We sat quietly around a table. A tv showing the newsreels of the battle of Manila that took place earlier today. Our meals were mostly untouched, Li and I mostly pushing them around our plates while gazing dejectedly at the images taken from a jet soaring over Corregidor as Godzilla curled up for a nap.
A few hours had passed since Godzilla curled up and decided to take a small nap on Corregidor. Talk about a road block. If Ghidorah had been one… shit… we were staring at a wall now. Manila bay was all but being claimed as his territory. Fucking hell if I was going to land on the Bataan peninsula with a giant, likely radioactive lizard with a temper right next to three divisions.
Li fung shivered, pushing her unwanted plate away. "What can we even do against him?"
"Shit if I know… Jake's likely having a panic attack with that damn monster only fifty miles away. I'll have to fly out to the carriers or Lubang to replace the losses the airwings suffered."
"You know something about the creature?" she asked, perking up a bit. I laughed a bit at that.
"If the films are anything to go by… were fucked." I reached for the untouched beer, draining it and leaning back in my seat. Li looked between me and the empty bottle then sighed, taking a long sip from her wine.
"Depends on what varsity of the monster he is. Because he'll range from difficult to kill, to downright impossible depending on that. Worst case he'll be able to regenerate fully from a single cell given enough time, and if that's the case…" I trailed off, letting her imagination do the rest as I started forcing myself to eat some of the food in front of me.
Damn. How pathetic was I? I was out here getting drunk and eating while Siska was busy ensuring everything within thirty miles of Corregidor was a no sail, no fly zone. Meanwhile Regina was busy briefing Ivanov and my own headquarters back in Los Angeles.
"We should move the landings." Li spoke up, looking up from the bottle in her hands. Wait… was she drinking heavily? I glanced around, the waiter was walking away with an empty bottle. I felt a sense of unease in my chest as Li started nursing the bottle.
"I figured we'd delay them indefinitely for now. Wait until we can pin down a character on our unexpected guest." I muttered, watching her carefully as she nursed the bottle.
"Is that the best solution?" She asked, gazing at me while swaying slightly in her seat. I sighed.
"For now. Yes… we can get in touch with Jake in the morning, see what his opinion on the matter is." I watched her finish the bottle, which a waiter quickly replaced without a word. I waved him back over, paid the bill and guided Li to the jeep. I had to dig through her purse for her room keys as she was swaying wildly as I buckled her into the seat.
"Where do you stay?" I asked, easing out of the parking lot.
"Across… the hall. Are you coming over?" She muttered, casting a suspicious glance at me. I sighed and shook my head
"Oh… I need to clean… make it presentable…" she burped. She looked at me, mortified. I broke into a fit of laughter as she shone bright red.
"It's not funny!" She wailed, covering her face. I composed myself as Li tried to swat at my arm, mostly just swaying around drunkenly. It was a bit of a chore to get her to the elevator, her clinging to me instead of walking, burying her face in mortification. But I got her up to her room, I was able to open the room and I waited for her to enter to realize she would fall as soon as I let her walk alone.
I sighed and stepped inside. Li Fung hadn't much decorated her suite. A few soft touches, a picture here or there, an award there. It felt like she'd put more effort into mine than hers. But I was able to get her to her bedroom. She'd discarded her shoes at the top of the stairs, reaching longingly for the bed, half dragging me along. I got her into bed, about to leave when a pair of hands with surprising strength yanked me down.
"Don't… I want… to feel… like I have a choice…" she murmured into my back. I tried getting up but she just pulled me back, her hands roving freely over me.
"And that involves denying my choice?" I asked coldly.
She released me at that, allowing me to get free and stand. Her eyes were teary, her lips trembled slightly, hand hand involuntarily reaching for me again. She'd been holding it together all this time, I'd had my wife at my side. My rock, who had Li had? She'd been forced to put down everyone she'd been close to. Was she just desperate for that connection? To feel heard?
I closed my eyes for a minute, steadying my breathing before I slowly sat back down. Her eyes widened a bit, a ghost of a smile flicking in her eyes as she chewed on her lip. She sat up, glancing down, her face flushing as she pulled off her shirt.
"Stop." She froze, staring at me, my eyes boring into hers.
"If you keep going. I will leave."
"But… why? Am I not… good enough for you? You like those summons don't you?" She glared at me, tears falling from her eyes.
"You… you're just like the others! You want to take advantage of me, use me!" She collapsed, sobbing. I sighed, placing my hand next to hers. She took it, her eyes boring into mine, almost pleading.
"Please stay. I don't… I don't know how…" I didn't reply, just pulled her close, letting her cry into my chest as I rubbed her back.
"It's okay, I'll be here until after the tears stop." She practically fell into me at that, clinging to me like a desperate survivor cast adrift amidst a raging storm. Full body wracking sobs came next, they didn't stop until she passed out.
I gently laid her down. Poor girl was used to carrying the weight of everything. Alone. She'd tried to control everything, to make the cards stack in her favor and ever since I'd arrived in Singapore the first time… that just hadn't been the case. Months of pent up emotions and frustration. Women just couldn't handle it, pack it up and ignore it like men could… I suppose it was for the best I'd been able to mitigate it… I softly closed the door, having left her keys on the counter before entering my room.
Regina was leaning against the counter, phone in hand. She looked up worriedly as I closed the door behind me. "Sir, where were you? You weren't answering my calls…"
I pulled her into a hug. She reacted stiffly at first, her nose scrunching as she undoubtedly smelled the perfume and then saw the tears staining my shirt. I felt something, a soft desire deep in my dead heart as she tried to wriggle from my arms. I didn't know what compelled me, but I leaned down, my lips briefly brushing hers. They were soft, warm… tasting faintly of strawberry.
She froze in my arms as I drew back. I repressed a grimace. I'd fucked up. You don't just do that. Regina's shocked look slowly turned dreamy, her face softening as she wrapped her arms around me in turn and stood on the tips of her toes, kissing me in turn. She buried her face in my chest, breathing deeply.
I stood frozen, unsure of what to do, to pull away. Apologize? Regina looked up at me, happiness clear in her gaze as a soft smile seemed to light up her soul. "Sir… I'll always be by your side, in sickness and health…"
"Regina…" I whispered, my voice slightly hoarse. She reached up, pulling my face down slowly, kissing me again. Slowly, soft and full of warmth. I felt a small flicker in my chest. Something that hadn't been there for a while, a missing spark. I slowly returned Regina's kiss, and we slowly got lost in it.
We broke it off, Regina smiling happily. Her eyes staring at me… with… warmth? No, something different. "Andrew… please let me stand at your side, don't cast me away…"
I closed my eyes, slowly realizing we'd been slowly moving around each other, having circled in our little moment, lost to time. I opened my eyes again to see Regina's normally piercing green eyes waiting for my response.
"As long as you wish to." She smiled at that, leaning against me, nuzzling my chest.
"Forever…." Her voice trailed off. I sighed, glancing up to see Siska beaming widely at us, camera in hand, filming everything. Siska placed the phone on the counter, still facing me and walked over.
Regina shifted slightly, allowing Siska to embrace me as well. She sighed as they shared a heavy glance. They both looked up at me. I could feel the warmth, affection they both held. Had it always been like this? I suppose it had… I hugged them tightly, kissing Regina's forehead. Siska snuggled closely, planting a kiss on my collarbone, then winked and tried slipping away. I pulled her back.
Since that dark night, Siska had been at my side. Shielding me, protecting me, even from myself and my own demons. Regina, the one I'd hurt and saved, returned to save me. We were all as much bound together as any single of us. A near inseparable trio. I wasn't going to let either of them leave, I owed them both too much. Regina straightened, her eyes filling with determination.
"Let me be your sword."
"I will be your shield." Siska said after a few quiet moments, her piercing blue eyes meeting mine.
I sighed, lowering my head. I closed my eyes as I felt the both of them softly kiss me. I guess my wife's journal had been right… she'd had that brujeria, it always seemed to lead her right. And I guess now it was doing the same for me. I glanced out at the setting sun. Even in death she still looked after me, sending me a pair of angels to watch over me when she couldn't.