Chapter 18: Hope

Warning: A bit of lewdness in this one!

—

“Mmm, so warm…” Grace mumbled as she snuggled closer to her pillow, which was oddly firm but very cozy. And moving. And breathing.

Wait.

Grace’s eyes snapped open.

“W-WHA!?”

Alia – a very naked, very cuddly Alia – was wrapped around her like an affectionate octopus, her legs threaded through Grace’s, making little purring sounds in her sleep. One of her legs was actually thrown over Grace’s hip, and her face was nestled in the crook of Grace’s neck.

[… What in the world is happening right now?]

“Oh good, you’re awake!”

Grace’s head whipped around to find Zephyr sitting at her desk, crushing something that sparkled in a mortar and pestle. The morning light caught her curves just right, her simple sleeping robe doing absolutely nothing to hide them.

“What are you doing here!?” Grace squeaked, trying to escape Alia’s grip only to find the Love Sister had apparently learned advanced cuddling techniques. “When did you— How did you—”

“We came to visit last night,” Zephyr explained casually, as if breaking into someone’s room and climbing into their bed was perfectly normal. “Found this lovely wing all empty except for you.” Her smile turned predatory. “So we decided to stay.”

“You… what?”

“Mmmph.” Alia stirred. She rubbed her eyes and (thankfully) untangled herself from Grace, but then she got on her knees and her sheet slid down her body. As she stretched, Grace’s eyes moved to so many different places it almost made her dizzy. “Oh, Grace. Morning~”

Grace’s mouth opened and closed over and over again as she tried to get some words out.

“Mmmwah!” Alia leaned in and gave her a kiss on her cheek. Grace nearly fainted. If she’d aimed that kiss at her lips instead, Grace probably would have fainted.

“This wing has so many empty rooms,” Zephyr continued, definitely enjoying Grace’s panic. “It would be a shame to let them go to waste. Besides…” She put down her mortar and stood, gliding over to the bed like a cat stalking prey. “You seemed lonely.”

“I wasn’t—” Grace’s protest cut off in a squeak as Alia nuzzled her neck.

“Grace, you’re so soft,” Alia mumbled, still half-asleep but somehow still managing to be absolutely devastating. “Like cuddling sunshine… Best sleep I’ve ever had.”

“We’ll be great roommates,” Zephyr purred, sitting on the edge of the bed and reaching out to brush Grace’s hair from her face. “Won’t we, little one?”

Grace made a sound like a teakettle about to explode.

This was going to be a very interesting living arrangement.

Assuming she survived it.

—

{Diana}

“Oh, oh goddess… Ah…” The Love Sister beneath Diana moaned and bit into the pillow. Diana moved licked her neck as she moved her fingers faster, pistoning in and out. The Love Sister, lying on her stomach, tilted her neck to the side to grant Diana better access.

For a moment, any and all thoughts of that fight from a few days ago faded from Diana’s mind. Humans thought sometimes that what the Love Sisters did was strange, but it sure was effective.

“Yes, yes, just like that!” She arched her back, lifting her hips into the air. Diana moved away from her neck and took that tongue to the same spot her fingers had just been in.

Before long, the girl beneath her was coming undone. With a cry, she coated Diana’s hand in her juices and Diana just reached up and licked herself clean.

“You never disappoint, darling,” the Love Sister, smiling wide, got on her back, collapsing onto the bed.

Diana gave her a smile.

“I live to please.”

—

“Ha! Ha! HA!”

Diana watched as Grace swung her practice sword with all the grace of an enthusiastic puppy. The tiny angel’s face was scrunched up in determination, a light sheen of sweat making her skin shimmer in ways that were absolutely not distracting. Even if her training outfit – clearly borrowed from some other angels – hugged curves Diana hadn’t noticed before.

[When did she start developing muscle definition?] Diana thought, smirking.

“See?” Grace paused, puffing out her cheeks in what she probably thought was an intimidating expression but actually made her look like a angry hamster. “Bet you didn’t expect me to improve this fast, huh? I bet you’re regretting all those ‘drunk chicken’ comments now!”

Diana couldn’t help but smirk. The girl was like an angry kitten trying to roar.

“Oh yes,” she drawled, crossing her arms under her chest, noticing how Grace’s eyes dropped before snapping back up, her face turning a little red. “You swung the sword without falling over. Truly, you’ve surpassed my wildest expectations. Shall I alert the demon armies that their doom approaches?”

“You—!” Grace huffed, her cheeks puffing out even more. “Just because you’re all…” She gestured vaguely at Diana’s everything, “…tall and muscley doesn’t mean you can make fun of me! Just you wait! I’ll show you!”

She returned to her practice swings with renewed vigor. Diana chuckled under her breath.

For a moment, Diana closed her eyes, leaning back and letting the air kiss her bare skin. She-

“—and then the Primal just appeared out of nowhere!”

The voice cut through Diana’s thoughts like a blade. Nearby, a group of warrior angels were trading stories, their voices carrying across the training ground.

“What did you do?”

“I mean, what can you do against those things?”

“Run, obviously! Did you see what happened to Nymera?”

“Better to retreat than end up like her…”

Diana’s hand went to the scar over her eye before she could stop it.

Suddenly she was there again.

Flames everywhere, that terrible face twisted in a smile as it reached for her, the shame of turning away, of leaving others behind…

The memory of screams echoed in her ears. The heat of those flames, the weight of her failure—

“Um, Diana?”

She snapped back to the present to find Grace standing right in front of her, golden eyes wide with something that looked dangerously like concern. When had she gotten so close?

“What?” Diana’s voice came out sharper than intended, making Grace flinch slightly.

“I… have to go to my next class.” Grace fidgeted with her practice sword, looking up at Diana through her white lashes. “But, um, thanks. For today.”

“Yeah,” Diana nodded. “Good work.”

As Grace scampered off (only tripping twice, which was actually an improvement), Diana found herself watching her go.

[Well… She is actually doing mildly better. Her movements are more sure, her stance is more stable.]

Diana closed her eyes again.

[… I really hope that story about her killing demons is actually true. That would be incredible to witness.]

One could only hope.

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