Chapter Text
As the full moon shone softly overhead, a breaking sound shook the Waybright mansion, cutting through the quiet night like a knife.
It was Sasha Elizabeth Waybright. Sasha, as she calls herself. She had thrown down as much glass as she could see through her tears and was staring angrily at the mouth-wateringly beautiful woman in front of her. The ocean color of her eyes had turned dark blue from the intensity of her emotions, and her lips, trembling with anger, were purple.
Her eyes occasionally fell on the nightgown and the condom lying on the floor between the panes of glass. When she caught the two of them in the room, the young man jumped out of the window as if on automatic. She didn't think he even looked at who opened the door.
"You told me that's the last. You said I can trust your word. You promised things will change after Amphibia!"
"Gosh, really? Don't you know anything but squealing?"
She was slurring, must have been pretty high. Her blonde hair, identical to her daughter's, was disheveled and mascara ran down her cheeks. She had small cuts on her naked body from the splattered glass. But with a nonchalant expression, she picked up the pack of cigarettes lying on the seat and put her other hand on her waist.
"Alexandra, I thought I'd already taught you the art of keeping people in their place. I don't know what the hell you've been doing these last two years, but you're sure to fall soon. You're turning into one of those bitches out there."
"You're saying this?"
She hiccupped and continued. Her voice had gotten louder. The neighbors should be hearing it now.
"Besides, what promise are you talking about? I haven't uttered such a word since that hellish day." The disgust in her voice was so obvious that Sasha guessed she was talking about her wedding. "The only thing that helped me was his money. He even left me with a freak like you!"
It had started again. Sasha raised her hand to protest but was pushed hard by the other.
"No! Don't even speak. Tell me what you're good for! I haven't had a useful person around me in years! I'm like this because I had to suffer at the hands of a rich asshole with a big dick. And you were born. You've done nothing but make my job harder. You—"
The bell-like doorbell interrupted Katherina's words. She loosened her grip on her cigarette pack and walked out onto the window. It was clear she wasn't going to bother with the door. What were the chances of getting frostbitten in this warm weather?
The blonde raised her head as her gaze blurred. She bit her lip.
Not now. After the door.
Did Ms. Giorno come because she was disturbed by the noise again? Or Mr. West heard the sound of breaking glass and came to check. Sasha opened the door.
She bit his lip harder, it was bleeding. She was neither of them.
"Hey Sash! I know you're gonna say I told you so but I couldn't wait because the math test was on Monday and I thought maybe we— Sasha?"
She saw her girlfriend's arms bleeding from the glass and the tears that began to wet her cheek. Her face was white. She wasn't saying anything. Anne pulled her out and closed the door. She had a spare suit and other things at her girlfriend's house. Neither of them cared at that moment, though.
She hugged her. Careful not to press against glass shards, she grasped her waist and pulled her to herself. Sasha held on to her clothes. She hiccupped. One, two, and finally she started to sob.
She was shaking so badly. Her body was cold. Anne knew it wasn't because of the weather. She buried her head in her neck. Anne's heart ached as the words "please let it end..." came out of her mouth. She placed a small kiss on her hair and began to pat her back.
"I'm here, honey. It's gonna be okay. I promise it'll be fine. 2 years to go. In 2 years we'll move in together, remember?"
"I... I can't take it anymore. I'm so damn weak! Why..."
Anne's dark side was telling her to run in and make Ms. Swarowski regret she was ever born, no matter what. She took her face in her hands and touched her lips lightly to the other's nose. It was a very small gesture, but it was the first time since that day that an exhalation was heard from Sasha.
"You're not weak. You are the strongest person I know. I said it before. You shouldn't have come here in the first place. Stay with us from now on."
"Anne, I said it before too. We're dating."
"So?"
"There's no spare room in your house. And Mrs. Boonchuy will never give us both the same room. And well... I can't blame her."
When Sasha's cheeks flushed, Anne felt herself burning.
Don't get distracted.
"This is serious, Sasha. I don't want you to be hurt, I don't want you to be broken, I don't want your eyebrows to furrow with sadness even a little bit. If we tell mom, she'll understand. Please. Also..."
She kissed each knuckle on her wounded fingers, one by one, and smiled.
"A wonderful idea for tonight just came to my mind."
"Just for one night?"
The sun began to hide behind the buildings. The windows of the skyscraper scattered that orangish red color all over the area. The horns of the cars had diminished. I could even hear a few birdsong. LA is a beautiful city. She closed the zipper of her travel bag and slung it over her shoulder.
But it's not what we need right now.
"Yeah, mom. Just one night. Sasha's day was a bit... eventful."
"Is she okay?"
Her mother's voice was full of concern. Rightfully. She turned to her girlfriend, who was tying the laces of the sneakers she kept as a spare at the Boonchuys' house. Her sword was sheathed as usual. They had dressed the glass cuts, now they were just tiny band-aids. Still, you'd have to be blind not to see her blue bags under her eyes and her trembling body.
"No but she will. She just needs to stay a little away from her house."
Oum made a noise that showed she was angry. She knew how upset and annoyed her mother was about Sasha's family life.
"We'll talk about it when you get back. All things considered, I don't see a problem with you sharing a room. As long as one of you doesn't try anything funny."
"Mom!"
When Oum's giggles filled the garden, Sasha turned and approached to the two of them. Oum ruffled her hair and held both of the girls' hand.
"I can't say I've gotten used to it yet. But as long as the Plantars are there, I know you'll be safe. Take care."
Sasha felt the warmth radiating from Oum's hand envelop her body. How can they be so different?
Anne picked up the music box and pressed the stones and buttons. Marcy had taught them both how to do it on her previous visit. The box glowed for a moment and then went out again. When she locked eyes with Anne, she tried to smile but stopped when she felt a pain starting in her jaw. She nodded.
When they opened the box, there was a flash of light and...
Herbs and plants of every color surrounded them. One mantis was busy wrestling with another. Huge cowapillars crawled in and out of the holes.
Yeah, they were definitely at Amphibia. Anne got up from the floor and held out her hand.
"I hope we didn't teleport too far."
Seeing Wartwood appear on the hill where they stood, the two took a deep breath and started walking. Their hands were clasped together. Anne was humming a song. She looked peaceful.
Am I going to ruin her like my mom?
She shook her head from side to side. None of what that woman said was true. At least not about her. It shouldn't be true. It can't be. It wasn't, was it? It...
White light.
What the hell was that?
Sasha turned around in a second. Her hand had already left Anne's and gripped her hidden dagger. She could have sworn she saw a glimmer. There was no glass or metal here. When Olivia took over, she had the factories demolished one by one. Wild animals didn't carry weapons with them. Something reflected here could only mean one thing.
Even though she felt a hand on her shoulder, she didn't break her stance. Why hadn't they come out yet?
"Sash, it's okay."
"I swear... Anne, I swear I saw something. You know there's nothing to–"
"We're tired, Sasha. Maybe you got it wrong. I don't see anything but kill-a-moths and mushrooms. If you don't feel comfortable, we'll come back tomorrow."
"But–" When Anne sighed, she stopped.
"Why are you so stubborn?" She put her arms around her neck and pressed her face to latter. It was soft and inviting. Sasha had forgotten the tension of a minute ago. She responded hungrily and put her hands on her waist. They didn't care about anything until their lips parted.
"Better?"
She forced herself to look into the shining golden eyes and smiled, even though her mouth hurt.
"Thanks. I really appreciated it."
"Always."
She kept smiling as her girlfriend's lips found her forehead. She didn't let go during their walk to the Plantar house. Anne knocked on the door.
You're not guilty of anything except being with me. I'm nothing but a burden to you. I won't let you be affected by me. You deserve happiness the most. Of all the people, why did you choose the worst?
"Anne!"
The door was opened by a pink frog that looked poisonous. Half of his orange hair disappeared under his hat, and his adventurous googles sat just above it. He was wearing a red T-shirt instead of his usual green jacket. This frog was none other than Anne's half-brother.
"You're here. I thought you weren't coming back until next week because of your last exams. How was it? And you came with–"
The pink frog's face fell when he saw the blonde. Without him noticing, his lips pursed and his brow furrowed.
"Hey Sasha."
"Hi Sprig."
Silence. Her chest tightened. They'd been like this since the end of the Amphibia War. It got worse when Sasha started dating Anne. Maybe she should have relaxed. At least someone still remembered how dangerous she could be.
"Sprig, who would have thought you'd be standing there like a scarecro– Anne, Sash!"
When a purple body with orange hair lunged at her, Sasha laughed her first real laugh of the day.
"Hello to you too, Polly. Ouch!"
"Oh, sorry." When she stepped back to straighten her ribbon, she saw the band-aids on her. "Hey, what happened?"
"From training. Nothing important." She lied. She could see Polly's worried look.
"At least it's not from an attack or something like that."
"Why would it be?"
"Kids, please. This isn't the kind of stuff you talk about on the doorstep."
An old frog with pale orange skin folded his arms across his chest and looked at the four of them with that soft, parental look.
"Hey, Hop Pop."
"Welcome, girls. Why don't we sit down for dinner?"