Invidia’s Loneliness

Another Invidia Short by AMI MEITSU

Despite the fact that Invidia is usually a strong woman, she has a few weaknesses. One of them is loneliness. Now she doesn’t mind being alone, she just doesn’t like feeling alone and rejected…

“So you’re going away…for a week?” Invidia looked at Arty with a sad look in her eyes. The EDF was sending him to another city. Why? He needed to work on some diplomatic stuff, Arty was only a black tiger pilot to some but he was also an excellent negotiator, he just needed more diplomatic work.

“Yes, I’m sorry Honey I have too, and Akira and Ryou will be here…” Arty tried to reassure her, he knew that she didn’t like being too far away from him or feeling alone.

Invidia shook her head “No they won’t…”

“Huh?”

Akira came into the living room, where they were both sitting on the couch. “Yeah, I’m on break so I’m going on vacation with Nina and her family…” Nina was Akira’s best friend next to Setsuna and Misako, even though Invidia thought she needed to stay at her own house. It seemed like Nina spent more time there than Akira did at her house, and she wasn’t afraid of Invidia so he fear tactics that didn’t help…

“Why didn’t you tell me this?” Arty asked.

“I told you a week ago.”

“Oh, then what about Ryou?”

“He’s camping with some of his friends.”

“That’s right…he told me that…” Arty mused.

“But this means I’ll get lonely…” Invidia hugged him.

“It’ll be alright Princess; you have plenty of other people you can see, Nova, Trelania, your Father…”

“Father’s on vacation too…” Invidia pouted. “He wouldn’t let me come with him this time…”

“Aw…” Arty moved her into his lap and held her. “It’s all right, you can manage.”

“But I’ll be lonely…except for father’s plants.” Invidia sighed, every time her father went away she and Arty were supposed to water his plants, but sometimes they went to water the plants and not water the plants.

“It’s all right, it’s only a week and I’ll call you every day. I promise.”

“I love you…” Invidia whispered.

“I know…” He held her close and she fell asleep in his arms.

A couple days later, early in the morning, Arty and Ryou left out. Akira left before they did and Arty had promised to drop Ryou off at his friend’s house so he needed extra time.

“Is that everything?” Arty asked.

Ryou looked at the stuff in the car “Yeah, that’s all of it. I have everything set, and you?”

“Ryou you know I do.”

“You sure?” he pointed to Invidia. She was standing a little behind him in her nightgown. She had thrown her robe over it, and was giving Arty a sad look.

“Oh. Morning Honey…”

“You leaving now?” Invidia asked.

Arty nodded. “I’ll see you in a week okay? Remember, I said I’d call you and I’m going to stick to that. Oh and be careful and don’t burn the building down…”

“Arty!” Invidia whined. This was no time for jokes.

He hugged her “I’m only kidding, bye, Honey…” He stepped away.

“Don’t I get a kiss?”

“Didn’t I give you enough last night?”

Invidia blushed. “Arty, not in front of Ryou…”

“What?” Ryou stood up; he had been putting something in the car and really didn’t hear them.

“Nothing, just be on your way.”

“I love you Princess…” Arty kissed her.

“Okay, gross…” Ryou muttered, he and Akira often said that as a joke.

They ignored him. “You’ll be okay, I know you’re strong.” Arty reassured.

“Right…” Invidia nodded.”I love you.”

“I love you too.” He kissed her head, got in the car and left, Invidia just watched.

Throughout the day she couldn’t stop thinking about him, what he was doing and if her thought about her.

‘I know I shouldn’t worry…But I don’t like being apart from him, I don’t know why though. I’ve always been fine when he went out into space…’ Invidia thought. Currently she was sitting on the couch at her Father’s place, she had come to water the plants, but it didn’t help. ‘Though, whenever he went away I always had other people to keep me company. Maybe I need to see Nova. But I don’t want to bug her now, it’s only been one day, how can it get worse?’

How could it get worse? She got lonelier…Later that night she sat in her bed looking up at the ceiling.

“I don’t get it.” She muttered to herself. “When I lived alone it didn’t bother me…and any other time I stay alone it doesn’t bother me, then again I do have the kids here, now I’m just alone…” She sighed again. “I miss his warmth.” She whined. ‘Maybe I do need to go see Nova, she can help. I mean, she’s used to being away from Derek and it doesn’t bug her…I wonder why…’

The next afternoon she went over, though she was a little surprised she didn’t fall down. Invidia hardly got any sleep and she was tired-way tired and the tea this morning hadn’t helped.

‘I’m okay…’ Invidia thought as she walked up the porch.‘I just have to hide it…’ She wanted to make sure that Nova left her alone and didn’t think she was sick or worse, give her a speech on health and the importance of sleep. She’d never done that before but Invidia knew it was a possibility.

“Invidia?” Derek was the one that came to the door, he just looked at her.

“Huh? Derek!” she immediately hugged him.

“Uh…Hi Princess…” He said, trying to use ‘Princess’ as a formal title.

“Hi Derek…”she said.

“Derek? Where’s…Invidia?” Nova said as she entered the living room.

“Oh, hey Nova…” Invidia backed off of Derek.

“Now what brings you here?” she asked.

“I felt lonely…” Invidia admitted.

“Aw, how about I make you some tea? Then we can sit on the couch and talk.”

Invidia nodded, and a little while later she sat with Nova and Derek in the living room.

“So what’s wrong?” Nova asked.

“Well, I think you already know that Arty’s gone for the week and I miss him…” Invidia said.

“It’s never seemed to bother you before.” Derek said.

“I know, but then I’ve always had the kids or my father or I was just used to being alone. Now I don’t take to it all that well, I don’t mind being alone, I just…”

“You don’t like feeling alone, do you?” Nova asked.

Invidia shook her head.

“Maybe you just need some love …” Derek teased.

‘He’s right…’ Invidia laid down with her head in his lap.

“Huh?” Derek looked at her.

“I think she does want love, she misses having Arty around to cuddle her.” Nova whispered.

Derek began running his fingers through her hair, a while ago he figured out that she liked it. Arty and her Father often used it as way to calm her down or comfort her.‘She’s so cute sometimes…I guess that’s one reason Arty loves her…’

Invidia looked up at him and sat up in his lap, Derek just looked at her.

“Show her some love, she needs it.” Nova whispered.

Derek hugged her and she leaned her head on his shoulder.

“You’re warm…” Invidia whispered.

“Uh…”

’He’s so warm…and I feel…better…’ Invidia thought as she began to fall asleep.

Derek looked at her and smiled. “Nova, look.”

“Hm?” She went over. “Aw, she’s so cute…”

“But why..?”

“She did look tired when she came in, put her down.”

Derek stood up and Setsuna came out into the living room.

“What are you doing?” She asked. “And why is she here?”

“Arty’s gone for the week and she got lonely.” Derek gently put her down on the couch.

“She came to talk to me and fell asleep…” Nova said.

“Uh huh…”

Nova looked at Invidia again “I’ll go get her a blanket…” she muttered as she walked off. After a minute she came back and gently placed the blanket on her, Invidia grabbed it.

“Aw, that’s so cute!” Setsuna smiled.

“How long do you think she’ll be out for?” Derek asked.

“I don’t know, but we have to get ready for dinner, remember? Mark and Trelania are coming over.”

“Right.” Derek nodded and left with her.

A little while later Invidia began to slightly come to. ‘W…What’s going on?’ She sat up and yawned, she could kind of make out the figures of Mark, Trelania and Misako.

“What are you freaks doing here?” she asked.

“Hold on.” Derek, who had been talking to Mark, went over and gently pushed her back down. “Go back to sleep Honey, it’s nothing for you to worry about.” He whispered to her.

She did.

“Good girl…” He kissed her on the head.

“What is she doing here?” Trelania asked.

“Arty went away for the week and she was lonely, she came to talk to Nova but she fell asleep.”

“I didn’t want to disturb her, she looked so peaceful…” Nova said.

“So, just leave her alone.” Derek said.

“But that’s no fun.” Mark said, but they knew he was just kidding. “Just come on…” Derek said.

After dinner both he and Nova stood in front of the couch looking at Invidia. “So? What do we do with her?” Derek asked.

“I don’t know, at this rate she’s liable to sleep through the night.” Nova mused.“I know, let’s move her into the guest room, at least then she can be a little more comfortable.”

“But you can’t leave her in her dress…” Setsuna said from behind.

“You’re right…I’ll get her something to wear and you and your father can put her to bed.” Nova told Setsuna.

“Okay.” Derek gently picked her up and Nova left, Setsuna followed Derek into the guest room and pulled the blankets down so she he could put her on the bed.

“She’s so cute…” Setsuna whispered.

“I know, I guess that’s why Arty loves her, or one of the reasons he loves her.”

Setsuna smiled at him and Nova came in.

“Okay Derek you can go.” She said.

“But…”

“Unless you want to change her?” Nova asked.

“Huh?” It was then that Derek noticed that Nova had a light blue nightgown hanging off of her arm. “Oh.” He left.

Nova looked at Setsuna. “I need you to help me, get her up and we’ll work on getting her clothes off.”

Setsuna did as she was told, sat her up and unzipped the back of her gown.

Invidia moved a little, but didn’t wake up as Setsuna managed to slip the gown halfway off of her before she spoke again.

“I don’t understand why we just can’t leave her in her slip.” Setsuna said.

“Because she’s not wearing one.” Nova said as she slipped her bra off and the nightgown on. She gently laid her back down, pulled the nightgown down and pulled the blanket up on her.

“Let’s leave her.” Nova said as she picked up her clothes. “We can explain things later…”

The next morning Invidia really came to, she woke up to sunlight in her face. ‘Where am I..? I…I’m so cozy…I just…’ She sat up and looked around. ‘Isn’t this…The Wildstars’ house?’ She got up and looked at herself. ‘And who changed my clothes..?’ She went into the kitchen, where Derek and Nova were preparing breakfast. She grabbed Derek’s arm and looked up at him.

“Huh?” he looked at her. “Hey, you’re a sleepy little Princess aren’t you?” he teased.

She leaned her head on his arm. “Morning…” she said. “What happened?”

“You came here to talk to me and you fell asleep.” Nova said.

“You slept through the night.” Derek said. “We moved you into the bedroom so you’d be more comfortable.”

“And I changed your clothes.” Nova informed her.

“Then where are my original clothes?” Invidia asked.

“I’m doing the laundry now. How about you take a shower while that’s running?” Nova suggested.

“Okay.” Invidia nodded and headed into the bathroom. ‘This is weird…’ she thought as she stepped into the shower. ‘This has never happened before…and they were so nice me, then again they are my friends…’

After a couple minutes she got up and looked up. “Maybe Arty was right…” she muttered. “Maybe having him go away isn’t so bad…”

She wrapped a towel around herself. ‘Now all I have to do is get my clothes…Wait a minute!’ It was then that Invidia realized she had to get her clothes from Nova, which in turn meant Derek would see her in nothing but a bath towel. “I guess I…I just have to deal…” She mumbled as she came out.

“Uh…Nova…” She said, she stood at the bottom of the stairs.

“Oh, hold on…” Nova left for a minute and Derek looked at her.

He immediately looked away. ‘It’s kind of embarrassing to think but she is pretty…’

‘He…he reminds me of Arty, well usually it’s me looking way but Arty does it too and it’s cute…’ Invidia thought. “I love you!” She blurted out, she immediately covered her mouth.

Derek got behind her and pulled her into a hug. “I do too, as a friend.”

“Thank you.” Invidia whispered.

“Huh?”

“I don’t feel lonely anymore…Thank you.”

“No problem…” Derek whispered.

A couple days later Invidia sat in the apartment waiting for Arty, he had said he was getting home a day before Akira and Ryou and Invidia wanted to make it special, she had worked all day and set up a nice dinner with candles and everything.

‘I hope he likes it…’ She thought, after another minute he came in and she stood up.

“Invidia?” He looked at her, she was in front of him in a long black halter dress that showed her off really well.

“Welcome back, I made you dinner.”

He hugged her. “Thank you, but I don’t care about that, I’m just glad to be back with you.”

“Me too…” She looked into his eyes; they were so warm and loving. “I love you.” She said.

“I know.” Arty whispered, then he kissed her. It was sweet and gentle, she loved it.

“Come on, let’s eat and get you settled in, then I wanna play…”

“Play?”

“You know what I mean…” She kissed him again.

“I do.” He held her close. “And…I love you.”

Invidia smiled, he was warm and she felt comforted. ‘I’m glad you’re back, I’m not alone anymore, you’re warm and I’m safe…I never want you to leave my side…ever…’ She looked at him again and smiled.

He smiled back, it was sweet and gentle.

Invidia sighed, she knew what was coming, an evening so full of bright promise and love...