No Gods, Nor Masters

Homecoming

Richard stirred. The embrace of the bed's sheets was warm, kind and soft and the breathing of his partner was light. She seemed content with how last night had gone and it would be a lie to say he didn't feel the same. He smiled as he saw the white-haired beauty fast asleep in his arms, her head laying on his chest, ears droopy and a little drool dripping from the corner of her mouth.

He put a gentle hand on her head and ran his fingers through her hair, earning himself a couple of pleasant sounds of contentment from the Queen of the Warrior Bunnies. She shifted a little, then slowly opened her beautiful red eyes, staring into his. A small smile formed on her face, a strand of hair stuck to her mouth.

The man greeted her with a lightly voiced, "Good morning, beautiful."

"Good morning..." She replied, face flush. Then, she yawned, before curling up more under the blanket, arms wrapped around her lover. She started with a little embarrassment, "I... It was..." though he could hopefully tell correctly that she had enjoyed it as much as he did. He hugged her tighter, then nodded and nuzzled her forehead. She let out a giggle, then said to him, "I do wonder what the betting pool got to..." in an attempt to avoid any upcoming embarrassment.

"Oh, I know for a fact Kurokawa won it for the SDF," He joked, then heard her laugh. It was a beautiful, melodious and warm laugh, as he'd come to expect from her. He pulled her closer, looking her in the eye, then spoke, "I really don't care about betting pools right now, though," as he cupped her chin, causing that red on her cheeks to glow brightly.

She giggled again, embarrassed, then buried her face in his chest. It felt good to finally be together, he thought to himself as he pat her head, causing her to let out a few happy noises. He joked, "I don't think we're ready to be parents yet," which got a laugh out of the girl and a gentle pat on the back meant to signify a playful slap.

He chuckled at that, while she said, "Hopefully, I was careful enough not to get us in a weird situation like that... Yet."

The two lay there for another thirty minutes, content with letting the light of the sun gently wash over them as they woke completely from their momentary fugue. It wasn't until a knock on the door caused them to stir that they decided to get up. Tyuule was first, stretching and sighing, "Well. I'll go take a shower..." before she stood up completely, revealing her full, uncovered form.

He smiled a little as he saw her strut off with some spring in her step toward the shower, then sighed and stood up, donning a shirt and some pants before answering the door by the time a second and third knock came. When he opened it, he paused as he saw Doctor Halsey standing there, her tablet slung under her arm and a smirk on her face.

Doctor Halsey with a smirk. That was weird...

She spoke, "Had fun, Lieutenant?" with a slightly teasing voice. She poked her head in as she heard the shower running, then saw the clothing splayed out on the floor and smiled, "Good to know you two finally decided to further this bond... Alas, I'm afraid I'll have to rush you and the others to the check-out..." to which Richard noticed the Spartans behind the woman and a few new faces on escort duty.

She told him, "Get dressed and follow us. Make sure your weapons are loaded..." then she shifted her glasses onto the bridge of her nose. The man seemed to tense, offering a nod to the Doctor before walking back and closing the door. The Doc then looked at her Spartans and, with a single swipe of her hand, she sent them out to secure the perimeter.

After gathering every other member of the squad, Halsey wordlessly led the group downstairs under the escort of armed Private Military and the Spartans, much to the surprise of everyone else inside the place. The convoy that had escorted them to this place waited for them outside, now reinforced by a platoon of new National Guard vehicles and even Police elements.