Chapter Text
Author's Notes:
I was devastated when reading TSSoT, and also wanted to see more chemistry between Megumi and Laurentina, honestly my number one ship in that fic.
Absolutely splendid fic by the way. Seeing both Megumi and the writing develop over time was amazing, might be my most favorite one. Also the reason why I decided to pick up writing.
Although this is a fic with a different scenario happening, like an AU, I will focus more on Megumi x Laurentina rather than plot.
Because I don't know how to do plot.
And finally, romance is not up to interpretation around these parts.
The black sky was painted with innumerable lights varied in color, spanning a wide berth. Beneath it, was the Rhodes Island landship, where two roughed figures sat at the top observing the sight above them.
A white haired woman named Laurentina pointed up, an everpresent smile on her lips as she leaned closer to a black haired man, whose name was, and always will be, Fushiguro Megumi.
"How do you think the stars look?" Laurentina asked, red eyes capturing everything above her. Parts of her dress were lightly torn at some parts, with dried blood, yet no visible damage could be seen on her body.
"From here? They look nice, I guess." Megumi responded with a tired breath, letting her
"I guess? Wow, aren't you so certain? Where did all your previous energy go?"
"You drained me, obviously."
"Wording~?" She became more tongue in cheek, poking him.
"That was also your fault," he shot back verbally, but didn't physically resist. "You rattled my brain too much. I can't think straight."
"So I did," she cheekily said, now pinching his cheek.
"Ugh…" He groaned, but still, was not bothered. "By the way… your clothes."
"I believe you should worry more about your own."
"It isn't that damaged compared to yours," he pointed out. "I think fixing yours would be better, especially since…" He drew on, eyes drifting to her torn stockings.
"Oh?" She noticed. "Enjoying the sight I presume?"
"I'm more bothered than anything." He brushed her off easily by lying. "I think I'd prefer going back to the stars."
She sniffed him. "I can smell that you're lying." She leaned in closer with a toothy smile.
"Whatever you say." Megumi rolled his eyes, looking away to the wayside and attempting to act as composed as he can. "When I get my cursed energy back, I'm repairing our clothes. Sorry about the dress…"
"It's not much trouble really." Laurentina moved back and stood up, stretching slightly underneath the moonlight. "You seem to like it, so I'm not bothered. Perhaps it can be a new aesthetic? What do you say?"
Megumi stared back at her. She was beautiful, that much was a given, probably one of the most beautiful women he has ever laid his eyes upon. Her torn clothes accentuated some sort of strange feeling, an attraction maybe, but at the very least, it wasn't too revealing.
"I think it would be more appropriate if you wore clothing that isn't damaged," Megumi said. "You look better that way."
"Flattering. Well~ whatever you say, dear Princess."
"Now that I think about it, sea urchin is a way better nickname." Megumi shook his head with a sigh, feeling a few phantom pains from their previous fight.
"I'll keep that in mind." She reached a hand down toward Megumi. "Well?"
"Thanks." Megumi took it, rising up. "I'm tired. I'll go back to my assigned dorm room."
"How about I accompany you? Does that sound good?" she suggested.
"You have your own assigned room. Males and females are separated."
"So?" She placed her hands on her hips, leaning.
"Do as you please then. I don't really have any complaints either way." Megumi scratched his cheek. "You'll be meeting Skadi soon anyways."
"Ah, I should really introduce her to you. Now I wonder, can you conjure a cute little orca with your magic tricks?"
"Probably not. Maybe if I try hard enough." He shrugged. "What is she like anyways?"
"Beautiful, of course, somewhat like me, but I'd say I look better."
"You're being biased."
"Hmph," she faked indignation. "Well… we're both hunters bound by blood, just as birds of a feather are."
"More similarities…" Megumi mumbled attempting to picture her.
"Orca is much more reclusive to strangers. There's a difference."
"So you're more amiable?"
"Muuuch more amiable," she prided.
"Maybe if you didn't throw insinuating insults half of the time, I can see how."
"My, it's not my problem if some folks can't match my energy, wouldn't you say?"
"I- actually, yeah." Megumi caved in. If anything, he wasn't any different, especially in the past, or even the present. "I guess so." People typically got along better with similar personalities. "I don't know how you Abyssal Hunters are."
"You'll find out soon. Maybe you'd fit in… or maybe not," Laurentina said.
"Jeez, it's like high school cliques all over again," he whispered to himself.
"Reminiscing much?"
"You do the same about Aegir. How were your high schools?"
"We simply had academies, they were the main focus," Laurentina explained. "You are chosen to pursue a path by whatever your observers deem best fit."
"Really? You can't choose for yourself?"
"Only if it matches what the designators believe."
"Okay…" Megumi thought it over. "Our cultures differ a lot. I can't say I'm surprised."
"What about you?"
"I attended a school for people like myself. Those who have Cursed Energy." Megumi lifted his index finger, blue flames of Cursed Energy igniting at the tip. "We work for a society for peace-making, in a sense. You can't find them anymore unlike Aegir."
"That must be… a shame," she said, a rare somberness in it. "To never be able to see whom you bear ties with."
"I've already come to terms with it, there's no use crying over it anymore," he said. Even if the words stabbed into his heart from his mouth, he knew the only way to look was forward. Any curses that came his way, he would wave them away like sparks.
"If you want to cry, then I could provide you comfort with my arms." She hummed.
"That's…"
"You did the same with me, haven't you?" she accused, smirking. "Those times back in Kazimierz? Hello~?"
"I thought you were asleep?" Megumi could feel the corners of his lips twitch. He had indeed comforted her during her nightmares in the early morning, but…
"Aren't you underestimating an Abyssal Hunter quite a bit? How demeaning," she sarcastically said.
"Yeah, sure-"
The two began to banter as they made their way down the hallways, the area becoming empty after the night had come.
That was until the conversation had taken a small turn.
"Did you know?" Laurentina asked.
"Know what?" Megumi questioned.
"I actually prefer women."
"Oh?" He didn't know what to say in response to that.
"But~ I think you're adorable enough to be an exception." She smirked once more, hands behind her back, leaning his way.
"I- er, huh? t-thanks…?" Megumi found himself at a further loss of words, mouth twitching, opening and reopening.
"Hehe… Hahaha~!" Laurentina chuckled, before breaking off into a rambunctious laughing fit. "Ah…! You should see how red your face has become! My, how precious~!" She held her stomach and pointed his way,
He couldn't muster any words, blankly staring at her with a heated face and most likely a very bizarre expression. Was it a compliment? It must have been a compliment, one of the highest degree, but he didn't know how to respond to it.
"Goodness me, you ought to straighten up." Laurentina wisped his way, adjusting his weak shoulders while tippy-toeing. "Where did all your confidence go I wonder, hm?"
"I- I just- gosh, you're a handful…" Megumi shook his head for the umpteenth time, rubbing his forehead. It was hot.
"Are you complaining?"
"…No, I'm not."
"If that's so," she moved closer to his ear, finishing her laugh. "Then shall we rest for the night? Just us two?"
For some reason, Megumi could feel as if something had changed. His mind wandered, eyes meeting Laurentina's own, two pairs of red meeting one another. Without so much of a word, he nodded, and the two went inside his room.
Before the two had entered the Rhodes Island landship, a woman by the name of Kal'tsit had met them outside. Although quite confused at the sight of two bloodied individuals supporting one another by the shoulders, and who were in combat before, she could tell that they had made up in some way.
What piqued her interest the most was the woman with white hair. By a glance, Kal'tsit could immediately tell she was of the same blood as a certain, other white haired woman who had worked as a freelance operator on Rhodes Island.
Not that the black haired man wasn't one for raised brows either, considering he was inexplicably the one who had caused such damage on the Abyssal Hunter.
"…So you are here for an operator by the name of Skadi?" Kal'tsit asked, crossing her arms and staring at the two individuals in her office.
Both were healed completely without medical aid. She had learned their names to be Laurentina and Fushiguro Megumi, an obvious Aegir, and an… she couldn't quite tell the male's race. But, undoubtedly, there was something wrong with his accursed-like feeling.
It made sense how Laurentina could have healed grievous injuries, but the man… she assumed it to be a potent self-healing arts.
With her question, the two glanced at one another.
"She is, yes," Megumi said, exhaustion still present from his previous battle.
"Do you have anybody by that name?" Laurentina asked, looking less tired and leagues more sociable than Megumi. "It would be quite a waste of time if we've come here and quarreled for nothing."
"Since you two have already answered my questions, then I will be brief. Rhodes Island does in fact, have an operator who goes by the codename of Skadi," Kal'tsit said.
Laurentina perked up with her red eyes shining brighter. "Do say more, where is she?"
"She isn't present on the landship at the moment," Kal'tsit answered. "You will have to wait until one of our messengers can reach her. She is on duty close-by Laterano, where we are currently stationed."
"I understand," Laurentina said, Megumi staying quiet with his usual attitude. Though, he looked like he was having a difficult time staring at Laurentina. "Hm… then I believe we should depart for Laterano then."
"Are you sure?" Kal'tsit asked.
"Us two could probably find our little Orca faster," Laurentina declared with confidence, grabbing Megumi by the shoulders, slightly shocking him.
"If you need a place of residency, then Rhodes Island can provide it," Kal'tsit said. "Skadi is registered as an operator for our company. It is merely a suggestion, but…"
"You want to hire us?" Megumi said, speaking up this time.
"…Yes, you are correct. It is my belief that you and Laurentina would be able to reacquaint with this Skadi much quicker on the landship," Kal'tsit said.
The two looked skeptical.
"After all," Kal'tsit continued, this time in Aegir, "Abyssal Hunters are bound by blood."
That caused a look of recognition from Megumi, and a surprised one from Laurentina.
"Do I have your attention now?" Kal'tsit asked.
"Hah…" Laurentina chuckled. "You know a lot more than you let on, hm?"
Megumi didn't say anything other than, "go on."
Author's Notes:
I can see what Thulium meant when reading is much more enjoyable than writing. Hopefully somebody out there liked this piece, because I think I did pretty bad.