Archive of Our Own

###Gudako Fujimaru###

Gudako stared hard at her reflection. There was a tender bruise blooming along her jawline, and as further evidence of that particularly nasty skirmish, she also had a bloody cut across the edge of her hairline. Water dripped from her face down into the sink. A small pool of water caused echoes to ring in the deserted bathroom as droplets disturbed its surface.   

She needed rest, and that much was obvious just looking at her. It had been a string of intensely long nights, and they were starting to take their toll. She forced her eyes shut, as if that would grant her some relief, her expression tense, but to no avail. 

But I won’t… I’m too damn riled up now.

Aside from the steady rhythm-plop, plop- from the bathroom sink, the only other noise that pierced the silence was that of her slow breaths as she tried forcing herself to relax. 

I should've been smarter.

She felt her hands twitch at the low mana remaining stored in her mystic code. After a deep breath, the cut was healed. The bruise, however, remained.. The orange locks of her hair were still damp and matted, compared to the usual chaotic and unorganized disheveledness prior to her post-mission wash-ups.

With a sigh, she loosened and tugged the tie free from her black suit and straightened up. Gudako stepped away from the bathroom sink and headed back to the living room.

The music was soft and slow. The sound of her boots on the floor and the bathroom door closing behind her was the only thing to fill the quiet air otherwise. The second floor of the place was a furnished pad with sofas. A pool table. A TV, with several doors leading to the two bedrooms on the other side of the room, the staircase to her left, and a storage closet to her immediate right.

The cozy space didn’t provide as much relief to her as it did the first night.

Despite this, the rented space above the bar could have been a home or a rented loft. That is, if the Alters hadn't taken to calling it a hideout in their flights of fancy. 

Gudako let out a breath between her lips, resisting the urge to slump against the bathroom door. Her golden eyes landed on the only other figure in their version of a living room.

Jeanne Alter was sitting on the couch, a game remote set on the coffee table. She’d ditched her purple dress that she’d spent the night being uncomfortable in for her boots, zip-up black dress, and blue jacket that she’d taken a liking to since arriving here. The TV screen was on pause, and there were a couple of bags of take-out, crumpled wrappers for a pair of partly eaten burgers, accompanied by some drinks that were left out for too long, judging by the condensation.

The Avenger tilted her head towards her Master, a little, looking at her pointedly. "How bad is it?"

Instinctively, Gudako reached up and touched the tender bruise, barely flinching. I've had worse..." she replied dismissively. With the sound of sliding fabrics, the rest of the tie came free, held loosely in her fingers. “Where is Artoria?"

There was a huff and a scoff. "That crazy woman took her stupid dog out for a walk. And said she had to go somewhere to check on something." She waved it off. "Patrol, maybe, too. I don't know." Jeanne huffed, her expression saying she couldn't care less about whatever Saber was doing out there.

Gudako crossed the room, taking a closer look at the food.

"She dropped this off for us before she went. Only left us a soda and iced tea." Jeanne Alter grinned a little. "I took the soda.”

Gudako nodded silently, grabbed a burger for herself, dragged the iced tea over to her side of the coffee table, and sat down at the other end of the sofa. She started unwrapping her burger and paused after half the foil had been peeled away.

That her black tie was still wrapped around the palm and knuckles of her hand.

“MASTER MOVE!”

Gudako forced herself to take another deep breath. The crashes, the smell of ash reflected over her mind.

And if not for Jeanne Alter's quick thinking, it would've gone much worse very fast.

The vivid memory of seeing her wounds from her fight with Emiya Alter. Her dented armor, bleeding from her brow, still laughing all the while as if none of it had bothered her, and the fight they'd only just gotten into only an hour ago.

She dug her fingers into that tie around her hand and eyed her Avenger servant, looking her over.

Jeanne Alter, by all appearances, seemed alright. She was looking down at her phone, handcrafted by Da Vinci with all the techno babble she couldn’t be bothered to string back together right now for the singularity function.

Relief tugged at Gudako, not seeing remnants of lingering wounds or signs of strain.

We’ll both live to fight another day.

The Avenger scrolled from one thing to the next, paying her master no mind. Her leg bounced, restless.

I’m not the only one getting used to long nights .

Gudako smiled a little at her.

Still, it's nice to see her trying to rest for once.

Gudako looked away.

She could never quite give up differentiating herself from the Saint.

Almost as if she could sense her thoughts, Jeanne Alter stopped her phone scrolling and turned those amber eyes back onto her. That ahoge on her hair bounced with the movement.

Gudako felt her gut twist a bit, wondering if she was acting off enough for Jeanne to notice. Or if their master-servant bond was open enough for her to feel the turmoil of cascading thoughts.

Then again, she might just know because we’ve been together a while now.

Memories of a hot sunny day, stuck in a hotel room, working under the pressures of doujinshi deadlines pushed that turmoil away.

Gudako’s smile widened a little more, and her stomach growled.

Jeanne Alter was quiet as she eyed her back. After another moment, I realized that Gudako wasn't saying anything. The silence fanned the flames of her concern. "Master?"

Gudako shook her head, "Pay it no mind, Alter. I have yet to return the favor."

The avenger quirked a brow at her. "Master?" She asked again, more confused.

She leaned down and at last, took a bite of her burger. It was just the way she'd liked it; all the toppings, none of the sauce. She took another bite and found herself ravenous enough to scarf it all down. Gudako only paused, realizing Jeanne Alter was still looking at her more confused than before. She wiped her lips and forced herself to pause for a breath. "How are you holding up?"

It had been another long night…

“Fufufu-” she chuckled. "I'm fine, wish I could have done more to put those rotten bastards into the ground from a few nights ago all the more..."

Yes...that dance had turned particularly violent.

Gudako let out a stifled giggle at the comment. "That's good. I also see you are at least once again on speaking terms with Artoria, too."

Jeanne Alter huffed and looked away. She leaned back into the sofa, shifting one leg over the other. The movement is what drew Gudako's eyes to Alter’s neckline.

Gudako paused mid-chewing, but only for a second, not wanting to draw her Avenger’s concerns more than she already might have.

Servants didn't scar, and if they did scar, they would fade quickly within a few hours after getting the wounds. That is, if they weren't killing blows. There were small, barely perceivable white cracks in Jeanne Alter's beautiful alabaster skin, breaking up Gudako’s familiarity when she caught herself staring too long at her. The cracks were nearly gone now, but still present enough for her to notice for just this moment.

Still not looking her way, Alter continued. "Yeah, our…” Jeanne paused for a moment, biting back a harsher remark, not wanting to add to her master’s worries. “...Working relationship. It was...worse before you got here, master."

"You know you can talk to me about anything, right, Alter?"Gudako spoke before she could stop herself. She felt like kicking herself for just blurting a sentence like that out. It sounded too formal when asked so round about like that. 

They were past such things by now, right?

Stop it.

She bit her lip.

It’s not the formality, and you know it. Confronting Jeanne Alter about what bothers her has never been easy.

The Avenger paused, sending her a puzzled look.

Gudako sighed. "I mean, if you ever need to talk. Whether it’s about work, complaining about Artoria, or anything else. I think I owe you that much." She leaned back.

Jeanne Alter shook her head, "Tch, it would be a waste of time."

"I'm not so sure about that, Jeanne," She smiled.

She is busy thinking...Am I distracting her?

Jeanne Alter brushed her white hair back behind her ear, and Gudako saw her expression darken, a bit of exasperation slipping out. "What I mean is, I'm not so sure an evil dragon witch like me is worth your time." Her lips pursed a little, and Gudako realized how much more she liked to see Jeanne Alter in a better mood.

Gudako let the silence hang in the air for a moment, thinking carefully about what to say next.

When it came to Jeanne, there was always this tension in the air, palpable, and it had been building up over the past few weeks as they shared a more common area. She feared breaking it, not for her sake, but rather for Jeanne’s, potentially hurting the fragile peace she managed to maintain between her two servants. She sipped on what was left of the iced tea, biting the edge of the straw as she pieced her thoughts together.

Jeanne Alter was loud, boisterous, and abrasive on the best of days. Gudako understood those traits; however, they were her way of expressing herself. Trying to both differentiate herself from her ruler counterpart and move the conversation away from certain topics. 

The Avenger pointedly avoided looking at her and went back to scrolling.

And yet I know she was making sure that cut on my face was healed.

Quietly, she took a breath, steeling herself just a bit.

But that evil comment is too far.

Even though Artoria Alter was gone for the time being, Gudako still stretched out her senses to confirm it was just the two of them out of habit before continuing.

Gudako's golden eyes didn't leave Jeanne, even as the Avenger seemed to avoid meeting her gaze. Slowly, she unwound her tie from around her knuckles and started with the base concern. "You aren't evil," her eyes narrowed a bit. "And before you say it, no, I'm not so sure being twisted or wanting revenge makes you evil, too. So I will extend my definition back to Orleans, when we first met, if you dare to make me." 

The Avenger's eyes grew sharper at that, her mouth twisting a little. Gudako could see she might’ve been planning to do just that to justify her comment. Her foot tapped on the floor a few times. All of it adding up to something that Gudako couldn't quite place.

The aversions, the nervousness,…anything but the loud part of her that was present.

Something is wrong.

Jeanne Alter simply huffed out a sigh. That expression of her smoothing, the ticks and aversions receding. The tension wound on her expression faded, and she looked away from Gudako again. "No, I don't have anything to report, Master."

Gudako fell quiet and watched her go back to scrolling on her phone once again.

Liar.

She found she wasn't convinced at all. Gudako liked to think she knew Jeanne Alter well enough to know that she was merely avoiding the subject. However, she was even more intent now. She didn't know what else Jeanne Alter was feeling, but it clearly wasn't a positive emotion.

"You are quite pleasant to be around, you know?" Gudako spoke carefully. It was a double-functioned statement as Jeanne Alter hadn't gotten up and walked away yet, and it was meant to see if she could get her attention to focus a bit more on her meaning.

Trying to get you to be honest is always a difficult task, Jeanne.

Jeanne Alter, however, had only half taken the bait. Her eyes had flicked back to her like she'd wanted. But again, Gudako saw that unusual look in her eye, watching the avenger’s lips twist a little. "You don't have to make me feel better."

Gudako felt her brow twitch.

She is as stubborn and obtuse as ever.

She took the hint that she was pulling on the right thread and shifted gears a little more. "Thank you for your help tonight," Gudako spoke simply and went to take another sip of her iced tea.

Jeanne Alter watched her, and Gudako got the impression she was either expecting something or looking for something. "T-that's it?" There was a clipped edge to her voice. 

It sounded fragile.

She stole a fry and met those amber eyes and their incredulous stare.

Fragile?

Gudako tilted her head, a little confusion mounting just a little as to why her avenger sounded vulnerable. "Yes, I wanted to thank you. You especially. You didn't tell me how hurt you'd gotten." Her eyes flicked toward those faded cracks on her skin, the once jagged lines of cuts, marks, and burns. Even compared to a moment ago, they were even harder now to distinguish.  "If it weren't for you, I'd probably not be standing here in such good shape."

If only I healed like a servant.

Gudako resisted the urge to touch that bruise on her own cheek.

If only I were more than human.

"If it weren't for Moriarty, you mean," She huffed. "Fuckin old geezer is the one that escorted you."

Gudako’s eyes narrowed just a bit, sensing a direction. "But you were the one who fought those punks-"

Jeanne’s brow furrowed, her words tinged with a sort of sorrowful anger, she felt the weight of her responsibility on her shoulders. “That’s not the point!” She forced her mouth shut in a thin line, biting her lip, barely catching the words she’d been holding back the entire evening. “You could’ve been hurt! Or…I could’ve been better, I…” Jeanne Alter bit suddenly down on her lip, clamping her mouth closed again.  

Not daring to finish that thought?  Afraid of losing control?

Gudako waited, knowing how complicated those walls Jeanne Alter had built for herself were, how close…she was now, to letting some of it slip out. Those things and thoughts that she’d been keeping from her. Gudako knew they were there, even if she didn’t fully grasp the context of it.

Just a little more, Alter…

"I know I explained to you how Avengers work, how we use our anger to get our adrenaline going for a fight. But I'm not looking for you to bail me out! The downside to this is I can lose track of important things." Jeanne Alter curled her fingers at her side, balling them into a tight fist.

She sensed where Jeanne Alter was going. "It's not-"

"I lost track of you only for a second, and if it weren't for that stupid old man, it would've been over right then and there-!" Her mouth twisted, eyes narrowing towards her master. "And all you have to say is thanks for it?!"

The stretch was quieter this time. Gudako stared at her eyes widening.

Jeanne Alter's cheeks had a very light red tint to them. "I..." she cut herself off and bit her lip. "We almost lost you." She ground her teeth together with irritation. Her voice slipped out growing quieter in that deafening silent room with a muted TV and low spinning fan. "And it was because of my stupid fucking choice to focus too much on-"

Gudako took a breath. "Alter..."

"-and we can't afford to lose you. You are too damn important!" Jeanne Alter's words fumbled to a quiet tumbling stop. Whatever thought had been in them crashed to a halt as Gudako leaned in a little closer to her.

"Alter!" Gudako's voice had risen. "We are both alive and okay." Her mouth twitched, and then slowly curled into a smile. "That was my only victory condition for that battle." She sighed a little, and suddenly Gudako grew acutely aware of how exhausted she was. "Honestly...we made it out...and that is the only thing that matters to me."

The white-haired French woman stared and averted her eyes. There was a slight flush to her cheeks.

An unexpected thought crossed Gudako's mind. One that was so seemingly obvious, but so seemingly surprising.

Jeanne Alter leaned a little away and brushed a few of her white hair lucks back behind her ear.

She's pretty.

That thought sent a small chill up her back and she stiffened upright. As with that realization, she also at the same time figured out what was going on, as if it should've been obvious from the start.

...and I'm just a normal human.

The reminder was like cold water on any thought that might have crossed her mind then. Gudako spoke quietly, "I'm sorry I worried you."

The avenger flinched at the sentence. "I...I wasn't worried!" She said, fumbling over her words. It came out in a way that made it feel like she was taken by surprise. And more importantly, it came out in a way that in no way convinced Gudako that it wasn't at the top of her list.

"It's alright," She tried.

But Jeanne Alter was trying to prove a point of some kind, speaking in her angry fluster. "It's as I said before; you are the only capable master humanity's got!" She leaned back toward her, her face still flushed a little. "And how are we supposed to do our jobs well when we have to spend our time worrying about you because you got too close!"

As if to prove her point further, Jeanne Alter touched her forming bruise. However, she'd stopped mid-sentence as her cool fingers gently dragged across the edge of Gudako’s jawline.

They both froze stiff almost instantly after.

Gudako stared wide-eyed. Keenly aware of how close those lips now were. How close her hair, those amber eyes, and slightly red-tinted cheeks were. Just how close they were. 

Her breath hitched. 

Jeanne Alter looked like she'd been caught doing something she wasn't supposed to be doing, looking back equally wide-eyed. Her lips pressed her lips into a line slowly. Then, after a few seconds had ticked by, she quickly pulled away. "On second thought, I'm gonna go on patrol as well. Eat up, master. I'll be back later-"

She made to step away, but Gudako caught her hand.

My face is starting to feel warm...

Her lips pressed into a line.

But I don't care!

Her voice as Master slipped out just a little. "No, you're not. You've been through too much the last few days. You need time to recover mana." Gudako spoke with almost the same clarity that she used in battle. But that faded along with the instinct almost instantly.

Jalter had stiffened too.

Gudako forced herself to take a full breath and, with a deliberate slowness, stood up to face her. Her hand never once left Jeanne Alter's knuckles. That urge to repay her tenderness surfaced in her mind. As embarrassing as her first idea was...pressing her lips against them, she moved to the third.

Instead of kissing her, either knuckles or lips. Gudako tugged Jeanne Alter gently by her hand to face her fully. Following her gentle request, the French woman finally did as she'd been urged to do. Facing Gudako, stuck between a coffee table and a couch. For her part, there was only one emotion that was plain enough for Gudako to understand in Jeanne Alter's expression.

She's scared.

But Jeanne was working to bury that between other things. Gudako admired that about her; that even when she was terrified, she never let it get to her.

It was something she could relate to.

Gudako took a step closer, and it was only the firm grip on Jeanne Alter's wrist that made her not back up a step

But that didn't stop Jeanne Alter from stiffening.

All the same, Gudako wrapped her arms around her and pulled her into a tight hug. Jeanne's hair brushed her cheek. And Gudako smiled over her shoulder as she hugged the stiff white-haired woman in her arms. "I wouldn't be here if not for you, too."

There was a slow unwinding of tension, and Gudako felt her slowly relax in her arms. 

In turn, Jeanne Alter's hands motioned to hug her back, her hands trailing past her hips around her. They were slow to return the gesture, but steadily they managed to do so.

Her arms were shaking ever so slightly. This close, Gudako was keenly aware of that faint smell of embers and ash that often lingered on the girl, no matter how hard she often tried to hide it. It was there, surfacing after all the hard-won day's activities.

Jeanne Alter said nothing, but her grip returning the hug grew steadily stronger.

Still scared of something.

Gudako held their hug firmly for a second longer. Before she found her voice again, she waded through the distractions of Jeanne Alter's proximity and how it felt having her gently squished against her chest. "Stay," she urged gently into the air.

Once more, there was a stiffening of Jeanne Alter wrapped in the hug. This time, though, it was much shorter…and quieter.

"F-fine."

Gudako took a small step back.

Jeanne Alter was blushing about as badly as she felt she was. She was also slow to remove her hands from her. Gudako could feel her fingers now resting against her neck, pulling away and off her shoulders.

The other stopped to pause on Gudako's face.

The Avenger gently ran a knuckle over that bruise on her cheek.

Her amber eyes turned gentle as she seemed to examine the mark. She also scanned the part of her face where the cut had been healed by the mystic code's pre-loaded healing spell.

She did notice.

Then, all at once, a horrid realization seemed to come over Jalter. That she’d again violated personal space. Her fingers went stiff along Gudako's bruise, but still avoided applying pressure.  "Oh- Oh-uh?" Quickly, she pulled away, almost taking two full steps back. "Sorry, I don't know what I was thinking." She ran her fingers through her white locks and squeezed her bicep. "I'm probably the last-"

It feels…nice.

Whatever she'd said had been lost to Gudako's mind. At Jeanne Alter's touch, she felt her heart leap into her throat.

A realization had sunk in. 

Gudako was pleased someone would be so worried for her. The touch was electrifying to her in a way she didn't expect it to be when it had happened. A craving formed deep in the pit of her stomach like hunger. As her heart started to pick up its pace.

To her excitement and terror, she realized how much she wanted to hold Jeanne Alter again in that moment, too. A woman who wrestled with self-doubts but always put them aside for Gudako, or for whatever Chaldea had asked of her.

I'm not the only one who needs it.

Even now, as Alter pulled away, Gudako could see the doubts as plain as day. On her expression, the way her lips curved in worry. The way they seemed to glisten with whatever makeup Saber had tricked her into trying. Or maybe she was just trying to look good in her purple dress.

Doubts.

But Gudako had found her answer. She wanted to test it, of course. And she wanted to be sure that Jeanne Alter wasn't left with any worry either. 

Before Jeanne Alter could pull away completely, Gudako managed to catch her wrist again. She stepped towards her, far into Jeanne Alter's personal space. Wrapping her other arm around Alter's shoulder.

Just then, as if in the fractions of a second before it had happened, Jeanne Alter seemed to realize. Her body went stiff as that distance evaporated to nothing between them. Her amber eyes bulged wide, terrified. Gudako could see them just as hers closed, as she pressed her lips to hers.

Jeanne Alter tasted faintly of fruit on her lips, food, and she smelled of a tinge of ash that was so endearing all at once. Her lips were the only part of her that seemed lulled into relaxation. They parted for hers slowly. But even still, she could feel her lips trembling against hers. Her whole body felt rigid as Gudako had trapped her gently in a second hug.

"Mmff-" her warm breath rushed over Gudako's lips as she pulled away.

Her amber eyes were still wide. 

While Gudako realized she felt calmer than she had a few moments ago. She smiled a little at her French Avenger. Choosing to go right for the heart of the reasons for their conversation.  "I'm okay," she said in a reassuring tone.

"M-master," Jeanne spoke into the air. "I don’t...uh…I mean..."

"Stay Alter," Gudako said again.

Against her, those rigid muscles of hers slowly started to melt. There was still that instinct to pull away. All those emotions Jeanne Alter always seemed to struggle with processing. The doubts still lingered in her expression.

"Alter, I want you to stay." She rephrased it. Not a command. Not a request or demand. Not something a master would normally give to a servant. It was an invitation.

Jeanne Alter's breath had turned shaky and uneven. A sign of the fragility that she had 

worked so hard to keep hidden away. Since they were so close, Gudako became keenly aware of each tick in her composure.

Her lips parted and closed.

Her throat’s movements when she swallowed.

The nerves and trembling in her voice.

"O-okay." She managed.

At last, that rigidness started to fade, and Gudako drew closer again. She brushed her fingers alongside Jeanne Alter's jawline and pressed her kiss onto Jeanne Alter's lips again.

This time it was longer, but Gudako still restrained herself a little. She wasn't sure if her servant had ever been French kissed, and she didn't want to be too much too fast. Gudako could feel the way her heart ached and her chest danced.

She didn't want to make it so that Alter was uncomfortable, a goal that fed into the idea of those feelings that were starting to come to the surface; she wanted to keep coaxing her out of those walls.

The kiss was chaste, but longer. Gudako smiled against Alter's lips, knowing she could feel it. She smiled a little bit more as she finally felt Jeanne Alter's fingers touch her back more directly. One touches her hip, the other her back. Tentative, nervous, and gentle.

This time, when Gudako pulled away, Jeanne Alter had found words to say, and plastered on her expression were still all those fervent fears.

Gudako suddenly wishes to kiss them all away. She suddenly wished she could do that, and all the more.

It's sudden.

"I don't need mana that badly!" She sputtered out quickly. Jeanne Alter averted her amber eyes, glancing down. "I mean...we couldn't possibly-..." She blinked suddenly, stiffening again. "N-no I mean y-you probably...I know I'm exactly the person you'd want-"

Gudako got closer.

She stiffened in her arms. "I mean, you deserve better!" Her expression suddenly hardened. "I m-mean just...an evil dragon witch like me..."

She smiled as their noses touched, and Jeanne Alter trailed off into silence, managing to meet her eyes.

It's all sudden...but...

She thought of all they'd been through together thus far. The times when Jeanne Alter hauled her out of a situation, saving her. The times when she had managed to help with her summer servant fest doujinshi in turn.

All those little things that suddenly flooded into her mind.

...but is it really so far-fetched?

Gudako only squeezed her hold on her tightly to affirm her own feelings.

All because of that gentle touch tracing my bruise.

"Alter." She spoke into the quiet between them.

Her avenger remained frozen like ice; her skin was cool to the touch. She bit down on her lip to stop herself from sputtering like she had been only a moment ago..

"You are wonderful," Gudako said simply.

"B-but-" Jeanne Alter was about to protest again. But this time, Gudako didn't leave her an opening for it.

And this time she intended to press her point home, smashing their lips together with more force than the two previous times. She could feel the vibrations in her murmurs of surprise against her lips. The way her whole body’s rigidness seemed to reassert itself, only for it to start melting away again.

Gudako could feel her mystic code tightening around her chest, those constrictions of her clothing growing more apparent with each second passing by.

Their tongues had scarcely touched before Gudako had to pull away, gasping for air. 

Likewise, Jeanne Alter’s warm breaths were heavy on her skin. Her cheeks were flushed with a distinct red to them. The corner of her lips was now glistening from dampness. And those amber eyes seemed only to shrink as all those doubts and worries continued to plague her inside and out.

Her gaze had turned soft, and her lips pressed into a tight line.

But the stammering of excuses had come crashing to a halt.

Gudako breathed slower and pulled gently away; this time it was she who allowed her fingers to linger, tracing down the length of her arm from Alter’s shoulder to her fingertips, before wrapping them up against the palm of her hand. Then she stepped away, and as she did, a sort of glisten brought her to the eyes of Jeanne Alter’s zipper going down the center of her black dress.

Her fingers twitched but remained rooted around Alter’s hand.

Maybe…

But Gudako still felt honesty rise into her throat, remembering Jeanne Alter’s excuses. “Even if you don’t need mana that badly, Alter.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but just loud enough to cover the small distance between them. “You still matter to me…and if it’s still not sinking in for you…”

Her mouth pressed into a line.

She watched Jeanne Alter’s amber eyes widen as if sensing what was to come next.

Gudako herself felt the bravery swell up in her chest. She could imagine all those enemies she’d manage to best thanks to the help of this woman in front of her. The way Alter looked when standing triumphant with her. Even when she’d been terrified out of her mind, Jeanne Alter had been there to make sure she couldn’t lose. So, for this, it was her turn to be there for Jeanne Alter. Terrified of feeling, scared to lose her master for more reasons she was too frightened to admit. 

Her other hand dug into her bosom over her heart. “Then I will simply have to demonstrate for you.” Gudako’s expression narrowed and grew serious, and she steered away from the words that would frighten her. “If you would like me to, Jeanne Alter?” Those words could wait until the time was right. Her fingers tightened around Jeanne Alter’s hand and turned away, leading her towards the back.

“Idiot…” Jeanne Alter muttered quietly.

###Jeanne Alter###

She covered her expression with the back of her hand, trying to ignore that feeling of warmth still spreading through her. Despite her best efforts, she also shivered at the declaration.

But she can’t possibly-

Jeanne Alter squeezed her eyes shut, flinching for a moment as Gudako leaned towards her when she’d spoken. But it was too late, she realized. Jeanne had already kissed her back. She’d held her. Jeanne Alter’s walls had crumbled in nearly an instant after all this time trying to keep them up, so that she explicitly wouldn’t do anything stupid.

Not to her…

“Idiot.” She muttered behind her, unable to focus with the heat rushing to her cheeks. With one hand trapped and unsure how to resist or pull away, she dug her other fingers into her bicep, nails digging hard into her skin. 

What have I done?

She followed behind her.

She can’t lower herself for me, an evil dragon witch?

Gudako opened the door to the backroom they were sharing. Two cots on either side of the room where they’d both had slept separately on previous nights. Now Jeanne Alter looked at them with trepidation.

I’m not worth it!

Jeanne Alter flinched at the touch of Gudako’s other hand.

Why couldn’t I keep my hands to myself?!

Her amber eyes flicked upwards to see Gudako’s golden ones looking right through her. Her master had a small and gentle smile on her lips. The kind she always had that seemed to always pierce through Jeanne Alter, right to her very heart. A smile she desperately wanted to protect.

But…I’m not…

“Jeanne,” Gudako’s voice washed gently over the tension in the air. “It’s okay.”

Even as her master repeated her assurances, it made her denials more reflexive. She shook her head, and words clogged in her throat. Her master’s fingers still tucked hers all together, and she felt that grip guide her to her side of the room, to her bed where she’d tried sleeping only hours ago.

Slowly, she forced out a calm breath, not fighting anything Gudako had done thus far, even as her master slowly sat her down at the edge of her bed.

Her heart skipped a beat, and her chest ached, as the feelings clashed together, threatening to boil over.

Gudako was patient with her. Jeanne Alter wasn’t sure what she was expecting for how this night to turn out. Maybe the two of them could have just chilled out and tried a movie, but it was certainly not this.

“It’s okay, Jeanne.” Her master’s voice was calm, though there was a twinge of nerves in there for her. She’d sat down right beside her, just far enough apart that Jeanne could still feel the warmth of her presence. Her hands never once let her go, the grip firm, but tender all at once.

“M-master…really…you shouldn’t…” Jeanne Alter could feel her lips trembling as she tried fumbling through the words clogged in her throat. “I mean…even if…you care about me…surely this…” She cut herself off, biting her lip as she realized Gudako had leaned again as if making to kiss her again.

But she didn’t, stopping short, the warmth of her breath spreading across her lips now stuck closed in a tight line.

“Really, Jeanne,” Gudako smiled, “I’ve given it my thought.” She brought Jeanne Alter’s hands to her lips and kissed them.

She felt her breath catch in her throat.

Gudako's smile widened. “I care for you…and this…while it may be happening fast…is not something I would ever regret.” She dragged Jeanne Alter’s hand over her own breast and against where her heart was beating in her chest.

Her amber eyes remained stuck on her. 

Her Master continued. “I know how you think, you know? I can see even now all those doubts you're continuing to wrestle with.”

She might’ve flinched with her master’s sincerity. Instead, she found herself only growing more nervous as each second passed by.

“Love is complicated…” Gudako started blushing, and Jeanne Alter watched her cheeks turn a few shades red, but it did little to diminish her master’s confidence. “...and I’m not so sure myself…but what I am certain about is trying this.” She seemed to straighten up, drawing together her own courage for what was to come. “Especially with you.”

Jeanne Alter was suddenly struck with all those little reasons as to why she’d harbored and desperately tried to conceal her feelings. Gudako was, in a way, everything she wasn’t. Gudako wasn't a coward who ran from her feelings. Gudako may not be the best mage by the association's absurd standards, yet she’d risen not only to the challenge but also overcome it in places where even normal mages might’ve struggled.

She could barely manage to look Gudako in the eye even now.

“You’re amazing, Jeanne Alter, even if you can’t see it.” Her other hand left Alter’s fingers over her heart, with that touch, she could confirm that somehow her master had said all of that while being nervous. Gudako still smiled at her. “You’ve come so far…we both have?”

Her master’s fingers brushed her cheek and tucked the white strands of her hair behind her ear. Her thumb brushed her cheek under her eye.

It seemed to finally jog her loose from just staring. “M-master I…I just…” She pressed her lips into a line, biting her lip.

Gudako snuck her other arm around her, hugging her. Her lips pressed against Jeanne Alter’s jawline.”It’s okay, Alter…I know I’m only a human, but…”

An anger welled up in her that was unexpected. It compelled her to snap. “That’s not it at all!” She’d practically shouted at her in response and felt her whole body go stiff. Her cheeks grew warm, realizing in the following silence that she’d blurted it out. Jeanne Alter looked away. “I…uh…mean…I don’t have a problem with you being n-normal…”

There was a beat of quiet.

Gudako’s small and gentle caresses had slowed but didn’t stop. She tilted her head at Jeanne for a moment, eyeing her.

“I-infact…I…prefer it…” Jeanne Alter managed to blurt that out, too. Her breaths were quicker, to match her fraying nerves. “...I-I prefer it because-” She cut herself off again. Her eyes barely managed to look Gudako’s in the eye. 

I’m so scared…

Her master seemed to take that in and nodded slowly, as if she understood the words she didn’t utter at all. “Me too, if it makes you feel any better.”

But it wasn’t fully what she meant even now.

“That’s not it.” Jeanne Alter said quickly. Her lips pressed into a line, and her other fingers moved slowly to cover the hand on her cheek, wanting to hold Gudako’s hands there for as long as her master was willing.

She enjoyed it.

Her heart was dancing in her chest, opposite to that ache in her stomach still.

I enjoy it.

For Jeanne Alter, there was an obvious pattern of losing such things.

Gudako continued to eye her and then seemed to understand a little bit more. Perhaps just enough to push them both to take the plunge. She held Jeanne Alter’s other hand still over her heart. “I’m here…and I will tell you as often as you need.”

If I let her in…

Jeanne Alter squeezed her eyes shut.

They sat in silence beside one another, Gudako giving her every opportunity to put a stop to it if that was what she’d wanted to do. However, she couldn’t muster the words to refuse or accept.

In their silence, however, it was apparent her master had worked out her real problem. Gudako responded by wrapping an arm around her waist and holding her close to her side. “I’m here," she reminded her. Her fingers were trailing up and down the side of her arm.”

Even though Jeanne Alter was feeling particularly out of it, she could feel her nerves slowly starting to calm.

And in response, Jeanne Alter’s lips started to twist, and with a sudden ferocity, trying to mute all her nerves at once, she could only think of Gudako’s lips gently tracing her mouth as they had only a moment ago.

She kissed her master right back. It was short and chaste. But it was all she could muster as her answer for acceptance.

Besides…the longer she is here…

Jeanne Alter swallowed as she pulled away.

The better I can be.

###

It had started with more chaste kisses and gentle petting. Things that didn’t fully ease the tension in Jeanne Alter’s mind, muscles, or breaths, but it helped acclimate her to just being so close to someone. And with every step, Gudako checked on her, which was both an odd and elating feeling.

There were days when all she’d craved for was her master’s attention. This felt like that…only it was all the more. Jeanne Alter might’ve wished for it, but it had never been more than a daring wish.

At this point, Gilles was a distant memory for her. And compared to this, that felt like a horrible nightmare.

Gudkao leaned against her, pressing their bodies together.

Warm.

She didn’t fight that, not wanting to. Her fingers were still shaking, and her arms stiff at her sides for most of it. She did manage to touch Gudako’s hands, holding her fingers back when they squeezed her.

Into the silence with a lower voice, she heard Gudako whisper in her ear. “I’m going to kiss you more intimately now.” Her fingers firmed along Alter’s shoulder, “Tell me if you don’t want anything…or want to stop.”

Her breath shuddered, and those stupid shaking hands did little to hide her anxiety. She nodded numbly.

“Promise?” Gudako said carefully, kissing the side of her jaw gently.

She nodded again. “Y-yes. I…promise.”

Gudako hummed her acknowledgment.

Jeanne Alter could feel her gentle smile on her skin. It was a first for her to feel it so directly, the shape of her expression by touch. It sent a whole new, growing feeling coursing through her.

Her lips were then straightened as Gudako tugged gently at her jaw.. A delicate finger guided her lips in the direction her master had wanted.

She managed not to shiver when it happened, and her amber eyes looked at Gudako’s golden ones. She saw so many emotions in her master’s eyes that it was almost overwhelming.

Gudako leaned in.

Jeanne Alter braced herself for it, squeezing her eyes shut quickly, her lips trembling even as she felt Gudako’s hands roam over her hips, holding her close. Just as gently and tenderly as her petting had been, Jeanne Alter felt her lips parted. It was slow, and judging by how much Alter could feel her heart threatening to burst, exactly what she needed. 

Gudako’s tongue followed after, seeming to trace all around her mouth’s entrance. Then Jeanne felt her tongue tugged and pulled. 

It was short. Far too short. When Gudako pulled away, letting air back into both of their lungs.

Jeanne Alter’s eyes pricked open again and stared. Her lips twitched a different sort of lump forming in her throat as she glared at Gudako’s lips. Wondering in part what had just happened.

She knew practically of course, exactly what had taken place. She didn’t have much basis for comparison outside of the one other person. And this again had been nothing like that. Her heart, for once, danced far more openly. It was far more tender and tasteful than she expected. She huffed out a shudder.

She didn’t have to wait long for a second one. Jeanne Alter closed her eyes. Gudako warned her again by tilting her chin up. And then a third kiss followed.

When the fourth one began, this one was far longer. Their tongues moved a bit more aggressively against one another until saliva drenched the corners of her mouth. Her master gently suckled on her lips, and Jeanne felt her body quiver at the very feeling. The slick wet sounds filled the quiet air between their pauses for breath.

Jeanne Alter made a noise.

Gudako’s hands roamed Alter’s face gently as she gripped her. She made a noise of her own in response as she kissed her again.

Her eyes opened, and it felt like steam, the heat rising from her core up and overflowing. Already, she could feel a growing dampness from their proximity. Their previous kisses, her master’s lithe fingers that traced around her thigh, sliding up closer to the edge of her black dress.

She shivered and leaned away from her. It was embarrassing to look into those eyes that refused to leave her form. She swallowed as she fell back against the sheets of the bed.

Warm.

This time, she didn’t get to look away for long as Gudako’s fingers traced her jaw and pointed her lips back towards her. A warm breath washed over her jaw and then her lips, and Gudako’s sharp golden eyes came into view.

Jeanne Alter had slid her fingers against Gudako’s hips, underneath the suit jacket.

Her master kissed her deeply again. The Avenger closed her eyes, wanting to focus on the sensations of the moment, the feeling of her pressed so close. Her breasts brushed against Gudako’s bosom, and her own sensitivity made her twitch.

The black shinjuku dress felt tighter. The blue sweater still on her felt too warm now on her shoulders.

As if sensing it would be a problem, while Gudako lay her back against the bed, she snuck her fingers over Jeanne Alter’s shoulders, rolling the sweater off her black dress’s shoulder, exposing her skin.

In response, Jeanne Alter, now that she’d been laid back against the bed. Gathered enough courage to do more than just hold onto her for dear life. As if she’d let her master go, she would just vanish, and so would the rest of this turn into a blissful dream. With trembling fingers, she unbuttoned the base of Gudako’s black shirt.

Then Gudako gripped Alter’s left breast, her nipple hard against the fabric of her clothes, and now the warm palm of the other woman’s hand.

Jeanne Alter couldn’t help it. “Ah-!” She bit down on her lip quickly, and that flush of heat consumed her from head to toe. She squeezed her thighs together, only to find she’d incidentally trapped Gudako’s hand back again between her thighs.

So close to touching her core.

It feels…

Jeanne Alter couldn’t manage the second button when Gudako kissed her. More rough and hungry than times previous. Her tongue danced in Alter’s mouth, tracing the line of her teeth.

She shivered against her and squeezed her eyes shut again.

…so warm…

Until she was out of breath and opened her eyes to see Gudako wiping some of that trail of saliva away. Gudako crawled her way up the rest of the bed, her knees pressing near Alter’s outer thigh.

But the heat dissipated as she pulled away.

Jeanne Alter’s eyes widened. Her heart skipped a beat, realizing and fearing needless for a moment, that it was all Gudako was willing to give her. She followed after her hand and snagged Gudako’s wrist.

The words clogged in her throat.

Stupid, worthless witch! WHY can’t I say anything!?

Gudako smiled gently at her.

She pouted a little and looked away. Jeanne Alter knew with certainty that her own blush had spread from ear to ear.

Only for a second, until movement drew her back.

Her master shrugged her suit jacket off and tossed it to one end of the bed, leaving only her black buttoned-up shirt and that tie still wrapped around her wrist.

Jeanne Alter shivered again as she forced herself to sit up only for a moment, sliding an arm out of that now infernal blue sweater. It was all she could manage before Gudako’s affectionate touches were back against her skin.

She collapsed back into the side of her blue sweater, feeling its collar poking against the back of her neck as both of Gudako’s hands gripped Jeanne Alter’s breasts, which began to slide downward. Gudako was quick to follow up with a kiss to the underside of her jaw.

S-shit!

Jeanne Alter’s body writhed onto her side, eyes wide. Biting down on her lip harder to prevent the lecherous noise that threatened to burst. Her amber eyes then flicked to Gudako, narrowing with embarrassment flushed on her cheeks and something of grim determination coming across her features.

Her master hadn’t been phased.

Gudako dragged her nose across the stiffness of her bosom beneath that black dress, her lips brushing the center zipper line. She smiled a little up at her.

And Jeanne Alter felt her brow twitch. Eyeing Gudako’s button-up shirt. Her fingers locked stiffly at her side.

The words didn’t escape, but she clenched her teeth and managed to make a small glare down at Gudako. That tension slowly unwound with each brush of Gudako’s fingers, with each nudge of affection.

A haze started to fall over Jeanne Alter’s mind. The sort she didn’t want any part in fighting. Her lips trembled as she reached her arms out to grab Gudako’s, deciding she wanted to start small. Her hands traced that bruise across her jaw. A repeat of the gesture that had started this whole thing.

Her body shivered as Gudako’s fingers moved gently between her thighs.

She watched her grow nearer, feeling Gudako’s other hand caress her cheek, sliding in between the white locks of her hair. She was close enough now that Jeanne Alter’s arm wrapped around her shoulders to pull her the rest of the distance.

Jeanne Alter, be it because of that haze settling in over her mind, or that newfound courage in the nerves of her rapidly beating heart, finally gave in to the thought of wanting to kiss her.

Gudako was ready for it and smiled against her lips as they crashed together. But that small smile and the dance of her tongue against her lips felt encouraging.

Her other hand touched Gudako’s hip and decided to slowly grip her back in equal fervor.

Her fingers twitched, and it felt like her whole arm was shaking.

Scared.

Her master, however, seemed to slow down for just a few seconds. The intensity of the kiss lessened, and Jeanne Alter felt her hands on her hip clasped by Gudako’s. The one that had been gently tugging her hair and supporting her for the kiss.

She whispered quietly. “It’s okay, Jeanne. I’m right here…I’ve got you.” She kissed her chaste.

Jeanne Alter squeezed her eyes shut, feeling her vision blur.

Why am I lucky? I shouldn’t be lucky…

She guided Jeanne Alter’s hand over her breast beneath that button-up shirt. “And you’ve got me.”

W-what did I do to deserve this?

Gudako’s fingers were gentle in their firmness, for the first time, she snaked further away from her core.

Her breath shuddered as Jeanne forced her eyes open again. It took far more effort than she would ever admit, biting down on her lip a bit harder, squeezing her pelvic muscles as if she could stem that growing heat. It only seemed to slowly intensify it. There was a damp trickle there that still terrified her. 

Gudako’s now free hand tugged at the belt around her waist, leaning away again. Once again, just far enough for Alter to detect an absence of her warmth when she closed her eyes.

Jeanne Alter watched the belt get tossed to the side, too, toward Gudako’s suit jacket. Alter could feel her own clothes starting to grow constricting. The reason why her master was shedding her own clothes bit by bit.

Once more, she eyed those buttons on that black button-up shirt and then averted her eyes. Because her hand was still there, being held onto Gudako’s right breast. There was…forming bliss that Jeanne Alter could hardly describe. It was a situation she’d never thought to be in. Her mouth pressed into a sharp line, and she leaned forward, deciding to apply pressure.

Practically, she knew that much at least.

They were firmer than her own, but no less perfectly shaped, even under that tight black button-up shirt.

Gudako bit her lip and hummed. She leaned in close to Alter again, so close that it knocked Jeanne Alter right back out of her focus to those golden eyes above her.

She stiffened back reflexively into the bed, even though she knew the kiss was coming again. This time, Gudako waited for her. Those golden eyes were gentle and encouraging. She said nothing because she didn’t need to. Not for this at any rate.

But still, Jeanne Alter could imagine her words clearly.

“It’s alright, Jeanne. This is no nightmare or dream…Kiss me.”

As if to make that point, Gudako’s other hand pressed against Jeanne’s navel. Jeanne was still stiff and dared to look down, watching her master’s hand glide across her black dress, applying that ever-gentle pressure along her body.

“M-master-” She managed between shaking lips.

Gudako only hummed at her, that orange hair still a little wet from her visit to the bathroom to tidy herself up after they’d gotten back.

Jeanne Alter leaned upright and touched that bruise again. This time tracing her jawline back to those orange hairlocks. With her heart beating and face flushed, she managed it again. Squeezing her eyes shut, closing the distance rapidly before she could derail herself.

Slowly, during the kiss, her tense expression started to evaporate.

And Gudako finally reciprocated Jeanne Alter’s groping, as that hand slid up her body, pressed gently against her own breast. And a lecherous noise escaped her, muffled only by the taste of her master’s mouth pressing in against hers. Her body was still wracked with that fear in the back of her head.

###Gudako Fujimaru###

It was easy to notice her avenger's fear. Gudako had often wondered privately what memories Gilles had implanted in her to be so wracked with self-doubt. She also wasn't sure if Gilles was even fully to blame for the state she was in. There were a plethora of reasons why she could be afraid, and all the ones Gudako could think of made a sort of sense. 

So Gudako whispered reassurances. Reassurances to her that she was still alive and well, thanks to Jeanne Alter’s hard work. That Jeanne Alter was beautiful, no matter what those doubts or fears might tell her. But still, she eased up just a little to give Jeanne Alter the space she might want to deal with her own fears.

Gudako was still holding Alter’s hand up to her breast. The hold on the wrist was firm, but not forceful. There was a stiffness of her nipple as she leaned forward a bit, pressing herself into Jeanne Alter’s hand. Feeling that warmth of herself starting to grow, however, Jeanne Alter was her priority.

I could stand to wait.

Slowly, she let her wrist go and cupped Jeanne Alter’s cheek.

Her avenger beneath her stiffened, her breath shuddering against her skin as she turned to follow Gudako’s hand.

Despite those fears…she’s already come a long way from even a few moments ago.

That was good, Gudako felt with certainty.

It means she trusts me back.

Finally, Gudako hefted one leg up and slid closer, tucking Jeanne Alter’s hips between her knees. She was now fully on top of her.

Jeanne Alter’s amber eyes seemed to fixate on every little movement she’d made.

Gudako brushed her thumb along Alter’s lips and leaned in again. “You’re beautiful.” She whispered again, just before kissing Jeanne Alter’s jaw.

It was tense and slow, but Gudako felt Jeanne Alter reciprocate a little; this time, Alter’s hand moved almost like a twitch of her body, against her right breast. Gudako smiled into her kiss as she felt that twinge of her own pleasure, added to the growing warmth forming inside of her.

She squeezed Alter’s breasts underneath that black dress, feeling her shudder now between her thighs.

“Ah-!” Jeanne Alter clamped down on her lips, biting them, as a red flush spread across her porcelain skin from ear to ear.

It was still the only thing Gudako dared to do for the moment.

No matter what she’s scared of, it's best to ease her into this.

She smiled against Jeanne Alter’s neck, one hand moving in a circular motion pushing against Jeanne Alter’s breast, tucking that spot where her hardened nipples were poking against that fabric gently between the webbings of her fingers with each movement.

With the other, she gently tugged at Jeanne Alter’s white hair, tilting her head one way to kiss a particular part of her face and neck, and then back the other way to kiss the opposite. Gudako forced herself to keep the movements slow, so Jeanne could watch every part of it she wished. She could feel every moment or second of it before it blended into the next.

All of it to show her that her fears were going to be slowly chased away, as Gudako was now hoping to do.

But Jeanne Alter’s hand remained against Gudako’s breast all the while, now of its own volition.

“M-master-” Jeanne Alter’s lips trembled against Gudako’s skin when she pressed close again, kissing her brow.

“Call me Gudako, Jeanne.” She paused to lean away, smiling at her gently as she leaned away, the hand that had been tugging at Jeanne’s hair now traced the curves of her body, all the way down to her hips, and then her thighs.

Gudako could feel the woman’s body reacting, as she sat up straight, wrapping her hand under Jeanne Alter’s knee, and lifting her leg, as she pulled it up. There was a small feeling of pleasure to be gained from being stretched a little, which was only part of the plan.

Jeanne Alter had high black boots, and Gudako pushed that leg flat against the bed by the knee, sliding it up.

Her avenger covered her mouth with her only other free hand. Her amber eyes were still fixated on Gudako, watching her as she went.

She had slipped her fingers into Jeanne Alter’s boot and felt around for the zipper that would undo the clothing article.

And with her other hand, she glided down across the center of Alter’s chest, between the valley of her breasts, her fingers deliberately tugging at that zipper that was there too. But she made no move to pull at it to undress herself. There would be enough time for that in the near future.

For now, Gudako focused on what she wanted to do, which was to make sure Jeanne Alter understood that this would be a pleasurable experience. And to do that, she would have to ensure that fear was at an all-time low.

Now sitting on her knees, between Jeanne Alter’s legs as her avenger lay back flat on the bed, Gudako leaned over to kiss the fabric over her nipples and kiss her lips again. This time, pushing their tongues together.

Jeanne Alter’s hand tightened on Gudako’s breast.

She couldn't help but smile into her kiss with Jeanne Alter, nor could she help the shiver of anticipation that went through her body.

Jeanne Alter’s other hand wrapped around Gudako’s shoulder to keep her against his lips.

Yes, like that, Jeanne. Just like that…

Gudako pulled her lips away reluctantly as her lungs started to burn, but she didn’t part them completely, pressing their foreheads together again. The woman was still shivering, and her breaths were uneven as they held their closeness to one another.

“Gudako-” Alter whispered. As if freshly testing the name on her lips, a new one, for the first time. Her breaths started coming in heavier, and that hand on Gudako’s back dug into her skin a little more. The hand on Gudako’s breast also seemed to grow firmer. “Gudako…” She whispered again.

Hearing her name from Jeanne Alter’s lips in that breathless tone filled Gudako with confidence, and it made her own heart beat faster.

Perhaps my feelings were there all along?

Gudako knew herself to be a dedicated worker. She had to be because she lacked the innate talent to make her a great mage. She’d had to work even harder than her peers. It wasn’t a huge surprise that she’d missed them.

But now that she was fully aware of them…

I won’t let you hide from what you desire, Alter.

Gudako returned the gesture, a firming grip on Jeanne Alter’s cheek as their foreheads pressed together, and she pressed her knee against her core, between Alter’s legs. And that drew a sharp intake of breath that Gudako could feel across her skin.

“Jeanne,” She whispered back, hoping to convey that same emotion for Alter, as she’d suddenly thrust upon her. “Jeanne Alter,” She corrected.

Those amber eyes bulged wide on Gudako once more, as she felt her knee pressing gently against her. “Hugh-!”

Gudako didn’t let her bite her lips this time, instead kissing her, this time with a bit more force, pressing her back against the bed. She had to use her arms to support herself. Alter’s fingers firmed a little bit more, intending to hold her as close as she could.

This kiss was more intense than the previous ones, and Gudako felt Jeanne Alter’s tongue pushing back a little more against her fervent advances. It was a delightful feeling that warmed her further.

Jeanne Alter’s hand was still pressed firmly against Gudako’s breast, but slowly, she felt her other hand slide from around her shoulder, still wracked with obvious nerves, grasp onto her other breast too.

She’s trying.

Gudako rewarded her for it, fingers brushing that zipper around Jeanne Alter’s chest and tugging it lower, exposing her from her neck to collarbone.

The Avenger went still beneath her as Gudako pulled away from her kiss.

For Gudako, it took an effort not to want to rip the rest of that zipper away. But it would be unfair for someone who was dealing with all that turmoil. So she went slowly down on her again, this time kissing where the zipper had gone at its lowest point, closed just before it was to start unveiling the curves of Jeanne Alter’s breasts.

She kissed her just under her bare collarbones and smiled against Alter’s skin.

Jeanne Alter twitched beneath her, and that breath shuddered against Gudako’s orange-red hair.

The hand that had been resting on her breast finally pulled itself away and gently grabbed onto Gudako’s hair, digging gently into her scalp, pulling her lightly.

She obliged the gentle request.

Alter kissed her again on the lips.

She likes kissing.

As if to affirm Gudako’s thought, Jeanne Alter’s hand formed on the back of her head, as she pushed their lips together. This time, Gudako kissed her until her lungs burned and had to pull away.

Jeanne Alter trailed a few centimeters after her, her amber eyes growing softer as she looked at her.

Gently, she brushed Alter’s hair as she pulled away, leaving her hand just over that exposed skin on her chest, the base of her palm just above where the curve of her breasts began. And gently, Gudako applied pressure for her to stay where she was. “Lie back.”

A quiet nod and the sight of Alter biting her lip was her indication of acceptance.

Gudako smiled at her and pulled her knee away from her core, holding Jeanne Alter’s legs apart, settling between them. Her fingers dragged along that zipper of her black dress, tugging it only a centimeter more down, and then traced the rest of it with her index, all the way down.

Her avenger’s eyes bulged when that finger traced past her belly button, and her shudders increased, worsening. And then the pressure was gone as Gudako traced upwards near the end of the black dress.

But it wasn’t for long, as she leaned back quietly pressing her palm down between Jeanne Alter’s legs, trailing up her skin until there was no distance left.

Gudako felt her body tense, hearing Jeanne Alter’s breath hitch.

###Jeanne Alter###

Her nails dug into the sheets on either side of her as she watched Gudako. Of course, it was a place she practically understood to be where you would go to pleasure someone.

But this…

She felt Gudako’s fingers glide over the fabric covering her core, pressing slowly, and dragging the fabric along her skin.

Jeanne Alter bit her lip, and the urge to moan built up in the back of her throat like froth when she was angry. Her body shivered and twitched of its own accord, and looking at Gudako pressed more firmly against her, sent a wave of pleasure through her body as she realized what was passing through her like a fire.

It was spreading and threatening to burn her.

“Gudako-” She whimpered, feeling anxiety renewed.

Her master kissed the side of her knee as she hefted both of Jeanne’s legs up to rest on her shoulders.

“Yes, Alter?” Her voice pierced the air with a certain weight that made her feel warm. There was a dampness that had been growing against her clothes. Even now, she could feel how much worse it was getting now that Gudako’s hand slowly dragged along the stretch of clothing between her thighs. Pressing the fabric tightly against her labia and vulva.

Jeanne Alter shuddered out a breath and tried to sit up, but Gudako placed her other hand up against her chest again, right between her breasts, now straining, it felt like, against her clothes, which seemed too tight.

“Lie back, Jeanne…let me make you feel good.” Gudako smiled at her, kissed her thigh, and then kissed her again, growing closer.

She shivered as she watched, all those words stuck in her throat once more. Unable to either offer acceptance or protest. That fear sent a different shiver through her as the edge of her dress was lifted by her master’s fingers, and her Gudako hunched over, a little kissing her knee.

Then she kissed the dampness of her inner thigh.

Gudako traced a finger from the base of her labia to her clit with a single stiff motion.

Her body shivered, and she dug her fingers harshly into the sheep's as she fought the urge to prop herself up again. She watched Gudako sink lower, and her breath hitched, realizing what was about to happen.

She could feel her underwear stretched to the side, and the warm breath of Gudako directly on her, and each warm breath was more shudders she found herself having to contend with.

But she wants to pleasure me?

Jeanne Alter bit down on her lip as one of Gudako’s arms wrapped around her thigh and brought her closer. She felt her master’s warm lips brush against her, nose trailing against her vulva, and against her clit

Her hips bucked toward the touch, the pleasure was so sudden with its intensity, as Gudako’s tongue slowly went along the edge of her underwear, teasing the edge of her labia, as her fingers poked at Alter’s clit. 

It was like a shock and warm fire spreading through her all at once.

Alter’s breaths came in harsher, and her moans escaped her freely for a moment until Gudako pulled away. Jeanne Alter’s eyes were wide, and before she could stop herself, she reached towards Gudako. Her fingers twitched, stopping short of snagging her orange-red hair.

I don’t want her to stop.

Practically, of course, she knew what was coming.

But she didn’t want that build-up to stop.

But I…I can’t be-

Gudako caught her outstretched fingers with her free hand. With her other, she stroked over her clit, and brushed over all of her once more. The dampness between her thighs once more grew with earnestness. Her outstretched fingers latched onto Gudako’s hand, unwilling to let go.

I’m a witch damned to hell? Why is it-

Her master smiled at her, leaning forward again, and opened her mouth.

Jeanne Alter’s heart beat faster in her chest as Gudako’s tongue ran over her hand, now pressed against her lip, suckling gently on her fingers. She could feel her blush worsening as she observed her master’s display.

Paused only when Gudako pressed her knuckles further against her ajar underwear, the hem running right down the middle of her core, exposing her labia, and vulva nearly top to bottom on one side. Knuckles pressed against the fabric, alternating with the point of Gudako’s fingers trailing around the exposed part of her.

Her hand was still firmly held by Gudako’s fingers when her master spoke gently to her.

“Touch your breasts, Alter.” For a few seconds, she couldn’t believe the audacity of what her master had said. But the way those fingers continued to tease her between her thighs, she realized that it was all in the service of making her feel good. Gudako’s smile was gentle as she rubbed Alter’s fingers along her bruised cheek. “You’ll love it.”

Keeping good on her unasked gesture, Gudako held Alter’s fingers close as she lowered herself again.

Once more, Alter felt the stretching of her underwear being tugged to the side. Those movements are still slow, circular in their rhythm. Gudako traced the edge of her damp underwear with her tongue.

Jeanne Alter shivered, and her eyes flicked to the hand she still had tightly gripping the sheets.

Worthless.

SHUT UP!

She squeezed her eyes shut, and tension lines formed in her brow. The only thing unwinding her was Gudako’s gentle but urge-filled touches.

Why am I so afraid of this?

Gilles.

SHUT UP! I know she isn’t like that!

Still, the fear was there; she didn’t want to be vulnerable again. And this very thing required that in spades.

Gilles had wished her into reality and then thrust her into something she wasn’t ready for. Then he abandoned her like the very world had. He’d also had free rein to give her whatever memories he’d wanted to shape her very being. Jeanne Alter wasn’t sure she would ever have that conversation with the stupid saint when she saw her again to clear up what was real and what wasn’t.

It didn’t matter because even those fictional ones that he’d made would be real to her. 

She could remember screams that made her hoarse and echoes of clanking chains. The smell of rotten iron.

Gilles, her creator, abandoned her. Her purpose as a tool had been used up in an instant on her deathbed. 

Or rather it damn well should have been.

Gudako had been there too, her mystic code stained with blood. Those golden eyes, even then, were full of worry and pity.

Even after all I had done?

She grit her teeth.

This idiot thought me worthwhile enough to pity.

Her distress must’ve been clear.

Gudako’s fingers slowed, and the heat of her hands pressed against her thighs. “Jeanne, it’s okay.”

Jeanne Alter couldn’t stop her damned fingers from shaking when Gudako grabbed onto them.

Sweet assurances to her filled the quiet, warm air between them. Jeanne Alter would never admit to how much they helped with all those loud doubts swirling around her thoughts. She did return her grasp on Gudako’s fingers as tightly as she could manage, hoping to convey that thankfulness unspoken, still lodged in her throat.

Gudako had hardly moved, but Alter could still see the smile at the corner of her lips, as she once more pressed against Alter’s sex, kissing her and licking her.

“Ah-!” Jeanne Alter bit her lip and her legs twitched, still parted apart, but the urge to move them was uncontrollable.

The tightness of the black dress drew her attention back to her breasts. Her nipples were straining against the restrictive clothes. And slowly she started to realize it was leaving her painfully wanting.

Those nimble movements of Gudako’s tongue banished all thoughts and plans from her mind. That haze grew overwhelming all at once, and quickly as it spread from her core outward. She let out an intense moan with it as her hips bucked and she jerked to one side of her body, curling a little too.

Gudako didn’t stop.

And against the sheets, Alter brushed her left breast and added just a little more tension to her as the build-up finished. Pleasure, at last, washed over her, and the tension released.

Her master didn’t stop for several seconds more, but her movements finally started to slow as the haze started to settle.

An orgasm?

“N-ah!” She clamped her lips shut as if trying to rein her body’s feelings back under control. It worked only partially as she squeezed her eyes shut, feeling a lingering tingling like small shocks. Then she blew out a heavy breath all at once, sputtering them out quickly as if trying to catch her breath again.

Her hand lifted from the sheet running through those orange-haired locks between her legs. Gudako kissed her palm and her ring finger and thumb.

“How was that?” Gudako asked gently.

Jeanne Alter felt her words clog in her throat. A lot of them were lies and reflexive denials, and she could hardly let them free. She still hesitated as she slowly lay herself flat on her back again. Gudako rested patiently on her right thigh and on damp sheets. Her master’s warm breath still trickled up over her warm and wet entrance. 

Her underwear was now almost frustratingly damp on her skin. Excess heat escaped from where she wasn’t covered, but the folds to one side reined all that heat into the opposite side.

Despite all that, she finally felt something loosen. That fear’s grip had loosened its vice grip by only a touch. The feeling around her throat felt less restricted, too, as if despite her best efforts, it had happened anyway.

No pain involved.

Her breath was still shaky, and she loosely touched her neck with her hand. “Unexpected…” She spoke honestly.

Gudako eyed her for a moment before slowly starting to push herself up. “And why is that?” Slowly, she peeled Jeanne Alter’s hand away from her hair and intertwined their fingers.

Jeanne Alter shivered her body still feeling a certain degree of sensitivity. “It’s…uh…a lot.” She tried to explain quickly. “I never thought it would feel…like this.”

Her master nodded quietly and still smiled gently up at her. “It’s alright if you want to stop there…”

“N-no!” Jeanne Alter blurted out, her amber eyes wide with surprise, almost as soon as the words escaped her mouth. She blushed furiously. “I mean…uh-” She trailed off quickly, her amber eyes peering into Gudako’s golden ones, realizing no matter what excuse she gave, the game was already up.

She tried anyway.

At least Jeanne Alter thought she did, but she didn’t remember as her words trailed off, dying in the back of her throat as she realized how close Gudako’s face had gotten to her.

Her amber eyes went wide.

Their lips met again. This time the intensity of the kiss was different, she felt herself relax into it far more easily as compared to their previous. Gudako’s hands grabbed her and pulled her closer, tugging gently at her hair strands. Jeanne Alter made a squeak but ultimately squeezed her eyes shut, giving in quickly. She realized how much she was enjoying these tender kisses.

They parted, saliva stretched and dropped between them.

Gudako’s breaths were heavy too. “Good, I really like you too.” Slowly, she started to pull away, kissing her jaw and trailing them down her neck. And to Jeanne Alter’s surprise, her fingers dug into the fabric of her black dress over her bosom once again.

Her body jerked in response, and her amber eyes went wide as she crashed back against the bed with a huff. “Gudako-” she whispered out in a breathless moan.

“Yes?” Her master answered her gently, peeling enough of her black dress to kiss her clavicle, and Jeanne Alter could feel her smile on her skin.

That too was a feeling she was fast growing used to.

She shivered.

I’ve slain fucking horrid monsters and creatures, why can’t I muster up the courage for this?!

Jeanne Alter took a deep breath, trying to force away the shakes in her hands. It hadn’t worked completely, but enough to firmly grasp onto Gudako’s wrists before they slid all the way back down her body.

With one, she intertwined their fingers again.

The other, she dragged her master’s fingers to that zipper running up her dress.

Jeanne Alter breathed out slowly, looking at Gudako. Her master was looking back at her with some surprise, and there was a deep want in those golden eyes. It was as frightening as it was embarrassing. The words she wanted to use to express herself had once again clogged in her throat, and she blushed, looking away.

How can I ever get a word out!?

She was still so close to her that her warm breath trailed up her skin, and Jeanne Alter braced herself for another kiss when they got close.

Coward.

Only Gudako hadn’t moved to kiss her, the hand that had been near the zipper touched Jeanne Alter’s chin and brought her eyes back to peer into them. Jeanne Alter went stiff as with Gudako’s touch and found herself looking right back into those eyes that were full of care for her.

Want for her.

She shivered.

Gudako leaned in closer, kissing under the base of Jeanne Alter’s ear, and she felt their bodies squish together, as her breasts brushed against Gudako, in a tight hug. Her master’s voice came as a whisper.

“As you wish.”

Then she pulled away and did as Jeanne Alter had asked, trailing a kiss down the center of her bosom and dragging the zipper down. Outside of Alter’s tense breaths and Gudako’s suckling lips against her skin, the zipper was like a loud grating noise that filled the quiet of the room between them.

Cool air seemed to rush in against the warmth of her skin. She squeezed out a tense groan as Gudako paused only for a moment to kiss the exposed parts of her breasts.

Her bra was still in place.

Gudako drew attention to the center of that strap running down her chest by running her tongue over it.

Their other hands were still intertwined, but Gudako had moved them, now to rest on Alter’s bra gently. Her free hand, however, dug into her other breast for a moment. Earning from Alter, another squirm from her body.

For a brief moment, Gudako tugged the zipper away with her lips.

For Jeanne Alter, it had been too much, and she blushed furiously, looking away from the sight of it. But the feeling of Gudako’s warm breath traced downward along her body.

Soon her kisses reached her navel, and the zipper had reached near its end.

Jeanne Alter had to fight the needy whine that almost escaped her lips when Gudako had let go of her bra. She twisted and covered her mouth, knowing how red she was ear to ear, sitting there more exposed than ever to her master.

Slowly, Gudako’s fingers gilded back down from her navel to her clit, pushing underneath the zipper of her dress, pushing it off the end, so at last the dress came apart.

The touch of her master’s fingers sent another shiver wracking through her body. Tightly she grasped still onto the webbings of Gudako’s intertwined hand and splayed out onto the bed.

Gudako trailed kisses, following after her hand, from navel to clit, while her fingers spread out along her core once again, brushing her underwear and labia alike. Then her kisses trailed back to her navel, looking up at Jeanne Alter once again. Her fingers slowly stroked the edge of her skin, gliding beneath her damp clothes.

Jeanne Alter bit her lip and shivered while trying to keep her eyes on her.

It amused her master, Jeanne Alter could feel her smile into those tender kisses from navel to clit, and back again.

The grip of her hand along their intertwined fingers finally started to loosen. They grasped her breast when Jenane Alter had reluctantly let it go. The stimulation would have been nearly overwhelming if it hadn’t been for Gudako’s deliberate slowness.

Jeanne Alter had to bite down on her lip harder.

Gudako pressed along Alter’s skin until it grasped her thigh and spread her apart a little more.

Her tongue went back to work.

Alter was sweating, steaming under the fabric of the dress, still draped over her, even if it was unzipped. With an effort, she managed to push herself up and shrug one of her shoulders out of the dress. Her bosom was now permanently exposed in her bra, and a fresher set of nerves came crashing over her as she tensed up.

But it was as if her master could sense her.

The stimulation slowed, and her kiss trailed up from her clit to her navel, where her golden eyes peered up at her amber ones. Gudako smiled in a way that was always seemingly disarming.

Jeanne Alter shivered.

“You’re beautiful, Jeanne Alter…” She kissed her belly button. “Just relax…” Her hand that had been gripping her thigh grasped Alter’s exposed breast. 

“Hu-ah!” She bit down on her lip harder.

Liar

“Gudako–” She whispered breathlessly, her body coming back around to start aching for her master’s sensual touches and rhythmic massages.

It was with help, she managed to shrug her dress off her other shoulder. But it was still against her back, and she didn’t want that constriction anywhere near her still. Gudako and she pulled it out from under her when she sat up.

Then she was down to only her underwear. Jeanne Alter hid her expression behind the back of her hand, feeling heat flush across her face. As she watched Gudako work her way back down to her core. Her hand stroked all about her gently, poking underneath her underwear ajar to the side.

She shuddered.

This feeling is…

Gudako’s eyes were steady on her, never once leaving Alter’s face. Full of emotions that were making Alter’s heart dance.

…too much!

She squeezed her eyes shut, lying back again. “Gudako-” She huffed out again. It was part frustration and part elation. Her master was stubborn in her own way, like she was. And now her master was determined to do…

This.

She hesitated to consider it.

This is what lovers normally do…

She wanted to believe it, but it didn't seem real, even now.

An evil witch doesn’t deserve it.

But Gudako seemed only to intensify her rhythmic movements.

The haze falling back over Alter’s mind was like a curtain. The thoughts in her mind began to flood over simply with that feeling coursing through her. It was so much for her skin to be squeezed with Gudako’s gentle tugs.

Her legs twitched, wanting to close around her, but Gudkao was firm enough to keep them in place.

Then she felt her master’s fingers angle down, pressing against her core, spreading her vulva, and one of them began to dance far closer to her entrance.

Jeanne Alter’s hand grasped Gudako’s hair, her body going rigid all at once, her eyes bulging wide. Her mouth watered with anticipation as she shook, her fingers seeming to test her as her tongue tasted her. She clamped her mouth shut, a mewling noise escaping her as her legs raised against Gudako’s shoulders.

She couldn’t contain the moan that escaped when Gudako's finger finally pushed into her. Her body twisted and jerked uncontrollably as the slow movement of the finger traced the inside of her, sending shivers through her.

Oh god-!

Gudako slowly slid a second finger in, joining the first. In her, they moved slowly, stretching her and spreading her as they pressed against her walls.

“Oh-fuck!” Her voice was hoarse, and she whimpered with pleasure flooding her mind. Jeanne Alter twisted, half turning on her side and then back flat on her back again. Her eyes were wide as she looked down at her.

Gudako’s lips pressed against her clit, her golden eyes brimming with a glow of pure joy as she met her own.

Jeanne Alter squeezed her eyes shut, unable to hold her gaze. The way Gudako looked at her made her feel like she was the most important thing in the world. A fact she knew not to be true.

Right?

The butterflies that had moved into her chest were intent on staying. The fear was so palpable in her mind that her body still jerked. Yet it was growing numb as if it was slowly being drowned out despite its constant presence. 

Why did it have to feel this good?

She bucked her hips forward toward Gudako again, feeling those fingers plunge deeper into her core as a result.

It might’ve been easier if it wasn’t…

Jeanne Alter, with her one free hand, squeezed her right breast. Her hand was sweating in the heat between her bra and nipple. The strain of the fabric seemed to intensify, and her gentle touch was all adding together.

She was right about this-

Gudako was often right about many things. Jeanne Alter was still getting used to that.

She shivered again, moaning as Gudako’s tongue got to work, picking up rhythm, dancing along her clit, pushing her skin around, her fingers moving and tracing inside of her.

Jeanne Alter could feel that same tension from only a moment ago wound nearly all the way back up again. She moaned, one hand clasped in her mouth, the hot air near enough to make her eyes water. The way she was squishing her own breast with her other hand.

And the way Gudako pleased her.

Sweat gathered on her brow, and Gudako’s free hand squeezed her thigh firmly.

This one was more intense than the last, and her eyes started to widen as the rhythmic build-up pushed her over the edge. She moaned as her toes curled as if squeezing herself around Gudako, wanting to feel as much of her as possible, as that haze passed over her and she nearly collapsed back.

But Gudako hadn’t stopped her finger’s movements.

Her fingers curled inside of her just as she was coming out of it.

“Fuck-ah!” She bit down on her lip to prevent the cry. The movement of Gudako’s tongue didn’t let up either. Jeanne Alter curled her chest, sitting up to look at her, not bothering to hide or muffle herself any longer.

Instead, she grabbed a handful of Gudako’s hair and clutched onto it as if it were her lifeline.

Her legs lifted into the air as Gudako seemed to squeeze her, and it didn’t stop until she came a second time. Filling the quiet air of their room with her wheezing, heavy breaths.

Gudako pulled away, licking her lips, satisfied with her work.

Jeanne Alter didn’t let go of her, her hand still firmly in Gudako’s hair, saliva coming from the corner of her mouth. Slowly, she’d picked herself up, sliding to sit upright. Her master waited for her to adjust, however she wanted. Alter slid her legs off of Gudako’s shoulders. Then she at last grabbed Gudako’s shoulder with her hand.

Amber eyes roamed from that ruffled orange hair down to the slack pants she was still wearing.

Gudako smiled at her and reached out, cupping Jeanne Alter’s face. “You look more honest.” She breathed out quietly between them and took advantage of their closeness.

Which was exactly what Jeanne Alter wanted.

Right?

She moaned around Gudako’s tongue in her mouth and pulled her master closer, not caring that she was still in clothes or still between her legs. She locked her between her thighs and was intent on keeping her there for a while longer.

But why would I?

She squeezed her eyes shut, wanting to focus on Gudako’s touches.

More honest?

She shuddered against her Master’s skin.

Gudako smiled into her kisses, trailing around her neck, to her clavicle.

Jeanne Alter rocked them back and forth, nearly falling back onto the bed and pulling her master along with her. Still stealing every kiss she could, as if it wasn’t going to last long enough for her to realize it.

“You’re so wonderful, Jeanne,” Gudako whispered.

“Master-” She cut herself off as she slowly started to catch her breath. She found her amber eyes roaming Gudako’s figure now with less shame. Perhaps it had worked to unwind her? She thought it might’ve been her plan from the beginning. But there she was still tending to her with those firm and gentle touches.

She is still in that damned button-up.

After a few more seconds of Gudako’s kisses, trailing a warm, comforting heat along her skin. Jeanne Alter managed to bury her nerves; she’d faced down far worse than this. As she’d wondered from the start, there was a chance that this had been there all along, and she’d merely buried it. Duty, trauma, it didn’t matter.

It was buried.

Then Gudako had unearthed it with ease, reaching gently into her heart, and pulling her out with every vulnerability and worrisome thought. Every scratch and scar.

And had done nothing but love and cherish it.

Jeanne Alter fumbled with her movements at first, trying to undo the first button, resisting the instinct to just rip it away.

Gudako steadied her hands by the wrist. A firm grip, but nothing else to direct her motions. The small shakes had stopped.

Those golden eyes rested on her, and her master pressed their foreheads together.

“I’ve got you, Jeanne.” She whispered.

Jeanne Alter leaned upwards and kissed her master’s jawline. A silent thanks for her help, even with this, the most mundane task that she wanted to complete. Gudako giggled and kissed her hair chastely right back.

Thank you.

She took a breath and managed to undo the first button, the second, and then the third. She felt a little disheartened to see that even beneath that layer, Gudako was wearing a grey tank top. But she could see the black straps of her bra, ajar, and over her shoulders.

It was tempting, even with how little it was.

The unbuttoned shirt slowly unveiled more and more of Gudako’s skin.

The tank top was short, showing part of her belly button, and some of her midriff. And as the last button came undone, the shirt fell to either side, unveiling the trail of small battle scars lining the right hip.

Jeanne Alter’s brow furrowed for a second, eyes flicking to Gudako’s expression.

“A fair few places didn’t take too kindly to us, mages, heroic spirits…” She explained, seeing the forming question on Jeanne Alter’s expression. “Least of all a witch like me.”

Her amber eyes stared hard.

Witch… like me?

Her breaths stuttered as she watched Gudako toss her button-up to the side, joining the tangled mess of Jeanne Alter’s clothes on one end of the bed. But Jeanne Alter could scarcely hear or notice.

Witch…like me…

The hazy lust subsided for a moment as she touched Gudako’s midriff with her fingers, from the waist of her pants up to where her tank top started. There were others she saw, too, smaller and less obviously decorative. Barely perceivable patches formed careful indents along her skin.

Gudako remained still for her.

The thought of her master going through anything like that was…

Her throat constricted.

Jeanne Alter thought about burning those shadows alive. Her nostrils flared, and that anger continued to swell up inside of her.

How many times…

She forced out a tense breath.

Did I almost lose her?

Gudako’s fingers roamed into Alter’s hair.

Jeanne Alter sensed her coming closer, so she looked up, her face cupped in Gudako’s hands as her master leaned down.

“I’m right here, Jeanne.” She smiled widely, her face only a few inches from her lips. How suddenly that haze returned with fire. Posseviness shackled around her heart, knowing that her master was comforting her. The idea that she could get used to that sort of thing, and would desperately want to get used to it.

Her master’s fingers cupped her cheeks even as the gap closed for that kiss. It was long, she felt Gudako push her tongue around, her body shuddered with reaction, as she wrapped her fingers around her waist.

Gudako pulled her close, her fingers digging gently into Alter’s head as she pressed Alter closer to her skin.

Jeanne Alter squeezed her eyes shut and tried not to think about how those feelings seemed to flood her again, with lust looking up at her. She also kissed Gudako’s skin back, her lips moving against those patchwork small mismatches in her skin, kissing her belly button. 

Gudako’s hands were gentle on her the whole time.

For a moment, Jeanne Alter preferred to savor it. Her arms were shaking as she was holding Gudako close to her lips and nose, pressing her face against her abdomen. Her hands dug gently into the fabric of her tank top and the bare skin of her back.

Her arms were shaking as she nuzzled her face closer, water coming unbidden into her eyes. Gudako’s fingers were firm as she whispered a few more reassurances to her.

###Gudako Fujimaru###

She smiled softly, feeling the cool wetness against her skin. Jeanne Alter was taking the moment to gather herself together, and Gudako felt no need to rush her. She combed her fingers against her avenger's hair, running through and tucking out small knots against the webbing of her fingers.

She felt Jeanne Alter’s lips kiss her abdomen. They were tentative and hesitant still, but her avenger's tight grip on her gave her no room to leave.

Thus, Gudako was patient with her. Jeanne Alter had already come this far, and she could wait a few minutes longer for her to be even more comfortable.

One thing she felt conveyed with certainty in Jeanne Alter’s grip on her lower back, and her tentative kisses on her navel, was the barest hints of desperation. Gudako wanted to be careful with that feeling, though. She knew how Jeanne Alter tended to think and wanted to make sure that she understood that this wasn’t going to be a one-off thing.

That there was no need for her to feel desperate, just to have this experience they were both craving. That there was no need for her to feel desperate over whatever inadequacy was plaguing her in the back of her mind.

Jeanne Alter kissed her master's belly button.

Gudako ran her fingers past the back of Alter’s head, sliding onto her back, and under the straps of Jeanne’s already loose and disheveled bra strap. She didn’t tug it free quite yet, but she slid her hand underneath the straps and along the line across Alter’s skin.

The woman shook against her.

Jeanne Alter’s hands behind her seemed to cling to her more tightly. She still felt that dampness on her navel where her avenger's face was buried along her skin.

Honestly, it’s a wonder I never approached her before.

Gudako felt her heart thudding in her chest too and took a deep breath, taking one last look down at Jeanne Alter, and then herself in that grey tank top. It seemed so out of place now with how much skin of that beautiful woman was clinging to her. But she had her own nerves to overcome, too.

With one last deep breath, she withdrew her hands from holding onto Alter and freed herself of that tank top. Jeanne Alter went stiff, seeming to know what had happened, but refused to pull her eyes and nose away to see. Instead, she kissed her navel again and started tracing one of her small scars to her right hip.

Gudako loved that feeling, and she could feel the dampness of her clothes pressing in against her. She twitched Jeanne Alter’s roaming hands, as they pressed against her butt, and carried on as if she hadn’t noticed.

A heavy breath escaped Gudako’s lips at the feeling.

She doesn’t even realize how badly I’m already craving her.

She smiled a little to herself, pressing her hands back down against Alter’s shoulders. Gudako couldn’t recall the last time someone had paid her this kind of attention. She wasn’t going to squander it in any shape or form. On that she swore: But it took everything in her not to just push the girl away and suckle on her lips, push her back against the bed and fondle her, to finger her until her wrist grew sore.

Gudako swallowed and waited.

Jeanne Alter finally seemed to lift her head away from her navel; her eyes were still leaking as much as the woman might’ve tried to hide it.

She was going to kiss her and wasn’t going to give Alter either the time or the space to wipe her tears away.

Gudako wanted all of her.

And she needed Jeanne Alter to understand that.

Once more, she cupped her cheeks, and Jeanne Alter withdrew her hands from around Gudako’s frame and grabbed onto the wrists, now angling her face upward.

Gudako kissed downward, pressing her tongue into Alter’s mouth, suckling gently on her lips. She could taste the salt from those tears that Jeanne Alter was constantly fighting back. But she didn’t care.

She watched Alter squeeze her eyes shut.

Gudako did too, only slower; she also wanted to savor just the feeling of it. The taste of it. Her thumbs brushed the corners of Jeanne Alter’s mouth, wiping away more of the saliva that slipped free, and she kissed her and suckled on her lips until she felt her lungs start to burn in protest.

Warm.

The heat gathered between her legs and Jeanne Alter’s close proximity, the feeling of her hands wrapping around Gudkao’s shoulders wasn’t helping. Her golden eyes opened first as she peeled away.

Feeling Jeanne Alter’s body pressed closer with every panting breath that escapes her lips. Her amber eyes had a dull lustful haze over them as she now looked Gudako up and down. Free of that tank top.

Gudako watched her eyes pause at the blemishes, scars, and other small tolls that her body had taken since the beginning of her journey. She watched her avenger swallow with uncertainty, and her blush widening from ear to ear as she finally managed to return a long look at Gudako’s eyes.

She smiled and pressed their foreheads together again, “I’m here, Alter.”

“Idiot.” She croaked in a cracking voice. It did not take away from her avenger’s beauty, even with that. This time, it was Jeanne Alter who closed the gap the rest of the way when they kissed.

###Jeanne Alter###

It was trickier to get Gudako out of her pants than she thought. They were in an awkward place with her sitting on her knees, while Alter was still sitting mostly normally. But they managed it. The only thing that had eased Jeanne Alter about the motion was the giggles that Gudako didn’t bother to stifle.

Jeanne Alter still felt embarrassed and sheepish.

And she couldn’t take her damn eyes off all those blemishes along Gudako’s skin. She wondered what it would be like to kiss and lick them all, much like she had with the one near Gudako’s hip.

Next time.

The thought came unbidden, and her heart stopped. Her eyes seemed to widen as she was pushed back onto the bed a few more heavy breaths escaped her. Her bra had been knocked even more ajar, the edge of her nipple exposed to the air.

Next time?

Presumptuous witch.

She clicked her teeth together and saw Gudako leaning over her, their breasts pushing past one another as she angled to be face-to-face with her again. That gentle, ever-present smile was now sending a shiver up her back.

Next time.

Jeanne Alter’s fingers dug into Gudako’s skin, and she leaned up to Gudako, enticing her to follow her back to the bed. It had worked like she’d wanted, being pressed against the bed by a violent kiss. Squished between the bed and Gudako.

She touched Gudkao’s thigh and felt a dampness there. Her eyes were wide when she tried to catch her breath. “Y-your wet…” She commented, blushing as she managed.

Gudako hummed, “Yes, because I crave you.” Her master blushed too, but still held her gaze, looking right at her. Then she smiled, knowing the effect her blunt honesty was having on her partner tonight.

Her heart skipped a beat, and Alter could feel her chest start to ache. “Idiot-” She started to sputter.

Only Gudako had closed the gap again and kissed her, pressing her back against the bed. 

Heat flooded across Jeanne Alter’s body, and she squished her thighs together. She loved it. A moan escaped her lips as she was gently squished between the bed and the woman making love to her.

She couldn’t stop the shivers as Gudako’s fingers wrapped around her breast, brushing that exposed part of her nipple. And when she felt herself squeezed, her body jerked with craving and lustful hunger.

When she came out of it, she found her panties had been pulled down. Even though she’d already seen her, the exposure. With it came a coolness to contrast all that heat radiating off her. It sent a chill through her. But she remained firm as Gudako’s fingers brushed past the bareness of her folds, her palm and fingers resting on her clit, and Jeanne Alter already wanted her fingers to fill her again.

Her panties were resting over her right knee alone, and her left leg was placed over Gudako’s shoulder. The orange-haired woman was lighting a fire across her again. With kisses and gently firming touches as she worked her way back up.

One that was so soothing it defied belief.

Her bra was tugged looser, and the whole left breast had been exposed, the fabric coiling beneath it. Her master’s tongue pressed against her breast, and she watched her nipple disappear between her lips, that warm tongue rolling over her. Jeanne Alter grabbed a fistful of Gudako’s hair.

She felt Gudako’s knee press up between her thighs, sending a wave of heat coursing through her.

A heavy breath escaped her lips as she felt Gudako suckling at her nipple. And when she pulled away with a pop, Jeanne Alter jerked again, her eyes bulging wide with a sharp and sudden gasp.

Tension started to fill her once more. Her amber eyes looked down at Gudako, who was now switching to her other breast.

“Ah-!” She bit down on her lip this time to prevent the string of noises that threatened to escape her. She felt Gudako’s hand slide down her hip, and up between her thighs, pressing against her clit.

Her knee moved up farther to exacerbate that feeling. She could feel herself growing warmer and damp against the limb.

“Fuck-” She breathed out.

Gudako sat up a bit, and Jeanne Alter took the chance to grab onto Gudako’s chest again, still holding onto a fistful of that orange hair. That sideways smile that her master gave her sent a shiver through her. A smile of anticipation and a smile of that same lust she knew was reflected in her own.

I shouldn’t be craved.

Her fingers dug into Gudako’s black bra, and she watched those golden eyes close and a heavy breath escape her master.

But…

She swallowed.

What if I really let myself want this?

Her master’s body twitched, and Jeanne Alter moved her fingers along the fabric until she could feel that growing stiffness against the fabric.

What if I really am craving her too?

It was clearly a choice Gudako was gently leading her to. There was no pressure to answer it right now.

But she craves me?

The only thing that came to her mind, despite all those words she wanted to say clogging her throat, was that she wanted to make her master understand in turn how much she valued her.

Jeanne Alter knew that she couldn’t be redeemed.

Her master was the closest she’d ever gotten. That alone sparked a feeling in her to not be ignored or buried. She needed to tell her just how wonderful she’d been to her. Just how much she cherished even to share the same air as her.

Her heart started to beat faster as she slowly forced herself to sit up again. This time, they were much closer in height compared to how they were arranged only moments ago. Jeanne Alter’s eyes traced up the cracks and blemishes in Gudako’s skin, one of them was a small line above her heart, curving away.

A near miss.

Jeanne Alter kissed it.

Gudako’s fingers firmed on her shoulders.

Alter could feel Gudako’s tense breath in her hair, and then the lips of her master grazing across her skin. Her amber eyes flicked upwards as she traced her kisses up Gudako’s neck and jawline. She could feel her master’s body tense against her. It was a different feeling that spread through her alongside the warmth of her own body.

It was comparable only to that distinct feeling of protecting her master. Only it had possessiveness and determination that filled her to match.

Jeanne Alter trailed her fingers up Gudako’s thigh and felt the dampness of her underwear. She smiled against Gudako’s bra when she pushed forward against her. Gudako’s arms formed around her.

‘Craving’…meant ‘want’…didn’t it?

So close she could hear Gudako’s heavy breaths along her earlobe. The warmth of their bodies pressing together seemed almost feverish. Jeanne Alter couldn’t resist smiling against her skin as she leaned forward, pushing back a little, just to keep them close.

“Y-yes,” Gudako whispered.

Jeanne Alter felt her body shudder at her master’s words of encouragement. Her finger was now pressed fully against that damp fabric covering Gudako’s entrance.

“Just like that,” She continued, and her breath hitched, and those arms wrapped around Jeanne Alter’s head seemed to tighten.

Not that Alter would want to escape anyway. She liked being pressed against Gudako’s chest. She could hear her master’s heartbeat. It soothed her in such a way that she couldn’t form the words.

She’s right here…

I’m right here.

Jeanne Alter felt that warmth between her own thighs starting to grow into an ache. She squeezed her thighs shut and focused on kissing Gudako. Slowly, her fingers slid beneath the dampness of her underwear.

She felt around for all those places Gudako had found for her when her master had traced her fingers and tongue along her. Noting how slick it already felt, how easily it made her master twitch against her.

She wants…me?

Her brows furrowed a little and nuzzled against Gudako’s chest, her other hand, which had been twisted around Gudako’s midriff, finally withdrew to grab her master’s bosom.

Gudako moaned gently into her ears, “I’m already close…” She huffed out between her breaths, her fingers tightening along those white hair locks. “Having you-ah!” She bit her lip a little harder, and her eyes blinked away the haze. “You’re more than enough-.” She managed with a strained breath.

Jeanne Alter felt on fire from ear to ear as her cheeks burned. Her master’s blunt honesty would always be something that undid her. It would always be something that attracted her. She mumbled a moan between her breaths.

They were both upright and pressed close together. Jeanne Alter slowly guided her fingers around her cunt in the same manner as Gudako had done to her. Her fingers motioned around her clit, moving around, before sliding deeper, pressing the folds of labia and vulva gently apart. Her palm pressed against her clit.

“Oh-Jeanne!” Gudako bit her lip and fell against Jeanne Alter’s shoulder. Suddenly, her master’s thighs closed around her fingers, trapping her hand there in that warmth. Sweat formed on Jeanne Alter’s brow, the fire burning away at her.

Gudako finally slid one hand lower, grabbing onto her ass, and pulled Jeanne Alter seemingly closer.

Their breasts squished against one another, and she felt her master move.

Jeanne Alter tried not to flinch and shuddered as she felt her nipples ground against Gudako’s skin. Her breasts were being squished in too, just by the tight hug. She opened her door for heavy breaths.

But Gudako kissed her.

She moved her fingers, feeling her master moan into her mouth for the first time.

It was an addictive experience. 

She could feel Gudako’s body clench and tense as she moved her palm and fingers gently around. Probing until at last she found her entrance proper beneath the fabric.

Jeanne Alter realized, too, why Gudako had left her panties on for so long.

She liked the closed feeling of having that damp underwear pressing against her knuckles, as it trapped her fingers against Gudako’s sex.

“Almost Alter-” She managed. “Almost…f-ah!” Gudako’s body jerked. Her breaths came more rapidly, almost wheezing, the warm breath rolling over Jeanne’s skin.

She bit on her lip to prevent her shuddering just for a moment longer. Just to keep the haze of her own building tension at bay for a moment longer. How much her body craved her master in turn, like willful defiance of what Jeanne Alter had been saying, instead of being honest. Even now, she still couldn’t bring herself to voice it.

She moaned into Gudako’s ear, too, while her fingers worked.

That slick, wet feeling grew more intense seemingly in the air. She pressed a finger slowly into her, filling Gudako in the same manner as she’d been. She sank in, slowly, easing herself in.

Finally, Gudako twitched with release. Her master's whimper against her turned into a deep moan. A noise that she would forever commit to memory. The throne would have to rip it from her grasp. Because nothing else would ever compete or compare. Jeanne Alter’s amber eyes went wide as that feeling, as her finger felt constricted, squeezed in her.

How roughly Gudako grabbed her in turn, pulling her lips back to her own. The way Gudako’s tongue slid across her lips and into her mouth. Lapping up whatever saliva had been left from her kisses on Gudako’s exposed skin.

It felt as surreal as everything that had taken place before it, and another different sensation started to fill her. The desperation to be touched again, as she felt a wet trickling down her thighs with anticipation.

I…want more?

Jeanne Alter tore Gudako’s bra away, throwing it to the pile with a dismissal that surprised even herself.

Gudako pressed their foreheads together again, and she saw those soft golden eyes peering at her all the while.

Did she know all along? How could she? I swore to myself to keep it buried-

Jeanne Alter shuddered but returned her next kiss with fervor. She didn’t quite take the dominating role, but she wasn't passive any longer. She refused to be. Jeanne Alter pushed Gudako’s head back a little. And she could feel Gudako’s smile in their kiss. Her sudden enthusiasm was something overwhelming and craving.

The smile sent a shock up through her in a different way.

Something tugged at the corner of Jeanne Alter’s lips.

The damn feeling was infectious.

Gudako refused to part from her until Atler felt her lungs crying out in anguish, burning her from within to match the heat rolling over from her own cunt. A string of saliva dripped away between their lips as they parted.

All Jeanne Alter could think about was Gudako’s rough moans and needy grasps of her hands along her skin.

My craving wasn’t this bad…right?

Gudako’s knee pressed back against Alter’s core, all the while Alter’s fingers remained trapped against Gudako’s beneath her underwear.

It couldn’t have been this bad all along?

Her body twitched as she moved her hips, but Gudako made her whine when she pulled her knee away. Jeanne Alter, in turn, dug her fingers into her master’s sex, feeling elation when her body shuddered once more against hers.

“My sweet avenger-” Gudako purred into her ear, and her breath hitched before another whimper escaped her. Then those golden eyes re-focused on Jeanne Alter, pressing their foreheads back together. She couldn’t avert her amber eyes easily from her master’s gaze.

This wonderful…

The look alone made her shudder with anticipation.

Gudako could move her hand more freely, and with one of her arms firmly wrapped around Jeanne Alter’s backside, she slid the other down the center of her body, angling down past her navel.

And her fingers sent a salivating moan of pleasure from Alter’s lips.

Gudako’s fingers paused at her clit, pressing gently against her heat before sliding lower, gliding across her labia and vulva, stretching her gently apart.

Jeanne Alter squeezed her shut and stiffened upright with another moan. Feeling Gudako pepper kisses along her jawline and cheeks. And slowly she was eased back onto the bed, panting for air. As she fell away, she tugged on Gudako’s bra strap and managed to snag half of it away.

Gudako smiled down at her, a little lopsided, following her most of the way. Alter’s hand was still stuck against her master. A few gentle movements of her fingers sent shudders through her, much like her own excitement. And there was a way those golden eyes peered down at her, matching her fervor. “W-want to try something else?” 

Nerves riled up in her throat, but this time Jeanne Alter was ready. She nodded once, then twice, “Yes.” The fear that had been holding her back, the walls she built around her heart, and the dams she built to keep feelings from overflowing were eroding slowly. Just slowly enough, while she couldn’t speak to her feelings yet, she could finally admit this was something she craved, too.

To be with Gudako like this…

Even just thinking about her orange-red hair in her fingers again…

…it has to be a dream right?

Jeanne Alter slid her hand free slowly of Gudako’s last article of clothing, being sure to tease her as she went. Her master’s hands wrapped around her damp fingers and guided her upwards to the last bit of her bra now hanging over her shoulder.

Gudako’s warm chuckles and heavy breaths filled the quiet air as Alter tore it away, tossing it over into their messy clothes pile. Then her master did the same, undoing the clasp on Alter’s bra so it wouldn’t irritate her any longer, exposing what little skin she’d had left to the open air between them.

Jeanne Alter watched it flung away to join the rest, too, and blew out a breath, relaxing back against the bed.

But Gudako slid away, moving to the head of the bed, where the wall and headboard were, and she held gently onto Jeanne Alter’s hand as she did so. She tugged for her to follow and join her.

So she did, and Gudako slowly pulled her into a hug; they were pressed up against each other for a moment, and then Jeanne Alter settled in Gudako’s lap, facing her.

From where she was, Jeanne Alter was now half a head taller than her. Alter peered down where they were both no longer on their knees. She huffed out a small smile and looked down at their bodies so close.

Gudako gently touched the nape of their neck and pressed their foreheads together. She kissed Jeanne’s lips chastely and peered at her with those golden eyes.

It steadied the beat of her heart just a little. Enough that after a few seconds, Jeanne Alter forced herself to take a long breath. “Gudako…”

Her master hummed at her.

“Y-you’re beautiful too.” Jeanne Alter leaned down and kissed one of those scars near her clavicle. And then again that smaller one over her heart. 

Some bruises had been exposed, too, one on her left shoulder, that Alter included in her kisses. Another just under her right breast, which she brushed her thumb gently over before wrapping her fingers gently over her master’s nipple.

Gudako smiled into a few kisses along Jeanne’s skin. One along the top of Alter’s ear when she kissed her shoulder. Another on her nose when she righted herself upright again. “Next to you, Jeanne? I could never compare.”

Idiot.

Jeanne Alter felt a protest rise into her throat, that ever-present blush never quite seemed to get a chance to leave her expression.

But a firm grip on her shoulder pulled at her attention.

“But thank you for the compliment, Alter.” Then quietly, Gudako craned her neck upwards, kissing the underside of her chin, her hand gently firming against the nape of Jeanne’s neck, wanting to keep them together for as long as their breaths would allow.

Alter licked her lips before the next kiss on her lips. Gudako hugged their bodies closer, and she could feel her nipples pressing into Gudako’s warm skin. Her fingertips tightened their grip on her master’s back. Every breath expanded their skin into one another, and a glisten formed on her master’s brow, to match her red cheeks.

Once they were situated closer and parted for air, Gudako’s hand went back to the nape of Alter’s neck, pressing their foreheads together. The angle she was held at, she could feel her sweat trickling forward along her skin.

Saliva dripped from her mouth again.

Gudako licked it up.

Jeanne Alter responded by doing the same.

The panting as they caught their breath started to slow, and Gudako smiled up at her. With one hand holding gently onto the nape of Jeanne Alter’s neck, she slowly slid her other hand down the center between their bodies.

She pushed Alter’s left nipple around with her thumb.

Alter shivered, gritting her teeth, breathing more shakily. She kissed Gudako’s forehead and her eyelids when they closed.

That hand slid down to her navel, and then her clit.

“Ah-!” Jeanne Alter pushed herself against Gudako’s wanting to squish herself against her. Her lips trembled as she pressed them into a line, closing, wanting to keep the rest of her feral noise buried.

Gudako kissed her neck. “My sweet avenger-” She mused, and Jeanne could feel the smile of her master’s lips on her neck. Her fingers curled downward in a V shape, spreading against her vulva and labia.

Jeanne Alter twitched, “M-master-” She managed, pressing her forehead down against Gudako again, pushing her master’s head against the headboard, nuzzling roughly against her hair and forehead.

Her master’s warm chuckles filled her heart with joy, and Alter could barely stand it any longer. Relishing the feeling of encouragement Gudako passed onto her, with the nape of her neck firming again, intent to keep their foreheads locked together, sharing heat all along their bodies as they touched.

It’s so warm-

She pulled away only just and saw Gudako’s eyes looking at her as their noses brushed together.

Alter dug one hand into Gudako’s hair, and with the other, she copied her master’s movements. Thumbing gently her left nipple, enjoying the feeling of tension that passed between them.

The way Gudako’s fingers seemed to tug and press at her clit and labia harder.

The moan escaped Alter’s lips unbidden as she fell forward on Gudako again, wanting to press all of herself against her.

D-damn it hua-!

She clenched her teeth as Jeanne Alter affirmed her grip on Gudako’s hair and slid her hand down underneath the hem of her master’s underwear again.

A growl of frustration escaped Jeanne Alter’s lips.

“Why are you still wearing this stupid thing anyway?!” 

Gudako giggled, smiling unfazed even as the tensions came and went with Alter’s fingers pressed against her again. “Because you liked it,” She answered very simply.

“I-idiot!” She blurted out, feeling her cheeks burn.

Jeanne Alter could sense her master’s witty retort coming. She’d been with Gudako long enough to know how much they both like to one-up each other when giving each other shit. But not this time. She didn’t want to be any more embarrassed than she already was. Her heart was already pounding, and her cheeks were already burning.

Alter pressed her kiss roughly against Gudkao’s lips, pressing her back against the headboard again. Her fingers moved gently, still restricted in their movements by the underwear. She might’ve smirked into the kiss if not for Gudako, gently starting to move her fingers rhythmically along her vulva, and her palm pressing against her clit.

Shit SHIT!

Jeanne Alter broke away with another salivating moan, her amber eyes narrowing towards Gudako.

Her master was still smiling pleasantly at her. “My sweet avenger.” She repeated.

“Shut up!” Jeanne Alter said, with her face filling with another blush. Her forehead is still locked against Gudako. Her fingers pushed gently against her master, less rhythmic, but suddenly far stiffer against her master’s sex.

Gudako’s body twitched, and she moaned against Alter’s lips, squeezing her eyes shut only for a moment before those golden eyes filled with haze and lust looked right back at Jeanne Alter.

It made her shiver.

Gudako’s fingers spread around the whole of Alter between her thighs, the hand on the nape of her neck only gently digging her nails into Jeanne Alter’s skin.

Jeanne Alter did the same, feeling the restrictions of Gudako’s underwear again. “I did like it!” She admitted. “But now I feel like I should’ve ripped these damn things off when I had the chance!” She ground her teeth and then pushed forward against Gudako again with another moan.

Her master’s lips traced the line of her mouth and her closed eyelids.

“I might let you, Alter,” She whispered.

Her fingers on the nape of Jeanne Alter’s neck turned into the crook of an elbow. Her hand had wrapped upward, tugging at the white locks of her hair, pulling her face up as she kissed the underside of her chin.

Alter grabbed another fistful of Gudkao’s hair in response with a tug.

“Ah-heh.” Gudako huffed out a few more chuckles.

They were both eye to eye, foreheads pressed together once more.

Gudako continued, “If only to know that every time that you look at me, you know perfectly well I’m without it.” She kissed the corner of Alter’s lips. Her fingers made Jeanne shiver as they curled around her core, gently pushing against her skin.

Jeanne Alter knew Gudako was calling her bluff, and she gritted her teeth, wanting to pout. But she only ended up moaning louder. She could only try to match her master’s intensity as the seconds passed.

“Gudako-” She huffed out between breaths. Her mouth twisted as she weighed the consequences of that. She could imagine it all so clearly, about the smirks her master might send her way or sly comments.

I couldn’t bear it.

Gudako kissed her lips more chastely. “Want to take it off, my sweet avenger?” She offered. Her lips parted, and she leaned back against the headboard, tugging Jeanne Alter along with her.

Her master’s fingers pressed closer to her entrance, parting her.

She couldn’t fight that feeling in her now. Just as much as she could feel her master starting to grind against her, pressing their bodies together as much as possible. Jeanne Alter couldn’t hold eye contact with her master for long. Each movement brought her closer, and the look that Gudako held on her was almost too overwhelming.

“A-after-” She managed, then her expression changed, squeezing her eyes shut with her body shuddering at Gudako’s fingers. It pulled at nearly all her attention, and she couldn’t stand to bear it much longer as their shared heat passed over one another. A mewl filled the quiet air between them. She gave in a little more to that grip on the nape of her neck, pressing their foreheads together.

At the sound of her name, Gudako eased into her once more. As slow and deliberate as before. This time, however, her body had only grown worse with its craving.

Jeanne Alter’s whimpers and mewls crashed together as a loud moan filled that shrinking space between their lips. Alter crashed against Gudako again, trying to suckle on her lips. She squeezed her eyes shut and contracted her muscles around the two fingers as they started to fill her.

Her fingers were still, stretching into her as far as they could easily reach.

Alter jerked and threw her weight against Gudako, a feral whine escaping her lips, as she slowly started to pull her fingers back out.

Her lungs burned, and she seemed to fall a few inches away with a pop, shuddering as Gudako’s grip on her neck firmed again.

Jeanne Alter had only just enough presence of mind left to remember to keep her own fingers moving, still trapped in Gudako’s underwear. Her master moaned against her lips, and the smile along her own skin was enough to nearly send her over the edge.

She responded in kind, slowly pushing her fingers into Gudako. She felt her warmth wrap around her knuckles.

“You don’t know h-how long I’ve wanted you, Jeanne-” Gudako sighed, upright, and Alter could feel her body shiver.

Jeanne Alter growled needily as she felt her master’s fingers slowly fill her once again, their lips crashing together.

Shut up!

Her eyes narrowed, trying to hold a serious expression that seemed to unwind with every movement Gudako made in or against her. Jeanne Alter’s face twitched as they parted for air again.

“Master-” She whimpered.

“I’ve wanted to hold you like this for so long, Jeanne.”

SHUT UP!

This can’t be real…

Jeanne Alter squeezed her eyes shut again. The sincerity was too much for her at that moment. Her body jerked, and she tried to fight it as if it would be an admission that she returned the sentiment. And once that admission was free, there would be no turning back for her. “Gudako-hck-GUH!” The hand that had been clutching Gudako’s hair slammed into the headboard. A guttural cry filled the air.

All she could feel was her master’s smile and light moans of her own. “A dream come true for me, Jeanne Alter.”

Alter curled her fingers inside Gudako to elicit another reaction, feeling her master’s body twitch, squishing against her. “Master-!” She managed between her heavy breaths.

A dream…it has to be…right?

“My avenger-” Gudako growled back, her fingers curling inside Alter, filling her and sending her crashing over the edge.

The tensions he’d been struggling with finally released again, filled with intensity as Gudako held her body’s twisting. Her shudders, shakes, and spasms. The way her hips ground forward against her master’s wrist, her nipples squished into Gudako's body. Jeanne Alter’s loud cries filled the room.

The haze flooded over her mind as her body melted against the shudders of Gudako’s body. Jeanne Alter couldn’t see beyond the blur of her vision. Her master’s grip on the nape of her neck faltered only for a moment.

Gudako’s fingers hadn’t stopped.

Jeanne Alter grabbed Gudako’s hair again and gently tugged her lips up to kiss her again. Catching free moans in her mouth. She couldn’t resist that feeling that took hold of her.

Alter could feel the corners of her lips twitching upwards, a smile of her own on Gudako’s skin.

All the while, Jeanne Alter had done her best to keep her fingers moving, too, and she could sense her Master fast approaching her climax. Gudako’s free hand, which had been holding onto the nape of her neck, finally slid upward into the white locks of her hair.

The moaning cry that came from Gudako filled Jeanne Alter with the same feeling the previous one had, the wish to bask in her master's presence as much as possible. The thought of never leaving her filled her heart.

A possessive want.

“Oh Alter-!” Gudako cried, nails digging into Alter’s hair.

Just as addicting as the rest-

Jeanne Alter didn’t stop her fingers either.

That haze crashed over her mind as she didn’t want to think or worry about anything else beyond the person she held dearest in her arms. Her heart thudded in her chest, and she kissed her again until she needed to come for air. Sweat glistened along their bodies. 

There were no signs of either of them stopping yet.

This time, they came together, pushing, tugging, and swallowing each other's presence as they both tried to squish themselves together. Feeling and enjoying every sensation they passed along to one another.

###Gudako Fujimaru###

She could tell Jeanne Alter wasn’t scared anymore. Or at least in any meaningful way that would make her want to stop. There was a glint in those amber eyes, even if the expression was still one of apprehension. Gudako stole one last chaste kiss as she lay flat on her back.

She could think of Jeanne Alter’s smile in their kiss for the rest of her life, and she might die happy.

Jeanne Alter followed with labored breaths, a glistening trickle coming from the edge of her white locks of hair, falling onto the sheets beneath them as Alter’s arms seemed to lock, her fingers digging into the sheets. Jeanne Alter was intent on holding herself above Gudako a moment longer.

It lasted only a few seconds more as they both needed to pause to catch their breath.

“You’re wonderful, Jeanne.” Gudako smiled, her voice raspy and out of breath still.

Jeanne Alter seemed to stiffen and look away. “Shut-” She breathed out heavily. “-up.”

A giggle filled the air from her.

Gudako felt her heart warm again when she saw Jeanne Alter smiling.

Slowly, her avenger wrapped her fingers around the strings and fabric of her underwear and peeled it away, a string of liquid broke as it was peeled away. Jeanne Alter arranged a leg through and out, freeing her of that last article of clothing.

She left Gudako’s panties around her right knee, just like she had done when she left Alter’s underwear wrapped around her knee.

“I-I want to be close.” Jeanne Alter managed, and she grew embarrassed. “I…mean…you know.” Then she seemed to frown and shrink all at once, growing irritated with herself. “Ugh, I never could talk my way for shit.”

So Jeanne Alter slid closer, lifting Gudako’s bare leg, and slid one of her legs underneath. After a few seconds, she did the opposite to the other side, sliding a leg over Gudako. Closer and closer she slid until Gudako felt her eyes widen just a little, suddenly filling with understanding. 

Close like that.

Jeanne Alter leaned back for a second, pressing their sexes together. Her face filled with another deep blush as she looked at them both. 

Gudako had to fight the shiver from the touch of Jeanne Alter’s damp warmth now pressed up against her. She flicked her golden eyes back up to those glowing amber ones.

She watched her swallow, biting her lip. Then Jeanne adjusted them again, pressing them together. This time, holding one of Gudako’s legs up along her torso, so her foot was in the air.

Jeanne Alter moved, sliding her sex along Gudako.

Gudako’s breath hitched, and she grabbed onto Jeanne Alter’s free hand and brought it to her breasts.

Her avenger obliged and squeezed her gently.

Taking advantage of having her arm now against her, Gudako traced her fingers up along the arm to Jeanne Alter’s shoulder and pulled her even closer. Jeanne Alter didn’t fight the motion as she slid her sex up and down along Gudako’s thigh and her own.

She has been holding back, huh?

The thought made Gudako giddy.

At least I know she had feelings for me, too.

The heat built between them as Jeanne Alter pushed Gudako’s leg back, still against her, the crook of her knee now sliding and hooking over Jeanne’s shoulder.

Gudako spasmed, pushing her damp heat against Jeanne Alter, generating pleasurable friction of her own.

Jeanne Alter growled and caught herself on the sheets. Then she huffed out another moan as Gudako repeated the motion. Her amber eyes remained softened despite the noise, and she pulled herself closer, still grinding her hips forward. 

And gently touched Gudako’s bruise on her cheek.

That little thing that had started all of this.

Gudako grabbed that hand, touching her tenderly, and kissed Alter’s wrist. “Go on, my sweet Avenger.”

Her servant’s brow twitched at that new nickname, and Gudako saw that it was having an effect. She watched the nickname play across her features once again, and she had to stifle a giggle, not wanting to ruin Alter’s current determination. Another spasm pulsated through her body, and Gudako curled her toes.

Jeanne Alter was trying too hard to keep her lips pressed into a line. It was her attempt at keeping her reaction to that nickname as minimal as she could possibly dare to keep it. She also averted her eyes as much as possible to avoid seeing how Gudako was looking at her.

Gudako liked to think the way she looked at her was something between loving and lust. However, she couldn’t be too sure of it.

Since her sweet avenger was so close, she squeezed both her breasts gently as she slid her hands down.

Their sexes passed over one another again, pressing together.

Jeanne Alter’s body shivered in response with a pant.

Cute.

She closed her eyes for a moment, sliding her hands down further from Jeanne Alter’s breasts, along either side of her body.

Alter’s too serious expression broke when she closed an eye, wincing at their next motion into one another. She opened her mouth and moaned, salivating from the corner of her mouth, almost collapsing against her. Her arms twitched, still holding herself up above Gudako. “Idiot-” She managed.

Between breaths, there was a loud pop as Alter licked her lips before her expression turned into a wince again. “Ah-!”

Gudako grabbed onto Jeanne Alter’s hips, gently squeezing as they ground along one another again. Gudako could hardly contain herself either, a needy whine filling the air to match Jeanne Alter’s growls and moans.

“Jeanne-!”

Jeanne Alter’s expression formed concentration lines that were shattered with relief with nearly every prolonged motion. “M-master-,” her voice carrying with it newfound desperation.

The air was so warm in that short distance between them that it felt like steam. Their tongues met before their lips, as they continued to push their cores against one another, moving faster. Until Gudako was writhing, and Jeanne Alter growled out a loud moan when they both finally came again, filling the whole loft with their noise. Sweat glistened along both of their skin in the low evening city lights.

###Jeanne Alter###

Jeanne Alter had never given much thought to what Gudako would taste like. It was something she’d fantasized about in her own private time. She’d thought about how she might want to pleasure Gudako if ever given the chance. But taste was never something she really considered. 

Because such dreams could never have been reality.

A dragon witch doesn’t deserve anything.

Her master’s fingers combed through her white hair, encouraging but never forcefully pushing.

And yet…

Jeanne Alter looked up from between Gudako’s legs, to see those golden eyes peering down at her, and the French woman tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and sank herself a bit lower so she was lying face down on the bed, nearly.

She gently ran her fingers slowly over the folds of Gudako’s sex. Spreading her labia and vulva with her middle and index fingers.

Her master’s breath hitched, and Alter firmed her grip along her master’s thighs, drawing her legs in closer.

She rested one over her shoulder.

Jeanne Alter then kissed Gudako’s clit and enjoyed the reverberating shivers of Gudako’s legs on her. Her grip tightened a little more despite her seemingly constant frayed nerves. She didn’t want to disappoint her after all of this.

The dampness on the sheets pressed up against her nipples as she sank lower, kissing her against her labia and vulva, running her tongue along the edge of her damp folds. It had a salty, sourness to it.

Addictive, that it might’ve been sweet.

Jeanne Alter looked up once more.

Gudako bit her lip and nodded at her, digging her fingers gently into the white locks of Alter’s hair even more.

The French avenger leaned away only for a moment, taking one last deep breath before she kissed and licked her again. Fingers drew along the outside and the clit where the tongue wasn’t, and when she licked her clit, her fingers moved towards her core, spreading her.

Soon, Gudako’s moans filled the air.

To match her growing noises, Jeanne Alter sank her fingers in and curled before pulling them out again. She smiled against Gudako’s sex and continued the movements of her tongue and fingers.

But I never imagined…

Jeanne Alter could feel herself warming between her thighs and pushed her knees together as she lapped at Gudako.

…even this would make a mess of me.

###Gudako Fujimaru###

Exhaustion of a kind was starting to set in. Though just because Gudako was starting to feel a kind of soreness that left her aching for more, it didn’t mean she was about to call it a stop. They were both lying sideways, opposite to one another.

There was a bead of sweat she caught, wiping away at the rim of her hair. Her eyes trickled down Jeanne Alter’s skin, from where she was, down and up between the valley of Alter’s bosom. She found those amber eyes returning that wordless glance.

Her face was flushed with heat, affixed by a permanent blush that rose from Jeanne Alter’s cheeks to her ears, if she seemed to hold Gudako’s eye for a few seconds too long. But it seemed the girl had finally grown used to it.

And if not used to it, she is accepting of my feelings for her.

Gudako didn’t bother trying to resist the smile tugging on the corner of her lips, looking at Atler.

Then she took a deep breath and kissed Jeanne Alter’s clit. The woman had a sharp moan in response, and Gudako could feel the subtle movements stifled with her hands pressed along Jeanne Alter’s thighs.

Slowly, Gudako guided her nimble hands between her thighs gently as if to part them in any way that might grant her more space to move freely. And she once more licked her avenger’s clit, feeling elation at the other woman’s mewling response.

With the end of her hands, she guided Alter’s thighs a little further apart, and with her thumbs, she gently pressed against her vulva and spread her folds gently. Her kisses trailed past her clit, and further between her legs, toward her core.

Where Gudako paused as her own body reacted to Alter’s kiss and tongue. Like with her avenger, a gasp filled the air as she pulled away.

She’s so beautiful-

Gudako squeezed her eyes shut as something electric went through her, and she nuzzled against Jeanne Alter’s thigh.

For a short moment, they both seemed to catch their breaths afterward, before they arranged themselves one more time, using one another’s legs as pillows as they licked and fingered away at one another.

Gudako’s fingers wrapped around Alter’s legs, now that her mouth was pressed against Alter’s sex. Curling tightly into her avenger’s skin, and pulling the legs down around on either side of her head so she was nestled between those dripping wet thighs, feeling dampness on her cheeks, heat from sweat, and all their previous times together this night.

There was a gentle pain as those thighs pressed along the bruise on her jaw. But it was scarcely noticeable now.

Jeanne Alter stifled a scream of pleasure by doing the same, burning her lips against Gudako’s sex. Plunging her tongue into her.

As the heat built towards another climax, they seemed to curl inwards towards one another, whispering and moaning sweet nothings to one another alongside their names. And when they came again, between all those circular motions and tangled webs of limbs, they relished the fact of being so close to one another.

Fuck being sore…I’ll take every moment I can get.

Jeanne Alter shuddered, no doubt feeling Gudako’s grin against her down there, her thighs closing around Gudako’s head as if to trap her there, but it was gentle, and she could feel every thumbing revelation of pleasure that sent a shock through her body.

Now with full access, and being trapped against her, just as she’d done to Alter between her own thighs, they both continued to work away at each other, counting to fill the room with their heat, their smell, and their aggressive sounds.

She knows now. She knows without a doubt how much I love her.

Gudako felt her body quivering with anticipation of the growing heat.

I promised to show you, Jeanne. Do you understand?

As her body teetered, she felt Jeanne Alter dig her hands against Gudako’s ass, holding her sex firmly against her mouth, but then she had to lean away, wanting to moan and whine for her master.

“My sweet avenger-ah!” Gudako bit on her lip to prevent her from crying out and squeezed her thighs shut, stuck in that damp heat, feeling the pleasure elicited by Jeanne Alter’s touch along her core.

I love you.

###Jeanne Alter###

The night was near its end, and Jeanne Alter, sore from fighting and now sore from her master’s undivided attention, had made her feel exhausted and tired. Not since their time in Luluwaha had she felt so drained of energy.

And the servants didn’t get sore. Not unless under extreme conditions. While her fight from earlier had certainly presented a trail she would sooner forget than have to see such a close call again, the stresses from it had been recoverable. There was a strain that had been there only partially when the fight was over. But thanks to her strange existence being tied to a grail, her mana had taken effect

She’d healed.

Those cracks in her white skin, now faded, were probably something that not even her observant master had spotted.

Unless…she did see me all along.

The thought made her giddy.

If she wasn’t already going against every instinct and fear screaming at her still, and already slumped into her master’s arms, she would’ve melted at that thought with something akin to contentment.

Jeanne Alter was exhausted now, and it was in the best way possible. She giggled when Gudako kissed her jaw and licked her from mouth to ear. Jeanne Alter balled her hands into the damp sheets around them, and her toes curled underneath the rimmed edge of her blanket.

They were now laid once more against the headboard. Jeanne Alter was with both of Gudako’s arms, tucked into her idiot master’s lap, pressed against Gudako’s bosom.

She chuckled at her master, nuzzling the side of her face and tucking her locks back behind her ears.

Jeanne Alter curled a bit more into her master’s chest, kissing from the end of Gudako’s nipple to her master’s clavicle.

She couldn’t stop her damn lips from smiling, even as Gudako’s fingers started to pick up their rhythm, between her legs. She shuddered against Gudako’s skin, squeezing her eyes shut, and nuzzling into her.

“F-fuck…Gudako!” Her breath hitched, and what would’ve been a bodily jerk was not more than an exhaustive twitch as she leaned against her master’s collar.

Gudako thankfully stole her lips and tongue again.

Her fingers continued to make that wet, lewd noise, pausing only for those fingers to curl inside of her again.

Jeanne Alter felt that tension had ramped up to near climax once again, and hooked one arm around Gudako’s neck to keep her lips pressed against her own. And with the other, she squeezed her own breast and hoarsely cried her master’s name again.

“Gudako!”

Her master didn’t stop even when she felt herself released from the tension, and her body’s shakes and shudders wracked her in Gudako’s lap. Her toes curled and released with it.

Finally, with a last moan, Jeanne Alter stretched out along her master, sliding against her skin out of breath. Her high intoxication as she could feel Gudako’s smile on her skin, her kisses trailing further along her.

What could I even do now?

Her breath hitched.

I was…supposed to not ever do this…right?

Jeanne Alter squeezed her eyes shut as even amid the end, she wanted to curse herself for damning her master to eternity with her. She was supposed to have kept all those little flights of fancy locked away. She was supposed to keep it all in a place where her master would never find it or not.

And her smile faded in almost an instant.

Because…how could I ever compare?

They lay against one another, catching their breaths one last time.

Jeanne Alter thought her eyelids were heavy and her vision blurred from all that had happened. She managed to slowly affix her gaze up as Gudako splayed out against the headboard.

Her master chugged back one of the water bottles on the nightstand, and once again, gasped for air, having finished. “Nngh-” She twitched, and those golden eyes spotted her amber ones.

She quickly averted her eyes, but found she didn’t want to remove her head from being against Gudako’s skin.

Despite the heavy breaths, Gudako managed a few chuckles, her hand gently moving to cup Alter’s cheek, and she felt her master grow closer.

“Idiot-” she sputtered out.

I love you.

“Stupid moron!” She tried again.

I love you so much!

She sucked in a breath, just before Gudako’s lips found hers again, and while it was deepened, it was far more into their chaste spectrum of kisses for the night.

Jeanne Alter remained frozen as their foreheads were pressed together, and those amber eyes couldn’t look anywhere else as they parted. She could see her master’s smile even if her amber eyes never left the ones that were currently filling her with all the joy she’d never once thought to have.

Worse yet, this time, she was unable to look away from her master.

Gudako’s fingers brushed away the dampness beneath her eyes. “I know,” She smiled a little and kissed Jeanne Alter again.

Alter wanted to recoil, but that blush spread from ear to ear again. “Idiot-!” 

“I know-” Gudako said, her voice firm and unwavering.

“SHUT UP-!” Jeanne Alter dug her fingers into Gudako’s skin a little harder to possessively keep her close, selfishly against her.

“It’s alright-” Her master’s warm smile continued.

Something cracked in her then, thinking back to her master’s stupid, indignant, and idiotic declaration that this was all to demonstrate how she’d felt. That stupid, idiotic nickname that her master whispered and moaned into her ear.

Even now, the very idea of it made her heart flutter.

All of it had been done, with nothing expected to be returned, and it bothered her. Jeanne Alter pried that crack open into a gushing wellspring. Her fingers held Gudako firm as she straightened herself and inhaled a deep breath. Everything that had fought to come out the entire night.

Maybe it had been fighting to come out ever since they reunited after France.

But it had finally come free for her. “I WANT TO SAY I LOVE YOU!”

The damn broke, and it was as if all the blockages welled in her throat cleared away. She felt lighter, almost weightless.

Freed at last.

Tears streamed down her face, and she huffed a laugh at herself. “I love you,” She mumbled again.

Then again, this time, she threw herself at her. “I l-love you!”

She nuzzled her face against Gudako’s neck. Grateful, her arms wrapped tightly around her as if to cradle her close. The last barrier had broken away, as her heart thundered in her chest.

Her honest truth, long buried from every second of every day they spent in proximity to one another, finally came free.

“I love you.” She whispered, and she kissed the underside of Gudako’s neck. “I love you.”

Gudako’s fingernails dug into Jeanne Alter’s back. And Jeanne Alter felt that permanently familiar smile against the skin of her cheek. “I love you, too.” She whispered back. Then she kissed Jeanne Alter’s temple, resting her body back against the headboard and keeping her avenger close to her as she did.

Jeanne Alter felt the movement and pressed up against her, wanting to keep her form melted against hers, no tension left to be found. She wanted to be as close to her as possible, her hands resting on Gudako’s hip, and her other she carefully intertwined their fingers.

“I never…expected you to say it back.” Jeanne Alter spoke quietly.

Gudako snorted, “I don’t think either of us expected this tonight.” Gently, she brushed a finger under Jeanne Alter’s chin.

In response, Jeanne Alter traced that bruise along Gudako’s jawline. “I…don’t think I ever expected…any of it.” She squeezed her eyes shut, and her body seemed to clench all at once for only a second, before melting against her master’s form once more. “I…didn’t want…to…”

She’s right here.

Jeanne Alter swallowed, “I didn’t deserve you…So I thought…”

Gudako’s hands gently tugged Alter’s hair while they combed through it. There was a heaviness to her eyes. “I am free to choose to, and I’ll remind you of that…” She leaned closer and kissed Jeanne Alter’s nose. “As often as you need.”

A giggle left Alter’s lips.

As often as I need.

Her heart danced in her chest. “I love you.” She whispered again.

“I love you, too,” Gudako whispered back.

They’d made a mess of their bed sheets and clothes, sweat and sex stained alike, and they could both feel the need to sleep tugging at them now. They would have quite the mess to explain come morning. But they were both stubborn and refused to give up on that hold they had on one another as they finally fell to sleep.

Resting in one another’s arms.