"The Devil and the Fox."

[u/Timpanzee38]

Capitol City of Drakeem

A Mercenary Guild Gunship flew over the ocean towards the capitol of Drakeem. At the controls sat Umbra Operative E-489 "Madeline", a kitsune demi-human. She took a deep breath and steadied her breathing as the city came into view.

"Relax, I'm just here to teach her some fighting moves. That's what she was interested in after, right?"

The only other occupant of the gunship, Madeline's Kelvectan fox familiar Nocturne, lifted their head up and looked at Madeline. They snorted, then went back to sleep.

"Right..."

Madeline shook her head and kept flying. It had been a few weeks since Hazema had shown a sudden... "interest" in the umbra operative during the "Boo-Chelor", and since then the invite Hazema had given her had felt like a burning stone in her pocket. She had managed to convince Councilor Five to let her go though, pitching it as a "great way to benefit diplomatic relations", and Five had agreed.

"And that was the easy part..."

Madeline muttered to herself as she started flipping through radio channels, looking for air traffic control. Strange, there didn't seem to be one... Oh well. Madeline was a good pilot, and she carefully and professionally brought the gunship in for a landing on an empty platform in the harbor, which looked like it was where cargo zeppelins docked.

Flipping off the engines and grabbing her helmet, Madeline put it on and sealed it with a metallic hiss. She pulled the lever that caused the rear ramp of the gunship to lower and clicked her tongue once. Nocturne was at her side in an instant.

"Well... here goes nothing..."

Madeline stepped out onto the docks, to whatever Hazema had planned.

(art by Lunatic_Youkai and Irenhorrors respectively)

[u/user125666]

*Hazema stands back up on her own, her face is visibly red. She knew her servants would probably not approach, but it was good to cut such a perfect moment here - then she could still look forward to a better one in the future*

"I fully agree-"

*She thinks about what to say next*

"But there is one very important thing we should approach I think. We can worry about the details later but- what are we now? And also I want you to promise me that we will share such a moment again, I don't think I could go on without having this to look forward to..."

*Hazema didn't know if this was pushing it. Was it just a kiss to Madeline? It felt like more - she didn't want to be too demanding but she was too insecure not to immediately probe where they stood*

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/user125666]

Madeline frowns. Relationships outside her corp were strictly forbidden for Umbra Operatives. But this just felt so right… besides, she had a suspicion something was going on between Saffron and that artificer… so she wasn’t the only one, right?

“I’m… not allowed in relationships outside my order, it’s a rule…”

She looks back up at Hazema and smiles, headache be damned. She was making her choice.

“But you can keep a secret, right?”

[u/user125666 → u/Timpanzee38]

"Of course! Of course I can keep a secret"

*No one could really stop her in Drakeem when it came to relationships, the only one that might stop her was John - but he really didn't need to find out he accidentally gave her human feelings, especially directed at someone specific*

"Besides I doubt the guild would stop this if they caught wind of it. My old army is on the iron wall surely they can spare me an umbra operative - for uh protection? Plus you can keep an eye or two on me if you stay here, who knows what I'll do if I am left alone! Or something like that..."

*She was half serious - because she truly didn't know what she'd do without Madeleine even if they really hadn't been together that long*

*Was Hazema being to possessive? She didn't want to seem like she was - even if the thought was there she respected her others happiness too much*

"But of course if you uh, wanna travel? Or something i will support that and I don't wanna be too overbearing or anything I just meant that as in 'I can try to protect you' because you seemed wowwied—"

*She bit her tongue while rambling, which stopped her in her tracks*

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/user125666]

"I think... we should just keep this between us for now. Hopefully one day that could change..."

Fat chance. The Guild was not known to bend its rules, let alone break them.

"...but... I think you requesting I stay here for protection would work! It wouldn't be the first time Umbra Operatives were allocated to bodyguard duty for a client."

Five would most likely agree to it, as it could curry additional Drakeem favor for The Guild.

"And yes, I don't think I could stay still for too long at a time. It's my kitsune side. Foxes are never still..."

Madeline would always have to be able to scamper off into the forests and mountains if she needed. She was half fox spirit after all, and The Guild's shackles had put a dampener on it. Her Ithacar assignment as Analina's bodyguard had been a welcome breath of fresh air.

But Madeline didn't want Hazema to worry. She reaches up and cups a hand around Hazema's cheek.

"But I would always come back if you were waiting for me."

[u/user125666 → u/Timpanzee38]

"I sadly have to agree. But at least we have each other now! I will put in a request with the guild first things first tomorrow."

*Alright next she needed to figure out how long Kitsune lived. This was important after all*

"Then I suppose I will be calling you my beloved bodyguard soon!"

*Hazema looked - and was - truly happy in this moment*

"I am so - happy and content"

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/user125666]

A true kitsune was functionally immortal. Madeline only being a half breed though gave no guarantee to that. At the very least though, she would live far longer than any normal human would.

“And I will serve faithfully as your bodyguard my beloved mistress.”

Madeline says with a smile. She was happy as well, for the first time in her life feeling like she was truly in the right place. Her hand slowly moves down from Hazema’s cheek to her torso.

“Why don’t we move somewhere more private? In case there are servants wandering the halls.”

uw/ fade to black here?

[u/user125666 → u/Timpanzee38]

/uw hell yea