"Well... what exactly am I supposed to say in a situation like this?"
When I first moved into the White Star and chose my quarters, I had requested a king-sized bed, largely because Lemon was already my lover at the time. Now, looking across that same vast expanse of mattress, I see not just myself, but a woman with pink hair, a woman with violet hair, and a woman with soft brown hair.
Naturally, none of us—myself included—are wearing so much as a stitch of clothing.
"Why me?"
I almost muttered the catchphrase of a certain hero of justice. No, that wasn't quite right.
"Such misfortune!"
That was the line used by a man with a right hand that could negate the supernatural. Though, calling this "misfortune" was a stretch. If anything, it was the definition of an embarrassment of riches.
Watching my three lovers sleep with such peaceful, contented expressions, I tried to piece together exactly what had happened yesterday. I remember... I remember... wait.
I remember the four of us being together. We decided to have a late lunch that doubled as a formal introduction. I remember that much. I remember the incredible meal—a collaborative effort between Lemon and Murrue. I remember the two of them hitting it off as fellow engineers, their conversation quickly devolving into technical jargon.
Cornelia and I, unable to follow the shop talk, had started a conversation of our own... and then?
And then my memory hits a brick wall. The next thing I knew, I was waking up to this.
"Wait a second..."
I had a nagging sense of déjà vu. This exact situation... the memory gap... right. It was just like my first night with Lemon. Back then, I'd had a beer in the cafeteria, lost consciousness, and woken up the next morning in her bed.
"Which means..."
Once that thread was pulled, the rest of the memories unspooled easily enough. Cornelia, apparently having brought her own supply of wine to lunch despite the hour, had insisted I join her for a drink. I must have gone down for the count immediately after.
"Nng... Axel?"
Lemon stirred, running a hand through her messy pink hair with a languid grace. She blinked her eyes open, focusing on me.
"Morning," I said.
"Mm, morning... Wait, about last night..."
"Cornelia made me drink that wine, didn't she? My memory is a total blank, just like last time."
"Your memory?"
"Axel?"
At the sound of our voices, Cornelia and Murrue began to wake as well, shifting under the sheets.
"You two should keep this in mind," Lemon said with a playful smirk, looking at the others. "Axel is pathologically weak when it comes to alcohol. From the outside, he doesn't even look drunk—he just... stays active while his brain is completely switched off."
"I see," Cornelia mused, sitting up. "Now that I think of it, during his time under my command, we shared many meals, but he never once touched a drop of spirits."
"He didn't drink during the desert banquet with the 'Desert Dawn' either," Murrue added. Then, her eyes went wide, and she sat bolt upright. Since the sheets had fallen away, her magnificent silhouette was on full display. "Wait! You mean he was unconscious while he did... all that yesterday?"
"Apparently so," Lemon chuckled.
"My word..." Cornelia sighed, her regal poise momentarily shaken. "He truly is a beast. To think he could handle the three of us in such a state... if I had been alone, I might have been physically broken. Perhaps it's a blessing that he has three of us to share the burden."
"I can't argue with that," Murrue whispered, her face heating up. "Facing him alone when he's like that... it's a terrifying thought."
As they continued to dissect my "performance" with zero regard for my dignity, I decided the best course of action was to remain silent. On the bright side, Murrue seemed to have bonded with Lemon and Cornelia over their shared... experience. Even if that bond was built on the foundation of surviving me, I'd take it.
My internal monologue was interrupted by the chirping of the bedside comms unit. Grateful for the distraction, I answered it—audio only, for obvious reasons.
"Axel here."
"Ah, Captain. We just received word from Orb. The mock battle you discussed yesterday is scheduled for tomorrow at 15:00. They said you'd know the location: the same place where the M1 Astray was first tested."
The underground Morgenroete factory.
"Understood. Did they say anything about transporting the Megilot?"
"Yes, sir. Orb is providing a trailer and transport team. We just need to show up. Um... are Lady Lemon and the others with you? I tried their quarters and labs, but no one answered."
"Yeah. They're all here. I'll pass the message along."
It seemed Lemon had tasked Echidna with handling the liaison work for Orb yesterday. Even though the situation was more stable than our time at the Earth Cradle, we couldn't just leave the Gate unattended. I'd probably have to station some W-Series units there as sentries soon.
"Axel? What was that about?" Murrue asked.
"The mock battle. Tomorrow at 3:00 PM. Looks like we have the rest of today to ourselves."
I flopped back onto the pillows. Even on a king-sized bed, having four adults in one space felt a bit crowded—though not unpleasantly so.
"It's for the best," Murrue said, leaning her head against my shoulder. "Since Heliopolis, we haven't had a single moment of real peace. I think we've earned one full day of rest."
"What about the Archangel?" I asked.
"Repairs are in Morgenroete's hands. I've ordered the entire crew to take today and tomorrow off as well. They've been through hell; they need the shore leave. ...Axel, can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"Cornelia told me yesterday... she's from a different world too, isn't she? One you visited before ours."
"That's right."
"But she's part of the Shadow Mirror now. She's by your side. ...Do you think there's a place for me there too?"
Murrue was practically clinging to me now, her eyes searching mine with an intensity that bordered on desperate.
"I'd welcome you with open arms," I said softly. "But are you sure? You still have the option to live a quiet life as a citizen of Orb."
"If I hadn't met you, I probably would have chosen that," she admitted. "But I did meet you. I can't go back to who I was before. No... that's not right. I am choosing not to go back. I want to be where you are."
I sighed, a small smile tugging at my lips. I really did have a knack for finding incredible women.
"Then it's settled. Welcome to the team, Murrue."
I cupped her cheek and tilted her head up, meeting her lips in a long, lingering kiss. When we finally pulled apart, she looked breathless and radiant.
"Besides, I'm your lover, aren't I?" she whispered, a hint of playfulness returning to her voice. "Even if I'm just 'one of' your lovers... which is still a little frustrating."
"You're a fool," I chuckled.
I wondered if Andrew Waltfeld felt this way when he called Aisha a fool. It was a term of endearment that carried more weight than "I love you."
"So, Murrue's enlistment is official," Lemon announced, breaking the moment.
"Indeed," Cornelia added, leaning in from my other side. "We shall support Axel together from now on. ...Though I have no intention of surrendering the position of 'First Wife.'"
"Oh?" Murrue countered, her competitive streak as a Captain flaring up. "I think you'll find I'm quite used to being in command. I might just set my sights on that position myself."
"My, my," Lemon giggled. "And here I thought it was already decided that I was the lady of the house."
As the three of them began a lighthearted—yet pointed—argument over the "hierarchy," I found myself leaning back and just watching them. There was a warmth in my chest I hadn't felt in a long time. This was what it meant to be fulfilled. To be loved.
After about ten minutes of this "recreational" bickering, we decided that staying naked all day probably wasn't productive. One by one, we cycled through the shower to wash away the traces of the previous night.
Once everyone was dressed and refreshed, Lemon and Murrue teamed up again to put together a meal. Since it was nearly noon, it was more of a brunch.
Cornelia, thankfully, had refrained from bringing out the wine this time.
As we sat around the table with sandwiches and bacon and eggs, Cornelia sighed. "I really must learn to cook. It's galling to be so far behind the two of you in this field. Axel, I promise you: one day, you will eat a meal prepared by my own hands."
"I'll look forward to it," I said.
Beside us, the two technical experts were already back at it.
"Phase Shift armor..." Lemon mused, her eyes sparkling. "It sounds fascinating. Do you have any samples?"
"The Blitz is still on the Archangel," Murrue said. "We captured some ZAFT machines too, but Orb took those for study."
"Axel's unit? Can we have it?"
"Well, it technically belonged to the Atlantic Federation, but we're a deserting ship. If Orb only cares about the ZAFT salvage, I don't see why Axel shouldn't keep the Blitz."
"Perfect. We'll haul it up once things settle down. The tech team will lose their minds over it."
"Is it really that impressive to you?" Murrue asked. "Your technology seems so much more advanced."
"Not necessarily. Every world has unique branches of science that are incredibly seductive to an engineer. Sakuradite from Cornelia's world is a prime example... though it's hard to work with since it doesn't exist anywhere else."
The rest of the day passed in a blur of comfortable domesticity. It was a necessary reprieve—the calm before the storm. In less than a month, the Atlantic Federation would bring war to Orb's doorstep. This was our day to gather our strength.
Tomorrow, the Megilot would face the M1 Astray, and the world would finally see a glimpse of the Shadow Mirror's true power.
[Status Screen Update]
Name: Axel Almar
Level: 36 | PP: 165
Stats:
Melee: 254 | Ranged: 274 | Skill: 264 | Defense: 264 | Evade: 294 | Hit: 314
SP: 446
Spirit Commands:
Accelerate (4 SP), Effort (8 SP), Focus (16 SP), Direct Hit (30 SP), Awaken (32 SP), Love (48 SP)
Skills: EXP Up, SP Boost (Lv.9), Telekinesis Lv.10, Attacker, Gunfight Lv.9, Infight Lv.9, Morale Limit Break, Geass (Grey)
Total Kills: 288
-------------------------------
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