Chapter Text
It never gets any easier.
Isa sighed as she walked next to Eve, who held two pots of cacti in her arms. Though difficult to tell, Isa could see the hints of a smile on Eve’s otherwise neutral face. They were still close to the village. Eve wouldn’t dare do anything bold. Which was tragic. Isa had grown used to being doted on by the other woman.
Hearing her lover sigh, Eve readjusted the pots and leaned down, “You okay?”
The Colombian smiled softly at the sight. Of course, Eve would notice something was wrong. Still, it would be embarrassing to tell Eve that she just missed her. “Please don’t get spines on yourself again,” instead, she just took a pot into her own hands, “I just can’t wait till we get to your house,”
“We’re planting these tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah. I was thinking of placing them in front of your door,” She mused, “Or maybe inside your office,”
Eve hummed, blue eyes narrowing in thought. More than likely debating whether her office even needed more plants. (The answer is yes. Eve’s dull office and dark study can always use more plants) “I’ll have to move some things then,”
“You could always get rid of the dusty old books?”
Eve, normally reserved and quiet belted out a loud, exaggerated laugh. It was then followed by a stern “Absolutely not.”
“Outside it is,” Isa concluded, nodding her head in confirmation. In that case, she’ll make smaller plants. Ones that could fit in small pots. Isa could see it now. Eve, brooding and silent while reading a book surrounded by tiny cacti and succulents.
Eve’s voice pulled her from her fantasy, “That’s your thinking face. What are you planning to do to my home?”
“More plants,” she said simply, “the more colorful, the better,”
Eve hummed in mock agreement. “Ah, yes, because my little garden isn’t enough,”
“All you have is like, a few plants you can make tea from. That’s lame.” She made a face, adding, “It's sad.”
“Then I’d have no excuse to have you around,” Eve shot back, her smiling growing slightly as she leaned down to Isabela’s eye level, “My knowledge of plants is oh so limited, and I fear I might do more harm than good,”
Isa just laughed and pushed Eve back. What a liar. Eve's carefully grown jasmine flowers rival her orchids in beauty. She just doesn’t like getting her hands dirty. “Ah, yes, how could I forget?”
“Though, I wouldn’t mind some more of your lovely plants decorating my home,” Eve looked at the large cactus with nothing less than complete adoration, “Every time I look at them, I am reminded of you,”
Just as she was about to swoon, Eve just had to ruin it,
“Weird and strangely endearing,”
Eve’s complement earned her a smack to the arm. “Those words describe you better,”
“I’d deny that, but I fear you’re correct,” Eve huffed, “But, I was being truthful. When I was in Japan, it was nice. Looking at the rose bush you gave me,”
“Did you put it in the skull pot?”
Eve scoffed, offended that Isabela had even asked such a question, “Of course I did!”
“Good, because every time I drink tea, I think of you,” Isabela admitted a hint of sadness in her voice. Even if Eve was in town, they had to be distant. Though she couldn’t complain, it was her idea. “You’re hardly around anymore,”
“Isa, Don’t say it like that,” Eve slumped her shoulders. It's a little reminder that Eve has to frequently leave Encanto, “I’d be here more often but-,”
“Job issues,” Isa finished, her tone saddening slightly. They're always stealing her away. “I know,”
“I mean, I wouldn’t label them as issues, but-,” the taller woman sighed, rubbing her face with a free hand, “It’s stressful. Even when I’m supposed to be relaxing I can’t help but worry,”
Isa just leaned her head on Eve’s arm, smiling when the tension left. “Are you okay?”
Eve doubled check to make sure no one was around, then gently kissed her forehead “When I’m with you, always,”
“Te extrañé,” Isa confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. She leaned into the kiss. No matter how many letters she wrote, they’d never compare to having Eve next to her.
“Cara,” Eve purred. Had it not been for the cacti in their hands, Eve probably would’ve pulled her closer, “I missed you as well,”
The walk to Eve’s house remained pleasantly peaceful. The sun setting had begun to set, dipping the land in golden light. Isa couldn’t help but admire how Eve’s eyes reflected the rays of the sun. It was as if there was a fire burning in them.
Eve spoke of her latest trip to Japan. She skimmed over a few details (no doubt about her work) but happily discussed her friends and the plant life she found during her free time.
“I bought a bamboo plant for you. I couldn’t bring a Pieris japonica I found though,” Eve, pouted slightly, “I think the specific one I found was a mountain snow Pieris,”
And Isa talked about what Eve missed while she was gone.
“Luisa and Dolores like to hang out in my room to relax. And I’m pretty sure it’s Camilo stealing my dresses,” she laughed, “And speaking of Camilo, he and Maribel convinced me to jump off a cliff with my vines,”
The brunette leaned in, sapphire eyes lit with “I can show you some tricks!” It seems Eve’s still the thrill seeker she loves.
“¡No! That was enough for me!” Isa playfully pushed Eve back.
“Però cara!” the Italian leaned in, “It would be so much fun! Swinging around each other in the jungle. We could be like Tarzan and Jane,”
“We could get hurt,”
“As if I would ever allow that to happen!” Eve countered, “ And even if we did, your mamá’s cooking can heal us.
Isa nodded her head in mock agreement, “Ah yes, all we’d have to is tell her how we got hurt,”
At that, Eve stopped walking, a serious expression on her face, “Hmm,”
“Que paso, cariño?” Isa teased, “Don’t like the idea of telling Mamá why I end up getting hurt?”
“... a valid point,” Eve muttered under her breath, shuddering. “She shook it off, “Well, there’s always later, no?”
Eve opened the door and let Isa inside. The moment the two entered, the cacti were carefully moved into larger pots. Now much heavier, Eve was the one who moved them near a window.
Eve’s home was a humble one. Or it was until Mirabel had taken Eve as her mentor. It seemed the only things Eve ever owned were books and fountain pens.
Just a few photos of what Isa can only assume were Eve’s friends and family. (Isa noted the one picture frame that was facing down, hiding whoever was in the photo). Everything else screamed of Mirabel. The drawings of dresses, the opened books, scissors, and markers were scattered on the table.
And now, Eve’s home had several types of flowers that hung from the roof. Others were on shelves and on the floors, courtesy of Isabela. The two girls could not understand how one could stand looking at empty walls.
After Isa made sure the plants would be alright, she was scooped up into strong arms.
“Eve!”
“Isabela Madrigal, I have waited three weeks for this,” She waltzed around the home, Isa easily following along, “Te ves hermosa. Black looks wonderful on you,”
“Someone's been reading my books,” Isa giggled, laying her head on Eve’s chest. So soft, even through the layers of clothing “But it’s still nice to hear you say,”
“You are well aware that this does not come naturally,” Eve defended herself. Even without music, the two danced around effortlessly. A push and pull. “How’s Mariano been?”
“Swooning over Dolores, and vice versa- woah !”
Eve dipped Isa low, her hand strong and steady on the smaller woman’s back, “How peculiar. I wonder what that’s like?”
That earned her a peck on the lips, “I think I might have an idea,”
“Funny,” With that, Eve pulled Isabela up, making sure to give her a long kiss before letting go, “Do you think she’s told him about us?”
Isa rolled her eyes, “She’s actually pretty good at keeping secrets,”
“That’s the least of my concerns,” Eve said plainly, sitting down on a couch. “I was thinking that we could go on a double date one day. It’s been a while since he and I spent any time together,” she patted the space next to her.
“I bet you’re so happy he and I split up on good terms,”
“I am,” Eve agreed, “I’d be devastated if couldn’t spend time with my girlfriend and one of my dearest friends,”
Isa took the place, leaning into Eve. “When did you two become so close, anyway?”
Eve shrugged her shoulders, “That is not important. We’ve been close.”
“Hmm,”
“You’re not getting jealous, right cara?”
“Just a little,” Isa admitted, a little bit of heat rising to her cheeks.
“I don’t know Isabela. He makes me laugh more often than yours do,,” Eve teased, leaning in and touching their noses, “Perhaps you should be concerned,”
Chocolate eyes narrowed with suspicion, “Should I be worried about you and Señorita Reina?”
Eve felt a shiver go down her spine at her lover’s tone but didn’t pull away. She let out a shaky laugh “Cora-corazón, don’t look so serious when you say that,”
Isa closed the distance, claiming Eve’s lips in another kiss. Eve let out a surprised noise but quickly leaned into it, a low hum escaping her throat. Isa pulled away first, giggling, “And you said I wasn’t funny,”
“You’re not,” Eve said bluntly, annoyed at the kiss getting cut short. Her annoyance grew when she leaned in for another, but Isa grew a flower in between them. A beautiful, fully bloomed red rose that promptly covered Eve’s mouth. She let out a huff, “Stop laughing,”
“You’re too cute sometimes,” Isa sighed, resting her head on her girlfriend’s shoulder.
“Only around you,”
Isa smiled when Eve’s arm wrapped around her. The aroma of ink and a campfire entered her nose. Eve’s signature scent. An odd thing to note, but Isa found it relaxing. She made herself comfortable, leaning into Eve’s chest and closing her eyes. Eve’s body graduated from warmth.
“... Isa?”
“Hmm?”
“My friends are growing suspect of me,” Eve said, resting her head atop Isa’s, “Especially Mai and Jasmine,”
“Suspect of?”
“You.” Eve laughed, “Well, not you specifically, but they’re starting to conclude that I’m seeing someone,”
Isa knew Mai. She’d come to Encanto a few times. One of Eve’s closest friends, sisters in all but blood. But Jasmine? The name sounded vaguely familiar.One of Eve’s subordinates no doubt.
“Was it the roses?”
Eve nodded, “I doubt they’re read through my letters,” Eve stiffened, as the realization hit her, “I knew something was weird in my office,”
Isa just laughed, not really concerned. Mai was nothing but loyal. And she doubted Eve would ever work with someone she didn’t trust. Eve’s team was a family. Loyalty is one of their strongest traits. (She never worried about Eve being unfaithful while she was gone. Eve would rather die and betray someone’s trust in her)
“Please, if anything, they’ll just pester you,”
“They’ll insist on meeting you. Mr. River especially,” she was already imagining all sorts of different scenarios in her head.
“You make it sound like they’ll behave like my family,”
“Just about,” Eve groaned, “Last time I had a girlfriend, Mr. River chased her off,”
“It's a good thing I don’t scare easily then, hmm?”
She felt Eve kiss the top of her head, a smile on her lips, “As if I’d ever let them scare you off. I’d start a fight with the old man if he even looked at you wrong,”
“And what about Mai and James?”
Isa could feel Eve’s pride fill her chest, “James still has that giant cactus you gave. And Mai looks forward to every letter,”
Oh.
She opened her eyes, a few candles lighting the dim room. She looked up to Eve, whose lips had curled into a smile.
“... would they like me? As your girlfriend?”
Eve’s smile softened, “Isa, they’d love you.”
“You think so?”
“I know so,” Eve reassured, “They already like you, even if they don’t know it’s you,”
“What makes you so sure of that?”
‘... My darling dear,” Eve called her the endearing term in English, “My friends are no fools. They’ll see how happy I am with you,”
“Really?”
“Really,” Eve reassured, “My brothers would love you, too,”
Isabela took Eve’s hand. Her thumb traced a top of Eve’s knuckles,“I think my family would like you,” After Eve looked at her funny, she laughed and elaborated, “I mean, as my girlfriend. Mamá loves it when you share some recipes you know, Camilo too,”
“That’s nice,” Eve yawned, leaning “I like spending time with them too,” she would have
“That was eight hours ago,” Isa mused. Eve looked like she was about to say something, but a loud, long growl interrupted her, “Um…” A small, rosy red blush spread through her face.
Isabela blinked. “Was… was that you?”
Eve smiled cheekily, “... perdón?”
“Come have dinner with us, won’t you?”
Eve covered her face, hiding the blush that intensified, “‘kay”
“... ay, que linda,” Isabela cooed, grasping Eve’s embarrassed face.
“Don’t call me that!”