Mila was wondering if she was being too difficult and needy. She certainly had not thought of herself like that in the past, but as her condition improved, so did her expectations of her life.

There were so many things Mila wished for. To travel freely. To have a place to simply rest without anyone bothering her and Isabel. To have an annoying neighbour to complain about. To shamelessly flirt. To spend a night at the shore of a sea and fall asleep to the sound of waves. To watch the world from a mountain top.

There was so much Mila wanted to do and share with Isabel.

And for the day, before Mila had to spend the night skulking around, she had wanted to bath with her girlfriend, appreciate her body and cuddle afterwards.

But the bath had been too small. Isabel had helped Kanna to wash as she still had trouble moving. Mila had been unable to share it with them.

And afterwards, Isabel had helped Kanna to settle in the bed right beneath. Mila felt an ugly knot in her stomach as she listened to her girlfriend tucking in the rescued girl.

Of course, Mila understood Kanna had the priority. The girl was skittish around everyone who wasn’t her brother or Isabel. She was scared and traumatised and very, very tired. It was normal. She was proud Isabel was helping Kanna. Mila knew she didn’t have it in her to do the same.

It didn’t mean she had to like it. Mila turned on her back and stared at the wooden ceiling. Studying the grain of the planks wasn’t all that interesting, but it was something. There was a pattern that reminded her of her girlfriend's contours.

And again, the frustration returned. Mila rolled on her side and looked out the window. The sun was still slowly cooking the city, but at least this room’s window didn’t face it at this time of the day.

The evening was fast approaching. Cecilia had left earlier to do whatever her responsibilities were. She had offered Isabel her bed but had received a polite refusal.

Now, if only Isabel was quicker with the comforting Kanna. Mila rolled in the bed again. The sheets and the blanket were a bit too coarse for her taste. The fabric rubbed against her bare legs, irritating the skin.

But it was better than what they had on the road. At least she was on a mattress. Mila pulled the blanket over her head. It at least silenced the gentle words Isabel poured upon Kanna. She pulled her knees to the chest and stretched her sleeping shirt over them.

“Having fun?” Isabel’s voice suddenly awoke Mila from her gloomy thoughts.

Not bothering to reveal herself, Mila replied. “Clearly, I am sleeping.”

“Yes, yes, very convincing.” Isabel agreed. “Then should I let you? You’ll have a lot to do during the night. A good rest should help with that.”

Mila knew Isabel was only teasing her. “I am still angry at you for the previous deed.” She was, but not all that much. At this point, Mila just wanted to hug Isabel.

“Yes, yes, very convincing.” Isabel hummed again.

There was a rustling sound as Isabel began to undress. Mila felt her heartbeat quicken. Of course, nothing untoward would happen. Kanna was there, and despite her rather heated state, Mila was worried about Andrew.

Not just once, Mila had contemplated sneaking out and checking Andrew’s situation. In the end, she hadn’t. Despite her reservations, Naran seemed trustworthy. During the trip to Stilag, Andrew had needled her about trusting other people more.

This seemed like a good start. Despite Mila’s body feeling better than ever, she was mentally tired. The constant vigilance was wearing her out. Granted, it hadn’t occurred to her naturally. The accursed thing inside her head had pointed it out one night.

But Isabel and Andrew were so vulnerable. Hadn’t they both proved that today? What was Mila to do? And more importantly, was she any better?

Probably not.

“I am coming.” Isabel nudged Mila’s side.

“I am not stopping you.” Mila felt like being wilful. It was childish of her, yes. But she didn’t feel like moving.

“Mila~” Isabel whispered and tried to lift the blanket.

“Is Kanna sleeping?” Mila didn’t let her.

“Just about. It’s getting cold standing here, just in my top. Let me in.” Isabel tried to reason.

“It’s definitely warm enough.” Mila didn’t believe Isabel one bit. Still, one thing did pique her interest. She lifted a corner of her cover to take a peek.

Sure enough, Isabel was looking at her coyly. Her pyjama top was loose but still closefitting enough for Mila to notice her girlfriend wasn’t wearing anything beneath. If she rose herself higher, Mila could see right down under the top.

It was very tempting. But having Isabel next to her would be even better. Mila finally relented and moved deeper into the bed against the wall. She raised the blanket and invited her girl to join.

Isabel raised an eyebrow as she evaluated Mila’s pose. “Looks comfy.”

“It is.” Mila let her legs slip out of the shirt and wiggled her toes. “Are you going to gawk, or are you coming? Weren’t you cold?” She stretched, letting the shirt just barely cover her private zones. Isabel’s hungry look certainly improved her mood.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“I am.” Isabel gulped, then glanced down. “You will be alright, Kanna?” There was a silent response. “Don’t be afraid to ask if you need anything.”

This exchange made Mila purse her lips. She considered turning her back to Isabel, but that would be childish. She was done with that for now. Instead, she put on her best seductive expression and pretended to tremble. “So cold.” She whispered, just loud enough for Isabel to hear. “If only there was someone who could warm me.”

That did it. Isabel’s attention snapped towards Mila. She jumped on the upper bunk, hitting her head against the ceiling in the process. “Shit.” She cursed under her breath.

It earned a giggle. Mila kept the blanket up as her girl hesitantly lay beside her. Isabel kept moving her hands from one position to another, not quite sure where to put them. “You can touch me, you know.”

“I-I do, it’s just...” Isabel’s eyes wandered up until Mila lowered the blanket, hiding their bodies under it.

Mila did know. Their bodies were so close. Each time Isabel took a breath, her body brushed against Mila’s. The smell of her girl’s body was intoxicating but also relaxing. Seeing Isabel’s indecisiveness, Mila put her hands on her waist. She snuggled closer, slipping lower and nestling against her girl’s collarbone. “So nice.” She purred.

“Ah, yeah.” Isabel hesitantly put an arm around Mila and pulled her closer. “I-it is, isn’t it?”

“Shh,” Mila shushed. “Not too loud.” She hooked her leg around Isabel’s. Regretfully, this was as far as they were going to go. With Kanna in the room and Andrew in a cell, this was not the time to make memories of an erotic kind.

But this was a new kind of sensation. Mila gently kissed Isabel’s skin before sinking deeper into her embrace.

They had not been dating for long. Not even a month had passed since Mila’s outburst in the bath. In addition, there seldom were moments when they both had time for themselves.

Even now, they weren’t alone. It was always like this. Their physical intimacy went only as far as a gentle, chaste kiss here and there. This was the closest they had ever been.

Mila felt Isabel’s bothered breath on her black crown. Her hands pulled Mila ever closer. The moment felt so precious. Despite the bodily needs and stray thoughts of bringing the moment further, Mila settled with just delicately running her finger over Isabel’s side.

“Mila?” Isabel murmured in Mila’s hair as she pressed her lips against the top of her girl’s head. Her hug grew tighter.

“Hmm?”

“What now?”

With a soft sight, Mila tried to melt against Isabel. “Whatever do you mean?”

Isabel kept delicately rubbing the tip of her nose against Mila’s head. “Like now.”

“We cuddle,” Mila replied. “We sleep. We wake up and get Andrew out of the trouble.”

“Mhm.” Isabel's hand slid down Mila’s back dangerously low but never breached the threshold of being too naughty. She simply wanted her girl as close as possible and once again tried to join their bodies together just by squeezing.

For a moment, Mila was distracted. As their bare legs intertwined and chests pressed together, she could not help but feel her lust grow stronger.

It took Mila quite a bit of willpower to not let her thoughts stray into dangerous territory. “Then we get the map. I help Mortimer, and we leave.”

It took a while for Isabel to respond. “Sounds so simple,” she murmured.

“It should be.” Mila let her mind switch off. Isabel’s warmth relaxed her. It felt nice. It felt safe.

“What about Kanna and Vatim?”

“I don’t know. It’s up to Mr Naran and Mortimer to keep them safe.”

“I guess.” Isabel wasn’t convinced they would.

It was a sentiment Mila could understand. But it was also something they could not do much about. “We can’t bring them along.”

“I know,” Isabel whispered. “But what if they get enslaved? What if those people seek them out? I don’t want that.”

Mila knew she would regret the following words, but… “I can take care of those who did that to Kanna.”

Isabel stiffened. “They are bad people.” She finally said. “Kanna said there are more people like her in there.” Another pause. “I can’t ask you to do that.” She trembled.

“We can’t help everyone, Isabel.”

“I know. But what if…” Isabel wished.

“...I’ll see what I can do.” Mila sighed. This was such a bad idea. She felt her girl struggle with the idea. But in the end, she didn’t ask Mila not to. And there was something else. “Isabel?”

“Yes?”

“What about Tiff and Kefo?” Mila raised a question that bothered her. She wasn’t that attached to the pair, but it wasn’t the same for Isabel and Andrew.

“W-what do you mean?” Isabel nervously twitched.

“Why are you hesitating now?” Mila wondered. “We need the map, and we can be on our way. We can return later and see what can be done about Kanna and Vatim then.”

“B-but people are suffering now.”

This wasn’t it. “Isabel,” Mila pinched Isabel’s side. “You know you can tell me.”

“Th-that… But I do want to help Kanna and punish those monsters.”

“And?”

“A-and… I don’t know about Andrew, but…”

Mila waited for Isabel to continue. She kept gently running her palm up and down Isabel’s back to soothe her.

“...But, I am scared.” Isabel finally said.

It didn’t tell Mila much. She waited for Isabel to continue, but she didn’t. “I am with you. You’ll be fine. I will help however I can.” She tried to find words.

“They are dead, aren’t they?” Isabel finally muttered. “They died, I know it. I was there when Silinth… When he… There is no way Tiff and Kefo could keep whatever it was away.”

“Ah!” Mila softly exclaimed. This hadn’t come up before. “Don’t talk about Silinth.” She warned, and Isabel buried her face in Mila’s hair. “And our younger friends are tough.” She couldn’t bring herself to tell Isabel they were alive. After all, she didn’t believe it herself. Mila wouldn’t lie to her girl.

“Mhm…” There was sadness and hopelessness in Isabel’s hum.

“For now, let’s talk, shall we? Perhaps a story? I can tell you a story.” Mila desperately racked her brain. She wanted something that would turn her girl’s thoughts to a brighter view. “Do you want me to?”

“...I want a story.” Isabel kept Mila as close as possible.

Truthfully, Mila didn’t have a lot of happy stories to tell. Still, she tried. “How about a tale about a man who defied all odds and rescued his love?”

“Mhm…”

“Right! There once was a man who…”

Mila started to quietly tell her tale. It was one of her dreams. The story didn’t have a happy ending. It was true that the warrior had rescued his love. But in the process, he and his aides had died. That part, Mila would change.