Sponge-Brains Cannot Confess (Marcia/Reader) (Patreon)

How could a country free itself from the shackles of suppression, only to sacrifice its sovereignty to the nation responsible for suppressing it in the first place? That was one of the many questions still lingering within your mind, and though remaining within your homeland could have yielded answers, you had decided to do what you did best instead-- abscond. 

This was the second time you were leaving Daein, after all.

Truthfully, you did not feel good about it; you didn’t want to leave the place of your birth, but the rumblings of conflict against the Laguz could not be ignored. Daein was going to war again, discarding the damage caused by the Begnion Empire. The cause? A nurtured teaching that those with non-Beorc features were sub-humans. 

It was discouraging. Nevertheless, the political position of your motherland was something you did not wish to think about any longer. You had done your part and freed it from tyranny, fighting for a cause that felt just. On the contrary, war against the Laguz-- some of whom were your friends, and some of whom had fought for Daein’s independence-- was not something you were interested in participating in.

You had more pressing matters to attend to-- like seeking asylum within Crimea.

Crossing the border into the nation hadn’t been too difficult; Riven Bridge had been in the hands of the Begnion Occupation Force, and due to the withdrawal of those troops, there was nobody to defend the entrance to Daein-- not there needed to be anybody, considering Crimea wasn’t known for being aggressors. 

But that didn’t mean you were free to venture into another nation without facing consequences; Crimea, despite the civil unrest that had been occurring within recently, had managed to send some troops to keep watch over the connecting point. No villainous individuals from the nation that once conquered them were going to infiltrate their country anytime soon.

In less trying times, you would have sent a letter, requesting a particular member of the royal knights meet you at the bridge on a specific date, allowing for safe passage. Unfortunately, due to your swift departure from the country, the opportunity hadn't been present.

Therefore...

“Halt!”

Honestly, it was surprising it took as long as it did for somebody to notice your presence. Nonetheless, you had no foul intentions, stopping immediately and lowering your weapon before they could even demand you do so.

Two guards had spotted you, and though they seemed a little perplexed by what appeared to be an immediate surrender, they approached cautiously even so.

“You have crossed into Crimea,” the other pointed out. “Are you aware of that?”

They seemed to think you were a lost puppy.

In some ways, you were. Seeking refuge here was one thing, but what would you do after that? You hadn’t given it much thought-- just getting away had been your top priority. 

“I am,” you answered truthfully. “I am formerly of the Dawn Brigade-- a liberation army that recently fought against the Begnion Occupation Force within Daein, and won. However, I have since decided I wish to seek asylum within Crimea, and I would like to speak to your superior regarding my defection.”

It was formal and rehearsed ahead of time, but it was crucial for these men to know your full intentions.

The two guardsmen looked at one another, a little uncertain how to act at first, this scenario they were facing now something they had anticipated. You were confident all would be well; Daein's emancipation was recent and it was reasonable to assume Crimea lacked the finer details regarding what had happened, so a deserter within their borders seeking asylum would be a good opportunity to gather intelligence.

…assuming Bastian hadn't already uncovered all the relevant information, of course.

Thankfully, your proposal was soon accepted; the guards beckoned you to follow them, though not before understandably confiscating your weapons. Hopefully, whoever led these border-control forces would be somebody you knew, for it would streamline the process substantially. If you were even luckier, it would be that particular person you remained in contact with through letters and the occasional meeting. 

…nah, you weren’t that lucky.

___

“That cheese-eating skunk! I’m all the way out here and he’s STILL causing me problems?!”

The guardsmen flinched upon hearing the creative vocabulary, no doubt used to hearing it-- and dreading it.

There was only one person in the world who spoke so… colorfully.

The soldiers had brought you to the nearby encampment that overlooked the bridge, taking you to their leader, a woman who was seemingly given a messenger a piece of her mind. The poor thing hadn’t expected such a volatile reaction and wasn’t sure how to respond to what was being said, but it was momentarily spared when one of the guardsmen escorting you cleared their throat, drawing their leader’s attention.

“What is it? This better be important, or-”

Marcia paused, the familiar face entering her vision immediately vanquishing her foul mood. Whoever had caused her irritation no longer mattered, for a warm smile was now forming on her face. 

This was the person you wanted to see the most, so for them to be the first notable individual you reunited with-- maybe you were lucky after all! Perhaps this was proof that leaving your nation had been the right decision.

The reason this particular person was somebody you were keen to reunite with originated back during the Mad King’s War, where you had fought on the side of Daein against Crimea.

Only at first, of course.

Many factors brought you to the other side of that conflict. You ended up working under the Greil Mercenaries-- and eventually, the entire Crimean Army-- against your homeland. Although a change of allegiance would be detrimental to many, it had personally been an obvious decision; loyalty to your country wasn’t exactly something you had in droves.

How could you feel patriotic when you had a king consumed by madness? How could you fight side-by-side with individuals who harbored such hatred for species they had never met? Why would you want to work alongside those who discriminated against even you for a birthmark of all things? 

The list was long.

During those early days, you did not interact much with the mercenaries nor their many other recruits, keeping to yourself both on and off the battlefield. Marcia was no exception to that rule, your first notable conversation with her taking place quite a while after she joined up with the group. 

This reserved nature wasn’t due to a lack of self-confidence, but rather not wanting your heritage to cause issues; you were born in the country everybody else was fighting against, and that was not something that could be forgotten so easily. You also wanted to avoid sharing any conflicting views on any issue, lest it potentially promote skepticism regarding your loyalty. While Ike-- among many others within the mercenaries-- never held your homeland against you, you figured it was safest to remain cautious.

What broke this trend wasn’t some disagreement regarding strategy or problems related to the past battle-- but rather an ally in need of a helping hand off the battlefield. In the grand scheme of things, it was an unusual matter to break your vow for, but everybody else was seemingly too focused on the war effort to realize how much this person was struggling-- by the decisions of another, no less.

Makalov had been a recent addition to the team, presently working without pay in exchange for his debt gradually being paid off. Be that as it may, collectors were still persistent due to the absurd volume of his arrears. 

Rather than hounding the culprit, some had chosen to harass his sibling, seeking to put pressure on a family member instead. Either the sister would bail her brother out, or the pestering would encourage the gambler to begin paying up.

Marcia had been dealing with these strangers for quite a while, and now that she was reunited with her nuisance of a brother, she had decided to give him a piece of her mind for all the trouble he had caused her. Rather than apologize sincerely, he had come up with all sorts of excuses to defend his behavior and even downplay his sister’s stress. She had naturally been furious at such remarks, leading to all sorts of creative insults thrown back at his face. That was all well and good, but within the anger, you also heard pain. 

The perpetrator eventually did flee, his stuttering responses having done him no favors. While you hadn’t intended to eavesdrop on the confrontation, it had been difficult not to hear all those interesting insults and not be curious. 

You intended to leave at the time too, but when you saw the despair in her expression, and how she was doing everything within her power to hold back the tears… that was when you knew you had to intervene.

Somebody who was usually so bright and bubbly was now melancholy and miserable.

That wasn’t right.

Despite the subsequent conversation taking place years prior, you still remembered it well. 

“Hey,” you made your presence known swiftly, prompting her to rub her eyes with haste, lest you discover how watery they had become. “I won’t lie to you; I saw everything. Are you alright?”

“I’m… OK,” Marcia understandably mumbled a lie after a few moments, not wanting anyone-- friend, acquaintance, or stranger-- to see her at this low point. From her body language alone, you could tell she was still furious at what had happened, though still thinking rationally enough to understand venting her frustrations at you and being truthful wouldn’t be fair. You had no part to play in the argument that had unfolded, after all. “Could you forget you saw all that, please? I’d appreciate it.”

It was by all means a reasonable request.

But despite knowing none of this was your business, you did feel guilty for watching it unfold and not interfering. Granted, you weren’t sure what you could have said to resolve the situation, but you felt obligated to help patch things up, even a little. 

“Marcia,” you spoke sternly, wanting her undivided attention before you continued. She had looked ready to leave on a moment’s notice, but now, her teary eyes were on yours. “You are welcome to vent to me if you want. I will listen to you.”

Her subsequent expression radiated natural confusion at the idea, but her lack of immediate response made it clear she had been tempted. It made sense; somebody was willing to listen to her-- not half-listen and respond in a matter that called forth frustration.

“...are you sure?” she asked, following her question up with the faintest of giggles. “I imagine you know I have quite the mouth on me. Sure you can handle it? Because there are about ten insults I didn’t get a chance to bark at him that I’m desperate to get out of my system, handsome.”

Handsome.

Although you were attentive to everything else she had said, that last remark stuck out like a sore thumb, delaying your answer. For a moment-- a fleeting moment-- you felt a rush of… something within your chest.

Then you remembered she called Ike that too. It was a nickname, if anything. Not a bad one to be called too, at least!

“Go ahead,” you didn't mind that warning in the slightest. If anything, you were happy to hear it; this conversation had been lacking in fruity vocabulary!

Marcia breathed deeply, your permission for her to go wild doing much to elevate her mood. The slightest smirk had formed on her face too, signaling she was ready to let loose.

“That… irresponsible skunk! How DARE he?! He is one heck of a sponge-brained grease-licking lunatic! AN IDIOT NOSE-PICKING MONKEY! That's right-- I saw him doing that once! So gross! I was so close to slapping that grass-eating simpleton too, you know! He is SO lucky we're related! Otherwise, I would NOT have held back.”

A deep breath and a pause were in order after an outburst like that, but it had fittingly restored color to her face; no longer was her expression stained red with anger, nor were her eyes twinkling with tears. It was obvious getting out all that critique-- even if some of it was arguably irrelevant to the main argument-- had some wonders toward improving her mental state.

“Did that feel good?” 

It was ironic that you had encouraged another to talk about their problem rather than keep it all bottled up.

But there were merits to staying silent; it made you an astute observer, and that was precisely why you encouraged her to vent away. You knew it would work. It was the main reason you didn't intervene while Makalov was present; he was too new to the scene and you hadn’t gotten a good read on him yet. Marcia, on the other hand? Her mannerisms were understood. 

“It did,” she answered. “But I'm not done yet-- I have seven more insults prepared.”

“I counted four.”

“I've called him an irresponsible skunk before, so that doesn't count.”

Sure. That made sense.

“Say, handsome,” she said that enchanting word again. “If you were in a situation where you’d be damned if you do, but damned if you don't, what would you choose to do?”

“...I think I would ask for more context.”

Marcia sighed, though continued to smile. It wasn't the answer she wanted and you knew that, but it was better for her to hear a proper response only once you had learned all the relevant information. 

“Keeping my brother in the mercenaries,” she elaborated. “I thought that my fish-brain of a sibling being in debt to the mercs, and paying that off by fighting alongside us-- where I could keep an eye on him too-- was a great idea!”

It sounded like a great idea to you too.

However, from what his sister's irritated expression was suggesting, it seemed she was not so sure about the whole ordeal.

You believed you understood why. It was the cause of the commotion in the first place.

To think-- he had only been with the group for a week and had already screwed up!

“That dirt-sniffing hooligan just HAD to go gambling AGAIN! The WORST part? Turns out-- despite everything-- that seaweed smeller is STILL using my name to borrow money!! You wanna know how fun it is to be harassed by strangers for cash?! NOT FUN AT ALL! I just can’t win!”

Makalov had not recognized the severity of the situation, his apologies half-baked and not spoken with integrity. It was miraculous Marcia wasn’t more mad.

“I take it you don't want to tell the commander though.”

Marcia nodded, though she didn’t seem too thrilled to do so. “If that fish-brain is set free, he'd get in even more debt, and he'd still take out loans in my name.”

Damned if you do, damned if you don't, indeed. No matter what, she'd have to deal with the consequences of his actions.

You contemplated suggesting that his dismissal wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. That way, unsuspecting members of the company-- especially those less acquainted with sneaky thieves-- would not lend money they'd never receive back. From your perspective, one choice was the lesser of two evils.

But they were siblings, and that was something Marcia cherished. It wasn’t your place to question her family values, especially when your current allegiance would make such a comment appear hypocritical. 

In the end, it was ultimately a decision she’d have to make. She had two tough choices, each with its benefits and drawbacks. At any rate, there was no rush to decide.

But during this intermediate period… a helping hand could keep her steady.

She had done well to mask it during your conversation with her, but you had not forgotten how close she was to crying. 

“Marcia,” you spoke softly to her. “Are you hungry?”

She was naturally confused at the change of subject, but her reply came swiftly. “Not particularly, but I very much want to stuff my face with something anyway.”

“Good,” you answered. “There’s a tavern nearby that offers some good grub. Want to go?”

Presently, the army had set up camp near the Begnion-Daein border, and since entering your former homeland marked a pseudo-point of no return, ample preparations had to be made. Thanks to that, you knew plenty about what this local village had to offer.

Unfortunately, Marcia made a disapproving noise in response. “I don’t know… chances are, my brother has probably beaten us to it, and then they’ll see me, and…”

“But you won’t be alone.”

If any tried to pester her, she’d have somebody to help her-- a friend, perhaps.

Friend.

You hadn’t made any friends during your time with the Greil Mercenaries. You were simply doing your part and getting paid.

But now…

“Alright, handsome,” Marcia ultimately agreed, a radiant smile having formed on her face. “Lead the way.” 

That day had been the start of an unexpected friendship with Marcia. She had enjoyed the food at a tavern, and while no unwanted strangers had shown up looking for her regarding her brother’s debt, your presence had helped to keep her at ease regarding that possibility.

The war continued, and though her brother continued to be troublesome from time to time, you were happy to hear her out whenever she wanted to complain about it.

How ironic that years later, here you were, listening to her ramble away about how much of a nuisance he was still being. So much had changed in the world, but Marcia was still Marcia.

It was nostalgic.

Seeing you suddenly reappear was probably invoking similar feelings within her, explaining why she had yet to respond despite her calmer composure. The presence of an old friend would do that, even during difficult times. 

It had been some time since she had seen you-- over a year, in fact! 

During the few years of peace between the previous war and the one currently brewing, you and her had stayed in contact through letters, and whenever it was possible, she would visit. While you wished you could do the same, riding a pegasus did make it easier to sneak into a neighboring nation.

“You are a sight for sore eyes, handsome!” Marcia finally recovered from that initial shock, breathing heavily-- and excitedly. She cleared her throat, momentarily shifting her gaze to the soldiers who had brought you in, as well as the messenger. “Alright, you troops! Scram! I have important business with our guest-- and as for my brother… we will deal with him later.”

The soldiers left without hesitation, more or less confirming that they feared that outrageous mouth of hers. You had probably entered their good graces, for you were the reason she had not unleashed its full fury upon them. 

Once the coast was clear, Marcia revealed she had been holding back a massive grin. She leaped forward, forcing you into a hasty and forceful hug-- not that you minded, of course.

“I’m glad you’re safe,” she spoke sincerely. 

You returned the embrace, happy to hold the person you held dear. It had been some time since you had hugged her like this, so to feel her warmth again… it was nice. More than nice, in fact. 

You had missed her. 

“I take it you’ve heard about what happened in Daein, then?”

You also missed having somebody to… well, talk to.

You got along with your fellow countrymen in the Dawn Brigade, but you wouldn’t say many reached a level beyond acquaintance. Ironically, you had remained reserved and partly isolated from the others during that war effort too, for you couldn’t help but worry about whether any viewed you differently for abandoning the nation years ago. It was an unfortunate habit that you couldn’t quite kick away.

But Marcia was always an exception to your tendencies. She was somebody you could talk to about anything. She was somebody you cared about-- a lot!

It was wild to think this friendship originated from a spur-of-the-moment decision, but you were glad for it. 

Life just wouldn’t be the same without her.

“Civil war-- it ain’t nice, take it from me,” she could relate; Crimea itself had almost been on the verge of one from your understanding, but Queen Elincia and her forces had prevailed. You weren’t certain as to the cause, but it was part of the reason you had effectively surrendered immediately upon crossing the bridge; the nation was still very much on edge, and one wrong move could have been consequential, to say the least. “But you know what’s not nice? Daein joining up with Begnion, and wanting to fight the Laguz? What’s up with that?”

You sighed. “That’s precisely why I’m here.”

“Thought so,” she giggled. “So you’re like a double defector now, huh?”

“I guess I am,” you weren’t particularly proud of that new title, but that was just how things had ended up. “Which means I’m seeking asylum. Can you help me with that?”

“Sure thing, sweet cheeks!”

…sweet cheeks?

Marcia took a seat at her makeshift desk-- one stacked with an unfortunate amount of paperwork that she began scurrying through. “I got documents for that… uh… somewhere? Good gravy, I am NOT built for this kind of work.”

“I had been meaning to ask about that,” you confessed, the joy at seeing her again eclipsing how bizarre it was to see her work in such a setting. “Why are you here, Marcia? I’m thrilled-- don’t get me wrong-- but this doesn’t seem like the type of work you’d enjoy.”

“Oh, I don’t enjoy this one bit!” she was honest, continuing to flick through the paperwork with increasing annoyance. Even so, she tried not to let her frustrated expression influence her voice. “But there was a vacant spot for somebody to lead this post, and that got me thinking-- if some silly sausage were to cross that bridge from the other side-- all because he’s not a fan of his nation losing its marbles again-- then it would best he bumped into his old pal Marcia rather than some stubborn old fart!”

You had nothing to say.

You were speechless.

Had she honestly guessed you would defect?

Were you that predictable?

You weren’t sure how to feel about that. 

On one hand, it was heartwarming to know she had factored in how you’d probably act.

But on the other hand, it was a little embarrassing! 

“Oh, and the pay is good too,” she added. “I’m actually able to pay those debt dweebs now!”

Hm. How much of an influence was that on her decision to come here? You could not help but wonder which of her two reasons held the most sway over her mind. 

Marcia paused her rummaging, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

Although you hadn’t seen her in some time, you understood precisely what such an act communicated.

“Or rather… I WAS able to pay them… until some mud-munching scoundrel decided that having the debt of over one hundred men was NOT ENOUGH?!”

Marcia looked like she was about to scream, but she managed to miraculously restrain herself… which was unusual to witness! You were expecting-- even secretly hoping-- to hear many more of the new insults she had been crafting since your last visit.

Upon clearing her throat, Marcia looked substantially calmer. “Ahem. Anyway-- I can’t find what I’m looking for, but I have no doubt the queen can get it sorted for you once we reach Melior.”

“Melior?”

“The capital city,” she clarified. “Quite a trek-- but not if we’re going by air.”

That was a great idea.

However, there was one problem she hadn’t considered.

“Pegasus hate men.”

Marcia shrugged her shoulders, completely indifferent to the comment. “Mine only kicks off if one tries to ride it, so a passenger should be fine.”

“Should?”

“Well, if it’s not, then tough tomatoes; you’ll just have to hold on tight!”

Joy.

Regardless, there was little reason to complain; your journey here had been rather fortunate all things considered. Tormod and Maurim had been great at sniffing out secret routes, and while journeying with them momentarily had been fun, those alternate roads had not been great for your legs. 

A potentially rocky journey through the air? Comparatively, that was nothing. You could handle the turbulence.

___

Marcia wished her pegasus had caused a fuss!

It had been several days since her departure from the outpost at Riven Bridge. Due to the importance of the unexpected guest, she had temporarily placed an individual serving directly under her in charge. The encampment naturally served as border control, but the queen had specifically requested any refugees be brought to her-- a detail she had forgotten about at first, meaning all that paperwork searching was for nothing! 

How had she been such a sponge-brain, forgetting about the queen’s secretive asylum program? Since Bastian had not yet returned home, it was imperative for them to receive all the information they could regarding their neighbor’s regained sovereignty and what the new king was planning.

Somebody had distracted her mind. That was the reason.

Marcia still wished her pegasus had caused a fuss!

Since arriving back at the capital, their newfound guest-- a familiar acquaintance to many within the Crimean Royal Knights-- had been integrated into the fold. While he was not going to be a combatant, he still wanted to earn his keep. Therefore, he had offered to take care of some of the annoying paperwork and administrative work many did not want to do. 

The reason he had chosen this role was to keep himself in isolation, preferring to stay out of the way. She was familiar with this preference, and while she respected it, she wasn’t too happy about it.

There was still a lot she wanted to talk to him about.

Marcia really, really wished her pegasus had caused a fuss!

She had barely seen the man who refused to leave her thoughts! It was phenomenal to reunite, and the chit-chat they had engaged in during the flight had been fun-- albeit nothing beyond some small-talk. Nonetheless, it was aggravating that everything had come to a screeching halt after that! 

All her pegasus had to do was kick off about a snake-wielding creature riding on its back! That way, at least he could have held onto her like she offered which he admittedly did but only because otherwise he’d have fallen off except there was never any need to hold on tightly thanks to her mount not caring and shockingly good weather.

She sighed. Hard.

To make matters worse, she had seen her brother, though it did feel good to give him a piece of her mind. He was somewhat apologetic about his actions, and sounded somewhat genuine, so that was nice. Perhaps being in the knights was positively influencing him… gradually, of course. 

Regardless, she wasn’t having a fun time. War was on the horizon, and Crimea was monitoring the events closely, which was part of the reason he was so busy and couldn’t make time for her!

Granted, she hadn’t exactly asked him to spend time with her… but she figured he would want to! There was a reason they had met as frequently as they had throughout the last several years. For two people living in different nations altogether, seeing one another every few months was impressive, and she adored conversing with him. 

“That puddle-jumping, thought-thieving, shiver-inducing… dummy…”

Urgh.

She couldn’t insult him. Not genuinely. This man had done much to aid her mental state, and in return, it had provided him immunity. 

“You’re still here, Marcia?”

Marcia shivered, too lost in thought to notice somebody had snuck up to her, but they were thankfully a friend. 

In hindsight, she should have left this person’s shop completely before losing herself to her thoughts. There were plenty of good meadows and woodlands nearby-- she could have sat down there and thought about everything peacefully without distraction. Then again, it was hard to think far ahead when her mind was such a mess.

“Hello, Calill,” she greeted the older woman, though she wasn’t certain she was thrilled to see them. Marcia didn’t mind their presence-- she was used to far more aggravating people, after all-- but their narcissistic tendencies could be discomforting at times. 

Nonetheless, there wasn’t much to lose from engaging in a conversation. If anything, listening to the woman rambling on about something could keep her mind focused on something other than her turbulent thoughts.

“Sorry, I need a breather,” she justified her continued presence, hoping it would be believed.

“I see,” Calill thankfully seemed to buy the excuse. “Well, thank you again for the delivery.”

Delivery duty was arguably unbefitting of a royal knight, but there wasn’t a whole else to do.

Or rather, not much she wanted to do; returning to the outpost by the bridge, or joining patrols around the border-- both were valid options for somebody with her status.

But Marcia wanted to remain in Melior. 

“Marcia, dear,” Calill interrupted her from her thoughts-- again. “It’s not like you to be so… sulky. That pretty face of yours does not suit tears.”

Marcia snorted; that was probably the closest you could get to a compliment from that self-absorbed sponge.

She wasn’t delighted about being caught like that, but she could at least dispel any need for concern. “Don’t worry about me. It’s just been a long day.”

She spoke with as much confidence as she could muster, hoping her response would not invoke any further curiosity.

But it did.

“Is it that blabbering fool of a ‘royal knight’, again?” Calill would have usually been right on the money, but not this time.

Marcia debated just nodding her head, but for once, she wasn’t in the mood to hear the usual critique. 

Therefore, she answered truthfully.

“Not this time.”

“Well, that is shocking,” Calill was understandably intrigued-- perhaps too intrigued. “If it is not him, it is that friend of yours-- the one working diligently behind the scenes, handling all that paperwork-- correct?”

Marcia was a little surprised it had taken just a second guess. At any rate, there was no reason to lie about it, especially when the bewilderment on her face all but confirmed it. “That’s right.”

Calill now appeared very interested, doubtlessly having had her curiosity tickled by this conversation going in a direction she had not anticipated. 

Nosy narwhal! Gossip gopher! Meddling marmot!

Marcia held her tongue.

“I remember him. Handsome man-- but kept to himself. I recall he outright ignored my advances back during the war. He did not even entertain me with a response!” Calill added, feigning despair over the recalled interaction, but not without keeping her eyes glued to the individual hearing her extravagant acting. “All is forgiven now, of course. I do have a wonderful husband now. Say-- have you considered settling down at some point, Marcia? You have quite the pretty face, but it won’t stay that way forever. Not all can be like me.”

Calill carefully observed her companion’s expression thoroughly, keen to discover how she’d react to her comments.

Alas, Marcia struggled to remain stable.

She had thoughts. Many thoughts.

Firstly-- she flirted with him?! Years ago, sure, but that was news to her, and she did NOT like it!

Secondly-- settling down?! She was still in her early twenties! That was, uhm, when people, uh… usually did actually settle down, wasn’t it…?

…s-still, she was far too young to do… that…

Ah, who was she kidding? Calill had placed the trap, and she had flown right into it. Why did she have to be such a twinkle-toed whippersnapper?!

“Marcia, dear,” Calill couldn’t help but snicker. “You have nothing to say, but that feisty expression of yours? It tells an entire novel.”

Marcia couldn’t deny that; her face was very adventurous when it wanted to be, even when it came to rare moments of fluster. 

“So, which is it?” the prying parrot of a woman continued the torment, much to her disarray. “A secret relationship, or has it yet to blossom?”

“Oh, chestnuts!” Marcia took a deep breath. “Calill, we are just friends.”

Calill smirked. “For now.”

It was difficult to decide whether she was infatuated or enraged by that comment. 

Marcia could feel her heart beating rapidly, and while it was concerning, she was at least grateful the thumping was concealed within her own body-- hidden from the gaze of prying eyes. 

Calill was right to be suspicious.

For the last several years, Marcia had gradually been developing a long-standing crush on the man she had befriended during the Mad King’s War. 

The friendship was formed after he witnessed her arguing with her brother-- as usual. He had been kind and listened to her practically scream how discouraged and angered she had felt, and in response, he had taken her out for something to eat! Many could not handle her mouth, so to have somebody who not only didn’t mind but also encouraged her to complain and get it all out… well, it was unprecedented. 

While she hadn’t felt that spark then, they had uniquely stayed in contact even after the war’s conclusion. While she wasn’t certain at the time whether she’d be returning to the Holy Guard, he at least had a permanent residency in Daein. Thanks to that, she was able to write letters to him, and after a while, they even arranged to meet! It was a little nerve-wracking to sneak into Daein on her pegasus, but she planned out the journey ahead of time, managing to avoid any unwanted confrontations.

The resulting reunion had been joyous, and it was fun to bicker away about all the things they had gotten up to. He was surprised to hear she was joining the Crimean Royal Knights despite originating from Begnion’s Holy Guard. She was surprised to hear he was considering joining a rebellion group that sought sovereignty for his homeland. Either way, they were glad their respective routes meant they wouldn’t have to worry about the possibility of confronting each other on the battlefield. 

But there was one thing she remembered fully from that day-- how he had complimented her hair, liking how she was letting it grow.

She hadn’t told him then that she had been planning on getting it cut, but after a comment like that…

Marcia wasn’t entirely sure when the crush had started to form, but it certainly had existed to some extent by that point. Why else had she allowed that reserved raspberry of a man to influence her decision so much, hmm?

Despite meeting with him several times after that, their friendship never progressed into something more… as much as she wished it would.

She was partly to blame-- how could their relationship develop while she was being so uncharacteristically secretive regarding her feelings?! She was open and honest about literally everything else! Complaining about her brother-- or anyone, really-- with the most colorful language? That was second nature to her!

But romance… that was new territory. Scary new territory. 

…especially when he hadn’t expressed that particular type of interest in her, either. 

Even so, she figured he would have at least started to suspect something was up!

After all, she had flown all the way to another nation to meet him! Nobody would do that unless the person awaiting them was something they cherished!

It was an unfortunate reminder that men were all meatheads!

Regardless, she wasn’t going to let it upset her-- not when she could have been more forward too.

Hugs had happened at least!

That was something!

She may or may not have spent weeks thinking about the first time they embraced in such a way. It had been one long hug too, justified entirely by it being her departure and what that entailed-- not seeing each other again for a long time. 

How she wished had listened to her heart… and just… kissed-

“Marcia,” Calill snapped her out of her thoughts for the third time, but her timing was exceptional. She was about to turn as red as a strawberry! “Want some advice?”

“A-Advice…?” she mumbled quickly, too startled to think about what had been suggested until after she had responded.

…advice?

Hm.

This was a woman who had been very forward towards the men she was interested in years ago, and was now married, proving she knew what she was talking about… probably…?

Well, she doubted she had much to lose by listening.

“Sure. Hit me,” she answered, apprehensive, though also curious to hear whatever wisdom this older woman was about to share. Marcia had a suspicion it would either be brilliant advice, or something abominable that would make her regret everything. 

Maybe this was a mistake.

“That poor man is working tirelessly,” Calill answered. “I respect wanting to earn one’s keep, especially since he showed up effectively unannounced, but I think he deserves a break.”

Alright. Not a bad start!

“So you’re suggesting I help with that?”

Marcia had debated visiting him and offering to take him somewhere-- perhaps a place to eat, so he could vent about any frustrations he was having, but more importantly-- to give the knucklehead a break! 

But she refrained, not wanting to bother somebody taking on so much important work.

Then again, Calill thinking similarly was interesting. Perhaps this was the push she needed to try.  At worst, he’d say no.

“Absolutely,” she said. “My dear Largo suffers from stress every now and then, too. Would you like to know what I always do to lift his spirits?”

“Sure.”

“Well, I check that the coast is clear, then I sneak under the table, and-”

“STOP.”

“But I-”

“Nope! Nope nope NOPE!”

There it was. There it was.

It just had to be a dirty suggestion.

Marcia was not that kind of person! She did not have her mind in the gutter! She was not some filthy-minded ferret! She was not some… raunchy raccoon!

She never, ever thought about those things…

Not. At. All.

She never fantasized about giving in to her urges during one of their reunions, finally kissing him, and their kiss growing increasingly intense, so much so that neither can hold back any longer, and they become all the more passionate, and then they retreat to a nearby tavern, book a room, take off their clothes, and… and… and…

No, no no no she was NOT a dirty-minded sweat-licker! 

Succulent skunk of a monkey! 

Elephant stomping irresponsible knucklehead of an… idiot…?!

Marcia. Could. Not. Think.

How dare this woman suggest she relieve him of stress… what good would that do…?

“Marcia,” Calill laughed. She laughed. “That expression of yours? What a wonderful sequel.”

“Calill, you… you…!” Marcia could not… think of anything!! For once in her life, she wished she was talking to her brother! The insults would have come easy then, and she could have smacked him senseless!

“Say what you like, dear,” Calill wasn’t bothered in the slightest. “But that extravagant reaction of yours? I think you like my idea more than you think. Give it some thought! Men are easy creatures. They will not complain about a cute girl between their-”

“I am outta here!”

Marcia fled, hastily running towards her loyal steed that had been waiting patiently nearby, chewing on some grass. She had to get as far away from this pub as possible! Calill was a dangerous woman. What kind of relationship advice was that supposed to be? She was hoping to hear about how to prepare a cute dinner date, or maybe a nice present to buy! 

Not that!

The worst part?

That… idea… refused to leave her mind.

___

Your hand hurt.

Signing all sorts of papers was a tiresome responsibility, let alone reading everything over to make sure the contracts weren’t secretly deceptive.

The Crimean Royal Knights had a lot of paperwork to deal with behind the scenes, but they had been granted respite, for you had volunteered to take care of these chores for a while. 

The reason was that you wanted to earn your keep for being allowed refuge in your country, but it was also so you could be kept in seclusion. The peace and quiet was nice-- far preferable to the rowdiness of the barracks.

It did mean you weren’t seeing Marcia nearly as much, but personal needs came second. This was the price to pay for leaving your nation, and all things considered, it could be a lot worse!

Regardless, that didn’t mean you weren’t feeling a little miserable about, well, everything. How was everyone doing back home? How had they reacted to your departure? How was Marcia doing? Why hadn’t she visited?

Well, the answer to that was simple-- she had probably returned to the outpost by the bridge; it was her jurisdiction, so it made sense. The fact you had reunited with her at all was lucky, so you couldn’t complain much.

Still… it would have been nice to converse with her more. Her presence was soothing-- even when she was yelling about what troubled her. Truthfully? It was even more soothing during those moments. That was Marcia at her greatest, and you liked that aspect of her.

A knock on the door prompted a pause in your work. You lifted your head-- for the first time in a while-- and called out. “Who is it?”

It was probably Geoffrey checking up on your progress.

“C-Can I come in? It’s me.”

That voice was not very Geoffrey-like.

It belonged to…

“Yes, of course!”

You hadn’t realized your voice went up a pitch or two until after you had responded, but who could blame you? Having your assumption proven incorrect had never felt so good.

Marcia opened the door steadily, appearing strangely worn out, but you figured she had just finished up some training or something. Nevertheless, it was incredible to see her.

“So, uhm,” she mumbled, closing the door behind her, her gaze not meeting yours but rather the desk you were sitting at. “H-How is it going here, h-handsome…? Not too bad, I hope?”

The stuttering was unusual, but you paid it no mind. 

“It’s alright,” you were honest; the work was boring, but it kept your mind focused. “There’s a lot to do.”

“I see,” she took a few steps forward. “Stressful?”

“Stressful…?” you pondered that question for a while. “A little, I guess-”

“T-Then you really should take a break, doofus!” Marcia suddenly sounded awfully worried about your well-being.

“I… just took one,” you answered, but upon seeing her frown, you were quick to reassure her further. “Ten minutes, and I ate a nice lunch.”

“...ten minutes?” Marcia raised an eyebrow. “And how long were you working before you took that break?”

“About… five hours, I’d sa-”

“Nope! Nuh-uh!” she cut you off. “You deserve a much longer break than that!”

“But-”

“NO EXCUSES, CUDDLE-MUFFIN! YOU. NEED. REST!”

…cuddle-muffin?

“Marcia-”

“Nope,” she already knew you were going to downplay the need for a longer break, her adamant attitude flared and ready to strike at a moment’s notice. “You will take a longer break, and if Commander Geoffrey complains, I’ll take the blame!”

You doubted he would mind you taking a prolonged break from your duties, especially since you had volunteered to do this… but still… was it right to do so? You were indebted to Crimea. You couldn’t just…

…yet…

“Alright.”

If anyone else had asked you to do this, you would have declined.

But Marcia was different. She was worried for a friend, and if there was one thing you hated, it was seeing her in tears. You didn’t want to be the cause of that.

“So… uhm, I guess I’m taking a break now…?”

You didn’t mind sitting back and staring into the nothingness for a while.

“Well, actually,” Marcia mumbled, pausing to swallow. “You and I… we could do something.”

“Like?”

Marcia’s eyes almost met yours, but once again, she appeared to find more fascination in your desk and the paperwork stacked on top of it. For somebody usually so good at talking, she was shockingly silent for a time.

Eventually, she looked up, rapidly blinked, and shook her head. It was a little bizarre, and honestly a little worrying. Was she feeling unwell…?

“...we could, uhm, go outside,” she suggested. “The weather is nice. We could go out to a nearby meadow, get some grass in our hands, enjoy the sunshine a bit… it’s, uhm, healthy.”

“Okay.”

She had worded it unusually, but you could do with some fresh air. Besides, heading out to a remote location where you could hear nothing but the sounds of nature-- and Marcia too, of course-- sounded like a good time!

“Okay!” Marcia stood up straight, doing her best to remain composed. Her unorthodox behavior was still concerning, but maybe she was suggesting this because she too needed some fresh air but wanted some company. “Let’s go. I know a, uhm, good meadow.”

Marcia turned and opened the door, beckoning you to come with her, her gaze still evading yours. Everything about this was peculiar, but you had no reason to distrust her. Perhaps something had happened and she wanted to tell you in a location more private? You genuinely had no idea at this point.

Even so, you followed her without question, joining her for a brief but enjoyable flight on her pegasus. When she had taken you to the capital, you were expecting that you would need to hold onto her securely, but the weather had been surprisingly calm. It was a little disappointing; it would have been nice to closely hold the person who meant so much to you.

Marcia was… somehow you were infatuated with.

You weren’t sure when your heart had chosen her, but you recalled the moment you realized.

It was during the first time you reunited after the war, and after exhausting a lot of conversation topics, you spontaneously commented about how you liked her hair. It was still short, but it had grown out a little and it made her look very cute. 

Marcia hadn’t expected the compliment, her subsequent thanks coming out in stutters while she playfully twirled her hair.

…and it had been the most adorable thing you had ever seen.

It was during that moment that you realized two things.

One: You loved her.

Two: You could be smooth.

…albeit, not frequently, for it took you a few years to realize that unusual blonde-haired woman had been flirting with you the entire time. 

But it was okay! You had conquered obliviousness and could pick up on all sorts of hints now!

…which was a blessing as much as it was a curse.

Marcia hadn’t done anything to suggest the feelings you had for her were reciprocated, sadly.

But even so, you refused to let that discourage you! When the time was right… you’d say something… probably. 

…perhaps now was a good time?

Unless she reacted negatively and kicked you off her pegasus mid-flight.

Maybe waiting until you landed would be better.

Yeah.

“Here we are,” Marcia prepared to land, the location indeed a large open meadow close to some woodlands. The capital city still lingered on the horizon, but the bustling street crowds could not reach your ears any longer. Here, nature reigned. “P-Pretty good place, isn’t it?”

“It’s nice,” you agreed, hopping off her steed carefully, not wanting to do anything to agitate it. Just because it tolerated your presence now didn’t mean it would forever! “You know… we really should have brought food with us-- had a little picnic or something.”

“Oh, crackers!” Marcia slapped her forehead. “I, uh, didn’t think that far ahead!”

“It’s alright,” you chuckled at her response-- it felt more like her, and you adored that. “I did say I’ve eaten. Have you?”

“Yeah,” she answered. “I’ll be okay for a few hours, I think.”

You took in the scenery for a moment, ultimately deciding to sit down close to a tree so you could relax more thoroughly while doing so. Marcia tended to her mount, and after a while, it took off.

…it was going to come back, right?

You decided not to think about it.

Instead, you thought about how Marcia’s suggestion had been a sound one; taking in the fresh air while not worrying about any responsibilities for a while? It was bliss. Sure, there was that nagging feeling at the back of your head demanding you get back to work, but with a beautiful girl in your presence, it was easy to ignore it. 

The gorgeous lady in question soon sat down next to you, though she looked like a lot was on her mind.

“Marcia,” you spoke calmly to her. “You doing okay?”

“Me? I’m jolly good, uhm, wonderful as waffles!”

If she was saying that to anyone else, they would probably be convinced. Who else could come up with such phrases and say them so effortlessly and cheerfully?

But you could tell something was up.

“You can talk to me,” you told her. “That's why you wanted me out here, right?”

Marcia appeared puzzled by that question. “N-No… I did think you genuinely needed a break…”

“You sure it’s just that?”

“Well, uhm… I…” she struggled to respond… but when she did, your heart skipped a beat. “The sun is about to set… and I… well… wanted to watch it with you…”

How could it not thump maddeningly after hearing something so adorable?

“O-Oh, well, uh, I am happy to watch it with you…” you knew you could have worded that more elegantly, but you didn’t care; what she had said was playing over and over in your mind. It had completely captivated your heart.

Marcia tapped her fingers together nervously, staring at the distance and refusing to turn her head, lest it further expose how bright red her face had become. You had noticed, and while you had a suspicion it meant something wondrous, you weren’t going to get your hopes up immediately.

But you really, really wanted to.

“Hey, handsome, uhm,” she spoke quietly, much clearly on her mind, but articulating it was proving to be difficult for her. “...you got a girlfriend in Daein?”

What kind of question was that?

You barely interacted with anyone-- girls included-- as is. The Dawn Brigade had Micaiah and Laura, but you simply followed the orders of the former and barely interacted with the latter. The only girl you talked to… was, well, her.

“I don’t,” you answered. “But I would like one.”

It was miraculous you were able to say that last part steadily.

What you had said was no confession, but it could confirm whether she had any interest in you.

“Oh! Uhm, I see…!”

…not a great response. 

Marcia seemed bewildered at the idea that you wanted to be with someone, but you couldn’t fault her for it, considering your personality. 

“What about you? Would you like a boyfriend?” you asked, her face lighting up momentarily, but you had one more question to ask. ”Or… do you already have one?”

“Of course not, peanut-brain!” she snorted. 

Ah.

Yeah.

You should have expected that; Marcia wouldn’t have that type of interest in anyone, not when she had so many duties to worry about first.

That was confirmation then, wasn’t it? You had a crush that wouldn’t be reciprocated.

Marcia then poked you in the face, pulling you away from your sorrow. “...why the sad face, handsome?” 

“Well, I…”

You weren’t sure what to say to that, nor were you happy that she had noticed you were feeling down about her answer. Now that you knew she wasn’t interested, you wanted to keep your crush a secret, but you may have just inadvertently exposed it to her anyway!

“Why are you upset that I don’t have a boyfriend?”

You turned to face her, discovering an expression that radiated complete confusion.

“...huh? I’m not?”

“But I said no to that question, and then you got all sulky,” she shared her observation. “Unless… you thought I was responding to the other question.”

…you did think that… and you weren’t certain whether you liked how… gleeful… she now looked. 

All in all, you were puzzled.

Nevertheless, it was best to clear up the misunderstanding as soon as possible.

“You only gave one answer, so I thought it was a response to both.”

“Oh, chestnuts! I was, uhm, not sure how to answer that first one, so I, ahh…” Marcia paused, leaning back and tilting her head. Her eyes and mouth then widened, as if she had uncovered a startling revelation internally… and indeed, she had. “...so when you thought I didn’t want a boyfriend… you got all sad… which means…”

Oh.

Oh no.

The truth was out, and this was not how you wanted her to learn! 

In contrast, all you knew in return was that she didn’t have a boyfriend. In regards to whether or not she wanted one-- that was still unknown.

“...hey…” she spoke, her voice borderline silent… but you heard her as clear as day “...do you like me, handsome?”

You swallowed.

Hard.

And again, for good measure.

You did. Of course you did.

But… your heart wasn’t ready to confess that.

Even so… it needed to, lest she interpret that lack of response negatively.

It was now or never.

“...I do,” you confessed. “But it’s okay if you don’t, and I’d really like it if this didn’t impact our friends-- mmm!!!”

Throughout the last several years, you often dreamed about the woman who had captured your heart. 

Heck, you often daydreamed about her too, imagining all sorts of possibilities regarding your future with her. In the end, while you would entertain such fantasies, you knew deep down that they would never come to fruition.

…and yet, here you were, being kissed by the person you cherished the most.

Marcia had ambushed you without warning, leaning in swiftly and interrupting your hasty attempt at damage controlling your confession… but none of that had been necessary. She had responded immaculately, her singular action speaking a thousand words. While your unsteady heart wasn’t going to calm down anytime soon, the shock faded enough for you to reciprocate, pushing your lips against hers. 

It was an awkward kiss. The angle was all wrong, neither you nor here were truly prepared, and her nose was brushing up against yours a little uncomfortably.

Yet… these imperfections made the experience… perfect.

When the embrace concluded, it felt like an eternity had passed. Marcia was quivering, like she realized what she had done impulsively. 

Before she could panic, however, you returned the favor by ambushing her yourself. A quick push against the back of her head, bringing her towards you, did the trick. Marcia shivered in response, not expecting how forward you could be. It was a mutual feeling-- you weren’t anticipating she could be so direct either!

This kiss had its imperfections too, and ended even sooner-- but it soon transitioned into another, initiated by the sponge-brain herself. When that ended, you initiated another, equalizing the tally. While the subsequent smooches that followed sacrificed elegance for ferocity, you were not opposed to the transition. 

Kissing Marcia was addicting.

…and considering her feistiness matched yours at all times, she undeniably felt the same.

“I can’t stop,” she confessed after a kiss ended, pressing her lips against yours soon after.

“Me neither,” you confessed after quite a delay. Marcia had not been kidding!

You had wanted to do this for so long. How many times had you contemplated just kissing her outright? How many times had you thought about confessing your feelings? How many times did you think about begging her not to leave your side?

The answer did not matter. Not anymore.

The kisses eventually did slow down, but not before it felt like you had made up for all those missed opportunities. Marcia collapsed onto your shoulder, breathing just as frantically.

You were left with one thought.

Had that actually happened?!

You had kissed Marcia. She had kissed you.

No-- you had made out.

Wow.

So much for this being a break.

This was more intense than, well, anything!

Silence-- aside from the rugged breathing-- reigned for quite some time. There was much for both of you to now think about… though you also couldn’t help but wonder if it would be easier to empty your mind and just start making out again.

“...hey…” her voice was stained with exhaustion, but the battered tone made her sound… hot. “I… have a suggestion.”

“...y-yeah?”

Marcia breathed deeply. “Right here… right now… you and I… we… do it…”

The most sensational shiver ran up your spine.

That was bold.

On the one hand, it was arguably immensely too soon to even think about doing such a thing. You had only just kissed her.

…but you couldn’t ignore the facts; if you had wanted to kiss her-- and so much more-- for literally years now… chances are, so did she. 

In other words, you had both been very patient.

Now that you both knew that you liked each other all this time… the word ‘patience’ no longer existed in either vocabulary. 

While this would be an untraditional place to have your first time, it was fitting; Marcia wasn’t exactly a traditional lady!

“...alright.”

Marcia stood, albeit gradually due to her trembling beautiful legs. 

It had felt wrong to look at her in that light before, but you couldn’t resist any longer.

Marcia was beautiful and sexy.

Her induction into the Crimean Royal Knights signified a shift in clothing, meaning her plump thighs were typically no longer on display.

Typically.

On this day, she had chosen to dress a little differently, abandoning her red leggings and exposing a luscious amount of skin. You had noticed it earlier, but incorrectly assumed she had forgotten to wear them or that there was some other innocent explanation.

But now you knew better.

Marcia wasn’t playing around.

Though she was trembling, she still found her way to an adjacent tree, bending over against it.

“Please.”

This was really happening, wasn’t it? 

You joined her without hesitation-- how could you refuse such a plea? Upon positioning yourself behind her, you brought your hands to her ass, unsurprised to learn there was a lot to squeeze. The skirt-- her very small skirt-- did hide how smooth it doubtlessly was, however.

It was very exciting to lift that thing up.

Too many times had you caught the faintest glimpse at what it concealed, but despite its absurdly short length, it did a shockingly good job at hiding how bountiful this girl’s butt truly was. 

And it really was.

But that was not the part that stole your attention the most.

It was the discovery of a lifetime.

“Marcia…” your voice was broken, but was it any wonder? “You’re not wearing any underwear.”

The naughty girl in question looked back at you, and despite her face being blush-stained, she managed to grow a cheeky smirk. “Pegasus knights never do.”

…you genuinely didn’t know whether she was messing with you, but at the same time, it was immensely erotic to think she had never been wearing panties-- all this time!

The revelation was also discomforting, for you were now insanely erect and needed to free your cock immediately.

Marcia was not able to see you pull it out, but she certainly felt it resting between her cheeks. The subsequent exhale you heard escaping her lips was thrilling to hear.

“I-I can’t believe we’re about to do this…” she muttered, her voice shaky and even a little giggly. If her thoughts were anything like yours, they were a mess. A beautiful mess.

“It was your idea,” you reminded her.

“I know that, big man,” she chuckled, the new nickname strange to hear-- until you realized what she meant by it. “Now… put it in… I can take it…”

She could…?

You swallowed.

“A-Alright.”

It was now or never-- Marcia had mentioned she wanted to watch the sunset with you, after all, and that wasn’t going to happen unless you swallowed your nerves and plunged inside her. Taking hold of your member, you pushed up against her pussy, the intersection alone tickling your sensitive head and sending sensational shivers up your spine.

Satisfied you were as ready as you could be, you began to push. Though there was a bit of resistance at first, your new lover was drenched down there, the natural lubrication meaning it did not take long for you to slip in. 

Though it was already feeling divine, you stopped focusing on the pleasure instantly upon hearing her sob.

Looking down led you to discover why.

Marcia was bleeding.

“Marcia, you’re-”

“I-I’m okay!” she spoke with the utmost haste, gazing back and revealing an expression that suggested otherwise. 

It was heartbreaking to know you were the one responsible for the tears forming in her eyes.

When she mentioned she could take it, you incorrectly assumed that meant she wasn’t a stranger to sex. Her eagerness augmented that notion, and while it was a little disheartening to hear you would not be her first for admittedly selfish reasons, you also knew it mattered little in the grand scheme of things.

Marcia, however, had instead decided you were the man she would lose her virginity to.

But that too was a double-edged sword; while you were happy that she trusted you to be her first, you were not thrilled that it meant you had hurt her.

You weren’t sure what to think.

But then… you saw her smile.

“These tears…” she seemed to notice your concern. “They are happy tears, handsome.”

“I…”

“I’m so happy that you like me,” she said. “Though… I do wish we both weren’t such noodle-heads! It would have been nice to do this years ago!”

Marcia then giggled.

…and it was like medicine for your mind-- the dark clouds within dispersed and the bright blue sky returned to reign supreme.

Her laugh was the cutest thing. It was confirmation that she was not lying to make you feel better.

She was okay. More than okay.

Happy tears, huh?

…you could get behind that.

Content that all was well, you shifted your attention back towards what had caused the happy tears in the first place. Though you were only slightly inside her, you longed to experience what it would feel like to be completely enveloped by her compact walls. 

“Please… I want it…” Marcia wanted to know too.

Her wish was your command. 

You took hold of her hips, her silky-smooth skin a delight to touch. Though Marcia had convinced you that she was able to handle anything you gave her, that did not necessarily mean you could handle anything in return-- not yet, at least. 

As you started to slowly push inside her, the heat coiling around your sensitive shaft increased dramatically in temperature. Paired with how her walls were outright trying to suffocate your cock, it was a terrifyingly exhilarating feeling. 

None of it was bad-- not at all.

But it was very overwhelming for a young lad making love to the woman of his dreams for the first time.

Be that as it may, you were going to do everything in your power to make this day one she’d never forget. You fought through the heat, sinking your dick further inside her-- an obstacle that was becoming increasingly easier to overcome once you realized how motivating those beautiful moans of hers were. 

Marcia was genuinely doing her best to keep her voice contained, for although you were effectively in the middle of nowhere, there was always a chance some pegasus knight patrol could fly above and hear the depravity. Not a particularly high chance, but it did make the whole ordeal thrilling enough.

In the end, you managed to completely fill her up. As a reward, you heard the most pleasant moan yet-- one that was doubtlessly a little louder than she expected it would be.

“I can feel it…” she sounded ecstatic. “So deep… so big… and it’s throbbing…”

Hearing her say that was making you feel dizzy.

You were too enchanted to speak; it felt incredible to be inside her, and though your lightheadedness was proof it was still overpowering, you were going to persevere. Your objective was simple-- you were not going to cum until she came first. It was a tall order, especially since you honestly felt like you could blow your load at any second, but you were determined!

Marcia reacted amazingly to the sensation of you pulling out.

Even more so when you pushed back in, this time with substantially less resistance, like her pussy was already beginning to accept your intrusion. Though it was easier to reach her depths, that didn’t mean she still didn’t feel absurdly tight… but you were beginning to understand how to effectively push through that hurdle anyway. 

You kept up the pressure, the marvels of her moans keeping you rejuvenated even each thrust was adding to your exhaustion. It was effectively a replacement for that overwhelming sensation you were gradually getting used to, but you weren’t going to let that stop you. Nothing was going to stop you. Moving your hips, reaching her deepest parts, and watching-- and listening to-- the incredible reactions was just too addicting. The downsides could be damned for all you cared. You were loving this.

The feeling was mutual; Marcia was having the time of her life, nothing but pleasure coursing through her veins. Why else would she be trembling so much? Her senses-- and yours too-- were frankly, a mess.

But it was a wonderful mess.

…and for your lover, that wonderful mess was about to get a whole lot messier.

When you felt that compactness return with a vengeance without warning, making it difficult-- though not impossible-- to reach her womb, you knew precisely what was happening. The consistency of your thrusts had built up something deep inside her, and now, it was being unleashed.

“I’m… aaaAHHHHHH!!”

Marcia screamed.

…and it was a good scream.

No displeasure. No discomfort. No pain.

It was a cry called forth by incomprehensible euphoria striking her body. No doubt, she was experiencing the most amazing pleasure of her life.

…and you were not far from experiencing it alongside her.

Marcia’s pussy was outright strangling your cock, sealing it deep within her as she came hard. While it felt phenomenal, you were worried it was going to make it hard to pull out. That was the right thing to do, after all; the last thing this girl wanted was to get pregnant, you imagined.

You couldn’t handle it any longer. It was too much!

“Marcia… I’m…”

You tried to warn her, but it was difficult to speak.

Nonetheless, she communicated her response swiftly. She gazed back, and you saw not just the beauty of degenerate pleasure… but also a craving.

“C-Cum inside me…!”

Upon hearing her say those three magnificent words, you shivered.

It was unexpected. It was bewildering. It was unprecedented. 

Rationality fought defiantly against instinct within, but it was a lost cause. The mere thought about filling this girl to the brim-- being the first not only to have sex with her, but also the first to cum inside her… it was hypnotizing. 

It was the easiest option… and the hottest option.

Instinct had won.

Holding her hips, you pushed right up against the entrance to her womb, embracing what you could feel building up.

You came. 

Inside.

It was amazing.

The natural magnificence of a climax was amplified dramatically by the humidity and tightness of her insides. You flooded her womb, the wondrous feeling prolonged by how good it felt to be inside her. Even though your eyes were blurring and your ears were ringing, the sensory overload did not harm the pleasure. If anything, it improved it.

You had came inside Marcia.

The thought of that alone as you dizzyingly pulled out almost tempted you to shove everything back in-- a temptation that was worsened once you saw your cum beginning to drip out of her pussy. 

“Oh my…” Marcia was very tired, yet she could not stop giggling joyfully. “There’s so much, handsome… you really liked that, didn’tcha?”

“Marcia… goddess, did we really do all that?”

“You bet we did, fishtank-filler,” she then shook her head. “Nope, don’t like that one. Big man it is.”

You could barely think-- which was unfortunate, because there was so much you wanted to think about!

Thankfully, instinct was here to save the day, providing comfort to both your exhausted body and mind. You stepped forward and brought your lover into a hug, wanting to feel her warmth coursing all around you. You may have also noticed she looked like she was about to tumble over at any moment, too.

Marica returned the hug without hesitation, humming as she relaxed.

“Hey, handsome…” she said silently. “Do you think this makes us… y’know?”

“A couple?”

“Y-Yeah…”

Boyfriend and girlfriend.

Marcia… she was your girlfriend now! 

Though, it was weird, like everything had changed yet nothing had simultaneously. 

The regular meetings, and the constant back-and-forth letters, and how thrilled you always were to see each other. The writing had been on the wall for a while, hadn’t it?

You expressed that feeling to her. “It feels like we’ve always been in one in a way.”

“Mhmm,” she hummed, concluding the hug, but not before making up for it by intersecting fingers against yours. Her hands were warm… “Say, handsome… you remember what I wanted us to do before, well, things got outta hand?”

You did. 

“The sunset, yeah?”

“Yup,” she laughed-- and for good reason. Marcia turned her head to face the distant horizon-- or rather, what was left of it. Only a shimmer of the setting sun remained.

You had both missed it.

Because you were too busy fucking.

It was okay though. In hindsight, the sunset had been an excuse to be close.

Marcia was reluctant to release her hands from yours, but she did so for an important reason. Adventuring back to the capital during nightfall was not a good idea. The lingering light had to be used effectively, and that was precisely why she brought her fingers to her mouth and whistled. Within a matter of moments, her pegasus returned.

She hopped on, encouraging you to do the same. It was a little tiresome to do so after everything that had happened, but when it meant you could hold her from behind, it was a small sacrifice to make!

Her steed took flight. To feel the wind against your face was unbelievably refreshing.

“I… really enjoyed doing, well, that, with you,” Marcia confessed a little shyly mid-flight, for despite her declaration being nothing but the truth, that didnt mean she wasn’t feeling a little embarrassed about it all. “...and I’d like to do it again, and also see you more too! Would you be OK if I, well--”

“Visit? Anytime.”

“...maybe even sooner,” she sounded apprehensive, as if she hadn’t figured out you’d accept any proposal she had in mind. “You have basic sleeping arrangements, yeah?”

“I’ve slept in much worse places.”

“Since I’m a royal knight, I have something a little more luxurious, so, if you want…”

Though night was beginning to fall, the day was far from over.

___

Marcia, for once in her life, wished she was a simpleton.

The complexity of the emotions she was experiencing were difficult to wrap her head around. She was happy-- absurdly happy-- but there was so much else going on deep within too!

She had a boyfriend! She had a boyfriend she had a boyfriend she had a boyfriend.

…if it weren’t for her hands being occupied on the reins, she would have slapped her head silly.

To say she felt elevated would be an understatement.

…and how the heck did she manage to invite him to her room?!

It was so… forward!

Which was ironic, considering what they had just done.

Marcia didn’t regret a thing. All of her decision-making had practically been spontaneous, but she was thrilled about the outcome. Sure, having sex in the middle of nowhere was probably a little too forward for the point in their relationship… but something he had said regarding their newly found relationship made it feel justified.

“It feels like we’ve always been one in a way.”

He wasn’t wrong to say that. She made an effort to visit him regularly, he’d take her out to nice places, and they always stayed in contact. They had essentially been in a long-distance relationship all this time, just without any of the hand-holding, or the “I love you”s.

But that was about to change!

“I love you…”

Marcia had not yet said those three fluttering words to him. Neither had he for that matter, but she didn’t hold it against him. Thinking about it made her want to scream! 

How fascinating that this was what she was struggling with.

Declarations of love? Nope.

Getting fucked against a tree? Hell yeah.

It was unusual, but she was an unusual person, and he was an unusual person too.

Together, they were an unusual couple!

…heh.

She liked that.

Marcia and her boyfriend-- boyfriend boyfriend boyfriend!!!-- soon arrived back in Melior. Her pegasus was left at the stables, leaving them with a small walk back to her place of residency. Twilight was departing and the land would soon be enveloped by darkness, limiting potential for more fun outdoor activities. 

That was okay; she wanted to be enveloped by the warmth of her bed-- and the warmth of his body.

“Bad Marcia! Bad! You’re no luscious lemon of a banana tree, nor are you a piece of bubblegum on a shoe!”

She needed some nonsense to fill her mind.

“What was that?” 

“N-Nothing!”

Oops.

She may or may not have spoken her thoughts quietly.

The last thing she wanted was for the man of her dreams to start thinking she was some kind of nutter!

If anything, he was the nutter!

…speaking of which… he had really came inside her, hadn’t he?

It was another one of her impulsive decisions, but she knew exactly why it had come to mind.

Calill.

“Say-- have you considered settling down at some point, Marcia? You have quite the pretty face, but it won’t stay that way forever. Not all can be like me.”

She wasn’t unnerved about growing older, but something about settling down… it resonated with her! Truth be told, she wasn’t sure if she was baby-ready, especially considering it was a very fresh thought! Be that as it may, there was now a chance she’d have no choice but to get ready…

But she couldn’t deny how thrilling it would be-- to have a family… with him!

After all, if they were both sort of considering their relationship as having been a thing for a few years now… then it wasn’t weird to start thinking about such things!

Marcia brought her favorite person to her room, thankful to the goddess that she had not left it looking tragic.

There was so much she wanted to say.

But that required thinking about what she had to say first.

…and her mind was barely functioning.

Comparatively… sex was a lot simpler. 

She wanted more of that, and from the way he looked at her so apprehensively, it was evident he wanted the same.

They had several years of intimacy to catch up on!

Mere moments after the door to her room was shut, their lips met once more. Marcia wanted to be the initiator, but their heads moved in unison, meeting halfway so they could continue what they had started.

“I want you,” she purred, her hands trailing down his chest. Within the sanctuary of her own quarters, they could discard their clothes and show each other what they really looked like, and she couldn’t wait to see him! What would his perfections be? His imperfections? She wanted to know, and she’d love them all-- because this was his body. 

Her lover accepted her forwardness, helping her discard everything about his waist… and what she saw was genuinely surprising.

While it was breathtaking to discover a body that was making her salivate, she was intrigued by the marking on his hip. It appeared to be some sort of strange pattern, but upon getting a closer look, it was shielded away by his hand.

“It’s alright, handsome,” Marcia realized he was self-conscious about it. “It looks cool.”

“Cool…? That’s a new one…”

Had others seen it and ridiculed him for it? Well, if so, she was going to beat them to a pulp!

While she had questions regarding its origin, she was far more eager to see something else! It was something she had barely been able to see before, but she had felt its length resting on her butt-- and of course, inside her. 

Luckily, her man was more than happy to show her how much of an effect she had on him.

Marcia trembled upon seeing its raw size. This thing had been inside her?! How?!

No wonder it felt so amazing.

Though it was a little intimidating to see, she had already thought about how she’d show her adoration for it-- an adoration that had grown.

Marcia instructed her man to sit down on her bed, keen to maximize his comfort as well as his pleasure. She found a seat between his legs, bringing an unsteady hand to his length and feeling it for the first time. It was unbelievably hard, and a little wet, but she was likely to blame for that one.

But she did not come here just to touch.

Keeping his manhood steady with her hand, she leaned forward and planted a kiss on his tip.

“Thanks for making me feel good, big man,” Marcia giggled, the new nickname not reserved for the man himself, but this pleasure plunger of his. While she had contemplated being more adventurous with names during intimacy, her first attempt at doing just didn’t sound right! It would make her feel horrible if something were to backfire and ruin the mood.

Luckily, her mouth could still make him feel good.

Marcia trailed her tongue up and down his shaft, listening intensely to how it made him shiver and groan approvingly. Just in case that wasn’t enough, his cock would continuously throb against her lips, a sensation that swelled her with pride.

She had intended to tease him a little, only using her lips and tongue to build up to the main course… but she was teasing herself more than anything! Marcia wanted to know what it truly tasted like.

Therefore, she took it into her mouth for the very first time.

SImilar to how he had treated her when they first made love, she took things slow and steadily. There was much to take in, and while she knew it would be foolish to force it all in, half was her objective! 

It was easy enough at first, but her gag reflex was beginning to kick on as she was on the verge of victory.

But upon flickering her eyes up and discovering how spellbound he was, she continued, taking in that extra inch and feeling his cock tickle the entrance to her throat. That was enough to force a messy ejection, but she was happy she had made it that far! 

“Take it easy,” he advised. “You don’t have to take it all, Marcia. It already feels amazing.”

She nodded, turning her attention towards what she could envelop around her mouth without gagging. Rest assured, she was going to learn how to take in more… but those were lessons she would learn in the future. Simply sucking what she could and making him feel good-- that was enough for now.

Marcia didn’t realize for some time that she had entered a hypnotic-like trance as she blew him, her head bobbing back and forth rhythmically, little thought given to her actions. She liked having him inside her mouth. She liked making him feel good. 

The only thing on her mind was how she was totally going to blow him while he worked at that desk.

Calill had been a horrible influence, but perhaps the woman was owed some thanks.

Although she was keen to make him cum, curious beyond belief to taste his semen… her man had other plans. He stood, forcing her dessert away from her mouth, much to her dismay. 

___

You had wanted to cum inside her mouth-- initially intent on learning whether or not she liked the taste.

But that was something you could save for another day.

Marcia’s blowjob had felt terrific. The humidity of her mouth was superb, and she looked so lewd doing it… but you were desperate to fuck her again. From your perspective, it wasn’t fair that only you felt good. She deserved to be on cloud nine just as much as you did!

“Sorry, Marcia,” you apologized. “But… I need you.”

“Mhmmm… alright, handsome,” she accepted the proposal, for as much as she would have loved to suck your dick for hours without end, there was one thing better than it. 

This time, it was Marcia’s turn to remove her clothes. 

For somebody who had her plump thighs on display and wasn’t wearing any panties at that, she was strangely well-concealed everywhere else.

That did not last long, of course. Marcia was not afraid to show you her body, and what you saw made you salivate. A toned stomach and a pair of squeezable boobs alongside those magnificent legs and her plump rear? She was wonderful.

Marcia did not take long to lay on her back, understanding precisely what you wanted. She spread her legs, eager to entice, though nothing could have enticed you more than what she had to say next.

“I want you to cum inside me again…”

This girl did not care about the consequences, did she?

You… really liked that. 

A good talk could be had about it, but not now.

The morning? Sure.

The night, however, belonged to you and her.

You took your place between her legs, unsurprised to discover she was drenched upon pushing your cock against her pussy. Had she been this way ever since the first encounter, or had sucking you off caused this? Considering the haste of this second session, the odds were in favor of the former. In other words, Marcia had been very patient… and she was going to be rewarded for it. 

While she felt just as tight as she did originally, Marcia’s pussy was very accepting of your manhood. It was beyond satisfying to bottom out within a matter of seconds, a sentiment echoed by the radiant song that was your lover’s moans.

Marcia had held back her voice much back at that meadow, but now, she no longer cared about her volume. The irony was not lost on you, but your ears were more than happy about the revelation. 

“Go on… fuck me…”

You could not say no to that face.

The slanted eyes, the faint biting of her lips, and that beautiful blush… she had it all.…and you couldn’t wait to see it distort with pleasure.

Taking hold of her hips, you began building up a strong cadence. This was no longer her first time; Marcia could take an energetic start. It would have probably been disappointing to her if you didn’t start pounding her without mercy.

The effect on her body was sublime.

She was smoldering hot inside, but it was a heat that felt immaculate around your member. Goodness, this girl was going to make you cum very quickly at this rate.

At least this time, you wouldn’t have to worry about where you were going to cum.

“Faster…”

Marcia was being greedy, but you liked seeing her being demanding. Though fulfilling her request would deplete your energy far sooner, you would at least have a soft and cuddly body to collapse on top of.

“Harder…”

You had already been pushing up against her cervix, but if she wanted you to slam against the entrance to her womb, then so be it.

“F-Fuck…”

For somebody who was usually so colorful with her vocabulary choices, it was bizarre to hear her simply just… swear.

Yet, you could not deny how extremely erotic that contrast was. 

Marcia came for the second time, her orgasm once again striking without warning. Though you braced for her pussy to start crushing your cock, you were just not used to how powerful this girl’s climaxes were. Your girlfriend screamed with joy, letting the tremors overwhelm her.

It was incredible to watch. However, your eyes were beginning to blur, and that meant…

“Mar-”

“Inside!!!”

The need in her voice was unbelievable.

You took a page from her book, pushing deep inside her and letting bliss shower your body. You filled up Marcia for the second time, and though you didn’t have as much semen to spare compared to before, your lover was more than content to enjoy the dessert anyway. 

It was a magical moment that led to much sensory overload, but rather than tumbling on top of her, it was her arms bringing you to her. 

“I love you…”

Truthfully, you had been on the verge of passing out. One breathtaking orgasm was one thing, but shortly following it up with another? Your head hurt so good.

But upon hearing three magical words, you were invigorated.

“I love you too, Marcia…”

You did not care that you sounded like a mess. She sounded like a mess too. 

Everything was a mess.

Your bodies. Your voices. Your thoughts.

The bed, too. The poor thing.

But it did not matter-- not when you were with her. 

___

You weren’t sure when you had fallen asleep. Had it been on top of her…?

Well, your girlfriend was now slumbering against your body, so perhaps not…?

Last night… it had been something else.

But now, the morning was here, and that meant you had to return to your responsibilities. You had undertaken quite the prolonged break. The amount of paperwork that had piled up was probably astronomical. 

“...mhmm… don’t go…”

Marcia had been awakened by your stirring.

“Marcia-”

“Take the day off…” she mumbled adorably, clearly half-asleep. “Those moss turnips can wait… let’s have some fun…”

You weren’t sure who the moss turnips were, but you were intrigued by that last statement.

“More fun, hmm?”

“Yeah…” she giggled. “You and I… we can… oh… did we…”

Marcia was awake. Properly awake.

She shot up, the covers falling from her body after a few moments and exposing her beautiful breasts. It was an adorable thing to witness.

“Good morning, Marcia,” you greeted her. “How did my gorgeous girlfriend sleep?”

“I… girlfriend…” she muttered, tapping her fingers together and looking away bashfully. “T-That’s right… we’re… oh…  oh crackers!! That wasn’t a dream?”

“Afraid not.”

“Then we…”

“Yep.”

Marcia stared at you in disbelief… for quite some time. No doubt her mind had been set ablaze as she recollected what had happened the previous evening and night.

But as time passed, she started to appear less, well, freaked out.

“...h-hey…” she was smiling, yet doing her best to hide it. “C-Could we… again?”

“Of course.”

You had been craving her ever since seeing her exposed chest. Slumber had rejuvenated your sore muscles too, so you were raring to go. Work be damned!

Geoffrey would understand. Probably.

Important talks still needed to be had, like how she really, really liked being creampied… but that could wait just a little while longer. 

What mattered now was making love to your beautiful girlfriend, the silly pegasus knight known as Marcia.