Chapter 37 - 34: A Moment of Wholeness
Ellen stirred awake as the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. The warmth pressing against her chest was familiar now—the gentle rise and fall of Miyabi's breathing, her arms wrapped tightly around Ellen's torso like a lifeline. The scent of the night still lingered in the air, a reminder of their newfound bond, of the passion and the quiet vulnerability they had shared.
A part of Ellen wanted to stay like this, to bask in the feeling of holding Miyabi close, but she knew that soon, the world outside their little bubble would wake up. And as much as she would love to lie there forever, reality was pressing in.
Carefully, she shifted, attempting to sit up, but Miyabi's grip only tightened. Ellen exhaled a quiet chuckle—she was latched onto her like a stubborn koala. Miyabi's face nuzzled into the crook of her neck, her breath warm against Ellen's skin. There was no way she was letting go willingly.
With no hesitation, Ellen simply lifted her. Cradling Miyabi in her arms, fully exposing both of them to the cold morning air. It didn't seem to bother either of them—their bodies naturally radiated warmth and resistance to it—but Ellen still wanted to be decent before Mira woke up. As much as she loved Miyabi, she wasn't about to have their young companion stumble upon them like this.
Stepping lightly, Ellen made her way toward her room. She paused just long enough to check if Mira was still asleep, peering through the slightly ajar door. The rhythmic breathing from inside confirmed it—Mira was still in deep slumber. Relieved, Ellen continued, maneuvering her way through the dimly lit apartment with practiced ease.
Once inside her room, she carefully sifted through her closet, pulling out clothes for both of them. Something simple, comfortable, easy to slip on. As much as Ellen enjoyed seeing Miyabi in her current state—peaceful, content, soft in the aftermath of everything—she knew they needed to get dressed before reality came knocking.
With clothes in hand, she made her way back to the couch, settling down with Miyabi still draped across her lap. Ellen ran her fingers gently through her white hair, coaxing her awake.
"Miyabi," she murmured. "We need to get dressed. Unless you want to be embarrassed when Mira wakes up."
A sluggish groan was her only response. Miyabi shifted slightly but made no move to leave Ellen's lap. Her golden eyes barely cracked open, and she mumbled something unintelligible before pressing herself even closer.
Ellen sighed, a fond smile tugging at her lips. "Alright, alright. I'll do it for you."
With careful movements, she dressed Miyabi, making sure to stay close and keep her from growing distressed. Ellen could tell the exhaustion still weighed on her, and she had no intention of making this any harder than it needed to be. Every brush of her fingers against Miyabi's skin made her lover hum in quiet contentment, the possessive grip on Ellen never truly loosening.