"Do you think the right message was sent?" Fate set aside the white pumps she had helped Nanoha out of before removing her own black ones. Having bid the bodyguards goodbye after the trio had dropped them back off at the condo, Fate had immediately moved to support the executive once the door to the apartment had closed behind them.
"Mmmhmm, we're a percentage and some up on SGX and JPX last I checked, I'd wager it'd be more on the Dow once they open, they're an excitable bunch on that side of the pond." She had kept her posture ramrod straight from the time they said their farewells to Suzuka and Alisa, until when they reached home.
There were too many eyes watching and her own pride would not allow a single display of weakness outside of the sling she wore. Nanoha could have wished that it was also for show, but just those few hours typing at her desk had taken a toll on her shoulder and the last thing she wanted was Fate scolding her for pushing too hard.
Grateful for the blonde's support, Nanoha allowed herself to sag a little into the warmth of Fate's offered arm. The other woman had proven once more that there was little that escaped eyes the shade of the finest Bordeaux when it came to Nanoha and they now studied the executive with worry, "I think you had a little too much fun with Haruka-chan."
Knowing it was her girlfriend's subtle way of saying they should have come home right away, Nanoha chuckled as they made their way over the padded flooring, Fate's arm around her waist a welcome help to a body aching and unused to the lack of a cast to brace it. "I lost track of time," she conceded easily, "She was just too cute. Thank you, by the way." She cast Fate a grateful glance.
Pale eyebrows lifted, the blonde assuming she was being thanked for helping Nanoha into the apartment, "I could tell you were tired." The arm around the executive was tickled by the ends of the woman's high ponytail, Nanoha shaking her head in response, "I mean, for playing along with this whole, 'We're just colleagues' thing."
Slipping the military-style trench coat off of Nanoha's shoulders, Fate pressed a soft kiss to the shoulder blade that bore the bullet wound's scar, "I can't say it's easy, but I'll manage." She stepped away to disappear into the walk-in closet to put away the coat and find something for her girlfriend to change into, "I noticed Vita making no mention of us being friends."
In the middle of slipping out of her wide-leg pants, Nanoha gave a small wince. Right. That was a thing. Kicking up the garment to catch it right-handed, she balled up the piece of clothing and tossed it unerringly into the laundry basket in the bathroom before squaring her shoulders and heading into the wardrobe to find the blonde.
Fate remained quiet the entire time while she pawed through the many tees Nanoha owned to pull out one sporting some Sailor Moon characters on it. The blonde and green haired characters were holding hands and Fate supposed the two were a couple in the cartoon they were from. With the tee held up, she did not notice the arrival of her girlfriend until arms were slipping around her from behind.
"I asked everyone not to say anything," the quiet admission was muffled by the blonde hair draping down Fate's back. The flash of upset the blonde felt had her stiffening in Nanoha's arms though she had more or less already guessed the culprit behind what she had brought up. Reserving her response until after the woman could explain herself, she remained quiet as she turned in the circle of the executive's hold to face the other woman.
The blonde's expression was pinched and the executive knew she had some 'splainin to do. Accepting that Fate was unhappy with what she had done, Nanoha met eyes holding a quiet hurt with her own, azure eyes dark from remembered fear, regret, and pain of her own. "You were in such an unresponsive state when I first found you…" Fate felt the thinned form shudder at the scene in eyes gone distant, hearkening back to that bleak time.
Slowly, Nanoha returned to herself, consciously distancing her mind from that stark memory back in the warehouse. Eyes bright with unshed tears met Fate's once more, "I didn't want to take the chance of someone letting on that we were more than colleagues. That you would try to reclaim what you'd lost and fall permanently back into that state if everything returned to you all at once."
She let out an unsteady breath, "Later, I could see it was costing you so, so much each time fragments of your memory surfaced. I had already lost my best friend. I… I couldn't take it if I had lost your whole consciousness, too. I didn't think the memory of me was all that important next to just… having you alive and well. Not when remembering hurt you so much."
Sighing in frustration, Fate felt all traces of anger bleed away and pulled Nanoha close, the other woman immediately nuzzling into the blonde's neck, "You are such an infuriating woman, do you know that? How could you even think that you weren't important to me? I am nothing without you." Crimson eyes growing distant, she felt her lips curling into a smile.
"I never feel safer than when I'm with you," the blonde began hesitantly, as if reciting something from memory, "You… watching me during my… presentation gave me all the strength I needed to get through it."
A soft gasp greeted her words and Nanoha pulled back sharply to stare into eyes as full as hers. Fate's smile grew a little wider, "When you are in the room, I… function better. When you are away, or out of the country, I find myself wondering… where you are, and what you are doing."
Shaking hands lifted, cupping Fate's cheeks, thumbs brushing away tears of joy now silently tracking their way down the blonde's face, "You have accomplished so much, overcome so much, given so much, and I find my breath taken away just reflecting on you - all of you."
Nanoha was smiling past the tears escaping her own eyes, and she shook her head in disbelief when the blonde refused to stop in her exultant recitation, "You are beyond special, my Nanoha. You are the perfection I have strived for all of my life. And I will strive for the rest of my life to live up to the example you have set."
Speechless, weak from the word perfect recounting of Fate's declaration back in the ryokan, Nanoha felt herself robbed of breath. This had been Fate's confession, she realised that now. "You were so much braver than I could ever be…" She murmured in pure wonder.
Triumphant over the full reclamation of this one perfect memory, Fate could only dip her head to seal her pledge with a searing kiss. She felt the lace encasing her neck being bunched into a demanding fist that pulled her ever closer, the women tasting each other's mingled tears with passionate intent.
"I absolutely forbid you to ever allow me to forget you ever again." Punctuating each word with more kisses, Fate rested her forehead against Nanoha's, glaring sternly into dreamy blue eyes that were too happy to accept everything the blonde had to offer.
"Still bossing the boss, hmm?" That much adored lopsided smile appeared.
"Someone has to. Who better than me?" Fate declared haughtily to hide just how gooey that smile turned her insides.
"Nyahaha. No one, Feito-chan. Absolutely no one." That smile was pressed against those luscious wet lips and Nanoha giggled, returning everything she had received with interest. Soon, those playful overtures morphed into something far more sensual.
Before Fate knew it, the back of her dress had been unzipped and dragged down her body to bunch at her waist, imprisoning her arms that had been encased in the dress' long sleeves to her sides. Hot lips traced the upper curve of one breast that her lace bra had left bare as lightly calloused hands found their way under her dress skirt to cup her bottom.
Groaning and wanting this more than anything, Fate arched against sharp incisors leaving a path of gooseflesh and red marks across the tops of both her breasts. "N-Nanoha…"
"Hrmm?" The sound was more a growled breath than speech and the feeling of being at a leopard's mercy only served to dampen the scrap of lace between the blonde's legs with a sudden and acute need. Now that Nanoha knew how much of an erogenous zone Fate's breasts were, leaving them alone was completely out of the question.
"W-We're supposed to, ahhhh! To... To take it slow…" She felt her nipple being bitten through her bra and the cry that was torn from her lips made coherent speech exceedingly hard. Chest heaving, mind reeling from the sudden onslaught wrought by the auburn haired beauty, Fate felt her legs grow weak. That morning's experience had left the blonde with wanting more and reminding Nanoha was taking Fate's every remaining working brain cell to do so, all two of them.
"Shit…" Burying her head into that sweetly scented cleavage, Nanoha dragged her intoxicated, animal brain back from the brink. "Sorry, Feito-chan," she gulped in deep breaths, surrounded by the glory that was her girlfriend's unique scent. "You make me feel so much… I-I just lose control." Reluctantly withdrawing her hands from that shapely derriere, she did her best to straighten the blonde's dress.
"Don't… Don't apologise," Fate mumbled between panted breaths. Arms now freed, she lifted Nanoha's lips to hers once more, kissing the woman with unbridled hunger, eliciting another throaty purr from the leopard, "I like that I do that to you. L-Like you said, we have time."
Capturing the blonde's full lower lip in the prison of her teeth, Nanoha tugged lightly before releasing the woman, her own breaths erratic against the staccato of her rapidly beating heart. She gave a long sigh, "I might be the only person who's going to have wet dreams of her girlfriend while sleeping in the same bed as her."
Giggling, Fate snugged her grumpy partner, "That makes the two of us. Come on, let's change and get a nap. It has been a long day for you. Also, I need new panties."
"Why bother wearing any?" Nanoha quipped saucily.
"Because if I don't, someone might forget themselves. Again."
About to argue, Nanoha snapped her mouth shut. Fate was absolutely right. "I can't help how tempting you are, I need fresh undies, too," she grumbled.
"Again, that makes the two of us." Fate noted with a breathless laugh, not quite past the intense arousal she had been subjected to just moments prior, or really, since that morning. Poking the adorable little pout Nanoha was sporting, she turned and teased, "But try to control yourself while you unzip me." Only to gasp as she felt incisors nipping at her exposed nape, "Nanoha!" An unrepentantly dark laugh was her girlfriend's response. The lace dress fell into a forgotten pile on the floor as she grabbed at her Minx.
A while later, thoroughly tired out from the horseplay, Nanoha gave Fate a sleepy smile when the blonde brushed aside her fringe to press a kiss to her forehead. "Sleep. I'll get the slow-cooker going and join you soon." With all the leftover potatoes and carrots from that memorable Friday a few nights before, Fate had decided a hearty beef stew would help get more protein into Nanoha. Tucked snugly under the covers, the executive fell into an easy, dreamless slumber to the comforting sounds of her Feito-chan puttering around in the kitchen.
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Blowing out slow, even breaths, Hayate focussed on keeping her leg presses controlled and consistent.
"So what did you guys think?" She asked, huffing a strand of hair out of her eye.
"They don't hate each other…" Came a voice over her speakerphone in an american accent.
Hayate sighed, "That's what Ikeda-san said when they were at her place in Tokyo."
"But they aren't close, either," piped up another voice in japanese-accented english. "That said, she did insult A-chan in front of Fate, which was a bit of a surprise."
Alisa made a small sound of agreement, "She's not usually that open about our friendship in the office. But it could also just be her trying to find Fate more friends in Singapore. You know what a white knight the White Devil can be."
The rest of the women over the call sighed in unison, agreeing with Alisa's assessment.
It was Monday evening and the TSAB CEO had spent the day taking the first break that she had had since Fate's kidnapping. Not that it stopped her from laughing her arse off over TSAB's stock fluctuations. The company had opened a percent over last week's closing, just off of confirmations that its Head of Operations had been reported to be back at work.
Ah, the wonders that TSAB's White Devil wrought was a thing to marvel over. Nanoha must have known that footage of herself and Fate's first day back at work would leak. She had deliberately gotten Rein and company to pick her and Fate up at the public drop-off point out front, that rascal.
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The two women in contrasting white and black looked stunning in the clips aired on the business news programme Hayate had switched the gym TV channel to. It troubled the CEO to see the hollowness in her friend's cheeks that no amount of make-up could conceal, and her white military style trench coat had been flung over her shoulders in deference to the sling her left arm was still in.
She looked drawn and tired, though only those close to the executive would have been able to tell. Security had kept any reporters from approaching her or the icy blonde AVP with her, and Hayate made a small note to increase the number of guards at the offices. Her Operations execs had better fish to fry than to entertain nosy press staff.
That brought her to her post-dinner workout and a group call with Vita, Suzuka and Alisa. Signum had opted not to drop by the Operations office, the stoic Wolkenritter preferring to wait for Nanoha to seek her out on her own. She got regular updates from her wife who was the pair's primary care physician, anyway.
"They didn't act like total strangers at least," Vita mused. The E.A. was grabbing a late dinner after consolidating reports from Granscenic's office on all the plates he had kept spinning whilst Nanoha and Fate were indisposed. It was a task the short redhead was more than happy to work on, since it meant that her bosses were back where they were supposed to be. Sure, there would be delays with the executives working half days, but the opening numbers on the Dow were enough to justify handing things back over to Nanoha.
"As lovely as they looked, I could tell Nano-chan was quite tired visiting Haruka-chan earlier." Suzuka had put the child to bed a little while prior and was currently curled up against her wife to catch up on the latest developments in her favourite Otome game, 'Kiss Kiss Fall In Love!'.
"And Fate-san did cut her playtime with our girl short," Alisa mused, wrapping her arms around the soft warmth of her wife, "But more because she was Nanoha's assistant than out of concern, it felt like? I dunno. I don't know her AVP well enough. She seemed kinda cold to me."
They could hear Hayate sighing again over the line, "That's nothing like how they were when we had dinner together at the end of October. Damn it."
"It's still just their first day back at work together," Vita mumbled around her mouthful of Char Siew rice, or sweet barbecued pork rice. "Hayate, didn't you say Nanoha would be accompanying Fate to the Halloween ball? Think she'll do it for the Christmas one now?"
"Oh my kami! I can't believe I forgot about that." All three heard Hayate slapping her forehead over her forgetfulness. "I'll remind Nanoha about it. I know she won't refuse since Fate knows even less people now. Thanks, Vita!"
The short redhead grunted, pleased to be of help. Dousing her rice with yet more piquant garlicky chilli sauce, Vita asked, "Suzuka, Finance is in charge of games this year, yea?" At the woman's murmur of confirmation, she queried further, "Do you think one or two of them could be adjusted? For, uh, bonding purposes?"
The head of Finance glanced over her shoulder at her now blushing wife and something secret passed between the spouses, "Oh, I think I can conjure up a game or two, certainly. I'll get Alisa to help." She giggled when the American leaned close to nibble at her ear.
"Good call, Vita-chan," Hayate's voice was warmly approving. "Operation: Get Nanoha a Girlfriend is still a go! Lemme know what games your department comes up with, Suzu-chan. Gonna end this call, I wanna check in on Nano-chan's guard detail. Night, girls."
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Rein slipped into the tub of perfumed hot water with a low hiss. The temperature had been set to almost hot spring levels of heat and the silver haired woman took animal pleasure in feeling her bare skin tighten in reaction to the heat. She hoped her subordinates were taking similar advantage of the amenities available to them here.
Ginga and Edel were in rooms similar to hers, the silver haired woman making no distinction between herself and her subordinates when it came to their accommodations in the tropical seaside bungalow her family owned just two lanes over from the TSAB condominium.
The muted noise of mahjong tiles clacking and being slapped down could be heard through walls that though thick, were not soundproof. Retired relatives, and friends of the extended family were down on the second level, getting in a few more games before calling it a night. The bedrooms on the third level were seldom utilised, since most who dropped by were local, which made it perfect for the ESSS agents to use while their contract remained in effect.
Not one to flaunt her family's background, the self-made millionaire was not above leaning on family ties when it was convenient, such as in this instance. Her parents probably didn't even know she was back in Singapore, since her last communication with them had only been to inform them of a sabbatical she was planning to take in Japan.
So long as the eldest daughter and granddaughter of the venerable Eins dynasty kept a low profile and had her unnatural dalliances out of the limelight, her family would simply turn a blind eye. It was a typical Asian coping device - Sweep it under the rug and pretend it does not exist.
A marriage of convenience generations ago had melded wealthy early traders of European descent with equally wealthy southern Chinese merchants, forming a family that was equal parts Eurasian Portuguese and Straits-born Peranakan and all parts filthy rich. It was only two generations back when women marrying into the family were still high born girls with bound feet who had never known a day of work in their lives.
That is to say that Rein was no stranger to creature comforts, though she would rather be dead than find herself spending her days basking in unearned generational wealth. Being bored out of her gourd as a modern day Tai Tai, a wealthy married woman whose only job was to look pretty, play mahjong and pop out babies for the old bags to coo over, was, as she had told Nanoha, the last thing she wanted in life.
Taking a gulp of icy cold dunkel weizen, the dark wheat beer went down smoothly and Rein closed her eyes, absorbing the quiet rumble of water jets that provided a white noise counterpoint to the soothing strains of Faye Wong's crystal clear vocals playing over the bathroom's sound system. They drifted back open, however, when the quiet buzz of her phone on vibrate intruded upon her consciousness.
As always, it only took three rings for Rein Eins to answer her phone. The device had been synced up to the smart system in the room the silver haired woman had taken temporary residence in, allowing her the ability to answer calls whilst in the bath.
"Miss Hayate," she greeted simply.
"Please, Hayate is fine. I hope I haven't caught you at a bad time."
The sounds of bubbling water could be heard over the line, Rein having shifted to the head of the jacuzzi tub to engage the waterproof volume controls. It was difficult to hear TSAB's CEO over the noise of the bubbles. She increased the volume, "Not at all, Hayate. How may I help you?" Another long pull of the dark, German lager followed her invitation to the TSAB CEO to state her business.
In the midst of towelling herself off after a fairly comprehensive workout, the brunette paused, realising just where the woman she was calling was. She tapped at her waterproof earpiece to increase its volume, too. "Er, just wanted to get your baseline assessment on Nanoha and Fate. Any updates on the risk & safety analyses now that you've had a chance to visit the TSAB offices?"
Rein sighed audibly as she hooked her elbows over the lip of the tub to lean back. The jets of water shot out to hit her right in the knots in her back which caused her eyes to flutter closed while she pondered the loaded question for long moments. A part of her appreciated the patience the CEO displayed, allowing her the time to gather her thoughts on this very tricky subject. Or subjectS.
"Nanoha is doing what she can to take things easy. I believe we both know her version of 'easy' is everyone else's version of 'hard mode'." She smiled slightly at the expected snort of agreement from the CEO.
Yawning, she stretched enough that the pop of joints could be heard over the line, "She's aware that the injuries she has sustained aren't things she can shrug off and bulldoze through, at least. Her tendency to go short on sleep is still a worry, and I am uncertain if Fate's presence in the same apartment will help there. I can say she seemed slightly better rested this morning, compared to the one before, but the sample size is too small for me to give you a more accurate assessment in that regard."
Hayate listened closely to filter out the noise of the jacuzzi, finding the woman's almost accentless accent intriguing. "Nano-chan's been an insomniac since her teens," the CEO revealed with some sadness, "So I'm not surprised she's not getting enough rest now. Knowing her, she's been skipping anything that would help, too. Anything that might dull her senses is off the table for sure."
"Mmmhmm. Sex seems to help, but I don't think she and Fate are anywhere near that point. Fate doesn't remember Nanoha, and Nanoha is afraid she will remember and become afflicted by an irrecoverable episode."
Shocked silence greeted her, and Rein smirked, slowly rolling her head to stretch the tight tendons in her neck.
In the middle of hitting her own shower back in her serviced apartment, Hayate's eyes widened at the implication of what the head of ESSS had just revealed. "...It's not often that I'm left speechless," the TSAB CEO finally admitted.
The chuckle that trickled through the line gave Hayate goosebumps and she wondered what the hell was up with her. The woman had just admitted to sleeping with her oldest friend!
"You needn't sound so surprised, Hayate. In this line of work, the body becomes just another tool to accomplish the goals set by our contract. That is all there is to it."
"And sleeping with Nanoha accomplished that for you?" The brunette's question was far more blunt than anything Rein had expected out of someone used to the roundabout methods employed in the Land of the Rising Sun, but then, Yagami Hayate had always been the sort to buck all expectations.
"Let's just say both she and I were satisfied with the outcome. She had her first full night's sleep in weeks, and I, well, that's more than my contract requires me to tell you," the tease in Rein's tone was extremely obvious and Hayate found herself torn between embarrassment and crazily enough, arousal. An insane thought crossed the CEO's mind, wondering just what sort of contract terms would get the seemingly professional head of Ein Stein Security Services to spill the beans about her extra-curricular activities with her old friend. 'Oh my kami, what the hell is wrong with me?!'
"Er, not to pry, but does that mean you're dating her now?" This would really throw a monkey wrench into their plans, Hayate thought.
The tease in Rein's voice disappeared, hardening just a smidge on the side of politeness, since she was addressing a client, "Physical activities are just that, Hayate, physical. There is no need to place undue weight or link emotional attachments to simple acts of sex. Just as there is nothing behind the times you have groped others."
The TSAB CEO almost slipped in the shower and grabbed hold of the towel rail before she could do so, "Who told you about that?!" She squeaked, feeling her cheeks grow warm.
"Signum, of course. She was worried you might try to grope me." Amusement laced the silver haired woman's voice once more as she continued, "So no, we aren't dating. We've agreed to cease further such activities to avoid muddying the waters while Nanoha attempts to bridge the gap between herself and Fate. Whether that means returning to a working relationship or more, is up to them to decide without outside interference."
'I'm gonna kill that pink-haired gorilla,' Hayate thought to herself, then she frowned. Why did it matter that Rein knew about her groping habits? Shaking her head, she discarded that stray thought to focus on what was important, "All right, then. Thank you for sharing that with me."
"Only out of courtesy, since you are the main client. Perhaps, if the two are able to come to some sort of agreement, Nanoha may be able to have a proper night's rest once again."
Meaning Hayate was expected to keep it to herself, something she was more than willing to comply with. The subtle hint that Rein knew what Hayate was up to with regards to mashing the two Operations executives together into the same apartment did not escape the brunette, either. There were layers upon layers to this head of ESSS and Hayate found that she had never been more fascinated with wanting to know more about the woman.
"Understood. Since you've not mentioned Miss Nakajima, I'll assume that all was fine on that front. Then I'd like to have your thoughts on Fate with regards to her blackouts and the levels of security you've observed at the TSAB offices."
Turning her shower to a temperature cooler than usual, Hayate stepped under the stinging spray of water whilst listening to the agency head's smoothly urbane tones spell out her observations in a most professional way. Not once in the detailed briefing did either woman forget that the other was communicating over the line whilst being completely naked.
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Nanoha glared up at the harsh overhead lights stabbing unpleasantly into her eyes and tried not to feel utterly exposed while she lay down with her legs up in stirrups. A futile endeavour at best.
"Your records show that you haven't been tested in the last two years," the slightly censorious voice of the woman on the other side of her raised medical gown could be heard coming from between the executive's legs. Was it any wonder why she never liked doing these to begin with?
Holding back a sigh, she slowly counted backwards from ten, "I'm here now, aren't I? Give me the full panel."
The purple haired doctor raised her head to peer up at her patient, one eyebrow cocked, "Is there something that you're worried about?" Tsukimura Shinobu addressed her younger sister's former seitou kaichou with more familiarity than Nanoha liked. But the woman had known her since she was knee high to a grasshopper, and so the executive's usual glare of intimidation simply bounced off of the armour of bred contempt.
"No!" She groused, "I thought the standard was to be tested every six months."
"...If you've been sexually active, or plan to be." Glasses glinting under the bright lights, she stared at her baby sister's friend, "Su-chan hasn't mentioned anyone…"
"Of course she hasn't, because there isn't… Gods, could you just finish up already? I didn't come here to chat about my relationships or lack thereof." She really needed to speak with Hayate about expanding TSAB's insurance network to include clinics outside of their circle of 'friends'.
"Tch, as prickly as ever." The loud snap of latex gloves had Nanoha flinching slightly and she focussed harder on thinking about anything other than the metal implement the doctor was wielding. "You do know that endorphins can help improve the mood, yes?"
This time the sigh did escape Nanoha and she covered her eyes with one forearm, "I'm exercising as much as your colleague Shamal allows me."
Shinobu merely made a noncommittal sound, "Ah, yes. She told me it's a miracle that you've been listening to her for once. I think she called the Vatican to tell them about it."
Nanoha began to question if she had suffered injuries to her brain to think she would not get shit visiting anyone other than Shamal to get her health screened. Still, it was better than enduring the blonde doctor's teases and questions, and so she persevered. The things she suffered for her Feito-chan.
"Whups, I think I lost my swab in there…"
Nanoha rolled her eyes and wondered what her stupid brother even saw in this wannabe-jokester.