gentle kisses

Truth be told, Jeanne should’ve been more careful.

It was way too easy to accumulate battle damage in Kamabo, after all. As soon as Jeanne got back to Cuttlefish Cabin and got out of her agent gear, she had found a sizable amount of scratches and cuts. She meant to go see Miss Idunn posthaste, but then her girlfriend found her as she was trying to shrug on a tank top. 

Needless to say, Jeanne wasn’t in any position to refuse medical care. Now she lays down on the small lounging area in the changing room, waiting as her girlfriend paces back and forth. 

“Oh, holy shit. How’d you get these?” Three mumbles as she crouches next to Jeanne, pulling her girlfriend’s tank top up a bit to check over her wounds.

“I do not know, truth be told. It was busy today, down in Kamabo.” Eight watches for a moment as Freya pulls a rather clunky first aid kit off the wall of the NSS’s changing room. “Though, um… I am certain I need to get my Null Armor fixed soon.” 

“That can come later, love. You’re more important right now.” 

Well, who am I to argue with that? Jeanne simply watches with light amusement as her girlfriend uncaps a water bottle to dampen a towel that was in the kit. She approaches with it and a big tube of antibiotic ointment.  

“Okay, I’m gonna rinse the big wound, then clean it up. This is gonna hurt, probably… so hold onto something, maybe,” Freya warns. 

“I understand,” Jeanne mumbles in response. She tries to keep her breathing even as Three pours what remains of the water bottle over her torso, dabbling the towel over her hip in particular. 

“Okay… here it comes,” is all the warning Eight gets before red hot pain flares over the spot Freya’s focusing on in particular. 

Jeanne hisses out through her teeth as Freya’s fingers slowly cover what feels like a gash on her hip with the antibiotic ointment. “Sorry,” Three murmurs, giving Jeanne a peck on the cheek in apology. “It’s almost over, promise.” 

“That is not the problem,” Eight grunts, shutting her eyes as Freya gently wipes the damp towel over the gash to help clean it. “I did not want for you to have to do this, Freya.” 

“Pssh, this? It’s fine. I definitely like being able to help you in any way, Jeanne.” As if to exemplify her point, Freya leans up, coming in close to plant a kiss on the Octoling’s forehead. Eight’s hair twitches at the affection, easily curling up into a tight twist. 

“Ah, mia ko’rimit… You are so much.” 

Freya laughs softly under her breath, the sound making Jeanne’s heart flutter. “I’m surprised, actually. You can normally take more of my kisses than this,” she teases as she unwinds a roll of gauze. “Something different today, ko’rami?”

Ohh, she is using the shorthand form! Does she know that is the softer form of the word for girlfriend..? 

“You, um… you could say that, yes.” 

“What is it, then? I’m curious,” Freya says with a smile in her voice as she gently wraps the wound up. 

“Uh… I suppose it is because you are caring for me, this time. I feel as though it is always the other way around,” Jeanne admits. “I think… that I am not used to receiving this sort of attention, perhaps.” 

A beat of silence passes. Then two. Jeanne peeks her head up, expecting to find that her girlfriend left the room or something, but is met with Freya’s orange and cyan flushed face. 

“Umm--” 

“Oh? Oh? Hold on!” Freya exclaims, her expression suddenly turning confident. “Does the esteemed and fiercely powerful Agent Eight, savior of Shinkai City, like being pampered by her girlfriend?” 

“H-huh?!” Jeanne stutters out, feeling heat rush to her cheeks. “Wait, wait--!”  

“Because I, the nefarious and equally badass Agent Three, am more than happy to oblige,” Freya says with a smirk, leaning to plant a kiss on Jeanne’s scarred tentacle. The action makes Eight’s hair twist instantly, only proving Freya’s point. 

“W, wait! Freyaaaa!” Jeanne whines as Freya continues the onslaught with a giggle, the Inkling easily finding small scratches and long faded scars to dust a kiss over. “Freya! I’m gonna-” 

“Gonna what, stop me?” Freya grins, gently lifting one of Jeanne’s hands to press a kiss to her knuckles. Eight feels her hair wobble at the motion, making the Octoling cover her blushing face with her free hand. “Aww, is it too much? Sorry, ko’rami. I can stop if you want me to.” 

“N… No. You can continue,” Jeanne murmurs, her face redder than red. 

Without skipping a beat, a very smug Freya continues to pepper her girlfriend’s old wounds in gentle kisses. At least, until the next agent to go on patrol walks into the changing room.