Mori wake up! Come on kid, Apollyon shouted in a whisper so
not to startle her.

Morrigan stirred with a sleepy
groan as she brushed the few strands of hair out of her face. It did not take
long to figure out what was wrong with her surroundings.

“Nora?” she sleepily called out,
looking around to find the living room dark, the time on the wall clock telling
her that it was still late in the early morning hour and the front door wide
open.

That’s why I woke you, she just got
up and bolted. Her body reeked of fear, Apollyon stated in his normal tone.

“What? What happened?” she
demanded as her rising fear pulled her from her tired stupor.

I don’t know, you were both
laying here and all of a sudden she woke up and panicked, not like I could ask her what
the deal was.

Morrigan jumped up from the couch
and bolted to the door sticking her head out, the street was empty save for
someone in the far distance jogging away in the direction of the market
district.

“Nora!” Morrigan called out only
to watch the figure start running faster.

“Shit! That’s gotta be her!”
she thought before bolting out the door.

Morrigan pumped her legs full of
energy to carry her the distance of the long military district street only to
watch Nora vanish into an alleyway. She knew she needed to move faster.

“Can I fly?” she growled to
Apollyon.

What are you talking about?

“The fucking wings Apollyon, can
I fly or not?” she snapped, not feeling the time for stupid questions and
answers.

Well, I don’t see why not? Apollyon noted in
non-commitment.

Morrigan called her skeletal
wings to bear and willed them to flap. Her energy responding on its own to
compensate her will into practical use as she lifted off the ground and edged
over the roof she flew over.

Her worry and aggravation mixed
in her heart as she soared over rows of buildings, trying to spot Nora from the
sky.

“Come on damn it, where are
you? Why didn’t you tell me something was wrong?”

Hey, take a breath and focus,
literally, Apollyon
demanded as she pulled herself into a slow hover, her wings flapping slow
enough to keep her from falling.

Morrigan took a deep breath as
she ground her teeth, it was not time for a lesson nor was it time for games.
Her rising fear screamed at her to find the blonde woman.

Just. Focus.

Morrigan clenched her eyes shut
and took another deep breath. She felt something sickening that made her
stomach churn, “Ugh, what is that?!”

That, my little goddess, is raw
fear.

 Morrigan remembered what Apollyon had said
when she woke and homed in on the direction before shaking her concentration.

She flew over rows of military
apartments to spot Nora sprinting down an alley way between two buildings as if
being chased, however, she saw no one chasing her.

With furrowed brows she dove
towards the end of the alley to cut her off. Nora skidding to a halt as her
wings bathed the alley in a dull red glow as her wings set her down gently on
the ground before curling and fading from existence.

Nora shook her head repeatedly as
she backed away. “Nora, what's wrong?” Morrigan asked with concern as she
stepped forward. She saw the look of panic and anxiety written all over Nora’s
face.

“No, no I can't, I can't…” Nora
blurted as she shuffled backwards only to fall on her ass. Morrigan took a
longer step forward as Nora tried to scurry backwards. Morrigan was faster
though.

As soon as she grabbed ahold of
Nora’s pant leg she lost it; “No stop! I can't, I can't do it, I can't, I just
can't…” she cried in hyperventilation as she swatted at her hands. She pulled
herself into a tight ball and cried even harder.

Morrigan's heart split in two to
see her this distraught, “Nora please, tell me what's wrong!”

“Love… love, Mori! I can't do
love!” Nora screamed into her thighs as she wrapped her hands around her head
to make herself smaller.

Morrigan's expression sank into
confusion, “What are you talking about?” she murmured.

Ah, before you passed out you
told her you loved her, kid.
Apollyon interjected in understanding.

That made her heart hurt even
more as she stared down at the beautiful blonde woman who cried and tried to
shrink away from reality in fear.

Can you calm her? As much as I’m
proud of you for being able to pick up emotions actively, this is really
nauseating…

Morrigan ignored Apollyon
completely as her entire focus was enveloped around Nora.

She reached out and gently
touched her knee, “Nora look at me…” she sniffed, “Please look at me Nora and
talk to me.”

Nora looked up shaking her head,
her entire body shook with a tremor. Her cheeks were wet with tears as her eyes
widened, “I can't… everyone leaves me, or dies…or I hurt them! I can't do it,
not you… not to you…” she vented in a desperate plea as more tears streamed
down her cheeks before burying her face into her legs, her fingers digging into
her scalp.

Morrigan knew how Nora felt in a
way, it wasn’t too long ago she went through something similar; those feelings
were still fresh in her memory that she forced to keep down, only coming out in
her nightmares.

Morrigan grabbed Nora’s hands and
held them tightly, “Hun, you can’t hurt me…”

Nora snapped her head up and
yanked on her hands, failing to break Morrigan’s grasp, “You don’t understand!
It was my sister-the only person to love me and I slit her throat!” Nora roared
in terrified anger, “All to get away from the hell hole we lived in!” she
fought against Morrigan’s grasp but her energy dwindled the more Nora cried.

“Shhhh, it’s okay sweetie…” she
tried to soothe but Nora shook her head.

“My sister loved me, Mori, she
only wanted me to stay with her, I loved her but I slit her throat… and I left
her… and-and… I love you…” Nora squeaked as she completely broke down.

Morrigan frowned as her mind put
together the pieces, blinking away stinging tears, “Nora, look at me, look at
me!” she said as she forcefully lifted Nora’s head up, holding onto both sides
of her face.

Nora continued to cry as their
eyes met, “I’m not leaving you. I could’ve, back when I went to see the Warden.
I even considered leaving when I went up,” Nora tightened at that as her lips
quivered.

“But I didn’t, I couldn’t;
because you were still down in the mines. Freedom wouldn’t have been free if I
didn’t take you with me sweetie, you and Xol. I came back down into that hell
pit with a plan instead because if I was leaving then I was leaving with you!”
she said as her voice rose an octave.

“And you can’t hurt me Nora, no
one can. Do you remember when I got shot?”

Nora nodded as a sob slipped from
her lips, “Before I came to Mine 4, I was shot dozens of times when I escaped
Mine 16, and have you ever seen any scars on me? Look, I’ll show you, I just
need you to watch me,” Morrigan said softly before sitting back on feet.

“Be ready Apollyon…”

She presented a single glowing
spectral claw that wrapped around her finger and dug the point into her wrist
and dragged the talon up her arm in a wince, severing a variety of veins that
poured forth blood.

“No! Why would you do that!?”
Nora screamed as she lunged forward and grasped Morrigan’s warm, bloody forearm
as she nearly bowled her over.

Morrigan had to push her back, “Just
watch sweetie! Just, watch.”

Nora eyes widened as she watched
the wound quickly seal itself up in between her bloody fingers. She even
watched as the sticky blood pull itself off her fingers and disappear, sinking back
into Morrigan’s skin.

“How? But… how is that
possible?!” Nora breathed in disbelief.

Morrigan chuckled as she sat up
straight again, guiding Nora to sit up as she stared at her arm, “That’s a very
long story,” she reached up and placed her hand on the blonde woman’s cheek,
dragging her thumb over her raw, tear-stained skin, “But see? You can’t hurt me
and I’m not going anywhere.”

Nora’s icy silver eyes slowly
shifted to her green eyes. “I love you, Nora Flannigan, and I'm not going
anywhere because I am yours if you'll have me…” a pang of guilt struck
Morrigan’s nerves that she shoved deep inside her. She loved Taylor, but she
had to accept that it had been over two year and she knew nothing about how he
was doing, or what he was doing. Maybe she would find a way to find out once
she graduated, but between waiting to hear about her mom and everything she had
to focus on, she needed to accept that her relationship didn’t exist anymore.
The truth was she really did love Nora, whether or not it was selfish, her
words were still the truth.

Nora’s lip quivered and her eyes
watered as she nodded before curling up into Morrigan’s arms, quietly sobbing
into her chest as her hands clung to Morrigan.

Morrigan looped her arms beneath
her legs and held her close as she fed a small amount of energy into her
muscles to support both their weights as she stood up, cradling Nora in her
arms.

“This is so weird…” Nora murmured
as she realized she was being carried as if she weighed nothing by a girl
shorter than her.

Morrigan kissed her forehead
before silently chuckling, “It’s only going to get weirder love, just be sure
to hang on,” she mused as her wings flared from her back, lifting them both
into the air by her will.

◇◇◇

The night had been restfully
dreamless for Morrigan only waking by the sharp tapping on her arm.

She groaned and blinked her
blurry vision away as she lifted her head from the comfort of her pillow to see
the wide aquamarine eyes against a solid black face with stripes of yellow
staring at her intently. A forked tongue flicking out as Yekku’s clawed finger
gently poked her arm again.

“Hi Yekku…” she said sleepily as
she brushed her hand against his snout.

She smiled as he pushed his face
against her hand before letting out a string of soft clicking noises before
poking the source of warmth that lay next to her.

“Hmmhmm hmmhmm nope!” Nora
mumbled as she rolled over facing Morrigan and curling into her.

Morrigan smiled sweetly as she
looked around her room to find the Marmuro’k gone except for the adorable
S’randin.

Yekku poked Nora again with a
soft squawk.

“Touch me again and I will take
it, you mutt,” the blonde women threatened half asleep.

Oh, she’s feisty when she’s
tired. Yeah, she’s a keeper, huh? Apollyon
remarked, causing Morrigan to snigger.

She waved Yekku away, who obediently
slinking out of the room silently. Morrigan gently rubbed her hand along Nora’s
arm, coaxing her out of her sleep with a squeak of a sigh.

“Precious? Did last night really
happen?” Nora asked still half asleep, her silvery eye peaking through her
lids.

Morrigan smiled down at her
sweetly with a nod, brushing her fingers through the section of Nora’s hair
that hung loose.

Nora covered her face with the
blanket with a groan in embarrassment, “I’m sorry, you shouldn't have to have
seen me like that…”

Morrigan snorted, “Please, you've
seen me in far worse states,” she stated in a factual tone, forcing down the
bile that rose in her throat at recalling those moments.

Nora chuckled underneath the
blanket and moved as if she shook her head, “Not even, that was…”

Morrigan quickly yanked the
blanket away from her head, “Well worth it,” cutting her off and leaned up with
a smile.

“Was it though?” Nora asked
rolling onto her back with an amused smirk, her question filled with sarcastic
humor.

Morrigan shrugged, “I mean, a
sexy dinner, followed by a tsunami’s worth of emotions, a little bloodletting
with a grand prize of moi? You’re stuck with me now, I hope you're
prepared,” she said with a laugh.

“Totally worth it!” Nora mused as
she grabbed Morrigan’s shirt and pulled her down, wrapping her arms around her,
for a deep kiss.

Hey you little shit! You can take
my powers and take my freedom but you can never ever take my damned material! Apollyon complained loudly in her
mind.

Morrigan smiled against Nora’s
lips, fighting the urge to laugh, “We need to get moving, we're probably late
as it is, if Yekku is the one waking us up.”

Nora moaned against her lips
before letting Morrigan pull away, “Counter offer, we stay in bed all day,
ditch the clothing and just spend all day enjoying each other’s company?”

Morrigan snorted as she sat up,
turning away as she blushed only to look back with a big grin on her very red
face, “As great as that sounds, you have a class to teach with Solomon and I
have a test to take.”

“Fuck me… god damn it, I forgot,”
Nora groaned as she rubbed her face.

Normally I’d be all for that
request but since you wanna steal my jokes you're on your own!

Morrigan giggled at that, “Oh
get over it, you big baby.”

Apollyon scoffed, Yeah, just
wait until next time you get injured, see if I help!

“Yeah? Well don’t forget you
need me alive,” Morrigan shot back with a triumphant grin.

You’re insufferable… damn me to
hell, fine, fine! But could you at least give me credit? I don’t have much to
my name anymore…

Morrigan sauntered over to her
closet as Nora started forcing herself to get up, not before smacking Morrigan
on the ass with big grin as she stepped out of the bedroom and into the
bathroom.

Morrigan laughed as she pulled
out her uniform, “I don’t know, I feel like this is payback for all those
times you’ve teased me.”

Well damn… Apollyon deflated, Yeah, I
guess I kinda walked into that one huh? Alright, alright, just don’t forget who
woke you up so you could hook yourself a tasty new girlfriend, eh?

Morrigan turned a very bright
shade of red as she laughed, covering her mouth so she didn’t sound like a mad
woman. Mid way through getting dressed she paused, “I guess you did, didn’t
you? I mean… thank you, Apollyon,” she whispered aloud as she glanced at the
door.

Eh,  forget about it kid. As annoying of an
emotion as it is, you deserve to be happy. Besides, she seems to be able to
hold your mind together so it’s a plus in my book haha, Apollyon said sincerely.

Morrigan smiled as she finished
dressing, “Yeah, she does, doesn't she… any idea why?”

Hell if I know, but it's still
nothing ima argue with! Just take it as icing on the cake and roll with it.

Morrigan shrugged and nodded. She
truly did not need to understand, though she could not deny how curious of a
matter it was.

Morrigan stepped into the living
room, passing by the bathroom to hear Nora furiously brushing her teeth which
made her curious to where she found a tooth brush, and was greeted by her four
Marmuro’k.

“Hey you all,” she called out as
she clipped her pistol to her leg before making her way to the coffee maker,
which was already brewing surprisingly.

“Aww, which one of you put this
on?” she asked glancing around the room.

Qiote looked down sheepishly as
Xol nodded in his direction.

She poured the holy black water
into a cup and stalked over to Qiote and leaned down, kissing the top of his
head as she cradled the cup in her hands, “That was very sweet of you Qiote.”

She watched Qiote lower his head
looking side to side as if trying to decide if her affectionate appreciation
was good or bad. Yekku clacked and chirp in what she knew deep down was
aggressive comments.

“Yekku, no being jealous,” she
scolded before taking a glance at Xol who sat near the door with his new mace
across his lap.

“You really like your new weapon,
don’t you?” she teased.

Xol looked down at the large
weapon and gently brushed his fingers along the head of it, “Hiştî, hewêce
lewha kira,”

At the comment, Yekku burst into
a long tangent of one-sided conversation, only letting Xol listen intently as
he went on and on about, something, which Yekku’s excitement just amused
Morrigan as she sipped her coffee.

“Bîca?” Xol said with high
interest before giving Yekku a firm nod. Yekku rushed over, lifting Xol’s left
arm and inspected his arm thoroughly.

“What’s this all about?” Morrigan
asked with a raised eyebrow, gesturing to Yekku’s spastic intent.

Xol looked at her with a low hum,
“Shield,” he gruffed out.

She nodded in surprised
understanding and took another drink of her coffee, “How is teaching going for
you?”

Xol growled with a fanged sneer,
“Mônkee ehmîquî!”

Morrigan snorted, “I mean… sure
but remember, I didn’t pick it up that fast either. Hell, I still have much
more to learn, so try and go easy on them, okay?”

Xol hummed deeply before giving
her a firm, reluctant nod.

Nora stepped out of the bathroom
and stopped, staring Morrigan down long enough for her to notice.

“What?” she giggled as she hid
her smile behind her coffee cup.

Nora smirked, setting her hands
on her hips, “Contemplating taking a cold shower because I am never
going to get used to seeing you in a uniform. Are you coming to my class?” She
asked, switching gears quickly.

Morrigan nodded as she downed the
rest of the coffee and set the cup on the coffee table. “Okay, we’re off.
Everyone behave and have a good day,” she said with a smile as she brushed her
hand over Qiote’s head.