AAS: SEASON 6: CH41: Love?

“So, how are you feeling?” Jack said, drying his sweating body with a towel.

After sitting so long under the sunlight Jack's body now sported a flattering tan. One of which made Yukino unable to stare at the man who towered over her.

“Better, I wanted to apologize about-”

“Look, don't mention it,” Jack said, “You weren't in a good spot and honestly I didn't think it was a good idea to drag you out with us.”

“No, I needed the air…” Yukino said as Jack gestured to her to take a seat on a nearby green mat where a floral pattern white tea set sat.

“So, how are you feeling?” Jack said, passing a small jiang tea cup to Yuki.

“Is this?”

“From Hoshido? Yeah, a gift from Mo Ye,” Jack said, fishing out a letter and handing it to Yuki. “The village is coming along nicely, with the imperial techs helping to build, she's been exploring new hobbies.”

Yuki eyed the oriental cup, a small smile on her face before she set it down on the mat.

“Tanji… I think, I hate you.”

Jack sipped his tea and adjusted his shorts, “Yeah, I think I hate me too. So, let's talk.”

***

As Jack watched a now humming Yukino go, he sighed.

“Are you sure you're okay leaving it like that?” Sahaqiel asked, materializing beside Jack.

“It's for the best right now,” Jack said as he clenched his fist. “I need to keep her away and busy until Ivan's no longer useful. Plus Kenichi can use an annoying voice to pester him.”

“But sending her back home?”

“Ignore her, she's just horny,” Lilith hissed with Sahaqiel scowling.

“I liked it better when you didn't talk.”

“I would like it better if you two got along better,” Jack said as he began setting the tea set to the side for Kamila who entered the courtyard with a cart.

“Are you done?” Kamila asked, averting her gaze from Jack's upper body.

“You know you don't have to be shy around me right? It's not like we haven't seen each other naked,” Jack chuckled, causing Kamila to blush.

“It's still embarrassing…” Kamila said, before handing Jack a new cup of aromatic tea. “Uhm, here you go, I made this for you.”

“Huh? Thanks,” Jack said, sniffing the black liquid that smelled similar to a rose.

Was this mixed with roses?

Jack took a sip, blinking a few times as he tried to ascertain the taste and flavor.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Minty? With a hint of cinnamon? What is this?

“Do you like it?” Kamila asked, looking at Jack earnestly as if expecting something.

“It's not bad, very different. What in this?” Jack asked, taking another sip.

“Just some stuff to help blood flow and mana circulation,” Kamila said as Jack rubbed his hand that seemed oddly sweaty.

“Here, a cookie.”

“Oh, thanks,” Jack said, taking the treat that looked like a chocolate chip cookie only to be very… bland? Something Jack wasn't used to from Kamila. “Hey, I've been meaning to thank you for looking after…”

Jack paused, suddenly feeling his body temperature rising.

“Are you okay?” Kamila asked, cocking he head to the side as she bit her lower lip, moving closer to Jack.

Jack downed his tea, attempting to wash the dryness of the cookie away.

“Yeah… just… huh…” Jack began to feel hot, real hot with his mind fuzzy as he tried to process what was happening.

Had he been poisoned? No.

Jack's system would have notified him and he didn't think Kamila would hurt him… would she?

“Ada is asleep and Leona is with Celeste at school,” Kamila said, tucking her chin into her scarf as she approached the stumbling Jack. “The Queen is giving a speech today so the palace is empty…”

“Kam… Kamila… what did you do to me?” Jack hissed, rousing his mana as Kamila pressed her hand against his bare chest with her head resting on his pects.

Suddenly Jack's pants became tight, his body overcome with desire as his eyes snapped to Kamila.

She licked her lips, scrambling back as the hungry animal suddenly advanced on her.

****

“Uggghh this fucking sucks!” Selfia let out, slamming a beer mug onto the bar table as she laid her blonde head down.

“What's wrong, Selti?” Kale said, the bartender pouring the queen-in-disguise another glass of vodka before he went back to juggling his either clientele.

“Just boy troubles…” Selfia sighed, stirring her drink lazily. “Kale, how do you get a boy to like you?”

The bartender raised a brow, “Why are you asking me? I've never dated a man.”

“I don't know, you're a guy, I just thought…” Selfia sighed again as Python sat beside her slack-jawed.

“Can I go home now? I have reports I need to work on,” Python asked.

“No! That's an order!” Selfia spat, downing her glass. “Besides, if you leave you won't get to meet the love of your life!”

It was Python's turn to scowl.

Dressed in slacks and a green button-up shirt, Python sat beside Selfia and nursed his glass of whiskey. After being refused by Jack, Selfia had no one to hang out with except for Violet who only stared and Leona busy chasing Celeste around.

In short… Selfia had no friends.

“Please don't tell me you brought me here to set me up,” Python groaned.

“You need to get laid, plus I'm tired of you mohping all the time!”

“Mohping? I don't mohp lass,” Python said as a brunette woman wearing a Selfian uniform entered the bar.

“CC!” Selfia shot up, hugging her friend.

“Selti!” The sergeant cried, returning Selfia's excitement with a hug. “Oh it's so good to see you!”

As the two embraced Python looked away, focusing instead on his glass as the two women began to speak in increasingly excited high-pitched voices.

I should have pretended to be sick… Python lamented.

“Whiskey neat please,” CC said, taking a seat between Selfia and Python and reaching out with a hand to great Python. “Hi, I'm- wait, I know you.”

“Do you?” Python replied, uninterested. Although the woman wasn't bad looking he just had too much on his mind.

“Yeah, you're Python Est, you were there at Frelia,” The woman scowled, “You're the reason my sister died.”

The noise pollution of the bar audibly dimmed, several of the patrons within eyeing the duo as the bartender narrowed his eyes with his hand gripping an icecrusher.

“I've been responsible for alot of people dying, you'll have to be specific,” Python grunted, turning away nonchalantly from the non-awakened woman to focus on his daylily and his drink.

“Diana Colt,” CC said, staring at Python with an almost accusatory look. “Do you remember her?”

At the name Python paused, his gaze fixed on his glass. “Eighty-Ninth-C, kindersoldat group out of Bakor. Fluent in Cintelize?”

“Yeah,” CC said as the bartender delivered her glass of whiskey. “So watcha been up to dick?”

Python sighed, turning his gaze to Selfia who held two thumbs up.