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"Zoya!", she looked up from pulling a thread on her kefta. Alina was standing on the front porch waving wildly. Zoya ran up the rest of the path and embraced her in a hug.
"It's been too long since you visited."
"Yes well, the Little Palace has been busy. People aren't fond of letting their most powerful squaller away to visit an orphanage."
"Most powerful and gorgeous of course," Zoya swept her hair off her shoulder, hiding a slight blush, "Well come in then, I made pie."
The pie was nice, but Zoya couldn't focus. 'Stop staring at her you creep,' she chided herself. She took another bite of the pie, it was a sweet apple pie with decorative crust flowers on top.
Does she feel the pull I do? Does she know I wish that I could visit more? Saints I wish I could read her mind.
"So, what's new at the Little Palace?"
Zoya blinked from her thoughts before answering,
"Not much that's interesting, Nikolai seems to be doing fine. The other day I went into an unused room for a break from meetings and walked in on Tamar and Nadia kissing. Completely ruined my lunch break."
"Oh dear, that would've been awkward."
"Indeed."
"This rain is going to ruin my hair."
"Don't you have a carriage to ride back in?"
"Yes but still."
"Well enjoy your ride back, and come visit again ok?"
"Yes, I- "
I don't want to leave here, leave you, Alina.
"uh, sure."
Don't want to leave as just your friend.
-----
A week and a half later Zoya was back. She'd managed to sneak away from her meetings for a quick day trip up to Keramzin.
She'd talked with Tamar about her feelings towards Alina,
"Well you obviously like her Zoya."
"Yes but I've dropped obvious hints in the past and she hasn't done anything. Anyone else would have jumped at the chance."
"You have to consider that she's just oblivious."
"I know, I know. I'm just not used to pining after someone."
Tamar had shrugged, "Maybe you just have to take a chance on yourself."
Zoya greeted Alina at the front porch again.
"Back so soon, did you miss me?
"Don't flatter yourself too much, maybe I came to see the children."
"Sure."
"Should we go for a walk? Nice weather today."
"Okay."
They walked along the path, Zoya trying to summon her courage, it was much more resistant than wind.
"Alina,"
"Yeah?"
"I- I really like," she stumbled through her words. Get it out Zoya, tell her.
"I really like this path but I can feel the housemaids peeking at us, can we go anywhere more private."
If Zoya had been less preoccupied with trying to get out her feelings she might have noticed the slight disappointment that crossed Alina's face when she changed her course of words.
"Yeah, there's- there's some nice trees over here. I go there when I want some privacy, it's out of the earshot and eyeview from the orphanage."
They walked over to the trees and Zoya tried again,
"Alina, I've been think- thinking and I really like you. I don't know if you are oblivious to my hints or if you're not interested but that's how I feel. Saints, I like you so much that I just stuttered. You made me, Zoya Nazyalensky, nervous enough to stutter and I never stutter. And if you don't feel the same way, your loss but, I'll never mention it again I-."
"Zoya."
Zoya stopped her rambling and looked at her. Nervous, excited, scared and anxious as ever.
"If you'll let me interject, I like you too."
Zoya closed the distance between them, took Alina's face in her hands and gently, kissed her. It was everything. The nervousness from a moment before seemed to fade, held at bay by something else. It felt similar to using her power, the warmth and excitement and kindness, but this was better.
They pulled apart, both smiling softly,
"You definitely have to come visit more."