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“You should really stop being so careless, Panther.”
Ann winced in pain as Makoto placed the cleaning pad down on the open wound on her right arm. They were both sitting on a couch in a safe room in Sae’s palace. The prosecutor’s casino proved to be a lot more dangerous than either Queen or Oracle anticipated with the shadows being more on edge and dangerous than the other palaces they’ve been in so far. Facing Valkyries, Oses, and other mythological creatures names that Ann couldn’t remember had been tough so far but it wasn’t until had Ann decided to take the Norn's wind attacks when she pushed Ren out of the way, sustaining wounds and cuts on her arm.
After defeating the shadow, Ren decided it was best for the group to rest before continuing on, finding a safe room to rest their wounds. From every corner of the room, each thief was doing their own thing: Ryuji and Morgana were arguing about something stupid (the subject of Morgana being a cat again, probably) like they always did; Futaba lazed out on a couch, her attention focused on her laptop; Yusuke was painting, drawing the recently defeated Norn for the little artistic inspiration he had for the moment; Ren and Akechi were busy on the table playing a game of chess, the two rivals bickering at one another with pride and admiration (they were flirting) as Haru watched the detective prince and wildcard. Ann couldn’t imagine how the heiress and Futaba were feeling as Ren made casual conversation with Goro Akechi, the very person they suspected of being Black Mask, the one who killed her father and Futaba’s mother in cold blood. Ann knew Ren had a plan, she trusted him with her life but even she could feel hesitation in her friend’s relationship with his rival.
“Ann.”
The blonde turned, her gaze head to head with those crimson eyes of Makoto. With her steel mask and aikido skills, it wasn’t hard to see why many of the shadows ran away from the student council. Queen was ruthless in battle, sparing no enemy as her fists rained down upon their black flesh with nuclear power. To the shadows, Makoto Niijima was a demon of the battlefield, but there was so much more to Makoto than they knew. Makoto was strong with her words and knowledge, often taking as much of a leader as Ren was with her tactical insight. Makoto was also soft, as Ann remembered the times she held the brunette’s hand when they had their shop dates in Shibuya and Shinjuku, the touch of her firm yet smooth skin making Ann’s skin crawl with an electric shock. And while the brunette was not street smart, it didn’t stop her from appreciating and learning new things like arcade games and claw machines that people their age liked to do. Ann never forgot the smile of pure delight and joy Makoto had when she tried her first street crepe with the model on the day they decided to bury the hatchet and become friends, later as something more when the two started to share kisses in the student council room.
“Ann?” said Makoto, her head tilted to the side. “Are you okay?”
“Y-Yeah,” answered Ann, her cheeks blushing red. “I really am a klutz aren’t I?”
Makoto closed her eyes and shook her head and said “Just be more careful, okay? I can’t lose you too…” Traveling through her own sister’s dark and twisted psyche was taking its emotional and mental toll on Makoto. Every chance she had to glance at Makoto whenever the Phantom Thieves had a minute of relief, she could see the brunette’s shoulders sag and her eyes looking down at her feet, avoiding eye contact with her friends as though she were shrinking down to avoid her presence being known. For Makoto to openly admit now about losing Ann too…
Ann took one of Makoto’s gloved hands and brought it to her mouth, placing a kiss. She smiled seeing the brunette’s eyes widen in shock. “Ditto to yourself, Makoto. We’re in this together so you better give it your all too.”
Makoto blinked before she gave a small smile and held Ann’s other open hand. “Thank you, Ann.” said Makoto, her voice full of emotion. “I’m grateful to have someone like you in my life.”
Ann smiled back at her girlfriend and leaned forward, resting her head on the thick steel breastplate of Makoto’s phantom thief attire. The two stayed in their embrace, alone in their own little world, knowing that no matter what happened to them, they would face it together.
“I love you, Makoto Niijima. Always and forever, my Queen.”
“I love you too Ann, Panther of my heart.”