The sun was already beginning to set, pouring its final golden rays over the calm surface of the pool. The light reflected off the water in warm shades of orange and amber, while a gentle late-afternoon breeze drifted through the area, carrying with it an almost tangible sense of peace.
Gwen and Jean were still enjoying the pool when Arthur finally stepped out of his workshop.
"Ahh~ finally." He stretched his arms over his head, rolling his shoulders as he let out a long, satisfied sigh.
His gaze swept across the backyard for a moment before turning toward the pool.
"Those two must still be there…" he muttered to himself. "I could join them, but I'll leave it for later. Better prepare something to eat."
With unhurried steps, he headed to the kitchen. As soon as he opened the refrigerator, he spent a few seconds analyzing its contents, as if mentally assembling a menu.
"Hm… I think carpaccio would be perfect today," he commented quietly, already setting aside the necessary ingredients.
Carpaccio was a traditional Italian dish, known for its simple elegance: extremely thin slices of raw meat—usually beef, though it could also be made with raw fish such as salmon or tuna, or even vegetarian variations.
---xXx---
At the same time, Gwen and Jean relaxed in the pool, chatting casually about various topics, laughing at random comments, and enjoying the light atmosphere of the late afternoon.
That was when Cortana spoke up.
[Gwen, your father just sent a message. He said he's on his way to pick you up from Empire State University now.]
Still in the pool, Gwen let out a resigned sigh and rested her hands on the edge before standing up.
"Looks like our moment is over," she said, grabbing a towel and starting to dry herself off.
"I'll take care of Arthur for you," Jean replied teasingly, with a playful smirk.
Gwen raised an eyebrow slightly and gave her an appraising look.
"You know… if you have any repressed desire toward him—anything at all—you're free to act on it," she said casually. "As long as he wants it too."
She smiled right after, pulled out her phone, and sent George a quick message telling him he didn't need to pick her up, since she was already on her way home.
Jean watched Gwen walk away, still trying to process what she had just heard.
"…Okay. That was weird," she muttered. "But at the same time, revealing. Arthur was right."
---xXx---
Later that night, the kitchen was quiet, illuminated by soft lighting. Arthur worked with absolute focus, slicing the meat with near-surgical precision. The paper-thin slices of carpaccio began to line up perfectly on a porcelain plate, forming an immaculate presentation.
Jean sat on the counter, her hair now dry, watching his every movement with a clear mix of curiosity and anticipation.
"You're really going to make me eat raw meat?" she asked, trying to sound skeptical, though her eyes betrayed her interest.
Arthur didn't look up right away.
"It's not just any raw meat," he replied calmly. "It's a new experience."
"You say that like it's easy to convince someone…"
"It is." He answered, glancing at her briefly with a faint smile. "You just have to trust the person cooking."
Before Jean could respond, Cortana appeared again.
[I've just received an update on George's movements. He's heading back to the precinct now.]
Arthur nodded, showing no surprise.
"And Gwen?"
[She's already home. But she seems thoughtful… I'd bet she's thinking about her friend.]
"She'll be fine," Arthur said with his usual confidence. "She's stronger than she realizes."
Jean crossed her arms, her tone suddenly changing.
"You really like her, don't you?"
Arthur paused his cutting for a brief second. Then he smiled softly.
"She's special," he replied. "But that doesn't mean I'm indifferent to what happens to you, Jean."
Jean blinked, surprised.
"What do you mean…?"
Arthur looked at her again, the smile still there, now filled with sincere calm.
"You're important too," he said. "You don't need to compete for something that, in a way, you already have."
Jean's face turned completely red. She fell silent, trying to figure out whether that had been a direct confession… or just another one of Arthur's ambiguous and dangerously honest remarks.
---xXx---
After dinner, Arthur took a quick shower and finally put the finishing touches on the most important project he had been working on: the Tempad. His mind, once filled with calculations and hypotheses, gradually slowed as the hot steam washed away the day's accumulated fatigue.
About fifty minutes later, he went up to the rooftop of the penthouse. There, he found Jean alone, leaning against the railing, gazing at the city illuminated by night lights. The horizon looked like a sea of artificial stars.
She wore a loose white shirt, thin enough to reveal the light-blue swimsuit underneath. Her bare legs were exposed to the gentle night breeze, and her hair swayed softly, framing her pensive expression.
"That woman…" Arthur murmured to himself, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Without saying anything, he went back to the kitchen. He opened a bottle of wine, carefully poured two glasses, and returned to the rooftop. Approaching quietly, he handed one of the glasses to her.
"Wine?" Jean asked, turning her gaze away from the city.
"I thought your heart seemed heavy. A little wine might help you relax," Arthur replied with a calm smile.
Jean accepted the glass, took a sip, and pursed her lips slightly.
"It's not as good as your cocktails… but it'll do."
"There's more," Arthur said, lifting the bottle with a half-smile. "Let's drink together."
They sat side by side, unhurried. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable, but warm—as if both knew that too many words would ruin the moment. Arthur could clearly sense how much Jean carried inside herself; she always had. All it took was looking past the strong posture she showed the world.
Jean took another sip and lifted her eyes to the sky.
"You know, Arthur… sometimes I think about the moment I met you."
"Oh?"
"It was strange. Like the world was in chaos… and suddenly, everything calmed down." She laughed awkwardly. "That sounds kind of cheesy, doesn't it?"
"Not at all."
Jean smiled, but soon her gaze drifted back to the glowing buildings.
"I… don't know exactly when it started. Or how. But at some point, all I could think about was you."
Arthur turned to her, genuinely surprised by her honesty.
"I'll never forget what you did for me…" Jean brought a hand to her chest. "You were kind. You were honest. And… as simple as it sounds, you saved me."
"Fufu~ You attacked me the moment we met, but I'll let that slide," Arthur said with a light laugh.
She laughed softly as well.
"Before I met you…" she continued, her voice lower, "I thought there was only darkness ahead of me. Like I didn't belong in this world. Like… I was a mistake."
"If you're a mistake, I don't even want to imagine what I am," Arthur chuckled lightly.
Then he looked at her seriously.
"Jean, you're not a mistake. And I thank whoever might be up there, watching over us, for your existence."
Jean stayed silent for a few seconds. That was everything she had always wanted to hear—something simple, sincere, without fear or judgment. She moved closer to him, her voice trembling.
"Arthur…" she whispered. "I love you."
She took a deep breath before continuing.
"I don't know when it started. Or how. I just know that every time I think about you, my heart calms down. You make me feel like I can exist… not as a monster, not as a mutant. But as a normal woman."
Jean hugged him tightly, burying her face against his chest. Arthur wrapped his arms around her gently, saying nothing.
That was all she needed: someone who could say, without hesitation, that she wasn't alone.
A few minutes later, Jean lifted her face and looked at him, her eyes still wet. This time, she took the initiative. She rose onto her toes and kissed him; even so, the nearly twenty-centimeter height difference meant she barely reached him.
Arthur smiled, tilted his head, and met her lips.
When they parted, he spoke in a playful tone:
"Now tell me the truth… it was Gwen, wasn't it?"
Jean laughed softly.
"It was. She told me to go for it, as long as you wanted it too." She took a deep breath. "I think I already have my answer."
"I figured she'd do something like that," Arthur laughed along.
"So…" Jean asked, looking straight into his eyes. "What do you want to do now?"
This time, Arthur didn't answer with words. He simply held her face and kissed her again.
"How about I take you to my room and show you what I want?" he asked.
Jean smiled and nodded.
---
Arthur sat on the bed with Jean still in his lap, their kisses slowly deepening. Her hands slipped under his shirt, removing it unhurriedly, exploring his warm skin with curious, confident touches.
Arthur returned the gesture, running his hands along her bare thighs, moving upward little by little. Jean gasped against his lips when she felt his fingers reach the sides of her swimsuit. Before long, he had removed everything that covered her.
Arthur laid her down on the bed, covering her body with his own. Jean pulled him closer, her hips moving in a clear invitation. He took her gently, and both of them gasped together as they felt their bodies join.
Jean's hands dug into his back as she arched, feeling him deeper inside.
"Arthur…" she whispered near his ear, her voice breaking between soft moans.
He answered with kisses along her neck, shoulders, and face, guiding her with a devotion that stole her breath. Jean's moans filled the room. She hid nothing, giving herself to her beloved completely, while Arthur welcomed everything without hesitation.
When the peak finally came, it was as if the world stopped for a brief moment. Jean trembled beneath him, her legs wrapped around his waist, eyes closed and lips parted in pure ecstasy.
Afterward, Arthur lay down beside her and pulled her into his arms.
They stayed like that for a long while, simply breathing together, listening to the sound of their still-racing hearts. Arthur gently stroked her hair, smiling.
"I wish this moment could last forever," Jean whispered.
Arthur kissed her forehead.
"We'll have plenty of time together to relive it," he said with a laugh, smiling at her.
Jean's breathing gradually calmed, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the red tattoos on Arthur's torso as she rested in his arms.
(End of Chapter)
A/N: As I've said many times, I'm terrible at writing lemon scenes, so please make do with this lol.
Note: I was short on time to polish it properly, so I had to write it this way lol.