"Lynx, haha, as a brand new figure of authority," Aerendyl smiled, stepping forward, but there was a twitch at the corner of his eye. "Don't you think it's a bit early to be making calls like that? Besides- that isn't the kind of authority we're handing you."
"Then admit that this is about saving face to the crowd," Lynx snapped back, chest tight, wincing, swallowing slowly. Come on Lynx, stay calm. Don't freak out. "Because the way I see it," She added as the crowd went so silent that you might have heard a pin hit the ground, "-one of two things needs to happen, Aigis Order needs to be its own entity, operating separately from Contracted Arms. Or we need to rewrite the city's leadership- new council, and no commander."
"This is a conversation to have privately-"
"No to HELL with that!" Lynx shouted, not even registering the gasps and shocked noises of the people assembled below. "Why is it a conversation to have privately it's FOR these people?! What, going to turn to others and laugh this off, say giving me a title would be a mistake? Maybe what this city needs to take care of it is exactly that- somebody with no place in politics, who has nothing to do with them at all."
"Lynx-"
"I mean it," She snapped. "You, Aerendyl, are a liar and you're only good to anybody at all when it's going to make you look good or feel good about yourself. I'd paint a target on my back to keep people safe, given the opportunity, and THAT is why we are different. I said what I said. You can make your choice."
"She's right!!" Somebody shouted.
"Contracted Arms kills!!"
"What kind of police force walks around armed to the teeth?!"
"My kid was strip searched because he had a bag of flour for his science project!! What about the robberies? The murder?!"
"The bombings in Eastbrook!! We saved so many, but the Elevated haven't faced justice!!"
"If," Lynx snapped pointedly, glaring at Aerendyl. "-you want to make things right. For real? You need to make serious change, and nobody gives a damn if it's easy or hard. It needs to happen either way."
"Lynx,"
"Address them. Not me. Your friendship is a pretty lie and it only happens when it's convenient for you," Lynx snapped, pointing to the crowd.
Aerendyl's smile vanished.
For a moment, Lynx hesitated, chest so tight it hurt- I wish you'd have argued. Proved me wrong. Selfishness has no place in doing what's right, though.You tried to argue, but we both know why- you want me to be wrong. You need to be right, and at the top.
"City council," Aerendyl began, and the crowd fell quiet once more. "They decide taxes and laws, funding, the peaceful things. It is true that for what feels like a very long time, I have been the sole commander of Contracted Arms, and therefore Ravenwood's sole military commander. Fine. Fine."
She could see the gears turning in his head- and even the soldiers on standby seemed tense, confused. Nobody could guess what was about to come out of his mouth, and so Lynx stepped forward to speak… but Alice cleared her throat and pushed past Aerendyl, surprising both the blondes.
"Citizens of Ravenwood, I am Alice, heiress of the Family. We ask for your patience; you will receive a public announcement on the final decision regarding formation of the Aigis Order within twenty-four hours via national television. Thank you!"
-
"Lynx," Aerendyl inhaled sharply, pacing back and forth. They stood together; in his living room, both too anxious to sit, along with a few members of the city council that Lynx had never met. "I have defended you- gone to bat for you, threatened for you-"
"Sent me into sewers without proper investigation when I wasn't ready, had Nara kill a warehouse full of mercenaries who could have been bought out- we forgetting you have a lot of money at your disposal? Again, if you're only kind when it fits your narrative, that's not kindness! Stop focusing on the past and get your head in the present, let's look at our options." Swallowing, the blonde glanced back at Alice and Nara, who stood against a wall with arms crossed, having refused to stay back.
"You can't kill me," Lynx nodded. "Everybody and their grandmother will know what you did- and I see the vision. You give me an office and a title, you pretend you're giving me everything I asked for AND changing for the public- wow, Aerendyl, you're such an ANGEL. Doing what's right, huh?" She crossed her own arms, sighing. "Let's be honest, Aerendyl, it would be another way to change me. Funding and budgets, staffing- you give me authority on paper but nothing really changes- and then what, I look just as complacent as you? Or maybe I get declared a traitor and kicked out of office. I mean do you think I actually want authority?"
"If I may," One of the old men on the couch cleared his throat and sat up. Lynx looked sideways, pausing, curious.
"You do not want authority, perhaps, but you want change. Sometimes, change requires authority- you cannot ask for change if you are unwilling to make it happen."
"Right. I don't want authority, but you pushed it at me, so I'm taking it. Your mistake," Lynx continued, staring Aerendyl down again. "-was thinking I'd accept it unconditionally. I think Aigis Order should be separate from Contracted Arms and above it."
"You think you should be above me?"
"Military background, history of following orders and teamwork, proven positive moral compass-"
"I have been commander-"
"I WOULDN'T SEND AN AMNESIAC TO HER DEATH!" Lynx screamed suddenly, eyes widening, something in her snapping, sweat beading between her breasts, anxiety taking over, heart hammering. "I WOULDN'T ERASE SOMEBODY FROM EXISTENCE ON PAPER AND TURN HIM INTO A PRIVATE KILLER! I'M A BETTER PERSON THAN YOU. YOU SAVED ME, BECAUSE YOU COULD DO IT EASILY, WITHOUT CHALLENGE, WITHOUT BREAKING A SWEAT. I'LL SAVE PEOPLE EVEN IF THE ODDS ARE AGAINST ME!"
For a moment, they stood there, Aerendyl with hollow, glassy eyes, Lynx with wide, enraged ones.
"Lynx,"
"I would not let hundreds die to save my own skin. I'd be good all the time, not just when there's somebody to be in awe of me."
"Lynx!!" Aerendyl cut in insistently, eyes wide, hands up as if to placate, or surrender. "I'm, not… okay, okay. You're right. Is that what you want to hear?"
"No. I don't want to be better than you- I want you to change," Lynx sighed. "As things are though, I am better than you. Easy to see. Does that make me an egoist or does it just mean I have a brain and eyes that work? Who knows. You let me join a mission you shouldn't have and I came out a hero in the eyes of people- not because of you. Because of Nara, quite frankly."
"Hello," The dark-haired fox girl sighed, waving.
"Point is," Lynx continued. "The public sees Nara helping people. Hell, you could have tried to make her leader of Aigis Order- my interview went viral, sure, but it didn't label me as anything special outside of her leaning on my shoulder. Was it your idea to make me leader of this new department or the Council's?"
"It was-"
"Doesn't matter. Yes. I think I should be above you. If Aigis Order is to be part of Contracted Arms, it needs to be on top. The very top, below the council maybe but above you- with final calls on military operations. Otherwise, there's no point."
"The alternative would be making it its own entity," Alice cut in, walking over now and sitting on the L-shaped couch, nearest Lynx. "That'd be more complicated though- as it would still need power over Contracted Arms."
"People would never- and I don't say this to argue," Aerendyl sighed. "-The people already in Contracted Arms and the Council would never let Aigis Order be at the top and willingly give up their authority."
"The alternative," Lynx stated flatly. "-and I do say this to argue. The alternative would be to show all of Ravenwood that you're liars who don't believe in change at the cost of your egos."
There was silence, for a long moment.
"I'm not some chosen-one, hero," Lynx sighed, finally relaxing a bit. "I'm just in the right place at the right time- and I'm choosing to be the person we need, instead of running. That's what makes me right for this, Aerendyl. Put Aigis Order at the top if you're being honest. We can all win here," she added, turning to the councilmen. "I understand we need profits. I won't let my moral compass run us into the ground. What do you REALLY lose, giving me the authority to make things better? To stop the military from committing war crimes in the name of justice? I might need some time to learn- but I'm a realist, not an egoist. Please, I know things have been the way they are for a long time, but Aerendyl has proven he'll only act if he's forced to. The people are restless, we need change before things escalate. If I'm willing to step up- take the weight off the council- why not let me? I can make the change I want, and we can be allies, not quiet enemies." She swallowed, wincing, guilt flickering in her chest at the way Aerendyl's eyes darkened- but change requires accountability, honesty. Sorry, angel.
Aerendyl didn't comment. Just remembered what he said to Timio. I'll stand behind her, whatever comes next.
"What-" Aerendyl began, and stiffened as his phone began to vibrate. Frowning, he reached down and silenced it. "What do we stand to-" Again, phone vibrating. Without glancing at it, he muttered a quiet 'sorry' and stood, walking away, answering the phone. Lynx, Nara, Alice, and the councilmen waited in tense silence as Aerendyl spoke to somebody quietly.
"Yes. I'll handle it. Got it. Yes. Understood." Then he was walking into the room again, eyes tired and clouded. "Anyway, where were we? Lynx- if we accept this, what do we stand to lose? Aigis Order on top- what does that mean for the current system?"
"Accountability," Lynx straightened up, letting her hands rest on her hips now. "Nobody loses their job today. Not you. Not Marcus. Not a single instructor and not a single officer. Not Vilhelm. Nobody. I observe, and we try to fix before anything goes amiss. I won't replace you, I'll be above you. You'll answer for what you do, and be rewarded when you ought to be. Also… you're gonna get some paid time off, Aerendyl. You'd be less mentally ill if you had some proper rest," She added, smiling half-heartedly. Aerendyl frowned. "Sorry, bad joke. Not time to lighten the m-mood." Heart hammering again. Stay calm Lynx, we all make mistakes. Don't lose momentum.
There was silence, for a long moment.
"I… think we should accept," Aerendyl whispered, nodding.
"The council-" One of the older men began frowning, and to Lynx's surprise, it was not Aerendyl, but the other present councilman who cut in.
"The rest of the council will understand. We swore an oath to protect this city, and to always act in their best interests. Is this not keeping that oath? I… I am a stubborn old man, but I do believe that those who do not have the people's safety at heart should not be in a position that decides their safety. It will be messy. We will endure. What has the current system done?"
Lynx's eyes widened as the councilman continued. "The girl is right. The current system has experimented on two people in this room, forced another to keep operating as a student and be watched in spite of her prestigious status and family. Used another as a publicity stunt… I may be old, stubborn, and a poor example… but Lynx," The old man turned his eyes up to her, sucking in a slow breath. "I am embarrassed and ashamed to admit that you're giving me hope we can be different."
"I…" Lynx trailed off, and he spoke once more.
"Change will not come from orders, but choice. I choose to try. I have seen Nara- if we had asked, she may well have given blood. Let us understand her. The way things are… it's wrong. The Elevated are better fit to lead us- it's time we stop being the police force that ended a civil war over a hundred years ago, and become what we pretend we are."
Silence, for a long moment.
"Then," Aerendyl sighed. "It's decided. Aigis Order will be at the top of Contracted Arms in Ravenwood. Orders be damned."
"I won't sit in my fancy office and let people die," Lynx spoke with relief, deflating. "I'll be out there, seeing how things are on the street."
"Ouch," Aerendyl sighed.
"No. Wasn't a jab at you," Lynx shook her head. "I'm going to do this the best way I can, and I don't care how that makes me look compared to you. I just want to take this chance to better the world."
"You've come a long way from being a royal assassin in only a few months."
"Sometimes circumstances find the right people," Lynx shrugged, crossing her arms once again. "Can I go home now? I want to get some rest."
"Yeah." Aerendyl nodded, swallowing. "I… we'll figure something else out for you, on housing. That dorm won't work- you were never meant to be a student. We can talk about it tomorrow, though. Get some rest. All of you."
"I am sorry," Nara whispered, stepping up behind Lynx, hugging her. The blonde looked down and back, eyes widening, confused. "I betrayed your trust. I hope you'll forgive me," She added, anxiety in her voice, pitch raised.
"What do you mean…?" Lynx asked, swallowing.
"I didn't know how Aerendyl and the c-council would react," Nara stammered, increasingly nervous, drawing her phone from her pocket; her camera was activated, but it took Lynx a moment to notice the number in the top right with an eye icon; 1,248,726.
"Th-That," Nara laughed. "That's who'd lead you, Ravenwood. I d-did this in secret, without their knowledge- I-I was scared, that they'd try to hurt Lynx, but I n-needed you all to know if anything happened. The woman who'd l-lead you… w-well, you heard her…"
Nara stamped a red button in the bottom, and her live stream went silent as Lynx stood there in stunned silence, eyes wide.
The phone call.
I'll handle it. Got it. Understood. Where were we?
"Yeah," Aerendyl nodded as she slowly looked up. "I knew. Look, Lynx- I'm not a good person. I'm not, but, I want to be. You came along- shook up my philosophy, challenge me. Maybe, if I feel small for once, and spend some time away from the top… maybe I can really be good. I'm with you on this. If I had any doubt, it's gone. I… also stand behind the Aigis Order- and I'm aware she ended the stream. Now go home and get some rest… boss."
"I…" Lynx glanced back at Nara again, who looked away, guilt in her eyes… but the cat girl felt no anger. Rather, she felt a grudging respect at the gamble.
I'd have done the same, damn, thing.
We're good, Nara.
-
"I really am sorry," Nara mumbled under her breath, looking down as the three slowly spilled into Lynx's dorm, leaving a few shocked students in the hall staring… and firmly locking the door behind them. Opening her mouth to answer, Lynx inhaled slowly, and relaxed, some, hands trembling in front of her.
So… silent. How long has it been since it was, really silent… since I was locked somewhere I won't be attacked…
Gods…
"Hey," Alice whispered, gently taking her hands, careful, loose. "You're okay. We're here, love."
"I'm not mad," Lynx sighed, swallowing, gently taking her hands back. "Not upset with you in any way, Nara. I swear. It was as much for our safety- or at least, to make the world know if we were executed- as it was to show people what'd happen behind closed doors?"
"I-I just, I know you really ARE kind, and I wanted the people to see. It is just so much harder to fight you, for Contracted Arms, if the people are in favor of you being over them, as well. I thought, if I could change it from you and Aerendyl, to Ravenwood and you against the corrupt military, then,"
"Nara, you, are really fucking cute when you ramble," Lynx muttered, pushing Nara slowly back against the wall and tilting her face up, blue eyes on brown. "I am not mad at you," She added, chest tight, eyes lingering on the fox's lips, swallowing. "I understand, and I would have done the same."
"Hey, don't leave me out," Alice huffed, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall- her tail, that tentacle disguised as a generic demon rat tail, flicking and curling, shining suspiciously in the light.
"I'm sorry," Lynx whispered, stepping back, but Nara hugged the blonde's neck, stepping with her and pushing into a kiss, slow, deep, her bushy tail starting to twitch and wag as the two stumbled into bed, Alice climbing in with them.
"Please," Lynx whispered, and Nara broke the kiss as Alice nuzzled into her, Lynx's, side, sliding under her arm.
"Nothing you don't want," Nara whispered, nodding, gently kissing the corner of Lynx's jaw.
"Wanna make you feel good, if you'll let me," Alice whispered. "We all need it. You've done enough, Lynx," She added, that tentacle- tail!- wrapping gently under her thigh, coiling around it twice. "You've been a survivor, a cop, a fighter, a hero, the leader of the Aigis Order… you deserve a night to just be Lynx, my good cat. If you feel safe enough, to give me that control," She added, rubbing Nara's back slowly. "Won't leave you out, pretty girl."
"Mm," Lynx nodded softly, swallowing, chest tight. "I could do with a good night's sleep…"
"Are you sure…?" Alice whispered softly, angling her head. "When I took your hands, you pulled them away, and turned to Nara… her help in getting you out was a lot louder… I love you, Lynx, very much, but the last thing I want is to be here if you- mnf- mm," Alice gasped, moaning raggedly, eyelids fluttering as the blonde kissed her, hard, deep.
"Got a lot on my mind," Lynx whispered. "Sometimes, it's hard for me to focus and I just keep coming back to the last person who spoke to me. I need to get better at paying attention to you both, but Alice, I love you too,"
"Mn," the snow-haired girl nodded, shivering. "Love me enough… to let me ruin you for tonight…?"
"More than tonight," Lynx whispered softly, swallowing.
"Hey," Nara whispered. "We all stink, and I do not think Lynx is ready to relax. Your hands are shaking. Why don't I start the shower…?"
"Sounds good," Lynx whispered, chest tight, nodding. "Sorry, I'm trying to relax, it's just…"
"Shhh…" Alice whispered, slowly kissing her again as Nara slipped away. Soon, the blonde found herself blushing furiously and stepping into the shower with the others, unsure exactly what to expect.
"You first," Nara whispered softly, gently turning the water onto Lynx's head- warm, not hot, sinking in slowly. The cat stiffened, then slowly went still as she, Nara, began to drag a brush through soft blonde waves, and Alice ran her hand gently against Lynx's neck, jaw, cheek, her hand coarse; some sort of face wash.
"Girls,"
"No," Alice whispered. "You first. We aren't neglecting our own needs," She whispered, massaging Lynx's temples. "Come on, on your knees," She whispered, and Lynx obeyed hesitantly, all three sinking to their knees, letting her blue eyes close. The brush, the gentle washing; she gasped when Alice's hands slid down, kneading her breasts, sinking in slow, fingers tweaking her nipples, her thighs instinctively clamping shut only for the succubus to push them apart. Hands on Lynx's hips, her tail sliding up the blonde's leg and grinding against her core; Lynx shuddered, moaning quietly, feeling the tentacle slam into her while Nara hummed, setting the brush aside and gently hugging Lynx's head to her modest chest.
"Relax," Nara whispered, and Lynx shook her head, closing her eyes and moaning heavily, grabbing Nara round the waist, hugging her tightly as Alice started to speed up.
"Please," The blonde moaned out, voice thick, and Nara giggled, inching back, forcing Lynx to slowly lean forward on hands and knees, breasts bouncing under her as Alice went faster, deeper, bulging her lover's waist. "S-Sorry, I'm, selfish~"
"Lynx, baby, just be a good girl and take it for me," Alice whispered, going harder. "I'm a homunculus~ can't really feel it like you do~ but I believed all I can do is hurt for twenty years~ making you come undone will give me more joy than a thousand orgasms ever could~" Tail moving faster, and Lynx, unsure how to reply, moaned out louder, gritting her teeth, tensing, shaking her head… and indeed, she came undone, climaxing fast with a hoarse cry.
"Good, just like that," Nara whispered, rubbing Lynx's back, one hand sliding down, kneading her breast, pulling slowly. "Milk you, like a dumb cow, yes…?" She swallowed, blushing darkly at what she'd just said. "You are not a leader right now, you are our pet- so be good, and feel good, and no more thinking until the next time you see the sun."
"Please," Lynx laughed, gritting her teeth, tensing her arms. "I'm not a cow,"
"A cat, then?" Alice whispered, tail slowly starting to speed up again. "No, no, this isn't a person is it Nara? I only see a dumb cow~"
"Why we are allowing her into the shower, I am not sure," Nara agreed, purring, hips twitching. "Barn stall and a hose is proper, but cow deserves special treatment after her long month~"
"I'm n-not a cow," Lynx moaned out raggedly, but it was getting hard to think, Alice's hands kneading her ass, thighs, hips. Nara pulling at her breasts, rubbing her head, her hips bucking, rolling- crack, Lynx yelped as Alice's hand slammed across her ass, body rippling.
"Stop thinking, cow, your job is to feel good," Alice purred lazily, and when Lynx winced, she slowed her tail, rubbing the blonde's hips. "Come on lovely girl, it's okay, let go~ you don't need to be strong, baby, you're just an animal- just for tonight, you can choose this. You're safe,"
"Stop talking to me like that," Lynx moaned louder, vision clouding, swallowing with great effort to stop herself from drooling.
"Actually…?" Nara checked in, her hand still holding Lynx's breast, and the blonde shook her head.
"Stop, calling me, a cow, I'm not an animal," she begged, pulling Nara's hand closer, moaning louder and rocking her hips into Alice, tightening in a way that had nothing to do with stress and her long days, this time. "Gonna,"
"Again? Already? So fast, like a good cow should," Alice whispered, sinking her hands deeper into the cat girl's ass and pulling, giggling lewdly as Lynx's voice broke, tension slowly flooding out of her, finishing again, head falling heavier against Nara's chest, sternum.
"Not a cow… not a cow…"
"Oh my, she is still in denial," Nara whispered. "I think we ought to break her for real," She added as Alice slowly pulled her tail free, and together, they turned Lynx onto her back, Alice leaning down and kissing the blonde's waist.
"Can you handle one more for me?" She asked, with Lynx leaning back, head on Nara's legs, that damned tail lining up again.
"Please," Lynx begged softly, nodding and shifting her ass closer. "I'm not a cow, idiot~"
"Mhm, sure, love," Alice replied with a lazy smile. This time, Lynx let go; what might have been ten minutes or an hour later, sher wasn't sure, she came undone for real. Bach arching, hands yanking at Nara's tail desperately, she screamed, thighs clamping shut as Alice's tail rammed into her, the tentacle throbbing, loosing ropes of burning, perfect slime… her vision went dark, and the last thing she saw was the way her lovers smirked at her, Alice massaging her hips, Nara kneading her breasts, whispering something about good cows.
She didn't remember staggering to bed, some time later, and everything that came after was a blur.
"I am so sorry," Nara moaned out, hugging Lynx's waist tighter. The blonde hugged her close, waking halfway, pushing dark hair out of the fox girl's face; Alice lay beside them, but her tail was ruining the kitsune thoroughly; Lynx whined with arousal, feeling her own stomach indenting from the bulge in Nara's. "I thought I~"
"Say it pretty girl, go on~" Alice hummed, speeding up, and Nara howled, climaxing for the first? Fifth? Time, hips bucking violently as Lynx struggled to hang onto consciousness.
"I thought I had no right to be ups-set, oh gods Alice I will break~"
"Yeah~? Then break, what's wrong with it," The snow-haired girl laughed, panting happily.
"I-I thought I had no right to be upset!!" Nara gasped into Lynx's chest, eyelids fluttering, hips rolling as Alice kept fucking her, faster, her overstimulation obvious. "Boo hoo, I have become an icon with thousands rallying to help me…!! That pressure felt like nothing compared to Lynx, so I swallowed my stress…!!"
"No," Lynx whispered, giving Nara's bottom lip a drowsy kiss, moaning herself at the way her stomach kept taking thumps from Nara's bulging waist. "Always valid to be stressed… even if from just exams…"
"Alice…!!" Nara screamed louder, the tentacle going still faster; climaxing again, she screamed out in pleasure, hips bucking. "I- I CAN NOT-!!" Her teeth grit, she moaned out brokenly, whorishly, climaxing again… and moments later, again, before Alice finally pulled her tail free, slapping it once across Nara's ass, hard, before relaxing, laughing softly.
"Thank you, by the way," Alice whispered, and Lynx fought harder to stay conscious, sleep threatening to take her.
"I can't feel my legs," Nara sobbed, slurring, eyelids fluttering, grinding against Lynx's thigh weakly.
"For reminding me that I'm a fool, when I think all I can do is hurt," Alice added, in a whisper, leaning in and kissing Nara's head, between the ears… then leaning up. Lynx managed to stay conscious only long enough to feel that soft, motherly kiss before sleep reclaimed her.