=\\TACTICAL WAIFUS QUEST//=
Part 97: Touch the Cow
In your heart of hearts, you've always sorta known your girls were bodged together with several Ace Hardwares' worth of JB weld and bailing wire. If you squinted hard enough, you could see the cracks and seams where they'd shattered apart and been hastily glued back together. But until now it'd been details in the margins. Whispered sounds in your peripherals that you could ignore with barely a thought.
Now Marie'd gone right out and said what everyone was politely ignoring. She'd taken all her brokenness and dropped it right at your feet, and…
And it didn't change a thing.
Marie was one of your girls. Assistant-gunner and trained operator or not, in this bedroom she was just a scared girl who needed love and protection. It was a task you were honored to perform.
"Marie," you said, pulling her close and letting your hand drift just a little higher up her body. You weren't going to touch her memetically magnanimous mammaries just yet, but you let the blade of your hand but up against the base of her bust. A gentle caresses on her chest to let her know you were both aware and appreciative of her figure, even if you weren't going to get frisky just yet. "I've seen you on the track, and I've seen you in action."
You shifted your hips, letting her rest against you while you let your thumb sneak up to gently stroke her breast. You could feel hints of lace through her shirt, and from the quiet humming noise she made you could tell she was enjoying the gentle attention. "You pull your weight, just like Riley or Shelby or Hannah or any of the team."
She shrugged and rested her head on your shoulder, clearly not convinced.
"Marie," you asked, "What's your five-k time?"
Marie scrunched up her nose and thought for a moment. "About… fifteen minutes give or take."
"Carrying?"
She shrugged. "Just my basic load."
You shook your head. "Which is…?"
She looked at you in confusion. "You don't know what my battle load is?"
Okay. Maybe the Socratic method wasn't the best idea when your girls had the social knowledge of shut-in lungfish. "Just humor me, Marie. I want to hear you say it."
"Oh," she nodded. "My rifle, my armor, 'bout fifteen hundred rounds of seven-six-two, a few grenades, my pistol, some snacks—"
You stopped her with a pat on the back. "And how much does all that weigh?"
She shrugged. "I… I don't really know. I kinda stop noticing it after a mile or so."
"Marie," you said with a gentle smile, "You pull your weight."
She shrugged again. "I guess. Just…"
"I wasn't finished," you continued. "Maybe it's a little less nurture and a little more nature with you. So what? You're a valuable part of my team, you're a good friend, and I wouldn't change any part of you for the world."
You could feel the heat washing off her cheeks. She darted in for a quick peck on the cheek then collapsed back on the bed like she was recoiling in a fit of suppressed giggles. "Thanks, boss."
"Anytime." You settled down on the bed, letting her get nice and comfortable before you wrapped your arms around her to keep her safe through the night.
"Wait," she glanced over her shoulder at you. "Shouldn't those be the other way around?"
"Pardon?"
"Nature and nurture."
You shrugged. "Just get some sleep, Marie."
"Sure, boss." With her back pressed against your chest, you could fell the corded muscle under her soft, fluffy exterior. There was no doubt in your mind that she was telling the unvarnished truth about her run times, nor that she could probably shoot Hannah's -21 offhand if she had to.
Of course, that was far from the only thing you noticed. She was soft, softer than any of the other girls. Her hair was a giant mess that exploded in your face like a flower of auburn brown. There was a single roll of fat on her waist where her skin creased, you could feel her breast squish against the arm you'd threaded under her body. You brushed a strand of her messy mane behind her ear and let your hand trail down her curves to cradle her belly, pausing just long enough over her bosom to let her know her distinctive figure was appreciated.
She was asleep before you reached her belly button. But you couldn't help whispering a quiet "good night, Marie" into her ear as you drifted off to a peaceful, dreamless sleep.
—|—|—
Marie was gone by the time you woke up. But judging by the sounds coming through the rather flimsy suite door, the girls were trying to get some form of morning PT in. Probably jumping jacks from the rhythm. You weren't sure if your brain could mentally handle Marie doing jumping jacks just yet, and you decided not to risk it.
You decided on a quick shower and shave, hoping that the situation would resolve itself without further input by the time you were done. You managed to tidy up without further theatrics, which unnerved you in ways you'd only imagined back when you were an airborne ranger. It was the calm before the storm, you just knew it.
"Girls?" You knocked on the door to your little bedroom, "Are you all decent?"
"Just a minute!" called Riley. "Okay, yeah."
You cracked the door open just a tiny bit, making sure the girls had time to scream if it was warranted. When nothing happened, you opened it the rest of the way. Riley and most of the girls were either stretching or flopped on the floor catching their breath, all of them in the tiny-shorts and t-shirt PT uniform you were barely used to by now.
"Hey, boss," Riley beamed at you, her blush glowing under her sweat-glazed skin. "Mind if I start cycling girls through your shower too? It'll go faster."
"Yeah," you said, hoping she wouldn't ask if you'd join her. "Go ahead."
"Thanks." Riley put one hand on her swooping hip and motioned to Hannah and Zoe.
"Where's Marie?" you asked.
"Sent her to our shower," said Riley. She blushed a little deeper and leaned in. "She kinda… boob sweat, you know? Didn't want to make her wait."
"Ah," you said, trying not to imagine the many alternatives you could maybe provide, none of them suitable for a family audience.
"Uh, boss?" Riley had both her hands on her hips now. "About the upcoming op?"
"What's up?"
"I need a new swimsuit," said Riley. "Most of us do, actually. Our regen suits are too conspicuous, and those bikinis from Marie's op…."
"Yes?" you said, noting the dripping suspicion in her pause.
"I… kinda burned them." She shuddered. "Anyway, when we get back I need to borrow a car."
>Follow Riley's shopping trip (POV switch to Riley)
>Just plan the mission (let Riley's trip happen off-screen.)
