Chapter Text
"Absolutely not."
"Look- Come on I'm trying to be nice here."
Aranea folds her arms and sighs, eyes fixed on the frowning face of one Stella Nox Fleuret. She's seated on a waiting bench just in front of her, luggage tucked between her legs. Despite being inside a busy, and reasonably warm airport, her fingers were in mittens, and a woolen white hat was fixed firmly over her head.
"And Miss Highwind while I appreciate the offer, I cannot stay in your home." Aranea groans inwardly at Stella's stubborness, shifting hard enough that her heel screeches as it moves across the floor. Over Stella's shoulder, she gazes out of the huge glass windows at the heavy snowflakes swirling around just outside, before looking back at the woman in front of her.
"Can't or won't?" Stella opens her mouth to respond, scowling, but Aranea's raised palm cuts her off. "You can't stay here, and there's not going to be another flight for at least a day."
"I'm sure I could...find a hotel."
"On Christmas Eve? In Gralea?" Stella falters at Aranea's raised brow, and bristles in her seat. "Look I'm just as uncomfortable with the idea of you staying at my apartment as you are, but I'm not so much of an asshole to leave you here. Besides, Luna would kill me if I did." She adds, in an attempt to lighten the tension. Stella's face picks up a little, and her shoulders drop.
"She would, yes. Though she'd be just as angry with me for refusing help." Stella stands, and extends a hand to Aranea. "So, I accept your offer."
Aranea shakes her head at the formal gesture, but takes Stella's hand in her own, and shakes it once, firmly.
It isn't all that unpleasant.
Stella hoists her bag atop her suitcase, and begins to march towards the exit. "Shall we then?"
Aranea sighs, adjusts the bag slung over her shoulder and begins to follow her into the cold. Her truck is parked up just outside, and Stella picks it out immediately. Aranea can't decide if that's a good or bad thing, but tosses her backpack onto the backseat, and takes Stella's rather small suitcase and bag from her, putting it next to the bag.
"Be careful wit-"
"I am! Gods, calm down."
"I'm perfectly calm, Miss Highwind."
"Oh, would you just-" She slams the backdoor, startling Stella, and storms around to the driver's seat. "Enough of that, seriously. We've known each other for years, I'm not a fucking stranger Stella."
Stella scowls, and gets into the passenger seat. "We're not friends either."
The key turns in the ignition, and Aranea changes gear, reversing out of the space. Don't I fucking know it. She thinks to herself, before switching on the radio and pulling out onto the long road to home.