Chapter Text
Vania sat on Cole's bed tapping her foot and humming tunelessly to herself. She started snapping her fingers, noticed herself snapping her fingers, then stopped and deliberately folded her hands on her lap. What was taking Cole so long? It was a simple task, really. It shouldn't have taken more than a couple of minutes--three minutes, maximum. She glanced at his alarm clock. Oh. Well, it had only been two minutes, but honestly, it shouldn't have taken him that long anyway. She noticed herself snapping her fingers again and sat on her hands with a huff.
"Something wrong?" Cole asked, walking through the door and nudging it closed with his hip.
"Seriously? You stopped for a snack?" Vania asked, then frowned at herself. She was being too mean. Of course he stopped for a snack, this was Cole she was talking to. She forced a chuckle to show that she wasn't mad.
"It's movie night! You expect me to sit through movie night without popcorn?" He popped a handful in his mouth, and Vania gave a real chuckle, wondering if this bowl would even make it through the opening credits. "Movie night if we ever get you out of the house, that is," He said.
"Did you see them?" Vania asked, standing up, then sitting down, then standing up, then sitting down. Ack. She hated this. She was already a ball of energy at all times, and adding anxiety to the mix did not help. She was a mess. Would she be able to calm down, once the night got going, or was she going to be annoying and weird the whole night? She probably shouldn't go, I mean, there was already an established dynamic between the three other girls--they'd spearheaded a rebellion together, for fucks sake--she should probably just stay here for movie night with the boys. Wait, would the boys even want her? Sure, Cole liked her, but she'd never really-- a piece of popcorn hit her on the side of the head and she yelped.
"Quit spiraling, weirdo," Cole said through a mouthful of popcorn. "They invited you. They want you there."
"Right," Vania said, nodding to herself. That was true. She didn't know them that well, but during the celebration after the defeat of the Crystal King she'd talked a bit with Nya and Pixal, and Pixal had suggested that Vania come along with them on their next girl's night. There was another girl, too, but she'd spent the entire time entrenched in a very serious conversation with Kai, so Vania hadn't really gotten to talk to her. Skylor, that was her name. But Nya and Pixal had invited her, they wanted her to be there. She had to remember that.
"Nya'a wearing jeans and a nice-ish shirt, Pixal is wearing her usual," Her good friend reported. Vania had shown up to the monastery with several different outfits, not wanting to be over or underdressed. Cole had gone to see what the other two were wearing--and to make popcorn, apparently.
"Her usual outfit?" Vania replied, confused. "Like, her battle clothes?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's the only outfit she owns. She even sleeps in it. Come to think of it, it might be attached to her..." Cole said, shoving another handful of popcorn in his mouth and chewing it thoughtfully. "Does that one have shorts underneath?" He asked, pointing at one of the skirts that Vania had brought. It was short, white, plain, the sort that could pass as athletic or casual. She nodded. "That one, with the yellow sweatshirt," Cole said decisively, then turned around to face the wall so she could change. She liked that about him. Growing up a princess, no one would ever actually tell her what they thought. It was always "whatever you think," and, "I think you're great either way!" That was nice sometimes, but other times she just wanted someone to be straightforward with her. Cole had no qualms about sharing his actual opinions. Not in a blunt way--just thoughtful.
"Alright, how do I look?" Vania asked. Cole put his hands on his hips, looked her up and down, and nodded approvingly.
"I'd say you're ready!" he said with a smile.
"Nope. Definitely not." Vania replied.
"Vania, come on," Cole said with a sigh. He walked over and gave her a tight hug. "Where's that girl who led us all into battle without hesitation? Where's the Queen of Shintaro?"
"Okay, Okay," She said, stepping back and wiggling about as if she could shake off the anxiety like a dog shaking off water droplets. "Queen of Shintaro! Fearless leader! That's me!"
"That's you!" Cole agreed, clapping her on the shoulder, "Now go out there and socialize!"
"SOCIALIZING! YEAH!" Vania said, marching over and throwing open the door to Cole's room before she had time to make herself anxious again.
"Yeah!" Agreed Nya, her hand poised to knock on the door that Vania had just thrown open. Vania tensed, surprised and embarrassed to see the other girl there. For a brief moment, she considered slamming the door, crawling under Cole's bed, and never leaving.
It's alright, she told herself, you're the fearless queen of Shintaro. If you can throw yourself down a bottomless pit and stage a coup against your own father, you can stand a little awkwardness. She smiled the best she could and repeated a soft "...yeah!"
Nya grinned back. "Come on, Pixal's in the car."