Archive of Our Own ^beta

Your legs dangle off the roof of your house, hands planted firmly at your sides. You've been staring at your Land for the past few minutes in silence, neither you nor the troll girl next to you saying much of anything.

You try not to look at her directly.

You want to, but you try not to.

Finally, she breaks the silence, pushing herself up from her seated position. You look to your right, and make eye contact with the troll.

JUNE: you're leaving already?

Aradia nods.

ARADIA: really i shouldnt be here at all
ARADIA: but im very glad for the brief time we spent together

You don't know what to say.

JUNE: did i do something wrong?
ARADIA: no not at all
ARADIA: in fact youve been very very good at not straying from your critical path
ARADIA: i dont think there are many dead junes even across all of your instances subtimelines
JUNE: so then...

Aradia shrugs.

ARADIA: i just have to be somewhere else now
ARADIA: i mean do i look like im
ARADIA: maid
ARADIA: of time

You allow your eyes to pass over her god-tier robes. Still bright red, still exactly as they were when she appeared in your house early yesterday morning.

JUNE: yeah, you kind of do, actually?
ARADIA: that is probably because im the maid of time then
ARADIA: :D

She's made this joke about six times in the past thirty-six hours.

JUNE: heh.
JUNE: so...
ARADIA: yes
ARADIA: i am sorry that i have to go so soon
ARADIA: thirty six hours really isnt enough to measure ones soul
JUNE: heh, you're telling me.

You sniffle involuntary.

ARADIA: its okay to feel sad june
JUNE: i'm not crying.
ARADIA: well
ARADIA: if you were crying it would be okay to do that
ARADIA: i have met many versions of june the breath player in my travels
ARADIA: but you are probably my favorite one :D
JUNE: heheheheh.

Oh, gosh, you're really on the edge of crying now.

You have to ask her a coherent question before you break.

JUNE: since you're leaving...
ARADIA: i know
ARADIA: you can tell people i was here if you wish
ARADIA: but id advise against telling my local self anything about it
ARADIA: makaras are notoriously not great at handling existential news with grace and dignity
JUNE: heheheheheheh.
JUNE: i'll probably only end up telling rose, anyway.
ARADIA: she wont believe you
JUNE: that's why it's perfect to tell her!
ARADIA: :)

You stand up, matching her full height, and stare into her eyes. Whatever you were going to say has left your mind entirely.

She cocks her head at you.

You open your mouth, and close it.

ARADIA: june?
JUNE: can i kiss you?

She lets the silence hang there for a second, and you start stumbling over yourself to justify what you just said.

JUNE: i-i mean, not that i--
JUNE: it's just, you're leaving forever, and i--

She blinks at you, slowly.

Then her face breaks out into a grin.

ARADIA: what brought this on
ARADIA: dont answer that i already know
ARADIA: june
ARADIA: you know i dont do romance anymore right
JUNE: yeah, no, you told me.

You feel like an idiot.

One of the first things you alchemized together was an aro pride flag && your scarf. She tucked it away somewhere—she's not wearing it now, that would've been SO much more embarrassing—but you still feel like a doofus.

ARADIA: that being said
ARADIA: i would be willing to kiss you
ARADIA: if youre sure you want one from me

Your world shrinks.

You try to swallow, but nothing happens.

The only action you can take is:

JUNE: yes.
JUNE: yes, i want to kiss you.

Her grin gets wider.

ARADIA: then come here

And her wings appear again, those brilliant, red wings, in a brilliant flash behind her, and she flies the half-step of distance that existed between the two of you, clasping her hands in yours (hey, when did that happen?), her grin mere inches away from your lips.

JUNE: i.
JUNE: you know this is my first kiss, right?
ARADIA: i know
ARADIA: itll be a good one
ARADIA: lean in whenever :D
ARADIA: its on you j--

You do so.

Later, once she's gone, once the certainty that "oh my god my crush just teleported back to the universe she's from, why the heck did i get so caught up in this, oh no, am i in love with a girl i'll never be able to see again" set in and you allowed yourself to start to mourn your friendship, you get a message on pesterchum.

It's from a username you don't recognize.

apocalypseArisen [AA] began trolling ghastfulTomfoolery [GT].

AA: click the link!
AA: [the world2 2hiitiie2t multiiver2al memo]
GT: uh.
GT: who is this?
AA: well
AA: i told you i couldnt see you again
AA: but i never said you couldnt message me

You click the link immediately.

--ghastfulTomfoolery [GT] joined the Nexus.--

TA: 2o ii gue22 now iit2 ju2t a waiitiing game to 2ee iif 2he actually joiin2
TA: oh 2hiit never miind.
AA: she was already here OuO
GT: uhhh.
GT: heheheh.
GT: hi everybody!
TA: 2up.
AA: hi june!
TC: B33 < hi juney!!!
TC: B33 < welcome to the nexus, purr purr
TC: B33 < *tc scrunches up their face in excitement before pouncing to m33t their new friend!*
GT: uh.
GT: woah.
AA: oh long story short
AA: this is just a group chat for people i meet during my travels
TA: aa2 a freak liike that LMAO.
TA: collectiing people liike funko pop2
AA: sollux be nice to june
TA: yeah yeah
GT: hi, i guess?
GT: i'm june lalonde.
TC: BOO < oh me-wow!!!
TC: B33 < by marriage or by blood?
GT: i... what?
AA: put the shipping chart down for now davepeta
AA: im just happy youre here june
AA: and im glad youre my friend
TA: here we go. piing me when thii2 2hiit 2top2 beiing 2appy.
GT: awh.
GT: i'm glad we're friends too, aradia megido.
TC: B33 < *tc starts rapping a clawsome beat to commeowmerate this occasion!*
GT: heheheheheh.
GT: i am so confused.

You're confused, yes.

But that night, as the discussion continues, as you learn about these alternate versions of your friends and their adventures, as you find out who they are and what they're like...

You're happy.

You close your eyes, and fall asleep.

A good day to have your first kiss, you think.