A Slayer's Love

Adagio didn't always consciously start to sing, sometimes realising she had started a few words in. There was no magic in her voice this time, just a thoughtless drifting to match the natural rhythms of the knife on the board, the sizzling in the pan, and the regular chop of the axe outside.

She added the last few vegetables to the dish and made a slight beckoning motion with her finger, dragging at the flame underneath the stove until it flickered and shrunk. Leaving the food to simmer, she went a few steps down into the cavern to call for Sonata, before heading out through the back door. "Girls, it's nearly done."

Aria swung the axe down one more time, leaving it stuck in the stump. She silently picked up an armful of the chopped wood to bring it inside, stepping past Adagio, who was still waiting for their guest. Sunset straightened herself, resting the gardening hoe on her shoulder like a polearm. Her hair had loosened during her work, hanging over one shoulder. Her arms glistened in the sunlight and her face was flushed, her eyes down on the rows of plants as she navigated her way out of the garden.

"Not straining yourself, I hope?" Adagio asked teasingly, keeping her eyes on the knight as she set the tool aside and washed her hands in the water basin.

"With gardening?" Sunset splashed a little water onto her face and headed inside alongside her.

Adagio watched her, her eyes running over the bandage on her arm and the muscles moving beneath the simple shirt. All her wounds were healing well, even the one she had forced to heal far too early. On the one hand, it was a relief to see she had gotten away with no lasting damage, at least physically. On the other, it was likely due to her oath, which just left a bitter taste in Adagio's mouth.

She picked up the pan and carried it to the table, where Sunset was just joining her sisters. Aria ate in silence as usual, while Sonata was bouncing thoughts off the walls, talking out loud while still managing to eat the largest portion. Sunset made occasional indication that she was listening, not that it was really a dialogue.

It nearly felt the same again, as before. The four of them, splitting chores and sitting down to eat together. More and more, Sunset let her see a smile again, casting her bright light into the room. But it wasn't the same, not truly. She would leave again. Not tomorrow, not the day after, not before she had paid her debts, but she would leave. Back to her friends, to her order, to the princess. To her life without them.

When they had finished, Sunset picked up the plates without being prompted, carrying them back into the kitchen to wash them. Adagio looked up, finding her sisters looking back. Sonata's eyes were pleading pools of blackness while Aria's showed the faintest glimmer of hope, despite herself. Adagio sighed under her breath and pushed herself out of the chair, heading into the kitchen as well.

The moon was full again, like it was most nights. Sunset washed up quickly before heading inside before the cold could really set in. A fire was crackling in the hearth when she entered the living room. She locked eyes with Aria for a moment, before she moved past her, towards the stairs, wordlessly clapping her hand on Sunset's shoulder.

She pulled her hair free and left her boots by the door, near where her padded clothes and armour rested against the wall. The couch creaked as she sat down, the satisfying ache of peaceful work in her muscles. She was about to lie on her side and close her eyes, when two candles on the nearby table lit by themselves.

"Take your medicine," Adagio said flatly, but not unkindly, appearing over the edge of the backrest and handing a steaming mug down to her. Sunset took it with a wordless smile and held it between her hands, waiting for it to cool. She expected Adagio to head up the stairs as well, but instead she moved around the couch and sat next to her, tugging her morning coat closer around herself.

Sunset watched the candle flames for a little while, taking careful sips from the mug. The smell was too sweet, and the taste too bitter, as if one had stolen all flavour from the other. After a small while, Adagio leaned back and looked towards the stairs. "They miss you too, you know."

Sunset took her next sip slowly, stretching the moment. "I know," she answered once she set the mug down. "I miss them too. But you don't want me to apologise."

"I don't want you to be sorry. It doesn't help anyone." Adagio moved closer. Sunset didn't look up yet, but she could feel the curly hair tickling her cheek. "But do you know what might help me?"

Sunset took a deep breath, releasing it in a sigh. If there was something simple that could fix things, she would do it without hesitation, but there was never so easy a way out. "I can't stay."

"I know." Adagio put her hand on Sunset's cheeks and gently turned her head to look at her. "Come to bed with me."

Sunset's heart skipped a beat. Her lips parted as she searched Adagio's expression for nothing in particular. "I... shouldn't."

"Why not? I won't have you for long, so let me have you." She put her other hand to her cheek as well. "Please," she finally added in a whisper.

Sunset's mind stalled, ready to take off running but finding nowhere to go. There was nothing to think through, or consider, or weigh out. She wrapped an arm around Adagio's waist and leaned her head down, slowly but firmly pushing into a kiss. And with no bitter potion and no twisting of her insides, she held it for a long moment, her other hand finding Adagio's thigh. Just as silently, they parted again.

"We still... shouldn't..." Sunset whispered. "I know they'll hear us."

"Fine." Adagio made a short motion with her finger and the blanket unfolded itself from its place on the couch and wound itself around both of them. "Then I'll stay here."