"Excuses" Riza/Martel
Title: Excuses
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: RizaMartel
Summary: Here I am, kissing a chimera desperately, as if she could bring it back, those comfortable days sitting with Martel, but even while I’m kissing her, I’m wishing the skin, the body, the person would feel different. So I’d have an excuse.
Word Count: 1623
Beta: momoiro_usagi
This is an extension of When We Were Kids.
It was so easy for me to fall back into old patterns, looking at Martel’s lithe body, so similar to her, my first lover. Martel clearly explained to me that she had lost some of her humanity in the “operation,” as she called it, and some of her memories were unclear. Here I am, kissing a chimera desperately, as if she could bring it back, those comfortable days sitting with Martel, but even while I’m kissing her, I’m wishing the skin, the body, the person would feel different. So I’d have an excuse.
“I don’t know how long I can keep you here,” Riza said, pouring some dog food in a bowl for Black Hayate. The dog waited patiently, waiting for both a verbal and physical signal before setting to his dinner, eating happily, wagging his entire rear.
Martel smiled at the animal, leaning over to scratch him behind the ears. “I remember you really well,” she said, the dog abandoning his food to paw at Martel’s legs. Riza stared at the dog, wondering what could cause him to abandon his rigorous training. Martel, however, didn’t seem to care, massaging the dog’s paws as he licked her face.
“What do you remember?” Riza managed to ask after a while, watching the dog love all over the chimera.
It was like one of those days. I’m sitting in a slip on the bed, yawning, trying to figure out what the hell I want to do with my life. Martel’s got her arms around my neck, her soft lips brushing against the skin in a half-kiss. Let’s join the military, she said, purring up against me, her gentle breath flowing over the fine hairs on my neck. Now that I think about it, Martel was always animalistic, always flexible, always purring, rubbing up against me. The military? I asked her.
Yeah. The military.
“You’re lucky I have my own flat,” Riza said, pulling sheets tight on a pristine sofa. “I think the military would ask questions if I brought a human chimera into my dorm.”
“I remember our first dorm,” Martel said quietly.
Riza looked at her, wondering for a moment. “What do you remember?”
I know what I remember. Martel, pinning me down on the bed, kissing me hard, making me whine and beg. Turning me into the animal she always was, growling as she hissed in my ear.
Maybe we both have changed…
Or maybe were weren’t sure back then.
“Are you in love with anyone?” Martel asked, Black Hayate asleep in her lap.
Riza looked down, suddenly uncomfortable by the situation. As a woman in the military, she never had anyone ask her questions like that. Even Roy and Jean, her friends, couldn’t risk it. “Some might call it love,” she said quietly. “But that’s not the question you are asking.”
“What do you mean?” Martel asked, watching Riza evenly.
“There’s some problems in the military,” Riza said, swallowing, “I mean, you should know this. Not even vital parts of the military know projects like the one that… saved you are around.”
“They did save me,” Martel said, holding her arms, her body stretching past human tolerance.
Riza looked sadly at Martel. “But what did you lose?” she asked, stepping towards the other blonde, tracing the tattoos on her face.
“What do you mean?” Martel asked, sucking on her lower lip.
“What do you remember?”
My marksmanship had always been good. I think I was in the gun range when I first met Martel, but that memory seems kind of hazy now.
Martel picked up one of the pistols lackadaisically and I could tell from her grip she’d never handled one. How does it work? she asked abruptly.
I think I found her rude at first. Her demanding presence and demeanor. Her ruthless, dominant grin. But when I looked into her eyes, I remember something different.
I stood behind her, showing her how to ready the gun for fire, the simple gist of the weapon. She had obviously never held a weapon like it before, but I didn’t bother to show her how to hold the gun steady or how to deal with the kick.
I turned back to my other target, taking a deep breath, regaining my composure, watching the target, gaining my ground.
I knew she’d shoot the gun before I was ready, so I waited for it. I heard the gun go off and exactly three seconds later, I shot mine.
I didn’t know what to say. The girl had shot the target better than me and this was the first time she had held a gun. What made even more curious, however, was when the girl smiled and put the gun down.
I think I like knives better, she said, pushing the weapon away.
I’d been shooting for years and this girl shows up, shoots a target and moves on to new things.
I had to know her.
“It’s getting cold outside,” Martel mused. “Makes me lethargic.”
“Black Hayate’s not allowed on the sofa,” Riza said uselessly, watching the chimera pet the dog on the sofa, Black Hayate sprawled upside down in her lap. “I wish I could make it a bit warmer.”
“It’s okay,” Martel said with a smile, that smile, the one she always remembered in her dreams. “It just makes me a little sleepy.”
Riza paused, looking at Martel for a while before saying, “I could warm you up.”
“I’d like that,” Martel said, stretching her arms out to Riza.
Even though she had been the one to offer, it took a few moments for Riza to get over to Martel, her eyes watching her face, taking in her body, her initial fear merging with her want for Martel to be back, possible forming acceptance. Hopefully, at least.
She stepped to the woman, letting the chimera wrap her arms around her, moving into the partial-human’s lap.
“You’re warm,” Martel said, sighing lightly. “Always were warmer than me, though. Like when I would put my cold feet on you at night…”
Riza smiled, leaning her head back on Martel’s shoulder. “Yeah,” she said. “You did like to do that and then I’d yell at you…”
“Mmmhm,” Martel intoned, still sleepy, undoing Riza’s hair. “You let your hair grow out.”
“Yeah,” Riza mumbled. “Like it?”
“It’s different,” Martel said. “But I like it.”
“What else is different?” Riza asked. “What do you remember?”
Our first dorm, Martel said happily. Sorry about your parents, though.
They always wanted me to join the military, I shrugged. Just not with my girlfriend.
Now, what are we going to do with the extra bedroom? Martel pondered.
I grinned, knowing where Martel was going with this. Martel, I said instead, distracting from the question.
Riza?
We’re really different people, you know, I stated, picking a bedroom and sitting down on the bed.
Martel made her way into my lap, grinning happily. I know, she practically purred. I mean, we’re in completely different parts of the army simply because our personalities lend different talents...
But in some ways, we’re really similar, I continued, kissing at Martel’s neck. Martel’s purr turned to a slight gasp as my teeth scraped along the tender flesh.
We are, Martel agreed.
I paused, pulling back from Martel’s neck, giving the pale flesh a quick kiss. I whispered quietly in her ear, Martel, that’s why I’d like to be with you forever.
Martel turned to look at her, slight tears in her eyes. I’d love that, she said quietly, burying her face into my shoulder.
That was the only time I saw her weepy. Every other time it was indignant angry or a cocky smile. But I had reduced her to tears of bliss. So I just held her, not wanting to break up the moment.
“If you’re so keen on memories,” Martel said eventually, “why don’t you tell me what you remember.”
Riza stared off for a moment. “I remember a lot of things, Martel. I remember a girl who I only saw cry once.”
“I remember a girl who was the only one who could make me cry,” Martel responded.
Riza closed her eyes, silent tears creeping up in her eyes, though she wasn’t sure if they were from bliss or misery. “I remember,” she continued, her voice cracking, “A girl who shot better than me the first time she picked up her gun.”
“I remember a girl who I didn’t know how to flirt with,” Martel told her quietly.
The tears were flowing freely now, and Riza caught her sobs with a cough. “I remember,” she managed, “a girl who could command me, make me beg.”
“I remember a girl who allowed me to lead her,” Martel assured.
“I remember,” Riza said again, Martel’s soft fingers wiping away tears, “ a girl with soft lips and a purring voice during the summer, giving us just a few more moments together.”
“I remember a girl I never wanted to let go of,” Martel whispered.
“I remember,” Riza choked, Martel’s arms securely around her, “a girl who loved me.”
“That’s not a memory,” Martel told her.
“No,” Riza said. “It’s still continuing.”
Martel didn’t say anything, her fingers combing through Riza’s hair answer enough.
“I remember,” Riza tried for the last time. “I remember you, the girl I want to spend my entire life with.”
“That’s who I remember,” Martel assured her.
I can’t remember how many days or nights we had together, because it seems like the ran, watercolor inundated with tears. She had to leave eventually, telling me she just had a few more pieces of work to do. I made her promise she’d keep safe. She told me, for my sake, she’d do her best.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: RizaMartel
Summary: Here I am, kissing a chimera desperately, as if she could bring it back, those comfortable days sitting with Martel, but even while I’m kissing her, I’m wishing the skin, the body, the person would feel different. So I’d have an excuse.
Word Count: 1623
Beta: momoiro_usagi
This is an extension of When We Were Kids.
It was so easy for me to fall back into old patterns, looking at Martel’s lithe body, so similar to her, my first lover. Martel clearly explained to me that she had lost some of her humanity in the “operation,” as she called it, and some of her memories were unclear. Here I am, kissing a chimera desperately, as if she could bring it back, those comfortable days sitting with Martel, but even while I’m kissing her, I’m wishing the skin, the body, the person would feel different. So I’d have an excuse.
“I don’t know how long I can keep you here,” Riza said, pouring some dog food in a bowl for Black Hayate. The dog waited patiently, waiting for both a verbal and physical signal before setting to his dinner, eating happily, wagging his entire rear.
Martel smiled at the animal, leaning over to scratch him behind the ears. “I remember you really well,” she said, the dog abandoning his food to paw at Martel’s legs. Riza stared at the dog, wondering what could cause him to abandon his rigorous training. Martel, however, didn’t seem to care, massaging the dog’s paws as he licked her face.
“What do you remember?” Riza managed to ask after a while, watching the dog love all over the chimera.
It was like one of those days. I’m sitting in a slip on the bed, yawning, trying to figure out what the hell I want to do with my life. Martel’s got her arms around my neck, her soft lips brushing against the skin in a half-kiss. Let’s join the military, she said, purring up against me, her gentle breath flowing over the fine hairs on my neck. Now that I think about it, Martel was always animalistic, always flexible, always purring, rubbing up against me. The military? I asked her.
Yeah. The military.
“You’re lucky I have my own flat,” Riza said, pulling sheets tight on a pristine sofa. “I think the military would ask questions if I brought a human chimera into my dorm.”
“I remember our first dorm,” Martel said quietly.
Riza looked at her, wondering for a moment. “What do you remember?”
I know what I remember. Martel, pinning me down on the bed, kissing me hard, making me whine and beg. Turning me into the animal she always was, growling as she hissed in my ear.
Maybe we both have changed…
Or maybe were weren’t sure back then.
“Are you in love with anyone?” Martel asked, Black Hayate asleep in her lap.
Riza looked down, suddenly uncomfortable by the situation. As a woman in the military, she never had anyone ask her questions like that. Even Roy and Jean, her friends, couldn’t risk it. “Some might call it love,” she said quietly. “But that’s not the question you are asking.”
“What do you mean?” Martel asked, watching Riza evenly.
“There’s some problems in the military,” Riza said, swallowing, “I mean, you should know this. Not even vital parts of the military know projects like the one that… saved you are around.”
“They did save me,” Martel said, holding her arms, her body stretching past human tolerance.
Riza looked sadly at Martel. “But what did you lose?” she asked, stepping towards the other blonde, tracing the tattoos on her face.
“What do you mean?” Martel asked, sucking on her lower lip.
“What do you remember?”
My marksmanship had always been good. I think I was in the gun range when I first met Martel, but that memory seems kind of hazy now.
Martel picked up one of the pistols lackadaisically and I could tell from her grip she’d never handled one. How does it work? she asked abruptly.
I think I found her rude at first. Her demanding presence and demeanor. Her ruthless, dominant grin. But when I looked into her eyes, I remember something different.
I stood behind her, showing her how to ready the gun for fire, the simple gist of the weapon. She had obviously never held a weapon like it before, but I didn’t bother to show her how to hold the gun steady or how to deal with the kick.
I turned back to my other target, taking a deep breath, regaining my composure, watching the target, gaining my ground.
I knew she’d shoot the gun before I was ready, so I waited for it. I heard the gun go off and exactly three seconds later, I shot mine.
I didn’t know what to say. The girl had shot the target better than me and this was the first time she had held a gun. What made even more curious, however, was when the girl smiled and put the gun down.
I think I like knives better, she said, pushing the weapon away.
I’d been shooting for years and this girl shows up, shoots a target and moves on to new things.
I had to know her.
“It’s getting cold outside,” Martel mused. “Makes me lethargic.”
“Black Hayate’s not allowed on the sofa,” Riza said uselessly, watching the chimera pet the dog on the sofa, Black Hayate sprawled upside down in her lap. “I wish I could make it a bit warmer.”
“It’s okay,” Martel said with a smile, that smile, the one she always remembered in her dreams. “It just makes me a little sleepy.”
Riza paused, looking at Martel for a while before saying, “I could warm you up.”
“I’d like that,” Martel said, stretching her arms out to Riza.
Even though she had been the one to offer, it took a few moments for Riza to get over to Martel, her eyes watching her face, taking in her body, her initial fear merging with her want for Martel to be back, possible forming acceptance. Hopefully, at least.
She stepped to the woman, letting the chimera wrap her arms around her, moving into the partial-human’s lap.
“You’re warm,” Martel said, sighing lightly. “Always were warmer than me, though. Like when I would put my cold feet on you at night…”
Riza smiled, leaning her head back on Martel’s shoulder. “Yeah,” she said. “You did like to do that and then I’d yell at you…”
“Mmmhm,” Martel intoned, still sleepy, undoing Riza’s hair. “You let your hair grow out.”
“Yeah,” Riza mumbled. “Like it?”
“It’s different,” Martel said. “But I like it.”
“What else is different?” Riza asked. “What do you remember?”
Our first dorm, Martel said happily. Sorry about your parents, though.
They always wanted me to join the military, I shrugged. Just not with my girlfriend.
Now, what are we going to do with the extra bedroom? Martel pondered.
I grinned, knowing where Martel was going with this. Martel, I said instead, distracting from the question.
Riza?
We’re really different people, you know, I stated, picking a bedroom and sitting down on the bed.
Martel made her way into my lap, grinning happily. I know, she practically purred. I mean, we’re in completely different parts of the army simply because our personalities lend different talents...
But in some ways, we’re really similar, I continued, kissing at Martel’s neck. Martel’s purr turned to a slight gasp as my teeth scraped along the tender flesh.
We are, Martel agreed.
I paused, pulling back from Martel’s neck, giving the pale flesh a quick kiss. I whispered quietly in her ear, Martel, that’s why I’d like to be with you forever.
Martel turned to look at her, slight tears in her eyes. I’d love that, she said quietly, burying her face into my shoulder.
That was the only time I saw her weepy. Every other time it was indignant angry or a cocky smile. But I had reduced her to tears of bliss. So I just held her, not wanting to break up the moment.
“If you’re so keen on memories,” Martel said eventually, “why don’t you tell me what you remember.”
Riza stared off for a moment. “I remember a lot of things, Martel. I remember a girl who I only saw cry once.”
“I remember a girl who was the only one who could make me cry,” Martel responded.
Riza closed her eyes, silent tears creeping up in her eyes, though she wasn’t sure if they were from bliss or misery. “I remember,” she continued, her voice cracking, “A girl who shot better than me the first time she picked up her gun.”
“I remember a girl who I didn’t know how to flirt with,” Martel told her quietly.
The tears were flowing freely now, and Riza caught her sobs with a cough. “I remember,” she managed, “a girl who could command me, make me beg.”
“I remember a girl who allowed me to lead her,” Martel assured.
“I remember,” Riza said again, Martel’s soft fingers wiping away tears, “ a girl with soft lips and a purring voice during the summer, giving us just a few more moments together.”
“I remember a girl I never wanted to let go of,” Martel whispered.
“I remember,” Riza choked, Martel’s arms securely around her, “a girl who loved me.”
“That’s not a memory,” Martel told her.
“No,” Riza said. “It’s still continuing.”
Martel didn’t say anything, her fingers combing through Riza’s hair answer enough.
“I remember,” Riza tried for the last time. “I remember you, the girl I want to spend my entire life with.”
“That’s who I remember,” Martel assured her.
I can’t remember how many days or nights we had together, because it seems like the ran, watercolor inundated with tears. She had to leave eventually, telling me she just had a few more pieces of work to do. I made her promise she’d keep safe. She told me, for my sake, she’d do her best.