Promise Kept

Note: This is the sequel to "You and I"

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“Neviril?”

“Hmm?” asked Neviril, looking up at Aaeru out of the corner of her eye.

The two of them were laying in the open meadow of the world they’d recently landed on. Some exploration had shown that no civilization of any kind appeared to be around for miles. They were alone, and thus had made camp underneath the darkening sky. Aaeru had fished for their dinner, using a very crude fishing pole and some string she had collected on their travels so far. Now, they rested on a blanket beneath the stars. It was cliché, but they were exhausted and cherished the time spent together.

Neviril shifted slightly, becoming more comfortable. She had rested her head on Aaeru’s chest. Aaeru had wrapped one arm around her, the other arm resting gently atop Neviril’s. The cool breeze that blew every now and then was refreshing.

“Do you think we’ll ever see them again?”

“I’m not sure, Aaeru. We can’t control where we end up.”

“I know we can’t, but you said Tempus Spatium was guiding us. Do you think Tempus Spatium will ever take us back?”

“If Tempus Spatium believes we should go back, then I am certain we will. We’ve been to a quite a few worlds so far. I’m sure there is a reason for each one. Why do you ask about Tempus Spatium? You don’t believe in it.”

“I know, but I wanted to know what you thought.”

“I see. You’re missing them, aren’t you?”

“Well…” Aaeru trailed, considering what to say. “I do. I wonder what it’s like for them, since going to the Spring and all. I don’t really know what happens after you go to the Spring. I never really talked to anyone about it.”

“I see… once you choose your gender, your body begins to change. If you chose to be male, you lose your chest and your voice gets deeper. You grow taller. I think once you really start to show the changes, most cut their hair into a male style. If you choose to be a female, not much is different. Your chest might become larger, and you’ll continue to grow some.”

“Isn’t it strange being a man?” asked Aaeru, her finger drawing random patterns on the back of Neviril’s hand.

“I don’t know, honestly. My father never really mentioned it. I guess if you choose to be a male, you become accustomed to the changes.”

“What would you choose, if you had to pick your gender?”

Neviril looked up at Aaeru. “Why are you so interested in it? You never wanted to choose your gender.”

“I know. And I don’t.”

“I never thought about very much. It’s never a polite thing to ask someone.”

“It’s not? Why?” asked Aaeru, confused.

“It’s a personal question, Aaeru. A lot of people are never certain until it’s almost time to go to the Spring.” Neviril realized she may have come off more harshly than she had intended. “I suppose I would have chosen to be a female though. Would you ever have decided, Aaeru?”

“Hmm… I guess so. I just want to keep flying. And I’d want to be with you, Neviril.”

“Then you would have chosen to be male, Aaeru.”

“I guess so,” replied Aaeru.

“You guess so?”

Aaeru sat up slowly, being careful to help Neviril sit up with her. She looked into Neviril’s eyes, and smiled. “I’d want to be with you, Neviril. I don’t care what I am. I’d want to fly with you. I’d want us to fly higher than anyone ever has.”

“But you can’t fly the Simoun if you choose a gender.”

“I know, but I don’t have to now. I can still fly, and I’ve got you. That’s what counts.” She leaned forward, kissing Neviril gently.

Neviril kissed Aaeru back, the warm feeling surfacing in the pit of her stomach. It was a familiar feeling, one that often appeared every time they kissed. She felt Aaeru’s hand on her cheek, and lost herself in the kiss. She was surprised when Aaeru’s hand trailed lower, and Aaeru deepened the kiss. Aaeru’s hands trailed over her breasts, rubbing against the fabric that settled there.

“Aaeru…” she breathed, pulling away.

“I want to, Neviril. Remember your promise?” Aaeru’s breath was warm against Neviril’s lips. Her hand still rubbed back and forth.

A memory surfaced, and Neviril recalled the promise she had made in her room on the Arcus Prima. Aaeru had agreed and then they had escaped with the Emerald Ri Majon. Since then they had been adapting to the traveling and the jumping, as well as studying the cultures of the places in which they stayed. Neviril felt her heartbeat quicken. She noticed Aaeru watching her, waiting. “I remember it,” she replied. She looked back at Aaeru, and smiled softly.

Aaeru took this as permission to continue. She kissed Neviril once more, slowly letting the passion take over her body. Her hands fumbled to undress Neviril, and once more, Neviril assisted her before helping to undress Aaeru. The cool breeze touched their skin and caused them both to shiver.

Now that they had time, it was Aaeru’s turn to explore Neviril, to run her fingers over places she had barely touched before, but now had access to. She tried to remember what Neviril had done to her, and then worked to replicate it. Her fingers gently touched one of Neviril’s nipples, and she heard Neviril’s breath hitch. She rubbed her finger across it, and once more felt Neviril shudder at the touch. She continued to rub circles around it, and heard the soft moans that escaped Neviril’s lips. She kissed the skin at the base of Neviril’s neck, finding the salty taste strangely satisfying.

She pulled away, looking down at Neviril, who was flushed in the face. The way Neviril looked at her made her want more. Her hand reached out, running her fingers slowly over Neviril’s skin. She crossed back and forth across her stomach, and Neviril involuntarily reacted to the touch, raising her stomach. The reaction caused Aaeru’s hand to move lower, touching the tip of the small crop of hair.

Hesitantly, Aaeru’s hand moved lower, slipping into the folds of pink flesh. She was surprised to find the warm wetness tucked there, coating her fingers as they slowly explored the flesh. They slid deeper inside, and she felt the muscles tightening around her fingers.

“Aaeru…” whispered Neviril. Need and want ringed her words, but Aaeru didn’t pick up on it. She was still focused on the feeling of her fingers inside of Neviril.

Aaeru pushed her fingers in, and Neviril arched her back slightly. Aaeru pulled her fingers back, and Neviril groaned. Once more she did it, slowly again.

“Yes, Aaeru… like that,” whispered Neviril.

“Like this?” Aaeru pushed in once more. Her only acknowledgement was a soft moan.

Aaeru fumbled along, moving her fingers slowly until she became more comfortable with the motion and action. She eventually found a steady pace, and focused on keeping it. Neviril’s breathing was unsteady, and her back began to arch.

Neviril’s body began to shake, climax overtaking her. She reached out, hand shaking. Aaeru wrapped her other arm around Neviril, still continuing to move her fingers in and out. Breathing hard, Neviril spoke up. “Aaeru… stop…. Please…I can’t take anymore…”

Aaeru looked at her, confused. “Is something wrong?”

Neviril shook her head. “No… nothing’s wrong.”

“Then why stop?”

“I need to catch my breath…and your fingers are making me too sensitive.”

“Okay,” answered Aaeru, removing her fingers. Neviril had to steady herself against Aaeru, sucking in her breath as Aaeru’s fingers rubbed sensitive areas.

Neviril lay back on the blanket, looking up at the stars. Aaeru’s face soon blocked her sight of the stars above, and she couldn’t help but pull Aaeru down with her. Aaeru’s skin was cool against her warm skin. Her legs intertwined with Aaeru’s as she kissed Aaeru soundly, wanting to be closer, needing to be closer.

Aaeru broke the kiss, looking up at Neviril. “You want to do it again?” she asked. Neviril noticed Aaeru’s hand caressing her side.

“Not now, Aaeru. I just want to be with you, like this. I want to hold you.”

“Okay,” answered Aaeru, readily agreeing. She snuggled against Neviril, but her hand still caressed Neviril’s side.

The pair lay atop the blanket, molded into each other’s arms. Neviril pulled the blanket around them so that the breeze didn’t chill them so much. She held onto Aaeru, thanking Tempus Spatium that she had Aaeru to lean on and trust. And to make promises with. She knew that the unspoken promise between then would be filled in the future.