weren't breaking it." (Mizuki)
She rolls her eyes, resting her cheek back on my chest, and we lay like that in comfortable silence for several minutes. I move my hand to her head, running my fingers through her hair, and I hear her sigh contentedly.
I smile.
"So, rough day? You want to tell me about it?" (Mizuki)
Ilina lifts her head again, folding her hands under her chin and resting on my chest, so that she can look me in the eye. She studies me silently for a moment, then her lips twist into a small, appreciate smile.
"Yeah..." (Ilina)
So, she does. She tells me about the security meetings, which sound more or less like I expected. Most of their discussions seemed to center around answering questions for really nervous city representatives, finding out what the generals of their various armed forces needed to be prepared, and dancing around some of the information that inevitably implicated me.
Apparently, they ended up telling a few of the highest ranking military figures about me being a Nephilim, which led to a slew of follow-up questions about how much of a threat I may be, with a couple of them growing quite wary. Eventually, Elira was forced to reveal my engagement to Ilina to a couple of them – swearing them to secrecy, of course – as a means to assuage their fears about me as a rogue element. Ultimately, they left in agreement that it was best to treat me as an ally, and requested to meet me when possible.
After that, there were the financial meetings, concerned primarily with supporting those security measures, though there were also some more routine economics discussed. Honestly, those sounded boring even to me, and my eyes ended up...err, wandering, for most of her summary of them. Finally, she tells me about the the wedding 'planning' with her parents, why she hates it, and what her conditions to starting it immediately were.
That causes me to raise my eyebrows.
"Wait, so you really think we could stop hiding in just a few weeks?" (Mizuki)
Ilina rolls her eyes, but there's a small smile playing on her lips.
"Oh, that's all it took to pull your attention off my chest?" (Ilina)
Whoops...
"Ehem...uhm, so we'll be spending a lot of quality time together soon, I guess...touring your country. I'm looking forward to it." (Mizuki)
She smiles, and leans forward to peck me on the cheek.
"Me, too. So...how was your day?" (Ilina)
I scratch my cheek nervously.
"About that..." (Mizuki)
I recap the days events for her, starting from when we parted ways. I sheepishly describe my slip-up at the Park, followed by my meeting with Alyse and research time with Alto. However, I'm surprised by what Ilina fixates on. Not my scientific revelations, not the fact that my abilities have been exposed in Eden or Nina's role in it, but...
"How do you feel...about what Alto said about Zara?" (Ilina)
I raise my eyebrows.
"I mean...it makes sense, in retrospect. I just feel bad for not considering it myself. It makes me wonder if I'm...negligent, I guess? Like I don't pay enough attention to her, and maybe not the rest of you either." (Mizuki)
She snuggles in closer to me, pursing her lips thoughtfully.
"Hmm...yes, I figured you'd worry about something dumb like that." (Ilina)
Gee...thanks.
Ilina continues, ignoring my indignant expression.
"I think Alto's probably right about Zara, for what it's worth. But, I also think that you're overthinking this, like usual. Even if I tease you otherwise, I do think you pay attention. The reason you didn't consider the situation with Zara isn't because you're negligent or uncaring, it's because you rationalize people too much.
It makes you good at solving problems, and predicting others' calculated decisions, but it also biases your impression of people, especially your friends. In Zara's case, you focused on her blunt, calculating nature, ignoring the lingering influence of wolf-kin cultural norms, and you mischaracterized what she values in your relationship as a result." (Ilina)
I smile wryly.
"So, you're saying that it's not that I don't pay attention to you all, it's just that I don't understand my friends." (Mizuki)
She tilts her head, her tone admonishing.
"If you insist on being hard on yourself, then sure. On the other hand, maybe it's fairer to say that you avoid focusing on those parts of us that confuse you – Zara's pridefulness, Alto's emotional immaturity, Nina's insecurity. Instead, you're biased to consider the parts of us you admire – Zara's bluntness, Alto's cold rationality, Nina's loyalty." (Ilina)
My eyes widen, seriously considering her theory and finding it...unsettling. Not because I agree with her, but because I don't. She's spot-on in her assessment of what things I admire about each of them, but her list of their apparent shortcomings seems inapplicable.
For Zara – taking up the sword, advocating for skilled labor training – isn't the entire reason she's been able to come so far because she discarded that useless pride of the wolf-kin? Similarly, Alto may be the most mature person I know, and wasn't it her who helped me understand how Zara was likely feeling? Finally, there's Nina...just, how in the hell could anyone possibly think that she is insecure?
Then, however, it occurs to me...if Ilina was able to peg their strengths so perfectly, what are the chances she's oblivious to their quirks? Didn't she imply that my shortcoming is being blind to theirs? Could she be right?
The more I consider it, the more I begin to understand what she may be getting at. I direct an uncertain look at Ilina.
"Zara, I think I get your point about her. Her pride isn't rooted in upholding wolf-kin tradition, it's in their success and acceptance. For Nina, I guess you mean...her disdain for weakness, or something? I suppose that could be considered a kind of insecurity. Alto, though...I think you're wrong. Sure, she's blind to Alyse's feelings for her, but she was perfectly capable of understanding Zara's and others' feelings even where I failed." (Mizuki)
Ilina's smiles and nods approvingly, clearly enjoying this discussion.
"Good...yes, for Nina and Zara, you're exactly right. For Alto, I stand by my assessment, though. You're focusing too much on her results, and not enough on her thought process. Alto's...quirk, is that she struggles to recognize emotions. In others, in herself...it makes no difference. However, she's great at understanding who people are, without the bias that you seem to have for those you care about.
"So, she didn't see how Zara was feeling, she deduced it based on a clear understanding of Zara's values and circumstances. Similarly, she's incapable of noticing Alyse's feelings for her, and she doesn't have the necessary context to deduce those feelings. Hence, why she seems so emotionally attuned in one case, and clueless in the other." (Ilina)
Hearing Ilina's assessment of Alto, it's like a bomb going off in my mind. If I just set aside my own preconceptions, and consider Ilina's theory on merit...pretty much every behavior of Alto's now makes sense. Realizing that, I can't help but slowly turn a dumbfounded gaze to Ilina, unsure whether to be scared or in awe by her grasp on our group's personalities.
Meanwhile, Ilina just studies the emotions flickering across my expression, a self-satisfied smirk etched onto her face. Clearly, she doesn't even need me to acknowledge what I'm thinking about her to feel smug about it. Suddenly, a thought occurs to me, and I direct a curious look at her.
"What about you? What's your quirk that I'm blind to?" (Mizuki)
She frowns disapprovingly.
"Really? Making your lovely fiancé confess her flaws to you is rather shameless." (Ilina)
I shrug, not bothering to deny it.
"Maybe, but can you blame me for asking? This conversation has been as enlightening as it is unsettling. After having my eyes opened, I'm dying to know what shortcoming of yours you think I'm oblivious to." (Mizuki)
Ilina rolls her eyes at my answer, but then she studies me with a conflicted expression on her face. Her brows are slightly furrowed, as though she's seriously considering whether to answer me.