Sassy scrunched her brows. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re freezing cold to me. All three of you are.”
“You didn’t react when I took energy from you.”
“I didn’t care at the time. I was in fight mode.”
“Aha. Well, that explains why you and your boyfriend don’t touch much.”
“He’s not--” Roxie cut herself off. If Aerigo hadn’t corrected Daio when he’d called her Aerigo’s girlfriend, then why should she correct Sassy?
“Oh, I’m sorry. Are you two already bonded? You act like it. I shouldn’t have assumed.”
“Bonded?” Did she mean married or something? Roxie’s stomach fluttered at the thought, but then squirmed when she replayed passing through Aerigo’s corporeal body. Such a union would never happen.
“The joining of soul mates in a formal ceremony. The name of such a ceremony varies from world to world.” Daio stood behind Sassy and pressed his chain-covered body to hers. Reaching for his face, Sassy said, “Stupid here never tried.” She narrowed her eyes yet leaned against him and met his loving gaze. “I’m angry with you about that, too.”
“I know. It’s another of my regrets. I never asked you because of what Nexus was commanding me to do. I thought it’d make things easier on myself, but it didn’t.”
Sassy gave him a tender look. “You poor, stupid, selfish man. Next time think of us, instead of just yourself.”
He took the hand caressing his face in his and kissed it. “If only there was a next time.”
Roxie faced Aerigo and he gazed at her longingly. If only indeed. Her heart ached for him. She’d hoped to dream of him after their meal together but she couldn’t recall anything. All that aside, what if they pretended to be together--bonded or married--while she was stuck in the spirit realm? Make the best of the situation...
Aerigo glanced at the other Aigis and drew close enough to Roxie to get her heart racing in a good way, yet she could feel the cold emanating from him. He brought his face close to hers. “One more?”
Roxie glanced at their company. She and Aerigo had their rapt attention. Roxie spread her wings, providing the a bit of privacy, took Aerigo’s face with both hands, and pressed her lips to his. She accepted the icy cold but it still blocked her from fully giving in to the moment. Aerigo caressed her face with his fingertips, sending pleasant shivers up and down her spine, and making her come up for air before kissing him again. He shuffled closer, closing the gap between their bodies, and Roxie involuntarily shied away, cutting off the kiss. She held onto his face a moment longer, then let go, leaving her hands hovering inches away. She ached to melt in his arms--warm arms--but only in her dreams... She lowered her arms and folded her wings.
“Aw, don’t be shy,” Daio said playfully. “No need to hide your affection from us.”
Smiling, Sassy elbowed him and he grunted. “Don’t listen to him. Neither of us mind, but do what makes you feel comfortable.”
Roxie gazed into Aerigo’s deep blue eyes and felt her own start glowing.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“There’s no next time for us, either. No ‘after.’ I don’t want you to have any regrets when it comes to me. I don’t regret anything with you.” Other than how little time they’d had together, but she didn’t want to admit that aloud. It’d make their impending parting harder for her.
“My only regret is that I won’t be there to help you take on Nexus, but I have a feeling you’ll succeed. I believe in you and how strong you are.” He kissed her forehead. “I’ll do everything in my power to give you full confidence in yourself and prepare you for what you must do.”
Roxie wore a genuine smile and felt her eyes stop glowing. “Thank you.”
“Boy, those two need a room--ow!” Daio clutched his side.
Sassy picked up a length of chain. “We need our own room so I can discipline you.” She twirled an arm’s length of chain and snatched it in both hands. “You’ve clearly unlearned the manners I taught you.”
“It’s all part of my charm, babe.” He grabbed her rear.
Sassy flicked the chain around his wrist and yanked his arm into the air, bringing their bodies together. Daio wrapped his free arm around her waist and she pointed a finger at his face, started to say something, but fell silent for a moment. “You are too handsome for your own good.”
“Surpassed only by how beautiful you are.”
She raised her brows in approval. “Ah, so you still remember how to pour honey into my ears.” She released his arm. “A little rusty but it’ll do for now.”
“I aim to please.”
Aerigo held out an arm for Roxie. “Let’s take a walk.”
Despite the cold, Roxie laced her arm in his and he led her away, along the gate and stone wall. Sekiro and Firsos followed from a respectful distance. Kiowa sat watch at Daio’s feet, her gaze cast over the vaulted space. Energy sprites danced around overhead and the dozens of Numina began going about their business, staying far away and giving Roxie fewer glances.
Aerigo said, “I would’ve liked to have spent many years getting to know you, and then asked for your hand when the time was right.”
“So I am too young for you.”
He shook his head. “No. Your age is irrelevant. What matters is the person you are. And you are an amazing young woman. Age is just a number, a planet’s lap around a star. The size of a planet’s orbit varies within a certain margin of uniformity, but the counting of such cycles isn’t universally equal, so don’t get hung up on our ages. I would have simply waited for you to feel ready.”
“I don’t feel ready,” Roxie admitted, “but I love you.” Aerigo took her in both arms and she ignored the cold as best she could. “I love you, Aerigo. You’ve made me happy in ways no one else has. I don’t know how to explain or describe it. There’s just something about you that makes me feel safe, happy, and completely at ease when I’m with you. I enjoy your company, talking or not talking, doing anything or nothing. You just have to be you and be there for me.”
Aerigo looked at Firsos and the bear loped off towards a vine-covered stone wall, and lay down. Aerigo guided Roxie over to it, Sekiro started marching back to Sassy and the others, and Aerigo took Roxie’s hands in his. He guided her to the ground so they both sat up against Firsos’s side. Aerigo sat with his body angled towards her, propped up on one hand, and face near hers. He turned over her shield, unlatched the buckles, and set it aside.
“If at any time you get too cold and need me to stop, I will. I love you, too, Rox.” He kissed her temple. “I love you so much.” He kissed her cheek. “I can never thank you enough for how much you helped me, for how good you make me feel.” Cupping her face, he kissed her on the lips and pulled back, as if afraid of making her too cold too fast.
Overcome with desire, Roxie rolled over and straddled his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck, and began kissing him over and over on the lips. He loved her. He’d confessed his love for her and how he wanted to be with her just as badly. She’d implicitly known this but, hearing it for the first time ever, she felt a need to be as close to him as possible and hold on tight.
She tuned out the chill icing up her thighs, pretended his lips were just as warm as hers, and that his neck was burning with just as much passion as she felt her own body temperature rise. Big, strong, icy hands grabbed her glutes as Aerigo pulled her body to his. She hugged him harder, gasping for air between kisses, but, when they opened their mouths for a full make-out, the icy stroke of his tongue was like feeling ice cream on the back of her teeth, giving her a painful jolt. She tore away, gasping for breath and Aerigo went still beneath her.
Roxie caught her breath as warmth returned to her face and mouth, and she became aware of the biting cold touching the rest of her body. She gave him one more kiss before sliding off his lap and hugging her knees to her chest. She wanted to cry but she felt all dried up, empty. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
He gently shu
shed her. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“You better enter one of my dreams next time I have to rest.”
Aerigo smiled. “I will.” He ran a hand along her inner thigh and kissed her again.
They gazed into each other’s eyes again and Roxie felt like she could spend the rest of her life studying the varying shades of blue filling up his irises, the shape of his eyes, the line of his jaw, the softness of his lips, how everything about him made her gravitate towards him. She reached up and brushed his lips with her fingers. Soft, yet ice cold. Roxie’s love for Aerigo would endure for as long as she lived. And if she survived all this craziness and eventually fell in love with another man, she would honor Aerigo’s memory by loving both men equally.
Daio and Sassy were talking in low voices with Huldra and Sekiro listening on, and Kiowa still at his feet. The wolf looked at Daio, who met her gaze. Daio looked at them, then spoke to Sassy. She stepped out of his embrace and met up with Aerigo and Roxie, a contented smile on her face.
“Daio and I would like to do an informal bonding ceremony for both of you.” She stood before Roxie and kissed her on the forehead. “May you find joy in your time with Aerigo in this realm, and may those memories forever stay with you.”
Once again, Roxie felt an emotional bond with Sassy. She’d probably make a great surrogate mother. However, Roxie kept such thoughts to herself. She didn’t need to make things harder than they already were.
Sassy moved to Aerigo and he lowered his head so she could kiss him on the forehead as well. “May you find joy in your time with Roxie, until you to two must part, and may those memories guide you towards everlasting peace.”
“Thank you,” Aerigo said.
“Yes, thank you,” Roxie said as Sassy stepped aside for Daio, who stood before Aerigo. She smiled at Roxie.
Daio said, “Alright, I’ll give this sappy stuff a shot.” Sassy swatted him in the back of the head and he cried out in pain, clutching his head. “Alright, alright.” Letting go, he took a deep breath and looked seriously at Aerigo. “Despite all I’ve done, I’ve always found joy in seeing you happy. Enjoy her. She’s probably one of the best things that’s ever happened to you. Don’t ever forget that.” They clasped hands and pulled each other into a one-armed hug, then let go and nodded to each other. Daio sidestepped to Roxie and gave her a nervous smile. “Not sure what you’re comfortable with.”
Roxie had to admit she didn’t dislike him as much as she did a short while ago. “I don’t hate you.” Did she trust him yet? Not quite. “I trust Aerigo and Sassy to keep you in line.”
“Yeah, I’m building quite the collection of babysitters, aren’t I?” He ran a hand through his spiked-forward hair. “All things that’ve happened aside, I know I’m full of wise cracks, but it’d mean a lot to me if you’d let me give you my blessing as well, but I don’t want to force you if you don’t want it.”
“No, it’s fine. Go ahead.” As strange as this was, she didn’t see any harm in it. Plus it gave Daio a chance to earn some of her trust.
“Thanks. It’s not like you can’t lay me flat anyway.” Sassy cleared her throat. “Anyway.” He pulled Roxie into a hug and kissed her forehead, then took her shoulders in his icy hands.
All the gears ground in her brain as they tried to fathom Daio doing such a thing after trying to kill her just weeks ago. Unlike her mother, she sensed no malice in him; just a love of mischief.
“It’d make me happy to see you two happy together. You’re one tough Aigis. I think you’re perfect for Aerigo.” He playfully slapped her rear. “Yep, definitely perfect.”
Roxie went wide-eyed.
Raising his arms in surrender, Daio backed away. “Don’t hurt me. I couldn’t help it.”
Sassy cuffed him in the back of the head again. “Don’t do things like that. She doesn’t know you very well.” She turned to Roxie. “Sorry, Roxie. Stupid here didn’t mean any harm.”
“I’ll take it as a compliment,” she said dryly.
“You should. He’s a very sweet man when he’s not being stupid.”
“Hey, now,” Daio said, “don’t go ruining my macho man image.”
“You did that by yourself,” Sassy said cooly.
Daio sucked in air through his teeth. “Ouch. You got me there.”
Sekiro said, “Roxie.” The Numina’s gaze was serious. “I’ve taken the liberty to summon most others to us. We’ll have just one more stop after this. Right now many souls and Numina are headed this way. They want to meet you and help you.”
“Who?” Roxie asked.
“More Aigis from all over the universe.”
Daio backed away from Sassy. “Might want to give me some space Sass. You’re not the only one who wants to make sure I atone for my transgressions.”
She moved closer. “No one’s allowed to kick your ass but me.”
Holding up a hand, he backed farther away. “Let them. Trust me. I deserve it.” His eyes began glowing blue and so did Sassy’s.
The energy sprites began spreading in all directions. Kiowa sat regally beside Daio and Firsos positioned himself beside Aerigo. Huldra took one of Sassy’s hands and eased her away from Daio.
“Look away if it’s too much to bear.”
“You expect me to just stand by and watch people hurt him?” she snapped, wrenching her hand free.
“Yes,” Daio said unhappily. “Please don’t interfere.”
Dozens of people of many races, species, shapes, and sizes appeared among the milling Numina, headed straight for Roxie and crew. Most of them were humanoid, and a few otherworld animals, both humanoid and animal looking exotic, all creatures in pairs, minus those with animals at their sides.
Daio stood with his head bowed, jaw clenched, arms hidden under his cloak of chains. Sassy gazed at him longingly with Huldra’s hand clamped on Sassy’s upper arm. Sekiro stood before Roxie, Aerigo, and Firsos, ready to meet the new arrivals, who formed a loose semicircle around the six of them. Three pairs of Aigis and Numina approached Sekiro and inclined their heads respectfully. All of them were tall and had skin colors from all over the rainbow, and gazed at Roxie with interest. Roxie took them in with awe. So many aliens, all of them fascinating to look at. Under better circumstances she would’ve loved to get to know all of them and visit their worlds.
An Aigis with midnight blue skin marked with yellow stripes and white spots stepped forward, its four eyes, one pair above another, studying Roxie. “Greetings, Aigis,” he said in a male, whispery voice. “My name is Ron. I and the others have come to lend you our aid.”
Roxie felt like she was staring at a tropical fish in humanoid form. Ron had a wiry build clothed in sparing pieces of golden armor. “My name is Roxie, and I appreciate all the help I can get.” Maybe not the smoothest thing to say but she meant it. Hopefully her craving for help didn’t make her look weak. She needed people to believe in her like Aerigo, Daio, and Sassy did. If people doubted her, she’d doubt herself, and that wouldn’t be good for her chances when the time came.
“Fear not,” Ron said, “we don’t doubt your power. You’re an Aigis, one who has unlocked Frava. That is no small feat.”
Hearing that brought some relief. “Thank you. I’m determined to do what I have to do. Now, how--?”
“The race I was born from reads emotions in auras. It’s one of very few powers that has carried over in death. And speaking of death,” he added, eyes narrowing and gaze falling on Daio, “you have unwelcome company.” Ron marched past Roxie and a dozen other Aigis followed, their eyes glowing red.
Grimacing, Daio closed his eyes and braced himself.
Part of Roxie wanted to yell at them to stop and leave Daio alone. He was sorry enough for what he’d done. However, she’d vented her anger on him, so how could she deny others the same?
Aerigo wrapped his frozen arms around her and tried to turn her back to Daio. She grabbed his arms. “Don’t.” She turned so Aerigo stood with his back to Daio. “This is ha
rder on you than it is me.” His eyes began glowing blue and he looked over a shoulder.
Ron cocked a fist and hammered Daio in the head, laying him flat, facedown. What looked like wisps of glowing smoke shot up from the impact point and evaporated. Ron picked him up by the chains and Daio held onto his shoulder as he dragged his feet back under him. Another humanoid Aigis knocked him down before he could stand up straight, and Daio let out a cry of pain as another glowing wisp shot upwards and evaporated.
Whimpering, Sassy tried to run to Daio, but Huldra wrapped both arms around her and whispered solemn words. Sassy’s eyes began glowing blue.
Ron and the second Aigis hefted Daio back to his feet and clamped their arms around his, holding him up for blow after blow as a procession of Aigis took turns beating him up. Glowing wisps shot out of him with every blow and soon he grew transparent, more insubstantial than those who hadn’t siphoned any energy from her. Maybe the beating was robbing him of energy like when she’d--
Roxie’s stomach churned as she recalled having to run her sword through her mother.
As terrible a person Roxie understood Daio had been, it was still hard to watch. She inwardly cringed at each blow, and the longer it lasted, the more she wanted to yell at them to stop. She realized she’d been leaning towards Daio when Aerigo pulled her back. She held his hand, despite the cold.
The last Aigis in line hit Daio three times, then spat on the ground and stormed away. Ron and the other Aigis let Daio go and walked away as well. Daio fell face-first on the stone tiles and lay there, gasping for breath. Sassy ran over and helped roll him onto his back.
“You stupid, stupid man,” she whispered tearfully.
“That beat some of the stupid out of me,” he whispered back, clasping the hand holding his face. “Help me up.”
Sassy kissed him on the lips and, sticking her hands under his arms and chains, helped him back to his feet. He wavered and Sassy hugged him close from behind. She looked at the semicircle of Aigis and Numina, and her eyes shifted from blue to red. “If any of you try to hurt him again, you’ll be answering to me.” She spoke with such vehemence that Roxie felt a twinge of fear.
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