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bronya yawns with a hand over her mouth, stretching the other over her head. it is currently late afternoon, and the supreme guardian is nowhere near finishing her tasks. tons of paperwork crowd her mahogany table, stacking so high up that you’d need to stand on tiptoes to get a look at her. she looks around, scanning the room to make sure everyone has left her office before slumping back on her chair. sighing, she takes a moment to rest her eyes.
deep breaths, bronya. mother always said to take things slow, it’ll be fine.
a knock on her office doors causes her thoughts to scatter, opening her eyes in panic. the door swings open, revealing a young woman with dark purple hair and sharp features.
“seele!”
bronya abruptly stands up, moving the piles of paper aside to make room for her girlfriend. seele fastens her pace, helping bronya place the mountain of work on the floor next to her chair. seele gives bronya a small peck on the lips, placing her hands around the other’s waist. her head tilts to the side, frowning at the sight of her lover’s desk.
“don’t you think they’re working you too hard?”
bronya giggles, snuggling her head against the other woman’s neck. “well, i’m the Supreme Guardian for a reason. all the work and reports they do need to be finalized by me.”
seele caresses bronya’s hair. giving another kiss to her lover’s head, she says, “is there anything i can do to help?”
bronya’s silent, deep in thought. she lifts her head, looking straight at seele’s purple orbs.
“a date. let’s go on a date.”
seele raises an eyebrow. “now?”
“yes. now.”
“okay,” seele replies, grabbing bronya’s arm to lead her out. “today will be the best date you’ve ever had, princess. i’ll give you something unforgetable.”
seele opens the door, standing aside to let bronya walk first. closing it behind, seele moves to stand in front of the other, kneeling down and reaching her hand for bronya to take. the lighter haired lady smiles, accepting her lover’s invitation. the two walk hand in hand towards qlipoth fort’s exit, passing by and bronya waving to the silvermane guards standing guard. they descend the flight of stairs and seele guides bronya to the right.
“where are we going?” bronya asks, curious.
“you’ll see in a bit.”
seele comes to a halt in front of eversummer florist, pointing at the sign in front of the store.
“our first destination!” she declares proudly.
bronya inhales deeply, smells of fragrant smelling blooms intruding her olfactory senses. despite the chilly weather, the flowers stayed in its full glory, looking as fresh as the ones that bloomed on spring. bronya has always dreamt of an office full of blossoms. she takes a mental note to ask for tips for preserving flowers to vaska later. she kneels in front of the shop’s display, taking a single stem of peonies and bringing it closer to her nose. she closes her eyes, catching a whiff of the sweet scent.
unbeknownst to her, seele had gone inside and had just returned, tapping the grey haired woman on her shoulder. bronya turns around, gasping as she stands up.
“for you.”
“these are gorgeous, seele. what flowers are they?”
seele gives a soft smile. “they’re honeysuckle. apparently they symbolize everlasting love.”
a blush creeps up the guardian’s complexion. bronya holds the bouquet close, hiding her face behind them in embarrassment. seele laughs, engulfing bronya’s hands with hers.
“why so shy, love?”
“well.. how can i not when you just indirectly declared your love like that.”
seele cracks up, stifling her laughter with the back of her hand. “we’re literally dating.”
“it’s different!” bronya responds, defending herself.
“okay, okay. should we go grab dinner now? i reserved a spot in your favorite restaurant while you were sniffing flowers.”
bronya nods, hooking her arm with seele’s. “let’s go.”
they make their way along the streets of belobog. the setting sun paints the sky in beautiful colors of pink, purple and blue; the picturesque sight leaves bronya in awe. citizens would stop to bow in respect, and children would run up to bronya asking for a hand shake. seele had stood just a few feet from bronya through all that, watching lovingly as her girlfriend pats a young boy on his head. the crowd disperses, finally allowing the supreme guardian to latch back on her lover.
“sorry for all that, seele. i didn’t mean to keep you waiting.”
“it’s alright. besides, i get to see you everyday. these guys can barely see you walking outside without guards surrounding you.”
bronya huffs, this time leading seele over to the restaurant. the waiter takes them to their usual table, right where the windows are. it isn’t a surprise when the food comes out shortly after they sit – the entire staff had taken notes of their usual orders. bronya twirls her spaghetti, opening her mouth for a spoonful. she catches seele staring at her, the dish in front of her still untouched.
“do i have something on my face?” bronya asks, wiping the corners of her mouth with a napkin.
seele snaps out of her daze. “huh? n- no, its just..”
“just?”
“you look really beautiful today.”
bronya chuckles shyly, tucking a loose strand of hair over her ear. “thank you. and so do you, seele.”
seele returns her compliment with a smile. she slices up her steak, putting a few pieces on bronya’s plate.
“here, have some.”
bronya sighs, shaking her head. “you’re always like this seele.”
twirling another forkful of her spaghetti, she holds it out in front of seele. “here comes the choo-choo train, seele say aah-”
seele giggles at her lover's antics, the action causing a bit of the tomato sauce to splatter over her cheek. leaning in, she opens her mouth wide, forming an “o” shape. she nods in delight as the flavor enters her taste buds, her eyes crinkling into crescent shapes as a smile blooms on her face.
bronya gazes at her lover fondly, chuckling lightly when she realizes the sauce hadn't been wiped off. seele had lived most of her life underground. it was just recently – more specifically last year – when they saved the entire planet from the everlasting winter. the two women had fostered their friendship, the both of them sharing stories of how their lives went after bronya got adopted.
bronya remembers so vividly the first time she had asked the underworlder out. seele’s face had flushed bright pink, stuttering as she said yes. bronya had taken her to the exact same restaurant, ordering the same dishes. she can still clearly picture the look on seele’s face as she took a bite out of bronya’s spaghetti, eyes widening in amazement at the foreign, albeit amazingly good taste. bronya had looked at the other with such adoration, thinking that maybe after the tough years of military training, she might find someone to call a friend, someone to lean on.
their friendship flourished into something more when the gray-haired realized that her affection wasn't merely platonic. it has been 10 months since then, and bronya feels their love growing and growing into something much more beautiful, like the changes one feels from harsh winter air to fresh breezy spring.
they finish their meals soon after, strolling back to bronya's chambers. the supreme guardian had asked seele if she wanted to stay the night, with the latter merrily agreeing. seele had taken the initiative to hold bronya's bouquet for her, leaving her right hand empty for bronya to hold.
they pass by a nightly market. the packed crowd causes bronya to shift closer to seele, interlacing their hands. without saying a word, she pulls seele along with her, navigating the dense area as they return back.
they arrive at bronya’s resting chambers. bronya dismisses the staff, signaling them to not disturb the two throughout the night. seele had made herself comfy on the couch, enjoying the warm fire from bronya’s fireplace, skillfully lit up by one of the guardian’s helpers. bronya seats herself next to her lover, snaking a hand behind the other’s waist and cuddling close. her head rests on the crook of seele’s neck, breathing in seele’s scent. she smells of sandalwood, and a tinge of vanilla. they’ve grown to smell like home for bronya; she finds comfort in knowing that seele is an arm’s breadth away, close enough to reach, close enough to confide in.
seele hooks an arm on bronya’s shoulder, slowly caressing her hair. she presses a kiss to bronya’s temple before laying her head atop bronya’s.
“you tired?” seele softly whispers.
bronya hums in reply, snuggling closer to the other, her eyes still closed.
“i bumped into serval earlier. she said that snow’s going to fall soon though i don’t understand why she’s such a big deal of it.”
bronya mutters in reply, “i remember when mother always asks her out when she sees the first snow, no matter how busy she is. she’s quite the romantic now that i think of it.”
standing, bronya walks over to her balcony door, shoving them open. it is the end of october; in normal circumstances, it'd be when autumn soon turns to winter. but for belobog, they’ve had winter all year for as long as they can remember. all-year-long snowfall would only occur on the outskirts of the city. in the capital, it would only fall during heavy winter, which would be around this time to early march.
bronya steps out, her head tilting upwards. in the darkness of belobog’s night sky, the little twinkling stars illuminate the entire planet in a blanket of light. in the distance, faint green auroras light up the sky. the moon is in full view, unobstructed by any clouds. bronya hears the clacking of seele’s boots coming closer, turning around to extend a hand to her girlfriend.
“i’m jealous of those stars,” seele says, leaning on the stone railways of the balcony.
“why is that?”
“i know how much you love standing out here, gazing longingly at them. they get to see you mature, see you in your joyful days, you in the days when you’re blue, or when you feel proud of yourself. they’ve been there comforting you since you moved away. they tuck you to sleep and hug you when you’re crying. i’ll never get to see those moments of yours.”
bronya stands there in silence. seele had never been the one who would openly talk about her feelings unless someone, mainly bronya, asked. she laces their fingers together, turning seele around to face her. a hand cups the other’s cheek, then moves to tuck a stray piece of hair. she strokes seele’s cheek. once. twice.
she looks up to see purple eyes boring into hers, and then moving down to her lips. as seele leans in and presses their lips together, bronya’s eyes flutter shut. their lips move against each other like an effortless dance, conveying their hidden wishes and burning passion. bronya would give her beloved anything in this world had she asked, and so would seele.
bronya’s the first to pull apart, huffing as she catches her breath. a sudden hint of coldness hits the bare part of her shoulder. seele gasps, holding her hand out.
“bronya, it’s snowing!”
bronya laughs, but doesn’t respond. she pulls seele in for another kiss.
“i love you,” she whispers, her heart beating wildly against her chest.
i want you to be my everlasting love, seele. i want to be the reason why you smile, the one who eases your frustrations and worries. i will love you as long as i’m able too. growing old with you.. to see you lead a happy life as our hair turns gray and wrinkles decorate our skin. until i can no longer walk, and my memory betrays me. i’m so terribly and madly in love with you, and i’m not the best with words, so let these falling snowflakes carry my utmost sincere feelings for you.
the view is simply majestic. and having seele with her, bronya will never trade anything for it.