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Sunday doesn’t know what to expect when her sister texted him for them to meet at his home at the end of the month.
With her old showbiz era and now her business venture after her retirement from the limelight of the stage, Sunday will only reconnect with Robin through a few long texts and phone calls. He knows how busy Robin lives can be, and he is grateful to hear that she is doing well.
Though as Robin rarely visits him, he can only guess that something big is up, and somehow he is afraid to know the news. He tries to think positively, like maybe Robin has finally decided what she wants to do, or maybe she’s going to tell whether she’s having a breakthrough over something.
Sunday loves his younger sister dearly and wants to support every path she takes. He proposes an idea for Robin to start a business, or maybe learn new things to distract herself, which seems to be quite fruitful though it hasn’t been enough so far. He knows Robin needs time, and Sunday always says to her that he will be in touch every time.
That fine weekend afternoon, Robin enters Sunday’s home with another woman, which is quite a surprise for Sunday. Robin has long dismissed her personal staff as her stage life ended, so likely this woman is not the one.
Seeing the woman Robin brought with her is a bit guarded, Sunday can conclude that this woman might be shy or nervous.
Sunday serves them both with high afternoon tea, he surveys both his sister’s and this mysterious guest’s behavior, playing a guessing game in his mind about Robin’s reasons.
“Brother, this is Hotaru. Hotaru, this is my older brother, Sunday.” she says, introducing the silvery blonde woman beside her, who bows down politely.
“Pleasure to be your acquaintance, Miss Hotaru.” Sunday offers his business-like smile. “Robin should’ve trusted you enough to introduce you to me.”
“Ah, it’s nothing, Mr. Sunday. The pleasure is all mine.”
As the woman behaves amiably, Sunday guesses that maybe she is going to be Robin’s business partner or something and Robin is likely going to ask for his opinion.
But oh, how Sunday doesn’t expect the whirlwind to come soon.
Sunday watches as Robin crosses her hands on her lap. She suddenly goes quiet, looking downward to her own feet, like she is unsure of what to say. It is rare for Robin to be one. As far as Sunday is concerned, Robin is the vocal one. She’s always able to express herself clearly.
Unless—
“Long story short, I … happen to have her pregnant.”
Sunday doesn’t know what kind of face he is making right now. He is glad that he isn’t sipping his tea or he’ll practically make a fool of himself by spitting it out.
“There’s no need to worry, I plan on taking full responsibility for this!” Robin says. She practically stands up from the sofa. “I will marry her and make her the luckiest woman in the universe.”
“M-Miss Robin, that’s an exaggeration!”
Sunday remembers one romance comedy drama Robin once starred in before, except Sunday is the one of the performers, and this is clearly not a film.
Oh, for the love of Ena—or Xipe—or both, what did he do in the past to deserve this?
“Let me address a few things, dear sister,” Sunday massages his temples. “Since when you’re … umm, having a partner? Or should I say, how long have you been together with Miss Hotaru?”
Hotaru pulls Robin back to her seat, calming her down. Meanwhile, Sunday is clenching on his own fists tight. The moment is nowhere tense, nor suspenseful, but Sunday is sweating.
“We keep in contact for a while after that and … you can say I have a crush, brother. It is really unexpected that Hotaru is … well … bearing my child.” Robin speaks quickly. She fiddles on her own coat. “But, oh! I don’t mean it in a bad way. I mean, I want to take things slow at first but …”
Sunday feels like he is in-between two silly lovebirds by the way they exchanged shy looks between each other. At least Sunday knows that their relationship doesn’t base on lies and deception, or whether there is a hint that Miss Hotaru is an accomplice of something sinister.
“And Miss Hotaru has been pregnant for …?”
They look at each other before answering almost at the same time, “Three months.”
Sunday is choking on air. He maintains his composure, coughing to his fist instead. “I … see. Erm. Congratulations, then. While I still can’t, err, fathom about all these.”
Robin looks at Sunday straight in the eye, “No worries, brother. I’m here with Hotaru to come clean about us, and to retell how things had happened between us.”
He doesn’t have a choice to leave the topic for later, best to strike the iron while it is hot. “Sure. Let’s … let’s hear it.”
Though surely Sunday will appreciate it if Robin tells it in a way that doesn’t induce a heart attack for him—too late for that, though.
✼
It all happens so fast. Too fast that neither of them realizes something may or may not go wrong.
But then, it is wrong from the start: how will anyone just invite a complete stranger to bed, and they both—discounting how they’re tipsy from alcohol and likely drunk from more than just the booze—consented?
Though, let’s backtrack for a bit to the point where it all began.
It starts off by casual conversation, Robin remembers the night very well.
She watches her own reflection by her own glass as she downs another pint. Robin asks the bartender to stop her flow of drinks for a bit as she looks around.
The television on the far corner is on, displaying another facade of the showbiz that has long since Robin had left. Yet another saucy scandal. Yet a running gossip. Yet someone who runs away from the camera flashes as someone exposes and twists their private lives.
Since she retired from showbiz, at times Robin will find herself in blues, which she will turn to indulgent drinking over one of her favorite joints. She throws on a shirt and suspender, tucked in her long pants, hoping to blend in the crowd of corporate slaves and high-profiled businessmen in the lovely bar in commercial district she usually frequented, or as one of old magazines ever quote, ‘it doesn’t suit her appearance while being in private’.
Yes, she might miss being on the stage, singing for her audience, or acting for people who adored her, but her love for the glamorous diva life has long gone. She is now in the quest to find something else to do, something that may fill the gap, and so far she has yet to succeed.
Robin spots a suspicious crowd from the corner of her eyes, soon approaching her side. Despite having long left showbiz, several curious journalists are still on her hot trail. They always spin a headline, thinking that Robin will soon make a comeback, or spreading false rumors about her private life. The flame will die out eventually, she knows, and she only has to endure it for a time.
It’s undeniable, unfortunately, that it is all exhausting.
Robin rethinks her decision, likely wanting to call a night, when someone interrupts a man—one of the journalists—who’s about to casually sit beside Robin.
“I’ll have gin. Straight.”
Robin holds her breath as she meets with beautiful eyes, reminiscent of dawn's iridescence. She sips idly to her glass as soon as her order comes by. Just like Robin, she seems to be wary of others who soon close in to Robin.
“A Halovian,” the kind stranger says, noticing her halo and her distinctive wings. “It seems that I’ve seen you on screen before, you’re … Miss Robin, correct?”
“Mm,” usually, Robin will pretend that she has something to do and walk away when somebody new is aware of who she is.
But not that night.
Not when the stranger puts a protective arm around her, shielding her from anyone else as they’re huddling together for speaking in a more private manner.
She seems to be aware of the watchful eyes on the shadow, and she remains to do so until the suspected people whom Robin knows as journalists left the bar. The stranger pulls away when she sees the coast is clear.
“I hope you’re enjoying the night,” she says after a while. “I have a few friends who're enduring stalkers, so … I apologize if I came out strongly.”
“No, no. I should thank you. Really.”
Robin looks up to her savior—now she’s promoted to her drink buddy as the silvery blonde woman asks for another glass of her gin.
“May I have your name?”
“Hotaru.” she replies.
“Miss Hotaru.” Robin beams, liking how the name rolls in her tongue. She rests her chin on her hand, appraising the stranger. “Let me pay for your drinks.”
“Oh, no, there’s no need to.”
“It’s the least that I can do as a thanks.”
Hotaru wears a suit. Looking crisp with studded leather boots and complementary tie. The pencil skirt fits her whole professional accent, though Robin can say Hotaru is ‘fierce’, rather than ‘sensual’. Robin guesses that she is likely there for a formal party or similar fashion, rather than drinking alone after work. This private, high-end establishment may not be everyone's go-to playground and Robin likes the secrecy, though she can’t control paparazzi who will bribe the bouncer to simply get twenty minutes in the area just to snap a few pictures of Robin.
Seeing Hotaru here, meaning she is one of esteemed guests, or coming for a specific purpose.
“Working late?” Robin asks, eventually trying to dance around the topic.
“Yes, I’m here because of a coworker's party.” Hotaru explains. “She likes fine wine and she wants everyone to enjoy it, but …”
“The crowd is too much?”
“I prefer drinking in silence.”
“We share the same sentiment, then.”
Robin orders more of her favorite cocktail, while Hotaru takes a bourbon this time, on the rocks. The conversation goes lively from there, as well as accompanying jazz from the in-house band.
She doesn’t count how many glasses they both downed, though it is clear that they are getting tipsy, though not enough yet for the alcohol to dictate their minds.
“So you’ve long retired,” Hotaru nods. “I heard the news, but I don’t follow showbiz news quite well.”
“No worries, being FOMO about showbiz is already last season.” Robin comments. The ice in her glass rattles as she stirs the content. “Actually, I prefer this, getting to know someone who’s not seeing me in fans’ shoes.”
“I might be one of your opportunist fans, you know?”
“But I feel you’re not,” Robin chuckles. “I can feel your honesty in the way you’re covering for me.”
Another sip of her own drink, Hotaru laughs, “You think too highly of me, Miss Robin.”
“Take it as a compliment, Miss Hotaru.”
After Robin tells about herself, they talk about many things at random. Like Hotaru’s favorite drink aside from gin, or Robin’s preference over food. More refills, conversation shimmers, and they both can tell that they’re inching closer to each other, but unlike before when Hotaru is shielding Robin.
Hotaru doesn’t even look away as Robin notices she is looking at her lips, and Robin returns her gaze, amused.
Their breaths caress each other, thick in alcohol. Robin feels her pulse hum, clinking their glass together as a well-needed distraction. The night deepens, and Robin senses that the alcohol, as well as the atmosphere, makes her a bit hot under her collar.
“I’m afraid that if we continue talking, this will not be a … suitable place.”
Hotaru sighs, the corner of her lips curling into a small smile, “Where do you propose we continue?”
Robin tugs Hotaru by her necktie, though their lips miss its trajectory on purpose. Hotaru doesn’t seem to be taken aback by Robin’s sudden boldness. Instead, she secures a hand over the base of Robin’s suspender, pulling it slightly.
Their eyes meet again in heated gaze. It’s the last chance for either of them to break away and let go. Forget it all. Forget the night existed. Forget the electrifying sensation of their shared chemistry that happens within hours of drinking and talking.
“Come with me.”
–And their fate is sealed.
.
Robin has her share of kisses, of flings that she dared to name for its fleeting existence, but kissing Hotaru is different.
She has guessed that Hotaru will taste good, just like the specialty gin she drinks, though when their lips meet, it steals Robin’s breath away. Hotaru kisses like she means it, tongue and teeth equally desperate, hunger and heat palpable with each time they part and dive, and Robin likes how her lips tingle for more.
The hotel adjacent to the private dining and bar is where Robin usually stays whenever she feels like escaping her reality. That white night, however, she comes back to her lair with another person in tow—equally drunk, and a good kisser to boot.
They barely reach Robin’s appointed room when they no longer keep their hands to themselves. Robin swipes her key card and pulls Hotaru again by her necktie to lead both of them in the room, before they end up making out in the hallway and forgets any semblance of privacy.
Robin hisses, undoing her necktie as Hotaru unlaces her suspender. Letting their coats fall unceremoniously to the floor, they tangle and kiss further. The kiss itself is bitter, sweet, heat, cold from the ice, also slippery tongue in the midst, making a great cocktail mix.
“Oh,” Robin breathes for a moment as they part for air. “Do you really kiss everyone you meet like this? Because surely you make me melt.”
“I don’t,” Hotaru gasps. “It’s just—it feels right.”
“Yes.”
Hotaru has her back pressed against the door. Robin takes a few buttons of Hotaru’s shirt in a hurry, while Hotaru runs her hand along Robin’s side, teasing on the hem of her pants. Shadow casts on the room is their witness as they barely bother to turn on the lamp yet, too busy with each other.
“Miss Robin, is it … yours that is poking on me?”
“Ah, sorry,” Robin blushes all the way to the tip of her wings. “Kissing you is so hot that I—well—can’t help myself.”
Though before Robin pulls back completely, self-conscious, Hotaru beckons her closer. Their bodies crush once more, so are their lips. The way Hotaru’s knee rubs against Robin’s crotch isn’t really helping.
“Don’t hold back, please.”
Robin grunts as Hotaru secures a hand around her hips, half embracing her, then teasing down the divot of her spine.
“We don’t have to go all the way, you know, Miss Hotaru.”
Not to mention they barely know each other, only alcohol in their system enabled them further, and now they are both aware that they are standing at another crossroads.
Tethering in the line between logic and desire has always been challenging.
Hotaru looks up, her lips drag on the corner of Robin’s, open mouthed kisses go down to Robin’s exposed neck, then to the direction of her wing. Her teeth come into play, grinding softly against the soft feathers, not too hard to hurt, but noticeable enough that it makes chills go down Robin’s spine.
“It will be my pleasure.” Hotaru says huskily.
Robin is breathless. She pulls Hotaru’s hand, using her teeth to unwrap her glove, and kisses Hotaru's palm. “... Really? I mean, I don’t think I—we can stop midway if-if you allow it.”
“I don’t mind if it’s you.” The beautiful iridescent eyes are half-lidded, voice thick in desire. “I too don’t think I’m able to hold myself back from indulging.”
“Indulging,” Robin repeats the word as if it is magic. She likes that. Her smile only grows. Her mouth implores on Hotaru’s finger as she sucks on it absentmindedly, gauging reaction. Hotaru shivers, and it only becomes a bad spell to Robin as Hotaru’s knee bumps and rubs on her hardened length, threatening to push from the already tight fabric.
“Very well. I shall not disappoint you, then.”
They don’t bother to turn on any lights in the end, letting the skylines outside as their sole guide when they divest each other from their own clothes. Hotaru’s shirt goes first to the floor, then Robin’s, and as they arrive on the bed, Robin pushes Hotaru and kisses her urgently, no stitch of clothing left between them.
Robin rakes her eyes admiringly to Hotaru’s fit figure. Not too sculpted, though Robin can see hints of firm muscles everywhere she looks, that her own body may look thinner in comparison. Hotaru looks at her with doe-eyes, arms winding around Robin’s neck as they kiss more, afraid that if for one second they are away from each other, everything will break.
The blue-haired Halovian palms down Hotaru’s stomach, feeling the momentary tenseness there, though she slowly relaxes as Robin peppers kisses at the line of her jaw.
“This is not your first time, I take it?”
“No, but …” Hotaru trails off. Robin is about to apologize if she’s hitting a sensitive topic, but the way Hotaru pulls Robin to her embrace, brushing their skin together, Robin takes it as a green light. “I’m not … exactly in a physical relationship with anyone in a long time.”
Robin feels her heart swell at the confession. She trusts Robin , she thought. She moves up to give Hotaru a kiss on the lips as a reward of her sincerity, “Thank you, then, for giving me this chance.”
She can see Hotaru visibly swallowing, though Robin can say she is also a bit nervous, despite alcohol being in her system. The blush spreads prettily to Hotaru’s ear, and Robin can’t help herself to tuck a few strands of stray hair there.
Robin can smell the gin on Hotaru’s breath as her fingers go down to where Hotaru needs her the most. Robin wets her lips to be met with pulsating heat, clenching on her index and middle fingers as she helps Hotaru loosen up. One slow pump, one finger, and Robin thirst for more as Hotaru writhes, nails clawing at the base of her wings, threatening to tear some feathers.
“Ah—Ro-”
“Do you like it?”
“Faster, please, I’m-”
Hotaru chews on her lower lips, suppressing her voice when Robin’s fingers curl on a specific spot. Hotaru’s hips roll to the mercy of her fingers, moving faster as intended, until Hotaru breaches her first orgasm.
Sweat prickles on her temples, tears stream down her cheek; Robin kisses them all. Watching Hotaru unfurl before her making gears turn inside her head.
Robin removes herself for a bit, fishing for a condom in the drawer. Though before Robin gets to use it, Hotaru tears the package for her. She uses part of her mouth to help Robin wear it, pleased to see more of Robin and pleased to see herself doing it.
The way she sensually uses her mouth to place the condom—Robin is literally beading .
Robin pulls up Hotaru’s legs, positioning her aching length before the sweltering core. She gulps, she is going to make love to someone so beautiful, so wonderful, so —
“Come here, Miss Robin.” Hotaru eagerly opens her arms for her, and it makes Robin swallow hard.
She pushes one at a time, feeling tightness all around, and Hotaru writhes beneath her. Robin huffs, pacing herself, and she makes sure to check on Hotaru from time to time, whispering to her, kissing her face.
“Breathe, Miss Hotaru,” Robin guides, until she is fully in. Hotaru’s heat clenches Robin’s length, it is a pleasing sensation.
“Ah—” Hotaru looks down to where they are connected, flesh to flesh. She runs her hand down, a mix of disbelief and delight moors her expression whilst Robin wonders if she’s going too fast.
“You okay there?” Robin asks.
Hotaru wraps her arms around Robin’s neck, pulling her down for a kiss, and it takes Robin a lot not to start off so rough.
Single push, slight pull, then more as she deems Hotaru can take it better. The silvery blonde woman covers her own mouth as Robin starts off slow, testing waters.
“I want to hear you,” Robin pleads, prying off Hotaru’s hand from covering her own mouth. “Will you let me?”
“B, but it’s embarrassing.”
Robin kisses Hotaru’s wrist, “You’re so beautiful, Miss Hotaru. I think I’m the one who’s doing the most embarrassing things here.”
“You … You don’t.” Hotaru stutters.
It takes a while for Hotaru to get used to it, though by the time Hotaru is finally let her voice out, Robin is picking up the pace. They lace their fingers together, with every push drives Robin so close to the edge and keeps her yearning for more. She feels like she has been blindsided, fueled with adrenaline, and Hotaru’s walls only clamp down to her length as if not wanting her to go.
Robin’s first climax of the night is met with pitched noise from Hotaru. They share more wet, sloppy kisses as Robin already flips her on the bed, pulling herself out when the wave subsides.
Hotaru is now wagging her rear as Robin takes her again. Robin’s essence that leaks from the condom still drips from her entrance, yet it only makes her look appealing, enticing . Robin doesn’t know why Hotaru can tease her without having to say anything.
“Aeons above, how can you be so—” Robin chortles midway, hands trembling when she grabs Hotaru strongly by her ass. “Gosh. For the love of Xipe.”
Hotaru smiles back at her, welcoming her embrace while Robin pushes in again. One arm around Hotaru’s stomach, and the other props herself up as Robin assumes faster, short paces. Hotaru’s insides are so warm, and her skin tingles in heat. Robin leaves marks on her nape, spurring herself on, bracing for another of their peaks.
They can’t find a good time to pause, or any indication to stop just yet. Robin embraces Hotaru from behind on the bed right where they tumble down from the last high, already rutting on Hotaru’s entrance again while trailing wet kisses around her shoulder.
“Miss Robin, wh—wait, not there!”
Cute , Robin muses. She circles her dominant fingers around Hotaru’s clit, in tandem with sliding between Hotaru’s legs, but not putting it in yet. Her other hand finds purchase around Hotaru’s modest breasts, her nipples hard and darken beneath her palm.
“You’re so sensitive here,” Robin narrates as she pries open Hotaru’s small lip, teasing the head of her cock on the exposed skin, which earns Robin a squeak straight from Hotaru’s lips. Before Hotaru gets to focus on one sensation, Robin pinches Hotaru’s nipple. “... A beautiful sound.”
“Ahh!”
Robin busies her hands, enough to make Hotaru bends forward, both in pleasure and overstimulation. Hotaru whines when Robin stops with the teasing to momentarily slide herself in, the slippery heat on Hotaru’s hole welcoming her again and she can’t get tired of it.
They are both too far gone, too high with each other’s presence and rhythm, that they both merely continue to dance without avail. Hand marks, bruises, red from claw marks, they crumple the sheets and spill everywhere. One orgasm after another, changing position, then more kisses as to renew the unwritten vow they have made.
Robin has lost how many condoms used or how many times she has come—or Hotaru’s, for that matter, when Hotaru knocks Robin back to bed.
The silvery blonde settles atop of Robin, bangs covering her eyes as she heaves. She already takes Robin’s length inside her as she pins Robin down, a swift slip down as her hips roll easily against the pressure.
They both scream, it is something unlike before. In this position, Robin can reach Hotaru to the deepest, and Hotaru eagerly settles down for each time Robin pushes up.
“Are you good? Can you still move?” Robin asks between her spent breaths.
Hotaru nods quickly, clearly in no condition to talk but her hips resume movement.
Robin clasps their hands, preventing Hotaru from falling sideways. Each roll of her hips takes Robin deep, almost making her think she can see the shape of Robin’s own in Hotaru’s lower stomach. Hotaru hisses, letting out more choking noise with each bump. Robin groans, pushing herself up, hands clenching on Hotaru’s entwined fingers, until they both come crashing down again.
When Hotaru falls to her arms as they ride out aftershocks of their come, Robin catches her. Her hands run through Hotaru’s back, soothing the woman on top of her, as well as for Robin to catch her breath. She is still inside Hotaru, they are too spent to move so soon, so Robin decides to embrace Hotaru, feeling the silvery blonde woman’s skin heated against hers, and how she is so warm inside.
Robin sighs in content, finding Hotaru’s face again and giving her a lingering kiss on her chin, then to her cheek. Hotaru pulls herself up, granting Robin a chaste press on her lips.
They exchange lazy kisses until Robin can pull herself out. Hotaru slumps beside her, her arms don’t leave Robin yet, hugging Robin by her side.
They bask in the afterglow, equally tired but sated,
“Miss Robin,”
“Yes?”
“I—” she chews on her lower lip. “... Thank you for being gentle.”
Robin turns so that they’re facing each other. She presses her index finger on Hotaru’s lips, tracing the line to the corner of her mouth. Hotaru smiles at the gesture, and Robin ends with a caress over her flushed cheeks.
“I should be the one who says thanks.” she replies. “For being so accepting.”
Robin doesn’t exactly remember when they both fall asleep, or whether Robin falls asleep first. Her slumber is dreamless, though the warmth enveloping her is real.
.
Hotaru disappears come morning, like a midsummer night dream.
Most of the trail of what they did last night disappeared, likely Hotaru cleans it up before she goes. Though when Robin takes a glimpse of the trash can, she can see all the used condoms. The heap of clothes with stray feathers. The bed sheet also still smells with a peculiar scent of sex and of the woman she spent a wonderful night with.
Robin looks up to her reflection over the mirror by the wardrobe, admiring the bite marks on her shoulders, her wings, bruises on her torso, and the hand print on her thighs; though the swell of pride doesn’t last too long as the absence of the beautiful woman feels bigger.
The more Robin looks around, the more she relieves of last night. The time they share, the drinks, the gin ghosting her lips—
Yes, the sex is amazing, but above all, Robin simply likes to be around her.
As Robin wanders to the bathroom to wash up, something on the bathroom mirror surprises her. Words left haphazardly with Robin’s own lipstick, likely the writer scrambled for anything to use to write and a space to write.
The message contains Hotaru’s phone number, and a footnote: call me.
Robin has never been so elated in the day of her life.
.
They keep in touch for weeks from then, exchanging frequent messages, or late night calls when Hotaru is not busy.
Hotaru says she is working for the government, but her exact nature of job is unknown even to Robin. It didn’t really matter, as Robin simply enjoys her company and they can always meet up again when the time is right. Robin wants to know Hotaru better and Hotaru is also keen on knowing more about Robin.
It is all slow steps, building trust, building affection—
.
Though, it doesn’t take them until a full month later for them to reunite in (yet) an abrupt situation.
When Robin turns to the maternity ward, which happens to be empty at the time, she only sees a silver robotic mecha sitting on one of the benches in the waiting lounge. Robin looks around the ward, finding no one else but this mecha. Likely this is not a hospital's helper robot or something, so Robin eventually approaches the mysterious hunk of humanoid metal, waving her hand over its visor.
“Miss … Hotaru? Is that you?”
The mecha looks up toward the source of voice. Its metallic plate around its joints and chests glow in green light.
“Oh, Miss Robin, t-there you are!” What comes from the mechanical robot is a synthesizer deep voice.
Robin takes a step back, blinking, unsure how to approach. Though she has established that this mechanical body is Hotaru. Hotaru seems to only realize now that she is in the suit that she looks at her own hand in confusion.
“Sorry, I was on duty, and I kind of panicked and kind of … going to the hospital like this, I-I should get changed.”
Robin blinks, but she accompanies the mecha to ‘change’ anyway, then they are going back to the waiting lounge by the maternity ward. Robin holds her hand all the way as they slowly walk.
Hotaru looks slightly pale. She wears a lovely one-piece dress today, coupled with a knitted pastel cardigan. She clearly is at a loss, and she doesn’t talk until they sit together in the waiting lounge.
It is given. Anyone will be shocked over this. Knowing Hotaru and her faithfulness, her sincerity, she turns to Robin because she trusts Robin. And instead of blaming Robin, she believes in her.
“I—look, it’s not like I’m going to deceive you, so we’re here to find out,” Hotaru stutters. “I-I’m sorry, I–”
“Hotaru.” Robin interrupts her, her tone firm. “I should be the one who’s sorry. This is not your fault, and if anything is bound to happen, I will take responsibility for it.”
Hotaru gasps when Robin kneels before her, clasping both of her hands on hers as Robin looks at her straight in the eye. Robin gently kisses Hotaru’s fingers, and with each of them, she looks up, squeezing Hotaru’s hand, reassuring her.
“I will never leave, no matter what.” Robin says firmly. “So lean on me.”
Unbeknownst to them, they’ve been watched by several passerby visitors and nurses start whispering among themselves. Red-faced, Hotaru urges Robin to stand up.
“Are you … serious? I mean, usually people will just … leave when knowing—” Hotaru trails off, her voice decreases in clarity. “–when knowing that someone claims to be bearing their child. Not to mention, you’re someone famous, I …”
“I may only know you for a short moment, but Hotaru … I always think of that night we’re together,” Robin confesses. “We may start off fast, but I’d never dream of hurting you.”
Hotaru’s eyes glaze in unspent tears, Robin can tell that she tries hard not to cry just yet. It is a bad situation for Hotaru, Hotaru is deeply affected more than Robin does. Robin can only hope to give her strength.
“Also we’re going to find out the truth together by coming here,” Robin says. “It’s okay. I’m here with you.”
When they embrace, even the nurses in their station start to applaud, and so do the passerby visitors who don’t leave the perimeter after seeing them. The maternity doctor interrupts their … jolly climatic scene with a cough, and they both finally get Hotaru checked.
✼
Sunday heard the full story with undivided attention, mostly quiet or keeping his thoughts to his own as he didn’t know what to say.
All the while, it was either Robin tried to wrap her arms around Hotaru’s hips when they went through some parts that’s sensitive to them, or Hotaru clasps their fingers together on Robin’s lap.
If anything, they are not shy to profess their own love, which Sunday personally think of as something good. Robin hardly finds love outside her work, and knowing how she retires from showbiz because she can’t find ‘anything to love’ anymore was saddening for Sunday.
Though, the detailed account of their encounter, leading to … sweet (consensual, yet Sunday can’t help the dubiousness) lovemaking, then the way they found out that the latter is bearing Robin’s child, is a bit too much for Sunday to take in.
They managed to confirm that it is indeed Robin’s child, and Robin, who promises to take responsibility, is planning to marry Hotaru.
All in all, Sunday can only say that it’s … love. Nothing more, nothing less.
“Is there anything … else I should know?” Sunday feels that he is growing faint.
“Oh, right,” Robin perks up. “You’ll be the godfather for our twins.”
Sunday is sure his eyes are going to pop out from its socket—or perhaps it is already falling, and he is so close in seeing the gate of Heavens.
“... Twins!?”
The dream of the past is cut short by the ringing of alarm. Hotaru always wakes before the alarm rings the second time, a habit that never went off, despite Robin likely waking her up if she happens to be too lethargic after a tiring day of work.
Robin’s brother is still on the fence after that, but he is quite welcoming. He is very supportive of them, and he can be quite a mother hen when their kids are born.
Robin starts her own cafe business not long after they’re settling together, while Hotaru keeps her job in government. The first year of them juggling between work and parenting is the most grueling year where they struggle and cry together. They are able to look back to those years fondly now with each other’s support and perseverance.
Hotaru glances over the nightstand where the photo of their big family perches. It is when Haru, the older one from the twin, wins a speech competition in her third grade. Sora, the youngest of the three, is in Robin’s arms, holding up Haru’s medal for her while she and Natsu, her younger twin, show the certificate and banner for the camera. Hotaru is on the left, Robin on the right.
She knows she’ll just keep reminiscing and forgets about time, so she needs to get up. Today is, after all, a big day for their youngest child.
Hotaru turns around on the bed to find Robin by her side, peacefully sleeping while hugging her arm. Hotaru wriggles gently from Robin’s hold, propping herself with one arm as she whispers to Robin’s side.
“Wake up, sweetheart.”
No response, Robin snuggles on the pillow instead. Hotaru purses her lips.
“Wake up.” she tries again.
After a few tries, Hotaru shakes her head. She eventually does think of a last resort, which is embarrassing to do despite years of their marriage.
Hotaru leans in, claiming Robin’s lips with her own in a slow, lingering kiss. She opens her eyes, seeing that Robin isn’t responding, and Hotaru leans for another.
She feels a hand on the back of her neck that urges her to keep kissing, then she senses Robin’s lips move against her, reacting, though Hotaru pulls away quickly, to meet with a grinning Robin.
“... Mm, I think you should wake me up like that everyday.”
“Cheeky. I know you’re already up.” she touches their foreheads together. Robin leans in for another peck and she affectionately runs her finger on the crown of Hotaru’s head.
“Shall we start on breakfast? It’s a big day, the kids need their energy.”
“You’re right.” Hotaru sighs contently to Robin’s neck as she wraps her arm around to embrace her wife before they both get up and walk toward the kitchen.
.
Years pass since then, and their family grows. Four years after the twins were growing up to be healthy, active kids, they got another addition to the family in a gift named Sora.
Unlike her older twin sisters who have darker blue hair, Hotaru’s eyes, and metallic halo, Sora retained most of Robin’s Halovian features. Sora has lighter gray hair and Robin’s eyes. The three siblings may have their share of fights and arguments, but the twins are quite protective of their youngest sister, especially when anyone teases about Sora’s wings.
Haru is the closest to being like Robin. She finds herself like to be surrounded by musical instruments, and she is quite proficient in language. Haru has yet to choose whether she wants to pursue her interest or cultivate her own ideals. Natsu may be a polar opposite in that she is more physically active and enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and running. Surprisingly, Natsu is so good at mathematics, to the point that she’ll help others with their homework. Though just like her older sister, Natsu has yet to choose what she really wants to do.
Natsu is an early riser, she always ends up pulling Haru from her bed and helping Sora to get up when Hotaru gets to wake everyone when the breakfast is ready. Hotaru resumes to brew coffee after seeing Natsu waking up everyone.
“Mama Hotaru, Haru-neechan is not responding.”
Natsu reports after a while. Her metallic halo crooked on the side, a sign of distress. She already has her hair in a high ponytail, ready to join the table for breakfast. Meanwhile, Sora is yawning in the dining room, planting her face on the table. The wings below her ears curl inward as she struggles to keep her eyes open.
“Bring Sora to wake her up.” Hotaru gives Natsu a thumbs up.
“Oh, she will yell loudly if Sora goes all koala on her in the morning, are you sure, Mama?” Natsu snickers.
“Just for today.”
Robin, who’s plating scrambled eggs, looks over her shoulder worriedly as Natsu carries half-asleep Sora back to their bedroom. Hotaru put an index finger on her lips in a shushing sign.
“Haru-nee! Wake up! Incoming one Sora Bomb!”
The parents are merely awaiting for them—until there is a shrill girly scream coming from that direction. A sound of something solid colliding ensues.
“Mamaaaa, help, there’s koala—”
Both Robin and Hotaru merely laugh as the three kids bicker among each other, though they end up being able to wake up the oldest sister of the house, and they barrel to the dining room, bemoaning about each other. Haru quickly helps Robin in the kitchen after that, while Natsu and Sora arrange plates.
Today marks the first day of Sora in elementary school, which is also the day that the twins advance to the fifth grade. Per family tradition that Robin decides for herself, they will all accompany Sora to school by the car.
The morning preparation in the family goes without a hitch after (rude) awakening and lively breakfast. Robin and Hotaru decide to wear matching casual wooly pastel cardigans for the day, Hotaru with pants and Robin in a long skirt. Robin lets the twin to help Sora dress up for this special day, eagerly waiting for them to show up.
Hotaru sweeps around the room to search for the twin, “Haru, Natsu? Is Sora ready?”
The twins show up from their room, gingerly take their youngest sister’s hand one on each. Hotaru kneels, checking on the three, tidying Sora’s collar, tightening straps on Haru’s backpack, and she’s adjusting Natsu’s name tag. It is customary for the first day of the new school term for everyone to wear their name tag so that the juniors can learn their upperclassman’s names. As a new student, Sora will get her name tag and ribbon later after school’s assembly.
Hotaru flashes Robin a smile and a nod, signaling that their children are all set. Robin twirls the car key in her finger, and winks back to Hotaru as she wears her driver sunglasses.
“Okay then, it’s time to go.”
“Go!” Sora repeats excitedly.
✼
It is a lovely day in spring as the school welcomes parents and new students to the assembly.
Hotaru can’t help but to admire how she misses the welcoming ceremony and looking back when they are both still young, inexperienced parents taking their twins to their first school. Robin holds Hotaru by her arm as the assembly goes on. They can’t help but to wave back every time Sora turns back to seek them within the crowd.
After the new students get their name tag and assigned to classes, Sora runs back to them and greets them, waiting to be sorted. Then, a familiar pink-haired teacher approaches them while holding a sign with Sora’s class number on it.
“Oh, you’re the homeroom teacher for Sora’s class, Miss Fu?” Robin asks as she addresses Fu Xuan, one of their associates who’s also one of many auntie figures to the family.
“I didn’t know Sora is of age yet until I saw the roster! She’s just so cute and small that I thought she was younger.” Fu Xuan says, she then squints her eyes at Hotaru. “Miss Hotaru, I hope you won’t show up at a parent-teacher meeting in the future while wearing armor, okay?”
Sora looks up to the adults questioningly, though her eyes sparkles when she catches a glimpse of Fu Xuan mentioning ‘armor’. She already makes a specific pose. Robin giggles, while Hotaru can only look away and blushes. “Armor! Mama Hotaru transforms!”
“Oh for the love of—” Fu Xuan sighs. “Well, anyway, welcome to school, Sora. Take care, you two.”
“Thank you, Auntie Fu!”
“Erm, please call me ‘Teacher’ when we’re at school, okay?”
Fu Xuan guides Sora to her classroom, saying goodbye to both Robin and Hotaru.
The bell rang, so all the students soon scrambled to their classes, and the parents were dismissed.
They walk through the school grounds, enjoying the spring breeze. They walk in silence, hand in hand, purposely passing through the fifth grade’s class to get a glimpse of Haru and Natsu’s classroom before they decide to call it a day and let the kids be on their own.
“Time goes by fast, isn’t it?”
“Well, not so fast, but I get you, Robin,” Hotaru chuckles. Now that they are stable financially and family-wise, they have to give room for more family outings and have a good time with each other. “It feels like yesterday when we decided to start a family out of sudden, then you just keep giving me more love and reason to love.”
Robin smiles, “I do want you to be the happiest woman in the universe, that never changes.”
Hotaru blushes, “Whenever you say that, I’ll still feel embarrassed.”
The sunlight is warm on her skin, and Robin’s openness has always been the warmest thing in her life. They may have met in unsavory circumstances at best, a whirlwind of quick connection, but then, Hotaru is indeed lucky. Lucky to meet the right person at the right time.
“You’re having a full day off today, right? How about a date somewhere?” Robin takes out her phone, scrolling out possible places near the school to go to.
“Date?” Hotaru blinks. “The way you say it always makes me think that we’re still so young and so in love.”
“But aren’t we?”
“Mhm, we are.” Hotaru presses a kiss on Robin’s cheek. “Or we can always go back home.”
“Getting a take out, spending time resting? It won’t be so bad.” Robin agrees. “And we can have a little fun before the kids are back home—ouch .”
Hotaru sighs, pinching Robin’s cheek.
“Why does it sound so perverted when you’re the one saying it!?”
“We can just watch movies or laze around together, you know? Or …” Robin’s smile grows mischievous as she pulls Hotaru close so they huddle together at the hood of the car. “So you want that kind of fun~”
“R-Robin!”