Chapter Text
You’d just tacked up the last of your pictures on the wall of your suite, and you leaned back on your newly made bed, tossing a piece of trash in the can beside you and wondering what to do with yourself. Classes at Alfea weren’t due to start for another couple of days, though you’d heard that some of the more ambitious third and fourth years had been invited back a week early to begin their training again. You could hear the faint noises of their sparring out on the pitch, both the clack of wood from the poles some wielded and the clang of metal of the swords others held, and your palms tingled a bit at the thought of yourself holding one of those swords one day.
Curious about their sparring, you made your way down to the training grounds in hopes of getting a look at what you’d be up against in the next few weeks. You watched in amazement as you walked, the intensity of some of the spars making it look like they were in the midst of battle even while training. This was real, you thought to yourself as you saw a boy get knocked down by his opponent. Everything about your recruitment to Alfea had felt a bit surreal, from Rosalind herself showing up on your doorstep to recruit you, persuading your parents to allow you to attend the elite school and train to become the warrior she believed you could be, and then moving across the realm to follow Rosalind and her vision for you. But now, you couldn’t deny that all of this was real — and soon enough, you’d be down in the pitch yourself learning to hone your skills into deadly accuracy.
The whistle sounded for a break as you approached, and you watched as the warriors turned into students, gathering together in groups as they laughed and chatted, tossing water bottles and towels back and forth as some circled up to admire weapons. It was amazing to watch the intensity of the sparring melt away, leaving behind teenagers that were very suddenly only a couple of years older than yourself.
A few other first years had gathered on the outskirts, watching with a mixture of amazement and intimidation as some of the students exchanged their weapons, swinging them in wide arcs as they tested them out. You started to inch your way over to a group of first years, intent on introducing yourself, when a loud laugh rang out in the crowd of upperclassmen, and you turned your head to see the girl that had laughed. She was tall, nearly taller than the boys she stood with, and thin in a way that was almost gangly, but with enough muscle that made her sinewy instead. Her eyes were bright, her face nearly glowing with laughter, and her joy so infectious that you couldn’t help but smile.
Like she felt your gaze, she turned until her eyes met yours, and although you felt a blush creep up your cheeks from being caught staring, you couldn’t look away. She waved her fingers in greeting, and when you waved back, she said something quick to the boys before walking your direction, a long braid swinging down her back as she nearly bounced over to you.
“Ditching us for a first year?” one of the boys called.
The girl rolled her eyes as she stepped up to you. “Ignore him, he’s an ass.” She stuck out her hand. “I’m Farah Dowling — fairy. You’re a first year?”
You shook her hand and gave her your name, then nodded. “I’m a Specialist.”
Farah gave you an impressed look, and the flirty edge to it made your heart bump. “Well, then you might be interested in talking to those two.” She pointed to the boys she’d been with. “The guy standing next to the ass is Saul — he’s my Specialist — and the ass is Andreas. When we can pull Ben — another fairy — away from his books and greenhouse, Andreas works with him. Hate to admit it, but he’s the top Specialist in our class.”
“Not a fan of him, are you?” you asked, and she shot you a grin, rolling her eyes again.
“Deep down, he’s a good guy. I just hate all the unpleasant layers you have to go through to get to that.” She shrugged and turned fully back to you. “He doesn’t show the good part all that often, but once he grows up, he’s got a chance.”
A whistle blew, and Farah whipped around to see Rosalind striding towards the training area before turning back to you. “I have to go, she keeps a pretty tight schedule. See you around?”
At your nod, Farah dashed back to where other students were already gathering, falling into line with her back straight, arms behind her back as Rosalind slowly made her way down the line, inspecting.
After that day, you settled into your daily life at Alfea — classes, training, homework — but it quickly became obvious that your skills well outpaced your peers. Instead of “wasting your time”, as Rosalind had put it, in the first year Specialist training group, she started bumping you up to the other years’ groups.
You’d just made it to the training grounds to set up your stuff when you heard Farah’s voice behind you, a playful edge in it. “Lot of talk about you around here.”
You hadn’t seen much of her after your first meeting nearly two months ago, so happiness buzzed in your chest at the sight of her. You grinned, tossing your jacket on top of your bag. “Any of it good?”
“All of it good. Word is you’re going to be one of the best Specialists to come through Alfea.”
A flush heated your cheeks at her praise, and you busied yourself with the wrappings on your knuckles. “I don’t know about that, but I am pretty good.”
Farah smiled, then tilted her head towards the mat. “Let’s find out.” She turned around and cupped a hand around her mouth. “Saul! Ben! Come here!”
A few mats over, the boy you’d seen before jogged over, another one you assumed must be Ben following after him as they joined you. Looking at them and then at you, Farah smiled. “Up for a little spar?”
Surprised by the spontaneity of it but refusing to back down, you nodded. “Let’s go for it.”
“Great — Saul, you work with Ben, I want to work with her.”
Saul held up his hands in an indignant gesture. “Abandoning me, Farah? That hurts.”
“Yeah, because you’re so hopeless,” Farah teased back. “Hurry up, I wanna see this.”
Saul was good — better than anyone you’d sparred with yet at Alfea, and that almost cost you. But quickly you found your rhythm, began to read his, and that’s when you gave him a run for his money.
He stuck out his foot — you dodged, aimed a hit for his side. He spun around to avoid it, then had you in a grip. Using his own weight you tossed him back then turned to face him, then felt the vines twisting around your ankles, felt yourself start to fall. Before you could even try to catch yourself, the vines disintegrated to ash at your feet and an unseen force pushed you back up to standing.
You caught Farah’s eyes over Saul's shoulder, nearly giddy with such a show of magic. “Neat trick.”
She grinned, sent you a wink. “I like to think so.”
“Are we fighting or flirting?” Saul said as he charged at you, and you couldn’t help but laugh as you stumbled to evade.
Saul bested you in the end, but not after ten minutes of a rigorous spar that left you both panting and sweating.
“You’re good,” Saul panted out as he helped you up from the mat. “Really good. Like, a couple more months and you’ll be beating me, good.”
“You really think so?” you asked, the praise warming over you, and Saul nodded.
“Saul’s voice tends to get higher when he’s bald-faced lying,” the fairy Ben said as he came to stand with you on the mat, holding his hand out to you. “It’s a good tell of his. Ben Harvey, and you are very good. There’s kids in our year that can’t dodge magic attacks as well as you can.”
“It does not!” Saul exclaimed, indeed in a higher pitch than his normal tenor, and you couldn’t help but laugh at the way Ben peered over his glasses at Saul.
Saul glanced at Farah joining you on the mat, looking for help, but she just closed her eyes and shook her head solemnly. “You lost that one. Give it up.” She looked at you then, her eyes sparkling. “You’re brilliant, even better than I imagined.”
All of their praise had warmed you, but looking into Farah’s eyes, something in them made you glow, and butterflies fluttered in your stomach the longer she held your gaze. “Thank you,” you murmured, and her answering grin made your butterflies melt into something warm and gooey that made you want to blush.
A shrill whistle pierced the air, and your link with Farah shattered as she, Saul and Ben snapped to attention.
“We should go,” Saul said, then gave you another smile. “Good work, we should go a couple rounds sometime — see you later.”
He and Saul jogged off to where a group of students were gathering, but Farah hung back. “It was really great to work with you today. We should make a habit of it.”
You smiled, and that warm feeling was back in your stomach. “Really?”
Farah nodded eagerly. “Yeah, you’re a great partner. Saul and I are a team, but it’s good to know how to work with others.”
“Well, if you ever want to train together, you can usually find me here.” You motioned to the training grounds, and then a thought occurred to you. “Actually, Rosalind’s moving me into more advanced groups starting today — I don’t know which ones yet, but if I’m good enough maybe we can convince her to team up every once in a while.”
She nodded as though to say you’re good enough, then spoke. “Worth a shot. I’ll ask her today — I’ll tell her it’s a good training exercise, that should get her to agree.” She shot a glance to the growing crowd of students, looking a bit reluctant to leave. “Speaking of Rosalind, I need to go, they’re about ready to start. But come and find me later, yeah?”
You nodded in answer, and she turned to leave but then quickly turned back, head tilted in question. “Saul and Andreas are having a bit of a party tomorrow night — beer, vodka, music, the works. Will you come?”
You felt your eyes widen a bit — you’d heard whisperings of the kegger the Specialists had planned, but had gotten the feeling that it was meant more for upperclassmen rather than a free-for-all for everyone. “I— yeah, I’d love to,” you stuttered a bit, still a little shocked you’d been invited.
Farah broke into a wide grin, her eyes shining with that seemingly ever-present mirth as she bounced on her feet. “Great! I can’t wait to see you there.”
And she ran off to join her unit, leaving you still just a little starstruck.
That night, you fussed over your outfit and makeup more than you’d have liked to admit, but between your nerves of seeing Farah in such a personal capacity and your suitemates insisting you needed to have the best experience possible so they could live vicariously through you, it took you couple of hours before you were ready to leave your suite.
It felt odd to be wandering the halls when they were empty, your footsteps echoing off the stone walls until it felt like they might drown you, but before long you could hear faint music coming from some forgotten hall of the school, and you pushed your way towards it.
The bright, colored lights of the party were like a fever dream, and the heat coming from the crowds of people dancing, laughing, drinking, only heightened the illusion. You took a moment to take it all in — the group sitting on the floor playing some sort of drinking game, the dancers pressed close to the speakers, laughing as two linked hands and spun each other around, the never ending game of beer pong that seemed to be reaching its peak as a boy downed two cups in a row.
You spotted her easily as you scanned the crowd, her height making her unmistakable. Her normal long braid was replaced with curls that piled on her head before cascading down her back, and you took a moment to marvel at the sheer amount of hair she usually kept contained in a braid.
Before you could step into the crowd, she caught your eye and grinned, and with a wave she made her way over to you, easily weaving through the crowd with her long legs.
“You came!” she said when she was near enough, and you grinned at her, her joy completely infectious.
“I promised I would.”
She batted her eyelashes and gave you a quick look that could only be described as flirty. “I like a girl that keeps her promises.”
Your heart bumped in your chest, and gods how were you supposed to know how to flirt with a girl like this? You opened your mouth trying to think of something smooth to say — hell, of anything to say, but before you could try Farah was grabbing your hand and pulling you towards the other side of the room. “Come on, I’ll show you where the drinks are.”
The punch was good, albeit strong, and you got to watch as Saul and Andreas tapped open another keg, people crowding around to refill their cups in a mad dash that made you laugh a little as you and Farah moved out of their way.
“How those two managed to sneak three kegs onto campus is still beyond me,” she spoke into your ear to be heard above the music, and her closeness made your chest swell. “I’m going to have to pester them about it once they’ve recovered from their hangovers.”
You laughed and took a sip of your drink. “Maybe do it while they’re hung over, they’ll be more likely to slip up and talk then.”
She chuckled in your ear, giving you an impish look. “Oh, I like you. That can be their punishment for not including me in the fun.”
You quirked an eyebrow at her, teasing. “Farah Dowling thinks sneaking kegs into the school is fun?”
She smiled slyly, tilting her head a little. “There’s a thrill to doing something that I of all people shouldn’t be doing.”
“You of all people?”
“I’m to be Rosalind’s protégé when I graduate — I don’t think she would take very kindly to me having such a hand in parties like this” She chuckled and leaned even closer to you. “And that is what makes all of this fun.”
She was so close that her lips brushed the shell of your ear, and despite the muggy heat of the party the sensation sent shivers down your spine. You quickly became aware of the warmth of her body next to you, the curve of her nearly touching you, and the sudden need to feel just how well that curve would match yours was breathtaking.
On impulse, you took her hand and took a step towards what seemed to be the main dance floor. “Dance with me?”
A slow smile spread across her lips, and with a nod she let you pull her towards the dance floor.
You lost track of time then, when all that seemed to exist was the music and Farah, Farah’s smile, her hands in yours, her voice as she sang along, her pure, infectious joy that had glee bursting through you like champagne bubbles, and you found yourself wishing that the night would never end. You’d never danced so much, nor had you ever felt so free, feeling like you lived for nothing more than the next song and Farah’s laugh in your ear.
You collapsed together on a couch that appeared from somewhere, sweaty and giggling through panting breaths that only made you laugh harder. You felt like you were floating on punch and euphoria and laughter even as the buzz of dancing melted away, and was half tempted to pull Farah back to the floor if only to capture that sensation and bottle it to remember it for a lifetime.
You turned to her to say something, only to see her looking dazed, staring unseeingly out at the crowd. Worried, you put a hand on her arm to get her attention, frowning as you spoke. “Are you alright?”
She blinked like she had to process what you said, then gave you a smile, albeit looking much more tired than you’d ever seen her. “I’m fine, I just get tired in crowds sometimes when I’m around them for too long.” She made a vague gesture towards her temple. “Mind fairy and all.”
You nodded, mouthing a silent ‘oh’. “I didn’t think about the mind fairy part. It makes sense this is overwhelming — it feels like nearly everyone at this school is here.”
Farah chuckled at that, but not her usual loud laugh. “Saul and Andreas outdid themselves — and this is only the first year they’ve done a big party like this. Gods know what they’ll manage next year.”
She really did look tired, and you had the sudden urge to do whatever you could to see her normal bright smile again. “Do you think we can go somewhere quieter?” you blurted suddenly, thinking maybe that would help her. “The crowd’s a little much for me too.”
Farah nodded, looking a bit relieved as she grabbed your hand and led you towards the door. You let out a sigh as the door closed behind you, not realizing just how loud it had been until you could finally hear your footsteps echoing off the stone walls.
“Anywhere you want to go?” Farah asked, and her hand still in yours distracted you from answering for a moment.
“Uhm— no, not really. You pick.”
She smiled at you, and it was closer to her normal grin. “I’ll take you to one of my favorite places, then.”
And tightening her grip on your hand, she pulled you closer to her and through the halls of the school.
She led you outside to a small hill that looked out into the forest, and with a wave of her hand she dried the grass beneath your feet.
“That’s another neat trick,” you said as she pulled you to sit down, and she did grin at you this time.
“I have a few of them,” she replied, and then looked out at the forest. “I know it’s not much, but I come here sometimes when I can’t sleep. It’s quiet, and sometimes you can see the Barrier shimmer if you look close enough.”
You squinted at the forest, and sure enough you saw a slight glimmer just above the trees. “That’s pretty cool — makes you feel safe.” You sighed, watching the gleam of the magic for a moment before you pulled your knees up and rested your chin on them, turning your head to look at Farah. “You have trouble sleeping?”
She glanced at you, then leaned back on her hands. “Occasionally. Sometimes people’s dreams are… loud.”
You raised an eyebrow, smiling a little. “Loud?”
She chuckled. “Sounds silly, I know but—” she gestured to her temple again. “Sometimes I can hear or see what people are dreaming about if it’s a particularly intense dream.”
“I didn’t know mind fairies could do that,” you said. “What’s your connection?”
“Memories, though I’m pretty good with all of the connections now.”
You smiled at her confidence and sat up straighter to turn towards her. “What’s it like? Or, how does it work?”
She grinned at you, and shifted to face you better. “Focus on a memory — one you don’t mind me seeing.”
You did as told, and watched in amazement as her eyes began to glow a pale blue. Then she smiled, and her eyes went back to her soft brown. “Breakfast at your grandmother’s — pancakes with blackberry jam and fresh orange juice.”
You let out a laugh of delight. “That’s incredible! And you just see that?”
She nodded. “When people focus on particular memories, yes. It’s a little odd sometimes, if you’re not prepared for it. The memories just pop up and they feel like your own, but you don’t recognize it. Or you’ll be hit with a strong wave of emotion that isn’t yours and have to figure out how to deal with it.”
Your grin faded a little. “You can’t control it?”
“I can now,” she reassured. “Though I couldn’t when I first came to Alfea. And even now it can be difficult if I’m tired or in a large crowd,” she chuckled and dipped her head for a moment. “Or drunk. Anything that impairs my focus.”
You smiled a little, and leaned back on your hands next to her. “And that’s why you have places like this.”
She nodded and looked out at the woods. “It’s quiet. No memories or emotions but my own.”
A comfortable silence washed over you, and you took a moment to study her profile in the moonlight — sharp lines, smooth curves, statuesque.
“Feeling better?” you asked her finally, and she gave you a soft smile, nudging your shoulder with hers affectionately.
“Yeah, much, just needed to be away from the noise.” She went quiet for a moment, staring out at the woods before she spoke again, her voice just as soft as her smile. “I want to thank you for asking me to leave. You didn’t have to do that just for me — I know you were having fun.”
Your heart fluttered a little, how could you tell her that you felt like you would do anything to see her happy? “I could tell it was getting to you,” you said finally with a little shrug. “And… I was having fun, but…” With a deep breath for bravery, you finished your thought. “But mostly because I was with you, not really because of the party.”
She looked at you then, eyes widened with surprise, but with something more, too, something like joy — not the joy that was always in her eyes, but a deeper joy, a joy that was like it was put there by your very own words.
Neither of you said anything for a moment, and the butterflies in your stomach were multiplying until you had to look away because the emotion in your chest was building, overwhelming in its intensity for this girl. “Besides,” you said with a little chuckle, trying to remember how to breathe right, “I really was a little tired of the crowd.”
It was silent a beat, and then, “I was mostly having fun because of you, too.”
And just like that, the air was knocked out of your lungs again, and it was your turn to look at her in surprise. Her voice had been soft and low, a quiet murmur that held so much behind it, and you felt like you were in a dream, the silvery glow of the misty night making it look like it must be a fairytale.
“I, um,” you started, swallowing against the dryness in your mouth. “I know we haven’t known each other that long, and really we’ve barely become friends, but—”
Farah had smiled when you started talking, a crooked grin that would’ve made your knees weak, and before you could ramble on and further embarrass yourself, she leaned forward and kissed you.
It was a soft kiss, slow and gentle, and such an opposite to Farah’s normal enthusiasm that you could have laughed, if you hadn’t been so distracted by the way her lips felt against yours and the sweet scent of whatever perfume she was wearing. When you cupped her cheeks, she was warm underneath your fingers, and when she put her hands on your waist, you felt shivers go up your spine.
When the kiss ended, you rested your forehead against Farah’s, and smiled when she let out a soft little giggle.
“I didn’t realize how long I’d been wanting to do that until now.”
You huffed out a laugh, and wrapped your arms around her neck. “I’ve been thinking about that for a little while, now, I’ll admit.”
“You should have kissed me sooner.”
“I’ll just have to kiss you more to make up for time.”
And so you did, clumsy this time with eagerness, but you couldn’t bring yourself to care, not when you had all the time in the world to kiss her right, kiss her better, to just kiss her as though nothing else mattered but her.