The Darkness's Comfort

Chapter 2 - Return

The next morning, the pounding of feet on the earth stirred the two women from their slumber. Erzhi let out a heavy sigh and rolled onto her back. She'd always liked sleeping in, and she'd been up pretty late the previous night "catching up" with Sasaki.

A roegadyn with pale green skin and spiky hair the colour of sand barged into the tent. A male lalafell with a mop of black and red hair followed close behind him. They both wore black goggles and the blue, black, and white uniform of the Garlond Ironworks.

"Erzhi!" the roegadyn, Biggs, called. "You're back!"

"Sasaki!" the lalafell, Wedge, cheered. "You're back!"

Erzhi pushed herself to a sitting position, one hand holding the blanket over her breasts, the other making sure Sasaki stayed covered. Sasaki took the opportunity to gaze at Erzhi's naked backside.

Erzhi stared at the roegadyn. "Can you give us a few minutes to get dressed?"

The pair froze, jaws slowly dropping. Sasaki couldn't see their eyes, but she imagined a mix of panic, fear, and embarrassment hiding behind those goggles.

They both gave a salute and said, "Yes, ma'am!" before turning and running out as quickly as they'd entered.

Erzhi turned to Sasaki. "Guess we should get up."

"In a bit," Sasaki replied as she crawled into Erzhi's lap, facing the miqo'te. Sasaki rose up, and their lips met for the hundredth time since yesterday.

Erzhi pulled the blanket up to Sasaki's shoulders as a woman with thick blonde hair pulled into a ponytail rushed into the tent, her red dress flowing behind her.

"Erzhi!" the woman cried, before stopping dead in her tracks.

Erzhi pulled away from Sasaki's face and cast her tired gaze towards Lyse. "Can you give us a few minutes to get dressed?"

"Y-yes, of course!" Lyse's face turned the same shade as her dress and she left the two alone.

"Right," Erzhi said, giving Sasaki a tight hug. "Let's get dressed."

The couple reluctantly got out of bed. Erzhi pulled a privacy screen in front of the door, just in case anyone else planned to visit, and the two changed back into their armour, stealing glances at each other's bodies constantly.

"There's not much to see here," Sasaki said.

"But what is there is very cute."

Sasaki used a pair of ribbons to tie her hair up on either side of her head. Erzhi used to tie her hair in a ponytail too, but now she had it cropped just below her jaw. "You cut your hair."

Erzhi shook her head a little, tossing her hair this way and that. "It makes it easier to move. Do you like it?"

"I do," Sasaki replied with a nod. "It makes you look very mature."

"I see you still wear your hair in twintails," Erzzy said, reaching out and flicking one of them.

"I see _you_ still wear sleeveless tops!" Sasaki giggled and leapt onto Erzhi's back, hooking her legs over Erzhi's hips and slipping her hands inside the top to grab at Erzhi's breasts.

"Ah — hey!" Erzhi bit her lower lip and took a step back towards the bed. "Save that for after the meeting!"

Sasaki let herself fall onto the bed, smiling brightly. "I'm so glad to have you back."

Erzhi looked back with a warm smile. "I'm glad we're reunited, too. And, thanks for protecting my friends while I was away."

Sasaki pushed herself up. "Where were you, anyway? I looked everywhere for you."