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“Can I kiss you?”
The second the words reached Laudna’s ears, she froze.
“I can’t tell if it’s alright or not anymore.”
Imogen’s blue eyes focused on her nervously, pale skin flushed and lip caught between her teeth. It was endearing, in a way Laudna never expected to see directed at her. Because she was Laudna, a dead woman, brought back twice. She didn’t have Imogen’s rosy cheeks, or Fearne’s full, flower-filled hair. She was Laudna, the one that kids ran scared from, whom nobody could imagine themselves loving.
Nobody except Imogen, apparently. And that made Laudna’s heart soar. Imogen was kind, and loving, and beautiful. She loved her so deeply it hurt.
“..alright.”
And she did. Imogen stepped closer. They had been this close before; they’d cuddled during cold nights at Zhudanna’s, held hands when things got scary. But this, this was something different. Imogen’s breaths were shaky, gaze trained on Laudna’s lips. She could feel the body heat radiating off of her as she closed the short distance between them. A hesitation, a nervousness, settled in the air.
“Alright.” Laudna said again, breathless.
“Alright, so I will.” Imogen’s voice wavered, so Laudna took the initiative, as did Imogen.
It was gentle in a way that almost made Laudna’s eyes well. So much of her life she had to endure the cruelty of man. They were violent and heartless. When she had met Imogen, she anticipated that same treatment. Where she expected a sneer she got a smile; a smile that was forever burned into her memories. The smile she still received to this day. The one she got right now.
But that beautiful, shy smile slowly fell as Laudna took a step back to gather her thoughts. “I.. you don’t have to-“
Imogen stumbled over her words a moment, and Laudna just wanted to blurt out every reassurance she could. “I just..”
No other words escaped her as she seemed to slump her shoulders a bit. Laudna immediately took her hand, bringing that nervous gaze back to her face.
Laudna needed to make sure she knew just how much she loved her, in every way.