Vuvi kicks in their room door, Boombuster in one hand, the horn of a baroness in the other.
"Did you see her face when she looked down the barrel the Boombuster?" she grins proudly. "Mother's going to piss her panties when she hears of this!"
She stumbles into the room cackling triumphantly, cheeks beaming bright from the joys of victory, her body quivering from the thrill of deadly combat. She flops face first into the closest bed, limbs splayed out wide, releasing a long, muffled groan into the mattress.
Pip shuffles into the room behind her, shoulders dripping with drool as he carries a half-limp, mumbling Penelo on his back.
"You're so fluffy…" the bunny-kin whispers into his shoulder-plating, her mind in a dreamily pleasant daze.
Pip, amused, gives cheerful beeps as he lays her down gently on another bed. He pulls a blanket over her, and tenderly tucks her in. She immediately curls up like a sweetroll, smiling softly in her sleep.
Veena enters last, cool and composed, her high heels clicking with confidence. She silently shuts the door behind them, flicks an invisible spec of dust off her shoulder with a regal grace and slides into a chair besides Vuvi's bed, crossing her long legs as she pulls down her hood.
She pokes the red-head's arm.
"Huuuh?" Vuvi groans.
"You realize she'll be back, right? The baroness. " Veena says, her voice smooth, low, and spiced with a splash of arrogance. "You won't be safe here for long."
"Tomorrow?" Vuvi mumbles into her pillow.
"No, not quite. Demon-kin usually take years to regenerate around their heart-core, if at all. But Syraleth is a baroness, a very powerful one. She could do it in as little as a month. Maybe even less."
Vuvi scoffs as she rolls onto her back. "Weeks? You woke me up for weeks? Ugh. That's more than enough time to wrap up our appointments. We'll be out of Market Town long before Baroness Bitchface grows back that banging body." Vuvi lifts her hands into the air, squeezing pretend breasts. "... so unfair. I want a baroness form." she whimpers under her breath.
Veena sneers. "You underestimate her obsession. I knew others like her. Demons born of greed. Once they sink their teeth into something, they won't let go till they suck it dry. She'll be back for Pip."
"Noted. I'll file a restraining order." Vuvi replies with a grunt. "For now, I'm calling tonight a win."
"Ugh." Veena pouts.
"Pip," Vuvi calls with a lazy wave. "Your fanclub almost cut my tits off. I'm off duty. You'll need to scrub your own golden parts tonight, Prince. I'm dead tired."
Pip gives a solemn beep of acknowledgement.
He sits gently beside Vuvi and slides his humming hands over her shoulders.
He proceeds to work her muscles with expert, oiled precision.
"Oh Gods!" she moans, eyes rolling in their sockets. "Okay, okay. Never… mind… you're… forgiven. This is… soooo—"
Within seconds Vuvi is softly snoring.
Veena watches him work, her gaze lingering on his body as she restlessly taps her fingers on her knee.
When Pip eventually finishes, he lifts off the bed, turns to the demonkin beside him, and beeps.
Softly.
Gratefully.
He bows deeply, holding his head low for a long moment before lifting it again.
Veena raises a brow.
He turns and silently struts toward the bathroom. A moment later, the sounds of splashing water and oil, enters the room as Pip fills the tub.
Veena stares at the two women laying on each side of her. Both sleeping soundly with smiles across their faces. Warm, and unburdened.
She rises from her seat, sneaking to the bathroom and poking in her head.
Pip sits reclined in a shallow bathtub of aromatic oil-water. Humming happily as he splashes himself.
He notices Veena's violet eyes staring at him warily and greets her with a friendly beep-beep.
She hesitates before slipping inside and perching herself silently on a small stool in a corner.
Pip stares, his eyes flickering with soft golden light.
She averts her gaze. "Don't stare at me like that." she says, her cheeks starting to glow red.
He turns away politely, offering a soft, apologetic beep before he continues humming.
He splashes about as he scrubs, playfully exaggerating his struggle to reach his shoulder plating with long, stressed beeps.
"I know what you're doing." Veena scoffs.
Pip gives a mostly-innocent shrug.
"Ugh. I'll help you." Veena groans. "No funny business! I mean it!"
"Scouts honor!" he vows to himself, lifting a metal hand to his chest as he nods at her.
Veena approaches, kneeling down beside the bath. She removes her gloves, rolls up her sleeves and dips her hands into the warm liquid around him.
She cautiously begins to work the oil into Pip's plating and shoulder joints.
"...hm, you really are soft." she whispers.
Pip beeps bashfully in response.
For a while, they sit in silence. The only sounds being of splashing water and skin rubbing on slick metal.
Until, finally, Veena speaks.
"I'm not a full demon-kin." she says softly.
Pip turns to her, tilting his head.
She pokes his chin, turning his face back away from her. "Don't stare."
He gives a sad little beep.
"My father was human. That's why I have violet eyes. A pure demon-kin has red." her hands slow down as she speaks. "My mother…" and sighs. "I don't like to talk about my mother."
She exhales slowly, drawing back her hands. "I ran away from home. I couldn't stay knowing… knowing what I know. So I just ran. Been running ever since. Looking for… something."
She turns to the other room. "Penelo… she's been that something for a while now. She makes me feel like—"
Veena stops mid-sentence, furrows her brow and squints at Pip.
"What in the nether am I doing? Getting therapy from a pleasure construct!?" she snaps. "You… are you doing this? Have you bewitched me?"
Pip shakes his head before checking on his pelvic port and turning back to Veena with a shrug.
"It's like… You have an effect on people." she says, voice trembling. "They change… heal. It's scary. But… beautiful. I don't know If… if I deserve that."
Pip reaches out and gently places his hand onto hers.
She gasps, then freezes as his hand begins to glow, and a warm, divine energy passes between them.
Her eyes widen, her spine tingles and for what felt like the first time in years… her heart flutters.
She jerks back, placing both hands to her chest. "D-Dont do that! I'm not ready."
Pip beeps apologetically.
"It's not you." she mutters, looking down at her hands. "I've never been… touched. Not really. And the way you—"
But before she can say more, the bathroom door swings open.
"Heeeeey. Who's getting oily without their favourite fluffy bunny?"
Penelo, half-asleep trots into the room, rubbing her eyes and wearing nothing but a sly smirk.
"Oh." she blinks.
Then she grins.
"Veeennnnaaaa~" she coos.
Veena slowly turns to Pip before quickly scrambling back.
"Penelo! It's not what it looks like." she yelps.
"It looks like you are getting some cuddle time with our little prince." Penelo teases, winks and turns back to the door. "Don't let me stop you. Carry on…"
"Penny! Wait!"
"Too late." the bunny-kin giggles. "Veena-Pip bonding, unlocked!"
Veena stands up groaning. "I'm never gonna hear the end of this."
Pip, beeps an apology.
Veena rolls her eyes and stomps after Penelo.
A few seconds later, Penelo pops into the bathroom and leaps in behind Pip with a big splash.
"You thought I forgot, didn't you?" Penelo grins as she seductively rubs her paws over his hips and her ears over his head. "You're getting the full service tonight!"
Veena silently pokes her head back into the bathroom for a moment.
Penelo has Pip wrapped in all four limbs as she rubs him with everything but her paws. She giggles with joy while he hums along merrily, eye cameras glowing a soft, happy gold.
Veena smiles as she closes the door.
She sneaks back into the room, glances at Vuvi a final time, then makes her way to a window.
"Where do you think you're going?" a voice grumbles behind her.
Veena turns, one foot already out and into the cool, night air.
"I… uh…"
"Don't bother lying." Vuvi groans as she sits up.
Veena hesitates.
"I'm leaving. Penelo has a family now. A good one. She doesn't need me anymore."
Vuvi stumbles to her feet.
"Penelo's new family is your new family." Vuvi yawns. "If you want it."
Veena blinks.
"You're strong, smart and ridiculously hot. It's kinda scary. Aaaaaand..." she yawns again. "We fight well together. We're gonna need that. Pip needs that."
Veena turns, closes the window and climbs back into the room.
Vuvi stands before her, her hair a red explosion of soot covered curls, eyes puffy and crusted. She smirks slyly and lazily extends her hand.
Veena's heart thumps as they shake on it.
"… thank you." she whispers. "I won't let you down."
"You better not." Vuvi mutters as she rolls back into bed. "You're our new secretary. Bookings, schedules, itineraries. Hope you're good with paperwork."
Veena chuckles. "Of course. I'll earn my keep."
Vuvi answers her with gentle snoring, already dwelling dreams.
The demon-kin sits down on an empty bed, smiling at the room around her.
And for the second time that night.
Her heart flutters.