Chapter Text
Firefly found herself longing for Stelle very frequently and this was something Silver Wolf made sure to let her know. It had only been a few months since she had returned to the Stellaron Hunters after her procedure, but she missed Stelle the entire time.
It was taking her a while to get used to being able to properly live as herself, as Firefly, without spending just about every moment of her time in SAM. She was getting there, though, and the extra time she spent with her fellow Hunters was truly enjoyable. Shopping with Kafka for cute clothes, gaming well into the night with Silver Wolf, sparring with Blade to learn how to properly use her swords without SAM (not that she didn’t use SAM on missions) – all of it was fun.
But it wasn’t the same without Stelle. Yes, her time aboard Herta Space Station had been a little dull with nothing particularly interesting to occupy herself with, but it was Stelle who made it one of the best times in her life.
She yearned to be by the other girl’s side and this got her thinking and planning…
The other Nameless used to be of the opinion that Stelle’s habit of rummaging through trash for any potential treasures was bad. That was until she had been separated from Firefly again after the observation period ended and soon took up the habit of whining and moping about this all day every day.
After a particularly bad day where not even Sunday would listen to her yearning, March had ushered her out of the Parlour Car to “help Shush cook dinner, or something”.
To her credit, she did help. Following Shush out the Party Car, through the Dining Car and into the Kitchen Car while listening to bad jokes was not enjoyable in the slightest, and neither was listening to them while cooking. Cooking, as in preparing ingredients.
Stelle reckoned she was a genius Vegetable Chopper if she said so herself, contrary to Shush’s assessment that her work was only just satisfactory.
Eventually, Stelle was put out of her misery by a pink tuft of hair poking into the spacious kitchen. March wore a very uncomfortable expression as she obviously tried her best to hold back a massive grin. “Psst, Stelle! Over here!”
“What’s up?” Stelle was standing in front of March very quickly, very eager to escape Shush. March’s attempt at concealing the grin failed as she produced and Express ticket and offered it to Stelle.
“We have something for you and you’ll need this!”
“Um… Why?” Stelle watched the ticket for a moment, then looked to March’s face and back again several times. Why was she being given an Express ticket? She could clearly see March’s ticket pinned to her outfit and a quick glance confirmed that her own was still in its rightful place. Had it been dropped by someone else? Was someone leaving? No, the ticket would be given back to Pom-Pom in that case…
March very helpfully rolled her eyes and pressed the ticket into Stelle’s hand before reaching up and covering Stelle’s eyes. “Hey, what are you-!?”
“It’s a surprise, so you need to close your eyes! Come on, I’ll guide you.”
Awkward silence followed as neither girl moved. “…You let me fall down some stairs last time.”
Stelle wasn’t sure if March’s laughter was more awkward then the silence. “Just forget about that for now! I promise to tell you when stairs are coming up. Come on already, the surprise is worth it!”
A surprise worth skinning her knees as she tripped and fell under March’s guidance? The only two things she could think of immediately were Firefly somehow being in love with her and confessing this or announcing that she would join the Express. But there was no way either would happen, right…?
“…Fine. But if you trip me, March, I swear-!”
“I won’t, I won’t! Let’s just go already!”
Many, many reluctant and cautious steps later, Stelle found herself (probably) in the Parlour Car standing near (probably) the other Nameless. March was giggling to herself now, much to Stelle’s concern, and she thought she heard Dan Heng tell her in vain to be quiet.
“Okay, you can look now!” Stelle’s eyes were open before March fully lowered her hands.
Her assumptions were proven correct – she was standing in the Parlour Car with the other Nameless. They were all gathered in a circle with Dan Heng and March on either side of her, Pom-Pom and Sunday next to them, and Himeko and Mr Yang almost completing the circle. But it was the last person who caught Stelle’s attention.
Standing directly opposite Stelle in the circle was Firefly. She had traded her usual outfit for something that could be considered smart and almost handsome if not for her adorable bashful smile. Now clad in a red and black coat-like dress with a frilly hem over a white dress shirt, her glove-clad hands fiddled with the red cape draped over her right shoulder. The gold buttons and trimming of the outfit was tied together with a gold clip and red ribbon on her collar. Even the ribbons in her hair were red and her usual headband was replaced with a braid.
Firefly looked right at home standing amongst the Nameless in the Parlour Car in her new outfit and it took everything Stelle had in her to not leap at Firefly and squeeze her in a bear hug. “Firefly…? What are you…?”
Stelle’s star-struck reaction eased Firefly’s nerves and elicited a soft giggle from her. “Well, you know how my Scripts have always been very vague…?” Stelle nodded. “That got me thinking, so I looked over them and they only ever mention ‘SAM’. There’s nothing that says ‘Firefly’ must complete the Script or even be a Stellaron Hunter. And when I asked Kafka about it, she told me that there needs to be a strong link between the Astral Express and the Stellaron Hunters, so… here I am?”
Now things were starting to fall into place in Stelle’s brain. A mysterious ticket without an owner, a big surprise that kept her from the Parlour Car, Firefly’s presence and her new outfit…
“Ahem!” Pom-Pom interrupted her train of thought by clearing their throat. “Now that Passenger Stelle is here, we can start your initiation into the Nameless. Are you ready, Firefly?”
A giggly ‘yes’ came from Firefly. It seemed like the Pom-Pom Fan Club had a new member.
“Then, let’s recite the Trailblazer Creed!” Mr Yang and Firefly were the only ones to not groan at that March whispered something about thinking they weren’t going to do this anymore. “Now, Firefly, please repeat after Pom-Pom: One, no matter the ebb and flow of fate, stop staying within the lines. Two, even in the face of tempestuous seas, we always align. Three, even if we don’t gain the upper hand, we’ll fight for right. Four, even if forgotten by the world, never care a rap for hindsight. Five, no matter how bleak the cosmos may get, let us light the night. Six, even when there are wheels within wheels, go ahead!”
To her credit, Firefly did actually recite the creed with a mostly straight face. And despite the other Nameless’ reluctance to even hear the Trailblazer Creed, they still joined in for the most important part: “May this journey lead us starward.”
Stelle was then shoved forward by March, ticket still in hand, and she instantly knew what she was supposed to do. After just one appraising glance to find a suitable location, she pinned the Express ticket to the collar of Firefly’s dress. Their eyes met and the blatant joy in Firefly’s expression made Stelle’s heart flutter.
(March would later claim that the pair had missed Mr Yang, Himeko and Dan Heng welcoming Firefly because they were too busy staring at each other, but Stelle would deny such a thing ever happening.)
The final straw had now been placed and the camel’s back was thoroughly broken as Stelle finally pulled Firefly into a tight hug. Her embrace was returned with less enthusiasm but equal affection, the content sigh that escaped Firefly prompting Stelle to nuzzle her face into soft silver-blonde hair.
Only when Dan Heng cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly did Stelle remember that they were in the middle of the Parlour Car surrounded by the other Nameless. “I know you must be happy to see each other again, but dinner is ready.”
Stelle’s chuckle was definitely not embarrassed and her cheeks were definitely not pink as she hastily pulled away from Firefly to grab the other girl by her shoulders. “Oh, that’s right! I helped make dinner tonight.” She gave Firefly her best smug grin to distract herself from the situation.
“Yes, good job, Stelle.” The pat on her shoulder from Mr Yang prompted her to take Firefly’s hand and lead her to the Dining Car with the others.
“I didn’t know you can cook,” Firefly mused as she cast curious glances around the Party Car as they walked through it.
“Neither did I. But I can follow instructions.” The confidence Stelle was displaying for Firefly was undermined instantly by both Dan Heng and March side-eyeing her from further ahead. Totally undeserved, in her opinion, because she could follow instructions! She didn’t claim to always follow them…
Firefly huffed at Stelle, clearly not happy with something. “Well at least you’re allowed in the kitchen. I tried to cook something for everyone the other day, but Blade stopped me halfway through and said I wasn’t allowed back in.” Stelle started giving her a reassuring head pat until she continued. “I only set one cupboard on fire; I think I deserve another chance.”
Stelle couldn’t decide if this was something to laugh about or if she should notify the others that someone else was joining Himeko in only being allowed in the kitchen with supervision.
The delighted expression on Firefly’s face made Stelle decide that revenge was best served as a warm home-cooked meal and the happiness of a cute girl. All those days of suffering through boring Herta Space Station cafeteria food were worth it for this very moment.
Everyone was settled in at the dinner table in their usual places but now with Firefly mixed in: March at the head (for reasons that Stelle hadn’t been on the Express to witness) with Dan Heng, Mr Yang and Sunday on one side and Himeko, Firefly and Stelle on the other.
At first, Firefly had been slightly overwhelmed by the impressive spread of dishes on the table and being seated right next to and across from the most senior Nameless. However, Stelle knew she had nothing to worry about once she had food on her plate and quickly pulled into a conversation with Himeko.
The peaceful moment only lasted until Stelle caught sight of the unfortunately mischievous glint in March’s eyes, who at least had the self-control to swallow before acting on whatever she had just thought up. “Hey, I just realized, Firefly being here makes it feel like an ‘eating dinner with your girlfriend’s family’ moment.”
Stelle wanted to bury herself in a hole and never see the light of the stars again. Firefly’s embarrassed squeak was cute, though. “Um, I-I’m not…”
Thankfully, Himeko and Mr Yang took March’s embarrassing declaration in stride and merely exchanged an amused glance with a good-natured chuckle. On the contrary, in a turn of events that no one was expecting and Stelle was not thankful for, Dan Heng leaned over to whisper something to Mr Yang. That was never a good sign.
Mr Yang lowered his cutlery and leaned forward with what would be an intimidating posture if he hadn’t been so obviously trying not to laugh. “Firefly… I’ll never let you have my daughter!”
At this point, Stelle could only stare down at her plate completely red-faced and mortified. She could just about see Firefly’s own red face from the corner of her vision.
Himeko reached across the table to place a hand on Mr Yang’s – clearly joining in on the fun – and struggled much more to hide the amusement in her tone. “Relax, dear, Stelle can handle herself just fine. She’s all grown up now and can decide these things on her own.”
“Still… I can’t just let her go like that!”
The act didn’t last any longer than that as March’s sudden burst of laughter cracked the composure Mr Yang was still holding on to. Himeko’s hand returned to its rightful place on her mug of questionable substance and she joined the various levels of expressed amusement around the table.
Firefly didn’t look put off by the teasing act, just embarrassed like Stelle was, but the knowing glances of many caught her shifting slightly closer to Stelle for the rest of the meal.
“Guys, guys, it’s time for movie night! C’mon, we’re already set up!”
Stelle had just barely finished helping Firefly with drying her hair after giving her a chance to experience her luxurious bathtub when March burst into the room without knocking. The startled yelp from Firefly at the sudden intrusion was very cute, almost more so than her cozy pyjamas, but the way Stelle’s cheeks grew hot like she had been caught doing something wrong prevented her from appreciating it.
“March! How many times do I need to tell you to knock first?” Stelle’s complaint went completely ignored as March bounded over to where the former was sat on the edge of her bed with Firefly.
“There’s fresh popcorn and everything! And Sunday didn’t even try to escape this time!” That got a giggle from Firefly and piqued Stelle’s interest. Sunday was actually accepting movie night now?
Sure enough, once March had dragged Stelle and Firefly to her room, they were met with the sight of a slightly uncomfortable Sunday lying on March’s bed next to Dan Heng. The pink haired girl unceremoniously flopped across the unfortunate occupants of the bed, who grunted but didn’t push her off.
Stelle laid next to Dan Heng with much more grace than a certain ball of energy with plenty of space left for Firefly. The large bowl of popcorn was entrusted to Dan Heng once everyone was settled and, after some final adjustments, March’s digital photo board was switched over to a regular screen. The first movie to be watched was apparently not up for discussion with anyone but March.
Firefly got to pick the second movie, but two was all they were going to watch that night. March was now fast asleep and drooling on the chest of an equally asleep Sunday with her legs tangled up with Dan Heng’s, who was literally nodded off only to catch himself every few seconds. Firefly was in a similar state of drowsiness as she loosely embraced Stelle’s waist.
Being as careful as she could to not disturb the others, Stelle hooked her arms behind Firefly’s back and under her knees to pick the sleepy girl up. Evidently too drowsy to give much of a reaction, Firefly barely even held on as she nuzzled her face into Stelle’s neck.
The only reason Stelle was capable of disturbing such comfort was Firefly’s earlier agreement to a sleepover in her room. Obviously not a ploy by Stelle to convince Firefly to sleep with her instead of a room of her own.
One attempted pun by Shush later, Stelle lowered Firefly onto her bed before joining her. The movement of the blankets being drawn over her roused her just enough to speak. “Mm… Goodnight, Stelle…” Firefly wrapped her arms around Stelle once again and nuzzled in close. “Love you…”
It took Stelle a few minutes to regain consciousness after that quiet murmur. Had Firefly really said that…? Maybe she was just sleep talking… But even then, would that make a difference? Stelle’s face was warming rapidly but, ultimately, she decided this was an issue for Future Stelle to worry about.
The next day, a red-faced but clearly happy Firefly was spotted sitting very close to an equally red-faced and happy Stelle at breakfast.