37 Honeymoon

[Warning: This is a full-blown romance and diabetic.]

It was supposed to be a honeymoon of sorts, this first reconnaissance mission Jack and Lupus decided to take together. Under the pretence of duty, they were truly hoping to carve out some wonderful time for themselves.

After all, a quiet town like Hasenwald posed no immediate threats, at least, not yet.

Jack piloted his new Armatus, its chassis painted a glossy silver and white, with the proud Hoffmann family crest adorning its shoulder armour. Its propulsion arcs flared as they soared through the sky, the machine gliding effortlessly until it hovered above the breathtaking landscape of the Grand Riverfall.

Opening the cockpit hatch, they laid out a picnic mat, the crisp, moist air kissing their skin.

They soon settled into a delightful lunch inside the modified two-seat passenger compartment. It was nothing grand, just two baskets of assorted sandwiches and carrot tea, but it was perfect.

As Jack mused, this was the very spot where he'd had his first near-death experience. He wouldn't be enjoying this amazing moment if it weren't for Lupus crushing his neck with her thighs that day. Or perhaps that had been a kind of heaven? He couldn't have cared less.

He chuckled softly, mostly at their past selves — so much doubt, distrust, and tension had once existed between them.

Now, Lupus, nibbling on her sixth or seventh sandwich, was the love of his life. His purpose.

They cleansed their palates with an incredible carrot cake that silenced them both, a perfect symphony of sweetness, tanginess, and cream.

***

Back in the cockpit, Lupus purred as she nestled atop Jack's body. The soft melody of a pop song, the one they had heard on their first date at House Tasmania, played in the background. It was the very song that had made Lupus blush back then. Her sun-kissed scent, a mix of summer and home, filled his lungs.

It was a simple thing, yet it unravelled something deep within him, an affection so profound it was almost a physical ache. He wished time would stop, freezing this moment forever. He had found what he had been longing for.

As Jack gently threaded his fingers through her silver strands, she slept soundly against him, occasionally chuckling in her sleep. He found this side of her utterly adorable.

She was still so young, only twenty-two. While he was almost twice her age, he felt the need to put in double the effort to make up for it. And deep down, he carried a subtle guilt.

One might call this a guilty pleasure.

"I, Jack Squire, swear this undying oath," he spoke softly, his voice barely a whisper. "With my might, my heart, my soul, I will never make you regret holding your essence and declaring your love for me, Lupus Hoffmann." He sealed the vow with a gentle kiss on her cheek.

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"Mmm, you have no tact at all, saying an oath while I'm asleep," Lupus murmured, her golden eyes fluttering open. She stared at his blushing face, a playful glint in her gaze. "Again. And this time, with feeling."

"Yes, my love. Ahem!" Jack cleared his throat, gathering himself. He remembered every word exactly and repeated the vow, his voice full of sincerity, without a single stutter.

Lupus gazed at him, unblinking, as a warmth spread across her face. "...W~where is the last part?" she asked, fully flustered.

"Last part?" Jack stammered, puzzled. He had said every word correctly. How could he be wrong?

Before his denseness could be dispelled, Lupus grabbed his collar and pulled him into a kiss. Their passionate exchange lasted far longer than it should have, leaving them both breathless.

"That's the last part," Lupus exclaimed excitedly, making Jack blush once more.

Soft, gleeful chuckles filled the air, weaving a tapestry of their love.

After their short but fulfilling lunch, Jack steered the silver Armatus to scan the perimeter, hoping to salvage some fallen mobile suits. The Finder Keepers protocol was engaged, the giant steel machine hovering just above the evergreen canopy.

The forests in the eastern part of the region were more vibrant and lush compared to those in the south, which the townspeople called Mirehaven, the haunted forest.

As the Armatus followed its procedure, automatically scanning left and right, Jack glanced away from the list of useless junk the scanner was picking up. He turned his attention to Lupus, who was twirling a lock of hair, lost in thought.

"Told you my work is kind of boring," Jack said bluntly.

"My security work is much worse! My parents have me standing by their side, attending headache-inducing meetings!" she argued, then nudged her own cheeks. "Ugh! My facial muscles are stiff from making mean faces all day!"

Jack chuckled. "Is that a requirement? To make mean faces?"

"Absolutely! I'm supposed to be intimidating! Grr!" She gave a little growl, imitating one of Frain's.

"Just a bunny pretending to be a lion," he quipped.

"Fufu!" She let out a soft, melodic laugh.

"By the way, how did you manage to pry yourself away from Frain? She's usually glued to your side."

"I suppose… I lied to her," Lupus admitted sheepishly.

"You did what?" Jack shot her an incredulous look.

"I implied that we'd be going with the magistrate on another escort duty… I told her to go ahead and that I'd follow shortly."

"But you snuck out to be with me instead?"

"Yes…" she replied, her gaze fixed on the HUD screen.

"You cheeky little rabbit!" Jack's fingers danced along her sides, and her laughter erupted, her body wiggling frantically like an eel.

"Ahahaa! She's fine! Ahaha! She's with my sisters—"

Lupus's plea was cut short.

The sudden blare of an alarm shattered the peace.

[Detected! Detected! Detected!]

The notification flashed across the screen, the synthetic voice of the Finder Keepers protocol more urgent and erratic than Jack had ever heard it. The protocol was ingrained into the system for safety precautions, and it was screaming.

Jack's eyes darted to the list on the screen. His expression shifted to one of pure shock, his lips parting in disbelief.

"Is that… a human?!" he exclaimed, exchanging a bewildered look with Lupus before swiftly zooming in on the target.

The camera enhanced the image, revealing a man in dark, skin-tight fabric. He was lying motionless, face down, his hand outstretched as if he had been desperately crawling towards the river.

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