[ yukari may not have done it right the first time. but kotone, despite everything, wants to try again. and again, and again, and again. her heart, traitorous as it is, feels... full, as she relaxes into the kiss, playing with a lock of yukari's hair.
when yukari finally pulls away, she meets her eyes, huffing a little laugh as she nudges against her. kotone stays that way until mitsuru begins to speak up, attention shifting towards her.
right. this still isn't... simple, even with how it feels. kotone glances down, trying to put her thoughts in order, but then she feels mitsuru's hand on her cheek. ]
... You're right. And I've... we've all wasted too much time, just feeling sorry for ourselves again. Just... [ kotone takes a breath. one, two. lets it out. ] ... I want this, but I'm still afraid. That when we go back, I'll...
[ she doesn't know how to put this in a way that will make sense, beyond a fear that whatever mechanism they might be able to use to return home when the work is done won't let her bypass that. to put into words what she suspects her actions in forming the seal truly were.
even so, she curls forward slightly against mitsuru, leaning her head on her shoulder. ]
[ The seal, the Velvet Room, the contract ... it's all beyond Mitsuru's understanding of Kotone's circumstances. Perhaps, one day, they'd be able to talk through it all, but Mitsuru doesn't need to know everything to understand the end result that Kotone fears.
[ ... she's scared of it, too. Terrified.
[ She removes her hand from Yukari's cheek, briefly glancing in the other girl's direction as though asking for her leave to focus all of her attention on Kotone. When her focus shifts back to Kotone, Mitsuru cups her cheeks with both hands.
[ She leans in and kisses Kotone again. Her lips part as she allows the slow, gentle kiss to grow deeper and deeper, pouring every ounce of affection and warmth that she can muster into it until, finally, the need for air forces her to pull back. Even then, she doesn't move far. Just far enough that she can look Kotone in the eyes. ]
Whatever happens when our mission here comes to an end ... I've already allowed this -- allowed us -- to slip through my fingers once before, and I'm not going to let that happen again.
kotone welcomes the kiss, pushing herself up to meet her moment for moment. she parts her lips, granting mitsuru access until she finally pulls back, and slowly draws in a deep, shaky breath herself.
she meets mitsuru's eyes silently when she moves to look at her, face flushed and eyes wide. ]
... Okay. Then... I'm not going anywhere. [ her gaze shifts to yukari in turn, as if that goes just as much for her. ]
[ yukari wordlessly nods at mitsuru's questioning look, and she moves in to embrace the both of them once she moves away to hold kotone's face. as if she needs to ask if focusing on her is okay right now.
although the finer details of everything kotone has been through remain a mystery, she knows its outcome. she's seen it, as well, in the form of a yellow-eyed girl in the mirror who speaks of contracts with impossible terms and high prices. a cipher who believes they're a cipher (nothing, nobody, no one) despite everything pointing to the contrary.
and god, she's terrified of what might come after this. if she lost either of them.... the grief might finally eat her alive. but all she can do is have faith that they'll stay, and faith in herself that she can stand her ground in the face of fear.
her love will be stronger.
yukari kisses kotone on the cheek and rests her head on mitsuru's shoulder, holding onto to each of them as tightly as she can. ]
Good. 'cause neither of us are leaving without you.
[ Mitsuru nodded at Yukari's words, leaning into her just a little, drawing comfort from her presence and support. ]
You've been there for us through the darkest times of our lives ... we want to stand by your side, too. To show you that same love and kindness and support. For as long as you'll have us.
[ Her voice stays even, but her lip trembles slightly as the raw, unrestrained emotion of that confession threatens to overwhelm her.
[ Mitsuru doesn't often allow herself to want things. She puts her responsibilities over her personal desires almost without exception -- to the point that it isn't always healthy.
[ the feeling of yukari's lips comes as a comfort, as does her response. even so, it's impossible to miss that word when mitsuru says it.
it isn't a surprise. and she isn't saying it in so many words. even so... kotone stills for a moment, keeping both of them close, before nodding. she's still afraid that it might not be up to them, that this second chance will be snatched away from her as if it never came at all, but— ]
... Thanks. Both of you. [ it's quiet, but her voice does waver a touch. for once, she's all but speechless. ]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2021-12-17 02:31 am (UTC)when yukari finally pulls away, she meets her eyes, huffing a little laugh as she nudges against her. kotone stays that way until mitsuru begins to speak up, attention shifting towards her.
right. this still isn't... simple, even with how it feels. kotone glances down, trying to put her thoughts in order, but then she feels mitsuru's hand on her cheek. ]
... You're right. And I've... we've all wasted too much time, just feeling sorry for ourselves again. Just... [ kotone takes a breath. one, two. lets it out. ] ... I want this, but I'm still afraid. That when we go back, I'll...
[ she doesn't know how to put this in a way that will make sense, beyond a fear that whatever mechanism they might be able to use to return home when the work is done won't let her bypass that. to put into words what she suspects her actions in forming the seal truly were.
even so, she curls forward slightly against mitsuru, leaning her head on her shoulder. ]
... But I can't let that stop me. Not anymore.
no subject
Date: 2021-12-17 03:25 am (UTC)[ ... she's scared of it, too. Terrified.
[ She removes her hand from Yukari's cheek, briefly glancing in the other girl's direction as though asking for her leave to focus all of her attention on Kotone. When her focus shifts back to Kotone, Mitsuru cups her cheeks with both hands.
[ She leans in and kisses Kotone again. Her lips part as she allows the slow, gentle kiss to grow deeper and deeper, pouring every ounce of affection and warmth that she can muster into it until, finally, the need for air forces her to pull back. Even then, she doesn't move far. Just far enough that she can look Kotone in the eyes. ]
Whatever happens when our mission here comes to an end ... I've already allowed this -- allowed us -- to slip through my fingers once before, and I'm not going to let that happen again.
I won't let you go.
no subject
Date: 2021-12-17 03:40 am (UTC)kotone welcomes the kiss, pushing herself up to meet her moment for moment. she parts her lips, granting mitsuru access until she finally pulls back, and slowly draws in a deep, shaky breath herself.
she meets mitsuru's eyes silently when she moves to look at her, face flushed and eyes wide. ]
... Okay. Then... I'm not going anywhere. [ her gaze shifts to yukari in turn, as if that goes just as much for her. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-12-21 02:53 am (UTC)although the finer details of everything kotone has been through remain a mystery, she knows its outcome. she's seen it, as well, in the form of a yellow-eyed girl in the mirror who speaks of contracts with impossible terms and high prices. a cipher who believes they're a cipher (nothing, nobody, no one) despite everything pointing to the contrary.
and god, she's terrified of what might come after this. if she lost either of them.... the grief might finally eat her alive. but all she can do is have faith that they'll stay, and faith in herself that she can stand her ground in the face of fear.
her love will be stronger.
yukari kisses kotone on the cheek and rests her head on mitsuru's shoulder, holding onto to each of them as tightly as she can. ]
Good. 'cause neither of us are leaving without you.
no subject
Date: 2021-12-22 10:53 pm (UTC)You've been there for us through the darkest times of our lives ... we want to stand by your side, too. To show you that same love and kindness and support. For as long as you'll have us.
[ Her voice stays even, but her lip trembles slightly as the raw, unrestrained emotion of that confession threatens to overwhelm her.
[ Mitsuru doesn't often allow herself to want things. She puts her responsibilities over her personal desires almost without exception -- to the point that it isn't always healthy.
[ She wants this.
[ She wants them. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-12-23 04:37 am (UTC)it isn't a surprise. and she isn't saying it in so many words. even so... kotone stills for a moment, keeping both of them close, before nodding. she's still afraid that it might not be up to them, that this second chance will be snatched away from her as if it never came at all, but— ]
... Thanks. Both of you. [ it's quiet, but her voice does waver a touch. for once, she's all but speechless. ]