Work Text:
The bell rang out over the intercom. Students picked up their books and rushed to the halls. Their teacher bid them farewell as they left. Posters for the upcoming winter dance decorated the walls. Fuku weaved in and out between classmates as she made her way to her locker. She had a study hall with Skate the next hour. Before her open locker Fuku contemplated what work she should bring to the class. She put her math book away, and straightened her pencil box. Fuku sparked a small grin at the small polaroid taped to the box. It was of her and Skate making silly faces in the mall photo booth. The picture was taken five weeks ago, their first date.
“Hey,” Skate said, surprising the elemental. She leaned on the locker next to the emerald elemental. She fixed her red cap, her skateboard in her other hand. “Got anything planed for next hour?”
Fuku thought for a moment, but nothing came to mind. Maybe they could go over the vocab words again… for the thousandth time. She settled for a shrug.
“Not even anything to celebrate your perfect score on Mx. Johnson’s history exam?” Skate playfully nudged her girlfriend, “You know how impossible they make their exams. I think we should go somewhere.”
Fuku’s flame flickered curiously.
Skate leaned close, so as to not be overheard, “There’s this new cafe a quick walk from the school.”
Fuku brightened with her smile. In her light she noticed a tint of blushing lilac on Skate’s face. It was then Fuku realized how close they were standing next to each other. Her flamed harmlessly touching the rim of Skate’s cap. She also recalled how the two had yet to share a first kiss.
Skate stopped leaning on the locker, face half turned away, “Well, we should get going before passing period ends.”
Fuku nodded and shut her locker door.
Together they wandered to the unused science room, making sure not to draw attention to themselves as they slipped into the room. The empty classroom was quiet. The chatting students and slamming of lockers were muffled as Skate shut the door behind them. It was peaceful. And it was one of the only classrooms with a door that lead outside.
They left the quiet of the science room and went into the cold outside. The difference would have gave Fuku chills had she not been a fire elemental. Without anything said, the two ran from the door. They rushed passed still swing sets and colorful slides to the end of the school yard. Cold air brushed up Fuku’s flames, she laughed. They turned the corner, hiding from the school from the safety of a wooden fence. Fuku caught her breath, her soul light in her chest. She turned to Skate with laughter in her flame. But Skate wasn’t faring so well. She had her arms tight around herself as she shivered. The tentacle monster never fared well during the winter months.
Fuku took a step forward to catch the other girl’s attention, and silently offered a hug.
Skate leaned into her, head resting on her shoulder and skateboard still in hand. “Thanks.”
They hugged for a minute, then two. Fuku rubbed Skate’s back as she started to blush blue.
“We should go,” Fuku said. “But you’re cold.”
Skate thought for a minute, then put her skateboard down. “We can ride together to the cafe.”
Fuku’s fire wavered. She eyed the skateboard suspiciously.
“You can fit,” Skate defended. “I’ll be in front, and you can hold onto me. We’ll get to the cafe faster that way. And I won’t be cold.”
Fuku contemplated this plan for a moment. Hugging Skate did sound very appealing. Fuku hid her blueing fire and nodded in agreement.
Precariously Fuku balanced on the board behind Skate. One foot was half on the board and her balance wasn’t the best. She wobbled and wrapped her arms tight around Skate.
“You got it?” Skate asked over she shoulder.
Fuku steadied herself. “Yes.”
“Cool,” Skate said. “Just lean with me so we can turn.”
With that said Skate began pushing them down the sidewalk. Every bump and dip made Fuku’s flame flicker into frightened purples. They gained speed as they zipped down the pavement through a quaint neighborhood. It was the same one Skate lived in and knew well. She was familiar with these streets. Their wheels clicked and rolled over the sidewalk, the breeze in Fuku’s flames. Her shoulders relaxed as her nerves left her. There was a high yapping behind a fence. Fuku looked and saw, like a flip book between the planks of wood, the figure of a small dog running alongside them. It was barking and snorting at them.
“Wow, how fierce, Kona,” Skate chuckled to the dog. “You gonna snitch on us?”
Kona gave a gruff snort in response. Then the two girls had rolled passed the dog’s yard. The yaps were far behind them.
Skate spoke over her shoulder, “Looks like we have a spy watching us.”
Fuku snickered. She kept her balance as the sidewalk dipped down into the road. “Yes, I think so,” she played along.
Together they leaned as they turned the corner. Cars zoomed down the street, each one driving to their own destinations. There was a woman jogging across the street, not paying them any mind. Fuku watched as a truck slowed and stopped at the red light up ahead. An idea came to her.
“Any spies?” Fuku asked.
Skate glanced around, eyes narrowed in faux suspicion, “Not now. But we should keep an eye out for them. They watch for anyone skipping school.”
Fuku giggled into her girlfriend’s shoulder. Her hug grew warm with her fondness. How lucky was she to have such a comically outgoing monster in her arms. Her sparks and embers fluttered and floated around them like fireflies. Skate was caught in awe at the glow. She reach up to try to hold on before it blew away. Skate wasn’t even paying attention to the pavement.
Suddenly their wheel snagged on a crack. The two girls tumbled into the grass. Fuku fell hard, yet she wasn’t hurting. It was Skate that broke Fuku’s fall. Fuku waited for one surprised moment before she pulled herself up. She bent over the tentacle monster.
“Are you alright?” Fuku asked, worry filling her voice.
Skate gazed up at the gray sky, her red eyes wide and confused. “Yeah, are you?” she said half-winded.
Fuku inspected herself. Nothing seemed out of place. She nodded in reply. Fuku brushed off her skirt as she sat back. She held out her hand to Skate and paused. Skate’s gaze was now directed at her. It was full of awe, the lilac of her cheeks as bright as her eyes.
Fuku’s flame flickered in confusion.
“Sorry! I uh…” Skate tipped her hat down to cover her face. “You just look pretty, is all.” She took the elemental’s hand and stood. “Do you want to walk the rest of the way? I’m not cold anymore.”
Fuku didn’t let go of Skate’s hand. They were standing close again. Her soul was all aflutter. There was a moment that Fuku felt like she should say something, or more accurately do something. Kiss her, the thought whispered, and Fuku’s flame flushed at it. But she responded with was a simple nod.
Fuku lead them to the crosswalk ahead. Skate let herself be pulled. Both of their nerves calmed and cooled with each step. They couldn’t spend their time flustered on the sidewalk. The two of them had somewhere to be after all.
As they crossed the street Skate took one step off the painted walkway, a grin on her face. “Look, I’m jaywalking.”
Fuku giggled, “You criminal.”
“You bet!” Skate stepped back onto the walk. She looked up. The crosswalk’s time counted down to three. “Run!” Skate yelled.
Hand in hand they rushed to the other side of the street just as the light changed. They laughed at their silly adventure. Fuku’s fire sparked again.
Skate was already turning the corner, “Here!”
Fuku followed her. They came across a street of storefronts. The two passed a few before Skate stopped. Fuku caught up with her. The store was quiet small with a large window in the front. On the glass was a painted doodle of a cat enjoying a steaming cup of coffee. Inside the place looked mostly empty. The door was covered with papers and posters advertising local clubs and bands. The bell above the door rang. Skate had opened it for Fuku. Together they walked inside.
The air was warm and perfumed with the scent of rich coffee and spices. Comforting orange lights hung from the ceiling. The whole place was cozy as any home. The front of the cafe seemed small, but as Fuku walked in she noticed the separate eating area in the back. There was a couple people there. They worked on their laptops while sipping their coffee. Fuku looked around more and found a blackboard wall. It was decorated in customer-made drawings and funny phrases. Fuku spotted a few hearts with initials drawn inside them. She smiled and glanced over to Skate, who was already at the counter ordering.
After they got their paninis and drinks the two girls made their way to the sitting area. They passed the tables and sat on the comfy sunflower yellow couch. Fuku handed Skate her panini, and in turn Skate handed Fuku her chocolate mocha. Skate had ordered herself a simple hot coco. She drank it, and gave a disappointing look.
Fuku stopped drinking her mocha, and flickered in a question.
“Should have ordered something else,” Skate set her cup down on the coffee table and began to unwrap her panini. “They used a cheap coco mix. The dusty stuff.” She took a bite of her sandwich.
Fuku flame tinted orange in sympathetic disgust. She took another drink of her coffee. The flavor was sweet and smooth. It warmed her soul, but not fully. Her girlfriend was still bitterly chewing her food. The elemental thought for a moment, then got an idea.
Fuku offered her cup, “Share?”
“Oh, sure, thanks.” Skate took the cup and sipped. She smiled wide, “This is much better.”
A thought came to Fuku. She blushed blue as she grinned.
“What?” Skate wiped off her mocha mustache.
“Indirect kiss,” Fuku giggled.
Half of Skate’s face flushed as she set the cup down. “Well, wouldn’t you think a direct kiss would be better,” her tone half-joking and full of nerves.
Fuku turned more blue, but also flickered curiously. She kept her answer inside her chest, unsure how to voice it. Fuku let the topic go with a sigh. Besides, if Skate’s flushed face was anything to go by, then she didn’t want an answer. They awkwardly ate their paninis in silence. At least until someone passed them.
A bird monster with a bedazzled purse walked out of the sitting area. As he passed by them Fuku’s light caught on the jewels. Emerald reflections exploded and danced on the walls in a dazzling show of light. It was spontaneous and humorously caught the girls off guard. The purse’s owner was none the wiser. Fuku and Skate held in their chuckles until the monster left. They held each other too. Their shoulders shook from containing their building mirth.
“You’re a disco ball,” Skate laughed.
Fuku held in her sparks as she held onto Skate’s arm. Meanwhile Skate kept herself from snorting, her face buried in Fuku’s shoulder. Fuku turned to her just as Skate looked up. They were sitting rather close, their faces inches apart. Their laughter was replaced with another feeling. They didn’t move away.
An idea formed in Fuku’s mind. “Hey,” she began, “the winter dance is coming up.”
Skate was still. “Yeah?”
“Would you… like to go with me,” Fuku asked. “Together?”
There was a painful pause between the two of them. Emerald flame stared into red eyes.
Suddenly the elemental was wrapped up in Skate’s arms. She held Fuku tight to her chest. The hug was strong and full. Fuku’s fire danced as a smile spread on her face. Love burned and bubbled in her soul. She returned the embrace tenfold, squeezing her close. Then without a thought Skate pressed a soft and warm kiss to Fuku’s face. It was only for a moment, but that was all their hearts needed. They both pulled away and paused in shock.
“Is that a yes?” Fuku’s face was still flushed blue.
Skate playfully shoved her, “Of course I wanna go to the dance with you!”
Fuku smiled and leaned into the embrace once more. They continued their lunch with conversation light and fond. When they finished, the cute couple walked back to school, hand in hand. The cold air long unnoticed for the warmth between them. Together they chattered about the dance, and of outfits, and everything else that entailed.
And in the end, no spies caught them skipping school.