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Chapter 3: Complimentary Duo

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A few minutes had passed and the two girls had seated themselves next to one another, with M’s head resting on S’s shoulder.

“Are you going to be heading out again tonight?” asked M, with S running her fingers through her XO’s hair all the while.

M wanted to add, “I’ve missed you so much.” but decided against informing S of that fact before S had answered. She did not want S to get the impression that she was attempting to emotionally blackmail her to remain with her.

“Yes. I should be heading out again in an hour or so.” was the answer.

M tried to reply quickly, to assure S that she wouldn’t hold her back. “Gotcha.” The speed of the reply may have, in fact, betrayed her attempt at hiding her desire to have S stay with her for a longer period of time.

Despite her desire to have S remain with her, M was earnestly grateful to have S there with her for even a short moment. Now that S had given her answer, M could express herself.

“I’ve missed you a lot, ma’am. More than you know. You’ve made my Christmas.”

“The feeling is mutual, M. Truly.”

M was about to suggest that they both listen to some music together, till S has to go. Perhaps, she thought, they might take their conversation to one of their quarters.

Before she could offer, however, S spoke. “Would you like to accompany me and join the others till I have to leave?”

“Ah…” To M, this was a slight downgrade to the moment she was currently enjoying. If it was completely up to her, she would have wanted to spend the hour she had left with S with just the two of them together.

Still, any moment with S was a pleasurable one, and she did not want to be so selfish as to keep her CO all to herself.

“Mm, yes, ma’am. Let’s.” M stood and brushed herself off, as S followed suit.

“I’m sure they’d start gossiping if we stayed alone together in my office for too long, anyways.” said M, grinning.

“They’ll do that no matter what. No point in modulating our behaviour just for that.” replied S.

“Then…shall we, my lady?” said M, a playful tone in her voice as she extended her elbow towards S, indicating that she expected S to take hold of it, as though M was taking her to the ball.

S thought for a moment. As a reply, instead of holding onto M’s arm, she brought forth her own elbow towards her partner.

“We shall.”

M’s face flushed, being taken entirely off guard by this sudden counter-attack, despite the fact that she should have been used to this sort of ever-endearing behaviour by her darling S.

Thus, M yielded and held onto a victorious S’s arm, turning her face away from the other girl to hide the vermilion pigment it was assuming.

As the pair were about to join the others, right in front of the door, S stopped. “It’s Christmas and there’s no urgency for any of the missions…” she said, turning towards M, her face glowing with a warm, gentle smile. “I believe I’ll stay for the night and head out in the morning.”

M met her gaze, pleasant surprise spreading across her features.

“Are you sure?”

”Mhm. It’s prudent, too. My body needs the rest. Let’s spend some time with them and then meet eachother in bed. We both could benefit from the shared warmth, especially on a night like this, right?”

M’s breast overflowed with joy, her grip tightening as she held onto S’s arm. She held back a “Thank you” and perhaps more, replying with a simple “I’d love that, S. Nothing would make me happier.” Simple and true.

“I really do adore you.” M said, before bestowing a sweet kiss on S’s cheek.

“Merry Christmas, S.”

“Merry Christmas, M.”

Thus, they went out to enjoy the festivities with their unit.

The two girls held eachother in bed later that night, talking for a few hours about a variety of topics, as though there was no war, or they had incurred no suffering in the past years. All that existed in that moment was them. Despite S’s earnest desire to stay up and continue the conversation, she succumbed to sleep during a lengthier reply of M’s. Not due to disinterest, but rather fatigue and comfort.

Another, gentle kiss was bequeathed on S’s forehead, as M felt nothing but happiness at the sight of her dearest friend being able to rest. Although usually M had no trouble staying up (in fact, she was a borderline insomniac) she had no difficulty apropos to dozing off when S was next to her; sleep came to her almost instantly afterwards. Mayhaps, before drifting off, she had offered a few quiet whispers of affection towards her Commander. Things she would not have been brave enough to usually say.

S had already left for another mission by the time M had woken up, but M received another, impromptu gift when she awakened. A small note that S had left before she departed, in which she apologized for falling asleep on M and gave a few words of affection of her own. It is quite possible that M had received a gentle kiss on her forehead while she slept.

M pressed the note against her own chest, exactly as she did with S’s picture, before going back to sleep for just a tad longer, dreaming of her Guardian Angel.

Here endeth a story of two girls, who always managed to find countless moments of joy with eachother.