Work Text:
She didn’t understand why she was so nervous.
Vriska directed her hesitant gaze toward the window, where the sheets of rain outside June’s home slammed against the ground like the footsteps of some huge and monstrous lusus. She shook her head slightly, as if she was trying to ground herself, and turned back toward the movie she and June were watching on the large, flat-screened television of the human girl's spacious living room. Was it Ghostbusters? It didn’t matter.
Vriska then turned further and glanced at her girlfriend. June’s long dark hair was tied back in a loose ponytail as she lounged on the soft, dark green couch. Her blocky (but adorable) black-rimmed glasses rested slightly crooked on her nose as she stared intently at the movie in front of them, almost unaware of anything else happening around her. Vriska sighed softly, though the exhalation was rooted in affection and lighthearted exasperation. The dialogue of the movie seemed to lull for a moment, just as a burst of thunder rumbled in the distance.
Vriska tensed, her senses on overdrive as her head swiveled rapidly back toward the window. This was enough to catch June’s attention; she turned away from the television and focused on the blue-blooded troll sitting tersely next to her.
“What’s wrong?” June asked, concern rampant in her eyes. Vriska cursed internally as she clenched her jaw and forced a grin, completely unwilling to show fear, even to her girlfriend. She was supposed to be tough, for Gog’s sake! Trolls weren’t supposed to be afraid of anything. So a little water shouldn’t faze her. Even if it was unfamiliar. And dark. And loud.
“Nothing,” she replied, doing her best to mask the ever-so-slight quiver in her voice.
“Just bored by your shitty movie.”
She rolled her eyes playfully, adjusting her position to lean slightly more into June. She pulled the knitted light-blue colored blanket – a gift from Rose to June for her 17th birthday – closer around the two of them and settled in again, feeling just a little bit better… and then more thunder erupted, closer this time.
Vriska jumped, a startled “Shit!” escaping her lips. Refusing to turn back and look at June, she sprang up from her seat on the couch, despite the other’s outstretched hands and pleas of “Wait, Vriska! Come back!” and bounded toward the front door as a dark blue blush of shame spread across her cheeks and tears began welling up in her yellow-hued eyes.
She stepped outside and slammed the door shut behind her, almost instantaneously becoming soaked by the rain. With clenched fists and a confrontational stance, Vriska looked up at the sky and began yelling furiously.
“Listen here, you goddamn clouds! I’m not scared of you!” She was so engrossed in her rant toward the heavens that she didn’t hear June – admittedly quietly – exit the house as well and stand by her side.
“I’M NOT SCARED OF YOU!” Vriska shouted again, this time sounding more desperate than angry.
As if in response, lightning flashed in a momentarily beautiful tendril across the dark sky as the air rumbled with booming thunder just a split second later. Vriska screamed, and though the rain helped conceal it, her body still heaved with shaky sobs. June silently wrapped her arms around the crying girl, as she knew the latter would open up on her own time. This judgement proved to be correct, as a few moments later the troll started quietly speaking between sniffly breaths as she remained frozen in June’s hug like a small animal.
“On Alternia… We never had weather like this… I hate this… But I’m supposed to be tough and brave… What would Mindfang think of me now…!” June stayed quiet for a minute more, letting Vriska be alone with her reluctant admission of these thoughts for just a moment.
“Hey. It’s okay to be scared sometimes. Being brave means facing your fears, not having no fear at all, silly!” The human girl grinned, the genuineness of her words hitting Vriska like an emotionally uplifting train.
“And,” she continued, “Storms are scary!”
She reached her hand out to lovingly wipe her girlfriend’s tears away (though failed for obvious reasons. The gesture is what’s important).
“I love you, Vriska. Even if you’re scared of thunderstorms.”
Vriska’s eyes widened slightly as her body seemed to give out in relief. Huh. She hadn’t even realized she was so tense. She put her arms around June too, smiling as the two just embraced for a few perfect moments. Finally, June broke the silence once more.
“… Can we please go inside now? I’m soaked!”
Vriska giggled in response and allowed the other girl to lead her back inside. June vanished into her room for just a moment, returning in a dry set of clothes and holding another set for Vriska. The troll girl walked down the hall toward the bathroom, blushing again – but this time from happiness. She shrugged into the cozy sweatpants and well-worn but clean and soft movie t-shirt. Her gaze caught the visage of Nicholas Cage in the mirror and she couldn’t help but roll her eyes as she chuckled at June’s… interesting movie taste.
She returned from the bathroom to find June holding a big plate of warm cookies and two colorful mugs of hot chocolate.
“How did you even-! You know what, never mind.”
Vriska decided that she didn’t care, as she was cold, tired, and hungry, and more cuddling on the couch with blankets and warm snacks sounded amazing right now. She sat down and adjusted the blanket one more time, resting her head on June’s shoulder – careful to keep her sharp orange horns away from the other girl’s face and neck – and closed her eyes contentedly. She felt a lot better now.
“So, what should we watch next? National Treasure maybe?” June animatedly asked, in a tone that implied she had already decided on that particular outcome. Vriska groaned good-naturedly.
“Your movies suck!”
June just laughed and carefully turned her head to plant a kiss on Vriska’s forehead. The latter smiled.
“I don’t care what we watch as long as I’m with you, like this”
After a moment of prolonged romantic silence, she finally added “… But can we watch something with spiders in it?”