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Rapunzel ran her fingers through the silky linen of her sheets tracing invisible shapes. Her rural eyes shimmered in the dim flame of the candle that danced in its reflection. Cass rested her head on her forearm, gaze fixated on the nonchalant ways the princess simply existed. The simple ways she moved and gestured. The blatant shimmer in her eyes when lost in the joy of the conversation. Cass mostly observed supplying Raps with simple reminders that she was still listening. She was listening to every word. They both had soon been pleasantly absorbed in eachothers company they hadn't even taken notice how quick the time had passed. And to Cass' mercy she had already lost sight of the fact that they were sharing a bed at the moment.
Cass bore a soft grin as she was enveloped by the gentle movements of the princess' lips. How softly they moved when she spoke near a whisper. It sent Cass spiraling down a stream of thoughts she knew she was forbidden from. But she swears she's listening.
"Cass?" Or so she thought. "Did you hear me or all you all dopey from the pain?" Rapunzel teased, accompanied by a gentle chuckle. Their faces were close enough to feel the soft heat of eachothers breath. It made Cass' spine shiver.
"What? No. It doesn't hurt that bad." She claimed. "Anyways I'd have to grow accustomed to worse. If this bothered me I'd never make it as the captain of the guard!"
While out on yet another misadventure with the princess, Cass made a mistake. A stupid one. One that left her cheeks red from the embarrassment. Right infront of Rapunzel too. Though Raps seemed all too concerned with her ankle rather than the fault that left Cass feeling so inexplicably foolish. Raps nearly brought Cass to an infirmary until she protested against it. Insisting to sneak back into the castle and Rapunzel grab supplys from there. Cass would just take her through the steps. Had she gone to the infirmary the doctors would notify her dad of the injury and if her dad was made aware of it Cass would never have a chance of going (insert event name here). She had to prove herself above all.
It was too early to walk Cass back to her room without getting caught so they stayed in Rapunzels. Raps convinced Cass to take it easy and relax in her bed and one thing led to another and they ended up laid on their sides facing one another. Cass, easy prey to Rapunzels effortless and unknowing behavior, left her easily flushed; she almost leapt out of the bed the moment the princess joined her.
"Well I'm pretty sure you can handle anything." Rapunzels comment left Cass chest fuzzy with warmth. She began to find it increasingly difficult to contain her grin around the princess. "While we're on the topic.." Raps shifted forward in the bed, closer to her Lady-in-waiting. Cass nearly shifted back but didn't. Suddenly she was reminded of their current positions. In bed. Together. Her stomach began to swirl achen with anxieties.
"You think when you're captain of the guards I'll still get to see you this much?" Cass rolled her eyed and scoffed. "If im ever Captain of the guards." Raps eyes, that were previously fixed on the cascading of the sheets, drifted to meet Cass'. "Why wouldn't you be? You're the strongest and bravest person I know!" She hadn't broken the eye contact to further prove how sincere she was. That she truly thought that of Cass and more. Even if the repetitive statement was heard more than once it always left Cass with a strong semblance of confidence and reassurance. When she was reminded of Raps constant support suddenly it didn't matter what the rest thought of her. She was poised to accomplish anything as long as Raps was there rooting for her. Or sometimes it felt. Sometimes she felt so inexplicably destinied for nothing at all. Always meant for a repetitive cycle of nothingness except for the pleasures of others. Already dejected from a future she could just barely feel on the other side of this glass and yet always met with an inevitable forlorn attempt of an escape. An unwavering permanence of the her slow decline of worth and ability. It left her despondent.
"Hmph. Yeah." Was all Cass could simply muster. Rapunzel easily caught wind of her friends modestly downcast gaze and the vision of glumness etched on her face. Cass began to fidget with the silk as well. Cass' despondency triggered raps instinctual obligation to comfort. Without hesitation She pressed her palm against the back of Cass' hand to sieze her attention. "I mean it Cass. You're so amazing and wonderful. Someone who isn't afraid to explore and ahieve ambitions no matter how big."
"Raps." She muttered in an attempt to interject.
"You're the only person I know that can plan a perfect strategy in under 30 seconds and perfectly cut an apple into 8 pieces in under 5 seconds! You're so smart, talented and.." Rap's eyes faltered for a moment drifting to the hand she held. A fleeting, anxious quiet took hold. Then they fluttered up to Cass who sat completely silent as her words eluded her. Instinctually, Raps palm cupped Cass' cheek tucking a strand of inky black behind Cass' ear. Her hand lightly brushed against the skin of her cheek and Cass could feel just how soft her hands were contrasted to her calloused ones. When she fully rested her palm on her cheek they were warm just as they always felt. A solace polarity for someone so cold blood. Cass was completely stricken by the touch and sat as still as concrete.
"And beautiful." The words eluded her lady.
"Beautiful?" Cass echoed in shallow breaths. They were speaking near a tender whisper now. Rapunzel was completely absorbed by Cass' awed look; she seemed to be enjoying it. But in a way that made her shift closer, noses nearly swiping one another. Cass could now see how her perfectly star kissed freckles flecked along the bridge of her nose. She thought about how she could draw constellations in them. How perfectly they aligned one another.
Rapunzel hadn't even nodded. She simply continued. "I love how you tie your hair in a short ponytail when the heat gets to be too much. I love watching you practice your sparing even if its with the wind."
"Rapunzel." Her breath evaded her. As the moment fell silent, In the stillness of the air, she could hear the drumming of her heart in her ears. Her chest twisted in nots. Almost as if on its own Cass' arm glided across the sheets reaching a hand foward in the short distance between them, brushing her thumb along Raps jawline. Sleek and soft. Her eyes trailed down the slope of her neck. She watched the rise and fall of the princess' chest wondering if she felt the same thing. Then her gaze drifted back up stopping short of her lips. Wondering just how tendered they'd feel against her own. If they were just as soft and warm as her hands. Cassandra didn't know how much time she spent staring but she felt like she could stay in this moment forever. Suddenly she was struck with the burning sensation of eyes drilling straight through her. She swallowed hard as her gaze shot back up to Rapunzel. Who not once exchanged her steady longing gaze. Raps bit the inside of her cheek as she allowed their lips to barely brush one another. Then brush closer and closer til Cass no longer had the capacity to silence her desires. Cassandra closed the distance between them. Locking their lips til they ran short of breath. The kiss was fleeting but it settled as deep imagery in their heads. Cassandra's blood flowed warm as the tightness in her chest was relieved, consumed by the tenderheartedness of the kiss. Even with the intensity of the moment, their lips barely indulged in one another. They were sheepish against one another. The uncertainty of it all laid thick in their actions yet, through separate perceptions, conveyed a sense of eagerness when they were apart only momentarily.
They drew back briefly to offer a moment of respire as their lips lingered only inches apart. Steady shaken breaths filled the space inbetween them. Their gazes never left eachothers lips just as the kiss burned into their memories.
Cass cupped the entirety of Rapunzel soft cheek with her calloused and tattered palms before she began again…then stopped short of her lips. she hastily drew back abruptly, reluctantly letting her lips fall away from Raps who, for only a moment, almost seemed to chase them then pulled back almost instantly when the realization struck her. Cassandra pivoted completely around swinging her legs over the bed wincing forward as she attempted to stand having completely forgotten about her sprained ankle. Panic had settled in.
"Cass?" The princess sat up in the motion reaching a hand forward, her pale cheeks completely flushed. "I think its time I go." Cass replied sharply as a million thoughts plagued her head.
Why did I do that? Why did Rapunzel let that happen? Is she messing with me?
Cass hobbled off the bed grabbing at the nearby furniture for support. "Your leg Ca-"
"I can walk back on my own." Cass insisted sternly hobbling as fast as she could out of the princess' room. "Goodnight." Were the final words she shared with Raps before shutting the door behind her. Raps cradled her legs close to her chest while smothering her face in her hands. Her rose colored cheeks now spread to her ears. She loathed herself for the desires she felt.
What just happened?
Cassandra stepped to the side of the doorway resting her back on the wall taking a moment for respire as her cheeks beamed crimson. Her chest fighting against the tightness the palpitations consumed her with. Her thoughts contended with one another as sweat cascaded down her temple.
How could she have let this happen?
The very seams of friendship and romance were becoming ... discernable.