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IRyS was comforting. For a lack of a better term.
Not in a motherly way, similar to Fauna. She was just… easy to be around. Just being around IRyS was comforting. A smile that sent people reeling, sweet giggles that made anyone swoon. Comforting stares, mismatched eyes crinkled at the side as she would smile, or droop with frowns. IRyS was just… comfortable.
So Baelz was comfortable.
IRyS’ couch is quite comfortable as well , Baelz thought with a smile, nuzzling into the hoodie she had stolen from IRyS hours earlier. At the time she had stolen it, IRyS herself had given her a disapproving look when she exited her room, lips turned to a frown.
“When I said we could move in together,” she had bemoaned, arms crossing, “I meant we would share things, not that you would prance around stealing everything within sight.”
Baelz shrugged, a smirk forming on her lips. “Clearly, you didn’t read the fine print then. Or maybe you simply can’t read. Both are possibilities.”
“You’re insufferable,” IRyS broke her angry facade, looking up at the ceiling with a sigh. “However, you can keep that hoodie. It looks better on you, anyway.”
Recalling the memory with a chuckle, Baelz shifted closer to IRyS, now fully leaning against her friend. IRyS only gave her a side-eye, fully focused on the cheesy horror film the two picked out.
“What are you laughing at?” She questioned, eyes still trained on the screen. “It can’t be the movie. I don’t think you’ve even been paying attention to a single part of this.”
“ First of all ,” Baelz scoffed, “I’ve already seen this movie, I wanted you to watch it.”
“Mhm. Sure. Name one thing that happens in the plot.”
“Someone dies,” the redhead grinned, only for the room to be filled with the sounds of a woman screaming.
IRyS’ nose crinkled at the scene, the cheap gore disgusting the two of them. Baelz’s grin only stretched wider, ears flicking against her head as the horrid sound effects filled the room.
“See? Dead.”
“I…” the nephilim paused, taking a moment to watch the scene unfold. “I’m getting more popcorn. I can’t deal with this movie.”
As she shifted away from Baelz, the redhead whined and flopped onto the woman, intent on annoying IRyS into staying on the couch. She received a flick on the forehead in return, making her jolt off her lap, IRyS laughing as she took the opportunity to get off the couch.
“You’re an asshole,” she teased, flipping Baelz off as she turned the corner to their shared kitchen.
It was hard to feel offended when her heart felt so full.
—
The seasons changed, and so did IRyS.
No longer could Baelz steal various hoodies, lest she run the risk of heatstroke. But, minus the hoodies, Baelz liked to think she remained the same. Still funny, a little chaotic, and…short.
IRyS, however, seemed different. More toned, but soft around the edges, comforting to hug. Her eyes were suddenly more vibrant, her laughter a song she never became tired of. Baelz chalked it up to voice lessons and working out.
She asked around before. Asked if Calli overheard a new song she had been practicing in their studio, or if Kiara had seen her at the gym. Both women had raised an eyebrow and said the nephilim was the same woman they all knew and loved. By the way the two giggled when Baelz was next to IRyS, they had gossiped about her questions. Traitors.
Here they were now, giggling once again as Baelz was approached by the woman of the hour, holding sunscreen with a sheepish smile. The beach was always a dangerous place for Baelz, too many annoying seagulls and beautiful women, but now, she could feel the danger level rising with IRyS’ eyes meeting hers, her bikini tantalizing to look at. She shook her head, clearing the thoughts.
“I can’t reach my back,” IRyS started, shaking the bottle in Baelz’s direction, “feel like being the best rat in existence and helping me out?”
This was another new thing with IRyS. Suddenly more forward, touching her in some way constantly, wanting to be around Baelz all the time. She didn’t mind the closeness– eventually began to crave it, if she were completely honest– but it was new . A new that she could get used to.
Another shake of the sunscreen bottle shook her back to the present. Snatching the bottle from IRyS’ hand, Baelz motioned for her to sit down, sitting down as well.
“It’ll be a grueling task,” she lamented, popping open the bottle, “but I guess I’m the best person for the job.” Not like she could say no anyways. It was IRyS, she couldn’t deny her anything.
“Just put the sunscreen on.”
“Aye aye!”
Once her hands were fully loaded with the sunscreen, a wicked thought crossed Baelz’s mind, making her grin. She pulled her hand back, judging how hard she’d have to hit without actually hurting IRyS. Then, with an evil laugh, her hand shot forward, lightly hitting IRyS in the back, leaving a solid handprint. The nephilim jumped in her seat, making Baelz nearly fall over with laughter.
“ OI! ” IRyS yelped, whipping around to glare at Baelz. “ Watch it! Or Mr. Squeaks is going for a swim with me!” The stuffed rat in question sat in a bag, but Baelz could almost see him slowly backing away, his button eyes filled with fear.
“You wouldn’t dare …” Baelz gasped, laughing at the absurdity. “I’d make you wash and dry him if that’s the case.”
IRyS paused, glaring at the stuffed rat instead of Baelz. “He’ll live another day, I suppose… now, keep putting sunscreen on my back, and no more hitting me! ”
Her back was once again turned to Baelz, but something stopped her from continuing to apply the sunscreen. Bits of black shone through the handprint on IRyS’ back, deep enough to be a tattoo. Confused, she began to wipe away the excess sunscreen, only to be met with a small tattoo of a dice, in the dead center of her handprint.
Odd, she thought as she stared at the small dice, searing the image into her brain, IRyS never told me she got a tattoo. One about me, no less.
Her back shifted, and once again, IRyS’ eyes were on her. “Is everything alright?” She questioned, watching Baelz with a confused expression.
“Oh, yeah,” Baelz corrected, waving her away, “you just never told me you got a…” She trailed off, staring at the handprint, only to find the dice gone.
It was as if she were hallucinating. The dice were there before, clear as day, and now Baelz could only see the clear expanse of IRyS’ skin. She could still feel her eyes on her, now worried.
“What, is there something on my back?” Her head turned, trying to get a good look, only succeeding in looking stupid, curving in odd ways.
“Yeah, you have ‘gullible’ written on your back riiiiight–” she poked at IRyS’ back, blinking her confusion away– “here.”
As IRyS groaned and turned back around, Baelz could feel herself growing pale. Right where she had poked, a dice was once again present, in a completely different spot than before. Breathing in shakily, she swiped her hand down IRyS’ spine, watching as the dice once again moved to where her hand was last.
Realistically, she knew what was happening. Soulmates were a curse that bonded two people for life, at least, that's what she originally thought it was. IRyS and her had shared conversations about it in the past, before they had become as close as they were now. The nephilim had always shone the second the conversation was brought up, almost dancing with glee at the thought of spending her life with someone that was perfect for her. Baelz, however, detested the thought.
That was before she learned that IRyS was possibly her soulmate, as she stared at the dice, moving as she rubbed sunscreen across IRyS’ back, the thought no longer seemed daunting. Her pale skin suddenly grew warm with the thought, hands shaking as she continued to stare at it.
“A-all good,” she stammered out, suddenly wanting nothing to do with IRyS, feeling like she might explode. She nearly threw the bottle back to her, jumping away as if the nephilim burned her.
IRyS only smiled at her, her sweet grin doing nothing to stop the blush deepening to Baelz’s cheeks. “Thank you~! Need help with your back?” IRyS gestured to her own back, open from the red bikini she was wearing.
She shook her head rapidly, already getting up to bolt away. “Nope! I’m cool, I’m good, I’m alright, I’m… gonna go get water!” Baelz moved before she could even think, running to the umbrella where Calli and Kiara were staring at the two.
Running through sand was awkward, but she reached the pair in time. Calli regarded her with a shocked expression, while Kiara seemed to be shaking with excitement, clapping her hands together.
“We saw the whole thing!” The phoenix preened, while Calli nodded sagely next to her. “Well… when will you tell her? Ah, I still remember when Calli saw her little scythe on my shoulder, she went so quiet, but I…” Baelz began to tune her out, staring at the reaper with a pleading expression.
“Kiara.” Calli silenced her partner, focusing on Baelz, who at this point was near tears. “Bae, I need you to keep in mind that this is IRyS . I’m fully aware that you don’t like the idea of soulmates,–” Kiara gasped from beside her, clearly unaware of that fact, “ – but , you can’t ignore this forever. That’s what Amelia and Ina attempted to do, and clearly they didn’t stick to it.” Calli gestured to the pair, who were dancing around each other in the cold water, acting like newlyweds.
Baelz sighed, staring at the open water, watching as IRyS slowly walked in. “I know I can’t ignore it, but…” she inhaled, fighting back tears, “what if she only wants to be friends? If she hates the idea of being with me ? I don’t want her to reject me.”
Kiara looked fed up, startling Baelz. “ Idiot , she very clearly wants you.”
“ KIARA! ”
The phoenix giggled, winking at Baelz, whose blush reached her neck after Kiara’s comment. “What I’m trying to say is that she might even know you two are soulmates, but waiting for you to make the connection.”
Eyebrows scrunched, Baelz stared back at the water, watching IRyS play around with Amelia and Ina, waving for Baelz to join once she noticed her staring. Wordlessly, Baelz stood up, planning on joining her in the water.
“I’ll ask her tonight,” she decided aloud, Kiara cheering at the decision, Calli remaining quiet.
“Do what feels best,” Calli piped up, a smile evident in her tone, “but don’t keep her waiting too long.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Baelz waved her off, ignoring Calli’s scoff. “At least I didn’t actively despise the idea for years upon years.”
“Why, you–”
She took off before Calli could finish her scolding, laughing as she tripped over sand to join IRyS in the water.
The sunburn she went home with was almost worth it.
—
Baelz found herself in IRyS’ hoodie once again, short shorts hidden underneath the fabric. The cold night air bit at her legs, tail swaying with the breeze slightly, yet the view from the balcony was always worth the cold air.
She came here to think. IRyS knew this, and if she were looking for her, this was usually where she checked. Baelz sat and waited for her, leaning heavily on the rail.
The doubt of whether or not the nephilim wanted her in her life still bit in her mind, making her ears twitch with nerves. She nestled further into the hoodie, finding comfort in the smell of her… friend? Soulmate? The terms were confusing at this point.
A squeak came from behind her, the telltale sound of the glass door opening. She could hear IRyS’ teeth chattering, yet she still joined her at the railing, goosebumps all over her skin.
“It’s too cold to be out here right now, especially in shorts,” she lightly kicked Baelz’s thigh, the rat’s eyes watching intently.
A small gem bloomed where her foot made contact. The symbol of IRyS herself made right at home on her thigh. Baelz could feel her eyes growing hot at the sight, unshed tears making themselves evident.
“H-how…” she started, voice wavering, “how long have you known?”
IRyS gasped quietly, staring at Baelz with a shocked expression. “You… finally noticed?” At Baelz’s confirming nod, IRyS laughed loudly. “So my master plan worked out. All it took was some sunscreen.”
“Wh–what?”
“I’ve known for about a month now,” she said, staring out at the city view, “but I knew you hated the idea of soulmates , and all that. Figured you’d hate the idea of me being your soulmate. So I figured I wouldn’t tell you, but let you figure it out on your own terms.” Looking away from the city, she gave a small smile, almost looking scared. “Was that… a bad thing?”
Baelz was quiet for a moment, searching IRyS’ face for any sort of joke. When she found nothing but sincerity, she dove in, hugging IRyS tightly. In an instant, arms wrapped around her as well, a sob choking out of her.
“You’re an asshole,” she sobbed out, gripping IRyS’ shirt tightly. “I can’t picture anyone else to be my soulmate. Only you.”
IRyS gasped into her hair, pulling away from their tight hug. “Does this mean… I can kiss you?” Her question was answered by Baelz pulling her down by her shirt, pausing only when their lips were mere centimeters apart, her breath hot on her lips.
“Yes. It does.”
She had heard somewhere that first kisses felt like sparks, like fireworks were going off. In her clunky kiss with IRyS, she only felt at home.
She felt comfortable.