CHAPTER 137: HALFWAY DONE*

The tavern was loud as hell.

Grace sat at a corner table, still in her combat gear, watching Venus work her magic on the entire room. The Love Sister had already convinced half the village that she’d personally wrestled the Tempest into submission. With her bare hands. While blindfolded.

"To our heroes!" Venus raised her glass high. The golden liquid inside sloshed dangerously close to the rim. "Who saved us all from eternal bad hair days and getting sucked into the sky!"

The crowd cheered. Someone threw confetti. Grace rolled her eyes so hard it hurt.

Diana leaned close.

"Wanna head back to heaven now? Before Venus gets too drunk and starts demonstrating her ’wrestling techniques’ on the mayor?"

"In the morning." Grace grabbed a mug from a passing server and took a gulp. The alcohol hit her empty stomach like a brick. "I can barely feel my legs. No way I’m flying anywhere tonight."

"Fair enough." Diana clinked her mug against Grace’s.

Venus appeared out of nowhere, sliding onto the bench and sandwiching Grace between herself and Diana. The sudden warmth on both sides made Grace’s face heat up. Venus smelled... nice. Very nice, in fact.

[When did it get so hot in here?]

"Look at you!" Venus wrapped an arm around Grace’s shoulders, pulling her close. "My little student, all grown up and purifying ancient Pillars like it’s nothing. I’m so proud I could cry."

"You literally didn’t do anything." Grace took another long drink. The alcohol burned going down, but in a good way. "Diana and I nearly died while you were... what? Giving massages to stressed housewives?"

Venus gasped in mock offense, pressing a hand to her chest.

"Massages? I’ll have you know I was maintaining crucial civilian morale during a crisis situation. Do you have any idea how panicked these people would’ve been without my... calming presence?"

"You mean without your tits out?" Diana asked.

"That too."

Diana snorted into her drink, beer coming out her nose. Grace’s brows shot up.

Grace took another swig.

Then another.

The warmth spread through her chest, chasing away the bone-deep exhaustion from fighting ancient beings and their demon bodyguards.

"Besides," Venus continued, stealing Grace’s mug for a sip, "someone had to keep the mayor’s wife company. Poor thing was so stressed. Needed lots of... personal attention."

"Of course she did." Grace grabbed her mug back and downed the rest in one go. The room tilted slightly to the left. "Very noble of you."

"Easy there, hero." Diana’s hand touched Grace’s back, fingers spreading warm against her spine. "Might wanna pace yourself."

Grace turned to look at Diana. Her face was closer than expected. Close enough that Grace could see the little scar above Diana’s left eyebrow.

"I’m fiiine." Grace’s hand found Diana’s thigh without her brain giving it permission. "Totally fine. Never been better, actually."

Diana’s eyebrows shot up toward her hairline. Her eyes looked down before snapping back up.

She smirked.

"Grace?"

"What?" Grace’s hand stayed right on Diana’s thigh like it belonged there. The muscle was firm under her touch. "Just... sitting. Sitting and drinking."

Grace leaned into Diana’s shoulder unconsciously. She smelled really good. Like metal, but... good.

"You know what?" Grace’s other hand found Diana’s arm, fingers tracing the defined muscle there. "You were really badass today."

Diana scoffed.

"Okay, you’re definitely drunk."

"Am not!" Grace’s hand slid higher up Diana’s thigh, dangerously close to places that would get them both in trouble. "Just... appreciating."

Diana caught her wrist before it could wander further north. Rolling her eyes with a smile, she said:

"Grace."

"Diana."

"You’re groping me in public, you lightweight."

Grace blinked slowly. Looked down. Her hand was indeed very high up on Diana’s thigh, almost at the junction where leg met hip.

"Huh."

Venus was fully cackling now, drawing stares from other tables.

"Ah, by Eternia, this is better than anything I could’ve planned! Quick, someone get her another drink!"

"Absolutely not." Diana stood up quickly, pulling Grace with her. Which, of course, took very little effort on her part. "Come on, hero. Let’s get you some air before you scandalize the entire village."

"But I’m not done appreciating you!" Grace protested as Diana half-carried, half-dragged her toward the door. "There’s so much more to appreciate!"

Diana laughed harder.

"Outside. Now."

She guided Grace through the crowd. Grace waved at Venus over her shoulder.

"Bye, Venus! Thanks for doing absolutely nothing while we almost died!"

"Anytime, darling!" Venus called back, raising her stolen mug in salute.

The cool night air hit Grace like a slap to the face. She stumbled, and Diana steadied her with strong hands on her waist.

"Better?"

"No." Grace looked up at the stars. They were definitely spinning. "Everything’s moving in circles."

"That’s called ’being drunk’, Grace."

"Am nooot!" Grace spread her wings with the confidence of someone who absolutely should not be flying. "Look, I can still use my wings perfectly fine."

"Wait, Grace, no—"

Too late. Grace launched herself upward with all the grace and coordination of a drunk pigeon having a seizure. She made it about ten feet before listing hard to the right.

"Shit!" Diana took off after her, wings snapping open.

Grace flapped harder, overcorrected, and nearly crashed face-first into the tavern’s thatched roof. Diana caught her around the waist just in time, strong arms wrapping around her middle.

"What did I just say about flying?"

"Uh, you said..." Grace turned in Diana’s arms. They were floating about fifteen feet above the ground now. "Something. Probably something smart. I think."

They landed on the roof with a soft thud. Grace didn’t let go of Diana’s shoulders.

"You okay?"

"Mmmm." Grace’s hands found Diana’s face, thumbs tracing along her cheekbones. "Your scar looks really pretty in the moonlight."

It looked like the amusement in Diana’s face was slowly being replaced by... was that annoyance?

"You’re so drunk it’s not even funny," Diana replied, still carrying Grace.

"Maybe a little." Grace’s legs wrapped around Diana’s waist, pulling her closer.

"Hey, hey... Grace—"

Grace pulled her down into a kiss before she could finish the protest.

Diana made a surprised noise against her lips.

For a split second, it was all Grace. Then Diana’s hands were in her hair, and she was kissing back just as hard.

Grace tightened her leg lock, pulling Diana down until they were lying on the roof. The tiles were cold against her back through her shirt. She didn’t care even a little bit.

"Fuck," Diana gasped when they broke apart for air. "Grace, you’re—"

"Drunk, yeah, we covered that." Grace pulled her back down before she could start overthinking. "Less talking, more kissing."

Diana hummed something but didn’t resist. Her weight pressed Grace into the roof tiles in the absolute best way possible.

Grace’s hands found the clasps of Diana’s armor, fingers working at the familiar buckles.

"Whoa, hey." Diana caught her wrists, stilling her movements. "We’re on a roof."

"So?"

"So anyone could look up and see us."

Grace considered this for exactly half a second.

"It’s midnight. I don’t care."

"You will tomorrow when the entire village is gossiping about it."

"That’s tomorrow-Grace’s problem." She rolled her hips up, making Diana’s breath hitch. "Besides, you’re one to talk about modesty, Miss ’Walk Around With My Boobs Out’."

Diana’s grip on her wrists tightened, and Grace could see her pupils dilate even in the moonlight.

"You’re going to be the absolute death of me."

Diana stared down at her for a long moment. Grace could see the exact second her self-control snapped like a rubber band.

"Fuck it."

Their lips crashed together again. Harder this time. Desperate and messy and perfect.

Grace freed her hands and immediately went for Diana’s armor again. This time Diana helped, yanking at buckles and straps until metal pieces clattered onto the roof tiles around them.

"Someone’s eager," Grace teased between kisses.

"Shut up." Diana’s mouth found her neck, teeth scraping against sensitive skin. "You’ve been driving me absolutely crazy for weeks."

"Just weeks?" Grace gasped as Diana found that spot behind her ear.

Diana bit down gently. Grace arched up off the tiles, a soft moan escaping her lips.

"Fuck you."

[... Well, yeah.]

Diana’s hands were everywhere at once. Pulling at Grace’s clothes, mapping out skin as it was revealed inch by inch. Grace gave as good as she got, nails raking down Diana’s back hard enough to leave marks.

The night air was cool against her heated skin as her shirt came off. Diana’s armor was already scattered around them like metallic confetti.

"Okay." Diana grinned, and it was sharp and predatory and made heat pool low in Grace’s belly. "But we’re doing this my way."

Before Grace could ask what that meant, Diana’s hand was between her legs, pressing through the fabric of her pants.

"Oh fuck—"

Diana’s smirk was absolutely wicked.

"That’s the idea, shortstack."

Grace’s back arched off the roof tiles as Diana’s fingers found exactly the right spot through the thin fabric. Stars exploded behind her eyelids, and for once it wasn’t because she was drunk.

"Diana—"

"Shh." Diana’s other hand covered her mouth gently. "Unless you want the whole village to hear you screaming my name."

The thought sent another wave of heat through Grace. She bit down on Diana’s palm, not hard enough to hurt but enough to make her point.

Diana’s eyes went dark.

Diana’s fingers made quick work of Grace’s pants, tugging them down just enough to give her access to what she wanted. The night air was cold against Grace’s heated skin, making her shiver.

"Cold?"

"Not for long," Grace managed to say before Diana’s fingers found their target and her brain short-circuited completely.

The roof tiles were hard against her back, the night air was cool on her skin, and Diana’s touch was setting her on fire from the inside out. Grace had never felt more alive in her entire existence.

Mortal or angelic.