Chapter Text
Tolya Yul-Bataar was skimming the bookshelves in the library, when he heard someone coughing for attention. He turned around and saw his sister's girlfriend, noticeably nervous.
"Nadia, hello! What's up?"
"I have to ask you something. It's about Tamar. Can we go for a walk, maybe?" Nadia fidgeted with her kefta.
"Sure!" He quickly took a book, then followed Nadia outside. In silence, they walked along the trees of Little Palace's gardens. Nadia got more nervous with the minute. Tolya wondered why.
"So, what did you want to ask?"
"Well, uhm…" Nadia paused for a second and took a deep breath. "I wanna marry Tamar." She started to ramble. "And I know that it's respectful to ask her parents, but they aren't here, so I'm asking you. So, Tolya, may I marry your amazing sister?"
"Ehhh-" Tolya needed a moment to take in what she said. Not that he disagreed, but because it was unexpected; he had always thought that Tamar would be the one to propose.
"I will take good care of her, I promise. I'll love her forever and always and give her all her favorite snacks and try to not step on her feet when we're dancing. I will happily be beaten during trainings and I'll give her breakfast on bed and I'll-"
"Don't forget to breathe." Tolya laughed. "You have my permission. Of course you can marry Tamar!"
"Thank you thank you thank you!" Nadia jumped happily into the air and hugged him. "You won't regret it, I promise."
"Do you have a ring yet? Or a date?" Tolya asked curiously.
"I'm currently designing it. When it's done, I'll pick a date. Will let you know! I was thinking of a simple ring, so it isn't in her way when she's fighting. She looks so beautiful when she fights."
—
During dinner later that day, Nadia forgot to eat the whole time. She was very occupied with watching Tamar.
"I know I'm hot, but your meal won't be anymore if you don't eat it soon." Tamar grinned.
"Oh, yeah." Nadia got pulled out of her thoughts and took a bite of her steak. "Oh. It's cold." She looked so disgusted, Tamar started laughing.
The potatoes and green beans had also cooled down and there were no portions left.
"I hope we'll have a big dessert." Nadia said. The moment she said that, the servants put new trays on the tables. Tamar peeked and started laughing even more.
"Nadia. It's ice cream."
Nadia looked dazed for a moment, then started laughing too. "You're just so hot that you absorb the heat out of everything near you."
"No, that would mean that you're cold too, but you very much aren't." Tamar winked and Nadia thought she was gonna faint. Saints, she loved her.
Tamar enjoyed her ice cream quite noticeably. Not only did she say it like 18 times, she also had ice cream all around her mouth, and whipped cream on her nose.
"Why are you laughing?" She asked, confused.
"You look so funny," Nadia giggled. "There's a whole load of dessert on your face." She leaned over and kissed the whipped cream of her girlfriend's nose.
"Hmm, tasty."
"I know. Is there more on my face?"
"Yes, but I can't kiss it away without a full makeout scene. And I don't think everyone would appreciate that." She glanced at Zoya Nazyalensky, who sat across the table. She did look like she wouldn't appreciate that, Tamar had to admit.
Instead of a kiss, Nadia handed her a napkin.
A few tables to their right, two guys, both a younger brother, gave each other a certain, colluding look.
—
Nadia spent hours in the workshop the next day. A pile of crumbled, thrown away papers filled the bin. No design for a ring seemed good enough.
"What are you making?" David Kostyk asked. He sat across from her, busy designing weapons.
"I'm designing a ring for Tamar, but nothing seems to be right. I want the absolute best for my love."
David nodded understanding. "I've been trying to make something for Genya, but I too had a hard time with that. Do you have a gem already?"
"I don't think I want a gem sticking out. That would be really impractical when Tamar's fighting, you know?"
"So you're going to put the gem in the band? Which color will it be?"
"I was thinking something dark. Black maybe, but that won't look as good on me. And I'd love to match."
"Gold?" David suggested. "I think that would look good on both of you. I'm not sure though, Genya knows more about that sort of thing."
Nadia thought about it for a moment. "Yes… Yes! I think gold would be good! Thanks, David!"
She started to draw again, a quick sketch. This time, she didn't throw it immediately into the bin. She actually liked this one.
Finally she was done with the wedding ring. Now she had to make an engagement ring. She had thought about the order in which the rings would be used a little too late, but she didn't care much.
"Tamar's coming," David warned her. He was closer to the door.
As fast as she could, Nadia tidied up all the sketches and grabbed the closest by blueprint. She felt her face becoming red.
"Hey David, hello darling," Tamar greeted them as she came in. "I missed you. Why are you blushing?"
"Because of you." Nadia improvised. Well, it was true after all. "I'm glad to see you too." She stood up and kissed her girlfriend. "How was work, my love?"
"Nothing much happened. Nikolai managed to set something on fire and Zoya was pissed off."
"Why am I not even surprised?"
"I guess you get used to it after so many years. How was your day?" Tamar looked around the workshop. Her eyes catched the bin. "Hard time designing weapons?"
"Ehh, yeah," Nadia answered a bit too quickly.
"Can I see them?"
"No!"
Tamar looked so confused by that answer. Why did Nadia sound so weird?
"I mean, I'm hungry. Wanna get dinner?" She said, hoping Tamar would understand.
"Sure. You okay though?"
"Yeah, just hungry and tired. Sorry."
Tamar understood. "No need to apologize, darling. I get grumpy when I'm hungry too. Let's get some food, alright?"
The girls walked to the dining room, while holding hands. Nadia squeezed Tamar's hand, who smiled back. Her smile was so beautiful.
—
(A few days later)
The engagement ring was designed and approved by Genya, David, Tolya and Adrik. Nadia originally intended to not tell anyone besides Tolya about her proposal, but she figured that some help was really handy.
Tolya, who knew Tamar since the womb. Adrik, who has known Nadia since his birth. Genya, who absolutely loved planning parties, clothes, design and her friends. David, who was present anytime Nadia needed to think about the right metal for the rings. They were the perfect team.
"Saints, I'm so nervous." Nadia sat in Genya's room and was fidgeting with her kefta again. "How am I ever gonna ask her?"
"Take her on a date to a cute place and ask her there." Genya did the 27th suggestion of the week.
"To what place should we go?"
"What's your favorite place in the entire world?"
"Her arms." She smiled at the thought.
"Saints, you're such a simp."
"I know." Nadia said dreamily. She got lost in her thoughts again.
Genya put some m&m's on the table. Mindlessly, Nadia ate some. Then, suddenly, a little spark started to shine in her eyes. She jumped out of her chair.
"Genya!" She exclaimed. "I know it! I know what I'm gonna do!"
"Tell me!" Genya said, enthusiastic, excited and a bit delighted.
"I wanna keep it a secret, but saints, this is gonna be so amazing!" Nadia started pacing around. "I have to do so many things."
Genya handed her a piece of paper and a pen. She started scribbling. When she was done, she told Genya a few details and asked her something, then left. She had things to do.