It's the last day of summer, and while the weather had turned cold and some leaves have even started to change colors and fall from their limbs today is an exception. Some warm air has blown in from the south and the sky is wide and open blue. It might not be as scorching as it was a couple months ago, but it's plenty warm enough to go outside in swimwear and even hot in direct sunlight!
There is one downside to all this; the fact that it's a school day. Skipping school to go to the beach is just not Madoka Kaname's style, but luckily for her the magical talents of her girlfriend means they can eek out just a little more time than they otherwise would be able to. As soon as the school bell rings Madoka and Homura scoot off to the restrooms, using the privacy of individual stalls to change into their swimsuits. A trip up the roof later and the two henshin and stuff their clothes safely into Homura's shield, only for time to freeze.
Soon they're leaping through the sky from rooftop to rooftop, Madoka held safely in Homura's arms, leaning against her and giggling. Technically speaking she could drop her own henshin any time, but her frilly pink dress just feels right for this kind of activity, especially with all her ribbons fluttering prettily in the wind. They could have taken Homura's Corvette, but city traffic being what it is rooftop leaping is faster anyway.
Besides, nearly being fall means the day is only barely longer than the night, and the sun will be going down hours earlier than it would have earlier in the season. They need to make the most of this wonderful day! The beach Madoka held the party at is rented and waiting for them, the sand absorbing the sun's light to get roasting warm.
Exactly no time after they left the two arrive at the beach, and it couldn't be more pristine and inviting, the ocean's gentle and ubiquitous waves frozen in place as they prepare to crash into the shore. Not a cloud is in the sky, and not another person is in sight, a lovely little romantic beach party all for themselves to send the season off in style.
Never let it be said that Homura Akemi would pass up a chance to hold Madoka Kaname in her arms.
While in the bathroom, Homura Akemi dressed into a very cute swim suit. It's a two piece suit, with a print of white trumpet flowers laid over a dark blue background. The top has white frills around the top edge and frilly white straps, and a little dark blue bow in the middle. The bottom is an asymmetrical skirt, lifted on the left leg. It's certainly not the kind of thing she'd want to wear to anywhere but the beach. Fortunately she has a henshin.
Stuffing things into her shield is no big deal. She knows how to retrieve it later. The best part of the trip over is Homura carrying Madoka around, holding her close and smiling. Even if Homura spends much of her time looking at where she's jumping instead of at Madoka, the smile on her face is always for her girlfriend. She wouldn't be able to hold Madoka like this if she had taken the Corvette.
When the beach comes into sight, Homura tilts her head towards it and says, "There it is, Madoka-chan!" A few jumps across rooftops, and a final bound takes the two of them to the beach, Homura's shoes landing in soft sand. So stopped, she smiles down at the cute little angel in her arms. Time resumes and Homura's henshin drops, leaving her in her swimsuit.
"We're here, my love. The last day of summer." She closes her head and tilts her head slightly as she giggles. "Which means soon it will be ice skating time again! We'll have to cuddle lots in order to stay warm this Winter." She takes a few steps closer to the crashing waves, before setting Madoka down.
It'd be a rare thing for Madoka to pass up the chance to be carried in Homura's arms, especially when they're leaping through the air like they are. Plans to fly through the air might have to be pushed back, though, as this timestop is a slight extravagance and Madoka doesn't want to use up too much magic on such things. She holds close with her arms around Homura's neck, smiling and grinning the whole time while getting to see such a lovely view of the city.
When Homura points out the beach to her she lets out a happy, "Yay!" letting go with one arm to raise her hand above her head in celebration. They land and Homura drops her henshin, though Madoka keeps her own up for a few moments, giggling playfully in her magical girl dress and kicking her legs. "Thank you, my beautiful guardian angel~!"
A flash of burst of pink sparkles and the dress disappears, leaving her in a pink bikini swimsuit with white ruffles around the edges, the bikini bottoms having an inch wide ruffle at the top reminiscent of a skirt but not nearly so as Homura's. She wiggles a little in Homura's arms before she's set down, giggling before sliding out of Homura's arms.
"I'm glad we got to have one more hot and sunny day!" She dances around, holding her arms out and spinning a couple of times while taking steps towards the beach, only to hold them behind her back, leaning forward, "Especially when you have that..! You look so good in that swimming suit, Homura-chan! It's way nicer than mine, I'm jealous~."
She steps forward closer again, taking one of Homura's hands and walking backwards towards the water, "I'm excited for ice skating, snow, cocoa, and snuggling up to keep warm," her eyes sparkle as she looks up into Homura's, "...but for now lets enjoy summer!"
She takes a larger step back, twisting and pulling Homura into a spin with her, laughing playfully. Then with a suddenly widening smile she stops and spins Homura close to her holding her arms around her girlfriends shoulders and whispering, "I wasn't kidding, you really do look especially beautiful today, Homura-chan. As beautiful as..." Letting go with the arm around Homura the other stays at her back, Madoka bending down and hooking her now free arm behind Homura's knees and scooping her up into her arms, "a princess!"
In a much softer, sweeter tone she adds, "My princess."
It is a lovely view of the city, and often the best and safest path is across the highest rooftops, which means that the view they share is as spectacular as it can be.
Homura can't help but smile at Madoka's cute cheerfulness, and squeezes Madoka in her arms as she's called her beautiful guardian angel. Once Madoka's henshin fades and Homura sets her down, the guardian follows her sweetheart, purple eyes admiring as Madoka dances towards the beach.
Homura's swimsuit is complemented, and she looks down at it before looking back up at Madoka's, and then up to her eyes. "I think you look really cute in yours, Madoka-chan, but I'm glad you like mine so much. You don't have to be too jealous of my beauty, since it's yours~."
Her hand is taken, and Homura squeezes Madoka's as she's led to the water. "We may as well savor the time while it's here." Suddenly, she's pulled into a spin, and as she's brought close to her beloved her eyes cannot help but sparkle. It's almost as if, for a brief moment, they're dancing. The moment she notices what Madoka is going for, as Homura has carried Madoka like that a number of times, she starts to giggle.
Homura curls against Madoka, resting her head on her darling's shoulder and looking up at her. "My hero~." Her legs kick slowly as she rests in Madoka's arms, hands staying in her lap, long hair falling from her angel's embrace. "Sweeping me off my feet already, I see. Are you going to take me away?"
Never let it be said that Homura turned down a chance to be held by Madoka, either.
"Thank you! I'm glad you think so, Homura-chan," Madoka replies as her own swimsuit gets a compliment as well, the pink-haired girl twisting happily from side to side. "Eeee, I'm so lucky! I have such a beautiful girlfriend and her beauty is mine to enjoy~." She gets positively awiggle as she thinks about that, a warm blush settling upon her cheeks. It really is amazing, and as used to being Homura's romantic partner as she is it still shocks her sometimes she has such a beautiful girlfriend. It's certainly not something she takes for granted!
A playful little dance is had, and soon Madoka has Homura held in her arms, supporting the weight of her beloved as she continues to sway from side to side and move towards the ocean in slow rhythmic motions. It isn't too often she gets the chance to looks down into Homura's eyes rather than up, so she enjoys it while she can, gazing into beautiful purple that glitters in the sunlight while relying on peripheral vision to guide herself towards the water.
She giggles happily as Homura kicks her legs, squeezing her lightly. "I'm taking you away to a place where we can always be together and happy," she singsongs in reply, tilting her head down to press a kiss to Homura's forehead. Soon they're at the waterline, and Madoka steps into the ocean, just past where the waves can't quite retreat.
As the waves roll it goes from her ankles to lapping at her calves, and she lets out a playful squeal. "It's cold~!" she complains with a bright smile on her face. From there she begins dancing again, swaying and stepping and prancing along the beach, wet sand squishing between her toes while carrying her beloved safely above it all, moving so that she gets rocked and swayed in gentle motions, along with a little single spin every now and again. "I'm carrying my princess on a walk across the beach," she says, again in a singsong voice. A bright, playful giggle, "I like long cuddles along the beach!"
Homura isn't often the one looking up into Madoka's eyes, but the feeling of being held and carried by her beloved... it's nice, being the one cared for. It's true that Homura is almost obsessively protective, but Madoka has a nurturing side of her own, and Homura really likes being nurtured by her.
The guardian sighs happily as she's swayed back and forth by her darling. Sparkling purple eyes stare lovingly at pink pools, a small reserved smile resting on her lips. As Madoka describes where she's being taken, Homura nuzzles her cheek against her dear's shoulder. "That sounds like a wonderful place. Let's go there and stay forever."
Her forehead is kissed, and Homura moves up to kiss Madoka's chin. She spends so much time looking up at her darling that she doesn't notice that they're at the waterline, so wrapped up in this rare experience as she is. This isn't the first time that Madoka has carried her, but it's rare enough that Homura wants to savor it, especially since it's done with romantic intent.
When Madoka complains about the cold, that's when Homura starts to look down at the water, and notices the tips of her black hair starting to get wet. The rocking and swaying is sweet, putting Homura into a very peaceful mood. The singsong of Madoka's voice earns a giggle, and Homura looks back up to her with adoring eyes. "Your princess is very lucky, getting to be held and loved by you so sweetly."
'I like long cuddles along the beach!"
Homura's eyes widen in playful mock surprise. "Really? Me, too!"
Madoka is happy to nurture Homura; very happy. She likes caring for her in many different ways, and even before they were dating she was doing what she could to help Homura get into a better, happier and healthier state of being. Now that they're so very close it's unlikely that will ever stop.
Her expression gentles for a moment as Homura's cheek brushes against her shoulder. "I'd already planned on it," she replies sweetly, "because I plan on being with you forever, and as long as we're together I can't help being happy."
A kiss is given to her chin after she gives her own to Homura's forehead and she can't quite help herself. She shifts a little in her dance, lifting Homura up a little higher, just enough so that when she bends her head down again their lips can meet. This is why it's nice having the beach all to themselves! She can dance around while softly kissing her girlfriend without having to worry about bumping into anyone. Her balance and grace is enough to keep her from tripping and sending them both in the water, practiced as she's become at careful footing from both dancing and being a magical girl.
Continuing to dance along with her feet in the water, Madoka can hardly keep her eyes off of Homura. Those purple eyes are so lovely, her face is so pretty, and her hair is so very gorgeous. Happy romantic feelings flutter through her, especially as Homura calls herself lucky to be held and loved by her. "How could I not fall for you? You're so amazing to me and have done so much for me." With a playful giggle she adds, "And if I didn't feel romantic about you already I would seeing you like that, looking so beautiful in your swimsuit and holding you in my arms~."
Her eyes sweep over her beloved again, only to notice that Homura's hair has gotten wet. Madoka lets out a little gasp, "Alas, I've failed to keep the hair of my beautiful princess dry! I'm so sorry my dearly beloved, I can't believe I've allowed such a tragedy to befall you, all while I've kept you so closely protected!" She tilts her head back, making a cutesy version of a forlorn face, "I make it up to you, I swear. Tell me, what must I do to set this right in your eyes, my most beautiful and cuddly princess?"
Well Homura is certainly happier, and a lot of her pains have gone away, either taken away magically or soothed by Madoka's love and affection. If that love lasts forever, then that's just more happiness for the both of them!
The glint in Homura's eyes changes slightly as Madoka says she intends to be with her forever. It has a bit more of a serious look, mixed in with something a bit sharper and greedy. "It's good that you're planning on that, because I could never bear to let you go. Not now, that I know that us being together makes you so happy. It makes me happy, too."
Homura is lifted just enough, and she gets to kiss what she wanted to but couldn't reach: Madoka's lips. She trusts the skill of her little angel to keep from dropping her, and it wouldn't hurt Homura that much even if she did. No matter how many times she gets to kiss Madoka, she still enjoys the soft pressing of her lips against her girlfriend's.
"You've done a lot for me, too," points out Homura. "From the start, you were good to me, and have been ever since. Even if you don't remember all of those timelost moments, I do." When told that her current outfit would put romantic thoughts into Madoka's mind, she grins up at her. "If I knew you liked it this much I'd have worn it sooner."
Homura blinks at Madoka's gasp, and then giggles at the rest of her response. They're at a beach and in swimsuits, so Homura can hardly consider her hair getting wet a 'tragedy', but Madoka's offering to 'make it up to her'. Her response is a playful version of haughty nobility, "Well, dear hero, if you truly seek to pay penance to me and repent, you may do so with a kiss."
She taps her fingernail to her lips. "Right here, please."
"I'm glad that you'd cling to me so tightly, because I'm not sure I could let you go, either. Not when we love each other so much." If for some reason Homura decided she'd be happier without her, maybe Madoka could stand to bear it, because part of her love is caring more for Homura's happiness than her own. But with that not being the case she really can't imagine what it would be like to have to go without her.
Madoka smiles sweetly as Homura says she's done a lot for her as well, "Good, because I'd be very upset at my timelost selves if they were anything but wonderful to you." The grin puts a bright smile on her face and she twists from side to side quickly, holding Homura tight before giving a small twirl in the sand, "I do! It's almost a shame because summer is almost over." She makes a tiny little pout only to make a mock look of realization before whispering, "Though there's always indoor swimming pools~."
Homura starts playing the haughty noble and Madoka widens her eyes and nods, clearly paying very close attention to what is asked of her. And then what is asked is a kiss and she has to hold back giggles, "Y-yes! Of course!" She draws Homura up in her arms some more, lifting her closer before bending down and pressing her lips to her girlfriends. The kiss is devastatingly soft and gentle, a sweet and loving press of lips to lips. She lets it linger for several seconds before parting her lips and teasing the tip of Homura's tongue with her own, slowing her dancing to a gentle sway and kissing her deeply for a full minute.
99 Timelines have proven that, no, Homura Akemi is not happier without Madoka. Still, a breakup is far less traumatic than watching someone you love die in your arms, and a bit easier to accept since a breakup is often something that someone wants and death typically isn't. If it turns out that she couldn't keep Madoka happy then she just couldn't, and if it doesn't work then it just doesn't.
Still, Homura doesn't think that will ever be the case. It's certainly hard to believe that it will be, when they're happy together as they are. Homura did make promises to Madoka, and she fully intends to keep them, and if what they've already been through isn't enough to split them apart then Homura wonders if anything ever will.
"They were always wonderful," says Homura, wistfully. "That's how I knew you were always worth it." At the comment of indoor swimming pools, Homura's smile shows a flash of teeth. "Of course! We'll always have somewhere we can swim, and you can look at me while I'm in this."
Princess Homura's demands are expediently met in full, and she closes her eyes to enjoy the so, so soft kiss, her heart leaping in her chest at her love's gentle touch. When she feels the tip of Madoka's tongue, Homura opens her lips just enough to invite it in, sliding her tongue against her girlfriend's as her eyes open to look into Madoka's.
The fact that this kiss is held for a full minute is a nice bonus.
Madoka can't honestly imagine something that could break them apart after everything they've been through together. The idea that she would somehow stop loving Homura some day feels equally absurd, especially now that they've committed to living so much of their loves together. They go to school together, work together, fight monsters as magical girls together, and Homura is also starting to get closer to her family. There's no part of her life she wants to keep Homura from, and if she were gone every single part of it would suddenly have a missing piece.
More slow twisting from side to side as Homura says that past her's were always worth the effort, followed by a bright smile. "Yes! And public pools won't be near as busy when people aren't trying so hard to get out of the heat." If they weren't so busy in the summer maybe she'd asked to go to one.
Madoka is hoping to give Homura an amazing kiss, but that won't keep her from enjoying it as well. Maybe it's that she gets a little bit into it that she ends up kissing her for so long, looking happily into Homura's eyes when they open back up. Eventually her tongue slowly withdrawals, giving tiny lingering licks as it goes. Her lips break from Homura's, only to press two more soft and gentle kisses to them and whisper, "I love you, Homura-chan," before she finally pulls fully away.
She squeezes her girlfriend close, and then very gently sets her down. Once she's sure Homura has her footing, not expecting her to fall but not wanting her to have to catch herself if she doesn't, she gives a sudden bright smile before turning and running deeper into the water, laughing and splashing before jumping in once it's deep enough, turning around and swimming backwards a little before lifting her hand and waving to Homura while grinning.
Right now Homura and Madoka are so closely knit that disentangling from one another would be very awkward and strange. Yet Homura certainly wanted that entanglement. She wanted to be a part of Madoka's life, and now it's looking more and more like she'll be a part of her girlfriend's life forever. Homura really has no shortage of things to be happy about.
"It's true that they'll be less busy," says Homura, imagining that she'd go to a pool if Madoka wanted to. It'd a shame if Madoka couldn't ever go to one because it's either too busy or too cold. Besides, it's another reason for Madoka to look at her, and Homura likes when Madoka looks at her, especially when those pretty pink eyes contain so much love.
The kiss is amazing, and the parting licks leave Homura with a faint sense of longing. That longing can be seen in her eyes as she looks up at Madoka, and heard in her voice when she says, "I love you too, Madoka-chan."
One final squeeze, and Homura is set upon her feet, giving Madoka a slight curtsy. "Thank you, sir knight, for delivering me safely to my destination." She may as well get a little bit more out of the princess act, right?
Madoka runs ahead, laughing and splashing, and Homura watches and adores. Her girlfriend really is so cute, and Homura could watch her forever. When Madoka holds out her hand as if inviting, Homura chases after her, arms lifted to either side and swaying as she runs. She eases into the water once it's deep enough to swim, and taes the hand of her beloved when she gets close enough.
It really is a happy and wanted entanglement from both of them, which is probably why they're so very happy spending so much time together.
Madoka almost feels bad at that longing look in Homura's eyes, resisting the urge to kiss her even more. As enjoyable as that would be she did want to swim, even if kissing in the warmth of the sun would count as taking advantage of the hot and sunny day. Then Homura curtsy's and Madoka can't hold back a giggle before she replies, "You're welcome, fair princess. Pleased for me to have delivered you so safely, and have spent such time in your company."
Homura enjoys watching Madoka run off into the water in her pink bikini, pink hair bouncing around behind her before it gets soaked in the water. Just as she was enjoyed Madoka gets to see the lovely sight of Homura chasing her into the water, soaking in the view of the dark haired beauty. Once she's near and her hand is taken Madoka gives it a firm squeeze, swimming around in slow circles and splashing about playfully.
She doesn't talk much so much as giggle and laugh, alternating swimming with moving close to Homura and hugging onto her while treading water, because the feeling of the hug is different and enjoyable while they're out in the ocean waters.
Not that she particularly needs a reason to hug her girlfriend!
That longing look only means that Homura wants even more time to spend with Madoka, and that in of itself isn't news. Swimming with Madoka is still spending time with her, which is the most important thing.
Madoka responds with giggles, and Homura's smile gets just a little bit wider as she's called 'fair princess'. "Then perhaps you can keep my company for a while longer, then. You never know when I might need more... protection."
Homura's other friends would likely laugh at the idea of her needing protection, though it would be accurate to say that she is safer when Madoka has her back.
Homura's hand is pulled along as Madoka giggles and laughs, and as Madoka circles Homura turns with her as well. While she isn't splashy at first, Madoka's cuteness means she's getting into it as well, Madoka's own playfulness drawing the playfulness out of Homura.
The mid-swim hug is certainly different, with Homura needing to tread water with her feet while her arms stay around Madoka. Homura's never unwilling to hold her girlfriend, especially when her girlfriend is so adorable and huggable. How could she ever say no?