Chapter Text
Trust is a strange thing that Celes isn’t quite accustomed to yet. It’s not the imperious exigence of love, or the liberating feeling of hatred. Trust is a vulnerability that the one who displays it expects to see reciprocated. Celes always thought people who trusted her were idiots, all of them, because there was nothing in her that would allow her to show her vulnerability to another human being.
And yet.
“Is it loose enough, Celes ?”
Maizono’s voice is careful, and Celes can hear the hesitation at the end of her name, where the ‘san’ was for a long time, before she managed to convince the idol that it wasn’t necessary. She wishes she could see Maizono’s face, too. But again, that’s part of the agreement, right ?
“It’s just fine. I can’t see anything, so I would be grateful if you didn’t play any ill-intentioned trick on me while I’m in this state.”
Maizono giggles a little louder than usual - a way for her to communicate her feelings now that Celes is blindfolded, she thinks - and her graceful hands caress Celes’ forehead. Everything suggests that she heard the words that the Ultimate Gambler couldn’t say : I didn’t break your trust, show me you deserve mine.
When Maizono came to her, as charming and mesmerizing as usual, talking about pretty silk ribbons, and perfumed candles, Celes had felt a shiver run through her. Even if the idol pretended it wasn’t of any importance, she used that trick enough to know that it was. That she had some power over one of the most popular girl in the country.
And because it was easy to just grab this little bit of trust that was gracefully given, and to run with it, because Maizono had her eyes full of romanticist dreams, of endless masquerades, of shared perfumes and of entire nights spent to watch the most pretentious films from Europe, she wasn’t careful enough. She pretended, too, that it wasn’t anything important, that Maizono hasn’t opened up something that no one else should ever know. She hadn’t thought that she, too, would be forced to offer a part of her.
She hears Maizono moves through the room, humming happily, and then she is back again.
“Will you give me your wrists ? I found the most beautiful ribbons, you will adore them, they are so soft.”
Celes almost wants to laugh at how manipulative all of this is. How Maizono doesn’t even take her wrists herself, how she wants for Celes to give them, how she wants for Celes to want to give them.
Give me your wrists, give me your trust, give me everything.
Celes’ arms aren’t shaking when she holds them in front of her, for a girl she can’t see.