Work Text:
It's one of those nights again. Bronya sits hunched up in her office, which feels much too lonely and much too huge for her own liking, as she momentarily dozes off in between all the work she has yet to read through. Blinking away the fatigue, she flips through countless pages and tries her hardest to cram in every word she comes across. However, when Bronya senses her mind wandering, she harshly rubs her eyes with the palm of her hand in wishes to stir herself back to full consciousness again.
But what awakens her instead is the all too familiar voice ringing through her head like an alarm.
“Hey, Jarilo-VI to Supreme Guardian!”
There she stands, leaned against the wall, a hand on her hip and in all her glory. Her lover, her best friend: Seele.
It takes several beats to get Bronya out of her hazy state. Realization hits her, and she hastily scrambles back up from her position to meet Seele's eyes, back as straight and stiff as a line.
“How long have you been standing there?” asks Bronya.
“For a little while now.” Seele's voice doesn't harbor her usual taunting tone.
Basing off the lack of it, Bronya can safely assume it has been more than a little while. She's dumbstruck. How did she not notice her entrance at all?
Seeing that Bronya doesn't intend on replying anytime soon, Seele continues, “You're working yourself to the bone again.” Nothing afterwards. Straight to the point as always.
I'm not. A blatant lie, she tells herself. Bronya averts her gaze off of Seele's to stare at the papers laid out before her. She chews on her bottom lip as she taps her pen on it, contemplating her next response. Matter of fact is that Seele won't be satisfied with anything that will leave Bronya's mouth at this point. So, even if only for a split second, she entertains the stupid thought of simply ignoring Seele's presence and to just go on about her work.
Are you fully out of your mind now?
She shakes the thought out of her head as quickly as it came.
“I have to, Seele, this is my duty, you know that,” she sighs, then closes her eyes. Her fingers come up to pinch the bridge of her nose in mild annoyance. The last thing Bronya needs at the moment is to discuss the current state of her own wellbeing, again – with Seele, no less.
Already mentally preparing to defend herself against yet another one of Seele's beratings, Bronya rubs her temples, but unexpectedly, she doesn't hear any retorts.
The silence that continues to drag on feels stifling. It goes on for a while; only the rustling of papers resounds.
Just when Bronya believes that Seele might have left already, she hears heavy footsteps echo across the room. Stomping towards her desk, Seele grabs the tower of papers and shoves them to the edge of the table. The sound of her palms slamming against the wood makes Bronya flinch. Then, as if having dicovered something otherwordly, Seele watches her, wide eyed and jaw slacked open.
“Wow, you already looked horrible from afar, but Aeons, you look even worse up close.” Count on Seele to never sugarcoat any of her words. Although the sharpness of her statement loses its edges when she softly places a thumb against Bronya's cheek and strokes the dark puffiness underneath her eye.
Seele observes her like a scientist would examine their test subjects, eyes narrowed and brows knitted together in concentration.
Under her scrunity, Bronya can't do anything but shift uncomfortably in her seat.
A flurry of emotions pass Seele's features before settling on a piercing look, reflecting a mix of anger and worry.
“You need to rest. Now.” She backs away to cross her arms in disapproval. “Or do you really want me to carry you out here myself?”
That garners Bronya's attention.
“You wouldn't. Please, do not make a scene,” another sigh leaves her, frustration laced all over her voice. Bronya's hands reach out to get her documents once more. “I'll be fine. I'll just finish this last stack and then I'll call it a day, alright?” Stubborn as one can be. Seele just scoffs, incredulous at what she's witnessing. Any sane person could tell that the stack (or rather, mountain) of files she was talking about would undoubtedly take hours to complete.
So, what comes next happens fast.
Bronya doesn't even have time to react nor register it properly, because suddenly, her vision tilts and her legs lift off the floor. Seele swiftly reaches in between her arms and slumps Bronya's body over her shoulder as if she weighed nothing.
“S-Seele!? What are you– Put me down this instant!” Bronya protests. Startled, she squirms in Seele's grip, hands helplessly flailing around until she settles on grabbing onto Seele's waist for stability.
“No can do, princess,” Seele says and Bronya feels the hold around the back of her thighs tighten. “You're going to take that break whether you like it or not.”
“Don't be childish. Let me go, there are Silvermane guards stationed outside.” Bronya tries to sound as stern as possible, but it comes out as a tired whine.
“So what? Are you going to get me arrested? Or are you embarrassed?” Seele laughs, clearly very unfazed by the whole situation.
“I'm serious, Seele.”
“Me too. Dead serious, in fact.”
She responds nonchalantly while walking towards the exit. All Bronya can do is sigh in defeat and slowly relax in Seele's hold when she realizes there is no getting out of this, especially when Seele has set her mind to something as ridiculous as this. Though her acceptance doesn't mean she doesn't feel her face heat up at the sole thought of being seen like this by her people, manhandled like a sack of potatoes.
“Don't worry, I bet your soldiers will be over the moon to finally be let off of work, rather than care about whatever you're imagining.” Seele reassures her with a tap to the hip, but Bronya can practically hear the mischievous grin that's plastered all over her lover's face right now.
Oh, she's getting a kick out of this.
The walk to Bronya's bedchambers didn't take long, although the looks and hushed whispers made it feel like hours. It was awkward. She could tell everyone was trying their hardest not to stare. Some were even actively avoiding looking their way. Regardless, many couldn't help but steal curious glances every now and then. Of course they would.
Bronya knew then and there that the pair would cover all of tomorrow's newspaper headlines– another juicy topic for everyone to gossip about, she guessed. Despite Bronya still not understanding what exactly is so interesting about her personal relations to her citizens, it wouldn't be the first time it happened.
At the very least her guards had the decency not to question the two women as Seele paced through the hallways.
Bronya ended up burying her face into Seele's hair for the rest of the way in chances to hide herself, face glowing beet red and ears fuming in humiliation.
“We'll be all over the news tomorrow,” Bronya says when the door closes behind them. Seele just hums absentmindedly as she wiggles Bronya's keys in her free hand and safely locks the door.
“They'll talk,” Bronya adds, louder this time.
“So let them talk.”
She raises an eyebrow at that. “Did you not dislike the big crowds?”
“I did– still do– but seriously, who wouldn't?” Seele huffs as she lowers Bronya onto her bed. Kicking her shoes off to the corner of the room, she then kneels one leg on the carpet to help Bronya slip her boots off. “Then again, we've spent enough time together– and you're not exactly an unknown presence here so– it's become second nature to have people staring… I've gotten used to it.” Seele murmurs the last part, more to herself, still fumbling with the zip of her boot. As soon as Bronya hears her shoes hit the floor, Seele doesn't hesitate to join the queen in her bed. She climbs over Bronya, face looming over her now, a seemingly confident grin etched all over her handsome face. But much to Seele's dismay, Bronya notices the faint pink dusting her cheeks all the way down to her neck, and immediately sees through the woman.
So Seele was just as embarrassed as her after all. Her lips pull up in a small smirk at the new revelation.
Seele lets out a surprised yelp when Bronya drags her down by her scarf, catching her off guard. They fall against each other into the soft sheets. Seele strains to keep her body upright, her elbows come to rest on each side of Bronya's head so as to not completely crush her beneath her own weight. It doesn't get any easier for her with the way Bronya wraps her hands around Seele's neck and pulls.
“Hey! Woah– Stop that, I'm going to fall all over you if you keep that up!”
This only spurs Bronya on. She pulls even harder, and to top it off, she giggles right into Seele's face in absolute glee.
And amidst all her struggle, Seele can't help but think she looks beautiful like this. Platinum locks framing her face, the radiant smile and rosy blush gracing her features. The corner of her eyes crinkle when she laughs. Seele doesn't see it often, emotions so real and raw, especially coming from Bronya. She's all too used to polite nods and forced out chuckles. Bronya sometimes says it herself; the woman is more often than not so enclosed in her own battle with her muddled identity. Yet Seele doesn't understand it, because she sees the Bronya Rand before her and she's anything but what she claims to be.
Who knows, maybe it only occurs when they're alone, shut out and uncaring from the rest of the world.
The rare sight leaves Seele breathless. Familiar warmth blossoms in her chest. Her heart beats so rapidly she fears Bronya might be able to hear it.
Her words catch in her throat.
Ah, Seele's so head over heels for this woman, it's honestly embarrassing.
The irritation leaves her body in a flash.
“With all your complaining earlier, you sure seem to be enjoying yourself right now.” Seele grumbles quietly, a small pout playing at her lips. How cute, Bronya muses and leans in to bump their noses against each other's, arms fully closing in around her neck. She lets her eyelids fall shut, muscles relaxing in Seele's embrace.
“It's payback for disrupting my work,” Bronya breathes out, her voice low and smooth.
“Whatever. I know you've been dying for an excuse to leave.”
Bronya couldn't deny it, no matter how much she refused earlier. Qlipoth knows how many cups of coffee she could have handled until she passed out for good.
“Mhm, thank the Preservation that I have my knight in shining armor to save me then.” A rare tease, Bronya's getting better at it. She cups Seele's burning cheeks in her hands, careful, as if she's holding the world in her hands, and plants a soft kiss onto Seele's nose.
“I'm no knight,” Seele mutters, face just inches above her. Her lips barely graze Bronya's; so full and inviting.
To no one's surprise, Seele is the first one to give in.
Her skin is set alight the moment their lips crash together. Fingers immediately come to tangle themselves into Seele's hair, while Seele's own brace onto Bronya's waist to turn them around altogether so that her girlfriend is fully straddling her hips. Instinctively, Bronya grabs onto Seele's arms to keep herself from swaying off of her. The kiss is sloppy as a result, so unladylike and unbecoming of a Supreme Guardian, but Bronya can't bring herself to care as she presses up closer and angles her head to deepen the kiss. She tastes the sweetness on Seele's tongue; she's always had a thing for candy. Opposed to Bronya, who probably tastes of bitter Espresso.
A sigh leaves Seele's lips when they break apart, her eyes are still closed, giving Bronya the chance to appreciate the view. The flush has trailed further down her neck and for a moment Bronya considers tugging down the fabric of her top to find out for herself just how far it has spread, but she eventually decides against it, her body feeling much too heavy all of a sudden. She falls into the person beneath her, nuzzling into the other's neck instead.
“Sleepy?” A huff is all Seele manages, her voice still shaky due to catching her breath. Bronya only hums in response. Her fingers trace along the skin of Seele's neck, over some old battle scars that have long healed, then ultimately fix on idly stroking circles in the dip of her collarbone. In return, Seele's hands slide along her back until rough fingertips meet the exposed skin above Bronya's spine; the one spot that's usually covered by her locks. This gets a squeak out of the girl atop of her. The sensation leaves Bronya shivering in her clasp, causing her to huddle even closer for her partner's warmth.
“That surprised me. Warn me next time, will you?” She lightly pinches the skin of Seele's arm in retaliation. A weak laugh escapes her. “Yeah, yeah, sorry. I've just been wanting to do that for ages.”
“But now hush and go to sleep, you need it.” Seele lazily kisses the crown of her princesses head one last time.
They slot together like puzzle pieces. Bronya feels serenity she hasn't felt in months before drowsiness catches up to the both of them and they drift off to peaceful slumber.