Tea and sugar.
Well, lots of sugar.
That's how she liked it.
Ivy paid careful mind to Lila's memory ever since they bonded. Unlike her own, it was easy and palatable. Her swift, cunning mind made quick work of digesting the information as well.
Lila, on the other hand, had only begun to decipher what her partner had experienced on Callisto. She could only handle so much both physically and mentally. Ivy understood that from the beginning and held no judgment.
If anything, she was pleased with the lopsided situation. Ivy knew so much about Lila. And as she learned more and more, she felt a level of content one might consider addicting. To have that all threatened in a single night drove her nearly mad.
"Just stay behind me, it'll be alright."
"Y-yea." Lila nodded sheepishly, her scarred hands searing with pain. "I got it."
She wanted to fight more. She wanted to defend Ivy like a royal knight, sheilding a regal princess. But Lila had her limits.
"I promise you." The heiress spoke with determination.
Ivy snapped her fingers, forming a silver dome around Lila's tiny frame. Its surface refracted with images of the Earthling's memory, pulled from their united mindscape. Lila stared with wonder-filled eyes, her freckles sparking with light.
"Whoa." She gasped. "Is that?"
"You," Ivy whispered inside her mind.
For a moment, Lila could forget the violence from outside and the ferocity with which Ivy protected her. It was all as the heiress had planned. For she too longed to move on from all the drivel of Yrix's Aerie.
Warm tea and a fancy mug.
That's how the girl felt holding her book and sipping her drink.
Fancy.
It didn't really matter if the drink cost five dollars and the book was high school level.
She felt regal.
The bastardization of her lifestyle would have offended the Ivy from a week ago. But learning of it now filled her heart with pride. The warmth and nostalgia of Lila's mind were, in no small way, a possession of hers.
"When this is over, can we have one with them?" Ivy spoke into Lila's mind.
"Huh?" Lila tilted her head, using her real voice as it faltered under the weight of her failing breath.
"A tea party." Ivy smiled. "With your Ginjous."
Lila was suprised to see Ivy so interested at such an inappropriate time. But then again, she, too, was guilty of saying only the most random things during a tense moment. It was quite humorous to have the tables turned in that sense.
"Don't you ever get tired of saving me?" Lila sighed.
"That wasn't an answer."
The Earthling nodded. "Y-yes. But-."
"No. I don't. It gives me purpose."
Ivy's words were as plain as they were honest.
"Well." Lila blushed, gazing down at the floor. "It feels nice."
Her hands shook, and the girl began to squint. At first, she assumed the growing instability was a result of her exhaustion. But after a brief moment of shock, she came to realize what had occurred.
"Oh shit." Lila gulped.
The platform beneath her caved in, revealing a flaming fist that jumped out at her. Ivy spun around as fast as she could, opening her bubble and diving for the girl. But Lila had already begun to fall, the floor beneath her having been completely shattered by the surviving Pennant.
"Lila!" Ivy screamed.
But with a sudden burst of Psionic energy, the debris around Lila froze in place, and soon she, too, began to levitate. Looking at the color of the outline around her caused her to form a smile. Ivy released a gasp of relief, clutching her staff with both hands.
"Got you!" Lunae yelped into Lila's mind.
The Earthling and her partner looked up to see Lunae with an outstretched hand as she gracefully descended into the chamber, her wings fluttering in the air as blue dust rained down from below. Her expression was rather determined as a frown formed on her face. For all the gentleness of her touch, Lunae was upset.
"Away with you." She cursed, clenching her fist and sending the Pennant back into the depths. "Vermin."
Ivy was quick to grab Lila the moment she returned to the surface of the platform, dragging her floating frame away from the gaping hole.
"Thank you," Ivy whispered to Lunae. "Thank you so much, Lunae-."
"It's my fault they're here, I wouldn't." The girl shook her head.
Ivy squinted, unsure of what to say. She watched with visible surprise as Lunae began trapping the remaining Infestare in a series of twisted thorns. And with the clench of her fist, they dissapeared beneath the surface of the platform, never to be seen again.
"Holy-." Lila panted, watching on with concern. "I thought-."
Lunae's markings flickered with red as her body shook. Everything she stood for was crumbling around her. And yet, she seemed no closer to stopping.
"They aren't worthy of life." Lunae hissed. "None of them are."
Ivy raised an eyebrow, unable to resist the urge to speak plainly.
"Aren't they your people?"
Lila pinched her elbow as she lay cradled in the heiress's arm. It was an offensive thing to say. But part of receiving Ivy's love was also facing the bluntness of her honesty.
"Exactly." Lunae smiled with shame on her face. "So don't thank me."
"Well, that's a load of bullshit." The heiress swore. "You saved Lila. I owe you. I don't give a damn if you're Infestare."
"You don't get it." Lunae shook her head. "They're doing this for me. For my mother. I'm an idol to them!"
Ivy shrugged. "So? I didn't whine or judge when Sonera committed mass murder in that dream. And I sure as hell don't get to call anyone a monster after what I've become."
Lila looked back and forth between the girls. She wanted to chime in, to say her peice. But just like before, she had run out of strength. Tucked away in Ivy's arms, she felt herself slip. And soon enough, she was sleeping soundly.
Lunae and Ivy continued to argue.