Chapter Text
Their time here is running out. Everyone knew going in this was but a temporary home for the summer. A beach house split between friends had soon become a safe place for all five of them. Drinking and planning where their lives go from here. The five had meet in college and none of them wanted to part ways quite yet. They had become a tight knit group from drunken house parties to cramming for exams in the library, they always had each other. Maybe that’s what made it so hard to part ways.
Elena and Kenny had gotten together soon after arriving and had been inseparable since. Hugo continued to bring home random hookups from the bar while still flirting with everyone in the house. Eve kept to herself but always made sure Villanelle didn’t feel left out. And Villanelle was unapologetically in love with Eve.
It was their last night in the house. Hugo and Elena were flying back to London in the afternoon. Villanelle had an early flight back to Russia first thing in the morning.
Everyone is in the kitchen, some dancing, and some drying dishes. Kenny and Elena have already drank their way through a few bottles of wine with the help of Hugo. Definitely drunk and nagging the two sober ones to join in. Eventually the three make their way down to the beach, leaving Eve and Villanelle to themselves in the kitchen.
Eve and Villanelle are by the sink, Eve washing, Villanelle drying. Some obscure 80’s playlist is playing softly in the background. Villanelle takes her time, ringing bowls, bumping into Eve as she sways along to whatever song is playing. She looks over at Eve, wishing this moment would last forever. God she loved her. She’s loved her ever since they locked eyes in that shitty bathroom mirror in the science building. She loved her hair and how she was so accepting of her even from the beginning. Villanelle thought maybe Eve had feelings too, but she didn’t think she could handle the rejection if she didn’t. So she let the moment play, mouth so resistant, ocean air holding them dear. Praying this to last.
Eve looked up and caught Villanelle staring. Eve asked “What? Do I have something?” bringing her hand up to her face. Villanelle shook her head slightly. Eve gave a soft smile and went back to washing the last of the dishes. When she was finished, she dried her hands and turned to sit on the counter, facing Villanelle. She felt the blonde had something to say but knew she needed time to work up to it. So instead of joining the others on the beach, she waited.
Villanelle took her time, stretching out the moments to gain the courage to tell Eve how she felt. Just as she peeled her eyes away from the bowl she’d been drying just a little too long, Elena burst through the kitchen door in search of more wine.
Elena took one look at Villanelle and said “Would you just bloody tell her already? We all know” Villanelle went pale and Eve looked confused.
“Tell me what?” Eve says softly.
Elena comes over and grabs Eve’s hand. “Eve, are you blind?”
“What? I- that’s a lot coming from someone who is seeing three of me right now. Vil, what’s going on?” Eve says with a worried laugh.
“Eve, I-” Villanelle starts only to be interrupted by Elena.
“Villanelle loves you. You guys are just too bloody stubborn to tell each other how you feel.” Elena turns to Villanelle and says “Did you ever say it?” Then promptly stumbles back out of the kitchen with a bottle of tequila.
“Oh no. No no no, Eve that’s not how I wanted this to go.” Villanelle says as she moves to grab Eve’s hand.
Eve slowly removes herself from the counter and away from Villanelle. She needs space. She needs to breathe. She needs to think.
Villanelle lets her go.
45 minutes is all she can stand to give the brunette. Villanelle makes her way upstairs and lightly knocks on Eve’s door. “Eve, it’s me. I’m sorry you found out like this. Can we talk, please, I don’t want to leave things this way.”
She hears Eve climb out of bed and slide down the door on the opposite side, Villanelle does the same.
“Why didn’t you ever say?” Eve asks barely audible.
“I was afraid you wouldn’t love me back.” Villanelle replies just as soft.
Eve wakes to a flood of memories. Of telling Villanelle she loved her too, of leading the blonde to her bed. Of spending the night finally wrapped up in each other and losing count of the orgasms shared between them. The brunette reaches over to find the other side of the bed cold. She turns on the light to find an envelope on the night stand.
She tears it open, not the slightest bit careful after the confusion of waking up alone. She begins to read-
“E,
God, I didn’t want to leave you like this, but I am no good at goodbyes. You looked too peaceful to wake, with your hair across the pillow. I woke with you holding my hand, it broke my heart to let go. My flight leaves soon and I know if I were to wake you now -I’d never get on it. I will miss you more than the sea, more than the summer spent with the water rushing around us, more than the sun. I’ll miss how you look after Hugo tells one of his shitty jokes, how you look when you pretend to not like the sunrise. With the wind in your incredible hair, purples and pinks from the sky reflecting off the water and onto your skin. I’ll miss how you glance over at me with a shy smile, how you looked at me in the kitchen yesterday. I’ll miss the way you smell and how you taste on my lips. If there’s anything I regret in this life, it’s not telling you I loved you sooner. I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you in that shitty bathroom mirror. But my time has run out here, and I understand if you decide this isn’t what you want. A life of waiting for me to come back to you. I always will Eve, if you want me to. You asked me last night what I wanted from you. I couldn’t give you an answer then, but sitting here looking at you.- All I want from you’s a letter and to be your distant lover. I know its slippery beginnings but that’s all that I can offer at this time. I am yours, if you’ll have me.
I love you. Please don’t be upset with me for leaving like this. I’m sorry, baby xx –V.”