The Warmth of War (Laura/Reader from Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn) (Patreon)

A cold wind swept through the land, but it was not the cause of the shivering you were witnessing. Instead, the culprit was an eternal foe-- nerves. Its presence was understandable, but it nevertheless needed to be conquered. Time was not on your side, nor was it on hers. 

Unfortunately, teaching was not your area of expertise. 

Laura was not a mage; she was a cleric first and foremost. Therefore, it wasn’t shocking to learn she struggled to channel magic that called forth destruction rather than rejuvenation. 

Regardless, she was committed to learning the craft. She had come to you personally, petitioning for your aid. After witnessing her determination, you saw no reason to deny the request. 

You just wished the timing had been better; the current circumstances were not ideal. 

Daein was going to war. Again.

…and siding with Begnion.

Your homeland had only just freed itself from the clutches of that nation.

Needless to say, you were not a fan of the new king. Pelleas appeared to be actively working against Daein’s interests with this nonsensical alliance. Although you admittedly hadn’t conversed with him much during the liberation, he never gave the impression that he was somebody willing to return to war while the nation licked its wounds. It was a grim reminder to not let first impressions count for much, if anything. 

Despite the grievances you had regarding the situation, you weren’t going to abandon Daein.

Not again, at least.

You originally joined Daein’s army during the Mad King’s War, though you never were anything more than an ordinary footsoldier. That was fine, for you had no aspirations to climb the ranks. The army provided meals and that was enough to convince you to join and stick around. An outpost close to the Crimean border had been where you were stationed, the fortification’s task involving the capture of any Crimeans attempting to flee from the attack on the capital. 

While you had some skepticism about whether this invasion was truly necessary or justified, you were in no position to question it. The only thing that mattered was earning your keep. 

A morally dubious life as a soldier far exceeded one of poverty was your belief. Besides, since it was a small encampment, it was unlikely to meet any resistance. Of course, you were no coward when it came to necessary combat, but staying away from the frontlines meant you could afford an untimely fate. 

So when you were told you had to leave that cozy little camp, having been ordered to investigate a clash between Crimea and Daein, you were thrilled! 

Supposedly, a task force had been sent out to investigate the skirmish but had not returned when scheduled to. Therefore, your small squadron had been set up to learn whether or not they had perished. It wasn’t difficult to determine what had happened to them, but confirmation was necessary and you weren’t ecstatic about that. There was a high possibility you’d encounter some Crimean Knights desiring vengeance for the invasion of their country. It wasn’t an appealing scenario, to say the least. 

Fortunately, a confrontation had been avoided. 

Unfortunately, you had discovered Princess Crimea. 

Due to the circumstances behind your upbringing, you were always weary of your surroundings; therefore, somebody scurrying through the nearby thicket was very noticeable. Princess Crimea’s movements were rigid and rough, and she also tumbled a few times, suggesting she was about to lose consciousness at any moment, yet she continued nonetheless.

 While you considered alerting the squadron leader there and then, you held back when you noticed the hotheaded buffoon had initiated a fight against an unknown group. Although they were armed, they did not bear the mark of the royal knights, suggesting they were mere mercenaries.

Regardless of their allegiance, you had no desire to get involved in a fight caused by a leader craving one. It soon proved to be the right call to make; while you watched from the shadows, keeping one eye on the fight and the other on the collapsed princess, your squadron was defeated effortlessly.

Being spared from the bloodshed wasn’t necessarily a good thing, however; the Daein Army's motto wasn’t ‘Success or failure, life or death.’ for nothing. Anything remotely resembling cowardice was not acceptable behavior. You weren’t convinced a ‘sole survivor’ story would save you here, especially when you lacked wounds.

Taking Princess Crimea directly back to camp was perhaps the only means of evading execution, but that possibility was snatched away when the unknown group discovered her presence. You narrowly avoided being uncovered as well, ultimately leaving you with only intel about her being taken west… which admittedly could still prove valuable enough for the higher-ups to ignore your lack of participation in the fight.

But you weren't going to rely on that. They’d likely wonder why you didn’t follow them, or question why you hadn’t tried to hide the princess so she couldn’t be found in the first place.

All wasn’t lost, however. 

Amongst the chatter you heard from the group, you had confirmed their status as mercenaries, explaining the admirable strength they individually displayed. From what you had gathered, they appeared to be lacking in the magical arts-- only a wind mage and a cleric were among their ranks. 

You were a dark mage essentially looking for a new employer, and for that reason, you decided to see if you could add your skillset to their repertoire. 

Naturally, you weren’t optimistic about your odds… but when the alternatives were either returning to base to get slaughtered for your cowardice, or wandering through enemy territory in the hopes you’d come across a village that was sympathetic towards a deserter… well, it was clear what the obvious decision to make was. 

It was this singular day that ultimately led you to the opposing side of the conflict. 

How ironic that everything had looped back. Here you were, once again on Daein’s side, ready to participate in a questionable war. It was laughable. 

You weren't laughing though.

"You look lost in thought," Laura pointed out your lack of concentration. "You've… been trying to help me for a while now. I'm very grateful for what you’re doing, but I can tell there’s a lot on your mind.”

She was quite the observant one, it seemed; either that, or your disgruntled expression wasn’t doing you any favors.

“Would you… like to take a break?” she continued, following up her suggestion with an enticing offer. “You can talk to me about your troubles, if you want. It’s the least I can do for taking up so much of your time.”

You appreciated her concern. She was a kind soul-- too kind for this disaster of an army. 

The Liberation Army was one thing. People with a love for their country wanting to free it from those who oppressed it? That was a cause worth fighting for.

But the newly restored Daein Army itching to clash against the Laguz? Not so much.

You were only here to protect the friends you had made. 

"Laura," you spoke firmly, making sure you had her undivided attention. "A lot of people are going to die-- people who should still be celebrating their independence with their loved ones and countrymen.”

Laura listened, holding her tome close to her chest and gripping it tightly. Despite the strong grasp, she was still shivering.

“Yet here we are, about to leave our borders and fight in a war that our king demands we fight for the sake of the nation.” you continued, your voice growing increasingly distraught and higher in volume, something you recognized but decided to do nothing about. It felt good to be loud! It felt good to let this all out! “What does that even mean?! The Laguz are not our enemy. Barely anyone knows that though! That’s just how this nation works. We’ve all been raised on stories of how they’re all monsters, but let me tell you, Laura-- they’re not! Maurim and Vika helped liberate this country too! And here we are, siding with the nation that-”

The gentlest touch against your arm silenced your rant. 

Laura's hand was still shaking, even more so than usual. It did not take much time to realize your venting was to blame. It made you feel unbelievably foolish-- she was not the person to go to regarding your worries. She was terrified enough!

"I'm scared too," she spoke softly and weakly, quickly clearing her throat once she noticed her tone. Upon doing so, she tried her best to sound more confident. "But… I trust in Micaiah-- and I trust in King Pelleas. I trust that we are doing the right thing."

Optimism, huh? It was an admirable trait. 

But she lacked context. Her optimistic approach was synonymous with naivety.

You couldn’t blame Laura for saying such things. This would be the first time she'd be leaving her homeland. She did not know how the world beyond Daein worked. It was tempting to be honest with her about that, but considering the level of fear she was already experiencing, opting to speak honestly would multiply her fright. 

Therefore, you exhaled, putting to rest the turbulent thoughts you were having for the time being. It was difficult, but you did it for her sake. "...I’m sorry. Forget what I was saying. Let's just focus on teaching you how to use this tome, okay?" 

Laura had privately approached you a few days ago, requesting you teach her how to cast spells. She expressed some insecurities she had regarding her battle capabilities, for although her skills as a cleric were superb, she understood acquiring an adequate means to defend herself in combat was essential. Whacking somebody with her staff was perhaps the best thing she could do, but such an approach was neither effective nor appealing.

Although offensive magic differed from healing magic in many ways, the basics were similar enough. Though your expertise was in the darker arts, a formidable form of magic you’d rather she didn’t tap into, you at least understood the essentials for elemental magic. 

Fire was Laura’s best option. The bulk of the Laguz Alliance hailed from Gallia and were susceptible to the flame. Although she wouldn’t have enough time to master it, understanding the principles would serve her well should an enemy attempt to attack her. All she needed to do was stagger her opponent, granting time for an ally to come to her aid. Perhaps she’d even get lucky and inflict a direct blow, knocking them unconscious. All in all, it was a good addition to her arsenal.

It would be a good spell to learn for when she returned home too. The winters in Daein could be notoriously harsh; thus, being able to channel a source of warmth whenever she needed it would prove useful. 

That is, if she returned home. 

“I’m still not sure what I’m doing wrong,” Laura spoke at the right time, distracting you from the intrusive and unpleasant thoughts forming in your head. “Is it the pose... or the incantation?”

“Both of those are fine,” you answered. “It’s your shiver.”

“Well, it’s cold,” she lied-- the borders were nowhere near as daunting. “Can we not go inside to practice?”

“You won’t be fighting inside most of the time,” you turned down her idea, prompting her to exhale. She was beginning to feel understandably frustrated about her lack of progression. Even so, her determination to succeed was still high. 

You pondered whether to lend her a helping hand. Laura would need to learn how to do this all by herself eventually, but if she could get a feel for the spell, even with some external aid, it could be beneficial.

“Pass me the tome,” you made your request-- one she saw no reason to decline. You channeled the energy contained within the spellbook, conjuring a spark of flame that you kept hovering over your hand. It was about the size of your palm, and though that meant it wasn’t that large, it would still be deadly if unleashed. “Do you feel its warmth?”

“Of course,” she said. “It’s nice.”

“Does it make you feel like you’re back at home?” 

“It does,” she hummed, closing her eyes and focusing on that feeling, just as you hoped she would. 

Pointing out her nerves hadn’t been a good idea. Laura was already aware she was feeling apprehensive, so mentioning it had amplified that sensation and prevented her from concentrating. Ironically, she had returned the favor by pointing out your lack of focus, but it was okay-- she was able to free you from your troublesome thoughts as a result. It was now time to do the same back.

Anxiety was a deadly enemy, but for some, pleasant thoughts could dampen its strength. The thought of home was a particularly comforting thing to think about for many, especially when far from it. The flame was present to aid Laura immerse herself within her imagination, and though she would inevitably have to open her eyes, she would feel better. 

You wanted to speak to her-- to tell her that it wouldn’t be long before she could return to where she was meant to be. A place of comfort, laughter, and happiness. 

An unrelatable thought for yourself, but not for her.

But… you couldn’t tell her these things.

After all, it would all be lies. 

The conflict lurking around the corner… how was anyone supposed to survive it? Daein was being discarded by Begnion, used as cannon fodder, and-

The touch of a gentle hand once again soothed your mind.

This time, Laura’s hand wasn’t quivering, and it was a relief to discover that.

“Now you’re shivering,” she giggled. “But… it’s okay! I’m feeling steady now… and this time, I’ll be the one to make you feel warm, you hear?”

Laura carefully grabbed the tome out of your hands, smiling with confidence as she chanted the incantation. 

This time, she succeeded.

The fire that emerged in her hands was an adorable little flicker, no bigger than a fingertip, but it was something! She smiled with glee, mesmerized by what she had done. The size did not matter-- it was fire she had created. 

Laura shuffled a little closer towards you, letting you observe it more closely. Seeing that little spark filled you with pride. She was able to maintain it well too, a step you were somewhat worried she’d struggle with, but she was surpassing expectations!

“Well done, Laura. I’m impressed,” you complimented her-- and you genuinely meant it! “You just need to focus on creating a larger fire now, but that’s something you can gradually improve upon. It will be easy to gauge your improvement too.”

“Thank you!” she spoke with the utmost elation. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Laura was a precious little thing.

…which made this whole ordeal hurt even more. Why was she here? She could have gone home. She could have stayed safe. 

When Micaiah summoned the Dawn Brigade, she told every member that they were not required to take part in the coming conflict. She was willing to make excuses for any non-participants if necessary, but everybody decided to stick with her. The Dawn Brigade were not comrades-- they were a family. That was what Nolan had said, at least.

Micaiah was naturally stressed about the ordeal, having been ordered to fight a war she did not know why she was fighting, let alone one she wanted to take a commanding role in. It wasn’t surprising that so many wanted to do what they could to help her. Laura was among them. 

This sucked. This really, really sucked.

“Hey…” Laura poked your face-- a move you were not expecting, though it wasn’t an unpleasant act. Confusion wasn’t the best thing to have roaming in one’s mind, but it was far preferable to a chaotic-filled one. Goodness-- you needed to figure out how to stop worrying so much. “You think a lot, you know that?”

“Is that bad?”

“Not always,” she replied. “But I can tell you’re not thinking nice things.”

You sighed. “I can’t help it. It’s how I work. I’ve seen a lot. Too much.”

Laura mumbled, taking a moment to ponder what she wanted to say. Once she was ready, she took a deep breath and stood firmly. 

“I’m… glad you’re here, you know,” she spoke, her anxiety flaring again, but she used her flare to help discard it. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted to help us.”

That was a perplexing thing to hear. Why wouldn’t you be here? You had friends here-- people you had forged strong connections with during the liberation and cared deeply about. 

It ultimately didn’t matter that you personally didn’t want to participate in this war. You were going to do everything you could to protect those who did, no matter their motivations. You genuinely feared for everybody’s lives, but if your involvement could help even a single one survive when they otherwise wouldn’t have… it would be worth it.

So why was Laura pondering your presence? Was it not obvious why you were here? Maybe you hadn’t been direct enough, perhaps? 

“Why would you think I wouldn’t?” 

“Well, you know… the people we’re fighting against… they’re your friends, aren’t they?”

Ah. Right. 

You had mentioned before that you fought against Daein during the previous war, though you hadn’t elaborated further. Be that as it may, it wasn’t inconceivable to think she connected the dots after.

Laura wasn’t wrong. It was likely you’d encounter friends on the other side. There was even a good chance friends you had on both sides would clash against each other too. 

You were foolishly trying to forget that heart-wrenching fact, but it was difficult. 

“They are,” you sighed. “But everyone here is my friend too.” 

There was no neutral position you could take in this war.

“I see…” she mumbled, dispersing the fire she had created and breathing heavily. “...s-sorry, I didn’t mean to dampen the mood. I know it’s been tough for you.”

“No, it’s okay,” you did your best to reassure her. “Look-- let’s call it a day, shall we? We’re marching into Begnion tomorrow. We need all the sleep we can get. You’ve made an amazing step towards using magic too, so be proud.”

Laura nodded slowly, though she didn’t look too pleased at the conversation’s conclusion despite the praise. It was obvious she wanted to do more to ease your stress. 

You had no doubt she’d listen intently to you opening up more about your concerns, but she didn’t deserve to hear all that. The situation was already as tough as it could be for her. The less she worried about you, the better.

“...hey,” she spoke up quietly.

“Hmm?”

“Close your eyes for a second?”

“Okay…”

You didn’t suspect Laura of any foul play, but it was a curious thing to ask for. Nevertheless, you complied.

Seconds later, you felt something warm and fuzzy brush against your cheek. When you opened your eyes moments later, you witnessed her leaning back. A fluster had formed on her face, and when you rubbed your cheek and felt a faint dampness, you understood what she had done.

“...Laura, uh, I…”

“A distraction,” she answered before you could ask any questions. “Now you’re going to be thinking about that for a while instead.”

Laura, refusing to elaborate, walked away hastily.

This girl had… kissed you?!

That was… not what you were expecting. At all!

She wasn’t wrong though. The unpleasant thoughts were gone. 

Now all you could think about was her.

___

“Ow...”

“Stay still. You’re moving too much.”

“I’m trying.”

It had been around a day since the battle at the Ribahn River. The Laguz Alliance was successfully ambushed and their escape route had been cut off. Everything had gone according to plan. 

Initially.

The subsequent intervention of the Greil Mercenaries backing up the Laguz had caused something of a setback. With Darin's focus on Ike and his group, the remainder of the Alliance had attacked from behind when you and your allies least expected it. Soren’s handiwork was undoubtedly to blame; his strategic prowess intertwined with the brute force of the mercenaries and Laguz was something that should not have been underestimated. It was honestly miraculous it hadn’t been a complete slaughter.

Micaiah was to be thanked for ordering a swift retreat. While losses had been kept to a minimum, that didn't necessarily mean the army was in good condition. Morale was low-- the supremacy many believed they had against the Laguz had shattered within an instant.

While you were glad everybody you knew from the Dawn Brigade had survived, not everybody was in tip-top shape.

Laura had her work cut out for her, being one of the only individuals who hadn’t sustained any injuries. As for how she had managed to avoid harm, it was thanks to her talent and your tutoring. Some Laguz had targeted her on the battlefield, only to scurry away when struck by her flame. She wasn’t able to vanquish all of them, but her defense bought her time for you to arrive and reinforce her position. 

Not everything had worked out wonderfully, unfortunately. Though you had braced yourself for an inevitable encounter against somebody you knew, that didn’t mean you were fully ready for it. 

Lethe was a strong combatant, and though she tried to convince you to stand down, you refused. You couldn’t be a turncoat-- not again.

You had fought valiantly against her, but she had something you lacked-- a resolve to kill. 

Micaiah signaling the retreat had saved you from demise. Lethe recognized what was happening and decided to be merciful, stating you had been saved by your past deeds. While you were happy to be alive, you weren’t feeling so great mentally-- or physically, for that matter. Her claws hurt! She had struck your shoulder especially deep. It was unquestionably going to leave a scar.

Laura had been working tirelessly to cleanse the wound for a while now. Even though she had been moving around endlessly, tending to injuries everywhere, she always tried to return to your side whenever she could.

Although the damage wasn’t completely gone, she had patched up most of the pain, using her healing magic to its fullest. It ached to move your arm, but you were going to survive. 

Currently, Laura was assessing the condition of your shoulder through observation and touch, though the latter was causing your arm to jolt subconsciously, hence the light scolding.

“How is it?”

“Your muscles look good…” she answered, pausing momentarily before lifting her head quickly and quietly chuckling. “Y-You just need to take it easy for a little bit, okay? Healing magic of my caliber can fix up light injuries, but with wounds that deep, there’s only so much I can do! Yeah. Mmm!”

“Don’t sell yourself short,” you refuted her claim, a justifiable response from your perspective considering you were practically healed to full health. “I feel as right as-- ow.”

Hm.

Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to start moving that arm around in a circular motion juuuust yet. You had intended to demonstrate it was working, only to paint a very different picture. 

Laura placed her arms on her hips and pouted, saying nothing, but she had already communicated her disapproval quite well.

“Yeah, yeah…” you mumbled, feeling a little guilty. An attempt to bring down her concern had instead increased it. “Sorry, Laura. I… well… I just don’t want you to be worried about me. You’re concerned about so many people as it is. You can tick me off that list, I promise.”

Nolan had a bruised torso. Leonardo had a cut on his leg. Edward had twisted his wrist. Those were just a few of the injuries she had to manage, and though they were all relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, the quantity was overwhelming for even somebody as experienced as her.

Laura sighed, sitting down by your side. You were glad she hadn’t sustained any damage in the battle; she was already dealing with so much mentally. Sleep hadn’t been kind to her either; tossing and turning had kept her awake for long periods of time, and whenever she was able to doze off, it did not take long before she was woken up due to somebody requiring urgent medical care. 

“Do you… know how many healers we have? The number will surprise you,” Laura suddenly asked, the question making you ponder briefly, though her unamused undertone suggested it wasn’t an ideal answer. 

Even so, you weren’t confident you could answer correctly. You had seen some around camp, but those encounters had been far and few between. The instinctive guesses coming to mind were… not too good, to say the least.

Laura recognized your hesitation, providing an answer that wasn’t fun to hear. “Twenty-one, to be precise… and the army’s size…”

While that was another statistic you weren’t certain about, you knew enough to understand the point she was making.

“In the thousands,” the discrepancy hadn’t gone unnoticed. “Not to mention we’re fighting Laguz; where are the fire mages? The ballistae? I’m not sure I spotted anyone besides you using fire magic.”

The writing was on the wall, and for you specifically, you had read it quite a number of times already.

The Daein Army had not recovered from its liberation. It was not ready for another war. Not even the misplaced valor some of these soldiers had for fighting the Laguz would be enough, especially when so many had already had their pride wounded. 

It was fortunate the army’s condition wasn’t worse, but would that last? Of course not. 

Not when there were so few healers too. 

“Yeah...” she laughed uneasily. “I’m exhausted…”

You glanced at Laura, and what you saw made your heart sink. The girl was shivering, but her tiredness was not to blame.

Rather, it was fear.

When you were teaching her magic, her optimism for the future had saved her from being consumed by the emotion, but you doubted even the warmth of a conjured spell and thoughts of home could soothe her now. 

But Laura had taught you that there were unusual methods for distracting the mind, and frankly, you had been looking for an opportunity to reciprocate what she had done back at the border.

Therefore, you calmly placed your hand on hers, gradually interlocking your fingers within hers. The act briefly started her, but the clutching of her hand against yours signified she appreciated the gesture. Laura breathed heavily, gradually breaking away from her panicked state as she focused on the unfamiliar but welcome warmth comforting her cold hand. She soon leaned her head on your shoulder, something you allowed without a second thought once you noticed it was doing wonders to the cadence of her breathing. 

Laura didn’t deserve this. She should have been home. The liberation of her nation was one thing, but she wasn’t cut out for this.

Maybe it was best you left-- with her.

You could take her back to Daein. You could free her from the burden of war. It wouldn’t be the first time you deserted!

Though it was an appealing thought, you knew the thinking was selfish. Laura was scared, but she wanted to be here. There were people she wanted to protect… and besides, that was precisely why you were here too. 

“...hey,” she whispered, clutching your hand firmly. “...do you… think we’ll survive this?”

“No,” was what you wanted to say.

“Yes,” was what you said instead. “But don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

The last part was true, but…

Laura chuckled, though the laughter didn’t sound genuine. Regardless, you appreciated that she was trying her best to smile.

“Is this… what the goddess wills?” Laura started to question many things. “Does she approve of this war? Is our cause just? What… are we even fighting for? Do we even know?”

Daein did not know anything, but it did not need to.

It had been told there was an opportunity to fight the Laguz-- a chance to slaughter those whom they knew as savages. Sub-humans.

Siding with Begnion-- those who had oppressed them mere moments before-- did not matter.

“I don’t know, Laura.”

You did not have any answers for her, nor did you have the courage to lie again. 

“Hold me.”

You paused, that request playing in your mind a few times before you responded.

“...hmm…?”

“Hold me,” she repeated. “And do not let go.”

Laura had never spoken so seriously. Therefore, you did not even think about questioning her demand, complying without hesitation. She promptly shuffled closer, not letting go of your hand at any point. Her eyes were shimmering with the formation of tears, but none had escaped their confinement. Not yet. 

In her haste to get cozy, she had seemingly forgotten about your injured shoulder, but you forgave her for the mistake and tried your best not to remind her about the bruise. You gently placed your other hand on her hip, gently nudging her closer. Laura did not rest on your shoulder for long, the comfort of another making her drowsy enough to momentarily stumble, but you were quick to catch her. She ultimately found her head resting against your chest, and you subsequently rested your head on hers, transitioning the embrace into a cuddle. 

It had been a little awkward to make work-- neither you nor she were really sure what you were doing, but she seemed satisfied with the result. You could already tell her breathing was improving drastically, and she even appeared to be giggling quietly to herself.

You soon learned why.

“I…can hear your heart,” she said. “...it’s beating… faster and faster.”

How could it not? Especially after bringing it up like that?

Laura meant a lot to you, and you couldn’t deny that this affection was… nice. 

It was wondrous to once again find a distraction from the unsavory situation your country was presently in. Doubtlessly, she was thinking the same. Did this count as returning the favor, however? While you were soothing her mind, so too was she soothing yours.

You were glad you had chosen a quiet spot to chat, disjointed from the rest of the camp. This quiet moment could be appreciated without any concern for ridicule from any soldiers on patrol.

Thankfully, Laura opted not to mention your pounding heart, nor make any other comments for the matter. She simply appreciated the moment, as did you.

Like all good things, it did have to come to an end, albeit for an unexpected reason.

Laura was the one to conclude the snuggle, pulling her head away and gazing up. Her expression was comforting, for her eyes were clear and she was smiling. 

You acted next-- completely instinctively. There was an opportunity to do something that, with hope, would cleanse her mind for the remainder of the night.

Leaning your head closer to hers, you planted your lips on her forehead, hearing her exhale quietly in surprise.

“Tonight, do not think about the war,” you suggested. “I want you to think about that instead.”

It was Laura’s turn to feel flustered. You had not forgotten that kiss she had given your cheek, nor could you forget the consequences; that memory had been lingering at the forefront of your mind ever since, refusing to leave… though that was partly because you didn’t want it to depart.

You pondered whether to leave just as she had, but your hesitation allowed for a counter.

Laura was not accepting of the forehead kiss. She didn’t dislike it by any means-- it just wasn’t enough.

When she tilted her head forward, her lips did not meet one of your cheeks, or even your forehead. Her target was far more special than that.

The brushing of her lips against yours was astonishing, but you did not back away, even as your heart began pounding exceptionally and your mind became devoid of all thought. Laura’s lips were unbelievably soft, their intersection against yours invoking many shivers-- pleasant shivers. 

From how slowly she was taking this, it was clear this was quite the ordeal for her as well, but her shaking was softened once you reciprocated the kiss, sharing a moment that you would remember for the rest of your life. 

The unavoidable separation of your lips created an unforeseen longing-- a longing for more.

You wanted to kiss her again… to feel that softness, and to experience that intoxicating shiver… but it was not to be. 

Laura revealed an expression of excitement and embarrassment as she backed away.

“I…” she spoke softly. “...would like for the both of us, to think about that, instead…”

She had turned the tables on you!

Nevertheless, you nodded approvingly, and she did the same. Laura stood, her breathing irritated and in need of recovery, but there was no need for concern when you understood its cause. She quickly departed, returning to camp to doubtlessly work her magic and save lives… or sleep-- she really needed sleep. 

Despite your grievances with the war, you still had the resolve to fight for your troubled country and see your friends safely back home.

But the last battle had fractured your will. It had brought forth despair that you believed couldn’t be vanquished so easily.

Laura had proven you wrong, cleansing not just your wound, but that which terrorized your thoughts. In doing so, she had done the same for her troubled mind too.

For the first time in a while, you started to believe that everything was going to be… alright.

Yeah.

It would be alright!

After all, you now had another reason to fight to your fullest.

The feelings forming within were strong, 

You wanted to learn what these forming feelings could blossom into.

___

The situation had never been so dire.

It had been some time since Daein’s entry into the war against the Laguz Alliance. Since that moment, there had been little opportunity for relaxation. Crimea had entered the war due to Begnion’s aggression, and then, Apostle Sanaki resurfaced. The senate demanded that Daein participate in her capture… and of course, the puppet king complied.

Well, it wasn’t right to call him that anymore. Daein had fallen under the curse of the Blood Pact-- one that threatened their existence unless they obeyed the senate. King Pelleas had signed for it unknowingly, and while he still wasn’t in your good books for falling for such a ruse, his genuine remorse for his mistake granted him some pity. The naive king was a better term. 

Daein had clashed against the Alliance multiple times, ultimately being pushed further into their homeland despite the heavy damage they had done to the Apostle’s army in return.

Presently, the army was stationed at Nox Castle, licking its wounds while it prepared for another battle-- one that could not be retreated from. The Alliance was anticipated to arrive the following morning, allowing for one final night of sleep.

This upcoming battle was going to be it. You could feel it. It was like there was something in the air invoking the worst kinds of sensations. Anxiety, fear, helplessness… but also a bizarre thrill for battle, bloodshed, and malice. Micaiah had been struck by it the worst, barely holding it together and always on the verge of collapse even as she rallied her forces for battle. 

Those who belonged to the Dawn Brigade had been elevated to more respectable positions in the army. This privilege granted you a roof over your head and a bedroom to yourself while the ordinary troops had to stay in tents, though you doubted you’d be sleeping somberly either way. If you were lucky, you’d pass out from sheer exhaustion. 

A quiet knock on your door came at the right time; you were just about to begin despairing about everybody’s inevitable demise, so the distraction was appreciated. 

You opened the door to Laura, and though her anxious appearance was concerning, her presence was a sight for sore eyes.

"Hey," she greeted you with a weak and tired voice, something that wasn't pleasant to hear at all, though you could hardly blame her for sounding that way. "Is it okay to come in…?"

"Of course it is," you stepped aside, letting her enter before closing the door. "How are you faring with everything, Laura? 

You doubted her response would be a positive one. Her momentary silence confirmed those suspicions. Nevertheless, she ultimately found the courage to reply, though she still sounded distressed. “Nolan sent me away from the clinic just now… he told me… I needed to get some sleep…”

Laura had been working tirelessly to heal the injured-- as always. Hundreds of lives had singlehandedly been saved through her efforts during this war, and frankly, you weren’t convinced many had shown appreciation for her work. She had been forced to step up and perform beyond all expectations, all due to the low quantity of the healers at Daein’s disposal. 

And her sleep…

It had been awful.

Nolan’s decision was a smart one. Her physical and mental health mattered too. She couldn’t save lives while hers was in jeopardy. 

That did beg the question-- she had been instructed to rest, yet had instead come to your quarters, even though she had a room all to herself too. 

The predominant theory in your mind hastily came true when Laura fell into your arms, breathing deeply while sobbing. 

“I’m scared,” was all she had to say. It was all she needed to say. 

Laura was terrified about what awaited them, and she had every right to be! The situation wasn’t good.

Daein’s frequent losses, an understanding of the curse that forced their compliance, and the likely reality that they were doomed no matter what they did… were but a few of the things that were troubling her.

The liberation of the nation had been nothing like this. War had certainly been waged back then, but the losses were nowhere near as drastic. 

The war against the Laguz Alliance had resulted in many lives lost-- including lives she had failed to save, making her feel responsible and guilty. Even now, the weight of those who were injured still pressed against her heart. Laura doubtlessly believed she should still be at the infirmary, doing whatever she could to tend to the wounded.

But she couldn’t. She was on the verge of collapse, and now, she was physically and mentally falling apart.

Laura was in tears. 

You did everything you could to comfort her, holding her tightly as all those repressed emotions poured out. 

It broke your heart.

You felt like a failure. You could have… no, should have done something to prevent her from participating in this war. Though you had regrets, you knew it was important to discard them for now; somebody dear to you needed your help more than ever and you were determined to do whatever was necessary to make them feel better.

“Laura,” you spoke quietly to her once her sobbing started to soften, perhaps because there were simply no more tears left. “Can you pull away for a moment? I want to show you something.”

Laura had been clutching you securely all this time, refusing to let go no matter what. You knew it would hurt her to depart, but it was a necessary evil. 

She took a while to respond. That was okay. You’d wait as long as needed.

Eventually, she acknowledged your request. Slowly, but surely, she backed away, revealing her tear-stained expression. She sniffed a few times, wiping her eyes clean. She sat down on your bed, breathing uneasily while watching you intently.

You approached a nearby table that contained a stack of spellbooks, primarily tomes that utilized dark magic such as Carraeu and Fenrir. However, there was one book that stood out due to the differing affinity. 

An Elfire.

The tome was something you had bought a while back with personal funds. As Laura was now excelling at using ordinary Fire tomes, never missing her mark whenever using one, you believed upgrading to a stronger variant was a natural evolution for somebody of her caliber. While the flickers of this particular spellbook were tougher to control, you were confident she possessed the necessary skill.

With it, she could better defend herself.

With it, she could survive.

Admittedly, she was becoming more adept at using these tomes than you were, but you still had the aptitude needed to tap into the tome a little bit… and that’s all you needed for your plan.

Laura was a little confused when you brought the tome to her side, but she started to understand what was happening when you chanted the incantation and a small but strong flame appeared above the open pages. You carefully sat next to her, maintaining the flame. She closed her eyes, gradually beginning to relax.

For some time, no sound could be heard aside from the flickering of the flame. Though it was a rugged noise, it was familiar and fueled her imagination. 

You broke the silence to ask an important question. “What do you see, Laura?”

“I can see Kisca,” she quietly answered, expressing no hesitation, even when she rested her head on your shoulder. “When Aran and I were children, we would often listen to the abbot’s stories and teachings of the goddess.”

You had been there when Laura first appeared before the Dawn Brigade, asking for help regarding her ill abbot.

She hadn’t mentioned her past beyond her time as a priestess, stating she didn’t have a particularly interesting story to tell. It was welcoming to hear her opening up; interesting or not, it was helping her keep calm. 

“Tell me more,” you encouraged her to recollect.

“The church was warm… just like this fire,” she continued. “It was welcoming of people from any background, including orphans.”

The plague that struck Daein-- and King Ashnard’s subsequent rule-- led to a lot of families being torn apart and children left alone to fend for themselves.

You knew this well, for you were one of those children. 

It was unfortunate you had not lived close to a church-- it would have been nice for a fire like this to invoke nostalgia as well. 

“Were there many children being looked after by the church?” 

That was a question with an obvious answer, but you wanted to encourage her to continue her tale. The more she spoke, the more she would recollect… and the happier she would become.

“There were,” Laura replied. “Some like Aran were lucky enough to be adopted. Others were not, but the church did its best to provide nonetheless. They had a roof over their heads and a warm meal every day. For them, that was enough. I helped out whenever I could too. Their smiles… I can picture them all now.”

That was good to hear. No child deserved to resort to a life of thievery to survive, always wondering when their next meal would be. 

“You will make it back to them, Laura.”

Laura gazed up with barely open eyes, still looking a little teary, but her condition had undeniably improved.

“When this war is over… will you come back to Kisca with me?”

“I…”

Laura’s proposition was unexpected… but you weren’t against the idea! It was just unusual to think about the future at present.

Hesitation that was not interpreted well. “I-I mean, I will need an escort-- somebody to protect me,” she quickly added, realizing she might have been asking for a little too much. “You can then leave once I’m home, if you wa-”

“Laura.”

“Y-Yes?”

Laura leaned away, looking equally bashful and equally ashamed, believing she had said something wrong. 

Truthfully, you had mentally prepared two solutions to resolving her anxiety. The first was the flame, invoking memories that would soothe her soul. The second was a bit more radical, and while it was arguably no longer necessary… it felt right to do anyway.

Laura’s instability was silenced upon feeling your hand landing on her cheek. She exhaled in anticipation, understanding what was about to happen but unable to say or do anything about it. Keen not to leave her waiting, you leaned in, not halting until your lips had landed on hers. Though the tender embrace should have called forth a surprised shiver, Laura immediately related, embracing the kiss… by kissing back without delay. It was a timid locking of the lips at first, but both you and she understood this wasn’t going to be a one-time deal like last time, leading to the moment becoming consecutively more passionate. 

A single, drawn-out kiss soon transitioned into a much faster second one. That kiss then flowed into a thrilling third, a feisty fourth, and a fulfilling fifth. 

A sixth was imminent, but the need to breathe couldn’t be ignored. Laura backed away, her eyes narrowed and her face flustered as she panted heavily. Though she was attempting to avoid eye contact with you, she couldn’t help but consistently gaze. 

You hadn’t anticipated the kisses to be so… intense! It was doing wondrous things to the heart, as well as hers… which was good! No longer did anxiety claim Laura. That didn’t mean all was well, for embarrassment had struck her on an unprecedented level, but the feeling was questionably preferable to her previous state. 

“...uhm…” Laura spoke quietly, finding it understandably difficult  “That was… uhm…”

Laura had no idea what to say, and frankly, neither did you.

But words were no longer necessary.

The way she consistently looked at you, and the way you couldn’t help but gaze at her… communicated much throughout all the awkward tension. 

Laura relaxed once you initiated a second round of smooches, presumingly grateful she wasn’t the one who had to break through their bashfulness.

Her adorableness was to thank-- an embarrassed expression like that was begging to be kissed all over, so that’s precisely what you did. 

Were you getting carried away? Absolutely. Did you really care? Of course not.

You needed this. She needed this.

The war had gotten in the way for far too long. Since it was looking likely that everything was on the brink of falling apart anyway, it made sense to see things through to the end without any regrets. To achieve that, certain temptations and desires had to be quenched.

Laura’s hands started to roam your body, her curiosity betraying the trepidation she had demonstrated moments prior. While it was tempting to return the favor, you were a little apprehensive to escalate this. It wasn’t like you didn’t want to, but the notion of, say… touching her chest… it was a mind-boggling thing to think about.

Momentarily think about, that is; Laura promptly grabbed your wrist, doing the honors herself by placing your hand on her breast, pushing against it so you could properly touch and squeeze. She did this amidst a sensational locking of lips, leaving you no opportunity to question what she was doing. Therefore, you welcomed this adventurous new side to her, enjoying the softness and squishiness of her boob for the first time. It was terrific.

For somebody immobilized by inhibition moments before, Laura was being astoundingly bold!

You liked that.

To share your approval, you dabbed your tongue against her lips, politely asking for entry. She opened her mouth, greeting your tongue with her own and promptly invading your territory. It was an extraordinary experience, but after the initial surprise faded, you were quick to clash back with all your might.

This had all started with a cheeky kiss to the, well, cheek… and then one to the lips… and now… this. 

This was quite the leap indeed, but something about it felt right. It felt right to desire her. It felt right to be selfish. It felt right to want her.

During this singular moment, the world outside the room did not matter. Though a moment of crisis was upon them, the needs of the body had taken center stage, having waited an awfully long time for a chance to indulge. It was difficult to focus on anything but satisfying the irresistible urges. Laura’s hand was trailing downwards, some timidness preventing her acceleration, but a squeeze of her breast communicated your approval. 

This was really happening. She was about to… to…

Laura paused, a shiver flowing down both her spine… and yours.

The cause? 

Somebody was banging against the door!

“Hey!” the individual on the other side called out, calling your name specifically. It was Nolan… and he sounded distressed.

Laura hastily stood up, breathing heavily as she composed herself. You mimicked her actions, opening the door once you were confident you were as composed as you could be on such short notice.

“Sorry to disrupt, it’s an-- oh, Laura, you’re here too. That helps; you’re needed as well,” Nolan didn’t question the cleric’s presence, but he didn’t sound too pleased.

“Is everything alright?” you asked him, hoping your unsteady voice wouldn’t be noticed.

“Not exactly,” he sighed. “To tell you the truth… it’s about the king… he’s… well, he’s gone.”

Brilliant.

Everything just had to go from bad to worse, didn’t it?

“Micaiah has called for an emergency war council,” Nolan added. “You’ve both been asked to attend. I need to alert Edward and Leonardo, so when you’re ready, please head there immediately.”

Nolan promptly excused himself, heading toward where the other former members of the Dawn Brigade were stationed.

Laura closed the door, exhaling quietly. She did not turn to face you, but you could not blame her for that; it was feasible she understood she wouldn’t be able to maintain eye contact. The moment had been interrupted and the situation didn’t exactly call for things to resume. It was very unfortunate.

…and once more, you found yourself not a tremendous fan of the king. What a time to just decide to die.

Granted, the circumstances were unknown. Was his demise the result of assassins, perhaps? It didn’t sound like something Ike would order, but the possibility couldn’t be ruled out. Regardless, it seemed things were dire enough to justify a spontaneous meeting. 

“Laura,” you called out to her, startling her somewhat. “We should go.”

“R-Right…” she mumbled.

She didn’t sound thrilled whatsoever, but who could blame her? For all she knew, Pelleas had arrived at the infirmary requiring urgent care-- aid she could have given him if she was present, but she hadn’t been. 

Either that, or she was sulky for the same reason you were.

Nevertheless, Micaiah needed both of you; it was time to leave, even if you were a bit apprehensive about Laura tagging along. If it was a long meeting… well, it wouldn’t do her sleep any favors.

But before you could step out of the door, a tugging of your attire brought you to a halt. 

“W-Wait…” Laura spoke quietly, her actions ultimately leading to eyes locking. She had hidden her expression for a good reason; she was absurdly flustered.

“...y-yeah…?”

The heart had not stopped thumping, unable to forget what had happened despite Nolan’s revelation bringing things to a stop.

“...uhm…” she murmured, her embarrassment having understandably returned with a vengeance; even so, she seemed committed to speaking her mind. “...do you… uhm… like me…?”

That was… a bizarre question.

“...Of course I do.”

“I mean...like like…”

Ah.

Right. Of course.

The question didn’t do your breathing any wonders, but it was truthfully a little amusing to hear, not just because of how adorable it sounded but because of when she decided to ask.

“After what we just did, even if it was interrupted… well, I think my answer’s pretty obvious.”

“I see…” she mumbled, sounding relieved at the answer. It put her doubts to rest. That was good. “...do you think… if we make it out of this alive… we could talk more about this…?”

“When we make it out alive,” you corrected her.

You weren’t going to die. She wasn’t going to die. Though the situation had taken a turn for the worst, your resolve to survive had never been higher.

Laura smiled and nodded. She exhaled loudly, finally able to breathe normally, but that didn’t mean she was in tip-top condition. The adrenaline from the fooling around may have put her exhaustion to the sideline, but signs of her tiredness were beginning to show again.

Micaiah’s meeting hadn’t factored in how much work your favorite girl had been doing, but it was okay-- it was a spontaneous calling and she had a lot on her plate as is, so all was forgiven. 

“Laura,” you spoke calmly to her. “You should stay here and sleep.”

“But-”

“That’s why you came here in the first place, isn’t it?”

Somebody who had been sent away from her duties to sleep had come to you instead. That didn’t necessarily mean she was ignoring orders-- rather, she didn’t want to be alone while she rested close to the person who would always protect her. 

“I…” she mumbled, avoiding eye contact momentarily, effectively confirming your suspicions. Laura shook the turbulent thoughts out of her head, returning to the matter at hand. “Nolan said Micaiah asked for me too.”

“I know, but you need sleep,” you weren’t backing down. “Micaiah will understand.”

Laura didn’t respond for some time after that, gradually accepting that she really did need to sleep. She ultimately opted to sit back down, gifting you with a smile. 

“When you come back…” she spoke quietly, tapping her fingers together. “...try to be quiet; I’ll be sleeping.”

You smiled. “Of course.”

___

The chaos of war had come to an unusual standstill; the clashing of blades, the firing of arrows, and the casting of spells were no longer-- replaced by an eerie silence and an even stranger view. 

There had been little warning. A ringing sound for a few seconds, followed by a flash of light consuming the battlefield. The aftermath-- a sea of statues, Laguz and Beorc alike, and for some reason you had been spared by this outlandish event

If it weren’t for Ike calling out for any survivors, you would have either assumed you were dreaming or the lone survivor. Though you had ultimately left the Greil Mercenaries and returned to Daein after the Mad King’s war, Ike held no ill will towards your decision, even when it eventually led you to fight against his side.

It was certainly unusual for him to address you with relief, claiming he hadn’t found any other survivors. You had expected the next encounter to be a battle-- one you weren’t confident you could win, truthfully.

You could not stop thinking about your comrades.

Micaiah-- she had left the battle early; had she managed to escape whatever this was?

Leonardo, Edward, and Nolan-- you hadn’t seen them since the battle began, so had they…?

Laura.

She had been by your side until recently, ultimately being called back to tend to the injured.

What had happened to her?

Was she also…?

These heart-wrenching thoughts were thankfully short-lived when you heard her call out your name, the sound of her voice drawing you towards a crowd of familiar folks who had also survived the light. 

“Laura!”

She looked worn out and exhausted, the unusual energy in the air seemingly more potent to those who evaded battle. 

You did not expect her to jump into your arms, but you did not hesitate to comfort her back. She was alive. You were alive. The battle was over.

But why was it over?

Micaiah soon reappeared with Sothe-- and the Hawk King Tibarn and Raven King Naesala-- for some reason. Nothing was making any sense, but Ike had claimed they’d explain what they knew once they had confirmed who had survived. You assisted in the effort, Laura staying close by your side as several others were found and brought into the core group. 

It was strange to see the opposing factions working together like this, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

In the end, it was revealed that the goddess had cast judgment on everyone.

Wonderful.

Thanks to the presence of another goddess, the strongest amongst the forces of Daein and the Laguz Alliance had been spared.

Neat.

It was challenging to listen to the tale-- not because you didn’t want to, but because your attention had been hijacked by a certain somebody clinging to your arm for dear life. Laura had endured so much war, and upon hearing the news that those she cared about back home were now statues… it hadn’t done her mental fortitude any good. While it was suggested everybody could be turned back to normal, it still wasn’t pleasant for her to think about their current conditions.

Frankly, she needed a break; everyone needed rest, truthfully.

Fortunately, this was recognized by Ike, Micaiah, and Sanaki-- who all concluded that many required slumber and that it was best to take advantage of a large, insulated castle while they still could. Additionally, it provided time for valuable information about the war effort to be exchanged, strategies to be formed, and an opportunity for individuals previously on opposing sides of the conflict to talk about worrying about their allegiance.

While the Laguz did not care for where they slept, it was deemed proper that the Beorc on their side were provided with adequate rooms to sleep in before everything switched to camps. Laura had volunteered the room she was supposed to be using, claiming she did not mind sharing with another.

That other person was you. Naturally.

It wasn’t something you opposed, considering you had effectively slept together-- not in an inappropriate way, of course. When you had returned from the war meeting the night before, Laura was sound asleep, and you thankfully didn’t disturb her when you joined her in bed. While she had been immensely flustered upon waking up alongside you in the morning, the impending battle did not leave much room to wonder about it or the night before.

…but here you were-- back in this infamous room, having survived a battle that ended most unusually. 

“...we survived,” Laura sat on the bed, letting out the most drawn-out exhale. “...and I’m not sure how to feel about it.”

“Me neither,” you sat beside her, though you’d be lying if you said the current events at the forefront of your mind. You wanted to talk about that… though you weren’t sure how to bring it up. 

Aside from the flickering of the nearby fireplace, rejuvenated by her fire magic, silence reigned for some time. If minds could be read, the room would undeniably be more boisterous.

Laura had mentioned she wanted to discuss more about what last night entailed, but even she couldn’t find it in herself to bring the topic up. 

But she could bring up a different-- and arguably more important subject.

“...we should sleep,” she suggested, prompting you to nod. You frankly had no idea what time it was, so just in case it was later than it felt, it was best to get all the sleep you could. While you still wanted to have a good chat… sleeping next to your favorite person was the next best thing, you supposed.

You and Laura took to separate sides of the bed, Laura interestingly looking especially flustered all of a sudden. It did not take long to learn why when she began discarding her attire piece by piece. 

Right. Right.

Getting into bed involved stripping down to one’s underwear, didn’t it? It wasn’t exactly comfortable keeping ordinary clothing on, and this castle wasn’t nice enough to read 

While this had technically happened the previous night, you had arrived back in the room while she was asleep. As for the morning, you had turned to the other side while she dressed. Granted, nothing was stopping you from just turning around, but when Laura was willingly taking off her clothes, understanding thoroughly that you were watching her… well, who were you to turn down such an opportunity?

Though last night’s events had given you a pretty good idea regarding her… sizes, it was mesmerizing to see them in the flesh, even concealed by a bra. Laura was the pinnacle of beauty, boasting a moderately sized bust, illustrious hips, and plump thighs that suggested she had an impressive behind. Alas, the view was fleeting when she hastily got into bed, covering herself with the covers in shame. 

You followed through, discarding your outfit. You noticed immediately that this girl was not good at hiding that she was glancing at his body, her eyes darting away whenever she realized you were onto her, as if doing so would hide what she had done. It was honestly a little adorable and a much-needed albeit unusual tension breaker. 

…and a good segue into the discussion you wanted to have with her. Arousal was a bizarre little confidence booster sometimes.

Laura, however, beat you to it… somewhat. “...would you, uhm… like to cuddle?”

“Yes, of course!”

…was what you wished you could say, but her little strip tease of sorts had gotten the blood flowing and you weren’t sure you wanted her noticing that… assuming she hadn’t already from her sneak peeks.

But at the end of the day, a chance to cuddle with Laura-- a half-naked Laura-- would be foolish to reject. You answered by shuffling closer to her, raising an arm, allowing her to intertwine her body with yours. She rested her head against your chest, wrapping an arm across your back.

“You’re warm…” she spoke softly, breathing in such a manner that it sounded like a purr. Laura looked up, her eyes squinted and her mouth slightly open, an expression that you couldn’t tell painted exhaustion… or something else. “I… can, uhm… feel it…”

Rats.

Although you tried your damndest to think of nonsensical things to calm down the beast in your pants, it was hard to deter your mind from the knowledge that the most adorable girl was sharing a bed with you like this. 

“...kiss me.”

You exhaled shakily, her soft voice demanding such a thing catching you completely off guard. 

How was she suddenly being so daring?

Last night, the chaos in the air had evidently been an influence on everything, but there was none of that anymore. 

But that meant she was doing this entirely freed from any influence-- this was what her mind and body desired.

Nevertheless, it was an invitation you were happy to accept.

The intersection of lips felt as divine as it had the previous night. The kiss was slow but elegant at first, though soon ramped up in magnitude when both you and her found no need to hold onto caution nor hesitation. 

There was a simultaneous yearning for the other, one that could not be ignored despite the state of the world. There was no caution nor hesitation anymore-- those feelings long eclipsed by the harsh reality that death potentially awaited them all. There was simply no room for contemplation when the goddess desired their eradication. You understood this limited time had to be spent carefully, and what better way than to give into a desire that would allow you and Laura to greet the end without any regrets?

Laura understood this well-- it was why her freed hand slowly traced down your chest, not stopping until she could directly feel your erection within her grasp. It was a shockingly forward display, letting her get the upper hand in the brewing tongue war. 

So much for discussing what had happened last night, it seemed. 

Then again, a talk did not necessarily have to use words.

Laura had communicated that this was no longer a making-out session with a little bit of touching-- she wanted to do more, much more, something that was confirmed when her hand found its way underneath your underwear, grasping your manhood directly. Though it was an invigorating sensation, your newfound lover was the most shocked, immobilized enough at what you had to offer that you were able to seize control of the kiss once again. 

You promptly returned the favor, trailing a hand down her back until it landed on her butt, squeezing it and causing her to moan in your mouth.

It was then that she decided to back away, admitting defeat as she breathed heavily, recuperating her lungs. She was a drooling mess… yet she had never looked so attractive. You rested on your back, needing a moment to recover too, though it wasn’t long before a beautiful individual was climbing on top of you.

“...I… I want you…” Laura spoke almost silently, yet you heard her completely clearly. “Is this… a sin? Would the goddess… approve?”

“The goddess that is trying to kill us all? Likely not,” you answered.  “But Yune-- she’s a goddess too, and I have a feeling she’d approve of what we’re doing.”

“...you’re right,” Laura giggled, her last lingering doubt fading. 

It had been troubling for Laura to learn that the goddess she worshiped now wanted oblivion for all, but learning of another-- whose values of desiring and demanding, and living a life with abandon-- had proven to be a resonating experience.

Laura could relate to both sides of the spectrum, but during this singular moment… chaos reigned… and it all came from within.

With that, the kisses resumed with the fullest of ferocity. Laura was not content with just the smooching, choosing to grind her crotch against yours, a sensation that lowered the intensity of the smooches, but neither individual involved minded. You could feel how wet she was for you, and in a similar fashion, she could feel how hard you were for her.

Laura grinded against you for some time, doing her best to maintain a rhythm while kissing you endlessly. She backed up her words by spreading her pecks to even your neck and torso, smothering whatever she could with her lips.

Neither goddess was the target of her worship now.

You were.

Although Laura was unquestionably enjoying herself, the friction of underwear against underwear was minimizing the potential pleasure. Wanting to properly feel you against her, she temporarily climbed off your body, removing her bra and panties with the utmost haste. Laura demonstrated no embarrassment for what she was doing, more than happy to show you what you had to offer. 

But the most shocking part? Her decision to pull down your underwear, exposing the erection she had caused, rather than asking you directly to discard the clothing. It was immensely erotic to watch her do so, especially upon witnessing her messy exhale when she saw it directly for the first time. She even looked like she was drooling.

“...you’re… ahhh… big…”

Laura was enthralled by what she was seeing.

…and a few moments later-- enchanted by its taste, too.

You were not against her decision to relocate her endless kisses. With one hand clutching your base and keeping you steady, she smothered your shaft in smooches so frequent you had already lost count. It was a wondrous demonstration of her devotion, prompting many exhales on your end that encouraged her to accelerate.

Understanding well that kisses and the occasional lick were mere appetizers for what both you and her craved, Laura ultimately decided to take things to the next level. Her lips found their way to your tip, planting a kiss that she didn’t pull away from, instead pushing her head down and letting your cock open up her mouth. Her breathing subsequently intensified, like she was realizing what exactly she was doing. Nevertheless, Laura did not stop, taking in as much as she could.

Her limit was found around the half-way mark, indicated by her suddenly slowing down, but she had already surpassed the point needed to make you feel phenomenal. 

Laura was currently sucking your dick.

It looked incredible. Watching her sink your manhood into her mouth had been a hypnotic experience, and it still felt that way even as she paused and took some time to adjust to its size. The warmth enveloping your cock was surreal, enhanced by the swirling of her tongue and the constant flow of saliva.

This kind of pleasure was sorely needed after such a rampant few weeks. 

“Laura…” It felt appropriate to voice your approval, just in case the throbbing within her mouth wasn’t enough.

Once she was satisfied she had adapted well to the size, she began bobbing her head. Her pacing was slow but elegant, her hums luscious to listen to as she thoroughly immersed herself in what she was doing, focusing entirely on satisfying her lust and making you feel good. 

Although she had all the evidence in the world to suggest you were adoring this just fine, Laura understood what she needed to do to make you feel even better. 

Laura decided to experiment with taking in more, fighting through her limits steadily, letting you witness the moment she took in another inch. While it was evident she wanted to take it all, she lacked the skill necessary, a hard truth she learned upon feeling her gag reflex kick in. Laura ejected your cock in an instant, coughing a few times while recuperating her breathing. 

“Laura,” you spoke softly to her. “Don’t feel pressured to overexert yourself, yeah? This already feels incredible.

Laura cleared her throat, taking a deep breath. “...are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”

Your favorite person chuckled to themselves, a little embarrassed over their actions, but such an emotion was far eclipsed by their need to continue. “Someday.”

“Someday?”

“I’ll take it all,” she vowed, leaning her back down and gobbling your manhood up before you could respond to that wonderful answer. This time, she stayed well within her limits, focusing on improving her speed. Even so, she understood not to get too carried away, dwindling her pace whenever she was starting to feel overwhelmed. It was a heavenly experience, especially when she adorably gazed up at you, scanning your expression for approval. While you weren’t sure what you presently looked like, it was undoubtedly stimulating enough to keep her going

Laura soon found a new cadence that was more breathtaking than the last. It was astonishing to think her mouth could be the source of so much bliss, and it was thanks to this unanticipated euphoria that you found your end approaching sooner far sooner than you imagined. 

“Laura… I…”

You wanted to warn her-- to tell her that you were about to cum, but you just couldn’t! It was bewildering to think pleasure could completely shut your body down like this. Regardless, your lover understood your warning, humming her acknowledgement and continuing to bob her head anyway.

Just knowing this girl didn’t mind-- or rather, wanted you to flood her mouth… triggered precisely that. Laura’s eyes widened when the first rope of cum splashed against the back of her throat, almost making her gag right there and then, but she remained stubbornly attached to your cock, refusing to depart from it as even more semen overwhelmed her mouth. You watched with awe as her throat contracted endlessly, an incredible sight to witness while the most radiant of pleasure coursed throughout your being. Nothing had ever felt this good before.

Though you worried for her well-being at first, she continued to prove she was a quick learner, eventually reaching a point where she was swallowing everything you were letting out without much difficulty. While some did leak from her mouth and trickle down your length, it added to the eroticness wonderfully. This was something you were never going to forget.

Laura finally backed away, albeit slowly, like she didn’t want to depart from your shimmering shaft but reluctantly had to. Her breathing was rough and disturbed, but that didn’t prevent her from smiling joyfully. 

“...h-how was that…?” she asked timidly, an adorable contrast when considering what she had just done.

“Incredible,” your answer left your lips instantaneously. “In fact, I’d like to return the favor.” 

She deserved to feel just as magnificent too.

You instructed Laura to lay down on the bed, something she was happy to do, even when you asked her to spread her legs. Although her face was stained red, she was no longer the same individual who had been mightily embarrassed by a single kiss. She knew what she wanted-- you. 

And you wanted her too. 

Badly.

Laura’s pussy was dripping wet,in desperate need of being cleaned up, something you were eager to do with your tongue. She shivered incredibly once it met her folds, her thighs closing around your head approvingly. 

Although the taste of her nether regions was surprisingly strong and unique, it was by no means unpleasant, especially when you knew the quantity of her fluids was your doing. This was a new experience for you, but she seemed to approve the most whenever you targeted her clit or drilled your tongue into her hole. 

“That’s… ahhh… so goooood…”

You were glad she was enjoying it! You were, too! Not only did she taste delicious, but it was very fun to look up and watch her tantalized expression. Her breasts were the perfect size for such an activity too, prominent enough to be noticeable and alluring from this angle, but nowhere near a size that could block her head. Her nipples were erect, though that sight was short-lived when she decided to use her fingers to play with them, twisting them back and forth to augment her pleasure.

Laura was having the time of her life.

That was good.

You had just recovered from having the time of her life too, and soon, you would both be bliss simultaneously. You had every intention of seeing this through to the end, and you had no doubt she craved the same.

In the meantime, you needed to even the score; Laura’s orgasm had not yet struck, encouraging you to put in the utmost effort into bringing her to that wondrous state. You kissed and licked everything sensitive, immersing yourself in her taste and scent, refusing to stop until she reached her peak. 

…and just as your tongue was starting to get a little tuckered out, it brushed up against a sensitive spot that tipped her over the edge.

“Aaahhh.. I’m… I’m cumming…!”

Laura’s orgasm was powerful, albeit difficult to focus on from your perspective; there was a soft pair of thighs suddenly suffocating your head… but you weren’t exactly complaining about that when they felt unbelievably soft against your cheeks.

As an inconceivable degree of pleasure pulsated throughout her body, she began trembling non-stop, unable to stay still. It led to the most crazed moans yet, a delightful reward for your flattened ears. If what she was feeling was anything like what you had experienced, you couldn’t blame her for this volatile reaction.

A few seconds after her climax concluded, Laura finally released the grasp she had around your head. While it was great to breathe normally again, it wasn’t as great as how your lover now looked. 

Arms spread, legs spread, and a body quivering alongside a mesmerized face and an abundance of sweat-- Laura looked beautiful.

“...you alright, Laura?”

“...mmm, y-yeah…” she mumbled in return. “Just… wow…”

She looked worn out, making you contemplate whether or not it was best to pause what was happening. However, when Laura started stroking her pussy, humming radiantly and even giggling a little, you knew she wanted more.

“Laura-”

“I need it, please…”

You exhaled upon hearing that.

Her voice was hot and bothered, leaking so much desire. 

“Alright,” you told her. “Let me know if it’s too much.”

“I will.”

This was it.

Eating out your lover had been more than enough to rejuvenate your manhood, and upon hearing what she wished for it, it had never been as hard as it was. 

Laura’s trembling didn’t get any better once you got into position and pushed up your cock against her pussy for the very first time. Anticipation had struck hard, but anxiety had no part to play; she was excited.

“Please…”

She couldn’t handle the wait any longer-- and neither could you. 

After prodding her entrance for a few times, it finally gave way, your tip sliding inside her. She exhaled pleasurably, the sensitivity of being stretched open resonating with her, but her smile soon faded and she whimpered once you pushed a little more inside. 

You stopped immediately when you realized  you had hit her hymen. 

“S-Sorry, I-”

“It’s okay,” she reassured you. “It hurts, but… I can handle it. I promise you.”

While you felt guilty for rushing right into it so suddenly, you knew she wouldn’t want you to feel this way, especially when she had urged you on too. Besides, the worst was already over; Laura’s breathing was improving rapidly and her smile was returning. 

She was going to be alright. 

“...I’m ready…”

She spoke so needily, but her sultry speech made sense. Laura had yet to be filled up-- a sensation she was doubtlessly keen to experience for the very first time. Eager to satisfy her craving, you resumed pushing inside her, keeping a close eye on her expression while gently sliding inside her. You were confident she was going to be okay, but there was no harm in being careful.

Slowly but surely, Laura’s walls enveloped your manhood, treating you to a squeezing sensation that matched the humidity. Within that singular moment, you instantly understood the appeal of sex; it did feel incredible!

But the best part… was knowing it was her you were doing this with. 

Laura eventually accepted everything you had to offer, appearing a little overwhelmed by it all, but undeniably happy. She raised an arm, her fingers dancing independently, silenced only when they intersected with yours. To feel two different yet incredible forms of comfort and warmth at the same… it was sensational. She soon raised her other arm, demanding both hands receive the hand-holding treatment. 

“Laura,” you smiled warmly at her. “I love you.”

Laura reacted fascinatingly to that declaration, her nerves striking back suddenly as she looked to the side, unable to make eye contact. “D-Don’t just say things like that without warning…” she mumbled, swallowing hard before gazing back “...but I… ahhh… love you too… enough that I can say… please… make love to me…”

She had countered your shiver-inducing comment with two of her own. Her expression radiated so much emotion-- embarrassment, eagerness, and exhilaration-- to name a few. 

But at the top of that list? 

Love.

She wanted, no-- needed this, and she needed you to be the one to give it to her. 

So that’s what you did. Convinced she was ready, you started to move. Naturally, your motions were especially minimal at first, your gaze not leaving hers while you pulled out. When only your tip remained inside, you paused momentarily, letting her brace for the inevitable thrust. Laura moaned euphorically in response, treating your ears to what he believed were the most erotic sounds you had ever heard. You were the cause of them, and she wanted you to hear it all.

“Laura… h-how are you doing…?”

While you were confident she was handling this newfound pressure well, it never hurt to check. Amusingly, you sounded more disorientated than she was, though it was a good feeling.“I feel… ahhhh.. wonderful…” she purred, handling the sensation of being filled up amazingly. Her answer was a relatable one-- it felt wonderful to be inside her too, so much so that you promptly accelerated your thrusts after the first. 

Laura reacted the most incredibly to her womb’s entrance being touched, something you found yourself a fan of too, for it signified you were completely inside her. You made an effort to push up against her cervix consistently, the resulting noises of pleasure emitting from her lips something you wanted to hear on a loop-- a wish easily granted by maintaining your rhythm.

Although your cadence took much strength to maintain, you were still able to multitask. Keen to elevate her pleasure, you started teasing her body while you fucked her; one hand roamed up towards her breast, sinking into the soft tissue; the other stayed close to the action, teasing her sensitive clit. Both actions immediately worsened her spasming, leading to an astonishing view you prayed would never leave your memory.

“Please… don't stoppp!” Laura voiced her approval energetically, her body surrendering to the might of the multiple simultaneous stimulations. “I'm… aaahhhh… so close…!”

Her declaration was an ecstatic thing to hear, encouraging you to keep up the multitude of acts that were driving her to the brink of maddening pleasure. While it was challenging, you knew you would overcome any hurdle so long as it made her happy-- degenerate satisfaction very much included.

A few dazzling thrusts later, and she was there. Laura’s everything-- her trembles, her sounds, and of course, her pleasure-- reached new heights as the most unbelievable ecstasy coursed through her body. You understood precisely what she was going through, for the abrupt tightening of her pussy around your cock began lifting you to that same peak too.

“L-Laura, I’m…!”

“Inside!!”

Laura did not hesitate to share how she wanted this to end. After hearing such swiftness and certainty in her response, how could you not give her exactly what she wanted? 

Consequences be damned; either you were all going to die and it wasn’t going to matter anyway… or you would survive, potentially ushering in a new era with a little reward growing within her for everything that had transpired. 

With one last thrust through her compactness, you pushed up against the entrance to her womb and came, filling her to the brim with your seed for the very first time-- and hopefully, not the last time. It was a short-lasting moment of tranquility in reality, but felt like it lasted an eternity. You wanted nothing more than this moment to last… to experience the peak of pleasure alongside her and think about nothing else, but all good things had to come to an end.

…and sometimes, they transitioned into other good things.

It felt phenomenal to collapse onto your favorite person. You were exhausted, needing something soft and smooth to rest upon, and her body was the perfect candidate. Laura wrapped her arms around you, holding you closely as you both took some time to recuperate. Neither you nor her had anything to say for the time being, but it was a blissful moment nonetheless.

You had really done it-- with Laura.

“...mmmm…” she hummed, holding you close while rubbing your back. It was a gentle feeling and done slowly due to her tiredness, but it was unbelievably comforting. 

But ultimately, you decided you knew you had to talk about what had just happened.

Therefore, after regaining a little bit of energy, you pulled away-- and out, though upon seeing your semen flowing out of her pussy, you immediately forgot what you were about to say. It was a tantalizing sight. 

“That was incredible…” Laura initiated the conversation instead, gazing down between her legs and watching what was flowing outside of her. “You came a lot inside me…”

“I’m, uhm… sorry…?”

You weren’t sure whether you actually were, but it felt like the right thing to say…?

Apparently, talking to the love of your life after having sex with her for the first time was difficult!

“Don’t be,” she said, smiling warmly. “I loved it. Truly.”

You sat up and breathed profoundly, feeling a little dizzy from everything that had transpired, but the emotion that reigned supreme above all others was a welcome one.

“I loved it too,” you answered her, grinning back. “I take it this makes us, uhm…”

“Boyfriend and girlfriend?”

You chuckled. “Yeah, that.”

“It feels like we’ve kinda been that for a while now, y’know…” she giggled a little shakily, fiddling with her fingers a little nervously. “...but we can call this official from this date, if you want…”

“Want? I think the more appropriate word is need.”

Laura giggled. The atmosphere was a little awkward, but it was a good awkward. 

Did we really just do that?! What does this mean?! Why is my heart thumping so hard?! I’m in love, aren’t I? What do I say now? I can’t even look at them without feeling all giddy but also bashful!

That kind of awkward.

“Hey…” she called out to you after a moment of silence. “You never answered the question I asked you last night.”

“Oh?”

“Will you come back to Kisca with me when this is all over?”

You remembered why you hadn’t answered this before; it had taken you aback, leading to a misinterpretation on her part that ended up with one heck of a kiss.

But you weren’t unprepared this time.

“Of course.”

The war was not over; a battle against a goddess awaited everybody still, and though it still felt like the end was in sight… you were going to fight to your fullest.

You wanted to survive-- more than ever.

After all, a future with Laura…? 

Nothing sounded warmer.