"Kanan, cara mia, you know I love you, but you've really got to stop doing that."

"Doing what?"

Mari's smile doesn't even waver, merely stiffening at its ends as the glint in her eye only sharpens just much dangerously so. Fighting down the telltale twitch of irritation, she releases a soft, controlled little sigh; smile still fixed, perpetually untouched and right in place.

Keep your cool, Mari, she tells— reminds— herself. She knows fair well that her dearest love isn't doing this on purpose.

Oh no, she's not.

Because when it all boils down to Kanan, it would be best if she'd just spell it out for her, once and for all. No games. No intricate riddles. Or they may very well be spending the next couple of hours or so, going round and round in circles, Mari should know.

Tilting at her head, she taps a delicate finger to her chin musingly. "Hmm, oh I don't know. I guess this whole 'shedding-your-wetsuit-away-like-a snake' habit of yours, bothers me."

"It does?"

Kanan— god bless her oblivious soul— merely blinks back at Mari in surprise, all the while, adorning the most adorable look of confusion on her face.

And it practically takes every ounce of willpower in Mari to not just glomp her right there and then, pressing issue at hand be damned.

But no, Mari shall not cave.

She will not.

So instead, she purses at her lips, forcing her attention back to the state of dress— or undress— of the woman sitting across from her.

Toned body set out on display, granting an eyeful of exposed skin and ample cleavage, no thanks to her extremely fitting swimsuit, Kanan simply looks ravishing basking under the glow of the sun with the remnants of her wetsuit pooling over around her waist. And especially more so enticing, when she is marked with glistening beads of perspiration and sea-spray, clinging onto her body and hair, like diamonds winking under the light.

It's almost a sinful sight to behold, thinks Mari, throat bobbing in a forceful swallow.

Tempting. Really tempting.

But she catches herself in time, shaking off the haze of desire that has briefly clouded her mind as she rolls at her shoulders in a seemingly careless shrug, sunlit eyes blazing.

"I mean, it's fine if you do it on our private yacht and stuff. I don't mind it, since it's only just me around. But here?" Mari pauses, gestures briefly to their general surroundings— to the fairly packed snack bar by the beach that they are currently paying patron to— with a breezy wave of her hand. "In case you haven't noticed, the table of guys behind you, have been ogling you ever since you had put on your 'little show' when we sat down."

Sniffing slightly, Mari wrinkles at her nose in disdain, then frowns. Deeply. She can still feel the pressing weight of the stares from the aforementioned table, boring right into Kanan; and possibly penetrating through the thin layers of her scanty swimsuit.

And the thought of it only makes her skin crawl and the blazing fire of ire within her roar.

"I'd just prefer you to be a little more… covered up." Mari murmurs sourly, pursing at her lips with a short huff.

The soft rumble of an all-too familiar throaty chuckle catches her attention then, and it impels her to look up.

"Commere'."

And Kanan is right there, sitting across from her with her arms held open, glittering amethyst eyes and radiant smile glowing back at her invitingly.

For a long, long while, Mari can only stop and stare, momentarily dazzled by her brilliance.

It's still amazing how even now— after years later—, Mari still finds herself catching her breath at the sight of Kanan, and she doesn't doubt for one second that she will ever lose her luster. No, not ever. Not when Mari is around, she won't. That, she guarantees it. She would protect her smile— her shine— at all cost, for as long as she lives.

"Come on already, my arms are starting to tire," urges Kanan playfully with a hearty laugh, head tilted at Mari beckoningly.

And when that doesn't seem to get Mari to budge, she only sighs, deciding to pull out the big guns.

"Mari…" Kanan purrs, lips pressed into a perky little pout that she knows Mari can never resist, waving at her arms— still open— impatiently.

Feeling herself melt at the sight of said-pout, Mari finally breaks out of her stupor, grinning widely as she floats her way over to her dearest love, and airily plops herself down onto Kanan's lap, straddling her openly right in the center of public. Though, not without throwing a particularly smug look over at the table of men behind them, amber eyes glinting dangerously.

"Mhmm, much better," sighs Kanan, albeit contentedly, curling up against Mari with her arms immediately finding respite around her slim waist. She gently nuzzles into the crook of her neck, paying no heed to how she is still very much drenched in her semi-wet suit.

Mari merely laughs, feeling tickled by the gesture. "You're going to get me all wet, Kanan."

"Am I?" Kanan asks, peering up at her, eyes all wide and innocent. But from the imperceptible curl of a devilish smirk on her lips, Mari honestly knows better.

And when Kanan leans in, lips purposefully brushing up against the shell of her ear, Mari can only hold her breath in silent anticipation.

"Maybe I could get you even wetter." She whispers lowly, almost suggestively into her ear, her voice dropping into a deeper, huskier cadence that sends a pleasurable shiver down Mari's spine and turns the insides of her belly into goo.

Unable to help herself, Mari deftly glides her fingers across Kanan's exposed abdomen, feeling the smooth purchase of deliciously slick skin ripple against her fingertips, earning herself a soft arching gasp in turn.

"Careful, I might just take you up on that." Mari murmurs, albeit liltingly, voice dripping with tease as she deliberately plants a slow, hot kiss up against the side of Kanan's cheek, feeling her tremble up against her front.

A shaky exhale. "Try me," breathes Kanan, gently prying away from Mari to look her properly in the face; eyes glinting and lips twisted into her trademark charmingly roguish grin.

A passing beat; held out by a short lapse of silence as smoldering amethysts bears down heavily onto sheer sunlit gold.

But it is Mari who ultimately breaks eye contact, caving in into laughter first, with Kanan coming in a close second. Even while teeming over in giggles and chuckles, the happy couple still remains blissfully locked in embrace.

Giving a playful prod to Kanan's nose, once after the giggles have finally died down, Mari makes to move in a tad closer, resting her forehead up against Kanan's as she settles her arms loosely around her neck. "So? What are you really up to?"

Kanan shrugs, "You said you preferred me to be a little more… 'covered up'."

"And so you've decided to use me as your shield?" Mari hums, lips pulled into a slow teasing grin.

"A beautiful Mari shield," quips Kanan, an equally impish grin on her lips as she throws Mari a wink.

Mari laughs, veering back to slap her lover lightly on the shoulder. All in good-natured fun, of course. "Charmer."

Flinching away playfully, Kanan blows her a raspberry. "You know you love me for it." She grins, crookedly, in the manner that Mari finds absolutely endearing.

"I do," she croons softly, earnestly, then reaches in to peck her chastely on the cheek, causing said-woman to preen in turn.

"And well…" Kanan's sheepish little chuckle immediately catches Mari's attention then. Glancing up curiously, the first thing Mari notices is the faint pink hue smattering across Kanan's cheeks as she ducks slightly at her head, shyly peering up at Mari through her dark lashes. "I'd thought you might also like to… re-stake your claim on me too." She mumbles, albeit bashfully.

"That you're mine," says Mari, more of a statement than a question; slowly closing in on the woman, whose lap she's still settled rather comfortably upon. She gently touches her cheek, and ever so reverently, traces over the heated skin with her fingertips. Mine.

"Yes, all yours," Kanan breathes, as she tenderly clasps her hand over Mari's, leaning further into her touch.

Violet eyes shift, seeking out spun-gold. And in that very second, all that consumes Mari's vision is the unadulterated love burning in those molten amethysts, reaching out towards her.

"But don't you go forgetting that you're mine too, Mari." Kanan all but purrs throatily, briefly twining their fingers together, then shifting down lower to lay a kiss on the inner-side of Mari's wrist.

"Yours," sighs Mari, albeit blissfully in a haze; entrapped by a certain gleam of a smoldering pair of dark amethyst-eyes.

However, it all barely lasts for moment, until Kanan finally drops her gaze, shaking at her head with an amused smile twirling on her lips. Chuckling, she playfully flicks at Mari's forehead, snapping her out of her trance.

"I think it's high time we get ourselves back home," she remarks, making to rise from her seat as Mari very reluctantly slides off of her lap.

Once on their feet, Mari quickly reaches in to re-establish their connection, looping their arms together and drawing in protectively.

"Yes, before anyone gets hurt from ogling you a second too long." She murmurs darkly, throwing a withering look over Kanan's shoulder at the very table of men— boys, more like it— and feeling a great sense of satisfaction when she sees them shrink away under her gaze.

"Or before either of us loses our pants in public…" Kanan mutters lowly under her breath.

Mari shoots her an odd questioning look.

"I didn't say anything." Kanan says, smiling an ever sweet and innocent smile.

But Mari merely arches a brow, a devilish curl to her lips. "Careful for what you wish for, Kanan. 'Cause I might just take you up on your offer." She simpers, sending her dearest love a seductive wink.

Kanan only laughs, a clear vibrant ring in the air.

"Try me."

*cara mia: my dear/love

A/N: I can't believe I'd forgotten to crosspost this from AO3! But ah, to those who were following this story/collection on FFnet, I hope you enjoy this treat! (And do forgive me for posting this one up late.) May season 2 of LLSS bring us loads of kanamari moments and hopefully I'll see you guys soon. Cheers!