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it's amber's first day of ballet classes. she shows up an hour early, only a few people - including eula are already in the practice room. amber introduces herself to the class with a smile.
eula is practicing so she doesn't look up when the door opens at first, only practicing her pirouette. she is holding her breath when she sees the brunette, pausing her movements to greet the new girl.
amber is small, she's incredibly pretty. she wears a red headband, the big bow resting on it almost looks like she's grown a pair of bunny ears. eula slightly giggles at the sight, she can't wait to try and tug on that ribbon.
"you're amber right?" she says walking closer, amber's eyes go wide. eula chuckles at the slight, amber can feel a peach tint warming up to her cheeks. "i'm eula. i can help you with a few basics if you want.” Amber immediately accepts with a toothy grin. sitting down on the floor with eula where she shows the basic stretching forms.
amber's mouth goes wide by how flexible the tall girl is, she tries to mirror her but fails. eula lets a small laugh seeing the girl struggle, amber blushes again.
"it's ok, it's ok it's your first time it gets better i promise" eula says between her laughs.
"you're so mean." amber pouts, eula's smile is really pretty. amber wishes she could make the beauty smile often like this.
for ballet classes, it almost feels like her legs aren't the only thing that refuses to stay straight.
in a month, eula's new favourite days of the week are tuesdays and thursdays, when amber attends classes. amber as cheerful as she is, rarely talks to anyone in class instead all she sees is eula. whenever she comes to practice, like a small insect, eula is her beacon. eula always welcomes the short girl with a warm hug, it makes both of them melt inside a bit.
"need any help?" eula kneels down, amber struggles to push her body flat to the ground in a straddle. she nods cheerfully, who is she to refuse her anything? eula settles down behind her, pushing her back even when amber groans in pain asking her to continue.
amber's body is as delicate as her cheeks, eula notices. she discovers her tickle spots by accident; she memorizes it to reduce the girl into a puddle of giggles in the future.
…
“where are we going?” amber asks, the stars are already out. lisa might ground her for a week for being this late. “just follow.” eula grins, her heart heaving as heavy as amber’s. they walk hand in hand, amber spots a small campfire near. the place is flooded with snow, not too far from mondstrat or at least she thinks so.
the distance didn't seem long when they walked, or maybe she just feels so because her focus was on the warmth of their hands the entire time. amber bites the inner corners of her cheeks feeling self conscious, she’s laughing too much. why does this leave a giddy feeling in her stomach. did the sticky honey roast not agree with her bowels today?
eula stops suddenly removing her coat, amber gulps. her hands are so lean, amber immediately leans tracing her biceps with her fingers in fascination. eula stops in her tracks forgetting her next movement. she likes how her best-friend let’s her feathery touches hover around her arms.
eula regains her purpose and wraps the coat around amber helping her with the sleeves. “i’m immune to the cold, you’re not.” she tugs, slowly fixing the buttons up to her neck. eula smiles content at how pretty amber looks in her clothes. there’s a feeling of her kidneys hopping up to her throat but it sure must be the weather in dragonspine right?
“I bought marshmallows by the way.” eula says softly receiving a squeal in return, she likes this look on amber’s face. “let’s build a snowman too? please please please.” amber pleads, widening her eyes, her headband moving due to the wind making her look like more of a bunny than she already does. eula nods brightly.
eula roasts the marshmallows, amber decides to make her brand new snowman with such excitement. “eula eula look! do you know what this reminds me of?” she asks pointing to her fat snowman. eula squints trying to figure it out and fails. “it’s youuuu!! look it’s got your cheeks oh my god.” amber jumps. eula’s face lifts up, she makes a small snowball to throw at her in happiness. they aim snowballs towards each other till they’re tired.
it’s almost midnight now. amber rests her head against eula’s shoulder warming herself with the bonfire, the tip of her ears grabbing the same color of her outfit. eula’s hands wrap gently around her friend’s waist. amber giggles a little, she’s ticklish there. they spend the rest of the night there with each other. no words spoken, eula wishes they could do this every single day till she grows old.
…
they’re in their regular place, good hunter. “she kept telling me to practice even when she knew i sprained it! she’s demanding- and” she takes a bite into the sticky honey roast on the table before completing. “heartless.” eula smiles fondly at her voice when she rants, “take a break for a week you won’t miss out on anything!” eula reassures.
“if they teach a new routine i’ll teach it to you personally so you won’t be out of touch.” eula slips out. amber’s heart warms. amber considers herself nice, generous and perfectly capable of sharing but sometimes, she hopes eula is only nice like this to her and nobody else.
“is something on your mind?” eula catches are drifting away. “no nothing you should worry about haha” she gives a playful tap at eula’s shoulder. eula isn’t convinced, but if amber doesn’t want to tell she doesn’t want to ask.
“since your ankles are sprained i think it’s right for me to carry you.” eula offers to piggyback her to the knights of fravonius headquarters. amber makes sure not to put too much pressure while wrapping her legs around her waist. while resting her chin on eula’s head, amber learns she uses a shampoo made of glazed lilies. her absolute favourite.
they’re at the door, amber doesn’t want to let go of eula, she gets down in disappointment. “you’re so strong!” amber compliments, the tip of eula’s ears bloom crimson; she rubs her neck not knowing how to respond. amber’s words keep ringing around her head eula almost considers joining the knights to showcase her skills to her.
“oh and!”
“yes?”
“i have something to tell you.” amber says. eula’s heartbeat picks up a rough pace. what could it be? “come closer” she lets out swallowing half her words but eula understands. eula leans closer. she feels a soft pair of lips press against her cheeks. her eyes goes wide. like there’s an error in a system she hangs frozen. she grips the outrider by the wrist placing one on hers to make it even.
“you’re close with the lawrence clan girl is it?” jean says observing from the corner after eula leaves. amber, still a blushing mess just nods.
“you don’t have work for today you can go home.”
“actually- im here for something else.” amber mutters, jean welcomes her to the office to have a formal conversation. amber fiddles with the belt on her right thigh, shifting positions often, “i want to ask you something,” amber starts her throat goes dry shortly,
“how’s lisa?” if she could, amber would allow the ground to swallow her for changing the topic. “interested in my wife? she's fine any message you’d like me to pass?” jean offers, “ah no-!” amber squeaks out. there’s no voice left in her, she tries clearing it but nothing works.
“you’re unlike yourself, is there something bothering you?” jeans asks, amber lets out a small nod, head trained on her shoes. “mn?” jean encourages. “how did you know you liked lisa.” amber bites her lip not sure if that’s a good question to ask. is it outside common courtesy to your friend how she found out she’s a lesbian? jean chuckles expectedly.
“you like that lawrence girl don’t you?” jean questions back instead. amber stills herself, does she like eula? she does- no she doesn’t everyone feels like that when they have a friend- don’t they- or they don’t? “uh.” amber grunts, her heart now feels like two rabbit feet kicking her ribs instead of a pumping organ.
“relax.”
“yes!” amber finally admits. she thinks it’s too soon for her to tell this, she thinks she will regret it in the future for admitting it but in the end the deed is done.
“i’ve seen how you act with her,” jean says, more like a statement. amber brushes her arms, could everyone see it too? “there’s something else i want to know.” amber looks up, revealing her wet face. “what would’ve happened if lisa was.. you know didn’t like you back or didn’t like girls then it would’ve been awk-”
“you need to take your chances.”jean responds, the air around her calm as ever. she feels her stomach twist, scream and burn, there’s a stretch in her throat until she forgets what to say. another set of wet liquid cascades down her cheeks.
“if it didn’t go well, i’d have lied i was kidding” jean continues, amber nods, slowly starting to wipe her cheeks with her even wet palms making a mess of herself. jean is right, how hard could this be?
this doesn’t stop the bile from rising to the tip of her tongue, because this is not what friends do. friends don’t harbour feelings for each other, they offer a sincere friendship.
which is something, amber cannot. guilt wraps her throat tight.
…
“there’s something bothering you isn’t it?”
“no.” amber mutters inaudibly, stuffing more of the honey roast down her throat so she isn’t able to speak. how did eula know her mood so well? why can she not lie her way out of this too?
“worried are you?” eula asks again. amber nods heavily in response. eula ruffles her head. “whatever you’re thinking of, if it’s meant to happen it will or else, it doesn’t isn’t it wise to leave the future’s problems to itself?” eula starts, the food feels heavy when it travels down her food pipe.
“eula what if one day we don’t get to see each other everyday?” amber chokes out with much difficulty. eula freezes. not like she’s not thought about it before, eula loves to not ponder over small things which make her heart feel like wet cotton or make the exposed skin on her face turn flaming crimson?
“that won't happen, i’ll take you here every single day till we both grow our grey hairs together.” eula let’s those words slip out of her mouth looking ever so sincere, amber feels a single tear stream down her cheek. “w-what if you get married and you don’t have time for me then what?” amber complains, pouting wiping the wetness off her face.
“that won’t be a problem if you’re the one i’m getting married to.” eula says quietly, this doesn’t slip amber’s ears. she drops her fork, gulping thickly.
“i’m sorry i shouldn’t have-”
“no.” “say it again.” amber asks.
“that won’t be a problem?” eula says cutting the other half of the sentence, worried sick. was amber feeling uncomfortable because of her? “no, the other part.” amber asks her eyes heavily unfocused. “if you’re the one i’m getting married to?” eula says in a decrescendo murmur. amber stops functioning instantly.
“amber? you there?” eula asks fear flashing in her eyes, has she done something wrong?
“so- so you won’t mind letting me be your wife just to spend the rest of your life with me? that’s so irresponsible of you! you need to marry someone you fall in love with and not-” eula stops her rant by holding her by the hands. “dumbass” eula tells brushing her thumb repeatedly over her hand. she feels amber tremble slightly.
“i love you then.” eula lets out casually not letting a single sweat break down her face.
“like how jean likes lisa?”
“like how jean likes lisa.” eula affirms, lifting amber’s palm to place a chaste kiss over it.
“i like you like that too.” amber responds with her voice shaky and unstable.
“what if i want a piggyback ride from you everyday after classes?” she asks. “yes!” eula responds enthusiastically.
“what if i forced you to eat sticky honey roast for the rest of your life?” amber questions, “i’d be fine with that.” she gets her reply.
“what if… i made you take you to our spot in dragonspine every night without fail?”
“that’s my favourite place too. i won't complain.” eula is the most cheerful she’s ever been her entire life, amber likes her the way she likes her too. isn’ t that great?
“does that mean you’d kiss me if i asked?” she asks softly eula’s orbs throw itself wide.
“so.. why haven’t you?”