Dance of the Gods

Veronica and Michael sat on the pier watching the blue moon. Somehow Veronica managed to not lose concentration, even after getting to take a dip in the sea.

Water dripped from both of them as they huddled together. Neither of them were cold, but they pretended to be, so they had an excuse to cuddle.

Michael had his arm over Veronica's shoulder, pulling her close. Her hand made gentle strokes along his well muscled back.

Right now, her focus was on the summoned moon. She was playing with its size, making it bigger and smaller on command, while also moving it around the place. It was strange and mesmerizing to look at.

She had a constant smile on her face. Michael found that smile much more interesting than the light show and, with little thought, he leaned in and gave a small kiss to the top of Veronica's head.

With curiosity, she looked up at him; her smile growing a noticeable amount as their eyes met. The moon reflected in both of their eyes.

"What was that for?" she asked in a whisper. It seemed sacrilegious to speak loudly in this calm atmosphere.

"Because you deserve it!" he said with a sly smirk, one that caused Veronica's heartbeat to quicken every time.

Her hand stopped and, with a bit of force, she pulled him closer. He happily obliged, but stopped with their faces a few centimeters from one another.

"Are you sure?"

Veronica didn't even deign to answer the question. Instead, she leaned in further until their mouths were only a few centimeters apart.

They both looked into each other's eyes, their noses touching. They stayed like that for minutes, breathing the same air, enjoying the other's scent and close presence.

Out of curiosity Veronica turned on Mind's Eye and watched as two colors fought inside Michael. One a bright red, the other an elegant pink. The two were different, but also the same.

Seeing that made Veronica smile, and in the next second, she ended Michael's suffering.

The moon's glow turned brighter for a moment, illuminating their surroundings more. Not like it mattered, since both of their eyes were closed.

Veronica's small lips pressed onto Michael's own. Both of their breathing turned heavier, and they both felt their blood boil for more, but neither made anything.

Instead, they controlled themselves and only tasted each other's lips. There were no tongues involved. The kiss wasn't a hungry one. It was just a small message about their relationship reaching the next level.

They stayed like that for a long time, not sure how long, but they loved every second.

After a while, though, they broke apart, but only momentarily. Soon Veronica pressed her lips back into Michael's mouth.

She also changed positions and sat on his lap to get a much better angle for the kiss.

The moon moved until it floated right above the pair.

Veronica's hands moved around Michael's back, never staying still for more than a second. With her nails, she gently scratched him, or pushed her hand through his fuzzy hair.

Michael's hands were doing the same, keeping away from going too low.

Without saying words, they communicated the message well. They were both ready for this kiss, but nothing more... Not yet, at least...

They broke apart again, then started again. This repeated a lot of times, but each break was longer and each kiss shorter, until they broke apart for the last time.

Veronica continued to sit in Michael's lap as they stared into each other's eyes. Both were smiling, their lips glistening from a mix of seawater, sweat, and both of their saliva.

"And what was that for?" Asked Michael, his smile turning into a foxy grin.

Veronica turned to her side and placed her head on Michael's chest. There, while listening to his steady and rapid heartbeat, she whispered...

"Because I... I... Never mind..."

While trying to speak, her face turned red from blushing. She felt like a teenage girl back in high-school trying to speak to her crush.

What she wanted to say wasn't embarrassing at all, but still she fumbled it.

Michael put one hand over her arms, pulling her closer, while his other gently stroked and played with her long, light brown silk-like locks of hair. They were still quite wet, and with each stroke, they stuck to his fingers.

He leaned in over Veronica and whispered into her air... "What were you going to say?"

She glanced up at his cunning smirk with an annoyed expression. He knew what she wanted to say, but he asked anyway, just to see her pout.

But jokes on him. She wouldn't show more embarrassment for something so small. While staring into his eyes, she was about to speak, but Michael was faster.

"I love you, Veronica!" This silenced her.

Her eyes widened with surprise, but soon a calm smile appeared on her face. She didn't move closer as she whispered back... "I love you too!"

After saying it, she laughed at her previous inaptitude. For a moment, she remembered her other relationships.

Back then, she was right to not feel comfortable saying it, since in those times it was a lie of sorts. Maybe not an actual lie, but she was hundred percent certain that she wasn't feeling like how she was right now.

This warm and fuzzy feeling inside her. Or when every time she looked at Michael, she just had to smile. Or that every moment spent away from him seemed darker and longer...

Back then, she thought what she felt for her previous partners was love, but compared to what she was feeling right now, in his arms. They weren't even close.

Michael felt the same way. His previous partners were great in their own terms, but comparing them to Veronica was like comparing a rock to a mountain.

In that moment, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, no matter how long that was. He wanted all of his time, life and everything to be spent with this strange alien woman.

And as he leaned in to kiss the top of her head again, it was done with pure love and care.

Below his hand, Veronica sighed with exhaustion and contentment. Only now did Michael notice her eyes were closed and she was making sounds that were like a cat's purr.

"We should head home..." she whispered, not opening her eyes. Michael chuckled as he lifted her in a princess carry.

Instead of demanding to be put down, she snuggled closer to him, and allowed him to carry her.

The moon above them disappeared, and Michael began taking Veronica away.

This carry only lasted until they reached the shipyard's edge. From there on they walked together, but soon stopped, since they weren't sure of their destination.

The inn was on the other side of Hammon, while the Unbroken HQ was far in the Dirt District.

"Uhhh... I don't want to walk all the way there..." Said Veronica in a desperate tone.

"Well, we don't have to. My apartment is quite close."

Michael spoke with a bit of embarrassment because of what this could imply, but Veronica was too tired to care. The day was long. Her body wasn't tired at all, but her mind was close to its end.

She put her hand over her mouth and yawned... "Lead the way!"

With that, they walked to Michael's home. It was in one of the better places in the Harbor District.

The building complex was five stories, with 4 apartments on each level. There was a male receptionist standing on the ground floor. Michael chatted with him for a few minutes, introducing Veronica.

They were still soaked, but the receptionist believed their lie about falling into the sea while walking.

They also used this as an excuse to end the conversation, and they ascended the steps to the third floor.

Michael opened the door, then held it for Veronica to walk inside. With tired eyes, she looked around.

The apartment consisted of three rooms. The living room and kitchen were connected. There was a small dining table near a window, and a sofa with two armchairs next to it facing a lone, cold fireplace. The other two rooms were a bedroom and a bathroom.

The whole place looked clean, but also empty. It was the exact home Veronica didn't want to own.

"You didn't lie about the lack of decoration." She said while smiling at Michael.

He just rolled his eyes and while walking towards the bedroom said... "I will get you some changes of clothing. You can take a bath if you want to."

"Hell no. I would hundred percent fall asleep. I will just wait on the couch." She said while laying down.

A few minutes later, Michael walked out with a feminine nightdress, which Veronica put on without question. He also changed into some lighter clothes.

"You can go to sleep in the bed. I will sleep on the couch."

Hearing that, Veronica raised an eyebrow... "Don't be silly, we can sleep in the same bed."

Michael stared into Veronica's eyes, trying to find some falsehood there, but she didn't seem to mind, so he accepted her offer.

They both climbed under the covers, their bodies trembling a bit from the sudden comfortable warmth seeping into them. It took them no time to fall asleep while cuddling.