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Selena marvels at the sensation gliding across her hand.
After wandering for so long, after having to brave the horrors of war for so many years… this sensation is… she can’t really describe it.
She might have to talk to The Commandant about that.
Nevertheless, the closest comparison she can draw is… relief.
A feeling of great lightness rushes through her chest, filling her being as a smile subconsciously spreads across her face.
“...Selena?” A gentle, kind voice acts.
It’s a voice that Selena has memorized over and over again. She hears it in her dreams, she listened to it countless times back when she was still wandering, unable to find a home.
The voice reminds her that yes, there is a home for her, and it’s right here.
Interlocking her fingers with Ayla’s, Selena smiles as she holds Ayla’s hand in her own.
Despite the terrible, terrible things they’ve been through, Ayla’s hand is still soft.
She remembers it vividly, the sight she saw before being dragged deep beneath those horrible crimson waters.
A sky filled with beautiful shining stars. For just a brief moment, the pain overcoming her body had disappeared, and a single wish filled her heart.
She wanted Ayla to be there with her.
“Selena, are you okay?” Ayla asks again, tilting her head to the side with concern.
“O-Oh, sorry I was just… lost in thought.” Selena responds, eyes turning up to gaze into her friend’s.
But now, those days are behind her. Though she’s only been in Babylonia for a few days now, it still feels… so welcoming.
No longer must she worry about hordes of Corrupted, or agents of the Ascension Network. For the first time since she can remember… She can relax.
Ayla shifts in place, legs moving beneath the thin white blanket covering most of her body. Only now, as she feels movement, does Selena snapback to reality.
Right, she came to check in on Ayla early in the morning, spurred on by some strange desire to see her friend again. They’d only been apart for a few hours, Ayla having been on a mission away from Babylonia for most of the day, but she’d almost immediately sought out her pinkette friend the instant she’d received news of her return.
And now, they were spending a quiet moment together, finally having reunited after so many years.
“Do you… want me to draw something?” Ayla asks, tilting her head in curiosity as Selena once again snaps herself out of her trance.
“Of course, that’d be lovely…” She replies.
Interacting is still a bit awkward, especially given the amount of time they’ve spent apart… But she’s getting used to it again.
Ayla responds with a smile, leaning over the other side of her bed as she grabs a drawing tablet and accompanying stylus.
Selena recognizes them rather quickly; they’re the gift she gave to Ayla upon their reunion. From the little tidbits of wear and tear on them, it seems Ayla’s been busy these past few days.
Ever the ball of sunshine, Ayla turns back to her friend with the same old grin. “What do you want me to draw? I feel like I can draw anything right now!”
Her smile sends a shiver of nostalgia down Selena’s cybernetic spine. She’s missed this, a lot.
“I… I’d be okay with anything, so long as it’s drawn by you.” She responds.
Ayla giggles, blushing a little bit as she places the stylus against her lips.
“Okay then… I got it!” She exclaims, before her eyes turn to the drawing tablet and her hands begin to work.
She’s focused like lightning, eyes glued to the screen of her device as she deftly swipes the stylus across its surface.
But Selena isn’t looking at the drawing per say. No, instead her eyes are locked on her friend, feverishly working away.
The look in her eyes, the way she brushes her lavender hair aside, the gentle grin slowly forming on her face as the picture in her mind begins to take physical form.
Beautiful.
Selena can’t describe her as anything other than beautiful.
Her heart flutters as Ayla keeps at it, scribbling away on her tablet.
Releasing a soft sigh, Selena leans against her hand as she gazes at her closest companion. It’s not like anyone could blame her after all, Ayla was just… so beau-
“Selena? You’re staring off into space again.” The aforementioned beauty cuts in, causing Selena to once more pop out of her bubble.
“O-Oh, I’m so sorry, I just-” She tries to say.
“Hey, it’s okay! I understand.” Ayla quickly cuts her off however, before she holds up her tablet.
“Anyways, look!” She says, turning the screen towards Selena. “When this whole thing is over, or maybe when we have some time… We can get something like this made for you!”
It’s a dress. Mainly white, with frills lining the sleeves. Accents of black dust the outer edges of the dress, neatly brought together by a set of heeled sandals of the same color.
It’s really pretty. Really, it is. Selena wouldn’t describe it any other way. But… Even with how pretty it was…
She couldn’t take her eyes off of Ayla.
No drawing could match the beauty of the construct in front of her.
“So pretty…”
“I know right! I thought the frills would go great with your aesthetic, and-”
The rest of Ayla’s words begin to blend into the background. Not because anything she’s saying is boring or otherwise uninteresting… In fact, Selena loves talking to Ayla.
The thing is…
Selena can’t stop looking into her eyes.
It’s just been so long, and she’s missed her so much, and she’s just…
…She may have a problem.
“-And then we can go dancing and singing and-”
“Ayla.”
“Hmm?”
Selena leans in, wrapping her arms around Ayla.
“H-Huh!?” Ayla yelps a little, before silently reciprocating the hug, enclosing her smaller friend in a hug.
“Selena, are you o-”
“I’ve missed you. A… A lot…” Selena simply responds, taking in a deep breath.
Ayla smiles, holding her just a little bit closer.
Selena feels her heart flutter.
“...I’ve missed you too.”