Chapter 10:

  Is This A Dream?

  Elizabeth hummed to herself. She was happy and excited. She had finally finished with everything that she had to do and could not see Lucas again. The thought of it sent her into a fit of squealing delight inside of her head. Outwardly, she was as stoic as ever.

  Those she passed by saw her as someone to avoid or move out of the way for, not knowing that underneath was a woman on a mission. "What should we do together today?" Her thoughts turned towards everything she hoped to do with him. This was the life where everything would go her way. She'd make sure of it.

  As she arrived outside of his apartment, her heart began to beat even quicker with excitement and slight anxiety. Would he be mad at her for leaving him for a little over a week? She may be one of the strongest if not the strongest Pyer in the world, but that didn't mean she didn't have any fears. Nor did it mean that she couldn't get anxious.

  Of course, everything reted to those two things centered around Lucas. That's why she had left Maya in charge while she was away. She trusted Maya more than most. In fact, it wouldn't be wrong to say that she trusted Maya almost as much, if not just as much, as Lucas. She had always been such a good friend to her and a great asset during all of her regressions.

  It was just a shame that no matter how far back Elizabeth regressed, Maya still dealt with the trauma of her past. All Elizabeth could do was hope she got to her sooner than the time before. This time, she found Maya when she was a teenager. They've been friends ever since and Maya has worked diligently for her.

  "Now then...let's see how they're-" Elizabeth began to speak, unlocking the door to Lucas's apartment, only to be met with quite the sight.

  "No! To your left! The left!" Lucas shouted, pointing at the tv screen, "Your other left!"

  "Focus on your side!" Maya decred, her face focused in concentration.

  Both of them were sitting on the couch, two dirty ptes sat on the small coffee table before them. "Ha...I guess I was anxious for nothing." Elizabeth slowly closed the door, careful not to make any sounds. Both of them were completely engrossed in what they were doing. A small smile crept across Elizabeth's face as she made her way inside.

  They were pying what looked like a zombie game. It appeared to be set in a medieval nd, so no guns were present. Though, it did seem that there was magic as Lucas cast fire at a nearby horde. Elizabeth watched both of them with quiet amusement. She had never seen Maya this expressive before.

  Of course, this was to be expected and something Elizabeth had hoped for. In the few regressions where Lucas and Maya met, they had always become fast friends. There were even times where Elizabeth felt like she'd be able to share Lucas with her, but that was before her possessiveness kicked in and she found out Maya's preferences. This was shone in the character Maya pyed.

  A behemoth of a woman swinging around a rge sword. Muscles for days and taller than the small mage that Lucas pyed. Her smile turned bittersweet, recalling a past where Lucas wasn't always like he was now. It didn't matter to her, of course. She loved Lucas no matter what or who he was.

  "Ah! Damn it...fuck," Lucas excimed, slumping back into the couch as the game over screen appeared, "Well, we tried."

  "...One more time?" Maya asked, gncing over at him, only to realize that Elizabeth was there, "Mis-!"

  Before she got the word out, Elizabeth held a finger to her lips, indicating for Maya to be quiet. Lucas had yet to realize she was there, and she wanted to surprise him. "I wonder what cute reactions he'll give?~" A mischievous spirit took hold of her as she wrapped her arms around Lucas from behind.

  "You're not having fun without me, are you?" Elizabeth whispered in his ear, her lips right next to them, "You're going to make me sad...."

  "E-Elizabeth!" Lucas jolted, pulling away from her lips, a blush to his face as he held a hand up to his ear, "W-When did you get here?"

  "Hmm, I believe it was at 'To your left! Your left! Your other left!'," Elizabeth giggled as she quoted him, which further embarrassed him.

  "I see..." Lucas rexed, returning to her arms and tilting his head back to look at her, "You could have said something..."

  "I didn't want to disturb you," she expined with a slight shrug, "Besides, I wanted to watch you. It's not often I get to see you so focused on your games."

  "Really?" Lucas pondered this for a moment, "Did I...never py games around you?"

  Elizabeth went silent for a moment, recalling the past of when he used to py games in bed with her. He'd show her his favorite games and talk for hours about the lore of it all. However, that was many, many regressions ago.

  "Not for a long time," Elizabeth answered bittersweetly, tightening her hold on him, "However, I'd love for you to do so. Could you tell me about this game? Maybe I can try?"

  "You?" Lucas asked incredulously, and if she didn't love him so much, that might have hurt.

  "What? Do you think I can't py?" she sulked and pouted, "If Maya can, I definitely can!"

  "Okay! Okay!" Lucas said as he held up his hands to calm her down, "I didn't mean anything bad. I was just...surprised you wanted to. If Maya doesn't mind, we all can py?"

  "I do not," Maya answered and they both made room on the couch for her.

  With Lucas in the middle of them, he took his time to expin the controls to her with Maya giving tips as well. She cherished this moment as the atmosphere felt warm and jovial. She saw the two most important people in her life working together to try and teach her a game that she was, loath to admit, bad at.

  Her clumsy awkwardness with the controls coupled by how close Lucas was to her made it difficult to concentrate, but together, they got her through the first level. She was so proud of herself, as was Lucas. She had no idea that reuniting with him after a week would lead to this, but she was gd that it had.

  "Yes! Just like that!" Lucas's excitement got the better of him as he wrapped his arms around her in a hug, "It just takes patience, but you did it!"

  In that moment of excitement, Elizabeth's heart raced as Lucas kissed her. It was a reward she didn't know was coming, but one she gdly accepted. Maya looked on with a knowing smile. The moment Lucas knew what he had done, he shrunk away shyly, his face red.

  "S-Sorry, I got carried away," Lucas mumbled sheepishly.

  "Oh?" Elizabeth leaned towards him, one hand on his chest, "Maybe I might get carried away now."

  Lucas swallowed hard, their lips a mere breath apart. She could already taste him. She wanted to kiss him so badly. She wanted to-

  "Ma'am, you're about to die," Maya warned her.

  "W-What!?" Elizabeth quickly turned her attention to the game, grabbing the controller in order to save herself, just barely killing the enemy that was about to end her character, "Why is there no pause feature! When did the second level start!?"

  As she focused on surviving, she heard the most beautiful sound. Lucas ughing. The tension in Elizabeth's heart eased from the near-death experience, feeling his arm slip around her waist. He guided her through the second level while Maya took care of the dirty dishes.

  Moments likes these were what Elizabeth was fighting for.

  -----

  I was happy to see Elizabeth again. Getting caught up in the moment after she had arrived at my pce. Pying games with her was surprisingly comforting. Even if she was...not quite the best at it. Being able to teach her filled my heart with warmth and pride.

  Being able to share something like this with her made me feel happier than I ever thought. I never really got to share my hobbies with anyone. Not like this, anyways. We spent most of the day pying until I grew too tired to continue. All I remember was falling asleep with my head against Elizabeth's shoulder.

  "Morning, sleepyhead," Elizabeth's words woke me up as my eyes barely adjusted, "Did you sleep well?"

  "E-Elizabeth?" rubbing my eyes, I reached for my gsses, but Elizabeth had already handed them to me, "Thank you...sorry for falling asleep."

  "It's alright," she reassured me, her voice purring, "I enjoyed watching you sleep."

  A heat entered my face as I felt embarrassed. Yandere's. They were something else.

  "Did you...stay the entire time?" looking over to the window, the morning sun was just starting to rise.

  Gncing around my room, I noticed Maya curled up on the couch and I was in my bed with..."Wait." I realized in that moment that I was in bed...with Elizabeth. I had been undressed to my boxers and she was wearing nothing but a shirt. Her smooth, shapely legs were against mine.

  "I hope you don't mind," Elizabeth's eyes shone with a hungry lust, "I thought you'd be more comfortable like this, though it's not how you usually sleep, and well...that you'd appreciate the sight when you woke."

  She smirked, noticing my reaction down below.

  "It seems I was correct," Elizabeth ughed as I attempted to hide myself, "Don't worry, I didn't do anything. I wouldn't-""I know..." I interrupted, my entire body feeling warm, "I'm not worried about that, I'm just...surprised. Waking up next to a beautiful woman and feeling them against you...any man would react this way."

  "Well, I only want to wake up next to you," Elizabeth's hand reached for my face, cupping my cheek gently, "Did I overstep?"

  Looking at her, I felt a yearning deep in my chest. I wasn't angry at all. I was mesmerized. How could this not be a dream? I felt like at any moment I would wake up, but I never did.

  "No, you didn't," I shook my head, pressing my face against her hand, "Just a little warning next time would be appreciated."

  "Heh, of course, my love," Elizabeth caressed my face with the back of her hand before letting me go, "Since we have time now, what would you like to do today?"

  "You mean I can finally leave?" I teased as she pouted.

  "You know I did that for your own good!" Elizabeth sulked, crossing her arms over her chest.

  This further accentuated her body as the shirt was pressed firmly against her. I hoped she could forgive me for staring and being distracted.

  "Yeah...I know," it was difficult for me to pull my eyes away, but it was worth it to do so.

  Seeing her beautiful eyes shine in the morning light took my breath away. It was adorable how she sulked. In a moment like this, you'd never know how strong or how dangerous she was. To be honest, it was kind of exciting. Not only that, but...I felt my heart pull at me. As if I couldn't let this moment pass me by.

  My arms wrapped around her waist, hugging her tightly. The feel of her body, so toned and yet soft. The smell of slight sweat carried with it a flowery, citrus scent. It made me feel like I was at an orchard.

  "L-Lucas!?" Elizabeth stammered, unsure where to put her arms as she looked down at me with surprise, "What's this for?"

  "I just...missed you, is that so wrong?" I answered, looking up at her with forlorn, pleading eyes, "Am I not allowed to miss you? I know we, well I, haven't known you for long but-"

  Before my sentence could finish, her arms enveloped me in a warm, tight embrace.

  "Of course, you can," she whispered to me, and I could hear the love and pain in her voice, "So, how about we do something today? To make up for locking you up, hmm?"

  "Well...I've already forgiven you for that, but if you're offering," I smiled widely, "Did you have something in mind?"

  "Possibly," Elizabeth answered, a possessive glint in her eye, "First, you need to get dressed, or I might devour you."

  I felt heat return to my face as I realized that I was still only in my boxers. The desire in her voice made me extremely self-conscious, but happy. No one had ever sounded that way towards me before. The fact that she did...was I really sure this wasn't a dream?

  -----

  Elizabeth's heart was racing. Lucas was pying very dangerously with her. Then again, she had put herself in that position. When he fell asleep, she had Maya help to get him more comfortable before carrying him to his bed and tucking him in herself.

  Once Maya passed out on the couch, she had an idea that took over her mind. Taking some clothes from her inventory, she changed quickly in order to slip into bed with him. She tried to sleep, but honestly...how could she sleep with him right next to her?

  "Kyah~! He looks so cute..." They were her only thoughts as she stared at him obsessively for hours until the morning sun came through the windows. He tossed and turned as he always did, and at one point even wrapped his arms around her. It had taken all of her self-control to not lose herself in that moment.

  Now, while she watched him nervously grab his clothes and go into the bathroom to change, she couldn't have been happier. This was real right now. How many times has it been since she was st with Lucas? "Too long and too many to count..." Elizabeth mented silently.

  "Good morning, Ma'am," Maya's voice broke through her own thoughts.

  She stretched as she sat up, changed into pajamas that she pulled out of her own inventory. As she changed quickly before Lucas exited the bathroom, Elizabeth's eyes lingered a moment on Maya's body. Not in a strange way, but in a more...determined and sad way.

  Maya's body was scarred. Her back, arms, and the back of her legs held shings. There were a few burn marks the size of a quarter in various pces, but those had mostly faded. Elizabeth's mood darkened, knowing where she had gotten them from.

  "If you keep staring, Sir Lucas may get the wrong idea," Maya smirked over her shoulder though quickly grew serious as she finished buttoning her suit, "It's in the past, Ma'am. They can't touch me anymore."

  "I know, but-" Elizabeth was about to speak more when the door to the bathroom opened.

  "Oh! Maya, you're awake," Lucas greeted her cheerfully, "Did you sleep alright? The couch wasn't too uncomfortable, was it?"

  "No," Maya answered with a shake of her head, "It was perfect. Thank you for your concern, Sir."

  Elizabeth made note of Maya's more soft tone when speaking to him. It seemed that in the st week, Maya had definitely grown closer to him. She was happy to see that.

  "Well, now that the bathroom is free..." Elizabeth bounded up and over past Lucas, but not before stopping and giving him a kiss on the cheek, "No peaking.~"

  "I-I wouldn't...maybe," Lucas mumbled cutely.

  "Heh, I'm sure," Elizabeth gave him a wink before gncing back at Maya, "We'll finish our talk ter."

  "...Yes, Ma'am," Maya answered, slightly exasperated, and bowed her head with hand over heart.

  As Elizabeth closed the bathroom door, she heard Lucas speak from out in the other room.

  "Is everything alright?" He inquired with concern.

  "Yes, I'm fine," Maya responded simply, "It's just some business that she won't let go of."

  "Well...if I can help, let me know," Lucas replied, "I'm here if you ever need to talk."

  "...Thank you," Maya spoke and Elizabeth could imagine her bowing her head gratefully.

  Elizabeth hummed to herself, happy that things were going well. Of course, she wasn't about to let down her guard. Not this time. Lucas always had a keen sense of when something was wrong, but he was being considerate to Maya.

  Maya, being who she was, didn't like to talk about what happened to her. Growing up with high standards and physical abuse from your parents was never easy. Of course, Lucas had that healing touch of his. Even as he was, there weren't many he wasn't able to put at ease.

  "You're just too kind, Lucas..." Elizabeth mused to herself, fond memories of a past so long ago filling her head, "So kind that you gave a monster such as me a chance."

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