The brief compliance from Mona ended the moment Ethan Chen opened the navigation cabin. As soon as she saw Tifa seated inside, she twisted free like a slipstream and slid off his shoulder with surprising agility.
That was more like her. When she truly resisted, she didn't simply kick her legs in weak protest that only served to excite him more. No, this was the real Mona, nimble and evasive, slipping through his grip with the precision of a practiced escape artist.
"You two…" Tifa blinked, glancing at both of them. "Did I interrupt something?"
"Not at all," Ethan replied casually, trying to catch Mona again, though she danced just out of reach. "What are you doing here? Reading?"
"Yes," Tifa held up a storybook. "Mona mentioned she had a bunch of books in her room and said I could borrow them anytime. So I figured I'd pass some time with a good read."
"Well, don't mind us then," Ethan said, reaching out once more to grab Mona, clearly determined to finish what he had started.
Mona promptly hid behind Tifa, sticking out her tongue like a mischievous child.
Tifa stepped between them protectively. "Captain, forcing yourself on a girl is not appropriate."
"Alright, alright, I surrender." Ethan raised his hands. "Then what about you? Are you free?"
Tifa hesitated, looking at Mona. "I… I'm reading."
"That's fine. You read, I'll play."
He reached for her hand, but Mona intercepted him, swatting his arm aside.
"What now?" Ethan frowned. "Just because you backed out doesn't mean you get to stop everyone else."
"Forcing girls is wrong," Mona said again, holding Tifa protectively, "So give it a rest."
"Really? Then look at Tifa. Does she seem like she's being forced?"
Mona turned and saw the gentle, almost apologetic look in Tifa's eyes.
Traitor.
So it only took one passionate night to turn her into a willing accomplice? Into a creature ruled by desire?
Ethan grinned and took Tifa's hand again. This time, Mona didn't stop him. He pulled Tifa into his arms, kissed her deeply, and slowly eased her down onto the bed.
Mona only rolled her eyes and plopped down at the desk, pretending to immerse herself in her book. But how could anyone truly focus in this situation?
Especially with Ethan cradling Tifa from behind, kissing her so intimately, whispering against her skin. Their closeness, the rhythm of their breath, the soft sounds that filled the room it was all a bit too much.
Mona tried not to glance over, but the human body has its own instincts. Her ears burned as her gaze flicked to them again and again. She hated how easily her body responded, how the heat rose despite her pride.
Ethan noticed, of course. Her stolen glances, her shifting posture. But he said nothing, choosing instead to let her pretend she was unaffected.
He remembered she had done the same thing before on that unnamed island, when he and 2B had grown close. Mona hadn't joined in then either, but her quiet withdrawal into self-comfort had spoken volumes.
That was just Mona's way proud on the surface, yet deeply vulnerable.
When Tifa finally gave a soft gasp and trembled in his arms, something tipped. The tension that had been slowly coiling in the room unspooled. A splash of warmth spilled in an arc, catching Mona squarely in its path.
Startled, Tifa immediately apologized. "I I'm so sorry... Are you alright?"
"No, I'm not!" Mona snapped. "You're already making a mess in my room. Can't you at least be mindful?!"
"You control water, don't you?" Ethan said. "Just clean it up."
"That's not the point! It's not about the mess it's about you two having no shame!"
With a huff, Mona flicked her wrist, gathering the excess moisture into a small salty sphere, then opened the porthole and flung it into the sea.
"Impressive," Ethan muttered with a grin, shifting as if to continue.
Tifa caught his movements and quickly held him back, her face still flushed. She was clearly overwhelmed. With her breath still uneven, she turned pleading eyes toward Mona.
"Mona… could you help me out here?"
That look, soft and earnest, did something to Mona. She averted her eyes, bit her lip, and let out a sigh.
"You two are impossible," she muttered, but relented. With an exaggerated grumble, she stood and slipped off her shorts, her tone more bashful than her movements suggested.
She moved with hesitant grace, like a dancer preparing for her cue. Facing away from them, she lowered herself down with Tifa's gentle support.
It was an image so delicate and surreal it almost didn't belong in reality like a painting from a dream. A girl's soft, peach-hued hips poised against the contrast of something wild and untamed.
Tifa held her breath, worried it might be too much for Mona, that the fragile castle might crumble under pressure. But Mona, despite her appearance, handled it with surprising poise.
Her rhythm was cautious but confident, each movement fluid. Beads of sweat formed along her spine, catching the light like morning dew on polished fruit.
Tifa couldn't help but reach out, brushing her hand across Mona's smooth, firm curves. The sensation was different from 2B's luxurious softness it had a subtle, youthful resilience, like the tangy zip of a mojito compared to the rich smoothness of a margarita.
Each had their own flavor, impossible to compare, impossible to replace.
Tifa eventually pulled back, not wanting to disturb Mona's pace. But she didn't stay idle either. Instead, she curled her arms around Ethan's neck and kissed him again.
Ethan kissed her back fervently, his hands wandering with deliberate ease.
This was their quiet, honeyed afternoon. A moment suspended in heat and breath, of desire and comfort, of laughter and shared secrets.
And when it was over, even Mona usually the first to grumble or retreat rested quietly against Ethan's arm, dozing peacefully.
Ethan and Tifa exchanged a look, then smiled softly and leaned in for one final kiss before closing their eyes.
Five days at sea passed in the blink of an eye.
Such was the rhythm of seafaring life monotonous stretches broken up by brief bursts of intimacy, training, and activity.
Ethan's favorite way to pass the time, unsurprisingly, involved bonding physically with his crew. Fortunately, his advanced recovery abilities made it easy to keep up with such intensity though it came at a cost.
Tifa had to cook enough for six or seven people per meal just to keep him properly fueled.
Aside from their more intimate distractions, there was fishing, cards, exercise... and the gym had become Tifa's second home.
2B, being an android, had pre-programmed physical capabilities. Mona, a mage, prioritized mental strength and elemental control. But Tifa? She trained the old-fashioned way by throwing punches and strengthening her body through hard work.
Ethan often sparred with her sometimes as opponent, sometimes as training dummy.
System buffs aside, real combat required real experience. Only through proper drills could one remain calm in battle and strike effectively when the moment came.
In one such session, Ethan backstepped to avoid Tifa's lunging knee strike, then blocked her follow-up with precise footwork. He twisted into a counterattack, his fists launching forward with devastating force Ba Ji Quan's famed Sky-Piercing Twin Cannons.
But Tifa was quick. A sharp flip and a perfectly timed leap created distance, and she planted her feet again, bracing herself.
"Zangan-ryu: Focused Spirit!"
Her aura flared, crackling with golden chi and static energy.
Without pause, she lunged again, her fist glowing with inner power.
"Explosive Fist!"
The strike came too fast to block. Ethan barely had time to tilt his head and raise his arms. Her punch stopped just shy of his face, but even the wind alone stung his skin.
He chuckled, impressed.
If that had landed, he'd probably be out cold.
As her chi dissipated, the outcome was clear.
Winner: Tifa.
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