### -> [[Night]] It's late at night. It's late at night. It's late at night. It's late at night. It's late at night. It's late at night. It's... The moon has been howling for what feels like aeons. The stars, now finally visible, do twinkle, but they seem judgmental - as if someone had made the wrong move. There is no fanfare. Mako is trying her best to keep walking, an arm slung over Ika's shoulders, and in turn, Ika holds her lover's waist to keep Mako upright. They just got off the carriage, but there's a sense of desperado in the air, they are tired, *so* tired, that all the two need right this second is to get home and rest. They get back at the cabin. The grass has grown a bit. "We can handle that tomorrow." Ika pulls open the door, getting them both inside. It's dim. A light is turned on. The warmth of it illuminates their home, the occasional wick of dust fairy permeating the air. The heater is enabled, warming the house from the meager cold of the night. Mako almost burst into tears right then and there. "We're... home?" The two moved to hug each other, finding solace in their auras, their warmth, their bodies. "We're home, Maks... I'm so sorry..." Neither of them knew what to say. They both cried, letting the tears run onto the floor, not caring about the mess, not caring about *anything* but each other. You wouldn't be able to tell if it was out of happiness, sadness, sheer *relief*, or any other emotion. It was too much to bear, and so, they wept. ... After a long moment, bittersweet as it was, it was probably time to get ready for bed. "You go ahead and take a shower, Maks. I'll sort out our stuff, alright?" Mako nodded, dropping her backpack and heading upstairs to the shower. Ika took the bag, along with her own, and set them on the couch. She then searched her pocket for a blade. She found it. Still a golden color, almost brass, she twisted the dagger around in her hand. The occasional light beamed out, as if it, too, was weeping. The thought of realizing her mental pain into physical crept up into her mind, but it was overridden by another thought, of blame: *This is your fault.* Ika could not help but think she was the one who caused all this. It was her fault that Mako had been in such a slump, *her* fault that Mako was away from home so long, *her fault* that she had prioritized her past over her future. She opened the front door, pitched her arm, and threw the dagger as far as she could. She doesn't want to adventure anymore, she doesn't want to fight anymore, she doesn't want to have prophetic dreams, she doesn't want this, she doesn't want this-! Ika shook her head, trying to clear away the tears. She could probably use the shower, but there's only one in the cabin. She could wait, then. Closing the door and heading upstairs, she sat down next to the bathroom door. She let the sound of running water permeate her brain, in some twisted form of literal brainwashing. She could go inside and wait, listening to the pitter-patter better and being able to talk to Mako, but that would be rude, even to her partner. They'd been together for a while, but Ika wasn't sure if she was ready for that level of intimacy. But then, she heard a soft crying. Would it be best to go in and ask? It was understandable, after all, but... Ika still wanted to be there for her. She deftly knocked on the door from the floor. "C-Come in..." Ika stood and entered the bathroom. It was nice - something small, but it was cozy. The shower curtain obscured her partner's image. Ika just heard the crying come from it. She sat down on the porcelain throne. "Mako... are you alright?" Mako could barely hold back tears. "I... I'm so sorry, Ika..." "There's nothing to be sorry about. I should apologize. I made you go through all this..." "It's... it's not that, I..." Mako coughed a bit, choking on phlegm, but she got through the fit. "Whatever it is, I'll understand. Right now, you're the most important thing in my life." Mako poked her head out from behind the curtain. And her... horns? Out of the sides of her head were two antennae-like protrusions. They looked metallic, unaffected by the water. Mako looked awfully dismayed at having to show Ika. "They're... I... I'm not human, Ika. I'm... I'm sorry." "You look beautiful, sweetheart." Mako's expression turned to one of embarrassment, hiding behind the curtain. "N-no, I'm not beautiful..." Ika put a hand on the edge of the shower. "You are, my love." Mako looked to the wall. "You really think so?" "I really think so." "I bet you have questions..." Ika thought for a second. She did have questions, yes, but, should she ask them? She decided to ask one. "If you aren't human, then, what are you?" Mako sniffed, still dismayed. "A... A Cyber..." Ika shook her head, sounding stern. "No. You are not. I will not have that term used in my house." Panic started to set in for Mako. "I- I'm sorry, sweetie, I-" Ika stood up from her seat and faced Mako directly. "There's no need to be. I just don't want you being so hard on yourself. You're a cyborg, right? Even if only a little? That's beautiful. I don't want to reduce that about you." Mako chuckled a bit. "You really aren't him, are you...?" Mako dropped the shower curtain, and Ika was polite not to look. "You really think this is okay?" "It was always okay. It should have been..." Ika put a hand on Mako's shoulder. "You accepted me at a time where I was at my lowest. I wanna do the same for you. I love you." "I love you too..." Mako looked over at the showerhead. "Is it alright if I finish up in here?" "Of course. Wouldn't want to, well, you know." Ika left the room and sat back down next to the bathroom door, closing it. *She's a cyborg... Maybe I should have guessed that. Maybe. I still love her, though.* Ika put a hand over her chin. *Would I still smooch a cyborg?* A beat. *Think I would do more than just smooch.* Later that night, when both of them had finished washing up and everything, they retired to their bedroom. It had been a while since, so seeing the white sheets and color-coded pillows was a twinge of familiarity they both needed. Ika was lying down, head on top of her hands, and Mako was sitting up on her side of the bed. "You don't think I look bad...?" Ika shook her head, a tad. "Not at all. You look wonderful. I'd love you no matter what, with or without horns." Mako laughed, a tad. "They're not *horns*, they're antenna, or something." "Okay, antenna. Do you get any reception on them?" "Not really... they're just something I have to hide." "Have to *hide?*" Ika raised an eyebrow. "You shouldn't hide that - that's part of who you are!" "Well..." Mako hated this part of her heritage. "It's not like it's a common thing. Toby, he says all the time he gets weird looks over his arm. If I can pass as human, then, people won't think less of me." Ika put a look of concern on. "That doesn't sound fair..." "It isn't..." Mako sighed, resting her head on a hand. "Of all the things to be seen as lesser..." She beat a fist into an open hand. "Bet they want a taste of their medicine, huh?" "Mako..." Ika tried her best to stay calm. "I understand the feeling. But everyone should be equals, yeah? Some people really don't know how good they have it." Ika crawled a hand up Mako's arm. "I do, though, and I think I have it very good." Mako shuffled over, looking Ika right in the eyes. "You think you have it good?" Ika shrugged. "With your lovely face? Absolutely." Mako beamed, smiling for the first time in a bit, but then took on a more rascally look. "How lovely?~" Ika sat up a bit, meeting her lover on a height level. "To you, it may be an aberration, but to me? It's more of you to love, more reasons to love you." She put a hand on Mako's shoulder. "If I could, I would sit here all night and look into your eyes." Mako went in for the kill, wrapping her lips around Ika's, who flailed a bit, but eventually retained her composure, leaning into it, hands on her lover's back... Ah, but, you know the rest. Don't worry about them. They'll feel better in the morning.