Chapter Text
"Hey Kari! What're you doing here?"
Startled, Kari glanced up from the incredibly exotic drink the bug bartender had given her and into the smiling, gorgeous face of Ariel Ozu.
Not for the first time, she questioned her heterosexuality.
Normally, she'd have had a polite response.
Not right now.
"I'd think you'd know."
Ariel nodded. "Yes, I do know! Goro's side of it, anyway. I want to know yours."
"You'll just take his side," Kari said bitterly.
"I only know half the story, and can't guarantee one way or the other until I know all of it," Ariel said, sitting unasked next to her and opening a hand, the bartender placing a fizzing drink in it.
"I don't think it's really any of your concern," Kari muttered.
"Probably not, but I'm here anyway, instead of your husband, who's beating himself up but we all decided should probably leave you alone for a little bit," Ariel admitted.
"So he's running away from this?!" Kari snapped.
"Do you WANT to see him right now?" Ariel asked patiently.
"...No," Kari confessed grudgingly.
Ariel nodded. "I thought not. So!" she said, sipping her drink and moaning orgasmically. "You two had an argument! And not about whether or not you should get a neural interface because Magiel knows that's played out."
"We're done with that discussion," Kari insisted.
"Which is good! So what set you off this time?" Ariel asked patiently.
Kari grimaced, looking into the bottom of her glass, which the bartender had helpfully refilled. "...He was talking about another kid."
Ariel nodded. "And you got really angry at him all of a sudden, yelled about how wasn't four enough already, and stormed out, confusing him and making the kids worry you were getting a divorce."
Kari flinched. "Oh shit they heard that?!"
Ariel nodded. "Yes, but Goro convinced them there's no divorce. There is no divorce, right?"
"No!"
"Good. So...?"
Kari grimaced. She chugged her drink and slammed it back down on the counter. "Ariel. You know why I was being trafficked when Goro found me, right?"
Ariel nodded. "Yes."
"And you know WHY I was being trafficked?"
"Kari, look at me, I'm a ridiculously beautiful foxgirl that only looks human if I feel like it, I know EXACTLY why you were being trafficked," Ariel said seriously. "You know how much fanart there is of me, right? THAT kind?"
"Right. Dumb question." Kari swirled her glass a little before her next drink. "So, I wasn't just gonna be a sex slave. They wanted a breeder."
"Ah." Ariel nodded. "But you had kids with Goro."
"Yes."
"And you love them. And him."
"Of course."
"So...?"
Kari sighed. "You're going to think I'm stupid."
"Try me."
"Today's the day when I first got grabbed off the street, thrown in a truck, and..." Kari cut herself off.
"Ah," Ariel said. "And Goro talking about having a kid on this day, when that memory's close at hand, caused you to question if he actually cared about you or if you were just a fetish and he wanted to use you to pump out babies."
Kari slammed her forehead on the counter. "I'm such an idiot. After everything he's done for me, all the years we've been together-"
Ariel shook her head. "No, that's a perfectly understandable response to lingering trauma. Goro says he's very sorry for forgetting what today was and bringing up those feelings. Would you like him to come over and apologize himself? Or would you rather he call?"
Kari considered it. Her stomach churned. "Not...not right now. I'm sorry, but-"
"No, it's fine, he's a soldier, he knows all too well about PTSD," Ariel reminded her, unintentionally making her feel worse.
"I'm a terrible wife," Kari lamented. "If I'd just put on the interface when he asked-"
"Trauma and mental health are extremely complicated and linking your mind to trillions of others isn't always the best way to help," Ariel said gently.
"I thought I was over this."
"It's never that easy."
"I don't suppose you could erase the memory of that day-"
Ariel recoiled, disgusted. "Who do you think I am, an alchemist?!"
"Sorry, sorry," Kari apologized.
"It's okay," Ariel said, quickly forgiving her. "You know what you need?"
"Therapy?"
"Well, yes, but something to change the association you have with this day into something more positive!" Ariel said, grabbing Kari and pulling her towards the exit.
"Where are we going?!" Kari demanded.
"To have a night you'll never forget and hopefully won't regret!" Ariel cheered. "This is gonna be awesome!"
The next morning, Kari woke up with a clear head - Hive drinks didn't leave hangovers, thankfully - and not in her bed. "Oh fuck," she whispered in horror, realizing she was cuddled up against Ariel.
"Yes, we did!" Ariel said happily. "Wanna go again?"
"Goro's gonna kill me!" Kari shrieked.
"Nah, he's dealing with his own morning-after surprise."
Goro stared at the ceiling.
Shin stared at him.
"So," the mutant grasshopper said. "We gonna talk about it or-"
Goro got up and left.
"You forgot your clothes!" Shin shouted after him.